Alyssa's Hobby: Jewelry! (with a tutorial)

I've been making jewelry for as long as I can remember.  I sold Fimo pendants to my classmates in middle school, turned my college apartment into a jewelry shop for a day, and had a booth at The Christmas Connection (a huge gift show in Cleveland).  I put away my supplies when I got a full-time job after college, as there was just not enough time to play with beads.  But now that I've got a bit of free time on my hands, I decided to break out the pliers again.

So I started an Etsy shop!  I'm really excited to be making jewelry again.  It's incredibly satisfying to make something with your own hands, and have a finished product to be proud of when you're done.  I thought you guys might be interested in learning how to do the same, so here's a little tutorial on how to make a simple pair of drop earrings.

Carla was browsing my shop the other day and mentioned that she liked a pair with really beautiful faceted red agate and green jasper that I found in Taipei.  Let's make a pair for her.  The best part?  I'll be able to give them to her in just over a WEEK because she's coming to Tokyo to visit!  I'm beyond excited, and this will be a nice welcome gift for her.  But shhh, don't tell her ;)

How to Make Simple Drop Earrings

Alyssa's May Favorites

I don't know about you, but I'm SO EXCITED for the weather to be nice again.  I know it seems a bit early to talk about grilling, but I think May is the perfect month for it.  You might need to throw on a sweater if you're grilling too late, but at least you won't get sweaty from the combination of the hot sun and the grill's flames!  So this favorites post is all about outdoor entertaining.

1. Weber BabyQ Grill.  We have one of these in storage in San Francisco, and I miss it so much!  It has a cast iron grate that puts the most fantastic grill marks on burgers and a perfect sear on your steak.  It's small enough to take it with you to the park or beach, and it's perfect for small apartment fire escapes or balconies.  There's a range of fantastic accessories that go with it, like a folding rolling stand.  Photo from amazon.com

2. Le Creuset Grill Pan.  Since we didn't bring our BabyQ to Tokyo, we make do with a grill pan.  It's not the same, obviously, but it's very convenient.  If you want to be able to grill but don't have anywhere to do it (like most city folk!), then a grill pan is an adequate substitute.  The Le Creuset ones are a bit expensive, but the colors are so beautiful! Photo from amazon.com

3. Beverage dispenser.  They have gorgeous ones at Sur La Table, but this Target one is a bit more budget-friendly (and it's still glass).  I LOVE the built-in chalkboard label.  Acrylic ones are a little more practical, but I can't help but feel like they absorb scents.  Can you imagine how great these would look with sangria in them?  Even water with lemon slices or cucumber would be beautiful. And you could get festive! Strawberries and blueberries for Memorial Day? Photo from Target.com

4. Melamine plates and servingware.  Paper or plastic plates are boring and terrible for the environment.    Melamine is lightweight and won't break if a stiff breeze blows through your party.  Target always has a great selection of stylish melamine and acrylic plates, glasses and servewear.  I love, love, love this coral scalloped Threshold set.  Photo from Target.com

5. Grilled fruit.  While you've got the grill hot, you should satisfy your sweet tooth.  Grilling fruit is a great way to let the ripe summer flavors shine.  You just need a sprinkle of brown sugar or a brush of balsamic vinegar to enhance the fruit's natural sweetness.  Pineapple and peaches are my favorites, but nectarines, plums, mangos and figs are also grill-friendly.  For company, try kebabs or serving the grilled fruit over ice cream.  Yum!