Dear Friends & Family,

As you know, my birthday is coming (if you forgot, it's at the end of the month). In an effort to help your shopping, I've compiled a little list of some things I love.

(Sorry for hijacking the blog today. I had to do it. Certain members of my family--they know who they are--are kind of hopeless when it comes to selecting birthday gifts for me. They need all the help they can get!)

The birthstone for July is the ruby. While I don't wear a lot of jewelry, I do wear earrings, and these by aubepine and Earthly Baubles caught my eye:

Speaking of earrings, here are a couple more by NansGlam and Surf and Sand that I also love:  

I could shop for earrings all day. I'll stop now, for there are other things that I like just as much.

Okay, so maybe I don't want the whole collection of these dragons by Dragons & Beasties...

...but I do love the orange one. And the black one. No, the one with the red wings. And the purple one, and...

Not that I really need another wallet, but this one by A Stone's Throw might make me rethink the one I carry now. I love the colors.

And finally, here's a hat by Mademoiselle Mermaid and a vest/wrap by ohmay designs, both of which I think are so cute and perfect for summer.


Any of the above items will thrill me on my birthday. I hope I've given you some ideas.

~Liz (of Zizi Rho Designs)

Spotlight on....

Welcome to our 5th installment of the Spotlight series from Sophie n Me.

Today we are spotlighting....

1.Your name and name of your shop(s)? My name is Julee Ahlman and my shop name is “Surf and Sand”

2. Day or night job if you have one. I have a full-time job at Kaiser Permanente as an optician, which means I try to create and take photos in the evenings. 3. Where do you get the inspiration for your designs/shop? I lived in Hawaii for almost 20 years and I love the ocean and bright tropical flowers. I’m obsessed with bright colors!

Turquoise Blue Chalcedony & Labradorite Earrings

Luxe Aqua Blue Apatite Cluster Necklace

4. What was your favorite book as a child? “The Island of the Blue Dolphins” by Scott O’Dell. Hmmm....I may want to read it again. I haven't thought about that book for a long time!

5. What did you have for breakfast today? Cottage cheese, ½ of a bagel and 2 clementines. But that's only because it's Saturday. I usually have string cheese, while I'm driving to work. Stormy Seas Necklace 6. Finish this sentence "Once upon a time...." There was a woman named Julee, that won the lottery and moved with all her family and friends to French Polynesia. She lived happily ever after. Glass and Seashell Bracelet

Amethyst Onyx and Apatite Earrings - The Proud Peacock

7. Friends or Seinfeld? Seinfeld! T.V. just isn’t the same! 8. What makes you giggle like a child? Spending time with my friend of 40 years (Yikes! I’m getting old) As soon as we’re together, I’m suddenly an adolescent. Her husband just shakes his head, when he watches us together. Pink Chalcedony Earrings 9. What don't people know about you? I took accordion lessons as a child. But please don’t ask me to play now. 10. How many hours do you spend a day searching for stuff on Etsy? More then I’m willing to admit!