Launch of Pluma Jewelry

Pluma jewelry was started in at the beginning of 2006. My cousins wife, Treffry, and I had met several years ago and saw eachother at some family functions. We really hit it off at one wedding when we were seated at the same table. We discovered we have similar style and interests so we chatted the night away. Later that year our families got togerther for thanksgiving and she really loved the necklace i was wearing. She said she had made some necklaces in the past and would like to get back into it.
We really fed off eachothers ideas and excitement... so Pluma Jewelry evolved. Our first appearance was at Inman Park Art Festival in Atlanta in April 2006. We were so happy with people's reactions! They loved our jewelry and loved our display. We painted the branches silver and hung necklaces from them. It was such a success gave us the encouragement and confidence we needed to create our business. Below are a few shots:

A very very sucessful show!!!!

Pobre Sito Loquito-R.I.P.

On March 29, 2006 my little loquito passed away. He was almost 7 years old. The most horrible part is that the reason he died was probably my fault. Barbie was visiting us for a few days and we made a delicious mexican dinner (tinga). Lupe was sitting on my shoulder and I was chopping onions. Of course he always wanted to eat anything i had, so i let him nibble on one. I left at 9pm for my dance class and when I came home I scream "hola loquito" (as I always did) I didnt hear him...he usually squacks back. I didnt see him in the cage, or on top. So I started calling for him.....nothing. I looked a little closer at the cage and saw him cuddled in the blanket on top, his head and half of his body was snuggled in. I said to Neto and Barbie "Ay, look how cute, little loquito is cuddling in the blanket." I went to pet him and he didnt move. I screamed and Neto jumped off the couch. I left the room crying, I couldnt look while he opened the blanket.....he was gone. I couldnt figure it out, he was fine when I left. It had to be the onion, Barbie said that onion is toxic in cats and dogs. I googled it and found that to be rare with birds, but possible. I have had pet birds for 15 years and never heard that. I miss him so much. I do still have the two little parakeets, but its not the same. Pobre sito Loquito........lo siento.

Rio de Janiero

Joanne and I have been traveling the world together for 8 years now. She was my first travel buddy when I first started with delta. We have been to Paris, Cairo, Lima, Rio de Janiero (2x), Cancun, Mazunte, hmm where else?.......Our first trip was Jamaica.....it was on that trip that we discovered we are GREAT travel partners, and we havent stopped since.

Below are some pics from our latest adventure to Rio..... a city of spectacular landscapes and beautiful peeps. I love it, everyone takes care of themselves....contanstly working out on the beaches. So what if it is plastic surgery, it still makes for the best people watching. Although it rained quite a bit, we walked Copacabana and Ipanema beaches every day and enjoed the sun and food..... Poor Joanne accidentally erased all of her pictures on her camera the last day of the trip...ohh she was pissed......luckily I had mine, i did get some great shots, but she had better and video from a pre-carnival parade that was unbelievable! Oh well, I guess we will have to go back next year :)

Mmmmmmm jugo de coco

All of the beaches have mosaic boardwalks, can you imagine the time that took, im talkin MILES of beaches......

Joanne and I Looking over Ipanema Beach.

Aruba

Aruba.....Jamaica.....oooh I wanna take ya.......
Ernesto, Smita, Sean and I went to Aruba for a long weekend. Smita and I chipped in on a silent auction at work and we ended up getting certificates to the Raddison for a great deal. (plus we shared one room so it was perfect) The boys in one bed and the girls in the other.




I was in heaven they had so many parrots there!! Everyday at 11am they took them out for feeding and handling...needless to say I was all over that!!



It was so beautiful, the water was so blue. We went on a 1/2 day catamaran trip and snorkel a ship-wreck (not great). Sean brought his guitar and entertained us on the beach. We did a lot of relaxing on the beach.



Kristen and her husband were also staying at the Raddison, so one night for dinner we all ate at a restaurant where our feet were in the sand and the water was 2 steps away, it was so beautiful. What was the name of that place?? oh and the wine we drank too?? I need to keep my travel journal more handy!

Feliz Navidad 2005

This is the Christmas card that Neto and I sent out this year. It was such a hit. We got a lot of laughs from the lucky recipients. We thought this would be a great tradition to start. Taking our santa hats on a trip to make that years x-mas card. This year was on south beach in Miami. Ernesto took me there for my birthday and surprised me with a bead show that was going on. It was a great time! Who knows where it will be next year?

Loquito

Lupe
My Little Loquito!!!!
Ernesto bought me Lupe when we first started dating, 5 1/2 years ago. This was when I was working for DL in Columbus.... I remember he came to pick me up from work and Lupe was in the back seat in a box, but I didnt know. When we got home, I went to the bathroom and when I came out, this baby bird was on the floor. I was so excited!! Neto had bought a huge cage too, I think to this day it's the best present he has ever bought me!
I love him so mutz! He has such a funny personality. He is not as sweet as he once was. He used to like people, but ever since Nester chased him around with a leather tiger he has been a bit jaded. He still loves his mommy though (even though he will bite me from time to time...I call them love bites)
He loves to dance with me, whistle, mumble, take baths, and eat or drink anything I am....
"Nester...stop giving him Corona"

A couple years ago Brrrrrian made this for me. He loves to be creative with Photoshop and I love it!!







Yes, I am a bird lady......
Today I have 3. In April I bought a blue parakeet. Then last weekend I walked into PetCo and they were on sale for $12.99...I had been thinking of getting another so little beep-beep would have a friend (Lupe is a BULLY) so I bought another. They are so cute!!!

Marbella Spain

It only took one second for us to say YES when Ernesto's brother, Tavo asked us if we wanted to go to Spain. A friend of his has a condo in Marbella. On the Costa Brava...southern coast....where we had never been. We had gone to Spain with Ernesto's family right after he graduated from OSU. We went to several different cities and LOVED it! This time we stayed in one spot. Marbella is a GORGEOUS town right on the water.......

NEED I SAY MORE?

Mezcolanza

Check ME out on the MEZCOLANZA's website:

PUCKWAA

Bill Arnold
This is my hilarious brother Bill, also known as Puckwaa.
I love him, he is so damn weird! He is the entertainment in our family, always making us laugh. After looking at his picture, you might think he is a redneck. He cut this mullet (ie. haircut that is business in the front party in the back) after letting his hair grow for 3 months. It was supposed to be a "mullet contest" between him and Nester, but Nester is chronic hair snipper and couldn't do it. Fortunately, he only kept this haircut for a couple hours, after which he shaved his head. His wife, Barbie, didn't want him to leave the house looking like this, however, he did walk over to my sister Jenny's house. I happened to be on the phone with her when he walked in, and oh, the cackle that came out of her mouth.....I knew it was something funny. Later that day I was looking at this photo and chuckling myself. What a
PUCKWAA!!! Usually he is very normal looking....

No really, here he is at his wedding June 2004!! Extree cute!!

Mi Familia

This is my family (most of it)at my cousin Annie's wedding. It was in July 2005 and we had such a great time! Weddings are always a blast with my family, we love to party together. They are my best friends and I am so lucky to have them!