For the Newbs.

Tonight I thought I'd do a little run down on me, my blog, and business for all you new faces around here! And for regulars too... this might piece things together just magically for ya... ;)

I started The Shine Project 2 years ago as a way to inspire people to just live better. To be happier, and give lots of love to the people around them. As this little space attracted more readers, I decided I would use it to also help the inner city students I had met while teaching for my senior internship. I became self employed through this blog of mine, so I've been able to dedicate a lot of time to figuring out the best way to help the students. That idea has now turned into a non profit, The Shine Scholarship Project. You can watch a tear jerking video of some of the kids we've been able to send to college here. I say 'we' because truly you readers are who have helped raise money and awareness.

In June of last year, I got a little frustrated with the lack of government funding for at risk youth, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. I created Threads by The Shine Project. You can shop here. We employ at risk youth (most of the kids we give scholarships to) to make really cute and trendy bracelets so they can have a job through college. All of our employees are first generation college students, and quite frankly, are the coolest people I've ever met. They've changed my life.

We pay them $12-$18 an hour (um, if I got even a fraction of that in college I would have been STOKED... we treat them well) and put a lot of effort into building Threads! We sell online and in boutiques across the country. So, thats kind of how all of my little projects all blend together. Make a little more sense now?

I think it's important that you should know I'm currently sitting in frog pajamas with black tights underneath them. I look exhausted and my hair definitely needs to be washed. The problem with this is that in less than 1 hour I am supposed to be at a really important fashion week party in Las Vegas. I'm here for Threads stuff... I can't tell you the last time I went to a party that started at TEN. I'm trying to make this happen guys, help me out!

I live in Phoenix, have always wanted to be a writer and entrepreneur, am married to the biggest stud ever, have a dog named Oliver (I never liked dogs until he melted my heart and now I love them all), and am obsessed with sushi and Cool Ranch Doritos.

Nice to meet you :)

Oldies and newbies... tell us a random thing about you below and introduce yourself!

Shine on.
And pray for me that I can pull myself together in the next 30 minutes, or I'm going to look like a fool.