An Introduction

First, thank you for reading this and welcome!

This site will be more than blog-venting about a current challenge; it is a chance for me to share interesting tidbits and information, then move forward and share stories and adventures from our new home.

Which will be here:

The pin is actually exactly where we plan on living in O'ahu!

Before we go any further - a bit of introduction if you don't know me already.  My name is Michelle, and I just received my bachelor's degree in late May -  after what seems like forever! - which included a two year study-abroad in Paris, France.  Our tiny but mighty family consists of myself, my very rad daughter, and our 5 pound dog.  (All of whom were squeezed into a tiny studio apartment in France for two years.)
This cramped-but-amazing study abroad helped me land my awesome Teaching Assistantship offer I received (and signed the contract for) in late April with:

Yes, The University of Hawai'i at Manoa!  Which means I can pursue a dual Master's there, teach French at the university (and see if it's a solid fit for me) *and* support myself and my daughter while doing so.  We even have health insurance.  (For me, that's a huge deal.)

So, all is golden...except for the large hurdle which has presented itself.
My job ended this May (my student position was over) and the loan I had arranged for as my reluctant 'Plan B' are no longer an option due to my graduate status (though I had checked and was told they were still available to me early in May).  Which leaves me in a huge bind.
Being a single parent and in school, I currently do not have any savings reserves (especially after a stay in the land of the Euro).  Happily, my award from UH Manoa does cover some moving expenses - but is not released to me until well after I have arrived.

Thus I am hoping to raise money through my shop, Atelier BelleVie.
Here are the various links for it:

Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/AtelierBelleVie

Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Atelier-BelleVie/139846212693322
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/AtelierBelleVie
Blog:  http://atelierbellevie.blogspot.com/
(Whew!)

I have stocked it with as many items as I could - and I am finishing up some more paintings today and tomorrow; these will be listed to sell by Friday evening and also used to demonstrate what different custom work styles would look like.
If you see some items you would like, but would like to purchase a piece or reading outside of etsy simply let me know by convo there or contact me here.  ( I truly want to earn this money to get to our destination.)

**Also, if someone can help me set up a better Paypal button system, please let me know.  I will ply you with baked goodies.***

How does this apply to you?  Even if nothing in the shop appeals to you (or as is the case from time to time, you can't buy anything, but are still reading anyways because you are awesome) - please forward the information to those whom you think might be interested.  Every tweet, blog shout-out, fb post, and more can help.   If I can clean out the shop, or sell two or three higher tiered items - that could be truly transformative for myself and my daughter.

(Who, btw, has two private schools interested in her in Honolulu - she tested *very* well on her SSAT.  ( Proud parent pause.)

Image from my shop, recently added!

For every purchase from now until late July - we'll send extra thank you gifts once we've arrived in Honolulu (in addition to the usual gifts we tuck into our packages when they are sent).  I will ensure everyone is truly satisfied with their purchases, and work my tail off to ensure that.
Not that I wouldn't do so ordinarily, but right now each sale means that much more.

Let me close this overly-lengthy post with a short but heartfelt thanks.  I know things are tight for many people right now - and I am wincing, because I feel there are so many others who are in need of assistance.  I intend to donate some of the profits from the sales as well - it's important to give back.

So check back, I'll be posting again soon - with some unusual information, odd tidbits of knowledge and such.
And maybe a hint of snark.