The World According To Plaidfuzz

Boredom At Its Finest

2009-10-07T10:46:00.000-07:00

Today is supposed to be the last day the high reaches over 70, so of course the salon is completely deserted. Who wants to be stuck in a styling chair when it is possibly the last gorgeous day of the year outside. And as fate would have it this is my long day and I am here from 10-8, so no beautiful weather for me. I should have brought a book to read or some crocheting because there is only so much cleaning you can do before you are ready for a straitjacket.

I took advantage of the slow day to catch up on a few DVDs we are required to watch. One was about H1N1, and it was quite literally 4 minutes long. It was our artistic director stating over and over "if you feel like you have the flu, STAY HOME!" I am somewhat certain that I already had H1N1 - or a wicked case of influenza A - so hopefully I already have antibodies and won't be contracting it this winter. My daughter never got it, so the jury is still out on whether or not she will be getting the vaccination.

I might take some time to update my Facebook fan page today - I still don't have that completely figured out. But I am about as sick of looking at this computer as I am of dusting shelves, lol.

I'm Baaaack ...

2009-10-05T12:36:00.001-07:00

So it has been a while, but I am finally back into blogging and back into my Etsy shop. I have a few things ready to be listed, and am trying to get in gear for some Christmas stuff. As cold as it has been its easy to get in that mood!

Rambling

2009-08-01T19:30:00.001-07:00

You know, if I could find a decent iPhone app for Blogspot I would update this a heck of a lot more. Ever since I got my iPhone I really don't bother to lug the laptop around unless I have to.

I worked all day today. I wore a sample of Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue perfume that I got with my last Sephora order and pretty promptly had an allergic reaction over my first client's head as I was waxing her. Had to dart to the bathroom and wipe it off. Good times. I love my job but I am getting so burnt out, time for a vacation that I will never take.

My darling ex husband apparently has either quit or gotten fired from his job again as I had the lovely surprise of no child support this month. Always good timing with back to school shopping and all.

Fireworks

2009-07-05T12:30:00.000-07:00

Well I hope everyone had a safe 4th of July! It was wonderful to have a Saturday off, which also gave me a 3 day weekend. We went to my grandparents' house for dinner and stayed to watch their small town's fireworks display. They shoot them off at the small arena right down the street from my grandparents' so we were able to sit on their driveway and watch. Of course we all forgot our cameras, so all I got were shots on my iPhone.

My grandparents' house is about a 45 minute drive through mostly rural areas, so it was a beautiful late night drive home. You could see random fireworks displays from miles away - if I wasn't driving I could have captured some awesome pictures. There are railroad tracks that follow the highway most of the way, so the light of the moon bounced off of them and followed us home. I have loved watching the moon on the railroad tracks since I was a child, so it is an eerie, yet kind of comforting sight.

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Now playing: Queen - Somebody to Love

Juice and Fireworks

2009-07-03T08:41:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July! I have a 3 day weekend, which I am beyond excited about because I NEVER get Saturdays off. Occupational hazard when you are a hairstylist I guess.

Last night I got a Jack Lalanne juicer so my daughter and I have juiced through about $30 of fruit in the last 12 hours, LOL. Its a really easy way to add more fruits and veggies into your diet, that's for sure!

Since I have a little extra time this weekend I thought I would spend a little of it on the Etsy forums. Dang, never again! All I see is bitch, bitch, bitch, and whine, whine, whine. If it is that offputting to me, imagine the stray buyer that wanders in!

New Schtuffs

2009-06-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

Well, I am slowly but surely getting items photographed and put in my Etsy shop. I am still having a heck of a time with getting enough light for the pictures. Here's a few of my recent listings:

I have a gazillion things more to take pictures of today, so I guess I better get busy!
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Now playing: Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal

The King of Pop

2009-06-26T07:36:00.001-07:00

I'm sure everyone will be talking about Michael Jackson today. I think his death has so emotionally affected people because his music is so intertwined with childhood. Remembering being scared by the Thriller video, singing along to Smooth Criminal ... Personally I don't necessarily buy that he was a child molester. He seemed to be so deeply affected by the abuse he suffered as a child, he truly believed he was a child. Sad story all around. RIP

The Latest Chapter

2009-06-21T10:46:00.000-07:00

"A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.
Ayn Rand "

You've probably noticed my recent renewed interest in my blog. That also means I will be revamping and relaunching my Etsy shop soon. I am making new items and will be re-photographing everything. I ordered a light box like this one:

I got it off of Ebay with lights and everything for under $40 with shipping.

I'm going to be working on streamlining my product line so I can mass produce more items and save time by relisting as soon as I sell. I also plan on downsizing the crocheted items I carry. I'm going to start with the mini dishcloth sets and I may or may not add anything from there.

I also purchased a new banner and graphics for my shop from McPrincessMaree on Etsy. As soon as I saw it I bought it because I thought it was a perfect fit for the direction I want to go:

I haven't set a date for the re-launch but I will definitely be posting my progress here.

Yet Another Blog Post About How To Sell On Etsy ...

2009-06-19T20:36:00.000-07:00

I opened my Etsy shop in January of 2008, and managed to get 20 something sales until I closed it in May. I had basically run out of the time I felt it took to successfully run the shop, so I pulled my inventory, but I continued to remain active on the site as a buyer. During that time I was able to observe with a new set of eyes and I feel like I learned some invaluable lessons about how things appear to our customers.

In my opinion the single most important aspect of customer service is the good ol' cliched golden rule. If you paid for something and it never arrived, how would you expect the merchant to respond? Many of these situations can be diffused by taking a step back and putting yourself in the other person's shoes.

No matter how angry you are, don't air your private transactions in public. Buyers DO read the forums, and blogs, Twitter, etc. If you are treating that buyer in such a fashion, how do I know you wouldn't do the same to me as a buyer? The bottom line is, it makes you look petty and unprofessional. I don't subscribe to the theory that the customer is always right, but I do believe that they all deserve to be treated with courtesy and respect. If things start to get hostile, sometimes it is better to cut your losses and issue a refund, and cancel the sale.

Something I see over and over is shop owners who claim to be professional business people, but take everything personally. Don't ask for a critique unless you really want to hear what is wrong and what you can improve. Be open minded enough to realize that there is always room for improvement and that your personal taste isn't the same as everyone else.

I believe that what you put out there comes back to you. and that honesty is the best policy. I am shocked at the number of people who not only knowingly break site policies - and sometimes even laws - but publicly admit to it, and even brag about it. Not only does this look unprofessional, it leads me to believe that you could potentially be dishonest with me as a buyer. Putting your business online subjects you to FTC regulations. If you don't like them, perhaps this isn't the proper venue for you.

One last observation - be nice. I cannot get out of shops fast enough when I see bickering, name calling, and general nastiness on the Etsy forum, Twitter, etc. I am not one of those people who won't buy from someone because of the political opinion, religion, etc. but I will blacklist people who are jerks. Take two seconds to send a quick convo letting your customer know when you are shipping and thanking them for their order. Not only does this make a good impression, you'll make some great Etsy friends along the way.

In closing, these are just my opinions, and you know what they say about those! Take it or leave it, but now you have one buyer's perspective.

Of All The Gin Joints In the World ...

2009-06-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

So Friday is my day off and I am stuck at home waiting for the air conditioning man. Yay! It is supposed to be humid and almost 90 degrees all week, so I really shouldn't be complaining.

So this week I finished Water For Elephants and Memoirs of a Geisha (I know, I know, I am about 10 years behind on that trend). Both were pretty good but a little meh for me. Its been a while since I read a book I just couldn't put down. Any suggestions for me?

Tomorrow we have a big wedding party coming into the salon. Apparently they came in the other night for a trial run and were not pleasant. One bridesmaid wanted a really complicated style, and the designer told her sorry, she just couldn't do it. Then the bridesmaid proceeded to call a hairstylist from ANOTHER salon to come into OUR salon and see if she could do it. She couldn't but I was appalled a t the lack of courtesy. And the icing on the cake is that they scheduled the PITA bridesmaid with me because they thought I could handle her. FML.

2009-06-14T15:45:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been awhile since I posted anything! Life takes over and sometimes I don't feel like I have anything worth sharing. So today is just a lazy Sunday. I want to start reading a book this afternoon. I have a few I stacked up that I haven't read yet, but I think I will start with Water For Elephants. I have been doing a lot of reading lately and I believe it is in direct correlation to my recent efforts to exclude toxic and negative people from my life. I find it easier to just stay home than too deal with the irritation of condescending jackasses.

I am tired and lazy, so here are some of my favorites ...

2009-03-30T16:13:00.000-07:00

Soapbox for the week ...

2009-03-28T20:57:00.000-07:00

I'm going to take a moment to gripe here.

I have been divorced for almost four years, during which time my ex-husband has paid child support for less than a year. Now he is over $11,000 in arrears. What happens to him? Pretty much nothing. The only thing I am aware of is that he has received letters stating that his balance will affect his credit score -- big whoop he has terrible credit anyway. He is a twenty something, able bodied man who just refuses to step up and take care of his child.

When he refuses to work, his child still needs to eat, she still needs clothes, she still needs insurance. If I refused to provide these to her, I would sit in jail for neglect. It just absolutely boggles my mind what little recourse custodial parents have when a deadbeat parent chooses to drop out of their child's life. In my opinion, if these parents aren't actively pursuing work, they should sit in jail because it is truly criminal what they do to their children.

Tired

2009-03-27T09:16:00.000-07:00

What should I be doing today? Well there is always cleaning, but my real goal was to get going on getting some Mother's Day cards made and listed in my Etsy store. However it is almost noon and I have gotten nothing done. I have suffered from a few bouts with anemia, and I am starting to think I may be again because I have been SO tired lately I can barely function. I am going to try some improvements in my diet and vitamins and see if that does anything,

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Now playing: Tyler Hilton & Bethany Joy Lenz - When the Stars Go Blue
via FoxyTunes

Its Sunday, What Can I Say ...

2009-03-22T11:19:00.000-07:00

So you've all seen/read Twilight right? Well, the DVD came out yesterday, so I drank Strawberry margaritas and watched a little RPatz. I'd seen the movie, so it wasn't exactly edge of my seat action, but there are a lot of cool extra features, and you get a digital copy with DVD purchase so that was cool.

Today I am doing some deep cleaning! Last week was SO busy at work, I even went in on my day off, so my poor apartment was sorely neglected. My mission today is to get my oven (which is older than I am) looking brand spankin'. I gave it a once over when I moved in and I run the self cleaning cycle from time to time, but today I am using oven cleaner and elbow grease.

So, I'm off to clean!

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Now playing: Allison Iraheta - Alone (American Idol Performance)

Busy!

2009-03-19T06:05:00.000-07:00

So I got the bright idea that I was going to sew my daughter's Easter dress this year. Easter dresses are somewhat of a running joke around here because typically we don't wake up in time to go to church anyway. So I chose a pattern, bought some fabric... and left it sitting for about two weeks now. I finally got around to prewashing the fabric, soI am hoping today that I can get it pressed and at least cut out.

I got a new stamp that I ordered last night, from Drumchick99 on Etsy. I have gotten several from her now, and they are so cute! Hopefully I actually get some time to try it out!

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Now playing: Seether - Careless Whisper

Needed to get this off my chest ...

2009-03-17T17:37:00.000-07:00

So, we had a new girl start at work a little over a month ago. She transferred from one of our other salons because she didn't get along with the manager there. She had a reputation but I resolved to give her a chance before I judged. Since she chose to leave her previous salon she was given the stipulation that she maintain the same sales that she did, without taking walk ins ahead of the rest of us. Well, she took a lot of walk ins she shouldn't have, to the point of being ridiculous. I bit my tongue and figured things would work themselves out. Finally one Saturday I reached my breaking point. She double booked herself with walk ins when there were three of us with openings. After work I pulled my manager aside and let her have it. I was angry to the point of tears. She was affecting my paycheck and I had enough.

Rewind a few days ... she had been oddly bloated in her abdomen. She said, "Melissa, feel this, its as hard as a rock!" We teased her that she was pregnant or constipated. She made a doctor's appointment and discovered ovarian cysts. Her sister had them atone time, no biggie.

Fast forward to the Monday after my Saturday freakout. I am cleaning my combs in the back room when my manager walks in. "I have some sad news," she says. I freeze. I am in the same spot, doing the same thing as when she said those words to me almost two years ago when another one of our co-workers had cancer. That co-worker died 4 weeks later. "Our little Katie has cancer," she said. "Oh my God," is all I could utter. I turned back to the sink fighting tears. My manager asked if I was ok, and all I could choke out is, "I was so mad at her." Over money, over a stupid pissing match, that all seems so STUPID an inconsequential now.

I feel like I was being tested. What is important to me? I let money rule me and now I regret that so deeply. If I would have just rode it out for48 hours, I would have never said those horrible things about her, I would have never brought my feelings out into the glaring, unforgiving light. I was tested, and I failed miserably and now all I can do is regret and pray. She went in today for a full hysterectomy and they were unable to determine if the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes because they were so inflamed. I am so scared for her. She has two very small children at home, she just lost her mother to cancer a year ago... Please pray for her, because it all seems so hopeless right now.

Must Haves

2009-03-15T14:56:00.000-07:00

So since my last blog post I have discovered three amazing things that I am not sure how I lived without before.

One, the Iphone. I debated back and forth between staying on Verizon and just getting a Blackberry Storm, but after researching head to head comparisons I went with the Iphone.
I abasolutely love it, don't know what I did without it. I can tap one button and checkme email, my Netflix, Facebook, listen tointernet radio, read a book, check the weather, etc etc etc. Plus with a full internet browser, my Etsy shop is constantly at my fingertips.

Another gadget I recently got is a MagicJack. Maybe I am out of the loop, but I hadn't heard of these until very recently. It is a small converter that plugs into your USB port, and you can plug any regular telephone into it. The MagicJack itself is about $40, and you get a year of free service, and thenm it is $20 per year after that. I was able to get a local phone number, although not every city and town is available. I now have local, and free unlimited long distance.

So far the sound quality is great and I haven't had too many issues, except I have to dial the area code for local cell phone numbers. No biggie to me. I was paying $40 a month for a phone line with NO long distance, so this will be a huge savings for me.

I have an antique glass candy dish that my great grandma gacve me. My daughter likes to keep it filled with small candies, and always has to pick them out herself. Recently she chose a fun size candy bar mix that included Milky Way Caramels.Again, I may justbe behind the times that I have never heard of these, but OMG, this is the best cheap chocolate you will have this Easter.
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Now playing: Jack Johnson - Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

Have you tried blogging from

2009-03-06T05:18:00.001-08:00

Have you tried blogging from you phone? I am doing it as we speak.

Sick Day

2009-03-03T16:31:00.000-08:00

My daughter woke up with a stomach ache this morning and informed me she was too sick to go to school, so I had an unexpected day off. Sad to say, but I mostly caught up on sleep as I am getting over bronchitis and you know how you sleep when you are coughing up a lung. I did manage to get some things photographed and a couple listed in my Etsy Shop. I also managed to snag a treasury today, "Kiss Me, I'm Irish ..."

Blacklisted

2009-02-28T18:10:00.000-08:00

I have never understood Etsy buyers who refuse to purchase from people who rankle them in the forums ... until today. You can go in the forum and say that you want to have George Bush's babies, and while I may question your sanity, I will still buy from you. HOWEVER, if you criticize and snark, and then pout and complain when called on it AND proceed to bitch about the thread in multiple, unrelated threads I not only refuse to buy from you, I refuse to engage with you period. Suck it up buttercup! *end rant*

Only In Iowa

2009-02-26T05:56:00.000-08:00

The weather has been crazy this week. The past two days it was in the 50's and beautiful, and then this morning it is thundering, lightning and freezing raining. Its supposed to hover around freezing all day, so it should be nice and slick.

I woke up yesterday morning with the cold from hell. I'm still congested and hacking up a lung today. I swear there is not an over the counter remedy in the world that actually does anything.

I only work from 5-8 today, so I am hoping I can sit down and get some work done today. I need to clean my apartment as well, so we'll see which one wins out!

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Now playing: The All-American Rejects - Gives You Hell
via FoxyTunes

Where MuddyMoose Lives

2009-02-22T18:11:00.000-08:00

A few days ago I posted a bit about where I live, now it's M uddy Moose's turn!

"So....I live in Montana: The Last Best Place!

To be more exact Stevensville, MT. It is in the beautiful Bitterroot Vallley. Stevensville is the oldest town in Montana, the town where MT began. The Bitterroot Valley has had some special recognition of sorts recently. Just this past year, we shared some of our magnificent beauty with the world. The capital Christmas tree came from here this year. We don't have a lot of big industry here, as factories are not allowed to pollute our natural beauty. Some famous Bitterrooters? Huey Lewis (from Huey Lewis and the News, an 80's rock band), the Professor from Back to the Future (although he has passed), Hank Williams Jr (USED to live here.....I'm pretty sure some of the people are glad he is gone......from some of the stories I have heard...he was an A**) and at the same time Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson had a place here too. I have also hear Mel Gibson.....but am unsure about that one.

Montana is beautiful and is home to two wonderful National Park. We share a little piece of Yellowstone National Park and are also home to Glacier National Park. Two places that should be on everyone's "Bucket List" ."

Isn't that gorgeous? Again, if you'd like to share about where you live shoot me an email! (plaidfuzz80@aol.com)

Cuz I Have So Much Spare Time ...

2009-02-20T14:31:00.000-08:00

I got a sewing machine today. I used to sew a little in high school, but I really haven't touched it in years, and I would like to teach myself some basic skills again. I did a lot of browsing online and this is the machine I ended up buying:
I'm not typically a Wal-Mart shopper AT ALL, but this seemed like a good price and easy to use. I have dinked around with it a little bit, but at this point I basically just need to re-learn to sew in a straight line, lol.

Someone Hide My Credit Card

2009-02-17T12:32:00.000-08:00

When I picked my daughter up from school yesterday one of her eyes was bright red and irritated. Well, it still was this morning so I kept her home from school and called into work. It seems to be clearing up with the eyedrops we had on hand, so hopefully it wasn't pink eye. I have gotten it TWICE as an adult because people don't know when to freaking stay home, so there was no way I was sending her to school.

Since I had a little extra time on my hands I was browsing my favorites folder on Etsy and rediscovered Gittersniffer. Anyone who knows me can tell you that I am a makeup whore, and I have a ridiculous collection. I like brighter, more pigmented colors because I have dark brown eyes that look naked with too light of colors. I just ran out of my MAC Fluidline eyeliner, and I am eyeballing this Eyesparks Cream Eyeliner as a replacement:

I also like these:
Flight Club Eye Shadow

86 Eye Shadow:
Angry Eye Shadow:

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Now playing: A.A. Bondy - Rapture (Sweet Rapture)

Where Do You Live?

2009-02-16T14:54:00.000-08:00

I always find it fascinating learning about other places, so I decided to start a series based on your contributions. Email (plaidfuzz80@aol.com) me a picture of where you live - be it a landmark, tourist destination, landscape, whatever - and a few fun facts and I will feature them here.

I'll start with myself ... I live in the corner of Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota on the Iowa side in Sioux City. This was a stop for Lewis and Clark and the only man to die on their expedition is buried here. The now defunct Gateway computers was started and headquartered here, and Jolly Time popcorn is also here. Ann Lander and Dear Abby were born here, as well as the actor who played Beaver Cleaver.

Lazy Sunday

2009-02-15T15:23:00.000-08:00

This has been the definition of a lazy Sunday. My nephew spent the night last night so we had a big breakfast this morning. My brother in law came to pick him up and magically showed up at lunch time so we all had tacos.

Last week my brother in law took my daughter to the Daddy Daughter Date Night that they have every year. They eat dinner, have a dance, so a craft ... and of course get their picture taken:

New Computer

2009-02-14T15:00:00.000-08:00

So I am posting from my new laptop! I wanted something small and portable so I could take it to work and keep tabs on my Etsy shop. I ended up getting this Acer Aspire laptop. Not a lot of bells and whistles, but perfect for just browsing the internet. I have a pretty decent desktop I have most of my "important" stuff on.I downloaded Firefox for my browser and this is the theme I went with:

Gotta love a little Super Mario Brothers, lol.

I Came, I Saw, I Sucked

2009-02-12T05:56:00.000-08:00

So, I think I am going to close my Artfire shop. I am sure one day they may be fantastical and I'll wish I had stayed locked in at the $7 a month, but for now I just don't have the time to promote two shops. I have been on Artfire since November and made one sale, and I have made around 15 on Etsy in that same time. If I was doing this full time, it would definitely bemore of a viable option, but I am looking to simplify. I also was approved on 1000 Markets, and since its free to list, I'll probably fill that shop up.

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Now playing: MGMT - Electric Feel

Pricing

2009-02-10T16:04:00.000-08:00

Someone came in my salon yesterday looking for a particular shade of nail polish. I found it for her, and she asked what the price was. I told her, and she replied that she had found it cheaper somewhere else. Now, there is an industry standard retail price on almost all items, unless they are on sale, and if you deviate from it, not only will you ruffle the feathers of other salons, also the manufacturers.

This got me to thinking about pricing on Etsy. No matter which category you shop, pricing runs the gamut and there doesn't seem to be a standard in many areas, except some more mass produced items like prints.

Obviously the cost of materials factors in here, but I work for the largest salon corporation in the world, and for many product lines we receive special pricing because the company buys in such ginormous quantities. Still, we price at the industry standard retail price. We do run more frequent and better sales than many salons, but consumers know that this is a sale, not that we are "cheap."

Am I in favor of set pricing standards on Etsy? Absolutely not, but I think its an interesting theory to contemplate when pricing your items. Pricing them to low can cheapen the perceived quality, and eventually devalues the category as a whole. Pricing too high can turn off potential buyers from handmade.

What do you factor in your pricing? Materials are a given. Advertising? Packaging? Fees? And what do you charge for your time? What expertise and education do you have that qualify you to charge that amount?

I'm basically just thinking out loud about the subject, and I'd love to hear your thoughts. :)

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Now playing: P!nk - Long Way to Happy

The Felt Bug

2009-02-06T05:32:00.000-08:00

My daughter had to make a bug for her second grade class, so of course nothing in this house can ever be simple. I cut 6 circles out of green felt, and then blanket stitched them together with white thread. She helped stuff them with fiber fill and bean bag filling and she also chose the pipe cleaners for the antennae. I put the eyes on and sewed the legs on, although she gave strict instructions about where she wanted them placed and how many. I tried to give him 8 and was quickly informed that insects have 6. Here is the felt bug, who eats brussel sprouts, and whose habitat is her teacher's closet ...

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Now playing: The Polyphonic Spree - Section 12: Hold Me Now

Packaging Your Items

2009-01-26T14:13:00.000-08:00

I have seen some discussion about this on the Etsy forums, so I thought I'd put my two cents in.

I think there is a fine line between keeping the personal touch, and having professional-looking packaging. I like to put my cards in cello or poly bags for protection, and also to polish the look. On my smaller note card and tag sets, and I add a bag topper. Its not really necessary,

but I have fun playing with the design. I don't think its necessary to go over the top with professional packaging, but a few nice touches can really enhance your orders. Keep in mind these costs need to be rolled into your pricing, so determine what adds value, and what is unnecessary fluff.

I then wrap all of my orders in tissue paper, and tie it with a ribbon. Tissue paper adds a nice touch, but its also cheap and lightweight so it doesn't add to my shipping costs. I keep my eyes open for sales on ribbon, and can often get it for 50 cents per roll, so that cost is pennies per

package. I then stick a small handmade, handwritten thank you note under the ribbon, with one business card stuck inside. I think a thank you note is important because that is the personal touch that attracts people to handmade. Also, I find it a little distasteful and wasteful to send more than one business card, unless you have some type of referral program set up.

As far as sending "extras" goes, there are a lot of varied opinions. Personally, I like to include an extra card or tag set if I have some on hand, and if it doesn't push my package weight over an ounce more. If the order weighs right to the ounce, or I don't have anything made up from extra materials, I don't add an extra.

Finally, I ship in bubble mailers. I am all for recycling, but I do use new bubble mailers simply because it looks better, and I feel my items are the best protected. I ship using Paypal whenever possible. Not only does it save me time, the buyer is automatically updated as to the shipping status. Also, since delivery confirmation is automatically added, you as a seller are protected by Paypal.

There are some things that are out of our control once we drop that little package in the mailbox. I checked with a client of mine who is a mail carrier, and she said there are no restrictions on mail carriers smoking in their vehicles, so your packages may be exposed to cigarette smoke.

That is my two cents. I'd love to hear your packaging tips and ideas!

Murphy's Law

2009-01-25T09:37:00.000-08:00

Well, yesterday was an interesting day. I was absolutely SLAMMED at work, and then I had to go to the grocery store because my sister's family was coming over for supper. Got home in the nick of time and started cooking, and my doorbell rang. At this point I had literally been home 5 minutes. It was the girl who lives below me FREAKING out because a pipe had burst in the laundry room and she couldn't get the water main shut off. Needless to say there was water EVERYWHERE, and we would be without water until it got fixed. I had to take everything out of the oven, throw it in my car, and take it to my sister's house to cook there. My daughter and I spent the night there and I came back home to check on things this morning. The water is back on! Thank goodness because I don't think I could have handled another day at my sister's house.

This afternoon my step dad is bringing my desk over, so I can finally start to get my craft area set up. Yay! Now I just need to get some shelving and install it and the project will be complete. How I am going to get shelves into my car, let alone up on the wall I am not 100% sure yet, lol.

Still Cleaning!

2009-01-23T07:46:00.000-08:00

As usual, I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off this week. I feel like I am finally getting a handle on this organization project and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Today is my day off and in between cleaning, creating, listing, etc. I plan to schedule in a nap!! I have had some steady sales this week, so look what I was able to buy:

This is my second Gorjuss print and definitely won't be the last I add to my collection. I LOVE her shop. I seriously want one of every single one of her pieces.

Valentines

2009-01-19T06:21:00.000-08:00

I have been working on Valentines non-stop lately. These are a couple of examples of what my daughter will be giving her classmates. I love the felt hearts that we turned into magnets. I also listed a few in my shop. Click on the pictures to take a look!

Cleaning!

2009-01-18T16:38:00.000-08:00

So I have been working on some MASSIVE organization this week. When you live in a small space its really important that everything has a place to go, so I am excited to see this project through. Basically I am getting rid of the dresser in my bedroom, replacing it with a desk, and putting shelving in over the desk so I have a work space. Right now I am working on my computer desk in my livingroom with all of my supplies in rolling carts, which basically just leads to a huge mess. So, I went to Hobby Lobby and got a bunch of photo storage boxes (which of course NOW are half off) and started putting everything in those, and I will stack them on the shelves when I get them put up. I alsogot that basket to put all of my yarn in so I don't have bits and pieces all over the house. Its already full to overflowing, so I better use some before I buy more, lol.

Tagged!

2009-01-16T17:42:00.000-08:00

I got tagged by Ecogeneration! The rules are, list 7 random facts about yourself, then tag and link 7 people. here goes:

1) I love hard rock and alternative music
2) I have won the Regis Salon's Presidential Award twice
3) I ran over my foot with a lawnmower once
4) I have a makeup collection worth over a thousand dollars
5) I am very indecisive
6) I was once rear-ended on the way to the body shop to repair damage from another accident
7) I always wanted to be a writer. I have been a hairstylist for over 10 years.

Ok, I tag:

HomemadeZen
Meekiyu

Aack! Gotta run, I'll tag more later! *rule breaker*

Rushing As Usual

2009-01-14T04:56:00.000-08:00

This week has been completely crazy. At work our Regional Supervisor is in town (this woman is hell on wheels) so we have basically been sitting around trying to look busy at all times in case she stops by. Somehow it seems like everyone expect me has gotten to come in late or leave early because it has been quiet. Oh well, what can you do.

The weather has been absolutely insane as well. Monday we had a full on blizzard with over 40 mph winds. The entire city basically shut down at 5 pm. Tonight we are supposed to have record setting lows, right now they are calling for -19 and windchills in the -30s.

I have gotten a few new items listed in my Etsy shop this week, although haven't made it over to Artfire yet. And now ... I am rushinga round as usual so hopefully I can post more tonight.

Where Did The Day Go??

2009-01-11T18:21:00.000-08:00

I've been busy working on all sorts of different projects today. The newest addition to my shop is matchbook notepads ...

How Honest Are You?

2009-01-09T18:19:00.000-08:00

A recent discussion on the Etsy forums really left me shaking my head. The discussion was fee avoidance, and I was shocked to discover that not only is this widely accepted, I was literally mocked for stating that I felt it was dishonest and I wouldn't do it.

Are there dishonest people? Of course, but I guess what surprised me is the lack of shame and willingness to put it out there for buyers and sellers alike to see. There seems to be this attitude that its not really stealing if its from a faceless company.

I live my life by a different set of priorities. Sure, I would love to turn a profit with my online sales, but I absolutely will not compromise my integrity to do it. Money is not my motivating factor in life, and I can say without a doubt that I can be happy with a little or a lot. I feel a huge responsibilty to give my daughter not material goods, but values. Its important that I set an example for her in EVERY aspect of my life.

I am lucky enough to have an amazing mentor in my life, who just happens to be my boss. She is in her mid sixties and never had children of her own, but I definitely feel like she is a second mother to me. She often talks about her father who passed away unexpectedly when he was 60 years old. He was a farmer and sold insurance on the side. She said that at his funeral the church was overflowing with people whose lives he had touched. Many were people who he had sold insurance to, and when they were unable to cover their policies, he paid for them out of his own pocket. He always told her, "There's no use in chasing after money. There will always be people who have more than you, and always people who have less than you."

I guess my long rambling point is, where are our priorities? Have we truly become so obsessed with money that we chase it at all costs? I really hope that when I die there are some people at my funeral who can say that I touched them in some way, because I am quite sure no one is going to care what kind of car I drove, or house I lived in, or the balance of my bank account.

Not Enough Hours In The Day ...

2009-01-08T10:21:00.000-08:00

Its Thursday, so I only work from 5-8 tonight. I am trying to cram way too much into my day and not getting much done!I did get the bathroom cleaned, which is a ridiculous process because I am a perfectionist, and I got this set of red roses valentines listed in my Etsy shop:

I have been having a hell of a time with my pictures lately. I made a lightbox, but I need to work on my lighting to go with it! This one was taken in the lightbox with mostly natural light. Was your day more productive than mine??

Teal and Black

2009-01-06T19:49:00.001-08:00

I got a treasury! Go check it out ...

More Valentines

2009-01-06T18:31:00.001-08:00

So I have been working on more valentine sets. This is one of them, with vintage looking images and glitter accents. I'm not quite sure when I am going to get time to properly photograph and list them though! I brought a box home to make a homemade lightbox, but again, when I'm not sure!

Another Lovely Piece Of Livingroom Furniture

2009-01-05T21:07:00.000-08:00

My brother in law is quite literally the cheapest person you will ever meet, so when they throw things away at his work, he brings them home whether he can use them or not. That is how I inherited this black and white laser jet printer.

He carried it out to my car for me and assured me that the reason it was SO heavy is because it was full of paper. Yeah, right. After I lugged it up the stairs to my apartment I realized I probably should have googled whether or not there were even drivers compatible with Vista, because after all the thing is like 8 years old. About an hour and a lot of curse words later I got it connected and functioning. The only I have printed so far is a rough draft of a business card, which I'm a little iffy about.

The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

2009-01-04T14:00:00.000-08:00

One of my biggest pet peeves is the black smudges I get on wash cloths, no matter how thoroughly I seem to remove my makeup. My solution? Black wash cloths! I am totally in love with these! Its a perfect solution to my problem, plus the colors are so cute! Right now I just have black and pink. Black and blue will be the next addition. What do you think, good idea, or are black wash cloths just weird?

Cute Overload

2009-01-02T11:07:00.000-08:00

I got a couple of new items listed in my shops. Click on the pictures to follow through to the descriptions. I don't know why I am in this cutesy, cupcakey mode, lol.

It was AWESOME to have a couple of days off of work. I don't think we have really even made it out of our pajamas, lol. Today we watched the movie "Mozart and the Whale." It was a really cute story about two people with asperger's syndrome who fall in love. The title is based on their Halloween costumes. :)

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T07:42:00.000-08:00

I opted to stay home with my daughter last night and watch the ball drop on TV instead of going out. In typical fashion I passed out on the couch long before midnight. I woke up to find this note from my daughter by my head:

Translated? "Dear Mom, I want to know how it feels to be treated like an adult. If I don't like it, I will tell you and you can treat my like a kid again. Just tonight, if I tell you I'm going to take a shower or bath, I'm going to do it, ok?

Love, Jade
P.S. I cleaned the toilet already"

Christmas Is Over ...

2008-12-28T14:29:00.001-08:00

So time to start whoring out the next holiday, lol. I got two sets of valentines listed in my Etsy and Artfire shops today. These are similar to what my daughter gives her classmates, and last year I included these crocheted hearts:

I got the pattern from EternalSunshine on Etsy and made them myself. I don't know how much the kids liked them, but the moms sure seemed impressed, lol.

No, I Did Not Die ...

2008-12-27T14:33:00.000-08:00

Ok, so its been a while since I updated but things have been unbelievably busy and chaotic with Christmas. Maybe it is grinchy of me to say so, but I am so glad its over. I am ready to get back into a normal routine, and for the love of God, stop spending so much money.

My parents and my sister and her family came to my house on Christmas Eve to open gifts. My sister had asked for footed pajamas, which I searched high and low for. I ended up having to get them out of the kids section at Target. She asked me not to put her picture on my blog, so viola, here it is (Sorry its blurry, its a cell phone pic):

Yes, This Is Another Weather Post

2008-12-19T11:49:00.000-08:00

Last night we were supposed to get between 5 and 7 inches of snow. Well, we got at least 10. That was on top of about 5 inches we got Tuesday, and we are supposed to get more tomorrow. This morning was my nephews' final adoption hearing, which I of course still wanted to attend. I could barely get the front door of my apartment building shoved open, and walked in snow over my knees up the block so my sister and brother in law could pick me up on the main road, which a plow had been down. It was hairy, and we had a close call with a semi trailer, but we made it there and back unharmed. Its almost 2 in the afternoon and a snow plow has been down one side of my street, but not the other, and no one has cleared our parking lot, so I couldn't go anywhere if I wanted to. It was hard to get any pictures that really showed the depth of the snow because it blew so hard, its 3 feet deep in some places, and only a few inches in others, and I wasn't about to trek back outside to get a good shot. Below is a bush that is about 3 feet tall completely drifted over. I am SOOO sick of the snow.

More Hair Chopping

2008-12-17T19:04:00.000-08:00

So yes, I chopped another ponytail off. This time the unsuspecting victim was my cousin. I had been bugging her to try a shorter cut, and she finally caved this morning. As long as I'm already sending and envelope to Locks of Love, may as well add another ponytail!

More Snow, Yay

2008-12-16T14:05:00.001-08:00

I'm starting to sound like a broken record with the snow posts, but we had some major snow yet again today, along with some bitterly cold temperatures. I'm not sure how much we have gotten so far but I would guess about 5" and its about 6 degrees right now. Of course this all fell between about 8 AM and 1 PM, so I had fun cleaning off my car after work. These aren't my car in the picture, they are just random shots out the door at my work.

The Big Cut

2008-12-15T17:11:00.001-08:00

It was slow at work today so I picked my daughter up from school instead of sending her to the after school program and brought her back to work. I decided to deep condition her and trim her ends since it was getting pretty ratty. I always tell her not to tell anyone that he mom is a hairstylist because her hair often looks like a homeless bum. :)

Needless to say she talked me into more than a trim. She has wanted shorter hair for a long time, and I thought a 6 inch cut this summer would satisfy her. Nope. We ended up cutting the 10 inches required to donate to Locks of Love. As long as we were making a major cut, I figured it may as well go to a good cause.

The finished result is pretty cute, I have to admit. She loves it and that's the main thing. She hasn't had hair this short since she was a baby!

Sick of Snow

2008-12-14T11:30:00.000-08:00

This is currently the view out of my window. I tried to open the window and take a picture, but it is frozen shut. After temperatures in the upper 40's yesterday, it is currently -2 degrees (F) with a windchill of -22, wind speeds of 30-40 mph and light snow. Yay Iowa.

I am still not feeling the best, but definitely starting to get better. My nephews are having a birthday party this afternoon which I may skip considering I couldn't eat anything anyway, and the gift that keeps on giving is the flu. Their actual birthdays aren't until the end of January and middle of November, so I'll participate then.

The rest of the afternoon I am hoping to catch up on laundry and a few online things that have fallen by the wayside since I have been sick. I am trying to take it easy because I HAVE to go back to work tomorrow. Thank goodness my 7 year old is pretty proficient at light cleaning or lord only knows what it would look like in here, lol.

Still Alive

2008-12-11T06:30:00.000-08:00

Sorry it has been eons since I updated. I have been sick off and on for the past two weeks and I just can't seem to kick it. The worst part is I am absolutely exhausted. I slept for probably 20 hours yesterday, and I'm still tired.

Enough whining (for now, lol) ... I made and listed a new card yesterday. Some of the feedback I have been receiving suggested that I make some cards in more traditional Christmas colors, so this is what I came up with ...

So far I just have it listed in my Etsy shop, but hopefully later today I will get it added to the Artfire one. What do you think?

Monsters Vs. Aliens

2008-12-07T09:07:00.000-08:00

This is the new Dreamworks movie slated for March. Looks awesome!

Simply Shell

2008-12-05T08:59:00.000-08:00

This week I found a new jewelry shop on the Etsy Forums, Simply Shell. I found so many pieces I liked, I found it hard to narrow down to a couple to feature here, lol.

This is what Michelle says about her shop:
I'm a completely self-taught jewelry-maker, and have been making jewelry for about 3 years now. I first got interested in the hobby because my bracelets were always too big and I wanted some that actually fit me! I definitely caught beading fever, and soon I had more jewelry than I would/could ever wear, so I decided to open my Etsy shop. I'm not a big name, but I'm definitely more successful than I ever thought I'd be. I live in central Florida with my husband and two daughters (we moved from Oklahoma earlier this year) and when I'm not busy beading, you can most likely find me at Disney World or the beach!

Pretty unique, huh? And reasonable prices, so check the shop out and let me know what you think!

The Nameless Legwarmers

2008-12-01T05:34:00.000-08:00

I finally listed these legwarmers I have been working on in my Etsy and Artfire shops ... but I can't come up with a name! Any suggestions?

Rick Rolled

2008-11-30T08:24:00.000-08:00

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade got Rick Rolled this year. Maybe my twisted family are the only ones who find this truly hilarious, but here it is for your viewing pleasure ...

Black Friday

2008-11-28T08:14:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T06:15:00.001-08:00

Seriously ...

2008-11-26T05:34:00.000-08:00

Its a candle!

Pink, Pink and More Pink ...

2008-11-23T12:27:00.000-08:00

My daughter is 7 1/2 now, and I would like to redecorate her room to transition her from that little kid feel, into something girly and a little more grown up. I found these adorable signs on Etsy - I like the cupcake one, she likes the princess one. Whenever we decide which one to buy, this will be the first new addition to her room.

Browsing Etsy As Usual ...

2008-11-21T18:19:00.000-08:00

This made me chuckle. Check out Kateblack's shop on Etsy for all kinds of irreverent fun.

Artfire

2008-11-20T09:35:00.001-08:00

So on an impulse I opened a shop on Artfire yesterday. I'm curious to see where the site goes, as its a bit buggy right now, but they seem to have some exciting plans for the future. Have any of you joined? Why or why not and what has your experience been?

Argyle Fuzz

2008-11-19T12:42:00.001-08:00

So today I listed the first scarf in my Etsy shop. I named it Argyle Fuzz - a lame attempt at a play on words. what do you think?

A Little Whimsy To Start Your Morning Off With ...

2008-11-18T05:15:00.000-08:00

I found this Etsy shop for an ad on Craftcult.com and I am just amazed by some of the work. Amazing, amazing artist! The shop is Matchstickgirl.

I'm Back!

2008-11-17T18:47:00.000-08:00

As of tonight my Etsy shop, Plaidfuzz Designs, is officially re-opened!

2008-11-16T10:08:00.000-08:00

I made a lame attempt to design a logo for my shop, and thankfully Erin from Swiekyssiggies was able to clean it up for me a bit. :) What do you think?

I'm going to use it for tags, stickers, etc. so I have one with my shop's web address and one without. I wanted something simple, with a little campy, whimsical feel.

And So It Begins

2008-11-14T19:49:00.000-08:00

I started photographing some of the items I have made that I will be adding to my Etsy shop when I reopen. These are pictures of some gift tags I'll be listing. I'm really iffy on the background. Thoughts?

I Can't Make This Stuff Up ...

2008-11-13T06:18:00.000-08:00

Someone ripped off ANOTHER bumper sticker! This time I called my landlord because I have a pretty strong hunch that it is a neighbor that I have gotten into it with before. There's not much that can be done since no one has seen it happen, but God help me if I find out for certain who is doing it. I am told my brother in law has a stack of Obama bumper stickers from his union rep, so I am going to snag one and put it back on! This is my poor sticker crumpled and thrown on the ground:

The Weatherman Lied

2008-11-11T13:51:00.001-08:00

The forecast for this morning was light rain mixed with snow. This is what it actually did. (Can you see the SIZE of what was coming down??)
Pardon the craptastic pictures, but I took these on my phone at work. Thankfully it stopped and has basically all melted. It WAS a very pretty snow, it would be perfect on Christmas. What I am dreading is all the melted stuff that will be a sheet of ice by tonight.

Comeback?

2008-11-09T08:47:00.001-08:00

I went to Michael's this morning to buy some stuff to make my Christmas cards, and characteristically, I bought way too much. It got me to thinking about re-opening my Etsy shop. I definitely don't have time to roll out a whole line of Christmas cards, but I was thinking of starting small with some gift tags and mini cards. We shall see. :)

Iowa, 24, Penn State 23

2008-11-08T19:07:00.000-08:00

Unpleasant Surprise

2008-11-07T08:31:00.000-08:00

Well, I woke up to the first snow of the year this morning. Thankfully it was only about an inch! Here is a pic out my window of the infamous cemetery next door.

School's Out

2008-11-06T09:39:00.000-08:00

Today was my daughter's parent teacher conference. Basically she is doing great in everything, except timed math tests and .... music! My whole family is INCREDIBLY musical, but that poor little apple fell far from the tree. I've been trying to work with her on some scales, and have come to the stunning realization that the child can't carry a tune in a bucket. I'm off to google how to teach someone pitch, lol.

Yay!!

2008-11-04T18:54:00.000-08:00

Sugar Rush

2008-11-04T14:21:00.000-08:00

Did you know that they sell food on Etsy? One of the yummier looking shops to catch my eye was Caramel Jubliee (formerly Earcmra). These are "artisan" caramels that are all handmade from fresh ingredients. The chocolate ones look damn good to me.

This is what Rachelle told me about her shop

"Hi! My name is Rachelle, but you might recognize me as earcmra from etsy. I've recently moved to a new shop on etsy named Caramel Jubilee (carameljubilee.etsy.com). I sell delectable artisan caramels in five flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate, Pomegranate, Black Licorice, and Pumpkin Pie. All of the caramels are cooked and wrapped by hand. I purchase the butter and milk used in the caramels fresh from a local dairy for each batch and I only use real flavorings. There's nothing artificial here! The caramels are flavored with pure vanilla extract, real pomegranate juice, and delicious aged pumpkin. The caramels are always shipped within 24 hours of being made so they arrive fresh and ready to enjoy. I'm very passionate about my caramels, and I love to share my joy of cooking with others. If you have any questions about me or my caramels feel free to ask!"

What an awesome idea for a unique Christmas present! And if anyone would like to give their favorite blogger something, well, you know ...

And, for reader's of my blog Rachelle is offering a 20% discount! Just put Plaidfuzz in the notes to seller and she will refund you via Paypal. Please come back and let me know what you order!

And The Winner Is ....

2008-11-04T04:51:00.000-08:00

The winner of the October giveaway of the girls' crocheted hat is Missy!

I Got Tagged Again!

2008-11-03T15:06:00.000-08:00

This time by YellowLux. There really is no end to the odd and bizarre facts about me so here goes ...
The rules of tagging:
1. Link to tagger & display these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself - some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by including links to their blog.
4. Let them know they've been tagged by commenting on their blogs.

7 Random & Weird Facts About Plaidfuzz:
1. I have only been married once, but my last name has changed 4 times in my life.
2. I am allergic to bannanas
3. I am afraid to sleep with the closet door open
4. I have freckles
5. The numbers are worn off of my cell phone (I just got it in February)
6. My lip is pierced
7. I have never flown on an airplane

Tag! You're it:

The Funky Felter
Sticks And Stones Hemp
Mea Culpa Bath And Body
Jadewicks
Meekiyua
Michelle Brunner
Moxylyn

Pumpkin Spice

2008-11-02T17:23:00.000-08:00

This weekend my sister and I hosted a Halloween party. Most of the food was my responsibility, so I went with quick and easy. One treat I made was these Pumpkin Spice Bars. All you do is get a box of spice cake mix, whip it up according to directions, and then fold in a can of pumpkin pie mix. I topped it with store-bought cream cheese frosting. My kind of recipe!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T12:41:00.001-07:00

Yep, that's my brother in law. Thankfully we are not related by blood.

Ask A Hairstylist

2008-10-30T20:17:00.000-07:00

On almost all of the online forums I participate in, I get a lot of questions about hair. (I am a hairstylist with 10 years of experience) So, it gave me an idea. Ask me anything hair related in a comment and I will address it in my post tomorrow. :)

Christmas Shopping

2008-10-28T16:57:00.000-07:00

Yep, its that time of year again. Time to get off your asses and start Christmas shopping. I have compiled a list of some cool gifts that are all $10 or less to make your browsing easier.

The Unwanted Children

2008-10-26T20:30:00.000-07:00

With the impending election there has been a lot of discussion about abortion.I consider myself pro-choice. Abortion was not the option for me, but I do not favor making it illegal. I can see why people are anti-abortion, but to me there is a huge difference between pro-choice and pro-abortion.

My issue with BOTH sides is that there isn't enough being done to prevent unwanted pregnancies in the first place, or to take care of the millions of unwanted children who are already in this country. I have two nephews who were adopted out of foster care, and several friends who fostered, and adopted foster children. Yes, these children have issues from years of abuse and substance issues, but they are talented and loving kids who deserve a home. I have a client who works in a boys and girls home for "un-placeable" children, and they are full to overflowing.

I don't want this to turn into a big debate, I just want both sides to take a step back and see that attacking each other isn't helping the problem. Maybe we should be focusing more of our energies on what we have in common, and what we can do to help these kids.

Wal-Mart and Buttons

2008-10-26T07:25:00.000-07:00

I never go to Wal-Mart. There are many reasons behind this that make me seem like a free-thinking and evolved individual, but really its mostly because Target is way closer.

Friday I was out and about with my sister searching high and low for items to put together her Halloween costume. (She wants to be Poison Ivy from Batman -- who knew green stuff was so hard to find?) We decided to try Wal-Mart, and as long as we were there I took a look at the craft section. I blogged earlier about the scarf I was making my daughter, and I found some great multi-colored buttons to finish it off. I'm hoping I get time to finish it this afternoon -- if I do I'll post some pictures.

The Collection

2008-10-25T16:38:00.000-07:00

I have a small makeup collection. I keep it all in two old school Caboodles cases. Pictured is about half of it. (We won't even get into how many hair products I have) Obviously, some of my favorite brands are MAC, Urban Decay, Bare Escentuals, and Shu Umera. I am currently on the hunt for a good foundation and eye shadow primer. Any suggestions?

This Is What You Call Boredom ...

2008-10-23T20:03:00.000-07:00

When I still had my Etsy shop I made this little montage of some of my cards. Yes, I know, you cannot wrap your mind around the awesomeness. *warning* There is music, so if you are farting around at work, don't click

Its Coming...

2008-10-23T06:21:00.000-07:00

I am FREEZING today, so I thought I'd post some pictures of the first snow last year. These were taken out of my bedroom window, and yes, I live by a cemetery.

Misty the Wonder Pony

2008-10-22T05:08:00.000-07:00

I had to wait until after our birthdays in case my sister looked at my blog to post this. This is one of the gifts I gave her (her name is Misty) from Sweetheartsinner on Etsy. Its a cigarette case, but can be used for an Ipod, money, etc. How cute is that?

Nobama

2008-10-21T14:27:00.001-07:00

So update on the Obama sticker. Apparently they do easily remove, because all three of us have had someone take them off of our cars. Mine was crumpled up and shoved under the spoiler. God help me if I find out who did it, they are going to get the smackdown.

Red Lobster Biscuits

2008-10-20T17:16:00.000-07:00

Ok, here is a quick easy recipe that tastes really darn close too the cheesy biscuits from Red Lobster.

2 C Bisquick Baking Mix
2/3 C milk
1/2 C shredded mild cheddar cheese
1/2 C butter or margarine - melted
1/4 t garlic powder
parsley flakes, as needed
1. Combine Bisquick, milk, and cheddar and beat with a wooden spoon for about 30 seconds
2. Spoon onto a lightly greased cookie sheet
3. Bake in 450 degree oven for 8-10 minutes
4. Combine butter and garlic powder and pour over hot biscuits; sprinkle with parsley

Stickey Situation

2008-10-19T07:02:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday was my and my twin sister's 28th birthday. (I think we have my nephew convinced we are 22) Friday night we went out to a local bar with friends, but that's a whole other post, lol.

Yesterday I spent the day at my sister's house. She had volunteered to babysit a friend's one year old son, so we had a house full of kids. My brother in law got off of work late in the afternoon, and commented that he liked the Obama sticker on my car. I was like, "I don't have an Obama sticker on my car." Finally he fessed up that he had gotten bumper stickers from someone at his union and put them on mine and my sister's cars, unbeknownst to us. I like Obama and all, but that truly takes balls of brass to stick a sticker on someone else's car! He assures me it removes easily. If not, they will never find his body.

Goulash and Giveaways

2008-10-17T16:51:00.000-07:00

So, I decided to start a giveaway for the rest of this month. Everyone who comments on a post starting today is eligible. The prize is this crocheted hat, modeled by my daughter here. She is 7, if that gives you an idea of size. Each comment will earn you an additional entry, so comment away!

Pushing Buttons

2008-10-17T07:20:00.001-07:00

I decided it was time I start pimping this blog, so I had my friend Erin from Swieky's Siggies whip me up a button ad. She does a good job, huh?!

Tagged!

2008-10-16T19:31:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by Ara133photography!

Here are the rules:
Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
Share seven facts about yourself on your blog – some random, some weird.
Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs.

Here are my seven random facts:

1) I have black and pink hair

2) I'm afraid of the dark

3) The texture of honeycomb gags me

4) I graduated high school when I was 16

5) I don't like onions

6) I have 1 tattoo - its a Robert Browning quote, "Ignorance is not innocence but sin" on my forearm

7) Green Day's "Brain Stew" is my ringback tone

The blogs I am tagging are:

Cut Copy Create

Homemade Zen

Swieky's Siggies

Meeting Street Designs

OBTP

I Sew Cute

Heather Knitz

Politics

2008-10-16T06:56:00.000-07:00

I missed most of the debate last night, but I already sent in my absentee ballot, so it is far too late for my mind to be changed, lol. I was perusing the Etsy message boards for a bit last night, and I am struck by the hatred, ignorance, and general nastiness. There were several posters, both Republican and Democrat, who were able to carry out a thoughtful, intelligent and well mannered discussion on the topic, and I truly respect them for that. However, there were far more who resorted to mistruths, name calling, fear mongering and typical rhetoric. I suspect they are just nasty intolerant people in general.

The Art Of The Soul

2008-10-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

These pictures are a listing of a card set I had in my Etsy shop when it was open. It was a setof 4 priced at $12. They were really time consuming to make, but one of my favorite items. Any ideas on why they didn't sell?

Oops, I said Goulash Didn't I ...

2008-10-13T17:54:00.000-07:00

I forgot, I was going to post this AWESOME goulash recipe a co-worker gave me. It makes a ginormous batch, so unless you have 14 kids, you may want to cut it in half.

Grandma's Goulash

2lbs hamburger
1 onion chopped (I leave this out cuz I hate onions)
3 C cooked macaroni
1 1/2 to 2 qt. canned green beans
2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
2 C ketchup
1 T mustard
2 T vinegar
2 C tomato juice, more or less (I used a can of diced tomatoes instead)
1/4 C brown sugar

Brown hamburger and onion in a large, heavy kettle; add the rest of the ingredients. Cover and simmer for 15 m, or longer, on low, stirring occasionally.

Pennydog Accessories

2008-10-12T12:11:00.000-07:00

This week I found Pennydog Accessories on Etsy. There are several different jewelry styles in the shop, but my favorite is the fruit jewelry pictures above. Molded from polymer clay and captured in resin, the detail is amazing!!

So enough with the typical promo interview ... here is Pennydog Accessories' Myspace survey answers ...
1) Who is the last person you high-fived?
Ooh. We don't do that here :| Possibly someone at a tenpin bowling tournament many years ago...
2) If you were drafted into a war, would you serve?
Yes
3) Do you sleep with the tv on?
Not deliberately
4) Have you ever wheezed the juice?
What???
5) Have you ever won a spelling bee?
Ooh we don't have those either! I'm very good at spelling though, I teach English part time.
6) Have you ever been stung by a bee?
Yes. It hurt.
7) How fast can you type?
So fast
8) Are you afraid of the dark?
Nope
9) What color are your socks?
I'm not wearing any!
10) Have you ever made out at a drive-in?
We don't have those either, but no to a normal cinema
11) When is the last time you chose a bath over a shower?
About 3 weeks ago
12) Do you knock on wood?
Nope
13) Do you floss daily?
Nope (is that really bad?)
14) Do you wanna Fanta?
If you're offering
15) Can you hula hoop?
For about 10 seconds
16) Are you good at keeping secrets?
Not if they're juicy
17) What do you want for Christmas?
A polishing sanding machine for glass
18) Do you know the Muffin Man?
WHO? Clearly not...
19) Do you talk in your sleep?
I have been known to on occasion!
20) Who wrote the book of love?
There's a book?
21) Have you ever flown a kite?
Yes
22) Do you wish on your fallen eyelashes?
Nope
23) Do you whiten your teeth?
Nope (my dental hygiene sounds really poor doesn't it!)
24) Can you smell what the Rock is cooking?
Ooh no, I can smell what the neighbours are cooking though.

25) Have you ever asked for a pony?
I doubt it.
26) Have you, or would you ever, donate sperm/eggs?
I'd like to say yes but the egg process idea makes me squeamish.
27) Can you juggle?
Not at all
29) If you could enact any new law, what would it be?
I'd make it compulsory to have 6 weeks of paid leave a year
30) Do the chickens have large talons?
I haven't bought any chickens yet
31) If you had only enough energy left in you for one last smile, who would you give it to?
My partner Alex (Aah)
32) Are you ready to rumble?
Definitely.
33) Can you count to Schfifty-Five?
I haven't got enough fingers!
34) Have you ever been suspended or expelled from school?
No I was a good girl
35) How do you spell relief?
Just like you just did...
36) Have you ever crawled through a window?
Possibly but I don't remember
37) Have you ever eaten dog food?
Not knowingly
38) Can you handle the truth?
I doubt it
39) Do you like green eggs and ham?
I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam I Am!
40) Who is your daddy? and what does he do?
He's called Andy and he designs landfill sites!

A portion of all proceeds are donated to the Retired Greyhound Trust so get shopping!