Thursday, September 8, 2011

At the Moment

Listening to-Castle on Hulu and the sounds of nature. Love the windows being open!

Eating-Nothing, just finished lunch though, thinking about getting a yogurt or grapes

Drinking-Water!! Glass number 3 for the day!

Wearing-Jeans, NAU t-shirt, socks. Hair in a "fun bun" as Audrey calls it.

Feeling-Good with the exception of my allergies driving me insane.

Weather-PERFECT!!! Upper 70's, slight breeze, sun out, perfect fall day!

Wanting-More time in the day. And a day at home!

Needing-More time in the day. And a day at home! Haha!

Thinking-about design ideas for Christmas cards, calligraphy, wedding invite designs, and so much more.

Enjoying-the weather, minus the stuff in the air to make my allergies go crazy.

Wondering-how long mother nature is going to bless us with this amazing weather.

These 2 card sets were listed in the Etsy store the last couple of days.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day! Very excited for the football game tonight!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Books

Like most people who love to read finding time is a huge barrier in our reading life. I have to say though, over the summer the kids, especially Dart and I did lots of reading. I'm really trying hard to keep my reading streak going. Right now I've kind of shifted from books for pleasure to books about business.

The book I'm currently reading is Craft, Inc.: Turn Your Creative Hobby into a Business. So far I really love this book. I've checked it out a few times and just never got around to really diving into it like I wanted. I've learned a few things from it and have already started applying them to Pink Owl Crafts.

Others on my list of to read soon include:
Kick-Ass Creativity: An Energy Makeover for Artists, Explorers, and Creative Professionals. I had it checked out from the library and started it. About 5 pages in I realized I LOVED the book and so I decided to order it so I could highlight all the important stuff. I started Craft Inc while I waited on this to come in so as soon as I finish the other one I'm starting this book!

The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life. I've had this book for a while and recently added it to the read soon stack. I've kind of skimmed it and am excited to start it soon.

The Handmade Marketplace: How to Sell Your Crafts Locally, Globally, and On-Line. Another that I've checked out from the library a few times and never really read like I wanted to. Next time I have a break in books I am reading this one!

Any other great crafty business books or craft books I should add to my list? 

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

10 on Tuesday

1. Thank you to whoever invented heated seats! Dart had choir practice early this morning and I was so glad my Jeep has heated seats. It was chilly outside this morning.

2. I am loving the weather we have right now. It can just stay like this for a while. Crisp fall like morning, 70's for the high, PERFECT!

3. Have you seen the videos on YouTube teaching you how to curl your hair with a sock? No really, you cut the toes off a sock and roll it up and then roll your hair around it to curl your hair over night. It actually works. Even on my hair, although I think next time I'm going to use a smaller sock.

4.  A friend had this posted on facebook this morning and I found myself shaking my head the entire time I read it. It's a quick read about moms weeping uncontrollably on the first day of school while others(myself included) sit back and are celebrating the fact that school has started. I love my kids dearly, but I'm not going to hide the fact that I was glad school started 2 weeks ago! Liars-All of Them!

5. After taking a few days off from Couch 2 5K I started week 2 yesterday. It was amazing running in the cool weather. I took a few days off because the heat and humidity was more than I could take. Maybe next summer I will be able to run in it, but for now, I'll take a break.

6. With the cooler temps we have I find myself wanting to cook more. I can't wait to make all the things I have pinned on my Yummy Pinterest board!

7. Roast going in the crock pot! I can't wait for dinner tonight.

8. I'm getting anxious for my shows to start back up. Especially Castle! Can't wait to see what happens.

9. Dart started choir today. I was extremely surprised when he told me he wanted to sign up. I can't wait to hear all about how practice went today.

10. Some how this day has totally gotten away from me. UGH! Oh well, grocery shopping is done for the week and we only have 1 baseball game this week. Hopefully the weekend will be slow!

Monday, September 5, 2011

Summer 2011 Recap

So I sit here on Labor Day recapping our summer thinking of fall. The windows are open, I have on slippers and it is a perfect 73 degrees outside. Wonder when I left Missouri! I will take this weather any day though. I'm putting all my summer decorations away today and getting out my fall. Now chances are good we will still need the air at some point before winter comes, but for now I am in heaven!!

So here's a look at our summer. I will warn you there are lots of pictures!
Shortly after school was out Audrey went to spend a week with my mom so she could attend Tigerette Mini Clinic. It's held by the high school dance team as a fundraiser. This is her 3rd year doing dance camp and she loves it.

The middle of June brought us traveling to Kansas City for a tournament. They played 3 games and lost all 3, but it was a learning experience for them. Plans are to travel a couple of times next summer.

The end of June we celebrated Audrey's 6th birthday. Hard to believe my little girl is 6 already. 6 going on 16 most days.

We had a busy 4th of July weekend. We had my cousins baby shower, celebrated my cousins little boys 1st birthday, had my parents annual 4th of July party, and squeezed in Audrey's birthday party with my family.


The week after the 4th was spent melting at baseball camp. The Krusherz hosted their first camp. 29 boys showed up in the heat and learned a lot and had fun. We even had the pleasure of having a couple of Mizzou baseball players show up 1 day to help and sign autographs. On the last day there was a home run derby in which Dart hit a couple. He is not a power hitter so he was really excited to actually hit a couple.

After a week of camp we headed to Fayette, MO for the end of the year Krusherz party. Audrey not only overcame her fear of the water this summer, but she smashed it. I couldn't believe it when she said she was going off the diving board. She climbed up once and thought it looked too deep so she just jumped in from the side. After a few times of doing that she got brave enough to try the diving board "just one time". One time turned into 100 times. Crazy to think a month before this we were pushing her to jump in at my aunts and now she's going off the diving board. Oh and on our way to Fayette we were rear ended. Made for an interesting trip! Nothing serious, in fact we aren't even getting the damage fixed as it isn't worth it.

The end of July brought sweltering heat, just in time for the Show Me State Games. It was MISERABLE! It was over 105 every day for a week. I have never been so miserable before! I was honestly glad when we were done and didn't move on to the championship round! There was one good thing that came out of this weekend. My cousin Byron and his wife Kate welcomed their first child Nicholas Blair. Blair was my dad's name and Byron was supposed to be named Blair, but my dad passed away in April and he was born in June.

The weekend after Dart played in the Show Me State Games, my brother's friends came to play in them and Dart got to play bat boy. Most of these boys have known Dart since he was born and they loved having him in the dugout with them. He had a blast hanging out with the older boys. They had fun playing catch with him and he even had a few really great stops when they were warming up.

Not to be outdone by his sister accomplishing something big in the water, Dart decided he wanted to learn to dive. Thanks to my cousin for working with him while she was 8 months pregnant. He hasn't quite mastered the dive, but he is doing really good. Hopefully he'll remember what to do come next summer.

My brother bought a mo-ped to help him get around Columbia. Dart got to ride it several times while he spent a week with my parents, so Audrey was a bit upset that she hadn't got a ride yet.

The middle of August we helped my brother move into his dorm at Mizzou! He has adjusted to college life and life in Columbia with no problems. He LOVES it here, although he is not fond of the traffic. Coming from a small city with about 20 stoplights total he's not a fan of 20 stoplights on one street. He attended his first home game over the weekend and is already counting down the days to the next one.

The 18th was the first day of 4th grade and 1st grade for Dart and Audrey. Big difference in last year for Audrey. Only a small amount of nerves this year. After the first couple of days she no longer wanted or needed Dart to walk her to her class.

On the 20th after celebrating my sisters wedding shower, my mom, the kids and I headed to Kansas for the Legends game at the T-/Bones stadium. Dart was not upset to be there even though in the picture he looks mad. He was mad I made him get his picture taken. I loved seeing some of the guys I grew up watching play for the Royals play again. Dart had a blast and is ready to attend a real major league game. On the way to the game we passed the new Sporting KC Livestrong Park. That is an amazing field. Can't wait to attend a game there.

And here we are at the un-official end of summer. Fall ball has already started. With school back in swing and plans for our fall festival at school and my sisters wedding we are staying plenty busy still.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day!


















Saturday, September 3, 2011

Favorites

Hope this will be a regular thing here on the blog. Really trying to work on that mini goal for September. First thing though Way to go Mizzou Tigers on your win today! Not really the game I was thinking it would be, but then again it was 123 degrees on the field, so I'm guessing the guys were a little warm!

Favorite quote I found this week: "Please take Responsibility for the energy you bring into this space."

Favorite memory from the week: Audrey writing "I love Justin Bieber" on her water bottle and her brother begging her to love the Jonas Brothers instead. He even told her he would watch the Jonas Brothers movie with her if she would pick them of Justin Bieber. To say he is not a Bieber lover is a HUGE understatement.

Favorite thing I made this week:




Favorite Etsy find:
Found in this shop: DillonDesigns It's already sold, but I'm hoping it will be relisted!



Favorite Pin on Pinterest:
Fall






Friday, September 2, 2011

September Mini-Goals

I got an email today saying Etsy Holiday Boot Camp would be starting soon. I only half way participated in this last year and I really want to go full force this year. I decided I needed something to help push me along so I've come up with a few mini-goals. Some are business related and some are personal. Some will help me towards goals on my 34 before 35 list and others are things I just want to do better this month.

1. Blog 5 times a week. Lets face it, I haven't been so great about blogging and would love to blog daily, but I'm thinking that's really pushing it. Hopefully 5 times a week is a little more attainable.
2. Get enough items in my shop to hold a Fall into Fall sale. I'm wanting 50-60 items in my shop by the first day of fall so I can hold this sale.
3. Read Craft, Inc and start Handmade Marketplace.
4. Run at least 4 times a week.
5.Work on decluttering our home. We have so much stuff we are never going to use and so much that is just taking up space for no real reason other than we haven't taken the time to get rid of it. I'd love to get rid of 5 bags of stuff. Whether it go to goodwill, trash or giveaway, I want stuff gone!!

I made this banner for a cancer fundraiser silent auction. My brother is friends with the young girl who started the foundation, I-Rok. Her name is Kori and she is currently going through her 3rd bout with cancer since Dec of 2011. Her foundation is hosting a 5K, breakfast and silent auction this weekend to raise money for Children's Mercy Hospital and to kick of Children's Cancer Awareness month. If you could send good thoughts or prayers to Kori I know she and her family would appreciate them. She is a junior this year and an amazing soccer player and was really hoping for one year of just normal life.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

34 before 35 update

 I meant to get this up earlier and am just now getting around to it. I never did update in August, so some of this is for July as well.

2. Learn calligraphy. I also want to do more with my handwriting this year. I was always the girl experimenting with my handwriting. Always doodling and changing. Nothing in July, but I have 4 books checked out and am slowly teaching myself.
4. Have 100 sales in my Etsy shop. I've got 2 so far! 8 orders in July, 5 in August. Total so far 31!
6. Maintain 50 items in my Etsy shop. I have so many things I want to make and hopefully it will be hard to have 50 items in my shop all the time because hopefully things will be selling! I don't remember what I had at the end of July, but right now I have 20. I have 1 thing ready to go in as soon as I get the pictures edited and 4 more that will be ready soon.
9. Create digital cards. Think the cards you get at Christmas. Great for birth announcements, birthday invitations, Graduation open houses, wedding save the dates and more. No cards, but several other prints, that will be going in the shop soon.
11. Be proud of me. I have always had a hard time when someone tells me I create beautiful things and I'm talented. Need to learn to accept it. In July I got a major boost to my self esteem thanks to a fairly busy month business wise. In August I made the decision one evening to begin couch to 5K. I haven't got to run the last 2 days and I'm itching to get out there. It's been 100 degrees here and I just am not ready to run in that. 
12. Do more reading of creative/business books. I have a massive list of them to read. Didn't do any in July that I really remember. Now ready Craft, Inc. I've checked it out several times and am really diving in this time.
14. Drink 3 bottles of water daily. Mostly to drink less pop each day. I am a huge pop drinker and need to cut back. I didn't really do good in July, however in August especially after I started couch to 5K I have had very few pops. I did drink a bunch last weekend and I felt down for several days. Not down on myself, just blah.
16. Have 10 custom orders. I would love to have more, but I really want to make more custom items for people. Be it banners, cards or scrapbooks, bring it on. I met this goal sometime ago, but am still adding to it. 8 custom orders in July, 5 in August!!
18. Procrastinate less. I have been working hard on this. I am horrible at procrastinating and then doing everything at the last minute. Made some big strides in this during July. Still doing good through August, unless I have too much pop. Not sure what it is, but as I was typing this I got to thinking that I did have a few bad days, and realized on those days I had several pops.
27. Read 1 fun book a month. I love to read, just have a hard time making time for it. Hopefully this will force me to read more. Not sure how many I read in July, but I know I did read several. Same for August. Dart spent tons of time this summer reading and so trying to be a good influence on both kids I spent lots of time reading too. 
34. Do more to encourage Handmade Items!! I don't care if it's jewelry or cards or what, I just really want to do more to encourage buying handmade. Always working on this one whenever I get the chance. Sent several people ideas on Etsy for various things. I love supporting handmade. 

Hope everyone had a great week! For most people in the USA it will be a long weekend. We don't have much going on this weekend so I'm looking forward to it! 
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...