A day for favorites

I was trolling around on Etsy and found some fabulous items! Now of course, this were assuming I had the money to make these purchases ;-)

I saw this terrarium this morning and I love it! I'm thinking it might make a fun gift to someone.

Being sold by TortoiseLovesDonkey

This ring I found when I was looking at the favorites of someone who "hearted" my shop. Now, I'm typically partial to square cuts, but almost any Sapphire will steal my heart.

Being sold by mastergoldcraft

Oragami is absolutely amazing. I'm always amazed by what can be created from a simple piece of paper. There's also a National Geographic episode where you can see them make the paper they use for oragami. It's fantastic! I saw this piece when I was looking at Valentines products. The seller also has a fantastic 'rib cage' with a heart inside.

Being sold by xlessthan3

This one is with my Grandmother in mind. She LOVES this Grumbly Monster and I do love it, but I'd be willing to get it for her....and actually give it to her ;-)

Being sold by AMPdesigns

This final one is what I would get just for me and only me, which is rare. I am in love with purses, totes, handbags, clutches. Anything that can be catagorized by the word 'purse'.

Being sold by heart2handbags

Hope you enjoyed seeing some of my favorites! I have more saved, but these are the top. I'm also thinking of getting my ears pierced just so I can get some earrings I've seen by Starzyia and LimeGreenModern. Speaking of Starzyia, she was my 'boot camp buddy' over the holiday season and made this beautiful necklace for my grandmother!


It was perfect! I love her stamp necklaces. I have no clue how they are made which makes it even more amazing.

Take care for now!

Bookmarks and more!

I made an impulse item, so to speak. I was out getting some supplies and saw these bookmarks that you add items to (and I decided to stamp) and make it look pretty.

This is the first one I've created



Here's the second. I went with a "star" theme



I'm also working on a catalog for home parties and creating a packet of wholesale information. Once that's done, I'm hoping to put together a home party or trunk show and working up the courage to go out to stores and see if they like any of my product. I'm also on the search for packaging. I'd like to take samples to the stores and have them already packaged as if they were being sold. There is a thought going around in my head that I might try to make my own and purchase the bags that you put the card and product into, but we'll see.

In non product news, it seems "the sickness" has spread to this house. Aaron came home sick last night after work and Noah has been hacking up stuff for a few days now. Thankfully Noah's almost over it, but Aaron's just getting started. I hope and pray it doesn't hit me next! I soon wont have a husband home on winter break to help me out if I were to get sick!

Hope no one else catches whatever this is! Best wishes to all!

Oh taxes my taxes

Now, I'll be the first to admit, I'm horrid at math. Utterly horrid. I have been known to mix up numbers, signs and sometimes letters.

Now, with that said, I'm extremely grateful for the family friend who is a CPA and rocks at numbers. Also I'm grateful for my husband who double checks my works ;-)

Between the statements, print-outs, W2's, 1040's, schedule C and fees.....I'm easily lost. I will say, though, I am getting much better. I have kept great track of my sales, purchases and fees along the way. Sure I didn't enter a single receipt into my Excel book until two weeks ago, but that's ok. Because I kept them. Haha.

I am excited to be doing taxes though. I really am. I feel like this really is my business, this is my work and this is my financial life. Holy cow! I'm an adult!!

I haven't been doing the stamping like I should have. I've been caught up in taxes, online chit-chat on Etsy and my group. I promise I'll get back to it though!

Also, a small hint. If you've been waiting to make any purchases but need it for Valentines day, there will be a sale from Feb 1-4 (get it? 1-4, 14?) I'll tell you the amount and the code closer to time.

For now, take care! Stay warm! And if you're warm....send it here!!!

The Obligatory Party post!

Yesterday was Noahs birthday party. He is now officially a toddler and my husband is sure to remind me whenever I call Noah my baby. We had a ton of fun even though it was as stressful as humanly possible.

The party was scheduled to start at noon, which meant I had to set-up in the middle of nap time. The only problem there was that Aaron could only do a split shift and wouldn't get off work until 12:30pm. So....I called on my parents for their amazingness.

Aaron blew up most of the balloons (withI baked all the cupcakes, cooked up the chili, packed up the decorations and everything else needed and they set it all up. It was amazing!



The Menu:
Hot dogs
Chili
Chicken Tenders
Veggie Tray
Fruit Tray
Nachos
Queso and salsa





We had small favor bags made up and I wrote the name of each kid on a balloon they could take home. I also had a building blocks table set up to keep them entertained between food and cupcakes/presents.



Speaking presents, Noah got utterly spoiled.

Gifts:
Shoes
Excivator Truck
Hoodie and Snuggie
Big CAT truck
Monster Truck
Thomas books and puzzle
Truck books
Lightning McQueen

Did you notice a theme there? Lol. He is still in the "if it has wheels, it rocks" phase and he was in love with everything.

My best friend also was able to make it. It's special that he came because he just got home on leave from his deployment in Africa. He, his wife and their son came to Noah's party and it was so great to see them all!

Copper and shooting stars

I worked up a few new things over the last few days. So far, I have 5 necklaces and a new bracelet!

Here's a small preview.



I'm excited to get these out! The silver one you can't see too well is a very special one. It's a design I created that I have not found anywhere else so I hope it goes well!

A birthday celebration

Today is Noah's birthday. The smallest thing that has ever had such an impact on my life is no longer small. He's the best thing to ever happen to me (next to my husband that is).

Two years ago on Jan 3 I was visiting a friend. She just had her little girl. I was feeling funny and joked that maybe she'd be visiting me when she got out on Monday (the 5th). Turns out, she did.

Jan 4th I had small gushes when I'd move, sneeze, cough, etc. I thought I had the best pregnancy symptom of all, wetting myself. Lol. Finally at 10pm we went to the hospital to get looked at. At 2am my midwife came in and confirmed I had a tear on the first bag of water up at the top. My water had been broken for over 24 hours and I was having my little man. 6 weeks early.

I didn't have time to get steroid shots, I couldn't keep him in and I had to get pumped with antibiotics.

They started the Pitocin and worked to get him out. I had a very rough delivery. I started pushing somewhere around noon. I had a certain procedure done twice to allow more room for him to come out (I wont go into the gory details on that one) because he got my husbands family gene. Big head.


My angel was born at 1:30pm and he was perfect. I never got to see him before he was cleaned and wrapped, the nurse was in my way. My husband left with the medical team to take him down to the NICU two floors below me.


Two hours later, I saw him. He was perfect. I felt horrible because he was hooked up to wires and tubes to help make sure he was safe, warm and fed.




For 13 days he stayed in there. He got bigger and stronger every day, and he still is.

One year!


Two years!

New Years Eve -hidden giveaway-

What will the new year bring? Yet again, it's time for those resolutions to be brought out and even though most fail, we try.

What are yours?

Mine:
Cut down to 1 soda a week (I'm currently at 3 a day)
Become more organized for the shop
Be pregnant by Christmas. I know I can't really make it happen, other than the obvious way. But it's something I want to prepare for. Be healthy, be on my medicine, things like that.

I'm working on more Valentines projects, but I haven't photographed them yet, which I need to.

Right now, taxes and wholesale have pretty well taken over my thoughts for the new year. I'd like to branch out, become more known locally. Things like that.

Here's one new project though:


I did get some new copper washers in I'm excited to stamp on. I also have aluminum washers I've put something on, but I need to attach it to a chain. Not sure how I want to attach it yet.

Right now, the aluminum bar is still waiting to be stamped. If you can tell me something to put on it I'll let you have it for free. It doesn't swivel, just to warn you. But it's light, smooth and a good size. It could even be a good key chain.

Tell me what to put on it, and if it should be a key chain or necklace and it's yours. I can only take the first two requests due to limited supplies.

The bar measures 1/4 x 1/2 x 1 1/2


I'm also contemplating taking on this 52 week challenge. It's a challenge to yourself to create one new project a week. One week it might be to make X amount of gift boxes, or create X new jewelry pieces, etc. So we'll see! I'll update each Monday with how it goes.

See you all in the new year!