Priorities and Time Management

I am this week's host for the EtsyBlogger's blog carnival. Here are the two topics I gave our team to write about: 1. How do you prioritize your time? How do you get more hours out of the day? 2. Are you a multi-tasker? Or do you prefer to finish one project before starting another? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I start each day with a to do list. I make my list at work that night so when I get home in the morning, I know exactly what I need/want to get accomplished for the day. Having a list and having priorities helps me stay on task! And I love crossing things off my list :) I try to get as much computer work done at work on my breaks as I can. The more I can get done before I get home means more time to create :) And now that I have my smart phone...I can read and comment on blogs anywhere I am! (Like waiting for Jesse to get out of Napa!) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am a huge multi-tasker! I do as many things as I can at once! I love my laser machine because it works while I work :) I can be working on scrapbooks while it's cutting out guest books for me! How cool is that! Or I can be printing earring cards while I'm updating my blog! I also don't spend much time doing leisure things like reading or watching TV. Our TV is rarely on and I'm about 6 months behind on all my magazine subscriptions! I do spend time browsing the net, but I try to do this while I'm eating breakfast or lunch. (Yes, I eat all my meals at the computer!) One more way I can multi-task :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So, share your tips with me! I'm always looking for ways to get more hours out of the day! It seems 24 just isn't enough :)

School Memories - Blog Carnival

Erika at Artful Rising and Little Andalucia is the host of this edition's EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival and she has Back To School on her mind!

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Here are this week's topics:

1. It is Back to School! Show off your back to school fashions, jewelry, supplies, gift ideas from your shop.

2. Share a memory from your school days.

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With the first day of school just starting up, this always reminds me of a tradition we had at our house. On the first day of every school year, my mom would take a picture of my brother and I ready to head to school :) We would hold up our fingers representing what grade we would be in.

My brother graduated 5 years ahead of me, so for my last few pictures...it's just me. This is my last school picture of my high school career. Here I am ready to start my Senior year!

What memories do yo have from school? Any traditions you'd like to share?

Blog Carnival - Summer Colors

This week's blog carnival is brought to us by...ME :) Here are my topics:

1. Summer is right around the corner!!! What are your favorite activities to do with your family during the summer months?

2. What colors remind you of summer? Have you been using these colors in your shop lately? Show us!

I just love all the bright, fun colors of summer! As you already know, pink/purple/aqua is my favorite color combo! These colors remind me of summer and cheer me up in winter months. Some other color combos that remind me of summer are yellow/orange and aqua/lime green. Yellow reminds me of the sun and aqua reminds me of swimming pools :)

What colors remind you of summer? Share your latest summery creation in the comments!

Down Under and a Lesson

This week's Blog Carnival is brought to us by JAC-BER CREATIONS and she gives us options of talking about "Down Under". I have never had the opportunity to visit any countries in the southern hemisphere, but I have had the pleasure of shipping some of my items there. In fact, I had to learn a hard lesson recently about shipping to Australia! I received a rush order recently for an order to Australia. The buyer was willing to pay the extra for Express International shipping, so everything was set. The USPS website said it should arrive in 3-5 days, so it would get there in time. Apparently when it says 3-5 days, it really means 3 days to whenever they decide to delivery it. The item sat in customs for over 10 days! And then I was informed that in order to get guaranteed 3-5 days delivery, I would have had to mail it Global Express...which would have cost $90!!! So not only am I out my shipping cost, but my customer didn't get her item in time either! This was a hard lesson to learn, but now I am well aware of how International shipping works! And I know not to guarantee any international deliveries!

Luckily I had a great, understanding customer! She could tell from the tracking info that I had shipped it when I said I did and that it left the US within 3 days. She was very nice and understanding through the whole process and has finally received her item :) This may have been a hard lesson to learn, but I do love shipping International orders :) I love knowing that my items are traveling the world, even when I may not get to. Have you learned any lessons lately that you'd like to share?

How I Unwind

Angela of Alice's Owl is our blog carnival host this week and one of her themes for us is Stress Awareness: April is Stress Awareness Month. How do you take time for self-care and help reduce stress in your life? Is there something you do each night? A practice that you do each morning? Something you do weekly or monthly? How does it melt the stress away for you? How does it make your body and mind feel? A great way to spread the awareness!

My favorite way to unwind and destress is with a nice hot bath and a cold glass of wine! I turn on the radio, read a magazine and just relax! I would love to have a hot tub, but I don't think I'd ever get anything accomplished! I'm so relaxed when I get out and I'm able to fall asleep right away :) I like to do this at least once a week. It's a great way to let my mind rest for a while and do nothing but relax!

You should try it sometime! And if you're not a wine drinker...hot chocolate is great too :) How do you relax?

Diamonds-EtsyBloggers Carnival

This week's Blog Carnival is brought to us by Cindy of Devine Designs Jewelry and our topics are:

1. April birthstone: diamond- write about it's history, gem info, whether or not you like them, or if this is your birthstone! 2. April Fool's Day: Do you participate? Tell us about a joke you played on someone, or if one has been played on you. What do you think about this "day"? 3. What is your favorite gemstone and why?

Since my birthday is just around the corner in April, I decided to write about Diamonds :) I do love colored gemstones as I'm drawn to color! But my favorite piece of jewelry is the diamond ring Jesse got me over 10 years ago :)

On our first Christmas together, Jesse gave me the ring pictured above :) It was such a special gift and meant so much to me and our relationship! I put the ring on that night and I've worn it everyday since :) The ring means just as much to me today as it did on that Christmas night.

What is your most prized piece of jewelry?

Going Green-EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival

This week's EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival themes are brought to us by HoneyfromtheBee and our themes are:

1) St. Patrick's Day will be our next holiday. Write about any St. Patrick's Day traditions you have or memories... crafts.... food...

2) Thinking Green... write about what you're doing to make this a greener planet. This could be about your art or just around the house or at work.

I'm always trying to find ways to "go green" in my scrapbooking by using odds and ends from other projects to make something new. I just can't bare to throw away pretty papers and perfectly good scraps of chipboard! With my new laser cutter, I've found the perfect way to use part of my stash!!!

Chipboard Alphabets

I plan to make these in several different sizes and different fonts. I can even make custom requests from any font someone wants!

And for the larger pieces, Chipboard Words

Maybe this will help put a dent in my very large stash of chipboard :)

Friday Features-Wish List

Rose of RandomCreative is our host for this week's Blog Carnival. Our topics are: 1) Share a holiday item that you created and tell us a little bit about it. It can be something that you created for the 2010 holidays or for a past holiday season. 2) Create a holiday Etsy wish list and share it on your blog. What do you really want from Etsy this year? I have so many items in my favorites that I'd love to get for Christmas this year, so the wish list was the perfect topic. Today's Friday Features are my own personal Wish List :) I love the twisted wire-wrapping on this ring! And the black stone can be worn with anything! Black Onyx Wire Wrap Ring - Dark Night by HardCandyGems This hat is so cute and in my colors! Perfect for those cold winter nights :) Turquoise floral hat by myknittingworld I love druzies and this purple one is just gorgeous! Purple Druzy Agate Geode Slice Pendant/Necklace---Sterling Silver by SandraLeigh I love my Miche Purse I got last year for Christmas! And this accessory will give me even more room now! I may have to buy this for myself as a Christmas gift :) Not sure I can make myself wait until Christmas gets here! POCKET PAL COVER FITS MAGNETIC BAG UNDER SHELL BLACK FAUX LEATHER by 1SEWINGPRO Now that you know what's on my list...let me know what's on yours!

Blog Carnival-A Holiday Tip

Deb of StoryBeader asks us this week for our blog carnival to share a tip we have for the upcoming holiday selling season.

Through the years, the biggest thing I have learned...Be Organized!!! So I thought I'd share a few tips that help me stay organized.

My Custom Name Albums are my biggest sellers, especially around the holidays. To keep everything organized, I keep a day planner at my computer. I write down the name, colors and theme for every album in there on the date it is due. I also make little notes like Etsy, local, wants a special note, etc. This way I can make my albums in groups based on their due date.

I have a show this weekend and I keep my premade album sales slips separate from my custom album sales slips. When I get home, I tally everything up for tax purposes and file away the premade album slips. The custom album slips get added to the day planner and kept there until they are all finished. I also write the date the albums were shipped on the sales slip.

I like going through my day planner and crossing off each album as I get it completed and shipped. I'm a huge list maker and this helps me keep everything together and organized :)

What is your best holiday selling tip? I'd love to hear your comment :)

Fall in the Midwest-Blog Carnival

This week's blog carnival topics are brought to us by SpottedCowSoaps and here are our topics: 1. What are some fun activities you like to do in the fall. (travel, apple picking, etc) 2. Show us some awesome photos of autumn in and around where you live.

My post is sort of a combination of the two topics. A BIG activity going on right now in the Midwest is HARVEST! Everywhere you look and everywhere you go...tractors, combines, corn, soy beans, semis, and the list goes on! I work with a lot of farmers as well and every night I get to hear a harvest update!

Though I grew up in town, my grandpa is a farmer and I remember harvest as a little girl. My grandpa would let me drive the tractor while sitting on his lap :) And now that we live in the country, all of our neighbors are farmers! It is our biggest fall tradition here in the Midwest!

As I said though, my post is a combination of the two topics. I couldn't do a post about fall photos without showing this awesome tree photo I took a few years back. As all the crops turn brown and the fields start to become bare...the trees start to come alive :) And that is my favorite part of fall!!!

Blog Carnival-Weddings

For this week's blog carnival, Patch gave us the options of writing about our own wedding or showing wedding items we have for sale in our Etsy shops. Well, since I haven't had a wedding yet, I guess that leaves us with option 2...LOL :)

And speaking of weddings, sorry to get everyone excited yesterday. My Wordless Wednesday Photo was just to show off my pretty polish...not the ring...LOL! Jesse got me that ring for Christmas almost 10 years ago! Now on to the fun wedding items I have in my shop :) As you know, my Custom Name Albums are my most popular item in my shop. And of course I have one in a wedding theme. Actually I have two...I have also made a Custom Wedding Name Guestbook. I have been toying with the idea of adding a multi-album listing for wedding party gifts. I have sold several as gifts for bridesmaids and family members helping with weddings. I thought a package deal for wedding parties would be a great way for the bride and groom to thank their friends and family for sharing in their special day :) What do you think?

Blog Carnival-2nd Quarter of My Life

Judy of jnoriginals is our host for this week's blog carnival and she gave us these two themes for the carnival: 1. Are you in the first quarter of your life (up to age 25), second quarter of your life (up to age 50), or 3rd quarter (beyond age 50)? Describe your goals and dreams for your current "quarter." How have they changed over time? 2. Describe someone who influenced the person you are today, or who motivated you to do something. Explain how this is so. Is this a positive or negative? The first topic actually threw me for a surprise! At 27, that puts me in the 2nd quarter of my life! Wow...am I there already! Most of the time I feel 50 years old, but in my mind, I'm still a youngin'. I think it's because we hang out with a lot of "older" people that makes me feel young. After all, Jesse is almost 7 years older than I am!

Pendant 27

by XelasArt

My current goal right now would be to find an office job that I enjoy and get out of the factory life. I am happy to have a job...and a good job at that, but I want to use the degree that I spent 4 years of my life earning. I would like to find a job that suits me better and makes better use of my skills and talents. My dream is somewhat similar, but a little far off. I would love to turn my scrapbooking into a full-time job. What Etsian wouldn't love to work full-time on their craft :) But a dream is all this is for now. I have to be realistic with my life and figure out a way to work my goals and my dreams together. I'd love nothing more than to find a part-time job that paid well enough that I could work more on my scrapbooking. Or a job where I could telecommute. I'd love to do more shows and add more stock to my Etsy shop! I just need more time to get it all done! Fingers crossed that I reach my goals and dreams before the next quarter of my life :)

Blog Carnival-School Memories

Sandy of PunkyJane is our lovely host this week for the EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival. She has given us these two topics to write about: 1) School time! What is your favorite memory from kindergarten or taking your kids to kindergarten? 2) Labor Day...As the 'official' end of Summer, how do you celebrate Labor Day and what does it mean to you? I lived right down the alley from my elementary school and remember walking to Kindergarten everyday. Some days my brother was nice enough to walk me, but most days my mom would take me. My favorite memory was getting to go home for lunch everyday! I always felt special! Every morning we put a colored paper clip by our name to show whether we had brought our lunch, would eat school lunch, or would go home for lunch. Almost everyday, I was the only one with a green paper clip next to my name :) Mom would come and get me and we'd walk home for lunch and she'd walk me back :) I loved living so close to the school and having a stay-at-home mom!!!

Personalized Oilcloth lunch bag

by monkeyseeboutique What was your favorite memory?

Blog Carnival-Vacation Traditions

This week's blog carnival theme is brought to us by AthenaWorkman and she gave us these two vacation themes to write about:

1) It's summertime, a time to get away from it all. Do you have a dream vacation? Share details of your perfect getaway.

2) Expanding on the vacation theme, are there any special (or not-so-special) traditions that you and your family do while away on trips?

Growing up, my family went on summer vacation to Branson every year. It was our tradition. We would go to Silver Dollar City and White Water and ride the go-karts every year! We would also go boating for a day so my brother and I could ride the tube and then we'd grill out right on the boat. I have many fond memories of Branson as a kid :)

My parents always kept their time share down there so we would always have a place to go back to. Jesse and I have been down twice with my parents and had just as much fun as when I was growing up! We did a lot of the same activities and got to enjoy them in a new light :) Here is a scrapbook I made my mom for one of our trips.

We will always get to enjoy Branson and southern Missouri as a family tradition as my parents will be moving there when they retire! They have some property ready for them when they finally decide it is time to move. Jesse and I are going down over Labor Day with my parents to see their new location. Being just an hour from Branson, we will be able to enjoy our traditions for years to come :)

Blog Carnival-My Goals

This week's blog carnival is hosted by RainyDayArt with the choice of these two topics:

1) It's graduation time, tell us about a recent accomplishment of yours. Did you graduate? Have a business success? Climb a mountain?

2) What are your goals? Short term, long term? It's up to you.

I am a list maker and goal setter by nature, so I always have a to do list or two running around in my head! I set goals I want to get done for the day, for the week and long term goals as well. As I started writing down my current goals, I noticed that most of them are for my scrapbooking and my Etsy shop.

• Get my Custom Albums back in my shop
• Get inventory ready for my fall shows
• Set up the new shelf and computer desk that I bought back in January!
• Take photos of all of my current inventory and get it in my shop
• Find a new job

All of these are fairly short-term goals that I hope to accomplish in the next one to three months. In fact, I think I'll get to working on a couple of these right now :)

Blog Carnival-Mother's Day

Thank you to MadebyMelissa for hosting this week's EtsyBloggers blog carnival :) Our two theme choices are:

1) Mother's Day is May 10 - tell us how you will be spending the holiday - with your mother? As a mother? Or share a special memory about your mother or grandmother

2) What is your favorite material to work with and why? i.e. glass beads, wool yarn, acrylic paint, organic fabric... Show pictures of completed projects using this material

I sure wish I was spending Mother's Day with my mom! Over the years my mom has become my best friend. We talk several times a week, call each other to rant and know we can count on one another. She is there for me when I have questions about my scrapbooking (the business side of it), when I need to vent about work, or when I just need advice on life. She is the one I can count on no matter what :)

With her being 10 hours away, it sure makes it hard! But we make it work :) Knowing she is just an email or phone call away makes it a little easier to be away. And knowing she'll be here in less than 2 months helps too!!! She is simply the best I could have ever asked for!!!

Love you Mom!!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

April Blog Carnival-New Listing!!!

RainyDayArt gave us these two options for the April 9th EtsyBloggers blog carnival: 1) Spring is a time for new things and growth. Tell us about a new item and what inspired you to create it.

2) Easter is April 4, what family traditions do you do for Easter?

I did have a wonderful Easter celebrating with my family :) We got together at my grandparent's house (as we always do) and ate lunch and told stories. Time with family is always wonderful!

But I'm more excited to show you my new listing! I've been getting ready for craft shows and working on custom albums that I haven't had a new listing in a while! I've been dying to use this cute cupcake paper ever since I bought it and I just couldn't resist using the hot pink index cards I've had in my stash! They were meant for each other :)

Cute Cupcake Notebook now available in my Etsy Shop:

Stop by and take a peek...and let me know what you think :)

Blog Carnival-SPRING

It seems everyone has Spring on their minds lately!!! And with good reason! The temps are rising, the sun is shining, and Day Light Savings begins this weekend!

The EtsyBloggers are also thinking about Spring :)

This week's Blog Carnival themes created by MadebyMelissa are:

1) Spring time is almost here, do you have any special items in your shop to celebrate the season?

2) March is National Nutrition Month, National Irish American Heritage Month & National Women's History Month (among others) - Share a story, a craft or an interesting tidbit about these topics.

It seems that Etsy buyers are thinking Spring as well :) I was planning on showing off this Beautiful Blooms Address Book...but it sold over the weekend! And it's going all the way to The Netherlands...how cool is that!

But I do still have this cute Notebook in my shop :) It's pink and full of flowers and glitter! Looks like Spring to me!

I can't wait to start working on some more items for my shop. And as the weather starts warming up...my color combos seem to too :) Look for lots of pink, aqua, purple, and lime green in up-coming projects!

Traveling the World!!!

This week's Blog Carnival themes were chosen by Handmade by Sandi. Isn't this Coffee Cozy from her shop so cute!

Since Sandi is on vacation right now...she thought it would be appropriate for us to all blog about vacations :)

#1 What's the best vacation your ever had?

#2 Of all the places in the world, where would you like to go and why?

I thought I would take this opportunity to share with you one of my life long dreams. I have always wanted to visit every state in the United States :) Every state has something special (or several somethings) that that would be amazing to see!

Art by recycledartco Click photo to be taken to this listing.

As a child we took the same family vacation every year! I was so envious of my friend who traveled the world with her parents to such neat places! So I made it my goal to visit each state at least once! I've got a pretty good start on my list, but there are several areas I haven't even touched.

Here is my list:

• Arizona
• Arkansas (very briefly)
• California (but I was 3 months old...so I'm not sure it counts)
• Colorado
• Florida
• Idaho
• Illinois (I only drove through these last two...so they don't really count either)
• Iowa (obviously!)
• Kansas
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Though every year we went to Branson for family vacation, my parents also took me to Florida, the Bahamas, Arizona...and of course they are the reason I go to Michigan.

When I was in junior high, running track took me to many of these destinations as well. I went to Wisconsin, Minnesota and Texas all because of track :)

And of course Jesse has shown me some great places in the is great country :) We have gone snowmobiling in Wyoming, Montana, Utah and Colorado. We also went to Vegas together :) Now if I could just get him to take me to the beach...LOL :)

I might have a long way to go to reach my goal, but I feel I've put a pretty good dent in it in my 26 (okay...almost 27) years :)

Now...where should I go next??

Favorite Winter Activity-Blog Carnival Submission

AliciaMae is our host this week with these two topics for our options:

1) Snowflakes - your favorite way to make them or your favorite item on Etsy featuring them

2) Favorite winter time activity/how to keep kids occupied during snow days (indoors or outdoors)

Since I am leaving next Tuesday to go on a snowmobile trip...I guess I'll choose #2 :)

I had never ridden a snowmobile until I met Jesse. One year we were skiing in Colorado (which wasn't going well at all!!!) and we decided to go rent snowmobiles. Soon after that trip, we bought our own sleds and have been riding ever since :)

We used to go on 1-2 trips each year out west to find snow. We've been to Wyoming several times, Montana and Colorado. The last couple of years we haven't been able to go and we knew we needed to get out there again this year!

We leave Tuesday for Wyoming and I can't wait! I'm so excited to get away for a while and play in the fresh powder :)

P.S.-Don't forget to enter my OWOH Giveaway!!!