FRIDAY FAVORITES

Fabulous Finds from Etsy

In honor of being accepted into the amazingly great Artisan Group, a community of people that help small businesses get recongition by gifting items to celebrities, I have dedicated this weeks finds to fellow members!

1. Embroidered Pillow
2. Painted Stone
3. Barn Photo
4. Vintage Bike Note Set
5. Bald Eagle Photo
6. Green Alarm Clock Photo
7. Printable Wedding Invite
8. Toddler Hat
9. Umbrella Man Textile

HOW TO BE HAPPY IN BUSINESS

How to be Happy in Business

I found this via a friend today, and had to immediately post it! How true is this diagram?! 

I spent my childhood dreaming about a "successful" career. Never really thinking about what I wanted my life to look like, or more realistically, not knowing who I was.  They say it takes your 20's to figure out who you are so how are we supposed to know what we want our career's to look like when we enter college in our late teens? 

After realizing that my childhood dream was no where near what I would really want for my life, I found a career path that I thought would make me happy.  I was so motivated to meet my goal to be a zoo keeper.  I spent most of my 20's working hard to get there, sacrificing time with my family, income, and really my sanity for this dream.  I was so lucky growing up, never having a goal I didn't succeed at.  So the thought of never making it didn't cross my mind.  But no matter how much I love animals, years of working seasonally at minimum wage, and never really getting anywhere will burn anyone out. More than the fact that I wasn't "making it," was really that I had grown as a person, changed. My morals, ideals, and views on the world didn't fit anymore.  The zoo didn't fit me anymore.  I had outgrown this dream and wanted even MORE for myself and my family. 

But now what? I spent a decade of energy and time focused on this one dream.  Where now? What now? The biggest question...

SHOULD I WORK A JOB JUST BECAUSE I CAN? 

In an economy like this, I feel so selfish wanting to turn down jobs just because they don't make me smile everyday, but the one thing that has never changed about me is my belief that you shouldn't work a job or stay somewhere that doesn't make you happy or isn't fulfilling.  I have seen too many people working jobs they hate mostly because it's much easier to stay than put in the energy to change.  I by NO means think you should run off and quit your job right now, but find your dream, make plans, and work hard to get there.  The majority of our time awake is spent at our jobs.  Life is too short to squander all that time somewhere that doesn't make you happy. Just like the diagram says "learn to say NO" to jobs that you are good at, but don't want to do just for the income. 

But how do we turn what we do well and what we want to do, into something successful, something that can pay the bills.  The reality is, this life takes money, food, kids, house, cars... It takes a LOT of money.  We can't just run off into dream land without having a solid plan.  

That takes me to the present. Spending my nights and weekends making plans.  Working hard, laying the ground work for my ultimate dream.  It's not all roses.  It takes a ton of energy and there are days when all I want to do is take a day off. Sleep in. But I keep driving forward, why? Because I love it, and I know deep down inside that this whole dream will work out someday, and all this hard work will be worth it.  

What are your dreams? 

FRIDAY FAVORITES

Fabulous Finds from Etsy

1. Pear Blossom Photo

2. Crochet Flower Garland

3. Custom Hand Carved Stamp - I want one of these so much!

4. Natural Wooden Teether

5. Landsnail Photo

6. Lace Up Boots

7. Acorn Necklace

8. Tiny Owl

9. Baby Bird Footprint

KALEBISM

YOUR CHILD'S HANDWRITING CHARM

Several months ago, after so many customers had been using the font style that most looked like a child's handwriting. I wanted to try making charms with children's signatures. Of coarse my son is alway the guinea pig when it comes to these things.  It was well past his bed time, but I was so se on trying them RIGHT then that I made him stay up a little late, and write his name over and over and over again. First on a big sheet, then a little smaller, then a different marker, until I came up with the formula that produced the most accurate results and would need the least amount of editing to print in the charms.

To this day Kaleb is constantly looking at his special charm. He asks me over and over how many of them I have sold.  Yes, that's right, he is convinced that all of my customers are buying HIS name.  I mean why wouldn't they?! It's so precious and perfect?! I just love how his little mind works!

FRIDAY FAVORITES

Fabulous Finds from Etsy

1. Vintage Index Card Boxes

2. Wooden Tote

3. 1940s-1950s Floral Dress

4. Brass and Ceramic Owl

5. Chocolate Skull

6. Vintage Fan

7. Chevron iPhone Case

8. Sure Shot T-Shirt

9. Vintage Bed Side Tables

 

EASTER 2012

We had such a great Easter this year! We spent some time Friday evening decorating eggs.  It's been a pretty busy season for me with all that is going on getting the shops up and running and the new blog. So we just used the little kit from the store. Trust me, Kaleb didn't mind! We had a blast with a little friendly family competition.  Each of us picked our very best egg, and we posted them to Facebook to see which one was the best!  Of coarse Kaleb's won (I'm not bitter or anything)!

Kaleb is already asking questions about the true identity of the Easter Bunny.  I know everyone has different traditions, but this year, I was sure if the Easter Bunny had to get in the house to leave the basket that Kaleb would know the truth.  So this year, the Easter Bunny left it on the porch! ;)

We had a lazy morning, spent some time cuddling in bed, tried a new local doughnut place.  Then off to my Aunt's house.  They  have an AMAZING yard, complete with waterfall, ponds, bridges, and all of which overlook the beautiful Puget Sound! What a great place for an Easter egg hunt! Plus it was SUNNY!!!! 201 eggs total (7 which are still yet to be found) were hidden in the gardens. Above are my favorite pics of the event. 

Hope you and your families had a great time enjoying each other as well!

FRIDAY FAVORITES

Fabulous Finds from Etsy

1. Lilly - little blue grey sparkle dog
2. Vintage 60's gold clutch
3. Vintage wolf dress form
4. Vintage glove mold
5. Macbook pro 13 in laptop sleeve
6. Supurb fairy wren
7. The camper satchel - I can personally vouch for this one! I got this as a birthday present last year. I carry it everyday and love it!
8. Retro arrow rustic white
9. Heather grey squirrel toddler cardigan

KALEB-ISMS

Every time Kaleb reaches a new phase of childhood, I find myself saying, "This one is my favorite. I love this age.  He can do X, Y, and Z." Then we get to the next phase and I think the exact same thing. It just ALWAYS gets better!

Right now, he is just so darn funny! His personality is shining through.  He is silly, inquisitive, and so sensitive.  Some days I cannot believe the things that cross his mind (or come out of his mouth!)

Today he looked at me and said, "Mommy, why do we say the fire alarm is going 'off,' when it's really going on?"

... I was officially stumped! He's only 4... I can only imagine the questions to come!