Out of the Cubical and Ready to Jump?

Photo Courtesy of sxmperspective

My current inner monologue when I think about quitting my day job:

I went to the Grand Canyon a few years back and wouldn't go within 20 ft of the edge.

I don't like the unknown.

I don't like not knowing if things will work out.

I don't like to take leaps of faith.

It's only a few months away.

It's such a short amount of time.

Dave and I have planned and planned and planned some more, but still I'm scared.

We've set ourselves up for success, but it's terrifying for me.

I want it to work out so bad.

I want it more than anything.

Everything points to it being a success.

Everyone says I should try. 

I don't like to be unsure of anything.

I try and stay positive, but I sit up at night worried.

I do internet searches during the day for part-time jobs just in case.

I rack my brain for other ways we can cut back on spending.

I feel as though I'm running towards the edge of a cliff.

The day is coming.

It's already in motion.

I can't stop it now, but my legs are shaking.

Someone's going to have to push me.

I don't think I'm brave enough to jump on my own.

SPRING BREAK 2013

We filled this spring break to the brim with fun adventures.

Left to Right, Top Down:

• Kaleb listening intently to Dave's hiking instructions. Including when and how to use his emergency whistle on his backpack
• Lunch time in the woods at Point Defiance Park
• Kaleb has been asking for Coco Puffs for months now. I always say, "No," but I figured Spring Break would be a great time to have a sugary breakfast treat
• We went to a super secret candy store in Tacoma. We got a slew of awesomely flavored gummy bears including pink grapefruit, and pop rocks dips!
• Studying the fish at the Discovery Pond at Snake Lake
• Pretending to be a Koala Bear
• Showing off the awesome roots and making the silliest picture pose. I couldn't get him to just smile normal
• Dave and Kaleb pretending to punch out Kaleb's missing tooth
• Watching his best toad friend, Froggy. They played for hours together
• Breaking the "Earliest Swim of the Year" record at my parent's lake house... now March 31st
• Studying the Fish at Snake Lake
• Kaleb's starting to be a great iPhone photographer, so we finally have a picture of Dave and I
• Daddy and Boy hiking
• Snack in the woods

• Laughing hysterically at Tom and Jerry. I guess cats chasing mice just never gets old

The Toothless Wonder

Well it's officially happened! He lost his first tooth! 

It's a huge deal around these parts. He got in the car after school yesterday and immediately told me it was wiggly.  He's been saying that for a few weeks now, but about different teeth. I thought he was just anxious to be like the rest of his friends. So yesterday when he said it loose, I was reluctant to believe it.

As soon as I saw it though, I knew it didn't have much time in there. It was SO wiggly!

He couldn't take his mind off of it, and was moving it back and forth the whole night.  He called everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, he knew and told them he had his first loose tooth! He was so excited.

I took one last shot of him with all his baby teeth yesterday evening.

By bath and bedtime I was sure it was coming out last night. I sent him to bed with a paper towel just in case.  He's normally so good about going right to sleep, but last night he kept getting up wanting to check it in the mirror or show Dave and I how wiggly it was.  He let both of us try and pull it briefly, but we didn't want to pull too hard and scare him, so we let him do it in his own time.

When he was watching his morning cartoons he came running over to me with it in his hand. He said that he had bit down on it, and his bottom teeth pushed it out!

He's super excited because now the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny have to come on the same night. He's sure that they've never met each other and they will be thrilled.  I also made the mistake of telling him that when I was a kid the Tooth Fairy brought me a Cabbage Patch Doll, so he's sure he's getting a toy and not just a silly old quarter! These teeth are going to break our bank!

On top of it all, today is class picture day! Such a rush!

Listing Updates!

Well I started this business for a few reasons... all of them fun and inspiring. So I could stay home, do something I really enjoy... things like that.  I never said I wanted to quit my day job so I could update listings all day! It really might be the WORST part of it all, but hey every job has something, so I guess I'll quit complaining!

Listings are something that are never constant. There is always something that can be tweaked. New color pictures to be added, or wording that can be changed slightly.  I always have a running tab in my head of updates I'd love to make. But with over 300 listings in just the charm shop itself it's really an overwhelming task.

Anyways, I've been putting off really cleaning up my listings for awhile now, but as Mother's Day approaches it's closing in on the deadline.  I'm making adjustments on a few things...

REARRANGING:  I'm rearranging the layout of the items in the listing. I'm trying to put the things at the top that I get the most questions about, and also the parts of the information that are specific to the listing. By having the more generic information in one spot, when I go to edit the listings in the future this will save a ton of time.

RELATED ITEMS: I'm adding a section right up top with related items. For example on necklaces with standard font there will be a link to the same item with the upgrade to handwriting already included.  I know with over 300 listings it can be overwhelming to find what you need. I never mind answering questions or setting up custom listings, but by having this information in each listing I think it will help cut down on any frustration customers may have shopping.

HOW TO ORDER: Prior to this my "how to order" section was very generic and I tried to make it apply to each of the items. But with the addition of so many different add-ons not to mention things like the stacking birthstone rings not all the information is applicable. I'm hoping this cuts down on any confusion.

PLUS A TON MORE SMALL TWEAKS  TO  HELP THE TRANSACTIONS FLOW SMOOTHLY!

NEW ETCHED ITEMS

Well Mother's Day is just around the corner. I'm doing a lot this year to get geared up for the busy time.  Things like pre-making metal charms, editing listings, and filling both shops to the brim!  I spent some time last week shipping out most of the unique one of a kind pieces I had in my Etsy shop to a new consignment shop in CA! Which means I have lots of spaces I need to work on filling in the Etsy shop.

My new favorite technique is Etching. It provides me with the opportunity to really mark the metal with any design I want without the high cost of a rolling mill and dies. It also allows a lot more flexibility with sizes and shapes. Plus with all the etching I've been doing, I've become a master at a technique that even highly trained metalsmiths have a hard time perfecting.

Here are a few of the pieces I've been working on. All inspired by nature and the beauty around us. Enjoy!

Available here



Available here

Available here



Available here