family day

Well, I posted this post and then my computer freaked out on me. We had family day today. Of course it didn't turn out like I had planned, but that's why I try not to plan out so much. We ended up at a 7 o'clock movie. Pretty late for a 9 and 7 year old that haven't had a complete meal all day. Oh wait, Mom and Dad didn't either and they ate all the freakin nachos at lunch!

So, I had a slight headache by the end of the movie and we head to a diner for dinner. lol I don't think we've ever eaten dinner at 9:20 with the kids. They loved it. Hopefully it will rank right up there with my early memory of going out to breakfast after my aunts wedding with my parents at 3 am. lol Now the whole family is crashed out and I'm left to watch the rest of season 2 sex in the city! woohoo, great day!

family day

Well, I didn't think it would happen. But, we did actually have family day. We had to run to the side job first and spent over 2 hours there finishing it. Not how the day was supposed to start out, but I held hope. Then I figured we'd go to an early movie. Well, the 5:15 was sold out. Great, I snacked and I went past needing a meal today. But, then we went car shopping and I found my car. UGH, not now, I need to wait for my tax return. But it was soooo pretty! I will go on Monday and take a test drive alone, the kids of course love it. I'm not sure if it's what I want and I know it is $5000 more than we were hoping to spend. Hubby doesn't care right now, whatever I want. Within reason of course. lol I can't get the lincoln navigator like I really want. lmao

So, we did end up at the move. 7 o'clock show with a 9 and 7 year old that haven't had a full meal all day! I can't believe I have to wait for a disney movie to watch a shower scene with Vin Diesel. YUMMY! I'll be buying and rewinding just the one part. lol Movie get's out and I have a headache. Um, maybe I should eat something besides chips or popcorn. And no the snickers poppers don't count as dairy. So, we head to the local dinner. I can't believe we ate dinner at 9:20 at night. The kids thought it was hilarious. Daughter wanted to know where we were going to party next and son could barely keep his eyes open once he ate his pig's in a blanket. A fun time was had by all and they are all crashed out. Now it's time to go watch the rest of sex in the city season 2.

Darn kids!

K, I do love them, but at this moment I feel really old. This deserves the second post in 5 minutes. lol I just got the early email from ticketbastard. Motley Crue tickets go on sale friday. Guess when the date is? A Sat. night concert, in July, outside brand new theater. Oh wait. It's on my daughters birthday!!! Rats, damn murphy's law. Why couldn't they have announced it tomorrow? I've had the weirdest rotten luck all day. Now I'm depressed that there's no chance in the world of going. It's a good thing slumber parties are fun!

Back from vacation

Coming home from vacation is painfull. All the sudden I'm thrown into the reality of being responsible again. What happened to Mom cooking and doing the laundry for me? I'm ready to move in with the woman! I was in heaven.

So, didn't do hardly any articles. Got only 4 of the 20 layouts done. So business wise the week was a bust. But, I bonded even more with my in-laws and I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world. The kids acted incredible. Made friends with the little boy across the street. And it just went so very well.

Now we just have to buy a bigger vehicle for all the summer trips we'll be taking over there. WOOHOOO!!!

vacation

I'm not sure I know the meaning of that word. We've taken so few of them. But the kids are on mid-winter break this week. We are heading to Grandma and Grandpa's for the whole week! Yippeee! Lot's of scrapbooking ahead of us. We've already been to 2 scrapbook stores and I think we are going to hit as many as we can on the way. lol

This will also give me lot's of time to work on articles for my websites. Taking me away from my computer is a good plan right now as I'm not very focused when I am on it. I just wish we could have gotten a bigger car before this trip. Hopefully before the summer we will be able to fix that. We plan on taking trips over a lot.

Bdays

Another bday came and went. I hate them. Not because I hate getting old, I couldn't care less about that. But because there is this big build up that it's your special day and all about you. Well, son's bday is the day after mine and hubby was sick again this year. Just another day around here. I even made most of my dinner. Hubby made great steaks for me though. And they did an awesome job on my presents:) I guess I'm just looking for a little bit more pampering. I'm the one that said we should stay home for dinner. Since we had son's bday party and a big superbowl party planned I didn't want to spend the money on dinner. Sounds like a pedicure is in order. lol

Hair salon

Is there anything better than actually taking time to get your hair done? I mean anything better you can do for yourself? I could barely stay awake as she's washing my hair. And the way I feel when it's finally done and my highlights are looking all cool. Makes me forget I'm 30-something. rofl

The first thing to go from my budget is always my hair. Yes, I know it's outrageous to spend $100 on myself every 2 months, but with how good it makes me feel...it's worth every penny! So, whatever makes you feel better about yourself, do it!

resolutions

I'm working on my resolutions. I have gotten a good start on the extra bedroom with all my inventory and also kept the living room in good order. I have boxes of stuff that need to be loaded onto ebay and a ton of stuff that needs to be loaded onto my website. Yikes, behind already and it's only the 1st full week of Jan. :( This project has just turned out to be larger than I thought. I have, however, found an inventory program to try for free for 30 days. If I like it I will post it later. I just want to use it for atleast a few weeks before I recommend it.

Procrastination

Well, I am doing much better. Although I'm sure I will burn myself out here very soon. lol I've quit putting things off and I'm recognizing when I'm procrastinating on a project. Right now I need to get into the back bedroom and pull out everything. I do mean everything. It's a clean sweep without the experts. As you can read, I am on here instead of doing it! So, now I'm off to pull out at least half the room and then to take a walk with the dog for a break.

Resolutions

Who started this tradition anyway? I'm not usually a big resolution setter, as I know I won't keep something just because I decided to do it one day. lol But, these next few months I really need to work on my being late. I know it has to do with my being a procrastinator. It's time to take control of it because I'm missing time with people by being late. Then I'm just rushing around even more trying to catch up all day. I know if I can get back into the good habits from when I was working outside the home and had to manage my time wisely, then I will stop being late for everything.

Busy, busy, joy, joy

I can't believe how much having the kids at home throws off my groove:) I have worked a few extra hours, christmas chaos has ensued and my house looks like the aftermath of world war 3. Can we clear enough space for me to run the vacuum through? Too much to ask? lol I'll just go hide out on the computer and pretend it's not there. lol

At least until next week, when I know that it will still be clean a few hours after I clean it!

4 days and counting

UGH, like every other mom out there, I need to find some more hours in my day! I'm not even close to done shopping yet. I haven't wrapped a single present and my house is a wreck.

Hubby and I are meeting after he get's off work for dinner and to finish shopping for the kids. Then my Dad and I are going to hit Seattle for special presents at Pike Place market and to get hubby's presents. It will be fun both days. Kids and I are going to head out tomorrow to get their presents for Dad. I'm trying to get them thinking about it, so we don't have to spend all day shopping. Thankfully, Target has opened up here by us and there is always Walmart and Fred Meyer's. I shouldn't have to leave the hill. Of course, the presents they really want to get can only be ordered online. WHY didn't they tell me they wanted to get him WWE shirts weeks ago? Would have been so much easier to shop online. lol Guess I better remember this and start them thinking earlier.

So, off to do some dishes before the sitter get's here.

Wisdom teeth?

Why in the world are they called that? They have nothing to do with wisdom. Why don't we call them useless or pay-your-dentist teeth. Well, I had them out on Monday. I was doing really well until this morning. I thought I could go back to work. Well, not if you can't take percocet and drive! rofl So, left work early and I look like Sandy the Squirrel on spongebob. I'm starting to bruise as well. So, much for doing really well with it all.

Top it off my in-laws will be in town on friday and of course the house is a mess since I've been on the couch for 2 days. Yikes! Looks like mega cleaning tomorrow. Caffeine and pain pills, maybe that will work. Off to the couch I go now, this has worn me out.

new goals started

It's getting very late in the year to be working on them, but I've started my goals for 2005. I've gotten quite a bit more advertising out there and need to focus on where my best dollars will be spent next year. I've gotten to a great start on inventory this year and need to get it automated now before it get's too much. We will be moving soon, so I really need to get all my scrapbook stuff organized and ready for that to happen. I have to get classes scheduled for Jan. and Feb. as well.

Newsletters are my main focus next year. I need to start writing articles ahead of time so I can just copy and paste. Web updates need to happen every week as well. Get more action going on the site to pull repeat visitors.

New direction

This will be my new all around blog. I need a place to talk about daily life and this is it! Friends wanting divorces, kids staring at me like I'm not telling them to do something, and taking my daughter and her friend to a "recorder" concert for extra credit in music. Are you kidding me? Adults really play the recorder? HOLY CRAP, no wonder why I hate our music teacher! So, here goes everything. lol

Business Plan

It's time for me to make one! And that's all I have to say about that. lmao I've been having great sales from my boards and groups involvements. So, now it's time to get serious and figure out which sites I need to purchase advertising from next year!

Favorite font site

One Scrappy Site has to be one of my favorite places to download fonts. They have an incredibly large amount to choose from. It's also a good all around site for tips about scrapbooking and home life. It is run by the author of "The Book of Me" Angie Pedersen. They also have a great tutorial for those that are new to downloading fonts.

The fonts start at http://www.onescrappysite.com/link-2.html

November newsletter

After a few months of not having one I finally got my newsletter uploaded this evening. I let life overwhelm me this summer and it went by the way side. Now, I just need to find some authors to contribute some more articles for future newsletters. Off to my boards to post requests!

My newsletter can be viewed at www.groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/littlescrapbookshop

Tomorrow I will add links to my favorite free font sites.

Successful sales

This weekend was one of our scheduled scrapbook retreats. We try to do these 4 times a year, so that you can make at least 1 or 2 of them. This time it was at the ocean and there were no scrapbook stores. Of course, I brought my store on wheels to sell to my captives. rofl Sales were great and I'm happy to move stuff out so I can order more. Online sales are also building well as I advertise more and get out there.

I've got to work on getting a scanner so I can post new products right away!

site updates

Well, the new computer is in and I'm still trying to get used to XP. I have redone the entire site with more updates in the works. Now I really need to get the newsletter back up and regular. I have crops planned out for the rest of the year and have started on the biz plan for next year. I love my job outside the home, but would love if I could scale it down even more and then cut it out completely by the end of next year. I've had more orders each month from new customers. Then with our regular scheduled crops I'm moving inventory. Keep on trucking along slowly for right now.