Lessons I've learned....

Friday Foto Friends

For 5 years, I was an Independent Consultant for Thirty-One. I had the time of my life and enjoyed it so much. But at the end of December, I convinced myself it was the right thing to do to give it up and step away. I told myself how much time I invested in it and how it just wasn't worth it. So I signed the termination papers and gave it up for what I thought was good reasons. 

BUT....I realize now the following no-no.....

Don't make decisions when you have come off two months of working 10 and 12 hour days (making reservations, greeting groups, working the doors and greeting at the pre-show doors), having Thanksgiving, going to Christmas gatherings, organizing a Christmas parade, helping out in Children's church, doing your Christmas shopping, decorating your house, doing tons of baking, and wrapping Christmas presents.

I was beyond exhausted when I made that decision and I thought it was the right one until a series of events happened. First, I filled out my form and sent it to home office to terminate. Then I realized a couple weeks later it was in my in my draft folder in my email. Then I opened it up and re-read it to make sure I filled it out right. Then I realized I didn't actually sign the bottom of the last page. Then I couldn't sign my original and scan it to actually send it because I had gotten rid of my printer and hadn't had a chance to get a new one yet. My plan was to fax it on my way to work one day and I kept forgetting it. 

Next thing I new, it was the last weekend in January and I still hadn't officially "quit" Thirty-One even though I didn't do anything for my business the entire month of January. I also realized after only working 2 days a week during our dark days at work, I was really refreshed. My house was organized and I didn't feel so overwhelmed. So I started second guessing myself. I sat down and ran numbers of my sales over the past 5 years instead of just the past 6 months. I looked at pics of the past three conferences I had went to and looked at all the copious notes I took on how to have a successful business. 

And I started to realize one thing...I didn't really want to give up all the wonderful fun times I had and all the chances to earn free products, meet new people and make new friends. Yet, I was a little skittish to take that first step and actually go for it.

Until I walked into Sunday School last Sunday. Three different people stopped me to ask if Thirty-One still had something like the All In Caddy. They each want to order one. These ladies are not related and none of the three really know each other except for passing in the hall at church. And the fun thing is the fact that the bag they want is the February special for $8 if they spend $35. Which was ironic because when I decided not to give up my business, the first thing I planned to buy was this very same bag. So now they all want a catalog so they can place an order. I am reactivating my website today, ordering new catalogs and scheduling a launch party at my house for the new spring catalog that started on February 1st. I also found out that at National Conference this year we can schedule a time to take a tour of home office so I am super excited about that. I'm going to love meeting some of the very folks I have talked to and emailed with this past five years. 

The moral of my story is this...Sometimes it IS better to put off till tomorrow what you can do today. Had that letter went out the first time I emailed it, I would have had to wait one year before I could ever reactivate and sign back up. It all ended up like it should have.

My house keeps evolving...

A few weeks ago, I redid the craft room how I wanted it. Just need to tweak a few things on the wall over the craft table. I need to go get me a new printer this weekend so I can start literally pinning craft ideas I want to do on my bulletin board so I don't forget to do them. I pin so much stuff on Pinterest, I forget what I planned to do.

Then last week, I changed the decor in my bedroom. The only thing I still want for in there is to make a couple of throw pillows. I got the idea for what I want to make when I saw this baby blanket somebody made. I want it to look like quilt squares. I do want some pink/green floral but I also want to incorporate some green chenille. I just love the look of this.

I need to pick up something new for my coffee table centerpiece, but not sure what I'm looking for. I'm keeping my options open but will know it when I see it. My kitchen is just needing some more Pyrex. These are the next three additions I would like to find. 

Bathroom needs a new beach shower curtain. I will go to Bed, Bath and Beyond this month to look for that. I also like this from Overstock.com. My bathroom doesn't have the best lighting so this would be a great improvement over the dark blue one on there now.

That just leaves my dining room to get it how I want it. I am going to go with white and blue in there. I fell in love with the tablecloth. I can't remember where it is, but I made a note of it and they have it in the 102" to fit my big dining room table.  I had a blue and white kitchen many, many years ago and loved it. Wish I had never gotten rid of it.

When I had it before, the centerpiece was a pitcher and bowl from Home Interior that I got for my mother-in-law years ago. When she passed away, my father-in-law gave it to me. It is the only thing we were ever given that belonged to Allen's mom. So I will always treasure it. I think it will look great on my kitchen table once again. 

On my little entry table right as you come in the door and go through the dining room, I want to find a vintage pitcher and glasses with blue flowers. This is pretty, but I think there is too much green in it though I love the picket fences. 

I have a tiny table in the corner that I would love to have this little coffee pot on.

Here are the cups that go with the pitcher. I never believe I will find either though because I have been looking for years. They are vintage Arcopal dishes. Arcopal started in 1958 when the founder had visited the US and toured the manufacturing of Pyrex. He fashioned his company after what he saw. Many people call this French Pyrex, though it isn't really. 

 Well, that's it for the day. Hope you have a great Thursday. Happy Ground Hog day!

It's February!!

It's February. That wonderful month of love. We celebrate Valentine's day and President's day. And the fact that March and some normal weather is only 28 days away. But according to the Wacky Holiday site, there are many more things to celebrate in February. I have listed some of my favorite here. But you can find out more of them for February and the rest of the year by visiting Holiday Insights.

1. No Politics Day - I just want to go on record as saying I don't discuss politics as a general rule, but no matter how you voted, I'm sure a lot of you are sick of seeing political posts of any kind on your Facebook every day.  So it would be nice if everybody would celebrate this day by not discussing them for 24 hours. Oh, a girl can dream.

3 The Day the Music Died - Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper died in a plane crash in 1959. (Okay, admit it. When you read this one, did you start singing "Bye, bye Miss American pie. Drove my Chevy to the levee till the levee was dry....")

4 Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day - Well, umm, let's see...ummm Yes, I can do this one. Especially since I could eat ice cream any time of any day. This one will not be a problem for me.

6 National Chopsticks Day  - I'll have to pass on this one. I've never conquered that because I don't eat any Asian food. Did you know that in China they are called "Kuaizi", which means "quick little bamboo fellows". How adorable is that.

7 Wave All you Fingers at Your Neighbor Day - Read that carefully. Wave ALL your fingers which I am 100% sure it means at the same time, not one by one. Be very careful with this one.

8 Kite Flying Day - in the middle of winter? But I must say for the past few days we have had so much wind I thought my roof might blow off a time or two. And I actually own 2 or 3 kites and that super duper string. I could go in the field across the road and actually do this one.

9 National Pizza Day - We know I won't have any trouble remembering and celebrating this one.

13 Get a Different Name Day - I gather that this was a day for you to go get your name officially changed if you don't like the one you have. Or maybe it means get married and get a new last name. I just think I will keep all the names I got.

14 National Organ Donor Day - This is not a wacky or crazy one. This is a good day to remember those who somehow lost their lives and donated them so someone else could live. And a great day to remember the recipient of their new organ giving them life. This will be around the time my friend Stephanie will find out if overall health will meet all the criteria to get approved for her double lung transplant application to be completed. Still keep her in your prayers. She's at Vanderbilt all week going through all the necessary testing. Just yesterday, they took 21 vials of blood at one time for 21 different tests. 

15 Singles Awareness Day - This one made me smile. Do you not think that anybody who is single is already aware they are? Why is there a day for awareness about it.

16 Do a Grouch a Favor Day - The favor would probably not to tell said grouch "Hey, did you know I'm supposed to do you a favor today?"

17 Random Acts of Kindness Day - I would like to challenge all of you to something nice for somebody this day.

18 National Battery Day - This one is to celebrate the invention of the battery. Hey, maybe the fancy batteries from my yesterday's post could be used to celebrate National Battery Day.

19 National Chocolate Mint Day - Now this is my favorite one of all. CHOCOLATE MINT DAY. Excuse me, The Royal Reigning Queen of Junior Mints am I so I'm pretty sure I celebrate this on.e Every. Single. Day.

20 Hoodie Hoo Day - This one is just too funny to leave off my list of favorites. I had to look it up to see exactly what a Hoodie-Hoo was (Pronounced WHO-dee). On this winter day, people go out at noon, wave their hands over their heads and chant "Hoodie-Hoo". It is a day to chase away winter blahs, and bring in spring.

23 International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day - I can't even begin to wrap my mind around you would appreciate Dog Biscuits and why you need not a national but an INTERNATIONAL day to appreciate them. Somebody better tell the dogs.

27 No Brainer Day - this day is for me! Oh how wonderful to have a day designated to only do things that are no brainers....things that require no thought at all. Now wouldn't the bosses love that.

28 Public Sleeping Day - I guess they had to make this day so you could get a nap in from all the energy you used for the no-brainer day the day before. Somebody try this one at work today and let me know how it goes for you when the boss wakes you up and you say...sorry It's Public Sleeping Day.

Just a couple of things....

It's already 2:25 p.m. in my neck of the woods and I'm just now getting to my blog post for the day. On a good note, I have gotten a lot accomplished today. I'm working on some coasters in various patterns and different yarn colors in my plastic canvas. I got this one done yesterday. I love it.

This morning I was making some breakfast and I went to grab a spoon to open the biscuit can. I picked up a fork by mistake and actually put it back and got a spoon because Hungry Jack has conditioned my mind after 40 years of making canned biscuits that I need to "press a spoon" against the seams. Now I don't know about you, but my fork and spoon handles have identical ends on them in the exact same shape and thickness as each other. So it really doesn't matter what I used. That just struck me as how weird my mind is that I would even pay any attention to that. I decided to be a rebel and guess what? I opened it with a fork. I sure did.

And when I was online earlier, I saw something that made me just stop and think .... Why??? Could you give me one reason...any reason at all....that anybody would ever actually care about what the actually battery looks like when they put it inside a remote, a clock, a mouse, whatever. I just can't wrapped my mind a good reason to want "pretty" batteries. 

Well there's just a few of my random thoughts today. Hope you are enjoying your day. We have gorgeous sunshine outside my window.

Northern or Southern?

I grew up in Barboursville, West Virginia. On June 20, 1863, prior to the Civil War, we were a part of Virginia. Now technically, WV broke away in support of the Union. But growing up in the lower Southwestern part of West Virginia, I never did accept the fact that we were "Yankees". As a matter of fact a lot of my friends from Tennessee think of me as being from west Virginia (Bristol, Norton, etc.) I don't know if it was because I am country or if it is because I have a southern accent. But to me it was never about being Union or Confederate, I just always assumed I was southern. 

But I have learned that some people "up north" think WV is home of hillbillies and that we are a bunch of southern hicks and rednecks. While some people in the south are quick to point out that we left the south when we broke away from Virginia and that we are from up north. And still there are a few that still think when I say I'm from West Virginia that I mean west Virginia. That little w makes a world of difference. They usually always reply "Oh, I love west Virginia. We go to Bristol a lot. 

So I still don't know whether I was born Southern or Northern. But I do know there are somethings that are more well known in West Virginia than they are in Tennessee.

For example, I love graham cracker pie....most people I know thinks that means any pie that has a graham cracker crust. In my family it means a graham cracker crust baked then cooled and filled with vanilla pudding, topped with homemade meringue, covered with graham cracker crumbs and browned in the oven for a few minutes. 

And if you know anything about the south, you know they love their sweet tea...not ice tea but sweet tea. I was born into a family of the biggest sweet tea drinkers that ever lived. Much to their dismay I am the only member of the family that doesn't drink it. Well, I do have one granddaughter that won't either. But my Mamaw Eden used to try to get me to drink it and I tried several times, but nope...didn't like it and still don't.

And let's talk about breakfast. In my part of West Virginia, we love breakfast for supper complete with homemade biscuits. Now I don't know of anybody I have ever discussed that with from up north. But everybody I knew in WV and here in TN tells me that breakfast for supper is the best supper to have. And I have always called it supper. We had breakfast, lunch and supper. I guess the only time I ever heard dinner is if you went out some place fancy for your evening meal you went out to dinner. Otherwise, it was supper.

And if we are going to talk about biscuits, let talk about gravy. Now that is one of those items that is confusing. I don't know a lot of people who talk much about gravy and biscuits except for people in the south. Would be curious to know from any of my Northern friends if y'all ever eat biscuits and gravy with your breakfast? And on that note, in WV growing up our main gravy was made with bacon grease so it was bacon gravy. My husband and I always had bacon gravy with our biscuits and gravy. But living in Tennessee, I have only found a few people over the years who have even heard of bacon gravy. It appears sausage gravy and biscuits is the main gray around here. But it is one of my all time favorite meals for supper.

And I have also learned that potato salad is not always considered a good side dish for a meal for just anytime. We have it year round. Doesn't matter the occasion. If there is a gathering and you make potato salad people are gonna eat it. But I worked with a gentleman from Cincinnati one time who found out we made potato salad for Thanksgiving dinner and he was appalled. I remember his exact words "WHAT? That's ridiculous. Everybody knows you only eat potato salad in the summer at picnics." Hmmm, No. In my family you eat potato salad whenever you are in the mood for potato salad. 

So I guess you can see why I am confused as to whether I'm from the North or the South. As for me, I have always claimed I'm from the South and I will always claim to be southern. I worked for a company one time where I talked to people all across the United States and one thing I heard over and over and over was "I love calling  you because I love your Southern accent."

So when I have a question I can't realize figure the answer to, I turn to the world leading expert on answers...GOOGLE. And when I typed in Southern States. This is what I found. 

And yes that little blue state on the top with the little point stick up is West Virginia. Guess that settles it. I wrote this blog Sunday night while I was pondering on the whole Northern/Southern dilemma. Then I was so hungry when I got done, that I went and fixed me some breakfast for supper. Yep, that was the Southern thing to do. Have a great Monday!

Sunday Morning

My favorite Jason Crabb song.

My favorite Beth Moore story.

Repurposing project overload....

I fell in love with re-purposing about 3 years ago. I've seen a lot of awesome things over the years, but never really took the time to create any of them. This is going to be the year that I work on projects. I may use them myself, I may try to sell a few and I may simply just give them away. I don't know what my plan is, but I know I want to try a few of these. I will keep my eye out at thrift stores, yard sales and the Dollar Tree for items to use on each project. You could do any of these really easy on a cheap budget.  Let's get started with 20 amazing ideas.....

I love the idea of unique vases or over-sized goblets and plates from yard sales being used to create display platters for desserts.

My mom did one similar to this and it was so cute. You can put fabric or scrapbook paper under the glass. The handles can be bought at Lowes or Home Depot and get whatever suits your needs. Paint a pretty frame and attach the handles with little screws, nails or simply hot glue and you have a beautiful tray.

I love this ideas for all those colored pencils we seem to accumulate. Only I do believe I would spray paint this a pretty color instead of just the galvanized metal. 

A wonderful idea for old tins. If you use if for unwrapped food, I would recommend cutting a pretty paper doily to size and place it in the bottom of the pans before placing the food (simply cut your circle out and make 1 slit in the paper so it will go around the spindle. You could reuse it for showers and holidays and simply change out the paper to match the celebration. If you are going to use it for wrapped items like snack cakes or candy bars, you could spray paint it with a safe spray paint.

here is the same idea in rectangle instead of round. I love them both, but think I like the round the best. You can use wooden spindles from Hobby Lobby or any craft store. Or you can purchase wooden or glass candle sticks and use them.

I saved this idea, because I like the funnel for a ball of twine or in my case, I would love this over my craft table with a ball of jute. I do so much with jute and am forever trying to remember where I put it the last time I used it. Wouldn't ever lose it this way.

I love the old red handled utensils and see them frequently at local antique store for just a couple of bucks. The way I use recipes, I need to make one of these. I was just thinking the other day I needed a recipe holder to hold them up because I lay them down then can't find where I laid them while I'm baking. Again, I would paint the clothespin before I hot glued it on. I don't like plain.

I love tea cups. I love candles. But I never thought about making my own tea cup candles. Wax sure isn't that hard to melt and pour in a cup. I bet I could make these.

So if you combine my love of tea paraphernalia and my love of the above picture frame trays, you will understand why I want to do the DIY below. I love how they put the little frames on legs with door pulls.

You can do this with Mason jars or old candle jars after you have used up the candles. Just paint your lids and drill a little hole in the top of the lid and screw a drawer pull or knob on the top and you have an adorable jar for storage or for a candy dish. I see they are making bath salts in one. Allen used to make me bath salts with my favorite perfume scent, Rain. He would buy the oil in that scent and mix it with Epsom salt and a special coloring for bath salts. It was amazing.

This is cool and would take a little while to do. You would need great patience to get the rope wrapped just right....well guess that leaves me out. But it would be fun to try. A love basket. I would like to try it with a smaller basket for a trash can for my craft room.

Shadow box frames are so expensive, but you can sometimes pick up a drawer at a salvage place or even at a thrift store (I have seen them). And create your own shadow box frame. I love this.

Well, I showed you making trays from frames and I showed you making tiers from pans. What about combining the two and making tiers from frames? Love this one. You could use the vinyl peel off flooring as the mat in the frame. I love it.

I'm sure you see those yard sales that have a box of old books for .10 or .25 cents. What about buying some to make a fake birdhouse. Stack them together before you buy them to make sure the sizes are right and simply come home and hot glue them together. This one is all books about birds, but you could use anything. If you don't like the front, turn them around and use the back side out because those are usually a solid color. Cut out a black circle and glue it on and a little piece of dowel rod for the front. The eaves of the roof could probably be made from cutting up the back of a book (Gasp! Did I just suggest that?). It would make it sturdy enough to support the roof. 

Some books you find, the spines are about to tear off and they are so abused and unwanted that they are falling apart and in a box marked FREE. Why not take a few of those and cut off the spine, punch a hole, insert a ribbon and make some unique bookmarks for your reading friends. I just remembered that McKay's where I trade books has a bin out front of some of these type of FREE books. I need to check it out.

I see globes for just a dollar or two a lot of times at yard sales and thrift stores. I never really needed a globe, but I do love the idea of the globe stand for my paper towels.  

I also see a lot of pretty lamps really, really cheap but I never trust the electrical portions of a used lamp. Not sure why, but that just worries me. But I can't think of what would I do with one I was afraid to use. Well, now here's a great idea. Spray paint it and place a matching charger tray (you can pick them up at the Dollar Tree) or you can even spray paint the tray to match as well. Use a super bonding glue and attach the charger plate for a cute little side table on your porch.

I think this is my favorite one. I don't like drawer organizers from office supply. The little sections are so tiny it's hard to hold much or to get your fingers in to pick stuff up. I am going to do this definitely. And if I can't find an old cheap one, I think you can pick these up at Family Dollar or Walmart for just a few bucks.

Another cute idea for some old galvanized containers. I may have to do this for my porch to put some beautiful marigolds in. I love marigolds because they keep the bugs away and who wants bugs when you are trying to set on your porch. I just want a big galvanized tub full of flowers on the corner of the porch. Add to that my Boston ferns hanging around the porch and it will be gorgeous.

And last, but definitely a cute idea. A suet feeder for the birds made with thrift store coffee cups which you can pick up for about .25 cents each. Love this for hanging from the trees.