Purpose

It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks. I love the challenge of "the last minute"; will it get done? will it look good? will people like it?
Conversely I hate the after part where I think "If you had started sooner, it could have been better."
This week Joe and I are tying all of our loose ends for our new weekend venture.I have been in the kitchen and at various town and county offices and all through the property finding documents, props and product. My mother's back porch has become my staging area (and she just hates it lol) and my own porch is a disaster.
My one overarching accomplishment this week? Laundry has been kept up. Yes, I know it is only Monday but really, at any other busy point in my life I would be dealing with naked family because by Monday there are still all the clothes from the previous week!
I DID work on a name and label for my spa stuff: The Calm Mom. Yeah? I liked it too until I went back a few hours and some caffeine later to discover that it is a very likable name AND already in use. So back to the drawing board. I do like the label art I found-so it was not completely wasted! Still posting here; but giving credit to the entity(s) that snagged it first  :)

Joe and I are just praying now that these doors opened for a reason-the timing was excellent and toward the end of my "previous life" I was really into the idea of "wellness" and "connectedness"...certainly this opportunity taps into both areas.
The "wellness" is obvious-the spa at home concept is relaxing/invigorating/pampering. But the "connectedness", now THAT will be a stretch indeed. I love dealing with individuals...but masses of people? NOT protected by a lectern or a stage?? Intimidating-and yet to be successful in this venture we will have to connect. And it is based on our own connections that we have been able to move forward at all. I keep that in mind when I think of the sheer volume of people we will encounter over the next few months.
Wish us well as we keep moving forward...

Jennie Says: You never know where you are going to find some amazing talent. It has been my pleasure to meet and work with Gracy Getz, a single parent and amazing artist, and barely out of teendom...this kid is going places and I am glad I was able to be part of her ride!

Jumping In

I have clearly not been consistent with this blog process. It is a new thing for me; and while I love to write-I wonder if anyone actually cares about what I have to say.
That concern not withstanding, I am plunging into a more steady series of blogs in which I will endeavor to educate, entertain, or enlighten.
It has been an exciting few weeks for us here at our happy; if astonishingly cozy, home, (by 'cozy' I mean 'cramped'.) :)
Joe and I are embarking on a new business making spa and home items to sell at a local venue, Victory Highway Galleria of Shops. The grand opening is March 16th-as it turns out that is a LOT closer than it was 2 weeks ago!
I have been working on spa items and beta testing them with friends (alpha tests almost always being me)
I am happy to report that so far he products are all winner!
My husband is going to have to handle the business end of things because left to my own devices we would go broke because I really cannot say no easily to people; and if we are going to make any profit it has to be because I wasn't allowed to keep giving stuff away lol.
Today we are heading out after Joe gets out of work to see the space we will be renting and meeting Val, the women with whom we will be doing business. There is still so much to do! I have to paint our sign and we have to get business cards around and finish signage and labels and...and...there is a lot.
but it will all come together and I look forward to seeing what happens on March 16th...and you should come out if you are in the area. Super easy to find; Exit 43 off of I86 W.
Now back to work!



Jennie says: Let me know what kind of aromas you enjoy in spa products. We are going for simple, light and 6 or less ingredients per product...

Other people's inspirations

I really enjoy "One Good Thing" by Jillee, and am including the link because I think everyone should follow this gal:

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/


When I started pursuing ways to be more financially and emotionally responsible with our family's assets, I stumbled on Jillee because a friend of mine was already putting up posts on Facebook.

Because of this site I am able to maximize my baking for the family; and they are loving the English muffin bread loaves freshly made every few days (check her archives!)
I find her to be inspiring and I look forward to developing my own blog to be reflective in many ways of her influence.

Kudos, Jillee! Thanks to you I move confidently forward in staying at home for my family.

How do you measure a day?

Well, lately my days are measured in laundry, cleaning and now I have found a new fun time filler in "swagbucks".
If I weren't going to have the computer on anyway this would be a time waster on par with Facebook. Instead I can sit down and relax between loads or house passes and earn "swagbucks" with the goal of accumulating amazon.com gift certificates; hello Christmas shopping in my jammies!
Answer a question, research something...all good. Now how does this enter into my new lifestyle as home maker, stay at home mom and life searcher? Well, it makes me feel like I am accomplishing something, albeit silly...still, fun.
So we will see what happens.
I would absolutely suggest anyone try this-with the understanding you can always cancel and delete the cookies. And thanks to +Staci Wightman  this is one of many fun activities that make me okay with the flux that is my existence.
Now I am off to do another load of laundry and sweep the living room...cannot sit here all day!

Beginnings

Every day is a new day to start again and try to get something right, accomplished, or dismissed. Last year I decided that I had to make some serious changes, starting with leaving my job after 10 years. Ostensibly I left because my father is in decline and I wanted to be available to help my mother-but there are and were other reasons backing this decision.
Truth be told I should have left prior to when I did-but it was easier and more gratifying to my ego if I stayed. I can't be the awesome star go-to gal cheerleader if I leave; that and everything would fall apart leaving chaos and destruction in my absence. So...things had to get uncomfortable before I finally listened and made the move. By then I was just a hot mess of anxiety and depression with a dash of anger. And that is no way to live! Certainly that was not the person I wanted to be, nor was it the mom I wanted my children to have; yet there I was.
The first thing to change was a lessening of anxiety about many things. Then I was able to establish a routine and get things done, ordered and otherwise the way I wanted them to be when I was working and carrying the universe on my shoulders (yes, in my head I was apparently a big deal-despite self talk over the years to not buy into my own hype!)
Now I have meals on the table, I am home for my kids and my parents and going into the new year I know the right decision was made.
But, what next...?
I have consciously avoided want ads and postings in the area-with my dad's health there is no point being the new guy ANYWHERE, as I would never have the time or flexibility to do what I am doing now.
I could go back to school, and getting my Ed.D is the dream.
I used to be a fair writer and the idea of blogging appeals, even if it results in nothing but an ego fed journal that no one ever sees.
I used to be moderately artistic with some skills...and I have a number of projects I want to try.
I have a new day. And maybe taking time to breathe is all I will do with it for now...