Can I have it all?

I started writing this blog post a few years ago.  The post has been edited minimally.  The sentiment still rings true today as it did 2 years ago.  

One of those rare moments.....the 4 of us at a Cub Scout Pack Event.

There was a blogger, Amy Glass, who created a huge "discussion" with her blog post,
 I Look Down On Young Women With Husbands And Kids And I’m Not Sorry.  At first, I was appalled by her snarky tone and "all about me" attitude.  I knew she was probably just trying to make a name for herself and to get noticed by insulting moms.  You want your name or company in the news.... Insult a mom.

The bigger picture here, is how my generation is told "YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL!!!  THE HUSBAND, KIDS, HOUSE, CAREER!"  Life is going to be be Pinterest-ingly perfect!  After working in a male dominated career for over 18 years, being married for 9 years, working with said spouse for 13, being a mom for almost 8 years...  I have "it all".  It takes one hell of a woman to juggle this life.  For those of us who work out of the home, we have help.  We have to.  My help is my hubby who is anal retentive about cleaning (score one for me).  My In-laws who come to our aid as child care givers and pick up whenever and wherever we leave off.  Friends who will text me to remind me of school issues and deadlines. 

I know I will have to make a decision within the next year or so about whether or not I should continue working at the rate I am.   It is not that I am overworked at my day-job, it is just life as a funeral director/embalmer with a funeral director/embalmer husband is a lot of juggling.  It is not a lifestyle for the weak.  Our life revolves around funeral service being number 1, hubby and I together are number 2, family number 3.  My issue is that my boys are now realizing that we don't make it to the school functions OR only one of us makes it.  The guilt is not from other parents or from someone telling me this is what I am expected to do.  The guilt is from the big blue or hazel  eyes looking at me asking, "You and daddy are going to be there, right?"  Most of the time I answer,  "Yes, just as long as the funeral home doesn't need us first."

Then, you have the stay at home moms.  All I have to say to anyone woman who does not have kids, you can not begin to fathom what being a stay at home mom entails.  That is why I work!  There will be a special place in heaven for the stay at home moms/dads.  The stay at home mom/dad is the cornerstone of most of the extracurricular activities that our kids will have.  If you are lucky, you have a stay at home mom/dad looking out for you!

The real, unedited picture:  As a woman,  you are fighting so many fronts for your identity and you are told you are supposed to fit into different molds depending who you are talking to.  Women just need to support each other.  PERIOD.

***When I originally wrote this, I was just a stressed out mom who worked.  Now, I am a Cub Scout Leader, too!!!  The juggling is worse, but more fulfilling.  Being involved with such a one-on-one family centered group has been awesome.  It makes me slow down (while at Scouts) and just be there for the boys. ***

Been out of the "Loop"

I feel so bad!  I let life fly by and stopped writing new posts!  I just looked today and saw some awesome feedback!  If I would have checked in, those comments would have helped keep me on track and in "the loop"!

Some of my feedback:

Very informative and interesting post.It is really a big help. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. Custom Beading Bead andTrim on Weekly Challenge 3: Use Tila Beads

Fantastic blog, Thanks for sharing. Keep posting like this.  Weekly Challenge 3: Use Tila Beads

I can not believe I have not wrote a new post in over 6 months!  I have learned a few new things and branched out a bit.  I now have a little more direction in my jewelry!

A little re-cap:  After Mother's Day, I went on a little creative hiatus.  I just felt spent.  I didn't make anything new until September.  I was getting ready for a craft show at my son's school.  I was bestowed a huge amount of handmade glass beads by Sarah Jane Fisher. 

 Anytime I make anything with one of Sarah's beads, the piece sells!!!  I utilized her beads, my new found love of messy wrap wire work, some Christmas themed odds and ends I have complied and had a very successful show  I even had another person selling jewelry ask me if I though my pieces were too "edgy" for the show!?!  I loved that question!  Me, edgy....?!?  I am a conservative funeral director!  And the show was at my son's Catholic School.  The funniest thing, after her asking me about my "edgy creations", our Priest's wife came over and bought 3 necklaces from me for Christmas presents!  ***Yes, our priest is married.***  I just wish I would have taken photographs of the necklaces.  I did not think all three would sell and I would have to photograph them for Etsy.  After the show, I took more time off of beading and jewelry design.

  

(My messy wrap ends and handmade necklace closure)

I am now ready to get back into it!  I have recently obtained my wholesale account with Vintaj Natural Brass and received my first order.  This weekend I actually created my first piece (but more on that in my next post!)  I also bought a Vintaj Big Big Kick Machine, Vintaj Patina Kit by Ranger and a whole bunch of Martha Stewart Jewelry Enamels and Jewelry Glaze (on clearance at Michaels).  The photo is of my first group of Vintaj Blanks that were run through the Big Kick with the Nouveau Roses Die and treated with the Vintaj Patina in Weathered Copper.

So many new items and techniques!  More to come!

Happy Exhausting New Year.

Ok, so I had 5 goals last year.  
Goal 1 was to keep a list of 5 running goals.  Ok, I kept the list.
Goal 2 was to get my office/ studio in order.  I would do ok at cleaning it up, then a cabinet would throw up or beading gnomes would have a party with the sock gnomes in the middle of the night and ruin all my hard work.  (Yes, I am blaming my mess of a studio on imaginary creatures.)
Goal 3 was to get my belly/ body back in shape.  I am down 5 pounds, but not toned at all.  I did join a gym THIS YEAR.  At a joining fee of $99/ $10 a month.  I have gone once so far.  But I love trying to do my Couch-2-5K on the treadmill there.
Goal 4 was to keep the household better.  I have made huge strides in that area, but that has been in the past 6 weeks and not really "last year".  But it was more than just cleaning.  It was laundry, bill paying and just plain keeping up.  
Goal 5 was to work on my 2 homebased businesses.  I let go Votre Vu.  I did not have the time or money to keep it going.  My beading business had a great year.  I was not able to participate in any shows, but through Etsy and Facebook friends, I did sell!

These goals were in my head all year.  Even though I did not do much with them, they were there taunting me into be being better.  I will admit, because I did not get much accomplished last year, I am kicking butt THIS YEAR with those 5 goals.

Here is to 2013 and my 5 goals for this year!

Goal 1:  Get my office and studio cleaned up & and out!  Get my laptop down there.  Now that I have an Ipad, I do not think I need my laptop on the kitchen counter (along with all my bill-paying stuff) to create clutter that annoys my hubby.

Goal 2:  Spend 30 minutes with my boys a day.  Try not to have it include a TV or computer or them playing at the park while I sit there.

Goal 3:  For the month of February, go to the gym at least once a week.  March go at least twice a week.  April go three times a week.

Goal 4:  Eat more fruits and veggies.

Goal 5:  In an effort to hit many areas of my beading life at once, I am going to do the Fusion Beads Weekly Challenge that they started last year.  I will create or do whatever the challenge may be and then blog about it here.  I will try to use only what I have on hand.  Some of the challenges have the artist using a specific bead or product.  If that is the case, I will skip over that challenge and come back to it when I have over $25 worth of product to buy.  $25 is their free shipping limit.  I have loved Fusion Beads from the beginning of my beading journey.  They sucked me in with their "any size order has free shipping."  They just recently started having a minimum order free shipping policy.  They also have wonderful how-to's and an awesome inspiration gallery.  After I have completed the challenge, I will take photos of the piece of jewelry or task, blog about it here, and then post the jewelry piece on Etsy.

Let's see where this year takes me!  So far, it is just taking me to my day job.  The days have been long and exhausting.

And....She's OFF!

I had this list of Goals that I wanted to get accomplished from the beginning of the year.

Goal 1.  Keep a running list of goals
Goal 2.  Get my office/ studio organised
Goal 3.  Get back into shape
Goal 4.  Keep the household better
Goal 5.  Work on my two at-home businesses more

Now, Goals 1, 2, 4 and 5 have been worked on!  I wouldn't say that I have completed or excelled at these things.  I have just been working on things, as I get the time.

Goal 3, I TOTALLY ignored.  I started the year at 150 pounds and just kind of flabby.  I noticed in the beginning of this month (August) that I am 160 pounds and getting round.  With the addition of the roundness, I have begun to notice my scoliosis.  I am only 5'3".  The BMI indexes say I am overweight.  One even said I was morbidly obesese.  I started watching what I eat 2 weeks ago.  I am using the app "MyFitnessPal" to keep track of exceraing and my food diary.  So far, I have lost 2.5 pounds.  I have not measured myself yet.

This is my "start" photo.  Yes, I know, I look like I am in my second trimester.....

But, it is a start.  I just wish I could get my arse up early enough and on a regular basis to exercise!  I can not get past week one of "Couch-2-5K" before hitting a snag and not being able to work out for a few days.  More to come!!!!

30 Items in 30 Days Challenge - Item 2

This is what is going on.... I want to get 30 new items in my Etsy Shop in 30 Days. 
It is late.  I have been up since 5 AM and I have to work late shift tomorrow.  Being a mom of two toddlers = no sleeping in.  So here is Item #2....

Item #2:  Black Million Flower Dangle Earrings

$7 www.kabbeading.etsy.com

Supplies used:  ear wire, jump rings, head pins, silver toned beads, glass beads.

Goals accomplished: 

1.  New item listed

2.  Item no longer just sitting in my "completed" box

I made these earrings, probably last summer.  I never had time to get them in to my shop.  I forgot about them.  When I did an inventory after the holidays, I put them in my plastic pencil box that I have labeled "Need Photos."  I took and edited the photos around Easter and then, they just sat.  I rediscovered the earrings yesterday.  This design has always done well in my Etsy shop.  I offer them in three colors:  Clear with multicolored flowers, Red and Black.

****I started this post at 11:30 pm on 5/6/2012.  A storm came in an wiped out my DSL line, so I had to finish this morning.



30 Items in 30 Days Challenge - Item 1

I have a major issue.  My Etsy shop needs a boost.  I have a room full of supplies.  So, I have decided to challenge myself to get 30 new items listed in 30 days.  So far, I have found three pieces that are not in my shop and I have made one new item that I have never made before.

I received my challenge inspiration from Fusion Beads.com.  In March, they had a 30 day jewelry challenge. Some of it, just didn't appeal to me. So I took 30-something pieces of paper and wrote different things on them to create. Or ideas for a project. (for example: make a necklace, use up left over beads, make a badge lanyard, use a problem pendant, ect...) I did put in 4 of the same peices of paper for: Make a necklace, make earrings, make bracelet. The "basics" of jewelry.

Also, any sales for this month, all profits will go to my Relay For Life fundraising.

So here goes!!!!

30 ITEMS - 30 DAYS CHALLENGE

Item 1 --  Earth-tone Lampwork Donut Pendant with Messy Wrapped Bail on a Beaded Chain

$18  www.kabbeading.etsy.com

Supplies used:

  Lampwork donut focal bead made by local artist, copper wire, beading wire, copper crimp beads, copper jump rings, copper clasp.

Goals accomplished:

1.  New item listed

2.  Start of my CHALLENGE.

This necklace was made before the holidays.  I made two other similar necklaces and they both have sold: one at a craft show and another on my Etsy Shop.  I especially love the pendant made by local artist Sarah Fisher.  The iridescent earth tones are so beautiful!  The seed bead mix complements the pendant perfectly.  I had fun with the free-form nature of the messy wrapped bail.  Necklace is 18 inches long with a 2 inch pendant drop.

That is the start of the challenge.  Anything you would like to see?  Any other information I should add?

Have a great weekend!

The Trend That Doesn't Go Away.... It Just Gets Reinvented

Mother's day is approaching.  My Mother In-law got a Pandora Bracelet for Christmas.  So, I am going to get her two beads with in the shades of the boys' birthstones and a "Grandma" bead.  Since I can not find a genuine Pandora "Grandma" bead, I am going with another company.  I have wholesale access to the beads, but have to have a minimum order of $100.  So, I am debating on doing my own charm/memory bracelet.

I really do think this is a jewelry trend that will never go away.  It just gets reinvented in a different way.  And with all the "charm companies" hitting the direct sales market,

CHARM BRACELETS ARE BACK!!!!

So, the question is.... Pandora Style?  or Charm Bracelet Style?  I personally like the Charm Bracelet Style better.  But I think Pandora Style will be better for work.....  aurgh!  Decisions, decisions! 

But I guess I better make it fast!
If you are looking for any sterling silver charms or big hole beads for those Pandora-style bracelets and want to be included in my order, let me know!  There will be a mark-up, but all proceeds will go to my Relay For Life fundraising efforts!
I also need to get my Mom's "Grandma" Bracelet that I made for her re-made.  Another grandchild was born almost a year ago and I need to add her to the bracelet.  Below is the one I made for Mom.  The girls are the bi-cone shape Swarovski Crystals and the boys are round!  If anyone is interested in one of these, also please contact me ASAP of Mother's Day delivery!

I am probably going to put in my order for the charm bracelet beads on Monday, April 23.

If you are interested, contact me by e-mail: scooter-fd@hotmail.com

First Month is Almost Over

Quick wrap up of January 2012.
I decided to start the year with a list of 5 goals. So far, there is only one goal that I have
done NOTHING with. Pretty good, in my humble opinion. To start, my first
goal was: To keep 5 goals in place. They are in place and being worked on.
Second goal was: Get my office/ studio workable. I am nowhere near done in there, but I can walk to get to the printer and 3 upper cabinets and one lower cabinet is all cleaned and organized and many of the beads are organized and in their own plastic boxes with labels! Third goal was: Get belly in shape. Yes, that is the goal I totally ignored; however, I am looking at photographs of our Florida Trip last year. I was not in shape and I know I can be better. Fourth goal: Keep household running better. I have been doing better with laundry. Maintaining the
house (others would call this cleaning, but with two toddler there is no such thing as a clean house.) The bill paying has been ok. I need to set up a spreadsheet, new Quicken system and set aside time to look at budget and bills at least once a week. Fifth goal: Work on KABbeading and Votre Vu more. I have been doing ok with KABbeading, but need my office clean and organized to really do anything productive or to even concentrate on the work.

There are a few things I am working on to keep my goals in sight. I have made dry erase goal
worksheets. Simple laminated sheets of paper with an inspirational quote on each one, space for me to write the goal and three ways to accomplish the goal.
When goal is met, then I can just erase the board and start over. I am working on a daily planner, so I can see what I have got done in a particular week and what I still need to do. Blogging is helping me keep everything in sight and keeping me accountable. I don’t have much of an audience, but that is fine with me. As long as I am improving myself, I am happy.
The first month of the year has almost ended. In February, I would like my office to be completely
organized and workable. I am also trying to fundraise for a RELAY for LIFE campaign and I am going to try an auction on my Facebook Fan page for KABbeading.

Here is to MONTH 2 – FEBRUARY!!!!
http://www.kabbeading.etsy.com

http://www.votrevu.com/kellyb1

Here is to the New Year! I have a few “Goals!” The word “resolution” just screams “fail!” to me.

The First Goal is to have a “Running List of 5 Goals” As one Goal is met or becomes a habit, then a new goal is determined.

Second Goal: Is to get my office/ design studio cleaned and organised. Right now it totally feels like something out of “Hoarders”! Step here, here, squeeze through…. Oh it is terrible. I just need to be able to find things. Yesterday, I got the three drawers cleaned out and I made garbage! It is a start!

Third Goal: Work on getting my “C-Section Belly” back into shape! I don’t even want to think about that one…..

Fourth Goal: Keep the household better. I have been terrible about keeping up with cleaning and bills. The house still looks great from the Christmas clean up, so I just need to keep up with the cleaning at least once a week (Hubby does the upkeep & de-cluttering— CONSTANTLY)!

Fifth Goal: Work on my two at-home-businesses, more! I get so many great ideas, but then don’t follow through. One part of this goal is to blog more. I have a blog about my jewelry and a blog about Votre Vu (a new direct sales skincare comapany that has wonderful products! I’m not biased or anything…..)

Here is to a New Year! May it be an organised and prosperous year!