2012

Working on craft shows and trying to get ready for Christmas are a bit more difficult than I had first imagined!  I figured I wouldn't have any trouble fitting both in, but since I've added another show this December, I'm finding it hard to get anything done!

Decorating for Christmas is just falling by the wayside right now. (Plus, I don't have a whole lot of "Christmas spirit" this year.)  Honestly, I've tried cleaning and getting things picked up, but with all the stuff I need for the craft show, my house is just a mess and I don't see a way to make it any better. 

Oh well, I hope that after this weekend, once my husband gets the Christmas tree up, I'll get into the spirit of the holiday!

Also, while spending a little time online, I stumbled across the "pies in a jar" phenomenon and oh goodness, are they cute!

(For some pictures and instructions, you can find them here: http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/09/single-serving-pie-in-a-jar/)

I really, really want to make some as Christmas gifts and to serve during my own holiday meals.  I am definitely going to try making some this weekend. (Where I'm going to find the time, I don't know yet!)

Anyway, hope everyone is having a great December and happy holiday wishes to everyone!

I've been doing nothing but working on candles lately, however, I managed a small break this morning to snap some pictures of my fluffy kitty, Cooper.

(Cooper is our year old, Ragdoll kity and he is full energy!)

He decided to be extra playful (and cute) this morning...

I just couldn't resist grabbing my camera!

I know Halloween is over and done with, but I thought I would share the final pictures of our yard display for this year.

The Graveyard...

The Inhabitants of the Graveyard...

(First, is the drunk pirate...next, the pumpkin-guy ground breaker, then the flying reaper and lastly, the 3 witches.)

Now, we move to the side of the front yard...

Then, down the side of our house...

Even our entryway sported spiderwebs...

And, what Halloween display would complete, without some carved pumpkins...

So, that was our yard this year!

Everything is all ready put away and awaiting next year. (Of course, we added a few new things, that are sure to make the display next year even better.)

Yesterday, I had to make a run to our local pharmacy and pick up a sympathy card for a friend...

While I was there, I stumbled across a card that really touched me. (I actually got tears in my eyes, while I was reading it.) I had to buy it and I wanted to share the message, because I just really love it!

The card is about love...

"Perfect love only happens in the movies.

In the real world we sometimes say things in anger that we wish we could take back.

We sometimes do foolish things without thinking about the consequences...

and we hurt the ones we love most.

But that doesn't mean our love isn't real -

or that it's not worth fighting for.

Let's focus on what's good between us and remember the reasons why love brought us together.

I believe we can grow from these hard times and our relationship will become stronger and healthier as we learn more about the power of compromise,

forgiveness -

and love."

By: Jason Blume

My husband and I have been married for nine years and we've certainly had our ups and downs, but we've never given up.  We have hung in there and fought to keep our marriage together and we're trying to make it stronger and better.  I was just inspired by this card...

Love is definitely worth fighting for!

My husband called me tonight, telling me to check out this video on youtube...

Well, I watched it and just had to share, because I thought it was really cool!

I really wish I had that much talent!

Last night I started thinking (I know dangerous, huh) and making a list of things I've always wanted to do....

...some of them were funny, some will probably never get accomplished and some many just happen in the near future.

(Maybe I'm being introspective, since my birthday is tomorrow...)

Anyway, I thought I would share my list and encourage everyone to make a list of their own...

(Feel free to share them here, if you'd like!)

I've always wanted to...

...whistle with my fingers.

...bake/make a decent loaf of bread using yeast.

...read the entire collection of Sherlock Holmes books.

...make a decent pie crust from scratch.

...draw a straight line without using a ruler.

...travel abroad.

...draw or paint anything beautiful.

...learn to play the guitar.

...make my own pasta.

...have a "green thumb".

...dance without a care in the world!

...learn sign language.

...watch a Broadway play, on Broadway.

...write a beautiful poem.

...learn to kick box.

...shoot a gun.

...learn how to NOT throw like a girl.

...live in the country.

...play the stock market.

...own a Mustang!

...attend a rock concert.

I'm sure there's more, but that seems like a pretty good list so far...

Now, just to get them marked off and DONE!

So, what things have YOU always wanted...

Halloween has become a HUGE deal in my house!  My husband loves to decorate the outside of our home and, since we live in the middle of town, we always get lots of trick-or-treaters.

Well, the weather was finally nice and since my husband never quite knows what his work schedule will be, we started decorating this past Monday and Tuesday.  Most of the big stuff is done and we just have a few more things to get, but the results are looking good! (Anyone that walks by our house, stops and stares for a few minutes!)

So, I thought I would share a few pictures!

That is just the side of our house!

The front of the house has the grave yard, that is combine with our neighbor's house. (We're all a little nuts when it comes to Halloween.)  The grave yard isn't completely done yet, so I'll get pictures up, once it is finished!

Last night, I caught just the end of the season 8 premiere of HIMYM and happened to here the song, "The Funeral", by: Band of Horses...

(Of course, I didn't know that at the time, I just liked the song...

So, I searched for it this morning and luckily found it!  Now, I'm a bit obsessed!)

I've been listening to it all afternoon!

I even had to search for other TV shows that song had appeared on, because I knew I had heard it before.

Well, it was on an episode of Psych (which is another of my favorite shows), Numb3rs, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Criminal Minds.  So, I've definitely heard it before, probably many, many times!

Also, watched the season 5 premiere of CASTLE last night....

I liked it, but I'm kinda curious to see how they handle the relationship between Beckett and Castle.  That will really determine if I stick with the show. (More than likely I will..lol!)

Just sitting here thinking (and waiting for candles to set up)...

I laugh, because when people find out I make candles, the first thing they always say to me:

"Your house must smell wonderful!"

Why do I laugh...

Because 95% of the time, my house does smell really great, but the other 5%, not so much!

There are definitely certain scent combos that should never be mixed! (Right now, I am working with Fresh Coffee candles and Lavender Fields candles, and those two do NOT smell pleasant together.  I will be very happy when they are set up and nice and I can finish heat gunning them.)

Anyway, that was just the random thought floating around in my head today and I thought I would share!

Today, when I signed in to check my Etsy store, I got all excited...

I looked at the top of my site and it said I only had 94 items available. (I should have had 103 available.)  So, of course I thought..."YAY!  There was a run on my candles and I made tons of sales!"  I quickly scrolled down, to see all the new sales and BAM...my number of sales hadn't changed.

So, I'm thinking, "what in the world happened?"...

I check my listings and find out that I just had a bunch of items expire! (I of course renewed them.)

But, I had this fleeting moment, thinking my shop had finally taken off...

Oh well, hopefully some morning soon, I will wake to tons of sales!

I've decided to start revamping/re-branding my candles and my Etsy shop.

I really needed to find my place in the candle market and I think I just might be getting there now...well, my fingers are crossed that I am!

It hit me about a week ago that I should really use the fact that I'm from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as a selling point, especially since there is a whole mantra here of "Made in the U.P." and I am very proud to be from the U.P. (I love being called a Yooper!)  It fits in with my candles quite easily, since I work with natural waxes and zinc-free wicks. (I try to work with as many natural ingredients as I can.) And, the Upper Peninsula is hailed for its natural beauty, so it really is a good match. (At least in my head it is!) 

Plus, I get to practice taking pictures, too!  I love taking nature pictures and now I'll have a good place to share them and actually get some use out of them! 

I just hope the idea works and that I'm not completely crazy in thinking it is a good plan! :)

Anyway, I thought I share a few pictures that I took this weekend...

Last night, my husband decided to play with our youngest cat, Cooper (he's a year old, Ragdoll kitty) and they were having a bunch of fun with a feather flyer toy. (Cooper loves feathers!  He has quite the prey drive.)  Anyway, they were playing, when my hubby flicked the toy up towards our coffee table, where we happened to have a candle lit (I know, surprise, surprise, I have a candle lit in my house) and Cooper decided to do a jumping, back flip, right onto our coffee table.  He just nearly missed knocking over the candle and spilling hot wax everywhere!

Thank goodness everything and everyone was just fine, but lesson learned...NO lit candles around when we decide to play with our cats!

(A picture of the kitty that causes all the trouble!)

I found a couple tutorials on youtube.com, about how to make these "wrap bracelets" and I just had to give it a try. (I thought they would make cute Christmas gifts for my family.)

So, I finally got all my supplies today and decided to sit down and give it a try. (I think my first attempt came out pretty well.)

I definitely need more practice (and longer cord), but I'm happy with it!  I'm really excited to keep trying and seeing how the future ones will come out!

We went to the lake this past weekend, so my husband and son could spend sometime fishing...

Well, I decided to take some pictures!

(I was able to get some really nice photos of the dragonflies that were buzzing around.)

I couldn't believe that they actually stayed still long enough for me to get some nice pictures!

Thought I would take a break from posting stuff about candles and share some photographs I've taken over the summer of the flowers in our garden...

(These are pictures are the flowers on our Nine Bark bush.)

(The Rhododendron on the side of our house.)

(Bee-balm)

 (The two purple flowers are Coneflower.)