Back from our CRUISE!!! October 29, 2010

Wow!!  What a blast!  My hubby and I had so much fun on our cruise, but it’s always good to be back home.  I felt very inspired while I was away and will have lots of new things coming out soon (including another giveaway)!!!  Just thought I’d show you a few pics of our life at sea.  🙂

Our cruise ship, the Carnival Ecstasy!!! This was us docking in Cozumel, Mexico.

 

The BEAUTIFUL blue ocean!!!!

 

An aerial view of the Grand Atrium

 

Getting silly on the ship!  This was the door hanger.  It said “Cruisin” on one side and “Snoozin” on the other.  Too cute!!!

 

Sunset at sea – how gorgeous is this???  🙂

 

 

Hope you enjoyed these.  I have about 100 more but didn’t want to bore you!!  🙂

BIRTHDAY cards!!! October 14, 2010

I am slowly taking advice given to me and have started working on some birthday cards to list in my shop!  Here are a couple of new ones, along with some other items listed today!  What do you think?  More to come soon!  🙂 All of them are available at the top of my shop!  🙂

It’s been a while… October 2, 2010

Hey all…it’s been a while for sure!!  🙂  I have been a busy, BUSY chica!!  Sooo, what’s kept me posting??  Well, business has been good, I’ve had tests and projects due at school, was sick for a spell, AND I was the Matron of Honor/wedding coordinator of my bestie’s wedding!!  Whew…I get tired again just thinking of all of it again.  LOL

PLUS, I have been super busy at work in my studio and as always, you get to see what’s been cookin’ FIRST!

All of the pictures except the last two photos are some on my newest Christmas goodies.  What do you think?  The last two photos are a new alphabet die cut series that will be listed in my shop soon AND my color options for die cuts.  🙂  Please let me know if you have any questions!!

• Flowers are 1″ each.
• Foam striped stockings are 2 1/2″ long by 1″ wide.
• Foam polka-dot stockings are1 1/2″ long by 3/4″ wide.
• Foam polka-dot Christmas trees are 2 3/4″ long by 1 1/2″ (at it’s widest point).
• Foam short, skinny gifts are 1 3/4″ wide by 1″ tall.  Taller, square-shaped gifts are 1″ wide by about 2″ tall (at it’s highest point).
• The foam Santas are 2″ wide by 2 1/2″ tall.
• The foam Christmas Variety Pack has 4 different shapes in it.  “Merry Christmas” is 3″ wide by 1 1/4″ tall.  “Joy” is 2 1/4″ wide (at it’s widest point) by 1 1/4″ tall (at it’s tallest point).  Each tree is 2″ tall and about 1″ wide.

Happy Labor Day!! September 7, 2010

I hope all of you had a wonderful long weekend and hopefully, it was spent doing fun and relaxing things!!  My weekend wasn’t nearly long enough, as I had to work at my “real” job on both Saturday and Sunday!!  Today made up for it though with a trip to Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas to see some high school football!  LOL  Had a good time with family…Tomorrow is back to school!

Sheesh…I’m keeping pretty darn busy lately.  I work full-time at my real job, am going to school part-time, work part-time in my Etsy shop, and take care of my hubby and dog!!  I don’t know how women who do all of that AND have kids do it!!  Any of you out there like that?  I know there must be some crazy busy mamas!!  🙂

Glorious day off!!! August 27, 2010

I cannot wait until tomorrow…well, today (Friday)!!  I am off from my REAL job and that means that I can devote my ENTIRE day to my Etsy shop and I can’t wait!!!  🙂 

Get ready to see my shop fuller and more photos on my blog!! 😉

Starting/Re-Starting A Business August 24, 2010

Wow…I don’t know about you, but the actual desire and decision to start up a business (or in my case, re-starting a business) isn’t hard.  It’s not the marketing, the creating, the listing, the photographing….It’s really not the work that I have to put into it that makes it HARD.  Man, it’s deciding HOW I’m going to spend my time.  I have a full-time “REAL” job in addition to my Etsy shop, plus I am starting back to school in the Fall (which is like next week – yikes).

I have limited time that I can spend on my Etsy business.  So how should I use this precious time?  What is at the top of my prioritized to-do list?  Do I have time to MAKE a prioritized to to-do list?  LOL  I struggle with deciding if I want to photograph and list, work on some marketing, or actually create.  And sometimes, what I decide doesn’t always fit the mood I am in.  For instance, there are times when I am in a really creative mood, so all I want to do is create, but I already have  TON of new items that I need to list.  Other times, I don’t mind the clerical part of the job, but really need to get a jump on creating…but woe is me, how do you create when you don’t feel inspired??  LOL

Oh well…Now, I am just rambling, but does anyone else out there have this same issue?  Granted, not all of you have an Etsy shop, but I am sure this same problem applies to other types of business venues.  Post your thoughts…  🙂

San Fran, here I come!! June 8, 2009

After TWO LOOOOOOONG years, Lance and I are finally going on a real vacation!  With the heart surgery, the leg surgeries, the walker, the wheelchair, the shower chair, blah blah blah…all of that CRAP kind of gets in the way of traveling.   You CAN do it, mind you, but it isn’t easy. 

The best way to stay safe and happy when you’re handicapped?  Predictability and consistency…Knowing what to expect.  Are there going to be crowds?  How will we know what is accessible and what isn’t (you’d be AMAZED what isn’t)?  When eating out, can a wheelchair maneuver between tables and chairs?  What if there isn’t a ramp?  How is Lance going to carry ALL our luggage?  That kind of stuff…I’m a worry wart anyway, and while I am a Christian, I worry like a Jewish mother – trust me!!  We stayed in a couple of hotel rooms that were handicapped accessible, but it’s still difficult.  Plus, I don’t think I need to tell you, that showering with a shower chair that you don’t know who’s bare ass might have sat on???  EWWWWW….Trust me, when I HAD to take a shower in that situation, I layered many towels down before sitting.  Gross….

 

Anyway, the point of this post is not to relive tougher times…the point is that is symbolic of me being able to move on, to show how much things have changed, and to prove what I am able to accomplish now!  I am traveling to the busy city of San Francisco, CA with my hubs to have a blast with some friends.  I don’t have to worry about if I can fit through a tight area, if I can get onto the BART, or Lance having to push me everywhere…FREEDOM is the only ONE word that I can use to describe the feeling.  If you’ve never been in that situation, you have NO IDEA….I can’t even imagine how people who have a permanent handicapp live with it from day to day.  Ever notice how you don’t really see THAT many handicapped people out in public…it’s because it’s a pain.  I am so blessed and I thank God for my freedom. 

Lance and I need this trip so badly.  It’s almost as if we are going to be leaving this past life here and when we come back, it will be back to normal…While I know if doesn’t work that way EXACTLY, it’s a nice thought!!  LOL  Anyway, there will be tons of pics when we get back!!  Get ready!  I’m going to photogragh all of our adventures!

 

Look out, San Francisco…Here comes Melanie Dewey!!!

Foot stuff! May 23, 2009

So on the 17th, I wore two (NEW) shoes to work for the first time – HORRAY!!  On the 18th, I did it again – DOUBLE HORRAY!!

After that, my ankle started to feel a little weak, so I am back in the boot for a while, giving my stuff a rest.  I definitely do NOT want to overdo it.  LOL

 

I kind of equate this to pulling weeds.  You get out there, you’re pulling weeds, and while you’re not feeling anything now, you know you’re gonna feel it later.  Well, it’s later!! LOL

No worries….I’m not worried about my ankle right now.  I just should have thought things out a little better.  Since I was not only starting to wear dos zopatos to work for the first time, they were also NEW zopatos, I should have worn them for like half my shift for the first few days to let my feet get used to them. Ahhhh…you live and you learn!

Feeling MUCH better!! :) May 12, 2009

Ohhhhh!!  What dear sweet people who visit my blog!  The sweet comments and well wishes meant so much to me and really boosted me on to the road to recovery!  🙂

 

I DID visit the doctor this weekend and found out that I have “multi-itis” (which apparently is Sinusitis, Bronchitis and a couple other itis-es).  I also had ear infections in both ears. 

The fix?  A steroid shot, a prescription of antibiotics, and a strict diet of breathing treatments (so this doesn’t interfere more with my asthma).

 

PLUS – the thing about my boss?  We found out today that we will be getting our NEW manager on June 1st and it’s a guy we are all familiar with.  So, while we’re upset about the loss of our previous manager, we are happy about the man that was hired to take his place.

 

Thanks again to all my sweet friends who look out for me and care for me.  I really appreciate your kind words.  You all know who you are! 🙂

Sickly for a WEEK!! Ugh! May 9, 2009

yuck…being sick just sucks!  I’ve been dealing with this for about a week now…The scratchy throat, the congestion, the exhaustion, some insomnia (which I so rarely have), the “heavy chest” feeling, and now some stomach problems as well…UGH…plus I have asthma to boot, so it just intensifies the everyday struggle with breathing easy.

 

Oh and it gets better…   

 

So, on Thursday of last week (April 30th), my boss was suddenly terminated so the stress level, as well as emotions,  in my workplace is extremely high.  On top of that, Friday of last week (May 1st) was the 5-year anniversary of my dad’s death. 

 

While each year is getting a little easier, I’m still rushed back to the day he died.  I was almost 24 when it happened and I was his medical power of attorney.  I have two uncles, an aunt, and an older sister that he could have chosen, but I was his MPOT.  I had to make the decision to remove him from life support, and while nothing more could have been done for him, I still felt so guilty, as if I personally was killing my daddy.    At times, like the anniversary of his death, those feelings feel so fresh…

 

So, anyway…that was Friday.  On Sunday, I started feeling pretty sick and I just can’t get better.  So, here I am, not able to sleep, and I’m feeling crappy and miserable.  The after hours clinic at my doctor’s office opens in about 4 hours, so I think I will finally head there. 

 

Go on…you can tell me – I’m pretty pathetic!  LOL…Am I feeling sorry for myself a little bit?  You betcha!