Monday Mojo...The Banana Splits!

It's Monday! The kids are back in school after having a week off, I am officially gainfully employed, and it's going to be a beautiful day today. I've got some organizing to do, planning on making some bread today, and hit the grocery store in a bit so I can take in the gorgeous day...Maybe I'll even go for a walk on the beach :) I hope your week is starting off just as well as mine. But, if not, maybe this will help. It always make me happy...

Monday Mojo...Why Do Fools Fall in Love?

Here's a sweet reminder of days gone by while giving a little shout out to April Fools Day.  Hope you all had a great weekend and have an even better week. If you have a special someone I hope this song brings a smile to your face, and if you don't, may you burst out laughing at all the crazy fools out there who got suckered in.

Proud Momma Moment

Back in 2007 I was teaching kindergarten and my pride and joy was in pre-school. After school was over I'd go pick him up and bring him back to my classroom while I cleaned up and prepared for the next day. He loved to write on the white board, as all kids do.  One day, my 4 year old little genius called out to me to see what he wrote. Of course I had to take a picture.

It was indeed a proud momma moment for me. Every time I see that picture I go back to that day. He was so happy and I was bursting with love and pride. All parents think their children are wonderful. This was one of those times for me.

Surely you have many of those warm fuzzy feel good memories. I'd love to hear them. If you have a blog post about any of them, please share the link to your blog post below. It's ok to brag about your fabulous offspring. I do it all the time....Love that little guy!

Monday Mojo...Born To Be Alive

Every day we wake up is another opportunity to have a great day.  You made it through another day. You're here and you're alive! Now go out there and make the best of it...starting with this celebration of life!

The ABCs of Life...G is For Goals

Way back in January, when I was full of hope and motivation I sat down and wrote a blog post about setting goals. So today I thought would be a good day to revisit that post and do a little follow-up. You can see the original post here.

I posed some questions in that blog post; things to think about, so here are my answers:

What do I need to do that I'm not doing now?
~I need to go back to posting a daily to do list and physically check off each one when it is completed. I had started doing that in the beginning of this year, but let it lapse and my productivity, both at home and with my shop, has been affected. There are days that I plan on doing all sorts of great things, but then somehow they don't get done and I put them off for another day. That is a major waste of my time and effort. I know that, but I need to hold myself to being more accountable.
~I need to post shop quotas so I see the steps I need to take to reach my goals. Seeing a number of items I expect to make in a week or a month is so much more effective than saying I need to make more stuff.

What am I doing right and what do I need to work on?
~I am promoting and posting on various social media websites and I do have a blog, which I have posted on more this year than I have in the past two years combined. I continually work on becoming a better shop owner (audio books, trade journals, books, online research). And I haven't given up. I am still positive that I can do this and I will be successful.
~I need to work on learning new sewing skills and techniques so I can offer more items in my shop. I need to work on SEO (like so many others), and I need to find my niche. I think it's still out there waiting for me to figure it out. If I focus on the things that are important in my own life and find a way to express that in my work then I believe I will have found the key.

My Goals
So, I had set some goals for myself, and the truth is I'm not really doing so well with, but in my defense, I'm not totally to blame. 

I have been spending a huge amount of time looking for a job, which has cut into my daytime sewing hours. The dilemma; sew and make stuff that might sell or find a job that will pay? Until I have a safety net to fall back on, the guaranteed money must come before the possibility of money. (I am happy to say, I did find a job and I will be starting next week. It is part time, so I will still have time to sew without feeling guilty.)

I also have a mother who is 94 and has dementia. This is a rough time in our lives, and sometimes what I want to do just isn't nearly as important as I think it is. We moved here to be near her, so when she needs me, the sewing can wait.

So, my first goal is to strive for a specific dollar amount per month that is doable for me at this time. And how did I do with that one? Let's just say, I'm still working on that one.

Set a weekly quota of goods to make.
I started out keeping up with this quite easily, but then I fell behind and then I lost my momentum. Getting back on the horse now.

Blog three times a week
Again I was right on target with that one, but when life gets you down, the last thing you want to do is bring them down with you. It's hard to write positive and uplifting blog posts when you don't feel so positive yourself. At least I did manage to keep up with my "Monday Mojo" blog posts. But, on the bright side, I am feeling better, and I have a bunch of blog posts just dying to be shared.

Craft Fairs
I absolutely want to do craft fairs. Love them and love meeting the people, but when you don't have the money for the table fee, they need to be put on hold. Hoping that changes soon.

So, why would I put myself out there and let you into my not-so-perfect world? Because, none of us are perfect. Life doesn't go the way we plan. Whether you believe in fate, Divine intervention, destiny, or letting the chips fall where they lie...the fact is we are all dealing with "stuff" that will keep us from our goals if we let them.  You are my accountability partner. The next time I share an update about my goals I will have a better report for you. I am not done yet!

The images shown are all from Etsy sellers. I hope they motivate you, too. The shops featured, from top to bottom are:
DecalsForTheWall
DecalDrama
NeueGraphic
Gratitude Jewelry

Spring Cleaning

Ah, Spring! The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, time to put away the Winter clothes...I wish.  In my neck of the woods it's barely above freezing right now.  But, it IS Spring, nonetheless, and it's time for some Spring cleaning.  Out with the old, in with the new.  So, I've decided to have a Spring Cleaning Sale in my shop. 20% off overything! (bloglovin biz...<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4641795/?claim=g6ddr93ybps">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>)

Yes, I can...have a sale :)

So, please come visit my shop, TheGoodOleDays for some great prices on cloth napkins, aprons, pillow covers, and more. The sale runs for one week only, from today, March 20th until 11pm March 28th. No discount code needed.

Monday Mojo...I Will Survive

Ok, another Monday is upon us, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing. You are strong. You are a winner. You are ready to take on the world. Whether you are battling a crazy ex, the flu, the economic depression, or just the Monday Blahs, you will make it through. Why, because, you, my friend, are a survivor!
PHXTC4TTZZP2

Monday Mojo...Nuttin' But Strings

Oh the joy of children's t.v. If it wasn't for that bizarre kid's show, Yo Gabba Gabba! I never would have known who these guys are (I missed them on America's Got Talent).  They have a flashy mtv-style video, but this one makes me instantly happy and ready to go.  So let's get the day started with some "Thunder!"

Monday Mojo...Hallelujah

There are some songs that just get to me. I absolutely love this song, and even though there are many wonderful versions, this one is my favorite. Man, Leonard Cohen is such an amazing songwriter, and I really do dig his voice, but to hear kd lang sing this just gives me chills.  Her command of the stage, the emotion in her voice, and I love the fact that she came out barefoot!  I could listen to, and watch, her sing this over and over, and to be honest, when I have gone through some tough times, I have, and I am again. So, today, Monday Mojo is brought to you by the phenomenal chanteuse, kd lang.

Foggy Mornings

Now that we live in Lower Slower Delaware we get the occasional early morning phone call to let us know that school will have a one or two hour delay on account of fog. That was the case this morning, which made the boys very happy. So, with fog on my mind, here's a few things that came to mind that I thought I'd share...

This photo, taken by Kyle Crawford, shows pretty much what I see on a daily basis down here.

What's a foggy day without a good trenchcoat, eh Doctor?

This is what my beach looks like on a foggy morning

The new Inlet Bridge in the fog as captured by Michael Orhelein of Bethany Fine Arts
 

A little Cat Wisdom 101

The fog comes in
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

Carl Sandburg