New Year, New Goals

I've never been one to set New Year's Resolutions...even as a teenager I thought they were kind of lame. I've seen so many people set them and fail, and it just never appealed to me.

But this year is different. This year the hubby will be TDY/Deployed for most of the year. I have found in previous deployments that the best way to get through every day is to have a routine. So I'm challenging myself to keep on top of things. And I think that by setting these few goals for myself, it will make me a better mother, wife, and person.

This is my plan for the year and I'm going to use this blog to keep myself accountable.
*Be more positive. I'm a huge pessimist. Always have been, just ask my mom. But as I said on facebook the other day, this year I am forcing myself to think of at least one positive thing every day, and write it down so that I don't forget what I'm blessed with. It's going to be a long hard road for us this year and I think that keeping a gratitude journal will help me stay upbeat despite hard times.
*Be more organized. I found a printable blog planner online, my notebook for keeping track of Etsy orders and of course I have my planner that I cannot live without. I intend to spend a few minutes at the beginning of every week planning my blog posts, days that I need to run errands (so that I'm not going to the same stores every.single.day like I do now), and I'm hoping it will keep me better on top of my Etsy orders so that my turnaround time is faster.
*Keep my house in guest-condition always. I have made dry-erase chore charts for the kids, and I am also going to make a weekly chart for myself. It will have one or two major tasks a day so that I'm not spending an entire day just cleaning the house.
* Complete one project each week. Whether it be for the kids, my house, or a gift...I want to have something to keep me busy and creative aside from my Etsy shop.
*List 1-3 new items every week in my Etsy shop. I would love to be able to list something new every day, but lets be honest...I just don't see that being feasible when I have orders coming in. And I know that some weeks will be busier than others, so at least one new listing may be the only thing I can do once and awhile. But I think that giving myself a reasonable goal will be much better for my shop!

You are all given permission to get on my case if I start slacking. I plan to post pics of completed projects each Saturday, and I will have a What's New series with links to new items in my shop. So if you see that I go a week or more without updating, feel free to nudge me back into reality!

My Stuff's in a STORE!!

I was recently contacted by a super sweet woman named Carol. She was opening a gift shop in a suburb of Charleston and after peeking around on Etsy had stumbled on my shop. She called me up and asked to carry some of my items in store. IN. HER. STORE! I was so excited. I have a couple other people carrying my items but none of them are local. This one I could actually walk into and see my stuff there on the shelf. I was so pumped!
Last week I met her daughter and sold some of my items to them for their grand opening on Saturday.
Then today, we were in Mt. Pleasant for Jonah's doc visit-he's cast free (for now anyway)-and the hubby said that since we were over on this end of town we should stop by Pure Gifts and see my stuff live & in person.
We walked in and Jonah was the first one to spot something of mine...painted ornaments hanging on the Christmas tree. I think he was just as excited as I was!

Here's me in front of my bowholders on the wall, cheesing it up with my burpie sets!

And after talking to Ms. Carol today after my visit to the shop, I am going back on Saturday with more goodies for her to carry.

If only we didn't have to move to Oklahoma in a couple weeks...

Friday Finds on Etsy: Gwen Marie Designs

I absolutely LOVE sending and recieving Christmas cards. I start looking around for different designs in October and have a heck of a time narrowing it down to one. Last year I found a great card on Etsy and decided to look there again this year. After much searching and "hearting" of many different designs, I stumbled onto this shop and instantly fell in love.

She has so much to offer in her shop: holiday cards, wedding invitations & save the dates, birthday cards, and lots more. Here's a few of my favorites from Gwen's shop...



Tell me those are great?! There are so many awesome holiday cards to choose from...I had a hard time picking just one! But I finally did and I cannot wait to order our cards this year and get them in mailed out! Thanks so much Gwen!

I got featured!

A very lovely lady over at Love of the Sea requested 3 of my Starfish Santa ornaments recently. I have her order all packaged up and ready to mail today, but she's so excited that she wrote on her blog about them before she even recieved them! How's that for a compliment? I love it!



She also has her own ocean-inspired Etsy shop, so make sure you check her out too!

We have a winner!

I went to Random.org and put in the details and here's what it spit out:
#5

And the owner of comment number five is.....
Kara!


Congrats ma'am and I will be getting with you right away!!

Friday Finds on Etsy: Let's Talk Turkey...and a giveaway!

I really have been trying to get giveaways going lately and I just have had ZERO luck. So I decided that I will do a giveaway from my own Etsy shop.

It's November y'all! Can you believe it? I can't! This year has gone by so fast...and the last couple of months have literally flown. I am both looking forward to and dreading Thanksgiving this year...I love it because it's time for family and friends to gather and have great food, but I'm dreading it because it will be our last holiday here in my beloved South Carolina. But that is another post entirely...one that I don't have the stomach to right just yet because the mere thought brings me to tears.

Anyway, Thanksgiving tends to get lost in the hubbub of getting ready for Christmas (I myself am guilty of already playing Christmas music in the house & the car!), and I just wanted to spotlight it to make sure it gets its due.

My favorite Thanksgiving items from my shop are these:I found that adorable turkey fabric and bought it that minute...I love the chubby turkeys and it just makes me smile!Sophia wore the Turkey bow last year to our friends house for Thanksgiving and it was a big hit!

Okay...now for the giveaway. One lucky reader will recieve this super cute turkey clippie! Just go to my shop and nose around, then come back here and leave me a comment with your favorite item from Jen's Craft Corner. A winner will be chosen at random on Tuesday, 9 November. Be sure to leave me a way to contact you if you're the winner!

Friday Finds on Etsy: Halloween Pt 1- Candy Corn!

"Ooohh! Candy Corn! I hate performing on an empty stomach!"

- Heimlich, from "A Bugs Life"

Next to those super delicious candy pumpkins I buy every year, candy corn is my favorite Halloween treat. I could eat those things ALL. DAY. LONG.

Serious. I have a big bowl of them on my kitchen table and I grab a handful when I pass by. If you're a dentist reading this blog, I can imagine you shuddering where you sit. Sorry.

Anywho...like I do every week, I nosed around on Etsy and found some of the cutest candy corn items I could. There were so many I wanted to include, but then I'd be sitting my tush in this chair for too long. And since there are already too few hours in my day, I had to whittle it down to three.

Sorry to toot my own horn again, but I love Halloween so much and have alot of cute items up in my shop for this time of year, so I just had to showcase another one. I sorry. (Okay, not really. It's a shameless plug.) But you have to admit...this is a super cute headband, is it not?!Next up are these a-freakin'-dorable flip flops from Miss Priss Bowtique. These are made for toddlers but oh good heavens I want a pair for myself! I would totally sport these babies while taking the kids trick-or-treating!Last up are these great earrings from Miss Megan's. I don't have pierced ears, but I could definitely see my mom or sister wearing these. They're a great way to accessorize for Halloween but still be sophisticated!

So now go check all those shops out and make a purchase (or two or ten) and help support crafters!

Check back next week for another Halloween edition...this time featuring creepy crawly spiders!

Wanna win something?

One of my dear, dear friends is hosting a giveaway on her blog.

And it just so happens to feature little 'ol me and my little 'ol Etsy shop. So hop on over to The Thinking Blonde and check it out. Then submit a comment to be entered into the drawing!

Here's a hint: it's not for anything baby related, so all of you with no children/older kids have NO EXCUSE not to enter!

Friday Finds on Etsy: Back to School!

Who's ready to wake up early and head off for some learnin'? I know I'm ready to send my precious children out the door next week- aren't you?? Of course I went to Etsy to find the cutest stuff for back to school. Where else would I go? And let me tell you what...I can't wait for Sophia to be old enough so I can start shopping for girly back to school clothes!

Here's my picks from Etsy this week:

First up are these CUTE snack bags from Dress Baby Beautiful. What a great idea for lunch boxes! Eco friendly and stylish all in one great pack. She has lots of different fabrics available too, so make sure you check out her Kid Fun section for the perfect bag for your little one! Next up is one of my favorite bows from my own Etsy shop, Jen's Craft Corner. I really really can't wait for my little monkey's first day of school so she can wear one of these herself!Last up are these adorable clips from Myrtle's Boutique. They would be perfect to help your favorite teacher stay organized!

Happy Back to School!!

And the winner is......

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:2
Timestamp: 2010-07-26 17:51:45 UTC

JodiR You've won a $20 gift certificate to LillyBella Bows!!! Congratulations! I'm sure those two little princesses will love their new accessories! :)

Check back again on Friday as I will have a new review/giveaway!

Parenting.com Article!

Some of you faithful followers know that I have a little Etsy shop where I sell my creations for baby. Well, today I recieved an email from someone on the Etsy Marketing team informing me that they had selected a onesie from my shop to be part of Parenting.com's "31 Baby Gifts for $20 and Under" article on their website! The "My Name Is" onesie is #2 on their list!

Go check it out here and then spread the word!!

Lowcountry Artsit Market

I have been given a great opportunity to promote my Etsy shop with an Etsy-inspired craft show here in Charleston! I was contacted by the owner of the Music Farm a few weeks ago about getting a booth in a new show she was putting on. Of course I jumped at the chance!

So if you live around Charleston or know anyone who does, come check it out...I'll be there with a booth full of goodies!

Jen's Craft Corner Giveaway!

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by Marina of Energizer Bunny's Mommy Reports about doing a product review and giveaway. I agreed with little hesitation and sent out her order. Today she informed me that the review is up! So just go here for instructions on how to win a $15 gift certificate to my shop!

Spread the word and leave comments on her blog and let me know when you do!

I'll be doing my own giveaway next month, just in time for summer!

I've been featured!

As you may know, I have a hobby of crafting. My Etsy shop is doing pretty well lately, and some of my items are even being carried in actual stores...not just online. Every so often I get contacted by a fellow Etsian who wants to feature me in their blog (kind of like my Friday Finds on Etsy series).

Today I've been featured here on Meghan's Blog and also on My Great Retreat. And soon Meghan will be doing a product review about one of my onesies.

Go check them out if you have a chance, and check out my shop any time!

Christmas Finds on Etsy: Teacher Gifts

Every year I stress about what to give the teacher's for their Christmas gifts. My boys go to a public school so I don't know if their teachers celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or what. I try to give gifts that are not blatantly Christmas, but still show the spirit of the season.

Here's a couple great ideas I found on Etsy (where else?!)

There's this great lanyard, perfect for holding the teacher ID badge around their neck. Comfortable, practical and stylish! (Made by notapotato)

Next is this adorable personalized pendant made by one of my favorite Etsians, Analiese Designs. I have quite a few of her beautiful pendants myself, and every time I wear one I get stopped and complimented.

And of course one of my own items (from my humble little shop). A perfect, eco-friendly way to personalize your coffee cup! There are loads of prints to choose from. Want to make a cute giftset? Put it around a disposeable cup and add packets of flavored coffee, hot chocolate, those fancy chocolate stir sticks, or even a giftcard to their favorite java joint and you're all set!

Christmas Finds on Etsy: Ornaments

I love everything about Christmas...decorations, lights, ornaments...you name it. Every Friday from now until Christmas I'm going to show you my favorite holiday items on Etsy. There will be a different theme each week, so make sure you check back!

First up- Ornaments!

These crochet snowflakes from Stylish Ornaments remind me of my grandma. I wish I would've learned how to do this beautiful craft.

How adorable are these snowmen by Snowman Central?? I especially love the blue & green ones...I love the simplicity and elegance of this ornament, from The Deep Six. I have to include just one from my own shop, Jen's Craft Corner. This Gingerbread Starfish is one of my favorites ever. I have one on my own tree and get lots of compliments. Check out the cousin ornament which is a best-seller for me a craft shows and in my shop- the Santa Starfish.

Craft Show Debut

Tomorrow I'm going to be in a craft show! It's the first one I've done since I started my Etsy site. I'm excited and nervous and stressed and anxious all rolled into one.

So if you're in the Charleston area (or know someone who lives down here) spread the word and stop on by the Hoiday Bazaar at Stratford High School in Goose Creek, SC from 9am-3pm tomorrow (21 November).

And please wish me luck!

Check me out!

One of my onesies was featured in this blog today. Go take a peek!

New Items and a Fundraiser

I have been working on some new items for my Etsy shop. Covered wipes cases! Here are some of my favorites:

I can do any fabric you can think of, and I can even make matching burpies. How cute would that be for a baby shower?

I'm also doing a fundraiser in my Etsy shop as well. I have a very good friend who was like my older sister when I was growing up. She graduated from LWC a few years ahead of me, but helped my mom work aftercare when she was a senior. She went away to college and then came back to teach at LWC Elementary for a few years. Back then she was Miss Erickson. She is such a great person and I have always looked up to her. She and her hubby have been unable to have children of their own, so they have decided to adopt. They have been matched with a birth mother who is due in early November. Julie and Todd will soon be the proud parents of a precious little princess, who they have named Ella Claire. They are doing some fundraising to help with adoption costs, but I wanted to help out too.

From now until October 31st, I will be donating a portion from every purchase made in my Etsy shop to help the Springer's bring Ella home. So if you've been eyeing something in my shop for awhile, now is the time to buy. Not only will you be getting something special and handmade, you will also be helping Julie & Todd realize their dream of becoming parents. Please help bring sweet Ella Claire to these two loving and deserving people!

Friday Finds on Etsy: Jen's Craft Corner

While I was in the shower this morning I thought to myself, "Self, you need to figure out a way to show off some of the great stuff you've found on Etsy." Then it hit me...Duh! My blog! So on Fridays I will have the Friday Finds on Etsy series where I highlight stores or items that I cannot live without.

Since today is Friday and I just thought of it this morning, I didn't have a chance to email my favorite stores and ask permission to use their photos. So I will be tooting my own horn a bit and featuring my own store, Jen's Craft Corner.

I have lots of different things to offer in my shop. Mostly it's items for babies and toddlers, but I am also branching out into cool stuff for moms, called the Hip Momma line. I've got things like key fobs, reusable (and therefore eco-friendly) coffee kozy's, and flip flops. There's also some new clips that are more geared towards the older crowd as opposed to the little ones.

Of course there's lots of stuff for the kiddoes...Onesies, hair accessories, and lots more. And it's not only stuff for little girls, either. This is one of my favorite things for the boys:

I also have lots of items that can be customized, too. There's monogram items (onesies, shirts, bibs, burp cloths) and then some You Pick hair accessories like this headband:

There's a color chart listed in the You Pick listings so you can choose your own ribbon color.

So go take a gander, and then let your friends know about it too. I love custom orders so feel free to ask!

Ok...enough bragging about myself. I promise that I will only resort to showing my items if I have no other option. Cross my heart.

*Unless I add something super cool that I just have to show off. Then I'll just do it.*