Monday's Mail Madness

Monday is always crazy as far as mail goes! I don't go to the post office on Saturday (unless I have a tutu order that needs to be mailed), so I have Saturday and Sunday to get LOTS of stuff together (swaps, giveaways, coupon packages, etc) and then Monday I mail everything off.

Today, I'm mailing off two of my coupon swaps, about 6 packages of business cards (doing a swap with some other women on Etsy), 6 soaps, two tutus



a patchwork scarf, and a random selection of coupons to a friend.

Whew. This trip is going to be fun, fun, fun!

I have been doing well with being more "green" when mailing things. If I had a sewing machine, I'd probably ditch tape all together (on the envelopes, at least).. but I don't, so I am still using tape. However, I've been using all recycled bags, boxes, etc to mail things out in. I have done this for my personal things, have not done it for the business stuff yet. Recycled packaging doesn't always look the best, so I've been afraid to try it with the business. Opinions???

I will post again later. Off to the post office...

New Blogs I'm Following - swap-bot

I am in a blogger swap on swap-bot and just wanted to let everyone know I'm following 10 new blogs. Check them out when you get a chance. :)

http://artinflight.blogspot.com/

http://knitahat.blogspot.com/ -- was already following

http://simonesbutterfly.blogspot.com/

This one is on wordpress, not blogger, but I found it very interesting: Lists of 100

http://confessionsofanover-workedmom.blogspot.com/

http://bluehairedmary.blogspot.com/ -- couldn't find the "follow" button, but still commented

http://batmamma.blogspot.com/ - some of it's in Swedish

http://arielbouvier.blogspot.com/ -- could not find "follow" button, but still commented

http://aninfiniteatopose.blogspot.com/ -- I think I'm really going to like this blog...

http://onewomenshaven.blogspot.com/

http://onewomenshaven.blogspot.com/ -- Already addicted to this one. :)

Working on some goals

#4 - Complete 100 swaps -- 22/100 completed. I am currently in like 6 swaps as well. Honestly, it's a bit overwhelming right now. I haven't joined any new swaps in at least a week, and won't be joining any more for at least two more weeks. Too much going on.

#15 - Make spreadsheet for tutus -- I made a spreadsheet on the computer, but I wasn't happy with it. I'm now inventorying everything on regular wide ruled loose leaf paper and keeping it in a binder with my receipts for expenses/income.

#16 - Add 20 items to ETSY shop -- 7/20 completed

#18 - Add 10 tutu designs to website - 2/10 completed, plus I redid ALL of the inventory numbers and added more Allie Clips!

#22 - Add more pictures of bows to website - Completed 2/20/2010

#23 - Make 4 mohawk hats (without ear flaps) -- 1.5/4 completed. :)

#41 - Drink at least 3 bottles of water a day -- Working on this one.. drinking at least 1 or 2, haven't made 3 yet.

#44 - Lose 40lbs -- 6/40, all in the past week or two.

#52 - Make pop-up card -- Completed 2/1/2010, forgot to blog about it. The girls and I made pop-up Valentine's with little squiggly hearts for Mammie. We actually lost them and made new cards (not pop-up) yesterday. Not sure if I know where those are, either.. haha

#54 - Write 25 articles for eHow - 1 and 2/25 completed

#56 - Weigh in weekly - FAIL.. haven't been doing that. Will start when the scale goes down a bit.

#58 - Post craigslist ad for tutus at least once a month - 2/12 completed, but people keep flagging them and saying they are "prohibited" or "spam". I think it is other people who sell similar items who are doing this, because I've NEVER had anything flagged before. Sad..

#60 - Teach Gracelynn Sign Language ABCs - she is doing well with almost all of the letters! We will make a video when she has learned how to fingerspell a few words.

#72 - Make something with my button stash - Completed 2/10/2010, will post pictures later, made flower clips with button in the middle

#74 - Make a journal and swap it - Completed 2/4/2010, sent to swapper in Illinois. She sent me a message saying she LOVED it. :)

#79 - Make 10 YouTube videos -- I actually made another video and created a new (business) YouTube Channel 1/10 completed

#97 - Try to stop using shampoo -- This is going well. I am on week 3(?) of no-poo and my hair is amazing, better than it's ever been - HOWEVER, now my scalp is kind of breaking out. I've been using baking soda and lemon juice mixed with water to "wash" my hair once every 4 days or so. Everything has been great (minus a little frizziness), until this week when I started breaking out. Am looking into getting some tea tree oil, heard this helps. Any tips?

#99 - Pay all bills ON TIME -- doing well so far. :)

Well, I guess that's not so bad now that I type it all out. I was feeling as if I wasn't moving forward with much. However, I made like 70 clips and bows this week (even korkers, which I HATE to make). I have four tutus I have to make by tomorrow evening (EEK!) for customers, and at least five by Friday morning (EEK!) to put in the shop. I am corresponding with a woman who makes beautiful boutique hairbows that wants to put her items on my website, and am talking to a few others about link exchanges.

I'm hosting three giveaways currently - two on Cafemom and one on my blog (OWOH). All giveaways end this Friday (busy day!).

This weekend is something I am really looking forward to. For one thing, all of my stuff will be in the shop and I can breathe again. And for two, Rachel and I get a date night because my mom is keeping the kids alllll night! w00t!! :) Next week will be busy, too, but not QUITE as hectic! Hopefully I can continue to get things organized and move forward with my business and my goals.

Leave a comment, let me know you're reading! :)

I just had to!

Okay, so I TRY (really try!) not to post twice in the same day.. but I just had to post this!! I just got a ton of mail and wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who sent me something (even if it was required for a swap lol) and I need to give a shout-out to

David Gallagher -- Any Three Words

He made this metal coin for me and Rachel! Rach says there used to be machines like this at the skating rink, where you could make your own. She used to collect them. I guess I'm not quite old enough to know about them lol. But anyway, we sent a donation to him via paypal and I just wanted to let everyone know about what he does!! He will print these coins for anyone, you just have to put in the order! It's FREE... but I think it would be decent only if you sent at least a small donation to him. :)



It says "RACHEL PLUS SADIE EQUALS LOVE". Sweet, huh?

I also got my love letter from Michelle at The Muse Factory. It cracked me up! I'm going to upload it if I get her permission.. it's hilarious. Though I tore the paper a little trying to figure out how to get the seal off. Woops! Rach is going to get a kick out of it as well. Oh, and she signed it "BYE TURD" ... haha that was the best part!!

Monday blahs!

I definitely have a case of the Monday blahs! Rachel went to work at 11 but came home an hour later, not feeling well. While I was happy to see her, it threw off my whole day! I had a plan! Oh well, stuff happens. :)

I went shopping at Hobby Lobby (40% off coupon this week) and Michael's (BIG Dollar Days Sale!) this morning with my mom and the kids. I got some cute little ribbon so I can make some more Allie Clips. Also got some wool, so I can make some Mohawk hats. I don't know how to follow a pattern (at all), so I am going to just knit a beanie (no ear flaps.. ew) and then add some wool to the top and felt it.

I have quite a few swaps going on right now, would love if you'd join the one I'm hosting -- it's a mini journal swap!

If you are here from swap-bot, please leave your swap-bot username and let me know you're following me. Last swap I rated everyone a 5 but realized not everyone was following me. I'm keeping on track of it this time.

I hope everyone has a great Monday. I think I will spend the evening crafting!!

I will leave you with a video tutorial for the Allie Clips I linked earlier. :)

Weeeee!

So, there were only 4 people who participated in the giveaway yesterday. So, I decided that they are ALL winning a set of Allie Clips! I was kind of thinking that anyway when I started the contest, that whoever entered would win, but of course you can't SAY that type of thing up front hehe. So, I will be emailing the winners for their email addresses this weekend -- or you can email me at sadielankford@ymail.com. Let me know what your top 3 color choices would be, and I'll try my hardest to get them.

Today is Swapping Saturday. Honestly, not much has gone on swap-wise this week. I'm signed up for quite a few swaps, and I even started my own Journal swap. Next week will be a BIG swap week! This is a really cool swap that I'm doing Journal w/ a twist -- we have to make a journal, it's a theme-a-day journal, and then we have to include a CD or memory card with pictures and music of our life. It's really exciting, but it is going to be VERY hard to part with my FIRST journal like this. :( I hope whoever gets it appreciates it, or is nice enough to send it back lol.

**I did send my "Christian Bible Verse Swap" off, to all 3 partners, and also sent the coupons to the mom who replied to one of my blogs.. I didn't realize there were SO many coupons! Awesome!**

So, congrats to everyone that won the Allie Clips! And thanks for all the comments on Gracelynn's video -- we hit 1,500 views yesterday!!! And the neighbors found out she wanted to be on TV so they took her down to their apartment and let her watch herself on the PS3, so she was on TV! She was SOOOOOO excited! It was awesome. :)

Don't forget -- FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS through midnight tonight (central time). MY WEBSITE

Tonight, my mom is watching all three girls (that NEVER happens!) and Rach and I are going to celebrate our anniversary. I'm so excited!! Hope everyone has a great Saturday!