Mamas*Little*Treasures

Happy Monday Morning! Let's Get Organized!

      
     
I am so ready to get back on a schedule, on a healthy eating plan, and get caught up on the simple things such as house  cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, and bill paying.  Well, not that those are my most favorite things to do with my time, but I always feel better when I know that those things are taken care of.  The chaos and excitement of the holidays eventually just wear me out   ;o)  and I need "normal" - whatever that means! 

One way that I want to try to be more productive this year is to set monthly, weekly, and daily goals.  I know that I won't always accomplish everything that I strive for (I'm one of those mamas who typically put 20 things on my list, accomplish 19 of them, and then whine about the fact that I didn't finish that one, last thing on my list!) - so I am going to try to be realistic with my expectations.  Reality tells me, however, that if I aim for nothing, I will always hit it!  

So, with that in mind, I thought if I post my goals publicly, perhaps I will have more motivation for getting them accomplished.  If you want to join me, post your weekly goals on your blog every Monday, and then stop back here and post your link.  If we encourage and support one another, it might help us make great progress in 2010. 

            
    
Here's the beginning of my list of goals for the new year:

January:

*  Organize all of my business "stuff" - although I'm a pretty organized person, this is one area where I haven't been as orderly as I need to be.  I have everything I need . . . . . somewhere here in this file cabinet!  I'm going to get it sorted, organized, labeled, and easily accessible so I can keep accurate records.

*  Update all of my online venues and get my shops stocked.  This has also been kind of a mess while I was working away from home, but now that I am working full-time from my home office, I have the time, energy, and determination to get all of this up-to-date.

*  Set up a new marketing plan.  Nothing elaborate, but I'm thinking about a once a month newsletter to all of my past customers, or something like that.

*  Establish a plan for my projects.  I've been just creating whatever seems to strike my fancy at any given moment.  Now I have to decide which projects are priority, such as writing the new eBook that I've been planning for the past six months!

        

That's just a beginning . . . . so for this week I need to work on stocking my Etsy shop and editing all of my listings.  Start the eBook, and work on the refashion project that I have waiting for me in the sewing studio.  Oh . . . . that reminds me . . . . that will be part of the "Wardrobe Refashion" project that I'm participating in.  I'll tell you more about that tomorrow!  In the meantime, if you want to join me in getting motivated for the new year, just post your link and I'll stop by and cheer you on!  Chat soon, Nina

What difference does it make?

So does it really matter what we do every day?  Who cares what you are wearing, or where you buy your shoes, or do you color your hair, or have you had a face lift?  ;o)   Perhaps I've lived in a different world than most, but it is hard for me to understand the quest for more and more "stuff," and especially the really expensive "stuff."  What am I missing here?  Maybe it is a result of my childhood . . . . it's always a good idea to blame Mom for everything we don't understand about life, especially when we can convince the world that our own wierdness is all Mom's fault . .. . . I grew up in a very modest home in a very small town in Michigan.  There.  I said it.  Michigan, where we all drive pick-up trucks with a coon hunting dog howling in the back as we fly down the back roads kicking up clouds of dirt and dust.  Yep, we are all Red Necks.  Well, at least where I come from.  Now that I actually put it in writing, it does begin to make sense.  

However, even though my childhood memories are filled with Sunday afternoon drives through the farmland of western Michigan, fishing in my Dad's little boat, living in an old lake cottage, walking "uptown" on a summer day, and sliding down the hills around the lake on pieces of cardboard, my sense of beauty somehow managed to escape intact from that provincial childhood.  But what I discovered, probably because of my experiences in that backwoods village, is that beauty is not about quantity, designer labels, or expensive price tags.  And that is one of the reasons that I love vintage! 

I realize that I have a different definition of "vintage" than lots of folks out here, who somehow believe that if something is 20 years old it is so much more valuable than something that is 19 years, 364 days old . .. . to me, beauty is beauty.  And I don't understand why there is the mistaken idea that a dress that is two years old is somehow just "someone's old junk," but shove it in the back of a closet for 18 more years (or even WEAR it for another 18 years!) and that automatically increases its value.  So I settle for "almost vintage" and find that my life is so much less stressful, especially during these difficult economic times, when I can buy a "new to me" dress for a fraction of the price that I would spend at a department store. 

I know that there are lots of you out there who feel the same way . . . but our society still tends to view "second-hand" as a negative, rather than see it as a wise investment in our world, and a great way to teach our children that people and things frequently gain value with age.  We can teach our children about self-control, financial wisdom, and the gift of peace of mind that will never accompany those $500 shoes or the $300 dress.  But if you've got it, it's none of my business how you spend it . . . . I'm just saying, there are other ways to feel good about life and yourself, instead of spending money you don't have, buying things you don't need, to put in your closet that is already jam packed with clothing and shoes that still have those darn expensive price tags still on them.  Just a thought for today!  Have a great one, and really . ... you are worth so much more than the clothes you wear. 

If you are interested in considering the fun of vintage, please visit my little Etsy shop at www.gossamerwingsstudio.etsy.com , and I am filling up my other little online shop this coming week at www.gossamerwingsstudio.bonanzle.com.  

Thrifty Thursday Ideas for Autumn

Well . . . . it's been quite a week around here!  Actually it has been more like two weeks since I've had the time and / or energy to update my blog.  And then, just when I thought things were getting kind of "normal," my computer started giving me a little attitude.  So, I took it back in to the computer shop today, and the tech spent about an hour and a half with me, explaining all kinds of things.  Including the possibility that somehow my resolution was set too high  (who knew?  not me obviously) and then he reset it for me.  He did a bunch of other magic hocus pocus, carried it out to my car, and wouldn't let me pay him anything for his time.  "I didn't do anything," he said.  I guess when I'm ready to upgrade my computer, you know where I'll be going! 

When I got home with my pride and joy, we set it up and voila!  Good as new!  Finally, I can get caught up on a bunch of stuff that needs to be done.  I've been working on hubby's laptop, and it makes me crazy!  When you are used to having a mouse, and then try to use that silly little finger doo-dad, I just wouldn't be able to work for the amount of time needed to do everything that needed to be done.  So, here I am finally, getting caught up!  I've got a writing project that is due in a few days, and eBooks that need to be sent out, and Etsy listings that need to be put up.  And when all of that stuff was in THIS computer, I just had to wait until it came home. 

One of my projects in the next few weeks is posting all of the gorgeous vintage, and almost vintage items that I have discovered recently.  Once I am officially finished with my JOB, I am going to be so busy working on new designs and embellishment projects,  that I want to get as much of this stuff listed and available as possible.  With the economy still struggling, and people still needing to find ways to stay on their family budgets, I am committed to offering beautiful clothing at very reasonable prices.  I read a sign today that said "Recession 101:  One thing to remember about recessions:  they always end."  I think we all need to be reminded of that, as well as the fact that 10% unemployment equals 90% employment.  But that doesn't help when YOU are the one without a job and trying to figure out how to pay the mortgage and buy groceries. 

Here are just a few of the transition items that are available in my Etsy shop and my Bonanzle shop.  I will also be working on a little shop at

www.1000markets.com  and www.marketpublique.com  this fall.  I'll keep you posted on my progress!  Have a great Thursday, and I hope to be back tomorrow with more great ideas for a recession-proof autumn wardrobe. 

I don't know why . . . . red just seemed like a good color for today! 

Frugal Friday: Recession-Proof Your Wardrobe

It's been a pretty difficult week . . . . the economy is really taking its toll on our family, along with lots of our neighbors and friends in Our Town.  One thing that always cheers me up is to take a stroll through some of the shops at Bonanzle and see all of the beautiful items that can be purchased, even if you are living on a budget.  I guess this is also my way of bringing a bit of joy to some of the sellers out here in cyberspace, by encouraging them with a feature article on my blog!  Although my blog has not yet resumed it's previous level of readers, I'm working on getting reconnected out here in the blogosphere. 

Here's a gorgeous dress that I found in the shop of Twiggy Moss . . . . it's a gaucho jumpsuit, and I think this would just be the most comfy thing to wear on a hot summer evening, but it is also one of the most beautiful items that came across my computer screen on my browsing journey tonight.  It is listed at $54.00, which is way more than I would normally pay for a dress / jumpsuit, but who knows?  Miss Twiggy Moss just might cut you a deal if you ask her to!  But with all the other great deals you can find on Bonanzle, perhaps you could squeeze this into your wardrobe budget this month!

Well . . . . now . . . . these are NOT the shoes I was looking for to go with this gorgeous but casual jumpsuit . . . . BUT I just had to pop in a picture of them because they are SOOOO stunningly beautiful!  I came across them in the booth of Posh&Plus, listed at $49.00.  If I had $49.00 to spend on shoes, I just might buy these little gems!  I might even put the weekly grocery trip on hold . . . . well, no, not really . . . . but I do think they are absolutely amazing!  OK, back to the business at hand . . . .

Here are the kind of simple strappy sandals that I had in mind to go with the jumpsuit.  Kind of casual, but dressy enough to really suit the elegance of the jumpsuit.  And the color looks like it would match perfectly!  I found these teal sandals at the shop of SweetMotif, for just $20.00, so that would fit into my budget quite nicely!  And now some accessories . . . . .

 

Is this teal purse close enough in color do you think?  It's really hard to tell from photos exactly what color an item is, but if it should match perfectly, this is the kind of casual little handbag I might put with this outfit.  I can see that I'm really looking for great bargains, because I found lots and lots of handbags that would have been perfect, but some of them were over $1,000!  So at $25.00 at the booth of Gimme, this one fits my budget just right!  OK, we're up to $99.00 . . . . here I would have to make some choices . . . . . but just in case you could keep shopping for a bit, let's find some great casual jewelry to go with this outfit.

 So maybe my teals don't match!  But here's a set with a cool necklace and matching earrings that would look great with the rest of this outfit.  At just $18.00 in the booth of adammas, I might even splurge and go over my budget by $17.00 to be able to include this in the complete ensemble.  I know, I know, I'm kind of traditional and old-fashioned . .. . but there must be a few ladies out there who like my style, because I've sold lots of stuff online, and get compliments on my listings time after time!  And besides, this is just a virtual shopping trip, or window shopping, or browsing, or whatever you might want to call it . . . . . in any event, it's fun putting these outfits together, even if in my real life I probably wouldn't have too many places to wear these gorgeous items!  But the fun for me here is also giving some encouragement to a few other Bonanzle shop owners, because by promoting this relatively new online marketplace is good for ALL of the shop owners, and I believe in teamwork!  Stop back tomorrow for my Saturday Morning Inspiration, to keep us all focused as we face each day.  Chat soon, Nina

Tuesday Treasure Hunt: A Summer Outfit for Under $100

It's always fun to stroll around the blogosphere looking for fun new shops and marketplaces where you can find beautiful clothing and accessories.  There are so many people selling online that you will be able to find an amazing selection of all kinds of things.  Most of the people that I've encountered who have little shops online, are just like you and me . . . .  people who love to open and manage their shops and who offer great deals on whatever you might be shopping for.  And in this economy, whenever you shop at an online marketplace, you are not only helping your family by providing quality items at a great price, but you are probably also helping another family make ends meet!  That's a win-win situation for all of us! 

I've been searching Bonanzle for the past few days to see what the shopkeepers offer there, and I"ve met lots of new online friends.  One of the things that I love to do about once a week is to visit lots of shops and see if I can put together a complete outfit for less than $100 . . . and then pass that info on to you!  Today I started just looking for a simple summer outfit, including a dress, shoes, purse, and jewelry.  Here are just a few of the gorgeous items I discovered!  First I found this adorable vintage summer dress by Liz Claiborne.  It is black and white, and that lends itself to all kinds of interpretations!  It is listed at $30.00 so that's a great place to start if you are looking for a whole new outfit!  If you want to see some of the other listings in this shop, stop by and visit Kathy at Fancy Pants Vintage.      

Then I found these sweet little white open toe low heels that I think would be very cute with this dress . . . . but then I am kind of an old-fashioined, traditional girl!  I really prefer the simple, feminine look so my style might not appeal to those who are a bit more into high fashion   ;o)   But in any event, my quest is to find a complete outfit for less than $100 to prove that it can be done, and these darling shoes are listed for only $12, so now I'm up to a total of $42.  Visit the Burns' family to see the rest of the items in their little Bonanzle shop, Boots n Treasures.  

Now, with my black and white theme to complete, I found this cute little clutch purse for just $5.99!  Visit AndreaBags09 to see the rest of her listings . . . . so now we are up to $47.99, and all I have left to find is some jewelry to add the finishing touches to this outfit.  I wonder what I can find . . . .

OK so these aren't exactly black and "white" but I still like them!  And I do think they would be cute and kind of retro with this outfit.  And for $8.99 at YesterdaysGems, I can still go looking for a bracelet or a necklace, too!  I love these cute little earrings . . .  . off I go to see what else I can find.

Well, here's the perfect bracelet to match these earrings!  I found it at SweetMotif's booth, Thrift Savvy Boutique, and there are so many more gorgeous treasures there, you will just have to visit her shop and discover it all for yourself!  And this one I'm willing to pay the $20 asking price, because everything else I found was also priced just right so that I can complete my summer outfit for a total of $76.98, and I even have plenty left over to pay for shipping! 

This has been a fun shopping trip!  Hope you'll stop by and visit some of these great Bonanzle shops, and meet a few of the shopkeepers over there.  It's a very friendly neighborhood!   ;o)  See you tomorrow . . . . .