I'm Caving

I've been pro Delayed/No Vac for nearly six (6) yrs. In a few weeks oldest will finally complete all his immunizations and my youngest will start his round. I've made the decision to switch or consider switching over to getting vaccines, only due to the amount of close contact he will begin having with other despite my home schooling and semi strict healthy eating. The school that I may send him to next yr insist that all children be up to date on their shots. I'm a bit nervous in explaining that I haven't kept him up to date on shots. I hate that the health community makes us as parents/people feel like trash for not going along with the flow. I just returned from my own doctors visit and was asked no less than 3x's by 3 diff people was I going to get a flu shot. I said 'no' and gave no explanation. I heardly think I will die from the flu and I am am not entirely sure that a flu shot will stop myself or my children from getting the flu. Delay/No Vacc is my choice and one I would most likely repeat, if I had another child. I don't see the point in offering an option if when we are given the option as parents, choose not to participate and then we are made to asthough we are less than caring because we choose to go against them. In truth I've felt good not pumping my son full of shots at every wellness visit it's tramatizing for children ( I have my oldesst son to prove that). And, only the MMR has had limited research in it's effect on children. He hasn't caught anything contagious besides a couple colds and pink eye (which cleared right up with some collidal silver) in the nearly 4 yrs he's been born. I'm hoping he is given a clean bill of health, since his brother has a clean bill of health as well as myself. If he gets sick, I know the blame will set in from myself and others around me (especially in the medical field), but for now we are living healthy, eating as much natural & organic foods as we can and carry on as a happy and healthy family. I wish I could here more Delay/No vacc parents speak out and know that my family and I aren't alone.

Where in the world were you?

Today at approx 2 pm in the United States of America in upstate NY I came in from putting a load of clothing in my washer machine. I sat on my living room floor with legs crossed, looked out the window of my apartment and was meet with this gorgeous sky!
I had to wonder 'Where and what in the world is everyone doing at this moment in time?

Rather than daydreaming, I figured I would ask you all myself. Where and what were you doing at 2pm October 13 2010? I'd really like as many replies as possible, leave a comment with your country, state and city if you'd like then pass my link onto your friends & family! Receiving 100 comments would make my day. TIA!

Umma

Etsy Boot Camp -week 2

Okay, I'm keep the ball rolling here to get up to speed, here is my week 2 checked off.
[] Accessing my own shop. What items have the most hearts, expand on them and toss those that don't.
This proved to be much more difficult then I thought it would be. I have a ton of hearts for my shop, but I can't tell who's hearting and why they are hearting an item. Getting to the bottom of that, may prove to be very difficult. I remember which items were very popular, however
* 1 .) Once an item is purchased you can no longer see who hearted that item on etsy. So, you won't gain anything in the way of popularity.
*2.) Most of my hearted or highly requested items won't be hitting my shop again 2 different reasons. They were either very detailed in the process of making them and due to lower prices setting the bar for these items, I can't manage to create them, make a decent profit and continue to feel good about all the work that goes into them. The other reason is, I created the item people wanted them, but the buyers of those were more interested in trading instead of paying -therefore I traded. There is a whoooole different research needed to determine if they would acutally pay for the items, why or why not. So, I'm leaving those items off to themselves for a while.

[2] Brain storm new items, check! Which actually will bring about my changing my profile info and maybe reworking some of my policies to be easier to read.
[3] Found my buddy! Now to consistanly check in with him/her. We aren't making the same items, so they're are positives and negatives in supporting each other. I always feel a bit weird talking out the process of developing a new items with a fellow sewist/seller. There's always the moment of uncertainty when you don't know who they are or how they roll (for lack of a better term). Will they or won't they take my idea, will they feel that I took theirs? I do like to share where to get the best prices on certain items though and how to make an item. There is a fine balance between giving out too much of your sources and tips, but I try to keep a positive attitude, what is meant for me won't pass me by. So, if I tell and they make a profit off my sharing - it was meant for them, no matter the means to the end they used to receive it.

Okay enough rambaling for me. I'm off to get my kiddo ready for some homeschooling, breakfast and then crafting. See Yer, as salaamu alaykum

Week 1 Etsy boot camp

Welp, I'm still playing catchup two days late and 2 weeks behind. Let's get a running start and re -cover week 1.

Where do I want my business to be in the future (or atleast what are my goals until the new year)? Until I read momgul, I had the typically hoo hum answer (not that it's a bad answer at all) 'I just want to make enough money to stay home with my kids and pay the bills'. I never honestly put much thought into all the work and money I needed to make or how famous and out there I would have to be to cover my bills or atleast supplement them. My goal had been $500, When my items are selling for $24 each the goal seems so near, however most of that is split up into materials, time, shipping, advertisements, packaging and gas for post office trips and lets not forget etsy and paypal fees as well. Since looking at the big picture made me break out in anixety hives, I've decided to break all those months and many bills into a Mission statement each month or two. It seems more reasonable and much less over whelming.
* Complete 1 project every other day.
*This month my mission is to give 5% to L.I.F.E a program based in WNY to help children in worn torn countries.
* Most important of all is to list 20 items this month, sale atleast $50 worth of items (about 2 sales - I'm not aiming too high am I?) And, promote more by visiting etsy forum.

I visited craftopolis.com and craftcult. I'm a bit dissappointed with my shop views. If any wonderful fellow etsy sellers have suggestions on how I can get more view please do tell. I would appreciate it.
Check 1 for me for Boot camp week 1.

Etsy Success Holiday BOOT CAMP

I'm late in the game. For some reason, I was seeing that crazy little etsy monster mascot and not linking 2&2 together with the quick skim of my etsy success newsletter/e-mail. Well, I'm into the game now and here we go with my pledge.
Why won't blogspot, let you copy paste? It's such a pain in the butt. Hey! Blogspot..blogger fix this will you???!!!??? Here's my alternative...I've got nothing, maybe I can ask my little computer nerd friend, later tonight so I don't have to type it all out.... I do pleadge though! Go pleadge too!
Etsy Boot Camp sign up

Speakease.net ?

I keep receiving this crazy e-mail in my spam folder telling me Congradulations. Now, I'm ususally not suckered into anger virus loaded e-mails, so I deleted it for the 3rd time. However, if this is a reply to one of the giveaway blogs I entered recently, please inform mr through this post. If it was and I missed you, too bad for me :(. And, if I was just a nasty virus being passed around by some angry idiot then....nananana naaaah! I'm not opening it. Now, please do not take that to heart and send me a worse virus, thank you! ;)

It all came together

I've been trying to squeeze in everything that I needed to for the last few day and it finally all came
together.

Homeschooling was fun! As you can see,
we are in disperate need of a printer! I didn't realize how crooked my lines were until I seen this picture. We also had great fun playing this youtube video of "Marvelous Martha" for the letter 'M' over and and over again



Delicous snacks await us.
No kidding this has been my staple as a snack for the last few days.
Wheat Thins are delcious with colby and chedder cheese.
A full glass of water and a pomegrante yogurt are all I need.



One to some cutesy sewing!
This water proof organic bamboo changing mat gave me fits!
I new that there would be some shifting, but oh GOD the horror.






Being that it was sent off as a gift for the newest baby girl in
our community. I feel slightly bad the edges came out a bit wobbly.





I tried my best and that's all that matters.
Next time I'm going to save myself the headache
and bind the edges instead of turning and topstitching.
How in the world do you talented etsy women/men keep
all those slippery corners straight???


I finished off my day by attending open house for my son and nieces. Because children weren't allowed my mother had to stay home with them, that means I was stretched between 3 very different schedules. I caught quite a few of their teachers, but I totally missed all of their art, gym and music teachers. All reports were pretty good and I am told my little person is taking off superbly in school. I wish he was more of the obedient helpful child at home as he is in school. But, nothing in life is perfect, so I keep him, love him and charish him -flaws and all. That was my day! What did everyone else accomplish?