Wordless Wednesday

I can always count on the oldest to look right at the camera.

The other 2 have yet to learn.

Pretty much just random...

I am up to my ears in ribbon. My dining room looks like WW3 just took place and it left all it's crap for me to clean up after wards.

Speaking of which, am I the only person that feels weird saying crap. I see a lot of bloggers saying that and I think nothing of it. Until *I* type it. Then I feel like my Dad is standing over my shoulder saying "Casey, crap is not a very Christian word to say". It's true. My oldest doesn't say it. She calls it the "C" word.

Is "crap" not a nice word? I like it better than the alternative.

I have a very foul mouth. I do. Whew I feel better getting that out there.

I let WAY too many words slip. I'm not perfect and it's something that I am working on.

Anyway...

ribbon.

I have been making some new items to go in my Etsy shop. I am actually working on something now. A ribbon wrapped headband with a flower. I've made the braided headbands in the past and I do enjoy making them, they are just more time consuming. This way I can get items in my shop, promote them and then hopefully sell them.

This one will be for Valentine's Day. My favorite time of the year to make bows. I love pink and red. And I especially like them together like in this bow!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/63676464/valentines-day-layered-boutique-hair-bow

I also added a "You Pick Your Color" listing for the ribbon flower.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/63766604/ribbon-flower-hair-clip-you-pick-color

My oldest wore this red one to school the other day and received so many compliments. She had girls asking where she got it from and when she told them her mom, they thought it was "so cool". So, I have a few flowers to make for her classmates. :)

What a difference a year makes

One year ago my husband quit his job. He quit because his job was being outsourced to India.

Again.

See 2 years prior to this, his job with a major shipping company got outsourced to India. Then *surprise surprise* their customer satisfaction went WAY down so they moved their software support BACK to the states. Just not back to where Chris worked.

He got placed with a job he hated. Customer support. He sat at a desk for 9 hours a day and listening to people complaining.

He started getting depressed. Not like clinically depressed. Just depressed about all the shoulda coulda woulda's he felt he missed out on.

Then he found out his job would be ending. The company told him that they would be slowing letting people go, anywhere October to December. He stuck with them until the end.

He took about a week off after he quit just so we could get things in order. Financially and emotionally.

He was starting CDL school.

He and I had talked about this for quite a while. It's something he and I've always wanted to do. I can remember my mother telling me to go get my CDL way back in like 1996. I never did. I should have, but I didn't.

I sure as heck didn't want Chris to miss this opportunity to get his. He had turned down the chance once before and wasn't letting it slip away again.

Monday, December 7th, 2009 was the day that changed everything for us.

I was now married to a trucker. For a year I had tried to get myself emotionally prepared for this roller coaster ride. The first 6 months after he left were the worst. I saw him 3 times. Well 4 actually. He just so happened to have a drop here in Jacksonville while he was out with his trainer so they stopped by and stayed the night.

I have always considered myself to be independent. I was a single parent for nearly 5 years. I know how to handle being alone. What I didn't know how to handle, was being a wife and being alone. I pretty much stunk at it. And still do at times.

There were times during this year that he wanted to quit. He was tired. Worn slap out. I wouldn't let him quit. I still won't let him quit.

He has dreams and is willing to go the extra mile to makes those dreams come true.

He knows what he is doing. He is respectful of others. He is a safe driver. He is an awesome husband and by far the better parent.

AND he is about to have that "Golden Year" under his belt. I thought I would never see the day and I am so proud of him for the sacrifices he is making for us.

Guess who's back? ME!

Before I EVER started pinching pennies I was a bow maker. I hinted around to it a couple of times in this blog but never did anything about it.

I love making bows. I started selling them about 4 *I think* years ago on eBay and Etsy. After that I purchased my own domain and BOOM I was selling my bows in my very own store. Soon after that I contacted a local boutique to ask them if I could sell my bows there. She loved my bows so pretty soon my bows were being sold in a real brick and mortar store. I loved it!

The owner of the boutique decided she would redo her website, making it look more professional. Since I had a web store already, she wanted to hire me to keep her website updated and to add new products. My business was growing like wildfire and I got burnt out.

QUICK.

So, I quit. Like just canceled my website, pulled my name from everything associated with bows and basically went on vacation for nearly 2 years. I had more ribbon than one person should ever have and it was just sitting around. I tried selling it, but it was so time consuming and not very fulfilling.

Which brings me to now.

I finally am ready to start back making them. I had forgotten just how much I really do enjoy making bows. All I needed was a swift kick in the rear a little encouragement to get me going.

So thanks Wendy! (you big ol' bully)