My other blog

First--don't forget to scroll down and sign up for my vintage aluminum coaster giveway on this blog!

Second..check out my other blog http://www.fabfortyandbeyond.blogspot.com/ for my latest post!

Thanks!

Jen

Time Management

Most of my friends on Twitter know about my favorite time management trick! I use this trick most on the weekends, when there seems to be even more to get done in 1 day!



You can start feeling overwhelmed when you have too much to do. What happens then is you give up on your to-do list altogether! Maybe you just hang out on Twitter! (Who can blame you!?)



I know many of you have your own shops and work from home, like I do. You are your own boss...and in order to be a good boss, you need to have some time management tricks up your sleeve.



My favorite one, that works everytime, is so easy! What I do is set the timer! Use whatever time you want, but for me, what works best is setting my timer for 20 minutes. In that 20 minutes I cannot go near the computer, or list anything in my shop! In that 20 minutes I do housework only!



You would be amazed what you can get done in 20 minutes when you have a "break goal"! Times UP!! Great...now I set the timer for 15 minutes and I can play! For me that usually means going directly to Twitter! In that time I also will photograph some things that I want to list in my shop, and perhaps..even list something!



Times UP again!! Set the timer...20 minutes..and off to do more housework!



You get the idea! Just try it sometime when you're getting frustrated at all that needs to get done! You are only one person, but with a little time management trick, you will be one cool person!!

Best of luck to all! Don't forget to sign up for my vintage aluminum coaster set giveaway!

Jen

Vintage Giveaway!!

Yay!! It's giveway time! Sorry it took me so long to have another giveway...I had so much fun with my first, and it's way past time for another one!

Okay, let's see...I always like the idea of checking out either of my shops http://www.jenscloset.etsy.com/ and/or http://www.mymilkglassshop.etsy.com/ and letting me know what your fav item is, better yet...something that you think would make a great Mothers Day gift! Just leave me a comment on my blog with info on how to contact you if you win!

Okay..now...an ending date...hold on, let me get the calendar. Okay..I'm back! Since this is kind of a Mothers Day themed giveway...I'm picking the day before Mothers Day for the last day to get your name in my contest! Saturday, May 9th, by 1:00 pm. Shortly after that, I will randomly pick a number (at a neat site that actually randomly picks for me, so it's fair!).

Oh...and my giveway is this cute set of vintage aluminum coasters with the fruit pattern embossed on them! It's a set of 7 and they're adorable!

So tell your neighbors and friends to join in on the fun!

And thanks so much for stopping by!

Jen

HaPPY bIRTHDAY dAD!!

Got your attention, didn't I!! I hope so!

Okay, let me set the scene. We're in a black and gray and dusty train yard. Nothing going on..just some old trains that probably haven't moved for years. Now we're on a dirt road, no lights, no houses, just a dark dirt road. We're not at disneyworld or disneyland. We just passed the road to our house, Ashwood, in Avon Lake, OH., but it's okay...now we're hitchhiking at the top of our own road, waiting for a ride. Wait...all of a sudden there's a big snow storm and we're in a cool snow fort, where no harm can come to us when we start our snowball fight!

What's going on! Where are we you ask?

I've just taken a few pages out of my childhood; and this is my little way to thank my Dad for taking a dark, dismal, neglected train yard...and making it into a memory.

Did I go to Disneyland or Disneyworld when I was a kid? Nope!! Was I ever sad that I didn't go to these places? Nope! Did I wish I had more money and more stuff when I was a kid? No--the thought never entered my mind (unless it had to do with Barbies!).

I am just as guilty as most parents these days!! My kids have a lot of stuff! But it's not the "stuff" that I think they'll really remember. It's you...and what you do with your kids, that they'll remember!

Like snow forts...My Dad was THE BEST snow fort maker..don't even try to compete, he was the best and I'm sure of it!

Or..how about Christmas Eve.. a very snow Christmas Eve! You've got 4 very anxious children (and one baby)..what would you do? take them on a snow walk through the neighborhood, of course..(smart guy..try to get us tired!).

So...you have the kids in the car and you suddenly pass the street you live on..."hey, Dad..you just passed our street!" That's fun!

Hitchhiking...yep! we did that just about everynight! At the end of our street, waiting for Dad to come home from work and pick us up! (and he always did! thankgoodness).

So, when you're feeling bad because you don't have much to give to your kids, think again! There are only a few material things I remember from my childhood. My fondest memories are the times...the what (might appear to be boring) moments...like a ship yard or just a drive to the only McDonalds in the entire county! That's what will stay in their minds!

So thanks, Dad! and by the way...if you want to truly learn about a true salesman! I could go on and on about my Dad in that department too! My Dad was an actuary before anyone knew what an actuary was! My Dad had five children to support when he was given an ultimatum...sign a contract -a non-compete contract (the modern term)...so....did he do it, you wonder!!? Nope!! He did not!! He quit!! With 5 kids at home, at yep-I decided, about that time..that it would be fun to get married, after all, it was a big bicentennial year...1976!! and it was a big wedding! Do I remember any complaining?? No, I do not!

My Dad had no office, he had no employees. I guess you would just say he had a lot of confidence! He peddled himself!! He made phone calls from a place called The Cleveland Athletic Club..he had a great (and gorgeous) secretary named Mona (my Mom!). Guess what!! It worked!

He turned his peddling into a company!! First called JRParsons, Inc. Then called Parsons & Mckee, Inc (or something like that!)....which, in turn, was named Parsons, Mckee, Sommers & Co.! Long story short, it was bought by an invsestment company years later and then by The Standard.

My point is..well, I have a few points! First and foremost...you don't need money to be a good parent! Second, but still very important.....do NOT give up!! Take it from my Dad! he's 70-something (I'm serious, I don't know his exact age, because I don't think it mattters)..he is still doing actuarial consulting! Do not give up! If you give up...well, then...you give up and that's it! If my Dad can be a Dad with 5 kids-a family to support and do it...then you can do it!

Thanks Dad--thanks so much for the memories..We were by no means poor, but we were by no means rich...at least monetarily speaking!

But, did I feel rich!? Yes? I felt rich and when I think back...I know how lucky I was! and still am!

Thank you -and Happy Birthday--whatever your age!!

I appreciate the wonderful memories I have!

Love,

Your oldest daughter,

Jennifer

Fenton, Milk Glass, Hobnail...I love it!

If you've seen my milk glass shop (cleverly named http://www.mymilkglassshop.etsy.com/ ) than you may have guessed that I do love milk glass!

I have quite a few Fenton pieces listed in my shop. Fenton is just a classic to me..you can't go wrong with Fenton! My favorite reference book is "The Big Book of Fenton Milk Glass, 1940-1985". I actually do not own the book, I am just always at the library checking it out, and paying overdue fines for it...hmmmm..might be a good idea to actually find the book and purchase it somewhere..what a thought!!

This book has been a great help, it has a good chapter on hobnail, my favorite milk glass pattern! I have several of the pieces that are listed in this book, so it helps to actually find out what the piece was originally used for, such as a pickle dish! Well, of course...we all need a pickle dish! Especially a Fenton milk glass hobnail pickle dish!

I love the silver crest pattern too! I do not have quite as much of the silver crest as the hobnail, but it's a lovely pattern, and I will be on the hunt for more of these pieces!

Now, I'm not just a Fenton snob! I haven't met too many milk glass pieces that I haven't loved! Even the vases I find that have been battered and beaten and just need to be cleaned up and loved! It's amazing what a little soap and water will do for a lovely milky white vase.

My milk glass shop has a price point for everyone! I always try to keep some pieces in the $10 and under category, so everyone can enjoy milk glass as much as I do!

If you can only afford a few milk glass pieces, and you want to start collecting (because milk glass looks simple and gorgeous in a collection!), start with a few bud vases!

After you check out my milk glass shop you may think, "Wow! That girl has a huge collection of milk glass!" Guess what!? I have tons more here to list! So if you're looking for a certain milk glass piece, just ask...I might have it!

Happy milk glass hunting and best wishes to all!

Jen

Happy Easter

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter!

Jen

Inspiration

If I've inspired one person with my workout regimin, than I'm happy! What a long day I had today, so I really was looking forward to my spin class even more than usual tonight (and I knew my favorite instructor Brenda would be there!) . Working out inspires me to keep pushing myself, to keep on going even though I feel so drained.

What inspires you!? I know many of you have an Etsy shop and I am inspired by all of your talent! You inspire me by following your passion, and you should be proud of yourself~!

Sometimes you many not even know that you have inspired someone, just by smiling at the stranger you pass by on your way into the grocery store! Or you may have inspired them by your kind words on Twitter (yes..I just had to mention Twitter). I am saying that from my own experience, because there are days when you wonder! The first thing I do when I list something new in one of my shops, is to announce on Twitter! Sure enough, my Twitter friends come through! Oh, and when I make a sale...it's amazing (not that I made the sale)! I am sure to get several "Congrats" and "Way to go's" from everyone! That inspires me!

Inspiration keeps us going! It's the motivation we need to do what we do!

I find inspiration in so many ways! I'm inspired by art, by happy people, but an elderly neighbor that still has an amazing sense of humor (that would be my 92 yr old friend Rea!).

What? You don't think you inspire anyone? You would be surprised...I bet you have inspired at least one person today and you don't even know it! Just by your kind words and your warm smile, you've inspired someone!

Keep up the good work....find your passion, and when you're questioning what you're doing, get inspired..or inspire someone!

I thank you for inspiring me!

Take care!

Jen

It's Here! My One Year Anniversary is Here!

Isn't it amazing what you can accomplish in one year when you put your mind to it!?

April 1, 2008, I officially opened my Etsy shop! I kind of just threw myself into it, being a little naive about it all! I think it's better to be a bit naive...if we knew the trials and tribulations of our new adventures, we may have second thoughts, and never try new things!

I would have never imagined my house being taken over by, not only the items already in my shop, but the many (many many) more items yet to list! My poor family! My husband, Bob...let's just say, I think he has the patients of a saint! Thank you Bob! Not only has he never said anything negative about all this taking over our house, he's actually forever building more shelves for me! I keep telling him we need a "bob day", but he gets plenty of those days while watching the ncaa tournament!

And I cannot forget to thank the main person that encouraged me to join Etsy! My best friend..oh, did I mention she is also my daughter! Thanks Lindsey! You must check out her adorable shops (she inherited her talents from my Mom..not me!).. http://www.deerlyneeded.etsy.com/ and http://www.lindseymarcella.etsy.com/ ...Lindsey is forever creating and I am so very proud of her!

This is just a quick blog to say thanks to all of my friends --thanks for your support and encouragement!

Best wishes to all!

Jen