Hoppy Easter!

I can't believe it's almost Easter!  I also cannot believe it's spring!  You wouldn't know it by looking out my window right now!  It seems the snow will never stop!

Pretty Easter images from Pinterest

 Pinterest is so inspiring~!  There are inspirational quotes, gorgeous home decor, yummy food ideas, and more!

Sweet bunnies

 I thought I'd add a bit of spring to my blog since I can't seem to find it outside!

Pinterest makes me think I can do crafts

 

 

 So here's to spring, hopefully we will hear birds chirping soon!

Hoppy Easter!

Jen

Vintage Percolators for Sale!

Retro Corning Green Medallion Percolator

Well gosh-darn-it!  I have several of these very cool Corning Ware vintage percolators.  I even gave one to my mother-in-law, and she loves it and uses it everyday!

Fresh stove top coffee!

 I guess there was a recall on them, I think it's because of an issue with the handle coming off?  Anyways, I had some listed on Etsy awhile back and they made me take them down due to the recall (that's how I found out about it).

I just recently posted them on Ebay, and was getting bids of them.  I actually sold one with the buy-it-now option, but today Ebay pulled the rest of them off the site.  Boo-hoo!

Classic Cornflower Blue

 So I thought I'd tell my blogger friends about them, in case anyone wants one! I'm selling them cheap cheap cheap just to get rid of them at this point!  I would not sell them if I thought there was a hazard, like I said, my mother-in-law uses hers everyday!  Come to think of it, I haven't talked to her in a couple of days (just kidding).

They range in sizes from 6 cup to 10 cup.  I also have a cute Spice of Life one that has part of the metal insert, but not the lid to the metal insert.

Take care!

Jen 

Quinoa and Veggie Salad

Jen's Quinoa and Veggie Salad

Here's another one of my recipes I made up just using things I had in the refrigerator!

Start by rinsing 1 cup of quinoa (in a fine strainer), add that to 2 cups of water in a pan and bring to boil, then cover and simmer for about 15 minutes or so.

While that's cooking just go through your refrigerator, find things that you love and will make a colorful and yummy salad!

I used (these are all raw):
yellow bell pepper
broccoli
red onion
green onion
chick peas (I used canned)
radicchio
radishes 
tomatoes
cucumber

I diced everything pretty small and uniform in size.  You can let the quinoa cool and toss it all together, but I was too hungry, so I just used the warm quinoa topped with veggies, added some salt & pepper, and just a little balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

The perfect lunch!

Try it-you'll like it!

Jen   
     

Old Books

As you may know, I have a passion for antiques and vintage!  I have my own personal (and quite large) collection of old books.  I especially love old history books!  I not only love reading old books, I love the look and the smell (yes the smell) of old books!

Today I sold a 1936 novel titled "Yang and Yin". I really did not know anything about the book, except that it was red and I loved the title!

It turns out to be more interesting than I thought!  My customer, Susan, told me that her Mom actually referenced this book in her diary back in the 1930's.

Wait, it gets even more interesting!  The diary by Joan Wehlen Morrison was turned into a book and edited by her daughter, Susan Signe Morrison!  The book is available for purchase, so be sure to check out my link for more information!

Home Front Girl 

Yes, one of the reasons I have my Etsy shops is to make money, of course, but it goes deeper than that.  At least once a week I hear a story from one of my customers about why they have purchased a certain item.  Often I hear from my customers that the item brings back special memories from their childhood.  I love that!

Follow your passion...and Happy March!

Jen   

It's Too Cold Outside

It's too cold outside.

It's snowing.

I don't look good in my workout clothes.

I kind of fell off the workout wagon!  It seems to happen to me in the winter time!  

I have some great excuses, but they're just excuses.  

I do have stepper in my basement, so I've been doing that a couple of times a week, plus pushing myself to get to the gym a few days a week.

I had decided earlier to day I would just do the stepper workout today, since it was too cold outside, but then I had to go up to the post office, so I put on the workout clothes and got in a good hour workout at the rec center!

The excuse that it's too cold outside is just silly, I know that!  I really only have to walk from my car to the gym, which isn't far at all.  Of course, once I start working out I'm warmed up!

So I thought I'd post this as a bit of motivation for everyone, whatever you're excuse, just got out there and do it!  You'll feel better afterwards, I promise!

Happy workout!

Jen         

Don't Forget Valentine's Day!

EcoChicSoaps

What better place to find Valentine's gifts than wonderful Etsy!  Just a quick search brought up some great finds!

Ceraminic

Upgradegr

 I love the Big Bang Theory, so I just had to post this cute card!

Sugar Robot 

Karina Grace Jewelry

 I wouldn't mind if someone bought me this pretty necklace!

Happy Valentine's Day! I heart you!

Jen 

Crazing High USPS International Shipping Costs

Cute vintage spoons

 

 

No, these cute spoons don't have a thing to do with international shipping costs!

I'm just so frustrated with the dramatic increase that the United States Post Office has implemented for this Monday, January 27th!

I love my international customers, and I have several international repeat customers.  An item weighing less than 2 lbs, to Australia, would have been $22.59, and Monday, it will be $42.80...really!?

Why the dramatic increase?  Does anyone know?  

It's really tough to adjust all of my listings, since I have 3 Etsy shops, and my smallest shop (MyMilkGlassShop) has 206 items.  My largest shop (JensCloset) has 1,436 items!

I used bulk edit, and just adjusted everything to a higher amount, and then will gradually go through each listing to get a better estimate.  

I have an announcement in all 3 of my Etsy shops to let my customers know why there are crazy shipping costs.

You will want to have all of your updates done by tomorrow, because when you're shipping out Monday, costs will go way up!

Good luck!

Jen       

Fettuccine Alfredo

My food pictures never look to good, but believe me, this was yummy and quick to make!  Warning: it is not a diet food, although you could "tweak" it to be a bit more "figure friendly".

I used angel hair, much quicker than fettuccine noodles, and a bit lighter.

Boil cut up broccolli (or steam it).  While that's boiling, get your water boiling for the pasta.  And while that's boiling, melt some butter, 2-3 tablespoons, or so.  Add about 2 tsps of flour, stir constantly on low for just about a minute to get the flour cooked.  I gradually add 1 cup of a time of heavy cream (good place to tweek or tweak with a lighter version of something), as that thickens up you can add more cream.  I also add a dash of nutmeg, and salt and pepper.  Grate some parmesiano reggiano (I'm probably messing up on spelling but I'm excited), add that to the sauce.  While you're making the sauce you can dump in the angel hair, that only takes about 3-4 minutes too cook.

Done!  Put the pasta on a pretty plate (I always think it tastes better), pour the yummy sauce over it, and add the delicious broccolli.  Cheaper and quicker than going out!

Enjoy!

Jen

Martin Luther King Day

“I have decided to stick to love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

 

 

 

 

Remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's words everyday, not just on one holiday!

Love not hate.

It's simple.

Be kind to everyone, no matter what color their skin is, how much money they make, old or young.  Be kind.

Jen 

Marketing

As promised, another chapter review from Jason Malinak's book "Etsypreneurship"!

Smith Milk Glass Hobnail Bowl

 Since I love marketing (not like grocery shopping marketing), I thought I'd talk about Chapter 8 today!

The chapter starts with these 2 important sentences:

"Marketing is one of the core operational tasks that every Etsy seller performs.  Etsy sellers who don't perform this task typically go out of business fairly quickly from lack of sales."

So true!  For example, there are a ton of awesome vintage shops on Etsy, so I have to "kick-butt" to get noticed!

Jason discusses the 4 parts of the marketing framework; which are branding, connecting, advertising, and promotions.

Branding is all about you.  Your shop name, images, listing descriptions, etc, all make up how you/your shop are perceived.

Connecting is a way to build trust, relationships, and sales.  Even though I work from home, I am connecting with people all day and night.  Whether it's when I'm out shopping for items for my shop, chatting on twitter, or convo's with my customers, it's all important!

Advertising is so important!  You can list all you want, but if you're not doing some sort of advertising, it just ain't gonna work!  Advertising can be as simple as having a facebook fanpage and blogging!  One of my goals this year is to check into other forms of advertising.

Last but not least, promoting!  Jason says "A promotion is where you look to your existing connections to try to get them to take action."  Promotions can be deals such as coupons, buy-one-get-one-free discounts, etc.

So there you have it!  Another information chapter from Jason's book "Etsypreneurship".  I love this book!  Check it out on Amazon.com!

Happy Sales!

Jen