Brief thoughts

Somewhere in between errands, cleaning and a crazy Smashing Pumpkins 20th Anniversary show here in their hometown. . .I got a few things made. I am trying my best to get some good gifts made and listed in the shop, feature some awesome etsians on my blog and work on my fundraising. . .but this is a VERY busy time of year in the dog boarding business, so I'm spinning my wheels :) I have also been in touch with a great and very brave young blogger who I will be donating some headwraps to for a giveaway on her blog! Keep checking in.

It's my weekend!

I LOVE having Tuesday and Wednesday off cause other people DON'T. Which means I can get a ton of things done. Making new crafts to list, shipping out sold items, WORKING ON MY CANCER FUNDRAISING EFFORTS, and taking some time to promote my shop and relax. . .are on my list for the next 48 hours. I am soooo tired today. It was such a Monday. But I can't complain, because I hang out with dogs all day :)

Here are some pics of the types of things I will be listing over the next few days! Also just won a TON of vintage jewelry lots of ebay. . .so I will be making loads of fun embellished altered frames and boxes as soon as they arrive.

so much work to do. . .

I have a million emails to answer and a million things to do. . .I really should be making new things and listing them, but I am going to take the night off. . .crazy day at work :) Looking forward to a Mexican vacation in the spring and thinking I should take some time to choose my wedding pics (since I've been married for more than 6 months. . . . ).

at home relaxing. . . .

didn't do much today, which from what people tell me is necessary once in awhile. . .even the kids stayed in bed all day . . .I did get a ton of feedback from people about selling the headwraps and places to contact to donate to cancer research.

I'm thinking of starting out by donating to the American Cancer Society. . .where I know the funds will be properly appropriated. Also thinking of doing a booth or table at the Childrens Memorial Hospital here in Chicago, and possibly at Northwestern Hospital.

My goal for the upcoming week is actually to make loads of the wraps to donate to kids with cancer at Children's. . .thoughts????

Kick Cancer's A** and Look Good While Doing So!

I have finally gotten some ideas together to marketing my verastile headwraps and I hope you will help me pass along the info! As you may know, I recently had a customer who is going through chemo purchase one of these headwraps from my shop to wear during her treatment as a unique and stylish alternative to a baseball cap! It gave me the great idea to start marketing these 100% recycled fabric wraps as a stylish, feel good alternative for women and children going through chemo to help them feel good about themselves!

Both my maternal grandmother and my husband's mother passed away very young after losing their battles to breast cancer, and both of our families have a long history of breast cancer battles behind us. I decided I wanted to do something to make a difference in the lives of other wonderful women and children who are surviving!

All sales of upcycled headwraps and headscarves in my shop will have a portion of the proceeds donated to cancer research and support!

If you know of a great woman or girl who is looking for something to help them look and feel beautiful during chemo, come stop by my shop and consider one of these wraps as a holiday gift!

Make someone's day a little prettier and help us to kick cancer where it counts!

My latest obsession. . .

I am not going to lie, it took me an entire day to pick 6 bracelets to purchase from this shop for myself and for gifts. I found easternsky through an indie lovers website and I immediately made a beeline over to the shop. I think I had seen it once before and thought these merino wrapped bracelets were the most fabulous thing ever. I hardly buy jewerly these days for myself because 1) I have tons 2) I make some 3) I don't wear what I have cause there's too much to choose from and 4) I just plum don't need anymore right now!

However, I HAD to make an exception here , and I thought these would be the most amazing gifts, and of course I had to get some for myself as well. The artist is awesome and she has been a great seller to deal with, setting up a custom listing and being very quick to communicate back to me about my order.

Highly reccommended shop. . .good luck deciding between ALL the fantastic color choices!

click on easternsky under my favorites to go directly to the shop.

My Day Job. Woof.

I am fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to gracefully bow out of corporate America (after my last 2 companies went bankrupt and liquidated) and get a job doing something I LOVE. I run an amazing, GREEN, state of the art dog daycare and boarding facility and an organic dog food market. SO I thought I'd share some pics with you of what I am doing on this beautiful Saturday evening. These pics are of my pal here hanging out in the lobby with me. He is 160 lBS and about 6'5". . . .he loves puppies and the staff, but is very timid and thinks he's a tiny maltese :)

http://www.poochhotel.com/

http://www.gorawdog.com/

Goldies featured shop: Mi Vida Creations

Where I would spend it all. . .Day Of the Dead at Mi Vida Creations

SO I know I said that in the tradition of Dia De Los Muertos, I would feature a different etsy shop everyday in November that focuses on Day of the Dead art. . .but with so much going on in CHICAGO this week, I got off to a late start. So I will tell you about my MOST favorite artist on here as far as Dia De Los Muertos goes. . . and then I will feature my other favorite shops throughout the week, not necessarily in the Day of the Dead category, just all of them! My goal is to feature ALL of my fave sellers on this blog so you can see some awesome shops that you may not know about.
So my MOST FAVORITE Dia De Los Muertos Shop on etsy is here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=65255
It is Mi Vida Creations by Carmela Chase.

This is probably the store on etsy I would buy EVERYTHING from! Beautiful artwork with amazing detail, pieces that come in a variety of sizes, colors and prices. If you LOVE Mexican Folk Art, Dia De Los Muertos, skulls, etc. . .there is something for everyone in this shop. Please check it out! Totally, unbelieveably cool.