February 28, 2013

adminLeave a comment

I used to read a lot.  There was no better escape from my crappy jobs than an exciting adventure with a thrilling ending.  Fantasy novels (NOT romance, mind you!) were my favorite, then, historical fiction.  Ever since I have been working solely for giggleFritz and Company, I have not taken much time for reading.

I borrowed two books from one of my sisters and it took me forever to read them.  They are part of a three book series by Ally Condi.  The first was called “Matched”.  The second one, “Crossed”, I just finished.  I want to read the third and final “Reached”.

“Crossed”, by Ally Condi

It was a little hard to want to read these books.  They are well-written, but in some ways, at first, they are similar to “The Hunger Games”.  The books are about a teenage girl who lives in the future.  Where she lives, everyone’s world is controlled by the government, which is called “The Society”.  After a few chapters the book ends up being less like “The Hunger Games”, and the ideas are more unique and interesting.  She goes on her own brutal adventure to find someone she loves and learns more disturbing things about, “The Society”.

I looked into the “Books and Coffee” book club through Dunn Bros. Coffee.  I won’t be joining.  It is a great idea, but I looked online at the book selection.  It isn’t very large right now, and the books are $14 and up.  This frugal coffee/book-loving girl doesn’t like the price.  I can brew my own coffee and head for the library.

Happy Reading! 😀

Missie

 

Custom Book Covers

adminLeave a comment

I’ve been busy in more ways than one, lately.  One of my latest projects is custom book covers from a great repeat customer!

Custom Book Cover – Closed Book
Custom Book Cover – Open Book
Custom Book Cover – Closed book
Custom Book Cover – Open Book
Custom Book Cover – Closed Book
Custom Book Cover – Open Book

My customer bought and provided me with the fabric for three book covers.  She picked out three different sets of contrasting fabric, 1/4 yard each.  (Very cute!)  The covers fit paper back books approximately 4in wide x 7in tall and include handles for easy carrying.  Three more have been ordered through Inspired For You in Downtown West Bend, where I sell my other products.

Watch for a spot in the shop online where custom book covers will be offered.  I am on my fifth order for custom covers.  I never knew there was such an interest!

Have a nice afternoon! 😀

Missie

My Semi-Yuppy Weekend

adminLeave a comment

Over the weekend I went out with my sister to try and find a store where she can sell her candles.  Her Candle Company is My Favorite Candles.  We went to Port Washington and Cedarburg (both in Wisconsin).  I don’t get out to those neat gift shops, antique stores, and coffee/tea houses often.  I am either too busy or just like being at home with family or baking etc.  Anyway, it was so inspiring!  Port Washington is right on Lake Michigan.  When I come over the hill on Hwy 33 and see the water, I automatically get all excited.  We visited several shops and picked up a Raspberry blended tea at a place called “Baltica Tea Room and Gift Shop”.  We should have stayed for homemade soup, but had to still make it over to Cedarburg.

Baltica Tea Room Tea Punch Card

In Cedarburg Winterfest was going on.  The Settlement was packed with people.  The local businesses had artists out in front of their buildings carving ice sculptures.  Curious spectators crowded around to see what objects would unfold.

Inside the beautiful old buildings of The Settlement people were browsing and shopping for something special.  The Cream and Crepe Café was crowded and it was no wonder from the mouth-watering fragrances that greeted you at the door.  We browsed the gift shops and antique stores and ended up at the Cedar Creek Winery.  I bought three bottles of sweet wine and it was time to go.

Settlement View

Did we find a place to sell my sister’s candles? No.  Was it a waste of time? NO!  Nice people, great tea, antiques, and I bought wine!  It was a wonderful weekend!  I need more semi-yuppy weekends!

For now, back to work!

Happy Monday! 😀

Missie

 

Coffee! Soup! Conversation!

adminLeave a comment

Last week was a very trying week in Missie-ville.  I had set several goals in work and personal life, and few were achieved.   Saturday evening I got a call from my sister who was having an equally foul day/week.  We decided a coffee outing was in order to ease our burdens.

Yesterday (Sunday), my sister and I met at Dunn Bros. in West Bend for some amazing coffee and soup.  We not only got to talk through on-going, frustrating situations, we had some amazing soup!  I can’t remember the exact name, but it was something like Parmesan Alfredo Tortellini Soup.  The only way they could have improved on it would be to serve with crusty bread instead of saltines.

Dunn Bros. have also started sponsoring “Coffee and Books” club.  They have eight bestseller books to choose from in the store.  Four books are from the coffeeandbooks.com site and four are other best sellers.  You get free coffee for purchasing a book and joining the club and there are other drink discounts along the way.  So, not only do you get coffee discounts, you get exposure to great books and I want that!  I haven’t joined yet, because I want to check out the books on the web site first, and then go get one.  I will let you know which one I choose soon.

If you have time during this busy week, check out this neat book club offer!  I am not being paid to promote anything.  I just thought I would share something awesome on a dreary Wisconsin Monday. 😀

Have a great Monday!

Missie

Super Bowl Sunday

adminLeave a comment

My team didn’t make it to the Super Bowl this year, so I’m not too interested in the game tonight. It was a perfect day to go see a movie, though. My daughter and I got some lunch and went to see “Mama”. There were only two other people in the theater. Perfect! 🙂

I love horror movies and “Mama” turned out to be a pretty decent scary movie.  During many of the scenes I was peaking through my fingers covering my eyes, not wanting to miss a deliciously scarey part.  However, I wasn’t too keen on the ending.

So, how can someone who makes sweet little sock monkeys enjoy dark and eery horror movies?  I think it adds to my creativety and “thinking outside the box”.  My real reason for watching scarey movies is I don’t like being scared. When something scares me I make it my mission to make it NOT scare me.   A well-developed, thrilling storyline doesn’t hurt either!

I just saw a pretty good Doritoes commercial with a hungry silly goat.  I am off to eat some lasagna and watch high-priced commercials.  My Super Bowl Sunday includes very little football, but is still pretty super. 

Have a super night!
Missie
P.S. – I’m cheering for the Ravens!

Cabin/Planting Fever

adminLeave a comment

I am battling, yet, another cold.  This time sneezing, runny nose and left nostril and eye will all-of-a-sudden tickle, itch, then run. So annoying! It’s not the only sickness I have. I don’t know if you’d classify it as cabin fever, but I have that itch to plant seeds.

I don’t get to plant too much in our condo on the northeast side of the building.  I grow basil and peppermint like no one’s business.  What little I plant, I love to watch grow. I am working towards a house in the country with plenty of room for a huge veggie garden. Until then I will scratch my itch with my basil/peppermint patio garden. I will have fun making do until then!

I hope you’re all having a cozy January weekend!

Missie 😀

Taxes and Newspapers

adminLeave a comment

I love getting the newspaper and I hate getting the newspaper.

Love: Recipes, comics, coupons, news, travel in that order.  The coupons come out first.  If I can’t clip them right away, they go into my grocery shopping binder for later.  Next, I read the rest of the ads, then the comics.  Then, I dig deeper and see what’s going on in the world with the news.  The main reason for my subscription to the Journal Sentinel out of Milwaukee, WI, is the recipes.  I especially love this section during summer and holidays.  There are rare times when I find nothing I will use, but I usually clip out at least one recipe or tip.

Hate: News.  It’s either depressing or biased towards the Democrats.  I want an unbiased media.  Also, they rarely report GOOD news.  There is good news out there and I want more of it!

Over the holiday my newspaper pile really stacked up.  I had so many papers I couldn’t get to, that they stacked up under the coffee table.  I couldn’t fit anymore under there and I was afraid my husband would start calling me a hoarder again.  This past weekend I forced myself to go through the stack and toss out the unnecessary.   I only got half way through, but found more great recipes!

While reading through a comic section from a week or two ago, I came to my favorite comic strip: Family Circus.  I love the drawings and scenes of family life in this comic.  At first, I looked at the comic and thought it was cute.  It was really simple, Bill Keane was saying, “Here we go again” and there was a whirlwind of activities that encompass the whole year.  The drawing had New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, going to the beach, back to school, Christmas and everything in between.  When I looked at each of the little drawings that made up a year, I became really happy!  Why?  This is a difficult time of year.  We are done with Christmas, it’s tax time, the weather is cold and dreary, and whatever you have to deal with right now is just more depressing.  However, looking at all the things that are coming up in this new year makes me look forward in anticipation.  What will I learn? Who will I meet?  What new goals can I set and achieve?  Where will I go?  What will I see?  What drawings will I add to MY whirlwind at the end of the year?

Family Circus Comic
Family Circus Whirlwind of Drawings

Before anything else can be planned on and anticipated, I must pay my sales taxes for giggleFritz and Co. this week.  Today is paperwork and sales tax prep day.  Yuck!  I was sick this weekend, but I did manage to get some things done around the condo so I wouldn’t have to worry about them this week.  Christmas finally got packed away in storage for next year.  Laundry got done.  I am off to do my taxes!

Have a Marvelous Monday!

Missie

Packers vs. 49ers

adminLeave a comment

Tonight I will be watching the Packers and the 49ers do battle in the playoffs.  This morning I gathered my three Packer’s shirts (one is in the laundry), and asked my husband and daughter to each pick one for Packer playoff day.  I was anticipating some resistance but was surprised that with a little coaxing my husband decided to wear one.  My daughter was actually excited to wear one!

A few months ago I brought my daughter to Inspired for You on a day I was working in the store.  She looked at all the handmade items and liked what we were selling.  One of the things she fell in love with was a green and gold Packers inspired tutu.  “I want this!” she said repeatedly.

I am frugal (no, not cheap!) and a self-proclaimed DIYer.  My daughter knows this.  She did ask, “Can you buy me this?”  She quickly changed that question to: “Can you make me one?”  I should have bought one to promote the store, but I knew I would save money making my own.  I have made tutus for sock monkeys I sell.  I waited for Hobby Lobby to have a sale on their tulle and bought the needed yardage.

Up until last weekend I had not made my daughter her tutu.  Last Friday I worked in the store again.  I decorated a dress form with Packer inspired clothing, took a picture and posted it on Facebook for promotion.  One of the items was the green and gold tutu.  I thought to myself later that night, “Now is totally the time to make that tutu.  I could actually make two tutus and bring them to bowling when the game is on, and it could be a lot of fun.”I ran this idea past my daughter (I did not want her to feel like I was stealing her tutu!), who was fine with me “borrowing” her tutu.   My sister and I each wore one and they were passed around by several people.  We had so much fun!  The Packers won!  We even bowled well!

Packers and Tutus

Tonight, my daughter will be wearing HER good luck tutu.  I will be wearing my Packers shirt watching and sleeping.  As of yesterday I am sick with some sort of something that makes me very tired and my head hurt.  Nonetheless, I am excited for the game tonight and really hope they win!

Have a nice evening!

Go, Pack, Go!

Missie