I always say "holiday" to cover them all, seeing how for some people, their holiday is Hannakuh (did I spell that right?) or Yule, Christmas...so on and so forth. In any event, it wasn't relaxing the whole time (lots of cooking and hyper kids), but it was good! Though it took some discipline to not work today, I enjoyed the time I spent with my family.
I'm seeing a pattern emerging here, when I work so much that I'm becoming addicted to it and have to "make" myself not work on a holiday. That's pretty bad, maybe I should take more time off, LOL. I certainly hope everybody else's holidays went off without a hitch and that they were able to relax more than I did, lol.
My share of the cooking meant that I made my green bean and sweet potato casseroles. I know these may seem 'blah' to those whose families have made them for years, but my family didn't so these dishes are wonderful to me. Besides, I always embellish anything I make, so they certainly don't taste 'bleh'.
I also made a pie I thought I'd made up the recipe to...LMAO! What a fool I am to think I've made up any recipe...pretty much every combination of every food has already been (at least) attempted. When I went to AllRecipes to see what would go good with cranberries and walnuts, I found a ton of these pies on there! Anyway, I found the ingredient combos I thought would work for me and made my own recipe from them. It turned out so good, that I'm posting it here. I didn't have any vanilla ice cream, but this would go great ala mode!
1 can, cranberries (whole berries)
1/2 C. of crushed walnuts (more if you like)
1/4 C. brown sugar
1/3 C. melted butter
1 t. vanilla (+/-)
Mix up and smooth into pie shell. I usually make my own crust (ask anyone who's ever tried my apple pies), but to save on time since I'm always running low these days, I went with Pillsbury Refrigerated. Bake at 350 for approx. 45 min.
NOTE: though it turned out great, the crust was a bit on the thin side for my taste and the filling didn't really fill the pie shell much more than half (I had run out of ingredient, so I couldn't make more than that). If you like thicker crust or heftier filling (possibly a deep dish pie), I'd recommend doubling up this recipe and the crust too!
Dec 22, 2008
It's Been A Fairly Easy Day
With the occasional bit of both kids flaring up at the same time, it's been an easygoing type of day...finally!
I forgot to look up menu planners and budget tips (AGAIN!). I've never used a menu planner before and I thought maybe it would help save some money at the grocery, in addition to the coupons and sales I usually go with.
Instead, I've been focusing on my writing, or at least I'm still planning it into my day. I did manage to post on my Today blog and have been looking into some sites like Suite101 to post articles on. Suite101 has turned me down before (I had to add extra content to my articles in a hurry to meet their word count, so the quality suffered), but I have actual articles up on Squidoo now to refer them to. I may just move onto another site or two instead that don't have the article minimum, so I can write in my own time.
I'll keep working on that and post a couple of Squidoo lenses for my two newest online shops, For The Home, Etc. and Mama Earth ...maybe then I'll be done for the evening.
Tomorrow, I'll work on adding inventory to my shops and/or creating more!
Till next time....
I forgot to look up menu planners and budget tips (AGAIN!). I've never used a menu planner before and I thought maybe it would help save some money at the grocery, in addition to the coupons and sales I usually go with.
Instead, I've been focusing on my writing, or at least I'm still planning it into my day. I did manage to post on my Today blog and have been looking into some sites like Suite101 to post articles on. Suite101 has turned me down before (I had to add extra content to my articles in a hurry to meet their word count, so the quality suffered), but I have actual articles up on Squidoo now to refer them to. I may just move onto another site or two instead that don't have the article minimum, so I can write in my own time.
I'll keep working on that and post a couple of Squidoo lenses for my two newest online shops, For The Home, Etc. and Mama Earth ...maybe then I'll be done for the evening.
Tomorrow, I'll work on adding inventory to my shops and/or creating more!
Till next time....
Dec 20, 2008
Another Way To Earn From Home
Last week or so, I checked out Zlio as an alternative to CafePress and Etsy. I do make things (crafts, clothes, accessories, jewelry, etc.) by hand but I don't have time to make them consistently and sell them on Etsy...though I may consider it in the future if I can keep up. I finally have some free stock photos I can use for CafePress, but I haven't opened up a shop yet...mainly, I think, because I want any designs, etc. to be my own and I'm still looking into how to go about copyrighting them.
I came across Zlio in a blog I found through either Entrecard or The Website Owners Zone (WOZone). His blog is great and can be found at http://moneyfromnothing.blogspot.com/
I checked it out and saw you can open up to 50 shops (I had previously thought 20) and earn 10% commissions on all sales. They give you the products to add, meaning that it takes you longer than the 5 minutes they pitch to you it'll take to set up. It takes 5 minutes to get the shop, but hours to set it up with inventory. I've been steadily adding for days, a bit at a time, and now have between 500-600 items in stock.
They also have a feature that allows you to give your own descriptions of the products and a good description will boost it from 0 to a higher visibility on search engines (it takes at least a 35 to even show up on a search). These are name brand products and I was disappointed that the descriptions the companies already have up only have a 0 visibility because adding one that is good enough to get seen takes forever when you're dealing with lots of products. It took me, I know, about 15-20 minutes to get a 40 visibility rating for only one product...the time really adds up!
Honestly, I gave up after a while and put more focus into adding enough inventory to match my shop's chosen variety. Descriptions are for later on, even though I feel they are necessary for a higher degree of success with any shop that's created. I see now why most people specialize...it's on my to-do list for future stores, since this is my "starter shop" for tweaking on to figure out how the site works.
If you're looking for a new stream of income and you've got the extra time for well-thought-out descriptions and lots of inventory management (once it's set up, it only needs maintained and updated as often as you see fit), I do recommend looking into Zlio as another opportunity for earning from home. Check it out to see if it's for you or check out my shop to see an example of what you'd get signing up (many templates are available).
http://www.zlio.com/
http://for-the-home-etc.zlio.net/
I came across Zlio in a blog I found through either Entrecard or The Website Owners Zone (WOZone). His blog is great and can be found at http://moneyfromnothing.blogspot.com/
I checked it out and saw you can open up to 50 shops (I had previously thought 20) and earn 10% commissions on all sales. They give you the products to add, meaning that it takes you longer than the 5 minutes they pitch to you it'll take to set up. It takes 5 minutes to get the shop, but hours to set it up with inventory. I've been steadily adding for days, a bit at a time, and now have between 500-600 items in stock.
They also have a feature that allows you to give your own descriptions of the products and a good description will boost it from 0 to a higher visibility on search engines (it takes at least a 35 to even show up on a search). These are name brand products and I was disappointed that the descriptions the companies already have up only have a 0 visibility because adding one that is good enough to get seen takes forever when you're dealing with lots of products. It took me, I know, about 15-20 minutes to get a 40 visibility rating for only one product...the time really adds up!
Honestly, I gave up after a while and put more focus into adding enough inventory to match my shop's chosen variety. Descriptions are for later on, even though I feel they are necessary for a higher degree of success with any shop that's created. I see now why most people specialize...it's on my to-do list for future stores, since this is my "starter shop" for tweaking on to figure out how the site works.
If you're looking for a new stream of income and you've got the extra time for well-thought-out descriptions and lots of inventory management (once it's set up, it only needs maintained and updated as often as you see fit), I do recommend looking into Zlio as another opportunity for earning from home. Check it out to see if it's for you or check out my shop to see an example of what you'd get signing up (many templates are available).
http://www.zlio.com/
http://for-the-home-etc.zlio.net/
Ready For The Holidays
I finally got the tree put up a few nights ago and yesterday, finished the stockings I designed. The apartment is done up for the holidays! Spending the time I did on the domestic front has kind of recharged my batteries and I'm so happy for that.
I've still got to put an order in through my gift shop's supplier for a few gifts for my family...I've been putting it off to do other things, but if I don't do it today, I may not get them in time for Christmas. I've got gifts for the kids already wrapped and under the tree. My older son, whose 5 and a half, keeps trying to mess with the ornaments; he likes them and I have to remind him that they're not toys.
All things considered, I'm really looking forward to Christmas and using my vaca from school to get some writing down.
I've still got to put an order in through my gift shop's supplier for a few gifts for my family...I've been putting it off to do other things, but if I don't do it today, I may not get them in time for Christmas. I've got gifts for the kids already wrapped and under the tree. My older son, whose 5 and a half, keeps trying to mess with the ornaments; he likes them and I have to remind him that they're not toys.
All things considered, I'm really looking forward to Christmas and using my vaca from school to get some writing down.
Dec 17, 2008
I'd Like My Chaos With A Side Of Control, Please!
More and more lately, it keeps popping up that I should get back into writing. It seems a great time for except for one thing...I'm lacking in the time dept. at the moment.
I've always been one of those people who thrive on the intensity of constantly being busy and I've really done myself in this time! I love an organized chaos but I didn't allow for it in my schedule when I put in my order for "home-work".
I feel like my life is the lunch rush at an already busy restaurant and I'm calling the waiter back..."excuse me!...I didn't order this much...could you return it to the chef and get me a plate of chaos with a side of control, please?"
I've always been one of those people who thrive on the intensity of constantly being busy and I've really done myself in this time! I love an organized chaos but I didn't allow for it in my schedule when I put in my order for "home-work".
I feel like my life is the lunch rush at an already busy restaurant and I'm calling the waiter back..."excuse me!...I didn't order this much...could you return it to the chef and get me a plate of chaos with a side of control, please?"
Dec 15, 2008
Today was one of those days where nothing got done, despite my best efforts. Now, I have to carry over my To Do list to tomorrow's. I'm a bit of an over-achiever, I admit; but recently, even I'm feeling the ridiculousness. Am I running in circles, chasing my tail here?
I consider myself a very organized person; no, really...I've even been diagnosed with OCD. However, none of my schedules (strict or flexible) do me any good anymore. I'm so wound up that finding time to relax has become near impossible. I think I need to come up with a better plan for action.
Tomorrow's looking like a busy enough day without needing to double my efforts to get everything done. Wish me luck!
I consider myself a very organized person; no, really...I've even been diagnosed with OCD. However, none of my schedules (strict or flexible) do me any good anymore. I'm so wound up that finding time to relax has become near impossible. I think I need to come up with a better plan for action.
Tomorrow's looking like a busy enough day without needing to double my efforts to get everything done. Wish me luck!
Dec 12, 2008
What a week!
This week flew by! I haven't had much time to post on this blog much. Monday was my baby's 2 month checkup and he had to get his first round of shots. Poor little guy, he didn't like it much...not that I blame him!
Tuesday was a running day because it was warm enough for the car to actually start. Went to see about getting financed for the car I'd testdrove last week...no go! I keep telling my guy that my friend can fix it as long as we get the parts (a fuel filter and a water pump, for starters, which is not expensive!). He doesn't like my friend, so he'd rather pay to take it to a garage. How crazy is that!?! He complains that it doesn't start half the time, so he walks to work, but he doesn't want to fix it the easiest (and cheapest) way we can get it fixed? I don't understand the male ego sometimes, lol.
I'm usually all about compromise, but this is getting ridiculous. It's my car (I've had it since before we'd gotten back together), so I'm going to say how it gets fixed and he won't gripe about how because then he can drive to work again, I can run errands again and not be homebound with the kids in case of emergencies! This woman is putting her foot down!
Sorry about the little rant there, but I needed it, lol. Anyway...
Wednesday and Thursday, I spent trying to set up another blog and a new online store. The blog is up, with two posts (I'll include the link at the end of this post). It's a fictional blog and should be lots of fun once I get it going. The store isn't up and running yet...but soon!
Today, well, has been alright. I finished my coursework for the week (I log in for school Mon, Wed and Fri). I have tonight and the rest of the weekend to put the stores together and add them and the blog to search engines and directories.
I have a busy weekend ahead of me, lol....I better get started!
http://chroniclesofcaelan.today.com
Tuesday was a running day because it was warm enough for the car to actually start. Went to see about getting financed for the car I'd testdrove last week...no go! I keep telling my guy that my friend can fix it as long as we get the parts (a fuel filter and a water pump, for starters, which is not expensive!). He doesn't like my friend, so he'd rather pay to take it to a garage. How crazy is that!?! He complains that it doesn't start half the time, so he walks to work, but he doesn't want to fix it the easiest (and cheapest) way we can get it fixed? I don't understand the male ego sometimes, lol.
I'm usually all about compromise, but this is getting ridiculous. It's my car (I've had it since before we'd gotten back together), so I'm going to say how it gets fixed and he won't gripe about how because then he can drive to work again, I can run errands again and not be homebound with the kids in case of emergencies! This woman is putting her foot down!
Sorry about the little rant there, but I needed it, lol. Anyway...
Wednesday and Thursday, I spent trying to set up another blog and a new online store. The blog is up, with two posts (I'll include the link at the end of this post). It's a fictional blog and should be lots of fun once I get it going. The store isn't up and running yet...but soon!
Today, well, has been alright. I finished my coursework for the week (I log in for school Mon, Wed and Fri). I have tonight and the rest of the weekend to put the stores together and add them and the blog to search engines and directories.
I have a busy weekend ahead of me, lol....I better get started!
http://chroniclesofcaelan.today.com
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