Sunday, March 29, 2009

Entrepreneur Books

ent books

It is a extremely windy day here in Yakima, Washington.  Not a good day for gardening, but a great day to share about my favorite entrepreneur books for the entrepreneur in the making.

BUSINESS OF BLISS written by Victoria magazine and Janet Allon, shares real life stories of entrepreneur women making their hobbies into a profitable business.  MOMMY MILLIONAIRE written by Kim Lavine, shares her personal story of making a million dollars developing and marketing the Wuvits.  Wuvits are pretty pillows filled with corn that may be heated in the microwave for therapeutic use, or frozen for icy relief.  From getting a business license to attending trade shows, creating a web site or making business cards, the information resources are in this inspirational how to story book.  YOUR INTERNET CASH MACHINE written by Joe Vitale and Jillian Coleman Wheeler.  This book walks you through the process and gives great suggestions, on building a successful internet business.  They introduce resources and share with you, where to look to help market and build your web site.  The way this book is written makes it interesting and real.  Believe me, I have returned many books to library unread because I found them to be boring.  YOU CALL THE SHOTS written by Cameron Johnson with John David Mann is a great story about entrepreneurship.  Cameron started his first internet greeting card business when he was 9 years old.  By the age of 19, he had a dozen profitable internet business. Cameron shares his story about entrepreneurship being a way of life.  You will find many internet sites to visit listed throughout this book, to assist you with your entrepreneurial dream.  This is another inspirational resource book.  BLOGGING IN A SNAP written by Julie C. Meloni,  is a step by step guide to blogging with Blogger.  Very helpful and informative, it is a book to own for your personal library so you may refer to it often.  The last book on my list for today is WEB SITES FOR DUMMIES written by Janine Warner.  This book is for the first time web site builder, and is another must have for your personal library.  You have no idea how many times I have checked this book out of the library.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Betta Fish

Each of my two daughters have a betta fish, or the official name Betta splendens.  They may also be called Siamese fighting fish.

In the wild bettas inhabit Thai rice paddies and are accustomed to shallow environments.  However, please give your betta some room to prolong it’s life.  Make sure the container is large enough to provide it with space to swim around and get exercise.  Change the water weekly as waste may build up quickly.  Betta’s are sensitive to changes in temperature.  We set our water out for a few days to eliminate chlorine and temperature change.  There are many other things you can do when changing the water, but we keep it simple.  It’s best for a betta fish to have it’s own space.  Two male betta’s will most likely fight.  When looking for a betta you will see more males then females.  I believe that is because the color of the male betta is so radiant and more varied then the female.

Your betta’s diet should consist primarily of pellet food.  On occasion you may feed frozen or freeze dried brine shrimp or blood worms as a treat. It’s been suggested to feed your betta 2-3 times daily.  Your pet fish will acknowledge you at feeding times and even when you just take a moment to look at it and say “hi”.

To sum it all up the betta fish can be a low maintenance pet, that is meditative and enjoyable to watch.  Even our dog likes to watch the betta.  You will enjoy watching your betta more, if it has live plants and plenty of space to swim around and play.

This is the last blog of my family pet series. The information I have provided, is to give a very brief description of the pets our family has at this time.  Maybe sharing this information has sparked your interest.  Pick an animal and “Google it”.

Parakeets or Budgies

Parakeets are a large group of small parrots.  The real name for this type of bird is Budgerigar or (budgie).

Our bird Sunny is finger tame.  She on occasion will bite the children if not handled for quite some time, but not me.  I am the hand that feeds her.  She can be quite messy with her seed, but I feel that is a small price to pay for the joy and entertainment she brings us.  Sunny does not start her chatting until there is action going on around her.  Therefore I do not feel the need to cover her cage a night.  She has a bell she likes to ring and does acrobatic antics at times.  When I turn her loose in the house Sunny has no problem putting herself back in her cage.  It’s a good idea to keep a good eye on your budgie when out of their cage, as they could be stepped on, or the small dog might want to snatch her up as a play toy.

I have been told, if you want your bird to pay attention to you, don’t give them a mirror.  They will fall in love with the mirror thinking it is another bird. However,I am one of those pet owners guilty of giving my bird a mirror.  It entertains her when no one is paying attention to her.  I also place her where she has a view of the television so she is not lonely.  To sum it all up, budgies are a low maintained pet that will not take up much space and can be quite entertaining.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Our Chihuahua

This is the newest addition to our family.  Mary Jane is a 9 month old Chihuahua.  She is longer then most Chihuahuas so I think she is part dachshund.  We call her a chaweinner.  Notice how large her ears are.

The Chihuahua is one of the oldest and smallest breeds in the world.  Native to Mexico, this dog is named after the state of Chihuahua in Mexico.

Two basic body types of purebred Chihuahuas are apple headed or deer headed.  Characteristics of an apple head Chihuahua are short noses, apple shaped head and close-set eyes.  On the other hand, dear headed Chihuahuas have an elongated nose that resembles a Doberman Pinscher. Deer headed Chihuahuas do not have a head shaped like an apple.  I think Mary Jane is a deer headed Chihuahua.

There are two varieties of Chihuahua, the long-coat and the smooth coat, also referred to as short-haired.  Most Chihuahuas have a height of 6-10 inches and do not weigh more then 6 pounds. The most desirable size of Chihuahua weighs between 2-4 pounds.  I’m glad Mary Jane is on the larger side so she is not so delicate and easy to step on.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Our Beagle

This week I’m going to spend some time sharing about our family pets.  The first pet I will introduce is Chipper.  Chipper is a 6 year old beagle whom we purchased when he was 8 weeks old.  I gave a lot of thought to this purchase, as I knew it could be a challenging breed.  I’m a short haired, small breed type of dog person as I don’t want to spend a lot of time on grooming maintance, or a fortune on going to the dog groomer.  I knew a beagle would work for me.

chip 1000pix  chipper 1000pix

It is amazing that Chipper survived puppyhood as my husband does not have the patience to deal with misbehaving pets  My husband was not really raised with pets.  Chipper jumped on the dining table a few times, dug holes in the grass, howled and I’m sure he chewed a few things.  Today Chipper is a loving, gentle and loyal companion who loves everyone.  He loves to lay with you, play fetch and go for walks.  Of course chipper must be on a leash when outside our back yard, or he will vanish on an adventure of his own.

 

Here is a little FYI about the beagle.  The beagle was bred to locate game.  Not always the quickest to learn their role, these hounds were valued because they stubbornly refused to be diverted once on the trail of a scent.

A good beagle never gives up the pursuit.  A beagle is a very intelligent breed, but it should be understood that beagles have a lot of interests and thy may decide to pursue those interests regardless of your commands.  Beagles are not blessed with the “homing” instinct of some other breeds.  Responsible owners make sure their beagle is kept in a safe and secure environment.  Beagles love people and would have no problem with going with a total stranger.  A beagle could be happy with anyone who fed, loved, petted and has a couch or chair to sleep on.  Keep a good eye on your beagle.

There are two varieties of beagle, those that in adulthood do not exceed 13 inches and those that are at least 13 inches but do not exceed 15 inches.  The height is measured at the top of the shoulders.  Chipper measures at 13 inches.

I could blog for hours about beagles, but I must move on.  One final note about beagles. Beagle owners should have patience.  If you have patience, the beagle could be a good match for your as a companion.   

Friday, March 20, 2009

Steve

This is my husband Steve.  Steve is a very hard worker and helps others when he can.  As you can see he can also be quite the character.  My husband likes things that are grand in size and fast.  He has spent time over the years restoring motorcycles, building a drag racecar and  built a cobra jet engine in his old truck.  He has spent the last 7 years building computers.  Of course he likes those to be big and fast also.  If something can be repaired, Steve will do his best to fix the item.  I believe his talents stem from being the type of kid who takes toasters apart and puts them back together, to having a father who taught him to work on cars.

Steve is a machine operator by trade.  He lays the roads we drive our cars on.  I commend him for his efforts at his job.  During the paving season his days are very long and they can be quite hot.  Not many choose to support their families by doing such a grueling job.

Chelsea

chelsea 1000pix chelsea presents1000pix This is my second daughter Chelsea who is in the 5th grade.  Chelsea is a caring and sensitive child who respects others.  She claims not to like school and I have to force her to read, but she seem to understand her math.  This child is not into organized activities like my first daughter.  At this time she is taking swimming lessons that she does not want to take.  Swimming is a life saving skill that I insist she become good at.

Chelsea does  like to play (WOW) World of Warcraft on her computer.  WOW is an online game that you must level up in and can be quite challenging at times.  She also likes to take our two dogs to the park for some time of play and a picnic.  Chelsea enjoys family gatherings and celebrating holidays.  I’m looking forward to see what her interests may be as she moves on to middle school.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Amber

amber 2008 1000pix

I have decided to share a bit about my family for the next few days.

This is my oldest daughter Amber.  Amber is a 9th grade student.  She is an excellent reader and artistically talented.  She enjoys watching cooking shows, What Not to Wear, House, CSI Miami and horror movies.  She would love to be involved in modeling but is only 5’1 and probably won’t get much taller.  She has participated at a Christian camp for the past 7 years.  Last summer was her first opportunity to be a volunteer at camp.  She enjoys the things most teenagers enjoy, such as music and communicating with friends whether it be in person, by phone, on'-line or by texting.  Amber is presently taking German in school.  She has plans to go to Germany for a month with other students in her class the summer of 2010.  She is a caring, sensitive and helpful individual.  I have high hopes for Amber’s future.  If anyone does have information on becoming a petite model we would love for you to share it with us.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

More cute chicks

Since we are on the topic of cute chicks. I would like to feature one of our sister Etsy sellers, that my personal sister at Lowellandson featured on her blog. Feltmeup Designs has some very cute wool felted chicks. I must have a set for myself since I am a bird fan. You can find these cute chicks at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5591462

The price range for these adorable chicks is between $20.00 and $24.00 each.

Free vintage greeting cards



















I visit a free vintage card and craft website. The designs are very nice and the site is user friendly. You don't even have to sign in, as I don't like having to sign in to everything I utalize. Here are a few Easter cards I plan to use this year.http://vintageholidaycrafts.com/

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Easter greetings






I wanted to introduce a nice place to download free vintage greeting card designs. There are cards for all times of the year and they are so sweet. I encourage to take a look around this user friendly site at

Friday, March 13, 2009

Spring forward


With the time change and setting our clocks forward, comes the hope of longer days, warmer weather and more time to get our many things done. I am so looking forward to spring break from school in two weeks, so I have some time to devote to my blog, Etsy store and sewing. I even have hopes that it will be warm enough outside to sweep the patio and prep the flower beds for planting.


I'm going to draw up some garden plans this year instead of randomly throwing plants in the ground. I have had some bad luck with some of my favorite types of plants, such as hydrangea's. It does not look like this here yet, but here is a spring time pic for inspiration that spring is on its way. Have a great day!

Monday, March 9, 2009

My office space


This is my office space where I create embroidery design for tea towels, pillowcases and various clothing. I could spend endless hours doing research in this personal space, however I do put a limit on myself.
I enjoy a clean work area. I do not function well in much clutter, so I clean as I go to prevent a huge mess.
I must get ready for my day of shuffling kids to and from school. Then I will get myself to a job, to work with and supervise some children that are not mine. When I have a chance later today I will squeeze in some entrepreneur duties. I'm going to have a great day, and I wish the same for you.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

serger or overlock machine


This is my serging area located in my kitchen. I never get lonely in this work space, since their are people passing by quite often.
A serger is a machine that creates the finished seam you see on the seams of ready made garments and other fabric items. Some projects can be done 100% on a serger, however a serger can not replace a regular sewing machine. You cannot do top stitching, button holes or zippers on a serger. The job of a serger is to trim the seam and enclose the seam allowance or edge of the fabric, inside a thread casing, all in one step.
A sewing machine is one of the largest investments you will make in your sewing endeavor. Making an informed decision will allow you to buy a machine to meet your needs. Carefully think about how much you are honestly going to use the machine. Make sure the machine is designed for how and what you want to sew. You don't need a sewing/embroidery machine if you are not going to do a lot of embroidery.
Should you shop on line or buy from a local dealer? I found buying from a local dealer helpful. A local dealer is just a phone call away, or you may drop by with any sewing machine issues you have. Classes are usually offered with your purchase. Many will take the machines they sell as trade-in's giving you the opportunity to upgrade your machine. You may want more sewing options or decide you can afford a higher quality model. Dealers are aware of improvements and recalls. Most have their own repair shop, or someone they send machines to for a tune-up, cleaning or repair.
Be sure to do your research and talk with others about your sewing plans. It's easy to be convinced you will use every feature offered and end up in debt, regretting your decision. I spent over $4,000.00 on my sewing/embroidery machine. I did my research and used a local dealer. I found it scary spending that much on a sewing machine, but I'm glad I did since it meets all of my needs. You can spend more or you can spend less on a machine, depending on your budget and the features you are looking for.

Friday, March 6, 2009

sewing area

This is one of my personal spaces. I'm fortunate to have a few personal space areas in my home. This is where I use my Husqvarna, Viking, Designer 1, sewing/embroidery machine. Once I learned how to operate this fine piece of machinery, I found it to be very user friendly. I do understand why some people buy a sewing machine and it ends up in a closet somewhere. It can be very time consuming to learn how to operate a sewing machine or serger. I have found myself very frustrated with my serger at times and I just have to walk away. Usually it is a threading issue. A serger must be threaded just so, or you will have a serious problem.

I must go now, but check back later for more details on my personal spaces.