NO resolutions!

It occurred to me today, as I read countless resolutions from people all over the internet... Myspace, Blogs... Cafemom... that I don't have anything I really want to make myself work on.. there is nothing bothering me.. nothing I feel like I need to "fix." Now...I am DEFINATELY not "perfect"... I know this, and that's not what I am saying. But for the first time in my life... I accept me for WHO I AM. I love me, I love my life and my friends and family... so for the first new years I can remember, I am NOT going to resolve to fix anything!

Resolutions... its such a nice thought... "I will promise myself to ______ and it will happen.. no matter how many times I have tried and failed to do it before." Hrmph. Not for me.. not anymore. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it NEVER works for some people. Some people are totally motivated by something like a resolution... and I can see why. Its therapeutic, really... because its your chance to say what is wrong (admitting it is half the battle!) and coming up with a way to fix it.

What I WILL do is continue to live my life as I do now... I will continue to love my husband with my whole heart, and appreciate him as much as I can. I will continue to tell him, every second of the day that I can, how amazing he is. How smart he is, and what an amazing provider he is. I will continue to do my best to give my kids everything I can... love, knowledge, fun, creativity, and empathy. I will continue to do the best work I can do to further my future, as well as my families future. I will continue to love and accept my home, my car, my clothes, my body... as MINE.. and I will NOT compare myself to anyone else. I will NOT play the "keeping up with the Jones" game and I will be PROUD and happy for what we have.

Maybe this means I DO have a resolution... and that is to simply to keep doing what I am doing, because it finally feels right. I am doing it for ME.. not for anyone else. These are scary times but we are OK and we will continue to be OK as long as we have eachother... and after taking a giant step back and looking at my life as a whole, I feel like for the first time I can say... this is good. I have everything I need, I love my chubby thighs, I love our house, I love my husband, I love my old Durango, I don't need to "compete" with anyone... and I don'tgive a flying monkeys butt what anyone else has to say about it! THIS is what I have been looking for all these years... its so beautiful to finally have it. I'm not perfect... but I am happy. I truly hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season, and has some time to stop and reflect on what we have.. instead of what we don't. Love to you all

Happy new years everyone!

I'm leaving on a jet plane

.. I do know when I'll be back again... the 28th! We're flying home to be with my family, Brian has to stay home because he works the 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th from 5:45am-8:30pm... we will miss him so so much but it will be nice to see my family again, we havent seen eachother since September.
I'm a wee bit nervous about flying alone with an almost-2 and almost-4 year olds... but I just need to suck it up and stay calm! I sewed myself a big carry on bag, and a small carry on (purse) sized bag.. and I am just going to try and stay calm and stay happy so my nervous energy doesn't affect them! I love flying.. but I don't really like flying with kids (anyones kids.. I don't even like when other people fly with kids.. it stresses me out just to see them have to worry about their own kids! lol!) I just think it is not in a childs nature to enjoy being stuck in a seat for hours on end.. then again, what is school? hehe.
Toys and treats are packed, and its only a 2 hour flight.. so I am holding out loads of hope that this will be super easy and not too terrible stressful. It will be my dads 50'th Birthday on the 28th, so on the 27th we will have a party for him, and probably a small cake for Siddalee as well, since she will be 2 on Jan 4th. Time flies Bebes.

Happy Holidays to all of you! I may update but it will only be with pictures, as I was a lazy butt and packed all the gifts I meant to take photos of.. and I really dont want to un-pack said gifts... or ruin the surprise for all of my family who will be receiving them!! I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season, full of love and joy and family and friends... and HOORAY ladies, the holiday shopping season is over! You may now resume breathing as normal..

Luggage, Photoshoots, and Crepes

Oh man. I've been a bad girl and I have not blogged in a few days, but I have a valid excuse... PURSES.. so many purses my eyes are beginning to cross. Chances are, if you are a family member or friend of mine and will be seeing me when I fly to Washington, you will be receiving a purse from me. I decided not to "assign" the bags to anyone because I just cant choose FOR people what they will like.. instead I am making a pile of bags and everyone will just pick and fight over the one they want, lol.
So, that has kept me pretty occupied! I am really picking up on the plaid trend this year, as well as gold tones that I used in grommets and chain.. they are my favorite bags yet. I incorporated ruffles and felt flowers in some, and others are very simple and clean.
Wednesday night or Thursday morning I will be doing a little photo shoot of all the bags I have completed so I am excited for that, they range in color and size and shape so there is alot to show! I also sewed myself some new luggage tonight.. I used some left over faux leather from an apulstry project, and some plaid to make a shoulder bag and a carry on to hold toys/cups/treats for when the kids and I fly to Washington in 6 days.

Last but not least I did some experimenting with crepes.. I made chocolate, and coconut... the chocolate was a little blah, but the coconut was shockingly good, funny considering I dont really "love" coconut! Everyone seemed to love them. Epic win!

CPSIA update...

still waiting to hear from governor, news station, and Small business Ombudsman on our concerns.. nobody seems too "hasty" to get in touch with me about it. I will continue calling and emailing daily until they do.

Contact Patti (Patty?) Bittner with your concerns:
http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/ombud.html
She is the Small Business Ombudsman, it is her job to provide guidance to small business.. thats us ladies. Im sure she is swamped, but shes the right person to contact.
Email her at : PBittner@cpsc.gov
Call her at: Tele. (888) 531-9070
- on her answering machine she also provides this number: 301-504-7945 (but the above number is toll free)

hope I hear from someone soon... not holding my breath.. but I AM holding my governor and senators accountable. They will hear from me every day until I hear from them. Dont let up ladies, we DEMAND answers.

Little red riding hood

Just a quick check in because I have been a busy bee and havent been posting!

I am so excited, I went to Hancock fabrics today and plunked down around $100 but I have some AMAZING new fabrics to show for it... I am making Sidda a "little red riding hood" but I am making it reversable, a black "satin" on the inside, and the red is a luscious ruby suede... I'm thinking this will get alot more use!

What I am dying to do now, however... is make adult hooded capes. Maybe not red ones, or maybe just ONE red one.. but practical ones because I LOVE how chic they are.
I also got some fantastic grey and purple suiting's for purses (thinking family christmas) some cute brown with pink floral for a skirt for Sidda, and a PERFECT cotton that will compliment the Dupioni silk button pillow I made for my best friend.

I am really excited to start getting everything together for Christmas.. everyones gifts have to travel on the plane with me and the kids, so I am considering rushing through and shipping them in a week (its really only two weeks until we fly to Washington!!!!!!) but we'll see how it goes.

I decided we are not going to put up our tree this year.. but I came up with a solution we are all satisfied with as far as holiday decor so I will show you all tomorrow!

No etsy sales... but a custom order!

Well, still no ETSY sales but I did get a profitable custom order! I'm excited because this will allow me to be able to purchase more supplies, I have a few things I am dying to try but with the economy the way it is I really cant afford to buy the supplies I need without.. sales!
I really want to make a line of skirts.. I love skirts I think they are so versatile and with the array of fantastic fabrics out there in the world they can be anything you want them to be.. classy, fun, dressy, mod, cute.. anything.

Well, off to package up half the order! Some of it will have to wait until Thursday when I can get supplies but most of it I already had made so thats great!

Do you think my family would laugh at me if any of them ask for Christmas ideas and I say fabric store gift cards? lol

"In Character" - Vanity Fair style, starring me and my guinea

I love when my vanity fair comes in the mail every month... I savour every page like a rich piece of chocolate.. the ads (always giving me ideas for future reference.. you know, when I am a rich and famous boutique owner, lol).. the "style" pages.. crave worthy things worth over $5000 that I could probably make with a glue gun and some left over sequins... but what I like the most is a tiny little 1/3 page feature called "In Character"...starring (insert star here)

Here's whoopi doing her Characters...
(image property of vanityfair.com; written, directed, and photographed by Howard Schatz March 2008)
Left: You’re the ever obeisant wife of a charismatic televangelist, and you’ve just learned that a male prostitute is about to go public with his story of a years-long affair with your husband.
Center: You’re a fabulously wealthy Fifth Avenue matron, greeting your building’s doormen—whom you never tip—with a cheery “Merry Christmas!”
Right: You’re Barbara Walters, interviewing a recently divorced actress about her latest movie, suddenly going for the jugular with the question “Did it hurt more that he left you for a younger woman?”


~*~*~

WELL, I just adore this feature.. so Turbo and I, being as bored as we are (taking days off from work doesnt come easy to me, this is what I do when I am bored. Oh my.) decided to do our own "In Character" photo shoot. Enjoy! Or.. be scared.. whatever. lol

You’re a ditzy socialite known for nothing more than partying and having lots of pets… you have just witnessed your celeb-utard friend step out of a very low car, in a very short skirt… oops, no panties!

You are a loser at a bar, using some cheesy pick up line. "Hey girl, whats your sign?"


You're a 13 year old girl about to have your first kiss... adorable kiss face you practiced in the mirror? FAIL

You're a presidential candidate at an epic meet and greet fund raiser, holding your smile in place as you work the endless rope line

See how much fun it is!! lol

Gave in and made a Myspace.. 10% off!

so I went ahead and made a Myspace, honestly I think I needed a place (other than facebook) which I could cut out the personal info, and just focus 100% on promotion and business, so thats what this page will be!
it is www.myspace.com/Luminousboutique
and if you "friend" me and read my first blog, there may be a surpise in store for you... how does 10% off sound? Woohoo!