New Years Resolutions

First, since my last post...bright days were NOT ahead. OUCH...but....I finally came to grips that I can't be in a funk forever....it's not a good place...so, last of me even hinting that my personal issues have been challenging lately!!!!

I will tell you though, over the last month....something I knew, but, have had over reinforced to me: ONCE YOU PUT SOMETHING IN WRITING...YOU CAN'T TAKE IT BACK!!! So....I am going to DIGEST and think about my New Years Resolutions before I actually commit....

I have unfinished biz from 2010 (blog biz)...and I want to make that good (Lia, my dear friend)....before I get too excited about 2011!!!!

But...a GOAL I've been mulling over for about 4 years now...is to simply create FIVE (new design each month) Christmas cards each month...for 10 months in a row...that when the middle of November comes along....I'll have them ready to mail out. I have neglected in mailing cards for YEARS now....I've had significant things occur in my life that my closest friends from the past have never heard about....at least not from me....so.....this goal I am putting in WRITING....So, to make my blog "come to life"....I'm going to publicly announce...that I will be posting ONCE A MONTH a picture of that month's card.....what I don't know now is...WHEN....(might have that figured out by the end of this post though....)

Since the downturn in the economy, I've had to re-do my approach to marketing very differently, and am targeting a totally different market (in my chocolate business)...one that requires me to complete proposals in FAST time...for future needs....it's fun and exciting and it's got my whole "self" getting more organized....and if not for the recent upset in my life....I'd have been creating up a storm in my little room....(my upset has caused a LOT of tears...but, thankfully....it's personal conflict and not more than that...) I've been filling orders....big and fun orders...then coming home, getting kids ready for bed and hybernating in my room...no holiday cheer for this girl....I feel I owe my kids another Christmas....

So....my table is CLEAN right now....I have a GREAT project molding (for next October)...plus a few unfinished cards for next autumn....YIKES....but, sitting prominently in my "spot"...is a small pile of Christmas stamps.....

Resolution #1: 5 Christmas Cards per month, 10 months in a row (They need to be done by November anyhow...at that time...we know I will be up to the sky in chocolate)

So, I will decide when you can expect, each month, my card.....I'm thinking the 3rd Monday of every month......So, there it is: IN WRITING.....the 3rd Monday of every month...for 10 months....I will feature a Christmas card, with intent to mail these puppies out directly after Thanksgiving....

I *think* this is doable....

Baby steps....I'm taking itty bitty baby steps....oh...and the picture...is a little ME....I was about 11 or so when this was taken. I'm a glutten for punishment....this picture is a reminder of innocence and happy girls....oh personal stuff "go away"....at least now, I've come out of my hole and am facing it....I posted this picture, because it was the first picture I found in my gallery that "felt" right to post....and I feel I should *always* have a picture to show...even if it is meaningless to anybody but me!!!

Back to baby steps....it's a day by day thing.

Trudi

Hello Kitty Birthday

Good grief...I took these pictures with my iPhone and have struggled tremendously to upload them onto my blog...I had to send them to myself e-mail...copy and paste them into being a jpeg....I KNOW there is a way to use my phone...just haven't figured it out yet. You can be sure I will find out....

This card is the one my daughter designed for her sleepover/birthday party tonight. I did guide her with the Cricut...and helped glue the little intricate parts on....but, the rest was really her...she picked the kitty...(I suggested the cloud...which didn't start out as a cloud...it was a background oval to me....looked like it could be a cool cloud)....she picked the papers/colors/etc....my suggestion of course for the buttons....

I really enjoyed this card....it was pretty quick...and making 6 wasn't taking on a never ending project....I will be posting my New Years goals soon....and "making just 6" of this or that will be on the list...not this 20 stuff...that I start and leave 1/2 done when time gets crazy!

Well...party to plan...

Hope everybody's holiday is all they want it to be....I'm still licking some very deep personal wounds....but, I realize I need to see that sun eventually....so....perhaps bright days are ahead!

Toodles, my friends,

Trudi

I'm Still Here

Long time no post! I'm still here! Business is brisk...I sent out literally a ton of chocolate this week....on Monday, one 800 pound pallet, only to follow it up with Tuesday 400 more pounds...this is only ONE customer....and I've supplied to oodles more than that! I'm exhausted...and as much as I luv business...I'm ready to let go of a little of it...just to stay home with my little family.

Thanksgiving...lots of family drama...trying to sort all that out....it's great having a big family...but sometimes communication gets garbled....I'm ready for some alone time too...this year, for Christmas....it's all about our kids...my husband and I are not doing anything for each other...just making it a nice season for our kidlets, who are rapidly growing up....

We also decided, on Christmas Eve...it's about the true meaning of Christmas....so maybe not so much of the presents and stuff...but, the giving your heart and soul for what Christmas is all about.

My state was/is under a blanket of snow and sleet and ice...we rained today, finally...at first it was snow...then rain...just hope it doesn't get below freezing...it was close to 37...so the slippy stuff was subsiding....It's only the beginning of December and I don't like winter already!

Hope all is well...I suspect I'll be a hit and miss for the next few weeks....my hard work is almost done...I almost shudder to say it...but, I have a bunch of chocolate ROSES lined up...yup...Christmas is ALMOST over for the chocolate world...onto the next! And can you believe it...I have a distributor ready to give us EASTER orders! YIKES!

Trudi