June 27, 2016

I have been super busy the last couple of weeks.  I may have mentioned that I am listening to a podcast, Etsy Conversations.  I have learned a lot about improving my Etsy shop.  I have spent the last couple of weeks re-doing my tags and titles.  I am learning a lot about SEO - search engine optimization.  My views have gone up quite a bit, but not much of an increase in sales.  However, the shop has doubled in income compared to this time last year.  I am finding it fascinating how descriptions and tags affect views.

I have also been revamping the labels on our products.  I am a "visual" person so packaging is high on my list of priorities.
Here are some of the labels I have done for our jar candles.

          The wax melts have a new look also:

                                              Soaps too!

The brick and mortar in town is also keeping us very busy.  Our dips and mixes are selling very well.  I laugh now when I think of how nervous I was about this move, but I am so glad we went on board.  The people I work with are fantastic and a lot of fun!!

I've also been working on grungy candles.  I love the Candy Cane scent even though I really should be working on the fall grungies.  

Thursday, May 17, 2012

I think I am finally getting caught up on some things. Today I finished Ben's quilt.  I haven't done a lot of quilting lately and I kind of miss it.  I'm hoping that I can get more of it in this summer.

 

I've also been working on fall inventory.  I finished a Wildlife Grubby - this one scented with Country Cinnamon Buns.  I also poured another one scented with Cider Mill.

Got some tarts poured and some more jar candles done.  We should be in good shape come fall.

 

Word of the Day
 The Ascension of the Lord - 
Solemnity - Year B Feast of the Church : Ascension of Jesus Christ, solemnity 

Saint(s) of the day : St. Paschal Baylon 









Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 16:15-20.

 Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents (with their hands), and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.)

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Well, talk about senior moments, I had one this morning.  Lately it has been my job to ring the bells at the consecration.  The bells are rung three times.  Once when the Holy Spirit is invoked and then two sets of 3 during the Words of Institution when the host and the cup are elevated.  This morning I kind of zoned out when the host was elevated.  I was just staring at it and then Fr. shook it a bit.  That shocked me out of my reverie, but the faux pas did not go unnoticed by a few amused observers.  Ah yes, the joys of growing older.  The up side is that the older I get, the less I care about what other people think.  LOL!  The altar servers should be ringing the bells anyway - so apparently I do a better job at it than the young whipper snappers.

I have seen a video a couple of times on a technique that I am really excited to try. You'll want to scroll to the bottom of the blog and pause the player so you can hear the beautiful music that accompanies this video. I wish I knew what it is.
When I do this, I will do it in a log mold with only 2 colors for starters. But I need to measure oils and get the house in order first. So off I go.




I made a small test batch (2 jar candles) with the HIWTK dupe. I am learning to love that scent. I hope it's nice in a candle.

Fifth Sunday of Easter
Saint(s) of the day : St. Rita of Cascia, Widow (c. 1386-1456), St. Julia, Virgin Martyr (5th century)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 14:1-12.

Jesus said to his disciples: «Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.
Where (I) am going you know the way."
Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said to him, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us."
Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

On the lowcarb front:

My stats for today:
Type: Treadmill
Route: manual settings
Time: 20
Average heart rate: 110
Maximum heart rate: 123
Calories burned: 120
Down 3.6 from last Thursday

Well, I headed out for the road and discovered that it was raining so I moved the workout to the treadmill. I feel incredibly good today. I even enjoyed our monthly staff meeting. :)
The scale is moving downward - thankfully. My Covey goal is coming along nicely and I have met the first minor goal of 2.5 pounds.

I got 4 stockings done yesterday, but not much else. Today is Thursday so I will be doing a batch of candles and working on packaging products. I am burning a "Crisp Green Apple" candle in my office today. (We're not supposed to, but no one says anything.) It smells really good!!! That may be my flavor of the evening, so to speak. The new wicks seem to be working out nicely and have cut the soot down to almost nothing.

Last night I stayed up to watch Sarah Palin's speech. All I can say is WOW! No victim of women's discrimination here. Just a feisty "git 'er done" kind of gal. Even Harold was impressed and this is a man who avoids like the plague anything that smacks of politics. I really don't know how you couldn't like this lady! Talk about feminism, she wears it well. That's all I'm going to say about that.




Gospel
Lk 6:27-38
Jesus said to his disciples:
“To you who hear I say, love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you,
pray for those who mistreat you.
To the person who strikes you on one cheek,
offer the other one as well,
and from the person who takes your cloak,
do not withhold even your tunic.
Give to everyone who asks of you,
and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
For if you love those who love you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who do good to you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners do the same.
If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners,
and get back the same amount.
But rather, love your enemies and do good to them,
and lend expecting nothing back;
then your reward will be great
and you will be children of the Most High,
for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.

“Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.”

Thoughts from the cornfield:
Today's passage - easier said than done, but most rewarding in the long run because it takes a lot of energy to harbor hate and judgement. I guess you have to figure out what it means to "love" your enemies. I really don't think Jesus meant that you had to invite them for tea - just be willing to die for them - not because you agree with their ideology or politics or views on life, but because we all fall short (there's the judgement connection) and because we are all children of God.


God bless the troops!