Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Start-Up Business Ideas
A friend of mine challenged me to come up with ideas for businesses a different friends could start. I came up with a list of questions and from their answers I gave them 3 to 5 ideas for businesses for them to start that are tailored to their likes and dislikes.
Just for fun I'd like to try it with people I don't know. Answer the questions below and I'll send you 3 to 5 ideas for start-up businesses.
Here goes...
1. Age range (18-25 26-32 33-40 41-51 52-62 63+)
2. Where you live (city and state)
3. What you do for employment now
4. Three things you like to do
5. The first toy you remember
No guarantees of course, but I just might come up with something you love!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Snow Day II
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Creativity Part Two
Friday, January 23, 2009
False Advertising
This sign hangs in our kitchen. At the moment it's a bit of false advertising. Oh, it's "clean" in that it isn't "dirty", but it is messy. The bane of my existence is the island in the kitchen. It doesn't matter how often I clean it off during the day, it is always covered with stuff again in minutes. School papers, bills, books, a bag of Goldfish (crackers), keys, magazines, all flock to the kitchen island as if pulled by some kind of magnetic force field. The only scary part is where would all this stuff go if we didn't have a kitchen island?
PS - Not to worry, our soap making operation is in our 1500 sq. ft. fully finished, hardwood floored, fireplaced, basement. Free from any contact with the kitchen island.
False Advertising
This sign hangs in our kitchen. At the moment it's a bit of false advertising. Oh, it's "clean" in that it isn't "dirty", but it is messy. The bane of my existence is the island in the kitchen. It doesn't matter how often I clean it off during the day, it is always covered with stuff again in minutes. School papers, bills, books, a bag of Goldfish (crackers), keys, magazines, all flock to the kitchen island as if pulled by some kind of magnetic force field. The only scary part is where would all this stuff go if we didn't have a kitchen island?
PS - Not to worry, our soap making operation is in our 1500 sq. ft. fully finished, hardwood floored, fireplaced, basement. Free from any contact with the kitchen island.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Teddy Bear Love
Single and Looking for Love
My friends say I’m just a teddy bear and I think they’re right. I haven’t spent enough time in the gym this year so I do have a bit of round belly, but not too much, and as for my backside, it’s a bit flat but still cute. Right now I tip the scale at 3.5 ounces.
I like to show my style with a bright red scarf, but I’m open to other colors if you prefer something else. I wear a chocolate scent that brings to mind a box of chocolates…I’m told the ladies dig it.
I like hanging out with someone close, long rides on the beach (I’m not much of a walker), laying on my back and staring up at the sky, and long steamy showers.
If you’re interested, please press the “add to cart” button and I’ll meet you at your place.
Teddy Bear Love
Single and Looking for Love
My friends say I’m just a teddy bear and I think they’re right. I haven’t spent enough time in the gym this year so I do have a bit of round belly, but not too much, and as for my backside, it’s a bit flat but still cute. Right now I tip the scale at 3.5 ounces.
I like to show my style with a bright red scarf, but I’m open to other colors if you prefer something else. I wear a chocolate scent that brings to mind a box of chocolates…I’m told the ladies dig it.
I like hanging out with someone close, long rides on the beach (I’m not much of a walker), laying on my back and staring up at the sky, and long steamy showers.
If you’re interested, please press the “add to cart” button and I’ll meet you at your place.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Change
I live in the suburbs of Washington, DC, so you can imagine the scene around here yesterday. I passed a bus that said Proudly Serving Little Rock Since 1944, and it struck me how far things have come. In 1944 Barack Obama couldn't have ridden on that bus and here it was carrying people all the way from Little Rock to see him become President.
I believe things can be different and I have hope that the future for all of us will be bright.
Change
I live in the suburbs of Washington, DC, so you can imagine the scene around here yesterday. I passed a bus that said Proudly Serving Little Rock Since 1944, and it struck me how far things have come. In 1944 Barack Obama couldn't have ridden on that bus and here it was carrying people all the way from Little Rock to see him become President.
I believe things can be different and I have hope that the future for all of us will be bright.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Your Brain on Soap
This is your brain on soap...
Okay, so a couple of weeks ago I'm working on the computer and I hear major laughter mixed with some evil cackling coming from the kitchen. The man and the boy are in there alone, I can only hope whatever they're up to does not include using the only surviving kitchen towel.
We make soap so we have a lot of leftover pieces of soap laying around (well, we used to have leftover soap laying around) from projects that didn't quite turn out or colors that came out wrong...you get the picture. So the man and the boy started playing around with it and the result is what you see here. It's completely made out of soap, except for the plate which I will never get to use again.
We have different names for it, but we're partial to The Cliffs of Insanity (we like Princess Bride) and Your Brain on Soap. We keep it around the house to remind us of what could happen if we keep thinking about soap.
The truly funny part is anyone who has seen it in person loves it. Go figure.
Your Brain on Soap
This is your brain on soap...
Okay, so a couple of weeks ago I'm working on the computer and I hear major laughter mixed with some evil cackling coming from the kitchen. The man and the boy are in there alone, I can only hope whatever they're up to does not include using the only surviving kitchen towel.
We make soap so we have a lot of leftover pieces of soap laying around (well, we used to have leftover soap laying around) from projects that didn't quite turn out or colors that came out wrong...you get the picture. So the man and the boy started playing around with it and the result is what you see here. It's completely made out of soap, except for the plate which I will never get to use again.
We have different names for it, but we're partial to The Cliffs of Insanity (we like Princess Bride) and Your Brain on Soap. We keep it around the house to remind us of what could happen if we keep thinking about soap.
The truly funny part is anyone who has seen it in person loves it. Go figure.
Spring Deer
Spring Deer
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Creativity
Here's creativity in our house..
Me: "Look at the pretty colors I layered"
The Man: "I finally finished my scale model of the Taj Mahal, made out of 4 toothpicks and two pieces of tape"
The Boy: "Do you think it's okay the dog ate my experiment?" "You know, the one I had growing in the sink?"
Who do you think makes the intricate soap designs?
Creativity
Here's creativity in our house..
Me: "Look at the pretty colors I layered"
The Man: "I finally finished my scale model of the Taj Mahal, made out of 4 toothpicks and two pieces of tape"
The Boy: "Do you think it's okay the dog ate my experiment?" "You know, the one I had growing in the sink?"
Who do you think makes the intricate soap designs?
Photo Shoot
The man is the photographer in the family. We make soap. He takes a lot of pictures of soap. He gets bored taking a lot of pictures of soap. The other night he was busy taking pictures of some of our new soap designs, and as I worked on soap across the room, this is what I heard....
The man "That's it, work it baby"
The soap nothing
The man "Come on give me a smile"
The soap nothing
The man "Yeah, baby that's it, move towards me" etc.
The soap nothing
Conclusion: he needs to get out more
Photo Shoot
The man is the photographer in the family. We make soap. He takes a lot of pictures of soap. He gets bored taking a lot of pictures of soap. The other night he was busy taking pictures of some of our new soap designs, and as I worked on soap across the room, this is what I heard....
The man "That's it, work it baby"
The soap nothing
The man "Come on give me a smile"
The soap nothing
The man "Yeah, baby that's it, move towards me" etc.
The soap nothing
Conclusion: he needs to get out more
Friday, January 16, 2009
Woo Hoo One Hour Delay
We had a light dusting of snow yesterday morning and for some reason the boy's school had a one hour delay. When I woke him up (later than usual) and told him about the little bit of snow, his first words were "Victory is mine!". I had to laugh, in his view all that hoping and inside out pajamma wearing paid off.
Woo Hoo One Hour Delay
We had a light dusting of snow yesterday morning and for some reason the boy's school had a one hour delay. When I woke him up (later than usual) and told him about the little bit of snow, his first words were "Victory is mine!". I had to laugh, in his view all that hoping and inside out pajamma wearing paid off.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
This Train
This isn't my style of music normally, but I love this song. I've played it so many times the boy covers his ears when he hears the first strains of music. Enjoy!
This Train
This isn't my style of music normally, but I love this song. I've played it so many times the boy covers his ears when he hears the first strains of music. Enjoy!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Snow Day
I love snow days, though as an adult you don't get many, they're like a little gift that brightens up the week. A chance to stay home and watch the beauty of nature from inside a toasty house. The whole neighborhood is quiet and covered with a white blanket that hides anything unsightly (like the condition of our lawn). It's a chance to be still and enjoy the show.
One of my favorite things is the sound of kids playing and it doesn't get any better then a snow day for that. Their laughter echos through the neighborhood and before I know it I'm out there sliding down the hill too.
After awhile people begin moving about and the beautiful snow turns to mushy, slushy, brown stuff that is more a nuisance then anything else, but until then it's a great way to remember what it's like to be a kid.
Snow Day
I love snow days, though as an adult you don't get many, they're like a little gift that brightens up the week. A chance to stay home and watch the beauty of nature from inside a toasty house. The whole neighborhood is quiet and covered with a white blanket that hides anything unsightly (like the condition of our lawn). It's a chance to be still and enjoy the show.
One of my favorite things is the sound of kids playing and it doesn't get any better then a snow day for that. Their laughter echos through the neighborhood and before I know it I'm out there sliding down the hill too.
After awhile people begin moving about and the beautiful snow turns to mushy, slushy, brown stuff that is more a nuisance then anything else, but until then it's a great way to remember what it's like to be a kid.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Welcome! A Little History....
I have tried more crafts than I care to remember and after the first few months (hours, days, weeks) of passion for the latest and greatest, I lose interest and move on to something else. Of course, that's after I've purchased every possible accoutrement needed to become a professional. Perfect example:
- I fall in love with some beautiful dotted fabric (I'm a sucker for dots and stripes) so I buy several yards in all the colorways and coordinating solid colors.
- What will I do with this fabric? I decide I should make dog beds. We have a dog and he could use a bed; however, he's not the dainty kind and the fabric is pretty dainty. The dog ate his last bed, need I say more?
- I must need padding, a cutting mat, trim, and thread. Quick purchase.
- Wait, I need a sewing machine....several trips to various shops and discussions with the man (whereby I assure him this craft will stick) I purchase a sewing machine.
- Problem, I have no idea how to sew.
You get the picture, I could have a MAJOR yard sale. Now, the thing that has stuck for the last few months has been soap. The man is extremely artistic and he has come up with some amazing ideas for designs, which we'll be adding to our site a little bit at a time.
I'll explore more of our soap history in another post, but for now my guard has disappeared and I'm making a break for it.
Sheila
Welcome! A Little History....
I have tried more crafts than I care to remember and after the first few months (hours, days, weeks) of passion for the latest and greatest, I lose interest and move on to something else. Of course, that's after I've purchased every possible accoutrement needed to become a professional. Perfect example:
- I fall in love with some beautiful dotted fabric (I'm a sucker for dots and stripes) so I buy several yards in all the colorways and coordinating solid colors.
- What will I do with this fabric? I decide I should make dog beds. We have a dog and he could use a bed; however, he's not the dainty kind and the fabric is pretty dainty. The dog ate his last bed, need I say more?
- I must need padding, a cutting mat, trim, and thread. Quick purchase.
- Wait, I need a sewing machine....several trips to various shops and discussions with the man (whereby I assure him this craft will stick) I purchase a sewing machine.
- Problem, I have no idea how to sew.
You get the picture, I could have a MAJOR yard sale. Now, the thing that has stuck for the last few months has been soap. The man is extremely artistic and he has come up with some amazing ideas for designs, which we'll be adding to our site a little bit at a time.
I'll explore more of our soap history in another post, but for now my guard has disappeared and I'm making a break for it.
Sheila