Sometimes there’s just no right or wrong…..just, one or another.

When I revamped the site, I’d already started a new blog (on blogger) just for posts about dolls, and my own personal ramblings about being a (soon to be) new mom. I also had the wordpress blog for schroedersisters, and transfer that to a new joomla blog (on site). what the hell? too many blogs. That’s what I decided this morning when I couldn’t figure out which one to post to. There’s something strange (so it seems) about joomla’s built in blog capabilities…that don’t register quite right for searches or indexing.

So, I’ve ditched both the new joomla & blogger blogs, and wrapped the original schroedersisters blog up in the site. I’m just gonna post everything there. Why not? The whole point of revamping things was to streamline, save time, energy, etc. How come that always seems so difficult? Anyway…

This is the only blog now for schroedersisters.com. All of it…..the good, bad, the ugly. The entertaining, and the not so entertaining. This is it. For better or for worse.

Went to lay down for a bit, and woke up with more ideas. Hrumph….this is what always happens to me. And, why I’m so all over the place.

I was flying around with my sister in a volkswagon van. That was way fun. Then we ended up someplace like the Smithsonian, but 1000x’s larger. Like a city on the water…was also super cool. Had to be there. In the end we walking around the entrance of the place, and it through me off at first bcuz it looked like a bunch of little bedrooms. All open on one wall. What it was was a drop-off, childcare business/setup…cuz the place was so very huge…for little kids it was too much. They could be dropped off for naps, snacks, game play, simple craft classes (for older kids), etc. It was very clean, simple and polished in an Ikea meets the three bears sorta way. Quiet inside, with all these women dressed in some milk-maid, or Mother Goose type style…that evoked a kinda of quiet-respect from the children. All the food was healthy…organic teas sweetened with juice, little finger sandwhiches, cheese and whole-grain crackers…that sorta thing. And all the toys & games were old-world, wooden, soft-sculptured and hand-made by the women that worked the place together. The whole place was delightful.

I was desperately trying to read the sign that listed the prices. It varied by age. I think starting at $25.00/hour for basic childcare, nap & snack. Up to $40 for a several hour package deal. Just before waking up I was standing at a work-bench watching a woman making a lovely doll….stitching all the detailed facial features by hand. That inspired me on the whole soft-sculptured thing again. When I woke up…my head filled with these visions of sofa pillows. Super long animal shaped, folky pillows that wrap & extend the whole length of a couch; with a very hand-made look & feel. High-end. There were Garrs…those long fish they have in Florida, an alligator, a cat or panther, with it’s paws hanging over at both ends. Immediately my mind waxed to how much fiber-fill would be needed for each. And…how expensive they might be. I also saw them draped along a headboard of pillows on a bed. That worked too.

Anyway……………..just more ideas. Sometimes I think it’s a trick just to derail me from an earlier direction. Test my staying power in one direction. ahhhck.

Maybe there was a tiny feeling of what seems to be inspiration this morning…not sure.

I had this idea a while back, when I was thinking about moving from selling finished arts & crafts (on Etsy)…to supplies. The people that are selling supplies seem to be doing the best. I didn’t want to have to get into a big investment of goods, and that’s usually the case in order to sell at a good price…to order in bulk/wholesale. What I really liked the idea of was to sell little craft kits for children. Afternoon or Rainy Day type kits for fun. Have a few projects per box, and keep them as reasonably priced as possible. I forgot about it for a while, and this morning a vision of it popped to mind. That I could do various kits…all essentially the same concept, but “Get Well” kits, “Birthday” kit, maybe a “Baby Announcement” kit, etc, etc.  Is really just a box of cheap, silly, crafting crap….it would all be in the marketing! In the logo, packaging, etc. And of course, that it be affordable across the board!!!

I really like the idea. Not sure I have the wherewithal to pull it off at the moment, but there’s something about it…being so simple, that I see working. It’s also not a bad idea as far as getting my sister involved in something she can do from home as well. Just figure out the contents for each kit…all of them pretty much the same, but with different labeling. It’s not at all a full utilization of our creative skills, but right now it’s more about finding something niche-e that makes sales! This might be it (?!?). Something that wouldn’t require a lot of focus to pack together, and ship out. Not much on the whole “production” end of things, which is what can slow sales down. Just re-packaging, labeling, and mailing off.

I might ask Fawn if she likes the idea, or…I might just plan it out, figure out if the investment is doable, and start it myself. Once it’s rolling…then just invite her on-board. Otherwise it’s just another hare-brained scheme of mine. Just another up-in-air idea. I have enough of those to fill a swimming pool!

I have to admit that the enthusiasm has worn off since waking…since I’ve had this idea before. And, I woke up way too early this 5am. So….back to bed for a little bit, then I’ll get up with a little more energy and do some research on crafting junk….pipe cleaners, fuzzy pom-pom balls, googly eyes, popsicle sticks, etc, etc. a standard size (easy to ship) box, the basic start up line, a catchy name & logo…that sorta thing. something where the domain name isn’t taken. That’s always a challenge!

We shall see…………

Was a quiet Christmas. Me, my best-friend, the fur babies, and the baby baby…the only one nice and warm for the holiday, since it’s nestled away in my womb. We opened presents Christmas morning, which isn’t traditional on my end. My family has always opened our gifts Christmas Eve at midnight. It was over in a flash per usual, and I made a nice, hot, hardy, breakfast for us all. I made waffles with the iron I got Beth. There was a lot of napping. Then preparations for dinner.

Beth made standing rib roast, mashed potatoes, citrus infused broccolli and cauliflower, and custard pop-overs. I made a meriunge, black berry torte for dessert. All of it was delish.

Then I had a panic attack. Came out of nowhere…I think a combination of rich food, maybe some over-indulgence in the sweets department, and lots of mounting stress. I vomited my guts out, in a lovely blackberry mess. Exhausted myself, and went to bed. My therapy for attacks is to sit and try and write out my feelings in the moment. The triggers…otherwise they can pass and by the next day, the key factors can be missed. I don’t take any medication for panic or anxiety. I’ve learned to cope with the mind alternating state on my own. For me it’s a mix of un-resolved, avoided situations & issues, and diet. I currently have a lot on my shoulders as a new, 41 yr old, single mom…living a (very) somewhat unstable life. That’s how I feel anyway. And, since getting pregnant…my diet has gone to pot! Previously I wasn’t eating refined carbs of any kind. Very fw carbs in general, and very little sugar. I’ve let the cravings get the better of me, and I’m surprised I’ve done as well as I have, beside extra weight gain. Something that I’m planning on changing the next few days. No more baked goods, pancakes, waffles, pizza or pasta!!! No more bread, bagels, and things of that nature.

It’s not that hard to stop when the alternative is nervous breakdowns!
Today I’m feeling a little better. Still out of sorts and sketchy. That won’t mean anything to those that have never experience an attack. I have a lot to still figure out and prepare for, as well as the daily in and outs. All I can do is take it a day at a time. The cold, dark weather doesn’t help much. At all. Days are growing longer though, and soon it’ll be warm again. And, soon I’ll be majorly distracted by a newborn. Most likely a Godsend. Changing a lot of things I’ve procrastinated on for too long! Here’s to the new year in all it’s complexities & challenges!!!

Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night! xoooxxoxooxoxoxo