My How Things Have Changed!

When I started this blog back in February 2008, it was a completely different world in terms of blogging. It makes me sad that things have changed so much. I look around and no one has the cute little backgrounds that we installed ourselves for free (i.e., mine!) and changed up for each holiday. Instead, now I see that all blogs are professional and sophisticated in style, with each new blog being more beautiful than the next.

And with all of the gorgeous photos, oh please, don't even get me started!

It's no wonder that so many of the women I started blogging with don't blog anymore. I, too, stopped blogging for quite sometime but realized how much I missed it.

I simply loved blogging and made so many wonderful, dear friends but it feels slightly odd this time around. It's different now, not so down to earth so to speak. Maybe I'm just reading more "professional" blogs where it's become a job, an online and/or home based business.

I'm certainly glad that blogging has been financially rewarding for so many women and it makes me proud that our efforts and hard work have paid off. The talent in blogland is incredible and I'm ALWAYS happy to see women succeed, but on the other hand, I'm sad that something so fun, innocent, and personal has become so highly commercialized with all of the advertising and such.

Maybe I just need to get with the program, and I will have to soon, like it or not.

For you "old time bloggers" out there, I'd love to hear your opinions as well.

The Old Me Is Returning...

For over a year now, I have not worked in my chosen profession as a registered nurse. I hadn't intended on putting my career on hold completely but that is exactly what happened.

As you may or may not know, opening up a business with my son did not work out so basically I have been running the thrift store pretty much 100% on my own the entire time. While I don't regret for one minute opening up our cute little neighborhood shop, I'd be lying if I said it has been easy. It has caused much stress and dissension between my son and I and also between my husband and I. Yep, it's been a little frustrating to say the least.

I love my little store and the friends and customers I've made have been remarkable but I've felt for quite sometime now that a very important part of my life has been missing. I knew exactly what it was.

So, tomorrow I start back at my old job, doing what I love, and spending time once again with the coworkers and patients that I have missed dearly.

Luckily, my daughter is available this week to cover for me at the store while I work 3 days to get reoriented.  In the future, I will more than likely work one day a week or even just one day a pay period.

Wordless Wednesday

Butchart Gardens, Canada, Sept 2011

Long Time No Talk!

I have missed you and my blogging days so very much!

It's time I get back into it!

And I intend too!

I'm doing well, just have been working non-stop for over one whole year now!

The thrift store has been so much fun but oh so much work..but I have loved it!

I've have devoted the past 12+ months, 24/7, to this new business but I say it's time to get my life back!

And resuming my blog is one way I plan on doing it!

My New Favorite...

This is my new favorite song and my new favorite duo! So seriously, where have I been?! I'm just now discovering Jack & White!

Ohhh Crap!

I think I've really done it now!I tried to revert back to the old blogger interface and I've pretty much lost my sidebar, wallpaper, etc. I did save the original template but can't seem to copy it to transfer all the info back. I think I'll be making a visit to the Apple store soon!

(Update: Don't know how I did it but I solved the problem. Thank you Lord!)

It's Friday

And I'm nosy...

So here's the question: When did blogger update and change their interface? I've been so out of the loop I didn't even know an update had occurred. I don't particularly like change and I'm not sure I like navigating this new blogger (I've been away from blogging for so long that it may not necessarily be "new" but it's so foreign and new to me.) I'm not finding it to be easy and user friendly!

Do you like the new, updated blogger style?

Is there a way to revert back to the old look and not have to use the updated blogger?

Great Resolutions for the New Year!

Also, do you pick a "word" for the year? I'm still mulling it over and praying about my special, meaningful word for 2012. There are a few contenders at this point.

Happy New Year!

Truly, where did 2011 go? I feel like the year flew by so quickly and that I lost touch with so much that I'm familiar with. One of my goals for 2012 is to get my life back in order. I need to learn how to operate a business yet have a normal life as well. Opening up our store, although extremely exhausting, has been extremely rewarding. Unfortunately, 2011 and my normalcy was lost somewhere in the shuffle.

But...it's a new year and there have been lessons learned! I'm excited to see what 2012 brings for us all!

In the meantime, I am in Hawaii celebrating the new year with my family and relishing our time together. There aren't many times these days that my family unit is together under one roof. This holiday season was good to us in that way!

Happy Happy New Year to all of you! I wish joy, happiness, health, and prosperity for all of us in 2012!

What A Difference A Day Makes...

When we were in Seattle a few weeks ago, we were getting ready to board the bus which was to bring us to the cruise ship when I saw an adorable young couple leave our hotel and sit down outside. I said to my friend Julie "this is a blog opportunity if I ever saw one!"



Yep, that would be her crinkled up wedding dress in her lap, not hanging up nicely in a bag or anything, nope, just walked out of the hotel lugging it under her arm. See it spilling over onto the street!

What a difference a day makes. I bet just 24 hours earlier she would have thrown herself in front of a bus to protect that dress!

Wordless Wednesday

(Our pet corner at our store, The Eclectic Attic. 50% of all our proceeds from Jake's Corner are donated to animal organizations each month).

Feeling a Little Sentimental...

Last night I went to Target for the first time in I don't know how long. I honestly don't remember the last time I was at Target. These are some strange words coming from such a Target loving girl!

I used to go to Target just about every Monday when my kids were in school. I'd drop them off and eventually make my way to Target, browsing each and every aisle with my Pepsi and popcorn in hand, enjoying every minute! I'd often buy some little treat and have it on their bed for them when they got home from school.

Those days have come and gone...
I miss them...

Browsing the aisles last night brought back a flood of memories as I strolled past the back-to-school items. Precious memories of my back-to-school shopping days as a student myself and of the days not so long ago of shopping with my own two kids. Missing those days but having wonderful memories that made my heart smile.

Last night before I went to Target I stopped at our friend Lynn's restaurant for a minute and was greeted in the parking lot by her twin daughters and their friend Brandon. All 3 of these great kids went off to college a few weeks ago but were home for a quick visit. I told Brandon how much I missed all of them and this sweet boy said "I miss you more!" O.M.G!

On Facebook this morning I noticed photo after photo of today's first day of school pictures that were taken just this morning. They made my heart smile too. It brought me back to the days of my kids posing on the front porch each new year for their first day of school pictures also.

Obviously, I'm feeling sentimental and on the verge of tears and seeing the college kids last night didn't help things either! As they drove away, their mom and I just looked at each other with misty eyes. I know just how she feels.

These past few years I've been in a new chapter of life, the empty nest chapter. The empty nest chapter isn't all bad and it does have it's perks, but moms, enjoy all of these back-to-school days and milestones.

Life happens and our kids grow up in the blink of an eye!

It's Friday

And I'm nosy...

So here's the question: Have you read the book "The Help" or seen the movie yet?

I read the book last year but went with 3 girlfriends who hadn't read the book to the movies last night to see it.

It was so fun for me to watch their reaction to certain scenes since I already knew what was coming.

We laughed!

We cried!

We loved it!

Well Hellooooo There!

Has it really been almost 3 months since I posted last? Man oh man time flies when you're having fun!

We opened the store on July 1st and had a fantastic response at our grand opening and now that we've been open for a month, we're settling into a pleasant little routine. We've started developing friendships with regular customers and neighbors and just have met the nicest people. I've never worked retail so this is all new to me but what's not to like about chit chatting with fun, interesting people all day! I truly am blessed.

It has been wonderful to be able to see and work with my handsome son each day too! I came on a little too strong in the beginning but have lightened up alot and we're getting along perfectly these days. He's not a kid anymore and I needed a reminder of that. Brandon is a bright and capable young man and I needed to back off a bit, which I have done. I have a tendency to micro manage things and it's not needed. The whole idea of this business was to get it going for Brandon so I have let him take the lead more and more and he handles things beautifully, plus, I don't feel so overwhelmed anymore. Opening up a business was a hard transition for me in the beginning because I was missing my regular life so much. I was working 6 days a week, never home, and just plain tired! Luckily, time truly does make a difference and I have adjusted to what life is these days, and it's very good. Different but good.

I also get to work with my sister every Tuesday and life just doesn't get any better than that! She calls it Tuesday fun day and that's just what it is, a fun day! She cracks me up because she tells her friends that she's not available on Tuesdays now...she's got a J-O-B!

So yes, life is different and very very busy. I have reverted back to my list making days and have broken out of the procrastinator mode that I had been comfortable in. No time for procrastination now, there's just no time!

We're Moving Right Along...

I've been so busy and caught up with the details of opening a store that life is quickly passing by. Things wouldn't be so hectic if the store was located near me but it's 2 1/2 hours away from my home. Since this is going to be my son's store in the future, we wanted it located by him. This means I've spent days at a time away from home. Last week I spent the entire week staying with my sister in order to get things accomplished with the store. We had such a great time together and she was such a big help but man oh man did I miss home. That old saying is so true "there's no place like home!"

I took some pictures to track the progress of the store and wanted to share them with you. The inside of the store has changed a bit now with the addition of a storage area and dressing room but those pictures will be in another post.

First, here is a picture of the building itself. We are located right on the corner, with a 4-way light right out the front door. You couldn't ask for better business exposure.


This is the inside of the store. It's one big room with a bathroom, a small storage area, and a back door being located behind the door on the far left in this picture. It totals 940 sq ft. Not big by any means but perfect for our venture...


This is a picture from the other end of the room, looking out towards the front door...


After changing out the locks and giving the place a thorough cleaning, the signs went up to let the neighborhood know what's ahead...



Opening up a business takes a tremendous amount of time and effort but so far it's been well worth it, and the true fun hasn't even started yet. We have so so much to do but are planning and shooting for a July 1st opening. I'm heading back down to Long Beach tomorrow for another week and hopefully we can start pricing and organizing things by the end of the week. It's all a step by step process but now we're getting into the fun stuff!

More pictures and info soon!

Well Hello There!

I've missed you!

I've been one busy girl!

Our thrift shop will be opening July 1st!

It's called "The Eclectic Attic"!

Busy, busy, busy!

Fun, fun, fun!

More details (and pictures) soon!

Wordless Wednesday

This post is linked to:
Wordless Wednesday @ Home Grown Families
Wordless Wednesday @ Project Alicia

It's Friday

And I'm nosy...

So here's the question: Have you or your husband ever gone on a vacation without each other?

My husband left yesterday for a week long scuba diving trip to Grand Cayman. I could have gone along too but decided I'd like to stay home and have the house to myself instead. Having the house to myself never happens.

So far...

I'm lovin' it!

Wordless Wednesday:

(We're all allowed to splurge once in awhile right!?)

This post is linked to:
Wordless Wednesday @ Home Grown Families
Wordless Wednesday @ Project Alicia
Wordless Wednesday @ Alot of Loves

Meet Me On Monday

Java @ Never Growing Old hosts "Meet Me On Monday" over on her blog. It's always fun getting to know a little more about blogging buddies so I thought I'd join in too. She asked us to answer these 5 questions about ourselves...

1. Crunchy or soft tacos: Homemade crunchy tacos are my favorite. I don't make them often because they are so messy to make but boy does my family love some homemade crunchy tacos.

2. Do you scrapbook: I never jumped on the scrapbooking bandwagon. I'm very organized with my photos and kept up the baby books nicely but never did officially scrapbook.

3. Do you take any daily medications: Nothing other than Vitamins and such. No prescribed medications, thank goodness. I do take Boniva for my bones but it's one pill once a month.

4. What is your favorite sound: It would have to be the sound of water, either the sound of crashing waves on the shore or the sound of a nice gentle waterfall. As much as I love the sound of water though, I love it even more when I hear my two grown children having a conversation together. They don't get to see each other often so I love it when they get a chance to connect and be together.

5. Where were you born: Right here in California...and I'm still here...much to my chagrin!

Happy Monday!