Thursday, October 13, 2011

Treasury Thursday


Though I don't think I'll be doing a treasury feature every Thursday, the title did fit for today!

I've been real swamped with homework so sorry for the lack of activity on my end, I've been trying to visit a couple of blogs here and there and got just a few so bare with me.

Speaking of which, I decided to can the whole idea of the "sponsor" thing and just dedicate it to blogs that I continuously follow and from bloggers who I admire and adore! I've already contacted a few of you already so please email me or contact me somehow with your button :) !

On to the treasuries! 

I've spotted a few that I loved but it also inspired me to create my own so here they are! Enjoy!




Sunday, October 9, 2011

Easy Coffee Recipies

Yum!!! If you don't already know, I am a big coffee fan!  I found a couple recipes that I plan on trying here in the new future that I wanted to share.  Don't they look delicious? Enjoy!


Abbey's White Chocolate Latte
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon white sugar
1/2 cup brewed espresso
1/4 cup white chocolate chips, chopped

Directions
Combine the milk and cream in a saucepan, and whisk over high heat until hot and frothy. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and sugar. Whisk together hot espresso and white chocolate chips in a mug until smooth. If you are making two, pour half into another mug. Top with the frothy hot milk and stir to blend in the flavoring.


Vietnamese Iced Coffee
Ingredients
4 cups water
1/2 cup dark roast ground coffee beans
1/2 cup sweetened
condensed milk
16 ice cubes

Directions
Brew coffee with water using your preferred method to make brewed coffee. Spoon 2 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk into each of 4 coffee cups. Pour 1 cup of fresh hot coffee into each cup, and stir to dissolve the milk.

Serve guests cups of coffee, and give each one a tall glass with 4 ice cubes, and a long handled spoon. Guests pour hot coffee over the ice cubes and stir briskly with the long handled spoon, making an agreeable clatter with the ice cubes to chill the coffee.

Gingerbread Latte
Ingredients
2 fluid ounces espresso coffee
2 tablespoons gingerbread flavored syrup
1/2 cup milk, steamed
1/8 cup whipped cream
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1 pinch ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder

Directions
In a coffee mug, combine espresso coffee with flavored syrup. Pour in steamed milk. Top with whipped cream, and sprinkle with nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla powder.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

WiseStamp: Email signatures in a snap!

When emailing customers from my Etsy shop, I like to compose emails on a personal level but still remain professional.  So I've included this email signature provided by WiseStamp that includes my name, logo and links to other social networking sites that are affiliated with my shop.  


It is fully customizable, I'm a simple-sally so mine is on the minimalist side :)


WiseStamp allows you to add social networking icons (with or without text beside them) as well as a widget that includes the latest tweet, blog, even etsy shop item along with your signature!

Another great thing about WiseStamp is that if you are a Google Chrome user like myself, you can easilly install it on to your browser with a WiseStamp Google Chrome extension.  For those without chrome need not worry, they have extensions available for Firefox and Safari as well.


If you have a gmail account, Google automatically adds it to your menu bar.

They offer tons of features and settings - you can either have your signature automatically show up when you compose and/or reply, as well as have a signature for personal emails and a different for business.  So check it out and sign up for a new email signature today!

Giveaway Alert!


So I think I'm gonna start this thing where I go hunting and advertising for giveaways.  I know it's considered an entry to blog about a giveaway but that's not the reason why I choose to do this.  I want to do it for hopefully more exposure as well as provide a place where for people to go who love entering giveaways.

I've added a link to a page up top on my navigation menu for October giveaways and since this is the first post, here are the links to a few lovely and note worthy giveaways! I'll be posting a new blog whenever I add another giveaway or two.  Good luck!!!





Friday, October 7, 2011

Day of shopping & sales!


I finally bought some Seche Vite top coat! It is amazing stuff, I've tried plenty of different top coats and I'm loving this one.  I also continued with my scotch tape trials (part 1).  I used the satin finish tape and it worked much better than the regular transparent tape.  It was just hard to see but then again that's probably because the tape was over the silver polish.  Don't mind the edges by the way, I realized later that I cleaned them after the picture. Hehe whoops!

So for those of you without some Seche Vite top coat, head on over Sally Beauty Supply for a bottle and pick up a free bottle of Stripe Rite Paint.  Sally has sooo many great offers for their October Special! So if you're like me and need to stock up on some beauty supplies, this is your month!

I was able to buy a new 1 1/2" Ion curling iron and receive a free Ion Mini Straight n' Spiral Styler Iron (valued at 29.99).  There are tons more savings and offers so be sure to check out their sale flyer!

Other than that I'm pretty excited that I was finally able to buy a replacement screen, battery and cord for my netbook. With school and me always having somewhere to be, I figure it's time I finally fix it and tote it around with me to finish up assignments on the go.


Also, I've been real swamped with work and school lately.  I finally forced myself to at least make one item for my shop so here it is!  A new Etsy banner set, background features colorful floral doodles on kraft paper.  Hopefully more designs to come soon!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Bye old layout!


I've been wanting a new look for a while now, I found this really nice theme called MoonLight earlier today and absolutely adored it!  Some of the gray borders and text were a little to light for my taste, so I'm in the middle of changing that around.  Once that's finished I'll probably do more editing, just so it looks a little different than the default.

So please bare with me, this will be looking kinda weird till I can sit and finish it all up at once.

K, so I'm pretty much done for the most part. I wasn't able to sleep at all so I just hopped back on here after several hours of tossing and turning.  I wanted to keep the colors from the last layout the same, only cause it coincides with my etsy shop.  This is still a little different, esp with the pink.  Not a drastic change.

Any suggestions?

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Esty Finds: Wrap Around Labels

I ADORE these wrap around labels!

Initially I wanted to post a few samples from different shops; but all the labels I've selected from my search were all from the same one.  So needless to say I have a new favorite etsy shop! 

Kudos to Imbue You, for the lovely designs, patterns and prints that I soooo love. Not only can you get wrap around labels, Imbue You provides Wedding invitation sets, engagement announcements, cards, tags and various printables.  Definitely a must-see shop!


Also be sure to visit my new sponsor, Simply Harmony - she's a doll!

Thursday, September 29, 2011

October Giveaway

Here it is as promised folks!

My very first giveaway and I am extremely pleased by the amount of sales I've made with the limited amount of items in my shop.  I've been real busy lately and it's wonderful to still have a sale (even if it's just one) while I'm away from the computer.  That and I just got a new job, so I am one very happy camper! A busy one, but still a happy one nonetheless.  God is oh-so-very good!

So without further ado, enter to win the following...

• Bottle of OPI Black Shatter nail polish to get you ready for Halloween!
• Free Item from my Etsy Shop
• Custom Item (Etsy Shop Banner Set, Business Card, etc)
• $5.00 via PayPal


Saturday, September 24, 2011

New Polyvore Addict!

Sooo... while taking a break from cleaning, I decided to do some browsing on pintrest, which lead me to polyvore, which lead me to creating these...



Right now there are only four, who knows how many I'll be creating by the end of the day... or this week as a matter of fact!

 If you end up addicted like I am, feel free to add me ;)

Friday, September 23, 2011

Sssstolen! All About Me, A through Z

Ah, the infamous stolen survey.  I snagged this from LuciRae, who stole this from one of my sponsors, Kristen (By the Book Paper) who stole it from Janet at Lazy Owl Boutique.  Well, needless to say it is a thief survey thread so feel free to copy and paste this and fill it out for yourself so we all can see!


A. Age: 27
B. Best Friend:  Hard to claim just one
C. Chore that you hate: Dishes!
D. Dogs: I have one mix breed. She's the best dog ever and I  can't believe she's 7!
E. Essential start to your day: A working snooze button and possibly some coffee
F. Favorite Color:  Again, hard to choose just one :)
G. Gold or Silver: I like the look of silver but my skin tone goes better with Gold =/
H. Height: 5'0"
I. Instruments you play: Piano and learning how to play the guitar
J. Job Title: I am a full-time student working part-time at a portrait studio and a freelance graphic designer on the side.
K. Kids: Love 'em! But I have none.... yet :)
L. Live: Delaware
M. Mother’s Name: Susan 
N. Nicknames: Everyone seems to come up with their own.  "JB" is the most common.
O. Overnight hospital stays: When I was younger, I forget why though
P. Pet peeve: Someone chewing with their mouth open and smoking.
Q. Quote from a movie: 
R. Right or left handed: Right
S. Siblings: Younger sister 
T. Time you wake up:  Between 7-8AM
U. Ultimate vacation: (almost) anywhere in Europe!
V. Vegetable you hate:  brussel sprouts
W. What makes you run late: My dog OR misplacing something OOR I snoozed in my sleep (it has happened folks)
X. X-Rays you’ve had: I took a bunch this week actually. It was for the military. 
Y. Yummy food that you make: Chicken Adobo and Pot Roast! YUMMM!!!
Z. Zoo Animal: Tigers!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Stylish DSLR Camera Bags

Lately I've been itching to get a new camera bag (if you haven't noticed, I have a thing for bags).  

Right now I have the Swiss Gear Diana Bag, it's a really good bag but looks just like my purse - so I'm looking to get something more stylish and colorful (since I can now being out the military because we were only allowed get plain black for everything while in uniform).  

I found these two websites and fell in love with the colors and styles!



Lovely looking bags aren't they?? Does anyone own one of these by the way?

If you're like me and love bags but none of these suit you, check out these notable finds. 

Monday, September 19, 2011

I love me some cheese steaks!



I went to PA this weekend for one of my church events and finally got to stop by Jim's Steaks to try them out myself.

I've tried both Geno's and Pat's steaks (I forget which one of the two that I liked better). Either way, Jim's Steaks is BY FARRRR the best out of the bunch! I could have ate another one if I wasn't so full already (ya I'm a rook). I'm adding more stuff next time!  - Don't mind the photography btw, I took it real quick with my cell phone camera prior to devouring it).

Also...



I don't have very many items in my etsy shop... YET.  I think I only have about 9 items :(  I've had a pretty busy schedule lately but I've been adding a few things whenever I can.  But I was sooo stoked to have my first sale!  I plan to add a few more banners, shop sets and some other templates or whatever else comes to mind.  Special thanks to Michelle of My Lens Your Life Photography for her lovely images!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Semi-Productive Day

First off you gotta read this blog post by my new sponsor Kristen, titled "RUT".

The image she featured on her post has my name written all over it.  It screams, "Jayne! Jayne! Jayne!"  lol.  Well for today anyway, since today was supposed to be my packing and prepping day for my trip starting tomorrow morning (I'll be back Saturday though).  I had laundry to do, dishes to clean, so on and so on.  Guess where I was? On the computer doing absolutely nothing.  Ok, well I did do a few things here and there - I didn't totally bum it out today and I did end up finishing everything. So anywho....


Guess who finally joined pinterest! I didn't think I was going to get an invite so quick, so if you're one of those still waiting for one, contact me and I'll send you an invite!  It's pretty cool if you're like me and enjoy having a bunch of things other people like all in one source.  I'm still getting the hang of it though.


Notice the nails in my pinterest btw?  Pretty huh? Which lead me to my next find...


Cloe's Nails - This girl has talent!  I love to do my nails (and others - see previous entry) and I addooooreee her designs.  I had a hard time choosing which ones I wanted to feature on my image above.  So many to choose from, I highly suggest you visit her website.  I'm sure there are thousands of nail art designs out there, I've ran into a few - but her style is definitely similar to mine.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Handmade Handbag Treasury


So I'm learning about this who treasury thing and decided to make my own!  This particular treasury features my most loved and adored purses that I've ran into on Etsy.   As you can see I'm a big fan of the HOBO style :)  Feel free to link your own!

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Future Project

I am VERY picky when it comes to shopping for purses.  Once I find one I fall in love with it!

Lately it's been very hard for me to find that "perfect purse".  Being that I am a "do-it-yourself-er" I decided to just go ahead and sew myself one and I came across this purse pattern on etsy.  Cute huh?? Well I think so anyway! I do love the textile used as well and could easily buy it, but I think I'm going to accept the challenge and make it myself :) 

Any suggestions for a good textile shop? 

One extreme to another

Two newly created designs from my etsy shop

I created an etsy account about a month ago but it's only been about a week that I actually started adding designs.  It was such a struggle for me to pick a certain "style" to stick with since I love it all!  From bright and loud colors to a very minimal simplistic style.  

I've been trying to add a new design every day and I have about 10 items so far.  My goal is to reach about 50 items by the end of the month and possibly 100+ items overall.  No sales yet (I was told about 30-50 items was the magic number?).  But I was contacted via Etsy to design a customized Etsy Shop Set and new Logo design! I'm very thrilled about that! 

Also, if any one has any ideas on what items TO design, that would be very helpful as well! 


I'm a mommy!!!

... to a blog that is :) I'm not a huge blogger but I do see the relevance in having one when it comes to marketing and claiming a piece of web space - even if it is a free blogger.  Especially for those, such as I, who do not have a facebook page (what's that? everyone has a facebook page? AND their mothers? Well then...)

With that said, please bare with me. I joked about being a mommy to a blog, but in fact I feel like the infant when it comes to this whole blogging thing lol.  This should be interesting :)