Dear Diary....

Just popped in to let you know I am still alive and kicking/ish.

My new job has given me a very steep learning curve, long hours, and quite a bit of stress.

I have not even had time to check in on everyone's blogs to see what you are all up to!

Can you imagine this bloke looking over your shoulder all the time as you try to perform on a grill that you have never, ever, in your long-legged life, cooked on? Fast, accurately, and with a smile on your face to boot?

Plus study and take tests all at the same time....

I am an awful test taker and do very badly under stress. So you can tell that is has been a bit of a  week I have had.

Fifty hours of work takes a bit of getting used to, and ten hours a day without sitting down makes the feet HURT.

Ah well, soon the learning curve will be over and hopefully I will feel more comfortable.

I am dying to do some creating but just don't have the time right now...sob sob.

I have to be up at 2.30am so will have to go to sleep soon to be fresh and perky for tomorrow. 

Hope everyone is well.

TTFN

First Day On The Job...

Hello my lovelies.

Today was my first day at my new job. I left the house at 5am and got home just before 5pm! It wasn't bad at all. I am not really mentally tired, just my bod hurts (my back specifically).

I have spent the past few days studying menu abbreviations and getting familiarized with store operations. 

Wouldn't you just know it, I start work and get a nice etsy order for a bulk sale! 

No worries, it is an easy make, so I should be able to knock it out no probs.

I hope everyone is well and dealing with all the daily ups and downs of life.

I read through all your blogs when I have time and will post again later this week to let you know how I am surviving.

PEACE AND LOVE

TTFN

BREAKING NEWS.........

This week has just whizzed by so quickly.

I have had not time to post or even read any blogs (I have 295 posts waiting for me to read them!).

I got busy and listed some new items in my Etsy shop and for some strange reason I had my best week yet for sales.

I woke up one morning and looked at my shop, only to find some things missing. Then it dawned on me....KACHING...KACHING. They had sold!

Remember this post about the tray I made?

Well not only did one lady buy this and another item, but at exactly the same time someone from England wanted to know how much it would cost to post one to the UK!

Some adorable owl salt and pepper shakers sold to someone I used to know in my former life in Los Angeles, she saw them on my FB page. I also sold a vintage glass jar....the only problem is I can't find it!!!!!

On Friday and Saturday I went on interviews for a job as a manager at Whataburger.

I GOT THE JOB!!!!!

My life is going to change drastically after next week. I will be working 10 hour days and will probably be so tired when I get home that I will fall straight into bed, lol. I am excited but anxious at the same time. I will need to get loads of rest and keep up my strength. I just hope my old body holds up and I don't suffer too many aches and pains. This is the last push before retirement. I have ten years left to save some money and get that 401K built up. I am extremely glad I will have health insurance again.

Mr. Shabby will be able to leave his very shabby job and get going full bore on his new business. He is very excited about that.

I just hope that my insurance covers domestic partners. I did ask that question but so far no answer. Still, with both of us making fairly decent money now, we should be able to pay for his insurance.

It will be such a relief not to have to skrimp so much but I really think that all this time with such a small income has made me realise how much money we spent on totally unnecessary things. Into the savings account it shall go!

So anyway, I suppose the point is, I will be simplifying my life to some extent. I will try to make blog enteries at least once a week, but I am not going to stress over it. I will also be reducing my blog reading list to I don't feel I HAVE to read all of them. I will be having enough stress at work and need to reduce the amount at home. I am one of those people who puts way too much on her plate and then feels terribly guilty and bad because I did not do it all.

I am closing down one of my etsy shops and keeping open the one that sells vintage finds from the thrift shops. That is to say, until I run out of stuff to sell or run out of time to go and find stuff to sell.

I will have to spend less time crafting and creating and be much more choosy about my projects.

My main focus will be on making a career and moving up in the business world so that in ten years I can leave the work force knowing I did a good job and have something to retire on.

Sorry for the stream of consciousness here, but I typed it as it came into my head.

I want to thank all of my dear readers and blogmates that have cheered me on this past year when I started blogging and selling on Etsy. I have met some super people and been incredibly inspired in so many ways by you all. 

I would love it if any of you felt the desire to email me. We could stay in touch like that too.

All that being said, I bid you adieu for a while but you will all be in my thoughts and I will be lurking around your blogs from time to time.  

PEACE AND LOVE TO ALL

Anne x0x0x0x

Cake in a Jar.........done.

I am delighted to tell you that my experiment with baking in canning jars went very well!

I chose squatty small jars to try this in. I only bought four in case it was a huge flop.

I used a package of Betty Crocker Chocolate Chunk Brownies because they are totally delish and just as good as home made.
I filled the jars 2/3 of the way full, baked them at 350 degrees for about 45 mins after having put them on a baking sheet.
Prior to that I sterilised the jars as per the instructions on the box.
When you place the lids on (very gingerly since the jars are very very hot) and tighten them up, the lids pop down during the cooling process so you know they are sealed.  

I am very happy with the experiment and am sure my son will thoroughly enjoy digging into them with the plastic 'sporks' I included in his care package (that way he can eat them on the spot, hehe).


I wrapped an assortment of toiletries and bits and bobs in Halloween paper since the parcel should get to him about the end of the month. I wrote funny things on the labels; for instance: "Use this on itchy Werewolf skin" on some non scented lotion and "This contains garlic to ward of Vampires" on a tub of Cajun seasoning!







I also popped one of these in for him!


~~~~~~~~~GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS~~~~~~~~~~~


TTFN

Too Pooped To Party

I am feeling most def like a party pooper today.

I am tired and worn out and have accomplished enough for one day without pushing myself to do any more.

I took four more secret shopping jobs today, running out to do one before I went to the grocery store.

I did research into forming a business.

I did housework.

I listed handmade tags on Etsy.

I made dinner.

And I still feel like I should have done more......

But tomorrow is another day.

TTFN

Cake In A Jar

Who knew you could make cake in a jar?

Well I certainly didn't.

I have been a very bad Mummy and not sent my Soldier son any care packages yet and whilst on FB with his girlfriend, it came up that our Armed Forces love receiving cakes in jars.  Apparently when opened, they taste as fresh as when they came out of the oven!

http://www.countryconsultant.com/blogspot/?p=753

I found a lot of delish sounding cake recipes around the net, so next week I shall be off to buy some canning jars and get to canning some cake!

Things are looking up at the House of Shab. Mr Shabby is starting a new business venture with an old colleague and there is a bit more of a spring in his step these days, bless him.

I am picking up more secret shopper jobs and thoroughly enjoying it (who doesn't like free merchandise, eh?)

I now have to do some research to figure out if it is better to become an L.L.C, to incorporate or to be a Sole Proprietor. 

I am also going to take a free on line book keeping course to see if I can do the books before handing them off to an accountant.

The page might just be starting to turn.

It is Frugalicious Friday and I wanted to show you how frugaliciously thrifty I have been this week in my thrift shopping.

 An old ironstone milk jug and an apothecary jar.....$1.50

Another tray to decorate, two cups to put decals on, vintage buttons and a vintage knife holder that I shall paint....$4.50.

And how about these beauties?  $1.00

The owls I will sell, so let me know if interested.

Off to link to Frugalicious Friday at decormamma.blogspot.com.decormamma.blogspot.com