In Bloem - Spring Hair Blooms

I was really excited to get a little time last week to craft.  I also got a chance to purge some unnecessary scrapbooking supplies {I really haven't scrapbooked in years}, and even had extra time to painted my nails....blue!

Going through my supplies, I got reinspired to make some flower hair combs.  It also helped that I recently sold another pair on Etsy!

Starburst Flower Hair Combs (Set of 2)

Happy Saturday!!

Tax Time

I'm new at this craft business thing, and haven't really had that much time to invest into it.  So I was really proud of myself last year, when I took a leap and got my business license, hoping it would be one of many more steps in the right direction towards my goal.

To be honest, I never did ANYTHING with it! {Aside from ordering some envelopes, which I still have to see if I saved the receipt for}.

Fast forward to a week after my baby boy, Rowan, was born, when I got a call at 7am, from somenone at the County Clerk's Office, letting me know that they needed to audit my home business.  I managed to give a sleep deprived response of, "I haven't even done anything with my business."  The man replied, "So, you're not renewing your license?"  And all I could muster up was, "Not now". 

So now, with tax time just around the corner, I have to figure out how to file a business that didn't really produce OR expense any money.

Also, I'm not sure whether I should renew my license.  I guess I should have allowed them to audit...*not thinking clearly at the time*

I planned to really get going on it during my maternity leave {in my dreams!}. Rowan had a different plan, mostly revolving around himself.

We moved into a fixer upper house and had a baby last year.  I get anxious enough over taxes as it is. I'm really not looking forward to filing this year, even though we should get a lot back.  I think it's time to kick TurboTax to the curb and go to a professional, who can sort through it all.

If anyone out there has some tax advice for someone just getting their feet wet, I'd love to hear it!

Happy Tax Filing!

Featuring a Reversible Hooter Hider Tutorial by Made by Lisa G

I don't have much time for my own arts & crafts right now, but my friend, Lisa G has been sewing all kinds of great gifts for me and other new moms, so I asked her to do a guest blog tutorial for one of her creations. 

She one-uped my request, and started a whole new blog, Made by Lisa G, to share her crafting "How To's".  Lisa is also a great photographer, so you can bet all of her tutorials are going to have great pics, which makes it SOOO much easier, don't ya think?

Here's a peek at the Reversible Hooter Hider Tutorial by Made by Lisa G  

{Go to her blog for all the details}

A Hooter Hider is a must have for modest moms who breastfeed. 

I use mine all the time!

Thanks Lisa!

Holiday Baby!

Our first baby, Rowan Matthijs Balyon, was born on December 22, 2010.  He's the most precious thing! 

So, forgive me for being slow with the bloem blog updates.  I have my hands full right now.  You can follow us through life as new parents on our family blog, One Ring Short of a Circus.

Hot Chocolate Mix in a Jar (Easy & Budget Friendly Gift)

This year, we made Hot Chocolate Mix in a Jar for our neighbors and friends.  Just a little gift to warm people up during the holidays, without breaking the bank.

Here's how we did it:

1 Cup Powdered Milk

3 Heaping Tablespoons Dutched Cocoa Powder

3 Level Tablespoons Sugar

1/4 Mini Marshmallows

We mixed 5 batches at a time

2 Cups per Mason Jar.

YUM :)

I decorated the jar top with Christmas-y fabric and a raffia bow.

Make sure to include a card that tells your recipient how to make and enjoy their delicious treat!

"Mix 3 heaping Tablespoons (1/4 to 1/3 cup) cocoa with 8 to 10 oz of hot water.

Makes about 4 servings"

 

That's all there is to it!

-Sarah

Day 14: Reverb 10 - Appreciate

December 14 – Appreciate. What’s the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it? (Author: Victoria Klein)

I'm guilty of taking most things for granted.  Who isn't?  I was originally going to post about appreciating my family and friends.  Although I do thorougly appreciate both, I read my best friend's response to this prompt on her blog, Living a Brighter Life, and since she wrote about friends and family (probably better than I can write it), I figured I should come up with something else.  Besides, there are plenty of things to appreciate, right?

In a weird way, this year, I've learned to appreciate my job.  I didn't say I learned to enjoy it, or even to like it a little.  Just to appreciate the fact that I have a well paying, fairly stable, job that has provided the money for everything we need and lots of things that we want. In a time when the poor economy has left many people in worse situations, we've managed to not only skate through, but also to take advantage of some unique opportunities.  All because of my job.  

I wouldn't say I really show much of this appreciation.  Most of my conversations around my job are a more towards the negative side.  Also, I don't always stop to think about how great it is to have a job.  Like Nellie, at Wired, Witty, and Well Dressed, I've decided that "lucky" isn't the right term to justify my success.  I've earned my paycheck.  But I can admit that I'm fortunate. 

So, there it is, I appreciate my job.  Live it up, because that's probably the last time you will ever hear me say (or write) those words!

 Dilbert, by Scott Adams.  Courtesy of www.dilbert.com

-Sarah 

Day 13: Reverb 10 - Action

December 13 – Action When it comes to aspirations, it’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen. What’s your next step? (Author: Scott Belsky).

Action is the hard part.  I can dream all day about what I could do and would do, but actually doing it is a whole 'nother thing!

In the past, I haven't really held myself accountable for making things happen.  Well, that's not exactly true.  I used to be very accountable.  I did what I needed to do to get where I am.  BUT, lately, I've been more complacent about actually achieving my goals.

The best way I've found to keep myself on track is to make a list.  I LOVE checking off lists!  So much that I will do whatever I have to do just so I can put down another check.  Sometimes, I even cheat a little and list things I've already done.  That way, I get to check off even more!!

I have a few ACTIONS that I'm currently taking to change my life.  They're not huge and they're not abstract, because, really, they are the things on my list.  The small, but tangible steps that I have to take.

One action on my list is to build an inventory of handmade, unique-but-general, Baby Shower invitations, Birthday Party invitations, Thank You cards, and more.  I'm trying to make enough to host a table at a local farmer's market.  I've been able to get a good start already since my time off from work.  This will, hopefully, help promote as well as fill the gaps between my custom jobs.

Umbrella - Baby Shower Invitations by bloem

-Sarah