Thirty-One Thermal Totes Donation Drive

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Because I don’t do enough moonlighting, I recently started a new business with Thirty-One Gifts. This is an excellent company with great products, and they really take care of their consultants and customers! I’m so excited to get started that I decided to give, and I would love for you to help!

I’m starting a fundraiser/donation to the Winship Breast Cancer Treatment Center at Emory Hospital in Decatur, outside of Atlanta, Ga. I’d like to donate Thirty-One’s Thermal Totes to the breast cancer patients who receive their treatments at this Center. Each tote will be filled with bottled water, snacks, and a note of encouragement. I would love to be able to give a tote to all patients at this center!

For only $10, you can help! $10 buys the tote, and I’m contributing the snacks and goodies. There are 18 different patterns of totes to choose from; you can choose the pattern, or leave it up to me, whichever you choose. See this flier for all of the available colors/patterns. For an additional $7, you could have the tote embroidered with a fun saying of your choice. The Cinch-It-Up tote can also be donated if you choose, for the price of $15. This tote cannot be personalized.

What a great way to put a smile on the face of someone dealing with this illness!

I can accept cash, checks, credit cards, or PayPal. I’m covering all taxes and shipping costs, so your cost stays at only $10.

Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions! Email me!

Thank you for your contributions! For more information and to see all of the colors/patterns available, please see this flier.

If you’d like a tote for yourself, they’re still $10 or $15, but taxes and shipping would apply. View the full catalog!

New Year, New(ish) Blog, and Some Rest

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I know this is kind of late, since I’m sure most bloggers posted about the New Year at least a week ago, but I’m a little behind. So, Happy New Year! a bit late.

I’ve been taking things a bit more slowly lately – not posting a lot, not crafting or cooking a lot, but kind of just “being”. The holidays always stress me out because I never have a chance to do everything that I would like to do. As a working mom, I’m constantly stressed out because I simply don’t have time to do everything that I think I should be doing, or that I want to do. There just aren’t enough hours in the day. I know I shouldn’t stress, but I do. It’s just the way I am, I guess.

So, I’ve been working on my blogging goals for the year: post ideas, new crafts, new recipes, where I’d like to see this blog go and how it’s going to get there, and so on. Posts will be coming a little more regularly, but for now I’m shooting for once a week. Freezer Cooking Fridays will resume at a later date, I’ve closed my Etsy shop temporarily, and I’m enjoying the lull. Sometimes its a good thing to take a step back, and breathe.

The Perfect Pouch for My Kindle Fire

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I, like a lot of other people, recently purchased a Kindle Fire. It had been on my Christmas List, but Santa was nice to me in other ways, and I ended up getting a Kindle Fire for myself the week after Christmas. I am in love with this thing. I love gadgets anyway, and the combination of a tablet and e-reader was too much; I had to have it. I had received Amazon gift cards for Christmas, so I appplied these and some cashed-in credit card reward points to my purchase and my new toy arrived in 2 days. Yay!

One thing about the Fire is that it doesn’t come with a case of any sort. I’m not one to just throw expensive pieces of technology in my bag without any protection, so I needed a case. I would like to get a super-fancy portfolio case that has an easel-thingy to prop it up and so on, but they’re sold out practically everywhere, and I’m just not ready to plunk down another $30-$50 on a good one. So, I came up with my own solution.

The New Year’s holiday was a 4-day weekend for me, so on my last day of the break, I decided I would make my own pouch for my Kindle that would do until I decide to buy a case like I want. I wanted the pouch to have some padding for protection, obviously, so I was originally planning to quilt some fabric I have laying around, and go from there. But then a lightbulb went off: I have quilted placemats!

Here is the end result:

This was simple to make and it actually turned out better than I expected, as there are a total of three pockets: one for your Kindle, and two pockets for accessories. Note: These pockets are narrow, so you can’t put a lot of bulky stuff in there. Headphones would fit, and even the power or USB cord would fit, but it might be tight.

Make Your Own Kindle Fire Pouch/Sleeve from a Quilted Placemat!

 

Tutorial: Make a Placemat Into a Tech Pouch/Sleeve

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Make your own Kindle Fire Pouch/Sleeve from a placemat!

Materials:

  • quilted placemat – I used one that measured 18.5″ x 13″ (mine was Vera Bradley brand)
  • sewing machine or needle and thread
  • matching ribbon
  • Kindle Fire (or other tech-y gadget; adjust measurements accordingly!)

Step 1: Lay placemat flat, decide which side you want on the outside (my placemat was two-sided)

Step 2: Fold in half with short sides together

Step 3: Fold in half again, short sides together

Step 4: Sew along bottom and open side to make pouch, leaving top open

Step 5: Attach ribbon to outside of pouch on front and back – I used about 15 inches of ribbon for the ties on both sides

 

Step 6: Insert Kindle Fire into middle pocket, tie closed. Voila! Your Kindle is ready to travel.

When finished, there will be a total of three pockets because of the folding. The two outer pockets are pretty narrow, but you should still be able to fit in some earbuds, maybe the power cord or USB cord, cards, mail, paper, whatever. Here are a few more pics:

 

So, if you have a few Vera Bradley or other quilted placemats laying around, you too can make yourself a super-cute and simple Kindle Fire Sleeve/Pouch!

More Mason Jar Luminaries

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I had a few more orders from the Etsy shop for custom Mason Jar Luminaries. I just love making these; they’re so pretty! I hope the customers are as happy with them as I am. I still haven’t tried out the quart-size jars, but hopefully I’ll get around to those soon.

It’s kind of hard to see, but the one on the right says “This Little Light of Mine”, as requested by the customer. So sweet!

Want to see more? Check out my previous custom luminaries!

Kids and Their Music

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Up until this year, my two children haven’t really spent that much time riding in the car on a daily basis. Our daycare center is approximately 5.7 minutes away from our house (depending on traffic, of course – this is Atlanta), so we haven’t had to worry about music in the car too much. Until now.

My daughter (5) is in Pre-K now, and we changed schools. Her new school is directly across the interstate from my job; I can see it from my windows. If I had binoculars, I could peer into the playground. So, she now rides to work with me everyday, which is about a 25-minute ride, and I’m now subjected to kid-friendly music on a daily basis. The problem with most kid-friendly music is that it’s REALLY annoying. Kids love it, of course, but to parents, it’s just noise that equates to nails on a chalkboard. At least that’s my opinion.

I prefer some over others; The Backyardigans songs are okay. But we only have one Backyardigans album on my iPod, so it gets old fast. It’s catchy, the girl loves it, and there’s even a song featuring Alicia Keys that I almost don’t mind. I’m just kind of tired of it.

We recently traded in our 2005 minivan for a 2009 minivan (Chrysler Town & Country – LOVE it) to get more vehicle for the money, and it came with a Hard Drive to store music and whatever on it. I was super-impressed with this feature, but when I discovered that the previous owner had left a ton of music on it, I was ecstatic. There’s classic Guns N’ Roses, The Doors, Pantera (still contemplating deleting this one), and lo and behold, some kid music. They Might Be Giants “Here Come the ABCs” to be specific.

My husband and I had seen They Might Be Giants live once upon a time (pre-children), and it was an awesome show. It wasn’t until recently, after hearing the kids music, that I remembered during that show, they announced that they were releasing a kids’ cd. Duh! How could I have forgotten that once I had kids?

This album is great. It’s catchy, there’s different types of music all the way through, and both of the kids love it. That’s all they want to listen to now. Will I get tired of it? Probably. But for now I’m okay with it. The song “Alphabet Lost and Found” is running through my head constantly, but I feel a little better about it since it’s an actual “adult” band playing kid music. I can listen to “Birdhouse in Your Soul” if I feel the need to balance things out.

If you’re tired of the same old stuff, give They Might Be Giants a try, I think you’ll like it. Thanks previous minivan owners!

Freezer Cooking Friday: Getting Started

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I’ve been posting Freezer Cooking Friday for a few weeks now, and I just realized that I kind of jumped in and never really posted a “Getting Started” guide. That’s typical of me, actually; I have a tendency to jump into things in the middle, not the beginning. But that’s a story for another time.

Freezer Cooking is also known as “Once a Month Cooking” or, “Make Ahead Meal Planning”. I like to call it Freezer Cooking because it’s quick and easy to say, for one, and I don’t like to commit to making so many meals (ie: for a month at a time). Most of the time my prep/cooking sessions provide enough meals for about two weeks, and that is what’s been working for me. Sometimes I’ll even divide it up and have two sessions: one for chicken and/or pork, and one for beef.

To get started, you need some recipes that sound good to you and your family, the groceries (obviously), the supplies, and of course, freezer space. I’ll tackle supplies, first.

 Supplies

  • Foil – make sure you get a roll of the heavy-duty aluminum foil to help prevent freezer burn and to keep your foods fresh
  • Gallon-Size Freezer Bags – I went to Sam’s and got the giant mega-pack of a certain name-brand Freezer Bag. I should be stocked for a while (and they have so many uses!)
  • Plastic Wrap – sometimes it helps to cover your dish in plastic wrap then again with foil – again, preserving freshness
  • Disposable/Foil pans – this really depends on what you’re making. I like to use the foil baking pans for enchiladas and pasta dishes, that way my regular pans aren’t all in the freezer at the same time. Plus I don’t have that many baking dishes, and would like to keep it that way. It’s not exactly “green”, but I like to be able to throw the pan away instead of cleaning it up (I’m lazy that way).

Once you have all of the supplies lined up, you’re ready to get going and plan your session. There are some nice printable lists out there to help you plan, but I just use a notebook to list out the recipes I’ll be using, where those recipes are (Pinterest, cookbook, printed sheet of paper), and what groceries I need. Here’s an example of my plan for one session:

Nothing fancy about this!

I stuck to that plan for the most part, but for some reason I still haven’t made Cheddar & Cracker chicken (but its still on my list!).

I’ve recommended it before, but the book Don’t Panic, Dinner’s in the Freezer is an excellent resource. It not only has great recipes that I use over and over again, it also has a great guide on the best ways to pack your prepped meals for the freezer. It tells you when to use freezer bags, and when the foil/plastic wrap method is best. In the recipes I post, I try to mention which method to use as well, but if you want a comprehensive guide on freezing just about everything, check out the book.

The most important thing, in my opinion, is to have a plan. You want to make sure you have all of the ingredients you need, and the right way to wrap your foods for the freezer. Once your freezer is stocked, you won’t look back!

Next week I’ll talk a little more about the actual cooking/prep session. Happy cooking until then!

Extra Holiday Cash #3: Direct Sales

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Making Extra Cash for the Holidays
Looking to make some extra money for the holidays this year? There are multiple ways to do it, you just have to be a little savvy. This post is the third in my new series on ways to bring in some extra cash, most without dipping into your regular monthly budget. I’m by no means an expert on the matter, but who doesn’t want a little extra cash here and there? Stay tuned over the next week or two as I list out more ideas to make your holidays a little less stressful on your wallet.
 

This tip will most likely cost a little bit of money, but you have to look at it like an investment: Start a Direct Sales business.

If you’ve ever thought about joining a Direct Sales company, this is the time of year to do it. With everyone looking for Christmas gifts that are unique and priced right, chances are that no matter which company you decide to go with, your sales will be high.

What is Direct Sales?

Direct selling is the sale of a consumer product or service, person-to-person, away from a fixed retail location, marketed through independent sales representatives who are sometimes also referred to as consultants, distributors or other titles. (DirectSelling411.com)

There are many different products available to sell, and if you’re considering joining a company, make sure you find a product that you love. If you’re selling what you love, sales will come easier, and you’ll be more successful.

A common misconception about Direct Sales is that you have to have people come to your home and host parties, or beg others to have parties for you. That’s not always the case. Many companies allow their reps, or consultants, to also use Catalog, or Book Parties. These types of parties involve giving a hostess catalogs, order forms, and maybe samples to show his/her friends, and then take any orders and payment. Many people find these a lot more flexible than a traditional Home Party, and they don’t have to clean house. Plus, the host still earns the benefits, or Host Rewards, and you still earn commission on the sales, for little effort. You still have to collect the orders, make sure they’re correct, and make sure you have payment to cover everything, but your host handled the selling end of things for you.

There are many different companies offering many different products that you can sell, and earn commission. Health/Beauty items (Mary Kay, Avon, Arbonne), Kitchen items (Pampered Chef), Jewelry (Premier Designs, Silpada), Home Decor (Willow House, Home Interiors), and Candles (Scentsy, Partylite), to name a few. There are even companies that are geared towards men.

To get started, you generally have to purchase a “starter kit” that includes everything you need to get your business started: catalogs, order forms, samples/product, handbooks, etc. Starter kits can range from $50 to over $500, depending on which business you choose, and what you get in the kit. Make sure you do your research on any company you’re considering so you know exactly what the costs are going to be to get started.

DirectSelling411.com is a great resource, as well as the Direct Selling Association. There are so many companies out there to choose from; these sites should help you narrow down the ones that might be best for you.

I’ve been a partof a few different companies over the years, and each time I’ve loved the product. I’m currently a Certified Consultant with Scentsy Wickless Candles, so my opinions may be a little biased. But, the products are fabulous, and I’m so glad I chose this company. If you’re interested in learning more about Scentsy, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

All product pitches aside, again, it’s important to do your research. If you’re interested in a company, find a consultant that you can talk with about the company, and ask how sales are. If you want to join the company under this person, make sure they’ll be supportive and help you get started. Even though it will be your own business, you still will have guidelines to follow, and it helps to have a positive mentor!

Don’t miss out on the hottest selling season of the year; if you’re interested in starting your own business, do it now!

 Want even more info? Here’s a great segment from The Today Show on Direct Selling.

And of course, I have to mention (again): If you’re interested in learning more about Scentsy, please visit my consultant website. (End shameless plug)

 Good Luck!

Welcome to Moonlighting Mama!

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Change is a good thing; it keeps us moving, and can inspire us. I had been thinking for a while that it was about time for a change on my blog, Sugar Plum Delights. When I started that blog, it was mainly about my crafty side-business of the same name. My original goals for the blog were basically to showcase what I was working on for my Etsy shop and craft fairs and so on. But as the years went on, the blog started to evolve, and I was posting more than just crafty things. So, I decided to diversify and start a new blog: Moonlighting Mama.

With this new blog, I intend to talk not only about crafting, but to work in more cooking (see Freezer Cooking Fridays), a little design here and there, home stuff, and maybe even a little financial management. I wanted to broaden my focus and not be tied down to a certain topic, which is how I felt with the old blog.

So, please bear with me as I build this new site; fun things are coming! All of the old contect from Sugar Plum Delights is here, including all of the great recipes and tutorials. More of that is coming too!

And lastly, why the name Moonlighting Mama? Well, I have two children and a husband, I work full time outside the home, I have a crafty side business and a Scentsy business to maintain. Most of the work on my other projects happens after the kids go to bed, which is when the moon is up. So, I’m a mama, and I moonlight. :)

Thanks for reading!