{an entry from my night journal.  Correct! I CAN NOT SLEEP.  lol.}

Such funny things, words.  Without even trying they have the power to crush and to heal, to hinder or to inspire.  In a lifetime the simplest of words can knock one completely off kilter.  The power to change an entire life’s path.  For better or for worse.   Unintentional catharsis.

Sometimes, when you least expect it someone’s words can reach right into you.  Taking hold unto your soul and finding a connection there you never would have expected.  The impact of those kinds of words… is magical.

Have you ever stumbled upon words you felt were left there just for you?  A secret message, in the most illogical of places, just waiting for your eyes to spy them?

I have.  Today it was these.

It’s important that we seek inspiration but then take action on our ideas. – Sachin Khona

My eyes fluttered over them.  For a moment I stopped reading.  Without the subtlest hint of warning, my breath had left me.  And then I read it again and a tear found its way onto my keyboard.

How could someone I have never met know exactly what I needed to hear?  These words aren’t anything spectacular.   But somehow they managed to reach into me.  Without even knowing it or trying, I had stumbled upon my own secret message from the universe.  There it was, tucked quietly away on an aspiring photographer’s blog.

I hope Sachin knows his blog is appreciated.  I wish that someday I would meet him face to face, so I could tell him THANK YOU.  I would love to tell him that.  “Thank you for sharing your journey into your new life with us.  And thank you for inspiring mine.”  Of course, knowing me and all my dorkdom, it would probably come out more like “OMG!  I got IT!  Secret message received!”

O_o

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After years of encouragement from my online family, I am so proud to be in a position to offer this! 

Career Coaching with Bunny Cates

Career Coaching with Bunny Cates: A 1 hour, 1-on-1 Conversation with store owner and designer Bunny Cates (me!).

What’s this all about?

Well, when I started out in this business I would have given ANYTHING to have had someone to just sit down and talk to about the behind the scenes aspects of running "the business side" of digiscrap. No fluff, just honest answers to some pretty serious questions I had floating around in my head. "Do I need a business license?" "Do I charge taxes?" "How much do I charge for this!?" I didn’t have anyone, but using my management background as a guide, I’ve been figuring it out on my own for the last 5+ years. I get asked questions all the time about how to handle certain things, or the best way to deal with this-n-that and I know that the information I have to share can be motivational, informative, and useful. When I started my digital scrapbooking business, I didn’t have someone to talk to about the business, it was hard figuring it out on my own. I want to be that "someone" for you.

So many people get into this business thinking its going to be a quick buck, and then they have no one to talk to or help them thru it once they’re in it.  I want to change that for people!  Imagine how awesome the entire DigiScrap/Crafting’/Cottage Arts niche would be if designers actually "felt" like and DID know what they were doing.  Had a "guide" to push them in the right direction.  I can totally fill that void for people.

So, what I am offering here is pretty simple. Your questions, my answers, about the "business side" of Digital Scrapbooking. Anything you want to talk about. Whether you are a store owner or a digital designer, I am confident this session will benefit your business.

Coaching sessions are prepaid by appointment only, and held via Skype (World Wide) or Telephone (USA ONLY).

How to get scheduled:

Simple! Check Out with this item in your cart. Once payment is received, you will receive an email with a few questions for YOU to answer and you can also tell me what time is best for you. Once I get that back, we’ll have you scheduled, and on the day of your session we’ll either meet up on Skype or phone. Which ever works best for YOU.

Once you have your date set, I highly recommend sitting down and making notes of what you hope to talk about during our coaching session. These sessions aren’t me telling you what I think you should know, its me telling you what you WANT to know. So make notes to yourself, and have them handy during our Coaching session! If you don’t have any questions, it’s going to be a long hour!

Remember: You can ask me anything business related.

Please note this is not a "creative" seminar. I will not be teaching you how to design. This is a "BUSINESS" conversation. So you can ask things about: administration, taxes,workflow, customer service, etc etc

click here to schedule your Coaching Session with Bunny Cates

Today has been kind of insane.  I really did not sleep well last night.  Ok, I went to bed after 4 and had to get the kids up for school at 5 so ummm…  LOL  I got up on time, got the kids off to school, did the first writing assignment for a journaling course I’m taking, and then I went back to bed and slept until after 1!  I got up and was slow getting going and just about the time I felt like getting a little work done the internet went out!  My internet and phone just happen to be with the same company so not only did my internet got out but my phone was out TOO so I couldn’t even call and bitch about it!    BAHHHHHH!!! 

roflmao! 

It finally came back on around 11ish tonight.  Greatttt….

I did manage to get the dining room mopped today.  Almost all of the laundry is now done.  I cleaned out the fridge, even pulled the drawers out and washed them.    Yep, I WAS BORED OUT OF MY MIND!

For supper tonight was TACOs.  But, before I could cook the hubs had to run to the store because we decided to have tacos before we realized we had nothing to MAKE said tacos!  Now, you can’t exactly tell your kids your going to have tacos and then after they have been celebrating for 2 hours tell them OOPS… so the hubs ran to the store for groceries. YAY.  Super-hubs to the rescue! du-dun-du-dun-da-dunnnnn!  LOL!

What are you planning on cooking all week?

Here’s what our menu looks like for the week:

• MONDAY – TACOS  (Dad’s choice)
• TUESDAY – MEAT LOAF, homestyle potatoes, salad  (Mom’s choice)
• WEDNESDAY – CHICKEN NUGGETS, side salad   (Sis’s  choice)
• THURSDAY – BURGERS n FRIES  (Bub’s choice)
• FRIDAY – OVEN FRIED CHICKEN, MacNCheese, green beans  (Dad’s night)
• SATURDAY -  PIZZA NIGHT (ITS THE WEEKEND BABY!)
• SUNDAY – {big brunch} so fend for yourself nite  (MOMS NOT COOKING!)

My goal for tomorrow is get some recipes pre-posted for this week and the month of September, so make sure you keep and eye on my recipe blog. 

Do you Homeschool?

I’ve thought about it for years, but I am really afraid I won’t be able to get Sis to actually STUDY for me.  I mean, I’ve been trying to get her to clean her room for a MONTH, kwim?  I don’t know.  I really do NOT like the school system in our county, at all.   So, even though the kids go to public school, we still do tons of work here at home.  I thought I would start sharing some of Sis’s assignments and some of the practice things we do here at home with you, incase you home school and are in need of some ideas.    If you like this sort of thing, let me know and we’ll see about getting an entire section set up for LEARNING.

Sis’s words this week are actually words she had last year.  I asked her why they were teaching the same things again this year and she said that the teachers said it was a “refresher” for a few weeks to get everyone back to where they were when school ended last year.  SIs is in a lot of advanced classes, last year (third grade) she did her math with the 4th grade kids.  So in a few weeks her advanced classes should pick up again.  She said that one of her friends was already removed from her English/Reading class and demoted down to regular classes.  So, in my mind I am figuring this first few weeks of school will just be the teachers gauging who should be in advanced classes and who shouldn’t?  I don’t know.  I do know we went over these words last year, because we actually planted a bean to help see the “growing” process!

Spelling/Vocabulary Words  Week of August 23rd-27th

root - the part of a plant that takes in water and minerals.
seed – An undevelopted plant with stored food sealed in a protective covering.
stem – The part of a plant that holds the plany up and carries food, water, and other materials to and from the roots and leaves.
photosynthesis – The process in green plants and certain other organisms that uses energy from sunlight to make food from water and carbon dioxide.
spore - A cell in a seedless plant that can grow into a new plant.
pollination – The transfer of a flower’s pollen from anther to pistil.
fertilization – The joining of a female sex cell, the egg, and a male sex cell, the sperm, to produce a fertilized egg.
germination – When something begins to grow, as when a seed sprouts into a new plant.
leaf - the part of a plant that takes in carbon dioxide and sunlight to make food.
reproduction - The making of offspring.

Today’s Activity:
Since we have already had these words, we just talked about each word and its definition.  I either said the word or the definition and she had to reply with the answer.  Sis remembered them all from last year, and didn’t miss a single one.  So for tomorrow we will work on the SPELLING and I will be making some anagrams for her to unscramble.  I’ll post the worksheet for you tomorrow if you would like to have it.  Just comment below if you want it. 

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!

Before I go, I just wanted to remind you that DSV is closing in a week!  This really is your last chance to go shopping in a store that you KNOW every product has been quality checked.  KimB, Shannon, and I worked very hard to make sure each product was of the HIGHEST POSSIBLE QUALITY.  We guarantee there are no strays, jagged edges, blotchies, over compression etc.   In addition to the piece of mind you get from knowing the products are quality checked, over half our team are having a farewell sale!  Since we are closing I am having a sale on all my goods at DSV. 

I didn’t want my products to be on sale at one site and not the other so my entire store at both DSO and DSV are on sale for 50% off!  At DSV so are KimBs, Gayes, and Stacy’s!  That’s a lot of product on sale for 50% off!

I will miss the team, but luckily for me: KimB, Gaye, Caryn, and Kalo Designs all also sell with me @ DSO!  So we’ll all still be together.

Anyway. 
Thanks for reading!!!!!!!!!!

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