The Crying Chair Project

Last fall, a dear friend of mine lost her son to an accidental overdose of a prescription drug. As you can imagine, she is overwhelmed with grief daily. Long after the sympathy cards, phone calls and visits have ceased, the loneliness consumes the heart and mind.

I gifted this crying chair to my friend on her birthday. It's a quiet place where she can kneel and let her tears water the soil of her buried grief. It was a labor of love and the pictures below show the progress.

I started with a $5 chair purchased at Goodwill and stripped off the tattered caning. Assorted mosaic pieces were used to cover the caning holes. Although, time consuming, the end result was quite stunning (at least I think so).

I lightly sanded the chair before applying a base coat of spray paint. My plan was to spray paint all the different colors, but that proved to be a bad idea. There is no way to control the direction of the spray. I resorted to hand brushing and it worked well.


 

As you can see (right), the results from the spray paint idea failed miserably. It was a live and learn experience.

Elmer's All-Purpose glue was used to secure the mosaic pieces to the chair. Natural color grout was then applied according the the direction provided on the container. I purchased premixed craft grout online at Dick Blick's. A coat of Krylon Brand clear coat was sprayed over the tiles to help protect them from the elements.

Mosaic tiles pieces were purchased online from Oriental Trading. They offer many different color assortments and reasonable prices.

The crying chair and poem were attached to the finished chair and secretly left on my friend's deck porch. The time and energy put into this project was worth it.

DIY Birthday Popcorn Cones & Stand

My granddaughter wanted popcorn at her birthday party. In keeping with the Rainbow Art Party theme I created popcorn cones and stand. It was inexpensive and made eating popcorn way more fun. The cones can also be filled with assorted candies for each party guest.

Another great way to decorate the cone box is with your child's hand prints dipped in finger paint. How cute (and fun) to have colorful hand prints covering the white paper.

You will need:

• White craft paper
• Color printer
• White card stock
• Clear tape
• 6-inch wide netting, cut into 12-15" lengths
• Postal box that is sized for shoes
• Double-sided tape
• Box cutter
• Masking or painters tape
• Cone template (found here)

How To:

1. Assemble box, tape ends
2. Use box cutter to cut 6 holes. Make holes large enough to hold the cones.
3. Tape around edges of the cuts with masking or painters tape.
4. Wrap box with white Kraft paper( like you would a gift).
5. Use box cutter to make "X" cuts in each circle cut-out. Fold back the white paper in each hole and secure to inside of box with clear tape.
6. Decorate box as desired. I used grosgrain ribbon and cutout the circle shapes that appeared on the cones. See attached PDF file.
7. Print cone design on card stock paper and use the cone template to trace cone design.
8. Cut out cone shape, roll and secure with clear tape.

Don't Let 'Sameness' Validate You

 “I don’t want that one, NeeNee, it’s different.” Those were the words spoken by my seven year old granddaughter, Olivia, as I handed her a handful of fresh cherries.

“What’s wrong with it”, I asked?

“It doesn’t look like the rest of the cherries; it’s not the same color.” Without hesitation, she exchanged the cherry for one that resembled all the others. “There”, she said, “now they all look alike”.

It was an innocent, yet thought provoking, statement that triggered a red flag. Might she be swayed to take the road less traveled in life because it is wasn’t a popular choice? I wondered if she viewed sameness as a validation of acceptance within her peer group.

I tend to be OCD, so maybe I overplayed the whole cherry conversation; but one thing is certain, following the masses to “fit in” has never been an option for me. I like the idea of traveling the road less traveled. There is excitement in bushwhacking my own path in life and living with a fearless desire to see what lies ahead. Of course, blazing new trails doesn’t come without opposition or obstacles.

There are things to consider before taking the road less traveled.

1.       The road less traveled is narrow and often lonely. You won’t earn popularity votes.

2.       You will encounter plenty of people who didn’t follow their dreams, or gave up; I call them dead soldiers. Avoid their discouragement and stay focused on the road you’ve taken.

3.       Don’t expect everyone to understand your choices.

4.       Failure is not the end. Those on the popular track are waiting for some miracle to land in their lap. Guess what? Miracles don’t happen without hard work.

5.       Set your own challenges. Become the CEO of your own life and set goals different from others.

6.       Success isn’t measured by time; it’s measured by experiences and opportunities that allow you to know what works best for you.

7.       Understand that trailblazers disrupt nature; they overturn rocks, cut down trees and move dirt. If they can’t remove the obstacle they build bridges over or around it. Sheer determination cuts through barriers and obstacles.  

8.       Taking the road less traveled is for leaders; they point the way, take the risks, and have a vision for turning their dreams into reality.

9.       Know your passion and gifts. You need to know with absolute certainty that the path you’re blazing is the right one for you.

10.   Trailblazers create a path where none existed before.

 

As an online entrepreneur and manufacturer for over 15 years, I’ve learned valuable lessons from the school of hard knocks, both personally and professionally. One thing is certain; an individual deemed an odd-colored cherry, regardless of age, has two choices. They can let sameness validate them or embrace their uniqueness and take the road less traveled.  I want my granddaughter to understand she doesn’t have to be like all the other cherries in the (peer) pack; or, stifled by other people’s expectations and limiting thoughts.

When the time comes for Olivia to venture out on her own, NeeNee will be there with a shovel, ax, hammer and backhoe. She can count on me to mentor, saw trees, chop thorny bushes and build bridges as she blazes her trail in life. And may she find a bowl of odd-colored cherries at the end of her trail; a reminder she took the road less taken.

 

Soaps Donated to Local Charity

Over 50 hand-crafted soaps were donated to our local Angel Tree for holiday gift baskets. I moved to the Fenton/Linden area twenty-four years ago. I am thankful to be a part of such a wonderful community that truly cares about one another. We've rallied through our share of losses, celebrated births, graduations and marriages. We attend our local churches, are active in the school systems and you will find us in the cheering stands at high school games.

Today I pray that those in the community of Sandy Hook school district bind together during this horrible tragedy. This has forever changed and shaped the future of many residents and family members. May each and everyone be gifted super-natural strength to bear the weight of such loss. The nation grieves with you.

Handling Multi-Task Overload

On a recent trip to Chile, I snapped a photo of communication lines in the intersection of the city. I was in total awe how such a massive number of lines could operate under user demands. It didn’t take long to understand the lines didn’t operate under the load; two blocks over, traffic was at a standstill as emergency crews scrambled to repair downed lines.

Passing the downed lines, I reflected on how I push myself to multi-task even when my brain is screaming, “OVERLOAD.” Our culture pressures us to maximize every second of the day. Just handling kids, family duties and a social life can take a toll on our quality of life. When you throw in a faltering economy and pressures of running a small business it can be overwhelming. In a pursuit to compete with the big guys, small business owners tend to operate in multi-task mode. The fury to succeed often results in a brain power outage resulting in a crash and burn situation due to overload.

Most small business owners don’t have extra staff or revenue to offset production, inventory and labor costs. I speak from experience when I say the start-up costs for a small business can make you step back and say, “What was I thinking”. If you are the sole employee, it’s likely you operate in “Multi-Task” overload on a regular basis. It’s an intimidating place to be. If you aren’t connecting with local or online support to help you work through the crisis moments, you could be doomed.

So, how does one survive multi-task overload in this age of instant technology? Here are four questions I ask myself when wires cross and an overload may be hindering the success and growth of my business.

How big do you want to grow your business?
Forget the rhetoric of business textbooks; they aren’t running your company. In my first two years of business it was suggested I curtail business growth to ensure I was able to adequately service my current customers. I was appalled. What? Turn down new business. I later learned there was credence to this advice. When you begin to experience the pitfalls of trying to be everything to everybody, the point sinks in.

Bottom line, a business can only service customers based on current inventory levels and staff. If your business is growing but you aren’t ready to employ additional staff (or the monetary burden of additional inventory), that’s OK. If you have to add a day or two to order processing, then include a discount coupon or free sample in the customer’s shipment.

 How do you interact with your customers?
It’s important to determine your ability to communicate with customers. As the owner of Mold Market, I’m not always available to take calls. I rely on my personal assistant to respond to emails and oversee customer questions/concerns. My assistant’s online interaction with customers gifts me time to grow the business and focus on marketing, designing and managing the company’s future.

If you are a home-based business, generating enough revenue to employ extra help to process orders, handle returns or answer phones is generally not an option. But that doesn’t mean you can’t provide top-notch service to interact with customers. Prompt shipping and speedy emails go a long way in generating repeat business. It is confirmation you are serious about the service or product being offered. Some of my best online experiences have been with Etsy shop owners who are raising small children while operating an online business. It’s not uncommon to hear a child’s voice in the background when placing a phone order. Should a call occur during a multi-task overload (nap-times, etc), they have no problem asking, “May I call back shortly to ensure I provide you with great customer service?”

Do you know when to delegate?
If you are a type-A personality, you know you have the driving urge to control. Even if your body and mind screamed HELP, you may not recognize the benefits of delegating. I know the personality type well, because I am the poster child.

If you want to advance your business to the next level, you must expand your capability to get things done. Failing to delegate may put a lid on the growth of your company and communicates your lack of confidence in a worker’s ability to perform a task. Here’s a good example. There was a time I processed all postal shipments fearing my workers were incapable of preparing international customs forms or selecting the correct service. It’s no secret a business can’t afford returned packages due to an address error or invalid customs paperwork.

However, when upgrading our company’s payment gateway system, I was forced to relinquish postal shipments to someone else. The change caused an increase in postal shipments I could no longer keep up. It was time to delegate. To my surprise, my workers completed postal paperwork must faster than I did. It resulted in one less “multi-task wire” for me and a realization that delegation could prove to be my best friend.
Once you have trained someone to perform a task, it is important you entrust them with total responsibility for the delegated task. It’s difficult to hand over full responsibility, but workers will never set their expertise in motion if you are hovering over their shoulders.

Are you making time for family/friends?
A sure sign of operating in overload is failing to schedule time to enjoy life. If you’re not interacting with those you love, then it’s time to rethink your mode of operation. Time to shut down the computer, cell phone and walk away from work. It’s amazing how a few hours of interacting with friends and family can help clear your mind. You may also be surprised how dismissing work for even a few hours can make a big difference in the quality of work you do.

Unlike electronic devices, our brain needs downtime. Operating in overload inhibits creativity, organizational skills, and most importantly, our ability to have fun. At what cost are you navigating the perils of multi-tasking? According to a recent Forbes magazine post, the cost may be more than you think. It’s an interesting read: http://www.forbes.com/sites/douglasmerrill/2012/08/17/why-multitasking-doesnt-work/.

Gadget driven connectivity is undermining our ability for in-depth interactions with customers, family and friends. We have entered a faceless means of communication that just skims the surface of any real in-depth relationships. Succeeding in any online business is critical to our ability to balance the never-ending influx of data technology while continuing to nurture our interaction with people offline.
_____________________

Multi-tasking can fail us. At some point, overloaded and crossed wires can crash and burn. Internet technology allows great opportunity for small businesses, but it is a 24/7 operation (with plenty of competition). One vital secret to success is recognizing when you are in multi-task overload and responding to the brain’s cry for “HELP”.

Spin for Success

The grand kids arrived for their usual Wednesday night stay. The threesome bounded through the door and immediately spotted a spinning prize wheel on the counter. In a matter of seconds, the clicking wheel was in motion.

The wheel was a display piece my husband discovered in a storage closet at work. He was certain I would find a use for it. Come on, I have grand kids, of course I would find a use. I traced the original inserts and created colorful, age-appropriate inserts.



I watched intently as the grand kids took turns at the wheel. Would their spin yield wins, loses, opportunities or frustrations? Would my "I've got an Idea" draw cards inspire them? My intent was to create a fun game. But, I also wanted each turn of the wheel to mirror life-learning lessons. As adults (and business owners), we sometimes need to take a spin at the wheel and reflect on the following.

“Lose a Prize” Spin

Life isn't always fair and expectations can be dashed. Don’t have a pity party over disappointment, perceived unfairness, or failed promises. Accept it as a time-out moment. Not everyone plays by the rules.

“Move Backwards” Spin

Things don't always go as planned. You can prepare and plan but sometimes you're just meant to learn a lesson.

“Opposite Direction” Spin

Aim in the right direction, knowing chance can sometimes determine the outcome. Have a mindset that turns "opposite direction" challenges into opportunities.

“I Have an Idea” Spin

When inspired with an "I have an idea (light bulb moment)", weigh both the good and bad. If it seems feasible, believe in yourself, embrace the idea and run with it.

“Lose a Turn” Spin

A “Lose a turn” moment in life does not reflect failure. It’s only a momentary delay in reaching your goals. Refocus and move on.

“Zap Me” Spin

People, circumstances and events can zap energy. When facing complicated situations, remain proactive and determine how much energy you are willing to forfeit toward a resolution. Accept that some situations may never be resolved. You may not always win or liked.

“Circle” Spin

Call it Karma, but what goes round comes round. A specific action leads to a specific result. Decisions and choices you make today comes back to you.

“Square” Spin

Life is about balance. Each side of a square represents self, family, business, community. Do you need to rebalance these areas? Have awareness of what's right for you and stop doing anything that's not moving you toward that goal.

  

It’s no surprise that operating a successful business involves planning, testing, marketing and having a vision. Your wheels may be spinning, but don’t confuse movement with progress. If there are no signs of progress, it's time to reassess goals.

After 35 years in the business, I have learned a successful life, family or business is not built on wild card spins. If things aren't working as planned redirect your momentum and energy to produce positive results. Learn to adapt your plans to new circumstances and opportunities. Anyone can spin the wheel, but not everyone sees opportunity behind each spin.

My Reflections on 2011

Perhaps it's my age or the hectic pace of running a business but this year passed in record time. As snow is falling outside my office window, I'm reminded of the four season cycle. In Michigan, we experience all four seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. This week marked the end to the longest day of the year. Days will begin to be longer and nights shorter. More daylight and sunshine is welcomed in the Midwest. As I celebrate this change in Winter Solstice, I reflect on how the 2011 seasons applied to my life.


Spring was a reflection on growth and a renewal of hope, a reminder that planted roots can grow and mature to accomplish set goals. The yield received is based on how well the soil is cultivated for growth.

Summer was a time to face challenge. Whatever did not grow in the Spring was assessed and changed to promote future growth. Some of my ideas did not survive. That's OK, because Fall was a time of reflection. I consider it the "Golden Season". It's a time when ideas are ready to harvest and I reflect on whether business or personal goals were achieved.

And then along comes Winter. For me, it's a time of death. A time to let go of those things that did not work, resurrect ideas and reinvent a new business plan.

As 2012 approaches, I am re-evaluating both business and personal goals. I hope you do the same. It's impossible to grow if not reflecting on where you are and where you want to be. Life is full of change. But change often brings growth.

My New Year wish for those reading this post: Be true to yourself; don't compare yourself to others in the business.

As you work to grow your business and see others succeed in the upcoming year (while you are not)... HANG IN THERE! Understand the dynamics of the Cycle of the Seasons. It takes time to develop a business. Heck, it takes time to evolve into the person we hope to become. It's about pointing yourself in the right direction, surrounding yourself with good mentors and focusing your sights on desired goals. It may not be easy, but success is never easy. It's a work in progress.

I hope 2012 brings that "Ah-Ha" moment to you. The moment when you say, "Yes, all that hard work paid off".

The Shoes

What more can I say? THE SHOES. These size 8 toddler shoes were left in my laundry room this weekend because they no longer fit my youngest grandson. We took a trip to the local apple orchard to ride ponies and do all things related to an orchard, but he couldn't wear these shoes. They were too small.

My little guy had to run around the orchard in socks because his Mommy had let him pick out his own outfit that morning. Which not only included the wrong size shoe but pants that had to be folded up three times.

So why am I posting about these shoes? Because they signify change. We grow, move forward, and hopefully experience bigger things (in the case of my little guy, bigger shoes). That's life in a nutshell. That's business in a nutshell (or in this case, a shoe). We continually outgrow where we are and need to adapt to change. It's not always easy to make that change and we sometimes try and squeeze our foot into shoes that no longer fit. No doubt, I'm guilty. It's easy to walk in a place of comfort. No new calluses, no breaking in the leather shoes. We want to insert our feet with little effort into a familiar environment (shoe).

Recently, I have been stepping into new shoes and starting new projects. One of those projects is about weight loss. My BlimpyGirl.com blog site was launched earlier this month and will continue to be an ongoing project for me. Yes, it does take away from some of my soaping stuff... but, you know what? I need that. I am rapidly approaching retirement age and I am looking for projects, adventures, and avenues that will enhance those retirement years. I love soap making, but I love plenty of other things as well.

My new shoes are walking in unexplored territory. I will continue to move forward in the soaping industry, but with brand new shoes and blazing a new trail. As for the shoes pictured above, I will be washing them, spraying them with one of my handmade home fragrance sprays and stuffing them with new socks, photo memorabilia and other trinkets and gifting to my daughter for Christmas. In fact, I think I will do this with all the grand kids shoes for the next 5 or 6 years. It's a great reminder of how we outgrow things but in that process move on to bigger and better things.

Baby Jesus Arrives!

Baby Jesus Arrives!! This morning I showed my grand daughter, Miss O, the Baby Jesus doll for the manger I will be displaying outside my front door this year. I kid you not, she cradled him, cuddled him, and asked me if we could put the manger (which her Daddy is making) in front of the sofa so everyone could see him. When I mentioned the manager would be outside, she was aghast... "How can you leave Baby Jesus out in the cold?"

Yes, I realize that many of you may be of different faiths and beliefs, but it doesn't change the fact that I believe in Jesus AND this is my blog.... so yadda, yadda, I get to post about things that suit my fancy just like you can do on your blog.

Miss O and her Mommy.

After viewing the video from Becky Kelley called "Where's the Line to Jesus", I was touched to make a new family tradition to help my grand kids remember the true meaning of Christmas within our family. This year we will have Baby Jesus outside the front door of our home. He will be in a manager (built by my son-in-law) along with a sign that reads, "Here's the line to see Jesus".

The grand kids, as well as adult family members, will be leaving a "Gift for Jesus" at the base of the manger. It will contain a box of affirmations. Affirmations and commitments for what we can do to show love to others. Examples would be helping a needy family, working at a soup kitchen for a weekend, donating food/clothes, raking leaves for an elderly person.... the list goes on. But, these are all ways we can help to make our world a better place.

If You Do Nothing Else Today, Watch This

As we approach the holiday season, let us not forget our troops. If you know of someone serving, I plead with you to do something extra special for that person, or their family. It could be as simple as sending a Christmas card overseas, or giving monetarily or of your time to the family of our service men and women. Never forget that the freedoms you now enjoy are at a cost. A very precious cost... the lifes of sons, daughters, dads, moms... the lifes of our fighting soldiers.

Feeling Unsuccessful? Watch This Video

Thank you Donna Maria from the Indie Beauty Network for sharing this video with the soaping community. I am passing it along so that my customers can see and BELIEVE that we are all more successful that we realize. We are a very blessed Nation and each of us need to grab ahold of that truth and appreciate the many blessings we so often take for granted. My prayer for you today:

May the LORD bless you and keep you;
may the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
and may the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’

Pay It Forward: Working With Your Community

On Wednesday evening my local Bunco group hosted a fundraiser for our community Angel Tree. The money helps needy families within our community to have a Christmas. With Michigan's poor economy and major job losses within the automotive industry, families are losing homes and barely able to feed or clothe their families much less purchase gifts for beneath the tree.

These are not individuals who are lazy, don't want to work, or are trying to "milk" the systems. The needy in our community have held affluent, well paying jobs, perhaps farmed the soil, worked at automotive assembly plants, or at small businesses within our community. Bottom line: They have lost their jobs and many are facing foreclosure. For the first time in their hard-working life, they are feeling hopeless.

For those of us still fortunate to be employed there is an obligation owed to those that have happened upon hard times. It's a time to rally and pull together as a community to help those in need. As Christmas approaches, there is no greater time to do just that. It's a time to pay it forward. A time to share with others the blessings that we have to offer.

I hope that each of you take a moment to consider how you might help someone within your community who is suffering hardship. Something as simple as a gift card for gas, prepaying a child's school lunches, purchasing an extra gift to donate to your community "Angel Tree", or even a donating time to a shelter. Pay it forward. It's a principle of life and it works every time. "You reap what you sow." My Dad was a pastor and taught me that principle early in life. "Give and it shall be given back to you." I've never been disappointed.

Beyond Soap Making: Know Your Limits

Yes, that is me perched atop a tire swing at a local playground. So what would a slightly overweight, middle-aged women be doing on a tire swing? Good question! It was all about not knowing my limits. It was my two-year grandson, Fischer, that put the pressure on. I love him, but as a two-year old he has no concept of his NeeNee's age and lack of flexibility. All he wanted to do was spin NeeNee around in the tire just like he had done. In a moment of weakness, I took leave of my senses and accepted the challenge. I am not joking when I say this... it took me nearly 5 minutes just to get on the dang thing. My feet and legs were dangling in all the wrong places. As my husband said, "You looked like a fish out of water." It took another 10 minutes to figure out how to get off of the tire. It wasn't a pretty sight and sadly there are photos to prove it (which I shall not post!) At one point, I actually stood in the center of the tire and asked my husband and son-in-law to lift the tire over my head to release me from the tire monster. I failed to realize that the tire weighed nearly 50-lbs and and coupled with its awkwardness my request was denied.

I share this with you because it was a reminder of how we need to know our limits. We don't need to prove anything to anyone. In running a business, it is critical to know what we can and cannot do. What comes easy to others, may not come easy to us. Know your strengths and weaknesses. You don't have to accept every challenge. I promise that when you focus on your strengths, any weaknesses will become shadows. You should always take time to look at your shadow side. If you don't, you may plunge head first (or feet first in the case of my tire swing episode) into a situation or business decision that only sets you up for failure.

Hope you have a happy Sunday. I'm off to a Halloween event with the grand kids this afternoon which involves no playground equipment :=). But first, I will be heading to church for some spiritual inspiration. I believe the sermon this week is titled, "Though shalt not ride on tire swings".

When Life (and Business) is Less Than Perfect.... Make Applesauce

Wouldn't it be grand if life was perfect? Fat chance! So what does one do when plans don't turn out as expected, when a business fails, or life just happens? You make applesauce! And that's exactly what I did.

I returned from a Chicago trip this past week. Besides spending an exorbitant amount of money on an unexpected business dinner, I soon discovered that I had lost my return train tickets. Let's just say things were less than perfect and certainly did not turn out as planned. So what does applesauce have to do with all this? If you have ever visited an apple orchard you will find huge bins that contain less than perfect apples. They are generally bruised and considered the harvest seconds. For whatever reasons or circumstances, they are less than perfect. Business and life can be the same. You can plan to your heart's content, do everything within your power to reap benefits from your investments, and even hire the best consultants to ensure you are on track. However, there are times when life just happens and all our tireless efforts fail. We all have those bruised apple moments. So what do you do?

You make applesauce out of those life moments. You drop all those "ugly, bruised, can't do this any more, why did I ever think this would work, what was I thinking, why me" moments into a big pot and steam them until they are mush. It's really quite amazing how you come out with something entirely new. It is what I call life's applesauce. It's mixing a variety of different life events, circumstances and moments that have gone bad and incorporating them into life's mixing pot. You then put them all through a sieve, discarding the ugly stuff, so you can produce something even better.

My grand kids sure enjoyed this week's "applesauce moment". When you think that all is hopeless, when you're not sure how to turn a bad experience into something good, when you question why bad things happen to good people, or get frustrated with the bruised apples that fall at the base of your tree of life...remember, make applesauce!

An Evolution of Self: Live Your Dreams

This weekend I had “An Evolution of Self” moment. It’s one of those “ah-ha” moments when you step back and

1) Assess how you got to where you are today

2) Decide if you are happy with where you are

3) Make choices about future paths

Ever have one of those moments? It can be both enlightening and frightening, especially if you’re taking stock of how you have evolved in your business path or career field. I actually made a list of how I got to where I am today and realized what an amazing journey it has been. There have been highs and there have been some really, really bad lows. But, through it all, it’s been a ride that has taught me that anything is possible if you set your heart to follow your dreams.

Many years ago, I was a single mom wanting to earn an income for my family. Like many other single moms, I worked full time but tried to supplement my earning with additional work. I had always been the crafty type and decided that I would start a mail-order catalog business. Keep in mind this was way before computers, the Internet, and all the other electronic devices we have today. This was back in those “ancient” days when you advertised your catalogs in the back pages of Women’s Day or Good House Keeping magazines. I can remember cutting and pasting pictures and text from a typewriter (yep, a typewriter!) and then assembling each catalog by hand.

My catalog sold doll making supplies since it was during the rage of the Cabbage Patch dolls. Everyone wanted to make doll clothes or purchase supplies to make soft-sculptured dolls. I designed my own patterns for sculpting fabric dolls. My version was called the “Magic Magpins”. I made hundreds of these dolls and sold them at craft shows and through my catalog. I even wrote a story about the dolls and their magical powers and included the story with each doll sale. It was soooo much work. But, when I look back on it, it was fun! I loved what I was doing so it never seemed like work.

Let’s see…. from the mail order days, I went to gift baskets. From there it evolved into making my own bath products for the gift baskets. Then, there was a period where I made all-natural herbal products that included Lavender Dryer Bags which I sold to a “green” company; private label products... wedding favors… pre-made decorative loaf soaps… and the list goes on. While I was exploring all of these creative avenues, I continued to work full time at a major health care facility.

In the end, I finally left the health care field and ventured off into the soaping world. I’ve never looked back. It became a passion. Today, as the owner of GoPlanetEarth and a major soap mold manufacturing company, I am happy with my choices. In the early days, I never dreamed that the Internet could afford someone the opportunity to run a successful online company, nor did I dream that I would one day make my living in the soaping business. As for the future? One never knows. Success is about following your dreams, seeking out opportunities, and knowing that when one door closes another door will open.

I hope that you follow your dreams. Life is full of twists and turns. Trying to determine your path can be hard, but, if you follow your heart you may be surprised where you find yourself. The hard work and sacrifices you make can pay-off. If you are new to this soaping business and feeling frustrated and wondering if it’s worth the headaches, then think again. You won’t know until you try. If you need help or encouragement, just email. I’ll be happy to offer uplifting words to help you live your dreams!

Soap Making: Thinking Outside the [Mold] Box

GoPlanetEarth stocks hundreds of molds. But there are times when you need to think outside the "mold" box and experiment with soaps that aren't formed within a plastic or silicone molded cavity. That's what we've been doing this week. Some of those ideas have been good, some not. There is always the excitement of experimenting with new ideas but when some fail, it's disheartening and you're back to the drawing board.

The above soap was birthed while reading a ghost storybook to my grand kids. Hmmm... how easy would it be to make a ghost template? Then, use that template on a sheet of poured soap? There would be plenty of fine tuning, but once the idea was conceptualized I was able to reassess better ways to accomplish this soaping goal.

Isn't this just like running or starting a new business? We have all these grand ideas of how we want the business plan to play out. We want to create the biggest and best company ever and, if like me, you have had many sleepless nights visualizing and planning how to accomplish those goals. In the course of implementing our ideas and visions, we find that some ideas work, other's do not. So what do you do? Give up? Certainly not! You pick yourself up by the shoulders, dust off the disappointment and head in a new direction. It is part of the learning curve. If at first you don't succeed, then map out a new course.

I am going to keep working on that darn ghost soap until I get it right. And, when I do, I will be sure to share it with you. In the meantime, I am back to the drawing board. Just like you, I have my fair share of "screw-ups" and failures. But what separates the best from the rest is ones willingness to move forward even when things don't go as planned. Gee... doesn't that sound like life? If everything went as planned, how could we truly enjoy those sweet moments of success?

Sunday: A Time of Worship & Reflection

I always look forward to my Sunday mornings. It's my personal time to regroup from a hectic work week and enjoy time with family. It's also a day of worship and self-reflection. Each of us refeul differently and attending my local church is the best refueling station for me. It feeds my spiritual side, encourages, inspires, and allows me to focus on life's greater picture. It's a day to look back on the successes and shortcomings of the past week. For me, self reflection empowers me and allows me to gain a sense of responsibility about my own life. It shapes my behavior. So clearly making time to evaluate who we are and where we are going is the path to take to move us forward.



This morning I refelected on how an event can forever change our life. This hit home yesterday as I was packing a very large order requiring special attention. As I pulled a sheet of packing paper from the roll dispenser, one end of the dispensing stand dislodged and the entire stand, including 20# of paper, went gliding off the counter. As my hands reached to catch it, the paper cutting blade sliced one of my fingers and a bloodbath ensued. The initial pain was excruciating and I wasn't able to determine the degree of the injury due to the bleeding.

The Paper Dispenser

Once I got the bleeding under control and had a look-see, I breathed a sigh of relief. The cut was deep, but if I could keep the wound closed, stitches may not be necessary. I was reminded how life can change in a split second. A serious injury, a terminal health diagnosis, the death of a loved one, a lost job, a failed business, or even something as joyful as winning the lottery can change our life forever. What if I had lost my finger by the paper cutting blade? Certainly that would have change my life and how I work.

The Cutting Blade

I can prepare, plan, forecast and make wise choices but still be caught off guard when that "one little event" changes everything. When it comes right down to it, I have very little control over much of what happens in my life. I can't control the outcome of certain events or those unforeseen events that will happen (like the dispensing roll slicing my finger). Bottom line: I can't control everything. As the Scripture says, "Be anxious for nothing". This Sunday's self-reflection brought this to the forefront. This week, I will try to be anxious for nothing. I hope you can, too.

PostScript: If you see a bandaged finger in one of my tutorial videos, you will know why.

Yea, Though I Pass Through the Automatic Car Wash....

We've all read or heard the 23rd Psalms at one time in our life. My favorite part of the scripture reads.... "Yea, though I pass through the valley of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me." This suggests to me that there is a higher power hiding in the shadows to rescue me. A power that will lead, guide and direct me in the path I should be going if I stay on track. I will make it through the storm, the valley, or troubles I'm currently facing.

While my car eased through an automatic car wash the other day, I was reminded of this scripture passage and something clicked. Yes, I know it was an odd place to have an epiphany, but what can I say; I tend to have those weird moments. Anyway, sealed inside my car in this water coccoon with brushless "thingies" beating against my car I realized this:

A car wash is much like our valleys. We often find ourselves in the middle of a storm with waters (and thingies) beating against us and unable to see what's ahead (those would be the valleys). It can be frightening as the waters come crashing in. We tend to see ourselves as a victim as the force of the stormy waters propel us forward much like the conveyor belt of a car wash and it brings fear. Yet, suddenly, the waters cease. Just like a car wash, we find ourselves out of the thunderous beating waters. The storm stops. We are no longer on that car wash conveyor belt to no where. Instead we are thurst out into the the sunlight. We are cleaned, polished and blow dryed and ready to shine in more ways than we ever dreamed.

I am a firm believer that those "yea thou I walk through the valley (car wash) moments" can often bring the greatest times of growth. When we get past the crashing waters, the valley of "thingies" and the conveyor belt that seems to have a mind of its own... we might actually find we come out on top.

May you always come out on top in your next "car wash" life experience.

Operation Christmas Shoe Boxes Ship Today

Today, we started shipping Operation Christmas Shoe Boxes to Samaritan's Purse. There are no words to thank the many customers who generously donated $$'s for this worthwhile Christmas project. Each shoe box is filled with toiletry items, small toys, school supplies and other personal items and shipped to needy children around the globe.

We will continue to collect donations via our shopping cart until December 15. Any additional monies received will be sent in the form of a monetary donation to help under-privileged countries purchase basic medical supplies.

Missy, one of our long-time employees wore her "Pay it Forward" bracelet today as she packed the boxes. My staff jumped in 100% to support this project and are excited to track the boxes to find out their final destination.

Why I Love my Job

Today I recieved a letter from a customer that touched my heart. A soulful reminder that this company is commited to offering inspiration and the sharing of new ideas. In doing so, it is my hope you find all things are possible if you only believe in yourself.

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Hello Ms. D!

I just wanted to let you know the bath bomb molds arrived on Saturday – and I couldn’t wait to “play”! I located your recipe for the bombs on your site, cleared off the kitchen counter, sanitized my work area and away I went! This is the first time I made these things and let me tell you, I felt like a kid again playing in the sandbox. Laughing and giggling as I filled the molds where thousands of fragrances combinations were running through my head. I wonder if this is called “the bomb rush”? J What a fun and easy way to be and get creative.

Being in my early 50’s, I can’t tell you how your inspirational articles have touched my heart…especially the one about “Reinventing Yourself”. I read that article several times finding the tears rolling down my face and a lump in throat. It was if you were talking to and about ME! I’ve never been “creative”, but always challenging myself to try. Now, between your website content, your beautifully written articles and a heart FULL of wanting to establish a business..Here I go!

Thank you so kindly for somehow reaching inside of me and showing me “I can do it too!”

Blessings!