Jennifer Arrow's Blog

Friendly Tips for Successful Book Selling Online

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 03:30:00 +0000

Friendly Tips for Successful Book Selling Online: Wrote these up for a discussion forum and thought would post here as well.

* I only sell through Amazon. It was too much work juggling multiple outlets and Amazon has by far the highest sales speed/rate.

* I only sell if the lowest "used book" price is $10 or more. Pick your own floor but even at $5 you are barely going to make a cent.

* Check the Amazon sales rank on a book. (Once you are a registered seller you can see this when you click on the "Sell On Amazon" button.) A sales rank of 10,000 or less will sell very fast, a sales rank of 1,000,000 may not sell for years, if ever.

* I buy postage and print shipping labels through Amazon because after shipping many books using my own postage and meticulously calculating weight and various stamp denomination combinations and procuring said stamps, I decided my time was worth the few cents they take off the top.

* I highly recommend investing in a good food scale for weighing packages. (Postal scales tend to be lower quality and you have to replace the dials when the postage prices change.) The difference between a 12 oz book and a 15 oz book will cost you money.

* If you choose to do your own postage, print out the current media mail rates and keep them near your shipping supplies.

* I almost always ship in recycled envelopes or cut up brown paper bags. Buying envelopes cut into profit margins; buying shipping tape also cuts into profit margins.

* Keep all your sale books in one place. Do not tell yourself "Oh, I'll list it but I want to keep it on this shelf instead of in my for-sale pile."

* Keep your shipping supplies all in one place.

* There is an Amazon Seller app, but I find it tricky because it often suggests a high profit margin but later research will reveal it's a $0.01 book in another format or edition.

* If you start buying books specifically to sell, also create an Excel spreadsheet documenting true costs at all stages. There is virtually no margin in book selling so you have to see clearly what brings in what income and what costs you are really incurring.

FLORIDA: Jackson Jason Jennifer & Sylvia Go to the Everglades

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 21:05:00 +0000

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK: S and Baby J work on their Junior Ranger book.

Almost certain you aren't supposed to ride the Florida panther statue, but I didn't have the heart to stop him.

We were at the Anhinga Trail for 30 seconds before we met our first Florida alligator.

Everglades scenery: the sea of grass

Big gator, a foot or so off the trail.

BISCAYNE BAY NATIONAL PARK: Most of the park is underwater so we took our time enjoying the visitors center.

Junior Ranger!

Even more junior Junior Ranger!

We were honored that the park ranger let the boys help raise the American flag over the park after the rain cleared for the morning.

In Homestead, Fla., we visited the grave of Elizabeth Weston Godwin Plummer, Jackson & Jason's great-great-great-great aunt.

If you are ever visiting Florida, the Fruit & Spice Park is a terrific destination for kids. Highly recommended.

The boys try out star fruit for the first time.

The park shares a taste of the many exotic fruits that grow there. You can also pick up and eat anything you find on the ground.

A multitude of bananas and plantains from around the world.

Jackson uses his coconut.

Jackson meets his first jackfruit.

I was there too! Jackson took this photo of me.

Apparently my great-aunt and uncle used to docent at Corkscrew Swamp. A wonderful walk if you're ever in the area.

Jackson on the Corkscrew Swamp boardwalk.

Airplant in flower.

Corkscrew Swamp scenery.

Corkscrew swamp gator.

This is a bittern pulling a snake (black racer? garter?) off a reed and eating it for dinner.

Kids and grandma on the boardwalk.

We were watching a raccoon eat leftovers that had fallen below a birdfeeder.

Jackson checks out a model of a manatee skeleton.

There were 150+ manatees in the water the day of our visit to Lee County Manatee Park. The park canals are adjacent to a power plant outflow drain, and the manatees like the warm water in the winter when the Gulf of Mexico is cold.

Those lumps in the water? Manatee sexy beasts.

Jackson clowns around at BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PARK.

Picnic after another visitor center and boardwalk.

Jackson took this photo of the Big Cypress sky.

Junior Rangers at their last swearing-in ceremony of the trip.

LAPD Pacific Division Open House (and Pancake Breakfast)

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 03:31:00 +0000

Station tour including the kit room where the officers are issued their gear.

Memorial wall

Roll call.

Jackson's favorite part was seeing the guy in the drunk tank, but if they run out of spaces in the division jail they can always handcuff ya to the bench.

This was a great event and we will definitely attend similar in the future.

Las Days of Summer in Vegas

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 17:25:00 +0000

Stuffed animal party at the Big House.

Grandma's rotating waffle maker is amazing.

All aboard the baby triceratops, at Clark County Discovery Children's Museum.

Dinosaur cave is a perfect fit.

Slide!

We made it all the way to the scenic lookout at the top!

Life-size Lite Brite wall!

The artist at work, exploring the work of Roy Lichtenstein.

The wonderful water room comes with kid-size mouse-eared raincoats.

The ball goes up, up, up!

Jackson and Grandpa.

Showing off at the little Bellagio fountain.

Come for the Picasso exhibit in the gallery, stay for the Dale Chihuly glass.

The solarium at the Bellagio has an ever-changing Rose Parade-style exhibit of living art.

And...exhausted. Asleep in the Little House in front of an episode of Adventures of Superman.

Thanks, Vegas! See you next time!

Solstice Canyon, Malibu

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 06:36:00 +0000

AA stayed with the boys at the picnic area at the bottom of the hill. While they were there apparently a friendly family showed J1 how to find salamanders in the creek.

Meanwhile, I hiked.

It was the perfect respite from everyday life, and I am so grateful that we have so many wonderful refuges like Solstice Canyon just a short drive from the center of Los Angeles. Rising Sun trail was hot and uphill, but that meant that the arrival at the waterfall was all the sweeter, and then the way back was absolute cake.

Not pictured: A feral flock of gorgeous, screeching black-hooded parakeets. They made for a special treat on my way out of the park.

Photos:

Rising Sun trail, Solstice Canyon park, Malibu - view to Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island

Catkin with honeybee

Spread of oak tree branches

Wildfire burn scar on tree root

Western fence lizard

Nature has a great stylist. Love this mottled green-and-white weed--it feels like a fabric print well-suited for a summer frock.

Waterfall.

Mustardweed seedlings on red soil.

Field-Trip Sunday: Jet Propulsion Laboratory Open House

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 05:19:00 +0000

Superman waiting in line for the solar system exploration movie.

Showing off their NASA stickers.

In front of the awesome comet fountain.

Parents in front of Saturn.

Family Karaoke Night

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 23:44:00 +0000

"November Rain"

Southwest Trip: Arizona, New Mexico | Carlsbad Caverns, Albuquerque, White Sands, Flagstaff and other stuff

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 06:03:00 +0000

Elk greeted us outside Flagstaff, Arizona after we drove through the night on old Route 66.

Jason and Jackson playing at the Lowell Observatory Scientific Preserve.

Jackson views the sun through a special telescope.

Jackson had his own hotel keycard and unlocking the door was his number-one favorite activity in ABQ.

J&J check out the hotel atrium.

The Rattlesnake Museum was a great kid-friendly stop in Old Town Albuquerque.

Selfie at Farm & Table restaurant in ABQ.

You probably saw this on Instagram or Facebook already, but this is me and my mom at Antiques Roadshow, which was our motivation for going on this trip in the first place. Our tickets were free, our junk was mostly worthless, and we had a great time!

This is so my favorite photo of the trip. These are the "famous" painted burros of Carrizozo, N.M. This one is outside the visitors' center on the edge of the town. Jackson is screaming "TOO HOT!!" It just cracks me up, and it's beautiful, and it's real.

My mom and posed in front of the world's largest pistachio, as you do.

Driving through the southwest for days on end looks like this.

The White Sands National Monument Visitor Center had some nice wildlife, just attached to the building: cliff swallows, a little bat (see above) and some huge moths.

Sand-sledding at White Sands was scary and fun.

White Sands sledding.

More White Sands sledding.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park was our big destination after White Sands. Perfect for little guys. Very contained, educational, straightforward, not too dangerous etc. Worth the drive.

Andrew watched Jason while my mom, Jackson and I did the walk around the "Big Room." Jackson wanted to get the Bottomless Pit, which he totally achieved!

Batman in a cave full of bats!

Jason in the Visitors Center cafe.

Jackson earned a Junior Ranger badge with help from his grandma. I totally and completely cried at his swearing-in ceremony. We will do the Junior Ranger program at NPS attractions in the future. So great!

Ocotillo.

Bat Flight Amphitheater by day. At sundown there was a lightning-and-thunderstorm evacuation that kept us from watching the bat flight from this spot, but we saw plenty by walking backwards up from the amphitheater to the parking lot so we could flee to safety.

Arrow Boys Visit Disneyland for the First Time

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 05:42:00 +0000

This was the first time that Jackson, Jason and Andrew ever went to Disneyland:

Recent Adventures

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 04:48:00 +0000

Mothers' Beach at Marina Del Rey is the most polluted beach around, but it also has a playground and no waves to speak of. We had great fun.

Park with friends.

Art show and other year-end festivities at Jackson's school. He's now out for the summer.

Jason joined me at the tire store. (I broke a tire.)

Birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese was fun for all ages.

We got two chickens, Golden-Laced Wyandotte hens, to be specific.

Jackson and Aurora (or was it Michelle?) went up a hill at Sofia G.'s wonderful art party at Kenneth Hahn.

Jason zonked out at the market.

Chickens live mostly in a cage under the sycamore. They eat kitchen scraps and scratch, and we let them out to "free-range" around dinner time.

Grandma Sylvia hosted a backyard party for Memorial Day.

Chickens.

Dark glasses.

Bunnehs! I took Jason to the Polleria for chicken supplies and he was pretty happy to meet some baby rabbits.

More to come. Watch this space.

Backyard Habitat: Southern Alligator Lizard

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 20:16:00 +0000

While clearing out our bramble berries in anticipation of some upcoming construction, I came across our resident southern alligator lizard, and I even found some of his recently shed skin.

"It's a Square Tornado"

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Sun, 18 May 2014 22:10:00 +0000

Jackson Arrow, age 4, tempera on canvas at Sofia G.'s birthday

Mother's Day Show at Preschool

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Sun, 11 May 2014 22:00:00 +0000

Jackson's teacher Ms. Vargo painted this whole array of African animals as part of a unit study of the continent, leading up to the "Yion King"-themed show above. I love this school and I love Ms. Vargo!

Field-Trip Sunday: Los Angeles County Arboretum

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Mon, 05 May 2014 02:45:00 +0000

This was "Springtopia" weekend at the Arboretum and they had children's activities like this peacock-feather rubbing. We also learned the names of the various types of feathers like "eye feather" and "T feather."

The ponds at the Arboretum are full of huge carp, turtles and more.

Also, good ol' fashioned ducks.

I wouldn't let Jackson go all the way up these stairs (around the waterfall) without me, but next time we go with a second adult.

Non-honeybee (wasp?) pollinator on white yarrow.

Lizard living in the yarrow bush.

Yellow.

Jason takes in the waterfall.

Honeybee pollinating California horse-chestnut.

Jackson climbing the underplanted herb spiral.

Goldfinches snacking on the lavender.

Hollyhock pollination.

Honeybee pollination on little orange flowers.

The landmark Queen Anne Cottage; hard to see but there is a Canada goose and gosling on the lawn in front.

This male peacock put on a display for us, but Jackson was more interested in the bunny in the background.

Bun-bun.

Monarch butterfly caterpillar on milkweed.

Long shadows and Canada geese on the lawn in front of the cottage.

Showoff.

An Album of Jasons

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Sat, 03 May 2014 05:21:00 +0000

At home with mama.

At Nancy's baby shower.

At Culver City Hall.

At the DMV.

Easter Egging

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 03:58:00 +0000

Forgot I had these pictures on my camera! Thanks so much to my mom for putting together such a beautiful Easter-egg-dying spread for Jackson and Jason.

Traditional hot cross buns!

Teddy bear sunflowers.

Jason looks so grown up here!

Final product!

Park Day: Spring Break Afternoon at Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 04:01:00 +0000

Chasing ducks at the upper pond.

Path beside the stream between the upper and lower ponds.

As per above, Jason was amazed by the babbling brook and signed water repeatedly in amazement.

Turtle. Boy with stick.

Portrait by the rushes.

Yellow irises in bloom by the water.

View of the pump jacks at Baldwin Hills oil field, as seen through the treeline.

Freelance Field Trip: Minion Mayhem at Universal Studios

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 04:22:00 +0000

At the last minute, I was asked to cover the opening of the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride at Universal Studios, so since we love that movie, I packed up the kids and we headed to the Valley. A good time was had by all. Here is Jackson winning a Minion doll of his very own.

Baby with Egg Cup and Egg

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 16:33:00 +0000

Greetings from Jason and all of us. Here are shots of Jason playing with his Etsy-sourced, handmade wooden, Montessori-inspired wooden egg and egg cup. Heh.

Also, he's amazed by his own buttons. He wears collared shirts so rarely that he finds them an amazing and special phenomenon.

Happy Easter and Passover to all!

Field-Trip Sunday: Kidspace Museum in Pasadena

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 04:09:00 +0000

Loved this place! Pretend City, Natural History Museum and now this place are three reliable locations where you can easily and safely spend a whole day doing kid-appropriate and entertaining stuff. Yay for big-city options!

Gaze Upon the Rare and Precious Wildflower Seed Packet Success!

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 18:29:00 +0000

In my day, I have spent untold fortunes on packets of "California native wildflower seeds!" that vanished into the ether. Too wet? Wrong sun-shade balance? Pigeons ate the seed? Who can say, but for whatever reason, this year the seeds germinated and we have a nice little colony in one corner of the yard. The honeybees are cracking out, and it makes me smile.

Scarlet flax

Wish I knew this little guy's name.

Butterflies and skippers seem to appreciate this tall one.

This is self-seeded borage (not part of the seed packet), and the bees ADORE it.

Purim Festival at Gan West Preschool

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 19:25:00 +0000

Little Tiger

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:52:00 +0000

Little Tiger (Jackson in the gift shop at Pretend City in Irvine).

Photographs of Very Early Spring in the Backyard

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 16:42:00 +0000

This monarch butterfly stopped for the night on our olive tree. It'll take off once the sunlight warms it up.

Apple blossoms. Our small Anna and our Golden Dorset are already taking off, the big Anna and the Pettingill seem to blossom much later for whatever reason.

New growth on our wonderful California sycamore. I love this tree so much. Someday soon it will cost me zillions in pruning fees, but for now it's flawless.

Our first year with this greengage plum looks to be fruitful!

This volunteer curcurbit showed up too early for pollination and real growth in the heat so it'll be turn out eventually, but for now it's having fun.

Borage, I love you so.

Sunday breakfast looked pretty too. Happy spring ya'll!

Cousins Meetup in Mission Viejo

noreply@blogger.com (jengod) — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 05:10:00 +0000

The guys head off for a kayak tour around Lake Mission Viejo.

The lake had just been stocked with sizable trout. (Objects in picture are larger than they appear.)

From the night before, J and K enjoyed "first seating" at Chef A. Arrow's exclusive restaurant, where they partook of barbecued pork loin, pasta al dente and sauteed vegetables.