Hagler Happenings

Ga-REAT day!

2012-12-14T05:40:48Z

Wow! It’s been a really long time since I’ve been here.

And I miss it.

It’s 11:30 pm, and I ought to get to bed. But it’s been a really good day, and I’m just too excited.

A few months back I started using Herbalife and loved it so much I started selling it. Tonight I had shake tasting party. And it was a huge success. It’s really hard to explain how much better I feel since starting it, but I hope my new customers experience weight lose, more energy, & just feel better.

So that was the 1st good thing.

Then I checked my email to see a message from Jen Jones, the voice behind my all time favorite blog, I Heart Organizing. Short version: I won one her giveaways! I won something! Woo hoo! And I feel pretty darn special getting an email from her (or her assistant, anyway) since I think she’s amazing.

And then…

THEN, I saw another email. This one was from the marketing firm in charge of the national Hearts at Home conference. Gulp! I (Baby and the Beanstalk) am going to be a vendor at the national Hearts at Home conference in March! Talk about my target audience… over 6300 moms in one place.

This means I am going to have a very busy 3 months. It’s a good thing I love what I do!

Artichoke Dip

2012-10-27T01:08:48Z

1998 was my 1st year working a “real job.”

I was an itinerant teacher for the blind. Several of the schools I visited had amazing food in their teacher’s lounges on Fridays. They even had recipes of the dishes, free for the taking. (One perk of my job – never having to bring anything but always invited to partake!)

Anyway, that’s where I first tried this one. I’ve always loved it, and it’s always a hit. Plus it’s easy.

Ingredients:

1 can artichoke hearts
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1 pkg of cream cheese, softened
1 dash of garlic powder, salt, & pepper
Club crackers

Directions:

Drain & mash the artichoke hearts well.
Add all other ingredients.
Cook in the microwave for 5 1/2 minutes or until brown around the edges.
Sever with Club crackers.

It’s very simple. And I usually add more than “a dash” of garlic powder, but I really like garlic.

Calm before the storm.

2012-10-25T03:41:43Z

Right now, I’m enjoying things being somewhat quiet. For me anyway.

But I know that soon, things will get very, very busy.

Take a look at just the major things happening in November:

PS: Carrie’s wedding is in the burbs of Chi-town. (i.e. not local).

Add in the usual stress of the holidays, along with several other things like Morgan’s beefed up play practices and you just might find me rocking in a corner somewhere.

But, a busy life is a good life, right?

I’m grateful I am healthy enough to do these things.

I’m grateful my sister’s getting married! EEK!!

I’m grateful my kids want to be involved in things.

I’m grateful my church asked me to participate in the Momentum conference.

Today would’ve been my friend, Lori’s 39th birthday. I can’t believe she’s been gone 3 whole years (as of tomorrow). How does that saying go? Don’t regret growing old, it’s a privilege denied to many… Like Lori who only lived one day past her 36th birthday.

I think of her all the time. And I realize that the pain of missing her doesn’t go away; it’s just something that I get used living with.

So, I’ll be sure to stop by & visit her today. And in the meantime, I’ll enjoy any quiet time I can get & brace for the approaching storm known as November.

Christmas shopping before October?

2012-09-22T01:30:27Z

I’m really trying to get back into this blogging thing, and I really liked this week’s questions. Feel free to join in all weekend long at:

1. What is one grammar issue you cannot let go without correction?

Oh, I have many, many that I could list.

I can sum it up with this example (pardon the foul language, but it’s flippin’ hilarious!)

2. What’s your favorite thing about fall?

Knowing the Christmas is right around the corner.

It’s weird. I think I enjoy Christmas more & more each year. Maybe it’s experiencing all the joy again trough my own kids. I don’t know.

My least favorite thing? Allergies! Ugh… mine are worse in the fall than any other time of year.

3. What’s your favourite dish to take to a potluck?

I have to go with my Buffalo Chicken Dip, otherwise known as “The Best Dip. Ever.”

It never lasts long.

Thanks, Jane Woll, for introducing me to it several years ago.

4. When do you start Christmas (Holiday) shopping?

I’ve learned years past that if I start early (like before October) I end up spending more money than I wanted to.

And since I honestly don’t really enjoy shopping, and tend to do a huge chunk of my shopping all at once care of Amazon.com. (And maybe that’s because there is NO place to shop here too.)

I am weird?

5. Did you move homes a lot growing up?

That depends on what “a lot” means. I don’t feel like I moved much, but…

I stayed in the same school from 2nd grade on, but I lived in 3 different houses in that time. 1) while my parents were still married. 2) while my mom was divorced. 3) after my mom got re-married.

Before I was old enough to be in school, I think I lived in 3 different houses in 2 different towns. I think.

2 days off.

2012-09-20T13:46:14Z

After just a few weeks in all-day Kindergarten, Blake has 2 full days off.

Apparently the Kindergarten building had a water leak which lead to a positive test for mold.

Nice.

Who knows how long the mold has been there, but at least the school is getting it professionally cleaned up ASAP. But that means no school for the 5 & 6 year olds until it’s good to go.

So, right now Blake is home with me watching Jake and the Neverland Pirates: Jake saves Bucky (his ship) that we recorded last night. I have a feeling it will be on over & over & over today.

But that’s okay. It’s a dreary day. And I have a bunch of orders to finish. (Like these collapsible market baskets. They have been a huge hit; perfect for Christmas gifts.)

I’m also working on something for my sister, Carrie’s bridal showers this weekend. Pictures coming next week.

Commercials

2012-09-18T16:01:42Z

Have you seen these commercials yet?

This one has no words & you really have to pay attention.

Way to go, Catholics for putting this together & airing it!

On a lighter side, this one gets me laughing every. single. time.

“… No. He’s weird.” lol.

The answer is…

2012-09-18T13:33:11Z

The other day, I posted this bit of school work per Blake.

I had no idea what he wrote on it. Your guesses were closer than mine.

I thought it was “tractor,” & was kind of worried that he was so far off.

But apparently Mrs. Nelson gave them the writing prompt: How do you get to school?

So Blake wrote: I ride in a car.

I wasn’t even THINKING it could be a sentence! He thought he was pretty funny using the capital I as a line for the rest of the sentence.

Way to go, buddy.

Kindergarten school work.

2012-09-17T01:15:41Z

I love opening up Blake’s folder each evening. I never know what I’ll find.

When I saw this over the weekend, I was fairly confident the drawing was of a car/bus/van of some sort. But I wasn’t sure what was written at the bottom of the page.

What do you think Blake wrote?

The winner gets, well nothing, but give it a good guess anyway.

Go!

Meatball Soup.

2012-09-11T15:45:29Z

Here’s an easy (because that’s all I can handle) recipe that my family loves. Lucas actually told me to “please make this every single night.”

Ingredients:

1 bag prepared frozen meatballs
2 cans beef broth
2 cans tomatoes w/onions, celery, & green pepper
16 oz frozen mixed vegetables
1 c water
1 t dried thyme
dash of pepper

Directions:

Cut meatballs in fourths. Combine all in crock-pot, except for frozen veggies. Cook on low 6 hours. Add veggies last two hours of cooking time. Add more water and salt/pepper if desired.

Since I (for some reason) only bought one can of the tomatoes mix, I used one can of Rotel. It worked.

I’m actually heating up the left overs for this evening’s dinner.

Vendor Fairs.

2012-09-02T01:49:27Z

After having a booth at several vendor shows now I thought I’d share some tips, or etiquette perhaps, as a vendor as well as an attendee.

Location, location, location. Your booth placement can seriously make or break how profitable you can be. Don’t be afraid to ask for most noticeable space.

Don’t tell a vendor you are stealing her ideas. Seriously, this happened to me today. A ~~brazen~~ women took pictures of my burp cloths while saying, “I have an embroidery machine too, and I’m stealing this idea. I like the way you blah, blah, blah…. so I’m taking pictures of them.” Really? If I wasn’t busy with another customer, I don’t know what I would have done. Probably just stand there with my jaw on the ground.

Use Square. If you have an iPhone or Android and have a small business, you’re nuts not to have this thing. Free app. Free device. No contract. No fees. Every time a customer pays with a debit or credit card, Square gets 2.75% of the purchase. That’s it! They do have a monthly plan as another option now, which would be the way to go if you plan on doing most of your sales this way. Go to www.squareup.com to get started.

Bring cash & checks. If you have a booth, be sure you have lots of ones & fives (& coins if you’ll need it) to make change. Also, as a guest be prepared to pay cash or check for most things because many vendors don’t have the almighty Square.

Presentation. Keep in mind I have a Special Ed degree, but in my opinion, the way you display your products has a lot to do with how customers perceive it. I stick to my pink with white polka dots & black accents as much as possible. I also have coordinating aprons that my helper & I wear. They just add that extra professional touch.

I went the extra mile & made a pink & white polka dot curtain/backdrop. I love it!

And just for fun, here are a few of the things I made this week:

A set of burp cloths for sale. Car Seat Canopies have been a huge success for me. A close up of the above canopy.

Well, I’m of to keep sewing. I have a 3 day show this weekend!

The Arcola Broomcorn Festival will be my next stop. After all, it IS the reigning best festival in east central Illinois. lol. See you there!