Tips from Home

Having named my Company Something New, I thought it might be fun to talk about where this came from.

Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in her shoe.

This is a good luck saying which dates back to the Victorian era
Each item in this poem represents something that will bring good-luck to the bride.

Something old symbolizes a connection with the bride’s family and was something to tie her to her past.

Something new is for hope and good luck in the bride’s marriage and new life ahead.

Something borrowed signifies that friends and family will be there for the bride on her special day and in the future to give her any help she needs. The Item is usually borrowed from someone happily married lending the bride some of her own marital happiness to bring to the new marriage.

Something blue has been connected to weddings for centuries. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity, and blue was often the color of wedding gowns before the late 19th century

Until today, I had never heard last line of this saying, but a silver sixpence in the bride’s shoe was to bring wealth and financial security.

Jill Prettyman

Yesterday I burned my finger really bad on my photo lights while I was taking pictures for Branddoozie. The second-degree burn is on the index finger of my right hand, and it’s amazing how hard it is to do anything when you take that finger out of commission. I feel like such a klutz. I couldn’t blow my hair dry this morning, so I decided that out of control look is the newest trend. Typing with 9 fingers is certainly interesting, and so is trying to open any type of container. It’s a good thing that I don’t have any orders due right away, because there is no way I can hold scissors, and I don’t think the brides would appreciate it if I cut their veils with my left hand. Hopefully I will be able to function normally soon, but in the meantime this is driving me crazy. One bad thing about Something New being a one-woman show; when that woman goes down so does production!

Jill Prettyman

I watched a piece on GMA yesterday about the power of bartering, called Forget the Wallet, Take on the Trade. In this economy, it just might be a good practice to think about. Through the years I have only exchanged services a few times. For example I made a veil for a hairdresser, and in return she cut my hair for about 9 months. It basically only cost each of us labor, but saved us both about $175 in cash. Defiantly a win-win situation. In the piece has some interesting ideas, and I know most small business owners will be able to think of more ways to make this work for them.

Jill Prettyman

On Wednesday I have to report for Jury Duty for the first time. I know, you are wondering how someone reaches middle age and has never served. One of the few excuses that work for getting out of Jury Duty is having your office in your home with school age children. Now that my daughter is 22, I don’t think that works for me any more, so I am off to do my civic duty. I only hope that I can avoid getting put on a trial and am back to work by Thursday.

Jill

Ellese spent time every day in her journals. They are filled with so much of her. Artwork is splashed across the pages mixed with poems, random thoughts and labels off the piece of fruit she was eating. I am so thankful for these books she left behind, they are a glimpse into her soul. Today I will share a small part of them with you in the form of a poem I found on one of her pages.

Walk through
sleep in open
air clear the day
for happiness
dream to the
beat of the rain

I hope you all have a safe long weekend filled with family, fun and a little relaxation.

Jill Prettyman

Right now I know a lot of people are going through some rough times. Gas is ridiculous, we’re watching the value of our houses dwindle down, each trip to the store has us experiencing sticker shock, and we all are going to be hit with way too many political adds over the next 5 months. Life is not always easy, but I think it’s important to think about how lucky we are to live in this country (even with all its imperfections) As the 4th approaches I’m thankful for all It has given me; freedom, security, choices, and the chance to live the American dream. I just need to remind myself of this post come April 15th

Jill Prettyman

How can it be July 1st?

When I was first married and when our kids were small, time rambled on at a reasonable pace. However as I approach Midlife (OK lets face it I’m there now) time seems to be to be flying by, I feel like I’m in a speeding car and I need to put on the emergency break! Didn’t this year just start and now it half over. Just think in only 5½ months we’ll all be trying to decide what to wear to a Christmas party

Jill Prettyman

This week we went to the opening of Art A Fair in Laguna Beach. We went to see one of the recipients of Ellese’s scholarship who had a booth at the fair. After walking around looking at everyone’s work, I’m inspired to create art. I love making my headpieces and doing the photography for Branddoozie, but this is work. I am craving doing something just for arts sake. I wish I had some time to just sit down at an easel and paint (haven’t done that since I was in school) or sit at my sewing machine and make something just for fun. It might have to wait until retirement. I think I might have to start making a list of all the things I want to do when I have the time to do what I want, just incase when I arrive at that place in my life I can’t remember!

What would you put on your list?

Jill Prettyman

As woman I think we learn guilt at an early age. It comes in all shapes and sizes.

We fell guilt when we think we are not spending enough time with our kids

We feel guilt when we hover too much over our kids

We feel guilt when we think we are spending too much time working

We feel guilt when we think we aren’t spending enough time working

We feel guilt when we don’t have the time or energy to make dinner

We feel guilt when the houseplants are thirsty, and our furniture is drowning in dust

The one thing we never seem to feel guilty about is when we neglect ourselves.

So I want to remind you all, make that dreaded annual Dr. appointment, (I for one am overdue) Lock your self in your bedroom and give yourself a facial. Take yourself for a walk (OK you can take the dog with you if leaving it home will make you feel guilty) Sit down with a cup of coffee and look through one of the magazines that’s been lying around for a few months untouched. Do something for yourself and don’t feel guilty about it, nobody else does.

Jill Prettyman

It’s Monday and I’m behind already, how did that happen.

I’ve been staring at a blank page trying to decide what words of wisdom I should write,

I give up, instead I’m going to redo one of my favorite posts from the past (forgive me)

How to Say No (sort of) 

One of the great things about working from home when you have kids in school is being able to be more involved with their lives. One of the down falls is that other parents think of you as a stay at home mom with lots of time to volunteer. I know as moms we usually try to do it all, but be careful not to get pulled into more than you can handle.

Here are some tips (from someone who never learned to say no very well)

-Be first to sign up to bring items for classroom parties,
(That way you can sign up for the easy stuff like plates and napkins or drinks)

-If you don’t have time to work in the classroom every week go on the field trips instead
(You will only miss a few days of work a year and you will still get the great experience of helping out at school)

-Do the morning shift of the carpool,
(It will get you up and going first thing in the morning, and you can work a little longer in the afternoons before the kids get home)

-When going to the PTO meetings, try to volunteer for the smaller one-time projects
(You will still be contributing but you wont end up working on something that last all year)

Working from home gives you freedom and flexibility but you also need your sanity so don’t feel guilty saying no, or at least saying smaller yes’s

Jill Prettyman