Shipping for sellers!

I get great blog posts right to my e-mail from the bestest Etsy blogger ever! (Daniellexo)

Today's best part of Etsy bootcamp was on shipping tips!

http://snurl.com/1nxa0x

Favorite x-mas gift

redroom.com challenged us to blog about our favorite holiday gift.

My favorite holiday gift was given to me, oh, probably when I was eight or nine. "Santa" aka my dad, purchased a Sega Genesis for me. To this day that is still my favorite video game system, unfortunately it didn't survive the second move back in 2007. (But early nineties to 2007 is a pretty sturdy system if you ask me) I owned all of the old Sonic games except Sonic Spinball, and my dad taught me all of the secrets to play the first Sonic The Hedgehog game. I spent many, many sleepless hours in front of that little black box. I also spent many a time trying to clean the cartridges by blowing into them before shoving them down in the system. Looking back, I don't know if blowing spittle into the cartridge was a good idea, but it always seemed to work afterwards.

A Few More Dollars...

So I fell for the best marketing ploy (in my opinion) ever. Offer something your customer wants, and for a few bucks more, more of the great thing your customer wants.

I bought inception yesterday, and not only did I mull over the regular DVD, I stared at the combo pack. The combo pack was the DVD, Blueray, and a digital copy. (I can watch movies on my phone). I put them both in my cart and went on with my shopping to keep mulling it over.

I tried scanning it at the find the price now kiosk, but the wrapper was too shiney, so I just proceeded to check out. I scanned the combo pack, trying to decide how much more I was willing to pay for the combo pack. I realized it was really only four or five dollars more, and I was receiving essentially, three movies. Yes, it's the same movie, but three versions of the same movie. I can watch it on my phone while standing in line, enjoy the DVD now at home, and later, when we get the PS3, I can watch the Blueray. Win-win for me, and ULTRA win for Warner Bros and Wal-mart.

*sigh* I love marketing ploys.

Brimming with Creativity

I was squirming in my seat at work, positively brimming with creativity. I had all these great ideas on replay in my head. They got more vivid on the drive home. As soon as I walked in the door, they ALL disappeared!! All of em. Every last one. *sigh*

I need a way to remember all my amazing ideas in detail. Damdamdoubledam...

Maybe if I make some progress this weekend, I do a little crafty posting... I hope.

Random Recipe #3: Beer Bread

Beer Bread

I love beer bread. My husband hates beer, but he loves beer bread too. It's almost a food staple at this house. I'm a Partylite Consultant, but when I need to appease the beer bread fans and don't have a box of mix handy, I use this recipe.

Photo courtesy of Partylite
http://partylite.biz/sites/MelissaAdamsKurtz



Oven Prep: 375 degrees Fahrenheit

3 c flour (I just use run of the mill all purpose flour)
1/4 c sugar (the original recipe I found called for 3 tablespoons, but it was too bland that way)
1 T baking powder
1 t salt
12 oz beer (a full can or 12 oz bottle)
1 T melted butter to top

mix dry ingredients, add beer (at this point it will foam a lot, don't worry), stir, grease loaf pan, pour mixture into pan, top with butter, bake for 35-40 minutes.

Sometimes I add cinnamon or rosemary to make flavored bread. This would probably be good with shredded cheese baked in as well.

Your Shipping Is Killing Me!

Your shipping really is killing me. I will not purchase certain items if I feel the shipping is a little ridiculous.

I've been doing lots of research, and people are more likely to buy a more expensive item with free shipping than a less expensive item with a substantial shipping fee. I understand some shipping costs are accurate because it must be wrapped or double boxed etc...

I am slowly getting in the mode to take the hit on shipping and pricing my item just a little higher to help offset the cost.

Unfortunately, the new trend on eBay is to sell your item for next to nothing but charge outrageous shipping to offset the cost (and keep the fees down). I don't recommend this, because as a consumer, it turns me off to the listing IMMEDIATELY.

Random Thought

Quaker True Delights Cafe Squares are amazing.

-Just sayin'.

I am kind of upset because I'm not sure they sell them in the grocery store anymore, I just found them in small quantities at Big Lots. I've had the Mocha and Raspberry. FANTASTIC!

Selling Yourself

Selling Yourself... Or, selling your products.

I am an etsy seller, and my products just weren't selling. At first I was feeling like I made crap. Then I thought hard about it, and realized I wasn't selling myself. I have subscribed to the blogness that relates to etsy, and some of their tips are amazing.

Here is today's wisdom from April, guest blogger at heartmadeblog.com


She pretty much sums selling yourself up as sharing your story, your passion, and your higher purpose, but she cuts it across a lot better than me. =)

FREEBIES!!

Photos, photos, photos!

Free Mail Order Prints! (when you're a new sign up)

www.snapfish.com 50 prints

www.CVSphoto.com 50 prints

www.yorkphoto.com 70 prints

www.kodakgallery.com 50 prints

Some of these and more at
http://www.photo-print-reviews.com/

FREEBIES!!!

From time to time I hear about really great deals and coupon codes. I will post FREEBIES!!! in the subject.

snapfish.com- code: HPINK50 Expires 1/1/2011

get 50 free mail order prints with a purchase. Must have 50 prints plus purchase in cart before putting in the code.

Photobooks, Cards, Calendars and More

I just received an e-mail from Mixbook saying if I refer you, I'll get $10, and you'll get $5 off your first purchase. They're also doing 30% off Holiday Cards and Calendars through tomorrow.

http://www.mixbook.com/r/4052539


Why not go check it out? I'm doing wedding albums through them, they're great

Wisdom Piece

You know, I thought this was common sense, but I guess not so much.

**warning, I am angry, and I say threatening and mean things that I don't intend as such when I'm angry**

Well, let's call this guy Ralphie, and Ralphie isn't the brightest crayon in the box, but I know he's a hard worker. He hasn't worked in like a year.

So I gun for him to get an open position at a new client. My boss fights me a little, but I call Ralphie, tell him I am putting some faith in him, but it's my ass if he doesn't come through. He is all excited and assures me my ass lineage isn't in vain. Now this guy is supposed to be my friend, so of course I trust him and gun for him a little harder. I have gained my confidence in him.

So we put him on the job. Two days in, he calls and says, I can't be there tomorrow because I have a job interview that I can't reschedule... HELLO?!?! I JUST GAVE YOU A JOB, WHY DO YOU NEED A DIFFERENT ONE?!?!?! I had left for the day, and my boss calls me PISSED.

Thank goodness my boss likes me better than to just can me over this, but it looks like hell on our part, we sent this client an idiot who doesn't show up. Great. It's sad of me, but I hope they don't ask him to come back and replace his silly ass for being ambitious... Of course, it isn't very ambitious when the interview is for a crappier job that pays $.50 more with less hours. Like I said, he isn't the brightest crayon in the box. But who am I to judge dream jobs?

The moral of this story: Don't put your ass on the line for someone

Moral #2 Don't tell your current employer when you have an interview- if you can't schedule it after work, lie like a rug and say you are sicker than a dog.

Moral #3 Beggars can't be choosers, if some one puts enough faith in you to give you a job, you don't decide that three days in you're willing to put that job on the line for something you're not even sure will be yours.

On The Rocks

On The Rocks certainly has my bad romance. I love em. They are so cute!

Here is the Bad Romance youtube video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTFh8LCBZeQ

and

Here is the site to learn more about these silly hotties.

http://pages.uoregon.edu/ozog/

Ah-May-Zing!

Random Recipe #2: Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies- I almost have this recipe memorized.

This dough freezes well so you can make homemade cookies later without all the fuss. I recommend only keeping frozen dough for a year though, after that I can't say if it will grow things...

Oven prep: 375 degrees Fahrenheit

2 and 1/4 c flour

1 t baking soda

1 t salt

2 sticks butter or margarine (equals 1 cup)

3/4 c granulated sugar

3/4 c light brown sugar

1 t vanilla

2 eggs

2 c chocolate chips (approx 1/2 bag, I usually use Toll House Semi-Sweet)

Beat butter, sugar and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time. Mix dry ingredients together, then add in portions to the eggy mixture. Finally stir in chocolate chips with a wooden spoon (so you don't end up chopping them or hurting your handmixer.)

Drop tablespoon size cookies onto an ungreased cookie sheet, bake for 8-10 minutes depending on how soft you like your cookies.

When pulling them out of the oven, let set for a minute or two, then remove from sheet with a spatula, cool on racks or papertowel covering the clean countertop.

Introductions

Well, I figured I would take this opportunity to lay some things out upon the table.

I was born Melissa Marie Adams, in Farmington Hills, MI. I was raised half in Walled Lake, MI and half in Byron, MI. I've also lived in Fenton and Haslett, both in Michigan. I currently live with my husband and our roommate in Howell, MI. (Not really a roommate when he has his own room, but ya know...)

I graduated from Byron High School, attended Lansing Community College for a while, and am currently struggling along at ITT Tech in Swartz Creek.

I've worked fast food, sit down restaurants, craft stores, Wal-mart, a payday advance store, a packaging company, and currently a staffing agency.

I have an African Gray Parrot named Neo and a Ball Python that doesn't have a name. I rescued him and am trying to find the little snake a home.

My parents have another African Gray named Rosey, and a Redcrested Amazon Parrot named Turk. We were supposed to be babysitting Turk, but his original owner never claimed him. It's been around two years now. *shrug* We're happy, we love him. We used to have dogs who passed on after long, happy lives. Spike was a black and white Rat Terrier, and Choppers a redish brown and white pitbull. I miss them dearly, but don't think I want anymore dogs.

I've also owned many gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, another Ball Python that I gave back to my ex, cats that I rescued, and parakeets galore. I can't remember a time when I haven't owned a parakeet. My husband isn't too keen on parakeets, so I left little LB with my parents. LB stands for Little Bird, creative huh?

I like heavy metal, classic rock and alternative. I appreciate some pop and dance music as well. I'm not too keen on country or soft rock. I like to listen to some classical and jazz too.

I'm pretty crafty, but I have a sort of attention problem with my projects. I'll start one, get about half way through, then start another one, afraid I'll forget about the super cool idea I have to try that instant. Yeah, my brain really works like that.

I can sew, crochet/knit (not well), paint, bake, draw, scrapbook and all other manner of papercrafts. I do well with making greeting cards, they are short projects I can usually complete fairly quickly. I can also sculpt with clay.

I like to write, and keep starting a novel, but never finish. The story either fizzles out, or I forget what I was going to write. Did I mention I'm scatter-brained?

I love to read. I will sit down and devour an entire 500 page novel if alotted the time.

TV doesn't interest me too much, but the Food Network and Animal Planet are good. I'd watch HBO and Cinemax if I got them, but that package was too expensive. *shrugs* whatever I really want to watch I can look up online, or rent the season DVDs.

There is probably more I think you should know, so maybe I'll post it at a later time.

Random Recipe #1: Holiday Wreaths

So from time to time I am going to post the Random Recipe series. I'm either about to make the recipe or have recently had a convo about the random recipe I post.

Holiday Wreaths: My husband was telling me how his long past Grandma used to make a huge cornflake wreath that sat on the holiday table and they spent an entire day cutting into it with a knife and devouring it. I think one big one sounds like a logistics problem, (and a germophobe's nightmare) so I am going to make the cookie sized wreaths. Here is the recipe I found courtesy of http://www.cooks.com/.

This wreaths are not mine, these are courtesy of Julie Coleman http://http://www.flickr.com/photos/20922997@N07/

30 lg marshmallows

1/2 c butter

1/4 t green food coloring

1/2 t vanilla

5 c cornflakes

Silver dragees (look at picture below to see what I mean)

Red Hots (Look below)

Melt the butter in the mircrowave for 30 seconds, Add marshmallows and coat with butter, then microwave uncovered for 1 minute. Stir, and microwave another minute.

Add food coloring and vanilla, stir. Fold in cornflakes and blend well.

Drop by the spoonful onto ungreased cookiesheet or foil. Shape into wreaths, then decorate!

This makes 20-30 wreaths, depending on your shaping capabilities. (mine are poor lol)

These are Silver Dragees These are Red Hots

Remember, Remember...

I am one of the most forgetful people I know. My cellphone is my life.

Keep a backup of important phone numbers/addresses in your computer, a notebook etc...

Sticky notes are your friend, but only if you remember where you stuck them.

I need to constantly make a list when I go shopping, not just of what I need to buy, but other errands I need to run, or else I will get distracted and forget all about what I was after.

I'm wondering if my generation and older have ADD or something, and we just don't know it because our parents were in denial that such a disorder existed. There's gotta be something wrong with not remember where I put anything at any point in time...

Top Reasons Why You Didn't Get Hired

You were super psyched about the interview you just had, but it's been three weeks, and you still haven't gotten that call back that they promised you... Some of these reasons could be why.

Your handwriting/spell sucks

You're rude or any form of impolite

You demand things

You bring an entourage with you
(your ride/significant other/buddies should stay in the car)

You don't introduce yourself properly

You won't may eye contact

You dressed like you rolled out of bed or you're going to the dance club

You repeat yourself, use the word um or and too much

You use your cellphone before/during/after the interview

You aren't prepared
(copies of your resume, references, don't have answers to interview questions)


Remember, before and after the interview or filling out an application you're being watched! Act like someone an employer wants to hire!!!

Coupons and Deals

My husband and I are on a coupon kick. My boss also loves coupons. I will update this post as often as I remember on new coupon deals. Some of these have funny URLs because you get money for referring others after you sign up. You are looking at my referral links.

http://www.groupon.com/r/uu12664062
the more people that take advantage of the deal, the better the deal becomes

slickdeals.net

fatwallet.com

http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=ZlLBwEnlULsbfMKgeS1SHg%3D%3D
You really do get a check in the mail when you shop at participating websites.

Welcome!

I have tried blogging in the past, and I think my problem was I was trying to make myself too small of a corner. I had this little tiny corner, and I had so many broader topics to write about, and I felt I would be totally off topic. I am ready to try something different.

Wisdom, Folly, and Other Memos is my attempt at encompassing things I've learned and things I know that I hope to share with others in hopes they can learn the easy way instead of the hard way.

I currently work for a staffing agency placing associates. I've also worked for a payday advance store, retail, food, factories... I've done quite a bit in my 24 years. I want to share, will you sit down with me?