New Year Resolutions!

This time of year is always full of new plans and promises to be a better version of our selfs, reach some goals and accomplish our dreams!  2015 was an interesting year for me and looking back, I didn't concretely accomplish too much. I did however, get myself on track to work on some really amazing things this year!

Top of that list:

Get Back To My Blog! 

I do not work outside the home. While this is not a choice I made, simply circumstances that is life, I need to be WAY more productive with my days!  I have a TON of info that needs to be here...and it's not.  That's changing!!

Next on my list:

Get Serious About My Businesses

I have two!  A bling/shirt/craft business I run through Etsy and a direct sales business with Younique!  I love both dearly but have not committed the appropriate time to either one of them! 

Lastly:

Get Back In Control of My Health

I've slipped quite a bit on staying on top of my medical staff to figure out what is wrong with me and that is just not okay!  I had surgery in 2014 and it's had me gun shy about discovering the other ailments that make my day to day a struggle.  I intend to overcome that fear and get my body back!!

There are of course some financial goals I have for myself, but those are no different then anyone else.  Get further out of debt, work on my credit score and improve my living status.  If I do the above, the rest will follow!!

I hope everyone who reads this had a wonderful New Year's Eve and holiday last month! 

Next Up On the Blog:  Family Binder and Command Center!

~Love You All

Brandie :) 

Independent Girl Scouting!

Due to schedule conflicts with the sports my daughter chooses to participate in, Girl Scouting with our local troop was impossible a year ago.  After listening to her crys to be a Girl Scout like her momma, I did as much research as needed to learn that we could march through the Girl Scout program independent of a troop!  In March 2015, we bought the books and uniform and got to work!

As of today she has earned all but one of her petals and has started her first journey for Girl Scout Daisys!  I have decided to document the work she does with her journeys and hopefully, another mom and daughter couple who have conflicting schedules can see that being a Girl Scout independently is completely possible!

I have found a great network of troop leaders, service unit members and fellow GS moms to work with as my daughter moves through the projects and stories.

Here is my Pinterest board for resources such as award letters, lesson plans, craft ideas, etc.

Tonight, my daughter and I start the first Journey of her 2nd Year of Daisy Girl Scouts.  She chose to start with "It's Your Story-Tell It! 5 Flowers, 4 Stories, 3 Cheers for Animals!"  We have coupled with a 2nd year Daisy Troop and are going on a field trip to our local zoo this weekend.  If you choose to do Girl Scouts Independently with your daughter, I highly suggest purchasing the leader companion book for the journeys!  They line out EVERYTHING in sample lesson plans.  This makes planning projects, crafts, etc sooooo much easier!

I will try to post once a week on Girl Scouting with the projects we do so that you can have these ideas and steps for reference!  A lot of the projects we are going to do are not just for Girl Scouts and you are welcome to apply these to whatever adventure you and your child are on :D

~Happy Scouting!

Brandie

I turned 30!

Yesterday I turned 30.  Leading up to that, I was in serious winter depression.  Nothing dangerous....but I was NOT in the mood to craft, blog, write, etc.

I am over it!  My oldest son is getting ready to running track, baseball/softball season is getting ready to start, I am getting my Girl Scout Cookies today, I am GOOD!

With that, I want to share a little of what I have gotten accomplished since I posted last November.

I made Valentines for kids' classrooms.  It's a little late to share those, but I will blog about them early next year!

I have been trying to grow my bling apparel business.  If you are interested in the things that I do with that, check out my Facebook Page!!  I currently have my bling featured in the local screen printing shop and that is super exciting!  If you happen to own a boutique or apparel store and would to have bling apparel featured in your store as well, shoot me an email @ {mrs.brandielyons@gmail.com}!!

I stopped selling almost ALL of my direct sales businesses.  Pikle, which is still my favorite, raised their prices to a point that I could no longer make the sale.  Hopefully, one day that will change and I can pick that back up!  Currently, I still provide Younique Products to my local friends and family.  If you are interested in learning more, click the link or send me an email!

I am very excited about St. Patrick's Day this year!  The kids actually have school on this day and I have so many ideas!!!  They will be my first craft posts after this one :D

I re-vamped my craft space and am still un-packing things.  I will be sharing what I find useful on Pinterest and do!

This 31st year of mine is going to be so much more fun then last year!

I appreciate my readers and those that still come to my page to get inspired!  Things are going to get better and if you EVER have ideas or want me to do something, PLEASE send me an email!!

Thanks so much,

Love the newly 30 something~ Brandie

A Dollar Tree Christmas Village!

I have always wanted one of those light up tiny villages with the little houses and shops and the little people.  I find the cost to build such a town to be very much out of my reach!  Last weekend, we were shopping the clearance racks for next year's Halloween (decorating a home is expensive lol) and wondered into a Dollar Tree.  They, like the rest of the world, had their Christmas merchandise out on Nov 1st.

On a little end cap on our way out I found the small pieces to a Christmas Village.   With everything just a $1....how could I pass this up?!?

I spent all of $20 and got all of this.....

Cute isn't it?!?  None of the pieces light up BUT I can afford to get one or two to complete the look and be VERY happy :D

Next on my list....a Faux Fireplace....this is going to be FUN!