What I've Been Up To...

Life has once again become very crazy. I went back to work a month ago, and haven't had a minute to myself since. Lily is growing so fast. My husband is staying home with her until the end of the school year. After that, I'll be taking time off of work until she is about 18 months old. I look forward to having the time with her but I know I'll miss work.

Between work, a baby, and two other kids, time is pretty tight and I don't have a lot of it to devote to my blog. I have been keeping up with my etsy shop though, and new items are posted a couple times a week. If you haven't checked out my shop lately, you can visit me at http://enthral.etsy.com

Medela Pump In Style Advanced Backpack Product Review

Since I have decided to go back to work once my baby is 8 weeks old, I had to invest in a breastpump. I did a lot of research, and finally came to the conclusion that the Medela Pump In Style Advanced Backpack was the pumping system I needed to buy. This was no small investment. Priced at just below $400, the cost almost made me pass out. Still, I asked my pharmacy to ship one in for me.

I've been using it for a few weeks now as I've been stocking my freezer up with breastmilk for my return to work. My experience with it so far has been very positive! Some of the highlights are:

1. The backpack looks really great! People would never guess there is a breastpump in there.
2. The pump is quiet, and the different settings really do mimic the way a baby sucks. This makes let down happen much faster.
3. It is super fast. I can pump both breasts at the same time, and in about 5-10 minutes I get about 5 oz of milk.
4. The storage mini cooler works great and fits nicely into the top of the pack.
5. The pumping action doesn't make my breasts sore and you can adjust the intensity of the suction to be higher or lower.
6. It is easy and quick to clean.
7. You can plug it in or run it on batteries. You can even get a car adapter for it!

The only negative is that it is a little on the heavy side. I can live with that.


This pump has been worth every penny as far as I am concerned. I'm recommending it to anyone that needs to pump on a daily basis. Especially if you are returning to work because of the discreetness of the bag and the mini cooler for the milk.

Paypal Tax Problems

Lately, I have had difficulty with paypal not adding the sales tax to invoices the way that it should. Paypal says it is an Etsy problem, and Etsy says it is a Paypal problem and I am losing my mind because this is costing me money. Every time a Canadian buys something from me, I lose 5% or 13% (depending on their province of residence) because Paypal suddenly is not adding the tax.

There are other Etsy people having this problem as well. I posted on the Ebay forums to see if anyone there is having problems with the tax. Maybe that will help me figure out if it is an Etsy or Paypal problem.

If anyone else is having difficulty with paypal, or even if you are not, I'd appreciate it if you left a comment here and let me know. Thanks!

Bad Hair Day

I think the title says it all.

St. Patrick's Day Online Scavanger Hunt

Team Eco Etsy is hosting an online Scavenger Hunt for St. Patrick's Day. This is your opportunity to win some really cool prizes. Playing is easy, and you can find all of the rules on the Team's Blog. You can get there by clicking the picture below.

Be sure to check it out and participate. :)

Strawberry Necklace and Gold Cufflinks

I managed to get a few things posted to my etsy shop over the last few days.

I'm really digging the Strawberry Necklace.

I found the vintage glass strawberry on a damaged piece of jewelry and rescued it. I paired it up with an antiqued copper chain and toggle heart clasp. The chain fringe adds some fun to it. You can see more pictures and details in my online shop: Enthral Designs.

I also posted a pair of gold toned cufflinks. These are vintage cufflink findings that I paired up with vintage German, green glass cabochons. I only have one pair of these gold findings, so once they are gone, they are gone!



I suspect that the cufflinks are gold plated, but I can't be 100% sure.
These are available in my online shop as well: Enthral Designs

5 Tips for New Moms

I was talking to a friend today who recently had her first baby. She sounded so tired and unsure of herself; a far cry from the confident young woman I know so well. I remember feeling the same way after our first daughter was born. There were times I would sit and cry because I was so nervous and worried. Was I nursing enough? Too often? Was she sleeping enough? Too much? Should I put her in a crib? Should she sleep in my bed?

The number of questions I had about my new baby were only outnumbered by the different kinds of advice I received from books, friends and family. Eventually, I learned to trust myself and I figured out what worked for our family. The following 5 tips are things I learned with the first two babies, and they are still important for me to remember with baby number three.

1. Sleep when the baby sleeps. Everyone tells you this, and with good reason. An exhausted parent cannot deal with the demands of an infant. Let the housework slide a little. No one expects you to have an immaculate house when you have a new baby.
2. If you are breastfeeding, learn how to do it while laying down. Mastering this skill will allow you to get in some down time while the baby fills his stomach. Every little bit of relaxation time matters when you are looking after a new baby.
   
3. Find a way to get out of the house for at least a few minutes everyday. Leave the baby with your significant other and get out for a quick walk around the block, or a stroll through the mall. Even a short amount of time to yourself can make you feel a million times better.
4. Eat well. Make sure you are eating a good diet and drinking a lot of water. You need the nutrition more now than ever.
5. If the baby cries, you have tried everything to calm her, nothing is working and you are getting frustrated and exhausted, it is ok to put the baby in a safe place like a crib and take a few minutes to yourself to get composed. The baby will be fine. Likewise, if you are in the the shower and the baby starts to cry, it doesn't make you a bad parent. You have to look after yourself too.
   

There are many other little tidbits of advice that I could give. But I don't want to sound preachy. After all, even though I am on my third baby, I am still learning. Each child is different and what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another. Things do seem easier though as you add to your family. I find I am much calmer with my third child and things don't get to me as easily as they did with the first two.

Things to Do With Dryer Lint

Dryer lint. We all have it lurking in the lint traps of our dryers. So, what do you do with it? Throw it away? I posed the question in the Etsy forums, and my fellow etysians came up with these ideas:

1. Put it outside for birds to use in nest building.
2. Use it in mixed media art.
   
3. Use it to stuff pillows.
4. Felt it (maybe but the fibers might be too short).
   
5. Mix it in a blender with paper pulp and make paper out of it.
6. Use clumps of it as a fire starter for camp fires.
   
7. Put dryer lint in the cup of an egg carton, pour melted wax on it and use these as a fire starter.
   
8. Card it up with wool and spin it.
9. Put it in the composter.
10. Fill the leg of a pair of pantyhose with it and use it as a pillow, or neck roll.
11. Use it to create a bun form around which to wrap your hair (for those of us with long hair).
12. Stuff a sock with it to make a cat pounce toy.
13. Stuff your bra. Hey, it's cheaper than a boob job!
14. Use it as fuel in your wood stove.
15. Make body and face casts by mixing the lint with dental alginate and plaster gauze wraps.
    

The original etsy forum thread is here if you want to take a look.

New Virus Spreading Through MSN Contact List

I have been alerted by a fellow etsy user that there is a new virus spreading through MSN contact lists. The email which arrives to you through one of your contacts says something like "This picture looks incredibly like you" and there is a link to what is supposed to be a photo.

When you click on the link, a file is downloaded to your computer and you are infected. As far as I know, the virus is very difficult to remove from your hard drive once you are infected. The virus is new, so you may need to update your security software.


Be careful!

More baby pics!

I feel the need to plaster my cute baby's pics all over the place, so here are a few for you to enjoy. :)Mom and Lily having a nap.

Look! My eyes are open!

Just back from a car ride.

Buy One Get One Free

Since the 29th of Feb comes but once every 4 years, I am having a buy one get one free sale for today only. It works like this:

Choose your items and check out with your shopping cart
In the notes to seller type the code "BOGO 29"
Do not pay until I send you a revised invoice with your discount applied.

*You must use the code to get the deal
*Offer not applicable to custom orders
*The free item will be the lesser priced item

Visit http://enthral.etsy.com to take advantage of this great deal! Or click on one of the items below.

Baby Shower Gifts

If you have been reading my blog, you will know that I recently had a baby. One of the funnest things about having a baby is the baby shower. Who doesn't love receiving all of those cute and oh so tiny baby things?

The online world has opened up a new twist on the baby shower concept. In particular, some members of the Etsy community pool their talent and awesome products to shower other Etsy expectant mothers with gifts.

I participated in the latest Etsy Baby Shower and have so far received a gift from Megan of Knit Style. It is pictured below.

I received a pair of super cute baby booties, two burp clothes that are too nice to use for baby spit up, and two lavender sachets that smell heavenly! The quality of the items is fantastic and Megan is very personable. I will definitely be keeping Knit Style in mind for any future baby gifts that I need to buy.

Knit Styles also offers knit items for adults. Ponchos, scarves, hats and the like.

Visit Knit Style for yourself!

Don't forget about the Sale!

Don't forget about the big Trans Canada Etsy Team sale going on right now. It lasts until the 24th of February. I'm offering 25% off in my shop. Below are some of the goodies I have in stock.





To see what other team members are offering, visit the team blog at :

http://TransCanadaEtsyteam.blogspot.com

New Shop Banner!

I had a new shop banner designed for my online store. It is fantastic. To check it out visit:

http://enthral.etsy.com

Let me know what you think!

New Baby and Mommy Grooming Rules

Isn't it funny how 10 minutes suddenly seems like a lot of time to shower, get dressed, comb your hair and make yourself look somewhat presentable for the rest of the world when you have a new baby in the house?

I have a business appointment today so it isn't one of those "I can just stay in my pj days." I had no idea I could take care of my personal grooming so quickly!

Don't tell my husband though. ;)

My Finest Creation Yet

Actually, she's one of three of my finest creations. :) This is baby Lily. She was born late last month. Isn't she adorable?

And before you ask, she managed to get her hands that way all on her own.

TransCanada Etsy Team Sale February 18-24, 2008

Looking for some great Canadian handmade goods? Now is your chance to get your heart's desire on sale! Participating members of the TransCanada Etsy team are offering discounts in their online shops between February 18 - 24, 2008. Offers vary by store, so be sure to check everyone out! For more details and participating shops, visit the team blog at TransCanadaEtsyteam.blogspot.com.

Talking About Someone Else for a Change...

Talking about myself all the time is boring, so I've decided to talk about a fellow Etsy shop owner for a bit.

The shop is called Dottles, and you can find a variety of things there including greeting cards, jewelry and more. If you want to check the shop out, the link is:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5267129

Here is a little bit more about the shop owner...

Name/Shop name: Amber/Dottles (my greeting cards = Doodle Bug Greetings, still working on stuff with that though)

What is your craft(s): I started out with handpainted terracotta pots..then tried my hand at jewelry..but my real passion is my hand drawn greeting cards!

How long have you been crafting: ive been drawing since i could hold a pencil...other things i have picked up along the way, so i'd say most of my life!

What are you inspired by: oh, so many things! cartoons, nature, my kids,etc!

Is this business your source of income or for fun or both: well as a stay at home mom of 2, i would like for it to become more of a source of income on my part, but so far its been mostly for fun.

Do you have any advice for newbies and other sellers who are struggling: Keep on truckin'!! no really, advertise every chance you get. Either make your own business cards or buy them..leave them every where you possibly can....and pray every day for your business and others!

Do you have a favorite quote/saying: ive got alot..but right now im liking "Faith in God-my GREATEST possession!"

Free Shipping for # 79 and 80

I am two sales away from having my 80th sale. I'd really like to reach that goal today, so for customers #79 and 80, you will receive free shipping. That can really save a bundle!

After you make your purchase, wait for a revised invoice with the shipping deducted from your total.

http://enthral.etsy.com

Saturday Night Special------Buy Two Get one Free!

Enthral is handcrafted jewellery, hair accessories and cufflinks created from refashioned vintage items and other recycled components. You are sure to find something here that is as unique and one-of-a-kind as you are.

Made in Canada and shipped worldwide.

~~~~~~~~Saturday Night Special~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buy two items, get one free (the lesser costing item will be the free item). Wait for a revised invoice before paying so that I can make the adjustment in the total. Offer good until 6 am EST January 13th.

http://enthral.etsy.com/