Team Captain's Corner: Stop Hiding and SEEK

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I ran into a woman who took our family portraits the other day.  I was at a concert and the woman was sitting in the front row. She caught my eye because she was wearing a scarf on her head-one of those Bohemian inspired ones where I would probably see it at the store, bring it home, sit it in my closet and then pass it on to my other friend who looks good in scarves! So my eyes are fixated on the scarf for the longest time.   When the concert is over, I took one more look at the scarf and realize that the woman wearing the scarf is the photographer!

So I walk up to her and we talk for a few minutes and I congratulate her for completing a masters program in social work. We chit chat about the shell shock one experiences after accomplished such an amazing amount of work. Then I ask, “Have you gotten a job in your field?” And she says, “Actually yes, I am a full time photographer.” I respond, “You mean you make enough money to pay your bills with photography?” She smiles and says, “Actually, yes I do.” Can you believe it? Someone is working at a job that inspires them? She went for it and SHE MADE IT. In this economic slump, no less. 

When I saw this photographer, I realized that I am playing the hide and seek game in my life. I am Moses. Send someone else Lord. I am trying to figure out why I am so pompous as to think I have the opportunity to go for it and not the next person who has just as many dreams to realize.   Any indication to the contrary feels self serving. I would much rather shrink out of the spotlight, become an amazing “wing woman:” a sidekick. Allow others to surge forth in their dreams. The hard work of criticism and rejection-I am too old and too tired to handle it. And I do not care. And a part of you must care in order to dream big, right? To keep creating fearlessly, rather than to copy cat, piggy back off other’s ideas. Wait to be noticed.

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What I find is that this is not working for me anymore. So now what?  When the photographer asked what I was up to, I gave some vague response like, “I am still trying to figure it out”; well that is partially true. More than anything, the fear holds me down and chokes the life out of me. I can barely move without fear as my companion. I want to go back to the cookie cutter way of doing life. Or….leap!  We really do have a choice.

HF Support: Military Families Debt Planning

I wanted to share this special feature from The Dave Ramsey Show geared toward military families dealing with debt consolidation and effective budgeting throughout deployments. Of course, the information offered here pertains to any household budget. I appreciate Ramsey's decision to take on the special pay challenges that the military tends to come up against.

Well of Creations - Blog Leader

Shop Diagnostics: The "In Between Time" of Busy Seasons

Shop Diagnostics is a series where we share tips coming from creative entrepreneurs who can run shops in light of adjustments brought on by military life YET APPLICABLE to all those interested in improving their shop's presence online and worldwide.

 

This feature is submitted by Sarah of Florida Scarf

For the Record: If graffiti is illegal and subject to fine or imprisonment, even if it's not permanent, that is not me in the photo.

I recently got together with a couple of girlfriends and did a photo shoot. The purpose for me was to get better at using a camera and get some new, and fun, shots for Florida Scarf. The general purpose was for my friends and I to hang out, enjoy the weather, take advantage of our location, and do something new and creative. As a bunch of grown women we explored make-believe for the first time in a while. 
 

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      With Florida Scarf I have found that it isn't enough to just be good at making stuff. You must also be good at photographing it, describing it, putting it on the Internet, and letting people know that it's on the Internet. All of these different duties can make a creative business practically impossible to maintain. Going through this cycle can be draining. It is wonderful to stop and take a breather. I am thankful that my business is seasonal. It is crankin' from September to January. February to April is a time I take, not to sew, but hone all of these other skills needed to be successful. In this time I focus on enjoyment and refreshing my creativity.

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Every January I do an assessment. It is awesome to reflect on your business and lifestyle to find out what is working and what isn't. In doing this you must be honest with yourself for maximum improvement. For me, one skill that constantly needs updating is my photography ability. I am not alone in this deficiency. Luckily, I have a few friends who have needed to get better at wielding a camera as well. We decided to take a day and spend it working with our cameras and our creativity. It was great. I recommend doing a photo shoot with girlfriends no matter who you are and what kind of camera you have. It is simple to do. You get a couple of friends and any crazy accessories you all may have. You find a kooky location, preferably outside, and you go at it. If you are like us you might be shy or nervous at first, but give yourself time you will open up. Once we all got comfortable we got some really awesome shots. The day was a success on many levels. We all bonded, obviously. I got some new, and fun, promo shots for Florida Scarf. Chrissy got some rad photos of her guitar. Laura got to do the Hobo shot she always wanted. Sarah found out she is pretty good with creating an interesting composition herself. The list is endless. We took a ton of pictures. I recommend this activity as not only something that can refresh creativity, but refresh life in general. As I said, it was interesting as an adult to go back to a form of entertainment revolving around our imagination. It was so much more fulfilling than shopping, going out to lunch, or going to a movie. And we've got something to show for it.

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Thank you Sarah for sharing your story.  If you are interested in being featured here, please contact us via the Contact tab at the top of the blog.

Well of Creations - Blog Coordinator

Story Behind the (Shop) Name: Addie Bean Blossoms

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Rebecca Ripstein-Yedlowski of Addie Bean Blossoms

Here's the story behind her shop name: 

I chuckle every time I think about the baby shower that was thrown for a fellow expectant teacher and myself last May.  I was due in June and she in August.  Our fellow staff members had organized a lovely shower with gifts, games, and of course, cake.  One had been prepared for each of us.  My colleague’s cake had a sweet welcome message and her future daughter’s name.  Mine said, “Welcome Bean!”  As one guest read the cake, she exclaimed, “You’re naming the baby ‘Bean’?”

Well, of course we weren’t naming our baby ‘Bean.’  My husband and I had decided we wanted to be surprised about the gender. So, very early on, we started calling our baby ‘Bean.’  We speculated about which features ‘Bean’ would get from each of us, what ‘Bean’s’ personality would be like, and if ‘Bean’ would  be interested in the same things we were.  Well, we got so used to the name it just kind of stuck!  Once Adelyn (Addie) was born, she was already more of a ‘Bean’ to us than anything else.  So now, and forever more, she is our Addie Bean.

When I decided to open my Etsy shop selling the fabric flower hair clips inspired by her, it just made sense to name them after her.  Plus, I’m a sucker for alliteration.  And so, Addie Bean Blossoms bloomed!

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Thank you Rebecca for sharing your story! If you are interested in being featured in this space, please contact us via the Contact tab at the top of the blog.

Well of Creations - Blog Coordinator

Military Life...From a Spouse's Perspective: Colleen Bay

The Military Brat Team and the Homefront Team are combining efforts to share our experiences with the military lifestyle so that others can fully understand the sense of community, sacrifices, benefits, and expectations we all share as members of a truly unique group of people. Each month we will feature a story shared by a Military Brat Team member, and a story shared by a Homefront Team member.

  This Feature is written by Colleen Bay, shop owner of Her Hero

Military Life….

From a spouse's perspective

 Custom EOD Her Hero Lucite Pendant

      In the last 6 years, I have lived in 4 different states and 6 different homes. I stutter when asked for my social security number, but I can rattle the last four digits of my husband’s without hesitation.  I am an acronym diva, flat rate shipping superstar, and my resume looks like a patchwork quilt.  I am a proud military spouse and My Military Life is an adventure.
5 things I have learned to be true in military life and how I thrive: 

1. We move all the time. We are never in one place long enough to get tired of it. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel; the next PCS. I make new friends each time. Our kids are exposed to different weather, culture, and traditions first hand.  Honestly, I get the PCS itch after being in one place for more than 18 months. 
2. His job is dangerous. “Look! EOD is listed as the #1 most dangerous jobs again on Discovery channel!”  It is emotionally draining at times; the constant worry, the many good-byes, and the disruptive but glorious homecomings. It is a nice feeling, however, that others are in awe of what my husband does for a living. I am very proud of what he does, not what he brings home. My husband is a real hero.
3. My home will never be featured in Towne and Country.  I do not spend a lot of time constructing the perfect looking home. Forget flowers that match the matting on a picture in the parlor. What looks great in today’s dining room won’t fit in the next one. We buy items based on the “will-this-make-the-next-move” mentality. Our garage is filled with “military issued” junk, but we certainly don’t have hoard piles anywhere (I do a “PCS” purge with every move). Our home-sweet-home is each other, our little family unit; the dinners at the table, the weekend adventures in our new land, the family pictures from our military life adventures surrounding us.
4. Separations are lousy:  Deployments are the worse. Anyone who has made it successfully through one, however, will tell you that your relationship will be stronger because of it. Separation makes the heart grow dearer. Being separated so often has forced us to really look hard at how we communicate with each other: calls are cut short and emails can be misconstrued so many bad ways. Should I complain about how the last 10 emails from him have been less than just one of my loving emails, or how the shortage of hand written letters has been duly noted…no- instead,  I will talk about the new things the kids are doing. I also learned how important it is to always tell each other you love them. (And yelling it through the receiver after a short disagreement before slamming the phone down counts-)  There are additional separation perks that should get recognition here: a clean house, all the girly tv you can stand, and my all time favorite- cereal for dinner.
5. Free healthcare rocks. Healthcare was expensive when I was in shape, single, and waiting tables. Now I have had 2 babies (free), that have grown into adventurous kids (one broken arm, pink eye at least 5 times, snotty noses every winter, and multiple ear aches)- also free. Additionally, I got a fancy IUD at no cost; the same brand of IUD that was going to cost my sister-in-law $600 (she never got it because of the cost and recently had a baby #3 scare).

 Custom Hand stamped Pendant with Crystal

The key to surviving military life is knowing “it is what you make of it” and that finding friendships with other military spouses will get you through some difficult times (try explaining to a non-military friend how DFAS screwed up your BAH and you can’t access his LES because he is TDY again…meanwhile DEERS is saying that your daughter’s name is “Baby Girl Bay” and so TRICARE will not pay for “McKenna Bay’s” ear tubes).
 
Military life is an undertaking. Not only do I try to make the most of our lifestyle by keeping a rosy outlook, but I have found other military spouses to be a source of great strength. I am honored to be amongst the other courageous, influential military spouses that have stood by their heroes in the past. I am thankful for the strong network of today’s military spouses, lending advice and a hand when needed.
 
My Military Life is an adventure because that is what I make it. And in that adventure, I have met mentors, made lifelong friends, and have learned that life and love are the most valuable things to me. All this in just 6 years…

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Thank you Colleen for sharing your story! If you are interested in submitting an article, please contact us via the Contact tab at the top of the blog. 

 Robin Norgren, Blog Coordinator

Saturday Tutorial: Quick and Easy Souvenir Magnets

This tutorial is brought to you by

Mandy of Simply Leilani

Forget about those overpriced souvenir magnets!  Here's a quick project you can do with the kids.  All you really need is:

• a paper bag/decorative paper/Christmas Cards/something you want to use as a graphic for inside the bottle caps
• glue
• bottle caps
• magnets
• modpodge  
• (optional) a stick 
• (optional) resin or resin stickers

About a month ago, the Navy Reserves sent me to San Diego.   Since my husband is off in Afghanistan, I brought the kids along.  They had a great time and wouldn't stop talking about it even after we came home.  Like everyone else, we are trying to watch our budget, and didn't buy many souvenirs.  

1. Here, we have a bag from the San Diego Zoo Wild Animal Park. You could also recycle theme park ticket stubs, postcards, wrapping paper, photos from all those Christmas cards, or anything else you happen to have laying around the house.

2. If you are using standard bottle caps, then you should cut out 1 inch circles from the bag to fit into the bottle caps. I happen to have a 1 inch circle punch, so that's what we used. You can also trace circles lightly with a pencil and cut with scissors.  If you are using light or thin paper, you might want to cut out some circles out of plain white paper as a backing, glued on behind your desired image... just to be sure you don't end up with something translucent that shows the bottle cap liner.   Since this bag was printed on "kraft paper," I didn't need it for this particular project.

3. Now, for the fun part. Mod Podge! Mod Podge is the bomb.  It's an adhesive AND seals your paper without that permanent "wet" look.  Get a stick or use your fingers and smear a thin coat on the front and back of your circles. Then stick it in the bottle cap and voila!  Well,  you're not quite done, but almost.  Let them dry and go eat lunch or take a nap or something.

4. Now, you have a choice.  You can leave the bottle caps the way they are, slap some magnets on the back and call it a day

OR

  You can put something over the paper to help preserve your souvenir.  Typically, folks choose either poured resin (usually found by the jewelry making supplies) or using clear resin stickers (normally found with scrap booking/paper craft supplies).  Since my 2 year old was helping me, I went with the stickers.  (If my 12 year old was the only one around, I would've mixed up some Ice Resin to pour into the bottle caps since that lasts a LOT longer.)

5. After the kids finish putting the stickers over the paper, I used E6000 and glued rare earth magnets onto the back.  You can pick up E6000 and rare earth magnets at just about any craft store.  The magnet will be attracted to the bottle cap.  Use enough glue to get a little "ooze" around the edge, but not so much that the glue builds higher than the actual magnet. 

You could use regular magnets and Tacky Glue, but those magnets aren't as strong and Tacky Glue takes longer to set.  Don't use Tacky Glue with the rare earth magnets.  If you do, I guarantee that the first time you try to pull the magnet off of the refrigerator door, the bottle cap will come off in your hand and the magnet will be stuck to the fridge. 

There you go!  Ready for the fridge.  Or get an old baking pan and let the kids play with the magnets in the car.  Ta da!

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Thank you so much Mandy! If you are interested in sharing a tutorial, please contact us via the Contact link at the top of the blog!

Well of Creations - Blog Coordinator

Story Behind the (Shop) Name: The Navy Baby

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Nicole Dowd of The Navy Baby

Here's the story behind her shop name: 

     I was sitting at my computer contemplating starting up a new Etsy shop.  But, wait!  Before I could even register I had to create a shop name! AHHH!!!! After wiping the sweat off of my brow, I wrote a bunch of items down that I loved:

--Cherry blossoms (We just did a 3 year tour in Japan)

--sakura (Japanese for cherry blossom)

--crawfish (I am a Louisiana girl) 

--beaux or belles (I have 2 boys and a girl)

--boutique (The old buzz word)

--heirloom (Doesn't that just tug at your heartstrings?)

--fleur de lis (My Louisiana roots yet again)

--purple or pink (My daughter's two favorite colors)

  This was just the short list!  (I won't bore you with the long list)  

    I literally had to stop registering and come back a day later. When I did and re-looked over my list, I noticed I didn't put the one thing I love the most....my husband.  It is because of him that my most of my list even exists!  He is a Naval Aviator and we are a Navy family and we have three Navy babies!  So, once I realized that, I knew that was my shop name:  The Navy Baby.  Just as I was writing it my daughter walked into the room with her smocked dress on wearing my heels and a long strand of play pearls.  Just at that moment I knew I had to add a cute "motto" and so came "Where classy meets sassy" was born! 

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Thank you Nicole for sharing your story! If you are interested in being featured on this blog, Use the Contact tab at the top of the blog.