From the Confessional

Has LiFe turned out the way you thought it would?  I have to confess that mine is very different than I had “planned”.  After we got married I envisioned living in the country, only working from 8-5, and having all the time in the world to play with my kids and make pErfeCt sugar cookies with them like you see on the commercials.  I feel like I woke up one day and immediately thought, “Hey!  What happened to that perfect life plan I had?  Give it back!”  Have you ever felt like that?

Many days I feel like I’m chasing my own tail.  Even though I’m a stay-at-home mom, there are never enough hours to do the laundry, make (decent) meals, and remember to send birthday cards to loved ones on time (or at all!).  After living in St. Louis for 2 years we DO live in the country (yay!) BUT we DON’T have a tYpiCal life style.  My husband travels often so we might eat breakfast with him instead of supper and we get up before dawn to fill orders for my business before we start our “day” jobs.  Soon we plan to move closer to where we grew up so we can farm more.  Moving means not being sEttLed for a while and a new location means new challenges. See why I feel like I’m chasing my tail?!

I’ve realized that even though my life is different and crazier than I had planned, why couldn’t it mean that it may end up bEtteR? Looking back, my previous “plan” would be less stressful, but maybe even a little boring.  People that take risks and live life to the fullest often have more sAtisfaCtion.  Despite taking a detour from the “plan”, I guess I’m willing to accept the challenge for a chance of a more rewarding future.

What is a “normal” life anyway? The more I think of it, I don’t know many friends or family that have an 8-5 work life and lounge around after work.  Life is just hectic sometimes I guess.  Keeping focused on the GooD things that come from this “unplanned” life is the most important thing.

~Lara

UNEXPECTED INSPIRATION

About a year ago I discovered Lara’s LeTTeR BloCk ShOp while searching Etsy.  I quickly became a huge fan of her work and started collecting block sets for each season and holiday.  Lara was always so CheeRfuL and FriEndLy in her messages and I became InsPiReD when I read that she was a teacher turned stay-at-home mom who opened her own shop.

Growing up I loved doing crafts and was always starting my own LittLe BusiNeSSes.  I sold potholders, friendship bracelets, and hand painted shirts to my family.  Fast forward about 25 years and I started thinking, “If Lara was able to open her own shop then why can’t I?”  I was also a teacher turned stay-at-home mom and was YeaRniNg for a way to turn my CrEaTiviTy into something I could be proud of and call my own.

I had been making banners out of felt for my own home for the holidays and with each new one I designed my mom would say, “You really need to sell these.”  With a leap of faith RoByN’s NeSt was opened on Etsy this past February.  I was honored to have Lara as my very 1st customer and am currently a few sales away from my 125th sale!

When trying something new or doing something you’ve always dreamed of…remember that InSpiRaTioN is EveRywHerE!

~Jersey Girl~

P.S. Visit my online shop www.etsy.com/shop/triobyn

 

{Coach $100 Voucher – 1st Come 1st Served!!}

Hey SuEde SoFa VieWerS!!  I have a $100 CoAcH PuRsE voucher to give away to the first person who answers this question:  “One item on my “LiVe-It LiSt” is _______________”.

The voucher expires on NoVemBer 6th.  Sorry for the short notice.  I had meant to put it on the blog when I got it a week or so ago but forgot!  Oops!!

Here are some more details printed on the voucher:

“…enjoy $100 toward your purchase of $300 or more from October 27 through November 6, 2011.”

The voucher can be redeemed either in a CoAcH FuLL PriCe StoRe or online at coach.com

I would like to get this in the mail tomorrow to ensure the winner receives it by the 6th, so don’t DeLaY!! 

If you are the first person to leave your answer on the Suede Sofa blog, please private message me your address on Facebook.  (Robynn Coates)

By the way, if you don’t feel comfortable using your real name, please feel free to use a moniker.

ThAnKs and BeSt WiShEs!!

:)

Robynn~

Email Me

I recently I spoke with a friend who was hurt about not being included in a DeCisiOn that the rest of her family made without her.  The situation could have been avoided by simply picking up the phone or sending a quick email.   Instead, everyone got busy with life, assumed that she would be okay with it, and she ended up feeling left out and unloved.

Our hectic lives cause us to oVerLook how our decisions and actions are affecting others.  Many relationships are damaged because people don’t take the TiMe to share simple details and make sure everyone is included.

As the holidays are approaching this is an important time to keep the lines of communication open.  One idea is sending out a large email to everyone in the group (make sure you send it to EvERyOnE!!).  Each person hits “reply all” when giving their input, and having dates/ specifics in writing is another helpful way to avoid ConFuSion down the road.  This simple way of communication gives everyone an equal opportunity to share their ideas and no one feels left out.

Start your holiday planning off right!  ChriStmAs here we come :)

~Lara

{Let The Holidays Begin!!}

Tonight Lara’s family and my family hung out together.  It’s TrAdiTioN.  We’ve been doing this on October 31st ever since we met back in 2009.

I’m not into Halloween, but I really am into ThanKsgiVinG AnD ChriStmAs!!  In fact, tomorrow is the first official day of the HoLiDaYs (according to me).   I actually saw my first Christmas commerical today!  Tomorrow I will break out the Christmas tunes and maybe even start hanging up the Christmas WrEaThS in the windows.  So, on that note, I want to leave you with this Christmas tune.

HoLiDaY ChEeRs!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRB0Wgr1j2o

:)

Robynn~

It’s Called {Life}

From time to time I do a CoOkiNg shOw on our local cable channel.  Because I live in a small town (pop. about 9,000) the viewing audience is relatively small.  The last show I did featured home-made AppLe bUttEr and PoPcoRn BaLLs.  The popcorn balls were a recipe my dad would make when I was a KiD.  Because of the NosTaLgiC element of this treat, I decided to make these for the audience.  I remembered my dad whipping them up in no time flat and wanted to share a quick, easy, SwEeT tReAt.  So, I called my dad, he gave me the recipe off the top of his head, and I was off and running.  I did a practice run and they came out PeRfEcT.  I was ready to feature them on the cooking show.  So I ThoUgHt. 

Then came time for the ShOw.  Everything was going along fine until it came time to form the popcorn balls.  The host and I began to form the sweetened popcorn into balls.  That is we began to “TrY” to form the sweetened popcorn into balls.  Unfortunately our efforts failed.  The mixture just would not stick together.  The only thing it did was StiCk To oUr HaNdS.  Oops!

We continued the show and did the best job we could.  Turns out that when the show was over, the mixture very easily formed into balls.  It just needed a little TiMe To CoOL.

I suppose I could have stopped the taping and asked if we could start over, but hey, ThIs is LiFe.  And life isn’t perfect.  So, as I am learning, I did the BeSt I could with the ReSouRcEs I haD.  Because afterall, it’s called “LiFe”.

:)

Robynn~

ThAt WaS AwKwArD!!

“Hello, My Name is Robynn and I’m a GeEk.”  (Is there a support group for this sort of thing?)

I remember telling my students that I was a geek and they would immediately come to my defense saying, “Oh, no!  You are not a geek, Ms. Hofer!”  But I ReAllY aM.  (Thanks students for the vote of confidence.)

I find myself in these AwKwArD situations and many times I had nothing to do with getting into them in the first place.  But there I am.  Smack dab in the middle of it, between a RoCk and a HaRd PlAcE.   For example, I’m in a social setting where someone begins talking unkindly about another person who is not in our presence.  I would say something but 1.) I’m picking my mouth off the floor in disbelief that such a comment was even said in the first place &  2.) What should I say?  

In these situations, it makes me feel like a geek – awkward, uncomfortable, and at a loss of what to say or do.  I want to run and hide.  Why?  Because I have an ImAgE to uphold.  After all, I am well put together, refined, and always know what to do.  (Yah, right!)

If I’m honest I will admit I don’t always know what to do.  The beauty of acknowledging this is that then I qualify for help from above.  So here I am: RaW, transparent, and yes, even a geek.  But that’s ok.  I will take all the help I can get.

:)

Robynn~