Ladies Blend Thymes Natural Living

Happiness is:

working at home inside during rush hour traffic time, with a cup of tea (and cookie) when it looks like this outside:

Free Print Projects Started and New Blog Features

I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend.  I spent most of the day yesterday sitting on my bee-hind in front of the computer trying to navigate a fun new site that has been on my to-do-list for weeks...months. 

I started a couple of HP print projects, which you can see here.  The first project, I have used my flower images to make a photo cube, all you need are scissors, HP glossy, photo or card stock paper and a printer. It is the first one and of course practice makes perfect (well sort of...maybe), and I am looking forward to making a few more.  Here is a scaled down layout:

Now, just think all about the places that could do with a splash of color from a cute little photo cube, I always have one on my desk.  It is also a nice thing to give to someone, who could use a thoughtful pick-me-up.  I'll also add a link that shows you how to make your own.  How nice and convenient it will be for you to print your own with images that could comfort someone in the hospital or someone away from home or as a keepsake of sorts for a special someone.  I would love to see what you come up with too.

The second HP print project that I started there are clean cut pages for the very popular Ladies Blend homemade beauty recipes.  You can print these out on plain paper or use HP glossy, photo or card stock to make a handmade booklet for yourself or someone else.  The sleek simple design adds to the beauty of this project and is easy on the ink too.  There are no images, but there is a color theme, depending on what the recipe is.  For example, the color scheme for lavender bath salts is purple...you get the idea.  Here is a scaled down version of that project:  

In other news, about a week ago, we quietly launched our new daily feature called Ladies Blend Thymes Three, which is 3 very short daily click-able tidbits of interesting topics.  Already generating a good amount of interest, with lots of clicks, I think this will be around for a while.  Check in daily to see what's new there, this new feature is located at the top of the home page, everyday.  Click the box, located in our sidebar on every page to take you right to Ladies Blend Thymes Three:

In the side bar under For You From Pennie, another new feature was also added, called five faves, which is a list of the five most popular projects, recipes, posts, etc. on our blog and is updated as needed.  An example of a very popular post right now, is the one that has the recipe for homemade insect repellent.  As you can imagine this post will not be clicked on nearly as much after summer has ended.  

And last, but never least, we are having a 20% off sale on our Ladies Blend website exclusively for our blog readers.  This sale ends 07/02/08, see complete ad details in our sidebar.  Enjoy!

And just one more thing.  We all know by now food blogs rule, and I want you to have easy access to the best recipes available on the Internet, so I did add one more new feature...oh about 10 or 11 days (and an hour or 2) ago.  The food blog search button, located in (where else?) our sidebar-thank goodness for those sidebars! 

And that is the end of this very long post - have a lovely day!

A Fresh New Plan

Continued from this post.

I did not know it, but I already had what is now known as a green business before the term green business was coined.  I don't really say too much about or use it to appear better than anyone else, that is not what it is about and besides, I am the middle (I mean second :) child and not crazy about labels to begin with! 

So through all of this looking for an office escapade, we finally slowed down, sat back and allowed it all to sink in.  Well, the truth is, it was initiated by hub.   After the last office that we looked at, it was a quiet ride home...thinking, thinking, thinking hard. 

That night, right after we arrived home, hub says "Would you like a glass of wine?"  Oh-oh, I said to myself, he is preparing me for a "serious conversation", so I said "no thank you."  But then I thought, it's time, so I said, "well, okay, just a little-please."   We talked about the economy and how we needn't slow down our plans, but maybe we could be smarter about how we execute them.  We talked about the traffic and the price of gas.  We talked about the huge cost increase for groceries and planting a vegetable garden.  We talked about ways we could use what we already have to accomplish a similar and satisfying outcome for both of us, but I really know it was for me.  In his mind if I am happy, then he is happy-awe, bless him.   

We decided to create a comfortable niche for our business using a portion of our home.  We have the perfect scenario with a private entry, we are zoned properly and already having ran a business previously from my home, I know what to do differently.  Run it like a business and nothing less!  

So let's get to the important stuff!  First off, the room to be used is getting a re-model of sorts, good for the business and good for our home too.  One big upside to this solution is that we will be using a fraction of the money that would have been basically flushed away paying commercial rent.  I would have been paying a ridiculous amount of money in gas to get from point A to point B, 6 days a week.  I'd be spending at least an hour everyday driving in congested traffic, when I would much rather be relaxing at home whilst preparing a delicious wholesome dinner.    And let's face it, those other drivers on the road are nuts, they don't drive nearly as well as I do.  I always say everyone should drive like me-of course no one else agrees with me-I have no idea why.  But really, almost everyone I see is either talking on a cell phone, eating fast food, smoking and some do all three...they scare me :)

I should also mention that we deemed this a temporary solution, as it took some sinking in for me, but honestly, the more I think about and visualize it, I'm thinking it just might be better than okay.  If a were a label person-which I'm not :) someone may call me an ecopreneur, because quite frankly, the biggest selling point here is the kinder environmental impact, using what we already have and making every aspect of this business as organic and as earth friendly as possible and I LOVE that, it makes me happy and this whole journey justifiable and not so crazy.

I am going to take pictures to post, before and after and in-between too, I think the transformation is going to be awesome.  

Just because you have the means to do something does not always mean that you should do it or follow a traditional plan and certainly not just because everyone else is doing it-dare to be different.  Working from home, is not just about saving money anymore, it's about doing good for the environment, offering  an ideal product or service, creating your own terms and enjoying life, even in unsettling times.   

I hope you have a great weekend.

What to do? relax, unwind, focus and think about it...

I now realize that if you have never gone down the path of looking for a commercial office space, you might think- what is the big deal.  It's just an office, there are tons of them available, right?   Right.  But if you need an office that have to meet your list of requirements, you whittle through the tons of empty and available ones pretty quickly. 

We looked at an office last night in the beautiful historical downtown area.  It was gorgeous, I could see how every piece of furniture would fit, I wanted it.  The price was right and it was beautiful, that should be enough right?  I wish it was that simple, (sigh).  First the parking lot was in a bit of sad shape, fine for me, but someone else may not maneuver around it so easily, especially someone with physical limitations.  The beautiful entry was on the side of the building, with no signage for this office on the front.  The office was located upstairs, again, fine (and good) for me, but not for everyone else.   A common bathroom-I'll say no more except-I don't think so.  And last, but certainly not least was the lovely train that comes through and blows its horn at various times of the day.  Not a bother to me, it is part of the downtown charm, but to someone trying to relax-well probably not a good thing.  

Here is a short version/run-down of the past month or so (grab a drink): 

There was this other beautiful office in a very upscale building, a Dr's. office, fine, but their hours would have to be my hours-not fine.  Plus, sick people using the same lobby, I really have nothing against the sick people, it's just their contagious germs that I'm not fond of-flu season-yikes. 

Hair salon, nice  (I mean "great") people, but small workspace and chemical fumes at times...hmmm, may not flow well with natural and organic treatments. 

Then there was this time where the person acted like he was interviewing me, (funny, I thought I was there to interview him), I'm thinking authority issues here.  Hey, this is my business, I am looking to lease an office, not a boss, I already have one and she is slave driver.  Don't think so-see ya.

And then there was the one where the person talked about himself for a good twenty minutes-yawn-snore-let me out of here!

And bless the well intended people that mean to help when they say, well how about a Dermatology office or a Spa or a Chiropractor...and the list goes on.  I'll humor you for just a moment though-a dermatology office have their own line of products that they use, one of my niches is that I will be selling some of the products that I use during my treatments.  A spa-you work there as an employee and follow their treatment menu.  Chiropractor-I did check in with a couple of chiropractic offices, small rooms and lots of medical massage, I've done that-remember, this is my business.  I want to do something more creative. 

There it is, that one little word-creative.  There are a lot of things that you don't see with creativity, it is a feeling, a free-ness and it does not take much to stifle it.  If that happens, what do you have?  For me, nothing, nadda, a mixed up mess (well I have that sometimes anyways, but you get my gist), I think-I hope you do.

So what am I to do? 

I'll tell you what I am going to do, but I'm out of time, so I'll have to continue this tomorrow!

A Beautiful Warm Sunday Morning

Herbs grow so fast, I keep most of ours in pots so I have better control of them.  I cut back quite a bit before I snapped this picture and although there are only two of us, what I cut will be used up pretty quickly around here.  We eat a lot of salads and homemade soups. I know some only eat soup when it is cold, not us, we eat soup weekly.  Living in Florida, if we waited for cold weather, we may not have delicious soup for months...and months.  I love soup.

I am sorry to say that we are once again actively looking for a commercial place to rent for our business expansion.  I won't bore you with the details and really I suppose these business dealings should be kept private-right :)  All I can say, is when the universe sees that this should all come together, we are ready, I mean we are really ready!  

I just looked out the window and saw two people peddle by on an early morning bike ride.  Nice to see there are others up and about this early on a Sunday.  Of course, I am typing this in my nightgown-aahh the Internet-have a good day.