Sunday Citar - New Paths

"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." ~ Walt Disney


Last year I wrote about my husband's new adventure when he completely changed career paths and became a Jr. Developer.  The last year has been fantastic.  He absolutely LOVES his job.  The company and the people he works with are wonderful  Happy daddy = Happy family.

Well, I have been given the opportunity to change my own professional career path.  The opportunity arose for me to work for the same company as a Jr Developer (the same job as my husband) and I had to take it.  Computer coding isn't completely foreign to me.  You see before my husband even thought of coding, I already knew a bunch.  I had to take a few coding classes in college (I have a AAS in Engineering) and have learned even more while writing this blog.  I still have a ton to learn, too.  I am so excited for this opportunity for me and our family.  Over the last month, I have been training with my husband and this past Friday I officially started. 

"So what is going to happen to the little old clay shop?" you ask.

If you follow me over on my facebook page, you already know I changed how I am taking orders.  Last month I was only open for about a week taking Valentine orders.  Then I closed up, made all of the orders and mailed everyone's packages at once.  Part of the reason I did that was because we took a ''surprise vacation'' and I was training with my husband.  I loved how it worked out so I will probably be doing the same type of thing every month.  I will be creating a few new new items each month and then posting them along with a few old favorites in my shop.  I will also be holding Ready To Ship days over on my facebook fan page.

Here is to new opportunities and paths!  :)

Happy New Year!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful 2013!!

Good Bye 2012

Whew...I can not believe 2012 is almost over!

It was a great one! 

Hope everyone has a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Sunday Citar - New Year, New Adventures!

"The secret for success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes."  Benjamin Disraeli

On December 1st my husband started a new adventure.  He COMPLETELY changed career paths.  It was a scary and exciting time for both of us. 

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you may already know my husband is an optician (he dispenses contact lenses and glasses).  He has worked for a few optical companies since getting his license (you have to be licensed in NYS) and had worked for 8yrs at his last location. 

So instead of being an optician, he is now a Jr. Developer for a company out of Tennessee.  Yep, couldn't be any more different than being an optician.  Over the last 8 months, there were lots of late nights and weekends, his friend (who works for the same company) taught my husband computer coding.  I could not be more proud of my husband & grateful to his best friend since childhood for teaching him.  Jeff worked really hard and he picked it up quickly.  Because the company is out of Tennessee, Jeff gets to telecommute every day.  It has been an adjustment on all of us having him home every day.  This job has been such a blessing, I have not seen Jeff this happy in a while.  He is beaming every day when he goes to work...in the basement.  :D

My favorite part of this job is the kids & I get to see more of him.  When he was an optician he worked more than 40 hours a week and there were at least 2-3 late nights where he come home after the kids went to bed.  Now we get to eat dinner with him every night and can pop downstairs and give him a hug if we need to.

Here's to a New Year and new adventures!

Aloha Friday #39

It is Aloha Friday! In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that people take it easy and look forward to the weekend.

Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your comment below and link in Kailani’s blog. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

This weeks question is:
How was your 2010?

Mine was great!  Personally and professionally it was fantastic and I definitely can not complain.  I am definitely looking forward to a wonderful 2011.

Here is just a portion of the custom orders I created this holiday season.  Some are one of a kind, some were added to my shop this year after creating them and some will be definitely added next year.  (I do create ornaments all year round, so if there is something you would like for next Christmas please keep that in mind.)

A BIG thank you to all of my customers this year!  I am very grateful for all of you.

A few stats as of today:

I have had 605 sales in my etsy shop.
367 of those sales on etsy were from 2010!
My etsy shop has 1212 "Hearts".
My blog has 923 Blog Followers and 986 google reader subscribers and 123 e-mail subscribers.
There are 1077 Fans of Whimsical Creations on Facebook. 

Those numbers are just mind blowing to me.

Here's looking forward to a Fantastic 2011!  Have a safe New Year!!

Aloha Friday #10

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It is Aloha Friday! In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that people take it easy and look forward to the weekend.


Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your comment below and link in Kailani’s blog. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

This weeks question is:
Did you stay up to Midnight last night to ring in the New Year?  If so did you stay home or go to a party?

In the past we had Jeff's parents watch Ian and we went to a party.  This year we stayed in and had a mini party early with the kids.  I really tried to stay up until midnight, but fell asleep.  Oops.

We were planning on going to my parents today in PA, but we all have gotten a cold.  Runny noses suck!  It could be worse though.  On top of that, south of where we live (NY/PA state line) is predicted to get LOTS of snow today.





Don't forget to check out my snow scene tutorial & enter my giveaway, here.