Home Business

After making the wedding album for Jeff's cousin last fall, I got a few suggestions that I should do that as a side business. I dismissed the idea, because I didn't think I'd be able to make any money at it. And although I can't make the same $/hour that I do for teaching, I can't teach at home in my pajamas while the kids do school work, either. It's a trade off, but one I might be able to live with, especially since my teaching schedule is so erratic (crazy right now, but there's no telling how long that will last).

So if I were to make albums for other people and charge for them, where would I get background images ("papers," in scrapbook-speak)? I need to get stuff that is copyright free, obviously. Usually, I just google image search for what I want, and since it's for personal use, I don't worry about it. Can't do that in business, though.

Also, I need to figure out pricing, how to get clients, a business name, and how I can afford to get started. A CM consultant suggested I sign up and just do their Memory Books, but I like my own, template-free program better. Aren't there grants for women to start businesses?

I'd really like to be able to do this, but the prospect of getting started is rather daunting.

"The only thing Nyquil ever cured . . .

is consciousness."

And that's why I love it. I took some Thursday night, and felt better the next day, and now I'm just about 100% back.

Really busy right now (I need to try to retro-figure all my mileage from last year's computer classes and medical appointments for taxes, which is going to be a big job), but I wanted to let everyone know I was back in the land of the living. Thanks for the good wishes, all!

Not Food Poisoning

After throwing up 7 times Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, I had a good guess that I had either the flu or food poisoning, and I tried to think of all the things I'd recently eaten. I asked the waiter for my patty melt to be well done, and I think it was, but I really didn't pay attention. I had a little bit of bread dough, and that has raw eggs, but that was only an hour ago. Rice? Not likely. Half a pasty? Nah, I know those were cooked, and Jeff eats them all the time, and he's fine.

Wednesday morning, I canceled my classes (which are now totally messed up), and made an appointment at the doctor's. Luckily, Jeff had the day off anyway, so he could drive me. Doc said that it's viral, nasty, and been making the rounds lately, so go home, get a lot of rest, and stay hydrated. That last part is the hardest for me, because I worried that drinking anything would make me throw up again, and I do prefer to avoid that. But I did manage to get a little water and a little ginger ale, and spent most of the day in bed.

Today, I'm better. Not really well, but better. I still can't watch cooking shows, or think about dinner, but I am planning on teaching my class tonight, although I'm hoping I'll be able to sit more than running around. That's not likely, but it's only a two hour class.

Knitting

Apparently, I don't have enough hobbies.

Sarah has been asking to learn to knit, and since I don't remember how (I think I made all of one scarf while in college), my mom gave us a basic lesson yesterday. So far, all we can do is the garter stitch, which is fine for scarves. Sarah picked out hot pink yarn, and Lauren's is a dark blue with some subtle multi-colored flecks. It still looks basically blue.

Sarah pretty much has the hang of it, and I'm also doing ok, but man--is it slow! I worked on Lauren's last night, and it's only 30 stitches wide, but it's still less than six inches long. At this rate, the snow will be all gone by the time she gets to wear it! I can't understand how Katie makes all those sweaters.

We're also supposed to go scrapbooking Sunday, so I guess I should order some pictures for that.

Although it's just a hobby so far, I'm trying to figure out how to turn my digital photo album passion into a paying job.

Here's another Demo

This is a demo for my stepdad.

Demo

This is my demo post for my Web Design class.

We can change sizes, colors, and add links and pictures.

The Price of Happiness

Cost to make me happy yesterday: $1.67
What I got: this week's groceries (milk, eggs, cornflakes, bananas, bread, and frozen pizza are all I can remember right now, but I know there were one or two other things). We didn't need much, because I stocked up so much last week, and we took back about $5 in bottles & cans.

Cost to make Sarah happy today: $8.46
What she got: a yard of polar fleece and a yard of rip-stop fabric, both in purple, natch. I'm going to make her some snow pants based on a pajama pants pattern piece. I'll use thread and elastic I already have. They should be done tonight or tomorrow, not that she'll get to wear them while the weather is like this. (Current temp: 3 degrees.)

Cost to make Lauren happy today: $0.63.
What she got: helium for the balloon they passed out at the movie Saturday. We got free passes to see Cinderella III last weekend, and they were passing out balloons, but the helium tank broke. Ever since, she's been dying to have her balloon, and we finally had a chance to get it filled today. She's been squealing ever since.

(Note: I have decided that if Lauren is determined to be a "blue princess" again next year for Halloween [as she has for the past three years], I will cave and make her a true Cinderella dress. If anything will break the spell, I hope that will do it!)

Yum

I finally made the Pasties, and they are so yum! I might even get over my "once a year" rule, and make them again soon, because my mom & stepdad are going to be here in a few weeks, and the five that are left will not last that long. The combination of ground beef and ground pork (not breakfast sausage) is really tasty, and I'd forgotten how much I like home made pie crust.

The freezer itself is nicely full, so maybe I won't have to cook so much next week. Cross your fingers for me!