Christmas Tree Ideas

I would love to have a Christmas tree that looks like this.  Hundreds of lights and all twinkly.  However, I have 2 cats!  Last year we only had 1 cat and Miss Sophie knocked the tree over 5 days in a row.  I finally took it down and put up a small one on the mantle.  This year Jude has been added to our family.  He is only 6 months old and into everything.  I know how it's going to go if I put up the tree.  Sigh.

I need some ideas on a cat proof tree.  Help!!!

Small Business Saturday

Today is the first ever Small Business Saturday! American Express started the movement to encourage everyone to shop at local and online small businesses on the day after Black Friday. Did you know that 68 cents of every dollar spent at a small business stays in the local community?? About 60 to 80 percent of jobs created each year for the last decade are attributed to small businesses.

In honor of the day I am having a sale in my Etsy shop - 20% off everything until 6 pm tonight! All you need to do is enter the coupon code THANKS1127 at checkout and the discount will automatically be deducted.

Shop small today!!!

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is almost here! It is my favorite holiday. I love cooking the meal and just having time to spend with family. Everyone will be at my house this year except for my grandson Justin. We will have lots to eat, play games, and enjoy each other's company. I have put off my grocery shopping so I will have to go on Saturday. I am sure the store will be crowded and the lines will be long. I am praying for a good attitude because patience is not my virtue!

I have so many things to be thankful for this year. God is always so good and so faithful. I am thankful for God's grace and sending His son Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of my life. I don't deserve the grace but He gives it freely to me every day.

I am thankful for my beautiful family, for our nice warm home, for having food to eat every day, and the daily blessings that God provides.

This year I am particularly thankful for Stephany's sobriety. Four months ago our life was in chaos. Day by day everything has gotten better and life is starting to feel normal again. My beautiful daughter is sober, happy, and thankful for her second chance at a wonderful life. God has blessed us in this situation too, and because of what we've gone through, we have the testimony of His love and grace to share with others.

I am thankful for all of you who follow my blog and return again and again to read my ramblings. Thank you for your comments - they are a blessing to me. Thank you for your prayers for our family. I love you and cherish you!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Boot Camp

I never thought I'd be going to boot camp but I am! I started Etsy's Holiday Boot Camp today (it actually started 9/23 so I have catching up to do). It is a series of newsletters with homework designed to help you get the most out of your Etsy shop for the holidays. For me it's about the business of getting down to business. I need to treat what I do as a business and not as a hobby. I need to learn how to run my business so I'm going to boot camp. If you have an Etsy shop and would like to sign up click here and sign up for the Etsy Success newsletter.

Today one of the assignments was to write a mission statement for your business. I hate stuff like this. I don't want to have to think, I just want to create! But it's part of the process so I did it. Once I got started it was good and really made me think about what my mission is for The Rustic Cottage. I am baring my soul here and it's not something that I am comfortable with so here goes.

My mission statement:

To always maintain my priorities in the correct order - God first, family second, and business last.

To create high quality, handcrafted bath and body products using natural and organic ingredients.

To share information and educate others on the benefits of products made with natural and organic ingredients.

To build a rapport with my customers so they don't feel like "just another sale" and provide them with products that are helpful and benefit them through healthier skin.

To be fair and honest in all my business dealings.

To be a full-time business woman running a socially and environmentally conscious business doing what I love and providing for my family.

I hope that by reading this you will know where my heart is and I hope that it may help you with your business too!!!

Hugs,
Kay