Blog Crawl

Hi fellow blog enthusiasts!  I am going to be involved in a blog crawl the first week of May and wanted to give you a heads up.  This will be something we can all anticipate.  If you own an Etsy shop and have a blog this would be a great way to get some traffic.  If you are a blog reader this will be a great chance to win a lot of free quality items!  So stay tuned this is going to be fun for all.

Obviously my Etsy shop SuckersbySteph will be doing a giveaway.  Leave me a comment with some suggestions on what I should giveaway from my shop!

Also if you are an Etsy shop owner and have a blog and would like to enter leave a comment below and I will get you some more information.

Steph

Ironic

I do realize Easter was two days ago but as you will soon figure out, I am late for everything!

This was supposed to be my Sunday Easter post, but here goes….

One year and two days ago Easter, before I had even dreamed of SuckersbySteph, my only brother and his three amazing children and I had family pictures taken.  A high school friend, Amanda, who was starting her own photography business volunteered to take them and she was perfect!   Except for these huge bright hot pink lollipops she brought for pictures.  I cringed when she pulled them out!  I could just see the mess all over my niece’s precious Easter dresses, that I had just purchased.

 Amanda said, “Oh they make wonderful photos!”  Uh huh, yeah right, I am thinking a wonderful mess!  Now one year later I realize some things ironically are meant to be.
We could have not taken any better photos even if we had known!

So fast forward a year now I am running a lollipop business and starting a blog and I needed a picture of me.  So I am searching my computer and up pops this one!  Do we look happy?  I mean seriously I can’t remember a better time than what I had that day with the kiddos!  My brother has Joe, the most grown up boy I have every met full of honor and over- flowing with character at the ripe age of 10.  Sammie (pictured) is 4 and has the softest most tender heart and the best little helper and finally Jessie who is 2 and going to be one smart and stubborn young lady one day!  I sure hope when I have children that I well love them as much as I love these precious little people!  Oh I can't leave out the part creator of these amazing little people my brother Spencer, I am scared I won’t be half the parent he is, what an amazingly strong person!  See more family photos here in my about me section!

I guess what I am trying to say is that these big bright hot pink lollipops brought this happiness to the surface!  I mean seriously is that even possible?  Yes it is, and I hope you can experience the same happiness we had that day when you enjoy some of my homemade chocolate lollipops with your loved ones at your special occasions!
Steph

Easter Blues

Well Easter came and went like an Oklahoma wildfire!  I am sad to see all the excitement go!  Lots of firsts happened.  First feature on Etsy Finds, hired first helper, made first 100 sales in my shop, and first month I will be over 1,000 lollipops shipped.  Wow!!  Deep Breathe, yes I am still alive and with only one shipping malfunction!  Not perfect like I had hoped, but pretty close.  Now it is time for customer service follow ups and feedback.  I sure hope the feedback reflects all the hard work!
 
Sales have been slower the last couple of days and even though I have mixed emotions about the slow down, I was ready for the break.  The break is also good for you because it will allow me to post some new items like these music notes!  These primary color notes are a definite change from my soft pastels of April.  I made these for a wedding shower here in my hometown.  
 The bride and groom’s wedding shower colors were blue, yellow, and red.  I was shocked as well!  There theme was notes and Lego’s.  So I attempted to make my own unique mold for Lego’s and even though it is really cute I think the Lego’s will not be listed in the shop due to imperfections in the mold. 

I did manage to pick up a copy of the book I had previously talked about reading!  Boundaries, When to say Yes, How to say No to Take Control of Your Life, by Henry Cloud.  I am certain you will not be surprised when I tell you, that is as far as I have made it.  Hopefully soon you will check my blog and I will have a post regarding some of my readings!

These are a few items that are coming soon to my shop!!
Music Notes (Pictured), Pirate Flags, Pirate Hats, Puppy Dogs, Frogs, and three different Princess Themed Lollipops!!


To all you shop owners, leave me a comment on how you get your customers to leave feedback on Etsy, and for all you buyers let me know what encourages you to leave feedback.
Steph

Borders and Boundaries

How do I find the balance between work, lollipops, personal life, and my four legged daughter Roxy?  My Etsy shop has only been open since November and I am already scrambling to find balance as the orders grow, my interest grows and everything else - well is just that, everything else.

It seems like all I want to do these days is work on my shop and make lollipops.  Thank goodness my boyfriend is easy going and supportive, but my laundry isn’t!  Even though Steve, the boyfriend, has been exceptional great, he still wants to know how Roxy made the "About Me" section and he didn’t!?  So I am introducing you to Steve. His favorite part about my Etsy shop is there is never a lack of chocolate around the house.

A co-worker at my day gig suggested I read this book, called Boundaries, When to say Yes, How to say No to Take Control of Your Life, by Henry Cloud. She said it has transformed her life and wished she had read it in her 30's, so I will be picking up a copy as soon as possible.  Let’s read it together!  I will read as much as possible this weekend and I will post about it on Monday.

I have the hardest time saying no, because in all reality I do want to do it all!  I am coming to grips with the fact that I can't!  Between my normal 40 hour work-week, Etsy, recreational softball, and volunteering in a youth sports program, I am learning very quickly that I will have to say No and soon!

Don’t forget pick up a copy of the book and let’s read it together it will be fun!
Please leave a comment and let me know what you do to create balance in your life?
Steph

Spring is here!

Easter time is so fun on Etsy! Lots of great shops and gift ideas. Below are some of my favorites for the season!

Easter Egg Cupcake Toppers


Hand Knit Bunny Baby Hat


Easter Cupcakes


Rabbit Puppet and Board Book Set

Yellow Colorful Easter Egg

Easter Bunny Rabbit Crayons

Please tell me your favorite Easter/Spring finds in the comments below! I don't want to miss out on anything!

Most Awesome Feature Ever!

When I got an email from Etsy asking for some pictures of my owls I was thrilled but cautious about getting too excited. Then when I heard I would be featured on glo.com I had to look it up. I decided I was getting too excited and convinced myself I probably wouldn't be featured at all. The email saying I was going to be featured first thing Wednesday morning didn't even convince me. So at Midnight Wednesday morning, I checked. And there it was - A front page headline leading to my Owls. Did you hear me screaming?

Autism Awareness Month

I found these puzzle piece sucker molds and just loved them. They were so cute and fun to make. Then I learned about the connection between puzzle pieces being a symbol of Autism Awareness when a customer ordered them for a fundraiser. 
This month, in collaboration with Stephanie Lynn from Under the Table and Dreaming, I am hosting a giveaway! 
Please head over to her blog and enter to win today!