9 Ways to Wring Your Own Neck!

This is a great "cheat sheet" provided by Charming Charlie regarding what type of necklace to wear with a specific neckline. A gal can never have too many tips when it comes to looking sassy!  I especially like it when a magazine will show several different ways to wear a great basic such as a white blouse or a simple sheath. Or maybe it's one of the articles showing the five "must haves" for Spring! Do you have any fashion tips you can share? Please do!

Springtime Resolutions You'll Actually WANT to Keep!

So last year I made an attempt to offer you a list of resolutions that were fun and easier to keep than things like "lose 50 pounds" or "never get angry in traffic again."  But by resolution #3, I seemed to fall right off the map, didn't I?  Well I vote that we pick up right where we left off and apply these same resolutions to the remainder of 2013.  So let's revisit last year's list and make it happen THIS year!

Here we are, just a few weeks shy of springtime, and if any of you share my tendency to avoid anything remotely confrontational or uncomfortable, then I have a sneaky feeling that I’m not the only cowboy that’s fallen off the New Year’s Resolution wagon.  Am I right?  Or maybe you are one of those rebels that say, “You know what?  It stresses me out so much to try to accomplish something major or make any substantive changes in my life that I’m going to avoid the idea of making resolutions altogether!  What’s the point when I blow it by February???” 

My friend, I feel you.  And I’m here to tell you that it’s not too late to make some changes and a change doesn’t have to feel like a grave penance (which we, Catholics, strive so diligently to do during Lent – but that’s another blog).   It seems our resolutions always involve some sort of “corrective action” if you will, for something that is lacking in our life or to correct something society tells us we shouldn’t have been doing (i.e. overeating, swearing too much, drinking too much, watching too much television, drinking too much, not exercising enough, not volunteering enough, drinking too much).

Well, instead of making a list of things we feel OBLIGATED to do that feel like punishments, what about just setting some goals that will enrich your life, make you feel like you’re accomplishing something, and will be fairly easy to achieve?  Let’s face it – if it’s a miserable task, we’re not going to want to achieve it.  If it in involves fun and makes you feel good about yourself, then you want to tackle it!

With this concept in mind, I’ve established a list of 10 suggested goals that you can strive to achieve over the next year (or whenever – no rules here).  There’s no need to slit your wrists or put a bag over your head if you don’t achieve them.  And I’m not sure who came up with the rule that if you miss your goals by mid-February, then you’ve blown your opportunity to make it a great year.  That’s baloney!

Below is a list of 10 goals I will review over the next several weeks:

1. Read more.  Why not start with the Bible?  It’s a best-seller! How about organizing a book club?  It's on my top ten list.  (This was actually addressed in my August blog post! Check it out!)

2. Keep up with technology. Discover cool apps and websites that will make your life easier.  (Been there, done that... Check out the blog post here.)

 3. Make a wish board.  Grab a poster board, some magazines and some scissors, because this will be FUN!

  

4. Simplify Your Life.  Yeah, this may take more than one blog post. HA. 

5. Repurpose, Redefine, Redesign.

Great tips for cleaning out, reorganizing and recycling.  Disclaimer:  Sunny Belle will not be responsible for recycling of husbands, wives, significant others or in-laws.  The intended goal is to reduce clutter and use things more efficiently.  Intended goal is not applicable to anything with a pulse.
 

6. Pinch pennies. We’ll discuss the logistics of setting up a lemonade stand for supplemental income.  Just kidding. We will however, find reasonable ways to make it easier to keep some cash in our wallets!

  

 

7. Eat healthier and take care of yourself.  (Eww, sounds dangerously close to a real New Years’ Resolution, doesn’t it? Don’t worry.  We’ll make it fun.)

 8. Take more pictures.  We’ll learn photography tips, including how to store pictures and organize digital files and maybe even some scrapbooking tips!

 9. Document your thoughts.  There are so many cool ways to express yourself and record memories at the same time.  I’ll show you how.

 

 

10. Start and support small businesses. This is a trend that is growing by leaps and bounds!  We’ll check out the best resources for “keeping it local”.

Well, there you have it.  Over the next several weeks, I’ll cover one fun goal at a time and give you lots of useful information that just might make you look forward to making some simple changes in your life.

So get ready to climb aboard and enjoy the ride!  Cheers to 2013!

 

 

http://www.sunnybelle.com/

Friday's Finds of the Day

It's been a fun week of discoveries so here are three of my latest finds!

Who knew that covering throw pillows could be so inexpensive? I was shopping in Hobby Lobby for drapery fabric this week, when I stumbled across these fabulous pillow covers, most of them priced at less than 6 bucks! This is a nugget of info to file away for when I redecorate my living room (after my kitchen is done, of course). Most pillow covers that I see are priced at $20 and up, so this was a pleasant little surprise for me! Moral of the story - DO NOT toss out those old throw pillows just because you’ve changed your color palette. Breathe new life into those babies with these bargain-priced pillow pick-me-ups!

My next discovery was found when I was searching for some new social buttons for my blog. Moxie Tonic offers super cute social media buttons that match your blog and your style!  She even offers special fonts for your blog signature.  Choose from standard colors or get a perfect match for your blog design. The best part is that her prices are incredibly reasonable! Check out Moxic Tonic today on Etsy.

My last find of the day is a relatively new store in my neck of the woods called Discoveries Furniture & Finds in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Determined not to be your run of the mill antique furniture store, these two go-getters, Scott and Kat McKearn, travel the world in search of the perfect pieces for every budget. They cut out the middle man by buying direct and pass the savings on to you! Located on Highland Road in Baton Rouge, it’s definitely a place to visit the next time you come to the capitol of Louisiana.  You’re sure to find something you’ll want to take home at Discoveries Furniture & Finds!

Well that's it for today!  Got any cool finds you'd like to shout about?  I'm always looking for new things to discover!  Please leave a comment if you've found a cool shop or website you'd like to share with the rest of us! 

  

Chalk One Up for DIY-ers!

So, I've had this addiction to chalk paint lately.  My kids are lucky their walls are not plastered with the stuff.  It's just so versatile! Nearly anything can be instantly transformed into a label, a notepad or a work of art with just a few coats of this glorious indispensable crafter's tool.  And best of all,  it gives a home that extra quirky touch.  Here are some of my favorite uses of chalkboard paint...  

How about these precious flower pots that can be erased and redesignated for other herbs in the making?  Wouldn't these make great teacher gifts?  The possibilities are endless!

 

Canisters of all shapes and sizes painted with chalkboard paint seem to be the big craze!  So Sunny Belle jumped on the bandwagon with these!  Only $25 for a set of three at www.sunnybelle.com.

I so WISH I had a place in my home where I could hang a huge group of chalkboard panels as shown below.  This makes the coolest showing and I think it looks funky and hip.  I especially like it paired with the black sideboard.

Here's a cool trick!  Paint your wineglasses with chalkboard paint so that your guests won't lose their glass again.  Pretty sweet, huh?  Check them out at www.sunnybelle.com.

So even though my home is only 1,459 square feet (suck in when you pass people in the hall), I have decided I need to do this "menu motif" somewhere in my home.  Ooh I should do this to one of my kitchen cabinets; especially since I'm in the middle of repainting the cabinets now.  So why not, right?  Find more ideas like these at www.whipperberry.com.

Last, but not least, is my absolutely favorite idea - chalkboard frames!  Whaaaat????  I can't count on my fingers and toes how many different ways you can design chalkboard frames.  Check out more of these original ideas on www.madebynicole.blogspot.com.

Do you have some original and quirky uses of your own for chalkboard paint?  Please do share them here!  Happy painting!

Two Years Later – I’ve Learned to "Mind" My Business!

It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since Sunny Belle opened its virtual doors to the world and started offering fun hand painted gifts for every occasion.  If that sounded like a tagline, it kinda' was.  I can’t help it.  For two years, I’ve been in cyber mode, learning so very much (but not nearly enough) about setting up websites, creating blogs, improving Facebook pages and learning how to make Twitter and even Pinterest work in my favor.  I am obsessed with making things look pretty, yet professional.  I may not have completely succeeded with all of my efforts, but I think I’m on the right track.

One of the most important things I’ve learned is to trust my instincts as a consumer – not a business owner – as to what works and what doesn’t.  I need to think like my customers and my followers to make them happy and keep them coming for more.

So in my limited time on the internet scene as a small business, here are a few things I’ve learned along the way… 

WEBSITES:

1.     Create a website that looks professional, but follows the theme of your business.   There is no bigger turnoff to me than a lackluster or unorganized website.  I will literally close it out if I don’t like the way it flows.  If your website is not as top notch as it could be, then one may assume (however unfair) that your business is not top notch either.  Your website is a first impression to the buying community.  Make it count.
2.      Pick a theme that will set the desired mood when viewers find you.  If it’s an upscale photography business, be serious and don’t litter your website with polka dots and cutesy fonts.  If it’s a quirky gift shop, bring on those polka dots and cutesy fonts and showcase your creativity.  Make sure your website is easy to navigate; don’t frustrate people by making them search three pages to figure out how to start perusing your products.  Also, if you don’t have a mobile version of your website, MAKE SURE YOUR BUTTONS ARE LARGE ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO NAVIGATE EASILY ON TABLETS AND SMARTPHONES!  Likewise, even on a desktop version, make sure all your tabs and links are large and easy to spot.

3.       If you know HTML and CSS, then by all means, knock yourself out and design your own website.  However, if you’re like me and would LOVE to know HTML and more about web design, but don’t have it down pat yet, do yourself a favor and purchase a template and hosting plan to get your business launched, and study how to design a website on the side.  If, in a year, you’ve learned enough to do it yourself, then take it from there.  There are many wonderful website templates and hosting companies out there that frequently run specials that allow you to start an online business without cashing in body parts.  My personal favorite hosting company is Bizzy Mama Hosting.

4.       Domains – For as little as $5 per year, they are cheap enough that you should jump on every version of your primary domain name.  If possible, grab the .com, .org, .net, .info, etc.  The more you have under your belt, the less chance of a look-alike domain stealing your thunder.

5.     Always be sure to add social buttons on your website. Encourage your viewers to follow you everywhere!

6.   Set up a "Testimonial" page to allow others to see rave reviews about your products or services.  Word of mouth is golden!

BLOGS:

1.       I am NO expert blogger.  Yet.  My blog is slooowly getting better, but I have LOTS to learn!  Design-wise, the good news is that many of your website template designers also offer blog packages to match your web theme.  There are also lots of online DIY blog courses out there that will give you tips on what works and what doesn’t, and tons of blogging books you can purchase that have a wealth of information on what attracts followers, etc.

2.     Choose a rather simple and aesthetically pleasing design.

3.     My favorite thing about a blog – the discovery of OTHER cool blogs!  I've found some of the most amazing blogs by clicking on the list of "blogs I follow" often featured on the sidebars of my favorite blogs.  If you love one blog, you tend to respect their choice of favorite blogs.  So line 'em up.  (Make sure to feature blogs that are similar to your taste and have a gazillion followers). I said "blog" eight times in that paragraph.  Now nine.

4.      Choose catchy blog post titles.  I have to work on that with mine, but I do find that a catchy title is what attracts me to other blogs.  For example, “Redesigning with Mirrors” is not nearly as much fun as “It’s All Smoke and Mirrors!” or “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall”.  If you're stuck, choose three titles and ask a friend or colleague to pick the best one.

5.   Give readers options for ways to follow.  Google Reader is my personal favorite way to have all of my blog posts delivered to me.

6.     Use lots of tags and labels in your posts.  That way our dear friend, Google, will find those followers for you!

FACEBOOK:

1.      DO NOT...  I repeat… DO NOT post a picture of an item for sale with no price.  There is nothing more annoying than having to dig around for the price on a different page or ask someone in a message or post how much the item is.  If it’s for sale, state the price up front. Period.  If I am in a brick and mortar store and I see an item with no price, I will literally pass it up in lieu of having to track down a sales clerk to find it.  Time is money and the price shouldn’t be a secret. (Ditto with garage sales. HA)


2.     Check out cool apps that will attract followers.  Woobox is amazing and they have great apps that allow you to add tabs like Pinterest, Twitter, etc.   You can also entice people to like your page with coupons!  Like our Facebook page and receive 15% off your next order!  (It worked for me!)  The more people can peruse your entire social profile, the more interested they are and the more they get to see what you’re about. (Yes, Rachael, I did end this sentence with a preposition.  Carry on…)

3.     To avoid having to post the exact same pictures of products on your Facebook page that you have on your website (and with hundreds of items, trust me that can become an onerous task), have a tab designed that will bring the follower directly to your shop.  They can peruse the pics there and it will make it easier for them to purchase!

4.      Always make sure to have your website information in your “About” section on your Facebook page.

5.      Make your profile and cover images reflect the theme of your business, and if at all possible, match your website design.

 
TWITTER:

1.       If you have a Twitter account for your business, link them to your Facebook page so that what you tweet gets posted on Facebook or vice versa.  The more exposure the better.

2.       Be creative and make sure your tweet packs punch.  Don’t think being limited to 140 characters is a bad thing.  You’d be surprised what you can accomplish in a single tweet. Post pics on Twitter; add links to your website to redirect your followers; add hash-tags in hopes that your tweets become wrapped up in a trend!  (See an earlier blog post that showcases an article recently written on hash-tags).  Good stuff, I tell ya!

PINTEREST

1.     Create a Pinterest board specifically for certain products; when you add a price, it now creates a price banner over that picture!  How cool is that?  I’m late in the game and I’m just discovering this little tidbit.

2.      Always make sure you credit your business (www.sunnybelle.com) in your pins and boards.  Not much point in showing off your product if they can’t figure out where to go to buy it, right?  And while we’re on the subject, remember pin etiquette and be sure to credit anyone whose picture you post.  Fair is fair.

3.       If you’re combining both personal and business on your Pinterest page, be mindful of the personal boards you post.  Sorry, but the fact of the matter is, people will decide what kind of business owner you are by viewing other things that you find pleasing.  If you’re a baby clothing store, you might not want to create a board on your favorite 50 foreign beers. Just saying.  Check out The Mom Creative for 10 tips on using Pinterest well. 

Well that is all I have today and let me add, I would LOVE suggestions on how to make my blog, my website, my Facebook and my Twitter page better for my followers.  So please feel free to contact me at crystal@sunnybelle.com if there’s something that’s driving you nuts or something you’d like to see added.  I hope this helped you "mind your business" just a tiny bit!  Until next time, happy surfing, posting, tweeting and pinning!