Never spend money on greeting cards again!

When I started my blog last year, I wanted to highlight friends in business and I realized I hadn’t done that recently. My next three posts are going to be about just that.

My friend Karen Kiemnec has two careers - she teaches dance to cancer survivors and she is a demonstrator for a rubber stamp and scrapbooking company.

Karen loves to help women have fun creating attractive, easy-to-make cards, gifts and scrapbook pages with rubber stamps through a company called Stampin’ Up. She does workshops in people's homes, but also hosts many events in her own home . She holds a scrapbook club that meets once a month in her Sylvania home and also regularly hosts stamping events.

Karen and I both started rubber stamping at about the same time, but she took the "hobby" to a whole different level. She has a very successful career in this field and I love that I helped her get started (the first workshop she attended was in my store!). Stampin' Up's items are high quality and very reasonably priced.

Not only have I bought tons of stamps and supplies from Karen with which I make my own greeting cards, but I learned so many creative techniques from her. I can't encourage people enough to give her a call and start having fun.

For details, please contact her at karen@stampingwithkaren.com or by phone at 419 345-3986.

Warning to guys: I know I have several male friends who read my blog. You won't want to read this post. It's so woman-oriented, your voice will change if you read it. You've been warned.




Have you heard about the new 'pill?'



For those of you living in a cave, you may not have heard about the new birth control pill. It's taken every day and the majority of users don't have any menstrual periods!! Alleluia - there is a God!



I swear it was created by women. What incentive would men have? (Oh, yeah, that incentive.)



I'm blogging about this today because of an editorial in our local paper, The (Toledo) Blade. The editor claims "An ethical and moral debate is warranted." (Yes, a letter to the editor is being formed in my head at this moment.)



Granted a medical debate may be warranted as this drug, although it's undergone rigorous FDA testing, is too new to know its adverse long-term effects). I am concerned about that, but not because I'm a nurse, but because I'm a woman.



But an ethical and moral debate because it eliminates menstrual periods???? The article quotes one researcher as questioning "medicating away 'a normal life event.' " Give me a break! Is there any doubt about the gender of that researcher?











Headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea - are among many other "normal life events." Isn't it great that we can (often) medicate them away? How about male impotence? Can you imagine a drug researcher hesitant to medicate that 'normal life event' away?



Women who still have menstrual periods long for the day when they're gone - especially after they've finished having children.



Do I miss the cramps, bloating, inconveniece, unpreparedness, worry, etc.?




I know menstrual periods are viewed differently in different cultures, but that's not what I'm addressing here.




While reading this to my husband (who couldn't agree with me more), he asked, "Isn't The Blade pro-women's rights? Isn't this another woman's right?" That's why I love the guy so much.



On second thought, maybe guys should read this - I'd love to hear their views, too.

Word-of-mouth IS all it's cracked up to be . . .

Curt Miller, of Millers Cleaning, was just sworn in as a member of my BNI chapter. The discussion he and I had last week is the perfect example of word-of-mouth marketing at work.

A week or two before, Curt came to our chapter meeting as a visitor. He told me he and his wife were expecting and he was going to talk to her about my store and my maternity selection. Cool.

But this last week Curt told me that when he started to tell her about my store, she already knew - not only had one friend of hers told her, but a second one had also.

Word-of-mouth business is great on so many levels: first of all, it's free. Secondly, if it's working, it's all positive.

But the two best things about it are that one, people believe in you and your business enough to tell other people about it - thus giving you credibility. And most importantly, it lasts - the effects of it keep the "buzz" going. I was fortunate enough last fall to have two feature articles written about me in local newspapers. Lots of people saw those articles and business increased because of it.

But those articles were only "out there" for a very limited time. If all they did was generate business from people who directly read them, that business would be very short-lived. But people who read it told others who told others who told others - well, you get the idea.

Have you recently had a good experience business-wise from word-of-mouth 'advertising?'

I was born in the morning . . . but not this morning . . .




I swear customers think I must be pretty stupid about my own business. It happened again today - a woman brought in maternity clothes for me to buy. She had called previously (a good thing one would presume) and was told what we tell everyone - items have to be in style and in excellent condition.



I started going through her huge box of items and was only interested in about 25% of them. I made and she accepted my cash offer - a little reluctantly. Then she asked why couldn't I use the other ones?




Truthfully, they were old - not just a year or two, but more like 4 to 8 years old. And in the maternity fashion world, that's a long time. There were labels and brands that haven't been sold in years. Not withstanding the fact that there were rips and stains and animal hair. UGH!




But the politically-correct answer I gave her was, "Well, they're just not styles that my customers are looking for right now."



"Well, that's crazy, " she said rather sarcastically. "These are only about a year old." Now, does she actually think I believe that?



The same thing actually happens fairly often with my regular (non-maternity) consignors. They'll tell me their clothes were purchased within the "last year or two." Then I find brands like Passport from Pier One (who stopped selling clothes oh, about 10 years ago) or Gantos (who went out of business oh, about 6 or 7 years ago).



What in the world makes people think I believe their stories? Do I really look that stupid?




What stories do you have about customers that made you think they thought you were dumb as dirt?

When a one-to-one meeting isn't going to work . . .

Several months ago, I made a card to give to people with whom I've scheduled a one-to-one. My regular business card has my work number and e-mail address, but the new card has my home and cell phone numbers on it. BUT, I almost always forget to give it to the person. Duh!

I had a one-to-one scheduled this morning with Joy McLeod of Artistic Memorials. She is ill this morning and lo and behold, I had not given her my 'extra' contact info. She had called the store to leave a message, but I didn't have the answering machine on (note to self: turn on the machine and update the message).

BUT fortunately, I always check my e-mail before I leave the house in the morning. Both Joy and her boss Jeff Pettit had left me an e-mail message explaining what was going on. Another meeting will be rescheduled soon.

Now I have two extra hours to do stuff that I should have done last night! I knew there was a reason why all I did last night was watch "24" and play on the computer.

Do you usually give 'extra' contact information to someone you're going to meet with?

Happy Mother's Day. . .

Certainly, this post was inspired greatly by my previous post of today.

But it is also is inspired by my experiences as a mother.

Several weeks ago, I posted about wanting to be remembered as a great mother. My life is my family. My family is my life. I love my two sons more than anyone could ever imagine. They're both healthy, happy, educated, have great jobs and are happily married. I argue with both of them. I disagree with both of them frequently on gun control, politics, TV shows and discipline practices. They both treat their wives with respect and they treat their parents with respect. They're not afraid to hug, kiss, and tell their momma they love her. What more could I ask for?

When my husband of forty + years and I first talked about marriage, we wanted six kids (!!!). (Of course, at that time, I also thought I would be a stay-at-home mom forever.) We even picked out names - 3 boys' and 3 girls'.

Then I baby-sat one summer for his young niece and nephew and decided only four kids would be just fine.

Then I had one. Until you have a baby, you just don't realize the work and the
responsibility. . . and the time . . . and the money.

After a couple of years, we decided we'd have another one - this time it would be a girl. Son #2 was a dilly - took me a year to get pregnant, morning sickness for 4 months, hottest summer on record, he weighed 10 pounds (delivered the regular way),

needed surgery twice before he was a year old, temper tantrums until he was at least four . . . but we let him live anyway.

But THERE WAS NOT GOING TO BE ANY MORE.

Like many young couples, we struggled, especially financially. But with the help of both sets of parents, we made it. We were able to put both boys through school without financial aid (we tried, but couldn't get it - thanks to politics 1980s style.).

Hubby and I agreed on the important things - they were never forced to eat (or even try) any foods they didn't like; we never spanked them (well, almost never - there was one incident that we both remember with regret); when they were adults, we forced them to be responsible for themselves - our form of 'tough love.' (I will admit many of the teenage years were very, very tough.)

It was the right choice for us. We had our kids very young - I was 20 and 23 when they were born. By the time we hit our early 40s, they were both adults and we've had the past 20 years to enjoy by ourselves while enjoying our relationship with them and their families. They're not just our family, they're our friends.

I know that everyone hasn't made these choices or been so fortunate. One of my best friends, for example, has been married about 30 years and she and her husband decided from the beginning that they did not want children. As far as I know, they have no regrets. They are incredibly happy and live a full, rich life.

We have other good friends, also married a long time, who were unable to have children but who opted not to adopt. They also have an exciting, fun-filled life.

And of course, we know people who have children whose lives have been troubled with tragedy and unhappiness.

But today, I want to celebrate the happy stories - I have so many good friends who love being a mom and who would be lost without their kids.

So to the moms of the world - I SALUTE YOU AND SAY HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! WE DONE GOOD!

Stereotyping be damned!

I am promising myself to stop stereotyping - it's so easy to do, but oh, so wrong.

I recently had a one-to-one with an accountant (hereafter referred to as 'The A'). Fairly early in the conversation, The A said, "I'm creative."

Who, me surprised? So I asked what exactly she/he meant.

The A said, "I love to write. Some years ago, I wrote about myself - explaining what I was all about."

I was fascinated and told The A I would love to see what was written. Several days later after sending an e-mail reminder, I received his/her opus.

I won't include all of it here, especially those things that might identify The A, but s,here's some of the most interesting and self-revealing bits . . .

( NOTE from Sandy: I have had one-to-ones with no less than 4 accountants in the past few months, so don't even try to guess who this is.)

The One and Only

Who Am I? I am many things: I am strong, yet weak; kind, yet cruel; happy, yet sad.

I am smart, yet ignorant; intense, yet relaxed; friendly, yet shy.

I like long walks and short answers.

I like big thoughts and small words. I like hard truths and soft hearts. I believe in Faith, Hope and Love. I believe the glass is half full. I like talking to kids more than I do adults because they are more interesting.

I respond better when asked than when told. I am patient with others when they make mistakes, because I have made them all. I am still too hard on myself. I still dream.

I like small towns better than big cities. I like light rock better than heavy metal. I like a genuine tear better than a fake laugh.

I believe that the family is the cornerstone to all society, and that you should care for those who grow old, as they cared for you when you were young. I believe the most important thing you can do to make the world a better place is to love and discipline your children. I believe that education is the key to getting a good job and a healthy economy. I try to give to those who cannot give back to me.

I try to pick people up when they are down. I try to knock them down a notch when they are too proud. I don’t smoke, I don’t get drunk, and I don’t swear. I am honest because my father is; loyal because my true friends are; naïve because I believe others always tell me the truth.

I believe that children aren’t happy with what they have because they don’t know what it is to want. I believe that adults aren’t happy because they want what they don’t have. I believe that the elderly are happy when all they have is their families.

I fear being old more than growing old. I fear dying more than death. I fear what might come after death if I am too afraid to live my life. I believe that the right hand should not know what the left hand is doing.

I believe that the best things in life are free. I like my job. I like my parents. I like living in the United States, with or without the politicians.

I used to think love was easy and then I failed at it. I used to think I could be a pro athlete and then reality struck.

I used to think Bugs Bunny was funny and I still do. I never count calories. I never budget my expenses. I never forget where I came from. Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth: Use it or lose it.

Billy Joel is my favorite musician because he is a musician.

Sometimes life knocks you down, and you will get up, because after a while, you realize you have no other choice. I would rather spend money on someone else rather than on myself, especially if they don’t ask. I would rather eat at McDonalds than a fancy restaurant and give the extra money to charity.

I would rather have true happiness than all the money in the world. I believe a broken heart can mend. I believe when you find true love, you will know it. I believe that when you are in love, nothing else matters. I believe the good old days weren’t always good and tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems.

I believe that grass isn’t always greener on the other side. I believe that home is where the heart is. I write better than I speak. I listen better than I hear. I sing better than I dance.

I like the days sunny and 75. I like the nights cool with stars in the sky. I like the breeze in my face. I run because I’m good at it and it makes me feel good. I read because it exercises my brain. I work because it makes me feel productive and gives me discipline. I am a product of my past. I am a product of my parents. I am a product of generations of ancestors who never knew me, but who have passed their name on to me, and I must do them honor.

I can be shy around a group of strange people. I can be unsympathetic to others’ problems. I can do anything I put my mind to. I admire policemen and veterans, for doing what I never could. I admire teachers whose biggest thrill is to see a child learn. I admire parents who have the most important and complicated job of all.

I will not ask someone to do something that I am not willing to do myself. I will not sleep in just because it is the weekend. I will not be a yes person at the expense of my conscience. I give people the benefit of the doubt. I give to those more needy than I. I give a damn.

I do not like when people always talk about doing things but never do them. I do not like when people always complain, but never do anything to fix the problem. I do not like when people can’t take responsibility for their actions and blame their problems on somebody else.

I wish everyone could just get along. I wish everyday was Christmas. I wish people would tell others how much they appreciate them. I’ve been lucky. I’ve been smart. I’ve been blessed. I think that men can live in peace with one another. I think that violence doesn’t solve anything. I think that love conquers all. I have been so high, celebrating great victories. I have been so low, suffering in lonely despair. I have been touched with deepest emotions of hope, fear, surprise, anger, joy, sorrow and love, and it is of these strands which the fabric of life is woven. . I remember some days when I felt indestructible. I remember some days I’d rather forget.

I remember the wonder of youth. I know that life can be unfair. I hope people laugh and sing at my funeral. I know that life must be lived to the fullest. I know that life is good. Who am I? I am an original.

This was written as one big paragraph, so the editing into smaller ones was all mine. I highlighted in black the things that really stood out to me. If The A reads this, please forgive me for the editing.

My knowledge of who the The A really is, though I admit it was limited to begin with, has been fertilized and has grown immensely. The A's writing has made me feel more creative myself; it has made me want to write about the same things only inserting "me" into the equation.

This is creative writing with meaning. This is fascinating. I can't thank The A enough for sharing this with me and blowing my stereotype of accountants - I think I'm on my way to changing my preconceived notions about lots of things and lots of people.

Thanks, A, for being and for sharing with me.

When has getting to know someone else totally blown away a previously held belief?

What's in a name? (a band's name, I mean)

Several times in the past few months, I've mentioned one of my favorite bands, Canada's Bare Naked Ladies. It's four guys whose songs I love and whose personality and sense of humor are quite off-beat - I mean really - a song about getting postcards from monkeys?

On a talk show several years ago, they were asked by the interviewer about the origin of the band's name (a question I'm sure they get quite often). The band's leader answered, "One thing that most Americans probably don't know is that when Canadians are born, they're automatically given band names." Funny, huh?

Band names are getting weirder and weirder - but some in the late 1980’s/early 90's really were bizarre - my musician son Paul was a big fan of groups like The Dead Kennedys (honest, that was their name) and The Dead Milkmen. But the funniest name involves my buying concert tickets for him and his friends.

The concert was in Cleveland and I was living in Cleveland at the time. He asked me to get him four tickets for this particular show. I lived about a block from a big department store, The May Company, and they had a TicketMaster outlet.

Entertainment tickets were sold in the same area as layaway, charge account payments and gift wrapping and the day I went there was only one person working all of the areas so there was a long line. Before long, another employee came to help and shouted out, “Who is in line just to buy concert tickets?”

I said that I was and he asked for what concert. There I am in my early 40’s, dressed in a conservative business suit, in a long line of strangers, announcing . . . “I need four concert tickets for “The Butt Hole Surfers.”

So my question to you is . . . What’s the weirdest band name you’ve ever heard?

Better living through chemistry . . .

My husband would kill me if he knew I was blogging about this, so I'm not going to tell him.

He was in the hospital for three days in March for a possibly coronary. We spent a lot of time with his doctor (who I went to high school with so we've known him a looooong time) and many medical issues were discussed.

Fast forward a week and a half later and we're out in Port Townswend, WA, visiting with our granddaughter Emme (okay, her parents, too).

One night we were all sitting around talking about "dad's" hospitalization and my husband says, "Well, one problem I've had for years has been solved. I now take one Cialis every day."

Daughter-in-law Jan chuckled and son Dave sort of incredulously said, "WHAT???"

Husband says, "I now take a Cialis every day and it really helps."

Working hard to keep myself from busting a gut, I interrupted and said, "Honey, it does start with a "C," but you now take a Claritin every day."

The four of us laughed so hard we almost wet our pants.

Now, can any of you top that?