A Creative Renaissance

So for years and years, I dreamt of making kids bedroom decor. I wanted to make things that weren't pastels and baby, but were fun and unique. I had 2 small kids and no time to sew (of course an affinity for fabric buying, though), and worked full time. How could I find the time?

Well years later, after a very difficult road with my recently diagnosed son with autism; I decided to leave work. NOW I also had the time for my dream. This was a year ago today, that my new journey began!

Oh how things come full circle. I found out quickly, I have become intolerant, and impatient to sewing. I did do some handpainted wall decor and boxes. I had also made cards for co-workers upon leaving, and thought I'd make some of those for my Etsy shop as well.

Well, as time started to tell, cards were selling ahndpainted items were not. I thought maybe that was the direction of my business. Over time, I learned the ropes on Etsy, and even opened a 2nd shop for candles, Lilac Ave.

Last Fall I had to go back to work due to financial issues, and still worked my 2 beloved Etsy shops, and even recently opened an Artfire shop. I thought this could work, working, and having these shops, and raising the kids, and supporting my military and consistently at sea husband, and take care of myself, and take care of the house...you get my point. IT DIDN'T WORK!

Well, here we are with the news of a move to Hawaii. A place about family, about dreams, and about living life a little slower! So as soon as I touch ground I am back to Family First, and living my dreams of being a creative business owner.

So now the balls are jiving I'm thinking of what do I want to do, what do I want these stores to say and represent? I think I decided I want to add some of those original dreams back to the mix. It will start with some handpainted items, and move on maybe to sewing, if I have recovered from sewing burnout of a fashion design major.

I guess the point is, the creativity is limitless!!! Why be just a card shop, or just a candle shop, when my creativity and ideas go beyond that? So I am going to live in the spirit of Hawaii, and just be laid back, and fulfill my dreams.

See the prototype mixed shop at (sorry no candles til we hit the island):

http://www.lilacave.artfire.com/

See the original shop...the one that started it all:

http://www.bubbarye.etsy.com/

Not to be forgotten, but closed for now:

http://www.lilacave.etsy.com/

Mahalo!

~Deb

ALOHA!

The Move
Well such is life in the Navy, staying one place too long is not natural. We have been in Virginia for 5 years, and now it is time to move on. We are moving to Hawaii! A couple of interesting thoughts for this move:

1. Our pack out date is EXACTLY 10 yrs from our last pack out day for Hawaii!

2. We are shipping our Honda Civic....guess what kind of car we shipped last time?? You got it a Honda Civic (and we actually have had different cars than a Honda Civic in that 10 yrs).

So here we are full circle. We moved to Hawaii a week after we got married, 1 car, no furniture, no money, nothing, but us! This time we move with a house full of furniture, 2 kids, a dog, a cat, a car, and for me 2 small businesses.

So What's the Plan Stan?

Unfortunately we cannot ship candles to Hawaii (the container in the summer time will melt the wax). So I am trying to sell off my inventory as much as I can, so I can feasibly ship the rest by air. I welcome you to take advantage of the sale.

Save $2 when you Buy $10 worth of items

Save $5 when you Buy $15 worth of items

Save $10 when you buy $25 worth of items

www.lilacave.etsy.com
This sale will continue until inventory is low enough to ship.

Paradise Means Candlemaking and Cardmaking Full Time

I am very thankful to say that I get to quit my day job when we get to Hawaii, and will be making candles and cards full time after we get settled. This is a dream of mine and I have a few years to get it off the ground.

Plus having a home business gives me an opprotunity to get my family settled in and really breathe in and enjoy life! Or maybe breathe in and enjoy the smell of a plumeria soy candle?!? LOL!

My Healthy Not Really Burritios, Not Really Enchiladas Dinner

Well if you are wondering.... the suggestion to blog the recipe happened after the fact, hence the empty dish from our scrumptious dinner!
So I make this chicken with salsa, that I LOVE, but thought....mmmmm burrito!!! Well, as is half of America, I am avoiding starchy carbs...so here are my burritos!
This was a best guess recipe made from my mind, wanting to combine that great chicken, and yum...GUACAMOLE!!! I am Texan, afterall!

Ingredients:
2 Chicken Breasts
A jar of Salsa
2 Avacados
6 Corn Tortillas
Light Sour Cream
Lemon juice
Lime Juice
Garlic Salt
Shredded 2% Cheddar
Foil

1. Take the 2 Chicken Breasts, put it in oven safe dish, and cover with foil. Cook on 325degrees for 1 hour. After it is done, the chicken should pull apart when stabbed with a fork. Pull apart into chunks.
2. Make guacamole- I cut the avacados in half, pull out the pit, spoon out the green, and put it in a dish. Then add a teaspoon of lime juice, a teaspoon of lemon juice, and 1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt. Take a fork, and mash up the avacado and mixings. Keep doing this until in a slightly smooth, slightly clumpy consistency.
3. Heat up Corn tortilla (I microwave in a tortilla warmer slightly wet for 35 sec...you can do this in between 2 plates...top one turned upside down).
4. Now assemble. I had corn tortilla, with a layer of guacamole, a little daisy light sour cream, a little dusting of 2% cheddar cheese, and then some chicken with salsa spooned into the center.
5. Fold up and Eat it!

I also had some Snyders Multigrain Tortilla Chips with a spponful of guacamole. This could go great with a lime cactus Michelob Ultra. Not a perfect South Beach meal, but one that is healthy, tasty, and not deprived!!!