Justin just got home from a 2 week trip for work. He is exhausted from the long trip. I am exhausted from handling everything here with the girls and having the house for sale by owner. Justin is such a big help. When he walks through the door from work, he is ready to help. We really are a good team. It's hard when he is gone, but I have got pretty used to it. I can't imagine how spouses of military personal go without their loved ones for a year of more. It baffles me. It has to be so hard for everyone. I always appreciate the men and women who give up time with their families to protect mine. That sacrifice is never lost on me.
My cousin Abbie (talesfromthefirstgrade.blogspot.com) and I have been searching for a joint venture for years. We have thought about catering, daycare, preschool, party planning, you name it we thought about it at least briefly. We always thought we would make a great partnership. However, we could not find the right fit. After Abbie starting blogging and working on tpt material, she encouraged me to start as well. We both have learned so much about creating paper products on the computer. We realized we found our joint venture.
We created an Etsy shop called Glitter Stock! Abbie and I both will be keeping our seperate blogs and tpt stores. Glitter stock will be the ideas we have that don't quite fit on tpt. The list of Glitter Stock items we want to create just keeps growing. As of now we have just rolled out phase one. We have 21 kid's 2 sided personalized placemats created and for sale on our store. There is so much more to come!
Glitter Stock was orginally supposed to be a summer project for us. We were both so excited we ended up getting the placemats done and the Etsy shop opened on March 7th. We really weren't prepared but we thought since we have a day together let's get it all done. March 9th, I am doing laundry and I hear a sound come from my phone. I peaked at my phone and was shocked to see we had our first order! All I could do was laugh when I saw that order. I knew Abbie was starting testing at school, was attending a blogger meet up out of town, and had lesson plans to finish up. I had Justin leaving for two weeks, showings for the house scheduled, and Kenzie had came down with the stomach bug. As many of you know, when one of your kids throws up the first time, it's a ticking time bomb. The odds that the stomach bug is going to end with just one child is slim. I knew when Kenzie got sick, the next couple days were going to be rough.
Thankfully, Abbie and I were able to meet up that next day to finalize the printing and laminating of the placemats. We had the order shipped to our first customer on March 11th. I really don't know what we were thinking posting the items when we weren't ready. However, it made us get our ducks in a row! We have worked out all the kinks and are now running smoothly! March was just a crazy month for both Abbie and I. It seems things are slowing down. That means more Glitter Stock items on the way!
The odds were in our favor that week! Kenzie and I were the only two that got a touch of the stomach bug. Kenzie gave me a big kiss on the lips an hour before she got sick. So I knew I was probably going to catch it. Thankfully, I only had a day of not feeling very well. Justin was very worried about catching it. He was driving from Indiana to Texas the next day. That would have been a horrible drive with a stomach bug! Eek! I am still shocked and thanking our lucky stars.
Our spring break is next week! The only thing we have planned is trying to potty train Mackenzie Kyle. She is physically ready but I'm not sure she is interested. Cross your fingers for me!
