daylight savings ends tonight. Turn your clocks back 1 hour - hooraaaaar, we get an extra hour on Sunday to enjoy our Easter eggs!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

We all need time to just sit back and relax and to put our work and business stresses aside, you’d go crazy (or crazier) if you didn’t!

Running your own business does make it harder to simply relax and not think about work because it’s yours, you are responsible for pretty much everything about the business. It can take over your whole life if you’re not careful. I know it has for me but I am trying a lot harder now to have the weekend as a no work zone. Now, it doesn’t always work let me tell you. I do still find myself answering emails on a Sunday and even doing up orders but I am getting better and normally I only do this if I’m trying to delay doing housework, eeeeek!

To help me switch off from my business I *try* and keep everything up to date, such as paperwork, bill paying, filing, stock ordering etc throughout the week so I don’t have anything hanging over my head during the weekend and dreading Monday. It is much easier to enjoy your time away from your business if you know there isn’t a weeks (months!) worth of data entry and filing waiting for you on your desk. If you can’t get everything done before you have a break (which btw should be every weekend) at least organise it so it doesn’t look quite as intimidating. This can just be putting things in piles with post its, having trays for various things ie filing, bills to be paid, new products etc Also, if you are realising that you can NEVER get everything done each week/month then maybe it is time to outsource. What are things you don’t particularly like which always get pushed back and back but is still always on your mind. It could be your filing, your accounts, data entry Can someone else do it for you? Can it be done ‘virtually’ by someone else? Do you have a neighbour or friend who wouldn’t mind working a few hours/days a week?

You might think ‘but I just can’t afford it’ I know I did this for a long time before I realised I was spending (well, wasting) so much time, not only doing these things but also worrying about them. So I finally hired someone to do my books, and let me tell you it was such a load off! I love knowing that at the end of each month all my accounts are up to date without me having to stress about it. It’s also made it so much easier to really see what is going on within my business, how things are *really* going.
We use Tilda Virtual and they’ve been great!

Other things you can outsource:

Your newsletter - how often do you send one? This was something else I would put off and then when I finally did get around to doing it, it would put together quickly without much thought at all. A waste really. So what did I do? Yep, I hired someone to do them for me. Brilliant. I just send them a brief outline of what I want included ie new products, specials, up coming events (like Easter) and they put it all together for me, easy and inexpensive! We use Clever Streak. They can also look after your blog plus social media like Twitter and Facebook.

So don’t think, just because it is your business, you have to do EVERYTHING yourself. There are so many wonderful businesses out there that can help you. Sure, there are times when you will be super busy and won’t be able to get away but when it gets like this you still need to have a break even if it for just an hour. It’s amazing what a clear head can do!

Everything won’t fall apart if you’re away from your computer or, heaven forbid, you actually turn your computer off! Organisation is the key and not sweating the small stuff.

Now, turn off your computer (and your phone!) and go spend time enjoying yourself. BREATH & RELAX.

ps: I haven’t worked out why every word ends up with a capital letter, very strange, but I will take my own advice and ‘not sweat the small stuff’.

pps: The gorgeous images are from our new range of Greeting Cards!

as I’m sure you’re all eager to know how the kids went! Bingo, bingo, bingo - I think they had a win in all the games! The loot included playdoh, pencil cases, erasers (many of these!), small bag of lollies (like we need them!), funny critter (sort of looks like the ‘green sheep’ but with a weird tail), rolly texta and punch balloons (?) - score I’d say

Bonus - Troppo Bob was there with his very popular magic show, ALL the kiddies love him! (and his binny gigs aka Guinea Pigs)

Another score - $3 for a Tigies (Balmain Tigers and no I’m not the fan) Christmas Stocking. If you’re kids need a chrissy stocking and follow the NRL checkout Best & Less!

Back to work…..

Batman and Robin, starring Adam West and Burt Ward, has a cult following.  It was a very clever production that is popular even today.  It turned a comic strip into a sort of real life comic strip.  The show was so popular that it had big name guest stars including Andy Devine, who stars as Santa Claus in this clip.  If you think you don’t know who he is just wait till you hear the voice! 

I found a neat little Christmas Decoration tutorial over at Trishalan Designs.  It is quite simple but very effective and it makes little decorations that could become family heirlooms or keepsakes.

This is what they look like.  The pic is also from the Trishalan Designs blog

Just imagine making one with the name of each child or family member on it?   Make them with a message on it or make one to celebrate all the best events that happened in your life throughout the year.

These are simple enough that even the kids can make them.  Choose some lovely Christmassy fabric and they will look great on your tree or as a banner strung across the wall.

Kids love to cook especially when they can cook sweet things.  Honeycomb was one of the first things I learnt to make as a child.  If you haven’t already, you will soon have the kids home under your feet and looking for something to do.  Why not try making this with them?

Honeycomb:

500g sugar
3 tablespoons vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons golden syrup
2 c water
1/2 teaspoon bicarb soda, sifted

Oil an 20 cm square pan and set aside.

Put sugar, vinegar, syrup, and water in a heavy saucepan.  Make sure you use a really big saucepan because when the mix bubbles up it can overflow small pans.

Heat the mixture to dissolve the sugar and melt the syrup.  Stir it with a wooden spoon.  Bring to a boil, cover & boil for 3 minutes. 

Uncover and keep boiling until the temperature reaches 140oC on a confectionary thermometer.
Remove from heat and allow bubbles to subside a little.

Stir in the bicarb soda, mixing well.   This is where the mix will bubble up and may overflow so be careful.

Pour into oiled pan.  Leave to set completely then cut or break into pieces.

Store it in an airtight container.  Decorate it for christmas and you have a lovely home made gift.

I am a sweet tooth from way back.  I bet that surprises you, doesn’t it?

I saw this recipe at Nestle and couldn’t resist it.  I was hooked from the moment I saw all those bright and cheery Smarties on top.  It looks like a party, doesn’t it?

Here is the recipe, with thanks to Nestle.

Choc Rainbow Squares (serves 16)

125 g butter, melted
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup desiccated coconut
2 tbsp NESTLÉ Baking Cocoa
3/4 cup self raising flour
1 cup NESTLÉ Milk CHOC BITS
100 g NESTLE SMARTIES

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a 20cm square cake tin with baking paper.

2. Combine butter, sugar and egg. Stir in coconut, then sifted NESTLE Baking Cocoa and flour.

3. Spoon into prepared tin and bake 15-17 minutes until just firm when touched.

4. Sprinkle NESTLE Milk CHOC BITSover the cake, then sprinkle over the NESTLE SMARTIES. Press down lightly with the back of a wooden spoon.

5. Return to the oven for 5 minutes. Allow to cool in the pan then cut into squares to serve.

I often read blogs, there are so many amazing blogs! The stories, the photos, the craft, the families, the places, the tips, the sharing, the honesty, I love blog land and love the people that share so much of themselves. You’re all fabulous!

Here are a few blogs I have been reading, looking and smiling at this week:

Whatever

Trish Hunter Finds

Thrifty Decor Chick

Jellywares

The Likkle Girl

Under the Loupe

thank you, you all rock! Sadly the extent of my creativity is this:

a bit sad I know but I was amazed that I actually could knit, something!!

ps: Please take a small moment to take our simple survey

what I have been having for morning tea lately!!!

Yay, I got a delivery late this afternoon of some very groovy new containers. I just need to decide what I’m going to put in them and then get them into the shop. Something to do with chocolate I’m thinking

Fingers crossed another delivery will arrive tomorrow of some super lovely new Easter boxes I found while at the Sydney Reed Gift Fair a few weekends ago.

Something I discovered on the weekend, you can deposit cheques into atms! I. Had. No. Idea. What a lifesaver.

I’m Jacqs teddybear and my name is Teddy. This is what I did today:

 

I had a sleep in!

 

 

Then I had my breakfast, I love Sultana Bran!

 

 

I waited for Jacq to have her shower, she takes a long time!

 

 

Then I brushed my teeth. I don’t like brushing my teeth but

Jacq says I have to otherwise I have stinky breath, yuwww!

 

 

I helped Jacq with her job, I like using the ‘puter! (and

I’m very good, Jacq says so)

 

 

I even used the phone! This is me eating some yummy

Twisties while I was on hold with Australia Post.

(they are a bit slow!) I shared my Twisties with Jacq because she

likes them too. Jacq said that was very nice of me

 

 

After all my hard work Jacq said I could go and play so I

played Donkey Kong. I love Donkey Kong although I

keep falling off the edge, it’s tricky!

 

 

I then read a book called I Like Kindergarten. It was good.

I can’t wait to go to kindy! Did you like school? It looks like

a lot of fun!

 

 

I watched some telly but there were too many ads!

 

 

So I did some knitting. I’m not sure what it will be.

Maybe a blankie for winter

 

 

And then Jacq and I made our dinner. I had to be

very careful because it was very hot. I like cooking,

do you? We made Beef Strog, yum yum. I can’t

wait to eat it!

 

 

I had a very busy day today. What did you do today?