Okay while I haven’t been doing a craft a day, my family is teasing me… I’ve been feeling crafty. Combined with the upcoming holiday season, I’ve decided to start making some presents and some crafts. I used to craft all the time and then I opened my own business. Let’s just say life got in the way and I stopped everything for a long time. Here are a few of the crafts I’ve made recently:

The first thing is a Cath Kidston bag. The fabric came as part of a kit/book that a great friend bought me YEARS ago. While the instructions were in “British” and it took me a bit of time and Googling to decipher, I think it came out great and I can’t wait to use it. Its adorable and I’m going to keep my doggie leashes in it This is the book if you want to check it out:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sew-Cath-Kidston/dp/1844007561

The second craft is a dog silhouette. It was really easy to make and while I love the small version, I plan on making a bigger version to use as wall art. It was really easy to make. I took a side profile picture of my dog. (This was the toughest part because she HATES her picture being taken.) I printed it out on my regular printer in greyscale. I cut that out (very carefully), and then taped it down (with removable tape) to a piece of card stock. I did this backwards so that I could trace and when I flipped it over the lines wouldn’t show. I traced and then cut it out. I mounted this to another piece of contrasting card stock and put it into a frame. Easy and cute! My husband loved it!

I’ve made about 6 pairs of earrings and other assorted beading projects. I can’t tell you much about them because they are holiday presents and they are still under wraps

However, I will tell you I love Fusion Beads and their inspiration site. There are lots of great and inexpensive projects for everyone from beginner to advancer jewelry makers.

http://www.fusionbeads.com/Inspiration-Projects

I’ll go over some of my other crafts in a few more posts…stay tuned!

I love my dog and I love all pets. However, sometimes they are a bit, shall we say, sloppy. I’ve tried lots of products over time to clean up these messes and to eliminate the odors that come with them. I find myself going over and over the same spots and getting frustrated.

Recently my in law’s doggie came to stay and he was anxious to mark his territory. I was nervous because I’d just put down a new area run in my office area. Well I was right to be worried.

I quickly opened up the pack of SHOUT Super Absorbent Pick Up Pads. I followed the instructions, placed it down and stepped on it with my foot. I left it there for about 5 minutes and vacuumed the spot. I kept trying to figure out where the stain had been for the rest of the day. Encouraged by this, I then attacked the rest of my rug with the SHOUT Stain Remover and Odor Eliminator Spray. I sprayed it on the rug and let it sit. I vacuumed about five minutes later and instead of the musty smell the carpet (and therefore room) had due to previous pet stains, the room smelled fresh and the carpet looked clean too!

I love this whole line of products and how easy they make clean up. There are clean up wipes, time release odor eliminator, and even cleaner for hard surfaces. The SHOUT line gives you dependability you think of with SHOUT and the ease of cleaning up after your pet. No more sickly sweet smells or scrubbing for hours after an accident.

I know you love to drink it, but did you know Vodka has lots of other uses around the house? Here are some unexpected uses for the clear alcohol that most people already have in the cabinet.

1. Good remover-Remove the goo left over from a price tag.

2. Room deodorizer-Spray vodka instead of air freshener. Mix up a 1:1 ratio of water to vodka and spray. It takes odors out of the air and doesn’t leave the smell of alcohol.

3. Use Vodka to polish chrome! It works!

4. Shower cleaner-vodka will help you both clean the shower and prevent mold. Spray after you get out of the shower every day. Its a chemical free cleaning method!

5. Bouquet preserver-add a few drops of vodka to the water in your floral arrangement. It will help it last longer.

6. Clean Jewelry-Clean jewelry (not pearls or other sensitive items!) in vodka by letting them soak in a shallow dish for 5-10 minutes, then rinsing.

7. Window Cleaner-Add a tea spoon of water to a cup of vodka and use to clean windows for a streak free, chemical free shine.

8. Stain Remover-Blot stains with vodka instead of stain remover.

9. Weed Killer-Spray weeds with vodka for a chemical free and pet safe way to keep weeds.

10. Eyeglass cleaner-Use a small cloth dipped in vodka to clean eyeglasses to a streak free clean!

Being a working mom is always stressful as you’re pulled in so many directions all the time. How do you manage the stress?
Like so many other mothers I always have a million balls in the air. It’s always stressful worrying whether you are going to drop one of the balls! I try to take long walks to clear my head and I make a million lists. That way I can cross things off when they’re done so I can move on. The only problem is that there is never any end to the list! As soon as you cross everything off, 20 more things pop on…

What’s your secret for dividing your time?
I am very organized: During any work day I make sure everything is taken care of as it is all part of my work: Jane Marvel business, rsvping for birthday parties, grocery shopping (thank goodness for Fresh Direct!), etc. So really I am never dividing my time. I remember a wise person said “there is no such thing as work-life division: it is all part of the same continuum”. I really believe in that. But when I am home I aim to be 100% present for my kids. If I must look at my phone I sneak it so my kids feel like my attention is entirely on them.

Why did you start your own business?
I thought the concept behind Jane Marvel was a good one: affordable fashion. Women love to feel like they have great value in every purchase, so I felt strongly that I wanted to deliver that. and who doesn’t love handbags?

Who are some of the people around you who help you make it work?
I have a great support system between my husband and nanny of 14 years (who works with us at Jane Marvel during the day before pick up!) so we look after each other! Tonight, for example, my nanny will start dinner so I can take an exercise class, and then when I get home all I will have to do is take it out of the oven and fix the sides. Teamwork!

What’s your favorite thing about being a working mom?
I know that during the day my boys are stimulated so that leaves me a lot of time to focus on running Jane Marvel. I don’t think I would ever no work: it’s not in my DNA. I get an enormous amount of positive reinforcement from the boys as well: they are very proud of me!

Is there one product that helps you do what you do?
Well, now it’s my reading glasses since I can’t see a thing without them! J

How does organizational help you stay effective in all areas of your life?
Well, I have a secret weapon: my favorite stress-beater is REORGANIZING! Seriously: if I am feeling overwhelmed I pull apart the pantry or clean up the junk drawer. It gives me a feeling of control! And then I return to whatever I was doing and I feel like I am more effective!

Jane Saidenberg, wife, mother and entrepreneur, is the President/CEO of Jane Marvel, an affordable but fashion-forward company that makes handbags, travel bags, and very cool accessories in must-have colors, finishes and prints. Her target audience is women (and girls!) of any age who want to spice up or refresh their bag wardrobe without spending a lot. Her mantra is, “It is every woman’s right to have great fashion and not go broke getting it!”

A former talent agent with the William Morris Agency for nine years, Jane always had an “inner crafty” person trying to get out. While working at WMA, she would often be up late sewing her newest creation, but decided to give her own business a try in 2009. Jane, who is married to successful music producer Andy Marvel and the mother of two sons, first tried her hand at stylish, laminated canvas storage for toys, kid clothing and eventually lunch boxes while her boys were young.

After a life-altering trip to China, Jane was able to expand her business and realize her designing dreams. She connected with a factory there that would allow her to create affordable, well-made, fashion accessories-handbags, travel and accessories, in cotton-coated canvas and “vegan” (non-leather) leather. The fact that the United States economy had settled in a recession did not deter her.

Starting with trade shows and self-financing that first run of products, Jane Marvel has garnered many fans, and her cute, well-organized and colorful bags are sold at boutiques, department stores and online all over the country. With almost 300 SKUs available and over 300 stores, Jane Marvel will do about 2 million dollars in sales this year, with plans for expansion in every level of the business, on tap for the coming months.

How to Prepare for Holiday House Guests

They are coming over for the holidays, and they are bringing more than just presents. That’s right, your relatives along with their kids, their stuff, and lots of stress! However, you CAN be prepared! This year your holiday dinners will be stress free! The following tips will give you some simple ways to get yourself prepared ahead of time!

1. Clean off your dining table today! I don’t mean the night before, do it today (or at least start). Start finding a permanent home for each item that has accumulated on your dining room table. Chances are the same items end up there again and again because they don’t have a permanent home within your home. Involve the whole family as most of the time, clutter on the dining table belongs to more than just one person. Once you have the table cleaned off, put a centerpiece on it, or a nice tablecloth and dishes. Make sure it does not accumulate stuff before your dinner party!
2. Get the dishes ready. If you use special serving dishes or holiday dishes, start taking them out now and get them washed. Use the dining room table as a staging ground to keep them until the holiday.
3. Clean the house room by room. Pick a room each day or a few rooms each week. Or schedule a special session with your normal cleaning service. Don’t wait until the night before everyone arrives to start cleaning.
4. Take inventory of your guest bedroom. Can your guests sleep in there comfortably? Does the room need to be cleaned? This is a great time to get the room organized, and to throw out and donate some of the items that have found their way into your guestroom.
5. Create a friendly environment for your guests. Lay out guest towels, bathrobes, magazines, mints, maps (for your out of town guests), and water for your guests. Provide your guests with enough information so that they can enjoy your geographic area without assistance from you. Make sure they are familiar with phone and Internet access at your home as well.
6. Be prepared to spend time with your relatives. Do your cleaning and preparation ahead of time so you can spend time relaxing and visiting, and not in the kitchen. If your relatives will be around for a number of days, make dinner reservations at a local restaurant so you can take a night and all relax together.
7. If you don’t have a guest room, prepare a sleeping space for your guests, and make sure your family knows that it is to be treated as a bedroom while they are there. Also give them a private place to change and wash up. If you don’t have space for relatives at all, do a little research and provide your relatives with local hotel information.
8. Ask your guests if they have any special dietary needs before they arrive. This will help you avid any last minute trips to the grocery store.
9. Have gifts wrapped and ready to distribute before your guests arrive. They are lots of fun to shake and look at for the kids in your family. This will also allow you to spend time with your family instead of locked up in your bedroom wrapping presents!
10. Remember to enjoy your company. Sharing your home can be stressful, but by cleaning and organizing in advance, you can have a relaxing time visiting with those you love!

I love candy. There is no better way to say it. I know I shouldn’t eat it and I know it has no redeeming qualities. However, I’ve recently had the opportunity to try out Surf Sweets. While it is still candy, its candy you can feel good about.

It has no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial colors, made with organic fruit juices, has 100% of your daily Vitamin C, made in a nut free facility and has no gluten. Okay so with all of this, you’d think it would taste very good right? That’s where I was wrong.

I opened the package of jelly beans with my two little cousins around and didn’t say anything about the candy being healthy or free some artificial colorings, etc. I gave them each a few jelly beans and they were impressed. They really liked them!

I then started to try all of the other varieties and there are a LOT! There are Gummy Worms, Gummy Swirls (My personal favorite), Gummy Bears, Fruity Bears, Jelly Beans, Sour Worms and Sour Berry Bears.

You can buy their candy online and its available in a lot of different locations. This holiday season give your friends and family some candy that you’ll feel good about. And trust me, you’ll be addicted and always want a bag of gummy bears in your desk drawer

I was recently able to dry the new Burt’s Bees line of Intense Hydration products. I have dry skin in the winter and although I love using natural products but sometimes they just haven’t been as effective as their chemical laden counterparts. I was able to try the Intense Hydration facial cleanser, Night Crème and Mask. The Cleanser comes out creamy and although I doubted its ability to give me a fresh, clean feel, it did. And your skin feels soft after washing!

The night crème is thick and luxurious. It goes on easily and absorbs quickly. My skin sucks it up immediately and I’m left with soft skin. The mask was the most perplexing of all. I read the instructions and it says to apply a thin coat of mask and let it dry. Then you remove it with a tissue. Any excess can get rubbed in. I was really worried that I was going to feel like I needed to wash my face again after using the mask. I followed the instructions and I was shocked when I was left with really soft skin and a wonderful feeling to my skin.

The best part about the Burt’s Bees Intense Hydration collection is that they are 99% natural. Oh and they are easy to find at your local store and AFFORDABLE! They are worth giving a dry during this cold, dry winter season.

You can order the whole lines here:

http://www.burtsbees.com/natural-products/face-care-intense-hydration/

When I saw these ideas I had to share. They are a great way to reuse those boxes you have laying around and get creative!

Its finally here, COMPOSTABLE cling wrap! Bio Bag has released the world’s first biodegradable cling wrap. We all need cling wrap to help us save leftovers and therefore save money. However, until recently, the plastic you threw away sat in the landfill.

You’re going to use a lot of food storage containers this holiday season, why not be more environmentally friendly while doing so?You may not have a ton of time to help the environment, but substituting biodegradable products where you used to use plastic is a great way to help the Earth and it won’t take an extra minute out of your day!

You might think that a biodegradable plastic wrap wouldn’t work as well as “regular” ones. Its every bit as strong, durable and stretchy as the other stuff. And its made with plants and vegetable oils and other renewable resources. In fact, this cling wrap transfers more moisture out of your food so it lasts longer and its good for all types of food!

Its been reported that Bio Bag cling wrap biodegrades in as little as ten days and as many as 90. Regular plastic is around for YEARS. Be on the lookout, they have sandwich bags coming out soon too!

AND, we have TWO ROLLS to GIVEAWAY! All you have to do is leave a comment below telling us why you’d like to switch or Tweet about this using @thejoyfulorg. Good luck! Giveaway ends November 15th, 2012.

Bio Bag has a whole line of biodegradable products (including pet bags!!). Take a peek at all of them here:

http://www.biobagusa.com/

These make great socking stuffers and if you are making an effort to be a little bit greener in 2013, this is a great place to start!