Showing posts with label motherhood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motherhood. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Save Money & Money Will Save You!

I have had moments where I've turned my nose up to coupons, I admit. I thought they were for cheap people and I figured myself to be above petty penny counting. But as time has gone on, I now prefer to keep an eye on where my pennies are spent. Maybe it's the mom in me? Maybe I have read too many books like "The Millionaire Next Door" and "The Richest Man in Babylon" which both preach living frugally to reach financial bliss? Or maybe it is The Live Richer Challenge that I'm on, lead by the homie, The Budgetnista?

I know what it is! I recently went into Walgreen's and the woman in front of me had a cart full of paper towels and a national shampoo brand. And I mean the cart was stacked! When she got the the register, she handed the cashier a wad of coupons. She get it ALL FOR FREE! There had to be $100 worth of merchandise. Astonished, I couldn't contain my gasp! She turned to me and said proudly, Coupons.com! She said she never pays for full price for anything and usually she saves so much money that the stores owe her! Not one to waste time, I immediately checked it out. The site is super easy to use from a computer or mobile device. You just pick the coupons you want by clicking on them and then, when ready, they all print together, several per sheet...which already saves you money on printer ink and paper! :)

I now save on everything from flowers, to clothes, to groceries, and well, practically everything.

I keep all paper coupons in an envelope that I have in my handbag and this way I am always ready to receive new coupons from the stores I shop at and use the coupons I have stashed. If you stay ready, you don't have to get ready.

Since seeing coupons in action, I have a new found respect for them. And because I love you, I am passing on the knowledge. Wishing you a prosperous 2015!

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Erica Jones, CEO (CrafterExtraOrdinaire) of The Crop Shop

Erica Jones is one of my real life heroes. Despite her petite size, she has the vision and heart of a giant. The NJ-based, Rutgers University graduate landed a sweet, high paying job for a Fortune 500 company in NYC after graduation but eventually walked away from it to follow her dreams. It was a simple enough dream of being able to be a mother to her young child while earning a living doing work she loves. So she took her savings and opened a scrapbooking boutique in the hip and happening town Hoboken, NJ. Business took off and she had the luxury of creating a healthy work/life balance. Dream come true, right? Well, not exactly...
When Hurricane Sandy hit, her business was completely and utterly demolished. Totally destroyed. Did she close the door on her dreams and go crawling back to Corporate America, though? Absolutely not! Erica Jones rebuilt The Crop Shop and is now, after 5 years running a successful business, on the verge of expansion. She is terribly modest and her interview below may disguise the fact that she's a super hero but don't let her modesty fool you.
Erica Jones ROCKS.




PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF. 
My name is Erica Jones and I am the Owner of The Crop Shop located in Hoboken, NJ. 
 
WHAT DO YOU CREATE? I would consider myself a multi-media artist. I love to work on canvases and in journals, but I also find myself creating a lot of functional pieces too, such as tables, chairs, and bookcases. I’m probably more of a crafty carpenter!
 
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED ON YOUR CREATIVE PATH? I began taking pottery classes at the age of 7 years old. I made vases and plates that my mother still has to this day! I’m pretty sure that was my only structured instruction. I just continued to work on my craft because it was a source of comfort and relaxation to me. Around my college years, I began getting into scrapbooking, which was the inspiration for starting my own scrapbooking business. I opened TCS in December 2009, first starting as a scrapbook studio, and then transforming to an all around Arts & Crafts studio a couple years later. 
 
WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO CREATE? I am inspired by all things beautiful and different… oh, and the color turquoise! I love experimenting with different mediums and I am usually inspired by the desire to have things on display within my own home or a determination to use a material or medium I have never used before. 
 
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING BY BEING YOUR AUTHENTIC, CREATIVE SELF? I make my living by inspiring and teaching others to love the creative process too. I teach classes and run workshops, hoping to inspire the next generation of artists and creators! 

 
WHAT NEW PROJECTS ARE YOU WORKING ON? I am currently expanding my studio to become an Art CafĂ©, a place where people can convene and create in the same space. 
 
HOW CAN PEOPLE FIND & SUPPORT YOUR WORK? TCS can be found online at crop-shop.com, on FB at https://www.facebook.com/TheCropShop on Twitter at Twitter.com/cropshophoboken or by visiting us at 720 Monroe Street, Hoboken,NJ 07030.



Tuesday, June 4, 2013

DIY Block Letter Wall Art

I'm that mom who goes nuts with the kid decor. Yup, white clouds and airplanes on the vaulted blue ceilings, framed animal art, autographed posters, hanging ballerina slippers, and OF COURSE block letters of Miss Jordan's name. I remember driving from craft store to craft store seeking the perfect font and then spray painting them. Wish I'd known about this cool DIY project made simply out of cardboard then.
Save yourself gas $$ and to click make your own.
HowJoyful.com DIY Wall Art

Friday, May 3, 2013

Mother's Day Sale: 20% Off All Tableware!




































Show Mom how much you care. Get her something that will make her BEAM with PRIDE every time she sets the table! 20% Off All Tableware at www.Jypsea.com

Friday, June 1, 2012

Press Release: NEW DESIGNER "STORMS" THUNDERLILY COMPETITION

Tamara Walker
for Our Lady of Lourdes
347.827.1284, office
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

NEW DESIGNER "STORMS" THUNDERLILY COMPETITION

New York’s Lourdes Torres Wins Major Design Prize; Debuts New Collection for Our Lady of Lourdes


NEW YORK CITY-- May 31, 2012 --Thunderlily (www. thunderlily.com), the online “fashion workshop” announced Friday, that the winner of its recent design competition was Westchester-based fashion ingĂ©nue, Lourdes Torres. As the winner, Ms. Torres will have her autumn capsule collection entitled Universal Military for her brand Our Lady of Lourdes produced and sold by the emerging fashion technology company.
"Winning this competition has given my line its wings to soar,” says Torres. “I am anxious to see who may be stepping out in my fall looks this year."
An up-and-coming designer, entrepreneur and activist, the New York bred single mom beat out a formidable group to win the covet prize. The 25-year-old first burst onto the New York fashion scene in 2004 where she worked behind the scenes of various runway shows as well as for many of the city’s merchandising showrooms. Lourdes has produced or assisted in the production of a multitude of shows and even designed costumes for the theatre…all this while raise her 4 year old autistic son and working a full time job in the education arena. Despite her busy schedule, Torres finds ways to work with charities such as Autism Speaks, Keep a Child Alive and St. Judes.
As part of the submission process, Lourdes and other entrants were asked to submit 5 design sketches they felt embodied the theme of autumn 2012 in March of this year. Along with the sketches, each competitor had to send along their inspiration for their proposed capsule collection. Over the next few weeks a panel of judges reviewed the many submissions and chose Torres’ Universal Military as the overall winner, with the announcement ironically being made the start of the Memorial Day weekend on Friday.
When asked why Lourdes Torres was chosen, Thunder lily responded, “Lou’s styles have attitude, she knows who her customer is and her sketches reflect this knowledge and understanding. Her designs are subtle and sophisticated. She has shown a real vision for a line of clothing that can work for day or evening, business or casual. The designs look structured but comfortable and we imagine that almost any woman would feel sophisticated, powerful and approachable wearing these clothes.”
The Our Lady of Lourdes capsule collection will debut in late August/ early September with a stylized lookbook on Thunder lily where fashionistas will be able shop the pieces of the collection which will be made to order in custom sizing from sizes 4 to 14.
For more information about Our Lady of Lourdes and Lourdes Torres, visit: http://www.ourladyint.com/.

ABOUT LOURDES TORRES
An up-and-coming designer, entrepreneur and activist, Lourdes Torres, a 25-year-old New York native, first burst onto the fashion scene in 2004. A mainstay behind the scenes of various runway shows as well as for many of the city’s merchandising showrooms, Lourdes has also produced or assisted in the production of a multitude of shows and even designed costumes for the theatre…all this while raise her 4 year old autistic son and working a full time job in the education arena. Despite her busy schedule, Torres finds ways to work with charities such as Autism Speaks, Keep a Child Alive and St. Judes.  For more information about Lourdes and her line visit http://www.ourladyint.com/.


ABOUT THUNDERLILY
Thunder Lily is a fashion workshop. We are developing software to enable independent designers and fashionistas to create their own fashion quickly and easily and have it produced on demand. The competition winner will have the opportunity to experience the technology and see their designs being custom-produced by Thunder Lily. For more information visit www.thunderlily.com

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Monday, May 14, 2012

Happy Mother's Day from MY Family to Yours!


An impromptu photo shoot with with brilliant photographer Tinnetta Bell to commemorate my mom as an amazing mother and role model went amazingly well. We don't see each other very much so we packed in lunch, a museum visit, this photo shoot and gift giving. Capturing these precious moments with my mom and daughter on film was the best gift of all for me.

Mother's Day Tribute: Red Table Talks with Jada Pinkett-Smith, Willow & her Mom