What Completes You?

At the beginning of the year I came across a new trend. I noticed instead of people making New Year's resolutions they were picking a word for 2011. Some examples:  patience, kindness, happiness, etc.  I immediately jumped at patience. Thinking as a Mother of two boys this HAD to be my word!

This weekend I was lucky enough to enjoy a wonderful long weekend skiing in Lake Louise with my Dad and two sisters. It felt so good to get away, sit down for meals and not talk about pirates or wipe noses all day, everyday.

As much as I loved getting away and spending time with my family I noticed a sincere sense that something was missing. I felt incomplete. 

I've been talking a lot recently about how content and complete I've been feeling recently. I started a new lifestyle that has me back to feeling like the 'real me'. I am enjoying it more and more every day and can't believe the effects it has on every aspect of my life.

And these boys (and hubby too!)...

they are what truly completes me.

So if you haven't caught on to what my new 'Word of 2011' is, it's:

COMPLETE

I'd love to hear what your 'Word for 2011' is and what completes you. I'm not going to lie, a glass of wine at the end of some days certainly adds to my feeling of completion!

Here's to another 'complete' week!

A Year Ago Today...

I went for the power walks of all power walks. Adam Lambert's 'Whataya Want From Me' blaring on my ipod. It was my official I AM D-O-N-E BEING PREGNANT anthem.

As far back as I remember all of our birthdays wouldn't be complete without the "...one year ago today..." talk from my Mom. As a child I always laughed the conversation off... that is until I had a child myself. My boys will be celebrating each and every birthday with the same chat. Mind you, I'll probably be reminding them of it on my death bed!

So in true tradition...

One year ago today I was beyond anxious. I had it in my head that I would be at home with Mark, James and newborn watching the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Only problem... I wasn't due until the next day.

It's amazing what hiking up a hill, running down the hill after a ball, jumping around in a pool during aqua fit and complaining non stop while almost due will do!

I woke up at 5am Wednesday morning with contractions (yippee!). I'm still undecided what's worse... going into labour with your first and being completely blinded at what's to come or being FULLY aware the second time around of what's waiting for you around the corner!

I ran around like a crazy person trying to get things done as I knew the inevitable was coming. Another difference between one and two... every thing's packed and prepared with your first... number two is always a race to the finish!

A fast and furious ending and you were born...

The missing piece of our family. I immediately felt an immense sense of contentment. We were complete :) 

Two boys... uh oh! A brother that was so in love with you from the beginning... a true 'bro-mance'!

We are so in love with you Mr. Jacob.

This first year with you has gone by so fast. I am genuinely scared of what the future will bring as you certainly are our 'wild child'. That being said I can't imagine a day without you. It feels like you have forever been ours.

Happy 1st birthday baby boy! And yes, just like in the book:

"I'll love you forever
I'll like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be"

Kicking Off the Business Feature!

We're so excited to kick off our business feature as mentioned in this blog post. We thought the best way to give you all an idea would be for us to volunteer as the guinea pigs! So please sit back and relax, some questions are serious and others are meant for your enjoyment :) Rachelle in blue and Sarah is the lady in red ;)

A few words to introduce yourself:

My name is Rachelle McGlinchey. I am a proud Mom to two boys (James almost four and Jacob almost one) and married my 'high school sweetheart'. I grew up with two sisters where my Dad was the outcast and find myself enjoying all of the testosterone that overwhelms our house!

I'm Sarah and I met Rachelle, 9 years ago when she was still going out with her childhood sweetheart! This was long before kids, my husband and I had been in Canada for just a couple of years after emigrating from the UK. Rachelle's sweetheart's family (and of course Rachelle) became our adopted family in Canada, their friendship and support to us newcomers, fresh off the boat was invaluable. Now I have 2 girls and our 4 kids are growing up together.

Tell us about your business:

Hands on Keepsakes-We take baby/children and even adults' hand/footprints, artwork and pet's paw prints and miniaturize them onto pure Silver (99.9%) pendants and Bronze key rings. We also do custom pieces which we love and can't believe what amazing ideas some of our customers have! We're trying to expand our product range all the time, adding items that are not specific to children like our new Circle of Love pendant that features loved ones names and a favorite saying on the back or our wedding tags (watch this space for their launch) which have the happy couple's wedding date on one side and their initials or names on the other.

Why did you start your own business?

I think we seem to fall into the usual category of a young family wanting to find an option where I could be at home with the boys. A mutual friend gave us an idea that we both loved and we jumped at the opportunity. I don't think I would have been able to go through the process of starting up a business without having Sarah right by my side. At times it felt like two steps forward and TEN steps back! To have such a wonderful and supportive friend riding this roller coaster with me is invaluable!

It has been a very steep learning curve for both of us. I remember when we first started saying one of us would do the business for two weeks then the other would do it for two weeks so we'd get a break - how naive we were, we both get panic attacks if we have to leave it for a weekend!!! Though having a partner is invaluable, and I didn't realise how much so until we were a long way down this road. I was able to go home for 3 weeks last year and Rachelle looked after everything, and somehow Rachelle found time to have a baby last year, though I swear she only took a long weekend off work!

What has been your proudest moment as a business owner?

This Christmas really blew me away. As we introduced our new 'Christmas line' the response was overwhelming. When we started getting feedback from people saying that our bronze decorations would be a part of their family Christmas tradition for years to come was beyond words! We always try to follow up with our customers and to hear that someone has received one of our products and that it makes them cry tends to bring a little tear to my eye :) Seeing people wearing our pieces is a very exciting moment as well!

I agree Rachelle, it was also pretty cool when we had an editorial published on a local website and we had 700 hits on our website in a day along with numerous orders, there was also a dash of stress mixed in there too as there was only one week to go to Christmas.

Where do you see your business in five years?

Who thought of these questions!? Just kidding! In five years I'll have two boys in school which makes me think I'll be able to focus more time and energy on Hands on Keepsakes. One of our biggest frustrations is having SO MUCH that we want to do but knowing that our family is who needs us the most. Our eventual goal is growing Hands on Keepsakes to the point of employing other Moms who are looking for the same thing we're looking for.

Flexibility, growth and a little escape from the day to day! I'm so proud of how far Hands on Keepsakes has come in the year and a half and am confident we will continue to grow!

OK here come the fun ones...tell us the most stressful/overwhelming/emotional moment as a business owner.

Last Father's Day season we were so excited to be getting tons of orders for Bronze key rings. We had been struggling with a certain step in the production of the key rings that was causing them to finish with cracks, bubbles, etc. The thought of a customer's order not arriving in time for their husband to open on Father's Day was heart breaking. Between Sarah and I there were many sleepless nights! Luckily UPS offers overnight shipping (not at an affordable rate!) and everyone received their gifts on time. Felt like a million pounds had been lifted off my shoulders! And just like every learning experience we were able to work out the problem and have corrected it!

That's definitely the most stressful time we've had. But we also had two long term contracts, one with a credit card services provider (other small businesses please be careful their salesmen are salesmen for a reason and don't necessarily follow through on what they promise) and the other with a very specific advertising company. Both relationships should have been a perfect fit for us, both turned into a nightmare. Rachelle and I spent countless hours extracting ourselves from these contracts which was not at all fun and took far too much time away from building the business. It feels so good now to start 2011 with all that behind us and has made us a lot more wary of promises that seem too good to be true!

Describe your work space.

I currently have two separate work spaces throughout the house. The computer is obviously where all of the emails, orders, designing, etc take place. I also have a space for my studio where all of the jewelry making happens! I am selfishly contemplating having my boys share a bedroom with bunk beds (fun right!) so I can take over a full room and create one space for me! This is my vision:

 

My husband could whip this up in one weekend no problem ;) No problem at all for Mr. Handy:)

Sarah's not answering this question because I'm SUPER jealous of her studio :) So thoughtful!

Top three places you'd like to travel.

1. Machu Picchu in Peru

2. Angkor Wat in Cambodia

3. Paris :)

1. New York (when the US Open tennis is on)

2. Augusta (when the Masters golf is on)

3. Sydney (when the Ashes cricket is on)

Spot the theme - I don't get out much!

Favorite song at the moment.

White blank page- Mumford & Sons

Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, my 3 year old is still singing it - as I said I don't get out much.

Favorite quote(s).

Dr. Seuss- Oh! The Places You'll Go!- I LOVE this entire book. I get emotional when I read it to the boys. And another Dr. Seuss one that I love is from his book 'Happy Birthday to You'- "Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you." LOVE it!

I admit I cheated and looked up some quotes and this one raised a smile, I think it's going to be true of me and Rachelle for a long time to come;).

Every day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I'm not there, I go to work.

Robert Orben

Good one!

For the next three months I'm following a certain 'lifestyle' that has restricted a lot (and I do mean A LOT) of foods from my diet... so you all know I have to throw in a food question!

If faced with having to choose between ONE food item for the rest of your life, what would it be?

It's between chocolate (I am female!) and Sapporo Ichiban Original soup (Not. Even. Joking. Love that stuff!). I'm going to go with chocolate because there could be many varieties... hazelnut, peanuts, almond, dried fruit and Ichiban is always the same declicous soup with noodles :)

Cereal every time.

One last one to finish things off... and make it interesting!

Name your celebrity crush.

Bear Grylls from Man vs. Wild on the Discovery Channel. Seriously google him. And no need to worry about my hubby... I've made him completely aware of this!

Simon Cowell, the only reason The Idol was worth watching. Yummy.

So there we have it! I hope you were able to find some fun in our first business feature. It can be completely silly or serious... totally up to you!

If you are interested in being featured please email rachelle@handsonkeepsakes.com. We look forward to introducing you to some other wonderfully talented business owners!

&



A New Lifestyle

A couple weeks ago I came across a program that a local gym was accepting applications for. They were providing a free three month gym membership, personal trainer and access to many other wonderful opportunities. Thinking that this was my chance I submitted my application and crossed my fingers and toes.

Finding out I was one of the accepted applicants I was BEYOND thrilled! Zero excuses now! 

Last Tuesday we met with our personal trainer and it started a little something like this, "Nutrition is 80-90% of your success...". I'm sorry WHAT!? I knew the next sentence was not looking good. Sure enough we were introduced to the Paleo lifestyle. 

No bread, pasta, cheese, dairy of any kind and quite obviously some other desired food items. Insert the longest and deepest sigh here.

Knowing at this point I didn't have much to loose I told myself I could do this! It's been over a week (yes I waited a week to blog about this to make sure I could do it!) and with a few hiccups along the way I'm still hanging in there! I had amazing results in the first week and will be doing my best to stick to it!

But as it always seems when you know you can't have something it just makes you want it ten times more! I have stooped to some pretty ridiculous levels. 

Today when James asked if he could have just one more cookie (with a cookie mustache) I agreed but only if I got a kiss... secretly hoping there would be the tiniest crumb. I find myself asking people the most detailed information about their meals.

Either way this is a journey to a much healthier lifestyle and an opportunity to learn a ton. Here's the quote that's keeping me going:

"There are no shortcuts to any place worth going." - Beverly Sills

So all I need to know now is who wants to join me!? Come on, haven't I sold you all on this lifestyle!?

Wishing everyone else out there who is exploring a new lifestyle change (drastic or not!) the best of luck!

PS- Watch for our first Business Feature in the next couple days. We're just putting the finishing touches on ours and look forward to some laughs :)

Introducing...

Hands on Keepsakes has been an incredible growing experience for Sarah and I. The past year and a half has been filled with excitement! We've been able to work with so many wonderful people, take hand/footprints of some pretty cute kiddos, work with many 'Mini Picassos' and have built friendships with many customers. 

Sometimes I think about my life without Hands on Keepsakes and I know there would be a huge emptiness.

Throughout our journey we continue to come across many other entrepreneurs with amazing stories. Knowing that I am not alone at certain moments of craziness and connecting with such talented people is inspiring. And we all need a little inspiration every now and again!

Sarah and I have been struggling to come up with a blog feature that our readers would find some consistency in. We wanted a way to connect with others and we're looking forward to what we've come up with!

So here's what you can look forward to... we will be featuring a different entrepreneur with questions about their life, business, what inspires them, how they balance it all and we'll throw in some fun ones too :)

In the next couple days we'll be giving you a sneak peak at some of the questions with our answers so you can get to know us a little better!

As this will be an ongoing project we would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE comments, feedback and suggestions of any entrepreneurs you may know, or if you're an entrepreneur yourself! You can direct all suggestions, comments, etc to rachelle@handsonkeepsakes.com.

As always we thank you so much for riding along this journey with us! We are enjoying every moment and hope this will allow us to provide you all with some enjoyment and inspiration!

&

Making a Stand - Jewelry Stand that is

The last thing my Dad says as he goes to bed on Christmas night is 'It's as far away as ever now'.  As a small child those words sent me into a huge depression - a year is such a long time for a child.  As my brother and I got older we'd groan when he said it and then it gradually became part of Christmas tradition, to the point where we'd remind him if he forgot to say it.  (Like the teenagers that moan and groan to their parents to get a new trendy Christmas tree only to be mortally offended when their parents finally get 'round to it ten years later - by this time the teenagers are twenty somethings and changing the tree is equivalent to stripping them of all their childhood Christmas memories - yes my brother and I were those nightmare children too).  Now we only hear Dad say it every other year, so you really want to make sure you don't miss it!  He did say it this year but I don't think my girls heard him, they are still too young to appreciate that's it's part of Mummy's Christmas heritage.

When I went to the UK in the summer I asked Dad to make Rachelle and I a display piece for our jewelry for when we go to events.  They went on a cruise later in the year and Mum said they had to visit every jewelry store on the ship and in port to check out the various displays so he could get ideas for ours.  He designed some options and scanned them to me.  I could tell he was disappointed that I chose the simplest design, he wanted something more intricate to test him more, still if that's what I wanted that's what he'd make.  Five minutes after stepping in our house after a 24 hour journey it was out the case, assembled and passed around for approval.

Apologies for the quality of the photos but you get the idea

It all comes apart for flat packing and the main upright is built in two halves so the stand can be tall, as it's shown here or shorter to display key rings rather than longer pendants.  I should mention that not only is Dad in his eightieth year but last spring he managed to remove the index finger of his right hand with a circular saw - and yes he is right handed.  He made this after his accident and obviously had to use the said saw.  Thanks Dad, I love it but more than that I love the time, effort and energy you put into making it, every time we use it you'll be thought of.

For Christmas this year Mum bought him instructions on how to build an American long case clock, so that'll be his next project......until I think up another one for him!

I heart Oprah

I'm just going to get straight to the point today... Anybody watch Oprah today??

I'm in month 11 of my Maternity Leave and am proud to say this is the first time I've turned the TV on at 4pm and managed to find Oprah. I am so thankful today was the day. You can have a look here.

I'm not going to lie January for me is not the happiest of months. Christmas is over and you're hit with that New Year's resolution. No idea why I didn't pluralize 'resolution'!

My little man turns one in less than a month now and I'm struggling with this BIG time.

This kid can't get enough of toilet paper... the intervention will soon come!

It feels like just yesterday the contractions were coming and I was seriously considering my state of sanity for signing up for this AGAIN!

Now we're close to taking first steps and are in full sibling fighting mode. As much as I've been struggling with my 'Motherly emotions' today's Oprah episode put me in my place. 

You will truly be inspired by the Cobles' strength and courage. Just be warned even Oprah was crying which made me feel better about my sobbing.

I'll be holding my boys that much tighter and am reminded how lucky I am. I encourage you to give your kids an extra squeeze... or two :)