Politics as Usual?

Just a few thoughts: politics...

There is a distinctly different flavor to the political pie of today.
I remember when Reagan was elected President way back when --- I thought, 'Oh, now we are electing actors for President?!' Turns out, he may have been one of the best in modern history.

So many candidates of the recent past have compared themselves to JFK..... wishful thinking.

But the campaigns now are just plain nasty. Trump is nasty. He seems to fit all the criteria for a narcissistic diagnosis, but then so many politicians do. Nobody in Washington DC gets along with Cruz, and Marco Rubio seems to think he can administer Trump's own medicine to him -- and it just isn't working.
Donald Trump is Donald Trump. Marco Rubio is not. And he shouldn't try to administer foul jokes - it says more about him than it says about his opponent. Disappointing.

The two decent candidates rate in the single digits in all the polls. Does that prove dirty politics is politics as usual? No such thing as a clean campaign being effective? Too bad.

Maybe.

Mr. Trump has many descriptions that could accurately label him. Do we want labels? Well, maybe we need them. The party system creates a natural competition, but it has gone way too far. So far, that a single word, either Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative elicits immediate hate and disapproval without further consideration. Lazy judgment.

I think Trump may be thought of as the antidote to the apologies, the concessions, the deals, use of executive order, and a loose interpretation of the Constitution that characterize the current administration. And he may do the same thing, only instead of having class like Mr. Obama, he will resemble a bulldozer. He makes a lot of noise. And the sound of his engine is not of the Washington machine, which may be the draw for him. But then neither Carson nor Kasich are of the Washington ilk... so that theory may be null and void.

I remember when Democrats chided the Republicans for their criticism of Bill Clinton. They said what a man does in his private life is none of our business. They quoted Europeans who tsk tsk the silly American and their Puritanical values, saying they should wake up, grow up. But the man who would would dishonor his own personal vows, who would lie, who would betray his spouse employs values that generate past his immediate family. The Clintons are known as liars. And that has proved to be not so advantageous to the country.

Small Business Saturday Tips from Small Business Owners

November 10, 2014

Now entering its fifth year, Small Business Saturday (November 29) encourages people to support local businesses during the busiest shopping season of the year. It’s estimated that in 2013 people spent $5.7 billion at small businesses on Small Business Saturday.

Here are some tried and true tips for Small Business Owners:

1. Form a community

Work with other local businesses to make the event community-wide, rather than store-wide.

a.) Create a local “shop small” community to meet and collaborate with other small business owners in the area. 

b.) Cross-promote each business’s messages with the larger “shop small” message.

Encourage small business to think of the day as a neighborhood event.

2. Tell your story

Brick and mortar shopping connects people to businesses in a personal way. To connect your community to your business before they even step foot into your store, start a Small Business Saturday campaign that tells stories about your business.

3. Offer an experience

Several businesses we spoke with had plans to make Small Business Saturday a special day in their stores. a.) Bring in a local artist to show off your work, or serve appetizers and host giveaways in the store. Offer a discount to people that visit on Small Business Saturday. Take advantage of coupons or sales promotions (See Puzzle game)

b.) Add signs encouraging customers to take pictures at popular areas in your shop and connect with the store on Facebook and Instagram. Great advertising!

4. Get the word out

a.) Reach out to customers via email, newsletters and Facebook Page posts and ads, using age, region and gender targeting. You can even send handwritten notes and place phone calls inviting the best customers to come into the store.

b.) Give people directions to your business right on their phones.

5. Say thank you

There’s nothing as valuable as a face-to-face conversation with a customer, so thank yours for their support. You can take that one step further and hand out gift bags with cookies or some other small gift to thank their customers for visiting, but no matter how you choose to say thank you, be sure you do.

A Great Marketing Idea

I love this idea!
 
Receive one piece of the puzzle with any purchase (or for each $10 spent, for example) made from PolkaDotPatty. 

1.Then bring your puzzle pieces back in to us anytime from Date-to-date. 
2. A duplicate puzzle will be shown on display, but with one piece missing. 
3. If you have that missing piece, you will be the winner of an item, specialty, made-to-order, or something
     already chosen. Maybe a Gift Certificate or a Wish Item.
4. Collect as many pieces as you would like. 
5. Keep in mind, there are only 500 pieces, so stop by and start collecting today!

Get 2 puzzles, make one and use the other pieces, plus the winning piece to give at purchase time.

Don't Judge Me!

The phrase "don't judge me" more often than not simply means that the "judged" want affirmation. About whatever they do, about what they believe, and whatever they say.

If you disagree, you are judging.
If you do not adhere to a certain belief system, you are judging.
If you suggest a more convenient way to do something, you are judging.
If you make it plain that your preference is an opposing one, you are, again, guilty of judging.

And yet....
If you don't immediately recognize pain, effort, or if you don't acknowledge each and every triumph, then you don't care. You have "abandoned" that person.

But, I say, you have taught me that whatever you do is not subject to my approval or disapproval, so I kinda just stay away. I know you are interested only in my complete acceptance of whatever you do, you only acknowledge praise. And to me, that is fake, that is partial, that is selective. Ego.

I may neither approve nor disapprove, but what I have are my own opinions. I am a complete package.

So, dear judged, it is not all about you.

Someone once said: You wouldn't be quite so concerned about what other people thought if you only knew how little they thought about you.

http://www.tabberone.com

It is not illegal to use commercial patterns to sell your own creations!

Eggbert, the Easter Egg

Eggbert, the Easter egg
Was a pretty little Easter egg.
Cutest thing you ever saw
In the window of a big department store.

All day the children came,
Noses pressed against the window pane.
Spoke to Eggbert, but alas,
Eggbert cried because he couldn't answer back.

Then all at once
The clouds rolled by
To let the sun shine through.
Believe it or not,
It got so hot,
That Eggbert split in two!

Out popped a baby chick,
A teeny, weeny, little baby chick.
And all the children heard him say:
Eggbert wishes you a Happy Easter Day!

*I sang this to my little siblings for many years. Daddy brought home the 78 LP, sung by Rosemary Clooney.

It's Not Just Decoration

Fruit in the centerpiece bowl on my table is real, you may eat it.

Stoneware pitchers on the shelf are often used for milk, iced tea, juice, margaritas...

Pretty tea cups and tea pots get rotated for little impromptu tea parties.

The rooster-shaped bottle really has olive oil in it for cooking.

Hand-stitched quilts arranged artfully over a chair or couch is just as pretty to cuddle with.

Cookies filling up the jar look great, but you may eat them; I'll make more.

The cute collection of rolling pins are used regularly to roll out sugar cookie dough.

Bathroom towels tied with ribbons are more than just decor, they are towels.

Pretty crystal goblets make any drink taste better, I think.

Just please don't use my vintage hand-embroidered linen napkins to dab your lipstick!

Duck Lips

Some things I really, really dislike:

Duck lips head the list.
Skinny jeans
Slang, like:

• like, you know .... then I was like....
• sick (to mean good)
• epic fail
• brothu, sistah

Put downs
Shaming
Assumptions
And, finally, people saying "Don't judge me!" when really, they are saying "I'm going to do what I want and you better not tell me you don't like it!"

Fabric, fabric, fabric!

A Few Words You Should Know about the Fabric Industry

First of all, the most basic terms to familiarize yourself with are “D/R” and “ROT”.

• D/R stands for “Double and Rolled” – in other words, “Fabric on a Bolt”.  This is the most standard way that fabric is shipped and usually the most cost effecient way for shipping.  However, the fact that the fabric is folded before it’s wrapped on the bolt does mean that there will be a crease down the center of it.

• ROT stands for “Rolled On a Tube” and is simply any type of fabric which comes on a roll and is rolled on in a single layer. This method does cost more for shipping since it will automatically be an oversized package.  Usually only fabrics that are 54″ wide or greater will be packaged this way, but many fabric vendors give you the option for ROT or D/R.  One noteworthy factor of the ROT fabrics is that they will not have any crease down the center!

• To sound like a pro, ask them what the “Put Ups” are for the fabric you’re inquiring about.   This is the official fabric industry way to ask how many yards come on a bolt.

Next, the majority of fabric merchants are located in New York and close their offices as early as 3:00 pm.  In addition, a huge number of the leading fabric vendors are of Jewish descent, so many will be closed for all Jewish holidays.  Both of these factors can be important to consider when trying to reach these companies.

How to Deal with the Fabric Industry/ Setting up a Wholesale Account

• First of all, you want to make sure you sound like an industry professional.  Most of these websites, even if they sell wholesale state that, “We do not sell to the general public.”
• Avoid sounding like you’re “just starting up” your business at all costs!
• Be sure you have your business license ready when you call or email, and it helps to end with a link to your website after signing off on an email to add a sense of validity to your case.
• Ask what their minimum order is, but don’t be daunted if one company’s minimum is too high for you.  Chances are good that the next company you contact will be more willing to work with you.
• I would caution you against using the term “designer” too freely about yourself.  The recent influx of wanna-be “fashion designer” students who have little knowledge about sewing or fabrics have given the word negative connotations with fabric connoisseurs! Instead, try saying, “I am the business owner of a clothing manufacture (or whatever your specialty is) company”.
• Also don’t label yourself merely “a seamstress” when talking with the vendors.  To them “seamstress” merely means someone who should be shopping at a retail store, and they certainly don’t want to help someone who isn’t a professional!

Finally, these sources listed above will not be suitable for every single fabric customer.  While many of them are terrifically helpful, others get literally 5,000 orders a day and view one more customer as “just another number”.  You will need determination to work with the fabric industry, and of course you will need to make sure that you really need the amount of fabric it takes to meet their first minimum order.  Some companies have a dollar amount, while others just have a three-bolt minimum for each subsequent order.

But if the sewing business you have started is to the point where you could go through over a couple hundred yards of the same fabric in a year, I would actually recommend going with an international source.  If you are purchasing that large of quantities, it is best to work with the overseas fabric mills directly.  Once you reach this point you have the exciting position of being able to choose exactly what weight and color of fabric you want!  The greatest resource I’ve found for this purpose is www.alibaba.com – a website which is much like a Yellow Pages of Asian fabric mills.  This easy-to-use site has an inquiry form where you can describe what you’re looking for, and within a couple of days you will be receiving quotes and product pictures from dozens of companies all over the Far East!  The minimums for using these mills is obviously quite large, but the prices are generally sold at phenomenal discounts and you have the option to choose exactly what you have in mind.   The other benefit to using this system is that you know your fabric will be re-orderable, unlike the U.S. fabric vendors who frequently discontinue items on a regular basis.

I hope you enjoy browsing these websites that I’ve linked to, and I would be happy to answer any questions you might have!  Fabric is definitely one of my favorite things, and I hope the information I’ve shared will be helpful to you!

Happy sewing,

Katrina

Do It Anyway

"People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway."

Sounds so good, but to really "get this," one needs to apply it to one's life.
In certain situations, I feel misunderstood, overlooked, and feel that my motives are misinterpreted.

But I am going to do what I do anyway. Quietly and with no fanfare.
I get it.

America, the Beautiful

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?

You bet it does!
The American flag has always been a symbol of freedom and victory. And I am proud to be an American.

When my class sings this song, we say "Yessss!" as we pump our fists into the air.

Always makes me tear up!

Are You a Victim?

“As long as you think that the cause of your problem is “out there”—as long as you think that anyone or anything is responsible for your suffering—the situation is hopeless. It means that you are forever in the role of victim, that you’re suffering in paradise.”
― Byron Katie, Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life

Shabby Chic

It's a new style, an old style reclaimed. A life revisited.
You see it all over Pinterest
Little antique furniture shops focus on sleigh beds, ladderback chairs
Window vignettes feature old kitchen tools on metal pantry shelves
Rusted items have 'patina'
Chipped paint is 'distressed'
Old wood floors replace plush carpeting or shiny tile
A bunch of wild flowers outshine elaborate arrangements
Most colors are softer but old red is back
Ruffles, natural muslin, and tea roses
China cups with tea sometimes replace mugs of coffee
...
Maybe we are looking for a simpler time
Less complicated
We find comfort in the old things
We remember
We go back to our roots, as they say
We go home.

You DO have enough time to exercise

If you say otherwise, you’re lying to yourself.  The truth is you don’t have time not to, or sooner or later you’ll be making time for illness.
At least 30 minutes of exercise every day has been proven on countless occasions by countless medical studies to increase the strength, happiness and longevity of human lives.  You’re talking about three and a half hours a week.  That’s hardly seems an excessive amount of time considering the tremendous benefits in terms of the impact on the remaining 164.5 hours of the week.  

And they lived happily ever after.....

"I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity."

- Gilda Radner

Interval Training for Faster results

A2 Get Fit

Want to get more out of your workouts?

There's a little secret in the fitness world called interval training.

What is interval training? Rather than doing the same cardio exercise your entire workout, interval training alternates short, high-intensity bursts of exercise with slower, low-intensity periods of recovery.

Research has shown that such intervals of high and low-intensity activity burn more calories and build fitness quicker in a shorter amount of time.

Once designed for elite athletes, interval training is now something the average fit person can try. You don't need fancy equipment or special training to rev up your routine with interval training.

Read on to learn more about this fast, slow, fast, slow method of training and weight loss.

Theory Behind Interval Training
By alternating high-intensity movements with low-intensity movements, you're working both your aerobic (with oxygen) and anaerobic (without oxygen) systems. High-intensity exercise causes your muscles to produce lactic acid (waste products), which lead to muscle soreness. Too much lactic acid build up causes exercise to become exhausting and painful.

Alternating hard and easy exercise will reduce the amount of lactic acid that accumulates, thereby making exercise more comfortable, improving your endurance and increasing your speed.

Interval Length
So how long should intervals be?

The answer is, it doesn't matter.

There are no real hard-and-fast rules about interval length. Varying lengths bring varying benefits. So how fast and how often you pick up the pace depends on you.

Beginners should aim for no longer than 30 seconds of high-intensity bursts. If you're feeling strong and are in good shape, go ahead and push yourself a bit longer.

Know the Risks
While a no-rules approach may sound appealing, interval training isn't for the beginner. If you're new in the land of fitness, take your time as you increase the intensity of your workouts.

Rushing into high-intensity exercise may lead to injury. Start out slowly. Add one or two high-intensity intervals each workout. Slow down if you feel you're overdoing it. As your stamina increases, feel free to challenge yourself.

Sample Workouts
Remember, there's no set rule about how to do interval training. It can be tailored to your fitness level and type of exercise.

An interval-training workout involves four variables that can be changed to meet your goals: intensity of intervals, duration of intervals, duration of recovery intervals, and the number of interval repetitions.

Interval training can be casual, spur of the moment bursts of activity depending on how you're feeling that day or if you're working towards a more specific sports or fitness goal you can take a more sophisticated, scientific approach.

Interval training workouts have been designed for plyometrics, sprints, stair running, jump rope, speed drills, and agility drills.

A simple example of interval training for walking would be to add short bursts of jogging or alternate slower walking with brisk walking. If you walk outdoors, you could jog or walk faster between certain landmarks such as mailboxes or street signs, then slow down for a short distance.

A second example that really gets your heart pumping and improves fitness in a short amount of time includes running, rowing, or cycling. Warm up for about 15 minutes, then run, row, or cycle as hard as you can (at 90 percent of your maximum heart rate) for three minutes. Then go easy for three minutes, allowing your body to recover. Repeat these three-minute intervals of high- and low-intensity exercise three or four times. Then cool down for 10 minutes.

I'm here to help you meet your fitness and weight loss goals.

Call or email today to get started on a fitness program that will get you to your goal quicker.

Increase Your Intensity

To get the most out of your interval training try the following:

• Add Resistance. Between sets of cardio do a set with dumbbells, resistance bands or with your body weight.
• Increase Speed. Really push yourself during the sprinting intervals. Remember, it's only a handful of seconds.
• Lengthen Intervals. Add a few seconds to your intense intervals.
• Change Exercises. If you've been sprinting then switch to burpees or high knees.

Nacho Bizness

People who accept you are your friends.  Other people who don’t are your teachers.   

No need to be defensive. What those other people think about you is their business. 

What you think about yourself is your business.

Meditation

As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth,
so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind.
To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again.
To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over
the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.
~ Henry David Thoreau

Vote

I've heard it said, well, if it were all about the economy
or jobs
or taxes
or business
or illegal immigration
or oil
or judges
or social security
or medicare
or abortion
it would be simple to vote.
It's not that simple.

God says choose life or choose death
Maybe He wasn't talking about our election
but
yeah, 
it is that simple.

Gifts for the Boss

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Eighty-five percent of the players’ parents have made a donation toward a gift for our coach. I don’t want to say this gift is from the team, because some did not contribute. Am I being selfish?

GENTLE READER: No, just petty. Well, generous at the same time, Miss Manners acknowledges, because you wanted to do something for the coach.
But those who organize group presents often blithely assume that it is only fair that everyone divide the cost. And usually they have unilaterally declared the need, selected the item and declared the price. They then get angry, as you have, at those who do not pay, some of whom may have been unable to do so without hardship.
Please try to think of this, instead, as a team effort. When the team wins or loses, everyone does, even those who did not directly participate in that game.