Friday, February 9, 2018

FMM - Kinda Girly Edition

If you're reading this in a reader, click through because TA DAAAA, I had my blog redesigned!  Well, it's in the process - a few settings need to be changed, but overall, I love how it turned out - I wanted something simpler than my previous design, plus I wanted to see a watercolor look in the design, and my designer nailed it for me.  I'm thrilled with the nod to my birthplace/love of Hawaii with the hibiscus flower, and you may have noticed that after nearly 10 years, I've changed up my tagline.  Let's face it, weight-loss hasn't been the focus of this blog for quite a while now, but Paco always is, so he gets to share the top billing.

I was surprised to realize that my last blog redesign was done nearly five years ago - it debuted right before I turned 50.  Time goes by so fast!  I was also surprised to realize that I'll be 55 in June...which, how can that be?  I swear, I was just celebrating Barbara's 55th birthday, and she's older than me.  Now I'm almost her age, LOL.  Anyway, please bear with me as we get everything settled with the new design; if you're seeing truncated posts, that will change back to full posts as I hate having to click to read more, myself.

********************

I'm in a no-spend zone right now, which makes the fact that I can go online and order purses and watches and jewelry for the gift shop all that more fun - yay, I get to buy things without having to pay for them!  Of course, I don't actually get to bring them home with me, but I do get the thrill of unpacking and the subsequent oohing and aahing over everything when it arrives at the gift shop, which is almost as much fun.

Yesterday was just such a day; Rosalie and I were so pleased with our selections, and apparently our customers were, too - we sold four necklaces, a bracelet, and a pair of earrings before we even put them out on display!  We unpack everything on the counter at the gift shop first, and while all the jewelry was laying out, people were laying claim to certain items, which made us feel good - after all, we choose what we like to stock in the gift shop, but it's always nice to see that our customers like what we pick.

I ended up pulling all the jewelry out of the display case and redid two shelves' worth of displays; I even rearranged all the tin boxes in the back of each shelf just for fun.  Here's how everything looked:
This is all Fossil and Skagen jewelry and watches; lovely pieces, all of them...and none that I need.

********************

I played with another shade of eyeshadow before heading off to my volunteer gig yesterday - I used the Bobbi Brown lavender on my lids, with the Mac darker plum for the shading:
I liked this; the lighter color on my lids made me feel like I looked more awake and refreshed, I think.  Plus, it fed into my love for the pink shades, so hey, bonus!

I appreciate all the feedback about the different makeup shades from Monday's post, and also the suggestions to go to a makeup counter and have my eyes done so I can try out other colors.  Honestly, I don't dare do that right now because I'm really trying to not spend any unnecessary money, and I know me, I'll go in with the best of intentions but suddenly I'll have a TREAT YO'SELF moment and walk away with a bagful of eye shadow and potions and primers.  So I just need to use what I have and believe me, I have enough.

********************

Paco made me laugh the other morning, because he was fascinated by shadow Paco:
 He'd cock his head, watch the shadow move, and then belly crawl toward it...so cute!

********************

We are running and breakfasting tomorrow, plus Allie is coming home for a quick visit, so it'll be a fun day for sure.  Have a great weekend!

21 comments:

  1. I love the new design! It's so simple and pretty. I've always designed my blog myself, but I've considered having it done by a professional.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I just don't have the eye to pull it all together, and especially not to do the logo/header, so having someone who does this is worth it for me.

      Delete
  2. I really like the new look of your blog. Gift shops at hospitals sure have gotten fancy since I volunteered back in the day when I was a candy striper. You have great taste in "picking" what to sell.
    Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When I was a candy striper back in the day, we had a refrigerated case with flower arrangements for sale, and a vending machine for soda and candy - that was it! We fancy now. ;)

      Delete
  3. I like the new design, but this 50-something year old is questioning why another 50-something year old would decrease the font size! You had me leaning in to my computer and squinting even with my progressives on!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That was one of the first things on my punch list - enlarge the font. And, while I like the soft gray color, I may go darker on it as well. I can't see it either!

      Delete
  4. Your last redesign was 5 years ago?! When I read this I was thinking you had just done that. Time flies when you're reading fun blogs :)

    I love all of that jewelry! And can't spend money now either! I have a ton of fossil watches and a couple wallets, so OF COURSE I'd need to branch out to get their jewelry too. Sigh. Just going to pull up their website now and not buy anything. But I get what you mean about being excited when your customers like the stuff you like. I work a couple days a week at Ann Taylor Loft and love when customers are excited to find something they love. It's fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was shocked as well - I would have sworn that last design was just three years old, max.

      We had an adorable pink Fossil wallet at the gift shop for a couple weeks that I really loved - luckily someone bought it, LOL. Darn them for making their stuff so cute and just on the affordable side for me. Very cool that you work at Loft - we don't have one in town but I always love to go there whenever I'm in the big city.

      Delete
    2. I pretty much work at Loft a) so I can get out of the house and interact with people and b) so I can keep buying their clothes and jewelry. I barely break even there, ha!

      Delete
  5. Yeah! I noticed your new design right away. Very pretty!! Sophie approves of the byline, and is now bugging me to add her to my blog :/

    That's amazing how people are waiting in line to buy your jewelry. You have a good reputation for bringing in pretty stuff now!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well OF COURSE Sophie should be front and center of your blog! ;)

      What I find amazing is how much spending money everyone seems to have! Maybe I should get a paying job...is that what it would be like for me? I could actually SHOP???

      Delete
  6. The new design looks fab and of course, I love the tagline!

    You guys do the best job picking out stuff for the shop! And displaying it. I am not surprised a lot of it was snagged before you even put it out!

    Have fun with Allie this weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! We really enjoy the entire process, from choosing the items to displaying them, and of course, seeing them go to good homes. ;)

      Delete
  7. I normally read the blog on my phone but today I'm reading on my iPad and the blog design is the first thing I noticed! It looks great! Although I never thought the old one looked bad. Kudos to Paco for getting his name on top..haha.

    Your displays look lovely and all the jewelry is oh so pretty! Are most of your customers patients, visitors, or employees?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Paco approves of his starring role, LOL.

      Most of our customers are employees. Probably after that are friends and family of the newborn babies...always so fun to see their excitement when the baby is born. :)

      Delete
  8. Love it. I’ve never had my blog designed. Who did yours?

    Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I like the new look! Very fresh and dare I say, hip? Paco is going to need his own section, though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paco's section would be the biggest, you know that, right? ;)

      Delete
  10. Just saw a comment you left from 8 months ago on my blog. Read it, responded and felt inspired. I stopped blogging 8 months ago, I stopped running two months ago. Am I seeing a trend? Well maybe. So....I may have a new post soon. We will see but anyway - bravo for new jewelry and keeping up the positives!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kimberly, I hope you reverse the trend. :) Send me a link to your blog when you post again, OK?

      Delete

Comments are now moderated to prevent spammers from leaving, well, spam - but rest assured that as soon as I read a real comment, I will publish it. So please, comment away, even though the blog is officially closed. Thanks!