Friend Makin' Mondays ~ Things That Really Fuzz Me Up

This week for Friend Makin’ Mondays, Kasey has asked us to share five things that really fuzz us up. So without further ado, here are five things that really get my goat:

1. Dishes left in the sink by individuals who have no intention of washing them or putting them in the dishwasher at a later time. This is equally irritating at home and in the communal kitchen at work.

2. Bad customer service. If you expect a tip from me, you’d best be nice and bring me my food in a timely fashion. It doesn’t take that much more energy to be kind than it does to be rude. And please don't make me wait too long to eat when I'm really hungry!

3. Women who aren’t respectful of existing relationships and try to steal another girl’s man. We need to stick together, ladies! Some men may be scummy cheaters but we don’t need to aid and abet them in their misdeeds!
4. Drivers who tailgate. If I’m going the speed limit or a few miles over it (as I tend to do), getting on my tail isn’t going to do you any good. It’s only going to irritate me and make me slow down so I can irritate you!

5. Coworkers who come into my office and leave a drawer ajar after pulling something out of one of my file cabinets. I know that in the big scheme of things, this isn’t a big deal but I find it so annoying and I can’t focus on my work until I get up and close the drawer!

Visit Kasey's blog to join in on Friend Makin' Mondays!

Have a wonderful day!

~Heather

A Little Background on {Sugarplum} & a New Blog Name!

I thought I’d offer a little background on the “Sugarplum” in my business name and blog title in case anyone is curious. :o) (I know that I always wonder how others came up with their blog or business names!) I danced from the age of four all through high school and college, and for three years in high school, I danced the part of the Sugar Plum Fairy in my studio’s production of “The Nutcracker.” I started using “sugarplum” as part of my email address during my senior year of high school and got in the habit of using it as my username for various logins when I didn’t want to use my name. When I decided to start my business, “sugarplum” seemed like the natural choice for a name. I did consider names that might sound more wedding~related, but in the end, decided that a name that was unique to me and my past was best.

I’ve been contemplating changing the name of my blog for awhile now. When I first started blogging, I thought the majority of my posts would be related to my garter business ~ hence the name “Sugarplum Garters.” But as I’ve become more and more addicted to the wonderful world of blogging, my posts have become far more about me and my life than about garters. So without further ado, here is my blog’s new name ~ Visions of Sugarplums!

I’ve decided to keep “Sugarplum” in my blog’s name for a couple of reasons, the most prevalent being that it will make for an easier transition from my previous name. I am also in the process of expanding my business to include other bridal accessories as well as a line of little girl hair clips and bows that I plan to sell under the name “Sugarplum Cuties.” As I add more to my inventory, I will probably change my business name to “Sugarplum Garters & More” or something similar, and would like my blog title to still tie in somewhat with my business name.

Enough of my rambling! Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful weekend!

~Heather

Fabulous Finds Friday ~ April 3rd

Whoo hoo! We made it through another week! It’s been a busy one for me, and the weekend will be even busier ~ we’re packing for our big move, meeting an estranged family member for dinner, and DJing at an old classmate’s wedding. But that’s not important right now ~ what is important is that it’s Friday and that means it’s time for FABULOUS FINDS FRIDAY!

I am in no way a foodie ~ I’m one of those weird people who could eat the same meal every day for years and be completely content (of course it would have to be a meal I love such as fish from Skippers, Pasta Roni’s Shells and White Cheddar, or our favorite dish ~ chicken and rice with white sauce, which I discussed here ~ it’s number 6 if you want the recipe!). I’m a pretty picky eater and am in no way brave when it comes to trying new things, so I find it pretty humorous that many of my Fabulous Finds Friday posts include some sort of food item. And this week is no exception!

While doing our weekly shopping, I decided to venture out from my normal cereal selections of Kix, Honey Nut Cheerios, and Special K Chocolatey Delight (which, by the way, is a fabulous snack sans milk) and bought some Kashi Go Lean Crunch! cereal. I’ve been eyeing Kashi brand products for awhile now ~ I’ve heard they are very healthy and tasty, and I have to say that I was not disappointed with their cereal. It’s delicious, much more filling than Kix, and makes for a great way to start the morning out right because if FEELS healthy. If you haven’t done so yet, get some and try it!
I ran across these adorable kimono baby shoes while searching for sewing patterns ~ perfect for the little one in your life! The shape of them reminds me so much of chubby little baby feet. Here's the PDF. Go forth and make cute little shoes for your babies!


I may have developed a love for pincushions ~ isn't this one by Heather Bailey cool?!? I love that it's a different shape than normal pincushions, and you could do so much with different ribbons and fabrics to make it your own.

That's it for this week's post ~ it's been a busy busy week and I didn't have quite as much time as usual for random Internet searching. :o) Have a fabulous weekend!

~Heather

Wordless Wednesday ~ April Fool!

In honor of April Fool's Day, Dixie chose "April Fool" as this week's topic. To learn more about Wordless Wednesday, visit Dixie's blog here.

Have a fabulous day!

~ Heather

Favorite Thing of the Week ~ May Arts Ribbon

I have done a lot of searching online for ribbon over the past six months, and if I had to be honest, I would say that I’m not 100% satisfied with the ribbon I’ve been using for my garters. Don’t get me wrong ~ the quality of the ribbon I use now is decent, the price of the ribbon is affordable enough that I am able to sell my garters at a reasonable price and still make a profit, and the ribbon works up well and makes beautiful garters. But I have still been left wanting more…

We were at the small craft store in our hometown this weekend, and I caught myself drooling over their inventory of ribbon available for purchase by the yard. I noticed a website address on the spool, and had looked it up and registered as a wholesale customer by the time we got home. The company is May Arts, and if you are a ribbon fanatic (Ashley @ The Domestic Fashionista and Amanda @ Imperfectly Beautiful, this means you!), you have to check out their gorgeous ribbon! It is by far my favorite thing of the week! I have been dying to place an order since Saturday morning when I got my confirmation of registration, but am trying to be responsible as resources are tight with our upcoming move and I won’t have time to make anything with the beautiful ribbon until May anyway. So until then, I will continue to drool over their wonderful selection, and share a few of my favorites with all of you!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

~Heather

Friend Makin’ Mondays ~ Things I Can’t Live Without

Kasey’s back for another Friend Makin’ Monday ~ this week, we’re sharing ten things we can’t live without. Without further ado, here are mine!

1. High Heels. At 5’ ½”, I need all the help I can get in the height department. I wear high heels almost every day. They make my legs look so long and lean, plus they create awesome calf definition!



2. Chocolate. I don’t think I’ve gone a day without it in years. I am officially a chocoholic.



3. My Ipod. I love music and books ~ my Ipod provides me with both in my quiet little office. I bet I have it playing no less than 8 hours every day. I love love love listening to audiobooks.

4. Diorshow Mascara. My eyelashes are long but very light. This mascara just makes them pop ~ I rarely leave the house without it.
5. DVR/TiVo. I’ve used both TiVo and the DVR provided by the cable company. Talk about life changing! No more wasting precious time watching commercials! No more setting up the VCR to tape my favorite shows every week! I can’t imagine watching television without my TiVo!

6. Victoria’s Secret PINK sweatpants. The second I walk in the door every night, I change out of my work clothes and throw on a pair of my comfy PINK sweatpants. I’m definitely a lounge~wear type of girl, and these are cute and cozy.


7. A magnifying mirror. A must~have for eyebrow plucking and makeup application.


8. Meat. I just don’t understand vegetarianism. I can’t live without meat ~ chicken, beef, pork, turkey. I’m not picky! I need my protein!


9. My cell phone. Dear Boyfriend and I text no less than 20 times throughout the work day. Our cell phones give us a nice little way to stay in touch while we’re apart. Plus I can check my email and Facebook from my phone, and play Sudoku and Tetris!


10. Toilet paper. No drip drying for me! Toilet paper is definitely a must~have!

Visit Kasey's blog and join in the fun!

~Heather

More Temptation...

My coworkers must have missed the memo that I can't take any more yummy food temptation ~ today they brought in rice krispie treats, raspberry bread, and ham and cream cheese rolls. I'm not strong enough to resist!