life is like a burrito, only not quite the same…

Getting the chance to start over with my business is thrilling and scary all wrapped up into one. Perhaps I could compare it to a burrito. Stick with me, I think I know where I am going here?!

The thrilling part, is creating; it’s like the hot sauce, zing! Being home, having way less stress and hopefully having balance in my world is like the tortilla, giving me much needed stability. The scary part is probably not so scary, but there is a lot of mushy stuff going on for me (maybe this is the refried beans?!) and it all circles around being patient, only getting done what I can each day instead of staying up all night like batwoman and not really knowing exactly what this, the new Bagolitas, is going to look like now that it is just me again, sewing in my basement…

OK – enough with the burrito analogy.

It is so hard to wrap my head around going from selling thousands of bags each month to 100 (that is my goal!). I am a go hard or go home kind of girl, so taming the desire to go big vs. just being ok with doing something small scale is a daily struggle. I’m going to guess that my need for significance is playing a part in this perplexing state I am in…

Anywho, the plan for Bagolitas is evolving as I dig into things now that the kids are off to school. Putting new products out weekly was in hindsight an over ambitious idea. Sorry about that. The reality is that once a month makes way more sense. I’m also leaning towards a theme each month; so I am working within the same fabric group, thread colors, etc. Are you with me so far? My other limitation is that I can’t spend any money (the well is dry) and so I have to use what I have until I am back on my feet again. I like a challenge, so that isn’t too scary… and I have SOOOOO much stuff. Seriously.

To help the process, yesterday I created my inspiration board. I am always ripping out pages in magazines, grabbing paint swatches and watching fashion to get inspired. Since I have zero cash, I had to get resourceful. I took an old (very gold!) frame I had, painted it and pulled out the glass. I had some corkboard in my craft supplies from a kids project and with a few embellishments, I got ‘er done and it is good enough! (that is very hard for me to say) My inspiration is centered around fuchsia, orange and black for the first round of products – a bright, bold, vivacious new beginning!

where did clarence go?

I wrote a blog post on the Bagolitas site last year on clearance shopping (I was bragging about winning a gold medal for it…) and someone posted that they like to say they are going to visit Clarence. Loved it! and have been using it ever since. I took some time off last week and decided to indulge myself in a visit to go see Clarence at my favorite stop, Dillards, and was shocked at the scene.

SO little inventory in the stores (which I get, believe me!) but it now affects me directly because the clearance racks are down to such slim pickings. I refuse to pay full price and hate the defeat of walking away without my divine on a dime finds – so what’s a girl to do?

I figure I’ve got 3 options… Embrace my winter clothes from last year as I transition my closet over (easier said than done), head to Von Maur (their store is so full, do they know we are in a recession?) or start frequenting the consignment shops, an old sport of mine.

Brad would vote for #1 (I’ll try my best, honey) – but I’ve decided that I better take one for the team and gather all the evidence on what’s happened to Clarence by exploring option #2 and #3. There are still bargains to be had somewhere – I’ll let you know when I find them!

handbag tip

There is no need to pack your entire handbag full to the brim. I mean seriously – if you don’t use what is in your purse once a day (or multiple times a week if that sounded too harsh), then learn to travel lighter.

Brilliant! But easier said than done. I don’t know about you, but by the end of the week, my purse is packed with everybody’s “things” and I’m not even sure what I started with. I’m also certain that my bag is being mistaken for a garbage can… So Sunday night has become my dump out night to stay on top of the madness.

My other Sunday night secret is that I like to choose one bag that I will carry for the week and coordinate with my nail polish, clothes, jackets, etc. It is so much easier to quickly get ready each day and feel pulled together when you set the stage for the week!

hawkeye bling!

Last week I saved on the clearance racks while shopping for a birthday gift and found myself with $7 left burning a hole in my pocket. As the owner of a handbag company there are some obvious perks and the most recent was our new (and now sold out – sorry) Hawkeye mini-messenger bag – PERFECT for me to show my Hawkeye pride and sport at the games.

HOWEVER, I work very hard at making each of my handbags my own in some unique way. Some weeks I add flowers, some times it is a scarf – this week it was my first stab at bling. So simple! Unless of course you run out of crystals like I did…

10-3=7

I LOVE wrapping gifts and I am all about presentation. Whether right or wrong, I can’t help that I am filled with joy when I’m shopping for wrap, ribbon (FUN ribbon) and anything I can think of to put on a gift (always looking for deals, though!) and of course, looking for the gift itself. I know what you’re thinking… Presentation = MORE $, but let me explain.

When I budget around $10 for a gift and find the perfect purchase for $10.95 (like a Bagolitas Coffee Koozie!) I walk away feeling great! Next comes the card, postage, wrap, etc. which throws my $10 budget out the window. I’d actually be lucky to get a $10 gift to another state for under $20 when all is said and done. Check out the steps that I take to stick to my budget.

1. Save ALL cards you receive – birthday, thank you, etc. The person that bought that card for you spent a fortune and the card in and of itself is a gift. I have a big bowl right in my living room that I keep every card we receive (easy access for quick clutter removal!). Once a year I empty it, cut the “covers” off and turn them into cards for others while watching a chick flick or The Rachel Zoe Project (see link below!). Once salvaged, I keep the card tops in a box for gift wrapping time. For those cards with writing on the inside cover, a piece of colored cardstock will cover it up nicely!

2. Save ALL salvageable tissue, wrap, bags, ribbon – that’s a given. Thank you mom!

3. Save boxes – it is so much fun to get something wrapped vs. in a bag especially when it has been Janice-ized!

4. Shop clearance racks all year long for great gift giving items and keep a go-to shelf or drawer so you are never behind. I look for items that are easy to ship and light. Remember the $.99 “I” that I bought for my friend’s birthday?

5. Decorated completely in recycled wrap, ribbon and a card the entire gift WITH postage ran me around $3. That makes $7 for me =) It’s burning a hole in my pocket and I’ve got a great idea for Janice-izing my Hawkeye mini-messenger for the next home game. Stay tuned!

janice-ized

It’s Thursday and I’m loving it! No meetings and only 2 hours until I am the only one in the Studio. This is my catch up time from another wild week at Bagolitas. The Whimsy Collection has our fans buzzing and on the way into work, I heard the perfect “get up and go” song to get my blood pumping. Dynamite by Taio Cruz. I’m sure I’m behind the eight ball and this song is old news, but I was loving it and it is my tune purchase of the week from iTunes.

Amidst the crazy work week, I was catching up from missed birthdays. My clearance shopping has been at an all time high and while at the store I love to hate, Wal-mart, I stumbled upon cute little flip flops for only $2! Once home, I janice-ized them and today they are off to the birthday girls. Ribbon is so inexpensive at Hobby Lobby (get it on sale, of course!) and helps dress up all sorts of things. I’ve got some other ideas up my sleeve – now I just need some more birthdays to come my way!

weekend thrills!

I could win an Olympic medal for Clearance Shopping. I like to say that I need to go meet “Clarence” and to see just how far I can make $10 stretch. NEVER is there a better time of year to hit the clearance racks as evident by my Weekend Thrills – You won’t even believe what my $10 got me this weekend – Destination Hobby Lobby!