Christmas Morning!

All is calm....all is bright.......a wintry and quiet Christmas morning greeting to all!

Yesterday, after arising at 3:30 AM, wrapping presents, going to Walmart for more, grocery shopping, cleaning up kitchen, wrapping more presents, visiting with friends, delivering orders, making pie, and CLEANING 1/3 of kitchen....going to dinner at old friends' house; I was sitting, rather reclining in the "queen's chair", my beloved loveseat. Only 15 minutes behind schedule, kitten quickly and deftly put "Prince Caspian" into DVD player, and at 8:25 I was adrift in the land of dreams, never to awaken, until Batman commanded me to an alert phase adrenal reaction upstairs.........

This morning, I ordered that NO PRESENTS be opened until Perry Como white Christmas was played on Side two. After listening to the christmas story, me crying all the while, we sat in meditative and wondrous silence and drank in the moment. I was happy that we did! I feel that traditions must be made and then preserved, for the hour in which we live seeks to dissolve the sanctity of our roots.

Enough said.

Now, to unveil what my beloved husband bought me!!!!! Ta Da,,,,,,

This proves to me, that no matter what, what we go through, our turmoils, stuggles and metamorphosis in various seasons of life......that he, my husband, knows my heart strings, and is in touch with what makes me tick! Thank you, my darling!

Only one minor detail; my piano teacher, who, by the way, has not had a lesson with me since before Hurricane Ike, is moving to Kansas City MO for at least 3 months. This, however, will give me time to work on the intro of Rend the Heavens; the assignment she last gave me......

I, want to play, the strings of your heart, God,

Come play the strings of mine

I, want to sing, straight to your heart, God

Come sing straight to mine

Lord, you have my heart. x3

And I am searching for yours.........

A blessed and peaceful day to you, my friend! Sieze and savor every moment and share the Love that made this day possible!

ok, so after "running" into town....

ok, so after "running" into town....i "ran" to the post office and pounded late christmas cards into the overflowing receptacles, then "ran" into Shryl's Hallmark, looking for basket bags, then "ran" into Big Lots which is now liquidating, then I "ran" into Besty Buy for 2 yellow inks, not to "run" out again, then I "ran" into Target and found all I ever wanted in wrappings and then some. Whew! "Ran" through chekout line and $133 dollars later, "ran" through Whataburger for kitten, and then sat in my car while it "ran" through the $5 wash n go line.

i have now "run" out of steam and that is not figurative. no more left to give. can we please pass on christmas. or, can my mom come over and cook? right. she is in heaven.

oh well. tonight is church and we're inforatreat.

out

love

peace

goodtidingsofgreatjoywhichshallbeforallpeople....

OH ME OH MY, I LOVE PIE!!!!!

REMEMBER that rediculous movie Michael, where John Travolta plays the archangel Michael, and he eats white sugar by the bowlful, and then hooks up with some reporters from Chicago, and they go out to eat and sing that song, Oh, Me Oh My, I Love PIE!!!!! I was singing that song last night around 12:45 AM.

Finally, the art of Whipped Cream is beginning to be a learned skill!!!! Thank you, Wilton!

Any of you out there, who just cannot get enough of my delectable bakery goods or delicately fragranced, dulcent candles, I am having a truckload sale in the back of my Camry tonight, Lord willing! After intercession tonight, you can purchase candles for last minute Christmas gifts:

$17.99 for 16 oz. jar candles, $13.99 for 10 oz. jar candles, $7.99 for 8 oz. jar candles, or $20.00 for bath sets in four fragrances: Hello, Sweet Thing! (pictured yesterday) (minus the bath bombs), Winter Grapefruit, a combination of grapefruit, pine, and winterberry, Black Amber and Lavender, and Frankincense & Myrrh, Spicy. All boxed up and ready to go!

Call me with any questions! After tonight, Cassia's Kitchen is......closed for the Holidays!

Except, I have to make my neighbors some last minute gifts... they have no idea what we've been cookin' up!

Meanwhile, my wonderful printer ran out of yellow ink, so I have to "run" to town, Funny expression! Get yellow ink, print Kitchen Edition labels, wrap 13 pies, deliver to customer, collect money, (money, YeaH!!!) (FINALLY, SOME MONEY!), get more baskets ready for my beloved pastor and his wife and mother!, get ready to go to church, figure out some nutrition for kitten, and have the mind of Christ by 7:00 PM.

Best friend is in hospital for a big surgery yesterday. Must check on her and visit tomorrow.

By ham for employee Christmas, and negotiate with family their desired meal of choice for Christmas Dinner. Go Christmas shopping tomorrow, yeah RIGHT!!!! How fun does that sound?

Can we skip presents this year?

Watched a ridiculous Jackie Chan movie last night because I wanted to retreat out of reality and escape into fantasy just for a moment. Fa Bidden King dom. Cheesey,funny,ok.

If you are licking your chops over those cupcakes, quit salivating. Terri bought every single one in stock and I must order more supplies before you can get one!

Last but not least, this kitchen has gotten out of hand once again, so much clean!

Love to all and to all a good night!

countdown........

Marnin;, all! Well it is not snowing here, but encroaching front might bring sleet tomorrow!

Yeah! Kitten to stack new firewood on front porch.

Saturday was a small turnout, but "despise not the day of small beginnings, saith the Lord!" Actually I gave away the same amount I sold but when we "cast our bread upon the waters, Scripture says it will come back many times over. I brought orders to church yesterday, and just before worship started, my wonderful Black Amber and Lavender was wafting amongs the congregation as two ladies just behind me could not contain themselves and started applying it right then and there! Delighted, I watched several other ladies ooohing and awwwing over the luxurious fragrance........

Anyhow, I would like to show all my new bath and body collection. I just finished a custom order for Sam, in Japanse Cherry Blossom! It smells so good and will surely delight her and any of you who would like me to get some for you!

Here pictured is my new box of bathing goodies. The presentation will "pass"; meanwhile I will look for just the right wrapping to showcase these, Pictured from left to right: 2 4 oz. cupcake bath bombs with moisturizing, skin softening nonfat milk powder, shea and cocoa butter, and sweet almond oil. Will fizz and delicately scent and soften your skin, all the while providing suds and gentle pink color. 8 oz. shimmering aloe hair and body wash, 6 oz. shimmering Vitamen A,D,E thick body cream, all natural except some necessary preservatives to extend shelf life; 4 oz. shimmering body mist, aloe based. Another cupcake bath bomb. In center, from left to right: 4 oz. shimmering soy travel candle, and finally pink sugar scrub, 4 0z. All fragranced here in Cherry Blossom! But, you can pick you poison in any of my 75+ skin safe fragrances!

Price of box here: $30.00. If sold separately, it would be more, but don't ask me to stop and count just yet. Just ask me for a brochure and see for yourself!

I have to make two orders today. I have enticed the Clarks for Mexican Food, but I don't even begin to know when to schedule that in. Meanwhile, have not done any Christmas shopping.

Do you think my family will want candles? I think not. However, I think I can get by with giving my little kitten a bath set and she will be delighted!

More later!

countdown......touchdown!!!!

My family has not seen the kitchen table for 4 days
newest limited edition for tomorrow's party
teacher's gifts....test burn successful, smell so yummy!

!bath and body bar waiting for fragrance addition.

Sorry, Anne-Marie! I realize we are not that well acquainted that I could roast you so openly. However, I take delight in the fact that other people's horizontal spaces don't look exactly like Betty in the Reynold's Wrap Kitchen, or the white clad ladies in the Betty Crocker test kitchens, or even our beloved Martha, even with Snoopdog in her beloved kitchen! I hope you do not think that I am a sicko.
Although, it is easy to be twisted or sicko when deranged from lack of sleep.

I have to run to kitten's school to be "Room Mom". It is a privilege although it couldn't be worse timing! Nevertheless, must deliver teacher's gifts, should I also deliver business cards with that? Is that soo soo tacky? Probably, me heart thinks so.

OK, so after Bible reading and calming heart down, reprint kitten's class photos for Room Mom party project, shower, find something decent to wear. Race to school, be all glowy and wonderful for party, then off to Walmart for sundries, and Tuesday Morning for some beautiful cut crystal glassware....for my Crystalle Collection. I am a madwoman.

Then, Texas Sized Cupcake Bombs, Melts, Shimmering Body Butter sticks, labeling all creations, fragrancing bath collection, assembling baskets, I hope my organza bags arrive!, labeling labeling and more labeling. More candles, and making current orders. Oh, and a disappearing soap project with paper embedded.....hope it works, could be beautiful!

Maybe Batman will buy me dinner?

See all yous guys later!

CAN YOU TELL WHO'S WHO?

ANNE MARIE, I LOVE YOU. AT LEAST THERE IS SOME HOPE THAT ALL THIS MADNESS AND CREATIVITY MIGHT POSSIBLY PAY OFF. I FEEL SO TWISTEDLY VALIDATED. WHAT WOULD MARTHA SAY?

I JUST WOKE UP ON THE COUCH. DROOL HAD DRIED IN THE CORNERS OF MY GAPING OPEN MOUTH. EYES SIMILAR, BLOODSHOT AND TEARY FROM OVER USE. JUST 36 HOURS TILL TERRI'S PARTY AND STILL SO MUCH TO DO. OUCH. WHAT TO DO?

GO TO BED OR KEEP GOING?

kitchen edition, premiere

Thank you, Beth! She just left an hour ago and in tote she had 12, count 'em 12! of my little kitchen editions, so cute. I spent about 1 1/2 hours making labels just for these little gems and now they're made. I am not a country crockery sort of person, but I will have to admit they were fun to make and fun to look at! Thanks, Beth! she got 4 flavors, hot apple pie, vanilla bourbon, christmas tree and dickens christmas, my personal all time favorite, right after hot apple pie!

they don't look as good here but i sure hope her friends will like them. we stood in my driveway and talked for quite awhile.

dinner is in oven and we will eat soon.

still so much to do!

finally our phone line got fixed. VOIP can be disastrous when it is down.

ok, more later,

tonight i will make some shimmering body butter sticks in designer fragrances.

also, am considering on making/mixing my own CASSIA blend tonight.

out friends!

cassia is hiring!

applicant must be willing to work in:

1. dirty kitchen, or
2. dirty office
3. with a disorganized boss
4. with fragmented speech
5. with a big big vision
6. you will be able to change the above 4 points with your dedication and minimal effort.

boss promises to:

1. make life fragrant
2. make life interesting
3. stretch you
4. let you co-collaborate, considering all but maintaining the right to choose
5. let you negotiate your own compensation schedule

opportunities:

1. webmaster; i promise to bow to you every morning! i take role of learner, you will be masta. i have the vision; but you "make it happen, number 1!" webmaster would be responsible for creating the word/excel/xml export files necessary to update and import new products into server. website is on a template system with multiple layers that drive me absolutely bonkers. then create an inventory system. help me with google adwords and linking all to each other thus driving search engine relevancy upwards. must have prior product based webmaster experience or be agile at figuring out software. telecommuting possible only with extreme attention to detail and ability to follow my instruction. requirements: msoffice, latest version, cs3, highspeed internet and dedicated line.
2. secretary: this would be a work yourself out of a job job. i need someone who can work with CS3 and import into label or MS word program to make labels. you teach me and then i can do. short term assignment. then i need someone who can teach me a web based newsletter designing system. the successful applicant with have some design finesse.
3. designer: this could be person 1 or person 2. the exceptional applicant might do all 3!
4. product tester: this is a fluff job but nonetheless important. must be cutting edge current with market trends, need all age groups: 10-18, 18-25,26-35,36-55. you get product for free and will give me comprehensive, clinical as well as visceral data encompassing all sensory stimulus provided by product and will submit data in writing. sorry, you get no compensation whatsoever but the joy of knowing you helped a startup business get off the ground. you might evolve into a technical advisor. a mall magnet slash mole would provide sound spy interfacing with outside market territory.
5. salesman/woman: the successful salewoman will have a nice wardrobe, good grooming, wellspoken and reliable transportation. will love the products and be able to interface with strangers in high end venues with grace and ease.
6. research and development:research raw materials, legal and trends. may involve travel, but mostly web based.
7. ordinary people with jobs: who would be willing to take and showcase product samples in work place and provide brochures when people cry out with exclamatory ecstatic delight when the fragrance comes wafting into their olfactory/pleasure sensory glands. these same people would be willing to direct the overwhelming response by way of taking orders or directing to website for ordering. compensation level would begin with free product or coupons, then gradient sliding compensation based upon volume at a percentage yet to be determined. applicant can feel free to provide me with their desired rate of pay.
8. link exchange- this is a very successful way of networking. referrals will be compensated with a percentage of total sales gained from traffic initiated at your site and referred to mine.
9. banner ads: let me place a banner on your website; make a commision on referral sales
10. affiliate marketing: similar to above. i gotta get that set up; have started already.
11. wear my line: wear my tee shirt to the store to the baseball game to the gym and get free stuff. you do it because you love me! and hand out brochures when asked what a beautiful tee shirt you are wearing, not a paid job unless you sell a bunch of stuff that way.
12. have a party! book a party for me and get a commission on volume sold or free product!
13. production line assistant: make candles according to precise measurements and ingredients. clean up resulting dirty kitchen......
14. territory/resional sales manager: sell to boutiques and stores nationwide! wow. wouldn't that be great. name your price, you got it! can be male or female, obviously.
15. licensor of goods: produce beautiful acoustical discreetly worshipful music acoustic, no words. license to me and i will place on my website and sell as relaxation/meditative products......hmmmm. label will be ivory palaces,,,,,ps 45:9.
16. drop shipper. you sell my product on your website. you buy nothing. you sell at retail, send me the wholesale price. i ship to your customer, you keep 40% profits. you keep monies collected from your site. great profit! i send you photos and excel files of data on products; you put on your website and sell. Sales tax certificate required.
17. retailer. you buy at wholesale,sell at your place for retail at whatever price you can get. you must present to me a Texas or State Sales Tax Exemption certificate to qualify.
18. glass blower. name your price. i will sell your stuff.
19. seamstress for proposed new produc line.
20. fundraising: i send you promotional materials about my line, you use me as a fundraising opportunity for your mission trip, business, school, cheerleading assoc. whatever. you sell at retail, i keep wholesale; you make profits! 40-50% is customary.
21. hitman: honestly, if all this has amused you but you still want to help, already having a day job, please just do me this favor: log onto my website: www.cassiacandlefragrance.com

and then hit the little green button on the left corner that says: sign up for my newsletter. if you just do that one little thing, you will help me immensely. This will subsribe you to my proposed newsletter. then i will have permission and your email address. i will send you newsletters that contain links to website. please, you do not have to buy anything. just promise me that you will open the newsletter, and then click the links on the items. this will help my search engine relevancy and google will finally get the hint that i exist. this will help me to cut down on advertising and make me more visible in the territory. that one little thing would help alot! as you see, website still is not functional like i want it but hopefully i can change this very soon. meanwhile i am marketing locally.....

what? where am I? have I been dreaming? Oooops, were you? we can always dream! this is where i am going when things start moving around here....but seriously this is where we want to go.

all inquiries reply in writing to: contact@cassiacandlefragrance.com

MULTI TASKING IS A MISNOMER; aka shop vacs are wonderful!

Well, I finally admit it. Multi-tasking is on it's way out for me. I concede.
Not graciously like John McCain. Not even smiling like Sarah Palin. Just a quiet acquiescing to the fact that I am not quite like I used to be. Better, I know, just not THE SAME.

I used to be able to run with the horses. I mean, run! Suckas, watch out when I was in my 20's! Able to travel and not have to pee for hours at a time. Suck it up was my motto! Yeah! Go army!

I remember the summer of '86. Had to run the office in Hong Kong for my sick office manager. There was nothing I liked better than to run all the machines in the office simultaneously. Computer, 5 phone lines, FAX, teletype, (does my audience even know what that is? (NOT!) I would get to feeling so POWERFUL to have the hum and droan of all them puppies goin'at once! Relishing how many neuro synapses could pop all at one time and still fire, accurately, simultaneously, with the precision that only a mastermind could handle.

Not so anymore, Watson! Why, I am doing good if I meander into any given room and remember why I have ambulated to said location. It all comes from doing too much, too much! at one time and racing the clock for more output.

Rewind to approximately 9:09 AM..... kitten left, Batman left, bacon smell was being sucked out ventahood. I was so SSOOO looking forward to LABEL TROUBLESHOOTING. PART V! a WHOLE DAY of troubleshooting, planning, making, wrapping, posting, website management....etc etc. Yesterday was prayer and fasting, meeting,and paying bills. all on list was completed. A sense of purpose and resolve had filled my heart.

Holy Spirit nudged me. "Read Bible now!" yes, Lord! I am! I will! I glanced over at last night's production, revelling how beautiful they looked. Maybe I'll take a picture first, I thought. Then I will.......

So I grabbed some snowflakes, some gold ribbon. Wow, that looks good! Let's snap a picture and throw it up on the blog....maybe this could make front page of website later...after I read Bible.

Suddenly, I heard a dripping. I glanced toward the guest bathroom doorway where the original kitten was gazing in mesmerized, detached amusement at the floor. Oh yeah, turn faucet off I reminded myself. (I always turn the faucet on for kitten and he jumps up and drinks every morning.) Must not waste water! The environment and Al Gore would truly thank my conscientious pursuit of water conservation. But, back to gold ribbon and musings how these looked so Neiman Marcus.....

Must turn off water, said self, so I went over to doorway to find the floor mats afloat and the digital scale under water. The NEW digital scale, that is....not like I love it or anything or like it actually helps me be dedicated to a lo carb lifestyle, but nevertheless, a new $25.00 scale which is now out of commission.

I love SHOP VACS, without which today I know I would have otherwise despaired. ELEVEN,
COUNT EM, ELEVEN DUMPS OF THE SHOP VAC INTO BATHTUB LATER, MY FLOOR IS ALMOST DRY, YET THERE IS THIS queer leak onto the floor. Opening the toothpaste drawer, i discover that it is at maximum capacity and overflowing on floor. Meanwhile cat is a detached onlooker. WHY AREN'T YOU A TALKING CAT? I muse.

Meanwhile, phone rings and BATMAN is wondering if I will drive 20+ miles to his job in the snow to fetch him his chop saw. OH yes!!!! I replied, I would be delighted to do so! So I go upstairs, get dressed, go outside, find the saw, and look at my rear back wheel which is flat. Upon inspection, someone who last filled up air neglected to put valve stem cap on valve stem. Let me just way it was not me. thank god for that.

Quietly and composedly I drove down the street passing my neighbor. 5 minutes later she calls me on my cell to inform me that my beloved dogs dug another hole in her front yard.

Whatever. I sweetly told her that AFTER it get done sleeting today I would be RIGHT OVER to tend to that little detail. Sweetly, I brought over to her one of my little cupcake bath bombs. She being thus delighted, we are once again, (tentative) friends.

Thank you Holy Spirit! Your peace reigns!

Just wanted to let you all know! Now, to that Bible Reading and to label troubleshooting part V! If anyone out there cares to point me in the direction where some troubleshooting might take a human form then hook me up!

Is this all worth it! I think so! Just checking email, two more people are requesting brochures, so, there you have it. Do NOT despise the day of small beginnings, saith the Lord!

Da Bomb....Yum!!!!!

A happy Monday to all my fans, friends, foes, fooies! After Friday's Product Launch Party at my house, I am very very very amped. I went to bed, tired, but oh
so peaceful, satisfied, and with a real sence of joy. Thank you to my wonderful friends, Larry, Chris, Corey, Sam, Kimberly (& Co!) Shelley, Debbie Sparks and
Sonja Kelley! A BIG thanks goes to Chanda, Meredith and Tanner Mardis. Without you I would have truly melted down in an inferno of despair and frenzy! Thank God for my family and friends! Another thanks to my husband, Joe,
who played the Host with the Most charm! Thanks, Honey!

I truly feel like this is now do-able! Vision and passion continues to grow in my heart!

Now, to get to work!

Yesterday I took a much needed nap on the couch. Praise God! It felt wonderful and I had to peel myself off the couch to fix dinner. Thanks to leftovers, that was simple!

Look what I made yesterday thanks to my mentor, unbeknownced to her, the Soap Queen. My kitchen smelled oh so yummy! Let me ask you... what little girl would not want one of these? My own darling little kitten, Casey, squealed in delight when I told her she was my "product tester"!
They are scented with Hello, Sweet Thang!
(a takeoff of Hello, Sugar BBW!) I didn't
like this fragrance when I first got it, but
let me tell you, it rocks in bath and body applications! Thanks, Brambleberry!

To all you moms, sweethearts, grandmas,
these little gems sell for $3.50 each,
and they are bagged, tagged and all ready
to go! Tear the cupcake paper off the
bottom and drop the whole thing in your
tub! Soon you will be soaking in a scented, sweet, pink, moisturizing warm tub of sweetness!
Afterwards, dress your soft body in matching
6. oz Vitamin ADE lotion and lightly mist
with our luscious 4 oz. body Mist.
Buy the whole thing for under $22.00!

ok. got more to do today than is humanly possible.
i will check in again later!

my muffin tins are embarrassed........

my friend terri informed me that my muffin tins looked like hers.
my sister informed me that this blog will not be good for my business.
better to not link to website?
decisions
decisions
meanwhile, i am tired happy and sleepy
will eat leftovers tonight

orders from last night to make

more planning

and, troubleshooting labels, part 111

i need a technical assistant. help
whelp
out

Fresh Snow Cookies? Nope, it's Soap! not on a Rope! Dope!

The dope is me. Punchy from lack of sleep. And it is 5 hours and 45 minutes till product launch.

Still I must attend to all my fans......fallingdown(punch)drunkfromlaughingalreadyhahahah....

ok, more tomorrow. Meanwhile, Fresh Snow Guest Soaps, 3 for $2.50 Is that too cheap?

Probably, meanwhile wonderful Georgia Velazquez is rescuing me from a meltdown. She will get my labels which Tanner Mardis made printed for me......

ticking off list....aire care bears, aroma ornaments

ok, so on my list, among 1,000 other things: make more aroma ornaments, and a wax filled bear. wow. my kitchen smells great! this bear is done is orange and clove. note messy cooktop. he looks like he is sitting on the......but he is dripping into pouring pot. notice wax on stove. took him outside to fluff and comb. now there is wax all over floor. note to self: mop floor again.....

now to let him dry and find a cute little bow for him and some wrapping. need good ideas.

next up, aroma ornaments or car fresheners. these little puppies are cute, festive and smell great. scent: dickens christmas. just like old fashioned. can you believe what "swankee pankee" charges for their fresheners? i REFUSE to make my customers carry around my advertising on their cars, tee shirts, bottles, jars. etc. who wants a picture of a candle hanging on their rear view mirror? i don't. must make a hole and add ribbon and voila!

an ornament for your fake tree or a teacher, or a closet, drawer, or your beloved rear view dingle ball mirror. cheers!

the doorbell just rang.....UPS!!! it's christmas and just got my VS dupes.....

Verifiably Scintillating......can you guess....very sizzling, Creme Brulee, cheesecake, and wow! they love me. about 10 free samples! yeah!

next project, after I pick up kitten at school: cupcake bath fizzie bombs.

this will be interesting. but first, must call Tanner Mardis who is helping me with labels, which are priority.

stay tuned fans,,,,, LOL. falling out of my chair down drunk laughing....yeah.

Introducing Kelly's Jelly Bellies

Just on a whim, I whipped these up yesterday. So festive, but hide spoons! Your kids will think it is Jello! Smell great; pics don't do justice. I think they will sell! Wrapping not too thrilled about, gotta rethink that...

Tomorrow night I am going public for all to see. Pretty amped, pretty somewhat scared. Not ready yet. I guess the caviar and champagne needs to wait. Might do Sam's what a cop out.

In any case, got alot of stuff to make and already killed 2 hours tweaking brochure. NEED HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have found a great way to help kitchen stay clean. keep towels on counter tops. great tip for all you bakers.

Last night came home from church and spilled a 4 oz. bottle of Herbal Essence fragrance all over my floor. So,at 11:00 mopped up floor and got high from fumes. Now floor is clean......one less thing to do.......

OK, MORE LATER.