Finding a Style

I have to admit, I feel lost lately when it comes to dressing myself.  I think that this working at home business has officially crushed my personal style.

This Fall, I'm looking to revamp my "look". Maybe not revamp it, but rather work with it and actually give myself a bit of a "pick me up".  What a perfect time to do it as the season changes.

My issues usually lie in accessorizing.  I have absolutely no talent in this area.  If anyone is a pro at this, PLEASE help me out!!  The only jewelry I wear on a daily basis are my engagement rings (yes, ringS. I actually found one I wear for my wedding ring but couldn't wait to wear it so now it just pairs with my engagement ring).  I've always had this weird thought that jewelry just doesn't suit me and makes me feel too fancy. The only real accessory I am comfortable with is a good old hair accessory.

So where do I start? I've started collecting some fashion inspirations, such as these:

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I chose these looks because they are simple enough and still work with my casual lifestyle. I have no interest in wearing pretty dresses and things every day, and to think about doing that is just so unrealistic for me. I am a person of comfort, and I plan to stay that way while finding my place in this crazy world of fashion!

So my question to you is... Do you have a personal style? How did you find your personal style and make it work for YOU? Also, if anyone has any accessorizing tips, do share!

xox Dana

Fall!!!

The crunchy leaves are a'comin' everyone!  I love autumn strolls through our forest.  The sun shining, the squirrels making funny noises at each other... the wind!  It's so nice to have a cool breeze after a hot summer.

It was also nice to find out yesterday that our property actually goes back farther than we had thought.  This means that we actually own a piece of the forest. How cool is that?!  My very own trees!  The Town is coming by this week to plant a few more. When we moved here, they had removed a bunch so they could get into the trails and build a bridge... which apparently I may also technically own!  So they'll be filling the void back in which will be a relief because I'm not sure I can handle another year of the community using our lawn as a right of way to the trails.

It's so nice out today. It's warm, and sunny. Perfect baggy tee and boots weather...

The boots are from Blowfish and I pretty much live in them. They called Hamura and are the comfiest things because they are lined with a faux shearling... definite must have if you live up here. There's nothing I hate worse than cold toes!

This Shine necklace (worn as a bracelet here) is pretty special. You can get them over at Ashley's website The Shine Project and $1 of each sale goes towards The Shine Project Fund. There are tons of different styles and options so be sure to check these babies out for yourself!

Top: Free People, Jeans: 7 For All Mankind Roxanne in Dear Coco, Scarf: Urban Outfitters
Boots: Blowfish, Necklace: The Shine Project

Mermaid Eyes?! 6 Step Makeup Tutorial!

I decided to dig into my makeup tutorial vaults again and share with you this incredibly easy way to get one of my top five favourite looks!  I named this look "Mermaid Eyes" because the colours and vibrancy just remind me of the ocean in the summertime!  Who wouldn't want to feel like a mermaid?!

This is a super quick photo instructional. It's even quicker than my last 8 step makeup tutorial!  You can use similar colours to achieve the same look :)  In my example, I started out with an orange shade, but went over it with pink. This is because I wanted more of a coral tone instead of straight up orange!  Here we go...

Wasn't that simple?  Now go try it!

Products used:

• Rock & Republic eyeshadow in Love Rocks (a dark pink)
• Rock & Republic eyeshadow in Veil (ivory)
• MAC eyeshadow in Waternymph (Turquoise - it’s super vibrant and limited edition, but you should be able to find something similar)
• Faces Cosmetics eyeshadow # 196 (a shimmery vibrant orange)

You will also need:

• Black eyeliner (Love this one.. good Mac alternative)
• Eyelash curler (optional)
• Mascara (Rimmel Glam Eyes is my absolute fav!)
• Brushes

Like this? Pin it!
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I also wanted to mention that I completed a brand new blog design for Jamie over at Awesomely Awkward last night!  Check it out!!! If you're interested in finding out more about my design services, head on over to my design services page.

 xo Dana

if i went back to high school

Call me crazy, but I didn't exactly enjoy high school.  I thought a lot of it was such a waste of time and all I wanted to do was get out and into the real world.  I always thought there was something bigger waiting for me and nobody else seemed to understand that.

My first year there was alright. I found my "crowd" and we had the best of times.  I had boyfriends and best friends. Over the remaining years however, we fell apart as lots of teens do.  Some for good reasons, and others just because.  I still to this day couldn't tell you exactly why. One thing I do know though, is that those people weren't meant to be a part of my future.

I went through periods of wishing for my old friends to get back together and wondered why we had let things come between us in the first place.  I went through other periods of not wanting to even try to befriend anyone else because I just wanted to get out of there.  I struggled through the last year in the friend department. I had one best friend and we had none of the same schedules or lunches.  I would be lost come lunch time and I had even worked my schedule out so that I had shorter days... having classes start at 10am and leaving by 1pm some days.  I had started a new life outside of high school and none of the people at my school seemed interested in the same things.  I was really into going to concerts, stalking bands, and hanging out with my friends from different school, and even different countries. It was THEM I yearned for, not these "lame high school kids".

back when film was the norm and i refused to wear my hair down

In high school, I was not a "nerd" or anything. People generally liked me and I had tons of acquaintances, just not a lot of super close friends.   I just didn't put myself out there.  I was this little skater chick who went through a brief experimental phase with the raver scene... you know, colourful necklaces, weird freakin' pants, etc.  It was normal back then.

I was shy with boys. I would never raise my hand in class. I wouldn't stand up to a teacher. I didn't join any teams. Basically I just didn't care enough to. My adventurous life began after I was done school.

I think about these things now, and the person I've become.  I am nothing like I was back in high school.  I can't even believe the person I was.  I love that though. I love knowing that people I went to high school with wouldn't recognize me if they knew me today.  I love knowing that I have evolved in some way.

I feel sad for some of the people I graduated with. They are exactly the same. Same group of friends, same boyfriend/girlfriend, same general demeanor and attitude. I wonder if these people have evolved at all.

If I were to go back to high school, knowing what I know now, it would be a completely different place.  I would be confident. I'd try harder to make friends.  I'd realize that teachers really don't have all the power.  I'd know how dumb it is to be shy around a silly boy.

I would know how to truly be me.

I couldn't think of anything interesting to call this post

I hope you all had a lovely weekend!  Despite the weather saying it was supposed to rain continuously, we managed to have dry afternoons which enabled us to get our Fall yard work done!  Not too exciting, I know. 

I wanted to thank you all for your sweet comments on my post the other day.  I didn't have a chance to hop on here and say that until now, but your advice and compassion was so awesome and made me feel a whole lot better :)

My Heartsy deal is officially over, and I have to say that was quite the rush!  I loved the whole experience.  I nearly sold out of vouchers which was pretty awesome. There were only 15 or so left when the sale ended.  The actual sale day was non-stop busy.  I woke up to a whole bunch of orders, and they continued throughout the day.  I sold out of a lot of my stuff, and surprisingly the camera straps were the biggest seller. I love how this deal gave me so much new exposure and boosted my sales greatly in just one day!  I really don't think there is any other way to do that other than to participate in a Heartsy feature.  I officially hit my 100 sales mark :)

If you're thinking about participating in a Heartsy feature, I have some tips.

• Make sure you have the day available to basically sit down and process orders the entire time. I don't know what I would have done if I had an actual job to attend to on top of this.
• Process orders as they come in.  I was sending off invoices for people who had voucher overages and packaging up the paid orders consistently.
• Stay organized.  I started my own little method for each order. I would invoice, make a note to myself in the "private note" section of the receipt page saying that I invoiced that person for $x.xx. When they paid, I would check off the "Paid" button right away. If they didn't owe a balance, I hit Paid also. After I packaged it up, and put the shipping label on, I hit "Shipped".  Heartsy also gives you your own seller backend where you can mark items as "shipped" as well, so I did that to make sure I was on top of everything!
• Message sellers to know they still have some voucher money left if they didn't use it all up.  I sent a little note to these people letting them know that when they make their next order, I will refund their remaining voucher amount via Paypal.

There's some advice from a first time Heartsy seller ;).  Also, if you're a buyer who has submitted an order that has a remaining balance to pay, p l e a s e make sure you make your payment within 24 hours. I think one of my biggest pet peeves is people who commit to buy something and then take forever to pay or don't pay at all. Not only does it mess up the shipping schedule, but it is rude to other buyers who may have wanted to purchase that item but couldn't because it was snagged by a non-payer.  This happens way too often on Ebay too... but I won't get into that now!  Etsy really needs to come up with a way to integrate with Heartsy so we don't have to do the whole invoicing shin dig.

Anyways, I decided to knock off a couple more photos for the photo challenge today too! I am pretty much way behind but oh well!

Day 7: Something New

My central vac!  I am obsessed with it! I've never had a vacuum clean so well. Just one swipe and EVERYTHING (including the mass amounts of cat hair stuck in the carpet) goes away!! My carpets look brand spankin' new!

I'm skipping Day 8: Technology because I couldn't think of anything interesting besides dorky computer photos haha.

Day 9: Faceless Self Portrait

I couldn't decide which one.  I have to admit though, I'm kind of in love with these new scrappy patchwork pillows I started making. The first one was supposed to be for the shop, but I loved it so much I kept it, and then made some more to sell!

Have you ever made or bought something for someone else and decided to keep it for yourself!?
xo Dana

Cute packaging ideas

As Christmas nears, I've been thinking a lot about trying out some new packaging ideas.  I already have a couple of ways I like to package things, but with the new additions to my product line, I've been gathering inspiration!

My favourite type of packaging would be something that is pretty with a handmade appeal.... and EASY!  Who really has time to spend half an hour packaging something up?  I believe that your packaging should represent your product in some way, and leave the customer a little cheerful. When they see that you've put effort into how your packaged product looks, they feel as though you put an equal amount of effort into what's inside! I don't think there is anyone on earth who doesn't feel at least a little special when opening up a pretty gift!

I've been browsing for some cute ideas, and here are a few of my favourites:

Pillow boxes are probably some of the easiest types of packages to dress up.  They already come in a cute shape, and you can find a variety of sizes for whatever your product requires.  Add some cute twine or rope, deco tape, ribbon, a sticker or a doily and you're set!  I love the idea of adding a little "thanks" tag to it also.

How easy is this!!?? Grab some burlap and some twine/rope and add a tag! It's crafty and natural while still showing that extra bit of effort!

Stamps! I am a HUGE fan of stamps. Custom made ones add a real special touch. I purchased my Wonder Forest stamp at JLMould on Etsy. She makes awesome custom stamps!

I also love this idea of a stamped clothespin. Cheap and easy! How cute would it be to stamp it with "Thank you!"?!

I am in love with this type of handmade baggies.  All you do to make one of these is grab a cello bag (you can even use a Ziploc bag) and fold a piece of thick paper over the top. Then staple... or glue shut. You can use these for tons of products or supplies. Hair accessories, buttons or beads... the list is endless.

I've put together a Packaging pin board over at Pinterest if you want to take a look at all of my packaging finds!  I'll be adding to it as I find more!

What I like most about this stuff? It's all so doable. None of the things listed above would take more than 2 minutes to prepare, and the final product looks so polished.

If you need help finding supplies for packaging, just do a search over at Etsy under the Supplies section!

Some Etsy shops to get you started:

PrettyTape - Sells Japanese Masking Tape (deco tape), gift boxes, bags, twine, and more. Ships from Texas.

WonderlandRoom - Sells deco tape, stamps, fabric supplies, stickers and more. Ships from South Korea and has 100% feedback. (<-- always check feedback for shops from China, Korea, Singapore, etc.)

CelestialGifts - Sells muslin bags. This is where I usually get my bags from. Shipping takes a while but they're the cheapest.

sugarbsupplies - Sells deco tape, craft labels, twine, bags, and a bunch more! Ships from Iowa

TheTwinery - sells twine in a bunch of pretty colours. Ships from Pennsylvania

InTheClear - sells lots of paper bags and other packaging supplies! Ships from Texas.

I purchase all of my boxes online at Dunwoody Booth. They have some really cute boxes, bags, and other things, and are the cheapest I've found for the quantities you get, and also have fast shipping. They also have a Fall Sale happening right now with some awesome deals on boxes!!

Do you take the time to package your products up all pretty?  Or as a customer, do you think pretty packaging makes a lasting impression?

xox Dana

Enticing Treats Giveaway Winner

Remember the giveaway for the amazingly generous $45 shop credit to the Enticing Treats shop? Well, the time has come to pick a winner, and here she is!!!

Congrats to Jennifer of Heavenly Blossoms!  I was thrilled to see your number chosen, and I know you will make great use of this prize!

Thanks for entering everyone! And remember, you can still save 45% off your order at Enticing Treats with code WONDER at checkout!

xox Dana

don't bring me down

Heartsy is going great so far. The VIP sale was a success yesterday.  I actually kind of like the idea of the VIP sale... it prepares you for the member sale the next day and is extremely helpful if you're new to the site and don't really know what you're doing at first.  I received a ton of super sweet notes from Etsy buyers exclaiming their love for my stuff, which definitely kept me in great spirits.

Sales weren't crazy at all, but steady throughout the day.  I was able to stay organized and get everything ready for shipping as the day went on.  I'm excited to see what today holds during the member/everyone sale! If you haven't joined Heartsy yet, do it!!

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Now onto Part 2 of this blog post.  I hate to bring the happy vibe down, but there's been something on my mind and I thought that maybe writing it down would make me feel better.

I've been stuck in this never ending spiral of negativity with some people close to me and I don't know how to get out of it. I don't even completely know why it exists.  I feel like I'm being judged every time we have a conversation.  Scratch that. I know I'm being judged. I know that no matter what I say to them, it will be taken out of context.  So I am quiet.  I stopped being involved with their lives. I stopped inviting them over... because really, how many invites can you hand out only to have then rejected? The funny thing is, now I am the bad person for not reaching out. Of course.

These people... my family... have such a dislike towards me for reasons that don't even make sense or matter.  We used to be happy, we used to be there for each other. They've conceived these situations in their own minds that they believe to be true, all the while not knowing the truth.  I never did anything wrong. Everything I've ever done has been with good intentions... but how do you force a blind person to see that  -- when in their minds I've apparently had malicious ones.  It's so backwards. Such a wall has been put up between us that never existed before, all because one person takes things out of context, fabricates an idea of what actually happened, and is far too sensitive.

When asked what caused this wall to be built in the first place, they bring up a situation from 4 years ago... FOUR YEARS ago... that I had honestly forgotten about because it was so insignificant.  Myself and one of them had mistakenly purchased the same type of Christmas gift for the other. Apparently I had done this intentionally, even though it was on the list of things to get for this person, which was given directly to me by the one I apparently copied.  Yes friends, this is how the root of all of our problems stems. It really is as pathetic as it sounds. Like I said, I had completely forgotten about this incident (if you can even call it that) until I was made aware that this is the reason for the ongoing negativity.  Seriously..?! 

Since then, I've apparently upset them in many ways.  I can't even tell you what I've "done wrong" because I honestly don't know. Whenever I do anything, they get offended in one way or another. No one can ever do anything right, or say anything right.  If you don't try to word things in a way that would be accepted by them, you've hurt them somehow.

What causes people to be like this?  So trapped inside their own little bubble and so oblivious to the fact that the world was not created to please them.  How do you make them realize that nobody is out to intentionally hurt them, and that everything they think they know has all been formulated in their own minds?

How do you even attempt to talk to someone about feeling this way when you already know that the outcome will result in one of them feeling 'hurt'... because, of course it's always about how they feel in the end..... ...

Until next time,
Dana

and the panic sets in

It's here! Wonder Forest is being featured on Heartsy today and tomorrow. Today is only for Heartsy VIPs, and tomorrow it's open to all members. There are only 75 vouchers to purchase, and I have to admit, I'm slightly nervous!  I spent the past two weeks prepping for this and creating a bunch of new things for the shop.  I wanted to add a little variety so there is something for everyone, and also so I wasn't tied to my chair for hours on end hand crafting plush critters the entire time.

If you visit the shop today, you'll notice a few new items in stock!  I added a bunch of new camera strap covers, a couple extra pillow covers, some new plush, more key chains, digital prints, and finally some little headbands.  I was unsure about adding a few headbands, because they're really not my "thing", but since I already make them for myself I figured I would throw a bunch up there and see how they do.

My fear with this Heartsy deal is that some people might scoop up a whole whack of things for themselves and leave my shop empty or something... which means that I will be working overtime trying to restock stuff for other buyers since all of my stuff (besides prints) is in stock/ready to ship. It's a long shot, but this is what goes on in my mind haha.  Hopefully it all goes smoothly and I don't stress out. 

I am actually also pretty excited though.  This means that a bunch of new people will get to hear about my shop and hopefully like what they see! 

My first dilemma happened yesterday, however.  I had ordered a few of the little muslin bags I use to ship my plush inside specifically for this event.  I ordered from this place from Canada because I wanted them to arrive on time.  After going through the most annoying ordering process ever, the package arrived, I opened it, and inside were the bags, but they were completely the wrong size.  I ordered large ones, the person sent me medium, which are way too small to put anything in.  I kind of wanted to scream.

After this is over, I can get back to some regular interesting blog posts!  I have a few topics in mind that I want to share, such as my Ty Pennington experience.

I'll share my Heartsy experience afterwards too... I'm hoping it will be a good one!!!
xox Dana

How Enticing...

Tempestt is the owner of Enticing Treats, a fairly new cute little Etsy shop that makes these adorable hair accessories!

I am a little bit obsessed with fabric flower headbands lately, and Tempestt (being the sweet person she is!) sent me a little package of custom made goodies.  I have to admit, I've been wearing one of her little creations nearly every day. My favourite is the brown one pictured below, the "Leaves Are Falling" headband!

What I love about these headbands is the fact that the flowers are flat, as opposed to being big and puffy. They look great and feel great on :)

Aside from headbands, Enticing Treats makes little bow clips as pictured in the above photo!

Here are a few more hair accessories from her shop:

I know you want some Treats of your own now! Well, how about this? Tempestt is giving away a whopping $45 shop credit to one of my fabulous readers!!!   But that's not all, you can still save 45% off in her shop by using code WONDER in the coupon code field at checkout!

If you want to win this amazingly generous prize, here's how to enter:

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

To enter, leave a separate comment on this post for each thing you do:

• "Follow" my blog with Google Friend Connect on the right hand sidebar. (Mandatory to enter!)
• "Like" Wonder Forest and Enticing Treats on Facebook for an additional entry
• Share or Tweet about this contest on Twitter and/or Facebook for an additional entry

The winner will be contacted by the email address linked to your Google Friend Connect profile. If you do not have an email address attached to your account, please remember to leave your email address in a comment.

xox Dana

The Coolest Place to Hang Out (and Giveaway Winner!)

Well, September has been a great month for my sponsors and it's time to see who wants to get on board and sponsor Wonder Forest for the month of October!  If you're interested in having your blog/shop promoted on the Wonder Forest sidebar, be included in the monthly feature sponsor post, and have giveaway opportunities, check out my advertising info page now!

I've set it up so you can purchase an ad right on that page via Paypal.  I've kept my rates cheap once again and have two ad sizes available.  I'd love to have you, so give it a gander.

Now onto the Bundle of Giveaways winner....

Congrats to Katy over at The Country Blossom! Check your email from a message from me :)

xox Dana

weekend wrap up, and a childhood memory.

Guess what friends??!  My momma is amazing and surprised us with a brand new central vacuum today!  If you remember my absolute dissatisfaction with my other vacuum, you would understand how freaking excited I am! She is the bestest!  I cannot wait to try it out and burn the other one!

We spent the day together being crafty and rearranging my furniture. My mom is the best at that... she is the furniture rearranging queen!  It's a talent I'm sure.  We then spent some time at the dollar store looking for sticky labels we could print on. I could probably spend hours in the dollar store. It's so huge and has everything...Everything except sticky printable labels :(

When we got home we started working on a couple of crafty projects for an event her work is having. One of the features of the event is this little "candy bar", where the guests grab themselves a cute little gable top box filled with candy.  We made 100 fancy little custom cut labels for each box that read "a sweet treat", and then crafted this big bunting banner for the display:

It reads "Candy Bar" and was fun to make, with the help of my little Cricut Expression.  I adore that machine and wish it existed when I was still in school. I would have had the best project displays ever!!

I love crafting with my mom. We used to make things together all the time when I was a wee one.  I'm just glad she carries the same artistic gene as me :)

Speaking of which, she also brought over my old portfolio, and in it sat this ancient sketchbook that I forgot even existed.  It was covered in mod-podged disney clippings and the front was totally stuck to the inside of my portfolio. I had to pry it off and ruin my super classy cover job. 

I used to draw Disney characters daily when I was about 11-12 years old. I was obsessed. I'm also taking this opportunity to use the following pics for #6 of the photo challenge, Childhood Memory. These sketches are dated 1996...

Day 6: Childhood Memory

I LOVED anything Disney and had big dreams to be a Disney animator one day.  I was able to draw most characters from memory, which actually surprises me because if I were to attempt that now, I would have no idea where to start.

Isn't it funny how we forget things that used to come so easily?

What is something you used to do as a kid that you lost your skill for?

xox Dana

On a design kick...

HELLO WONDERFUL PEOPLE!
I've been on a bit of a design kick the past couple of days.  First, I created a bunch of digital art prints for my shop! Take a look at some below:

The ice cream one is a digital version of the painting I did a little while ago.  You can now purchase these in my shop!  I'm itching to make some more, and would love to hear your favourite quotes! I just might make some into digital prints!

Last night I also launched a blog layout I created for Jenny over at Heavenly Blossoms! Check it out and join her site, she's a lovely person!!

I love creating blog layouts! If you're interested in having me design your blog, check out my design services page :)

Other than that, I've been a busy bee getting my shop ready for Heartsy! In case you missed my announcement, Wonder Forest will be on Heartsy on September 22nd!  There will be a bunch of new items released. If you haven't joined Heartsy yet, do it!!

Which print above is your favourite?  What is one of your favourite quotes?

xox Dana

p.s. I still have TWO giveaways going! First, win 100 AIR MILES reward miles by visiting THIS post. Second, win a whole bunch of lovely goodies from some of my sponsors!!! Hair accessories, jewelry and more!!! click click!!

A Bundle of Giveaways!

Today I have a special treat for you all!  A few of my sponsors have contributed to this giveaway full of amazing prizes which one lucky winner will snag!  Check out these awesome ladies and scroll down to find out how to enter!

Dani from Good Natured is giving away a set of poppy jewelry, including a brooch, necklace and earrings in your choice of colours, which can be mixed and matched!

Dani is also offering you lovely readers a 15% off discount to her etsy shop with code WONDER at checkout!

shop. facebook.

Stephanie from Luxe Boulevard is giving away a "Sophia flower hair accessory".  This will come on your choice of either a black metal headband or a clip!

Stephanie is also offering you lovely readers a 15% off discount to her etsy shop with code WONDERME at checkout!

blog. shop. facebook. twitter.

Amanda of Royal Daughter Designs is giving away a pre-made blog design of your choice (as is) plus installation!

Amanda is also offering you lovely readers a 15% off discount with code WONDER15.

business blog. personal blog. facebook. twitter.

Here's how to enter!!


THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

To enter, leave a separate comment on this post for each thing you do:

• "Follow" my blog with Google Friend Connect on the right hand sidebar. (Mandatory to enter!)
• "Like" Wonder Forest, Good Natured, Luxe Boulevard, and Royal Daughter Designs on Facebook
• Share or Tweet about this contest on Twitter and/or Facebook

There you have it, three easy ways to win!  The winner will be contacted by the email address linked to your Google Friend Connect profile. If you do not have an email address attached to your account, please remember to leave your email address in a comment.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!
xox Dana