Hypnosis CD's and mp3 Downloads To Transform Your Life

Exciting news! New Partnership for Hypnotransformations

2011-03-04T05:56:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to announce a new partnership with my colleague Hani Al-Qasem! Hani Al-Qasem is a published author. He runs a blog on motivation and self-confidence, and has written numerous articles. If you did a Google search, you would find close to one million references to his name! His intention? To inspire, motivate and support adults and children to be the best they can be by freely expressing their talents in a loving and harmonious way, and to live a life of their dreams!

I have added his hypnosis and subliminal CD/MP3's to my ETSY store.

In addition, he has a great FREE e-course available.

Check him out!

Win A Free Hypnosis Download! Ends 1/31/11

2011-01-25T05:18:00.000-08:00

Enter To Win A Free Hypnosis Download!

New Year's Resolution Sale!

2011-01-02T11:26:00.000-08:00

All Hypnosis CD's and MP3 downloads 10% Off!

New Year's Resolution Sale on ETSY

Etsy Coupon Codes!

2010-11-24T04:39:00.000-08:00

ETSY finally has coupon codes!! I'm so excited. This will make sales and discounts so much easier. I decided to create a new blog to serve as a dedicated place for ETSIANS to promote their coupon codes.

www.etsycoupons.blogspot.com

If you're interested, send me a picture, your coupon code, your discount and the date it expires. I'll put it up on the blog for everyone to see!

Best Hypnosis APP on Itunes

2010-09-12T07:29:00.000-07:00

Hopefully soon, my new hypnosis App, will be one of the top rated Hypnosis Apps on Itunes. I've been very busy lately. Mostly, I've been working on getting my Hypnosis App just right for it's release. It was officially released mid August. The main session is my Sleep Soundly session for FREE! After getting the App and sleep soundly session for FREE the Mini-Store is available to purchase many of my hypnosis sessions. It seems to be quite a success so far. Over 9,000 free downloads since mid August! How awesome is that?

If anyone is interested in downloading my App, you can access it here. It's available for the Ipod, Iphone, and Ipad!

Hypnosis ~ Sleep Soundly App Free on Itunes

Featured Artist - Dawn Anderson of Pop Culture Rehab & The Bins on ETSY

2010-08-08T09:11:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
Here is the next installment of my Richmond Etsy Street Team (REST) features. I'm pleased to present Dawn Anderson of Pop Culture Rehab. Dawn gives recycling a new meaning! I'm totally amazed by her creativity! I hope you enjoy getting to know dawn.

Tell us about yourself...
My name is Dawn Anderson and I'm the creative force behind 2 online shops that deal with recycling. Pop Culture Rehab where I sell beautiful finished products for you and your home and The Bins which sells recycled craft supplies. I'm a Southern girl through and through. I was born and raised in Richmond, VA and have lived here my entire life. I've been married to my best friend and college sweetheart for the past 20 years. I'm a self-proclaimed ADD crafter and have yet to meet a craft I don't like! I'm a founding member of the Richmond Craft Mafia and helped create Indiecraftshows.com.

Recycled Vinyl Cover Notebook ~ Pop $25.00

What inspires you the most?
Good trash en masse. I work heavily with the Goodwill Clearance Center. The Center is where all of the items go when they don't sell in our local Goodwill Stores and it is the last step before the landfill. I'm inspired by whatever I find there especially if there is a lot of it.

What other talents do you have?
I'm an avid baker, a Certified Massage Therapist and a degree-holding geeky scientist (not really sure if that last one is a talent)

Recycled Cotton Fabric Travel Tissue Holder ~ Lavender Willow Print $5.00

What promotional tools have been the most effective for you?
Hands down its been national press. While I know putting together a press kit can be a daunting task - do it! And then make sure you get it to the right editors. It's amazing how a bit of press can help your business!

As a handmade seller, what lesson did you learn the hard way?
Always have custom work paid for in full before you make it and unless it's your fault - don't offer refunds on it.

Rubber Stamps 3 (Baby Theme) $5.00

What's your best selling item?
My recycled SCRABBLE Tile Ornaments. Scrabble is so universal and holds many good memories for many people. The ornaments help capture that and make great gifts.

LOVE Scrabble Tile Holiday Ornament $15.00

Want more? You can find Dawn at all of the following locations. I hope you enjoyed meeting Dawn and her passion for recycling.

http://www.PopCultureRehab.com - Web
http://PopCultureRehab.etsy.com - Etsy shop
http://TheBins.etsy.com - Etsy supply shop
http://www.twitter.com/PopCultureRehab - Twitter
http://larkstudio.typepad.com (Blog)

Featured Artist - Thomas Saylor Designs!

2010-07-27T16:37:00.000-07:00

I recently joined the ETSY Richmond Street Team (REST) and thought it would be fun to start featuring Richmond Artists on my blog. Today, I am pleased to present, Thomas Saylor of Thomas Saylor Designs. He has an amazing offering of home furnishings and other goodies. I hope you enjoy learning about Thomas Saylor Designs. Please check out his blog if you get a chance! I think it's my new favorite blog.

Tell us about yourself...

My name is Thomas, and I am the owner/designer of Thomas Saylor Designs. I make an assortment of home decor items and fashion accessories, including pillow covers, iPhone sleeves, coasters, car trash bags and place mats. I love custom orders, so if there is anything you need sewn/customized/monogrammed/embroidered I would love to hear from you!

Coasters Quilted Set $14.00

What inspires you the most?

To me, the most inspiring and motivating place in the world is the fabric store. I love taking items that you already have, and sprucing them up with a cover or sleeve made out of a fantastic shade or print. I believe that fabric touches are the key elements of decorating that are often overlooked, and a little splash of color goes a long way.

What other talents do you have?

Well, I consider myself to be a decent writer, and I like to joke about my misfortunes on my blog. Outside of the studio, though, I play the piano (although not very well, to tell you the truth) and I'm really, really good at ordering take-out.

Car Trash Bag Grey Trim $19.00

What promotional tools have been the most effective for you?

I'm a social media junkie, so I have all the online basics; website , Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, discount mailing list, etc. But for me, the most successful promotional tool has been word-of-mouth. I always encourage my customers to talk to their friends about my work, and I've seen a lot of referrals come my way because of it. Really, though, anytime you can put your name out their for free is a smart marketing tactic (unless, of course, you've made the evening news for streaking in your neighborhood park or something. In that situation, the best thing to do is hope your products can outweigh your, um, packaging.)

Pillows - Set of 2 - Orange and White Floral 16" $45.00

As a handmade seller, what lesson did you learn the hard way?

Almost everything I've ever learned has been learned the hard way, but I guess the most important lesson as a handmade seller has been to not underprice your work. Listen, no matter what you do, there is going to be somewhere out there that is doing it cheaper. But if your work is good, and you believe in your product, eventually your customers will, too. And it doesn't matter how many sales you make if you aren't making enough profit to run successful. Save yourself some headaches and keep your prices fair, both to yourself and your clientele.

What's your best selling item?

Pillow covers are my very favorite thing to make, and that shows in my pillow cover sales. I feel like pillows are the easiest thing to change about a room, but they make such a dramatic difference. Decorating on a budget? Start with with the pillows.

18" Removable Throw Pillow Cover The Bleeker $7.00

I hope you've enjoyed discovering Thomas Saylor Designs! Connect with Thomas at all the links below.
Website
Etsy
DISCOUNTS! Email Mailing List
Facebook
Twitter
Personal Blog

Private Practice and Hypnosis APP

2010-07-22T07:15:00.000-07:00

Wow, I haven't blogged in a month! Time is really getting away from me lately. It seems like every weekend I have a million things to do. This weekend is totally free! I plan to lie around and do nothing all weekend. I may watch the complete season of Jersey Shore OnDemand! lol. Nothing like reality t.v. to make a lazy weekend great.

Since my last post, I've started a private practice! It's really exciting to have my own practice. I'm gaining more and more clients everyday. My goal is to slowly move away from working for my current employer to working completely for myself! I hope they don't read this, lol!

In addition to my private practice, I have been working with a company to develop a hypnosis app for the Iphone! The app should be live and available for sale in Itunes within the next week. The app itself is free with a complimentary sleep soundly hypnosis session. I'm very excited about the exposure the app will allow and also the amount of people my hypnosis will be able to help.

My friend was kind enough to design the app graphics for me! Pretty great huh?

Affirmation Sessions. New Self Help Line of Positive Affirmations!

2010-06-18T15:41:00.000-07:00

I am obsessed with ‘The Secret’. Reading and using The Secret in my life has produced amazing results. I’ve decided to start a line of Affirmation CD’s and MP3 downloads to help others quickly achieve positive lasting changes in their life. Positive affirmations work to change negative thought patterns and they produce a positive attitude. Using affirmations on a daily basis sends our desires out into the universe. The universe gives back what you ask for.

Here are the affirmation sessions I've listed so far and I'm planning many more to come. They are about 6-7 minutes long and easy to use twice a day for two weeks.

Happiness Affirmations $6.99

Healthy Confidence Affirmations $6.99

Physical Health Affirmations $6.99

Holly Miranda Free Itunes Codes

2010-06-13T09:42:00.000-07:00

I just discovered Holly Miranda. I love this artist! A folksy and soulful musician. Just up my alley. Check her out....

Here are some Itunes Codes if you'd like to download this song for free...

r677kt9wewlf
3kxtehkj3ttj
p7rxm7xfykr7
xayptmhe4j9t
wxy6ka4kwlra

Radiant Rainbows

2010-06-10T19:38:00.000-07:00

I'm on a rainbow kick lately! Here's a treasury I made this morning. Show it some love =)

Radiant Rainbows!

What a wonderful time of year....

2010-06-05T08:21:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year! My favorite part is the air right before and after a thunderstorm. Yesterday I snapped this double rainbow right after a storm.

and it inspired a rainbow search on ETSY....

Bubbling Serenity emarshallgaller.etsy.com

Heulwen by PlanetPoe.etsy.com

Masked Bear by ZukZuk.etsy.com

Hypnosis MP3 Download Giveaway!

2010-05-24T05:14:00.000-07:00

I'm having a giveaway! Stacie at Simply Stacie was kind enough to review my Heal Fibromyalgia Pain hypnosis CD on her blog and to host a giveaway! So if you're interested in winning any of my hypnosis MP3 downloads, hop over to her blog and enter to win.

Good Luck!

Garden Update....

2010-05-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

The Garden is coming along nicely. I already have a few strawberries. I can't wait to make strawberry shortcake. I'm thinking I might plant some herbs after the corn cycles through. I found some great ETSY items that I might purchase once I plant some herbs...

Herb Garden Stakes (20.00) FromArtisansHands shop on ETSY. Aren't they great?

Square Foot Gardening. I'm so excited.

2010-05-02T15:54:00.000-07:00

Today I started my square foot garden! This book is awesome.
April 26th was my birthday and my sister lent me her copy of this book and bought me a kit to build my own square foot garden. I had to buy the special mixture (mel's mix) of compost, vermiculite and peat moss. Today I got the square foot kit put together, attached weed paper to the bottom and mixed all the soil up.

Later this week I will go and buy all the plants I want to put in my garden. I'm amazed at how much you can actually plant in this four by four square. If all goes according to plan, I will have enough for a full salad everyday of the summer! Totally amazing.

The best part about the square foot garden is that you can use the same soil year after year. You can plant and harvest in each square three times a year! And no WEEDS!

I'm planning to plant tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, potatoes, cabbage, lettuce, green and red peppers, onions, strawberries and carrots.

Featured on Trendster. Help me out and give me tweets....

2010-04-24T07:04:00.000-07:00

I was notified late last night that my hypnosis CD's have been featured on Trendster! Yippee! The more clicks I get, the longer I stay on the front page. The person who posted my sessions came up with a great tag line, "Hypnotransformations is Your On-Demand Health Hypnotist"

Love that!

If you get a chance please tweet it for me.....

Chicken Cordon Blue ~ My New Favorite Hungry Girl Recipe

2010-04-23T15:34:00.000-07:00

I really loving my new Hungry Girl cookbook. Last night I made Chicken Cordon Blue. It was awesome! And only 5 points for a 5 oz. piece of chicken. It was so easy to make too.

Take a 5oz or so piece of chicken, pound it flat with a meat tenderizer. Use a 1/2 wedge of Laughing Cow Swiss light and spread it on the chicken. Add a few pieces of 98% fat free ham. Roll up and use a toothpick to hold it together. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes covered with foil and then take the foil off.

tip: Do not use "Party Toothpicks" as I did. The dye cooked into the chicken, oops.

Allergies, Go Away!

2010-04-20T18:04:00.000-07:00

My sinuses are killing me today. This is my absolute favorite time of year but my allergies take over and it's downhill from there. Today, I was walking around work feeling like my head was floating away from my body. My boss finally said, "You should go home!" My misery prompted an ETSY search "sinuses"!

Hot/Cold Therapy Wrap $14.95

Turquoise Netti Pot $18.00

Sinus Helper 4oz Candle $4.25

Eucalyptus Smelling Salts $5.00

Book Review: Hungry Girl 1-2-3

2010-04-16T21:57:00.000-07:00

I love cookbooks! Particularly cookbooks that show new and interesting ways to cook low fat and low calorie foods. I've been a Weight Watchers Lifetime member for almost 10 years. I am constantly looking for new ways to keep my points in check. Hungrygirl.com is one of my favorite websites to get new ideas. I subscribe to her daily newsletter and love buying her cookbooks. I just got her latest "Hungry Girl 1-2-3" last week.

It is AWESOME! She has a whole section on low point mug meals! My favorite so far (working my way down the list) Egg Mug Lorraine.
Egg beaters, a Laughing Cow Light Swiss Cheese wedge, Bacon Crumbles, Minced Onion and Dijonnaise. Pour it in a mug and nuke it for 1 minute, stir and nuke for another minute!

Delicious, filling and only three points! I highly recommend this cookbook.

Tax Day. Why Do I Always Wait?

2010-04-15T16:34:00.000-07:00

Anyone else wait until the last minute to do your taxes? Arrgghh, taxes are the bane of my existence. I avoid, avoid, avoid! Then I am sitting here on April 15th saying WHY didn't I do this sooner! I actually did start them about a month ago (yay me). I saved them to Turbo Tax. I went back three days ago and GONE! Every receipt from the last year had to be re-entered. I swear this year I will keep track of all my records. I say that every year. Maybe I need to listen to my end procrastination hypnosis CD.

Anyway, thank goodness for my computer genius boyfriend who painstakingly imported my Paypal records into Excel and created pivot table summaries to accuratley show all of my expenses organized into a zillion categories! I actually owe a large sum this year! I was feeling bummed about this but I am trying to be grateful that my business it generating enough revenue that I have to pay taxes on it =)
Happy Tax Day Everyone =)

Above photo is Vintage Victor Adding Machine from HappyDayVintage on ETSY.

Another Installment of the Cutest Nephew Ever....

2010-04-12T19:35:00.000-07:00

Isn't he just adorable? I can't get enough of my Nephew. Looks like he's learning how to put his thumb over the end of the hose to spray it further, lol.

These pictures make me reflect on all the skills that seem so simple, almost second-nature; they all started off like this!

~ A challenge is an opportunity to prove your ability to yourself, and others ~

Joe Brown

I was featured on Regretsy!

2010-04-09T20:25:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to announce I have been featured on Regretsy! lol. I love that site. My Enhance Self Esteem hypnosis CD has been featured. The hilarious part is Helen's "No Regrets" hypnosis recording. She has a great voice actually =)

I feel compelled to answer to some of the bashing...

- Yes, it is actually a creative process to develop a hypnosis script. I spend hours upon hours developing each hypnosis session. Then I record them and burn them to CD's (handmade).

- Yes, I am trained as a hypnotherapist. I am certified by the National Board of Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists. To become credentialed by them I must be a Licensed Therapist. To become Licensed I obtained my Master's Degree and passed rigorous requirements to become Licensed to practice as a therapist.

- Yes, Hypnosis does work it is not "Holistic Horseshit" as Helen so eloquently categorized it. There are thousands of empirical studies that prove the effectiveness of hypnotherapy.

hmmpphhh, had to get that out!

I am really glad I was on regretsy though. I was laughing my ass off at her hypnosis session and I sold the Self Esteem session within an hour of it being posted. Thank you Regretsy!

Human Centipede? Warning: this is disgusting.

2010-04-08T18:25:00.000-07:00

I love watching all genres of movies. My boyfriend is constantly finding interesting obscure movies for us to watch. Yesterday, he texted me a link to The Human Centipede! I enjoy horror movies as much as the next guy but this is too much! How horrifying! hmmm, with a Trailer like this.. I will have to watch it.

Remembering My Spirit Guide

2010-04-07T19:33:00.000-07:00

I am totally in love with this print. I have admired it for months now. This is what I imagine my spirit guide looks like. Isn't it amazing the feelings art can provoke? Looking at "Venus" reminds me of the unknown emptiness of space and beyond and it reminds me there is something bigger than myself and the world we live in. It reminds me to be grateful and appreciative of all the unknown still to come.

Thank you ImagineStudio.etsy.com for creating such an inspirational piece of art.

A Simple System for Self Hypnosis

2010-04-06T18:22:00.000-07:00

Self-hypnosis is a very powerful way to transform your life. With practice and consistency you can use this tool on a daily basis to make lasting changes in your life. To help my personal clients learn self-hypnosis, I developed a very simple self-hypnosis system called PREVAIL.

P.R.E.V.A.I.L takes a person through all the necessary steps to succeed at self-hypnosis.

(P)repare your surroundings.
For hypnosis to be successful you must make the environment relaxing and free from distractions. I suggest choosing a time when you will be alone and undisturbed. Find a comfortable chair or place to lie down. Silence your phone and put a sign on the door if necessary. Choose a soothing nature or music CD to play quietly in the background.

(R)elax.
Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation. To achieve this state you must learn to relax your body and calm your mind. There are numerous ways to achieve this state of relaxation. A very popular induction is visualizing a healing, warming white light. Take this light and start with your toes. Imagine this light focusing on your toes and slowly moving up your body. As the light touches each part of your body, feel the tension and tightness of your muscles leave.

(E)mphasis on breathing.
Breathing is a simple and sure-fire way to instantly relax your body. A simple 3-4-5 system can help you focus on your breathing. Inhale for three seconds, hold for four seconds and exhale for five. Incorporate the breathing techniques into the total body relaxation.

(V)isualize your surroundings.
This is the part of self-hypnosis that can be really fun. Here you can imagine any place that brings you serenity. Your peaceful place can come from your childhood, an imaginary land, or even a beautiful place where you vacationed in the past. You can make it the perfect temperature, time of day or you can imagine you are surrounded by anything you choose; animals, angels, people you love, or you can be totally alone. Make it real, vivid and perfect.

(A)cknowledge your desires.
The key to self-hypnosis acknowledging what you want to change in your life. Many people choose to write out their desires before starting the self-hypnosis session. You can write down everything you aspire to be. Everything you want your subconscious mind to absorb and incorporate into your conscious state of being.

(I)nclude specifics.
Be very specific and deliberate about the statements you are giving to your subconscious mind. Remember to write your desires in the positive tense. The subconscious mind does not register negatives. If you say, “I am no longer miserable”, the subconscious mind hears “I am miserable”. A better more specific approach might be “I am so happy and fulfilled now that I have removed negativity from my life.” “I am filled with excitement and joy with my positive attitude.” Once in the self-hypnotic state you can mentally recite the specific desires you have created.

(L)eave feeling peaceful.
When you’re ready to leave this state of deep relaxation you can make a conscious decision to depart taking with you all the messages your subconscious mind has received. To come back to the here and now, you can wiggle your toes, hands, legs, arms etc. and pay attention to your breathing. Alternatively, you can set a quiet alarm to let you know when it’s time to come back to the room awakened and aware.

My PREVAIL system is extremely effective for making long lasting positive changes in your life. Self-hypnosis can help with weight loss, depression, pain relief, fear, confidence and an array of other issues.I would love to hear your experiences with my system and your successful testimonials!

Geocaching - The Modern Day Treasure Hunt

2010-04-05T19:41:00.000-07:00

I have decided I need to get more consistent with my blogging efforts. I really enjoy writing about the events in my life but hardly ever make myself sit down and write. The days all seem to run together lately. I think it is great self care to sit down and be quiet with my thoughts away from the tv, job, gym, boyfriend etc.

This weekend I went camping and Geocaching with my sister, brother-in-law and nephew. We had a great time! What's Geocaching you might ask? Geocaching is a world wide treasure hunting game. People hide these caches (cashes) of treasure all over the world and you use your GPS device to find the cache! We were staying at an obscure state park this weekend and there were seven caches within a half mile of us. The actual "treasures" we found were trinkets, tracking coins (part of the game) and log books to document that you found the cache.

In my opinion, the best part was the actual process of hunting the cache. We had so much fun! I plan to do a lot more Geocaching. I downloaded an app for my Iphone for geocaching and discovered these caches are everywhere!

SALE ~ Spring Renewal ~ Hypnosis CDs and MP3 Downloads

2010-03-24T19:31:00.000-07:00

Hypnotransformations is having a spring renewal sale. Everything marked down to celebrate the season of renewal!

Increase Body Image - Concentration (Attention Deficit Disorder)- Contacting Your Spirit Guide - End Codependency - Deep Relaxation and Stress Management - End Codependency - Enhance Self-esteem - Exercise More *Best Seller* - Forgetting About Your Ex - Fibromyalgia Pain - Get Organized - Heal Depression - Healthy Eating - Hypnosis for Diabetics - Stop Eating Carbs -- Inspire Creativity Weight Loss *Best Seller* - Past Life Regression *Best Seller* - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and many many more...............

Featured Artist Interview Polkadile on ETSY

2010-03-21T13:27:00.000-07:00

I had a great time featuring Polkadile over at Notes from the Handmade Highway. I thought I would feature her on my blog as well. Have fun getting to know Adaleta Maslo-Krkovic from Polkadile!

Party of Three, Pure Silver, Pearl and Turquoise Ring $59.98

Tell us about yourself:
It all comes from interacting with people, but my greatest inspiration is my son and his exploration of the natural world. Almost each piece of jewelry in my shop is somehow related to him, and you'll see that in the descriptions.

What other talents do you have:
I am a media artist, I take tons of photographs, make films, installations etc. I also love to sew and make things.

What has been the most rewarding thing about being an artist:
The most rewarding thing is the process of making. I am addicted to that, and I sometimes feel that it is the creativity that makes me open my eyes in the morning.

Ruby Rain Garnet and Silver Earrings $24.98

What promotional tools have been most successful for you:
I've done Facebook and Twitter, as well as Project Wonderful ads, and they have all been effective. But the word of mouth is the most effective.

What advice would you give a new crafter and/or a crafter who's been at it for awhile and hitting a rough spot:
Don't give up, think why are you doing it, and stick to it.

Green Dream Jasper and Seed Beads Bracelet $44.98

As a handmade seller, what lesson did you learn the hard way:
Promoting takes the most time. That is the hardest thing for me.

What's your best selling item:
Men's rings are going the best. I guess because guys like to have interesting jewelry too, and we often forget about their tastes.

Strong Oak Mens Fine Silver Ring $57.98

~Kym

Robbery and a Few Tips for the Aftermath

2010-03-14T12:48:00.001-07:00

I've spent the last few hours photographing and recording the serial numbers of all my electronics. This is out of fear, basically. My sister's house was robbed this weekend. The thief stole over $5,000 worth of electronics!

I was there with them when the police came and started the investigation. The first thing they asked for was a list of serial numbers. I've since learned, this is the key to filing a home owner's insurance claim and to identifying your items if the end up at a pawn shop or on craig's list.

I know items can be replaced but the worst part is ALL of the videos of my nephew since his birth were on the video camera that was stolen. The police have informed us that it may take up to five days to get a detective assigned to the case. arrgghh, this is frustrating. Especially, since we think we know who did it! Tip: if you are trying to hire a contractor to remodel your home, you may want to check their criminal background on the county website. Last weekend they had a contractor there who was "taking videos" and looking all through the house. He even asked about the inactive alarm system! We looked the contractor up and he has numerous grand larceny felonies on his record!

Anyway, I felt like venting and passing along the helpful tip of recording your serial numbers and taking pictures of your items.

(picture above: Thief of Hearts by PaperMichelle)

Featured Artist Interview Bitsnbeads!

2010-03-11T07:45:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,
I was recently featured on The Meandering Musings of a Consummate Shopper! From there I discovered Bitsnbeads.com. Zoie, the artist behind Bitsnbeads, has shops at ETSY, Zibbet, Artfire and 1000markets! She has a huge selection of items from eyeglass holders to earrings to Id badge lanyards! I hope you enjoy reading about Bitsnbeads.

Beaded Eyeglass Holder Mom $32

Tell us about yourself...
I'm a jewelry designer and artisan that creates beautiful (tooting my own horn here because I think they're spectacular) colorful jewelry and accessories for the everyday woman. I work together with my partner, Leal, to run a shop on Etsy as well as a couple other market venues that you can find through our website ( http://www.bitsnbeads.com ).

What inspires you the most?
Color and emotion. For me they're very intrinsically linked together and I believe they are for others too. I love that I can create a piece and others can enjoy it not just for its aesthetics but for how it makes them *feel* as well.

Handmade Beaded Earrings Desert Flowers in Red $14

What other talents do you have?
OOoph. Loaded question! I was raised in an artisan household and all the women throughout the generations have been artisans. So I learned from each of them a little of this and that from candle making to pottery, ceramics, painting, music, embroidery (which I admit I'm not very good at). I love working with glass and often etch designs on glass.

What promotional tools have been the most effective for you?
Hard work. I think that pretty much sums it up. It's not exactly a tool, but a realization that you utilize for success. There is no "easy answer". You're not going to find some magical tool that lets you sit back and let things go on their own. Promotion takes constant work and you have to put time and effort into it, no matter what the venue you choose.

Lucky Purse Charm Make a Wish $12

As a handmade seller, what lesson did you learn the hard way?
Sometimes you have to set things aside and take some time for yourself to stay healthy and happy.

What's your best selling item?
Our eyeglass chains sell the best. I think it's because they serve both a function as well as being pretty, so people can have something they love to wear that's -like- jewelry, but useful also.

Links:

Etsy Shop: http://gilliauna.etsy.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/bitsnbeadsbygilliauna
Twitter: http://twitter.com/gilliauna

Featured Artist Interview Becky Roedl from Sweet and Sassy Cards

2010-03-08T21:01:00.000-08:00

I recently posted a Featured Artist interview on the Notes From the Handmade Highway blog and thought I would share about Becky Roedl here too. She has a huge collection of handmade cards. I really love the Sweet and Sassy attitude reflected in her work. I had a great time reading through all the different themes. I think my favorite is "Just in Case You Win the Lottery" card, under the Formal Sarcasm category. I hope you enjoy learning about Becky.

Sweet and Sassy Girlfriend Bundle $10.00

Tell us about yourself...
I am at that time of life when I can start to put myself "first". I hope this doesn't sound selfish, but my children are grown and have left the nest. My husband is wonderful, but doesn't need all of my attention, so it's time for me to do something that I've always wanted to do.

What inspires you the most?
No doubt it's my garden and music. Gardening while listening to beautiful music makes the creative juices flow.

You can read the full interview over at the Notes from the Handmade Highway Blog.

Free Itunes codes James Yuill

2010-03-06T17:45:00.000-08:00

I love folksy artsy type music. I was thrilled to come across some free Itunes Codes for James Yuill. I totally LOVE his song This Sweet Love.

I'd love to hear what you think. I downloaded the whole album "Turning Down Water for Air".

Here are the codes....
Enjoy!

6mwhtr77yxh7
ffxl3ey7rlrr
lhkyn6wp4eex
r73a96h7jf4l
ekl9hhjwhpn7
3whfmahk9e4l

Demystifying Hypnosis

2010-02-26T14:42:00.001-08:00

I've been asked to write a series of articles about hypnosis! Anne-Marie at The Succulent Wife's Favorite Things invited me to demystify and educate people about the benefits of hypnosis. I'm really excited about this opportunity.

My first article discusses the common questions asked when someone first considers trying hypnosis. It addresses questions of "Will I be out of control?" and "Can I be hypnotized?"

My next article will address self hypnosis and ways to create your own hypnosis sessions at home.

Here is an excerpt from the article....

Did you know that you are hypnotized on a daily basis? Have you gotten to work only to realize you don’t actually recall driving there? Have you ever been watching television and realized five minutes later that your significant other has been talking to you? Have you ever completely zoned out during a meeting? All of these are examples of a naturally occurring state of relaxation that is also known as hypnosis.

Maui Vacation!

2010-02-20T13:11:00.000-08:00

Wow, It has been quite a while since I blogged. We just got back from our 12 day vacation in Maui. It was really quite amazing. It wasn't at all what I expected. I hadn't envisioned the huge expanse of empty mountain side that made up most of Maui. There were just a few main coastal roads that led you around the island. These roads had scenic outlooks around every corner and we continually would stop and snap a picture.
We quickly learned that Maui is the number one place in the world to see humpback whales! We took a whale watching boat tour and got to see about 20 whales up close and personal.
One day we traveled the Road to Hana which is a must do if you go to Maui. The road to Hana is 52 miles of twist and turns. The 52 miles cover 56 one-lane bridges and 617 curves. It was actually a little scary to drive it. On the way to Hana we stopped about 30 times and ventured off to waterfalls, black and red sand beaches and a number of state parks. My favorite stops were the Pokowai Sea Arch and a bamboo trail we found that led to a waterfall.

Fortunately an old friend of mine lives in Maui. He took us to a bunch of "hidden" places that we wouldn't have normally found. He also taught us how to hitchhike! Who knew one of the fastest ways to get around Maui is hitchhiking? People were more than happy to pick us up in their convertibles and drop us wherever we wanted to go! We used this mode of transportation on Superbowl Sunday to visit a bunch of different bars showing the Superbowl.

Hearts For Haiti

2010-01-29T17:19:00.000-08:00

I want to let everyone know about Hearts For Haiti on ETSY! A group of etsians started Hearts For Haiti to help raise money for Doctors Without Borders. I donated five MP3 downloads to the site. You can see my listing here.

They started the site on 1/14/10 and have already raised $21,463! AMAZING. If you get a chance, hop over there and see if you like anything =)

(the item above is also listed there and was created and donated by wickedgems.etsy.com)

Featured Artist Beccijo of The Enchanted Cupboard

2010-01-24T13:36:00.000-08:00

I ran across the cutest shop! I was amazed by all the storybook characters, mermaids, fairies and playsets there. Here's an interview from Beccijo at The Enchanted Cupboard on 1000markets.

Tell us about yourself?
There are may parts of me and who I am. Mother, daughter, sister, wife and friend. I have always been a creator, painter, storyteller but my heart is alive with being a Toy Maker. I really feel I found myself, the part that thrives. It has made me see life in full color again. When I am creating I feel like my cells are singing!

What inspires you the most?
My childhood and my children. Many of the ideas came from my daydreams as a child and things I dream up for my children. Now as I move in to being an established Toy Maker I find myself watching how children play with my toys. Often times they will say things that I had not thought of like; "Where is the daddy mermaid?", now I am working on him and his name. My children now brainstorm with me about what else needs to be added to any of the toy series. My business has become a creative and fun part of our family.

Do you have any unique talents?
My painting has always been an important part of who I am. Sometimes parts get lost or unused as life takes over. My dolls let me paint and be creative in a very fun way. I am also very big on us being a green family and we have learned to make lots of the every day things we need by ourselves.

What promotional tools have been the most effective for your shop?
Teams and Markets, getting connected is good for marketing, getting ideas, and finding out the ins-n-outs of online selling. Being a good listener (reader) if you don't know the answer go Google it and learn.

As a handmade seller, what lesson did you learn the hard way?
During your down time stock up for big selling times. This past season really went by in a blur of swirling colors and fairies dancing in my sleep. I really felt like one of Santa's elves but unlike them my deadline was much sooner then Christmas Eve.

What is your best selling item?
My "The Fairy Ring" series are my best sellers, people just love all the wonderful delighted feelings these little ladies bring. The fairies, playsets, Playboxes, and accessories sets are bought for young and old. This past holiday season they have traveled all over the world.

Featured Artist and P90X!

2010-01-20T17:05:00.000-08:00

I have been so busy lately! Seems I can never find the time to blog. For the last several months my boyfriend and I have been doing the P90X Extreme Home Fitness Workouts! Whew! They are tough but a really excellent workout. It's been fun doing them with him too. The only problem is the time investment. The program is to exercise every day and each workout is at least an hour long. Soooo.... I feel like I have very little time for other things I enjoy. The best part is I am really a whole lot stronger! It's amazing how I have progressed.

I did have time yesterday to put together a featured artist interview for Notes from the Handmade Highway, where I am a guest blogger.

I thought I would share part of my blog post here. Meet Helen Janow Miqueo of HJM Art Gallery. Her work is AMAZING! I am in love with the red poppy paintings.

Tell us about yourself...
My name is Helen Janow Miqueo and I am an artist selling my art, primarily, on etsy. My shop is HJM Art Gallery. I can say that I have been painting since I was born. As long as I remember, I have been creating something. Creativity was always in my family. My grandfather wanted to be an artist, but World War II interrupted his dreams. My grandmother was an incredibly talented woman who created very beautiful, intricate embroidery and crochet-work. My mother is an architect. Following in my family’s steps, I am also an artist. Born in Russia, I successfully completed Moscow's School of Art and hold an AA Degree in Graphic Design. I have exhibited at numerous California galleries and On-line Galleries. My work can also be found in many private and corporate collections around the country and abroad.

Original Blue Sky Landscape Painting Red California Poppies II $189

Movie Review ~ Invictus

2010-01-04T04:22:00.000-08:00

This weekend I went to see Invictus with Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman. Invictousis the Latin word for Unconquerable. This is the true story of Nelson Mandela and the South African rugby team. Going into this movie I wasn't sure what to expect. Leaving the only word I can use is 'inspirational'.

I had heard Nelson Mandela's name before but really didn't know his story or about the Apartheid in South African. Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 year because he led a party against Apartheid. After his release he was elected as president of South Africa. Racial separation was a major issue in South Africa. Invictus is the story of how Mandela used the rugby to to unite the nation. Quite an amazing story. I was transfixed by Freeman's portrayal of Mandela and I'm amazed by the quiet wisdom of Mandela.

As soon as I got home. I downloaded Mandela's autobiography to my Kindle. I've started reading, Long Walk to Freedom and I'm already totally engrossed in it. If you get a chance, go see Invictus!

Above Artwork Features a Quote by Nelson Mandela and is from Artbyerinleigh on ETSY.

New Years Resoluion Sale!!!

2009-12-31T04:53:00.000-08:00

I'm having a New Year's Resolution Sale!!!

All Hypnosis CD's and MP3 Downloads Marked Down 15%

Christmas Pictures With a Funny Twist!

2009-12-23T07:01:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Everyone!

EEEKKKK

2009-12-16T13:55:00.000-08:00

Had to share this picture! Think I was scared????

Gaurdian and Protector!

2009-12-11T16:45:00.000-08:00

Whew, I have been so busy lately. No time to blog. Thought I would post about taking the Meyer's-Briggs test. This test identifies your personality type and helps employers, therapists etc. learn more about who you are as a person. There is an online version here that is very accurate. It nailed my personality exactly. Turns out, I am an ESFJ (extroverted, sensing, feeling and judging). The emphasis was on feeling and sensing.

According to the test, I am a Guardian and Provider! People like me "take it upon themselves to insure the health and welfare of those in their care, but they are also the most sociable of all the Guardians, and thus are the great nurturers of social institutions such as schools, churches, social clubs, and civic groups. Providers are very likely more than ten percent of the population, and this is fortunate for the rest of us, because friendly social service is a key to their nature.

Wherever they go, Providers happily give their time and energy to make sure that the needs of others are met, and that social functions are a success. Highly cooperative themselves, Providers are skilled in maintaining teamwork among their helpers, and are also tireless in their attention to the details of furnishing goods and services. They make excellent chairpersons in charge of dances, banquets, class reunions, charity fund-raisers, and the like. They are without peer as masters of ceremonies, able to speak publicly with ease and confidence. And they are outstanding hosts or hostesses, knowing everyone by name, and seemingly aware of what everyone's been doing. Providers love to entertain, and are always concerned about the needs of their guests, wanting to make sure that all are involved and provided for.

Friendly, outgoing, neighborly - in a word, Providers are gregarious, so much so that they can become restless when isolated from people. They love to talk with others, and will often strike up a conversation with strangers and chat pleasantly about any topic that comes to mind. Friendships matter a great deal to Providers, and their conversations with friends often touch on good times from years past. Family traditions are also sacred to them, and they carefully observe birthdays and anniversaries. In addition, Providers show a delightful fascination with news of their friends and neighbors. If we wish to know what's been going on in the local community, school, or church, they're happy to fill us in on all the details. Providers are extremely sensitive to the feelings of others, which makes them perhaps the most sympathetic of all the types.

I'd love to hear about others who have taken this test. I find personality types so interesting! I guess that's why I'm a therapist.

(the print above is by Sparklehen on ETSY)

Thieving Monkey!

2009-11-26T15:54:00.000-08:00

Still on vacation, sun burnt and sleepy already at 7:00 pm. Thought I would share an interesting part of the trip so far. We went on a boat tour around the chain of tiny volcanic islands known as the Granada Islets (Las Isletas de Granada). It was a great way to explore Lake Nicaragua. There are 365 islets in total. Some are inhabited, while others are barely large enough to hold a tree or two. You can purchase your own island here for about $100,000. Some of the houses were AMAZING.

One of the islands is inhabited by monkeys! We pulled up to look at the monkeys and one jumped in the boat. He proceeded to unzip all of our bags and search through our belongings. Finally, he came upon my nephew's sippy cup. He decided this was what he was looking for and confiscated it. He then sat on one of the boat seats and watched while everyone took pictures. Then he was off.... with the sippy cup...... back to his island!

Hypnosis Download Giveaway!

2009-11-24T19:16:00.000-08:00

I'm having a Giveaway! Enter to win any hypnosis download in my ETSY shop. Good Luck!

ENTER HERE!

Giveaway!! WyldeWoodPapers is having a Giveaway!

2009-11-18T14:18:00.000-08:00

THE WINNER IS MIZZ SNAPE!! Congratulations!!!

Jan is offering her Wyldestar Handmade Paper and Twig Ornament

Here's a little about Jan and her shop:

Wyldewood Papers offers enchanting creations from the enchanted wood. The majority of my works are made from handmade paper, twigs and other bits of nature’s debris. Inspired by fairy tales and fairy godmothers, nature spirits and ancient voices, my OOAK sculptural art lamps are the centerpiece of my shop. I also carry whimsical little delights like my stars and from time to time I include other unique pieces to tempt the soul. My hope is that my work will touch others in such a way that they can feel the magic of the natural world.

To enter this contest you must:

1) Visit wyldewoodpapers, at her blog, choose your favorite item, then return here and tell me which item you chose and why. (Remember to add your contact information or I won't be able to contact you if you win.)

Additional entries are allowed by completing the following:

2) An additional entry for those those who sign up for my newsletter (top right hand of my blog) and post a comment that you have subscribed.

3) An additional entry for those who blog about the giveaway and share a link to this contest on their blog.

4) An additional entry will be given for those who follow this blog and post a comment that you are now following.

5) One last entry for those who post the giveaway to twitter.

RT: Win a Wyldestar Handmade Ornament! Enter to win here: http://www.hypnotransformations.blogspot.com

The winner will be chosen using Random.org on Sunday, November 29th at 10:59 pm.

Good Luck!

Getting Excited About My Trip to Nicarauga Next Week

2009-11-16T12:16:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting here today trying to decide what to pack for my trip to Nicaragua next week. We are flying into Managua from Dulles. Then two days in Managua, the capitol of Nicaragua. Not exactly sure what we will do there but I plan on visiting Lake Managua and the Volcanoes.I do hope to have time for scuba diving while there. I hear they have freshwater sharks in this lake?? Kinda scary!

Then we are off to Granada for two days. I hear there is an amazing artist community in Granada where they sell handmade hammocks and other crafts. Our last three days will be spent in San Juan Del Sur....
I'm really hoping to take surfing lessons as well. I hear the surfing in Nicaragua is phenomenal. Hmm.. still trying to decide what to pack. I guess shorts, bathing suits and lots of sunblock!

Friday the 13th... Superstition or Something to it?

2009-11-13T08:05:00.000-08:00

Recently, I have been examining phobias and therapeutic effects of hypnosis on phobias. The research is very promising! Being Friday the 13th, I was wondering if there is a phobia of this day. Paraskevidekatriaphobia is a phobia of Friday the 13th! Hard to believe but true. Statistically, fewer accidents and mishaps happen on Friday the 13th, this is due to the majority of people believing the superstition and actually being much more careful on this day!

Here are some ETSY finds that represent Friday the 13th to the fullest!

For the Horror Movie Buff

Friday the 13th's Jason Voorhees Painting

$25.oo

Want to send your accident prone friend a card?

Friday the 13th

Blank Greeting Card

$2.50

How About a T-Shirt?

Fri day the 13th

Women's T-shirt

$24.00

Another Installment of The Cutest Nephew Ever Series

2009-11-08T16:23:00.000-08:00

You know me, I had to share this video of my adorable Nephew. This really cheered me up today. I have been home in bed since Wednesday with H1N1. It has been horrible. I am feeling a little better but too fatigued to do anything more than an hour. I just need to continue to lie here until I get better, hrmmpphhh.

Enjoy!

Curious About Hypnosis and How It Works?

2009-11-04T20:31:00.000-08:00

I recently had the honor of being interviewed by Mystic Wynd. She had a great idea to ask questions about hypnosis, that most people want to know, but never ask. Here are a few that I think are the most common questions people have about hypnosis.

You can't really turn me into a bank robber who clucks like a chicken, can you? Lol!! Actually, a person will only do what they want to do in a hypnotic state. Hypnosis is just a state of deep relaxation. When a person is in hypnosis, they are always aware of what’s going on around them, they remain in control of everything they say and do. We have all seen stage hypnotists that make people cluck like a chicken but the truth is, the stage hypnotist chooses people that seem more likely to “perform” on stage.

Can everyone be hypnotized? Is there anything that can help or hinder a person's ability to be open to hypnotic suggestions? Have you ever driven down the road only to realize later you don’t remember the last five minutes of your trip? If you answered yes, then most likely you can be hypnotized because hypnosis really is just like daydreaming or being very relaxed. Actually, only about 5% of the population cannot be hypnotized, the rest of us will enter into a hypnotic state easily. About 10% of people will be hypnotized very deeply. But deep trance is not needed to have positive therapeutic effects. All that is needed for an effective hypnosis session is the willingness to be open to the process and a desire to change.

If you would like to learn more about hypnosis, hop over to Mystic Wynd's blog. It's a wonderful blog with really interesting posts everyday!

The Artwork above was found on ETSY! I love this piece, it's by Body Beautiful on ETSY.

JustAnswer.com

2009-10-31T13:46:00.001-07:00

I am so excited! I have been approved as a mental health expert on Justanswer.com. I was really impressed by the very involved process to become verified as an expert. I needed to prove my credentials and I had to take an exam to prove that I was knowledgeable regarding a wide range of mental health topics. I actually found the site because I had a legal question. My question was answered in about five minutes and it was very helpful! You can choose your price for the question to be answered and pay through Paypal.

Here's my profile on JustAnswer.com if anyone is interested. I also included a widget on my blog for others to use if you have a question regarding just about anything. Enjoy!

My Latest ETSY Acquisition and an Update on Dream Dinners

2009-10-26T21:21:00.000-07:00

I've had my eye on this vinyl wall decal from singlestonestudios for quite sometime. My lovely sister bought this for me and I put it up on my living room wall over the weekend. I think the colors are fantastic with my blue walls! I hope the light doesn't melt it. So far so good =)

The Dream Dinners experiment is going well. So far we have made the Steak Gorgonzola and the Toasted Pecan Chicken. My boyfriend exclaimed "This is six servings?" I replied with "yes, honey this is six normal size servings". (He eats like a horse!) We were both full after we ate the steak with a side of roasted potatoes and we actually had leftovers! The gorgonzola butter sauce was fantastic!

The Toasted Pecan Chicken was also delicious. I thawed the meal the day before, took the chicken out of the yummy marinade and coated the chicken in the Pecan/Bread Crumb mixture! It was delicious. How can you go wrong with toasted pecans? I served it with a side of baked potatoes and salad.

Overall, I still feel that the price and ease of preparing these meals is well worth the price. The clean up was simple. Basically, throw the freezer bags in the trash.

Tomorrow night is the Beef Bolognese Pasta! I can't wait =)

Water Polo in Afghanistan! Oh my!

2009-10-25T12:05:00.000-07:00

My brother-in-law and sister came to my house this weekend for her 30th birthday celebration. We had a great time! My brother-in-law shared a story which really touched me. His friend, and water polo teammate, Jeremy Piasecki, is on a mission to develop an Olympic water polo team in Afghanistan! He is a marine reservist who went to Afghanistan with one mission and left with an entirely different one.

"In January 2008, Piasecki, who coaches water polo at home in California, headed to Camp Pol-e-Charki, about 15 miles east of Kabul, to assist the Afghan army's 201st Commando Battalion. After a few weeks on base, he spotted a swimming pool on the other side of a steep hill, surrounded by bombed-out buildings. Farther out, beautiful purple mountains towered above the pool deck, he said. Inside the pool: mud, broken glass, scraps of metal and something that looked like a dead animal.
Soldiers rarely swam in the pool - instead, it was used for bathing, washing clothes and dishes, even for drinking. One day, the camp held its annual swimming competition. The pool was cleaned and opened for swimming for the first time in almost a year.
Hundreds of soldiers watched, and many participated in races. Most had experienced swimming only in lakes and rivers, if at all. Afghanistan has little history of competitive water sports - it is estimated that the country has fewer than 20 pools, and only one in five Afghans can swim.
The swimmers were hardly experts, but Piasecki was touched. "It was so exciting just to see their desire to compete and do something other than trying to find out how they're going to support their families," he said.
The base sports officer approached Piasecki at the competition, having heard he coached water sports. The officer wanted to start a team and asked Piasecki to coach it." From the Virginia Pilot Newspaper.

Jeremy held tryouts for a water polo team and chose 26 team members. He hopes to bring the team members to the United States to train for the 2016 Olympics! He started a non profit organization called The Dream of Afghanistan Athletics, drafted a plan and created a Web site, www.afghanistanwaterpolo.com, to spread the word.

Jeremy explains "I know some people might say 'It's just a sports team' but that's just the unifying factor. I gave my promise to them that I would do it. If I didn't do it, I'd just be like every other Westerner or American with great intentions, but they end up leaving Afghanistan and not following through."

Ultimately, he hopes his players will return home to start sports and educational programs and share what they've learned abroad.

His website accepts donations if anyone is interested. His goal is to raise $1 Million to get the team here to train. If you don't want to donate, take a second and bookmark/share this article with others.

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Dream Dinners

2009-10-21T20:26:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful night last night! I decided to go to a Dream Dinners session. I'm always struggling with cooking meals for two people. I find all these wonderful meals I want to cook so I go out and buy all the ingredients needed and make a great meal. Inevitably, I always end up throwing out half a bottle of this and half a jar of that after a few weeks of not using the ingredient again.
Dream Dinners is a Godsend! This place is fantastic. You go to their website, pick out 36 portions on their menu. I chose 6 meals of 6 portions. They offer nutritional information for all of the meals. I chose mostly the heart healthy options since I am a lifetime Weight Watchers member and need to keep track of my points.

When I arrived at Dream Dinners I was greeted by a very friendly employee who welcomed me and explained the process. There is a station set up for each meal they offer. I went to my first session and she explained that I place a gallon Ziploc bag inside of a canister. From there you fill bag according to the recipe in front of you with the ingredients in front of you. Everything is prepared, chopped, minced, grated etc. Easy as pie. I made all six meals in under 1 hour. I placed them all in freezer safe packages along with the defrosting and assembly/cooking instructions. I brought them home ready to serve as soon as we are ready to eat them.

I'm hoping they'll taste as good as they appear to taste. I will need to remember to place each meal in the fridge 24 hours before cooking.

My only complaint would be the lack of sides accompaniments. When I signed up I assumed there would be something to accompany the dishes, but no luck. They did have frozen sides available for an additional cost but I decided not to purchase those.

Overall, I feel it was worth the $172.00 I spent. This comes out to about $28.00 a meal. This sounds like a lot but when I factor in all the food I throw out, time spent at the grocery store, time spent cutting, chopping, CLEANING up, etc. It is totally worth it.

I plan to share the meals and my satisfaction here on the blog for anyone that's interested. I chose the following meals for my first Dream Dinners experience:

Baked Fish and Chips with Tarter Sauce
Toasted Pecan Chicken
Beef Pasta Bolognese
Savory Honey Grilled Chicken with Sesame Honey Butter
Steak Gorgonzola
Slow Cooked BBQ Beef with Rustic Country Rolls

Where The Wild Things Are, Major Disappointment.

2009-10-17T22:07:00.001-07:00

I'm lying here feeling kinda bummed. I saw Where the Wild Things Are today and it was horrible! (In my opinion) It was just sooo depressing and slow. I kept waiting to get that wonderful feeling I had as a child when I read the book, under the blankets with a flashlight. But.... no luck. I left the theater in a depressed funk! Max, the boy, was so sad and alone. There was no plot or character development. I felt no connection to any of the "Wild Things" and found them all really strange. Needless to say, I've been waiting months to see this movie but really wish I hadn't. I'd love to hear what others thought.

Now, I am covered up in my new pink (for breast cancer awareness) snuggie! =) My boyfriend surprised me with it this week. It's very cozy. After the movie we got home and watched VA Tech football. Tech lost, bummer. While I was watching the game, I signed up for Dream Dinners. I'm really looking forward to it. I've never tried it before. I'm hoping it will be a delicious and an easy way to have meals quickly. Then we played Beatles Rockband with my boyfriends daughter! Now that was fun. I sang most of the time because I am terrible at the guitar and the drums, lol. I really can't sing either but they are very sweet and cheer me on anyway.

All in all, It was a great Saturday. Tomorrow I need to finish up a custom hypnosis CD I've started working on. Then I have to do my next installment of p90x! Whew that is a heck of a workout. I've been doing it for about two weeks now and I am already much stronger.

Iguana! This is Awesome!

2009-10-14T15:13:00.000-07:00

This is so cool! Might want to mute it before watching, the song is a little annoying.

Blogger I love and Wellshpere

2009-10-12T19:18:00.000-07:00

I wanted to take a minute and draw everyone's attention to a blog I really love. Weighless and Weightless is a very inspiring blog devoted to wellness and health. She discusses the ups and downs of dieting. The message I take from her blog is Stop Dieting, Eat Better and Eat Less and most importantly exercise! She keeps me inspired to stay on the right track. She is up for an award as a top health blogger on Wellshpere, another site I really enjoy.

Wellsphere has a plethora of resources for those who want to get and stay healthy.
Here are a few things you can do to get the most out of Wellsphere:

Upload your photo and tell the community about yourself - you'll be more likely to get support and advice.
Make your cell phone your Wellphone. Get goal reminders and log your progress, find local resources, and more. Get support from Wellsphere anytime, anywhere.
Receive email updates on your community, and get daily tips and reminders.
Ask for advice from the community of experts and friends.
Post topics on your areas of interest or expertise.

If you like Breeze's blog Weighless and Weightless you can vote for her here.

for
Breeze

http://weighlessandweightless.blogspot.com/

Top 100 Ways to Get More Blog Traffic

2009-10-11T08:21:00.000-07:00

I really don't spend enough time blogging. My pesky job, boyfriend and family keep getting in the way. lol.

Recently I found a great blog that has extremely useful tips to make your online business better. You can visit it here.

She has a list of the top 100 ways to get more traffic to your blog. I listed my top 10 here. All things I hope to improve upon.

Write lists about how to get more traffic to your blog.
Post regularly.
Be extremely opinionated.
Give people free reviews.
Don’t pander to the majority.
Write posts that will benefit people.
Do occasional wacky posts.
Use images in your posts.
Absolutely focus only on the enjoyment people will get from your blog. Make it the best quality you can and the best resource you can.
Write about what you love.

Her list has inspired me to get better at blogging. Now I just need to devote more time to it.

Happy Sunday everyone!

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

2009-10-07T14:43:00.000-07:00

We had a cookout this weekend and made this delicious Mac and Cheese. Thought I would share the recipe. It was sooo yummy.

2 pounds elbow macaroni
1 big block of Velveeta
2 bags of shredded cheddar cheese
1 block of cheddar cheese
1 can of evaporated milk
1 stick of butter
2 eggs

Cook elbow macaroni. Drain. While hot add evaporated milk and eggs and butter. Stir. Cut Velveeta and cheddar into cubes. Add into macaroni slowly stirring as it melts. Add shredded and leave a little to sprinkle on the top. Pour into baking pan. Sprinkle top with remaining shredded cheddar. Cook at 375 for 1 hour or until brown and bubbly on top.

Love This! Top 100 YouTube Videos in Four Minutes

2009-10-04T15:28:00.000-07:00

Book Review: Blue Bloods

2009-09-30T06:45:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy lately and totally ignoring my blog. First, I have been reading this series of books by Melissa De La Cruz. These books were recommended by my coworker, who knows of my Twilight obsession.
This is another teenage series about vampires. I found all three books interesting and the plot twists intriguing. The story was complicated and original enough to differentiate it from other vampire novels. These vampires are all extremely wealthy and they are actually angels that were banned from heaven! That's different, huh? In this series there is no way for a human to become a vampire. I felt the books were missing that subliminal fear, when reading vampire stories, of eeekkk this could happen to me!

I've also been spending a lot of time with my family lately. Celebrating the last few weeks of warm weather. Last weekend we had a crab cooking and picking party. Before that we went out on the boat and rode inner-tubes. We also went to a comedy show featuring Theo Von. (He was on the real world/rode rules shows). I thought he was pretty funny. My sister, on the other hand, spoke to him before the show and said he was a total jerk, lol.

I hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

Giveaway! Pacha Mamma's Handmade Baby Creations

2009-09-27T13:44:00.000-07:00

The Winner is Tami from http://agodlyhomemaker.blogspot.com! Congrats!

Janie from PachaMamma is having a giveaway!

Here's a little about Janie:

"I have always loved creating; sewing, crocheting, cooking, music... When I found out I was pregnant, I was so excited to make things for my baby boy! Bibs, burpcloths, toys, clothes, slings, the list goes on and on! I have loved all of these items that I have created, and I have used every one of them with my son. They are unique, purposeful, and such a joy to create! I created this shop, PachaMamma to share these wonderful items with other mothers, friends and children!"

Janie is giving away this fall orange and brown shoulder bag, great for back to school, or Halloween, trick or treat. A value of $20.00!
To enter this contest you must:

1) Visit PachaMamma's shop, on Etsy, choose your favorite item, then return here and tell me which item you chose and why. (Remember to add your contact information or I won't be able to contact you if you win.)

Additional entries are allowed by completing the following:

2) An additional entry for those who post the giveaway to twitter.
Ex:
http://www.hypnotransformations.blogspot.com/ is hosting an awesome giveaway! A $20.00 value!

3) An additional entry for those who blog about the giveaway and share a link to this contest on their blog.

4) An additional entry will be given for those who follow this blog and post a comment that you are now following.

5) One last entry for those who follow PachaMamma's blog and post a comment that you are now following.

The winner will be chosen using Random.org on October 4th at 10:59 pm.

Evil!

2009-09-26T14:58:00.000-07:00

I was visiting Strawberry Anarchy's Blog and ran across this hilarious video. My boyfriend saw this and said "This gives me a great idea, muhhaww". Uh oh.

Free Itunes Friday ~ Laurent Korcia

2009-09-18T06:54:00.000-07:00

Laurent Korcia is a French violinist. His music is so relaxing and beautiful. He's cute too =)

Here are some free Itunes codes if your interested in downloading his Cinema Paradiso seen above.

1. afyw34nx6f7a
2. 4l3rawmnf7ee
3. trxplj3rkh3f
4. e7xmwwfen6th
5. metx36yeyjjw
6. f6tef6pk6lw4
7. ypxanhxkxtwp
8. h93xny9f4llk

Leave a message if you use one, so everyone knows what has been taken. Have a great Friday!

Featured Artist ~ Kristen Hall from ModmomMe

2009-09-17T04:47:00.000-07:00

Here's my latest Guest Blogging venture. I featured Kristen Hall from Modmomme on Notes from the Handmade Highway.

Kristen describes her herself as "...... a boo boo kisser, translator- fluent in baby babble and toddlernese, monster exterminator, butt wiper, personal stylist, maid, circus tamer, chef, human alarm clock and calendar, referee, num num giver, tv operator, and many other job titles for which I cannot afford to remember at this time".

I hope you enjoy reading about her life as a mommy and a handmade business owner. Enjoy!

I'm the Featured Artist

2009-09-15T20:06:00.000-07:00

Just a little plug for myself =) I'm featured on Notes from the Handmade Highway! Yay! If you're interested, here's the interview.

The Handmade Highway is a great place for marketing and learning about other handmade artists.

Happy Traveling.....

Important Information Regarding Technology

2009-09-13T09:05:00.000-07:00

My friend emailed this to me.... I never even thought about this. I'm guilty of both mistakes.

When Using a GPS........
A couple of weeks ago a friend told me that someone she knew had their car broken into while they were at a football game. Their car was parked on the green which was adjacent to the football stadium and specially allotted to football fans. Things stolen from the car included a garage door remote control, some money and a GPS which had been prominently mounted on the dashboard.

When the victims got home, they found that their house had been ransacked and just about everything worth anything had been stolen.

The thieves had used the GPS to guide them to the house. They then used the garage remote control to open the garage door and gain entry to the house. The thieves knew the owners were at the football game, they knew what time the game was scheduled to finish and so they knew how much time they had to clean out the house. It would appear that they had brought a truck to empty the house of its contents.

Don't put your home address in your GPS. Put a nearby address (like a store or gas station) so you can still find your way home if you need to, but no one else would know where you live if your GPS were stolen.

When using cell phones.............
This lady has now changed her habit of how she lists her names on her mobile phone after her handbag was stolen. Her handbag, which contained her cell phone, credit card, wallet... Etc...was stolen. 20 minutes later when she called her hubby, from a pay phone telling him what had happened, hubby says, "I received your text asking about our Pin number and I replied a little while ago." When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn. The thief had actually used the stolen cell phone to test "hubby" in the contact list and got the Pin number. Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all of the money from their account.

I've changed both, I hope this can help someone else.

Featured Artist ~ Melissa Lisbon from Californiablue

2009-09-12T18:21:00.000-07:00

I had another opportunity to guest blog on Notes from the Handmade Highway. If you get a chance, check out Melissa Lisbon from Californiablue on ETSY. She makes fantastic jewelry inspired by her beautiful surroundings in northern California. Here's my favorite from her shop.

Guilty Pleasure Book Review: L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad

2009-09-07T09:27:00.000-07:00

I occasionally watch reality television. One of my steady favorites is The Hills. My sister called me the other day and suggested I read L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad, the star of the Hills. My sister emphasized, "It's a quick fun read if you're looking for a new book". I downloaded it to my Kindle and finished it in a few days.

This book really was a fun read! If you like The Hills, you will enjoy this book. It's an insiders view of the world of reality television. It confirmed my suspicion that reality tv is not so realistic. While reality tv subjects are being themselves, the situations and scenarios are set up to produce drama.

The book shares candid moments of being "miked" and having to repeat conversations so the mikes can record the words clearer. The characters are fictional but I found myself trying to figure out if the fictional characters were actually versions of the characters of Hills. There is a character named Brayden who reminded me of Brody Jenner from The Hills. The main character, Jane, seems to be based on Lauren. Instead of navigating the world of fashion, she is learning the intricacies of being an event planner. The story is compelling and evolves into an interesting climax. The end is a bit of a cliffhanger and leaves the door open for more books to come.

All in all this was a good quick read. The writing could have been better. At times I was confused because the perspective seemed to switch from first person to third and then back again.

I've just started a new book, The Blue Bloods. Very interesting so far. Reminds me a bit of the Twilight Series.

Labor Day Weekend Sale!

2009-09-04T15:07:00.000-07:00

20% off this whole weekend at my ETSY shop.

Use promo code "Weekend Deals".

www.hypnotransformations.etsy.com

Are you having a Labor Day Weekend Sale? Post it here if you are =)

Had To Share!! Cutest Nephew Ever....

2009-09-02T19:06:00.000-07:00

My Nephew just started walking a few weeks ago. Check him out now =)

Toxic Shame and How To Heal It

2009-08-26T20:31:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a shame attack? That feeling of being a bad person and it just hits you out of nowhere? Something will trigger a memory from your past and all of a sudden you're feeling terrible?

It happened to me the other day. I was at work and I was suddenly triggered to remember a terrible relationship I engaged in as a teenager. I was suddenly stunned with shame at the fact that I allowed my self to date someone who treated me so horribly. I immediately felt sick to my stomach and had the thought "how could I have been so stupid". I felt sad and embarrassed and just "bad". It took me about 30 minutes to remember....I am a healthy happy person now. Whew, I hate when that happens.

Having this shame attack last week prompted me to write a little about shame. I hope it can help someone else heal their shame. Luckily, I was able to pull myself out of it rather quickly. Unfortunately, some people live in the trap of toxic shame every day.

Toxic shame is an intense and private pain that is rooted in blaming yourself unjustly. It is based on unreasonable expectations of how you should have been or should be. The toxic part is when you continue to blame yourself and your thinking becomes poisoned. It can make you try to become a perfectionist so no one knows you are "bad". It keeps you from truly being yourself with others which keeps you disconnected spiritually and in all relationships. If a person is suffering from toxic shame they can become crippled emotionally. It can keep a person from moving forward in life and can cause a person to move into a state of self hatred.

If we are shame based to our core, we may believe that no one has the same shameful problems that we have. As a therapist, I can tell you that I hear the same shame based problems on a daily basis. While each person has unique situations and life stories, most problems are a variation on a similar set of problems that we all experience.

Fortunately, there are ways to heal toxic shame. Some people may seek out a therapist that can help challenge and change their negative shame-based thoughts. Others may seek out 12 step programs that let you know, you are not alone and that others have experienced the same problems. Some people make amends or choose to forgive. If we talk about the shame we carry suddenly becomes less heavy. We must remember to talk to people that are nonjudgmental and that will offer unconditional support.

I got over my "shame attack" last week fairly quickly. Mainly it was because I recognized the feeling and was able to call my boyfriend and tell him how I was feeling. He was nonjudgmental and reminded me, "you were just a kid, you didn't know any better. You're a wonderful smart person now. Don't beat yourself up over it!"

How did he get so smart? lol. I'm grateful to have such a supportive person in my life.

If you are suffering from toxic shame, seek out a professional to help you. Also, Healing the Shame that Binds You by John Bradshaw is a wonderful resource.

I'm a guest Blogger!

2009-08-23T16:31:00.000-07:00

I am so excited! I recently received two invitations to become a guest blogger.

The first is for a fantastic website which helps people suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The site, healmyPTSD.com, has a plethora of resources for PTSD sufferers.
A month or so ago I developed a hypnosis CD to help people with PTSD begin to heal. Michele from healmyptsd.com discovered my session through Twitter. She asked me to write an article from a professionals perspective about the benefits of hypnosis regarding PTSD treatment.Here's an excerpt:
Hypnosis has been proven as an effective tool to treat PTSD. Other treatments such as psychotherapy and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) are also very effective for PTSD sufferers. All of these therapies allow sufferers to get past the traumatic event and to learn how to cope. If you have PTSD or if you know someone who does it is important to seek help and support.

Check it out if you get a chance.

My second opportunity was for the Handmade Highway's companion blog Notes from the Handmade Highway. I was lucky enough to feature Jennifer Lambein of Studiopetite. Her art is amazing! The picture below is my favorite. If you want to see more.... hop on over to her ETSY shop.

Giveaway! Rebecca Plotnick Photography

2009-08-19T07:03:00.000-07:00

And the Winner is..... Michelle P. from http://motheroftwoyesposahermosa.blogspot.com/
Congratulations Michelle. Rebecca will be notified of your win.
I hope you love your photograph.

Rebecca from Rebecca Plotnick Photography is having a giveaway.

Rebecca is offering an 11x14 photograph for her giveaway. Winners choice from her ETSY shop.

"My etsy shop is a wonderful way for me to share my view of the world with other people. I love to travel and take pictures. I like to capture images people wouldn't normally think to look at. Through my photography people can appreciate the little gems in life. I am constantly inspired by beautiful architecture. Italy is my favorite place to travel to. I currently live in Chicago and lately I have been shooting a lot of the architecture and train in Black and White. Please check back with my shop for more photographs of my adventures"

How to Enter:

To enter this contest you must:

1) Visit RebeccaPlotnick, on Etsy, choose your favorite item, then return here and tell me which item you chose and why. (Remember to add your contact information or I won't be able to contact you if you win.)

Additional entries are allowed by completing the following:

2) An additional entry for those who post the giveaway to twitter with a link to http://www.hypnotransformations.blogspot.com/ and share your twitter id in your comment on this giveaway contest page.

3) An additional entry for those who blog about the giveaway and share a link to this contest in the giveaway contest comments.

4) One last entry will be given for those who follow this blog and post a comment that you are now following.

The winner will be chosen using Random.org on August 29th at 11:59 pm.

Book Review: The Help by Kathyrn Stockett

2009-08-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

I loved this book. The characters were so real it seemed like I knew them intimately. When the book ended, I was genuinely sad it was over. I sat hoping for a sequel and realized there probably will not be one. "The Help" left a lasting message of fear and courage, perseverance over racism, suffering and the importance of faith. It's a story about maintaining dignity despite a system that is insanely unjust.

It's set during the civil rights movement in the 1960's. The story is narrated by three main characters. Two are black maids and the other is a white woman who was raised by a black maid. She starts to question "the way things are" and the maids begin to realize it's okay to talk about "the way things are". They take turns narrating and I was compelled and engrossed with each perspective. All so interesting, as each section exemplified the strength needed to be a woman.

This is the best book I've read this summer. This perspective on 1960's race relations seemed so accurate my heart ached for anyone that has experienced racism and inequality. Highly recommended!

Contest! Latherati Soap

2009-08-12T06:15:00.000-07:00

Contest has ended! Winner: audreyscountrycrafts@gmail.com

Julie is offering free shipping to everyone who didn't win. Use Code FS-HH-0809 and she will
refund the shipping cost.

Julie from LatheratiSoap is having a Giveaway!!

She is offering 1 bar of soap, 1 lip balm, 1 sugar scrub and 1 roll-on perfume, in the winners scent choice (you can mix and match), a $23.00 value.

Soap Foundry: literary bath & body...cold-process soap, lip balm, sugar scrubs and other bath & body products all inspired by books!

"I love to read. I love to make soap. Combining the two was a natural choice for me. I can read a book and "smell" what a soap should be. Some books are obvious but some are subtle and those are a great challenge for me. I love it!"(Julie at LatheratiSoap)

How to Enter:

To enter this contest you must:

1) Visit Latherati, on Etsy, choose your favorite item, then return here and tell me which item you chose and why. (Remember to add your contact information or I won't be able to contact you if you win.)

Additional entries are allowed by completing the following:

2) An additional entry for those who post the giveaway to twitter with a link to http://www.hypnotransformations.blogspot.com/ and share your twitter id in your comment on this giveaway contest page.

3) An additional entry for those who blog about the giveaway and share a link to this contest in the giveaway contest comments.

4) One last entry will be given for those who follow this blog and post a comment that you are now following.

The winner will be chosen using Random.org on August 19th.

indiBizchicks.com has a great contest going on.

2009-08-11T17:49:00.000-07:00

indiBizChicks.com is a great website that has a constant flow of ideas for blogging and marketing your business. They have the tag line "For Women Who Would Rather Work For Themselves, Than for A Man" hahaha! I love that.

Right now Chrissy Heron is having a contest for 6 prewritten newsletters that are customizable.
I entered by blogging about her contest and you can too here. I don't have a newsletter yet but I have it on my to-do-list.

She also asked that all the contestants blog about her "Back To Blogging" which is a free program she will be presenting for the month of September.
Back To Blogging:
"As a participant, you will receive daily blogging tips, inspiration, and motivation. The tips will help you learn how to become a better blogger, attract readers, and even monetize your blog. The inspiration will clear up any blogger’s block you may encounter and the motivation will get you off your butt and back to blogging!"

I really looking forward to her tips and inspiration.

Handmade Highway....

2009-08-09T19:24:00.000-07:00

I just joined the Handmade Highway.

"The Handmade Highway is a living, dynamic directory of handmade sellers giving users 1-click access to handmade shops, products, pictures, location, seller contact info, and availability for wholesale, consignment, bulk discounts, custom work and availability for blog features and giveaways. The goal of Handmade Highway is to give buyers and sellers a reliable place to find what they’re looking for regardless of where a particular seller or a particular product is sold."

I'm can't wait to start featuring sellers from the Handmade Highway that have listed their shops as eligible for giveaways and features. This site seems like a really great way to network and meet new people in the handmade community. Check it out if you get a chance.

Where the Wild Things Are

2009-08-08T09:14:00.000-07:00

This book was my first favorite book. I remember, as a child, going to the library over and over again and sitting and reading it. I've always been drawn to stories with magical worlds. Narnia, Fantasia, the world in the movie Labyrinth, Hogwarts, even reading Flowers in The Attic was intriguing.

I realize I am a mature adult, lol, but I can't wait for this movie to come out!
Oct. 16th is the release date.

Free Itunes Friday....

2009-08-07T12:32:00.000-07:00

I love this band! Angus and Julia Stone. They remind me of when I was a child, lying on the floor coloring while my parents played records. Very chill and relaxing. This song "Mango Tree" is from their album "A Book Like This".

Here are some free Itunes codes if you'd like to have this song for yourself.
1. lam9hwjeerfx
2. k7wn4htphpay
3. 6yp7wmrma7fn
4. tajjyr3yxhma
6. exwy7t66xfaj
6. jlnr6fa3aa7x
7. ny4fr66nwypl
8. mera6wtx4kjx

If you use a code, please comment on which one, Thanks!

Healthy Eating Hypnosis ~ New

2009-08-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

I just finished creating a new hypnosis session. I'm really excited about it! I've been wanting to make it for quite a while. I made it because I want to help people focus on eating better. Ever seen Super Sized? That movie really changed my perception of fast food!

I am continuously stunned by the obesity epidemic in America. Hopefully this session will help people eat healthier and in turn influence their friends and family to eat better =)

Next, I am going to make a session that focuses on body image and learning to love your body. This was inspired by Breeze at Weighless and Weightless. Thanks Breeze...

Kindle, Battlestar Gallactica and Old Timey Photos.... Whew busy week.

2009-08-03T20:22:00.000-07:00

I have totally neglected my blog this last week. I've been busy, but mainly it's because my boyfriend and I are totally obsessed with Battle Star Galactica. We have watched season two, in its entirety, in about a week and a half. =)

Also my Kindle reader has become a bit of an obsession. Mine has the speech to text option so I listen to it while I drive to and from work and I read every chance I get.... sometimes at work if I need a few minutes between clients. Right now I am reading "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. It is AMAZING. I'll write a full review when I've finished it.

This weekend I headed to VA Beach to my sister's house. My other sister and I traveled there for my mom's 60th birthday! We decided to get Old Timey Photos made this weekend. We actually spent all of our summers at the beach and never had these photos made. It was a lot of fun, expensive, but worth it. I'm at the top... cute, huh?

My First Treasury Creation.....

2009-07-27T20:26:00.000-07:00

I created my first treasury on ETSY yesterday. I think it turned out pretty well. One of the artists actually sold their art! I was pretty excited that I could help someone sell something =)

What do you think? Please CLICK and leave a comment if you like it.

How to Find Your Target Market and Sunday Sale

2009-07-26T07:50:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have been focusing on different advertising markets. I've been trying to find an affordable, predictable avenue for advertising my hypnosis CD's. Unfortunately, the online market is saturated with hypnosis sellers. I believe I have found a niche in the handmade market because I actually make all me CD's/mp3's at home and really spend a lot of time developing the hypnosis scripts I record.

Recently, I decided to spend a lot of money on a very popular blog. It seemed to me that if there are a lot of readers then my selling success, statistically, will go up. Well, I'm not finding that to be the case. I've had about 9 clicks in 20,000 views! Whew, what now?

I keep hearing that you need to identify your target market. I have been debating whether or not I should send a follow up survey after people leave feedback for my hypnosis cd's. After researching this I have discovered that I really need to send a survey. I found a few pointers on how to identify your target market through a survey.

The two most important areas are Demographics and Psychographics.

Demographics should cover; Age, gender, income, education level, stage of life cycle (married, single, divorced, etc), ethnic and religious background.

Psychographics should cover; Lifestyle questions. Are the consumers trendy, conservative, travelers? What social class do your consumers belong to? Upper, middle, lower? Are they opinion leaders or opinion followers. What are their activities, interests, attitudes and beliefs. How do they spend their spare time?

I found a few sample survey's online and I'm going to develop a survey that can give me a better picture of my target market. I've decided I will email my customers after they leave feedback and offer a free gift if they complete the survey. I'm thinking my meditation mp3 download would be a nice gift for participating.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic and I hope this was helpful.

In light of advertising without knowing my target market (sheesh) I've decided to put my entire ETSY shop on sale this week.

I'm in a treasury!

2009-07-23T21:39:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited, I had to share. I have only been featured in a treasury three times. Each time has been with my meditation cd. Here's a shot of the treasury!

Recent Vacation.... Wish I was still there.

2009-07-22T19:30:00.001-07:00

I thought I would share some pictures from my recent vacation. We went to St. Pete Beach in Florida. We just randomly picked this beach mainly due to the cost ;) We did get a pretty good deal but spent way too much on expensive restaurants with delicious seafood. We were totally lazy for the first three days. We basically spent all day in the water, which was very clear, floating on rafts. I of course got sunburned even with 80 block on! (the curse of being a redhead)

On the fourth day, I decided we would be adventurous and take the trolley up the gulf coast ending up at Clearwater Beach. I suggested we just randomly stop at the different stops that looked interesting, explore and swim at the various beaches. We ended up stopping at some really cute but touristy type places. Clearwater Beach is sooo different than St. Pete. Very touristy! I liked our beach much more.

Overall, it was fun and relaxing. The flights were smooth and the hotel was pretty nice for the price. (Tradewinds Sandpiper) We had our own cabanas on the beach that provided somewhat of a respite from the Florida sun in July. We saw fish, stingrays (stingray?), horseshoe crabs and I think I saw a barracuda but I didn't tell Ken and Savannah. (They might have freaked!)

We decided next time we will definitely drive rather than fly (cost) and we will actually buy some groceries instead of eating three meals a day at restaurants.

Here are a few pictures from our trip.....
I put the rest up on facebook.

Sunday Sale.... Weight Loss Hypnosis CD or Mp3

2009-07-19T20:15:00.001-07:00

I've already listened to this one today. I really need it after my vacation this week. I ate horribly, lol.

I'll have this Cd or mp3 on sale for 16.99 for the next week.

Instead of staying on the diet roller coaster, you will see and enjoy lasting effects in just a few sessions. Most people who diet end up gaining the weight back and then some. Hypnosis ends dieting, it changes your relationship with food and makes you want to eat only in a healthy non-emotion driven way and this is the only way to maintain permanent weight loss. With hypnosis you learn how to think differently without even putting effort into thinking differently.

Last vacation day and a beautiful storm....

2009-07-18T15:13:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here on my last day of vacation waiting for a storm to clear. We've had perfect weather the whole time.

This storm was quite a nice surprise, absolutely beautiful. We could see the rain coming across the ocean for about an hour. Then all of a sudden the sand was blinding us and then the thunder and lightening started.

We made a mad dash to the room and watched the rest from the balcony. This is the view out of the room right now. The locals say it should blow past in about thirty minutes.
Arrgghh, I really don't want to leave tomorrow.

Weird, Sweet or Scary?

2009-07-13T17:45:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm not sure how people are going to take this but.....

My sister's best friend dated a guy for two months. I think she liked him in the beginning but it just didn't work out. About a month later we heard a rumor that he had posted this for her on Youtube. I think he found out that she had seen it and he took it down. Guess what! It's back. We realized it the other night while we were sitting around remembering this video. I actually think it's sweet. I think she is embarrassed by it, lol. What do you think? Weird, Sweet or Scary?

I hope everyone has a great week. I'm off to St. Pete Beach for vacation with my boyfriend and his 13 year old. I hope we can keep her entertained. She is getting to the age where we are boring. I think we will veg out on the beach, eat lots and lots of seafood and sightsee.

Birthday Celebration

2009-07-07T06:08:00.000-07:00

I had such a wonderful weekend. My nephew turned one! He was born on July 4th and now we have a wonderful reason to all get together for the 4th of July weekend. He was given what seemed like a hundred presents. Of course, he was more interested in the big bags and wrapping paper.

My sister is married to a man that was born in Nicaragua and they are trying to teach Kian (nephew) Spanish and English. I think it's so wonderful that he will grow up bilingual. With the Spanish theme in mind, four of us bought him the same present! haha. A leap frog toy that says items and phrases in English and Spanish. It was really funny because we kept giving him the wrapped toy and after the third one.... he looked at us like, "What the heck??" haha.

My sister decided to have the party at my father's house in Williamsburg, VA. We are all spread out around VA and Williamsburg is half way between Richmond and VA Beach. It made it easier for everyone to get there. When we go to dad's house he always wants to take us for a boat ride. It is ALWAYS a disaster. My poor father tries so hard to make the day nice but inevitably something always goes wrong. On this day, he had the pontoon boat in the water, cleaned up and ready to go. We got about 10 partygoers ready to go on the boat and headed down to the dock. About two miles down the Chickahominy river we noticed the the back of the boat was sinking!! Panic ensued and eventually we were able to make it back to the dock! After disembarking and getting the boat out of the water we realized that one of the pontoons was full of water! My dad was so disappointed, it was really sad. I guess some people just have no luck with these things?

Sunday Sale.... Contacting Your Spirit Guide Hypnosis

2009-07-05T19:08:00.000-07:00

This week's sale is my Contacting Your Spirit Guide Hypnosis CD or mp3 Download. Available this week for $16.99. This CD helps you become very relaxed. Once you are relaxed, it helps open your subconscious mind to connecting to the energy of your spirit guide/s or guardian angel/s.

Once in this place of deep relaxation, you can connect with your guide and receive answers and guidance.

Testimonial:
"I bought this being a bit skeptical but let me tell you I no longer am.. I'm a believer!! thank you so much this is truly changing my life.. thank you thank you thank you."

Automated Twitter Feeds...

2009-07-03T10:08:00.000-07:00

I was sitting here today, on my day off, wondering how did I just spend 3 hours twittering, facebooking, responding to ETSY forum posts and reading about marketing tips. I'm thinking there has to be an easier way to market my business.

I was looking around Twitter and it seems there are a lot of automated feeds that add content to people's twitter account. I decided to visit Twitterfeed and add some RSS feeds that were interesting to me. This resulted in a bunch of interesting twitter posts with links to different sites.

I am wondering... is this annoying or a great way to customized your twitter account?

I created a poll on this blog because I'd love to hear what you think.....

I Won An Award....

2009-06-30T05:41:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much to Lost Mitten for giving me the Honest Scrap Award!

There are a few requirements and they are as follows:
- I must thank the person who gave me the award and list their blog and link it
- I must list 10 honest things about myself
- I must put a copy of The Honest Scrap Logo on my blog.
- I must select at least 7 other worthy bloggers & list their links
- I must notify the bloggers of the award and hopefully they will follow the above requirements.

10 Honest Things About Me:
1. I'd secretly love to leave it all and move to Bora Bora.

2. I haven't made any pottery in six months because I am obsessed with my hypnosis business.

3. I never want to be married! No matter how many people say "are you sure?"

4. I am determined to figure out a way to make enough money to travel all over the world.

5. My guilty pleasure is postsecret.blogspot.com. I love that blog!!

6. I watch reality TV. Most recently Tori and Dean and America's Next Top Model.

7. I love playing video games. I spent 14 hours recently playing Fall Out 3 on xbox.

8. I am a Life Time Weight Watchers member since 2000.

9. I'm planning to go to Nicaragua for Thanksgiving this year.

10. I am totally in love with my one year old nephew.

Here are the blogs I'll be passing this award to:

1. BizzieLizzie
2. Weighless and Weightless
3. Weight by the Seashore
4. http://ll-n-l.blogspot.com/
5. Not a Stupid Blog
6. Simple Sayings of a Meddlesome Mind
7. Heathen's Hearth

Sunday Sale... Anger Management Hypnosis

2009-06-28T20:29:00.000-07:00

This week I am offering my Anger Management Hypnosis CD or mp3 for $16.99.

This CD focuses on the underlying issues beneath your anger and heals those issues.
Listening to this CD will help you intuitively calm down and handle any situation without getting angry.
As an added bonus, learning how to manage your anger is very important for people dealing with High Blood Pressure.

Testimonial:
"A FANTASTIC resource for dealing with your anger and identifying the real feelings behind your anger and dealing with those! I HIGHLY recommend this hypnosis CD, as well as any hypnosis CD from Hypnotransformations!!"

Please contact me if you have any questions about this session or any of my hypnosis sessions.

Flash Mobs....... Fantastic!

2009-06-24T19:59:00.001-07:00

I was watching Weeds the other night and right at the end... the main character is sitting outside drinking an iced coffee drink. All of a sudden music starts and the crowd breaks into dance! I was wondering what is this?

I have discovered Flash Mobs!
Flash Mobs are a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place to perform an unusual action for a brief time, then quickly disperse.
http://www.flashmob.com/ is a like a chat board that posts upcoming Flash Mob events. I love the idea of this. I think it's amazing that so many different people can come together in an organized manner and make a statement. I'm not sure what the statement is exactly, lol, but to me it seems to be a unique form of performance art and a way of bringing the social networking world out into the real word.

Here's one that I found particularly awesome:

I hope there is one in my area soon, I will definitely be there.

Hypnosis mp3 Giveaway....

2009-06-23T05:32:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite customers is having her blogoversary!

She is offering quite a few giveaways over the next week or so. I thought I would support her blog and offer a free download. If you want to win, go to her blog and comment on which download you would like to win.

If you want extra chances to win, follow my blog or blog about her blog.

Pretty simple...... Good Luck =)

Sunday Sale.... Weight Loss Hypnosis CD or Mp3

2009-06-21T18:16:00.000-07:00

This week's sale is my Weight Loss Hypnosis CD at a reduced cost of $16.99.

Through hypnosis you will learn to look at food differently and change your habits permanently. Hypnosis is very easy and often takes little or no willpower. Instead of staying on the diet roller coaster, you will see and enjoy lasting effects in just a few sessions.

Testimonial:
"I've lost 11 lbs in 2months. If I could find the time to dedicate and listen the way I should I think I could lose more. I really think this is a great product. I find my self remembering some of the words during the day and it helps me stay on track. Thanks so much!!!"

This CD is also available as an mp3. If you choose this option I will refund you the shipping cost through Paypal.

UFO over King's Dominion.

2009-06-19T04:48:00.000-07:00

I am fascinated by UFO's. I believe there has to be something else out there. I live in Richmond, VA near King's Dominion. On June 14th there was a mass UFO sighting there. How exciting!! I'd like to believe it really was a UFO. The official word is that it was a smoke ring from the Volcano ride. It seems to me that this object is too solid to be a smoke ring. What do you think?

Scuba Diving Debacle, Bingo Cults and Family Time....

2009-06-15T04:32:00.000-07:00

I had quite an adventure this weekend. I took Friday off from work and headed down to Virginia Beach to spend time with my mom, sisters and nephew. A few months ago we decided we needed to make a better effort to spend time together. We all get so busy and before we know it, it's Christmas and another year is gone.

The plan this weekend was to hang out, eat, be lazy, eat, be lazy and eat some more and then go scuba diving with my dad on Sunday. On Friday night we went to our favorite restaurant at VA Beach, Roudees on the Inlet. We used to live about a block from there and we've been eating there for about 20 years. This time, I was reminded that it's more nostalgic than anything else but still yummy. Roudees sells the best she crab soup at the beach but we are always on a mission to find better. There is a man working there as a valet, he's been there since I was a little girl, we heard he makes 90K+ a year. lol! I think I went into the wrong field.

Saturday night we thought it would be fun to play bingo. Boy were we wrong! I've known for sometime that there are some fanatical bingo players and this night proved it. There are people there with troll dolls and little "good luck" trinkets. They have every color of bingo markers and some of the markers appear to have glitter in them. I think there could be a place on ETSY for custom bingo marker bags =)
Playing bingo is supposed to be fun. right? We were so stressed out. You get these huge boards with at least 20 different bingo cards on each one. The numbers are called so fast! I usually got through half of the boards before the next number was coming! I did win one bingo but I had to split it with four people. My total take was $16.50. lol.
Overall, it was really fun but a little too fast paced for me and oddly cult-ish. My sister suggested that next time we go to a different bingo place that has computers that do all the work.

On Sunday we had a plan to go scuba diving at Kiptopeke State Park. It was quite an adventure! My dad has been scuba diving since he was in high school. He told us about Kiptopeke and that he used to dive there. We were very excited and started out around 6:00 am, getting all of our dive gear packed up. We pulled his boat all over VA Beach to get air tanks and other necessities for diving.
Kiptopeke is a really unique state park. It's about a mile from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Roughly 400 yards offshore, a series of concrete ships built by the government during World War II are sunk and remain half submerged in about 25 feet of water. The ships serve as an artificial reef and they attract large fish populations, including saltwater trout, rockfish and flounder.
We took the short boat ride out to the ships and got dressed in our full wet suits, regulators, masks, snorkels, fins etc and fell backwards over the side of the boat. The water was still cold with full wet suits but I adjusted quickly. Within minutes we realized the current was so strong we could barely swim against it and the visibility was less than a foot! Arrgghhh, we were so bummed! We learned later that after it rains, at Kiptopeke, the mud is kicked up at the bottom and the visibility is horrible. So.....no diving for us. We ended up fishing instead.
Next time we are going to go to the Chesapeake light tower. We heard you just tie off to the light tower and go down in between the legs of the tower. Here you can see different types of fish, octopi, star fish and crabs. It's 42 feet deep and the visibility is good.

Exercise More Hypnosis CD........Sunday Sale

2009-06-14T04:49:00.000-07:00

This week's sale is my Exercise More Hypnosis CD.

My "Exercise More" hypnosis CD will give you the energy and motivation to get-up-and-go.

Simply sit back and listen to this hypnosis session, and it will give you the motivation to get going and experience the exhilarating energy boost that regular exercise provides. Achieve a healthier, more toned body, feel energized and rejuvenated, be motivated to exercise every day.

Testimonials:
"I can't believe how fast this worked. I actually get up out of the chair and look forward to doing my walking. I'm up to a 1.5 miles now. I think about it when I have to stay at work and don't have time to go out; it bothers me if I miss a day. This is absolutely wonderful!"

"The "Exercise More" mp3 must have worked because I've been working out 4-5 days a week since! It always puts me to sleep and is lovely!"

Tai Chi, Yoga and Pilates what a great class combo......

2009-06-10T16:47:00.000-07:00

I just got home from the gym. I took the coolest class. It's a combination of Tai Chi, Yoga and Pilates. I am already sore =) I think I'd really like to learn more about Tai Chi. I did feel a little silly making the movements but when I looked in the gym mirror they were really beautiful. After the class we were allowed 10 minutes of relaxation and meditation. It was WONDERFUL! I feel so relaxed tonight.

I found a great website that I'm going to be using to learn more about Tai Chi. I thought I'd post it here in case anyone else is interested in learning. So far, I like the Tai Chi stretch circle the best. Isn't stretching the best?