SugarSkull Industries Turns One Year!

Source

Hola my friends!  I'm super proud to announce the one year anniversary of the blog!

We made it!!!!! Commence with the champagne bottles popping, cupcake baking, nacho making.....making out? All the ways people like to celebrate.

One year in, and I've learned a few things.

Read more

#GIRLBOSS Review

Like most other reviewers, this is a book you can finish in days.  Unless you have trouble finding time to read or hate reading.  Then, maybe, I dunno, you probably don’t read blogs either.

Sophia Amoruso, founder and owner of Nastygal.com, writes with refreshing ease, neither assaulting the reader with self-help mantras nor harshly condemning the choices previous generations have made by going to Ivy League schools and working for a Fortune 500 company.  She does however, explain, how and why hustling can be profitable and rewarding.  Not hustling in the negative sense, like being a drug dealer or other illegitimate activities but hustling as in owning your own side business.

Her advice, life stories, and bon mots come from her position at the top, becoming wildly successful in the span of 7-8 years, busting her ass and never slowing down, all before turning 30.  She appeals to the reader like an extremely successful older sister.  Despite being a few years older, I could really relate to Sophia.  While her advice seems tailored for young women, “girls”, in their twenties, I think older women can also respond to her importance on hard work, no fear, and learning things for yourself.  Young women seem to want to advance due to outside influences to either please their parents or keep up with classmates.  Older women with work experience under their belt have seen opportunities pass them by and are more primed to create more opportunities for themselves.

While I have not read Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In, I had just finished Dave Ramsey’s The Total Money Makeover just prior to reading #GIRLBOSS.  Amoruso espouses many of the same money management tips, such as the golden rule “Cash is King” and the blessing that is starting a company without loans.  Both Amoruso and Ramsey explain the ability to build wealth either for yourself or your company once you are debt free. Both stress the importance of having a good team, especially if you are not good at numbers.  You don’t have to struggle to do everything yourself.  Surround yourself with people you trust and that have a way of making sure you perfectly understand the process.

 Here are my five favorite takeaways from #GIRLBOSS;

1. 1.        As a leader if you do not understand something, speak up and ask questions.  Do not be embarrassed, it is essential you understand because you are responsible for all the people working for you.
2. 2.       Listen, observe and form relationships with your customer base.  Be observant, see what people respond to and always find free marketing.
3. 3.       Work hard and don’t ever say “that’s not my job”.  Those that aren’t above doing whatever task falls into their lap will advance and prove they are an asset.
4. 4.       If success happens, there will be many others looking to tear you down.  Do not try to fight back or get involved.  Focus on making your brand a head and shoulders above the rest.
5. 5.       Money looks better in the bank.  Do not spend everything.  Money in the bank will give you more clout and can save your company when bad or tight times may come your way.

Readers, what are your thoughts?  Are you interested in reading this book?  Are you looking to handle your career “LIKE A BAWSE”?

Read more

Just What Kind of Blog Do You Think This Is?

Tell me, because I have no idea.  Seriously.

I originally started this blog as an outlet for my wreath shop on Etsy, appropriately named SugarSkull Industries' (W)Reef Shop, because I love a good pun. I read online that the best way to build up an audience of which to introduce my wares was by casting a wide net into the blogosphere.  Fair enough, I thought.  Plus I love writing and telling funny stories about my childhood, like that one time I found a dead bird in our backyard playhouse that my mom took great lengths to sew little fabric curtains for, which made me believe for a short time that we actually had an evil, Satanic playhouse that was murdering small animals.  Turns out we just left the little front door open and an an old bird was looking for a quiet place to pass on.

So maybe I started this blog for the wrong reasons.  I mean who hasn't heard of a wreath.  "Oh excuse me, ladies and fine gentlemen!  Allow me to introduce the newest thing, straight from Paris, you have never seen anything like it, I promise!  Behold--the wreath!"

I started with a bold direction for my blog.  Nothing exactly new or innovative but tried and true.  I enjoy reading Radical Possibility and thought, hey I like decorating my house, I love exploring the nearest city, I love drinking gin! I settled on posting some fun home decor DIY projects, artistically impressive photos of my travels, and the occasional think piece on whatever my little dorky heart desired, like books, music and/or anything comic book related.  The readers would surely flock.  I am and will forever be an optimist. Fatally optimistic is what my paternal grandmother once said.  I, of course, was like, "What the hell, Granma?"  (She prefers the spelling without a "d")

I'll be honest, I did have fun posting.  Even though my DIY projects were sadly short-lived.  I have neither the imagination nor skill to come up with successful DIYs on a regular basis and forget taking successful photos of the whole enterprise.  Seriously, are there any night owl bloggers?  And if so what do you post?  Do you take your pictures at night, after work like I try to?

I don't travel enough to take beautiful landscape pictures of things like an abandoned cemetery or like, a duck pond.  I don't have a mate or children to take pictures of or, conversely, to take pictures of me while doing DIYs.  Sorry if I left  you with the impression that I may or may not be left handed.

So what is left then?  The funny stories, I guess?  I could try cooking but come on, not even I'm optimistic enough to beat that dead horse.  Also, I'm like a remedial cook at best.  I know how to cook some stuff, like spaghetti, meat loaf, tacos but I'm not adventurous and at the first mention of a food processor or mixer, I give up.  I got a rice cooker, an 18 year old toaster, a blender and a panini press.  I mean I can't even make rice unassisted.

I could try the fashion angle.  Taking pictures of every single outfi---nah, scratch that.  I'm too lazy.  I got bored halfway through that last sentence.

So what are your thoughts?  What do you look for in your favorite blogs?  After 6 months of blogging, I'm asking you, dear readers, what do you like to read about?  What gets you interested and engaged?  Just curious.

; )

Marg

Read more

Fear of Missing Out

Last weekend, yes Easter Weekend of all things, I was experiencing some FOMO or the Fear of Missing Out.  There were so many free activities I had planned after a particularly stressful work week.  The was the free Late Night at the Dallas Museum Art on Friday night, the Dallas Etsy Spring Bash outdoor market Saturday morning, and of course Record Store Day with food, festivities and music all day at several shops in Dallas and Fort Worth.  There was also the grand opening of Melt Ice Creams Saturday night in Fort Worth.

But……………………………….

I really needed to mow my backyard.  And sleep in some.

After the work week I was ready to have tons of fun but my backyard was severely overgrown with weeds, tall thick dandelion stalks, home to a million plus mosquitos.  I also couldn’t wake up before nine, instead awaking at 11:30 am, rubbing my eyes in a weird foggy daze.

Shit, I thought.

Now I was going to have to hustle to make the Etsy Spring Bash.  As I slowly awoke over a cup of coffee, I noticed my dog, Lil Mama, had virtually vanished behind a huge patch of weeds.  I had been given a notification by the city the spring before, telling me my lawn was overgrown and I would be fined if it was not taken care of.  I didn’t want that to happen again.  My dog, a blue heeler-lab mix, was an outdoor dog and loved lying out in the sun all day.

But I didn’t want to miss all the awesome activities! 

I wanted, nay NEEDED to go out and meet cool people because A – I have never had a boyfriend in my entire LIFE, B – I wanted to make new friends with stranger, which is generally easy for me and C – my bestest friends in the world are always working during the weekends.  Plus I wanted to get tips for my own Etsy shop!  This would help my love life, my social life and my business!

After I agonized a few minutes, I was like, fuck it.  You know what?  Just fuck it.  So I would miss out on some really awesome stuff.  Who cares?  There was a reason I couldn’t wake up early, because I need rest.  And now my dog needs me, and my home needs me.  We are the people we are, not because of the same concert everyone went to, or the same party everyone attended, but because of our differences.  Because of the DIFFERENT choices we each make.

So I mowed my lawn. 

All of this.....

Not that I did a great job but it got done.

As soon as I was done, Lil’ Mama flopped on her back, rubbing her fur into the newly shorn yard.  I took a shower, and made some guacamole and a grapefruit gin and tonic.  Then lay on the couch reading a book.  It was heaven.

I bet those activities didn't have fresh guac.

See no one ever brags about mowing their lawn on Facebook or posting it on their blog.  We are lead to believe we are missing out by living our own lives.  I feel lazy for not coming up with brilliant DIY ideas on a regular basis.  I feel jealous for not being a wonderful baker or a clean living cooks.  I love to take photographs whenever I go on a trip but it's not nearly enough to sustain two posts a week.

Never fear missing out, what you are gaining is a sense of self and nothing, not even a blog, can give you that.

Amen,

Marg

Top Image Source - Original and Edited

Read more

Weekend Wrap-Up - Painted Plants, Game of Thrones, and Master Splinter

Welcome to the Weekend Wrap-Up!

Over the weekend I went day time drinking with some strangers at a dive bar, attended an art gallery showing with my sister, and lost my mind over the new Game of Thrones episode.  Oh and also my taxes and the new Master Splinter.

On Saturday I decided to attend an unofficial "Meet A Yelper"  event, which just consisted of about 12 to 15 people meeting at a local dive bar for a couple round of drinks.  I don't know if you guys use Yelp or not, but in short it's a user generated website, in which you can submit reviews about any restaurant, auto garage, nail salon, bar, etc.  Yelp hosts several "Official Events" in which you can attend to sample local food but I usually wind up going alone to someplace in Downtown Dallas.  I wind up all nervous and sweaty because it's hard meeting people when everyone else is part of a couple or group.  So this "Meet A Yelper" event was a chance to meet people, one on one, for a change.  I was stoked.  Until I got to the parking lot.  Then I panicked. "What if I can't find them?"  "What if no one is there?"  "What if I'm overdressed?"  "What if I'm overdressed".  I had to take a deep breath and get out of the car.  I walked in like I belonged there and lo and behold, there was a group sitting out on the patio.  I said hi, they made room for me and I was small talking like a mother f*cking champ.  Then someone asked me if I had ever seen the show "Heroes" and then I quickly sucked them into my nerdy gravitational force.  It was awesome, and I had like four Tang-flavored margaritas.

At the gallery showing for my sister's friend I met another blogger.  ANOTHER BLOGGER! Brittany Burke runs Ravishing in Plaid, a fashion and lifestyle blog.  She is so fresh and young that I would have never guessed she is married and a full-time working mom of a three year old.  Meeting people in public is on the opposite end of the same spectrum as writing a blog. You get instant feedback, which is a blast!  Brittany and I gabbed about our frustration about not being able to take awesome DIY project pictures during the day, since you know we both work at a office and we were so envious about those light, white and bright photos you see on EVERYBODY'S blogs.  We exchanged business cards and promised to send each tips or news.  Go check her cute blog when you've got time.

Sunday I was going to go to the Fort Worth Main Street Art Festival but it got cancelled due to the super-strong winds.  I wasn't too upset, seeing as I still needed to do my taxes and I really, really trying to save some money.  Before that I thought I would pop down to Walmart to pick up some dog food.  Yes, I said Walmart.  I did some price sourcing for their plants and Terra cotta pots, when I stumbled across some succulents that been spray painted.  Have you ever seen this before?  Painted plants?  Does this not kill the plant?

They were very colorful but seemed like plant cruelty.  Not my thing.

So after my little shopping trip I was still in a procrastinating mood so I sat down to watch Game of Thrones, yeah the Purple Wedding episode, and a new episode of Bob's Burgers, and the new The Bletchley Circle episode.  Suffice it to say, I did not watch MTV or Mad Men because I have long since stopped caring but I DID make it a point to see the newest Michael Bay produced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trailer which showed a sneak peek at the new version of Master Splinter.

 A Fu Manchu ??? He's supposed to be Japanese.

You know those Bounty Paper towel commercials?  Where the mom uses Bounty and another off-brand paper towel to wash a pile of grapes or whatever, suspending them over the kitchen sink?  That wet paper towel, straining under the weight, is my suspension of disbelief, like right before this trailer ever happened.  

I don't remember the pool balls, I somehow remember them being grapes, probably because it makes more sense.

I can somehow believe in man-sized turtles, I can handle a white Shredder, I can believe that turtles can be taught ninjitsu.  What ruins it for me?  What makes my paper towel collapse in the middle in a jagged hole?  Splinter wearing a FU MANCHU BEARD!  There is no plausible reason why this should exist.  Plus his character will be voiced by Tony Shalhoub, yep the nebbish guy from Monk.  Tony Shalhoub is an amazing actor, but Splinter he is not.  That rat already looks like Ben Kingsley's the Mandarin character so why not add him to the cast?

Now it's just curtains for me.  I have zero desire.  My anticipation has been sucked out of me faster than a crawdad at a crawfish boil.  I hate this movie already.

So how was your weekend?  Awkward transition, I know.  Drop me a line in the comments!

Marg

Read more