Whiteley Creek Homestead

custom party celebration giveaway

 Every day should be a party... a celebration of life.

Need a little help getting your party off the ground? My daughter Heather, via her business named you make do, has offered this generous giveaway. Here's the scoop as stated on her you make do site. Let's get the party started! "Win a custom party celebration! What is your dream party theme? Are you inviting friends for a summer bar-b-cue party? A child who would dream of the perfect princess party? Or, a truck party? A baby shower to plan? If you win, you choose the party theme for a birthday party or other special occasion—and, we will design a party printable kit! Your custom designed party will include: cake/cupcake topper printables with your chosen theme, matching banner and straw topper printables, and coordinating cupcake wrapper printables! To enter, simply make a purchase in our you make do shop (no minimum) by May 1, 2012 to enter to win. Be the super lucky winner who is randomly chosen. You will be notified by e-mail if you are chosen to select a party theme. The chosen theme may be featured in our shop and on you-make-do.com!" Printables from the you make do site are downloadable instantly upon placing your order. It couldn't be simpler or quicker. (The drawings in this post are from The Casserole Cookbook Published by Culinary Arts Institute © 1956.)

crafty buffet oven kit walmart competition

Three years ago, while I was watching a Martha Stewart Show segment, a guest crafter named Cheryl Robinson demonstrated how to make this adorable range made from a cardboard storage box assessorized with simple, everyday items. I was impressed by Cheryl's ability to look upon an ordinary box and imagine its possibilities beyond its intended purpose, then take that idea and begin to market it... a  normal person like you and I... with something unique to offer. I wasted no time ordering her kit and set about assembling it immediately upon its arrival on my doorstep. (Click here for a detailed description of what is included in the kit.)  

Now, to help expand her business, Cheryl has entered her Crafty Buffet Oven Kit in Walmart's "Get on the Shelf Contest." Despite the fact that I believe Walmart should select Cheryl's kit on its own merit, the contest is based upon securing the greatest number of votes. Will you join me in helping her get this sweet creation into Walmart? Voting starts March 7th and runs thru April 3rd, 2012. You can VOTE ONCE PER DAY. Vote for Cheryl at http://www.getontheshelf.com/product/4193/The-Crafty-Buffet-Oven-K 

castle in the air

My daughter, Jessie, clicked this photo of an adjacent condominium complex as she stood on her balcony while Dick and I stayed with her this past weekend. The early morning fog rolled in and virtually obliterated the waterfront and bridges outside her window creating this image of a castle in the air.    

The image caused me to remember a quote that propelled Dick and I as we labored to build our bed and breakfast business. "If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; Now put the foundations under them." ~Henry David Thoreau

Sometimes we are cautioned, "Don't build castles in the sky." This well-intentioned advice is meant to temper our dreams to fit a more realistic view of what our circumstances may allow. However, to accomplish big things, we must dream big, plan wisely, set goals to accomplish one at a time, then be prepared to work very hard to make it happen. Although Dick and I continue to build our business that began as a dream seventeen years ago, the foundation is in place. Now, our three daughters are prime examples of what this photo's image portrays. As they toil in their separate business ventures, often only the tip of the castle has been visible. But as the fog begins to clear, the entire castle will be in view.