Friday, May 27, 2011

You can't please everyone

Thinking back on yesterday, I realized one very simple truth:

You Can't Please Everyone!

If you're wondering what "yesterday" was mostly about, you can find all the juicy details on my BFF Kallan Kennedy's blog, or another wonderful blogger - Mrs. B of Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom. 

In addition to watching (and a bit of interacting with) the hullaballoo, I was also treated to an admonishment based on religious intolerance of my own.  See... recently I've gotten the sewing bug.  And my creative muse took me to new and unchartered territories in the form of my new line of Poppet dolls. 

Paige Poppet, who is actually the second doll in my line, was so darn cute, and so much fun to make, that I decided to list her on my Etsy shop.  And of course, I shamelessly plugged her on Facebook. 


A few weeks ago, I happened upon a young girl's profile on Facebook.  A girl who I knew many years ago.  I thought "oh, how cool!", and sent a Friend Request, which was almost immediately accepted.  Now, this girl comes from a Mormon background.  And before any of you think I'm going to bash Mormons, you're terribly wrong.  The point being, this girl came from a home where Mormonism (which is, in fact, a Christian based faith) was preached, but not very well practiced.  They were a very prideful family, taking money out of the mouths of their employees (i.e.:  not paying them) and "borrowing" but never paying back.  They hurt countless people in their quest for the almighty dollar.  All the while thumping their Book of Mormon when it suited them.

Fast forward to yesterday:  So I put up a post about my new doll, Paige.  And immediately I began getting really favorable comments.  Until my former acquaintance - who had yet to post anything on my wall or message me in any way up to this point, showed up.  Her comment?  "That's nothing to play with... and is that a pentagram that it is standing on... SERIOUSLY???"  Yes.  Seriously.  And then she de-friended me.  Lolz.


So... although there is probably a lot more I could say, I found this video on You Tube and would like to leave you all with it.  And a little cheer:


WE ARE - STRONG!!
WE ARE - A FAITH!!
WE ARE - PAGAN!!


Thursday, May 19, 2011

Navigating the delicate fields of the human ego on Facebook

*sigh*  I think many of you can relate to this. 

Facebook has become one of those things that I have developed a love/hate relationship with.  I love the interaction, love connecting with people, and love it as the best marketing tool since sliced bread.  (ok, sandwich boards, but who's counting)

It's core component is allowing users to post a "status".  And of course, many of us are VERY creative with our status posts. We use it to express a need for coffee, love, or energy.  We run to it when we feel the need to bitch-slap someone but aren't immediately able to "reach out and touch someone".   (they used to call that "therapy")  We share stories, pass along interesting (or sometimes not so interesting) information.  It's enables us to give and receive love to and from all over the world.  It allows us to shamelessly plug our wares. 

Facebook also provides a platform for some of the most insane "witch wars" and cat fights I've seen in my life.  (cheap entertainment if you ask me!)  Some people boldly post and include the name of He/She Who Shall Be Slapped.  Most of us don't.  But maybe we should?? 

And here's why:  I've noticed that there are many, many people who think that every rant, whine or imagined bitch slap IS ABOUT THEM! Really??  I'm sorry, but people with low self-esteem and a "why is everybody always picking on me? attitude need to just stay the hell off of Facebook if they are going to throw Boo-Hoo Tempers!

Another pet peeve I have is people who think you live only to read THEIR posts/updates on Facebook.  With over 350 friends on Facebook, and many who post every little achievement they make in over a thousand game apps, not to mention the tons of pages I've "liked" who ALSO post status updates, I would have to close my store and sit at the computer 24/7 to read them all!!  So please, don't get your knickers in a twist when I don't see your post. 

Oh, and while I'm at it:  Tagging me and 2000 of your Facebook friends in a photo of something other than me is ANNOYING.  You want to send me some love or get info to me?  SEND ME A MESSAGE or stop by my wall!  Heads up:  I "untag" myself when people do that.  Just sayin'.

Been there?  Done that?  Think I'm off my rocker?  (I am, just so you know...)  Feel free to express your rants and views in the comments!  And if you're reading this and thinking to yourself "She's talking about me!!".  Well yeah, I probably am.  Feel free to unfriend me, if you already haven't.  *insert eye roll here*

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Happy endings, New Beginnings



On last months episode of Snowy's Rants & Nuit's Mews-ings I told you guys about being laid off from my job of many years.  My last day at work was quiet, sweet, sad, and bittersweet.  All feelings you'd expect when we experience a loss plus the fear of the "unknown". 

Thanks to having to put full focus on getting ready for Gaia Fest, and just keeping up with the store - my sadness was shortlived.  I wasn't going to dwell on the loss, but rather, I wanted to focus on the doors that now will open.  


One thing that you learn as you grow older (which is another topic I'll get into LOL!) is that the only thing that remains the same, is change.  I can't say that "nothing lasts forever" because I have a very special "something" in my life and I plan on it lasting forever.  Yeah - that whole "til death do us part" thing.  But for real.  ;-)

Speaking of plans... it's amazing what the mind can come up with when you don't allow yourself to be taken down by sadness or fear.  Creativity thrives in a fertile mind.  A fertile mind is one that is fed with good thoughts, hopes, wishes and dreams.  I already had a pretty good foundation of this, so I was good to go.  Having a life partner who sees through the same rosy glasses helps too. ;-)  

Now, you're going to ask:  "Oooh!  What's Snowy dreaming up for the store now??"  Well, since I'm a savvy business-woman (*snortgiggle*) I'm going to have to keep some things a secret.  We don't want the competition knowing everything, do we?  Nope.  So you'll just have to keep checking out what we come up with via our postings on Facebook, Eye of Nuit, and Pagan Stuff Cheap!  



Speaking of!!  Head on over to Pagan Stuff Cheap and take advantage of this month's coupon voucher!  Just use coupon code MAYSPECIAL and save an extra 5% off our Book of Shadows, Blank Journals, Tarot decks and Tarot sets!  With our already low prices, that gives you a full 15% off retail!  



Our new ScentWerx™ line is taking off!  We now have Body Butter, Lotion, Shower Gel, Shea Butter Soap and Bath Salts in many fresh & yummy flavors like Lemon Zest, Sugar Mint, Coconut Lime, Amber Woods & BeWitched!, just to name a few.  In addition, there are 100% soy jar candles and beautiful palm wax pillar candles in LOTS of other scents.  Look for these items to soon be available in their very own online store too!  All hand made and ALL at super-reasonable prices, as always because THAT is what we're all about!


In other news, my wonderful honey is getting me an embroidery machine for my birthday, aka "THE BIG 5-0 AND NOT AS IN HAWAII!"  I'm so freaking excited (about the machine, NOT the birthday LOL!!)  Embroidering is something I've wanted to get into for several years now.  Remember that whole creative mind thing I mentioned a few paragraphs back?  Yup.  That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!  

I chose the Brother LB6800 PRW Sewing-and-Embroidery Machine after researching several different brands and models.  Singer had a nice combo sewing/embroidery machine too, but since I'm a n00b at this, I decided to go with the less expensive Brother.  Plus, it has a KICK-ASS rolling storage bag which means I can take it to the store for Crafty Witches in Stitches night at Eye of Nuit!  So yeah... it advertises that gay-ass show "Project Runway", but who cares?? (and NO offense to my gay-ass friends, you know I *heart* you bunches!!) 

What else...?  I will be starting a new Wicca 101 class in about 2 weeks.  For those of you who are local and wish to sign up, please visit Eye of Nuit for details.

Gaia Fest was AMAZING!  It is a lot of hard work, and I'm not thinking we'll be doing a lot of vending overall, but I'll definitely vend at next year's Gaia Fest!  I do have to put a plug in here for Cloaks of Camelot, who was also vending at the festival and where I got my GORGEOUS cloak (ok, my wonderful HONEY got it for me).  So go check it out, and tell Colleen that Snowy from Eye of Nuit sent ya!