On a Colorado Note: The Thursday Files on an Early Friday Morning because.. A Sista is Making Body Butter and I$h!

It is 1:24 a.m mountain time and I'm focused.. like a boss.

My Craft Fair is Saturday, and I'm not the girl who likes to have everything ready two weeks ahead of time. I get a sort of thrill out of "crunch time." I'm looking at my cat sprawled out across the rocking chair, my husband is in a deep sleep as the t.v. watches him.. and I'm busy making price tag labels and cracking up at the Kevin Smith: Too Fat for 40 that Stewart turned on about two hours ago.







Everything is looking and smelling wonderful. More exciting than the process of your thoughts as they dream up a product, is the process of making and packaging it. My fuel is thoughts of customers excited about their purchase, the opportunity to explain my reason behind creating it.. it's all so rewarding.

So, it's 1:30 a.m.. and I think it's time to call it a night.. even though it's actually morning.

So Anyway, My "Junk Drawer" is A MESS..

Countdown to craft fair has begun.. and I love it!

Earlier today, when I needed to get some of my craft items I use less often than others, I encountered this catastrophe..

MY JUNK DRAWER!

I shook my head and muttered obscenities as I tried to find the items I was looking for. No one's fault but my own. I've cleaned and organized this drawer many times. As a matter of fact, this loose pile of things I need is resting on top of a drawer organizer.. no joke.

Buuuut, I digress.

While conquering the catastrophe I've dubbed as my junk drawer, I found the items I needed to make these darling little holder frames for my sample soaps and lip butters. Spent the afternoon in my nerdy crafter chick zone, and I loved every second of it, all while sipping on my cuppa and forgetting about my junk drawer. Although I've created my website with the modern vibe that defines Marci, Craft Fairs allow me to keep that "farm girl chic" appeal that I introduced the world to originally on my 303 Dolls F+B Etsy site. Yah.. that farm girl chic side.. I keep that undercover, not even sure why a San Diego Girl has that side, but I love it just as much as my modern side!

When I have to do a lot of product making and crafting, I submit to natural nails because hell.. I don't have time for the touch ups, and I cannot stand chippy icky nails.

Now, back to making a little dinner to share with my hunnie bunnie before I dive back into creator mode!! :)

Ciao for now!

On a Colorado Note: The Thursday Files.. Three Weeks Later Because Hey, Sh*t Happens.

You've heard of stay-cation..

there's also a mentally away-cation. No, not really.. I totally just made that shit up.

However, sometimes you just need to close the blinds in your mind for a bit and re-group. That's what I did, and it was SO fab.

That's a picture of my lova boy and I at the park, about to smoke a cigar about ten steps above a stogie.. good stuff.

Did quite a bit of Spring cleaning as well. Our loft looks amazeballs (shout out to my Jake for introducing me to that word) and after months + months of my husband saying if I organized the shelves I'd have more than enough room for my supplies, I finally did it.. ("exhibit A.." above the writing) and it's working out wonderfully. I've been doing quite a bit of mental organization and prep for my Craft Fair at the end of the month. SO looking forward to that!

Alas.. we are finally members of the Denver Botanic Gardens. I signed us up last weekend. I la la LOVE that place. Above you see one of the shots that I took while we were there on Saturday.. I also smuggled in a bit of Moscato. It was so good that I died, came back to life, and went on to polish off most of the bottle myself.

I also created the new logo for 303 Dolls Face+Body, as well as launched the website.. which is pretty bad ass, if I don't mind going ahead and brushing my shoulders off (as Jay-Z would say!) In all seriousness, I'm very proud of it.

http://303-dolls-face-body.myshopify.com/

My husband is doing crazy amazing things, he continues to impress me with each passing day, plus I'm hot for him, so it's all just a beautiful thing. :-)

In closing, I was MIA but I was still on the grind. Just had to step away and.. exhale.

Everything's just lovely dahhhlings.

There's a New Doll in Town.

http://303-dolls-face-body.myshopify.com/

When it Ain't Enough: The One Up Factor

I'm a natural born competitor, and when I can't surpass, I withdraw. Extremist personality I believe.. part of the Virgo make-up.

Never paid much attention to the smug look that my face may often hold ( as demonstrated in this photo ) until someone brought it to my attention. Then I thought about it.. winced/smiled/chuckled to myself/and Kanye shrugged.

The feeling of wanting to be the best may come from early days of always having what I wanted, in fact, I know it did. Highest grades in my favorite courses. Fashion choices. Undeniably handsome men ( love those years ) and much more in between, I chose to spotlight my favorites:)

There has always been the what's next factor for me. This guy is dull, wonder if his best friend is a little more.. amazing. This job is lackluster, time to find the next.. fulfilling position. I'm over these shoes, time to get a new pair.. like, NOW.

.. and then, when I'm not 100 percent on.. I'm off of the map. Completely. (working on that.)

The thought of having children bores me. The thought of the world being my oyster.. totally excites me.    

Doing well.. fine.

You wouldn't believe how well I'm doing.. I'll take that.

I must say, the rapid growth of 303 Dolls excited me.. and now, I need more. It's my addiction, and I'm happily a fiend for it. The success that has taken over my vision makes me simply swell with excitement. My obsession with the one up factor will take me where I want to go with my companies.

Guaranteed.

On a Colorado Note: The Thursday Files: Men that Show their Women how to be Women. THAT ONE.

Sooo.. Thursdays are always dedicated to discussing wonderful things that have happened during the week... and so..

!! Rah rah shish koom bah!! I love it.

Now on to something else that has been on my mind.

I've heard Beyonce acknowledge Jay Z for it.. I've heard Jada give Will Smith props for it..

.. and when I'm not acting as superwoman, I give my husband kudos for it.

The men that captured our hearts were somehow also able to show us how to be women.

It started with wonderful parents, which I have. Laying out the foundation. Which sends one off into the world with the tools you'll need for life. While on your own, you may pedal without those training wheels like a rockstar.. or you may go off of the beaten path, needing to keep those training wheels on awhile longer, but no matter what, if you were raised well.. you never forget what's right.

As life continues, more often than not we find our mates. Not the guys you date along the way.. your eternal mate. THAT ONE. You initially capture his heart because you are one hell of a woman. Now here is the awesome thing-

THAT ONE is able to see greatness in you that you have not even seen in yourself yet, and he encourages you. He supports you. He almost sits you in front of a mirror, tells you to look past your initial self, so that you can see it too.. and with each passing day, it happens.

One day.. you may be right in the middle of putting your shoes on.. and it will come to you. You will realize your growth. That you are the person that your parents hoped you'd grow up to be as they raised you. With a little help from THAT ONE. The person who is your ace for all days to come.

It's not so much that the men who capture our hearts have shown us how to be women. It's really how they're meant for us, and have simply been there as we transform from girls, to women.

The guy in this photo with me.. ^

He's my "THAT ONE."

Perfect Fit

One of the greatest things about life is "looking over your shoulder" and being so happy that you have passed where you once were. What you went along with, although you did not believe in it. Who you allowed yourself to become, because you didn't have the strength or sense enough to see the wrong in it.

Not to say that looking into the past is nothing but a myriad of "what the hells" "and that was stupids."

Oh there was fun.

Great fun.

The "I don't have a conscious and I'm going with it" sort of fun. Dating Los Angeles husbands fun. Going 100 in a 25mph zone fun. Frolicking on the ground of a night club parking lot with a friend as they wait with you after one of your stalkers slashed your tires and you have to wait for a tow truck fun.

Oh that's not even the half..

buuut.. it was my fun.

That go with the flow living held times that I will always cherish.. as wild as they were.. it was my life at the time.. and I was present and somehow.. loving it.

Age 31: I met my now husband, and thank goodness I did. His patience, his wisdom, the way he loves me.. it was RIGHT on time. Living in Los Angeles with an open relationship that I'd grown oddly comfortable with was not the business.. and I knew it. Before I met my husband Stewart, I was growing bored, thinking of rekindling the reckless part.. that ship had sailed, and it was past time to grow up, get it right and figure it out.

Here I sit, nearly four years later. Sitting in our place in downtown Denver. Typing. Next to my now husband (the patient guy I spoke of earlier).. my breath of fresh air. My cat of nearly ten years soundly sleeping in what she has dubbed as her new sleeping spot, a cute grey basket. The loft smells of blueberries from the soap I made last evening for my company. I'm not worried.. about anything.. my eyes have seen the promise land.

I have found the perfect fit.