TuTu Tuesday 11/19

Sound the trumpets!

 

After weeks of planning, sewing, waiting and listing, I was FINALLY able to post something I have been thinking about

and looking into for the past year.

 

YAY!

 

Introducing...

 

CassidyChristy's Tutu of the Month Club

 

 

How amazing would it be for any little girl to receive a new tutu in the mail every month for a whole year?

 



TuTu Tuesday 11/12

Awwwww.

 



 

It's coming!!!

 

Pre- New Year's resolution

This weekend is the start of my pre-New Year's resolutions.

 

Things I want to get done before the end of the year.

 

Organization!

 

I am in the beginning stages of hoarding.

 

Hanging on to stuff I don't need or use for various reasons.

 

Sentiment

Guilt

Pure Laziness

 

Someday I might need something for whatever...

 

I need to get this stuff out of boxes and put away.

 

If there is not a place for it, it's going.

 

If the kids don't play with it, it's going.

 

If I haven't touched it since that first time... Gone.

 

7 weeks to get this done.

 

Already started today in the basement. The kids helped me sort and after they go to sleep tonight I'm going to start chucking the junk in the trash.

 

Broken toys.

Sets with missing pieces.

Baby toys.

Dress-up that no longer fits.

 

I'm getting all happy just thinking about it.



She's making a list... or two!

Tis the season for list making.

 

My lists are a little different though.

 

Of course I have started the holiday gift giving list:

parents

siblings

nieces

nephews

and

my little cuties

 

That is just one of the many lists cluttering my desktop.

 

Tutus to make.

Tutus made to book.

Listings to edit.

Supplies to order.

Bills that need paying.

This weekends shopping list.

Mail that has to be answered.

Chores for the 3 day weekend.

 

and coming soon:

 

Holiday menus.

Pictures to order.

Handmade gifts to finish.

and hopefully

Orders to fill!

 

And now I have a list of lists.

Amateur Photographer

I have always been the person with the camera.

 

The person who takes about 100 pictures at holidays and family parties, the one who is never in the pictures because I am taking them.

 

That's me... Hiding behind the crappy point and shoot!

 

After signing my youngest up for boutique modeling and getting our first assignment, I decided it was time for an upgrade.

(Plus, I got sand in the lens of my last one and now it won't close)

 

We received some bows to shoot from

Blissful Bowtique

and got to snapping.

 

 

 

Of course I think she is adorable!

 

Doing these made me remember how much I actually

LOVE taking pictures.

 

Hopefully it is a skill I can develop and eventually I will be able to shoot my own product rather than shipping it out.

 

But, there is still a lot to learn, starting with professional editing.

 

Wish me luck! 



TuTu Tuesday 11/5

Back in action!!!

 

Getting some beautiful images back of my new autumn tutus.



 

Working on CHRISTMAS cuteness!!!

What a rush!

44 sales in the last 30 days!

 

I have put the shop on vacation mode to finish up my remaining Halloween orders and make sure they are shipped on time.

 

It has been insanely, awesomely crazy!

 

Here are some of the CassidyChristy costumes that have kept me so busy these past few weeks...

 

 

 

 

Getting ready for the Christmas rush!



Too busy

The past couple of weeks have been

 

INSANE!

 

In a good way!

 

This is the busy season for my store, lots of Halloween orders going out.

 

That will last another couple of weeks before Christmas craziness starts.

 

I'm not sure I will be able to post here regularly until the rush is over.

 

I will try!

 

I am waiting on a few more product shots from models and I will show them off when they come in.

 

 

 



What's new?

I haven't prepared a TuTu Tuesday post for today.

 

Terribly sorry.

 

I have actually been too busy this week filling orders

to make anything new.

 

Yay!

 

And, as I'm sure everyone has heard, it is back to school time.

 

I really wish you could hear the trumpets playing in my head

every time I think about it.

 

All the school supplies are packed away in the backpack, new clothes

de-tagged and washed, new shoes neatly lined up in the closet.

 

All we have left to get are socks and undies because for some

reason they are all missing.

 

I guess that's what happens when you spend you summer

lazing around in swimsuits and flip flops!

 

We had a really great summer all things considered,

 

but it's time.

 

For all of us I think.

 

The little one misses her friends and teacher.

 

The big one (though she fights it) really needs the routine.

 

Me?

 

Well, I will still have the nephews all day, but they are getting easier.

 

 



TuTu Tuesday 8/27

CassidyChristy takes custom orders!

 

I recently got a request for a special birthday tutu from the same person who was my very first customer over a year ago.

It came out pretty cute!

 

Remember, if you don't see what you are looking for in my shop, there is a custom order requests button at the left side of the page.

 

Weekend Winning!

Well, I didn't get as much done around the house as I wanted to this weekend.

 

But the time was well spent!

 

Saturday we spent all day in the basement trying to make something out of that giant disaster.

 

A few months ago...

My brothers started finishing the basement for me. 

 Vinyl snap and lock floors.

 Drop ceiling.

And a laundry room with a half bath.

 

We had just gotten the whole space painted when...

 

Everything had to be moved in, in a hurry!

 

None of it was properly sorted or packed.

I can't even show you the other half of the space... it's too embarrassing.

 

FOR MONTHS

 

Work had ceased in the basement

and,

me and my girlies were digging through boxes to find whatever we needed and leaving a bigger mess behind.

 

It took a few days of hard work and frustration...

 

 It obviously needs to be swept and mopped, but I'd say it was a success!

To the right of this pic is mommy's scrapbook corner.

That is taking me a lot longer to organize...

 

At least now I can figure that out while the kids are occupied and within earshot.

 

Sunday = School clothes shopping!

 

 

 

TuTu Tuesday 8/20

Welcome to an

 

ALL NEW

 

TuTu Tuesday!!!!

 

Since our last episode...

 

I have added a few more costumes to my ETSY shop. 

I've also shipped out a few
out to some cuties from
Boutique Beauties.
I am (im)patiently waiting on those images.

And...

I announced the WINNER of our Facebook
giveaway over on the page.

The Candy Corn tutu is headed over to England tomorrow.



 

Feeling Sluggish

We have been spending the last couple of weeks trying to get back into school time mode.

 

Not so easy for me and my oldest...

 

We don't like the morning!

 

Re-adjusting our sleep schedule has proved more difficult for me than her though.

 

I am just not able to fall asleep at night.

 

Two more weeks to fix it.

 

In the meantime I spend my days in a sleepy fog.

 

I think yesterday was the first time in weeks that I actually accomplished ANYTHING around the house.

 

One of the biggest reasons I bought this house was because of the

large, clean, dry basement.

 

Perfect for a playroom.

 

The big plan was for me to use the space during the day when I babysit the nephews and keep all the toy clutter out of my living room.

 

My brothers started finishing it for me as soon as we closed.

 

Unfortunately, we ran out of time and I had to move all of my stuff in a hurry, before the room was finished.

 

So I have an *almost* finished basement piled high with boxes and toys.

 

Toys that I allowed my kids to get out and play with even though I knew there wasn't going to be any way to clean up the mess afterward.

 

It's not pretty down there...

 

but,

 

It will be!

 

This week I am getting it done.

 

Next week I will post photos and show off all the awesome features I made my brothers add for me.

 

 

 

 



Wasted week

I had really good intentions this week.

 

Really.

 

I made the decision not to go to Maine and instead, spend this week at home with my girls without babysitting the nephews.

 

List of things I wanted to do:

 

1. Clear off junk mail covered desk.

2. Sort through bottom of stairway "catch-all"

3. Finish unpacking and clean the playroom.

4. Unpack/clean/organize the rest of my bedroom.

5. Wrap up some unfinished projects.

 

Guess how much of that I got done?

 

Nada!

 

I watched a lot of cartoons.

 

I hung out and played outside with the girls.

 

I got a few more costumes sewn up for my store.

 

Did a few errands that I have put off way too long.

 

So, I have two more days until life goes back to normal...

 

Now I am sitting here trying to decide if I want to get my buns moving and take care of the list

OR

Keep cuddling on the couch with my babies and watching the hub.

TuTu Tuesday 8/6

Tuesday is almost over and I forgot to post!

 

Working on some more Halloween designs.

 

Another giveaway on the Facebook page.

 

And,

 

got the first set of images from Boutique Beauties!

I can't wait to send out more.

 



Home Sweet Home

We had a fantastic vacation!

 

Everyone had fun

 

~and~

 

the children were well behaved!!!

 

 

We all got a little tanner, had fun playing in the ocean, walked the boardwalk, went shopping, rode roller coasters, ate good food, ate bad food and slept in late.

 

 

The only thing better than a fantastic vacation?

 

The feeling you get when you pull into your own driveway

when it is all over.

 

I get another week off before the nephews return from their

vacation and I resume babysitting.

 

I'm looking forward to relaxing with my girlies and getting some of my more time consuming projects done around the house...

 

At a leisurely pace, of course!



The suspence is killing me!!!

I found this awesome site through Etsy "teams".

 

It is a site designed to connect boutiques with models.

 

I get to scroll through the gallery, chose a model that is the right size/age for what I need and request a booking.

 

Once it is approved by the model, I ship out the goods and within a few days I get professional, modeled, boutique style

product photos to use for my business.

 

In return for the beautiful photos, the little cutie gets to keep the product.

 

This is perfect for me. No more storing samples until someone

happens to by that item... in that size!

 

I shipped out to 3 different models this week, all are delivered.

Now I wait.

 

If you are interested in signing your little diva up for boutique modeling

CLICK HERE

Models pay a small listing fee to the service

BUT

get to keep all modeled product!

 

 



Packing!

I am feeling pretty accomplished tonight!

 

With vacation coming up in just 3 short days, I am pleased to say that the children are all packed up.

 

 All of their pre-planned outfits fit into the suitcases and shoes, accessories, jammies and a sweatshirt went into the duffles.

 

My stuff is going to be a lot less organized I'm sure.

ya know...

If I ever get to putting it together!

 

Tomorrow is for mani/pedis with my chickadees.



TuTu Tuesday 7/23

Launched our first giveaway over on the Facebook page!

 

GIVEAWAY

 

This time around CassidyChristy is giving away a tutu tote bag.

 

 

I am testing the app and building an audience for some bigger and better giveaways starting in August.

 

After the bag you can expect some custom

CassidyChristy Halloween cuteness!

 

Become a fan!

 

CassidyChristy on Facebook



5 more Days!!!!

Gearing up for the big vacation!

 

I

can't

wait!

 

It's not even a get away to rest and relax vacation.

 

I mean...

 

I'm taking my kids to the beach and boardwalk.

 

It is going to be non stop running for this mommy.

 

Amusment parks, shopping, building sand castles, going to fireworks. We are going to try to do every fun thing we can find!

 

If I wanted to sit around and "relax" I would just stay home.

 

I was browsing pinterest a few weeks ago for packing tips and saw how one smart mommy packed her family up for vacation.

 

See it HERE



 

We did a practice run for the couple of days we were in PA.

 

You would not believe how much easier getting them ready and out the door was!

 

First step for us was to get ALL the laundry done and put away.

 

Not so easy, these girls have way too many clothes and mommy has a habit of loading the washer and then forgetting to move the clothes into the dryer... until the next day... when they need to be washed again.

 

Somehow, between Friday and Saturday, I managed to get at least 10 loads washed and dried!

 

On Sunday I got dressers sorted out and most of the laundry

folded and put away.

 

Yippy for me!

 

Tonight we are going to finish up the folding and start packing.

 

I have an ever growing list of things we need and a

jumbo sized box of zip lock bags.

TuTu Tuesday 7/16

It feels just like Christmas over here today!

And Santa is dressed in a FedEx uniform.

 

Fall was pretty busy over at CassidyChristy last year.

 

So, I'm getting started on my new Halloween designs.

700 yards of ribbon
100 yards of satin
over 1000 yards of tulle
 

EXCITED!

 

Also gearing up for some giveaways over on the Facebook page starting next month.

 

www.facebook.com/CassidyChristyShop

 

 

Off to take care of my goodies

Live Models

The thing I struggle most with in my Etsy shop is getting good photos.

Usually, I am shooting after dark in my sewing room with the clothing on a hanger.

Usually, I am very disappointed by how they turn out.

 

One dress in particular was really distressed me.

 

I love everything about it, except the photo. 

 

I made this one in a size 2/3 which won't fit my chickies.

 

Tonight I jumped into the car and drove this beauty over

to my friends house.  



Not only is this little doll completely adorable 

but

the dress looks 100% better!

 

Now to get the rest of my stuff on all the other cuties I know.

 LOVE HER

TuTu Tuesday 7/9

Previously on TuTu Tuesday...

 

Well, I said I was going to do a re-vamp of my

Etsy shop during the month of July.

So far, I have removed all the skirts and quilts and dresses.

I am working more on tutu designs, color combinations, t-shirt and costume ideas.

Also, trying to get my work space reorganized.

(Lets just pretend it was organized at one time)

And I am lining up models and bribing my daughters to pose for me in some CassidyChristy cuteness for better product photos.

Hoping to have a whole new look for my shop by the time I reopen from vacation in August.

 

In the meantime,

here is a shot I got of my youngest last night

 

My latest favorite, sewn and lined tutu dress with two

additional layers of tulle for an extra full skirt.

 

And all this shot cost me was a Trix yogurt.



Lost

 

Just kidding!

 

I have been here the whole time.

 

Taking a break, doing the mom thing.

 

A lot has been going on since I was last able to post.

 

We had both girls dance recitals.



 

My oldest graduated kindergarten!

 

I did the Capital District Mom Swap Meet with

CassidyChristy

 

Tried to get the guys to wear tutus... Maybe next time.

 

Spent a few days hanging out in the yard, being lazy, having fun.

 

And then...

The road trip!

 

Spent the 4th in Pennsylvania

 

Rode in a parade, hung out by the pool all day, made some new friends.

 

Got some sunburn!

 

 

It was fun!

but

Back to business now.

 

I have sooo much I want to get done before the BIG vacation at the end of the month.