Start small.

It's always (well for me) hard when you start something new with great expectations and high motivation to stick to it. I read something just recently to help with this. It said to start small, really small. So for instance if you want to start exercising regularly start with something small, like a single push up and then each day add another one. It's something so small and to start you may think insignificant but being so small it's more a thought or question of 'why wouldn't you just do it'? One push up isn't hard and takes all of 10 seconds to do so no big deal in fitting it into your day. It's not daunting to do or too hard. Something small can lead to something big.

I've been wanting to get a bit more active as mentioned previously I don't walk anywhere near as much as I did in Port Mac so just wanted to be able to do something at home. I've now started doing a few smallish exercises, think lunges, touch toes and running on the spot, but I've started small. I put some music on, doesn't matter what just something I enjoy (obviously) and have to be active doing all or one of these activities. I've now worked up to doing a single activity per song which is still only about 10 minutes but it is better than no minutes!

This starting small is also relevant to my business. I wanted to start blogging a lot more regularly than I was so I thought I'd 'start small' and just set a goal of doing 4 blogs a month - focusing on anything. So technically not really 'focusing' at all but giving myself free range on what I blog about. So far it's working and I've actually been blogging more than my small goal. I know my posts aren't awarding winning writing but that is something I wasn't aiming for. It was never my goal to be a 'writer' as I know I am not I just wanted to be able to share what I did and think (for the most part) about my business and life in general. Sometimes I ramble, well ok most times I ramble, but I am actually finding it beneficial to me and using it as a springboard or for want of better words, a dumping ground, for my thoughts and worries. It's been a bit of a release. When I've been feeling overwhelmed or disheartened blogging has been a help and has enable me to 'talk' about what I'm going through even if there isn't anyone else around! Maybe that's a good thing.

So if you have something you want to do or something you have found hard sticking to when you've finally got around to starting it, start small. Don't be hard on yourself either. Keep things small and relaxed and informal. Don't beat yourself up if you miss a day or don't do the 'number' you had aimed for. Let it go and go again tomorrow.

When I first started my let's get active idea I had thought 'ok, I'll do touch toes until an order comes in' let me tell you if I had stuck to that I would have probably broken the Guiness book of records of the longest time someone did touch toes :-) Small steps people, small steps.

Jacqui ~ Rainbow Designs boss(y) lady and believer (not Belieber) in bigger isn't always better!

Moving on up

We're moving on up, moving on up......up north. Not north to Alaska but north to Murwillumbah! Hands up who knows where Murwillumbah is? High five to you!

Murwillumbah is on the Far North Coast of NSW (about 20 mins south of the Queensland boarder) and is known for Mt Warning, the Banana Festival and the Austral Cafe! (mmmmmm cheesecake and vanilla milkshake or maybe chips and gravy).

Moving is not fun, do not let anyone tell you otherwise!! Anyone who says it's easy has never moved before or has employed others to do everything. Box everything, unbox everything. Empty the wardrobe, fill the wardrobe. Empty the bookcase, fill the bookcase - good grief, did I live in a library! On a side note: I just went to the local op shop (in search of a dining table) and bought 4 more books! I also found some fabulous chairs, $10 each people!! but someone beat me to them. booo. I digress (but I do love a good op shop outing!).

Ready for the fun to continue! Will it all fit?

Not only did I have to pack up my housey things I also had to pack up Rainbow Designs - lollies, chocolates and boxes galore! Do you know how torturous it is driving your car with a boot load of lollies and not thinking to put some in the front! I organised for a removalist to take the majority of my stuff but didn't trust them with my confectionery goodies (although I didn't really trust myself, I swear those M&M's were calling me on the drive up!) or my precious items, like my gorgeous nan's tea set or my vast array of jugs and salt & pepper shakers. I am a collector NOT a hoarder (do not ask my family to confirm this). ;-)

My house warming gift!

After a few delays I'm finally all bunkered down here in Murbah (it's what us 'locals' call Murwillumbah), Rainbow Designs is all up and running to full capacity and in a fabulous new work room/store room and, as a bonus, the Toll drop off point is just down the road!

I'm still getting use to my new little place and still in need of a dining table and decent bed but other than that I'm all set to conquer the world cook cheese on toast, make my lolly boxes and enjoy the next chapter of mine and Rainbow Designs life.

Head worker bee & chief taste testers desk!

Have you moved recently? Any mishaps? I packed my computer charger in a box the removalists took, yay for smart phone! (not so much 'smart' people)

Y is for...Yum

Yum - this is a word I hear and use a lot, goes with the territory I suppose! Our gifts are full of yummy lollies, yummy chocolate, yummy fudge, yummy wines and even some yummy beer (not so much for me but we've sold enough to know there are a LOT of beer lovers around!).

My most favourite chocolate is Fry's Turkish Delight, Nestle Crunch and Mars M&M's - I can't choose just one (please don't judge me!). In our Cravings - Pick and Mix gift we have well over 40 types of confectionery to choose from and without a doubt M&M's are one of THE most popular chooses. I am not surprised. They are yummy! (although there are a few 'Smartie' fans that would disagree!). Milk chocolate freckles, jellbabies and redskins are other very popular choices. To be honest there aren't too many that aren't popular.

Over the years I've had a few failures in the lolly selection area (sugar free & dairy free to name a couple) but all in all, if it's a lolly and it's yummy people will buy them. (and eat them)

Yum!

I've also tried a few other hamper style gifts using Cadbury and Nestle chocolate bars but for some reason, which still baffles me, they didn't prove to be too popular. Don't get me wrong we sold quite a few but not like I had hoped or expected so end in the end we had the yummy task of eating the leftover stock. Don't you feel bad for us ;-) This has to be one of the best perks of my business, eating the stock - I mean 'taste testing' and 'quality controlling' the stock - yum.

If you had to pick just one of our YUMMY gifts which one would it be??? Would you go for the all chocolate one or maybe the Tasmanian Fudge Hamper or possibly you're more a savoury person and would pick the Maggie Beer Hamper or you love a bit of everything and would go the whole hog with our absolutely magnificent All You Can Eat Hamper? Decisions, decisions but at least they're yummy decisions!

Fabulous Tasmanian Fudge Hamper