Time to Get Christmas Ready

The summer holidays are now a distant memory, Halloween is over and we are now heading quickly towards Christmas (if you listen carefully, you might hear the sleigh bells), so if you've not already started getting organised, now is the time!

Now, I am sorry to tell you, that I cannot assist you with your turkey, veg and pudding (although I am available to help out with consumption on the big day), nor can I help with the buying and physical wrapping of your presents. I would advise you against traipsing around the shops if, like me, you cannot bear busy shopping centres; I am an online shopper all the way, at least where Christmas is concerned. However, I can help with your cards etc.

Thinking Of You Week

I wasn't planning on posting today, but then I realised that time is passing by very quickly since the children have returned to school and Thinking of You Week is creeping up fast.

This particular week is very close to my heart for many reasons. If you read the blog from time to time you may have seen the post I made on World Suicide Prevention Day, where I shared my own personal story of losing someone in this cruel way. However, I am also aware that I have friends who have suffered or do suffer from some form of mental illness and have myself suffered from depression in the past.

Christmas Has Landed

I know it's only September, but Christmas has landed and if you are anything like me, you will want to avoid the torture of shopping centres and the like as though your life depends on it.

Well the good news is that it's never too early to get started and a browse through the Autumn/Winter Phoenix Trading Brochure or website (https://www.phoenix-trading.co.uk/web/lisadeller/) will help you find everything 'stationery' you could possibly need  without having to leave the comfort of your own home.

And the best part? For every Christmas card sold Phoenix gives 1p to it's charity Phoenix International Charity which supports a broad range of different charitable organisations. For more information, please do take the time to have a look at the website http://phoenixinternationalcharity.org/.

So here's just a little preview of what's available this Christmas and remember to get your orders in early, if you have friends and family overseas.

Advent Calendar Card 'Rudolph' (code: XM135)£2.50

'Flying Over the Rooftops' (code: XS13)Pack of 8 Cards £3.75

And finally, it just isn't Christmas without an advent calendar...

'Santa's Workshop' (code: ADV41)£7.50

So what are you waiting for, Christmas? Sorry couldn't resist a bit of humour :-)

And the Winner Is...

Well what a fun giveaway it's been. Thank you all for taking the time to enter and for following me on Twitter and thank you for some of the lovely comments you've made about the cards. It's always nice to get positive feedback.

So to the part you are all wanting to hear.

Our winner is:

Cerys John.

Congratulations Cerys. I will be in touch with you via e-mail to confirm and to let you know when to expect your lovely prize.

For those of you who didn't win. Don't despair. If you place an order through my website by 20th August I will send you a free gift of this cute jotter pad. Please note, you will need to contact me via e-mail: lisadscards@gmail.com with your order reference and address details.

https://www.phoenix-trading.co.uk/web/lisadeller/area/shop-online/category/jotter-pads/product/RBS87/jotter-pad-sausage-dog/?bid=578fe26b64cbe5576bf2e2eddfb34fbb687ea7e7&search=false&sortorder=1&itemsperpage=12

Giveaway Time

Well, I am just so in love with all these beautiful cards, that it seems rude not to share them with you. So with that in mind, it seems the best way to share is to run a giveaway. So what am I giving away?

Special Occassions

Well the winner will be able to choose any ten cards of their own choice, the only condition being that they must be from the non-Christmas range and should be priced at £1.75 per card (this is actually the majority of stock, so you should have plenty to choose from). The range is extensive and the quality of the cards is beautiful, from the artwork to the feel of the card they've been printed on. Just take a look at my website and make a note of your favourites https://www.phoenix-trading.co.uk/web/lisadeller/

There are cards to suit every occassion and every recipient. From childrens cards:

To cards for the men in your life:

And everything in between.

I'm also giving away a Little Woodland Animals Colour-In Frieze Card to keep the little ones busy.

Don't forget to check back here to see if you've won. Good Luck All :-)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A New Adventure

Well, I finally bit the bullet and decided now was the right time to join a fairly well known greetings card company as an Independent Trader. I just love cards!

I've been considering it for the best part of a year, but was put off having previously worked similar roles selling books and cosmetics. Honestly, I take my hat off to all you amazing Avon Reps, I ended up spending more than I made because I loved the products a little bit too much, a trait that my eldest daughter has now inherited (the excitement on her face when the Avon brochure arrives is truly something to behold). Anyway, once again I digress.

So why now? Well, I need to work more hours, but as a single parent and an only child with elderly parents the other side of the county, I also have to consider childcare. I have been super lucky in landing a fabulous job at my youngest daughter's school as a Midday Meals Supervisor. I love it and absolutely do not want to leave, but finding work that fits around both the girls and my current role is a bit troublesome. With this in mind I began researching flexible self-employed work again and discovered a number of options that might suit. I spent a lot of time researching the ones that I thought might work for me, but finally decided on cards. Given my lifelong obsession with anything and everything vaguely stationery related, it really seemed like the most natural choice.

So I've now done almost a month and can honestly say, it suits me really well. Am I going to be a millionaire this time next year? I can almost certainly say, no! Am I going to work my socks off, have fun and meet lots of new people? I can give you a most definite, yes!

So if you're thinking of doing something similar, research, research, research. There are lots of fabulous websites out there advertising flexible work for us mummies from cosmetics, to jewellery, to homewares to health supplements. You name it it's there! And yes of course I'll keep you updated with my progress.