And it gets even more screwed up...

I mean really - how did I get so lucky to have two bad weeks in a row?

And what is so eff'ed up is that I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BE POSITIVE!

wow - so yesterday I get an email out of nowhere telling me that I am talking about them on facebook, and to take it down or they are sueing me for slander.

Ok people -I haven't said a word about anyone

I kindly responded, "i have no idea what you are talking about - please send me a screen shot of what you mean"

Of course I have received nothing except another nasty email that if I don't take it down they are going to the police.

That's nice. Maybe then I will get to see what apparently I wrote. (making circular motion with one hand while pointing at my head)

This same person has been talking to my husband about a family intervention because they have issues with me and they want to address them. (oh by the way - it was my mother that was emailing me above - I can't make this stuff up)

So my husband and mom are talking about me and having this big family meeting. I asked my husband what I did wrong, what exactly is the issue that they want to bring up. He says that my mom wants to talk to me because she thinks I need to work things out with her (i refuse to talk to her after called me names and degraded me and called me a liar about what my stepdad did) and she claims that my brothers don't feel close to me so they never want to come here.

Ok weird, I invite them many times to our house, or the kids recitals and events, or if I am going out with some girlfriends I have invited them to come hang out. They always turn me down....sooooo I guess that reason is they don't feel close to me. Alrightly then, I am not really sure - other than invite them to spend time with me and the family to get close, oh and they don't call me, don't write me, nothing, so I am not sure why they have a problem, as I haven't seen them do anything to fix it.

Oh and I know for a fact that me posting this, is going to REALLY SUPER piss everyone off. Because it's completely ok to talk about me to my husband, and amongst themselves, (and gang up on me) and it is absolutely not ok for me to blog about it to complete strangers.

Where does this leave me? Well I do feel a little better having venting, so that is bonus. (see - I am trying to be positive) - however, I still feel very violated that my best friend - my husband participated in this conversation.

I think I need to address that, and find out exactly how he is feeling or was his participation to stand up for me....

Either way - I feel so damn violated right now.

www.designsbybellaofny.com

What a screwed up week.....

Or rather - it has just been a messed up year. By messed up - I don't mean all bad. Just a mixture of unexpected events.  Some bad, some good, Some Very Very bad.

So where do I start? well - my business took off and then went for a nose dive. It's been hell for the past couple of weeks, I can't seem to a match stick to an eskimo. I know I have slowed down my own efforts on promotion - but my god, it's just disproportionally down. I want to concentrate on my own designs and jewlery as well as expand into some other fun areas, which naturally takes away from the promotion, advertising and customer service.

here are a couple of pieces that I love....And that are actually worth a few bucks.

Ok now onto non-bella things

A close friend...one of my closest friends...passed away last week. So my heart and soul is just in pieces. If you spoke with me - all you got was a big blubbering mess of babble, of tears and sniffles. Today I just feel sad. I miss her. I am in shock. I can hear her voice and see her smile as if she was sitting right here, yet, my diana is gone. I don't know how to reconcile this mess in my heart and brain. But I know that I hurt and it is almost intolerable. What has comforted me, is the unexpected love, compassion, and kindness of all of my friends. People I would never have expected have extended themselves to me, with thoughtful gestures, cards, hugs, and kind words that I am so appreciative of. Words cannot express how grateful I am to have such a circle of family and friends.

Then we have my kids. Well - Bella has been in a wee bit of trouble a couple of weeks ago. I am unsure how to resolve but I am starting therapy with a 6 year old. I'm not sure if that is the right way to go, but I am concerned about Bells' impulsiveness, and focus issues. The evaluating MD suggested ADHD, and I was not pleased with that response. Currently, as adorable as my bells may be on occassion, acting out, not listening, and the occassionally hositility is not acceptable so we are working on ways to give her the tools and support her to becoming a happy and healthy peanut.

How about the husband...well he is my rock and supports me in so many ways, but lately, I want to hang him by his toes and slap him around with a wet noodle. My god, his voice irritates me. Then all of a sudden, particularly with the passing of Diana, he comes on like the man I married, smooth, consoling, sweet, and supportive....even sensitive. (yes I just refered to the male gender as sensitive). So what the hell, why be suck a dick the rest of the time!!!  ugh - men - go figure.

Work - it's been extremely interesting. Quite frankly I have no clue what to make of my career at the moment. I don't understand my place, my role, nor can I interpret any of my coworkers actions. It seems that I am a go to person on complex situations.  (which would normally make me feel very important) but the rest of the time, I am just a quite accountant that sits in an office and executes mundane tasks. So, I guess I should be satisfied that I am not overwhelmed on a daily basis and I am  'needed' overall.  - well - I am not exactly pleased with that situation, but I guess for the amount of money they pay me...I'll take it.

So where does this leave me? Not one clue. At the moment I am pretty lost. Would love to hear your ideas for inspiration and encouragement. As I have no clue as to what the next step for me is.  Right now, I am disappointed in myself, for no particualar reason. Perhaps I feel as if I have failed for all the events above that have transpired. I am trying very hard to see the good things that have occurred this year but unfortunately they are outweighing the negative. I hate that.
I like smiles and laughter and contentment. Don't we all?

No power? NOT a problem! Just a minor situation.

We continue to ship your orders, despite the pre-modern conditions, it just means a little extra work on our part. so if you have ordered from us in the past week, no worries, we will still provide you with a tracking number, and perhaps a small delay of 48 hours or so, as we can't print shipping labels here, we have to print them offsite or visit the post office to process manually. yet we are committed! More importantly, we would like to take a moment to be appreciate for all that we do have. Perhaps we don't have heat, perhaps we don't have lights, perhaps we struggle with long gas lines, and shortages in various ways. There are many obstacles that Hurricane Sandy has imposed, yet at here at the bella household, we remain thankful for our family. We are together, cold, frustated, of course, but together. The health and safety of our family, friends, and loved ones, is far more important than anything else. On a side note, I am very much looking forward to a hot shower. Stay warm my friends, Xo Bella www.designsbybellaofny.com

Running a business is not easy...

So as many of you may know, my Bella items appear on Tophatter live auction website.


My prices are fairly below market price, it helps me to move inventory, and it helps get new customers to sign up in my boutique.

I am very very grateful to have a found another medium to display some amazing items.

But tonight I have another concern - one that concerns a very small group of customers.

Tophatter offers the opportunity to rate a seller, either negative, neutral or positive.

Today i received a neutral rating.

This was the comment I received: "I had to email her when it was going to be sent since it was close to 2 weeks since I ordered the item. If there was a problem, I wish she would have communicated it to me so I knew about it. The product was as described."

I was hurt by this feedback. My listing said that my item would ship within 2 weeks. I am unsure why the person assumed there was a problem, as it shipped within 5 days, and a tracking number was provided.

What was I to communicate? there was no deviation in my performance compared to my listing. Is it possible that the customer did not read the lsting? and created expectations that were not promised? maybe...

But then on top of this I had received an email....stating that the item sent had black stones and not blue stones. They wanted "something done for them" I asked for a picture of the item to see what was the problem, they never sent. 6 days later than received another item from me, to say that the mixed lot of beads did not have enough variety in them, and she wanted something done for her....?

Now I reread my listing, said it was a mixed lot. Again I cannot understand how my performance deviated from what was sold. I reach out to this customer 2x after the first email and another response to address the "mixed" lot.

My response indicated, that I was unsure how to resolve, as there was no specific pattern or arrangement of colored beads in the listing, and at no time did she communicate her desires, so I am unsure how to satisfy a very subjective request.





Now anyone that purchases from my website, I have never ever ever had a complaint or problem or dissatisfction. However, in light of the above incidents, I am becoming much more skeptical and guarded with respect to listing on Tophatter.

Anyone who knows me personally, knows that I love this boutiqe, it is not a big money maker, more like a vaccum on my wallet, but I do so enjoy making people happy.

my recent experience with tophatter is very discouraging - and I am unsurewhat more that I can do to encourage individuals to be responsible for reading the lots, or communicating specific desires/preferences.

I am very hurt

2012 Fall Fashions at Bella + one special offer

www.designsbybellaofny.com Here are some cute items that we created since being back from Europe:

Sweetness















Click for Special offer

Download your own photos for home decor- jpg files create collages, use for school projects, or we will print them for you!

Pink rose necklace on silk ribbon Have you signed up at Bella yet? Get 15% off for new customers, old customers - check your email for the September coupon code for 20% off discount. want more? Sign up as a follower on our blog and get an additional 5% off all bella all the time.



XO



J

Visit London

Bella Braclets and incredible boutique jewelry - we offer one of a kind designs that won't break your wallet. Our jewelry is of the highest quality and is made to impress. Never settle - Be Bold, Be Sassy and Dare to be Bella



Just a few exciting pics of our visit to london - paris will be next week - so stay tuned for more pictures... if you want more visit us on face book!

Charles Dickens School - written about in Oliver Twist!

st.pauls = a lot of steps

Tower of London











Join us on Facebook for more pictures! Follow our blog and get 5% off everypurchase, every day - CAN be combined with other orders



xo- J

Our Newest Items and HUGE promotions!

Bella Braclets and incredible boutique jewelry - we offer one of a kind designs that won't break your wallet. Our jewelry is of the highest quality and is made to impress. Never settle - Be Bold, Be Sassy and Dare to be Bella

Let's start off with the goodies!

Join our blog and you will get 5% off all purchases! How it works is you join as a follower here, then sign up at www.designsbybellofny.com. I will get an email that I have a new follower - then look for your account at bella - at which time I enter you as a "blogger" which automatically deducts you 5% on everything - even sale items. all followers down will get the same discount because I love you.

Next - we are continuing our "like us on facebook get $5 off" - for new customers or rather new Likes only.

And MY FAVORITE - buy any two sterling silver charms and get the bracelet for free!!! OK now how cool is that? I am offering through 9/1/12 because the first promotion went so well - I just had to redo.

So now - let me flaunt my most favorite items

I have been sewing like crazy - these cute wallets were created today - are meant to compete with miss vera wang and I must say - the satin liner is what does it for me....not to mention because they are sewn one at a time and not mass produced, you get that quality feel...

Now for polka dot baby bloomers - HUGE seller! I don't think I need to say more on this one.

Next our Alice in Wonderland necklace - I have sold about 15 of these in the past month - and I have gotten some very wonderful feedback on them

And some of our newest .925 core beads - Pandora eat your heart out!!!

Can't forget this gem- I sold 5 in about a week...maybe just over a week - but so far - another one that I have just gotten great feedback on.





As always don't forget to join our blog and visit our facebook page!