Hello 2013!  Aren't you a sneaky devil?  I'm not big on resolutions, but I am a planner.  If you look at my blogging history, there is always a post on my plan for the new year.  This year, I'm not doing one.  Yet.  First I'm going to tell you what my world looks like at this moment in time.  You have to know where you are to figure out where you're going, right?  Here's a current week in the life of Heather:

Monday through Wednesday I ride the bus to an office downtown where I work as a Grant Writier/Coordinator.  This is a photo of an actual outfit I wore there.  In a sea of gray, colorful tights are all I've got!  Most work on Kustom Kissers during these three days are done during the bus ride.  Oh, how I love my new iPhone 5!

My coworkers and I completed this puzzle during lunch breaks.  Who wants some ice cream?  I'll work it off later with a run or boot camp.  Did I tell you all that I'm no longer teaching boot camp?  I realized that all I really wanted to do was workout rather than worry about the schedule, curriculum, students, etc.  Call me selfish, but I quit.

Thursday and Friday I catch up on Kustom Kissers lip balm orders and craft projects.  I Love to Create sent me this box of goodies for writing the blog post about my car mats.  I'm not sure what all I'm going to make yet, but I do need to concoct an outfit for The Color Run taking place later this month.  Lucky me won registration from Becca to attend with a team of Arizona Bloggers.  So fun!

On Friday night this guy comes over.  I met Dave in November, two weeks before he was scheduled to donate a kidney.  Read his story here.  (I built the website myself!)  Saturday and Sunday are for blogging, shopping, napping, cooking, cleaning and an occasional trip to the theater.  Tonight it's Peter Pan with Mom.  Be jealous.

Ready for that 2013 plan?  You'll have to wait for the next post :)

Is it really December already?  The last blog post I wrote was on September 30th.  Some bloggers post every day or even multiple times per day, but I post when I'm inspired to write.  I don't want to fill space for the sake of filling space.  It's important to live life away from the computer since that's usually where inspiration comes from.

So do you want to know what I've been up to during the last two months?  I'm working part time as a Grant Writer, soaking up the 75-degree Arizona sunshine, wearing colorful tights, shopping (notsomuch buying), crafting, putting up multiple Christmas trees, reading, running (::gasp::), and dating (::double gasp::).

I've been filling lots of lip balm orders too.  The website needs to be updated to keep up with brower upgrades, so the Design Your Own Lip Balm feature isn't working.  That won't stop us though!  I can still process your order manually.  To get started, email the photo you would like on your lip balm to Heather@KustomKissers.com.  I'll then send you a proof for approval and invoice for payment.

If you have a lip balm lover on your list, you can gift them an annual membership to the Kustom Kissers Lip Balm of the Month Club.  Each member recieves three unique, organic lip balms per month for an entire year.  The cost is $50, and the first shipment will include a note stating who the gift is from.  Email me for that one too, or anything else for that matter.  I'm still here!  Promise.

Place ANY order from Kustom Kissers until my birthday on September 24, 2012 and recieve a FREE Design Your Own Lip Balm Kit.  The kit includes 5 blank lip balms and all kinds of crafty things to decorate them with like stickers, glitter, ribbon and more.  Design your own lip balm labels using this easy online tool, and get a kit.  I like presents, so I figure you do too.  Happy shopping!

Soaking up some Vitamin D after spending 2 days sick on the couch.  Take that, flu!

I really really really wanted to turn on the shower, but I'm not THAT mean.

If you put candy in containers adorned with smiling veggies it seems healthier.

Working off the aforementioned candy.

Who does Nemo think he is?  The Princess and the Pea?

Nearly 5 lbs of candy corn.  No, I'm not sharing.

Fuzzy pajamas with neon lips.  I don't care it it's still over 100 degrees.  They're cute.

Mosquitos, what did I ever do to you?

That's a peek into my life via Instagram.  Follow me @KustomKissers and leave your name in a comment so I can follow back.

September is here!  That means cooler temperatures (hopefully!) and the holidays are right around the corner, but before we get to those, it's time to celebrate my birthday.  I'll be 31 on the 24th.  It's not a big milestone, and I don't have anything planned.  That doesn't stop me from wishing for awesome presents though.  Here are some things I found online that would make me very happy tied up with a big pink bow.

I don't know the designer of this print, but I'm pretty sure he made it for me.

Imagine how much fun this chalkboard lips ring would be at an expo.

I have pink Betsey Johnson lips earrings, but believe it or not, I don't wear pink every day.  A sterling silver set would be more practical.

The perfect addition to my arm party - lips bracelets.

This dress from Modcloth is the perfect combination of classic and modern, professional and fun.  (Size L please)

Did you know I teach outdoor fitness boot camp classes?  My class won't have a problem seeing me through the dark in this hot pink kicks! (Size 8 please)

I didn't intend for my entire list to color coordinate, but it sure is pretty!

Want to see where Kustom Kissers lip balm is made?  Welcome to the tour of my spare bedroom!

This L-shaped desk is made from two bar-height kitchen islands purchased at Ikea.  They're awesome because I can sit or stand while working.  Those pink tubes along the wall are from Ikea's kitchen section too.  They are meant to hold plastic grocery bags, but I filled them up with lip balm for easy access and organization.

I write all my blog posts from this computer wardrobe minus the door.  It opened the wrong way and was generally annoying, so I took it off.  The globe on top is covered in chalkboard paint thanks to my dad.

The shipping station is comprised of two end tables my dad found on the sidewalk.

A thrifted library card catalogue is a crafter's dream.  It holds odds and ends from stickers to ribbon, markers and glue, etc.

My college degrees are proudly displayed to remind me that smart people make custom lip balm for a living.  Ha!

The storage unit (also from Ikea) holds a printer, paper, several types of labels, letterhead, business cards, Design Your Own Lip Balm Kits and lots more. 

Each pink tube is filled to the rim with blank lip balms, one for each flavor and color.  When fully stocked, they hold 4,000 tubes waiting to be labeled.  That thought makes me happy.

This concludes the Kustom Kissers portion of our tour.  Any questions?

Bling bling!  Ilene and Leonora, two of my favorite bloggers, are hosting a virtual Arm Party across the country.  100 bloggers signed up to swap bracelets with another blogger ranging from the novice crafter to full-time jewelry designers.  Bloggers were partnered at random to exchange bracelets, then blog about their swag.

Now I said bloggers were paired up at random, but I was fortunate to exchange gifts with Kashoan of Krafty Kash, whom I've met in real life and communicate with regularly.  She makes amazing jewelry from vintage maps and dictionaries, available in her Etsy shop.  You may recall my 'Kissers' necklace from this Model Monday post that she made.  We were already friends, so the bracelets just sealed the deal.  Look how she spoiled me!  She sent me FOUR bracelets packaged in a tote bag with a notebook and very sweet note.  Thanks, Kashoan!  I wear them all the time.

Follow Kashoan on Facebook and Twitter for updates on all her jewelry designs.  Many of them are one of a kind, so you have to snatch them up when you see 'em!

Why a seven months post?  Well, I intended on writing last month, but I didn't know what to say.  At the six-month mark all aspects of my life and business were in a state of re-evaluation.  Again.  Remember my dilemma on where to live that I wrote about here?  That was just the tip of the iceberg.

When I left my government job in January to pursue Kustom Kissers full time, I was so excited to bask in the fulfillment of running my owning business, attend more local and national networking events, try new marketing techniques, make my own schedule and not have to live by an alarm clock.  I'm sad to say that the thrill has worn off.  Self employment is not at all what I expected.  It is incredibly lonely despite having joined every network I can get my hands on.  Friends and family only have so much time to spend with me while they aren't at their own jobs.  In addition, there was a two-week span in June when I didn't receive any orders and couldn't figure out why.  I was advertising more than ever.  It really freaked me out.

I've come to the conclusion that I need to work outside the home.  As much as I love my Facebook and Twitter friends, I need face-to-face human interaction, even if it isn't always positive.  I started my job search with fun, unskilled opportunities like serving poolside at a resort or working in a bagel shop.  Lots of human interaction there!  The employment offers came surprisingly quickly.  I accepted one, but I couldn't bring myself to purchase the uniform and attend the first day of training.

I realized that I was selling myself short.  I'm an educated, experienced, responsible, motivated person.  If I'm going to spend my time working for someone else, I may as well take home a decent paycheck and benefits for it.

So I started looking at career-minded positions with the notion that any remotely intriguing job description was getting my resume.  Then I made another realization.  I need to make an impact.  I was only drawn to jobs that involved serving people or changing systems in some capacity.

When I chose Public Administration as my major for college and graduate school, it was because it was broad and spanned multiple industries.  I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up.  I still don't, but I do know that I need to use my talents to improve the lives of others to the best of my ability.  I'm now interviewing for positions in...wait for it...government, including the division I left seven months ago!  Trust me, no one is more shocked than I.

Don't worry, I'm not letting go of Kustom Kissers.  It's my creative outlet, and I love it, just not full-time.  It will go back to being a part-time business, but you can still design and order lip balm whenever you'd like.  Your Lip Balm of the Month Club surprises will continue to show up in your mailboxes every month.

Thank you for being so supportive while I figure out my path in this confusing world.  I hereby deem July 26th Kustomer Appreciation Day.  EVERYTHING is 40% off all day, and I do mean everything including Custom Lip Balm, Design Your Own Lip Balm Kits, and Lip Balm of the Month Club Membership.  Use coupon code KUSTOMERDAY at checkout, and go buy something fun.  You deserve it.

Monsoon season is in full swing in Arizona, which means rain, dust, humidity and blooming flowers. 

I wore this dress from Forever 21 to a performance of Cirque du Solei's Kooza.  I've come to the conclusion that cowboy boots go with everything, even when it's over 100 degrees plus humidity.  They are also acceptable for every occasion.  This is the wild, wild west after all.

I'm 30 years old and living in my 16th home.  Growing up, my family moved frequently for my dad's job.  I'd tell you what his job was, but then I'd have to kill you.  As an adult, I've moved for all different reasons - graduate school, a job, a boy.  I never minded moving because it lead to a new adventures, new discoveries, new friends and a new home to decorate.  Here's a list of all the places I've lived:

1. Lincoln, AL
2. Mt. Morris, PA
3. Lewisburg, WV
4. Tracy, CA
5. Shenandoah Junction, WV
6. Coral Springs, FL - Blue House
7. Coral Springs, FL - Pink House
8. Coral Springs, FL - Townhouse
9. Orlando, FL - Dorm #1
10. Orlando, FL - Dorm #2
11. Orlando, FL - Off Campus Student Housing
12. Goodyear, AZ
13. Phoenix, AZ
14. Avondale, AZ
15. Mesa, AZ
16. Litchfield Park, AZ
    

The lease on the house I'm currently renting ends July 30, 2012.  Now that I'm self-employed and single, I can move anywhere in the world that has a post office.  Isn't that a wonderfully daunting thought?  I could try big city life in New York or Chicago.  I could take my pink cowboy boots to the country.  I could literally move ANYWHERE in the world!

For six weeks I thought about what my life would look like in all kinds of settings and even visited a few.  Then I finally made up mind.  I'm staying put.  There are pros and cons about every place, but what it all boiled down to was that I couldn't think of convincing reason to leave Arizona.  This state is beautiful and full of opportunities and people I have yet to uncover.  Yes, it's hot, but I love to swim.  Plus it's tough to beat an Arizona sunset.

Where would you go if you could live anywhere in the world?