It's Monday!

How was everyone's week? Things were a little crazy here. I intended on making only four to six new items last week. I made 18. I got into a rhythm and just kept going. New color combinations just kept popping into my head. Most of the new items were lapel pins to match some existing hair pins. 12 of the 18 new items are pictured below and are already listing in my store. The other six are waiting for hardware and photos.

Speaking of photos, the closer and closer we get to winter (yes, winter) the gloomier it gets outside in Michigan. Which means outdoor photos of products will come to a halt soon. Which also means that I need to get the rest of my 2015 Bridal pieces done and photographed immediately. This will be my project for the week. I am going to have to find some time for sketching as well because I have four ideas for dresses (three bridal and one cocktail) that I have to get down before I lose them. But I know once I do those four dresses will turn into several dresses. Priorities, priorities, priorities. I want a fashion empire. These are things that I just have to deal with!

Deon & Dion hit a small milestone yesterday. We hit 150 Etsy sales! On June 22, 2014 we hit 100 Etsy sales. That took almost 2.5 years. Now less than four months after hitting 100, we have done another 50. So thank you to all of Deon and Dion's customers and fans. You all encourage me so much and give my dreams validation! Hugs and kisses to you all!

And on that note, I am going to get started on my day. I hope that you all have wonderfully productive day and week!

Later loves!

Porsha Deun

P.S.
In case you haven't heard, my Cowboys beat the Seahawks yesterday! YAAAAAAAY!

Etsy Items of The Week

I absolutely love this week's featured item by DeMer Jewelry. The ring is absolutely stunning. There are no words for the craftsmanship that went into this piece.

It is solid palladium (very hypoallergenic) and has several ideal cut diamonds. Not to mention, it can be worn by a man or woman. Pictured below, you can get all of the details here.

The Deon & Dion item featured this week is our Baby Blue & Chocolate Ruffle Flower Hair Pins (pictured below). Great for providing that "something blue" for wedding day or matching with bridesmaids dresses.

What a Week & Fitness Challenge

This week has been busy! I added five new lapel pins to my shop, two of which I have to make matching hair puns for (picture below). I entered a contest by the Accessories Council for Emerging Designers, which meant I had to update Deon & Dion's business plan and create a look book (never done before). But I got it done. I won't know anything about it until next month. Three of my little cousins have put in their Christmas gift requests. Is it really that time? Geesh. But they are all things that they want me to make. It touches my heart to know that they would prefer me to make them something instead of buying a gift or giving them money.

Oh and my thighs feel like bricks after last week's fitness challenge.

So what is this week's fitness challenge? A move that I don't too much care for BUT it engages the entire body and gets the heart  rate up and is a favorite of the coaches on The Biggest Loser. BURPEES! Again, do as many as you can do, as quickly as you can (without losing proper form) today and try adding at least five more on each day this week. As I did last week, I am going to do them during the commercial breaks of my soaps. Here is a video of how to properly do a burpee: Burpees - How To Do Burpees and Avoid Common Inju…: http://youtu.be/tJrdJBWBu08 . I don't want anyone getting hurt and please consult a doctor before doing any vigorous exercise.

Fitness Challenge of the Week

Those of you that have been following me know my ending phrase for things is "fashion, love, and wellness". This is also the basis for how I operate Deon & Dion. I want you to be fashionable without breaking the bank. I want you to love yourself first & foremost (or how could you possibly love someone else). Finally, I want you to be well, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

I, however, am not the picture of physical wellness. Getting down to an healthier weight has been a challenge for me. Yes, I want to do it but the follow through has been a struggle. Yet, I have no problem with follow through in other aspects of my life.

Before, I would just go all in with dieting and working out. Then I would hit the burn out phase and all motivation for getting healthy would go straight to hell.

So here is my solution: BABY STEPS

Here is what I mean, instead of going all in like a mad person or someone that can handle that intensity every day (clearly, I am not one of those people), I am going to add exercise into my life (and hopefully yours) one exercise one week at a time. I am going to present them as weekly challenges.

This week's challenge, my favorite exercise move: SQUATS. Squats engage all if the larger muscles in the body. The larger the muscle, the more calories burned.

If you are sitting down working most of the day like me, try doing at least 20 squats per day, but add 5 more each day than what you did before. So if you do 20 squats today, tomorrow challenge yourself to do 25 and so on the rest of the week.

I always take a break throughout the day to watch my soaps (Young & the Restless, Bold & Beautiful, and General Hospital). So I am going to challenge myself to do as many squats as I can during each commercial break during that 2.5 hour period. If you have a favorite show that you watch, do the same thing. It is a rather quick and simple way to get in some needed exercise.

I will check in at the end of the week to share how I did with the challenge and to see how you did.

That is all for now loves. Squat on!

Fashion, love, & wellness,

Porsha Deon

Items of the Week

One of the things that I would like to start doing is featuring two items for the week from Etsy, one being a Deon & Dion item, the other being an item that I love from another shop that I just want to promote. This will be a good way to promote my items as well as others.

DO NOT SEND ME ITEMS TO BE FEATURED! This blog is not going to turn into a promotional blog and I do not have time to go through emails looking for items to feature. If and when I like an item that I come across, I will feature it. I am doing this out of the goodness of my heart. I am not looking for free items or reciprocal features.

I just suddenly got a feeling that I am going to have to repeat the above paragraph with each of those posts. Hmmmm.

The first item is something that I would love to have in my design room (once I move). It is a beautiful watercolor and ink print from Jessica Illustrations. I can honestly say that I LOVE looking through her shop.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/99597504/print-from-original-watercolor-pen-and

The second item is from my shop. It is our signature Ruffle Flower Hair Pins in hot pink & baby blue. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/171698371/hair-pins-hot-pink-and-baby-blue-satin

Meme of The Week

Instead of Random Thoughts today, I thought I would share something that I shared on my Twitter page a couple of weeks ago.

As an entrepreneur, I HATE it when someone refers to what I am doing as "little". It is degrading. We entrepreneurs have big dreams, big goals, and big plans. Why don't you just step aside and watch with your oh so small mind.

Porsha Deun

Random Thoughts Wednesday

So I am getting back into the swing of blogging while still running my business, working in the new line, and other projects. All is going fairly well thus far.

Here are some random thoughts I have had throughout the week.

- Most of my blog posts are coming from the app on my phone until I get a new laptop or tablet. I just discovered how to add a picture to the post on the mobile app! Ha!

- I have not however figured out how to schedule posts. I guess I just have to save them and publish them when I want them released.

- I am going to have to use my calendar more to remember all of this! Lol

- The fall colors coming in here in Michigan have my mind rumbling with ideas for new spring items. Fall, spring, whatever! That is just how my mind works sometimes.

- Do you ever feel like social media is just too damn much sometimes? My brain gets crosswired with all of the different accounts, both personal and business. Then I had to block a few ignoramuses on Twitter this past week. People really need to get a life.

- I am so excited for Shondaland Thursday this week! Did ant of you see Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, and/or HTGAWM premieres last week? OMG!!! I am so addicted and Shonda is crazy talented. Tell me what you think pf the shows so far.

- Is Steve Burton coming back to General Hospital or what?  If not, then they need to change all of his pic at his love ones homes ASAP! I feel like they are just teasing me with the possibility of his return AND I DON'T LIKE IT! Lol

- People really need to read before they speak. I am just saying, it will save us both time & frustration.

That is all fqir now my loves.

Until next time, fashion, love, and wellness.

Porsha Deun