Messy!

I haven't checked in for awhile; Abbamart exploded all over me this month. I knew it would be busy before Christmas, but I didn't know it would be so messy!

A snapshot of my workspace right now: three giant reels of bubblewrap unraveling from their post atop the backup case of mailers to my left. Also an open box full of about 100 upgraded powder brushes that have different item numbers than their original versions and haven't been entered into the system yet - I just don't know what to do with them, or where to put them after I do whatever I should do with them. On the floor to my right is a tall stack of four new manicure tools in plastic boxes. Two I have never seen the likes of before in my life and haven't the faintest clue what they do - one looks like a cheese grater and the other like a can opener, but I'm pretty sure we haven't branched into kitchenware yet. Strewn across my keyboard are receipts, pre-cut gift wrap squares, random items I've pulled to take measurements of and more bubblewrap. I can usually see only 45% of the keys on the board at any given time. Luckily I don't need to see them to type. Butting up against my knees under the desk is another drawer unit with packing and office supplies, customs forms, the paper cutter, tape measure and scale. Atop the printer/fax/copier on my right are various sizes of plastic sheaths, markers, extra brush sets I've been industrious enough to prepare ahead but not put away, invoices of orders to be filled and, inexplicably, chopsticks. There is just a me-sized space that I've, at times, hopped the back of the chair to get to.

Besides this, I've got tax season on my mind, and hope I've kept all the records I need as organized (gulp) as I need them. There's also a big shipment in January that can't come soon enough with restocks and also oodles of new items that I am seriously psyched about but can't fathom where they'll go. We're already bursting at the seams. Which brings me to our impending move to another state, where hopefully we'll be able to find and afford more room for Abbamart to function in. But I can't think about that right now.

Lastly and most unfortunately, running Abbamart is not the most physically challenging job I've ever had, and after feeling increasingly uncomfortable in my jeans, I stepped on the scale to discover I've gained 10 pounds! Utter mortification!

So I just wanted to check in, and say a big THANK YOU for all the orders, and let you know that any brushes that may be out of stock will be available again in just a couple of weeks, but I have got to go get my rear end on the treadmill right NOW before I pop a(nother) button. Merry Christmas to you all!!