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Small Business and Great Customer Service {Part 2}

Welcome to Part 2 of Small Business and Great Customer Service

I mentioned in Part 1 of this two part series, about a great story with a customer and I'm here today sharing another story, which proves how time and listening can result
in great things.






As mentioned in the video, this is an Author you need to know:  Dale Carnegie

And here's a great website you can rely on for worthwhile reading about Small Business

Happy Success to you!



      


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Handmade Tutorials Round-Up - Handmade Gifts


Handmade Holidays!



Below you will find a collection of Handmade by Hilani approved tutorials for handmade gifts 
from beginner to advance.  


















Happy Sewing!




      


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Homemade Chips with Apple Salsa


Happy Holidays all!

I created last week a great appetizer for a PTA meeting and got buzz on Instagram about wanting the recipe.  Below you will find a quick, lite, and taste treat, that's easy to prepare. 



Specs:
15 minutes prep time
7 - 14 minutes bake time
375 degrees



Ingredients:
3 Gala Apples
2 Granny Smith (tart)
4 Flour Tortillas (10 inch)
1/2 Cup of White Sugar
2-4 Teaspoons of Cinnamon
4 tablespoons of Butter
White Chocolate (optional)

Baking Needs:
Foil
Baking Sheet
Cooking Spray (optional)


Directions:
Preheat Oven to 350 degrees
Cut Tortillas into triangles and place in bowl, set aside
Melt Butter
Mix together 1/3 cup of sugar with 2 teaspoons of cinnamon
Mix together butter sugar mixture over tortillas

Cover baking sheet with foil
Evenly coat foil with cooking spray
Dump out chips to evenly cover sheet

Place in oven and bake for 7 minutes.
Check on, turn over chips, and cook an additional 7 minutes
Due to oven variations, take chips out prior to deep 
brown corners for desired chip done -ness. 


While chips bake, shave and dice up your apples.
Please in bowl and coat with remaining sugar and cinnamon. You may add more or less of these two, depends on your palate. 

Once chips are done baking, set aside to cool.

Assemble chips and apple salsa on a decorative plate.

If you choose to drizzle with chocolate, follow chocolate melting instructions.



Enjoy, and happy eating!





      


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Christmas Burlap Banner {Be Merry}






So, Christmas is my favorite time of year!

The traditions, magic in the air, snow and never ending family time, make me feel all warm and fuzzy! 

Below is a glimpse into my style of Christmas.





{Vintage}




{Decorations}

I've been having so much fun with Burlap this year.  I had some scrap left over from my Fall Banner, so I decided to make my favorite phrase for a Christmas Banner: Be Merry.

Below are a few images of my new banner, and how I incorporated it into my decor.  

I posted this picture to my Instagram account.  It's the first place I post anything I'm doing, even before Facebook. 



Here it is, displayed with our stockings, in the most popular room of our home...the family room.  It's a great way to be reminded during the hustle of the season, stress that might come and unexpected obstacles that might arise
 to still BE MERRY.






From our house to yours, may your days be filled with 
Merry and Joy.

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Small Business and Great Customer Service {Part 1}

Hi Friends,

This series of Small business and Customer Service will be broken into two parts...here's part 1.

I recently mentioned on Facebook how I'd like to share my lessons on customer service...so today's post
 is brought to you by the 
letters S and B

For Social Butterfly
And Small Business

While customer service has changed dramatically with the use of the internet, there are still some cases where you get the pleasure of networking in person.  I approach each new person I meet, whether in a working environment (Craft Show) or casual, as a future relationship which could lead to referring my business 
or being a regular customer.  As well, I just love meeting new people hence, social butterfly.






Here's the Facebook post I mention in the video sharing how I made someones day, and they in return, made mine.

I posted this question on my Facebook page, and she replied with an answer and two compliments. 



Because of extra time, listening, and talking, I've possibly expanded my customer base.  So via the traditional way, I've built a relationship with a buying customer who then could happily share me/Handmade by Hilani, with her friends and co-workers.  

Thanks for reading along...until next time.

In Part 2, I'll be talking about an Author that you need to know well, another sweet customer story and final thoughts on customer service & your small business.

For Part 2, click here



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Best Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe

Hi Everyone!

Around this time of year, I round up my baking supplies and grab my boys to make memories in the kitchen. One of our favorites to bake are cut-out Sugar Cookies.  I searched the internet years ago and tested so many but 
finally came to the very best, and now a staple 
recipe this time of year.

The dough makes so much, it lasts all month long.  I bake only a little at a time, and freeze the unused dough, which is great for on the fly baking.

The key is to make sure you keep the dough thick when cutting, and roll out fresh from the freezer!

They are a sure fire hit when shared.




Below is the Recipe with tips on how to achieve non, thin, crisp cookies, unless that's your style.  

Original Source: Rolled Sugar Cookies


Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup of butter, softened
2 cups of white sugar
4 eggs, room temperature
2-3 teaspoon of vanilla
5 cups of all purpose white flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt

Now, the recipe only called for 1 teaspoon of vanilla and I'm a terrible listener when it comes to vanilla, I have a very heavy pour; trust me, more is better. 


Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Chill Time:  1-12 hours
Cook Time: 5-8 Minutes

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees or 375 for convection
Here, at high altitude, convection is my preferred baking method

1.  In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar until smooth.  Beat in eggs and vanilla. 

2.  In separate bowl mix dry ingredients.

3.  Add dry to wet ingredients. 
I used a Kitchen-Aid electric mixer.  Be advised when slowly adding your 5 cups of flour, it becomes tough for the machine to function so a little at a time. 

4.  Once fully mixed, prepare saran wrap in an x shape on your counter.  Scoop out and place wet dough down 
and form into a loaf.  Cover dough with saran wrap and chill in the freezer for 1 hour or overnight.


5.  Once chilled, remove from freezer and cut with a large knife the amount you wish to use.  I like to work with a little bit at a time.


6.  I've learned, for best results, use the dough totally frozen.  When working with your warm hands, it tends to soften.  Then roll out to 1/4 or 1/2 inch thickness.



7.  Once cut, bake for small amounts of time to desired consistency color of cookie. I start with 5 minutes.  You do not want brown edges so at about 6 minutes pull them out of the oven, and let sit on cookie sheet for 3 more minutes to prolong baking.  Once done, be careful, they break easily but that's the beauty of them.

So there you go...I surely hope you enjoy them as much as our family does. They are a hit all over the neighborhood.  





Happy Holidays!


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