Trying to Start...

-----> J n S Coins and Collectibles <------  That's us!!!

We're trying to get our business up and off of the ground, by trying out an Ebay store 1st.  That way we can better learn what we're doing, and try to get some of the kinks worked out.  It also provides us with a chance to earn a little bit so we can save towards getting a real brick-and-mortar store. 

So, we're reading the books, joining the necessary associations, trying to learn as much as we can whenever/however we can - but there are times where it feels like it's just......not.....going......anywhere.

I'm sure everyone feels this way (sort of down in the dumps) at some point in time during their lives, whether it be related to their professional or personal lives.  And while it's way easier to let our heads hang down - we're going to make a pledge to you.  We're going to work on it the shop/learning our trade, every single day.  You hold us to it now!

Do you have your own business of some sort?  Do you have any suggestions or comments that might help us along?  What do you think of our online store (keep in mind it's still a work in progress)?  What kind of collectibles would you be interested in us carrying?  We're always listening!

Ideas for Valentine's Day

What to do for Valentine's Day?  What should you get for Valentine's Day?  While there is no one definite answer to either question, I thought that I would share with you some ideas:

What to Do?

-  Wear Red and Serve Red Food (jello, cookies, etc.)

-  Cut everything out with a heart shape

-  Buy an inexpensive box of valentines (like what children give out), fill each one out with a reason as to why you love your other half, and hide them around the house...it'll probably take a while for them to be all found, but it'll be a sweet surprise everytime!

-  The classic red lipstick hearts on the mirror (you could even think about his/her rearview mirror)

-  Send the person a sweet e-mail, text, tweet, e-card

-  You could even send him/her something sweet at work (yes, I think even guys would appreciate getting something at work)

-  Put a love letter in with their lunch

-  Have a picnic (weather permitting)

What to Buy/Get/Make?

-  Cook dinner

-  Do his/her chores

-  Take a jar (plain or fancy), and put their favorite snack in it (cookies, nuts, trail mix, candies, etc.)

-  Do something the other person enjoys, even if they know it's not exactly your cup of tea

-  Wrap up a box that has slips of paper, preferrably a lot of slips of papers - each one giving a reason as to why you love him/her

-  Make a homemade card (don't think it's tacky - I bet you that in 10 or 20 years time, that homemade card will still be around!)

-  Make a coupon book for personal things (think back rub, foot rub, running a bubble bath, cooking dinner, walking the dog, etc.)

-  Make a gift basket - you can buy a basket just about anywhere (Target, Walmart, Salvation Army, etc.) and fill it up with things they really like i.e., a bottle of their favorite wine, a book by their favorite author, they favorite magazine, etc.

-  Of course, the things you would put in a gift basket are great gifts individually!

-  Gift Cards - don't buy them something you're not more than 75% sure about...instead, give them a gift card to a store they love and pair it with a homemade card...it'll be a great gift!

The only thing you need is money, gobs of free time, creativity.

Give it a whirl, you might even surprise yourself!  Let us know what you have done or will do for your valentine!!!

Ahhh...Valentine's Day...

Now that the Super Bowl is over (congrats to the Packers), it’s time to start thinking about Valentine’s Day. So, for starters – what is Valentine’s Day? Where did it originate? Is it really something that stores came up with to trick people into spending their money on cards, candy, flowers, etc.?



Well, the truth of the matter is - no one seems quite sure of where it all started. It has bits and pieces of Catholicism, ancient Roman traditions, possibly some paganism and agriculture. What we do know is that it’s almost always been linked to love (ohh la la) and it's been around since, well, forever! (not really, but since at least 270 A.D.) There is a lot behind the “what, where, when, why and how” of Valentine’s day, but here’s a pretty good synopsis at the History Channel. (don’t wanna write too much about it because this blog would be just bogged down!)

What is known, is that since the 1700’s, Americans have been trading Valentine’s Day cards – and so the tradition continues on! But, do you really have to buy into the whole candy, card and flowers hype? Absolutely not!


If the person you are with is girly and likes the traditional, then yes – do the norm and get her a box of chocolates, a card, nice flowers and maybe even a good dinner. However, before deciding what to get – really think about your significant other’s personality, their likes and dislikes, has she been hinting very strongly about something in particular? Just about anything can be (and usually is) a good gift – as long as it’s geniune. Just be true to who they are. Don’t get the girly girl a vacuum and don’t get the house keeper something that sheds. The same also goes for you girls! Don’t get your guy some tools when you know he’s mechanically retarded and don’t get him a cook book if he doesn’t even know where the light switch to the kitchen is.

I don’t see Valentine’s Day as a must. I see it is a convenient time to show the one I love how much he means to me - so I give him just a little something knowing that he’s always giving his all to me.


We’ll start sharing some recipes, ideas as to what to buy if you don’t want to get the traditional stuff, and so on (whatever we can think of!) Let us know if there is anything in particular you’d like us to write on…
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As always – don’t forget to check out our store at J n S's Coins and Collectibles

Weekly Tips and Tidbits

We like knowing what going on in the lives of other bloggers that we follow, so we thought that maybe you would like to see what's going on in ours:

- We opened our Ebay store, J n S's Coins and Collectibles  <------- go ahead, click on it - you know you wanna!!!

- We saved 42% on our groceries!  (We shop every 2 weeks) It's probably not a lot to some, but to us, it's a great starting point!

- The weather has been really wonky this week: stormy one day, spring like and windy the next, cold and dreary the next.

- JB has lost 5 lbs in the past 3 weeks, I on the other hand, have not lost any weight, but have gained plenty of stress

- Daisy and Amadeus (she's a dalmation, he's a golden retriever mix) are as good/crazy as usual.  Kind of proud of Amadeus, he's finally figured out how to open doors with his snout (he always acted like "what?!  i'm not opening the door, you're opening the door - now snap too!" - but now he's finally figured out it's not all that hard :)

- Oh, and did I mention that we have an Ebay store?!?!  Oh yeah baby!!  J n S's Coins and Collectibles  <------- pssssstt, click me!  click me!

- I'm reading "The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown and JB's reading something about coins (can't remember the title!!)

- The Super Bowl is this Sunday - and It's gonna be GREAT!  We'll be sure to do a post on anything that we cook special for Sunday.  (knowing us though, it'll probably not be anything exciting - just a bag of chips and drink, but we'll see!)

Make Up Review - Bronzer and Lipstick!

What:  N.Y.C. Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder, 720A 'Sunny'
Where:  most drugstores
Cost: $1-$3


What It Claims: It gives you a natural-looking, sun-kissed, just stepped off of the beach look


The Truth:  It does!  It's really good for being so cheap. 

Overall Impression:  I'm sure you've heard tons of raves about this from other blogs, youtube, etc. and let me just say, the hype is true.  Whether your a beginner, down on your luck broke, need something you can throw in your bag and don't care if it breaks, or whatever, this is a good bronzer to help contour your face or if you want - that glow.  It's definite must have for your collection.

Packaging:  5 out of 5
Product Quality: 5 out of 5
Price: 5 out of 5

What Else:  Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Liquid Lipstick, 025 'Premier Plum' and 040 'Brilliant Bordeaux'

Where:  most drugstores

Cost:  $10 - $13

What It Claims:  food-proof lipcolor that lasts up to 12 hours

The Truth:  It's a great lipcolor.  It goes on like a lipgloss, but dries like a lipstick.  It's very buildable, and will stay on through most anything.

Overall Impression:  I'm so very glad that I've got these in my collection, and I will probably repurchase them!  Unless I vigorously wipe my mouth, the color stays and stays, from 5:30 in the morning until 5:30 in the evening - it's great!!

Packaging:  4 out of 5

Product Quality:  5 out of 5

Price:  3 out of 5 (kind of pricey for a drugstore lipcolor)

Our Business

As you may have previously read, one of our new years resolutions is to work on getting our business up and off of the ground.  Well, so far (even though it's only month 2 out of 12) we've been true to our word! 

We started out by selling bits and pieces of our (primarily his) coin collection on Ebay, but now - we have moved up to having an Ebay store!  *woo hoo* - no really, say it with me - *woo hoo*.  That's right - we're excited about it.  It doesn't sound like much, but to us - it's a lot.  Both of us work full time jobs, which require us to get up at 4:30am, and we don't get back home until 5pm or later, so we don't have too much time in the evenings to getting much work done on the business.  However, this year, we've decided that we're going to make this a good year! 

Here's (part of) how we do it: JB and I split up the work.  If he's working on the store, I'll do the laundry, cooking, feeding the pups, etc.  If I'm working on it, then he'll do the household stuff.  So far, it's working out pretty well.  And, we're learning that we're pretty good at motivating (annoying) each other to get the work done!  

Now, when you go to our store - please keep in mind that we're not as technologically savvy as some (most) of you out there, but we're trying!  We plan on continually working on it make it look better, have a wider selection of inventory, etc.

So, without further ado, here's the link to our store:  J n S's Coins and Collectibles

We'll be sure to go more in depth about what started the love affair with coins, tidbits here and there on coins, what all we're experiencing in this adventure!  But here's something we want from you!!  Any tips, advice, suggestions, comments, etc. that you have to helps us - we would greatly appreciate!  So, if you have the time, please leave us your thoughts, we'd love to hear them!

Happy Groundhog Day!!

Today is Groundhog Day!!  Hmm...wonder if we'll have 6 more weeks of winter.  I know that some parts of our country are getting slammed by wintery weather, while we down here in the South are having very mild temps.  Kinda crazy how it all works!  However, I cannot honestly say that I would trade places very quickly with those who have tons of snow and ice.  So, let's look into what Groundhogs day is...

"What is a groundhog?" you might ask...well, it's also known as a woodchuck [can't help but to think of 'how much wood can a woodchuck chuck' - hehehe] (or a Marmota monax for all of you really smart folks).  It's a small (10-15lbs) critter that is a "vegan" (only fruits and veggies for these fellas/gals), whistles when it's scared or wants to mate, and hibernates for several months in the winter. 

"How did Groundhog day get started?" - another excellent question.  Well, some say (probably the most widely understood/believed) it stems from the Christian Candlemas Day - where priests blessed candles, gave them to their parishoners for the winter, and the candles represented how long winter would be.  Of course, it can also be possibly tied to a Pagan festival and the Celtic Calendar.  I'm sure that there are all sorts of ways this day can be explained.  However, it was most notably the Germans that made the idea of using a small, furry critter (a badger or hedgehog) coming out to see it's shadow a sign of a longer winter, versus it not seeing it's shadow, meaning a shorter winter.  Once the Germans came to America, they switched the critter to the groundhog - and continued their tradition.

"Is Punxsutawney Phil the only Groundhog used to forecast the weather on Groundhog day?" - Nope!!  There are all kinds of groundhogs used throughout America and Canada.  Some other famous groundhogs are:  Smith Lake Jack, Staten Island Chuck, General Beauregard Lee, and Gus.  There are tons of famous groundhogs out there, those were just a few!

Of course Groundhog day get's it due in sitcoms, video games and even has it's own movie!  I think that regardless of whether or not the groundhog(s) make a correct prediction or not, it's a cute tradition.  So here's to winter slowly melting into spring, and hoping everyone has a great groundhog day!

Oh, and I'm positive I didn't cover every aspect of groundhogs or groundhog day...this was just meant to be a short synopsis of what and why.  But feel free to leave us comments about what, where, why, etc.  Or you can tell us what you think about groundhog day!

Make Up Review - Essence Silky Touch Blush

What: Essence Silky Touch Blush, #20 'Babydoll'
Where: Ulta
Cost: $2.49


What It Claims:  It's a silky powder blush that provides sheer color for a natural look


The Truth:  It is exactly what it says.  With babydoll in particular, it's fairly pigmented.  So, start with a light hand, and add more as needed!  It is a corally-pinky color with a hint of gold in it.  It's also got a slight shimmer - the pictures don't do it justice!  (That's no doubt operator error - I'm still learning how to take a good pic with the right lighting!  Please bear with me!)

Overall Impression:  I'm not necessarily blown out of the water by this product.  I got what I paid for.  For $2.50 - it's a pretty good deal.  I personally prefer the coverage you get with a mineral blush, but this is good for that sheer, coral/pink kiss on your cheeks kind of color. 

Packaging:  3 out of 5

Product Quality:  5 out of 5 (it does what it says!)

Price:  5 out of 5