2010 Full of Love & Zen

Everyone I talked to at the end of 2009/beginning of 2010 had good feelings about this year, and man...we were right! I know it's the end of March, so this topic may seem a little late, but it's time for a quarterly evaluation. I've actually stuck to my resolutions! This is great because one of my resolutions was to actually follow through with my resolutions. hehehe I'm guessing most people (not all) forget about or give up on their resolutions by February. Not me, ladies and gents; I'm on a roll! I'm going to agree with my mom (shocking) and say that "even" years are good years. Really, I think just going into a new year with the right attitude does the trick. Instead of hoping it’s going to be a good one, MAKE it a good one.

This year is all about being a better me. I've tackled the traditional "resolutions" - eating better, exercising, etc, but I've also opened myself up quite a bit, which is something I really wanted to focus on. I've been doing my thing, however dorky it is, and staying open minded, and I'm feeling great! I got back into tap class (though at the wrong time and now I have to wait until June), I've been trying out kickboxing, I've spent more time on my Etsy shop, and, wow, I started a blog to get myself writing (this is surprising – thanks Micaela!). I'm getting myself together and overall I think I'm on the right track to a better…everything.

So I've been feeling great, but what's even more exciting to me is that it seems like everyone around me is feeling great, too! Maybe I'm high on sunshine today, I don't know, but I feel the need to scream I'M IN LOVE WITH LIFE. I was just talking to a friend about the wonderful weather we're expecting on Friday. 80 degrees and sunny…in Northern Indiana!!! This Indiana winter really had a lot of us frustrated, so the sunshine is sooooo welcome! My friend said he had a good feeling about this summer, and I do too! I'm lucky to be surrounded by people with great attitudes - it's incredibly contagious and I hope we keep it spreading. Be love see love. = )

Chin up people, summer is coming!

TODAY I LEARNED...send a sample first.

My first custom order may be coming back to me = ( Buyer ordered some adorable custom muslin drawstring bags...125 of them. We had a lot of conversation, discussed the measurements, and thought we had everything figured out. The bags were for little soap wedding favors, but it turns out they are too small. We were both pretty disappointed. She loves the bags, which I appreciate, but what can she do with 125 of them? Of course I am offering her a full refund; it's just a sad story. Now I know, SEND A SAMPLE FIRST! A sample would’ve saved me a month of cutting and sewing and my buyer the disappointment. 100% satisfaction is every seller's goal (I would hope), and this breaks my heart. XO Buyer, we'll fix this!

On a lighter note...MIX CD SWAP! Sign up by April 12 = )

www.respek-t.blogspot.com

Goodbye Weekend, Hello Workweek

Man I love weekends! I finally had an evening to sit down and work on my shop and this blog. Really, all I accomplished were new banners for both pages, but I had a good time, especially with the banner for this page.

I was looking online for pictures or backgrounds that would somehow illustrate my personality. Then, I glanced up at the photograph that Matt had blown up and printed on canvas for me for my birthday.

I absolutely adore Matt's photography, and this is my all time favorite pic, for obvious reasons. Not only is it creative and totally my style, it lets me know that Matt thinks about me when we're not together.

I've also been in love with what I call the "Mishawaka street corner picture." I love our little city, and I used to be so envious of Matt when he lived in an apartment above a little Chinese place downtown. Little city big city living is so me. I remember the night Matt took our friends and me up to the roof. Matt and I were sitting on top of the corner building and, to my surprise, he started taking pictures. I had no idea he was into photography, and I was so impressed seeing him in the state of doing something he loves. He got some great shots of the little downtown, one of which is now my header. : )

Although the picture was taken late on a quiet night, it’s a reminder of a lot of what makes me me (not so quiet). I was born here. I work, eat and play downtown, and to top it all off, the photograph was taken by my best friend in his purest form. A little memory that gives me big goosebumps.

I'm such a cheesy romantic...

TODAY I LEARNED...friends come from smiles.

"I love friends, I want more friends. I love smiles. That is a fact. How to develop smiles? There are a variety of smiles. Some smiles are sarcastic. Some smiles are artificial-diplomatic smiles. These smiles do not produce satisfaction, but rather fear or suspicion. But a genuine smile gives us hope, freshness. If we want a genuine smile, then first we must produce the basis for a smile to come." -Dalai Lama

Let me tell you about Forget Me Not…

Growing up in Mishawaka, Indiana, where unpredictable weather keeps us inside several days out of the year, my mom always had crafty projects for my sisters and me to do. One day we'd be decorating paper sacks for school lunches, and the next day we'd be painting and embellishing our own sweatshirts and pants. From hair bows to sneakers, we added our own touch to everything.

The dawning of the 90’s…Kassie is not diggin’ the neon, but I know we had fun with it! Mom even made matching hair bows!

Anyways, handmade is a part of me now, and I find myself less and less satisfied with products sold in chain stores. I’d much rather create my own things (though not necessarily in bright green and orange), be it a skirt I wear out or a little apron hook in my kitchen. Now, couple my desire to create with my hate for waste, and you get my Etsy shop, Forget Me Not.

Everything in my shop is made with love and with the earth in mind. Most of my products are upcycled, as it’s important to raise awareness of more conscious and creative use of our resources. Sometimes recycling isn't always the best solution. Upcycling is a great way to create beautiful and useful things out of what most people would throw away or recycle. It reduces the use of materials and requires less energy than recycling (and it's so much fun).

I am always working on new projects. Matt and I joke that we collect hobbies, but seriously...we collect hobbies. From classy cork wreaths to fun t-shirt headbands, I'm always working on something new. I’m so excited for the weather to warm up so I can get outside and start my next project: plantable paper and gift tags. I have wildflower seeds that I think will be great in paper, and I want to get some seeds for herbs like basil, chives, oregano, and parsley. Any suggestions? What would you plant?

Food for Thought

Welcome!

Welcome! This page will be a huge, ongoing project for me, a long overdue writing exercise. I might be shy at first because I'm new to this, but after a while I hope to be able to open up and share my deepest feelings. For now, I'd like to share my everyday thoughts and experiences. I'll write about my Etsy adventures, swaps, friends, family, current events, things that should be current events, etc, One thing I really want to do is share at least one thing that I learn each day. I know myself pretty well though, and odds are I won't write daily. So, whenever I remember, I'll share at least one thing that I learned that day. ; )

Ah-hem, let me introduce myself. My name is Stephanie...Steph, Stephie, Nut...whatever really. Let's see...24, living with my amazing boyfriend of 2 years, Matt [hi, Matt!! : )) ], from a family of 6: mom, dad, sisters, Kassie and Nikki, and brother, George. I'm a proud co-owner of a 3 year old pup, Daisy Buchanan (the name suits her, and if you haven't read The Great Gatsby, you need to), an overly energetic boxer. I work full time in a part of a law office that doesn't have any windows, but the vacations that Matt and I go on make up for that. Oh, and I'm probably slightly OCD...well, maybe just a little bit of a perfectionist. Obviously, I don't freak out about grammar or writing, but if my stapler is backwards when I come into work in the morning, I will throw a fit (privately, of course).

Like I mentioned before, I'm new to this. It will take some time, because Matt and I share the good computer, but eventually I'll have this page looking pretty, and there will be lots of great links. To do list: banner, profile pic, links/badges. I will be sharing a lot of pictures, so I should probably get a new camera, too.

Oh! I want feedback! If you ever have something to say, don't hold back! I’m pretty open-minded, and I love hearing other people’s thoughts and opinions.

TODAY I LEARNED…being myself is not as hard as I thought.