Thawing

Here I am, in case you were looking for me.

I've been away, partly because I was helping take care of a kindly old man in the hospital.  He fared the poking and prodding and overall discomfort of his condition pretty well, and is quickly on the road to recovery.  For that I'm grateful, because if he is homebound for much longer I'm afraid he'll make a scene.

When I/he/all-of-us left the hospital we were greeted by a deep freeze.  I think the others managed well despite the subzero temperatures, but I froze solid.  My fingers were stiff from cold, unable to type, which as you know is kind of a requirement when presenting a blog.  My brain was unable to fire synapses or whatever kind of electrical thing it does to make a body and mind function.  My bones were brittle, dried out from the bitter breath of Old Man Winter.  I'm not complaining by any means.  I am one of very few Minnesotans who likes wintertime.  It's just that sometimes it renders me completely stone-like, as though I had cast my eyes upon Medusa.  It's a survival thing, conserving any bit of heat left in my body.  I sit quietly and wait for it to pass.

Within the span of a few days the temperature went from ten degrees below zero to fifty degrees...above zero.  I can't tell you if spring is on its way, but I know I thawed out a little, and my fingers are able to type again.

Winters slowly melting by AntonyZ

With the melting snow comes a new energy.  I've been receiving invitations to apply for spring and summer craft shows.  I've been organizing my new craftland, business paperwork, and home.  I feel the spring cleaning surge coming on.  And finally, after nearly three months of planning (which isn't nearly enough), I will be reopening my Etsy shop.  Look this week for the first of hundreds of items to be added over the next few months.  I'll have lots of the same items for sale you found in the previous shop, and will do my best to also keep things fresh with new items thrown into the mix.

So I guess the thaw has been good for me, be it permanent for the season or not.  I'm pushing forward with a new energy.  I hope it lasts.  Happy Monday everyone!  And give your sweetie a kiss ~ it's Valentine's Day!

Put Off Procrastinating

A little while ago I wrote a post about conquering your fears when it comes to becoming an entrepreneur, featuring a link to a really great article regarding the same subject.  The advice given is great for anyone who finds themselves stuck, unable to move forward, even if they aren't an entrepreneur.

Along the same lines of letting fear get in the way of getting things done I'm going to now address the obstacle of procrastination.

We all know how easy it is to put things off.  There are much more enjoyable things we'd rather be doing instead of what we know we should be doing, or more importantly what must be done.  You find yourself saying "there's always tomorrow" (Clarice in the holiday favorite Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer) or "tomorrow is another day" (Scarlet O'Hara in Gone With The Wind).  The thing is, we might be getting a high score on our favorite video game but the necessary things in life just don't get done.  Procrastination, like the fear mentioned above, is just another obstacle to moving forward in our lives.

Procrastination Hooded Sweatshirt by Julssewcrazy

Over a week ago I was disappointed at all the things I didn't get done, most of which concerned housework and other home-related tasks.  Husby said to me "you've got next weekend to get this stuff done."  Truth of the matter was I didn't even have to wait until the next weekend to complete the tasks on my list.  I could have worked on them throughout the week.  But did I?  Hell no.  I had next weekend to complete the tasks so I lollygagged around all week accomplishing next to nothing.

Then the weekend came.  All set to be the white tornado around the house I was prepared to hunt dust bunnies and wash a window or two, just to mention a couple of nagging chores I had left behind from the weekend before.  Then, at 2:20 a.m. on Saturday after getting about three hours of sleep I got a phone call.  Someone needed a ride to the emergency room.

Of course the health of a family member always takes priority over washing dishes or doing laundry.  But let me just say that the trip to the emergency room extended into an entire weekend of hospital time.  Ensuring the well-being of the person who fell ill was of course the most important thing on my mind.  The weekend consisted of many hours of watching and waiting and assisting and very few hours of sleep.

During the short amounts of time I was at home throughout the weekend I met up with the dust bunnies and they mocked and taunted me.  "We know you hate us," they said.  "We're taking over your house even though you're stronger than us and our destiny is in your hands.  Thank you for allowing us to survive and multiply.  Because you procrastinated last week we now rule this dwelling and will torment you." 

The point is "there's always tomorrow" and "tomorrow is another day" do not always ring true.  Unforeseen circumstances much greater than what you have on your list of things to do may crop up, leaving the plans you put off until "tomorrow" lying there limp, lifeless, and unfinished. 

Making sure a sick family member is taken care of does not constitute procrastination, but that high score on the video game, watching that movie you've seen twelve times, and updating your status on Facebook and reviewing the updated statuses of your 395 "friends" does.  I played that video game, watched that movie, and spent a lot of time on Facebook during times I should have been killing the relentless dust bunnies. 

Get stuff done during the time you budgeted to get the stuff done.  Just do it.  Live in the moment of the task at hand without distraction.  You'll feel so much better about yourself and your accomplishments.  Then, when something spontaneous presents itself to you, whether it is an emergency or an invitation to an impromptu party, you can tend to that without distraction too. 

My dad always said, "plan your work and work your plan."  Great advice.  Work that plan today, because tomorrow, for whatever reason, you might not be able to.

Happy Birthday, Diggy

Dear Diggy,

Today you would have turned forty-four years old.  I can't imagine you being that old.  I can't believe I'm even older than that!  In the past four-plus years that you've been missing in action (aka dead ~ but I hate using that word as an adjective to describe my little brother) I've gotten to know you quite well and have taken to embracing the somewhat unsavory traits we have in common.

One thing we have in common is our tendency to be compulsive.  I know, you're laughing at the understatement, but this letter is going to be posted for all to see so I want to be kind.  As I write this I'm chowing on an endless supply of M&Ms sitting next to me on the table.  I can't stop.  Compulsive.  But I don't have to tell you that; you've probably got that all-knowing thing going for you now.

To be even more specific, we have the gambling compulsion in common.  I don't know about you, but I love losing myself in the dark casino, enveloped in the smoke while having a cocktail or two, my head ringing with the bells and clangs of the slots.  It's like a drug, and when you take it you forget all about everything else.  Such a glorious escape.

Some people will honor your birthday by going to church and saying a prayer.  Me?  Yeah, right.  I'm headed for the casino to slip a hundo into that lovely lady called Chance.  I know you'll be right there with me.  Do me a favor and pull some of that supernatural stuff so I can hit a jackpot or two and quit my day job.  For a dinner break I'll have a heaping plateful of peel-and-eat shrimp and toast you with a tall glass of chocolate milk.  Because that's what we do.

Happy Birthday, Diggy.  Ya big weirdo.

Love,

Beehead

Craftland

Well, it's pretty much done.  Can you believe it?  I can't.  I really, really can't believe how much better the new and improved Craftland is.  Remember the old Craftland?  No?  That's probably a good thing.  Even I can't remember the squalor in which I worked.  But let's refresh our memories.

Here's a picture of the ickiness that was a dumping ground for...whatever.

And here is the mess that was my disorganized shelves.

Look at the improvements I made to that wall!

Oh sure, it may still look all jumbled and disorganized to you, but I know where everything is and there really is a rhyme and reason to how it's all arranged.

Remember my sorry desk/work space?  Or should I say lack of work space?

Now I have room to write, cut, glue, package, or just sit and contemplate my next move.

I have room for some little trinket holders, a clock, my timer, and Kleenexes and room to work.  What could be more luxurious? 

And remember that other shelving unit?  It scared me the most.  Way too much stuff on it. 

When I was going through everything on the shelves I found things I forgot I ever made, creating new products to offer my adoring customers!

Now look at this tidy unit!
 

 
All of my craft show props are on the bottom shelf.  All of my molds are on the shelf above that.  And see all of those bottles?  Those are my fragrance oils.  And yes, they are in alphabetical order!
 
A few weeks ago when I took the "before" pictures I was too ashamed to even take one of my candle-pouring area.  It was functional, yes, but small and cluttered to the nth degree.  Thanks to Husby and his shelving unit prowess I have a candle-pouring station more than twice the size of my original set-up so I can really s p r e a d  o u t.  It makes me positively giddy.  It's so long I couldn't even fit it all in the picture!
 

 
I really love the shelves underneath the work area for storing my waxes, dyes and myriad of candle-making tools.  And check out the cushy floor padding!  There's also a rug under my desk/work area that makes everything look and feel homey and cozy.
 
I'm also happy to announce that my mascot, Dolly, still stands in a prominent place in Craftland.  She always smiles approvingly at whatever I create.
 

 
There are still more improvements to make.  Husby is going to help me hang some old prints on the walls as well as rig up an awesome wick dispenser.  We're also going to have an electrician come in and provide me with better lighting. 
 
For the most part, my little corner of the creative world is up and running.  Finally!  I have room for everything I need and room to grow.  Fancy aesthetic elements will cozy up the area before too long.  Now that creation can resume, my new Etsy shop will be opening in the very near future.  I can hardly wait!

Wordless Wednesday

Dive Night ~ Meister's, Shoreview

Dive Night is a once monthly adventure undertaken by me and Husby, along with our friends Ruthie and Ray. Each couple alternates choosing a restaurant, one which must come under the category of "dive." Our definition of dive: a neighborhood gathering spot hiding under the radar. Casual atmosphere and good food. We're out to find the best food in the Minneapolis/St Paul area without having to pay a fortune or dress up. A sip of beer or wine doesn't hurt either. 

It's cold and snowy here in Minnesota, but that doesn't stop the Dive Night crew from braving the weather and checking out another year of dives.  Unfortunately what became a tradition was not the best choice of places to kick off the 2011 dive adventure.  Meister's, which was really good in Stillwater and pretty good in Scandia turned out to be kind of mundane in Shoreview.  Of course that's just my opinion.

The decor is frighteningly ordinary, except for the occasional dancer you might find in the hallway outside the restaurant.  You see, Meister's in Shoreview is contained in a strip mall and shares a hallway with a dance studio.  We got to see a spinny guy in a matador costume when we were there.  But other than that the place is pretty ho-hum.

These little cut-outs of German people (we called them Heidi and Hans) were taped to a mirrored wall on one side of the dining room.  The room itself was pretty well lit and except for Heidi and Hans was pretty devoid of any character.

There was also a very large party of people in the dining room, and they took up the whole length of the room.  They were all really old, and one guy had exactly one tooth.  I think it was Grandma's birthday, because the lady at the head of the table looked to be about 127 years old.  I thought it was sad that Meister's was the place her family chose to celebrate what could be her last birthday, but who am I to judge?  Anyway, the four of us were seated in the back corner booth, which was fine. 








First we ordered our drinks.  Ray and Husby got a big old pint of beer and Ruthie and I ordered a glass of white zinfandel.  Our wine choices were generic.  I don't know why I think I can get a good glass of wine in a dive, but I'm always a little disappointed when I can't.  I should probably start drinking hard liquor if I want to get a good drink in a dive.  Our wine came in little splits and tasted like the kind you would get out of a box with a spigot.

No matter, we're there for the food, not the libations.  First of all I will give Meister's kudos on the temperature of their food.  Everything was hot.  Like, really hot where you'd have to let it sit for a while before biting into it.  That's good.  The choice of appetizers was limited and pretty ordinary.  We ended up getting onion rings and mushrooms.  The mushrooms came with a little ranch dipping sauce.

 Ray couldn't resist getting a cup of the sausage tortilinni soup, which he said was tasty.  It came with three packets of crackers.  Very generous indeed!

As for the entrees, we each had something different.  I had the philly sandwich (sans green peppers *burp*) with au jus, Ruthie had taco salad, which was huge, Husby had a buffalo chicken wrap sandwich, and Ray had a rueben.  As I mentioned, everything came to us really hot and tasted fine, but in my opinion the menu in general and my dinner lacked any kind of originality or pizazz.  The rest of the gang might have different opinions.

And what kind of dive would Meister's be if it didn't have a Friday Night Meat Raffle?  Of course we had to buy a couple of chances because who doesn't want to go home with a hunk of raw meat after an evening out?

Unfortunately none of our numbers were winners. 

Long and short?  We kicked off the third year of Dive Nights with a tradition, but the least favorite of the three Meister's.  Nothing about it was outstanding, but nothing was icky either.  It was just...zzzzzz. 

One thing I must mention is the service.  That was pretty decent.  Our waitress was very attentive and did a good job of keeping up with us and the large party of old people.  Nice and friendly, but not too friendly to get in your way.  I like wait staff like that.  Our waitress was excellent.

So that wraps it up.  I feel a little guilty not being more positive.  I will say if you're going to go to an average place to eat you should be accompanied by superior company, like Husby and I are every time we're out with Ruthie and Ray.  Thanks, guys!

If I Were King Of The Forest

Things are starting to look up in Craftland.  As exciting as it is for me to get my work space tidy and functional again, I can't help but wonder if this project was a means for procrastination from what I really have to do ~ jumpstart my business.

I'll admit the new and improved Craftland is necessary to a productive work area which will, in turn, allow me to create better products and more of them.  But the closer I get to the completion of the Craftland project, the more I dread what comes next ~ the work.  I'm not talking about the work involved in making my little crafties, I'm talking about the work it takes to get out and sell this stuff.  The goal is to be able to retire on schedule (much sooner than the average retiree) and to have a booming business to supplement my pension.  While I love to make the things I do, getting out there to sell it in spades is another thing.

One of my favorite blogs had a post not too long ago to which I could really relate.  It's all about the hang-ups of entrepreneurs.  Actually, there is only one hang-up, and that is fear.  Oh sure, you've heard it all before, and so have I.  We make excuses about why we can't get our businesses off the ground (too busy working on Craftland, can't take perfect photos, have to spend forty hours a week at the day job, etc.), but the bottom line is we're afraid.

There is fear of failure and fear of success.  There is fear of looking foolish, fear of what others might think of your entrepreneurial lifestyle, fear of being left behind.  Lots and lots of fears.  The article on this blog addressed the fear we've been hearing about for years, but the author took a whole new angle on it.  He spoke in terms of The Wizard of Oz. 

Now that's a theory I can get behind!  I totally get it, and will print off the blog post and pin it up on my new Craftland bulletin board for easy reference.  The fear we as entrepreneurs have is exactly the same fear experienced by The Cowardly Lion in the 1939 classic film.

Jonathan Morrow walks you though what your fears may be to recognizing those fears as being unrealistic to forging ahead courageously despite the fear.  Not only does it all make sense, it's written in a way that is thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining.

So please, if you're having trouble becoming the entrepreneur you've always dreamed of being, or if you're looking for a way to unstick yourself from any undesired situation check out this post  on my new favorite and often times inspiring website Copyblogger.

There's nothing like a great motivational article to push me into a fabulous weekend.  I hope yours is fab too!