Short & Sweet

I finally broke out the new camera last night after it sat in a box on my kitchen counter for over a week. I love, love, love it and can't wait to learn to use it to it's full potential. Even the shots on the automatic settings were awesome.

Do I have anything to show for it? Nope. Lighting at 7pm in my cave of a living room isn't the best. Just so you all know.

Perhaps I'll be able to take some photos tonight when I get home. After a shopping trip to find wire locker baskets and galvanized buckets...I cannot wait to set up a display for this open house Friday night :)

Have a great one, all!

Introducing...

Yup, my next creative endeavor. This isn't my first attempt at selling things I make (far from it), but it is my latest installment. It's less specific this time, so I don't have to feel pressured to make a certain thing. I just get to enjoy creating!

So, what is it that I'm doing, exactly? I'm still making greeting cards and greeting card sets, because that will always be my first love. But, I'm also embracing all sorts of things that are {handmade}, from wedding stationery to entire wedding ensembles, cupcake bling (because you know my love for cupcakes), party packages, home decor, holiday items, and so on. If I love it, and I can make it, it's fair game!

If you've been reading my blog for awhile now, you know that I find it extremely important to support local businesses, artists, growers, etc, as well as individuals who are not part of some national chain (buying on Etsy, at small boutiques, and so forth). I will almost always buy local (even if it costs a little more) over some mega-chain, if I can. By labeling something {handmade}, I'm showing my support for all those great sellers, while throwing my hat in the ring as well. {Handmade} means that whatever I've created, I've done so because it means something to me. I've taken time create an inspired work - no matter what it is I've made. {Handmade} also means that no matter what the item, no two will ever be the same - everything is cut, stamped, designed and assembled individually.

Over the course of the next few days, I'll write posts that explain a little more about what I'm doing and show you some examples of things I'll be selling. If you're bored of this already, I apologize - I promise, this blog won't become a blog that's only about crafts and selling them! But, creating things is a big part of me, so that's what you get sometimes! :)

I think I've mentioned in previous posts that I've been busy creating for the last few weeks in preparation for an open house. This will be my first big event of the season with the new company name, new items, etc., so I'm getting very excited (and feeling the pressure of the deadline!). Anyone in the area is very welcome to attend - we'd love to see you stop by!

A friend from work is hosting the open house to individuals who have a home-based business to share their products in a very informal atmosphere. She is part of a team that will be participating in the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure 3-day event in Minneapolis. This is their 3rd walk (they've made it an annual event) and I try to find a way to support them each year. So, this year, I'll be donating 10% of whatever sales I have at the open house to my friend's fundraising team. Which means I'm depending on anyone who knows I'm going to be at the open house to come and support my donation! So, if you're local and reading this, spread the word, please!

The open house is Friday evening in Omaha. If you want more information, find me on Facebook and I'll be happy to send you an invitation. You can pass it along to your friends as well. It really is a great cause, and I'm proud to be a part of her fundraising efforts, while getting to do something I really enjoy!

Okay, that's enough about me and Vogt Design Co. for today, but I'll be back over the course of the week to tell you more, including my attempt to sell on Etsy and some sneak peeks of what I've been up to over the last few weeks.

Life

This week has been very challenging, to say the least. I think that's partly why I haven't blogged very much. I really do think of this blog as sort of a living scrapbook where I record what's going on in our lives and my feelings about things, so I try to make it as real as possible. Which, let's face it, includes some negative things. But, there's a very fine line between being accurate and being depressing, and I think I'm to the point where everything that's going on is just depressing.

You all know from my last post that I miss my mom. Sunday was the 4-year anniversary of her passing. We've had a lot of instances of death here at work this week (it sort of comes and goes, it seems), and two good friends from work are dealing with the illness and impending loss of close loved ones. When it rains, it pours, I guess.

So, rather than dwell on all of that sadness as I have been all week, I'm going to try to focus on the blessings in life and things I've learned since dealing with my mom's death 4 years ago as a 24-year old (barely 24 at that).

Tell people you love them! I say that all the time, because it's so important to me. You truly never know when the last time is that you'll get the opportunity to say, "I love you." So do it now. Trust me, I know how easy it is to think "Oh, that'll never happen to me. Everyone I know is young/healthy/knows I love them." I thought that way too for a long time. Get over those thoughts - take the opportunity NOW.

Talk about your wishes for the future, both in times of health and in times of illness. Talk about your dreams and your goals with your loved ones...things you want to do, things you want to see, to say, things you love. Also talk about what you want for your care should something happen...it's extremely important to let others know what you want both in life and in death.

Do something about it! Don't wait til tomorrow to make something happen that you want. I'm the first person to say (even now) that I don't have time...I have too many commitments...everyone else's needs should come first...I can't get away from work. Bull. Even I know it's crap. Make time to enjoy life now.

Remember. One of the things I'm most looking forward to with kids is telling them about their grandma and about their great grandpa (my grandpa), and having Mike tell them about their great grandpa (his grandpa). We both have such great admiration for our grandparents and my mom and wish our kids could have known them. But, God had other plans for them, so we'll tell their story instead. It wouldn't do anyone any good to push that memory aside and not talk about them just because it hurts.

I don't have all the answers. It would be nice if I did, but that won't happen. I just know how I've learned to deal with things because I've been forced to.

I got a text from my brother the other day. He's not the most emotional guy in the world, and doesn't remember dates or events. He's a typical 25 year old guy :) Anyway, the text he sent me said, "Hard to believe it's been 4 years, huh?" 8 words. And he completely summed up what I was feeling. It's good to know I'm not alone in this.

Some Realities

• Our house is rarely perfectly clean (it may have never been perfectly clean), yet I demand that it be darn close before we have people coming over. This stresses me greatly and I don't enjoy it. Why is this?
• I work best under pressure. I'm sure I'm crafting an ulcer by doing this, but I don't care. My best stuff happens last minute.
• I'm easily bored. I tire of jobs, tasks, hobbies, shows, colors, hand writings, etc. all the time. It's part of who I am. I like the stimulation of something new. I'm easily persuaded into changing my tastes and likes.
• I'm ready to have kids. Are you listening, God?? :)
• I enjoy being crafty. It makes me extremely happy and I'm fairly certain that I should be doing something crafty for a living. However, when asked, I don't consider myself "crafty", "artistic", or "creative". I wonder why that is.
• I love that I have a craft room. It was one of my demands when we were house shopping. I don't actually like using it though. In an ideal world, it would be my storage space for all crafty things, and I would have a space to work on crafts upstairs, with my husband and my puppy. (My craft room is in the basement.)
• I miss my mom. I'm still terribly lonely without her and feel like a piece of my heart is missing. I spent most of Friday and Saturday crying, thinking of her in death instead of in life (as I try to always think of her). Sunday was 4 years since the day she went to Heaven. Almost every day, I think to myself "This is the longest I've ever gone without talking to her." That number used to 2 or 3 days. (That isn't to say I don't talk to her all the time...it's just that our conversations used to be two-sided.)
• I don't care how unhealthy it is, I will always love my Dr. Pepper.
• I love school supplies. When we were walking through Target the other day, Mike and I spent at least 20 minutes in the "Back to School" section. I'm so, so glad I married someone as weird as I am.
• I'm ready for Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas/Valentine's Day. I'm always happier during the time of the year where there are holidays involved.
• I will always melt over this face:

Happy Monday, ya'll!

Asleep at the...

Toilet??

Long story short, a woman who lives here is sending back a commode that was ordered because it isn't big enough for her. I naturally assumed it wasn't wide enough. Turns out it wasn't deep enough. I asked how that could possibly be, and was told...

"She prefers to recline on the commode when she's sitting, and often falls asleep. She's looking for a toilet she can comfortably nap on."

Are you freaking kidding me? Turns out, they weren't freaking kidding me.

At what point in life does it become a concern if a toilet is comfortable enough to sleep on?? I'd like to die one day before that, please. I can't ever imagine saying to Mike, "Gee, honey, we need to buy a new toilet. I just can't get a good night's sleep on the john we have now."

What's next, this?

I can't stop laughing.

Ah, the Swing of Things...

How I miss getting into you (the swing of things, that is).

I had a crazy couple of weeks so I slowed down the blogging, and now I'm having issues getting back to it. Not because I'm not chatty. Ha, we all know that's not true.

So, instead of chatting about what's going on, I shall show you some pictures I've found. Because Internet stalking for pretties never goes away.

I believe this is from The Nester (I'm terrible at saving sources for things...fortunately, I stalk the same people regularly). First, I love her frames, but I sincerely doubt Mike would go for that in our house. It's a little too abstract for him. I love the dresser. Love it. I'm looking for something really inexpensive with similar bones that I can paint and distress for my dining room. I shall find it!

This is a catalog page from Uppercase Living. How cute is that little piece of glass/window thing? Super cute. I'm working on a similar project involving wedding pictures, windows, and vinyl lettering. By working on, I mean I've purchased all the supplies and was generously given an adorable window by my friend Sue, and now I just have to put it together (which involves removing some paint from the window...that's what's taking me so long).

I can't remember where I saw this picture, so if you know, tell me. I thought this would be a really cute idea for the newly pink guest room (because what screams Grandma more than embroidery hoops...did I tell you that Mike is calling our guest room "the Grandma room"??) I would obviously use shades of pink, white, and cream, which are the main colors in that room (with pops of light blue and red...love it).

This is Aura's patio. Someday my prince patio will come.

You know my love for tarnished silverware, right? I have a cute little ball canning jar full of it on a kitchen shelf. This photo is from Lara Blair Images.

I think this is a Pottery Barn image (it looks like theirs). Those egg filler packages were off the chart expensive, in my opinion. I want to say over $10 for six small eggs. Are you freaking kidding me? So, I made my own. I did blue and eggshell colored ones, with brown speckles. I probably have at least 20 eggs around my house, all for around $4 (since I had the painting supplies on hand, all I had to buy were some wooden eggs from Hobby Lobby...throw in some Easter clearance and I was good to go).

Okay, that's probably enough for today. How's that for random picture-ness?

Apricots

Well, it seems we have an apricot tree on the Vogt farm. Who'da thunk it? It didn't even bloom last year, let alone develop any fruit, so when I saw a tree full of beautiful blooms this spring, and now it looks like the apricot Gods have heartily blessed it...well, needless to say I was a little shocked.

I'm not really a fan of apricots. Bummer. But, Mike is, and we know lots of people who are, and perhaps I will be with just the right use of them.

So, it seems that I will be canning galore this weekend. I've heard a few people say they like apricot jam (and I do too - I use them in a thumbprint cookie I make sometimes for Christmas), so I'll make some jam. Apricot butter sounds like a good fall gift, but I don't know if there is such a thing. And apricots packed in water would probably go over well too. I found a recipe the other day for an apricot glazed pork chop. I can't find it now. Perhaps it will cross my path again someday soon (would probably help if I actually looked for it.)

Anyway, if you have any delish apricot recipes I should know about, send 'em my way. I also heard that Mike's grandma's cherry tree has been blessed as well, so I may be using cherries this weekend. I foresee lots of hard work...which is exactly what I like to avoid on weekends :)

I hope everyone has a great one!

To Sum Up...

The last few days, in bullet point style...

• Happy 4th of July! It's one of my favorite holidays. This year didn't feel so much like normal...it was rainy most of the day, relatively cool, we had other plans in the morning, plus it was a Sunday. I feel like I sort of missed out on some things. But, the celebration we had was awesome, with lots of family, and I know that I'm truly lucky to have had it. 
• I broke my toe on Saturday. That was awesome. {sarcasm font}
• I'm struggling with a lot of things right now and trying to decide if I should open my mouth. Right now, my silence is winning out because of the consequences that would follow if I was honest about how I feel. With that comes much anxiety.
• I still watch that dance I posted last week at least once a day. Usually more often than that. I'm still amazed.
• My brainstormer is working overtime on a party I'm planning for Labor Day weekend.
• It's still raining here. Still. Pray for a break, and for the safety of everyone in immediate danger from the flooding. 

(This is a crappy pic taken with my phone, out my car window, while driving...this used to be a field. It's now a lake.)

• I'm so looking forward to sleeping in on Saturday. Cannot. Wait.
• 9 more days until my camera is in stock. It was back-ordered again. I was not pleased.
• 2 more days until the weekend. That's where my focus has been the last couple of days. After the insanely busy weekend we had last weekend, I just need a break. Badly.

Well, wasn't that a happy little post? :) This is definitely a chapter in the "crumpled" part of our story. Sometimes I just have those weeks, you know?

Hope everyone has a fabulous day!

SYTYCD

OH MY GRAVY.

That's all I can say. I'm blown away by what I saw on SYTYCD last night. I've watched this number at least 15 times since it first aired and I'm never less amazing by how exceptionally awesome it is.

A little background in case you don't watch the show:

Alex Wong is trained as a ballet dancer. He danced with the Miami Ballet for a year, and left his contract to come to SYTYCD. He has absolutely no hip-hop experience. Twitch is one of the best hip-hop dancers on this show. He's incredible.

Okay, now watch this (make sure your sound is on)...

Can you freaking believe that? It is seriously one of the most amazing dances I've ever seen. I watch a LOT of reality TV, and sometimes, there are things that just stick out in your mind. This is something that will be in my mind for a LONG time. Ah-mazing.