Start-of-year panic

As the title suggests, this time of year is the worst for any anxious business owner (such as myself!)

There's all these messages of hope and looking ahead and "Wow! You have this amazing blank canvas of 2014!"

As grumpy cat would say ... "No."

For someone who lives and makes their money by a system of profit and loss, there is really no alternative than to begin the year in RED.

Like, really red.

There's estimated taxes that come due on the 15, Etsy bills, holiday bills ...

And your profit starts off (as it has to) with a big fat ZERO.

As my poor husband is aware, this panic happens for me every year.

No matter how well I did mere weeks ago in 2013, this new year is an untested, uncharted new territory.

.......

Side notes:

1.) I considered making it my resolution to start blogging regularly again, but I'm a realist about this and will most likely keep it pretty sporadic.

2.) I finally got AMAZING pink boots that I love. There's a new post right there!

3.) HAPPY NEW YEAR!! :) 

Goals for 2013

(Photo by Girlhula via Flickr).

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

It's a bit of bad time of year for me, what with taxes and a whole year of being responsible for my income spreading out before me.

BUT, I try to remain positive and concentrate on the whole "fresh start" mentality.

Here is my shortlist of goals for Whichgoose in 2013.

1.) Blog more (obviously!)

2.) Be on top of social networking in general.

3.) Get a real photo studio set up with back drop (no more white sheet on door.)

4.) Set aside at least a few hours per week to DO NOTHING.

5.) Spend less.

6.) Save more.

7.) Be grateful everyday.

8.) Get some awesome photos.

9.) Keep innovating.

I wish I could think of one more for an even "10" but I can't!

xo -Emily 

Awesome sauce!

Today me and Kate (other friend named Kate!) made homemade apple sauce!! Kate is a canning professional and this was my "introduction"to the wide world of food preservation.

FIRST, get a lot of apples. Wash with a produce wash if available. The main thing about canning is cleanliness. Anything you can do to keep things sanitary is good.

NEXT, peel and core your apples. We had this fancy apple peeler from Pampered Chef. It didn't always work though ... but it sure helps with hand cramping from the regular peeler.

Put your apple pieces in a big pot with about 2 inches of water. Cook until soft (about 20 minutes or so.) 

Drain your apples and puree in a food processor (things are starting to shape up --- and smell AMAZING.) 

Re-heat your pureed applesauce in a pot until it gets to 200 degrees F. In the meantime, boil your lids and gather your jars. The jars should be freshly washed and sanitized with heat in the dishwasher.

Fill your jars with a funnel to about the bottom of the lid (do not over-fill.) Return them to a boiling water bath with the lids on and cook another 20 minutes to seal and pressurize.

Allow jars to cool and you will hear them "popping" as they contract and seal up nice and good :)

NOTE: You can certainly add sugar, cinnamon ... what have you. We kept them simple since the apple variety was pretty sweet on its own.

ENJOY! :) 

Life's like this:

Life really is good right now. And I know saying that pretty much guarantees something bad will happen soon. But, whatever. Bring it on! I finally feel at ease with my life ... like I'm not constantly striving for a better job, a better boy, a better car, better clothes ... anything. I am content with myself and my situation .. and that is a FINE feeling :)

I'm all settled in here ... feeling super productive in my cute new studio! And Caesar (my bird) is loving his new perch by the window. He finally has started going up there by himself ... only after I put a mirror up there.

And things with Rich are great ... no annoying habits (that I didn't already know about!) hehehe just kidding bo-bo :) We are having fun making dinners and eating leftovers the next day. And we both love playing the board game, "Careers" --anyone know it? It's the bomb.

OKAY -- all for now :)

Sort of big news!

Sort of big news ya'll!

I'm moving in with my boyfriend, Rich, in 2 months!!! It's not super crazy, since I've moved somewhere new each year (at this time of the year) for the last 3 or 4 years... but it's a BIG STEP nonetheless!

The biggest news of this big news is that I'll get my very own ETSY ROOM!!

WOOHOO!! Right now, I have a room upstairs that I *thought* would be my Etsy room, but it got too hot in the summer, so I just use it for packing up stuff and storing product/supplies.

This is where I do the majority of my work now:

The key point is that just beyond the couch is the TV. Bad, I know ... but I guess I'm used to having that sort of background noise when I work!

ANYWAY... the point of this post is that I have to start thinking about how to DESIGN my new studio room!!

This is a big decision.

A studio must be condusive to creativity .. and at the same time -- allow you to concentrate AND feel cozy and relaxed!

The main ingredients seem to be:

BRIGHT COLORS.

LOTS OF BOOKS.

SOFT LIGHTING.

LOTS OF INSPIRATION. (plus a little bit of messiness).

I think I'm also thinking of putting in some sort of cupboard/built-in storage system.

Ideas?

snowed in.

AHHH!!!! I'm going stir-crazy. seriously!! We got like 30" of snow here in Maryland. I am STUCK.

Example A.)

My car.

And Rich had to go in for emergency work, so there went our weekend AND super bowl (stupid bowl) party plans!!! :( So ... here I am all alone. TRAPPED. Pretty much just eating junk food and watching bad TV.

So far today I watched:

1.) Keeping up with the Kardashians (sp?)

2.) Scary Movie II

3.) Some random infomercials about a griller and an exercise program.

The good news: I don't have to go anywhere ... especially not work ... and I can basically stay shut in here as long as I can stand it. And Rich says he's coming over after work on Tuesday ... so I know I'll at least get out of the house then :)

And tomorrow, I might try a walk down the snow-covered street to the Starbucks. We'll see if I have any energy left after trying to dig out my car.

bbuuuuuuhhhh ......

I've been sick.

UGHH!!!

It started with these weird bumps on my neck ... and I thought "that can't be good." And it wasn't. Had a KILLER sinus infection and couldn't even do Etsy!!!

It was a good thing I had some time off work anyway, but it sucked that all I could do with my time off was sit on the couch and watch movies. Normally, this is my ideal activity ... but when you're sick ... nothing is fun.

My bird, Caesar, was my only entertainment when there was nothing to watch on TV and I was out of good movies. Here he is giving some love to his mirror. Such a narcissistic bird.

I'm just about at 100% now ... got some sweet antibiotics (just in time to go back to work.) SIGH. Ah well. I am thankful that I can taste food and breath through my nose again :)

OOOHHH. I want to make a new video but and out of ideas.....Any suggestions for some sort of tutorial video???

Whatever you want to call them ... heroes, idols, inspirations .... everyone has people they look up to. I was thinking about originality the other day (mostly, the current issue I'm dealing with of copycat/haters) and I was realizing that someone emulating me or my style really is a high honor.

(If only they weren't stealing my dreams and my income.)

Anyway, trying to keep things on the sunny side.

Here are the people I've looked up to and how they have changed over my life.

FAMILY: My mom and dad and big sister (obviously!) They are the people who taught me how to be myself, how to care for people and what It means to love. I remember putting on my mom's make-up when I was little...making a mess. And always wanting to do ANYTHING my sister was doing. And thinking my dad was the smartest person in the world when he made up bedtime stories to tell me.

PUNKY BREWSTER: I think every little girl my age wanted to by Punky at one time. She was just SO COOL and so far beyond her time. And my goodness...that vest and those bandanas around her knees!!

ANI DIFRANCO: Ani represents the first "breakaway" for me from only wanting to listen to the same type of music as my sister through my middle/highschool years. I thought she was so beyond amazing ... and her lyrics first made me want to be a writer. Sidenote: I used to have a nosering because of her!

WALT WHITMAN: Oh, my idealistic and poetic college years. I was an English/Poetry major and thought life was nothing but a collection of stanzas. I read "Leaves of Grass" cover to cover ... mumbling the words out loud like I was in some kind of trance.

MARTHA STEWART: Snapped back to reality after school...working retail ... but starting to get more in tune with my creative/artistic self. Martha represents the full spectrum of togetherness/ success (minus the whole prison thing) and sophistication. I remember thinking 'why can't I do something like that?'

EMILY MARTIN: (the Etsy seller "TheBlackApple.") I chose her to represent "THE ETSY SELLER" ideal for me. I remember when Lauren first sent me a link to etsy and wrote, "Possibly the coolest thing ever."

Whoah. was she right or what. I remember looking at TheBlackApple and just being blown away that people were buying these things this girl, just like me, had made.

I remember staying up late that night and sketching out drawings, ideas for shops, possible names and just feeling this tremendous sense of possibility and destiny.

I like to think that there is much more ahead. Where I am now is just the adolescence of my business and artistic journey. Maybe I will be someone's "Martha Stewart" someday.

But if I'm only ever Emily, that will be just fine with me.

Write it down. Cross it out.

It's one of those times in my life where I start feeling overwhelmed, and therefore, I make lists. Actually, Etsy tends to slow down this time of year (people seem to not want hair crowns in the winter ??? crazy! I know!)  But my life seems to jump into turbo speed around the holidays. 

There is a mindset that the more I can cram into one day, the easier the rest of the days following will be. This never seems to pan out though because more stuff just piles up!

I was in the shower last night going over what I needed to do...trying to make up a song so that I would remember it all for once I'd dried off and found a pen.

It helps to see it all on paper I think .... and the best part of all .... getting to scratch each line off as I do it! :)

I will at least be able to scratch off "BLOG" from this list now. YES!

P.S. My sale's still going on!! Buy one, get one half off in the shop! Plus, I've added more goodies!! whichgoose

Have yourself a good cry.

(MOVING...AH! My life in boxes.)

I'm a crier. I cry at sad movies, I cry at happy movies. I cry at romantic movies, even (sometimes) the end of intense action movies! But I especially cry from music. I'm sure driving down the road is dangerous for me most of the time because I frequently tear up!

But, with so much routine put into crying, I tend to depend on it for a stress relief when I'm stressed out. And what other time does one get stressed out more except when they are in the process of MOVING!

So, I have compiled a few videos of songs that will give me (and maybe you!) some happy tears.

It's healthy, I think :)

Here's "Baby Mine" from "Dumbo."

Here's "Bring Him Home" from "Les Miserables." (Sorry about the captions...lame.)

Here's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" from "Meet Me in St. Louis." (p.s. I am SO excited for Christmas this year!! Don't know why. I was totally not into it last year....)

What did I miss? What makes YOU cry???

Branching out

SO---I made my first hat. I've done some crochet work in the past, but this is some hard-core sewing!

I made it all by hand, all by me-self :)

I'm sure the next one will go quicker and more neatly, but this first one has more charm to it, I think.

BIG NEWS! I move into my new apartment this month!! How exciting. AND--It will have my very own Etsy studio room!! WHOO!

You can't imagine how much of a step up this is for me! Right now I have:

--one room

--no washer or dryer

-- no dish washer

-- no cable TV

--- one bathroom

It's like I'm living in the woods! (Oh, and props to Thoreau for the quote ... he knew all about living in the woods.)

I will put up pictures as soon as I finish DECORATING! Ah..the best part of any move. :)

Also, I think a trip to IKEA is in order.  

Sweedish meatballs...mmmmm....

A few of my favorite things

Isn't it strange how certain possessions hold such importance and meaning? These are a few of my such "things."

I was thinking the other day about what I would save from a fire. The list got WAY too long. Maybe I am too attached to things?

Here are some from the very top (In no particular order because I am borderline blog-illiterate.) :)

Poncho of my mom's that she wore!

Sammy. My one true love.

Letters from my sister, Amanda. She is in Seattle and I only see her once or twice a year.

Box of my Nana's crafting supplies.

Harry Potter books. (Notice Goblet of Fire is missing? Rich is reading them all :) 

Letter from my college poetry professor on our yearly publication. He writes "Emily, with terrific admiration for a real one." 

Happy Valentine's Day! (or not)

This is such a weird day for everyone. It's all about comparisons. 

If you're single, you compare yourself with someone who has a partner. If you've got a partner, you compare yourself with someone who's engaged. If you're engaged, you compare yourself with someone who's married. If you're married, you compare yourself with someone with kids.

It goes on and on.....

But, regardless, I hope everyone is has a day full of love--- whether it be from from friends, family, or total strangers ---I hope you feel it some today :)

My sweetie was WAITING FOR ME in the parking lot at my work last night!!!!! He had a box of roses (see picture) and a card with Hello Kitty on it and a nice long note :)

What a sneakie!

It was sweet though. The poor guy had to wait for over an hour because the paper was late due to the stimulus bill passing. Hheeehe. 

Well, I am off  to compare my roses with all the other gals at work! (kidding!)

new glasses!!!

Yay!! New glasses!! I have been putting this off since 2003! My old glasses had a serious layer of grunge on them.

Good news, I still only have to wear them when driving, watching movies or looking at things far away.

Bad news, I have a "spot"on my retina...ew....I have to go to a specialist in the next day or two to get it checked out. YUCK. I think I may procrastinate a BIT on that, but should do it in the next few weeks.

She said it could be nothing, or maybe some trauma from my car crash that hasn't healed, or something "else."

Rich said he still will love me even if I have an eye patch. :) Yar.

The worst part of the whole experience was that stupid air they blow into your eye. I kept blinking and she had to do it like 10 times! argh. 

Oh well. DONE. 

your official tour

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT: Orchid in the shower, my bed and chandelier, jadite collection in kitchen, the living area, all my kitchen goodies, the birds hanging out in the Juliet window, whichgoose studios

new projects!

Well, in the ongoing attempt to keep myself occupied in light of my current situation, I have procured two victorian/c. 1800s-era dresses. 

They are in rough shape--but I plan to give them makeovers. Ohboyohboy!

I swear I won't turn into a shut-in. I actually left the house today, by myself, on an outing. Went to downtown Frederick, looked around at downtown places for rent--didn't really see any--stopped by the ecoart festival where Lauren was manning a booth--felt awkward walking around by myself--and left. bah.

I'm not used to the whole independent woman thing. I think confidence is the main thing I'm lacking. I keep hoping some man will show me some attention so I can think "oh, okay, I'm still worth it. I still got it." I've got to get it through my head that I don't need anyone to tell me that. 

I think I still need time. I feel like i'm mourning this huge loss--I mean--this relationship. I nutured and cared about it for almost 3 years. Everyday, doing everything I could to tend to it, help it grow. And now, it is dead.

SO. I carry on. And will make some dresses. Sorry to be a Debby Downer. 

P.S. Lots of crown being listed soon!!

here's some pictures!

Yikes! I got a little choked up in the towing yard yesterday when I went to get my tags. I had no idea the window was gone!

Well, on  a lighter note, I am working on two CUSTOM ORDERS today! How exciting! I know at least one if for a cool young lady's wedding and I am honored :) 

So, I'll put those up here once I'm done. (hopefully in the next day or two).

Got so much to do with the car mess and all still. Most importantly---getting a new one!

I think I'm down to these lucky finalists: Honda Civic, Honda Fit, Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, or (if I want to go into debt) the PRIUS!! :) hehehe

i was in a car wreck

Last Friday. Right before Memorial Day weekend, too. So here it is Wednesday and I'm still waiting to see if the car's totaled or not. 

Some woman ran a red light and I got smashed on the driver's side. Had (still got to some degree) horrible neck pain and stiffness and a bruise to beat all bruises on my left thigh (where the door came in to greet me).

The crazy thing is I had about an hour where I don't remember anything. I remember seeing her coming at me, screaming, getting smashed violently around....then sitting there for a minute, trying to figure out if I was dead or injured.

I remember getting out of the passenger side door and sitting on the curb. That's it. Next thing I know, I'm in the hospital staring at the ceiling.

That's probably the scariest part of the whole ordeal. I know there was an ambulance ride, questions and questions and questions....which I must have answered?

Also, I had a recurring dream for the past month--more just like a vision--of a crash. Never been in one before. Scary. 

it's a rainy day.

Why does it always rain on my days off?

Actually, it was quite nice early in the morning...Indy and I went for a walk in the woods behind the complex. I got some more sticks and made 3 more crowns later.

So then it starts raining... I go grocery shopping ... leave some stuff behind and have to drive back... general blah-ness.

Cale had to do sound for the 'Taste of Wheaton' festival (boo!) 

But, I got a lot of stuff done. Laundry. Slowcooker'ed dinner. Etsy. 

Ooh! and guess what--I'm over 150 items sold now! yeeeeaa baaabyy!! I'm so excited. I still get so excited when I sell something--almost as much as the first thing I sold. Ask Cale---I do a happy dance. ;)

Tomorrow's the big thrift shopping day...and post office! whee!

Rainy day blues

THURSDAY.

It hasn't started yet--but it's gonna pour today. :( I would love it at night, like a nice cooling thunderstorm...but it's gonna be on my way to work. Boo.

Here's some newly listed items to cheer ya up :)