VACATION --- Part 1.

Cost of two tickets for Ferris Wheel: $16

Time spent waiting to board Ferris Wheel: 25 minutes

Number of bad country songs blasted in our ears in waiting line: at least 4

View of Ocean City at night: PRICELESS!!

hahaa --- cynical me.

But really, we had a GREAT time at the beach!

The best part was the food and the long hours just laying in the sand doing nothing. My favorite thing by far.

My parents will be shocked to hear that ate mostly seafood! I have apparently just developed my adult taste buds and love fish now. I ate mahi mahi with a cashew crust ... a broiled flounder ... and some fried clam strips (but I liked those before because they are mostly just fried stuff.)

Anyways ... a good time all around! :)

BUT --- the bad part of vacation (the only bad part) is the coming home and feeling "out of it" part. I'm definitely going through that. It takes me a long time to get back into a rhythm of life .. especially with my business!

We took lots of photos today, and that usually helps get me going.

And GUESS WHAT!!! In two weeks we're going on ANOTHER vacation! This time to New England (Maine/Massachusetts, etc.)

It's a bit hectic for myself, but Rich didn't have much of a choice about when he would have off this year, so we're really making them count!

I can't complain though :)

Shenandoah and giveaway winners!!

BLOG GIVEAWAY WINNERS! ------> 1st place (any comb under $35 from the shop): Tiger_Lili; 2nd place (the pink lace comb): MichellemyBelle; 3rd place: (the pink flower ring) Ausra

Congrats to all!!! :) I will send you e-mails right after I finish this blog to get your info and such :)

THANKS TO EVERYONE who entered!! Stay tuned --- I love me a giveaway!! :)

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This weekend me and the fella took a little mini-vacation to Shenandoah National Park! This is one of the major perks of doing Etsy full-time ... I can just get up and go! (as long as we stop by the post office on the way.)

It was actually really difficult to not have Internet access for the "almost" 2 days we were there ... I felt so disconnected! And Rich's cellphone went dead after a while, so he was really cut-off. How strange that we are conditioned to rely on technology so much! I don't think it's a bad thing. Just weird... And such a contrast to be "in nature" for the weekend...

It was SO WINDY!!! But we had fun going a couple (very short) hikes ... because I am a big wimp when it comes to hiking. We mostly did some relaxing and I took pictures of flowers a lot :) GOOD TIMES!

And now ... I'm all refreshed and ready for another week of ETSY!!! YAH!!! :D

Sun & Fun

Thanks so much to every who commented on my last post! My eyes welled up a bit reading them all --*sniff* *sniff*

The plan (for now) is to not think about anything ... ANYTHING until I get back from vacation. Sounds impossible, but that is the task I am setting forth for myself.

I've got a really short work week next week, then a couple days to buy travel-sized hairspray and toothpaste and such. Also, I've got to drop Caesar off at my parent's house for bird-sitting :)

So, here is the big plan:

Day one: Colonial Williamburg

Day two: Busch Gardens

Day three---?: Virginia Beach

My shop is going to be temporarily down for this time (June 5-14th) So, I think I'm still able to get convos through Etsy. But if not, feel free to e-mail me at EmilyZych@yahoo.com.

Rich says one room has free high-speed Internet, so I may smuggle my laptop along for the journey :) :) :)

Pray for no rain, no sunburns and no stress!

The gears are turning ...

Well, I've got my pile of craft store Memorial Day coupons in hand and I'm ready to run the gamut. 

Had another long conversation yesterday evening with Rich about the logistics of doing Etsy full-time. I think the only thing holding me back now is this idea I have of what a person is "supposed" to do. 

Like, you grow up, get a job, and go to it (everday) and get your paycheck with insurance and a 401 (k). 

I feel like I'd be doing something naughty by just crafting full-time. Like the universe would come back and bite me for not doing what the normal people do. I dunno. Maybe I'm just chicken :)

But, anyway, I feel like I need to do some things before I jump in, in any event.

Like, I need to get my own website up and running. This is a major expense (a start-up expense, if you will.) And I've been pussy-footing my way around with a lovely lady who has been extremely patient, but I'm just still tossing the idea around in my head. 

Also, I need a professional photographer. I've been thinking of things I could do, like set up a deal where I ship a few pieces off to someone who shoots them with a better camera/model/setting ... but that would significantly raise my prices. Ugh. 

What's a gal to do!?

Anyway, for now at least, I will worry about my forthcoming beach vacation and concentrate on getting a pedicure and buying travel-sized bottles of mouthwash, lotion and sunscreen :)

P.S. Here's a new HP feature for all you nerdy nerds out there!!

I'm so trendy!

I've been collecting examples of crowns from various catalogs and such as they turn up. And look! Three! They are from Urban Outfitters, Free People and Anthropologie catalogs, respectively. (I think...)

Really, just the top one is a true crown, per say, but you know.  It's like collecting bits of proof

In other news!! The big vacation is coming up! Rich and I spent the past 6+ months (the entirety of our relationship) planning a big super gianourmous trip to London. 

BUT, my fear of flying there, paired with my fear of flying back, has edited this into a jaunt down to Virginia. 

We're thinking of doing the Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, and Virginia Beach circuit over about a week.

I feel myself getting stressed out already. I fear I am just not able to have a relaxing vacation. I will sincerely try though :)

all in the family

My sister, Amanda, niece, Ella and bro-in-law, Max's visit came and went way too soon!!! But we had a quality two days of playing outside, inside, driving around places and even eating out! Fun fun fun! But boy, am I tired.

I am really in awe of how my sister is able to do it. I was having to take a break on the couch after just a few hours of playing. But she is on all the time! Ella is a lucky little girl!!

When they first arrived, we all met up with my parents and Rich (he was sooo nervous!!) near my apartment for dinner at this Italian place..then they all came back to see inside my "studio" (aka one-room) apartment. It was a tight squeeze and a big cockroach crawled across the floor right in front of everyone's feet!  Lots of screaming, and it was squashed. How embarassing!

Oh, and the girls went to this ribbon outlet! I will have to make a new post just about that. It was a-may-ziinnng.

Alright, I am off to catch up with my Etsy....I think she is feeling jealous :) hehehee

Flying in the mountains

 The boy and I went to Shenandoah National Park this past weekend. So nice. We didn't realize we had to drive another hour to the place once we got in the park, but driving along "skyline drive" as it's named, is spectacular.

We had the windows down, the music up, and just marveled in the landscape passing by. Out the windows, you could just see sky and moutain. 

Like flying.