errata

Vackay day ... quiet day at home ... cooking, cleaning, knitting, napping, rediscovering my back yard (even my shed!), new cuff designs will be listed today (just deciding on buttons).

I'm at the halfway point of listening to The Fountainhead. I read this, oh maybe half a lifetime ago? I ravenously read everything Ayn Rand had to offer (Atlas Shrugged was my fave). It's so interesting to reread (or listen) to something that had profound impact on your life as a youngster (20's...) as a midster (40's...). I get things in a completely different way, which is as interesting as the book. I've been listening to this for weeks -- it's a four-part audio download, so that gives you an idea of it's length (most books are one or two parts, mayyyybe three).

Back to relaxing/catching up on my life!!!

nice way to wake up!

After a deliciously late sleep in this morning, it was wonderful to see that this treasury by Raghousenternational was on the Front Page early this morning! Which meant my little Kitten Neckbow/Scarf was also on the Front Page. Great exposure and thank you to Raghouse!

Raghouse's shop is pretty amazing. She creates some seriously gorgeous and sexy items, like this sexy pink number. I love the diversity in her live models, like these:

Beautiful earrings, beautiful model
Gorgeous sweater/jacket, gorgeous model
Great guy's caps, and very handsome model

She's a fellow member of the California Crafter's Club of Etsy street team (CCCOE), and this was a nearly 100% CCCOE front page, always nice to see your colleagues gathered on the first page most people see at Etsy!

Thank you Raghouse for the lovely treasury, and for an incredible and diverse shop!!!

lazy day

YAY.

Finished and listed two scarves. Blocking another as I type. Knitting a new wrist cuff, think it will turn out very pretty!

Only left the house to take out the garbage. Should have gone for groceries (OK, let's be honest ... cat food and ... ahem ... litter), but OH well!!!

Watched p.s. I love you, and kinda hated it until 2/3 of the way through, then got sucked into the chick flickness of it. It wasn't that great of a movie, and I'm seriously not a Hilary Swank fan, but had two very nice-to-watch men. Also watched 10,000 B.C. (What can I say ... not a huge selection on Video on Demand) -- kinda as predictable as one would expect.

Looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow! Night all!

YAYYYYYY

Budget meetings are OVER!!!

I'm on vacation (3.75 day weekend!)!!!!

To celebrate, 15% off everything in my shop through the 4th of July weekend!!!

And now off to sleep and knit and clean and get some actual groceries and play with my kitties and do a little something I've heard about called "relaxing."

Hugs to all!!!

boy toy

There's a new man in my life.

He's smart ... 320 GB brain with 4GB RAM.

He's a big boy ... 17" glossy face + full keyboard (including number pad).

He's handsome ... the loveliest lime/olive skin you've ever seen.

He's controversial ... not everyone appreciates how he thinks or operates.

I love my new man ... Dell Inspiron 17" full keyboard big mama hard drive dual core lightening quick processor and, yes indeed, Vista operating system. Looking forward to file transfer this weekend!

almost there yet??

1.5 more days! Today was the big kahuna meeting, as I'm calling it -- 1.5 hrs, and I was at work until nearly 3am (thank the good lord for a wonderful analyst from finance who was there with me), a few hrs sleep, back at work, meeting, home, nap, wander in daze, and now about to start work on the last budget.

SO tired.

Should be at home curled up in bed napping Friday by noon! And taking Monday off!!!

I really need the break. Worked until 1 or 2 (or after) every morning since Friday. I'm wondering how we did this as kids, going out every night of the week?????

Back to spreadsheets!!!

split personality

45% left brained, 55% right brained, what about hare brained?

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

Budgets are OVER one week from yesterday

Molly found a new place to keep cool ... the kitchen.

She's right next to my swifter and winder for yarn, and here's a box full of wound skeins just waiting to be knit!

I'm avoiding my living room right now, with temps > 90 inside and >100 outside (but have window a/c in my bedroom!), but I love my fireplace mantel in the living room.
The beautiful ceramic kitty is from Kris, who painted/glazed. Love it! I really like that "wrought iron" (not) ornament, which was just some 50% off special from a bargain bin at Michael's (I think). Goes great with my cottage!

That gorgeous (!!!!) red/white/blue heart is cut from a tin ceiling tile! Annette from CottageInTheSun. I love all of her goodies -- please check out her shop!!

Hope you're all staying cool -- it's now officially Summer (boy, isn't it??)

cat day afternoons

Just trying to make it through another heatwave...

my week in pictures

New face for Phydeaux!

Thanks to Abbie at Mavora Art and Design, Phydeaux has a new face!

She captured me perfectly (and was so gracious and good humored throughout my waffling and indecision!) and even came up with a tagline that I love: "wrap up your look."

I wanted something that combined elegance and a sort of nature or rustic feel. I love the color combo, the strong clean lines of the serif font and the elegant swoosh of that P. I also looove the sort of watercolor swirls -- just gorgeous!!

I can't recommend (or thank!!!) her highly enough - I know I'll go back to her for any and all future redesigns! I now have a gorgeous business card, the above logo, a new banner, and thank you cards are coming up! Please be sure to check out her shop here for more designs, including banners, business design packages, cards/invitations, etc. You won't regret it!!!

Monday's nearly over

Kicked back in bed, enjoying my hot and humid cottage (... not ...), window and room fans going full speed and it's still 71 in here. How I love Summer ...

Budget madness ensues, but I'm tired of sounding like a victim, so no more public whining and crying!

I'm experimenting with my beloved linen stitch -- this is the beginning of a little cuff (about 2" wide). I'm thinking of loop fasteners over beads but might go with a brass button or two. We'll see.

Mostly, I'm heartbroken -- all the rest of this doesn't really matter. I love with all my heart Tiger Lily, my god child (literally!) so very much, first born fuzzy child of my very very dear friends Kris and Rich. Tiger is such a sweetheart -- we bonded immediately on first meeting, when she was just a little handful of fur and energy! Tiger Lil is very ill and is now at home with her beloveds, who are surrounding her with every possible comfort a cherished family member can receive, as well as waves and waves of love. Since I'm tearing up again, I'll stop typing now, but please think good thoughts for Kris, Rich and family (Tiger Lily, Allie, Meepers, Penny, and Talyn and Pilot the birds) and send them your love and prayers during such an unbelievably difficult time for them all.

A momentary blip in glory

I took a sanity break Thursday evening to put together a Treasury (Treasuries opened yesterday afternoon). On Friday, I learned we could push out this week's deadline by a week (YAY), and in the midst of those arrangements got this baby listed. Guy treasuries are very hot right now, and I thought this was different enough (the title is "Dude looks like a lady") to make front page.

Lo and behold, it did! At 1am this morning, mind you. And I was still up, working. (Sad, but true)

I love making treasuries because it's 100% about who you're showcasing and not about you at all. I like to get that perspective, just celebrating what Etsy has to offer from others. And as you can see from this, there are so many very talented artists and crafters there!

Back in the saddle again, the reshuffle of deadlines doesn't lessen my load!

New mantra

"I'm not going to let this danged budget kill me," versus "No one has ever died of budget." I'm pretty sure now that people HAVE died from budget, just disguised as heart attack, stroke, etc.

And this is only the first of four budgets to compile, consolidate, present, submit, etc.

June will be fun.

On a cheerier note, I was very pleasantly surprised to see my Soft Hearted Scarflette on Etsy's front page today! And, on an even cheerier note, I'll be shipping it to its new home tomorrow. :)

This was a treasury created by an Etsy administrator, so proof that Treasuries lead to front pages, leading to sales (just not usually that directly for me!).

Bad movies watched while suffering through spreadsheets: "National Treasury II" (what happened to Nicolas Cage's face and hair -- he used to be uniquely handsome??), "Cloverfield" (I would have had a stroke watching this on the big screen, small screen was bad enough and didn't help my impending sense of doom from my week-long budget-induced panic attack), "Spiderman III" (total let down).

But do try to watch Masterpiece Theater's "My Boy Jack" -- brilliant, touching, just wonderful.

sigh

So much for my to do list.

Working from home to get the first wave of budgets done.

Still need prescription refills.

Got a quickie scarflette done (aren't those colors to die for? SOOO soft).

Hate Endicia.

Got express mail packages out regardless.

New do and color -- if I find time on Thursday, I'll post a self-portrait Thursday to debut it.

Birds, squirrels, girls all fed.

Think good thoughts for me on these deadlines. My mantra "no one has actually died by budget."

Sunday to do's

Had a delicious late sleep in this morning (like 10:30 -- wish I could get away with that every day!), so now have to get cracking on my to do's:

1. Go get prescription refills
2. I should get a bunch of labs drawn, but several are fasting tests, and I must confess I ate after midnight last night ....
3. The girls have given me a list of demands, including new variety of kitty food flavors, their favorite dry food, and ... hmm, what does this say? Catnip?
4. Turn in overdue library book
5. Pay overdue fines
6. See about some "online marketing for dummies" books from said library
7. Food for ME, something a little healthier than sugar free popsicles
8. Maybe a couple of buttons for a new cuff I knit last night -- can't find my button stash!!!
9. Find my button stash
10. Pix and list two new goodies (includes the cuff)
11. Start custom order!!!
12. Figure out how to use Endicia -- finally took the plunge and downloaded the trial last night -- it's the only way to print/buy online international first class postage, and I just can't send all of my items international priority (which costs more than the item!)
13. Package, print express international shipping/customs for an order
14. Do something about this mop of hair (avoiding what 4 and 5 year olds usually do to their hair if they get a hold of scissors)
15. Laundry!!!!!!
16. Oh, fill bird feeders! Put out more squirrel food!
    
17. And ... a little thing called "annual budgets" -- have about 12 hours of work to do on them before work tomorrow (first big deadline is tomorrow)

I hope you all enjoy your Sunday -- first day of June!