Speaking of makeovers, I totally made an appointment to get my hair done at a local hair salon training center. I’m long overdue for a haircut. It is so bad, I was considering letting Joe try and trim it. I keep waiting for the budget to allow for a haircut, but I keep allotting the money for more important things. So, I figured the salon training center HAS to have more skill than Joe, and it will be free. 

But enough about my personal makeover! Today’s makeovers are design work done by Bethica Virtual Assistance (owned by Beth, one of my lovely bridesmaids and long time friends)

The other day I stopped by my apartment complex office to take care of some things, and one of the office ladies said that I looked SO happy and asked me if I was still working (funny how those are related).  I almost said “Nope”, but instead I told her that I WAS happy and that I DO work….and then I told her all about our little side business. She was really interested and asked for the website.  So I very professionally wrote it on a sticky note with a mechanical pencil. That’s when I decided it was high time for business cards, and I contacted Beth for a quote. Her prices were amazing, and so I was able to have her design some banners and logos too. We messaged back and forth on a couple of late nights and stayed up way too late and had a ton of fun.  I pointed and grunted and she made magic happen.  I love design and decorating, but when it comes to sizing things appropriately for the internet, I get stumped.  Beth was so quick, she got everything done in a couple of days and BAM! everything looks fresh and our business cards will be here someday soon. Want to see them?

Side One:

Side Two:

Aren’t they awesome?!  That square in the corner is a QR code, which anyone with a smartphone can scan, and it will pull up our website on their phone. Amazing. P.S. Someday I will get my own business cards, but I have to come up with a more acceptable title for myself than “Princess of Paperwork & Painting” Which is what I have as my job title on my facebook profile. haha. 

So, here’s our facebook page (click the picture to visit): 

And our Etsy shop (click the picture to visit):

So happy with it! 

P.s. Bethica Virtual Assistance is on Facebook!

Weekend update, with Seth & Khloe.

We’ve been taking a lot of custom orders lately. This means that I have taken over most of the painting. My favorite part is hand painting the details. It’s so much fun!  I thought it was appropriate to paint this hibiscus while watching 50 first Dates (set in Hawaii). 

Here’s the finished product!

Up next– a daylily, a daisy, and forget-me-nots! 

The kitties like to crawl all over my desk and get into my things, especially when I have art supplies strewn across the desk. So one early morning, I was trying to paint and start the day right (lit a candle inside a vase, turned on some Coldplay) and the cats were in the middle of everything once again.

So I went into the other room and got the mini-tower and set it right next to my work area. I put it on top of a trunk so they were high enough to keep an eye on me (stalk me) and hopefully be entertained.

It totally worked.

But some of us like sharing more than others. 

I have been “running” (walking/jogging/dying) somewhat frequently since October. I took a little break during the really cold months “because of the snow” but it never really snowed so that was a lame excuse.  I started back up a few weeks ago back when it was still pretty chilly in the mornings. I decided to document my outfit one particular morning. 

Giant fro bun? Check. Hoodie with an inside joke that was made at summer camp? Check. Oldschool headhpones? Check. Faded purple sweatpants with stretched out elastic around the ankles? Check. Ratty sneakers with black socks? Check. 

I can only laugh when I pass other joggers in the morning, because they usually are wearing fancy matching workout gear complete with coordinating earbuds and I must look ridiculous to them. (Joe sometimes wears his gaming headphones while we’re out and I thank God for giving me a man that likes to soak up all the attention I’m trying to hide from. haha.)  

Anyway, I refused to spend money on new clothes for something that just might be a phase. Then I discovered The Color Run and I decided that I have to run one of their 5k’s someday. I told my friend Bekah about it (she’s really athletic) and she’s going to do it with me. We haven’t decided what location we’ll sign up for, or exactly when, but I feel like I have a goal now. It’s made all the difference in my motivation. 

I’ve shared with Joe (although uneccessarily, since it is quite evident) that I have a hard time keeping any kind of pace, because once I get going, my pants either ride up and give me a wedgie or slide down so far I think I’ll lose them altogether. My shirts are always bunching or flapping, and I’m always adjusting everything. It’s really distracting.

Well, last weekend he came home with a Reebok, 40% off “friends and family” coupon that he got from the Union Hall. He said he was going to use it to buy himself new running shoes because he has had the same ones since BEFORE we were married. The soles were gone in so many places, he was just walking on the thin leather of the shoes. So we braved the new outlet mall and he tried on a million pairs of shoes (tidbit: Joe loooooves shopping for clothes and shoes way more than I do).

He tells me he has a second coupon, so I can get something for myself too. I ran (holding my pants up, probably) over to the workout clothes. While I was gone, a sales associate told him that the coupon will apply to our whole purchase, so we don’t have to have one per item. Our coupons were allowed to be stacked with store sales, so I found the sale/clearance racks and picked out an outfit!  My capri leggings with super wide waistband were 25% off and my racerback tank with extra length and support panels built in all the right places was 50% off. Then we added the 40% off coupon and I paid less than $40 for the whole outfit. That is still a LOT for me to spend, but Joe herded me to the register and we joined the line.  

There was elderly man in front of us with a TON of stuff stacked at the checkout. He was making sure each sale was applied as the cashier checked the items out.  He was pretty happy with his savings. Then Joe reached in front of him and handed the cashier one of our 40% off coupons and it saved the man another $50-$70, I can’t remember the exact amount.  He was practically jumping with excitement. He gave Joe two enthusiastic handshakes, and I thought he was going to hug me. haha. 

So all that to say: I love my new black and pink workout clothes, and giving to other people makes me happy.

Here’s a new comic. 

Your favorite book. 

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. 

This says a lot coming from someone who likes to sleep in paper bags. 

Some of these pictures are several months old, I’ve been saving them up for you, I guess! Whenever the cats are being particularly difficult, Joe tells them to “go get a job”. I received this email a while ago that made me laugh out loud. It was for $5 off my next order, but the way they phrased it was hilarious. I showed it to Joe and he said “Khloe finally got a job!! I’m so proud of her!” 

The only time I’ve ever come close to gaining Khloe’s approval was when I placed a box over her favorite giant pillow. It was pratically a lion’s den. She stayed in there all day.

Sometimes we bring Khloe with us when we visit my parents. She loves peering down at me from the top bunk in the guest house.

When I photograph things for Etsy, most of my outtakes look something like this:

In case you were wondering if the conqueror pose runs in the family…it does.