In order to get started on my 2012 goals properly, I need to clean out house a bit first. I have a bunch of new ideas and I’d really like to see what’s in the shop end up in the hands and homes of new happy shiny people.

Today and tomorrow, take 20% off everything in my shop. Just enter HISPRING at checkout and BAM! It’s yours. Orders will be mailed next week. Happy weekend!

Here we are! We made it!!

Is it just me, or is 2012 a year that just never registered when you were a child? I never thought about it too much. This month I turn 30. I sometimes think I’m one of the few women I know that is actually wholeheartedly looking forward to this age change. I get to step into a new decade. I’m so excited about it, I’m tingling all the time haha.

There is so much in store for this month. Last month, (week and year–wow) I mentioned that there will be changes to a lot of things shortly. And there will be. Hopefully it will all be done before this month is out. I have to set up some new accounts and work super hard on some other behind the scenes things, but I’ll give clear notice about each thing as it happens.

Shop Update

I’m going to have one last shop update on this site this month. Starting in February, my site will be hosted under something else entirely so I thought to celebrate the end of an era, I’d have one final bash. There will be an update AND sale starting next week Tuesday til the following Tuesday. There will be a new special deal every day of the sale so make sure to sign up for the newsletter to find out what that is. It will be a newsletter exclusive.

Hello 30

I’m thinking about a new way to do my list for my 30th birthday. I am definitely breaking it down differently. Last years list was fine, especially since I never did that before, but this year I think it would be more fitting to focus on self in a more encompassing way. In addition to that, I’ll also share some points from my future letter to myself with you guys. I’ll explain how to do this yourself in full detail tomorrow.

I am not much of a resolutions kind of lady, but I know other people are. Is there anything special you are working on that you would like to share? What’s in store for you this year?

While having a chat with a friend on Saturday, it really started to dawn on me that I have exactly 7 weeks until my 30th birthday.

Somehow, that feels a bit daunting because I’m not sure how many things I can get done before then. On the other hand, I’m so insanely excited about turning 30, that I don’t even care. I am going to work on a new list and transfer some of what I don’t get done this time around to that list.

So let’s see what’s been going on since the last 29 at 29 update.

Knitting:

I did mention that I bought needles and that I started knitting again. Since then, I’ve bought a new set of needles and some fancy yarn that I’m afraid to touch because I don’t want to destroy it. I did start knitting, but I haven’t actually made anything yet. I’m giving myself the rest of December to make a simple scarf.

Dutch:

While I don’t speak an expansive amount of Dutch, I understand so much now that I’m happy with my progress. I am going to put myself through a small bootcamp and see just how much I can learn in the next 7 weeks. But I don’t seem to have a terrible time getting around on my own without a translator. I only can’t follow extremely fast (or normal) conversation when it goes back and forth quickly.

Bible:

I was doing a really really good job at first with reading the bible in a year. I am so far behind it’s pathetic. But I can start up again any time. I’ll see what I can finish before I’m 30.

Photoshop:

I have become SO much better at handling PS now. I am super proud of myself. Over the weekend, I started reading Pugly Pixel (um, how come I never really sat and read this site before?) As of right now, she is my go-to for learning how to make all the things I’ve been dreaming. I am going to be totally self sufficient over the next few months.

Camera:

I didn’t learn how to use a manual SLR, but I did learn how to use D’s DSLR pretty decently. With time, I’ll get much better. But now I’m not a point and shoot and hope I get lucky. I understand the parts of the camera now. I still plan on learning how to use a manual SLR though.

Sewing:

All sewing projects are on hold until I get a machine. Still haven’t gotten one, so if I get one for Christmas that would be rad. I highly doubt it though.

Day Job:

Things were on hold for so long because I was waiting for government stuff to go through. Now that that’s all clear, I’ve been looking for a job. I’ve got all these ideas and my 30s are going to be fantastic. It all comes down to finding a job I absolutely love.

Scrapbooks:

I started working on Blurb last week and I’m hoping to finish my first book in the next two weeks. I’ll talk about it more when I actually have stuff to show.

Short Stories:

I mentioned before that I wanted to start a Saturday Morning Stories section and I am hoping to have at least one up before this month is done. I’ve been working on a few story ideas, but haven’t truly devoted time to writing like I want to. Discipline is the name of the game.

Exercise:

Since I haven’t formally exercised in such a long time, I can more than count bike riding as my exercise. I have been taking longer rides and feeling so much toner. Ever since my four-hour ride through the woods, riding has been a bit of a breeze. That was a major boot camp if I’ve ever had one. I actually love bike riding now and miss it when I don’t do it enough. I even ride to the grocery now and that’s only 3 blocks away.

This weekend, we just so happened to pass a game shop and I found the Wii game I used to get slim and trim for my wedding so we got it right away. I finally get to be in shape in a way I enjoy. Yay!

Business:

Everything on the business front has changed quite considerably although it might not seem like it on the outside. I’ve become much more fine tuned on what it is that I want from this business and where I want it to grow so I’m confident it will all start to show in the next few months. Also, the last shop update for this year will be this week.

I thought I’d spend some time introducing all the new items I’ve added and will be adding to the shop.
Amis is French for friends. I thought for quite a while what I’d like to call this line and that spoke to me best. I’ve decided to sell them both individually and as a set for those who might want to just give one to a friend or get one for themselves instead of feeling pressured to buy two.

Every time I start to do color pairings, I’m taken back to when I was in kindergarten. I had an obsession with marrying my crayons. I would pair periwinkle with dusty rose every time. Ever since then I try to put blues and pinks together.
I would spend my time making the perfect matches then doing a full ceremony. They would even kiss at the end.

Many many years later, Andre 3000 came out with the song Pink & Blue and it’s almost impossible for me to do anything else. Almost.

These necklaces are going to be a mainstay as I think about retiring some other things. My personal take on the friendship necklace is by adding one extra bead of the other necklace to each, that way even apart they are a unit. This is my way of keeping them close. These won’t be one of a kind and they will eventually come in varying lengths.

They are available in the shop now: Necklace set, Blue with pink, Pink with blue