Moves//Crafts//Phoebe!

Oh. My. Goodness. It seems like one million and one things have happened since I last checked in with you guys, and yet, it doesn't feel like that long ago. Time has flown by!
We made it into our new apartment pretty easily, but we still have our old place to clean up before we can say goodbye for good. The move took just a day and although we live on the third/top floor of our building, we managed to get everything in one piece. As far as our new place goes, it's been quite the change, but let me tell ya, we really, really love it here! The building was constructed in 1920 and you can tell. We have so many windows and natural light, which I've been taking advantage of to grow some herbs and lavender. Not to mention the location is amazing as it's just a 5-15 minute walk to all of our favorite places in Kansas City.
I've been spending a lot of time lately trying to get things unpacked, but it's really just come down to lack of shelving and storage at this point, so we're looking forward to our IKEA trip this Friday. So I do apologize for not sharing more of the new place quite yet. I want to make sure everything is put away, organized, and decorated before I show it off. You know...perfectionist stuff. ;)

I have had somewhat of a break from the moving thing, however. I spent all last week preparing for my very first pop-shop/craft booth for my friend Nicole Leth's fashion event. If you don't know Nicole or her brand Sex & Ice Cream, please please PLEASE check it out. You won't be sorry! (I plan on talking more about Nicole in a future post, so stay tuned!)
The event was on Friday and I will be honest, I was so intimidated by all of the art school kids and their cool booths. I was also extremely thankful to have Sean with me because had I been alone, I most likely would've left out of nervousness and embarrassment. We'd look at my stuff and then at each other and just unanimously feel so much dread because we were sure everyone (cool kids) would look at my pieces and be like, "Wow, really? I could do that. What a joke."
But to my genuine amazement, it wasn't like that at all. People were really into it and were completely shocked by my low prices. They asked for my business card and wanted to know where they could get more. It was an incredible feeling to have people look at my stuff and tell me they thought I was selling myself short with my low prices or that they wanted more information.
After the event, Sean and I walked to the car feeling so pumped up and enthusiastic about the future. Now we know I can do it, and people actually give a shit! We chattered excitedly about the possibility of doing more craft shows and events, more pop-up shops, and most importantly, the idea of opening my Etsy shop back up. I had been thinking a lot about opening it up before, but after the event, we knew there was no question.
So that's a huge deal, right? I'm so, so excited to get it up and running, and completely revamped. My hope is to have it open by the beginning of the summer, so look for that! I'll definitely keep everything updated here.

The last thing I wanted to share today is something I am just completely crazy, ecstatic about! Sean and I have a new member in our family!! We finally got a puppy!!!!! I know! I'm excited too! Her name is Phoebe and she's a Corgi/Australian Cattle Dog (aka Red Heeler) mix. She's very friendly, very sweet, and smart. She is literally everything a good dog could possibly be. It's kind of a story though. Sean and I have been talking about getting a dog for the past two years, and we knew it was something we wanted a long time before that. But our last landlord made it nearly impossible to have a dog ($400 non-refundable pet deposit + $100 per month added to the rent...which was already quite a bit for just a one bedroom). So we opted to wait, and now that we've moved, it became an option. So one thing you should know about me is that my favorite dog breed is a Corgi. I grew up with a Corgi/Collie mix and I've always known since then that I would one day have one. So I contacted a local Corgi breeder, I was placed on a waiting list and decided to wait and save up the $1000 so I could finally have my Corgi. But then this happened:

“I actually went to the shelter to get another dog, but he’d already been adopted. So I decided to do a lap around the...
Posted by Humans of New York on Saturday, April 18, 2015

I confronted Sean at dinner. "I want you to hear me out. I know we said we'd save up for the Corgi puppy, but I saw this thing on Humans of New York..." and I explained how shitty I felt about paying that much money for a puppy that will inevitably have an amazing home anywhere, versus adopting one out of the millions of dogs that nobody wants or has time for. Not to mention, we wouldn't be throwing $1000 away for just one dog. He agreed that it was something we should look into, so I headed to Craigslist and looked for potential dog friends.
Pages and pages later, I stumbled upon a post that explained the need to get rid of a Corgi/Red Heeler mix as soon as possible. I immediately texted the owner and she told me that the dog was rescued from an abusive neighbor who left her outside through the winter, and she was rarely fed or given water. "She's eight months old, and she gets really protective of her food, so her and my cat get into it a lot. But other than that, she's a great dog. We just can't keep her." I expected the over-protection of her food had to do with not being fed often from her original owner, but it wouldn't be an issue here. The rabbits don't care about her food. Sean and I talked about it and decided to meet the owners at their house to buy the dog. And oh. My. Gosh. This. Dog. She's absolutely perfect in every way!!!! She's super responsive and so intelligent, and sweet and amazing. We have had zero problems with her (other than she's going through her first heat right now which she can't help, poor thing. We plan to get her fixed as soon as it's over.). She's just a really, really great dog. And not to mention, she's very sweet with the rabbits. She gets curious and has tried to play a couple times, but Penny doesn't leave the cage and Milo doesn't care one bit. He just hates it when she chases him, but he'll go up to her and sniff and investigate. I mean, really, guys. We have a rabbit/puppy utopia up in here, and it's amazing! 

Well, that's all for now! There's so much more I want to tell you, but I will share in good time. ;)
I hope you all are well, and happy, and healthy, and just wonderful. But of course you are, you're always wonderful!
Best wishes and love! <3

Milo on moving day. He's quite the helper.

Some stuff from the craft booth on Friday.

OMG GUYS. Nicole had hundreds of donuts and 200 McDonald's burgers!!!

I mean what kind of amazing person does this?! Nicole Leth, that's who! 

Everyone chillin' before the catwalk.

Phoebe babyyyyy!!!!

Guess what?!

Milo is already tired just thinking about all we have left to do!
(I promise he's not dead, despite the fact that he looks dead. I've definitely fallen for that one quite a few times...)

Hey, guys! This is a short one because I'm a busy bee today, but I wanted to share with you all our big transition that's happening right now! Today is a big day because we are moving! I know, right? I'm usually not one to withhold information, but I think I really just forgot to mention it.
We'll be about nine blocks north of where we are now, so it's not a big move, but we're all still very excited!

Our new place is a bigger, cheaper apartment in the art neighborhood. This will be really convenient for my brother Joe since he's an artist/Kansas City Art Institute hopeful, and really great for Sean and I too because the walkability is amazing and a lot of our favorite places are nearby. I can't wait to show you all the neighborhood and our new home! I promise I'll have pictures soon!

'Til then, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the weather wherever you are!

6 Awesome Tips (& Motivation) for Beginning Bloggers!

I attended this year's Go Blog Social Conference here in Kansas City this past Friday and Saturday, and lemme tell ya...what a motivator! I will admit that I was super awkward about approaching people and introducing myself, which is something I know I have to work on. But! I still somehow ended up making some great connections with some fellow bloggers and business owners, which is all really exciting! And not to mention, we had some really amazing speakers at the conference this year, and I learned so much from them!
So hey, maybe you weren't there and you'd like to hear some of my favorite, most inspirational things I learned. Well, good news! I've got ya covered!

Here are 6 things I learned from the Go Blog Social Conference 2015 OR 6 Awesome Tips for Blogging Beginners (because I'm kind of a beginner too! So, let's learn together!):

1. Tell your story, be real, be raw, be honest,  be vulnerable, be authentic, be transparent. 

If there was an overall theme of this conference, it was definitely "authenticity". These guys could not stress it enough. Be aware of your voice, values, and purpose. Be thinking about what separates you from everyone else. Your blog should be a reflection of you and not of others, because what works for someone else, may not work for you. Find what works for you (or doesn't) and own it. 

Take it a step further and be open with your readers about your weaknesses and failures. These things make you human and will allow people in similar situations or with similar feelings to relate to you, which will build much stronger relationships and readership than just trying to do what you think is popular and what you think people want to read.

 "By being yourself, you put something wonderful into the world that wasn't there before." -Mandy Beyeler, Sugar Bee Crafts 

2. "Foster community over competition." - Kelly & Andra, With Grace & Gold

Don't compare yourself to other bloggers or judge what they're doing. If you think they need help and you can offer it, then give them a hand up! Supporting and sharing with other bloggers is a big part of blogging, and developing the strong connections with others will help in the long run. Or even just when your family asks you over and over, "Wait, what's blogging again?" Having that group of friends to support and relate to is going to help a lot.

3. Be engaging.

Comment, comment, comment! Social media and blogging isn't just about putting your stuff out there. While that's a big part of it, what is even more important is engaging with your readers, followers, and people you love and support as well. This means being genuine in your responses to others and leaving thoughtful comments. If you are genuine in how you interact with others on your blog and social media, people will know and they'll at worst, really appreciate the support, and at best, want to know more about you!

4. Figure you out before reaching out to brands and companies.

When it comes time to try and make that connection, make sure you know where you're coming from first! Because if you don't know, then how are they supposed to be confident that you're the right, most passionate person for the job?

5. Get out of your comfort zone.

This is one that I've been working through a lot lately, and I think it can be applied to many aspects of life. Whether it's meeting new people, traveling to new places, or taking on more challenging opportunities, tackling that big, scary thing in your life can be summed up with this mindset.

Here are some great quotes from the conference speakers that fall into this category:

"If something isn't uncomfortable, then you're not growing." 

"Often times our fears hold us back from doing what we were built to do." -Alissa Circle, Diary of an Addict

"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." 

"When you get outside your comfort zone, you're not asking 'what if' anymore, because you're doing it." -Mandy Beyeler, Sugar Bee Crafts 

6. "Take fear by the balls, and make your dreams happen." -Alissa Circle, Diary of an Addict

Guys, sometimes you just have to get out there and do it. Because whether you take action or not, life is still passing by. No one is going to wait for you to make up your mind. So, if not now, when?

What are some of your favorite blogging tips? What's a big struggle for you when it comes to blogging?

Chicago

Sean and I just got back from our trip to Chicago on Sunday, and I am actually at a blogging conference today, so what better time talk about the trip? Our friend Grant (who we stayed with) doesn't have internet so I wrote this after the first day to save for later. I don't have anything else written from the other days, but I do plan on recapping them a little in a future post. 

This post was written on Thursday, March 26, 2015.

We arrived at Grant’s apartment in Lemont at 8 PM last night. We ordered pizza and met his two 

girl-friends who neither Sean or I could drink enough to drown out. In polite terms, we didn't care for them. They left late and we felt exhausted from traveling, friends of friends, and the daunting task of navigating the big city, that laid before us in the morning.

I just want to give a little background about Sean and I. We aren't sheltered human beings. We've traveled abroad (heck, I grew up abroad), seen bits of the country and the world, been in tough and sticky situations, etc. It’s not like we've lived a bubble our entire lives. That being said, this Chicago visit is the second time I've ever been and otherwise, I have never experienced such a large city before. I've never been to New York or Los Angeles. The biggest cities I've experienced, yet still don’t compare, are Kansas City; Philadelphia; Washington D.C.; and Venice, Italy. So let us continue.

We slept in late this morning and caught the 12:45 train from Tinley Park at 80th Avenue and took it into LaSalle station. The Tinley Park station is very quaint, and even though it’s tucked within the confines of white, upper middle-class suburbia, I imagined myself living nearby and heading out on a trip to see a friend or grandparent far away.

Tinley Park (80th Ave.) train station.

We boarded the train at 12:45 and off we went. I grabbed a window seat and Sean sat beside me. Suburbia soon transformed into woodland, and then the ruins of old factory towns seemed to stream by out of nowhere. I scanned the homes and abandoned buildings in my mind. I was flooded by horrible ancient memories that never were. The wreckage of a golden era littered the landscape from my cabin. Vacant fields, and drive-in movie lots, boarded windows, and once-glorious Victorians left to rot in rows with their friends. Car parts and pieces, and slabs of broken concrete scattered like bombs and shrapnel in the backyards of 1950s nuclear family homes. My heart ached and I felt motion sick from the train and the focus of my horror. Does anyone here even think twice about these things? Or is it just the scenery? I thought. How does this kind of poverty still even exist in America? I mean, granted, I know that there is worse both here and in other countries, but in one of the biggest and supposedly greatest cities in the world? How does a human being even live and breathe in this environment? Let’s push aside the emotional aspect, and just consider the practical aspect. How is it even possible to live in a home that is falling to pieces around you? Or a home that is being swallowed by the earth itself?

I was ready to get off the train. I wasn't disgusted, just sad.

We entered the city and the bubble of Chicago life welcomed us indifferently. If you've never been to Chicago, you absolutely should. My overall impression of the city is this: Chicago is proud. It’s big and intimidating and it knows it’s the shining jewel of the Midwest, but it doesn't flaunt, because it doesn't have to. Chicago is old and grown and can handle itself, if need be, but isn't considerably forceful. It’s nurturing, but not overbearing. Chicago is the mother that loves her children, but isn't afraid to let them wander a little. She just wants to test them. Chicago is firm and confident and is willing to let others shine, because it knows it’s awesome and it doesn't need to prove it.

Sean and I left the LaSalle train station and wandered into the street, then followed my phone’s map to the art museum. It’s smaller than KC’s as far as grandeur and monumental status. But, Chicago doesn't need to flaunt, remember? What the museum lacks in an impressive exterior, it makes up, obviously, in it’s seemingly infinite collections of art and definitely impressive pieces. It made’s the Nelson-Atkins back at home seem like a joke. (Not that I think the Nelson-Atkins is a joke. I could spend hours in that place, it's so beautiful.) There is so much to see in this museum. It’s incredible. There is absolutely no way you could give it and all it’s contents the attention it deserves in a short time.

After the art museum, I wasn't feeling well (side effects of not having eaten a real meal in two days. Apparently Trader Joe’s ‘Sweet & Spicy Beef Jerky’ and chocolate-covered espresso beans is not a real meal.), so we opted to get some coffee at Starbucks across the street. Sean and I chit-chatted and sipped our coffees, people-watched, and I discussed the probable architectural history of the building across the street. After a lull in the conversation, I finally asked Sean, “Would you live here?” Immediately, he nodded, “Yeah. I would.” Later at dinner, we would talk more on the subject and find ourselves agreeing that we sort of really want Chicago to be in our near future.

I told Sean that I feel like staying in KC would be comfortable, but we would stop growing in the ways we want to, and I know this because I think we already have. I told him that I think it’s possible we've pretty much gotten everything we could have out of Kansas City in these past two years, and I think we need to move on to continue growing in the right ways. He completely agreed, and while it won’t happen for a year and we do still have a lot more to talk about, I think this is a transition that we’re really leaning towards.

I've felt a lot of pressure to be doing something “important” and “impressive” in these early years, but it’s only been recently that we've realized we just want to spend this time getting to know ourselves and working towards becoming better, more well-rounded and knowledgeable people. Sean is finally in a position with his job where he can provide a lot of stability and happiness for both of us, and I think it would be even more lucrative to take advantage of that stability in a new and different place.
It won’t be easy. In fact, I’m scared to death, but I think, sometimes, scary is good.

College

A little while back, I decided to create a second blog that focused on my personal life more than 'lemonholiday' does. (Early blogging experiments). But what I have recently discovered is that by taking myself out of this blog, I have nothing left to talk about or mention, for fear that I will break the confines I created for myself. I believe in honesty and I believe in trying new things, especially when it comes to blogging. I also believe that it is important to admit and be open when something doesn't work out (a failure if you will). That being said, I've decided to delete the other blog and stick with 'lemonholiday' as my main focus. I don't want to separate myself for the sake of continuity as I believe that through time, it will all sort itself out. So, this post was one that I wrote for my other blog, that I would now like to post here instead. I think this post is a little more personal than I've been lately and I am happy with that because it is the direction I am wanting to go from now on.
I hope you all enjoy and please, feel free to share any issues you've had managing and organizing your blog. 

My mom and I on my first day of Kindergarten.
(ie. the beginning of the end. Just kidding. Kind of...

POSTED: Sunday, March 8, 2015
I began today with a very detailed plan to head to the school library and get caught up on homework, but by 12 PM, I once again found myself working through various excuses not to go. My husband's and my conversation last night was still ringing in my ears and the familiar anxiety and dread was closing in again.

Because for about the seventh time in the past three months, I am considering dropping out of college.

Sean and I laid in bed last night, discussing the present and our future when the topic of school came up. I've been struggling with college a lot these past two years. It's not that the material is hard. I think it's a mixture of being burnt out and just wanting to move on and do something different for a while. To make matters worse, I found out a few months back that I won't be graduating for another year and a half to two years. I think that realization really pushed me over the edge and so here I am again, contemplating leaving school.Sean reasoned,"If you think getting a degree will further your career, then continue. Otherwise, what is it for?" I told him it would be nice to have college to fall back on, but he pointed out that it's not like there is a window of time I need to have my degree by. "If you find later on that you need or want it, then you can just go back. But right now, your work needs you." He was right, and not only that but I need my work, and school stands in the way of a lot of that progress.

Me, my mom, and my sister on move-in day
at Northwest Missouri State, August 2011. 

The "work" Sean was referring to was blogging and my business. My business is on hiatus right now simply because I don't have the time or funds to make it work. While blogging is not at all where it needs to be at this point, especially if I am hoping to make it a full-time thing someday. School takes a lot of that time and energy that could be used to further my career. But there is a lot of pressure to continue.

Sean and I both come from very authoritative families. They're the kind that believes in "tough love" to get through to someone. Maybe it works for some, but not for us. The only thing tough love does is make us feel bad about ourselves, but certainly not enough to change our minds. At least, not anymore. I think for a long time, I felt kind of bullied into doing the "right thing" and going the "right path". I did successfully leave school for two semesters last year, but I made the mistake of returning because I felt like some in our families were pushing and pushing for me to get back in school. So I did, and I don't know if I regret it, but I have definitely spent this entire time wishing I was doing something different.

Since I began, college has been incredibly disappointing. I've never encountered something that makes me hate learning so much. The whole structure of academia is based on a kind of intelligence that is simply not practical. I've met too many truly amazing, intelligent people who feel like they have no place in school or in the world, because our education system doesn't cater to all great minds. It just caters to those who can memorize and take tests really well. And this is the entire basis for my disenchantment with college.

Don't get me wrong, though. I do believe college has great use for aspiring lawyers, and doctors, and scientists. But for people like me, I just can't face it. At least, not right now. As much as I love to learn and I love being better, I don't know if college is something I have the capacity to pursue right now.

I know some of you may be shaking your heads and saying, "You're making a mistake!" or something else along those lines, but I do wish everyone would remember that there is not a manual for this thing. There is no set plan or guidelines for the schedule of life. And I would much rather be honest with myself about how I feel about things now, than fool myself again and again in order to please others or get them off my back.

My biggest struggle right now is learning how to feel confident in my decisions as a grown, married, individual. I know me better than anyone else and I have to do what is right for me, and for my husband, of course.

That being said, it may seem like I've made my decision, but I honestly don't know. I think it really comes down to asking myself, do I think I can handle the repercussions of leaving school right now? Is getting my degree right this instant something I must have? What would I be sacrificing by staying in school?

There are so many things that must be worked through in order to make my decision. But obviously when I do, I will make it known.

Have you ever struggled with something like this? Do you always feel confident in your decisions? How have you dealt with negativity and naysayers in the past?