today...

...was my last Tuesday at KPA.
...is the day I WILL finish up my current freelance project.
...feels like summer.
...I ate a cupcake at the Cupcake Cafe. I highly recommend it.
...I had a Strawberry Goodness smoothie for dinner. MMMMmmm.
...is 6 days away from our closing date.
...is 8 days away from move in!
...is the revival of interesting blog topics, and (hopefully) the end of life-changing (house-buying, job-switching) posts.
...I had an amazing new idea for our new office at the house.
...I learned about magnetic paint.
...I gained a new appreciation for Martha Stewart.
...Emmy and I walked to the fields and back.
...is going to end well, I can feel it.
...I cannot post without a picture! So here is a lovely shot of the German Chocolate cupcake from the Cupcake Cafe website. It might not be beautiful, but it sure was very tasty.


And I hate to break away from my "today" theme, but I must say... I am quite intrigued by the whole cupcake idea. Today I came across the Cupcake Bakeshop blog, and with my visit to the Cupcake Cafe and all... it seemed like a sign. I might just have to try my hand at these little wonders!

newsflash

Well I can finally break the silence with some official news about what's been keeping me busy!

{I have resigned from my position at Koechel Peterson & Associates and accepted a new job with A La Carte Design!}

It's just that simple, yet so much more complicated. Here's the semi-abridged, yet still long version...

You all probably read my post about looking for a new job, needing a change, etc, etc. Well, after we bought the house in Mound, it was clear to me that a job change was necessary. Not only was I burned out with my current job, but the commute from the new place was going to be killer. 35 miles, 10 of which are on a single lane road winding around the lake (beautiful, but not conducive to quickly flowing traffic). I was looking at 1.5 to 2 hours in the car daily. Not to mention the WOW gas bill that would inevitably go hand in hand with the new commute. So... the job search began in earnest. I knew what I was looking for... sort of. But I also was open to some different possibilities.

While driving around our new neighborhood, I noticed a small design shop in a quaint, funky office. I could tell by their logo and signage that they had some style and class. I wrote down the name, and looked them up later online. Then, for the heck of it, I wrote up an email and sent them my resume. From there, I started searching other design, marketing, and PR firms in the area of the new house. I sent off a few more emails and resumes and kept on a lookin'. I knew that if I was going to get another job (as opposed to going freelance), it was going to have to be a special place that fit with my lifestyle and personality.

Enter A La Carte Design... the original design shop that I had driven by. A few days after I sent my resume, I heard back from the owner of the company. After a few emails back and forth, samples of my work sent, etc, etc, we finally connected over the phone and set up an interview. I drove out there on a Wednesday evening after work, and proceeded to spend two hours(!) talking with the owner, Alisa. The next week she invited me back for a second interview. We spent another two hours talking, she made me a job offer... and the rest is history! She offered me the job on a Wednesday evening, I officially accepted on Friday, and resigned on Monday. I finally had the go ahead to make the announcement to my coworkers yesterday, and now I am sharing the news with the masses. :)

A few crazy things about this whole process.... The timing was impeccable. I continue to be amazed at God's hand in all of this. The puzzle pieces fit together absolutely perfectly. From Alisa getting my resume at the right time and sensing a need for another designer, to the timing of the interviews and the job offer and my two week notice, etc, etc.... Everything lined up. I put my notice in Monday, and my last day will be in one week, on Friday the 27th. We close on the house on Monday the 30th, and I have one whole week to paint, move in, and settle into our new house before I start my new job on Monday the 7th. Crazy, crazy.

On top of all that, the job is a great fit for me. Here are my top ten reasons why. :)

::::::: t o p : t e n :::::::

• Flexibility. 100% flexible scheduling. Really. I can come in at 7 or 10 or noon. I can work four 10 hour days and take Fridays off. I can skip lunches or take an hour and go out. YES!
• Location, location, location. 3 miles away! I can ride my bike, take the scooter, or drive. The commute rocks and we will save lots of $$ on gas.
• Fast Pace. From the sounds of it, this place is hoppin'! The days will fly by with many projects and plenty to do.
• Fresh n' Edgy. The design style is happenin'. It's fresh and vibrant and will bring a whole new dimension to my portfolio.
• Atmosphere. The design shop is a remodeled Cape Cod that has a funky modern twist to it. It's bright and breezy and seems to be a great working environment.
• People. While I haven't met the whole team yet, my new boss is a zippy, fun, and energetic woman who shares my passion for change, new ideas, and flexibility.
• Opportunity Knocks. Okay, really this should be #1. Not only was I offered a design job at A La Carte, I was given the chance to start up a custom stationary and invitation division within the company. They pay for the marketing, website, etc, etc... we turn a room in the shop into a showroom and store, and the whole thing is "my baby". Oh, and I get commission on all sales. Uh huh, that's what I'm talkin' about!
• Winston. The office dog. Yup, the office has a dog. Winston is Alisa's 8 month old puppy. He pretty darn cute and irresistable and he brings a crazy, fun element to the work-a-day world.
• Vacation. Okay, so I get paid vacation already, but in small companies like A La Carte, it's not everyday that you get a decent vacation policy. They are matching my current amount of paid days off, PLUS giving me a flexible schedule. Uh HUh!
• Smaller&Better. With only 6 people (I make 7), the office has the right mix of "enough" and not "too much". It's cozy and intimate, yet not so small that you get tired of your one and only coworker.

So I think that about wraps up my "newsflash". I have more to write about (moving! packing! emmy! pancakes! more!), but it's time for lunch, so I'm heading out to enjoy the beautiful weather. Sorry for the lack of pictures today. More later.

playing catch up

I have been collecting things to post about for a little while now. And I would so much rather write nice, separate blog entries for each... but as it goes... here I am "dumping" a whole load of random and unrelated blog topics into one big, fat post. Oh well!!

I finally have a legit sewing project to write about again... I made Emmy a new cover for her bed! The old one was definitely in need of retirement, and with summer here and all the fresh changes coming to our lives, I thought Emmy could just a little pick-me-up as well. So I headed to the fabric store and got an amazing print. It's big and bold and not at all what I had imagined for the new bed, but it fits our home and Emmy. As soon as I put the fabric down to measure... she plopped right on the bed. Her sign of approval I think. :)

Over the weekend Zack and I took a great trip to Taylor's Falls for some grilling and hiking. Em came along and thoroughly enjoyed swimming, rolling in the mud, and dragging me along the trail. We can't help but love her.
It was a really beautiful day on the St. Croix... One of those early summer days that makes you breath deep with anticipation of the months ahead. In case you don't know this about me... I love summer. I am a "summer girl" to the core... granted, the other seasons have their charm. But, let's all be honest here folks.... nothing beats a warm day out on the lake.

Over the weekend we also enjoyed a "real fire" (Jamie will know what I mean ;) at Como Park with the Schussmans. We made some fantastic s'mores and played a good game of bocce. It was a delightful way to spend a beautiful evening with good friends!

Zack and I have gotten really into smoothies lately. They are just so refreshing and good! I made these smoothies for dinner a few days ago. My recipe is simple and made-up, but oh-so-good.

Strawberry-Goodness Smoothies
- 3 bananas
- 1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries
- 1-2 cups strawberry yogurt (or strawberry banana)
- 1 1/2 cup plain granola
- large dollop peanut butter
- 5-6 large, fresh strawberries
- milk

1) Combine in blender: 2 bananas, about 1 1/2 cup frozen strawberries, 1 - 2 cups strawberry yogurt (I use the Danon light n'fit in the big container), 1 1/2 cup plain granola, large dollop peanut buttter (I use the a creamy, natural peanut butter), and milk. The milk is the last thing you add... I just pour it in until it is visually about 3/4 of the way up the blender. I know this is really winging it... basically add more if you like smoothies to be thinner, and less if you like them thick. :)
2) Blend on low. DO NOT over blend! The idea is to have these a little chunky. Which is why you see spoons in the photo.
3) Pour into two glasses.
4) Slice fresh strawberries and the last banana. Divide into cups.
5) Enjoy!! :D


Okay that is all folks! I have a few more things I want to write about... but I know I'll end up rambling, and I have to take off right now. It's 5 PM on a Thursday evening, and my weekend is about to begin!!

memorial day weekend

Somehow, even long weekends go too fast. Our Memorial Day weekend was spent down here instead of up north (as per the usual). With the wedding last weekend, and Zack going to Ely for business next weekend, it seemed like a good idea to take a week off and stick around home. So that's we did.
Friday night we grilled at Como with some friends, and played a good game of bocce. Saturday AM we helped the Thompsons move into their new place in St. Bonifacius (see photo above!). Then we came home and totally crashed for a couple hours. Ahhh.... naps are bliss. After we woke up, we headed to Grand Ave to shop for paint colors. A stop at Restoration Hardware, and another at Pottery Barn and we were good to go. Then we ate "dinner" at Jamba Juice.... mmmm... fresh smoothies. :) We made one more stop... at Menards to get a few more paint chips. Sunday was church, out to lunch at Cabina Italian Kitchen, shopping for new running shoes for Zack, and then home to.... take a nap! Later we went grocery shopping and suit shopping for Zack. Then was a lovely walk with Emmy out in the fields while the sun was setting. Emmy was one happy pup. :) Monday morning was perfect and sunny, and we woke up at 9 AM, which I have deemed the best mix of sleeping in and still having enough day left over. We folded and put away laundry, then packed up a picnic lunch and took off for Mound. One stop by the house (it looks GREAT!), and then we were at Lake Minnetonka Regional Park. We grilled and chilled there for awhile... walked Emmy on their "Pet Trail"... then headed back home (a stop at DQ on the way!). Back home... well, we were sort of sleepy, so we took a nap. :) Ha. Vacation! Monday afternoon was mostly filled with getting ready for the week ahead, relaxing, and enjoying the last bits of freedom.

So... it was a full, somewhat "normal" weekend for us. But, it was great to relax, catch our breath, and be together. This week is a short one.... and so far, we don't have plans for the upcoming weekend. Ooh one more interesting tid-bit.... I started packing today!!! :D

Oh yes, I almost forgot. Now that the pictures have been downloaded, I can share with you my last project. It's been awhile, but I sewed a collar for Gus (my parents chocolate lab). It was almost too simple to make and could possibly become addictive. I have supplies to make one for Emmy. Sigh... hopefully after we're in the new house I will have time for sewing again. Life is too crazy right now!
More later....

just for now

[The pictures in this post are all pieces of my work taken by the lovely and talented Erika McCauley. They are completely unrelated to my post.]

Today I don't have much to write about.... I am very in between.

By "in between" I mean that I am in the midst of change. And in this "midst" nothing particularly stands out that is of interest. The "house shopping" phase is over, so now we wait for our closing date. We are neither here nor there. The apartment is starting to feel temporary... but the house still feels far away. My crafting has come to a halt... mostly because of lack of time and energy. My poor Emmy has all but been abandoned... again, lack of time. Work is busy.... too busy. I am buried in a big project that I am both designing and directing. Freelance is like the waves of the ocean.... it comes in crashing torrents and then calmly recedes. Currently it is crashing with a deafening roar.

My lack of time to enjoy the simple, beautiful things in my life has me in a funk. I feel like I am walking in someone else's shoes... uncomfortable and unsettled. I go through the motions day after day, but I don't connect. Nothing resonates. All I want right now is a week of quiet. My cell phone turned off. My computer unplugged. Quiet. Time..... time to find my own skin again. Time to craft and sew and plant and play.

I hesitate to write about this..... but... here goes. Work. My job. I have been here for about 2.5 years. And it's been good. Really good in some ways. I have learned so much and I have been given opportunities that have pushed me farther than I think I ever would have gone in another job. The work I have done here is strong... it's a great foundation. But to be honest, I am ready for a change. The reasons are many, but I would rather not dive into them here, in this format (which is so raw and open to interpretation). So.... yes, ready for something new. Truth be told... I have been "ready" for awhile. A long time actually. Months, maybe even a year. And I have been looking. Half-heartedly mostly. But sometimes seriously. I have sent out some resumes. Filled out some applications. But, nothing has happened. I am still here. Sitting at my desk. Wishing for a change. Wondering why it is not coming. And struggling to know what kind of change I even want. I am filled with a mix of uncertainties. Not sure what direction to head in. Do I pursue full-time freelance? Do I jump into a new full-time job? Do I look for a part-time job and do freelance part-time? Do I look in the design industry? Am I burned out of just this job, or design in general? And the questions only keep coming. Meanwhile... I keep going with the daily grind. Bored, tired, discontent, and a little burned out. My attitude stinks right now, I know. Sorry 'bout that.

Without going too much farther down that road.... I would like to issue a shout out to whoever reads this blog. If YOU happened to know of a job that is a "fit" for me.... send the info my way. I could just use a boost.

Well... for not having anything to write about... I did pretty good today.

us. house. happy.

Soon to be.... Home, Sweet Home!

don't know what to say

We just got a call from our realtor. The first word out of her mouth was "congratulations". It's done.... finally, finally done. The proceedings, negotiations, inspections, and addendums are finally settled. The SOLD sign is officially up!
My feelings are a mix of total exhilaration, complete peace, and a slight sense of sadness. Through this "house thing" we have learned allot about life and about family and about ties that bind people together. Without getting into details, I'll just say that sometimes life doesn't go the way you think it will.... and sometimes, sometimes.... you have to follow your gut, and you have to go the way you feel that God is leading you. Sometimes, you have to turn away from the road that others say is the right one for you. Sometimes others won't be happy with your decisions, but in the end... they are your decisions and you are the one who has to live with the outcome, good or bad. The decision to move forward with this house was not an easy one. Not because we had any issues with the house, but because we were given strong "advice" not to move forward from certain family members. Their reasons were perhaps valid, or perhaps not. Ultimately, we really, really are certain that God led us to this house and that it is his will for us to have it. We prayed continually about our decisions, and we didn't take any one of them lightly. The concerns that were brought up about the house were ones that we either had checked out or decided that we could fix or live with. The age of th electricity was of particular concern to some family members. Thus, we had a Master Electrician come out and give a complete electrical inspection (separate from the full Home Inspection). The man was a god-send... not only a master of his trade, but also a specialist in turn of the century homes. He took a good look at the house and all the wiring and said that it is in excellent condition, and that is even meets todays standards and codes. He stated that it is no more of a hazard than wiring in a brand new home. We felt good about what he said, and we decided to move forward.
So here we... on the brink of being first time homeowners. It's very strange to me to think that our nearly 3 year search has ended. Almost every for the past few years I have looked at homes... sometimes seriously, sometimes just to check out if anything new was on the market. We have gone on too many showings to count, and we have pictured our lives in homes from Roseville to Buffalo. We've looked at two bedrooms and five bedrooms. Dumpy houses, fancy houses, new houses, old houses, acres, city lots, fixer-uppers, new construction, and everything in between. In the end...... we found a house that we can call home. When we walked in the doors, we "felt it". That overwhelming sense of "this could be home." We were bathed in a total peace throughout the process of making an offer and moving forward. Yes, there were moments of uncertainty and doubt. But in the end, Zack and I look at each other and know that we walked this road together and we continually looked to our heavenly father for direction. And He brought us here. Was this the house I pictured for us? Not really. But once we found it..... we just knew.
So now..... now we have a month and half to pack up our lives in the city and move out to Small Town America and into our cozy Cape Cod up on the hill. It will be an adjustment for sure... but we are ready and we are excited!

this is life

Today is a crisp, sunny, beautiful Thursday. And I am here at work, between a couple big projects, with the perfect little window of opportunity to update you on some "goings-on" in our life. The first order of business to share with you all is the current status of the house hunt.

Over the weekend, we looked at 7 houses. 5 on Saturday, 2 on Sunday. The short version of the long story goes like this: Saturday dawned bright and beautiful... we helped Jamie and Dave move into their charming new home and then headed out to the west side of the cities to look at houses. We liked the first house (bottom left corner) quite a bit, but it was listed high... too high. Second house (top left corner) was an absolute no-go due to the potent smell of cows wafting from the cow farm right across the street, third house (bottom right corner) smelled like a barn INSIDE and out. Fourth house (bottom middle) was decent, but it was an "earth shelter" home and it felt like a basement. Fifth house (top right) was nice enough... Zack actually liked it allot. But it lacked a certain "something" for me. Too... normal? Or blah, maybe. I'm not sure. We came home feeling... less than optimistic that any of those houses were "it". So, just for the heck of it, I went online and ran my normal search again. Two new houses had come up during the day and they were go definitely worth taking a look at. We were particularly excited about one of them.... a charming little cape cod on the west side of Lake Minnetonka (not actually on the lake). The price seemed right and the pictures of the inside showed an absolutely clean and cute place. We called out agent right away to set up a showing for Sunday. 4:45 p.m. Sunday and we arrived at the house. It was, in one word, adorable. A 1/2 acre with a view of the lake, big trees, gardens, and an awesome patio... 3 upstairs bedrooms, a fireplace, a nicely finished basement, big windows, hardwood floors.... We really liked it. Allot. The next showing (top middle) went fine, but it didn't come close to comparing. We drove back to the first house, parked in the neighborhood and walked around. We stopped in the quaint "variety store" down the street, explored the town, and left for home feeling good about that house. We spent allot of time praying about making an offer. On Tuesday evening, we sat down with our agent to officially write an offer. Yesterday was full of offers and counter offers and more counter offers. The house has seen an extraordinary amount of showings in the five days it's been on the market, and the sellers seem to be hesitant to jump at their first offer. So the way it stands now... we put our "final and best" offer in yesterday afternoon. The sellers are "sitting on it" and waiting to see if any of the FIVE showings from yesterday will produce another (better?) offer. So... we are waiting too. Zack and I are both very excited... and yet totally at peace. I really can't begin to explain the sense of calm that we have had in all of this. Yes, we love the house. Yes, we would like to get it. But not at any point have we felt panicky that we might "lose" it... Really, it's not "ours" to lose. God ultimately knows the plans He has for us, and we are very content in the position we are in. We feel like if this deal comes together and we get the house.... it will be from the hand of God. And if not, He has something else out there for us. So... we continue to wait.

In other news...... my craftiness has come to a halt. With all the freelance stuff, house hunting, and general business in life, I haven't done much sewing of late. I still have a bunch of projects that I am in the middle of. Hopefully those will be finished soon.

Also... on the freelance end of life.... I am making progress towards my upcoming website! Yesterday I had the absolute privilege to work with an amazing photographer, Erika McCauley. I have always been blown away by her work, and it was a definite treat to have her shooting for me. She took pictures of all of my portfolio pieces, and a few shots of me for the "about me" section of the my site. I am really excited to see the final pictures... and to work with Erika again in the future. She is an total pro and so fun! The image below was posted on her blog...

Well that's all for today... I will write more when I find out about the house... and I'll be sure to post pictures of my latest projects... as soon as they are finished.

hunting houses

Zack and I are house hunting again this weekend. Looong sigh. Our house search has been quite the journey. We have looked at too many houses to remember... put an offer in on one house, walked away from it, and kept looking. It's taken us months to even figure out exactly what we want. But we have "the list" of must-haves and we know the area we want to live in........ the only problem is that when I type it all into the house-finder search-engine-thingy, about 30 houses come up.... not one of which appeal to us.

#1. Split Levels. Gross. Who came up with the whole split level concept anyways? It was a horrible idea and it makes me think "1980's". There are allot of split level homes for sale. We're not interested.

#2. Developments. Why?? Why would I want to live in a house that looks like a clone of my neighbor's house? Where have creativity and individuality gone to? Why have character and originality vanished? I think that some builder somewhere was using a computer one day and discovered the "copy" and "paste" feature. No thanks.

#3. Wide Open Spaces. Okay... we are looking for some space. Actually we would like to have a few acres. BUT who on earth wants to buy a house that is out in a field? With no trees around it? Where the wind whips across the vast open spaces and every person for the surrounding ten miles can see your lonely little house on the prairie. Can we get a little privacy here??


What we ARE looking for is......

#1. A little bit of personality. Something unique, something with character, charm, and possibility. We are open to fixing up, remodeling... as long as what we are starting from has "the right ingredients."

#2. At least 3 bedrooms.... we're thinking ahead here folks. Don't start assuming anything ridiculous... Just planning for you future, you know?

#3. Location. We've got all that figured out... we are looking west of the city, south of 94, north of highway 7. Blah blah blah. This doesn't make sense unless you look at a map. See below:
It's a wonderful area. There are lots of lakes, woods, creeks, farms, and natural beauty. And there are no sky scrapers. And yet, a quick drive and we have theatres, malls, museums, restaurants... and all the culture and thrill of Minneapolis/St. Paul.

#4. Space. We want room.... outside. Land surrounding us to play on, plant in, romp over, explore, and enjoy. We really want to have at least an acre... preferably 3-5 acres. But, we would settle for less if we felt like we were in a quiet setting that didn't feel like it was in the middle of hustle and bustle.

Okay. Now that's all been settled. So I sit here on the computer, day after day, week after week... looking for new home listings. Here and there something comes up and my heart skips a beat and I think, "could this be it??". Only to take one look at the listing and find that it's another split level. Or it's right on a major highway. Or the property is connected to a incredibly unkempt horse farm (this actually happened).

On Saturday we will be venturing out to see four homes. Who knows what we'll find. Maybe nothing? Or maybe we will find our perfect little corner of the world. That would be nice, I think. I'll keep you all informed as to the results!

Also..... on the sewing front... I just picked up supplies for another project. I know, ridiculous. Out of hand, is more like it. Really. I have fabrics and supplies set aside for 6 projects right now. And percolating in my head are an additional 2. My brain is busy with ideas. Unfortunately, the "time thing" holds me back.

lunch spot

There is this great little lunch spot that I frequent rather regularly. It's called "my front porch". Since the arrival of Emmy into our lives, I have taken up eating at home. At first it was due to the fact that her bladder would explode if I didn't let her out half way through the day. Now... it's because I am addicted to the few serene moments that I have at home to sit and relax. The normal routine has me arriving at the house around 1, letting Emmy out, making a quick lunch (today is was pita pizza and a fruit and yogurt parfait that I whipped up in about 5 minutes), and sitting down in my favorite chair on the porch. Sunlight steams into that porch all day, making it a nice, warm and cozy temperature. As a bonus, my chair is in the perfect little patch of sun during that hour of the day. So I sit back, eat my lunch, and watch Emmy chew on sticks out in the yard.

list maker

I like lists. Okay, I love lists..... I like writing lists, crossing things off lists, putting things I already did on lists (just so I can cross them off), completing lists, starting lists, keeping lists... and the list goes on!

I also love post-its. For Christmas this year, I got a nearly lifetime supply of post-it notes in every color, size, and shape imaginable. Post-its cover my monitor at work, and the side of my computer; they litter my purse; fill a box on a shelf in my office; and are pinned up all over my bulletin board. During college, post-its stuffed my planner. Most of them have the following two words written and underlined at the top: To Do. Another variation is: To Do Today. Or just: Today. Recently, as my freelance work has been on the upswing, I found myself scrawling important information on post-its... such as addresses, price quotes, and phone numbers. And then....... in the midst of a chaotic night of freelance hell (deadlines to meet, no time, tired, ...), I found myself digging through a box with scraps of paper and a zillion yellow post-its, trying to find that ONE important tid-bit of information I so desperately needed. Staring at the tiny fluttering squares of paper...... I made an executive decision. This had to end. Post-its have their place, like on the wall when you walk in the door, with a hastily scribbled note... "Love you Sweetie! Hubbs"; NOT in the "business" world of a busy, scattered freelance designer. Thus, the addition of a very important member of my life........ my "list book".


Let me introduce you to my new buddy. Purchased at Target, I picked up this little guy for his good looks, charm and personality. Errr.... maybe more just because the pages looked right to me. And the lines were not too thick or dark. And the cover felt cool. And the colors were nice. ANYWAYS, the new list book has been great! Let me tell you... I must be saving millions of trees since my post-it usage has nearly ceased. The list book keeps all my important (and not-so-important) lists in one handy, compact place. No more digging through piles of post-its to find that one piece of essential information.


Now, just to give you a taste of my insanity... here is a list of some of the lists I have written in the list book recently:
- Things to buy for freelance
- To do this weekend
- Email: Kelly, Deb, etc, ...
- Things to blog
- Bucket Garden: Tomatoes, green peppers, herbs, ...
- Tonight to do
- Goals
- Things to bake for small group
- Current projects
- New Smugmug albums
- Buy at Anchor Paper

Yes... I just made a list of lists. Sigh. At any rate, I now stay very organized. :)