ink & whimsy - my 'business'

hi guys! so, exciting news! i am starting a hobby/business called ink & whimsy! i decided that there aren't enough baby announcement/thank you note/birthday invite companies that do things for the funkier, more inked ladies and gents out there! if i were a mom i think i'd like something that was a bit more 'me'. ya know? so, i'm starting ink & whimsy to help that out!

check out my etsy shop: www.esty.com/shop/inkandwhimsy !

i am soooo excited! granted, there isn't much up there yet but rest assured i'm still working my little design-y brain off on it! i'm hoping that this will be something that will add to my income. i figured, if i can't seem to find a design job right now why not start my own!? so, check it out and let me know what you think!

honestly,

-e

my new venture!

i have something fun in the works! i won't tell you about it too much this week, just know that next friday i'll have a fun announcement! here's a sneak peak ;)

i'll let you know more soon!

honestly

-e

the winter in me...

i have been having a tough, really tough go of it lately.

some days i'm hanging by a thread, ready to cry at the slightest change of plans or the smallest memory (mainly, still, of my timber). other days i just go through life - i work, i come home, i watch weeds (way too many episodes but i love that ryan and i are watching it together!). i feel like i can't get enough time off lately but when i have time off i get antsy.

it is winter.

it has been for a while now. and that's ok.

it is also winter in me. and that's ok, too.

i am trying to accept that life has dealt me some crazy blows over the last year and that it's ok to pull inside and recover. it's ok to not be happy all the time. it's ok to not fake a smile and to actually be upset and let that be known.

that being said, i look forward to spring! the snow is so peaceful and pretty and the cold is bracing but i am ready for cute dresses and the chance to wear my flippy floppies (yes, mom, i'll get a pedicure first!!). it is time to slough off the winter and make some positive changes. it is time to invest more in my life than "what makes money"...cause, let's face it, most of the time, a job is just a job...and that's definitely the case currently.

i got a new charger for my camera since i've apparently misplaced the other one, and i intend on taking my art back up again. also - working on writing some music...i know, wow!

it is time to come on out of the snow and start coming back into myself. i believe some of the wounds of going through a divorce, and uprooting, a new life, losing my best buddy are starting to heal a little. of course they will always change who i am but i'm starting to realize that that's ok.

i am hoping that this period of winter in me is thawing. we'll see - it's going to take time but i'm getting there. here's to spring.

honestly,

-e

my best friend

my sweet timber,

i will never forget you. you have been a constant comfort through many storms of life. i can't see how i'm going to be able to move on from this catastrophic loss and i feel as though someone pierced a hole in my heart. i know some people would say "he was just a dog" but we know better, huh? you understood me better than any human ever has. you knew exactly when to put that sweet nose under my hand to be petted, when to snuggle up next to my legs and put your head in my lap. you even knew that the best thing to do when i was crying was to come and lick away my tears. i have never felt safer than when you were snuggled in the bed beside me or barking at anyone who passed within 100 feet of our house. i loved quiet nights sitting out in the backyard with you on alert next to me...you were always hunting something. i won't forget the silly little circle wag you always did with your tail (and that you taught to the greyhound!) and the howling at sirens that was always so funny and so eerie. i remember when i first met you, all your beauty, your gentleness, your sweet nature - i fell in love instantly. those first few weeks i felt as though i had a wild coyote running through my house and yard, you were so different, so exotic compared to any other dog i'd ever met. i almost feel like i did the morning i took off in my pjs, barefoot and running through the streets trying to find my baby, thinking i had lost you for good. but no, you had just wandered out of the gate and couldn't find your way back - you didn't get far and you were trying to come home.

right now the sweet memories are a little painful. they keep mixing with the memories of your last day and how difficult that was. it's hard to sleep for all the dreams i'm having of you and all the guilt i have for not getting to spend as much time with you as i have wanted over the last fourteen months. i know you'll forgive me and i hope i do someday, too. i just thought i had more time. you were so healthy and happy in your new home and at least you were just across town instead of all the way back in memphis. but it was still so hard to be there and know that i had to go home and leave you every time. i hope this will get easier, that i can focus on the fact that you're up in heaven with hobie, korey and kermit having a great time herding a ball around, marking everything you can, running, jumping, playing in the snow you loved so much and waiting until i'm ready to come join you. until then i think that the snow, red rubber balls, sirens and so many things will make me remember you. i miss you so much, mutt mutt. you were my best friend and i don't know how i'm going to go on without the promise of you waiting for me. i love you with all of my heart and can't wait until i can hug you again and run my hands through that thick, crazy fur of yours.

your best friend.

merry christmas to all

and to all a good night!

merry christmas from truth, lies and honesty! i pray that this holiday season finds your heart warm and your blessings many. i am counting in my blessings an amazing family that i get spend time with, a great new home, a free plane ticket to get to my parents house, the snowiest december in minneapolis history and the love of an amazing man (who i wish was with me this christmas!). blessings to you and tidings of great cheer!

MerRy ChrIstmAs!

my home at christmas

i realized that i haven't posted any christmas decor or pictures of my tiny slice of minneapolis in a while! it's been a snowy week up here in the midwest - in the minneapolis metro we got about 23 inches of snow saturday morning and all the way until around 3am on sunday morning. to say it was insane would be belittling the storm. it was monumental! the 5th largest storm in the history of minneapolis and i got experience it as my first winter got well underway up here! i was happy to be burrowed in (my second job called and told me to stay home saturday and my other job told me to stay home sunday!) spending my time watching christmas movies on netflix wii, writing christmas cards, wishing i had made a grocery run and glad to have my boyfriend here!

so, here is what the hibernation cave looks like right now! (here is one photo - click this link to go to my photostream: scrumpygirl13 )

i promise!

the etsy shop should be open soon! i had a delay in production due to the fact that i was working too much! but, i've been a little elf lately so i should be able to update it soon. i've got quite a few things to put up in there, just need to do a photo-shoot with my bestie, jill! in the mean time, enjoy something that makes me happy when i'm sad: marcel the shell with shoes on