Small Business Saturday

The gist: I opened an Etsy shop. Last week, actually. I thought about posting about it then, but then I heard this Saturday was Small Business Saturday, so I decided to wait until now to say anything.

It's called from the Maker. Thinking of a name is why it took me so long to open a shop. I would have started one this summer if I had been able to think of a name. The reason behind it is explained a little bit in the shop info:

My relentless Savior is an incredible Maker. I'm a maker too, but of the things listed here instead of the mountains and skies. 

I don't really know of any other way to explain that. I hope to organize my thoughts on the name a bit more and then dedicate a full post on it eventually. I only know now that I share the things I make here on this blog, but this shop is where I will attempt to sell those things. It's been "open" for a week and I have already gotten one favorite on a hat, which was exciting to see!

So far, I only have four hats listed. One adult-size, and three baby-size. The one shown above is my favorite. I think the ones without brims are the cutest, and I can confirm that the yarn this one was made with is soft.

I guess you could say that my vision is that one day I won't be the only maker on there. A few other people would also be contributing. And it would rock. I like that idea of collaboration. For now, though, it's just me. But, hey, if you want to join me on there with something you make, let's talk about it. (:

It won't just be loomed hats. One day I'll actually learn how to knit or crochet a hat, or scarves, or maybe I'll put my weaved baskets up there, or maybe even some stuff I haven't quite thought of yet.

So there you have. Need a hat? Welllllllllllllllllll, I may know of a place...

- rl

(p.s. I hope to have some other "from the Maker" specific social media pages open before too long. Today, though, I worked and then I have a lot of my Moody application to work on before tomorrow's deadline, so the social media will have to wait.)

Benefits of Being Awkward

I took this while we were in San Antonio, because, seriously, who doesn't always need a new profile picture?

When I read this post last month, I had just started work at Chick-fil-A. I could relate to the post. Not because I'm a photographer (although I have already had a good amount of people ask me to take photos of their family after this post. That offer is still good, by the way!), but because of this line,

"my awkwardness helps me see awkwardness in others during uncomfortable situations...and I'm well suited to ease it."

I'm not the only awkward person. There are plenty of others, and they come up for food. When I think a guest feels awkward or uncomfortable, I speak differently to them. Not in a negative way, of course, but I try to make sure they feel comfortable. It's hard to explain. For one, I make sure I listen closely so that they don't have to repeat themselves. Obviously, I listen as intently as I can for every guest, but some people don't mind if they have to repeat themselves. I just know that for me, I look at myself negatively when the person I'm getting food, or anything else, from doesn't hear me. Sometimes we both end up feeling awkward, which is hard.

But, whatever the situation, I'm thankful to be awkward now that I see the benefits.

- rl

Update on the Current Situation

I took this picture of my feet in the grass yesterday because I wanted to do a before and after picture after it snowed. It never snowed. Texas, why do you always have to get my hopes up?!

Well, I suppose now that I actually have something to update people on, I should do so.

I wrote this blog post in August, and haven't really updated since. Obviously, I did not go to Chicago. And while I should have contacted Moody in late August to see what my next step would be, I waited until last Wednesday to do so. I emailed them about whether or not I need to reapply, and they replied that night.

I do. I have to reapply. The early decision deadline is Sunday, December 1. So, that's my goal. I barely started working on the application Friday, and I plan on finishing it up this week.

I don't think I shared this in that big long blog post back in August, but last year I had wanted to apply for the December 1 deadline, but I just didn't finish in time, and I know it ended up working out better in the long run, because I had plenty of time to really think about my essays. This time, though, I've had months to think about it, so I plan on just knocking it all out in one day.

By applying for this early decision deadline, multiple things can happen (to my knowledge) when I get a letter in mid-January:
1: I can get accepted for fall 2014. Straight up.
2: I can be deferred to find out after the regular decision deadline on March 1 (that letter coming in mid-April).
3: I can be denied altogether, but I think Moody's version of that is
4: suggesting I do FYOP (First Year Online Program), where I think it goes something like this: regular amount of hours, but all online, then Chicago the next year?
5: Spokane for a time. Moody has a campus in Spokane, Washington, but as of right now they don't have the Communications major there. I could do my "basics" there, then transfer to Chicago, I think. That campus is different, though, because there are no dorms, and I think it's more like you can rent houses with other students.

So there you have it. I'm working on my application this week. It's scary this time around because I'm making it public. I feel much more vulnerable this time. Not a huge amount of people read my blog, but people still know what's up in my life, and they care about me. Last time I didn't put out there where I was applying. If someone asked, I would tell them, but I didn't talk about it a lot to people I wasn't close to. It's hard this time, though, to think that I feel a responsibility to let people know either way, even if it is a "no" this time. And that's the hard part - the thought that I could not be accepted to the Chicago campus again. I was really shocked to get in on the first try, so we'll have to see if it happens again.

Ok. Now time to go work on my application.

- rl

Fall Foliage: Part III

Well, I didn't plan on having three parts to this post, but the leaves in our neighborhood were just too beautiful. I had to take pictures. And share them.

- rl

Fall Foliage: Part II

My mom really wanted me to get a picture of the trees on this street. But since I only have an 18-55mm lens, it doesn't zoom quite that far. If it did, I could have gotten an awesome shot of those pretty trees and the church in the background.

So I lied a little. Not that it really matters, but this was not posted the day after part I, like I said it would be. Seriously, though, who cares?

Anyway, so these pictures were taken at out behind where my mom used to work. As we walked around she told me about how they used to come out here and have their prayer time. It was so beautiful. I wish we could have spent another 30 minutes there, just so I could compose each shot carefully. Alas, we had to head home so dinner could be ready in time.

It was a really nice couple of hours. I enjoyed our time together, mommy. So glad we have similar interests like this. (:

- rl