Thursday, July 28, 2011

What are you doing tonight?

I got a phone call early yesterday afternoon. A friend of mine from high school says, "what are you doing tonight?"

Your first response when someone asks you this should be "why?" instead of "nothing". There is always a reason for the question and you always need to give yourself an out!

I learned this much too late.

This phone call wasn't all that innocent, although she wasn't asking all that much of me, she was still asking. Morgan (the friend from high school) explained to me that her friends were putting on this charity fashion show that night and were down one model. She begged and pleaded for me to help. "It's just one dress and then you can go" she said.

My first thought was, how do I get myself out of this? But as I searched for an excuse, I came up short. "okay" I said.(With a lot of reluctance in my voice) After all, it was for charity right?

After driving around lost for 20 min. or so, and then realizing Morgan wasn't even at the event yet, I was less than thrilled to be doing this. I kept saying to myself, It's for charity Lauren. Be nice! 


Once I found the location and the friend of a friend of Morgan's, I felt a bit more comfortable. Once again I had to keep reminding myself How bad could it be? 


Here is where the trick comes in!

As I entered the dressing room I realize that I wasn't just there to model a dress, I was there to model a wedding dress!

The joke really was on me! And of course, Morgan was no where to be found. I couldn't even complain or get up to leave! After all, at this point I am with a friend of a friend. It isn't polite to throw a fit among people you just met!

I tried of my "dress" as instructed. I didn't have the "moment" that brides have when they try on their wedding dress. I wasn't a bride and I wasn't happy. This dress could have been the prettiest dress in all of the world, but it didn't matter, I was still going to pout! I felt large, it was tight. I couldn't sit down and the shoes I had to wear were too small. Couldn't I just get this over with already?

To top it all off, the dress rehearsal totally freaked me out. I am not a model! I am not even close to being graceful in heals, let alone stilettos  that were two sizes too small! I just kept thinking don't fall, don't fall, please don't fall! 


In the end my experience wasn't as terrible as I made it seem. I got to meet a lot of very nice girls, I got to play dress up for a few hours and I got all the attention down that runway. Who could ask for more? Did I mention that it was for charity?

I had escaped with only a single picture, which I will show to you so you can truly experience my embarrassment. Anything for page views right?

Saturday, July 16, 2011

2 Steps Back

My first step back was my first sale, my fear and lack of knowledge of sending off my first product.

Last week, I had decided to jump back on the horse, so to speak and get rockin and rolling again. I want to make my Etsy store work. I need to make my Etsy store work.

Then I feel off the horse again. Literally this time.

I dislocated my shoulder, and upon further inspection (by a very over priced doctor) pinched a nerve in my neck. My right hand/ arm is useless.

Can you say frustrating?!? I think so!

So now what? Well, my shoulder will take some time to heal, but its my mind I worry about. Here I am being held up in bed and all I can think about is the cool things I could be making, the photos I should be taking or the fact that my dog smells terrible and needs a bath!

So I write this blog to you, my 2 only followers with the hopes that I can turn this frustation into something productive. Perhaps I can spend more time on my blog meeting new friends?

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

I'm Back!

After a much needed vacation (that lasted much longer than anticipated) I am finally back to working on my Etsy Store!

I made my first big sale before I left for Peru and let me tell you, it was dramatic! I have never been more nervous in my life! On one hand, I was worrying about my trip and getting business complete before I was MIA for 10 days. On the other hand, I hadn't shipped a large window chalk board yet and I wasn't sure how well it was going to ship!

My first customer was in Maryland and I completely underestimated the cost of shipping. I had thought I had done a good job with those automated shipping calculators but boy was I wrong! After finding just the right box (thank you Uline) and wrapping it with everything I had under the sun to keep it safe, the package was much larger and heavier than I had imagined. We all learn the hard way right?

If that wasn't bad enough, I forgot to include the hanging materials in shipping. I hadn't realized until the next day! I was even more nervous and more flustered! I rushed shipped the picture hanger only to realize this was going to make it before my actual window chalk board did. How embarrassing!!

In the end, it was a rush to get everything together and keep me from completely pulling out my hair! My customer was a bride who was using my chalk board window as a decoration in her wedding to point people to their designated tables. I knew that no news was good news from a bride. What bride wants to follow up about their purchase on their honey moon?

I checked my email a few times when I was in Peru. I was a bit paranoid, but ultimately the window had to make it in one piece or I would have heard something. Thinking back on it, I really wish I would have asked for some photos of my window frame chalk board! But, first experiences are always something to learn from, right?