New Years Resolutions- May update!

Updates!
 (PST! Don't forget I would love to hear from you about your own goals (resolution or not) and your progress as well, so that we can help each other stick to it!)
So here it is, my list of things I want to accomplish this year and how I am going about it. Here is how I'm doing so far:

• Knit a sweater

I'm into the shaping portion of my sweater, and while I've had a difficult time lately knitting it (or knitting in general for that matter) I am having a great time knitting it! I really like the way it is coming out. I cannot wait to wear it!

• Get this blog consistent traffic

Last post I told you that I opened a Facebook page, twitter account, flickr specific to my blog and informed you of my personal Pinterest and Instagram accounts. And since then I have decided that it was too much to fast, I don't know what I'm doing. I don't even like twitter. :/ So I am stepping back, and while Pinterest and Instagram will be updated still (since they are personal not necessarily related to the blog or shop)

• Sell 6 projects on Esty or elsewhere  DONE!

I did it! But to be fair, looking back, that wasn't much of a goal. I haven't yet decided what to replace this goal with, seeing as I don't have a great grasp of what is a realistic yet challenging goal to reach for, I will need some time to think about it.

• Learn to cross stitch

A friend of mine who cross stitches has plans to drag me into a stitch-a-long with her, so whenever that happens (I think it's in June) I will begin to conquer this resolution!

• Buy a car

We aren't really any closer, however we are slowly but surely saving money for it. Our goal is to try by September or October to apply for a loan. Fingers crossed!

• Help patrons in Spanish

Since the last update I am sad to say that my time on Rosetta has dwindled significantly. Work and life has been getting in the way, so hopefully once all these trainings and moving and such has occurred I will be able to get back to it!

• Schedule my time effectively 

Put on hold for the time being.

• Get back in "working order"

Put on hold for the time being.

So that's how I did last month, not super impressive, but I'm sticking to my big one, mostly. How have you done?

New Years Resolutions- April Update

Updates!
Here is how I'm doing so far:  (PST! Don't forget I would love to hear from you about your own goals (resolution or not) and your progress as well, so that we can help each other stick to it!) So here it is, my list of things I want to accomplish this year and how I am going about it:

• Knit a sweater

I bought this pattern, bought my yarn (I chose Lilac) 

 

I am almost done with the top shaping! (I know it's not the best photo, but I was halfway through a row when I had to run out the door this morning!)

 

I am so happy with how it's turning out so far! I like the yarn a lot, so soft and it glides on my needled effortlessly! 

 

You may see more sweaters in the future if this is how the whole thing goes, but we will see where I am in a month!

 

I am almost onto the 3rd of 11 skeins of yarn. Never have I ever used so many in one project!

• Get this blog consistent traffic

This is a work in progress. As you know I opened the Facebook page. I've also set up accounts on twitter and flickr,  and I plan on using my personal accounts for Pinterest and Instagram too.I am having a bit of trouble remembering to use some of those places for more than browsing and personal use... but at least I got them started. I'm starting to believe I'm trying to do too much too fast, so I might actually hold off on trying to push those other venues and focus on this here blog and shop. I mean, I haven't even added links over on the side bar yet!

• Sell 6 projects on Esty or elsewhere 

Adding to the 1 sale in January, I have another Shark Towel in the works and I made my first ever Etsy sale last month! Totally stoked! I need to update that store with more stuff, but I've been working on birthdays and such... it's a busy time of year for me! At least I'm killing 2 birds with one stone, some of the presents I'm making are prototypes for items I will eventually sell in my shop!

• Learn to cross stitch

Still working on it. I am no closer than last time.

• Buy a car

We had an interesting turn of events in this vein... and they happened this morning! Turns out my parents might be buy a new car too, making John and I the beneficiaries of their used vehicle. SCORE! We need to hash out the details, but lets just say my parents take good care of their vehicles and do not want any of them out of the family anytime soon...

• Help patrons in Spanish

I've now been using Rosetta Stone for a few weeks and I love it so far! Yes it's expensive, but my mom want halvsies with me (It's a goal for her as well) so it wasn't as bad. And I got it on sale. :) I am having a hard time remember to sign on and do the lessons, but the few i have are helping immensely. Bilinguality, here I come!

• Schedule my time effectively

 Being your own boss? Way harder than it sounds. I'm used to have a defined job description or a supervisor that it is a continuing struggle to keep myself on task and motivated. And I do not supervise myself well. Work in progress.

• Get back in working order

This is in line with scheduling my time effectively, I am not good at being my own boss. Due to some personal stuff I've gone easy on this section, but I feel I am doing better. My goal for this next month is to make sure all dishes are done on time, and when I do laundry it gets put away immediately and not sit in the hamper getting covered in kitty fur. (Someone thinks it's his hammock.)

• Start saving for a home

Another one that has had some interested changes. While we are still not currently looking at homes to buy my dad has agreed to look into some first time home buyer incentives and see if we are a good match for any of them. So who knows? Maybe we will get a house this year, anything can happen!

There is the laundry list of goals for myself... I am actually quite happy with the progress! What do you think? How are your goals coming?

Grand Opening!

Yup! My Facebook page is finally open for business! (Even though some sneaky fools found it already!) so please, go like my page and tell your friends! I need all the help I can get!

And in celebration of finally letting the world see my biz on Facebook, I have a brief, fashion related tutorial-ette if you will: what is did to make some cute shoes even cuter!!

Here they began:

And here they ended:

Nothing too dramatic eh? But let me tell you, the comfort factor was worth it! And it only took me all of 5 min to do both shoes!

It's simple, all you need is some elastic in a coordinating color, and the right width to go with the eyelets of your shoes (mine was 1/8")

Lace it through your desired pattern (I only had 4 eyelets, so my combos were limited) and then cut and extra 1-2" longer than you need.

Next, you lay the two ends together, making sure to leave enough ease for moving around (I did have to redo one, since both feet are rarely the exact size) and secure them together. Use pins, tape, paper clips, glue; whatever works for you. Then sew!!! Since I used black, I went to. Town, overlapping, whip stitching, back stitching, you name it! Until you are sure they won't burst on you while walking.

Cut elastic as close as you dare to the stitching and voila, no more bulky laces! Your welcome!

Do you have any quick and easy fixes?

Happy Friday!