Buy it, ladiez!
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Photography Lessons
My etsy store photos are pretty mediocre dismal. Luckily, sometime in the near future, I have a friend who is going to teach me some basic photography stuff! I'm so pumped to learn something that might help increase sales!
In the meantime, I've been using a tripod and self timer to get some pictures of my clothes with a model (moi) in them. They were pretty out of focus for the most part. I did get one halfway decent one, though (you know, other than going bare-faced out of sheer laziness)!
Monday, May 20, 2013
Papa Was a Rolling Stone: A Father's Day Gift Guide
Dads are really difficult to buy for - or at least my dad is. When I was a kid, my sisters and I always got him socks or a tie. He always acted appreciative, but obviously no one wants socks and ties for a gift, like ever. So what should you get dear ole' dad (or the father-like dude in your life)? Here are a few ideas, some from my shop and some from other shops.
1. Does your dad have a hobby? Pay attention to what he does in his free time, and buy him an accessory for that. Maybe a model airplane kit. Fishing pole. Tools. Whatever. Does he like photography? Get him a vintage camera like this one.
2. Clothing and accessories are good if you have a good feel for your dad's style. Find out his size and purchase accordingly. However, don't buy something you like for him if it's not his taste. Remember this is about him, so buy something he will actually enjoy. These are a nice option if you have a little more money to spend and know your dad's shoe size.
1. Does your dad have a hobby? Pay attention to what he does in his free time, and buy him an accessory for that. Maybe a model airplane kit. Fishing pole. Tools. Whatever. Does he like photography? Get him a vintage camera like this one.
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| vintage polaroid |
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| leather shoes |
3. Food or booze. Sign him up for a beer of the month club, make him dinner, or bring him his favorite candy if he has a sweet tooth. Or these spicy pickles are neat, if that's more this thing.
4. Books - maybe a gift card to a book store if you don't know what he wants. Or if you know your dad well enough to know what his interests are, find something cool and wrap it. Wrapped gifts are just fun all around.
Whatever you do, don't get him socks or a tie, unless he asks for it specifically (he won't).
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| jalapeno pickles |
4. Books - maybe a gift card to a book store if you don't know what he wants. Or if you know your dad well enough to know what his interests are, find something cool and wrap it. Wrapped gifts are just fun all around.
Whatever you do, don't get him socks or a tie, unless he asks for it specifically (he won't).
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Diving In
Sometimes, you just have to do something that seems really dumb. (Sidenote: this is not my first seemingly dumb but ultimately right choice. I did drop out of law school two weeks in, after all.)
Every once in awhile, you just need to throw caution to the wind and give yourself a chance to do something that you really want to do. Because the only thing worse than failing is not trying and then wondering what could have been.
This week is my last week as a full time nanny. My husband is pretty much the best and has decided that he can support us financially while I try my hand at making my etsy store work. I'll still be working keeping books at a therapy clinic very part time, but he'll be carrying essentially all of the financial burden. Hopefully my store will continue on the path it has been on for the past month, slowly but surely increasing sales and helping with bills, but if not, it will be a learning experience. And it will be fun. I haven't had a lot of fun since I graduated college, and I'm really excited to do something that I genuinely enjoy.
Plus, my sister-in-law comes to visit us for a week during each summer, and I've dragged her to babysit with me this past year. I'm looking forward to being able to relax while she's here.
It's going to be a good summer. I can feel it.
Every once in awhile, you just need to throw caution to the wind and give yourself a chance to do something that you really want to do. Because the only thing worse than failing is not trying and then wondering what could have been.
This week is my last week as a full time nanny. My husband is pretty much the best and has decided that he can support us financially while I try my hand at making my etsy store work. I'll still be working keeping books at a therapy clinic very part time, but he'll be carrying essentially all of the financial burden. Hopefully my store will continue on the path it has been on for the past month, slowly but surely increasing sales and helping with bills, but if not, it will be a learning experience. And it will be fun. I haven't had a lot of fun since I graduated college, and I'm really excited to do something that I genuinely enjoy.
Plus, my sister-in-law comes to visit us for a week during each summer, and I've dragged her to babysit with me this past year. I'm looking forward to being able to relax while she's here.
It's going to be a good summer. I can feel it.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
A Day in the Life
Right now I work as a nanny (transitioning out to work on my shop missmagnoliavintage.etsy.com), but on the occasional day off to work on my store, here's what my typical day looks like.
6:00 Wake up, check etsy for sales. Obsessively check my store metrics 10-12 times. Drink copious amounts of coffee. Surf web.
7:00 Make breakfast. Check store metrics. Check store metrics a few more times. Add a new listing to store.
8:00 Shower, get ready, possibly write a blog post.
8:30 Post office to see my favorite lady Marva and ship any sold items.
9:00 Start hitting thrift shops, flea markets, etc.
12:00 Finish up shopping. Make lunch. Eat. Check store metrics.
1:00 Record new items information. Take photos.
1:30 Edit photos. Check store metrics.
3:00 Catch up on Mob Wives. Check store metrics. Straighten up the house.
4:00 Walk dogs.
5:00 Start to make dinner. Check store metrics.
6:30 Eat dinner with husband. Talk about store metrics.
7:30 List a new item.
8:00 Check store metrics. Relax(ish).
10:00 Go to sleep.
Yeah. That.
6:00 Wake up, check etsy for sales. Obsessively check my store metrics 10-12 times. Drink copious amounts of coffee. Surf web.
7:00 Make breakfast. Check store metrics. Check store metrics a few more times. Add a new listing to store.
8:00 Shower, get ready, possibly write a blog post.
8:30 Post office to see my favorite lady Marva and ship any sold items.
9:00 Start hitting thrift shops, flea markets, etc.
12:00 Finish up shopping. Make lunch. Eat. Check store metrics.
1:00 Record new items information. Take photos.
1:30 Edit photos. Check store metrics.
3:00 Catch up on Mob Wives. Check store metrics. Straighten up the house.
4:00 Walk dogs.
5:00 Start to make dinner. Check store metrics.
6:30 Eat dinner with husband. Talk about store metrics.
7:30 List a new item.
8:00 Check store metrics. Relax(ish).
10:00 Go to sleep.
Yeah. That.
Monday, May 6, 2013
The Opposite of Love is Indifference (An Ode to 90's Fashion)
I have a confession to make: I once hated 90's fashion. Now, I love it.
I was born in 1989, so only my very young childhood took place in the 90's, but let me tell you. There were plenty butterfly clips. And JNCO jeans. And sunflower prints. And belly shirts. I'm not saying all of those things are good. In fact, a lot of them are pretty awful, but something about 90's fashion reminds me of how my older sisters dressed. There's nothing cooler than older sister fashion sense, amirite?
So, how can you wear 90's clothes and accessories without looking like a fool? Want to look like young Courtney Love and Drew Barrymore without getting strung out and smelly? Here are a few tips.
1. Subtlety is key. Let's start with the infamous butterfly clip hairstyle. In the 90's the (my) mentality was to get as many of those suckers into your hair as humanly possible. That is not a good look. It wasn't then, and it isn't now. I distinctly remember my dad telling me he wasn't a fan of the hair gel heavy butterfly clip style I sported in 1999. Here's a way to do it in a tasteful but playful way. I'd stick with just one, but this pretty lady pulls of 3 nicely.
2. Make it mini. If I recall correctly, everything was tiny in the 90's. Mini dresses. Baby tees. Even mini purses. Figure out your best body feature and choose accordingly.
3. Here's the most important tip. Buy and wear the things you love. Have fun with it. Don't take yourself too seriously. It's only fashion, after all.
I was born in 1989, so only my very young childhood took place in the 90's, but let me tell you. There were plenty butterfly clips. And JNCO jeans. And sunflower prints. And belly shirts. I'm not saying all of those things are good. In fact, a lot of them are pretty awful, but something about 90's fashion reminds me of how my older sisters dressed. There's nothing cooler than older sister fashion sense, amirite?
So, how can you wear 90's clothes and accessories without looking like a fool? Want to look like young Courtney Love and Drew Barrymore without getting strung out and smelly? Here are a few tips.
1. Subtlety is key. Let's start with the infamous butterfly clip hairstyle. In the 90's the (my) mentality was to get as many of those suckers into your hair as humanly possible. That is not a good look. It wasn't then, and it isn't now. I distinctly remember my dad telling me he wasn't a fan of the hair gel heavy butterfly clip style I sported in 1999. Here's a way to do it in a tasteful but playful way. I'd stick with just one, but this pretty lady pulls of 3 nicely.
 |
| Tasteful Butterfly Clips |
Great legs? Try a mini dress.
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| Mini Gap Dress |
Rock hard abs? Baby tee it up.
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| Velvet Baby Tee |
Not super stoked to show skin? Go for a mini purse.
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| Yellow Mini Purse |
3. Here's the most important tip. Buy and wear the things you love. Have fun with it. Don't take yourself too seriously. It's only fashion, after all.
Gotta run, my tamagotchi is hungry (there's an app, seriously).
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