Every year since I started using GoodReads, I’ve set a higher book goal for myself. And since I started listening to audiobooks (which I still consider reading books), I’ve continued to surpass my goals. This year, I’m working at a job where I have time to listen, even if only on my breaks, so my book count is way up. I’ve already read 55 books this year, and it’s only the start of June. It may be a simple thing, but I’m proud of me!
In our current culture, side hustles are seen as a way to monetize your hobbies. I’ve always wondered if I had a side hustle in me. I do love to make things, but I’ve always been kind of indifferent about the whole prospect of entering capitalism on such a direct level. Also, my “makes” changed over the years. For awhile, I’d be drawing and painting, then switch to clay crafts.
A few months ago, though, I started making felt flowers. I can’t even remember why I started—was it Pinterest perhaps? I just decided one day that it might be fun to try, and next thing I know, I was getting boxes of felt and glue sticks on the regular. My first attempts were amazing to me at the time, but now seem laughable. I think I’ve even thrown some of them away.
The felt that I’d ordered was a pack of multi-colored pink 8.5 by 11 inch sheets, thin but firm. I didn’t realize yet that felt also came in thicker more flexible varieties that would make more supple and pretty flowers. I also had pretty poor control of the glue gun, often ending up with glue blobs in the most in opportune places and burning my fingers trying to wipe it off. I’d soon learn more about felt—and even more about glue gins. Did you know that you can get low-temperature glue guns? Oh my word, what a revelation (and a fingertip saver!).
I thought I was getting pretty good at things, and that my failures (hello weird pointy random flower) were good learning experiences. And at this point, I was amassing a small army of flowers, wondering what I’d do with all these creations.
It was around this time that I started to think that some of these were cute enough to be appealing to other people—maybe as something like pins or hair accessories? As you know, Amazon will always provide a quick fix, and so my first pins were made. I even found someone at work who liked them enough to wear them. He claimed that they would be perfect for covering up stains on his favorite shirt.
Around this time, I started wondering if maybe I could sell these pins. I began to feel like making the flowers was so fun & relaxing that I could actually see myself enjoying the side hustle, as it would be mostly a relaxing hobby. My sister also supported me in this, saying she could be the business brains behind the creator.
I’ve kept making flowers since then, even creating more than pins—things like flowering tree sculptures, photo frames, wreaths and embroidery hoop wall hangings.
As the idea of an actual business starts to become more real, I’ve also been messing around with trying to make myself a logo. Maybe you’ve noticed the rotating header images on the site here. All just random ideas I’ve been testing. Now though, I think I’m on to something. I posted a new header logo that I really like. It has flowers, retro colors, and a simple font. I’m going to try it out for a bit to see if it feels right.
I’ve even started doing research on ways to get into e-commerce as easily as possible… Etsy vs. Instagram based stores vs. a private platform here on my website. Things are honestly pretty exciting right now. My sister swears that my flower creations are cute enough to sell, and some of my work friends agree. What do you think? Would you buy or gift a felt floral item like some of the ones posted above?
I usually spend a lot of time at the end of the year thinking about all the books, music, movies & other things I’ve enjoyed. Taking stock & picking out my favorites usually brings a sense of order and fun to my end of year. But this year, I just didn’t get around to it.
To be honest, I didn’t listen to much music, and I don’t think I watched many new or notable movies. what I did do, however, was read more books than in recent memory.
Actually I listened to many (but not all) of them. Audible was my bff this past year. I indulged in genre fiction like fantasy and sci-do much more than usual, devouring a half-dozen multi-book series (at a guess).
I might even sit down and pick out some favorites. but in the meantime, here is my Goodreads Year in Books 2022.
Every time I make this salad (or some variation of it), I am reminded of how good good eating tastes. I considered calling this salad “New Year’s Salad” in honor of how good for you it is, in addition to tasty. But there is really nothing “New Years” about this salad, no special ingredients. So, it is “Fall” which conjures up images of apples and nuts, roasted vegetables, and sweet-savory combinations. It can be made in about 45 minutes, with a few shortcuts of the modern grocery store, or in an hour from full-scratch. I prefer a few shortcuts where I can get them, though, especially when they involve the superb and always-on-hand Brianna’s Real French Vinagrette. This salad dressing is wonderful on leafy salad, yes, but for me, it belongs in every permutation of the salad… pasta salad, farro salad, roasted vegetables, and more. It is tart, with no sugar, and delightfully oily—as opposed to many modern healthy dressings, which seem made of thickeners instead of real oil & vinegar. Try it; then tell me if I’m wrong.
You can also substitute any other fall ingredients you love, as the ingredients below are merely a reflection of my personal tastes & what happened to be in my fridge at this moment. Let me know what you add!
First, preheat oven to 400 degrees while you prepare potatoes, shallots & tofu. On a single sheet pan, place sweet potatoes & tofu in a single layer. Sprinkle sliced shallots over potatoes, separating the slices. Drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt, pepper, cumin & cayenne. Use hands to mix the vegetables and then the tofu, leaving them on separate sides of pan. Place in oven to roast for approximately 30-45 minutes, based on your tastes. I like some crispy edges. Take from over to stir and flip at least once, which will help them roast more evenly.
Cook farro per your package instructions. Make sure to drain any excess water. Place in large bowl, stirring occasionally to cool & fluff. After the farro has cooled for about 15 minutes (it will still be warm but not hot), drizzle with approximately ⅓ cup vinagrette & toss.
Chop all the uncoooked ingredients you’ll be using. Add to faro. Drizzle with more vinagrette as necessary.
Once potatoes & tofu are done, cool on pan for about 15-20 minutes until warm but not hot. Add to faro, with more vinagrette to your taste. Mix all together, folding gently so as not to squish the sweet potatoes. Taste & add more seasoning to your taste.
You can serve warm, as is, or after chilling in the fridge for up to 1 day. Leftovers may also be reheated if you prefer it warm. This is how my sister eats it, although I prefer it cold. Make sure to mix before serving, as vinagrette may pool in bottom of bowl.
Alternative options for serving:
Alternative or additional ingredients:
I hope you enjoy this flexible recipe as much as I do! And Happy New Year 😉
I just filled out the Secret Santa questionnaire at work. When asked my favorite animal, I replied “unicorn.” My second choice was dragon.
Perhaps I’ve been reading too many fantasy novels?
Say you have a frozen entree for dinner. It’s not bad… it had veg and protein, about 400-something calories. But you’re unsatisfied. Also, lazy.
In this case, can a peanut butter & jelly sando be considered dessert? I’m thinking yes.
Sometimes the feeling of sadness just overcomes me. It is like a black hole forms inside, and all the pain becomes like a million million tiny knives hurtling towards my core. It is dark, too, threatening to expand and fill up my whole being. I usually don’t know whether to cry or scream. Whether to curl up in a ball or run out into the street.
Tonight, I saw a picture of the puppy that used to love me, the one I lost in the divorce, my little Rufus. I don’t even know if he’s alive or dead, but I miss him. I miss the person I was when he was still a part of my life. And maybe I even miss that life, even though I know now that it wasn’t what I thought. It wasn’t meant to be my forever. Or my happily ever after.
I want to believe, though, that love can’t be subtracted from your life. That maybe that love of/in the past, my puppy, hopefully even my doomed marriage, still exists within me. It was real, and it is mine to keep.
I have always loved covers. Every time a new artist sings an old song, there is new meaning, there is shared meaning. It is a creation that can be just diverting (“what a cute cover”) or soul-sparking (“oh I never noticed that before”)— the meaning is created in the liminal space between the cover songs. Old vs. new.
I’ve also been experimenting with music streaming apps for a few months now. I’m currently doing my Spotify stint. And Spotify loves to throw me cover songs in my weekly playlists. I don’t know how they know (algorithm genius!), but I love it.
This week, “Dancing in the Dark” by Madeline (formerly Springsteen). Link to Spotify.
This cover was amazing. The tome was changed entirely by the gender flip. The tempo was at once slower and yet more energetic and driving. The words seemed to mean more. Please follow the link & take a listen! (I couldn’t get a single song to embed from any app, sorry,..)
I’m trying to get back in the writing & sharing habits now that my depression is lifting (and that’s a whole mother story there). I’ve been doing ok on Instagram, where just throwing up a photo or a reel is quick. And it fits into my day & other activities well. I get blocked though, when it comes to this website. I just forget about it. Well, not quite forget… There is always the lagging guilt that I should be writing more and putting it out into the world because otherwise how will I know if anyone wants to read it?
But those issues aside, I also harbor a secret desire to make every post on here REALLY COUNT because I haven’t been posting much. But that’s ridiculous. Not every post can be a 10,000 word examination of my mental health or the latest music trends.
Here is a really good example. Yesterday, I was puttering around the internet, reading some emails, some news, following some links, when BAM! Something awesome that I want to share. But its a YouTube video, and I can’t share that on Instagram, my go-to easy platform. I can’t even share links unless its in the comments field. So what do I do?
Girl, you have a web site, a blog, a whatever you want to call it, where you can post anything. So here I am. That was a pretty big introduction to what I actually want to share, so I hope I haven’t taken the wind out of your sails with my blathering.
So there it is, the big excitement. But here’s the thing. Lipstick and mascara and tiny tubes of eye cream and serum bottles—none of these things are conventionally recyclable. I think we don’t really think about it most of the time, we just throw a whole lot of unprocessable things in the recycling, say we recycle, and give ourselves a pat on the back.
But if you only knew how little actually gets recycled, you’d be horrified. For instance, any item can have a “recycle” symbol on it—doesn’t even need to be recyclable. How is that not a crime??? Plus, you still need the containers to be empty and clean. Do you clean out your salsa jars or peanut butter jars before you recycle? If not, I have bad news for you. It probably gets tossed. Even if your local recycling center says the containers don’t need to be clean or empty, many of those that aren’t get tossed at the recycling facility itself. I try to be so good, but sometimes—I have to admit—I look at a container and just think “fuck it.” Common offenders for me hair products I didn’t like. How do I empty and wash a closed tube of leave-in conditioner? Do I take the chance of recycling? Or do I just throw it out so someone else doesn’t have to do it for me?!?
I have gotten off track, surprise! Beauty supplies are notorious for being un-recyclable. And its no surprise why… Tiny containers made of multiple materials that are hard to empty or impossible to clean. That is not a good thing for assembly-line style recycling sorting. Because what our American motto? If it’s too hard, don’t do it!
So, what is Nordstrom doing to change that? You can now bring your makeup unmentionables to the store & they’ve partnered with Terracycle to make sure these containers actually get recycled. Its the dark side of the beauty industry, at a time when other industries are trying to make inroads in green product packaging, etc.
I respect this, and I hope it takes off. It adds another step to the “recycling” process, but I hope at least people who already go to Nordstrom will partake in this program. And if it proves to be a big PR hit, maybe other companies will start doing the same. For a really big difference, I’m thinking Target, Walgreens, CVS. These companies should also be doing this. Actually, any company that sells makeup, skincare, or hair products should be a part of this too!
I’ll be holding all my relevant containers to take to Nordstrom for recycling. And maybe if we all start asking around at places we shop, they’ll start thinking about making this more widespread.