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Hello!!

I applied for this job writing articles online. You get paid $17 per article, and even more if it's actually used. I had to fill out this app with my experience, hobbies, and had to fill out a form dealing with my knowledge on certain subjects. After submitting all of that, they gave me 48 hrs to write a 600-1,000 word article on pretty much anything, and I submitted that about 5 minutes ago. I'll post my draft on here: 

You want to try your hand at livening up your wardrobe without breaking the bank, so decide to see what this “thrift store” craze is all about.  Walking into the expansive one room building, you are immediately overwhelmed. There are racks upon racks of clothing, signs everywhere, the back wall is full of every toy given away in the tri-county area, and something smells a little funny. You immediately want to leave; asking yourself why you would ever think you could buy used clothes.

This is a common reaction to anyone who has never stepped foot inside of a thrift store, resale or secondhand shop.  When I first began to go to thrift stores, I did the same thing. Luckily, I had a friend with me who taught me the basics of thrift store shopping, and now this information will be passed on to you.

Before you even go to the thrift store, there are a few things you need to know in order to prepare:

1)Have a basic idea of what you’re shopping for.  This is similar to going to the grocery store when you’re hungry. You are bound to buy many unnecessary food items. In a thrift store, if you don’t know what you want, many items seem fantastic to you because of the price, and before you know it, you have 12 ‘thrift gems’ in your cart, and you spend 40 dollars when you only wanted to spend 20. Do not let this happen. If you walk in knowing that you want to get a sweater to match your knew pencil skirt, you are more likely to stick to your guns. Although those army green shorts are absolutely adorable, and they’re only three bucks….

2)Consider the trendiness of the item. You must remember that thrift stores are a place for people to get rid of old clothes without throwing them away. Which means that these will not be (for the most part) items straight off the runway or out of Betsey Johnson’s Spring ’09 collection. If you go to a thrift store looking for low slung drainpipe jeans, it’s going to be tough. Perhaps the high waist of the earlier decades will be more common. But there is a high chance that you can find flares, pencil skirts, gypsy skirts, bohemian blouses, minidresses, and any other trend that has been around for at least a full year. However, the lack of extreme trendiness gives you a chance to experiment with styles of the past…you will most definitely run into a housedress from the 50’s, or the crazy patterned blazers from the 80’s. Imagine the combinations!

3)Consider the location of the thrift store. This can tie in with the trendiness of an item.  Thrift stores in more downtown or affluent areas will definitely have more brand name and higher quality clothes like Calvin Klein, DKNY or Ralph Lauren. If you go to one in the suburb, or the outskirts of town, the clothes there will be more commonly from mall stores like the Gap, Old Navy, department stores like JC Penney or Sears, or big box stores like Kmart or WalMart.

4)Check different stores for sales. Yes, even thrift stores have sales. A very common one is on Fridays, when many offer five items for five dollars.  Do your research, check the phone books, and call around to see what different stores offer.

Now that you have mapped out what you want to buy and where you want to go, there are a couple things you should know as you are sifting through the aisles.

1)Items to avoid: It should be common sense that you never EVER wear previously worn underwear. That includes bras. Aside from the horrible thoughts about who could have worn it before, remember that bras lose their shape after time anyway. Also avoid anything with stains unless you know for a fact that you can get it out. Be sure to keep an eye out for rips; if they’re on the seam, it’s an easy fix. If not, don’t buy it. Remember to look at the wear of an item as well. A cute blue t-shirt that has lost its elasticity isn’t so cute anymore when you try it on and look like a box from the waist up. A yellow sweater that is starting to pill ever so slightly isn’t worth it if you don’t know how to care for it.

2)Things to consider when you find a piece: Check the tags for care. Unless you live like a queen and get everything dry cleaned, try not to pick up too many items like this. Of all the items I have bought from the thrift store, I have only one item that is dry clean only; a pink corset. Can you guess how often I wear it?

Most thrift stores do have fitting rooms, so please try the clothes on if you aren’t completely sure about the fit. Nothing feels worse than buying an item, then putting it on to get ready for the big night and realizing that you are swimming in it, or worse, about to pop out.

3)Wash before you wear: I cannot stress this enough. Even if you did try it on at the store, wash these items before you wear them. It is always best to play it safe. Besides, your new clothes will most likely smell a little funny.

You found some gems, you’ve washed them, and you’re ready to go show them off! Have fun! And remember that no two thrift stores are the same. Try them all! Who knows what you’ll find?

~Pusher.Of.Pens.~

I miss pictures.

As I stalk people's photos on Facebook, I often ask myself I don't take more pictures considering my obvious fascination with them. 

Eh, whatever.

I have finally sent in my application to Columbia College Chicago. I checked it over 8 million times, corrected any spelling errors on my essay or the recommendation letter, I double and triple checked the correct address to send everything, sealed it up, and mailed it out. Well, the app was online, so I just cybered that right over with my non-refundable-hopefully-worth-every-penny-because-I-have-to-get-in application fee.

And now the waiting game. 

So while that's occurring, I will freak out considerably, call obsessively, and try to occupy my time with other ways that I can make money. Any ideas? (read: I will not strip...yet). 

That's it for now...I can't even think.

Mirror images kinda confuse me.

Okay, this is pre-hobo-bag purse number uno.  I decided to try my hand at making something first before I started devoting my time to a project that would be potentially horrific looking once done. 

So I grabbed a random t-shirt that I was already cutting swatches out of and made a mini purse, with no help, no tutorial, nothing. Here's the finished project:

(Yay for MacBook Mirror Imaging! A small flaw I never thought of before.)

It's definitely rough. I used my sewing machine for the first time on this. I know it sounds dumb, but I had no idea what a reverse stitch was until I looked at the user guide yesterday. 

Oh, and I also happened to forget to hem the top before I closed up the purse...so I used HeatnBond! That awesome iron on hem tape that I use for all of my slacks. J'adore.

BUT...I put on the straps before I hemmed it, (I feel like I was in a hurry to finish it, or something) so the inside is uh... lopsided? 

AND...the straps are leftover material and aren't even the same width. 

So you see, many flaws. This is the purse one would make if they were just kicked out of their house with the clothes on their back and a sewing kit, and an extra t-shirt from the thrift store.

I mean, really, I just blame all of my imperfections on the sewing machine. I got it from Meijer for 27 dollars:

Anything called a "Mighty Mender" (you would be able to read that if the laws of physics...or...visualityness weren't so strict) couldn't possibly be too great, right?

I will probably add some kind of lining to it, to hide my terrible cutting skills.  Also, I've decided that I am going to make it my Nintendo DS Carrier. I already have a hard case, but just think about the irony of a Japanese gaming system in a Chinese-made/inspired purse. I'm such a jokester. 

*I think for next time, I will spend the two or 3 bucks, get a pattern for a hobo purse, find some decent fabric around the home, use measuring tape, cut more carefully, and take my time. A lesson (or 5) learned.*

~Pusher. Of. Pens.~

P.S. My deadline for writing a rough draft of one of my articles is tonight by 9. And in true procrastifantastic fashion, I haven't started it yet. Score one for me.

My Scarf is Way Cool.

After spending a night/day with Rhapsody in Purple, I am overwhelmingly inspired to completely immerse myself in any and everything creative.

This thing that is supposed to be my outlet, my life force, my sanity... has not been getting very much respect lately. I feel like I've been purging my system of the old ways, the old mentality, the laziness. There was a lack of confidence, a lack of structure. 

No wonder I got sick. It was a "terrible-attitude-toward-myself" detox, as well as withdrawal from not having enough creativity flow.

So now that I'm (almost) all better, I have plans underway:

1) I have three articles outlined. All I need to do is a tiny bit of research, and then I get out some rough drafts. I have Monday off. I will give myself until 9 pm to complete the first draft of one of the articles. Gotta start off slow. 

2)I am going to begin making a purse. A simple hobo bag made out of one of my or Loving Beau's old shirts/pajamas/skirts/parachute pants. All I'll need is some sort of strap. Of course, I could always make that cloth, too, but I want something a little stronger.

3)I plan on practicing my bass at least 3 times a week...I broke it out, started playing it again, and it felt good. That was Monday. 

4)I have another short story I still need to finish. I'm going to put it on my desktop to remind me to finish it.

These are my plans. I have goals to reach, and people to knock the socks off with my awesomely creative prowess.

~Pusher. Of. Pens.~

That whole "Believe in Yourself" thing works.

Okay, I quit the job at the Law Office. 

I start working at the restaurant tomorrow morning. My schedule is as follows:

Sunday: 9-4

Tues-Fri: 1:30-7.

Gives me plenty of time to do the things I want, and make a little cash while I'm there.

But I'm kind of excited already because

I FINISHED A SHORT STORY.  

*I mean, like, 10 pages long, short story. But either way it's Finished. Well, I need to Edit it about 600 times, but it's still a first draft. Finished. Don't kill my joy.*

It's been 2 years since I finished something. So I would like to party about it...but I'm sick. So I'm just going to work on another one. 

I've been having a lazy holiday break/in between jobs. But I got to get a few things done.  I made my first dress, and it's horrible, because it doesn't fit. But I finished that, too! It's pretty awesome, really. 

I will now have so much time outside of work to do awesome things, like, finish what I started, and get going on things I was too afraid to do, and growing some balls...

I'm definitely pumped. 

!Pusher. Of. Pens.!

Seeking Balance: Part One

Life in the Apartment has been starting to get to me in little ways:

1) The walls are terrible for decorating or placing nails in for artwork/shelving.

2) The walls are thin; I can smell my 70-year-old neighbor’s cigarettes through the wall, as well as anyone who smoke outside by my front door.

3) The ceilings are also thin, because I can hear our neighbors upstairs walking, running, moving, uh…rhythmically in their bedroom…

It’s little things like this that make me ask myself why I signed another 12 month lease. But I know why. Because we finally have our own place to live, and who wants to move a queen sized very expensive eight-drawer bed frame made completely of wood that we’d have to take apart to get out of the bedroom and put back together in the NEW bedroom?  Answer: Nobody that we didn’t have to pay.

Personally, it is my first time living on my own AND paying my own bills (obviously split with Loving Beau), so there is a small bit of excitement having that freedom.  And there is a small bit of anxiousness knowing that I can do much better than this. Although friends say I have a great deal on the apartment (lower price, includes water, washer and dryer in-unit), it’s the little things (see beginning of post) that make a place livable that get to me.

So when a discussion came up about where we are living, and my happiness in this place, Loving Beau pointed out (which I already knew),

“You don’t seem very happy about where you live. You need more interaction with people. I don’t think that you would fare well in the country,”

‘Eh? The Country?’ you ask out loud. You look over the blog again, seeing if you missed a part.

Well, you didn’t. Because I didn’t mention it. Because I didn’t know how to put that in here.  Until now.

Loving Beau is working toward a plan to buy property, build a house from the foundation up, and make it completely self-sufficient, and ultimately, SMART.

I think that this is a great venture, and I am behind him every step of the way. But it didn’t hit me full throttle until he brought up his point that I may actually have to live there.

This is me at my most aloof. The two never matched up. He would ask me,

‘How do you feel about that?’ and my answer would always be,

‘I think it’s a great idea, honey.’ And then he would ask,

‘Do you think you could live like that?’ and I would reply,

‘I can definitely try.’

But that’s where it stopped. I’ve finally realized that if we go through with all of this, saving up money to buy this land, to build this house (and this would take no less than 5 years, mind you, and I’m being optimistic) and to eventually live on it…we would be living there. We’re not building a time-share. Not a weekend home. An actual home. A 365.4,24/7 home.

Trust me, I’ve looked at all of the positives…the clean air, the privacy, the ability to grow and harvest our own food, the space, the quiet, all of these things. And they sure do sound pretty.

But…what about the people? The noises? The voices, the cars, the music, the culture, the energy? My God, what about the energy emanating from the constant people? What about the culture pouring out of every street corner? What about the random gatherings of tons of friends (or unknowns) to play or enjoy music? Or to see art? Or to eat and drink?

I’m already missing that energy, and I need it back. How could I possibly live in the country?

So at those words, all 22 years of my life flashed before my eyes in wave after wave of memories of growing up downtown. Being able to go anytime of the day or week and find something to do. Knowing half of the owners by name, and they knowing mine. I would get lost for hours browsing books in the local bookshop and couldn’t help but play with every guitar in the music store. I’d feel obligated to stop and get my Coney and Chili Cheese Fries. I was hypnotized by the (normally) lucid melodies of the acoustic guitarists and singers and pianists in the corner coffee shop (that grounded its own coffee beans in the back). I would giggle at all of the crazy tops and skirts from the 60’s and 70’s at the Vintage Shop, but secretly wish I had the guts to pull off the outfits. And I would wander in the Mystical/pipe shop looking at nothing simply because I liked the smell, and the owner’s cat. Being lulled to sleep by the sounds of the train, people leaving the bar down the street, cats outside. Being woken up by the jets at the nearby base doing training exercises.

How could I give that up? I have already done that long enough. It hurts that I now have to drive to get those feelings back…and having recently obtained a car, I haven’t quite had the chance to do that. All of those memories were the start of my inspiration to write. It was then that I learned to take a notepad and paper with me everywhere I went because nobody knows when inspiration will strike.  This is where my inspiration began.

So what’s a girl to do?

~Pusher. Of. Pens~

 

Loving Beau saved over our Dark Alliance with his own. :(

There are some things I have been thinking about lately, and I need to blog about them as a way to hold myself accountable. 

I DO want to take my writing seriously. I would like to make money off of it, and eventually make a living off of what I love to do the most. Now, I know I keep saying it, but I need to make a plan as to how I intend to get to my goal.  I want to create more time for me to write, get myself into the habit of blogging and writing something everyday, network my talent and skill, and then make big mah-nay writing articles and publishing my novels/short stories. Here's a list of the things I want to accomplish by the new year: 

1)Quit my current job at the office, and work shorter, more flexible days at my parent's restaurant for about the same pay.

2)Write thought out articles on this blog--in between my random musings.

3)Create another blog, my niche blog, that will become a showcase of my writing ability on a specific subject.

4)Change my business cards and email signatures to include the URL of my niche blog.

That's really not too much to ask with a month deadline. Especially since my first task is already halfway done. I'll be spending a ton of time on various freelance websites to help me build my portfolio and for motivation. And while I'm at it, I will also look through other blogs to begin networking.

These are my current short term plans. No backups required. Wish me luck!

~Pusher. Of. Pens.~