Moving...in more ways than one!

During this whole moving process I have also been "moving" things in my life that have been at an utter standstill. It all started with a list of what I really want my life to look like and then I broke it down to specific tasks or goals in each area. Here are some of the amazing things happening in my life due to me actually acting on my task list:

1. An increase of interpreting hours, exceeding my weekly goal for this week!
2. A date!!!! Oh yeah that's right!!! I have a date this weekend!
3. Lost additional 2.5 pounds as of last Sunday...we shall see what the scale has to say this Sunday...(ok...so the total since Jan 1 is 42.5!)
4. Daily scripture study and I even have a scripture topic for the month.
5. Tons of time with friends and family!

So for those of you out there cheering me on...thanks for being in my cheering section and for being the kind of people that help me to dream and to be the best Erin possible! I feel truly blessed as I look back on this past year of transition, change, heartache and joy. Let's keep things moving! And hey...what do you want to move in your life???? I want to know!

For the love of dogs!

My fabulous new landlord has two of the world's best dogs! They greet me at the gate when I come home, inspect my cottage for intruders and protect me from invaders on a regular basis. The yellow lab thinks she owns me and always pushes the sweet pit bull out of the way to make sure she gets enough love. The lab, otherwise know as Maddy, is skittish and dislikes sudden loud noises...and yet....tonight when she was checking for invaders my cuckoo clock chimed eleven o'clock and she just looked up at the clock and sniffed. How funny are dogs?! These two sweeties are definitely just what the doctor ordered! I have been trying to figure out how to have a dog for the past three years and just couldn't make it work while living in an apartment or in a place without a fenced yard. Now I have Maddy and Ella to keep me company, play with, lick my face when I come home and generally make my heart happy! Yeah for sweet puppies!!!!

Way tooooooo long since I've been here!

I think that moving always brings on the spirit of renewal for me. That feeling that most people get on January 1st, I seem to get each time I move. I have begun making lists...what I want to accomplish personally, professionally and otherwise in my life over the next year. Lists seem to always satisfy me. Making those little boxes and then filling them up with an X once the task is complete. It is tangible evidence of what I've done...and yet when I complete a list I simply throw it away. I think maybe a list book would be a good thing. Something that really shows all that I have done. A way to really be present to how much I really do accomplish in life. A reminder that I am pretty dang rad even when I start to feel lame ;) Hmmm...something else to add to my To Do list...
Now that I have written something on my blog I'm off to check off another box...for this week anyway! I plan on writing weekly and if I don't you can totally send me an email or call me and remind me that my To Do list is waiting for another X!

3, 2, 1...LAUNCH!

YIPPEE! I am officially launching my business on November 1st! I can hardly wait to share what I've been up to with all of the people in my life. As I've been planning for the shindig I've been realizing a few things:

1. Friends will do just about anything for you
2. I have made some really beautiful things
3. Baby hats are a million-billion times cuter than any other kind of hat
4. Did I mention how great friends are??? They're the best!
5. Being creative may be risky (as far a profession goes) but it is infinitely more satisfying than anything else I've ever done!

For those of you who may be wondering what exactly I'm up to here are a few pictures of my designs. Enjoy!

Jonesing for Produce

For the past sevenish years I have been a frequenter of The Milkpail market in Mountain View. The Milkpail is a haven of all things produce as well as the home of the world's largest variety of imported cheese (no kidding). It is an open air market resplendent in all of the freshest things that I love to cook with. It comes pretty close to being my Mecca!
Since moving to San Jose my life has been desperately short on produce. I have been forced into buying Safeway lettuce and trying to imagine that it is actually tasty. It was at the point where I didn't even want to go to the store because I knew I would be sad because the vegetables were so disappointing. Today I mustered the strength to drive myself over to Trader Joe's in the hopes of securing at least a few edible vegetables. As I drove up I saw the most beautiful thing! Next door to my neighborhood TJ's is a new store called "Real Produce" and it is lovely! It is a nod in the direction of the Milkpail, including a small cheese refrigerator and it brought hope and produce back into my life!
My refrigerator is now bursting with crisp broccoli rabe and juicy deep red tomatoes. I also secured a butternut squash for soup making purposes and dream of the delicious sauce I am going to make with the shallots I bought. Ah...no more night sweats and shakes from lack of produce! YEAH!

Growing Pains

This past fall I started my own knitting business. It has been an interesting road to travel on. I have nary a clue about the business of business and I've fallen on my face more than once. I love the thrill of designing and making a new hat and watching as people oh and aw over it! The whole creative process rocks my world!
I am currently faced with the issue of marketing my products so that I can make some kind of profit from them. My friends and family all look at them and tell me how beautiful they are but rarely do they ever purchase something. I am now in a quandary. How in the heck can I get people to buy my stuff? Anyone have any ideas?
Check out the pics that I have so far at http://www.chickenandcookies.etsy.com There will be more up after September 20th when I have another photo shoot with some of my new fabulous designs.

Seriously people...BUY HATS!!! It's getting cold outside for the love!

Civic Duties

This week I was called to jury duty. I don't know how many of you have actually made it into the courtroom and up to the jurors box but let me tell you it was interesting! Today I reported to the Hall of Justice in downtown San Jose. Panel 8 was called and we filed into the courtroom of Judge Brown. The place was packed! The entire process of establishing a panel of 12 impartial potential jurors took us about 2 hours with excuses galore and some seriously intriguing stories from people about crimes that had happened to them or were perpetrated by them. I learned things about strangers that would curl your hair (mine is a bit more fro style as I write this!) One man was held at gunpoint in his own home by a burglar that, after holstering his gun, shot himself in the leg and then died in the man's living room. Another woman's husband was wrongfully arrested on charges of murder but was later identified as NOT the perpetrator by a witness. And this was just the icing on the cake of crimes served up this morning.
Yes, my turn in the box came and my story was much more boring than any of the thrilling tales listed above. I simply will be in a state of financial hardship if I am out of work for 5-7 days. I was gently excused by our friendly and hilarious judge but I kind of wished I could have stayed. I really wanted to see justice through and to have the full experience of being in the midst of a criminal trial. I guess I'll have to wait another year before I can enjoy my civic duties to their fullest. Ah well...