Cabin in the City

Books, cats and midwestern charm.

Life

by Leave a Comment

From Fool to Problem Solver // Reflecting on 2017

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , ,

I already kicked off 2018 with my new Small Goals post, but I realized I put the cart before the horse a little bit – 2017 is over but it deserves a recap. So here’s my obligatory blogger recap of 2017. Cheers!

• • •

OK, let’s start at the start. When 2017 started, collectively we weren’t in a good place. Donald Trump somehow became president. Every one I knew was in a constant state of stress and panic. The whole situation had me feeling tense and garbage-y every day. Of course Donald Trump is still president, but I’m coping slightly better with this.

But on a personal level, 2017 didn’t start off so hot either. I was working at a job that was, well, not a great fit for me. I’d go to bed thinking I don’t want to go to work tomorrow and I’d wake up thinking OMG I definitely do not want to go to work today. And I realized after working a lot of jobs that once that feeling sets in, it’s really hard to shake it.

There were other things, of course. My family had gone though a major upheaval in 2016 (and those effects were still lingering at the beginning of 2017). I realized that never working out was a bad idea. I knew that my house had some serious foundation issues. I was feeling creatively restless. Overall, I was really frustrated with my situation.

Bearing all this in mind, I realized that I had to rely on myself to make some changes. This is a really difficult thing to do – to just generally change up miserable situations – but my parents (especially my mom) raised me to be a problem solver. I saw some major problems in my life and I had to find a way to fix them. Cue this gif:

via GIPHY

But you know the saying, Rome wasn’t built in a day. I wasn’t suddenly going to find a new job, become creatively fulfilled, have a structurally sound home, a perfect family and a buff bod overnight.

But I could work on making myself happier. So I started small by treating myself to something I knew would give me some satisfaction: I took a tarot class. I wrote about it here, and it really shaped my entire year. Truly. The card I drew that night, the Fool, symbolizes new starts though sometimes in unknown directions. I placed a lot of faith in that card – that my new direction (hopefully a creative one!) would become apparent – and I tried to remain patient as that path became more obvious.

Days later, the Universe served up something amazing: a call for artists for a tarot-themed art show in Madison. Like I said in the post at the time, holy shit. Except now I mean it ten times more because that show gave me the kick in the pants I needed to get serious about embroidery.

I spent 40 hours making my card for the show. And hot off that finger-numbing exercise, I opened up Kaminski Handicraft. This is a jewel in the crown for 2017 because it is a dream long postponed, and finally come to life. By the end of the year, I beat my personal sales goal for the year! I made 22 online sales and almost as many IRL.

For most of the spring and summer, Kaminski Handicraft pulled me through. Embroidery gave me something to think about while I was at work (and something to do over lunch hour), it was something to tide me over when I was really disappointed with where I was at. However, even with embroidery to occupy my mind, I was in a bad space. I desperately started searching. I felt like Charlie Kelly.

via GIPHY

One evening while at dinner with a friend, I was discussing job prospects. I had zero at the time, but mentioned a position I applied for months prior that still looked to be unfilled. As fate would have it, one of her good friends worked for the company. She said that she’d get in contact with her and give her my name. By the next day, Taste of Home contacted me for an interview. A few weeks after that, I got offered the job. I cried.

Besides these two major accomplishments/problem solves for the year, I accomplished a lot of other tasks. I participated in the Women’s March with my friend Kellie, I signed up with a gym and started weight lifting classes (I know!), I got married to Michael again, we got our basement fixed, I tried some adventurous bakes at home (and for Taste of Home), I participated in my first-ever craft fair and I blogged here more than ever (35 times to be exact!).

• • •

I don’t write this to brag or to be overly proud. I write this because 12 months ago, I was the Fool. I had no idea where I was going, no idea what to do, but with a little problem solving, hard work and help from the Universe, I managed to reset my course.

I sincerely wish you all a healthy, happy and satisfying 2018. Hoping it’s even better than 2017!

by Leave a Comment

The Hermit // A Holiday 2017 Recap

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , , ,

This past year, I made it a goal of mine to learn more about tarot. While I didn’t practice with my deck as much as I planned, I definitely made some headway in immersing myself a little more fully in the cards’ meanings and just general metaphysical culture.

One of my greatest (and most helpful finds) of the year was the podcast Tarot for the Wild Soul. I tap into this podcast at the beginning of each month to help me meditate on a few themes for the coming weeks. In December the host, Lindsay Mack, made mention of the Hermit card and how it would come into play throughout the month.

When I first gave this a listen, I was wary of that card. Not because the Hermit is bad in anyway, but it represents solitude or a need to turn inward. And at that time, I was envisioning a fun and boisterous holiday with lots of parties and craft nights, not some quiet, introverted season.

But I found out really quickly in December that pushing myself too hard and forcing myself to do too much was putting me in a really bad space mentally. So from that point forward, I gave myself permission to take the space I needed.

Of course there were still busy days, like working my first craft fair(!) and hosting our annual Christmas party (where most of these great snaps are from!), but days without events were quiet and relaxing. I spent my days at work, pushing through end-of-year projects, and at night I watched Christmas movies and did a little crafting.

But the embodiment of this Hermit holiday really came once Christmas Day came to a close. Every Christmas evening, we head back to our house early and open gifts together under the tree. Some years, ducking out of the party is hard to do, but this year it wasn’t so difficult to tear ourselves away. We got home around 8:30, changed into pajamas and gave one another (and the cats) gifts. It gave us a chance to enjoy each other’s company and all the really magical Christmas feelings.

I carried this Hermit vibe into the rest of the week as well. For the first time since college, I got a winter break! My employer shuts up its offices between Christmas and New Year and being home those extra days was a huge huge treat. Typically I’d be tempted to fill those bonus days with lots of activities and long to-do lists, but instead Michael and I settled into a nice routine of naps, Netflix and snacks. And by not switching into work or do mode right away, we helped stretch the holiday spirit out a little longer (but maybe it was all the Christmas Bob’s Burgers episodes we watched).

Now, work is back in session and I have to emerge from my Hermit hideout, but season filled with solitude, quiet and relaxation did me a world of good, and I’m ready to take on 2018!

by Leave a Comment

Small Goals // January 2018

Filed Under: Life

This post really crept on me! I had been enjoying a little Christmas break free from responsibilities and blogging (it was heaven!). But before we get into 2018, let’s see how I did the last month of 2017.

  1. Make it through my first craft fair.  Done! I have a recap of this planned for any interested parties.
  2. Make time for Christmas crafts I love. Not so much. After doing the whole craft fair thing, I was mostly just in the mood to chill out. And I’m OK with that!
  3. Get baking. Done. While I didn’t bake as much as I planned, I still knocked out a few cookies, a pie and a few apps.
  4. Watch 3+ Christmas movies. Done. Home Alone, White Christmas, Christmas in Connecticut and How the Grinch Stole Christmas all helped me feel that holiday spirit.
  5. Get rid of a bag of clothes/books/miscellany every week. Check! Instead of purging a bag per week, I did one large drop-off at my local Goodwill, which definitely equated to about four bags worth. Plus, I passed my large light table onto a friend.

4/5. December was super stressful, so I’m happy with four goals down.

Now onto 2018. I’m not a huge New Year’s resolution person. And honestly, after pushing so hard to get through the holidays, I feel like I need a little break (even though I have a few projects planned). Here’s what I’m thinking for January.

  1. Help with a super fun baby shower. A family friend is having a little girl this year! I’m helping her mom with some of the decorations for this tropical-themed shower and I’m excited to work on these party projects!
  2. Work on some non-embroidery crafts. During my holiday break, I pretty much just binged a bunch of British TV on Netflix. But I found myself wanting to be a little productive too. On my last day of vacation I picked up an old cross stitch and had a lot of fun. So more of that!
  3. Get odds and ends listed on Etsy. I made a lot of inventory for the Crafty Fair, and a lot of that inventory included new designs. It’s time to get those on Etsy!
  4. Make a few soups. It’s been super cold in Milwaukee lately (like 0ºF cold!). While I’m not typically a soup gal, I’ve had a craving for some good warming dishes.
  5. Get back into good routines. When it comes to routines, I give myself a pass during the holidays – it’s just too hectic. But now with an open schedule, it’s time for regular grocery shopping, weekly dinners with my mom and more classes at the gym.

Well, that’s it for me! What are you planning for 2018?

by Leave a Comment

Jingle Like a Kringle // My Favorite Christmas Albums

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , ,

When it comes to playing the best Christmas jams, I consider myself an expert. I’m all in on nostalgic songs like “White Christmas,” but I also know a good new calol when I hear one, like Sia’s latest “Santa’s Coming for Us” (which I love). New or old, I think I have the best Christmas playlist around. Here are some of my favorite albums.

Christmas Party by She & Him

A DIY blogger who wishes she looked good with bangs is a She & Him fan? Shocking. The duo’s second Christmas album is an absolute must for the holidays (I could take or leave their first holiday effort) whether you watch New Girl or not. This LP is packed with fun and less common Christmas tracks. “Must Be Santa” is probably my favorite for it’s polka style, but “The Coldest Night of the Year” makes me want to curl up by the fire. Overall, it’s heartwarming and fun like the holiday itself.

It’s a Holiday Soul Party by Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings

I have a feeling that this album will one day be considered a classic. It’s filled with holiday soul as the name implies and I love the arrangements on some of the traditional Christmas tunes like “Funky Little Drummer Boy.” It’s just such a good, good album, though it saddens me that Jones isn’t around to spread a little more cheer and funky vibes.

A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector by The Crystals, The Ronettes, Darlene Love and more

Phil Spector aside, this is the best Christmas album you can get your hands on. The tracks are quintessential Christmas. I mean, who doesn’t love Darlene Love’s “Baby, Please Come Home?” I’m going to say it: “Baby, Please Come Home” is the best Christmas song. Yes, better than Mariah’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

The Beach Boys Christmas Album by The Beach Boys

My husband is likely the biggest Beach Boys fans around, so it stands to reason that this album gets it’s fair share of air time at our house. It’s filled with hits like “Little Saint Nick,” but also a few moody tracks like “Blue Christmas” and “We Three Kings.” I’m partial to the latter – it’s probably the spookiest Christmas song out there.

Honorable Mention: It’s My Favorite Time of Year by Phase II

Back in 1997, Boston Store (and it’s sister store Carson Pirie Scott) sold Christmas CDs at their registers. I know what you’re thinking: those generic store-branded albums are trash. And you’d be right, except for this one. My mom impulse bought this CD 20 years ago and it’s been on a regular holiday rotation since. I don’t know what it is about this CD, but it feels like home.

• • •

If you have any Christmas music recommendations, I’d love to hear them! I love expanding this part of my music collection.

 

by Leave a Comment

Holiday Burnout Strikes Early // How to Make It Through

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: ,

I was about to write a post all about balance during the holiday season and how I was getting so much better at juggling all the cheer along with the stress, and how you too could follow my simple strategies to become head elf. But then I made it a whopping six days into December and had a Christmastime meltdown. So I’m obviously no expert.

Instead of giving you tips on how to plan your month, I’m going to give you one piece of advice that I should have been heeding this whole time: check in with yourself.

Check in with how you’re feeling about the month ahead, the plans you’d like to make and what you’ve got to accomplish. And, most importantly, keep checking in with yourself to make sure that you’re not on the fast track to holiday burnout just so you can complete your Christmas bucket list.

And that’s where I was on December 6, having a serious bout of anxiety over a can of poppy seed pie filling. My moment of near-tears was not about poppy seeds, of course, but just my holiday stress coming to a head. I was behind on my stitching goals, I had a kitchen to clean and I had to make and photograph potica for work – a recipe that I’ve made before, but was incredibly nervous about sharing. It was just a lot.

So when I came home, I asked myself what I needed to bring myself back. It wasn’t stopping at another grocery store for poppy seeds. It wasn’t sitting down and stitching. Instead, I gave myself permission to just have a lazy night. I put on some pajamas, wrapped a few presents and watched some Food Network. And that’s what I needed – just a short break so I could regroup and come back refreshed the next morning.

So, take it from me, the girl crying in a Piggly Wiggly, that taking some time to figure out what you need personally (not just what you need to accomplish), is absolutely necessary for making it through the holidays. Whether it’s more plans with friends or more cozy days in, be sure to to take the kind of time you need to feel your merriest and brightest.

by 5 Comments

Small Goals // December 2017

Filed Under: Life Tagged With:

I’m back with some new goals for this month (lots of holiday-related goals to come!), but first let’s see how I did in November.

  1. Finish half my Christmas shopping. Check! I checked a few people off my list, and I feel really good to have that weight off my shoulders as I go into December.
  2. Have a cozy Black Friday in. Check? Well, I didn’t leave the house if that makes it cozy. I did spend a lot of the day deep cleaning before we put up Christmas decorations, though.
  3. Unplug a bit. Done. November 1, I said goodbye to Facebook on my phone and set up some do not disturb times. I’m not sure if it was a drastic change, but that’s OK! Experimenting with this was a good idea.
  4. (Lightly) rebrand Kaminski Handicraft. I’m going to check this one off my list. I updated the colors used in my Etsy header and that’s about all I’ve got time for at the moment. I’ll be calling in a favor from a designer friend come the new year.
  5. Make 5+ new designs for Kaminski Handicraft. Done! I haven’t really kept up with exact numbers, but I’ve made some serious progress.

5/5. November went by fast, so I’m thrilled that I kept on track with these goals! For this coming month I’ll be focusing a lot on crafting and the holidays – ’tis the season!

  1. Make it through my first craft fair. I’ll be at the Mini Crafty Fair Saturday, December 16 in Madison. It’s my first one ever! Let’s see if I can get enough inventory piled up, create a half decent display and not feel entirely overwhelmed!
  2. Make time for Christmas crafts I love. Kaminski Handicraft is closing up for the holidays about mid-month. This is to give myself a little time to relax and enjoy sillier seasonal crafts, like these plastic canvas houses.
  3. Get baking. I love making Christmas cookies. It’s seriously one of my greatest joys to take a day off from work and bake all day around the holidays. I might have to adjust my normal baking lineup, though, so we don’t end up eating cookies until February. That or loosen up my (almost) no cookies before Christmas policy.
  4. Watch 3+ Christmas movies. I just watched The Holiday for the first time last week and now I’m craving all the Christmas movies. I’ve made a short list of new-to-me flicks to check out, like Christmas in Connecticut and Home Alone (I KNOW!) and some time-tested classics like White Christmas.
  5. Get rid of a bag of clothes/books/miscellany every week. I’ve been trying to cut down on stuff lately just to make my home feel a little less congested and cluttered (not that it’s bad, but you know).

Got any small goals for December? I’d love to hear about them!

by 4 Comments

Small Goals // November 2017

Filed Under: Life Tagged With:

I’m back with another month of goals! Let’s see how I did on my October ones first.

  1. Create a great couple’s costume. Check. I’d say our Bonnie and Clyde turned out pretty good.
  2. Check out Old World Wisconsin’s Legends & Lore. Nope. In my defense, it was exceptionally cold last weekend. Plus Stranger Things just came out. (I’m the worst.)
  3. Make three (or more) apple recipes. Not even one! The month got away from me kitchen-wise. Good thing apples keep a long time.
  4. Anything tarot. Stop trying to make tarot happen, Lisa. It’s not gonna happen.
  5. Scary stuff. Done! I’ve been listening to Lore and Welcome to Night Vale, and watching Unsolved Mysteries, Salem and Murder Maps all month long.

2/5. Not my best month, but that’s OK. Not every Halloween can be the spookiest.

  1. Finish half my Christmas shopping. I cannot deal with the stress of last-minute shopping. I can hardly deal with the stress of on-pace shopping. My goal this year is to have half my gifts purchased before December rolls around so I can maximize my baking and crafting time closer to Christmas.
  2. Have a cozy Black Friday in. Last year, for the first time in my adult life, I had the day after Thanksgiving off of work. To really celebrate the day, I spent a good portion of it in my jammies and then I made Michael take me to see Fantastic Beasts. I feel part two coming on this year.
  3. Unplug a bit. I do not need to look at Facebook on my phone multiple times a day. I do not need to keep up with every Snapchat. I do not need to answer every text immediately. To separate myself from technology a bit (not entirely, though – I love this blog, I love my job and I love Etsy) I’m going to take a step back, remove Facebook from my phone and get comfortable with not having it nearby all the time.
  4. (Lightly) rebrand Kaminski Handicraft. I’ve got something up my sleeve for next month, so I think a very light rebrand for my Etsy page and business cards is in order.
  5. Make 5+ new designs for Kaminski Handicraft. Ambitious! If you have any good ideas for hoops you want to see, I’m all ears!

That’s it for me this month, and seriously, folks, if you have any ideas, send them my way!

by 2 Comments

The Story of Bonnie and Clyde

Filed Under: Life Tagged With:

Prior to last year, couples’ costumes weren’t really Michael’s and my thing. Halloween was our thing, costumes in general were our thing, but never coordinating looks. But now we’re going hard into the couple thing, dressing up as some of the most famous duos ever. Last year we were Scully and Mulder, this year we donned our best Bonnie and Clyde getups.

This idea, while not exactly original, came via my gangster history-loving dad. Immediately he recommended the 1967 movie for research. Michael and I watched it dutifully. And we followed it up watching the made-for-TV version that came out in 2013. I think our costumes borrow a little more heavily from the latter, not that it really matters since neither rendition was historically accurate (OK, OK, I like gangster history, too).

At any rate, I’m pretty happy with how things turned out! I say the hats really do the heavy lifting for us with these outfits, and that’s fine by me – I love a good beret.

by Leave a Comment

Fall Feels + Spooky Sounds

Filed Under: Cabin, Life Tagged With: , ,

So far this fall has not been giving me the cool, breezy weather I’ve been craving. How can I don my favorite flannel shirt and boots if it’s 70º outside? How can I be expected to enjoy apple picking if I’m sweating at the orchard? But I decided that if Mother Nature isn’t going to provide fall feelings, I’d make them instead.

That’s when I dragged my Halloween decorations out and put some Fleetwood Mac on the hi-fi. It was finally fall.

I realized flipping through our record collection , that most of our albums made me feel nostalgic and cozy. I mean, we have a ton of Christmas albums and those are instant warm fuzzy-makers. But so many other albums made me think of windy fall days, hot drinks and just being inside my weird little cabin. (From fall and into the holidays is when my house feels most itself.)

Here are my favorite fall albums currently in my collection.

Rumours by Fleetwood Mac 

A classic! As a child I loved Fleetwood Mac and would jam out to “Don’t Stop” whenever it came on the radio. Everyone knows Rumours, but I don’t care. Just listen to “Never Going Back Again” and tell me it isn’t the prettiest.

Unicorn by T. Rex

Michael shared this album with me years ago, and I instantly loved it. It’s psychedelic, hippie ren faire goodness. Plus with songs about black cats, owls, wizards and alchemists, it’s a Halloween no-brainer. This one is probably a tough sell for most people, but I highly recommend the track “Cat Black” for starters.

Tapestry by Carole King

This is such a mom album, a really great mom album. Filled with classics “You’ve Got a Friend” and “Where You Lead,” it really pairs well with gusty winds and falling leaves. Plus “So Far Away” fills me with that sort of melancholy nostalgia that fall can bring – in a good way.

His 20 Greatest Hits by Harry Belafonte

I love the movie Beetlejuice (obviously). You’ve got Alec Baldwin at his absolute dreamiest, Winona Ryder as style queen Lydia Deetz and an amazing soundtrack! I’m tempted to buy the actual album because the Danny Elfman score is top-notch (and it’s the perfect accompaniment for pumpkin carving), but half the fun is all the Harry Belafonte tracks. I mean don’t tell me you don’t think of this scene when you hear “Day-O!”

What are your favorite fall albums? I love hearing what puts people in that fall state of mind.

by 5 Comments

Small Goals // October 2017

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , ,

Let’s start, like always, with my goals from last month.

  1. Find the perfect first-day outfit. Done! I signed up for Stitch Fix and got a handful of nice things. You can read more about my experience here.
  2. Clean up my wardrobe. Check. Got rid of a giant box of clothes plus two extra shopping bags full. I’m probably down 30+ items, and it feels great! I hope to go through this coming month and do a final sweep.
  3. Find a suitable 70th birthday gift for my dad. Done. I got my dad a fancy cribbage board and a custom deck of cards with his initials on the back. It wasn’t a knock out, in my opinion, but still a good gift.
  4. Paint the cabin’s shutters. Done.
  5. End the mattress shopping saga. Nope. I’m just as unsure as ever. I want my old bed back (but transformed into a larger size).

4/5. After reviewing these, goals, I realize how blah and wimpy they were! September is the start of fall – I should have incorporated more seasonal goals.

To make up for my lack of fall-related goals, I’m going full fall for October. I’m talking apples, pumpkins, scary movies, leaf crunching and the like.

  1. Create a great couple’s costume. After a successful go as Scully and Mulder last year, I’m sold on pop culture-inspired couple’s costumes. I’m pushing for Don Draper and Peggy Olson right now, but we have some time.
  2. Check out Old World Wisconsin’s Legends & Lore. Michael and I went to this event a few years back, and we totally loved it. I think it’s time to revisit and get our old timey spooky kicks.
  3. Make three (or more) apple recipes. Michael and I went apple picking with some friends of ours and brought home 20 pounds of Cortlands and Macintoshes. I’ve got to put those to good use (outside of snacking).
  4. Anything tarot. I am really enamored with the mystery of tarot cards, but I never seem to find the time to read them or learn more about them. No more hesitating! October is peak spooky season and prime time for spooky practices.
  5. Scary stuff. I’m big on ghosts, ghouls and anything creepy. It’s time to binge on old seasons of American Horror Story, Unsolved Mysteries (original Robert Stack episodes only!) and scary movies. (This is an easy one, but super important!)

I’m feeling good about these October goals: super achievable and super fun. What do you have lined up for this month?