Errand Thoughts

Ahhh, Fall.  That magical time of year of changing leaves, see-your-breath weather, and bonfires.  Okay, we really don't have a lot of that here in Florida, but we do have our own fall traditions.  Cooler temps, (77 degrees is cool for us), pumpkin beer, and Halloween fun at the theme parks. Enjoying the windows being open and the fresh air naps.  But I'm getting off topic. 

I never feel more like a hipster than when I'm running errands.  Weird, I know, but let me explain.  I've become so careful about what I shop for these days.  I am a practicing locavore, so I try to buy locally as much as possible.  Also, I am not so flush right now, so I have to watch every penny.  So no big box stores for me.  (Target is a splurge trip.  I mean, who can't find something fun to buy at Target?)  So errand running is a hipster's scavenger hunt.  I started the day at the coffee shop, but my local coffee shop wasn't open.  :(  So I sucked it up and headed to the produce market.  I only buy my produce at locally owned produce stands or farmer's markets.  It's local, cheap, and lasts longer than grocery store produce.  Since I eat a mainly plant based diet (I try to eat meat, due to my gingerness giving me a B12 deficiency, but I lean towards vegetarianism), the produce stand is my weekly must shop. 

After that, it was the no-frills grocery, the post office, and the kind-of box store, Big Lots, for cheap import goods, like noodles, italian soda, and veggie chips.  Then the craft store for a few supplies for the Etsy shop, and finally home.  All the while using my reusable fabric shopping bags and riding with my windows open, listening to Johnny Cash.  Yep, I'm a hipster.

But all that running around makes one tired.  Do you remember that fresh air nap I mentioned?  Yep, nice long nap this afternoon.  So when I woke up, I didn't want to cook anythnig that would take too much time.  So I decided on Fancy Ramen.  Fancy Ramen, you ask?  (Of course you ask.)  Fancy Ramen is my term for ramen noodles made yummier.  How can you make ramen noodles yummier, you ask?  Let me give you the recipe.

Fancy Ramen Noodles

I package chicken ramen noodles
4 cups water
3 tbls chicken boullion
2 chopped scallions
3 or 4 splashes soy sauce
1 tbls sriracha
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (more or less depending on your spicy tolerance)
1/2 lb frozen peeled, deveined shrimp
2 eggs, scrambled

Throw your water, the spice packet from the ramen package, chicken boullion, soy sauce, sriracha, scallions, and red pepper flakes into a pot.  Bring to a boil and toss in shrimp.  Cook until the shrimp are pink, then slowly stir in the scrambled egg.  Finally, break the noddle brick from the package in half and throw it in your soup.  Give it a stir and let it simmer for a few minutes.  Eat and enjoy.

Not only is this a fast dish, it's healthy, yummy, and cheap.

Until next time, enjoy the weather, stop and smell the pumpkins, and stay hip! 

Forward Momentum

So, its been a long, busy year for this Small Town Hipster.  I've had a few years of just letting life happen.  Mind you, it hasn't been bad (way too many great memories and experiences), but for this girl with an overactive brain and need to be doing something, it was definitely out of character. 

So this year has been the year of getting my focus back.  Taking care of some important things, such as a new car and a divorce, and realigning myself with my goals.  For the first time in several years, I actually have some plans for the future.  I am digging my way out of some holes that I created in the first place, and honestly, it feels pretty awesome. 

One thing that I have been working on lately, and something that I have wanted to do for a long, long time, is to go pro with one of my passions.  I have been working on starting my own Etsy store, selling my handmade jewelry and accessories.

In case you don't know what it is, Etsy is a website, similar to Ebay, where everyday folks can start a web store, selling either vintage or handmade items.  It's a great place to find one of a kind gifts and household items.  And I am jumping in the pool.

Making jewelry is something that I have been doing since I was 12 years old.  Realizing my love of jewelry, but having an allergy to nickel, there weren't as many choices for me (because I'm old, lol).  So, one of my very crafty grandmothers took me to a big box store that shall remain nameless and bought me some lobster clasps, some plastic pony beads, and some fishing line and told me to get creating. 

I have definitely grown since those fishing line days.  Nowadays it is more about this fancy new term, upcycling.  I was using pieces of old junk jewelry way before "upcycling" was a hipster term.  But it's appropriate.  I love giving life to old pieces of Sarah Coventry or Avon.  Those bits of broken junk that seem to collect in the bottoms of baskets at thrift stores can often make the most interesting statement necklace or cocktail ring.  And my skills have grown as well.

But starting a "cottage" business is not easy.  Etsy makes it as easy as possible, but there are so many things to think about.  It's not just about making some jewelry and taking a picture.  I want this business to last and grow.  So it's about marketing, in my case using social media, taxes, inventory, pricing, and so much more.  I don't want something that looks thrown together, and with my education, I should be way beyond that.  But it's a lot of work. 

Not that I'm complaining, because I am tough and this is a lifelong goal in process.  And I have the most awesome cheering squad ever.  So many of you have expressed your interest in buying, your support in setting up my home office, your volunteering of yourselves to be my models, and general "atta girl"'s on a regular basis.  And I have taken all of that to heart.

So thank you all for your support and feedback.  I promise that I will not let you down.  I am in the final stages of launching the store, and hopefully I can make you all proud!  And to wet your whistle, so to speak, here is a taste of what I will be selling. 

For next time:  SmallTownHipster on Etsy launches!  And my favorite season of all begins, Halloween Horror Nights!  So till then, stay hip!