My coffee grinder broke this morning. If you have talked to me in the last 2 hours that's all I talked about. Its also I have thought about...and am now writing about. I'm obviously obsessed. I also bought this grinder one day with an ex boyfriend of mine who has since passed on so perhaps some of the anxiety is that has been brought up again. Whatever the reason, in my grief I have been weighing the quickest vs. easiest methods of procuring a new grinder before tomorrow morning. My mini cusinart was an ok stand in for today, but not acceptable for more then that. I however have a plan. There should be a shiny new grinder on the counter by tomorrow. All will be well...at least that which I can control.
Wow, I have finally been spit out of the vortex of sx and I'm exhausted! We had 10 days of out of town guests, incredible meals, great people watching, fun parties, making new friends and of course...amazing bands. I just realized that I have not blogged since the day it began...thats how crazy it was! If I haven't convinced you yet of the chaos, here's a peek...
The first weekend was spent having dinner with friends and visiting with Adam's mom, Gretchen who was in town. Sunday afternoon we wandered around South Congress where I decided on this brass Unicorn to celebrate the release of my . Adam is obsessed with them, so it seemed perfect.
Monday was my trunk show at on E 6th to debut the new collection, and it was so much fun!
After the trunk show I braved the chaos of downtown to meet my friend for the Man Repeller/Neiman Marcus Cusp/StyleCaster party where I chatted with amazing women, got goodie bags of candy and checked out the new Man Repeller line, which includes the above Unicorn (apparently the unofficial theme of sx2013)
Tuesday I met up with one of my dear friends from boarding school, Brendan. Amazing to catch up, even more amazing that we've known each other 23 years and it still felt like we saw each other every day even though it had been 13 years! Oh and ps...I'm really short.
The music began and we realized that we needed to be more prepared for 80 degree days giving way to 55 degree nights. Adam's solution was to buy us matching shirts.
I stopped by the markets on South Congress to visit friends and discovered that makes Unicorns now...fret not, we ordered one. I however let Adam choose the colors as its his obsession, I think he went with a silver body and purple accents. We'll soon find out!
Over the span of the music days here is who I managed to see (thank you wrist band status!):
Fitz and The Tantrums at Austin Music Hall
Wednesday we were figuring everything out so had a slow start but we still managed to see Wild Belle, Black Angels, The Specials, Ash and The Airborne Toxic Event
Green Day at Austin City Limits
Thursday we began earlier in the evening and saw Smoke and Feathers, Fitz and The Tantrums at the Austin City Music Hall and then
we caught the tail end of Sound City Players...just as Dave Grohl switched to drums and former Nirvana bandmates Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear joined him, Slipknot singer Corey Taylor and Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen with Taylor Hawkins trading off on vocals with Taylor. We also were still there to watch John Fogerty coming on stage to join them for 5 more songs. After all that we finished strong with the Sheep Dogs.
Billie Joe and his toilet paper gun at Green Day
Friday we saw a bit of the Flaming Lips but decided to try and get into Green Day at Austin City Limits, which thank goodness we did as we made it in with about 2 minutes to spare and it was one of the best shows I've ever seen. An impressive 2 hour set that kept the audience engaged for every second! We finished Friday night with Monster Truck and The Hawkeyes.
The Thermals at the Mohawk
Saturday we meandered out early in the day and caught the Thermals do an incredible show but then we needed a nap. Later that night we ventured back out and saw John Fogerty at Austin City Limits. We then wandered around and found an amazing band Suzan from Tokyo. Lastly we saw part of Smashing Pumpkins but gave in to exhaustion and headed home.
Outside of Canada House with my favorite Canadian!
I saw all of the music with Adam and our friend Matt, and much of it with my amazing friend (aka my favorite Canadian). We were joined the last two days by Kasper and Becca and I could not have asked for a better group to see all of this music with!
Bethany, Matt, Sierra and Adam
We had a blast, although working every day and then heading out until 3am every night took its toll...it was tough to get anything done Monday. But hey, its a small price to pay and luckily sxsw only comes once a year!
That's me in the last hour of 2012, pumped for the new year!
This last week-ish I have been so fortunate to be surrounded with so many of my nearest and dearest. Between family and amazing friends, I felt like I was in a little cocoon bubble of happiness for 10 days. I was thinking about that cocoon bubble this morning and that being in it was the perfect way to embark on my goals for the year. I won't bore you with the details of these goals, because as you can imagine, every year I have a list of goals for Manic Trout and they are not very exciting to anyone but me and my fellow business nerds. As far as accomplishing these goals goes, I reach some, decide to go a different direction with some and are completely defeated by some, that's just the way it goes.
It's my little tradition to take January 1st each year to go over the past year with the business, and this being my first entire year working only on Manic Trout, I had a lot to review. I took risks, started new endeavors and learned a lot from both successes and failures just as I knew I would. Last night though it was a bit different than January 1st of the past, bolstered by my cocoon bubble, I for the first time did not let myself dwell on the negative, but really focused on the great accomplishments I achieved (such as increasing sales by 33%!!). I also learned a lot about how I set goals and the path to achieving them and well, let's just say that I'm as excited about my goal making and implementing the steps to make them happen as I am to accomplish them! At the end of the review, I felt proud of my work and ready to take on the new year. So here's to 2013 and the importance of your cocoon bubble!
My 2 year old self...just chillin under the tree on a bear skin rug (procured by my paternal grandfather)
Its been a looong week...one where I wish each day was filled with moments like the one above instead of working like a mad woman in the studio for the last push of the year. My 2 year old self really knew how to kick back and relax in style! However my 35 year old self chose to have the girls over and eat more cookies while chatting away for hours on end mid week instead. I can confidently say that it was just as fun as laying naked on a bear skin rug!
WORKING ON: Holiday production is done!!! I have the last market for Christmas tomorrow, and then all focus is on finishing the Spring/Summer 2013 collection!
THINKING ABOUT: If all of the Manic Trout packages will arrive on time for Tuesday...fingers triple crossed.
ANTICIPATING: Adam coming home from snow boarding tomorrow, my mom arriving Sunday and my three sisters on Monday!!
LISTENING TO: Its embarrassing, but I'm still on the Bird and The Bee Station.
EATING: Cookies...and cookies...oh and these white chocolate and candy cane Hershey Kisses that are amazing.
THANKFUL FOR: My wonderful friends who I have been having a ball with and my awesome family who I get to see so soon!
PLANNING FOR: What to do when family is here...2 have lived here and 2 have visited, so all of the normal "you have to see this when your in Austin" stuff has been done. Hmmmmm.
READING: Rock On by Dan Kennedy, about working for a record label...it's pretty great.
WATCHING: Damages in my studio...Glenn Close plays evil oh so very well and Freaks and Geeks as my watch an episode at 1am when I leave my studio guilty pleasure watching....because it's that good.
Ginger Snaps fresh out of the oven for our first annual cookie party
Whew! The last week had been hectic! Holiday parties, markets, the busiest week of my online shop for the year, studio drop ins, getting ready for my whole family to arrive Sunday and Monday, girls night, and everything else that comes with this time of year and with recent events. Lest you fear that I am feeling bad for myself, worry not...I just returned from Anthropologie after some extreme retail therapy. Between decorating the house, buying presents and a few "therapy" sessions, I feel incredibly confident that I have done my part to stimulate the local economy this month. Your welcome, Austin.
The ladies in all our ugly sweater glory!
Adam and I hosted our first annual "Eat cookies in your ugly sweater party" this past Sunday. It was super fun and as you can by some of our guests, pretty amazing! The downside was that I couldn't get anyone to take cookies home with them, so I have been sustaining on dessert for the entire week...well maybe thats not a downside. Note how we are all looking a different iphone cameras in these photos...oops!
The men looking spiffy!
There's a tiny lull for a few days...Adam is out of town snow boarding, I have no plans until the Saturday market and everything is ready for the fam coming Monday. Which means I can bliss out in my studio tonight without stressing about getting holiday orders out...hallelujah!
It's been so log since I did a Sum it post! It's about time, but I feel pretty confident in stating that I am getting back into a schedule after the wedding/moving chaos...even in the midst of holiday madness, I'm in a groove. Hooray for that...I love a good schedule. So now that lifes back to "normal", here's what I've been up this week...
WORKING ON: Stock for Holiday shows and markets and my sneakpeeq holiday sale, which debuts on Dec 8th!
THINKING ABOUT: The upcoming year and what my business and personal goals are. I'm excited about plans that will have me paying extra attention to the blog and am preparing for it by setting up a fb page for Her Daily Muse. If you'd care to "like" it, you may do so !
ANTICIPATING: The spring line coming together...I'm starting to get really excited about it! I even met with my fav photographer today to plan the product shots, which is giving me an extra push of motivation.
LISTENING TO: A Pandora station based on The Bird and The Bee, it's pretty amazing and great to work to.
EATING: Too much. Dinners out, breakfast out, mini cupcakes from Hey Cupcake and those amazingly soft cookies from the bakery section of the grocery store that I (very late to the game)I discovered last spring (yes, thats one in the photo above), beware...they're highly addictive!
THANKFUL FOR: So many wonderful friends whom I've met in Austin...I love you guys!
PLANNING FOR: My mom and three sisters spending Christmas with me here in Austin, squeeeeeee!!!!
READING: The House of Peine by Sarah-Kate Lynch, oddly the second book in a row about France.
WATCHING: Breaking Bad on Netflix in my studio and when I catch it, Duck Dynasty because it reminds me of hanging out in the guides room at Tamarack.
A peek into my closet after I cleaned it out pre-swap
I was part of a clothing swap last night and I was shocked at how awesome it was! There were 4 of us with different styles (from boho to girly) and different shopping philosophies (investment shoppers to trend lovers), but we were all pretty much the same size and that was what mattered. Each of us brought a bag of clothes in good condition and something for dinner. We discussed over pre dinner nibbles our plan of action and decided to dump everything on a couch, showing items to the group as we all unpacked them and then just dig in and start trying stuff on. We were all nervous that a throw down would occur over certain coveted pieces, but amazingly it went seamlessly. Everyone was honest about what looked good, what needed to be tried on a different member of the group or what was to go into the donate bag. All in all it was a great success, we each had a new pile of clothes which we knew looked great on us and there was only a small bag left over to donate...which oddly enough, its mostly button downs and trousers, well as we're all self employed designers, I suppose not so surprising that we no one needed office garb. After the swap we had a great dinner, enjoyed an evening of girly gossip and vowed to have another swap with the next change of seasons! If you have girlfriends in similar sizes, I highly recommend it!
Today I woke up all sorts of excited to have lunch with my dear friend Chonie. 99% because since the moment we met, we realized that once near each other, we never shut up. 1% because we were headed to Bouldin Creek who makes the most unbelievable beverage called the Lavender Mocha (which I get with Almond Milk). Normally I am a black coffee with sugar kinda gal, but this frothy cup of awesomeness has stolen my taste buds and left me obsessed. So obsessed that I realized later that when I got dressed this morning, I actually dressed in the outfit version of lavender mocha. What happens in my brain is strange...I just drink coffee and go with it.
WORKING ON: The back end of the Sorority Collection part of the website. There are all sorts of fun additions that I have been adding all week such as a Meet the Reps page!
THINKING ABOUT: Getting a punching bag when we move from my apartment to a house. Punching the air is not that gratifying after awhile.
ANTICIPATING: Being at the market tomorrow and the temps hopefully being below 100 for the first time since June...cross your fingers for me!
LISTENING TO: Rocket by Goldfrapp has been my obsession of the week.
EATING: Will be spending my afternoon eating cake and coffee while discussing photo shoot concepts with a good friend (squee!!!).
THANKFUL FOR: Having met so many friends here in Austin who are as passionate about owning their own businesses as I am and who also love to spend their very precious free time chatting about it.
PLANNING FOR: A very busy October which seems to be getting busier by the minute.
READING: Just finished I'm Kind of a Big Deal: And Other Delusions of Adequacyby Stefanie Wilder-Taylor and started Citizen Girl by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus.
WATCHING: Alternating between Lie to Me (so good and only three seasons, booo!) and Parks & Recreation on Netflix.
