{snow + sew + sale}

I woke up Saturday morning to the sound of scraping.
I took me a minute to figure out what it was. Ya know, once I was fully awake and all.

Do you want to know what I heard?

Are you sure? Really, really sure?

A woman was scraping ice and snow off her car.

Yes friends, Saturday morning greeted all of us in The Frozen Tundra with snow. God sure has a silly sense of humor, doesn't He? :)

It's not even the middle of October and already snow has fallen. My goodness, they weren't lying when they said, I hear it's cold there! ;) I suppose if I take a few minutes to think about it it's not so crazy. It has been super cold here these past few days. And by cold I mean in the thirties. I know some of you live in Texas and can't bear the sixty-degree weather. And, Kim in Florida, 90 degrees... really?!

Just spare me the numbers, OK?

Sigh.

To add to the craziness of the recent snow falling, our apartment is hot like an oven and we usually sleep with the window open a few inches. Yes, the window was open the night it snowed. Have I mentioned our apartment is hot?!

{Unbelievable about the snow, yet so true!}

It really was perfect timing, however, because on that fine, snowy Saturday my mittens arrived in the mail.




I love them dearly.
They are so adorable that I want to put them in a glass box and stare at them all day long. Instead, I'll wear them.
{To order a pair for yourself click here.}

Zack and I went out Saturday evening and, of course, I wore them. And I smiled the entire time I wore them, too. Ha ha! Me, my mittens, and the Hubbster. We explored the city of Minneapolis on a quick dinner trip to Chipotle.

***

Back up a bit to earlier in that day.
I really had a great Saturday. It was soooo relaxing. I can't remember the last time I sat down, in our new apartment, and thought, What should I do this fine Saturday?
After last week, working so hard during the day and then coming home to sew for a few hours every night, I finally took a break.
I calculated I worked 65 hours last week. Eeekk!

Can I be honest?
I even feel a little guilty about taking some time off from sewing.

How horrible is that?!
I totally needed the little break; Zack and I needed the little break.
Last week we went to Zack's work to watch a sporting event, aka: party!!! Then on Tuesday I baked 4 dozen cookies for my work. We also had time to watch two movies.

It was pure bliss to enjoy life a bit more.

One night last week we decided to move my iMac into the living room because I was spending all my supposed-t0-be-free time in the office, sewing and answering emails.

It was horrible. I felt like not only was I neglecting my amazing, sassy red couch, but I was missing out on enjoying my home with my husband. I felt like a stranger in my own home. Blah.

Taking a break allowed me to take a full breath of air. It took away a lot of the stress of getting so much done. I felt like I had this never-ending to-do list of sewing, when really, when I think back, it's not something I want to be stressed about. About a year ago, while I was sleeping, an Angel tapped me with her wand and gave me the desire to sew.

About two months ago God blessed me with an honest-to-God amazing job in a really sweet city. I no longer need to be ball-and-chained over the income that Etsy provides because it is taken care of.

I know "it" has always been taken care of, but this way is somehow easier to wrap my hands around. The concept of seeing the way it's taken care of, instead of going to sleep, month after month with a little bit of uncertainty... No one wants uncertainty in their life. Please know I wholeheartedly believe in God and never did I doubt His ability to provide, or my faith in the Faith...

It's hard to explain; losing something {like your job} that has so much "control" over earthly things really knocks the wind out of your sail.

{I almost wrote knocks the wind out of your lungs but decided to think hard and remember the right phrase. But sometimes I like to make up my own phrases: When worse comes to shove, ha ha.}

Over the summer that wasn't something I could say... admit that our bills were taken care of.

But today I can and I'm going to rejoice over it! And you know what, just to add to the awesomeness of how our lives have turned for the better, my Etsy sales have since increased, they are consistent, and it's even more delightful to sew!

I'm a happy Gus.

Encourage yourself to find the positive in your life and it will be easier to see the positive.

***

A few things before I stop having so much to say ;)

1. If you haven't entered the Gussy Giveaway, please enter now. It's already surpassed the last time I offered this type of giveaway {where the number of comments left equals the percent-off won.}

2. There is FREE SHIPPING on all items in my Etsy shop. Everyone loves a little sans shipping, right? Receive anywhere from $2 - $6 in savings.

3. It's survey time. Again, if you haven't already, please two minutes to answer ten questions about my Gussy products. It would make my day to hear your anonymous comments :)

It's like a quiz, but way more fun.

***

OK, just one more {picture}:




HAPPY MONDAY ♥