Etsy Seller Feature: Ark's Endeavors

A friend of mine, who is still in school, asked me a couple questions about a mutual friend's Etsy shop for a project she is working on. The mutual friend happens to be my best friend of 23 years so of course I was willing and happy to answer a few questions! I think this could become a fun thing to do every once in a while for other Etsy sellers. So if you are interested, I will feature you on my blog (FREE ADVERTISING). Just email me, or leave a comment - and I will contact you about details :) Of course it will take time to smooth out the details, but think of it as an adventure!

Ark's Endeavors is run by Amanda, her shop is an Eco-Friendly shop that features indie fashion and vintage items. To quote her shop description: Welcome to Ark's Endeavors! I strive to make top quality items and keep them at an affordable price. I try to be as eco friendly as possible. Most of my clothing and accessories are made from reclaimed materials. Some are made from new materials bought from local small businesses. I try to incorporate recycling into my plugs and often use recycled materials while making them. I'm always exploring different arts and will have a large variety of items so be sure to stop by often. Any questions just ask!

How do you feel about her eco-friendly stance?

Being Eco- Friendly is a huge appeal to the Ark’s Endeavors products. It is a comfort as a customer to know that she isn’t producing more “stuff”, but is reinventing unwanted materials into highly desirable fashion! In addition, she tries to give you the biggest bang for your buck by making skirts and plugs reversible, two items in one and eco friendly. And let’s be honest, being green is the new black.

Also, from a business perspective and a fellow crafter being eco friendly and green is the smartest way to go. By buying recycled items, you are able to sell your items at a lower, more customer friendly cost.

Do you have anything of hers?

I actually have quite a few items from Ark’s Endeavors. I have two of her crocheted hats, a white jersey cowl, a high waist yellow plaid skirt, handmade soap, and her resin sprinkle stud earrings. I love all of them!

What do you think your favorite thing is or most innovative?

All of Ark’s Endeavors items are appropriate for so many different events; it is hard to pick a favorite. I love the resin stud earrings, because they are perfect for everyday wear. The cowls are fantastic because they can be worn all year round and can be worn so many different ways. But, her reversible skirts are by far the most innovative. Two skirts in one, dressed up or down, and made of recycled linens! Nothing gets better.

I am having formatting issues (blah) so I can't hyperlink the pictures,but the link to her shop still works, so go check out all of the featured items and more! Maybe next time around I could ask the seller a few questions - or just do my feed back. Whatever the seller wants! I hope I can do this again! So seriously, let me know! It's an offer you can't turn down :)

Don't tell me the lights are shining any place but there

As you know, I went to St, Louis last week. I chaperoned my sister's high school choir trip. I was looking forward to the vacation, but not the whole being surrounded by high schoolers thing. It was about a 5 hour bus ride. You would think a bunch of kids that have to get on a bus at 5 am would sleep the whole ride...not these kids. They sang the WHOLE ride. I should have expected that, after all it was a CHOIR trip.

Day One: We arrived 2 hours early so everyone broke into groups and explored. My group just walked and explored around the city and we found a local art gallery.



After exploring we all had to meet up to see the top of the arch. We were 630 ft up. It was a beautiful view.

We then were scheduled for dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory - Yummm!

Finally our day was done! It was a very long day, but all the kids still had enough energy to swim until the pool at the hotel closed. They did this almost every night. The chaperons had a routine of sitting at one of the poolside tables together while the kids swam....chaperons don't swim, I guess.

Day Two: This day was the day of their competition. I attempted to record their performances, so no pictures. Fail. They had three different entries. Show choir, Jazz Choir, and Concert Choir. Show choir received a silver, Jazz silver also, and Concert got the gold! After the competition we all went to a Mystery Dinner Theater. I had high hopes for this, that weren't quite matched. It was a lot of fun and all the kids had a blast but I just expected more.

My sister and I took a picture with the actress form the mystery dinner. You can see my name tag, everyone got a character name... I was "Nurse Ready" haha. There was also "Nurse Willing" and "Nurse Able" and a lot of other fun names. My favorite was a pregnant woman whose character name was "I.M. Hungry". Too funny. And then we went back to the hotel for more swimming...well, watching in my case.

Day 3: This was probably the worst day of the trip. We were planned to spend the whole day at Six Flags because the awards ceremony was there that night. No one was excited about Six Flags because it was something they all went to regularly back home and it was forecasted to rain ALL day. And it did. We ended up leaving the park early and skipping the award ceremony. There was lightning and thunder and sideways rain, followed by tornadoes. All of the kids were miserable. So we all came back to the hotel and the kids hoped in the pool and the chaperons watched. Crazy kids.Oh, and here is a picture with some of the kids, myself, and a fellow chaperon wearing capes.

Day 4: We had a fancy brunch at the top of the Millennium Tower. It SPINS! So we got a 360 view of the city, so pretty. And the food was delicious.


These were my girls for the trip. We called a group T-Rex (Team Rex-Their Choice). I really tried to keep it fun for them, but still make sure they knew I was an authority figure for the trip. After Brunch we went shopping! We first went to The Union Station Mall. There really wasn't much shopping, something everyone was looking forward to.

It was an interesting mall, but not what everyone wanted, so we went to a bigger more popular mall and everyone got some shopping done. We ended out trip with dinner at the Hard Rock cafe. And went back to the hotel.

Day 5: We left!

Overall, it was an interesting experience. If my sister wants me to, I will probably chaperon next year too.

I can sleep anywhere.

You name it I have probably slept there: couches, chairs, floors, desks, bowling alley's, planes, trains, and automobiles.

My point is, I don't need to be comfortable to sleep. If I am tired, I make it work.

But let me tell you something... there is nothing like returning to your bed after a 2 week trip.

I love my pillows. I love my blankets. I love my bed.

Blog coming soon about my trip... I am SURE you all missed me :)

Zombie Zunday!

Grab your shot guns, baseball bats, and boards with nails... the zombie apocalypse is on the rise.

They are bloody.

They are in groups.

They want your BRAAAAINNNS!

They may look like the mom next door... but don't be fooled... they will eat your babies!

Bloggity Blog

Heeeeeey youuuuuu guuuuuuuuys..... (the Goonies anyone? eh?)

The blogging has thinned this week, and for that I am extremely sorry.

This has been a crazy-crazy week in the working world for me. And as you know, that is rare...I do most of my blogging at work meaning I obviously have the time.

But this week was different. I have been getting trained gradually that last two weeks in Accounts Payable and Quick Books and all that jazz (Chicago, anyone?) because our Accounts Payable gal is in ITALY! Jealous.

So I have been dealing with the bills, bills, bills (Destiny's Child? Eh?)

And today we have our annual audit with is stressful and time consuming in itself - but I have found time to write a quick blog!

I am excited because tomorrow evening I am leaving on a jet plane (Peter, Paul, and Mary). And heading HOME for a couple days and then you can meet me in St Louis (Eh? Eh?) for a couple days and then back here to the cities.

So you may be thinking be my blogging is slow now, but it can only get worse before it gets better. I will be back in full blogging swing by May at the latest.

ps. I don't know what came over me with all the music/movie references. Just enjoy it while you can :) You love it.

Thrifting Success! 4.10.10

Time for another thrifting review!! My mosaic doesn't look quite as nice this time...I need to work on my camera skills. Buuuut it is still exciting!! A few things pictured were bought previously and just not posted.

1. Woven brown shoes.
I have been looking for woven shoes for a while, these are perfect.
2. Samsonite long strap bag.
This was a steal! Perfect size for an airplane carry on or overnight bag. I will be using it this upcoming weekend when I fly home.
3. Vintage Egg holders.
These were too cute to pass up. You may have seen them already in this post.
4. More vintage TV trays.
These ones are smaller. I have different ideas for them...maybe another chalkboard for one :)
5. Vintage Heart Chair.
Originally from a Minneapolis Coffee Shop. This is my new desk chair.
6. Vintage Brown Clutch.
Lots of pockets on the inside. Wouldn't this look cute paired with the brown shoes?
7. Vintage Shoe Tote.
Love the pattern, I use it to hold my fabric scarps :)
8. Black Shoes.
I have been looking for Oxfords and this is the closest I have gotten so far, but I think they are super cute... I already have an outfit planned! haha
9. Samsonite Train Case.
Has the key included! I have a thing for Samsonite, okay? So sue me.

Ahhhhhhhh!

Do you ever get to the point where just being in the general vicinity of someone is annoying. They may not being doing anything, but everything they do makes you want to bring fist to face?

I am about there with my work place...and all of my superiors and co-workers and everyone else, excluding maybe 3 people.

My biggest pet peeve is being able to hear someone chew/swallow/slurp/crunch/whatever. They are incapable of having eating manners - and they are ALWAYS eating. My parents taught me how to have table manners...what did their parents teach them? The only sound I want to here come from your mouth is talking...if you are lucky.

I don't want to here their jokes/whistles/songs/hockey games on the computer/nothing.

I think my tolerance is all used up.

I keep getting this urge to hit my head against the wall, repeatedly.

Oh well, the weekend is almost here. Two days to recoup and then feel the same way next Thursday...or Wednesday... or Monday.

Thank you for the rant. No heads/hands/faces/or computers were harmed in the writing of this blog.