Today's Joy: Troubleshooting.
All right, Reader, I know I promised to unveil my new business website today, but I'm currently bedeviled by several technical glitches which may delay the unveiling a day or two. Feels like I have a mini page mutiny on my hands. My apologies, but I refuse to present a site where half the pages may or may not perform as instructed. I spent several hours today attempting (with my limited understanding of HTML) to correct the problem, to no avail. However, I am not giving up and I promise we will have a live, working site by the end of the weekend.
On a lighter note, I have enabled so many functions on this site that I now secretly refer to myself as "The Enabler". While a bad thing in real time, being an enabler in the land of webpage design is evidently perfectly acceptable. Makes me wonder what other psychology no-no's have been reinvented thanks to the internet. If you think of any, let me know.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Today's Joy: Business cards.
Was delighted to come home today, Reader, and find my new photography business cards waiting on the front stoop. God Bless Vista Print! They get great quality stuff to you fast.
Isn't it funny how business cards make you feel a little more 'defined'? It's silly, I know, but don't they make your professional persona feel just a tad more real? Of course, we're all more than the sum of the phone number and email address listed on a card and certainly there's more to us than any snarky logo might imply. But there's something about a business card that lends a certain credibility to what you offer. It says: I am capable. I can get the job done well. Here's my card.
Even after creating a website, ordering product and securing a booth at the IL Orchid Society Show to sell my wares, I don't think the reality of being in business for myself hit me until I had the cards in my hand. Now, it's real. And I am SO excited! Tomorrow, I'll post my site address and info if anybody's interested in checking it out. Constructive feedback is always appreciated. Have a wonderful day, Reader!
Was delighted to come home today, Reader, and find my new photography business cards waiting on the front stoop. God Bless Vista Print! They get great quality stuff to you fast.
Isn't it funny how business cards make you feel a little more 'defined'? It's silly, I know, but don't they make your professional persona feel just a tad more real? Of course, we're all more than the sum of the phone number and email address listed on a card and certainly there's more to us than any snarky logo might imply. But there's something about a business card that lends a certain credibility to what you offer. It says: I am capable. I can get the job done well. Here's my card.
Even after creating a website, ordering product and securing a booth at the IL Orchid Society Show to sell my wares, I don't think the reality of being in business for myself hit me until I had the cards in my hand. Now, it's real. And I am SO excited! Tomorrow, I'll post my site address and info if anybody's interested in checking it out. Constructive feedback is always appreciated. Have a wonderful day, Reader!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Today's Joy: Circumventing Fear.
It turned out to be a cruddy day, Reader. I received two rather expensive pieces of bad news. Both will have to be dealt with in short order and I'm not quite sure how they will work themselves out (though, I know they will). With as hard as I've been working to stay afloat financially, this feels like the straw that got the camel repossessed. Or, something like that.
It's in these moments of heavy responsibility that I must choose: either give into fear and freak out, or, take a deep breath, face straight ahead and take the risk that will (most likely) lead to success. In the end, I'll choose the latter. I'll take that next step forward and afterwards, I'll be glad I did. But in the moment--that half a heartbeat before I make my choice--there's an abyss of fear.
Fear is like a virus, infecting us and multiplying wherever we let it take hold. It'll take over if we're not careful. But if fear is a virus, then Faith and Hope are our antibodies. Preparedness and Conviction are our white blood cells.
Have you noticed, Reader, how the lessons we need most in life seem to appear before us at that crucial moment when they'll do the most good? I'm reading Stephen Covey's The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. A life-changing book. When I look at my life through that lens, the fear evaporates. It seems the more I think about the core values I want to see reflected in my life, the more they appear. And the less I'm afraid. So, I'm taking a good, hard look around and asking myself all the questions Stephen suggests. So far, the answers are illuminating.
I invite you to take a look at his book too. Begin with the end in mind, Stephen says. I hope this will lead to more dialog about this incredible book. Can't wait to hear your thoughts. In the meantime, keep fighting the good fight, Reader. Fear is not the boss of us.
It turned out to be a cruddy day, Reader. I received two rather expensive pieces of bad news. Both will have to be dealt with in short order and I'm not quite sure how they will work themselves out (though, I know they will). With as hard as I've been working to stay afloat financially, this feels like the straw that got the camel repossessed. Or, something like that.
It's in these moments of heavy responsibility that I must choose: either give into fear and freak out, or, take a deep breath, face straight ahead and take the risk that will (most likely) lead to success. In the end, I'll choose the latter. I'll take that next step forward and afterwards, I'll be glad I did. But in the moment--that half a heartbeat before I make my choice--there's an abyss of fear.
Fear is like a virus, infecting us and multiplying wherever we let it take hold. It'll take over if we're not careful. But if fear is a virus, then Faith and Hope are our antibodies. Preparedness and Conviction are our white blood cells.
Have you noticed, Reader, how the lessons we need most in life seem to appear before us at that crucial moment when they'll do the most good? I'm reading Stephen Covey's The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. A life-changing book. When I look at my life through that lens, the fear evaporates. It seems the more I think about the core values I want to see reflected in my life, the more they appear. And the less I'm afraid. So, I'm taking a good, hard look around and asking myself all the questions Stephen suggests. So far, the answers are illuminating.
I invite you to take a look at his book too. Begin with the end in mind, Stephen says. I hope this will lead to more dialog about this incredible book. Can't wait to hear your thoughts. In the meantime, keep fighting the good fight, Reader. Fear is not the boss of us.
Alton Brown's Baked Mac & Cheese
This recipe is cheesy bliss, Reader. Last night I was in the mood to bake something gooey in my ramekins and a co-worker suggested this incredible Alton Brown recipe. She was spot-on. We're never going back to the cheap, boxed stuff again. Incidently, this was the first time I've ever 'tempered' an egg or made a roux without supervision. Both came off without a hitch and now I'm ready to embark on a whole new world of sauce-making! Will keep you posted.
Alton Brown's Baked Mac & Cheese
1/2 pound elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon powdered mustard
3 cups milk
1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 large egg
12 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Fresh black pepper
For the Topping:
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup bread crumbs
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Boil water in a large pot and cook pasta just until it's al dente.
In a separate pot, melt the butter.
Make a roux by whisking together flour and mustard (no lumps!). Stir for about five minutes.
Add milk, onion, bay leaf, and paprika. Simmer for ten minutes. Then remove bay leaf.
Temper in the egg. Stir in 3/4 of your cheese (rest is for topping). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Fold cheese mixture into macaroni.
Dish the macaroni into medium-size ramekins for individual servings or one large casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.
For the topping:
Melt butter in a small pan, then add bread crumbs and stir until coated.
Sprinkle over ramekins or casserole dish.
Place ramekins on cookie sheet and bake for 30 minutes.
Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.
Serves 6-8.
For the official Food Network version, click here.
Alton Brown's Baked Mac & Cheese
1/2 pound elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon powdered mustard
3 cups milk
1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 large egg
12 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Fresh black pepper
For the Topping:
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup bread crumbs
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Boil water in a large pot and cook pasta just until it's al dente.
In a separate pot, melt the butter.
Make a roux by whisking together flour and mustard (no lumps!). Stir for about five minutes.
Add milk, onion, bay leaf, and paprika. Simmer for ten minutes. Then remove bay leaf.
Temper in the egg. Stir in 3/4 of your cheese (rest is for topping). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Fold cheese mixture into macaroni.
Dish the macaroni into medium-size ramekins for individual servings or one large casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.
For the topping:
Melt butter in a small pan, then add bread crumbs and stir until coated.
Sprinkle over ramekins or casserole dish.
Place ramekins on cookie sheet and bake for 30 minutes.
Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.
Serves 6-8.
For the official Food Network version, click here.
Monday, March 8, 2010
I was reading the latest issue of Midwest Living this morning, Reader, and came across this fabulous article on the top ten daffodils for the midwest. Is there anyone who doesn't love these first-on-the-scene, perky-yellow perennials? This year especially, it seems I can't wait to see them popping up out of the freshly-thawed ground. All of my springtime childhood memories involve their sunshiney little faces.
If you're in the mood to see yellow, stop by the Missouri Botanical Garden in April for their spectacular annual daffodil display, featuring 750 types of the little darlings. You can also hike the scenic 'Daffodil Trail'. I think we should put this on the must-see list for next year. Drop me a line if you're up for a little yellow road trip!
Photo: Daffodil, St. Charles, IL. Spring, 2008.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Today's Joy: Flea-Marketing. Reader, I haven't been to a flea market since November of 2008 and I was definitely overdue. So, this morning, I picked up Mom and all her die-hard flea-marketing gear and we braved the chilling rain to see what's shaking down at the Kane County Flea Market. We had a great time, as always. If you haven't seen one, they're an adventure! You never know what kind of zany-ness & treasures will be lurking amongst all the junk. Here are a few of my favorite flea market finds & oddities from past years. 
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