Flashback Friday: 2/22/2013

Aunt Bubbles,  Uncle Butch
Aunt Shell, Mom

This was taken in my front yard, though obviously at the time it was my Gram's front yard. It's weird because the background view looks exactly the same.

I really am doing stuff...

These have been a hectic couple of weeks. I have two 52 weeks projects in the works, and I'm pretty excited by them. Just have to get them done and take some pictures.

Lately I've been working on a lot of Spotted Owl Weddings information, trying to get everything for that worked out and tied down. It's so hard to plan some things, even just working out prices I know I'm comfortable with is challenging...trying to figure out how much staffing we'll need, how many times we'll have to meet with the bride/photographer/caterer/crazy mothers, how much the utilities would go up for a wedding, how much hosting a reception would cost us in the terms of potential damages, where other sweet reception sites are located and how much they cost...super challenging. It's also hard because I'm the type of person who loves to save money where I can, and I really want to be reasonable without underselling ourselves. We won't really know until we do it, I guess. The actual B&B room rates and prices were so much easier for me to lock down for some reason. (Maybe because I researched them for a year before we moved forward, ha ha ha.) We initially thought that wedding hosting would be more of a side business, just something for fun and not our main source of income, but after a month of our website being up with no advertising whatsoever (aside from my shameless Facebook plugs, sorry friends!), I've received so many emails about it that I'm reconsidering how much it could impact our profits. It's definitely something to think about, I guess. I'm throwing around the idea of having a fake wedding party, or maybe a vow renewal for a really laid back couple, so we can kind of see how things go. We'll see. I have to get through the renovations first. Which is SO EXCITING!!! I can't wait to see it done.

I'm also really excited about some of the investor rewards we've come up with to raise money for the Spotted Owl. So here's a short list...

After months of thinking about it and a total lack of inspiration for them, I found a good way to get around the problem of naming the rooms...so that's now a reward for higher investors! Who doesn't want to buy the right to name a room after Great Aunt Myrtles favorite cat? Or for/in memory of someone you love, your favorite author or the book you wrote, your band, or just some random word that has a special meaning for you. I think it's awesome, and will make the rooms even more unique and special. We are making really cool permanent plaques that will be placed outside the rooms, with the name and explanation of who it's for and who named it. Plus you get a free stay in your room every year, and a 10% off card which applies to all regular rates and events. Super awesome, all for $5,000 investors. Only six available. Coolest gift ever.

If you're really generous and donate $10,000, you get to name the honeymoon suite. I think we could also do well pushing this to local businesses, because it's such a unique way to advertise. That name is going to be seen by so many happy people on romantic weekend getaways and will be seen in countless wedding photographs. I'm so pumped.

For those two people out there that think it would be really funny to name a public restroom after your spouse, you can name one of ours for $4,000.

We are also selling rights to name our pews (sweet vintage wooden pews with bright red upholstery! LOVE THEM!), and placing plaques on the side with the name of your choice and who donated them. $1,500 per side.

For the peeps that want to help out but don't have a lot to invest, don't be sad! We have a lot of lower dollar rewards, such as T-shirts, photography packages, vintage aprons, hayrides, and handmade goods.

As soon as I get my brochures done, get ready to see me peddling.

So that's basically what I've been doing for the past two weeks. Thinking, thinking, thinking. If anyone has any ideas for fundraisers, let me know. The more we raise, the more cool stuff we can do with the B&B!

And don't forget, go check out my buddy Emily over at teaandlaundry.net. That girl is hella productive with the 52 weeks project, photographing it and blogging it. I need to take some notes.

Flashback Friday: 2/15/2013

In honor of my very favorite Valentine, I didn't have to flash back quite so far this time. Here are some pictures of Wes when we first started dating, around 2005ish. He looked like such a hooligan. Lots of metal in the face. I guess he still kind of looks like such a hooligan, even with less metal in the face. He lived in an apartment building that had a playground out front, and we had way too much fun with that on a regular basis. We got the swords and armor from an after-Halloween sale, and it was all down hill from there.

Wes & Sarah, taking over the playground.

Vanquishing Foes. 

Bowling with sunglasses?

End of the Year SCRUFF.

52 Weeks Project: Week 5

Fasnacht masks!

James & Katy

The past week was spent preparing for our first trip to Fasnacht in Helvetia, WV, which was a pretty bizarre experience. I had a fun craft day with my pal Katy, just working on ideas and avoiding hot glue related burns. I ended up making a deer mask out of felt, lace, buttons and yarn. I made the antlers out of some wire coat hangers with a knit/crochet combo cover on them. I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. I see a large knit taxidermy project in my near future.

Fasnacht was definitely an experience, I for sure recommend you check it out in the future.

Some highlights from the evening...

Fasnacht 2013

Driving for hours annoying my husband with my awesome musical taste and car singing abilities with my besties.

Dinner at the Hutte. (ABSURDLY GOOD Swiss-German food!)

Me being introduced as "Jen's older sister". (NOOOOO!!!)

Banjo/fiddle music and beer in the Star Band Hall...

Getting told by some dude I went to high school with and haven't seen in years that I might look like I've had a baby...

Getting told by the same dude I went to high school with that his 4 year old knows quantum physics...HA!




Joining a candlelit parade of masqueraders traveling to the community hall (where Old Man Winter hung in effigy from the ceiling)...

Listening to people address the back of Katy's mask...

Creepy Inspector Gadget channeling lurker...

Awesome Jesco White channeling old dude...

Square dancing, more beer...

Hardcore costume judging rewarded by tiny Swiss flags.

More square dancing!

More beer!

Wes has no filter on his mouth!

Festivities continued until midnight, when Old Man Winter is cut down, carried on the shoulders of the celebrants to the bonfire outside, and burned to signal the end of Winter.

How cool is that?

Though I do have to admit, the three hour drive home made me cave into my old ladyness and we left before midnight.

Sorry friends who carpooled with me!

All in all though, it was a pretty awesome time.

Wes & James

The back of Katy's head!

Crow Girl.

Thanks to Katy Peno for taking some pictures, my camera didn't make it out of my purse. I'm working on that.

On a side note, I'm sorry this is such a sloppy post, I only had five minutes!

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Flashback Friday: 2/8/2013

Field Trippin'

As children we were homeschooled until 8th grade (excluding 3rd grade, when we tried a private school that wasn't a good fit). I know you hear a lot of mixed things about homeschooling, but we had an incredibly positive experience with it. My mom was on top of crap, for real. I toy with the idea of homeschooling Henry, but I'm not sure I could be as driven and structured as my mom was. We will see.

This picture was taken after a field trip to Laurel Caverns. We had stopped for lunch at McDonalds, and this was a giant creepy Grimace that you could crawl inside. Notice the twins dressed like twins. Good times.

Happy Friday!

Flashback Friday: 2/1/2013

Burly Man, Luke, Mom, Eagle

Mom and my youngest brother Luke, around 10 years ago. This made me laugh so hard. "Born to Ride". Enough said.

Happy Friday!