The Invitation Oven turns ONE!

Today is a freaking awesome day. Here's a run down:

1. I went to the dentist. Why is this a good thing, you ask? Because I'm a freak and I enjoy going to the dentist. Mostly because I'm 27 years old and have never had a cavity (okay, in my adult teeth.. baby teeth is another story). Every time I go to the dentist and he says "you have lovely teeth, see you in 6 months" it amazes me. My luck will end someday, but for now I will enjoy my cavity free ride.

2. After the dentist, I treated myself to Dunkin Donuts. Ordering anything from Dunkin Donuts is a gamble because they NEVER EVER get your order right. It doesn't matter what you order or which Dunkin Donuts it is, either. One time Sam ordered a bagel with "half the amount of cream cheese you normally put on." What did they give him? A bagel with cream cheese on half of it. I'm talking like a half moon cookie. My other favorite is ordering a "large coffee and a medium coffee" and getting one extra large coffee and two mediums. Anyway. Today, I got my bagel with cream cheese and my coffee (don't tell my dentist) and it was perfect.

3. I actually like my outfit today. Lately, I'm on a maxi dress / skirt kick. This is kind of unfortunate because I'm short and it's hard to find one that isn't meant for a 7 foot tall woman. Maxi skirts are an illusion. They make it look like you tried to look nice, but you actually feel like you are wrapped in a blanket. Might I say that they trump sweatpants??? Because you know, they aren't pants! Nobody likes pants.

4. During my lunch break, I went to the park and ran 2 miles. This makes me super happy because I got to be outside on this gorgeous 69°F day with bright blue skies and sunshine. It also makes me happy because I haven't been able to run at all the past two weeks because of having bronchitis. Man, it feels good to be able to breathe again!

5. All of these things are amazing on their own, but the main reason why today is so wonderful is that it's my first Etsyversary!!!!!!!!!

The Invitation Oven is now 1!

Ah! I'm such a proud mom. This year has been such a learning experience for me and I have loved every second of it. I love being a part of the Etsy community and working with the most creative and amazing customers. And..... as I've mentioned to you, when I opened my shop I made the ambitious goal of 100 sales by my first Etsyversary.  WELL, not only have I met this goal, I exceeded it! As of this second, I have 134 sales. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported my shop and listened to me blab on and on about invitations this year. I can't wait to see what this next year brings! :)

-- Alison --

Purrfect Desktop Background

As some of you may know, Sam loves two things more than anything. First - our record player. After listening to Sam hint about how much he'd like a record player in the months leading up to our first anniversary, I decided that would be the most perfect gift to get him. To top it off, I got him "The White Album," which had our first dance song on it. Nothing like listening to your first dance song to bring back that awkward moment of not knowing how to dance in front of everyone you know. Hey, at least we were in it together.

The second thing Sam loves the most are these two little men:

Moose Orangecat and Charles Skywalker Bucket

Last weekend was Record Store Day. Unfortunately, I have had bronchitis for the past 13 days so we were unable to attend. So, to make up for it I made Sam this fun little desktop background. I thought I'd share it with you all in case you are all in need of a new wallpaper! Let me know what you think of it in the comments! I'd also love to know if you found any treasures on Record Store Day!

Click for full size (1920 x 1080)

That's it for now. I have to go start stretching my legs for the kidney walk tomorrow!

-- Alison --

Lately. March Edition.

I was feeling inspired to write a post today and then realized that I have little to nothing new to mention to you. Except for the following:

1. Sam and I welcomed a new member to the Kenyon – Orangecat – Bucket family.

Meet Mac. He has settled into his new home quite nicely. We’re just loving him. I guess the “impulsive buyer” beat out the “saver” once again. Good news is. This wasn’t really a splurge. This was a calculated and justified purchase. Okay...maybe I'm still trying to justify it. Mostly, it was a reward for reaching my goal of 100 sales. Not only reaching it, reaching it over a month before my first Etsyversary. The shop has been quite busy the past few months and I’m loving every minute of it!

2. Last weekend we went out to the booming metropolis of Webster, NY with Dave, my bro, to see Marc Maron at The Comedy Club. We weren’t sure what to think when we first walked in. You have to walk through a bar called, “Daisy Dukes,” to get to the comedy club. Now. If you have ever been to the Daisy Dukes in Syracuse, this bar is EXACTLY the same (sans mechanical bull, which is good – especially if you are there for your bachelorette party wearing a thrift store wedding dress and approached repeatedly by creepy dudes asking you to ride it with them… I have said too much. I don’t know anything about that.) Even the logo could pass as the logo for the Syracuse Daisy Dukes. Upon receiving our round of stale beers, we asked about it and turns out – Nope! No relation. I’m telling you about this for a reason. Hang in there.

So, the doors open and we get seated pretty darn close to the stage. The actual comedy club is really nice. It’s cozy and comfortable. Intimate, I’d say. The opener was great. His name is escaping me at the moment. Then Marc came out. So good. So funny. He discussed everything from ice cream to cats to his childhood (at the request of some drunk lady in the crowd). I loved it. He made a joke referencing a sewing convention that was going on at the hotel he was staying at. Crazy thing is there was a sewing convention going on at the hotel we were staying at, too! We were at the same hotel.  I believe my face was just a smile, no other features, through the entire show.

After the show, we stood in the meet and greet line. Sam and I got a photo with Marc, introduced ourselves, and tried our best to blurt out witty one-liners. We were able to convey that we had also noticed the sewing convention. The sewing convention was no joke. They were there all day. They were still there after midnight when I went to the front desk to get a toothbrush. My mind was obviously blinded by excitement while packing and I forgot mine.

The following morning, we went down to get our share of the luke warm, plastic looking continental breakfast, when in comes Mr. Maron! He stopped at our table and we chatted for a while. We talked about Daisy Dukes and the band that played after the show. Marc described it as “Tragic. Like a one woman dancing kind of thing.” Which was so accurate. Perfectly said.  We also got another photo with him in front of…you guessed it…the sewing convention. (Pardon my hair. I also forgot my hairbrush.)

Later that night, I was catching up on Girls and he was randomly in the episode. I thought “No big deal, we had breakfast with him this morning.”

It was such a great weekend.

3. Turns out I had a lot more to say about #2 than I thought. The last thing I wanted to mention (now that you are wondering if you are still reading my post or have you been reading War and Peace?) is that I have been working on a really cool project lately. I can’t quite share it with you yet, but I will soon! :)

Stay tuned, readers!

-- Alison --

Monty Python Invitation

Hello there!

I hope you're all staying warm and cozy during this exceptionally crappy winter we've been having. If you're reading this from somewhere warm, I don't think we can be friends right now.

My area is no stranger to getting a lot of snow, but it seems that ever since the Superbowl it's been non-stop. We are running out of places to put the snow in our yard and there are piles of it that are taller than me! It's crazy. To say I'm ready for Spring would be an understatement.

Good news is that I have been too busy to notice any cabin fever the winter tends to cause. You guys have been amazing! As of today, I'm at 88 sales. That's only 12 away from my goal of 100 by my first Etsyversary! I don't want to count my chickens before they're hatched, but I'm starting to feel super confident that I'm going to reach my goal!!!!!! :D :D Cross your fingers for me! And maybe your toes, too.

I've had the privilege to work on some really cool stuff lately and I wanted to share with you one of my most favorite projects to date. I was contacted by a friend of mine, Jill. She is having a joint 30th birthday party this summer with her husband, Tim. This is not just any party though. It's a Monty Python theme. I have to be honest - I have only seen The Holy Grail and I think that was in my 6th grade class - which looking back seems super inappropriate. I know, tisk tisk. These are CLASSIC movies that EVERYONE loves, so I really should watch them all. While we are on the subject, I might as well tell you that I didn't see Star Wars until I was 26. Even then it was the first three movies. I haven't even seen the other three. So, I guess I just kind of suck.

Anyway. Jill asked if I could illustrate some of her favorite characters and create a design that is similar to the Halloween invitation that I made with the critters dressed up in costumes. Here is a close-up of each character that Jill requested:

Knights of Ni

 




The Black Knight

(post "flesh wound")

Patsy

(with coconuts)

Tim the Enchanter

And, finally, the "Dead Guy" who isn't really dead

And here is the whole invitation (with some changes to her personal info, of course).

-- Alison --

Immediate Satisfaction

Today, I'm trying my best to stick with my resolution (or well.. one of them) to blog more. I don't have much to share right now other than my current thoughts. This week, I'm having an inner struggle that seems to resurface every so often: 

immediate satisfaction vs. long-term satisfaction

There are times in life when you just need to jump into something spontaneously and other times when you need to sit down and think about it. Sometimes I have a hard time with that and can be a bit impulsive. Examples of this: in college while filling out yet another student loan application, the little voice comes in and says "go ahead, Alison, take out a little extra! You need it NOW - don't worry about the next 20 years of your life paying this back tenfold. You should really go shopping instead... RIGHT NOW!" Or "Girl, switch it up - GET BANGS! Don't worry, you will look just like Taylor Swift!"

I don't feel like I'm alone in this, though. Right? ... Doesn't everyone struggle with this?

As I've mentioned, (and even listed it as another resolution - ha) Sam and I want to buy a house. Like, real bad. We're trying to save our pennies and we've been really good about it. Until... duh duh duh.... Sam's laptop dies. We're now sharing a computer and it's terribly inconvenient.

So, what does my brain immediately go to? "OH!!! This is actually great! A blessing in disguise! LET'S BUY A SUPER FANCY IMAC!!!!! WE NEED IT RIGHT NOW!!!!!" "We won't be able to buy one once we have a house, anyway - since you know, all of the money will be gone!" I mean, we kinda do need another computer and I've always wanted a mac.... why wait!? Life is short? Right? ORRRR do we do the smart thing and just suck it up, take turns with the laptop, save the potentially $2000 a mac could cost and put it in the house fund instead?

Sigh. Making decisions is hard. And yes. I do realize what a first world problem this is.

At least this weekend my mom and I are going to the SPA! Yes, my fabulous brother got us a gift card to get massages. After reading the description for the massage we are getting, I have no cares left in the world. Forget everything else I said and just read this:

THAI POULTICE MASSAGE

80-Minute

Let tensions drift away while you enjoy an unforgettable traditional hot Thai massage, unchanged since Thailand's Ayutthaya period (14th century), when a hot pack was administered to soldiers returning home from war with muscle aches and bruises.The cloth poultice, filled with all organic green tea, lemongrass, rosemary, lavender and spruce will open pores and impart a deep medicinal heat to your muscles, releasing tensions and revitalizing your entire body. After the poultice application, you will be treated to a Royal Thai and Aromatherapy Massage with peppermint and mandarin essential oils. Popular with athletes, this wonderful treatment is especially beneficial for anyone experiencing soreness due to physical activity or stress.

ALSO, the super bowl is this weekend. Which means, squares. I'll probably hit it big with my squares and then buy ALL THE THINGS. Nothing to worry about.

-- Alison --

Happy New Year!

Hey, friends!

It's me again, your long lost pal, here to wish you a very happy new year! It's been a whirlwind over here lately. I've just been plugging away with the daily routine and then BAM it was Christmas and then... New Year's! Time just seems to be flying by, it's nuts. Do you realize that it's now 2015? I mean - my 10 year high school reunion is this summer! Sigh.

Since it's a new year, I've put together a list of things I'd like to work on. Last year, my goal was to start up The Invitation Oven. Sure, I didn't get to actually opening up my Etsy shop until the last day in April, but hey.... I did it! Soon to follow would be launching my very own website, creating over 30 brand new invitation designs, and making it to 60 sales! I'm super proud of myself for how far I've come in just the past few months, but with that said I have so much more to do.

Here are some things I'd like to work on this year:

1. Get better at blogging!!!!! I'm not afraid to admit that sometimes, I just don't know what to write about. Other times, it gets put on the back burner and by the time I go to write a post the topic is no longer relevant. No joke. I still have written on my "to do" list to blog about my camping trip from JULY. Sorry, friends.....guess you'll have to wait for next year's camping trip.

2. Create more designs! This is a give in. There will always be another design to make. My sketchbook is filled with ideas that are just waiting to come to life. 

3. One goal that I'm so, so hopeful to obtain is to reach 100 sales by my first Etsyversary. This is a goal I set when I first opened my shop and it remains. My Etsyversary is April 29th and as of today, I'm at 60 sales. 40 more to go...eek! I still think this is obtainable, but I'm beginning to have my doubts.

4. SAVE SAVE SAVE!!!!! Sam and I have been saving to buy a house for years and years. With the mountain of student loan debt we have between the two of us, and things popping up like car repairs and weddings, and amazing trips to California, this is no easy feat. We have decided to really get serious this time (like we haven't said that before) and try to cut back on frivolous spending and just save. Anyone that knows us, knows that we aren't really frivolous spenders to begin with, I freaking LOVE a good bargain, but there is always room for improvement.

5. Did I mention that my 10 year high school reunion is this summer? Maybe I'll finally get those Carrie Underwood legs or maybe improve my volleyball skills, or do something cool like invent something like Romy and Michelle did before their high school reunion. 

6. Read more books! I love to read, but usually I'll read one book as fast as I can and then go weeks before reading the next one. It'd be nice to be a bit more consistent and read a little at a time, all the time, like normal humans do. Also, it'd be nice to up my Jeopardy game a bit.

What about you? What are your goals for the year? Let me know in the comments!

And incase you missed my Facebook post. I'm currently offering 15% off in celebration of the new year! Check out the coupon below.

-- Alison --

Monster Cookies

Remember when I said I wouldn't make you wait two months for my next blog post? Look at me! Following through on that promise only a couple of days after Halloween.

So is the suspense of knowing our costume killing you? 

I thought so!

This year we tried our very best to pull off Kramer and Elaine from Seinfeld. We were pretty happy with how it came out, and even though we were asked all night if Sam was Ace Ventura and if I was trying (unsuccessfully) to be a character from Beetlejuice - some people got who we were, so I'll say it was a success! After a couple of adult beverages, I busted out some of Elaine's horrible dance moves (or maybe just my regular dance moves) and Sam threw out lines like, "These pretzels are makin' me THIRSTY!" Lots of fun was had by all, except for the guinea pigs. They weren't a fan of costumes. 

I also baked a scary treat for this party (with LOTS of help from my mom and Sam, as I was trying to perfect my Elaine wig at the same time).  This was a Pinterest recipe (which you can find here) that I didn't think would come out anything like the photos and thought maybe instead of blogging it I could submit it to "Pinterest Fails" or "Pintrosity."  We were all pleasantly surprised at how well they came out, visually. The key is to find neon food coloring. Flavor-wise... they were kind of bland. They tasted like a sugar cookie or shortbread, so if I made them again I might try to add something to spruce it up a bit. Perhaps almond extract instead of vanilla. We also had to make two batches, which was an unexpected surprise.

I originally bought two packets of the little candy eyeballs, but my mom made an emergency trip to the store to get a pack of the large ones.  We still ended up running out of eyes - so if you were looking to make more than one batch, I would probably get two packs of small eyes and two packs of big eyes. You can find them in craft stores or in the cake-decorating aisle in Walmart (that's where I got mine.) We were afraid that the eyes would be hard little rocks that would be unpleasant to bite into, but they were actually very soft and easy to chew. No broken teeth for us! 

Here are some photos Sam took of the process:

Here is the recipe again, in case you missed it above!  

How about you, friends? Did you do anything fun over the Halloween weekend? How did your costume go over and what did you dress up as? Let me know in the comments section!

-- Alison --