This month has been finished in almost an instant. With record sales and record hours of staying awake, I'm a bit more than exhausted. It's funny how this venture started out as a small hobby and has become a second job, one that has been needed in order to maintain our current lifestyle (ie, pay the mortgage and cars and babysitters). Last night, we went out for ice cream and we didn't care that the kids didn't finish their cones or that I didn't feel like finishing mine either. We had that small but significant luxury that we haven't been able to enjoy in quite some time.
My customers have been so incredibly awesome and the feedback and messages I receive that tell me how they love the blankets...beyond incredible - it makes the hard work and long hours totally worth it. I get to do something that I love every night (instead of doing the laundry...so what if I'm six loads behind?) and people respect and want my work. The best parts of the job outweigh the worse parts, and that's what counts.
The worse parts - lack of time with my husband and lack of sleep - aren't all that horrible. My husband has learned that we can still spend time together if he watches TV while I sew in the same room, or helps me cut, or makes me something handy that I need to make sewing easier. No, he hasn't replaced me in the housework aspect (I'm just too good at that people) but I schedule nights off early from blanket-making in order to get some stuff done around the house. And the sleep? I used to be in college. Coca-cola and coffee are my new best friends...again. And I get to drink a little amaretto sour before I go to bed to help shut off my brain. See? Lack of sleep isn't all that bad!
In all seriousness, I love what I'm doing. I love my chemistry day job and I love my sewing job. I stay out of my nook when I am with the kids; since the blankets have gotten busier, I make sure I am completely with them when I am with them (that makes sense, right?). The few hours that we spend together are pretty awesome, even if they do drive me nuts. Time is precious and if the second job has taught me anything, it is to enjoy everything that I have time to do.
And I don't enjoy laundry, but I need pants for work.
What have been your accomplishments this month?
