Flea Market

This past Saturday, I had my first real sale as a vendor.  It was a very fun, and educating, experience.

I was fortunate enough to have my dad help me pack two trucks to their maximum capacity.  He and I spent part of the night before the sale cleaning out the shed, pricing items, and packing both his vehicle and my man friend's.

My help didn't end there.  The day of, Mike and I took his truck, while my dad and sister drove my dad's, and we went to the Grand Cities Mall.  After a quick unloading, Mike went back home to catch a few more Zs before work.  The rest of us...our work was just beginning.

We made sure everything was set up and priced (I used vintage postcards as pricetags, some in the shape of North Dakota).  Before the sale started, I sold a few items to another vendor which was a nerve-racking experience.  My fear was that I must be very underpriced to already be moving furniture.

My fears were quickly dashed as we did a quick round and found that my items were priced comparably to other vendors...and many other vendors came by to see what I, the newbie, had to sell.

Overall, it was a great experience.  I met some very amazing people, both vendors and shoppers.  I was happy to move some of my larger pieces because that meant I had that much more room in the shed for new items.

I think that I will do the Flea Market again, this time with a little bit more knowledge.  I never could have done it without my family.  My dad and sister stayed with me for the entire duration of the day.  And once the sale was over, my mom helped us pack up the trucks.  Who would have thought selling vintage and antique goods would be a family-bonding experience?

Call to Arms

I've been dreaming a lot lately.  Dreaming instead of blogging.  Dreaming instead of studying for finals.  And do you know what's been on my brain, friends?  A camper.

I want a camper.  I want a small, older camper that is no newer than the 1970s because I have big plans.  I have exciting plans.  Do you know what I don't have?  A camper.

So that's the point of this post.  To ask you to rack your brains dear readers and friends and think of your life, and your neighbors' lives.  Do you know of a camper for sale?

I've looked on Craigslist and l've looked on Facebook "For Sale" sites and I'm coming up empty.  Anything that fits my wish list is either too expensive or is snapped up within minutes.  I'm a dreamer though and an optimist, so I decided to post a little plea along with some adorable camper photos.

Don't let the pictures fool you though, because I know with my budget that I'm going to DIY 99% of the camper.  I'm just hoping to find a camper with good bones.

Now it's time to put my wish list out into the universe:
Pre-1980 Camper or Travel Trailer
No driving or pop-up campers
Good wheels
Good roof

Photography Attempt V.2

A few weekends back, my mom and I, along with my friend Kallie, went to Bemidji for what I refer to as a Jesus-cation.  A Jesus-cation is just a mini vaca that's centered around Christian music.  Our Jesus-cation brought us to Bemidji, MN for the Newsboys.

Our hotel was beautiful and right on the water, so I popped out before we left to take a few photos.  I tried to take photos right after we checked in, but actually ended up getting locked out of the hotel building.  The second day went a little better for my second photography attempt.  You can see the first attempt here!

Here's just a little peak at the hotel from the lake.  There was a trail that ran between the hotel and the lake, so it was cool to see everyone running and biking outside.  They may not have realized that I was cheering them on from my seat inside the hotel, eating mini chocolate donuts.

Before we left town, we had to stopped and Paul Bunyan and Babe, because we were tourists after all.  The picture below is one of the reasons I love my mom so much; she honestly finds joy and happiness in everything that she does.

Luckily a lot of people decide to do the tourist thing, so we found someone to do a "photo swap."  My favorite thing about this photo is that I feel like Babe is really posing.  Paul doesn't look too bad himself.

Obviously we weren't in Chicago, but I convinced my mom to touch Babe's butt with me...even though she had no idea why were doing it and kept asking "But why?"

All in all, I had just a great Jesus-cation with my mom and Kallie.  I can't imagine a better group of people to adventure around Bemidji with.  We laughed so many times that tears often came with laughter and it was great to have someone to witness the ridiculousness that MK can bring to the table.

26 before 27 (April Review)

1. Read 50+ books, 4 that are religious/spiritual in manner

I've read 9 books, which, according to Goodreads is 7 behind where I should be.  Considering the fact that I am both a full-time student and have a full-time job, I'm actually pretty happy with where I am.  Summer is usually when I inflect most of my damage.

2. Visit someplace new

Mike and I will be adventuring to see The Avett Brothers in Illinois come June, so I'm not even thinking about this goal actively.

3.  Make a quilt

My little sister actually made a quilt in Fashion Merchandising, so I'm thinking she can teach me.

4.  Work out 26 times

We're only in the beginning of May...there is still plenty of time.

5.  Take more photos

I'm actually pretty happy with the amount of photos I've been taking lately.  I brought my camera to Bemidji just last weekend and dinked around for a bit.  Those photos will be shared later in the week.

6.  Settle into the apartment (and maybe do a photo tour when it's complete)

Do people every really, truly settle in?  Do all boxes get unpacked?  I'm calling bullshit.

7.  Blog at least 4 times monthly

Considering I didn't post my goals until March, we'll look at April on.  I squeaked by in April, 4 posts exactly.  I do have a bunch of half-posts written, but with finals looming and getting mono, they've remained slightly undressed.

8.  Write two new short stories

I keep telling myself that summer will bring time and inspiration.  I have patio furniture now, so I like to entertain the idea of me on my beautiful wicker, writing away.

9.  Get my passport

This is a goal that just requires me to just get up and do it.  Maybe summer.

10.  Create and follow a budget

I did such a great job in the beginning of the year, but I have really, really fallen off.  I bought a new planner, so that'll help me out.  When I rock a planner, it's as if my entire life revolves around it, but when I don't have a planner...chaos.

11.  Send more mail than last year

Still have yet to send a single piece of mail.  Oops.

12.  Learn to crochet

Again, Jenna (the sister) learned how to do this in Fashion Merchandising.  We're talking about having a Sunday Sister Craft Night.  I capitalized everything because it'll be as important as a holiday.

13.  Go to a winery

I think that we can all agree that this is a summertime goal.

14.  Date-night with Mike monthly, at-home dates count, too!

Technically, yes.  We don't really call them dates so I feel like it does lose some of that date-like appeal, so maybe I just need to get better at labeling our outings.

15.  Take a yoga class

Not yet.

16.  Have my parents over for dinner

Summer is my mythological time of accomplishment and success.

17.  Create a blog feature

I'm currently testing two out.  Photography Attempt and Instagram Stories,  We'll see if either stick or if a dark horse appears.

18.  Finish my volunteering requirement for school

I actually have my first volunteering this Thursday.  It'd be nice to cross this off before school starts up again.

19.  Get a new bed

Done! April...not sure what date.  I can look it up, but is it really that important?  The bed moves and vibrates.  I essentially sleep on a transformer.

20.  Go to a play at Red River's "new" theater

Hoping for a SPA performance this summer.

21.  Have a "no spend" week in April

Um...this is awkward.  Maybe my "'no spend' week in April" will take place in May.

22.  Have a "no spend" month in September

Something for future Sara to worry about.

23.  Study for and take my Praxis tests

Nope.

24.  Pay off one big credit card

I actually feel like this could happen by September.  Fingers crossed and pennies pinched.

25.  Create my "space"

Step 1: Get a desk

26.  And one to grow.

I think that I've actually figured this one out, but it's currently to top-secret to share :)