So, I haven't been able to stop thinking about my blog. I owe the little bit of readers I have right now a lot. It's been about two weeks since I last updated and it's been longer than that since I've posted something relevant. I don't really have an excuse. No matter what is going in my life, I need to be dedicated to my craft and to you, my readers. Please, take my sincerest apologies and tuck them away in your hearts. I care about what I am doing, my vision, and the future. I am still just figuring out how to win in every area of my life. It's a delicate dance, my life... Any life, really.. I just want to to do this right, and I'm really going to try to get myself organized and on a blogging/creating schedule so that I can give back to the world as much as I am able. With that, here are some things that have been going on with me, some project updates, and plans for the future of Oh, Eight Oh, Nine:
Since I last posted about SOPA/PIPA, something in me changed. I usually hate my day job, but spending the day protesting online in between looking up rates at my desk, I felt something bigger than myself. I didn't really mind sitting there as much as I always do. When I went back the next day to work and had nothing to protest or contribute to society, I felt empty again. I have this intrinsic need to be living on a deeper level. I have never learned to adapt to surface living. I NEED to be doing something big or I feel useless. After that, I proceeded to have another miserable week of work. I cried every day afterward. I knew it in the depths of my being that I couldn't go on merely existing.
I finally hit a wall. I had this moment where I knew what to do that I could go on doing what I have to do for now and still feel fulfilled. I was reading an article about water issues and how it isn't always filtered according to the proper regulations and when that happens it can cause deformities in wildlife near water treatment plants and infertility in people once we drink it enough. I was finally fed up and skeeved out enough to make a choice to not partake in this silliness anymore. I made a choice to go vegan. And I have never felt better or more alive. I've successfully been vegan for less than a week and I can't see going back to my old life anytime soon. With the choices I am making to eat or not eat, wear, and spend my money, I am making a difference. I am joining the rising number of voices strongly proclaiming that we will not be poisoned, we will not torment helpless animals, we will not support slave labor in other countries, we will be self sustainable, we will be healthy, happy and free. And I can do this all while living my life. I may not be able to go on a mission trip every six months, or build houses, clean up streets, sing to old folks, or make macaroni art with hurting children as much as I want to, but I can add a little something every single day for the rest of my life. I will still go out in the world and do things when I can... but I can be happy knowing that I matter all the time.
So.. What does that mean for the future of Oh, Eight Oh, Nine? Well, I'm going to refine my vision. Every dress I make will be made of reclaimed or cruelty free/organic fabric. Designs will be simple so that brides who buy my dresses will be able to hem and truly wear the piece again. Embellishments will be removable so that you can dress each piece up or down. I am going to dabble in vegan bridal footwear. I have already started a pattern for my first pair of flats. And I found a way to make simple wedding bands out of old coins, so I will be offering those in the shop. Any products I made before with non vegan or eco-friendly fabrics will be put up for sale in the etsy shop this week, however I will no longer be working with any of those fabrics. I really love the choice to move in this direction because it really fits in with the points I was already trying to make about weddings: It doesn't need to be fancy or over the top... It can be simple because all that matters is marrying the love of your life.
(Cotton Wedding Dress from Nostalgia @ etsy $285.00)
(Coin Wedding Band)
In addition to the new direction of Oh, Eight Oh, Nine, I will be opening a sister shop, conveniently WITH my sister where we will be selling vegan housewares/house cleaners/soaps/makeup/body & hair care. and it will be LEGENDARY! So stay tuned.
In other news, two posts ago, I promised you guys I was going to start posting progress pics for my weight loss endeaver. For one thing, I misplaced my bathing suit again, so I can't take one that really shows off my body, but I can show you guys one from New Years that is like.... ick. You can def see where I am coming from:
So there it is for the world to see. At my worst, 244 pounds. This is especially difficult for me to admit because four short years ago, I was around 160. I honestly don't know how it happened. I thought I was being responsible by putting everything else first: school, husband, house, friends, family... I stopped making time for myself to work out and I ate on the run a lot. But not anymore. Before I became vegan, I lost four pounds since New Years Eve, and this week alone, I lost 6 pounds just from eating better and walking. This morning, I woke up to 234. I'm on my way... This is me today:
Wow.. That was freeing. I will most definitely post weekly or bi-weekly my progress. My goal is to get to a healthy weight range for my height. Somewhere between 125-150.
Another interesting thing, is that I got a temp engagement ring to wear until I find one I want to wear forever. I wasn't going to get one until I could afford one again, but the lunch guy at my work got the wrong idea because I haven't even bee able to wear my wedding band since my fingers swelled with the weight. So I got this to hold me over:
It's completely fake. Cubic Zirconia & Silvertone but it will serve it's purpose, I feel. I just hope I can choose a really great alternative-to-diamonds engagement ring! There are so many freaking cool options out there!!!! AHH!
Well, I feel that I have said much this afternoon. I still have more but I think I should wait for another post. Right now, I'm going to sketch some and make up a schedule this week and write down some goals I want/need to accomplish. Love you all!
XO.
