Money Matters (Whether we like to admit it or not)

So a few months ago I took on a volunteer position at the cafe I know work, when I took it on, I knew it would be volunteer until the cafe's were making more money, and I was completely ok with it, and thrilled at the thought of being able to help build these cafe's together with people who had become dear friends of mine. Ryan and I did alot of discussing, and strategizing about how we could go about making this all happen with money. We've very blessed that Ryan has a job that pays him generously, and he could see how much I wanted to be, and especially how much I could no longer stand being at Laser Quest.

I'm still overjoyed being at the cafe, even as a volunteer, I have so much more motivation, drive, and my health has really never been better. My friends that own it are some of the most encouraging people I have ever met, and it's so lovely to have such strong people standing behind my ideas, doing what they can to help me achieve them! I've started a clothing company because of this, which will soon start bringing in some steady income once I can focus on bringing the online store up to date, I can dye my hair and pierce my lip, I've never felt so much like my self since moving to London!

Ryan and I faced a harsh reality last night when we were sitting discussing money matters though, the one thing we didn't really account for when I chose to take this position, was the fact that we are also saving for our wedding this summer, it always seemed so far off until just this week when we started having to considering things like caterers, and the bar, and how to save to be able to pay for these things come time. I never regret leaving Laser Quest, and taking the job at the cafe, and I never will, it's made such a change in my life, and has taught both Ryan and I invaluable lessons about money, and especially taught us about not spending it on a whim.

Some considerations I have to start making though are things like, should I take on another small part time job, just to pitch in money where I can, or should I use the time I would be using on that job and put everything I have into making and selling clothing online? I will be selling a costume online soon I think that will fetch me a pretty penny, and I'll be able to put that money towards everything as well.

I cringe at the thought of having to take on another job, because I know I'll just burn and stress myself out, and my home time is so much further between with my working full time now, so even though I'm busying my self with fashion stuff on my days off, I'm atleast at home to steal some cuddles with Ryan every now and again, and we can atleast be in eachother's presence.

I have my selling this weekend, with my pre-sales already beating my sales from the last party, I already have a potential to make a tonne - the party is officially sold out as well, which the last two parties I've sold at having a lower turnout than expected - So I think this weekend will make the decision for me!

Furville

I currently have a living room full of Tulle and fun Fur - and pre-orders flying in for the party at the end of this month.

I've already got $125 in pre orders - I made a total of $150 at the last party, and $70 at the party before that. I'm hoping to double my profits again

I'm really so thrilled with how well this has taken off - I just can't wait until we have a house so I can have my own room dedicated to sewing - that way my living room isn't completely full of fluffiness.

*Pew-Pew*

The past week and a bit I have been working very hard on my new years resolution - getting Raygun Designs off the ground! I don't know whether to say it's been easier, or harder than I had originally thought - I think my main roadblock has been the fact that well... there haven't really been any. I've been able to move along so smoothly and diligently on everything that really my only issue is I've left myself nothing to do when I'm not sewing - and I very much wanted to get some paper work done today while at the cafe... but it's finished.... expense/profit spreadsheet - finished... receipt filing - finished... and logging all my promotions and pre-orders - You got it... finished. I feel like there IS more I could be doing, but I just don't know what it is yet...

I spent last night doing some (I guess I could call it) research and development, making a prototype of a potential new tutu design - aiming for the most professionally finished looking method to do it. Before I was going the very simple no-sew route of just knotting the tulle around an elastic waistband, but these didn't seem to be selling, I think mainly because a tutu is a hard thing to buy at a rave and then find a place to keep it (most people already come to the party in what they're wearing.

At the last party I went to I had the amazing compliment of a girl actually showing up in her street clothes with the full intentions of dressing almost completely in my clothing! I've been making sure to have my camera ready for whenever I find someone wearing something I made! So here's a little preview of what was sold at the last party!

Tess showing off her Yellow and Orange Fluffies and tutu

Reita showing off her Orange tutu purchased at a previous party

Lexi and I posing with our matching hot pink fluffies

The Buttery stuff

Now I know none of you have ever met Ryan's family, nor have I ever really talked about them on here. This entry is kind of about them, but more about a story Ryan once told me about him and his Grandma Lois. His dad's side of the family is from the southern states, mainly South and North Carolina, I love every chance we get to go down and spend time with them, and the trips are always too short! One of my favorite people to see while we're down there is his Grandma Lois, she's such a sweet woman, and always has inspirational stories about life and kindness.

As I was buttering my toast thismorning at the cafe I was thinking about a story that Ryan told me and about how he used to be incredibly O.C.D. about making sure his butter was perfectly spread and even across his entire piece of toast. He told me once about the time that he was in South Carolina and Lois was there while he was buttering his toast and explaining his method to her. The response that she gave in was profound - "If you spend all your time making sure your bread is buttered perfectly, you ruin the surprise of getting a nice buttery patch while you're eating it!"

Leave it to Ryan's sweet southern Grandma to find a perfect analogy for life through buttering toast!