Girl Friday: Hello! My Name is Preoccupied

Dear readers, customers, friends and family,

It has come to my attention that I have become a little overly excited and well . . . .  Obsessed is the word I'm gonna use here, by my nomination to the "Favourite Vintage Shop!" category in the poll hosted by the marvelous Canadian blog Poppytalk - but, to be honest, "obsessed" doesn't fully cover my preoccupation!

I'm so grateful to the people that nominated and voted for me of their own free will.  And of course by “nominated and voted” and “of their own free will”, I mean, they were “intimidated and coerced by "some unknown force”.  And, okay, by “some unknown force,"  I mean “me”.

But still! . . . . I really can’t understand why I'm falling behind in the poll. I’m a perfect fit for the “Favourite Vintage Shop” award.

And here is the proof:

I can do FAVOURITE!

•  I sometimes spell "FAVOURITE" with the "u" (so what if we spell favourite without the "u" here in Texas.  That, in itself, shows a casual attitude towards my native language which might also be construed as a strong sense of  really having Canadian DNA.)
•  Lots of people tell me I’m their "favourite" – granted, this is after I ask them directly in a somewhat forceful, overbearing manner.
•  Why, just last week, I was the winner of the coveted "Nicest Person to Cuss Out a Telemarketer Award." And that’s practically like an Oscar for heaven sake!
•  If I ever got the chance to say "aboot" for "about", and  "prho-gress" instead of "pr-aw-gress" I’d , like, totally do it

I am VINTAGE!

•  I once posted my actual age on the internet.
•  I have publicly revealed that I was a teenager in the 1980s and wore big ol "shoulder-ma-pads" in my boyfriend jacket with the sleeves pushed up, as the John Hughes/Pretty In Pink/Sixteen Candles Review Board insisted upon.
•  My birth certificate and driver’s license prove it.

I have a SHOP or have been known to SHOP!

•  I have a website, an Etsy page, a Facebook Fan page, and I tweet (therefore, I am.)
•  I can pee without sitting down on the public toilet or port-o-potty, which everyone knows is proof that I'm a seasoned shopper/junker.
•  I think about the shop and shopping for the shop to the point of neurosis.

So, where have I gone wrong? Is it because the current leader in the poll has brushed hair and lacks a ginormous pimple on their cheek that can be seen on satellite images? Or that the current leader in the poll is not pictorially represented by a "heavily-photoshopped-taken-above-my-head-so-you-can-only-see-one-chin" profile photo taken at a distinctly jaunty angle, courtesy of "The Elect The Vintage Laundry 'Favourite Vintage Shop'" Marketing Team? Or, is it because the target audience for the poll is not dominated by southern, happy pill poppin', slightly irreverent,  junk gypsies in their mid 40s?

Whatever your reasons (and I’m sure you have them), I just wanted you to know that your "Favourite Vintage Shop" listing would be a much more colourful category with me and my "Vintage Laundry" in attendance – as anyone at the "Seriously, You've got to Get Over This Poll Fundraiser" can attest.

Yours, ever-so-slightly anxious,
The Vintage Laundress

P.S.  If you haven't voted yet - I would love you support.  The poll is open until 11:59 p.m. tonight, Friday, January 29, 2010 (Canadian time) and you can cast your vote here.

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The Favor of Your Presence is Requested

It has been awhile since I acknowledged my friends, family, readers and customers with words of appreciation.

So, here goes . . . .

I'm so grateful every hour of every day for each and every one of you.  You all are the reason I get up in the morning.  Well, that and the fact that I really have to pee.

Your dear time has been spent sending me e-mails with words of support and encouragement, and your purchases from my online shop or from markets that I participate in have strengthened my conviction to follow my passion of hoarding, re-working, re-purposing and restoring vintage finds.  I'm honestly humbled by your kindness and generosity and somehow the words "thank you" just don't begin to cover my feelings. 

Okay, are you sufficiently lubed up?  Cuz, I need a favor.   

Yesterday I received an e-mail from Jan and Earl, the husband and wife team of Poppytalk, a marvelous Canadian design blog that collects inspiration and is dedicated to promoting emerging design talent.  They informed me that my store, The Vintage Laundry, had been nominated for a "Poppy" by my peers, customers, and readers at their Handmade Awards event, called The Poppies!  My nomination is under the category of "Favourite Vintage Shop".  They told me that they were posting the voting poll for my category yesterday at Poppytalk.  The poll will remain open for voting for one week, effective yesterday through January 29th, 2010 at 11:59 pm.   There will only be one vote allowed per computer and one vote per category.  There will be two awards given for each category, The Peoples Choice Award and the Jury's Choice Award.  Jan and Earl stressed that it's not intended to be a competition as much as a vehicle to bring more awareness to the vintage and handmade community.

It's an amazing gathering of artists and shops, and I am flattered to be amongst the bunch!  You can find the poll at this link, and the results will be announced by February 5th. Thanks so much for your vote and your support, and have a great week!

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A Sweetheart of a Deal

Today, if you will pardon the pun, I would like to broach a subject very near and dear to my heart . . . heart and cardiovascular health. I’m sorry to say that I’m pretty much a heart attack waiting to happen. My family tree is not full of cardiovascular and heart health success stories. My Grandmother and Grandfather both died after having heart attacks. My Mother and Aunts have had double bypass surgeries, pace makers and valve replacements, and my beautiful sister, D’Aunn, died after suffering a stroke at the age of 39.

So, as you might imagine, in February, in partnership with American Heart Association, I promote the heck out of heart and cardiovascular awareness and education. To begin, you can wear red on February 6th to show your support and foster awareness. The American Heart Association offers many great items at ShopGoRed.com. You'll find jewelry, clothes, desk accessories and more -- perfect for Wear Red Day on February 6th. They have this great pin that costs $5 or you could purchase 10 pins for $40 and give them to your co-workers, friends and family to promote awareness. With just one purchase, you directly support the Go Red For Women® movement and can help in the fight against heart disease and stroke.

But if that’s not your thing, there are many ways to show your support.

For instance:

° You can choose to shine: Gather with your friends, neighbors and co-workers, and take a photo of your Wear Red Day activities. Then send it to us! We’ll post it on our Flickr site, along with the hundreds of other Austin area businesses and entities Going Red!

° Or you can choose to share: Do you choose baked over fried? Do you take the elevator or stairs? What choices have you made to positively influence your heart health? You can tell your story at the Austin Go Red For Women® Casting Call, Friday, February 6th from 11am to 1pm at Louis Shanks of Texas, 2930 West Anderson Lane, Austin, Tx. You could be selected as a finalist to be featured in a nationally syndicated Go Red For Women® television special!

° Or choose to celebrate: Join us from 5-7pm on Friday, February 6th for a Wear Red Day celebration at Zax Pints & Plates, 312 Barton Springs Road, Austin, Tx. Wear red and 10% of the proceeds from your purchase goes to support Go Red For Women®!

I’m committed to supporting Go Red For Women® so10% of each purchase on my online stores for the month of February will be donated to the Go Red For Women® campaign.