Event hosting can be as intimidating as it is fun. The designing, brainstorming, and creating is one thing. Executing without breaking the bank is quite another. It’s a skill that requires developing like any other. Everything in life has gotten more expensive, and our paychecks and pocketbooks never seem to keep up. Taylor and I firmly believe however, that with a little creativity and some prime prioritization- you can still absolutely host get-togethers, parties, events, and soirees that people will remember without overcommitting yourself. There is pride to be had in creating intentional events while honoring a budget.

Don’t get me wrong- all artists dream of creating amazing art and experiences where they can let their creativity run wild and not be limited by finances, and we’re no different. However, even more so- we love creating unique events for real people. People like us who do have budgets and limitations. There is a specific type of creativity that comes into play when you begin to ask, ‘how much can I do with how little?’. Everybody can learn to be an amazing host, and today I’d like to start sharing the basics.

Setting Your Main Budget:

This technically stating the obvious, but it is the most important step. Set a realistic budget, not a budget that’s going to have you waking up in cold sweats in the middle of the night because you have this idea and it just has to be ‘go big or go home’. I have been there, and I am telling you- the trade off is not worth it.

Define what kind of Event You’re Hosting:

We’re going to prioritize different things depending on what kind of event we’re hosting, so this step is important. A more formal event with a high head count might sacrifice elaborate décor for a bartending service with one to two bartenders, whereas as small or medium get together like an evening soiree or an afternoon cocktail event can focus a bit more on the table accents and décor. A child’s birthday party doesn’t need a huge food budget, but it does warrant more of a focus on décor or activities and things that will grab and hold attention.

The Scenario:

Event planning and hosting to me, is really only half about your own idea and vision. At its heart, it’s about hospitality and pouring in to others. The only thing that really requires is knowing your guests or friends and designing something for them.

To show this better so I’m not just throwing vague guidelines at you, I’m going to give you an imaginary scenario and we’ll use this to build context throughout the rest of this exercise.

let’s say we are planning an evening anniversary party. They’re a social family and love having people over. Their house is set up for entertaining, and they have a beautiful backyard, so we don’t need to factor in a venue. Our budget is $500 for 35 people. The couple is in their late 50’s and are celebrating their 30^th wedding anniversary. It’s a classy group and they want elevated but not stuffy. Smart- Casual. Not a full dinner, but upscale small bites and cocktails. It’s a 4 hour event and they want some structure for the evening, but nothing overly rigid.

Section Out Your Budget:

Decide what is most important to you based on the type of event you have defined. Before you go through Pinterest with the vengeance of a PTA mom, take some time to portion out your budget into different categories. Do this first. This will help avoid unreasonable expectations. Its easier to not overextend yourself if you have a hard number in your head.

I find the “cash envelopes” method as useful now as it was in college for making sure I do not overspend. This can be trickier if you are planning an event over a longer period of time like a wedding, but for smaller events it’s great. If not, just make sure to keep track of receipts. If you go over in one area, you’ll have to move money from another.

Again, I say that excellent hospitality is about prioritizing and anticipating the comfort of your guests. Thinking about the kind of people/ the people in attendance and what is going to be most important to them. That may just be whoever you are having over if you are the host. Or, in the case of the wedding anniversary it’s a combination of meeting the requests of the couple while anticipating the wants and flow of their guests as well.

With our anniversary scenario I would outline something like this:

• Food: 30% or $150
• Cocktails/Beverage: 30% or $150
• Rentals: 30% or $150
• Décor: 10% or $50
• Entertainment: 0% or $0

Let’s go over the reasoning behind each category below so we can get into the nitty gritty of it.

Food Budget:

This couple doesn’t want a full sit-down meal, but they do want some light bites. Think Hor d’ Oeuvres, Sexy Charcuterie, Cocktail bites, and Petite Fours. Depending on your priorities and skill set you can either make these yourself using the $150 to purchase in ingredients or you can split this 60/40 between two vendors to do savories and sweets. Or you can find someone like us, that will help you design both within that budget.

Let’s say in this case the couple or their party planning daughter didn’t want the stress of being responsible for the day-of cooking so they hired us to do a small grazing table with charcuterie, appetizers, and some crostinis as well as a mini dessert table with macarons, eclairs, lemon tartlets. While it requires some creativity- it IS doable with $150.

Cocktails/ Beverages:

This couple is focused more on hospitality and service, so it’s worth reducing the food budget to have a bartender present. This way the couple are free to focus on their guests and celebrating their anniversary, not mixing drinks. AND they get that extra swanky feeling or service. 25 people is EASILY handled by a single bartender, so no need to have a second, and this couple didn’t need or want a crazy full bar- wine and 2 signature cocktails. A red wine, a white wine, a beer option, whisky, tequila, some juice & mixers and you have all you need for a number of drink possibilities at your fingertips.

The couple does have an outdoor bar in their backyard so the bartender didn’t need to bring a set-up, which helps reduce the cost.

Rentals:

This couple cares a bit more about the ambiance and having a little bit of elevation. They don’t want disposable plates and forks but they don’t have fancy China that isn’t Christmas themed. While they have plenty of seating, they do need 2 small tables and some linens to make them look sharp for their small bites and desserts.

In this case we’re going to reach out to a company like Cranberry Sky Rentals and rent some elegant serving wear pieces, and some flat wear, either using an A la Carte option or a small package like their “shower” option. This gives us access to finer quality dishes in an environmentally friendly way, without breaking the bank or needing to store them afterwards.

Décor:

In this scenario, we are leaning into the ambiance of their backyard since they already designed it with an eye to having guests. The couple has a fire pit, string lights, a pergola/trellis covered in honeysuckle, and a gorgeous garden with a small pond.

We don’t need much for this event, just a bit of personality for centerpieces on the tables in the backyard. If you want something really unique that might require some DIYing we will always suggest thrifting and repurposing (YES, even for elevated events!!!). This option allows you to keep it afterwards if it’s something you really love. The other option would be to move this money into your “rentals” budget and rent some centerpieces from someone like Cranberry Sky. Again, this makes it more environmentally friendly, and reduces your need to keep things afterwards.

Candles, candelabras, small table runners, or vintage vases make excellent options. Let the space do the work and highlight as needed.

Entertainment:

While this couple wants some structure to their event, we’re hosting a mature group of people. Unlike a child’s birthday party- where some of your hospitality might need to be funneled into organized entertainment in the form of experiences, or possibly into craft supplies- this group doesn’t need it.

The Couple plans to project the pictures and video of their wedding onto an outdoor screen, allowing for some loose and light entertainment, and freeing up 100% of the budget for the things that really need it.

How to apply this budget model to other events:

This is a relatively small event and is easily broken down into those 5 categories. If the event is bigger- say, a wedding- it may be easier or more prudent to have more specific categories. I.e. photographer, dress, favors, etc.

You are still going to need to start by defining the style of the event, set an overall budget, and then prioritize which items need the most attention to get the most bang for your buck so that you don’t accidentally overspend in an area that isn’t important to you.

Maximizing Benefits for an Efficient Budget:

There is a difference between having a budget, and having an efficient budget that works as hard as you do. An efficient budget almost does the work for you. This comes back to knowing your clients and both parties having clear expectations. You can’t execute an unclear vision, and sometimes people need guidance with this.

What do I mean by that? The more aligned the event is with the lifestyle of the people designing/ hiring/ host/ or executing- the less gaps you will have to fill, and the more you can make of each area of the design.

For instance, in that scenario we discussed, the only thing that could have made that budget even BETTER, is if the clients were the kind of people that already had serving ware/dishes they wanted to use, eliminating the need for rentals and widening their food, décor, or beverage budget.

Think how hard it would be to host a tiki party in a barn. Not that it can’t be done- but that you’re going to have to stretch things to reach the ambiance you’re going for. The best thing you can do for your budget is to maximize your space- whether that is renting a space that feeds your ambiance, or reverse engineering and creating a “style” that matches the space, the less class you have the more wiggle room.

As another example, when I got married and we designed my Forest Fairytale wedding I envisioned big trees and lots & lots of flowers, little hidden walkways that would be great for pictures, and a space that would feel like you stepped right on the boundary between your grandma’s garden and the fae realm in the forest. If you have ever purchased flowers you know that they are EXPENSIVE (and worth every penny). To get the kind of florals and greenery that I had in my head would have required me to chew off an arm, or something equally dear to me.

Instead, we looked for a venue that had an abundance of natural greenery. This led us to Paul George at Moon Mountain Lodge, who has designed what is in my opinion one the most versatile, accommodating, greenery abundant venues in the state. His intentional and well thought out landscape hugely minimized additional purchases and instead allowed me to lean into the landscape and only purchase the florals I really needed.

If you have a Thrifty budget, get Thrifting.

I mean this literally, and the more time you give yourself- the better. Finding the right pieces can be difficult and may take several trips. If you’re new to thrifting, you’ll want to check out Taylor’s article on thrifting for beginners to learn how to set yourself some guide rules.

Goodwill’s & Value Villages are a great place to start, however we always encourage yard sales and local thrift stores when possible. Check out google maps and see what pops up for secondhand stores and thrift stores near you.

If you are a Snohomish or Skagit valley local we love:

• Arlington Pickers
• Bits & Pieces
• Strike Your Fancy
• Stilly Thrift Shop
• Found it
• Bargains Galore Thrift Store
• Again Thrift Shop
• Red Door Antique Mall
• Marysville Value Village
• Mt. Vernon Goodwill

Craft Stores are a Budget’s best Friend

Before you hit ‘add to cart’ on all the décor pieces of your dreams, ask yourself Taylor’s favorite question “how hard could it be?”. No really, ask yourself though- and be honest about the answers.

Take a look at your design wants and needs with a critical eye. A LOT of centerpieces, decorations, and detail work can be DIY’d with time, planning, hot glue, and a few well placed youtube videos.

HOWEVER! Know your limitations. Some things are just better left to a professional. If you think you are biting off more than you can chew- you probably are. You can teach yourself a lot, but play to your strengths. If you know you’re a terrible sewer- then the time to test that is probably not on your wedding veil, ya feel me?

The Bottom Line

Budgeting-like any other skill- is something that anybody can learn with practice. It sounds easy to say to yourself “set an amount, and don’t go over it. Prioritize.” But it’s quite another to do it, the world is expensive- we feel you.

Stick to your guidelines, and flex your creative muscles! With enough creativity, you can in fact, do pretty much anything you want. Remember that at the end of the day, hosting is about hospitality- and what people are really going to remember is how you made them feel. Focus on serving your guests, make them feel welcome, comfortable, and cared for and you can’t go wrong.

Have fun!

Mikaela

Happy July Guild Members! Today is the perfect day to talk about one specific section of our business that is near and dear to my heart: sustainable weddings. Specifically, creating reusable and heirloom pieces for your wedding or event. I touched on this in our wedding sustainability post, but I chatted with a bride the other day and she brought it to my attention that not a lot of people understand what I mean right away.

So What Do I Mean?

One of the questions we get most often is “What do you ladies do?”. With everything RavenWerks does and offers, it can be a challenge to describe all our hopes and dreams in a few sentences. Partially because we cover a lot, partially because said hopes and dreams are BIG, and partially because we don’t yet have the brick-and-mortar space to be able to showcase everything in one place. What it really boils down to though is that we are in the business of sustainable service to people. That can be hard to define because people are unique, and our approach to each service or event is as unique as the people we serve.

Trying to reduce that down to any one part of the whole is a challenge, especially when we’re the kind of people that believe that what we’re really building is a community and a culture- not a business. Communities are complex and cover a lot of things: so do we.

One of the services we currently offer, will continue to offer as we develop our event venue is helping you design your wedding space. Part of how we do that is by working with couples to create things that can be used as part of your wedding day, but also serve a purpose afterwards. This can be as simple as being home decor you actually like but can also include functional home pieces. It is one of the things I love most about what we do. Sustainable Weddings and events are kind of our thing.

The “Throw Away” Problem: Why Sustainable Weddings Are Important

One great way to reduce the impact of hosting a wedding is to forgo single use culture. The number of friends I knew that had to do the “post-wedding purge” or dump run, genuinely blew my mind. The amount of décor for a wedding day vibe that gets thrown away a day later is just mind boggling. Thus, this part of our event services was born.

The “Heirloom Pieces” Solution

So how do you create an elevated, personalized, intentional setting without all the throw away? By making it truly personal. Make sure that the theme and décor are reflective of you and your partner. Select pieces that have functional longevity. Creating sustainable weddings just requires a bit more intentionality, but it can frequently save you money in addition to helping the planet.

We help couples choose, design, and create things that are functional later in life. This can either be for you and your partner or for your guests depending on your needs. If creativity is not your strong suit- this is where we come in. We talk to you about your theme or style, your budget, lifestyle and living space, and your goals. Then, we design pieces that elevate your wedding day décor with unmatched attention to detail and a focus on sustainability.

Do you want something that can be repurposed into something else? We do that. Maybe you want something that is immediately usable as home décor afterwards. We do that. Maybe you want something that you canpass down to your kids as a family heirloom? No need to pressure them to wear your gown. We do that. Whatever it is- you want it to reflect who you are as a couple. And you certainly want it to be memorable for your guests and look professional.

What does this look like?

If we can’t be involved in curating the sustainable wedding celebration of your dreams, or if you’re more of a DIY’er, we can still help. Below are some ideas of what this can look like so you can get your own creative juices flowing. Some of these require design and crafting, but a number of them just require an intentional vision and a little planning.

Custom Designed Heirloom Frames:

During the wedding, the frames were used for all signage and some photos. The couple later used them to hang their wedding photos around their house since they matched their style of decor.

Custom Heirloom Guest Book

Our couple wanted a guest book that would also be their wedding album. They wanted enough space left in it to become a scrapbook for all the things they would do together in life later. This ensured it didn’t just sit on a shelf somewhere and would instead be looked back on and updated regularly.

The guest book portion we scrapbooked with selected pictures of the couple and on-theme pieces so guests could sign around them. Then they had the remainder of the book to fill out with their lives as they move forward.

Custom Heirloom Lanterns

One of our favorites was an evening wedding in the woods. We designed a set of lanterns spilling with moss, ferns, and mushrooms with little LED candles. The bride’s maids carried these in lieu of flowers. it looked stunning in the ceremony and the bridesmaids got to keep them afterwards (it was a very tight-knit group of friends that all had very similar style).

Garden Centerpieces

One of our couples was really into gardening and they were having an outdoor garden party themed wedding. We sourced local handmade garden stakes shaped like mushrooms and butterflies as part of their centerpieces. The bride now has them in her garden at home. She also requested garden gnomes hidden around the venue that are now in her garden as well.

Thrifted Colored Carnival Glass Pieces

This couple was having a 70’s themed wedding and they wanted LOTS of color. The bride loved antiquing and owned a small collection of colored glass cups that they were using for the head table. We got to enjoy the challenge of finding more pieces exclusively from second hand stores. Pieces ranged from vases and candle holders to serving dishes and trivets. These were used for centerpieces and tableware that fit the couple’s home décor so they could use them afterwards.

Thrifted Period Furniture

One of my favorites was a bride that wanted antique style bridal portraits and a sitting space for her guests to take elegant and elevated photos. Very Edwardian style. We found an amazing settee at a thrift store and were able to design a “private photo area.” It reused a piece of furniture, and the couple now has a permanent piece of their wedding in their living room!

Collectible Cake Toppers

Forget the plastic “I do” word or the generic bride and groom statues. We love when couples request things they collect so they can save them forever. Everything from pez dispensers, pocket dragons, and smurfs, to precious moments statues and Disney collectibles. This is a great subtle way to show style and personality without having to necessarily commit to a full theme.

Dress trimmings

This sounds weird. But, almost all wedding gowns need to be altered to fit properly and that almost always involves a hem. Don’t throw your fabric away. Partner with a seamstress to have scrunchies or bows made so you can keep a usable piece of your dress even if you don’t keep your gown.

If you are a Washington local- especially in the Skagit Valley area, we highly recommend the team at The Town Seamstress. This is something Kristin and her team offer as part of their regular services.

Custom Shoes

There are a number of ways to do this, and it may sound out of place on a decor list. But working in bridal alterations, I learned some things. It shocked me the number of ladies that go out and buy “bridal shoes” that aren’t particularly comfortable, or close to their usualy style just to fit a perfect vibe the day of, and then never wear them again.

We have now helped two brides take plain elegant white/ ivory shoes and add a little pizzaz too them so that they showed some personality. My favorite pair was a set of white ballet flats that we embroidered little vines and wild flowers along the edges of.

Decorative Fabric Recycled Clothing

This was by far one of the most abstract and cool things we’ve ever had a couple request. They had fabric draped in trees with flower garlands and they didn’t want to throw away the fabric afterwards. We turned the fabric into a skirt and matching vest for the couple that they can wear whenever they want (they wanted to be able to wear them for anniversaries and we think this is just adorable).

Heriloom Guestbook Ornaments

We had a couple that really loved Christmas. They planned a winter wedding, and wanted to keep everything in natural woods and deep ever greens; as rustic and woody as possible (very Scandanavian/ Nordic style). Instead of a guestbook we placed little flat wooden ornaments at each place setting with the request that each guest sign one and write a little blessing or piece of advice for the couple. At the end of the night we collected them and now the bride and groom have fun looking at them every year when they put up their tree.

Silk Flower Chandeliers

While we prefer realy flowers 90% of the time, silk flowers have a time and a place when used correctly. We’ve had several brides request fake flowers for ceiling décor day of. This prevents all chances of wilting and falling apart, and they make great “chandeliers” as decor at home afterwards.

Custom Candle Centerpieces

You can go any direction or theme with these. We’ve both seen and done them many ways. White candles with flowers, colored candles, carved candles. tapers, pillars, a mix of both. When the day is done- blow them out, take them home, and burn through them slowly. I’ve even seen them used as party favors afterwards.

Quirky planters

The couple really loved house plants because they didn’t have a yard. Their venue was a ballroom with minimal décor and they didn’t want to have cut flowers that would wilt and need to be thrown away. We sourced a mix of thrifted planters from small businesses in their wedding colors and filled them with a variety of cat-safe houseplants (which was very important to them). These became centerpieces and décor around the ballroom, making for an unconventional but much more “alive” space than before; and the couple got to take their plants home at the end of the day.

Curated China

Have a micro wedding? One couple asked us to help them find a specific aesthetic of china for a tiny but luxurious evening dinner wedding so that they could keep the dishes and make that their nice set that they could eventually pass down to their children since neither of them had any family that they would inherit that kind of thing from. The phrase the couple used to describe what they were looking for was ‘old money mobster’, and honestly- it was kind of perfect.

Harry Potter themed hanging chandeliers/ mobiles.

One for each guest table hung from the ceiling. The couple wanted to match the theme of their wedding but have something they could hang in the children’s bedroom someday as they knew they wanted kids. It was important to them to design them to be more like fine-art as a way to elevate their wedding. No one could possibly ever call their day juvenile. This event was honestly a fantasy lovers gothic evening dream- not a party city vibe anywhere in site.

Crystalized book art

At the groom’s request, we crystalized a hardcover, thrifted copy of his favorite book, in borax; and then turned it into a centerpiece for the head table. He’d seen the idea on Pinterest and thought it looked really cool but didn’t have time to try and create one himself. He wanted to keep it as art for the shelf in his study after their wedding. This project always makes me smile because I felt a bit like I was creating real magic at the time- my inner alchemist had a blast.

The Point

The possibilities are endless, and these are just some of our favorite requests, ideas, and previous projects. The overarching important thing is how possible it is to create a memorable day and experience, while still minimizing the impact on the planet and reducing how much you throw away as a by-product of your celebration in a way that allows you to hold on to the magic of the day for a long time afterwards.

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with creating a stunning, intentional, visually magical experience for your wedding day. You can have beautiful decor and add personal touches and little flourishes. We want you too. That’s what weddings are supposed to be: intentional, meaningful, personal, reflective of your relationship.

Designing sustainable weddings doesn’t mean you have to forgo all of the little extras and details. What’s important is to make sure that things aren’t done needlessly or wastefully, and doesn’t add to the “single use” problem. Go for things that have overlapping or adaptable uses, and things that you will cherish for the rest of your life, or at least the rest of the objects life if it’s something that can wear out.

Reach Out About Designing Sustainable Weddings

Have ideas or inquiries? Leave a comment, visit our services page, or us the “contact us” page to reach out! If you are trying to plan sustainable weddings nd are a washington resident we also always highly recommend looking into or working with a company like Emerald Hour to find other vendors that commit to eco-friendly practices.

All the best,

Mikaela

Creating and Caring For Sourdough Bread Starters

Okay, now that we’ve gone over bread basics 101 you will notice in the upcoming weeks that I have a particular love of sourdoughs (If you missed that episode, you can find it here). I love sourdough for a number of reasons. To quote Shakespeare and a cult classic at the same time…

1. They taste delicious- I will never sacrifice flavor if I can avoid it. It is richer, deeper, and smoother than any other bread. 
2. Sourdough starter is a legacy opportunity, and we know I’m all about food traditions. You can inherit it from a family member or start a new tradition. The older the starter, the better the flavor and it will continue to get better with time. My favorite sourdough starter was a birthday gift from my sister, and she got it from a woman whose family has had the same one for 90 years. One of my chef instructors had had his for 45 years since HE was in culinary school. 
3. It has a lower glycemic index than most breads- the fermentation depletes much of the starch which means less of a blood sugar spike.  
4. It is easier on gluten sensitive people. Due to the long fermentation time, much of the gluten protein is broken down into amino acids before you eating.  
5. more good bacteria and acid. Lactobacillus is the bacteria found in sourdough bread in large amounts, this leads to higher amounts of lactic acid, which reduces the amount of phytic acid in your gut.  
6. fewer preservatives- this applies to all sourdoughs, but even more so if you are making it at home. Sourdough bread contains acetic acid, which naturally prevents the growth of mold. It naturally preserves itself, meaning that toxic preservatives are not required to make it last. So, it won’t go bad nearly as quickly.  
7. It’s more nutrient dense than other breads. Sourdough bread has a mix of iron, manganese, calcium, B1-B6, B12, folate, zinc, potassium, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, selenium, iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamin E. Compared to other breads, sourdough retains many of the original nutrients that are processed out of other kinds of bread. 
8. Sourdough can be used to make just about any type of bread PLUS some. Yes, there is the traditional “San Francisco style sourdough” but anything can be made with sourdough starter. whole wheat, multigrain, brioche, Pulla, PANCAKES, WAFFLES, crackers, bagels. Fermenting dough is the oldest style of leavening bread in the world. It is so versatile.  
9. It is one of the most cost effective ways to make bread. You don’t even need yeast to do it. You CAN jump start starter with dry yeast if you’re in a hurry, but its technically not necessary. It super easy to care for and even easier to start. 
10. There are so many variations on sourdough. You can start with the old school flour and water method, but I know people that feed them with apple cider, and one lady that feeds hers with a tiny bit of molasses in addition to her flour and water to further increase the flavor. and further than that- I find the process fascinating. The ONLY place in the world that you can get true San Francisco sourdough- is in San Francisco. Why? because yeast is a living organism- its regional. Even if you buy a San Francisco originating sourdough, it will slowly over time grow into something else, changing the flavor in nuanced ways. If you start yours from scratch with no added yeast, it will cultivate from the air with the local variant of yeast. That means that in one way or another your bread will be a little bit different than everybody else’s in the world.  

So, now that I have you hooked on the idea of sourdough, lets go over how to start one, and the basics for caring for them. Its probably the easiest thing I’ll ever teach you.  

All you need is an airtight crock or container, flour, and water. But I’ll put notes in here if you’re in a hurry and want to speed up your colony. Most crocks/ containers can be bought anywhere you just want to make sure it has a good seal. I believe my sister bought mine from WIlliams-Sonoma. The one I gave to my father I found at target. It also another thing that is easy to thrift from goodwill. I prefer stone wear myself, but ceramic will also work just fine. How big it will depend entirely on how much you want. I like to keep 4-5 cups on hand, but you can even do smaller batches like my dad who keeps 2-3. Just bear in mind you either have to store it in your fridge or in a cool dry place, so just make sure you have room for whatever container you choose.  

let’s dive in to the two easiest methods: 

Air cultivation:

This takes the longest, but this is the world’s original method for making bread. Mix equal parts flour and water, pour into your chosen container. Seal. Let’s sit at room temperature for two days. Feed equal parts flour and water every two days for 10 days. Once you reach the 10 day mark you can shift your starter to the fridge if you choose. If you store it in the fridge, you can feed it once a week. If you are storing it at room temperature you will need to feed it roughly every three days.  

Jump start:

The exact same thing as above but add 2 tsps. of active dry yeast to the warm water and let bloom for 5 minutes before you add your flour. This starter can be ready to use within 12 hours, and then fed like normal.  

General sourdough tips: 

• Remember that if you are baking with sourdough and you store yours in the fridge you will need to let it come up to room temperature before you use it. cold yeast is slow yeast. 
• If you are going to make sourdough but need to feed your starter as well, feed your starter the day BEFORE and not right before or you will heavily dilute the sour flavor. best practice is actually to feed after you use it to replenish what you have used.  
• If you ever need to alter the texture of your starter (got too thick, got too runny for your preference) you can easily adjust the texture by going a little heavier on the flour or water at feeding time. If you prefer a spongier starter as opposed to a liquidy one, that’s totally fine- both make great bread. Over time you will find what works for you. 
• Sourdough breads take longer to rise than “active yeasts” all good things take time. go by size, not by time. let your doughs double at their own pace instead of assuming since your timer went off its good to go. again, I stress bread is a relationship. you don’t set a time limit on good sex, so don’t time how long it takes your dough to rise.  
• Name your sourdough starter- this is technically a superstition thing, but it is tradition. And whilst some traditions are stupid and archaic, this one is near and dear to my heart. This is the most basic form of magic: Intention setting. doing something with purpose and care and then allowing that intention to manifest. You are fostering a relationship with a living thing. You care for it, and it gives you sustenance. you want a good, happy, healthy, THRIVING starter. Naming things is one of the oldest human instincts. It gives things purpose, power, personality, and on a psychological level you are more likely to take care of something if you have taken the care to give it a name. Name your starter. Mine is Gus. Gus is cute, Gus is tasty, Gus is growing because I care for Gus. You see where I am going with this?  

I hope this helps you start a new adventure. Once you learn the basics you can start additional starters and begin playing with feeder flavors. Please, share your journey! Feel free to shoot us a message if you have questions or want to share. I will be using sourdough starter in many of our bread recipe’s going forward; but don’t feel like that will exclude you from trying things if you aren’t ready to commit to a sourdough baby. Remember you can always start your sourdough colony per batch the night before and still have the recipe come together even if some of the flavor depth is missing. 

All the best, 

Mikaela 

Upcycling, recycling, thrifting, repurposing.

For some people, that implies cheapness or lower class; For my family it was a fun and time-honored tradition. Taylor and I come from an altogether upper middle-class family. We weren’t rolling in money Scrooge McDuck style, but we had things that other children didn’t, and our parents were big on providing us whatever opportunities they could.

However, they were also big on teaching of the value of things. Not just the monetary value, but the real value of any given thing. My dad is from a small community in Wyoming, and he did not grow up with nearly as many opportunities as Taylor and I did. My mom was raised by parents that were a product of the great depression. Both believed firmly in using the most of something that you possibly could. Waste not, want not.

Dad is big on quality over quantity. Buy less but buy nice and if you take care of it- it will last you forever. Mom was big on finding a way to give something new life and see it in a whole new way. They both stressed how important it was for our environment and for the planet to not be so big on ‘disposable’, and to not throw something away just because it got scuffed or slightly worn. Part of the reason we go thrifting or upcycling still to this day is that it is so much more environmentally friendly to buy something second hand (especially clothes) than to get a newly manufactured one. The apparel industry alone accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions.

One of my favorite things as a kid to do was go hunting with my mom and her best friend Sherry on weekends. We would hit antique markets, garage sales, and thrift stores and it was always an adventure. The hunt was half the fun, and I got to spend time with my mom. We never knew what we were going to find, I frequently got to save something from a landfill or scrap pile, and my wardrobe was always unique to me. I like to think it taught my sister and I to look at things in ways other people didn’t. Sherry and mom were big crafters and could fix and repurpose anything. They taught us what to look for and became our earliest DIY instructors. We would come home with our pile of jee-jaws and scraps and second-hand furniture for pennies and nickels and the occasional $5 in allowance spent that turned into hours and hours of crafting and fun, a hobby that I like to think has served us fairly well so far in life.

I also think it taught us the importance of giving back. We rarely ever threw things away. There was always going to be somebody who could re-imagine it, or someone that needed it more than I did. You could always help a neighbor in need if you were paying attention and willing to give.

You also always learn something when it comes to upcycling and rebuilding. Some of my proudest learning moments have come from repurposing.

A few of my favorite crafts, antiques, and saves include:

• Multicolored rope baskets: my parents had these plastic crisscrossed laundry baskets when Taylor and I were little. I think everybody had them. They were small and round, and I think the dollar tree probably still sells something similar to this day. They had started to see better days, and dad finally went to get rid of them, so I swiped them. I now have a set of nice, fabric lined rope baskets and all it cost me was some hot glue, a couple yards of scrap fabric, and some jute rope. I’ve used them for blankets, decorative containers for plants, and sometimes still a laundry hamper.
• Grandma’s corning wear: this is an older generation thing that is so underrated, and you can fight me on, but will never change my mind. I happened to steal mine from grandma before they donated it, but I find it all the time at goodwill as well. People are throwing them away as they clean out estates or updating for sleeker looking options. Corning ware will never wear out on you. It’s cute and vintage. And it heats SO evenly. You can cook almost anything in it.
• My dining room table: this one is probably my absolute proudest project moment. It was a long labor of love. I will be honest, there was a lot of swearing involved in this one. it was a big project, and I had to teach myself a handful of skills. But it came out almost exactly as I envisioned it, and I love it to bits. Taylor and I bought this mismatched table and chairs at goodwill for $10. it was scratched, but it was a beautifully cut, old fashioned solid wooden table underneath that. It still had the original hardware, and these amazingly shaped legs and it just screamed “TAKE ME HOME!”. The chairs were hideous, and did not match in the slightest, like doctor’s office waiting room chairs. So, we sanded down the whole table. Dad had to teach me how to use a belt sander for the top of it and remember those awesome legs I was talking about? that’s where the swearing started. It took weeks. After the sanding, we stenciled this giant mandala pattern into the center of it and then wood burnt the pattern in (insert more swearing and severely cramping hands). When all the stenciling and woodburning and staining and sealing was done though, I had this moment of complete satisfaction of a project well finished. I learned a lot. And I also have this gorgeous table that is unique to my home. The best part is that altogether it probably only cost my $35 by the time I was done buying sandpaper and wood stain.

There is so much you can do and find with upcycling and thrifting. I have met the most interesting people, learned a number of useful skills, and thoroughly love the positive impact on my community and my environment. We’re really excited to be able to share some of our up-and-coming projects with you, and we hope they will inspire you to try a few of your own.

Not sure where to start? Keep your eyes out for our next updates! Taylor will be sharing some of the things we have learned over the years in the hopes that it will seem a little less intimidating. See Taylor’s post, How to Maximize Your Thrifting.

Happy Hunting!

Mikaela

10 Tips, Tricks, & Rules

FIRST, lets discuss why thrifting should be a part of your life.

I won’t get super to into why we (as in Mikaela and I) thrift right now as Mikaela is also posting on this topic (see her Upcycling… There are no downsides) BUT I just want to list out a couple reasons that I love it:

• It is more eco friendly and cuts down on waste.
• I save money in my wallet.
• It is inspiring and a bit of a thrill to get a great find.
• I know that (in the case of some consignment or thrifting stores) I am contributing to a charity or organization that needs support.

But this is only if I am thrifting the right way! I can still spend way too much, waste a bunch, and have buyers’ remorse if I don’t go into it with the right mindset and rules for myself. I have a couple things that I must put limiters on myself about or else I can get out of control. So, with that in mind, I have a couple things I have learned and some rules that may help you in your thrifting journey.

Tips, Tricks and Rules

1- Know your stores.

This seems obvious but know what stores you want to check out. I thrift enough that I know which are favorites for different things. I have one I know will always have amazing clothes, one I go to if I am looking for art supplies and tchotchkes, and even a favorite for furniture. Something else to consider is that a lot of stock is determined by the neighborhoods around the store because when people donate, they go to a close location. So, if I want to look for nice business suits, it seems reasonable to go to a thrift store either specializing in what I am looking for OR go to a thrift store in a neighborhood where I might find people who work in offices and wear suits. Call it profiling but it works. This isn’t perfect but it has upped my chances when I am looking for something specific.

2- Know what you already have.

Again, something that seems simple, but I used to not take this into consideration. When I know what I have in my closet, what books I own, and what art supplies I already have, it helps me narrow down what I should buy and what would be a duplicate. It is a horrible feeling when you buy something and realize you have 3 of it already because you keep forgetting. I am not saying make a list of everything you own (although I do on some things). All I am saying is if it is a planned outing, maybe just take a brief peek in your closet or your Sterlite tubs of yarn/fabric to refamiliarize yourself with what you have in order try and cut down on those accidental duplicates.

3- Have a list but be flexible.

Speaking of lists… there are a few things I like to keep list of for when I go thrifting. I love collecting and am also an avid reader. Thrifting is an amazing way to find missing pieces of collectables or a book you may not have a copy of, but it is hard to remember that in the heat of the moment. I keep a list of missing pieces on my phone OR for several collections I have a list of what I already own- depends on what is easiest. This way I can make sure I stroll through books and have a solid idea of what I am looking for (no questioning if I was missing #4 or #5 in hard cover of this series). I also know that I am avoiding duplicates in more expensive pieces (have you ever spent $120 on a piece for a collection and then gotten home to find out you bought the wrong one? Trust me when I say 10/10 would not recommend that frustration). On a different note, if you have that list handy already, it makes for a good Xmas list to send your mom so that she doesn’t yell at you for not knowing what you want.

I also take a list of generally what I am looking for on a specific trip. Pieces to alter for a costume? Things to turn into a multimedia art project? Outfit basics? A new bookshelf? It gives me a basic place to start.

That being said, DO NOT BE SO MARRIED TO THAT LIST THAT YOU MISS OUT ON A GEM RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!!!!!

4- Grab everything that interests you and do not be fooled by looks.

This doesn’t mean BUY everything that looks interesting. If you do that then it will defeat the purpose of this being more cost effective. Trust me when I say you will find a lot of interesting things. I do put anything I find even vaguely cool in my cart though. There is no back stock when buying second hand. What is there right now may be gone in 10 minutes so I may not be able to change my mind and go back BUT I can always whittle down and put things back.

Here are some things I look at/for in different categories:

• Clothes– I look for things that have interesting patterns or cuts. I also look at solid basics that can go with literally everything. At this point I usually pick up items that I am not even sure if I will like or are not necessarily my usual style. When I try them on, I often find pieces that surprise me- in good AND bad ways. Plus, it is fun to play dress up. On a separate note though, do not grab it just because it is a brand because it could be fake and/or it will just sit in the back of your closet because you do not really love IT- just the status of the brand.

• Books– These I put in my cart on less of a whim. By the time it’s in that sucker… I am half in love with the book after having read a synopsis. If I am honest, there is no whittling unless I am tight on money. Sue me. I can spend hours sifting through books. A trip to the VNSA book sale in Arizona is a whole day affair.

• Household Goods/Knick Knicks– With this section I do the obvious and pick up items that look cool or I could use BUT I will also pick up items that I think I could upcycle into something else. A chalkboard could be turned into a clock. Some of those super ugly statues and toys can be painted into something else. A lot of my Xmas decorations are literally from me finding ugly things at Goodwill and breathing some new life into them with acrylics. Look at shapes and what they are made of. If you are in the electronics section, that clock may not work but can you pull it apart for pieces for a steampunk or cyberpunk project (or a repair on another clock if that is your thing). The sky is the limit so do not be boxed in by what it looks like at that moment!

5- Be realistic about the quality and how much work you are willing to put into what you are purchasing.

So, this has been a tough pill be me to swallow sometimes. I have to ask myself some tough questions to reign me in back to earth when I get extravagant thrifting dreams. Ask yourself these questions:

• What kind of shape is this in and what kind of work will I need to put into it?
• How much time/money am I willing to pour into it?
• Do I have something similar?
• Is this a want or need?
• I love this now, but will I actually wear/use it?

6- Dress Appropriately.

You dress appropriately for going out on the town or to work or to a party. Why would this be different? Stick to something that slips on and off easy for trying on clothes (no laces or buttons). Stick to separates so if you want to try a shirt on, you do not need to worry about only being half dressed to show a friend outside the room. I also like to make sure my makeup is done. That way you know how the clothes fit your aesthetic AND how you feel/how you dress tend to correlate so if you have makeup on and are feeling yourself, you are more likely to feel good in what you are trying/ get items that make you feel/look good.

7- Give yourself some rules.

These will be different for everyone but what I like to do is pinpoint a couple places that I tend to go crazy in and find ways to limit myself. For example, if I buy a jacket, when I get home, I have to pick one to get rid of (I have a jacket problem).

8- Clean it immediately.

You do not know where your purchase has been or who has been trying it on. Make sure you are being safe and cleaning your purchases before you use them (especially now-a-days).

9- Haggle if you can.

Some places allow you to haggle or ask for a lower price. Ask! Just remember to be polite about it.

10- Have fun.

Remember at the end of the day that this is supposed to be fun! This are tips, not hard law. Go play and figure out what works for you!

Happy Hunting!

Taylor