One thing we are doing now that is kind of cool is participating in Gallup’s inaugural Entrepreneur Acceleration System program here in Omaha. It is the first intensive program of its kind in the nation, and my understanding is that Gallup is kind of using Omaha as a proving ground before rolling out more programs around the world. The EAS is aimed at strengthening businesses and creating jobs in Nebraska and I’m participating with Princess Lasertron and CAMP, our coworking space. It’s SO fun and we are taking a lot away from it.

So today we had a meeting with our mentor (who incidentally is my dad) in Blair, the town where I grew up with all of the other businesses in our little mentorship small group. Took a few pictures. I love my new heart glasses and the dress was a birthday present from my mom! It fits like a glove and I can’t believe she bought it online at J.C. Penney!

dress: alyx (it’s from j.c. penney!)
jacket: aryn k.
shoes: gianni bini
tights: hue
sunglasses: fred flare
bag: made for me by Pamela, one of my readers! Thank you Pamela–I LOVE it!

xo
meg

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Great question sent to me by a reader recently:

Dear Princess Lasertron:

I have been reading your blog for a few years and I love the look into your life that you share with your readers. I know that you love party planning, needlework, your community, stuff like that–but outside of work and your daughter, what are you into?

-Rochelle

1. Amateur Radio

It’s a little-known fact that radio was my obsession before I started my business. I started in journalism in high school (and won state twice with my staff, and once as a feature writer!) and then worked for my local newspaper, and then that interest evolved into news radio where I found a real passion. I did radio in college and worked for a popular local news radio station, and I wanted to become a producer before my business took off.

Though it takes the back seat now to my work–today’s passion–my hobby is still radio and I am steadily studying for my technician license. I fantasize about setting up a shack in my house and building an antenna, and someday I would like to have a career in radio still.

2. …and Art Bell

My two biggest inspirations in radio have been the late-night shows Nightcaps and Coast to Coast AM. I am not the tattooing type, but if I ever had to get ink it would be Art’s call-in lines for Coast from the 1990s. I got in trouble when I was little for listening to Coast late into the night–sometimes until 3 or 4am–but I think it was an amazing influence on my imagination and curiosity. I’ve been listening now for 17 years. (I can’t believe that.)

3. Sunglasses

I’m not a purse person or a shoe person. I have dozens of sunglasses though–they are my weakness. They always look good and are such an easy way to set the mood of an outfit. Glamorous? Retro-inspired? Youthful?

4. Trolling Forums

My husband and I sort of fell in love over forum trolling and I spent many entertaining hours in high school changing the facts on Wikipedia pages. I don’t make time anymore to develop stories or characters or invest in really derailing topics, but I still get a rise out of saying something lulzy or untrue on Facebook or in message boards and seeing who will rise to take the bait. If you don’t fall for the joke, you get to be in on it.

5. Going out to eat with friends

I don’t cook anything well and I like to work through meals, so nothing makes me happier than going out to one of my favorite restaurants with a friend in tow. My coworking space started by going out to eat to work constantly with friends. My employees and I go out all the time to talk about our ideas and progress. And when Alice comes along? Well, she just loves being seen.

6. Reality TV

If someone is getting voted off, thrown under the bus, or having their wig yanked off, it is on my DVR.

7. Collecting dishes

When I got married I took the opportunity to register for all of the dishes I loved most. Almost all of my dishes are by Rosanna Bowles, who I got to meet a few years ago at Country Living’s Women Entrepreneurship conference. I tried to be cool but I was totally freaking out.

8. Industrial Dance music

My husband introduced me to gothic/industrial dance music, much of which originates in Germany. I started listening to translate the lyrics for him and got kind of hooked. I am a secret goth.

9. Libertarianism and Austrian Economics

I don’t talk a lot about politics online because I think it is too divisive and internet arguments never change anyone’s mind. But a big aspect of my “real life” is advocating Libertarian viewpoints and the problems with centrally planned economies.

10. Traveling

I used to go to a handful of places each year, but most of my non-business-related travel is on hold right now through Alice’s babyhood. I have a travel savings account that I am loading up for when she is four or five years old and old enough to appreciate–and remember–our trips together. I love to be continually reminded that I am a citizen of the world, and it’s important to us that Alice learn to respect other cultures and experience life through the lens of others who share this earth with us. …And I always say that’s why I love Omaha so much–because it is a great place to come home to.

Feel free to ask me anything on Formspring, or my e-mail is always open!
xo

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I’m working on a whole bunch of felt party hats for me and Alice’s birthday on May 9th.
Do you want to know how we made them?

Materials needed:
…Felt in your favorite colors (the 9×12 sheets from craft stores are actually perfect for this)
…This printable party hat template printed at 200%
…Your favorite fabric glue (I prefer Fabri-Tac)
…Stiffen Stuff or other fabric stiffener
…Ribbon to tie the hat on
…Your favorite trims and embellishments

Use the template to cut out a piece of felt. Obviously you can resize it to be the size you want. Use your fabric glue or sew the sides together and create a cone.

Stiffen Stuff? More great stuff made by Beacon Adhesives. You can spray it for small projects, but for thicker fabric like felt I like to pour a little bit into a cup and use a brush to saturate the material.

Make some trim. You can fringe strips of felt or other fabric. You can sew long ruffled pieces. Stitch shapes together. Use pre-made trim like pom-pom trim or rick rack. Ain’t no rules, girl!

Here is how I make pom poms for the top of each hat. First, fringe a strip of felt on both sides, leaving a solid space down the middle for a running stitch. Gather the strip into a fringey little clump and fluff it out.

Tack the trim around the bottom.

Attach ribbons to the sides to tie it under your chin. I didn’t photograph this step, but you know what to do.

I’m planning to make a few dozen hats for everybody at the party. Alice is going to love them because she thinks hats are hilarious. It is one of my little presents to her. I can’t imagine her glee seeing a room full of everyone in a bright, pretty hat.

These don’t have to just be for parties though–what about making a few for a dress-up box, or as a little cheer-up gift for a friend? These hats are an awesome blank slate for almost anything you want to add.

xo
meg

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If you follow me on Twitter you probably know this, but I work next door to an interior design studio and curated boutique called Birdhouse Collectible. I love it for a few reasons–the owners are great, and Alice loves to wander down the hall and peek inside. But mostly, it’s become my favorite secret, home-y, tucked-away place in Omaha to find original and affordable furniture and accents for my house.

Jessica McKay, the owner of Birdhouse, scours antique stores and flea markets for vintage well-made, solid furniture pieces modernizes them with fun fabrics or a fresh coat of paint. She also sells fabulous pillows, barware, gifts, books, and all of that nifty home stuff that could have been pulled straight out of a magazine. Once every month or so, Jessica also hosts events like “Design and Wine” where she tackles a tough design topic like choosing good vintage pieces at thrift stores or arranging a picture wall, or an art opening featuring an amazing local fine artist. Anyway, they are good neighbors, and all of my favorite things in my house are from Birdhouse. When I first met Jessica I actually hired her to consult me about my floorplan which was also her design. We rearrange often, but this is nice and open for Alice to play during the day.

It’s hard to compromise on decor when you live with another person sometimes (sidebar, is anyone else loving Emily Henderson’s new show on HGTV Secrets from a Stylist? I want to meet her so bad!). You can see Mr. Lasertron in the bookshelves–his books always start up a conversation, and our special things are so great to look at every day: a photo from our wedding, a papier-mâché pig that I made as a child, a stack of Magic: The Gathering cards, a vase of dice, an original Winnie the Pooh illustration, a postcard Mr. Lasertron sent me when we first met. Many things that are an important part of our personalities.

But although we don’t often agree on what to bring into our home–I like preppy minimalism, and he would be happy living in a goth-y dungeon scene out of World of Warcraft (and we are still fighting the black velvet curtains and burgundy paint battle)–we both love everything that we have purchased from Birdhouse. I think that re-upholstered/refreshed/updated antique look that Birdhouse has helped us to identify is a great consensus that makes us happy to be home.

xo
meg

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Today is Omaha Craft Mafia’s spring sale at CAMP from 10am-4pm. Come by any time and have some snacks and peruse the wonderful handmade goods from our area’s best creative artists.

Some other artists recently added include Aorta (you’ve probably seen her popular store on Etsy!) (I just learned she was local and died!!), Mary Pattavina (she makes hats!!!!), and me!

I’ll be selling headbands, notebook covers, a HUGE load of new felt flower pins, and I’ll be taking measurements for dresses. And there will be lots more to see from the other sellers, and it’s a great chance to check out Omaha’s first creative coworking space, CAMP!

xo
meg

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