Selling it Saturday: Leahs Etsy Shop!

Welcome to the world of LM Designs.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/lmd514

Leah does FANTASTIC bead work (which is so neat!) and her pieces are just wonderful. I actually own a bracelet and am seriously considering several other pieces at the moment which is huge for me because I'm not a jewelry person. I lose it, I break it. But I tell ya, my bracelet is a Christmas piece and I wore it from the time I got it to some time in January and it is still whole and hearty :) That's huge for me.

I love how detailed some of her work is. And her shipping is so fast!! PLUS she can do custom scrabble tile pieces and they are so frickin hot right now its not even funny. And no wonder why, they are just gorgeous! The perfect shape to accent just about any wardrobe without being the overwhelmingly large chunky pieces you see sometimes that make you wonder how people are walking with em (there's chunky jewelry thats hot and then there's 'Hey its Flava Flav!' size).

Check out these pieces, all between 4-6 bucks! You can't beat that.

Some scrabble tile stuff:


this is my bracelet

Check out these earrings! How sexy are those??


I am so in love with all of this stuff, and she has so much more on the site, PLUS she will custom make stuff for you, its unreal. So check out Leah and come back again and again!

Finally Friday: Last week in February

So we spent last weekend sitting around the house save for a few hours for church on Sunday (had a long meeting about the human sexuality statement that the ELCA is going to ratify in two years, making it the official stance of the church. I will one day soon express my feelings on this subject but its so jumbled I just don't feel up to it now).
Monday was just school, work, etc.
Tuesday we had MOPS. I love MOPS. I enjoy talking with other moms, I had a good time because it was 'Spa Day' which is always nice. But I have decided to stop attending after this 'year' because I would like to find a more enriching way to spend the kids time. The boy and girl are going to be 8 and 6.5 in the beginning next year. MOPS is for Mothers of Preschoolers. I need to move on with them and do something more appropriate for their age.

I feel fine for the toddler and the baby because our Homeschool group on Wednesday had a bunch (like 6) babies about my youngest kids age and a toddler brigade for the tyrant to learn how to be a thug with. As long as we keep that weekly meeting those two will be just fine. Especially since we still have Sunday School that the tyrant 2 year old loves.

Now I sit, playing jeopardy and wheel of fortune with my family, the kids taking all the credit for the phrases hubby and I get. And its been a good week. A weird one weather-wise. We had 60's early in the week, lovely weather letting us take this picture:

No jackets or sweaters! Then yesterday we had snow flurries in the morning!! How in the world do those two things live together?

I will say that the snow did not stick this time and we were out and about during the day just fine. But its a third fall in a place that normally gets one. Crazy.

Wonderful Wednesday: Socks

I love socks. I don't think there is another article of clothing with the potential to cause as much happiness. They instantly make my feet happy. The make the cold, cold hardwood floor and linoleum feel better. They cover up toenails when they are gnarly looking from a few winter weeks of neglect and they hide unsightly dry skin from the world.

You can wear black or white ones to go with your outfits. You can wear seasonal ones to support the holiday of your choice. You can wear striped ones, fuzzy ones, rainbow ones, spotted ones, ones with toe slots, ones that look like animals. You can have a different color on each foot. You can match your shirt, compliment your shirt, clash your shirt.

There are socks that are warm and furry, some that are silky, some that are cottony lovely, some that are wooly and stout. They can be thin to go well with trousers, thick to keep feet toasty in the winter, and normal ones for jogging and walks.

So today lets all give it up for socks and wave our feet in the air, covered in beautiful lovely socks.

Moaning Monday: Bumper Sticker Hypocrisy

So, I'm driving home from church on a Sunday afternoon and on the back of a black SUV of some quality is the bumper sticker 'does not play well with others'

can we dissect this for a moment?

when you don't play well with others what do you not do well? interact, communicate, accept, want to be with right? sort of a loner, or when you are around you are kinda aloof or a spoke in the wheel sorta person.

so you wouldn't advertise this. you wouldn't communicate with others to let them know that you have an issue.

so the bumper sticker is just a way to advertise bad assery (you heard that word here first folks!) that you do not actually possess.

Because we all know that you are not truly a bad ass if you have to tell people you are a bad ass. You are a bad ass when others instinctively know not to mess with you!



On the same ride home. I drive by a car, bumper sticker says "baby on board". I'm assuming they are asking others to drive cautiously because of their 'precious cargo'. Which is good because apparently keeping their kids in the carseats wasn't important. They were practically bouncing around in the backseat. Two kids younger/smaller than my six year old. And she's small for her age. I was shocked. Not using carseats here is illegal but of course its not an oft used thing, just something extra when you are stopped for other things. But why in the world would you be so concerned with how others are driving but not do your part in keeping the kids safe.

Nonsense irritates me. That is all.

Sell it Saturday: Bustlingbaby.com

www.bustlingbaby.com

I love this store. I've mentioned it before. Great prices, great service, I've communicated with the owner several times. Lovely people.

NOW they've started selling diapers. Like Cloth Diapers. I've thought about cloth diapering before. Good for the environment, great for the budget (imagine buying 100 diapers total instead of I can't even say how many I use per each kid. Its an insane number I know) and they are SO CUTE. (We all know thats the important thing right?)

Well, all the information I need to not only make that decision but figure out which diaper is for me is on this site. Lots of explanations (leaving you feeling confident in what you are buying) and lots of styles (who knew there were different types??)

Along with accessories (the cutest wet bags! and inserts to make it less 'ick' for the diaper changer!) the site is currently stocked on Fuzzibunz, so cute and soooo manyyyy colors!!

Every single outfit will be matched by one of the diapers on this site.

And it looks so easy, these diapers look very much like they change just like disposable diapers. I adore them and the reviews are great on these!

I hope everyone enjoys this shop and buys a lot! Especially since I've been told other brands are coming in stock soon! Sounds like a new addiction to me! Except if I'm smart I can save money this way!!!

Finally Friday: Valentines Parties and Snow White OH MY!

Had SUCH a good time this week. We had a decent, if busy, start to our week and learned much, played much. Made some cards for later in the week, watched the weather warm up slightly and the sun start to play with us. It was lovely and nice and relaxing to see and feel the sun again.

BUT Thursday came round and we had our Valentines Day Party. It was so much fun. We played games, gave out valentines, had yummy snacks and played outside. Ahhhhh outside. How we've missed you. The brief outing in the snow was nice but playing at a park and doing so for an hour with sunshine, friends, chatter, and lovely times was amazing.

And then Friday came and with it a chance for play and fun again. This time at a play "Snow White" at a local university with our homeschool friends. The play was amazing. Just fantastic. And afterward we all headed to Chik fil a to spend time with each other and let the kids play in the indoor play place. Awesome time. We had the best customer service ever. It was really wonderful. I think we will do that more regularly. Is there anything better than spending time with friends?

The week has been a good one and hopefully it leads into an even better weekend since we get to have time with Daddy. :)

Wonderful Wednesday: The Sun

I often don't appreciate the Sun as much as I should. And then it goes away behind clouds for a few days and I can tell how much I miss it. Its light, its warmth (even in winter), the way the sky looks framing it.

Its here again for a few beautiful days in this unusually cold and stormy winter and I am so thankful to see it, to see the blue blue sky, to look at the floor of my backyard and see the greens and reds of grass and pine needles in 'hd' so to speak.

Its beautiful, its comforting, its not just a light, its illumination of the world that this here Sun provides. I'm eternally grateful for its beautiful rays and lovely warmth.

Why you should read to your kids!

from earlychildhood.com

1. A stronger relationship with you. As your child grows older, he’ll be on the move—playing, running, and constantly exploring his environment. Snuggling up with a book lets the two of you slow down and recaptures that sweet, cuddly time you enjoyed when he was a baby. Instead of being seen as a chore or a task, reading will become a nurturing activity that will bring the two of you closer together.

2. Academic excellence. One of the primary benefits of reading to toddlers and preschoolers is a higher aptitude for learning in general. Numerous studies have shown that students who are exposed to reading before preschool are more likely to do well in all facets of formal education. After all, if a student struggles to put together words and sentences, how can he be expected to grasp the math, science, and social concepts he’ll be presented with when he begins elementary school?

3. Basic speech skills. Throughout toddlerhood and preschool, your child is learning critical language and enunciation skills. By listening to you read One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, your child is reinforcing the basic sounds that form language. “Pretend reading”—when a toddler pages through a book with squeals and jabbers of delight—is a very important pre-literacy activity. As a preschooler, your child will likely begin sounding out words on his own.

4. The basics of how to read a book. Children aren’t born with an innate knowledge that text is read from left to right, or that the words on a page are separate from the images. Essential pre-reading skills like these are among the major benefits of early reading.

5. Better communication skills. When you spend time reading to toddlers, they’ll be much more likely to express themselves and relate to others in a healthy, constructive way. By witnessing the interactions between the characters in the books you read, as well as the contact with you during story time, your child is gaining valuable communication skills.

Moaning Monday: my desk

Let me explain. My desk SHOULD be neat. I have a place for everything, everything in its place. And NORMALLY I start each Monday with an organized, pretty desk. And as the week goes by and school goes by it gets worse and worse and worse :P

Well....I didn't get around to cleaning it this weekend. I didn't put anything up and piled more things ON it. I put up picture boxes, papers, some poetry from the girl, some boxes of cricut cartridges, pencil boxes, and library books.

Put together with LAST WEEKS mess...its truly scary. I have piles of books to be put away, crayons needing a home, stickers to be up and away from the toddler tyrant and cds needing a resting spot. :P Not to mention my scrapbooking stuff and my pictures and scraps of paper from doing crafts with the kids.

SIGGHHHHHH

Off to try to wade through the 'stuff' :P

Sell it Saturday/Sunday: Chubbalub

http://chubbalub.com/index.html

I love baby legs. Love them. I think they are neat. BUT I have trouble with the brand name ones. They don't fit well. My kids are skinny but have chunkster thighs. PLUS I like tons of different patterns, not patterns that all look the same.

SO I found this lady, Amy, she's a work-at-home mom and she makes her own babyleg type warmers.

I have used them before for my own kids and they are great! Not only were they perfect when my LAST baby was crawling but my older daughter uses them as arm warmers sometimes and they are durable enough that my new daughter/baby will be using them to crawl around with (we have hardwood floors) in a month or two!

These are my kids in her handiwork :)







(this was my babies 80s outfit :) )


I love these baby legs and she has other products for sale too, like the ruffle butt onesies that I adored but just couldn't justify buying for my son ;) (but now I might for my baby girl). She's truly crafty and these are some of the best things EVER.

Check her out!

Finally Friday: Week Review February 8-12th

We had what feels like a long week. It started with a Super Bowl Party that went Fantastically! We had great friends, food, and fun. Unfortunately the Colts lost...but hey the Saints can really USE the ring.

But we all got sick! BOOOOO! A cold ripped through the household hitting one after another. Unfortunately it got the baby too. She had a horrible night last night. Why can't people keep their colds to themselves :( Its never fun. We never get just one of us sick, NEVER!

We've pushed through the pain and we are still alive so thats good.

:)

And the news has been interesting to me too. I'm getting pretty disgusted with Palin. She's ridiculous an I cannot believe anyone can be that blind to the truth. How she could get on a Democrat for using the 'r' word and not Rush...I saw a magazine asking if she could save America...um. No. No she can't. She can't save herself from a papercut much less know how to do ANYTHING for America. *Shudder*

And the weather is crazy everywhere. Inches of snow, feet of snow, and just snow in places where its all weird to have some or have a lot. We are actually supposed to get our second snow/ice fall tonight. If we do I will HAVE to take the kids out in it. So I'm hoping if it falls its more reasonable and less icy.

I have friends in northern VA and DC with 20 inches of snow! How crazy is that?

I am hoping everyone survives these winter snow storms relatively well and that the people here in my town enjoy their bread and milk. :)

Wonderful Wednesday: A Friends Daughter

This is my first 'praise' day and its not even about anything in my own life. I hope my friend doesn't get upset about me posting this, but I'm not using names or anything.

She lives in one of the snowy places in America and yesterday her daughter was in a carpool to school and the mom called her a few minutes after she left...the mom thought it was something forgotten but instead the car had been in an accident, frantic she flew from her house to the accident and the car had rolled over twice (i think) she sees the cops, the wreck, she's frantic.

They finally take her to her daughter. Her coat has blood on it, she's panicked, shaking, I hope some of you can imagine the thoughts going through her mind. The blood on the coat wasn't hers! It was the drivers, who had been scraped up (as had the drivers daughter) but my friends daughter was unscratched! Not a bump or a bruise.

She was OBVIOUSLY shaken, but fine! She woke up this morning willing and wanting to go to school!!

I am amazed at the resilience of this little girl! And so proud of her and her mommy. I am so, so thankful for her little girls health. I cannot believe she is okay, healthy, not hurt, etc. Its amazing!

I've said several prayers today thanking god for this little girl and her mom. God is Good!

Moaning Monday: Ebay Gripe

So my gripe this week is Ebay.

To start with let me say that I don't often use Ebay and when I do I use Buy it Now when possible. The reason? I'm one of the crazies that will put in the amount you want to bid and then after it seems like that won't be enough I will up it and up it and up it till I'm paying twice what I willing too, and I'm panting heavily, stressed, pulling my hair, and crying "But I'm going to lose it, I neeeeedddd (insert object)"

This past week I found a scrapbook album I HAVE to have. See I do large spreads for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Which is cool. BUT all I have are Christmas Albums. And while I'm willing to stretch the imagination to include Thanksgiving in them that just can't extend to Halloween so I have tons of pages for Halloweens that need a home.

I have been seeking 'the perfect' album, i.e. one that LOOKED "halloweeny" for years. But I use Strap-hinge Albums from Creative Memories, I know, I know unnecessarily expensive, but I like them. And apparently last October they made some as hostess gifts that were either bright green with owls or black with owls! How perfect is that?

I found them on ebay this week. I've decided not to go after one because I DID try to bid on one and I went crazy. I can't justify spending 60+shipping on one album. I am hoping for something else to come out this Fall. But I'm not holding out hope. I will just continue to store the stuff till I find it.

But! Till then I need to stay away from Ebay wars and the money draining nonsense they induce!

Selling it Saturday! Etsy Shop: Hookaholic

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Hookaholic

This Store is Stephanie's Crochet Store. She's a mom of four with 3 girls an 1 boy. She crochets as a hobby and does such a fantastic job that many of her friends kinda pushed her into selling them (including me) on etsy. I cannot tell you how awesome her stuff is. So I will show you instead.






And these are just a few of her items. She can custom order any colors (she can match coats or team colors, etc). AND if there is something you want she can often recreate a pattern.

I am SUCH a fan of her craftmanship. I hope everyone checks it out and buys something :)

Themes and posting more.

I really want to post more than I do, but often can't figure out what to say.

SO. I am going to start "themeing" some posts, it seems to help a lot of blogs I read and hopefully it will help me focus. :)

So: Moaning Mondays for a weekly gripe fest, Wonderful Wednesdays for a weekly praise fest, Finally Friday for a week review, and Sell it Saturday to support some Mommy Entrepreneurs that I know.

Its not EVERY day but hopefully it will get there. But I need to start something up :)