Life With Ike

It was kind of like Evita's Rainbow Tour.

2012-01-29T18:05:00.000-05:00

I went on a craft store tour yesterday. Kind of like the Rainbow Tour that Evita went on...only...not. You see, securing some of these supplies for the big PW hit is becoming my own personal nightmare.

1. On the morning of the16th I went to one unnamed craft store to order in bulk. They told me the order would be placed that Wednesday with the store's order and would be in that Friday. No problemo. I relisted what I knew I had ordered the correct amount of supplies for. Done.

2. Friday came and they called, left me a voicemail that said they couldn't get them but would try again the following week. What, what???? I stopped by the store on my way home and begged. The girl was very nice and told me that she would call the other stores and get them to send their stock and she would call me this week.

3. In the meantime, I found similar beads online. Ordered them. In bulk. Only for them to arrive and be MUCH smaller than I anticipated. Ugh.

4. The girl from unnamed craft store never called.

5. I had a ridiculous week at work and could not make it to the store until Friday. Girl explained that all of the stores are in the process of completing their inventories and therefore other stores cannot send stock to their store. She would try and figure out something and call me on Monday.

6. I think my frustration may have hit an all time high. Just sayin.

7. When I got home I began calling other locations, only to be told that they cannot hold things overnight.

I woke up at the crack of dawn on Saturday, got dressed, made some coffee to go and drove to a store that made me wish I was spending the day somewhere else...

...like there. That's Stone Mountain in the distance. Yep. I drove to stores in Stone Mountain, Snellville, Lawrenceville, Duluth and Roswell. In my travels, I saw this sign...

...sweetest thing ever. Some high school boy asking a girl to prom. If I were that girl I would have totally melted. Just sayin.

My mom went to the store in Douglasville and then we met for lunch at California Pizza Kitchen. Yay! {and thanks for your help, mom!} We did a little shopping. Mom bought a cute, cute dress for me at Charming Charlie's. And I really wish that I had bought this...

....giant globe at Pottery Barn. Originally $229 (who would pay that??? I have no idea!) marked down to $57.

I am officially down to the only open orders in my shop being ones that I am waiting on supplies for. In case you were wondering, PW doesn't give a heads up (not that I am complaining...not at all!!!!) when she posts about a shop, (or at least not in my cases), so I had to scurry to order supplies and then I am kind of at the mercy of others. And I hate that. Cross your fingers that things start to arrive at the beginning of the week.

In the meantime, I have a few new things to post in the shop...

Um, yeah.

2012-01-25T21:59:00.004-05:00

Last night, no joke, I went to bed at 8:04. Seriously. I was exhausted. I am currently in a holding pattern in the shop - waiting for supplies to arrive. Argh! Ugh. This is what was on my craft room floor on Sunday afternoon...

...and I added more to it before shipping on Tuesday. Shipping...I love my post office ladies. I hate the fact that I am SUPER busy at work right now....meetings, meetings and more meetings and have only been able to leave school once this week to make it to the post office before closing. Frustrating. And I have meetings again tomorrow and Friday, which means that Saturday is my next shipping day.

{and now I am going to stop whining...I've had a whiny day...}

Chris made a great new dinner over the weekend...baked polenta with sauce and sausage, side salad {spinach, tomatoes, fresh mozarella and balsamic} and, well, you know, my usual milk with dinner.

{and yes, we are still using Christmas napkins at our house :) }

And hopefully these will be listed at some point this week...

Things Around Town

2012-01-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

I see things that make me laugh all.the.time...especially when I am driving. But typically I don't get to take a picture of them because, well, I'm driving. But twice last week, I came upon a red light with the funny thing staring me in the face. I had no choice. I had to take the pictures.

1. Can you make out that sign in the air? Far above the red truck? It's across the intersection and it just says, "NO." No explanation needed. You think you're going to drive in that lane? The answer is no. The sign says so.

2. And the back of this truck gave me a good chuckle. It is for Admiral Nelson's Spiced Rum. And all I could think was, "Humph, I wonder if he was on the same ship with Captain Morgan?" Because, now, I've heard of Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum...never heard of Admiral Nelson's though. Apparently it's the #1 Best Tasting Spiced Rum...according to the back of the truck.

King of Jokes

2012-01-22T09:00:00.000-05:00

This silly boy is becoming the King of Jokes. Here were some of my favorites from this past week:

Quinn: Why was the gorilla's belly full?

Me: Why?

Quinn: Because he ate a lot of food!

Quinn: Why was the ice walking away?

Me: Why?

Quinn: So the monster wouldn't get him!

Complete and total nonsense and well, we all find it to be pretty hysterical!

Whew! Coming up for air...

2012-01-21T19:20:00.000-05:00

I am nowhere near being finished with making/packing orders, but have definitely made LOTS of progress! I am still waiting on quite a bit of supplies that I've ordered, and you know, if I didn't have a full time job (which I do love and am grateful for) and 3 kids (I love them too and am grateful for them also) this process would be a whole heckuva lot easier.

That being said, here's some progress that you can see for yourself...

That's Thursday's and Saturday's outgoing packages. (I failed to take a picture of Tuesday's!) I'll be shipping again this week on Tuesday and Thursday...probably twice as many packages!

Prior to last Monday, my table was a disaster. I worked on top of the disaster all week and then after my post office run this morning I had to take a cleaning break. Usually I have to take a break from cleaning, but today I had to take a break from jewelry to clean. :)

Not perfect (by any stretch of the imagination) but definitely better! Lots of light? Um, yes please. And that is an Ott Light in the right hand corner. Have you heard of these? They are FANtastic! Truly. I bought mine on Black Friday for $17 at Michael's (they're normally around $80). Watch for the sales and pick one up for yourself!

I spent the majority of my day at the table....working on one thing or another and the children kept begging to help. So I let them. And now I can honestly say that I've run a sweatshop. I paid them waaaaaayyyyy less than minimum wage. :)

Casey was putting stickers on the boxes and Quinn was handling the return address stamping. Then Chan wanted to get in on the fun, so they decided to tackle the WHOLE box of uline mailers. All 200 of them! They had an assembly line going and when I asked who started the assembly line, Chandler responded, "George Washington!" Um, no...Perhaps she should have been studying some history instead of stamping envelopes.

I have been (prior to this week) thinking about some things that I want to include in my spring line and thought I would share some with you...

Cloisonne beads and some color block pieces will definitely be some staples in the spring line!!! Can't wait to get started on them! {and what you see above will be in the shop at some point over the weekend}

In case I fall off the face of the Earth this week (you'll know why)

2012-01-16T17:02:00.000-05:00

Holy sockamoly! PW posted about my shop again today!!!!! Hooray! Hooray! {insert dance moves...and now I am doing the cabbage patch...the running man...making the pizza}

So you'll have to forgive me if my blogging is less than stellar this week. I have to go make jewelry. And package jewelry. And bake something for my post office ladies.

{Ok, so the baking might not happen this week. But it will soon because I love those girls!}

And if for some reason you haven't seen the post, you can find it HERE.

Just Some Randomness

2012-01-15T19:11:00.000-05:00

I'm not really sure when my girls got to be SO big! I love that they are getting older...except for the fact that it means that I am also getting older. Terrible how that works, really.

Now, go ahead and ask me what Casey was wearing in this picture. The answer? Yeah, I have.no.idea. I saw her at breakfast...but only the top half...see, when they're sitting at the table, I have no idea what they are wearing on the bottom half. And clearly, this bottom half is a fail. There is no purple in the skirt. And I'm not sure why she thought the sneakers were a good choice.

I do love Chan's outfit though! And I made the mistake of telling her that and now she has worn it just about every other day since. Her cute, cute boots? Yep, they're ladies boots from Target (they also had them in brown) for $35. She bought them with some of her Christmas money.

*****************

We went shopping today. Casey bought a couple new pairs of shoes (with her Christmas money) at Rack Room. She was (as she should be) quite pleased with herself!

{rose gold pair are the rack room brand, $15, the pewter pair is Rocket Dog, $35...and of course, buy one, get one half off}

She was wearing them around the house when I offered to take pictures of them. And then the others wanted to get in on the picture action as well. Only Q has a really hard time standing still. Imagine.

In the top left picture, he wanted me to take one of his foot with Casey's. So I did.

Visit Me at A Little Etsy Love!

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

Visit me at A Little Etsy Love! It's another great week of awesome giveaways! Yay! Go. Hurry. Enter. Have fun....and may the force be with you!

{happy deliveries.}

{floradornments}

One Year Ago.

2012-01-11T17:54:00.000-05:00

One year ago we were in the middle of the snowpocolypse. I have lived in Georgia for a VERY long time and I can say, last year's weather was crazy. Seriously.

The first day or so was really pretty awesome. We stayed in jammies. The kids played. Chris and Drew went on a beer walk to the gas station. We drank hot chocolate and ate chili and chicken pot pie.

And every afternoon Chris and I waited for the automated phone calls from our school districts...we would be out again the next day. A few days in and we started to dread those phone calls. And then it was MLK weekend and we had another day off. And then came the fact that we had to make up our week off. Awful. Really, really awful.

But I must admit...I miss that week. I would really like that week to be next week and we could stay at home in our jammies... guilt free.

And of course, I would like to see what Chris would fashion this year into a shovel.

We still don't have a real one.

See Dan Paint

2012-01-10T15:00:00.001-05:00

And speaking of my friend Dan...you know...the one that rained on my Simple Shoes parade? Let me tell you a little bit about him...

He is an amazing artist! {And the art teacher at my school!} He has a fantastic website. I think you should pay him a visit... HERE. He just finished up his 52 in 52 Series...like this one...

...which makes me laugh "Stan the Stinky Sock is a Natural Leader" Fantastic. :) So fun! Chandler picked out one of his star ornaments for Chris for Christmas...and Chris loved it! He wants one every year for Christmas.

And, he just opened up a big cartel shop...HERE! The t-shirt that he has in his shop? Yeah, no joke, a member of The Dead Milkman bought one last time they were in Athens and wore it at their show in town. I think it may have made Dan's day.

New Shoes

2012-01-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

So I have a crazy love for Simple brand shoes. Like, I love, love these shoes. Seriously. CooCoo for Cocoa Puffs over these shoes. They are the only sneakers that I have worn for the past seven years. I am loyal to the Simples.

And then last week, my friend, Dan, informed me that Simple is closing. Screeeeeeech! Say what????

The first thing I did when I came home that afternoon was check the Simple website. And it was true. I had hoped that Dan really didn't know what he was talking about. Turns out, he did. Big sigh.

So, I headed over to zappos and scooped up two new pairs. I don't know what I am going to do when those pairs wear out. It will be a sad, sad day.

Quinn's Big Boy Party

2012-01-09T06:00:00.001-05:00

I don't know where the weekend went. Is it like that for you too after the holidays? After having two weeks off, having two days just doesn't seem like nearly enough. At 7pm on Sunday night I finally felt like I was hitting my groove. 3 hours before bed and the start of a new week. Ugh.

So here's what we did...
1. Chris and I watched The Change Up Friday night (we rent movies from Amazon and stream them on the tv. Do you do this? I love it. Seriously.). I must say I liked it better than some other movies we have seen lately (for example, The Hangover 2). I now feel the need to tell Chris that I am going to cut him. Because that makes me laugh.
2. Saturday morning Loralai came over for Quinn's Big Boy Party. More on that in a minute.
3. Laundry
4. Dinner at Drew and CB's. I really love hanging out with them. So easy and enjoyable.
5. Chris took the kids to church and Sam's Club. I worked on jewelry. So long overdue. I hadn't made anything NEW in almost a month. What? What? I blame the holidays.
6. Grocery shopping.
7. Yummy quiche and salad dinner.

By far, the big hit of the weekend was Q's Big Boy Party. You see, Chris and I have not been overly concerned about his pacifier. Or, as Quinn called it, his Baby.

Quinn is potty trained, super smart, a fairly good eater, kind, and polite. He is NOT a good sleeper. At all. And the only time he had his Baby was at home to sleep. (Or those times when he would smuggle it out of the cabinet and walk around in his unders with a Baby in his mouth.) So, we weren't pushing him to get rid of the Baby. Think what you may of me as a parent, it just wasn't a battle I was going to fight. The girls were done with their pacies when they were 2, Quinn just wasn't ready.

So last weekend Q and I had a conversation about being a big boy and that the Baby was keeping him down. So he gave it up. Chris magically disappeared them. And then we bribed him with Loralai and a cupcake party...if he could go all week without one, he and Loralai could have cupcakes with candles and a play date. Sold.

He screamed the first 3 nights but we persevered.

And on Saturday, Loralai came over to make cupcakes, eat lunch and play. Then we lit candles in their cupcakes and sang Happy Birthday (by request) over and over again.

The big girls were my mini babysitters (so good at this job!) and Casey was my cupcake photographer.

Just a Few Changes!

2012-01-08T18:16:00.000-05:00

So, did you notice anything new around here this weekend? ;) Yep. A make over. It was time. I used Tank and Tink and let me just tell you...Molly is wonderful to work with and everything was super easy. I highly recommend her. :)

{Just wait until I show you all the new packaging goodness that I ordered for the shop. Oh, such fun!}

Some new stuff will be posted in the shop {cross your fingers} later tonight...Can we say Valentine's Day???? :)

Visit Me at A Little Etsy Love!

2012-01-06T06:00:00.001-05:00

I've got some super great giveaway posts this week over at A Little Etsy Love! And believe you me, I hate not being able to enter them myself! So you should. Go. Enter. Have fun. :)

{Jessica N Designs}

{studio kmo}

Chandler...how I love this child...part 2

2012-01-04T19:19:00.000-05:00

This child. Oh how she cracks me up. This was part of our conversation on the way home this afternoon:

Chandler: Mama, when you were a little girl did you go to a one room school?

Me: Chan, how old do you think I am?

Chan: Um, 33.

Me: Right. And when did they have one room school houses?

Casey: The 1800's.

Chan: Oh, yeah. I forgot about that part.

And then as I was telling my mom about this conversation I told her that if I was old enough in Chan's mind for the one room school house, then that means that she (who grew up in downtown Chicago) must have not gone to school because she was too busy milking Mrs. O'Leary's cow.

She also said this on the way home....

Chan: So there's this girl at school, Gwen, and she's half Ireland.
Me: Irish?
Chan: Oh, yeah, Irish. Not Ireland. That's the place.
Me: So it would be kind of funny of she was half Ireland.

And then there was this last night...

Me: So do you think you're going to be happy at your new school?
Chan: Yeah. As long as my underwear isn't wet.
Me: Um. I just said, so do you think you are going to like your new school?
Chan: Yes, and I said, as long as my underwear isn't wet.
Me: I don't understand what you're talking about.
Chan: Wet underwear.
Me: I'm really confused.
Chan: I just sat in something wet in the kitchen and now my underwear is wet and wet underwear is really uncomfortable and so as long as my underwear isn't wet, then, yeah, I'll like my new school just fine.

What I Wore Wednesday Week 26

2012-01-04T06:00:00.002-05:00

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy!

raw brass and gold filled hoop earrings - IKE & CO

mustard ruffled scarf - the pleated poppy (Christmas present to myself! Yay!)

cute, cute new tank (I bought one in each color!) - Target

khaki pants - banana republic outlet

orange cardi - gap outlet

tank - target

mustard ruffled scarf - the pleated poppy

shoes - born

Transformation of the Entry Way

2012-01-03T06:00:00.002-05:00

Summer

Fall

Christmas

January, 2012

I'm kind of in love with January's table. Just so you know.

{p.s....The girls are starting a new school today and prayers would be much appreciated.}

Overheard in My Living Room

2012-01-02T07:00:00.005-05:00

Chandler and Quinn were playing together Sunday morning in the living room with the big cardboard blocks and a handful of beanie babies. They made homes for all the animals and then pretended they were under attack. They were trying to save the animals.

Quinn: Oh no! He's dead!!! Oh no!
Chandler: Oh, no, it's Giraffie!
Quinn: He's DEAD!!!!!!
Chandler: We have to get him to the hospital a.s.s.p!

And then Chris and I died laughing.

Coming to terms

2012-01-01T20:10:00.004-05:00

I have thought about this post for a long time. I write the first sentence or few (in my head) and then I crumple it up (in my head) and start again (in my head). Some days I rewrite it (in my head) multiple times over. Some days, I get up from the vintage desk that I sit at in front of the window that overlooks a lake (in my head) and walk away (in my head).

But here it is.

The things that weigh me down.

{You can read or you can not read. I am not whining. I know what a great life that I have. It is just how I feel. Period.}

1. I reread my New Year's Resolution posts from the past two years and the top thing on both lists was being fit/becoming healthy. I think this year I hit rock bottom. And it has made me sad. Very sad. In January, I was a size 2, as I have been for the vast majority of my life. Now granted, that size 2 was not a very healthy size 2, but whatever. I have gained between 20 and 30 pounds this year. In rereading blog posts this year, I started talking about it in February when I had gained ten pounds in 8 weeks. Sheesh. And sadly, I decided in July that this was a problem and went about my business to fix it. Only I couldn't. I didn't. And then I spent the past six weeks drinking spiked eggnogs and eating chocolate chex mix. No joke. I tried to eat healthy/portion control/exercise and I sucked at it. It became one more thing for me to beat myself up about and then I was failing miserably at it and then I was upset about it and so I would drink another and eat some more. And then I would go to bed. To the point where now my pants don't fit. Like, the new pants that I bought in July to replace the pants that I bought in March, don't fit. So now I have new pants, 4 sizes bigger than I started the year in. I also went July, August and September, without drinking any sodas and a ton of water. And I not only fell off the horse, but then the horse got spooked and ran off, so I couldn't even get back on the horse. Damn horse. So I am sitting here, drinking a diet coke, wondering if the horse will ever come back. Horse! Horse? I need you! So, here is my plan. I am going back to logging everything that I eat/drink/do into the livestrong website. I am drinking water. I am buying a treadmill. I am running. Or something. Because really, even the thought of running makes me want to go lay down. I hate to run. Truly.

2. I have made monumental parenting mistakes this year and I hate myself for them. I am quite certain that fifteen years from now my children will ask me to join them at a family therapy session and they will point to this year and say that it is where everything changed. Big sigh. I will have nothing to say other than I know. And I am sorry. I continue to be amazed by the fact that parenting has to be the one thing in life that never gets easier. Like, with everything else, you practice, you spend time working on your technique, you self reflect and evaluate, adjust and it gets easier, better...but not with parenting. It's just hard. And when you do start to think that you have a thing or two figured out the other players change the rules. Jerks. See, and there I show off my stellar parenting abilities by calling my children jerks. Sheesh.

3. I am not a good friend. Ok. It's out there. I am just not. And this is what happens (for example...)
Friend: We should go out to dinner. Grab a drink. Have coffee. Something. Whenever is good for you.
Me: Um, ok.
And then I avoid. I don't want to make plans. I want to stay home. I want to be with my husband and my children. I want to make jewelry or play on my computer or watch instant streaming on Netflix. I want to email or text (because they can be done on my own time, when I want) but I just don't want to make plans. Period. I think if I could find a way to become a hermit, I would. But then I am plagued by this...So and so wants to go out but I keep making excuses not to and if I don't go out with them then I shouldn't go out with anyone. And so then I avoid everyone. (Except Chris. It's kind of hard to avoid the person next to you in bed.) I am just at the point where I feel like I am not a good contributor to friendships these days. But this also makes me feel like I have to avoid a lot of things that I like.

I am the kind of person where my knee jerk reaction to anything is to say no. Seriously. It is hard for me to say yes to things. More often then not, I'll come around and say yes, but I have to come to it on my own. I don't like being told that I have to do something or continuously being asked to do something. It makes me dig in my heels and then you'll never get a yes out of me.

I have struggled with writing this because I don't want to come off sounding all woe is me. Because I'm not. This is just what is on my mind and I feel like I haven't been very honest about things on my blog in a while. I am struggling. I worry. But really, who doesn't? And now I think I should insert my favorite quote...

In the end it will all be okay. If it is not okay, then it is not the end.

So, these are the things that I am going to work on. Big sigh. But I am hopeful for this year. I am hopeful.

Happy New Year! {a gift to you!}

2012-01-01T15:44:00.000-05:00

This week only, spend $20 or more in the shop and you'll get a free pair of these earrings! Leave a message to seller when you check out letting me know which color you'd like (pink, white, yellow, lime, aged brass)!

Good Bye 2011! Hello 2012!

2011-12-31T22:02:00.000-05:00

I'm not even sure what this is that I am drinking, but I will tell you that it is de.lic.ious! Although I think anything with whipped cream on top is delicious. Just sayin.

The girls are fighting.

The dog is crazed from the fireworks.

The boy is actually pretty delightful.

The husband? Yes, he is the best one in town. Did you know that?

Here's a little recap of our year....

January - I spent a weekend in Chicago! Yay! We had a snowpocolypse.
February - The girls turned 9. I turned(gasp!) 33.
March - Chris turned 32. (such a baby!)
April - The Pioneer Woman posted about IKE & CO and sales took off!
May - We finished the school year! Chandler got stitches.
June - Quinn turned 3. We redecorated the living room and craft room. I got a job as a media specialist in Athens.
July - Chris was hired at CCSD. Yay!
August - A new school year started! The girls entered another year of dance.
September - I started blogging at A Little Etsy Love.
October - Chris and I had a surprise weekend to ourselves...and we bought a new car!
November - Thanksgiving.
December - We've made it. :)

I hope you all have a wonderful (and safe!) New Year's Eve!

Time with Gram.

2011-12-30T17:44:00.000-05:00

We've spent the past two days out at my mom's house. My 81 year old Grandmother has been here this week from Chicago and it has been wonderful to spend some time with her. We miss her throughout the year. Some days it is really hard to be 800 miles away from the majority of my family.

Casey is named for my Gram's side of the family...Casey was her mother's maiden name and Harper (Casey's middle name) is my Gram's maiden name. They affectionately call themselves the two Harpers.

My brother and his girlfriend came up for dinner last night and Mom really outdid herself...

steak with wild mushroom sauce

roasted asparagus

twice baked potatoes

grilled squash, zucchini and onion

sauteed brussel sprouts (my favorite!)

And I just have to share this because it makes me laugh. This is the sign that my parents have on their back fence....

Sewing 101

2011-12-28T13:47:00.000-05:00

The girls asked for a sewing machine for Christmas. Seriously.

I had brought out my mom's old sewing machine (like a 1982 Kenmore that weighed 100lbs and made this God awful clunk-clunk noise) back in the spring and we made pillows together. And then they started begging for their own machine.

But, I had no idea what a good sewing machine really was, or what would work well to teach kids to sew on, what would last, etc. I didn't want something junky, but I also didn't have $400 or $500 to spend on a machine.

And then Elizabeth posted this with a link to this and I felt like I had hit the jackpot. {And if you don't already read E Tells Tales, then you should. Girl is funny, I tell you!}

So Santa hooked them up with the sewing machine and and all the trimmings, and the plan was for Meme and Great Gram to help get us started on our way. Because I had never sewed anything (start to finish) from a pattern before and really had no idea what I was doing. I am also highly aware that I get irritated when I don't know how to do something and I didn't want to ruin Christmas that way. But Mem's and Gram left before the sewing could commence. (Aaaaagggghhhhhhh! That was me freaking out in my head.)

So I talked Chris into making a skirt with me when the kids went to bed. That way we could figure this whole pattern thing out between the two of us and I could cuss and not scare my children. And then I would know what I was doing and could walk them through it. (Have I told you lately that Chris is the best husband/father ever???)

So we did, and then I did, and now two little girls are very happy to have their own handmade skirts!

**As I am typing this, Chan is pinning together squares of fabric and sewing them together...just for practice. I think I might have a seamstress on my hands!**

Christmas 2012

2011-12-26T17:28:00.000-05:00

On Saturday night, my living room looked like this....

Santa had just finished setting up. We had 50 balloons and big blocks and a sewing machine, all the notions, and fabric. Clearly, the children were not on the naughty list this year (although, believe me, there were days that I had my doubts).

By mid morning on Sunday, this is what my living room looked like...

And it has pretty much looked like this ever since.

A few of my favorite gifts this year...

a handmade purse from Chan...

a stained glass painting from Casey...

new l.l.bean slippers from my mom...

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend!

Hodge Podge

2011-12-23T16:14:00.000-05:00

So yesterday I broke down and went to the doctor's. I thought I was alive and on my way to well on Wednesday, but by Wednesday night I knew that I was sorely mistaken. At the doctor's they gave me a prescription for many different drugs and I have spent most of today in a prednisone high cleaning craze.

And what am I listening to while I bleach out the trash cans in my house? I'll tell you. And it might come as a surprise.

But first let me say that I love Holiday music. Love it. But, after having listened to it nonstop in the house and in the car since Thanksgiving, I just couldn't do it these past couple of days.

So here's the mix that I put together and I must say, it is the best cleaning mix I've made in awhile.

Ain't No Mountain High Enough {Marvin Gaye}

Best of My Love {The Emotions}

Blueberry Hill {Fats Domino}

Chantilly Lace {Big Bopper}

Charlie Brown {The Coasters}

The Game of Love {The Mindbenders & Wayne Fontana}

Hey! Baby {Bruce Channel}

Runaround Sue {Dion}

September {Earth, Wind and Fire}

Son of a Preacher Man {Dusty Springfield}

Sugar Sugar {The Archies}

Wedding Bell Blues {The 5th Dimension}

You Sexy Thing {Hot Chocolate}

And every single one of them remind me of my childhood. I used to put on performances in my grandparents' living room to Chantilly Lace and Blueberry Hill. Did you do things like that as a child? I also really lucky because between my parents and my aunt, I went to a ton of concerts as a child - Jan & Dean, Chubby Checker, and no joke, Davey Jones...with backstage passes! {It was one of the highlights of my middle school years. My cousin, Beth Anne and I screamed like maniacs. One of these days I'll have to scan the pictures and share them with you. I know that you'll be jealous.}

So the music and the prednisone have pretty much gotten me through today. Just in case you were wondering.

I'm Alive!

2011-12-21T08:08:00.000-05:00

Sunday night we went Christmas Caroling with our church to a few of the nursing homes in Athens. Quinn stole the show! He knew several of the songs and would sing those, the ones that he didn't know he just danced. And let me tell you, that boy has some of the best moves ever.

Following caroling, we had a fellowship meal together and by the time we left to go home, I know that illness was on the horizon.

I woke up on Monday with the crud. You know exactly what I am talking about, so I don't really see a need for details. But, I had a haircut appointment, so I had to get out of the bed. Which I did. And then I returned home, got back in the bed around 3 and stayed there. For a long time. Like 18 hours.

Yesterday I got up, but barely.

We'll see how today goes.

So far this break, we have battled pink eye and the crud. The bright side to all of this is that we are not having to take sick days.

The not so bright side is that I had big plans for this break and am now days behind.

Ugh.

A Night of Monopoly

2011-12-18T08:50:00.001-05:00

We played Monopoly for the first time with the girls last night.

It was actually a pretty bang up night for them. Monopoly. Muddy Buddy Chex Mix. A Shirley Temple for Casey and Root Beer for Chan. We played for over 3 hours. And they were hilarious! I one point Chan said to me, "Blow it up, Moneymaker." and then held her hand out for a fist bump.

She is starting to be so "tweeny" and I love it!

Casey was all sorts of priss about her properties and her houses. She always cut me a discount when I landed on them though. She's good to her mother like that. At one point, while discussing how she narrowly escaped a $950 rent on one of Chris's properties, she said, "Whew! I was about to sweat my pants!"

I have no idea what that means.

We declared a draw. After 3 hours of playing and no clear cut winner, a draw was the best way to go.

What was Quinn doing during the Monopoly-o-rama? Pretty much this.

For years I have been reading articles about "Digital Natives" and wondering who those digital natives are. The girls certainly weren't. The kids at the schools that I have taught in weren't either. I was seriously starting to think that I was never going to fully understand this term. And then Q came along and now I get it. He's 3 and knows his way around the phone and ipad better than I do. Because he's a native and I am just a foreigner in a foreign land.

I feel okay about this though because I know how to play monopoly and he doesn't.

Visit Me at A Little Etsy Love!

2011-12-16T17:42:00.000-05:00

Don't forget to stop by A Little Etsy Love to check out my posts from yesterday and today!

{that old blue house}

{sweet auburn studio}

The high point of my day: 2:45, when school was let out for a two week Christmas break! Hooray!

Low point? Um yeah, that would be Q having pink eye. In both eyes. To the point where we couldn't even get his eyes open this morning without a warm washcloth. Ugh.

This is really only half a post.

2011-12-15T17:48:00.000-05:00

I have more to say on everything in this post, hence this being half a post.

Quinn had his Christmas party at school today. Chris went and made a billion little videos for me. Q was beside himself that Santa was in the room and had a billion questions for him. First and foremost he wanted to know where the reindeer were.

Chris and I were most impressed with the gingerbread house that he made. And slightly creeped out. All the teachers swear that they did not help with the candy/color choices and that he grouped and counted everything out himself. I believe this is a flag for an OCD future. Just sayin.

That's crazy, right? And here he is inspecting his work. I actually told him to put his face by it so that I could take his picture with his house....this is it...

The Grandpa and Gram box came today. The tradition continues...they sent Q an electric keytar. I swear, they really do hate me. Every box seems to have something noisy in it. Big sigh.

Quinn's favorite in the box?

This. Right here.

Because what little boy doesn't want to be a super hero?????

Conversations Overheard

2011-12-14T19:01:00.000-05:00

This was the conversation that these crazy two had on the way home today...

Chandler: Don't you think that we should open a shop together when we grow up?
Casey: Yes! Pendley's Closet?
Chandler: No. Sparkle Star.
Casey: Um, why Sparkle Star?
Chandler: Because when we grow up we're going to be glowing.

And that could really mean a whole lot of different things, now couldn't it?

I love overhearing kids' conversations, don't you?

ps - I made a haircut appointment for Monday. Hooray!

Things My Husband Says to Me

2011-12-13T06:00:00.001-05:00

There are times when I think I could start a new weekly series entitled, Things My Husband Says to Me, because sometimes, well, sometimes he says some really, really funny things.

Like over the weekend when I mentioned that I desperately need to get my haircut (its been since *gasp* June, people, June) and that I don't know how much longer I can go without color. I stopped coloring my hair almost 2 years ago just to see what my gray would do. It is, indeed, a really great silver color, but kind of wiry and I don't know that I can do wiry.

Chris really likes the silver. But I had one wild, wiry stand poking through and so he pulled it. And then said...

I really think you should leave it alone. You could look like Einstein.

Um. Because that's what I want. To look like Einstein.

So I am trying to book a cut and color for next week. Before its too late and other people start to recognize my likeness to Einstein.

We're Getting in the Christmas Spirit...

2011-12-12T06:00:00.001-05:00

...and here's my proof....

Yep. Someone in my house spells "Christmas"..."Chirtmas." Big sigh. And never mind the "nite." Sheesh.

My cousin Jimmy sent us a Christmas mix tape. Yay! He really does make the best mixes.

Although he doesn't seem to follow the same theory as Barney on How I Met Your Mother...

Do you watch that show? I'm in love with it. Just in case you were wondering.

But back to cousin Jimmy and the mix tape. Christmas songs... and this one...

...is the girls new favorite. We've tried to get them to like the Wham! version, but, big sigh, they think it is too *slow*.

My favorite on the mix would be this lovely number by She & Him. I think you'll love it.

Clearly, this has not been my best blogging week.

2011-12-11T09:51:00.000-05:00

But, Chris passed a certification class (something to do with those gifted learners, blah, blah, blah) and he got a fancy certificate in the mail...

This totally made my week....

Really and truly awesome...

I am framing it...

Pretty funny, right?

I love typos.

A Little Behind.

2011-12-07T18:52:00.001-05:00

Oh, Friends, I am feeling a little behind this week. I have had meetings after school twice this week and last night was our Holiday program (the girls did a great job) and well, I'm just a little tired. And overwhelmed. And worried. About a billion different things. Mainly the fact that parenting is so very hard. And usually you have your first child and that's the one that you can try things out on and if it doesn't go so well then you've only messed up that one child. Having twins first...well, let's just say that I am worried I might be messing up two at the same time. I think I should win some kind of award for that.

And then it dawned on me the other day that this is Quinn's last Christmas with Mrs. Spry and that made me want to cry. Next year he'll be in Pre K, somewhere new, without Mrs. Spry. Ugh. It makes my heart heavy.

I am just trying to make it to next week. And then we'll be on break. And I can catch my breath. Amen to that.

{Side bar conversation: Want to win some IKE & CO goodness? I've got a couple of giveaways going on and you should enter them...here and here! Go! Hurry!}

Sadly, I don't have any new pictures to share. So I will leave you with this series from last December of my favorite little behind.

THe Story of IKE & CO - Chapter 2

2011-12-06T21:01:00.000-05:00

I had already signed up on etsy as a customer a long time before I ever started this venture. And so one night, I took pictures of what I had left and opened a shop. On a whim. Not something I would advise others to do. But, at the time, I didn't have anyone that I knew that did this sort of thing, and no one that I could turn to for help. So I took some pretty crummy pictures, one of my best friend's helped me come up with my original name – Charmingly Adorned – and then I waited. I figured it would be months before I had my first online sale. But it wasn't, it was less than two weeks later. (And believe you me, I jumped up and down and did some screaming. Then I called just about everyone that I knew.)

I would like to say that my shop took off then and there. But it didn't. Not hardly.

But some really important things DID happen. I continued to make sales in real life – friends of friends were starting to ask about stopping by my house to see what I had, ladies at school asked if they could take a bag of my stuff to church with them and sell things for me. I found that I had a wonderful supportive group of women in my life.

And, one night, I was reading blogs, hopping around and I stumbled on Crystal B's blog. I knew about her from reading the Nie Nie Dialogues and Chris had actually bought one of her necklaces for me for Christmas. She had written a post about her book club and what they were reading and it happened to be a book that I loved. So I commented. And then she visited my blog and commented on mine and from there, we began emailing each other and struck up a friendship that I wouldn't trade for the world. She made the third purchase out of my etsy shop – a necklace for her daughter – and encouraged me to keep going.

So, I had sales. I had started building a following. I had a mentor.

I worked for the next few months on crafting a style of my own. Learning new techniques. Reading articles and watching how-to's on youtube.

My online sales were building and I started doing give aways and advertising.

10 Things I Did This Weekend.

2011-12-04T20:07:00.000-05:00

First, let me apologize for the no picture post. I have no idea how that happened. Ugh.

1. Friday night we ate Chinese food and did a little cleaning. {The weekend was off to an exciting start, I know.}

2. Chris took the children to the Watkinsville Parade on Saturday morning with his mom, sister, brother-in-law and their kids. Then they went to lunch and out shopping for our angel tree kid. There was so, er, um, miscommunication in our house and I thought Chris would be back home with the kids prior to going to his parents' house to celebrate his sister's birthday. But he wasn't and I misjudged my time alone time frame and did not use my time wisely. Has that ever happened to you? It's kind of crummy. Crummy, indeed.

3. I worked on jewelry. Took a bunch of packages to the post office. Ran into an old friend there. I've missed her. We used to work together at my old school and seeing her made me realize just how much I miss a school feeling like "home" and the people in it feeling like "family."

4. I cleaned the shower and the toilet. I am at the point where my bathroom gets cleaned in stages. Not really the best, but something is better than nothing, right? Because pink is not an accent color in the shower.

5. Had a lovely evening celebrating Emmy's birthday! Happy Birthday (officially tomorrow) Em!

6. Chris and I are watching How I Met Your Mother on Netflix instant streaming. I don't know why we've never watched it before. I must say, it makes me laugh. A lot.

7. I have all of my Belle Chic sales mailed out. Booya! Yep. That's right. I just said booya.

8. In addition to that, I am almost finished with the latest Karen Kingsbury book. I'm a sucker for Karen Kingsbury. Just so you know.

9. I did the grocery shopping. {not very exciting}

10. I wrapped a billion presents. I did a billion loads of laundry.

And there you have it. My weekend. In a list.

Rainy Day Collection

2011-12-03T15:33:00.000-05:00

{will be listed in the shop later tonight!}

Happy Birthday, IKE & CO!

2011-12-02T06:00:00.002-05:00

I can hardly believe it! IKE & CO is turning 2 today!!! Can you believe it? I really can't! Thank you so much for being along for the ride with me. For encouraging and supporting me. For believing in me. Words cannot express my gratitude. Truly. {Although a giveaway and a discount code just might. Go here to enter!}

And in case you are unfamiliar with the beginnings of IKE & CO...here's Chapter One....

**************************

In the Fall of 2009, I was starting to find myself in a not so good place. I had a year old son, two daughters, a husband, a new job...and I just felt ho-hum. I had gained so much weight with my pregnancy and then lost it, but still just didn't really feel like myself. I didn't like my clothes, or my hair, or my style.

It may seem crazy, I know, but I felt like I could look better than I was letting myself.

And then there was the issue of money. I knew how tight money was for us – three kids with two teachers as parents will do that to you. And I couldn't imagine spending a lot of money on accessories. But I saw soooooo many cute, cute things out there.

So I thought about it and thought about it and thought about it. Mainly because that was what I had time for. I had just finished my 3^rd degree from UGA and went right into coaching one of my daughter's cheerleading teams...which ate up all the extra time that I thought I might have that fall.

At this point, I had been reading blogs for several years and writing my own for over a year. I was so inspired by the stories that I read out there and other women's style...and even though I loved Anthro, I knew I couldn't afford to shop there. So, I continued with my thinking.

And then it happened. I decided the week of Thanksgiving that I would make a few pieces of handmade jewelry for people in my life for Christmas. I knew how to attach a clasp to wire and I already had all of the tools for beading and jewelry making. Cheerleading season was over. Grad school – where I had spent the previous two years of my life – was over and I was ready for something new. So, I went to the local craft store, stocked up on what I thought I would need, came home, organized everything that I bought into one small box and then sat on the couch with my husband after the children went to bed that night and made three necklaces. The next night I did the same thing. And the night after that. And the night after that.

By the end of the week, I had made about 30 necklaces. No kidding. I was so relaxed while I was working on them. I loved it. I loved creating the combinations of the beads, imagining who I was going to give it to and how much they would love it.

I had spent years scrapbooking and had loved it, but this...this was ten trillion times better. I could give these away. I could wear my pieces out places and feel good about myself.

After my thirty necklaces were made, I sat back in amazement. My husband kind of sat back with a look of horror on his face. “What in the world are you going to do with thirty necklaces???” I looked up at him, “Ummmmm, wear a different one everyday?”

And then we came up with a plan. I had about 10 of them that I knew were gifts for people. And about 5 or 6 of them that I absolutely couldn't live without. But the rest...maybe people would want to buy them.

And they did. The ladies at church did and the women in my family did. And before I knew it I had made enough money to cover what I had spent to begin with and it was very exciting.

******************************

Chapter 2 coming soon!

Visit Me at A Little Etsy Love!

2011-12-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

Friends! Have you seen this shop - Piggie and Dirt - featured on other blogs lately? Well, I did and promptly feel in love, emailed them and they are doing a spectacular giveaway on Little Etsy Love today!!! One of these could be YOURS....

Lovely, right? They would be perfect in a bedroom, in a dining room, kitchen window, bathroom window, in a baby's nursery. So many places that they would be perfect in!

So go! Enter!

The Spelling Bee

2011-11-30T20:26:00.000-05:00

The girls have been hard at work, quizzing each other THE WHOLE WAY home with spelling bee words. {shoot me now}

This was what happened today:

Casey: Solve.
Chandler: What?
Casey: The word is: solve.
Chandler: s-u-l-v-e
Casey: Egh. Wrong! Try again...solve.
Chandler: n-o-c-h-o
Casey: WHAT????? What word is that???? That doesn't sound anything like solve!!!
Chandler: I know. I'm not spelling solve. I'm spelling nacho.
Casey: Whaaaattttt???? But your word isn't nacho!!!!
Chandler: It's three words down on the list. And I'd rather spell nacho.
Casey: *disgusted, big sigh* Well, you spelled nacho wrong too.

Humph. Something tells me that we won't be going to the National Spelling Bee this year.

What We Wore Wednesday Week 25 - Family Picture Edition

2011-11-30T06:00:00.002-05:00

{Linking up with Lindsey!!!}

No joke, I picked our outfits out for our family picture in September. And it was November before we actually had it done. Ugh. I am so horrible at scheduling and making appointments these days.

Anyway, here we are.... {drumroll, please}

{photo by Abby Libsack Photography}

Quinn:

khaki cords - Old Navy

brown striped polo - Gymboree (consignment sale)

navy blue tennis shoes - Target

Chandler:

denim jacket - Old Navy

cranberry crochet top sweater dress - Old Navy

brown boots - gift from Meme

Casey:

jeweled cardi - Old Navy

jeans - Gap

brown mary janes - Payless

Me:

flower print dress - Gap Outlet

orange cardi - Gap Outlet

boots - Target (last year)

Chris:

argyle sweater - Banana Republic Outlet

jeans - Banana Republic Outlet

brown shoes - Bass Outlet

I kind of felt like we were a catalog family that day. Like we had just stepped out of a catalog. Does that ever happen to you???

Decorating For Christmas

2011-11-29T06:00:00.002-05:00

We did our decorating over the weekend. **Note. I am not a fan of decorating.** I'm sure that you thought that I would be...since I'm kind of a crafty and such. But no.

Anywho, we put up the tree.

That really wore Bikey out...

I had a very LOOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGG talk with the children - Q in particular - about not touching my nativity set. I haven't had it out in years - first the girls were too little and then Q was too little....big sigh...for as much as I hate decorating, I love this nativity. LOVE. Like, it makes my heart sing, kind of love. And I find myself walking through the foyer instead of the kitchen just so that I can look at it some more.

When I was a mere babe and foolishly decided to get married (and divorced) while in college (undergrad), my dear wonderful Aunt Judy MADE this nativity set for me as a shower gift. While I was completely blown away by it, being that I was young and foolish, I don't think that I ever expressed my proper gratitude to her. The time that this must have taken her. Sheesh. I can't even begin to imagine. She poured the molds, fired them in the kiln, painted each piece by hand...amazing.

You want to see it, don't you? Good. Because I want to show it to you. (Don't mind the table.)

Here's the whole crowd....

Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus. Joseph looks kind of shifty, doesn't he? Like he might be looking for a way out of this deal? Just askin.

Here's the shepherds and the animals...

And here are our friends, the Three Wise Men. They are my favorite. She bejeweled them...even the camels (who are oh so cute). Again, the time and attention to detail...blows me away.

So, say an extra prayer that Q resists the urge to touch any of them. {We're a few days in and so far so good.}

After all the decorating, we watched White Christmas. This is the first year that the girls REALLY loved it...and that makes me REALLY happy!

ps - Have you shopped the Belle Chic sale???? There's still time! Go. Shop. And may the force be with you.

Holy Super Sale, Batman! {hello, cyber monday}

2011-11-28T08:00:00.004-05:00

So, I think we all know by now that I have a big Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale going on in the shop. Right? We DO all know that, don't we? Mainly because I can't stop yapping about it.

But here's something else that is going on today and tomorrow...I am also running a few of my things on SUPER SALE at Belle Chic. Seriously. SUPER SALE. That has to be typed in all caps. It's that SUPER.

These items...

...are even further reduced at Belle Chic! So, you're going to want to pass this information along. Tell a friend or two (or 12, whatever)...but not before you finish your shopping there first. There are limited quantities for each item and once they're sold out, well, then they're just sold out.

New!!

2011-11-27T20:11:00.000-05:00

I posted a few new things in the shop today...Yay!!! Such a sense of accomplishment when I make things, photograph them, edit the pictures, AND get everything listed in one day! :)

First up, the Wishing Necklaces. Love them. Simple, fun, made with sterling silver OR vermeil.

Moonstone Collection. More pieces to come. But for now, know that this necklace is to die for. Seriously.

A few more pieces to add to the Royale Collection. Because really, how can the Royale Collection NOT include a crown???? That is the question that I have for you.

Holiday Earrings. Perfection.

Thanksgiving, Black Friday and the Aftermath

2011-11-27T11:57:00.000-05:00

Goodness. I can't believe that it is Sunday. Already. This break flew by in record time. Here's the run down...

1. On Wednesday we did a lot of cleaning. And a lot of jewelry stuff. It wasn't a very exciting day. But necessary.

2. On Thursday morning I called Mom. This is how our conversation went...
Me: So, you don't want to keep my kids, do you?
Mom: Sure.
Me: Really? Like we can leave them there today?
Mom: Sure. I don't see why not.
Me: And they can stay until Saturday?
Mom: Yep. Let me double check with Tom, but I don't see a problem with that.

What, what???????? Score! So, we quickly packed clothes for the kids and broke the news to them that they would be having 2 sleepovers at Meme's. There was some screaming and squealing involved.

3. We had a fantastic lunch at Mom's. Matt and Chalise were in town from Texas, Ann and Randall came over, and it was just us. And I like it that way. Perfect. Mom made stuffing which was Q's favorite thing on the menu. He kept asking for more "fluffing." There are pictures from this event on many cameras out there...just not on mine. I didn't take a single picture. Isn't that the worst??? I hate it when I do that! Especially because I know there are pictures out there of Matt, Randall and Tom picking the turkey apart...and then of Matt making the carcass dance. It was one of the most disgusting (and hilarious) things I have ever seen. I also should have taken a picture of the to-die-for rum balls that Ann made. Sheesh. I think I may have eaten a dozen of them.

4. And then - holy smokes! - we left our kids out there!

5. We stopped by a couple of Michael's stores on the way home - picked up some big blocks for Q. The plan is to build some monstrosity for Christmas morning with them and fill said monstrosity with balloons. I don't think any thing would make him happier. Best part? 40% off. Hooray!

6. We ate grilled cheese sandwiches and french onion soup for dinner. Leaving the children with mom meant that we didn't get any left overs. Ugh.

7. We left the house around 9ish to go and stand in this line...

This is our local Target at about 9:45pm on Thanksgiving. The doors opened at midnight. We were in by 12:10. It was AWESOME. Let me just tell you, I have quite a few Black Fridays under my belt and this was really just about the best one ever. First of all, it was date night for Chris and I. We were determined to have fun no.matter.what. We made friends with the people around us in line - a couple about our age were in front of us and then a redneck guy was behind us - his wife was at the Wal Mart. They were trying a divide and conquer tactic. We had a list of things that we wanted to get, but if we didn't get them, it wasn't going to be a big deal. BUT....we managed to get EVERYTHING that we came for! Can you believe that luck!???! Super AWESOME!

It was 12:48 when we were pulling out of the Target parking lot. We moved on to Old Navy...madhouse...Macy's and a few other mall stops and then Toys R US. We could get in and move around at the Toys R Us...but the line...oy vay. Not good. Those poor people probably spent hours waiting to get in the store and then hours waiting to check out. Not fun, if you ask me.

I really think that everyone should take a cue from Target. Such a pleasant experience.

8. We got home a little after 3am. I can't tell you when the last time was that I was out driving around at 3am.

9. We slept until 11ish. Ate some lunch, lounged around, and then decided to head back out for a little bit.

We have a few odds and ends pieces still to get, but otherwise, Christmas around here is DONE. Hooray. Now if only the elves would appear to wrap all of this stuff.

10. We ended Friday by eating at Olive Garden. It had been soooooo long since we'd been there. And since we had no kids with us, we ordered dessert. Mine came in a liquid form.

This would be a Toasted Marshmallow Amour. I highly recommend it. Seriously.

11. Then, because my sleeping schedule was all thrown off, I couldn't go to sleep until 12:30. Not good, Friends, not good.

12. Saturday morning I headed out to Mom's to pick up the kids. We ordered pizza for lunch and watched the Ga. vs. Ga. Tech game. I love it when Georgia beats some Ga. Teach hiney. Just sayin.

13. Chris stayed home to WORK. Blah. Blech. Yuck.

Whew! I feel like I am still in recovery mode. I definitely need a few more days off to catch my breath.

This Is Me. {black friday sale info}

2011-11-24T20:52:00.001-05:00

This is me. Angie. {And my husband...his name is Chris. I love his bald head. Just in case you were wondering.}

These are my pretty fantastic kids.

Casey

{the oldest by one minute}

Chandler

{our middle child}

Leo Quinn

{the boy}

{pictures from Abby Libsack Photography}

These are just a very few of the things are in my etsy shop

IKE & CO...

...and they are all on sale

{25% off}

a Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale!!!
p.s. - I'd love for you to stick around and become a follower! ;)

Thankful. Part IV

2011-11-24T06:00:00.001-05:00

When I was a child, my younger brother was getting all heated up at the dinner table in a conversation with my father and my dad was all chill and laid back. My brother, exasperated, finally said, "Why is everything in your life such a joke???!!!" My father raised his eyebrows at my brother, looked around the table, let out a sly grin and replied, "I only have three jokes in my life. You. You. And You." As he said that, he pointed at me and my two younger brothers.

We all sat there in silence. No one was really sure what to say after that. None of us really got it.

But now? Now I get it.

And I am thankful for these jokes that I have in my life.

Not like a joke as in something that I don't take seriously, but a joke as in something that makes me laugh. And everyday these little people make me laugh. Even on my worst day the girls will have a spur of the moment dance party in the living room and I laugh. Or Quinn says something amazing, like today when he decided that he wanted his first name to be Log. And then he told our waiter that his name was Log. That's funny. And even though I didn't really want to, I laughed. A lot.

Don't get me wrong, it is really, really hard work...this whole parenting business. And a good 90% of the time I really, really don't know what I am doing. So I should also say that I am thankful that 90% of the time the kids don't know that I don't know what I am doing. See, it all works out in the end.

Just like I can't imagine my life without my parents, or without Chris, I can't envision a day without my jokes.

A Few New Shop Things

2011-11-23T21:22:00.000-05:00

Putting up a few new shops in the shop tonight! More to come over the weekend! Yay!

Fun new earrings...

The original Emerald City Collection sold out, so I've put together a Part II. :)

Thankful. Part III

2011-11-23T06:00:00.001-05:00

I am thankful for Chris. This man of mine. But this picture of us (the first picture of us ever) was taken before we started dating...when we were just friends (you know, when he was my student teacher)...when I thought to myself that whoever ended up with him would be so lucky...and he thought that I was hot.

You see, I thought that because Chris is kind. And smart. And has an unbelievable sense of humor. And he was spectacular with my children. Because at the time, I was a very single mom with 3 year old twin girls. So, dating me was like becoming an instant family, which made it kind of hard to date.

But with Chris, I truly think that the girls were a bonus for him. He loved them like they were his from day one. And when we got married, he told them...on a stage...in front of both of our families...that they were his and that he not only chose me, but he chose them too. He wanted them to be his daughters. {heart melting}

When we got married, I was pretty firm that I didn't want any more children. But having such a healthy, normal, loving relationship with Chris made we think that perhaps we should have just one more.

And so we had Quinn. Have I ever told you Chris's philosophy on newborns? He repeatedly told me that I had taken on the first nine months, and so he felt that he owed me a nine month period.

On top of all that, Chris is an incredible father. He is the kind that plays in the snow, that does projects and lets them cook with him. He watches movies and takes them out and about with him. He makes pancakes with them on Saturday mornings. He reads bedtime stories and takes care of them when they are sick.

Chris is pretty amazing. He is exactly what I want, what I need in my life. And I can't imagine being without him.

Why the Woods are Dangerous...According to Quinn

2011-11-22T17:44:00.000-05:00

He talked about this the WHOLE way home from the sitter's today, so when we pulled into the driveway I interviewed him. I knew that he would be instantly distracted in the house and it was just TOO good. And now I know, I should turn on the light in the car for such an interview. Sorry it's so dark. :(

Thankful. Part II

2011-11-22T06:00:00.002-05:00

I am thankful for my aunt and uncle. While my parents did an extraordinary job of being, you know, my parents...my aunt and uncle did an extraordinary job of being those people. I knew that my parents had to love me. They had to think I was great, beautiful, funny, smart, etc...because they were my parents. So part of me kind of doubted when they told me those things. But when Aunt Patti and Uncle Russ told me those things? Weeellllll, that was a different story. They weren't my parents and they still thought those things. So it must be true. You understand that logic, don't you?

So when I doubted my parents, I had these people to cheer me on. To support me. To lift me up. And I think that every child should have people like that in their lives.

And speaking of people cheering me on...Let me tell you about this woman.

This is my Gram. She is a woman who knows how to live life. She laughs a lot. And she helps me laugh a lot too. And laughter is important.

I really wish that I had a picture of all four of my grandparents together, or at least two and two on my computer, because I have a hard time talking about Gram without thinking about Papa. He teased me unmercifully. It usually went something like this...
Papa: I can't believe you're my granddaughter. I have a dago for a granddaughter. Sheesh.
Me: You have hair growing in your ears.
Papa: Dumb dago.
Me: You also have hair growing off your nose. Right there. On your NOSE.
Papa: You think that's funny, do ya?
Me: Yeah. I do.
Papa: Well, I think its funny that I love you.

And then he would dance with me in the living room. And then he would take Gram for a spin around the room while I sat on the couch and watched them.

And my dad's parents. I could write a whole post just about them. Seriously. They taught me hard work, perseverance, having pride in being American. They moved to this country from Italy and while they celebrated being Italian, eating Italian, speaking Italian and being members of the Italian club, they were also incredibly proud of their American family.

And then there is this girl...

Clearly I need a more recent picture of Molly and I. This one is from last October...since then, she has lost quite a bit of weight (looks amazing!) and I have gained quite a bit of weight. Eek! But I am thankful for Molly...and for our friendship that has spanned almost 20 years. Which is crazy, if you ask me. Pure craziness. But, she is one of those true, loyal friends...one that I know will be with me until the end. The knowledge of that makes me feel incredibly blessed. And thankful.

Disclaimer: My life is really full of amazing people. Truly. And I don't have pictures of all of them. So this post is somewhat lacking, and for that I apologize.

One Day Down.

2011-11-21T16:36:00.000-05:00

One day down. One day to go.

Hooray!

We are so in need of this break. Desperate need. A time to regroup, to recharge, {to restock the shop}. Big sigh.

Last night I made chili for dinner. Quinn apparently doesn't like chili and asked for some bread on the side. So I gave it to him. And then he asked for cheese. Again, no problem. Then he requested blueberries. Little did I know that my son was making a blueberry and cheese sandwich on honey wheat.

And yes, he is eating dinner topless. I find this to be a vast improvement from the days when he ate without bottoms.

Speaking of bottoms, if he told my mother once this weekend he told her a dozen times...

"Meme, I don't say BUTT, I say bottom."

and...

"Meme, I don't say what the heck, I say oh my goodness."

And then every time she would slip and say butt or what the heck, he made sure to correct her.

Hey! Do you read Meg's Whatever blog? I love it. And I loved being a sponsor of her last craft weekend! This was posted today on the Craft Weekend blog...just thought I would share. :)

Happy Monday!

Thankful. Part I

2011-11-21T06:00:00.001-05:00

I am thankful for my parents. All six of them.

My mom and dad divorced when I was really young. For a long time, I would imagine all of these crazy scenarios where they would get back together and my stepmom and stepdad would get married and live next door to us. Crazy, I know. But the fact was that no matter how badly I wanted a "normal" family, I also always wanted my stepparents to continue being a part of my life...a part of raising me and molding me into who I am today. It feels strange to even type the words, stepmom, stepdad, stepparents...because they aren't step anything. They are my parents in the same way that my mom and dad are. And I can't imagine my life with their influences, their guidance, their love.

And now that I am an adult, I have no idea how my parents stayed together for as long as they did. Really. They are so completely opposite from one another. Which, in turn, has made me a much more well rounded person.

My mom and I talk on a daily basis. Sometimes multiple times in a day. If I have a joy or concern or need someone to laugh with or cry with...she is the first person that I call. And I really don't know what I would do without her. So let's not think about that. Ok? Ok.

Several years ago my world was rocked when my dad was diagnosed with cancer. I have a hard time even typing that sentence without crying. {Ugh. Sheesh. In a puddle over here.} My dad is who I call when I need a laugh. I get my ability to swear freely from him. My dad also knows how to fix anything. Seriously. An.y.thing. It's pretty amazing. I also named my son after him (even prior to the whole cancer bit) because I love him. Admire him. Am proud of him. We have spent the past 26 years living 800 miles apart. We talk often and it is always without bounds.

{Don't you love how completely ridiculous my children look in this picture? Awesome.}

I also consider Chris's parents to be my parents. I can't tell you how many times I have called Sharon to ask her for opinions on parenting issues. She is the first person I call when I have an illness question. When Chan was cheering, there were several games when Ross went with me to support her while Chris was home with Quinn. They are both amazing grandparents and amazing role models.

I am thankful for my parents. All six of them.

Chandler...how I love this child.

2011-11-20T18:25:00.000-05:00

When my mother arrived on Saturday, I told her that her main job was to ensure that I didn't kill any of the children.

Seriously.

I am not kidding.

She offered to clean the bathrooms and mop the kitchen floor. I took a pass on those things and again gave her her weekend job description...Protector of Children.

Although, it would be difficult to kill this one...she's just too cute...and slightly awkward...which makes her even cuter if you ask me.

This is Chan being sad.

Why is she wearing that outfit? I have no idea. She spent two hours in her room cleaning and this is how she came downstairs. Purple jeggings, yellow tutu, penguin shirt and a winner of a hat.

This is Chan being happy. Aw, yeah, boyzzzzzz....

And here is a close up picture of the creation on her head. Just in case you need one. I know I did.

She crocheted it completely by herself. I think it kind of looks like the hat (not the colors, of course, but the style) on the singing telegram girl in the movie Clue. And that kind of creeps me out. Her stitches though, are tremendous. Like, really, really good (in her mother's opinion) for a nine year old and I am totally encouraging this craft....I could use a new sweater and I think she's just the girl to make it for me.

Of course, my sweater might have three arms and have to be tied together with yarn in the back. Just sayin.

I hope you like it. You might be getting one from her as a Christmas present this year.

Visit Me at A Little Etsy Love! {and more}

2011-11-19T08:45:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends! I seem to be, er, um, falling behind a little bit. Imagine that. Apparently I need Chris here so he can cook and I can blog. :)

We do, jokingly, tell people that all the time....he cooks...I blog. But in a way it's true. While he is cooking I am usually sitting at the kitchen table, blogging and emailing, and laughing, joking, talking about our day with Chris. It's kind of a nice thing. The children play upstairs and we have a few minutes to ourselves.

So, considering that I have been busy ordering pizza, chinese and driving thru McDonald's while he's been gone, I have fallen behind on my blogging. :)

BUT, I did manage to crank out my posts for A Little Etsy Love and you should visit me there! This week I posted about Twillypop (with a coupon and a giveaway!). OMG I love that shop! And I love this bracelet. How darling and perfect would it be to wear to a Georgia game??!!

I also posted about Elizabeth St. And I think we all already know how much I love that shop too. :) Betsy is offering an awesome discount for etsy love readers, but its only good through the next week. Perfect for someone to use to buy these origami globes for me. Because, really, the more I look at them the more I think I must have them.

Anyway, I am cleaning my house like a mad woman this morning. My mom is coming out around lunchtime. The Georgia game starts around noon, so we were trying to have her not get stuck in traffic. Hazard of living near Athens.

I also have a tremendous amount of jewelry stuff to get done this weekend/this week, to prepare for the holiday season. {You do have some IKE & CO on your wishlist this year, don't you???}

I have some really awesome stories to share about the kiddos and hopefully I can get those up this week too. Mainly because I know you need a good laugh and my children are REALLY good at providing that, but also because this blog is my journal of their childhoods. I think they will one day really appreciate that I documented their adolescence on the internet for all the world to see.

I hope you are all having one heckuva Saturday!

Occupy Athens

2011-11-17T18:59:00.000-05:00

It has really been amazing to me...the persistence of this group in Athens. I see them everyday on my way to work when I pass the Arches...

I think the protestors were still asleep in their tents. It is, after all, 7am when I am rolling through town.

CNN posted this video today talking about the movement and I think it's a pretty good explanation of what's going on.

What I Wore Wednesday Week 25

2011-11-16T20:15:00.000-05:00

Linking up with Lindsey for another week of WIWW!

Family Picture Day!!! {and I can't wait to show you what everyone else wore too!}

dress - gap outlet

orange cardi - gap outlet

boots - target

jewelry - ike & co

Molly's House

2011-11-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

I had not seen Molly since July. July, people. That's a really long time. So I met up with her Sunday morning for breakfast. This is when I seem to have time in my schedule. The breakfast hour. Crazy, right? So I went over to Molly's house for breakfast and every time I step through her door I fall in love with her house all over again. And then I snap pictures like a fool. (to write a blog post, of course.) And she laughs at me. And I laugh at myself because I realize that I really am like my father. Only instead of taking a bazillion pictures of the animals at the zoo, I take a bazillion pictures of the knick knacks at my best friend's house.

Do you see this mantel? Do you see this camera collection? At one point while we were sitting, drinking our coffee and chatting, I told her that I was going to swipe everything off the mantel into my purse and take it home with me. Would she notice? :) And the hosiery legs? Fabulous. Dish of succulents on the coffee table? Fabulous.

Cutest dinosaur ever? Yes, she does have the cutest dinosaur ever.

This is the other wall in her living room...

Do you see that on the top? Power lines. For decoration. Not vintage. CB2. And I love the collection of everything on top of the bookcases.

Speaking of bookcases. Big sigh. I have dreams of this bookcase.

In her dining room she has a collection of little clocks. And a few more cameras for good measure.

Center piece on the dining room table? Yep, Bambi in covered dish. Just as cute as cute can be.

Next time I'm over there I'll sneak pics of the spare bedroom. Lovely. Quaint. Oh, so very Molly.

She is always my inspiration decorator.

It's Monday...

2011-11-14T17:11:00.000-05:00

...and this is what I know...

1. I am already tired. Never good on a Monday when the whole rest of the week is staring you in the face.
2. I have PTO and a Reading Block Party tomorrow night for school. I won't be home until late. Like after the kids go to bed, late. Ugh.
3. Chris and I both have mega meetings after school on Wednesday. He won't be home until late. Like after dinner, late.
4. Chris flies to Chicago for NCTE on Thursday. Where he will be presenting. At a National conference. **go, Chris, go, Chris...it's your birthday, we're gonna party like it's your birthday (and now I am doing the running man and the cabbage patch, or Charlie Brown, whichever)** I am very proud of him. And slightly jealous.
5. OMG, Chris leaves on Thursday!
6. I am heading out to my mom's after work on Friday with the three children and Ike.
7. I plan on sleeping in on Saturday. And perhaps Sunday, too. Just sayin. I'm also going to let my mom cook for me.
8. Then I only have to make it through Monday and Tuesday of next week.
9. But first have to make it TO Monday and Tuesday of next week. Before I can make it THROUGH them.
10. I just don't know if I can do it.

Wishlist Part I

2011-11-14T06:00:00.001-05:00

I am having a hard time making my wishlist this year. I don't know why. Maybe there are just too many wonderful things out there. :)

Like I really want some of these...

I feel like we need new glasses. And I really, really, love vintage state things.
Vintage state things + Glasses = a happy Angie

1. hazel state glasses {set of 5}

2. vintage state glasses

3. illinois state glass

And I could definitely use some new vintage plates for the plate wall. In love with the art institute plate. I would happily hang all three of these.

1. art institute of chicago plate

2. empire state building plate

3. vintage illinois landmark plate

This is such a great etsy shop...That Old Blue House...I am smitten with these two in particular.

1. circled lace necklace

2. moon shine necklace

And while I know that my love for Vera runs strong and true (Happy Snails Bowler, yes, please.), I would certainly love to give one of these bags a try. Cute, cute, cute!

1. lucy jane purse
2. made by hank
3. lucy jane purse

I always love new things to hang on the wall. I have had all of these prints favorited on etsy for quite some time now. I can just never make up my mind. I love them all. And that tends to be a problem.

1. winter rains
2. the way you think
3. I believe...
4. happiness is homemade
5. READ
6. be awesome today
7. make today ridiculously amazing
8. a true love story never ends
9. chicago limited edition
10. chicago streets
11. chicago lakefront
12. italy

And then there are all of these awesome things that I just love, love, love. Big sigh. Do you see the problem in making a wishlist??? Too many decisions to make.

one. ruffled scarf
two. eva necklace
three. twillypop bracelet
four. felted brooch
five. gray cloche
six. linen love studs
seven. poor robin button bracelet
eight. modern necklace
nine. twillypop bracelet
ten. hippie necklace

Perhaps a paypal giftcard would be best. :)

Introducing Josephine and the Golden Treasure

2011-11-13T08:32:00.000-05:00

This week was kind of exciting for me because a HUGE box showed up on my front porch. I say that like I didn't know it was coming. I did. I had been counting down for it to arrive.

See, when I started this crazy jewelry adventure, I borrowed a vintage dress form from Molly (her mom, actually) and then told her that I pretty much wasn't giving it back. I mean, I certainly would have given it back had she asked for it, but I wasn't going to just freely bring her back the mannequin. Just sayin.

And then I kept thinking that I would find one on my own. A vintage one. Something really great.

Only I could never find one.

And I had something pretty particular in mind. Something with linen. Neutral. Pretty. Excellent condition.

So, I sucked it up and bought one last week. New.

And she is lovely. Her name is Josephine.

And here is a new collection being photographed on Josephine. Introducing the Golden Treasure Collection. {I kept wanting to call it the Golden Booty collection - you know, treasure, booty... - but have chickened out at the last minute.}

Visit Me at A Little Etsy Love!

2011-11-11T06:00:00.002-05:00

It's Friday! I think you should come visit me at A Little Etsy Love!

I'm blogging about Lee La La and IVIEMADE! Love both of those girls and their shops!

{lee la la}

{iviemade}

And just in case you were wondering, this has not been my most favorite of weeks. I am NOT a fan of the time change. Time change + Little People = no fun. I think I am going to have to drink one of these this weekend to recover. Just sayin.

{s'moretini - recipe found here - how I love the How Sweet It Is blog!!}

What I Wore Outtakes

2011-11-10T06:00:00.001-05:00

Every post that I write for WIWW has a few of these in the mix...

What I Wore Wednesday Week 24

2011-11-09T06:00:00.004-05:00

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy for another week of What I Wore!

one

aqua and white striped sweater - gap outlet

charcoal pants - docker's at macy*s

anne klein ballet flats - belk

two

coral sweater - banana republic outlet

jeans - gap outlet

brown ballet flats - old navy

one

heart bracelet - IKE & CO 

aqua bracelet - IKE & CO 

two

{I heart the buttons on this sweater}

vintage earrings - Darlybird

Here's a little story (and perhaps only my mother is interested)... When I visited my Gram in January (for the big interview) she surprised me by giving me her original wedding ring set. See, she and my Papa got married young. Super young. Like he brought her to his senior prom as his wife. Screeeeeeech. Can you believe that??? He had bought her a small (but simple and sweet) engagement ring and matching wedding band. She wore it until she broke the back the band of her engagement ring. And then for their 25th Anniversary he gave her a beautiful diamond band that she still wears today. Her first wedding set had been back in the box since the mid 1970's.

But she gave it to me. And it was probably the best gift she ever could have given me. I love it that she thought of me and wanted me - her first granddaughter - to have it.

I also really, really love rings. During the summer I usually only wear a band...I don't work during the summer, my fingers swell in the heat...blah, blah, blah... But lately, this is the combo that I have been wearing and I love seeing it on my finger... {I think my Papa would have loved seeing it too.}

bottom band - my wedding band circa 1920's

my engagement ring - circa 1920's

my gram's wedding band - circa 1948

A Song About Mr. Turkey and His Feathers

2011-11-08T18:35:00.002-05:00

A Story About the Moon.

2011-11-08T17:51:00.000-05:00

{as we pulled into our driveway this evening}

On our way home this evening Quinn was in love with the moon. He was convinced that the moon was going to follow us home. But the moon wouldn't fit into our house. Because the moon was too big to fit into our house. So it had to stay in the sky.

I (thinking I was oh so clever) suggested that he might be able to lasso the moon and bring it down to our backyard. (He is very interested in lassoing things these days.)

And he replied, very seriously,

"No. I can't lasso the moon. I not have any rope in my room."

So, lucky for us, the moon is going to stay in the sky tonight.

Random and More Random

2011-11-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

Here's a random post for you. Sometimes it just can't be helped. The random.

*****
I don't know how it is at your house, but we're having a hard time getting Q to stay out of the candy. He's kind of a maniac about it. And a sneaky maniac at that. He stole his pumpkin off the counter Saturday morning while Chris was in there loading the dishwasher. He and Ike had a lollipop feast under the table in the foyer.

I think the intake of sweets has led to nonsense like this...

Quinn was rolling Chandler around the upstairs in the toy bucket. I don't know why. I blame the sugar.

**********

Friday was a happy day for lots of reasons...one of them being that this came in the mail for me...

Vintage map pinwheels from Elizabeth St. I love her shop. She has oh so many cute things! Hip, hip, hooray! They make me very happy. Right now they're on the table in the living room, but I'm just not positive that that is where they are going to stay. We'll see.

I'm expecting some more happy mail things this week. I can't wait to share it with you!

ps - The Heartsy Deal is coming to a close! You should definitely pick up a store voucher - they're good through the end of the month but only on sale until tomorrow!

On a Sunday Morning

2011-11-06T09:47:00.000-05:00

These three left with Chris (along with a billion baked goods and vegetable soup for fellowship meal) for church this morning and I snapped this quick picture before they left.

They are getting so big, aren't they? They seem so grown up. These girls of mine. Chan and I walked upstairs together last night and I just looked at her - in step with me - and thought, OMG. When did this happen? They're going to be ten. Ten years old. I am clearly not old enough to have a ten year old.

And then I thought about the fact that my mother probably thought the same thing when I was almost 10 and she was almost 34. We had our children at the same age. And my grandmother had my mother when she was 24. So, we're all 24 years apart. Kind of creepy, right? My Gram also had her first child when she was 20, and my Great Grandma had my Gram when she was 20. So the three of them were all 20 years apart. So when my Gram was 34, she had a 14 year old. And I'm sure that she most definitely had that thought - I cannot be old enough. Although maybe she didn't because she also had a 13, 11, 10, 5 year old and was pregnant with the 6th child. Eek. I can't even imagine.

But, I digress.

So Chris left with my very old children and I stayed home...to sit at the craft table, to finish laundry, to listen to The Head and The Heart cd a few dozen more times this weekend (every song makes me happy and it is currently my Oct/Nov soundtrack to my life), and to feel guilty for not going to church with my family.

I just can't do it. It's almost like a writer's block. I have a church block in my brain right now. I haven't been since July.

Big sigh. That could be a whole post in itself, but I don't even know where or how to begin to describe the inside of my head on this one.

So, I'll just leave it at that.

Chris and my very old children went to church on this Sunday morning.

More New and Some Pics of Quinn!

2011-11-05T11:14:00.000-04:00

The Heartsy Deal is on! You should definitely pick up a voucher and get a jump on some Christmas shopping! Just sayin.

Quinn spent the evening in his underwear, dinosaur shirt and some mardi gras beads. I asked if I could take his picture and he said, "Wif my pumpkin." So here he is. Wif his pumpkin.

New!

2011-11-04T17:01:00.001-04:00

I've listed a few new things in the shop today! Yay! And there is even more on the way!!! I am hoping (cross your fingers) to be listing new things every few days for the next couple of weeks. High gear, people, I have to put it in high gear! :)

Did I hand stamp those babies? Um, no. I would love to learn, but alas, that takes time...which is a hot commodity on my list these days. I found them while I was out and about one day and fell in love.

And by the way, if you've been eying something in the shop, now might a good time to snag it...

I've got another Heartsy deal running this weekend (yay!) which means that you could score a really great discount! It also means that things could be a little bit busier in the shop this weekend and I have quite a few pieces that I can't duplicate...I would hate for you to miss out on the one that you really love!

Visit Me at A Little Etsy Love!

2011-11-04T07:00:00.001-04:00

Head on over and visit me at A Little Etsy Love today!

Yesterday, I featured a cute little shop...Lemon Drop Shop...

...they are offering a coupon code AND a giveaway! Hooray!

And today I'm talking about The Rusted Chain - awesome hand stamped jewelry made by a super sweet lady, Beki!

She's offering Little Etsy Love readers a discount in both her etsy and big cartel shop! WooHoo!

Can't Stop Thinking...

2011-11-03T19:41:00.002-04:00

Our community suffered a loss this week.

I should start by saying that I don't know this family. I had heard his name in passing - Coach Conway. Chris did some of his grad school work with Coach Conway's wife, Melissa. They went through the Red Clay Writing Project together...she was pregnant about the same time that I was with Quinn. He taught and coached many of my former students. But, I never had the pleasure of meeting him.

And yet I can't stop thinking about him.

You see, Coach Conway was killed in an automobile accident on the road that we live on...just up the street from our neighborhood...Monday morning on his way to work.

I travel that same road and believe me, it is dark. And the deer are abundant.

I can't stop thinking about his wife. She travels the same road and came upon the wreck shortly after it happened.

And I can't stop thinking about their little boy who is about the same age as Quinn. A little boy who will only know his dad through stories and pictures.

I also can't stop thinking about his students, his players, his colleagues.

Tragedies like this one tend to hit schools hard. Especially in small, close knit communities like ours.

Chris and I have since had multiple conversations about death this week. About what we would want the other to do if we were to die. Conversations that are considered morbid. Conversations that seemed ridiculous to us, up until this week.

But this week, I can't stop thinking about death. About how death has impacted this family. A family so similar to my own.

And since I don't know them, I do the only thing I know to do.

I pray for them. I pray for peace. I pray for comfort. I pray for help in getting them through this holiday season.

I just pray.

What I Wore Wednesday Week 23

2011-11-02T06:00:00.002-04:00

Linking up with Lindsey at the Pleated Poppy for another week of What I Wore!

1.  Out to lunch with Mom, shopping with Chris, buying a new car outfit.

mustard shirt - target

(from a few years ago and I wish I would have bought one in every color. Don't you hate it when that happens???)

cream open cardi - target

jeans - banana republic outlet

brown shoes - born

2.  bead show with Erin and Omie

green and white striped tank - gap outlet

gray open cardi - macy's (junior's dept)

jeans - gap outlet

gray bow ballet flats - sperry

3. work

gray tank - converse at target

gray cardi - old navy

black and cream herringbone trousers - dockers at macy's

black loafers - target

1.  all is well necklace - crystal b, long pearl circle necklace - ike & co, ree earrings in brass - ike & co

2. new moonstone and oxidized sterling silver necklace that will be in my shop pronto (ok. hopefully this weekend) In love. That's all I have to say about that.

More of the Weekend

2011-11-01T11:00:00.002-04:00

So at the end of the lovely street with the red leafed trees, there was a Honda dealership. I suggested that we stop by to look because

1. we are never in the area of that particular dealership (with a huge inventory)
2. we are never in the area without children

And so we stopped. And found a perfect 2007 Pilot...one owner...not too terrible on miles...and the payment would be almost $200 lower a month than the van.

Sold.

I mean, it wasn't quite that easy, but it kind of was. We looked. We talked to someone. We went home. We looked a few things up, got a few opinions, discussed. And then went back up there...test drove a few vehicles, made decisions, signed a billion papers, and then went to On the Border for a celebratory dinner. At 9:30pm.

I had the avocado fries and a skinny margarita. Kind of like ordering a diet coke with mcdonald's, I think. But oh so good.

When we pulled into the driveway we realized that we did not have a garage door opener with us. Or house keys.

I'm not gonna lie. That kind of sucked.

We drove the twenty minutes to Chris's parents' house to get a key and then the twenty minutes home and I think we were both ready to collapse.

*******

Saturday I went to the bead show with my bead show partner, Erin, and her mother (also my friend), Omie. We had such fun! I can't wait for you to see all of the fantastic things that I bought at the show. I want to stay home all week and play with beads.

And then had lunch at Mellow Mushroom. Hooray! I had the avocado hoagie. {Are you noticing a pattern???}

********

Chris ran some errands in Athens (aka, went to the growler) and brought home Inoko (hibachi) for dinner. We caught up on some Jimmy Fallon. I love him. Just in case you were wondering about that. Now you know...and you don't have to wonder any more.

Quinn on Halloween

2011-10-31T20:13:00.002-04:00

Happy Halloween 2011

2011-10-31T19:46:00.000-04:00

To start our Halloween off right, Grandpa and Gram sent one of their magical boxes to the kids from Chicago. As always, the squealing began before the box was opened. And then we saw what was inside and a hush fell over all of us....Chris and I for a different reason than the children. We were in shock. Horrified, shock. The children were also shocked. Amazed, shocked. See the difference?

It was a box of candy. I repeat, a BOX of CANDY.

Ike was also shocked at the box of candy. And he desperately wanted to sample a few pieces.

The girls were a bumble bee and a senorita flamenco dancer. Chandler chooses her costumes solely on the shoes she might be able to wear with it. Casey based her decision on the use of wings.

They're starting to be really awkward, aren't they? I love awkward middle schoolers and that is definitely the direction in which they are heading. They also have really long arms, don't they?

Drew, CB and Loralai came over for dinner and then we headed out. CB and tried to take a few pics of Q and L before leaving. I clearly get an F on the assignment. They just wouldn't stop moving.

At the first house we went to they gave out candy AND glow in the dark bracelets. Quinn was confused by this. I don't blame him. He wasn't prepared for a bracelet.

On our way up their driveway he kept saying, "I have to ding their door!"

And, of course, I just love the pictures of Quinn holding Chris's hand. And then CB and I bid farewell to the men and the children and headed home to answer the door.

I don't even know where to begin.

2011-10-30T19:06:00.000-04:00

Before I start this story (which I am sure will be much longer than I ever intended for it to be) let me just share with you one of the nicest things that has been done for me at my new school. We displayed book fair posters and you get to keep the display posters. When I took them down, I did so very carefully to keep them in good shape for the PE boys to hang in the gym at school. When I got to work on Thursday, this was on the circ desk...

...with the nicest thank you note from the two PE coaches. I totally felt loved. And I am a fool for some Krispy Kremes.

Ok, back to the post...

Maybe I should begin with the conversation I had with my mother last weekend...

Me: blah, blah, blah
Mom: And when do I get to have the children again? It's been like a month since we've seen them.
Me: Um, well, you can have them next weekend if you want.
Mom: Um, okay. Yeah. I think next weekend will work. I actually have Friday off because I have a doctor's appointment in the morning.
Me: Well, we have Friday off too for Georgia v. Florida.
Mom: Great! Meet me for lunch on Friday and I'll take the children home with me for the weekend.

And hot diggity dog, just like that we scored a weekend off!

Of course, we already had some plans made for the weekend (me, hitting the bead show with Erin, Chris hanging out with colleagues to work on their NCTE presentation), but other than that...we were free!

So, we met Meme for lunch at Chili's. Chan, of course, ordered ribs. Quinn shocked us all by ordering a corn dog and broccoli. What an awesome kid, right?

I love these pictures of Quinn and my mom.

Chandler was hard at work.

I made Chris take a picture of mom and I in the parking lot mainly because every time we meet, we are dressed similarly. I think we may have the same sense of style. Or perhaps I stole her style. Whatever. Whichever. I always feel like we look alike. That's what I am trying to say.

But all in all, this has to be my MOST FAVORITE picture from the whole day... (drum roll please) heeeheee

After we dropped the kids off, we shopped around the North Point area a bit. We went into a home decorating store (I even think that may have been the name of it...it's the place next to the Toys R Us.) and I found my happy place. It involved these orange pieces, the vintage ad posters and the fantastic vintage typewriter print...

On the way home we had a moment where we weren't exactly sure that we knew where we were. I didn't really mind because the road was lined with the most beautiful red trees...

...there's more (clearly) to tell of our weekend off, but if I keep going at this point, its going to become a novella and not just a longish post. I try not to go the novella route. Just sayin.

Visit Me at A Little Etsy Love!

2011-10-28T16:00:00.000-04:00

Check out my features this week at A Little Etsy Love...some giveaways and coupon codes from...

Lazydoll

And Maie Dae...

You're Already Home Where You Feel Loved*

2011-10-27T22:31:00.000-04:00

Hi. I'm Angie. This is my blog where I write about... well, a lot of different things. It's where I am a writer. This blog is part of my home. My home is part of this blog. This is me...

...trying to look fierce. Or perhaps the sun was just in my eyes. Whatever. Did it work? The fierce, I mean?

These are my peeps....

I have twin daughters and a son. I have a husband and a dog too, but they couldn't compete with the little ones when it came time to collage. They understand. It happens.

Wife. Mama. Daughter. Sister. Christian. And also librarian. (No, really, its my day job. I am, in fact, an elementary school librarian. And I love my job. My job of helping children fall in love with reading.) Blogger. Jewelry designer. Etsy shop owner.

This is my studio...and some of my fun things...

...although, if I am being honest, my table is never that clean. Unless we're having company. And maybe not even then. Do you love the lime and the gray? Yeah, me too. One of my better painting decisions.

I hope you'll stick around. I would love to have you!

*"Lost in My Mind" by the head and the heart (my current favorite song)

Cause and Effect

2011-10-27T06:00:00.003-04:00

While I am very glad that this is over...

...ah, yes. Book Fair. Now make no mistake, I do love the book fair. But it is A LOT of work...and I spent my Saturday afternoon up at school getting it all packed up. But I am still recovering and we are swamped with stuff at school again this week. And so when I came home and found this...

...on my front porch...UGH...I didn't even know that we were a booing sort of neighborhood! And now I have 24 hours to boo 2 more people. I just don't see it happening. Chris had to teach class and so it was just the kids and I for dinner. The house was a mess. I had already worked a full day and ran errands after work (because it is Halloween week at dance class which required finishing their Halloween costumes before the weekend) and it was 6 by the time I made it home with Quinn. And I was tired. Tired and hungry. And I had just been Booed. Which added one more lousy thing to my plate. Boo for this. Not a fun game in my opinion. And all of that led to this...

...yep, eating dinner at the counter of the waffle house.

A simple story of cause and effect.

What I Wore Wednesday Week 22

2011-10-26T06:00:00.002-04:00

Linking up with Lindsey for another What I Wore!

One

black short sleeve turtleneck ~ banana republic outlet (last year)

black and white polka dot skirt ~ target

black faux snakeskin flats - gap outlet

Two

khaki v-neck sweater - banana republic outlet

denim skirt - target

tights - bass outlet

boots - bass outlet

Reminder bracelet - IKE & CO

faux snakeskin ballet flats - gap outlet

chandelier earrings - IKE & CO

True Stories.

2011-10-24T19:12:00.000-04:00

I received a text from my cousin Jimmy (a yankee) this weekend...  It went like this... 

Jimmy:  What do you call that thing where all the food is dumped out on the table?

Me:  We call it awesome.

Jimmy:  What would I call it?

Me:  Low Country Boil....or food you're not gonna eat.  :)

Me:  Why?  Are you telling someone about your cracker cousin and her cracker friends and what they serve at parties?

Jimmy:  No, it was on a tv show that Julie flipped on and I said, "Oh no!  Not that hillbilly way to eat!"

Me:  My mom says you should bring Julie down and she'll cook one in your honor.

Jimmy:  That's not a way to get us to come down there.  

*******************************

The girls race into the library everyday after school and Chan makes a beeline for the window at the back door to watch the other students at bus dismissal. Today, I asked her why...

Casey: Oh. Its because she wants to wave good bye to Justin.

Me: Oh? Justin?

Casey: *in hushed tones* It's luuuuuuvvvvvv. *makes a heart with her index fingers and thumbs*

Me: Chan, is this true?

Casey: Oh, yeah, it's true alright.

**Chandler is completely beet red**

*****************************************

Quinn waited up for me to get home from my late night at book fair last week. When I walked in...

Me: Who is that sittin on the couch waiting up for me?

Q: It's me, Mama.

Me: Me, who? What's your name?

Q: It's me, Lilo Winn!

Hello, speech services! The poor boy can't pronounce his first or middle name - Leo Quinn!

The Red Line...and some hoops!

2011-10-24T06:00:00.001-04:00

I really do love red coral. And I love the color combo of the red and turquoise together. What a great way to brighten up some of your fall and winter outfits!

And I think we all know how I love some hoops...

There are times when I feel old. This was one of them.

2011-10-23T19:01:00.000-04:00

Over the weekend, I went to the wedding shower of one of my former students. {We can all groan together now. Ugh.} I taught Chris when he was in 8th grade. He has since graduated from high school. And college. Is almost finished with his Master's degree and is in his first year of teaching.

Clearly I was a child prodigy and went into teaching when I was 12.

Because I just can't believe the age of some of my former students. They are so old. Like, they're grown ups. They have real jobs and are getting married and some of them *gasp* even have babies.

I did not give them permission to grow up.

These pictures are of Em (now a Doctor...she teaches at Vanderbilt), Chris and I. Em and I taught together for four years. Next door to each other. We used to dance to Vanilla Ice in the hallways and talk through a hole in the wall in between our classrooms. This girl knows me. It's good to have people like that. She's popped my blisters before. No joke. That's friendship. We are also *awesome* at school dances and wedding receptions together. We know how to rock the dance floor. We also now know that we are perfect wedding shower dates - the veil we made in one of those shower games was stunning.

Chris was actually in Em's homeroom. We had a tough competition that year to see whose homeroom would sell the most....um, er...magazines, maybe? I don't even remember what the competition was aside from that Chris would taunt me in the hallway, and well, I gave it right back to him and somehow the L on the forehead became our greeting to each other. See what I mean?

{8th grade dance, high school graduation, wedding shower}

And I can't talk about former students without talking about the mothers of former students. Oh, how I love these ladies...

{Omie, Lianne - mother of the groom, Emily, Me}

And Lianne, God bless her, told Em and I that we don't look any older than we did when we taught Chris. And that she still thinks of us as we were ten years ago. We wanted to take her with us everywhere. I have felt very blessed to have taught 3 of her sons (2 of them are going into education, and possibly the third...I like to think that I may have had a little to do with that). I've also taught 2 of Omie's children...I now consider her daughter Erin to be a friend of mine. These women are who I strive to be as a parent...amazing, outstanding ladies that have raised wonderful children.

And I'm not really sure how it happened that I didn't take a picture of Angel (his future bride) and Chris together. She's super cute though...take my word for it. And sweet and makes Chris very happy, which of course, is most important.

Harry Potter

2011-10-22T10:00:00.002-04:00

The girls have found a love for two things...

1. Harry Potter (which makes me insanely happy)
2. Taking sketch pictures with my phone.

When you combine the two loves, this is what you get...

There were also these sketches on my phone...

Yep, that would be the front left side of our house taken from the backseat of the car.

And that would be our garage. In case you were wondering.

Visit Me at A Little Etsy Love!

2011-10-21T06:00:00.005-04:00

Yesterday, on A Little Etsy Love, I wrote about a super cute shop, Lillypie {with a discount code, woop!}

And today I am featuring Note Trunk (for all your stamping needs)...with a discount code and a giveaway! Yay!

Giveaway Winner!

2011-10-20T22:28:00.000-04:00

The giveaway winner is....

Megan #11

Yay!!!

Send me an email at ang4332@hotmail.com and I will tell you how to redeem your prize!

How do you teach children empathy AND gratefulness?

2011-10-20T06:00:00.002-04:00

There was a day last week that was particularly rough. I had a student steal an opened carton of milk out of the cafeteria in the pocket. The milk spilled, their pants were then wet and other children ratted the child out. The teacher later confided in me that the child took it because they don't have any food at home.

It broke my heart.

Sadly, this isn't the only child like this at my school and we are not the only school like this in our district. And I think it's pretty safe to say that there are similar cases in almost every public school in America.

That night, I went home and found a complete and total disaster in the girls' bathroom. Squalor. Complete and total squalor. I can't even tell you all the gory details because I am (still) so disgusted by it. I was furious with them. I yelled. And perhaps screamed a bit. I sent them to bed for the night...without dinner.

I went downstairs and ate a really wonderful, home cooked meal (with enough for left overs) with Chris and Quinn. I had a tall glass of milk with dinner. And I couldn't help but think back to the child in my library earlier that day. I am quite sure that they would be grateful for all that we had to offer at our house...in a way that my children are not.

Chris and I talked about this issue during dinner. We know that the girls care about others. They make the choice to help others through missions and when presented with an opportunity to help, they jump at it. We talk as a family about why we donate clothing, why we donate food, why we volunteer in our community.

I know that if they knew about the child at school they would probably start smuggling food to them. They are empathetic children. They want to help and do the right thing. They hurt for others.

But they don't know how to be grateful for what they have. They just don't seem to grasp that concept.

My mom and I talked a lot about this...I was grateful as a child because we didn't have a whole lot. We moved a lot. My parents were divorced. There were times when I wanted to do things and my mom had to tell me no because we couldn't afford it. There was a summer when we lived off of hot dogs, creamet salad and sun tea.

Is there a way to learn/teach gratefulness without having hardships in life?

**ps - as for the dinner, I caved and sent Chris up with plates for both of them.

Bikey in Pictures and More!

2011-10-19T06:00:00.020-04:00

In the following pictures, he may or may not be getting into trouble. My house may or may not be a slight disaster.

Regardless, I didn't take them...Chris did and they were a surprise on my phone. I do love to find surprise photos...

And apparently there was a shortage of bread at the Publix that I wasn't aware of (and really just of the kind that we eat)...

I missed a trip to this place (one of my favorites)...

...because this was going on....

and so all that was left for me to do, while Chris ran in and bought stuff to make whole wheat pizza with pesto, fresh mozzarella, green peppers and black olive pizza (YUM!), was to take pictures (clearly) and admire my sneakers and contemplate the new ones that I plan on buying soon.

ps - Have you entered the giveaway?

My New Favorite Thing.

2011-10-18T06:00:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago when the girls and I went to the cute little antique shop in Athens, I was plagued by a couple of things that I didn't buy. You know, when you pass something up and then can't stop thinking about them? Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. So, Chris and I ran a few errands over the weekend and I stopped back in and HOORAY! they were still there.

I bought a few milk glass pieces that I plan on using if I can ever work up the nerve to actually do a craft show. Nothing too exciting there.

The exciting part? Ohhhhhh, yes.....here it is....

I spotted this, tucked away in a little booth, and went, "Huh. That looks a whole heckuva lot like the Shedd Aquarium and the Planetarium in Chicago right on Lake Michigan."

And you have to know, I love the Chicago museums like a fat kid loves cake. {please don't take offense, just trying to illustrate my love of the museums.}

But I didn't buy it. And then I was plagued. Mind you, it said nothing about Chicago on it, I just thought that was what it looked like.

And so I decided that I really did like it...even if it wasn't Chicago. Because I really like sketches and city scenes.

So I bought it (and then did a little jig clicking my heels and everything on my way out of the store) and then looked up this James Swann fella when we got home.

Low and behold! He is famous for his Chicago etches! This one IS the aquarium and planetarium, done in 1952. Mine is most certainly just a print (a smelly, yellowed print at that, which makes me love it even more), but still they seem to go for anywhere between $100 and $500. Which makes me feel fantastic about what I paid for it...

Yep, yep. $10. Amen.

{ps - have you entered the giveaway?}

Reminder Bracelets.

2011-10-17T15:00:00.001-04:00

...because sometimes you just need a little reminder...

ps - Have you entered the giveaway?

Apparently Church is Working.

2011-10-16T22:50:00.000-04:00

Quinn has been invited to sing with the Children's Choir this year for the Christmas services. I'm not sure that this is the best idea ever, but, you know, we'll roll with it. He is taking this Jesus stuff seriously (as exhibited in the above video) and by our dinner conversation.

Quinn: Knock. Knock.
Chris: Who's there?
Quinn: Jesus.
Chris: Jesus who?
Quinn: Jesus come into my heart.

(And then Quinn squeals with laughter and commands everyone else to laugh with him. I do love some homemade knock knock jokes, so I most definitely laugh with him.)

And then his follow up joke, you know, the one that is supposed to really bring it home...

Quinn: Knock. Knock.
Chris: Who's there?
Quinn: Mamaxine.
Chris: Mamaxine who?
Quinn: Mamaxine my baby.
Chris: I'm not sure I can get behind you on that one.

{Mamaxine is Mrs. Maxine, his Sunday School teacher. If you don't know her, you may not find this one to be quite that amusing, but trust me, it is. :) }

Giveaway, Royale Collection and a sweet turtle! {closed}

2011-10-16T14:23:00.001-04:00

So....we did a little voting last week and I think that you may have purposely split the vote just to see what I would do then. Am I right? ;) So, here's the deal...WE'RE HAVING A GIVEAWAY!!!!....and A DISCOUNT CODE!!!!! {are you dancing? I might be dancing a little bit.}

To Enter the Giveaway...

1. Follow this blog...and leave a comment on this post that you follow!

2. In a separate comment, tell me what your favorite piece is in the shop right now.

3. Mark my shop as a favorite and in a separate comment, let me know that you favorite!

So....3 ways to enter...3 separate comments. Easy peasy.

What am I giving away? How about some $25 shop credits? And here's the deal, for every 50 entries, I'll give away another gift card. Just to make it a little more fun. :) So I think you should spread the word...the more entries, the more gift certificates given away!

Winner will be announced on Thursday, October 20th.

There will be some new things listed in the shop today. Yay! Like these...

And this sweet little turtle...

{I always think of Molly when I see a turtle. Just thought you would like to know that.}

And if you're like me and can never wait to see if I won the giveaway or panic that someone might get the thing that I would pick if I won the giveaway and then I couldn't buy it after I lost the giveaway...well, yeah, if you're like me, you just want the discount code so you can buy up whatever it is that you would pick if you won before anyone else got their grubby little paws on it. Ahem. That may be going a little too far. Just sayin. Hopefully you're not really like me. Two of me might be a little much.

So, use this discount code when you check out...

CELEBRATE

to receive 35% off your entire purchase!

(excluding shipping)

Now you're dancing, right? Go ahead, get a little jump on your Christmas shopping.

But I think you should still enter the giveaway. You know, just in case you might win. :)

Visit Me at A Little Etsy Love! (Again!)

2011-10-14T06:00:00.001-04:00

Today I'm featuring one of my favorite girls ever, Laura at Lollieland over at A Little Etsy Love. She's done some custom work for me in the past and I love, love, love her. In need of some graphic design? You should definitely check her out. Need some new prints? Yep, visit her for that too! So, head on over to A Little Etsy Love...Laura has generously offered up a great giveaway!

I Struggle...

2011-10-13T21:43:00.000-04:00

I struggle with feeling complete. With feeling a sense of accomplishment at the end of each day. With worrying that I haven't crossed enough off my list.

I struggle with balancing my life...and the guilt that I feel - Q spending more time at daycare, moving the girls to a new school, wanting to work out and craft...

I struggle with parenting. I worry about the twins - encouraging them to be individuals, pushing them in different directions - not always sure what is best for them. Do I baby Quinn too much? {don't answer that}

Honestly, I stopped writing my posts daily because I worried that people thought I complained too much. I carve out time on the weekend and plan out all my posts, writing diligently throughout my Sunday afternoons. I've had the weekend to slow down, to stay in my pajamas, to work on jewelry and snuggle on Saturday mornings with Q. I feel good. And so I tend to write about things that I feel good about, or that are lighthearted and make me laugh.

But I hope you know that that is not how it really is. I haven't spoken to many of my friends since the beginning of the school year...I just don't have the energy. I haven't been to church since July. I can't make the drive into Athens for anything other than to and from work. I don't want to go back there. I am lucky to go to the gym once a week. I let 4 sessions that I had paid for with the trainer expire because I couldn't commit to a time to meet with her - and when I did try to find a time, there were only 2 available days out of 10. While Chris used to cook dinner 5 or 6 nights a week, that number is slowly dwindling - because what sounds good over the weekend no longer sounds good during the week.

I feel like my "normal" has shifted in this ugly, ugly way and I am struggling.

Votes, Please. :)

2011-10-13T21:15:00.000-04:00

Two items of business...

1. Don't forget to vote on the 1000 sales celebration...big discount or big giveaway? Poll is on the right hand side bar of the blog.

2. Another Heartsy deal may be in the works...But I need you to vote "yes, definitely" HERE.

Okey dokey, artichokey?

Awesome. And happy Friday Eve to you. :)

Visit Me at A Little Etsy Love!

2011-10-13T15:00:00.003-04:00

One of the other girls at A Little Etsy Love has a lot going on right now, so I stepped in to help her out. So, you'll be hearing from me on Thursdays AND Fridays over there! WooHoo! Today is all about my favorite place to get bracelets. Seriously. And she lives in Atlanta, which makes me love her even more. :) So, come visit me A Little Etsy Love and get a discount code to Tied Up Memories!

A Trip to Starbucks

2011-10-12T06:00:00.001-04:00

I'm sure that I've written before about how the girls love to go to Starbucks. My aunt and uncle started taking them for Vanilla Beans when they were, oh, I don't know, old enough to drink out of a straw???? So their love for that place runs true and deep.

Last Friday we had Fall Festival at our school and rather than drive home (28 miles) to drive back (28 miles) to drive home again (28 miles) we just stayed in town. We went to a couple of cutesy antique places and ate dinner at Starbucks. Is that a failure as a parent? Maybe so. Did I score mega points with my children? Why, yes, yes I did.

And not to make this trip any different from the others, as we walked in, Casey said, "Ahhhhh, I love this place. This is where girls become ladies." *big sigh, deep breath*

Where they got this from, I have no idea. But they say it every time we go there.

And then we stepped up to the counter and the guy said, "What can I get for you Ladies?"

The three of us died. We burst out laughing and I'm sure the guy thought we were super strange. So I explained to him (while the girls hid behind my back, dying of embarrassment) why we were laughing and what the girls say about Starbucks. He found this to be amusing too.

And when we picked up their vanilla beans...he had written this on their cups....

...and then they died some more.

Please note that children did actually eat a real meal in addition to their vanilla beans...they had chicken salad sandwiches, a fruit cup and a brownie. Just in case you were wondering.

This kid is pretty great.

2011-10-11T15:00:00.004-04:00

I love him. And not just a little....a whole, whole lot.

ps- don't forget to cast your vote in the celebration poll --------->

Casey the Writer and My New Workout Plan

2011-10-11T06:00:00.001-04:00

Casey came downstairs the other day and said, "Soooooo, what do you think???? Do I look like a writer???" And, well, the answer is clearly a yes.

When we went shopping last weekend, I let the girls pick something new from Claire's and all that they wanted were fake glasses. Ahem, Molly? I really think they might be your children.

*************************************

I also had an epiphany last week. I have fallen off the working out wagon. My schedule is just nutty and during the week it is almost impossible for me to make it there. But then I suffer from guilt. And things just go downhill from there. But then came the epiphany and I think its going to turn things back around for me.

I am going about it all wrong. Over the summer, I was going 3 to 5 times...during the week and saving my days off and cheat days for the weekend. Clearly, this is no longer working for me. So, I need to turn it around. I need to go to the gym Friday, Sat and Sun...when there is a little more time to squeeze it in and cutting myself a little slack during the week.

Not too long ago, I had a melt down...on the phone with my mother...in the parking lot of the post office. Awesome, right? And she said something amazing to me. The problem is that I keep putting too much pressure on myself.

And so, I am taking the during the week pressure off. During the week, my job is my job, my family, and getting the girls where they need to be. Period. End of story. I have to make it day to day and then I can concentrate on everything else over the glorious, way too short, weekends.

So, this is my new plan. I'll let you know how it goes.

ps - don't forget to cast your vote using the poll on the sidebar--------------------->