Merry Christmas

It has been a wild, and amazing year, I can't believe how fast it has gone!

I hope you have all had an amazing year as well.

Shutterfly

As a mom I have taken many, many photo's of my lovely daughters over the years, and since coming into the digital age of photography, I have checked out the numerous websites to store and print my photos from. Shutterfly.com has been one of my favorites just because of its ease of use, and their prices are always awesome!

I would love to get a couple of these wall art prints at some point, they are super cute!

This year for Christmas I decided to do some photo calendars for all the grandparents and great grandparents! They are turning out amazing so far, if I do say so myself. I also have been thinking about doing photo Christmas cards to send out this year as well, there are just WAY too many to choose from, but after I had picked out a few layouts that I like, I saw a post on Facebook about Shutterfly doing a special for bloggers...http://bit.ly/sfly2010.

I always have regular prints in need of order too, and they come out so perfect. Family photos are always the perfect gift for any occasion for your extended family, Shutterfly even has an option to send something directly to the recipient!

You can't beat that now can you?!

Check out Shutterfly for all your photo needs too!

Sharing the knowledge...

Elderberry syrup is something I have known about for a few years now, and I really love how it helps my family fight the winter crud. So when NatesGirl over at Give Peas a Chance posted on her blog last night, I just thought I would link to it here, with hopes that even more of you will get to see the great information she has shared!

http://pleasegivepeasachance.blogspot.com/2010/10/elderberry-syrup.html

Thanks again!

BOO

So a few weeks ago I came across this adorable blog eighteen25, I was looking for some Halloween and Fall decorating idea's and BLAM, there it was. This was one of the first idea's I instantly fell in love with.

Frightfully Fun Frames.

Here is my version. I am happy with the way it came out, what do you think?

Next up...Spirit Jugs.

craftaholic?

I love to craft. Over the years I have beaded, scrapped, sewn, crochet, stamped...You get the picture. I still do a lot of these things, but I sometimes get on craft overload. There are always sooooo many things out there giving me great ideas that I can't get them all done.

Then I also feel like I have a bit of craft ADD! Does anyone else feel this way sometimes?

I have probably 4-5 projects that are partially done, but yet I went and bought new yarn and knitting needles yesterday and am determined to teach myself how to knit now.

A nice quiet sunday.

The girls and I are on our own this weekend as daddy had to work, so I have been trying to keep them entertained by myself. We made a table tent and they played dress up. After lunch I did their hair and put them in cute dresses and we went out to snap some fall photo's!

It was a bit windy, and I probably should have waited a couple hours for the sun to go down a bit further, but here they are.

Now we are working through a big bowl of popcorn, and watching a couple of movies.

What a great sunday we've had!

Toddlers...looks can be deceiving

My newly turned 3 year old is a seriously frustrating breed of little girl. Don't get me wrong, I love both my girls with all my heart, but WOW, she can really put the terror into the terrible two/three's. J is funny, imaginative, silly, and snuggly, but put clips in her hair to keep it out of her face and WATCH OUT. She threw a mother of a tantrum this morning while I was getting her ready to get out of the house for some errands. I split her hair down the middle and put 2 braids to the back, then the clips to get part of her bangs that we are growing out, out of her eyes. She went on to scream bloody murder at me that she didn't want to be pretty...Yeah, I know, how dare I.

Randomness

Children can be so random sometimes...

I just finished painting my girls' finger and toenails, they are happy as can be! Made them some lunch and they are sitting at the table eating, and C comes in and says..."Wouldn't it be cool if MLK Jr was still alive?" Where did that come from? She cracks me up, I of course reply yes of course it would be cool. He was a very inspiring person, and the world could of course benefit from his dream! She said, yup, turned around and went back to her lunch! WHAT A NUT.

Busy

Things have been busy around here this summer. Different projects, crafts and keeping the kids entertained is busy work. We even took a 2 week vacation up to Colorado Springs.

C started 4th grade last week, I can't believe how time flies. J also started back to her Mom's Day Out program at the local church, which she really enjoys. Plus it gives me a little break to do something alone twice a week.

We are gearing up for our second season of soccer. I will be coaching again, as well as some duties on the of the Board of Directors. C wasn't sure if she was going to play again until after a fun week with Challenger Sports British soccer camp. Those guys are amazing with the kids and she had a lot of fun. I was even able to take a short coaches clinic. I learned a few new things to do during practices, which is a bonus for sure!

I recently decided I was ready to get back to college and get a degree finished. The hard part has been trying to figure out what I really want to do. I plan to start classes come spring, so I will keep you up to date on those activities!

The garden that wasn't...

So I tried my hand at starting seeds for a veggie garden this year. I started some seeds in a mini greenhouse on my table in March. The little sprouts took off like crazy, and I was super excited to get some delicious home grown vegetables out in the yard. I was working on plans for a square foot garden even! My zucchini sprouts started pushing the lid off the greenhouse within a few weeks, so I repotted them, and put the lid back on the rest, praying it would be about time to get them outside pretty quick.

Sadly we had some crazy late winter weather and my poor little sprouts died off before I could get them outside.

With a few seeds left in my packets I bought new peat starter pods and replanted a few things....only to have them blown around the yard by a darn wind storm when I was out and about one evening.

I have now come to the conclusion that I am not a gardener...I can grow flowers, but vegetables are NOT my thing.

Happy 101 Award

This is super cool, Give Peas a Chance sent this over to me, her last blog(before she posted this award) was Honey Bee Sweet Specialty Sugar...ummm HELLO, go check her stuff out, she makes fantastic tea, and some other amazing looking things I have yet to try! Not to mention an adorable felted wool mermaid that my J-bug ADORES!

Here are the rules:

1 Copy and paste the award on your blog.
2 List who gave the award to you and use a link to her blog (or hyperlink).
3 List 10 things that make you happy.
4 Pass the award on to other bloggers and visit their blog to let them know about the award. (I am going to pass this award on to Paging Jessica, and Memories and Mischief!


1- a wonderful husband who puts up with my never ending projects and adventures
2- my girls and their giggles, hugs and kisses

3- good food
4- friends to share things with
5- a roof over my head
6- fabric to play with
7- wonderful things to create rolling around in my brain
8- the ability/pleasure of seeing new places
9- a wonderful extended family
10- making others happy

Thanks so much for passing this on to me Give Peas a Chance!

Update

I completely forgot to let you all know that there has been a change to my store location...but only in a minor way!
Two awesome congo's on Hyena Cart have joined forces, and I am a part of it. The new Congo name is Bliss, and I am still Homemade Love.

Thanks for checking us out!

A few changes!

I have to say, of all the things in my life that have an impact in my life, the Internet has been a major factor for about the last 12 years of my life. The net gave me AOL and my husband (yes I met my husband inadvertently in a chat room when I was 19!), as much knowledge as I can plug into a search engine, more ideas than I know what to do with for crafty projects, and of course a whole slew of people who I only know online! I am a member of CafeMom, and LOVE one particular group of ladies I have come across in awhile. One of these said wonderful ladies designed my new layout, and I want to give her major kudos. If you need a fancy new blog layout, or just another fun blog to read, check her out at Paging Jessica!

Thanks again Jess <3

Not me Monday

Yes folks, it's that time of the week again! I know I am not the only one who has a deep love/hate relationship with monday!

Today, I most certainly did not feed my sweet little J a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for BREAKFAST! PBnJ is lunch food, so why would I give her that in the morning?! Nope, i sure wouldn't do something so silly!

I most certainly have never gotten into bed at night and laid there for about 45 seconds before realizing I hadn't brushed my teeth, but since I was already comfy, stayed put and slept with dirty teeth...EWWWWW why would I do something like that?? Why would I even share something like that with ANYONE?! I wouldn't, I also never invite my neighbor in to let the kids play with a sink full of last nights dishes either!!! Nope, I am perfect and always go to bed with a perfectly spotless house! Not me.

So tell me, what are some terrible things you have/would NEVER ever do!!!

Happy monday to you all :D

A little bit of information!

I have recently "gone into business" for myself :D I have become a HUGE lover of sewing, along with my other craftiness, and thought, what better way to enjoy my crafts, than to share them with others! I have been selling some adorable little skirts, headbands, eye masks, tutu's, and some yummy bath salts, sugar scrub, and even some lip balm!
If you want to check out my stuff and haven't already, go check out Homemade Love! Also check out the whole Sugar n Spice Congo, which is where my store is! These ladies make some gorgeous things, mostly geared toward cloth diapering, but also some pretty cool things all the way around!

A little background for those of you who aren't familiar with Hyena Cart. It is a collection of stores that are all child, earth and family friendly items! Every store there is privately owned, and there is such a diverse collection of items for you to browse through!

I have been thinking of changing the name of my "store", but haven't fully come up with something that sounds better. Any ideas?

Stuff

You know I believe I am a really easy person to get along with. I don't push my beliefs/view on people, I am non-confrontational, go with the flow kind of girl. When people get on my nerves for whatever reason, though, I just want to scream. Women are fickle by nature. We can't expect to be friends with everyone, so when you run across a person that is nice, and you get along for the most part, awesome! Sometimes though, there are things about a person you just cannot overlook, and so instead of telling them they are a big lame idiot, you just pull away gently, but act polite if greeted by said person in public, or via public forums/chat area's.

Now that it has been brought to drama, I remember why I hated high school so much....

I wish people would just grow up sometimes.

PS: I know this is a bit all over the place...just kind of getting my thoughts out of my head.

Updates on our move

Nothing terribly exciting going on in our household. I did figure it was time for a small update though while I was perusing other blogs and while the little one is napping and her big sister lays on the couch here in our hotel room huffing and puffing at me because she "doesn't like naps".
We have made our move across the state, and even have a house to our name. We are (im)patiently awaiting the delivery of our household goods in a 1 bed, 1 pull out couch hotel room on the base, and let me tell ya folks, thursday isn't coming fast enough!

I have sooooooooo many things I want to do to our new home its insane, especially considering I was not thoughtful enough to keep out pieces of each girls' room to get paint chosen with. I have a strong desire to go to Goodwill, and any other local consignment type stores to see if I can stock up on glass jars, a new(to us) microwave (the old one fritzed out a year ago), and anything else that might be made into a fun project to keep me entertained for awhile! I am supremely missing my sewing machine right now! I keep thinking of new things to craft up, for our use and maybe the possible future for selling my wares for some extra play money :)

Well thats about it for now I suppose. Just wanted to let anyone who cares/reads my blog to know what's up!