A truckload of crazies

This is how I feel when I take my girls anywhere and I consider them to be very good natured and well behaved (for a 6 and 2 year old well behaved is a relative term).  I try my absolute best to A) Get wherever we are going early. B) Get in, then get out. C) Have some sort of bribe at the end of our outing. D) Keep a sense of humor. I don't even bat an eyelash anymore when my 2.5 year old licks the shopping cart.  My standard response comes tumbling out -- "Get that out of your mouth.  That's yuck." 

Today, the errands were (sort of) short...Target then a local store called the paper zone.  The bribery?  A trip to our local kid fave The Jump Around Fun Zone -- which is on the way home. 

We made it through the errands and pulled into the parking lot of the fun zone.  We walked in the door and I, as always, was surrounded by MY PEOPLE.  People looking to wear their kids out.  Parents cashing in their bribe chip for a kid's job well done.  It was a great day to go...No runny noses or barking coughs, not too crowded.  Parents were chatting over coffee, browsing the inter webs on their laptops, catching up on phone calls, or reading books.  The kids were bouncing off of...well...everything.  But that's what this place is great for.  It's filled with bouncy houses.  It sounds like the asylum pulled up with a truckload of crazies but I don't even hear it.  I'm relieved we crossed a couple of errands off of our list, I have a coffee in hand, and doing some inter web browsing of my own...just taking a few minutes to catch my breath before we head home for the afternoon. 

The real pay-off of this stop is at bed time.  Two tired kids, asking to be tucked in. 

Sweet success.

A Truckload of Treasuries!

I'm so delighted to present some of the recent, fall themed, treasuries that I've been featured in on ETSY!  If you find anything that tickles your fancy you can find all of these lovelies, and more, all created with love, by hand, on www.etsy.com!

It's not you...it's me.

I remember struggling so much with self doubt, self image, and fitting in in my teenage years.  Something has happened since those times.  I don't know if this is what comes with maturity or if it's something else but, for the most part, I've stopped trying to be accepted.  Somewhere along the way I just realized it's easier to be me (thank goodness!). 

It breaks my heart when I see amazing young ladies falling into those same awful social traps and drama that used to snag me.  If I could go back to myself 20 years ago I would give me the words in this song:




Don't get me wrong, I still occationally so battle with self doubt but the voice of doubt is a smaller one.  It whispers instead of shouting.  I realize the the opinion I have of myself and the opinions of those I love really matter.  If you are a good person, who gives it their best effort at every turn (and who sometimes falls flat on their face but get's back up) despite doubt and worries, everything else just falls into place.

Kindness

A quote has been on my mind lately.  "Be kind.   Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."  This quote has been attributed to two different people, depending on where you do your research (T.H. Thompson or John Watson, if you are interested). 

It puts so much into perspective, doesn't it? 

Follow the Rainbow



I've been thinking of working more with felt lately.  A lot.  Maybe it's because it's winter and wool felt is warm or maybe it's because I've been soooo inspired by these beauties! 

 

 

www.thetrendytot.etsy.com



 

www.tianache.etsy.com



www.luckyloulou.etsy.com



www.happyaslarry.etsy.com





www.therainbowroom.etsy.com

 

www.therainbowroom.etsy.com

Not only is felt Eco-friendly but it's sturdy, forgiving to work with (this is a huge plus, for me), versatile, and comes in a rainbow of colors.  I almost sound like the Lucky Charms leprechaun. 

Scarf Weather

If you are anything like me when you hear the words Scarf Weather you immediately hear a chorus singing "It's the most Wonderful time of the year...!"  I'm a certified scarf geek.  I think I have even gotten away with wearing them in the dead heat of summer, but I do live in the Northwest so the Dead Heat of summer is usually somewhere around 78 degrees.

In honor of "Scarf Weather", and scarf lovers everywhere, I present to you my current favorites from around the web:  





Scarf by RainydayNYC



www.baymut.etsy.com



www.knitfrekkles.etsy.com

 

So, are you saying to yourself "...and that's where she lost me." or are you like me sitting here drooling over these gorgeous, and functional, winter must-haves?

**Almost** Technology Challenged

I've always known that there's more I don't know then what I do know.  The challenge is...I know just enough about quite a number of things to be dangerous.  Let me explain...

I've assembled enough cribs, book cases, and toys to almost never read the directions anymore.  This has gotten me into trouble more than once when I "complete" my assembly only to find there are left over pieces.

After assisting a high  school boyfriend with countless hours of car repair I know enough about the innerworkings of a 1968 Chevy Pickup to lift the hood on my much newer (and more electronics based) car when it's having engine trouble and start "troubleshooting".

I've solved enough of my own computer problems to understand, at the most basic levels, how things work but can I figure out for the life of me, how to embed a photo into my blog from another website (all authorized and with permission, of course)?  No. 

I did just figure out how to post a YouTube video, though, which was a very exciting moment.  In honor of this achievement I give you a song that has frequently been stuck in my head over the last week:



Don't hold it against me...I listen to the Kids only music channel on cable a lot.  You have to admit (or maybe you don't) this song is pretty great, huh?