Still here, but not for long!

Happy New Year! A few days early, I know, but this will likely be my last post until we move. We are getting things purged, sorted and packed, including these two crazy little people! If I look away from any empty container long enough, this is always what I come back to find!

I do hope you have a wonderful beginning to 2010. I am scribbling away on any scrap paper that hasn't been packed with new ideas for this space, giveaways, my etsy shop, and hope when I return I will have a fresh crop of lovely things to share. Love you bunches! ~M

Very Merry

Please consider yourselves on my mailing list! =) Here's what our card looked like, designed by the lovely Kori Clark. You can find her shop here.  Anticipation is building, and I probably won't post again until we recover a bit from Friday, but I wanted to wish you a very merry Christmas. xo

Calm and Bright

Pretty quiet around here waiting for my in-laws to arrive and the festivities to begin... happy Monday!

Friday Love~ Taking a Moment (or two)

Happy Friday! This week seemed so long for some reason, perhaps because Trace was fortunate to get a full week in at work, and that is a rarity lately. In spite of it seeming drawn out, Friday kind of snuck up on me~ so much to do! The move is coming up at lightning speed (2 weeks and 3 days!), and suddenly just today I am feeling the crunch. The panic. And the craziness. I am so thankful for a God who knows my innermost thoughts and knows that I am at times my own worst enemy. He knows I am more than a little crazy and loves me still. And He puts things in my path that will help me.  Today I am loving:

~This blog post by Aimee at Homespun- Threads. I just happened to check blogger this morning (something I don't always do) and saw the title of the post. And it couldn't have come sooner. Surrounded by packing boxes, wrapping paper and gifts, and zooming 'super-hero' children,  I forget sometimes how important it is to stop doing and just listen. Especially in this season when the world seems to be so anxious and busy, I find it so refreshing to just 'Be still' for a minute and truly listen to hear what He is saying. Celebrate today that God sent his son into the world!

~Seeing Christmas through the eyes of my sweet Remy. He doesn't get a lot of it (and who does!?) but to hear him talk about Baby Jesus laying in a manger and then processing that is so awesome. 'Don't the animals get hungry?' 'Did they try to snack on Baby Jesus?' 'Why didn't they just get a crib?' 'I think Baby Jesus would like to get Spike (the three foot tall, remote control dinosaur that would likely run over his sister...). Since we can't get it for him, could we buy it for me?'

~Cleaning out the freezer. Now, I realize that this sounds a bit odd, but suddenly it hit me yesterday that we aren't going to pack up and take a lot of the stuff in the freezer. And being the pack rat that I am (thanks, mom!) I have tons of stuff frozen from our CSA this summer and various other 'good deals' that I came along at one time or another. So, you can bet there will be muffins, breads, and berry-loaded goodies in our future. Lots of them! =) I'm eating a banana muffin as I type!

And now I'm off to 'take my moment', so to speak. I will try to be around some next week, but my in-laws get here on Monday, so no guarantees. Happy Weekend!

Holiday Brights

Sorry for two posts in one day, but I just couldn't figure a cohesive way to put all this stuff together. I think I've mentioned before that we're not so 'traditional' around here, and some days I really wish we were. We've only had a tree this year and last, and it's only a three footer so it can be easily put on a table and out of the path of destruction of the littles. Other than that little tree I don't do much decorating. I wish I did, and I poor over etsy and holiday magazines dreaming of someday... But this morning I was feeling a bit of 'Christmas cheer' (by singing loudly for all to hear... ?) and we decided to do a little finger-painting. I had grandiose visions of wreath paintings that we would hang somewhere. Remy set about his page vigorously, creating an abstract piece.

Halle's was a bit more (okay, a lot more) guided and turned out pretty cute too!

And here are just a few more pics of the 'bright' things that are flying out of my sewing machine...

This new 'boy' fabric is so cute! Remy has already stated that the next thing I make with it is his!

The anatomy of a tantrum

Remy told me this morning, in his infinite wisdom, that 'Every day is a good day for cookies and jammies.'. We kind of lived by that yesterday. Our apartment is drafty, and seeing that I can't get Halle to keep socks on to save my life, I decided that clean pjs were the order of the day. We made cookies after nap time, and Halle decided that she really needed another... Here's what ensued (and sorry for the green tint~ we have a nasty florescent light in our kitchen...). Have you ever wanted a cookie so bad?!

Poor thing, I'm starving her and taking pictures to document~ shame on me!

Sneak Peak

So I'm in the process of making resolutions... I love this time of year! I am that girl who still loves a fresh, empty notebook and new erasers... ahhh, that first day of school! And each January I kind of feel like that again~ time for a fresh start. I may not follow through with each thing on the list, but I do my best. I think the biggest thing is that I make goals that are attainable yet stretching. God gives us each the capacity to do amazing things that are, at times, wildly beyond what we think we are capable of.  (Remember Phillipians 4:13: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength.") Obviously in the forefront of my mind is what is in store for us in our new home. I am so excited that we will have a new church family to get acquainted with too, though I must admit I am not very good at stepping out to meet people. The shy girl in me will really be out of her comfort zone! But that's exciting, isn't it?!

I think a lot about what will come of my shop in the new year. I am so thankful and surprised at the way things have happened in the last few months, and I can only think that 2010 will be bigger and better for 2 sweet things. I am already busy, amidst the packing and Christmas mess in the apartment, sewing things that will be available in January for the shop.  I hadn't sewn in a few weeks, and yesterday at nap time when I found my machine among the wreckage, it was strangely comforting to hear it's hum again. I can't sew fast enough to even begin to keep up with all the ideas flooding my brain! I thought I would share a few pics of some things to come. It's a dark day here, so they are a bit hazy, but you'll get the idea, I think. I am loving this new color palette, and the best part is that it's a mix of repurposed and vintage things, so nothing wasted!

More peaks to come! Happy Tuesday!

Just a Good Ol' Boy and other Monday things...

Good morning! I am feeling quite productive today already, so I thought I would get a jump on things and post while the littles are having their morning snack. (It's only 8:15am here, but when they get up at 5:45, snack time comes early!) We went to the outlet mall yesterday to buy me a coat for our move up north. I found what I was looking for, and then as we walked around the mall we saw the glorious thing that we had seen sitting in the aisle several visits before. The General Lee. I realize that I am in effect admitting to our southern, dare I say hillbilly, leanings, but... To Trace and Remy, both of whom love cars and the Duke boys, this is quite a find. We were also feeling a bit nostalgic about these being our last weeks in Tennessee, so we decided that Remy did, in fact, need to sit inside. Where in Illinois is one just going to happen upon the General Lee in a shopping mall? So Remy climbed inside (all with permission, of course!) and we took a few pictures. We were disappointed to find that the horn had been disabled, but it was still pretty sweet. In truth, Trace really wanted to get inside with Rem but didn't want to ask... so he lived vicariously through our boy. We do that a lot, I think.

In other news I have decided (AGAIN) to be more diligent about working out and eating better. The scale and I are barely on speaking terms these days, so I decided to post about this here to perhaps find a little accountability from all you lovelies. I fight this fight constantly, and I know this isn't the first or last time I've mentioned it here. Last week's stomach bug was indeed a good start =), but I truly just need to stick to it. I am lazy. And busy. And the two things don't make for an environment conducive to being healthy. Sigh. So here I go again...

Yes, I retouched the photo a bit~ I just couldn't bear to have the numbers completely out there. And please don't mind the half-painted toe nails... Man, now that I post this, I realize I must really like y'all~ this is full-disclosure! The orange marker is where I am today, and the yellow is where I'd like to be- about 30 pounds. Yikes! Anyone else out there care to join me in a pre-New Year's Resolution?

We have a busy week ahead. I'm starting to pack up the non-essential things in each room. The crazy thing is that as soon as I pack something it becomes essential, why is that!? I packed up recently unread books on Saturday in the kids' room, and literally moments after taping the box shut, Remy comes asking for a book he hasn't read in probably 6 months!

I'm also going to get sewing again. I have several projects cut and ready, and I should be able to post some in-progress things soon. Valentine's Day has me all excited, and I have some adorable limited items lined up for the shop! Until then, I'm having a sale in my shop to sell through some holiday things and to try and clear out my inventory for the move. All bibs come with a FREE burp cloth or another bib, and booties have FREE International First Class Shipping. Have a great Monday, and I'll be back soon!

Friday Love~ On the Mend

Happy Friday! Thanks for your kind tweets, emails, and comments yesterday. I am feeling much better today, though maybe not yet 100%. My sweet Trace pampered me something awful, and I think that helps! 
Today I'm loving: 


~These etsy shops: In my quest for handmade gifts this year I have found some of the cutest things on etsy, so I thought I would share a few of the shops that I purchased gifts from. I am constantly amazed at the awesome caliber of talent on that site! (Oh, and the things pictured aren't necessarily what I bought!)

Tracy B. Designs

Eco Crafted Bird Gift Tags

Stephanie Fizer

Friendship is a Sheltering Tree Notecards

She Sews Lovely

Funky Christmas Eco Coffee Sleeve

This song: I have this David Crowder song in my head, so I thought I'd share. It's so good!:

He is jealous for me, 

Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,

Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.

When all of a sudden,

I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,

And I realise just how beautiful You are,

And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,

Oh how He loves us,

How He loves us all

Yeah, He loves us,

Oh! how He loves us,

Oh! how He loves us,

Oh! how He loves.

We are His portion and He is our prize,

Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,

If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.

And Heaven meets earth like an unforseen kiss,

And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,

I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,

When I think about, the way…

~This girl. I know, I know, I say that constantly, but I am so in love with how her little personality comes out more every day. She's a firecracker, this one, so watch out world!

Doing a little grocery shopping...

She was really annoyed at me taking her picture while she changed Baby's diaper

This time she posed...

Time is passing quickly, and we only have a little over three weeks before our move- I can't believe it! At five weeks, I felt crazy packing because it seemed so far off, and now I am starting to feel the panic. I may start a little packing this weekend... I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for reading! I hope you know that I truly appreciate each of you and your kind thought, words, and encouragement! Know that you are much adored by me and loved by God!

Mommies don't get sick days & and other various reasons this day is not my favorite...

Print from Valentina Designs on etsy

Well, I started this post in my mind feeling bad for myself. I woke up this morning to some sort of stomach bug and haven't gotten to feeling better. I left the title to this post because, frankly, it cracked me up, but what this truly has made me realize is that I am very blessed & grateful on this cold day.  It was my morning to sleep in, so Trace bundled up the littles in their coats and jammies and took them out to get milk & donuts. What a great way to wake up!  I am also feeling fortunate that he was able to tweak his work schedule today so that he can go in around nap time~ I do get a sick day! I am also kind of glad to be stuck inside because it's so cold out there! Cold as it may be, however, we have been keeping an eye on our new home in Illinois, and it is really cold there! They cancelled church last night due to the cold~ Yikes!

I had another post ready for today about my new diet and exercise plan (please note the sarcasm...), complete with a picture of my scale. But, another reason to be grateful, I have always thought that there is no better way to kick off a diet than with a few days of a stomach illness, right? You cannot tell me I'm the only one who has dreamed of the mild flu to get the scale started in the right direction...

Plus, I woke up to two sales in my shop! This day is stacking up to be yet another one of God's great gifts to me! Happy Thursday!

Taking it Easy

R & H relaxing a little bit this morning

Well, we're back after a week-long blog hiatus. Oh, how I've missed you lovelies!  Our trip to Indiana was great, except that it was COLD! No matter how many times you've been in it before, you forget that freeze-your-face-off kind of wind that pierces you in the morning. But the craft show went better than I expected, and my mom and I saw tons of old friends. Dresses and bib sets were selling like hotcakes! (Do hotcakes really sell that well?! What even is a hotcake? A pancake? The mind reels...) The littles had a wonderful 'G-ma and Pawpaw Day', as Remy called it, while we were at the show. I'm sure my in-laws slept well after that! Our drive home was met with snow in the first half, which made it slow going, but we survived.

I am trying to get back in the swing of things around here, but with Christmas, craft shows, sewing, and moving on top of it all, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. (And I'm probably repeating myself... do I say this all the time? Sorry!) Today I am listing a ton of new and favorite goodies in the shop, so please take a look. There's still time for holiday delivery, and I'd love to gift wrap something and send it to your sweet things!

Happy Wednesday, and I do hope to see you back tomorrow!

Wednesday Wish List

Today's wish list is more philosophical in nature. I've been thinking... Halle has recently learned names: mine (Mommeeee), Trace's (Daddeeee), Remy (Memmeeee), and her own (Halleeeee). I was thinking about this and love that it's like suddenly she knows who she is. And yesterday I sat in their room at nap time as they slept for about 20 minutes just looking at those sleeping angels with those killer long eye lashes, and I thought 'What more could I wish for?' Then the weight of mommy-responsibility flooded over me, and I thought this is it: my primary job in all this is to ensure that they truly know who they are- Beloved children of God and loved by me & Trace. And we try to convince Remy in a world of must-haves and toy catalogues that it's enough. It is enough. That's my wish for today.

1 John 3:1 says "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

On another note, this weekend the kids and I are headed to Indiana, so I'll be away from this lovely blog for a few days. On Saturday I will be having a table at the Wawasee Middle School PTO Holiday Craft Bazaar~ I'd love to see you there!