My Etsy Shop!

I have been wanting to create an etsy shop for a very long time now and finally got it started with three items.  My shop is for girly things such as hairbands, and hair clips.  Although I want to add more to it as I go and sell specially made onsies, girls clothing, crocheted items, as well as knitted items I create.  I wasn't much of a crafty person until I had my girls and then I wanted to start making things for them to use or wear.  I am really excited about finally getting it up and running!  Now I need to start getting crafty and creating a few more items to add to my little etsy shop.  They have what's called an etsy mini that you can add to other sites which lists the items you have in your shop (seen above).  I really liked this idea and added it to my blog so I hope you enjoy looking at my items!  They are fun and whimsical and a great accessory to any little girls outfit!

Balancing Act

As of September 1st I became a single parent to my two daughters which I managed just fine but have decided to go to school full-time online.  I have struggled with balancing my school work, house work, and spending time with my girls.  I take 12 credits and this is my second quarter online.  The problem with this is that my girls do not care about time management as they are 4 and 1 1/2.  They have certain times for a nap yet fight me EVERY day...even though they have been doing this for their whole lives.  This also goes for bedtime in the evenings.  It seems that anytime I try to set aside for school ends up getting put off a little longer to deal with the meltdowns of two little girls wanting to stay up later, afraid they are going to miss something exciting.

My 1 1/2 year old daughter, which is the one that is now in a toddler bed due to climbing out of it, has learned to open doors and figured out our baby locks and now plays with them.  Unlocking the cabinets and then locking them up again.  She also learned to climb over baby gates.  I swear she learned all of these things within the same week!!  We have stairs in the house and I constantly have to try and keep her in my sights to make sure she isn't acting her age and getting into everything she shouldn't while avoiding all the things she could play with and actually enjoy if she just had a longer attention span.

I am trying to also get an Etsy shop up and running selling girl/baby items.  I am currently trying to create an original banner as well as a business card to include.  Because my life isn't busy enough as it is why not add one more thing to the list.  Of course this also takes up some of my time as I have to craft these items myself to sell.

Sometimes its a good thing to just step back take a breath and really prioritize everything.  Although I have so many things that I would LOVE to do.  So many things I want to try and accomplish, I guess I need to make a list of goals of things I would love to do in my life and start checking them off.  Starting with finishing school!

Troublesome Toddler

Yesterday I was just exhausted so when I laid the girls down for a nap I decided to take one myself.  After laying in bed almost asleep my eldest, 3, came in and started talking to me.  She said, "Mommy sissy climbed out of bed all by herself!"  I went to look at her and sure enough my 1 1/2 year old was standing next to her with the most accomplished proud grin on her face.  So I decided to try again...and she just wasn't having a nap PERIOD!

Today I went to lay her down and heard my phone ring, so I ran into my bedroom to grab it and walked back into the room only to catch my toddler with her legs already swung over the side and starting to shimmy down the side rails!  I gave up and took off the front of her crib, converted it to a toddler bed, now I am just struggling to keep the monster in bed for a nap.  I am outta luck today because everytime I lay her down she gets right back up!  *sigh* I do not know if I feel like fighting this battle today....maybe tomorrow!

Singing Sensations

This morning I decided to take the girls to get a doughnut at the local grocery store, sit down and eat it, then continue on getting the groceries I needed since I had allowed us to completely run out of milk which is a big no no here.  Everything was great we headed over there got our breakfast and sat down at one of the tables in the front and really enjoyed each others conversations.  Nothing like the ramblings of a three year old and one year old at breakfast!

We got up and headed through the store to collect our groceries but this time the girls decided to sing the WHOLE way around our local store.  This was not quiet singing to be enjoyed just by their mama who loves and cherishes their original songs, lyrics they make up out of thin air, no instead the whole store was to hear what they had to sing about today!  At first I tried to shush them but then decided to pick my battles and let them keep occupied with singing instead of grabbing for things off the shelves.

I got stopped three times throughout the store from strangers saying how enjoyable the girls were making their grocery shopping and how they enjoyed hearing the girls belt out the notes as they walked through the store gathering their own groceries.  One even said how my oldest reminded her of her younger son and that she was a rock star in the making with singing her own original tunes.  As we got into the checkout line a sweet older lady approached me and asked "Are those your angels we heard singing while we were in our office?"  I said "Yes I am sorry they were disturbing you with it!"  Her response was, "OH NO! We thoroughly enjoyed listening to it while we were doing the books here!  Please make sure to bring them back to brighten our day again!"

After all the compliments I got I will no longer be embarrassed but a proud mommy at my girls originality and courage to sing to any who will lend an ear.  The world is their stage and they are ready to perform for them! (Whether or not you want to hear haha).

One of my biggest struggles....

There are several reasons why I decided today is the day to begin this journey to a healthier, fitter me.  I have a back injury from 2003 that I got two herniated discs from.  The doctors told me I needed to watch my weight seeing as the more weight I put on the more pressure gets put on my discs.  This is compromising my back and taking away precious time with my family when it acts up (which is become too frequent).  I want to show my girls through my actions how to lead a healthy active lifestyle instead of telling them.  After all actions do speak louder than words.  I want to be able to keep a spotless house ALL the time, play and run with my daughters, be able to lift and move things without having to ask family to help, and just live a happier, more fulfilling life.

I weighed in at 189 lbs. when I stepped on the scale, and started to freak out that I let myself get to this point, then went in got my camera took a few pictures of myself (front, back, and side) and planned on starting this journey.

I do not want to struggle with this anymore as this is one thing I have been fighting for years.  I have tried and failed many times at this.  I want to lose it now so I am not ashamed to take pictures with my girls and them be ashamed of their mommy or realize I am overweight...probably obese by most standards.

My body is God's temple and to be honest I have been doing a very VERY lousy job taking care of that temple and keeping it healthy and fit.  Now its time to change gosh dang it and push myself to be the best I can be physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  God give me the strength to stick with it and not stumble.  It's time I get my act together, suck it up and lose this excess baggage!!!

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13

Today is my first day so lets see how I do!   I will check back and let you know how I am doing and if I have things I am struggling with.  (Cannot believe I am posting my actual weight...*sigh* if it helps me stay focused so be it)

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking...

This made me think of my mother when I was growing up.  I hope my girls will say this about me some day as well.

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang up my first painting on the refrigerator, and I wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I knew that little things are special things.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I believed there is a God I could always talk to.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I felt you kiss me goodnight, and I felt loved.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I LOOKED....and wanted to say thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking..

Thanks to Connie Back