Take Time!

...so so easy to go into "overload" and miss the roses we forget to stop and smell - nothing helps remind us of those roses more than the kids in our lives, and that is what EtsyKids is all about -the sheer inspiration we gets from our kids! I 'll just share that while photographing orders the other day, I caught my oldest in the garden counting petals on a periwinkle reciting "...she loves me, she loves me not, she loves me..." O.K. now, he's only three and I have no idea where he learned that from! But the pure joy on his face when the last petal was counted upon "she loves me!", even though I know he did not understand completely, was priceless. Then again, just maybe he did. Much like the day our little family experienced lay off in these hard economic times and we literally watched our world turn upside down, my kids were intent on making brownies. Intent in a flat out, stop the world, it is imperative that we make brownies kind of way. So we stopped. Stopped worrying for a moment, stopped the panic, we just stopped. And we made brownies. I truly believe those were the best brownies that will ever come out of our kitchen.

It is this kind of day and week that I wish you - a wow! everything is crazy right now but I really think we should just stop and make brownies kind of day, and may the sweet smell of roses be yours again in plenty :)

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Sis Boom Nuggets

5 years ago I stared a 'Women Entrepreneur' scrap book - merely as inspiration for myself...I mean - if they can do it - I can...right?! RIGHT! SO - It has grown and grown I now have 2 HUGE volumes and it's great to see women who I have in the scrapbook when they were just starting out that are now very successful and extremely popular, like Carol's Daughter hair and skin care, I was reading about her when she was just selling out of her home and thinking about expanding, now she's seriously rocking and rolling! Hopefully, an article about ME will one day be in my scrap book! hee hee!

I take the book out at least a couple of times a month and go through and read a few articles for inspiration. Last night I was skimming through...and on page 27 of my scrap book is Sis Boom - Jennifer Paganelli is the creative genius behind this line of fabrics and patterns. The name for her business was the actual nickname that her twin brother called her when they were growing up!

There are 3 specific statements from her article that I would like to share with you today.

1. DON'T WORRY
"I used to be so worried that my family would feel left out because I was so busy, or overwhelmed by so much stuff everywhere. (The business has definitely spilled into every room int he house!) But I've learned that the family is happy when Mommy is happy. Doing something you love is the best example you can set for your kids!"

2. DON'T WAIT
"Back in 1995, when I first started this business, I was living in a new state with a toddler running in and out between my legs. I didn't have a brilliant plan the, but I did have all these old textiles and wallpapers that I'd collected at flea markets over the years. I've learned the best business ideas are usually hiding somewhere in your hobby!"

3. WORK YOUR WAY
"Everyone has a work style, but it can take awhile to be honest with yourself about just what that is. I used to believe that I needed the perfect work space to get things done. What's more it had to be clean! But over the years I have learned to let my craft room be the place where I work and work - and then sweep when I have the time!

I hope you Diva's have a rock out Saturday! Hope these 'nuggets' give you inspiration - like they do me - wishing you every success! SMOOCHES!

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How is it?

Have you ever noticed that days that you want to clean house end up being busy with other work?
How is this? How does this happen?

I woke up this morning and had the goal of catching up on some much needed house cleaning. Only to get 3 orders in and remember I have a feature I had to fill in on another sit. So I get busy with that, and by the time I am half way done with anything, it is time to cook diner. Now I am soo tired from standing in front of a hot stove and being 7 months pregnant, I do not want to do a thing. Forget work, forget cleaning, I just want a nap.

Of course that isn't possible with a very active four year old jumping from couch to couch. Maybe I should see if I can con him into cleaning some of this house for me. Make him do a few loads of laundry and sweep and mop the floor, ok that is just wishful thinking, it will never happen, or at least he will do it but it will not be to my standards so I still have to go back behind him and clean everything.

Ohh where is my house cleaning fairies, or my fairy god mother? Can't she do chores for me so I can take a nap?

Ohh well maybe I will get it done tomorrow! NOT!

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Design Challenge for July...and the winner is

2. RED SHOES RAGALAN PEASANT TOP by: thetrendytot

Congratulations to the winner of this month's challenge - Red Shoes Raglan Peasant Top by thetrendytot! The Trendy Tot is one of a kind, hip clothing store selling bright and fun play dresses, tops and more. You can visit them at thetrendytot or check out their website at thetrendytot.com

We had an amazing selection of entries this month. I'm sure it was very hard to choose just one. Cheers to all of you that participated and hope to see more of your wonderful designs next month!

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Kids in the Kitchen

I'm always looking for fun snacks that I can serve my two little ones...just something that will hold them over in between meals. I'm sure it's something that all of us moms do from time to time!

When I was a preschool teacher, I had learned to turn food into many different things to fit the classroom theme of the week! Learning about the ocean this week? Well then whip some cream cheese with a few drops of blue food coloring and have the kids dip goldfish crackers in it! Yum. Easy!

Or how about making Aquarium Cups with blue jello?

Make the blue jello as directed, divide it up and pour the jello into clear plastic cups. Just as the jello starts to set (about 1 hour or so), put a Swedish fish in the middle of the jello cup...and poof! You have a instant ocean treat...fish and all! Click here for Kraft's yummy version of that treat!

Jello...Pudding...Crackers...Veggies...they all make yummy treats for kids! But...the fun part is creating a spectacular treat out of the ordinary, everyday ingredients. And it doesn't have to be hard. Look around your kitchen...what do you have already sitting in your cabinets that will help you create a fun & tasty treat that your kids will love & even brag about?!

In celebration of the summer sun and blasting heat...this week we made Sandy Beach Cups in our house. Take a peek at just how easy they are to make!


All you need is:
Pudding Snack Cups (or make your own instant pudding & put it in clear plastic cups)
Graham Crackers (or if you have a box of crushed graham cracker crumbs on hand, it'll save you a step)
Lifesaver Gummy Rings
Teddy Grahams
Paper Umbrella Picks

All you have to do is crush graham crackers (or use the already crushed ones) and sprinkle them on top of the pudding cups. Allow your kids to 'decorate' their sandy beach cups with Teddy Grahams and Gummy Lifesaver rings (representing the Teddy's lifesaver floaties). Embellish with a paper umbrella pick and you've got yourself...I mean, your kids have a tasty summer themed treat!

And the best part about this snack is...I set up a little assembly line on the table and my children helped to create their own snacks! It was a fun activity that filled the tummy and enlightened their creativity all at the same time!

Enjoy!

Recipes were inspired by Kraftfoods Sweet Treats for Kids.

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Is It 5 Minutes Ago Yet?

Re-posted with permission from Alyssa at The Mama Dramalogues. Originally posted 6/2/09.

Once upon a time, Alyssa was a wild haired 12 year old...no really, it's true...it happened...I swear...anyway, Alyssa the "tween" used to spend any available babysitting money plastering her walls with magazine pictures and posters of Duran Duran, much to her parent's dismay (seriously, who wants that much Scotch tape in one place?)...


What's the point of this trip down memory lane? Work with me here...my point is, having done it myself, I'm pretty sure it's a cardinal law...maybe a forgotten Newtonian theory or lost 11th Commandment...that kids will find an obsession that will drive their parents nuts. Since SweetPea and Lil Buddy are both pretty young, there's no telling what fads they'll be tempted to buy into in the not so distant future...but I can say this...I am SO glad that fads come and go like wildfire, because there are a few out there right now that are bugging the hell out of me...and I can only hope are "so 5 minutes ago" long before my kids find them interesting...

The "Jonas Brothers" Shag Do: While we're at it...throw the stupid Jonas Brothers out with their annoying hair. Dude...the Hardy Boys and The Partridge Family want you to stop ripping off their look. Not that I have anything against long hair...hey, I used to have a huge crush on Mark Slaughter for God sake...but come on...he had GREAT hair. I can't tell you how many times I've seen some teenage boy running around with this do and wanted seriously to hold him down and buzz it off. Seriously...pick a side...grow it long or cut it short. The fact that kids pay someone to make it look like they still need a haircut drives me nutty.


Hannah Montana: Pllllleeeeeehhheeeeesssseee make it stop!!! If I have to see Miley Cirus one more time, I think I might have to claw my eyes out (so what do I do...I post a pic...go figure!). I'm anxiously waiting for her to turn 18...not for the same reason I'm sure half of the men in the universe might be, but so she can either do a Britney and spiral out of control and end up on the cover of Playboy, forever sending her Disney "I'm cute enough to be safe for your 5 year old daughter" card up in flames or just having the general "Lizzie McGuire/Sabrina the Teenage Witch" effect kick in where she's officially too old to be relevant to anyone under the age of 16. I have a dream...that someday within the next two years, I can walk into a WalMart or Target and not have to see shelves full of Hannah Montana merchandise staring back at me.

Bratz Dolls: Sadly...these things just don't seem to be going away. I'm sure at this point I have no social commentary to share that hasn't been beaten to death in the media, but, honestly, I DO NOT want my daughter playing with skanky dolls. Yeah, maybe I'm a prude...so be it. For all of the moms who I hear don't want their kids playing with Bratz either, someone has to be buying them, because there are whole aisles dedicated to them in toy stores and retail shops everywhere. Maybe someone will leak some nudie pics of THEM on the Internet and their careers will be over too.

At the end of the day, the kicker is...even when these things do disappear into the land of retro nostalgia...something all new and more annoying will surely take their place. My solution...I'm ripping off the movie Bubble Boy...I'm putting the kids in big plastic bubbles and letting them stay home all day watching Land of the Lost reruns.

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Rain, Rain, please come our way!

In honor of the drought we are experiencing here in Texas, here are some fantastic rain related EtsyKids items that are pretty darn cute while we wait for the real showers!

A fantastic tee from charlieandsarah!

...an adorable tank from planetpudge!

...wonderful clippies from CuckooBoo

...and equally welcome to our Texas' homes as a good solid shower itself is this beautiful print from chichiboulie!

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