Friday Finds: EtsyKids Atlantic Southeast region

Today's Friday Finds are based on one of our regions' team tag "EtsyKids Team ASE," which is the Atlantic Southeast region (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida).

1. Striped Butterfly Tee 12-18m to 5/6t by Plumtreestudio.
2. One of a Rainbow of Octopi - solid colored crocheted amigurumi by Happywhosits.
3. Apple - braided ribbon barrette by Retro80s.
4. Spring Chick 3pc Custom Size by Ellamonde.
5. Heavenly Handiwork - 5x5 in - Original Children's Small Format Art by Pholkartblessings.
6. Pick any 3 Itty Bitty Bows by Happygrandma402905.
7. Life Is A Highway, Custom Car Applique Shirt by Babysisterdesign.
8. Super Skinny Necktie Retro Orange Stripe by MeandMatilda.

Hope you have a great weekend! :-)

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Featured Shop - Retro Rugrats

Retro Rugrats™ is where you will find hand-crafted children's products that are professionally constructed.

You will find crayon rolls, children's apron's, bib's chalk mats, accessories and much more!

Retro Rugrats is run by Maria Kirk, a work at home mother to 3 small children she enjoy's researching fashions and popular toys of the past and incorporating them into modern, updated styles. Occasionally she will re-work vintage fabrics into the designs and mix and match with updated reproduction fabrics. Located in the community of Ventura, California Retro Rugrats™ will ship worldwide.

Any child would love to receive one of these great items....lets face it Christmas isn't that far away!

Enjoy!

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Better Than Sliced Bread

What is convenience worth?

There was a time when I would sacrifice my time, because it was cheaper. I didn't buy prepackaged snacks, because it was cheaper to buy it in bulk. I wouldn't buy pudding cups, because I could make it myself. Going out to eat killed me-How could I spend my grocery budget on ONE meal?

Well, times have changed!

I am the mother of four-count them-one, two, three, FOUR kids. Four. Let's kick it up a notch: three of those kids are ages five and under. My hands are full, and convenience is the new pink. I'm always looking for ways to save time. It's also a nice bonus if it helps to keep the drama at a minimum. And it's extra-extra special if it helps my little people develop some independence.

So-better than sliced bread: Kool-aid single serve packets.

I LOVE these things! I don't even look at the price when I put them in the cart. My kids all have their own water bottle with their name on it. When they need a drink, they can pick out a packet of THEIR CHOICE, and make their own kool-aid. It's so easy. They just tear off the top, pour the powder in the bottle, add water, and shake.

So easy! So convenient. Try it at your house.





originally posted by tip tops: http://tiptopsspot.blogspot.com/2009/07/better-than-sliced-bread.html

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Did yall see it yet?????

The magazine is out,

sorry if I am stepping on any toes here, but I am just soo excited to see it and it totally rocks. Everyone put sooo much hard work into and it looks soo good. I am positive it will be a big hit and I love it.

http://modernhandmadechild.com/

Come check it out.
And if anyone else wanted to be first to post about it, sorry I just got excited. LOL.

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I've Been Duped!

Re-posted with permission from Marisa at The Mama Dramalogues.
Originally posted 6/3/09.


Crying, biting, being forced awake all night, temper-tantrums, messes that never ever go away no matter how much I clean them... this wasn't what I signed up for, and I'm feeling like I've been duped.

Let me explain. You see, I took that class in high school, the one where we learn just how hard it is to take care of a baby. For one hellish week, everyone in Senior year Psychology had a baby. That's right, a baby.

A 5-lb sack of flour that went with us everywhere, just like real babies.

They needed to be swaddled in blankets, they had to go from class to class with us, they had to come home and go with us to our jobs. They had to sit up at the dinner table with us, and be tucked into bed. Right next to us. It was hell.

Do you know how tough it is to go to the grocery store with a 5-lb sack of flour baby? Do you understand just how hard it is to walk the halls at school, toting a 5-lb sack of flour baby? I did. Oh yes, I lived through it for one entire week, and let me tell you, after living through that, I was prepared for anything.

Thank you high school, for preparing me for the real world.


... and then I had kids. Real kids.

I had crying, biting, awake-all-night, temper-tantrum throwing, messes-that-never-ever-go-away-no matter-how-much-I-clean-them making kinds of kids.

I want to know... Where is my sweet little 5-lb baby? Where is the tiny little thing, swaddled in a pink blanket who goes with me everywhere and sits happily in the shopping cart without making one little peep? Where is the silent little thing that allows me to sleep through the night, completely uninterrupted? Where?

And who the heck is this screaming little 8-lb thing who eats round the clock, doesn't give me a second of peace, refuses to sleep for even a second, and who needs her diaper changed every 45 seconds?

I think I've been duped.

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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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