My Artful Spirit

A Fond Farewell

2009-04-02T17:34:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. I am sorry to announce that I am not going to continue writing my blog. I have greatly enjoyed my time with you all and I hope to continue to stay in contact with my blogger friends in some other way.

I have had to re-evaluate my priorities this year and realized I had taken on way more projects than I can keep up with! I am concentrating on my family, my health, and my photography. I decided to put my Etsy store temporarily on hold as well as give up my blog, at least for now. I have realized it's better to give 100% to a few goals and achieve them rather than give 20% to tons of goals and achieve none.

I wish you all the best and hope to keep in contact with you all. Please find me on Flickr or if you are on Facebook, send me a friend request.

Thanks again for your support and encouragement. I will miss you guys!

Love,
Mitzi

Recycling Project for the Birds

2009-03-07T05:58:00.000-08:00

Kenyon and I love to do arts and crafts and I'm always up for a good recycling project. I've been trying to come up with a good use for some empty laundry detergent bottle and inspiration finally struck!

We cut a hole in each, wrapped around some fabric, glued on a few buttons and glittery things, gave it a good coat of varnish and now we have 2 new beautiful birdhouses!!

I can't wait to see if some birds decide to call them home this spring. Any suggestions for getting birds to move into bird houses? I have a few in my back yard amongst the bird feeders, but last year all that moved in was a hive of bees!!

Catching up from 2 weeks away! Snowy days, Birds and the Flu!!

2009-03-05T18:08:00.001-08:00

Hello friends! I have missed you all while I have been away. February has been an extremely crazy month and the blog has suffered!

Kenyon and I just got over a week of flu! Kenyon came down with it a couple days before it hit me and never have I felt so bad in my life! I would not wish the flu on my worst enemy!

We had our first (and probably only) snow of the year on Sunday and of course Kenyon and I were both too sick to enjoy it! We were so disappointed to not get to have a snow ball fight or build a snowman. Kenyon has been talking about snow since it turned cold and all we could do is sit inside and watch it fall.

I managed to motivate myself to scatter a little birdseed on the snow and watch the birds eat. I got a couple pictures but it's hard to work up the motivation to work on technique when it's all you can do to hold up the camera!

It's good to be back, and I'm gonna make an effort to stay on top of my posts despite the crazy schedule lately! Enjoy your day!

Overcoming Fear

2009-02-14T13:53:00.000-08:00

I see so much of myself in my son sometimes. I was scared of everything as a child. I didn't like to do anything that I thought I might get hurt doing which means I missed out on a lot of fun stuff! I never learned to roller skate because the first time I fell and it hurt, I didn't learn to swim until I was 13 so there were lots of missed swim parties. Not to mention I never learned to turn a cartwheel or somersault.

I am trying to encourage Kenyon to try things he is afraid of so that he doesn't miss out on the things I did as a child. He has managed to overcome his fear of the dreaded swing set and now only wants to swing at the park. We have also overcome big fears of slides although the ones that are "bigger than a giant" are still a little scary and Mommy often has to go first. He is an avid tumbler and is often seen somersaulting over the couch and across the floor. We are currently working on a headstand.

Hopefully with my encouragement he will continue to venture beyond his comfort zone and be open to new experiences.

Note: This photo is from the park. They have these ropes with cylinders placed at various heights to sit on and spin around (at least I think that's what they are for). Kenyon tried it and didn't really like it much. He was pretty scared. He tried again later though and managed about 30 seconds before he was ready to get down. That's progress!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T02:00:00.000-08:00

Hope you enjoy yours as much as we did!

My photo and recipe was featured! Yay!

2009-02-12T17:27:00.001-08:00

One of the recipes that I had posted on Flickr was picked to be featured on Ofifteen's blog! Yay! I was invited to submit the recipe after Olan found me Flickr. I'm excited every time one of my photos is noticed on Flickr. I feel like my skills are greatly improving with practice!!

I've been having a tough time getting time on the computer lately, so sorry for the lack of posts and support to all of my blogger buddies! I haven't forgotten you! Our desk top computer is broken, or just got old and died, and my husband has been on the laptop a lot. He works from home as a real estate agent and works a lot in the evening which is usually when I am online. I hope to be back full time soon, but until then I will post when I can and try and visit all your blogs at least once a week. I miss you guys!!

Note: This is a silly picture of Kenyon and I at the park a couple weeks ago. I love hanging out with Kenyon on Tuesdays, it's Mommy and Kenyon day!!

Sweet Words - I Took His Hand and Followed

2009-02-08T08:48:00.000-08:00

I Took His Hand and Followed

My dishes went unwashed today,
I didn't make the bed,
I took his hand and followed
Where his eager footsteps led.

Oh yes, we went adventuring,
My little son and I,
Exploring all the great outdoors
Beneath the summer sky.

We waded in a crystal stream,
We wandered through a wood;
My kitchen wasn't swept today
But life was gay and good.

We found a cool, sun-dappled glade
And now my small son knows
How Mother Bunny hides her nest,
Where jack-in-the-pulpit grows.

We watched a robin feed her young,
We climbed a sunlit hill,
Saw cloud-sheep scamper through the sky,
We plucked a daffodil.

That my house was neglected,
That I didn't brush the stairs,
In twenty years, no one on earth
Will know, or even care.

But that I've helped my little boy
To noble manhood grow,
In twenty years, the whole wide world
May look and see and know.

Author: Unknown

Note: Please let me know if you know who this poem is by! I would love to give them the credit they deserve.

McDonalds - Why I'm NOT loving it

2009-02-05T19:35:00.000-08:00

I remember in highschool going to McDonald's and getting the two cheeseburger meal with fries and a drink once a week with my best friend. We would go every Wednesday night before youth group at church. The funniest thing is that I never once thought about what terrible crap I was putting in my body. I worked out five days a week and ate healthy most of the time, but loved those McDonald's cheese burgers.

Kenyon loves McDonald's. I think it's more for the toy he gets in the Happy Meal and I have gotten him hooked on Chick-fil-a recently. He still manages to convince me to take him to McDonald's about once a month though, but after seeing this I think that may change.

I am officially adding McDonald's to my banned list as of today. It can join Walmart (haven't shopped there in over 10 years!) and the Hardee's on Pelham Rd. (I gave them numerous chances, but the water filled taco salad pushed me over the edge!). Never again will I put this nasty stuff in my son's body. I want him to learn healthy eating habits and when he wants a burger, for Gods sake, get one made of real meat!

Winter at Myrtle Beach - Coming Home...of course today we get sun!

2009-01-31T13:45:00.000-08:00

Our last morning of vacation I wake up early to a gorgeous sunrise.

I watched the sun peak over the horizon while everyone else scurried around to get packed. I was extremely happy I chose to pack up the night before!

I was very pleased to get a beautiful sun rise, but it had a bit of a sting as well. The day was already warm and sunny and it was only 8:00 am and I had to check out and head home in 2 hours!! What terrible luck!

My Aunt's husband had gotten up early and written her name in the sand in front of the hotel. You can make out the name "Angie" if you look close enough. So sweet...I was looking forward to seeing my husband in a few hours. I missed him very much!

Kenyon woke up very late and still had a fever. I gave him some more Tylenol and he had a little breakfast. He was excited to go home and see Daddy as well.

I had enjoyed the week and gotten to know family members better. Kenyon had bonded with his cousins and gotten more comfortable with family we didn't get to see often.

So even though I was disappointed to leave behind our only warm sunny day, I had a great week despite the cold and rain.

I enjoyed spending alone time with my Mom and Son, with a busy work schedule it can be difficult to squeeze in many of these days.

It was a long drive home, about 5 hours to my Mom's house and then another hour and a half back to my house, but we made it. Kenyon slept most of the way and we found out he had an ear infection the next day after a trip to the doctor.

I was glad to be home with my husband again and sleep in my own bed, but I had fond memories of our family vacation. I am blessed to have had this time to spend with family and hope to get the opportunity to do it again.

Winter at Myrtle Beach - Finally a warm sunny day...or so I thought!

2009-01-30T12:09:00.000-08:00

The third morning of our vacation I woke up at 6:30 am to take a walk on the beach. I was excited to get a few shots of the sunrise. I had checked the weather channel the day we left for vacation and the whole week was supposed to be biting cold except for today. Today was the day I was going to have highs in the upper 50's and sun shine! I was looking forward to spending the day exploring the beach with Kenyon.

The morning was cold, windy and overcast. We chose to start our walk facing away from the wind to get us warmed up. Sea gulls were everywhere looking for breakfast!

The sun was starting to rise with a little spot on the horizon, but the overcast sky kept away the beautiful sunrise I was hoping for. I didn't care though because I was getting some great shots anyway.

Kenyon loves this shot of the sea foam...he said that the fish were having a bubble bath!

We walked about a mile down the beach and helped my youngest cousin, Blake, collect shells.

We stopped before turning around and I got this picture of the group. We then headed back to our hotel. We made it about 15 yards before the rain started...yep, that's what I said rain, pouring rain. All the way back we were pelted in the face with freezing cold rain. It is not so much fun to walk a mile in freezing cold rain on the beach. Not fun AT ALL. It's ok though because we all laughed about it and dried off back in the rooms.

We collected some great shells for Blake to add to his collection and let them dry out on the patio while we had a home cooked breakfast of biscuits, gravy, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage...yummy.

I finally gave up on my warm, sunny day. Weather.com had failed me. It was in the thirties and rainy ALL day! We decided to go to the outlets and do a little shopping. I got some unbelievable deals at the Banana Republic outlet...$90 pants for $24, and two $50 shirts for $7 each! Kenyon acted under the weather all day and didn't seem to feel very good. We cut our shopping trip short and headed back to the hotel to let him rest.

He was telling me he was cold and felt hot to the touch, luckily my well prepared Aunt had a thermometer handy and Kenyon had a fever of 100.5 degrees! Poor little guy. I gave him some Tylenol and he napped on the couch while we cooked dinner. We had a delicious dinner of spaghetti, salad and bread. Kenyon did eat a little and seemed to feel better after dinner. He spent the rest of the evening playing with his cousins.

We finished the evening with a fast paced game of Uno and several rounds of Apples to Apples, my all time favorite party game. Kenyon slept with me for the night and I was hoping he would feel better in the morning...we had a long drive back home the next day.

Winter at Myrtle Beach - Our Second Day of Vacation

2009-01-29T17:33:00.000-08:00

We started our second day at the beach off with a morning visit to the Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach. This was our second trip to the aquarium there and our fourth visit to an aquarium, but Kenyon loves to go! He talked for four days straight about the sharks he was going to see.

We got to see lots of really cool sea creatures, including my two favorites, the jelly fish and the sea dragons. I couldn't get a good picture of the sea dragons because they moved so darn fast, but this one of the jelly turned out pretty well.

They also have a great place to interact with and pet the sting rays and horse shoe crabs. Kenyon was too busy running around to pay much attention to them, but for an older child it would be really fun to touch and learn about the animals.

We spent about 2 hours exploring the aquarium and Kenyon picked a couple of souvenirs from the gift shop. It was a great way to spend a chilly and windy morning.

We spent the afternoon wandering around Broadway at the Beach and shopping. We had a light lunch at Johnny Rockets and a long time in the Disney store. Kenyon finally found his "life sized" Woody and Buzz Lightyear from "A Toy Story". We've been looking for some since he saw the move a few months ago but they are hard to find since the movie is so old. We got them 2 for $10!! They were having an unbelievable sale. I guess because it is the off season and there's a lot less traffic. This is Kenyon in front of a frozen fountain...not sure why it was even still running. Some ducks were still hanging out in the fountain and I don't know how they managed to stay warm in that icy water!

We had dinner that night at Original Benjamin's Seafood Buffet. I had the biggest plate full of greasy, fried seafood you have ever seen...and then went back for more...and then had dessert! I think I gained about 6 pounds at that one meal, but it was worth it! I never get to eat seafood because Jeff doesn't like it, so once a year I usually indulge in a little deliciousness from the sea. This is my family watching the Tarheels game while we waited for our table.

That night Kenyon was ampted about swimming in the big indoor pool. We both put on our swim suits and headed down to the pool to take a swim. Of course we get to the pool, I strip down and get in and Kenyon freezes up and refuses to get in the water. He watches me swim for about five minutes and that's it, time to go. I was soaked and freezing. We made the long trip back to our room (I had to go outside twice with wet hair in 20 degree weather...fun) and got ready for bed. We were both so exhausted we went to bed at about 9:00. We had big plans for the next morning including a 6:30 am walk on the beach and finally having a warm day to spend exploring the sand...we were very excited!

Winter at Myrtle Beach - My Grandpa - A Difficult Recovery

2009-01-27T04:32:00.000-08:00

I guess I should've started my vacation series of posts with this one, but it didn't occur to me. The reason we went to the beach was because of my Grandfather. He's my Mom's step dad, but the only Grandfather I know on her side. Right before Christmas he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He was fortunate that the doctors caught it early and that it is treatable without chemo or radiation. They did surgery and removed the cancerous cells from his lungs.

He has been somewhat depressed since then and to me doesn't seem to be doing so well. His wife, my mom's step mother, died this past year and he also recently lost his job. It's been a rough year and he isn't handling it very well. My Mom also just won a battle with breast cancer this year and Grandpa is handling his situation so differently from how she handled her own struggle with cancer. She came through with flying colors and is doing fantastic. I wish there was a way to make him realize that his recovery depends on his mental outlook and without a positive mindset it will be very difficult to fully recover the way my Mom did. My Mother is a strong woman, but my Grandpa is very stubborn. He has convinced himself that he isn't going to recover from this.

Grandpa has gotten into his head that this is going to be his last year even though the surgery went well and physically he is doing well other than the post surgery pain which is expected. He wanted to go to the beach again because he hasn't been there in years. That is why my uncle's girlfriend let us use her condo.

I'm not sure how much he enjoyed the trip. He complained about the cold a lot and didn't seem to feel very well. He spent most of his time sleeping and watching television. We did manage to get him out to dinner a few nights and he went out to the Bass Pro Shop with my uncle once. I hope he enjoyed the time with family more than it appeared.

I hope that he will continue to improve and begin to realize how much more he has to offer the world and not give up. Please keep him in your thoughts or prayers. He could use both right now. Hopefully they will give him strength and the understanding that we don't want to loose him. He needs to find the strength within to keep on fighting.

Winter at Myrtle Beach - Windemere Condo

2009-01-25T13:58:00.000-08:00

My Uncle's girlfriend owns a timeshare condo at Windemere in North Myrtle Beach. The condo was great! Well furnished and decorated with lots of space. I loved the room that Kenyon and I shared with my Mom. It was a very soothing navy blue and green. The beds were comfortable and we had plenty of room for all of our stuff.

This was my favorite part of our room. This little lamp didn't give off much light, but was super cute. I wanted to bring it home with me!

Our bathroom was designed to match the bedroom and was very clean. I tend to always end up in a hotel with nasty bathrooms, so this was a pleasant change from the usual. I liked the dark navy walls so much that I am thinking of doing a wall in our bedroom in the same color!

This is my Mom and my uncle's girlfriend making breakfast one morning. The kitchen was a good size and came fully stocked with plenty of dishes and cookware. It was nice to be able to prepare some meals together as a family. It was a good way to bond and save a little money!

Kenyon enjoyed hanging out with his second cousin, Blake, who is closest to Kenyon's age. He taught Blake how to play his leapster and showed him how to do the worm which was hilarious.

I'm glad he got to spend time with his cousins. We don't get to see most of them very often and I feel like now he had the chance to get more comfortable around them. He is playing ball with his second cousin, Megan here.

I am glad Kenyon got the chance to spend time with his family. He had a good time and will hopefully not be quiet as shy around them next time we go for a visit. This will hopefully be a trip he remembers when he gets older and if he doesn't he'll have plenty of pictures to jog his memory!!

Winter at Myrtle Beach - The first day of my winter vacation

2009-01-22T18:49:00.000-08:00

We're home from vacation and what and interesting time we had! Kenyon and I went to Myrtle Beach, SC with 14 members of my extended family. My Mom; my grandfather; my aunt, her two sons and husband; my uncle, his son, daughter and girlfriend; and my cousin and her boyfriend. It is the most time I have ever spent with this many of my family and I was excited about getting to know them better.

We arrived at the beach late in the afternoon and were greated by a bitter cold, highs in the thirties! I've never been to the beach when it was cold out so it was a completely new experience for me. We spent about an hour exploring the beach in front of our hotel before sun set.

Kenyon has not been to the beach since he was two, so it was almost a first view of the ocean for him. He barely remembered the waves from the past two trips and spent a long time watching and listening to them. I loved seeing him get to spend so much quality time with my Mom. These are memories to be cherished.

Kenyon quickly forgot cold and soon was dancing in the sand. Kicking up his feet and singing to the beat of the waves. Isn't it amazing how the children often seem oblivious to the cold. He just enjoyed being in the moment.

He chased sea gulls from their fishing holes and stood quietly in wonder watching the birds do "silly dances" in the tide pools looking for their dinner.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky we prepared to head in to our warm hotel. We had hungry tummies and plans to go have dinner with the rest of the family. We went to Cracker Barrel and enjoyed a warm plate of chicken and dumplings for me and fluffy pancakes for Kenyon.

We were excited about the rest of the week and stayed up late being silly. I love having days to spend with my son, not to mention family I don't see very often. I felt like I have made great strides in achieving one of my goals for 2009, spending more time with my family. This was a once in a lifetime trip that I am so happy I got to take part in. I learned a lot about my family and look forward to sharing more of our vacation with you all.

Preparing for Vacation!

2009-01-15T04:01:00.000-08:00

This will be my last post until next week, Kenyon and I are going on vacation! We are going to the beach with my Mom, Grandpa, Aunt and her family, Uncle and his girlfriend and a few cousins. It will be my first trip with this many of my extended family...should be interesting to say the least! My hubby and my Dad, the smarter of the us, opted to sit this one out. Seriously though, I think it will be fun and a good break away. I'll certainly have lots of pics to share when I get back. My budding photographer will also have a few of his own to share. I found an old camera of mine and popped some batteries in. It only took a few minutes for him to get the basic hang of it. I'll share some of his work when we get back!

Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you all next week!!

Make Something Mondays! Pirate Pants for Kenyon

2009-01-12T18:57:00.000-08:00

Happy Make Something Monday! I know I am posting way late, but I've had a hectic day...11 hour work day today! If you haven't already be sure to stop by Go Graham Go and Jolly Mom and check out what everyone else has shared with us today!!

I made these comfy little pirate pants for Kenyon and gave them to him for Christmas. They are made of soft flannel with a drawstring waist and a mock pirate cuff. He can wear them as casual pants or PJ pants.

As you can see he is an extremely willing model! He had such a great time showing them off. Enjoy his fashion show and Happy MSM!!

Green Eggs and Ham - Making Sam I am Proud!

2009-01-11T05:58:00.000-08:00

"Would you eat them in a box? Would you eat them with a fox?"

Last night at bed time Kenyon and I read "Green Eggs and Ham". He received this book from his Uncle Kevin at Christmas. It has quickly become a favorite. After finishing the book Kenyon told me he would like to have green eggs and ham for breakfast. Being the super mom I am, I was excited to meet this little challenge.

Well, there was no ham to be found this morning, but eggs and green food coloring I did have. A compromise was agreed upon and voila...green eggs.

Kenyon was pleased with the results and decided he did like green eggs!

"He will eat them in a box."
"He will eat them with a fox."
"And he will eat them in a house."
"And he will eat them with a mouse."
"And he will eat the here or there."
"And he will eat them ANYWHERE!"

Jeff and I however decided we will stick to the yellow variety. We do not like them Sam I am.

Do you like green eggs and ham?

My Movie Making Debut

2009-01-09T05:23:00.000-08:00

I love watching Kenyon dance. It's one of my favorite things. Sometimes it's silly, sometimes serious, always highly enjoyable. I have a couple of clips of him dancing that I took with my point and shoot camera with no sound, one of which I posted here. I have been thinking about adding some music and making them into a little movie with my iMovie program that I have never used, but I didn't know where to start. Last night I had 3 hours to myself (after Kenyon went to bed and the hubby's poker night!) so I went for it and taught myself the program. It was fun to make and I think I may have found a new hobby to add to the ever lengthening list! Here's what I ended up with. Enjoy!

Make Something Mondays! Mischievous Gnome Messenger Bags

2009-01-05T04:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Make Something Monday! I am excited to get to participate this week after 2 weeks away! I can finally post the bags I made for my Mom and Sister for Christmas without ruining any surprises!

This first bag is for my Mom. I used this Sew Liberated Mischievous Gnome Messenger Bag pattern and some lovely Alexander Henry Starling fabric in purple. I changed the pattern slightly because I didn't want my Mom's and sister's bags to be just alike.

I used a heavy weight, super soft gray corduroy for the body of the bag and a coordinating purple and blue print fabric for the inside and accents.

It turned out really nice and I was very happy with it! I think my mom really liked it.

My sister's bag also features the same Alexander Henry fabric but in the pink.

I paired hers with a tan wool and Japanese floral print.

I like Lindsay's bag so much I wanted to keep it for myself. I have enough left over fabric to make another one, so maybe I'll just make myself one too!

I was very happy with the pattern. It was easy to follow and I highly recommend it. I will definitely be purchasing Sew Liberated patterns again.

Thanks to Go Graham Go and Jolly Mom for bringing us all together for MSM. Be sure to drop by there sites to see what other amazing creations are being shared!

Goodbye 2008...Welcome 2009

2009-01-01T11:57:00.001-08:00

My how 2008 seemed to fly by and what a great year it was! It was a year of change for me. So many new and wonderful changes took place in my life in 2008. I lost 20 pounds last spring, I learned more about photography and put what I learned into practice and finally opened that flickr account I so desperately wanted, but didn't have the confidence to do. I started my own Etsy business. I revisited some long ago forgotten sewing talents that have been dying to reappear. I have spent more time with my son and my family. I went to Bonaroo for the first time. I took ALL of my vacation days and really made an effort to enjoy each and every moment of life. I started a blog and have met many new blogger friends who have become important friends and great sources of inspiration and encouragment.

There are still some goals of 2008 that weren't achieved. I am still full time in retail and having trouble looking at my job in a good light. I didn't move into a new house. I haven't done a terrific job of keeping up my workouts (some of that weight I lost has reared it's ugly head again this winter). I still don't have my DSLR. Even though I feel like great accomplishments were made in 2008 and it will be a year I will keep in my memory for years to come!

I am excited about the coming year. I hope that it holds more changes and new adventures. I am excited to share my goals with you and my progress throughout the year. Here are some of the goals I have set for myself in 2008.

*Create a healthy lifestyle for myself and my family that is maintainable and realistic.

*Lose the last of that baby weight that is still holding on 4 years later!

*Continue to build my Etsy business and expand to different areas like craft shows and festivals.

*Save and purchase my DSLR...I have to have it this year!

*Take at least 2 photography classes once I have my DSLR so I can learn to use it!

*Be more financially responsible and smarter with my finances.

*Find a job in photography...one of my husbands goals is to help me achieve this. It is time to get out of retail and pursue my dreams!

*Spend more time with friends and family, take vacations, and enjoy my life!

*Give myself a break...take me time and don't be so hard on myself all the time.

*Find a charity and really do all I can to raise money and support them. I am so proud of my husbands work with Safe Harbor this year. I too want to give back.

*Be a happier person and look at the bright side of life. Try to down play the bad days and take in the good 100%.

I'll be revisiting these goals often this year and keep you posted on how I'm doing. I am glad to have so many wonderful friends to hold me accountable and make sure I'm staying on track.
My main goal for 2009: Stay focused and motivated!

Happy New Year!

A Biney Family Christmas

2009-01-01T09:22:00.000-08:00

This was probably the best Christmas I have had since childhood. I had a wonderful day!
I woke up around 7:15 am to start cooking Breakfast for my family. I was amazed that Kenyon was still sleeping! He was so excited the night before about Santa coming I had planned on him being up at 5 am!

I must have made a little too much noise making coffee though because before it had time to even begin to brew I heard "Oh my gosh, who's bike is that!" from the living room. Little Kenyon had discovered the big boy bike Santa had brought. It's the bike Kenyon has been checking out at Toys R Us for months now. Santa must have been watching because he knew just the right one to get. Daddy had to adjust the seat to be just the right height though, Santa was unsure of the size I suppose.

Kenyon also had a stocking full of goodies from Santa. New socks, colored pencils, whistling straws, Iron Man action figures, Spongebob gloves and a huge peppermint tree lollipop. Kenyon was also the proud new owner of a Walkin' Talkin' Lightning McQueen (the only toy that he asked Santa for all 3 times he sat on his lap this year) and a cool Spider Man knit hat.

Around 10:00am my parents (GeeGee and Papaw) and my sister arrived with arm loads of gifts and growling tummies. Kenyon was so excited to see his GeeGee and Papaw. He quickly showed off his new big boy bike and Santa loot.

We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast of homemade biscuits (thanks to my mom), brown sugar ham (that I managed not to burn this year!), a delicious breakfast casserole, and muffins. After we were all completely stuffed it was present time! My parents brought gifts from all our extended family for little Kenyon so there were a lot of them! My mom is one of 5, so I have a huge family! They all get together Christmas Eve and exchange gifts. We have decided to miss this because of the travel distance. It's about a 2 hour drive one way and with a little one who needs to be home for Santa to come it's too much. I miss getting together with everyone though. It was important for Jeff and I that Kenyon gets to have his own family traditions and not spend Christmas hurried and shuffled from house to house on Christmas Eve and day. With my work schedule (I only get Christmas day off) I want to have that special Christmas family time with him. It's hard sometimes though because I'm not sure that my family understands that. I hope to make time to see them at other times this year though to make up for it!

The big hit was a marble run from Kenyon's aunt LouLou (my sister Lindsay). He has played with it every day since Christmas! I have to admit it is a really fun toy. Jeff and I have enjoyed playing with it as much as Kenyon has!

As a side note, check out his pants! They are the Christmas pants I made for him! They were a perfect fit and looked super cute on Christmas day! He picked the shirt to match himself.

Kenyon also has really enjoyed playing with a little electronic crab my dad got him. It's pretty cool. when you turn him on he crawls around and changes direction if something gets in his way.

If you play with him in the dark you can shine a flash light on him and make him go, turn the flash light off and he stops moving. Pretty cool I must admit!

Lindsay helped out a lot by opening and assembling most of Kenyon's new toys. I was extremely thankful to have the help! It freed me up to take a lot of pictures and enjoy watching Kenyon take them all in.

This is Kenyon standing in the midst of all his Christmas loot. He really got a lot of great stuff this year! We are very thankful to have such a large and giving family. They are always so generous to Kenyon at Christmas. This is when Kenyon gets most of his toys for the year since we don't purchase a lot during the year. Some of my favorites were Moon Sand (this stuff is so great!), his great clothes, the Monopolytown game, and the Marble Race set. Now it's time to sort through old stuff and clean out what's not played with anymore. We do this yearly and donate what he doesn't play with anymore to Safe Harbor or Goodwill. Kenyon takes good care of his toys, so I know less fortunate children are really enjoying his hand-me-downs. Kenyon likes to do it and never puts up a fight. He often brings me things and says "I don't play with this anymore, can we give it to a little boy that doesn't have one?". He is blessed with a giving heart!

Later in the afternoon, Jeff's family came for a visit. I was glad they were able to make it! We weren't sure they were going to be able to come because they often have out of town guests. We had visited them the weekend before and opened gifts there, but we did get new gifts from Jeff's brother Ralph. He got Jeff and I each a Sonicare FlexCare tooth brush which is wonderful. That's what I love about having a brother-in-law that's a dentist! We always have the latest in oral care!

We spent the afternoon watching sports and chatting. It was nice to be able to just be able to relax and enjoy being together.

The tapestry hanging on my wall was one of my Christmas gifts. I love it! I needed something nice and large to hang on that big empty wall and this was just the thing! My Mom gave me some money to pick out the one I wanted. Thanks Mom!

I am so incredibly thankful for the time I got to spend with my family this Christmas. I really enjoyed the holiday and hope to have many more like it in the future.

I hope all of you enjoyed your holiday as much as I did! It's such a wonderful time of year and a great time to reflect on friends and family.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-30T13:29:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday! I have been away for a while with preparations for the Christmas season and with holiday family gatherings, but I am back!

I have missed all my blogger buddies and am glad to be back! I have several new things planned for the coming year and look forward to sharing them with you. I'm excited to get back in the swing of things and catch back up with you all. I can't wait to see what everyone has been up to for the holiday season!

Christmas Trip to the Biltmore Estate - Asheville, NC

2008-12-19T05:38:00.000-08:00

On Sunday my Mom took Kenyon and I to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. I grew up in Asheville, so I have had many visits to the Biltmore Estate. Just about every year in elementary school and middle school we would go on a class trip there. I haven't been since college, so a trip was long over due!

The Biltmore Estate is the largest private home in America. To find out more information about the Biltmore Estate go here.

We were not aloud to take any photos inside the house (believe me I tried to get a chance, but security in there is crazy! It's like the White House!) but I did get some great shots outside. I posted some of my favorites here, but if you want to see more from our trip visit my Flickr photo set! There are 250 rooms inside the home, but not all are open to the public yet. Many are under restoration and every year something new is available for the public to see.

On the front lawn of the Biltmore Estate there is a huge fountain. It was pretty cold when we visited, so our outside time was short and sweet. I want to take Kenyon back in the Spring. There are huge beautiful gardens that are my favorite thing to see when we visit. Now that I know Kenyon likes going there so much we will go back again!

I wanted a cute picture of Kenyon and I in front of the fountain but Kenyon can not be serious for a picture. He is such a naturally silly boy. I guess it is a good thing that his true personality shines through in every photo.

My beautiful Momma in front of the house. Her ears were cold so I let her wear my hat. I think she looks fabulous in it, but I'm sure she won't like that I posted this picture! It was so great to be able to spend an entire day with her. It is rare to be able to spend an entire day together with us both working as much as we do. I hope we get another day together soon!

I couldn't even imagine living in a house this large! What would you do with all that space! Inside there is a HUGE grand stair case. You can see where it spirals up on the left hand side of the entrance in the above picture. Also inside the front door there is a large indoor sun room full of plants. You can see the roof of it on the right side of the entrance. There's a full sized indoor pool and a 2 lane indoor bowling alley in the basement. It's quiet amazing to think that all of this is in a house that was built in 1889!

We had lunch at the Stable Cafe that is located in the stables on the Estate. The stable has been converted into a wonderful restaurant. Each stall has been transformed into a cozy booth or row of tables. The food is delicious and reasonably priced. Definitely a nice finish to a tour of the home!

Once again here I am trying to get a nice picture of my son and I and I end up with a silly faced child! Story of my life:)

After our visit to the house and a wonderful lunch we rode up to the Winery and took a tour. The tour of the Winery is free with your admission and it is finished off with a sampling of the award winning wines created there.

It is very interesting to see how the wine is made and then get to sample the results! They let you sample 6 varieties and offer grape juice samples for little ones and non-wine drinkers. Their wines are reasonably priced and delicious. I liked the Christmas Blush the best and purchased a bottle to give the in-laws for Christmas.

If you ever find yourself near Asheville, NC go and visit the Biltmore House! It's a great place to spend a day and very reasonably priced (Kenyon got in for free!). The house is decorated beautifully at Christmas and the gardens are alive with color during the spring and summer.

It was a fantastic day and I felt like I had a mini vacation! It was a well needed day of relaxation and fun during a stressful time of year! I am so glad that I had a chance to spend the day with my Mom and my Son. I hope to have many more of these in the coming year!

$5 in 5 Days - Safe Harbor: A safe home, when home isn't safe

2008-12-16T17:03:00.000-08:00

My husband, Jeff, is very involved in Safe Harbor, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides a safe haven for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. To find out more go here.

Kenyon and Jeff had a wonderful oppertunity to participate in a viral video to spread awareness and promote $5 in 5 days (check out the video below). What a fantastic way to give back to the community during a rough economic time. Please watch the video and pass it on to your friends. These women and children need our help and support to escape from extremely dangerous living situation. This is just one small way to make a difference this holiday season!

www.5dollarsin5days.org

Make Something Mondays! Ornaments from Michael and Vicki's Wedding

2008-12-15T04:34:00.000-08:00

I have been a busy bee this week on getting Christmas presents completed as well as finishing a custom order for my good friend at This Handmade Life. I don't want to ruin any surprises, so for Make Something Monday this week I am posting a wonderful idea from some friends of mine.

Be sure to drop by Jolly Mom and Go Graham Go to check out all the other Make Something Monday participants and add your self to the list if you want to join in!

Our friends, Michael and Vicki, were married Saturday. It was a beautiful wedding held at Michael's parents home with a lovely Christmasy feel. The food was fantastic and we had a wonderful time drinking good wine and chatting with friends.

Vicki made these lovely ornaments as favors for us to take. She did a beautiful job and I thought her ornaments were well worth showing off!

Congratulations Michael and Vicki! Have a fun time at Disney World and enjoy your new life together!

Oh Christmas Tree - Triming the tree

2008-12-12T04:58:00.000-08:00

Kenyon really enjoyed decorating the Christmas tree this year. He has been giving me a hard time about not having it up yet for a week or more! We have a huge tree in the attic that just didn't fit in our house anymore! Over the last year we have acquired a couple new pieces of furniture (one of the perks of working at a furniture store!) and a craft dresser now sits in the place of our old tree. So off we went to Target on Sunday and bought a new skinny tree. Not bad for $25 if I do say so myself!

I would love to have a real tree, but with my ability to kill any living plant that is inside my home within a matter of days, I thought it might be better to leave the live trees to the more nurturing! Maybe next year I will be brave enough to try one. I do miss their piny smell!

This little bird ornament is my all time favorite ornament. I have loved it since I was a child. It has a matching green little friend that hangs nearby. They have been in my family for a while.
In fact most of my ornaments were passed down to me from my mom. Some she made herself before I was born. I love their vintage look.

Kenyon had a wonderful time looking at the different ornaments and talking about each and every one. He ohhhh-ed and awwww-ed over every ornament! It has been a chore keeping him from playing with them...when you're four it's hard to understand why all these shiny, fun things are just supposed to hang on a tree!

I thought it turned out pretty nice. Now I am starting to feel like Christmas! I still have a few more decorations to put out, hopefully this weekend, which will give my house the finishing "Christmasy" touch! Now I have to get all those gifts wrapped to put under the tree...definitely a project for another day!

Wordless Wednesday! Bear Boogies - Boys will be boys!

2008-12-10T04:17:00.000-08:00

Make Something Mondays! Revamped Bluebird Bag for My Mother-in-law

2008-12-08T05:02:00.000-08:00

Tis the season for gift giving! For Make Something Monday this week I am featuring one of my favorite items...a blue bird tote bag for my Mother-in-law! Thanks Jolly Mom and Go Graham Go for Sponsering Make Something Mondays for us all to share our favorite handmade items!

This blue bird tote bag was one of the first bags I made...I must admit, I had no idea what I was doing! I loved the embroidery on the front, but the rest of the bag was a pretty big disappointment. It had no shape or structure, thick ugly seams, and didn't feel strong enough to hold the books and bulky items I had in mind.

I have since learned the proper techniques for making structurally sound bags that look and feel strong and beautiful. I wanted to give this bag to my mother-in-law for Christmas, but not the way it was currently built. So I grabbed the trusty seam ripper and took the entire thing apart and started from scratch!

I kept the same lining and outside panels, but added a light weight fusible interfacing to give the bag structure.

I added an inside pocket to hold keys and other easy to loose items so she won't have to dig for them.

I didn't change a thing about the applique because I love love love it the way it is!

I completely scrapped the old handle and made the bag a new one that matches the inside pocket. I also added my label.

I also added a pocket to the back for quick and easy access on the go.

I love the way it turned out! So much better than the original! I just know she is going to love it!

I hope to continue to learn new techniques and improve my sewing. Thanks for all of your support and encouragement. It really keeps me motivated!

Happy MSM!

Wordless Wednesday! Kenyon wards off the Buggie Man aka Papaw

2008-12-03T04:23:00.001-08:00

Kenyon's Christmas Pants

2008-12-02T16:46:00.001-08:00

I made these awesome wool pants for Kenyon last week. I was at Goodwill a few weeks ago to buy some mens shirts for Kenyon's breakdancing t-shirt and while I was there a mens wool work shirt screamed "buy me, buy me" at me. The fabric was awesome and I knew immediately it really wanted to be a pair of wool pants, not a mens work shirt!

I finally had time to make them last week and they turned out great! I made the shirt pockets into the back pants pockets. I even had enough fabric left over to make something else. I'm thinking maybe an eyeglass case I found a tutorial for here or possibly a journal cover, we'll see.

Kenyon has been begging me to make him some pants (little does he know there may be some under the tree Christmas morning) so I know he will love them. I was planning to give them to Kenyon for Christmas, but I'm thinking I might give them to him Christmas eve. How cute would they be with a little red shirt and his Santa hat on Christmas day!

Make Something Mondays! Thrifty and Earth Friendly Holidays - Primitive Christmas Trees

2008-12-01T04:45:00.000-08:00

This week I am getting in the Christmas spirit for my Make Something Mondays post! Thanks to Jolly Mom and Go Graham Go for bring us together every Monday to share our creations!

Yesterday I whipped up a few little Christmas trees from some fabric scraps I had lying around. I got the idea a few weeks back from this post that Jodi from This Handmade Life linked to on a post back in October. I didn't use the pattern, although I would've probably had an easier time if I had. Plus my trees are kinda skinny compared to the ones in the tutorial, but I like them all the same!

They were fun to make and my son helped to pick the buttons. It took me about 3 hours to cut out nine trees, sew on all the buttons and assemble 5 of them. Not too bad for a rainy afternoon.

I used scraps from other projects and some swatches from work. We have custom upholstered chairs, bedding, etc. and I save all of the discontinued swatches that would normally be thrown away. They are perfect for little projects like these! Great way to do my little part for the environment plus get some awesome free fabrics!

I'm gonna group them into threes and give them as Christmas gifts to my aunt, grandma, and great aunt. If I have time with all the other gifts I have to make, I might put together a few more for co-workers and Kenyon's teacher. I have a few things I'm considering for those people.

I like how the trees look primitive and whimsical. They remind me of Whoville or some other Doctor Seuss story. I thought they would be a fun addition to anyone's Christmas decor...I might have to even make myself a few! Happy Holidays!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-30T05:14:00.000-08:00

We spent Thanksgiving at Jeff's family's house this year. We went up to Asheville, NC on Wednesday afternoon. We had a lazy day on Wednesday watching football, playing with Kenyon and eating pizza for dinner. Jeff and his brothers, Kevin and Ralph, went to the movies for some much needed brother time.

Jeff's mom cooked us a delicious Thanksgiving meal on Thursday afternoon. We had to go to my Grandpa's Thanksgiving night, so she prepared lunch for us so that Jeff would still get his turkey.

Kenyon spent most of meal time playing under the table with Grandpa, but I did manage to get a couple bites in him. I don't know why he never eats when we are at someone elses home. Except my mom's house...he eats like a little pig there. He once told me that she cooks better than I do, so I guess that's why...thanks son.

He really like the mashed potatoes, although why he liked them may have had more to do with how they had the unique ability to stick to one's lips.

I think he did end up eating a few bits of turkey, half a roll and whatever mashed potatoes that managed to make it into his mouth. No wonder he's so skinny.

I on the other hand had a huge plate and went back for seconds. My mother-in-law makes fantastic fried rice. It's one of her specialties. The turkey was moist and delicious. It was slow cooked over night. Yum! I'm so glad that we have left overs!!

Kenyon spent the day playing with his uncle Kevin. They played video games, ball, chase, and whatever else Kenyon could come up with. Kenyon love his uncle Kevin so much! For the first time ever Kenyon slept in his Uncle's room instead of in our room as he usually does when we stay at Grandma's. They grow up so fast!

Jeff and Ralph spent the afternoon napping and "watching" football. It was nice to be able to relax and just spend time together.

We went to my Grandpa's at 5:00 and had more food. I wasn't able to take pictures there which I am regretting. It was so crowded (small house and very large family) and Kenyon was nervous so he clung to me the whole time. Not to mention I had a stomach ache from too much carrot cake! I wish I had snapped a couple shots though. It was nice to see my family again although I didn't get to spend time with my parents. That is the one down side to having a large extended family, it's hard to spend meaningful time with everyone because there are so many people to talk to. It was good to see everyone again. The kids have all gotten so big in the last year or so since I saw them!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday with your families! Happy Thanksgiving!

Wordless Wednesday - After Bath Buddha - He was cold, what can I say:)

2008-11-26T05:58:00.000-08:00

Make Something Mondays! Turkey Cupcakes

2008-11-24T05:15:00.000-08:00

Happy Make Something Monday! Don't forget to drop by Go Graham Go and Jolly Mom to see other fun and fabulous ideas to make and if you want to get in on the fun add your post to Mr. Linky!

Since it's almost Thanksgiving I wanted to share a fun Turkey Cupcake idea. (Don't worry, they just look like turkey's, not made with turkey!) I made these 2 years ago for our holiday get together with my side of the family and they were a big hit. I used store bought cupcakes because I wasn't at my own house to bake fresh ones. You use any small oval cookies for the face and wings, I used 100 calorie packs I think if I'm remembering correctly. The feathers are upside down candy corn. The beak is the white tip of the candy corn that was cut off with a piece of red Twizzlers pull and peel candy over it. The eye ball is a little dot of white icing with a dot of black writing gel in the center. Super easy to make and they look fabulous!

These would be great for a kids Thanksgiving party or for your own Thanksgiving feast. Kenyon loved them and I took some to work the day after Thanksgiving and they were a big hit there. I think I might do them again this year and let Kenyon take them to school since he's old enough to help now.

These pictures bring back memories! Look how young my little man was! He's grown so much!

Enjoy Thanksgiving with your family and friends this year and have fun creating your own memories! Happy MSM!

Note: Sorry these pictures are not so great. They were taken with a disposable. I went off and left my camera at our house out of town and had to make due with what was available! They captured the memories which is what was most important:)

Thrifty and Earth Friendly Holidays - Upcycled Journal Giveaway at "This Handmade Life"!

2008-11-23T05:27:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of keeping this year's holidays earth friendly and thrifty, I have purchased a few gift's from Jodi at "This Handmade Life". Jodi is a talented artist that uses recycled books that would otherwise be thrown out. The goodies at "This Handmade Life" are priced just right for us thrifty gift givers, so stop by her shop and browse through her lovely selections.

Her upcycled golden book journals make great kids gifts and they are priced at only $12 which makes them a steal for such a unique gift!

Jodi also makes some really great magnets from recycled golden books as well. I have my eye on these for my own fridge. They are from my favorite book as a child, "Frog and Toad". One of the first books I learned to read! Jodi's magnets sell for $6 a set making them just right for everyone on your list!

You can win your own journal and magnet set on Jodi's Blog! She is giving away your choice of journal and magnet set from her Etsy store! Drop by her blog and get to know her and her wonderful family. Plus have a chance at winning two of her wonderful works of art...you can't get any thriftier than that!

Enjoy the holiday season and remember what the important things are this year. Take time to be thankful and show your family how much you care for them. Remember it's not about the gifts, it's about the time spent with loved ones and the memories you are making.

Weekend with the Family

2008-11-20T17:56:00.001-08:00

This weekend my cousins, Penny, Dewayne and their two twin girls, Eleanor and McKenzie came for a visit from Asheville, NC.

McKenzie had a swim meet in Spartanburg that's only about 20 minutes from us.

She swam in four races and did great! She's a great swimmer and a gracious competitor.

Eleanor is an irish dancer. I hope that I get to see her dance at sometime.

Kenyon really enjoyed being at the swim meet. He talked about it for 3 days!

He says he's going to be a swimmer now.

We first have to conquer the fear of the kiddie pool and getting water on his face!

Penny, Dwayne and the twins stayed with us Saturday evening and spent the morning with us on Sunday.

I made some delicious chili in the crockpot Saturday which was a great finish to the day. We all watched Zathura after dinner...gotta love the Netflix! Kenyon had gotten it in the previous day.

It was great to spend time with my family. We don't get to see each other often because of our crazy schedule, so it was nice. I hope that we can have them for a visit again more often. We don't spend time with family nearly as often as we should. I think we get so caught up in our daily lives that we forget how little time we make for our friends and family. It's these times that are treasured and I hope to make more time for the important things in the coming year.

Make Something Mondays! Deoupage Canvas Collage

2008-11-17T05:33:00.000-08:00

This week for Make Something Monday, brought to us by Go Graham Go and Jolly Mom, I wanted to post something a little different. For a long time I searched and searched for a large sports themed painting, picture, etc. to go above Kenyon's bed.

Everything I found was too baby, wrong colors, too small, or insanely expensive. After looking for months I decided I was going to create my own. I saved up several Sports Illustrated magazines, purchased a couple packs of sports trading cards and found a couple tickets from a football game Jeff and I went to.

I purchase a large white canvas at the craft store and began to cut out photos, quotes, and words I liked from the magazine. I arranged the pictures, etc. on the canvas in a way I liked and covered them with a thick layer of Modge Podge.

I then took the thicker sports cards and Football tickets and placed them on top of the photos and wet Modge Podge. This is where it gets fun:) Over the next 2 days I continued to spread layers of Modge Podge over the canvas. Let the canvas dry in between coats. This gives it a nice sheen with brush strokes so that it looks a little like a painting.

Now I have a large piece of artwork to hang above Kenyon's bed. It will have special meaning to him later because it has articles, pictures, and quotes from actual athletes that will be interesting to have as he gets older. It turned out great!

You could do this for your own home with any theme. It's inexpensive, fun and a project an older child could do on their own or a younger one can help with. You could even do one for your kitchen, office or living room with clips from craft magazines, gardening magazines, or photos. This would be a great holiday gift idea as well! Enjoy making your own special piece of art!

Apparently I am a Grinch, but who really has lost the spirit of Christmas

2008-11-15T04:42:00.000-08:00

So yesterday at work we put up the Christmas decorations. Tree, lights, Christmas music, the whole shebang. Of course me being the "pessimist" of the store made a comment about it being a bit early since Thanksgiving is still two weeks away and was immediately labeled as the Grinch.

This happens every year. Every year I go into stores and see decorations and holiday "gift giving" ads out earlier and earlier. This year I started seeing them before Halloween! It's taking all the fun out of Christmas for me.

I remember how much I loved Christmas as a kid. We put up our tree a week or so after Thanksgiving. My mom would decorate our house beautifully and play Christmas music. Our house even smelled like Christmas! And it wouldn't be cheap inflatables in the yard and imported ornaments from China, oh no, it was a live tree, wreaths and centerpieces my mom made from hand, and ornaments made either by my mom of by us kids. It was special and I loved it. I loved it not because of the gifts (and yes, we did get a lot of gifts) but because of the specialness and joy of the season.

It is so hard for me to create this environment for Kenyon. He is bombarded with ads for "this years hottest Christmas toy" (all 75 of them) starting in September. Every store we go into is filled with tacky Christmas paraphernalia from before Halloween. The idea of Christmas being all about the gifts you get is everywhere and it seems to be worse and worse every year! Kenyon has already started listing off all the things he wants for Christmas to me. Every time we walk past a toy he says he wants it for Christmas. It's a lot of pressure to put on a parent and it makes me sad that at four he has already started thinking that this is what Christmas is all about! It makes me angry every time I see a news story about parents getting into fights over toys on Christmas eve. Have we really lost sight of what the holidays should be about so much that we are going to fight with each other over a toy? We're adults! What lessons are we passing down to our children? That the reason for the season is buy buy buy get get get?

So in response to those that call me a Grinch, no, I am not the Grinch, you are in reality the Grinch. I am a Who. I have not lost sight of what is important about the holidays. My family has a modestly decorated home with ornaments handed down from my mom, many that she made herself with her own hands. We put these up the week after Thanksgiving. Our home is warm and smells of Christmas. I make my Christmas gifts for friends and family so that they actually reflect the care and love I have for them. I buy the things I can not make from other crafters and artist so that it still holds a special meaning. I strive (although I often feel it's an uphill battle) to teach my son that the holidays are about being thankful for what you have, showing your love to others, and celebrating with friends and family. We don't put ourselves into a giant hole of debt we can't dig ourselves out of every year just to prove we can buy better presents than our friends do.

If fact, just like the Who's of Whoville, if we had no money for gifts or decorations we would still be able to go on with Christmas. We would still appreciate each other and celebrate in our own way. So in actuallity it is my family and others like us that are still conserving the specialness of Christmas and the rest of society who are the Grinch's. To me being a Grinch is being selfish and taking away the joy of the holidays. In fact this is what the Grinch strived to do! This is what main stream society is doing to our children. Taking away the meaning of Christmas with over commercialization and the pressure to spend spend spend.

These are tough economic times my friends so it is more important than ever to change the way you celebrate this year. Start your own family traditions, make your own gifts or buy handmade, and emphasize what is important. Think of creative ways to show your children the love that you have for them. Make ornaments and gifts together, bake and decorate cookies, donate your time to a soup kitchen or homeless shelter, etc. These memories will stand out much longer in their minds than a memory of the 20 new toys they received.

So from one Who to the rest of you Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanakua, etc. and remember to enjoy whatever holiday that you celebrate this year for the right reasons and you won't feel like your just ready to get through it!

Too Sick to Craft - One Small Project to Show for the Week

2008-11-13T19:10:00.000-08:00

This has been my week...

Friday - started feeling sick, but worked until 8:00pm anyway. Must have caught Kenyon's cold. He's been sniffling for a couple days. Came home and was up until 11:00 pm finishing the pirate pants for the party on Saturday Kenyon was going to.

Saturday - Total exhaustion! I worked all day through coughing, sore throat, runny nose and body aches. Kenyon was still sniffling, but not much to worry about. Seemed to be feeling fine. Decided to take care of myself and let Daddy handle bed time. Went to bed at 8:00pm. I haven't done that in years!

Sunday - Woke up to get Kenyon breakfast at 7:30am, slept for another 2 hours on the couch while Kenyon watched cartoons. Woke up and felt a lot better. Felt up to going to the birthday party but not much more. Still no energy for sewing. :( Kenyon seems to still be feeling pretty well. Only a runny nose and occasional cough.

Monday - Felt much better when I woke up! Even posted my Make Something Mondays post! Finished the shirt above from my previous tutorial after Kenyon went to bed. Hand stitched a break dancer cut from felt. Christmas present for Kenyon, my little break dancer. Kenyon couldn't sleep for long though. His cold is getting worse...he was coughing a lung up. Jeff went out at 10:00 pm to get cough syrup. After that he slept through the night.

Tuesday - Woke up sick again! Oh no...it's back! How are you better for a day and then feel awful again the next day! Kenyon spent the morning coughing himself to death until he threw up...twice. Took him to the doctor and got a prescription for his sinus infection. He seemed to be feeling much better by the afternoon, I however was feeling worse and worse. Pushed through and cleaned house anyway. Have to get ready for house guests this weekend.

Wednesday - Went in to work and had a day from hell! 4 angry customers, 2 late shipments, and countless phone calls...all while feeling like walking death. Went home, had dinner, watched TV with the hubby. Kenyon seems to feel completely better...thank goodness.

Finally today I'm feeling a little more like myself. I am now behind on my Christmas gift projects. I was planning to have at least one bag completed by today and I haven't even started it. I hate being sick and even worse hate for my little boy to be sick. We always seem to get sick at the same time. All part of being a mom I suppose. The most annoying thing...Jeff doesn't even have a sniffle. He never gets sick...immune system of steel. Me on the other hand catch anything that blows my way. If only I could figure out a way to transfer some of that immunity to myself. Hopefully Kenyon inherits a little of that immunity. I think he's on his way. This is the first cold he's had in several months. Thank goodness for good immunity genes!

Make Something Mondays! Birthday Presents Gallore!

2008-11-10T05:02:00.000-08:00

It's time again for Make Something Mondays brought to us by Jolly Mom and Go Graham Go! This was the week of birthday parties...we were invited to four!

We only were able to make it to two of them and I made both of them some cute clothes to help promote my business. The first little boy just turned four and I made him a cute pair of corduroy pants.

I gave them a nice drawstring waist so they will be adjustable when he grows. I also attached one of my handmade tags to give them a professional appearance.

I also included a label with my Shop name and a size tag on the inside. I wish you could feel the inside of this corduroy! It was so soft and cozy! I wish my corduroy pants were that soft on the inside!

I lined the pockets with a cute pirate treasure map printed cotton fabric.

Then used the same fabric to give the pants some adjustable cuffs that can be folded up and then gradually lengthened as he grows so that he can hopefully wear them for a couple of years!

They turned out really nice!

The next outfit is for a little boy who just turned one. For him I made an entire outfit (I had a two week notice on this one).

The pants are a cinnamon colored corduroy.

The cuffs are a cute and soft flannel with a camping theme that was used in the shirt. They too are adjustable to grow with him as he gets taller. The waist are also a drawstring to adjust to his waist size.

The shirt is the soft camping print fabric. I have been admiring this fabric for a while and finally decided to tackle making a collared shirt. I can now appreciate the price of these! They are very complex and take a long time to make compared to t-shirts and pants!

I decided to give this shirt snaps instead of buttons since it was for such a little one. From experience, snaps are much easier to manage on the tiny clothes and don't require so much time spent standing still! Those little ones don't like to be still for very long!

There's a little shirt pocket on the front and I put in a size label and brand label in both the pants and shirt.

I think the outfit came out extremely nice and I hope he loves it!

I had a lot of fun making these two gifts. These are a little sneak peak at what I am planning to introduce to my Etsy shop after the holidays (maybe before if I get all my christmas gifts completed). I am taking custom orders so let me know if you need anything custom! I'll be glad to put something together for you in time for the holidays!

An Appreciation of Autumn - from an amateur photographer's prospective

2008-11-09T06:29:00.000-08:00

Most of you guys know that I am a photography junkie. I love looking at photos, reading about photography and taking my own pictures.

Taking so many photos in fact that Kenyon often will turn his back to me and refuse to look at the camera.

Lucky for me this day was different. He was a photo ham!

One of the reasons I started my Etsy store was to make extra money to go towards the purchase of a DSLR camera. I have my eye on the Nikon D60. I want one so badly that I can taste it!

I am currently using a little Panasonic DMC-LS70 that isn't really all that bad for a little point and shoot, but I feel so limited on what I can do!

I have found some classes that I am dying to take to learn all the "technical" stuff. I would love to know more about lighting, composition, and technique. I am holding off on signing up for those though until I have "the camera" to take with me. I just don't feel I can practice the techniques I will be learning with what I currently have available to me.

I hope that after the holidays I can continue to add to and improve my Etsy store and maybe boost my sales. Right now I have only had one, but I will not let myself be discouraged! I have been handing out business cards to customers at work and telling others about my custom orders.

I am making gifts instead of buying them hoping that this will lead to orders or purchases in the future. On Monday I will be doing a post on 2 birthday gifts I spent this week working on! Be sure to check them out. They are a bit of a sneak peak into what I will be working on for the shop after all my holiday gifts are complete!

In the mean time I will continue to practice with my lame point and shoot and dream of the fabulous career in photography that awaits me if only I had enough money to buy that DSLR. (sigh). Ok, Ok, back down to the real world!! :)

These photos are from my back yard. Fall is such a lovely time of year that I wanted to capture every color and texture. I attempted to get a couple shots of the neighborhood, but the colors captured on the camera just weren't what my eyes saw, so I chose not to post those. If you are a photography junkie like me check out these ladies blogs for some unbelievable and fabulous photography. These three ladies are a source of inspiration for me and will most definitely be for you too! Keep up the fabulous work ladies! I can only hope to be as talented of a photographer as you one day (if only I could get that camera...haha!)

Maine Momma
This Handmade Life
Weapons Grade Moose Drool

Awards - I finally am Catching Up!

2008-11-07T05:26:00.000-08:00

I have had the honor of receiving three awards from Felicia at Go Graham Go! If you haven't stopped by her blog check her out! She has some great product reviews, give-a-ways, and a great first time mom's perspective!

So I have to list some interesting facts about myself for a couple of these awards, so here they are!

1. I HATE to dress up. Jeans, t-shirts, pjs, whatever is comfy is my uniform. I keep hoping someone will nominate me for "What Not to Wear" so I can learn to be fashionable and comfy!

2. I am a retail store manager at USA Baby. It is the most stressful job ever! I love the people I work with and that is what keeps me there, that and the need to help feed my family!

3. I am a coffee addict. I drink usually 3 - 4 cups a day. It is my one vice.

4. I sucked my thumb until I was in 2nd grade...nice I know!

5. I am cheap. Cheap, Cheap, Cheap. It kills me to spend money. I am going to be one of those old people who hoard all their cash, wear ratty old sweaters, and live in a dump. All the kids in the neighborhood will think I'm a witch. I see it coming! :)

6. I hate any and all children's room decor with Cartoons/characters on it! That being said my son has a set of Transformers sheets. He picked them out himself.

7. I don't know how to roller skate. That's right people, something else that every other kid in America did that I didn't do. Why you ask? Because I was scared of falling...I was such a chicken.

Thanks Felicia for the awards! Sorry it took me so long to get them up and posted! I am honored and pleased to receive them!

A Brighter Future

2008-11-06T20:05:00.000-08:00

What a monumental week it has been! I am so proud to have been a part of this weeks election. It is so wonderful to see how far we have come as a country. As my friend Jodi stated in her post, my lovely little boy can now do whatever he puts his mind to, no matter how big that may be. It is so encouraging to know that no one or nothing will stand in his way. What a great example Mr. Obama has set for the children of America. I hope that everyone, regardless of their choice of candidate, can appreciate this special time in our history. This is truly a time of change and the beginning of a brighter future for our children.

Halloween!!!

2008-11-04T17:12:00.000-08:00

Kenyon was Batman this year for Halloween and he was super excited!

He wore the costume for days before Halloween and practiced his big muscles poses.

We have a tradition of going to Chick-fil-a before trick or treating (free kids meal if your kids are wearing a costume at ours!). Kenyon enjoys watching the other kids in their costumes and eats usually one or two bites.

Then we go and trick or treat "Silver Leaf". It's the best neighborhood to Trick or Treat in. A large amount of houses put out extravagant decorations and give out the good candy. There's always a ton of kids there. So many that they have patrol cars at all the entrances directing traffic.

Kenyon always gets lots of candy and there are some great costumes out, especially this year. It's fun for Jeff and I too. I love to see the way Kenyon's trick or treating changes from year to year. He did great this year.

This was the only shot I was able to get of him. He had a death grip on my hand the whole night which was fine. Last year we had to carry him most of the time because he was nervous and scared of the "scary" houses. I asked him once if he could hold Daddy's hand so I could take some pictures and he looked at me and said in such a serious voice, "Mommy, that is not going to happen". Funny stuff. Jeff did get some photos and I was hoping to post them with these, but they are still in his camera...maybe by Christmas I can share them...haha!

Poor little guy was exhausted by the end of the night! He was asleep almost before leaving the parking lot! Once we got home he ate his left over Chick-fil-a (told him to eat more than half a french fry) and was off to bed. It was a fun night for him and he still has a bucket full of candy to show for it. He's savoring it...one or two pieces a day without whining for more! I just love Halloween!

Make Something Mondays! Pumpkin Seed Granola

2008-11-03T04:04:00.000-08:00

Time again for Make Something Mondays, brought to us by Jolly Mom and Go Graham Go! This week I have been very busy on a couple of projects I will be posting by the end of the week, but they are not finished just yet. I decided to post a food related Make Something Mondays post this week as to not spoil the surprise of my crafty project.

I used the pumpkin seeds Kenyon and I toasted last week and borrowed a terrific granola recipe from African Kelli. I have never made homemade granola before, so I was excited to see how it turned out. I changed Kelli's recipe a bit by using some mixed nuts, the pumpkin seeds and some chocolate chips as my add ins. It turned out pretty good! I think I might have over cooked it a little, so next time I won't cook it quiet as long. My co-workers seemed to enjoy it and I'm gonna definitely make it again. Kenyon had fun helping make it and likes to pick out the chocolate chips. It was a great way to use our pumpkin seeds. Thanks Kelli for a great recipe!

Wordless Wednesday! You don't necessarily need a horse to be a good cowboy!

2008-10-29T20:08:00.000-07:00

Lazy Tuesdays - Pumpkin Day!

2008-10-28T19:08:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we bought our pumpkin for our Jack-o-lantern to carve today. Kenyon was so excited about it. He hugged and kissed it and wanted to take it inside. I convinced him to leave it outside with his little one for a nice Fall display.

This morning we got up and spent some time watching Disney's Halloweentown to get in the spirit. Then it was off to gather necessary supplies.

After running a few errands (fabric store for a few supplies, Halloween store for Carving Kit, Grocery store for Granola ingredients), a lunch at Fundruckers, and a brief (and very chilly) time at the park we were hard at work on our pumpkin. Kenyon really enjoyed scooping the seeds, well at least until his poor arm was just too tired to scoop. He liked feeling the squish of the guts in his fingers.

And here is the finished results! I think he came out pretty nice. Here is our halloween display. It is a collection of fakies from a couple of years, as well as our Jack-o-lantern and the little pumpkin Kenyon got on our trip to the pumpkin patch.

Kenyon wanted a few pictures with his new friends, so we did a mini photo shoot. Here are a few of my favorites. This one Kenyon is making his best jack-o-lantern face...ohh scary!!

Kenyon stacks up his little pumpkins into as tall of a tower as he can manage. He likes to play with these little pumpkins like toys.

He sang a little song he made up all day that went something like this "I love Halloween, it's my favorite and I love my Mommy and Halloween". I love that silly little boy!

While playing outside we dried and roasted the pumpkin seeds to make some yummy snacks tomorrow! I couldn't resist the temptation to have a few today though! Yum Yum!!

After dinner and a warm bath, Kenyon wanted to see his jack-o-lantern all lite up. He looked a little scary, but not too much!

After two bed time stories and a sleepy eyed goodnight kiss, I was off to unwrap my goodies for the day. New supplies for the son of our friend's one year old birthday party. I love the camping fabric and have been admiring it at the store for a few weeks now. I'm making a little flannel button up shirt with a pair of corduroy pants for Jayse's birthday. I bought enough fabric to make Kenyon a shirt as well. Fabric is drying now (gotta pre-shrink!) and I have gotten all the pieces cut apart. Tomorrow I will start on that shirt. I'm excited to try it!

Make Something Mondays! Recycled Child's T-Shirt

2008-10-27T05:38:00.000-07:00

It's time for another Make Something Monday! I had a hard time coming up with a good post this week because of my crazy schedule. Not a lot of crafting time this week unfortunately. I decided to show how I recycle a man's t-shirt to make a child's t-shirt. Please excuse the terrible quality of these photos! The lighting in my home is terrible and makes everythings color all wrong (maybe some of you awesome photographers could give me a little advice on that problem!). These shirts are super easy to make and are a great way to save money! Visit your local thrift store to find great colors for cheap cheap! 2 for $3.50 at the local Goodwill!

Start with a man's Large (or larger) t-shirt. Be sure if it has graphics you want to incorporate those into your design or you have enough blank space to cut all your pattern pieces. Lay it out flat on a smooth surface.

Lay out the pattern pieces using your shirt. You can put the body pieces directly on the natural fold of the shirt. TIP: check to be sure the sides are seamless BEFORE cutting your pattern, otherwise you will have a seam running down the middle of your shirt...I learned this lesson the hard way! I used Kwik Sew pattern #3424 and modified the sleeve to work for a little boy, since the long sleeve pattern was for a girl's shirt. Trace and cut out your pattern pieces.

You should have 2 sleeves, a front panel, and a back panel. Now comes the fun part!

Sew together you shoulder seams with wrong sides facing together.

Now you need to put in your ribbing for the neckline, no need to reinvent the wheel! I just cut the neck from the old shirt and re-sew it into the existing shirt. This is the trickiest part for me and I don't have it mastered yet. Follow your pattern instructions and you should be able to have it down pretty quickly!

Here's mine finished and it's not perfect! No worries though, I have an idea to fix it! I'll let you in on that secret at the end of the post!

Next pin together your sleeves and body of the shirt and sew it together.

It's always a good idea to double stitch the seems in kids clothes. I always double stitch every seam just in case. Kenyon is rough on clothes, so I want these to last for a while!

Now stitch together the the sides and sleeve seams. Makes sure that your hems line up or you will have a silly looking shirt!

Turn up your sleeve about an inch and hem.

And there you have it! A completed shirt! I am going to hide the ugly neck seam with some awesome japanese sewing tape I ordered from A Little Goodness on Etsy (it's on it's way from Japan) and add an applique. I will post an update once it's done to show you how it turned out!

Be sure to check out Go Graham Go's precious tiger costume and Jolly Mom's awesome sock Monkey! Happy Make Something Monday!

Oh the Joy of Dancing in a Puddle on a Crisp Fall Day

2008-10-23T17:13:00.000-07:00

As anyone who has ever read my blog or visited my Flickr page knows, Kenyon and I are huge fans of the park. We go at least once a week to kick back and have a little play time.

Kenyon also is an avid dancer. There have been many an afternoon spent break dancing in our living room. One day that boy is gonna be famous, I'm telling you. Ok. Ok. Yes, I am a little biased, but just take a look at that video! That kid has talent!

So there really couldn't be anything better than dancing in the park! Add in a little water and some splashing and presto! Instant gleefulness! Dance Kenyon baby Dance!

A Long Awaited Outfit Finally Complete!

2008-10-21T18:23:00.000-07:00

Here it is, finally! The long awaited first "true" addition to my new childrens clothing line! I couldn't be more pleased with the way this outfit came out! I was nervous about taking on such a large undertaking, and although I did make a pair of practice pants, wasn't confident I had it in me. Well, apparently I was a fashion designer in another life because not only did I pull it off, but it was way easier than I expected! Here's how I did it.

For the pants I used a pink stripe flannel for a snuggly, cozy feel. I cut the pants using a modified pattern I found at a local fabric shop. I added a cute slit in the sides of the hem and a little bird and heart applique. The waist is an elastic band with an added feature that I love. Kenyon's waist is so small, that no pants that are long enough fit his waist properly. I ONLY purchase drawstring pants for that reason. Therefore, I added a cute grossgrain ribbon drawstring waist!

The shirt was a true experiment. I purchased a large men's t-shirt at Goodwill in a nice chocolate brown. I cut the body for my little girls shirt from the body of the men's shirt. I then didn't have enough fabric left to do the fun wide sleeves I wanted, so I modified a short sleeve pattern and added a long sleeve cut from the same flannel as the pants. I added the Grossgrain ribbon I used in the pants to trim the seam where the sleeves met. I then added a cute coordinating bird and heart applique.

I purchased some printable canvas fabric today and made personalized tags for my clothing to give it a more professional appearance. I also added a size tag and a washing instructions tag.

I am so happy with the way they turned out! I hope they are received well in my Etsy store and am starting project number 2 this evening. An outfit for Kenyon for Christmas!

Make Something Mondays! Zipper Pouch Bags

2008-10-20T05:14:00.000-07:00

My good friend Felicia at Go Graham Go has teamed up with Jolly Mom to bring us Make Something Mondays! This is so exciting because I am always looking for new ideas and inspiration. Anyone can participate, just follow the links to Go Graham Go or Jolly Mom and add the Make Something Monday graphic to your page and post away!

I wanted to start my first Make Something Monday with a simple zipper pouch. This was the first project I did about a month ago when I revived the seamstress in me! It is simple enough for a beginner (I included a link to a super simple tutorial) and with a few tweaks can be a more challenging project for a more advanced sewer. This pouch is a little different because it has a zipper in the middle, instead of on top, so it is perfect for a pencil/art supply pouch for kids! Make the pouch without a zipper for a great tissue cozy or wipe cozy.

I used a great tutorial I found on Flickr by a contact of mine to make this pouch. It was so simple to follow! This would be a great first project for a beginning sewer! I modified it a bit so that I would have a different fabric on the inside, added a scrap of ribbon to give it a handle, and hand sewed on a little bird applique. These little pouches make great Christmas gifts! No one has enough of them, they are so useful (especially for a bag junkie like me!) Have fun and get creative! These are also great ways to use up those extra fabric scaps we all have lying around!

I've been Tagged!!

2008-10-19T13:02:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by Felicia at Go Graham Go! Check her out! Do you ever feel like you are drowning in products that are "the next big thing" then you buy it and it doesn't do what you thought it would? Well, Go Graham Go takes all this frustration away! Felicia rates and reviews a ton of great baby and kids products and will let you know what is worth your hard earned money and what to leave on the shelf. Also don't miss out on her awesome giveaways and contests!

Here are the tag rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 random or weird facts about yourself.
3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here are my seven random facts...

1. I am terrified of falling. Standing on the edge of a high bridge freaks me out. I don't mind planes, roller coasters, or anything I am contained in, just standing on the edge of a high place and imagining myself falling off freaks me out.

2. I have had over 20 jobs! I started working when I was 15 and worked most of my jobs in highschool and college, but I have never been at a job longer than 3 years. I am getting ready to pass that mark at my current job. I always end up being offered a better position with different companies. I won't be happy until I'm working for myself!

3. I love kids! I used to say I wanted about 10 of them, but I don't think I could keep up with them all. I wish I could have more now, but financially I'm not ready. I don't know if I will ever be, so we way just have to take that leap of faith and give Kenyon that sibling he's been asking for whether we feel ready or not!

4. I don't know how to do a cart wheel or summersault. I never learned how to as a kid. I don't really know why to be honest. I think I was afraid of getting hurt maybe. Weird, I know.

5. I love purses and bags. If it wasn't for my husband (he set a limit of 8 bags I'm aloud to have at a time) then I would probably be a bag hoarder. It is easier to get away with now because I just make them for my Etsy shop, and that gives me an excuse to have lots of pretty bags around.

6. I am a Lost nerd. I am completely obsessed with that show. I even subscribe to the podcast. I am anxiously anticipating the return of the new season. I have to know what happens next!!

7. I love cheese. I would put cheese on anything and eat it. I love it on sandwiches, pasta, meat, rice, bread, whatever. It grosses my husband out. I don't care...I LOVE it:)

Ok, guys! Here's my seven bloggers who get the pleasure of being tagged by me!
1. This Handmade Life
2. African Kelli
3. Handmade Naturals
4. Maine Momma
5. Mama's Losin It
6. Retro Mama
7. Nyam - Adventures in Cooking and Eating

Happy Tagging everyone!!

Christmas in October - Box of Goodies from This Handmade Life!!!

2008-10-17T19:31:00.000-07:00

Highlight of my week so far was most definitely my box of handmade goodies from This Handmade Life!! I entered Jodi's contest last month and won, which was really exciting because I never win anything!! My little box of goodies contained a beautiful print of an original art collage, a beautiful pair of ear rings, a set of upcycled magnets from a beautifully illustrated children's book, a set of lovely note cards with original photos from the farm, and a card cozy with some cute illustrated cards. I also ordered some fabric from Jodi's etsy store that is absolutely gorgeous!

My favorite thing from my box of goodies are the magnets. I love anything recycled and anyone who's been to my house has seen the collection of Kenyon's art on our fridge, so these are a perfect addition! I thought of giving some of the items as gifts, but I don't know if I can part with any...I like them all too much!

Jodi is a great lady and a huge inspiration for me. She is a contact from Flickr that I made a while back. We share many interest and she seems to be doing the things I strive to do. I have been following her blog for several months now and commenting on her lovely photography on Flickr. I had stumbled across Etsy in the spring but never opened a store because I was so discouraged from months of trying Ebay with no success. When I saw that Jodi had a store and was selling her items it gave me the courage to get out there and try again. I am very greatful to have her as a online buddy.

Stop by Jodi's etsy store and check out her great handmade items! I am going to order a couple of her upcycled journals for Christmas gifts. You will not be disappointed! She is a talented artist and lovely person. You will also be supporting a great cause! Jodi gives 20% of her sales on Etsy to Haitian Roots, an organization that sponsors Haitian children to attend school.

Thank you Jodi for the incredible prize and the continued support and inspiration!

Supporting His Candidate - Already at 4!!

2008-10-17T05:08:00.001-07:00

Our family is pretty political. Jeff and I both watch all the debates and spend a lot of time researching candidates and party positions. I am not going to use my blog as a political platform, don't worry! I just wanted to show off this great shirt I made for Kenyon. It ended up being a larger project than I anticipated! I learned a couple very important lessons while making it that I definitely won't be forgetting any time soon!

I got a store bought 100% cotton t-shirt and cut felt appliques out to make Obama's logo. Lesson 1 learned: it is impossible to sew a applique onto a tiny t-shirt pocket without sewing the pocket together. This was my original plan, but I had to alter it and put the logo on the front left hand side of the shirt.

On the back I spelled out Obama 2008 in white felt. Lesson 2 learned: It is extremely hard to sew through adhesive backed felt that isn't made for sewing! I had some pre-cut letters that were designed for scrap booking. They were perfect for my shirt, well at least I thought! The extra strength adhesive was impossible to sew through. I broke a needle trying to! It took me 20 minutes to get one letter on. I decided to remove the one letter I did manage to complete, and cut letters by hand out of felt and do that instead. It worked out great and I was extremely pleased with the results!

Kenyon was so excited to wear it! He loves anything I make and was proud to show it off. I just wish I had thought to make these shirts sooner and I could've sold some of them in my etsy store! Oh well, maybe next election year!

My First Piece of Clothing! Finished and Listed on Etsy...Finally!

2008-10-16T20:20:00.001-07:00

I finally managed to get my first baby item listed on Etsy tonight! A little sailboat diaper cover! I was so nervous about making them because I've not really made clothing before (unless you count doll clothes when I was a child), but they were so simple! I think they turned out great!!

This week has been insane, I think I have too many projects. I'm really excited about my new clothing line for kids I'm introducing to my store. I've finished another pair of pants, made an awesome shirt for my son (both to be blogged this week), managed to somewhat keep up with my blog, take my son to the park twice this week, work a full time job, and keep my house in order...ahhh! I am so committed to making a business from home so I can quiet (or at least cut back my hours) my full time job that I will keep it up though. All though it's a bit crazy, I'm really enjoying the challenge of it. Now if I could just figure out how to go without sleep....hummmm.

Thrifty and Earth Friendly Holidays - Upcycled Gift Tags

2008-10-14T05:44:00.000-07:00

I came up with a great way to recycle the tags from clothing and other items purchased by our family. It's also a great way to recycle business cards and junk mail! I wanted to give you some ideas to create your own unique gift tags like the ones pictured above. Have the kids help and get ready for the holidays!

First gather up some hang tags, business cards, junk mail, etc. The thicker the paper the better. Then you need some fabric or decorative paper to cover your tags. I used some fabric scraps from other projects, but you can also use handmade paper, scrapbooking paper, or even magazine and newspaper pages. You'll need something to decorate your tags as well. I have a jar of old buttons I like to use, but again use whatever you like, rhinestones, beads, bottle caps, lace, ribbon, etc! You'll also need a good pair of scissors and some strong glue (I use a hot glue gun, found it's the best to hold on fabric and decorations).

You will want to cut any larger mail or business cards into gift card sized "tags". Pre-cut fabric or paper to the size of your tags. Don't worry about being exact, you want them to look a bit primitive and handmade. Apply a generous, but thin, layer of glue to your tag.

Wrap your fabric or paper around your tag to cover all the writing and advertising on the tag. If there is an element of the paper you like, leave it visible! I wanted to keep the grommet in this tag, so I left it exposed. I will use it later to attach a string for hanging.

You should have an attractive tag now. Don't worry if you don't have a hole for a ribbon, we'll talk about adding that later.

Now it's time for the fun part!! Add your decorations! I added a few buttons to mine (I have a love of them), but you add whatever things you love! Arrange them in a way that is pleasing to your eye, and don't forget it doesn't have to be perfect! Let your kids decorate their own if you like! Use a strong scrap book glue or help them with the glue gun. Most important thing is to have fun and you'll be sure to like the result!

Now it's time to add your finishing touches. Add a label or if you don't have a printer use a piece of scrap paper. You can write a holiday message, To: and From:, your own business logo (like I did, I use these for tags on my Etsy items), or whatever you need for your gifting. Then it's time to add your string or ribbon. If you don't already have a hole, use a hole punch (you can get fun shapes or the traditional round kind) and feed a ribbon through that. If you don't have a hole punch or your tags are too thick (like mine), you can glue ribbons to your tag to make a loop (see picture below).

You should now have a lovely tag for your gift! Make them to fit any occasion or holiday! This is a great way to recycle and give your gifts a extra special touch. Have fun making your tags and don't forget to take time this year to actually enjoy the holidays. This is just one way you can take the commercialism out of your holiday season!

Tooth Fairy Boxes for Little Teeth!

2008-10-12T06:59:00.000-07:00

I have added a cute new collection of Tooth Fairy Boxes to my Etsy store! All three feature a tiny pillow with a pouch for the tooth! They turned out incredibly cute! I love making these little boxes. I am a little addicted to hand made papers, but not so great at card making, so I line all my little boxes with these beautiful papers! I like to buy those big scrap packs and see what treasures wait inside. My favorite thing to use in decoupage is mulberry paper. It's so soft and the texture is fantastic! It almost looks like a painting once it's finished. I came up with the idea of the little pillow just to add more of a softness to these boxes. What I love is that even after your child is too old to use them for teeth, they can be used as little jewelry boxes, treasure boxes, or keepsakes. I wanted to make them so that they could grow with your child.

I hope these do well in the shop. They really turned out quiet lovely. Things in the shop are slow right now, but I am not discouraged. The economy is terrible right now. No one is doing good business right now. Things at the baby store are very slow and have been for a couple weeks. I am hoping things will pick up for the holidays. I will spend this time getting my shop well stocked! My first customer loved her treasure box and gave me great feedback, so yay! I am excited to see what happens for me on Etsy in the next few months.

Kenyon's First School Fieldtrip!

2008-10-12T05:35:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday Kenyon took his first field trip to the Greenville Zoo with his class. They raised money for the March of Dimes in order to go. I had the day off so normally Kenyon wouldn't go to school, but he didn't want to miss the trip. I met his class at the zoo so that Kenyon could walk through with his class.

Kenyon had a great time, but the fieldtrip itself was a bit of a chaotic mess! It was obvious that the kids didn't so much as practice the buddy system or walking together in a line before the trip. The class arrived at the zoo at 10:30 am and the children usually eat lunch at 11:30. We were at the zoo until 1:00 and the kids were not provided snacks or juice. They were all complaining that they were hungry. I had to sneak Kenyon fruit snacks out of my purse one at a time so that the other kids wouldn't mob me for food! The icing on the cake for me was when Kenyon had to correct his teacher when she told the class that the vulchers were hawks...seriously!

Sorry, I had to go a bit of a rant. One lesson I learned from this trip is that I will be attending all fieldtrips this year with Kenyon! The important part is that no little ones were lost or hurt seriously (one little girl bruised her elbow pretty badly, but no one could've stopped that fall!). Kenyon's got a fieldtrip to the farm coming up in 2 weeks and I have already rearranged my work schedule to go. I guess I have followed in the footsteps of my mom more than I realized! Now I understand why she always shaperoned our fieldtrips. I just hope I'm not being overly cautious or protective. We will see how the next trip goes!

Comfort Food For Your Soul - Tuscan Pot Pie

2008-10-11T04:20:00.000-07:00

Fall is the time for warm, comforting goodness. This classic recipe is great for work and school nights because it takes no time to prepare! It can easily be modified to suite particular tastes. It is one of my personal favorites and my husband loves it as well. My son hasn't learned to love it just yet, he hates beans that aren't green and we are having trouble moving past that, but he will come around! Give it a try, you will not be disappointed!

Tuscan Pot Pie

3/4 lb. sweet or hot Italian Sausage
1 jar prepared chunky veggie or mushroom spaghetti
1 can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained (I often substitute navy beans if my market is out of
cannellini beans)
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1 package refrigerated crescent dinner rolls (I like to use the reduced fat kind)
1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Brown sausage in medium ovenproof skillet, stirring to separate meat. Drain drippings.

2. Add spaghetti sauce, beans and thyme to skillet. Simmer, uncovered, over medium heat 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in cheese.

3. Unroll crescent dough; divide into triangles. Arrange on top of sausage mixture being sure not to overlap the dough (believe me from experience, if you overlap you will have a doughy crust! I usually tear the triangles shorter to fit my skillet and end up waisting a couple of triangles worth, but it's worth it not to have doughy crust!). Bake 12 minutes or until crust is golden brown and meat mixture is bubbly.

Makes 4-6 servings Prep and cook time: 27 minutes

Recipe adapted from "Grandma's Casseroles" recipe book

Please Pick Me! I wanna sleep in a Real Bed!! -- Win a Bedroom for Your Sleepy Little One

2008-10-07T17:01:00.000-07:00

I am entering Kenyon in a photo contest to win an awesome South Shore Children’s Bedroom Set from Home & Bedroom Furniture, by entering this precious picture of him sleeping! He is My Sleeping Angel!!

I took this picture of Kenyon this spring taking a nap on our couch. I was in the kitchen preparing a desert for after dinner. I thought it was awfully quiet in the living room where I had left Kenyon watching SpongeBob. When I went to see what he was into he was sound asleep with his head laying on a pillow. Poor guy was exhausted! We had a big day that day of playing in the park. I love this picture because of the great detail in his face. It really captures his peacefulness and beauty!

I am hoping to win the Summer Breeze Bedroom Set because of it's classic style and it's great boy appeal. I am torn between the blueberry and the country pine. I know the country pine is probably most practical, but the blueberry is awesome! I think I might have to go with the blueberry. I think that the Lily Rose set is beautiful, but a little to girly for my guy!

It would be wonderful to win this set for Kenyon. Right now he sleeps on a mattress on just a frame. I have been wanting to purchase a bed for him, but things are a little tight right now. Jeff and I did purchase a dresser and an armoire for him (gotta love the employee discount at the baby store!), but didn't have enough left over for the bed. Now the bed that matches his set is discontinued, so I will never be able to get it. The best we can hope for is a good color match! It would be wonderful for him to win this beautiful bedroom! He would love it so much!

You can register to win this set for your little one too! Just visit 5 Minutes for Mom and enter your photo of your little one asleep! It's that easy! Good luck!

A Must See for a "Crafty" Momma - How to Site for Handmade Baby and Children's Items!

2008-10-04T18:22:00.001-07:00

I'm thinking of introducing a line of baby clothing to my Etsy store, so I was searching around for cute baby clothes patterns on line. I happened to stumble upon this awesome site that shows you how to make a million awesome baby things! Clothes, nursery accessories, slings, baby food, quilts, you name it they have an idea or pattern for you! This is a crafty moms dream site, so if you haven't found it yet check it out! I think I'm gonna try those cute pants and I'm really tempted to try the Mei Tei as a gift for a co-worker who just found out she is having a little girl! Congrats Lexi! Enjoy:)

Note: The picture is of Kenyon at 3 months old. He was napping on our bed in our old house. Blah, I really hate that quilt! He's so sweet when he's sleeping, even now! Oh how fast they grow!

Cooler Weather Means Time for Casseroles! Cornbread Chicken Pot Pie

2008-10-03T05:43:00.000-07:00

Wonderful autumn is finally here! This is the time of year I love for so many different reasons, one of being casseroles (which is probably why my pants also start to feel a little snugger from now until spring!). This is one of my families favorites. It's quick and easy for a school nights and extremely tasty! This one was immediately added to the regular rotation! It's my husbands favorite, and my picky 4 year old usually asks for seconds! Enjoy!

Cornbread Chicken Pot Pie

1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 can (or 8 oz. frozen or fresh) whole kernel corn, drained
2 cups cubed cooked chicken or turkey (I like to shred my chicken, but you can do either)
1 package (8 1/2 ounces) corn muffin mix
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheesee (2 ounces)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In 9 in pie plate mix soup, corn and chicken.

Mix muffin mix, milk and egg. Pour over chicken mixture. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden. Sprinkle with cheese.

Recipe taken from Campbell's Everyday Easy Meals Cookbook

Thrifty and Earth Friendly Holidays - Making Paper Boxes

2008-09-30T17:05:00.001-07:00

So here we are one day from the first day of October and it hit me how close we are to Christmas. It is funny how the holidays seem to be upon us so quickly. Halloween is still a month away and already I am seeing stores with wreaths, trees, decor and "gift ideas" on every display. Every year it seems we are more and more bombarded with spend, spend, spend, buy, buy, buy! That is why this year I have taken the Handmade Pledge to buy only hand made gifts and encourage others to do the same this holiday season. In the same spirit I am striving to reuse and make as much of my wrap and decorations as possible. With our current economy and the recent focus on being "green" (I'm finally trendy, how did that happen!) everyone can use some tips and ideas. I love to learn how to make things and get ideas to avoid spending my hard earned money on things I can make for myself. I am going to try and share some of those ideas and tips here to hopefully inspire you to do the same.

I wanted to start off by teaching you how to make a paper box. This is a quick and easy project that older children can help with. All you need is paper. I used a page from a magazine for the box on the right and a large scrap book page for the box on the left. If you use the magazine page, tear out the page from the center and fold it in half to make your box stronger. You can use any paper in any shape, whatever tickles your fancy. Don't forget to use a sturdy sheet of your box won't be strong enough to hold anything, but don't get one too thick or it will be too hard to fold! So lets get started!

1. Start off with your sheet of paper. I used a sheet from an old Time Magazine...hello Barry Bonds.

2. Fold your sheet of paper in half. Open it back up and fold in the sides to touch in the middle (you should have 4 sections). Open your sheet up and turn it vertical.

3. Fold in half again. Open it back up and fold in the sides to touch in the middle as above, except keep the sides folded in this time.

4. Fold in each corner about 3/4 of the way. Be sure not to fold them in too far. You need a little lip for step 5.

5. Fold over the edges and give them a nice sharp crease.

6. Gently pull open the box by pulling up on the edges you folded in step 5. Carefully shape the sides and corners of the box.

7. Repeat steps 1-6 on another sheet of paper to make a top for your box and you should have a lid and bottom.

There you have it. In less than 5 minutes you have a perfect, unique gift box. It's inexpensive (or free if you recycle), good for the earth, and will make your gift stand out from the mass of holiday wrap and store bought gift bags. Tie with a pretty ribbon or tinsel and a home made gift tag and you have a beautiful wrapped gift! Make them in different sizes and shapes for jewelry, toys, socks, whatever. I haven't figured out how to make a large one that's strong enough for shirts and stuff, but haven't managed to do that yet. If anyone figures that out let me know!

Enjoy and don't forget the true spirit of the holidays!

Cookings Not Just For Little Girls Anymore!

2008-09-25T19:35:00.000-07:00

Some of my most treasured memories from childhood are of lazy afternoons in the kitchen with my Mom. My Mom is a wonderful cook. Almost every night she would come home at 6:00pm from a full 8 hour day of work and prepare us a large dinner. And sure, sometimes we would have warmed leftovers, but it didn't matter because they were so good! By the time I got into high school, I had taken over the job of starting dinner. I would cook noodles, prepare sauces, cut chicken and the like. It was then I realized that I shared my Moms love of the culinary arts. I love to cook!

I wish I could say that I come home every night and cook a healthy homemade meal for my family, but I don't. Tonight was chef Boyardee for Kenyon, Hot Pockets for Jeff (to be fair to myself, both of these meals were consumed before I even left work!), and a ham and cheese for myself. Not getting home until 6:30 to 7:00 pm often puts a bit of a damper on a home cooked meal plan. My days off are where I get to shine! Try new recipes or a new twist on an old favorite. Some ventures are a great hit, others get put in the back of the recipe box to collect dust until the next time I'm feeling a bit bored with the everyday.

Recently Kenyon has developed a real interest in what is going on in the kitchen. He loves to watch and taste and smell. He helps stir, pour, mix. I have to admit that I'm loving this new found interest in cooking. I am a true believer that men should know how to cook! My poor husband is not a chef by any stretch of the imagination. Now the grill he has mastered, but ask him to whip something up in the kitchen and straight to the freezer he goes...honey, where are the Hot Pockets?? How many times have I yearned to come home after a hard day and have a delicious dinner waiting for me! I want Kenyon to know his way around the kitchen. To one day be able to prepare healthy, delicious meals for his family.

So I will continue to encourage my son to cook. I will buy my son a kitchen and play food (even if the thought makes my own father cringe). Afterall, some day I may need Kenyon to cook for me and I want it to be good! I want him to know it is ok to go against what is main stream and pursue his interests regardless of the "label" society tries to attached to it. After all, what women doesn't want a man to feed her a delicious, home cooked meal after a long day at work! Look at it this way guys, while you are taking your dates to McDonalds, my son will be cooking a candle lit dinner for his. I guess when you put it that way, it doesn't really seem like such a bad idea to learn a few cooking skills now does it boys!

Happy cooking!

Note: Pictured are some delicious banana nut muffins we made tonight to eat for breakfast in the morning. I did manage to squeeze in a short lesson in the kitchen before bedtime!

Delicious New "Poppies on Chocolate" Bag for Etsy!

2008-09-25T19:12:00.000-07:00

My new "Poppies on Chocolate" bag listed in my Etsy store today! This is my favorite one yet! I took some lovely, warm, chocolate corduroy and paired it with a bright yellow floral print. The little poppies are hand cut from warm, yummy felt. This bag turned out even better than I expected! I changed my technique in sewing the bag together a bit and I think this way definitely works better than the way I was doing it. I sorta wanted to keep this one for myself. I will probably end up making myself one at some point. I'm so excited about the fact that my bags have turned out so well! Sometimes I even surprise myself!!

A Day at the Greenville Zoo

2008-09-23T20:05:00.001-07:00

Every Tuesday is Mommy and Kenyon day at our home. I have Tuesdays off work and Kenyon and I spend the entire day together doing something fun. It is a day we both look forward to all week long.

This week we spent the afternoon wandering lazily around the Greenville Zoo. It's a small, but nice zoo that we visit quite often. Kenyon loves to feed the elephants and the goats. Today the weather was just beautiful, so all the animals were out enjoying the cooler temperatures.

I think my favorite thing today was that Baby Bob was out and about! He is the little orangutan baby that lives at our zoo. He is usually sleeping in his momma's arms when we are there, so it was nice to watch him play. It is so amazing that they are so much like little people. Even Kenyon pointed out that Bob liked to play like he did, he even knew how to do somersaults! Check out my flickr page to see more of our photos from the zoo!

After a couple of hours at the zoo, we played on the playground until our tummy's were rumbling too loudly. Then we went to Atlanta Bread Company and had some delicious soup. Kenyon had Chicken noodle and I had Frontier Chicken Chili. We spent the rest of the day wandering through stores and looking at Halloween costumes.

It was a great day! I can't wait until our next outing. I cherish these days because it won't be long before he's embarrassed to hang out with mommy. Sometimes I wish I could freeze time and keep him this size forever, but then reality sets in and he grows and grows and grows. All I can really do is keep these days in my heart and hope that he never gets too old to hang out with his mom.

My First Sell on Etsy After Only 10 Days!

2008-09-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it! I had my first sell today! I didn't think I would sell something this soon. From reading several other people's post in my EtsyMoms group on flickr, it looked as if it could take a month or more to sell your first item. I opened my shop on the 12th and sold the little Tea Pot jewelry box today! This is exactly the boost I needed. It has been an incredibly difficult week at work and I was exhausted from staying up late every night working on my Etsy store . It's good to know that all my hard work has paid off! This just makes me want to make this work even more! I so desperately want to be free of my exhausting job at the baby store. I am determined to make it work! I have over half the money I need to purchase my DSLR camera, which will put me well on my way to being able to start a part time photography business. Hopefully between that and selling on Etsy, I will soon be able to work from home and spend more time with my family. I'm really excited to see where this new adventure takes me!

An Introduction to My Artful Spirit

2008-09-21T07:52:00.000-07:00

So, here I am doing my first blog post. I had to ask what exactly do I post in my blog? What do I write about? Will anyone even read it? I figure I will answer these questions in time and who knows maybe even surprise myself!

I wanted to start by introducing myself and my beautiful family! I am Mitzi and I live in Greenville, SC. I am currently a retail manager at a local specialty baby store. I am desperately trying to escape retail though. I become more and more jaded towards the retail environment everyday. It seems as if customers have completely forgotten the value of customer service and are only focused on how much they can get for the least amount possible. This is why I am so desperately trying to get out! I have started my own store on etsy and am pursuing a passion for photography that will hopefully one day develope into a career. You can check out my photography on my flickr site and my handcrafted goodies in my etsy store, Artful Spirit.

My wonderful husband, Jeff, is a realtor. He is a beautiful, loving man that I am so incredibly lucky to have. He is so supportive of my passions and is quick to offer encouragement when I get to down on myself! He is a passionate, warm spirit and we are so good for each other. Jeff is one of the smartest and funniest people I have ever met. Since I first laid eyes on him, I have always been strangely drawn to him. We have been married for 3 years and have been together for 7 years now. He keeps me grounded and brings me back to reality when I get to carried away. Without him I would be lost!

We have a gorgeous little boy who just turned 4. His name is Kenyon and he is my whole world! He is such a funny guy! He can always put a smile on my face with his crazy antics! He reminds me so much of his father. Kenyon is such a free spirit. He loves to dance, sing, and be so silly. He has an army of little plushie "friends" that he loves more than anything in the world. He is so sweet and loving. I get a million hugs and kisses and he tells me he loves me every 10 minutes! I couldn't ask for a better child!

All in all my life is wonderful! There are things I am working to change, but my family is so perfect the way it is. I am looking forward to sharing my life and family with you. Who knows, maybe I will be really good at this whole blogging thing!