What Leigh’s Into

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As you know, I started sewing again.

And I had this nagging feeling (I originally typed napping feeling if that tells you anything about my current state) a particular bag was meant for a blog friend of mine, Leigh.  Call me crazy, but sometimes I feel my bags just belong to certain people.

Leigh has this regular blog feature she calls What I’m Into, which features her current loves; books, music, videos…stuff.  She was kind enough to mention me.  :)

Somewhere in between toilet scrubbing, Lego building, nose wiping, and dinner making…or maybe it was between car pooling and fast food ordering….I can’t remember….any-who, I managed to get my Etsy store functioning, complete with my adorable Princess as bag model.

So after you check into Leigh’s blog, let me know what you think of my Etsy Shop.

(P.S.  Keep your eye on Leigh.  She’s written an intriguing book on life, love, and loss.  I’m anxious for the day it’s published and she can sign a copy for me.)

Happy Friday, y’all.

Circus Crew Has Unexpected Overnighter

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The last 24 hours have been interesting.

Yes, I am typing this with my pinky finger in a splint.  I’m getting a cramp.

Yes, I did cut my hair.  It looks super cute when it’s fixed, but I spent last night in a hotel room without toiletries.  No brush.  No styling products.  No hairspray.  No makeup.  This is not for the weak, my friends.

The whole Circus Crew got stuck in a midwestern storm two and a half hours from home.  The wind was blowing fast enough to take the enamel right off your teeth.  Taz actually “caught air” and hovered briefly over the sidewalk.

Dictator had a special appointment with his pediatric doctor that afternoon and things took so much longer than expected.

Making good on our promise to put some fun into an otherwise tedious and boring day, we took the kids to a bookstore.

Then God pulled out the exciting weather to entertain us all.

We stood in Barnes and Noble, watching as hail pounded the cars in the parking lot and the wind bent thin trees to almost vertical.

We bought several sacks of books just to weigh Taz down then dashed for the car. Facing black rolling clouds and bolts of lightning, we did what any normal family raised in Tornado Alley would do.

We found an Applebee’s and ordered spinach dip.

Can I interest you in a daiquiri?  Long Island Ice Tea? Don’t mind if I do.

Then we called a few hotels.

Yes, yes we would like a room as close to the ground floor as possible.  Complimentary breakfast?  Great.  Roof?  Yes, we prefer your building to have a roof.

The night was peaceful.  The kids all had a quick bath, brushed their teeth with their fingers, then put back on dirty underwear.  We slept two by two by two, in some spare soccer jerseys I had stashed in the back of the van.

At 5am this morning we hit the road so Doc could make it to work on time.

Once at home,  I sliced my finger open when a coffee mug I was holding was shattered by another mug that fell straight out of the cabinet.

First thing I did was see Doc for some wound care.

Then I bought myself a latte.

Considering the events, I’d say I look pretty darn good.

How was your night?

I AM…

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The Stick – You must at all times find the most pokey object you can and run with it at warp speed, risky personal injury and possibly even unintentional collateral damage to those around you.

The Bandage – Real or imagined, there is always a ouchy (or “bwoody”, as Taz would say) that is healed instantly by the application of a bandage.  Of course, running with the stick insures the need for wound management.

The Mismatched Flip-Flops – Mismatched to assert one’s independence.  Flip-flops because they don’t have laces.

I AM FOUR.

Other “I AM’S”…

***Speedy just finished reading I AM NUMBER FOUR by Pittacus Lore (which took him less than FOUR days to finish) and he highly recommends it.  It has absolutely nothing to do with little four-year-old boys, and everything to do with aliens and other science fiction-y stuff.

***I just started reading  I AM FORBIDDEN by Anouk Markovits.  So far, I love it.  I’m gobbling up the pages.  The setting is the 1940s during WWII and the story follows a Hasidic family from the Satmar sect.  You will have to go check out the full synopsis on Amazon.  I’m only on about page 80.

What book are you reading?  I’m always looking for great recommendations.

 

Annie? Are You Okay?

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Lately I’ve been frazzled and just plain cra-zazzled.

I just pray no one decided I need bedazzled.

That’s how loony this month has been.

Taz’s godfather texted me the other morning.  He must have been playing his Michael Jackson playlist.

Godfather:  Annie, are you okay?

Me:  Mentally or physically?

The rest of the conversation went as follows:

In the words of Gloria Gaynor, I will survive.

And to put a twist on the words of Donna Summer, I work hard for no money.  (Doo, doo.  Doo, doo.)  So hard for it, honey.  I work hard for no money so you better treat me right.

Those disco divas knew how to give a pep talk.  Music from that decade always makes me happy.

Just wanted you all to know I am okay.

What song could be the theme song to your life right now?

The Reluctant Showerer

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Before blogging I kept a journal with pen and paper, documenting all the moments of parenthood I feared I would forget.

My mother did the same when I was little.  My brother and I love pulling out her written notes and reading about our crazy little kid antics.

I’m finding my blog to be the modern version of those journals.  As I was reading through some old drafts that I never finished and published, I found this snip of life from when Speedy was going through his showering-is-too-time-consuming phase.

***

April 7, 2011

Spaghetti Sauce Styling Product

It was Crazy Hair Night at AWANA.

Speedy wanted to go all-in and use the craziest hair product he could find on his longer Bieber-esque hair style.

Wax Works seemed to be the right product to create the magic he was looking for.  It is a combination of hair gel and glue…okay, maybe not glue but it feels like glue.  And it doesn’t dry.

Speedy had coated his hair with the muck and pulled it straight up into a point.  It looked similar to this spaghetti sauce creation I made as a toothy baby.

(I liked to wear my food more than I liked to eat it.)

When I pointed Speedy in the direction of the shower he begged and pleaded, claiming he wasn’t dirty.

It was the most ridiculous argument I’ve ever had.   ”GO,” I roared as I pointed to the bathroom.

The two of us simultaneously rolled our eyes and Speedy stomped towards the shower.

***

That was a year ago and I’m happy to report Speedy no longer complains about showering.

My little boy is growing up.  The next phase of development will involve deodorant.

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Admiration

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Me:  Oh, Baby Brother, you are the cutest, most wonderful little creature on the planet.  Second to me, of course.

Baby Brother (holding a ceramic no-no**):  How do I get this most wonderful no-no apart?

**I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, my mother gave him that ceramic figurine to get him to sit still for the picture.

Something to Call My Own

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Before the arrival of my fourth circus sideshow act, little Taz, I had my own small business.  I designed and sewed purses.

Mothering has taken every ounce of patience I have, and a little more.

Puddle Jumping in PJ's

Children naturally throw all order and reason out the window.  (Look at how happy he is.  How could I say “no”?)

In my early years of parenting, the chaos could get frustrating.  (Obviously, by the time Taz arrived I had learned to go with the flow.)

The house will often look like it imploded, even when I spend all day chasing clutter and little pajama-clad puddle jumpers.

If only he was getting some work done...

The act of cutting, piecing, designing, and sewing a purse brought balance to my chaotic life.  It was very satisfying to be able to make something that stayed finished.

Overheard at the circus:

Stop shooting your brother with rubber bands…

You need to say you’re sorry…

Do I need to come down there??….

ONE….TWO….THREE…

Who left a half-eaten banana in the laundry hamper?!

Sewing was, and is, good therapy.  I sewed and sold many purses with AW Designs, but as the arrival of Taz grew near all the sewing became too much.  I was overwhelmed. I barely had time to finish orders, and could never find a spare minute to brainstorm new ideas and fabrics.

All of the half-finished projects on my work table were starting to stress me out.  I knew the season of sewing had passed…temporarily.

I recently pulled my machine out of storage. Two of my closest friends are having babies this summer and I want to sew them diaper bags.

I dusted off the Janome and prayed the creative process would be as fulfilling as it once was.

In the last couple of weeks I’ve made four baby blankets and four purses.  My machine whirls and a smile spreads across my face.  I dance a happy dance as I see the colors and fabrics come together.

Balance is important. I give much of my time and energy to caring for my family, but I need something to call my own.

For me it is sewing…and writing this blog.  Having a creative outlet makes me a better mom.

Oh, and I exercise every day.  You would have to peel me off the ceiling if I didn’t have my regular exercise.

What helps you stay balanced in the face of chaos?