I'm here...really....I haven't left you, nor forsaken you...

Hello fellow bloggers! No, I have not been whisked away to a far off tropical place, nor have I been taken hostage by my children, well, in a way, I guess they kind of do that don't they, but I have just been busy as a little bee.

I had a sort of epiphany. In trying to educate my eldest little birdie, I came to the realization that I was semi-neglecting my 2 younger babies. By semi-neglect, I mean that all of their basic needs were being met (such as food, milk, juice, cleaning behind the ears, fashionable hairdos and outfits, medications, etc.) but that I wasn't holding them, or playing with them, or reading to them enough. So, I decided to take a few days and just be a kid with them. Of course, the motherly and wifely duties still had to be addressed, but I wanted to take lots of time to just love on them and let them know that they are important and precious. We have had so much fun. We have crafted (well, yes, they are MY children...so we must craft...), colored, played on the swingset and just sat and played with their toys more in the last week than in the last several months.

Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed, strung out, stressed and flat-out flustered at the end of the day and feel like you have nothing to show for it, much less have anything crossed off of your "to-do" list? When you get to the end of said day, sit and think,"Does anything that I have done today matter to anyone but me? Does is please the Lord? Does is matter to my children? Does it make my life and my family's life better?" I only say this because at the end of a typical day for me, I don't ask these questions, but I should.

My kids won't grow up remembering that they had a clean house (well, because it isn't, but if it was, they wouldn't), or great looking house, or a nice lawn, or the cutest birthday invitations, or their mother had a great blog.

What do you remember about your childhood? I remember sitting with my Memom on my bed just talking. I remember making cornbread with my mom in the same yellow plastic bowl for years, and years and years. I think she still has it too! I remember my dad taking me hunting and fishing. I remember my mom taking me to the bookstore over and over because I was convinced that I had to read every Beverly Cleary book in the free world. I remember my Memom and mom teaching me how to sew. I remember my Memom letting me cook in her kitchen and she never worried that I made a mess. I remember my mom and I listening to records (okay kids, records are like much larger CDs that sounded kinda crackly when you play them...they are GREAT!!!) and dancing around and playing out the lyrics as we giggled until we collapsed on the floor. These are the things that I want my kids to remember. I don't want them to remember their mom always running around like a maniac cleaning, or mumbling under her breath about how the house is always a constant disaster, or sitting in front of this darn computer, or her being so focused on her next project that she doesn't have time to color a picture of Dora or play Kinex or just sit and tickle each other. I have a long way to go, but I think that I am on the right track.

I know, you are just waiting to finish this post so that you can go hug your kids...well...don't just sit there, DO IT!!!

Many blessings this Thanksgiving.....remember what you are thankful for tomorrow...and remember to tell them everyday how much you love them...

Blessing #1

Blessing #2

Blessing #3

My name is Big Ma'...and I am a craftaholic

Lookie what Big Ma's been up to!

Okay, can you say "obsessed with crafts"? No matter where I am, I seem to find something else to make. It is truly an addiction. I need help. Is there a CA (Crafters Anonymous) that I can join? If there is...sign me up. Well, this fun little thing started out as an unfinished wooden plaque with beveled edges, a piece of scrapbook paper & a large unfinished clothespin. I sanded the plaque with a little 220 grit sandpaper, wiped it down, then spray painted the plaque with some dark brown paint. It was just some random paint that I had sitting around. Then, I took some gorgeous scrapbook paper (12 x 12) and adhered it with Modge Podge (my favorite crafting stuff of all time...this stuff is like water and oxygen... I MUST have it at all times!), inked the edges, applied another layer of Modge Podge, let it dry and hot glued the clothespin on. I did the same thing with the clothespin as I did with the plaque (minus the sanding)...paint, MP paper, ink, MP the top, then added the cute irridescent ribbon and a precious picture of a very adorable baby. I mean, could the kid get any cuter? (Wink, wink...that's my little "W", 15 months ago...tear, tear, sniffle, snort, tear, sob...)

So, off my little "baby" goes to my etsy shop. Okay, wait a minute, not my baby "W", my baby, the plaque...I don't want CPS to be calling...just had to clarify.

Have a fantabulous weekend my peeps!

How did BHG get into my house???

Okay, so I am wondering how Better Homes and Gardens was able to get into my house and do a whole shoot without my knowledge...well, I smell a lawsuit, I can tell you that!

Seriously...I am cheesed off (as they say in the U.K.).

Didn't C's room turn out well?

...and my living room...don't I have an eye for design?

Oh yeah, the formal living area...

My third living room.

The chaise is my favorite place to curl up and read "Twas the Night Before Christmas".

The guest cottage living room.

My office

We have a winner!

Congrats to Jenni at Nest to Keep (http://www.nesttokeep.com/)! You are the winner of a $20 "gift card" to my etsy shop! Now, don't fret my precious blogger friends, I will have another one closer to Christmas for a Christmas-themed goody. My creative juices are already flowin'...whoops, I leaked! HA! Anywho, Jenni, take a gander at my shop and let me know what tickles your fancy! Thanks to all of you who entered and put my giveaway on your blogs...you are awesome!

Oh yeah, don't forget to run over to http://asoftplacetoland-kimba.blogspot.com/2008/10/moms-unite-shopping-guide.html (or click on the tag on my sidebar) and check out my listing (as well as other totally awesome crafty ladies) at the MOMS Unite website. Of course, you are welcome to browse, but if you buy something at another site, I won't be your friend anymore...Just kidding...or am I...HMMMMM...HA!
Have a fanfreakintabulous weekend my peeps!

Blessings,

Me

It's GIVEAWAY time! (Can you hear the angels singing?)

It's Giveaway Time!!!

Glorious, glorious, glorious day! Well chicks, my marathon sewing, tying, pinning, hot-gluing, serging, crafting days are over. Well, maybe not over, but I have come up for air! Pace myself, I KNOW, but with my OCD, anal retentiveness and a side of type "A" personality, I just can't help myself. I finished the open house, and I am still here. No, I am not in the fetal position. Yes, I am acutally upright and typing. This is an amazing feat considering I have lived on 1,200 calories (I am 5.7 pounds lighter by the way), Pibb Zero, and about 3 hours of sleep per night for the past week. Well, take a little looksie at my etsy site and see what I have been up to. Go ahead, I dare you. I know you want to look. You cheeky little monkey! Anywho...it is GIVEAWAY time!!! See....I didn't forget my peeps! Well, on the giveaway block is $20 towards anything in my esty shop!

(Pink & black tutu dress)

(Vintage brown floral altered clipboard)

(Retro Christmas picture frame)

These are just a few examples of what you, yes, you (that is, if you are the lucky winner) can have if you just do these 23 small steps. Just kidding! All you have to do is post my giveaway on your sweet little blog, leave me a comment on mine (so I know where to look...I can't read minds you know...well, maybe I can...oh, shame on you!) and one of my little unbiased offspring will choose (totally at random) a winner on Thursday. If you are the amazingly lucky winner, and I know that you are all sweating to think of what you will do with your glorious winnings, then I will contact you to see what your little bloggin' heart desires. So, get the word out. Blog 'til your fingers bleed (well, maybe that is a little much). Blog 'til your fingers blister and good luck my fellow bloggers! Let's make this a handcrafted Christmas this year!

Can't...blog...too...much...to...do...

Okay y'all, this is a post on speed! I have been so busy sewing, painting, modge-podging, hemming and poking myself with needles (that last one was incedental, of course), that I don't/ won't have time to blog for a couple of days. I know, my millions of fans are crushed, but alas, I must craft! I have a "Holiday Open House" at a friend's house this weekend, and I am freaking out!!! I am trying to expand my little bid'ness, and I think I have undertaken way, let me emphasize that, WAY too much. I do this to myself all of the time. I will learn one day. Well, maybe when I fall asleep at the sewing machine and sew my hair into one my projects, then maybe I will learn. Well, off to work. Mama has to bring home some bacon (lowfat Jenny Craig turkey bacon, that is) & when I return, I will have all sorts of new goodies in my store & a GIVEAWAY!!!

I will not talk about the election...I will not talk about the election...I will not talk about the election...

I promise, I will not get all worked up over the results of the election last night. I have just decided that, regardless of who won or lost, we need to pray for our country. That is all I have to say about that...

Well, I would be over-the-top excited about Thanksgiving, but I have a confession to make...I am on Jenny Craig and I am afraid that my turkey day will consist of a box of turkey and all of the sides (sounds rather depressing), but their food is actually really good! I may have to sneak a little goody on the big day, but I will be good. I never thought that these words would come out of my mouth, but...here goes...I want to look like Valerie Bertinelli.

Seriously, she is so cute & skinny. Not "scary-got-get-yourself-a-sandwich" skinny, but "I-have-been-on-Jenny-Craig-and-look-fab" skinny. Actually, I can think of a few other people that I would rather look like (e.g. Jessica Alba, Angelina Jolie, that scary trainer "Jillian" from the Biggest Loser, Jenny McCarthy, Reece Witherspoon, Gisele Bunchen, J.Lo., Victoria Beckham (without the sourpuss face, of course), that chick from "Chuck" (did you know she was Australia?), Tyra Banks (I am an equal opportunity gal), Cindy Crawford (now, or in her supermodel hayday), Elle MacPherson...should I continue?) but Valerie is my JC hero.
Anywho, I am going to be having a GIVEAWAY soon, so keep your peepers open & check back frequently...