Do you shop on Etsy? I am a big fan of buying handmade things and Etsy is the best place to find handmade treasures. I'm in search of a necklace that can be personalized with my kids info to give my mom for christmas. I found a lot out there and decided on something wonderful from SilverBloomStudio. While searching around, I found a new, slightly edgier Etsy type shop called Cargoh. There is an AMAZING bracelet I think I need. You should go buy it so that I don't.
I've been selling my cloth diapers off finally and have earned a little spending cash as a result. I'm trying to hold off from letting my funds burn a hole in my paypal account, but it has been hard. Luckily though, I've found some serious cloth diaper loving mamas willing to pay out great prices for my stash, so I think I'll have all the cash I need for our upcoming ski trip and Christmas presents. Such a lovely little side job.
Back to Etsy. My mom makes the most wonderful things. She sews and does a variety of crafts. She recently (after my kindergartner telling her that she didn't want to buy a rest nap from the store because they weren't purple) came up with this great idea to make a fleece braided rest mat. It is so cute and unbelievably soft. I've tried convincing her to make some more and sell them on Etsy, but so far she isn't interested.
Speaking of handmade items, I am making absolutely NO progress on my sewing. It has been a busy month with all of my travels and I just haven't made time. My goal for the weekend is to get it all back out and get to work on it!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Unsettling Behavior
I met with a student today that I've been working with all semester. His behavior has progessivly gotten worse and worse and today he revealed that he is dealing with some SERIOUS anger management issues. I've referred him numerous times to our counseling office, he just won't go. I'm starting to be worried about if he is a danger to himself or someone else. To top it all off, his mom called today "expressing concern" with how he is being treated in our School. What a Monday.
It seems lately work has gotten more and more like this. A lot of firefighting and trying to help those that either can't or won't accept it. This is the time of failed calculus and physics tests, concern of success in our discipline and too little resources to handle it all. Sometimes I think student success was not actually my calling.
There's been good stuff, too, though, and I need to remember it. I traveled to Lake Buena Vista, FL last week for an AMAZING conference, great relaxation and a lot of Disney fun. It was a great time with great company. I would have loved to have my family there, and many of the conference attendee's did. I suspect though, I wouldn't have left feeling as refreshed if they'd had been there. A few times I just chilled out in the hammock outside my room in the hot Florida sun and loved every minute of it. I don't usually fall for commercialized, touristy, crowded vacation spots, but found Disney World to truly be magical. I spent way too much money there, but had great fun.
Traveling seems to be the topic of October; as I leave for Chicago in just a few days for a quick sister weekend. We plan to eat, drink and be merry and shop till we drop. I was able to score a great rate on a hotel and a fabulous flight special so I'm really excited to see what Christmas things I'll be able to score on as well. I'll get to go to my favorite store, Little Miss Matched, and get the girls some really fun things. It is a store dedicated to NOT matching, which is right up their alley.
This week I was invited to guest coach at the KU/K-State football game which should be such a good time. Of course I'll be cheering for my Jayhawks since they provided me with a top notch degree and my biweekly paycheck, but secretly I'll be quietly rooting on the Wildcats. One of my fondest DINC memories is the weekends spent attending the KSU football games with my hubby. Neither of us are K-State grads, he just loves the team and we had some wonderful Saturday's tailgating with our friends and doing the Wabash Cannonball. No matter which team wins, I'll have a great time, and I'll be hosted by the most generous athletics staff out there!
As I endure the next few days of crazy, exhausting, main advising time work, the pay off of these fun events should make it go more quickly!
It seems lately work has gotten more and more like this. A lot of firefighting and trying to help those that either can't or won't accept it. This is the time of failed calculus and physics tests, concern of success in our discipline and too little resources to handle it all. Sometimes I think student success was not actually my calling.
There's been good stuff, too, though, and I need to remember it. I traveled to Lake Buena Vista, FL last week for an AMAZING conference, great relaxation and a lot of Disney fun. It was a great time with great company. I would have loved to have my family there, and many of the conference attendee's did. I suspect though, I wouldn't have left feeling as refreshed if they'd had been there. A few times I just chilled out in the hammock outside my room in the hot Florida sun and loved every minute of it. I don't usually fall for commercialized, touristy, crowded vacation spots, but found Disney World to truly be magical. I spent way too much money there, but had great fun.
Traveling seems to be the topic of October; as I leave for Chicago in just a few days for a quick sister weekend. We plan to eat, drink and be merry and shop till we drop. I was able to score a great rate on a hotel and a fabulous flight special so I'm really excited to see what Christmas things I'll be able to score on as well. I'll get to go to my favorite store, Little Miss Matched, and get the girls some really fun things. It is a store dedicated to NOT matching, which is right up their alley.
This week I was invited to guest coach at the KU/K-State football game which should be such a good time. Of course I'll be cheering for my Jayhawks since they provided me with a top notch degree and my biweekly paycheck, but secretly I'll be quietly rooting on the Wildcats. One of my fondest DINC memories is the weekends spent attending the KSU football games with my hubby. Neither of us are K-State grads, he just loves the team and we had some wonderful Saturday's tailgating with our friends and doing the Wabash Cannonball. No matter which team wins, I'll have a great time, and I'll be hosted by the most generous athletics staff out there!
As I endure the next few days of crazy, exhausting, main advising time work, the pay off of these fun events should make it go more quickly!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Love Thing
It has been a busy week around my house. Work has been busy, the kids have had busy schedules, we are still trying to wrap up hay season, so there hasn't been a lot of time for just hanging out and enjoying eachother's company. With all this commotion, it was hard to take time to celebrate our anniversary.
On Wednesday, we celebrated 9 years of marriage. Not a milestone year, but one that deserves a celebration because we've certainly had our trials. My work day on Wednesday was relatively calm, and I even took off early to get my hair cut. Because of this though, I was running about half an hour behind schedule to get home. We had decided to just have a simple dinner out in Lawrence and to take the girls. No, not very romantic, but with leaving for Orlando, I wanted to make the most of what family time we had. The girls are pretty scheduled kids. I usually get home at 5:30ish each day and I hear nothing other than "I'm hungry" and "What's for dinner?" until I get something pulled together for them to eat. Since I was running a little bit late, by the time I walked in the door you'd have thought our kids hadn't been fed all day. We quickly got them cleaned up and ready to walk out the door. We live 20 minutes from the outskirts of Lawrence, and 30 minutes from any restaurants. By the time we got there, the girls just knew they couldn't make it another minute. We quickly ordered and soon were able to have a normal (meaning all of the usual arguments and grumbling) family dinner. This was undoubtedly, the least romantic anniversary celebration thus far. We vetoed presents and flowers for the budget's sake, and had a rough start to the week with some arguments. Top that all off with a dinner of bickering and complaining and needless to say, love was not in the air.
After we got home and got the girls to bed though, we were able to talk a little bit. Over the summer months, this is pretty rare. M leaves for work each day at 6am, gets off work at 3pm and goes straight to the hayfield. He is there until 10pm on an early night, but until 12am or later much too often. I take total charge of the morning routine since the girls aren't up until after he leaves, and the evening routine since he isn't home yet. Working full time and being a kind of single mom will wear you out, and even on the nights he gets home around 10:30, I am usually asleep. This pace keeps up from mid May clear until the end of September. It isn't that we don't want to talk or connect with one another, reality is just that there simply isn't time, or that at some point, sleep becomes more valuable. Of course, there are a handful of rainy days in there at some point, but it seems more often than not he has to fix something that has broken down in the field, or just try to get caught up on the neglected things like mowing our yard, and all of his on the side plumbing projects. So, we were able to have a conversation and it was a nice refresher on why I really am in love with him.
We fight like nobody's business. We are both stubborn and will argue about the silliest of things. In most other ways we are polar opposites. So, our life has, and always will have, endured some conflict. But, with all of those differences, he is still the person that knows me the best in this world, and that brings out every single one of my good characteristics. He loves me unconditionally and without fail. Even if those butterfly, I'm so in love feelings aren't present after all this time, it is great to have an absurdly mundane night and have them flitter by out of nowhere. There isn't even a good way to describe it, I guess it is just a love thing.
On Wednesday, we celebrated 9 years of marriage. Not a milestone year, but one that deserves a celebration because we've certainly had our trials. My work day on Wednesday was relatively calm, and I even took off early to get my hair cut. Because of this though, I was running about half an hour behind schedule to get home. We had decided to just have a simple dinner out in Lawrence and to take the girls. No, not very romantic, but with leaving for Orlando, I wanted to make the most of what family time we had. The girls are pretty scheduled kids. I usually get home at 5:30ish each day and I hear nothing other than "I'm hungry" and "What's for dinner?" until I get something pulled together for them to eat. Since I was running a little bit late, by the time I walked in the door you'd have thought our kids hadn't been fed all day. We quickly got them cleaned up and ready to walk out the door. We live 20 minutes from the outskirts of Lawrence, and 30 minutes from any restaurants. By the time we got there, the girls just knew they couldn't make it another minute. We quickly ordered and soon were able to have a normal (meaning all of the usual arguments and grumbling) family dinner. This was undoubtedly, the least romantic anniversary celebration thus far. We vetoed presents and flowers for the budget's sake, and had a rough start to the week with some arguments. Top that all off with a dinner of bickering and complaining and needless to say, love was not in the air.
After we got home and got the girls to bed though, we were able to talk a little bit. Over the summer months, this is pretty rare. M leaves for work each day at 6am, gets off work at 3pm and goes straight to the hayfield. He is there until 10pm on an early night, but until 12am or later much too often. I take total charge of the morning routine since the girls aren't up until after he leaves, and the evening routine since he isn't home yet. Working full time and being a kind of single mom will wear you out, and even on the nights he gets home around 10:30, I am usually asleep. This pace keeps up from mid May clear until the end of September. It isn't that we don't want to talk or connect with one another, reality is just that there simply isn't time, or that at some point, sleep becomes more valuable. Of course, there are a handful of rainy days in there at some point, but it seems more often than not he has to fix something that has broken down in the field, or just try to get caught up on the neglected things like mowing our yard, and all of his on the side plumbing projects. So, we were able to have a conversation and it was a nice refresher on why I really am in love with him.
We fight like nobody's business. We are both stubborn and will argue about the silliest of things. In most other ways we are polar opposites. So, our life has, and always will have, endured some conflict. But, with all of those differences, he is still the person that knows me the best in this world, and that brings out every single one of my good characteristics. He loves me unconditionally and without fail. Even if those butterfly, I'm so in love feelings aren't present after all this time, it is great to have an absurdly mundane night and have them flitter by out of nowhere. There isn't even a good way to describe it, I guess it is just a love thing.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Mother of the Year Award
The 2010 Mother of the Year Award will *not* being going to me this year, and my almost 6 year old keeps reminding me of this fact. Her 6th birthday is on Monday, and she is SUPER excited. There seems to be so much more anticipation for six than past birthdays. Anyway, I leave for a work conference on Saturday and don't return until Wednesday. Yes, I am missing my daughter's 6th birthday. It gets worse. The conference is in Orlando. At Disney World. See, no award for me. I realize that this isn't the best planning in life, but this conference is important to me, and I have mandatory meetings for the national committees on which I serve. She gets to spend the entire time I'm gone at Grandma and Papa's house, we are having these amazing disney decorated cookies delivered to the school, she will have a family birthday party on her real birthday with everyone except her mother, I'm getting her a bigger than usual present, we are having a birthday blowout at her gymnasitcs gym with all her friends, but I still feel guilty. I know she will be fine and will love how it turns it to being a birthday week rather than day, but right now she is doing a good job of making me feel guilty.
I grew up with a mom that spent lots of time telling me that she wasn't concerned with winning mother of the year, after I had spent lots of time being upset with her about something. Not getting to go somewhere, do what my friends did, or her excessive (at least I thought so then) punishments. She never seemed concerned about making me the world's happiest kid, just with making sure I was raised with good values, strong convictions, and behaved as expected. Pretty smart lady. I'm sure K will find many more reasons to be upset with me in the future, but hopefully they don't include missing birthdays or leaving your kids behind to party with Mickey.
I grew up with a mom that spent lots of time telling me that she wasn't concerned with winning mother of the year, after I had spent lots of time being upset with her about something. Not getting to go somewhere, do what my friends did, or her excessive (at least I thought so then) punishments. She never seemed concerned about making me the world's happiest kid, just with making sure I was raised with good values, strong convictions, and behaved as expected. Pretty smart lady. I'm sure K will find many more reasons to be upset with me in the future, but hopefully they don't include missing birthdays or leaving your kids behind to party with Mickey.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
It's a big deal mom
Last week K's kindergarten class was learning all about apples. Each day, a few children were assigned to bring an apple treat of their choice to school to share. On our day, I asked her what we should take and listed out some options. Most were pretty low key, and easy to throw together either the night before or the morning of. As a busy working mom that works 50+ hours a week and has pretty much been in single mom mode the entire summer, I was hoping for something easy. Like buy a jug of apple cider easy. K tells me that these snacks are a "big deal" and that I needed to make something good. I found a fun recipe for apple streusel muffins, but since they'd make pretty large muffins and other kids were bringing snacks the same day, I tried to adapt them to our mini muffin pan. This worked really well for the muffin part, but the streusel topping part was a little more difficult. There isn't the same amount of area to cover over the mini muffins and since the topping is part cold butter, it spread out a little more than desired. My oven was a mess, the pan was a disaster, but K reports that the muffins were amazing. She says the class voted her treat their favorite AND she wants me to "remember how to make them". This last statement is because I am a recipe adapter type of cook and things don't always come out the same way twice. I just make a lot of adjustments depending on what we like and more importantly what we have on hand. No kidney beans? No worries, throw in garbanzo. No sausage? How about smoked turkey keilbasa? That kind of thing. So I think it was also a big deal that she was impressed enough with my baking skills that she asked me to make it again. Here they are, cute right?
Monday, September 27, 2010
Things are running amuck
Meet George and Libby. These are my two running buddies, well they are supposed to be. Now I realize that they look like two LAZY bums, but they actually love nothing more than a morning run with me. This summer we had a great routine going on. I'd take them out for a run when my grandma arrives before getting ready and leaving for the day. Since school is in session, and K rides the bus, there just isn't enough time. Well, I could do it at 5am before the hubby leaves for work, but then I'd be running on our kinda scary road in the dark, which just seems careless. In theory, I could do it in the evening, but since he is still wrapping up hay season, I just can't count on him to be home before dark for me to get out there. So we've been playing lots of catch in the back yard and I'm hoping they aren't too mad about our morning runs.
I on the other hand need to figure out something. I haven't found any other form of exercise I can continuously stick with, so I personally need to get back to the running with the dogs. It helps my migraines tremendously, plus my stress, and let's not kid around, my waistline. I'm hoping that as his season comes to an end, that M can take the reins on the evening stuff and I can go then. Here's hoping to enough energy after a long day of work.
George, as maybe you can tell, is a cattle dog. He is a blue heeler/Catahoula stock dog mix. M brought him home as a puppy (while I was on vacation, without any discussion at all mind you) and he has been wonderful. Our previous cattle dog, Jack passed away from cancer in 2006 and George is the spitting image of him. He looks like this big protective bully type dog, but he is the biggest snuggle-er and sweetheart.
Libby is a rescue dog. We aren't sure of her breed, but the vet suggests some sort of a retriever/shepard mix. We got her this summer after the passing of my long time buddy, Seth, a jack russell terrier. She was adopted from a wonderful foster rescue group here in town, after having puppies in a shelter. She has been the BEST dog for our family. She is so sweet and patient with the girls and just loves to be wherever we are.
Not pictured, is little Marley. She is a miniature schnauzer and is the craziest, most spastic little dog you'll ever meet, but also SO sweet. She is so eager to please, and sometimes shakes with the anticipation of doing what you ask of her. The girls love to drag her around the house and treat her like one of their dolls. Marley is convinced that she is a big farm dog like George and manages to find every sticktight on our property on a daily basis.
As you can tell, we are a dog loving family. They are such a wonderful asset to our lives. I hope you have such a wonderful pet in your family, they bring you much more joy than they take effort. I am a BIG supporter of adopting your pets. If you are looking for an addition to your home, consider supporting a local humane society or rescue group to do so. The love you give a rescued animal comes back to you many times over. :)
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday Funday
I know this term means different things to different people, but for us Sunday Funday is a day for relaxing, hanging out with the kids, and taking a breath before another busy week. Today is not supposed to be like that, we have a bunch of different places we need to be. But K is a little bit sick and could really use a day of rest, and I think I might make the decision to keep us at home and stick with the theme of Sundays. I have often had guilt about making these decisions over the years that make us miss a family event (and we are talking extended family here) but have decided that I won't be guilty anymore. Life is full of choices and my responsibility is to make the ones best for my kids, right? In other news, I have started attempting to sew again, after a 20 year hiatus. I went pattern and fabric shopping with my mom and she baulked and my choice to jump back in with. I am attempting to make a matte jersey 3/4 length sleeve wrap style dress. Needless to say, it has been a challenge! I will post pictures once it starts to come together. For now, I just mostly stare at the pattern and shake my head. I have other projects on the horizon (and any one would have probably been a better place to start), like a dog bed, a dresser top jewelry organizer for my sister, an apron, and a cute little sleeve for my iPad. I will keep at it though!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
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