First Entry to Homemaker Olympics

My friend, Sally, is hosting a neat event called the Homemaker Olympics.  TODAY is the last day to enter the first category.  So be sure the check it out!

Homemaker Olympics

I've been wanting to do a project I saw on Pinterest with Zoe documenting her growth by taking her footprint every so often.  Well I missed the doing it when she was 4 months, but I decided I would do it at 6 months and one year.  

Here's what I did. 

Because it won't be completely done until Zoe is a year old.  Here is how it looks now.  It got messed up a bit because *someone* is super squirmy.  However as it dries I like it more & more.  It is not nearly opaque enough but I do like it.

Don't forget to get your entries in. 

1 Day (but probably not)

I love looking at our Target Baby Registry just for the sheer fact that it says how many days until our due date.  It's been so fun watching the numbers roll down.  Today it says we have 1 days left. (Yes, it says days).  I know that our little one may not be here tomorrow, but it's still so exciting to know that we've made it to our due date. Our little one has survived 40 weeks in mommy's belly and is doing well!

Some things we've been experiencing lately:
1. Lots of hiccups.  Poor little one hiccups quite often.  I feel so bad for him/her.  Hopefully when our baby decides to arrive he/she will not have them nearly as often.
2. Nesting.  I've been nesting a lot lately.  It's great because it's helping me to keep the house cleaned up!
3. Random hip spasms.  I don't know what else to call them.  They started yesterday.  My inner hip gets a sharp pain in it and then gives out and I have to grab onto something to stay upright.  It happened roughly 6 times yesterday and twice so far today.  Not sure what that's about.  Hopefully that means baby is fully engaged and pinching a nerve?
4. Having a little one soon makes me want to do more natural cleaning products.  I have many things I want to make.  Like this recipe for liquid handsoap from a bar of soap.  I was going to do it today but we don't have any liquid glycerin and Aaron works all day, although I suppose I could drive him to work tonight if I wanted the car.  hmmmmmm

Source

5.  My belly button wasn't popped at our appointment on Wednesday and it popped that night.  It looks so funny!

6.  Valerie told us that it could be another week or two and not to be anxious. 

7.  We have our bags packed and ready to go including candles and worship music.  (Yup, I sing a lot so I'm thinking that will help and if it doesn't, we just turn it off). 

8.  I can't stop thinking about our little one and wanting to hold him/her.  The hardest part right now is that we're so close and I just want to know if we have a son or daughter.  

9.  I made some headbands in the event we have a little girl since most of our clothing leans more towards boy. 

10.  I'm still obsessed with coconut :)

What's going on in your lives?  

Any one have a guess as to when baby's birthday will actually be??? 

Goals

Everyone has them.  Some people are better at executing their goals than I am.  I have many goals in my head but causing myself to actually accomplish them has been a bit of a different story.

Goal #1 

Being a better housewife

For me this has been very difficult.  I've never been one who particularly enjoys cleaning.  Ok, I've never really enjoyed it.  Usually I would much rather find something else that needs done.  I'm praying that God will help me to be a better housewife now so that when baby comes, I won't be so overwhelmed.  That means I have 3 months.  What are some of your tips to getting cleaning/organization done?  

I would love to have a craft room this organized, however don't have the space or the money to buy the supplies it would take to do this.  So for now, I'll stick with my egg cartons, baby food jars, and other assorted ways of keeping things sorted. 

Source: None via Julie on Pinterest

Goal #2
Cook More Meals
It's not that I don't cook meals, it's just that I'd like to cook more often for my husband. Especially since he's going to be trying to work 2-3 jobs here soon.  He is way more of the cook.  I'm a gotta follow the recipe exactly kinda girl, but he's really not.  However, I am getting much much better in this area.  Do you have any fun, relatively easy recipes you'd like to share with me?
We love some cheeseburger soup and have had it recently. Yum!

Goal #3

Make and freeze meals
This sort of piggy-backs off of the last one.  In case you didn't know, we are expecting a little one come January.  I've heard that you don't generally have the energy to cook the first couple of weeks home.  So I'd love to have some meals prepared ahead of time that I can just take out of the freezer and throw in the oven or in a pot on the stove.  Any ideas?

Goal #4
Participate in a real craft show
I have been wanting to do this for a while, however being pregnant I has had it's fair share of challenges in this regard.  One is that many craft shows that cost $$$ to participate and right now we just don't have it.  The other is that many craft shows are both Saturday and Sunday. Sunday is church for us and I hate to miss a service.  So that's been a challenge with wanting to go them. Also most of the craft shows have been on weekends where I already have something going on (baby showers as of late).  I would have loved to have participated in some over the summer, but was so nauseous that was just NOT happening.  
Hopefully after baby is a little older, I can find a craft show that's going on that I can participate in.  Until then, I'll keep looking at ideas on Pinterest of ways to display my items :).
I would love to do something like this to display purses, aprons, other items I create.  

Source: craftshowdesigns.blogspot.com via Melinda on Pinterest

So what are some of the goals that you have?  Have you had a hard time keeping your goals.  Please tell me I'm not alone on this one.

Also if you use the code: CleaningUp in the shop you will get FREE Shipping until October 25th.  Pass the word on please!  Trying to get out some old inventory to add some new! :)

Edinboro Camp Festivities

Yesterday, my friend Lynette from church took Rudy, myself and her grandson Caleb to the Fall Festival at Edinboro camp.  It was a wet and rainy day.  I would have loved it if I would have not worried so much what I looked like and decided to wear my snow boots.  

What? They keep my feet dry and it was MUDDY and WET.  Did I mention wet feet are like my biggest pet peeve?  Well maybe not biggest but certainly in the top five. 

Anyway, enough ranting.  There weren't really many "vendors" set-up.  In fact including myself there were 6 tables set up to sell things.  It's ok though, I still had fun.  I didn't really have any super fantastic displays.  As in Zero budget, so I just used what I had on hand. 

Here are some photos from the day.  (Please excuse the poor quality until I figure out how to set manual settings on my camera.)

 My display for hair clips/pins

I ended up changing where things were, but a nice close up of the bobby pin display.

The final look.  

Yep, it was a very low-key event, but it was still nice.  And I got to eat a soft pretzel.  YUMM! I love those and need to learn how to make them someday.

How was your weekend?

It's the Little Things: Heartbeats, carseats, and sewing

Like hearing baby's heartbeat as soon as the Doppler monitor is put on your belly. 

Source

Getting a brand new toddler car seat for free.  Our midwife had one and decided to give it to us. What a great blessing even though we don't need it for at least a year.  Still very thankful to have it. Unfortunately I have been terrible at taking pictures this week.  

Getting time to sew.  I thinking I'm beginning to find my niche.  I'm loving making coupon holders, purses, and today I made a very pretty (in my opinion) pink and b/w houndstooth clutch.  I'm very much enjoying this process.  

So the clutch will have 2 of those three fabrics.  I'm in love =D

Tomorrow I get to go to the Fall Festival at our denomination's camp for our area and take some product from my shop.  Praying that these items will be a blessing to others.  

We've also had some gorgeous weather this week.  I'm a sucker for dark cloudy rainy skies in front of you and beautiful sunshine behind you.  It makes the most amazing gray skies ever.  I just love them. And then it produces rainbows.  Amazing!  Too bad I didn't have my camera either time this happened this week. 

I'm linking up with Lindsay for It's the Little Things.  

What are you thankful for this week?   

Consider This Your Warning

That's never a pleasant phrase right?  

Well, in this case it might not be so bad.

Don't forget there are only 2 more days to take 15% off your order with the code: FIRSTSALE.  This code expires October 1st. 

Also I'm going to be going to a Fall Festival this weekend and taking some new items (which if they remain after that day will enter the shop) and some items from the shop.  

If you'd rather see this 

Or this:

or this: 

or this:

or this:

or anything else in the shop in your possession and not in someone else's you have today or tomorrow to place your orders.  

What's left will be going with me to the event on Saturday. 

Tell your friends, tweet about it if you'd like.  But, Consider this your warning, some of your favorite items may be gone soon.

P.S. I'm totally nervous about going to this as, I've never done this before and it's not exactly a craft show so I'm not sure if it will work well or not, but please be praying that if it's God's will for something to sell, that He would move in hearts for it to sell.  Plus, I'd be excited just to help out our local church campgrounds.  10% of whatever I make there goes to the campgrounds! =D  Yay for another opportunity to give back to God!

Chokers

A few people had mentioned that they think the necklaces I made might make good chokers.  I will definitely consider that.  Until I get started on making some (in the process of another VERY exciting project), here is a picture to show you what they may look like as chokers.  I thought I had more pictures of this, but apparently not.  Still, I agree they could be cute as chokers.

Any thoughts???

If you are looking for the giveaway please click here.

Do you remember?

when I sent things to my friend Karen who is going to Ukraine soon??? 

Like these

and these?

Visit her blog Celebrate Life with Us to see all the lovely things people have created to send with her to love on the orphans there!  

Some amazing things these talented people have contributed! 

Praise God for using His people to be His Hands and Feet.  Thank you Karen for the opportunity to give!

Crafty Saturday GIVEAWAY!

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED


Make sure you scroll all the way down to the bottom!  One nice surprise down there!

Today we had Brandon over.  This crazy guy and Aaron played a few video games while I crafted.  He also went to the store with us to go grocery shopping.  That was fun.  We got fresh pineapple for $1.99.  We bought two!  OH MY GOODNESS!!! WAY TASTY!!! Fresh pineapple may very well be my favorite fruit.  YUM YUM YUM!!!

End of randomness that has nothing to do with this post.

Ok, back to what this was supposed to be about.

I made the following 4 necklaces a while ago.  I like them very much.  I also very much enjoy making these necklaces.

Again, all of these are made from recycled tees and have a vintage button.

 

Pink and gray rosettes on white braided chain.

 Turquoise rosettes on yellow braided chain.

 Gray, Turquoise, and Kelly Green rosettes on white braided chain.

 Pink Rosette on yellow necklace for little girl. 

 

These are some earrings I made a while ago as well. 

White buttons with turquoise ruffles. 

 This barrette I assembled today but the pieces were done weeks ago.

 

Large vintage buttons and red ruffles barrette.

 Then there are these necklaces from today.

 Purple rosette on white braided chain for little girl.

 

Red and black rosettes on white braided chain.

 Pale blue and kelly green rosettes on white braided chain.

 GIVEAWAY!!!

Now, for the exciting part for me.  I would love to giveaway one of these items to anyone who leaves a comment with which item you like the best.  I will close the giveaway on Monday May 16th.   (You'll have a few extra days because my hubby graduates this weekend from Grad School, in VA, about 9 hours away!)I would also appreciate any constructive criticism.  I'm really starting to think about doing an Etsy shop. Thank you in advance for your advice! 

Hope you had a great weekend!

HELP!!!

I am thinking about setting up a shop on Etsy.  I understand the fees charged by Etsy and Paypal, (thanks to my sweet friend Laura).  However, I have NO idea how the tax part of it works.  Right now I'm not really happy about taxes in general since it kinda is the reason I'm losing my job.  ICK!  Anyway!  I'm so worried about starting up an Etsy shop and not really making any income from it because it all goes back into taxes.  I'm not sure I would even be able to understand how to do my taxes.  We totally don't have the money to see a CPA.  Gah, so many things to consider.  I say we just abolish taxes :) I kid, maybe.  I know I know, render unto Caesar what is Caesar's but, yeah.  I'm so confused.  Help please???? If you own a handmade business what do you do in order to pay your taxes as you should?  Is it worth it to set up a handmade business?  Do you really make much money from it?  (I'm not asking for specific details, but just your help).  Sincerely, 

Totally Confused Toaster!

Random picture from college added for your amusement!

If you'd prefer to email me please do so mrsawood08 at gmail dot com.  Thanks!

The past two weeks in crafts! (pt Zwei, that's two in German)

So, the last post was getting pretty long and had lots of pictures.  This post will probably be equally as long.  Hope you're up for that God has called us to be stewards of this Earth, so I've been trying to reuse the things that I have right now instead of buying more fabric.  I have plenty of fabric here that I can use for various things.  YAY!!!! I'm so thankful for Free Cycle also.  I got a glue gun and some glue sticks from Free Cycle, Praise God since I can't find mine anymore.  I've looked and looked, no luck.

Without further ado here are some more of the crafts that I've whipped up this weekend:

I've made this group of bracelets, (again, only from used t-shirt material and some hot glue).  Let's separate those and get a closer look. 

These are the blue set.  

Red set

Two different perspectives of the green bunch. 

Pink and a random blue one that I forgot to put in with the other blues for some reason. 

I don't know what to do with these yet.  I've made them, just not sure if I'm going to turn them into hair pieces or pins or maybe headbands.  Just not sure.  Ideas???

A bowl of mini rosettes.  I didn't want to throw out scraps so I made these.  They are just waiting to be turned into something.  :) :) :) 

And then there is this bobby pin.  Isn't it cute???

I love it! 

I also made this pin. . .

to go with this skirt.  I couldn't get a good picture by myself and hubby was doing homework.  Sorry guys!  The top was from a skirt I bought at the thrift store to make a purse for my sister.  And the bottom is from quilting scraps leftover from that same sister's quilt I made I think in December '08.  

A few more things:  I might think of starting to sell some of the things that I make (not sure yet) but would you be willing to purchase any of the things you've seen on the blog??? If you are what would be a good price range?  I just have no idea yet.  Please help me out.  We are trying to trust God right now with our finances, but it looks like I might not be able to have my job much longer if we can't get tax stuff figured out.  Right now, I pay about 15% of my income to taxes.  It's a bit rough when I didn't realize half of that would be due now since I paid estimated taxes already this year.  I'm not worrying thought, Jesus promised to provide for our needs.  We have food on our table, a very nice apartment to live in, and are able to pay our bills.  God is good.  I leave you with this passage (emphasis added): 

Proverbs 31:10-31

 A wife of noble character who can find? 

   She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
   and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
   all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
   and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
   bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
   she provides food for her family
   and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field and buys it;
   out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
   her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
   and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
   and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
   and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
   for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
   she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
   where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
   and supplies the merchants with sashes. 
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
   she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
   and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
   and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
   her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
   but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 
Give her the reward she has earned,
   and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.