Come on, next week! I'll be on vacation (from work), but staying at home. My Dad and Step-Mom will be in town for a couple days, they'll take the older 2 to Kansas with them for a week.

I'll be:

. . . sleeping in . . .

. . . dragging the family around Chicago while they're in town . . .

. . . sleeping in some more after they're gone . . .

. . . sewing . . .

. . . reading . . .

. . . visiting fabric stores to daydream . . .

. . . going out to a goodbye party for a couple work friends . . .

. . . and generally doing nothing that I don't want to do. Of course, things always come up that you don't plan for, but I'll deal with those things when they happen.

HURRY UP, STAYCATION!

My baby is growing up

Today is my toddler's birthday - he's 3!

Last night as I held him and "stole" kisses and hugs from him, I told him, "You have to let me kiss you! You're almost not my baby anymore!" And it's true . . . he's *thisclose* to being completely potty-trained (we're lazy trainers), finally enjoying books and "reading" them, doing all the things a just-turned-three-year-old should be doing. His baby fat is almost melted away.

But there's good news! I have 2 older kids (just-turned 9 and almost 11) and I am happy to report that it took many years for me to stop seeing "baby" in them. I mean, I still do - I can instantly see the way they looked as babies . . . and when they sleep I get a little verklempt looking at them. They'll all always be my babies.

But this one . . . he's my BABY. For a while, at least.

My oldest, Kori:

  

 

 

She and her brother really are best friends and have been since the beginning.  (Of course they fight like crazy as well).

 

 

 

  

Here’s Bennett, the middle child.

 

 

And now, the reason I started this post in the first place!

Rian . . . not even due for 3 months!  DANG.

 

 

Happy Birthday, Rian!  We’re so glad you’re a part of our family.

oh, hipsters

Are you like me? Do you come across a new musician or band, and fall in love with them and have to find ALL of their music? And sometimes listen to it strictly in chronological order (release date) or sometimes just mix it up? And you listen to the same song 30 times in a row which makes your office mate throw things at you? Or maybe she just does that in her mind but she's too polite to do it really? Ok, so really you dont listen to it 30 times in a row because you're not THAT inconsiderate, but every time she leaves the office you put it on? And you also sneak it into your playlist rotation every few songs thinking maybe she won't notice?

No?


I'm the only one who does that?


I can't help it.



New obsession!!!! Love this band (Fleet Foxes). I told a friend yesterday that they sound like Brian Wilson had a baby with an Appalachian cave, with the moonlight making everything all silver and blue.

How Time Flies

8 years ago (May, 2002) my husband and I took our 2 oldest kids (the only 2 we had at the time) into these "photo" booths during a trip to the mall. Your photo was taken and then made to look as though someone had done a pencil or charcoal sketch instead of a photo.



Unpacking a box last night we opened a folder and found these "sketches" and were blown away by the way we all looked back then. So young!

Vincent, age 24. Bennett, age 10 months.

Me, age 24. Kori, age 2 years, 8 months.

We were all just babies!

Summer in Kansas

I know the last few posts have been ALL ETSY, ALL THE TIME . . . but I promise I will write something again soon. :)


In the meantime, here's the beginning of a beautiful (if I do say so myself) treasury I put together featuring other Etsy sellers. It's full of things that remind me of my time growing up in Kansas, and especially spending time outdoors and at my Grandparents' farm in Central Kansas.

I hope you'll enjoy, and view the other items in the treasury. Maybe it will even make it to Etsy's front page! That would be a treat.

Etsy Milestone

Last night, a friend of mine placed a wholesale order in my Etsy shop and this order pushed me over 100 sales!

It feels pretty awesome to have had a successful shop - sure there are many shops with many more sales and many more fans, but you know what? 100 sales is a big deal. I listed my first item in November 2009 so I would say that's pretty good, especially since I pretty much ignored the shop this spring. I was just too busy with work, home, school - LIFE - to pour myself into the shop.

Anyway - I'm throwing a party in my shop in honor of my 100th sale, and all items are HALF OFF. Come take a look!

Yeehaw! Treasury Feature

 

Woot!  My bandana cozy was selected for another Etsy treasury.  If you’d be so kind as to go to the treasury and “heart” any items you really like, we might make it to Etsy’s front page.

Thanks!

Denim, Bandana & Gingham