I Knit So I Don't Kill People....

Did you know I had a nifty Zazzle shop as well as a Cafepress shop??? You can find some fun stuff in these two shops, including this mug that is a popular seller! I totally get why...

Find it HERE.

I'm nearing the end of my temporary job outside the home and I'm anxious to get back to my home life of working at home, taking care of my family and home and relisting my house on the market...commence the insanity!!

I've got lots of pretty stuff on the hooks and plenty of fun new reels to add to Badge Reels!

Hope to catch up soon!
~~Amy

Multi-tasking?? I Stink at it.

Hi, my name is Amy and I'm the friendly owner of this little blog. You might not remember me because all that has been on this blog for awhile is crickets. I have determined, I cannot multi task. I started a temporary job in early August that has sucked my brain, heart and life dry. It's a good job, I'm good at it, and I LOVE the people I work with. It's a job I believe in, support and could do darn well if I was in a different stage of my life.

But at this point...my brain hurts.

The job was supposed to be six weeks, but as you know, life happens and I will be staying until early January...a date that I said I just cannot stay past, because I needed an end date, a date to reclaim my sanity. I have learned something.

Working Moms do NOT GET ENOUGH CREDIT. Seriously. I am trying to work, just 30 hours a week (yet getting 40 hours worth of work done in it!), take care of the kids, homework, housework, cleaning, cooking, groceries, AND running my handmade business. (I refused to stop my business as I have worked my behind off to build it and it's currently doing well. No way, was I giving that up.) I AM TIRED.

So this is why I've not blogged much, because there isn't a ton to blog about. Very little time to create, zero time to cook other than what I am legally obligated to provide to the small people for them to survive. No time for household management tricks or funny jokes.

I miss that. I miss my happy little handmade home life. And I'll get it back. But in the meantime, I wanted to say hello, I miss you dear readers, whether there is only one of you or a few, or a ton. I love that ANYONE takes their time to read what mindless drivel I have to say and love when someone can use a tutorial or pattern I made for themselves.

So watch out in January...I hope to have a TON of fun stuff to show you!

In the meantime, catch up with me on Flickr and Instagram (I'm "mamaslittlemonkeys") to see the little shots I have been managing to take of life and the things I've created!

I'll leave you with some gratuitous photography shots. :)

Bought myself some roses...

Ferris wheel at Orange Beach, AL.

Hats I've been crocheting, awesome pattern from UnravelMe Designs

My gorgeous great nephew.

Hope y'all have a fabulous fall and I'll try to check back in!!
~~Amy

I Need a Plan...or do I?

If I learned anything from my girl, disconnected experiment, it's that I stink at time management. I actually do manage to cram quite a bit of stuff into my days. I never missed deadline or projects when I was working. And currently, I do manage to get all my shop orders out, keep the house from exploding and everyone fed, clothed and somewhat happy.

But I still feel majorly stressed. I've tried a variety of schedules. It's hard to have ANY schedule in the summer when my boys are out of school, but what about the school year? I have YET to stumble upon one that works for me. The same thing every day? Or do I chose a "day schedule" like, monday is cleaning, tuesday is shop stuff, etc. Or do I go with the flow and do what works best in the time I have??

I know this much...sites like cozi.com, sparkpeople.com, etc don't work for me. It feels like such effort to get so streamlined and organized. I prefer a plain ol' notebook and written to do lists.

So maybe you guys can help me sort out my brain. Here are, on average some of the things I need to do in any given day or week:

Clean
Grocery shop/Plan Menus
Create/List/Network/Package/Ship/Manage all things for my business
Tend to the dog (usual pet chores, walking, pick up poop, etc)
Tend to the kids (usual kid chores, walking, pick up poop...oh wait.....)
Bible study
Reading (for fun...it is possible)
Writing (blogs and fiction)
Cook daily dinners and bi-weekly potluck food for church
Photograph (creative and handmade)
Friends/Social Networking/Calling Friends
Running errands with Dad
Exercise

Then there is the little things, the tv watching, driving in car for errands, taking the boys on fun trips, etc.And of course all the little things you do every day you don't even calculate...eating, showering, etc.

HOW do you possibly schedule all that? I'm contemplating just flat out spending a few weeks just letting things go with the flow, not TRYING to schedule anything....but will it backfire? It simply has to be possible to schedule it all in...somehow...

been a bad bad blogger

Man, I have been a bad blogger. I am alive, I am I promise! Life has been super busy! My shops are keeping me pretty busy which is a good thing, along with the usual family and house necessities! I guess in the world of facebook and twitter, it's harder to keep up a blog!

I do also blog at Daily Handmade Picks and Handmade Louisiana so I'll use that as an excuse also...are you buying it??

So my dear friends, how have you been? I've been well but busy! Since my youngest started school, February was full of appointments and plans. So far March has been a little calmer but playing catchup from Februrary!!

I just wanted to say howdy and I am alive and well! :)
~~Amy