Year of No Yarn Update....and overall update.

No, I have not fallen into a pile of yarn and cannot get up. I'm here! Alive! Busy as a bee, but alive!

I'm doing very well on my no buying yarn diet. We took a summer trip to Nashville, Tn and I did find one beautiful yarn store and bought two beautiful skeins of yarn....that turned out to be VERY tangly and horrid to work with. So now they're pretty decorations to remind me to stick to things!

I did cave and purchase some Knit Pick Felici because they released it again. I bought just enough to have someone knit me some socks (because I hate knitting socks!).She did and they're beautiful! 

The beautiful Crochetnanigans knit them for me!! :) I love them! Totally worth breaking the fast!

Other than a skein here or there for a custom order request, I haven't bought any else. The really scary part.....

It didn't even make a dent in my yarn stash. Now life has been busy and I've not been creating daily like I used to, but still, I have SO MUCH YARN. I could go ANOTHER year without yarn and be fine! (But I won't. I'm not insane.)

So what else is new? Well we are still homeschooling! I'm woefully behind blogging updates for myself and a couple of other bloggers, I'm sorry ladies!! One of these days!

The kids are doing great and we are having fun. There are plenty of days where I wish to curl up and hide, but doesn't every mom? (They do, and if they say they don't they're lying to themselves and you should probably buy them a box of chocolate or wine, hug them and affirm its okay!)

So here's a smidge of what's been up lately!



We enjoyed Star Wars day back in May at the Audubon Aquarium. Divers donned costumes and had a light saber battle in the tunnel! Albeit a slow motion battle, but it was fun!!

We visited Nashville, TN after a quick trip to Huntsville, AL to meet up with a the great Steph of The Eli Monster! We've been online buds for years and our two Eli's finally got to meet :) 

We enjoyed a day in downtown Nashville checking out the awesome globe you can push with your hands, The Parthenon and much more!

We also fostered three kittens over the summer and ended up adopting one, this ol guy, Thor. His siblings Loki and Natasha got adopted shortly after we returned them from fostering but he hung around. Guess he needed us as his FurEver home! :)

I've crocheted and knitted a good big as well, this big project was for Eli. Yes, I made the giant shark blanket. No, I will not make it again. Word of advice...be careful with shaping of the top fin....and placement. Trust me.

So we're fully into Autumn according to the calendar, though the temps say different in good ol' Louisiana. But I'm falling it up anyway. I love fall, it's my favorite season. We've actually been able to open windows and get outside! I made this playdough sensory art area for the boys (okay, and me...). We've even done some schoolwork laying on a blanket outside that I took a super adorable pic of, but Eli doesn't want me to share it. Sigh....my babies are growing up.

Will I blog again before the end of the year? Hopefully! I come off my Yarn diet on Black Friday! WATCH OUT WORLD!

Until then loves, may your yarn not tangle, your coffee be strong and your pants be loose!
~~Amy

November Home School Theme

Naturally this month will be THANKSGIVING! This is my FAVORITE time of year! I love remembering to do the 30 days of thankfulness, learning about the history, eating yummy foods, watching great football, fall scented candles, cool weather, leaves, oh I could go on and on! So here are some Thanksgiving activities we want to try this month!

Thanksgiving Bible Printables.

Thanksgiving Number Sort

Thanksgiving Notebooking Ideas

And a ton of ideas over here on this great blog: http://www.thebettermom.com/2013/10/30/thanksgiving-freebies-free-educational-resources-for-thanksgiving/

We are only doing "school" for the first three weeks of November, then taking off Thanksgiving week so they have plenty of time to play with their public school friends and enjoy the holiday with our family.  It's a busy and beautiful month and I look forward to not much online time but plenty of in real LIFE time!!
~~Amy

October Wrap Up

October has been BEAUTIFUL and we've been outside a LOT! 

 Sky gazing on a beautiful clear blue sky day!

 First fall leaf!

 Watering our new yellow mums.

 Climbing trees at the park.

 Pumpkin sight word smash!

 This beauty popped up while we read Charlotte's Web.

 Growing our own lettuce!

 Giving the guinea pigs some outdoors time, which they LOVE!

Yoshi...because he's always fun!

I hope you all had a great October! This is my favorite time of year! Fall, football, cool weather!

~~Amy

Nikon Quality Time

Life has been busy with homeschooling, being out of town and life as usual. But my trusty Nikon is usually not too far away and I have been able to snag a few good shots!

 The sunsets in Gulf Shores, Alabama are AMAZING!

 

 Snapped this one while the hubs drove 45 mph over the bridge...not to shabby!

 

My deep thinker...

 8 years old!

 Our last sunset in Orange Beach!

Then we came home and enjoyed a quiet afternoon at Camp Salmen Nature Center. Beautiful!

 Tree bark.

 Finally snapped some bees working hard!

 Some pretty purple berries. No clue what they were.

 Beautiful yellow flowers perfect for fall!

Like my pics, follow me on Flickr.
Hope you enjoyed some of my little photos!! Happy Fall!
~~amy

October Home School Themes

Wow, it's almost October. Where does the time go?? We enjoyed an awesome trip to Alabama for 9 days, of which I am still unpacking from, editing pics of and getting back to 'home' life from! I sat down tonight to get this week's homeschool work planned and realized I didn't get any stuff ready for next month's theme!

October's Themes are: Fall Leaves and Pumpkins

So here are some activities I'd like to try for the month! Fall doesn't exactly come full on here in October but we can pretend!

Fall Bucket List: http://www.upsidedownhomeschooling.com/homeschool-fall-bucket-list/

Fall Tracing Sheets for Eli and his fine motor: http://sjthomeschool.blogspot.com/2013/09/fall-tracing-practice-package.html

Arts and Crafts: Paper Roll Pumpkin: http://www.littlefamilyfun.com/2012/10/paper-roll-pumpkin.html

Messy Sight Word Fun! http://schooltimesnippets.blogspot.com/2011/10/sight-word-pumpkin-smash.html

And I may make some of these or I may just crochet some pumpkins! http://www.domestifluff.com/2009/10/how-to-make-pom-pom-pumpkins/

Huge list of pumpkin activities here: http://www.123homeschool4me.com/2013/09/36-pumpkin-crafts-kids-activities.html

Huge list of Leaf Activities here:http://www.123homeschool4me.com/2013/08/36-leaf-crafts-kids-activities-for-fall.html

Pretty Fall Leaves: http://ourcraftsnthings.com/2009/10/pretty-fall-leaves/

Yarn Leaves: http://3dinosaurs.com/wordpress/index.php/red-leaf-yellow-leaf-yarn-tree/

Sticky Wall Leaves: http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/18717/early-learning-2

 Clay Leaf Bowls: http://www.redtedart.com/2010/10/01/how-to-make-autumn-leaf-bowls-guest-post/

There are a ton more activities to do, these are just some fun suggestions!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Noms: Gluten Free Nutella Muffins

I haven't given y'all a lazy easy recipe in awhile!! I saw the inspiration for this on Pinterest (of course) but as usual, have to adapt things for the gluten free life. So here we go.

Ingredients:
Pamela's Pancake and Baking Mix (using her muffin recipe, check her ingredients list)
Nutella (or knock off Jif Chocolate is good too)
Muffin pan
Usual baking stuffs

Follow Pamela's recipe for her muffin mix. Fill the muffin tin (sprayed or use liners) only about half full instead of 2/3 as she says. Add a dollop of Nutella in each muffin space. Gently swirl the Nutella in with a toothpick (swirl easy...if you do it too much it just mixes it, which isn't bad but not the effect you're going for...unless it is..then mix your socks off.) Bake as directed per Pamela's directions. (Is her stuff not awesome?) Let cool if you can stand it and eat!

They are SO good. My kids and I love them! They may 'poof' out the pan but I consider those free parts and they don't count in calories...obviously.

Enjoy!!!

October Photo Dump

Here is October's Photo Dump, we had a good month!! Lots of fun stuff!

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

Getting Excited for Fall

Oh I can feel it....I can sense the change in the air...fall is coming. Today we had a cool front and it was a little taste of fall heading our way. Usually we get a few 'teases' of fall, so we could be in the upper 90's again next week, but I'm going to enjoy this weather while I can! We let the windows down, air out the house, and get outside!! We can suddenly enjoy a bike ride, swinging, playing outside, without feeling like we'll die of heat exhaustion. The heat down here truly is an entity of itself, an angry demon you don't mess with. You avoid it with air conditioning and wait it out.

Fall means Saints football is back, and although that makes me a football widow because my husband watches EVERY SINGLE GAME he can, I enjoy a good game. Fall means a chance to wear and use the crochet things I make! Fall means leaves changing, apples, pumpkins, Thanksgiving is soon! I LOVE FALL!!

So, I've got my windows down, yarn out and enjoying it!

Even my guinea pigs love the cool weather!

Enjoy it!!
~~Amy

What I Made...

Fall Placemats turned pillows! Yet another, "Inspired by Pinterest, Made by Me" item. Grab the leaf placemats from Walmart from Better Homes and Garden. Open up the seam, stuff with fiberfill, sew up the hole and viola...pillows!!

They are kid approved....

Another fun and easy fall decor idea is pinecones and faux pumpkins (also from Better Homes and Gardens available at Evil Empire Walmart.) inside a cheapy glass jar. Naturally it sits atop my crochet granny circle :)

I crocheted another granny circle to sit under my "Give Thanks" Luminary.

So I've got a few more items to put out for tomorrow and we're ready to Turkey Day away! :)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING everyone!! May you find it filled with friends, family, food, football and fun! Give your thanks to God for the awesome things in your life and enjoy the day!!

~~amy

Deal of the Week

Baby, it's cold outside! Well, it's cold for Louisiana anyway as I type this...of course when it goes to publish it could be 80 outside...

Anyhoo, I digress...How's about a freebie for the deal of the week???
Since it's so cold most places, and I am loving learning how to crochet, how about a nifty handmade scarf made by yours truly?

It will be made to order and I will give you some color choices (pretty much everything, because I apparently already hoard yarn as I do fabric...) Now, keep in mind, I'm still learning so I basically know two scarf patterns: a ruffle scarf for the ladies, or a traditional long scarf for anyone :)

But if I can say so myself, I think I'm learning quite well and fast and hey, can you beat a free scarf?? (That's a rhetorical question, please don't literally abuse handmade scarves...that's just mean, yarn never hurt anyone..)

Soooo, enter your comment here with a WAY TO CONTACT YOU! (email, facebook, etsy, something! I can't send you a scarf if you disappear into comment land!)

You have one week to get your comments in and then I'll randomly pick a winner by who my dog sniffs on the screen, or something more professional....

Answer me this in your comment:
What is your FAVORITE thing about fall/winter??

~~Enjoy!~~Amy

Adding some pics of my handiwork, lest you not trust me to make a purdy scarf...