New Years Resolutions? Nah. Acceptance.

I don't do New Years Resolutions. Mostly because I don't really "do" New Years...my new year starts in the spring with the Passover and spring Holy Days, but I recognize the calendar for what it is, a time keeper. (Wish it came with a Time Lord, but that is just me watching too much Doctor Who....)

Anyhoo, I DO have goals! This is our first full year of homeschooling and while it's going well, it could be better. I have been keeping up with work on the Homeschool Helper app for the ipad but I admit I'm an old school paper and pencil kinda girl. So I think it's time to get down to business the old fashioned way.

Things are not super cohesive. I admit, I'm not using my time the best. I would rather read, crochet, cuddle with my boys or sleep with the dog than do most any chore. But alas, that is not my lot in life, to be lazy. There are days for that and a time for that, but most days, we need to be up and doing, being productive and using the gifts God gave us. But I'm a slacker at heart, so I need some motivation.

I found this free printable planner and it looks great. Just want I need to remind myself to get things GOING and not fart around all day! So this will mean limiting my online time including the great time suck that is Facebook.

I do want to have some small mini goals each month, because although I know I need to adjust some things, the problem we face is often too hard, unrealistic or just overachieving goals. Usually the things we need to adjust are things we don't want to DO so how can we achieve a goal if we are already dreading it?? So for me, simplicity is key. Something doable, and yet something I don't already do (or don't do enough of) to feel accomplished.

Trickery is the key!


January's Goal: Eat two fruits/Veggies a day and drink three glasses of water.

Sounds pathetic, eh? Yeah well, I don't do it enough. I don't eat enough fruits or veggies and I definitely don't drink enough water. So this is my check in, my requirement! I'll even add it to my little planner! And probably a reminder on the iPad...and iPod...and email reminder....and maybe text message...

I'm just a tad forgetful....


I'll keep you updated on my little goal here!

~~Amy

January Photo Purge

January was a slow month, photography wise, as I was working for half the month and we've been fighting illness. But we had a little fun! :)

The Big 0-5

I can't believe my baby is turning 5. I know soon I'll be adding a 1, or 2, or 3 in front of that and saying the same thing...but still..my baby...growing up! Here's a little journey of my baby boy :)

Happy Birthday E!! I love you, even when you drive me batty and test my limits!
~~mommy

Rounding the Bend...

Listen...do you hear it? Shhh...be vewy vewy qwiet...It's 2013...sneaking in...or better yet, rushing in like a tidal wave! Seriously? WHERE did 2012 go??

Well, it's come and nearly gone and I have to say it's been a really good year, personally and business wise. Our family stayed relatively healthy, no major mishaps (other than a child's broken toe but that ended up okay), the hubs stayed employed in this time of unemployment, my business flourished, and our little family grew by two guinea pigs and a new weenie dog puppy. Instead of waiting for the other shoe to drop, I choose to give thanks for our blessings and be grateful for what God has provided for us. I pray I can continue to grow in His word and learn more, grow more, and do more with the many blessings He provides for us.

Since August I was working full time, which was quite an adjustment, but it should be coming to an end the first week of January. I'm not saying I won't go back to work full time eventually, but right now, I feel I need to focus on the family, house and my business. We've been having some recent issues with our youngest and I need to stay on top of those and not be stressed worrying about 'getting it all done'.

My little business has really grown and I am VERY grateful for that. In 2012 I primarily focused on Badge Reels, and I am happy to report, thanks to the customers who BELIEVE in handmade and make an effort to purchase it, that Badge Reels exceeded it's 2011 sales by early November and December was one of my top grossing months, even being open only 15 days! THANK YOU 1,000 times over to everyone who shares links, likes, follows, buys, promotes, believes in me and prays for my shop! It does not go unnoticed!

My second shop, Seaux Comfy, did a good little business for a new shop, nothing huge, but a great start. It's really an outlet for my crochet love (okay, it's an excuse to buy more yarn...) and it's a fun little addition. I love both my shops and the crafts I do, if I didn't love it, I wouldn't do it! What's the point in trying to build a business if you hate what you are doing?

As for my Year Without Wal-Mart...I actually did quite well and probably only stepped foot in the store about ten times the entire year....mostly for reasons I couldn't really control (father needed to go, out of town and no nearby stores, etc). I have to say I did well not going, not necessarily spending less (Target's bullseye gets me every time...) but making efforts to find other stores, local, chain and online, to spend my grocery money. Will I try to avoid Wal-Mart to much in 2013? No, probably not, but the habit has been laid, that it is not my first grocery choice. 

So we've had a fabulous year and I hope you did too. Despite the scary in the world, I try to look on the brighter side and remember the greater plan at work. As a great man once said, "I've read to the end of the book, and we win." It was a dreary winter day here today and looking back over the year's photos really helped. Here is a little snippet of our year :) If you want to see more, please feel free to find me on Instagram as mamaslittlemonkeys. Also on Flickr and to see my crochet goodies, friend me on Ravelry!

Here's to 2013 being just as awesome!!! My hubs and I will be celebrating our ten year anniversary, I'll be turning 34, one boy will turn 5 and one will turn 8! It's going to be a great year!

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

Rejuvenation

I write this post in an awesome place. I sit, cross legged on a lounge chair on the balcony of a fabulous condo on the bay of Orange Beach, Alabama. One son is downstairs on the doc looking for fish with his dad and one son is inside, playing with his beloved Yoshi. Life is good.

And that is a wonderful thing, because why we're down here is for a reason very few in this world understand. We are celebrating something called the Feast of Tabernacles. Very few understand what this means, very few even care. I won't go into the specifics, but it's a very important Holy Day time for us in our religion. It symbolizes the 1,000 year period after Christ's return when God will rule as the government of this world, instead of the evil, human world we currently live in. It's to be a time of much rejoicing, joy, happiness, and fun. It is to symbolize a time when there will be no more sorrow, hate, tears. The deaf with hear, the blind will see. No more pain, suffering, only joy. It's hard to imagine but many of us dream of that time, wait for it patiently.
   So we will finish our time at the Feast and enjoy it so, knowing we must go back to our lives in the world, but we do our best to learn, listen, and strive to keep God with us every day, all day. It's a very important lesson for me as a mother to teach my children, and they look forward to this time, rightly so, even if not for all the same reasons I do at this time.  Thankfully they have cute little videos like this one, from my old pal Jonathan and his crew. His church put together this cute video explaining what the Feast is to our children. Take a look if you wish. :) 

  I can't wait for a time when my boys can pet a lion and ride a bottlenose dolphin. :) Happy Feast!!Amy 

Summer Sun and Birthday Party Fun

Today we went to my great niece's combo birthday party. (They're a few days apart, both turning three.) H had a blast on the water slide, and although E was a bit grumpy, he did enjoy the day. Even the hubs got on the water slide...

And a beautiful sunset to end the day...

I hope y'all had a fabulous Sunday, we did! :)
~Amy

July 2012 Photo Round Up

We had some fun this month!! I'm going to attempt a photo round up each month. If you'd like follow me on Flickr, where I share my better shots :)

Hope you had a great July!!

Hanging with PawPaw

We love to go hang with PawPaw at his house in the country, where I grew up. Here's some pics from our last trip :)

Back in the Saddle....

Hey gang! I'm back home from out of town! It was fabulous to get away, spend time with the family, but now we're home, and time to get cleaned up, wash the mountain of laundry, and get back in the swing of things. November is fast approaching and it's my favorite time of year!

What's your upcoming to do? As you can see on my right sidebar, I'm going to attempt to stick to a new blogging schedule! I'm also as always, streamlining things in life to I can truly enjoy the time I have, not just check things off a list.
But still, I love my lists. So here are my November Goals:

*Crochet and Knit as much as possible! It's fall here and I had wanted to finish some things before it got really cold!
*Prep for Thanksgiving. I LOVE Turkey Day, it's one of the few "traditional" Holidays my family celebrates. So I will be buying turkeys as they go on sale, decorating the house for fall, and snagging up after Halloween candy deals! :)
*Reopen my shops and have some sales!! I have a ton of new buttons to list for badge reels and can't wait to show them to you!
*Make my boys some winter pajamas...and possibly some for ME! They grow SO fast, and I have all this fabric...it's high time I sew for US!
*Plan some fun activities for the boys during Thanksgiving break. A week off from school means I'll go on semi vacation again then, because I want to enjoy our break!

As as matter of fact, many of my creative goals are to utilize some of my supplies for us. The handmade business is great, and I enjoy it, but I also have to remember to create for my family and friends!

I hope everyone is having a fabulous fall and enjoying the changes in the air! To me, fall is the best season!

Happy Fall Y'all!!
~~~Amy

A Handmade Life....

It's no secret, I love handmade, homemade, heartmade, whatever you want to call it. If it can be made with your brain, heart, and two hands (and sometimes feet!) I like love it. So I've declared war. War against mass manufactured items.
Obviously, not EVERYTHING in life can be handmade, at least not cost effeicently. But, for this upcoming school year (2011-2012, I measure my life in school years! LOL) I declare it, The Year of Handmade.

Handmade is not new to me, nor you if you have read this blog for any length of time. It is, indeed, my livelihood, and how I make a few pennies to spend here and there. But there are a lot of things in life I take the shortcut with. And I think it's time to stop.

It will be baby steps, I'm sure. But I will let you know how things go along the way!

First Mission:
Use up all store bought laundry soap, dish soap, and cleaning supplies. This is hard since I am also a couponer and have amassed quite a stock in cleaning supplies. But I vow to use it all up and make my own healthier, cleaner, cheaper versions! It's really not THAT hard. I keep recipes and ideas organized on my Pinterest boards. I've made many of them before, but just didn't keep it up. Well, now is the time!

Second Mission:
Bake/Cook More, including stocking up the freezer with ready to go meals. Now, we only eat out maybe 1x a week. So we don't have a problem eating IN....but *I* have a problem with loving cooking. You can read about it in my latest Real Housewives of NOLA post.

So those are my first two missions for the coming months....I hope to slowly add more and share my progress. Do you have any ways you choose homemade over mass-made?
~~Amy

Summer Fun....

So, my boys have been driving me CA-RAZY! A friend suggested turning off the TV and just letting the boys get used to being bored. I admit, I use the TV and various screens as crutches. I am forever trying to shoved 48 hours worth of work into 24, so I tend to let the kids get away with watching more TV than I'd like.

So I turned it off. I'm really not a huge TV watcher during the day myself, but my boys had gotten used to it as background noise. This TV is also a hand me down and is slightly possessed and may or may not turn back on easily once off, so I tended to keep it on.

Well today, I turned it off all day. My older son, H, didn't get any screen time til his little brother's nap. The day went much better. No, I still didn't have time to get work done until E's nap time, BUT, I did science experiments with the boys, ran errands, cleaned, and was able to read magazines. Best of all, my boys were forced to learn to get along better. And they did!

I can only hope I can keep this  up and the boys will learn they will not die if they don't have a screen in front of them!!

Here's a little of what they do when I unplug their little behinds...

Color with Window Markers from Crayola. Very cool markers, basically dry erase that you wipe right off any glass or mirror!

Splash in the pool together...although that usually does end in screaming and fighting...

Sometimes, they are calm enough to actually sit and talk to the dog....usually they're trying to squish her...

We'll see what tomorrow brings...

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...

To Join a Gym or Not to Join a Gym.....that is the fat butt question..

So, I'm feeling a little squishy. A little too squishy. And unlike my friend Dee's 3 month old who I affectionately call Squishy....I'd rather not be so pudding like. I'm not overweight, and I'm sure many of my friends would say, "getouttahere" but Yeah..I need to lose a few.

I'd actually lost all the baby weight by taking up sewing and running my business. But as the business had grown and it's more about keeping it afloat than spending hours sewing (because apparently, once you actually do good at your shop, you no longer have time to SEW!) But 8-10 lbs have crept back on. Mama not likey.

So, to decide. Now, by the grace of God and hard work, we have paid off all our medical bills and credit cards. This is quite a feat as I racked up almost 3k myself in 2008 when they wrongly diagnosed me with MS only to say, oops, you don't have it. (A good mistake, I know.) We also racked up 2k more in the boys for Eli's Autism diagnosis and Harrison's cat allergy diagnosis. I'm not complaining, we had coverage, they got help and it's done. But Praise Lord it's PAID FOR!

Sooooooooo, I am the spender in the family, no question about it. But I am better than my 10k in debt days of post-college. So I'm contemplating joining a gym. Not a fancy 100 a month gym, but one of those Anytime Fitness places. It's a reasonable fee. But my husband has made me a worry wart.

What if the heater breaks this winter? (It's over 18 years old). What if the hot water heater breaks (also original).? What if my 96 car needs major repair? I'm a worry wart now, he's done that to me!

I suppose I'll experiment, if I can stick with working out at home, maybe I can see enough reward there and one day do the gym. It's hard to even consider until school starts again, the boys are so all consuming. I have to wonder, can it all really fit? Kids, House, Husband, Work, Exercise, Cooking/Cleaning, FUN? Where does it all fit in??

I think my first experiment will be to get up early, before the man and go walk. It should be cooler then and maybe if I can force myself to do that, I can get to BED at a decent hour!

We shall see.....

girl, disconnected...day 14--Naps Rock

5:48 am. That is what time my children chose to wake up this morning. I don't know why, I just recall a memory of saying, "GO. BACK. TO. BED." Multiple cups of coffee and episodes of Caillou later, I was still exhausted. So, E, the dog and I all snuggled up and snoozed away. H quietly played his Nintendo DS and I actually got to catch some Z's....complete with dog snoring.

I'd not have been so tired if I'd actually gone to bed at a decent hour...but nooooo, I had to stay up and watch my boy Marc Broussard on Lopez Tonight! :) I had to!! I gotta support my musicians!! He did FABULOUS by the way and you can snag the new album out NOW!

We did a run to Target and ran into another girl wearing a Fleurty Girl shirt...that was pretty funny. Ran into a couple of friends...apparently it was "walk around confused in the middle of Target's remodel day."

Tomorrow is an El Cheapo movie with H so hopefully we'll get a little time together. I know it's hard for H to share the love and spotlight with his little brother, so these little trips just us helps.

Speaking of little brother, Eli...the potty training is going well! So far no poops in the potty, but he's doing great with the pee-pee's!!! My little baby is growing up!!
So I'm making it! I confess to checking facebook today to confer with my fellow bloggers over at Real Housewives of NOLA...but that's it!!! (I think?) hee hee.

~~peace out,
amy

girl disconnected....thin mints and real friends...

See world...even if you cut yourself off from Facebook, Twitter and whatever things you use to connect...your real friends hunt you down. They text you on your phone (even though it takes you 20 minutes to tap out a response...) They email you and send you recipes for GLUTEN FREE THIN MINTS! (Merry.....I heart you!) And they actually call.

I admit, its' been REALLY hard these first 10 days to be off Facebook and Plurk. I confess...I checked Facebook 1-2x for messages. I also apparently liked some things while searching for doggy stuff. I also broke down and got on Plurk a few times to show off Libby the dog because I have a lot of animal nuts over there who I knew would love to see her! So yea.....cold turkey, I didn't QUITE do...but I have mostly behaved myself. Any online purchases were doggy related (IE a 30 lb bag of dog food that even the UPS guy had to ask, "what is in this??" I shoulda told him something scary....).

But Twitter....I haven't even noticed. There are maybe 3 people who I connect with only on Twitter (because they've as of yet to GET on facebook), and one is baby-mooning, so she isn't on much anyways. So I really am not missing Twitter.

I am enjoying that I'm actually talking on the phone to my friends more. And still...to this day....they seem to know when I've JUST sat down and gotten comfy before they call. Or I have raw chicken on my hands....it's always one of the two....

Sooooo, I've learned....whether you check your facebook or not....life goes on. The sun rises. Kids misbehave (or behave!) and still you are there. I'm learning what I get out of social networking is the instant gratification. The feeling of, "Hey, someone read that!" or "Hey someone liked that!!" It's like I'm Sally Field all day long, "They LIKE ME! They REALLY LIKE ME!!"

But it's not just that..it's not just about me. I really do enjoy reading about my friends, near and far. I enjoy hearing their adventures, and misadventures. That is something social networking really does...it DOES help you feel connected to those you can't be physically near (IF You use it right and don't do stupid things like Post naked pics of yourself.....or join facebook...start drama....then leave. Repeat. For the love of cheese, ya'll, please stop doing that.)

Social networking is anonymity and closeness all at once. It's an enigma....and while I'm missing it at times...

I think I can live without it.

~~amy

girl, disconnected....doing what I love again...

Day 9.....ahhh a good day. My mother-in-law blessedly took the children for a few hours so I was able to get some actual sewing done!! Serging, to be exact. It was so nice...I haven't been able to sew for awhile now, since school got out, and it was so nice to finish up a stack of to-do's.

First up, I FINALLY recovered my sofa pillows. Now that we have a doggy, I thought this was a good time so I can take the covers off and wash them.  You can see the original pillow under the sleeping Libby.

I also got most of my stack of pillowcases done for my Pillowcase Drive for ConKerr Cancer. I have a stack from a fellow handmade friend and as of now we have 19 cases ready! Hopefully I can reach my goal by the end of July, but even if not, I am happy we can send these over and hopefully make a sick child smile!

I've also had a lotta fun the past few days. I've danced to Adele with Eli, did arts and crafts with the boys and of course played with the dog. The poor doggy also encountered a cat and is recovering from an eye scratch, but hopefully she'll be fine. She goes back to the vet on Monday.

What have you been making and doing lately??

I did cheat and check facebook messages as apparently I had some people who needed answers to questions. But I was quick and just checked my messages!! :)

My big plans for tonight are hunkering down with a movie ("The Notebook." No, I've never seen it. I got a warning letter that they were gonna kick me outta the chick club if I didn't watch it.....so Netflix sent it along for me.) Popcorn, movie and snugging on the sofa. Don't call by the way..

~~amy