My show yesterday reminded me...

why I love to do Craft Shows. I'll admit it. There are times when getting up at 5 am to head out to a craft show and set up just does not appeal to me. :) I have to get the kiddos up, and off to some wonderful volunteer for the day. I don't get to spend time with them, and I have to spend the entire day standing. But then you get to the show, and you meet all of these amazing people. I met so many amazingly wonderful people yesterday. I am always amazed by how willing to share ideas people are! They see the fabric choices I make, and they instantly have 10 ideas of other things I can make. :) Yesterday I was asked to make a matching dog collar, leash and key fob for a dog owner. How stinkin' cute would THAT be? That is one fashionable dog walker. :) I forgot to mention that I could make her a matching water bottle carrier to boot. lol Then I was asked to make a small basket style purse for a woman's walker. How smart is that? You can't really carry a purse when you are leaning on a walker! I'm wondering if the same design would work for a stroller. :) And then there were door draft dodgers, plastic bag holders, and more. There are so many great ideas out there! I guess I should get sewing, huh?

It's Good to be Loved...

I was recently asked to be a part of a blog interview! I am honored to be included and thought you all might want to take a peek! She has a great blog, and updates it every day!

http://tscrapper.blogspot.com/

I'm so proud of my hubby :)

Some of you may know that my husband has been training for a pretty big ride all summer. Every Sunday, he took his day off and would do a training ride with the West Michigan JDRF team. He signed up to do a 105 mile ride through Death Valley to benefit JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). He had to raise $4000 in donations in order to go! (By the way, we are about $100 short, lol, so if you want to donate, feel free to go to his blog on the right for link!!) We have both been amazed by the people involved in this ride. Most of the riders either have diabetes themselves, or a child with the disease. They are all amazing, and have all made this an amazing journey for our entire family.

This past week they went to Death Valley, and as a team, rode their bicycles through 105 degree heat! Ross finished the full 105 miles. I am so proud of him! He said that it is by far the most difficult thing he has ever done. Personally, I found the lack of cell phone coverage UNACCEPTABLE, and was waiting very anxiously for his return so that I could hear all about it. :) The kids and I were so proud, that when we went to pick him up from the airport, this was what he saw...

Yes, that is my sad excuse for a drawing of a bicycle. :)

So the next time that guy riding his bike in the road annoys you because you would like to get past, remember that he might just be training to help some wonderful people find a cure for diabetes. :)

Officially the Grumpy Neighbor...

So here it is, 6 in the morning, and I am REALLY awake, when I was hoping to sleep in. Ross left for Death Valley for his 105 mile ride. I was so excited that he still had his rental car from his business trip and I did NOT have to wake up at 5 am to take him to the airport. Not that I wouldn't...but hey, sleep is a beautiful thing. :)

So what do I hear through my window at 5:20, but our neighbor's dog. Okay, I get it, he has to take a leak. No problem. He does this thing where he barks a single bark literally EVERY 30 seconds to a minute. After 25 minutes I had to walk over and ask them to take him inside. I understand that your dog needs to go outside, but early in the morning, is it really that difficult to wait 5 minutes and then go back and let him inside? They ALWAYS leave him outside for lengthy periods. 11:00 pm, when my kids are trying to sleep? Yup, out there barking. 90 degrees and the dog is outside dying of a heat stroke in the middle of the day? Yup. And it barks the entire time. Not a loud, obnoxious, let me inside bark. A slow, annoying, going to drive the people around you insane bark. In the day, I can handle it. 5:30 in the morning? I'm not quite as nice, and I come over and knock on you door. So I guess now I'm the grumpy neighbor. :(

A Message from a Nagging Mom...

I have an Artist friend who makes these signs, and as soon as I saw this one, I HAD to have it. Every morning I have to beg to my children to brush their teeth. For some reason, Davis has this thing where he doesn't flush the toilet. More 'nagging' from Mom. :) So I love this sign, and it is now in my bathroom, right above the toilet, where they can both see it. So Haley and Davis, Wash, Brush, Floss and Flush, and Remember that I LOVE YOU!

p.s. Oh, and yes, my bathroom wall really is that yellow. Don't worry, it's pretty, I promise, lol.

The Little Black Box

Have you ever heard of The Little Black Box? It is an awesome concept. They have artisans "donate" handcrafted items. Then the items are split up into boxes and you can purchase a box for around $20. This is great advertising for artisans, trying to get there name out there, and it is a great DEAL for the buyer! I bought one a few months back and was so happy with what I recieved. It was a great way to try out some new things, such as different soaps.

Anyway, The Little Black Box also hosts some sales! This Black Friday, I will be participating! So after (or before!!!) you hit the malls, make sure you take a moment to check out Etsy! There will be some great deals.

I also got a new ad for The Little Black Box website! Check it out...

Ahh..the beauty of technology

So, I love computers. I really do. I use mine every day. I am a computer dork. I type things like LOL and KWIM. I am an addict. But today I am swearing at my computer. :( I did an upgrade last night. And when it restarted to apply the upgrade...something happened. My operating system does not boot anymore. Which means my computer does not boot anymore. :( So for right now I am having to borrow my hubby's computer to keep people posted. This is the second computer that will not boot for me in the last 4 months. Am I jinxed or what? So if you could send some good computer vibes my way that would be AWESOME!!!

Facebook...

So I joined Facebook a year ago and then never did anything with it. Then my hubby signed up about a month ago and it is his new fun thing. :) So of course, he is sucking me in, lol. I cannot believe the people I have found! I have found like 4 people that I went to Elementary School with. How neat is that? It is so interesting to see people "all grown up". A couple of people I was really amazed by, because they look so different. I think you just don't see age progression in your mind, and then all of the sudden, "Wow, she's 30!" LOL I love that pretty much everyone looks better with age. I hope they put me in that group as well. ;) My profile pic is from last year when I signed up. MIGHT be time to change it. ;)