The Stuff I Live For

Saying Goodbye to My 20’s October 31, 2008

And I'm not a bit upset about it. Today, I am 30 and… I am happy. I love my family, I love life. Thank you, Lord, for the most wonderful gifts I could have on this earth - Eric, Ayla and Shay.

Although Eric took the day off today, many crazy circumstances led us to have to go into Center City Philadelphia today so Eric could get a couple of things done at his work. Of course today of all days was also the big parade for the World Series Champions - the Philadelphia Phillies. There were literally millions of fans out there, exactly in the spot we needed to get to. The real comical part is Eric is a Mets fan! Of course I had to get lots of pics of Eric with a sea of red around him. He didn't share in the laughs with me. 

The un-comical part was that it took us over an hour to get across the street! We went into the subway and tried to go under Market Street to get across. Every stairwell was just mobbed with people. With two kids, one in a stroller, it wan't easy going.

Why did the Mets fans cross the road? Cause they didn't wanna watch that darn parade!

Anyway, we made it, and we ended up having a good day.

Later, of course, we went trick or treating. Ayla was a butterly and Shay, a ladybug. My cousin came over with her girls so the kids had a great time collecting tons of candy for ME!

Now we're watching A Nightmare on Elm Street 2. Freddy Krueger rocks. Today was too rushed for time for the girls and Eric to make me a cake, so I have already declared tomorrow my birthday too.

My First Pleated Purse October 26, 2008

Success. I am sooo proud of this bag I made this weekend, I just have to brag. I'm elated cause I made it with no pattern. No instructions. No nada. Just looked at some pictures of other pleated bags and jumped right in and made own. The first pattern I drew up turned out a bag that was much smaller than I expected. Instead of tossing it, I finished it up and made it a little girl's bag. Shay was having a bad day, so I cheered her up with it. I made Ayla model. She took time out from playing for me so don't mind the rag-a-muffin look.

I learned from the size mistake and made a larger pattern and out came this!….

What it so exciting to me is that the first time I sew something, it's sellable, as in perfect-o. No mistakes. Ah! I can't say how much I love that feeling. Of course there's tons I don't know how to do yet and haven't tried, but since I only began sewing last year, I know I've definetly been blessed with a skill.

Alright, I'm done. I'm modest and don't  say much other good stuff about myself, so I can get away with this once in a while, right?!

How Many Licks? October 20, 2008

Went shopping at the mall yesterday with the family and my sis-in-law, Cheryl. I haven't really shopped for new clothes in, I'd say, probably - years! My clothes shopping wouldn't be complete without stopping for my absolute favoritest sweats in the world - Victoria's Secret Pink.

They're have a little promotion, get a free mini dog with each Pink purchase. Of course I have two kids there who each wanted a dog so I asked Cheryl to pay for one of my items and I gave her one of my credit cards so she could get the other free dog for me. On the way up to the register she grabs a lollipop from a basket in the Pink section. Why Victoria's Secret is selling lollipops, I have no idea.

After we get home and Cheryl leaves to go back to her house in central Jersey, I put my clothes away and found her lollipop still in the bag. The receipt, with my shirt on it says $2 for a lollipop! I'm a little perturbed that VS is ripping us off by selling overpriced candy now next to their overpriced teeny undies and clothing, though terribly cute as they are. Guess I'm a sucker too for shopping there, no pun intended.

I was thinking of beating her for buying a $2 lollipop on my credit card. Too drastic??

The candy with a 500% markup is tucked away in my drawer. At least now I know what Cher's getting for Christmas.  One down.

John - Then and Now. I Prefer Then. October 18, 2008

Just wasted a couple of hours of my life watching "War, Inc." What the hell? Since when did John Cusack do AWFUL movies?

Remember this?… John Cusack in 1989's "Say Anything".   Best clip from a movie. EVER. Really, ever. Just try and tell me you haven't wished this scene on yourself. If you haven't seen the movie, a set up- he wants the girl back.

Just watched it twice in a row, now I gotta go cry.

Do You Have a Lush Pad? October 15, 2008

Maybe I don't, exactly. But, you may recall from some of my previous posts, that I will in my next life. Even if I know I'm not going to have a next life.

What I'm trying to say is, I guess, I like to want. It's fun, and it doesn't cost me anything. Usually. Well, sometimes, eh, nevermind. I'm gonna get myself in trouble.

I found this website called Lushpad. It's filled with deals for people into designer and mid-century modern furniture. There are ads put up by sellers for everything from vintage 1960's couches with restored leather to totally modern tripod chairs…

Oohheee, that is a sweet chair. I absolutely love it. I can totally see it in that NYC upper eastside studio apartment that I do not have. It's like furniture from a certain Swedish store which makes cheap stuff with fake wood that you have to put together yourself with instructions that have no words which shall remain nameless…. but a million times better.

If you've got an item you're wanting, you can place a want ad for free. And, if you're into this stuff at all, sign up now for their monthly newsletter filled with facts and deals and you'll be entered to win an Eames LCW molded plywood lounge chair worth over $750, shown here below.

My Olympic Hopefuls October 14, 2008

The girls started both gymnastics and dance classes this fall. Dance consists of an intro to tap, jazz and ballet. The bummer is that I can't watch the classes. Is that normal? There's no waiting area so I drop them off and go home then run back and get them. Not looking forward to that in the winter. But, they're so cute in their little outfits and they really love the classes.

I haven't snapped a pic in the dance leotards yet, but here's Ayla and Shay ready for gymnastics.

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Oh, wait, that's Christmas. Halloween is definetly the second best time of the year. It's also my birthday and I always thought it was the absolute best day to have a birthday fall on. Even though I'm going to be 30 this year, I'm totally looking foward to it.

I got both of the girls' costumes at a Halloween Adventure store. Ayla is going to be a butterfly, and Shay a ladybug. Both have big, adorable wings and antennae.

A couple of years ago, my mom had a halloween party at her house and I got the best Mad Hatter costume there. Wish I could've found a pic, but no luck. It had a huge hat and bowtie as well as thigh highs and a pettiskirt like this adorable one I found on the site of Alice in Wonderland.

I'm loving this little witch costume, but I bet we're all going to be seeing tons of Disney Princesses. The girls dress up like princesses everyday at home, so I forbade it for Halloween!

If you don't have one of their storefronts near you, check out their site. It's not too late to order a great costume. Most orders ship within one business day from the time your order is placed.

Anybody know anything… October 13, 2008

about sergers? I am thinking of expanding my self-taught sewing skills and was thinking of getting a serger for professionally finished seams. Do I dare? I'm not sure.

I know most bloggerss I frequent, and most commenters here aren't ladies who sew, but I also know I have lots of lurkers who don't normally comment. Do any of you sew? I am looking for info on any sergers, both ones you like and ones you don't.

Web Hosting

I have web hosting services for two different websites - both this one and my biz site, and though I started them two years apart, they're both hitting me at the same time. Coincidentally, my web hosting services (two different hosts) are both due to renew within the next 60 days.

If you're a blogger with a hosted site (not free blog), or if you're thinking of upgrading, you might want to visit Web Hosting Rating for independent customer reviews on the best web hosting providers. I know there are tons of moms each day starting new e-commerce sites and web hosting is a must for all of them. This site has lots of articles with info on strategies and plans for e-commerce site.

Check out the reviews and shop around just like you do for any other important purchase. Not all hosting providers are created equal.

Two Down October 6, 2008

One craft show to go. Kind of. It's 2 days long, so it's feels more like 2 shows. I was approached by a few people at the other shows I did to attend some others, but they're small and I have to decide it they're worth my time.

Anyway, I had loads of fun. I thought the Swedesboro-Woolwich Day was going to be a wash. All news channels and their websites, except for 6 ABC in Philly, were calling for rain for the entire day. And, even though the event was rain or shine, I didn't want to go and waste my time. I set the alarm for 5:15 am that morning, checked the weather on a few websites only to see bad forecasts and I laid there for 20 more minutes. Finally, I forced myself to get up (and get Eric up) and went. It misted a bit while we were setting up and that's it! The day was cloudy but fabulous. Seemed like there weren't as many people there as expected, probably because of the clouds, but it was still a really great day.

The Olde Marlton Fall Festival was this past Saturday, and my sales were the same almost to the dollar as the show before, even though there were thousands more there. That either means I did really well at the first show, or poorly at the second one. Since I don't have any other shows to compare to, I have no idea which it is. People were much nicer for some reason at Swedesboro-Woolwich Day. Our car battery was dead when we went to leave Marlton and we asked two different people for a jump, both who seemed very, very upset that we asked. Ugh. That stuff really keeps me up at night.

Here's me at the Marlton show.

Eric stayed with me the entire day for both shows. Isn't that sweet? Really, I couldn't have done it without him.

Now, I'm working on adding some things to my new Etsy shop even though I still have at least another show to do. Figure I better since I gave out tons of business cards and the shop was empty! Please check it out if you have a chance. I still have more to add, and I'll try to get on it quickly.  I just listed some things yesterday and already got a request for a wholesale order!

To build feedback at my new shop, shipping is free for all items purchased after the first. It's called Mushy Bug.   Bug is after Ayla who I've called Bug or Buggy since she was born and Mushy after Shay who has been my Mush all of her short little life. Great combo, huh? I thought it was kind of gross at first. Well, it is. But, it's after my girls and it's memorable if nothing else!