Getting out of Town

Not really....but it sounded like a "nice idea". And really, it isn't quite as good as it might sound! Yesterday I took my oldest up to the mall - which seemed like it was a million miles away - did a little girl time and a little shopping. Then we went over to the craft store where I picked up my new BIG project!! It is one that I am REALLY EXCITED about!!! Yippee.... so so excited!! I am making a doll house for the Princess!! I have SO much extra time on my hands....not, but I really need to work on some crafty goodness for my own sanity. Ok, so my point was...we also slipped over to the Cow ice cream place (Maggie Moo's) - which we all LOVE!! Then tonight when I was standing at the register trying to buy some doggy chow I realized that I didn't have my credit card! YIKES!!! I quickly traced it back to the last place I used it, ice cream, so in the car we went back up to the "big town" to pick it up. Got it, and a little more ice cream just for our troubles, and on our way home my daughter said to me, "Mom - it feels like forever since we were out of Deale!" And you know what? She was right! We have become so centered around the shop that we rarely ever go anywhere. Except to the orthopedic....but that is definitely a different story!!

We need to try and "get out of town" a little more! We live in a pretty small area, it isn't like there is so much going on that we "never need to leave", quite the contrary, but I have also been really trying to "stay/shop/live local", I guess it is working!

All for now, I will post some pictures of my newest project. I am so excited about I hope I don't get carried away and forget to take pictures of my progress!!!

For the love of a Stranger...

Yesterday I was trying to rest my foot (broken foot - week 2 with a cast....I tell you about the rest of my cast wearing family members tomorrow) after my fun filled day at the coffee shop and I started surfing through some of my favorite blog ladies when I stumbled upon this story....you can read back through her sisters blog to get more information. I was unbelievably touched by this story - I read and read all about them. I can't get over how tragic and beautiful this is all at the same time. I am adding the donation button to my blog.
Go through and read about them, I know times are tight but if you can even donate a single dollar, please do it. We have medical bills because of my Superman, but they are nothing compared to the medical bills that this family is going to have! I pray that whatever the outcome is for this family that they have peace. I do believe that this families amazing Faith in God will carry them through. I can't even imagine the recovery process that they are going to have to go through. I burnt myself a few weeks ago on the espresso machine - scalding hot water and skin, bad combo - and the pain was horrible, and that was only my arm! I can not even imagine over 80% of my body! Modern medicine and her spiritual strength will need to come together here. Well, I am going to go cuddle with my children for a few minutes.....In other news....I actually went "into" my craft room today, shuffled a few things around and was very excited at the "thought" of being able to do a project. Completing a project might be a different story.....lol. I think I will start with something simple...like a bow or a bracelet!

Hey there stranger!

Oh...My....Goodness!!! It is now the 12th of September and I just realized that my last post was in April...exactly 2 days before we opened the doors to our very own Coffee Shop & "store"....it has been a complete roller coaster and seems like years since May 1st! Let me give you a brief re-cap!!
1. I haven't done one complete "craft" project since April!!
2. My daughter has 6 unfinished "spring" outfits....good thing that Fall is just beginning, guess I have a jump start on next spring!!
3. 3 - yes 3 members of my family have broken bones! All one week apart we have broken two left wrists, and one left foot. Thank you very much, I will be seeking damages from the moo-cows!
4. Our shop is super cute and growing every single day! We started off with the notion of having an antique consignment and vintage boutique "store" and have since decided to have a retail gift/home decor & accessories store. It is so much more fun!! We have several lines that are made right here in the U.S.A - Love that!!

5. The list goes on and on!! But, I am going to make sure that I keep up with my blog and my crafts. I hate that some days I am so tired my poor little brain can't be creative!!

I have once again discovered that the only form of sanity in a family with kids/school/jobs, etc is ORGANIZATION and PLANNING!! There is going to be time spent this weekend planning dinners & lunches for the next two weeks. The farmers market only has a few more weeks left so I need to stock up on all our fresh homegrown produce. The squash is starting to become more plentiful, apples are ready to be made into applesauce, and the potatoes are HUGE this year!! Because working 80+ hours a week is just not enough to keep me busy, I have it set in my mind to make applesauce and sweet potatoes to be canned and saved for Thanksgiving and other dinners this fall/winter.

OK, off to try and get some sleep - that darn coffee doesn't make itself!!

What to do....the Potty Training Blues!

What do you do when your two year old has decided that she will no longer wear the diapers that have the little blue dog on them???? Or the magenta dog, or the green dog....It took me a few diaper changes to figure out what the problem was, but once I did I kept thinking I must be wrong - or at least crazy!!! Not only does she have NO interest in going "Potty" on the potty, but she refuses to wear the diapers that don't have the little purple kitty on them! I figure that with 34 diapers in each pack, 4 different characters to rotate through the odds are not in my favor! Yesterday, I changed her diaper and explained that we were going to sit on the potty and wear our big girl panties....she proceeded to have a major diva fit...stomp over the the diapers...whip through the stack until she found the kitty... lay down, and stomp her little foot at me! Not only does she stomp her foot, drop her shoulders and exclaim..."Gaaa" (which I am sure means God - thanks to the older siblings) but she stomps away and throws her arms up!

Seriously...when did come to live with us??

I started trying the "Potty" thing kind of early since the little darling is allergic to most, let me rephrase that, all commercial diapers, and now she doesn't want anything to do with it!! I bought the organic diapers for a while, then I was forced to purchase the "Luvs" one day because Whole Foods was out of her size again..they worked, and now...no kitty...no diaper!! YET, she doesn't want to use the potty!!! What am I going to do?? I thought that maybe I could go back to the organic diapers because they obviously don't have characters on them, and we can just stick "kitty" stickers on them!! Gotta be creative and a little crafty!! Then when she decides to move on from the kitties, we can choose a new sticker! LOL!!

OK...not your typical "crafty" project, but I will let you know if it works! I am off to find some potty training advice on the Internet! It seemed easier the first three times!!!

Ohhh, Ohhh, wait till you see my new finds!! I will take some pictures for you tomorrow!! AWESOME buttons, some great costume jewelry that I plan on turning into rings...and then more treasures from my grandmothers stash!! So exciting just thinking about it, my potty training blues have almost passed!!

Who forgot to got to the grocery store???

Ok, I have to admit...I used to love the grocery store, now...not so much!! Maybe it is the constant wrestling with the "Wild Octopus" that regularly shops with me! But, why do I bring up such a sore subject you wonder??? Well, because the other day when I went to make dinner - I had one of those "Oh, OK, what can we make with what is on the shelf.....". And, let me tell you it tasted YUMMMY!!!! It was a dreary day and I threw the following list of ingredients in the crock pot and at dinner time it was all warm & yummy!! I had to come up with a equally cozy name for it too...."Chicken Pot Pie ~ Soup" It was yummy and even provided enough to freeze for a second "uh-oh" moment!

So, here is how it went.....

Chicken Breast - skinless, boneless, of course if you had left over chicken that would work great!!!

Couple of fresh carrots

Few stalks of fresh celery

Potatoes - 1 or 2...whatever you have on hand...lol

Onion - chopped

Frozen peas - just a handful

Can of Cream Corn - who eats it unless you camouflage it anyway???

Can of Cream of Mushroom soup

2 Cans of Chicken Broth

Herbs de Provence

Bag of Egg Noodles

I cut and sauteed the chicken in a little oil, just until browned on either side

Peeled and chopped the Potatoes, Carrots, Celery and Onions, laid them in the crock pot

Popped the Chicken pieces on top

Added the cream of corn, soup and stock

Stirred it up, added the spices

Put it on High for an hour, switched it to low and let it simmer for a few hours - like 4.

Just before dinner I cooked the package of egg noodles, served their bowls with the egg noodles under the soup!

It was so YUMMY!!!!! It was also carb friendly because it was mostly veggies and only one can of cream soup! You could skip the noodles and make it a skinny soup all the way!!!

Ok...that is all for me tonight! Off to bed!!!