Happy Halloween from Smurf and Smurfette!!

Not the best picture, but you get the idea. Next year I'm pretty sure we go make up free costumes. Dart's arms are still a little blue!!

To do this week:

I have a craft fair this weekend so I'm putting my list here so I don't forget anything.

• Rag coasters(will post pics when I get a set done)
• Christmas cards
• headbands
• American Girl clothes
• Holiday Planners(if I can get them to come out the way I want)
• mini books
• Thanksgiving banners
• Christmas tags

I hope I can get all this done. On top of Halloween tomorrow night and gymnastics Tuesday night. I'm going to take the rag coasters to gymnastics and snip the edges there. Figure I need something to do for an hour and that will be a good time to get them done.

Made this little pillowcase tunic length shirt for Audrey today. So easy to make and she loves wearing them.

Hopefully I can snap a pic of her in it tomorrow before school. Gotta get the rest of the stuff for their costumes tomorrow. Audrey changed her mind and is going to be Smurfette, a little fancier though. She isn't going to wear all blue leggings, she is wearing striped leggings. Leave it to my girl to make it fancy!!

A Stressed out 10 year old

And it's not just because of the Rangers game. Yesterday I took Dart to the doctor to find out what is wrong with his neck. He says it's been bugging him since the start of school. He has a VERY high pain tolerance so it's just taken a while for it to really be bad enough that he wanted something done.

After meeting the resident, because we go through University of Missouri very rarely do we see our actual doctor we usually get students of some sort and I love it. I know if it is serious we will see our doctor and have before, but the students have to learn some how and what better way. They always tell me what they think and then bring in either our doctor or another doctor to make sure what they think is the case. We met the resident and she checked him out and said she thought it was stress related. His neck and half way down his back is VERY tight. She could hardly touch his neck and upper back without him grimacing. He tried acting like it didn't hurt, but she told him it was okay if it hurt that would help her diagnose the problems. from the base of his skull(so right around the hairline area, maybe up a little) to the middle of his back is basically one giant knot. When she told me where to touch I could feel it. I know I am that way as well, but he's 10 and shouldn't be like this. After she told me what she thought she went and got the doctor and he walked in and barely touched his neck and said "this poor kid is one giant knot." We were told to give him tylonel and advil for pain, heat in the form of hot shower or heating pad to help relax the muscle and massages. Darn wish I would be prescribed massages. I will be the one doing them, but still, to be told you need them!!

A lot of his stress he does to himself. He is very much my focus, goal driven, type A, wear his heart on his sleeve child. He is constantly setting goals in everything he does. From how many minutes he's going to read each week, to the levels he wants to achieve in his video games, to the number of times he's going to catch the ball without dropping it, he is ALWAYS setting goals and then working his butt off to achieve them. I don't want to discourage that at all! I love that he does that. He is always pushing himself to be faster, stronger, smarter, etc, but I do want him to relax and enjoy being a kid, so know I have to figure out a way to balance that. He also gets so attached to whatever he is doing that he puts his heart, soul, and head into it and so if it doesn't go his way he is crushed. And then there is the stress he puts himself through on things he has NO control over. After the Rangers lost to the Cardinals in game 7 he started talking about the free agents and who the Rangers would try and keep and who they would trade and what they would do next season and whether or not they would make the World Series next year. I mean seriously I could see the muscles in his neck tightening up! I love his passion and sports isn't the only area he gets that way with, it was just the most recent.

Any ideas on how to help him or books that might help? I'm open to anything. I don't want to discourage him from setting goals at all! He is a very focused kid who I honestly believe knows right now what he wants to do when he grows up. I want him to keep that focus, even if he does change his mind, but I also want him to be a kid still. He is VERY competitive and while I want him to keep that I also want to teach him to settle down some. It is so hard to be a parent when your child is hurting and you don't know how to fix it.

Stuff

Taking the boy to the doctor tomorrow to get his neck looked at. It's been bothering him for a while now.

Watching the Rangers right now is stressing me out. A little better after the 2 homeruns, but this is still stressful! And Napoli, is a STUD after staying in the game after twisting his ankle at 2nd. OUCH!! Okay VERY STRESSFUL! Extra innings is killing me. AMAZING game though!

Audrey is a creating fool right now. Last night she made a picture for her teacher and tonight she has made something for her brother and is now making I don't know what, but she has been stamping and die cutting like crazy.

I found out about a possibility of something BIG for Pink Owl. Not saying much more right now, but if you could cross your fingers I would appreciate it!!

10 on Tuesday

1. This is a MUST SEE video. Emmanuel Kelly on Australia X-Factor  Saw this on Karen Russell's blog first and it is amazing. Grab your kleenex first.

2. RANGERS!!!! One more win!!!

3. I'm looking for some new soup/stew ideas. If you have a favorite let me know. We love soup and stew in the winter and would love some new ones to try.

4. There is something nasty going around. Audrey was home yesterday and when I saw her teacher today she said there were 2 out yesterday and 2 that went home in her class. The secretary said she sent 6 or 7 home yesterday. Hope all of you stay well!!

5. Is anyone else freaking out that next week is November?!? Seriously!

6. One good thing about November(there are lots, except for the fact I'm not ready) is that Michael Buble's new Christmas CD will be ready for me to listen to! YUMMY!! Love him!

7. Cross you fingers it doesn't rain tomorrow morning. It is International Walk to School Day and we are going to have a Councilwoman walking with us in the morning.

8. Dart and Audrey have decided on Halloween costumes. I can't wait to see how they turn out. If I can find the wig and shoes for Audrey's. She wants to be Rapunzel. Dart is going to be a Smurf!!

9. Anyone else watching Project Runway? While I won't give anything away just in case you haven't seen the most recent episode can I just say WTH???? Seriously!! I would honestly love to see them have a challenge where they make clothes for a "real" woman. I get that it's supposed to be Runway, but if they can make clothes out of stuff in a pet store, why not do one for real women who shop. I'm sure it's mostly "real" women watching the show.

10. If anyone has seen my motivation and focus running around will you please send it home. I am having a very very hard time focusing on what I need to right now. Actually it's been that way for a couple of weeks. It is making me crazier!

Happiness Highlights!!

For so many of us Monday is not a day we look forward to. I have decided to make Monday a little brighter for me and while I may not do this every week I am hoping to do it a few Mondays!

Gorgeous few days ahead of us! Looking forward to it before it gets cold again!

Had a great weekend. It was a very busy one, but still great.

I had a friend who had extra tickets to the MU/OK ST game so the kids and I went. While the score wasn't what we wanted, we still had a blast.

I am also so happy to have got these:

Dart in front of the J-School! His future school.

Miss Sassy Pants! No need to give her posing directions she does them on her own. She also got her picture taken by the Art Museum. She says she wants to be an artist and an art teacher when she grows up, but we didn't make it over to the education building.

And this one, that as a friend of mine put it "shows their personalities!" Miss Sassy Pants and Mr. Sweet and Focused. It amazes me daily the difference in their personalities and at the same time the few similarities they have.

My biggest happiness is those 2 crazy kids. My sassy daughter and my sweet son!!

Quick Post

Working hard on new designs and old stuff, but I wanted to share that my "Here Comes the Bride" Banner is featured in an Etsy Treasury today. If you have a moment to check out all the amazing things in the treasury I would love that!!  Treasury!

Around Here....

We are gearing up for the World Series. Cardinals vs Rangers and you would think living in Missouri we would be all Cardinals! WRONG!!! Go RANGERS!!! Ian is Dart's favorite player and Josh is one of my favorite players. I'm excited for the World Series. Hot Dogs for dinner tonight!

I am still sorting a lot of junk out in my head. Depression is a NASTY NASTY thing and it seems to strike me at unexpected times. I'm really trying hard to get through it and feel like I am slowing coming out of this dip in it. I am working on a post about my battle, but still not quite ready to share it. If you have never battled this horrible problem PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not judge those who do. Also understand there is a HUGE difference between being sad for a few days and Depression. Depression is something you don't think will end, sadness you can see the end of the tunnel. Be there for them, be a support, even if you don't know what to say, don't tell them "Oh just get over it." It is real and believe me more than you want them too, they want to get over it and if it were that easy, they would in a heart beat. If you have no clue how to help, simply just listen and don't try to help. Tell them you don't know what to say or do to help them, believe me we will understand. Just being their for them will be a huge help. Support is one of the best things you can offer. And chocolate is always good. Haha!

Working on restocking my etsy store. I had a HUGE card order so I'm working hard to get those cards restocked and some new stuff as well. We are getting close to the holidays so I am working hard on Christmas card designs and lots of fun gift products. I am participating in a Craft Bazaar on November 5th that a friend is hosting. I'm so excited. Any ideas for a good door prize? There is no cost to us for participating, but we have to provide a door prize. I really want to do something fun and different.

It is so stinking cold out. Seriously we went from weeks of gorgeous weather to COLD!! It was cold and drizzly this morning when we were walking to school.

Speaking of cold, Dart has 3 pairs of pants that still fit him and no winter coat. UGH! The boy has gotten so tall that all his pants while still fitting in the waist were way to short. Audrey however is good on clothes. Her winter coat will fit for the 3rd year. She did outgrow some things, but still has a ton of clothes. And will still get new clothes because I have several things I want to sew for her. Makes her brother mad! but oh well!

Audrey is still loving gymnastics. Last night she was a little nervous going in, but was fine once they got going. Such a silly girl!

 

 

Me A-Z

Saw this on another blog and thought it would be a fun, quick and easy post.

A. Age: 34
B. Bed size: Queen
C. Chore that you hate: Sweeping and moping floors. I really have no idea why I hate that chore!
D. Dogs: None. I miss our puppies we had.
E. Essential start to your day: Brushing my teeth!
F. Favorite color: Pink
G. Gold or Silver: Silver
H. Height: 5’1" on a good day
I. Instruments you play: None. I love music and took piano lessons when I was younger, but couldn't play a thing now.
J. Job title: Mom, Walking School Bus Liaison, Pink Owl owner
K. Kids: 2 and an angel. Dart, 10 Audrey 6 going on 16 and Dakota our sweet angel!
L. Live: Columbia Missouri MIZZOU!
M. Mother’s name: Gail
N. Nicknames: Mom, Meggy, Maynard
O. Overnight hospital stays: broken arm in 3rd grade(required 2 separate stays), and having babies.
P. Pet peeves: Close minded people, bad drivers
Q. Quote from a movie:There's a TON of quotes I love. However this one is one that I have always loved. Terence Mann: Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come. Can you name the movie? 
R. Right or left handed: Right handed.
S. Siblings: 2 sisters and 1 brother
U. Underwear: Yes.
V. Vegetable you hate: Only really strange things and beets.
W. What makes you run late: Kids not moving in the morning.
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Dental, 2 broken arms
Y. Yummy food that you make: My kids would say taco bowls, roast, meatloaf and pumpkin roll cake.

Z. Zoo animal: Monkeys!!!

10 on Tuesday

Okay, so it's really Wednesday.

1. I have been going through a bumpy spot. Nothing major, just a bit of a funk. Things are looking better and I feel like I am slowly coming out of it. Not real sure what sparked it, which made it very frustrating in trying to work through it.

2. On last nights Biggest Loser, Dolvett, one of the new trainers told one of his team members "If someone is standing in your way go around them!" He was referring to in a basketball game, but it got me to thinking. I know some of what is causing my problem is people I feel are standing in my way. They may not really be standing in my way, however I don't feel they are supporting me the way I want them too. So instead of trying to convince them to support me I will be going around them. My new screen saver says "If someone is standing in your way, move around them! Quit wasting energy trying to convince them to move, move yourself!"

3. Audrey started gymnastics last night and to say she LOVED it would be an understatement. When I asked her about it at bedtime her response was "I was good at everything, I mean REALLY good! And it was only my first time." No lacking confidence coming from her.

4. Hoping for a Rangers vs Brewers World Series. Dart is a HUGE Rangers fan, especially Ian Kinsler, who is a former Mizzou Tiger. As for the Brewers, especially since we live in Missouri, Shaun Marcum is an Excelsior boy. I graduated with his brother Chris.

5. I need a new printer. Not want, need. I am so sick of my printer not working half the time and the other half taking forever to print one page. I very rarely print pictures at home so I don't need a photo printer. I want a good reliable basic printer. Doesn't even have to scan or copy, just print. Any ideas????

6. Any new tv shows you are loving? Me, New Girl with Zooey Deschanel. I LOVE her.

7. I got some of the new Martha Stewart acrylic craft paint this week. LOVE IT!! I bought white, called Wedding Cake to make Audrey a ghost shirt for Halloween. The stuff is amazing. Goes on smooth, washes off easy, and is made for a variety of surfaces so no need(at least for the project I was buying it for) add anything to make it work. I know many people are not a fan of Martha, but I have loved every craft tool of hers I've bought.

8. I made my first headband this week. I will do another post about them soon. I will be making lots more. I used a few different elements from a couple different sites, so I will link to those in the post about the headbands.

9. Starting to think Christmas. I think Dart might get a Kindle. The new price is awesome! Audrey, no idea, I'm sure her list will change a million times. 

10. This weekend is Homecoming for MU. It will be HUGE, since it is the 100th Homecoming. I'm sure the craziness will slowly start tomorrow with lots of people coming to town!

...

I will be back next week with my weekly favorites.

This was the first weekend in I don't know how long we did not have something going on. YAY!!! I spent the morning CLEANING!! I mean deep getting rid of stuff cleaning. It felt so good and now I love looking at those areas that got cleaned like that. Now to just keep them that way.

When I reach 100 followers on my Pink Owl Facebook Page I will hold a drawing for a set of cards, either mixed greeting cards, Holiday cards or a sentiment of winners choice! I'm sitting at 96 right now. Would love to reach 100 by Monday morning.

Back tomorrow and hopefully back on a good routine next week!

34 before 35 Update

A few days late, but better than never.


4. Have 100 sales in my Etsy shop. I've got 2 so far!-39 orders!!
5. Have 75 followers on my blog. Working on some fun things for the blog this year.-16 followers on the blog, need to figure out how many are reading in readers.
6. Maintain 50 items in my Etsy shop. I have so many things I want to make and hopefully it will be hard to have 50 items in my shop all the time because hopefully things will be selling!-only at 17 right now, was doing good, and then I got a major order, which makes me super happy. Working hard to get it restocked this weekend.
11. Be proud of me. I have always had a hard time when someone tells me I create beautiful things and I'm talented. Need to learn to accept it. -Working really hard at this. Doing good and am proud of how well I am doing.
18. Procrastinate less. I have been working hard on this. I am horrible at procrastinating and then doing everything at the last minute. still really struggling with this. Some days I do really good and others I tank. I'm hoping now that life is slowing down a bit it might be better.
27. Read 1 fun book a month. I love to read, just have a hard time making time for it. Hopefully this will force me to read more. Read O is for Outlaw. Went to the library yesterday to stock back up on books!
34. Do more to encourage Handmade Items!! I don't care if it's jewelry or cards or what, I just really want to do more to encourage buying handmade. Working hard on some ideas for the holidays!

Even though I still have a few months left before the end of this I'm already starting my list for next time. 

10 on Tuesday

1. So this is a little late, but it will still be Tuesday when I finish it.

2. Decided I needed a day off. Life has been CRAZY lately and so today I decided I wasn't going to get upset with myself if I didn't do all the things I thought needed to be done. It felt good and I'm actually really ready to tackle the list tomorrow.

3. Instead today I watched Audrey hula hoop with her new hula hoop. She is crazy good on it. Cracks me up when she gets her butt moving so fast and then her whole body gets going and somehow her butt stops.

4. Played football with Dart this evening. He bought himself a new football with a gift card he got for his birthday. He is so much fun to play catch with.

5. Speaking of birthday money, I need to get on him to get thank you's done. I'm telling you life has been so crazy I haven't even thought of that.

6. We rented Spooky Buddies tonight from Red Box. My kids love the buddies movies and I have to admit I do too. I think my favorite movie is Santa Paws. And my favorite buddy...Butterball.

7. Kids have an early release day tomorrow. Someone remind me on twitter or facebook tomorrow. I always stress over remembering that. I think we are going to hit the library after school!

8. Hoping to get the kids out one evening this week to do pictures. Need to do Audrey's 6 year pictures, Dart's 10 year pictures and want some for Christmas cards and gifts as well.

9. Dart's baseball season is over FINALLY! I swear we have been playing since January. Last night was the last game and they played AWESOME! Dart had a great diving stop and threw to the first baseman sitting down and should have had the guy out, but the ump called him safe! All the boys and coaches wore bright pink sweat bands in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. They all knew why they were wearing them too and NOT ONE even blinked when the mom was handing them out. They all took them and wore them with pride. Love all those boys.

10. Wow, this was a lot easier to write this week than last week. Maybe I should start doing this post in the evening.

Breathing again and October Mini-Goals

I think(whispering that) life might be slowing down for us. Wedding done, school carnival done, and after tonight baseball will be done!! I'm looking forward to having evenings at home again. I think we've been playing baseball since January.

I will update how I did on my Sept mini goals later this week, but I wanted to get my October mini goals posted. I sense Holiday stuff will be on my list from now until the end of the year.

October Mini Goals

• Have a Fall Frenzy Sale-looking at Oct 17th-19th. 
• 4 sets of Holiday Cards Designed
• Holiday Mini Album Designed-also trying to decide how/if I want to do December Daily this year. I think I will end up doing something, just thinking I want to do something special and different. I will be including the kids in on it. 
• Design Thanksgiving stuff. I want to do some banners, cards and a mini book. I have a couple mini book ideas running in my head. One for the entire month and one that would be perfect for Thanksgiving Day and recording those memories.
• Blog 5 times a week. This will show up until I can make it a habit. 
• Run/Workout 4 times a week. Still struggling here so if it's on here I HAVE to do it.
• Start Christmas planning. Yes, I know it's early and I'm not talking just gift ideas, but things we are going to do. The kids each have elves that come stay with us during Christmas and I want to be ready this year, especially since I'm not sure how much longer Dart is going to believe. I don't even want to think about that part of it all.