Shop update

I added 16 new items to the shop today. Have a few more things to add, but honestly I'm going cross eyed looking at the Etsy loading page. Lots of Christmas cards, some Christmas gift tags, and a couple new custom items, cupcake toppers and gift/favor bags.

To do this week, Menu Plan

No menu really to plan this week. Tonight we are having the roast we didn't have last week. Tomorrow the kids and I are heading to my mom's after Audrey is done with gymnastics. The rest of the week we are at my mom's. I CAN'T WAIT!!!

To do this week:

• Shop update(in progress as I type)
• Edit pictures for a gift
• Edit sisters pictures
• gift boxes
• gift bags
• PACK

I won't get all my sisters pictures done, but I can get some done for her.

I do have some posts planned for this week and will be updating from my mom's. I cannot wait to be with my family and hang out with my cousins. We always have so much fun and usually end up laughing until we cry and our sides hurt. I need this break, because then it will be crazy season for sure!

I'll be back later when I have my shop update for today done. Will do more tomorrow as well.

Happy Birthday

to my Mom!!! I am so thankful everyday that she was my mom. I wasn't always the easiest child(how many of us are), but she always had so much patience and was always there for me. I am so thankful everyday that my kids are lucky enough to have her as their "Moo Moo"!

 She does crazy things with the kids like jump off the fireplace!

She takes them all sorts of fun places like football games, baseball games, the zoo, and more!!

She decorates the house for every holiday, especially Christmas. Trees in every room, a huge set up of candy, cookies and more on the table. She has more patience than any person I know. She is a special ed teacher and loves all her kids like they are her own. She is AWESOME!! Hope you had the best birthday ever mom!!

In other news, the principal at the kids school announced she is retiring at the end of the year. I know when she told the PTSO board we all cried, I can only imagine how it was when she told the teachers. When I told Audrey she cried most of the way home. The kids, parents, and staff all love her and are going to miss her more greatly. She has been amazing!

Mini-Goals Update

• 10 orders at Shopapalooza. I'm really not sure how many people will be there, so I'm shooting for this. Would LOVE more, but will be very happy with 10.-Did not happen. Let me say though, I'm not disappointed. There were only 5 shoppers, hard to get 10 orders when 10 people did not walk through the door.
• Get Elf plans made for December. The kids have elves who spend from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve with us and I want the plans made ahead of time this year. Tired of scrambling to figure out what I want to do.-I've got a good start. Working on some new fun things for the elves to do each day in order to deliver their notes. I'm excited!
• List something new in the Etsy shop every week day. Will try for Sat and Sun as well, but week days will be awesome!!-I think I've missed a couple of days, but for the most part I'm doing well. I did miss a Friday, but listed 2 items on Saturday so that makes up for the Friday.

• Start Christmas gifts. As I said in a previous post, most of the adults are getting all hand made gifts so I need to get started. Kids are getting a few handmade gifts as well. -The lists are started. I have lots of ideas marked so I'm ready to really get going on the stuff. Have a few other things on the to do list before I can really get started on these. 

I also want to put this out there. Yesterday our hot water heater was fixed by a small local business. I know I am always pushing buy handmade, buy small when it comes to gifts, but after yesterday I was reminded that we need to not only support handmade, but support other small, local businesses. Whether it be a repair to your home or car, getting your oil changed, yard service, and even eating out. Don't get me wrong, I know there are times it's just not possible, I know we all love our Applebee's or Chili's(believe me I know about Chili's I could live on their chips and salsa!). I know getting your oil changed at a chain is usually cheaper, but the service you will get from a small shop is going to beat the price any day. I know the economy is bad and so we need to cut costs wherever we can, but these people are your neighbors, their kids go to school with your kids, they are the ones who will be there when you need someone. Supporting local companies in anyway we can supports the cities we live in.

10 on Tuesday

1. Chopped my hair today! I love it. Will try and take a picture later. It went from my shoulder blades to now being just below my chin. Actually has a style and body to it!

2. Dinner is in the crockpot and I can't wait to eat chicken tacos tonight. Love the crockpot on Tuesdays when Audrey has gymnastics.

3. Tonight we meet with the superintendent to discuss boundary changes and bond issues. Sounds like fun doesn't it!?

4. Does anyone know where I can buy transparencies? Seems no one uses them anymore now that most teachers have smartboards. I need some for scrapbooking!!

5. I went to bed early last night and while I didn't fall asleep for a while, I feel much better today. Spent probably an hour in bed reading. It was so nice.

6. Why oh why do toy makers not think little girls want advent calendars like the lego ones for boys? For a couple of years Audrey had a Littlest Pet Shop one and loved it. Now if you find one on Amazon they are like $70+. UGH!! She doesn't play with legos so buying the lego one is out.

7. You have to read this article about choosing your battles.

8. Got some fun new goodies to play with later. A new punch and some masks. Also got some adhesive, but that's not all that exciting.

9. My hot water heater is being fixed as I type this. In the last few days it went from working fine to having about 3 minutes worth of luke warm water if you were lucky! Not good when it's COLD outside.


10. The weather is GORGEOUS right now. Nice and sunny with temps in the 70's. Tomorrow...Upper 40's for the high. God love Missouri weather!!

To do this week!

• Finish editing pictures for a friend
• Edit sister's wedding pictures.
• Major shop update!
• Make Thanksgiving subway art.
• Make journals.
• Christmas banners
• finish a banner order
• Cards for winners of a contest!!

I hope that's enough to keep me busy this week! The Thanksgiving Subway Art will be a printable item, so no shipping. I think it would make a neat thing to add to your table. I'm hoping to do more printable type items for the shop, even offering customizable subway art prints. They are so much fun to make. For those who aren't sure what a Subway Art Print is, here is a sample of one I did for the 4th of July:

The great thing about these is they can be done for any occasion or event. Coaches gifts with team name and words about the sport, teachers gifts with kids names, wedding with party names or info about the couple, if you can dream it it can be made!

Menu Plan Monday

Hoping this will force me to plan each week. It was so nice last week having a plan.

Monday-Tuna Casserole I think I pretty much have the recipe in my head, but here is the one I basically make. I add cheese to the top while it bakes. Can't wait to eat this!!
Tuesday-Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos Using this recipe. Busy night with Audrey's gymnastics and also the superintendent speaking at our PTSO meeting about school boundary changes with a new high school opening so I need something easy to do and my crock pot is great for those days.
Wednesday-Chili Dogs
Thursday-Veggie Soup Found the recipe in my Taste of Home Heartwarming Soups book.
Friday-Pizza making my own sauce again(will share later this week) hoping to attempt my own dough one of these times.
Saturday-Buffalo Chicken Nachos Using this recipe Not gonna lie, my mouth is watering already. Adding some other finger foods we already have in the freezer and green bean fries. Will do chicken nuggets for Audrey if she isn't a fan.
Sunday-Yankee Pot Roast Found the recipe I'm going to use in my Taste of Home Family Favorites book.

I will let you know next week what we think of our new recipes. I love knowing that we have a plan for dinner each night and that everything is in the house. I HATE going to the store everyday or pretty much everyday which is what we were doing. We also weren't eating very good.