MCIS

If and when I decide to venture back into the land of the employed...I can say that my time as a Stay at Home Mom....has trained me well in the field of Crime Scene Investigation.....

Exhibit A:

There is a remarkable difference between high velocity splatter and gravitational droplets with regardst to spaghetti sauce.

Exhibit B:

even the smallest of evidence can tell of a major crime: ie: q-tip in the toilet.....leads to crime of the destruction of the bathroom

Exhibit C:

Always trust the evidence....an innocent face....may hide the truth.....

Exhibit D:

Always check in places you may not normally look....guilty parties will try and hide evidence anywhere....ie: sock in the planter.....

I have my resume already written up....as to the crimes I have already investigated and successfully solved.....

Is it strange they all seem to be perpetrated by the same individual.....?

The Perfect Weekend....

I have to tell you.....I feel like I've awoken from a long pastey-legged slumber....and am reborn into long maxi-sundresses....and can it be...my toes are actually seeing the light of day?....




I call it operation Shock and Awe......




For once...my husband is off on another lovely adventure......and I'M not the one having the nice weather rubbed in my face.....




"Have Fun in Alaska"...."Oh it's only going to reach 50 degrees today?...So Sorry...I think today will top out at 88....Man it's a veritable heat wave".....











And what better way to celebrate my good fortune....then by walking my newly exposed body-parts around a fabulous Arts/Craft Festival.....




(Juice should really be pleased he's freezing his bo-hunkus off in Alaska...because otherwise he would have had to suffer through an afternoon full of craft vendors...every man's fantasy I know)

My cohort in Crafty Crime and I......stumbled....(or rolled rather) across this AMAZING toy Designer named Diane Koss...who makes the most amazing plush monsters....and the crazy chick that she is....makes them ALL by hand....I mean come on now....look at picture number 2....she's insane....or has the nimble-ist fingers on the planet.....is nimble-ist even a word?...see I even have to use a hyphen...cause I have no clue.....

check her out at dkoss2 or her blog Cutesy But Not Cutesy

And can I just say a BIG thank you to my Good Friend for her and her little Kekito rolling with me....We Came...We Saw...We Conquered.....

Now, an afternoon of art/craft inspiration while tanning my toes....would have made the weekend a success in my book....but wait....what is that small package waiting patiently for me at my door?.....oh wait...could it be?....Did it come?....Who knew mail from Hawaii would come so quickly....my excitement grew as I ripped open the small box.....you would have thought it contained the golden ticket....

It is...it is....I have it....I won a fabulous Giveaway from an amazing lady over at KB Knits...she is a talented artisan...who happens to live in Paradise.....and I can't believe I won.....me....I'm still reeling....

you can check her out at her shop Kb Knits by Karen Brenden or on her blog kb. knits. Thank you SO much Karen....you totally were the cherry on my weekend sundae.....

*No Bead jewelry was harmed during the making of this post

"Sorry Hunny....hope you brought your warm socks"

And to make the week super complete....my Top 10 Blogs for the week....some juicy reading.....

Lola B's

The Shopping Mama

The Farm Chicks

Evolving Mommy

Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice

Attack of the Redneck Mommy

Nanny Deprived

this is no plain jane

Grosgrain

Suburb Sanity

And some Fab Music to do your Reading To.....

Fools Gold By Katie Herzig....hey anyone from "the Fort"....is good people

Fools Gold - Katie Herzig

Some Swanky New Sets in the Shop

Noah Baby Boutique has Gone Green.....


I'm super excited in that I'm now offering some amazing new super sassy and chic sets that are made from Organic Cotton.....


The Perfect Gift for the new mommy....or mommy to be......



All should be available by Saturday.....

Who said being green can't be cute?

Maggie Blue Designs : WINNER

Wow...what a Turnout....I'm so happy so many of you found Her Things as Fantastic As I do....

It is with all your participation, that hopefully I will be able to have other fabulous giveaways sponsored by amazing Crafters and Shops....

I wish there could be more winners....but alas...there can only be 1.....

And the Winner is

MayRae.....

Here are your random numbers:48
Timestamp: 2009-04-23 11:18:49 UTC

A Huge Congratulations to you.....

An email has been sent to the winner....

Just One Of Those Days

When You're Not Quite Sure How You Got Where You Are....

When What The Chef Prepared For Breakfast Was Way Below Par....

When a Beautiful Spring Day...only makes you Think of All The Yard Work to Be Done

And Damn the Papparazzi For ALWAYS Taking Pictures At the Wrong Time....

When Really The Only Thing To Do Is Go Back Home and Take A Nap.

(Now Where's my Other Sock?)

Last Day To Enter the Maggie Blue Designs Giveaway....Enter HERE

An Apology

If you Haven't Already....Don't Forget to Enter My Fabulous Giveaway...Hosted by Maggie Blue Designs....It is a truly Amazing Prize.....Ends Wednesday....so Hurry.....HERE

I owe you an apology....oh you my friends who were blessed with chit'lins before I was......

I in my pre-baby.... clean....tidy home....where every magazine....sock and toothbrush were in its allocated space.....not a dog hair to be seen...because as soon as it said au voire to the dog's coat... would promptly get sucked up with my trusty Dyson......never to touch my photo op worthy carpeting...

and here I ....judged you....for living in a home where I thought the toy box had erupted like Mount Saint Helen's...and though I consider you a very close friend....thought you were a slob....

how I would turn my nose (never to your face mind you) at stepping over crayons, and books and blocks....

how I would wonder why I would ALWAYS have to move something out of the way so I could sit on your now crayon enhanced furniture....

"what did she do with all her time?" I would ask myself...."hanging out with the munchkins can't be THAT time consuming that she can't keep the house as clean as mine....."

I AM SO SORRY.....

I now truly understand the tediousness of picking up the SAME mess 10 times a day....How singing the clean up song at this juncture in life....is nothing more than a nice ditty for said mess maker to bounce around to. (while re-making the same mess again for the 11th time)....

I APOLOGIZE

I get it....now when the time comes for little messy pants to hit the sack...I am just too worn out to find proper homes for all his stuff.....I'm thinking may just have too much stuff.......(and he's only 1)

I GET DOWN ON MY KNEES AND ASK FORGIVENESS

For not being understanding....while I helped you pick up the disaster that your child had wrought on your abode....and once I returned to my uber clean....baby-free zone....relished in the fact...that I didn't have to deal with that every day....

I AM CONTRITE....

and for my penance....I am dealing with my own graduate of one University of Driving Mom Crazy...mine also having a degree in Destruction and Demolition.... and until his little brain understands what the clean up song means....I find I am the sole member of the family HASMAT crew.....

I think I may send you a Swiffer Wet Jet to help in your battles....as a peace offering....

*And for all you Pre Baby.....Clean Living....Mess Free.....People.....Enjoy the fact that you don't have to step over crap.....but be a little bit more understanding to those of us who do......**

And for those miliseconds that you may have to peruse the blogosphere...Here are my Top 10 Blogs for the Week.....(some extra fine reading if I do say so myself)

my charming kids

StampinMom

whimsical creations

A Nut in a Nutshell

U create

Table for nine

When Pigs Fly

Mammatalk

piecemeal people

Conversations With A Cupcake

I Heart Maggie Blue Designs (and a Giveaway)

I am so very excited to have the pleasure of Featuring Maggie Blue Designs on Project Mommyhood. I have drooled over her fabulous personalized Candid Memory Illustrations and Cards....and have on many occasions dreamed of going to the Library with Pooh....carrying his books in one of her The Monster Ate My Tote Bag.

She is an amazingly talented Lady....whose products are full of Fun and Whimsy....and a wonderful childlike sense of humor....

http://www.maggiebluedesigns.blogspot.com/

Here is my chat with Maggie:

PM: When did you start crafting and why?

MBD: I think I've always crafted. When I was 10 I made a bikini for my sister out of hot glue and fabric. She never wore it in public though...I wonder why? The literal answer would be October. I'm a chemist professionally, but I've never enjoyed what I do. One day my boss made me mad and I couldn't sleep, so I pulled out an old sketchpad and started sketching. By morning I had a dozen pages filled with ideas. I decided to start simple with my fleece hats and sell on ETSY. Then it just kept growing.

PM: What do you love most about your craft?
Coming up with an idea, sketching it out and then making it come to life. Some ideas work out better than others, but at worst the bad one is a learning experience and the best ones become great products.

PM: What is your favorite item that you have available right now?

MBD: That's hard to answer. I love bright colors and things that stand out, so probably my monster tote. But some of my Easter baskets were so cute it was hard to send them away!

PM: Do you have any exciting plans for your shop in the near future?

MBD: YES! I plan to grow the illustration-side of the business. It's terribly fun to turn someone's picture or memory into something new that they can cherish. It allows me to feel apart of their life-story for a brief moment in time. But even bigger than that, I'm working on a website right now. A webstore actually. It will feature my products initially, and then as it grows I would like to pull in some other artisans to sell on my site as well. All handmade, high quaility and unique stuff for kids (and maybe moms too eventually).

PM: What do you find the most exciting and rewarding part of being a mom?

MBD :How do you answer that in a paragraph? We have a saying in my family, it started with my mom. I'll digress for a second because I think the history is important. My mom's mom worked her whole life. Her life was serious, and hard...and I think sadly, it was boring. She had two kids and a full time job. Because my mom's house was so quiet and sterile growing up she wanted tons and tons of kids. But, she could only have two...I was the last. So she started doing foster care, then adopting. In 21 years she had 6 kids. Two biological, four adopted, two boys, four girls, two black, four white...etc etc. We have an awesome family portrait. Anyway, she liked to use the phrase "just us chickens." As in "tomorrow is a just-us-chickens-day." This came to mean a day spent together just having fun. That was the key...she didn't want life to be hard or sterile or quiet for her kids (and it wasn't). When I had my first child I starting using this phrase too. Since I work this phrase has a stronger meaning because not every day can be a just-us-chickens day...so when I tell my oldest that it's a "chickens day" (our shortened version) she gets very excited. To see her eyes light up knowing we get to spend the day together...it's the little things like that. My kids melt my heart on a daily basis. What could be better than that?

PM: What advice would you give to other moms who may be thinking of getting into crafting and perhaps wanting to sell online?

MBD: Start small and see what happens. This is why ETSY is great. You can start up for next-to-nothing. I made the mistake of jumping in too fast without thinking it through. I did craft fairs in the fall and ended up making lots and lots of products that didn't sell. It took me a while to dig out of the money pit, but sale-by-sale I dug my way out. Now I generally don't make a product unless there is an order for it, or I'm working on a prototype. It helps keep costs down. Take it step by step, don't rush. Sometimes you don't find your niche for a while. I started by making hats, but I've found I prefer making bags, and it seems to be what people really like. I try to sew something everyday, whether I have an order or not. It keeps the creative juices flowing. I also try to learn a new technique as often as I can. People will ask me how I learned to do this or that...and honestly...sometimes I don't remember. You just try and see. The first time I appliqued something I took an old pair of shorts and tried 5 different kinds of fusing material and 4 different kinds of stitching until I figured out what worked. (And in reality it took months to fine tune which to use when...so don't lose heart with any new technique) Always be ready to learn something new...you never know what great idea might come from it!

Maggie is SO awesome....she has graciously provided Project Mommyhood with a fabulous Piece to Giveaway to one Very Lucky Reader. This Piece is Brand New....exclusively for Project Mommyhood...How Fab-u-lous is that? (see I told ya she was amazing)

All you need to do...Go to Maggie Blue Designs , peruse her shop...then come back and tell me what your favorite item is....

Blog or Tweet about this giveaway and recieve an extra 5 entries...(Please Leave a link to the tweet or blog post on the first of the 5 entries)

Contest Will Begin at Midnight Friday April, 17 (EST) and end on Wednesday, April 22nd at 11:59 PM (PST)

The winner will have 48 hours to respond with name and address before a new winner is chosen.....

Gone Country....and the Winner Is

Thank you EVERYONE who entered the Giveaway hosted by Mama's Little Monkeys....It was a FANTASTIC turnout.....

There can only be one winner....and that person...picked by Random.org is.....

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:53
Timestamp: 2009-04-16 11:41:58 UTC

MICHELLE......Congrats.........



So I'm Going back to my Oklahoma and Colorado Roots....


I've just added this really super cute vintage inspired Cowboy Print to create a new onesie set for my shop.

I really wanted to make the stitching on the applique look authentically vintage...so the width of the stitching is not even around the whole piece.....(I think it turned out pretty cool)


I am also very excited about this piece as I am offering it as a Giveaway Item coming up for the Virtual Baby Shower over at Extraordinary Mothers...Early Next Month....so definitely Check it out.....

I have a lot to be Super Excited about....as I am also donating one of my organic onesie sets for the SITS auction tomorrow...benefiting Mom It Forward. It is set I am very proud of...and both the onesie and matching Burp Cloths are 100% organic Cotton....Available in my shop now....

and.....

I Have an AMAZING giveaway starting tomorrow....another fabulous shop called Maggie Blue Designs is offering up a very special item...made especially for this giveaway...you will flip...(just like I did)...

Aha moments....

( Above Picture has NOTHING to do with the post below....this was breakfast this morning...and thought it was another aha moment....as in how long can a piece of egg stay on a baby's nose without being swatted off....answer 12 seconds....)

Pooh: Baa Baa

Me:....You want your baba? (handing it to him)

Pooh: Baa Baa (as he knocks the baba away)

Me:...You want your Puffs? (handing him his puffs)

Pooh: Baa Baa (as he feeds the dogs his unwanted puffs)

Me: You want your meow meow? (picking up meow meow and handing it to him)

Pooh: Baa Baa (as he lifts up his hands to be picked up)

Me: you want me to hold you?

Pooh: Baa Baa....(as he snuggles on my shoulder)

Me: aha....so today...baa baa means snuggle.....gotcha....

Last Day to Enter the Mama's Little Monkey's Giveaway.....The Winner Could Be You....HERE

Transitions

Life's journey ....full of countless....universal transitions.....times when we leave one version of ourselves behind....in order to move forward....and grow as a person....

I wish it were as eloquent as that in the real world.....

I'm sure we all have gone through our own, shall we say, interesting transitions in life....

the transition from Child to Teenager....when your room went from having an explosion of toys...to having an explosion of dirty socks and underwear, the opposite sex is actually who you do want to hang out with....and your parents become the stupidest people on the planet....

the transition from Teenager to Adult......when you actually pick up the dirty socks and underwear on the floor, the opposite sex is actually who you want to cohabitate with, and your boss is the stupidest person on the planet.

the transition from Adult to Married (committed relationship) Adult....when your spouse creates the explosion of dirty socks and underwear on the floor (oh joy), the same sex is who you really want to hang out with....and they who are the creators of said clothing explosion is the stupidest person on the planet.

the transition from Married Adult, to Parent....when everyone in the house but you creates the massive explosion of clothing, and toys, and books, and food, and......, the you are the only person you want to hang out with, and at one time or another, EVERYONE happens to be the most stupidest person on the planet.

I myself....have just made the transition this month from a 20 something ....to a 30 something....I figured when the day came, I would suddenly feel more mature....wiser than I did 12 hours earlier...that I would be able to sprout prose at a moments notice, have a dry wit most people would admire, know the secrets to World Peace and Eternal Youth.....Yeah...not so much....

what I have learned is....the cold you get from your child is a cold sent from the bowels of hell...that OMG it's not one...but three Gray hairs I've plucked from my head this morning...that the eyebrow waxing lady...actually asked if I want my lip done...what? I don't have hair on my lip...my sister was blessed with that gene...not me...

I actually feel like I'm still a 25 year old....now stuck in a post baby, post cancer, 30 year old body...I also truly believe my parents think of me that way, because I know they don't talk to me like I've hit the BIG 3-0....most conversations have me still feeling like I did when I called home from college...

"How much money do you need?"

"acutally dad...I'm married now...remember Juice?....and I've been a career woman...bought my own house...bought my way out of a divorce...and now am finanically stable enough to be a Stay At Home Mommy....so no money needed dad...."

"Are you in jail?"

"oh boy"

I sometimes wonder if the 30's me...will be a totally new...changed me...will I decide to become a nude portrait model. Will I suddenly have an affinity for gangst rap ...and start slanging it with the younger crowd. Will I take up the cause...and become a humanitarian....or suddenly have the urge to protest something...like saying no to Day Glo....or why can't you use two manufacturers coupons in one purchase?....

I kinda just hope...I stay me....but maybe with a little bit more under my belt....just like when I was moving from the teens....to the 20's...and the next decade really didn't seem so scary...just exciting...

That seems an awful lot like a 30 something type thing to say....hmmmm....Maybe I've transitioned after all....

and before I have a senior citizen moment....(cause ya know you get those starting at 30)

Don't Forget to Enter my FABULOUS Giveaway sponsored by Mama's Little Monkeys
Ends on Wednesday.... ENTER HERE

While the Husbands Away....

***** First Things First....If You Are Here For The AWESOME, AMAZING, FAB-U-LICIOUS Chai Tea Soap Giveaway......And Have NO desire to read this post First.....Go HERE!!!

(back to our regularly scheduled posting)

So While My husband is away......

I've been busy.......Creating This...... Listed HERE

Watching This.....Vibrators get plugged in...what?!?

Listening To This..... a MUST have for my mommy soundtrack.....

Sacred To Feel.mp3 - Lelia Broussard

Go HERE for her official Myspace to get CD Versions

And Reading These....... my Top 10 Blogs for the Week


Stacie's Madness

In the Treetop

This Is The Year

Shabby Blogs

Diaries of a Domestic Goddess

Today's Creative Blog

Life In A House of Blue !

My Blog Doesn't Suck

Blunt Delivery

Dry As Toast

I think all in all it makes for a pretty fantastic Saturday night.....(we won't mention the raging party with all the male models and cute waiters.....and the tee-peeing of the neighbors' trees)

Nope....just a real quite evening.....(and most of the electricity in my house goes to the sewing machine and the computer...)

Featuring Mama's Little Monkeys (and a Giveaway)

I love, LOVE this handmade maven Amy, the owner of two wonderful shops called Mamas Little Monkeys. (Etsy and Artfire ) and Fleur De Ink. I am truly honored to be able to have interviewed her, and learn more about her amazing products that she creates.


Amy is the full time mama of two little boys ages 3 and 14 months, so you can imagine how she must have her hands full. I am baffled at how she is able to find time to run not one but two shops...and create amazing things...from bibs to flower pens....bodyscrubs and soaps...to crayon rolls...this chica does it ALL.

Here is a little of what Amy has to say.


PM: When did you start crafting and why?




A: I have always dabbled in some type of creativity, whether writing, small crafts, etc. But I really started last year when I began making cloth wipes for my son as I could not find any cute cloth wipes for him! (This was before I learned of all the great selling venues!



PM: What do you love most about your craft?


A: That as a busy mom of two, I can take something, be it fabric, soap or flowers, and make something new, creative and all mine. Even when you follow a pattern you are pulling together YOUR skills and creativity. Give ten women the same pattern and you'll get ten different versions, all unique! And I love the commradarie of the handmade community!



PM: What is your favorite item that you have available right now?


A: Oh wow. I'm still perfecting my soaps, but I dig my Saints inspired black and gold soap. It's not perfected yet but the gold coloring was SO much fun to work with!For sewn items it is definately my Michael Miller Green Minky Blanket. I love designer prints, as do many, but this bird print and green minky are perfect together. And I love all my flower pens, but this is my fave, the fuzzy flowers are just fun!:




PM: Do you have any exciting plans for your shop in the near future?


A: I am actually focusing more on my Artfire Shop as well as local wholesale ventures. Business is slow for everyone but I have confidence it will bounce back. I am also cautious with the CPSIA law and working on more items for adults. I basically just love to create and won't stop until they pry my sewing machine or soap from my cold dead hands! I am really enjoying the soap, and can't wait to get into Cold Process (CP) soap!



PM: You have two children...what do you find most exciting and rewarding about being a mom?


A: Phew! It's busy!! Personally, I just love to see them growing! They are very similar, being two boys, and yet so unique in their own ways even at their young ages of 3 and 14 mos! There is NOTHING better than a baby's giggle, I swear they should bottle it. Professionally, even if I never make a plum cent from my selling handmade I feel proud to show them that you can do something for you, something you enjoy, and if you play your cards right, you can make money off it! Best of all, I love making things for them!



A: What advice would you give to other moms who may be thinking of getting into crafting and perhaps wanting to sell online?


A: Take your time. Build a support system with other moms either through networking sites like http://www.cafemom.com/, www.byhand.me, or through the community sections of the venue you sell on. Also do not put your eggs in one basket. No venue is perfect, but they all have their various pros and cons. Pick the one(s) that fit you best! It can't hurt to try new things, but know your limit also! And always be prepared to take constructive criticism and GROW from it. Don't ask for a critique if you really don't want to hear the answers!!


Amy is so Fabulous....she has provided Something Special for one awesome GIVEAWAY. One lucky reader will win a scrumptous bar of her SLS Free Chai Tea Soap. It is so new...It's not even offered to the public yet. You will be the first to have....(makes ya feel like a celebrity doesn't it)





To Enter, Just go to Mamas Little Monkeys ,then come back here and tell me what your Favorite Item is. It is THAT easy!!!



Blog about this Giveaway, or Tweet about this Giveaway and get yourself 5 extra entries. (Please leave a comment with links)



Contest Runs from Friday April, 10 (12:00 AM EST) and ends Wednesday April, 15 (11:59 PM PST)


Winner has 48 hours to email me after being announced before new winner is chosen.