Shout Outs!

So for some reason the title "rainy day = heavy hearts?" came to mind and I was going to write about how it started out this way, but how I'm trying to lift it, but whaaaaaaaaa whaaaaaaaaa I don't want to be so serious today! (but just for one more second)... Ok so the whole... "when life hands you lemons thing". Life has handed us a few lemons lately.. We're trying to so hard to make lemonade, but has anyone ever stopped to realize that lemonade is really sour without the sugar? What about the sugar? I NEED SOME SUGAR!

On that note... Here's some shout outs to people and things that have been giving me some sugar!

1. Pam of Folk Art Tree Fandangle absolutely made my day. First of all, she had the most clever idea of sending a gift to every 50th person that hearts her etsy shops. When she told me I was 50 I thought it was a really sweet idea, but didn't want her to feel obligated to send me a gift. She (sweetly) demanded that it didn't matter I was a team member, but I was 50th and I won. So today I open my little gift. The card she wrote me was the sweetest thing and made my day. Her packaging was adorable. She puts in a tiny little piece of paper that says smile on it that falls out into your lap and makes you do just that and then (we haven't even gotten to the gift yet!) the cutest little earrings were inside the box. They are sterling and swarovsky crystal and I just love them. Thank you Pam.. that deserves a shout out.

2. My Boys. This show just keeps getting better and better. One of the episodes this season.. maybe the first I think I laughed uncontrollably for at least 3-5 minutes. It was great. We had to pause it. Jeff and I both love it. We just wish that the episodes were longer and by golly that the season was longer! 6 or 8 episodes or whatever it is is SO short! But we LOVE it and we want more!

3. Sushi. Oh how I miss you dear sushi. It's been far far too long. But you still deserve a shout out. I've yet to find a "sushi buddy" around here and the only place that was open for lunch is no longer. I NEED my fix!

4. Toyota Sienna. I just love my car. It's wonderful. I love that because we took one of the bucket seats out we have a big open space where I can easily change a diaper, we can sit and have a snack, or just waste time. It's wonderful. As much as it's still crazy I drive a mini-van I still love it.

5. Mini Golf. I just love mini golf and I'm getting her started early! She had a blast. When we were in NH we went to Pirate's Cove with Mom and Paul. She was a bit too young for the putting concept, but she loved being there and having the ball.

6. CSA's. I am so excited to start getting my veggies from Hatchet Cove Farm. Hatchet Cove Farm’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program is a great way to receive farm-fresh, nutritious, organic vegetables at a great value. When you become a CSA member (by buying a ’share’ in the farm for the season) we become your farmers, and Hatchet Cove Farm becomes your farm. How does it work? When you purchase a CSA share you help support the farm by paying up front for your veggies in the spring. That helps them pay for seed and cover the expenses of starting up the farm for the season. In return, you get a weekly selection of all that is available on the farm. This means you are eating the freshest, most delicious seasonal veggies possible. Kelsey and I can't wait to start visiting the animals!

7. Scrabble. It really is the world's best board game. I don't play nearly enough. I think I need to start a scrabble night!

8. Sesame Street. Kelsey loves it and ok I admit it.. it makes a good babysitter sometimes. Kelsey was just so delighted to see the picture!

9. Comfort Foods. mmmmmmmmmmm. mac n cheese, stuffed shells, pot roast. yeah that pretty much sums it up for me right now. Oh and I have meatballs cooking right now.


Ten seems too cliche.

Facebook brings on the orders...

Facebook has been a really great way to get exposure to my etsy shop and some of the hand-painted accessories and toys I have created. As a result of posting my work in photo albums on facebook, many of my friends have purchased from Whimsidoodle. Here's a look at some of the orders I've had in the past few months and how they came to fruition:

Kristin knew she was having twin boys and wanted letters for their nursery. I was the only person who knew their names. I based the letters off of her bedding, as well as some coolorful canvas art she'd gotten with a jungle animal theme. The boys just came last week. Congrats to Kristin and Josh!

My friend Danielle had seen some of my work on facebook and in my etsy shop and she immediately thought to have a set of ladybug coasters made for her aunt. I used unfinished 6" ladybugs and put extra coats of varnish on them, so they can withstand moisture. I've had very good luck with that. Her aunt loved them. It was a set of 4.

My friend Carly wanted to get some letters for her niece Alaina. The bedding was from target and I used some of the flowers and butterflies from the patterns as inspiration. The target site is great for this, because it shows an entire collection, which may be bedding, lamps, light switch covers, rugs, valences etc, so everything has a different patten and it gives me a lot of opportunity to segue from it, but use it as close inspiration by combining components within the different patterns. I don't have that many stores near me and none with letters, so Carly found letters she liked and had them shipped to me.

Another baby on the way was Payton. My friend Kelly wanted to have them sent to her sister before Payton's arrival. They were also inspired by the bedding and nursery, which is a ladybug theme. Kelly also had the letters shipped to me. She found them on walmart.com and they are great. They were already white and very big... 8", which was the largest I'd done. They were a little challenging, because they were more like plastic, but the paint varnish took to them fine.

This was actually the order that started it all! My cousin Mary Elizabeth and I did a custom trade for our etsy shops. She sells the cutest handbags in her shop. Actually, it all started because she made me the cutest diaper bag and matching zip pouch for my baby shower. I loved the zip pouch so much, I'd been using it as a makeup/ditty bag when I traveled, but I needed something bigger. So I had her make me a custom one (which I LOVE - it's this beautiful black and white almost damask design, but funkier), but I'd also fallen in love with some of the cluthes my other cousins had, so I had her make me one of those as well in this gorgeous pink and green fabric. She also has wallets, key fobs and lareger bags in her shop! So in trade for my two bags she had me paint furniture embellishments for her daughter Nicolina. She told me the paint colors (a periwinkle type color) and I did my thing. I think they got put on the door in her room. These letters are only 3" high or so.

spring revelations... what's next?

I find myself feeling many things lately... some of them include hopeful, cheerful, and happy. Yet, for the first time in a very long time and maybe ever, I have feelings of inadequacy, lack of confidence, doubt, wondering who I am and what my place is and it started to occur to me the other day where some of it stems from. It's really great... every time I find myself in these positions I can just blame society.

For instance, after college I found myself struggling with the "next part" not happening as planned. We're raised (as girls especially) to go to school, then college, get a job, find the man, get married and have babies. So there I was living in Boston out of college, 22/23 years old and there a'int no man! I wondered what was wrong with me and why it was taking so long. I'd done everything in the right order and this was something I couldn't really control. I was living in a city I'd been in for 5 years and it was like a foreign land. Everyone I knew aside from a few friends had fled off to their new jet setter lives and careers. All of a sudden there was no longer keg parties and 20 something guys looking for a lay and no commitment. Now, every where I went I met baby factories and had to look for wedding rings. It was like the twilight zone in a matter of months. Naturally when my best friend and roommate got a job in NY threatening to leave me behind I couldn't stay. I fled, scared to be alone and went "home" to my parents where the "get a job", "exercise" and "stop going to the bar every night" notes appeared on my bed within a matter of a week.

So... I find myself blaming society yet again. Ok society.. I DID IT. I graduated from kindergarten, 8th grade, high school and college (ok, so I don't have a MBA yet, but maybe someday). I went on eharmony I found my man (a really good one btw), we bought a house, got married and had a baby. We did it all in the right order (sort of if living together is considered socially acceptable. My catholic gram didn't think so), but now I realize ... "now what?" I've spent my whole life working toward the next thing. As a child you constantly hear, "you have the whole world ahead of you... go get it!" So now I wonder "where's the big world?". I know it's there, opportunities are everywhere and I've certainly never been accused of being something other than a go getter, yet, it's so easy to become paralyzed. And once again I feel like people around me are facilitating the "what next" by the natural question....... "when are you guys having another baby?" While we're waffling over this question and it may happen, I find myself realizing that the reason to do it is not because it's the natural what's next.

I think a lot of it stems from being a master multi-tasker and having a hand in so many different things that I never feel a master at anything really. At 29 I feel out of the loop to what hip 20 somethings should know and be in the know. Do I really have time to twitter? I haven't written in my blog since January. Do I have the time to try and use every socal networking tool to get people to my etsy shop? Do I have the time to sit down and replenish my shop? Do I have to have an existence beyond being "Kelsey's mom" if that's when I'm happiest? Do I have to be in the know in order to stay in the game? I do have to work... How many questions should I have to ask myself in one day before I have the answer?

So.... what's next?

I'm not sure. I'm trying to enjoy every day and find a balance and figure out my purpose right now. One thing I am sure of is that chasing after your almost 2 year old while she tries to get puddles and knowing that you make her whole world is the most amazing feeling in the world and wow does that give you a sense of purpose. I'll take it!

Our Trip To Mass

Kelsey and I had a nice trip to Massachusetts last week. I unfortunately and predictably I didn't take any pictures until the last leg. We left on Friday the 26th and headed down to Katie's to spend Friday night and Saturday with Katie and Emily in Marblehead. Friday afternoon we ventured out in the rain and went to Whole Foods. They have the best salad bar ever and it made for a great dinner!

Saturday morning I caught up with an old friend from high school, Steph Doiron and we had breakfast. Then I headed to Reece's baby shower and got to see some of my favorite ladies from the WV.

Sunday Kelsey and I packed up and headed down to JP to stay with my beloved friend Ashley and her daughter Temple and fiance Finn. We had a nice time. It was so nice to be back in JP and I lovede walking around the pond. Ash made a really yummy dinner too. I was so impressed with Miss Kelsey as well.. she fell asleep listening to ash and I chit chatting.. I think because she couldn't see me.

Monday we drove into Boston and met up with Shelagh. We had a great day in Boston. Walking through the Common, shopping in Down Town Crossing. And we discovered the coolest restaurant. We knew we'd both heard of it.. But I just got in the mood to venture to China Town and have Dim Sum for the first time. China Pearl is a restraunt in the heart of China Town on the 2nd floor. We definitely had some challenges with the language barrier, but we made it through ok. You sit at your table and waitstaff push carts through the restaurant and stop at each table asking them if they want anything off their cart. It was a little bit challenging figuring out exactly what they had and most of the dishes had these tiny little shrimp, which kelsey shouldn't eat yet. It was really good! and SO cheap. We had 6 different plates of food and there's a lot of food on each one and the whole bill was $20. What a find!

We then all drove up to Chelmsford and stayed at Shea's house. It was a fun sleepover and Kelsey slept awesome.

It was a great trip and I LOVE the fact that I got to see 5 of my girlfriends!!!! How great is that~!

Birthdays and Tightwads

Miss Kelsey turned a year on July 19th. It was a great day. My mom and my gram came to visit. We had the perfect sized group of little girls here and friends and family. Kelsey received a water table for her birthday and proceeded to get soaked!

I made the froggy cupcakes. The theme was a froggy in a pink tutu.

I cannot believe a year has gone by. Each day she makes me smile and laugh more and more.

My mom took this picture of us. The dress/shirt Kelsey is wearing was mine! We were opposite seasons as babies, so my mom had to shorten the straps for it to fit her. She looked so cute in it!
Currently she is in that not sure if she's going to have one nap or two stage, but today we are on the 2nd one and mama is getting stuff done. check, check, check of the to do list. I love that!
Is it just me or is everyone else with a near empty wallet thinking about Christmas and starting to cringe while turning blue? I decided to be proavtive and went through the trendy, cool and of course expensive toy store around here yesterday and wrote down all of the things I know the girls would like and will then proceed to find them less expensive.

So Julia is on a must have an American Girl kick. I personally wanted one so so so badly when I was 10 and never got one. NOTE: to any mom in this same predicament... don't assume ebay has the best price and know the retail price. The american girl dolls are priced better on the american girl site than on ebay!

So on that note.. I have been reading the Tightwad Gazette for several months and truly have learned so much from it. I was already starting to think differently, but I've learned to apply a lot of it. I have been finding more resourceful ways to package things I sell on my site on etsy. I made a big batch of pumpkin, raisin and walnut muffins and froze them. I then take one out and wrap it and put it in Julia's lunch box so it's thawed enough to eat by lunch time.

I highly reccomend it for anyone pinching pennies and even if you're not just making what you have stretch.

Stay tuned... I want to share pics of our awesome week down at the beach just 15 minutes away.

A childless moment...

Kelsey is taking her morning nap and I actually found myself thinking, "now what?". Don't you love when that happens? Rarely do I check everything off my list. But then of course I feel guilty thinking "should I read this magazine or should I be tackling the projects that haven't even made it to my list yet like organizing the pantry I've let become a disaster?" sadly... I think the pantry might win, but it is Thursday, which means Jeff plays basketball, which mean pantry can happen after bedtime. Gorgeous windy day outside.. here I come!

A large group of Etsy folks decided to have a "Yart Sale" (ok.. a lot of quotation marks today).. get it... Art Sale meets Yard Sale. Pretty cool idea. If you go to etsy and type in "yart" in the search bar all 8000+ items (as of today) will appear and they are all on sale! Here's what I listed for $3 off the regular price.

Oh and on a final thought... Kelsey yesterday not really sure what she was upset about, but this was actually before she banged her head on the floor literally 20 seconds later. You have to love the ode to Richard Simmons shorts!

Until next time!

Enjoy the day...

rainy, sunny.. whatever it is where you are!

2nd time around

Well.. I survived my first post. I got one comment, so wow.. someone out there found my blog... imagine that! It's been so nice outside. I just haven't been sitting by the computer much.

It rarely gets in the high 80's in Maine and 90 is especially rare. So we've been enjoying it! Kelsey went in her kiddie pool for the first time ever... Julia loves being the big "sissy" and helping "KK" with everything. They had fun. Poor Kelsey got a bleeder of a black fly bite right in the corner of her eye. Mama needs to be more diligent with the bug stuff! Kelsey just loves being at the swing set and her bumblee swing her Gramp gave her.

I never knew I'd love being a mom so much or that I'd feel guilty after I quit my job, because I just have so much fun everyday!

Ok.. so moving on... I am excited that this Saturday we are having an Etsy Maine Team meeting in Augusta, Maine. The MaineTeam members are fantastic and so supportive.

Whimsidoodle had two sales this week.. very exciting. One was a trade for Miss Kelsey's 1st birthday invites and the other was to

Australia! My first international sale! Hopefully that goes smoothly through customs.

I recently started listing sets of origami lights without the lights- just the boxes. So far one sale of those (to Australia), but I'm thinking those are going to work out pretty well. They save on shipping for the buyer and then the buyer can use their own lights, but either way... they're still fun!

Each Christmas my parents (mom now) put up a strand of lights my sister and I made and put them in the shape of a Christmas tress in the huge window of the condo. Such a nice and festive way to use them!

Alright... enough talk about Christmas. It's 80 degrees outside in June. I have a baby napping and some plants that need to go into the ground.

Enjoy the weather wherever you are and if it's raining... well.. wash the floor I guess.

Until next time!

Enjoy it all.......