What Motherhood Means to Me

To me motherhood means so many things, how can you possibly summarize.....but I will try. It is full of laughter, struggles, joy and tears but at the end of the day, my greatest blessings in life call me Mom.

As a mother, there is a time to hold your children up and a time to let them walk on their own. Some of the my most precious memories come when silently observing from afar when no one I am watching. This picture, to me, represents both of these things.


Always be sure to savor the little things because in the end those little moments are what will matter most!

For more great stories on What Motherhood Means, check out the 5minutesformom photo contest

Wordless Wednesday-Discovering The World Around

Donna Downey Project No. 2-Canvas Bag

Okay, here is my second project from Donna Downey's Fabric Scrapbooking. I just love how it came out! My grandma is a huge fan of apples so I made her this bright fun tote for Mother's Day using fabric scraps and a canvas bag from Michael's that I had never used. The project was easy and besides the hand sewing embellishments, it was really quick!

I'll leave the bag making to the professionals, like Suzanne from Bella Boutique Creations but for a quick gift, this is great!

Donna Downey Project No. 1

This evening I was able to whip up my first project from Donna Downey's Fabric Scrapbooking Book! Who knew how easy it was to turn a photo into fabric you can sew! This project was fun, easy AND cheap! What more could you ask for? The pics aren't that great against the wall but you get the picture. While I was getting supplies at Michaels I saw another one of her books as well called Photo Decor which has just added about 20 more great projects to my to do list!

Today was a Beautiful Day!

It was 95 degrees here in San Diego today but the heat didn't stop it from being a great day! The Scripps Ranch Farmers Market went really well and my new Etsy friend Gina from Pipsqueaks stopped by to bring me the custom letters she painted for Chase's room (I'll post those at a later date, they are unbelievably adorable).

Afterwards Shawn and I worked in the yard while Cooper watched and played under a tree. It seemed like so long since we were outside working on the yard together. With 3 boys and a foster son, life can be a little blurry at times! And at the end of the day, I rewarded myself by trimming a bouquet of roses for my dining room and I was able to drop off an equally large vase full of roses on my neighbors front porch just to brighten their day too!

A Banner For Me

I had been wanting to make a pennant banner for my canopy at the Scripps Ranch Farmers Market for a few weeks now. With business slowing down a little I decided to sieze the opportunity to whip this up yesterday. Inspired by the free pattern at Z Daisy , it only took part of the babies' nap time and it adds some extra whimsy and fun (while using up some of the extra fabric scraps I have piling up)!

Happy Shopping-my new favorite purchases to rave about!

I don't typically blog about my shopping purchases but in the last few days I have found some GREAT items I had to share:

First, from Robins Egg Pink I bought this fabulous light summer jacket. She specializes in the kids clothing so with 3 boys I was left drooling until she came out with the adult version....yippee! It fits and looks just like the picture and I couldn't be happier. I have already received tons of compliments on it! Think anyone would notice if I wore it every day?

I could not resist this silhoutte from sarah + abraham . They have a large selection of silhouettes to choose from and I am going to buy some notecards soon but for now I bought this fabulous print! I can't stop staring at it!

Last (but not least) I found this great book called Fabric Scrapbooking by Donna Downey. It is truly beautiful and she even autographs it for you. There are so many things I want to make for myself and as gifts. It is TRULY outstanding and inspiring!

Wordless Wednesday-My Men

"There's a time to be carried by Dad and a time to walk beside Dad" - Uncle Frank

Swanky Moms

Not to sound redundant but THANKS to Swanky Moms! I just found out our Preppy Oxford Reversible Crayon Apron was featured on their blog today! They are always a fun place to visit for deals, new products and reviews. Also be sure to sign up for their Swanky Newsletter!

Trendy Mommy Award

Thank-you to The Trendy Mommy Spot for featuring our Reversible Crayon Apron on their site! Be sure to check out their site for contest and giveaways, unique product guides, fun tips, crafts and SO much more!

Last week I had a store in New York special request some adult craft aprons to coordinate with our crayon aprons for mother/daughter sets. Now, I need to get the energy to make one for myself!

Which leads me to my next thought. I have piles of patterns and tutorials of things I want to make for myself. The Emmeline apron, the Amy Butler Nappy Bag, a flag banner for my canopy, pillows for my bed and bench, a yoyo flower garland.......you get the picture! All this sewing and creating and I have yet to find the time to make someting for myself as a treat.

Does anyone have the secret for running a home, a business, a family AND still be able to find time to devote to yourself? If so, please share!

Wordless Wednesday-the joys of a cardboard box

Childhood Memories of Hot Summer Days

One of my favorite childhood memories was running through the front yard sprinklers at the end of a hot summer day. While it is only April, it was 91 degrees here on Saturday. So, while the babies were sleeping, the 12 year-old was playing and I was cleaning the garage after a long day at the farmers market, I couldn't resist turning on the sprinklers and letting Chase run around!

Our Reversible Crayon Aprons Featured

Our Ginger Tile Crayon Apron was featured among several other great Apron's by Etsy Sellers on Avril Loreti's Blog. Avril has a great eye for design and makes amazing items herslf! Thanks Avril! To learn more about the aprons pictured, check out Avril's Blog

Wordless Wednesday-Kindergarden Shots Day

Sorry but there was no way I could let this event go totally wordless! Today was Kindergarden Shots Day. I had tried to make this perfect balance of playing up the day and the trip to the old fashioned ice-cream parlor enough to get him excited without making too big of a deal of it so he would get scared. I was ready to be squeezed, to cry with him and to even have to hold him still....all for nothing!

This child o'mine never ceases to amaze me, he didn't even flinch and he watched the needle....I could never do that! The most traumatic part for him was that he had to undress and put on a hospital gown and he didn't want the doctor to see his underwear......what a goofball!

I LOVE Spring Break!

As I lounge in bed at 6:53am with only one baby awake and with me while the other three are asleep (we still have our foster baby) I am reveling in the simple fact that I do not have to run through the house in 5 minutes to wake up the kids, whip up a breakfast, remind them five times not to play around and brush their teeth, get dressed and comb their hair....wait 5 minutes...and remind them again. Run out the door with a baby in each arm, buckle three kids into a carseat, drive to school reminding my 6th grader not to draw during class time and to PLEASE remember to bring all his books and assignments home so I don't have to bring him back to school an hour after school and wait while he finds a custodian to open his class (this happens at least twice a week) .......whew, I am tired just thinking about it.

Ahhhh.......7:01 and I am still in bed. I love Spring Break!

Ruffler Foot or Alien Robot?

Okay, so I have been working on more crayon aprons and some clothing designs so I decided to splurge a little and purchase a Ruffler for my sewing machine. It arrived today, I opened it up and I would have to say that I am terrified.....useful Pressure Foot for sewing easy ruffles or alien robot sent from the future to destroy earth? I don't know but it is huge and intimidating.....wish me luck....gulp!

Straight from the 4 year-olds Mouth

A lot of you follow our middle son's "Chaseisms" and they haven't slowed down, I have just been a little "out there" lately with everything going on. .....I even forgot to be wordless today!

So, today while we were listening to Chase's music on the way to Happy Heiny HQ, he informed me that when daddy and I are asleep at night he goes outside to the van and teaches it his songs. Silly me, and I thought it was the CD's that knew the songs.