artsy-crafty babe

gratitude friday

It was a busy week as usual, but that’s nothing new.  We managed to make it through with no major issues - all the homework was done, lunch money was paid, and everyone got to where they needed to be mostly on time. That’s pretty good considering it gets dark about as soon as we all get home.  Though I dislike having less daylight to fit in a run, I don’t really mind the early darkness.  I‘m an early morning person, so I appreciate leaving for work in the sunlight.

On this beautiful fall Friday, I am grateful for:

• cool fall weather.  Fall is my favorite.
• the gorgeous golden fall sunlight - I can’t get enough of it.
• a healthy, able body.  I’ve never been athletic, so every time I go for a run I surprise myself.  I always end thinking, “did I just do that?”.
• the opening of Trader Joe’s in Baton Rouge.  Chris, damn you for telling me about the white cheddar corn puffs!!  I'll be running extra to work that crap off.
• as annoying as it is, the way Ruby tries to lick my face every time I lay on the ground to do crunches or stretch makes me laugh. Silly little dog.  She loves me!
• Lily made the school basketball team :)
• 3 day weekend
• giggling about farts with Alex (it really is fun to get on his level from time to time)
• NO SOCCER PRACTICES OR BASEBALL GAMES!!!  wheeeeeee!  can you tell I’m excited about that?  Basketball is here, but Matt coaches all the teams that my kids are on, so that doesn’t really involve me other than sitting in the bleachers to watch a game.
• my cleaned up and rearranged bedroom.  I’m certain that I’m sleeping better now.
• positive news from Ava’s teacher and some good grades
• having a group of coworkers who are truly friends.

On the agenda this weekend is doing very little.  Ava has been looking forward to watching the LSU game with her Daddy all week, so we’ll be doing that at home Saturday night.  I’ll use that as an excuse to make party food for supper.  I love party food.  As a family of 6, it’s always a party, right?

Have a great weekend, friends!

gratitude friday

It’s been a good week, I think.  Busy for sure, but good.  

Last weekend we went to the beach.  On the drive down there I pulled out my gratitude journal.  I started it 2 years ago.  I’m ashamed to admit that I haven’t written in it nearly as much as I planned.  After 2 years I thought I’d have it filled.  It’s not even close.  What can I say?  Life gets busy and I forget to notice the little things.   Or if I do notice them, I don’t take the time to jot them down.  The funny thing is that when I so sit down to write a few things, they come flooding out.  It just takes a little time and effort.

A few things that made it into my journal this week:

• a road trip to the beach with my family (even if Ceci screams a good portion of the way)
• returning home after a trip :)
• experiencing a thunderstorm on the beach while we were safe in our beds (I love being cozy in bed during a storm)
• having one of my patterns trend on craftsy *yay!!! 
• long, stripey night gowns.  i have two, this one and this one, that I love dearly.  i can’t wait to slip one on in the evenings.  so comfortable 
• the smell of leather (I have a hide waiting for me...)
• getting *almost* all our school supplies in 1 shopping trip
• experiencing my kids’ excitement over a new school year
• Ruby’s lavender dog shampoo (i wish i could bathe her every day)
• piggy tails on little girls
• jalapeno pimento cheese on crackers
• getting in touch with deep feelings, figuring things out
• feeling sparked with creativity
• white jeans - my summer staple.  what doesn’t go with white jeans? 
• the anticipation of visiting with old friends
• salted dark chocolate 

See?  These things come pouring out - I think that’s enough for now.

Happy Weekend, Friends.  Have a good one :)

gratitude friday

I'm not going to lie, this week was rough!  It was the first full work week I've had in a long time.  And it has been raining almost the entire time.  Rain, rain, and more rain.  I'm not going stir crazy, but I wish my kids could get out to exert some of their pent-up energy.  They've been taking it out on each other, which in turn drives ME crazy.  To top it all off, Ceci has strep throat.  But you know what?  The good things in my life far outweigh all the little annoyances.

Something I've resolved to do in the new year is be here more. I miss documenting the little things. When I look back, it's those little things that I tend to forget about, yet they always make me smile and are the bulk of what makes life so sweet. In an effort to do just that, I'm jumping back in with a 'gratitude friday' post. Boy, am I ever grateful that today is Friday - TGIF!!

On this dreary, rainy Friday I am grateful for:

• completed projects
• happy purple pansies + bright green rye grass I see on my walks (when it isn't raining)
• making positive declarations ;-)
• starting new projects
• antibiotics
• my red dot Toms 
• hearing Ceci try out new words (can you believe? talking!!)
• curly hair (it loves all this humidity)
• laughing with friends over silly things
• staying dry
• king cake
• cancelled soccer practices & games due to soggy fields (a break is nice!)
• fitting in some sewing time
• keeping up with my 365, as challenging as it is (my photo taking skills are RUSTY)

Well, it may have been soggy, but overall I think it was a pretty good week.
Happy Friday, friends. Have a great weekend!!

 

gratitude friday

Oh, what a week this has been! It started with summer’s end then ended with the start of school. On Wednesday, my crew all went back to school. Lily started 6th grade, Alex 3rd, Ava 1st, Matt started teaching a new class, and Ceci started going to a new sitter (new to her, not to us – she has cared for my other three). Crazy! We’re back to old routines while starting new ones.

I feel like I have so much to tell you, but can’t find the time to sit down to do so. Knowing that I need some creative time, I planned to do a little sewing on Wed. night. By the time I got everyone into bed and the kitchen cleaned up, it was 11:00!! Instead of turning on my sewing machine I turned out the light and went to bed.

I’d like to say that I’ll get to do a little something this weekend, but Lily is playing in a soccer tournament, so it’s not going to happen. I’ll be honest, there have been moments this week when I questioned it all – all this busy-ness. I knew it was coming, I’ve been dreading it since we returned from vacation, but it still hit me like a ton of bricks.  sigh.

Things will settle down, it always does. It’s the beginning that’s the roughest.

So now, on to my gratitude. As always, when I take the time to notice, there are so many little (and BIG) things to be grateful for.

• having kids that are excited to be back in school.  they all truly love it.  it’s a bonus to have one at the same school as their dad.
• Fat Cow – the food was tasty and its fun to say.  FAT COW. and their logo is pretty awesome.
• a wonderful, loving caretaker for Ceci.  She is one of those  people who has a special gift with children.
• matching with friends.  I’m addicted.
• my friends.  I don’t think I need an explanation.  it’s so nice to have people in my life to talk to and laugh with.
• elastic thread – I don’t know why I was every afraid of this.  it’s wonderful and so incredibly easy to use.  I’ve been dreaming up ways to use it.
• my inlaws, for spending the summer watching my kids. The time my kids spend with their grandparents is invaluable.
• this commercial because it makes me laugh every time (and I have a thing about possums – they gross me out, but I can’t look away)
• Having the courage to break out of my comfort zone.  More on that later :)

My weekend may be filled with soccer games and laundry, but I’m going to make the best of it. I wonder if I can bring my crochet along to catch up on my grannies?

Happy weekend, friends.  Make it a good one!!

**photos above are my favorite instagram photos from this week.  you can find me at @artsycraftybabe

gratitude friday

For the first time in my blog’s existence, I feel like I’ve lost my voice.  After 7 years, it was bound to happen.  I’m not ready to end this thing, so I’ve decided to do some planning.  I am NOT a planner. Plans make me feel claustrophobic and urge me to be defiant.  Perhaps I shouldn’t use the word plan, but structure instead.   Structure I can deal with, plans, not so much.

Okay, so my blog will now have some structure.  I’m not talking every day of the week structure, but a day or two set aside for specific purposes, like Gratitude Friday.  I always enjoy my Gratitude Friday posts, so I’m not sure why I don’t stick with them on a regular basis.

A big excuse I’ve been leaning on lately (okay, the last year and a half) is that I don’t have enough time.  Sure, that may be true, but when has that not ever been true?  I often wonder how in the heck I kept up with my blog when Ava came along.  That’s when I had 2 in diapers and a kindergartener.  That was a crazy insane time, for sure.

I guess the point of all this is that after feeling like I lost this blog, I’m committing to reclaim it.  You can expect to see me here at least 3 times a week (eek!) with some regular features.  That, my friends, sounds like a plan (ha!).

So, on this fine Friday I am ever so grateful for:

• sewing night with Cathy. I can’t wait to show you what I made!  of course, the sewing part is secondary
• getting lost in my knitting 
• red wine :)
• mock garlic mashed potatoes.  y’all, these are good! 
• discovering a new café in town with delicious food (I can’t stop thinking about that roasted eggplant soup)
• wrap dresses – they simply work for me.  I always feel comfortable and confident in them, why do I even bother with other dresses?
• a helpful big sister who don’t mind tending to her baby sister
• the cheerful cashier who clearly enjoys her job.  her cheeriness is contagious.
• an encouraging husband who listens to me whine (and doesn’t whine back)
• finding the time to flip through a magazine
• blooming zinnias

Really, I think I could go on and on.  It’s been a good week, but it wasn’t until I started listing things out that I realized how good it really was.  Now those little nagging “problems” don’t seem like such a big deal.

Have a great weekend, friends!

 

gratitude friday

 

Oh lordy, what a week! I couldn’t be happier that Friday is finally here.  Now that our soccer seasons are over, we have a little more breathing room on the weekends, which is very much looked forward to.  Well, there’s still things going on, but different things.

To end this week on a high note, I’ve decided to reflect on those things that I am grateful for.  On this beautiful Friday, I am most grateful for:

• the gorgeous weather we’ve been experiencing. it seems that we really are having a spring. with a non-existent winter, I was afraid that we’d jump right into the scorcher temps, so this is a pleasant surprise.
• the antics of Ava.  Oh my, that girl. this was yesterday.  I can’t help but laugh at her. it saddens me a little that when I was taking this picture she told me “don’t put this on anything”.  she’s growing up!  and yes, I’m the bad mom who didn’t listen and put her picture on the internet.
• good insurance agents. after a few nerve wracking days, we’re fully insured again.  it’s a long story, but last weekend we found out that our homeowners insurance had dropped us, so there was a scramble come Monday morning to get things straightened out.  I don’t have time for that kind of aggravation!!  thankfully, I was able to find a NEW insurance agent who took care of us, and now we’re good.
• Y’all!!  my goodness, I was blown away at the response to my pattern tester request.  I never imagined that so many of you were willing to help.  I haven’t figured out how I’ll choose, I may have to do a drawing or something.  Thank you!
• my new spring/summer uniform.  this week some dresses I ordered from Target arrived and I love them.  most importantly, they FIT!  they’re comfortable, flattering and easy to wear (and I can nurse in them).  I’m sure my friends and family will get sick of seeing me wear them. now my challenge is mixing them up with accessories and cardis (and maybe some new sandals)
• The Scribble Diary – so much fun!  this book arrived on my doorstep last week from the publisher (surprise!).  it’s a journal, but different.  there are prompts to jog your brain and space to doodle.  I’ve been doing a page an day and really have enjoyed it.  doodling doesn’t come naturally to me, so this has opened a new creative outlet. 
• tax refunds – wahoo!
• feeling inspired again, thanks to working through some mental blocks (my scribble journal played a part in that)

Ah, and now it is the weekend!  we’ve got the kids’ school Spring Festival on the agenda as well as a visit from friend. I’m choosing to not think about all the laundry waiting for me :)

Have a great one, friends!!

gratitude friday

I had plans of writing this post on Thursday night to post first thing Friday morning. That never happened.  It seems that my little sewing fest earlier in the week wiped me out.  Seriously. One night past my bedtime and it takes me days to recover.  Days.

Anyway, earlier this week I started a gratitude journal. It's true that having gratitude takes practice.  My gratitude friday posts in the past weren't regular or frequent, but they didn't take a lot of effort, mainly because I was in the habit of seeing all those good things in my life.  Now, not so much.  It takes effort, and I hate that.  I'm out of practice, bogged down by paying too much attention to those things that aren't so good.   I've decided to practice my gratitude every day with my journal, and on Friday I'll bring back my "gratitude friday" posts to share some of those with you.  I'm not promising every Friday, but some Fridays they'll be here.

On this dreary Friday afternoon I have so many things to be thankful for:

• feeling baby kicks inside my belly - such a bazaar feeling, but reassuring.
• hearing Matt play bingo with the kids while I soak in the tub
• enjoying a meal with friends
• Ruby's smooshy puppy dog lips (sometimes I like to just squeeze them between my fingers!)
• gently falling rain that relieves the scorching heat
• the things Ava says - last night she told me "your belly sure is big.  how much food you got in there?"
• zinnias from the garden to brighten my window sill
• this little blog of mine which turned 6 years old yesterday.  my life wouldn't be the same without it.
• people in my life who listen and encourage (you know who you are!!)

This is only a small sampling of those things that make it to my journal.  When you open your eyes and pay attention, there really is so much good around you!

**my gratitude fridays were started after seeing Autum's gratitude friday posts years ago.  I'm currently reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp which is bringing the idea gratitude home to me again.

Have a great weekend, friends!

gratitude friday

 
It's been a while since I've listed my gratitudes, so I thought it was time I dusted off one of my favorite topics.  I'll be honest, I haven't exactly been in the right mindset to look for the positive.  It happens.  It really is a shame that I can't always pull myself out of it enough to see all of the good, but believe me, my reason is a good one.  I'll tell you all about it soon enough.

So anyway, on this gorgrous spring Friday, I am grateful for so many things.  Right off the bat, seeing the sunshine is a bonus.  I really can't complain about the weather because we've been experiencing spring for about a month now, but we had some stormy weather the past few days.  Those gray days were the pits!  I know for certain I could never live somewhere with lots of gray days because I would surely be miserable.  When the sun came out yesterday afternoon I was instantly in a better mood.
 
First and foremost, I am grateful for my little family.  Yes, my kids bicker more than I'd like, create messes in an instant, and grow up way too fast, but they're all healthy, happy, and seem to have a pretty good head on their shoulders.  Is there anything more I could ask more?  I think not!  (well, maybe some tidy-up abilities might be nice, but I'm not picky)
 
nachos - ohmygoodness, they're all I want to eat these days.  I keep going between Izzo's and Q-doba. I like them loaded with pico de gallo, corn, onions, beans, everything!  I think I could eat that for every meal.
 
my new $20 dresses from Target (which are now on sale for $16).  They're so comfortable and perfect to throw on with a denim jacket and sandals.  They also hide the midsection fluff quite nicely.
 
Real Housewives of New York are returning next week!!  I've missed them so!  Just seeing the previous season re-runs are making me happy.  I'm also happy that Richard won Top Chef.  Yes, I'm a Bravo junkie.
 
The PRC Shotgun House Tour - tomorrow Matt and I are heading down to New Orleans to go on this tour.  I'm so excited!  Have I ever mentioned how much I love house tours?  As a bonus, I get to see my friend Valorie's house on tour and hopefully meet up with Mitchell.  Remember when I met them for lunch last spring?
 
Last but not least, I am so grateful for finishing up loose ends!  I have a couple of projects in the works that have been hanging over my head.  Getting them finished feels like a weight has been lifted - a perfect start to the weekend.
 
Well, now I'm off to see my boy's first baseball game, then it's off to softball practicefor the girl.  It's a thrill a minute around here, I tell ya!  Happy Weekend, Friends!!

gratitude friday

 
Here we are again, my favorite day of the week.  Friday, a day filled with endings and beginnings and full of possibility. 

When I sit down to write one of these gratitude friday posts, I often feel like a broken record, but can we ever be grateful enough for a healthy family and good friends?  I think not.

On this beautiful fall Friday, I am most grateful for:

• my sweet little family.  When I think about how much those 4 people mean to me, my heart aches.  They are my world.
• fun size snickers (!!!)
• getting my sleepy butt out of bed Sunday morning to go to Mass to hear a homily that spoke to me.  Seriously, I'm still thinking about those words today.  To be honest, I didn't want to go, but Lily was an alter server, so I had to.  I think it was meant to be.
• fall.  I don't think I need to explain.  A cool front came through yesterday to relieve us of the insane heat and humidity.  RELIEF!!
• my friends at work.  If it weren't for my friends, I do believe that place would drive me insane.  And today is special because we're celebrating a birthday, which means going out for lunch.  Yay!
• boots.  Don't tell Matt, but these hopped into my cart the other day...I can't wait for them to arrive.  If you decide to indulge, they run big, so order a half size smaller than you would normally wear - I tried them on in the store, but the on-line deals were better (you can use 3 coupon codes!), so that's how they were purchased.
• Papa  Murphy's (it's nice to take a break every now and then)

• observing my kidlets at play.  They have such imaginations!  That there is a "recipe", as described by Ava (grass, roses, spanish moss??).  I'm so glad my kids love to be outside playing with their friends and each other more than being couch potatoes sucked into the TV.

• beautiful pink sunsets
• Matt :)

Friends, take a look at your life.  I challenge you to find the extraordinary in the ordinary - it's there, I promise.  It's amazing what a difference a change in perspective makes.

Happy weekend :)

gratitude friday

It's time to fall back to an oldie but goody - gratitude friday.  I do believe a gratitude friday is long overdue.  Things around here have been pretty darned good, but very busy and a bit chaotic at times.  When the busy and chaos start to overshadow the good, I know it's time to pull back and set things back in focus.

On this fine friday in may, I am most grateful for:

• making new friends
• being inspired
• Ava's giggle
• my new earrings
• finding the first pea pod in the garden
• the housewives of New Jersey (don't judge! - they make me grateful for my own drama-less life!!)
• being in the company of creative people
• hearing Alex read to Ava
• the beautiful blooms in my yard
• thunderstorms
• feeling loved
• my smart & talented Lily (who I can't believe will be 9 on Monday!!)
• crab cakes
• being a mom
• the end of the school year
• my beloved Matt, for putting up with my fabric/craft supply hoarding and incessant project craziness

TGIF!  Have a great weekend, friends!!