Hockey and Skirts

I'm not a huge hockey fan being from the south, mostly because we don't have a lot of snow or ice, unless you go inside. I've been to two hockey games that I can recount in my entire life, and the first time, I almost got hit by a hockey puck. The second time was with DJ, his uncle, and his late aunt. They live in Dallas, and I'm fairly certain DJ's uncle has season tickets to the Dallas Mavericks. So, that's it, my only hockey experience, until recently.

I was asked by a Canadian customer to create a spirit wear outfit for the Vancouver Canucks. 

That's okay, I haven't heard of them either. I jumped at the chance once I discovered two things.

1) Their logo was fairly easy to re-create.

2)Their colors were blue and green.

Blue and green together is one of my favorite color combinations right now. I rocked it a lot when I was pregnant, and now, I was getting to create something with those colors.... and I wondered, why I hadn't created a bow or another product with these colors sooner!

Now, it may be a little cold to wear a scrappy tutu in an ice rink, but throw on a pair of leggings and I think that honey pie will be just fine!

...............................................................

I recently had a friend order a few twirl skirts for her daughter to wear this fall. I sent her several fabric samples and here are two of her completed skirts.

I'm in love with this chevron combination.

I decided to play it safe and make a black spikey bow to match.

I also completed this mod-paisley skirt for her and I just love it!

With a matching bow. 

Twirl Skirts are $20.00.

I just continue to feel blessed that so many of y'all are keeping me busy! I shipped out over 10 orders last week alone, and I have plenty to keep me busy this week as well!

Be sure to check out my facebook page!

Have a blessed day!

Weekend Wrap-Up: A to Z

I let Gretchen ride the bus to school for the first time on Friday. I wasn't happy about it. I wasn't ready, but i'm going back to work today, and she'll be riding the bus twice a week since I have to be at work early. I'm so thankful for our neighbors that are going to let her hang out at their house before school and make sure that she gets on the bus safely. So, Friday was our practice run with the bus. And she was so excited!!!!

I think we left our house way too early. We were the first at the bus stop, but it gave us some time to talk and go over bus safety rules. DJ took Megan to daycare, so it was just Gretchen, Adalyn, and myself.

Walking to the corner to catch the bus.

I just can't even put into words how excited she was! As soon as the bus came to a stop she ran over and was the first one on.

She climbed into a seat, right by the window and had the biggest smile on her face! I love that she waved at me and looked so happy, but i'm not going to lie... I walked back to the house with a few tears in my eyes.

I spent the rest of Friday sewing, and completing orders. That afternoon, I got dressed to pick up the girls, and went ahead and got dressed for a girls night out.

I did enjoying cuddling and rocking Adalyn a bit more than usual since it was my last day home with her before returning to work.

I loved putting her to bed Friday night before the sitter came over.

Friday night I went to a friends house for a wine night and a 31 party thrown in the mix. My neighbor went with me and we really enjoyed having a night out!

DJ was in Oklahoma City for the TU/OU game.

Thankfully, the sitter said the girls did great and all went to bed really well! I think she'll be brave enough to come back!

Saturday morning, the girls and I were up by 7 to head to Arkansas. I dressed the girls in their TU gear, and even wore TU colors myself since it was game day. Then, we packed into the car, and headed to Alma, Arkansas... I know, there's nothing there and I bet many of you haven't heard of it.

But, there's this little gem about 5 minutes of the I-40 called, A to Z. My mom and grandma stop there often as they come up to visit us in Tulsa. In fact, I've recently told them they're not allowed to stop on the way up anymore, because they manage to turn a four hour drive into a six hour drive.

But, now that i've been there myself I understand why! My mom, sis in law, and niece, met us in Alma, and we shopped for two hours. There are about four different A to Z stores, and we only went in one! We browsed through aisles and aisles of Christmas decorations, rolls upon rolls of deco mesh, fall decor, home decor, and so much more.

After we were shopped out, we headed to Cracker Barrel to eat lunch.

It sure is an adventure having all the cousins together! Gretchen happily colored, while Amelia played with the peg game, and I think Megan colored too, but I was distracted feeding Adalyn. 

My girls had pancakes, and they were huge! In fact, we took two of them home, and the three of us split them Sunday morning for breakfast!

I love this picture we took of all the girls together. It just screams with their personalities! Gretchen is the sassy one, Amelia is independent with her own agenda, Megan is the doting big sister, and baby Addy.

In fact, once the bigger cousins were done with their picture, Meggie was more than happy to take one more with her baby sister.

We headed home around 2, and Meggie instantly fell asleep in the car. Not even 5 minutes into the trip, Gretchen told me she had to potty, even though I made her try before we left. I told her too bad, there was no way that I was going to stop and wake up her sisters! Thankfully, she was able to hold it all the way home!

Once we got home, the big girls played, while I cleaned out the car and Adalyn took a nap. I was able to organize my sewing/craft space and set up the embroidery machine that my mom has let me borrow for the next few weeks! I can't wait to sit down and applique something!

DJ was home around 8, and we enjoyed watching football, but I was exhausted and went to bed at 10:30. Thankfully, Addy slept through the night until 7. She must have known how much I needed to sleep!

We had planned on going to church on Sunday, but DJ didn't get finished with game film until 2:30, and the house was neglected all week. We decided to stay home and let him sleep and me clean and prepare for the work week.

So, while you're reading this, say a little prayer, because I'm away from Addy after being with her almost every single hour for the last 10 weeks. I'm so thankful that I had 10 weeks with her, but man i'm not ready for this. I just try to keep my mind off of the fact that i'll be going back to work, and I keep telling myself it's only a few days a week. I'm still praying that God will know the best position for me; if it should be a full or remain a part time position. And for now, i'm thankful that it's part time.

Anyway, y'all have a fabulous day!!!! Blogging may be a little few and far between in the next few weeks as I'm getting readjusted to more changes! 

Here's What's New

With my time off form work, my business has picked up in full swing. I am so unbelievably blessed, and I'm praying that God takes my business somewhere beyond my wildest dreams. I've turned it over to Him and I know that with God by my side all things are possible as long as it's his will.

So, here's some happy mail that's going out to y'all! 

One of my BOTMC customers ordered a tie applique shirt for her son. She asked that one shirt be shipped with her daughter's September bow, and the other shirt to be shipped with the October bow. It was so sweet of her to think of her son too and wanting to surprise him with something in the mail!

Maybe i'll start a shirt club for boys!

This is his September shirt.

I also had a customer request a matching hair bow for her daughter's upcoming birthday party. She ordered a gorgeous little smocked dress with pumpkins and a princess, and I wish I could have found something similar to the princess, but then I had an idea to combine the orange in the bow with a light pink loop (the color of the princesses dress) and then to top it off with an adorable orange pumpkin feltie.

#perfection

I've also been really working on my packaging lately, so here's a little peek at how you may receive your goodies in the mail.

A few weeks ago I hosted a comment game on my facebook page, and sold a collegiate spirit wear set, but I was asked if I could make it for a Canadian hockey team. 

I jumped at the chance!

I also loved the blue and green color combination. 

I need to get a picture of the entire set together, but I wanted to give a sneak peek of the completed skirt and bow.

I announced a few weeks ago that i'm saving for an embroidery machine. My goal is to have my own machine in my home by the end of October. Because of y'all, I may be able to purchase my own machine by the end of this month and that is so exciting and such a blessing to me! 

I can't believe I didn't make the goal five years ago and that it has taken me this long, but I've also grown my business slowly and as I felt I could handle it, and i'm thankful for the opportunity to continue to grow!

If you missed my post last Wednesday, check out my first ever Vlog post! I want to start vlogging about once a month, and i'm not quite sure of all the topics, but I have a few in my head. So if you have anything you want me to cover, please let me know! In last weeks post I shared with y'all how to maintain the life of your hair bows and how to care for them.

One more thing before you go! If you'll notice on the right side of the page and under each posts, there are now ads on my page. I hadn't wanted to start having ads on my blog, but a few weeks ago, I decided that it was time, so take a moment while you're here and click on them every once in a while.

Also, don't forget to follow me via bloglovin (find it on the side bar.)

Have a blessed day!

Hooray for Saturday and What I did Thursday.

I am so, so glad today is Saturday! The girls and I are headed to Arkansas to meet my mom and sister in law to do some shopping at some little dive in Alma. We're planning on lunch and I somehow convinced my mama to lend me her embroidery machine before I take the dive and buy one of my own.... i'm getting so close!

On Thursday, I took Gretchen and Megan to school and came home with Adalyn (first time we didn't have errands to run in the morning!) She took her nap and I was able to get some laundry done as well as making the beds and doing dishes.

Around 11:15 I woke her up to feed her and then I took her over to our neighbor's house. I have a neighbor that stays home with her two girls and watches another little boy and she agreed to watch Adalyn while I went to get a hair cut. Funny thing, is that they actually live in our first Tulsa home! (After living there for a year, we moved into a larger house two doors down.)

I had once read that when you go get your hair cut at a new salon, you should dress up and fix your  hair like you normally would so the stylist can see how you typically style your hair. 

I totally through that rule out the window this morning because this is what I wore:

A Nike dry fit shirt and a pair of nike shorts with yellow box flip flops.

#dressedtoimpress

Oh, and my hair. It wasn't even washed. I just took a shower this morning and put my hair in a pony tail and topped it off with a monogrammed hat.

#themonogrammakesitclassy

Confession time: I am the worst hair cut client ever. I never get my hair cut on a consistent basis. I'll go months, seasons, without getting my hair cut. I just trim my own bangs if they get too long. I swear stylist hate me. I've been consistent with two stylist in my life, and I swear I'll get in the habit of being a better client again, and taking care of my hair, and then I always put it last on my list and then my hair never gets cut. Please tell me I'm not alone in this.

So, I scheduled a mani/pedi because I had an unused gift certificate and then a hair cut.

The manicurist asked me if I got regular manicures, and I laughed in her face. Um, no. My nails are so pathetically short and uneven and never polished. I even chose a sheer color because if it chips, it won't be as noticeable as fast.

Anyway, I enjoyed my few hours of pampering, and managed to end up with this hair cut.

I like it. I can still put it in a ponytail, and I have no split ends.

Score.

And, here's sweet Adalyn from Thursday:

I picked up the big girls from school and we came home. G was sent to her room because she's grounded from t.v. and I cuddled with Addy and Megan. Addy would not let me put her down in the crib; I think she missed me. And I ended up ordering pizza for dinner because sometimes you just need to hold a baby.

What We've Been Up To

This is my last stay at home week with Adalyn. I'm trying to enjoy and soak up my time at home, but I'm also busy taking the older girls to school, running errands, sewing, and competing all the other tasks that a mom needs to do.

I try to cuddle with Addy a lot during the day, but I also let her sleep in her crib; she's doing so much better taking naps. Her morning naps are usually fantastic, but around 12-2 she naps off and on.

Her 3-5 nap is shot because we're picking up the other girls, getting home, and trying to get ready for dinner, but we're making it through.

Gretchen made herself a tent using her play table and tons of blankets. I went upstairs to check on her and could only see a foot and a hand sticking out. I called DJ upstairs to see her, and she crawled out from under the table, grabbed a drink, and then crawled back in to sleep.

One morning Addy and I went to Wal-Mart, and I despise Wal-Mart, but I needed to pick up thread, and I didn't want to go all the way into town to pick it up.  

We also found this:

I totally bought it for my stepdad's birthday.

I also found this:

I have been wanting a leopard print scarf since last spring and could not find one anywhere! I totally scored with this one for only $4.00!

Here's Addy after an afternoon feeding, buckled in her carseat so we could go get her sisters.

Tuesday night the girls went to our neighbors house so I could go to Gretchen's open house at her school. 

On Wednesday, I decided that I would start Gretchen in children's choir in church. She loves to sing and make up songs, so I thought this would be a fun (free) extra-curricular activity for her.

Once we got home from school, I got Addy settled, dinner cooked, and after we ate it was time to get in the car again. To be quite honest, I really didn't want to go. Addy had been crying, and Megan was being her mischievous self, but I knew that I needed to take her.

I'm so glad that we went. Once we got there, we saw a little girl that lives in our neighborhood that we had met at the pool this summer. Her mom is also Meggie's Sunday school teacher. She helped me figure out where to drop of Gretchen, and Megan and Adalyn and I spent the next hour on the playground and walking around the church. We have been attending our church for over a year, but we attend a service in a different building, so I'm not very familiar with the actual building the sanctuary is housed in. We walked around and heard the orchestra practicing and it was the most beautiful music. I could tell that Megan was intrigued so we went into the sanctuary, sat in the back, and peacefully listened to them practicing. It almost brought tears to my eyes thinking that Gretchen would have missed choir tonight and that Megan and I would have missed such beautiful music.

DJ ended up meeting us there and picking up Megan and Adalyn.

Once I picked up Gretchen, she and I went into Hobby Lobby and we saw a hot air balloon.

We've been reading the Wizard of Oz, so I joked with her that it was the wizard's balloon. It was a fun sight to see.

On Thursday, Adalyn stayed with our neighbor for a little while so I could go get a much needed hair cut, mani and pedi... okay, so they mani and pedi weren't needed, but they were certaintly enjoyed!

Weekend Wrap Up and TU's first W!

I was so excited that DJ would be able to drop off Gretchen and Megan at their schools and that Adalyn and I wouldn't have to go anywhere! I had plans to stay home and sew all day long. That was ruined when I remembered Thursday night that Addy had her two month well baby check up on Friday at 11. 

She had a great check up and since I was in the middle of town, and there were three sewing supply stores nearby, Addy and I went and priced embroidery machines! I announced on my facebook page last week that I've finally decided it's due time that I take the plunge and purchase my own machine in order to grow my business!  

We ended up not getting home until 2 and we were able to stay home for all of 30 minutes before we had to leave again to go pick up the girls from school. Poor Addy was exhausted.

Gretchen spent the night with two friends Friday night, which left DJ and I with the younger girls. 

Meggie was thrilled to have some mommy and me time while we waited on DJ to get home.

Saturday morning, DJ headed to the team hotel for meetings. I picked up the house, then Meggie and I made chocolate cupcakes.

She had to taste test one!

We decorated the cupcakes with blue icing and gold sprinkles and little footballs for TU's first home game this season!

After all of the girls had naps, they got ready for the game in their spirit wear dresses that I made.

Their dresses (and bows) are available on my page; starting at just $40.00

For some reason, Meggie was still whining after her nap and did not want to cooperate with getting her picture made. Addy didn't have a good mid-afternoon nap and was exhausted. I didn't even try to get a picture of all three of the girls before we left; because I knew that at least one of them would be screaming.

We got to the game early so we could enjoy pre-game festivities.

We watched the band perform.

Meggie was her typical shy girl at first. She wasn't so sure about the loud music coming from the band.

Gretchen wanted to play on the inflatable bouncy house and slide, so we headed that direction.

At first, Meggie wanted to play too, but when I tried to put her inside the house she cried. So we just watched Gretchen.

Afterwards, I decided it was entirely too hot and we headed inside to the stadium to find DJ and get settled before kickoff.

We have a family suite this year for the game, and there was so much more room for the girls to play and the windows are larger so we can easily watch the game!

DJ met us in the suite before he had to head over to the press box.

We attempted a family picture and weren't very successful. There's always next time!

Gretchen had fun playing with her friends. 

I leave a toy bag in DJ's office and we drag it out whenever we're up there. I'm so glad that I thought to do this last year; it's been the best because we're not dragging in toys with us, as I use to when it was just Gretchen.

There were plenty of snacks and the girls treated it as a free for all.

Meggie ran around barefoot and you can see how dirty her little feet got!

Addy was great during her first game! She enjoyed the sling or the bjorn carrier and sat in her carseat just for a little bit. She took little cat naps and ate twice.

Meggie ate lots of candy and cupcakes!

TU won the game by a field goal kick! I always say that field goals win ball games and it was so true at Saturday nights game!

After the game, the girls and I headed down to DJ's office to put away the toy bag and to say goodnight to DJ. He has to stay and edit game film, and I think he said he made it home by 2 am. 

The girls and I made it home around 11 and Addy and I finally got to bed closer to 12. 

Saturday was such a long day that we decided to skip church and recover on Sunday. DJ also needed to cut the grass. The girls played and I made us all breakfast, and DJ went back to work around noon. 

Gretchen went to our neighbor's house to play and Addy, Megan, and I all napped.

Football and Fall feel real when we have our first home game! I love weekends that keep us busy but give us time to relax and enjoy each other!

This weekend we play at OU and even though it's close, I definitely do not plan on taking the girls!