but last night I ran in the house to use the bathroom and my long flowy shirt got stuck in my zipper.  And I was stuck.  And I REALLY had to pee.

What was I to do?

Rip a hole in my shirt, apparently.

At least I didn’t pee my pants.

Tutorials Page

I got an email last week alerting me to the fact that it is GONE-zo.  It was a linky and I apparently did not renew my subscription (didn’t get an email alerting me that it was about to run out, so…).  It’s gone for reals.  I’m exploring other options (leave a comment if you’ve got a suggestion) and will let you know when that page is back up and functional.  In the mean time, many of my tutorials/projects can be found on my Crap I’ve Made pinboard over on Pinterest.  You can browse and click through to the pages even if you don’t have a Pinterest account.

Google Friend Connect

Google Friend Connect is going away as of March 1st for all non Blogger blogs.  I’m not sure what this means exactly.  Will it just mean that new people can’t “follow”?  Will you quit getting blog updates completely if that’s the way you’ve subscribed?  I do know this:  I am not a Blogger blog.  So, if you’ve followed or subscribed solely through GFC, you’ll need to subscribe another way.

You can find my RSS feed here.

You can have new posts emailed to you by going here.

Or, you can sit and and reload my page obsessively.

The 6th graders at my kids’ school have a Valentine’s Day dance.  They’re expected to dress up, and somewhere in the communicating of this information, someone said that the girls needed to wear dresses.  Because sometimes 11 year olds aren’t rational, it is easier to just go with this as opposed to trying to explain that a skirt is probably just fine as well…or so you think.  Then you start shopping.  And shopping.  And shopping.  And pretty soon you’ve been to every store in 2 malls and discovered that Juniors dresses are shorter than kid sized ones (some bordering on obscene) and that even tiny women’s sizes are way too big in the bust for a 5’3” 98lb 11 year old (as well they should be).

Enter eShakti.

I’ve seen them reviewed around blog land (my friend and neighbor Tam at Sew Dang Cute reviewed them recently), and wanted to know if they lived up to the hype, especially if you were paying for the product instead of getting a freebie.

It should be noted that there’s a $20 off for new customers on the eShakti homepage and that customizations are normally $7.50, but those were free for first timers, too.  So, I paid about $40 for what would normally be $67.50-ish.

We settled on the ruffle front poplin dress in coral.  (Random weird thing alert:  Macy wanted the turquoise one, which she had seen a few days before.  It was not there they day we ordered.  It has been back since, but it’s MIA again today.)  We ordered a size zero (based on the sizing chart measurements) and then had sleeves added and the neckline raised.  We also entered a bra size for custom sizing in that area.

We ordered on a Sunday afternoon and the dress arrived on the Monday the next week, so about 8 days later.

The result?

(The actual dress color is probably a combination of the two, maybe closer to the one on the left…not my best true color photography, for sure.)

Long enough, high enough, and age/school appropriate.  Plus, pockets!

Would I order from them again?  Absolutely.  I see us becoming eShakti regulars.

What didn’t I love?  The “Live Chat” wasn’t live.  I got a response about 2 days later.  I did get a response, though. 

Are you all familiar with Riley Blake Designs?

We’ve given away some of their fabric before, and based on the number of entries, I think you loved them. 

Short version:  Riley Blake is a delightful new fabric company.  And, they’ve asked me to be a part of their Project Design Team.  (Go here to check out the rest of the delightful ladies involved.)  What does this mean for you?  It means that every Wednesday, you will find a fabulous project from one of us over on the Riley Blake Designs blog.

I had the opportunity to check out their warehouse and their offices on Friday…I want to move in.

And I’m feeling inspired, for the first time in ages.

Pom pom trim can do that to a girl.

Now if I could just settle on a paint color…

I shared this post originally as part of the ONE WORD series over on Less Cake {more frosting}.  I’m re-posting here, in case you missed it.

I’ve had this word selected for quite a while, even before I posted a few weeks back about quitting the business of blogging.  In fact, this word may have been what drove me to it….

mend

1.  to make (something broken, worn, torn, or otherwise damaged) whole, sound, or usable by repairing.

2.  to remove or correct defects or errors in.

3.  to set right; make better;

Mend also has a sew-y connotation for me, which I love (I’m a sewing dork at heart).  I like the idea that mending is not “replacing with bigger and better and flashier”, it’s fixing what you’ve got and making it whole, sound, and usable again.  It’s admitting that what you have and who you are is good enough.  It’s a process of improvement and correction.

And so, I’m beginning to mend.

I’m beginning to mend relationships.

I’m beginning to mend habits.

I’m beginning to mend life.

If we’re keeping it real (‘cause that’s the only way I know how to be), we ALL have something that needs mending…something we want to “make better”, right?  Maybe you handled something badly with your kids or your spouse.  Maybe you haven’t called a friend you really should have.  Maybe you said something unkind.  Maybe you thought about doing a good deed and didn’t.

Now’s your chance.

Mend something.

(for good reason)

I’m over on Less Cake {more frosting} today as part of Lara’s One Word series.  Go here, if you want to see what my word is and why I chose it.

And, I appreciate all the comments and emails and texts and phone calls re: my post yesterday.  You guys really are the best.

One thing I did not anticipate?

15 or 20 emails asking me how to get into the business of blogging.

I’m not going to answer them all individually (on account of that kind of making me do the exact thing I’m trying to get away from…spending hours on emails).  I do, however, want to direct you to a couple of posts that might answer those questions for those who want to know.

Mandi from Vintage Revivals talks about how to make money blogging here.

The Crafterminds girls talk about it here.  (I also love this article about why readers hate it when you make money.)

And, if anyone else has any great resources, feel free to leave them in the comments…I’ve gotta get back to my chalkboard paint.

XOXOXO

This post has been rolling around in my head for several days now, and I hope it comes out in the way I intend.  Please understand this all applies to ME and ME ONLY.

Not being able to get off the couch for most of a week gives you a lot of time for reflecting…you know, once you’re all caught up on Toddler’s & Tiaras and stuff.   

I thought about how much TIME blogging takes.

Reality:  I spend 1-2 hours/day dealing with emails, sponsors, giveaways (many of which never go anywhere)…that doesn’t include projects, pictures, writing posts, etc.

Then I had the thought:

What if I spent 1-2 hours/day strengthening my marriage?  What if I spent that time helping someone?  What if I spent that time playing trains with my 3 year old?  What if I spent that time on a walk?  What if I spent that time doing service?

And then I knew.

I play a lot of different roles:
Wife
Mother
Daughter
Sister
Friend
Neighbor
Blogger

#7 on the role list can’t be #1 on the time list.

I used to find so much joy in blogging and creating, but over the last year, something’s changed.  I listened to too many people who were not myself.  I worried about numbers.  I worried about pitches.  I got caught up in pushing/promoting projects.  I did projects I didn’t love for the money/freebies.  I cried when my Google AdSense ads got cancelled (WHAT THE CRAP???).  I listened too much to what a blogger “should” do instead of what my heart wants to do.  My heart doesn’t want to be a professional blogger.  My heart wants to be a mom…a mom who is present.

I’m not quitting my blog, I’m quitting the BUSINESS of blogging.

If I don’t want to post for a month, I won’t.  If I want to post every day, I will.  I’m not creating stuff just to have content.  I’m going back to what I love and who I am.  If we’ve already talked, don’t worry.  I’ll continue to fulfill my obligations.  I will no longer be taking sidebar sponsors.  The string of emails/invoicing/calendaring/giveaways/post writing/etc. is a time suck.  I want you and your Etsy shops to be successful, truly I do…just not more than I want my family to be successful.  You can respect that, right?

I’ve met people through blogging that I NEEDED to know.  I’m forever grateful for and changed by the experiences I’ve had.  I’ve learned SO MUCH.

And really…I’ll still be here.  I’ve got a bunch of printable Valentines on tap over the next week or so.  Plus, an organizing project and a $100 gift card giveaway from Lowe’s.  Nice, right?

XOXOXO

So, I’ve been sick.  SICK SICK SICK.  As in, I don’t remember most of Thursday afternoon through Monday midday.  I had strep.  I saw a doctor twice during that time of fever and delirium, but I guess I didn’t get enough drugs the first time.  BC called my mom and dad to come save me, because he’s out of town.  I seriously don’t ever remember being this sick in my entire life.  I don’t have a project for you just yet (unless you count what happened to my white slipcover courtesy of some root beer) but I DO have a seriously great deal available over on Plum District NOW (as of midnight PST and I scheduled this post for 15 minutes after that, so you should be good).

$30 for $50 to Silhouette.  Click HERE to head on over to Plum District to take advantage of the deal.

There are a couple of limitations (i.e. you can’t use it to buy a Cameo or gift/download cards).  The details on that are all spelled out over at Plum District.  You CAN, however, buy 2 for yourself and up to 5 as gifts.  Nice way to try whatever product you’ve been eyeing for 40% off, ey?

$30 for $50 at Silhouette deal HERE, if you missed it the first time.

So, in conclusion, it looks like I’m not going to die.  Sorry to those of you who had dibs on my personal possessions. 

As part of my assignment last week in my quest to get my crap together, I asked you all for some help with my address book situation. (Go here, if you’re interested.)  After reading through your comments (THANK YOU!!!), I settled on the following:

I went to my nearest office supply store and picked up a binder and some business card pages.  The business card pages were $3.59 for a pack of 10.  Each page has 10 card slots, so if you put 2 cards per slot (one visible from the front, one visible from the back), you could get 20 addresses per page.

I grabbed some white cardstock and gave Macy the assignment of cutting it into business card sized pieces (2” X 3.5”).  I assume you can buy blank business cards somewhere, but I already had the cardstock, so we went with that.

And then I transferred addresses…until kid stuff happened (not unlike this situation, which I posted about on the Crap I’ve Made Facebook page) and I had to stop.  I stashed the rest of the addresses I’d clipped from Christmas cards in an envelope in the back pocket of the binder.  I know exactly where they are when I’m ready to finish the job.

I’ll keep the binder in the cabinet above the computer desk in my kitchen, next to our Family Binder.  (Duuuuuuuuuude…my pictures were BAD 2 years ago!)

I like that I can easily replace a card when someone’s info changes, or even slip the new address in with the card if I’m pressed for time.  I also love that I can store business cards in there, like for the pediatrician’s office or my kids’ teachers.

How’d you do with getting your paper clutter under control?  Any lessons learned/tips you want to share with the rest of us?