How's that workin' for ya?

Anyone else  a fan of Dr.  Phil "isms" ?? Haha.  One of my favorite things he says all the time is  when people come on his show complaining and  making excuses about things in their  life  that they  are unhappy with he always just stops them and bluntly says "how's that  workin' for ya?" As in, sure, make excuses and complain all  you want, but if you aren't getting the results you want  then change  something you are doing, because  what you are doing isn't working!!

And that's how I've  been feeling the last couple days. Maybe it's the fact that it's winter and I'm stuck inside with two kids ages 2 and under (and in the area where we live the things SAHMs do most often are parks and  playgrounds and swimming etc...not really happening this  time of year!).....but  in general the  last  couple days have  been kind of stressful! Brielle is into absolutely  everything now, walking all over and causing messes, Raya has been acting out to get attention more and more  and her new things is throwing toys, etc. when she doesn't  get her way---the other day she threw her PAINT and  got it all over. I was livid :-0.....and my Etsy shop has  been  doing great, but in turn I've been staying up until  at least midnight every night working on orders, and that doesn't  count  all  the time I spend emailing customers  back  and forth with questions and designing custom orders. The  lack  of sleep is wearing  my patience very thin!

Which leads to our  question "how's this all  workin for ya Shawna?"  Well Dr. Phil, thanks for  asking! :-)  It's not. But have  no fear, I have an idea! I  really think  we need a stricter schedule around here. Right  now our days are not  really  planned. I mean, in general  we do one morning a week at the library, one day a week I have Sawyer and Harper, etc.....and the girls  nap at about the same time every day.  I try to do  some laundry and a craft with Raya sometime during the day....But that is the closest thing we have to a schedule and I'm really starting to think we need something much more rigid. It's easy to get really relaxed when you  are staying home, and while  that certainly is a huge  perk  of the job, there is also something to be said for schedules and accountibility I think.

What do you all do as far as schedules? Do you have  them? Please share!

One of the things I miss about working outside the home is to do lists. Yes,  I miss to do lists! There is something very satisfying about checking things off a to-do list. Every check  on the list is an accomplishment and it brings you one step closer to the  end of the work day too. Plus you then have something concrete to sort of prove your day's  productivity. When you stay at home you can work all  day long and never  really feel  you accomplish anything because nothing is every "finished". You may do dishes, laundry, etc.  and yet there  is always more where  that came from!

So my plan is  that  this weekend I want to write out a schedule. Something really detailed, but  of course the benefit of staying home is that  if things come up or we have plans there  is no problem with skipping the  schedule as needed :-) I also think a schedule  will be good for Raya in preparation for school.  I  want  to then make  the schedule a *visual* schedule like they do in classrooms. Something that Raya can see too and help me "check  off" the day's accomplishments. I think  this will eliminate a lot of the downtime that  leads to her acting out too. I'll  let  you all know how it  goes! Once I figure out our schedule I'll  share it too :-) I'm going to also be sure  to build  in maybe  2 set times of the day when I spend 15 minutes dealing with Etsy orders/communications so that it's not constantly interrupting my day.

And now let's  end with some pictures. Cute  pictures of my girls are a great pick-me-up for everyone, right?! Enjoy!

Brielle is the happiest baby in the morning...always full  of smiles!

Lately she always has  to have her hands full  of stuff! Uh oh, maybe she's becoming a toy hoarder! ;-)

In the morning we usually get in a little group teeth brushing session ;-)

Wrong  end!

There ya  go :-)

This next seriest of pictures  cracks me  up. As I was taking pictures  of Miss  Raya (and oblivious to everything else apparently!) see if you can spot what  Brielle is up to! ;-)

Yeah, nothing wrong  with your 1 year old rubbing  her hands (and likely  toothbrush)
all over  the trash can :-P

Yep...she spotted  the plunger...gross!

Oh shit---likely licking said plunger or doing  equally gross things on the floor

Phew! I  see  her arm again! At least the horrors over  by the toilet didn't last  long LOL

...but wasn't  Miss Raya  cute  during her  tooth brush session?! :-)

Brielle, I'm not giving you kisses on that  dirty mouth of yours!!

Oh, who am I kidding? Of course I will!

See, I told you she's into EVERYTHING now!

But  how stinkin' cute is she now that she's a walker and can toddle around  in cute  outfits like this?! ;-)

Although we have no "real" schedule  like I said, contrary to what Lee sometimes thinks we *do* attempt  chores around  the house. Raya loves to help me "fold" washclothes.

Today during  Brielle's morning  nap  we did a craft. Raya helped me with the little heart, hence it's odd appearance lol

We are  getting in the Valentine's day spirit now as February is so close! We did a craft and Brielle dressed festively today. I am also throwing a vday party at my place next Wednesday...I think we have  like 12 kids coming! Should be fun ;-)

Brielle got this  outfit when she was born last year, as a baby gift. It's size 18 months and still pretty big...I have to fold the pants  over! Cute though....and yes, sock monkey balloon is still  going  strong!

Pure happiness

And lastly, Raya and this f-ing makeup LOL. Seriously, she  just got done BATHING in it! She's out of control haha.  No idea why it now  ends up everywhere *except* on her lips!

Pinch Proof

Sorry, I had  *intended* to  do a real  update today, but  instead I  used nap time to work  on a new shirt  design--See Miss Raya? She's officially pinch proof come St.  Patrick's Day! Cute  right? :-)

I  haven't  gotten  these in my Etsy shop quite  yet, but they will  be there later tonight! $18 for a personalized shirt--could do a boy or girl  version. This turned out so so cute,  I  think  all my readers definitely  need one :-P I don't typically  sell as many shirts  for things like vday and st pattys as I  do for say Thanksgiving and Christmas, because  people don't  have  holiday parties and such for these sorts of holidays. However I'm pretty sure your kiddo would love to wear a fun shirt to daycare/school so it's still  a must have! (And you all  remember what I  said about daycare kids in my recent post right? Yeah, don't let *your* daycare  kid have  a "blah" wardrobe at the sitter's house. Send him/her to daycare  in style! hehe) Anyways, check  out my store later  on to purchase!

"I  just  do a little  smile Mama"

What  else? Well  today I mailed  out  FIVE orders! Yes, things have  been nice and steady at the  shop! The mall  back  at my old house still  orders shirts from me for their store and recently they sent me a custom order for birthday  shirts for twins...they wanted a zebra one and a baseball  one (in MN Twins colors).  Cute? I think so! These will also  be listed  in my store soon....a variation from my other birthday  shirts.

What else? Well  I've gotten a few cute pictures of customers  in their tie shirts I made them....thought I'd share!

Here  are brothers --how cute  are they?

And a cute little  customer wearing his  tie  onesie at his birthday  party :-)

And how about this super cute butterfly birthday outfit that  I just mailed today? I LOVE custom orders...so  fun!

Then a fellow blogger over at These Lees just did a post recently of her  daughter's first birthday...wearing a onesie and hair clippie I made....check  out the link to see her adorable  baby girl  and the super cute party she planned!

And another fellow blogger Mrs. Mommy just announced her pregnancy and used the Big Sister shirt I made for her as a way to announce it...check out her post to see an adorable picture too!

Lastly, blogger Table for Four was one of the winners of my last giveaway and chose two tie shirts for her boys as her prize! Check out her blog for some pictures of her boys as well! (According to their mom they were being as cooperative of models as my girls usually are haha...but  you all get the idea ;-)

Happy Monday everyone!!!

Brielle's Walking!

I don't  know how to embed my videos here on the blog so we're  going to do this the old fashioned way.

Click HERE to see a super cute  video of Miss Brielle walking! :-) She falls quite a bit anymore, but has pretty much crossed over to walking as her preferred mode of transportation. She loves to scream and squeal as she's walking too....it's as though she's saying, "oh my god, I can't believe I'm really walking!!!!"  Too funny. Such a big girl!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Sunday...check back tomorrow for a "real" update!

Mama's Day Out

So on New Years Day this  year I informed  Lee of  our  new rule...or  actually, my new stay-at-home mom "benefits" package LOL.

You see, Lee regularly makes plans  to go on weekend long fishing trips (regular  fishing in summer, ice fishing in winter) or hunting trips (all during Oct, Nov, Dec---which is why we cannot have baby #3 due during any of those  months lol....I still  to this day get crap  for our wedding anniversary being in October!)....and I'm a *very* good  wife and agree to him doing these things, but  the thing is that I never plan anything that doesn't include the girls. I am with them all  week  long and then on weekends they are still  always with me. Sometimes my mom does babysit so I can do Etsy orders or go out with Lee....but *Lee* never watches the girls  alone for  any extended period of time. He avoids  it at all costs.

So this  year my stay-at-home mom JOB has a new benefits package---and that  includes one full  day a month (of  my choosing) where Lee watches the girls while I go do whatever I want--kid free! And today my friends, was my first vacation day of the year. I went to the outlet mall  and had so much fun!

Here were  my thoughts during the  day:

1) It's  wonderful to  be able to listen to MY music in the car (country music is  my music  of choice :-)....as opposed to Raya's favorite mixed cd of kids' sing-a-long songs----which I'm almost certain plays  on a continuous loop in the furthest depths of hell :-P

2) I  had almost forgotten what  it was like to not hear "Mama, I hungry" every 5 minutes.

3) I was able to get from my car to  the store in less than 30 seconds. Carseat saga be damned.

4) Food tastes so  good when you can  eat it while  it's still  hot. No cutting up everyone elses food into a million pieces while yours gets cold.

5) I  sure did pass some knowing glances to  other moms there, dealing with whiny kids at Arbys :-P

6) Did you know that doors are actually very easy to open and walk through when you aren't  pushing a double stroller?

7) I couldn't  believe how  nice  it was to try on clothes  for *myself* for once! And no  running commentary in the dressing room either! ("Mama, I see  your boo boos! (boobies) .....Mama, you have  big boo boos and I have little boo boos!.....Mama, I  see your underwears. Why you not  have Minnie underwears? Mama? Mama? Mama?.....)

8) I had  really missed using the "regular" bathroom stall, rather than the handicapped  one the size  of a small home, with the nasty diaper changing station that  I'm pretty certain is growing any number  of diseases on a given day.

9) It was  really amusing to walk by  the mall  playland (which was packed by the w ay) and just smile at the poor suckers stuck there with their  kids while  I walked on by.

10) .....every time I saw someone  with little  girls I missed mine terribly! :-(

And so it  was that  I  had a WONDERFUL day, but I was so glad to come home to my babies!

One of my favorite blogs enjoying the small things actually just wrote  about this same  topic. She was out of state away from her girls so it was  a little  different obviously than just  a day away, but what she wrote really hit  home for me after today! She wrote:

"my true statement of 'I let go, I enjoyed me time, I knew the kids were just fine without me' can be contradicted by the same truth of 'I missed them and thought about them all the time.' If that makes any sense."

And also:

"I did so well at being present and really enjoying the opportunity to be alone, sleep (for the first time in three years!), move from one location to another without taking a head check, buckling seat belts or making sure to grab a to-go snack; but I missed them, truly. You get to a certain point in motherhood where, no matter how much fun you're having, you just subconsciously breathe your children. You can smell them even when you're not purposely thinking about them. You can feel their arms around your neck, their breath on your shoulder."

It's so true.

And when I  got home to my girlies I  heard all  about their day with Daddy! (Who officially bows down to me now...pretty sure he'd rather be a garbage man working for $2 an hour than a full time stay at home dad LOL)

Daddy was a great blogging assistant today though---he thought  to take some pictures of their fun! :-)

Sissy's hitchin' a ride!

Getting nervous....

Get me outta here!

Daddy burried  her in the ball  basket :-P

And when I got home Raya earned her special prize for  being a good girl with Daddy! (She was horrible before I left and once I got back  home ---testing limits and clearly out of sorts from her abnormal day!---but Daddy said she was good while I was gone so she earned her prize! I got her a $5 birdfeeder to paint and then tomorrow her and daddy will hang it out for the birds!)

If *you* were a bird wouldn't  you find  this incredibly  appetizing and want to eat here?! :-)

Brielle was super excited  to see that mama was  back home!

Daddy said she was also  a good  girl (who only  slept 40 minutes haha....I told him naptime isn't 3 hours of me eating cheetos and watching Dr. Phil....Brielle doesn't  sleep long! :-)

So  Brielle also  earned a reward....a new first words book

And now do you want to see a sampling of my goodies  from today?! :-) I went to the outlet  mall and they had  awesome sales! Lee had  specifically  told me I  better come home with as much or more stuff  for myself as I did for the girls  (because  he gets tired of me only treating the girls to stuff and me always wearing the same old stuff---because my wardrobe is seriously a tiny fraction of what the girls' is lol) ...so I  took  him up on the offer and got  some stuff  for myself, shirts  for him at the Wrangler store (he was pumped), some clothes  for the girls (mostly stuff for  next winter  or even bigger....I love to buy ahead when everything is like  $2)

Here is one of my favorite purchases....a  new purse! Now I actually  hate purses.  I would  rather just throw  my stuff  in the diaper bag. However for the occassions when  I don't have the diaper bag I had decided I wanted a smaller purse, and I had  been eyeing these fossil purses because I loved the floral  pattern and the fact that the  material is like a shiny wipeable  stuff (kid  friendly!). And low and behold they had a super  sale going on today!

Then here  are  two  of my favorite new  shirts (yes, I have a thing for  stripes and "slouchy" shirts you can layer over  tanks lol. But  these were  so cheap...the yellow  one from old navy was $4!)

The  dark blue  stuff is navy lace ....looks cute  with  a grey tank  underneath

Raya got stuff  for  next year  (or maybe 2 years...not  sure when she'll  be size 4) ....It  was all about $4 or less...the plaid skirt was $2 from Children's Place  and I decided she  most definitely  needed a little school girl skirt  for preschool next year  lol.  Lee said I can't  send her  to preschool wearing it (he thinks it's inappropriate or something)....what  does he  know :-P

The bottom two are  Carter's  dresses.

Carter's pjs for $4

And once again Brielle  got screwed on the clothes since  she'll be getting hand-me-downs! But  I  did get  her  a couple things (the skirts were $2 at Carter's so I figured why not!)

Can't wait  to plan my  vacation day  for  next month! hehe. What  about you all? How often do  your  husbands watch the kids so you can have a full  day to yourselves? I think Lee's  getting off easy with 1 day a month :-P But then again, I did spend a good chunk of his money today, so maybe it all evens out LOL. Thanks honey! :-)