Finally!

I have not been completely forthcoming in my blog space here. I've been posting less and less because I am back at work - 25 hours a week. And boy-oh-boy am I humbled by it all. I've been working for about five months and I still have not found a rhythm to getting laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping and fun (not in that order) tended to in a way that is healthy and good. And don't get me started on how I've neglected my creative pursuits. 

 

Anyways, the stars aligned today in a twisted way - schools were closed for an ice storm that only just arrived and I have two kids who are sick - one of whom is nine today. More on him tomorrow! But because of our beautiful stuck-at-home status, I'm finally getting around to making Kyle a freezer paper stenciled t-shirt. I have some funny ideas to help him with his spelling - and then on the back I'm going to stencil, "Just another great day at New City School". Hope he likes it.

Our valentine show was slow but lovely. Always fun. I tried to make heart garland - it's all over the internet and seemed like it would be easy and fun to make. Um. Not fun. No fun at all.  A lot of work and now I'm thinking the hearts will stay up for a very long time because I don't know how to store them without tangling the thread. Kyle loves his.

 Hope you are warm, and thankful and happy...wherever you are! xo

A Little Valentine Show

Locals - if you are looking for a little hand-made shopping this weekend, please stop by:

Carla Mash-Duncan's 

Valentines Boutique

jewelry, Valentines decor, paper art, hand knits, wooden bowls and more!

6170 McPherson

(Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood)

St. Louis, 63112

Friday, February 8th

4 to 7 p.m

Saturday, February 9th

11 to 4 p.m.

We'd love to see you! xo

in which Joey turns 13

Joey is 13. Awesome.

I want to tell you about Joey's great grandpa - his name was Arthur Joseph. Joey's name is Joseph Arthur. He is named after his great grandpa, one of my husband's favorite people of his whole life. When we had Joey and told Grandma and Grandpa E. his name, David's grandma commented, "Do you know, David's grandpa is named Arthur Joseph..." as if their shared names were a total coincidence. They were humble, and kind and generous and always put family first. I also think David got his amazing ability to combine tough love and gentleness in his parenting from observing his grandpa.

So Joey - my wish for your 13th birthday is that, as you enter your teen years and the whirlwind they may be, you will embrace and seek these wonderful characteristics that inspired your name - humility, kindness, generosity and family.

You are enormously loved. And btw, your birthday consisted of eggs benedict for breaky, lots of junk food, and pulled pork with lots more junk food while we watched the Superbowl. Junk food was only interrupted to go see Les Mis, the movie. And in case you stumble upon this blog years from now, you loved the movie. And the day. xo

It was time

This week I ordered 200 bindings and then I purchased Mod Podge. By the gallon. A gallon of glue. So apparently I'm all in. And when I'm done selling 200 journals, I should be ready to upgrade my binding machine, but that's a story for another day. I hate my binding machine. But I love Mod Podge.

To celebrate, I want to make sure that you know about Mod Podge Rocks? This fun fun fun blog will tell you how to mod podge everything, from furniture, to shoes, to chandeliers, to toilet paper rolls....

Hope you have a great weekend! xo