Trying to get the job done

As you can probably tell from my lack of posting our life has been HECTIC since I started my job a few weeks ago and my blog has suffered.

How does if feel to be a part-time working mom and part-time SAHM? Awesome! I've really missed working so I feel like my brain is actually getting a workout now! My co-workers are great and the work I do keeps me busy. I work two days a week so I am able to be home with my kiddos too. I just can't procrastinate. The time management has taken some getting used to with my duties at work and at home but I'm getting there.

We also celebrated my son's 5th birthday! I can't believe my baby boy is 5! I'm starting to wig out over all the school stuff and other "I'm a child not a toddler/baby anymore" changes. He is starting to get the silly little boy attitude that others find annoying but since I'm his mom I think he is funny! We had a birthday week celebation instead of just one party. We had family come in the weekend before and after his actual birthday and of course we celebrated on the actual big day which fell on a weekday.  He had three cakes and lots of love from our firends and family!

My daughter has done a great job with her sitter since I started back to work. She loves staying at Weez's house (Louise) and playing with her dog Face (Faith). She starts yelling, "Weez and Face, Weez and Face!" when we pull into her neighborhood.  It makes things so much easier when your kids like their sitters/school and enjoy going instead of clinging to your legs as you try to get our of the door every morning.

Sweet Baby Tutus is still just as busy (part of the reason things are hectic). I've had a lot of custom orders recently and I hope to post some pics of them soon.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

ENTRIES ACCEPTED NOW THROUGH MARCH 4TH

Alright, it's time for another giveaway! This giveaway is for a very cute hairbow set from Sweet Baby Tutus.

The winner will receive one pink stretchy crochet headband with a matching pink flower clip and two boutique style hairbows in the color(s) of your choice. All hairbows are attached to a covered alligator clip. 

These are great for little girls of all ages! The flower is a 4" daisy and the boutique style bows are approximately 3".

 The winner can pick from pink, black, lavender, yellow and pink with chocolate polka dots.

HOW TO ENTER

Very simple! Leave a comment under this post. You may earn additional entries by becoming a Facebook Fan and a follower of this blog. For each entry leave an additional comment. Ex: "I became a FB fan too!" I will check to make sure the additional entries are valid. This gives you a total of three chances to win!! The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada.

The last day for entries will be Friday, March 4th (midnite EST). The winner will be announced Monday March 7th using Random.org. The hairbows will be shipped via USPS within 5 business days of contacting the winner. If I have not heard from the winner within 48 hours of contacting them I will select another winner.

Feel free to tweet, post on FB or blog about this contest!

This Mommy Needs a Break!

I've reached that point.

Every mom has it. It's the day your husband walks in the door and you head out without much of an explanation, just "I need a break!" You drive around, head to a local retail store to walk around aimlessly, maybe a book store to grab a cup of coffee. Not really caring how your husband is doing without you, just that you don't have to deal with bath time, story time, pajama struggles and sibling fighting for that night.



This is my "I've had it!" face



I have started thinking of how long it's been since I've been away from my kids for longer than nap time. I think it was a few weeks ago for a church dinner. Then I started to think about the last time I went out alone. Running to the post office or market doesn't count. Just a mommy only shopping venture, Hmmmm, it's been months. Yes, months!



For some reason this weekend has been tough with the kids. Not listening, fighting, walking out in the middle of church to discipline my son who was talking loudly and not being a "good listener." Then laying down to catch a short nap only to have my son wake up from a very short nap and tap my every five minutes for something, even after I turned on his favorite movie and told him mommy needed a nap too. That didn't happen.

This week I go back to work. It will be for two days a week. I've been worried about how I will handle leaving my daughter who is with me ALL the time (my son attends preschool three days a week). I think this trying weekend has been God's way of preparing me and showing me this job will be a good change. Maybe I will get some of my sanity back.

Not everyone is made to be a SAHM. I've enjoyed the time home with my kids but have known it wasn't a permanent gig for me. I think becoming a part-time working mom will be good for me. Hopefully it will help me find patience again.

I Hate Shopping but... I LOVE Deals!

Okay, I don't actually hate shopping. I just hate it when I don't have the money to buy what I want. Since we're on a tight budget at the moment, I currently hate shopping.

However, I LOVE the end of season sales and today I found some awesome buys at GAP and Macy's.  I must first say that my hubby and I went shopping last weekend and got some pretty great deals too on clothes for my daughter and I found a cute dress.

I headed to the mall today because I received an email from GAP about an extra 40% off their sale items. I purchased $189.50 worth of clothing for $30.50!

Here is what I got:

Gray Cord jacket - originally 59.50 - sale 11.99

Vintage Flare jeans in dark wash - originally $69.50 - sale 12.59

black top with tie and keyhole opening in back - originally 29.50 - sale 2.98

gray tank with beads - originally 29.50 - sale 2.98

I was so excited about the jeans!  I am tall so finding jeans that actually fit is tough. GAP jeans have always fit me well but at $70.00 a pop they are not usually in this SAHM's budget.  Also, I do not buy clothes just because they are cheap! I tried them on, made sure they fit and flattered me. So what if a top is $2.00 and you never wear it! That's two bucks you wasted! The fit of the black shirt was so cute and looked great with the jeans! Yay!

Next I headed over to Macy's. This is where my husband and I found some great deals last weekend so I went to see what was left.  They had an extra 50% some of their sale racks.  This is what I purchased:

3 piece Clavin Klein outfit with vest, shirt and pants sz 2T - originally 66.00 - sale 7.48

two Quicksilver t-shirts - originally 16.00 each - sale 2.48 each

sweater vest - originally 17.99 - sale 2.48

cardigan - originally 19.99 - sale 2.48

All together I purchased around $135.00 worth of clothes at Macy's for 17.40!

All of the items from Macy's were for my son and daughter. I bought the next size up for my daughter so she could wear them next fall. I purchased the short sleeved shirts for my son for the spring and summer.

So, there you have it! A very successful day shopping for me :)

Change is Coming

Quality Time

The time has come. I must go back to work.

I'm happy. I'm sad. I'm nervous. I'm excited.

When my husband went back to grad school for ministry in 2005 we knew it meant having financial hardships for a few years and eventually moving away from our families. All I asked was that I could be a SAHM for a while when he was finally called to his own church. 

Well, we moved here in 2009 and I became a SAHM to my then three year old son and six-month-old daughter. I didn't think I could make it after the first month. I was ready to pull my hair out! But, we finally got into a routine and I loved it. I missed a lot of the adult things, like lunch hours and conversation. I also realized what a gift staying home was for me.

After having my son in 2006 I returned to work full-time after twelve weeks of maternity leave. It was hard leaving him but I had no choice. I had to work.  When our daughter was born in 2009 we had already moved once. I had a new job and could only stay out for eight weeks and then had to return to work. Again, I had to work.

Then my husband was called to VA. He kept his promise and I got to stay home. I realized what I missed while I worked when my son was little. I don't regret it but I am sad that someone else got to see everything I missed.  More than once I've sat back and wondered, 'How in the world did I get all this done when I worked?'  I've learned what an incredible person it takes to work and be a wife and mother and take care of a home while making sure your kid doesn't turn into a serial killer. What's more amazing are the millions of moms and dads who do it every day!

So, in a few weeks I will return to work, this time only part-time. A few days a week. It will help me ease back into the real world. For some reason I think leaving my kids this time will be even harder then when they were infants.  They have become my side kicks, my partners in crime.

I am excited about entering the adult world again! Having conversations that involve subjects other than Buzz Lightyear and trains is a huge plus! I think I'm really going to enjoy my job.

Most of me can't wait to get started. The part of my heart that is with my kids is dragging a little though.

I'm in the Spotlight!

I'm the Spotlight blog for Traveling Thursdays!! Read below to participate and possibly be next week's spotlight!

 

Welcome to the Traveling Through Thursday Blog Hop 2/3/11 hosted by Living on Love and Cents, Mom On Dealz, Our Kids Mom , and Belly Charms (The Blog).

The Spotlight this week is Jamie from Makin' It Work. Here are a few things she wanted to share with us all. She is 5 on this week's linky. Be sure to stop by and tell her hello!

I started blogging about two years ago as a way to keep our family updated on our kids after we moved away. I started my second blog "Makin' It Work" about three months ago after I became a SAHM and started my own business.

When I'm not blogging I'm playing with my kids (they are 1 and 4) or making tutus for my shop on Etsy.com Sweet Baby Tutus. I also love to be outside when the weather cooperates and reading.

I love to blog! It's so much fun seeing the comments people leave and it's also very therapeutic. I have met some really great people and found really interesting stories.

Thanks so much for including me as a spotlight!

Would you like to be a spotlight? All you have to do is follow these steps. Also visit Sweet Baby Tutus/ Makin It Work on Twitter and Facebook.
1) Follow the first 4 pages in the linky. These are our hosts. Be sure to comment so that we can follow back!
2) Please only link up your the network we are visiting for the week!--GOOGLE
3) Spread the word about this hop with a post, grab the button, etc.!For more followers- Grab the linky code and post this on your blog for your followers!

Happy Traveling! Be SURE to leave a comment so that we can return the follow.

get the InLinkz code

(mostly) WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

MOVIE NIGHT

My Purse Has Become A Casualty

For some reason over the last few months I have come to despise carrying a purse. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE LOVE bags! My collection has dwindled since I became a SAHM but I still love to look, dream and grab the occasional deal.

My daughter is 21 months I am making lots of trips to the Post Office, Wal-Mart, fabric stores and craft stores thanks to my Etsy shop. My very cute Jessica Simpson bag I bought at a steal after Christmas is more of a burden than a wonderful fashion statement. I can't tell you how many not so nice words have been uttered under my breath as I dig for my keys or lip balm in the black hole of my purse.

So, today I bit the bullet and ordered a very cute handmade mini wallet keychain from a fellow Etsy seller. Think back to your college years and the not - so - mini keychain wallet you carried your precious student ID in and you will get the picture.

Sadly, I can't wait for my purchase to arrive at my door and be freed of my purse for most of my daily errands. I will still use my purses. They make me very happy! But only when I know I'm not carrying a 21 month old on one arm and holding the hand of a very active four year old with the other.

Have you given up something that seemed so simple but made your life a lot easier after it was gone?

GIVEAWAY TIME!

ENTRIES ACCEPTED NOW - JANUARY 24, 2011 - CLOSED

To celebrate the 100th sale in my Etsy shop, Sweet Baby Tutus, I have decided to give away one of my Pink and White Princess Tutus! It features pink and white tulle hand tied on a white ribbon. The giveaway is for sizes Newborn-5T and is open to residents in the U.S. and Canada.

Sweet Baby Tutus are great for pictures, birthday parties or for dress up! They are big hits at baby showers!

HOW TO ENTER

Very simple! Leave a comment under this post. You may earn additional entries by becoming a Facebook Fan and a follower of this blog. For each entry leave an additional comment. Ex: "I became a FB fan too!" I will check to make sure the additional entries are valid. This gives you a total of three chances to win!!

The last day for entries will be Monday, January 24th (midnite EST). The winner will be selected on Tuesday, January 25th. using Random.org. The tutu will be shipped via USPS within 5 business days of receiving the size needed. If I have not heard from the winner within 48 hours of contacting them I will select another winner.

Feel free to tweet, post on FB or blog about this contest.

Thank you to all my wonderful customers for the awesome support since my shop opened!

Busy Weekend

I had a very busy weekend!

I have a goal of increasing my inventory and styles as well as listing my new spring designs. Unfortunately, the weather has been REALLY cold so I haven't been able to take my baby girl out to model them. So, I have tried my best with a busy toddler inside. When I take photos outside she can run around and I follow snapping pics. When we are inside she must sit or stand in one spot so I can avoid having a pile of toys or laundry behind her :)

So, here are the newest designs in the Sweet Baby Tutu line!

The first, Cupcake Princess, is my new favorite! When I put this on my daughter she exclaimed, "Pretty!" It just screams spring pictures! It's made with aqua, pink, lavender, white, yellow and light blue tulle hand tied on a white satin ribbon. Just FYI: elastic waists are available upon request on all my designs and are recommended if your little princess is walking.



Cupcake Princess Tutu

Next we have my Purple Princess Tutu! All purple tulle hand tied on a white satin ribbon. So cute!!

Purple Princess Tutu

And finally we have the Birthday Pink Tutu and Onesie Set. This set comes with a matching crochet style headband and flower clip. It features and all fushia tutu hand tied on a fushia ribbon with white polka dots. So great for a birthday party or pictures!

Birthday Pink Tutu and Onesie Set

That will be all of the new styles for a few days. I have a couple more in mind but have a few orders I must get out first!

If you have any questions about ordering or have a custom order you would like to discuss, please email me or leave a comment.

New Stuff!!

Happy Sunday!! Since this blog is also a way for me to promote my Etsy shop, Sweet Baby Tutus I will share the newest listings with you.  It's too cold to have my baby girl model them so I had to improvise ;)

This is my new Hot Pink Tutu and Onesie Set.  The tutu is made with fushia and a touch of white to add dimension.  The set comes with the numbered onesie, tutu and matching headband and flower clip.

$34.50

I also have just the Hot Pink Tutu available. It comes with a matching headband and flower clip as well!

$21.00

The birthday set is available in sizes 12 months to 4T. The tutu is available in sizes Newborn - 5T.

Finally, (at least for today) I have my Chocolate and Pink Tutu available in sizes newborn to 5T.

$19.50

If you are interested in ordering any of my tutus just visit my shop. You can also send me an email if you have questions or special requests.

How the meaning of Christmas has changed

My husband has a beautiful voice and would sing "Joseph's Song" each Christmas. The Christmas I was pregnant with Alex was the last Christmas he sang it. He got choked up that year because he could relate to Joseph's love for the son he raised. He didn't think he could ever make it through the whole song again. Read the lyrics and you will understand why.

Son of our love...

Chorus 1
How could it be this baby in my arms
Sleeping now, so peacefully
The Son of God, the angel said
How could it be
Lord I know He's not my own
Not of my flesh, not of my bone
Still Father let this baby be
The son of my loveChorus 2
Father show me where I fit into this plan of yours
How can a man be father to the Son of God
Lord for all my life I've been a simple carpenter
How can I raise a king, How can I raise a king
He looks so small, His face and hands so fair
And when He cries the sun just seems to disappear
But when He laughs it shines again
How could it be

- Michael Card

I started thinking about how the meaning of Christmas has changed for me over the years. As a young child it's all about the gifts and the anticipation of what Santa will bring.  For me, it was also what my Aunt Dixie would get us. She didn't have children of her own so she always spoiled my sister, me and my cousin at Christmas.  She always gave us the best stuff! Of course, baby Jesus' birthday was also thrown in there.

As I entered my 'tweens and teenage years I understood more of the special birth of Jesus and the true meaning of the Holiday but gifts were still a huge part of the celebration.  In my early twenties, the meaning was still the same and the Holiday became a little bit of a hassle because now I was an adult and couldn't just add my name to my mom's on the family gifts.  I actually had to go out and figure out what to get everyone.

Then I got married and we had our son. Personally, I have tried to put myself in Mary 's shoes. How unreal to know that you were pregnant with the son of God. How would you even begin to tell your soon-to-be husband? How scared she must have been! Today being pregnant without being married isn't such a big deal, but she could have been dragged into the streets and stoned to death! Then her realization later on that he would have to die to fulfill God's plan. I get choked up thinking about it! God had to have been with both of them for such a miraculous thing to occur.

On the flip side, our kids are in the presents stage! They are so excited! It is great to see the joy in their eyes and their innocence. My son always wants to put money in the kettles, "To help the kids who don't get presents."  It is fun to see them so excited and grateful. My son is very good about saying "thank you!" over and over again. We are still throwing in a little bit of Jesus here and there but I am realistic of what will stick at their ages.

A few days ago my son asked, "Mom, what do you want for Christmas?" My answer, "For you and your sister to be happy." It wasn't the dutiful mommy answer. It really is what I want for Christmas. To see the surprised, happy looks on Alex and Brooklyn's faces on Christmas morning will be more than enough for me. Seeing their little happy faces all year long also does the trick too!

How has the meaning Christmas changed over the years for you?

What I've Learned as a SAHM

Stay at home mom (SAHM) in case you didn't know ;)

So, I have been a SAHM for  a little over a year. I didn't think I would survive the first month but now I'm in a groove and am enjoying it. I am actively looking for a full-time job as are A LOT of other folks in the Roanoke Valley area. I do need to go back to work if we want to do things like, buy a house, send our kids to college, pay for unexpected expenses. I am also a member of the worst career field, public relations. We are always the first to go and the last to come back.

Anyway, I've learned a lot in my year at home with Alex and Brooklyn. I've been able to compare it to being a working mom since I went back to work when Alex (now 4) was 12 weeks old and worked until Brooklyn was 6 months old (now 19 months).

1. As stated earlier the first month or two is the hardest!
2. Pray that it doesn't snow or you will be stuck in the house for 2 wks straight.
3. Pray for patience all the time.
4. The PBS show "Word World" can teach your child their letters. B can recognize most of her letters already ;)
5. Kids eat 24/7 and quickly learn the word snack.
6. Put at least one kid in a program of some type a couple of days a week for your own sanity.
7. Run all your errands when you only have one kid, so much easier!
8. Cooking is possible if you have the time.
9. Mommy can: take a nap, read a book, clean, watch TV, email, start an online business during nap time.
10. Naps for the kids MUST happen!
11. I am WAY busier now then when I actually had a job! Not a myth, I'm telling you it's fact!
12. I think at least once a week, "How in the world did all this get done when i worked?"
13. I love the park and taking my kids to play in the creek!
14. I do miss my lunch hour.
17. I thank God for the little things a lot more.
15. My brain is turning to mush.
16. My children do funny stuff ALL the time!

I am so grateful for having this time with my family!

In the Beginning...

So here I am starting a post about my business. Never in a million years would I have thought I would have my own business! What kind of business? TUTUS! I make and sell tutus on Etsy.com. So, that leads me to my blog title, "Makin It Work."  My husband and I joke that I went to grad school to make tutus. Before our move to Roanoke, VA last year I worked full-time and was a mom to our two kids. When my husband was called to a church here, we decided I would stay home for a few months and then find a job. So, selling tutus has been my way of helping out and "makin' it work" on the financial end of things.

Well, a few months has turned into 13 in this horrible job market. I have a background in one of the hardest areas to find a job at the moment (at least around here), media and public relations. So, after almost a year with one income and no job prospects I started getting desperate. Then I remembered buying my daughter a tutu before she was born, looking at it and thinking, "Hm, I can do this."

So, I went out bought some tulle and made my daughter a tutu for Halloween. The first turned out horrible, but once I made a few they started looking adorable.  A friend of mine bought something from Etsy a while back and I had actually purchased a few things and decided it would be a good place to try selling my tutus at a minimal loss if it didn't work out.  I posted my items and started waiting on a sale and reading the forums. That's when I started reading all the posts from other sellers that said it took months for them to make their first sale. Hope dashed. But, I kept at it, reading the best ways to sell and promote on Etsy.

So after two months I have made 50 sales!! It hasn't been easy. Late nights, cleaning neglected and tulle up to my elbows, but I love it! I see why people go into business for themselves.

That's the quick story of how Sweet Baby Tutus came to be. Oh, and the name, I almost forgot! I wanted a name that meant something to me and my family.  I often call my children, "sweet girl" or "sweet boy" so I went with Sweet Baby Tutus.

I will use this blog as an outlet for discounts, information and therapy. I hope you will join me!