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.

TUTU GIVEAWAY WINNER

Thanks to everyone who participated!

If you didn't win, don't fret! Got to my shop, Sweet Baby Tutus, and enter the code SBTBLOG for a 10% discount on all items, including my birthday sets!! See, you can still have your favorite!

AND THE WINNER IS...

LISA D.

CONGRATULATIONS!

She will receive a Sweet Baby Tutus Pink & White Princess Tutu!

This giveaway was a great success and there will be more giveaways in the future. If you would like for me to host a giveaway for you, just send an email. Family friendly items only please.

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.

New Tutu!



Pink & White Princess Tutu

 So, in the rush of the last minute holiday orders I have added a new tutu style to my shop. It is the Pink &White Princess Tutu. It's perfect for newborn and birthday pictures!

I am also planning to start adding my spring designs too.  If you have an idea of something you would like to see, send it my way.  I happily take custom orders!

Purple and VT

I love making custom tutus! Some of my custom requests have become permanent fixtures in my shop because I loved they way the turned out so much! Here are a couple of my latest. A Virginia Tech Hokie tutu and a purple and lavender tutu.

Love them!!
Visit Sweet Baby Tutus @Etsy

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!