As you all may know, I recently took a side job.

I took a job in addition to my regular gig as a business owner. I took a job being in charge of 40 foreign exchange students for a 3 week period. Three weeks of work and a bit of money...it would be fun! How much work could it be? Our company had hit a bit of a slump and we needed the money - that was 5 months ago.

In taking this job, I found that - almost no matter how bad it gets at the regular company - I would have been better off just continuing to work and working through the slump with our regular company. However, every negative experience can be a learning one.

Here's what I learned about myself:

1. I don't switch gears well. I need to be doing what I do best, which is running my company. I'm old enough that I'm not really searching for the "right" position any more and frankly trying out new jobs really just isn't necessary. Even if it's scary, stick to what you do best and build one business and don't get sidetracked.

2. I hate kids. Ok, that sounds strong. The position was with a bunch of teenagers and even though I adore my own kids, I have little patience for other people's children. I considered running a daycare at one point (for about 10 seconds) and never looked back. So, why did I think I'd like teenagers...no idea.

3. Be careful of positions that seem "flexible" and yet they have lost the last several employees before you. Basically the warning signs were all there with this job. No one ever stays, they didn't really care what my background was, and they hired me almost right after I called. These are warning signs. Beware. Ask to speak to the person who was there before you or maybe the couple before that.

4. I hate schedules. I like to make my own and control my own life. I worked for people for years and this is a necessary evil to most. However, I hate it and I'm not good at it. Frankly I'm amazed I lasted as long as I did.

5. If you have to get baby sitters and buy fast food or eat out...do the MATH! In the end, the money wasn't worth what I had to put out to accomplish the goals of the position. No way. Not even close.

6. If you feel like you really really really want to quit. Quit. It's just not worth it. Waking up every morning to go to something you hate is not worth the little bit of money that comes out the other side.

So, I'm getting myself back to normal, but this might explain where I have been...resting and recuperating. Oh! That's another lesson, it's also taken me a week to recover...there is NO WAY this was worth it! :)

Labels: business, family life, motherhood

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We had a nice weekend. I did a bit of work on one of my websites, and did some serious "geeking out" - amazing HOW geeky we can be - be sure to check out our "Lil Geeks of the week" feature on Geek Parenting! (yep, that's MY little geeks)

Then one of the little geeks - Missy C - brought home this book. She said "You'll just scream when you see the book I picked out from RIF (Reading is Fundemental) Mommy!:

Well, I didn't exactly scream, but I was really proud! (I apologize for the cheesy link, but Amazon didn't have anything subtle! :) And it really is a cool book!) So, we picked out a project and Missy C picked out the fabric and she was SO proud to have created this:

I need to get a photo of the inside, it has really crazy funky flowers. She stitched the whole outside - I helped with some snaps and sewing on the button.
It was fun and she was really proud of it this morning. We put in brand new princess pencils and she was ready to go! :)

Labels: family life, motherhood, sewing

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My daughter is having a difficult year. She's seven. I'm not even totally clear on why, but yesterday the reality came out that "I'm not popular." She's in first grade for heaven's sake! The "popular" girl in question is very pretty, dark haired, adorable. According to my daughter ALL the boys like her. According to the boys mother's the boys have no idea what liking a girl even means. They still rank wrestling and playing games with boys FAR above any "like" of girls.

So, I've spent the last 24 hours thinking about what it was like to be a seven year old. I remember caring a lot about boys and about what other people thought about me. I don't actually remember worrying about the "popular" part until we moved to the "big city" from a very small town when I was in sixth grade. Then the whole popular/not popular thing was absolutely devastating. I remember the warm feeling that you got when you held a boys hand and what a wonderful thing a play date was - enjoying Coloring, playing Barbies, playing with toy horses.

But I also remember the immense pain when someone didn't like you anymore or teased you because of your teeth or your clothes. As her Mother, I completely come to her defense - Mama bear in action! She's gorgeous, long blonde hair with highlights that people pay HUGE money in salons for. She's skinny, and tall - a "tall, lanky blonde". How could she not be "popular"? Because that silly statement is as random now as it was when I was seven.

The first words out of my mouth to my daughter were "ignore them" and "popular isn't important" but I realize how completely hollow those suggestions are. Frankly I can't really say I follow that at my age. I still care about what people think and if someone says something hurtful (which thankfully happens less at forty) it hurts.

So, if I were seven what would I do? I think I'd make some wonderful best friends. Not the "coveted" popular girls, but the normal kids...like me. I'd share our thoughts and feelings and then try to understand if they weren't my friend when they were trying to be popular. I think I'd try to love myself. That's what it's all about - if you love yourself then those people can never completely tear you down. I'd also come home and confide in the ones I love at home more. Tell them how much I love them and bask in the comfort that is home.

As for the boys, hmmm, girls will always be more interested than boys at that age. I guess I'd realize that they can just be friends that I enjoy and like to be around. Not love, just friendship. I'd try not to obsess about the "cute one" or the "smart one" and just enjoy playing with them, cars, crazy mystery games and dress up.

As for the "mean girls" well don't become one of them, treat people the way you want to be treated, but stand up for yourself. But I would also understand that the "popular" kids don't usually choose to be popular and that their lives revolve around having people like them. I would try to remember that this isn't the meaning of life nor should it be. It's great to have people like you, but it is always the most important to like yourself. "Popular" kids are always up for scrutiny on what they do and what they like. Most often the popular kids don't even know they're popular. They feel as alone and outside as anyone else.

So what's important at seven? Enjoying life, enjoying your friends and enjoying who you are. I know it's probably an unreachable goal, but now I just have to figure out how to try to get her to believe me! Wish me luck.

Labels: motherhood, ponderances

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Have you ever had a day with 8000 things on your list? Of course you have!

I had one of those today (I'm NOT going to admit how many times that happens in my life) and that was ok. I got a few of them done....but really spent the day just thinking and net surfing and kind of having fun! I'm going through trying to figure out if I want to make one of those 100 things I want to do lists. Still not sure. I think it would be depressing if you don't finish any of them.

The kids and I played with their moonsand. Matey Moo can recite the entire commercial (he's an informercial junkie...it's weird) but the stuff is totally fun to play with. I'd be afraid if I had kids that ate things...but my kids are past that. Anyway, it's totally fun. The consistency of brown sugar and sparkly. A fabulous way to stretch the creativity!

On another note,among my surfing around for new fun ways to post my blog and I couldn't believe I didn't have a Technorati Profile. I'm always amazed when I go to those sites how often I already have signed up (ages ago and forgot about it) - however, this was one place I was not signed up.

Ok, more creative pictures soon....back to the moonsand!

Labels: Blogging, motherhood

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Not really! But we had fun! And a bunch of "dudes" showed up too (thus the direction of the site surfing)! :-) Here's a few of the sites we surfed:

Etsy -neat place to get handmade gifts and fabulous ideas!
Parent Hacks - the best site with parenting tips around
Cool Mom Picks - Holiday Gift Guide -for all your holiday shopping needs.
Dooce - great mom blog
Mothers Acting Up - what a totally cool site. Not for profit...go check it out.
Dadz.tv - UTube for parents...very cool
Dadz.com Directory - if you're a Dad, start here.
Blogfathers - I found this a while ago, group blog by cool dads

I'm sure there were more, but that's what I can think of next. It went so well, the hour flew by and people hung around for a bit after the hour! I'd love to do another one! Very fun!

Labels: Blogging, motherhood

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I can't believe my baby is Seven! :-) However, today is the day and we're off to the bowling alley to play with friends, eat pizza and have fun!
I hate the whole "gifts for the attendees" thing...so this year we're doing these coloring books:

I think it's a cute idea. Missy C and I went through and picked her favorite crafts off sites like sprout and disney and then put in coloring pages and a recipe for french toast. She drew two cute pictures and I stitched the whole thing together in the sewing machine (why staple?).

Anyway, I think it's cute and with a couple of cheap crayons...probably LESS likely to be thrown out than the stuff from Oriental trading! :-)

Had a great crazy quilters meeting yesterday and so more on that later! (busy weekend!)

Labels: motherhood, sewing

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Productive day in the studio, but not much creativity to it! I'm sorting the kids artwork - about once a year I put up a new picture in their room that's a montage of the art work they did the year before...ahem...it's been 2 years! So, time to update! Meanwhile I'm sorting and organizing. Geez, how did we get to have such creative kids! ;-)
Then I've been hemming those pants! Yep! done! Hooray! and Matey Moo has 8 new pairs of pants that don't bunch around his ankles. I'm sewing a button on the last pair now - whew! I'm also darning a pair of socks....using a darner (I think that's what it's called)! It's my grandmother's and frankly I'm usually used to throwing out socks with holes, but this pair cost quite a bit and Rex loves them!
With the sock on - pull it tight and stitch and you're done. Not sure what stitch you're supposed to use, but they look better to me! we'll see, when he tries them on!
At last...I can see the bottom of my table - I found my needlebook (which has been missing for 3 weeks) and my projects that I'd like to work on.
I think I'm taking a brazillian embroidery project with me to Vail...not because of desire, but because it's so gosh darn portable. Be nice to get some more stuff done! But I think a clean table is a start.

Labels: embroidery, motherhood, sewing

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Soul searching is a funny thing...amazing how your life changes and turns in ways you have no idea. For example, having my husband working with me on my business at home is turning out to be the most wonderful thing that could happen to our family. He's totally connected to the kids, he and I relate on a much higher level (we don't just pass each other and say "Hi' once a day!) and things are going well. Very well! We've hired a bookeeper - actually a good friend who wanted to get started in her own business doing books and we're "taxing" (I couldn't resist) her knowledge. When she gets her website up, I'll be sure to give her a plug!

However, much much more is going on in our crazy household...most completely unrelated to crafting or otherwise. You'll remember my post a while ago about the Denver Post board/blog and I have dropped my participation in that - but if you're a Mom in Denver pop over and say Hi!

It was just too much! One thing too many! And frankly, after thinking about it, I'm not a mommy blogger, I'm a "me" blogger. I love my kids, and adore writing about them (by the way grandparents, school pictures are out and they're adorable!) but they aren't everything in my world. I'm having a blast with our new business, I'm still really enjoying the crazy quilting group and if I can get through the mending in my studio.....I have some art I want to work on! Whew!

I'm also really enjoying my "other blog" - and hope to post today with a follow up on the Trading Spaces that aired last night! It was totally fun/weird to have such good friends featured on TV, but it was a great episode. More about that later I'm sure.

In the spirit of "cleaning up". I found a few links I never passed along:

Quilts, Hawaiian quilts, Hawaiian quilting, Quilting lessons, quilting classes - I have an amazing admiration of these quilts. Maybe at some point I'll do one or use the technique somehow. I just think they are stunning tho and the site provides a lot of info and eye candy!

Sewing Buttons and Craft Buttons - this one is almost totally for my Mother in Law who I took to Denver Fabric and she really fell in love with the button section. Well, if others of you have a hard time finding buttons, they're online! :-) Woo hoo!

Florilegium Antiques and Needleart - This is Rhonda's recommendation (shes one of the talented Rocky Mountain Crazy Quilters)....fabulous ribbons, wonderful eye candy, but HOW do you order? (I shouldn't say that, but it was a bit frustrating!). I think the store looks amazing tho...if you're in Kansas City go find them! Maybe it would be easier to just send you my money to go shopping there! (ha ha!)

Labels: Crazy quilt, motherhood, quilting

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I've actually been here on my blog, although I know I may have not seemed like it! I've been housecleaning. I've moved my blog a couple of times...new domain, new picture host, etc, and never really cleaned up all the old picture links that didn't work, etc. So, I've been housecleaning.

Why now? You may ask....

Well, two things. First, my blog is now in it's 4th year (can you believe it?) - I started writing July 2004! So, many things have happened, pets sick and died, kids in the hospital, Mom in the hospital (all better), jobs have come and gone. So, many projects, all my embroidery, brazillian embroidery, learning to sew with a machine (I know a few of you have giggled at me there!) and tons of photos of all of these memories! Even I didn't realize how much I had recorded of my life here. It's amazing.

So, why...you may ask....is my second reason? Well, I'm joining a group of lovely (and one handsome) bloggers for the new "Mile Hi Mamas" combo blog and discussion board that's going to be part of our own Denver Post (newspaper in Denver) web site. We're starting to work on the posting boards and there will be a link to my blog and gosh, I feel honored to join some pretty heavy duty Mom/Dad bloggers out there:

Angela Klocke
Anniethology
Crazy Bloggin Canuck
Greeblemonkey
Mitch McDad (poor token Dad)
Mothergoosemouse
On the Banks of the Rio Grande

and me! :-)

So, this blog -while continuing to chronicle my art and craft life, will now expand to a mommy blog too (although I'm pretty much a mommy who does needlepoint, art, work and tons of other stuff and always have been). So, I'm not sure how much this will really change at all. So, stay tuned.....

Labels: Blogging, motherhood

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You may have noticed a change of header. Well, apparently today is turning out to be the "first day of the rest of my life" (remember that old quote!).

Both of my babies (BABIES I TELL YOU!) went off full time to school today...looking so grown up:
I kept getting them in the sun (the other picture, if you want to see Missy C looking better is here)....but geez. MY BABIES! Ok, I bored poor Roger all day with all this . " I wonder what they're doing now", "they're with strangers", on and on and on.....I must pay him hazard pay for today!

Speaking of which, we have decided to go into business together. Widget has gotten so busy and he was so completely bored with stupid moronic big computer companies who are run by a bunch of blithering idiots (ok, I'll stop now). All I want in the world is stable health insurance, so darn it, we're going out and finding some!

So, he was home and my kids were gone. What a weird weird day.

I'm sure tomorrow will be MUCH more normal! (yeah, right)

Oh, did I mention I have a fiber art show to get ready for and am contributing to a Denver Post Mommy site? (I really really must be committed!)

Labels: Denver, motherhood

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I think my daughter is really bright, but if you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know that a year and a half ago she cut her hair with my sharpest sewing scissors right before her first day of school. Know what's worse than that? She did it again!

Behold the job of "fix-it" job of our fabulous hairstylist who dug her out of the proverbial doghouse again - the "before" and "after:

You might be able to see in the picture on the right that she still has very very short bangs right in the middle in front, but with a week or two of growth, they'll look like "planned" peek-a-boo bangs. Very stylish (according to the hairstylists - who all thought she was a riot!). We did make her go to school for a week with the horrible haircut until I actually had a mother ask me if I cut her bangs (UGH! Can you imagine?). Anyway, she looks adorable again and amazingly didn't lose much length.

Creatively I'm on a new quest....I'm doing research and about to completely switch gears..wish me luck. I've been stuck and uninspired and I'm hoping this gets me off square one!

Labels: motherhood

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