Tinkering

So this (above) was my living room wall before I got sick of it and wanted something lighter, more feminine and just different.

Here's what I have come up with recently, although I'm thinking about taking it down and making a big floral display similar to the flowers on the gray platter. Just an extension of those all over the wall.

I'll keep you posted on my progress. I have decided I am not going to worry about getting nail holes in this particular section of the living room wall because I've changed this display so many times I can't be bothered by the holes anymore.

Touch and Go

There are moments where I feel like I'm dancing the line between sanity and insanity (okay, alot of them). I have decided that rather than wait for the moments of quiet and cleanliness, I should revel in the miniscule things that seem to come when I least expect them: a minute of silence in the car where I can actually hear the broadcaster on NPR, times when Lucy and Finn are sharing and playing cooperatively, or those times when the toast lands on the floor buttered- and jammed-side up. Because today, in what has become all too typical, I found myself again toeing that line of sane and insane. We had a nice time playing and conversing with friends at the park. Then Finn came and for the first time in probably a year, showed me he had a little mishap in his underwear (the stinky kind). This was after Lucy had had a similar accident in her underwear, only hers were soaked, along with her pants. Diapers on both of them now (one borrowed, one my own). Miles licked his sandy fists and I decided he could stay sandy. At least he wasn't poopy. Then Lucy, pulling a stunt she's adopted quite readily lately, walked up to our friend's car and tried to touch it as the car was backing out. I screamed at Lucy to get away, my hands carrying something, probably Finn's poopy underwear. My heartrate soared, my voice in soprano panic mode. Everything was okay. Lucy's guardian angel was taking care of her because I wasn't close enough to get her. Fighting in the car on the way home and a coercion to get kids out of the car led to a shower for me and bedtime for Miles. Upon my feet hitting the bathmat, I hear Finn yell that Lucy has gotten into my purse. (Translation: your credit cards, insurance cards and any lotions or liquids you have in there are scattered everywhere). Somehow I managed to tread lightly and get my wallet back safely in it's place, Lucy in a new diaper (she's got some bowels, that girl), and now I'm sitting here typing, listening to Barney and friends sing and chatter in kid-ese. I used to think that passing through unpleasantries meant you were doing something wrong or that something was cosmically flawed. My thinking has since changed. I've decided that if I can just endure those times of panic or poopy diapers or sand all over my car without getting bitter and saying mean things, then I am doing the right thing. But it's so hard. Motherhood is not for the faint of heart.

Just Listed

Come stop by the shop to see what treasures (old and new) I've added!

Weekend Picture

Have a fantastic weekend!

For the Local-Yocals

This is quite possibly the fastest invitation I've ever put together. Here's the scenario: I'd procrastinated all week long to make this, my Photoshop was not yet re-installed on my computer (Lucy worked her magic on my computer and we had to reformat it), and I had about five minutes this morning before I had to leave for the gym. I typed the font in Notepad, printed it out, cut it out, set a vintage Christmas tablecloth I'd got at the thrift store two days ago on top and scanned it. I uploaded it to Costco photo and the invitations were ready in one hour. Phew. I guess Photoshop isn't the end-all after all.

P.S. If you live in the area, please come to the wreath making night. Bring a friend and make a festive wreath for only $2!

My In-House Babysitter

This is what happens when all of the following factors combine: 1) Daylight Savings Time is telling us it's 1 o'clock when really it feels like 4 o'clock, 2) Mama Schuller had to wake up at 6:30 AM with her chicklets, and 3) I'm still on "vacation."

Ruffles Under the Tree to You From Me

Just listed this in the shop. If you're interested, go here to check it out.

No Joke

We didn't carve pumpkins, so here I am trying to get tealights lit and lining the front steps before the first trick-or-treaters get here.

And, sadly, this is all we could come up with for costumes. Finn got the firemen's hat from school a couple weeks ago, from Fireman Dave to be precise, and Lucy refused to wear tights that would have actually made her look somewhat like the ballerina she was trying to be.

Some things matter alot and some things (like, for me, costumes) don't really matter that much. So we simplified this year (okay, most every year) and took the easy route.

Just to show you how much candy these kids consumed this weekend, Finn's response to my "do you want oatmeal for breakfast?" question yesterday was, "Does it have candy in it?"

And, as the sewing season of holiday Etsy sales is upon me, combined with the ultra-wild forces of my kids, I feel the need to go on a mental vacation from my problems. The rule of the game is if you want to do it, do it, and if you don't, then don't. It's that easy.

My vacation may or may not include:

• Blogging
• Eating sugar cookie dough straight from the fridge to complement meals and augment snacks
• Combing my kids' hair before making a public appearance
• Combing or styling my own hair before that appearance
• Being hard on myself for any reason
• Expecting too much of my kids
• Fixing full-blown meals (cereal will have to do)
• Doing laundry
• Doing any sort of deep cleaning
• Catching up on reading
• Letting my kids watch as much TV as they want

If you have any questions, comments, complaints or constructive criticisms, just know that I may or may not be temporarily "out of the office" for the time being.

Just Listed

If you're looking for a swanky skirt for your tree this year, go here and get yours.

Ghoulish Goblets

Trying to think of a creative use for these yard sale metal goblets, I came up with these ghoulish goblets.

Then, using this idea for ghost cookies, we made these out of E.L. Fudge because Target doesn't sell Nutter Butters (at least ours doesn't). Weird, I know. (Finn insisted on putting white chocolate chips for the eyes because the brown ones are too scary).

And then we took them to everybody on our stops today, including three of Finn's teachers, the pediatrician (yes, Miles has yet another round of antibiotics to treat ear infections), and the gal I visit teach.

Everytime I take something to our Dr. in a non-disposable plate or container, he gives it back to me. It's kind of funny. This time, before he gave the metal goblet back to me, he said, "What is that?" I told him I didn't know. It's just the perfect old, quirky thing to put Halloween treats in.

"Shines Like the Top of the Chrysler Building"

After hearing about the Fly Lady for the first time on Whitney's blog, I decided to give her tips on cleaning a sink a try. For two and a half years I've wondered if there is a proper way to thoroughly clean a sink.

Well now I know. I used a clam knife, toothpicks, a toothbrush and a rag, along with the recommended cleaners (bleach, baking soda and Windex) to get this baby shining clean as new.

It gave me an especially nice feeling as I did my dishes today, seeing her all shiny and clean.

Skirting the Issue

Do you need a little frill for your upcoming holiday decor?

Because I might have just what your Christmas tree needs this year....

Go here to get yours!

Amy Atlas Copycats

It was another drowsy Fall afternoon in the Schuller house. Racking my brain for fun, mess-free activities, I thought of these pumpkins I'd seen on Amy Atlas' site.

I had some small white paper bags on hand, and we just colored on the pumpkins, put some candy in them and used masking tape for the stems. Easy, clean and best of all, involved candy.

This is what happened when I was bouncing Miles on my knees. Finn saw it and wanted on, then Lucy followed suit. I like how Miles is using Lucy's hair as his reins.

Love These Two

Lots going on today (as per usual), but I wanted to post this sweet little shot I got over the weekend. It seems like the more Travis is away studying or at school, the more Miles wants to play with him.

Some of the things we're doing:

• 1-year Drs. appt. (and lead test) for Miles
• Baking chocolate chip cookies
• Picking up from preschool
• Going to the gym
• Making dinner...what we're having still to be determined

Hope you have a great Thursday!

The Result of Saying "Prayer Time"

{Forgive the snotty nose, please}

Well, after you've prayed with them, you might as well try to eat your hands, right?

One Year Came Too Quickly

It hardly feels like a year has passed since Miles was born, but alas, the little guy turned one on Saturday.

These being "leaner times" for us, I decided to make him some much-needed shoes instead of buy. Again, I turned to Susan for inspiration and was not disappointed to find a free pattern. I made them out of a chamois cloth and adapted the pattern to fit 18-month-old size feet.

Feeling a little under the weather, Miles smirked at his own personal chocolate cake at first.

But, then, he came around and thoroughly destroyed it. (That's my boy!) I am so thrilled he is mine. He is sweet as can be.

Birthday Brick

And as a bonus for Miles' birthday, I was the first female finisher in the Midtown Classic 10K on Saturday, with a time of 42:32. The brick constituting the award came from historic Euclid Avenue (a.k.a. Millionaire Row, where John D. Rockefeller owned a mansion). Man, that finish felt good!

Reminiscing and Chocolates

Tomorrow we will celebrate Miles' first birthday. It's hard to even imagine myself waddling around, still with child, about to deliver a baby. I look at pictures of myself pregnant and it doesn't even seem like me.
And it's also hard to believe that the holiday season is upon us: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, then New Years. I'm making and selling my homemade caramel chocolate pretzel rods so while everyone else is eating commercial Halloween candy, you can be eating something made with love, all from scratch, with no bar codes on the wrapper! :)

If you're local and you want some, let me know. I will make some just for you.

Squinting

Ever have days where you feel like this? Like the sun is the things you have to face and it's just too bright? Maybe the fact that I woke up at 2 AM to Lucy's bedroom light on and her clanging her toy pots and pans around in her bed is part of the cause. She was making herself a play midnight snack, apparently. Or was it when Miles woke up crying bloody murder at 6 AM for his customary bottle of warmed milk?

Apples

I can't let Fall go by without picking apples at Eddy's Fruit Farm. They're very relaxed and don't have all the fancy-schmancy hayrides and facepainting galore. I like it simple. Our kids had fun just jumping around on the hay bales in their barn. I have plans to make a pie with the apples we picked, although Finn is wanting to make applesauce. Maybe we'll do both. My hair is pretty spikey in that last photo.