My Role Model

My Mom is the kind of person who asks questions when others would jump in and give advice. She has perfected the art of patience, having raised seven very strong-willed, spirited children. She would reluctantly take in pet dogs and then cry when it was time to give them to new owners. She likes sea foam candy, and incidentally, Velvet Crumble candy bars. She prefers milk over dark chocolate. She likes to wear white nightgowns to bed, with long sleeves. I remember just staring at her when I was little, after she put on her mascara, thinking she was the prettiest woman I'd ever seen (I still think that). Someone once wrote in her high school yearbook that she would be the one to "redecorate the throne of God," (or something to that effect) and I think they were spot on. She prefers pie over cake and is an avid runner and cyclist. She's the real deal, bona fide, true, pure and someone once said (I think it was my aunt Alison) that she bets my Mom insides are perfectly pink and 100% healthy (my Mom was eating a bowl of beets at the time). If I could become like anyone, I would wish to become like my Mom. Happy Birthday to you, Mother Dearest!

Sewing Ruffles How-To

This might be old news to some, but a while back I discovered how to sew instant ruffles. If you use invisible thread on the top bobbin (without adjusting the tension), and regular cotton or polyester thread on the bottom bobbin, the fabric puckers and ruffles itself as you sew.

Try it and you can jump on the ruffle bandwagon too!

Frostbitten

The frost pixies paid us a visit last night.

We woke up to plates on the wall lightly dusted in crystals of snowflakes and rounds of shiny metallic tinsel.

Outside, the air turned Spring-like to cold in one day, and the sky cast itself in grays and muddled blues.

I love the anticipation of holidays coming up, the chill in the air (it used to get me excited about downhill skiing season), and the thought of keeping warm inside at home (even if my walls are frostbitten).

T. Schuller Unplugged

This is what Travis does sometimes while he's watching T.V. It cracks me up. I will hear the T.V. show on, and then when there's a lull in the action or the show gets quiet, I will hear a soft strumming of the guitar.

I look over and see my rockstar husband picking away something, no amp, no cords, just him in his pajama bottoms and old t-shirt and his guitar.

It's quite endearing.

Just Listed

Here.

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?