Twin Onesies!

Super cute custom order!!!
Amanda

Pillowcase Project Conclusion

The pillowcase project ran from October 1ish to November 30th. So...it's done. My goal was 150 pillowcases. I was able to collect and sew 25. A little short, but I think every bit helps. I brought a little awareness to a great cause and I want to stay involved and continue to help when I can. I probably should have talked about it more on the blog, but....I craft, I'm a mom, I'm a wife, and I'm busy. If you still have a pillowcase or fabric to send, just let me know! It will never be too late to contribute!!! Thanks to those of you who already have!
Amanda

Open 4 Business!

Amanda

IMG00703.jpg

I think....maybe...possibly....I'm ready for the craft show at Firefly Play Cafe, 2-5, tomorrow....
Amanda

OMG....2 days to go

Craft Show
Saturday November 20th
Firefly Play Cafe
2-5pm
Be there!
Amanda

Upcoming Craft Shows!

Here is a list and details of the craft shows I'm participating in this fall and winter:

Saturday, November 20, 2010 2-5pm @ Firefly Play Cafe, 4822 N. High St, Columbus, OH 43214

Friday, December 3, 2010 9am-4pm @ Battelle--for employees only, not open to the public.

Saturday, December 4, 2010 9am-2pm @ American Legion, Post 171, 393 East College Ave, Westerville, OH 43081

I hope to see you there!!!

Amanda

ps:  Thanks Jamie (www.sweetiepiebows.com) for posting this info so all I had to do was cut and paste.  You rock!

Photo Tile necklaces!

HOLY GUACAMOLE!!! I think I have figured it out!  I have been refining my technique and talking with lots of experts in the area of arts and crafts.  By compiling all the knowledge and throwing out a lot of mistakes...I have come upon a method that works!  Please let me know if you are interested in ordering a necklace!  The first 5 orders ship FREE!!!!!

FYI....they look much better than this...but the glass makes them hard to photograph....Tammy....HELP!!!

Order you necklace today!

SuperMom...

The cape!

It's on its way Bree!!
Amanda

I <3 custom orders!

Need me to make ya' somethin'? Shoot me am email! Thanks for the awesome order Becky....it's ready to ship! Next up...a SuperMom cape....stay tuned for pictures!
Amanda

Punkin' Pickin'

We went pumpkin picking last night and it was SO MUCH FUN!!! Be sure to check out www.lehnerpumpkins.com if you're in the Columbus/Delaware area. ...so much fun...
Amanda

Friday Playgroup

Amanda

My Other Kids

I realized the other day that I have never mentioned my other, four legged kids. The orange one is Simone and the Black/Gray one is Alvin. They are two of the most loving and patient pets. I love them almost as much as my kids....almost. I think my kids love them as much as they love me. Every kid needs a pet. Don't forget to check your local shelter if you're thinking about one....fall and winter is tough on shelters. Thanks for listening to me ramble. Just some thoughts....
Amanda

Do you sew? Do you want to learn?

I have 12 pillowcases ready to be sewn...now I need some sewers. So, who's in?? This will bring our two week total to 24...leaving us 126 to go...in 6 weeks....we're a little behind, but I know we can do it!!!!! Thanks again for your continued support!!!
Amanda

Doughnut Picking

On some Mondays, our playgroup gets together to do something "different". We've gone apple picking most recently. When discussing what we'd like to do next, Maggie's friend Lila quickly decided that we needed to go "Doughnut Picking". So that's what we did. We went to the Krispy Kreme shop in town and watched them make the doughnuts. Then we got to eat some. There were 4 moms and 8 kids and things went remarkably well. ...and it was really YUMMY!!!!!
Amanda

Maggie's first dentist appointment!

Maggie got her teeth cleaned for the first time today....and boy, was she a ROCKSTAR!!!!!!!! Great job, Mags!
Amanda

Week one...

Here they are...pillowcases 5-12. I have put my machine to use for the powers of good.

Many people wanted to come to sewing night, but couldn't make it. Do you want to be included in the next one? Leave me a comment as to which night of the week works best?

Just want to send some fabric or a donation? Leave me your email in the comments and I'll email you my address!

Thanks for all your help and support!!!!!
Amanda

*sigh*

0 pillowcases sewn
0 monthly personal expenditures analyzed
0 bills paid
0 kitchens cleaned
0 showers taken
0 time spent in childcare at the Y so I could exercise
0.5 naps taken

This. Is. Not. Okay.

Is it tomorrow yet???!!!???

Anybody need a little boy for the evening or the rest of this week?

*sigh*
Amanda

Gaining speed....

Amanda

Pillowcase Math

photo courtesy of BloominWorkshop.wordpress.com

1 pillowcase worth of fabric = $5 (or less)

150 pillowcases = $750 (about)

Your $20 = 4 pillowcases (or more)

The pillowcase you made going to a cancer patient

Nationwide Children's Hospital = Millions of Smiles

Thanks to those already helping....

If you want to know what you can do....leave me a comment!

Pillow Case Project Update!

We are gaining momentum!  I had more pledges of help today.  Thanks to Aunt Becky, Ann M, and Jenny O.  I appreciate all your doing.

The Fabulous Aunt Becky will be doing a post about John C Mayering for Charity this week and I hope we get a mention.  Her blog is HiLaRiOuS.  If you haven't checked it out yet, you should. GO NOW! and become another one of her thousands of followers.  You won't regret it.  Or maybe you will.  Whatever, she's awesome.

If you want to know how you can help in the quest for 150 pillowcases for ConKerrCancer.org....just leave me an email.  Your help will be greatly appreciated!

Also, don't forget about our Sewing Party on Tuesday night from 8-10pm.  If you want more information, leave me a comment or shoot me an email!!!!!

YAY!!

Thanks

This is why I do what I do!

Thanks, Bree, for sending me this heartwarming photo. Her little boy loves his lovable tuggable and that makes me so proud of my work and so happy.

What a cutie!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

On another note....the pillowcase project is moving right along. So far I have pledges of making some pillowcases, monetary donations, zip lock bags, assembling packages, and washing fabric. I am so proud of my friends and bloggy family. You are awesome!

I would love to have a sewing party next week. Let's say TUESDAY NIGHT from 8-10pm. Bring a machine and your fabric and I'll provide cookies and soda/milk/water. We can crank out some pillowcases. If you are interested, email me at foryourpeanut{at}gmail{dot}com If you don't have a machine, but want to sew...that's fine too! I have an extra! Or....even if you just want to hang out...come one, come all!!!!

Also, I am working on a sign up widget for the old sidebar and I am having some difficulty finding what works. Let me know if you have any tips!

*edit* I can't figure out how to do a sign-up/volunteer list....so if you are wanting to pledge something to help...just shoot me an email or leave a comment!  Thanks!

ConKerr Cancer

ConKerr Cancer started when Cindy Kerr’s son was diagnosed with cancer in 2002 and she began making pillowcases to brighten up his hospital room and to put a smile on his face. He loved it and so she began making pillowcases for other children on the Oncology Unit at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. 

Since then the pillowcase project, A Case for Smiles, has grown in amazing ways. We have provided over 175,000 pillowcases made by thousands of volunteers from across North America and in South Africa. School groups, sewing circles, church groups and fabric stores have all pitched in and are making pillowcases for the kids. An exciting new program has been to take fabric and sewing machines to hospitals and sew with the patients and their families.

ConKerr Cancer has been able to make amazing progress towards fulfilling our goal of making hospital stays as pleasant as possible for chronically ill children and their parents. Simultaneously the pillowcase project has fostered a spirit of community and volunteer service in communities across North America. Unfortunately the number of sick children never ends, and we must continue to expand our efforts to help brighten patients’ lives and raise awareness about childhood cancer

Okay....I want to get involved.  They have a Columbus Ohio chapter that works with Nationwide Children's Hospital.  I love to sew and this way I can give back to my community.  I can give a simple gift of a smile.  When I was sick, over Christmas, a lady had donated blankets to give to chemo patients.  I got one when I was having treatment.  It was like a hug and a smile wrapped in fleece.  It was simple.  It is cherished.  I want to give back.  This group donates 100-150 pillowcases to children fighting cancer an other terminal diseases EVERY MONTH!  That's a ton of sewing.  I want to give 150 pillowcases.  I can't do it alone.  I need help.  I want to spread the word.  If you want to join me, please let me know.  You can donate fabric, your time washing fabric, a hour or two sewing some cases, some ziplock bags.  There are innumerable ways to help if you're interested.  You don't even have to be in the Columbus area.  You can mail me your finished cases, or fabric, or bags.  Those of your crafters who read this....check your stash.  We need 3/4 yard for the body of the pillowcase and 1/3 for the trim.  If your ready to sew some...here's the pattern.

Now what can you do to help?  What can you pledge today?  25 ziplock bags?  Enough fabric for 2 pillowcases? 5 finished pillowcases?  Washing a load of fabric?  Something else?

I want to finish all 150 pillowcases by the end of November....can we do it?

Curly Sue

As much as I hate to brush through them every morning, often bringing her to tears, I love my little girl's red curls.
Amanda

Sick boy...

I hate it when Jacob is sick, but it does make him quite snugly...
Amanda

Thanks

I'm not gonna lie.  Business is booming.  Ever since I redid the website, the orders are flowing in.  I love it.  It is awesome.  I have new customers (too many to name), I have repeat customers (thanks Bree), I have multiple repeat customers (thanks Christa).  Thank you for your support and your encouragement and your business!  I love what I do, but I couldn't do it without each and every order you place.

On that note....fabrics are being selected and therefore removed from the choices.  If there is a nursing cover you like (ahem...wink...Becky H.) Lemme know and I will get it made for you.  I just don't want you to fall in love with something and then have it be gone when you place your order.

I love making stuff...so custom orders are ALWAYS welcome and are priced individually.  I am open to making anything, just about, and I have a nifty embroidery machine, so I can personalize too!  Did you need any monogrammed hand towels, for yourself or as a wedding gift?  I can do that!!!!

pAiNt!

What you don't see is Jacob tasting his paintbrush...yUm...
Amanda

Ring around the rosies

Sorry....this is with my crappy camera phone...
Amanda
--edit--
Well I had this cute video of the kids doing ring around the rosie, but apparenly Blogger doesn't like my BB videos. Dang. Maybe my mom can email me the one she videoed with her iPhone. Hmmmm......

PayPal Shopping Cart

Does anyone know how to do combined shipping using a paypal shopping cart? If someone orders 5 items right now...it asks them to pay $25 in shipping ($5/item). Obviously that's WRONG! How do I set it up differently??? HELP YO!!!!

Apple Picking!

We brought home 10 pounds, but probably ate 15 while we were picking....YuM!
Amanda

Sunday at the Zoo

Amanda

3rd Birthday Celebration

As to not conflict with the Buckeyes game schedule...today we celebrate Maggie's 3rd birthday. Her actual birthday is the 19th. I can't believe how fast it's gone. Her theme of choice....Mickey Mouse! Party pics to come!!!
Amanda

A week full of firsts...

Preschool started yesterday and Swim Classes started today.  She is in her first swim class where the adults just sit an watch.  I have to admit...it's nice.  Here's a photo slideshow of her first class.  I think she liked it.....

Oh....the Places You'll Go!

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the girl who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener there
in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And then things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don't.
Because, sometimes, you won't.

I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
that Bang-ups
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch.

You'll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you'll be in a Slump.

And when you're in a Slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles cross weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place...

...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or the waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for the wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

NO!
That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying
You'll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping,
once more you'll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you're that kind of a gal!

Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You'll be as famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don't
Because, sometimes they won't.

I'm afraid that some times
you'll play lonely games too.
Games you can't win
'cause you'll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you'll be quite a lot.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.

But on you will go
though the weather be foul.
On you will go
though your enemies prowl.
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl.
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike,
And I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never foget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
You're off the Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!

- Dr. Suess "Oh the Places You'll Go"

Sneak Peek

...And I'll post a pic of her in it in the morning! Preschool here we come!!!!!
Amanda

!?

Maggie starts preschool in the morning! She and I are both so excited. What goes in a preschooler's backpack besides a spare pair of clothes???!!!???
Amanda

Happy Labor Day!

Who brought marshmallows?
Amanda

Ahhhhh....Fridays

In my world, Friday is playgroup day.  Here's a glimpse into our world of chaos....

ps:  They don't normally run around half naked.  We just wanted to play in the water and it was easier than swimwear....

On another note.....4 of our 9 moms just had baby #2.  What's the best gift for a second time mom???  What is the best gift regardless of how many kiddos.  I want to do something nice....Thoughts???

Go Bucks!

O-H...
Amanda

One day....I shall return to the stage.....

New Playset!

My hubby rocks! Look what he did this weekend! Playgroup is going to be so much fun on Friday. We're gonna get out the water table and the baby pool too! Would s'mores on the firepit be too much? Yeah, probably.

Wanna play?

Do you like me? Can you follow me?

I have a stat meter on my blog. I see people come and go and I can see where they click. It's interesting. I have anywhere from 30-150 people find my site on a daily basis. Who are you? I know a few of you...Hi Amy, Hi Kelly, Hi Kathy...now I want to meet the rest. Please "like" me on my facebook page, the link is on the right. And, please "follow" my blog. I guess I don't really know why you should "like/follow" me but it makes me feel good. It helps my self esteem. It helps me meet you. Do you want me to "like/follow" you? I'd be happy to, just leave me a link in the comments.

Amanda

New Project!

While shopping for fabric the other day, Maggie found a bolt of owl fabric. The rule is...you can't just pick out fabric, you have to have a project in mind. As she brought me the bolt she said, "I want you to make me a dress out of this.". How could I refuse?

a moment of thanks

I have the greatest friends in the world. I really mean it. When the shit hits the fan, they come running with paper towels, clorox wipes, and margaritas. I couldn't do this daily grind without them. As I write this, Maggie is upstairs in my bed, sick, watching her 3rd hour of consecutive cartoons. And by 3rd, I mean 4th. Who am I kidding, right? But it's keeping her happy and resting and she loves NickJr. The moms in my moms group sent no less than 7 emails sending get well wishes to us as well as the other sick kiddos in the group (who may or may not have whooping cough), when we told them we wouldn't make it to playgroup today. They make me smile, they make me laugh, they make me feel a part of something. When you become a SAHM, part of who you were disappears. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE what I do now. But, if you know me, you know I'm social and I needed to find that again. I found it in my friends, my other moms, my commrads in the trenches. We can do this. We can do this together.

Welcome to the world Sydney, Brooke, and Sophia. For my mommy friends new to this Mother of 2 gig, let me know when I can bring the paper towels, clorox wipes, and margaritas.

Amanda

dang.

So...you see that cute little black tee staring at you from across Target. It gets your attention, then screams, "I'm on clearance.". So you run over and grab it in your size, as well as a couple of its more colorful friends. You run home and put it on, because store clean is still clean right? (Those who've worked retail, shut it). You look in the mirror and say, "I look darn cute, if I do say so myself." You return to your daily grind looking ever so spiffy. When it's time to put to pjs on and tuck in for the night, you decide to catch one last glimpse of your ever so cute self only to discover....that in a house with 2 cats, 2 kids, and all that goes along with it...you black tee makes you look like a damn walking lint roller.

*sigh*

I thought you might like to see more....

august 24, 2010
The Ohio State University Campus
Jacob and Maggie