My absolute go-to girls...

These days, I'm feeling VERY exhausted.

It has a lot to do with these yahoos!

It's like 40 is just whipping my butt, and I can't recover every night.

There isn't a day in the week that I'm home more than 20 minutes before 6:20 pm.

I'm back to work, but I have a week left at my job before I start a new one, so these last few weeks have been about training my replacement, stressing about teaching her everything, and worrying about everything I'll have to learn new at my next job.

Each day, I leave work, run errands till practices are over, or go home and start part of supper, then head to the school.  Evan is done with football at 5:30, and then we wait in the van for Grace who is done with cheer at 6:00. 

We rush home to have mom make supper (wish I had a FAIRY to do this for me...or a husband who might????), and then clean up. 

Throw some laundry in the mix, some reminding about homework, making lunches, etc. and it's already 8:30 or 9:00! 

To wind down, if I have the time and haven't already fallen asleep on the couch,  I check up with these ladies...

Shannan.
 I've met her in person several times.  I'm still blown away by her, and feel like I'm meeting a famous movie star everytime I encounter her.  My not shy self, becomes the biggest introvert alive.  I am embarrassed by this. 
She is Shannan.  She is Flower Patch Farm Girl, living in the city. 
I read her everyday.  She brightens up my life.  She is quirky, has a GREAT sense of fashion, and I want to go flea market shopping with her cause her house is gorgeous.  She's even been in a magazine.  She IS famous.

Meg.
This Kansas born mother of 5 amazes me.  I want her energy.  I want her job of hosting craft weekends in her second home.  I want her budget to go spruce up my own house.  I read her blog everyday as well.  She is my go-to gal if I need something to inspire my creativity.  She is Whatever.  She loves rainbows and COLOR.  She is my inspiration.

Leslie.
This wonderful East Coast lady came into my life a couple years ago with some very nice comments on some of my posts.  We've since corresponded through email, and even sent each other goodies in the mail.  She's got two adorable children, is living in a farmhouse with gorgeous interior brick walls, and spends her everyday with her farm animals and horses.  I love to read about her adventures and travels.  She is Farm Fresh Fun.

If you haven't checked out these ladies on my sidebar, then do it.  They will brighten up your day!

Jewelry Snob

I AM a jewelry snob.

I have a lot of necklaces.  I do.  It's a fact.

A lot of my favorite items on my Etsy boards are jewelry.  Necklaces to be exact.

It's the one accessory that I can use to dress up, or quirk up anything in my wardrobe.

Grace has even been known to steal a couple and use them for pictures.

SOOOOOO....I needed a new place for my jewelry.

It was currently residing in a large jewelry box that was taking up too much room on my small shelf in the bathroom.

I pinned a few jewelry organizer ideas from Pinterest a while back.

They both kinda had the same idea...use a really cool frame and work around that.

I struggled with what I wanted for quite a while.

And I put it off till just a couple weeks ago.  Procrastinator, I know.

I had picked up a wooden coat rack at Goodwill quite some time ago, and decided to use it in a different way.

I had the big, gorgeous, white frame...I've had it for years and used it in many different ways, but this way, I like the best.

This summer I also picked up this great piece at Goodwill, on a half off day, so it was $1.
Score.

All in all, I like the set up.  My plans one day, to have a small dresser to hold my towels, etc. with this on the top.

What do you think?

City Shoot

Sunday night I took Grace and her bestie, Madison, to the next town over for a friend photo shoot.

We traversed through an old bag factory filled with shops,

then headed uptown where we walked through alleys,

and across empty streets,

and over to city hall and a retro garage fashioned into a coffee shop.

We even dreamed about our own apartments when we're older.

I had a great time with them, and they are SO photogenic.  Made me jealous, cause I SO am not.

Now, how will I ever choose which shots are the best to blow up...I mean, there were 120!  Which one is your favorite?

Burst of crafting

Give me a couple hours alone, and I'll give you some new things for my Etsy shop.

It's been awhile.  I have had materials laying upstairs in my craft room waiting to be finished, but something always gotten in the way.

Maybe it's just because I'm better under pressure.  It's almost time to go back to work, and I'm feeling the need to stock the shop when I have some extra time.

Brent and the kids went to move the sheep this afternoon, and I headed upstairs, turned on the TV to a random afternoon movie, and got to work.

Of course, usually when I'm finished with the things I make to list in the store, I usually want to keep them for myself!

Anyway, here is a little preview...


I didn't make these items myself, but I have had them for years with some other vintage sporting equipment in my living room.  Time to pass them on to a good home. 

Miniature vintage bowling trophies.

Distressed aqua bulletin boards...

 

and chalkboards...

Pistachio green ones...

and a mustard yellow ornate frame...   SO hard to part with.

I use all these colors in my own home, so whatever doesn't sell, I could always use for myself.

If you haven't lately, check out my shop.  Just click the link in the sidebar.

Happy Shopping!