If you give Amanda a cookie...

If you give Amanda a cookie, she will probably want a Diet Coke to go with it.  

As she's pouring her Coke into a tall glass covered in white film, thanks to the new Utah law forbidding phosphates in dishwasher detergent, she'll remember that she needs to start the dishwasher.  

On her way to the dishwasher, she'll step on Cheerios someone dumped onto the floor in proclamation that breakfast was over, and grab the broom to clean them up.  

As she sweeps the kitchen floor, she'll notice the Cheerio mess extending into the living room, so she'll follow it to find the mother-lode in a pile behind the couch.  

As she bends down to get a better look, she'll probably see the chocolate handprints on the arm of the couch, and remove the slip covers for an overdue spin through the washing machine.  

On her way to the laundry room, she'll realize that she should check the girls' bedrooms for dirty clothes before starting the washer, so she'll head downstairs.  

After walking to the other side of the basement, she'll probably notice that a tornado has turned a minutes-ago clean toy room into a disaster zone of epic proportions and in her furor, turn and stomp back up the stairs to get as far away from the mess as possible.

Once she reaches the top of the stairs, she'll probably see the landscape of coats, hats, gloves and snow boots strewn across the floor, with nary a thing hanging on its hook.  While muttering things about kids, grounded, locked in their rooms, and just let them freeze, under her breath, she'll start hanging things up and notice a crumbled paper under a boot and upon closer inspection will see that it's the homework she spent an hour working on with her daughter the night before.

She'll probably shake her head in disbelief and go back up into the kitchen to put the paper on the shelf where she's sure to find it again, and while she's there, she'll notice the phone bill on the shelf and remember that she needs to pay it today.

She'll sit on the side of the couch that now has an indentation remarkably the size of her posterior, and log onto the internet.  Before signing onto Bill Pay, her Facebook page automatically pops up and she'll probably spend the next 30-45 minutes checking statuses and commenting on all the Jimmer jokes.

While she's reading The Jimmer jokes, she'll get a great idea for hilarious valentines and open up her Publisher to start creating them.


While she's laughing hysterically at her own humor, shell need a tissue to wipe yesterday's mascara out of her eye.  


She'll walk to the bathroom and question how on earth the turquoise, white and red striped Aquafresh toothpaste got smeared across the top of the doorway.


She'll probably go to the hallway linen closet to get out a washcloth and upon opening the cupboard, become victim to a waterfall of hair accessories, deodorant, hand towels and pom poms.


She'll have to bend down to pick everything up and when she does, she'll find the spare Church key she's been searching for for two weeks.


She'll need to put the key in a memorable place, so she'll realize the best place is the kitchen shelf.

Once in the kitchen, she'll look around and realize that the dishwasher is not on, the laundry has not been started, the floor is filthy, there's still toothpaste on the bathroom door, the contents of the linen closet are on the hallway floor, the phone bill has not been paid, she can't find the key that was just in her hand, and there's a warm Diet Coke next to a cookie on the counter.

Amanda clearly doesn't need any more cookies.  
But she's in desperate need of a cold Diet Coke.

Work or Play?

Ever since I was unexpectedly (and unknowingly) replaced as the Box Tops Coordinator at our school, I've been trying to figure out how to put in my required 30 hours of volunteer work (we're at a Charter School where volunteering is mandatory).  I didn't do a darn thing the whole first half of the year, mostly in protest of my ousting.  (Which I realize is totally ridiculous, since not another soul probably even knew of or cared about my displacement.)

Mike's had a slow work week, so when an email came about a volunteer opportunity at the school, I figured I should take advantage of not needing to find a babysitter, and start whittling down my hours.

I had a little information about what Mrs. J wanted on the bulletin board, so I sketched something out on a piece of paper and started to work.  The 4th graders are working on reports on North American animals, so that (and that it needed Spanish translation) was my only stipulation.  I was supposed to have some helpers, but in my overachieving, controlling fashion, I hyperfocused and did it all myself before anyone had a chance to screw it up give helpful suggestions.

  Here's what I came up with:

All the animals assigned to the kids are represented here and it was so cute to see them get excited when they saw "their" animal up on the board.  I even had comments from some of the "smart kids" congratulating me for putting the animals into their correct habitats.  (Thank you, Google, for helping me not embarrass my college educated self, or my 4th grade daughter.)

This particular board took me 12 hours from start to finish, when I include all the time it took me to find pictures of the animals online.  I guess I'm doing alright on those volunteer hours....

Katie's teacher pretty much got on her knees and begged me to do her board next, so I reluctantly obliged and got hers done today. ;)

Another 4 hours shaved off--one more bulletin board and I'll have met my volunteer quota for the year!  Though with all of the requests from the other teachers in the past two days, I'm pretty sure I'll be exceeding my 30 hours.  Good thing it doesn't feel anything like work.  I kinda wish I'd figured this out 2 years ago!  Thank you, whomever decided someone else needed to do the Box Tops.  Who knew you were doing me such a favor?

Turning Point & Lesson Learned

This weekend was a true turning point for me. 

I spend a lot of time trying to function "in the moment" and losing sight of the future.  Sometimes--okay, MOST of the time--it's out of necessity.  Trying to get dinner ready while helping 3 kids with homework, a hungry, whiny baby at my hip while yelling at the 4 y.o. to stop banging on the piano tends to not bring out the best in me.  And after the meltdowns (by them and me), I'm filled with such regret that I didn't speak softly in the moment, then pray for forgiveness and help to do better the next day.  I've come to realize that preparation BEFORE those moments come can be the difference between the "Soft-Voiced Mom" and "Freak OUT Mom."  I'm trying to be better about it, but I'm not usually successful. 

As you know, I've been presented with an opportunity to make more of my business than I ever thought probable.  I've been scrambling the last couple of weeks to get everything ready for the trade shows that start in February, and freaking out and stressing out all along the way.  I've been swinging on a pendulum--back and forth--between "Get it all done, quick, quick, quick!" and "Just stop the madness now!  It's too much and you're neglecting too many other things!"   Amidst all the conflicting feelings, one little voice kept coming into my head, "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."

I've been buckled in the back seat, going along for the ride ever since I began this journey.  Things have fallen into place for me, and I knew that the next road was the right one, even though I didn't know what to expect or where I'd go next, or really what I was doing at all!  It's been a fun endeavor and I've figured it out along the way.  Things have changed, though, and I can feel it.  This conflict brewing in me has put me right back into "Freak Out Mom" mode, and this time, I'm paying attention.  I've had some concerns about taking this next step, about my own preparedness, so for the first time, (and because the time is now right) I unbuckled and climbed into the driver's seat. 

What I discovered over the weekend was that I'm invested in this emotionally.  I really hadn't supposed it before, but when I started to consider just giving it all up, a sad and empty feeling overcame me.  It surprised me to know that I really wanted this, because I always felt like I'd do it till it wasn't fun anymore--and it stopped being fun the minute I started freaking out.


After getting myself a Cliff's Notes version education on design/manufacturing/production/retail over the internet, and connecting with others within and without my little network, I finally saw the path that I need to put myself on, and it isn't what I thought.  It's neither "quick, quick, quick" nor "stop."  It's "slow down."  Imagine that!  I, who jump into everything at 100 mph, have just taken myself off cruise control and let off the gas.  I'm "speaking softly" in the moment and it's so refreshing!!!!  I no longer feel stress and worry and FEAR, because I have a different plan and a different path that takes me through all the preparation I need in order to eliminate it.

My Jan. 31st deadline is no longer.  I'm giving myself the next 6 mo. to a year to do it the right way, and I've never felt better about a decision in my life!!!  There's something to be said about stopping to see the big picture and I'm so grateful that this most important life lesson was one I could truly learn at a bright and hopeful beginning instead of at the end of fear and failure.

New Year, New Opportunity

I really thought that once the holidays were over, I could finally breathe. 

What was I thinking????  

All I did was replace one thing with about three others that I was putting off until such a time as this. 
Great job, Jonesy. 
Way to fool yourself into seeing a light at the end of the first tunnel. 

So, you wanna know about my new project now that Christmas is over?? Do ya?  Do ya?

Well.....................................................

I've been busy gathering samples, organizing order forms, creating display boards, and shopping for new fabrics. 

Why?

Because I now have a Retail Sales Rep. who will be taking MY ties to several HUGE trade shows in NY, DC, Chicago, Philly--and she's expecting BIG THINGS!!!!!!!!!!

This is me being cautiously optomistic....YAY!!!!

Now....back to work.

Savior Subway Art

I waited and waited for someone to come up with some great subway art that captured the true meaning of Christmas. 

I have this whole nativity vignette on my piano that begged for something less commercial.

With all the great graphic artists out there, you'd think there'd be SOMETHING, but alas, I couldn't find it, so...I made my own!  

I'm so NOT a graphic artist, but I really like how these turned out.  AND you can pick your color!  

P.S. These would make great VT gifts, YW gifts, or neighbor gifts, and all you have to do is print it off and maybe find some cute frame to put it in!

Hope you like it--Merry CHRISTmas to you all!

(May not be printed for financial gain.  Personal use only.) 

Deja Vu

If you'll remember this post from last year, you'll understand why I was a little freaked out on Friday. 

I was on I-15, on my way to pick up the girls from school, when a semi in front of me tried to change lanes and sideswiped another vehicle, sending a little Ford Taurus spinning across all three lanes of traffic and skidding onto the median right next to me.  I slammed on my brakes to avoid hitting her (I don't know how she wasn't hit by anyone else), then pulled over and ran out of the van to make sure she was okay.  Other than being a little shook up, she was uninjured.  The poor little lady was on her way to pick up her granddaughter from school, and had no idea what had happened to her.  She thought maybe she'd blown a tire and lost control.  The semi that hit her (and KNEW he hit her) just kept on going and didn't bother stopping. 
I was literally 50 yards away from the location of the horrific accident I witnessed last year.  In fact, from where I was standing, I could see the mismatched concrete slabs that were replaced on the barriers because of the last accident.  It was surreal. 

I don't understand why I keep ending up with a front-row view to these situations, but I'm grateful to be one of the only ones with good enough sense to stop and help.  Traffic was CRAZY and only 3 cars stopped.  I'm not sure if the UHP caught up with the semi, but I sure hope they did.  It's one thing to make a mistake, it's another thing to run away from one. 

I'm thinking I'll be taking the backroads from now on.