12 Weird, Gross Things About Me

Weird things:

I don't wash my hair every day, and when I do, I use purple shampoo for old ladies
I put peanut butter on my pancakes
Bananas make me gag
I sleep with 3-4 pillows; something about the security
I can't dive
Terrified of oceans/lakes
I can barely do a lunge

Gross things:
One time my big toenail came off from a fungus (or some such thing)
When we had a dog, Marley, I used to have him lick out my ear wax
I had the doctor show me the placenta after Story's birth
When I was little, my sister made me drink a dirt water/moldy bread concoction out of a dainty plastic play tea cup
I was the kid who ate play-dough
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More for You Monday Giveaway-HUGE Valentine's gift package from my shop!

Today's More For You Monday giveaway hails from my shop with this simply dreamy Valentine Gift Collection For Her that includes a 10-inch wreath, rosette headband, and felt brooch. $68.50 value!

Wanna win?

Simply leave a comment.

Extra entries:
Follow my blog through GoogleFriendConnect
Like my Facebook page
Follow me on Twitter
Favorite my Etsy
Blog/Tweet/Facebook about it (separate comments for each; leave links)
Stumble or Pin anything from my blog (separate comments for as many as you want to do; leave links)

Giveaway ends Monday, February 6th, 2012.
Excludes shipping, which I can do worldwide.

What a Hubbub! When Nothing Goes Momma's Way

Viktor, Story, Lillianah-playdate

Every once in awhile, k nearly always, I'll I have a day that seems unrecoverable. Lost down the chute of "really, seriously?", and it takes awhile before I can step back and realize all of it is really quite comical and there are worst things in life and Lord thank you for the tornado even though the mess about sends me over the edge.

I had made cookies for a friend to pick up today but little hungry, naughty hands ate and mangled through the entire batches--not out of reach enough, I guess. Mushed chocolate chips in the crib? That sounds like fun to clean up! And I'm irritated because the cookies were a task for me, a real sacrifice to make because they are not within the diet, and it's the cookies' fault that I ate sweets yesterday. And I shouldn't be upset the cookies are obliterated; they weren't for me anyway but then again I was going to keep a few for myself.

And I find myself vacuuming twice a day (this is usually when I can tell I forgot to wear deodorant) which is absurd for me but after awhile stepping on crunchy cereal has lost its luster and is no longer a learning in experience in "name that sound", and the day after I mopped, someone's yogurt spills.
While I'm cleaning the yogurt I glance out the finger-printed patio door, and see both kids, pants down to their ankles, and I ask myself how I'm going to train my daughter not to pee outside.

Then as this day continues I am stunned at the things I say like, "you just need to be self-sufficient" and "find your own shoe" and those comments make me feel like a horrible person.

And someone always gets hurt or falls or pulls the plug out of the electric outlet
or plays in my Clinique powder, mashing it into a clean rug,
and not only am I running in circles physically,
but my mind,
oh, my mommy-mind,
just can't do anymore.

Then God does things like a friend bringing lunch then another a Panera cookie (by this time the diet is on hold because I am stressed and have realized the weight loss shakes are laden with sugar and $11 nuts chocked full of fat). He gives me energy to clean up those last crumbs then plop on the couch for a nap as long as the kids'.

What a crazy path. What a hubbub.

Lord, give me humility and strength. Thank you for making life interesting.

Refine my ugly.pardon the single spelling error above (sliver instead of silver)

WIWW Pretty Organic Colors

pics by A

Blue tee: Old Navy, Brown flowy top: Anthropologie, Jeans: Kohls,
Boots: garage sale; Necklace: Rue21; Sweater: GAP, Headband: Prairieology

****
Winner of the LaceyMade giveaway is Leigh-Ellen:
Congrats! Email me for deets.

Really cute offspring

Wilder-3
Story-20 months

Lord thank you for these darlings that are flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood. Thank you for giving me fresh chances (and the energy) day after day to provide them with the healthy beginning they deserve. Please protect them under your mighty wings. I trust you as you fulfill your will and calling on their lives. Help them to be kind, loving, others-focused, & obedient. Draw them close to you. Prepare their hearts to accept your gift of salvation. I pray that they wouldn't settle for anything less than what you have for them.

I am undeserving of these precious two that make me so happy...
all I know is that I am thankful, God.
So, so, thankful.

Amen

Pretty Valentine Yarn Wreaths

I'm so excited to share my two newest wreath creations with you today!

A 12-inch beauty:

And a smaller 10-inch one:

I'm obsessed with the red burlap and love the color combo (red roses are pre-made, from HobLob).

If you are interested in purchasing, please let me know via Facebook.
facebook.com/marigoldroad

Happy Monday!

48 Questions

Happy Friday, peeps! Thanks to my wonderful hubs I've gotten to do a lot of fun things this week...

Tonight I am tinkering around the house, putting off a workout (I am still sore from a BeachBody workout I did on Tuesday--anybody ever try BeachBody? I am so out of shape!).

Saw this survey on my friend's blog, and in order to put off exercising even longer, I'm completing it and making you read it.

(oh, you know you have time)

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:30a.m. Too early.

2. How do you like your steak? Don't like steak.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Mission Impossible like IXVII?

4. What is your favorite TV show? Parenthood5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Mountains

6. What did you have for breakfast? I was at a MAPS meeting, so, fruit, 1/2 a biscuit with jelly, and scrambled eggs (the biscuit and jelly is outside my new "diet" but who's really counting?)

7. What is your favorite food? probably brownies

8. Foods you dislike? I am finding in my "old age" that I'm picky-no sushi, asparagus, lima beans, squash, sweet potatoes, fish, artichoke...

9. Favorite place to eat? Mainstream: Panera, Otherwise: Westside Local in KsCity

10. Favorite dressing? French

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? 2000 Plymouth Neon

12. What are your favorite clothes? Stretchy tanks that squeeze in my muffin top

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? U.S.-Grand Canyon, Abroad-Fiji or Great Wall

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? 1/2 full
15. Where would you want to retire? Mountains

16. Favorite time of day? night time

17. Where were you born? Kansas

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? zilch

19. What is your favorite fragrance? don't wear perfume (gives me a headache)

20. What is your favorite face cream? Natural soaps; the one I currently use has clay, sulfur, and patchouli

21. Favorite baby/kids products? disposable diapers. :-)

22. People watcher? I stare.

23. Are you a morning or night person? NIGHT

24. Do you have any pets? No. We used to have a Boston Terrier but that is another post

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? I am going off sugar a bit at a time.

26. What did you want to be when you were little? painter, teacher

27. What is your favorite memory? my daddy braiding my hair

28. Are you a cat or dog person? both

29. Are you married? Yes 8.5 yrs!

Are you really still reading this survey? Go do something!

30. Always wear your seat belt? No..errr, Yes. Yes I do. All the time.

31. Been in a car accident? Rear-ended

32. Any pet peeves? anything noise related

33. Favorite pizza toppings? Cheese and beef

34. Favorite flower? hydrangeas

35. Favorite ice cream? cookies n cream

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? I really like McDonald's fries...so horrible

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? none

38. From whom did you get your last email? Blogger junk anonymous commenter

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Etsy

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? got spray tanned?

41. Like your job? yes!

42. Broccoli? no!

43. What was your favorite vacation? honeymoon!

44. Last person you went out to dinner with? Ash

45. What are you listening to right now? Rihanna

46. What is your favorite color? Blue

47. How many tattoos do you have? none...yet

48. Coffee drinker? Ewww no!

Valentine Bunting Using Vintage Sheets

Shout-out for Danielle's blog, TakeHeart!

I have shamelessly stolen some of her adorable craft ideas.

I love her heart. We had an instant friend connection at BlogSugar. I adore the gal.

So when I saw her Valentine's bunting using vintage sheets, I jumped at the chance to copy.
I hope you like my version:

Click here for Danielle's tutorial. So doable!

Some of my Valentine's pins:

WIWW-By MY Street Sign

Linking up with Pleated Poppy's WIWW. Look, a road sign just for me!

Hair barette: FromVictoryRoad, Blue sweater: hand-me-down, Grey smock thingy: local boutique ($9), Jeans: had forever, Boots: Target, Clutch: Francescas, Crocheted bracelet/terry scarf: made by a friend
All pics by Ashley

What I wore this weekend?

Heavier makeup for dinner with the girls (my makeup artist friend did it).

More for You Monday Giveaway with Laceymade

Today's gracious (and adorable) small biz owner being profiled is Lacey with Laceymade. She is local and has an incredible creative eye for color combinations in her recycled t-shirt scarves/accessories. I can tell she is going to "go places." Her branding is cute (as is her son!), professional, thoughtful, and consistent, and her shop is chock full of colorful eye candy!Hello readers, I am so excited to be a part of Mindy’s blog today. My name is Lacey, and I’m the crafter behind Laceymade. I’m wife to Andrew, mom to Ben and pack leader to Holly. I love spending time with family, walking my sweet dog, crafting, reading, gardening and antiquing.

Before I became a mom, sewing was my craft of choice and I had all the time in the world to create. Boy did things change when Ben came along! It was very difficult to find time to work on my projects and all my pretty fabrics sat collecting dust. A few years passed I really missed being creative.

After searching for inspiration, I found an image on Pinterest that caught my attention. Using a recycled t-shirt, the crafter had woven a belt and I thought “hey, I could make that!” I headed to my husband’s closet to steal a few of his old tees. I made a belt for myself and found that I loved working with the recycled material.

So, I continued to search for inspiration and before I knew it I was making bracelets, necklaces and scarves and committing to three craft shows only a few months away! And the most amazing thing was, Ben loves to sit with me while I work, he likes to run his cars through the stacks of tees. I’ve found the perfect craft for this busy time in my life and I have the creative outlet I was missing so badly.
And that’s the Laceymade story! I hope you enjoy browsing my shop!

Lacey is offering one of you an item of your choice!

Multiple ways to enter:
follow my blog through GFC
visit Lacey's shop then comment back with your fave item
add Lacey's shop to your favorites
like Laceymade on Facebook

(extra separate entries if you like me on Facebook,
follow me on Twitter,
add my shop to your faves,
tweet/pin/stumble/Facebook status/blog link)

Giveaway ends 1/23/12; worldwide

The $1 Lamp that Could-Mini Makeover

Take a look at my first lamp re-do!

The update was simple and inexpensive. I had all the supplies (paint, burlap, fabric, hot glue, and vintage gold lace) on hand. Lamp cost $1 at a tea place's closing out sale (originally $14).

Not bad at $1! And my local readers just might see this in the new shop.

Here's another before and after you can probably relate to. Before:

After:

WIWW-Dare to Wear PJs

While the babies nap I am working on chores and crafting. My friend Ash dared me to try a WIWW in pjs, since that's what I wear most days (even if I do dress nice, it's only for outings. Once I get home I immediately revert to pjs).

Bonus is you get an ugly feet picture complete with chipped grey nail polish.

Keepin' it real, girls!

xo
(linking up with Pleated Poppy)

Pride in Being a Stay at Home Mom

I have always been very career-oriented. From a young age I wanted to be able to provide for myself and prove to myself that things would be taken care of. That I was capable of independence and a successful career.

Nothing wrong with that but at my core, I was pursuing those things without giving God the glory for providing. I wasn't giving him credit for the amazing job I had. He had provided that job and given me the ability to excel in it. He is the one who gifted me with those abilities. I was blinded by earthly accolades and possessions. He just wasn't first.

Not by your might or your power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord!

When I was in the career-world, I experienced a high like no other. My ideas were sought, I faced challenging deadlines, I learned new things every day. I felt important.

Yet in the depths of my heart, I knew that my pregnancy with Wilder would probably, eventually, lead to staying home with him. I didn't know the number he would do on my heart until he was born.And, just as I thought, once he arrived, it became very apparent that I wanted to be his primary caregiver. At the time it seemed more for myself...I knew I would miss him. Granted, it was for his well-being too...I just didn't have a peace about the day care center we had lined up. It was a distraught time for me, because our budget just wasn't showing we could survive on one income.

But we took the chance anyway.

And now, now that I've been home over three years, I realize that I do this for the babies.
And I am proud to say that I wholeheartedly want to do this for the kiddos.
I am proud of what I do. I no longer feel ashamed or embarrassed by my vocation. I am investing in two lives that will go on to do great things. Some days are really hard. The babies don't obey or I don't get to do "my stuff." The house regenerates mess--oh, that vicious cycle.

But no promotion or atta-girl from the boss even compares to Wilder kissing my forehead, or Story stroking my hair. Or seeing them look at nature with wide eyes. Or my memorizing the placement of each new freckle. To see them dance nakey in the kitchen to the Beach Boys.
So, why, the drastic change of heart attitude, you ask?

Definitely the Lord refining my heart over the past year. Helping me to nail down selfishness.
And a book.

It arrived on my doorstep, with sweets, at Christmastime.

It is called In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms by Dr. Laura Schlessinger (award-winning talk show host and therapist). I had never heard of the lady. I don't normally read books like that. I breezed through it in a couple of days. If any other friend would've given it to me, I would have probably rolled my eyes or been offended. It embarrasses me to admit, that. But, God knew. He gave that specific friend the idea; I am so glad.

I grasped that book like a koala to its momma.

Here are excerpts that benefited me:

Another newbie SAHM wrote that I was the only one in the world who supported her and helped her believe she was doing the right thing. At first, she felt like less of a person, leaving her professional life to be "just" a mom. After listening to me day after day reinforce the importance of a mom to a child, she realized that in fact she had been brainwashed to believe that motherhood was beneath the dignity of an intelligent, independent woman. She would watch people's eyes glaze over when she told them she was a SAHM, and she felt like she had to rush in with a "but, before I left I was...," as if to prove her intelligence to them. (pg 38)
and

Children are minors for only eighteen years--after that, every parent is free and clear to chase any dream or fantasy that the marriage can accommodate. There is no reason that parents can't work around their family's schedule and personal needs to take on hobbies, part time endeavors, schooling, and so forth. It hopefully seems reasonable that children and family should not be pushed aside for personal ambitions; however, some personal ambitions can readily be experienced in the context of family and children when the two parents work together--dividing time and involvement--and keeping up the loving bonds with the gift of time, attention and priority. (pg. 117)

I hope people look at our family and say, "Gee, they're just ALL about their kids."
That is a compliment to me.
We didn't have our kids for our sakes, we had them for their sakes.
I am enjoying this season in our lives. I don't get much done during the day. If Wilder asks to cuddle both at nap and bedtime, I always say yes. There are so many things to do instead of that. But that can wait.

Because time, well, it won't.

******
Lord, thank you for bringing me to a place of contentment and joy as I embrace my position as the heart of the home. Thank you for doing that work in my heart. Thank you for the bonus part-time Thursdays gig at the boutique. Were you waiting for me to be at peace, so you could reward me like that? You make me smile.