A warning to all you moms: drinking syrup is similar to eating too much Halloween candy. The sugar overdose is going to make your child sick. But, even if the first gulp is at noon, the puking never comes until the middle of the night. 1:42 am to be exact. Luckily I was still awake (working) and sat holding Aiden in the bathroom until the heaves passed. Once I was sure he wouldn't spew all over his room, I put him back to bed around 2:15 and went to bed myself. This morning he wanted pancakes and cried LOUDLY for the 20 minutes it took me to mix the batter and get the first ones off the gridle. I shouldn't have been surprised when he took a whiff off the warm, syrupy stack and burst into tears over, what I guess, was a fresh wave of nausea. I don't think he'll be drinking syrup again today! LOL!
Working at 1:42 am? Yes, I WORK! I am very lucky to be able to work from home in the evenings, and during some nap times, as a graphic designer while enjoying raising Aiden during the day. Problem is I don't have the benefits of going to a nice, quiet office somewhere away from the distractions of home to get my work done. So I simply hit the computer when Aiden goes to bed at 7:30 and quit working when I go to bed at 1 or 2 (or 3) in the morning. I absolutely love what I am doing, the only downside is that I don't appear to be a working mom! My friends who see me at the park or church luncheons assume that I'm just oblivious, clumsy and neglecting to call them when in reality I'm running on four hours of sleep, fumbling and dropping things in my delerious half-awake state and forgetting to call them because the grocery shopping needs to be done, my errand list is growing by the minute, graphics clients are e-mailing urgent questions, my responsibilities for the craft days need to be met, my jewelry orders are backing up, voice mails have gone unlistened to, floors un-mopped, Aiden has destroyed yet something else that requires industrial-strength cleaners (thank you ACE Hardware for stocking these), a friend is calling needing an emergency invite made/vinyl item cut/gift jewelry set, the laundry is backing up, Aiden is finger painting on the floor with melted popsicle AGAIN, I remember that yet another week has passed without me mailing that thank you/scheduling my doctor appointment/dusting the blinds & ceiling fans, the kitchen and highchair need their fourth? fifth? scrubbing of the day because my child still throws as much food as he eats, the dog is spotted with wet, sticky patches of fur in the shape of Aiden's little handprints - ah, it's syrup/liquid soap/pasta sauce/toothpaste, the tomato plant is lying uprooted on the back porch again, the trash is in the bath tub and all the bath toys are in the trash can, the dog wants to be fed and Aiden wants his afternoon outside play time, I must get the mail stamped and to the box before the mail lady comes, Aiden has to be stopped two dozen times from dashing towards the street and reminded in non-hysterical tones that "cars run over babies", the house needs it's quick pick-up before Brian gets home to see what a mess his son can make and dinner needs to be cooked. Oh, got a phone call, dinner needs to be cooked for us AND a neighbor in need and now it's 7:30, time to start work. WHEW! I forgot to call my girlfriends. :( Tomorrow, I promise myself. I really will call them and tell them how much I adore them tomorrow!
I love you gals. Sorry I'm so busy. It won't be like this forever, just for now. :)
OMGosh, Aiden just put candy up his nose - gotta go
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Aiden Stories & Practical Jokes
The Practical Joke: We've been playing this practical joke on Aiden, which started out as an accident, became a total riot and then blew up in our faces. A couple weeks ago I hopped on eBay and bought a Pongo (101 Dalmatians) toy for Aiden since he has been loving the movie. When it arived one day last week, I didn't open the package until after he had gone to bed. In a moment of inspiration, I decided to set Pongo on top of the DVD player to distract Aiden from pressing all the little buttons, as is his morning routine. Plus I thought it a great way to not spoil him too much by having the toy just 'appear'.
The next morning Aiden gets up and walks past the toy several times. (Oblivious. He is SO my child.) Mid-morning he asks for the "puppy movie" and, since I'm already mopping up his messes, in goes the movie. The opening credits were playing when he spied Pongo. His entire expression changed - his eyes bulged, his mouth fell open and I'm pretty sure he went a shade whiter than usual. For the next three *SILENT* minutes he carefully paced the floor in front of Pongo, examining him from all sides and putting his face slightly closer to it to see if it would move. But he wouldn't touch it! Finally he got up the nerve to gently pet the toy and, discovering it was plastic, shouted "PAWGO" and delightfully played with him the rest of the morning. About 30 minutes later I caught Aiden peering in the tiny speaker holes on the TV to see if there were any other characters in there. Then I realized Aiden thinks Pongo came out of the TV!
Being the terrible mother - who feeds fruit snacks before 10 am - that I am, I couldn't resist repeating the joke when his Nemo bath toys (also from eBay but for his birthday) arrived a couple days later. The next morning was a complete repeat when Aiden saw Nemo sitting on top of the DVD player, grinning at him. That day he began looking in the speaker holes of the TV once every couple of hours while I kept my hand clapped over my mouth to muffle my hysterical laughter! Since Brian had missed all the fun before, Dory came out to play that evening after he got home. It wasn't quite as exciting because Aiden was starting to expect that Disney Characters escape the television set every so often and wait for him on top of the DVD player.
Of course nothing ever works out as smoothly as I plan with Aiden. The day after Nemo and Dory appeared I heard this awful racket and found him trying to send his entire duplo train into the TV through the same "magic portal", which resulted in me fishing duplo pieces out of the X Box disk tray and from behind every crevice of the TV stand. He looked at me in cynical disbelief when I explained that things could neither come out of or go in to the TV. I admit I had set myself up for this.
And I just couldn't quit. When Aiden's birthday gift from my parents arrived with a new Disney Cars toy inside, I decided to save it for an 'emergency' when I would desperately need something to distract him (read: less than 24 hours later when I wouldn't let him flood the tomato plant with any more water from his watering can). Since it had been a day or two since a character came out of the TV, I ran for the toy and plopped the brand new Red the Fire Truck on top of the DVD player while he was throwing the contents of my tupperware cabinet in the garbage can. (He'd obviously found his own activity to replace tomato drowning.) I plopped Aiden directly in front of the new toy so I could retrieve the plasticware and put the cabinet back together. Aiden cautiously poked with one gentle finger at the fire truck and WHEEEW - WHEEEW - WHEEEW it's siren went off. He was TERRIFIED. In fact he utterly refused to touch the fire truck again and, to this day, still has not played with the gift from my parents. (Sorry mom & dad.) Red now guards the tupperware cabinet.
The Syrup Story: This morning I decided to clean out my office. Ten minutes into the ordeal and I realized I had way too much cut vinyl sitting around so I e-mailed neighbors to come and get it for free. I took one TWENTY SECOND phone call from a friend to let me know she was on her way, hung up the phone and heard Aiden, who had suddenly appeared beside me, exclaim "YUMMY!!!!" and squeeze a nearly-full syrup bottle so a stream shot volcano-style out the top while he tried to catch it in his mouth. I'm pretty sure I nearly fainted when a river of syrup splashed across our five month-old office floors and pooled in the bevels between each board. I stripped Aiden on the way to his crib, thanking the Lord he's too afraid of falling to climb out of it, and raced back to the office praying that syrup was too cohesive to slip between the tongue and groove planks. On the way back I noticed the drip-drip-SPLAT pattern of syrup that extended from the pantry, down the hall, covered the entry way and drenched the office, marking exactly where Aiden had been standing when he made another syrup geyser to drink from.
I had just thrown the last paper towel in the trash when my girlfriend arrived. (This stuff is always instantly funny to anyone not experiencing it but I was able to laugh, too!) The now half-empty syrup bottle went back in the pantry and I was extra careful that the door stayed closed all day and that Aiden had plenty of water to try and dilute the pure sugar he'd just drank.
Along comes 4:30 and Aiden's sugar rush is in full effect. He's running FULL SPEED from the back door to the front door, pushing his ride-on toy and smashing it into the doors at each end with every pass while screaming giddily at the top of his lungs. You can imagine the headache that is building. I was currently doing the dishes when I made Aiden stop and wipe down his little table to end the SQEEEEEEE *BANG* cycle of repetitive noise. I throw something in the trash and instruct him to throw his paper towel away when he's done with the table. I have my back turned but I'm mentally counting the seconds, knowing I'll need to close the door once I get the big pan I'm working on scrubbed and rinsed. It's then that I hear "YUMMY! PANCAKES!" and whirl around in horror to see Aiden sitting on his ride-on toy with the syrup bottle completely vertical and his head tiled back, chugging the stuff like Buddy the Elf.
My eyeballs are throbing by the time I strip him out of his second syrup-soaked outfit for the day and rinse his face, hands and chest free of sticky residue. I call Brian to tell him today is one of THOSE days where he kindly needs to come home as fast as possible, which is never fast enough but I can at least collect my thoughts knowing help is on the way. I cleaned up the mess and made dinner while Brian came home to find Aiden strapped in his high chair watching a disney movie over the only patch of un-sticky tile in the living room with his bare diapered body still reeking of maple syrup. And my friends wonder what I am busy doing all day long!
The next morning Aiden gets up and walks past the toy several times. (Oblivious. He is SO my child.) Mid-morning he asks for the "puppy movie" and, since I'm already mopping up his messes, in goes the movie. The opening credits were playing when he spied Pongo. His entire expression changed - his eyes bulged, his mouth fell open and I'm pretty sure he went a shade whiter than usual. For the next three *SILENT* minutes he carefully paced the floor in front of Pongo, examining him from all sides and putting his face slightly closer to it to see if it would move. But he wouldn't touch it! Finally he got up the nerve to gently pet the toy and, discovering it was plastic, shouted "PAWGO" and delightfully played with him the rest of the morning. About 30 minutes later I caught Aiden peering in the tiny speaker holes on the TV to see if there were any other characters in there. Then I realized Aiden thinks Pongo came out of the TV!
Being the terrible mother - who feeds fruit snacks before 10 am - that I am, I couldn't resist repeating the joke when his Nemo bath toys (also from eBay but for his birthday) arrived a couple days later. The next morning was a complete repeat when Aiden saw Nemo sitting on top of the DVD player, grinning at him. That day he began looking in the speaker holes of the TV once every couple of hours while I kept my hand clapped over my mouth to muffle my hysterical laughter! Since Brian had missed all the fun before, Dory came out to play that evening after he got home. It wasn't quite as exciting because Aiden was starting to expect that Disney Characters escape the television set every so often and wait for him on top of the DVD player.
Of course nothing ever works out as smoothly as I plan with Aiden. The day after Nemo and Dory appeared I heard this awful racket and found him trying to send his entire duplo train into the TV through the same "magic portal", which resulted in me fishing duplo pieces out of the X Box disk tray and from behind every crevice of the TV stand. He looked at me in cynical disbelief when I explained that things could neither come out of or go in to the TV. I admit I had set myself up for this.
And I just couldn't quit. When Aiden's birthday gift from my parents arrived with a new Disney Cars toy inside, I decided to save it for an 'emergency' when I would desperately need something to distract him (read: less than 24 hours later when I wouldn't let him flood the tomato plant with any more water from his watering can). Since it had been a day or two since a character came out of the TV, I ran for the toy and plopped the brand new Red the Fire Truck on top of the DVD player while he was throwing the contents of my tupperware cabinet in the garbage can. (He'd obviously found his own activity to replace tomato drowning.) I plopped Aiden directly in front of the new toy so I could retrieve the plasticware and put the cabinet back together. Aiden cautiously poked with one gentle finger at the fire truck and WHEEEW - WHEEEW - WHEEEW it's siren went off. He was TERRIFIED. In fact he utterly refused to touch the fire truck again and, to this day, still has not played with the gift from my parents. (Sorry mom & dad.) Red now guards the tupperware cabinet.
The Syrup Story: This morning I decided to clean out my office. Ten minutes into the ordeal and I realized I had way too much cut vinyl sitting around so I e-mailed neighbors to come and get it for free. I took one TWENTY SECOND phone call from a friend to let me know she was on her way, hung up the phone and heard Aiden, who had suddenly appeared beside me, exclaim "YUMMY!!!!" and squeeze a nearly-full syrup bottle so a stream shot volcano-style out the top while he tried to catch it in his mouth. I'm pretty sure I nearly fainted when a river of syrup splashed across our five month-old office floors and pooled in the bevels between each board. I stripped Aiden on the way to his crib, thanking the Lord he's too afraid of falling to climb out of it, and raced back to the office praying that syrup was too cohesive to slip between the tongue and groove planks. On the way back I noticed the drip-drip-SPLAT pattern of syrup that extended from the pantry, down the hall, covered the entry way and drenched the office, marking exactly where Aiden had been standing when he made another syrup geyser to drink from.
I had just thrown the last paper towel in the trash when my girlfriend arrived. (This stuff is always instantly funny to anyone not experiencing it but I was able to laugh, too!) The now half-empty syrup bottle went back in the pantry and I was extra careful that the door stayed closed all day and that Aiden had plenty of water to try and dilute the pure sugar he'd just drank.
Along comes 4:30 and Aiden's sugar rush is in full effect. He's running FULL SPEED from the back door to the front door, pushing his ride-on toy and smashing it into the doors at each end with every pass while screaming giddily at the top of his lungs. You can imagine the headache that is building. I was currently doing the dishes when I made Aiden stop and wipe down his little table to end the SQEEEEEEE *BANG* cycle of repetitive noise. I throw something in the trash and instruct him to throw his paper towel away when he's done with the table. I have my back turned but I'm mentally counting the seconds, knowing I'll need to close the door once I get the big pan I'm working on scrubbed and rinsed. It's then that I hear "YUMMY! PANCAKES!" and whirl around in horror to see Aiden sitting on his ride-on toy with the syrup bottle completely vertical and his head tiled back, chugging the stuff like Buddy the Elf.
My eyeballs are throbing by the time I strip him out of his second syrup-soaked outfit for the day and rinse his face, hands and chest free of sticky residue. I call Brian to tell him today is one of THOSE days where he kindly needs to come home as fast as possible, which is never fast enough but I can at least collect my thoughts knowing help is on the way. I cleaned up the mess and made dinner while Brian came home to find Aiden strapped in his high chair watching a disney movie over the only patch of un-sticky tile in the living room with his bare diapered body still reeking of maple syrup. And my friends wonder what I am busy doing all day long!
Monday, March 16, 2009
New Vector EPS Graphics for Vinyl Cutting Machines + Coupon Code & FREEBIE!
Ask anyone who knows me and they'll tell you my passion is graphic design. I began doodling in the fourth grade and I haven't stopped creating yet! Last year when I purchased my QuicKutz Silhouette craft cutter and got in to vinyl cutting, I soon discovered I could put my graphic skills to good use. And then I discovered people liked what I made! (Now I spend all my time designing and only cutting vinyl for friends! LOL!)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW & DOWNLOAD THE ALWAYS-UPDATED FREEBIE!
I'm beyond thrilled to have my graphic products at PeppermintCreative.com available in three different buying options including commercial vectored EPS files for professional vinyl plotters and SVG and GSD files for personal craft cutting machines. Want to see what all the fuss is about? Here's a brand new freebie word art with REPOSITIONABLE commercial EPS file elements and a staggering 6 total file types so you can test for compatibility before you buy:
What does repositionable mean? It means that you can move the flourishes independently of the word art phrase, cut them in a different color vinyl to accent the design or use them in a completely different design. Unlike other EPS graphics, they're NOT WELDED FLAT! Instead I smart-weld for your business in the same way I create graphics for myself. The overlapping word art letters are welded so each word cuts as a continuous piece. Extras & add-ons that don't overlap are not welded to the rest of the phrase but instead are optimized for fast, clean cutting and left as their own layer. To make things even easier, each accessory is saved as it's own EPS file (commercial packs only) for on-the-go designing. So go on, put them anywhere you want! You finally have the benefits of a custom graphic designer without the $75 per-hour price tag.
BTW, the freebie comes with a non-digital commercial license so you are free to sell any 3-dimensional vinyl cut, craft or project made with it!
To Sweeten The Deal: Use Peppermint Creative coupon code tay15vec to take 15% off all my COMMERCIAL vector shape packs! One-time use coupon code vaild through March 31, 2009.
For Small Business Use Only: I designed these graphics to fill the needs of small business owners. I'm a mom too and I know how hard it is to do everything yourself, start-to-finish. Previously there weren't many options besides purchasing font after font and doing the best you could with existing embellishment shapes while large companies with in-house graphic designers gained the advantage. In my own little way I'm hoping to support fellow moms. There is nothing I love more than being at home with my precious little boy and if I can help ensure another mother has that same option then I believe I have made the absolute best use of my talents. :) Enjoy your freebie!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW & DOWNLOAD THE ALWAYS-UPDATED FREEBIE!
I'm beyond thrilled to have my graphic products at PeppermintCreative.com available in three different buying options including commercial vectored EPS files for professional vinyl plotters and SVG and GSD files for personal craft cutting machines. Want to see what all the fuss is about? Here's a brand new freebie word art with REPOSITIONABLE commercial EPS file elements and a staggering 6 total file types so you can test for compatibility before you buy:
What does repositionable mean? It means that you can move the flourishes independently of the word art phrase, cut them in a different color vinyl to accent the design or use them in a completely different design. Unlike other EPS graphics, they're NOT WELDED FLAT! Instead I smart-weld for your business in the same way I create graphics for myself. The overlapping word art letters are welded so each word cuts as a continuous piece. Extras & add-ons that don't overlap are not welded to the rest of the phrase but instead are optimized for fast, clean cutting and left as their own layer. To make things even easier, each accessory is saved as it's own EPS file (commercial packs only) for on-the-go designing. So go on, put them anywhere you want! You finally have the benefits of a custom graphic designer without the $75 per-hour price tag.
BTW, the freebie comes with a non-digital commercial license so you are free to sell any 3-dimensional vinyl cut, craft or project made with it!
To Sweeten The Deal: Use Peppermint Creative coupon code tay15vec to take 15% off all my COMMERCIAL vector shape packs! One-time use coupon code vaild through March 31, 2009.
For Small Business Use Only: I designed these graphics to fill the needs of small business owners. I'm a mom too and I know how hard it is to do everything yourself, start-to-finish. Previously there weren't many options besides purchasing font after font and doing the best you could with existing embellishment shapes while large companies with in-house graphic designers gained the advantage. In my own little way I'm hoping to support fellow moms. There is nothing I love more than being at home with my precious little boy and if I can help ensure another mother has that same option then I believe I have made the absolute best use of my talents. :) Enjoy your freebie!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Aiden's Skateboarder Photo Shoot Pics!
He's not quite 2 yet but I want to be able to give family brand new prints when they're in town over his birthday weekend so we did his birthday shoot a bit early. Here are two of my favorites from his TOTALLY AWESOME skater photo shoot!
I designed the vinyl decals on his skateboard and you're getting a sneak peek at some of the things I'm working on. ;) I am VERY thrilled with how vibrant & fun these turned out! I have two brand new bright green metal frames (the exact ones on Kelsey's site!) that have been waiting for these fun prints! Thank you for another breathtaking set of photos, Kels - everyone that sees them has been very impressed!
I designed the vinyl decals on his skateboard and you're getting a sneak peek at some of the things I'm working on. ;) I am VERY thrilled with how vibrant & fun these turned out! I have two brand new bright green metal frames (the exact ones on Kelsey's site!) that have been waiting for these fun prints! Thank you for another breathtaking set of photos, Kels - everyone that sees them has been very impressed!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Aiden Keeps Me Busy!
A few of the funny things Aiden has said or done these last few days:
• I offered Aiden a Girl Scout thin mint cookie last week, to which he responded "Tire!" and began nibbling away. I told him it was a cookie and turned back to dishwasher unloading. (The cookie was to distract him from "helping" me. Read: hitting me with spatulas from silverware basket.) He came running into the kitchen a few minutes later, stopped at my feet and shouted "More tire cookie!" I laughed so hard I didn't even bother correcting him!
• Aiden uses the phrase "tell me" interchangeably with "please", as if it means the same thing. I've been working to help him understand that "tell me" means "use words to say what you want". He's also been practicing putting "don't" in front of things. Sunday Brian was holding him when he suddenly said what sounded like "Don't tell on me" (don't tell me). When Brian smiled and asked who he had heard it from, our little comedian didn't miss a beat and replied "From Mama!" LOL!
• My sister has visited with her newborn little boy several times and we've had to teach Aiden not to pat Kyler too hard or throw toys at him. Today he saw a picture of an infant and exclaimed "A baby! DON'T TOUCH IT!"
• The graphics continue to require a lot of evening work but sometimes I get e-mails during the day that need quick attention. I've tried to explain to Aiden that I need to work for a minute and THEN I can get him his third ice pop.... Previously he would melt into a temper tantrum, not realizing lying realatively still on the floor allows me to quickly do whatever is needed online. Now he seems to understand that typing one-handed is difficult and will seize whatever fingers are closest to him in a death-grip and shout something like "NO WORK! More tire cookies!"
• What is it about little boys and the garbage truck? Sometime during the mid-morning on Tuesdays and Fridays Aiden will suddenly go sprinting for the front door and I'll hear the blinds clatter out of the way as he jerks them aside to peer out the window. Then for a few blissful seconds he'll watch as our trash is thrown in and the truck drives away. This is followed by giggles and a funny, bent-knee, bouncy happy dance and then he darts right back to whatever he was previously destroying. Repeat on Friday afternoons for the Recycling pick-up.
• It was inevitable, I had to teach Aiden to avoid dog piles alongside the sidewalk as we walk to the park. (Seriously people, pick up after your pets!) Unfortunately for me Aiden has made it his responsibility to stop, point and shout "dog poop!" at every single pile we pass along the way. There's always at least ten. I swear, if I find out who is letting their dog use the greenbelt, my little poop-spotter and I are going to locate every single pile and take it to them. :)
And the one that takes the cake: Aiden simply cannot understand why a real flower or a broken apple stem cannot be fixed by his magical mother and her extensive stash of craft adhesives. I can see the expectation in his little eyes just before the complete melt-down when I try to explain how ripping the flower head off the stem makes it permanently broken. You can't imagine how much clear tape I have wasted these last few weeks on "fixing" these types of items! Nor can you imagine the laughter I have to stiffle as he happily trots away with a taped-up flower!
• I offered Aiden a Girl Scout thin mint cookie last week, to which he responded "Tire!" and began nibbling away. I told him it was a cookie and turned back to dishwasher unloading. (The cookie was to distract him from "helping" me. Read: hitting me with spatulas from silverware basket.) He came running into the kitchen a few minutes later, stopped at my feet and shouted "More tire cookie!" I laughed so hard I didn't even bother correcting him!
• Aiden uses the phrase "tell me" interchangeably with "please", as if it means the same thing. I've been working to help him understand that "tell me" means "use words to say what you want". He's also been practicing putting "don't" in front of things. Sunday Brian was holding him when he suddenly said what sounded like "Don't tell on me" (don't tell me). When Brian smiled and asked who he had heard it from, our little comedian didn't miss a beat and replied "From Mama!" LOL!
• My sister has visited with her newborn little boy several times and we've had to teach Aiden not to pat Kyler too hard or throw toys at him. Today he saw a picture of an infant and exclaimed "A baby! DON'T TOUCH IT!"
• The graphics continue to require a lot of evening work but sometimes I get e-mails during the day that need quick attention. I've tried to explain to Aiden that I need to work for a minute and THEN I can get him his third ice pop.... Previously he would melt into a temper tantrum, not realizing lying realatively still on the floor allows me to quickly do whatever is needed online. Now he seems to understand that typing one-handed is difficult and will seize whatever fingers are closest to him in a death-grip and shout something like "NO WORK! More tire cookies!"
• What is it about little boys and the garbage truck? Sometime during the mid-morning on Tuesdays and Fridays Aiden will suddenly go sprinting for the front door and I'll hear the blinds clatter out of the way as he jerks them aside to peer out the window. Then for a few blissful seconds he'll watch as our trash is thrown in and the truck drives away. This is followed by giggles and a funny, bent-knee, bouncy happy dance and then he darts right back to whatever he was previously destroying. Repeat on Friday afternoons for the Recycling pick-up.
• It was inevitable, I had to teach Aiden to avoid dog piles alongside the sidewalk as we walk to the park. (Seriously people, pick up after your pets!) Unfortunately for me Aiden has made it his responsibility to stop, point and shout "dog poop!" at every single pile we pass along the way. There's always at least ten. I swear, if I find out who is letting their dog use the greenbelt, my little poop-spotter and I are going to locate every single pile and take it to them. :)
And the one that takes the cake: Aiden simply cannot understand why a real flower or a broken apple stem cannot be fixed by his magical mother and her extensive stash of craft adhesives. I can see the expectation in his little eyes just before the complete melt-down when I try to explain how ripping the flower head off the stem makes it permanently broken. You can't imagine how much clear tape I have wasted these last few weeks on "fixing" these types of items! Nor can you imagine the laughter I have to stiffle as he happily trots away with a taped-up flower!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Dirty Little Secret!
Since last May I've been keeping something from you. I've quietly been working away and not said very much about it. Since January 1 I have somehow squeezed in 35 hour work-weeks in the evenings between the time Aiden goes to bed (7:30) and the time I go to bed. This is why some of you have gotten reply e-mails from me at 2 and 3 in the morning! It's not insomnia....
I'M A DIGI DESIGNER ON PEPPERMINTCREATIVE.COM!!!!
I'm designing with Miss Mint! But not digi scrap kits. I've got a computer FULL of professional graphic art intended for cutting on commercial vinyl plotters and Miss Mint discovered that my designs are equally appealing to hybrid gals & digi scrappers. So up on her site they went!
The best part about all of it is that what I love doing helps other work-at-home moms like me. My designs save time and give anyone the ability to compete with larger companies who have an in-house graphic designer.
Take a peek and be sure to watch the gallery for some upcoming projects!
I'M A DIGI DESIGNER ON PEPPERMINTCREATIVE.COM!!!!
I'm designing with Miss Mint! But not digi scrap kits. I've got a computer FULL of professional graphic art intended for cutting on commercial vinyl plotters and Miss Mint discovered that my designs are equally appealing to hybrid gals & digi scrappers. So up on her site they went!
The best part about all of it is that what I love doing helps other work-at-home moms like me. My designs save time and give anyone the ability to compete with larger companies who have an in-house graphic designer.
Take a peek and be sure to watch the gallery for some upcoming projects!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Unpleasant Reminders & Creative Solutions
I ran into a girlfriend at the gym today and had a delightful time catching up with her! She's a total sweetheart and every bit as crafty as I am but MUCH better with a sewing machine! I e-mailed her tonight to forward a link I had mentioned and she replied with the stomach-twisting news that her car had been broken in to and her purse stolen while she was at our new local gym.
I was sickened and stunned to hear the gym, which opened nine days ago, has already been targeted. Criminals know that us mommies don't want to tote our purses inside with us and so they wait and watch for one to be left behind. It's so unfair! We don't THINK of leaving the house with our children without the basic essentials, including a debit card or enough cash to cover the co-pay should you need a quick pediatrician or minor emergency trip if there's an unexpected accident. Then you've got to have your keys, your phone, your driver's license and your gym membership card on top of your water bottle, iPod and whatever else you like to have for your workout. If leaving your purse hidden in the car while you take in only what you need is not an option, what's a girl to do?
I tell you what we're going to do! We're going to beat thieves at their own game and look totally fabulous while doing it! Having been the victim of theft on a couple of past occasions myself, I had a seller on Etsy custom make me this little gym keeper:
It's a 5.50 inch tall, fully-lined pouch with two zippers. (The image above shows the back, click here to see the front.) There is a zipper on top that opens into the largest compartment for storing your cell phone, iPod and other girlie stuff (like my chapstick). There is another smaller zippered pocket on the front that is sized for your driver's license, gym membership card and cash. Off to the side is a swivel-hook where you can clip your car or locker keys or simply clip the pouch to your beltloop.
I requested the little white elastic band be added to the back of mine so I can easily slip the whole she-bang over my water bottle and set it in the cup holder when I'm on the elliptical machines. This way I don't have to get a locker just so I can stash my car keys like I did today.
My gym keeper hasn't arrived yet but I think Theresa's creation is a great idea for us busy moms on the go. I'm hoping you'll join me in supporting her clever product AND thwarting future criminals! Maybe by word-of-mouth we can start a trend with far-reaching positive effects. If you'd like to custom design your own gym keeper, set up a free buying account on Etsy.com (kind of like eBay for all things handmade) and then convo (contact) Theresa and tell her Tay sent you. She'll know what you want!
Updated To Add: Theresa heard about the theft and is giving my friends a 15% discount on your entire purchase! Simply convo her and mention you were referred by me (reference my Etsy ID: TheClutteredMuse) and she'll adjust your paypal invoice. Happy shopping!
I was sickened and stunned to hear the gym, which opened nine days ago, has already been targeted. Criminals know that us mommies don't want to tote our purses inside with us and so they wait and watch for one to be left behind. It's so unfair! We don't THINK of leaving the house with our children without the basic essentials, including a debit card or enough cash to cover the co-pay should you need a quick pediatrician or minor emergency trip if there's an unexpected accident. Then you've got to have your keys, your phone, your driver's license and your gym membership card on top of your water bottle, iPod and whatever else you like to have for your workout. If leaving your purse hidden in the car while you take in only what you need is not an option, what's a girl to do?
I tell you what we're going to do! We're going to beat thieves at their own game and look totally fabulous while doing it! Having been the victim of theft on a couple of past occasions myself, I had a seller on Etsy custom make me this little gym keeper:
It's a 5.50 inch tall, fully-lined pouch with two zippers. (The image above shows the back, click here to see the front.) There is a zipper on top that opens into the largest compartment for storing your cell phone, iPod and other girlie stuff (like my chapstick). There is another smaller zippered pocket on the front that is sized for your driver's license, gym membership card and cash. Off to the side is a swivel-hook where you can clip your car or locker keys or simply clip the pouch to your beltloop.
I requested the little white elastic band be added to the back of mine so I can easily slip the whole she-bang over my water bottle and set it in the cup holder when I'm on the elliptical machines. This way I don't have to get a locker just so I can stash my car keys like I did today.
My gym keeper hasn't arrived yet but I think Theresa's creation is a great idea for us busy moms on the go. I'm hoping you'll join me in supporting her clever product AND thwarting future criminals! Maybe by word-of-mouth we can start a trend with far-reaching positive effects. If you'd like to custom design your own gym keeper, set up a free buying account on Etsy.com (kind of like eBay for all things handmade) and then convo (contact) Theresa and tell her Tay sent you. She'll know what you want!
Updated To Add: Theresa heard about the theft and is giving my friends a 15% discount on your entire purchase! Simply convo her and mention you were referred by me (reference my Etsy ID: TheClutteredMuse) and she'll adjust your paypal invoice. Happy shopping!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
