A New Blog

Well, I am starting my next blog.  I am not sure if it is crazy to operate more than one blog, but I am hoping to meet a specific need with this particular blog.  There are a lot of moms in this town and there are a lot of things to do and opportunities to do, but there is not one place to find it.  So I am hoping to bring the connection between the parents in the area and the cool things to do.

hmmm, lets see how this goes.  I have no plan to slow these blogs down, just focused.  If you are not aware, this blog is my daily musings that go on in my head.  Diapers and backpacks is more impersonal and more informative of the local opportunities.

www.diapersandbackpacks.blogspot.com

~trish

Kicking off the homes-cool year

So today was the first day of school in our area. So today would have been the huge time honored mom and child bonding crying your eyes out event of leaving your sweet child at some desk with their name on it and trying to figure out what to do for the next 5-6 hours.

Well not for this family, we went to a play.  Not just any play, a dinner theater show.  How nice a buffet lunch and a desert bar all before the show. All of the kids went, even #4 sat in for the show. The children loved it.

I am glad that we went though.  I always knew I wanted to homeschool, even before having children.  I might have started selling it to my husband once we got home from the honeymoon.  even still, I get nervous.  No one in my family has ever homeschooled before.  SO I am walking on new ground for me.  Thankfully my mom, which is funny because it was never a consideration for her, is 100% behind me.  I think she is loving the lack schedule and the ability to talk me into an adventure with the kids.  (She is already planning a weekend “fieldtrip” to a huge museum)

so apart of me was sad not to have the whole shopping and consuming adventure of clothes, lunchboxes, school supplies.  Or the nerves and the excitement of somewhere new.  The pretty desk with the name at the top.  The colorful room. And yet I am thankful not to have those experiences too.  I know being home with my kids and getting the blessing of homeschooling them is gift.  I know if I was working, my heart would be mourning over the missed opportunity to be homeschooling them.  If I had them in school, I would be wishing I could be teaching them my way, and would probably be a teachers worst nightmare of a parent.  I love being involved with their learning and given half the chance I will end up engrossed in someone else's’ kid’s learning.  So I know I am on the right path, but it doesn’t mean I am not nervous.

So we skipped the first day jitters and went to a play.  What is cool, is that I will scrapbook this as a fieldtrip!  Eat your heart out!  This family does supercool stuff and calls it schooling!

~trish

Viva la Diva Challenge

About every two months, I get my Good Grown-up time with a great group of women for a weekend of scrapbooking, called a swarm.  Each swarm has a them and this one was, Viva la Diva.  They last from Friday to Sunday and they have a challenge each time.  This swarm’s challenge was to create the mini me, from the Paper Doll Cartridge using the Cricut.

I was impressed with all the submissions and it was a ton of fun, figuring out who was who.  I decided the best thing I could do was to create a me with all my day to day things.  So I had to through in my kids (of course, I am doing an after prego me.), canning, gardening, chickens, sewing.  I did run out of time to add the laptop and the cell phone.  My submission won me 1 st place.

 

Like, I said, everyones’ was amazing!  SO I had to share them with you.

~trish

Mom and Daughter Class by Mimi

So, this is Mimi!  And this is her “ROOM!”  It was beautiful and big and she has a TON of stuff!  So we made  a wonderful Easter  arrangement.  Here is her daughter and friend being productive.

Taa Daa!  Is this not the cutest!   You can check her out at her blog:

http://stampinwithmimi.blogspot.com/

 

~trish

Ready for Cricuteers in Paradise!

My name tag and place holder for this weekends crop! It is all paradised theme. So I am aired up with another person coming and I am making her name tag and place holder and she is making mine.

I used a lot of crystal effects ( that is why the letters and the flowers are glosssy) and glitter glue. To make the the place holder stand, I die cutted 2 top notes out of cardboard (from the creative memories paper pack, good chipboard quality) and folded one and glued the tops together, thus creating a stand.

So to get festive for the crop! I had to make a paradise apron! What do you thinK? I am going to sell this one off. I love the pink on the yellow!

To demonstrate how crazy I am, I actually made 2 aprons in 24 hours. The other one is Shelly H.'s apron that she ordered. Got to love it!

Crop Swap and Sale! March 6th &7th

Come and crop! Or come check out all the scrapbook, cardmaking and craft items everyone has to offer flea market style.

Friday, March 6th 10am to 10 p.m.
Saturday, March 7th 10am to 9 p.m.

at the Rebekah Lodge, 222 Brown St., Punta Gorda

This event is a chance for the public to come down and check out craft and scrapbooking items for sale by the public. Cropping (scrapbooking) space is limited and RSVPs are needed and cost $15 per person. A Swap table will be set up. Bring any of your unwanted craft items and swap them. You can set up a card table, price your items to sell and keep all the money. There is no charge to set up.

For more information, contact Tracy Croy at 941-639-9914, let her know you seen it here!

Midnight Pj Party is a Week from tomorrow!!!

It's time to through your pjs on, put the kids to bed and come play! Next Friday Night, January 23rd, 9pm to midnight!

You get to make all this for $15! Please bring your snail glue and snippers, if you can! You can also get the class for free, by buying the Love You Much Bundle!!!

So Here is a run down on what we are making!!!

Get ready for valentines with the little sweeties!!! We are making 2 different love notes with a box to put them in! - take this idea home and let the little ones make their own for class and put them in the box for safe keeping!

Next!!! Making Mister his little valentines gift bag full oh his favorite candy! I know ladies, we are not making it to fit us, well his second favorite candy! Well and you can always give it to your best friend, since they never forget our birthdays!


Can we say "CANDY" "GIVE ME THE CANDY"!!! Maybe this year the kiddos won't do a card, but instead do personal candy treats! Check these out!! Ohhh, How cute!


Oh, Don't forget the Cards! We should make atleast one full size card, for the honey!

All our projects are using the LOVE YOU MUCH BUNDLE! And to give you a hint at some of the prizes, here is one! I got thsat Regionals and love it, so I figured I can share it with you!

Alright, I can't wait to see you there! My class is limited to the first 6! But if, I get 4 or more on the waiting list, I will have the class again the following Tuesday or Thursday Night. Shoot me an email!

~trish

Check out the bundle at

www.midnightpjstampers.stampinup.net

A Crafter's Outing without Children

WOW, did I get to have a day, Yesterday! A big THANK YOU to my mother-in-law, who watched my 3 kids for the morning, so I could run around town. This was not one of my ordinary missions, this was special! I was searching for a missing part to one of my sewing machines.

Ohh, I went to all kinds of places, seen beautiful things and met wonderful people!

For an isolated, stay at home mom, as me, it was like spending the day in a foriegn land that you have distant memories of, a world beyond wal-mart! LOL!


So, searching for a component to a very special sewing machine, sent me to a Quilt shop in town, but I did not get a very nice impression and I was told I would have to wait (AT THE DOOR!), well if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!


So moving on! I went to "A Stitch Connection", just north of Midway on US 41!
They were awesome!!!!!! I got the ankle for the machine and ordered my parts! I left there ready to sew!

You have got to stop in there sometime, if you have never been. The items they sell and the classes are amazing. They had a class in there at the time with 3 young girls (age ~12 years). They can help you learn about using your machines. But most of all, they are all about helping !!!!!!! http://www.astitchconnection.com/


Moving South on US41, I had to stop into Just Scrappin'. I was hoping to see the lovely Diane and Joanne, who I have not seen in about a year. But I got the privilage of meeting, Miss Dixie and her adoreable granddaughters! I was so excited when I learned that Miss Joanne has a SWARM at the end of each month! Check out their schedule at http://www.justscrappinllc.com/


SWARM: For those none cricket owners and the rest of you who had no idea, scrapbookers crop together. But the cricket machines act like typical crickets and swarm together!


Shh. her is a stamp set I really loved, that I seen there! I will have to see if Stampin' Up will have one like it or I might have to break down and get the whole set!



From there, I did pit stop at the honey baked Ham Company! Alright my fellow penny pinchers and pincher enveyist, relax! I did not buy a $50 ham, but I did buy a $5 ham bone with plenty of meat left on it!

You have got to have black-eyed peas for New Years! With a Honey Baked Ham bone and a bag of frozen peas, it's easy! I did learn that you can get a bag of scraps for $2!!!! That $2 bag was about 2 lbs! 2lbs of HONEY BAKED HAM!! can we say yummo!


Ohh I am almost home, were did I stop next! Aunties Quilt Shop in Punta Gorda. I did buy an 1/8th yard of this and that for my apron! I know I said wouldn't buy another yard until. BUT I USED IT!

Well I got this cool little YO-YO tool! So I made my first yo-yo, so easy, look at my bling-bling apron!

They offered classes too! You have to stop in for a list, but the one I want to do is the Baskets & Bowls for $20. Take a look at it! It takes about a yard of fabric and you use clothesline to make it! I love it! We will see if I can get a babysitter! Give them a call for their class schedule! 941-575-0005


So I guess this is really my first review of what is happening around town! Be aware! I might stop in and see you, if I have no kids with me. If you hve any suggestions on places I can go visit in the Charlotte County, Desoto County area! Send me the info! I love an adventure.