Balance?

Yes it's another one of those posts again! How do women do it? Worker, wife, mother? That is a pretty tall order isn't it? Now, don't get me wrong. I am not down in the dumps, I'm just amazed, that's all. Just totally amazed.

Last week when the kids were under the weather. I got caught up on work. Then, I took the weekend off and felt refreshed and ready to conquer my world. On Monday I had a new and improved school schedule in hand, Modern June in a good place and POOF, it all went to hell in a hand basket. How is that possible? Life, plain and simple. Life happens.

So here it is, it's already Friday and I'm all a-panic about what we didn't do, what we have to do this weekend, and where that will put me next week.

I figure there is only on solution, cloning! I need another me! Anyone know of a place I get that done? ; )

So here is to another day, to catch up and fall behind all at the same silly time! Cheers and good luck to all of us that are living life! And, the hope that we can all sit down in the shade, sip on Iced Tea (Sweet Tea Vodka) and read our Martha Stewart Living in peace!

A happy holiday weekend to you all! xoxo, Kelly

life, work and the pursuit of happiness

You may have noticed that my blog has been a lot less Modern June stuff, and a lot more family/life stuff--that is because a tide has turned. In January, while still suffering from Holiday Burn Out, I had the best January a small biz could hope for. That should be good right? I found I had burn out on top of my burn out. Double burn out is not good for the creative soul or for the family.

January was supposed to be about the kids, and getting school back on track. That didn't happen, thanks to the custom tablecloth-palooza. In February, I fought to lessen my load but I unexpectedly lost a great stitcher and assistant to her own creative work, CPSIA happened (depressing), and the orders kept pouring in. Instead of taking better care of the kids, I was working my tush off. The stress of working, teaching, and all the other jobs a wife and mother has was killing me.

What about all the great ideas that I really want to see produced? The new lines just weren't happening. Something had to give. I took down all the tablecloth listings and found relief. (back up now) Two weeks of wrapping things up in the studio was great.

Even greater was the reconnection with my family. Wow, the pay off was immediate, school was great, chores were done with almost no compliant, and loads of fun was had. Since I am not in the studio every night, Don and I are actually eating dinner together and we have started having date nights again.

So what next? Honestly, I am so confused, I'm totally wishy-washy on that subject. I have told friends and family that the business is a hobby again and not on the fast track to becoming something bigger. But, on the other hand, I can't keep my brain from dreaming and wanting to create great new stuff. Silly me feels unloved when my inbox is not full of emails and orders, but I feel very thankful that I don't have to work until midnight every night to get product out. I am very torn. Why isn't it enough to be a wife and mother?

I have a show coming up very soon, what on earth will I have to sell? If I do have something to sell will I have taken care of my kids, hubby and home? This is what it is all about isn't it? Questions, guilt and the endless search for balance. For now I have no answers, lot's of guilt and a quest for balance!!!

xoxox, Kelly

glorious day

Yesterdays gloomy day turned into GLORIOUS DAY. We went for a walk and then found playmates, I had forgotten about the school holiday. The kids were outside all day and I was out for half the day. I love spring in February, it does a girl loads of good!

Today

Today I feel like a turkey. I'm guessing turkeys don't have very big brains.

I have had to do everything twice today. Like the post office: I forgot to tape the labels on my packages and had no money with me to buy tape, so I had to go home. Thank goodness my mailman took them for me. Then I went to cash a check and get some groceries. I got to the store/bank and I realized I had no wallet. So I go back home to get said wallet. I tried to buy flowers at the Azalea Garden Center and I could not remember my Debit code. Thank goodness they are my friends and ran it as a credit card. But wait -- I got all the way into the van before I realized I forgot to buy the bulbs for the bulb pot I had just bought. Urg!

That's me! I do it right cuz I do it twice! I'm not even going to touch any Modern June work today. That could be really bad. I promise, if you are waiting on a order you will be happy you waited an extra day. One can only mess up so much.

A bit of balance

Of late I am suffering from Burn Out. This is just not ok. With the busiest season upon me and school in full swing I just can not stop. So what to do. Well, cook of course. Today after working a full day I actually stopped working at 5:00 just like a real worker! I cleaned up the house and studio while the kids did webkinz on our computers. (they met and play online, weird right?)

I then took a break, flipping the channels I settled on Rachel Ray 30 Minute Meals. And then I did the unbelievable... I made what she was making! What was really shocking was that I actually had every single ingredient! Wow that panty list has helped out!

Let me tell you the BBQ Chicken Burgers with Slaw are super yummy! The kids wouldn't eat then but Mr. "Don I never eat burgers" loved them. I used ground turkey and also cut the fat and sugar in half. Still, they were wonderful! The slaw was great too. With tons left over I look forward to tomorrows lunch. Unfortunately the sweet potatoes fries are all gone!

Now with a full belly and bed time at hand I feel a bit of balance. Now if these kids would go off to bed and I could snuggle up for a movie with my man! I could get used to this! Happy weekend!

Perfect Little Podcast #2

Ok peeps I found a good one this week!!!! I know I said that about The Budget Fashionista too! This week I am back to that trying to do it all ideal. You might remember the "How does she do it" post. Well in my attempt to find work, family and personal balance I did a google search to find a podcast about getting organized. I needed boost in that department after the crazy Mamma - wild kid day I had yesterday!

So here is the great site that I found, Let Talk Organizing. Suzanne is a mommy to two (I believe) and she works from home. That sold me right there! She is speaking my language. What I really like is that she is not speaking down to me like some other podcasters. No names here! But you know what I mean, people that talk too much about what experts they are and are trying to sound ultra professional. Maybe its a "radio voice" thing? Well after listening to all 5 of the Let Talk Organizing podcasts I have no doubt that this woman and her team are professional and are most certainly experts in their field.

The first podcast in her list is all about finding your organizational style. I listened to this over and over again, trying to figure out what style I might be. Now that I am not sewing up a storm, I see that there is a little survey in the site you can take! I love a quiz! I don't know about you but I read every little article and blurb about getting organized that I can get my hands on and not one of those has ever mentioned an organization style. This is rocking my world! I see now why certain methods fail for me and why other are perfect! Who know?

Well I hear the kiddo's are awake upstairs. I worked all night so we could have a fun day today. Obviously after yesterday they need more Mommy and LESS Modern June!!! I will take my survey and report back on the results later!

Let me know what you style is and if you like the podcast too! I love to hear from you!

Crafty thanks, Kelly!

a bit of my garden

Wow! What a difference some hard work and sunshine can do for a girl. I am in such a better mood for being out digging in the dirt! I need that, Don always remembers that, but I always forget! I realized today that there are parts of my yard that I have not stepped upon for 4 months. My yard is not big. I totally understand why that is but I also know that is not healthy for me. I need dirt under my finger nails for optimal personal balance. LOL.


This photo came to me via my Martha Stewart newsletter. This is what I need. But after the 104 degree days and once the mosquitos are dead and gone. There is something magical that happens in the first week or two of September. Here in Virginia there is a break in the weather. A time when we all run outside again. We eat al fresco. We spend the entire day in the yard. We do school outside. And even the little boy that yelled at me today saying that he is not an "outside boy", even he ventures out of doors. Even if not for long.

I will be waiting for all of that and more!

My new routine up-date

Check this out! I have added to Mondays post. There I have updated my up hill battle with finding balance!

The great balancing act of life

In my next life I want to be a cat. Cranky and lazy.

Warning I am in a mood so if you don't have anything nice to say come sit by me!!!

Is anyone out there doing a good job with the great game of balancing your lives? Is that just something that we say is really possible, some kind of farce? Something to just strive for so we can feel like failures at the end of the day. Shoot I feel like a failure at everything all day long.

• I don't feed this children or myself healthy food any more.
• I have not had a date with my husband in months.
  
• My laundry is in a basket next to my computer here in the dining room.
  
• My kids are watching TV.
  
• No math sheet has been completed.
  
• My kids have not read today.
  
• I have not walked on my treadmill.
  
• I have stacks of things to complete in just 2 and half weeks.
  
• My books for Modern June are non existent.
• I have no tax id number. No business licence. Two of my must do items on January To Do LIST.
  
• I have patterns all over the kitchen counter.
• 
• I fabric laying around the studio not on selves.
• I have a clothing rack in the corner of my dining room because there is not room in the studio for it.
• 
• I have patterns hanging in the hall closet instead of coats.
  
• Besides there being a treadmill sitting it the middle of the studio there are about 9 boxes stacked up filled with Don's childhood toys old computer parts, books and what not.
  
• I have a non functioning sewing table.
  
• I have two orders to start.
  
• I have wisteria growing up and into my tree.
• I have a pile of leaves that have been in the middle of the back yard for months.
• I need a nap.
  
• I need energy.
  
• I need a break.
  
• I need to be kinder to myself.
  

I told you I am in a mood. So what to do? Well cry and eat chocolate sounds reasonable! LOL

No instead I will call in Fly Lady to the rescue.

So here I go jumping in where I am and doing it all 15 minutes at a time. I promise not to beat my self up any more!!!!! I promise! I will create a system that will allow me to rest assured that I have time set aside to "Do It ALL". I know it will never all be done at the same time. I will drop the ball. But I will set up a system, a set of routines that I can count on. And I can finally sleep at night knowing that I will not drowned in my sea of crazy.

I first found out about FlyLady about 5 years ago. And it was a miracle. Our family was never before happier and shall I say it? "Balanced." I have kept so many of the routines over the years. I still get dressed to shoes. If I don't I feel wrong, I mean down to my core wrong. I still need to start laundry in the morning and I must, must, must empty out the dishwasher in the morning while I make breakfast.

But I have a totally different life now than I had five years ago. I have Modern June now. I homeschool now. My kids are bigger now. I have a bigger house now. My garden is bigger. I have more things going on now.

But the thing I just realized today that I am no longer a SAHM... I am now a WAHM.
And that is big deal.

So I am done gripping and I am ready to take control over my CHAOS, I will go the next step and get it together! Myra and Kelly my kitchen sink is shining and I have a daily and weekly schedule set up. I can do this!

I am grabbing my timer and going to my own version of crisis clean up.

I will post what that means to me once I figure it out!