let me explain...

writer's block.

too much going on maybe?

who knows.

but it's been over 20 days since my last post... I've had good intentions but just no motivation.

I added Story Book Capes to my shop! but again haven't even added a description. Which is probably why there's a lack of orders. They are very adorable though! I have some ready to make that are classic houndstooth with turquoise on the inside. Lovely.

I did make it to Target the day after the Missoni line launched. Some of the stuff is really cute. I love the flats, Is & I would look so cute with a matching pair! But my absolute favorite thing was this bike.

 it's black and white and perfect. perfect. Maybe Santa Mathew will bring it to me for Christmas. Maybe. I should write him a letter.

Douglas has started playing soccer. His practices are cute.

{jumping jacks}

But his games are even cuter. There's always that one kid that doesn't want to play, or cries when someone takes his ball. And they all go the wrong way. 3-5 yr old soccer games are best!

I've been super into dark nail polish colors with glitter. love.

Isabella's hair can now go up in a pony tail. Mathew says she looks like a sumo wrestler.

I put this little outfit together for her for a trip to the "barnyard" she loved the llamas & goats.

rainbow bright meets camo/brother's hand-me-downs.

I made ALL of these!

and now I have an order for 15 superhero capes, more bunting, hats....

basically I need more of this

Last Saturday we went to the pumpkin patch! It was lot's of fun!

Douglas' coach's husband had a big soccer game that afternoon, but we went home for Is to take a nap and I ended up falling asleep too and we pretty much missed it. Lame.

Amanda & I have been doing a workout bootcamp at the Y. It's Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  We've done it for 1 week. But every time is different. right now I can't move my legs. I can't sit Indian style.  I can't get my leg up on the bed.  yes it's funny. but not really. The bootcamp is different every time. Isn't that not good, doesn't that make you get super sore every single time?? I'm not sure if I like it yet. 

You know how I told you this job I was training for was "in the bag"?? Well, it was. Then this girl came along who had more experience. She got the dream shift. the 6:30 to 3:30 shift. I was asked if I was interested in the 10am to 7pm shift. You know! In case I wanted to not see my children during the week ... so right now we're in limbo. But I'll keep you posted! :)

there. 20+ days worth of stuff. kinda.

things you'd hear around our house

CAST OF CHARACTERS:

Mathew- husband, daddy

Emma- me!,  mommy

Billy- my brother, roommate?? {18}

Douglas- son, aka D {3}

Isabella- daughter, aka Is, diva {17 months}

Isabella to Mathew- "hi daddy!"

Billy to Mathew-"my sister has like an evil scientist laugh!"
me to Billy - "what?! why?!"
Billy to Me- "idk but it's funny though"

{Mathew & I laying in bed "recapping" the day}
Emma- "Amanda lives in the house that she grew up in"
Mathew- "That's cool! kinda like this!"
Emma- "Yeah! This is where your mom & dad did it"
both- "Eww!"

"She'll be OK! I gave her some ibuprofen & some cookies" - Emma about Isabella

Isabella to me- "hi daddy!"

me- "what do you want to be when you grow up? have you ever thought about it"
D- "yeah!"
me- "what?!"
D- "chicken butt!"

"maybe that's why most women don't want to have sex so much. The children that result from it." - Emma

"I have to poop because there's poop in my butt" - Douglas

{We have a really long gravel driveway}
Billy- "if Mailbox from Blue's Clues lived here he'd have to stretch a long way!!"
Emma- "yeah! he'd be all MAAIIILLLL TIIIMMMEE!!!"

Douglas to Mathew - "let me see your eyes! - you have mommy's eyes daddy!"

Isabella to Billy- "hi daddy!"

Billy- "I have a genius idea for a movie!"
Emma- "really?! what?!!"
Billy- "ok! you ready?! - someone has a. money tree! and they have to protect it"
Emma- "bahahaha"
Billy- "It's not funny! I'm serious!"

{Douglas knocking on bathroom door}
"mom!! I wan't you to come downstairs!"
me- "I'm in the bathroom, can I have a minute?!"
D- "but I hear Angry Birds!"

D- "one time I woke up and a green snake bit me"

Billy- "really?! where?"
D- "on my butt."

"grandma, you're brown like us too but you have lines" - Douglas

{in a whisper} "you wanna fight?!" -Douglas

Mathew- "mine piece of cake is bigger"
Douglas- "well mine's AWESOME bigger!"

giveaway winner!

The giveaway winner is!!

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:8Powered by RANDOM.ORG

comment #8.... 

I had to count down the comments twice to make sure I was actually counting to 8 right because I couldn't believe it!! but AMANDA is the winner!

YAY!! :)

I'm not brown, I'm white!!

After bumping into each other, sweating our balls off, and almost collapsing during Zumba at the Y Amanda and I decided to go to El Charro {a local Mexican restaurant. obvs!}. We went to pick up D at the Y day care, {Is was at home with her daddy} and headed out to the parking lot.

A- "you sure D will be ok at the restaurant? I don't take Mia to restaurants."{or something like that}

Me- "yeah! He does good! Specially without Is around. No problem!" {shouldn't have said that!}

We get there and D decides he wants to sit on the outside of the booth. So he does. He doesn't understand that he needs to get out so I can get on the inside. He doesn't move. He tells me no and that he wants to sit on the outside! I try not to make a scene but then just pick him up make him stand up so that I can get in. He grabs the table and starts fake crying. As in NO tears! Looking back now I shoulda just dropped the whole thing and sat on Amanda's side. Why didn't I Amanda??

So we look through the menu and I ask D what he'd like. I suggest a chicken quesadilla. He asks for a cheeseburger.

Me- "Douglas, you're brown. Don't be like that, just get a quesadilla at least."
D- "No! I'm not brown! I'm white!!"

guys are wimps

Wednesday afternoon.

Douglas was taking a nap because he was being kind of a jerk and had soccer practice at 5pm so he needed to cheer up. A nap almost always makes one feel better no?

Billy {my brother} and I were watching Late Night with Jimmy Fallon {this fantastic episode} on my lap top. If you're new, you should know that I love Jimmy Fallon. Like, a lot. A. Lot.

Mathew was at the dentist.

Isabella was playing with her toys on the floor. We were sitting on the couch with the lap top on the coffee table. She was just on the other side of the coffee table. She was very quiet.

I've been trying to infant potty train this girl, but she won't have it. Almost every time she poops it's when she's in her crib. It's like she waits until I bathe her, put her in her pj's and then craps all over place. Like gotta change her sheets craps. I am convince that she does it on purpose. I wouldn't put it past her. If you've met her you'd know she's kind of a diva, and has an attitude problem.

Anyway, Billy and I laughing, enjoying Jimmy. Isabella playing on the floor. Like a perfect little angel. Then I look at my phone to check the time {who wears watches anymore!}, nap time! I pick her up, grab a diaper, 2 wipes, 2!!! and baby powder. I lay her on the couch next to Billy and pull her leggings off. Then, I undo her diaper and start pulling it of.. just like I always do before naps, when they're just a bit wet. BUT it wasn't just wet. IT WAS PACKED FULL OF CRAP. Isabella reaches for her feet, taking some poop in her fingers along with her. AND since I had already started to slide her diaper off, it also got on my sofa {which has just been PRO cleaned 2 days earlier}.... All the while Billy runs away... "there's poop in her vagina!"... and I'm left holding 2 wipes and a squirming poopy baby.

I made him come back and bring me the package of wipes and cleaned up the babe, the couch, and myself. I even had to change my pants because it got on my leg....

good times....

birthday giveaway!!

Wanna know something funny about my birthday? it's today. But not legally. As in that's not what's on my birth certificate or driver's license or anything.

In El Salvador I guess that there is a fee if you don't get all of your paperwork to the courthouse, or wherever, the same day {within 24 hours?} as the birth. Or so I've been told. My father did not want to pay that extra fee even though it was 6 days after I was born when he finally got around to it. My birth certificate says that I was born on September 12, but my mom says I was born on September 6. We've always celebrated it one the 6th. It's not really a big deal, it's just kinda weird. Different.

Now you know.

So! Now for the giveaway.

Remember this pretty pastel bunting I made for Katlyn's party?!

Ugh! I know! Cute!

Well I also made this pretty patterned one for my friend Liz's baby shower & she hung it up in her daughter's room.

She's expected to arrive to meet us sometime next month. Can NOT wait to meet her! Her name is Emeline, even though I'm still voting for EMMAline. Ha!

A while back a friend of mine hooked me up with some fabric sample books, which is what I made Katlyn's & Emeline's bunting out of. The books are *perfect* for this! some are solid and some have fantabulous patterns!

This one is darling and is going to go in my "studio"

it's just the right touch of whimsy & girly. it's me. pink houndstooth & everything!

What I love about bunting so much is that you can put it anywhere. It can look pretty in your kitchen, an outdoor OR indoor party, kid's room, play room... your office if you wish! AND you can put it away and save it forever!

This rainbow one is up for grabs! just leave 1 comment below to enter. You may also tweet, facebook, link to this giveaway and get an additional entry for each one of those! JUST COME BACK HERE & LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ONE YOU DO! giveaway closes on midnight on Sunday September 11th with the winner announced Monday September 12th!

one more thing!! I'll be making awesome one of a kind bunting and adding it the shop! some of the patterns are so fun, but I will also be taking orders for custom bunting! Some will include messages on them, "Congrats!" "happy birthday" etc... but I think the coordinating, yet different patterned fabric sample book ones are my favorite. so pretty!!

Good Luck!!

This is my 150th post!

What?! I know! There have been so many other things I've wanted to share and write about but I'd rather live life than just write about it... sometimes. lol

Know what else? Tuesday is my 25th birthday!

25!!

That's a big one! Sooo.... I'm celebrating with what I love most! Sharing my creations with you! Which means that I'll be doing a lot in the shop this week.

Sunday I added ear hats to the shop!

and today I've added the last 3 I have of these!

and at a FABULOUS price!

also, as an end of summer sale, sun bonnets in 2 different patterns are on sale! I love that they cover the ears so they're still perfect for a windy fall day!

AND!! I'm offering *FREE* shipping all week!! {til midnight on Sunday Sept. 11th} just use code 'ENDOFSUMMERSALE' when checking out & you'll receive FREE shipping on any and all items!

Free shipping has been going on since Sunday though! If you like Created on Facebook you would have known that right away... but if you like Created now you'll be set for the future right?!

 I will also be adding items to the shop almost every day this week so be sure to check back!! In addition, there will also be a giveaway at the end of the week!

Yesterday I shared part 1 of mine & Mathew's love story! Martha posted hers too!! It's so cute! check it out here.

have a great holiday!!

{via Late Night with Jimmy Fallon}

our love story [part 1]

After reading Bridget's love story, then Elizabeth's love story Martha & I thought it would be fun to write ours & our husbands' & link up to each other. That was a couple months ago, but i finally started. It'll be in installments & it'll be fun. But fair warning, it's sappy, it happened fast {married within a year}, & i like details so it might be kind of long.

here we go

[people's names have been changed to protect their identity]

Sunday July 11, 2004 at church my best friend {at the time, we'll call her "Brook"} told me that she met a guy that would be *just perfect* for me. One to get me over some guy I had been hung up on. You know, the kind of guy that leads you on when they are around but never actually commits. The guy that will call your phone until he gets you. The guy that expects you to wait on him forever. The heartbreaker. Anyway, I was hung up on this heartbreaker but Brook was tired of seeing me be all melancholy & shiz. I tend to over think things, over analyze, let them affect everything that I do. All conversations led back to the heartbreaker. Brook invited my brother & I to lunch with her family, boyfriend [let's go with "Rob" on this one] & a few other people after the morning church service. She was the pastor's daughter. We went to Maria's in Roger's Arkansas {how in the world do i remember that?!}.

Now don't get lost here: The day before, Brook had gone to Carthage, Missouri with Rob to celebrate his sister's birthday {my now sister-in-law, we'll call her "Tammi"}. At that small party were Tammi's in-laws [my sister-in-law's in-laws, my now in-laws] & her husband's brother-in-law, Mathew. Got it?! Well Brook told me that she had talked to Mathew quite a bit & that he seemed so sweet & nice, the kind of guy that "would treat you like a princess". She said that her & Rob had told him about me because she'd asked if he had a girlfriend & he had said no. Then she asked, "well what kind of girl do you like?!" to which {she said} he replied "a girl like you". GAG!!! This should have been a hint of how shallow she'd become. Anyway, all she wanted was for me to say that it was ok for Rob to give him my number. I told her I'd have to think about it. She wasn't crazy about me being so standoffish about the idea.

We all went our separate ways after lunch. I thought about it.... I mean I needed to get over this guy, & we'd only be talking. I was leaving for college in about a month so... what the heck?! that night at church I told Brook to go ahead & give him my number. She smiled her big happy smile & acted so excited for me.

I expected him to call that same night.
He didn't & I forgot all about it.
Then Monday came and went.
Tuesday July 13th, 2004 at around 9pm my phone rang with an unknown number.

"hello?"
"hi, is this Emma?"
"yeah! who's this?!" {i'm rude sometimes. no surprise there huh?}
"Mathew, Brook gave me your number"

THREE hours later my cheeks hurt. I smiled almost the whole time. We just asked each other easy questions. He told me about how he grew up on a farm, I told him about how I didn't know anything about that. I'd moved from California 4 years earlier, still missed it & still went back once a year. We talked about our likes and dislikes. We talked about our beliefs {that's a biggie!}. But most importantly, in the end he told me he'd like to come down and visit me. Take me out on a date. I couldn't say no right? Well, I didn't want to say no. I found my mom & told/asked her about it. She was very surprised, but acted like if I wanted to go for it then she was happy for me. Mostly I think it was because I wasn't all sad looking at that moment.

Mathew & I talked on the phone every night the rest of the week. I'm sure that a couple times I fell asleep on the phone & he probably did too. He worked a ton back then. He made me laugh, made me happy every evening. One night after he'd made me laugh I said, "you're so funny! I love you!" then I gasped. I didn't mean that... right? I cared about him already, we'd probably spoken to and knew more about each other than me & some of my closest friends did.... but now it was out there & I almost hyperventilated. Mathew though, didn't miss a beat. He kept the conversation going because he knew I was embarrassed & unsure of what I'd said. It just slipped out!

On Saturday, my mom had to work & I don't remember where my brother was, I think he spent the night with a friend. I woke up early, showered, & fixed my hair. I also took forever trying to decide what to wear. I wanted to look nice, but not too dressy & not like I had tried very hard. I'd talked to this guy for hours & hours the last 4 days but had never met him in person, so I didn't want to over do it but yet wanted to be fabulous. I didn't know exactly what we were doing anyway! It was a long process but in the end I wore a denim skirt that came to my knees, a pink polo & some flip flops. I sat in a chair by the front door & waited.

airline safety

my last post was.....
well.
i don't think it was mean.
it was..... real.
everyone goes through spells like that with people they love so i'm not sorry that i posted it.
mathew read it.
we talked.
and i was right.
...i usually am... [sarcasm..... but not really]
he's unhappy. he's discontent. not satisfied. not present.
he admitted that he's been distant. and a-holey.
he's not happy with his lot in life.
if it were up to him he'd be farming right along side his dad... building up the farm even more.... [or however you would say that, i don't do farm talk]
and as much a you'll hear me say how i can't believe i live out here, how i detest bugs, heat, grass, and pretty much anything outdoorsy. i want him to be doing what he wants to be doing.
and I will do all i can to help.
I've picked up dead turkeys, fallen in turkey poop, gotten turkey guts & poop on my face, driven weird machinery, giant trucks, and even faced my fear of up close contact with cows for this guy.
because it's what he loves.
because it's his life.
but in order for him to be able to do that in the long run, he needs to back away from it right now. just for a bit.
he needs to heal.
but he doesn't want to need to heal.
he hates that this is happening in the first place.
so what does he do?
he isolates himself.
he hides behind mean words and snappy comments.
mostly from me.
we all know by now that i don't put up with unnecessary attitude and hatefulness well... at all. from anyone.
but i'm the last person that he wants seeing him that way. seeing him in his "weak state".  though i don't think of him that way at all. i don't see him that way... in his mind he wants to keep me from thinking of him needing help, not being able to pick up our children, or even bend over sometimes.
and i understand.
i also know that as much as you know what's good for you, what's right from wrong, sometimes your feelings, thoughts, emotions, and fears trump what you should feel and take over.
as much as we talk about him enjoying his time off, enjoying spending time with the kids, helping a little around the house, and just being home he wants to be somewhere else. let me rephrase that. he wants to be ABLE to be somewhere else. and he is... able... but then what... we'll have to call an ambulance one day to come pick him up and take him straight to have back surgery?! no!
back surgery is the last resort. and the cause of what's wrong can't even be fixed by surgery. {details here}
i had postpartum depression after having isabella. so i do understand.
and i also know, and he knows in his head, in his heart that for now... he's just gotta suck it up and live life.
the way it is.
he's gotta take care of himself, be happy with himself, thank God for the life, the people he has. get close to Him. just be happy "within". maybe even taking up a hobby [besides freakin xbox please?! did i tell you that he got invited to join a pro team as an alternate?! that there's a gaming league... what?!! I know! lame-o... but they'd probably say that about walls of yarn and fabric that make my heart flutter] eat right, exercise, stick with the physical therapy.... get good sleep.
LOVE himself.
no one, i don't care who they are, can respect, love or take care of anyone else the proper way [selflessly] if they don't respect, love, or take care of themselves.
it's one of those "airline safety" situations. where you put on your own oxygen masks first before helping those around you. not saying don't help those around you, but rather don't let yourself become faint from lack of oxygen, that you can't be much good to anyone at all.
it'll take time before he's happy again.
but he will be.... even just FINALLY talking about it he seems like he has a load off.
he's a tough nut to crack.
but i think together, we'll be ok.
we'll be great.