Quote of the Week!

"It's wearable art...."

What is wearable art?? It's anything that you wear that you think is art!! In my recent searches on Etsy, I found this gorgeous bracelet. I found it in a store called Annie and Olive. It is simple gingham and a bit understated but that is what I LOVE about it!

I love the difference in it. I love the "country" in it. I love the classic in it. I love the timeless in it. I love the black and white in it!

Oh....if I only had an endless supply of money, the damage I could do. If only I had a place to wear it all to! With my little babes, I don't get to dress up too much!

But, you can bet your bottom dollar that I will have a KILLER handbag!!

:>

Home Tip Tuesday - I LOVE Bon Ami!!

I have heard people talk about Bon Ami. I thought it was an urban legend. I didn't find it at target. I didn't find it at another local grocery store. I was so curious about its powers and its love of the environment....then ..... I found it at Wegmans!!!

I have to say that I LOVE it. I cleaned my white kitchen sink with it to see how it compared to Comet and it was fantastic! It cleaned the stains and didn't have an abrasive smell. Plus, it's made with no chlorine, no perfume, no dyes AND its BIODEGRADABLE!! It is also safe for stainless steel as it will not scratch.

My search for earth friendly products to help me weed bleach from my life is progressing!!

I addition to adding Clorox Greenworks (which I also found at Wegmans and NOT Target), Method products and Bon Ami, I have found Borax.

Borax is also a phosphate and chlorine free product. It can be used to deodorize, to do laundry, to clean and to treat stains. Again, this product is allowing me to kick my chlorine addiction. My daughter wears cloth diapers and I remember this product being suggested to add to the load as I clean the diapers. I couldn't/wouldn't kick the bleach habit then - NOW I have tried Borax and am competely satisified with its power.

There is a reason why these products have been around for soooo long!! They are helping me rest a little easier knowing that I am doing my little part to save the planet for my children :>

Craft Business Information

Anyone starting out with a business needs resources right?? I do (did) and am constantly reading between baking cookies, changing diapers, refereeing fights and sewing to find bigger and better (everyday) ways to market myself and my business.

I have come across many sites that have alot of information compiled for the work from home entrepenuer. Here is one site with such information - http://www.theartfulcrafter.com/craft-business.html.

Check it out. I know that I am back to read a new article when I am not chasing a toddler.......

Do you have a favorite site for craft business information?? Let us know!

Let's Talk Kids :>

I found my inspiration for this post in my recent reading of Parents magazine. I have read Goodnight Moon to both of my children and they both (at least my almost 4 year old son) know the words by heart (and me, of course)!!! However, I still read it on occasion because it has such a melodious, nighttime sound and rhythm. I even feel as though I am being lulled to sleep.

I remember watching a show with my son that featured the book being read by (I believe) Susan Sarandon. I loved her reading and interpretation but I know that my son wasn't impressed......it wasn't mommy (really, I felt the same way!) I started searching for a new nighttime book.

I found Goodnight, My Duckling which is a completely adorable book (and my daughter's FAVORITE) and I continued searching for more.

Back to Parents - it talks about "...bedtime ritual to include saying sweet dreams to the city or state they call home and to all the familiar landmarks from sea to shining sea?"

YEAH!! I think this is a great idea and now my book is in the mail! Check out this site - http://goodnightourworld.com/

Some places written about are: America, Beach, Los Angeles, Vermont, NYC, zoo.

It's a cool thing - check it out :>

Quote of the Week!

Quote by Benjamin Franklin

"Never leave that till to-morrow which you can do to-day."

Sometimes I agree with this quote and sometimes I don't. I do when I want to wake up on a Saturday with nothing to do but enjoy my family. I don't on a Tuesday night when all I want to do is play hide and seek and enjoy my kids.

When I was younger, I found myself sticking to old Ben's words a little more often. Now that I am older with a family I have found a NEW QUOTE that better firs my life -

“Cleaning and scrubbing can wait for tomorrow,

For babies grow up, I’ve learned, to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs.

Dust, go to sleep.

I’m rocking my baby, and babies don’t keep.”

Author Unknown

This quote is all so unfortunately true! I look at my 3 year old son and my almost 2 year old daughter and wonder where the time went? I can weep.......

SO - moms, dads, caregivers, providers, workers - slow down and smell the roses and play that one last game of hide and seek :>

What quote do you like to follow?

Home Tip Tuesday - Clorox Green Works

I have to say that I am excited to see yet another green cleaner on the market. I am in the process of really "buckling down" and switching over to greener - more earth friendly products. I use most Method products - hand soap, laundry detergent, laundry softner, tub and tile cleaner, floor cleaner. I am VERY satisified with the cleaning power, scent and the good feeling I get when I use them.

One bad cleaning product that I can't kick (but I have definetly scaled WAY back) is bleach. I love the way it smells when I use it to clean the sink and toilets. It must be because it was/is my mother's cleaning choice for most projects. It must make me think of childhood.

I am hoping that this new Clorox product will help me kick my infatuation with bleach! I was definetely looking and now I may have found my new cleaning love. It is made of a coconut based cleaning agent with lemon oils, corn based alcohol and filtered water. Check out the stats on the product at - http://www.greenworkscleaners.com/?WT.srch=1.

Hopefully this product will keep us moving in the right "green" direction!

Have a story about Clorox Green Works? Let us know!

New Pink Owl Fabric..

I saw it and I just HAD to HAVE it! I swear if you saw my fabric stash you may faint! I am completely and totally addicted to fabric. I admit it - "Hello, my name is Mackenzie and I am a fabric junkie." Is there a rehab out there somewhere? Wait a minute, this is an obsession I LOVE to have. I can't give this up! There are WAY to many fun, funky, vibrant, delicious fabrics out there waiting for me to buy and create something with! What will my new owl friends become?? A new slouch bag...a new convertible wristlet?....a new change purse?...oh my! The options are limitless!!

Do you have a fabric obsession? What's your current fave??

Thinking about buying a ruffler??

I have decided that I am sick of sewing a basting stitch and then pulling and gathering material by hand to do a ruffle stitch (ugh!!) Alot of times the stitch/thread breaks and the ruffle is uneven - so I say "fugedaboutit"...I am splurging and buying a ruffler. They are about $30.00 and you can buy one on www.ebay.com. I have a Brother machine so I decided that I am not going to buy a one size fits all, I am going to buy a Brother attachment. I personally think that $30.00 for a life saver in ruffles is well worth it! I will post again after I receive it and make some creation!!

My NEW Simply Slouchy Sack!!!

Woo hoo! I am totally stoked about this new design! It has everything that I need as mom - style, function, largeness!!!!! I will have this style available for purchase through http://www.simplesweetcakes.com/ and http://www.simplesweetcakes.etsy.com/ in just a few days - I need to load it......I have another slight twist on this design too - I added metal rings to 1 front and 1 back handle. It's just enough to give a lttle oomph! So exciting for me :>

How to make jeans into a skirt

I started this adventure by bookmarking this tutorial a long while ago as motivation and inspiration to try this someday. http://www.savvyseams.com/clothing/jeanskirt2.php Now my day has come. I am currently in the middle of converting a pair of jeans that I bought on clearance at Target into a cool skirt with a black and white motif patchwork in the middle of the front and back. I used this tutorial to give me the basic idea and then added on from there. I will be finished in a few days and I plan to post the tutorial here. It hasn't been very difficult - the most difficult has been to pick out the fabrics to use for the patchwork......

Quote of the Week!

"Live, Laugh and Love"

-Everyone

The three words we should live by everyday of our lives. We need to live, laugh and love everything! Live our lives to the fullest! Laugh out loud the hardest! Love our family the most! Something to strive for and something to live for!

So who LOVES fabric????

I know that I do!!!!!! I found a website that I am sure that fabric junkies know about!!! It is http://www.reprodepotfabrics.com/ . They have some really tantalizing fabrics - I just feel like I could spend and spend........

I mean look at the Full Moon Harvest Collection - YUM!!!!!! The hidden owl is so FAB!!! Is she being coy? Is she winking? Is she sleeping? I LOVE the interpretation!!!!!!! I am going to HAVE to order some fabric from here soon!!!!!

The Zippy Zipper Pouch

So, we are all into organizing when it comes to the New Year. We organize our life, our business, our kids and our stuff. Here is a great organizational tool - the Zippy Zipper Pouch. It is fabulous in your handbag to organize all the stuff that lies around - makeup, bills, receipts, change, money, cards, notes. I not only have one as a wallet - I use one for makeup, money and other handy (ahem!) womanly essentials! They come in a variety of colors and also as a wristlet (the more options the better!!). :>

Baby/Toddler Leg Warmers

As I was surfing on the web until 2 am (as always) I came across a really cool tutorial. How to make baby/toddler leg warmers. I have a toddler girl and always admired the baby lega warmers that I have seen, so I was curious. I found this tutorial - http://www.flickr.com/photos/babyhopes/237397072/in/set-72157594274454468/ by Baby Hopes. It offers really good pictures and detailed instructions. I made them following her instructions and had excellent results. I also made them "my way" after using her instructions and cut out a few steps (I may post my own tutorial some day). Have fun sewing!!

Makin' some pouches

I have decided to design a new pouch for my shop. It will be as long as a pencil and as tall as a phone. I want it to have a zipper closure, some cool trim and ribbon detail with maybe a wristlet strap. I have come up with a design and I will be adding it soon - can't wait to show you!

Quote of the Week!

"Only great minds can afford a simple style."

~Stendhal

Ah.....this is only all too clear. As a mom, I try, my HARDEST to be fashionable everyday. And, you moms know, that it is VERY hard. I have come to the realization that such is true - keep it simple sweetheart! KISS!! Keep you shirt, pants, bag and jewelery simple, elegant and fashion forward. A simple wristlet or necklace can make the outfit!! You only live once - make you fashion mark today!!

Why choose a slouch bag??

As a handbag lover, I am always thinking about and admiring handbags. I recently designed my first slouch bag. I have found my new true love (sorry Kev).......it is so unassuming and relaxed....ahhhhh if I could only be more like my handbag!!!! It sits comfortably on my shoulder, holds all of my gear and really LOOKS like it's having a good time carrying all of my stuff around. A slouch bag looks like it can handle anything - makes you think that holding your stuff is just second nature - NO PROBLEMO!!! Try one out - heck check out my newest Simply Slouchy Sack - you won't be disappointed!

So I should have been British...

As I sit and watch "Wedding Date" (book much better that movie), I am totally envious of the characters being in England. They are attending a bachelorette party dressed in total argyle, preppy golf style going on a golf pub tour - so 80's!! YES!!!! How awesome. I am totally sending an email to my girlfriends telling them that that has to go on our schedule of "things to do"!!!!! So, I decided to search some arglye fabric. I need to buy some to create some nifty bags. I know I must have been born on the wrong continent (God knows I love being an American). But, I love ALL Jane Austin books/movies, anything British period and the accent. So .....cheerio......enjoy this fabric. I found it here - http://www.rosenberryrooms.com. Check em out :>

Do you think you were born in the wrong place??

Found a Cute Little Change Purse...

I know, I know, I design and make handbags myself. However, I love them - ALL of them......So.....I HAD to buy this one - too cute! Look how the kitty jumps off of the body - yummy! :> I found it here - http://stores.ebay.com/Tokyo-Gift - check them out!

The Sweetest Scent.....

My son just woke me up as I watch my nightly fill of "Sex and the City". He starts the night out in his own bed and inevitably ends up in ours. So, after I tucked him into our king size bed (which we purchased for this VERY reason...) I decided to check on our 21 month old daughter. I carefully and quietly opened her door so as to not wake her. I was quickly welcomed by the MOST pleasant scent. An aroma that for some unknown reason is just present one day and seems to fade the next. The aroma of a baby. The sweet smell of a babe. I think back to when I was just a babe myself watching Poltergeist (the scene where Carolann passes through the mom). I remember imagining what that must have felt like. What it must have smelled like (at the time I imagined Downy because that was my favorite dryer scent). What pain she must have suffered. Fast forward to tonight and being hit by that smell, I know. I don't have to say it.... I know. I love the smell. I feel pain for the smell. It can't be described. And as I stood there and she began to rustle, I slipped away and breathed one more deep breath to remember. Because before I know it, and for reasons unknown, it will be gone............

Do you take the time to smell the smell?

Anklets Anyone??

So, I decided here tonight, as I drink my glass of vino......I, in my own fashion realm, am bringing back the anklet!!!!!! I LOVE it. I love retro. I feel like the anklet is a bit retro (correct me if am TOTALLY wrong!!!). I think they are sexy and distinct. I have found some that I enjoy - like the one pictured here. I find it to be so natural and calming - like I am the diver harvesting the delicious stones used in its creation. I would also love to have a sleek, elegant and blingy black and silver anklet. What lady couldn't use a black and silver anklet. OK guys, are you listening????? Buy your lady a black and silver anklet.......they are TOO sexy......and you'll send her back in time. When I was younger I LOVED anklets - circa late 80's andearly 90's. I have been inspired to TOTALLY bring the anklet back baby!!!! The anklet pictured is from a fab store on etsy - Diving Divas Designs. Check them out!

Quote of the Week!

And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.

~Abraham Lincoln

I have this fear that seems to crop up a few times a year - a fear of death. A fear of not being around to see my kids. A fear of missing "something". A fear of having regret. A fear that I have let a moment, a taste, a sound, a smell, a _______ slip by.

That fear translates itself many ways - There are times that I have had a rough day because of life and I may have been a "mean mommy" as a result of it. I have found myself choked up with emotion and crawling into bed with my 3 year old to lay with him and cry that the day is over and it's gone. What I had said or done that I regret is now a part of history that I can't take back from that day. I hadn't put life into my day.

What President Lincoln said is magic to me. Is this the answer to living a full life no matter how long you are here?

My resolution this year is to put in as much life as I can into each day and NOT to be afraid of what I might miss because I know that I will make every moment last as long as I can hold on to it.

How are you going to put life into your years?