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Lately (May 2013)

16 May

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Full disclosure: the is the raw, honest truth of my life as we know it. Our life. You don’t need to know everything, but this is the jist of it…

Lately I’ve been busy.

I know, I’ve said this before.

I started this blog in 2011 in hopes of releasing my voice for all of you to hear. I wanted to share and discuss with you all life has to offer. A few years prior, in 2009, I went to the County Clerk’s office in my hometown and bought a DBA as sweet whimsy designs. I had no idea what, exactly, I would do with it, but I know I had something to offer the world. I had great big visions of a roaring awesome blog / shop. I think it still seems so new, so fresh, so advanced.

I took time to have a few more children, (heh), but all the while I was fondling my brain to think of the next big thing that would help our one-income, middle-class family stay afloat.

I took up knitting. I made stationery. I created…things.

I started teaching a weekly music class for little ones. I love this! This class has added a little more light & joy to my life, which is already pretty bright.

In December of 2012, just last December, I saw some simply-painted peg dolls in pots in a photo of a blogger I follow on Instagram.

Hmmm…

I thought I could paint some more intricate peg dolls for my kids, for Christmas!

You see, the truth is, we were underwater financially last Christmas. Heck, we’ve been financially drowning for several months years now. We’re not going on extravagant trips (or any trips, for that matter), or spending all our cash on nice clothes and shoes (oh no, I assure you I find ways to save money, even get our cool stuff for free), we’re not even in over our heads with a mortgage or brand new cars. We’re simply trying to get by. On one income. A family of five.

Back to my point.

I had to make gifts for my kids so they would have things to open on Christmas morning.

Initially, I got a great response from the peg dolls. Not only from my own kids, but from other kids visiting, from parents, from my family.

I started ‘putting myself out there’, making more peg dolls and other hand-painted wooden things. I knew we had to start getting ourselves out of this mess, but at the same time, I insisted on raising my own children. As well, we have chosen to homeschool. Although I’m sure it can be done, I’m not ready to take on working full-time and homeschooling. I want to be the one raising our kids. End of story.

But this is hard.

In March, my husband lost his job.

*CUE THE REALLY HEAVY-DUTY STRESS*, the kind that makes you unsure whether to yell or scream or laugh or jump off a cliff, all at the same time.

Three kids. No working parents. No house to call our own.

This is when the haziness of life turned into crystal-clear focus.

Our children are healthy. We are healthy. And we are grateful. Soooooo stinkin’ grateful for what we do have. Overall, all things considered, we are all so happy, still happy.

That is the most important point of the story. Everything else will fall into place…with a little hard work, of course. (Remember one of my Coldplay quote, the one I used to remind people about natural childbirth? “Nobody said it was easy. No one ever said it would be this hard.”* Well, it turns out that quote rings true for life as well. Go figure!)

So, since March, I have been working. Painting, networking, ‘putting myself out there’ again. This time, it is paying off, in both the literal and figurative sense.

sweet whimsy designs is taking off. It’s about to soar through the clouds and into the skies, unbound by hesitation or fear. Fear of the unknown can be extremely enlightening if you let it be.

Just let it be.

My little side-biz, created so I could stay at home with my three adorable children, is about to reach new heights.

It’s happening so fast.

Thank you, family, friends, readers and strangers. Thank you for being there for us. We appreciate every comment, every share, every word of encouragement. Please continue to boost sweet whimsy designs / the whimsical sweet to new heights, if you believe in me, if you really believe in us.

It’s time.

Visit my shop on etsy, sweet whimsy designs on Facebook, and on follow me on Instagram…if you’d like ;) .
*quote from Coldplay, “The Scientist”

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The Easy Way Out

19 Apr

I’m an addict.

We are all addicts in one form or another. Whether it’s nicotine, sex, food, or conversation. I’m sure you could find something you feel you cannot live without. That’s addiction, simply put, anyway.

At one point in my life, I was addicted to smoking cigarettes. I had one reason to quit, and that was my pregnancy. Easy, when it’s for someone else.

Full disclosure: I’m currently addicted to diet soda. “Cherry Zero”, to be exact. I can’t go a day without it or I have withdrawal symptoms – headache, fatigue, leg cramps.

It’s AWFUL. It’s consuming. It’s horrible.

And I know how bad it is for my body. Otherwise, I’m a healthy eater. Whole foods, organic foods, local foods. I try to eat well & feed my family well, but I ingest this crap and cringe with every swallow.

Well, I’m committing to quitting. I’m ready to tell you, readers, that enough is enough.

This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

In the past, I’ve practiced piano three to five hours a day to complete sonatas, concerti, and fugues.

I’ve learned to ski, to play tennis, to dance, to teach, to paint.

I’ve started two business from nothing.

I’ve given birth completely naturally three times!

I’ve survived a brain tumor, for the love of Jiminy Crickets!!!

How can this be more difficult than those moments?!

First of all, I didn’t give birth for me.

When we do things for ourselves, or at least try, attempt to do things for ourselves, there is an inner struggle. Perhaps fear, laziness or greed get in the way of achievement. Something may deter a goal from being easy.

When we do things for others, it’s easy. And it’s worth it.

I’ll just pretend that kicking this soda habit is for them: my smart, beautiful, healthy children. Because essentially, it is for them.

My life isn’t completely my own anymore. Most of everything I do is for them, and there is nothing wrong with that. They need me. I am their mother.

As difficult as this simple idea of quitting a habit may be, if I remember why, maybe it will be that much easier.

Then again, who said life was easy?!Sweet kids Easter 2013

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Where Have You Been?!

16 Apr

You? Well, you’ve probably been busy.

Haven’t we all?

I had a chat with a fellow homeschool mama about being busy. After we both asked each other how we were doing recently, and both answered “busy”, we agreed that we are all busy, all the time.

Life is busy.

I have been busy, yes, indeed. Of course caring for our three children, homeschooling, celebrating birthdays, holidays, Mondays and Tuesdays. I’ve also been busy creating.

No, not life. (Really. Truly this time.)

Things.

I’ve been busy creating things.

Visit my shop on etsy to see the things I’ve been busy creating.

And we shall continue to cross virtual paths while we all stay busy.

“So much time and so little to see…Wait a minute! Scratch that. Reverse it.” -Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

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Save It For A Rainy Day

2 Feb

Sometimes life brings us rainy days…or snowy ones. We feel the walls caving in on us and we must get out of the house!

Let’s face it – there are also days we never leave the house. And there are days we can’t afford to leave the house, or shouldn’t, anyway.

I have come up with ways I never thought possible to entertain the kids. Especially on rainy and snowy days, we always find things to do.

Here’s a brief list:

•Go to the library.
This isn’t the most imaginative idea in the world. It’s probably close to your home, it’s usually spacious, and it’s FREE. Most children love books, and there are usually other story times and activities scheduled daily to keep your little one entertained.

•Have a dance party in your living room.
Every family must do this, if you haven’t already! Put on your favorite music – it will become theirs, too. Loosen up & get silly! We do the robot, the funky chicken, the shopping cart, among other classics, as well as make up our own – the bear, the giraffe, the roller coaster. Your kids will love you forever.

•Do a new craft.
Something you’ve never done before. Maybe something you are too intimidated to try, or too anal to clean! Sometimes it’s time to break out the paint, play dough, glue, & glitter and not worry about the mess. The mind it creates surpasses the mess it creates, by far. Again, your kids will love you for it! Check whimsicalsweet on Pinterest if you’re really at a loss for ideas.

•Make a fort.
Bust out the blankets and pillows & get creative with this free activity! We often make obstacle courses and mazes out of blankets, pillows, ottomans and sofas, too. Get imaginative & create a scene. You can be in a forest or an aquarium, a zoo or a jungle. Pretend play goes a long way and is good for brain growth and for the soul. :)

•Get crazy in the craft store.
As sort of a reward for being nice and patient while we shop for my art & craft supplies, I’ll drop by the foam play things aisle and let the kids play for a while. So far, nothing has broken (*knock on wood*), and their imaginations can run wild in someone else’s space for once! Michael’s, JoAnn’s, AC Moore, Hobby Lobby – they all have an aisle with foam hats, swords, shields, magic wands, crowns, etc. that you can “borrow” and test right there in the store. Just be sure to put everything back where it was and ask your children to do the same. And if anything gets worn or broken, buy it. Both are good lessons for them to learn.

What are some of the things you like to do or used to do with your children on rainy days? What activities are free or easy on the wallet?

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Goodbye, 2012

31 Dec

A new year is on the horizon.

A time to start fresh, if you wish. To renew. To begin again. Your choice.

This year, I have more on my plate than ever before. I’m a stay-at-home, work-from-home Mom of three, ages four and under. I teach music. I teach piano. I own a shop. I knit. I paint. I blog. I homeschool. I exclusively breastfeed our baby. I’m trying to do it all in twenty-four hours each day and it is no small task.

This year I will have confidence.

I will do more and think less.
I will pick my battles before they break.
I will be organized, effective, and concise in my daily life.
I will let love and be loved.
I will understand, be patient, and thoughtful.

My resolution is to do more but to worry less.

My resolution is to be me.

To just be me.

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