Post No. 16

Happy 4th of July!!!!

(courtesy of CountryLiving.com)

What are you doing this weekend? Me?

I am relaxing and sewing ALL weekend long. So excited.

We have not committed ourselves to anything.

We need some down time around the Miller house.

I hope everyone has a happy & safe 4th of July!!!

Post No. 15

I love summer but damn it makes me tired!

(this is how I have felt everyday for the past 3 weeks)

I think we have something going on every single night. I know some people live for that kind of thing (like my sister for example - where does she get the energy?) but me? I like to sit at home at least 2 nights a week and freakin' relax. I don't think I am asking too much here people. And quite honestly it is making me a little cranky.

Post No. 14

I know you're thinking "Where the Hell Have You Been?!"

(this is how I feel with my life right now. is that not the funniest picture of Lorali? please ignore the guy who looks like he is picking his nose.)

It appears that several factors have contributed to my absenteeism:

1. I have a 5 year old (who apparently thinks my world revolves around her ---ok well it does! I think I just need to have better time management)

2. I have a 2 story 3,000 square foot home that mysteriously keeps getting messy. I know all the crap lying around is not mine.

3. I am part of Junior League and it is sucking the life out of me. Those ladies are so nice you don't even realize it's happening until its too late.

4. I am trying to get my Etsy shop, Studio A Designs, off the ground and that shit is hard!

5. I am sewing like a crazy old lady trying to get some inventory built up for my Etsy shop (please refer back to reason number 4) and it keeps disappearing. I guess I should be happy I can't keep anything in stock because that means people like me. They really, really like me or they just like the stuff I am selling. Either way!

6. Did I mention that I work full time too!

Sometimes I hear about people who have insomnia and all I can think is "How cool would that be? Do you know how much stuff I would get done?" Ok enough with the excuses. I promise to be a better blogger and update more frequently. Apparently having a blog and facebook is one way to have a successful Etsy shop - who freaking knew that networking really does work?!

Post No. 13

Look at this!

I saw this idea posted on another blog - I wish I could remember who created it because I would love to give their genius major props. I had Steve make this for me last week because he is handy like that.



I love how it came out! It is nice to be able to see all of your fabric on display instead of folded up and stacked into a pile. The only thing I think I am going to change is the size of the hooks - I need them to come out off of the wood a little farther than they do now. But even with that small hick up I think this fabric board/display kicks ass!

- Andrea

Post No. 12

I did everybody! I signed up for this...The 38th Annual Ozark Craft Show!

You can check out the website here - http://www.ozarkcraftfair.com/

Can you believe it?! I finally have enough gumption to put what I make on display and let people judge me. I am not going in alone though - that would be way scary. My friend Laci of Sew Fabulous is going to put some of her aprons and needlework in the booth with me and sit with me for 3 probably very long days. It's going to be great!

I have already started preparing. Obviously I have no idea what I am doing so everything from here until September 30th will a complete guess. Lucky for me though I have my hubby's mother who used to be Queen of the Craft Fair so I am going to be picking her brain for some much needed tips. Here is a peek at what I just started working on....

I cut for several hours yesterday. My hubby was fishing and my 4 year old was playing by herself all morning and let me do my own thing - it was awesome! She was all caught up in dress up and Polly Pockets while I had fabric spread out in the office and living room.

Post No. 11

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here are a few of the pictures from our Thanksgiving Day & Night. Domonique & Giselle came in on Wednesday night. Eric flew in on Thursday morning. Steve's parents, grandparents & Aunt and Uncle came around 2:00. Butch, Abbie, Bella and Mom & David arrived around 3:00 that afternoon. We had a very full house!

Thanksgiving morning we woke up to ice & snow! We couldn't believe it. It was sooo cold! The girls spent most of the day downstairs in the basement playing. They all got along so well together. It is so cute to listen to them talk to each other.

It is Saturday morning and we are going over to Steve's parents - Susan & Glen for an after Thanksgiving meal with them and Steve's sister Mandy & her husband Adam.

Tomorrow we put up the tree and we will put up more pictures!

Post No. 10

Back to Kansas City.....For Susie's Birthday

Last Friday night our friend Alan surprised his wife Susie with a trip to Kansas City for her 30th birthday. The plan was to have a whole group go but as most plans go that didn't work out so it was just Steve & I and them. It was actually perfect just the four of us.

We stayed at the Intercontinental on The Plaza. It was gorgeous. Check out the room.

We went to a comedy club Friday night when we got there - hilarious! Then Saturday the guys went to a sports bar to watch football and Susie and I shopped on The Plaza. Since I am blogging now I need to remember to use my camera more. An awesome trip to KC and all I have is 4-5 pictures!? Are you kidding me? I need to get it together guys. I promise I'm going to work on it!

Take More Pictures - I must remember!

Post No. 9

Here's what came home with us from Kansas City....

Love it!

We have needed a new dining room table since we got married - 7 years ago! The table we had was 18 years old! I have been looking for a black farmhouse table for about 6 months now. It takes me a ridiculous amount of time to pick out a piece of furniture. I really don't like furniture shopping - sure I like to get furniture but I don't like to look for it. I usually have an idea in my head of what I want and I usually can't find it once I start looking for it.

The search is over for the dining room table - so now let the search begin for living room furniture! Oh yuck.....

Post No. 8

Happy Anniversary to us!

So our 7 year anniversary was Sept. 20th. I can't believe we have been married for 7 years! Man it went fast. We went to Kansas City for the weekend and stayed on The Plaza. We went shopping and had a really nice dinner on Saturday night. This is the only picture I took while we were there. Not very good but here it is....

Post No. 7 - Preschool Homework

Lorali started preschool this past Tuesday and she had her first homework assignment on Wednesday night. I mean really how cute is that? Her assignment: color and cut out the school bus. Simple enough....but super tough for a 4 year old. She kept asking if I would help her. To which I nicely explained No. I have done all the homework I am ever going to do.
Those days are gone baby!

Like a good parent I stood by her side cheering her on

(and taking pictures for your viewing pleasure of course)-

"Oh that's a nice color."

"Try to stay in the lines."

"Please don't cut your finger off."

She did a great job and was very proud of her work. She was excited to turn it in the next day.

Post No. 6

Lorali's First Fad - Silly Bands

Have you guys seen these things? Lorali, and most other kids for that matter, are totally in love with these bracelets. They wear them, show them off, trade them, give them to their BFF's. I don't get it - they are a soft plastic that when off your wrist are the shape of something (a cloud, cupid, sunglasses, lips, etc.) but when you put them on it's nothing but a plastic band. Nothing special according to me but according to Lorali they are "so cool" and I'm quoting here. She now has 48 of them!

She woke me up yesterday morning at 4:00 am - that's right 4:00 in the MORNING - to tell me that she couldn't find all of her silly bands. To which I sweetly said "What the...?! Get back in bed!".

It is actually pretty cute. She spends a lot of time putting them on then taking them off. ??? I know I don't get it either but whatever makes her happy. I will continue to feed this little addiction of hers until the next cool thing comes along.

Post No. 5

So Check Out my Very First Sale....

I have been working on this purse off and on for a while now and I finally finished it. I sent this picture to a few of my girlfriends and Susie (bless her heart) was kind enough to buy it! I am super exicted that I sold my first purse. A guy she works with saw it and emailed me and he wants one for his wife! How cool is that? Pretty damn cool ~ at least to me anyways. All I want to do is go buy some more fabric and start sewing but we have a busy night ahead of us. Lorali has ballet from 6:00 to 7:00 and then a basketball game at 7:30. Poor baby is going to be pooped. Maybe she will go right to bed when we get home......a girl can dream can't she?

Post No. 4

My Saturday Morning ~ Coffee & Crafts

Lorali's Saturday Morning ~ Barbie & Ballet Outfit

We Love Saturday Mornings!

Post No. 3

Take Me Out to the Ballgame.....

Last night Steve & I took Lorali & Cole to the Springfield Cardinals baseball game. They had such a good time. Can't you tell from Lorali's face?

This was at the end of the game and right after this picture Cole said "Oh our first baseball game." Like it was their first date or something. It was so cute.

This was after they had eaten a whole bag of cotton candy and a grape slushie (except for the last little bit that was spilled on the ground and splashed up on the lady in front of us - oops! sorry!) and we told them that they could not have anymore candy. They were so ticked off at us.

But they got over it. It was sunny and hot but the kids hung in there until the 9th inning - I was impressed. I thought we would probably make to the 6th but they were having fun watching the game and playing on the playground equipment that is at the stadium. I don't think I watched any of the game at all and Steve watched just a little bit. We were a little busy with the kids.

We got home around 9:00 and let the kids play until 10:00 then it was lights out and those poor little babies passed out cold. Unfortunately they were up bright and early at 7:00 ready to go outside and drive the Barbie covertible. It is now noon and I am wondering where Cole's parents are and why they haven't picked him up yet. I'm tired and I need a nap.

Post No. 2

This morning was basketball practice. Lorali did very well. She worked on shooting baskets which she is getting better at. She is the best dribbler the team has. She definitely has that going for her. Sorry the pictures are a little dark but our camera is a piece of crap. We need a new one really bad. The flash isn't hardly working at all. Anywho.....she practiced for 30 minutes (which isn't really long but in toddler time it was forever) and then we went to Maddy's birthday party.

Speaking of birthday parties - we have been to a birthday party every Saturday for the past month! And we still have a birthday next Friday night and one on the 28th. I mean really you can only eat so much cake and ice cream! I guess I should be happy Lorali is so popular but it gets old after a while.

And tonight her friend Cole is coming to stay the night and we are going to the Springfield Cardinals baseball game. It's only 100 frickin' degrees outside - should be a great time! I'll let you know how it goes!

Post No. 1

So here we go....let's get this blog a rollin'. I don't really know what will end up here - probably just whatever I feel like discussing at that moment. Don't judge that I'm not all organized and don't have a clear mission - I'm a busy mom with a four year old that works full time. Back off!Let's just enjoy the ride and see where it takes us!

So Little Miss Lorali has started playing basketball and here she is right before her first practice:

Oh yea with attitude like that all of those 3 and 4 year olds better watch out on the court. We are playing game number 2 tomorrow night. Yes I know you're thinking "Where are pictures of game 1?" Well let me tell ya - I'm not that great of a sports mom. The batteries went dead right after we got there and the pictures that I did get were dark and you can't see shit. So I will get it together for game number 2 and we will pick it up from there.

xoxo - Andrea