March Madness

Probably not the kind you're thinking of though.  I have to be honest, and I just don't love basketball and March Madness the way I used to, but still, it's fun.  BUT about a year and a half ago my family moved to a small farm.

Things were/are pretty wild out here (landscape is in crazy shape), and we have our work cut out for us.  And needless to say, with an 8 month old baby MUCH of that work rests on the shoulders of my husband.  Today he was out shopping down some half dead cottonwood trees, bug infested elm trees, spraying our vineyard of table grapes for weeds, and I don't know how much more, but he got a lot of work done today.  So proud of him.  But here comes the spring/March madness of cleaning up the yard, getting the garden ready to plant, spring cleaning, and all that good stuff.  PLUS add in the family room remodeling project that I started in January and still isn't done, then you'll look at me like I'm crazy, to which I'll reply, I know.  I'm very aware!!!

Anyway, I did manage to get some new products up this week!! Take a look!

http://www.thegreenpineapple.com/store/proddetail.php?prod=BS17&cat=13

Up and running!!!

YAY!!! I finally got into my site, everything is worked out and I uploaded some new stuff!!!

Also check out my new offerings at www.onestorydown.com

PHEW!! So I have a serious love hate relationship with winter.  On the upside, I don't have to work in my yard.  I can eat "comfort food" to help my body "maintain it's body weight as I expend more calories to stay warm".  I love scarves, and hats, and other various knits.  Boots.  I love my boots.  I get to make soup a lot, and hot chocolate.  OK, so basically the best part of winter for me is the food.

Funny thing just happened! My kids come in, pushing each other on a 5 gallon bucket of flour.  I ask, "are you making pancakes?"  They get really excited about the prospect of having breakfast for dinner, to which I reply, "you don't have to, we have plenty of soup in the fridge."  The look my daughter gave me was PRICELESS!!   I could see the little wheels turning in her head as she tried to think of a response to that, since it was clear on her face that soup was not what she was wanting!

This soup by the way:http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2014/01/hamburger-soup/

ANYWAY!  On the downside,   I don't get watermelon, or garden fresh tomatoes and cucumbers (why does so much of my life revolve around food?!) Anyway, we seem to be sick all the time.  I know that's not true, but it feels true.  I am ready for warm summer days.  Today made me more ready for that as I was watching my kids playing outside on the trampoline.  I love that.  There is nothing better than the happy sounds of children.

So I posted a few things on my site.  The painted Lily kit I posted an image of last time, and then I also added a new paper pack and updated some other products to add more quantity and quality to them.

Now, I'm expanding my site! I added some of the hand made soap my mom makes.  The price seems high, but the bars are large.  They are 1 lb 6 oz bars of soap and are made from high quality, all natural ingredients!

So go check those out.  I also added some invitations that I've designed.  I've been able to get people super good prices for their invites.  I'm trying to figure out how to put these in the store, so I started with just the deposit, the remainder will be due upon completion, since I expect some customization to the invites.  

Getting back in the swing

I know right.  The last 2 years of my life I have been trying to get back into the swing of things, but now it's really happening.  I have started designing again, and have been doing it consistently.  This is the first time since my little boy was born.  As we know life is busy.

You never know the real meaning of busy until you're a mom.  Oh wait, try adding homeschool, then the real battle of finding time to create just seems insurmountable.  The crazy thing is, it's been a while sine I've had a desire to design, but I'm really enjoying it again.  So that's awesome news!!!

In addition to all this I've joined a new store! www.onestorydown.com.  It's really laid back and easy, and good!  So go check it out and see all the great stuff that is offered there!!  Good thing since my site isn't letting me log in at the moment!

Here is what is new tomorrow!!!  I had a lot of fun making this so hopefully you enjoy!!

Oh, and sorry, no freebie.   Like I said can't log in right now!!

Happy Memories!!

Black and White & a Freebie!

Featuring all black and white products this week!!! My daughter loves the riddle: what's black and white and read all over (a newspaper, or a sunburnt zebra!) My daughter loves the idea of a sunburnt zebra!

The top image (black and white) is the freebie this week and I hope you enjoy!! Download Here

I hope you enjoy and are inspired by the black and white!! Remember, send me an image of a layout using TGP product and I'll send you a 20% off coupon code!!

This is one of my favorites: The doodled frames!!!

This is the Manhattan Paper pack! A popular pick, and there's a second set!

Next is the Black Tie Affair Paper Pack. There's more where that came from, just hop on over to the site to check them out.

Stuff I Made

So last Christmas (2010) I got a sewing machine from my husband. It is a fantastic old all metal sewing from probably about the 1970s. I had never sewn anything before and was terrified, but since I had been wanting to learn I set out on a mission!

I didn't know how to thread it, fill the bobbin or anything else, so I had to keep asking my husband to come help me (his mother is an avid quilter and he knows how to operate a sewing machine. Yes I do feel a little sheepish about this now that I have learned how easy it is!)

So I went to my mom and she handed me some fabric she purchased to make a baby quilt and basically said, here, make it. So I did!! It was a simple snowball pattern and is shown here below under this adorable little baby!!

That sparked a fire!! After that I made a quilt for my little guy (I haven't photographed it yet) Then started to design my own patterns and made a quilt for my mom for Christmas (also not yet photographed). Then I wanted to branch out!! So I made a stuffed lion (not photographed yet either...goodness I need to take a lot of pictures!!!) and a tote bag for my sister. Last week I made these skirts for my little girls. I got the idea here. Super easy and my little 2 yr old wears hers every day and sometimes to bed!!

Then I made this little owl for a friend of mine who was having her first little girl. I got the pattern at my local quilt store, but there is a site here where you can find the patterns, or their creator.

I am so loving sewing. It's an amazing new outlet for creativity that allows me to work with my hands but still create and finish something. Love it! Why didn't I start this earlier!!! Hopefully I'll get better at taking pics of my future projects!

A day for a freebie

So something you need to know about my family. We are all pretty clumsy. At least one of us trips, falls, or runs into something daily.

Well tonight, after all the kids were in bed, I was walking into my bedroom and saw that the broom had fallen over and was looking like a prime tripping spot. You would think that the next thing I would do would be to go and pick it up. But I didn't. I thought to myself, "hmmmm I bet Kenny (my sweet husband) trips over that." Then I came and got on my computer.

Not 5 minutes later, I hear him grunt in there and then he calls for me to come and see what he tripped over. No need! So I just shout to him, "Did you trip over the broom?" Then, all shocked, he thinks that I put it there on purpose! Come on. I would never do that (well maybe not never). Funny though! I had a good laugh! I couldn't believe that he actually tripped on it! I guess I know him better than I thought!

On to the business side of things! A FREEBIE!!!

I have added a new freebie today! I also added a few new products for St. Patrick's day!

perseverance

Goals are tough business. I had my third baby in September and am finding it to be at least 3 times harder to lose my baby weight than with the first. Frustrating because I have been trying really hard to eat well and to exercise right, and still...nope. I still have about 20 lbs to lose.

Then I got really excited and thought I would try subdividing my goal into smaller goals that were more attainable. So I would say I needed to lose 2 lbs by a certain date. Mentally that worked beautifully!! I was eating even better and staying on top of my goal, and was really proud of myself until I stepped on the scale. You guessed it. My hard work equalled a 2 lb weight GAIN. So I celebrated with a trip to my baking cupboard for about a pound of milk chocolate chips. Phew that felt better. I started beating myself up mentally and telling myself that it wasn't worth it. That it didn't matter how much I tried I would fail.

Then today after I went to the gym (because going to the gym is sanity for me and I'll never stop doing that) I weighed myself and was down 3 pounds!! Small victory, but lesson teaching. I am generally a stress case. I worry a lot about how I'm doing in different areas of my life and am consistently evaluating how I should be better.

I like to see pretty quick results on things. When I don't I usually don't get discouraged, unless it's more than one thing. Like right now. I have 3 things going on right now. None of which I feel particularly satisfied with, on results anyway. SO I've been feeling a little discouraged. Then I found the quote I posted above. Then I think about the countless blessings I have been given and I know there is no reason to be discouraged. I need to celebrate my small victories and keep working and pushing for more. At least I am trying.