etsy shop

My Etsy shop is up and running!  

Check it out in the upper side of the right column.  So excited to finally have a shop in Etsy!

If you want to order you can click on the Etsy link and order through Etsy or if you are a local, you know where to find me!

Since I'm just starting out I don't know what this holiday season will be like (hopefully crazy busy), so please be sure and allow 2 weeks for delivery before Christmas just in case!

Picture overload

 I told you I was making up for lost time this week!  I finally dusted off my camera in the last few weeks and got snapping.  I love love love taking pictures of my girl.  She is to the age she cooperates somewhat now, bribes usually help, and I'm not above it in cases like this.

Check out the cute jeggings.  If only mama could pull them off like she can!  I'd take her whole outfit in fact, if I could.

We made a trip to a local play area a few weeks ago.  The little peanut enjoyed playing on everything and running around.  Of course we had to get a sucker too (remember the bribe).

my girl

I love this girl more than anything.  She is the sweetest, funniest little thing.  Sure we have our moments of not listening and tantrum throwing.  But moments like these more than make up for those times!

phew

Close call.

Don't they always say that kids make a liar out of their parents?

So I am at work and call home to check in on everyone and Troy precedes to tell me that he has a little ladybug at home.  

WHAT?????  

Khloe has decided after all to try and get her small ladybug costume on (that she wore last year)....and she succeeded (the first trial in the morning consisted of crying, screaming and saying no, it's too small).  So imagine my surprise when I walk through the door last night and Khloe is running around in her too small snug little ladybug costume and loving it.

Will it never end?  

So I have to call my poor mom who has spent the majority of the day running around to different fabric stores trying to find felt and pieces to pull off (drum roll please)......Mrs Potato Head and tell her that Khloe has decided to be a ladybug.

Oh well at least we hadn't started sewing on it.  I guess she will be Mrs. Potato Head next year (nice to know that well in advance).

why do I continue to do this

I used to be the most prepared person.  I don't know what happened.  

I think back in July I went to my sisters and got my niece's old Halloween costumes.  Brought them home, hung them in the closet and didn't give it another thought.  

Fast forward to today.  I went in and pulled the costumes out of the closet because tomorrow is Khloe's Halloween party at her daycare.  Time to try them on (probably shoulda thought of that a little sooner). 

Ladybug = too small

Elmo = way to big

Cookie Monster = way to big

This is me, out of options for costumes.  

In a complete panic I got online and started searching.  What, what, what in the world can she be?

I could put a cardboard box around her and do lots of things.....

She could be popcorn....kinda lame on my part...she is only 2, does she really want to be "popcorn" for Halloween?

I could put some animals in the box and an animal headband on Khloe and a sign that says "pets for sale."  Ran that one past Troy and he said, "We don't want to give her away."  He has a point.

She could be a robot???  Again, not really fun for an almost 3 year old.

Then.....I found it. 

Nothing to do with a cardboard box, but with a quick trip to a fabric store, and a little lot of help from my mom I think it can be pulled off.  Something that can be pulled off at the last minute and something that would excite my little girl.  

Hoping with only about 3 hours to work on it we can pull it off.....told Troy what we are doing and he started laughing.  His reply was "You think you are going to sleep tonight?"  hmmmm

Well wish me luck.  I'll keep you in suspense......

making up

I'm going to be making up this week for lost time with a new post everyday!!!  I have tons of saved up photos that are just waiting to be released!

Starting with some pictures of my sister and her kids that I took last weekend at my niece's 10th birthday party.  I love snapping pictures and jump at any chance I get to take some!  

Introducing......

...The Petite Pearl.

Custom, hand-stamped, jewelry!

  

 

I have been so excited to tell everyone about my latest venture!  I don't have my Etsy shop set up quite yet, but hope to have it up and running this week.  There will be a link on the side of my blog to my Etsy shop is anyone is interested in ordering.  There are so many different options.  These make wonderful Christmas gifts!

I will be finishing the makeover on my blog this week and will be posting more information on the jewelry as well!  In the meantime, if anyone has any questions you can contact me @ 

thepetitepearl@hotmail.com

almost there

Sorry, I know, I have been totally sucking at blog posts lately.  I know the disappointment when you show up at a blog day after day hoping for a new post and there...is....just....nothing.  Not of course because you can't wait to read about the next exciting adventure, but just mostly because it's what you do, right?  Come home, put your feet up and check (if you are anything like me) that long, long list of blogs.  

Most of my absence/lack of pictures has to do with planning for the new house, but some of it has to do with the surprise I have been teasing about for awhile.  I am in the final stages and hopefully by the end of the week/weekend will have the blog all changed up and up and running.  So if you check back here and there throughout the week and can't get on the blog just keep checking.  There might be some minor glitches going on!

I promise more posts will be headed your way!  Trust me, I have pictures and stories galore just waiting to be typed up! :)

planning a party

Did I ever think planning my daughter's third birthday party would be stressful?

It is actually sooo much fun, but there is so much I want to do.  I just need to decide on some things and stick to it so I can start working on the details!

Birthdays at our house growing up were always a big deal and my mom always pulled out all the stops.  We always got to pick our cake and our favorite meal.  It was always a special day and I intend to always make it special for Khloe.

As of today we are on a Strawberry Shortcake theme....this could all change tomorrow with her.

Here are some of my thoughts...(click on any of the photos to locate the items online)

Planning on picking up this cake pan.  If only it came all decorated!

(don't worry I've located it on Ebay...there is no way I'm spending $35 on a cake pan)

Looking also for some cupcake wrappers.  Just for daycare and to have some extras around for the party.  Found these that I LOVE!!!

Also wanting to make a pendant banner that can be used year to year.  If I had been practicing my sewing I would sew one out of fabric, but since I've been lazy I think I'll have to stick with paper.  Something like so.... only with some brighter papers....

And of course I need to make some new pom poms for the big party.

Ahhh the plans....more to come!

peanut

Khloe's latest photo shoot.  Just a couple of pictures I've taken this fall.  She looks so grown up.  I can't believe it!

It's officially ours

Ok, so it may not look like much now, but we have big plans for this little place that sits on two acres. 

Plans that include gutting the whole inside (except for my our fireplace).

Plans that include a HUGE kitchen.

Plans that include an addition.

I can't wait.

spoken too soon

Wasn't it just last night that I was saying how happy I was there were no dogs barking?  

Fast forward about 15 minutes after writing that post.  The dogs started barking and barked for about 2 hours straight (when I say straight....there was no pausing in between the barks...no kidding).  Khloe woke up and could not get back to sleep.  I became "that" person.  The person that just lost it.  I started pacing the house getting angrier by the minute.  Angry that we didn't get any sleep the night before because of the dogs, angry they had woken up my daughter yet again, and angry that I was tired and just wanted to go to bed.  I picked up my phone and dialed the neighbors number.  Then I chickened out and hung up.  Then I told Troy I was packing up Khloe and staying at my parents so we could get some sleep.  Then I remembered it was 10:30 at night and cold outside.  Then I grabbed my phone again, said screw it and dialed the number.  

The neighbors daughter answered and said her parents were gone (wonderful) and that she too (obviously) could hear the dogs barking and didn't know what was wrong.  She was too scared to go out and check.  Ok...I can't argue with that, since I too, am afraid to go out in the dark and I'm an adult.  So she said she was sorry and said her parents would be home soon and she was going to call them.  Luckily, I was really really nice on the phone to her and held my tongue so I didn't start screaming at the poor girl how tired I was, how tired Khloe was, and how insane I was going to become if I had to listen to those dogs another minute.  If I had known she was home by herself I probably would not have called.  By the sounds of it she didn't like listening to them any more than we did. 

So about 15 minutes later we hear the neighbor out yelling at the dogs.  We are guessing he put them in the garage, because it was a quiet, peaceful rest of the night.  Thank you neighbor for allowing us some sleep last night.  It was much appreciated!  Could we please repeat the quiet night again tonight, and tomorrow, and the next night.......?

bed

I just can't quite make it there.  I'm tired....so, so, tired.  I'm laying on the couch listening to kids running up and down the stairs in the duplex next to us, cupboards/doors slamming, and lots of yelling.  I guess there is a positive....the dogs have finally quit barking tonight.  I love duplex living.  No really, I do.  There is nothing better than having no counter space, doing dishes at least 3 times today by hand, and listening to all of the pleasant noises around me.  I feel as though I have accomplished little to nothing today.  I was up all night last night listening to the dogs barking and just decided to make it a day at 5 AM because they didn't even seem to stop by then.  Khloe soon followed at 6:45 claiming "the dang dogs" woke her up.  Does it feel like I'm complaining?  Aughhhhh I can't wait to leave this place.  Hopefully soon.

So tonight I am laying here flipping through this and trying to decide what to make first.

I have also been browsing (take a deep breath) the new holiday arrivals at Pottery Barn.  Now, I know a lot of you aren't ready for the  Christmas season, but I can't wait.  I can't wait to decorate the house (that I hopefully have), make cookies and candy, put in my favorite Christmas CD, and just snuggle in while it snows outside.  I must say the month of December is one of my favorite months of the year.  How I ended up marrying a scrooge that hates Christmas so much is beyond me.  Don't worry....his heart is melting just a little bit each year. :)  Well, back to browsing and picking out my "virtual" decorations.