I met Emily on twitter and immediately wanted to wrap my arms around her and squeeze.  She’s delightful and encouraging and has a love for crafting.  This hat you see?  It’s an up-cycled sweater turned into an adorable Owl adorned hat for Ryann.  What’s up-cycling?  It’s similar to recycling, except she takes  old sweaters and turns them into beautiful embellished hats, or wool soakers  (for the cloth diapering mommas).  She’s “environmentally responsible – utilizing vintage/unwanted materials whenever possible to create new re-purposed wares”.   Did you know Emily sews too!  She makes gorgeous dresses that are timeless in their style and never seem to be outgrown.  Too short to be worn as a dress?  Add leggings.  Too chilly to be worn  sleeveless?  Add a long sleeved shirt.  Beautiful and long lasting.  She carefully inspects each and every item prior to shipping so rest assured you’re getting a quality handmade ware.  All of her items come from a pet free, smoke free home.

I cannot do Emily justice in this small space you must check out her shop, Uff Da Designs. Her handmade wares are deliciously sweet.  Hair clips, hair clip holders all hand sewn. Emily’s creations are unique & whimsical – all items are made in small batches, and fabrics are purchased in limited quantities so your uff da design  item is guaranteed to be really special.   I only wish Ryann had more hair right now.  Her customer service is impeccable and all items listed in her shop are ready for immediate shipping.  Want a more unique creation?  Emily loves to create items suited to your needs and likes.  She’s open to custom orders on any items to ensure all of her customers’ wishes are fulfilled.  Have I give you enough reasons to love her as much as I??

Curious as to what other beautiful creations Emily  has up her sleeve? Check out her shop and follow her on twitter. Would you love an Uff Da original?  Emily is offering one of YOU, yes YOU, the chance to win a $20 shop credit to her store.  How do you enter for a chance to win?  It’s easy!

Mandatory Entry:

• Head over to her shop and tell me your favorite handmade item.  Then leave a comment below with your favorite!

Want an additional chance to win?

• Tweet about this giveaway (don’t forget to come back and leave a comment):   In celebration of REW turning 1 I’m joining in the fun! I’ve entered to win @emilybilbrey original hosted by @Lins610 http://wp.me/pMsvx-oY

[This giveaway is open to United States residents only.]

[All previous giveaway winners and review recipients are ineligible]

*I was provided with an up-cycled hat compliments of Emily at Uff Da Designs in return for a review and giveaway.   And like these handmade wares my opinions are also 100% my own and unique.

{Giveaway ends September 12th @ 11:59EST.  Winners will be chosen using Random.org on September 13th and notified via email}

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Join us September 12th @ 8pm EST for Ryann’s virtual Twitter Party.  Use the hashtag #REWturns1 to win a party favor!

Hello my name is RYANN and I’m turning ONE on Sunday.  I’m kicking off my birthday celebration with this fantastic one of a kind onesie.  I’m so glad you’re here!  Stay tuned because all week we have giveaways for my favorite things (and mommy’s too).

Do you love this onesie?  The moment I laid eyes on Coconut Robot’s handmade wares I was in love.  It was definitely love at first sight and I wanted EVERYTHING in her shop.  It’s gorgeous, handmade and one of a kind.  And on top of the unique items, Kacia, the creative brain behind the onesies, blankets, bag tags and boots is an absolute dream to work with.  She always seeks to lift up and truly cares about her customers satisfaction.

The onesie and one of a kind name tag grow with your baby.  The tag is snapped onto the onesie, so it can be removed and snapped onto a bigger onesie or T-shirt as your baby grows.  I’ve already been in touch with Kacia to order larger shirts for Ryann, as I’m in love with her name tag and want it to grow with her.  And her name written on the onesie?  It’s my handwriting, so each name tag is truly unique and no two tags are the same.  The care for this masterpiece is easy too!  Simply unsnap the tag and wash the onesie as directed.  The tag can be spot cleaned.  Still not sure you’re doing it correctly?  That’s ok because Kacia sends directions for care instructions for each of her items.  She truly cares about the longevity of your Coconut Robot items.

Curious as to what other beautiful creations Kacia has up her sleeve? Check out her shop and follow her on twitter. Would you love one for your little one too?  Kacia is offering one of YOU, yes YOU, the chance to win a handmade Hello My Name Is Onesie.  How do you enter for a chance to win?  It’s easy!

Mandatory Entry:

• Head over to her gallery and tell me what color tag  you would choose if you won.  Then leave a comment below with your choice!

Want an additional chance to win?

• Tweet about this giveaway (don’t forget to come back and leave a comment):   In celebration of REW turning 1 I’m joining in the fun! I’ve entered to win a @coconutrobot  onesie hosted by @Lins610 http://wp.me/pMsvx-oT

[This giveaway is open to United States and Canadian residents]

*I was provided with a Hello My Name is Onesie compliments of Coconut Robot in return for a review and giveaway.   And like these handmade wares my opinions are also 100% my own and unique.

{Giveaway ends September 12th @ 11:59EST.  Winners will be chosen using Random.org on September 13th and notified via email}

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Join us September 12th @ 8pm EST for Ryann’s virtual Twitter Party.  Use the hashtag #REWturns1 to win a party favor!

I was sad, and complained a lot and thankfully my internet friends were there to tell me it would be alright, and suggested a twitter party.  But really my first thought was, “really a twitter party, no one wants to come to our REAL party, I don’t want to have another party and no one show”. But with some coaxing and encouragement I bring to you Ryann’s First Birthday Twitter Party.  What kid can say they’ve had a virtual Twitter Party?  MINE!!!

You’re Invited, yes YOU!!

Join us on Twitter September 12, 2010 at 8:00pmEST

Please bring your best singing voice and party hats.

We’ll be snacking on party food, drinking party beverages and enjoying the Twitter conversation.

Use the Hashtag #REWturns1 and you could win a party favor compliments of Bird E Studios and Twenty Five Design!

We’d love to have you join us.  No RSVPing required but in order to be entered to win a  party favor you must join us between 8pmESt and 9pm EST, tweet and use the hashtag to earn a chance to win!  See you there!

]]> http://wakingupwilliams.com/2010/09/03/youre-invited/feed/ 19 http://wakingupwilliams.com/2010/09/03/youre-invited/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/wakingupwilliams/~3/84ataMjxVp0/ http://wakingupwilliams.com/2010/09/01/haley-baby/#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:50:37 +0000 LCW http://wakingupwilliams.com/?p=1682 There are people you meet  and wonder where they’ve been your whole life.  I truly believe God connects you with people whom you need in your life at just the right time. He’s awesome like that!  This is my story about a girl who walked in just when I needed her most.

Last summer after I “retired” from teaching I spent my days waddling around the neighborhood and relaxing on the couch.  JPW was 3.5 hours away during the week and I was alone with my dogs.  It was a sad existence, and if it weren’t for the baby incubating in my ute I probably would have fallen into a deep dark hole and never crawled out.

I was determined to do everything “couples” do when preparing for their first born.  One of those “things” on was attend a childbirth class.  I was not in the au-naturel childbirth camp, but knew I wanted to let my body labor as long as possible before I screamed for some epidural intervention.  But that’s not what this post it about.  A major snafu in my plans to attend a childbirth with my coach aka husband wasn’t around during the week and the class was on Monday nights. For six weeks. Damn!  I attended the first class alone, I was the only Mother-to-be without a partner. I felt like the biggest loser of them all.  But it wasn’t going to stop me from experiencing the class and checking it off my to-do list.  I would complete the class and teach JPW everything he needed to know.  Fortunately he was able to attend one class with me which was the labor positions, breathing and everything we needed to know about the actual delivery of the baby class.  Perfect!

Among the group of couples were a sweet couple about our age, they didn’t tell stupid jokes, they didn’t smell like Subway and by our definition were “normal”.   I was excited for JPW to meet them.  I was hoping we’d have enough in common that I’d have a friend with a baby (soon) and would want to keep me company on the days when I needed a break from my house and a human to talk to who would talk back.  Enter into our lives, more importantly MY LIFE, Haley (and Brandon).  I explained to them our “story” and why I was alone and they quickly gave me their cell number, they were concerned for me and the baby.  They wanted to make sure I had someone to call and help me out should I go into labor during the week and JPW couldn’t be with me right away.  I wanted to kiss their toes. I never got their last name and often would forget her husbands name, but she became Haley Baby in my phone book.

Class ended at the end of August, we both had a few weeks left until our due dates and through text messages we kept each other updated.  I hadn’t heard from Haley in a week or so.  I was headed to the hospital on September 11th to have a baby and thought, ” I should let them know I’m in labor and with my mom and JPW is on his way”  I got a quick response, “We’re upstairs in the postpartum wing we had Charlotte yesterday”  I wanted to rip the monitors off and go squeeze her, I was so excited, and our babies would be just days apart.

Our meet ups didn’t start until after our daughters were born.   Although our paths did not cross again for a few weeks we lamented through the first few days and weeks via text of breastfeeding, sleepless nights and the departure of JPW.  She told me I could sleep at their house and they would take turns bouncing Ryann and help me.  How did I meet such an amazing person who wants to bounce my fussy newborn?  She was a God send. She rallied a group of church friends together to help JPW and I move out of our home.  We couldn’t have done it without them. I made them lasagna, it wasn’t nearly enough, but to this day I still thank them, I hope one day I can repay them in some way for their kind services.

I was horribly sad to leave our home, but it was more difficult to say goodbye to a dear friend, one whom I know I just don’t get to talk to enough or visit whenever I need her. We’ve only known each other a year, but she’s one of the best friends I’ve ever had the pleasure to call mine.  In nine and eleven days respectively we’ll celebrate Charlotte and Ryann’s first birthdays.  Two girls who are so much alike (like their mothers) who won’t remember their first play date or the many days they laid next to each other and wiggled and cooed while their moms shared breastfeeding concerns, schedules and a hot cup of tea.

Haley Baby I miss you!

Last week I did nothing with both of my nights, in fact I think I was busy cleaning up messes and one of my nights the baby went down to bed closer to 8 and really after that I didn’t feel like doing anything.  JPW was only able to use one of his nights as his Thursday was used to work from home on his day job stuff. So really, last week was a bust.  And on top of that JapsterInc is super busy and I have had a hard time saying NO lately, so we’re busy, very busy.

This week we were determined to use our nights, to get out on our own and stretch our legs and work out and clear our minds from the craziness that is our work week.  I worked from home yesterday so I got a lot accomplished, and last night I was ready to go. I put on my workout gear, jumped on my bike and rode to the gym, then ran/walked for 3 miles and rode home.  I felt great, tired, and accomplished.  JPW worked diligently on your websites and he crawled into bed a couple of hours after me.  Tonight after our dinner and a slumbering baby JPW left on the bike. Except I didn’t want him to.  I was annoyed he emptied the trash and didn’t put a new bag in the garbage can.  He came to kiss me goodbye and he didn’t understand why I was annoyed, Hello I’m pushing a broom around, putting bags in garbage cans and straightening out the mail that is strewn all over the counter.  You see on my nights none of that gets done, I still have to be the maid AND the mom AND the wife AND the chef…and JPW works on websites on my nights and rides the bike on his nights.

And on this particular night when the dogs breathing is annoying me and the washing machine is spinning too loudly and the kitchen light is humming I want him to stay here, rub my back and cuddle up with me.  Because really that’s how I wish all of our nights could be spent.

However, something strange happened shortly after the birth of REW.  You see, I believe along with my placenta and modesty went my ability to focus on one task at a time.  I’m convinced somewhere between delivery and heading home from the hospital I contracted A.D.D. Now I understand it’s not a disease, nor is it contagious, BUT you see, I am not Attention Deficit.  Perhaps JPW gave it to me, or I lost my ability to focus along with my memory but my mind is all over the place, all the time. Or maybe it’s needed when you become a mother?  I don’t know, but I don’t like it!

Currently I have three blog posts stewing in my brain.  They’re good. They’re raw and they’re just too detailed to quickly jot down right now.  It’s Monday morning, I’ve already made tonight’s dinner, made an organized mess along with sorted piles of craft supplies I need to pack away and sell.  I have done a load of laundry and yet, I cannot focus on the task at hand.  I am making mental lists of things I need to get done today, and throughout the week.  For example, but not limited to: making pom poms for REW’s birthday, call Verizon to cancel cable, file the pile of papers on my desk, list and sell craft supplies on Ebay, clean up guest room for my mom, start tomorrow night’s dinner, start a list of how I want to organize the garage (totally serious) and look at plane tickets to get up and help with my Gram.  See?  Ridiculous!

My mind is all over the place.  I only drink one cup of coffee a day.  JPW says coffee turns him into an asshole, I think coffee turns me into a womanly version of the Tasmanian devil.  I’m glad I have the energy, but really I’m out of control.  If  I’m absent or appear to be on some of drug while talking to you, don’t be alarmed it’s my OCD and A.D.D clashing and jousting their way to the top.

But thanks for reading and if you have any tips on how I can stay more focused send them my way!   Do YOU ever feel like this?  And if so, how do you stop and focus and relax?

I want a yard for our kids to run around in and a huge swing set for them to climb on and make forts.   I want a fenced yard for the dogs and a doghouse to shade them from the heat.  I want to live within a reasonable driving distance to my parents and family. I want our kids to have a play room turned bonus room that they’ll remember hanging out in when they’re 5, 10, 15 and inviting high school friends over.  I want storage space.  I want an island in my kitchen and I want a home to call our own.  I want to live without debt.  Is owning a home worth it for all of the above?  Can I find a suitable home for our children to grow up in and still be a renter?  Will knowing that I owe nothing be worth it knowing I don’t own a home?

I sit on a proverbial fence. Right now I am both a homeowner AND a renter.  Problem at our current rental home: I call or email the landlords and they take care of it.  Something isn’t exactly what I would choose, it’s okay, I only have to live with it for another 16 months.  Our tenants call or email us about something at OUR house?  I freak out. I mean what could possibly go wrong, it’s a brand new home, built 3 yrs ago by me. What do you mean the air conditioner stopped working?  I get a little sad that I am not there and someone else is potentially “breaking” my home.  But I’ll never live there again.  And honestly I want nothing more than to get rid of it. I’m enjoying the relaxed feeling of being a renter.  I do not miss the extra bills associated with being a homeowner and the idea of living debt free one day is very appealing to me.

What are your thoughts?  Is home ownership defining you and how your raise your family?  Does a perfectly manicured yard and big beautiful kitchen island only available with a mortgage attached?  Because I can say with complete honesty once the market turns around you’ll see a For Sale sign in the front yard of our house and I’m ok with renting a beautiful home for my family if it means more cash in our pockets.  What’s your American Dream?

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Need an easy recipe, or something your baby/toddler will enjoy eating head on over to Momma’s Munchies

A fact about me: I don’t handle disappointment well.  I don’t.  I never have and it has become more obvious in my adult years. I’ve tried to speculate as to why I’m like this, but obviously God made me this way and I’m not meant to find out; I am meant to work through it and get past it.  But the best way I’ve come to handle disappointment is not get excited or expect anything. Sad? Yes, terribly.  I plan for the worst and hope for the best. That way when plans fall apart, I’m not disappointment because I wasn’t planning for anything to happen.  This is not how it should be, it’s not.

I had big plans for Ryann’s 1st birthday party.  I was disappointed my big plans wouldn’t be an option because of our budget. But I came to terms with our reality and planned the best damn first birthday party we could afford.  It is planned to be intimate and sweet and colorful.  I am making everything myself.  EVERYTHING.  I’m ok with that, I enjoy being crafty and feel a sense of accomplishment knowing I did it all.  Our biggest splurge to date are the self designed invites.  I mailed out 17 invitations, color coordinated hand printed addresses with cute “Love” stamps.  To date we have 2 RSVP’s, 1 yes, 1 no.  Thank you to the other 15 families/friends who have ignored the fact that I requested an RSVP.  You’re welcome for the invite which I’m sure will be circular filed.  I am disappointed. I’m not going to lie.  And at this point in the disappointment I’m feeling regret.  Are there stages to disappointment?  Because if there are I’m in the regret stage.  I regret wasting my time making the invites, and wasting our money mailing them out to 17 families and friends.  Ryann won’t know the difference, she won’t care who’s at her party.  But I do, I’ll remember and I’ll care and I wanted a sweet gathering to celebrate her first year of growth. But I regret the decision to invite anyone. I do.

My friends and e-friends who know me, know I do not like it here.  This is not my house, it’s not my quaint little town and I miss having friends near by.  But when friends tell me they’re coming to visit I get so disappointed when it doesn’t work out.  I do, I can’t help it.  I dare not tell you I’m crushed, because I understand it’s out of your control most of the time. I understand life gets in the way and children get sick and money is tight. I GET it.  But the disappointment boils up inside of me and my heart races and I regret allowing myself to feel any sort of excitement because the let down is too much.

Will I ever learn how to handle the disappointment? I wish I knew the answer to that.  My suspicions as to why I am let down so easily stem back from middle and high school.  A topic I’m not quite ready to share with you, someday soon though.  A glimpse into my past is long overdue.  However, what can I do now that helps me over this disappointment hump without feeling like a heroine addict going through withdrawal??

But I will put on my best face for Ryann’s first birthday and you bet your happy ass I’ll sing and dance and shower with her love and kisses and presents. Even if it’s only me, JPW and my mom singing Happy Birthday to her.   And like the Beatles once sang, “All you need is love”.