Vallery Gallery Crafts Finally Takes Off!

Years ago, I was at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. In the gift shop I saw recycled button pendants, and after that I started acquiring buttons, bails, glue, etc. My kids were still pretty small and I didn't have the time, energy, or space to try making them.

Just recently I managed to build a workbench for my crafts, and ever since the button pendants have been my obsession. I made eight and listed them on etsy. I aldi sold two to a friend. Then I made a button pendant out of a woman's very old buttons. I mailed it to her to remember her mother. I'm completely addicted. I'm not sure how I can get more sales on etsy, but my niece just told me she'd be willing to take a bunch to a summer festival and sell them for me! I'm so excited! I've been making at least one a day if not more.

I'd love to approach a shopkeeper in Geneva, and ask if they'd be willing to sell a few. The buttons, I don't know what's so addicting about the buttons to me. What were they holding together? Or up? Were they attached to a kids shirt? Woman's coat in the 50's? The mystery of the buttons is what makes them so much more fascinating to me.

So I received a jar of buttons back when I first wanted to make the pendants. Then recently I've ordered more button lots from Etsy. I've also had a bunch of bails since then as well. Add in a tube of E6000, and my newly constructed craft bench. I'm having so much fun!!! I don't mind that the garage door broke. Then the door isn't constantly being opened and closed. Kind of a blessing in disguise.

Check it out!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/vallerygallerycrafts

I plan to also sew more rice pillows and sell those on etsy too. My niece has requested I also sell capes for the music festival. I don't know if I'll attempt capes but I'll definitely be making pendants, and also button pins. I can't wait!

I LOVE Sundays!

I have really grown to love Sundays. I used to hate them when I was working because it meant a tense day before going back to work. In the last few years it didn't really mean much to me when Cop Dad used to work patrol and his two days off rotated through the week. Now however, it means a relaxed day at home (usually), since he is a tactical officer and works afternoons Monday through Friday.. Some Sundays Cop Dad watches the Bears and hangs out in the living room and the kids climb all over him. He says he stills prefers that to going to a bar or somebody else's house. He likes to lay around and hang his leg over the back of the couch and snack at his own leisure. I try to plan a date night when I can but our Sunday childcare is no longer as available as it once was.

So, with Cop Dad working afternoons during the week, he is home with us in the mornings. This is nice because we can eat breakfast and lunch together but there is usually so much buzz going on in the mornings trying to get everyone fed, washed, dressed, fed again and then Campbell dropped off at preschool, that it's not as relaxed and laid back as Sundays. Saturdays are often the day hubby picks for a side job in the evening.

Anyway, this is what I love about Sundays. I decide on a nice meal (not really anything too fancy or expensive), but something delicious and complete. Then I like to make a dessert too. I do not feel like it's a chore, I sincerely enjoy cooking and baking. Making a special Sunday meal to me is fun and enjoyable. So many people do not sit down together to eat most of the time or at all. It's so nice. My mom was big on this and I get it now. That she did that for us now means more to me than I ever thought it would. Cop Dad's parents were divorced young and so he really never had this except when he went to Grandma's house a few times a year. I hope to continue this tradition through life even when our kids have kids and can hopefully join us. I even like it more than restaurants!

So today I have a modest little menu plan. For dinner I plan on making Beef Stroganoff with egg noodles, salad, and whole grain rolls (from Aldi). For dessert I am making pumpkin white chocolate chip cookies. The dough is made and chilling and I will bake them after dinner. I am so nerdy, I've been happy about making this all week, as I am most weeks. I wanted to invite grandparents over to join us but everyone was busy.

Do you have any meal traditions or days of the week that are more special than others?

Drive By Blogging

I know it's been forever. Maybe you still read me, maybe not. Maybe you just stumbled here from someone else's blog. Either case, I am ready for a little drive by blogging. Even my blog pals from way back when do not get the full scoop on "that other social networking site." Just some things I've been up to or thinking of doing, etc. Here goes...

· I am absolutely loving all this cool, cold, sunny, rainy, awesome Midwestern fall weather we are having. I love rain and storms and leaves, and sweatshirts, and cool rooms and triple blankets. Not to mention the beauty of all the leaves, fallen pine cones and acorns.

· Been doing a little more baking lately. I happen to LOVE baking. The summer time is so hot here and not really the best time to heat up the whole house with the oven. I have been making brownies, oatmeal/white chocolate/cranberry cookies. I would like to find a great recipe for peanut butter with peanut butter chips and a milk chocolate drizzle or dip. Been enjoying having my family eat real treats over store bought roll ups, or cookies, etc.

· There has been some very odd crime wave in pd town lately. Lots of OT=good $$. Lots of stress, goofed up schedules and sleep=not good. Prostitutes, home invasions, substantial retail theft operations from Chicago, I could go on, that is what has been happening lately. Daddy is stressed or gone or sleeping, all making my job harder and more stressful too.

· Cop Dad and I celebrated our eighth wedding anniversary last week. We have been together 13 years, but were engaged five years while we both finished college first. What an amazing ride this has been. Laughter, tears, ups, downs, babies, kids, a dog, an apartment, a house, several jobs and a career change and career leave. We are still best friends...most days anyway. We are pleased to have stuck together and weathered the storms together. I got flowers, I was hoping to go out to eat for a little date night but times are tight and other things are coming first on the priority list.

· I lived without a dishwasher for a full week. I am by no means pampered or frivolous at all. However, if you are used to having a dishwasher and do most of the housework (especially married to a husband with a crazy schedule), and suddenly don't have a dishwasher...everything kind of starts to get much harder to keep up with. So the anniversary money for dinner date, was now going to go towards a dishwasher (my idea, and so worth it). I asked around, then looked around, then looked online, then decided to check Craigslist. I found two that looked promising. They both e-mailed back and were available. I went with the newer looking one still connected being sold by a dentist out of the dentist office break room. $100 later, some help from my fil, and much lifting, disconnecting and reconnecting (all by yours truly, alone) we are back up and running. Thank you Lord for making dishwashers! It is a much higher quality dishwasher than what we had, it looks like it has been run maybe 20 times before. And not a moment too soon. As I was putting away my first load of dishes from the new washer, my thumb cracked open and I was bleeding on the Scooby Doo plate. Dish pan hands! Gasp!

· I have not been able to get to the trail much these days now that Little Buddy is in preschool. It's lots of chaos and rushing around here in the a.m. It takes two of us to get everybody fed, washed up, dressed, and keep laundry and dishes, etc. going in the background, then fed again before all hopping in the van to drop him off. I keep thinking it will get easier and I will eventually be able to leave Cop Dad to do it by himself, hopefully?, soon? Little Buddy loves preschool though. Even more so, he loves his cuddle and movie time with me when we get home and little sister goes down for her nap.

· I have been working on freelance graphic design for the last couple months. My best friends (who just moved to Arizona) younger sister lost her job at a title company. She then decided to become a print broker out of her home. She needs design help, she knows me, I have time (kind of, but barely), so it keeps me connected to my design/art skills, and I get to make a little money on the side. So far I have been working on business cards for several different places, a flyer, a discount postcard. I am capable of doing all kinds of things from invitations to signature frames to save the date magnets to ads to cards. I love to do the personal fun jobs but those come along only every so often. Feels good to be working on design projects again!

· I can hardly believe the Little Munchkin is about to turn two soon! Where has the time gone? She's a little gem though. She's really bright, feisty, and tough! She does not miss a beat at all. Little Buddy will be five at the end of January. They are definitely a handful right now. Lots of squawking and screaming (girls sure like to scream!) and fur flying when they can't share. Oh sweet exhaustion! Does this get easier and when?

· Ok, so I know I did not post anything about this. I lost 40 pounds since last November. Then I went up another eight. My body seems to want to hover right here despite what I eat or don't or how much I move or don't. My goal? Another 40 pounds starting in January. Next summer I need to have surgery and I need to get rid of more of this baby weight. Can't wait!

· So much more is smoothing out on the home front. This was a rough stormy patch the last few years. Glad to be out of that! The kids finally sharing a room really helped, because that meant Cop Dad and I were sharing a room again. Worked out a lot of the kinks, and got on the same page with so many things. Makes such a difference. The first official family vacation this summer really made such a huge impact on our family and our marriage. I wish we could do that every year! Enjoying calmer waters...

· Hitting a dry spell with friends lately. My best friend moved to Arizona. My other very good friend went back to work full time (she's miserable, but she had no choice). My lifelong pal is prime breadwinner for her family and works full time, tutors, and is in school for her Masters so she can eventually teach. I am hoping that Little Buddy makes some nice friends in preschool with at least one or two normal, nice parents (not belonging to the twenty something party club scene). Oh I have made two other really nice friends, they are a little older which is FINE by me. Talking about a cheap-o girls night next Friday night...?

· Now I am going to have to hit the shower. It's 11:03 p.m. Between my ripeness and the farting dog laying behind my chair, it's a little more than I can bear. Good night! Thanks for stopping by.

Ch-ch-changes! Time May Change Me, But I Can't Trace Time...

Ok, I am back. I am really excited about this and I can't even begin to tell you how much I missed blogging. Why I get so caught up in Facebook is beyond me. Not nearly as fulfilling as my blog. Here I connect to people who have similar interests. Facebook, I'm connected to old people from high school (they find me, I keep trying to hide and delete them, but they find me), relatives (many of which are fine and nice, but several are very toxic, and get all bent out of shape if I post too much about how much I love my husband, or my "look what I did" posts), then there are of course some very nice mom friends who I can relate to and vice versa. Still, I always feel limited and annoyed on Facebook so here I am, back on my cozy old blog.

I have been doing pretty good. Well, not really. We just came out of some crazy storms, but I'm happy to report we are bigger, better, stronger, and improved. Indeed. Anyway, I now have an almost two year old and an almost 5 year old. Needless to say, I have my hands very full. In between that and being full time wifey and doggy owner and working on freelance design jobs, I'm busy. Though I always try to keep deleting things and freeing up my life as best I can so I can enjoy this chapter of being a sahm as much as I can. After all, I worked very hard to get here and this is what I always dreamed of. I embrace it, and sometimes curse it, but I truly love it. I am going to be working on my blog here and there. I want to do a complete remodel but I also have laundry, and organizing, and meals, and shopping, etc. Pardon my dust. Please leave me a comment and let me know how you've been, I haven't even begun to start reading up on all the blogging I missed yet. Missed you guys!

*Oh yah, and if you don't see your blog in my list, please leave a link in your comment. I somehow deleted some blogs I wanted to keep, when I was cleaning house.

Silent Sunday

Happiness 101

So my LEOW pal Natalie from over at Martin Enterprises decided to award me with the Happiness 101 Award. Not sure if thats because I am just bursting with so much happiness or maybe because she just hopes that I take some time to reflect and share the things that I'm happy about. Think I did this not that long ago but my list is always changing as I'm sure most of yours are too. Here goes:

1-Little Munchkin has been sleeping really well. Thank heavens! What a difference sleep makes. FOR EVERYBODY!!!

2-This Sunday Cop Dad and I will be going on a long overdue date night. Not sure how it will go but we will give it a shot. It's been about 7 months since the last one.

3-Started drinking coffee again. Last time it bothered Little Munchkin too much so I waited til now because the books and LC's said age can make them less sensitive. Feeling human again, I get so much done and mommy is so much happier with her coffee.

4-Going to start making recycled button necklaces. I am asking people for old buttons. I saw these cool necklaces at The Morton Arboretum Store and thought, 'I can do that!' Now just trying to get my materials together to start making them. Then I was going to try to sell them on Etsy maybe give a % to a police charity? Dunno, just brainstorming for now. Maybe I can sit in the garage after kids go to bed, make necklaces and listen to some music and reconnect with my inner artist? Just thinking about it is making me happy :)

5-Will be hitting the gym starting tomorrow. It's been forever. I used to go daily and it made such a difference mentally and physically. Had to stop with pg, then it's like been impossible to go and get shower and do all my other duties. Now, we are going to try again. Amen!

6-Want to go back to church. Haven't been there forever either. Before it was like everything/everybody was fighting my want and need to go. It's just plain necessary for us. Makes us happy!

7-Getting projects done!!! I Got flexible drain pipe laid in front by new driveway by myself. Then replaced tub spout cause the old one was leaking tons of water down the drain when you flipped the shower switch on. Hot water ran out really fast and water pressure was low. All good now! Also just trimmed hedges in front too. They were ridiculously huge. Done!

8-June is raise month! Can I get an Amen?!?! We are so tight. Which is fine but gets harder when you have more expenses. This is a big increase in the steps, no mansions or trips to Rome just ease of paying for life expenses. More peace of mind. Hallelujah!

9-Got a new sprinkler and 2 boxes of popsicles. Filled up the kiddie pool and can now sit under the umbrella with Little Munchkin on the blanket (she can sit up now!!!) and watch Little Buddy. Bring on summer!

10-Tango is cured! Finally! Long story short. Tango had bad smell, major hair loss constantly, always scooting butt around (Ewwwww!) Thank God we don't have carpet! Big scabby, bloody sores around mouth and reocurring bouts of diarrhea and vomiting. F-O-R Y-E-A-R-S!!! Our vet just kept telling us that some dogs were like that. But he wasn't like that the first few years we had him. AND he said that he may want to surgically remove part of his lips so it didn't keep getting infected?!?!

Switched vets. Found two problems in less than 30 minutes. Two major infections!!! Our old vet never swabbed him for anything! He has been on meds for the last month. Got rid of plastic bowls. Changed food. He is better than he's been in years :) Poor doggy, bad old vet, bad owners, good new vet, happy us! All problems are gone!!!

11-Sweet baby moments, funny toddler conversations, brotherly/sisterly love, playing in the yard, walks, exploring nature, opening windows, cooking on the grill, zoo, forest preserve excursions, eating anything on the deck, dancing in the kitchen with Little Buddy and making baby laugh, talking things out calmly with Cop Dad, watching the garden grow, watching birds & bugs & critters with Little Buddy, talking to another mom and realizing I am not a weirdo but totally normal, I could go on. Doesn't take much, I'm easily thrilled!

12-Almost forgot, bedtime is getting easier. Little Munchkin sits in her Bumbo and watches me get big brother ready for bed. No more crying and screaming. Ugh, so glad that she's grown out of that.

Thanks Natalie! Feel free to take this and run with it. Award yourself or someone that would appreciate it.

Dear Loser Letter: My First Loser Letter: Dear Vintage Car Driver

I read these Dear Loser Letters over at A Sense Of Humor Is Essential and they are always hysterical and creatively written. Martha likes to make a negative thing funny so she writes Loser Letters to people that piss her off in life and then posts them. I think it's brilliantly therapeutic. I never have enough time and quiet to write a few at a time like she does but I did think of one that I thought was pretty good. Maybe you can relate? Here goes:

Dear Vintage Car Driver,

I understand your love for owning a vintage car. It really looks like you put some work and money into fixing up your retro auto. I also understand that you like attention on the road so you drive around your vintage car so that the whole world can see a car of yesterday that looks like it just came off the assembly line. I also understand that this was quite possibly the car that you wanted way back when you were in high school and never had back then. It's very impressive. I can also appreciate many things vintage (cars, houses, furniture, etc.) because they are from a time gone by and life gets very boring with everyone having the same new things these days. You have definitely made my day more interesting by driving your vintage car on the same road as me. Thank you.

What I do have a problem with is not the car itself, or the job you did to make it beautiful and rumble down the street, (but you could take the revving down a few notches pal). What I do have a problem with is that you seem to have forgotten to update the exhaust system. Now that I got near you without the recirculate button pressed on my heat/ac, my car has filled up with unfiltered car exhaust! You know that it's 2010? Maybe in the 70's (or whatever year your car is originally from) there were no laws about air pollution and perhaps it was not mandatory in all 50 states to have an appropriate exhaust system on your car. That was then, this is now. That is why most people like new cars, they are cleaner and run cleaner than cars like yours from "The Good Ole' Days." Now my baby and my 3 year old and I have to breathe in your leaded gas fumes as well as your unfiltered car exhaust. This is very unhealthy for anyone to breathe, not to mention the other hundreds or thousands of cars and drivers that you will pass as you drive this car.

Basically we are in a no win situation here. I have to go the same direction as you . . . . . for a real reason. Like I have to get groceries or take a child to the doctor, etc. I'm not just out cruising like you. So my car is filled up with stinky polluted air but I pressed the recirculate button so no more exhaust will come into my vehicle or our lungs. But I tried to open my window and then what did I get, more stinky polluted air. So we are trapped in here with all the windows rolled up with no choice but to breathe your car's pollution. So I (as well as numerous other drivers) have become prisoners of your vintage car, as well as your selfishness. I can stop looking at it or even change lanes but there is still the toxic exhaust that's already in my car and in our lungs, PLUS I get to hear your stupid engine revving at every stop light. ALSO, perhaps that song that you have cranked loud enough so you can hear it over your engine revving was your favorite so long ago when you were in high school? It wasn't mine though, and I'm sure I can speak for all the other drivers who are also closing their windows and rolling their eyes too. No amount of cranking Elmo will help at this point so we don't have to hear "More Than A Feeling." Which WAS actually a song I used to like.

I believe that you must want to torture everyone. As I tried to speed up a little at the last light to get a little bit ahead of you to get ahead of the fumes and the tunes and the revving, you thought I wanted to race you and so you sped up too. Maybe this is a fun daily activity for you but not for me. I just want to get away from your car. I am both lightheaded and have a headache. Thank you Lord, my street. Finally. Good bye Mr. Vintage Car Driver.

Signed,
A Way-Too-Considerate Mommy