Mental Notes

Today my mind is completely jumbled. I'm sure it has NOTHING to do with getting up with Avery 9 .... yes 9.... times last night. I have NO idea what was up but lets just say if it starts to happen again tonight I might accidentally miss place the monitor and sleep with my door closed and a sound machine running. I say that but you know I can't... God gave me these freakish mom ears to make up for my horrible eyesight. A blessing by day... a curse by night.

Is your mind ever so busy that you can't actually accomplish anything until you write it down? Yep. That's me. Since typing is quicker than writing (and who keeps pens lying around these days with the handiness of iPhone "notes") I thought I might share my mind. Prepare yourself.

1. I'm pretty sure Parker is close to being kicked out of school. He's doubled the amount of potty accidents they're allowed for the year.... in the 1st month. I really need to start sending cuter accident shorts since he seems to be wearing them daily. I'm beyond frustrated. Close to tears. He KNOWS to pee in the potty but he's too reserved to ask to go. That has to be mortifying for him and I feel like the BIGGEST mom failure! If he's kicked out, I'll totally understand... I'm a pool rule follower. It was in "the handbook!" He NEEDS school. I need school for him and I feel like he'll be SO far behind if he has to sit this year out. AHH! Major source of mom anxiety...... that I know the answer to yet still stress about. Give it to God. If he's kicked out, then he's kicked out. It won't be the end of the world. I'll find a preschool circulum or pinterest loads of educational games and workbooks until he's ready to go back. I'll  be SO sad at first but I know God's got it. Who knows... maybe privately funding the school treasure box will buy him some extra accidents.

2. I called my husband to vent.... He offered solutions.... when will men learn we just want to hear "I'm sorry. I know that must be frustrating for you. I love and appreciate all you do." Done. Problem solved. Confidence boosted. Maybe my question should be "When will I learn to just call a girlfriend instead?!" Moving on....

Notes to Self:

3. Find new chicken recipes. Limit said pinterest search to 10 minutes and DO NOT meander into "DIY crafts section..." It is the death of me and my productivity.

4. Find a new place to store deodorant. Avery has eaten chucks out of it 3 mornings in a row.

5. Buy more tampons. Avery shot them off like rockets all over the bathroom and you're out of rockets... I mean tampons. Also add to grocery list that will be promptly emailed to hubby: Spot Shot and "clicker." Can you tell I've been doing some accident clean up and fall candle burning?

6. Call Otterbox and Neato Customer Service... maybe after a glass of wine.

7. Discipline Avery more.... she's running you ragged. No means NO even though she's cute.

8. Remind everyone of the Rompers & Ruffles GIVEAWAY! Which you've probably scared everyone away from entering because now they all know you're a loon.

I promise I'm not a crazy person... just a busy mama whose head is usually in 10 places at once.You can probably relate... or maybe not.. and if not... please share your secrets.

Don't forget to go back 1 post (or click HERE) and enter the Rompers and Ruffles giveaway! It ends Thursday! 

Rompers and Ruffles Giveaway!

Hey guys! Sorry this post is going up so late. Life happened... like preschool, hip hop dance class, grocery store, playing sidewalk chalk kind of life. The kind where one neighbor facebooked me to say she could hear my kids laughing from way up the street! ... THE BEST KIND OF LIFE!

Here's the deal... Rompers and Ruffles is a business I started with my best friend, Tabitha. She currently lives in Charleston, SC but is moving 2 doors down from me! YAY! It's gonna be like sister wives but without the sleeping with each others husband's part. That part grosses me out a bit. But I may have daily visions of waiving to the kids from my front porch as they skip down the sidewalk to aunt Tabitha's house so I can grocery shop alone... or shave my legs without toddlers in the shower trying to help me. Doesn't that sound glorious?! 

Back to R&R... we applique and monogram mostly T-shirts and onesies but can do other things upon request if given to us. I'm excited to announce I'll be giving away a long sleeve appliqued and monogrammed  T-shirt or onesie to the winner of this giveaway!

There are 3 ways to be entered to the Rompers and Ruffles giveaway:

1. Comment below with your email address and what applique you think you might choose! (You aren't bound to this.... it's just for fun!)

For additional enteries...

2. Follow my blog and comment letting me know you joined in on the fun that is The Wise Family. :)

3. "Like" Rompers and Ruffles on facebook. You won't regret it! We run sales most Fridays that you don't want to miss! Make sure to leave a comment below letting me know you did this so I put an extra entry for you in the pot!

That's 3 ways to get entered into the giveaway! Since I posted this SO late we're going to run the giveaway until Thursday and I'll pull the winner Friday. 

These are stock photos from sites where I buy the designs but the photo quality is much better than the ones I've taken with my cell phone!

Pumpkin Truck!

Ghost Scallop

Pumpkin in a Wagon

Plump Pumpkin

Turkey (We can add a bow for a girl or use pink chevron)

Witch Hat!

 My kids may or may not have each one of these shirts already made and hanging in their closets! I LOVE these designs!

Ready! Set! Giveaway!

The Parent Rap and a GIVEAWAY announcement!

Sometimes parenthood is just down right funny...

I find myself saying sentences (usually in frustration) that before having children I never thought I'd utter. These include but are not limited to:

"Avery, how many pieces of dog food do you have in your mouth?" ...because let's be honest... there IS an acceptable amount.

"What did you put in the toilet this time?" Knowing full well poop isn't going to be the answer.

"Avery, please don't drink the syrup." A hazard of having one child who can open doors and one who just learned how to unscrew bottle tops and happens to have a sweet tooth.  Already learning to double team me....

"We don't stand on top of the kitchen table!" ... a sentence I unfortunately say more than once a day to my 16 month old wild monkey child.

"Please don't poop on (insert whatever character is on his underwear that morning)" .... as if telling Parker that he's not to poop on Buzz's face is going to matter.... I know better but still say it EVERY day.

Oh life with toddlers.... never a dull moment!

 I ran across this short video the other day that I thought summed up parenthood pretty well. I hope it gives you a nice chuckle:

I don't know about you but despite having 2 kids, not 4... I can totally relate!

Now on to the GIVEAWAY! It's been more than a year since I hosted a giveaway. I use this blog to document our family. Our pictures. Our stories. Our struggles and our joys. I decided when I started this blog that I wouldn't be doing a bunch of giveaways of products I didn't use or believe in for financial gain.... not that with 65 followers anyone is blowing up my inbox anyways but you get the point. 

Many of you know I started an applique and monogram business, Rompers and Ruffles, with my best friend, Tabitha. While I've ebbed and flowed in and out of the business due to the stage of life I'm in with the kids, I never quit taking orders from friends. This has surprisingly kept me as busy as I ever thought Rompers and Ruffles would. People like appliqued and monogrammed shirts more than I expected! 

So... tomorrow I'll start a 3 day giveaway for a FREE long sleeve appliqued and monogrammed t-shirt! You can enter once from Monday-Wednesday and I'll announce the winner Thursday. I'll leave all of the details for tomorrow's post but get excited! :) I am! 

Rompers and Ruffles Link Up!

 I follow Kelly's Korner blog (how cute is Harper?!) and today is Show us Your Life Friday! This week's SUYL is "show us what you do/make!" Hello? Could this be better timing? SOOO... welcome fellow Kelly's Korner followers to my blog, Saved by Grace... Maintained by Coffee! Check it out and feel free to follow if you like!

I am the co-owner of Rompers and Ruffles, a BRAND NEW online children's clothing and accessory boutique! My son's Godmother, Tabitha, and I created Rompers and Ruffles after 2 frustrating years of searching for adorable, affordable, quality children's clothes! With the due date of my daughter, Avery Madison, just around the corner in May, our eyes turned to all things, pink, ruffled and girly! We offer adorable, affordable, custom made clothes and accessories for boys, girls and moms! Not a mom yet? Our website is baby shower gift friendly! We can help you pick the perfect gift for the mom or baby-to-be!

  

Our product line includes everything from:

Handmade Beanies

Girl Owl Beanie (photo courtesy of Allison Fowler Photography)

Girl Bear Beanie

Double Pom Beanie. How C-U-T-E would this be on a naked newborn in a photoshoot!?!

Nursing Covers

Roco Beat Paisley Nursing Cover with fuchsia ric rac

 Burp Cloths

Initial Applique Bib in seersucker with polka dot ric rac

 Appliqued and Monogrammed T-Shirts, Bodysuits, Jon Jons, Longalls, and Dresses

Red Wagon Applique Tinker Toy Font

Alligator Patch Applique (and future heart breaker... Parker!)

Airplane Applique, Whoa Nelly Font. Shirt does not come with excessive amounts of dirt... but almost 2 year old toddler boy does!!! Thank God for Spray n Wash, right moms?!

Snack Cups, Sippy Cups and Travel Mugs

Blue lid snack cup with red polka dots, blue thread and Jester font

White Sippy Cup with pink zebra design and purple thread in curlz font

Lime polka dots with pink Abigail font

We currently have OVER 80 applique designs and add more frequently! New items are added all the time so check back regularly! All items are custom made when ordered so if you'd like to change fabric, thread or color you're able to do that when checking out. If you don't see a product that you're looking for, contact us for custom designs!

Beanies: tabitha@rompersandruffles.com

Applique and sewn items: taylor@rompersandruffles.com

Check out our website:

www.RompersandRuffles.com

Follow us on facebook!

Justine, over at Just Another Day in Paradise is currently doing a Rompers and Ruffles giveaway! Hop on over there to enter to win a FREE applique t-shirt or bodysuit of your choice!

Happy Birthday to ME!

It's my birthday....and I'm not a huge birthdayer past the age of 21. Now, it's basically a day where I feel I can ask for a few favors and people can't say no. :) So far today, Daniel got up with Parker so I could sleep in, he made pancakes and he's making burgers for dinner. There is also a Dairy Queen ice cream cake waiting for me in the deep freezer! I bought myself some flowers at the grocery store without Daniel complaining that they're a waste of money (side note: tulips are on sale at Harris Teeter for $2.99!) and Holly delivered me a tasty Sbux frap! I also bought 40 BIG spools of thread (for $50 bucks! Killer deal!) and that came in today so basically, it's been a GREAT day!

You know what's been overwhelming? The 200 birthday facebook posts I've received! I am feeling the love today! You know who's giving me LOADS of b'day love today?

 

This little dude!

He is currently spooning me watching Thomas the Train. It's nap time and he'll crash in a few minutes but for now, I'm cherishing these moments! He's been super sweet, huggy and well behaved! He "baked" me a cake and poured me a nice cup of coffee this morning from his play kitchen. What a perfect birthday present from an almost 2 year old! My heart is full and blessed and that makes today a WONDERFUL birthday!

Want to make my b'day even better? Like Romper and Ruffles on facebook here.

You can also enter the Rompers and Ruffles giveaway over at Just Another Day in Paradise here!

AND don't forget to visit our website!