So I officially need to change the tagline for this site to “failing miserably at keeping and creating with a toddler NOT allowing himself to be on the side.” Sigh. I had such lofty goals as a new mom, eh? I know all of you with at least one older kid are now guffawing your “ha ha’s” at me. Funny, I know. So Evan has been walking for only a short time and already I’ve lost track of my so called schedule. It looks like it would work, but I don’t think I was able to follow it for even a week straight really. It doesn’t help that we’ve taken our house off the market and I have even less motivation to keep things going in the face of a clingy toddler. I don’t really care and luckily my easy-going husband doesn’t either. We’d rather have a happy baby and happy us! But I still want and need to figure this out, if there even IS a way, because we will put our house back on the market in only one short month and my break at keeping the house at least deceptively pristine will be over. I have no clue how I’m going to do it. One idea I have is to see if I can put Evan in our hiking backpack while I vaccuum. Any ideas people? I need help!
So the “keeping” is not going well. But the “creating” is at least moving forward. I had plans to post on Evan’s Christmas stocking that I made BEFORE Christmas, but I’m just happy that I finished it before Santa arrived!! I did take pictures and will post about it as soon as I can. Even if Xmas is already over, maybe someone will enjoy seeing what I made and get some ideas for making one for next year. Stay tuned.
I also have plans underway to get some of my colored pencil drawings printed this month at a fine art Giclee printer in Atlanta. I was really excited to find them because they had a deal on their setup costs for December and when I emailed them and pathetically explained my inability to make it in by the end of December, they took pity and promised to honor the discount in January! Woo Hoo! So if this works out, I will have a way to sell some of my paintings and drawings at a less expensive price. I have a hard time letting go of my originals, but I know I will have to start selling them too…this will also be a way for me to keep a print as a record of what I’ve made. I can’t wait to see how it turns out… I should have some of them for sale in my Etsy store soon!
That’s all I’ve got for now, I hope you guys are having better luck than me at keeping everything together, and are at the very least maintaining sanity and staying happy! Hey, it is New Year’s Eve! A fresh start for everyone starting tomorrow!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Once I received two pamphlets from the USDA home economists on how to keep the homefront ready for visitors–even one’s Mother-in-law. The suggested that a general pick-up of clutter before bed each night (magazines, dishes, stuff out of place, etc.) then every morning, make the bed, put the dishes in the dishwasher and straighten things as necessary. Do these things first and you home will always be presentable. For you, I would also suggest one of the new covered cat boxes and a laundry basket for the toys Evan has out (just a few at a time). Keep creative tasks organized and in boxes that can be slid under the bed if a hasty pick-up is necessary. Get a Swiffer duster and mop for quick pick-ups. Be yourself. If you are going to sell, pack up all the stuff they told you to keep out for ambience and keep everything SIMPLE. The less they have to look at the more they will see the beautiful fireplace and finish work in the house. And never allow your Mother to start giving you advice. She will never know when to stop!