Great Bed time Books

Ok I am behind again.  But at least years haven't passed. :) Three little boys and being pregnant with a little miss and trying to build our first and only house, well, it keeps one hopping.  I have blog posts started but not finished and with trying my hand at my Etsy shop and doing paint parties I have been a bit busy.  All that being said I stumbled upon a post about some great Bed time Books.  Now my boys have loved "Goodnight Moon" and I haven't minded reading it over and over at all but I know some books they love are long or drive me a bit crazy.  They are very into trains at the moment.  So this is a nice list of some books that I have already enjoyed and some I want to add to my list. 

You can check the books out here and also while on the topic of books don't forget about a great opportunity to build a free library for your little one.  Check out the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.  I posted about it in this blog post a bit ago. 

Enjoy the books and the rest of your week!

Meal Prepping

Happy Monday yall!!  Ok I know we all have those days/weeks we feel like we are running and still not catching up.  Well that has been me for the past well probably like 3 weeks and now I have started "nesting" and decided to pull my tiny house apart to "clean" it.  Yep so not the best idea but it will be worth it when (if) I finish. No, I will get it done!  (determined).

So this week is super busy with doctor appointments, sugar test, bank/house stuff, ball practice, our first ball game (and this mommy hasn't gotten ball socks or his team shirt yet, yeah can you say behind) and just regular house/family stuff thrown in there.  Oh yeah and my cleaning mess that is all over the place and I was planning on having a yard sale.  Geez tired just thinking about it at the moment. 

So with everything going on planning a meal is not something I really want to think about or have time for.  It would be so easy to just run through a drive thru a few nights but well that gets expensive, isn't very yummy or very healthy, so dinner planning is a must. 
To help make it easier on us all here is some meal prepping help from Autumn, author of 21 day fix. 

Hopefully it will help you and me!  Meal prepping with Autumn

Here is a week of non cooking meal prepping also.  no cook prep

Have a great Monday and I promise to get back with my tutorials on my crafts and I have a few heart felt baby posts I want to share but it has been crazy busy here so trying to stay connected with short quick posts.  But I will make some time soon!

Andrea

Carrot Cake Energy Balls

Ok here is a quickie for you!   It has been a super busy day but I saw these and shared them in my Spring Revive group on facebook and thought yall might like the recipe too.  I have not made these yet but I have made no bake chocolate shakeology cookies and they are fantastic!  A cookie that is healthy for you, sure can't complain about that. 

Here you go Carrot Cake Energy Balls

Recipe (click "recipe" for the recipe)

 

 

There is also a video you can watch to see them made and nutritional info.  Enjoy and let me know if you make them.

 

 

Also if you have any questions about any of the programs let me know.  You can email me at

polkadotsandpincushions@gmail.com  and check out my website  at  www.beachbodycoach.com/andreat81

Have a great Friday!!
Andrea

Etsy Shop!!

Well I finally did it yall!  I finally made an Etsy Shop!  Ok so some of you are probably not very impressed but if you knew me you so would be.  See I have LOTS of ideas but well then I get to worrying about everything and I will talk myself out of them or with 3 little boys I get side tracked. 

I have wanted to open an Etsy shop for about 4 years.  I was sewing a lot and making the cutest little things and well someone needed to buy them, of course.  But I was a chicken.  I was scared to take the plunge and Etsy was new so I did not trust it yet and well I was just nervous.  So instead I would go to one little craft fair each year and take my goodies there.  Problem was, the event was always outside and it was cold and well I didn't know much to help make myself successful. 

I was more concerned that no one felt pressured or that I was too expensive so I was a terrible sales man.  I would speak to someone at my table and answer a few questions but end it with "but don't feel pressured to buy anything."  (I actually still really do that way too much but gosh I want people to know I am trying to be helpful but not pushing, so don't want anyone to ever feel like I am being pushy.)  And my prices were always way lower than everyone else that was selling the same thing and then I would still feel guilty if it was someone I knew and feel I should make it cheaper.  I have learned that being polite with prices is not the best way either.  People think something is wrong with your product.  Example- I was making adorable little dresses and I only charged around $12-15 for each one.  (didn't want to rip anyone off to make a profit so I only asked a little more than the material I had in each piece- never thought to consider my time and energy)  Well I would have people come look at mine and ask the price and then go look somewhere else and pay double for the same item.  It blew my mind.  I mean really who does that!?  I am all about a good deal.  Well this happened several times and I had a friend tell me it was because they were too cheap.  (Really can anything ever be too cheap! Not in my opinion)  I also had the lady at the fabric counter tell me the same thing when I was buying material one day.  She worked events and said low prices were not the best, people that your product was cheap then.  Well it still baffled me.  I mean look at my quality was always the same or sometimes better.  But it is a lesson I have learned is true so I am trying to do better with my pricing and taking my time and effort into consideration. 

Well my sewing days have kinda fallen to the side but I have been making cute wooden things and just got a Cricut to work with vinyl.  (So excited!!)  Well we are getting ready to finally build a house and I want to help out some with the bills so I decided to bite the bullet, pull the trigger, jump off the bridge, (sorry but it really was dramatic for me), take the plunge and open *gasp* my Etsy shop. 

Ok after all that drama it should be this big wonderful thing right!  With like 50+ items right!  Well nope, try more like 5 items (hey I just started) and not a whole lot of frill and flare.  I did however design me a little graphic to go with my shop name today and I am working on making a banner.  But as little and insignificant as it is I am super excited about it.  Not sure if it will get any traffic but hey going to give it a go. 

So if you are inclined stop by and take a peek at my little shop.  I am hoping to fill it up soon and I will be sharing all about it here.  **Yay!**  I know you are excited ;)

My Blessed Mess Gifts
And let me know what you think about it.  Seriously I am sure I really need some good advice.  Thanks and happy Thursday!!
Andrea

Free Children's Books

Ok here is a quickie but goodie for you!  I have got to share about a great opportunity to build your child's library for free.  Yep you read that right FREE.

Dolly Parton graciously hosts and Imagination Library.  You can check the site to see if there is one available in your area and then register your child. 

Each child will receive a new book every month until they reach 5 years old.  A new book each month for each child.  The books come in the mail and my boys love getting "their own mail" each month. 

As a former teacher I have a great love for books and this is a wonderful opportunity for children every where. 

Here is the website to check out the Imagination Library. 

Some things I am up to

Ok today has to be a quickie because it is a BUSY weekend filled with birthdays and parties.  I did want to give you a little teaser of what I have been up to craft wise.

Next week I will be sharing more about some wooden cutouts I have been working on.   

 

 

 

 

And then these lovelies!  Ahh just so pleased with them. 

 

 





I was riding down the road from dinner one night when these popped in my head and my wonderful hubby helped turn my idea into reality.  So happy with them.  Of course one is going on my door or wall and the rest will make it to my Etsy shop.  (coming soon)

 

 

 

Here is some handprint crafting I did with my boys.  Love these duckies and they look great in the bathroom.

 

 

 

 

Here is a piece my hubby made that I will give some details about.  I just love handmade furniture and if he can think it up he can build it.  Blessed girl!

 

 

 

I made some cheap and easy monogramed decorations for my cleaned off TV cabinet.  They are not perfect but I am perfectly happy with them. 

 

 

 

 And last not but not least I now have finally trying my hand with some vinyl.  So excited and pleased with how they have come out.  One is for my father in laws birthday and the others will make it to Etsy. 

 



 









 

 So make sure you stop back by to see these projects and many more.  Plus I will have a cake recipe coming up.  Have a wonderfully blessed weekend!!

 

Andrea

4 years have passed but Hi! Let me reintroduce myself!

Well Hi there!  Is there anyone there?  If so thanks for being patient with me or welcome because you must be new.  So lets see, I have been a little slack in my blogging, like 4 years slack to be exact.  Life happened and well time for blogging somehow went right out the window.  We had some wonderful blessings during those 4 years and some terrible trying times also.  I will try to catch you up a bit just so I feel like I can reintroduce myself to those that have stuck around and those that are just stopping by for the first time.  (I know I like to have a little back ground info on the blogs I follow, I like to connect with people). 

Ok so I was a mommy of 2 in 2012 and now I am a mommy of 3 with a surprise on the way.  I have 3 little boys- Conner turning 7 tomorrow, Gavin just turned 4 in January, and Holden just turned 2 in February.   We are not awaiting a new surprise bundle of joy that is actually due on my birthday, July 29th.  We have stayed team green till this point but maybe caving in soon.  (more on that in a future post)

I have been married to my sweet hubby for 13, almost 14 years.  We have had rough moments with early miscarriages, house issues, and life but it has always made us stronger.  He is as unromantic as they come and I could eat up romance novels. (well before I had children now I only read children's stories, there is no time for mommy to read adult books)  We are a bit different but go together perfectly and seem to balance each other out.  He loves to hunt, fish, and build things.  I keep him busy with crafts, projects, and my next "big idea". 

I am a stay at home mommy but try to help with the finances when and where I can (this is where the "big ideas" come in).  I am crafty and do it for the love of it but am learning how to make a living with it some too.  I used to teach Kindergarten and then 1st grade.  I taught for 5 years and then after 3 miscarriages we were blessed with our 1st baby and I started staying home.  After my second little man was born I started blogging and stumbled upon Paparazzi Accessories.  I had never sold anything in my life but after my hubby gave the go ahead I jumped in.  It really was fun and helped build my confidence going to events and hosting parties.  (If you are interested in checking it out you can visit my website here.  All pieces are $5, you can't beat that!)  After my 3rd little guy came I was feeling a bit out of shape and decided to give T 25 a chance to get back into fitness.  During that time we had a horrible family battle over land (a really long story) and moved very quickly when my baby was only 2 months old.  We stayed about 8 months with my parents and I was desperate to get out and help more financially.  Well we were enjoying shakeology and I decided to take the leap and start coaching with Beach Body.  I really signed up more to just get the discount on my shakes but it was amazing how many people were interested, felt connected, and needed the support as much as I did.  Never thought I would be a fitness coach but I fell in love with it.  Piyo was my go to program and while I had never done pilates or yoga, I loved it!  A few months later my hubby finally jumped on the wagon with me.  He was over weight, high blood pressure, and had terrible eating habits.  I got him started on 21 Day Fix and he lost 28 pounds in the first 21 days.  I was so proud and he was hooked.  Blood pressure lowered and just so much healthier.  So I have enjoyed my beach body job for almost 2 years now.  If you would like more info on coaching, programs, have questions or just need support please let me know.  I run free groups every month so it is not just about selling a program.  If you would like to check my site out you can click, healthy.  I am now thinking about subbing until this little one comes and starting an Etsy shop.  (I always and planning and thinking of how I can help financially, we have a house payment coming up and debt makes me nervous.)

Along with all the babies and new jobs/hobbies I have going on, we are finally making ground on building a house.  Our house story is a long and messy one and has been about 6 years in the making.  But Praise God we are finally getting there.  Just waiting on the bank and then we can start.  I am actually getting so impatient.  I know if I can wait 6 years, that 30 days should not be too much to ask but ahh it is killing me. 

So that is a quick idea of what I have been up to.  You can expect to find plenty of house stuff, crafts, recipes, kids stories, fitness, encouraging scriptures, rants, raves, tips, trick, and well just about anything else on this blog.  I hope you come back to visit.  I do have some serious/emotional things to share soon and I guess that is what got me to pick the old blog back up.  Being a stay at home mommy leaves me longing for company and adult interaction, so hopeful to make some new friends. 

Oh and I almost forgot.  You can find me on facebook at My Blessed Mess.  I have lots of recipes, tips, exercises, crafts, and funny things on there for you to check out.    Have a wonderful day and I hope you come back! 

Andrea