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

Paparazzi Winner

Last week I started my 1st ever give away and today is the day to pick the winner.  I posted the contest here on my blog and also here on my facebook page, Polka Dots and Pincushions. 

I only had a few enter this time but I am thankful for everyone that took the time to participate.  Hopefully as time goes by I will have more people interested in my contests.  Three answered on Facebook and I had one blog follower answer on here.  Not a great turn out but it made the chances of winning even better for those that entered. :)

The trivia question was: What carol contains the line "Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing."
And the answer is "O Come All ye Faithful." 

Now for the winner.....drum roll......the winner is......Tiffany Caison!  Tiffany is a follower on facebook and entered the contest last Tuesday.  Tiffany's favorite item from my collection was actually a fleece scarf I made for a little girl.  She has a daughter and I am guessing it will be for her. 

Congrats Tiffany, I will mail you present off in time for you to enjoy it for Christmas.

Thanks again for those that participated and if you are interested in some affordable $5 gifts for Christmas check out my facebook page, Polka Dots and Pincushions, to order today. 

Christmas Give Away!

I have not been around the blogging world long but I know that everyone loves give aways and that there are a lot going on right now.  (I know because I have entered several  :) fingers crossed.)

I want to share in the giving mood so I am trying my hand at my first ever give away.  Yay right!!  Ok to enter is super easy and blog readers will even have more chances to win.  Double yay! 

Do you want to know what your prize will be?  This is the good part, you get to pick!  Go to my face book page Polka Dots and Pincushions, here is the link.  And check out my albums listed with Paparazzi Jewelry.  There are headbands, hair clips, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings.  Take a quick look (or long) and pick out your favorite item.  Then share it on your face book page and comment on the answer to the trivia question : What carol contains the line, "Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing"?


Ok your 2nd way to enter is to follow my blog and then answer the same trivia question: What carol contains the line, "Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing"?
Post your answer in a comment and let me know you are a follower.  Also let me know which item you would like to win. 

I am going to leave the contest up all week and will pick the winner next Monday, December 10th. 

I am so excited but so nervous this is my first contest/give away.  :)  Anyway I wish you lots of luck. 

Here are a few of the items that are up for grabs.  Hopefully if this give away goes well, I can do some more before Christmas, maybe one a week. 

Good luck and have a great week!

I'm in Business

 

photo from Paparazzi Website

 

While I was away for 2 months,  I started my own business.  I am now the proud owner of "Polka Dots and Pincushions."  It started as a little crafting business with my cousin and has grown in the past few months to include jewelry and another cousin. 

I had been crafting and sewing for local friends for about 2 years but with two small children and very limited space the time for sewing became limited.  I then stumbled upon Paparazzi Jewelry and now I am  Independent Consultant  #7657.  (Haven't heard of it or interested in finding out more let me know I would be happy to talk with you.)

I have a Face book page where you can view all of my items and I am hoping to have a web page in the future.  I am having a great time selling cute $5 jewelry and accessories.  I love that I don't have to be pushy or bring a financial burden on anyone.  I always dreaded  getting invites to parties for Thirty One, Scentsy, etc  because I can not afford that stuff.  I think they are great companies with super cute items but being a stay at home mom means well, sometimes,  staying at home.  If I want to be able to afford to be home with my kiddos then I can not afford to spend money on $40 bags and $20 candles.  So when I heard about Paparazzi and found out that it was only $5, I had to find out more. 

Now I am booking parties, selling at events, and selling online.  I love it and I don't have to feel bad because 1- I don't have to be pushy, if you like it great if you don't that is ok too and 2-it is affordable so it is not like I am asking them to spend a fortune.  It is win win! 

I will tell you more about my Paparazzi experience in my another post but for now I wanted to share some pics of a few of the items on my page.  If you have any questions please feel free to ask or email me.  And if you are interested in anything please check out my face book page Polka Dots and Pincushions and order from there. 
Thanks
Andrea
Independent Consultant 7657

 

Here are a few pictures of some of the jewelry.  I also have rings, bracelets, and hair accessories.

 

                                                                                                                   

Here are a few of my hand made items.