Bloggy Angst

I see so many posts about how to be more organized and all these moms seem so... together... with every minute scheduled: with little tubs of pre-cut fruit chilling for when the kids get home from school, their clothes picked out for the week in advance and folded neatly in a drawer, the children nestled all snug in their forty-five degree hospital cornered sheets.  It's incredible!

Maybe it's my imagination or maybe it's highly edited/stylized nonsense, but I'm typing this feeling a bit guilty that my kids didn't have little cubes of chilled cheese to come home to and I have no idea what outfits my kids will be sporting tomorrow... I'm just hoping their hair will be brushed and that their socks match for a couple of weeks longer.

There is so much inspiration out there about how to live a better, more resourceful, fulfilled, artful, _______ fill-in-the-blank life.  Sometimes it overwhelms me and makes me feel like I'm not doing enough, not organized enough (duh!), not superwoman enough.  It's not my fellow blogger's fault of course, it's mine.  But it did make me realize: I don't want to put a totally sanitized version of myself out there or make anyone think I'm doing everything perfectly or even that I am sane at all times.  I am a disorganized, procrastinating, a bit introverted person who tries her best and eats too many gummy bears.

So thank you for indulging me in my crazy, angsty moment.  I sometimes worry about how I'm coming across through my blog and what people think of me, but I have to remind myself that my blog is another creative outlet.  I can't change my "voice" and suddenly become an expert on organizational skills.  How cool would that be though?  I'd  have a super-hero belt with label maker and paper clips at the ready.  I would label everything in sight and...

OKAY, I'm done wallowing in wishful thinking and self-doubt.  That's just not me.  I'm going to keep admiring the fellow citizens of blogland that alphabetize their bookshelves and learn what I can from them.  I will attempt a couple of projects here and there, and be okay with the fact that I can't choose my abilities, but I CAN cultivate new skills at my pace.

I'll sign off with a quote from Stuart Smalley, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!"

Back To School

first day of school for my 5th, 3rd, and 1st graders

Just thought I'd drop a quick note to my very neglected blog:

Hi blog!  I've missed you!

The kids started school yesterday and they love their teachers, they're making new friends, their crayons are sharp and their shoes are new and unstinky...  all is right in the world.

  

I've been voraciously reading everything in sight and am currently reading 4 books simultaneously.   I'm reading aloud Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children with Mr. John and I'm glad because it's just creepy enough that it's fun, but if I were reading it alone at night I might get a little spooked.  We read the whole Harry Potter series together (among other books) out loud and I highly reccommend this practice.  It's always a great way to end an evening, instead of watching tv, and really fun to discuss and take turns reading with Mr. John.  We tried to read Twilight together, but Mr. John just couldn't handle it!  ha!  He couldn't help himself from adding all kinds of ridiculous commentary and narration when it was his turn to read.  You don't EVEN want to know!

Besides some crafting projects, I'm also in the midst of creating a time lapse video of the landscaping of our front yard that was just finished.  I took hundreds of pictures of the whole process and am now putting them all together.  It's fun to see the progress in fast forward!

Seeing all three of my kidlets going off to school makes my life feel like it's in fast forward!  I must be getting old because these years are really starting to fly by.

Vintage Peacock Wedding

I'm so excited to share these cookies I made for a wedding this past weekend!  The sensational Sheri contacted me a while back about making some cookies for her daughter, Brynn's wedding.  When she told me the theme was peacocks and all things vintage I couldn't stop daydreaming about potential cookie designs.

Sheri was so incredible at communicating the flavor of the wedding by sending me pictures of the gorgeous couple, the jewelry she was going to wear (vintage cameo from her great grandma!), the invitation, the cake topper (two vintage deer!) and her bouquet (made from vintage brooches, burlap, and white peacock feathers!  gasp!).  Sheri was so sweet to email me some pictures from Saturday and I want to see more.  Beyond stunning!  I love how weddings are becoming so personal and individual to the couple.

So, without further ado:  here are some of the cookies I had the honor of creating for Nicholas & Brynn's special day!

 

A Little something I've discovered

 

I'm sure many of you know ALL about how to make something like this, but it's new to me and I'm so excited about the possibilities!  I was tooling around on etsy and I saw these little molds and my imagination ran wild.  I ended up buying several from Tonya Rose and the second they came in the mail I was melting candy melts and trying out my new toys.  They are so fun!  I made these tiny guys with white candy melts and painted them with an edible silver glaze.  Aren't they stinkin' adorable?  

The best part is that they are so easy!  

and there are so many different molds.  It makes me want to look into making my own molds too.  Yeah, that's just what I need... a new hobby!

Snooki Cooki

Does this cookie really need an introduction?  The Jersey Shore season 4 opener is today and I made this cookie in honor of this intelligent, thought provoking show... pffft

I've only seen one episode and that feels sufficient.  It also happens to be the birthday of my incredibly, wonderful, gorgeous husband Mr. John.  It was his idea for the Snooki Cooki.  I was thinking more along the lines of a Wookie Cookie, but that is so 1977!  so here it is babe:  Happy Birthday, I love you...  I'm sorry you share your special day with these orange Jerseyians.

Ahhh, the pouf, the orange skin, the metallic eyeshadow, how I've missed you!