As I said goodbye to last days of my maternity leave Jackie and I decided to take a little road trip.
This gal had given me some great tips on places to get fabric.
I wanted to go check out this place before I had to go back to the real world. Meg told me that this place was AMAZING.
I had NO idea just HOW amazing it was.
Sarah's Fabrics is located in Lawrence, Kansas, home of the Kansas Jayhawks. It was hard for this WIldcat fan to drive to Lawrence, but after we got there I put my dislike for the chicken hawks aside because this town is pretty darned awesome.
Sarah's is located on Massachussets street. I'd say it was like the "main drag" of this college town.
It was a dreary COLD day. We had Punkie along so we didn't get to do too much window shopping aside from our original destinations.
We've decided, though, that sometime we'll go back without children and check out the whole place.
Now, back to Sarah's.
I walked in and my jaw DROPPED!
To say this place is wall to wall fabric is an understatement.
To say that there's more fabric than one can imagine won't do it justice.
EVERY. SINGLE. NOOK. AND. CRANNY. WAS. FILLED. WITH. FABRIC!!!!!!
I have never seen the likes of it.
This wasn't just any run of the mill fabric either.
This fabric was...
MODERN,
Chic,
bright,
and extravagant!
I do have to say that it was a little on the pricey side, as every ream was priced at $9.50/yd and up. So, either make sure you have saved your pennies for this place because you WILL want to spend money here OR do like I did and buy in small pieces. Fortunately, my next project only requires a 1/4 yard of assorted fabrics.
I know not all of you can make the trip to Lawrence to see this awesome place. That's why it's even more awesome that you can buy from her online!
Peace, love and funky threads.
We're seven weeks into life with Miss Ella.
I've had one full week back to work.
While I'm THRILLED to be back to a routine it's all been a huge adjustment.
I am literally learning to live without...
...without sleep. Constant exhaustion is the new norm. I can't get enough coffee in the morning and am usually screaming for a caffeine fix by 2:30.
...without order. I don't deal with chaos well. I like a relatively tidy home. I like the kitchen to be cleaned up after a meal. I like toys and such to be put away or at least not strewn around the main quarters of the house. I like to have a plan for meals. I like to be somewhat caught up on laundry. ALL of this has gone by the wayside since I started back to work. Ella is at a stage that requires a lot of attention when we get home. That doesn't work well when supper needs to be made, Tucker needs attention, the dogs need fed, and laundry needs started. I am learning to let a few things go.
...without time for Grady and I. This one is hard. When it was just the boys and us we'd put them to bed and have at least an hour to chat, catch up and have a little romance when needed wanted. Now... now, we take turns getting up with her every night which means whoever is on for the night goes to bed earlier while the other one gives the 9:00 or 10:00 bottle. It means that we don't get that hour at night to be a couple and not just parents. I miss that. I know that this phase with Ella will be short, but in the meantime I can see it taking a toll on us. Fuses run a little shorter.
...without the body I want. I'm in that limbo phase between pregnant, huge misery and my pre- pregnant gettin' back in shape body. I love that I can see my toes, nothing is swollen and I don't have to wear elastic waisted pants unless I'm in my yoga pants. I don't like that I can fit into my regular jeans, but not without using a hair tie to help fasten them. I hate the "doughy-ness" that is now my midsection. I know, I know, patience... I'm just ready to look like myself again.
What's the lesson here?
Well, life is all about constant change.
All of this will change.
But for now...
...this is how I feel...
Peace, love and honesty.
After six weeks of healing and bonding with Punkie I ventured back into the office today.
I have to say that it was AWESOME!
I had a skip in my step that had been missing for a while.
I felt like a brand new person.
I LOVE being a mother with all of my heart. I love my children more than words could ever express. My life is complete with them.
But...
I am not a woman who is cut out to stay home as a "homemaker". (Is that even a valid term anymore?)
Please don't misinterpret my words to mean that I hold stay at home mom's at any lesser of a value than working moms. I completely admire the women who can do this. Some of my dearest friends are stay at home moms. THEY ROCK!!! Being able to stay home with children, rangling siblings, refereeing fights, housework on a daily basis and having a smile at the end of it all is amazing to me. I simply can't do it. I WISH I had that gene.
No...I HAVE to have my own space outside of the house. I have to have my work family. I have to now that I am someone other than mother and wife. I thrive on the daily interaction I have with the general public.
So, my first day back was GLORIOUS!
I was welcomed with bear hugs from my bosses.
It was nice to know that I was missed and needed.
Punkie is doing wonderfully at daycare.
No...I didn't have a hard time leaving her this morning. I felt at peace with it. I know she's in the hands of a woman who loves her as much as her grandparents do. She is loved and probably more spoiled at daycare than she is at home. The knowledge of this keeps my heart at ease when I drop her off.
The most important part of my returning to work is the balance the renewed schedule will bring to the house. I am a very schedule oriented person. I like routine therefore my family does well with routine. Tucker needs back on a regular schedule and hopefully Punkie will adapt well to the new "norm".
The second most important part of work life... NO MORE BAKING!!!!! My idle hands tend to reach for food or bakeware. My hips are NOT happy with that. Being back in the office means no more snacking and much less recipe experimenting.
Now, I better get to bed. Punkie will be getting up in a few hours and it's my night to be on duty. I need my beauty sleep.
Peace, love and paperwork.
A busy momma and wife just trying to keep up with my cazy busy life and family.
Recent Comments