Love this page!!

This woman has a website all about crafting her home. I love her simple ideas. They are so practical and I think really easy to do. I am definitely going to try a few!!!notjustahousewife.net

a few cool links I like...

wanelo.com

I am lame...

I love to start fun things like this and then I am notorious for not following through! It has been a busy summer but I am going to try to post at least one time a week! Let's see what has gone on this summer:

• Sis is getting married 9/10/11 Lots of planning!
• got a NEW job teaching 5th grade at a school for Refugees just coming to the country! Kindergarten to 5th...whoaaaaa!
• Bought a Cricut expression and did lots of crafts for a benefit called " Artsy Mamas."
• Kids went to many camps and we were busy
• Vacation to Myrtle Beach
• Camping

I feel crazy and my house is a mess. I am trying to lose weight, but SUCK at it. So I am just trying to eat healthier and not call it a diet. I wish I didn't like food so much!

Getting ready for the new job has been a lot of work, but Fun. I am in a very old, but beautiful Classroom. I am doing a Robot theme this year and will post some pics later. Hopefully I will become a better blogger too!!

Owl Pajama shirt purse almost done!

Ok, the owl pj top purse is awesome! All I need is a cool coordinating liner for the inside to keep the shape and a snap closure!

unmotivated

yesterday I did 2 loads of laundry, made dinner, packed lucnhes, put away laundry and laid out the clothes in an hour....before 5:00. Now today I dream about sleep but I think about the painted kithen that needs final touch ups and the tape off, plus another room to paint. I am drinking coffee while my kids have "band practice."There are drums, trumpets and yelling.  I laugh when I hear Oprah tell me I need to breath and take ten minutes to myself...REALLY? Why today do I feel totally different? Women carry the weight of the world on their shoulders...really they do. Tonight I am motivated to lay on the couch and watch tv.

Scrapbooking the walls

So I found a great website for the paint store "Sherwin Williams." I have been downloading pictures of my rooms that need to be painted and you can mask the walls and drag the paint colors there. I spent hours last night playing on it. These are the before and after for the colors I picked for the kitchen and scraproom, The darker colors for both are what I want to paint them. What do you think?

Oh it will fit..

Ok so I bought the Nick and Nora Owl pajamas at target AFTER I waited for them to go on sale. I wanted them for a pajama reading event at school. So they were only $17. I get them home and the bottoms fit fine and I just assume that the top is fine....well, no. It was too fitted and not comfortable. There were no other sizes and I though, well, I love the pants. SO...here comes my crafty thought. I am making the pajama top into a bag/purse. I started it by using the bottom of the shirt as the bag, pockets and all. then I took the sleeves to make a strap. That is as far as I have gotten, but I will finish it today and post it!

I also got the COOLEST owl ring from a dear friend of mine as a gift. I posted a pic. It is beautiful. Thanks Janine!

Forever Vacation

Today I had 6 kids missing in my class...did it make my day any easier? No. It somehow seemed like it was the longest day ever. I babysit for what it seems like all day for children who don't get social skills and discipline at home, yet I am supposed to be teaching reading and writing. Where is the January "Click" that happens to kindergartners? They suddenly become 1st graders. For some it is happening, for most...it is not. Then I go to the god awful staff meeting where the negativity drones. Finally I am home and yet I can't handle two of my own. I am a WAY better parent on School and summer vacations.

I think I am going to lock myself in my scrapbook room on Friday night at 8 and get some cards made. I am finding, having cards made and ready for occasions is convenient, cheaper to make, and way more personal. Check out he link for the great magazine I just bought. There are great card ideas.
papercraftsmag.com

6 year old deep thoughts

Tonight I was laying with Tommy and I was amazed by the things he said. It's hard because at his age he has so many questions. He knows people die and go to heaven. When he asked me a while back if everyone dies, I said yes. Believe me, I didn't want to. I didn't want to lie to him though. But we discussed how people live long and amazing, fun lives. So tonight he says to me as I am rubbing his back, "What if you were six and went to my school? we would hang out together. I would have another mom because you would be my friend." I was laughing so hard. Then came the part that broke my heart; he asked how old I was and I told him 35. So he said, "But you have a long, long time, like 90,000 years." I answered yes, because his concept of time is "so so." He said by that time newborns would be being born when he is in the grave...and laughed. At that point I laughed too, but inside I was crying. He really put into perspective tonight how short and precious life is. Sometimes I can't take the feeling of sadness inside when I think of them ever growing up and not being with me. Right now I am the center of his world, but soon enough I will be someone he says "hi" to and hides in his room. He will be out and I will be asleep. I just need to take in everything these boys give me...good days and bad. They are my world.

Hip Fabric site!

http://www.hartsfabric.com/free-spirit-tina-givens-fabric-opal-owl.html

A new blogger...

I have no idea why I feel the need to add another computer networking addiction to my already ridiculous timely facebook and hotmail habit, but I need an outlet to vent my creativity, frustration and love for my job, and my funny and amazing kids at home! Whether you read it or not, love it or dislike it... it doesn't matter:)Where does the name "Crafty Owl Mama" come from? My love for owls started this year when it was the theme for my kindergarten class this year. Everything in my life has become owls. I see them everywhere and I seem to love everything I see that has owls on them. They are smart, beautiful, and graceful...I could only hope to possess these qualities. As for the craftiness, scrapbooking is one of my biggest passions. I love to create layouts, match colors, and embellish everything. After I finish a page, it is an accomplishment to me. Someday my children and grandchildren will have these books when I am long gone and each one will tell a story. My other big passion is singing. In the past few years, my voice has weakened and I hope that I can continue and strengthen it. I am currently singing with the band "Swingshift." They are an extremely talented group of men who enjoy playing and having fun. I am their "girl" and I love it. As for things that are artsy that I strive for...? I can make curtains and taggy blankets on my sewing machine, but I would LOVE to make skirts for myself and pj pants for all my boys..including my hubby Scooter. He got me piano lessons for Christmas, so that is my next artsy venture. I hope by this time next year we have a piano in our house and I am playing at home for Christmas and playing for the kindergartners in my class. Which brings me to my job...I have been teaching in the Rochester City School District for 11 years, at #30 school. It has been amazing, gratifying, frustrating and exhausting at the same time. SO...that is me in a nutshell. After this blog, you won't hear my life story again! "Whew" Happy Blogging!