10 years

Ten years ago today, Mr. Free asked me to be his girlfriend.

I was a scrawny, buck-toothed, frizzy-haired red head that was full of spunk.

He was a skinny, handsome, funny teenage boy that could always make me laugh.

In the last ten years we have:

Graduated high school

Graduated college

Attended Grad School

Began our careers

Got engaged

Got married

Adopted pets

Bought a home

Traveled

Mourned the loss of grandparents

Battled through miscarriages and fertility testing

Gave birth to a bouncing baby boy

I'm so glad I said yes : )

Sewing

I am really loving sewing.

I am loving making things for my home and my family.

Items that cannot be reproduced.

Because they are made by me.

They are unique and made with love.

I am loving sharing my items with people I know and also complete strangers!

It's so great that this little sewing machine Mr. Free got me many years ago without even a mention of wanting one has become such a fun pastime and small little business for me.

You see....I've messed with it a bit over the years, but over all, it collected dust.

In fact, Mr. Free used it more than I did!

But, this past summer as I was home with my little baby boy I was reading a book.

"Beautiful In God's Eyes" by Elizabeth George.

I've read it many times.

It is all about the Proverbs 31 woman and breaks each verse down to make it practical for today.

It always challenges me each time I read it.

This time, the chapter about building a Cottage Industry caught my attention.

She mentions "taking something personal and making it professional."

Elizabeth emphasizes that the life of women is to revolve around the home and family.

She also recognizes that Proverbs 31 clearly shows that women is a businesswoman as well.

However, her business is still actively part of her family life.

I thought there wasn't anything I could do, outside of music and teaching, that could bless my family financially.

But, it was if the Lord hit me over the head.

Sew.

I wasn't very good, and still have a lot to learn.

But God has put a little passion in my heart to create warm and soft things for my home and my family. And with the abundance, sell them to bless and help my little family.

So I did.

And {Free Style Textiles} was born.

I am proud of my hard work and thankful for the great support I've had.

I love picking fabrics, creating new items and sharing them with my family and others!

Here's a sampling of my projects

Thank you to anyone who has bought from my little shop.

I am having a blast and it is so great to help my family financially through my hobby.

At the bottom of my business cards?
Proverbs 31:24

So, do you have a "Cottage Industry"?

Something "personal that became professional?"

A Day in the Life

 I am very much enjoying this season of life.

And I think, 2 months into our new schedule, I am starting to feel like I'm in the groove. 

As much as a frazzled, first time mom balancing work and home can.

: )

But here's a little peek into our daily life.

First, here is our very loose "daily schedule".

 Some days, Levi doesn't sleep well (which means Mama didn't sleep well) and we sleep til we wake up. 

Schedule out the window.

But more days than not, our day somewhat resembles this schedule.

I usually wake up sometime around 7ish. Mr. Free has just given me a smooch and he's off to work.

I then get around and get ready.

Pretty soon, Little Man is up.

We enjoy breakfast together.

I have the cutest breakfast date ever.

(I often have my daily devotional before Levi is up, or if he's up early, at the breakfast table)

After breakfast, it's chore time.

I corral the boy somehow so he can play while I clean whatever area is on the chore chart that day.

I sometimes will wear him while I clean, if he's having a more "clingy" day.

 Then it's play time!

We usually play down in the family room or play room.

This boy sure loves to play!

We end "play time" with a book or two.

Then, we gather our things and it's off to the sitters!

I head out around 11 to take Levi to the sitter and I head to work.

My 3.75 hours (who's counting, right?!) goes QUICK! 

I rush in, impart my wisdom and passion of music to children and I'm off again!

Mr. Free then picks up Levi from the sitter and I head home.

I get home around 4, and I may have a few minutes to breathe if dinner is in the Crock Pot.

If not....time to make dinner!

We eat dinner around 5:30 or so. At the table as a family.

Mr. Free is a Rockstar and usually cleans up dinner for us and then we all hang and play as a family.

We retire to the family room and Levi crawls every which way, Mr. Free plays with his boy or gets caught up on his lesson plans or homework.

I get caught up on the computer (Facebook, blog, Etsy...etc.)

At 7:30 it is bedtime for Little Man!

We get our jammies on and read a book, nurse and lights out!

This is the time now that I can sew. 

I try, try, try to keep my little side business/hobby out of the way of my mommy and home responsibilities. The day time is quality time with my family and helping our home.

So, back down to the family room.

I sew til my little hearts content and Mr. Free hangs and relaxes.

We usually retire around 10.

Zzzzzzzz....

So that's it!

I'm still learning to balance everything, but I am enjoying the journey as I "get there".

Mama got her chevron rug

 Isn't my little model adorable?!

 Since Little Mister began crawling, we knew we needed a bigger, softer rug for our living room.

The old rug was too small (4 x 6) and scratchy (an indoor/outdoor).

This suited us just fine when it was just us and the pets.

But with little baby knees on it, we needed a change.

 Luckily, RugsUSA had exactly what I had been looking for. AND it was on sale!

This 5 x 8 chevron rug is originally $109, which isn't bad but hoping for a better deal. Then it went to 50% off, so it was $58! And free shipping!

It came within 5 days and I'm in love!

I had searched everywhere.

Target, WalMart, HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, Overstock.com

Nada.

If I liked it, it was like $300.

No way, Jose'.

Then I remembered many bloggers remarking about RugsUSA, so I checked it out.

Score.

Modern rugs for a bargain price.

I will say, it is quite thin. But it's soft.

And for the price? No complaints here.

They had a few color options. I debated between this blue and cream or the brown and cream.

However, with all the colorful art work in our living room and hallway, I decided the floor needed a punch of color too.

And I'm in love.

 We are in the process of giving our living room a "mini makeover".

Since we use our family room most of the time, we want to simplify our living room a bit.

More on that later...

 Here are the zig zags up close.

So, if you're in the market for a new rug...I highly suggest checking out RugsUSA.

Anyone else scored any major deals lately?

7 Month Mamahood Reflection

*warning: cuteness overload* 

 Age: 7.5 months

Accomplishments:

 Feeding self

Sitting up completely unassisted (with great posture I might add)

Crawling. Legit crawling.

Pulling up to standing

Saying Dada, the occasional Mama

 This kid is all over the place.

He may look a smidge like me, but his personality is ALL daddy.

Levi is SO stinkin happy. Happy happy happy.

And he is wild.

He is active.

He is his dad.

 He likes to move it move it. 

(Anyone else sing it like in Madagascar?)

 Memories:

Now that it is FALL...we went to the pumpkin patch!

Our amazing babysitter got us free tickets to the local patch so we all went together.

It was SO much fun!

I've looked forward to fall with a kiddo for quite awhile.

Fall is my favorite, and we were blessed with a cool crisp Fall morning when we went.

We took a hayride to the patch and picked out a little tiny Levi pumpkin.

 We munched on cider donuts, took lots of pictures, pet animals and watched a pig race!

Eating

Again, this kid is fed every which way.

We are still nursing, but mainly morning and bedtime.

After returning to work my supply really diminished.

But, considering all my issues...I'm thankful to have made it this far!

We started Levi on purees for solids, but have transitioned to Baby Led Weaning.

(click here for a run-down on what that is)

I am LOVING it!

It is SO much easier than making purees and sitting down and spoon feeding him.

(We still do this on occasion)

He is eating just what we are, so he can eat meals when we do.

He is eating a variety of foods.

And he is getting SO good at feeding himself!

His grabbing, pinching and chewing skills are really taking off!

Babywearing

 I did a post recently on the basics of babywearing and how I'm loving it.

No need to re-type that whole post...feel free to check it out HERE

 I wore him at the Pumpkin Patch, which was perfect.

It was chilly so we both kept snuggly.

I've been wearing him around the house and at the store.

Definitely loving it.

Teething

We are in the midst of teething.

No teeth yet.

Just rock hard gums.

Mama's thoughts

I always thought Mom's who cried at everything were so strange.

Now I understand.

I can't believe my baby is nearly 8 months!

He is getting SO big!!!

Every time he hits a new milestone, I am SO proud of him, but a piece of me is sad that he is growing up.

I just want to snuggle my little baby boy forever.

I know each stage of his life gets better and better, but I definitely can relate to those sentimental moms.

I'm in that club.

I'm incredibly thankful to be a "mostly home" mom and only work part-time. I want to savor each and every moment with this sweet little boy.

He is such an incredible blessing.

 These past 7.5 months have been so incredibly joyful.

Thank you Lord for assigning this little man to me!