We are HERE! HONEST!

I haven't gone away...we've been battling sickness and we have a new addition... well FOUR of them...
More soon! I promise! This is a busy, busy time of year! Please come on back and check out our new news!

For now I leave you with the most ADORABLE four additions to our family...

Yes... we are SO attached... Ok... 3 out of 4 of us...

Glossy Box?!

Ok this just sounds so fun...

I admit. I can be a girlie girl. In fact there's nothing I love more than buying some new make-up, nail polish, hair products, even clothes. Kinda a change from younger years - where all I wanted to do was ride bikes

http://www.glossybox.co.uk/

How cute an idea is that!?
Why can't we have something like this here? You sign up for a Glossy box. Each month they send you some kind of make-up - usually 5ish products. Sometimes they are full size, sometimes trial size.
You get new and fun "hot off the press" make-up/products each month! HELLO?!?! SNAZZY!

Jiminy! I want Glossy Boxes to come HERE!!!

Highs and Lows

From a real high... to a super low. That seems about my pace! I was so excited for my accomplishment - running an entire 5k...  Then I hurt my heel - or my shin which connects to my heel so I haven't been able to continue running and I feel like a blob.

Our new little company - mArrineRs monTage - is now in a store (have I mentioned that yet?). It is SUPER exciting - we are in a physical location in Sarasota, FL! It's called MUSE GALLERIA and it is the neatest of stores. We are about 50 artists in this store and she recently decided we should do some craft shows/festivals in the area...and wanted me to make more of my crochet hats. Hats that take awhile to finish. Hats that are adorable and a good popular sale - but don't go as quickly as I would like.

Then the thought of increased stock started to reaallly force itself on me. Then the thought of more earrings, more aprons, more, more, more, more, !!!!!mooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrre!!!!!! really started to stress me out.  We were doing three large shows/activities in one week, then a BIG craft sale - Hunsaders Pumpkin festival, and then the biggest one yet in December...

the ATOMIC BAZAAR 

(do you hear the crowd cheering?). 

Well that getting accepted in to that bazaar (and yes there's a waiting list) really has been my ultimate goal for mArrineRs monTage -yes it was to get in to Atomic. And if I could do it through MUSE - well then that's what I had to do... the only problem was I had signed up for almost all the others she was planning.

Something had to give. I hated to do it...but after talking with Chris and seeing what this past week did to me with the TWO craft shows... I cut Hunsaders - pumpkin festival.  It killed me to do it... but I am glad I did. Sanity may win out yet.


Sooo the two shows this past week - went ok!!
Wednesday mArrineRs monTage was at a private craft show at MUSE Galleria's table - where ritzy rich ladies were looking to buy. I did ok! I sold a few things...(I think I was the biggest seller of items. We didn't do all that great as a table...but at least I sold things and came away happy).
~ What was my high here? My high was that MY HATS brought most everyone to the table! They were an eye catcher!! HOW COOL IS THAT?! The MUSE owner was so right... GOTTA MAKE MORE HATS... I even got a paid in full - pre-order!!! YES!!!
~ The low? I stood ALL day long and it was THE. LONGEST. DAY. EVERRRRRRrrrrrr. So much so that the heel that was starting to feel better... got worse.
Some shots from Wednesday's La Petit Marche':

my hats on the right and my earrings in the frame on the left

When people first walked in... one of their views

our entire table

my aprons on the left and background

 Then Saturday we had an arts & crafts sale again at the MUSE Galleria's table. It was held at a local botanical garden. I worked longer than I had signed up for (5.5 hours instead of 4) - and we sold a few more things. I am not sure the total yet... but I think we did ok! And I think the majority of my hats SOLD!!!
~ The high?! Seeing people interested in my stuff. Oh and getting to know a few of the artists better

~ The low... again? A super long day that never ended it seemed, standing for so long, and not selling any aprons or skirts. But as I am known to say (or 'as they say'):  t'ant pis... c'est la vie... je m'en fou... it is was it is. I just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other!

Sunday was filled with doing crafts for the girls, getting down decorations for the girls, helping the girls, breaking up fights between the girls, watching a movie with the girls (while I tried to start a project for myself), fixing food for the girls... you see my point. It was just the girls and me. But we had a really nice day. A nice day - just super busy and consumed in my girlies. I hope they remember I was there for them - even though my mind WARRED with itself on getting things done/working on hats/working on sewing/cleaning this mess of a house/ etc etc etc etc etc - but my heart won out and I spent a lot of time with my kiddos (until football at 4pm - when the Patriots played! ;) hehehe).
Here are two aprons I put up in our Etsy store today from what I started on Sunday!!(www.marrinersmontage.etsy.com):

So highs... and lows...that's what it is. I wish the highs would outweigh the lows for once - or at least stop the lows from overtaking the good feelings. I hate that. It seems a bit harder for me to keep them away or not concentrate on them.

Eh... maybe if I ignore them they'll go away... going to go squeeze my girls!

I leave you with Boo - overcoming her fear of skating this weekend!

Even through the exhaustion and what a long day it was already on Saturday... 

this was a high for me this weekend!!

I DID IT!!!! I met one of my goals!

{Ok this is really a different look for Blogger (can you tell I haven't been on for awhile)... so bare with me as I try this new format out.}

[Post Edit... I know I go in to a lot of explanation - but this way I can cement this beautiful experience in my brain! It was inspirational, truly]

I have to say... I am super proud.

I DID IT!!! 

I ran my first 5k and I didn't walk...not even one little step... I ran my heart out. I ran and ran and ran. I did it with our friend Captn Sue. She cracks me up... to prepare for our run - she ran with me only TWO times - one mile each!! And she walked part of those two miles. I, on the other hand have been running at least 3-4 times a week working myself up to 3 miles! And I finally did it... the day of the race.

Our view on our way to the race!

Just before our race... look at our view of the ocean

Race was just about to start-quick shot in front of the Start

I remember the first mile being exciting... We ran next to an ARMY battalion and Captn. Sue being an ARMY helicopter pilot herself... 'sounded off' with them! It was so cool. We also saw Batman running... he cracked me up. It was just WOW... looking at all the people running or walking for Breast Cancer, passing walkers, inspired by the women who are survivors... feeling an overwhelming sense of belonging there to show my support.

And they're off...

Can you see Batman?

Reading some of the signs people were wearing "I'm running for..." or "In memory of..." it really, really made me cherish what I have and those around me. I can't put in to words the feelings that were going through my brain when the start horn rang... I guess excitement, nervousness, honor (to be there doing a run for a wonderful cause), humbleness, and angst over reaching my goal.

I had such wonderful support. Captn Sue & I ran together until we saw my Mr Safety Man with FOUR girls with him... he was mock-babysitter of CS's dear daughter and one extra we were watching for the morning.

Spotting our family

Tearing up...seeing my Mr SafetyMan and the girls

Some treats for the kiddos

Loved seeing our support

 But as I spotted Dear Mr Safety Man right before mile marker one...
I then saw my girls and they each had made special signs for me...SO SPECIAL...

I will cherish that image in my heart...F.O.R.E.V.E.R!!!

It reads "9605 (my #) go Kiper (Kipper) Love BooBooBear" (long story)

"Go Momy love, Sweetpea" (love the 'momy')

Truly I will never forget it. It made me tear up and choke up. And crying while running is really hard!
After Mile Marker 1, I pulled ahead for awhile. Captn Sue was close behind and she didn't walk the entire course either!! SO PROUD OF BOTH OF US! I kept turning and clapping and encouraging her on... she'd give me a thumbs up that she was ok. The funniest part was when little kiddos would pass us and not even seem winded... oh the youth!

Now by Mile Marker 2 - I was ready for some water- in fact I couldn't wait thinking I was going to die without it.  I made the mistake of going for one of the first people holding water out - & so did

Every.Single.Walker.in.front.of.me.

I almost stopped running and started to walk to try and navigate and get through plus catch my breath... even though in my head I kept singing (think Dori from Nemo...) "JUST KEEP RUNNING! JUST KEEP RUNNING". 

I am so blessed I was running with Captn Sue- as she had gotten in front of me and was waiting - running in place and back to me, took one look at me and in the drill sergeant tone she has... demanded "COME ON KIDDO! You can do it! THROW DOWN THAT WATER, just swish it! COME ON! LET'S GO"!!!!! Now if she hadn't done that... I think I would have started to walk, but I didn't... I went... and then at another point when I thought I could not continue - she pointed out that we were on the last big turn... that I could do it! It was so good to have the support! 
From Mile Marker 2 until about half way to the end I was struggling a bit but I pushed myself on - giving little pep talks in my brain ("JUST KEEP RUNNING Kymmie JUST KEEP RUNNING JUST KEEP RUNNING").  We were lucky however that there was a FANTASTIC breeze, I wish it was pushing along like in the beginning of the race - but it helped to cool us off. And that sun hit hard when we rounded the last turn with about a 1/4mile left to the race.

I pushed hard to get to the left turn at the finish line. I could see the people turning and I knew it was close... Captn Sue and I picked up our pace a little and when we made that turn... I told her "COME ON...PUMP IT UP! SPRINT TO THE END" and we did... we pushed ourselves super hard and reached the finish line together (with Sue trying to get her hand in front of me!!! LOL).

We did the 5k in (I think) under 39 minutes. I had a slight malfunction with the stopwatch. We figure on average we did about an 11minute mile!! 

And then I felt very yucky. Like embarrassingly yucky- enough that I started to retch (sorry TMI). But there are all these people on the sidelines and a barricade in front of them so I couldn't get through. I couldn't believe I might hurl on these poor people. I stopped and bent over and there was Captn Sue in my ear again. COME ONE KIDDO DON'T STOP... you HAVE to keep walking" SO I did... and retched some more. BUT I am proud to say - I didn't boot. Oh thank goodness for small miracles... I didn't boot.

Cooling down after the race...a bit red-faced!

Mr Safety Man tried to get to the finish line before I did - but he had to drop off Captn Sue's dear daughter at her class and hike over with 3 other girls... but he was there so soon after I got there... I truly appreciated him being there. The girls were all so proud and supportive and most of all my sweet, dear, Mr Safety Man took some cute shots of us and told me he was proud of me.  I got such WONDERFUL support from my friends and family and it gave me such power as I was running. I truly felt them all there in my heart, and supporting me with their wonderful prayers and thoughts. It truly was inspiring and hard (again) to put in to words.

One of my BIGGEST fans!

I really did it!!

I TRIUMPHED!!

WEEeeee TRIUMPHED!

My fans with one taking the photo!

I . DID . IT !!!! I DID IT!

I did it EXACTLY 2 years after my life-changing HUGE spinal surgery... 

I did it when 2 years ago I could not even walk without a walker!

I did it with the grace of God, support from my loved ones, and hard work.

I met one of my life-long goals.

It feels really good.

Will this week ever end?

I feel like ca-ca. There I said it. I actually had to stay home from school (teeheehee that sounds funny) because I feel so blecky. It's a bunch of things wrapped in to one shell of a person today... but I will feel better soon.

I was told by my GOOD Dr (the one I trust completely whom I know has my best interest at heart & doesn't try to shove a bunch of chemicals at me) that I had to take care of me - in order to combat the overwhelming feelings, the not-feeling-100% ALL THE TIME - feelings, and just lack of energy. 
So I e-mailed the teachers I won't be in and am off to take a nappy... I feel guilty - but I don't want to get more run down and get them sick either. I've got a lot to do - but if I get more sick I won't be able to do it right? (Notice the inner war here??)

Most of the obligations are done for the week - Today for the most part I can relax. But yet there are quite a few others coming up. I have to do my lists - and that will help me for sure. I just am lacking the energy. Two nights in a row I've fallen asleep on the couch before 10pm! That is UNHEARD OF for me...

Plus I miss my baby girls today... It was not the greatest mornings for any of us so that didn't help.

Taken at Easter - but love the photo

Hmmmm a nap?! I haven't taken one of those in so long... I hope I wake up with minus one doozy of a headache and no rest of the aches and pains. Moosey will snuggle with me... I guarantee he will jump on the bed when I'm fast asleep and he's so sneaky I won't figure it out until I wake. Silly 90lbs puppy!!

Yes he steals my empty bottles from the recycling...silly puppy!

The bed's calling me...

PSsst is this thing on? Anybody there?

When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep

Stuck in reverse...

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you leave something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you.

And high up above or down below
When you you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you.

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I

Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you.

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I

Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face

And I
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones And I will try to fix you
~~Coldplay (here)

One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish...

So we ventured in to new territory...I am sewing a lot of new things... and enjoying every minute of it. But I've never done a quilt. Nope not ever. That has always been my big Sis' territory. She makes BEAUTIFUL quilts. My favorites... the one she made me for high school graduation and our wedding present quilt.

This summer the girls and I have frequented a few fabric stores.  And we have had so much fun making plans and doing lots of craft projects together! And then we walked in to a new shop we hadn't been to (which has now become our favorite shop) and well we fell in love with some Dr Seuss fabric...Sweetpea dreamed up doing a quilt and well it looked easy enough. At first I relented in buying the fabric thinking "sure... we'll do that someday... well someday came... and there was no getting out of it.

Sweetpea picked out ALL her fabric, she sewed much of the blocks together, the rows of blocks together, and finally I did the quilting and binding. It was such a neat project for us both to work on together. I did A LOT (I mean A LOT) of research on quilting, tying, and the biggest part - the actual QUILTING. And what did I go for? Normal just stitch-in-the-ditch quilting... o no... I had to start with free motion quilting and... the result?  I LOVED IT!!!!

Well you tell me? How'd it turn out?

We sewed it together

Sweetpea organized the blocks

Here's her layout

All our blocks are sewn together

Sweetpea picked borders

Small border matches kite string of Thing 1 & 2

Pleased kiddo with it sewn together!

Almost done and LOVING how it turned out so far...

Teeheehee

She REALLY loves how it is looking (can ya tell?)

Really... trying... to Free motion Quilt... (forced smile)

True feelings...trying to quilt 3 layers...

LOVE the fun Free-motion quilting

Almost there!!

Last step - adding the binding on the quilt!!

So close (and had to finish before our vacation to SC)

My trusty helper asleep on the job...

DONE!

This pattern was one of my favorites!

Loved this one too... Cyndi Lou-Who reminds me of my sister!

Fun colors worked well with King Tut's rainbow thread!

What an extremely fun project to work on with Sweetpea, new material, new thread (King Tut - rainbow variegated thread - gorgeous), and just a crazy fun pattern... Not bad for our first quilt EVER!!
Now it's time to get moving on BooBoo's quilt - (what I do for one... I OF COURSE have to do for the other...). Only this time it's harder... PINWHEEL'S!! YIKES! Another learning curve!

Bunnies and Pinwheels YAY!