Is it HOT? or is it just me!

Summer seems to be officially here in Alabama. With temperatures hovering very near 100 degrees, it is really unbearable to be out in the middle of the day. I had the bright idea that I wanted to clean up some flower beds on Monday. It really didn't feel so bad outside at 9 in the morning. I trudged off to Lowes and purchased some new cedar mulch, marigolds, some verigated greenery that I don't even know the name of, lantana (my grandmother always had that), and some gerber daisies. Then I saw the peonies (my grandmother had those too), followed by a bush called rose of sharon althea and a dwarf crepe myrtle. Putting down the new mulch and weeding the beds went well. Planting the marigolds and lantana was easy. Then I looked around at the larger pots of peonies, althea and crepe myrtle. What was I thinking??? The soil in our yard is hard. I remember once my husband and father-in-law planting some trees. My husband gets the shovel and the axe out of the garage. My father-in-law wondered why the axe---he realized why when they tried to dig. Thankfully my plan for these larger bushes was to put them in place of some others that had died. I did manage to dig holes deep enough to put the bushes in. It was very hard and I was very thankful that I had only purchased four larger plants. I have watered every day because we have had no rain and the almost 100 degree heat is rough on my plants. AHHHH summer in Alabama. Actually I wouldn't trade it.
In the shop, we are happy to have some great new plates and wall tiles from Little Worm and Company. The age plates are so cute. You can actually have your child's current age put in the center of the plate. The wall tiles are a new addition and would look great in any child's room. Another new addition is the first birthday doll from Gund. She is so sweet and plays Happy Birthday. We embroider the birthday girl's first name on the bottom of the dress and it is so sweet. These dolls sell out quickly and are currently on back order but are so cute I just had to mention them. Off to work some now (and not outside). I think I have done all the planting for now. I have enough to water at this point. Hopefully all of you are experiencing a great summer as well. I love this time of year when I have some extra special time with both my boys at home relaxing (or being bribed into service in the shipping department). Have a great rest of June!

Graduation - What a Mix of Emotions

Okay, it is time to admit this to myself and everyone else....my oldest son graduated from high school. WOW! How hard that is to believe. Surely I am not old enough to have a child who is graduating. Surely it hasn't been 18 years since I gave birth to my 8 pound 15 ounce oldest child. What a joy the 18 years have been. What a handsome young man he has turned into. Graduation for me is such a mix of emotions. I am so proud of him!!! He has a scholarship to go to the University of Alabama. He is currently gone on a mission trip serving those who really need some help. He is a really awesome guitar player and could be famous someday! (He would love that sentence). I work at the school he attended. I had the joy of seeing him every day and even eating lunch with him and a group of friends from time to time. I had the awesome amazing joy of handing him his diploma. HOW VERY COOL IS THAT!! I also am realizing how quiet it can be around my house with just my 11 year old and myself. Well, congratulations to you young people who graduated this year. Just remember, your mom needs to hear from you from time to time. She loves you, is proud of you, is even thrilled to see you going on to college for an amazing life,....BUT she still needs to hear your voice every so often.
Things rock along at MyEmbroideredGifts.com. We are always on the lookout for amazing new gifts. At this time of year, I am especially looking at graduation gifts. Towel wraps continue to be a wonderful gift for girls. My son received money from many friends (which works well for someone always shopping for new guitar merchandise). Travel bags for girls or guys of all shapes and varieties come in handy also.
Such am amazing array of emotions, such amazing young people headed out to make the world a better place. Congratulations 2009 graduates of WCA!

Easter is coming faster than I realize

Well, I have been a terrible blogger. If anyone is still following my blog, thank you. School has been incredibly busy, life in general has been busy. Last week was spring break for our schools here. I went with 3 other adults and 10 students to Baldwin Louisiana and worked at UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) packaging relief supplies. If you ever have a chance to do this, it is amazing. I worked a good bit of the time in the sewing room (where else would I be) serging book bags that they package school supplies in. It was such rewarding yet relaxing work. This was the fourth year that my son and I have done this and it always amazes me how much the youth enjoy this trip. They work so hard. In the past, we have gone as a part of their school year but I was really amazed that they were willing to go during their spring break this year. What an amazing blessing to help people. We always meet the neatest people from all over the United States while we are there. We always eat some great Cajun seafood. It was wonderful.
But, that week is over and it is time to get back to work. We have added a new feature to the website. We now have Flash Sequence Banners at the top of the page thanks to Solid Cactus. I think they look really cool. Let me know what you think. My 11 year old has spent time working to help me design some great banners for Easter. Yes, Easter is quickly approaching. Now is the time to get those Easter baskets and Easter bunnies. The basket this year from Gund is really cute but unfortunately cannot be personalized. Drop by and take a look at all the bunnies and baskets. We have some precious doll bunnies that can be personalized with a name on the front of their dresses.
Time to call it a night here and get ready for another. I really hope to update this blog more frequently. Check back and see if I can manage to do that.

Modern Mom Challenge Week 1

I have joined with lots of other moms out there to take on the Modern Mom Challenge. I really believe this can make 2009 a great year. I have a few goals for this time:
1. I didn't really gain any weight over Christmas (you ask how that could happen) because I was so sick but I do need to be more careful in what I eat. Cut down on fast food (I am always eating and working at lunch so I eat bad stuff) and eat healthier food. Take the time to fix a lunch that is healthy. Take time to eat lunch and savor it.
2. Exercise regularly (or at all). I need to find something to do here at home that I can do regularly and maybe enjoy. I enjoyed Pilates at the gym and I have some DVD's so maybe I should break open those wrappers and give it a try. I would also like to find a good Zumba workout.
3. MAKE TIME FOR ME!! After being sick for a week, I really think this is going to be important. I think my illness was made worse by being worn down and stressed out. I need to enjoy more movies with my kids, more reading, in general more relaxing time when I am not contemplating the next great things I am going to add to the website or how I am going to get everything in tomorrow's mail.
So, let's see how it goes. I hope to keep you posted each week as we progess through this journey. I look forward to taking this journey with lots of other cyber-friend moms and see what we all accomplish as we cheer each other on.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I cannot believe we are beginning 2009. This is the year my oldest child will graduate from high school and possibly go away from home to college. We have been on one college visit and have an interview trip to make later this month. It is so funny that my non-sportsminded child (if that is a word) is looking at The Univeristy Of Alabama. You can only understand this comment if you have lived in or near the state of Alabama. My goal is that he find the place he can get a quality degree and be happy. This is a huge prayer request for the year.
How is this year starting off for you? It is a bit rocky for me. We travelled to visit with family on Christmas day. The van broke down 15 miles from my parents. They came and picked us up. We paid a premium fee to have our van towed on to my mom and dad's house. Merry Christmas. Thankfully my dad and husband were able to get parts the next day and fix it themselves. I began having fever and chills Christmas night but wanted to write it off as just a cold. NO SUCH LUCK! I began throwing up the next morning and ended up in urgent care getting meds to stop the puking. Several days go by in a blur now. In fact, most of my visit with family goes by in a haze of fever and medicine that kept me knocked out. I missed some precious time with my beautiful nephew Bennett because I really didn't want to make anyone else sick. After returning home, I have gotten a massive dose of antibiotics and am feeling TONS better. I still am having an issue with a tooth that seems to have also been a part of all this....more on that Monday when I can see the dentist. Maybe God thinks I needed more rest than I was willing to get. I certainly got some rest. I hate being sick and this has been the worst I have seen in many many years. Thanks mom and family for nursing me and taking care of me, I know it certainly wasn't fun.
Did you eat your blackeyed peas today? I certainly did!! After the past week, I am shooting for anything lucky I can get. Well, it is time to start thinking about getting new products online. Valentine's has already arrived and Easter will soon be arriving. There are some exciting things in the works. We are also looking at some new baby gift products that are really precious. For now, I am sitting in the recliner watching Bugs Bunny with my 11 year old. Rest is good, that is my lesson for the week. Take time to relax, enjoy family and rest!! Life passes quickly...... much to quickly! Have a great New Year!

Thank you for a great year!

This is the time of year to reflect, maybe rest, and plan. I enjoy so much the work I do. I love picking out great quality products. I love the fun of helping people pick a great unique gift that they are so excited to give. I love working right next to my children's playroom upstairs. There are just so many things I really love about what I do. It is always nice for it to be profitable as well. October was a slow month, in fact a scary month. I had loads of new Christmas merchandise and sales were slow!! November and December were good and for me the year has ended on a postive note. I am thrilled to have had a few good months. I am even more thrilled to be taking a much deserved (at least I think so) break for about a week. I appreciate that I have found something that I enjoy, something that allows me to express myself creatively.
Okay, during my relaxing time, I am working on a Christmas stocking for my 11 year old. When my 17 year old was born I cross-stitched this elaborate stocking. Really good idea, right? NO!!!! Then along came my now 11 year old. I had two children, I started working part-time, the internet became popular (I am looking for anything I can blame), I started my embroidery business.....all of these things seem to have prevented me from working on the stocking for my 11 year old that would compare with his brother's. This poor stocking has travelled on every family trip and is still so far from being done. I pulled out the stocking today and was bragging about the fact that I was really working on it. Here is my 11 year old son's take on this entire process. "Mom, it is like the Great Wall of China". To which my reply was "What?" "Mom, it took thousands of years and lots of people died before they finished it." I quickly assured him that so far no one has died all the while thinking "but you might!" Isn't it great what kids can say! Really no harm done, we have all had a great laugh about the new name for the stocking and I am more determined than ever to work on it.
On that note, I am going to finish up this entry and go stitch a stocking. I wish for each of you a very Blessed holiday season. Whatever your plans, I pray for you wonderful time with family, and a time to reflect on the year. I hope someone out there reads this blog entry and gets a good laugh from the stocking now fondly referred to as "the Great Wall of China". I will let you know when it is done :)

New Exciting Product - Gabrielle's Fleece

I don't usually spend a blog post talking about one particular product but I am so excited about this one. I was contacted by the sweetest Grandmother who hand knits blankets. Let me just say they are incredibly beautiful. These blankets are a gift that anyone would cherish but they also include the sweetest framed set of 7 prayers that relate to the blanket. This is truly an heirloom gift that will be passed down for generations. I am so excited that I was contacted to add this product to my website. If you are looking for a baby gift, this is it!

Okay, can you believe that October is almost over? We had homecoming week at school this week. What a fun time we had!! BUT, it is time to settle down and get back to work. The time changes next weekend and we have a fall festival on Saturday. We are quickly approaching the amazingly busy holiday season and it is hard to believe another year has passed. Time is slipping away as my oldest is almost half-way through his senior year. There are days that I am so ready to see him graduate and then there are days that I know I am not ready for this. It seems like only yesterday I was holding him and praying he would sleep for more than 3 hours at at time. How quickly the time passes. He has grown into a handsome, intelligent young man and it is a wonderful sight.

Well, I should get back to my embroidery work. There are still a few other new items that we are adding to the website so check in and see what we have. Shop for Christmas before those items are all gone. Baby's First Stockings are moving quickly!!