FREE SHIPPING IN MY JEWELRY SHOP!! Come take a peek!!

Hi everyone!!  I've been so busy with the Holidays and feeling just plum crummy that I haven't kept up with my blog lately.  I'm sorry to those of you that enjoy reading it.  I'll be on more, I promise!!  I really do have a lot to say!!  You guys are my saving grace as far as letting my life off my chest!!  I am working really hard on my Etsy Shop and it's going alright.  I know it's new.  I just opened on Nov. 9th so people are still not aware of it.  But I am disappointed in a way at how few sales I have made.  It's a bit frustrating.  But I'm going to stick with it and keep promoting and pray that God will bring me success!!  It will come!! I just know it!!  I'm running a big sale if you want to see if there may be anything you might like!!  Most everything is already marked down to 20% off and I have now added a Coupon Code for FREE SHIPPING if you buy $40 or more!!  I'm also trying to add new items each day.  Some days I'm so busy that it's tough to do that, but I'm doing my best to bring a wide variety of options to meet everyone's tastes!!  So visit my shop and use Coupon Code SANTA to receive FREE SHIPPING on a purchase of $40 or more!!  Here's my new ad and the link to my Etsy shop:

Lollishop Creations Jewelry on Etsy (my shop)Lollishop Creations Jewelry on Etsy (my shop)

Also please go and "Like" my Facebook page!! Lollishop Creations on Facebook

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Lauren :)

Reuniting With Old Friends. Great Day!!

Back in the day, 13 years ago and pre children, my husband and I were young party animals.  We were everywhere everynight it seemed.  We had tons of friends that we would get together with at clubs and shows all the time.  Well as we all know, time passes, we grow from kids to adults and marry and start families.  Life happens!!

Yesterday we had been invited to a good friend's 40th birthday party.  Him and his wife are really awesome people and we went to show our love.  Now my husband had seen the birthday boy in the last year once or twice, but I had not seen these people in over 10 years!!  I knew there would be other old friends that I hadn't seen in that long as well.  We have all kept in touch on FB and some on Instagram but hadn't actually seen each other in a decade.  I was so excited!!  But once it came time for me to get myself and the 3 girls ready, I was terrified!!!  Butterflies in the stomach and all!!  I have terrible anxiety as it is and the thought of seeing these people face to face just put me in full on panic mode!  What do I wear?  Some of these people are all much more successful than we are!  They have all heard stories of our rocky times in the past.  What would they think of me? of my kids?  Well I said SCREW IT!!  I put on a pair of skinny jeans with tears in them and a Ramones tank top...one of my favorite outfits...and I was comfortable.  The kids dressed in their usual cute fashions and Nathan, well he looked just like he always does, casual and very handsome.  Off we went.

We had such a blast!!  Food was wonderful and there was beer and wine but no one got hammered.  So it wasn't a crazy, loudmouthed, stumbling atmosphere at all.  After all, we're all adults now, hitting 40 or quickly approaching with multiple children and a few wrinkles.  LOL.  I remember laughing so much.  It felt wonderful to be surrounded by these loving old friends and talking about our changing lives and mostly our children.

We left the party after promising each other that we would get together much more often and even plan ladies nights out and make the men watch the kids!!  Lord knows I need that!!  Anyway it was a wonderful time for everyone.  The kids had a blast and I am so glad that we went.  It's funny how nervous I was and how comfortable I was the moment I set foot in the door and was greeted with an abundance of hugs!!  Love these guys!!

Remembering "Twice the Blessing"

This morning I got up and got the twins off to school.  They are finally getting pretty good about putting together their own clothes the night before and getting ready on their own.  That is so helpful!!  Even doing their own hair!!  That also means they are growing up on me :(  It is "think college Thursday" at their school so Natalie chose to wear my Texas Longhorns t-shirt.  She tied it in a little knot with a pony tail holder and felt like her fashion statement had been made.  Gillian wanted nothing to do with the college theme day so she chose her "I win some, You lose some" t-shirt and some shorts all bedazzled with cute bright prints and jewels.  Off they went looking cute as can be.  I crawled back into bed with Sophie who was sleeping soundly and I watched her sleep.  The precious look of a toddler sleeping with their eyes closed and mouth open is priceless.  I could hear her breathing in and out and smell her sweet breath.  I remember doing that with the twins.  That is when I could actually catch them sleeping at the same time. ;)  Seems like just yesterday.  That was 9 years ago!!  Well 6 when they were Sophie's age.  Still I can't believe how time has flown by.  I look back and realize I cannot remember a whole heck of a lot about the twins being 3.  Makes me a little sad.  Times were just so chaotic back then.  I had 2 little vibrant and energetic girls running in opposite directions in the house and it was all I could do to attempt to keep up with them and keep them out of trouble and harms way!!  I can look at pictures and that brings back memories.  They now love looking at those pics with me and talking about what they were up to at the time.  How Natalie never smiled until she was about 3.  How Gillian always had this goofy smile on her face and these crazy curls that never quite fell right.  We laugh and laugh.  These are my memories of that time with them.  Stories of me telling them how busy they kept me and how I never had my hair done, the house was always a wreck,  and I had to shower with them looking at me with the curtain pulled back.  I was never alone.  I did work during that time.  So I guess that was my get away.  But coming home from work and picking them up from their Grandmother's house was always a joyful time.  They were so excited to see me.  I wish I could go back to that time, knowing what I know now and make sure I stayed calm and patient and didn't get overwhelmed so that I could take the time to pay attention to every detail of their little exciting lives.  I am grateful now that I can do that with Sophie.  I remember every detail of her life since she was born.  I have made sure to really just stay calm and soak all of this in.  I take tons of pictures of her and have since the day she was born.  I love being able to stay at home with her.  I wasn't able to with the twins.  Yes, we could certainly use the extra income, but this time is priceless.  She will be my last child.  I will never again have a 3 year old that is learning to talk, learning the ABC song, running around for no reason just giggling her little head off and waving her chunky hands in the air.  This time I am doing it right..that's what I tell myself.  This is the way I wanted to do it with the twins but never had the chance.  I remember going to the grocery store with the twins and I couldn't use a shopping cart because I couldn't get both of them in there in their carriers and still have room for groceries, so I would just take them in their double stroller which had a pretty big compartment in it and put my things in there.  Every isle I went down had some lady that would stop me and ask if they were twins.  Me in my messy hair tied up in a bandanna and my thrift store clothes and flip flops would think "are you kidding me right now, no I just had 2 babies years apart and they are exactly the same size!!!  REALLY??"  LOL.  I used to get so annoyed by that!!  I was exhausted.  Not mean, just very, very tired.  And it made for a very LOOONNNNGGG trip to the grocery store.  But every person that ever stopped me to look at them told me I was given "twice the blessing".  At the time I laughed inside and thought to myself, "yeh..haha..twice the LACK OF SLEEP!!"  Looking back now, I can finally say that they were right.  It was twice the blessing.  I had 2 beautiful, healthy babies that loved me.  Some women would give their right arm just to have one child.  Those annoying old women were right on.  And here I am now with a 3rd little blessing.  Thank you God for every moment of chaos, for every tear I shed locked in the bathroom, for every time I got thrown up on during Natalie's colic days, for every night I stayed up all night feeding and rocking and singing, for every sickness they got that I nursed them through, for every sickness I had that I never thought I would make it through without the rest I needed to get well.  Thank you God for my 3 little blessings.  I must have done something right in my life to deserve this.  And to all of those women who I gave a tired dirty look to when they wanted to see the miracle I was pushing along, I am sorry for not being more hospitable.

My little blessings

Daddy looking a little frightened!!

this was the first time I took them outside.  They had jaundice so I had to bring them outside as often as I could

Gillian dressed in up in my clothes

Natalie in Daddy's cowboy hat

I think they were about 2 here

The twins holding Sophie in the hostpital

I do it all!! Now do your part!! Clean up after yourselves!!

Today I took my husband's new bmx bike frame 30 miles away to have it powder coated.  He buys a new frame then pays to have it painted.  lol.  Anyway, I come home after my errands and the kitchen and living room are just filled with cans and bottles and bowls and cups.  I'm thinking, hmmmm.....I have a 38 yr old who I'm pretty sure is capable of cleaning up after himself.  I have 9 yr old twins which I believe are also capable of the same thing.  Heck my 3 yr old does a better job of it!!  What is with these people??  Do I have MAID written on my forehead????  Maybe I just have STUPID written there!!  Why does the kitchen counter have to collect everything?  If you finish a bottle of water or a can of soda or a beer....WHATEVER, put them in the recycling!!  Or the trash for all I care!!  Just stop leaving them there for the lady with STUPID MAID written on her forehead!!!  Geez!!  Sorry, I just had to vent.  Thanks for listening!! :)

Ps....I honestly think I'm nuts.

My Weekend: New Van, October Fest, and Football

So I have been waiting all day to write this post.  I've had lots of errands to run.  First I had to get Sophie and I ready, which as you moms know is never a fast task!!  Then it was off to the library to print a return label on a pair of shoes I had to return.  Then to UPS to ship, post office to mail off something else, then house cleaning and laundry.  I've been feeling a little better the last couple of days.  Glad to be able to get some things taken care of.  I hate the feeling of having so much to do and not being physically able to get it all done.  It's so stressful.  Ok..onto my weekend..

Gillian waiting to get in to have some fun!!

Natalie hugging Sophie

We had so many things going on this weekend.  My best friend invited us to October Fest.  She also wanted us to come to hang out with her at the Chili Cook Off she entered into at the State Fair (which opens up this weekend!!).  Another friends birthday party was at a bar type place 45 mins away.  There was also a BMX event on the other side of the city going on.  Well needless to say my physical condition does prevent me from doing things a lot.  So we decided not to overdo anything.  Yes, I was feeling much better than I had been in the weeks past.  I wanted to take advantage of that and get out and play.  I also didn't want to wear my body out and live to regret it afterwards.  So we opted for the October Fest event.  It seemed the most kiddo friendly.  We had a blast!!

Me and My Girls

The girls got to ride several rides and we all had a wonderful experience!!  Do not be fooled, however!!!  If you have never been to an October Fest...it is much like the fair, EXPENSIVE!!!  After a couple of hours we had to say enough is enough.  One Brautwurst was $8!!  So we opted to leave and go grab some lunch more on our budget.

Me, my husband, and my best friend, Michelle

After a much needed nap, we got a call from a guy that we had called inquiring about a van.  If you have read my blog, you know we've been looking for one.  He originally told us he would not come down on his price.  Well, much to our surprise, he called and said he would take what we were willing to offer!!  So now this mama has her a van!!!  

We love it!!  It's been so long since I have driven one that I forgot how wonderful they are for a family of 5 like mine.  I have room and so do the girls.  It runs great and the kids think the seats are super comfortable!  VERY IMPORTANT!!  lol.  No more cramped compact car.  And no more single car household!!  Felling very blessed.  

Sunday we were all tired and I was hurting again, pretty bad.  We decided to skip the Chili Cook off and just be lazy and watch football.  After all, what's better than a lazy football Sunday??!!  My hometown Falcons lost :(  But our Dallas Cowboys pulled out a win!!  Bout time!!  Turns out my husband bet lunch on the other team winning so he had to buy his buddy lunch today!  I hope he doesn't make a habit out of that!!!  He's not very good at it!!

Happy Monday Everyone!!