Hi Zack!

Haha. Funny title, I know. I just found out this week that my brother-in-law also reads my blog on occasion, so just a little shout-out there.

So we spent 12 1/2 hours on the road yesterday to get home from NJ. Should have been 8. Lots of traffic and rain. The only state that was good for us was NJ because we were heading north instead of south to the shore. It actually took us an hour just to get from Portland to Bath due to 295 being covered in about an inch of water the whole way. People were hydroplaning everywhere. Scary stuff! Good thing we got new tires last week!

So our vacation was awesome. Of the 5 days we were there we spent 3 at the beach and one at the zoo in Cape May and Ocean City Boardwalk. We always stay with Bobby's brother and his family. His wife, Christa, and I get along really well and their kids are also 6 & 4, just like Emma & Jake. They play so well and fight like cousins, as it should be. We also got to spend time with Bobby's sister, Danielle, and her family at the beach. We always try to get all 7 grandkids together for a picture so we can see how they grow every year. Here's a pic from the beach in Strathmere, taken by Danielle.
Top row: Emma & Jackson; Middle row: Rilee, Reid, Julia, Jake; Bottom row: Marley


So I finally posted a new pic here, after almost a year without one. Now if I could just get pics uploaded from my camera to my computer I could post a million more. I think I need some sort of adaptor or something for that....

My Sewing Machine

I frequently visit the Sew Mama Sew blog as I can find a lot of great ideas, tips & advice. This month they're offering some great prizes just for commenting on blog posts, including a new sewing machine. So they have asked that we fill out the following questionnaire & post the link to their site. Here goes...

What brand and model do you have? Singer, pretty basic model, no bells & whistles
How long have you had it? 3 years or so
How much does that machine cost (approximately)? $100
What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)? All of the Above
How much do you sew? Not often enough
How much wear and tear does the machine get? Not as much as it should
Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name? Like it well enough - Didn't know I was supposed to name "her"
What features does your machine have that work well for you? It sews
Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine? Skipped Stitches, not as advanced I would like, wish I could machine quilt with it
Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it! Nothing exciting - Bobby brought it home one day after I had been using my mom's machine to make quilts for his nieces & nephews
Would you recommend the machine to others? Why? Only to extreme beginners and those who don't sew much
What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine? For me, I want it to come with a walking foot so I can do more quilting and heavy duty purse making
Do you have a dream machine? Anything that will help me advance my techniques and sewing skills

My Job

So since I recently complained about having to work & not being home enough with my kids, I figure I should actually point out that I do like my job. I work as a Customer Service Specialist at Village Candle in Topsham, Maine. It truly is a superior scented jar candle than anything else on the market. I have burned Yankee Candles in the past, but unfortunately I did not have great experiences. They soot tremendously and don't burn well. Village Candles have dual wick technology which provides a clean even burn and eliminates sooting. The fragrances are awesome and so true to life! And they are less expensive which, in my opinion, is a great thing these days. Why pay more for a candle that won't burn well and turns your walls black when you can pay less for a larger candle that burns all the way down and even comes with a free mini scenter car candle?

That's why I like my job. I honestly believe in the product. All of our candles are made on-sight in our factory by some of the most dedicated employees I have ever known. I work in the office as a CS rep so I handle many inbound and outbound sales calls from and to gift retailers, as well as sales reps and even consumers. These past 2 weeks have been extremely busy, in a good way. The Premium Village Candle collection is amazing, with a fabulous selection of fragrances that beat anyone else. Those other big companies don't hold a candle to Village (ok, bad pun, I know). We also have a country-style canning jar candle called our Kitchen Line. Yummy! Talk about wanting to eat something sweet while burning these candles. And then we have a soy and paraffin blend Accent Line in home decor friendly colors. I love these in my bright blue bathroom! We even have a line of Natural Soy Wax candles for you greenies out there. With Village Candles there is something for everyone...

Ok, I know I just totally plugged the company I work for, but why shouldn't I? Of course I would still buy these phenomenal candles if I didn't work there, but the best perk is getting to try out the new fragrances as they are being tested. I highly recommend those of you are reading this to try a Village Candle as soon as you can. If you don't have a local VIllage Candle retailer near you, check out the Village Candle Factory Store either in person in Topsham or online at www.villagecandle.com. Not only will you help me keep my job ;) but you'll also find yourself hooked on a new guilty pleasure - a premium quality candle at a very affordable price.

So there. That's why I do what I do. I enjoy helping people find the best candle they can. Once you try a Village Candle I am quite sure that you'll never want to buy from another candle company again. Made in the USA, Hand-Made in Maine, great smelling scented candles - Life is good.

Something to Say

I wish I had something more to say.
I feel like I'm not blogging enough lately. I really feel like my life isn't worthy of blogging lately. I get up, I go to work, I come home, I get the kids dinner, give them a bath, send them to bed, I relax, I fall asleep. Start over 9 hours later.
Is this really my life?
Just 1 year ago I was going for walks to the library, catching frogs at the pond, reading 2 books a week, having picnic lunches in the back yard, sewing everyday. I truly miss that.
I know that I need to work right now, but why couldn't I have just 1 more year?
One more year with my babies while they're still little.
One more year of enjoying the fun times on a daily basis.
One more year before both of them are in school full time.
I want a reason to write here everyday. I don't feel like writing about my job as a customer service rep. I feel like writing about my real life, my life here with my family, the life that I feel like I'm missing by being away all day long.
My weekends are too short. This life is too short.
As my friend once said to me "the days are long but the years are short." My Jakey is almost 5 and Emma's going into 1st grade. The next thing I know they'll be in high school. Then what?
I know it's a long way to go, but then what will my life bring?
When they no longer need me, what will I be doing?
Maybe I'm just being a bit paranoid, or depressed, or guilty, but I can't help but want to spend as much time with them while they still want me to.
Some day, sooner than I want, it will be just a memory.

The Sewing Bug

Yes! It has finally bitten me again. This weekend I decided, after cleaning the house, that I would pull out the old sewing machine. It's a little awkward, but I managed to sew standing up. Yes, you read that right. I placed the machine on the bar between the kitchen & living room, put the pedal on the floor (perfect height), and I was able to stand & sew. I finally made Cindy's 3rd wallet. I got the size right this time, but I'm a little worried about the metal snaps. There may end up being a wallet #4. I also found 3 adorable floral print fat quarters on sale at JoAnn's last week. So I whipped up a new purse for myself. I call it the "unstructured bag." It resembles a tote bag that you'd use for shopping, but it has an outside pocket as well as 2 inside. I also added a clip for my keys so they don't disappear at the bottom. I call it unstructured since I didn't use any interfacing for stiffness. It's so cute. As soon as I can find a USB adaptor for my camera & new computer I'll start posting pics again. Although I think I only have one reader these days, so Mama Brann, I'll post those pics soon! Thanks for reading!

Not So Bad After All

So it may not be 90 degrees this weekend, but I'm home. And I like it that way. Yesterday I finished a really good book called "Good In Bed" by Jennifer Weiner, while the kids played outside. It should be a little warmer today. I'm sending the kids out now because they drive me crazy if I keep them in. Bobby's on his way home with my D&D coffee with the free Turbo Shot! I think I'll get some yardwork done & then we're grilling tonight.
Aaaahhhh. This is how I like it.

90 Degrees and Working

The last time I had to work during the summer was when I was pregnant with Emma, 7 years ago. I am so not used to having 90 degree temps and spending the day away from my kids. I already miss reading my books on the swing in the back yard. I miss watching the kids using their imaginations to play around the yard. I miss walking to the library and searching the frog pond for tadpoles. I miss being able to take off for the beach whenever we want.

It's ok, though. I know deep down that what I am doing now is best for my family. And when all else fails, we still have the weekends!

And I hope that as they grow up they realize that their mom, as much as she wanted to be there for them all the time, did what she had to do to give them the best life possible. And I hope that they know how much she loves them.