It's time...

I think it's time to jump on the blog train once again.  I will warn you though, my life is still pretty boring and most of my posts will be about books, TV, kids, etc...!!

I did manage to drag my sewing machine out this past week, for the first time since the start of the year.  It's still sitting on my kitchen table because I need to fix a pair of pants and make myself a wrist strap for my new camera.  It will most likely be put back into hiding shortly thereafter.  At least until I feel the need to sew something again!  Here is what I used it for. I made this skirt for Bailey out of a pair of jeans that were too short and had a hole in the knee.  It's super cute, but when she wore it to church yesterday she ripped out a lot of the hem stitching.  They were stretch denim jeans and I need to find the right thread for that type of fabric, otherwise she will just rip them out every time I fix it!  Any suggestions?


I also made a purse, phone case and makeup bag for a girl that Jake works with.  It was an Izzy with the red OU fabric I have used before.  It was so weird making a purse again, but it was just like riding a bike!  I just had to go out an buy a lot of stuff that I used all up before I stopped sewing. I will probably work on stuff off and on to put in my Etsy store in the summer though.  We'll have to see how it goes!

Jake, Bailey and I went to see The Hunger Games on Saturday.  It was really good, I was not disappointed in it at all.  It was a bit jerky though and that was a little annoying for someone with glasses, but once I got past that I was okay.  I think it would have been better farther back from the screen, even though we were already about 1/2 way back.

Hmmmmm.....what else is going on??  Today was the kids 1st day back from Spring Break.  I didn't work today, but I am working tomorrow at the boys' school, which is my absolute favorite school to work in!  I have worked 8 days so far this month and all but one day was in their school.  I have 3 schools that are the ones I most generally work in and in those I have specific classes that I always seem to end up taking and I really love them!  There is only about 2 months of school left now then I have to find something to do for summer...maybe I will get a job at our new Ulta!!

In just 3 days I will be 38....I can hardly believe it.  I don't really feel that old...most of the time!  As you can tell, I am not one of those girls who won't admit her age, what's the point of that anyway?  I LOVE my birthday!

I got an iPhone 4 the beginning of February and I am in the process of uploading all my pictures to my Google+ account so I can use those on here.  I tend to use that much more than my camera these days.  I am LOVING instagram so much.  I started a photo a day challenge in March and I have kept up with that all month and I am ready for April too.  This is the prompt that I am using, it's so fun.  It's from this blog, and she does a new one each month.  I like having someone tell me what to photograph too, it makes it easier for me to keep up with.  Although, if you make "moon" a prompt, it's probably best to make sure that it's not the first day after the new moon when there is no visible moon for most of the US!!

Well, I don't want to bore you too much all at once on my first day back, so I will leave you for now!  Have a wonderful evening.  I am off to make pizza for the kids and I for dinner!

Learning...

I have learned a lot of things in my first month of subbing.  Here are a few of them

• I don't think I could ever be a kindergarten teacher!
• I don't know that I will ever sub kindergarten again.
• Higher classes don't necessarily mean better behaved classes.
• Just because you take a job subbing a particular class, there is still a chance you can still be pulled in to sub band when that sub doesn't show up.
• I will never sub Band again...hopefully!
• Some schools are better to sub at than others for MANY reasons.
• I can work almost any day that I want to since our district is pretty good sized.
• We are still short subs on some days.
• It's really ideal to get a job that lasts more than one day, all the days after the first one are easy once you learn the class routines, etc...
• I will never sub 5th grade at the boys' school again, they were loud, rude and disrespectful and I was only there 1/2 a day.
• My favorite school to sub at so far is Royal Heights, I have been there more than any other school and I am getting the hang of the routines and all that.
• My favorite class so far has been Mrs. Wallace's 5th grade at Royal Heights.  I have subbed that class 3 times now.
• I am not subbing High School at this time and for the time being I am steering clear of Middle School unless it's 6th grade.  I have a harder time with 7th and 8th.  They don't like to listen and they can be kind of mouthy.  I feel more comfortable with Elementary at this point.

I haven't gotten my first check yet, but I really like my job!  Right now we have 5 and 1/2 days until Christmas break, so far I am only working 2, but there is a chance it will end up being more than that.  Well, my house is a disaster so I guess I need to start working on that...or maybe I will just make myself a bag to take my stuff to school in...I don't know!

One of those days...

Today has been one of those days!  I got to school this morning, checked in, phone rings as I am walking to my classroom.  It's the nurse at Colton's school, we have to pick him up because he threw up.  He is NOT sick, but they have to send him home because he threw up.  They send him home Monday for the same reason.  Maybe he was sick then, but he has this tendency to make himself sick if he doesn't want to do something.  He convinced Jake to let him stay home yesterday and then decided that he didn't want to go today.  We made him go, but he found his way home.  Since I had the car, Jake had to walk to get him before 8am...I should also mention that Jake didn't get home from work until 4:15am!  He wasn't very happy, needless to say, and he didn't get very much sleep today.  He did manage to get Colton to confess that he had made himself sick so they would send him home.  We have some issues there that obviously need to be worked out, I am not sure what to do at this point.

This working thing is time consuming!

It looks like I am not going to have the time to post as much as I would like to!  With working and trying to get caught up with all my orders I have pretty much NO time.  This is what my week looks like this week:

• Monday - full day 8th Grade Communication Arts/Reading
• Tuesday - half day 5th Grade
• Wednesday - half day 11/12th Grade Communication Arts
• Thursday - full day Librarian in Elementary School

Has it really been a week?

I see that it has!  Last week I had my interview, got hired and woke up sick the next day!  I plowed through it and tried to work some while I waited for fabric last week.  Then BAM I get 2 big fabric orders in one day and I pre-washed fabric all day Thursday.  I was still not feeling well on Friday, but I got up ran to the fabric store to get ribbon for 2 of the next bags I needed to get done.  Fast forward a little, I iron my fabric, get a bag almost cut out and I literally cut the tip/corner of my index finger on my right hand off.  Apparently those Olfa rotary blades are quite sharp!!  So, it's now been 4 days on not getting anything done while I have this huge bandaged finger.  I am down to a regular bandaid today, and it seems to be healing up.  I just hope that my fingernail will look normal once it grows all the way back...yes, I cut completely through the nail too!

News!!

I had my interview today and they hired me, I did my paperwork and once I am in the system I can start working!  In case you are new to my blog, I am going to be a substitute teacher.  This is a whole new world for me.  Other than my Macy's job that lasted a month, of which I only actually worked about 20 hours (the reason I quit!) I have been a stay at home mom for just at 12 years now.  Another thing that makes it something new is that, while I have kids in public schools, I never actually attended public school.  I home-schooled my Sophomore year, but all my other schooling was in Christian Schools.  This doesn't include my years of college.  Anyway, the public school system will be a new experience for me.  I am nervous, but really excited at the same time.

One Step Closer...

I got my Substitute Certification yesterday!  I turned in my application today and I should hear back within a week.  She said that I may not even need to interview...that would be awesome.  I always get so nervous.  I have been checking into pointing my domain name to my Etsy store.  That will be happening on or around the 30th of this month so that I don't have to pay my Big Cartel fees again.  Since I will be going to 100% pre-made items, it's just not worth it to pay a monthly fee when I can pay only for the items I sell on Etsy.  I will also get a little more exposure for the items that I do list.  You will still be able to find me by typing in pinkpunkboutique.com too, so that's a good thing!

Pink Punk Catch Up!

I haven't posted any Pink Punk stuff in awhile so I am going to do a little catch up post and show some picture of my recently completed items.

Before that, however, I want to let you all know what I have been contemplating the past few weeks.  I am about 50% through the process of becoming a substitute teacher.  My Certification is pending the receipt of my transcript, which I mailed almost 2 weeks ago.  They should have that information entered any day, I am sure they have gotten it by now.  After that, I have to turn in my certification and my application and hopefully I will be called in to interview.

I LOVE Fall

I think that Fall is my favorite season!  To be fair, I when it's winter and I am ready for warmer weather I think Spring is my favorite so they are probably equal.  Here are some of my favorite things about fall.

• Cool misty mornings, even when I don't have to go outside.
• Baking, it's always more appropriate in the fall!
• Seeing the leaves changing colors.  We don't have any pretty trees at this house, but they are still out there!
• Maple Leaf Festival...we just went to the parade last year, but I want to go see the crafts this year.
• I just like the feel of fall, it reminds me of when I was a kid going back to school...I was one of those kids that really loved back to school time.  I still do...I am looking forward to maybe going back to school myself...next fall.
• Cream cheese potato soup!
• Getting out my quilt to wrap up in on the couch while I read or watch TV.
• So many more things...

Stress....

After a pretty stressful couple of days I have decided to quit my job at Macy's.  They called last Thursday and cancelled my Friday shift and I am not even on the schedule this week at all.  All week long I stress about not getting enough sleep and getting up early all to go in and work 4 hours in the early AM to make $25 in one week!  It's just not worth it to me and it's not worth Jake only getting 3-4 hours of sleep on those days.  He gets home 1 hour before I get up and then he has to get up at 7 to get the kids to school and then try to go back to sleep which hasn't been happening.  He is only getting a couple hours of sleep on those days and then going to work his regular 10 hour shift.  So, I am not working as of now.  I am still going to be looking for something that works a little better with our schedule.  Right now I am thinking about substitute teaching.  I have just enough college hours to qualify.  I just have to be certified and pay for a Background Check and all that stuff.  It's a process that takes a couple of weeks so we'll see.  I went to the college yesterday to get my transcript and I really want to finish my degree, I am thinking about going back to the education degree so this may be something to help me decide if that's the route I want to go or not.

I have a big week of sewing ahead of me, but here are a few things I have finished up since the last time I posted pictures.

This is a custom Messenger Purse, they aren't in the shop, but if you are interested in something like this just let me know!

An Izzy Purse

A Coupon Clutch

I better get to work...have a great day!

It's raining, it's pouring....

We haven't really had a good rain here in a long time, but it started last night and it's still raining.  We have water standing in our yard, not a lot, but enough to make it squishy and yucky out there.  I think that I am going to be spending the day with my kindle and my quilt!

I have decided that I am going to take the weekends completely off work.  I am only working 2 days a week at Macy's for now, but I think it's pretty important to have a couple days where I am not worrying about sewing so I am taking Saturday and Sunday off.  I have a couple things I want to make for gifts this year so I may try to work on those over the weekends to get some things done.  Pink Punk Boutique has been super slow this week as far as sales go.  I have had a 15% off code up all week and only sold one thing!  I think it's the first time that has happened.  I will say this, if you are thinking about ordering gifts for Christmas, now is the time to do it.  Since my sales have dropped off the past week or so it means I am not as far out with my orders.  I haven't decided when I am going to close up shop for the holidays, but I think it will be the end of November at the latest.  I am not doing the craft show this year since it was kinds of a bust last year.  Actually, I still have a couple of the checkbook wallets left from that!  Remember that every order over $100 ships for free too!

Here are a couple things I have finished this week....A Hanna Diaper Bag, Coupon Clutch, DSLR 2.0 and an Ella DSLR Mini.

I actually have a couple more things that go with the cupcake bag that I didn't get a picture of yet and the Ella had a matching Camera Strap.

The new seasons of all my shows are starting along with some new shows, but I think I will post some about those next week!  For now, I am going to grab my Kindle and try to finish the book I have been reading....Have a great weekend!

I don't know about that...**RESCUE ME SPOILERS** Don't read this if you haven't seen it yet!

So I watched the Series Finale of Rescue Me today and I just don't know about that ending or the beginning for that matter.  I was all braced for a tear jerking finale where all the guys or most of them died in that explosion and the opening scene surely set that up.  Then we find out it was all a dream and Kenny was the only one that died.  Let's just say that the little clip I posted yesterday had some VERY deceiving scenes, scenes that were obviously taken from other episodes during the series.  They were just snippets, but they all pointed to Tommy being one of the ones who died.  So anyway, that's another show that is now over.  I have to say that these last 2 seasons were pretty much it for me anyway.  It started out so good, but just started dragging there the last couple years. Needless to say, I'm not sad that it's over.

I worked again this morning, this time in girls 7-16 and setting an Aromatique Christmas display.  My sinuses were not thanking me after working with that for about 30 minutes!  They have 2 Christmas scents, one is a tree scent and the other is more of a cinnamony scent.  I don't usually do potpourri, but these are the ones with the big pine cones and things in them, they are really pretty!  I am sure Jasper would be trying to eat it or something, but I may have to get some closer to Christmas...or maybe just to give as gifts!

I actually came home today and went back to bed for a couple hours so I won't be dead tired by the time 6pm rolls around!  Tonight the kids school is doing a reading time thing for Grandparents day so Janet and Lee are coming by to take the boys to that in a little bit.  I haven't done any sewing today so I guess I need to wrap this up so I can start getting something cut out.  Here is what I have finished up since I posted pictures the last time.

A fun and funky Coupon Clutch for Jaime

 A Mini Messenger Bag and an Insulated Lunch Bag

I am cutting out a Kidlet tote, Nook Sleeve and an Ella today...we'll see how far I get!

Oh, don't forget that the contest is ending tonight at midnight CST...read about it here and see how many entries you can get before it ends!!

Now...I can't get enough of this song and I think you need to get it stuck in your head too!!

Have a great evening!!

I am SO tired!!

I started my job this morning at the crack of dawn...actually it was still dark when I got there!  I set my alarm for 4:45am, I don't remember ever getting up this early.  I did work at Wendy's WAY back in 1990ish when they still had breakfast and I am sure I had to get up this early then, because I was the one who made the biscuits so I had to be there pretty early.  Anywho...I am used to going to bed at around 11:30 and then getting up at 7 to get the kids to school, so I am really only losing about 30 minutes of sleep if I go to bed at 10pm.

I got there and I ended up working in the infants/kids section and I think I will be there for at least the rest of this week.  Basically, I am just putting the new stuff out on the racks and making sure that they are grouped according to size and that the prices are right.  I worked for 4 hours and really it went by pretty fast.  I work tomorrow and then on Friday, but next week I am only scheduled for Wednesday and Friday so far.  It looks like it may only be around 12 hours a week until more stock starts coming in for the holidays then it may be more hours.  At this point I am fine with it because it allows me to keep doing the Pink Punk Boutique thing without cutting into my time too much.

Basically what it's cutting into is my reading time!  I usually go to bed at 9:30 and I will read until 11:30, then when I get up and get the kids to school I will read while I have my coffee.  Some mornings that turns into several hours!  I do love my reading time, but I will still have a couple days a week to do that.  I am behind on my Goodreads Challenge.  I didn't read much over the summer with the kids at home, but I have read quite a bit the past few weeks and I am almost caught back up.

I am so tired right now I am trying to keep busy with laundry and blogging so I don't fall asleep!  I tried to read, but I kept nodding off so I had to get up and move around.  I am waiting for the kids to go to bed so I can finish the last 2 episodes of Lost Girl Season 1, then I can watch last nights new Sons of Anarchy.  I tried to get Jake to stay home tonight so we could watch the Series Finale of Rescue Me.  It's going to be a tear jerker I have a feeling.  Just the commercial with that Adele song makes me want to cry :(

I guess I will have to wait until tomorrow to watch it while we have lunch...that's when we have to watch our shows if we don't want to wait until the weekend.  I am glad that most of my shows are ones that he doesn't watch otherwise we would never get caught up with TV!

Well I guess I can go busy myself finding something for dinner...only 4 more hours to stay awake!  I don't think I will have any trouble going to sleep tonight!

Working...

So I am officially a working woman again!  Outside the home that is, I always work at home!  I got the job and I went in to do my paperwork and computer based training yesterday.  Since it was a holiday the manager wasn't there so once he comes back and gets me on the schedule I will actually be working.  Right now I have no idea when that will be, I just have to wait for them to call me.  I do have an employee number, though and coupons to use towards my work clothes and an employee discount so I am ready!  I need to make a trip in to find some good shoes though.  They are supposed to be all black, all my tennis shoes have pink on them!  I need to find something comfortable for standing/walking around all day in so that may be a challenge.  I bought some shirts at Kohls the other day, but I still need to buy pants so I guess I should do that too...  Dress code is black polo style shirts and either black or khaki/tan pants. I did get a couple pairs of capris, but I need to see if they are okay to wear, if not I am going to return them...I don't see myself wearing khaki capris outside of a work setting.  I am not looking forward to getting up before 5am to go to work, but I will get used to it and the money will be nice!

In Pink Punk News, there are only a couple more days left to get your name entered in the contest so do that while you can!  I am trying to get as caught up as I can before I start working.  Here are a couple things I have finished up recently.

A couple of Junior Messenger Bags

 A Phone pouch and Makeup Brush Roll

 A DSLR 2.0 Bag and Accessories

 A Kindle Sleeve

 A Harper Messenger Purse

Well, the kids went back to school today and Jake is working with his dad this morning so it's quiet here...I am going to see how much I can get done around here today!  Have a great day and if you watch Sons of Anarchy be sure to set your DVR for the new season that starts tonight!

Well, things are changing around here!

I think it will be for the better.  Jake thinks so anyway!  I have been looking, not seriously mind you, for a job the past few weeks.  Actually it's hasn't even been that long.   Last Tuesday after Bailey got her braces on we were at the mall because I needed fleece and that's where our new Joann's is.  I wanted to go into Macy's to look around and I saw that they were hiring so I picked up the little card with the job description on it and a web address to apply online.  What could be easier?  Applying for jobs online is always so much easier than going in and hand filling out an application.  So, where I remembered on Thursday morning I applied for the 2 openings that they had there, ventured over to Target.com and filled out an application there and then one at Walgreens.com.  The next day I got an email from Macy's saying that I didn't meet the qualifications of what they were looking for or whatever and so I just figured, oh well at least I tried.  Then about an hour later I got another email to go online to schedule an interview time.  Apparently I was qualified for one of the 2 positions that I applied for.  So, long story shorter, I went in for my interview this morning and he offered me the job provided that my background check comes back okay!  I haven't had so much as a ticket since 1993 so I don't think that I will have any problems.  It's for a receiving/merchandising position and it's perfect since the hours are 6am-2pm.  Jake will have to get up and get the kids off to school, but I will be home before they are every day so that's a plus.

So, what does this mean for Pink Punk Boutique?  I am not sure right now.  For the time being I am going to continue to take orders and see how it goes.  If you are a regular customer you will notice that I have done some major house cleaning in the store.  I took out a lot of stuff, mostly things that aren't big sellers, but I did take out all the add-ons like the logo embroidery, appliques, etc....  Since I have to take the embroidery out to be done, I just don't know how much time I will have once I start working so I am not going to offer that at all now.  I am going to see how many hours I will be working and go from there.  I will say this though, I will probably be limiting the number of orders I take, especially as we get closer to the holidays and I will shut my store down for a couple weeks again like I did last year.  So, if you are thinking of giving the gift of Pink Punk Boutique this year you need to start thinking about what you want and start getting your orders in right away.

Here are a couple things I have finished up in the past little bit.

A couple of Coupon Clutches

A double sided photo prop quilt

 An Izzy Purse and matching accessories

 A Laptop Messenger Bag, Laptop Sleeve and accessories

I have also been doing some couponing but not extreme in the least!  I have been saving at least 25% on my groceries which for me is a win.  I am saving more on non food items though and slowly building up some stock in HBA items and cleaning supplies.  Here is a shot of some of the free stuff I got last week while shopping.  All were free with coupons.

 
I have also been doing a lot of freebie signups on the internet and TONS on Facebook.  It's amazing the stuff you can get for free online by just filling out a simple form!  I started filling them out about 5 weeks ago and I am just now starting to see them in my mailbox.  Here is what I have gotten in the past week...A couple of samples, but I also got a full size Duck Brand Packing Tape with the pink and black zebra print and a BIC Atlantis pen.

Well, I have to get these kids off to bed so I can watch some more Lost Girl Season 1 while I wait for Season 2 to start on Sunday!   Have a great evening!