http://www.andtherestishistory.com finally, a family Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:03:10 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I've never worked in retail, so I've never really understood.  That is, until now. That stack might not seem like much to you, but it's 27 envelopes filled with anywhere from 1 to 20 sheets of address labels.  I've created the designs, listed them on Etsy, done a little free marketing, ... http://www.andtherestishistory.com/2008/11/18/is-this-what-they-mean-by-a-christmas-rush/ Ever since I joined Etsy, a whole new world of blogs has opened up to me...and some of them are not only full of beautiful photos and great information, but they also have really great people behind them.  Modish has one of those people--Jena. Aside from writing a great series ... http://www.andtherestishistory.com/2008/11/12/modish-giveaway/ It's Sunday night.  I'm done printing off and packaging labels, I have no homework that must be corrected at this very moment, the basket of laundry that's been sitting in the kitchen for almost a week has been folded and put away and the kitchen floor is freshly washed. Bliss.  Really...BLISS. And, I ... http://www.andtherestishistory.com/2008/11/09/im-happy-oh-so-happy/ On Election Day, I picked you up early and drove you straight to our polling place.  As I pulled you from  your car seat, I told you that we were going to go in and vote for our first Black president. You just looked at me and said, "More!" just ... http://www.andtherestishistory.com/2008/11/06/to-j-upon-the-2008-election/ Last week Kennedy & Friends Co. was featured on Modish, one of my favorite blogs. I'll say it simply:  the photos of the tutus that ran with the feature were simply beautiful--and since I'd been looking for the right tutus for my each of my neices this Christmas, they were ... http://www.andtherestishistory.com/2008/11/03/kennedy-friends-co-giveaway/   It just looks like it. He's really a lion.  I swear.  He's got a tail, I tell you.  Peoples were wonderful; we went on my old trick-or-treating route, which in the country is about going to only a few houses, but spending quality time at those houses.  We saw family and friends ... http://www.andtherestishistory.com/2008/11/02/year-2-i-did-not-dress-my-son-as-a-sunflower/ Friend mostly, foe this morning.  At 4:24 this morning I was sleeping.  Deeply.  The kind of sleep that was unlikely to be disturbed for another few hours, which if you knew me, you'd know was abnormal.  I'm still a farm girl at heart, unfortunately. Ring, ring. At 4:27 a.m., I was on ... http://www.andtherestishistory.com/2008/11/01/gah-caller-id-friend-or-foe/ ...finally, I can get some WORK done.  Sick, isn't it?  I actually look forward to time off just so that I can get things done on my own schedule--work things. Tomorrow, I mail a stack of orders, clean up the house, get pumpkin carving organized, invite a friend over and... hopefully, ... http://www.andtherestishistory.com/2008/10/29/thank-god-the-work-week-is-over/ Somewhere between all the crazy, long weekend and nights of design, shopkeeping, packaging--and now photo-editing--there is J. It seems like he's been neglected around here, doesn't it?  Well, maybe I haven't talked much about him, but he's there, front and center, every morning and evening, and he's been developing some interesting ... http://www.andtherestishistory.com/2008/10/23/and-there-is-cute/ Are you supposed to be upset?  Angry?  Raging about the incident? I don't know--all I know is that J has been bitten, and more than anything I'm fighting feelings of uncertainty. Let me explain: there's no mark and J doesn't seem to worried about it himself, but now I find myself ... http://www.andtherestishistory.com/2008/09/24/when-your-child-is-the-bite-ee/   Important lessons learned between 6 p.m. and midnight last night: 1.  Don't slack off for a full day.  Ever.  This weekend, I had a lull in orders and by Saturday I only had three orders to print off for yesterday.  I decided to wait to print until an undefined later. So, ... http://www.andtherestishistory.com/2008/09/23/lessons-learned/ It's the end of a busy weekend, and for once, I feel GOOD about staring Monday in the face. Yes, I wish I were independently wealthy and that Monday meant I could wake up, head to my office in my jammies and dabble with some designs while sipping a Diet ... http://www.andtherestishistory.com/2008/09/21/im-ok-with-reality/ Well, actually, Bohtieque is, but that's beside the point :)  Minefull, who has a great Etsy shop that happens to carry the cutest bucket hat in the world, interviewed me and posted the results up at the the Wisconsin Street Team's blog.  It's me in all my rambling glory.   Blush. Now, ... http://www.andtherestishistory.com/2008/09/17/im-featured-at-the-wist-blog/ This is the little stinker at our private celebration:  cupcakes, pizza and leftover presents. How much better could it get for a kid? http://www.andtherestishistory.com/2008/09/09/j-at-2/ This weekend, I filled 10 orders.  10. 10, people! I'm amazed, and now I understand why everyone on Etsy was complaining about how slow it was all summer.  I haven't done one lick of marketing for about a month, and THIS is what I'm getting.  I don't know how I'll feel when ... http://www.andtherestishistory.com/2008/09/07/birthdays-bookbags-and-new-beginnings/ 1.  At work.  Monday I left at 6 a.m. to take J to Grandma and Grandpa's and didn't get home until after a yearbook "party"--that was after 9 p.m. when you take into account the time I spent lugging the garbage to the end of the driveway.  The rest of the week ... http://www.andtherestishistory.com/2008/08/28/and-where-have-i-been/ This is what...my third or fourth yearly post about the beginning of school?  Every year at about this time I begin wondering how I used to do it all those other years--of course, all those other years, I did do it, I just don't remember. It doesn't help that I've also ... http://www.andtherestishistory.com/2008/08/21/its-starting-all-over-again/ J's sitter is a fellow shutterbug and taught my child to say "Cheese!" whenever he sees a camera nearby. Since I'm a photographer who likes the no cheese variety child, I was just a teeny bit unnerved to learn his new trick this spring. Until now.  This is one of the ... http://www.andtherestishistory.com/2008/08/10/best-shot-monday-cheese/ [gallery] Wait for the page to load, then click on the thumbnail to view the whole picture! Stacy's theme at The Land of K.A. this Thursday is eyes, and since I find it difficult to follow the rules, you'll have to listen a bit while I try to explain how I explain ... http://www.andtherestishistory.com/2008/08/06/watch-out-for-the-eyes/ Between indepth phone conversations (as indepth as you can be with children on each end giggling, then shrieking); forays out into the wide, wild yard to push the grinning toddler on the swing and, later, wash dog poo off his bare feet; and a less-than-calm dinner featuring half-masticated chicken nuggets ... http://www.andtherestishistory.com/2008/08/04/post-office-i-love-you-post-office-i-hate-you/