Rockin Around

I bought Alex a rock polisher for his birthday. (really it was for me, but that's beside the point) We just finished polishing our second batch of prized Agates from the North Shore of Lake Superior. It's so exciting to take dull and rough rocks and see how they turn into sparkling gems in just a month.
This time I actually remembered to do a before & after photo.

So here is the Before:

And the after: Ooooh Aaaaaah so shiny!

It was definitely worth the wait!

Another addiction...

Earlier I posted about my sock addiction. Today I am posting about my thrift store addiction. Yes I love to go to thrift stores and get a great deal! Lately I have been buying some antiques, but mostly picture frames. Then I bring them home and spray paint them and resell them on ebay or etsy.
Even as a kid I was always an entrepreneur. I sold lemonade, pop, and yes...painted rocks. (Thank you nice neighbor Ron K. for buying all those rocks, you earned your place in heaven :)

Check out my work:

These two sets are actually on ebay right now. But I have PLENTY more in my garage. Just ask Ben...we haven't been able to park either vehicle in our garage for about a week. Sorry honey! :)

Success! (or failure??)

I am not sure which way to label what just happened...Success or failure???
Here is how it went down: I am in the garage painting some picture frames and I glance out of the door and see Alex in the backyard hiding behind a tree but he keeps looking in my direction to see if I am watching. I decided to hide so he was thinking that I wasn't looking and then peek out. So I see him with his pants down going toward the house and he says he needs some wipes. I thought maybe he just peed on himself. He comes back out of the house and runs to the garage and tells me "Mom I just pooped outside, and not in my pants!"

So do I consider this a success because he didn't poop in his pants or a pull-up? And he is getting the idea and the feeling of having his pants down and going? I have explained that only dogs go outside and he needs to use the potty chair or the toilet. But I did say that I was proud of him for doing it....

It's working!

I am happy to report that my plan for pooping is working for Alex. I have not had to wash underwear since we instated this plan. I feel like that is a HUGE step in the right direction. I even got him to sit on the toilet last night (naked!) after he had gone in his pull-up to see if he had to go anymore. Now the next step is getting him used to sitting and pooping. We'll see how that goes!

In other news about things that are working: Due to my giving up random snacking, keeping a food journal with the app on my phone and joining the YMCA... I am happy to report that I have lost 5.6 pounds since Feb 15th. My goal is to get back down close to my pre-Alex weight. Hopefully by summer! Woo Hoo!

A New Tatic

It has been forever since I posted. Sorry!
For those of you without kids, you may want to stop reading this post now....it's gonna be about poop!



Ok don't say I didn't warn you......Poop.
Alex is still refusing to poop in the potty chair or toilet, only in his underwear. I feel like we have tried everything....rewards, watching how we go, charts, stickers, bribery, punishment, videos, incentives, talking, yelling, ignoring, trying to force him, pleading, begging...and nothing has worked.

I have been reading post from other parents and I am going to try another tactic...
I talked to him last night...here is how the conversation went:

Me: Alex I am really getting tired of cleaning poop out of your underwear everyday. It's gross.

Alex: blank stare

Me: How about this...when you feel like you need to poop, instead of going in your underwear, how about you ask for a pull-up and you can poop in that instead.

Alex: Okay Mommy.

Me: does that sound good?

Alex: yeah

Like so many other conversations, I figured that this went in one ear and out the other. BUT to my surprise he ran to me this morning and said "Mommy I need to poop can you put a pull-up on me?"
 I was in shock! He actually listened!

So here is my master plan for the next month or so....
Step 1: get him to stop pooping in his underwear, instead in a pull-up
Step 2: have him sit on the potty chair while wearing the pull-up and poop
Step 3: have him sit on the potty chair while wearing the pull-up and undo the tabs while he is sitting
Step 4: line the potty chair with the pull-up and have him sit down on it and poop into it
Step 5: Remove the pull up and have him just sit on the potty chair! Ta Da!

So hypothetically that's how it will go. Fingers crossed!!

Creative juices are flowing

Aaaannnnnnnnd I'm back. Had a great trip with my hubby to Miami and Key West. It was great to have a break from real life.
I am back in my craft room again :) Getting things ready to take to Meshed Designs (a store in Buffalo, see previous post) and posting things on my etsy site.
I really need it to warm up outside becasuse I have a bunch of things that need to be spray-painted and I am guessing that the paint won't work when it's only 15 degrees out!
I have been doing a bit of sewing tonight. I made a rainbow zipper bag, a pirate b-day banner, finished a jewelry frame and a chalkboard. whew!
Wow this post is kinda random, but that's how my brain works. As Ben says "Your curls go straight to your brain" Yep they do.
Back to crafting...see ya!

Exciting Opportunity

I am going to be selling some of my crafts in a new Gift store in Buffalo, MN. It is called Meshed Designs and it was started by a group I belong to on Etsy called Minnesota Mommies. The store opens in Feb, but I won't be selling until March. I have a lot of crafting to do before then so I have enough products to bring to the store.
Click here for the store info.

I have been working mostly on my Felt Banners:  Happy Birthday, It's a Boy, It's a girl, Welcome Baby, Just Married, Howdy, etc. But I also am making chalk boards, earring holders and party bowl clips.
Samples of these items can been seen on my Etsy Store. And as always I love custom orders!

I am very excited and hope to actually make some money!