Gumballs + Plastic Bags + Ribbon + A super cool tool = A happy 9 year old.

What do you do when it's 10:30 in the evening, you've done more pre-algebra than you ever remember doing and you suddenly realize you have totally forgotten that tomorrow your middle child is celebrating his birthday with his 3rd grade class? Panic? Heavens no.

Well, yes you do actually. Then you consider hopping in the car heading to Wal-mart and buying "the crappiest crap in crap town" to fill little bags only for the parents of all those 3rd graders to moan......"uuuggghhh, another birthday?"

Thankfully, Mr. Handsome has a handsome and creative head on his big, strong, handsome shoulders. He calmly reminded me that I bought 2000 green gumballs, just because they were pretty, for our Halloween Open House table. (As I type that sentence, I question my own judgement, but color has a strange power over me.)

So, I pulled out one of my favorite tools, The Super-Sealer and got to work. Within 15 minutes, each child had a small, sealed bag of 6 gorgeous green gumballs (say that 10 times fast) tied with brilliant blue ribbon. I was able to hit my 11 o'clock curfew and the middle child was spared, once again, the life of a middle child.

I love that Super-Sealer so much I could marry it, oh wait, I already have Mr. Handsome.

"Mom, you need to stop looking down so much."

You know, Ladycakes is right. But if I hadn't been looking down, I wouldn't be six cents richer. Why is it so satisfying to find a nickel and a penny in the grocery store parking lot? I wish I had started keeping track of how much money I have found in my lifetime. Every little penny, nickel and dime...you know they really add up. Maybe I'll try to start a list for each of my kids. It would be a fun experiment. Speaking of found money, have you ever been to www.wheresgeorge.com? It's a place where you can track money and see how far it's traveled.

Ladycakes received a one dollar bill at her last craft show with the website scribbled on it. We decided to look it up and found that the dollar had traveled all the way from New Jersey, over 1,900 miles. Now we can watch that little dollar and see where it ends up. You know because I don't have enough to keep track of!

And to help Ladycakes, Q and Elvis have a better understanding of money and since it is that season, we are reading a wonderful book. It is called The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall. We just started it but we're hooked. One of my book club moms suggested we do a mom and kid book this month and I am loving this idea. I'll let you know how it turns out.

See what happens when you learn to edit Html....scary.

I can't stop laughing! Seriously, I CANNOT stop laughing.

Keep it low, I don't want my hot glue gun to hear this...

I am a huge fan of rubber cement. Always have been. I recall being little and painting it all over my hands just so it would dry and I could peel it off. Oh wait, that was what I was doing yesterday instead of cleaning the master bathroom. It really is an exceptional product and is working great for these little numbers I have been playing around with.

What do you think? Do you like them? They are Moleskine notebooks that I have been doing a little summin' summin' to.... with the help of my handy-dandy (nope, not going say notebook here) rubber cement, sewing machine and a tiny bit of hot glue. I don't want my hot glue gun to pack it's bags and move out on me. The paper, felt, foam, button and trim combo is very fun to work with and combining the textures gives these lots of interest. I also get a huge kick out of sewing on paper. I love the sound the needle makes with each stitch and I love the results. If you are nice, you might get one of these fellers for Christmas.

Did that lady just call me Grandma?

Oh NO she didn't! Oh YES she did! Now mind you, I've been dealing with 2 weeks worth of sick children. At least 10 nights of interrupted sleep, meaning a body other than Mr. Handsome's is lying next to me in my very comfy bed. And, a lack of any sort of make-up application today. Which isn't that unusual. It's kind of how I roll. This is how it went down folks. Careful, it's not pretty.

One of the ladies who works at Elvis' preschool asked if I was there to pick up a different child.

lady: "Are you here for Lucy?"

me: "Nope, I'm here for Elvis."

lady: "Oh, my mistake, Lucy looks just like you, with big brown eyes and a round face."

(That's a whole other slap in my big, round, chinless face!)

me: "Which one is Lucy?"

lady, pointing to a darling little girl, who's maybe 2: "She's this one."

me: "She is a cutie, that's for sure."

lady: "Yes, can't you see why I thought you must be Lucy's grandma."

me: "WTF!"

Okay I didn't get into expletives right there at the preschool. I also didn't start to cry. However, I am rethinking the "oh so stylish" salt and pepper hair I've got going. Obviously, the lack of make-up may need to be re-thought as well. But really "Grandma?" Holy cow. Needless to say, this Grandma decided to come home and pour herself a big fat Grandma cocktail. What do old ladies drink, bartender? Well, make mine a double!

Add this to my Life Soundtrack.

You should get some too.

Look, look, look. Look what I got! As promised, here they are. The cutest frames in the WORLD! These are the two Ladycakes and I just had to have. I must admit however, it was a very difficult decision. The gals make frames to please any color palette, 3 different sizes and SO many options. It's crazy cool. I think these would make great gifts for teachers or grandparents, wives or sisters. And, imagine if you had this talented gal take pictures for you to put in these here frames.

Do you have anymore money you would like me to spend? I'll do it, I really will.

Last little comment on the Jewish Arts Festival and then I am movin' on. I met a really interesting woman from Missouri. Her name is Batya Rich. She is kind, inspiring and extremely talented. Her glass mezuzahs are breathtaking. While I am not Jewish, I love the idea of a mezuzah. I like to think of our house as a sacred, spiritual place where all are welcome and respected. This would be a nice little reminder for me and my family, as well as our guests. Read about her here, I think she's terrific.

A real punch in the gnards! The "g" is silent.

With 3 sick kids, dangerous road conditions and an inkling of questioning my better judgement, Ladycakes and I managed to make it to the Jewish Arts Festival in Salt Lake City yesterday. Even though she felt under the weather, Ladycakes rose to the occasion (she always does!). Next year, when I go to sign up for this thing again, remind me. It is NOT a money maker. It's fun and festive but NOT a money maker. And I'll be all "But we have all this stuff we've made and I just know people are going to buy it." And then you will yell at me, "NOT A MONEY MAKER!"

We did, however, hang out with very cool, new friends. McKenzie and Summer, our frame friends are charming. Pictures of frames to come tomorrow.
And, Alisha from Threadheads works magic with knitting needles and crochet hooks. And she's funny, I mean really funny. And you know how I feel about funny. If you can make me laugh, we are friends for life. She'll be at the Holiday Boutique here, next weekend. Look what we bought.....the buttons are from Nepal! Don't you think it gives me more of a chin? I'm sensitive about my profile but this works for me. Alisha said she might start calling them "The chinny, chin, chin!" I'm loving that!
I don't intend to take my purchases off until April. Baby, it's cold outside!