Labor of Love

I've been a stay.at.home mom all my married life.

{so that's been what? a decade...or 2}  

That's not to say I haven't worked, I just haven't gotten a formal pay check for anything I've done - I've only been paid in smiles & hugs.  So I have no professional references, but I'm flush in volunteer positions!

As a family we finally hit critical mass.  Three kids with 3 tuitions {and sports & activities and assorted wants & needs}, 3 cars {but 2 I'd call Fred Flinstone cars both on about their 10th life},  a mortgage etc etc.  All on 1 pay check.  In addition to being Handy, Hubby's been a great provider but I'm sure you see where I'm heading.  Momma finally had to get a paying job.

I had concerns.  Daughter A is a senior and I would be heartbroken if I missed out on any of her stuff this year.  My SAHM status had allowed me to be at their beck and call.  I've cooked all of their meals.  I've packed their lunches.  I've done almost all of their laundry...

Hmmmmm...

Maybe a little time out of the house would be a good thing...

I happened to see a want ad for seasonal help at a warehouse nearby.  I filled out an application on-line.  They accepted volunteer references if you didn't have professional references {were SAHM's a target demographic?}.  And best of all they were hiring on the spot.

I feel like I've been training for this position all of my SAHM life!!

When I arrived I waited in line at the door.

{like I've done in school pick-up lines, at Disney, Black Friday}

They had me do a Skills Test to see if I could pay attention to fine detail.

{my kids don't call me Eagle Eyes for nothin' - I.SEE.ALL}

Many of the stations required some computer aptitude.

{I'm gonna say my limited stint blogging has helped me learn to navigate a computer : )}

I had to participate in a drug screening.

{it turned out to be a mouth swab - thank goodness! cuz I was a little uptight about the possibility of having someone watching me produce a urine sample.  I won't even let my kids do that any more...so whew!}

I had to agree to the possibility of being on my feet for 10 hr shifts.

{Umm contrary to popular belief, being a SAHM is not about kickin' up your feet & eating bon-bons.  It's an endurance test - am I right?!  fine, I will admit I don't write any posts standing up}

And I had to agree to some regular lifting.

{Ok well, I figure 20 lbs is like a small child who begs to be picked up all day long!  & I feel like I go to the grocery about every day. I think I'm good there.}

I'm pretty sure I've been placed in the packing department.

{Now if 22 years of successfully packing Christmas ornaments away doesn't qualify me for this job then I'm hopeless!!}

I was told I had to wear my hair in a pony tail or a bun.

{Are you kidding me? No wasted time on personal grooming in the morning?  Would it be too forward if I say 'I love you'?}

& I was told to wear comfortable clothing.

{Well, I've got the perfect mom-jeans for the job, man!}

See?!  This job was meant for me!!

Smiles & hugs are da bomb! But nothing says 'thanks for your help' like a paycheck : )

Of course, every work day when that alarm goes off at 4am, I'll have to chant to myself

I love my family!

I love my family!!

I love my family!!!

*ps I may be a little slower getting around to commenting that I used to - please forgive!*

Blessings!

In the Know

Handy Hubby : )'s birthday was at the end of November.  He is the 3rd of 9 kids.  To date, there are 31 grandkids on his side of the family! Over the years we have made several variations of the family tree for his parents.

This year I made one for Handy Hubby : ).

To the untrained eye, this may just look like a number chart...

but for those in the KNOW, it's actually sorta kinda a family tree!

A little back story for you - When my in-laws moved into their current house, they found boxes of antique printing press numbers and letters in the attic.  They are really cool but no one knew what to do with them.  One SIL sorted the pieces by size into 3 different boxes.  She took a few letters and spelled out 'cookies' & 'yummy' in her kitchen.  One day when we were over to help clean out the garage, my MIL asked if we'd like the rest of them.  

Mmmm, Yes!! Please!!

I sorted them again.  So, now I have ziploc bags of each number and letter.  Perhaps I was inspired by all of the subway art and Pottery Barn knock-offs for my creation.  

The secret to this display is that each of the numbers, of course, represents each of the siblings in HH's family.  For each number, the groupings are made up of the number of kids in each person's family.  Get it?!! 

It's subtle, for sure.  

But that's what I like about it - it's not in.your.face!

And there's even room to grow if absolutely necessary {NOT the 3's, however... that oven is no longer in service : )}

Here's my favorite little grouping

{I know these look like e's but when they're stamped they are 9's}

Sib #9 has 4 kids.  The oldest are a set of twins.  I love their little pyramid : ) teehe

I got a cut of discount gold silk-like fabric from Hobby Lobby.  And I got a simple black frame with a coupon.  Together they make up a black & gold background representing Purdue {where HH & I met}.  The gold also happens to be the color in our basement where this will most likely hang.

I used Gorilla Glue to adhere everything together.  It was the first time I'd ever used the stuff.  It's interesting.  It certainly is strong glue but I'm not sure I like all the expanding it does...

So when you stop by next and see this frame hanging up, YOU are now one of the people 

In the Know!! : ) 

Blessings!

You might find me partying at some of these places *HERE*

Jumping for Joy!

So waaaay back at the beginning of September I won one of my first blog giveaways.  

Oh! it was such an exciting morning to sit down at the computer with my morning cup of coffee, open my email and find out that I had won a $55 gift certificate to CSN from Maryann @ Domestically Speaking!  (If you aren't familiar with her, you've gotta check out her blog - seriously!)

Before I had even had my caffeine fix {a morning person I am NOT} I was able to magically jump up to do a happy dance - and I'm talkin' booty shakin', head swingin', lower lip bitin', fist pumpin' excitement!!  Woo Hoo! 

I had never shopped at CSN before but was thrilled to explore the site.  {Have you ever looked at their site?  It's overwhelming because there is SO much to look at!}  And after MUCH agonizing & spending the GC 100 different ways I finally decided on some Le Creuset cookware : )

Ja wanna know what I just ordered?

 

Le Creuset 12" x 9.5" Rectangular Dish in Black Onyx

Le Creuset Stoneware 10.5" x 7" Baking Dish in Cobalt with FREE 7" x 5" Bonus Dish

Oops! I loaded the wrong color duet *pictured is Caribbean but I ordered Cobalt*

I wish I could say I'm getting these for myself... remember those 100 different ways I spent the GC?  Well, approximately 98 of those ways were for me, myself & I!  But truth be told, we're stretching our budget every which way we can right now.

So the cookware will be wrapped and sent to 2 very good homes where they will be used and loved by the chefs of the house!

Who knows, maybe one day I'll be served something in those little cuties : P
Again, gifting with ulterior motives - hehe

So, Thank You Maryann & CSN for giving me the opportunity to play Santa!!

 

Blessings!