Goodbye Readers!

To my few readers...
THANK YOU for reading.
I have written every single month since I started my blog until now.  I blogged when having babies, when traveling, when moving.  For the past few months, I have felt as though this blog has come to an end. 

I still really enjoy reading blogs, so why end mine?

1.  Privacy--I got really scared a few months back when we had friends in the military that were advised to scrub their online presence.  There was a real threat that they had been made aware of, and for the safety of their families, they were advised to minimize online info.

2.  Living in the MOMENT-- I wrote about this last post... I wanted to start experiencing life's moments fully, without looking for photo ops.  I wanted to remove that piece and really dig in, without having to be accountable to the photos.  (It has made a difference, I can tell you that!)

3.  My Business-- As you know, I have been working on opening my own business.  The business is called Craft Haven Workshops, and it provides seasonal, private, and pop-up Crafty Workshops in the Lansing area.  I haven't officially launched yet, though all the back end work is complete.  I wanted to transition all of my tutorials to this new upcoming website.  Once fully launched, I will post a link here.

Again, thank you so much for reading over the past ten years.  I will not take the site down, in the case that things change in the future.  I am very grateful for you all, and if you want to leave your blog in the comments, I look forward to reading about your adventures.

Warmly,
Cat

**Update:  CHW (Craft Haven Workshops is on hold for a longggg time.  When your youngest stares up at you and says "Mama?  When will you stop being busy?", it changes your life.  For now, you will find me at home, supporting her, and supporting other crafty people and businesses.)

The Quiet of Fall

This is the first time since I started my blog that I have skipped an entire month of writing.  Where was I?  Living life for real, not online.

I love blogs, so I am not shunning online life... I love it, in fact.  I love the inspiration and the companionship that I get from reading other people's experiences.  A few of my favorites are www.soulemama.com, http://www.abeautifulmess.com/,http://www.stonegableblog.com.  But I could feel that this is a time to delve in deeply to what is going on in my house.  Snuggle in.  Cozy up.  And I wanted to experience things for what they were,  and not be accountable to reporting it all online.

I'm slightly back, but feeling a bit more introspective.  One of the things I have realized:  I love my job.  (My job, in case you don't know, is being a stay at home mom, a domestic engineer, CEO of Casa de Schwartz, etc etc etc.)

I remember nannying one summer thinking "This job kind of sucks.  I could never stay home.  You never get a break from the kids, and there isn't anyone to talk to!"  But fast forward 20 years later, and I am treasuring this gift.

By the way, this isn't a post about mommy wars, and about work v home baloney... This is just how I feel about my situation, and a deep realization of what I want out of my life.  When you realize internally you have what you want (even if you do complain about it occasionally), there is great peace in that.  It also make decisions about the future easier:)

Thank you to all those who visit my blog.  I am grateful for you as well.

Mesothelioma

A few weeks back, a woman contacted me wanting to do a collaboration.  I glanced through the email, thought it was for a good cause, and quickly said yes without fully researching and reading about what she had to say.

I had heard the term Mesothelioma, but I didn't really know what it was.  And when I had a spare moment weeks later, I learned what it was AND what an amazing woman this was, that had contacted me.

So first:  What is it?
Mesothelioma (or, more precisely, malignant mesothelioma) is a rare form of cancer that develops from cells of the mesothelium, the protective lining that covers many of the internal organs of the body. Mesothelioma is most commonly caused by exposure to asbestos.

This is Heather.  She is a bad ass.  (Sorry for the swearing, but there is no other word for it.)

This post was originally to bring awareness to mesothelioma, but instead turned into one about a woman who can inspire us all with her attitude, resilience, and ability to be grateful. 

Friday Kid Happy Hour

When this showed up at my door, it made my day.  

I have been waiting for this since we moved from Bath 4 years ago.  One of the kids yelled "Kid Party!" when I opened the door, Friday after school.  It wasn't scheduled, they just came down to hang out.  The kids played, ran around, laughed, there may have been some nerf guns involved... 

Then they all sat down for dinner/snacks before everyone had to go home.  I love how they all play together, regardless of age or gender.

I love my neighborhood.

Back to School 2015

I always try to make the first morning before school starts special for the kiddos.

I decorate, I leave them a little present, and make them something special to eat.  Tate decided he wanted FOUR eggs.  

He ate them all.  

She was very excited!  It was very hot in the school, so I put the least amount of clothing as possible on her.  Day 2 cooled down, so the kids were much more comfortable.  

On the Friday after the first week, Soleil was exhausted.  She could barely stay awake!

We live on the campus of a Big 10 university.  This means that every Saturday morning in the fall, we are "indoor tailgating".   Football is on all day, and meals are snacks enjoyed throughout the day.  When there is a home game, we usually wander around through the other tailgaters in our neighborhood.  Parking and driving is awful, but if you are on foot, it is really fun.  

Tate with random kids, climbing the statue on campus.

And finally...

Soleil's Glitter Acorns

I should.

I recently had a conversation with a good friend of mine about the need to take a break.

Let's back up.
I remember when I used to say I needed a break when I was younger (20s). Back then,  the reality was, that I slept in until late on the weekends, binge watched hours of Real World (and whatever else was on Mtv), and rarely cooked for myself.  I had a lot of time.

Now in my 40s, with a husband and 2 kids, I need a freaking break.
But I don't make an effort to take one when I need one.

Aren't we all better when we have taken care of ourselves?  

Who is the invisible person MAKING us keep going?

Are we creating "busy"?

Ok, yes.  I have to feed my kids and watch them.  And I like a clean house.   However, just like anything that is important, you have to make time for these restorative breaks.  I was practicing piano last week, on the only day I CHOSE to take the time.  And it felt like a gift.  It was a reminder to make that time for me, to remember who I am, to center.

The things that I like to do to feel rejuvenated are these:
-get on pinterest
-make a craft, scrapbook. sew, etc etc etc
-have a cup of joe, declare "Mommy's having her coffee!  Please give me 20 minutes to finish my cup of coffee!"  (And the kids KNOW.)
-update my planner (with stickers and washi and pens)
-play a Bigfish game on my computer
-read
-read a magazine
-listen to music

I'd love to hear what you do.  I want to hear as a reminder to yourself to take that break, and a reminder to myself to do the same.

Vacation Vacation Vacation

We have been gone off and on for the entire month of July.  It has been fun, but oh-so-busy!
I have finally figured out why the whole "Michigan Up North" thing is a thing.  To be honest, I didn't get it when I went to Lake Michigan.  It was cold.  There were a ton of rocks.  I had just moved from Virginia Beach/Norfolk, so "the beach" there was much better.

But a week later, we met up with Paul's brother and went to Houghton Lake in the middle of Michigan at a cabin.  It was gorgeous.  The water was lovely, and we slept in a room on the second with a deck overlooking the lake.  (We left the sliding door open all night and fell asleep to the sound of waves!)  And no sharks to watch out for.   We didn't have time for a bonfire, but I could envision it.  The evening was cool and relaxing, and the sunset was gorgeous.

A week later, we headed up to Mackinac Island.  Again, it was so nice to be near the water, and though I am usually not into history, I loved learning about the past having to do with this place.  I started reading a Teen Fiction book set in the area and back around the war of 1812, and I couldn't put it down.  (There are three books in the series and #2 is set in London!)

Now we are home.  And I cancelled all events.  No camps, no playdates, nothing scheduled.  

The kids and I really needed it, and we are enjoying our last bit of freedom before the school year starts.  Today we went on a long walk, going where the wind took us.  (That turned out to be a convenience store for treats, and then on to their school to check out the new playground equipment, stopping by a neighbors on the way home.)  We collected acorns for a project and picked up sticks along the way, like an old school summer.  By evening here in Mid-Michigan, the winds have turned cool, and we can feel fall right around the corner.  I even had to pull out my very cozy, pink fuzzy bathrobe, which I thought I wouldn't need for at least another month.  Enjoy the end of summer, folks.