Cherub*Kisses Boutique

Before I was a Mom

2009-05-07T11:05:00.004-04:00

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on..
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.!
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom .

Ever year I read this ... I think it means more to me :D
I definitely cry more than the year before LoL!!
Happy Mother's Day to the Bestest Mommies I know!!
♥♥♥♥♥

What Brings You The Brightest Smile...

2009-04-07T13:23:00.005-04:00

Psalm 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord Some days are tougher than others, I will admit that! This past Winter in particular for one reason or another. So, smiling as I was walked out the door while taking the twins to school this morning {in spite of the drifting snow flakes coming our way} was indeed a much needed emotion. Oh and quite unexpected!! From I what heard of Dr. Laura Schlessinger coming from the t.v., I liked!! In fact, I nearly made the twins late to listen to every second of her segment on The Today Show. Stay at home moms are to be praised!! I needed this pick-me up today. So many discussions as of late on motherhood & marriage.
After the loss of one woman's son. She sent the following email to Dr. Schlessinger:

“Dr. Laura, there is only one thing I can say. I am so grateful for those moments I had with my son. Those moments, the good as well as the crazy ones, I will forever hold close to my heart. All those precious years I spent with my son now are what help me get through the day.“So please, Dr. Laura, never stop preaching to all the young moms who feel they can’t handle it, are struggling with making it through the day, for believe they ‘need’ to work instead of being with their child, just how much it might someday mean to them to have spent those precious ‘moments’ with their children. Hopefully other moms can just take my word for it: don’t let anyone or anything prevent you from holding them, hugging them, playing with them, memorizing their smile, their laughter, their heart.

“Our children are such special gifts that should never be taken for granted and life is so unpredictable, we never know if today we will breathe our last breath.” — Lisa

Whoohoo!! Gettin' there...

2009-03-18T15:36:00.003-04:00

Springtime on the horizon!! I'm so happy you don't even know.
Then again, I'm sure most do ;o)
I'm doing my best to give way to fresh spaces & came across this poem from years ago not sure where I got it ... so I'm sorry I can't give credit to the author...

A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future... but a woman of strength realizes life's mistakes can also be a blessing and capitalizes on them...

A strong woman walks sure-footedly... but a woman of strength knows God will catch her when she falls...

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face...but a woman of strength wears grace...

A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape... but a woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape and works out...

A strong woman isn't afraid of anything... but a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear...

A strong woman won't let anyone get the best of her... but a woman of strength gives the best of her to everyone...

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey... but a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong...

It's a Beautiful Day ♥

2009-03-06T08:59:00.005-05:00

I say good riddance flu bugs & whatever else nasty you wanna throw our way LoL!! Whewee!!
Happy to say everyone is feeling good & we're ready to celebrate!! Since the arrival of "the bug" I've missed my babies birthdays and all the hoopla that comes along with... and Ty is home for oh! about 24 hrs before he heads to Panama Beach for the start of his own b'day celebrating and Spring Break.
... as for me I'm headed into the kitchen to bake up some yummy goodness!! I'm glad the boys look forward to my lopsided b'day cakes LoL!!

"We still love your cake Mom" & "I love you boys!!"

I <3 this blog!!

2009-01-16T13:34:00.006-05:00

Oh my goodness! Taking a super quick break before heading to pick up the boys from school and have fallen in love with the prettiest blogs!! Can't wait to visit again!!

Lillycottage

Cynthia's Cottage Design

Update 1/17/09:
The Pawsh Poodle Boutique

Too darn cute!! I had to add ... okay I'm dusting off my machine, grabbing all my pretty fabrics, & sweet notions from their storage nooks and creating a masterpiece LoL!!
Have the sweetest day... Be safe, warm and blessed!

Save Handmade!

2009-01-13T07:44:00.004-05:00

The following text was taken from www.handmadetoyalliance.org.

The issue:
In 2007, large toy manufacturers who outsource their production to China and other developing countries violated the public’s trust. They were selling toys with dangerously high lead content, toys with unsafe small part, toys with improperly secured and easily swallowed small magnets, and toys made from chemicals that made kids sick. Almost every problem toy in 2007 was made in China.

The United States Congress rightly recognized that the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) lacked the authority and staffing to prevent dangerous toys from being imported into the US. So, they passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in August, 2008. Among other things, the CPSIA bans lead and phthalates in toys, mandates third-party testing and certification for all toys and requires toy makers to permanently label each toy with a date and batch number.

All of these changes will be fairly easy for large, multinational toy manufacturers to comply with. Large manufacturers who make thousands of units of each toy have very little incremental cost to pay for testing and update their molds to include batch labels.

For small American, Canadian, and European toymakers and manufacturers of children’s products, however, the costs of mandatory testing will likely drive them out of business.

A toymaker, for example, who makes wooden cars in his garage in Maine to supplement his income cannot afford the $300 - $4,000 fee per toy that testing labs are charging to assure compliance with the CPSIA.
A work at home mom in Minnesota who makes cloth diapers to sell online must choose either to violate the law or cease operations.
A small toy retailer in Vermont who imports wooden toys from Europe, which has long had stringent toy safety standards, must now pay for testing on every toy they import.
And even the handful of larger toy makers who still employ workers in the United States face increased costs to comply with the CPSIA, even though American-made toys had nothing to do with the toy safety problems of 2007.

The CPSIA simply forgot to exclude the class of children’s goods that have earned and kept the public’s trust: Toys, clothes, and accessories made in the US, Canada, and Europe. The result, unless the law is modified, is that handmade children’s products will no longer be legal in the US.

If this law had been applied to the food industry, every farmers market in the country would be forced to close while Kraft and Dole prospered.

Now, you might think that the items small businesses & individual crafters make will be exempt from this new law as most artisans create dolls, paintings & art for grown-ups & note of this on our product descriptions. The problem arises from the language of this new law. It states that any item commonly perceived as a toy or appropriate for children under the age of 12, including artwork will need to be tested. This, for many artisans & crafters, is so vaguely worded & such a grey area.

This video by a small business owner perfectly describes some of the concerns crafters & artisans across the country have.

In addition to the devastation artisans & crafters across the country will feel, this new law will affect our environment as well. Consignment & resale of items that have not been tested will not be permitted, causing resale of vintage & pre-owned items to be illegal. This new law will also apply to current inventory any stores might have. Without the funds to test & without the ability to sell that inventory, what will happen to all those items?

There are some great videos on YouTube that address those questions. The following links will direct you to a three part speech by Rick Woldenberg of Learning Resources, supplier of educational toys to schools. This is information is enlightening. Each video is 6-8 minutes long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUlY6zOMPqQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlMh7MJiodY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk0Vr0yDrXc&feature=related

You may be wondering “What Can I Do?” Here are a few things you can do today.

1. BLOG about this. Many artisans, toy-makers & consumers still don’t know about this law.

2. Sign this petition! http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/handmadetoys?e

3. Write your congressman or senator. Here is a link to a form letter you can copy & send.

Make sure to click the banner at the top of this post for a wealth of additional information. Every voice makes a difference. Even if you’re not a crafter of items intended for children, please help!

Sunshiny Sewing Spot!

2009-01-12T12:59:00.000-05:00

Keep thinking on that which is good, right?
So, I decided to veer over to this side of blog life ;o) This weekend has seen very little sleep. My boys kept marathon hours with their gaming lifestyle LoL!!
I need to get back into the swing of things though, where my sewing is concerned.. need lots of inspiration & motivation along the way. A burst of sunshine would help but since that is not in the cards this week... I will create my own sunshine....
have a wonderfully blessed day!!

A Moment Ago...

2008-12-18T14:30:00.001-05:00

I love saving all magazines!! I especially like to look at last years & see what was going on the "same time last year" LoL!! This was me last Christmas!! So thrilled Icould hardly hurry home fast enough to sit with my cup of coffee laced with whipped cream & oh and ahh!! Yes, I was in my own little heaven with the latest issue of Romantic Homes. They've taken a new direction, so every issue seems to be a little different than before... and it's been a long time since I could call one particular month my favorite. This one was decidedly different :o) Aside from the inviting & inspirational homes this month, there's also a new feature highlighting awesome blogs!! I also couldn't help myself with my own very small, little wish list ;o)

What a Perfect Day for ....

2008-11-08T14:03:00.000-05:00

Pink Saturday!!

Thanks Stephanie over at Angelic Accents for sharing your pretties!! I love your Christmas ornaments... so darling!! And thanks to the hostess Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for PINK SATURDAYS, so after you read my post, please hop over to hers here to see all the other PINK participants today!
But in the meantime ... here are a few of my pinkest favorites today ;o)

this year's Homecoming attendants in their beautiful pink gowns and my son!

for you Miss Steph, a closer view of my pink roses lampshade ;o) ....

and at this very moment all of my very favorite beauty products from Booty Parlor especially my Naughty Bubbles & Flirty Little Secret Firming Cream

Wow... where in the world

2008-08-24T13:01:00.000-04:00

did Summer go?? ... so quickly it has passed. I hope everyone has had a wonderfully blessed Summer with love ones and friends...
I haven't blogged in such a long time and miss it so but more than that I miss the friendships and daily inspiration that came from blogging.
I hope that the new season will bring forth a little more time to reconnect with something that had become so special to me.
... okay so something I did this Spring and Summer was try to add to the garden :)
I don't know that I was as successful I had hoped but I tried LOL!!
The glads popped up beautifully ... and from this I learned that I must plant deeper and group the bulbs together ha!ha!ha! they flopped almost as soon as they bloomed but look how pretty they are .....

Enjoy your day!!

A New Look

2008-06-10T14:15:00.001-04:00

I wanted to paint my living room now since I moved in over a year ago.... you know something way different than the neutrals that are a must in rental homes.

This is completely off course for me but I love it!!! I found discounted cans of paint already colored and thought what the heck I'll give it a try ;o) Don't know what color this is .... looks like Dijon mustard but it goes well with all of my pink florals ... sorta like a French country thing going on I think....
I do believe it turned out quite well if I don't say so myself ****smiling****

Now, I need to tackle the big bathroom with all of the sponge painted stars all over the wall Lol!!!

Shades Of Reflection

2008-04-15T12:16:00.000-04:00

Okay so in lieu of writing a book when commenting Amy of Bunny Rose Cottage I thought I'd continue on here...
first though Thank you Lord for this perfectly beautiful day!! I cannot wait to get outside and start cleaning up my garden ;o)
but because of my extreme procrastinating (yes I will be in that long postal line tonite dropping our taxes off) it will most likely be tomorrow.

I too have been in reflective mode also as it was a year ago that I bought my first house ... small yes but perfect to me ;o)
I'm not gonna lie it's been a big adjustment and still is for all because we lived in a big 4 bdrm 2ba house for over 5 years... but home ownership to me was a dream that I saw coming to life. And since my boys are older, I figured I'd be an "empty nester" sooner than later LOL!!

I still have many projects to begin but I am happy with our home. I am happy that I can check the box that says "homeowner". I'm happy that our little home is in a pretty neighborhood. I'm happy watching the boys play in the backyard. I'm happy because I can still recall looking out the window across the street at this house and adoring the cutest house with the white picket fence. I'm happy to say this is our home.

Joy Oh Joy!!!

2008-04-01T19:15:00.000-04:00

It is Spring Break right now and I have been blessed with complete aloneness!! The rarest of moments here in this household ;o) My days have been filled with nothing .. is that bad?? I had many projects in mind seriously .. paint the living room or at least the staircase handrail, prepare boxes for Goodwill (done), rearrange my personal cove, lots of sewing, oh and get my taxes done!!! ... alright, well you get the picture ;o) I did complete some corners of my home and was so tickled to have breakfast on my china plates & see them in the dishdrain knowing they wouldn't get thrased on LOL!! Oh and I made a pillow ... but mostly I did absolutely nothing ... a rare and enjoyable moment indeed!!!!

So need this....

2008-03-24T16:54:00.000-04:00

Taking a quick break before the big boys come home from school and came upon the sweetest inspiration at LIVE LAUGH LOVE

Take a peek and see if you don't agree ;o)

Okay... so I just extended my break just a wee bit longer. UPS just delivered a pkg ;o) yippee ia!!!!
I had wanted this tee for so long & finally just ordered it and also picked up a copy of Crafting a Business which looks really good and is sold out on Amazon & everywhere else I think ... so needless to say I'm tickled with my Gypsyville
purchases.... a super fun website!! Can't wait til my next shopping spree with these gals ;o)

Vintage Mug Swap Goodies!

2008-02-28T11:12:00.001-05:00

My swap arrived yesterday from Kimberly Ryan ;o) Very pretty...love all of her creative ideas like the sweet bookmark and the delightful clothespin and my cup of roses! Inside of my fabric covered heart were some chocolate kisses. Arrived just in time for my craving of something sweet ;)
Thanks Kimberly!! Oh and just in case you have not visited her blog please do so....http://kimberlyryanart.blogspot.com/
very beautiful and talented lady with exciting things going on.
Thanks to Debbie from Purpleflowerfairy for putting the Vintage Mug swap together ;o)

Oh Happy Friday!!!

2008-02-22T11:30:00.000-05:00

What a beautiful day here in Michigan ... still pretty cold but according the to the weather man "the snow has moved out of mid-Michigan..." for that I am grateful ;o) The sun is shining brightly and I'm on the hunt for my new sunglasses that I purchased over 6 months ago, never wore them because I just couldn't stop reaching for my old favorites ;o) which are sadly broken now. Anywho, I'm on my way to the post office with my swap buddy's package ;o) and to lunch with a friend. So glad it's Friday!!! Have the sweetest day all ;o)

Wasn't sure if....

2008-02-14T10:15:00.000-05:00

they noticed the little things on this day of adoration ... but they just might have ;o)
Since they were little I've tried to make Valentine's Day pretty and special. Little touches here and there nothing extravagant but sweet reminders ;o)
My oldest definitely surprised me the most with his unique way of asking his special girl to the movies this weekend. What surprised me even more was that he wanted my opinion about it ... ;o)
And the other sweet child of mine ... well, he will spend his last dime literally on his girl ... makes me laugh really. I actually had to reign him in just a little... ;o)
I can't wait til later today to share in their special moments and hear about it all....

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Another Day In Paradise...

2008-01-30T15:16:00.000-05:00

It seems like the boys have had about 50 snow days this month, but that couldn't possibly be possible since they are only 31 days to this month!! We actually are on day 2 for this week of school cancellations due to the extreme weather conditions/hazardous road conditions. Pretty much sucks for me since almost everyday I've had off this month has been in tandem with a holiday or snow day ;o(
No snowy pictures to show though as I refuse to go outside in below 0 temps ;o(
I do have these yummies to share though!! I made a couple of batches the boys gobbled them up quickly but not before I could snap a quick pic to share.... I think I still hear them laughing at me LOL and Jake's comment had me cracking up as well ..."It must be close to Valentine's Day because I feel loved" Thanks Jake!!

Apron Love!!!

2008-01-19T09:21:00.001-05:00

Who wouldn't be in love with the current trend of aprons??? I have fallen hard & am deliriously tickled at the very sight of them. From catalogs to patterns and everything in between ... makes cooking, art projects, gardening & just about whatever fun!!! The ruffly ones are just my absolute favorite ;o)
And my love of this computer now has me late for work..... gotta run c'ya later chickies!!!!

Definitely missing this.....

2008-01-10T17:49:00.001-05:00

Miss all of my projects and my sweet customers that I've come to enjoy serving. It goes without saying that you don't miss something until it's gone... working 6 days a week this past holiday season left minimal time. I'm giddy with excitement though at this moment because as of 5 o'clock tonight!!! 3 whole days off to do whatever without looking at that clock except to pick up the twins. Looking over at a beautiful pile of fabric calling on me to do something pretty with them LoL!!! Oh and I'm catching up on some new blogs Sophie Rose Designs is one of them.... so very pretty!! Oh!! and I wanna make one of these really pretty heart garlands, that may require a little more than 3 days LOL!!

I got it!!

2008-01-08T16:28:00.000-05:00

And yes I am loving it ;o) Not one retailer in my small town had it available yet, so I took a 40 minute drive to the mall .... I could really and truly could hang out in Barnes and Noble like forever but today was all about picking up my Romantic Homes magazine and zipping back home before the boys got out of school. It was worth the drive ;o)
I'm glad I have a day off in spite of being sick... I can relax, enjoy & be inspired ;o)

Peeking ...

2008-01-07T18:16:00.000-05:00

At the latest issue of Romantic Homes!!! Okay, so I don't actually have this gorgeous issue in hand but soon I hope ;o) But I have seen a little what this issue has to offer up.... I can't wait & can't help but wonder if enough of us romance junkies have made an impact LOL!!
It seemed that the magazine had lost a bit of it's romance and imo started to look much like many of the other decorating magazines. I have enjoyed the past couple of issues and hope that the Romantic Homes that we've all come to love and know remains just that.... romantic!!

Happy Fabulous New Year!!!!

2007-12-28T11:22:00.000-05:00

Wow!!! The year 2007 traveled faster than the speed of light...Seriously!!! It's has been tremendously fun meeting so many really neat ladies throughout blogland. I wasn't quite sure what I was doing a year ago at this time and intended for my blog to be a daily inspiration of sorts to my boys but see now that this blog reached further than this household and reflected back to me encouragement in bundles, kindness of strangers, wisdom, lots of laughs and on some days tears. I have been gifted by your friendships through and through.
May this New Year bring joy, peace, health, happiness and an abundance of blessings to you and your families.

To Jules

2007-12-12T18:24:00.000-05:00

This one definitely goes to Jules for being a day brightener in so many ways!!
Even on my quiet days ... I am very grateful for you & your friendship!!