The River’s a Risin’

Well, things are rather eventful around our neck of the woods.  They're even more eventful in other's neck of the woods.  Let's just say I wish I didn't have to know (or worry about) what a sand boil is, and why it can be "not a big deal" or "a could-be bad situation."  Go ahead and google that one.

*Inside the levee, taken 5/2/2011.  The water has risen significantly since these pictures were taken.  This house is most likely covered and totally under water by now.

*Inside the levee.  Taken 5/2/2011.

*Inside the levee.  Taken 5/2/2011.

The MS River is rising to record levels around here!  Judd and I live several miles from the river and the levees, but if a breech were to happen in a number of places, our house would surely be flooded.  Let me start out by saying, I have a bit of my Mamaw Jones in me.  God bless that woman, she is one of the strongest women I know!  She also worries...excessively.  That's where I come in.  I got that "worry" gene from her.  I see it coming out in me all the time.  I have worried myself crazy over this house flooding stuff.  All of my worrying makes up for how much Judd worries - zilch.  I totally agree with what you're thinking right now.  Worrying doesn't do any good so why do it?  Well, I don't know.  I just can't seem to quit coming up with every worst case scenario possible.  Here's how my brain is working right now:

"Oh no.  The levee is going to break.  We'll have a few short hours to throw our most precious belongings into the cars and try to get out before the mass traffic jam happens.  Then, anything that we aren't able to take with us will be stolen by some heartless person who makes money off of other's misfortunes.  Then, we'll have to live somewhere else while waiting on the water to recede.  When it finally does, we'll have to rip out drywall, floors, and replace the furniture.  I'll find snakes in the closet. An alligator will probably be living under my bed so when I walk by it will bite my leg off - or even worse - hurt one of my babies."

  See?  Do you see how far my brain just carried all of that?  It's ridiculous.  I totally agree.  But I can't make it stop.  I'm constantly making lists of things that I want to be sure to shove into a vehicle.  My Papaw's Bible, the engraved plaque Judd's Papaw made us, my "special" jewelry, my external hard drive that has all of my pictures and home videos on it...the list goes on and on.  Just tonight I was reading Caroline a book called "Wherever You Are" that Judd's mom gave him for Christmas last year.  It had the sweetest, most heartwarming, motherly note ever written on the inside.  She also told him to "read it to your children..." so that's what we're doing.  Anyway, I was reading it tonight and thinking, I'd have to grab this book.  It was such a sweet message on the inside and I'd hate to lose that.  I also want my hugemongous television.  Not really sure how that is gonna fit in the car but I'm gonna give it a whirl. 

The problem is, my brain goes straight for the worst case scenario.  Judd just assumes that nothing tragic and earth-shattering could ever happen to him so he doesn't even blink an eye.  We do not mesh in times like these.  To say that I worry enough for the both of us is a total understatement.

However, having said all of that - I will say that in the past 24 hours, I developed a strange sense of peace.  If my house floods - it is just that.  A house.  It's material possessions that can be easily replaced.  My family will be safe!  And that's what really matters.  I think I came to that conclusion because again, my brain went in worst-case-scenario mode and if I didn't make myself feel better about it, I was going to have a myocardial infarction right here in my living room floor.

So there ya go.  You've just gotten a peek inside my crazy, worry-wart brain.  So if you see me biting my nails, looking off into the distance with a worried face, or fretting about uncontrollably - just ignore me.  It's my genetics.  And I can't help it. 

Coupon Code!

Go like Squiggle Stitch on FB to get the coupon code for 20% off your total purchase*!  We all know how I am about coupons…   

Squiggle Stitch got a makeover!  Honestly, I had issues with my last template and I couldn’t get my designer to email me back.  I finally got so fed up with it that I got a totally new design and I have to be honest – I LOVE it!  I also got the matching Facebook banner, business card, and the logo that I can use for return address labels, gift certificates, and anything else you can think of!  I’m pretty excited about it.

Also – did you read what I just wrote?  GIFT CERTIFICATES!  Squiggle Stitch is now offering gift certificates!!!!  I’m pretty excited about that.  It will make it so much easier for customers who want to get something as a baby gift but aren’t sure what size, design, etc.  It’s the perfect solution! 

*The 20% off discount will apply towards everything EXCEPT gift certificates!

This & That

So it’s been over two weeks since I did a blog post.  We have a lot going on here in Mississippi.  We’re watching history happen!  I don’t know if you heard about it (if not, you live under a rock!) but the MS river is rising to record levels.  Judd and I live miles from the river and several small rivers that run into the Mississippi.  We’re blessed to not have any water damage so far.  Where we are has a HUGE levee made to hold the water up to 74ft.  Thankfully, the water is supposed to crest on May 17th at 65(?)ft.  So our only problem is water backing up into other small rivers and lakes around us and causing flooding OR the levee not being able to withstand the water pressure lasting for so long and breaking.  Did that all make sense?  As of right now, Judd and I are fine and we’ve made plans in case something does happen. 

Also, Mississippi (along with several other states) got blasted with tornados last week.  Judd called me in a total panic last Wednesday morning telling me to get out of bed and get the girls because clouds were making funnels (or “tails” as we call them around here) all around our house.  They were literally hovering over my house and I was sound asleep with no idea.  Luckily, none of them touched down and they moved away from here.  Sadly, those same storm clouds went on to cause major destruction and damage in other parts of MS & AL.  Many people are left homeless with nothing but the clothes they have on.  I can’t imagine losing things like my pictures, my home movies, and the things that hold sentimental value to me.  Those things are replaceable.  My heart goes out to anyone who has been affected by the storms and the MS River flooding.  It’s such a sad thing when natural disasters tear people’s homes and lives apart. 

I said all of that to say that we’re doing fine…and we feel incredibly blessed to be able to say that!  We’re going to continue watching the levees and if one were to break, we would have some time to throw certain things in the car and get out before it was too late. 

We had a WONDERFUL Easter at home with my family and we got some wonderful pictures of Caroline hunting eggs, hanging out with the famliy, and Easter Sunday family pictures! 

Picture overload, I know.  I’m terrible at picking just one picture because I tend to think they’re all wonderful. 

I also did a gift set at Squiggle Stitch the other day and I was excited to show it off! 

This was the Bib, Burp Cloth, and Onesie baby gift set.    I was proud of it!

I have several orders to do and send out!  I’ve been SO busy! 

I took my big grocery trip today and I’ve switched my coupons into a binder.  My mini organizer just wasn’t cutting it anymore.  I was standing in the store flipping through my coupons for entirely too long trying to find one that, come to find out, was stuck to another one.  It was so time consuming so I decided to try the binder method.  I actually went and bought myself…wait for it…a TRAPPER KEEPER.  Remember those?  It is working great!  I can see exactly what I’m looking for without flipping for 10min. everytime I need to find a coupon.  Speaking of…check out part of my deal today…

Total cost for everything shown – $1.20.  Oh yes, baby.  I’ve had some people ask about why you would buy so much soap.  Come on folks, soap doesn’t go bad and you’re not going to quit bathing (I hope) so buy it while it’s cheap.  I don’t “stock up” on everything, but household items like cleaners, laundry detergent, fabric softener, dishwashing stuff, toothbrushes, toothpastes, deodorant, and soaps are really great things to stock up on.  Not to mention, there are a lot of people in MS & AL (and other states) that could really use these items right now so I’m trying to come up with a way to send them toiletry items. 

If you’re interested in starting to coupon, please check out my “Couponing” page in my navigation bar under my header or just click here to open it in a new window.  It’s still under construction because I’m doing it as I have time – but my two major stores are finished, although I may go back and tweak the Kroger part a little bit to organize the information a little better.    Either way, GO to it!  I list several helpful sites in there and have even more under the “Helpful Couponing Sites” on the left hand side of my blog.  If you’re viewing this from facebook, click “View Original Post” at the bottom of this note and it will take you to my blog. 

Last quick thing, if you like to laugh (and who doesn’t?!) you have to check out my awesome sister-in-law’s blog.  It’s called “Not That Y’all Care” if that tells you anything about her.  She’s absolutely hilarious.  I’ve been begging her to start one for nearly 3 years and she finally bit the bullet and did it.  You’ll love it, I promise.    Be sure to tell her I sent you! 

Anyway, this has been a super long post and it’s late so I’m headed off to bed!  Goodnight!  Have a wonderful week and if you think about it, send a prayer our way that God would protect us and keep us safe during all the flooding and be with the families of those who are already leaving their homes from the devastation last week and currently. 

Couponing!

I added a small Kroger (and soon to be more stores) tutorial to the top of my blog.  Just click the button above that says "Couponing" and get started! 

If you're viewing this from Facebook, click the small link below that says "View Original Post" and then follow the above directions.  :)

Randomosity.

There just isn’t enough time in the day, I tell ya.  I have bookoodles (yes, I made up that word.) of orders to be working on, which is such a blessing!  Amelia is still a pretty fussy baby, overall.  But I just keep telling myself that this too shall pass!  I try to look at the big picture and think about how this stage of her life is SO small compared to the times I’ll have with her in the future!  She is such a blessing to me already! 

Sweet Caroline blows my mind everyday with the new words that she has learned.  She says new things everyday.  She’s making small sentences and following 3 step commands really well!  My big girl is growing up.  She also has suddenly gotten a lot of hair, which is so fun because I love putting bows in!

All that being said, there just isn’t enough time to do everything that needs to get done.  I have….wait for it….31 orders for shirts right now.  You read that correctly.  Thirty-one.  I know that when Amelia gets a little older and I get my nights back to myself, things will get somewhat easier.  I’ll be able to get more shirts done in the evening instead of trying to do them during the day when everyone is up.  Balancing time is a lot harder than I thought it would be.  However, I love doing these shirts and having something crafty to do.  I’ve been looking for my craft niche and I feel like I may have finally found it! 

On a totally separate note, can I just say that breastfeeding is AWESOME.  I think that for many reasons, but the main one is that I’m REALLY close to my pre-Caroline weight!  That is so exciting.  Granted, nothing fits right from pre-Caroline because apparently having a baby somehow destroys the body that you used to have and leaves you with some similar body but with just enough differences that your clothes won’t fit.  That’s how it’s been for me anyway.  I think I can safely say that I’m packing away my maternity clothes for at least a couple of years…(that’s MY plan, at least. God may have something different in mind!)  I’ll be happy to have the closet space back.  However, when looking through my summer clothes I noticed something.  I have none.  Everything is maternity!  The last two summers I’ve spent pregnant.  I think that warrants a shopping trip.   

On April 30th I’m going to teach a small class in Booneville, MS on couponing.  As I tell other people, I’m not an extreme couponer.  I actually consider myself only mediocre at couponing.  But I do know the basics+.  I’m a horrible public speaker and laugh nervously when I feel awkward.  It’s a terrible trait.  I laugh at anything just to laugh.  Laughing seems to be my security blanket.  So if I ever laugh at a time that seems inappropriate, just know that I’m probably feeling awkward. 

This has been the most random jumble of thoughts that has ever been put into a blog post and for that, I apologize.  One day, if I ever print my blog out for memory’s sake, I won’t print this page.   

I leave you with these pictures of my sweet children.  They are both BLESSINGS!

GIVEAWAY!!

Squiggle Stitch is having a FACEBOOK giveaway!  Go over there and like us – then comment on the status and choose which design you’d like if you’re the winner!  It’s only lasting 2 days – SO HURRY!  A winner will be chosen Friday at 7pm!  Good luck!!!

Just Pictures!

Yeah, we’re getting her started on her chores at an early age. 

Please note:  my child uses her HAIR as her napkin. 

This is what it looks like when banana gets wiped in a kid’s hair…in case you didn’t know. 

First pigtails, EVER!

Bonnie came to visit!!!

My sweet Caroline.

So I realize this post has been all about Caroline…so pictures of Amelia will be coming soon!!