Headaches , Cupcakes, Coffee

There.
Rhyme and alliteration in one title. Boo ya!

Tom said that when he was leaving school today. "Boo ya, Miss Caitlin!"
His big brother taught him. What cuties! Wish I had a pic of them together.

Today was picture day at preschool. Half an hour before quittin' time, I was totally losing it.
I won't go into detail. :)
But I will tell you part of the problem - Miss Coffee Addict missed her morning fix. Ohhh not good. I had a pounding headache all afternoon. Don't try sugar-free caramel vanilla coffee mate powder when you run out of your regular creamer. It will render your coffee unfit for human consumption. Or any other sort of consumption, for that matter.

I bought a caribou coffee espresso drink thingy on the way to drop Laura off at school. I knew I should have gotten a Starbuck's frappuccino! Hang saving 75 cents. That thing was strange. And I drank every. last. drop. Figuring it would make my headache go away. Guess what? Didn't work. Funny thing about weird coffee drinks, though. Once you're past the first couple of sips, it's usually tolerable. It was definitely better than the caramel vanilla sludge I tried to drink this morning.

The title of this post was originally Books and Buttons. (more alliteration!) I changed it when the first two topics turned out to be headaches and coffee. So, the cupcakes really don't have much to do with this post. I just finished eating one, and I had one earlier. That's about it.


But, along the Books and Buttons theme, I feel compelled to rejoice aloud in my new Calvin and Hobbes collection. I should have taken a picture of it. Tis the Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes. I already had the Authoritative. Now to get my hands on the Essential. Did you know I love Calvin and Hobbes? I do. Swaptree, too. For that's how I got it. Who wants a boring old book about handbags when you can have a book full of the best comic strips ever?!

I returned lots of books to the library today, including House of the Seven Gables and The Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway. House of the Seven Gables I still plan to read. Just not yet. I just have other things on my priority list. Like Calvin and Hobbes. :P

Actually, I plan to read To Kill a Mockingbird. We'll see how that goes. I got it on Swaptree, too. The Ernest Hemingway stuff, however, I do not plan to read. Ever. I flipped through it the other night, and it was pretty vulgar. There's no point reading a bunch of distasteful stuff just because it's "classic" or well written.

I suppose I could keep rambling about the other books I've read recently, or the other ones I plan to read, but that's enough book talk for now. Time to move on to the buttons part.

I went shopping today to pick up some yarn. I needed buttons, too. Browsing the store, I was beginning to despair, for there were no buttons to be found. Which makes sense - it's a craft store, not a sewing/notions store. Anyways. Then I stumbled across "Grandma's button bags." Little baggies full of random buttons. Yay! Behold - what is this next to them? Vintage button bags! Sweet! They had plenty of buttons that would work for my slippers, and they were way cooler in general than the buttons in the other bag. (I mean, they're vintage. They've had a previous life. If that's not cool, then, ...well... it just is.)

I pulled out every bag and looked into them at all angles to decide which was the best. I never decided which was best, but I did decide which one I wanted, because it had a great big peachy button right in the front. See?

Nifty, huh? I already put some of them on these slippers.
And there are enough of that same kind to do another 2 pairs. Can't wait to see what the rest of them will come in handy for!
So. I need to get back to crocheting.

If anyone has any good book recommendations, let me know. Even though I can't seem to read what I've already got, I'm in the mood for tackling a reading list, so might as well add a few more as I scratch a couple off. :-)

Later!
Caitlin

Oh help!

And the orders keep coming.

This is amazing. And kind of scary.
I have to crochet like ALL the time now. Good thing I enjoy it.

I got up this morning, knowing I had 2 custom orders to work on this weekend. No big deal. I got it covered. So, I sit down at the computer to do my usual checking of the email and blog and shop and all that, and discover I have 3 more orders, and 3 more convos about custom orders. ... There went my leisurely weekend. lol

And so, it's super-cool and awesome and stuff, and it's a little overwhelming at the same time. It means I need to get serious about this, and actually devote the time to running this shop that it requires. No more putting off custom orders til the night before they're supposed to ship. I gotsta get my act together!

Which also means I need to be keeping track of ... stuff. Like how much profit I'm making after supplies and fees. Holy cow, the fees have racked up this month. But I'm pretty certain I've made close to what I make working at preschool on Etsy. Now that is nifty.

But you know what's grand about all this? (besides for the convos from total stranger that say "omg! I love your shop! so cute!!" lol) I'm going to go buy some cute clothes on super-sale from Chadwicks. That's what.

By the way, here's that supercute pumpkin hat I made. Isn't it adorable? It's so leetle... :D It actually doesn't look much like a hat like that... but the bottom is really stretchy.

Wouldn't it be so ironic if after this post, all sales suddenly stopped?
And then I would feel stupid for being excited/stressed in the first place. :D

Have a happy Saturday, y'all!
-Princess Caitlin

A Girly Shoe Post

I made a record number of sales yesterday.
That's pretty cool.
Not that I'm suddenly rich or anything, but I did sell 4 pairs of slippers yesterday.
And then some. Yay! Keep buying stuff, people! This is fun! lol

Guess what?
I want to buy some boots. I've been looking at boots all day.
It's fall now, and the boots I've worn with everything for the past 4 years or so are rather tired now. Considering my price range, I'm sticking with ebay and the like.
I've looked around Etsy, too.

Call me crazy - I thought I hated 80's fashion, but these ankle boots are so cool. These, and the pixie kind, with the little piratey fold-down cuff. (like these!!) Black boots are cool, but they're too dark for me. So, I'm leaning towards grey or taupe.
And chocolate brown.

Oh, 70's boots are good, too. Like these on the right.

I was looking for red mary janes the other day, and discovered that I LOVE Steve Madden shoes. Particularly these gorgeous red leather ones with the super-cute strap and button... ah.

But I can't afford Steve Madden, so I'm still looking. :D

So, if I have it my way, I'll have a nice pair of boots that go with everything, and a cute pair of red shoes to go with everything else. If I don't have it my way, I'll ... wear my scuffy old boots with everything, and wear my tennies with everything else. lol

I love shoes. :)

Happy Fall!

YAY! It's the first day of fall!!
The weather is amazing.
And because I'm so happy, I'm offering free shipping in my etsy shop til Wednesday!

I would enter a picture of the cute little pumpkin hat I made right here, but I haven't uploaded the pictures yet, so I can't. I can, however, show you a goofy picture of myself wearing my awesome little bird earrings.
Nicholas said, "hey, what are those earrings supposed to be anyways? Comets?"... I was like "uh, no. See the little beak? it's a bird."

In his defense, he has terrible vision.


I'm hoping my cool little scarflings will sell well. They're fun to make. I have a new black one up in my shop. So very cool! I like how they can be used for so many things.
I have a couple white ones from when I learned how to make them. Now I need to make a black one and a yellow one for myself. The only problem is, I can't wear them in my hair! It's still too short!

But, as a side note, I do plan on growing my hair back out. I don't know if I had mentioned that again or not. Yes, finally. I'll tell ya what persuaded me, and you'll laugh. (Actually, I had mostly decided to already) I was reading this book that said if I planned to get married, I should live like it. And I figured that since I want to have long hair for my wedding, I should go ahead and start growing it out. You've heard that story about the farmer who prayed for rain AND plowed his field in faith? Well, I'm growing my hair out in faith that I'll eventually have a wedding. And if I don't, well, I was going to grow it back out sometime or another. LOL

So, that was off-topic. This is supposed to be an Etsy post.

I'm actually here taking a break from crocheting.
I have lots of custom orders to work on today. Did I mention how I love custom orders? Especially when people are so nice to me. :)

I'm making some of these pink slippers in a grown-up size. Without the heart buttons. I'm not sure what buttons I'm going to use yet.
I'm also making another Mary Jane style pair in a ruby sort of color to donate for a giveaway a fellow etsian is doing. Yay! Methinks I should make lots of them and offer them more frequently in my shop.

So, I think that's enough Etsy talk for now. I haven't forgotten my next Suggested Writing post. :)
Happy Monday!
CaitiJo

Suggested Writing

Dear Readers,
You may recall my request for help with subject matter. Only two out of the lot of you offered any! But I appreciate their help, and am very glad to have a pre-set topic for this post and the next.
A certain Keith offered some questions, the answers of which he apparently thought might make for an interesting post. (speaking of a Keith, my mother is reading The Mouse and the Motorcycle to Benjamin right now. What a great book.)
And so, I set about answering them.

What hurt you the most this past week? Ah, I can answer that quickly and with certainty. Myself. Sometimes I stop a minute, and I realize just how hurtful I really am. I find myself impatient, quick to judge, and eager to shoot a scornful reproof. I know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of all that negativity, and when I think about it, I realize how much I hurt my brothers and sisters, sometimes without even noticing, and that hurts me.

What turned it around? Sadly, it's not a situation I can just turn. I'm trying to be patient, and not criticize. Trying to ask forgiveness when I am. But I'm a work in progress, and any turning in me for the better is through Christ.

How many hours did you sleep this week(approximately)? "Many" is the answer to that question. I like sleep, and fortunately, there is nothing to interfere with my getting a good round 8 hours most of the time. That means about 56 hours.

Is it effecting the way you function? Indeed. I've been rather lively and healthy lately.

What was the last thing you bothered to eat that you didn't have the need to, but you just wanted it really bad? marshmallows.
Long version: Laura decided she wanted to build a campfire tonight. To burn some old school papers there were no use for, and to have marshmallows!
I. Love. Marshmallows. Seriously - I think I had about 12. Ah, to have a long, long stick (that kind that makes that beautiful whipping noise when you flick it through the air), with 2 marshmallows on the end....No skewers for a me. I'll take a good ole stick any night... Turning it round and round over hot, glowing coals. The perfect mashmallow is light golden brown and crispy on the outside, and completely melted inside - falling off the stick. I looove toasted marshmallows. nom nom nom! **licks fingers**

Another Suggested Writing post coming soon.

Just finished

Villette by Charlotte Brontë

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars

Brilliantly written, full of feeling and detail, Villette follows the story of Miss Lucy Snow, told in her own words.

Quiet, observant Miss Snow recounts her life for us in detail, and with feeling. Through the secret sorrow of unrequited love, through the joy of finding true friends, through confusion, and restless torment of waiting fulfillment of things still a mystery, we see into the depths of her character. We find her pain, loneliness, happiness, and hope, all underscored with steady, forbearing inner strength.

(I listened to this book on CD - narrated by Davina Porter. Excellently narrated. Her reading did justice to Charlotte Bronte's novel. Highly recommended.)

View all my reviews.

70

This post has nothing to do with the number 70, except for the fact that
this is my 70th blog post.
On blogger, anyways.
I'm sure I've hundreds of blog posts in other places. Xanga, for instance.
See, a xanga screenshot from a while back!

So, I want to blog, but I have no set topic, or any particular point of interest. No Etsy ramble to bore you with. I've made a sale or two lately, but nothing exciting is going on over there.

Perhaps an update on my reading habits would be in order. My phraseology and choice of words change as I read. I find it amusing to find myself writing differently depending on how much literature I'm taking in.
The most influential literature in days precedent has been Villette. You will remember my hesitation to begin the narration due to the undoubtedly depressing nature of the story. Begin it I did. Once I was listening, I could barely stand to pause the CD player, and eagerly jumped up for the next disc when the first was over. I do so love Charlotte Bronte's style.

In a way, I was right. It's a sad story. Unrequited love. Alas, alas. But it's so interesting! Such diverse characters, and such interweavings of plotlines! Though sad, it's not nearly so depressing and gloomy as I thought it may be. Granted, it's not a cheerful tale - how could it be? But it is lovely, and most things are enjoyable if well written, and Villette most certainly is that.
I had listened to so much of the story at once on Friday that by Friday evening, I was thinking in the narrator's voice. Now that is a weird experience. I've just finished the first disc of part 2. Perhaps you can guess what I'm going to do when finished with this post.
(That's my CD player/alarm. I asked for it for Christmas a few years ago.)

I began reading The House of the Seven Gables yesterday. I'm hardly past the first chapter, but I'm looking forward to the rest of the story. Beginning a book with a housewarming party, at which the new homeowner is found mysteriously dead in his office is certainly a way to pique curiosity.

You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.
-C.S. Lewis

The paragraph that used to be here has been written, deleted, re-written, edited, and deleted again. It had been my intention to write something about church today, but that wasn't working out. Though I shall reiterate (for perhaps I haven't made it known through my blog) how glad I am to find myself once again part of a fun, learning choir. It'd been far too long since the olden days of Senior Choir led by Pastor Powell. Yay for singing! I sing more on Sunday than any other day of the week, and singing makes me happy.
That random bit of information over, I think I'm going to find pictures with which to punctuate this post.You poor dears. I'm going to have to do better than this. Perhaps I should have you all interrogate me with unusual questions, so as to have new and interesting blog topics. Yes, yes, do ask me a question, and I shall answer it in a blog post. That sounds like fun. Please?

Well, I shall try to get around to some sensible blogging soon.
Until then, I bid you farewell.
And in case you were wondering, all of the word-pictures were taken from my real-life journal.
:)

Books and Yarn are Happy Things

I've finally finished reading Mere Christianity!
( It took me far too long to read, thanks to the growing yarn stash I'm trying to whittle down.)

It was a really enjoyable book. (I seem to be at a loss for good adjectives tonight.) Well written, and easy to understand, it was serious without being heavy or dull. Lewis had a great sense of humor, and a knack for explaining things with neat little analogies. A very quoteable sort of fellow, too.Whether you're looking for the meaning of Christianity, a little encouragement and guidance, or simply an enjoyable non-fiction read, Mere Christianity comes highly recommended by me. ;-)


I went to the library today and checked out House of the Seven Gables, a book of Ernest Hemingway's short stories, and Villette on CDs. House of the Seven Gables I had gotten on CD before, but decided not to listen to it after the introduction. I could tell by Hawthorne's style and wit that it will be one of those better read. Somehow those long, rabbit-traily sentences, and ironic jokes don't have the same sort of effect when someone else is reading.

I'm not anxious to begin Villette, because I'm sure it's going to be dark. I like dark (Dark like Charles Dickens, and the Bronte sisters. Not dark like... well, creepy and morbid), I'm just not sure that I'm ready to dive in yet. I know it's going to be a good story, though. It has to, right? ...

I'm curious to see how I will like the Hemingway collection. I listened to The Old Man and the Sea on CD a few weeks ago, and couldn't wait to put in the next disc every time it stopped. Of course, that wasn't very often - it was a short story, you know. But still. The narrator was very talented, and combined with the vivid, prosaic imagery, I was pulled right into the tale. On the other hand, Laura read A Farewell to Arms, and dubbed it "crummy." We shall see.

Those aside, I'm expecting another book from Amazon to come any day now. But let's move on to my other topic, shall we?

You will recall my mention of an ever-growing yarn stash. I have discovered the most wonderfullest place to buy yarn online. Dangerous. Today, in a valiant effort to organize the masses of yarn attempting to entangle my dear little room, I pulled it ALL out, and TRASHED some of it! **gasp** Only the bits and peices of leftover stuff I'm never going to use. You know how I know I'll never use it? Cuz I've had it for 3 years and never used it. Anyways. Now I have a whole boxfull of new yarn from that great website. I've only used a bit of it so far to make a custom hat for a very nice lady.

I've got a couple things made already that need listing, and then even more things in mind that I need to get started on. ... Not to mention the partially finished pairs of gloves that are all stashed in a bag under my bed. I'm pretty much hating those gloves right now. They're a pain to make. But I NEED to make them! People like them! **sigh** I like them, too. Just not making them.

I have also added a few new items to my shop.

A nice little scarfling,
and slippers in a new color.





I plan on making the scarfling in a couple different lengths and colors.
Just need to do a little more shopping. ;-)
I'm really proud of the picture of this one, actually. Methinks it turned out pretty sweet.

Today I put to use some bits of yarn left over from slipper-making. They turned out so cute! Guess I'll list them over this week. The sad part is, hats are my favorite thing to make, but they are certainly not the best sellers. Nevermind, though. They make me happy. :)

So, I suppose that's all the bookish, crafty talk I shall bore you all with now.
I'm off to have a little more tea before I sleep.
Wishing you a pleasant weekend,
-Caitlin

First Day of School!

Today was the first day of school! I was so excited. Really, I was! And I'm still excited.
And all the other teachers think I'm nuts. But I love teaching, and I love little kids, so... Of course, some of the love and excitement wears off by the end of the school year, when you're sick of saying "don't climb the slide!" and chasing barefooted kids, germy (and prohibited) crocs in hand.

Anyways, where was I? Right. First day of school, in a cute clean room, with cute little boys.

There's my door, with all our names on it. Nifty, isn't it?






Here's my room as seen from the door! This photo turned out really blurry. Hm. Oh well.

I really enjoyed preparation week... playing with sticky tack, construction paper, and foam pieces... Painting my tree on a bulletin board was really fun. I laminated it so that I can put different art projects up for the different seasons. Jessica liked it so much, she had me paint one for her room.
I got her to cover my extra board with yellow paper in return. I still haven't decided what to put on that one... Any ideas?


I also brought in my bean bag chair, a fluffy dog, and lots of pillows from my room that I never use. Makes a super cute and comfy little reading/music corner. No success reading today, though. We're gonna have to work on our circle-time skills... But they're only 2. We have time.





I asked Mrs. Dawn to hunt down all the trucks for me. As you can see, we have no shortage of wheeled vehicles. And for good reason, too - all of them were employed today.

I used sticky foam letters to put the boys' names on their cubbies. I really like the way it turned out. ... Only, Nathan isn't coming. lol

I had his name on a couple of things already, and then Mrs. Nancy told me Tuesday that plans changed. It's ok. I can handle six boys, but five is just fine, too. :D

Well, I was going to go ahead and post pics of the little guys, too, but I've got to get off the computer now. Ah well. It was a good day, and I'm ready for bed.

I leave you with a picture of one of the cutest moments of the day.

-Miss Caitlin