Free Love

I don't have a dedicated work space.  Well, I sorta do.  It's my own little corner of the toy/exercise room.  I have a space, but there is no clear bounadry and there is no door.  When I am working, I am just right there in the middle of everything. The mom.........trying to work...........right in the middle of everything. 

I LOVE being the mom.  LOVE.  I LOVE being the one to meet the needs of all the members of my family.  It's a high calling, a privilege, my first priority, and the most important thing I do....

Having said that, I will be honest.
Sometimes, the frustration mounts.

More times than not,  just as I sit down to design something new or answer emails,  I am needed.  I'm the mom & wife,  and I am needed.  So, before I know it, the day has gone by and my little business has been neglected. I very rarely accomplish what I had set out to do where my business is concerned.
Some may say this is a lack of dedication, setting up boundaries, or planning.  I say that it's just what it is to be the mom in a household of 5.

Just recently I was in the middle of writing an email that was giving me fits. One of those emails where you need to call upon all your mental faculties to make sure that it is worded just so. Yeah, one of those.

I was in the middle of writing this  email and my son came to me.  The son who loves LOVE. Hugs, kisses, and words of affirmation.  LOVE.

The son who has been quoted on numerous occasions as saying, "I can't get enough of your love," to me.

He came to me just for a little love. 

But, my frustration came through as I was trying to write this email and he thrust his ten year old self upon me {and my laptop.}  He immediately noticed my frustration and apologized. Then, he thought for a minute.

"You need a sign,"  He told me, "A sign that says when you are working, or available."

I asked him if he could make one for me. When he asked me what I wanted to to say, I simply told him that I wanted him to decide what it should say.

Here's what he came up with:

Side One

My heart melted when I saw what he had written on the reverse side.

The Flip Side

Free Love.
It is just so him. And so perfect. And SO how I want my kids to think of me.
Except, I really don't want there to be a flip side. I don't want there to be a "do not disturb" side.................

You may wonder how the sign is working.

 It's working beautifully, actually.

 But, not in the way my son intended it.  Because now, when he comes and loiters outside of my workspace to check which side the sign is on,{ and then double checking with me to see if I have remembered to flip it & that I mean for it to be on the side that it is actually on :D} I can't resist him. 

Without frustration, with joy and thankfulness, I tell him that I am NEVER too busy for love.

God used my son to remind me {once again} of the job far more important than building a brand.
There are three  young hearts and minds that need nurturing.

The rest can wait.

DO Try This At Home: White Chocolate Cinnamon Popcorn

I love trying new recipes. I love even more trying to recreate something that I have had.  A while back I bought a bag of white chocolate cinnamon popcorn and I enjoyed it......maybe a little too much.  Don't  you look at me like that...........It was really yum. :-D

I digress. {Dysfunctional eating aside}, Needing a party favor treat for my son's birthday, I thought I would try my hand at it.

This is more of a suggestion than a recipe, but that's the fun of it. Right?

First, I air popped a BUNCH of popcorn and then buttered and salted it to taste

Then I mixed up a 1/2 cup of cinnamon sugar

I spread the popcorn out in a thin layer on some foil.

I melted 2 bags of white chips according to package directions.

I filled a disposable pastry bag with said melted white chocolate and cut a very small hole in the tip ( I didn't bother with the coupler and official tip because I didn't see the need, but you certainly could if you wanted to.)

I proceeded to coat the popcorn {by drizzling} with white chocolate, while the little hands {clean, of course}of the house sprinkled cinnamon sugar on the still wet chocolate.

It was yum but here's what I will do differently next time:

I will let the popcorn, white chocolate, cinnamon mixture cool and then toss it a bit and coat it one more time with even more chocolate and cinnamon. 

The kids had a BLAST making it with me and they LOVED the finished product.

Do you love experimenting in the kitchen?  What was you most successful "experiment" to date? Or perhaps, you learned {maybe even the hard way :D} that you are strictly a recipe kinda girl.  You KNOW I love to hear.....

a moment out of nowhere

I had a "moment" last week.  You know, one of those moments that catch you completely off guard and leave you thinking, {where did that come from?}

Yeah. One of those.

I  saw a woman my age in the salon, nursing her 9 month old underneath her cape as she got her hair done.  I caught of glimpse of her in the mirror behind me and watched as I could see a plump little 9-month-old hand sneak up under the cape to find her face.  While he nursed, he played with his mama's face......

and before I knew what was happening, a well of emotions rose in me to the point of tears.  

a mixture of emotions and thoughts that seemed to roll in all at once like a huge tidal wave....

{I remember my kids playing with my face as they nursed and the utter contentment and peace and "rightness" I felt. how did I get here? as my baby is turning 7.......how did I get here..I'm really done having babies. I am, aren't I? I have KIDS, not babies. How did I get here?}

and more than anything, I felt something I very rarely ever feel about my life:
I wanted to go back.
I wanted to go back to a time in my life when my role was so clear.  Love them, feed them, clothe them, teach them right from wrong, and let them know there's a creator that loves them beyond measure.  I could do that. As challenging as some days may have been. It was a simple time, and a precious time. In retrospect, it was a fleeting time. 

But, it was a simple time.

Because I don't let things like that go and because I have told you before that I am a thinker, a ponderer if you will, I have  been thinking about it since it happened and what was at the root of it.

I think this "moment" of mine happened as a result of a culmination of many thoughts and feelings that I have let run rampant and go unchecked lately.  I'll be completely honest.

I feel very much like I'm in over my head.

Sometimes I'll be in my home, looking around at  the dishes, the laundry, the decor, the kids' school books,  and just think {I'm the mom? I'm responsible for all this? I'm supposed to keep all this together? I'M the grown up?}  

Panic.

I'm ill equipped.........at best.

Even more prevalent are the times when I look at my kids..........
at the beauty and wonder and perfection of their creation,
at their unique gifts and their boundless potential.......
and  feel like  there's been a mistake.

{I cannot possible be the right person for the job.  The responsibility of raising three amazing people is too high of a calling.  There is no way I can do this right.}

I'm completely overwhelmed.

In letting these feelings go unchecked, and in looking at the past through rose colored glasses, I have proven that I have forgotten what it is that helped me  through the first 11 years of parenting.......

and that is,

acknowledgement that I AM in over my head
and that
there is no way that I CAN do this right,
not on my own.
I need to rely on my Father God for wisdom, strength, and patience minute by minute for the every day challenges of being a mom of kids this age.

This seemingly out of nowhere "moment", believe it or not,  really boiled down to one thing: I have been doing too much on my own. I have grown independent. I have forgotten to seek Him for all my needs.

The beauty in this revelation?  I can ask Him now.


Ever have a moment, that at first seemed to be something out of nowhere , but upon a little introspection you were able to pinpoint EXACTLY from whence it came? Or perhaps you are up against something right now and you know that in your own strength and in your own wisdom you are in over your head.  You know me.......I LOVE to hear.

....if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  James 1:5


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WINNER WINNER {and a side dish to serve with} CHICKEN DINNER

We have a Sparkly Stocking Stuffers giveaway winner!!
But first, a recipe! 

This is SO amazing to serve with a chicken or turkey dinner, so easy yet impressive, and SO much healthier than traditional canned cranberry.

~~~~Cranberry Orange Relish~~~

Ingredients:
1 medium {seedless} orange, I usually use an organic navel. Scrubbed clean and cut into quarters
1 package fresh cranberries, washed and picked over {discard any nasty ones}
3/4 cup sugar {I use turbinado, but any ol' sugar will do. I have even used Splenda before and it has worked fine.}

~PoP the orange quarters into your trusty old food processor. Yup. Rind and all.
~Pulse to chop coarsely.
~Add in the cranberries and pulse the whole lot of it until it is evenly and coarsely chopped.
~Pour into a container and stir in sugar. Refrigerate at least 2 hours for the sugar to dissolve and the flavors to meld. Keeps up to 2 weeks!!

This is the PERFECT accompaniment to any poultry dinner. Also SO YUM spread on a turkey sammich on whole wheat bread with a little green lettuce and mayo.  Not only does it add a super elemnt of deliciousness, but a whole LOTTA great vitamin C.
 

Now for the winner:

Congratulations to Katy {katygmorris} for being the winner!!!! Email me at Twillypop at gmail {dot}com with your full name and mailing addy!!

A Sparkly Giveaway featuring OPI, Philosophy, and J.Crew

 

It's a Sparkly Stocking Stuffers Giveaway! {retail value $80!}

FAB J. Crew bracelet

Amaaaazing Philosophy lip gloss set of 4

Ultra GLAM OPI Nail polish in 2 colors


How to enter:
Be sure you are a blog follower and then,
leave me a comment. Any comment! The more random and witty, the more you will make my day. {no pressure, though. ANY comment will do :)}

Extra Entries {leave a comment here for each}:
1~ Visit my FB Fan page and write on the wall telling me your all time favorite Christmas cookie!
2~ Tweet the giveaway mentioning @twillypop and leave a comment
3~ Visit my shop and tell me your FAVE style of Twillypop
4~ IF you take advantage of my sale today, stop back and leave a comment for 5 EXTRA  entries!
4~ Follow me on Twitter


Thanks for dropping by!

This giveaway is closed :)

They Don't Care a Lick About Me

I'm a Black Friday shopper. Even though I prefer to buy handmade, I do go out on Black Friday. It's a tradition for my mom, my sisters, and me.  Not even so much for the sales,  it's just what we do the day after Thanksgiving, and it's fun time spent together. Don't misunderstand me, if we are able to get some sales we are tickled pink. If not............com si com sa.  
This year, though, I realized that it is getting harder and harder to get the actual deals......

.........as I arrived at yet another store to find out that my coupon had expired an hour ago

.........or that the coupon wasn't good for another three hours yet

.........or that supplies of what I had actually wanted were, and I quote, "very limited."

.......as stores open earlier and earlier on Thanksgiving, and force us to get out to wait in lines & fight the crowds on a day that should be spent with friends and family, in rest and thankfulness. No, we don't HAVE to go, but let's face it: some of those deals really help stretch the Christmas budget and we kinda HAVE to play along if we hope to get any of the deals, don't we?

At one point, I stood in a major department store and listened to a sales lady convince an unknowing cutomer that an appliance's "retail price" was $149.99 and that it was on sale just that day for $99.99. But, I had just purchased the same exact item the previous week for $99.99 not on sale.
It was all I could do to keep my mouth closed. I will admit that I lingered......and had to force myself to just walk away.

As a small business owner, my own sales and marketing department, and someone who cares very much about the people who support my shop, it hit me like a ton of bricks this year above all others........
THEY DON"T CARE A LICK ABOUT ME {the customer}

The sales are just a ploy to get me to their store. They don't really want to give me a deal, so long as they get me there because they know that once I'm there, I will at least buy SOMETHING.......ANYTHING.

They really don't care about me........Us.........

........and I guess we are used to it.

We accept that we are nameless, faceless, and above all, able to be replaced with another nameless, faceless shopper if we decide to shop elsewhere.

It's just the state of affairs and has been for most of the 20th and all of the 21st century so.......WHY DOES THIS BUG ME SO MUCH?

It upsets me because I fear that my customers don't realize HOW MUCH I appreciate them.

........HOW MUCH I care about the product and the service they receive
........HOW MUCH pleasure I take it packaging my product in a way that makes my customer feel "treated" to something special when they open it
........HOW MUCH I LOVE to see them come back again
........How there is a very good chance I remember them when they do come back
........How much I love their input and relish their feedback
........How much I enjoy getting to know them
........How, when I run a sale, it really is to treat my customers to a deal, and reward them for shopping with me~

I can't speak for all, but by and large, my attitude is the same as  that of most handmade brands.
We care.
We just do.

I'm thankful for each and every one of my customers because I fully know that there is a veritable sea of products and I am but a droplet in that sea.  Because I am thankful that a customer chooses me, I do everything in my power to make sure my sweet customer has the best experience possible. 

Maybe I'm a hopeless dreamer, but don't you wish that more companies valued those people that support them? You know I love hearing your thoughts........

Hershey Bar "Muffin" Cookies

Almost a decade ago {I can't believe I'm old enough to refer to ANYTHING as being a decade ago *sigh*} I came up with this recipe for a sweet friend's birthday. Her favorite candy is Hershey bars and I wanted to make something special & unique to her....thus, the Hershey Bar Cookies were born. {I acknowledge that there are probably H.B. Cookie recipes aplenty floating around cyberspace.......but I bet mine's the best :D}

Twillypop's Hershey Bar Cookies**

P.s. This is a double batch, as I always make my cookie dough in double batches so I can save some dough in the fridge for those cookie "emergencies" we so often find ourselves in the middle of....... :)

Ingredients:

5 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter AND 1 cup (2 sticks) margarine, softened

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 1/2 cup packed brown sugar {I often use turbinado which makes 'em Xtra yum}

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 large eggs

3 Tablespoons strong coffee, cooled {can substitute milk}

4 cups chopped milk chocolate Hershey Bars {about 4 of the 7oz. giant bars}

**Hershey bar segments {from the mini bars}, or Hershey kisses for decoration

**optional

the beauty of chopping the chocolate is that you not only get big chunks, but also chocolate shavings which blend into the dough and give it amazing flavor and moistness

it helps to have a real live keebler elf to peel the kisses...... :D

the kisses will completely liquefy, but if left to cool will solidify and keep their shape

PREHEAT oven to 350° F.
COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter,margarine, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and coffee in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chopped chocolate. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. *Or, for extra fun, scoop into mini muffin pans, may increase baking time by a few minutes*

BAKE for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. {Or 15 mins. for mini-muffin pan.} Immediately upon removing from the oven, top each cookie or "muffin" with chocolate segment or Hershey kiss. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; carefully {so as not to disturb the liquefied chocolate} remove to wire racks to cool completely & until the chocolate cools and sets again .

You seriously need to taste them to believe them.......