Happy December!

It's the holiday season and I'm starting to really get into the mood!  We have our tree up and hopefully I will have the rest of the house decorated by the weekend.  I've been slammed with orders this week for my new Boston Sports ornaments, but that's a good thing! I just hope I have time to make more for the show I am doing this weekend.

Once I get the house in order and I am prepared for my show, I'm hoping to get shopping so I can check everyone off my Christmas list. If you are working on your own list, check out www.JoatmonCreations.com for some great stocking stuffers. My reversible headbands are great for young girls and women alike.  You get two headbands in one since they are reversible and you can always add more covers to their collection  at other holidays.

For boys, key fobs are always a great way to express themselves.  I have so many designs to choose from - Star Wars, Family Guy, sports, and so much more!  They are really functional, especially for someone that keeps losing their keys when they toss them in a backpack.

My newest line of car decals and decorated items are also a crowd pleaser.  For someone that has everything - why not give the the gift of expression!

My site really is a one-stop shop.  So check it out today to see how many people you can check off of your list!!  Looking forward to seeing you at Joatmon Creations today!

Vendor Fair November 8, 2017

Well, now that Halloween is over I guess we are officially into the Holiday Shopping Season.  Yes, I know that we still have Thanksgiving to go, but if you are like me you have already started - or are thinking about starting - your gift list.  My son has already started to dog ear the Toys R Us an Target catalogs for Santa, so it's coming quicker than I'd like to think!!

If you want to get a start on things now, please stop by Breakaway (route 1) in Danvers on Wednesday November 8th from 6pm to 10pm.  I will be there along with several other crafters and many direct sales companies. It will be a fun night with raffles, food, drink and a great way to kick things off for the season!

Plus, if you want something custom made, check out www.JoatmonCreations.com and I can have it ready for pickup at the fair.  Ornaments and mugs are great for personalization, so think of what great gifts those would be!!!  

If you happen to stop by, please mention that you read about it on this blog!!!

What? Am I back (again)??

Well, hello there.  Remember me?  Yeah, it's been a long time.  I see during my last post I was declaring that I was "back in the saddle again"....and that was a little over two years ago.  Please, don't ask me how that has been going because basically I'll have to tell you that I have been bucked off the horse...once again.

I did make a good effort at the beginning of this year, creating a vision board and all.  I lost 11 lbs in 6 months and then my scale broke, which of course meant I didn't have to weigh myself or watch what I ate ever again, right?  So.... here I am feeling a little disappointed in myself as usual, however I do know my m.o. and that typically means I'll get fed up soon enough.  So, once again I'll recommit and I can start going to bed early enough to wake up by 4:30 to hit the old treadmill.

Unfortunately that won't be happening any time over the next month because I've also recommitted myself to my crafting and I've started a new product line.  As if headbands, hair bows, dog collars, and key fobs weren't enough, I've recently rediscovered my die cutting machines (Cricut) and also got a new one for my birthday (Silhouette).  It had been a long time since I made cutouts, and even then it was mostly greeting cards and such.  Now I am working with vinyl and it's like a whole new world has opened up.  I am having a great time designing car window decals or making fun mugs and glasses.  I will be doing my first craft show in a year next Saturday at the Danvers MA YMCA. I am so excited and nervous at the same time.  I'll have my regular products, but now I am adding on this whole other line, so my already jam-packed table will be even more jam-packter (yes, I made that a word).

I guess on the plus side, at least I am not snacking as much in the evening because I cannot wait to get working on my projects.  I have a ton of orders to finish while also bumping up my inventory for the fair.  So, as I am creating new things I am hoping to keep everyone updated on here as well as on my Facebook and Twitter accounts. 

In the meantime, here are a few samples of what I've been working on.  I love the creativity this inspires.  What a great way to express yourself, than by making a unique decal for your car or coffee mug.  Perfect gifts for hard to buy for people as well!  I know I'll be making a few personalized ones for friends this year!!

Until next time......

Back in the saddle?

Today I could have slept in. My husband was at an all day training session and our son was at his aunt and uncle's house. I had nothing to do but clean and errands. I could have slept in. I normally would have slept in. But I did not sleep in and I feel so proud.

Instead I got up at 6:30 and went for a bike ride. It was a short ride, but it was the first time I had ridden my bike other than up and down my street.  And considering I really haven't ridden a bike any distance since high school (which was over 20 years ago) this was a big deal!

It was 6.44 miles from my door to the return home and it included time riding on the street. I was so nervous, I almost backed out. But that is why I got up and out by 7 am - I wanted to do it before a lot of people were on the road. 

I rode downtown to one of the rail trail entrances and I rode two miles on there. It was great to see so many other people riding, walking, and running. My town really appreciates the residents and maintains that trail well. Other than the middle aged couple having a rendezvous on one of the benches, it was a very uneventful ride. But it made me feel empowered. When I hit the town line I backtracked and headed home. I was on the street a little longer this time, but it was still early enough that I didn't compete with too many cars. 

I am quite sore right now, but happy. I did something I have wanted to do for years. I conquered a fear (my last bike riding experience when I was a teen is not a pleasant memory). And I want to go out and do it again tomorrow. I want to get back on track and start back with my fitness routine. I fell Off the wagon HARD, but today gave me a taste of what it feels like to do something for myself and I want to indulge in it more. 

Baby I am back!!!

I suppose I could have smiled so I wouldn't look so confused in this selfie. 

Just one of those days

Some mornings are just hard.  We may only have one child, but that doesn't mean parenting is any easier for us.  My six-and-a-half year old son is VERY strong willed, always determined to get his own way, and he has our sarcasm down to a T.  These things do not mix well for an easy morning to get out of the house.  By the time we need to leave in the morning my husband has already been out of the house and at work for at least five hours.  If things start to go downhill, they go down very quickly since I do not have another level-headed party to step in and calm us down.  And today was just one of those days....

Things were going great this morning and we were even downstairs for breakfast early.  Then the subject of today's school book fair came up and that's when it all unraveled.  Last year I sent CD to school with money to get a new book and he came home with something way under his age group.  He was in kindergarten and this book was definitely something for a preschooler or younger.  But he loved it and I allowed him to keep it, but I insisted that he had to read it to me instead of the other way around.  And reluctantly he did (reading was a new skill at that time).  This year I asked him to get a book more age appropriate.  "But I love touch-and-feel books!"  I don't care....they are for three year olds, not six year olds.  And if I'm spending MY twenty dollars on a book, I want it to be something less juvenile.  

Oh, how the morning fell apart.  He became disrespectful.  I took away the money.  Voices were raised.  Tempers flew.  A plate broke (completely by accident, but it really did not help my anger or his need to poke at the bear).  Tears were close to being shed (mine, of course).

We finally got through breakfast in silence and when he politely asked if he could have the money back, I caved in.  But I stuck with my condition that it had to be age-appropriate.

As we pulled up to school I apologized for losing my temper.  I hate being away from him all day and feeling like we parted on bad terms.  I told him that I loved him, and when I saw the sign for the fair I added "enjoy the book fair."

He got unbuckled, grabbed his backpack and said "I can't wait to get my touch-and-feel book!" Then he gave me a smirk and leaned forward to kiss me on the cheek.  In the two years that I have been dropping him off at school that boy has never kissed me on the cheek before exiting the car before.  And that's when I knew for sure that kid was a perfect mix of his parents.  Sarcasm and all.