Give Thanks

Give thanks for the small things and the really huge things that make our lives worth living. Having shared Thanksgiving with our very small family, we concluded that we have so much to be thankful for. I am all about listing things (A-type personality) from my favorite things to the pros and cons of making a decision. So, here is a list of a few things that were referenced around our Thanksgiving table this year (children had their input too):

Thankful for...

no hurricanes this year!
my entire family (Kylee's input)
health
jobs
wonderful food (thanks Diddi)
my dad (PD...I will remind you of this)
love

As we said our nightly prayer, PD asked why some people do not have coats, food, etc. Is 4 too young to broach these issues...certainly not as it teaches kids and reminds adults to be thankful for what we have and share with others what they may not!

Next up...our favorite holiday of the year and all of the fun and wonder that comes with the season!

Reality Check

Mandi & I have had several of these "Reality Checks" lately. Reality checks concerning alittle bit of everything, especially time, time that we think we have, but time we really don't have. We believe if we have a spare moment, we need to fill it by doing or making something or going somewhere. Down time, what is that? Our kids know the word Go and bypass stop!! We invested, some time ago in an office that needed minor work, could move in quickly and get right to work, WRONG (who is our realtor?)!! Mandi and I went right to work, scraping floors (I thought it would be quick and easy project with sand paper) well the room grew and the project turned into a major overhaul, Reality Check!! Well with this office has a garage apt. that our rentors just moved out, and so the conservative spenders we are were trying to determine how to save money....Mandi hates to paint!!! Well guess what, pulling carpet and paint are on the list of saving money....Reality Check!! Mandi was ready to put a for sale sign in the yard until another REALITY CHECK hit her, not a good market!! Thanks to "Gene" who always comes running when something goes wrong, I do believe we brighten his day because all he does is laugh at our REALITY CHECKS, we should put him on the payroll!!! By the way, Mandi, today is show and tell day....REALITY CHECK...u missed it!!

A First for Everything!

There is a "first" for everything!! For us, a First thought of putting Doodle Designs together and of course, our Diddi being very apprehensive, a First for Market ( you can tell the new comers as soon as they walk in the doors), a First for embroidery orders ( many mistakes) and of course our all famous First show!! You have to experience the "First" in order for it to happen or to feel the emotions that it brings with it!! Well, this weekend, we experienced a "First" that was monumental, our little Doodle lost her first tooth!! How Ironic, she lost her tooth in the fabric shop while picking out the new colors for our new line of ponchos....we value her opinion!! She is out to prove to us all that early, determined, and all out stubbern is her Motto in life, just as she came here! This was a shock and a very emotional day, as I was not prepared for this at all, I thought this came later in life or it should come later in life...but there again we are talking about the early comer, Doodle!! I hope that Doodle Designs takes after Doodle herself, in that we are determined, early with the "First" trends out and yes, we are all stubburn on different fronts!!! Congrats, Doodle!! Our new colors for ponchos will be up very soon---She did pick out great colors!!!

Inked Up!

Inked up is an understatement to most who see us in our "Wild Rose" tattoo shirts. I have worn my tattoo sleeves to several functions, but it is the team roping functions that we attend that we get the most looks, awhs and what happened to you replies. We have alot of fun with our shirts and sleeves, and love the attention that we get from them. I attended a college steer riding contest last night, where of course our guys were the oldest in the contest and came out 1st First place, Go Rest Home Boys!!! I wore my Wild Rose shirt that has the tattoo sleeves attached and had more people comment on my shirt, how cool!!! They are just that COOL!!! Yes, steve even barrell racers can wear these types of shirts and still be cool!! You and Chuck are welcome for the drive home, thanks for not shutting up!!!!

We have the solid black shirts, burn out grey and burn out white with the tattoo sleeves attached and we have the tattoo sleeves that are seperate from the shirt to wear with anything....Look Cool!!

Popular

Remember walking into high school for the first day...apprehension, tension, fear, giddy butterflies? A basic need was to "fit in" to be popular in some hormonal driven competitive way. Popular can really come in many shapes, forms and faces...some good and some not so good. As we age, thank goodness, we realize popular is not life and it is not survival as we once thought.

What is popular, what is the new trend, what is hot right now. Well, these leg warmer designs are the most popular for us right now. We wear them everywhere and love, love them!


Pink Rock Star
Red/Pink Stripe
Give Peace a Chance
Flame
Snowman
Christmas Trees

Check them out on our site!

Motivation

Let's face it...we all need motivation at some point (some more than others). Motivation comes in various forms some peppy and some demanding, but whatever the method...motivation drives each of us. Some begin each new day taking a deep breath and smiling at what life holds while others wake up and pull the covers over their heads dreading what may lie ahead. We are all hardwired differently, but I believe in sunny-side up.

Rob and I were raised finding the balance between the scales of motivation. One parent motivated with the brightest, you can do it, never say never and can't is not in my vocabulary parent and the other our steadfast cheerleader with more grounded and well...skeptical outlook (skeptical cheerleader was driven by the idea that it was never good enough until you accomplished it). While they both encouraged us to be whatever we wanted to be their approaches were totally different.

Still to this day, we watch our parents balance each other and it is amazing to watch. Today, however, I want to grab Diddi and shake her and remind her that there is a bright side to everything...but even some situations deserve the quiet reverence of a sad moment and we can accept it for a few minutes. Once it passes...put on a brave sunny face and move forward, who knows what is ahead!

For the Children

Being involved in a non-profit/child centered organization is truly rewarding. It is often asked of us, "why do you volunteer for this...it is not worth it"? Well, it is worth it...notice I did not say it is always fun. Our motto for the fair this year was, "We're on it" because for everything that was asked of us...from the ridiculous requests to the most serious...we were on it. We truly made every decision and walked the 1 million steps for the children!

So, when someone or some group claims that we are not in it for the children...let's just say it is a slap in the face. This does not just apply to us and our situation. So many volunteers can understand this exact situation...from t-ball coaches to choir leaders and everything in between. Yes, there are those who are in certain positions for the wrong reasons and often times those individuals seem to bring the rest of the group down. All the more reason for those who truly are in it for the children to stick with it!

I suppose the lesson learned for us is that even if you are being bombarded and berated...stick with what you know is right. You are there for the children and they are number one. The decisions you make and the 1 million and 1 steps you make will be worth in the whole scheme of things.

More Favorite Things

I have a few additions to the list of, "A Few of My Favorite Things":

1. The power of a group of individuals coming to a like-minded decision and standing up
for what they know is right even though it is not popular.

2. Leaves changing colors...although ours are not nearly as pretty as those in the north.

3. Starting the morning with a smiling child (I live with a most serious little person)!

4. Huge families that accept others as their own without requirements, strings attached,
recommendations or applications!

5. Anticipation ~ Christmas music, plans, family, friends, food and the well anticipated
birthday celebration for Miss Doodle herself!

6. Girls Weekend Out!

Love My Leg Warmers

NOW ON doodledesignsgifts.com:

The leg warmers are back....from way back when, but these are not your 80s Flashdance leg warmers. These are fabulously fashionable and snuggy warm on little legs or adult arms. I love mine so much so the white stripe is now turning dull because I have literally worn them at least twice a week.

I throw them on before heading into a cold store, when dining out in the coldest of eateries or for a short trip outside. Robin's little one wears hers to dance, to play, for dress with skirts, over leggings, on her arms...little Doodle even snatched mine to wear on her arms with a vest (they were cuter on her for sure).

At our last show...these topped the list of hot items along with the net skirts and the fleece ponchos (those are coming up soon...get a move on Diddi).

Peace, Love and Leg Warmers!!!

Busy

I use this word liberally as we were busy at the Holiday Market and our booth was equally as "busy". We have so many different items and variaties of goodies that the small booth could not contain it all. We will definately invest in an additional booth for next year as we had outgrown it before we packed up to go!