Making time as a WAHM

Summer is here, and I love it! I enjoy taking the kids to the pool and dreaming up things to do....but, since I work from home, it's been tough to create that perfect work-life balance lately!
Running a business from home AND being chief play-date captain, head chef, chauffeur, and boo-boo fixer has proven tough. I spend the first half of the day mostly working, but it's not quite the same as when the kids are in school. And when the weekend hits, well...let's just say I insisted my husband take the girls to the pool today so I could get a little work-time in. Let's face it: It's work-time, me-time. My husband comes home from work. I stay at work, all day!
One of my "jobs" lately has been to help my 10-year-old daughter with her 4-H sewing project. We purchased the PDF pattern from Tie Dye Diva, and it was a little challenging for my daughter, but not too much so. My daughter attended sewing classes with the 4-H team leader, and I "filled in" at home. She'll turn the shorts in this week and find out what place she'll receive.



My girls have an interesting perspective on work, since they see me doing it (and I often need to remind them, "I'm working now! I'll play later!") My 5-year-old is a bit too young to understand -- at her kindergarten entrance evaluation, the teacher asked her where her dad worked. She simply said, "At work!" The teacher then asked where her mom worked. She said, "At the table!" LOL!
And my older daughter, who made the shorts, talks during every sewing session about how she's going to open an Etsy shop and sell clothes and bows and pictures she draws. She'll need a bit of practice, but I have to appreciate that she's a self-starter. Love the entrepreneurial spirit.
On tap for this week? Two doctor's appointments, one 4-H project drop-off, chauffering back and forth to "zoo camp" for one of the girls, being a judge for a local newsletter contest, working on my business, and doing some fun things with the kids, which includes spending some time at the fair. I should sleep well!
If you work from home, how do you balance it? I'd love to hear from you!

And the winners are....

Congratulations to Mindy, who won the most votes last week in the wedding bow challenge!! She has decided to select a free pattern/tutorial from Birdsong Bows. Love the bow, and it definitely fits the theme!



Kimberly, of Cali's Charm Bowtique, carefully reviewed all the entries for the Judge's Choice award. She's a stickler for symmetry, proper shaping, and presentation. The bow that she felt fit the bill the best was Deborah's flower clips. Congratulations, Deborah! You win a $15 gift certificate from the Ribbon Retreat. Please contact me at birdsongbows [at] gmail.com and I'll have your gift certificate e-mailed to you.



I've got some plans ahead! For those who subscribe to my private video blog (free with the purchase of some of the tutorials from Birdsong Bows and Patterns), I WILL have a bow-shaping video up this week. I was bogged down with pre-vacation plans and the launch of my newest tutorial, the Annabelle Flower, during the week of the 6th, and then I was on vacation with family the week of the 13th. So, now it's back to work in full force!
For those of who haven't yet seen it, the new Annabelle Flower tutorial is elegant and easy to do. Plus, I have instructions on how to make it out of either ribbon or fabric. So fun and fast! These are my new addiction.




Thanks to Christi Nelson of Rawsii for photographing her adorable daughter wearing the Annabelle flower!

Hair Bow Challenge 2: A June Wedding

Thanks to the 6 women who sent photos for our second challenge! The theme of this challenge is "June Wedding," and I asked participants to send a photo of a bow, hair flower, or other hair accessory that reminds them of a June wedding!

There will be two awards! Kimberly of Cali's Charm Bowtique will select a "Judge's Award Winner." The winner will receive a $15 gift certificate from The Ribbon Retreat.

But there's another prize! The second way to win is to have your friends, family, Facebook friends, etc., vote for you! There's a poll in the upper right corner of my blog (in the sidebar). Voting will continue until 5 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, June 15. The winner will receive either a choice of ribbon and trim (unused) from my personal stash OR a hair bow, hair flower or tutu tutorial of her choice from Birdsong Bows! :)

Enjoy the entries! And thanks again for participating.

From Mindy (below):



From Deborah (below):


From Daven (below):



From Angela (below):



From Amy (below):



From Heather (below):