whatever

a few answers.

well...i got up today with a plan in my head.
i would go running, take a nice hot relaxing bath at the craft house
and then make Vlog answering some of your questions.
i did go for my run but then the school called and said Scott was throwing up.
so...i am stuck at home still in my stinky running clothes and i will be writing and not vlogging today. 

you guys ask great questions. 

let's see....

1. Did you ever convert the attic in the craft house?  

nope.
we just never had the energy and the money at the same time.  :)
who knows what will happen though....we may still do it.
i have dreams for it.  Maybe a store? Maybe more work space? Maybe more bunk space? Maybe a little apartment? My running buddies suggested making it a full gym so we could workout together all year long. 
and i am LOVING that idea.

2. Are you on Pinterest?

ummm....i am.  
but it's the only place online that i am private....i have a fake name.
i just like having all the ideas i like in one place but not sharing what i love with everyone.
that may seem weird but... it's what i am doing and i like it that way.  

3. which is your favorite camera and lens?

i have a canon 50D and the 24-70 f/2.8 Canon lens.
and that is all.
i own one lens.  :)
it works for my needs...i dream of the 70 - 200 and the 35mm....and a 5D camera body.
but for now and the past two years....just that.
nothing else.
so that is what is in my camera bag.
and by camera bag i mean my purse.  HA!

4.  How do you edit your photos?

i upload my photos into LightRoom and i use their settings to edit.
i usually bump up the exposure...the vibrance....the fill light....sharpen and that's it.

5.  what settings do you use on your camera?

i almost always shoot in AV mode.  i shoot at an ISO of 200 and at 2.8 or 3.5.  does that help?
someome asked about my settings for indoor shots in the evening...well i just try not to shoot indoors in the evening.  because i think those pictures are always bad.  So i have no settings to share for that.
 
i love wendy&tyler from blue lily and they have helped me immensely with understanding my camera. they have workshops where YOU can learn about your camera too. you should go.
and Ashley from Under the Sycamore has an AWESOME online class that you can learn about photography...her next course is coming up soon.  

i have never felt great at explaining cameras or putting it into words but both of those blogs do it well!

6. Will you come to Washington?  

yes.  :)
i would love to do that sometime.... 

also i was worried it was going to be raining for my run this morning and your quote went through my head Leann "once you're wet, you're wet" and had decided i was going anyway.  thankfully... it stopped before i ran.

7. where are the glasses from in the post with the happy things to look at?  And the afgans?

i found that pic of the glasses on pinterest....and it linked to martha stewart...who else? but the link was not for the pic...but i think it probably came from her site.

and the afgans linked to flikr....just plain old flikr.

that is the downside of pinterest...messed up links and not getting a real source.

8.  does having a GOOD dlsr camera make that much difference?

well... 
i think i wouldn't want to go without my dslr.  But getting a dlsr won't make you take good pictures.  there is a lot more that goes into getting good photos than the camera.  instagram is great example of that.  it's figuring out the lighting, composition and your angle.  and that is where having a nice dslr camera comes in...and makes the shot clear and crisp.  where a point and shoot may have a grainier shot? possibly.
if you just want snapshots to keep your memories then a point and shoot is fine.
if you have an interest in photography...any desire to learn more....i think you need a dslr.  

9. Can i get a top ten book list of your favorite books?

this is a funny question mommyjulia.
because i don't know that i have read ten books in the last ten years!
but i will share again what i have read the past few months...

i read 7 and then Interrupted....loved.
Now i am reading "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years"  and this book is making me think in ways i never have!!! it's challenging me.  it's making me do hard things.  it's so good.

i love the book Crazy Love.
i loved Calm My Anxious Heart....good for a mom.
Long Way Gone was a book to prepare for africa and it was so good.

i don't read very much....i get so distracted and i don't make time for it.

i definitely don't read fiction.
IF i am reading a book it's going to be about something that i want to learn about...change in myself...get a new direction.
and thankfully i got glasses so at least i don't fall asleep as soon as i start reading.

10. can i have your pattern for the apron? can you tell me how make all the stuff you make at craft weekend?  can you do tutorials on all those things that the craft weekenders paid for?  (i am paraphrasing here)

nope...sorry.  :)
that would not be fair to all those Craft Weekend girls at all.
but i will be selling these things in my shop someday.
and i can't wait for you girls to get your hands on them... everything takes time.
i have five kids and i am running a business so things take a long time to get done.
i wish i could snap my fingers and have my shop filled and everything done...but i just cant.

i am grateful you are patient.

11. tell us about Lauren....you never do...she is ignored....why don't you talk about her...WHY?!?
(again...paraphrasing)

lauren is 17...almost 18.  She requested quite a few years ago for me to not blog about her.
so i don't.
i love her.  she is crazy smart.  she works on the weekends.  she is an awesome volleyball player.  she wants to be a doctor. 

maybe someday i will be able to talk more about what it's been like raising our first teenager but for now she doesn't want me to talk about her here.  

and that is that.

12. Kirsten J asked all these at once:  do you make lists?  yes...very messy lists   Do you ever ask for help?  yes. a lot. YOU HAVE TO or you will drown.  Do you ever future trip?  i don't what that is...dreaming about the future? not much i guess.  Will Lauren go away to college?  yes she will.  we don't where yet but she will.  Did you ever have a penpal? YES! i used to write letters constantly.  when craig got home from one year of college he had TONS of letters from me.  i had two from him.  ha ha haaa.  also my sister got letters from me constantly. My grandpa and i wrote too.  i always signed my letters to him Love,  Megan the GREAT!! i would tell him my grades and about my boyfriends and my dance recitals and he would send me money for good grades and call me out on my bad ones.   my 101 year great aunt and i wrote for my entire marriage until she passed away this year. i love writing letters.  Do you ever just veg out in front of the tv? Reality tv? Or talk shows? NCIS? i do occasionally veg with tv... Parenthood of course, Office, Modern Family, Grey's Anatomy and Saturday Night Live.  NO reality tv.  i can't take it.  NO singing shows...or dancing shows...or dating shows. it makes me want to poke my eyes out.  i did like Amazing Race and Survivor...in the beginning...but not anymore. AND i miss Oprah...really really miss her show.  What blogs do you read regularly?  Julie,  Ashley, Kimberlee, Shauna, Jess, Megan, Leslie, amy, shannon, sarah, lisa and michelle just to name a few....i have over 50 more in my reader.  :)

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i wish there were some pictures to go along with this post.
how about some george?


 
yes...i did just take 15 minutes and made a george collage in picmonkey.
don't judge.
just enjoy....it's easy....

 

there over 100 comments on that post so it will take me awhile to get through them all.

hope you made it through all those answers.

ok...i am going to make all the appointments i have been putting off forever since i am stuck at home.
you know what i mean.... dentist, eye doctor, exterminator, ob/gyn, sewing machine guy, specialist and anything else i can think of.
the part i hate more than making the appointment....GOING to the appointments! 

wish me luck.

 

my dress....

you girls are funny.
i didn't think of sourcing my date night clothes.....what was i thinking?

the dress is from the dress barn   (moo.)   
(please tell me why anyone would name a women's clothing store the dress BARN????) 
i checked the website and it's not there....i got in may.
the cardi is from target of course....also in may.

the flower is from made4adoption.
YOU NEED ONE....or four.
and she needs you to get some....she's adopting and her etsy sales go to her adoption fund!
(she is going on vacation without internet soon so be patient if you have a question for her. )  

and the hot mama shoes are from PAYLESS!
:)

and we almost had an emergency that night when i couldn't find my spanx!
i might have cancelled the whole date if i didn't have those.
they are THAT important to me.
i have had five babies living in this body don't forget. 

the maxi dress i was wearing in the video (previous post) is from CATO fashions.
they don't have online shopping.
and like dress barn being that it's VERY hit or miss.....but that dress had my name on it.


it had ties at the neck but i sewed them back as straps instead....since we don't let our daughters wear strapless dresses i figured it wouldn't be too cool for me to go to a party with them....in a strapless dress!  ha.

someone asked how tall i am.
i am 5' 7".   the heels make me very tall but i like that.....my husband is tall.
and he likes the heels so i love the heels.
if he was short....i'd wear heels for GIRLS NIGHT! 

Ali left this comment:
Okay, you look sassy and ready for your big date!  I don't know how you manage to go shopping for clothes with your kids!  Please give me tips!  I've gone a little frumpy these days ( I have 3 kids) tell me how to juggle date nights and cute clothes! I want to be a cute Momma too! :)
 
ok ali....i had to think about it....

#1 - i don't take my kids shopping with me most of the time.
       i do enjoy shopping though...i don't know how you women that hate going shopping ever find      
       anything to wear!!! 
       when i used to have to take my kids shopping i gave them lots of candy.
       suckers and smarties.
       it keeps them happy and quiet and me productive. 

#2 - i usually pick one store because i don't have shopping DAYS i have an hour here or there.
       i usually shop at Target, Old Navy, Dress Barn and CATO.....because they are easy and affordable. 

#3 - i try on EVERYTHING i even remotely like.
       that way i usually find something that fits and is cute. 
       sometimes things are really cute even if they aren't so much on the hanger.
       i try on like 20+ items.  

#4 - i just get one or two things usually.
       one piece at a time....i have never bought a "summer wardrobe"

#5 - know your own body....use the body slimming products out there....if you think you'd need them.
       they are awesome...makes a really REALLY big difference....sometimes a whole size!  

..........................don't settle for frumpy...............................................

tell yourself that YOU need some time for YOU and find that PRETTY girl again.

it is important as a woman and as a mom and as a wife.

it's not about how much money you spend.
it's not about labels (hello....dress barn and payless???)

taking time for you will help you feel GOOD about yourself.

moms need to feel pretty too.
WE DO!!!  

and when i feel frumpy....i don't feel confident...or pretty.....

i am not saying to go shopping every day.
or to run away and look out for only you.

but take a little time out for you even if it's once a month.
to remember that you are more than a mom.
some way.
some how. 
if YOU don't do it.....NO ONE will do it for you. 

go one night when your husband is home from work and stay out till the stores close....and then go to B&N and read till they close too!
 
go with a friend and both try on everything!

go with a friend and have her be your style consultant!

take time for you or you may end up with a track suit in every color
and MOM jeans before you know it.

your husband will quickly realize you are a happier woman if you've had some time away from crazies at home....if he is supportive of that....it's a win-win.... and dont let him call/text you every ten minutes either :)
i've been known to turn off my phone....to be really OFF the clock from home.

AND GO ON A DATE!!!

get a sitter and GO.
eat dinner where they serve you....not ordering at a counter...but if that's all you can get....TAKE IT!!!
get REAL yummy grown up food.
get a drink if you can't stop thinking about the kids or if you feel crabby or distracted or mad.
trust me....i KNOW.
about hour into our dates i always think
"WHY don't we do this every week?!!! i love this guy so much and i NEED time with HIM" 

PRIORITY.

you
and him. 
do it.

 

:) goodness that was a loooooong wordy post!
can you tell i am passionate about moms not losing who they are?

i became a motivational speaker for a minute......
at least i didn't say "i live in a van down by the river!!!"
i'm going to quickly hit publish before i decide to delete this whole post. 

do you have girls any other questions?

lets hear them!

 

answers two.

what are your favorite blogs?

here are a few of my faves in NO particular order:

julie     ashley   PW   shauna    kimberlee    nic     michelle    laura   *e*     tara    jasmine  kelle  wendy
sarah      carissa    megan    jess     elizabeth    crystal     melissa     edie    jeanne     elisa   amy
julie   heather    amy     karen     aimee    jenny      kristin    courtney     heather    marylea    emily   

how is that for a list?! 

how long have you lived in that house?
6 years.
we moved here when annie was 2 weeks old.
it was planned for months.
we chose to leave the "city" life (chicago-land area) and move back to small town kansas.
just 25 minutes from where both craig and i grew up.
it was one of the best decisions we ever made for our family.
we haven't regretted it once.  

this house was a real project.
 our living room.

  the playroom/guest room.

 our kitchen.

 talby and annie's room.

the yard had no grass.  the walls were all wallpapered.  and it was not pretty.
but craig and i could see the potential and it had GREAT bones. 

and we've been working on it ever since.

who gave you the Meg quilt?



my super fabulous friend PAM who took me all the way to africa.
she was so excited to give it to me shouting "IT"S THE NAME OFF YOUR BLOG!!!"
i loved that by making it she got some time to be creative for HER.  
that made me as happy as the gift itself...to know that she enjoyed her sewing time while making it.
it's so cool.
pam you are an artist!

how did you find time to be creative when your kids were little?
i just did it.
i had scrapbook stuff out everywhere all the time.
i painted a dresser in the middle of my living room.
i sewed on the dining room table.
i just did it.
i couldn't NOT do it....i have to make stuff.

(this was in 2008 with my scrapbooking girls)

go away with friends for a craft weekend...or have one at your house.
that was so good for my creativity and social needs when i had little ones at home.
find a retreat house near you or a rental and GO!

and sometimes...you don't even need to bring crafts. 

when did you get to start sleeping through the night?

we finally got to sleep through the night on a regular basis about 2 years ago.
when annie turned four...everyone else was older and we realized we finally felt rested.
it was a 13 year stretch of rarely sleeping all night.
and we survived.
i think my bed is my favorite spot in my whole house!


i love to sleep....is that bad?
what does that say about me? 

what kind of lens do you use....and camera...auto or manual?

i have a Canon 50D with a 24-105 lens.  

i also have an 85mm lens but it's hard for me to use.  i feel i have to be VERY far away when i use it.
like shouting to the families i am shooting...but it's a good lens. 

i am ready for a new lens....if i can save my money long enough!

i had a 50 mm lens but i sold it to lauren when i sold her my Canon Rebel in April.

i used a canon rebel since i started this blog until this past april....it's a great camera!

i shoot in auto focus but will be switching to manual more this year....when i can....i hope.

can you tell us your birth stories?
absolutely!
here we go.....it was 1995.....on a dark and stormy night....

just kidding.

check out these lovely photos....

newborn lauren in the purple hat.

<--- 1998 pregnant with scott.

my birth stories are more funny than anything else.

i had epidurals with all my girls and not with my boys.
i chose to have the epidurals because it hurt more than i could handle.


newborn scott.


sean just born.

2000 - 10 days before sean was born.                                          talby just born.


my boys' labors were quick...both 5 hours total.
talby's was long (for me) and lauren and annie were induced....meaning longer HARD contractions.

i had no c-sections or horror stories of 30 hour labors or morning sickness.

i learned how to breath....on my 5th baby.  
i never knew i was holding my breath during contractions.
but i was.
i never took a lamaze class....or had help from a lactation consultant...because i thought i knew it all.
and believe me....i did NOT.
chicago jen's mom was my labor and delivery nurse who taught me how to breath.  i love her.

we barely made it to the hospital with sean....that was crazy.
craig had to lie down....on the delivery room floor.
it was all just too much...happening too fast...he was light headed...and then BOOM...there was SEAN!


craig and talby.

one of my most favorite photos...
talby liked to be held after her naps....this day we were cuddling on the porch swing.....with baby annie crowding in on our space!


2004 - my friends lisa and chicago jen were at annie's birth.....that was AWESOME!

 

talby and annie                                                                                newborn annie.

with scott and with talby i went into the hospital before i was in real labor and came back home.

i wish i would've nursed longer but i had a crazy deep down reaction after a few weeks in with all of them
that i needed some breathing room!  
i just couldn't nurse any longer.  
i felt smothered.  
but it didn't feel that way feeding them a bottle.  
the shortest i lasted nursing was 2 weeks and the longest was 6 weeks.  
i always wished i was one that could have made it a long time....but i wasn't. 

are you going to stay home now that your kids are in school?

i sure hope so.
i have my photography business and this blog and the etsy shop to provide income so YES i will be staying home....if you can even call that staying home....because really....that is a lot of work!

what does craig do for a living?

he is a commercial banker.
and he looks good in a suit.  
mmm-hmmm.

do you have any advice on raising teenagers?

pray.
stay consistent.
try not to yell or engage in arguments.
find a close friend to share your feelings, frustrations and fears with...don't hold back.
talking about things you are dealing with out loud makes a HUGE difference in how you feel.
with a trusted friend you can share ideas, get advice or let them show you a new angle of parenting.
it's safe.

that is all i have learned so far..... 

was your house in a magazine?
not pictures but linda featured me as a Blogger in Flea Market Style in 2010.

and there was a blurb in Country Living in 2009 called My Country Life



do you have a kindle....do you like to read....what is your favorite book?

we got sean a kindle for christmas but i don't have one.
nor would i want one.
i am not a reader.
i wish i was....
my dad and my sister are crazy about books.
sean, lauren and talby are in love with reading.
i don't have the ability to concentrate that long.  
i did read "A Long Way Gone" last year before going to africa and it was fascinating.



and so sad....and traumatic.
i think it was made so much more real because i went to that exact place the next week.
and met boys who would have been that same age.
it was a life changing book to me.

and of course....Crazy Love.  

 

why do you workout in an assisted living facility?
:)
i live in a small town.  
i drive to a different really small town to workout because the gym there is nicer....and less expensive.
you can buy a membership there because it's the only place in that community as far as i know.

i like it because i am the youngest...it's REALLY quiet...and it's almost always nearly empty.
the machines have tv sound with headphones and i can watch will & grace on lifetime and no one cares.
or regis and kelly!

 
(this is not at my gym...this is a stock photo from google images...and these people look way more active than at my gym :)

if you want to feel strong and fast and young....workout at a retirement center! 
seriously...it's helpful mentally.

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WOW that was a really long post!
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