GoodReads 2013 Reading Challenge - July Reading List

Here's another update on my Goodreads 2013 reading challenge.

For July I read:

A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin

The Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card

Speaker for the Dead - Orson Scott Card

I have read 25 books towards my goal of 30 books! I'm 83% done with my goal! Only 5 more books to read!! This goal will be accomplished before the end of the year!

I'm just plain... sad.

July 13, 2013. That was when I had my last sale. I know things on etsy have there ups and downs. But this is a really low point for my shop. I have been ignoring it for the past week. I feel like all the energy I put in my shop gets me no where, so why bother. I will get my confidence / motivation back when I sell something again. Until then, I will be sad, and disappointed.

So while my etsy show is in the hospital, in a deep coma, I've been working on other things. Making blankets for Project Linus. I've made 3 so far, and I'm working on number four. Also, I've been doing a lot of reading. I started reading The Host by Stephenie Meyer this weekend. 

Etsy shop... If you can hear me... Hang in there. Come back. We will get through this. I want my friend back...

Coloring with a 2.5 year old...

Almost everyday, I color with my daughter, who is 2 1/2. We have the same coloring book, and our own box of crayons (we are working on the sharing is caring thing). So I pick out a page to color this morning, and start coloring. Chloe gets out her coloring book, and ask me to find the same page that I'm coloring in her book. I find the page, and I go back to coloring. I finish coloring the page in about 20 minutes and I look at her page, and I smile.

Chloe's page is on the left, and mine is on the right (in case you can't figure it out). There are some differences between the pictures. Example: Her sun had to be blue not yellow. If her attention span was longer I wonder how she would have colored the rest of the picture. 

Chloe, you amaze me every day.

Crocheting like a mad woman...

The holiday season is just around the corner. Since my etsy shop has been dead the past week or so, I'm taking advantage of this down time and making Christmas and Halloween items. I've noticed in the past years that my holiday items aren't a big seller, but it's still fun to have a few holiday items in my shop. 

I've also noticed from past years that I put my holiday items in my shop too soon. There are a lot on Christmas in July sales, but who really wants/buys Christmas stuff in July? So I'm waiting to add my holiday items in late August/early September. Maybe I will sell more. We'll see. I don't like seeing snowman, and reindeer in my shop for 5 months anyway.

Here is what I made this weekend.

ZOMBIE EYEBALLS!!! 

And what makes zombie eyeballs even better?? I added bells inside to turn them into baby rattles, or cat toys!  I revised my pattern, and added the shine part on the pupil. I'm really happy with the way these turned out. I'm going to sell them in a set of 3, for $18.

Today's project:
Pumpkin rattles

Coming soon!!!

This little whale will be coming soon to my Etsy shop! 

Click here to see the rest of my whale collection. Oh, and a narwhal too!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/72stitches/search?search_query=whale&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search

In other Etsy related news:

I'm 80 sales away from 1,000!

DYI Nursery Mobile...

A couple years ago, I have a customer buy a couple items for me and turned them into a baby mobile for her baby's room. I'm not sure why it took me so long to share this, but better late than never!

Now, I have no idea how she put this together, or what tools/materials she used. But here is a pic. Maybe it will give you some ideas.

She bought my Apple rattle set, and my apple wedge set. 

And, I think it turned out awesome.

Most of my items make great baby shower gifts, and can be used to decorate a baby's nursery. Check out the link below.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/72stitches

Five Things....

I saw this on another blog, so I thought I would fill out my 5 favorite things. Enjoy.

Five Things I Have a Passion For:

1. My family
2. My kids
3. Crocheting
4. Reading
5. Etsy

Five Things I Would Like to do Before I Die:

1. Learn to sew.
2. Must figure out how to knit.
3. Travel to a different country.
4. Learn a different language. 
5. Maintain my goal weight.

Five Things I Say A Lot:

1. "No."
2. "Not today."
3. "Good gravy."
4. "Indoor voice."
5. "Pick up your toys."

Five Books and/or Magazines I Have Read Lately:

1. A Game of Thrones (book #1)
2. Crochet Today
3. Grand Ledge Independent (local newspaper)
4. Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia, #2)
5. Ender's Game (currently reading)

Five Favorite Movies:

1. Romeo & Juliet (1996)
2. Stranger than Fiction
3. Brass Teapot
4. 50/50
5. Iron Man (All three)

Five Places I Would Love to Travel to:

1. Anywhere without kids.
2. Anywhere without kids.
3. Anywhere without kids.
4. Anywhere without kids.
5. And.... Anywhere without kids. You get the point.

Is it October 22nd yet??

Allegiant

Veronica Roth

Is it October 22nd yet? I want to read this book so bad. 

Here is the book description from Amazon:

"What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?
The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers inDivergent and Insurgent."

Another great series of books to read.

A blast from the past...

I was looking through some old videos on my phone, and I came across this one. Natalie is 3/4 months old. She's playing the imaginary piano, with dad's help. So stinkin' cute. 

Breakfast...

A little video at breakfast this morning.

Books, books, and look! MORE BOOKS!

A Game of Thrones

Gorge R.R. Martin

I finished the Game of Thrones book this weekend! Hooray! It was an awesome book. I love the characters, well written, and ending makes me want to read more! *Looks to see how many pages the next book is....* 780+ pages. Yikes! Another monster book!

Ender's Game

Orson Scott Card

I will be taking a break from the series, to start reading another series, The Ender's Game. I'm a sucker for reading the books before I watch the movie. I started reading the book last night. I like the book so far. 

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

C.S. Lewis

Also I’m in the middle of the Chronicles of Narnia series. I’m reading the series in the order they were published. I’m just waiting for this book to be returned at the library.

Chloe's Favorite books... this week...

I make weekly trips to the library with my kids. Chloe, who is 2 1/2, "Go to library? Get new books?" She asks this EVERY day. But I can only handle one weekly trip to the library. I'm glad that she loves books. So here are a couple of her favorite books.

Burger Boy

Alan Durant

Mustache Baby

Bridget Heos

I swear I have to read these books about a dozen times a day. Yikes. 
Good news, they both have to be returned on Wednesday.