WELCOME to my weekly post where I share about what I’m creating right now and what I’m loving, and give you a peek into what we’ve been up to this past week.

*** What I’m creating …..

After a great night’s sleep on Friday night, and then breakfast with my love on Saturday morning, I was ready to buckle down in my sewing studio. I had a wonderfully productive day and was able to complete and mail out FOUR orders by late afternoon! (Well, okay. I did have one of the items already in stock. It was glorious to just grab it out of the bin, package it up, and send it off.) I had my sewing machine all set up for Minky sewing. This includes using a ballpoint needle, and using my walking foot. Let me tell you, that walking foot is a godsend! It “grabs” that slippery Minky fabric as I sew, and the fabric glides through the machine so nicely, without bunching or stretching.

Anyway, I completed a super soft lavender Minky Pajama Eater. So perfect for that special little girl! Luscious, top quality fabrics, just the right amount of fluff, and lots of love go into each of my Pajama Eaters. These are a top seller in my Etsy shop. You can check them out and order one for yourself (or, ahem, that little girl) here or here.

I also whipped up a *kitten-sized* welcome home blanket for my mom’s new kitten. This cozy blankie is sure to provide lots of warmth and cuddles for wee Smitty. It has super soft Minky dot on one side, and warm flannel on the other. I just love those turtles! My mom is coming up this weekend to help out with watching the kids. And she is picking up Smitty nearby on Monday! Yay! I could sure go for some kitten cuddles. <3

I also got around to making gift tag labels for the hard lotion bars we made last week. My little ones will give the lotion bars to their teachers on Wednesday for Valentine’s Day. I think they will feel proud and happy to give these — they did a great job helping me make the hard lotion bars!

*** What I’m loving …..

I love snow days. Do you? Maybe you don’t. I totally get it — if you work outside the home, and any school delay or snow day throws you into a childcare tizzy. I dread that person might be me some day. But just maybe I can hold out with my PCA job at the high school long enough until my kiddos can manage a snow day on their own. (hmmm …. ) It is so awesome to be on the same schedule as theirs. Well, this past week we had two delays and one full snow day. I get giddy with anticipation, watching and waiting for our school’s name to appear on the TV — OLD FORGE, 2 HR DELAY. Or even better, OLD FORGE, CLOSED. Actually I get notified first on my Remind App, then usually the TV announcement and a global phone call from the school occur around the same time. How about in the old days? (I am dating myself here. Never, you, mind. lol) In the *old days* we would have to listen for school delays and closings on the radio. The announcer would read them every half hour or so. If you missed it, you missed it. Now, it is super easy to just check online. I really get more excited over this than I should. 😉

On our unexpected day off on Wednesday, I got a really strong urge to hunker down and bake! I had a craving for Whoopie Pies. I had made these years ago, and I loved them. Of course, I do not have that recipe anymore. So … I Googled and found one I thought would work. It was perfect! The only problem was that it made a ton! So, basically, after much taste-testing of batter and icing along the way (ahem), I was pretty much over making the 60 whoopie pies from this recipe. What I did was I made really *big* whoopie pies. It’s all good, folks. Took some in to school, too. 😉

I am also loving that we got to go to open swim again at the YMCA this past Thursday. I hope to make this part of our weekly routine (on the weeks that I have my kids). On Thursdays, after dinner, we pack up and head to the Y. We get there by 6:30, swim for an hour, then quickly shower and get changed. We stop at the McDonald’s drive-thru for a vanilla cone on the way home, and are back in the house by 8:45. Not to bad. I love how the kids and I look forward to this. I love how they get their homework done ahead of time. I love the fun we are having. <3

And lastly, I need to add this to my *loving* life this week. My grown daughter Lauren is a busy lady. Work, gym time, friend time, and many other obligations keep her running. So, even though we live together, there are times when days go by and I don’t see her. She happened to be home all day today, and it was wonderful! We talked. We laughed. We went to the dollar store and Aldi together. We hung up a knick-knack shelf in her room, I helped sew/repair her comforter. It was soooo nice. I love it.

How was YOUR week? I hope you made some memories, made some progress toward your goals, and took some time to care for yourself, too! I would love to hear what is going on in your life. Leave me a comment below. <3