Not TOtally gone ;o)

Hey everybody....I'm still here....thank you for all the nice comments and emails!!!

Well I can't just leave all my friends now, can I? I've been thinking a lot about this whole blogging thing - and I can see I got Shannon thinking too - what it means to me? I *spoke* to Blair a bit about it too. About the friendships we form here - are we REally friends? I can only say now, that we are! I can see how people think about me and take time to write to me and I think about my friends too ;o) (A smile for you Shannon - ha ha!)

• I LOVE blogging
• I LOVE crafting
• I LOVE selling my stuff

And I will continue to do so. I just need to find a daily routine around here, being new to staying at home and all! And I REally need to get my house de-cluttered, it clutters my brain, y'know? It was SO cluttered today, the weather is gray AND I just got my period (which bums me out), but then I got this in the mail:

Ever since Blair blogged about her first quilted handbag, I have LOVED them. When we arranged a swap, I never thought she would make me one - but she DID! And she even made it like *my first love*. She even send some other goodies: Fabric swatches, paper, candy, "Blueprint" magazine + pressies for the kids. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SAVING MY DAY BLAIR!

AND if that wasn't enough: When I opened my email Shannon had written me a looong LOVELY letter - thank you sweetie ;o)

AND I got a request for more giraffes!!!! Phew!

More goodies:

1. From my swap with RUN AMOK                              

2. I bought this pocket wallet from three green apple's

SO! How are YOUR routines? Do you have any? You better answer this or I will make a meme and TAG you all!!

Comments

[Kristy]

Glad you decided to stay around!I feel the same as you that there is so much inspiration in the blogosphere but it does take up so much of my time.I think I have found a little more balance though hope you can too:)

[Fiona]

So glad you're back Kristina! :) No established routines to share, unfortunately - I spend a bit too much time on the computer too, and rarely feel like I'm on top of things. I'm trying to allocate half an hour every evening to answer emails because that's something I never feel on top of... I'll let you know if it works! ;)

[nichola]

Phew! I'm so glad to see you back, i thought you'd gone and left us!
I so need to buy one of your creations.

[Jessica Hood]

I think the blogging world is amazing. I have "met" tons of amazing crafters, artists, and just all-around great people through my blog & others' blogs. Glad you decided to stick around. And the bag Blair made you is gorgeous!

[joleen]

glad to see you writing! blair sent you *fabulous* goodies. you're lucky to have such a great friend. :)

i know what you mean about trying to come up with a daily routine! it's hard at first but i think after you de-clutter things should be easier. now to take my own advice! ;)

[tracy]

oh kristina! so good to "see" you! glad you are not gone for good. as for routines... i try to limit my "screen time" to an hour (or so) in the morning. chai in hand. it is hard to control though, isn't it. i have lately begun to log on in the evening - but am trying to wean myself!

[kelly]

so glad to hear you're not gone for good! our routine is totally random, and catching up with blogs is wonderful, but can take up so much time! your mail is fantastic!

[Blair]

I think it goes without saying, but I will say it, thank goodness you are here and blogging. Now, go clean your house and come back later!

[sabine]

Im glad too, been looking everyday .... so glad that you keep the spirit ;-D ... I will turn back to you after Barcelona. Heart.

[tania]

hee hee ! a command!
well, i try and tie a blog post into my routine of working at home on my illustration work and then i leave for my part time job in the afternoon.
lately blogging has me wondering why i do it as well. i have to remind myself why!
it helps me in many many ways- to feel creative, connected , inspired.
good luck finding your new routine!
:)

[elisa]

it's so nice to see you again, Kristina. i'm sure that time will help you in finding your natural routine. I'm a full time worker that dreams more hours a day; I try everyday to balance homekeeping and creative pleasures.. the seconds win more than the first but I don't give up and when the bunch of dirty clothes is taller than usual, I simply switch off my pc. Good luck!

[sally]

Kristina, glad you're back, you were missed. I've been trying to limit my "internet" time to one hour a day [when the boys are napping/sleeping]. I used to feel a little overwhelmed when I would look at Bloglines and see all the posts I "needed" to read. For some reason I feel less obligated to read all the posts and will skip over some here and there. I'm way behind on emails, but I'm trying not to stress out about it and hope people understand. Welcome back!

[Shannon]

Im muchos happy youre back, now I wont send you loony emails and request smiley faces! I have the absolute luxury of working for myself therefore alot of my time is spent 'researching' on the internet!! I call it researching anyway....but on my days at home with child I have computer time in her sleep times only. But thats probably because she's getting older and needs me entertaining her more often than not. Oh well, shes on little once and she gets her way!
I am convinced there is no balance, there is always something there to make you feel guilty if you spend too much time on the computer, too much time knitting, too much time playing in the backyard. But really who cares? ones creative energy must be exerted somewhere...you might aswell share it!

[Emma]

Well, I just started reading your journal a few entries ago (after I discovered bloglines and so found out I could keep up with all the blogs so easily!) so I'm glad that you;ve decided to saty around too.

Also you're so lucky to get those great packages, what lovely stuff! :)

[tuscanycastlegirl]

Good Morning,
Glad to see your back. I've been reading your postings for awhile.
I know it's challanging being a stay-at-home-mother.....but this blogging thing...I think.....helps me be better at it...what I mean is..my creative part of my brain is being fed..and that leads to a happier mama...and thus....somehow..a happier family??? Sure! p.s.. I have always gotten (is this a word?) up in the mornings at least an hour before the children - for "me" time. I use that time to read, stretch, and/or blog around. By the time the kids wake...my creative side has been fed & I feel alive!

[tuscanycastlegirl]

oh yea...did I mention that Coffee is always involved with my morning "me blogging around" routine? A couple of cups at least.
Have a good day! Keep on making stuff!

[michelle]

Oh I am so happy to hear that, the community wouldn't be the same without you. I love your spunk! You are so creative. I think that we all need a break sometimes (I kinda have been not blogging as much as usual...due to many things) but it is so great to have you back!

[manda]

So glad to have you back Kristina!!
I wish I could come up with some useful suggestions for sorting out a proper routine, but I'm still trying to work one out for myself! Trying to combine all of this with being a full time mom is the hardest thing I've ever tried to do. But I'm sure we'll work it out at some point!! Very glad to see you posting though:)

[kathi]

glad you are sticking around. for me the hardest thing is to maintain balance. i guess that is life though, continually changing direction to maintain my sanity. almost feels like those highwire acts with a balancing pole...

[Sarah Jane]

I just discovered your blog a little while ago then you were gone and now you're back! Yay!
as for routines? I've been a stay-at-home mum for 5 yrs now and still no concrete routine. There's the getting the kids to preschool and the mealtimes that are of course regular. The cleaning, shopping, laundry, organizing, blogging etc. that just seems to get done whenever...I try to just go with the flow as much as possible and try not to let the mess/cluttered house get on my nerves...wine in the evening helps.

[mary]

it's so nice to hear from you again! Blair is so generous. When she posted that bag on her blog, i had decided I wanted to buy it, then I read further and saw that she made it for you! You're very lucky, indeed. I also love your other goodies. Rina makes such lovely wallets. I see one of those in my future...

[Mery]

You should totally make a meme about routines!!! I'm always curious how you all talented, crafty and super productive people manage kids, families, jobs, keeping a house and still have time to create amazing work and blog! I'm very curious =P

[Mery]

Oh, here's my routine, very messy and I'm not very productive but here it goes (like you I'm not used to the staying at home thing and it's been very hard to get in some type of groove that works well): wake up around 7am; drop off Alex at work (husband) (we only have one car); Tino (20 month old son) and I come back home and have breakfast; he plays for a couple of hours and watches a little tv while I check my e-mail really quick, then try to clean and get the laundry ready (which are easy tasks but take a long time with a toddler around trying to eat the dirt that you just swept); then is nap time for him which means I have 2 hours (on a good day) to do things I need like answer e-mails, make phone calls, pay bills, do laundry and if there's time left, blog, read blogs or tend to a crafty project; Tino wakes up, we have lunch, play some more and a little bit after that we go to the YMCA so I can exercise a bit and he can socialize with other toddlers; when we are done there, we go pick up the husband; come back home; cook dinner; eat dinner; clean up; Tino's bedtime (bath & story time, Alex and I take turns doing this); then spend time with Alex a bit and maybe still have another hour working on a project. The only variation to our routine is the days that we don't keep the car we go to the park all afternoon. And that is how my days go =)

[Liesl]

Wow, you DID luck out! Great bag! I'm in the process of de-cluttering too, and it's amazing how much time it takes. Cheers!

[Emma]

Really nice to see you back! I hope you get into a good routine soon. I don't have a routine yet, I just lost my job a couple of weeks ago, but I'm trying, so I read all the tips you get with great interest. Right now my days tend to be full of either lokking for jobs or hanging about town, or on a bad day, I get stuck in front of the computer and get nothing at all done...

[natascha]

I'm happy to hear from you!! WoW YOU ARE A LUCKY GIRL!! What a wonderful parcel full of great things! You know I'm working from home. Sometimes it is difficult to establish a work routine and not spend my time reading or watching TV. I' m not very very diciplined but I try to work 7 hours only in my job. It doesn't work everyday but... we are creative persons...not machines!!!
Enjoy all your beautiful goodies and have a wonderful day!!!
Be kind with you!