...ouch...

Wassup? ...homie... :D
Anyhoo, how's y'all dooin' tanight!!?

I have a headache, and it is impairing my choice in words...sue me....

So...I didn't get any sleep last night. The baby was up all night. It was SUPER fun! ...like an involuntary slumber party where my daughter kicked me and screamed all night. Yup...like I said, SUPER FUN!

Steven came home today after his calls and relieved me...I was allowed to go and do things...yup...went to the bank, then the dollar store to get somethings that I NEEDED (I swear, I needed this stuff!! No jokes!) Then I went and checked out the competition...lol! Just joking! There is this *AWESOME* kids used clothing store in Wasaga Beach called Little Labels...I simply love it!! I wish I had more time to poke around (I had only allotted myself 10 minutes for the fact that i had to go get the demons from school) But I loved it! Huge store, sweet lady, aweosme selection...I'm totally going to go back one day! :)

So, yea...Steven's birthday is tomorrow...I'm not sure what is going on yet, but I'll figure it out :) ...it is alowly coming together! :D

I'm going to go knit...I've wanted to for days, (I have this really cute idea trapped in my head...I saw it on a fellow facebookers profile photo...now I'm going to try it) It is a tea cup cozy and I'm really excited about making one and trying it out...mmm...tea! :)

GOOD NIGHT!! :D

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Ba-ba-ma-ma!

Hey y'all!
Sorry I've not been posting the last couple days...I've been fairly busy. Last night was Walmart...the night before was...Walmart? ...Can't remember....nonetheless, I've been busy.

I got my license back!! Hurray! ...it is overrated and depressing...but yea!

The baby had her needles on Monday and has been a miserable, grouchy little child since. Clingy isn't even the word for her lately. And it doesn't help that I'm feeling distanced from people. But, I've been indulging her wants and needs and even though I don't get ANYTHING done, it is still nice to have the baby love me! :)

I purchased *wonderful* shelves from Walmart...they are EXACTLY what I've been looking for! I'm super excited, I only got 2, because that is all they had at the Alliston Walmart (really crappy selection there...I'm also upset with it because they didn't have any fabric :s) but I have sent Steven on a mission to go and find 2 more. I've been told that Walmart South has 2, as well as Walmart North. Hopefully they haven't gone to someone else.

I HAVE SOCKS NOW!! lol! Funny story; When I first opened the store I had a lady come in and tell me that in all of Creemore, nobody sells socks. I thought it was random, but I didn't think much of it. Anyways, I went to Walmart (I love that store!!) and found packs of socks for pretty cheap. (ex: 10 infant socks for $8.00) I figured, split them up, sell them for $1.00 and poof! I've solved Creemore's sock issue, I'm bringing in a little extra money and it gets people interested in the only sock store in town!! Now if only I could solve the parking problems, I'd be a saviour! :)

I've met a new friend!! I'm super excited! Her name is Karlie, she is 18 and has a 2 month old daughter named Hailey. She lives in Creemore with her boyfriend and has wanted to meet new people. I was in the grocery store one day about a month ago and saw them. Figuring they could probably use some of Savanna's stuff, I approached them and told them that my name is Ashley and I own the used clothing store down the street. If they needed anything for Hailey then I was more than happy to give it to them. They said they have everything they need, but would stop in if they thought of anything. About a week later she came in and hung out for a while. I told her that I go knitting Wednesday nights, that if she wanted to come, it would be great to have her! So she called me Tuesday and asked if I was still going. Due to recent developments, I said most certainly not, but she was welcome to come walking with Sherri and I if she wanted to get out. Sherri ended up not going because her son is sick (I hope he is feeling better!!) so we went to Walmart in Wasaga Beach in hopes of finding 2 more of the shelving units I was looking for. (To no avail) We had fun, I think, and I'm happy that I have met a new friend that holds similar interests as me :)

I'm going to be starting up a "knitting/sewing/any project you feel like bringing in" night on Wednesdays. Not because I feel like being a bitch, but because I need mommy time, I have a perfectly good venue to do this, and Wednesday is a happy medium for everyone. It is halfway through the week and people are happy to have a lift in their week by bitching and stitching :) I'm excited! I've wanted to do this from the beginning but was held back by not wanting to step on any toes. Now I'm free! ...and I can do what I want! lol! Anyone reading who wants to come out, leave me a comment and I'll be happy to provide you with information! :) I've already got 4 people who want to come! :) EXCITED!!! XD

Anyhoo, I've got paperwork coming out of my ears, so I should be getting to it.
Thanks for reading! <3
Ta ta for now!

PS: "ba-ba-ma-ma" is Savanna's version of Mama, and I love it!! I'm so happy that she is FINALLY saying Mama!! Took her long enough! It figures, kitty and daddy came first! lol!

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After MUCH consideration...

...I have decided that I am going to keep blogging. I really enjoy it, it is a great place to vent, to think and to express. I'm not going to let anyone hold me down. I'm going full out...no bars! Plus, I found this *super cute* template that I have fallen in love with :D

I have re-posted the blog entries that I had taken down from my old blog. Some things will be changed, but that is to be expected.

Over the last 24 hours I have done a fair amount of thinking. Things have come to a head on certain subjects and I've decided to cut them loose. I don't need the extra stress that particular things and/or people bring to me. I have weeded out the toxic in my life before, the time has come around to once again do that. I'm done.

I have things that I would like to do. Things that I have been holding myself back from doing for reasons unimportant. Now is the time that I'm going to proceed with them, irregardless of what people say, think, feel or otherwise. Badmouth me, gossip about me, do what you please. Just remember, that with anger, jealousy, discontent and resentment, it breeds interest and excitement. Bring it on. I'm ready. It is so cut-throat out there, I'm finally beginning to realize that. Let's just hope I can remember it.

By the way, just one final statement for the generalized public, if you don't like my blog, don't read it. Nobody is forcing you.

Anyways, I'm off to finishing my handbags. I'm FINALLY hanging them in my store! :D

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...random thoughts for a Thursday night...

Friday, March 19th, 2010 @ 12:24am
1. I have paperwork to file for the 20th...and I forgot until about 10 minutes ago...crap...
2. I think too much...and worry too much
3. Sometimes I forget...okay, you got me...I always forget.
4. I want to get married in July [like we planned] but I can't do this alone
5. A teeny tiny little part of me wants another baby...someone come beat me please?!
6. I NEED A GAY FRIEND!!!
7. I need more mommy time... What am I talking about...I need mommy time. Period!
8. I would like some more friends...I'm lonely
9. I wish my kids would listen to me...bahaha! Good luck there!
10. I wish my house was cleaner...and that I had the energy to clean it.
11. I want my baby to stay a baby forever...just not the destructive "Children of the Corn" baby that she is currently being.
12. I *need* an ultrasound. I've cancelled it 4 times now, and I really need to find out what this lump is on the back of my neck...it is bothering me.
13. I like wine...A LOT...but don't like the way I feel in the morning
14. I need to loose weight...I can't believe I've piled it back on.
15. I'm really excited that I've met a new friend [Sherri] I think we are very similar people and have a lot in common. I just hope I don't screw it up somehow. I'm pretty damn good at sabotaging my own life lately.
17. What is wrong with my body lately??!
18. My bra strap is bothering me...but only on my right shoulder.
19. Someone asked me for the time today. I giggled because the watch I am wearing hasn't worked in about 6 months. The only reason I wear it is because it is pretty. lol! She giggled too after I told her this...but I still didn't help her with the time! lol!
20. I'm really excited about getting onto my sewing machine, but I never have the time and I always have the baby.
21. I wish my brother and I were closer I wish my brother wasn't such a tool.
22. I miss my mommy...a lot
23. Rachel misses my mommy a lot
24. I need to go grocery shopping...crap...
25. I wish my bestie Ashley#2 lived closer to me and/or drove a damn car!!
26. I don't like asking people for things, or sometimes accepting things from people. I feel bad asking for things, like, I'm needy or unable to help myself. I don't like accepting things from people because some people are mean and when they give you something, they usually expect something in return. Not all people are like that, just people lately...damn people!
27. I don't get out anymore...people wonder why I'm grumpy.
28. I need a ledger book...
29. I want to go to Walmart, but I can't get there :(
30. I'm tired ALL THE TIME...
31. I love my children, but they are making want to poke myself in my eye with a blunt object repeatedly (I blame March Break)
32. I <3 blogging!
33. I need to open a bank account for my business...oops!
34. OMG!! SINCE WHEN DO EARWIGS FLY?!??!
35. I realized that I just skipped number 16...lmao!
36. I have an insane irrational fear of earwigs, and, go figure, 5 minutes after Steven [my usual hero] goes to bed, one appears on the chair beside me...THEN FLYS AWAY!!?! :s
37. I'm currently having the most awesome Facebook conversation ever, over, you guessed it, the FLYING EARWIG!! ...that thing is going to consume my life before you know it...
38. I'm hoping to make it to 40, I don't know why...I'm OCD like that.
39. Speaking of OCD, I'm noticing that the older I get, the most obsessed I am with little things...like the soap container being turned a certain way, or a towel being hung a certain way. Even something as simple as the way a piece of paper sits on a table...OH GOD! I'm turning into my mother!! ...it really isn't a bad thing...but she is the most obsessive person I've ever met!! lol!
40. I get my baby bonus tomorrow...I want to go to Walmart...go grocery shopping...get my ledger book...*look* at fabric. I need to get there...I want a "shopping with the girls" day. That would be fun!
41. My bum is going numb.
42. Last weeks obsession was Chai tea and Chai lattes...now I've moved onto a new love, Canada Dry White Tea Ginger Ale with Raspberry. It sounds complicated, but I love it!! (Ok Canada Dry, where is my compensation for the advertising? lol!)
43. The boys get to see their mother tomorrow night...not looking forward to this weekend. They usually act like monsters the following Saturday and Sunday after they see "her".
44. I need business to pick up...
45. I'm pretty sure I'm tired...
46. Tomorrow is Friday...it feels like Sunday.

I'm sure I could go to 50, maybe even 60, but more likely 70 or 80 [because I'm alone and have 600 million things running though my head right now] but I'm going to stop it here, go for a smoke and then to bed. Nighty night! xo

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*Light Bulb!* I have an idea!!

Thursday, March 18th, 2010 @ 12:43am

Okay, so...I've been bored out of my mind today...I cleaned the store yesterday, the baby has been relatively good, and even though there has been people in, it really hasn't been anyone interesting. They come in, browse, and then leave. Whatever...

ANYHOO! So, I was surfing the net looking for something to do (I have my sewing machine with me, I figured her and I would get into some trouble, lol!) and I found a bunch of *super* cute stuff...dresses I'm going to make the girls, some shoes for Savanna, stuffies for the kids for special occasions, etc. Then, as I looked around my store I had an idea, and it hit me like a tonne of bricks...why don't I make things out of recycled clothing?! "...stupid Ashley, why did you not think of this before?" was the next thought that jumped into my head. I've been calling my mom TRYING to share this super awesome idea with her, I can't find her (she is probably working and I don't want to bother her) I tried calling Steven, but he isn't answering (probably on a call...besides, he is bitchy today anyways, he would just trample on my good mood and high spirits) I want to call Sherri, but I'm pretty sure she is "volun-told-ing" at the arena. Poor woman. I'm going to try my bestie (Ashley#2) next...she'd better answer!! XD

I NEED TO SHARE THIS IDEA WITH SOMEONE!!!!

I'm bursting at the seams (tee hee! Look, I made a funny!) with ideas!! And I think this might really work...I'm super excited too! My only worry about sewing is the cost that comes along with purchasing the fabric. Normally, I go to Walmart, or Fabricland when they are having a sale, but nine times out of ten, it costs me an arm and a leg, plus my first born, and my left shoe when I want to make something. But now, I have a store, an ENTIRE store, full of used clothing (fabric...c'mon...stay with me) at my disposal!! *EEEEK!!*

**Edited@12:25pm: I did end up having someone interesting come in today...SHERRI!!! :D Thank you for brightening my day! xo

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Well, that was interesting...

Thursday, March 18th, 2010 @ 3:10pm


Happy St Patty's Day Sherri! (You're my only follower...this post goes out to you! lol!)

Tonight was interesting. (I should have just gone to bed...stupid me) Knitting night was cancelled...I'm sad, not because I enjoy knitting (I do, but really, I can do it anywhere) but because it is my "mommy time"...my chance to get out and socialize. Yea, I do that all day, but not to people I know. Just random people that come into my store, and usually it is the same conversations over and over again, "Oh, the baby is so cute, what's her name?", "Nice weather we are having.", "How long have you been open?", "Do you take items on consignment?", "Hi, it smells like crap in here!" (Just kidding on that last part! Well, not really...I'll explain the later) I dunno...I can't drive, so it's not like I can get up and say, "I'm going for a drive, be back once I get it out of my system." like I use to.

It is lonely around here sometimes...even though I have people coming in and out of the store, and I am SURROUNDED by children, I still feel alone. Don't get me wrong, I love Creemore, it is such an amazing town, but it is so far away from my friends and family. I don't know a lot of people around here, and I sometimes find it hard to socialize. Meh...I'll figure it out.

Back to my original statement, tonight was interesting. So I got home from work, a little bummed because of the lack of socialization, whined to Steven, who promptly told me, "If you want to go upstairs, close the door, watch tv and knit, then go for it." (I should have taken it) but instead said, "no, that's okay. I want to spend time with my family". So, I went into the living room to find my gorgeous little Savanna, happily playing away. I said hi, gave her a kiss and walked into the kitchen. Washed a load of dishes (that I still haven't put away) and went outside for a smoke. Came back in, checked on the baby to find that she was standing on the couch. Little monkey apparently knows how to climb furniture...I never even knew. So, I took the opportunity to go and sit with her and play...we don't get to very often, I figured I would take advantage of it. Well, doesn't she trip backwards over the pillow at the end of the couch, and take a dive off the end of the couch. Mommy instinct kicks in as I'm faced with these two scenarios: 1: Don't grab the outstretched arm and have the baby fall on her head, either splitting it open, breaking her neck or getting a concussion. 2: Grab the baby's outstretched arm, and possibly dislocate it.

I went with option 2.

So, there we are, 30 minutes later, the baby still freaking out, Steven giving me the "You broke the baby" look and me freaking out. I've just dislocated my daughter's arm. Give me the mother of the year trophy, would ya? Jeez...

Anyways, long, painful story made shorter...We went to the hosptial. Steven had to drive because of my lack of a licence (three carseats jammed in the backseat of a station wagon DID look kinda funny) We argued a bit on the way there (I kept saying I'm sorry and he kept insisting that he "wasn't upset with me...he was upset with the situation"...pah...he was upset with me) Got to the hospital, got through triage, saw the [hunky] doctor who ordered x-rays, got the xrays done (poor little baby freaked out, I cried) went back to emerg, she fell asleep, I started to until a young girl came in who had been snowboarding and possibly broke her arm (I don't know how she couldn't have, she said that she landed with her arm backwards and her palm touched the back of her head...hard to explain when not showing in person, but it made me cringe.) Anyhoo, the [hunky] doctor came back, told me that there were no breaks, no fractures and the shoulder was in place. He explained to me that usually in young children, when an arm is grabbed and the body weight pulls against it, the arm is dislocated not at the shoulder, but in the elbow (something about a ring in the joint blah blah...by this point, I was panicking) He said that it was simple what he had to do, just twist her arm at the forearm and pull. She was still sleeping. He did it, I felt the "pop", she cried and then went right back to sleep. lol! I was about 6 shades of white and feeling woozy. lol! He told me that if she was awake right now, she would be using it. It might be sore, but probably not, and definately nothing to stop her from carrying on with her day. She was going to be fine!! No splint, no cast, nothing. I'm so relieved, but I feel like a shmuck. Poor wee girl, mama's sorry :'(

So, onto another topic. I walked into the store Tuesday morning [after being closed Monday] and was instantly clobbered by this bad terrible smell. I started searching for it right away...couldn't find it. I narrowed it down to somewhere in the back, but couldn't find it. Today, Steven came and got the kids early enough in the day so I could get some things done. I immediately started cleaning and organizing the back. As I was knee deep in toys, office supplies, hangers and clothing, I had a couple of ladies walk into the store. I waded out to the front and asked them how they were. They replied with "Hi, it smells like crap in here!" lol! What the hell am I suppose to say to that?! "Uh, thanks?" No, probably not...So, I said one of the stupidest things I could have responded with, "Yup, I know." They frowned and walked out. Crap.

Nonetheless, I found the putrid smell, and I'm pretty sure I have my darling children to thank for it! On the floor, behind a laundry basket containing clothing and small items I need to take home, was a nasty little clementine that had been placed there by a gnome (the kids have no idea how it got there, so my deduction is a gnome) and decided to not only give off an awesome smell, but mold as well. Yup...super. But, at least I found the smell, AND my back room is clean now! lol!

So, I made my best friend a shrug for her birthday (Yup, the same brown shrug that I almost roasted over an open fire or cut into a million pieces) and she loves it! I've convinced myself that it was the best present she got that day (I know, I'm cocky) I had made two boo-boos on it because I was new at making it and refused to give into its sly and shameless acts of tretchery...so I left them there. But when I put it on to try it out, I noticed them...and noticed them...and noticed them. Then, thoughout the day, I thought about them, and thought about them, and thought about them. By the end of that day, I was agonizing over them, and eventually dreamed bad dreams about them. (Yea, I'm that obsessed with my mistakes...it's a miracle I get any sleep at all) So I decided that I was going to "embellish" the shrug (I have to actually shrug my shoulders everytime I try to think of the name of this thing, because it is one of those words that I keep forgetting, so I've made an official gesture that I can remember...cause I'm cool like that. If you see me randomly shrugging, I'm trying to remember the name of this thing! lol!) I brought into work with me (on the day of her party) some little brown gems, brown colored pearls and some chocolate brown satin ribbon. Long story short...Sherri is my hero! Greatest idea EVER: Run the ribbon though the shrug (I just shrugged again) so as to cover said boo-boos and tie it into a bow at the bottom. I LOVE IT!! It totally completed it, and absolutely covered the boo-boos! THANK YOU!! <3 Here are photos of the finished product :D (They really don't do the shrug (I just shrugged again) justice...but you get the point)

*TO BE POSTED WHEN I GET HOME TO MY LAPTOP*

I just finished another shrug (I just shrugged again) made from a thick charcoal grey and a thin black yarn. OMG! It is A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E! I'm a little frustrated with it though. I added about 10 stitches to it so it would fit around my massive breasts (tee hee!) and instead of actually fitting now, it is waaaaaaay too big. It is larger in the back than it is in the front. I know, I know, "just pull it down so it is bigger in the front" Nope, it doesn't work that way. I tried. I bitched at it and played with it for about a half an hour this monring. I lost that battle. Either way, I'll hold onto it, give it to someone for Christmas or something. I'm going to try a burgundy and off white one next...should be interesting :)

Well, it is now 20 to 1 and I'm exhausted (I had a terrible night last night...didn't sleep a wink) I'm going for my last smoke of the day (or first, depending on how you look at it) and then I'm turning in. Ta ta for now! :D

~Ashley

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Good Morning, Good Morning!

Thursday, March 11th, 2010 @ 9:02am


So today, I was abbruptly woken up at 6:30am by my Jonathan, 10 year old because he wanted to get to school so he wasn't late for his field trip. lol! Child, I love you, but your bus doesn't leave until 7:15, it only takes about 2 minutes to get to the school, and momma needs her sleep!!! -_-

Last night, I finished the knitted cape bolero vest sweaterwithnoarms wrap I've been working on for about 2 months. (I don't even think it is called a wrap...It has a name, but I keep forgetting it...so we are going to call it a wrap!) No, it isn't that complicated, it isn't even complicated at all...knitting and purling is all it is! But finding the time was such a huge thing for me. As well, I had to tear that damn thing down about 20 times!! I was angry!! But now I love it!! :) I'm going to wear it today, I'll try to take photos :) I love the way that it looks so much that I have started another one. I'm actually hoping that I get this one done a little sooner, like Saturday-ish! lol! We'll see how THAT goal pans out! :D

I HAVE to start working on the custom order purses for my friends wedding. I haven't even thought about what I'm going to do...all I know is that she wants an ivory wristlet, with a chocolate brown lining, a zipper, and some embellishments...I made a CUTE ADORABLE little handbag that I thought would be perfect...it wasn't. So, now I have to go back to the drawing board. That's okay, I love doing this stuff...it is finding the time and the energy (which I have had a severe lack of lately) I'm going to take my sewing machine into the store today and see how that goes. Nine times out of ten, the baby won't allow me to get anything like that done. We'll see...maybe she won't be so "Children of the Corn" today! lol!

The store is coming along. I've got things moved around and sorted...I just need to label things and try to get people into the store!! Now that the nice weather has arrived, I'm hoping it brings more traffic in!

Last night was knitting night, so Steven came and got the kids from the store around 3:30 and took them home, allowing me to stick around and do things until the time came to go to knitting. Around 5:30, I had a woman come in, whom I know from around town and I've actually met once at an ex-mutual-friends house. We will call her Fran. She got all nervous and shaky and stuff. I helped her the best I could and eventually she calmed down, but she admitted to me that she didn't like shopping and that it made her panic. Anyways, I helped her find things, she tried on about 15 items, and ended up buying about 5...yea!! :) (You know things are going slow when I'm getting excited over a 5 item purchase!)

The most interesting part to this experience though, was when she was trying on a tank top with a pair of jeans. She was on the fence about it because she didn't like her midrift. I pulled off my black zip up sweatshirt, handed it to her and told her to try it on. I knew that it would complete the outfit. She loved it so much that she asked if she could buy it off me!! I literally sold the shirt right off my back!! lol! I couldn't believe it!! :D

Well, it is time for me to sign off, I have to go get the munchkin children ready for daycare and myself ready to go to the store for the day...I kinda just want to stay in bed today and watch tv. But, this is the life of a working mom...go go go!

Have a happy day!

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Finally, a blog to call my own!

Monday, March 8th, 2010 @ 10:19pm


Helloooooo world! My name is Ashley, owner and operator of Second Time's a Charm, a quaint little secondhand, gently used clothing and accessories store in the beautiful hamlet of Creemore, Ontario.

A little bit about me? I'm a mom to 4 wonderful children, a finacee to an amazing man and I LOVE TO SEW! (Oh yea, and knit!) As a little girl to an amazing seamstress, I use to pick out my own patterns and fabrics, to create cute and beautiful outfits for myself. My mother of course guided me, as she still does on many occasions, but as I bonded with my mother over the sewing machine, I also learned an amazing dying art, the craft of sewing.

As my mother handed down her beloved Singer sewing machine to me, my heart filled with joy and my eyes with tears, I learned to sew on this machine, now, it was mine to call my own.

Recently, my oldest daughter Rachel has taken an interest in helping mommy, the same way I did when I was her age. It would be an understatement to call me thrilled! We have picked out fabrics that she likes and patterns she adores, the other day, we made her a purse and she hasn't put it down since :) I can't wait until she gets to start sewing on her Barbie sewing machine, complete with a little pink pedal! :D (Thanks so much again Sherri!) Mommy just needs to find time!

Well, look around, comment on my photos, and tell me what you think! Heck, go for a drive and stop on into the store, I love meeting new people and a new face is always a welcome face!

I can't promise that I'll update often, but I'll be back as soon as I remember or get time, which ever comes first! :D

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