Please do NOT feel like you have to buy anything just because I am telling you this: I have an Etsy shop! I’ve been planning to open one eventually, maybe for selling crocheted pumpkin bags. I was nudged into doing so tonight because SAJ talked me into participating in Neilochka’s First Annual Blogger Holiday Online Arts and Crafts Fair* this weekend, and it was just easier this way.

My Etsy shop isn’t very exciting at the moment, since there is only one thing for sale there. But it’s a fun thing:

Gumball magnets!

Who knows if I will actually sell anything. But the shop is open, and I will be adding more items by and by.

I know you all are waiting with bated breath to hear about the rest of our visit in Omaha, including the wedding. And of course you are dying to see photos, right? Well, I’m sorry but you’re gonna have to wait a little longer. I am tired and have to get up early in the morning. And this weekend is my friend Jill’s 40th birthday bash, so we’re going to be busy partying, and taking more photos, so I can get even further behind. Sometimes I think maybe it would be smarter to just skip ahead and pick up right where we are now.

I will at least tell you about the time a couple of weeks ago when Annalie was watching Wonder Pets, and she recognized the melody of Johann Strauss’s Blue Danube waltz. She turned to me and said, “Hey, they sing this song at the Glass Slipper Ball on Little Einsteins! How funny is that?”

Happy weekend, ya’ll!

*Neilochka’s site, Citizen of the Month, is not exactly a family-friendly site. He’s a great writer, smart, very funny, but…it’s not G-rated. Consider yourselves duly warned. :-)

Tiny fake-food jewelry, that’s what! Check out Jessica & Susan’s shop on Etsy, 100% inedible jewelry. Even if you yourself are not into wearing tiny replicas of your favorite beverage or meal, I bet someone on your Christmas list is. How about some burger & fries cuff links for your crazy uncle? Or broccoli, if he’s a vegetarian? I personally love these lemon slice earrings and this gourmet vanilla birthday cupcake necklace!

First of all, here is a photo I took a month ago of a package I received from The Paper Bluebird, containing two lovely sequined felt birds, a lavender sachet, and a handwritten note from their creator.

I have been admiring Maura’s craft as seen on her Flickr photostream for ages, and am a satisfied repeat customer of her Etsy store. So I was quite excited to hear that she has been featured on Urban Outfitters’ blog! Way to go, Maura! :-)

The above package created a good hour of fun for Annalie and me. The shredded paper that was used as packing material in the box became confetti because, well, why not?

If only making our kids happy were always this simple.

Once we were done playing, it was easy enough to vacuum the mess up. Annalie finds the roar of the vacuum a bit too much for her sensitive ears, so she wears one of Troy’s stocking caps when she vacuums.

And looks totally cute in it.