Follow up from Clomid Round 2

My Newest Project & $500 Cash Giveaway

Fitness is a huge part of my family's daily routine and actually what I got my Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology from Temple University. So I am very excited to be launching Fit Familia: Health & Fitness by Sassy Smidgens which is a new extension of my Etsy shop blog, Sassy Smidgens.

Fit Familia will feature lots of information on exercises, exercise regressions and progressions, mini routines, healthy recipes, green smoothies, Shakeology, Beachbody Challenges and support, as I have been invited to become a Beachbody Coach.

So please stop in frequently to see all the new topics that come about.

To mark the occasion I have joined with a number of my blogging and small business friends and our awesome coordinator Giveaway Promote.

Welcome to the $500 Sweet September Cash Giveaway!

We have joined forces with a fantastic group of bloggers to bring you this great giveaway. One lucky person will win $500 cash.

---

Enter to win $500 cash via PayPal.

Complete the tasks below to earn entries into this giveaway.

Refer your friends using your unique link to earn even more chances to win.

Open Worldwide.

Ends at 11:59pm ET on September 16th, 2014.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway was coordinated by Giveaway Promote.
If you love entering giveaways, visit Giveaway Promote to find the greatest giveaways listed in one place.

Good luck!!

Follow up from Clomid Round 1

Yup. As suspected that first round was not successful. It was so bad that I didn't ovulate at all. :( This was particularly disappointing because I have a had a regular cycles for months. 

Luckily, I have wonderful support group of family and friends. Many who reached out to me after last week's post with wonderful words of encouragement and stories from their own experiences trying to get pregnant and being unsuccessful. Thank you all, you know who you are. It means a lot to me and I really needed it.

So, we're onto round 2. I just finished the doses yesterday and will be meeting with my doctor on Monday for blood work and ultrasound (to see if I'm ovulating yet). Fingers crossed!!

On a different note, I've been listening a little more closely to my heart for guidance on this matter. For those of you whom have never had complications getting pregnant you don't know how expensive it can be. We all know that IVF is VERY expensive costing tens of thousands of dollars but oral medications like Clomid aren't a drop in the bucket. 

My husband has excellent insurance and we still pay a lot....$30 copay x 2 visits, $45 medication, $140 internal ultrasound, and $155 in blood work. Yikes!! $400 per failed attempt! That's a car payment!

It hurts to think that I'm adding this burden to my family just to conceive again. Am I being selfish? Am I being impatient? Should I stop going to my endocrinologist and seek help from other less expensive professionals? I ask myself these questions frequently. I don't pray often but I have been praying on this topic and looking for guidance. It's funny who subtle He can be.

I was just tidying up the house putting beach bags from our last trip away. I reached into a pocket to check for anything that needed to be put away and pulled out Aaron's aunt Dorthy's business card. 

Dorthy has been helping women like me with difficulty conceiving for decades. She has offered at numerous family get togethers to help me if I'd like. You may be thinking, "Well silly why don't you just call her already?!"

Well, she works within the Catholic church and I have very strong fundamental differences such as lgbt rights and contraceptive rights. So, to avoid heated conversations or debates, I've gone kept by distance.

However, God may have other plans for me and now may be the time to reach out to her for help. I'm not the tidiest person. Clutter is diffidently something that struggle with. That bag has been sitting there for weeks and I haven't used during visits to our NY family and Dorthy for months. I wonder why I didn't notice it in there the last time I used the bag? Hmm.

On an interested side note, my mom just visited a psychic the other day and during her sessions she was told that the new grandchild would be born by my brother next year. :( I believe in psychics and still know there are fakes out there. So, I was pretty deflated when I heard this news. I am also curious if that means I will not conceive until next year or that I won't be able to maintain a pregnancy (meaning I'll miscarry). THAT would be even more devastating. 

So, I continue to pray on it and look for the signs. 

Happy Sunday and have a good week.

Name for NEW comfort doll program

Hey there! Happy Monday. I hope everyone is having a good start to their week. Well, I'm working on something new here at Sassy Smidgens and am in need of some feedback.

 So, those for those of you who don't know, my husband Aaron works for the federal government. When Eva was young he traveled 40% of the year, which was pretty hard on her and tore me apart to watch. Luckily he doesn't travel as much now but it really had me thinking about a number of friends of mine whose husbands are away on active duty and how it may be effecting their kids.

After praying and thinking about it for a while I decided I wanted to try and do something to help. As you may have seen I've started making soldier dolls. My first purpose for making them is because many of my mommy friends are raising their kids non gender-conforming and have said they will let their boys play with dolls if they want to. Being that it is hard to find boy or dark skinned dolls, I wanted to try making them. I've gotten great feedback so far and am ready to start planning the
program.

The way the program will work is that for every doll I sell I will gift a doll to a military child whose parent(s) is/are deployed. The doll will be made custom for them so that it looks like their parents.

I've brain stormed a few names so far and would really appreciate your input. It's only 8 questions and is super quick to answer.


Click here to participate: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/K39WWGY


Thanks and  take care!

Jealousy in trying for #2

Jealousy in Trying for #2

Babies. Babies. Babies. It's that time of year again. It seems like everyone is giving birth to baby number two...and in some cases number 3. How do I know? It's all over Facebook. With 700+ friends I've collected over the years, its easy to follow along and see where everyone is at in their life.

When everyone graduated college at the time you're "supposed to" I saw them all with their cap and gowns on Facebook. When everyone got engaged it was all over Facebook. Wedding day...Facebook. Pregnancy updates...Facebook. The birth of the baby #1..Facebook.

You would think I'd be used to it, but it never seems to go away...jealously. One of life's big lessons. Not everyone gets to check off their life events the way they thought they would growing up.

I wasn't able to go and graduate from college until I was an adult. But at least I did it, right?! Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty damn proud (pardon my language). Just last year to be exact. The second person on both sides on family in two generations. But not having done it "when you're supposed to" caused me to experience it differently. Not like most people.

Engagement? Yup, I was lucky enough to have a beautiful "Bachelorette-style" engagement in Mexico. However, it lasted a whole 3 days before my shot gun wedding. Yup. We got pregnant first...which has pretty much killed any hope of having my white dress day. So, I didn't get that "bride" experience that so many of my peers get.

Even though I haven't and will never have that experience...I'm sorry but renewals are just not the same...I wouldn't have it any other way if it meant I wouldn't have my daughter, Eva.

Being a woman with PCOS, the gift of  becoming a mother is one of the most precious things in life. If you ask me, giving birth and become a parent is the meaning of life itself, but I digress...

I've been telling myself for the last 2.5 years that my heart of full and satisfied and if I'm never able to have another child I'm just fine...because I have my Eva. She's beautiful, funny, caring and (right now at least) my little shadow. There isn't much we don't do together.

Until right now I really believed that. I really thought trying again and being unsuccessful wouldn't phase me. That giving birth to my own flesh and blood had fullfilled that burning, innate desire of mine. I was wrong.

With my first pregnancy I had been on Metformin for just over a year when I got pregnant with Eva. We weren't trying hard. Just pulled the goalie and had me taking my meds. We really let God tell us when it was time.

So, why is it so hard this time? All those insecurities and worries of not getting pregnant are flooding back. Why can't I just be happy for everyone else and content with my life? Even without having those big life moments I am very blessed and better off than many people in my town, in my country...in the world. Why do I have to feel this way? Why am I jealous?

I'm a simple woman. I don't have a huge list of "wants" or "needs". Look at my closet. The only new clothes I get are hand-me-downs from my sister-in-law who loves to shop. I don't shop. I don't have retail credit cards. I don't even have an iPod for music. Why pay for it when I can listen to iHeart Radio for free?

Even with make-up I haven't replenished my  Bare Essentials I bought in '09 except for my cheap Cover Girl mascara. Jewelry? I don't really wear it. Just my engagement ring, some ring I pass off as my wedding band just so my over sized ring doesn't fall off my finger and the same stud earrings that were used to re-pierce my ears back in high school when one of my holes closed up from not wearing anything too long.

So, why can't I feel this content as a mother? Why do I have to feel like I'm missing out again?

Every time I start to feel that way again I hear God whisper in my ear , "Look around. Your life is full. You are a SAHM...despite me declaring before kids I did NOT want to be one. Beautiful house. Loving and loyal husband. Don't worry." and I feel better.

But still it returns. Jealousy. It's so nasty. One of the first emotions we learn as a child and yet the hardest to overcome.

Here we go again

Now we're trying for #2. Nine unsuccessful months so far. We tried 8 of them without any help from my doctors. This month I started my first cycle of Clomid. God was telling me to go see my doctor. It's funny how He does that. A little whisper in you ear. That's all it is but it can be so important. When I showed up for my appointment I was at the exact day in my cycle that I should have been to start taking the meds.

Within a week's time I was taking my meds, had my 2-day window the doc told us to "make a deposit"...that's our phrase for "making the magic"...and had my follow-up to confirm I was ovulating. Yup. Either ovulating during my office visit or just slightly after. Pretty crazy.

Now, we're playing the waiting game. It's been 38 days since my last period. Sunday we returned from vacation and I took a pregnancy test. Negative.

I spotted over vaca and have spotted this week. I just don't know what is going on in my body. Tuesday I have an appointment for blood work and ultrasound. So now we wait and pray.

3 Words...FLASH FABRIC SALE!!!

Wahoo! I little birdie just told me there's a flash sale going on at Craftsy. 

Better head over and stock up for all your Valentine's gift projects!

30th Street Craft Market

This is my next show. Can't wait! 

Harvest Day, Yardley, PA 2013

Last Saturday was beautiful day at Yardley's Harvest Day. The weather was awesome and the crowds were pleasant. Here are a few pics of my day...

Hi! It's me, Vanessa!

The onesie/tee section.

Trick-or-Treat bag section

My mom Pattie came to keep me company! Thanks Mom!

This was easily the cutest thing of the day. This little guy had about enough when he made it past my booth. Apparently it was naptime. He walked to the side with a pout. Sat down and pouted for a while. Then eventually laid down in the street. He was there for at least 20 minutes! 

Poor Mom! She did an awesome job being patient and waiting for him to come around. In the mean time she assured each on looker that he was ok and just "staging a protest". haha Many replied with their own stories of their children or grand kids that did the same.

It was so cute. I'll never forget that little boy.

Happy Grandparent's Day

Today was Grandparent's day and I spent it with my daughter and her grandma. What better place than the Philadelphia Zoo! We had a great time, however one uncomfortable conversation had to take place.

If you have children, you know what it's like to have to tell your parents how you want them to act around your kids or other wishes you have. My house, my rules. I waited forever to be able to say that. Well, this time it comes to my mother and what she wants my daughter to call her...Mom-mom.

I don't know if there are other areas around the US that this is common, but I don't like it. Worst part is, as I've mentioned in previous posts, I have PCOS and had a hard time being able to have my daughter so I take offense to someone else trying to share my title. 

I'm my daughter's mother, not anyone else. So, naturally I have a problem with someone wanting my daughter to call her Mom-mom. 

Am I crazy? Am I looking to much into it? No. Maybe. Either way those are my wishes and I expressed that to my mother nearly a year and a half ago. So, when she said it for the first time (again) in front of me at the zoo, I had to say something and kill that bug right away. 

It made for an uncomfortable conversation, to say the least. But it made me wonder, when does the urge of a parent being in control go away? At what point do I step back and not try to control or influence my daughter in her decisions that involve me? I guess in time I'll learn the answers to those questions....

On a happier note, Eva had a blast, refused her nap due to a 15 minute power nap no the car ride home, and passed out in her mini arm chair. Here are a few pics I snapped before taking her to bed an hour and a half earlier than she normally goes. :) 

So you know what that means... off to the woman cave to sew!

Just what I needed to hear

I have a pretty large family and when you add in my husband's side, its like a small town. haha One of my favorite things about having such a large family is having all the wisdom of its matriarchs and patriarchs at your disposal.  

My husband's aunt posted this to her Facebook tonight and, for me, her timing couldn't have be more perfect. 

"Living a life in Christ 

Do you struggle with trying to "keep it all together" in the midst of life's hectic pace? Genuine happiness and contentment don't come from achieving perfect "balance." They come from knowing how to make your expectations fit your circumstances—and focusing on the bigger picture.

Jesus doesn't necessarily promise us perfect "balance." But He does offer us peace. His peace is the peace of knowing that He has our situation in hand (John 16:33). Come what may, His love for us will never change (Habakkuk 3:17-19; Philippians 4:7). Our God is the God of peace and not of confusion or disorder (I Corinthians 14:33). Because of this, we can know peace by disciplining ourselves to walk with Him. It's a matter of learning to discern His voice and partnering with Him as we make our plans, confront our daily challenges, and establish our priorities for living.

As you identify what matters most to you—and to the Lord—you'll eliminate non-essential demands and gain a sense of focus and purpose. Remember that life in Christ isn't about being "Supermom," "Superdad" or "Super-Christian." It's a question of learning how to channel your time and energy into the fulfillment of your own unique God-given calling—and thriving in it. (from Focus on the Family)" 

--Irene D.

As a young mom and wife I constantly struggle to find the balance of those roles with my own desires and needs. There is a lot of public pressure to be perfect and do things that would label you as a "Supermom". It is easy to get wrapped up in that the world has to offer and forget about what really matters.

I am currently trying to bring in a child (to nanny) so I can afford to stay home with my daughter. It is really hard in our culture to live in the city as a one-income household, but this is something really important to our family. It is our strong belief that if we wanted to bring a life into this world that we should be the ones that raise that life...not daycare. I'm not dogging on daycare. I used it while I finished my college degree....just last week. Whoopie! I digress. 

God blessed me with my daughter and it was difficult to have her. So I feel it is my duty to raise her, which is part of the reason I am working so hard to get my Etsy business going.

So, if you haven't done it recently. I urge you to take a moment out of the day and have a conversation with someone older than you in your direct or extended family. You might might be surprised of what you didn't know or needed to be reminded of.

Locket: A truely the easiest way to make money

In the fast and crazy world it seems pretty difficult to come up with 

something completely unique, but I think I've across one. 

This one is genius. We see advertising everywhere we look, but which one of those actually pay you for looking at them? With the Locket App you get paid simply by unlocking your phone.

Your phone? what? Really? Yes. 

Download the app and disable your current sleep lock settings and get ready to get paid. Earning up to 1 cent per unlocking your phone with a quick swipe and you're gettin' paid. 

There is a 3 swipe per hour maximum, but for you insomiacs out there you can earn up to $262.30 a year just by unlocking your phone. Sure it may not be much, but hey...it's $26.30 more than you started with.

Don't need it? You can donate it to charity! How awesome is that?

So, you're interested in giving it a try follow my link here and give it a whirl. Did I also mention there's a $1/person referral fee? How many friends do you have on your Facebook page? There's money to be made here people. lol 

Do you run a small business or start-up? What a fantastic way to get across via a new way that has people talking 

They can click the channel. They can put down the magazine. They can recycle the Yellow Book. But that MUST look at their phone to answer a call or send a text. 

Why not look at your business before having to do so?

So, check it out and please go via my link so I get credit for referring you. 

http://getlocket.com/r/?a0f90ad6

Wedding Weekend

My cousin got married down south in Virginia over the weekend and that got me thinking about what crazy and funny southern weeding videos I could find. So here are a few that I came across that you're really gonna like.

The Proposal...not country but it was SO great because of how 

crafty the hubby-to-be is and the adorable pups:

Entering the wedding.

The craziest bouquet toss I've ever seen. haha That's so country! I love it!

The first dance..

It's a rough day in the neighborhood

Oh the balancing game of life. As a mother, it feels like I am up against unmountable odds. Wife. Mother. Student. Business owner. Me. How long does it take to learn how to balance everything without putting your own needs last? Is that what being a wife and a mother means? You are last? What you want is less important?

This week my husband and daughter are at our annual family beach week in Bethany Beach, DE while I stay at home for my last two weeks of my college course. I'm retaking this class. Last fall was supposed to be my last then over break I realized I had one more class together. Loan payments being due, I decided to work and attend class. So, during the spring I signed up and gave it a go.

Boy I have to give it to all the single moms out there, because I couldn't hack it. My husband was gone the first two months and my mother helped by watching my daughter when daycare ended and my class was still going on. With only a few hours a night to cook, shower and study, I couldn't keep up. So, here I am retaking this class so I can graduate and put 11 years of college to an end. The irony is I'm still struggling and in danger of not passing. I don't want to put my family through any more stress because of it. Please say a little prayer for me to have the ability to retain this stuff. I have an exam Tuesday. I really need to do well to keep me in a position to pass. Lord help me.

So, needless to say, that is why I haven't written a blog post in a while. However, I do have some good stuff brewin'. Thanks to my wondering fabric merchant Stitch Stash Diva, I will be featuring a tutorial later this month on how to upcylcle tires into ottomans. You may have see them on Pinterest, but I am going to shine a new light on the project. Until then...

Day 2: Manayunk Arts Festival 2013

Well Day 2 of the Manayunk Art Festival in the Emerging Artist tent went very well. It is only the second year they've done it.

All these pictures were take by my husband while on his way with the baby to come visit our booth. 

We live here in the area, so he loaded up the baby in the stroller and walked about a mile to come see us! What a good hubby, huh?

It was estimated that over 200,000 people visited this year. More than half came on Day 1. It ended up raining off and on on Day 2, so I think a lot of people came out early or only on the first day to avoided the increased heat and rain.

 There we are! Me & Brie

Day 2 turned out to be great for us! We did less # of sales but the ones we did make were larger than Day 1. We tripled our sales from Day 1! Yay us! AND by the end of July (when we deliver the order)  we will officially be available for purchase on the West Coast in the San Francisco based children's boutique named Kids Only. Wah-hoo!

Here's Eva walking around Mommy's booth while we were working. Don't ya just love how her stroller matches our company colors?! hehe

Walking around in between the town homes and businesses. And yes, it is 90+ degrees outside and Daddy dressed her in a winter fleece jumper and attempted to use a headband in her hair. 

And here she is in a quick trip to Pretzel Park just yards away from all the festivities. 

Day 1 - Manayunk Arts Festival 2013

This is my first arts festival as an artist and I am having a great time. I must admit that my skills as saleswoman are lacking a little, but I'm getting better at every interaction.

The weather hasn't been too bad so far, mid to high 80s. We had a tent but most of the day we were shaded, but I can't say the same for other vendors. Let's just say there were some lobsters walking around and not the eating kind. :(


We've gotten great response from our new aprons! We may also be setting up wholesale accounts with some brick-n-morter shops. Yay! Here are the aprons causing the stir...

The cupcake one has especially been popular. Unfortunately, I can no longer locate the fabric I used for tie strings and trim. So we're still offering this design on our Etsy shop but as a customizable apron. Here are the options for those interested:

Main Fabric Options

Accent Fabric Options

Please be sure to stop by my Etsy Shop if you are interest. I'm sure this guy is...lol!