Christmas vacation

Well, Christmas is pretty much over. All that remains is the Visa bill, the wrapping paper, and the calories! We ate way too much, at least I did, no wonder everyone's favorite resolution for New Years is to lose weight. Maybe I'll do Weight Watchers again. I had lost 20 pounds through Weight Watchers, but I put it all back on over the last two years, and then some.
The kids are going stir crazy. I think I need to force them to spend time outside playing in the snow. How sad is that!? Obviously, we have too much stuff. Sometimes I think we just need to disconnect from computers, tv, video games, etc., and re-connect with each other. I wonder if we could go a week without all the electronics...I should try it with my family. (To be truthful, I don't know if I could do it. What with having an online store...www.cafepress.com/creativethought. I mean, I do need to check on it.)
Maybe I'll try it. Maybe we should try the first week of January to go tv, video game free for a week...hmmm. I'll definately think about it and let you know how it goes.
My hope for the holidays is that there would be peace in the world. I know, it sounds corny, but seriously, the world is such a messed up place. I get stressed just thinking about it. I realize how lucky I am to live in the United States of America, and I know I am truly blessed, not with material things, but with freedoms that so many people take for granted. I just wish the world would evolve and we could all just get along. Wasn't that a song?

Sunday Mornings

Sunday mornings are the best! To wake up to a fresh blanket of snow, and look out over the back field behind our house, watching the occasional squirrel run along our white wooden fence, and the little bird house with about 2 inches of snow piled on top...and we are safe inside. Warm, cozy, together with a family I love, makes me realize how lucky I am, how much I have to be thankful for. I don't know if it's the holidays getting closer, or the fresh snow, or my husband making me breakfast, or my son giggling, but somehow things just seem very precious on a Sunday morning. Maybe because we don't get that many of these days together. It is wonderful!

Don't forget to check out my online store, I've got lots of great stocking stuffers!

MySpace

So, I suppose I should put a link to my MySpace page here...
http://www.myspace.com/creativethoughtmom


Can't seem to get the link to show up...not sure why, check it out, though
myspace.com/creativethoughtmom


I'm pretty new at the MySpace thing and it's hard to figure everything out (cause I'm old?), but it seems pretty cool. I wish I had more time to figure everything in the world out. I guess we all probably feel that way about a lot of things. And we all get the same amount of hours in a day..
So I should remember to do my best and be happy with all the time I've been given. None of us is promised a tomorrow.

On a lighter note, here's a new design I've sold a few of...
http://www.cafepress.com/creativethought.173235497

Green Bay Packers...

Well, my beloved Green Bay Packers lost to the Dallas Cowboys last night. Brett Favre hurt his arm/elbow and left the game, you know he had to really be hurting if he left the game! It is sad that they lost, but they are a great team, and you have to love Brett Favre. He and his wife, and daughters, were at the Brett Favre celebrity softball game in the Fox Valley (in Wisconsin) this summer, I took my husband for his birthday, we also took the kids. It was so fun! Very cool to see all those big football players having fun and raising money for charity! Not to mention that Deanna Favre signed my pink Packer hat! She also signed my sons Packer hat, so he was thrilled.
Trying to work on my shop, Click here to visit my store, Creative Thought T-shirts and Gifts!, and haven't gotten much Christmas shopping done yet! Need to figure out some good gifts for the kids, and where to find lots of money.

Okay, off to work so I can pay the bill! Keep passing the open windows!

What Would Jesus Buy?

Okay, I just got an email from one of my favorite groups...
Council for a commercial free childhood, and I read about this new documentary coming out by Morgan Spurlock. I've enclosed some of the text I found on the website, it sounds great! I highly recommend checking out the website, it seems to have a lot of interesting information, and the movie sounds promising.
Here's a quote from them...

"From producer Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) and director Rob VanAlkemade, "What
Would Jesus Buy?" examines the commercialization of Christmas in America while following
Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir on a cross-country mission to
save Christmas from the Shopocalypse (the end of humankind from consumerism, overconsumption
and the fires of eternal debt.) From the humble beginnings of preaching at his
portable pulpit on New York City subways, to having a congregation of thousands - Bill Talen
(aka Rev. Billy) has become the leader of not just a church, but a national movement.
Rev. Billy's epic journey takes us to chilling exorcisms at Wal-Mart headquarters, to retail
interventions at the Mall of America, and all the way to the Promised Land on Christmas Day.
The Stop Shopping mission reminds us that even though we may be "hypnotized and
consumerized," we still have a chance to save ourselves this Christmas.
Coming to theaters starting November 16th. Check the website for local listings.
The Shopocalypse is upon us ... Who will be $aved?
http://wwjbmovie.com
Change-a-lujah!"


See what I mean? Check it out for yourself.

This all comes at an important time. Just before the holidays, and at a time when we are having trouble making ends meet, yet are kid's friends seem to all have plenty. Not that I begrudge them, I wish I were a better parent so that my kids weren't so materialistic. I guess it's true, "the nut doesn't fall far from the tree", I should set a better example. Is it too late? Is it possible for me to do this? In our society of instant gratification, internet, iphones, ipods, movies on demand etc., is it even possible to live in America and not be in debt? Sure, it all sounds good, get back to basics and cut out the excess, but when you see that Target flier every Sunday, they make everything look so good, and needed. These are just excuses I make up because I am spoiled and not disciplined enough to live my life the way I'd really like to. Or the way I know I should...

My Squirrel design...

So,

Here's something funny...in my CafePress store, this is my best selling design.
and it's a t-shirt with a squirrel design!

Check it out and tell me what you think!

Come visit Creative Thought T-Shirts and Gifts!

http://www.cafepress.com/creativethought.161590851

Holiday shopping

Well,

The holiday season is here! Black Friday has come and gone, I have to admit that I did go out early to find a few door buster specials. It wasn't as crowded as last year, except at Kohl's, they have the best sales! Anyway, today is Saturday, and I was hoping that my Cafepress store would have some sales by now...
Click this link to visit my Cafepress store!
I've had one sale today, and none for the previous two days. I figured no one would be shopping on Thanksgiving day, but I was really hoping today I would make some sales. I'm not sure if I don't have enough merchandise, or if my SEO (Search Engine Optimization) isn't very good. It's probably that, since it's only been a few months since I figured out what SEO is, and I still find it confusing. I was hoping to make some sales and use the profits to buy some shirts and stocking stuffers from my store for my nieces and nephews. I don't know if that's going to happen. I wonder if there really is such a thing as "cyber Monday"? It seems to me that the economy isn't great this year, and I think it will definately have an effect on how much people spend during the holidays. I know we don't have any disposable income this year, I fear it may be that way everywhere.
Anyway, back to the drawing board...I'm going to try to make some new tshirt designs for my store and get them uploaded right away. Visit my store at www.creativethoughttees.com and check out my work! I've put a coupon link on my main page, so you will save some money buying from my store. And if you don't find anything you like at my store, there are thousands of other CafePress stores, and the coupon is good for any one of them!
Happy Holiday season to all!

Write a letter

This was originally posted on Dr. Laura's site (www.drlaura.com), under her Activism center - call to action. She has some really good info on there. This kind of touched home with me because everywhere you look these days, the media and big corporations are trying to sexual our children. It's rediculous to go to a major mall and have to walk by the Victoria's Secret window displays with my children. Victoria's Secret sells pajamas and other things, but their window displays are always showing their most provocative underwear sets. Everyone knows they have stuff like that, do they really need to display it all in their front windows? I know they're trying to make it more "mainstream", but it's really annoying. I have nothing against sexy underwear, but my kids don't need to see it. Okay, thanks for letting me rant. Check out this latest call to action. Maybe if we would all take some time to send an email or letter and let companies know how we feel, it could make a difference. Maybe.


"Reduce The Pornification Of Our Children
Let Urban Outfitters Know!


Recently, Patti was shopping in Urban Outfitters and noticed their t-shirts and novelties. Let Urban Outfitters know you are outraged!

October 9, 2007

Dear Urban Outfitters Executives,

I noticed tonight that you sell a t-shirt with the lovely slogan, "Respect Your Mother" so I hope that you will be willing to consider and respect the opinion of a mother who, sadly would like to send all of you Urban Outfitter executives to your room without supper.

As a matter of fact, what I have to say to you Urban Outfitter executives could be summarized in the words of many a mother before me: "Take Out the Trash!"

I was in your store this evening-and I must complement you on your polite and helpful employees, brightly lit displays and comfortable clothing. My son likes your clothing and I want to continue to shop there! But you disappoint me, dear Urban executives.

On the one hand, I see that your company is trying to help kids. You're working in concert with the Art of Elysium to enrich the lives of hospitalized children through art.

On the other hand, I see that you are contributing to the "pornification" of America with t-shirts like these: (A tshirt with a picture of a young girl eating something and her shirt says can't cum)


If you Urban execs were my children, I'd ground you for a month--um, make that a year. The sad thing is that 10 or 15 years ago, you'd have had to go to an X-rated store or sleaze shop to find a shirt like this. Now, you sell it, without apparent shame, out in the open, in a store that caters to young teens and adults.

Let's ignore for now the cute little savings bank with the wholesome-looking kid with a football and the caption, "I'm savin' up for some good weed! Touchdowns are for losers! The only thing I want to score is some good drugs."


Or the cute little "1,000 Drinking Games" game you sell...


or some of the other lovely merchandise in the same vein.


Your employee told me that you don't put this kind of merchandise in stores such as the new one you are opening in Salt Lake City. But you do think it is okay to put this kind of sleaze in stores in my neighborhood. Perhaps I should take up a collection to buy some of those "good cum" t-shirts for the young sons and daughters of Urban Outfitter executives as a way of saying thank you.

On second thought, I'm too busy raising kids to fund-raise just now, but I'd like to personally thank you, Urban Outfitter executives, for contributing to a world in which sex means less and less to younger and younger children, in which getting high is portrayed as better than having the grit, hard-work and discipline to excel in sports and a society which young people are encouraged to drink to excess for sport. Thank you, dear Urban Outfitter execs, for making our world just a little bit more crass and sleazy a place so that you can make a few bucks.

I can only hope that all of you Urban Outfitter executives who are making money selling this sleaze to my children will have the joy of seeing your own children embrace the philosophies espoused by your merchandise beginning in their early teens...or whatever young age they happen upon one of your stores. On second thought, I don't wish that upon you or your kids.

I just hope that in some moment of quiet reflection, you will realize that your children are going to live in the world you are helping to create.

Sincerely,

Patti*,
A Very Disappointed Mom

* - entire name withheld from website.

Contact Info:
Urban Outfitters Direct
30 Industrial Park Blvd. Trenton, SC 29847

Customer Service (800) 959-8794
Open from 8am - 8pm, Monday - Friday

Fax (800) 959-8795"

Sad Days

So,

I just talked to one of my best friends from high school. So we've known each other for over 25 years, she's one of those friends that I don't talk to weekly, sometimes not even monthly, but we can always pick up where we left off. We have enough shared background, and know each other well enough, that we will probably always be friends.
I just found out that her dad passed away. I was so sad for her. I called her and we talked for a few minutes, and she sounds exhausted and sad, and exhausted, and I remember that feeling well, and it breaks my heart for her. No matter how much we think that we are adults and we don't really need our parents, it is a horrible, horrible thing to lose them. I remember the day my mom died like it was yesterday, and weird details, and strange things people said and did. My sister-in-law, and one of my best friends passed away about 4 years ago. That, too seems like yesterday, and it still breaks my heart. And you just go on, because that's what you have to do. But when someone close to you loses someone close to them, you know. You just know the pain is so deep and you say things like "if there's anything I can do", but there isn't much that you can do. They have to get through it the best they can. A hug is always good. And prayers, lots of prayers.

Cool Video

Store update

So,
I've been trying to sell tshirts and gifts online through my Cafepress store for a few months. Really, since about August. Now I'm thinking I need to redo my section headers because I got some good feedback telling me you can't tell how many designs I have in each section (Or that I even have a bunch more designs in each section). But, I thought i was supposed to do sections instead of just one section for each design. I'm really going to have to figure this out. I've sold a few things, but was hoping for more sales, especially with Christmas coming up. If you have any ideas or constructive feedback, please visit my store (link below), and tell me what you think,


Click this link to visit my tshirt and gift store!

http://www.cafepress.com/creativethought.176659141

Almost Halloween...

It's almost Halloween...I wanted to be a fortune teller/gypsy. Everyone is dressing up at work, I couldn't find the right stuff to put this outfit together. So, I went to http://www.mallatts.com/ in Madison, Wisconsin. They have a lot of stuff, jammed into a small space, at great prices! I like going there because they've been around forever, and they're real people, not a huge corporation like Walgreen's. No offense to Walgreen's intended...but you know, gotta help the little guy. Plus the people at Mallatt's are super nice. Highly recommend them!
So, I'm going with the Nun costume. No, not the pregnant nun, just a regular, run of the mill catholic nun with a ruler. I went to Catholic High School, so I figured it's okay:-)
My son doesn't want me to dress up at all. He's afraid I'll embarrass him. So I'm dressing up anyway because, 1. He has embarrassed me plenty and 2. He doesn't get to run my life.
So...I'm hoping it won't be too cold this year, or raining!
Cross your fingers!

Things I like about Madison, Wisconsin

So, my hometown is Madison, Wisconsin. I went to the Saturday morning farmer's market in Madison this weekend, and it got me to thinking about how much I like Madison, and how much it has to offer. It was a beautiful fall day,tons of people out and about. There were stands with these huge vegetables that I had never seen or heard of before, that was bizarre. We bought some Wisconsin honey, and would've liked to buy a lot more, but then we would've had to carry it around all day. After we walked around the square, by the capitol where they hold the farmer's market, we walked down State Street for a while. There's a really great popcorn place that we used to always go to. They have this multi-colored, multi-flavored popcorn that's really good. It's hard to explain, it's bright blue, orange, yellow, etc, and almost tastes like caramel popcorn (it has that texture), but there are weird, fruity flavors. Very good, though. The Madison Children's Museum is downtown, we used to go there all the time when the kids were little, great memories. There are a lot of street vendors selling bags, clothes, jewelry (really pretty jewelry), recycled art, sweaters, and more than I can remember. But it's fun to look, and I enjoy the free samples, and there are always great baked goods and food stands. Madison has lots of unique stores and restaurants. I enjoy the unique ones more than the "chain" restaurants. My absolute favorite restaurant in the whole world is Paisan's. They've been open for many years, and recently moved to a new location right near the Monona Terrace Convention Center. I was a little worried things would change, but the location over looking the lake is fabulous, and the food is still delicious. If you ever go there, you must try the pizza (don't get the large, it's not always cooked as evenly as the medium), and the SPICEY CHEESE BREAD IS THE MOST DELICIOUS THING IN THE WHOLE WORLD! Also, the Madison Museum of Comtemporary Art is fabulous...and a really fun building to visit.
Anyway, I could write volumns on Madison, it's a great place to grow up. The lakes aren't as clean as they used to be, and it's getting more crowded (lots of urban sprawl), but it still has a lot to offer.

Friday, Oct. 19, 2007

The latest news story I've heard that blows my mind is this...
in the state of Oregon, they are handing out condoms to middle school kids. That's 11, 12, 13 yr old kids. Condoms. And they say it's up to the kids if they want to tell they're parents or not. Ug. Are you serious? Where is the good sense in the world??? Planned parenthood has infiltrated our country and our youth. It's one thing to be a "responsible adult" but at the age of 12, you just don't have the emotional maturity to know what's right and wrong as far as life defining decisions, like having sex. Plus, the raging hormones get you confused. I just cannot believe it. Glad I don't live in Oregon.

Visit my store to see more designs... www.cafepress.com/creativethought

Visit my store on CafePress to see more of my favorite designs! I've got Barack Obama, peace signs, Math is for girls and more!

Dove, Real Beauty campaign?

So,


I just got this email from the "Campaign for a commercial free childhood." Which seems like a funny thing to talk about on a blog, but I'm going to link to it here...

http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org//

You'll want to check it out if you find the following article interesting(reprinted from an email they sent me).


"Last week, as part of its much lauded Dove Campaign for Real Beauty, Unilever released "Onslaught", a video that examines disturbing images of women in beauty-industry advertising before ending with the message, "Talk to your daughter before the beauty industry does."

It's an important message, and the campaign has received many accolades for challenging the standards of the beauty industry. But there's one big problem: Unilever is the beauty industry. When it comes to promoting sexualized stereotypes and marketing an unhealthy body image in order to sell girls on the idea that they need products to improve the way they look, Unilever - the world's second biggest advertiser and manufacturer of diet aids, cosmetics, skin whiteners, and other beauty products - is a major offender.

Unilever also makes Axe, a brand of male grooming products whose marketing promotes the objectification and sexual humiliation of women (see, for example, http://www.theaxeeffect.com/axevixens.html). Even as Unilever is celebrated for its Dove campaign, it markets Axe to boys on the Internet, through advertising in magazines with large youth readership such as Maxim, and on MTV where its sexist and degrading ads are seen by girls and boys of all ages. On MySpace and other Internet sites, Axe is promoted by an all female singing group, the Bom Chicka Wah Wahs, whose suggestive theme song and video is all about how the smell of Axe makes women lose control sexually (sample lyric: "If you have that aroma on, you can have our whole band").

"Real Beauty" from Unilever's Axe

Please take a moment to tell Unilever that its time to ax the Axe campaign.

Unilever marketers claim that the Real Beauty campaign is designed to promote girls' self-esteem "and help free ourselves and the next generation from beauty stereotypes." If they're serious about this goal, they'll begin by looking in the mirror and end their degrading Axe campaign.

Tell Unilever: "Bom Chicka Wah Wah" is not "Real Beauty."

Thanks,

The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood
http://commercialfreechildhood.org/ "

Tuesday, the nothing day..

Tuesday, seems like a nothing day. (Makes me think of the theme song to Mary Tyler Moore show...who can take a nothing day, and make it all seem worth while...) I love Mary Tyler Moore, back in the day, my friends and I would argue about who was More Mary, and I'd say, I'm more Mary than you, because I have a studio apartment and sleep on a fold out couch!
But I digress...
Mondays are Blah, Fridays are great, everyone loves the weekend...what about Tuesdays? Just a good day to have left overs for dinner and try to rev up for "hump day" (see, even Wednesday has something!) Oh, and Thursday nights usually have good tv. So, I shall search the refridgerator and see what I can come up with.
Hoping to get some new designs on my tshirt website, I really like creating the t-shirts, I get to be a little creative every day...I think everyone should try that!
Alright, gotta run...You can visit my store on CafePress here! Trying to figure out SEO, and Stat Counters and all this other online stuff, I like the creative side more than the techanical side, that's for sure.
somebody's gotta heat up the can of soup!

Monday, Sept. 17, never ending homework

It is now Monday, Sept. 17, the second full week of school. The kids have lots of homework, and aren't in the habit of doing it regularily. At this age, I must let them pass or fail on their own, but it's hard to watch. We are just getting into the groove of school days, and the weather is still nice out, so it's kind of the best of both worlds. I just wish it would stay light outside later, but that does seem to get the kids to bed earlier.
Fall is such a great time of year in the midwest, leaves changing, going to the pumpkin patch, and the apple orchard. If only we would get one good frost to kill the bees and mosquitos (huge this year, by the way), but then, that would probably kill the remaining flowers. Just like everything, there's good and bad, yin & yang.
Oh, and here's a tip. At Toys 'R Us, I found toothbrushes for the kids that play songs they like, but they only play while the kids are brushing it against their teeth. Finally! After all these years, a way to get them to brush their teeth half way decently without me having to stand guard! What will they think of next?

13 Days until school starts...

Wednesday, August 22nd. 13 days until school starts...but who's counting?
We are trying to get into the habit of getting to bed earlier and waking up earlier, which the kids hate. There's no way anyone's going to be ready to get up at 6:30am in 13 days without being totally crabby. We've gotten way into the bad habit of sleeping in until 8:00, or sometimes later.
Oh well, that's what summer is for. I think we're all ready for school to start!
Check out my website at www.cafepress.com/creativethought

Saturday night in the suburbs...

Saturday night in the burbs...a hot and muggy night in the midwest. Our town of approx. 900 is having their local summer festival tonight. There's a beer tent (of course) with a band. Tomorrow there will be a parade, which I really like because I'll see lots of people I know and all the kids will be out running around. Just what summer should be. Remember when you were a kid? Didn't it seem like summmer lasted forever? I can tell it's almost time for school to start up again because sunset is around 8:30...at the peak of summer-skinned-knees-catch-fireflies-season, the sun doesn't set until almost 10pm! The kids run around and play "ghost in the graveyard", and ride bikes to the local store for an ice cream cone. (Which then must be eaten immediatly or it will melt all over!)
Pretty soon we'll do our back-to-school shopping and the kids will be all excited over the new school supplies...and then they'll be off on another year.
Wish us luck!

Is it Friday yet?

It's almost 1am and I am at this supid computer again. Trying to figure out html and get things going on my cafe press store, to make some money to help with the unending bills. (Check out my store...cafepress.com/creativethought).
Unfotunately, I get up early with the kids while my husband is at work, and then I go to work when he gets home...and by now, when I get home, I'm not feeling so motivated or creative. Then I get all tangled up in the web...links to this and that, trying to find out what's legitimate. Where I can post my link. How to post a link for someone else on my page. It's not as easy as I thought it would be. Just like everything else...
okay, back to work for me...

Wednesday 2:49 am

Not really sure what to blog about..is that even a phrase? First time i've tried this. I should go look through some other blogs and see what people are saying. But really, I should go to bed.