Mommy Monday Moment with Jenny of the Rita Pita Boutique

It has been one of those nonstop weeks. Our family has been on the movie with school activities and sports. We are in full swing of cross country, which I LOVE! My brain goes a mile a minute and I am always thinking about the 400 things that I should be doing. So, if I was being honest, sitting through long sporting events, multiple nights a week is not for me. That may sound harsh, I love my kids to pieces and they have my full support in whatever they are in, but man sometimes it is hard when your plate is full with other responsibilities .

But, I will tell you again cross country is totally my favorite sport to be a spectator. It is such high energy. First, Abby kicks some major butt and I am beyond amazed. I completely enjoy loading all 4 kids up – sometimes without my team player husband, if he is still at school doing that teacher thing. I can’t say I enjoy a sporting event more – running the fields and screaming for your kid. I also get a good laugh at peoples’ reactions when I am hauling these kids around without an issue.

We hit the flea market early this morning in search of some pieces I can use for my etsy shop. We left early to avoid the heat. I will tell you this I am ready for fall weather! It is by far my favorite time of the year. However, WNY hasn’t figured out that the 1st of fall has come and gone. We are still hitting the 90’s, I am over it. After searching the flea market for 1 ½ hours with the whole family. I found really one piece I can use for a customer. We did come home with the original Millennium Falcon, with a handful of missing parts and pieces, but the price tag was right for Nate at $10.00. We also found the most adorable firetruck (by the makers of the Cozy Cope) it has a water hose – for 5$, I couldn’t pass that by. I told my husband “uh yeah, we are not leaving without that!” He seemed less than thrilled. But there I was pushing Natty through the flea market crowd in her firetruck Natalie has also started preschool two weeks ago. She is going on Fridays for two hours. She is having a wonderful time and gets so excited that she thinks she will just leave the house and walk down on her own.

It is nice that have some one-on-one time with Lauren while she and the older kids are at school. Naptime is also a premium from 1pm – 4pmish I better not hear from anyone. That is my time that I work on ETSY orders and work on my non-profit business that I am in the works of finalizing. That is for sure a process, I have learned so much about myself as a person, what my capabilities are, and my drive to make this happen.

Friends remember keep crafty, you don’t need to spend loads of money to make something uniquely yours!

Thank you Jenny for sharing your Mommy Monday Moment with us today.

See what Jenny has been upto in her Etsy shop by clicking here for the Rita Pita Boutique.

We would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com

Mommy Monday Moment with Jenny, A Look Back At Her Favorite Toys...

Todays Mommy Monday Post is a look back at Jenny's favorite childhood toys...

Toys! I was the girl that had the biggest imagination, the craziest, wildest play ideas. I was the kid that would drag out ever grocery item from our cupboards and set up a full store, complete with a pharmacy! I was the girl, during winter, that would make a baby doll out of snow and pull it around the snowy yard in my red sled. Thats me on the left!

My sister and I would make full size Barbie houses using VHS tapes and when we wanted to have a little more fun on rainy days we would have our parents obtain a BUNCH of cardboard boxes and we would make a huge tunnel system right in our living room.
Trust me though, I had my favorite toys too! Setting, early 1990’s, sandbox, loaded with Matchbox cars and Polly Pockets. I LOVED Polly Pockets. I would save up any money I earned and by a new set after church on Sunday mornings. I would spend forever in the Ames aisle, assessing each one. I had a huge collection, however, I gave them to my niece when I got older and haven’t seen them since ☹ #HEARTBROKEN. Last year, I went on EBAY and bought a few of my favorite sets for my daughters, they really held back the enthusiasm that I thought would be present.
This camper set was by far my favorite set I purchased. I loved how her bike hooked on the back! And she was super cool because her legs split so she could ride her bike.

I also had these sets. I really enjoyed the one on the left. I loved how the TV would change with the button on the top, and the purple bean bag had a spot perfect for a girl to sit, and the sofa folded out! AAAAHHHHH I LOVED pull out sofas as a kid! One time I got stuck inside ours – but that’s for another time! HA! Ok – I need to stop looking through EBAY right now – because it is too painful. UGH – I wish I had these still. I had SO many sets and took such great care and really played with them.
When I wasn’t busy with Polly Pockets I had three doll houses and I would lock myself, not literally, in my room for hours and just sit and play. I often look for this kind of play in my own kids – I can’t find it.
So, lesson learned here – save the toys you cherish, because one day you will want to share your childhood play with your own kids. I didn’t, and regret it often.

Thank you Jenny! To see what Jenny has been up to, check out her Etsy shop by clicking here.

Thank you for joining us here we would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com 

Mommy Monday Moment with Jenny

Last year, around this time, I was "pregnantly" HUGE, I was days away from giving birth to our 5th child, Lauren.  I went into the hospital at 2pm for a scheduled induction and 47 minutes later I was holding the most precious gift.  On September 9th, she will be one year old.  We are having a llama themed party at my father-in law's house on our family pond. The kids love playing at grandpas and love the pond so it is a win-win.  I went into Runnings yesterday, which is a farm store, with EVERYTHING - Melissa & Doug toys - you name it, they got it.  I was trying to find some llama toys, or just a llama figure I could put on her cake.  Well, after I searched for a lifetime, I came up empty handed.  However, they do carry, 11 different breeds of horses, 5 flying unicorns, and 2 fire breathing dragons, but no llamas - in a farm store - huh, go figure.

Toddlers and potty training is oh so much fun.  We are extremely close here.  However, she did decide to "you know what" in her rainbow underwear, at the kitchen table yesterday, while she was coloring.  That is SO Natalie, little miss stubborn!  Then calls everyone in the 3X5 washroom to "see", as I am down on my knees, inches from the toilet, assessing the situation.  I am now 4 kids deep, with baby Lauren in one arm snagging the "pomp" (as she calls it) out with a baby wipe - oh motherhood - the stuff you do!  They need to make a doll that does more than pee, actually I think the originally Baby Alive from like 10 years ago did.

So, last week, I had my LARGE furniture juices flowing.  My father in-law gave us his "extra" dining room table, for me to refinish and sell, if I wanted too.  I did that a ton last year.  I loved redoing larger pieces, keeping and/or selling, because no one needs 4 large buffets!  It was for sure a hobby, until I feel in love making smaller pieces for dolls.  In two days, I refinished the table and seat cushions.  We kept it for our kitchen table and I am in love.  The better news all 7 of us finally fit with space.

Keep painting and crafting, open your eyes to what looks like a disaster could really be a gem, prayers for Texas - Stay Strong!

Thank you Jenny! Our thoughts and prayers are with all those dealing with adversity in the wake of the flooding worldwide, Texas and in Asia where the floods have killed so many, displaced so many more. May we all be able to do what we can to assist those in need.

Learn more about what Jenny is working on through her Etsy shop the Rita Pita Boutique find her on Facebook by clicking here and in store by clicking here 

Thank you for joining us here we would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com 

Mommy Monday Moment with Jenny

'
I am a huge American Girl Doll buy-sell-trade Facebook follower.  I love to post my furniture on the different sites for people to view.  It certainly has made me some business, for that I am grateful.  So, just yesterday, as I was posting some pictures, I came across the coolest AG inspired outfit!  #inlove.  I had to purchase this set for Kaitlyn for Christmas.  The most adorable NorthFace zipper fleece, headband ear warmer, and ripped jeans.  I've said it before, I'll say it again, I WISH I could sew like that!  And if you are a weekly reader, I did end up buying that hoodie for myself, when I took the kids school shopping ?? Which brings me to my next topic.

Man, how many binders does one child need for back to school?  A ton is the answer here!  The kids are pretty set to go back to school after Labor Day.  They get the day after Labor Day off.  In our town that is a tradition.  The community has a HUGE Labor Day event with fireworks at night.  So, it was determined, way back when, that the children would have a day of rest and start school the following day.  Natalie will be starting a preschool group this fall.  It is nice, you can literally see the building from our front windows.  She is supposed to attend Monday and Friday, but I decided, at 2 1/2 , that Friday 8:30 - 11:30 is perfect.  She is very excited. I picked her up a cute panda backpack from Target last night.  #ilovetarget.  And the most precious mouse petticoat too!  Oh, she thinks Mondays are tough, "Ahhhhh Mondays, I can't do Mondays, I neeeeeddddd my coffee," that's what she says!

We have yet to move the chicken to their official coop outside.  Well the one I bought for my husband for Father's day typically hold 4-6 birds.  Yup and we have 7 - so....... What do you do - of course, you spend the weekend building an addition!  Pictures next week, it is insane!  Him and Nathan were roofing it yesterday evening.  The crazy thing is, while all this was happening, I get an ETSY message to create a chicken coop for a little girls birthday in November!  I had to laugh.

See what Jenny has been upto in her Rita Pita Boutique by clicking here.

Thank you Jenny for this Mommy Monday Moment! We would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com 

Mommy Monday Moment with Jenny

In our house, we have the line crosser of all line crossers.  Natalie is beyond our family clown, she is always looking to make her brother or sisters laugh at her. 

  Including me and her dad, I can't help but laugh at her.  We have wonderful kids, they are kind, gentle, and respectful with everyone.  They always help, they do what they are told, and they encourage each other.  From 1-years old to 14-years old, they are best of friends.

Back to Natalie, she is very much the same, but she must have one of those enlarged silly-crazy-goofy chromosome.  There are not many kids, during dinner, that put their French fry on top of the ranch dressing bottle, or drop a piece of pizza in her sister's glass, or ever so politely place her chewed up steak on her brother's plate because she is done, or even put her food on top of her head.  I can't get enough of her, we are in the middle of potty training this week.  For 2 ½ years old this kid is the best and I can't get enough of her innocent, humorous behavior.  I hope she stays silly, stubborn, and persistent in her life.

So, I finished the Tenney's band equipment.  I made the on-air sign, the amp, and microphone stand with the microphone.  The microphone itself came from a plastic kid tool clamp workbench set.  SHHHHH. Don't tell Nathan.  The mic stand is actually an old lamp base!  I know right - perfect!  The amp is made from a jewelry box drawer and some fabric to mimic Tenney's.  I think it came together nicely.

Lastly, look at these guys playing with the Rita Pita furniture.  I love it!  And yes that is an old school Cabbage Patch Doll "dabbing".  Now, Kaitlyn does have all her own furniture and house, but during this week they have been pulling stuff that I have in the shop to play with their dolls.

Enjoy the week readers, crafters, and friends.  Be kind, smile at strangers, not too long though, because they might think that it is weird.  Do a pay it forward in the Tim Horton's line.  Hug your kids extra tight and buy something you have always wanted - like that really cute NorthFace grey and plum colored hoodie at Dick's Sporting Goods (I so HAVE to go and get it), because you never know.  Be well??

Thank you Jenny! Learn more about what Jenny is creating by clicking here for her shop Rita Pita Boutique 

 We are so happy to have you join us! We would love to hear from all of you. Please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com 

Mommy Monday Moment with Jenny

I am definitely a person that loves to repurpose and give something old a new life.  I enjoy going to flea markets and thrift shops and really looking at objects differently – not for what they are, but what they could be.  For a custom order this week a customer wanted a dress form for her 18” doll to go along with a Civil War Era sewing station I was making for her.  Now I could have hopped on ebay and picked one up for 15$, but I decided I could, too, make one on my own.  So, I tackled that and a microphone stand and equipment set I am making for a person’s Tenney Doll.  I’ll share those pictures next week, as I am still processing how to make the actual microphone.

Natalie, as of lately, has been into motorcycles.  She gets so excited when someone is riding one or spots one in the parking lot.  She also is still enjoying her dolls, but now when she plays with them she gets them undressed and reads them a book.  She comes into my office and sets her dolls on the furniture that I am creating for people.  Natalie is a character for sure, she is everything done of the other children are, which is wonderful and scary all at the same time.

Whenever there is anything dinosaurs museum related, in the summer, we are sure to take the kids.  The Museum of Earth, in Ithaca, NY, about 2.5 hours from our home, was having an amazing exhibit on the prehistoric shark, the Heliocoptrion.  We had to go!  It was fantastic, Nathan really loves sharks and I don’t mean the great white, he knows sharks, all sharks and everything about them.  The Heliocoptrion was one of his favorite sharks of all time, right alongside of the Tasseled Wobbegong Shark, the Frilled Shark, and of course the infamous Goblin Shark!  I have learned SO much from this little guy in six short years, just amazing!

I am grateful my husband is off during the summers, as he is in education, he hears this a lot during the day, “Justin can you cut this, drill that, sand this.” Besides running a house and helping me from time to time he has had his hands in the chickens and bees.  He is now up to five hives, all which have been caught by swarms, or removing hives for people.  Our chickens are doing great, we ordered 6 from out of state, they are adorable.  The kids can’t get enough of them.  I feel like our village home is turning into a barn, as I contemplated bunnies this past week.

Stay well this week friends, continue to create, inspire, and love with everything.

Thank you Jenny for this weeks Mommy Monday Moment! You can see what Jenny has been upto in the Rita Pita Boutique by clicking here. 

We would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com 

Mommy Monday Moment with Jenny

There is nothing I love to do better on a Sunday morning than hit the flea market!  Last week, I finally spotted an AG wheelchair, for five bucks, the retired one.  Now, I know my daughter has wanted one for a while, so I grabbed it without hesitation.  It was priced for eight dollars, but I bring no shame to my flea market game.  Now, if this was two years ago, before I really ventured into flea markets and thrift shops, I would have paid sticker, but I am always trying to score a sweet deal.  Regardless, if I use my kids as cute bait, I still got the seller down three bucks!  Then he tried pushing the OG horse on me, I took him for five bucks too!  He cleaned up nicely.  I was so excited to bring my treasures home to Kate.  I just imagined her coming up with some debilitating, crippling doll issue.  I was envisioning a cast of sorts, something... and then it happened.  Kate, "This is perfect for kit!" Me, "Why is that?"  Kate, "Well, her limbs are very loose, and when I make stop motion videos, she can't ever stand up."  It was priceless!  Kaitlyn loves to make stop motion videos with her dolls, and she does a nice job.  I enjoy seeing all the tricks that are done for people to get their dolls to hold objects and to blink, what a process.  The rubber band trick is handy, especially during pictures.  The rubber bands helps to give the appearance that the doll is actually holding something.  The eyes blinking actually requires taping their eyelids!

There has been a lot of peep talking in my house the last few days, as we are at the critical day 21 of a baby chicks.  They should be hatching very soon.  We have two that have started the pipping of the egg.  I think one has died trying to get out of his egg. 

 My husband said if we were farmers, we would probably die, HA!  We did just lose a beehive today - so if we were preppers or self sustainers we certainly would not have eggs or honey this week!  A lot of zucchini squash, but eggless.  I heard him earlier today making chicken noises, I guess to help jumpstart things.  I couldn't believe it.  Which brings me to my next piece, eggs are crazy low in WNY!  84 cents for eighteen eggs!  That's insane, I mean we are easily four hundred in on these chicks from shelter to food to incubators.  I just did the math, literally I just did, and we could buy 18 eggs everyday , every single day, for the next year, and only spend $300.00.  HA!  What a great family experience, I've caught myself in the basement checking these guys out.

Friends, I love the summer when it is mixed in my cooler days!  My favorite, sweatshirt weather.  Comment below - what are your favorite doll fall time clothes or a site that makes adorable hoodies?

Thank you for joining us for this weeks Mommy Monday moment, visit Jenny's shop The Rita Pita Boutique by clicking here.  We would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com

Mommy Monday Moment

As the summer heat drags on here in WNY, that means we are getting closer and closer to receiving the NYS Common Core State Test results in the mail.  Which, in our home, coming from two elementary educations, is actually NOT a big deal.  We simply tell each of our test taking children: do your best, take your time, don't be annoying or rude (which we know they wouldn't, but we've certainly experienced on the other side of the desk and whatever your score is, we are fine, that number does not define you as a person or a learner or your future endeavors.  There is so much more to worry about, on our short stay here, on Planet Earth, than what your score was on the math and reading tests in the fifth and eighth grade.  However, with that being said, I did tell Kaitlyn that if she received a 3 or 4, on both the NYS math and reading, we would buy her a new American Girl Doll, is it wrong now that I am crossing my fingers that she only gets a 2, on at least one of them.  (giggle, giggle).

This week I have tried hard to plan, cheap, entertaining, morning trips, while my husband was at a science workshop all week.  Hauling five kids around isn't too bad, the things I do now, I would have never thought I was capable of in the past on my own .  The kids and I had memorable times created just thirty minutes from our house everyday this week.  From fairs to trails and playgrounds.

Even mommies need breaks though. I am excited to spend the evening out with friends at "ZooBrew" and catching some dinner and a few drinks.  It has been a long, busy week.  There was an explosion of orders this week that I have been trying to stay on top of, I hate making people wait, and I feel completely honored when someone asks me to make something for their dolls.  I even made a hutch for rag doll rabbits this week, such fun!  Enjoy the week friends, keep crafting and reading!

Thank you Jenny! Find out more about what Jenny is working on in her Etsy Shop the Rita Pita Boutique by clicking here. 

Thank you for joining us today we would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com

Mommy Monday Moment with Jenny

"Do what you love, love what you do, have no regrets."  Currently, this quote rings very true in my life.  I know that I am lucky, as many people have to wake up early and head off to work, leaving their children in the care of another person and locking their house behind them for hours each day.  While my life is different because I love what I do and do what I love.  I guess I owe a lot of that to my husband for believing in me and telling me to jump and of course noticing that "I was happy." I guess too, Kate is the reason I am able to be here, right now, doing this.  If it wasn't for her love of dolls, my work life would be looking much different.  Kate has brought me much inspiration this past fall, to create and become passionate about what I do.

Kaitlyn always looks forward to receiving her American Girl Doll catalogue in the mail.  She has saved them for years, they have become reference material for her and when she earns and saves enough money she can make her wish list come true.  She currently has an order ready, the nice thing is we are able to get a healthy discount because we "know a friend of a friend" that works for AG dolls.  Her order has a few new outfits, some Tenney accessories' and her golden retriever.  I did just notice last night, Target has a new OG pet line, includes a bird, ferret, hamster, and some other fun critters.  If it was me, I would purchase two or three of these unique little guys, opposed to dropping three times as much on the other brand.  I am really not brand loyal - I just like any of the pieces that are uniquely different.

This week has been full of little family adventures, with Abby off in the Dominican Republic we have focused on some little kid trips that tap into learning and exploring.  From playgrounds to zoo trips.  I have really noticed that it doesn't take much to make a two year old smile and become overly excited.  It has also become for clear that Natalie just doesn't stop talking.  In the back of the van she is either talking complete nonsense or remixing classic nursery rhymes to benefit everyone's' laughter.  Sometimes completely inappropriate, but the giggles can't be hid - she is truly the family comedian.

Take time to love what you do, do what you love, and have no regrets.  Even if you can't make it your entire lifestyle, take the necessary steps to get there slowly...

Thank you Jenny for sharing your Mommy Moment with us today! Learn more about Jenny and what she is working on by visiting the Rita Pita Boutique on Etsy by clicking here.


We would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com