*Afloat* (and a giveaway if you make it to the end of the post)

a·float   

adv. & adj. 

1. In a floating position or condition. 

2. On a boat or ship away from the shore; at sea. 

3. In circulation; prevailing: Rumors are afloat. 

4. Awash; flooded. 

5. Drifting about; moving without guidance. 

6. Free or out of difficulty, especially financial difficulty: couldn't keep the business afloat.

 

(definition from thefreedictionary.com)

None of those quite define how I feel when I say "I'm afloat" but there you go.  To me, afloat means surviving although drastically weighed down.  :)

This has been a week.

Everything is good-but wow.  I haven't had a week this *hard* in months.  Nothing in particular, just pressure coming at us from all sorts of directions.  

The other night in particular, the kids had taken some sort of "guaranteed to make your child a monster" pill.  :)  (Said in a completely loving mother manner.)  Everything was a fight and by the time dinner came about, I was almost in tears.  During dinner, Ethan was literally jumping up and down in his chair and slipped and landed face down on the table.  After clearing the blood and ensuring he was ok, I realized I was at *that* point.  Break down or laugh.  So thankfully, I laughed.  We left the dishes on the table and took off.

On the way out the door, I decided to grab my camera.  From the window of my studio, I looked out and saw this:

That would be Ethan, picking up rocks to throw at the car.  I'm happy to report that I laughed at this. 

So off we went-we got ice cream for the kids even though it was raining outside and drove.  Away.  To the next town.  And all of a sudden, there were smiles in the car.

 

When we came home, I am proud to say that the night ended in a story and everyone went to bed happily.  That truly was an accomplishment for the day.

Still, each day has met us with crazy complications and situations.  Please don't get the idea that anything is truly wrong, everything has been small, just piled on top of each other it has made for a hard week.  But I have so much to be grateful for!  

So what do you do when you have reached the end of a truly blah week?  Today, the radio is cranked, the windows are open and I'm having a giveaway.  I've found that the fastest way to feel a little joy is to do something for someone else.  SO.  Here we are.

Today's booty includes a full sized bottle of Soak Wash, provided by my friends at, Soak Wash.  I love this stuff and included a little write up of it in my patterns and they wrote a couple weeks ago to thank me and offer a couple bottles for my readers!  I got my favorite, Flora and one other that is equally happy smelling, Aquae.  

And my friends at Hullabaloo, (the gift company that I am working with) are sending me a set of the entire collection to use for giveaways on my blog.  So today, I'm doing two prizes.  A bottle of Soak wash with an assortment of my home storage line and gift line. The two winners will get some of both.  We'll give the rest of the home storage and gift line away over the next little bit, so stay tuned.

(Those links will take you to the collection in my store, we have a few more items to get listed, which I will do tonight but most of them are up!  We're having some strange glitch with the shipping calculator, so if you order them before it's fixed, the shipping for the larger home dec items will be calculated as if they are patterns so you'll get a happy discount on shipping for a bit.  :)  But, of course, enter for the freebies here!

To enter, just leave a comment.  Tell us what you do to get out of a funk, or leave a happy thought or..  a good healthy recipe?  Just something nice and happy.

There now.  I do feel better.  I'm going to go do some laundry now-that does always make me happy.  (really!)

xo

Sandi

Comments

[Jennifer]

Oh how I feel your pain! I have a 16 year old son who must challenge everything I say or do.He is trying hard to break away. Lucky for me I have a husband who can take him to skateboard or snowboard for awhile. Then I pull out fabric, yarn or paint,put on some music that makes me feel cheery,find a sunny spot and go to "happyville". Or I read my favorite crafty blogs and think about their problems for awhile.:)

[sarajhoffman@hotmail.com]

I usually lock myself in anyroom (or lets be honest, the pantry) with a handful of chocolate. It takes my four boys at least 30 secs to find me!

[Allie]

I'm sorry it has been that kind of week for you! What a fun giveaway. Thanks so much for the chance to win. I hope you have a great week ahead!

[Heather]

Cleaning makes me feel better when I'm stressed - I can pour all my negative energy into my scrubbing or sorting and plus I have the satisfaction and peace that come with a clean home.

[Jo]

I am also fond of the "ditch the kids with the husband" plan! And I've found that I come out of a funk when I *create* something, whether it's something crafty or a never-before-tried meal. (I LOVE your fabric, and I really hope I win!)

[sherri]

My children are 22,20, 17, and 13 (14 on Sunday)---I think it was much easier when I was a young mother with three under 5...but I still do now what I did then...sew, sew, sew to be able to handle whatever life dishes out!!! And what a perfectly wonderful giveaway you're having... it will be sure to brighten anyone's day!

[Kim]

To get out of a funk, I generally take a bubble bath. I adore bubble bath.

And, FYI, I'm a Funk, so I'm always taking bubble baths! LOL

[Jen]

Ohhhh do I know about "those days"!! To relax I usually go and dig into my fabric or pick up a knitting project. Sit with a cup of tea and let the creative juices flow. Something happens when I'm being creative....it helps rejuvinate me.

[Heather]

Sandi, as my wise granny used to say: This too shall pass. Ugh, right?! As a mom of four, I know there are days where I'm 'bout ready to pull my hair clean outta my melon cuz the kids did something to chap my hiney, but when they're asleep in bed that nite I regret acting so rashly and yelling. So, the next time I don't yell. I sit down and pay attention because 99.9% of the time that is what it is all about.

But, if I'm really in a debbie downer mood....it's a bubble bath and a book. Nothing like it anywhere or anytime. I'm just sayin'. ;)

Glad to see you're bettah!

And count me in on some of that lovely giveaway stuff! <3

[Rachel Berry]

I'm still in the mom trenches with my 5 kids ages 11, 9, 7, 4, 1. To get out of my funk I usually try & get crafty!
So I break out the sewing machine and get moving!
Hope you have a great weekend!

:)Rachel

[Anita]

How nice of you to share something with us. I've had a very full week of funk this week, thank you PMS! I've been getting on my exercise bike and using estrogen. It has helped a little. I've also had a little retail therapy at the quilt store.

[Jamie H]

I go for a long walk with one of my dogs (unless they are contributing to my frustration!) And I also like to have a glass of wine, especially at the end of the week :) Thanks for the giveaway!

[Leslie]

Wow. It must be the crazy kids week. I know what you're going through.

But, when live gets too hard, or too blah, there are a couple of things I turn to:

a. I plan a vacation--this does NOT mean I take a vacation, but I checkout hotel fares, airfares, and anything else I might want to do in the area. It takes a couple of hours, and I can imagine being there.

or

b. I escape into a good book. Just for a half hour or so. Or I bake, or I go visit my mom who is housebound, or any number of things that allow me to get a change of scenery.

Hope next week is better!

[Jennwith4]

Going to the store by myself and buying something (even if it's on cleaning supplies or groceries).

[barbara]

what gets me out of a funk . . . hmm, i guess it depends on the severity

little funk - my husband usually comes up with something witty or completely outrageous

medium funk - a long bath and a good trashy magazine

big funk - weekend trip to mom and dad's to be taken care of like a kid again, and watching them play with william and marvel at him the way i usually do is priceless!

[kara]

thanks for sharing your week - as I feel like i had a similarly wonky week. except no kids - just a puppy. but you have got to love him in the end. I think I'm going to go to Chipolte to celebrate this week being O-V-E-R...well, in a few hours.

[JoAn]

I usually blast some music and dance with my kids in their playroom. It can get silly - a good way to bring out laughs and get exercise as well.

[Holly]

Hey Sandi! Hope things are brightening! :) We have had a mega 10 days here... our 5 year old had an emergency appendectomy last week. After 5 days of sleeping on that window-seat thing at the hospital (horrible) followed by 5 days of trying to keep said 5 year old from being "over-active" until we get the green light from the Dr., I am getting out of our FUNK by spring cleaning and watching cheesy romantic comedies! :) ~ Holly

[Stacey D]

I find that a good book will change my whole mood - make me forget about my little world for a while... : ) And I have a 14-year-old with a wicked sense of humor - she can always make me laugh.
Great giveaway - Thanks for thinking of us!

[Sol]

Bying flowers always make me happy.
I hope next week will be better for you.

Hugs fom Sol

[Mushyhed]

I usually do one of three things to get out of a funk:
~go for a walk with my dogs- it usually clears my head.
~sew or start a new project
~curl up with a good book and read.

Sorry to hear you had such a horrible week. Here's to a better one!

[*mindi*]

i try to escape to the big bookstore at least twice a month, alone. stack of artsy books + starbuck's = 2 hours of uninterrupted bliss. :)

[Jessica]

We snuggle up with a pile of books and read to the kids. :)

[Tina]

I've had a horrible week... so not sure I can help. But ice cream always helps me!

[Michelle]

Bubble bath & a nap - usually does wonders! I hope you have a great weekend :)