A quick "hello!" {yes, I'm still here.... kinda}

Wow.  9 days since my last post?  Yikesa!

In all honesty.... I've been in a creative funk.  I think of projects I'd like to work on - and then when I happen to have a few free seconds {because that's about all I'm getting these days} the inspiration just isn't there!

Busy life, good healthy changes going on, active and growing kiddos, bits of sunny weather - - - so much to do, so little time!

I told my husband the other night I need to either take a BREAK (like for real.... intentional.... where I don't still feel like I should be doing some sewing / creating) - - - - or I need to chain myself to my sewing machine and "sew through it"!

Neither of those options are very practical..... so I think I'll go with option 3: attempt to get a bit more sleep (lately we have been averaging about 5.5 hours a night!), work through paid custom orders (not many... but a few are still hanging out there!), and then grab some FUN fabric and just SEW.

How do you get yourself through a slump / funk?  Whether it's in your creative life, work, fitness goals, personal goals.... I know we all go through them - and there's no miracle cure for them..... but help a mama out! :)

One thing I AM doing {that I think will help} - I'm running my first 5k in just over a week!  I have always HATED running.  No joke.  But tomorrow (or Saturday) I will complete the last run of my couch-to-5k training program - having run for 9 straight weeks at least three times a week.... and the following weekend I have friends and family ready to run a fun color run to celebrate!  I know it will be an awesome accomplishment - and the fact that I'm *this close* to completing this goal (and then making more!) is very energizing!

I haven't done TONS of sewing lately - though I somehow seem to be accumulating more fabric (oops!?) - but I have worked on a few projects....

Sneak peek of an item I made for a pattern tester {pattern releases in June - I'll share more then!}  Yes... I was brave and cut into some Art Gallery for this one!!!

This cutie pie was "helping" me with my photo shoot

*Just about* finished with some fun baseball jerseys for my friend's twins.  I made them onesies about 3 years ago - - - crazy how much our kiddos have grown!

I've lost it

.... my motivation, that is.

I'm 99% sure I'm not the only one that feels like their creativity / productivity / motivation goes in waves.

It's crazy - one week I'll be knocking out custom orders left and right, dreaming up new ideas and fabric combinations, blogging like crazy, making great meals for my family, checking off every single workout we had planned.

And other weeks / days...... I look back at the end of the day and say "what in the world did I DO today?!"

Yesterday I wrote some things on our family calendar in a variety pretty / fun colors of Sharpie pens.  I know I did that because I have proof.

I know I did not clean - because I have proof (my house is a disaster).

I know I did not sew - because the same projects are sitting on my cutting table / ironing board.

I did, however, spend a little time playing with my boys and a bit of time (okay.... obviously more than "a bit") recharging / "vegging out".

I always hope these dips in productivity / motivation will be short-lived.... but the truth is, they have to run their course.  And most of the time I find they are not accidental / completely random.

We do a ton.  All of us.  And sometimes we need to allow ourselves the minutes / hours / days / weeks?!  (I hope not?!) to re-charge.  To ignore many of our responsibilities.  To just be.

So.... that's where I find myself right now.  But at least today I got some laundry put away (before 9am!) :)

I also put on this shirt... a cheesy freebie shirt we got in the mail for participating in a wellness program through our insurance.  But I like what it says.