Project 52: Week 17

I subscribe to a fantastic newsletter that lists just about every family activity in the area for the entire week, provides safety and recall information, and has fun giveaways every week.  I just happened to be the lucky winner of this week's giveaway, which was for 2 VIP shopping passes to a huge kids' consigment sale.  Being the VIP that I am, I got to go the night before the sale opened to the crazies general public and get first dibs on the good stuff.  I grabbed my fellow thrifty mommy, left all the kids with the dads, and went bargain hunting.  

While most of the really good stuff was for the itty bitty babies that I sadly no longer have, I managed to find an adorable sundress for each of my girls, along with galoshes Brynn has been begging me for months for.  I also found two great toys I knew my kids would go nuts over (as if we needed more crap in this house!).  It was hard to resist pulling both of the toys out right away, but I gave them one this morning and will save the other as a reward for another day's worth of good behavior.  These toys are no top of the line video game or iPod Touch that I see other people giving their toddlers, but thankfully my girls are still thrilled by the little things in life (like a $3 car ramp) and I'm thrilled to watch them play together while still having some cash left over to take them out for ice cream.

If you'd like to participate in your own Project 52:  Glimpse Into Motherhood, click on the link below:

A tale of two piggies

It's been a quiet couple of weeks for Fancy Fonts, which really couldn't have happened at a better time.  My best bud was in town from New York for a long weekend, followed by my husband leaving town for a week, then our anniversary, then Easter.  Phew!  Needless to say, there was little time to get Fancy with all that going on!  I'm back in the swing of things now, and it was all kicked off with another Piggy for Parkinson's.  The Melvin Weinstein Parkinson's Foundation included me in another giveaway, this time for a lucky subscriber to their newsletter.  The winner chose a Batman themed piggy for her older son, making it the third piggy of its kind to date.  This one is just a mini version of the others:

Pretty intimidating, wouldn't you say? 

"POW!" font 

"WHAM!" coin slot

Gotham's cry for help

Like any good mom would, the winner ordered another piggy bank for her younger son, who is a huge fan of Thomas the Train (Salty, in particular).  I'll have to admit, as the mom of two daughters, I had to do a little research to see exactly who Salty was!  Hope the little guy is happy with the outcome:

Medium piggies like Caden's are available for purchase for $15, while large piggies like Griffin's are $25.  Email me at karen.psimas@yahoo.com or message me on Facebook to place an order. 

I'm excited to get back into the world of Disney with my next project...a piggy bank for a little girl who loves Mickey and Minnie.  I bow down to her mother's sewing skills, so it's quite the honor to be working on this for Miss Madeline!  Stay tuned.

We're almost at our last call for brides who want to take advantage of Fancy Fonts' first ever giveaway!  The first bride to book my calligraphy services by April 30th will have 25 invitations (inner and outer envelopes) addressed for FREE!  This is a $25 value, so hurry before it's gone!  Email me at karen.psimas@yahoo.com or message me on Facebook to get the ball rolling.

Project 52: Week 16

Almost 8 years ago, I packed up all of my essentials and moved about 400 miles south of where I grew up.  I managed to adjust relatively quickly to the slower pace of life, the southern drawls, and life without really good bagels and Italian food.  What took a little longer to get used to was the distance between me and my bestest bud.  For the first few years, I was able to get back north about 4 times a year to visit, but two small children (and astronomical gas prices) have cut my visits back to only once or twice a year.  What's so incredible is that when Dayna and I do get together, we pick up right where we left off.  The only thing that changes is the size of my kids (and maybe a few more gray hairs on my head).  It's so cool how my kids only see her a few times a year, but love her like she's with them every single day.  While I'm always exhausted after our visits (laughing until you either cry or pee in your pants burns a lot of calories!), I always feel like my battery has been recharged, I feel like me again, and I start looking at my calendar to see when we can get together next.  

Poor little Camryn was sick all weekend, but took full advantage of having another person to cuddle with. 

Cheers!


To participate in your own Project 52:  Glimpse Into Motherhood, click on the link below:

Project 52: Week 15

It seems as though most of the pictures I take of my girls are of one or the other.  They are rarely in the same spot, doing the same thing.  I try to respect Brynn's need for personal space and time away from the little sister who wants to be just like her, but I love love love when they are in close proximity AND doing something other than battling over a toy.  Granted, sometimes the closeness is forced upon them, but I take what I can get!

 Every peaceful bike ride includes a lollipop for Camryn!

Just like big sister 

 The girls were rewarded for their good behavior during a beach photo shoot with a Frosty.  We're now at a point where Brynn demands her own.

Oh, it's gonna be a good summer!

BOB, my new love

If you'd like to participate in your own Project 52:  Glimpse Into Motherhood, click on the link below:

Project 52: Week 14

I admit it...I don't watch too many shows on tv that stimulate any intellectual part of my brain.  It drives my husband crazy.  He always asks if I watch these shows because I want to be like the women on them.  It's pretty much the exact opposite.   Seeing how some of the women on these shows behave makes me feel good about myself, as if to think "Hey, at least I'm not as awful as THAT one!"  And it also helps me show my husband how good he has it, just in case he may have forgotten for a second.   Sorry, but when I start my day at 5:15am and finish no earlier than 9pm, it's nice to put something on the boob tube that's just plain entertaining, smutty as it may be.  

I am hooked on one show in particular, but it scares me more than it entertains me.  Teen Mom.  Have you seen it?  It is heartbreaking, and for this mother of two strong-willed daughters, it's absolutely terrifying.  These girls tend to go through their pregnancy living in some fantasy world where they'll be a nice, happy family with their baby and its father.  They're certain any immature and selfish behavior their boyfriends showed before the baby was born will just disappear after it's born, only to be completely devastated when the baby's father continues to act like the child he still is.  They give up bright academic futures and normal teenage social lives to raise their babies, often while the dad makes himself scarce (physically, emotionally, or both) because he's not ready for the responsibility that has been dropped in his lap.  They become isolated, lonely, and depressed because they no longer have much in common with their childless friends.  And don't even get me started on the stories about the girls who give their babies up for adoption...I'm usually sobbing by the time those episodes are over!  

Ultimately, these girls are forced to grow up so much faster than they should have to, whether they choose to keep their baby or give it up.  Most of them are incredibly strong and find new motivation to succeed because of the child who depends on them, but as a mother myself, watching the heartbreak they go through in the meantime is painfully sad and incredibly frightening.  It truly makes me want to keep my girls in a bubble so they can just be like this forever instead:

Sorry for being a bit heavy this week!  If you'd like to participate in your own Project 52:  Glimpse Into Motherhood, click on the link below:

A pirate's life for Jackson

Ahoy matey!  I was so excited to finally be able to create this pirate piggy for a friend's little boy.  It's been up my sleeve for quite some time now, and I was hoping someone perfect for it would come along.  This little guy's mom originally wanted a Redskins piggy bank (I don't think I could have possibly drawn that Indian dude on a piggy bank!), but I was able to convince her to let me go with pirates for Captain Jack instead.  Little did she know, that was my plan for his first birthday present all along!  I am so excited about the way this little swashbuckler turned out...you scallywags better be too or I'll have you walk the plank.  ARRRRRGH!

Captain Jack's pirate piggy wouldn't be complete without an eye patch and peg leg! 

Had a tough time trying to recreate a more piratey font, so I went with this one instead. 

 Follow the treasure map around the spewing volcano, past the boulders and bones, and around the palm tree to reach yer booty, mate!

Perhaps this ship belongs to One Eyed Willie?

Large piggy banks like Jackson's can be purchased for $25, while medium piggies are available for $15.  Email me at karen.psimas@yahoo.com or message me on Facebook to place an order.  If you're feeling lucky, click here to subscribe to The Melvin Weinstein Parkinson's Foundation's free newsletter and a chance to win a medium customized piggy bank from Fancy Fonts!

Pumping out the piggies

The Melvin Weinstein Parkinson's Foundation got some great feedback about my piggy banks, so I'm happy to announce I will be participating in another giveaway for them this month.  April is Parkinson's Awareness Month, so each week this month, MWPF is giving away a different treat for people who sign up for their free newsletter.    Click here to susbcribe, and be sure to "like" them on Facebook to stay updated on their incredible charity work and great giveaways.

Speaking of giveaways, don't forget to spread the word about Fancy Fonts' very own giveaway this month as well!  If you are the first bride in April to book my calligraphy services, I will address 25 invitations for you for FREE!  Even if you're not the one getting married but know someone who is, my services make a thoughtful gift for any busy bride.  Email me at karen.psimas@yahoo.com to set up a consultation.  

I seem to be posting a new piggy bank every week these days...and I love it!!!  One of my latest creations was inspired by an earlier one, but I put a slightly different spin on it to make it a true original (insert Batman theme music here):

A black mask instead of blue 

The name is done similarly to Wyatt's piggy bank 

"POW" coin slot 

Gotham's cry for help...to the Batmobile!

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, I most recently made an incredibly girly piggy bank.  I was first inspired by an adorable giraffe on a changing pad cover on the parents' registry, but the paint colors I had weren't working.  Unfortunately, big oopsies are pretty much impossible to correct once the damage has been done, so that piggy will be making a trip to the pigpen in the sky.  Dry your tears though, for that piggy's suffering was not in vein.  Since I didn't have any bedding or theme to go by, I took full creative license in my quest for redemption.  I give you Kayley, my first piggy bank with a cranial accessory:

Pretty little thang, ain't she? 

 I was so pleased with the way Kayley's name turned out on the piggy I had to scrap...glad I was able to get it right the second time, too.

Flowers, ladybugs, bumble bees, and butterflies adorn this precious piggy. 

So springy!

Like what you see?  Large piggy banks like Anthony's and Kayley's can be purchased for $25 each, while medium piggies are available for $15.  Email me at karen.psimas@yahoo.com or message me on Facebook to place an order.  

Fancy for FREE!

Yes, it's April Fool's Day.  No, this is not a joke.  In honor of my own wedding anniversary later this month, I have decided to do Fancy Fonts' first ever giveaway!  Fancy Fonts will address 25 invitations for FREE for the first bride to book with me in the month of April.  This includes both the outer and inner envelopes (if you have inner envelopes, of course).  If you're not getting married but know someone who is, spread the word!  My services also make a great engagement/bridal shower gift, so you don't even have to be the bride to win!  Email me at karen.psimas@yahoo.com or message me on Facebook to arrange a consultation.  

Contemporary script font, ultra fine point in black 

Traditional formal font, chiseled tip in black

Whimsical font, ultra fine point in orange and purple