Homemade Advent Calendar in Progress!

I actually found some time to make something! I have been taking Amy Powers' class over at Big Picture Classes but haven't been able to make one single project.  Until now.  I am determined to finish a homemade Advent calendar for Noodlebug before December 1. 

Progress is being made:

Hopefully, I will be posting the finished product soon!!!!

Advent Calendar Idea

I have been really frustrated trying to find an Advent calendar for Noodlebug this year.  We did a wonderful Playmobil calendar with woodland creatures last year.  The year before that, I tried a LEGO Advent Calendar and was really disappointed.  What do criminals and crime labs have to do with Christmas?

In Amy Powers' Big Picture class, we are making homemade calendars but I haven't gotten very far with mine.  In the meantime, I have a backup plan.

We are huge SPARKLE STORIES fans in our household. So, I was thrilled to hear they are coming out with an audio Advent Calendar.  We'll be able to listen to a story a day for Advent. Plus, they will have a companion printable coming out on December 1.

(photo borrowed from and owned by Sparkle Stories)

Get your own subscription to the SPARKLE STORIES audio advent calendar here.

(I received no compensation in ANY FORM for this post. I just love SPARKLE STORIES!)

Where I Have Been

We are trying very very hard to save enough money to take Noodlebug to Disneyland for his birthday in May.  Since money is always tight, this isn't easy to do.  I started selling Barefoot Books on the side (I already work a full-time job) to help save some extra money. Since this is a busy time of year for retail, I have been trying to do events on the weekends.

I had my first Home Party last weekend:

I'm still trying to figure everything out.  I have always wanted to own my own children's bookstore and this is way of partially fulfilling that dream. I love the company and I love the books. But I am still trying to get my business off the ground and figure out how everything works. It is keeping me busy.

I also started a new Sunday School program at my church which required completely reworking the curriculum and classroom.  We are using the Montessori-inspired Godly Play program. That launched two weeks ago.  It is going well so far but has taken up any free time I had left over.

I haven't been able to do a single Life Book lesson since May which is such a disappointment. I am also currently taking Amy Powers CRAFT HAPPY class but haven't been able to do a single one of her projects either. I have all the materials to make an Advent calendar but haven't started yet. Maybe this weekend.

It is really hard that I don't have the time or energy to create anything right now but I'm hoping for some time for myself over the holidays. I could use a break!