week 2 of the Nine Weeks of Amy ... win a gift certificate to Surburban Grafitti!

Hi! This is Amy G from Suburban Graffitti. If you would like to know more about my shop and my "creative process" (that sounded fancy!) you can read my introduction a couple of posts down. Today I'd like to give you a glimpse into a typical day in the Suburban G life. (I'll also be giving you a chance to win something from my shop, but that will come later.)

A Day in the Glamorous Life of an Amy

4:30 a.m.: Wake up in a panic, thinking morning has come. Contemplate if there a better feeling in all the world than realizing you don't have to get up yet while blissfully nodding off again.

6:15 a.m.: Wake up in a panic as heinously loud mariachi music blares from the radio. Every. Single. Morning. Dang those kids! They've been messing with the alarm again. Contemplate peeling myself out of bed as the Dad heads upstairs to wake the hooligans.

6:25 a.m.: The bladder speaks louder than the pillow. Get up.

6:30 a.m.: Slap together three peanut butter and honey sandwiches for the kids lunches whilst hollering at the kids upstairs who are now contemplating peeling themselves out of bed.

6:35 a.m.: Send the dog upstairs to get those kids out of bed. Why, WHY, pray tell, does she have more success than my husband and I together? Those parents in Peter Pan really had the right idea leaving the dog to watch the children while they went out for the evening. Contemplate the practicality of that idea for our family.

6:37 a.m.: Sit down at the table in a stupor as children begin to roll in and get breakfast. Contemplate the earliest possible time to go to Circle K and get a 44 oz.Coke without seeming "trashy". 9:00.

6:40 a.m.: Remind youngest that Halloween candy does not a breakfast make. Holler up at eldest to get in the shower. Kiss the Dad good bye.

6:50 a.m.: Give the boys the rundown -- pack your lunch, get your agenda signed, put on shoes and CLEAN socks. Arrrrgggggghhhhh!!! Why are there never enough clean socks that match in the drawers?!

7:00 a.m.: Still looking for the socks in the baskets of clean laundry awaiting folding. Boys -- pack your lunches. Sis -- GET OUT of the shower!

7:05 a.m.: Boys, seriously! PACK YOUR LUNCHES!

7:06 a.m.: Miraculously boys are ready to catch the bus, only one minute late. Sis is out of the shower, too. Wow. We may actually have this school thing down. After only 8 years . . . Family prayer. Boys, run!! Don't miss the bus!

7:07 - 7:47 a.m.: Park it on the couch as Sis readies herself for school. Chatting all the while. Coke run may get bumped up to 8:30.

7:50 a.m.: Drive Sis to school so she can run into Circle K to get my Coke for me. This way I can go get another one later without seeming too sad and desperate.

8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Blessed silence. Punctuated by sips of Coke. Work, errands, chores.

3:05 p.m.: Boys are home. Chaos resumes. Who is cooking eggs? And why is the TV so loud?

3:40 p.m.: Sis is back. And so the conversation resumes. Phone begins ringing off the hook for her. Kids, eat your nachos at the table, not on the desk! Would anyone notice if I snuck out for another Coke? Contemplate resisting.

4:20 p.m.: Resistance is futile. I want that Coke. NOW!

4:30 p.m.: Now we're eating ramen. Seriously? And how did the entire contents of our pantry end up on the kitchen counter?! I was only gone 10 minutes . . .

5:00 p.m.: Kids, put the crackers and cheese away and start working on homework. I don't care if you don't have any homework. Read or something.

5:30 p.m.: The Dad is home. And making a peanut butter sandwich? Really?

6:00 p.m.: Dinner is served. And everyone is somehow famished. Again.

6:30 - 8:25p.m.: Bath, bath, Wii. Finish up homework. Watch TV. Idle chatter.

8:25 p.m.: Kids tuck into some peanut butter toast before being tucked into bed. Mental note to bake more bread tomorrow. And get more eggs.

8:30 p.m.: Family prayer, boys to bed. Hugs and kisses all around. The Dad runs out to get me an evening Coke. Contemplate "rewarding his kindness" while Sis squeezes the last few drops of chatter out of her day.

8:38 p.m.: Contemplate what could be taking those boys so long to brush their teeth. Holler up at them about it.

8:47 p.m.: Boys are finally in bed with lights out. Notice that Sis has made a mental note of how long it has taken the boys to get in bed. Brace myself for the fight that's sure to come.

9:03 p.m.: Yep. Cut Sis off mid story to tell her it's time for bed and she instantly melts into tears. It's not fair, etc.

9:07 p.m.: Kids ALL in bed. For now. Sit with the Dad on the couch, feet up, taking turns sipping the Coke. Bask in the glory of another *successful* day. Successful meaning all still alive and reasonably happy.

9:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.: Wrap up some work, maybe a few chores. Work on clearing out the DVR. Talk just enough. Laugh a lot. Say prayers and fall wearily into bed.

4:30 a.m.: Wake up in a panic, thinking morning has come. Contemplate if there a better feeling in all the world than realizing you don't have to get up yet while blissfully nodding off again.

And so it goes. I wouldn't trade all my family's frenzy for all the world.

Now, as we all begin to think about the holidays and gift giving and what not, wouldn't it be great to WIN SOME FREE STUFF?! This week's Giveaway is a $12 CREDIT IN MY SHOP, Suburban Graffiti. With everything from couture baby onesies to vintage book purses, there is sure to be something you'll love! We can even work together on a custom creation. It's totally up to you. Good Luck!

Here's how to enter... First, go browse through my shop. Then come back here and leave a comment on this page telling me what your favorite item is from my shop.

You can also earn up to seven additional entries by:

- following @amysinthearts on Twitter

- sharing this giveaway on Twitter by tagging @amysinthearts in your tweet

- following the Amys In The Arts blog

- following Amy's My 3 Monsters blog at amygregson.blogspot.com

- becoming a fan of Amys in the Arts Facebook page

- posting a link to this giveaway on your blog (please copy the link to your blog post)

- adding the Amys In The Arts button to your blog (please copy the link where you've added it)
To get credit for your additional entries, please be sure to let us know what you’ve done (don't forget to copy your blog links!).