::Swooning over photos of my new nephew, be still my heart :o)
::Feeling sad that I am not able to give him a cuddle
::Sewing cute baby clothes for him
::Need this!
::Looking forward to a date with my hubby tonight
::Window shopping on Pinterest, love this:
Would love to have a try and making some of these today:
Would love this for Maddy for Valentines day (and its a great price)
This is cute (and look the example is from Tulsa!)
This reminded me that I need to start planning our garden
Ruffles just make everything a little sweeter...no??!
Especially where girly baby blankies are concerned. So when I came across this wonderful tutorial on a blankie made soley from ruffles, it was right up my alley.
I pulled out some Heather Ross mermaids and set on ruffling...
I have a very temperamental ruffler, it snaps needles at an alarming rate that makes me give up and ruffle by hand at times. I have learned to work with its awkward ways somewhat, but I still sit there dreaming of this foot for my serger every time I have to use the damn thing. (espeically as I will be trying to create this beast soon for our master bedroom)
Anyways, I got through it. I added the border of white because I thought it would look cute and paired it with a buttery soft brown minky (from www.fabric.com) on the back.
Just as I finished up this quilt, I got a text that I have been waiting on for the last 10 days...a new baby neice/nephew was on its way into the world back home in England. I have always guessed that my Brother and sister-in-law Jenni are having a boy, but having just finished this little girl blankie, maybe its a sign!!
I have had this pot on my desk for a few months now, to hold pens and other bits:
It aint pretty, but it use to be, in its previous life (and before Josh got his hands on it)
apparently the temptation to systematically pick each crayon off was too strong for Josh and I ended up with one ugly pen holder. No biggie.
But yesterday as my girl got over her sickness and I was catching up on emails, I found myself staring at that ugly pot and wondering why I didn't just throw it away and buy a new fancy pen holder. One that would brighten my area and make me smile.
This lead me to think about this post that I read recently and I was spurred into action to make a cute jacket for ugly pot. The perfect little project to tackle whilst my girl relaxed.
Isn't that better! The caterpillar has transformed into a butterfly.
Today my girl is on her way to school, fully recovered and rested and my boy and I will be heading to the doctors to have his staples removed (boo) he has already put in his request for Happy Meals for dinner :o)
It's early, I lay in my bed this morning, joined by Maddy.
Mr B is downstairs making us lattes from scratch, he does every morning and it makes me feel so loved. It takes time and patience.
This time yesterday we were all tired, Maddy had been up multiple times in the night being sick. The spot bot came out on numerous occasions from 2am onwards. Maddy then spent the next 24 hours either curled on the sofa of laying on my bed. Anytime she fancied a little something to eat, by the time I could make it and bring it to her she would feel sick again.
Last night, tired and with an empty tummy she slept, all night. This morning a new Maddy walked into my bedroom. We have yet to try eating anything but the fact that she is looking brighter is a relief.
Its so funny, but no matter how old the kiddies are, when they are ill, I always see them as much younger again...kinda like this:
Today, I will probably have a little companion with me again, even if she is able to keep anything down, she looks so tired and as white as a sheet. A bed will once again be made on the sofa with little bits of her favourite food being offered to her during the day, all whilst the rain falls outside, making it seem like the perfect day to be in the warm with my girl.
I have been working on this playroom for a while which is often the case with any re-painting project I take on. Its not necesarily the painting of the room that is the slow part - its the re-organizing and putting everything in its place that takes me some time...and then the finishing touches! I don't think I ever feel like I have finished with the finishing touches, so on it drags.
Anyways, I once again started a project without taking any real 'before' pictures, so you will just have to believe me that the playroom was a mis-mash of functional (but not pretty) furniture. The colour was a light sapping shade of brown:
The room didn't just need painting, it needed switching around and organizing so that my sewing area and the kiddies play area could co-exist without stepping on anyones toes.
The transformation began with the colour:
and the furniture and old kiddies toys were gathered for a yard sale (which completely funded the new furniture and trip to Ikea to buy it)
Looking into the playroom from the front door/hall (pretty sight huh?!)
Looking back towards the front door (painting in progress) Notice the wooden cabinet, credenza, brown chair and Ikea storage station...all gone!
Looking through to the new streamlined and brighter playroom/sewing room
My sewing area is sectioned off by the table ($20 on craigslist) and new Ikea storage, which houses the toys.
My space :o)
On the wall opposite the desk is my fabric/craft books/threads/notions wall...
and in a funny little corner next to my fabrics are some bookeshelves (made from Ikea $3 spice racks) This is also the kitties corner and their tower and toys are there.
Looking back towards the front door:
The Kiddies sofa ($35 from garage sale) where the Wii and legos are played. Their favourite artwork is displayed on the back wall, which changes often. I have managed to encorporate a few British touches to the room, this cushion was sent here for my last Christmas by my lovely Sister in law.
The TV and Wii - one day we will shell out for a more streamlined TV that we can wallmount and do away with the ugly cabinet (I did attempt to make it look more in-line with the room by purchasing cute ceramic knobs...and then promptly lost one, so now it just looks even more mismatched!)
When people ask me what I miss most from home, my answer is always Marmite. I managed to pick up this cute retro-looking Marmite tea towel on our last visit, which I stretched over canvas to make it art!
Faux roman shades made from the curtains in our previous house:
I also used the old curtains to made a skirt for my cutting table:
More Ikea storage additions to my area:
I made the collage of our families with a stack of photos I had sitting around. They were simply glued onto foam board with matt modge podge and then a film of modge podge put over the whole thing.
Artwork I have collected from Etsy over the last few years:
and another reminder of home, the clocks over the door frame giving us Tulsa time, Home time and New York time (Maddy is a huge fan of New York)
I have plenty more little things I would like to do, but I am happy to say that it is feeling almost finished!
I have finally gotten around to photographing a number of projects I have on the go! The first was to actually print out, frame and hang this Print by Momo onto the wall of our hall.
I fell in the love with the colours and the message back in August 2011, I can't believe it has taken me that long to print it off and get it up!
I saw this picture on Pinterest recently and knew I wanted to give it a go as a gift for a baby boy back home.
The pattern and tutorial are by: Sew4home
Instead of buying a patterned minky for the front, I discovered this gorgeous Michael Miller Zoology fabric in brown and paired that with a perfectly matched brown minky dots. The ruffle is a poly-satin I found in JoAnns locally.
I would highly recommend going with the Dutchess Satin the pattern calls for, I found the cheaper version in JoAnns to be very difficult to work with.
I added the 'J' on the front and will make up a few matching bibs with the leftover fabric
I love how it came out, but I will only attempt this pattern again with the satin they recommend, the stuff I bought really was a pain!
Whilst searching for the Michael Miller print, I stumbled across this collection, how amazing would it be to pair this up with the union jack I made a few weeks ago and turn it into an 'Invasion of the Brits' quilt....
ooooh the possibilities!!
Today I shall be cooking up a storm and attempting to get at least half of the weekly meals ready to freeze/put in the fridge and perhaps a little sewing..
A slow leisurely pace ensued this weekend. It was meant to be a deliberate way to slow down the boy, to make sure he didn't bump his heads again. He didn't slow down at all.
He got very upset when his sister left him to go to her friends house on Friday night, so we scrabbled and arranged a play date the next day and tried to make sure he had a special night with us. A new Xbox game rented, s'mores and a sleepover in Mummy and Daddy's bed watching cartoons until he fell asleep (when he was moved into his bed)
the view from my computer
My Weekly Accountability Checklist:
3 new recipes tried this week (rigatoni with a creamy sausage sauce, pork canitas and turkey chilli, all weight watchers)
$14 spent from the craft budget! (valentine crafts)
3 workout sessions accomplished (kickboxing, spin and cardio)
Fitted in some sewing time finishing up some unfinised objects (or UFO's as we say in the sewing circles!)
Joshy had an accident last night, at an inflatable play party...on equipment that looked far too cushiony and soft to ever have an accident on. But my boy did, he found a piece of exposed metal in between all the cushiony inflatables and fell backwards on it. Ouch.
A trip to the urgent care followed, along with staples to close up the gash in the back of his head. It was all very traumatic for everyone, especially Josh.
Unfortunately Mads was witness to it all also (except the staples when she waited in the reception area. She told us that she could hear Joshua screaming even from there)
We were eventually sent home with one scared and sore Joshy, one emotional Maddy and a Mum and Dad that needed a stiff drink.
When it was time for bed, Jay made a makeshift cover for the wound...and the name 'Indian Larry' was the first name that popped into my head, he looks like our own little Indian from the front!
Josh tickling Kimmmie's tummy (who doesn't look too impressed!)
Today Josh and I will be taking it easy. Staying home and chilling.
and planning his 'Lego' birthday party, which will most definitely not be at the inflatable play place!
Six 7-8 year old girls came over to my house after school yesterday, a quarter of Maddy's Girl Scout troop, all looking to earn their 'snack' badge. We had three recipes to make in 1.5 hours, not a problem, I thought, this will be a doddle!
I had spent the evening before selecting healthy recipes and writing each one down on recipe cards for the girls to take away with them. In the morning, I shopped for the ingredients, I was ready! That was until all six girls were in the house (usually running in different directions!) and it dawned on me that my nice little 'cookery' lesson was going to be everso slightly more taxing than I first anticipated!
We began with this guacamole recipe which called for lots of chopping, mashing and stirring all of which most of the girls got bored with pretty easily. In the end I opted to put the half chopped, half mashed ingredients in the blender and whizz it all up. We served it with some pre-baked whole wheat pita breads and the girls whose attention I still had (the others had been distracted by the white fluffy creatures of the house) made their own batch of pita chips.
The resulting guacamole and pita chips were really good, I highly recommend that recipe.
Whilst I had visions of photographing each stage of the process, it didn't happen - I was far more concerned with ensuring that each girl left with all her digits still in tact and refereeing the various issues that seven year olds bring up.
My new Keurig coffee machine was put to good use with a few strong coffees to keep me going! (perfect timing on its arrival!) and all in all I think each girl had fun and got involved in some way in each recipe.
Next time, I may employ some help to ease the process!
It really made me feel blessed to be where I am right now in my life that I am able to step forward at a moments notice and host events like these as I know Maddy was very happy for it to be taking place in her house.
I feel blessed for my hard-working husband who provides for us and supports me jumping in and getting involed in the kiddies activities, even if it means he has boxed pizza for dinner.
It has given me some food for thought about Maddy's impending birthday party....
The master bedroom reno is underway...s l o w l y, but under way none the less..
Maddy had her first ice skating lesson ever:
She really enjoyed it (which is a good thing because she has 18 more weeks to go)
My new book arrivedand I now have to get serious about reading it quick smart and coming up with a plan for our garden
Lots of planning is underway for impending birthday parties. Maddy is having a spa-party at home complete with manicures, pedicures, hair feathers, makeup and (temporary) tattoos. She also wants to incorporate some craft time and a dance competition on the XBox Kinnect.
Josh is far more laid back about his - his theme is 'Lego Star Wars' and as well as ordering the cookie cutter to make these, I also have these coming to make lego men crayons for party favors.
Oue Christmas present arrived today from Mum and Dad:
I have already sampled the delights of vanilla coffee with hazelnut creamer...mmmmmmm, may have to limit myself to one of these a day or risk becoming fully addicted (and wired!)
Today I will have Brownie Girl Scouts arriving at my house to work on their 'snack' badge. We will be making guacamole and baked pita chips along with healthy baked granola and a fruit smoothie. All whilst learning the difference between healthy and unhealthy foods...which reminds me, I need to hide all that English chocolate...ooooooh, that would go nicely with a vanilla coffee :o)
I bought this cat post for our first set of kittens in October 2010 when they were about 2 months old:
Hope and Holly
Since then another set of kittens (Izzie and Bruno) and 4 cats have happily used it also, which is why it ended up like this:
The smaller shelf broke off completely after a certain 7 year old insisted (on numerous occasions) that it could take her weight - well apparently not. The carpeted post was in tatters from 2 big Birman boys scratching at it (and not the tiny paws of kittens that it was intended for) It had become an eye-sore.
So, rather than throwing it away, I researched and found that Lowes carries sisal rope, which is what most cat scratching posts are made of...perfect, I can recover it!
Yesterday I attempted it...with help
Look at those fierce ears, Kimmie means business!
When Jay came home he drilled another hole for the shelf to be screwed into et voila! One new-old cat post!
I have given Maddy strict instructions not to sit on this one (in the hopes we can get another 2 years of play out of it!)
I have done well this week working towards my 2012 Goals:
3 exercise classes completed: kickboxing cardio, spin and bootcamp
New dinner made for Jay - lemon chicken and rice made with artichokes (only I forgot to add the rice so we had it with baked potatoes)
Master bedroom re-do will be cranked up this weekend when we get some additional help moving heavy stuff upstairs
$0 spent on crafts!
One baby blanket made from a brand new pattern
and I have most definitely been blogging more!
This weekend we are looking forward to having dinner with friends on both Friday and Saturday night and a sneaky date night for Jay and I on Sunday, recipe for a good weekend methinks!
It was in the 60's yesterday, warm, sunny t-shirt weather. It felt a lot like spring. I happily skipped around Tulsa running errands in the sunshine!
Today we woke up to this.
The kiddies faces were a picture when I suggested they take a peek out of the window this morning! I told them it was only a little bit of snow so probably not enough to make a snowman just yet. Josh informed me 'It IS enough to make snow angels though Mummy!'
It seemed appropriate to fill them up with a hearty and hot breakfast on such a cold morning and I immediately became popular with not only my happy children (who love bacon sarnies) but also some other members of the house....
The bug has be conquered and today, for the first time in a week, I am starting to feel like myself.
I have been on the sewing machine and sewn a baby blanket...and half of another one, the mojo is returning!
We are currently in negotiations with the children about which activities they would like to do this year. Mads was easy - hip hop dance lesson and ice skating, great! I love skating so will enjoy taking Maddy outside of her lessons for extra practice. I also think that a pair of roller blades will help her get balanced and that is also something else I would enjoy doing with her!
Josh - he is more difficult. For the last few years we have signed him up to soccer. He didn't exactly seem to get it or seem very interested until the very end of last season. So I asked him if he would like to be signed up for soccer again. He gave an adamant 'no!' When I asked him what he would like to do, he answered 'tennis!'
Tennis...? Apparently a little boy in his class is having lessons.
Upon looking into it, it appears that tennis is a rich persons sport! and it will cost around $25 per half hour for Josh to have lessons....that's $100 per month for 2.5 hours of tennis. Seems a little steep to me?! Plus a registration fee/non-member fee yada yada...
All for a sport that I have never heard my 5 year old mutter about before!
Up until this point I have never been very pushy about getting the kids involved in activities outside of school, but seeing how well Joshua is handling full time school and hearing Maddy say 'Mum what are we going to do after school?' everyday has made me realise, they are ready.
Let the next chapter begin!
