my life in pictures.

Mark's had this little Ikea table for ever, and I finally gave it some love, pistachio green style.

This owl figure used to just be a worn out black, now she's pretty again.

My little deck table went sun yellow, but I think I need to cut the legs down still, it wobbles a lot.

I painted some pretty backgrounds the other night.

My new fun shelf, still needs some pretty papers mod podged to it I think.

One side of Sophie's new doll house.

The other side.

A different view. See? Made with two side table drawers. Awesome right?

The Scrappy Bunnies I sewed up for Easter.

Oh look. Its me.

That about sums it up nicely. When I have time to craft/create, I do it. Otherwise you can find me chasing after toddlers and looking for inspiration online.
Now? I have two issues of Cloth Paper Scissors to peruse through.
<3
Be well.

A Rainbow Birthday Party

We had Sophie's 2nd birthday party this past weekend rather than her actual birthday, the 30th. My folks came up, and usually its easier to get people out on a weekend. Unless there is another birthday party the same day. I was a little bummed out with all the "No" replies to the invite, but it ended up just about perfect anyways.



Being a rainbow theme, it was pretty easy to decorate, and I had lots of fun doing so. I painted rainbows and hung them from the dining room chandelier, bought colored streamers and hung them across and down from a couple of tables. A few other party favors in rainbow colors, paper garlands, fabric buntings, my dad came home with a bunch of balloons. It was great, so wonderfully colorful and happy! Even the toddler dishes that I bought from Ikea were already colors of the rainbow, so I put them out as well, and I also bought a little wooden rainbow toy that Sophie played with after.



There were six toddlers including Sophie and they all got along pretty well, thankfully, not bad for a bunch of two year olds! They played, adults chatted, and as usual I ran around getting things done and taking pictures. My dad made a great carrot cake and the kids loved the cream cheese icing most of all, lol. Sophie actually blew out her candles too.



Sometimes its good I find such great things for cheap, the kids had lots to play with, even if they did have to share and take turns!



Sophie got a nice new bike from my folks, she can even reach the pedals already even if she doesnt know how to move her legs on them yet. Now she just needs a helmet.



Her actual birthday is tomorrow. I cant believe she's TWO. <3

Birthday!

On the first I turned 29. I had a few days off from babysitting so Mark and I took advantage of it. Saturday last week we got a wonderful babysitter for Sophie and had an amazing dinner out, and saw Black Swan.



Awesome movie, equal parts of strange and uncomfortable, and keeps you guessing. It was so nice to be child free for a few hours. Our evening was quiet and pleasant! But you know what would be nice? Having a birthday where I DONT have any kind of health issue. Really. It would be super to feel totally great on a birthday. :P

On the Sunday we had a super yummy breakfast at Tarbell's in Cumberland before driving down to Nanaimo for an hour. I needed to oogle some books and I actually bought 3 and a mag, and a couple things from Micheal's as well. These books are awesome, with some very cute projects in them. I have a TON of fabric I need to start doing something with. The Stuffed mag is SO inspiring! I was looking at the Happiness Project book for a while, finally its in soft cover! I also thrifted 'the no-cry discipline solution' which better be good.



I picked up some glow in the dark bracelets for Sophie since the kids LOVE playing with them, and a little green plastic bucket for my Ponyo Project. I'm kind of determined to make Sophie a little felt Ponyo stuffie for her birthday. I'm almost certain she'll crap herself with joy, HAHAHA!

My folks were up this weekend and surprised me with Journal Bliss and I LOVE IT! Now I just need some alphabet stamps and I think I'll be set for a while.. LOL. They also gave me a little Valentines present, and a few things for Sophie. My mom and I seem to be on the same sort of wave length these days with the things we buy, and think of. Its always oddly funny when that happens. It was great to see them as always, and Sophie loves her grandparents.

It was a great birthday. There's been A LOT of assorted shopping and thrifting, and I've been finding wonderful things! I found some totally cute packaging tape for $0.88 a roll! Three different prints, and I bought two rolls of each, but I may have to go back and buy more.. they're so cute! Right now I'm very much into polka dots! I now have a polka dot shirt, mug, plate, snack bag, ribbons, and fabrics. Sophie is also spoiled, hahaha. She now has 3 different ride on cars. (omg, i know right?!) But then everything gets shared with the other kiddo as well, so.



Here's my cheeky lil' kid. I cant believe she's almost TWO. <3

oh my!

FINALLY I'm feeling inspired and creative!!

Only after finding such awesome blogs/web pages/techniques that hit me hard enough.

Violette is the author from Journal Bliss, who's book I NEED! Finally I'm inspired to work on an art journal, that I've already started, and I've been busily cutting words and images out of magazines, and painting some pages.



Teesha Moore and her blog.
I watched her videos on quilted pillows, and so far I've made 3! I love it! Today I picked up more thrifted fabric for some more sewing fun.


not my photo, just an example!

Otherwise life continues on as usual. Lots of hanging out with toddlers and assorted kiddo activities. I've taken over the dining room table with all the stuff I've been working on lately. Earlier tonight Sophie and I played dress up and I got her wearing her big tutu, wings, other frilly bits, her hair in cute little pigtails, and necklaces! The pretties little fairy princess I ever did see! Photos to post another time. <3

Oh, and its my birthday on tuesday.

Hello!

Its been a while, again, hasnt it?

Christmas went really well here. My folks came up, and helped me cook Christmas dinner, which we held here. Mark's family came over and everyone enjoyed everything, and went home happy, and I dont think I could have asked for anything more. Sophie enjoyed her presents though still isnt sure what Christmas is all about. We all got a nice haul. Hehe.

We held a small New Years party here, and had some friends come over. Mostly general schmoozing and a bit of karaoke. Mark even stayed upstairs and sang! I was completely impressed. I managed to thrift a cute little vintage looking dress a few days prior, so I dressed up for the party. Why bring in the New Year looking like a schmo? I felt pretty, and looked great! I may even dress up more often now.



This weekend we had a couple friends come up, who we havent seen in 6 months or so. We had a lot of fun, with karaoke, scrabble, and child minding. They being newly married and childless, admittedly use us as a buffer to help decide what age a child they're going to adopt later on. They were amazed at how I handle two toddlers and the trouble they get into. Yesterday morning before my #2 toddler showed up, we left Sophie at home with Mark, and went out for breakfast, and some wandering around downtown. Some much needed 'adult time' for myself which I *SO* very appreciated. It was wonderfully laid back and peaceful, we were able to take our time doing things and looking around. I managed to thrift a small SARK print, and a cute jean skirt that will go great with my cowboy boots in the spring. I also bought the last Harry Potter book, and got a tarot reading done which was very cool and insightful. I took notes!



I've also been reading through the Harry Potter books, and right now I've just started the Half Blood Prince. I love the books! All the little details that were never mentioned in the movies. Its great!

We've got birthdays coming up! I'm not sure what to do for any of them either.
It's been a fairly good time. I realize I need more 'adult' or 'me' time.

Its starting to look a lot like Christmas...

Tins full of homemade cookies.


My pretty garland.


Under the tree.

Ta-Daaaa... the tree.

So, I've been making Christmas.
I hauled out the tree, decorated it, made more decorations for it, made decorations with the toddlers (sorta). I've been baking, shopping and present wrapping, making other assorted decorations and such, and I've been enjoying almost every minute of it. Wrestling away scissors and glue from toddlers, putting back ornaments that they rip off the tree, trying to come up with stocking stuffer ideas besides a big wad of chocolate.
Some stuff I've bought, some I've made, which I'm happy with. I've enjoyed gathering gifts for people this year.
What else am I doing?
Trying not to be so angry, and disappointed. Or at the very least, trying to not let it get to me.

Whats new?

I've been doing a lot of reading lately, working my way through the Harry Potter series. I'm on the fourth book now, and already I'm enjoying them more than the movies. A few details better explained, and some other things that were never even touched on! I'm loving it.

And babysitting. Yep. I hang out with toddlers most days. Its a wonder my brain hasnt flat lined to a constant "WEEEEEEEEEEE!" yet.

Today I made myself three belly warmers. A scrappy layered tshirt one, a lined ribbed one, and a super nice purple fleece warmer than I'm wearing right now, and I'm so cuddly and warm! I love wearing layers, and this makes it even more fun. Also called Haramaki's, they're essentially just a tube top, worn around your middle, keeping your kidneys, liver, and other assorted bits nice and warm.

I've got three birds sewn up, and now I just need to attach them to one of the rings, and finish the mobile. At least that will be one finished! I've also been making a few other things here and there: hand warmers, and a tissue pouch. I'm still working on my tshirt rug. I feel a need to be creative, but sometimes I feel so stuck. My only source of inspiration these days are neat blogs that I come across.
Its an itch I cant always scratch.

I (and probably everyone else!) can really notice a difference when I dont take my 5htp or my daily vitamins. Like, WOW. Stay away from me before I bite your head off!

Yeah.