Right Fighter...

"This is not going to work (huff/puff/cuss), it will hold...like...five books". 

This was the statement grunted out by my husband as he hauled a way too heavy shelving unit up the stairs to the kids room. I am used to such skepticism from the love of my life. He  does not subscribe to my firm belief that if something is not working you just shove, push, and move it over and over again until you make the magic (that you pictured in your head) happen. Poor him.

I generally try and avoid involving him in any of my decorating/painting/sparkle shenanigans, it's just easier that way. I hate explaining myself and/or why this is the MOST brilliant idea I have ever come up with. Instead I wait until he leaves the country and proceed, business as usual. With no trip in sight however, and this monster of a piece sitting in my living room, I had no choice.

We have been married 8 years, batting my eyelashes gets me nowhere. Straight forward is the best approach. I need this done, I would love your help, but if you say no I will just find a way to do it myself. He was not onboard, but helped/herniated regardless.

So glad he did...the kids now have an amazing library to store all their lovely books. It fits waaaaay more than five, but I am not one of those "I told you so" type girls.

Once I owned a vintage shop, it did not last but this gorgeous old shelf did.

Presto change-o...

TOTALLY worth the near heart attack...

(I heart you Paul).

xo

Semi-permanent Vacation...

Attempting to segue back into society after three weeks away is always a challenge. Getting out of our daily routine of bathing suits, beaches and ice cream afternoons is even harder. A few shots of our holiday and Grandma and Papa's on Manitoulin Island...

Back to the grind...

xo

Dessert First...

There is a saying or a thought that one should "eat dessert first". 
I would (if my behind allowed) eat dessert only, for each course. The only thing better than cake, is surprise cake. On our anniversary this year neither Paul nor I could remember how long we had been married, and argued over the year it actually took place. Both of us were sober, so I can only conclude that our time together has been so blissful it has just blended into one long happy day, or the kids have robbed us both of our longterm memory. Either way we were super surprised and touched when my friend Michelle (of the makes me cookie dough because I am baking challenged fame) showed up at soccer practice toting a cake she had made covered in my favourite flowers (done in our wedding colours no less)...How amazing is that? 

8 years worth of amazing...

Thank you Mich!

xo

Really, it's not you...it's me...

If you were looking to find my head over the past two months dollars to doughnuts you would have been looking at the wrong end, I have been an all-consumed and busy lady.


A few posts back I announced my return to the illustration world and called on the employment spirits to feel free to drop some work my way. Well they answered immediately (upside), and wrapped me in projects that left little time to remember pants let alone this blog (downside). I found whenever I would manage a bit of time to sit and write everything was a jumbley mess, so I cut myself some slack and took a break.


There is light on the horizon in the form of free time finally, so I will grab it and use it while I can. My kids just finished their first full year of JK in June and are now home all day everyday looking at me with a "now what" expression...gotta up my game craft wise. 


A promising start...

Accessories for a pirate birthday party...Yarrr

(yup, I just said yarrr).

I turned one half of the front porch into an art studio of their very own. I have had to threaten to shut it down twice due to general misuse of sparkles and a slap fight.

But when they're good they're very good...

Dragon puppet!

Princess puppet!

The other half of the porch I turned into a space for Paul and I to hang out, read books, enjoy the rain and generally avoid mosquitos. 

I fell asleep laying here reading the other day, which was lovely but can get weird living right on Main Street. Drooling in the mid-day sun is the perfect way to get a reputation as a boozer in a small town.

Happy Summer! (hic)

xo

Raise a Glass...

For the mama's!  It is a bloody hard job. A worst pay / best rewards type of situation. Children can be maddening, and although mine make me want to have vodka pancakes many (many) days of the week I would not trade it...ever. 

A few of my favourites - Happy Mother's Day xo

My Mama...

My Mama-in-law...

My Grandma...

My Nana...

I grew these. Believe me, no one is more surprised than me...

xo

Ring Ring...

I am not sure how much money is spent yearly on defence weapons in North America, but I do know it is a totally unnecessary expense. A great cost saving idea would be to simply get groups of kindergarteners to lick envelopes and/or cough into baggies. Everyone will be too busy laying on the couch in a NyQuil daze covered in balls of boogery kleenex to fight one another. You're welcome government. 
We (I) have been feeling a little afflicted up in here as of late. Each kid with an ear infection and myself blessed with bronchitis AND a good times "random "audit. There has been more than one morning that I find myself yelling at the ceiling "ARE YOU FRIGGING KIDDING ME"?!
Apparently not.
There are no real sick days allowed at this job, so some weeks you just phone it in. It helps to have some fast but awesome crafts up your sleeve and frozen cookie dough in the fridge.

First up - Pom Pom Lei

So easy I did it in a prone position on the couch. These pom pom's came in a craft tub, but I am sure you can get them at any craft store or Dollarama. Or, if you are healthy and adventurous make your own.

With a darning needle and a length of cross stitch thread I simply threaded the pom pom's through. Georgia is too little to wield a needle, so she sat and sorted her favourites out and decided on her pattern. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Next up is sugar cookies. If you need to buy some down time it comes in handy to have something fun to eat to throw your kids way. We recently got some wicked Star Wars cookie presses. These were a gift, but I believe they are available at Williams-Sonoma. They are easy for kids to use and super sturdy.

Pre-made cookie dough is a brilliant idea. It also really helps (if you are me and your skills are questionable at best in the baking department) to have a friend that will make dough for you. Thank you Michelle.

Yup, Storm Troopers with pink sprinkles, that's how we roll.

Blessedly we are on the mend and the audit is (mostly) done. I will take this time to cram as much in before the next germ tornado hits. There is after all two more months of school left...stay healthy. xo

11th Hour Easter...

Just in case you were sitting around thinking "I have all these sticks and feathers laying about, what on Earth should I do with them"?, a quick Easter tutorial for you...

Easter Nest Centrepiece

You will need:

1. A grapevine wreath. Buy (or dig out of the Holiday box in the basement) a wreath in whatever size you want the centrepiece to be. This will serve as the base of your nest.

2. A bunch of curly willow. Most florists carry this item, I got mine at Michael's.

3. Nature-y extras...leaves, dried flowers, etc. If you are super on the ball you can gather these items from your own backyard. If you are me you will go to Michael's.

3. Feathers. I picked up a bunch of feather masks this past Halloween at the Dollarama (super easy to disassemble). 

Break off sections of the willow and wind them around the wreath, weaving the sticks in and out. Secure the ends with bits of wire.

Hot glue a card board base to the bottom of the nest (this will serve as a base for the moss layer).

Add a moss layer. The moss is a great cushion for nestling your coloured eggs in.

Yes, you can purchase moss...in a bag. Crazy times we live in.

Hot glue your extras (butterflies, flowers and such) in and around the nest. I tried to tuck stuff on different levels, this will give your nest depth.

Warning, hot glue and twigs can be a deadly combination for fingers (a lot of dripping).

Place your freshly coloured eggs in the centre and it is ready to sit in the middle of your Easter Sunday brunch table. I put ours on a cake stand to give it a bit more SHAZAM factor.

This can also work as a general centrepiece. Tuck in flowers, or vintage toys and make an interesting vignette long after all the eggs have been eaten. Or, turn it into a light fixture...Happy Easter!

xo