Thursday, June 28, 2012

Unfortunate/Fortunate

Unfortunate/Fortunate

Unfortunate: I can't seem to get rid of this bug that has entered my throat and insists on keeping me up all night in coughing fits.
Fortunate: I've been to my dr and now have in my possession "pregnancy friendly" cough medicine.


Unfortunate: The bean in my belly has hunkered down in my pelvis causing me a surprising amount of pain and discomfort for a surprising amount of my day.
Fortunate: The bean in my belly continues to grow stronger and stronger each and everyday and I am so thankful for that blessing.

Unfortunate: My camera has been acting up lately resulting in less photos being taken then normal... so sad...
Fortunate: I figured out the problem and should catch up on my daily snaps in no time.

Unfortunate: Ice cream, cake and cookies all have a lot of calories in them.
Fortunate: I have a tredmil.
Unfortunate: I have no motivation.

Unfortunate: We live 3 1/2 hours away from the closest Starbucks.
Fortunate: A trip in that direction should hopefully be coming up in the next few weeks and until that time comes I have this recipe to survive off.

Unfortunate: It's raining outside.
Fortunate: I love rainy days!




Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Friendship Quilt

Way back (I'm assuming it's still way back and lost its popularity, at least) women used to get together and make what were called "friendship quilts" for a new mother to be or a bride to be. Each lady would be responsible for one square and they would sign/embroider their name into their block as a way of showing the mother/bride to be their support and how loved she was.

I love the idea of giving quilts as a symbol of our support and love for people. I can't think of anything cozier then cuddling up in a quilt knowing that someone made it while thinking of you specifically.

I've said before that my mister's job will cause us to move a lot during his career and while this can be super fun and exciting it can also be incredibly hard and lonely. A close friend of mine recently made a move and I wanted her to know that I am always thinking of her. I made her my version of a friendship quilt to snuggle up with whenever she felt lonely or just needed a hug that I wasn't there to give.
I didn't embroider my name on a square (or each square for that matter) but I decided to stick with pieced together squares for the pattern.

I backed it with a flannel and tossed some small tassels in every other square.
I actually love this quilt and was super pleased with how it turned out!

Monday, June 25, 2012

Musical Monday: Mister Rogers' Remix - Garden of Your Mind

If you are hooked up to any sort of social media site then I'm sure this little ditty has been bombarding you for the last few weeks.
That said, I think it's awesome so I make no apologies for showing you once again.
This is a song made by remixing bits and pieces from the show "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood".
Like I said, it's awesome!

Friday, June 22, 2012

Around Here







I am currently loving my new paper cutter - could be the best investment I've made all year!

Because of said paper cutter I have officially started operation mini book completion. I have had ideas for the kids baby books to be turned into mini books for some time now and although I wouldn't normally go back and do this umm... 5 years later, I did a horrible job completing their baby books and they look pathetically empty. So I thought mini books were in order. Fingers crossed my motivation stays long enough to actually complete them!

Poached eggs on toast (or left over baguette, toasted)... nothing makes a sick mama feel better... well, that and a cup of tea with milk and honey.

We have had so many friends offer second hand girly clothes it's been awesome! I am not picky and will gladly take previous loved clothes in a heart beat, especially when those clothes come free and by the bag full. We already have an entire basket of clothes for this little one, I couldn't feel more blessed.

Despite 3 of us being sick it was decided that we needed to do a little camping practice this week, so we set up the tent made a fire pit, roasted marshmallows and made s'mores in our backyard. The boys loved every minute of it! and I enjoyed the s'mores...

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

A Problem

I may have a problem...
... with online shopping.
I usually pace and limit myself to one order per month, or at least one order at a time (wait until it's arrived, pay it off and then order something else). I have not been quite so disciplined these days though and I can totally understand how some people can go completely crazy with the online ordering. 

I've started stocking up for after our move and ordering some things I know I am going to want but will need to pay a fortune in northern shipping costs.
Probably best to keep this between us though... not sure how my mister would handle the news...

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

YUM!

I go through these phases with food that I will find something I love and eat it until the very idea of it makes my stomach turn.
My current obsession? Tomato Bruschetta and Goat Cheese on a toasted Baguette (a "crostini" if you're feeling fancy).
So freakin' good people.

I slice the baguette on an angle to create more of a surface for my topping, drizzle with olive oil and pop in the oven (350-375) for 15 minutes or so until it's all golden and toasty. 
While that's toasting I chop up a tomato, some red onion and a few fresh basil leaves, dump that in a bowl and drizzle lightly with balsamic vinegar, olive oil and a pinch of salt (sometimes I add garlic... depends if I'm in the mood for chopping or not). 
In another bowl I plop a chunk of goat cheese and drizzle in some olive oil and mix it all up until the goat cheese is a nice spreadable consistency, then add some salt and pepper to taste.
Once the baguette is all toasty and delicious I spread it with some goat cheese and then top that with some of the tomato mixture.
Goodness gracious! So good!
I've been trying to pace myself, eating this only once or twice a week, it's just too good to get sick of.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Musical Monday: Johnny Cash - Hurt

Oh, Johnny Cash.
Love him.
He's right up there with Neil Young.
I love this song, I find it so sad and so beautiful.
I just want to crawl into the video and give him a big hug.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Pressed Flowers

I think I may have discovered my new love...
Pressed flowers! 

Out of all the new hobbies I have picked up over the past few years this one will be the most amusing to my family I think.
You see, I am not a flowery person. I don't grow them, I can't keep them alive, I don't care to learn the names of any of them, but I do like to look at them.

My boys each gave me a carnation for Mother's day and I thought I'd try my hand at saving bits of them. I do have a crafty endeavor planned for these babies but I have to say, I am so excited with how well they dried.
 I asked around for advice on drying and pressing flowers and for the most part no one I knew was entirely sure of the best process. So I YouTubed it. 
I found this video and followed the directions and then just stacked a couple of books on top of my (skinny) phone book with a few big cans of tomatoes and waited a little over 2 weeks.

Now to pick up a few more supplies and get started on my crafty plans! 
Stay tuned... 

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Fishing

My mister has been off the past few days and it has been beautiful outside so we took the opportunity to take the boys fishing.
On Sunday we bought them each their own rods and then practiced casting them in the backyard (with the little weight thing they came with... no hooks).
After they were all practiced up we took them to the water Monday morning and let them cast and reel in 'till their hearts were content!
Yesterday was a bit of bummer and we didn't even have nibbles so we decided to take them out again this morning.

Although Eli didn't catch anything Zac caught a little one and it has made the little guy's life a brighter place.
I've never seen him so proud!

Monday, June 11, 2012

Musical Monday: The Pass - Treatment of The Sun

The dancing in this video is fantastically fun.
It makes me giggle.



Friday, June 8, 2012

Week in Review

This week has been what I would call, insane!
My mister is back on shift work (which always results in me never knowing what day it is), Zac had a cavity filled (talk about making me feel like the worst parent ever), which involved happy juice medicine and a gas mask, Eli was taken to the emergency room because his eye swelled completely shut (turned out to be an allergic reaction to a bug bite). We had house showings, one complete with a bunch of what I would consider bizaro questions, I got packages in the mail that I have been anxiously waiting for, the boys played on a bouncy castle and loved their friends and I had a few hormonally driven melt downs.
A crazy week, but a good week none the less.
My mister is playing in a ball tournament this weekend and we have a good friend coming for the night on Sunday which leads me to believe the crazy times are currently on going at the moment.
I am so craftily inspired these days that I am also hoping to hunker down and create like crazy over the next few days! 
I have to say keeping this house clean while I'm this inspired is proving to be impossible. I can't create and stay clean at the same time... it's just not in my make up!
I hope you have a fantastic weekend, I know ours is going to be awesome!

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Here We Go Again

Last week I stated working on Eli's superhero quilt for his new big boy bed (in our new house). 
I have to say I was mighty impressed with myself and how quickly I sewed it together. 
Alas, I am at the dreaded binding now...
I'm hoping to have it finished tonight, running through the binding before I talk myself into taking a few weeks break from it. 
As I am a self taught sewer, crafter, knitter, crocheter and quilter I thought I'd share some of the videos I've relied on pretty heavily to try and teach myself how to do the binding on quilts. 
This video shows how I attach the binding and do my corners and this video taught me how to attach the ends together.
Hopefully I'll have a happy update for you next week with more pictures of the "finished product"!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Laughter

These two boys make me laugh everyday...




It's a gloomy, rainy day today so we are going to keep ourselves busy with crafts and giggles.
Happy Tuesday!

Monday, June 4, 2012

Musical Monday: Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Fallon as Neil Young - Whip My Hair

You should know by now that I have a bit of a love affair with Neil Young's music.
 A few months back my mister was wasting some time on YouTube when he thought to show me Jimmy Fallon's Neil Young impression.
Oh.My.Goodness.
The impression is dead on and the fact that he sings modern songs in Neil Young "style" had me practically mesmerized.
If you have never heard the original "Whip My Hair" By Willow Smith it is worth popping over to YouTube to hear it (here), or at least some of it ... then come back here and listen to "Neil Young's" version... seriously... it's awesome!!


HA! It always puts a smile on my face no matter what my day has looked like.
Another one of my favourites can be found here.
What a great way to start the week!

Friday, June 1, 2012

Life Right Now

I am...

Feeling content.
Wishing I could get to bed before midnight. Nothing is stopping me... I am my only obstacle in accomplishing this and yet it seems soooo impossible.
Struggling to get into the habit of using the treadmill (or going out for a walk) every day.
Reading my Bible and focusing on it alone this month in an effort to reintroduce it into my daily routine.
Anxious to move to our new home.
Thankful for good friends.
Excited to start working on some photo journal projects.
Praying that our house sells soon.
Accepting that I can not plan every detail of the next few months.
Surrendering myself to God and trusting in His timing.
Leaning on the verse "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own." Matt 6:33 It's becoming my life's mantra.
Nesting, is over planning and making things for the new addition considered nesting? I'm calling it nesting because it makes me feel less crazy.
Entertaining the idea of opening a new shop and playing around with names.
Considering a blog facelift... again... I'm just so indecisive these days.
Crafting and crafting and crafting...
Preparing for my mister to go back to shift work. This last year of him working 8am-4pm has been wonderful! Alas, it couldn't last forever.
Tired of keeping our house spotless for viewings and constantly "show" ready.