at the top of the to-do list

After months of seeing "blog post" at the bottom of my very long to-do list.... I never really make it past  #3 or 4 on the list... I just decided that this morning was the day that it was movin' on up. Yes, it bypassed other things like renew healthcard, change furnace filter or fold and put away laundry(which also typically stays at the bottom of the list) but I think it is going to be worth it.

So today i bring you .....HALLOWEEN!

The kids were more than excited to get all the "guts" out of this huge pumpkin. So excited in fact that it required standing on the table....obviously!

Ava's design for the pumpkin.  A bat with eyelashes, very small teeth and balls for feet.  

The finished product.  You can imagine the meltdown when her vision and drawing did not match my carving. We ended up agreeing that it was a "bat-bird"at which Ava rolled her eyes saying "whatever that is"

Some costume DIY.  It was such a proud moment.  Without my help Ava decided to cut off a sleeve of a shirt and make it into a tail.  YAY!!!!!

The Halloween Trio.  Anthony the kimodo dragon....he is showing his teeth.  My nephew Isaiah is Captain America.... next year I am going to make him a Captain Canada costume! Ava is a "rainbow leopard" demonstrating her paws and sharp claws. 

Here they are trying to "walk" to the next house.  See the tail in action?  Now that I see the pictures I think we may have started a little early.

In this spot I really should have a picture of the candy haul that each child brought home and the sheer thrill and chaos of sorting through it, but to be honest with you, I was DONE at this point and didn't have it in me to take anymore pictures. 

HELP!!!!! I am participating in a pie auction this weekend.  I have only ever made one pie before and am NOT a baker.   Any ideas for easy pies?  I want to look fancy but not be difficult.  LAZY!!!!

new life

a new life for an old board book (tutorial is on its way)

a new life for an old bed sheet

a new life found in our begonias 

a new life for our backyard...we dug our vegetable garden this weekend!!!!!

the best kind of new life... a new cousin!!!!!

busy bee

busy hive

princess and the pea

work in progress:: three little pigs

I have been working on these softie sets ($20/set) for the Mayfair that I am participating in on May 26th. 

 

Okay, I know that I am biased but I must admit that I am totally in love with each of these sets.  No flashing lights, buttons to push, rules to follow or batteries to install, just plain old fashioned imagination and creativity required.  

Each piece was hand embroidered lovingly by me whilst watching the entire of season 1 of Community on Netflix....hilarious!  

In an ideal world I imagine children sitting quietly on their bedroom floor building stories and houses and little make-believe worlds for these pieces.  My own kids have been BEGGING to play with these sets (ah the forbidden fruit) and I have actually  caught Anthony rifling through my sewing stuff trying to find them the other day....I have them very well hidden!  

I think I am going to work on some woodland creatures next but I also have 3 billygoats gruff on my mind.... I think I'll leave that decision up to the kids. I just may end up with an entire set of Ninja turtles!

keeping track for the keeping track challenged

I am always writing down the cute things that my kids say and the always take note of milestones met on the calendar.  I can never find the tiny scraps of paper I have written these cute words on nor can I ever find the milestones written somewhere on some calendar that I shoved who knows where.  I think I may have found a solution to this problem that will literally allow me to document milestones and cute events for the next 14 years!

Okay, I know this looks and sounds a bit crazy but I think it is really going to work.  

For each child I found an inexpensive recipe box and filled each one with 365 index cards, each card having 14 lines.  

I dated each card with month and day but NOT the  year .The years are going to be represented on each line on the card.   

My intention is to write a one-liner capturing an important event, milestone or cute saying for each day of the year on it’s corresponding card.   Since there are 14 lines on each card you will be able to use each card for 14 years.  

Are you confused?  Here is a sample.

At the end of 14 years I will have hopefully filled each card in the box.  I think it is going to be so much fun to go back through the box and remember all of the little details we had forgotten.    I only wish I had started this when they were babies, then I wouldn’t have to pretend I remember exactly when they took their first step or said their first word...oops!     

the verdict is in!

Yes, we all know that i am trying to "simplify" my life.... I'm not sure that I even know what that is supposed to look like anymore.  In an attempt to figure out what is actually "complicating" my life I have been omitting certain activities to see what kind of impact they are having.  This kind of sounds like trying to figure out if you have a food sensitivity, doesn't it?

Last week I took a break from blogs (including my own) and Pinterest .
This was a hard one!  I realized that I waste A LOT of time reading blogs, lurking facebook and pinning and really do need to limit myself....I would get so much more done in the evenings.  I whole-heartedly missed posting the goings on around here though.  I felt the need to go back to paper journaling for the week and it just didn't feel the same.  So the verdict is obviously in.... dump lurking but keep blogging. I think we all could have predicted that outcome!

This past week took me by complete surprise.  I seemed super sensitive to noticing growth all around me.

1. Ava with her first loose tooth.....and yes I cried (ugly cried) when she showed it to me!

2. Anthony with his new big boy haircut....I swear he instantly aged

                   

3. My "little" cousin Emma moving to Europe....moving!  

sorry about the blurry pic Em, lets blame grandma's lighting!

4.  Our terrarium farm is growing like crazy....we will soon be harvesting mini carrots and strawberries

5.   both kids made HUGE improvements in skating this week....well, Ava made improvements in actual skating skills and Anthony's had more to do with attitude adjustments,  but growth all the same!

6.  Ava can swing super high without a starting push....this also made me cry!

7.  business growth....new green thimble products.    These are pencil rolls that I will be selling at the Mayfair held by the Westdale Children's School on May 26th.  They are going to be $10 and will come with a handmade notebook.  Throw them in a tote bag, head off to the park and spend the afternoon colouring....we do!

With all of this growth last week I felt old, I felt like life was moving way too fast and I couldn't get it to slow down.  How is it that I have a daughter old enough to be losing teeth?  How do I have a son able to play by himself in the backyard?  I get really choked up thinking about how quickly time flies  but I am ever so glad that I have this space to share these moments with you  because in some small weird way it helps things slow down just a little bit.

just one person

I am aware of the saying "even one person can make a difference" but until very recently didn't really believe it to be true.  I guess I was kind of going through life thinking that my efforts in helping others would be useless unless I had a great big novel idea with a lot of money and people backing my project.  My friend Tanya has proven to me that in order to help others all you need is love and a little effort.  Tanya has a dear friend going through a number of devastating  situations: suicide of her father, serious medical diagnosis, housing crisis and the list goes on and on. Instead of saying "there is nothing I can do ", Tanya was able to reach out to the blogging community through a couple of simple emails and start the wheels in motion for some serious assistance for her friend.  Check out her story, progress  and contribute any helpful ideas you may have here on her blog.

bonnet sewing!!!!!!

With a sickish babe laying on the couch and the threat of an April snowstorm I got an itch to do some sewing...... more specifically, bonnet sewing.  I have created 5 of the cutest reversible bonnets, if I do say so myself.  I have listed them all, along with descriptions and pricing in my Etsy shop (also see the sidebar) but I thought I would show them off here as well!

                                               

                                 the interior of the button bonnet

I adore making these bonnets and welcome any custom orders....just email or facebook me and we can discuss your ideas!

today i failed

t

Today I shamed myself.
I did not stand up for the underdog.
I did not do what I felt in my heart was right.
I chose to ignore rather than act.
I chose the cowards way out.
Today I witnessed a woman repeatedly verbally abuse a young girl (maybe 10 yrs old) she was shopping with.
I watched as this young girl with shoulders slouched and head hung down tried to avoid eye contact and the abuse she was being subjected to.
I had tears in my eyes.
I heard others around me muttering but none of us acted.
I imagine this little girl hoping beyond hope that someone would step in and help her and none of us did.  I feel like we collectively let her down.
I so desperately wanted to go over and give her a big hug.
What do you do in this type of situation?  How do you gently and without judgement try to help and intervene.  How do you NOT make things worse for that poor little girl?
I need a solution.  This inactivity on my part is unacceptable.  What is the right thing to do?  My heart breaks for this child.
 I failed today.
My voice was weak today but what I do know is  that as a collective we mothers have a protective roar that can turn this world upside down.  Please help me to harness this roar and make a change.... a change that will hopefully make a difference in the lives of children who really need it!

Any ideas?
Where do we begin?
ROAR with me!!!!!

{this moment}

Joining amanda and friends in "this moment"...capturing a moment from the week that I want to cherish and hold onto.

Have a great weekend! 

ever so proud of myself!

Do you ever make something for someone and then you are so impressed with it that you just can't give it away?  This always happens to me with the cards that I make at my friend Nicole's card making workshops.  Most recently I attended her Easter card workshop and made this super adorable card.

Okay, I really fell in love with this card.  After stamping the outline of the bunny I actually coloured that bunny in using watercolour pencils and a blending brush!  I was giddy proud of myself.  

Nicole hosts these card making and stamping workshops monthly.  I try to attend as often as possible because they are an inexpensive ($15) way to socialize, be creative and end up with 3 amazing looking greeting cards.    As a representative of Stampin' Up Nicole has access to a ton of great stamping ideas, tools and resources.   This doesn't mean that she is trying to sell you stamps and accessories at every turn!  Actually it is quite the opposite, you will NEVER feel pressured to purchase anything from Nicole when attending a session at her house.  The only thing you are sure to walk away with is a sore tummy from laughing, 3 cards and some great new friends.  If you are interested in learning more about Nicole's workshops and live in the Hamilton area, let me know and I can give you her contact details.   

Joyeux Paques

I usually treat Easter like a second New Year.  I make new resolutions, start a new journal, vow to get more organized, buy new skin care products and start purging all of the junk around the house.   This never works for me.  Just like New Years I fall back into my old habits,  practically before the day ends.  This year I thought I would just renew my intention to try to live as simply as possible.  With simplicity in mind, I present you with....

Easter: a pictorial

round here

We've been sickies in this house and believe me when I tell you recouperation has been a very slow process.  This means that I have been slow and totally unmotivated.  There has been lots of laying on the couch, cuddling babes, watching Power Rangers, making snack plates and tending fevers.  
I am basically unprepared for Easter!  Oh ya, my round up of to do projects....NOT STARTED.
Treats bought....NOT YET!
Eggs dyed....NOPE!
Easter dinner planned.... HAVEN'T REALLY EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT IT!
I have 2 days to pull it all together which I know is more than enough time for a crazy woman such as myself... right?


In between illnesses we did manage a couple of outings::

:: the One of Kind Show, where I fell in love with ......

... these beautiful magnetic pieces of wood.  I thought they would be a perfect pin cushion.  For the life of me, I can't remember the name of the artisan so I can buy one online.   I must have shoved a thousand cards in my bag that day and was not smart enough to pay attention to which was which..... BOOO!

:: "candylion" picking.  I am finding these candylions in every pocket of every coat and sweater that we own.

:: on a cruise ship. The kids were inspired to turn the couch into a cruise ship after reading the most ridiculous book....Walter the Farting Dog goes on a Cruise.  It is however most adorable that Anthony calls it "Fawlter the tooting dog".   Sorry about the crazy eyes in the picture.  I tried everything in photoshop to fix them but they just kept getting crazier!

:: Anthony's first fancy dress tea party.  How adorable is this?????


On the sewing front, I have a few works in progress that I will hopefully have done and posted about very soon.   Think bonnets and puppet theatres....get excited!