Spicy New Rug

 

 

 

We picked up this 4x6 rug from Urban Outfitters over the weekend.  I wanted something to spice up the nursery! 

A fun rug, for a fun room! 

BEFORE:

Anyone want some free winnie-the-pooh Flor carpet tiles? They are hair and fluff magnets...just warning you!

Vacation FAIL!

On Saturday morning, we took a short road trip with the boys from Toronto to Niagara Falls*...We had planned to stay the weekend, but by Saturday evening we all wanted to go home, like, now!

What happened? My normally happy smiling three month old wouldn't stop screaming. My normally obstinate, bossy almost three year turned into a monster!**  Have you been there? Standing beside the dining table in a restaurant while bouncing a fussy baby on your hip and trying to bring your salad from the plate to your mouth with your left hand ??(I have no lefty fork skills!!)  Pulling your older son out from under the table to find out he had kicked his boots off, then crawling under table yourself to retrieve boots, while husband signs the bill and baby's cries escalate?  Oh yah - that was us- we were those people.

Today, Sunday, we are back at home with two little angels.  It's pretty obvious that my boys need their routine...

If all went well, I was planning a family trip to NYC next***.  Maybe Europe in the fall.  Instead, we will give it some time before we try another Ontario getaway.

Please tell, what was your favorite family vacation ever? Because I need to know it is possible to travel with little ones! 


*Why Niagara falls? we had to pick up a few things in the States. Niagara Falls is about an hour and a half drive from home.
**Three months is young - but baby is normally so easy! I figured as long as he was close to mom (his milk supplier) he would be fine.  Wrong!  My other son has been to Paris, NYC, Florida, and around Ontario with us - no problem!  This time I think he was in competition with the baby to see who could get the most attention. Double fail!
***Who are we kidding? I have the whole NYC trip already planned...stay near the park, visit the museum of natural history to see the dinosaurs...FAO Schwartz...*sigh* 

Souvenir Foto School

 

 

Only nine more letters of the alphabet for Souvenir Foto School*. Here are this week's submissions:

K is for Kleenex

L is for Logs

M is for Magazines

N is for Numbers

P is for Pyrex

Q is for Quarters

I shot O last week

Here are my first few photos

I have no idea what I will shoot for 'R' - any ideas? It has to be stackable!

*a photo a day, corresponding to a letter in the alphabet. my theme is stacked. 

Tea

I like my tea lukewarm and well steeped.
That's all.

New boots

I have been wearing my new Cougar Pillow Boots every! single! day! since they arrived (well, except when its +8 outside...what is with this winter???)

The folks at Cougar Boots targeted these babies to the 18-24 year old fashionista...however, I am convinced that these boots were made for hockey moms! Warm, comfy and waterproof...exactly what you want on your feet when you are pushing a stroller through slushy streets or (not that I would know) standing in a cold arena for hours.  Oh, and if they are fashionable? So be it!

Photo taken by my almost-three-year-old son with iphone
Wearing Nobis Parka

Souvenir Foto School

 

 

 

 

 

Photos from my second week at Souvenir Foto School*.

D is for Date Squares
E is for Eight
O is for Origami
F is for Folded
G is for Game
H is for Heart
I is for Ice

I got stuck on F, and ended up shooting O instead.  I am still not happy with F, so I will probably try something new at the end of the project!

Here is a link to my first three photos (A, B, C)


*a photo a day, corresponding to a letter in the alphabet. my theme is stacked.

Fruit Loops

 

 

We borrowed this idea from my son's preschool.  Perfect snack for in the car or stroller since it makes it extra complicated to drop them all over the side walk!  Of course, where there's a will, there's a way!

Not to mention it occupies them for 30 mins...quietly.

ps...you could always have them string up rigatoni instead of cereal...then its the motor skills they are learning, vs eating sugar! 

Kitchen Rug

A lot of people ask me about the care of the kitchen rug...well, maybe three people have asked..but still...

You are all going to get the answer.

The tag on the rug says 'dry clean recommended'...but I tossed it in the front loader...on handwash...cold/cold with Ivory Snow detergent...it is taking forever to air dry!

Looks as good as new!


Has it really been over four months since I cleaned it.  Gross! 


OMG I JUST FIGURED OUT HOW TO CORRECT THE WHITE BALANCE OF AN IMAGE IN PHOTOSHOP!!!!!!!!

Self portrait and reflection

Having a long term plan - is that the only way to become a successful adult?

I keep asking myself this question, trying to work out a satisfactory answer.  You see I find it impossible to plan anything when my future is so wide open.  In fact, I have no idea what I want to do with my life!

I want to be happy. I know what makes me happy today, but I can't pretend to know what will make me happy in, say, five years time.  Will it be the exact same things as today? I hope not - wouldn't that get boring??

I want to keep evolving as a person.  No ruts please!

I want to be passionate about my hobbies.

Happy-evolving-passionate...successful? It's not exactly a plan.   It's not exactly drifting, either (unless I am deceiving myself).  So how do I go about being happy, evolving and passionate?

The passion comes easy...I get wrapped up in whatever project I am working on - blogging, photography, thrifting are a few of my latest obsessions.  While I don't know how to measure personal  growth, I am willing to try things that make me slightly uncomfortable - once in a while (such as posting my first self portrait online!).  As for happiness? Well, here are a few things that made me happy today:
- fresh laundered sheets
- hearing 'thank you mommy'
- baby smiles
- reading a blog post that I really connect to
- a clean, beautiful, functioning home
- blog comments!!!

I am not sure how clean sheets, thrifting, and playing with my boys could lead to any sort of success.  I can't base a career upon any of them.  Do I pin my hopes for the future on the blog?  I haven't, although it is tempting.  I think approaching 8foot6 as a possible business opportunity might change the way I blog, no?

See - no answers! Just more questions!

Do I need to spin my passions into businesses in order to be someone someday?
Do other stay-at-home moms have a long term plan?P
Is it possible to become a success by taking life on - one.day.at.a.time? 

If you have some answers, or insight, or just want to leave your two cents - I'd love to hear from you!

********Update*******
Thank you to everyone who commented on this post...you have given me a lot (more) to think about! I love hearing your point of view!

Souvenir Foto School

 

I signed up for Besotted Brand Blog's Souvenir Photo School. I learned about the class through Lisa @ Wicked & Weird.  The idea is to take one photo a day for 30 days, using the alphabet as a guide.  Then upload the photos to a flickr group to receive feedback.

Here are my first three photos....A is for Apple; B is for Book; C is for Candle.  I also picked a theme: stacked.  I have already learned a ton from the other participants in the class.  I hope to understand the camera and its settings a bit better by the end of the month.

I will share the photos with you every Friday!  Here's hoping I don't run out of things to stack!!!