Family Proclamation (Manifesto)

It was Family Day here in British Columbia yesterday. To celebrate, I created our Family Proclamation (I was originally calling it a manifesto but Jeremy thought that sounded too negative). It is going to be a 2'X3' print with a white frame. My husband thinks it should be downstairs in our laundry room where we enter and leave the house, I am lobbying for over our dining room table. We will see!

Seeing Beauty No. 1 - My Yard

 

I know we all have those areas of our home (inside or outside) that you look at and cringe and think, "I really should do something about that." But time, money or lack of motivation steps in and nothing changes.

I took my camera out this weekend (thank you Mr. Sun for coming out to play) and decided to take shots of all of the areas of my yard that need some extra love.

And instead of looking at these areas with criticism, I looked at them with the goal of finding art and beauty. Much more kind than thinking of a mildew covered birdhouse or a bunch of toys that were never put away.

I enjoyed it so much that I am going to do another photo shoot inside. Look for it in the coming weeks.

If you decide to take your own series of "Seeing Beauty", please let me know in the comments so I can come visit.

Sunday Inspiration No. 4

Enjoy browsing these links with your Sunday morning coffee or tea (this is how I start everyday: reading blogs with my coffee while everyone is still in bed = BLISS):

A twist on a weekend breakfast staple French Toast with Croissants (yummy)

Enter Modcloth's Prints Charming contest and design the fabric for this cute spring and summer dress (the prize of a new dress and the money is a bonus):

 

Really good advice from Hands Free Mama on how moms and dads can help create an environment that encourages kids to go device-free more often.

I love this idea from the Inspiration Nook of hand-stitching felt hearts onto paper for a Valentine's card (or anytime card).

Download the free font Blenda from the Lobster Studio (as discovered on How About Orange)

I laughed so hard when I read this on Where My Heart Resides. It reminds me of a text exchange I had with my sister last summer. I was trying to convince her how absolutely horrendous my boys' bedrooms were and she didn't quite get it. It ended up with us talking on the phone while texting pictures back and forth of our messy houses. I would share the pictures but neither of us have them any more (I promise!). But really, not too much has changed and I could send you a picture from today too.

Check out some more Sunday Inspiration links.

Nail Polish Water Marbling

On Elise Blaha Cripe's Blog enjoy it she posted a 2 part series on how to water marble using nail polish.

Part 1
Part 2

I had to give it a try, and I love the results.

I tried 2 odd-sized glasses and an unfinished terracotta pot. The glasses were dipped stem first so no paint got on the inside. I then used the nail polish remover to clean the bottom of the glasses to create a smooth surface.

With the pot, I would put it into the liquid slower next time. The air bubbles that were created made little holes all over the paint. I might not be able to get around that though with the hole in the bottom of the pot.

I am going to experiment more this weekend. I have already learned a few things (like keeping the nail polish remover close at hand and not to use warm water - it makes the nail polish clump). I am looking around my house for more things to dip!

One Bowl Chocolate Chip Cookies

I decided to cut out processed granola bars and other snacks from my kid's lunch boxes this year. I won't say we don't eat any processed food, but what we do eat is very minimal and we are label detectives (no BHT or TBHQ for us).

What this means is I have been doing a lot of baking, A LOT. The danger with baking in a house full of boys is that the cookies you make for next week's lunches will disappear in a day if you do not guard those cookies. My trick? I freeze them! They thaw by lunch time and they last a wee bit longer.

I have been playing around with recipes, yummy ones, easy ones, ones with not too much sugar but hadn't found the perfect one until I combined a few that can be made in, wait for it, 1 BOWL. Less mess and mixing!

Here is the recipe for my 1 Bowl Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 large egg
1/2 cup softened butter
1/2 cup brown or golden sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tbsp of vanilla

Mix these ingredients in your bowl first

Add in:

1 cup of rolled oats (I know most people say not to use quick oats, but I do with no issues)
1 cup of flour (I use whole wheat)
pinch of salt
1 tsp baking soda

Mix these ingredients with the wet

And THEN:

3/4 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Roll into balls, about 1 inch in diameter and place in a 350 degree oven for 9-10 minutes. This recipe makes 16-18 cookies depending on how accurate you are with making the cookies the same size. I typically use parchment paper but was out and they still cooked evenly with no burning.

Enjoy!

Etsy Shops to Check Out

I have purchased a fair number of gifts for myself and others from Etsy over the past couple of years. It is on my birthday goal list to list some items for sale in my own shop that I have set up (more on that in a couple of months).

But for now, I want to share my favourite shops, some I have purchased from on multiple occasions and others are bookmarked for future gifts.

Smilesophie

I have 3 necklaces from Smilesophie and I love and wear them all on a regular basis. I have this necklace (click on the picture to go to the listing) that represents my 3 boys and the initials J + H. You can choose up to 5 pearls in different colours and 1 or 2 leaves.










 
Theaterclouds


I have 3 prints from Theatreclouds and this one of a mama holding her little boy is one of them (click on the picture to go to the listing). She sets up these beautiful 3-dimensional paper scenes, takes a picture and creates dreamy prints with depth.








Discoverprints




Discoverprints sells both antique lithograph reprints and original prints like the one in the picture (click on the picture to go to the listing). This one is on my wish list!












Aspen Croft



This is a new Etsy shop that a girlfriend I know from highschool has just opened. She has a Heritage Farm in Ontario where she raises the sheep, hand shears the wool, dyes it and then felts it by hand. Wow!! AND I am getting a custom pencil case for my art markers. I love the idea of this wedding bouquet, a forever keepsake of your big day (click the picture to go to the listing).




Metal Mantra Jewelry




This is another Etsy shop that I know the owner in real life. She creates hand stamped mantras to help you through a long run or even just through a difficult day. I know that when I run with my son and he is getting discouraged I always tell him it is what you say to yourself that matters. We would say "I can do it" when we were going up a hill or were tired. He has agreed to run a 10K with me this July, I am going to get him a metal mantra for his shoe (click on the link to go to the listing)


What are your favourite Etsy shops?

Long Distance Stories

My mom does a great job creating a relationship with her grandsons even though they live across the country from her.

This isn't done by sending gifts in the mail (although she does do that, but not to the point that the boys expect it). We periodically Skype (the times we don't are all my fault, I forget about the time difference until it is too late to call), and she comes up with creative ways to engage them.

Before Christmas she sent them each a story with a cliff hanger. They boys had to write the next part of the story and send it back to her. We are getting ready to send part 4 of the stories to Ontario. It takes us awhile to get all 3 stories written, it is mostly Darien that makes the process a bit longer. Grayden dictates his to me and Connor writes his own, but Darien (who is in grade 2) is still learning to sound words out and gets frustrated easily. I don't push it, when he is done we take a break, I don't want him to hate the process.

As they write them I have been typing them out in case of any lost snail mail letters. It would be easier to e-mail them to her but that takes away from the excitement of getting your very own letter in the mailbox.

It makes me want to have a pen pal of my own!

Sunday Inspiration No. 3

I love productive days that go on and on but you aren't exhausted by everything at dinner time. Saturday was just one of those days. I got all of my errands and grocery shopping done in the morning, got a donation load ready to go from my closet and donated some toys to our littlest neighbour from the playroom. And there is still Sunday to relax and do more!

I don't know about you but doing more on a weekend rather than lounging around makes the days off more satisfying.

Here are some links to browse for your weekend:

I bought a bottle of Sriracha today. And I'm going to make this spicy popcorn for game night with Jeremy.

My beautiful friend Vivienne has created this video about self-portraiture.

Poppytalk has posted some pictures of new releases IKEA has for February.
I want these 2:

I think these origami hearts would be perfect with a Hersey Kiss inside for the boys' classmates this year.

I love the look of hanging plants but I never water them and then they die. Maybe this trick is worth a shot.