While You Were Out

I am gathering stuff to re-do Ellie's room in a "while you were out" style. I want to ambush her with a complete room re-decoration so I'm starting to design in my mind.

I picked a paint color today: Pixie Violet (see below):


I may go with the shade darker "pristine Petal" but that would be a big leap in the depth of the color.

I was inundated with samples of ghastly, obnoxious purples but this one stood out as "the one".

Will keep you updated on the process.

Valentine Wreath

I'm not sure if I am looking in the wrong places but the first year I decide to actually decorate for Valentine's Day, I can't find anything I like! So, I have been looking for ideas on things that are easy and cute to make. I love how this wreath turned out!

You need:
-about 1 1/2 yards of fabric
-pencil
-glue (I used Tombow)
-styrofoam heart wreath



Start by cutting your fabric into squares of about 2x2 inches. Use pinking shears to avoid the fabric fraying.



Put the point of your pencil in the center of the square and wrap it up. Dip the tip into some glue:



Poke the tip of the pencil with the glued fabric into the foam heart:



Keep working your way around the heart, avoiding the back so it will lay flat on a surface.



Beautiful!

Made By You Mondays

I've decided to start participating in a blog link up called "Made by you Mondays". Each Monday, I will showcase a hand made craft, new or a past one, to show to new visitors to my blog! Check out the cute projects others' have made by clicking on the banner below. Lots of inspiration!

Valentine Banner

I made a cute Valentine banner for my hallway table yesterday. Very easy and affordable!

You need:

1 roll of crepe paper streamers (I used white)
2 colors of cardstock
ribbon
glitter
glue
chipboard letters

First, we will make the crepe paper rosettes. I cut about 40 cm (16") of crape paper and folded it fan style. Fasten with a staple as close to the edge as you can.



Pull the ends together and fasten at the top on the backside with a little tape.



Make as many as you need for whichever phrase you decide to use.



Glitter the edges. I used Martha's Glitter Glue and Martha's glitter.



Layer on 2 circles. Base is a 4 1/2 inch circle, then the rosette, then a 3" circle, followed by your glittered letters.

String it onto some co-ordinating ribbon. The method I used for this was to use an exacto knife and cut 2 slits close the the top of the circle and thread it through.


Happy decorating!

New Year, New Word

I was thinking about which word would define my year this 2010 on New Years Eve. Yes, leaving it until the last minute! The husband announced to me that typically in Japan on NYE, everyone gets organized for a fresh start for the new year. So, we took the entire day to de-clutter, clean, and organize.

Spent the evening with friends and woke up the next morning and it was absolutely lovely!

So, my word for 2010 is Organize.

I'm not just talking about stuff. I'm talking about time, finances, priorities. There are so many ways in which I want to organize my life and our family and my attention will be in doing so this year.

What is your word for this year?

Mexico 2009

One simple word really captures our recent trip to Mexico for Christmas: FUN! Cabo is definitely a great place to go for a fun and laid back atmosphere. A perfect location for families (don't go during spring break, or so I have been told)!

We enjoyed so much of it, and so much of it we unexpectedly loved. The food was amazing, even not being huge fans of what they call Mexican food here in the PNW. We ate real Mexican which was fresh, mild, delicious. The big offering is shrimp and I ate a ton of it.

We spent most days going back and forth between the hotel pool at the Rose and the beach in front of the resort. It was all day outside, every day. We were usually the first ones in the pool in the morning!


In between, we did a few water activities like glass bottom boat, parasailing and jet skiing.


A wonderful surprise came right before our departure from Seattle. We found out that our dear friends would be coincidentally at the same resort as us. We spent a lot of time with them and re-connected after a few years. They are part of our family and the trip would not have been the same without them (and their frequent periods of babysitting) xoxox



Best of all was the time that we just spent together, without the usual bustle of the holidays. It was nice to avoid the crowds of Christmas, the dreary weather, the cooking. Just to have one another and 2 gifts for the kids on Christmas day. It really makes you appreciate the holidays more with what really matters.


The trip also had some moments for me that I will never forget. Due to my shopping habit :), I had the chance to talk with some of the local vendors who work on the beach. I didn't just buy from them, I asked them about their lives and their families. It was not rosy. They work very hard and long hours, and deal with many rude and cheap tourists all day long.

One in particular pulled on my heartstrings. 4 children who live in a small city far away and he works from 7 am to 3 am the next day for 3 months. Goes home with what he makes. Comes back again. We spoke several times, I shopped from him, and then he stopped opening his jewelry case when we would meet. We just talked about life for him and he would say "it's ok!" as he could see my sadness.

Dama snapped this picture on our last day in the rain:


Maybe I am just a sucker or a bleeding heart (I know I am the latter) but to see some of the tourists there overindulging in food on the beach, alcohol, the gigantic cruise ships coming in, fighting over beach chairs, haggling over pennies with these vendors....it was disheartening at times. You certainly do gain perspective if you speak with some of the locals.

It was a beautiful trip and had a deeper meaning after we had left. I think the kids took something away from it as well...we talked about the fun and the reality from time to time.

Hopefully they will remember both forever.

Tell us how you feel

In an attempt to raise compassionate and loving kids, I have been working on encouraging them to tell people how they feel about them without reservation. To make sure this did not backfire on me, I have been coaching them about "if you don't have anything nice, don't say it" as well. I could so totally see them telling someone they smell and then blaming me for it!

So, the pep talks have consisted of me telling them that if they love someone, or if someone is kind to them, to make sure they express how they feel to that person. Not to feel shy or embarrassed. That life is too short not to tell someone you care or appreciate them for who they are.

It all came to fruition in the supermarket, of all places. We make our bi-monthy trip there to get groceries and they have often asked to go to the same checker who has been their captive audience for quite some time. I tell this lady that the kids know she can't leave so they are in prime performance mode every time we see her. She humors them and chats with them and they soak it up. Here's how it went the last time we were there:

Checker: Hi guys! Great to see you again!
Elise: You know what? You are our favorite checker EVER!
Lucas: Yeah! We really like you!
Checker: Aw! that is so sweet! You made my day!

It was a proud mommy moment and one of those times you think you just may be doing it right.