emma: oh! look at the plant over there. it's getting big!
me: uh-uh. it must like that window sill.
emma: that's the plant from VBS that i made.
me: did you plant it yourself?
emma: no. my teacher helped me put it in the dirt.
me: oh. did you make that plant for mommy and daddy?
emma: no. [said in a rather firm and matter-of-fact tone of voice] i made it for myself.
03 December 2009
02 December 2009
word(full) wednesdsay::first ever
my very first commissioned work for Hope Through Health fundraiser/silent auction event. the hand-embroidered images are sewn onto a yellow toddler tee.
creating the images was the most challenging aspect of the whole process. my talented husband drew up the lady carrying the basket and gave me lots of helpful feedback along the way.
thanks for the opp. astrid and clint!
more wordless wednesday here and here.
creating the images was the most challenging aspect of the whole process. my talented husband drew up the lady carrying the basket and gave me lots of helpful feedback along the way.
thanks for the opp. astrid and clint!
more wordless wednesday here and here.
01 December 2009
top ten tuesday
our house will be 100 years old next year. while i love living in a non-cookie cutter, turn of the century home, what i don't love is how drafty this house can get during the winter months.
part of the "charm" of having an old home is trying to keep it true to its original bits and pieces as much as possible. sometimes that means you might have to sacrifice getting those energy efficient windows. or repairing and painting the wood siding instead of putting vinyl siding (though i don't care for that anyway).
so today's top 10 is a list of tips and tricks that we've learned since living in this house in order to prevent our heating bill from getting out of control.
top 10 ways to manage your heating bill and stay warm in the house:
1. three words: peel and seal. why did it take us 5 years to finally using this stuff? it's awesome. seals up all the little nooks and crannies around your windows so heat can't escape and cold air can't come in. props to our friends sean and katie for suggesting this.
2. put shrink wrap plastic around your windows, especially if you do not have double pane windows.
3. curtains. even thin ones can keep the heat in. get the thick panels for the bedrooms and you will be nice and toasty.
4. purchase a couple of portable electric heaters. turn down the heat and use the portable heaters to heat the main area you'll be using. i usually do this during the day but once the kids are in bed i turn up the central heating to keep the little ones warm in their room.
5. turn down your heat when you're out of the house. this one was SO obvious i can't believe i didn't do this more often. duh!
6. block drafts from underneath the door with a rolled up towel or a nifty door draft stopper (which we don't have but probably should). you can purchase one or learn to make one here.
7. put weather stripping around the door frame for your exterior doors to get a tight seal and keep cold air from seeping in.
8. get corrie to knit you some super warm blankets and sweaters to use while your chillin' (ha, ha...no pun intended there) on the couch.
9. invest in a pair of warm slippers for yourself and the whole family. walking around in bare feet (or even in socks) can keep you from staying toasty.
10. get some down comforters for your bed. that way, you can stay warm while keeping the thermostat down at night.
anyone else have any inexpensive tips and tricks for keeping the heat inside this old, creaky house?
part of the "charm" of having an old home is trying to keep it true to its original bits and pieces as much as possible. sometimes that means you might have to sacrifice getting those energy efficient windows. or repairing and painting the wood siding instead of putting vinyl siding (though i don't care for that anyway).
so today's top 10 is a list of tips and tricks that we've learned since living in this house in order to prevent our heating bill from getting out of control.
top 10 ways to manage your heating bill and stay warm in the house:
1. three words: peel and seal. why did it take us 5 years to finally using this stuff? it's awesome. seals up all the little nooks and crannies around your windows so heat can't escape and cold air can't come in. props to our friends sean and katie for suggesting this.
2. put shrink wrap plastic around your windows, especially if you do not have double pane windows.
3. curtains. even thin ones can keep the heat in. get the thick panels for the bedrooms and you will be nice and toasty.
4. purchase a couple of portable electric heaters. turn down the heat and use the portable heaters to heat the main area you'll be using. i usually do this during the day but once the kids are in bed i turn up the central heating to keep the little ones warm in their room.
5. turn down your heat when you're out of the house. this one was SO obvious i can't believe i didn't do this more often. duh!
6. block drafts from underneath the door with a rolled up towel or a nifty door draft stopper (which we don't have but probably should). you can purchase one or learn to make one here.
7. put weather stripping around the door frame for your exterior doors to get a tight seal and keep cold air from seeping in.
8. get corrie to knit you some super warm blankets and sweaters to use while your chillin' (ha, ha...no pun intended there) on the couch.
9. invest in a pair of warm slippers for yourself and the whole family. walking around in bare feet (or even in socks) can keep you from staying toasty.
10. get some down comforters for your bed. that way, you can stay warm while keeping the thermostat down at night.
anyone else have any inexpensive tips and tricks for keeping the heat inside this old, creaky house?
thanks!
thanksgiving holiday marks the beginning of a very busy period for us. well, not all of us as a family, per se. just my husband.
the start of thanksgiving means the start of long hours and long weeks every week until christmas day for him (with the last 2 weeks until christmas being the most extreme). it means saying good-bye to him, so to speak, until christmas when it comes to a screeching halt. and then it's all over until next year. this is nothing new to us. not that we've come to accept it, but i suppose we're used to it after 8 years of the same cycle.
but the thanksgiving holiday is also a celebration for us. not only is it a celebration of thanks but it is also a celebration of having dad home with us before the madness of his holiday work schedule begins. it is the time where we soak up as much family togetherness time as we can before single-mom nights, weekend work days, and limited communication time between A and the family.
so on thanksgiving day we celebrated with family. lots of family! much like last year. we had A's parents, corrie, and special visitors from DC (my niece melody, my sister astrid, her husband clint and son anthony). it was a great day full of delicious food, conversations, and much laugther.
we took our DC visitors around some of our favorite spots like the gypsy beans, room service and the made in the 216 holiday shoppe.
we walked down to the library and greensmart gifts, and took them to chelsea's where melody found 3 fabulous vintage purses (i don't think they were all for her).
emma was in heaven because there were plenty of people willing to sit down and read her a book. it seemed that every time i looked she was on someone's lap reading a book.
gibson also enjoyed the extra attention. so many new faces! it's hard to imagine that the next time he sees them he'll probably be walking.
thanks for making the long drive to the 216 my DC family! it was so fun to wake up and see your smiling faces, get into our silly sister giggles, and hearing the house full of your voices.
the start of thanksgiving means the start of long hours and long weeks every week until christmas day for him (with the last 2 weeks until christmas being the most extreme). it means saying good-bye to him, so to speak, until christmas when it comes to a screeching halt. and then it's all over until next year. this is nothing new to us. not that we've come to accept it, but i suppose we're used to it after 8 years of the same cycle.
but the thanksgiving holiday is also a celebration for us. not only is it a celebration of thanks but it is also a celebration of having dad home with us before the madness of his holiday work schedule begins. it is the time where we soak up as much family togetherness time as we can before single-mom nights, weekend work days, and limited communication time between A and the family.
so on thanksgiving day we celebrated with family. lots of family! much like last year. we had A's parents, corrie, and special visitors from DC (my niece melody, my sister astrid, her husband clint and son anthony). it was a great day full of delicious food, conversations, and much laugther.
we took our DC visitors around some of our favorite spots like the gypsy beans, room service and the made in the 216 holiday shoppe.
we walked down to the library and greensmart gifts, and took them to chelsea's where melody found 3 fabulous vintage purses (i don't think they were all for her).
emma was in heaven because there were plenty of people willing to sit down and read her a book. it seemed that every time i looked she was on someone's lap reading a book.
gibson also enjoyed the extra attention. so many new faces! it's hard to imagine that the next time he sees them he'll probably be walking.
thanks for making the long drive to the 216 my DC family! it was so fun to wake up and see your smiling faces, get into our silly sister giggles, and hearing the house full of your voices.
25 November 2009
wordless wednesday::emma's artistic interpretations
24 November 2009
top ten tuesdsay
with thanksgiving upon us this thursday, this week's list is about thankfulness.
top 10 things i am thankful for (in no particular order):
1. my hard-working, loving and patient husband. and my 3 wonderful children.
2. being able to stay home and manage all aspects of running a household.
[what a privilege it is to be home when the kids come home from school, and not have to rush from daycare to home in order to make dinner and get homework done before bedtime (we've experienced that before and it's VERY stressful on both parents and kids). it is an honor to be a full-time home manager (or home engineer or whatever you want to call it), and not have to split my energy in two (or more) different jobs (i've experienced that too, and, again, VERY stressful and VERY draining).]
3. our community and the meaningful relationships we have developed with the people in the area since our move here 5 years ago.
4. God's mercy, neverending love, and faithfulness.
5. Jesus and his sacrifice.
6. my husband's job and health benefits (even though i gripe about it sometimes).
7. the home that God provided for us so that we may use it to show hospitality to others.
8. the opportunities provided for us to share what we have with others.
9. God's word to guide, correct, and teach us and our children.
10. my extended family and my church family.
wishing you a warm and fulfilling thanksgiving holiday.
what are you thankful for this week?
top 10 things i am thankful for (in no particular order):
1. my hard-working, loving and patient husband. and my 3 wonderful children.
2. being able to stay home and manage all aspects of running a household.
[what a privilege it is to be home when the kids come home from school, and not have to rush from daycare to home in order to make dinner and get homework done before bedtime (we've experienced that before and it's VERY stressful on both parents and kids). it is an honor to be a full-time home manager (or home engineer or whatever you want to call it), and not have to split my energy in two (or more) different jobs (i've experienced that too, and, again, VERY stressful and VERY draining).]
3. our community and the meaningful relationships we have developed with the people in the area since our move here 5 years ago.
4. God's mercy, neverending love, and faithfulness.
5. Jesus and his sacrifice.
6. my husband's job and health benefits (even though i gripe about it sometimes).
7. the home that God provided for us so that we may use it to show hospitality to others.
8. the opportunities provided for us to share what we have with others.
9. God's word to guide, correct, and teach us and our children.
10. my extended family and my church family.
wishing you a warm and fulfilling thanksgiving holiday.
what are you thankful for this week?
unplug the christmas machine
so there is this book...unplug the christmas machine. i've never heard of it before until i came across a review of it at unplug your kids. go on over and check it out.
the book sounds intriguing. sounds like something that would help in our quest to simplify and re-focus on christmas. i think i might have to go to the library...
the book sounds intriguing. sounds like something that would help in our quest to simplify and re-focus on christmas. i think i might have to go to the library...
23 November 2009
2/4
gibson,
last friday you turned 6 months. half-way to your 1st birhtday already? really? where did the time go? in fact, i didn't even realize you turned 6 months on friday until sunday morning when someone from church asked how old you were. sorry.
you cut your first tooth about 2 weeks ago. you eat and nurse like a champ. it's no wonder you're a hefty little dude.
today we took you in for your 6 month check-up. your height and weight confirm what i already know...you. are. chunky.
details...
weight: 19 lbs. 10 oz. (about the 80th percentile)
height: 27.25 in. (about the 75th percentile)
but no matter how big you get, you will always be my little baby. smiling and laughing at me with those chubby cheeks and that teeny tooth poking out.
happy half-birthday, bubba!
love,
your mommy
last friday you turned 6 months. half-way to your 1st birhtday already? really? where did the time go? in fact, i didn't even realize you turned 6 months on friday until sunday morning when someone from church asked how old you were. sorry.
you cut your first tooth about 2 weeks ago. you eat and nurse like a champ. it's no wonder you're a hefty little dude.
today we took you in for your 6 month check-up. your height and weight confirm what i already know...you. are. chunky.
details...
weight: 19 lbs. 10 oz. (about the 80th percentile)
height: 27.25 in. (about the 75th percentile)
but no matter how big you get, you will always be my little baby. smiling and laughing at me with those chubby cheeks and that teeny tooth poking out.
happy half-birthday, bubba!
love,
your mommy
20 November 2009
holiday open studio
a while back, a friend of ours posted about an open studio event put on by artists in the lake erie building.
we saw a lot of interesting art done by some very talented people. and the building itself was a wonder to look at (love the open/warehouse/loft/industrial feel).
we saw a lot of interesting art done by some very talented people. and the building itself was a wonder to look at (love the open/warehouse/loft/industrial feel).
19 November 2009
new listing :: christmas tree origami cards
it's been quite a challenge trying to make more items for the shop between the kids and making sure the house doesn't fall apart from neglect. i'm hoping to have more items listed by the end of next week.
now i just have to figure out a way to fold a snowman...
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