Snow Day

Friday was our first day of snow and up north you have to relish every bit of it,
lest it destroy you.

I do not jest.




When the first flakes started to fly (and before it accumulated to a playable amount) we played with "snow" inside. I think I need to stock up on this fake snow after Christmas to last us through the rest of the winter.... which I believe lasts until May...


Around dinner time there was enough to play with and Nate declared it was time to make "snowball soup" (idea taken from one of Nate's favorite books. you should buy it)


We were still hungry after eating snowball soup so we made snowball waffles and ate snowball doughnuts. (my camera battery died so I didn't get to upload pics of those- it was just waffles with powder sugar sprinkled on it and white powder sugar doughnuts). And syrup of course because we elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.


Then we snuggled.

All the rave

In the crafty blogging world, everyone and their mom is making these

headboard benches

so mom, do you have a bed frame I can have and make in to a bench? I really need.

Things that I love {part3}

This is a day late because I am working on my own things that I love installment in my apartment. I will have that ready to post by next Thursday. Until then...

Cozy in to this...


Library....

I want one.

and because this one was just ridiculous- you might as well take a look
http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/16-10/ff_walker?currentPage...

Blog Love

I love this post (and, all together, this blog)

http://colourmehappyblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-are-red-green-colours-of-christmas.html

Thanksgiving

I am thankful that I came from a wonderful family and that I married in to one also.

and that my eye was better yesterday with only a little swelling and today I am back to normal!
Christmas decorations up, time to start on Andy's stocking.... I am really looking forward to it... if you remember this. It's going to be a blast. Better get started now. I think I have enough episodes of Wizards of Waverly Place to last me through it all. If not, I have heard Vampire Diaries is good, maybe I will start dvr-ing some of those.... I have a great project in mind for my kitchen...I think I will do that tomorrow.... see this is why I get nothing done! I have too many projects in mind, can't pick one to work on, so I read and get none done! Tomorrow I will!

Argh!

I am thinking about getting an eye patch. Do they come in other colors than black?

The story:

I went to a friend's wedding last night feeling fabulous because I was wearing these

(who doesn't feel fabulous in a new dress and patent leather pumps?!)

and then my eye started to bother me...
I went in to the bathroom and looked at it and it is was a little red/ bloodshot...
at one point during the reception dinner my eye began to swell and Chris's dad leaned over to me (he's an Ophthalmologist) and said, " I can tell your eye is bothering you, and that bothers me.
Let's get over to the eye clinic".
Diagnosis:
bacterial blah blah blah.
I can't remember the name. But the short of it: I got something in my eye- he pulled out something that was embedded in the inside of my eyelid- and my eye is having an allergic reaction to it. He gave me meds and 3 days to heal.

So much for my efforts to look good.



I am still debating about the eye patch because it will help keep my eye closed, which makes it feel better, and I am pretty sure I would score major coolness points with all the boys in my family.



So my options are

Stop all dental hygiene to detract from the eye


wear a more fabulous accessory on the other side to balance the face





or get the Be dazzler out and own it like a rock star




Be dazzler it is.

(by default- as my teeth won't rot over night)

Disclaimer: This post was not intended to offend anyone who, indeed, does wear an eye patch for medical purposes (I am pretty sure none of the individuals pictured above do) and I won't really be getting an eye patch but needed something to do this morning because my husband banned me from going to church so I thought looking up pictures of crazy eye patches was just as good as unpacking from our trip.

Catch up

Since the last post I...

saw New Moon
(who didn't?)

Went to Iowa so Nate could be there when one of these was delivered
(Mom, I need those pics off your camera)
the delivery man gave Nate his own little model of Grandpa's big tractor.
(in case you didn't know, at our house a John Deere delivery man is more magical than Santa Claus)

and went to a wedding.
(photo by SIL Erica)



Now I am home to unpack, do laundry, repack and head back for the rest of the week.

Translation: My pillows have yet to be made.

Things that I love {part2}

I AM LOVING WALLPAPER.
too bad these are upwards of $200 a roll!
(and I live in a apartment...)

(above the yellow chair, behind the swimming picture)

(inside the cabinet)

Divine.

I know this one is probably paint, but it was too cool not to include

Don't you feel more relaxed just looking at this picture?

sigh. I do.

p.s. can you tell me favorite colors are blue, green and white?

Inspiration

Lack of blogging this week is due to exhaustion. Complete. Utter. Exhaustion. I started running again consistently (the first time post-marathon). I leave home at 5:45am so I am at the gym when the doors open at 6am which translates in to an unintended bedtime of 7:30pm when I put Nate to sleep.
During my waking hours, though they are few, I have been drooling over this:
ttp://www.amybutlerdesign.com
A friend tipped my off to this fabulous fabric that is sold locally. She knows I am constantly looking for bright, fun fabric.


I bought 3 different patterns today and wanted so much more. My favorite line is Love

I want this bag

but unfortunately I have to make it myself....

and this skirt
I know they are the same pattern (I bought it for some wall art in my kitchen).

I will post pictures of my projects as I finish them. Don't hold your breath. I don't have a lot of money, I mean motivation, to finish them.

Christmas Tree lighting at Bayshore

I love Christmas.

But I took my kids to a Christmas event on November 13th because it was a fun, wholesome family activity.

And it is still above freezing so we might as well enjoy the time outdoors while we can (I am not joking!)
And the Nutcracker characters were there from The Milwaukee Ballet Company. (but they were a little scary so we didn't hang out with them long)

And the Florentine Opera Company was singing.


And there were horse-drawn carriage rides and "train" rides
And all the hot chocolate, cider and cookies you could want.
And we all cheered together to light the tree with Christmas magic as Santa delivered the final light bulb to be plugged in.
And it was magical.

So clearly, it was an event not to be missed.
I did not drag my family out just because I love Christmas.
I didn't.


And it was fabulous.

Have I told you I love living here?

Creative story telling... or lying.....?

This just happened:

I made french toast for breakfast.
I syrup-ed and cut up Nate's for him.
He excused himself to go to the bathroom.
When he came back in he said this:

"Mom on my way up to the bathroom Kitty told me that I needed to put more syrup on my french toast.

We have a talking cat! Isn't that crazy.
....
So can I have more syrup?"


I blame his father. He tells him bedtime stories.

True Story

We were driving in the car today on the way to the grocery store when we had this Nate moment:

Mom, are there germs all over your shirt?

(what?!)
I looked down to see if my shirt was dirty.
Trying to decode his question. Think like Nate....
Then I really looked at my shirt (the one pictured below- click to make larger)

The shapes look like bacteria aka "germs".
He didn't mean it literally. He meant as in he was wearing a striped shirt, and I was wearing a germ shirt. Duh, mom. Obviously.

I am really going to have a hard time keeping up with this kid. He watched this earlier in the day. And he's right. My shirt does look like bacteria multiplying.

And I will never be able to wear this shirt again without thinking "germ shirt"


And if you are in the mood for some more microscopic marvels. This is his all time favorite youtube video. A white blood cell "eating" bacteria/germs.




p.s. we did go to the Christmas Tree lighting festival last night. It was magical.
I will upload pictures tomorrow.

Things that I love {a new tradition}

Every Thursday is going to be "Things that I love" day. I have found so many beautiful design photos on the web and I will share my favorite from each week.



When it comes to decorating I have a split personality disorder (anyone who has been in my apartment can see that)

I love the vibrancy and energy from this living room.
It's playful.
It's fun.
I love it.

(and there's enough white to make me happy)


but I also love the peaceful grace of this one
Classic.
Timeless.
Calm.

(and, of course, lots of white)
(and blue)

How does a girl decide?

(I think I like the first one better. It's just me).

Things I should know [part 1]

French toast should be made with French bread (I know, it makes sense. I just never thought about it before) and it is quite delicious (as tested this morning).

And even more fabulous with ciabatta bread (a tested at Berkley's Cafe on Saturday morning).
Add sugar, cinnamon, and syrup and you've got a little slice of Heaven.

ba humbug

Today I paid for groceries with cash.
I let Nate have the change.
As we walked out he asked if he could put it in the quarter machines .
I said no, let's save it.
Then we saw the Salvation Army bell ringer.
I suggested we put the money in the bucket.
Nate said no thank you.
I insisted we put the money in the bucket.
Nate put one penny.
I tried to explain that this money is for kids who don't have food and they need it.
(we talk about giving to other people since we have so much daily- this is nothing new to him)
I talked.
and talked.
and talked.
Finally I guilted him in to putting the money in the bucket.
All but one dime.
That was being saved for "John Deere tractors".


When we got in the car.
He looked furious.
As I buckled his carseat he said,
" Mom, I don't like that lady.
I don't like her bell.
I don't like her bucket.

Let's just throw her in the garbage.


and all the police men too "
(this was a logical jump because clearly if he throws the bell ringer in the garbage the police will be coming after him)

"What if someone steals our car Nate?"

"Alright, I promise to keep one helicopter police man"

....

This past week was insane. I had to make and put up all the decorations for a Hollywood themed auction fundraiser for Nate's preschool. In other words, I was busy. While Andy napped I would paint glitter on stars, cut out letter, paint paparazzi silhouettes while Nate played by himself. More than once he would ask me to do something and my snarky response was:
"Nate, look at Momma. (he looks)
Am I doing something right now? (yeeeeeeeees)
Am I busy? (yeeeeees).
Okay. I will help you when I finish ________________.
Just give me a minute please."

It was only too appropriate on Saturday (after the auction on Friday night- hallelujah!) we were trying to get out the door to the zoo and Nate was sitting on the floor looking at books. I was still grouchy from my 3 am nights of glitter and paint.
"Nate, come over here so I can get you dressed or you will have to get dressed yourself"
no response
"Nate! If you aren't over here in 3 seconds you will have to get yourself dressed (yes, this actually works- he hates getting himself dressed)
Mom, look at me.
Am I doing something?
Am I busy?
I will come over as soon as I am done with this book.
Just be patient, mom.
It will just take a minute.
.....
.......
..........
Touche.