Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
market bags
What started off as a market bag for Luc has now turned into a bag workshop. I made this first little red bag with the sushi fabric lining as a bag for Luc since he likes to stop and pick up rocks and sticks and any other interesting little bits along our walks. He usually then wants me to put them in my bag, so I figured he might want a bag of his own. Well, he wasn't all that interested in it. Perhaps because when it was finished, the straps were a bit long and it looked more like a purse. Alex came home from work that night and asked me why I made our son a purse. Ughh. No worries though, one of the kids who we play with downstairs in the courtyard just LOVED it! And it was more fitting for her anyways.
(What a cutie!)
After that, her older sister and another girl were so impressed with the bag, that I offered to make them each one too, letting them pick the colors and size they each wanted. The larger bag below has an interior pocket sized just right for a Nintendo DS to fit perfectly in it.
Originally, I had wanted the lace-sided straps to face outwards, but I attatched them wrong. ohwell, sewing is always a learning experience.
Although after these, I feel as though I've worked out all the kinks in the construction process.
(Sorry for the blurry pictures, our camara is crap!)
On Sunday, just minutes after the girls left our apartment, one of the girl's mother asked me to make her one too. Success!
(What a cutie!)
Originally, I had wanted the lace-sided straps to face outwards, but I attatched them wrong. ohwell, sewing is always a learning experience.
Although after these, I feel as though I've worked out all the kinks in the construction process.
(Sorry for the blurry pictures, our camara is crap!)On Sunday, just minutes after the girls left our apartment, one of the girl's mother asked me to make her one too. Success!
Monday, September 27, 2010
life on a sick day...
*WARNING-this post is all about domestic housewife life, so if you're not interested, don't bother reading!*
We're pretty sick around here folks. So sick, that I felt some chicken soup was in order. But not so sick that I didn't have the energy to make it. (some chai tea helped in that department) But we're not talking your Campbell's canned soup (although I have fond childhood memories of it), no, I'm actually making it...from scratch! (What does that mean anyways, "made from scratch"? ....such weird expressions)
Instead of sewing or crafting during Luc's naptime today, I decided to get a head start on dinner. It was my first attempt at butchering up a whole chicken raw, (probably another of those housewife milestones, yes?) and it didn't turn out as funky as I thought. I was left with the carcass and a fridge full of fresh market vegetables, so I'm currently simmering up a giant pot of chicken stock, or broth, whatever you want to call it. It really is amazing how much food you can get out of just one chicken.
Tomorrow, hopefully, we'll be better and I'll show you the latest projects. I'm going to see if I can squeeze in a quick nap!
PS-Happy Birthday Mom!!
We're pretty sick around here folks. So sick, that I felt some chicken soup was in order. But not so sick that I didn't have the energy to make it. (some chai tea helped in that department) But we're not talking your Campbell's canned soup (although I have fond childhood memories of it), no, I'm actually making it...from scratch! (What does that mean anyways, "made from scratch"? ....such weird expressions)
Instead of sewing or crafting during Luc's naptime today, I decided to get a head start on dinner. It was my first attempt at butchering up a whole chicken raw, (probably another of those housewife milestones, yes?) and it didn't turn out as funky as I thought. I was left with the carcass and a fridge full of fresh market vegetables, so I'm currently simmering up a giant pot of chicken stock, or broth, whatever you want to call it. It really is amazing how much food you can get out of just one chicken.
Tomorrow, hopefully, we'll be better and I'll show you the latest projects. I'm going to see if I can squeeze in a quick nap!
PS-Happy Birthday Mom!!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
no bike rides for a while
The x-rays of my derriére were taken yesterday and showed a definite fracture. Bummer. (no pun intended). This really limits our movements around St Denis. Bike riding has been the answer to a city with too many one-way streets, lots of traffic and not enough parking. We're reduced to what we can get to on foot, which isn't far enough to get us to Jardin d'Etat.
But enough complaining. The pain is already starting to diminish a bit, and it should be totally healed up in about a month. We'll find other places and things to explore in the meantime.
In other news, I can't believe it's already the end of September! While that means it's fall for most of you, it's becoming summer for us! Last year around this time, I was bemoaning the fact that I hadn't seen any whales during their "season", even though we lived on the west coast and could look out to the ocean almost anytime. This year, we have been lucky enough to see a few, and one time I was able to stop the car to get Luc out just in time to see them hit the surface again. We have a framed picture of a mama whale and her baby on his bedroom wall that we point out to him whenever we talk about animals, and I think he made the connection between seeing the one in the water and the ones on his wall.
Speaking of monkey, check out this sweet monkey birthday cake over at Smitten Kitchen. I think I'll have to make one for our little monkey's upcoming birthday too. I have 3 months to prep, so I think I can do it.
SOOOO CUTE!!!
But enough complaining. The pain is already starting to diminish a bit, and it should be totally healed up in about a month. We'll find other places and things to explore in the meantime.
In other news, I can't believe it's already the end of September! While that means it's fall for most of you, it's becoming summer for us! Last year around this time, I was bemoaning the fact that I hadn't seen any whales during their "season", even though we lived on the west coast and could look out to the ocean almost anytime. This year, we have been lucky enough to see a few, and one time I was able to stop the car to get Luc out just in time to see them hit the surface again. We have a framed picture of a mama whale and her baby on his bedroom wall that we point out to him whenever we talk about animals, and I think he made the connection between seeing the one in the water and the ones on his wall.
(thanks to my wonderful husband for taking this lovely shot that's now hanging on Luc's wall!)
Speaking of monkey, check out this sweet monkey birthday cake over at Smitten Kitchen. I think I'll have to make one for our little monkey's upcoming birthday too. I have 3 months to prep, so I think I can do it.
SOOOO CUTE!!!Monday, September 20, 2010
Celebrating our 2nd Anniversary
Two years ago today, this was us!
We celebrated at the beach with a small group of friends and family.
(Luc was cooking in the pot, close to 6 months by then)
And even a mama whale and her baby joined us!
It was a beautiful day.
And it's been an amazing journey thus far.
Love you so crazy much.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
a resolve to eat MORE ice cream
As if I really need an excuse, but I do happen to have one. A bike accident yesterday morning has left me contemplating the amount of padding I have on my derrière.
Luc and I frequently take rides together on our bike that we mounted a baby seat onto the back. As we were riding along, I saw a narrow corner coming up, so I slowed down in anticipation, and surprisingly tapped the front tire into a light post that, seriously, popped out of nowhere! And by tapped, really, it was a small tap. In fact I was half off the bike by the time I realized the balance was off and I didn't have the strength to keep the bike plus the weight of the seat and the cute monkey strapped into it from falling to the ground. When I realized it was going down, I screamed "SHIT!!" quite loudly in a very public area where a lot of french citizens were probably thinking "what ze hell?" (I can't imagine how ridiculous this all must've looked) Somewhere in there, I must have landed straight on my tailbone, but I didn't feel it until 10 minutes later when I calmed down and realized no bodily harm had come to Luc. I was so worried that he might've been hurt with a scratch, a bruise, or even a broken arm. But thankfully, he was fine, just a little scared. A kind older man rushed over to help us right away. Alex recommended I see a doctor, but I felt I had to finish my mission at the Prefecture for the day before I could be bothered with a doctor's visit. (By the way, it was the fourth visit there this month, they rejected my file the day before because they said I needed a copy of a document that THEY GAVE TO ME! So, in my stubborn way, I persisted with the appointment) After though, when I tried to get back on the bike to go back home, I felt sharp pains and quickly got off the bike. We were on the other side of the city, which would have been a long walk back for Luc. Alex was finally able to convince me to see the doctor (really, why do I have to be coerced?) and then give us a lift back at lunchtime. I have an x-ray appointment on Monday to see if my tailbone is really broken. In the meantime, I'm NOT sitting on my ass, but I am enjoying some extra ice cream.
Luc and I frequently take rides together on our bike that we mounted a baby seat onto the back. As we were riding along, I saw a narrow corner coming up, so I slowed down in anticipation, and surprisingly tapped the front tire into a light post that, seriously, popped out of nowhere! And by tapped, really, it was a small tap. In fact I was half off the bike by the time I realized the balance was off and I didn't have the strength to keep the bike plus the weight of the seat and the cute monkey strapped into it from falling to the ground. When I realized it was going down, I screamed "SHIT!!" quite loudly in a very public area where a lot of french citizens were probably thinking "what ze hell?" (I can't imagine how ridiculous this all must've looked) Somewhere in there, I must have landed straight on my tailbone, but I didn't feel it until 10 minutes later when I calmed down and realized no bodily harm had come to Luc. I was so worried that he might've been hurt with a scratch, a bruise, or even a broken arm. But thankfully, he was fine, just a little scared. A kind older man rushed over to help us right away. Alex recommended I see a doctor, but I felt I had to finish my mission at the Prefecture for the day before I could be bothered with a doctor's visit. (By the way, it was the fourth visit there this month, they rejected my file the day before because they said I needed a copy of a document that THEY GAVE TO ME! So, in my stubborn way, I persisted with the appointment) After though, when I tried to get back on the bike to go back home, I felt sharp pains and quickly got off the bike. We were on the other side of the city, which would have been a long walk back for Luc. Alex was finally able to convince me to see the doctor (really, why do I have to be coerced?) and then give us a lift back at lunchtime. I have an x-ray appointment on Monday to see if my tailbone is really broken. In the meantime, I'm NOT sitting on my ass, but I am enjoying some extra ice cream.
Friday, September 10, 2010
ten things
ten things that are bringing us joy and putting smiles on our faces.
1. a collection of many colors
2. painting with water
3. a vintage bird paper weight found on the street markets
4. fresh market flowers
5. Luc's first cloth diaper (finally!) from our local organic baby shop
6. our favorite beach
7. a project for Luc in the works
8. and something for me
9. a gift from a friend, yay for cookbooks!
10. being halfway done with the process of obtaining french citizenship.
2 more years to go!
2 more years to go!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
who lives in your catalog?
You see all those blogs listed at the right here? A lot of them are design-y, make your house/wardrobe/life look amazing type places. I like to be inspired by them, and do nothing more than pass by, but they can quickly lead me to other internet places. Sometimes I catch myself mid-click and I'm like, what the heck am I doing at this blog? At that point, I glance down at the little computer clock at the bottom right and scold myself for wasting time browsing around the web.
Fortunately, I did stumble onto a blog that hilariously puts it all in perspective. Go have a laugh at Catalog Living. Here's a favorite.
Fortunately, I did stumble onto a blog that hilariously puts it all in perspective. Go have a laugh at Catalog Living. Here's a favorite.
Monday, September 6, 2010
for the love of writting
In an effort to remember fleeting thoughts during the day, I've decided to start keeping a daily written journal. I may write in it several times a day. And I may or may not share some of it in this space. I used to keep journals when I was much younger, and I'm so glad I did. I could reread those early days and remember what it really felt like to be me at a certain stage of my young life. Somehow, writing became so much more infrequent until now.
It will be good for me. At the very least, it will be good for my handwritting, which has looked much better in the past. I would love to have beautiful handwritting like my Mom, who, even if she's writing a check for the power bill, writes a careful, steady, beautiful trail of cursive. Hopefully too, I can write more freely, not just hit the backspace if I don't like what I just wrote. (Coincidently, I have not done that yet in this post!) I like to write. I mean, it's partially the reason I started this blog, almost a year ago, (already??!).
I can credit this "inspiration" to the blog world and to Luc. How so? Well, lots of blogs are like public personal journals (people are so brave!), I mean, want to share your kid's recent creation? You tell the story that goes along with it. Want to share your favorite recipes? Then you'll probably also talk about why it's so dear to your heart. And Luc factors in because I see him learning daily from us. I have a small notebook where I write down ideas and drawings of things I'd like to make. He is fascinated by it. He grabs my pen and wants to do the same thing I am, to sketch, or doodle, or whatever. I hope that by writting in a daily journal, I'll not only save precious daily memories that could easily be forgotten, but also show him what a joy it is to have them and put pen to paper (or crayons, whatever). I hope he'll keep a journal one day too.
It will be good for me. At the very least, it will be good for my handwritting, which has looked much better in the past. I would love to have beautiful handwritting like my Mom, who, even if she's writing a check for the power bill, writes a careful, steady, beautiful trail of cursive. Hopefully too, I can write more freely, not just hit the backspace if I don't like what I just wrote. (Coincidently, I have not done that yet in this post!) I like to write. I mean, it's partially the reason I started this blog, almost a year ago, (already??!).
I can credit this "inspiration" to the blog world and to Luc. How so? Well, lots of blogs are like public personal journals (people are so brave!), I mean, want to share your kid's recent creation? You tell the story that goes along with it. Want to share your favorite recipes? Then you'll probably also talk about why it's so dear to your heart. And Luc factors in because I see him learning daily from us. I have a small notebook where I write down ideas and drawings of things I'd like to make. He is fascinated by it. He grabs my pen and wants to do the same thing I am, to sketch, or doodle, or whatever. I hope that by writting in a daily journal, I'll not only save precious daily memories that could easily be forgotten, but also show him what a joy it is to have them and put pen to paper (or crayons, whatever). I hope he'll keep a journal one day too.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Hawaii roundup
Beach Fun:
Heaven!
Heaven!
Kareoke Night:
Mike and Kyle's rendition of "Superfreak". Can you see me dying with laughter in the background? It was amazing.
sorry C, but this picture is too mega NOT to make it onto the blog. forgive me :)
Even Luc got in on it.
Mt. Ka'ala and bouquet making:
I'm looking for something a little more green...
loved the shoes!
Ooooo!
the beautiful bridal bouquet
More wedding:
Customized printed shirts and dresses.
monkey; the ring bearer
Umm, who's the dude in the wife beater trying to catch the bouquet?
People got down.
