Pops of Blue!

You guys have all been around long enough to realize I am no good with moderation, right? I am always swinging WAY off the scales? That's what I do! 

Once I decided to add blue (see previous post), I just went for it. I added yellow too! The chain runs 3 1/2 times the length of my house.

Anyways, it reminded me of my former day-job. Taking apart something perfectly OK and adding a bit of extra colour. I worked with spreadsheets and reports, not stapling papers...but it was the same.  A seemingly endless task that I had to plough through. Only, I was quite relaxed working with my hands, and I was anything but relaxed at work.

ps. I have help with the boys today or this wouldn't have been possible...none of this...adding blue, putting the chain in hallway, getting my camera out, typing up the post...
pps. Seriously, if you want to re-use the chain...please leave me a comment or send me an email and we can arrange it!  It will be going outside, but I am sure most, if not all of it will be salvageable!
ppps. You have no idea how fun building this was!

Party Prepping!

On Sunday, we are having a lunch party for my son's fourth birthday. It should be 17 degrees and sunny. Cross your fingers for good weather!

The last two days, I spent my spare time stapling paper rings together to make a long chain. The plan is to dangle it over the arbor in the back yard.  I also have jumbo balloons I want to hang off the trees. The balloons are multicolored.

My plates and stuff are primary blue...I wish I had more blue showing up in the paper chain (only one of three packs of construction paper had blue sheets, and that was sky blue)...do I go crazy and add random blue links in so it matches the plates? Do I say screw it?  You know I need to add in 'pops' of blue, right?

The menu is deli meats and condiments and cheese trays and veggie sticks and salads and buns...in other words: DIY sandwiches.  We are stopping by Costco tomorrow to fill up the fridge.  I am also making a cake in the shape of a giant number 4...with roads on top and some (brand new) hotwheels trucks on the roads. The sides will be plastered with smarties...

and that's it!

When it comes to parties (anything, really) I can easily spend spend spend without thinking. I buy something weeks ahead of the party and ignore that cost when I go out and see something I want to add. I seek out perfection. Wouldn't these be perfect for the party? Toss them in the cart...

I always say to myself that it doesn't have to cost a lot of money to do something fabulous...and I truly believe that, except I don't live by it! What is the point of spending oodles on the decorations, and trashing them all the same day? Gross.

Here is our decoration cost breakdown:
- three books of construction paper ($3),
- three sheets of primary blue bristol board, because I am crazy ($3),
- a whack of balloons (~$10)
- cutlery and plates $1/pk...(~$10)
- cake candles ($3)

$30.

Plus I bought badminton sets ($13) and surprise bags for 11 kids ($32)...

We are looking at $75...and I can excuse the badminton sets...they aren't really part of the decorations...my families just like a little active competition when we get together! I will have extra balloons for my stash...I was running low...

What do you think? Do you go all out for a party? Or keep it low key? Is money an issue, or just time? Are you having a party next week and you need a super duper long paper train (which may, or may not, have pops of primary blue)??

ps. the books are up...I will get back to you after the weekend...I need to take some more photos and I spent way too much time typing up this post!
pps. it's not even the money, but the waste...the waste gets to me. It could also be a waste of time, except I enjoy it...and the boys get a kick out of it, I try to get their help as much as possible, or leave it until after bedtime. 

Back from LA

 

LA really didn't do it for me. We had a great time, and the highlights (Getty museum, for one) were well worth the trip. However, I wasn't enamored with the city. I am completely obsessed with learning how LA developed, but not ready to pack my bags and move there. 

I keep wondering if I got my first taste for the west coast as a twenty-something, would I feel differently?  The beaches, the sun, the ocean breezes may have out-weighed the infrastructure. The character of the best scenes may have outshone the indifference in between. I just wasn't feeling it.

As a vacation, LA was a great choice! Their family friendly and educational sites must be the top in the universe. It was a fun place for us and the kids. The food was always fresh. Tomatoes tasted like tomatoes, you know?  The weather was beautiful (except for our day in Pasadena, where it was just HOT)

I would love to know what you think about LA?  Love at first sight or did you take time to warm up?


PACKING UPDATE: Four shirts worked well for my husband for 7 days (three packed in the suitcase, one on the airplane). I shopped at Madewell on Day 2 or 3, so I was set. My green jeans looked TERRIBLE after the flight. They were baggy and wrinkled and no hand-washing could fix them, they needed a dryer. I did laundry in the tub four days in a row (each morning). I should have packed two sets of PJs for the boys - one set didn't last all week. Also, I forgot nail clippers (that was annoying) and ran out of baby wipes (bought more). Air Canada forgot to charge us $25 for our suitcase on the way, but charged us on the flight home. I didn't realize they have zero free baggage allowance. We will do two carry on suitcases (or two medium, carry-on-sized backpacks) next time plus a purse, diaper bag and camera bag. $50 is not a big deal, but hands-free (backpacks) beat wheely luggage, anyday! We also took two umbrella strollers and two car seats (no fee for baby equipment).

ps. We got back last Saturday.
pss. Seven days was an ok length (vs 9 days in Copenhagen last fall). We might try 5 or 6 days next time when traveling within North America. I would rather have five great days and return home to unwind, then add extra time and watch the boys self-destruct due to fatigue. 

Packing light for LA

The four of us (my husband and two boys) are going to LA for a week!  I have never been to LA, I've never seen the pacific ocean, cheers to first times!


I like to pack light (I LOVE the bragging rights it gives you!)...and it seems I am always in a competition with myself...so every time we go away, I try to take less than what we packed previously!  Here is what I am bringing:

In the suitcase:
- bathing suit
- sheer floral sleeveless + tank for underneath
- black bunny tank
- jean shorts
- sandals
- underthings and nightshirt
- a million beauty products (cleanser, toner, serum, oil, moisturizer, sun screen, makeup, deodorant, razors, body soap, sea salt spray)

On the plane:
- grey tank
- green jeans
- teal cardigan
- coral flats

I wanted to go with white jeans instead of green jeans because white is more summer...but I am worried about them getting dirty too fast.  I think green can take it.

I built my outfits around this bag, from Zara. 

I will pack light for the boys too.  The kids get 3 bottoms, 3 tops, sandals + airplane outfit. My husband gets 1 bottom, 2 tops, sandals + airplane outfit!  Everything should fit in one bag easily!

A cucumber a day

At dinner the other night, I ate a whole cucumber. Well, most of one. I sliced it and put it on the table to share, but I was the only one who was eating it.

Then at the grocery store today, I thought, I should get another cucumber - it was so yummers the other day.

As I was walking home, I googled "eat cucumber everyday," and, wouldn't you know it, there are people on the internet who say it is a good idea!

I got home, ate lunch, and puttered around for a while. Then I went into the kitchen and pulled my cuke out of the fridge. I wonder if Olivia Palermo eats cucumber everyday. Or that Emma Stone. Or Charlize. Or Annie...Chop chop chop...better take some photos for the blog. I brought the bowl with me upstairs to the office as I tried to list off in my head everything I was supposed to do today.  Mail a package for Etsy, buy some razors, drop off the DVDs to the library, start the laundry... Then I sat down at the desk and mindlessly ate the entire bowl of cucumber while reading blogs.

How do I feel?

I have a tummy ache.

I ate a whole avocado (mashed with lime juice) with a few strips of chicken breast on two wholegrain wraps for lunch (in other words, two avocado and chicken wraps). I guess I deserve this uncomfortable overstuffed feeling.

I am about to google "I ate too much treatment"

The photo wall keeps growing!

The wall of truck photos in my son's bedroom has exploded now that my 4 year old is the one taking the pictures. He uses my iphone. It makes going to fetch some groceries or the walk to Starbucks more interesting for him. It also prevents me from zoning out, checking my emails or texting as I push them around in the stroller. 

I just printed another 33 pictures for him the other night. THIRTY THREE!  And all of them are his favorites!  We have a bit of space left for more...

Apple - Tree...substitute pyrex (or books, or milk glass) for trucks, and what do you have?

Photo Winner

The winner of the photo is Robyn

Robyn please send me an email with your mailing address

Thanks everyone who left a comment and shared their story!

One of the best deals on used books in the city!

I recently heard about Book Ends, the used book store run by the Toronto Library.  They have two locations. I went to the one in the reference library (Yonge and Bloor) today.

I picked up 8 books for $11.50.

Deal!

I can not wait to get all the books up on the shelves...tomorrow, right?!

(In the meantime, I should put away all my paint supplies and the ladders!)

New light fixture from kijiji and new haircut

You guys know about the Listings List Tumbler, right? It's a round up of Toronto area Kijiji and Craigslist items. I know I wouldn't have bought this vintage bronze beauty if the Listing List didn't exist. I can't help myself when it comes to lighting! 

I love this fixture!

I was thinking the nursery. We bought the existing pendant at a nothing-special lighting store.  We settled. It was impossible to find decent affordable lighting.  Our necks were getting sore, and I recall getting headaches, because we spent so much time walking around every lighting store in the city, looking up at the wares. The white honey bee hive pendant was an upgrade over a boob light, but I always thought we could do better.

Anyways, I also cut my hair into a bob. I am VERY happy with this cut. Why didn't I do it sooner?* 

*Ok, I know why...about 1.5 years ago I was a little obsessed with top knots...because all the cool cats were doing it. So I needed the length. Except I couldn't pull off the length and wear my hair down...a bob is much much better for me! It's funny how I was influenced by other bloggers for a while. Why then? Why not now? I think being locked in the house with babies was part of it. Also being a weight I wasn't comfortable with (insecure)...and, well, sometimes they make stuff look so damn good.  I don't think I am as easily influenced now, but it is hard to say.  It is much easier to look back than to be aware of what is going on right now!     

ps. went to the same salon I have been complaining about. Paid WAY too much for a cut...but since I am happy with my hair, I don't mind!

Moved the books downstairs, let the milk glass spread out

I have room to collect more!

ps. the giveaway for the photo of the garden will be open for a few more days!