simpletruths

Almost done!

I'm this close to finishing the first of my secret projects. Everything should be complete, and beautiful, and photographed (with my real camera - not just my phone) this week.

In the meantime...

Don't let the grandma-doilyness of the photo fool you. The cropped areas are hiding a big surprise.

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In other news, as the little Mr and Ms get older I'm being drawn more and more to the idea of house rules. Here are some of my favorites:

 

from: http://danielandbrittneydye.blogspot.com/2010/12/house-rules.html

 

from: Cool Wall Art

The final line in this one is "If it doesn't concern you, don't mess with it"

from: The Print Boutique

 

What do you think about house rule as a poster? Do you have written rules in your house?

Knitted Bean Bag

via zilalila.com

Yes please :)

One thing I want to have in my home one day is a reading corner, reading nook, even a reading window bench.

Much of this assumes that I will, at some point in my life, actually have time to read a book again. Until then I'm fine with reading Sing Along Song over, and over, and over (and OVER) again.

Also, I've ALWAYS wanted a bean bag chair. ALWAYS. It awakens some small part of me who is still 8 years old in my strawberry shortcake laden room (I'm talking sheets, blankets, pillow case, curtains, toy box, record player and PJs - complete with red bonnet - oh yea).

Anyhow - I still want a bean bag chair but I've long since gotten over the desire for the bright blue or green pleather-type balls of mush.

But this, this I could see in my house.

 

I might even let the kids sit on it too.

 

Anyhow, if anyone makes a trip out to The Neatherlands......

Succulants and Strangers

I've written before about the enormity of our yard and the excitement (slash apprehension) that comes along with it. And being 2 years into the homeowning gig we've deduced that slow and steady certainly is the way.

Our most current foray is the front yard.  We've given our beloved Sycamroe tree a hair cut, dug out a small section of the front for a rocky sitting area of sorts and we're working on a rock border and walkways around the front area.

What that means for those looking in from the outside, is that our driveway doesn't get mid-day shade anymore (probably not the best plan for summer time - live and learn). Half of our now sweltering hot driveway is obstructed by a large pile of tan colored rocks, and our patio area is 3/4 filled in with those same tan colored rocks

In addition to all of the rock shoveling, dirt digging and tree swinging (we hired people to do the tree stuff), we do want some on-purpose, low mantenience, native plants.  Buy 'on purpose' I'm referring to the opposite of our current mixture of weeds, grass, and "oh that's nice - what do you think it is" types of plants.

At some point I'll plant some pretty annuals along the rock border (*sigh* once I finish the rock border) but until then I'm thinking succulents.

 

Where was I going with all of this...ah yes, here

I was walking with Little Mr, Little Miss and my mom and we passed a few people working in their front yard- prepping for 4th of July company- and they had several succulents and I was showing Little Mr the ones that were 'poky' the ones the weren't and the ones that were my favorites.  And out of the blue the woman digging in her yard says "Oh, you like that one. Do you want one?....Here you go."

If you haven't talked to any of your neighbors recently - go for a walk. Babies, toddlers, and pets make great ice breakers :)

Spring in your pocket

What did you think of my tutorial?  Should I do more? 

Even though it's tricky to attempt to teach someting with out actually interacting with anyone , it was really fun to put together.

I think maybe the next tutorial I'll do will be on the magic ring.  Any other requests or suggestions?

 

In other news, look at this:

 

via www.elizabethabernathy.com

It's a pocket garden!

Sometimes after staring at the vastness of our yard

(vast by Bay Area standards anyway), I think it'd be nice to have something so managable that it fits in your pocket.

Back to work in style

So I'm back at work.

*sigh*

OK - it's not really that bad.  It's nice getting up in the morning and having some place to go; not so nice trying to organize a toddler, infant and a husband all out the door with lunches in hand -  along with extra diapers and nap-time blankets....*double sigh*

Heading back to the office after being gone for 4 months feels a bit like the first day of school; and I was obsessive about the first day of school. Seriously. Really. I'm not kidding.

Each fall, a week or so before school started, I would spend hours planning every outfit I would wear, and what day I would wear it; for the first two weeks of school. I had a chart that listed the options -

Tops  |  Bottoms  |   Accessories

I planned it out from my hair clips and earrings to my socks and shoes. And socks were important.  Socks were big, slouchy, and often worn in multiples - color coordinated of course.

That is not to say that I was at all fashionable.

(I loved that sweatshirt)

I started my outfit plotting in the 6th grade out of necessity.  I was going from a private, Catholic school to a public school with no dress code. Say whatever you want about uniforms in schools, I, from experiencing both sides of the coin, think they're AWESOME.

Where was I going with this.....? Ah yes, back to work (we can discuss school uniforms at a later date if anyone is interested).

This time around I didn't plan my outfits ahead of time (that's a lie), but I did buy myself some work appropriate clothing in my current 'nursing mommy' size.  Which means no to button down shirts and yes to the 'curvy cut'  pants. 

 

Here are a few fun things that I didn't get, but that doesn't make them any less fun.

from artifact bag co.

This lunch bag could make any PB&J seem almost elegant.

 

from BebelooshMini on etsy

I made something similar to these little snack bags a while back.  My snack bags have a little fold over top that I like better than the velcro for certain things.

 

Oh, and this back pack over at Moop is so much cuter than mine.

But until mine falls apart or I can pawn in off on some unsuspecting family member, I will just make do with what I have.  No matter now utilitarian.

 

Homemade Chai Perfection

"Tall Soy Chai please"

 

That was my morning mantra at one of the three Starbucks within a 2 block radius of my office. I've  been on the search for the perfect chai recipe for a while but since Little Miss arrived I've seriously increased my kitchen experimentation. 

There are many reasons for wanting to make my own chai at home; The Starbucks version is a little too sweet (especially since they use vanilla soy milk), Peet's just doesn't do it for me... but mostly little people are expensive and coffee house chai means $3.50 * 3 days a week *52 weeks in a year = CRAP-on-a CRACKER-jack!

so ummm yea - I'll make my own thank you :)

 

Here's what I think is the perfect Chai recipe.  There's sugar in the ingredients list but don't add it anymore I find soy milk to be sweet enough on it's own.  If you use cow's milk then you might want to add it. Also, this makes just less than 4 cups so I keep it in a large canning jar in the fridge and warm up a cup at a time throughout the week.

 

Chai Perfection :)

6 black cardamom pods, split open
~14 whole cloves
~8 black peppercorns
small hand full of cinnamon bark (I like the bark more than the sticks)*
A 1" chunk of ginger cut into a few pieces
small spoon full of brown sugar
4 cups of soy milk (or cows milk)*
2/3 cups of water
6-8 black tea bags

Combine everything, except the tea, in a medium pot over low heat. Let simmer for 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat, add tea bags and cover pot. Let steep for 10 minutes. Strain and enjoy.
Makes 4 cups.

Alternatively, or the way it's most often made in this house - put the pot on, change a diaper, tend to a crying munchkin, remember you have a pot on the stove and turn off the heat seconds before it boils over. Toss in teabags and cover until nap time.

Enjoy with a homemade lemon cranberry scone (hmmm, I should post the recipe for that too)

*I've tried it with unsweetened soy milk and with rice milk and it was no-go.  Plus it separated, and the texture was all weird.

** I used cinnamon bark instead of cinnamon sticks. I'm guessing it's around 1/2 cup worth of bark or ~5 cinnamon sticks

 

Enjoy!

Everyday is earth day!

Last year, for earth day, I whipped up these cotton rounds for a custom order I recieved.

Then a few months later I made another batch for a friend.  Then, just a few weeks ago we ran out of cotton balls. Instead of buying yet another plastic bag (boo) full of cotton balls or rounds that would be tossed after one use (double boo), I decided to spend an evening making some reusable cotton rounds for myself.

I made 8, in two different sizes and I really like them.  They don't absorb liquid and quickly and easily as an airy cotton ball, so for some things I get them wet first.  But aside from getting used to that, they're pretty great.  I only toss them in the washing machine every few weeks because I typically just rinse out the one I just used - maybe even use a little hand soap - and let it dry over night.

easy, peasy

plus they look great in my bathroom

More photo props

A couple of weeks ago I discussed my new found photo prop for my scarves and cowls - the wooden hanger.

 

Now here's another photo prop that I use (and a new product for the shop)

yes, an envelope

 

Nice right. But if I flip it over to the other side....

(don't worry - I'm not planning on using that picture in my etsy shop).

 

Now - I wouldn't ever ship something to someone like this.  When it comes to shipping, this felt ball garland will be wrapped around a piece of nice white cardstock.  But for now, thank you junk mail!

 

 

New life, new year, new goals

This is what's been going on over here...

 

we celebrated a first Christmas

 

getting aquainted

 

checking out the outside world

 

being amazed - or maybe bored...

 

And after they all go to sleep I've been finishing these

 

I'll be back with regular posts soon.  Something new I'm going to be doing this year are occasional how-to posts.

Stay tuned!

 

 

My new favorite kitchen

via whatever

This is not from a magazine- this is an actual kitchen and I'd like for someone to stick this onto the back of my house please...Thank you.

Really.  This family did an amazing kitchen remodel (see their before and after photos here).  And, not that we don't have the space to expand our kitchen, and not that we could save up the money...But all of this just isn't necessary.  It'd be nice, but it's a bit more than we need.

I think what I'd like in our house right now isn't necessarily perfection just - improvement. 

The bigger Little Mr. gets, the more we need to keep an eye on him during his more quite playing times. Loud, banging, obnoxious play is great.  I know where he is and what he's doing - silence, not so much. Not that we don't encourage quite time (everyone needs quite time)...but the kitchen is very cutoff from the living room. 

 

(this is his "Who? Me?" expression)

There is some level of mischief that can be made out of just about anything; especially if you're 2 years old and want to see what happens if you put your little chair on top of the toy chest, then climb up to sit in it...while trying to balance your feet on a beach ball

I'd love to just take the wall down between the kitchen and living room and replace it with an island w/ a built in stove...ooooo and the pot rack.  If we did that, then you could have a pretty clear view of pretty much the entire house.

And until then, I can dream....

A little less plastic....

...a little more cute.

 

yay for snack bags!

We've been trying to use less plastic - in an attempt to balance out the amount of plastic that seems to arrive with the birth of a child...I've had glass storage bowls and reusable snack bags on the brain for a while now. 

 

snack bags - check

These are pretty perfect because they take just a few minutes to put together - including the cutting, and there's no velcro involved. I wanted to find/make something without velcro because I was looking for something that Little Mr. could open with little to no assistance.

Perfect!

Amy over at angrychicken posted a fun (and funny) video tutorial on sewing your own snack bags. I'm going to be making smaller ones in a few days. 

 
 

My first

I've had 3 orchids over the past 5 years.

They always arrive beautifully in bloom, then after a while the flowers fall and I diligently care for the pretty leaves that are left. Waiting patiently for the next blooms.  I spray, I water, give them some sun - but not too much sun. Seasons come and seasons go but flowers never bloom again. 

Mr. Man almost tossed one of my orchids in the trash - despite several very healthy green leaves, because what's the point of having an orchid that's really just a little pot of leaves.

This time I did something a little different. I left the orchid in the kitchen - right next to the stove - I've never had the initial flowers last as long as they did.  Then, and here's the kicker, I fertilized it.

 

and it worked! so pretty :)

  

summertime

clothes lines make great props for lunchtime picnic tents

 

chairs work great when you're inside

 

some things just taste better in a fort

 

smoothies :)
  
   

Sure you can have fruit salad any time of year.  But summertime is the only time you can make one with with fresh blueberries (we were out the afternoon I made this particular giant bowl of chopped fruit), peaches, plums and pluots ... mmmmm
 

 

Handmade Prettiness

via decor8blog.com

I'm not sure if it's because I am, for the first time, the out-numbered gender in my own home, but since having little Mr. I've become more comfortable with my 'girlness.'

True, it may also be that I'm wearing more skirts and dresses because my hips still haven' slimmed down quite enough to fit back into all of my prepregnancy pants; that's another post.

Maybe it's that we've bought a house, and I want to us to be surrounded by things that are indicative of who we are - and not succumb to the ikea nesting instinct.  

Whatever the reason, it's also almost humorously different from Jr. High and High School when I was staunchly against anything seeming "girly." A neighbor once told me the fuchsia shirt I was wearing was a nice color on me. I don't think I ever wore that shirt again. I didn't want to look good in pink. ick. I wore boots, heavy stomping boots, all the time, my prom date said I looked funny with lipstick on.

But here I am, mommy, with my garden, and my crochet, and my high heels - but were it not for my earlier rebellion would I do 30 non-girl push-ups each morning (oh yea! I'm up to thirty in a row)? Would I prefer mowing the lawn to washing dishes...who knows.

ANYWAY - all of that to say
  The Homeade Home by Sania Pell is full of so much handmade prettiness.

That is all.

A little corner of my life

Mr. Man helped me with my photo recycled T-shirt photos recently and I just love the little glimpse of our life that's in this pic.

 

That door on the far left is painted with chalk board paint. It's one of the first things I did after we finished unpacking...or at least decided we were done unpacking.  

 That hat on the doorknob is my backyard hat.  Sometimes Isaiah doesn't like to wear his hat when we go in the backyard, but if mommy is wearing her hat then he's a little more agreeable (occasionally). Truly, the hat is great because we don't have much shade back there and wearing sunglasses while mowing or whatever just doesn't work.

That little stick leaning against the door frame is the top part of Isaiah's broom. He likes to 'help' sweep. 

And the big wooden cabinet is actually used as our pantry right now.  It was going to be my craft closet until we realized how little cabinet space out kitchen has.  The pantry houses tea, baking necessities  baking powder/soda, flours, bittersweet chocolate chips,and various nuts; dried fruit, canned goods, wine, and more tea. Our cookbooks sit on top.

           

Taking the lawnmower for a spin

The little guy is standing in our back yard,  in grass that's taller than he is (and, in some parts, taller than me too).

My dad came by this afternoon, I'm under no pretense that anyone comes over to see me anymore. I'll be 32 this May so it's been a while since I was shiny and new. 

Anyhow, my dad wanted to see your hour new lawn mower ran (I know, sounds random to me too) So he takes it out, runs through a strip of  shorter grass, tests it out on some of the taller stuff....

and a hour or so later:

 

I know!!! Thanks dad!

And all he requests is that he's invited over to dinner sometime soon - um yea!

I just want to add that he was out there in his work khakis, and a cashmere sweater.
 

Envy

via www.designspongeonline.com

According to deadlysins.com, envy is the "desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation."
I'm not typically a person that truly envious another person's life.  I love seeing where the paths I choose take me in life and I continue to learn a lot about myself and that's more important to me than whatever might be happening on the other side of the fence. Plus, who knows what that person has gone through to get to where they are.

That said, I have a serious envy attack when I look at the house tour of Ryan and Emerson (of Emersonmade)

The picture of the pantry above is only the tip of the gorgeous iceberg (did you see the pendant lights, the floors?). Granted, the very real possibility of earthquakes make the exact layout a bit non-feasible (these folks live in New Hampshire ), but I'm sure there are adjustments that could be made to accommodate for the inevitable ground shaking.

 

Even the laundry room sink. Oh, if only I had the time and the money to scour the flea markets, garage sales and urban ore type places.

You must check out the full house tour over on design*sponge.

Yes. You must.

Blue Dot crocheted garland

via www.etsy.com

The joy that garlands can bring.

This one was so much fun to make that I'm already working on a purple on, a red one and a sparkly one :)

What do you think, should I do a few in red, white, and blue for July 4th?

New Items - A Preview

Arriving in the shop tomorrow - just in time for weekend shopping.

adorable rosette earrings

cute places to put them (when they're not on your ears).

 

corkscrew earrings will be in the shop shortly also
 

And crocheted garlands - the earrings of your home

crocheted rounds from the sunshine garland 

Shop update

Your home is an extension of yourself - dress it accordingly; starting with coasters!

 

Tightly crocheted from 100% cotton - no moisture seepage, and no icky pooling is droplets either.  
 
 
 

coaster action shot!

 

rustic - and delicate.

All this and more is being added to the shop right now. More colors to come.  Stay tuned for catch-all bowls, coffee cup sleeves and more