Calgon Take Me Away

(For those UK readers, there was this commercial for bubble bath called Calgon...)

Some days, I look at Tate in awe, and I enjoy the routine of our day. Ya know... the crafts, the park, going to the shops with him as he pulls the little shopping cart behind him and happily sings on his way home whilst in the buggy.

Today is not one of those days.

It is mainly my fault, since last night at about 10p, I discovered the new season of "The Hills" was accessible on youtube. Yea.........I stayed up way to late (and yes I am total nerd for my "Hills" addiction).

Oh and did I mention it is "no-nap" day? On Tuesdays, the Waldorf playgroup is at 1:30p, which is right in the middle of nap time. We love it so much, we sacrifice the nap but holy long day, batman! I know, I know, there are women out there with a whole house full of babies that are laughing at me and cursing me as they read, but whatever...I am tired.

And then Tate just handed me my to-do list with all the boxes checked, with his name written all over it and said "Here Babycakes!" *reluctant, but much needed smile*

Embossing Old School

Finally Creating Again,

Baby Felt Pumpkins.
What are they for? I am not sure yet, but I was inspired by a friend who had baby felt hearts in a tray on her coffee table with shiny confetti and stones with words about love placed around candles. Actually, I made these to send to her if I can ever get them away from Tate.

And Marble Shaving Cream Painting.
This was really a kids project, but I was looking for the how-to on the internet, and I read you can used it for book covers, scrapbooking, etc. It was really fun.

Here's how to do it http://www.wikihow.com/Paint-Marbled-Paper-Using-Shaving-Cream

I used crayola paints, but I suggest food coloring or a larger quantity of cheap old school (water-based) paint that has been watered down a bit.

Now that we have a routine, I have been planning an activity for Tate in the afternoons. This is our list for this week:
1. Shaving Cream Painting
2. File Folder Scrapbooking--visit office supply store for inspiration. SCRAP with office supplies.
3. Make Your Own Word Search
4. Crayon Cakes
5. Fingerprint Tree




Yes, I was on the internet late on Sunday night....

Home Tour!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IMbZMsnwLk

If you want to see parts 2-4, I'll add your email to the private list on youtube. Please excuse the lack of cleaning, Paul being half naked, and me being in my pajamas.

Fall 08 *Inspired* by...

Goddess Guide-- This is a cool tip guide about fashion, food, places to go, things to buy. Mostly it is centered around places and things in London, Paris and New York, but with the internet most items to buy from the guide are accessible to all. Also, it is written to look like an old school scrapbook with lots of art and comments in the margins.

Chartreuse Green and Deep Chocolate Brown

Men in Suits, with umbrellas, saying stuff like "Good Day" and "Cheerio", ok maybe not "Cheerio", but they look they should say it.

"The Party Planner" by David Tutera--makes me want to have a party...He shows the perfect attention-to-detail visions like The Secret Garden Tea Party with gorgeously fragrant flowers, sparkling glittery butterflies everywhere, and elegant tulle hanging with the garden as a backdrop.

Those Dang Chic Moms I see everywhere. I really need to step up my game!

A few London photos!

On the tube. Tate and a friend. Our favorite seat in the house.
Teatime!

Now that essentials are unpacked...

TIME TO ORGANIZE the scrapbook/art room/office!!

The room is amazing, with a spot for Paul, one for Tate and lots and lots of shelves for me. I am looking for cute (preferably COLORFUL) baskets that make the room look like of those craft rooms in the magazines. Right now, it is a mismatch of rubbermaid containers and other plastic tubs...like a "before" photo of a room makeover.

Suggestions of a place to get cute organizational stuff? via online order? or in London?

Paul was online camera shopping last night, so I am hopeful we will have photos soon.


Now I leave you with a photo of a paper craft supply that is used often here in the UK called "Peel Offs". They look like very boring stickers from 1990s scrapbooking, but I am amazed and inspired at the creations that some folks have made with them.

http://www.peel-offs.com/

Castles in Germany, Blocked at the Library

Yep--the library blocked my blog the last few weeks because they had new filters in place, and apparently "cupcakes and coffee" somehow must relate to a porn site or questionable material or something! No, really--I had to send an email to the web administrator to get back on and since our internet will not be hooked up until SEPTEMBER 9th!!!! I had to do something.

Good news=we have our stuff and life is good now. Mainly because there are toys.

We just returned from our friends Clayton Cole and Kati's wedding in Germany..in a castle! I t was pretty much one of the coolest weddings I have ever been to. I hopefully will post pics soon, though Paul lost the camera, but I have hope that it will be found.

I miss you all and can't wait to post photos instead of all this boring writing :)

Not to whine but....

*no internet
*still no camera cord
*no furniture in unfurnished house
*no toys (in an empty house)
*the same clothes from the suitcase for the last 2 months

I'm all for rolling with the punches, but I think I may have reached my limit...

I will return emails and lots of blog posts once we have a home :)
love to you all, cat

Still no photos...

Still here... just no internet at my new house.
That, and we still have not received any of our belongings. Yup--we are still living out of our suitcases and sleeping on an air mattress. We hope to have a phone and internet in 2 weeks :)

I cannot wait to scrapbook! I will post photos as soon as I can since the cord is with our shipped items that have yet to arrive.

I'm not going to lie: this has been the hardest move EVER.

Things I love about London

1. Fish and Chips. YUM
2. Covent Garden--shopping, performers, YES for tourists, but still very fun.
3. Summer--it stays light out VERY late. Like when we turn in for the night (around 9pm), it is still very light out.
4. Strongbow Cider.
5. The weather feels like San Francisco.
6. New Chocolate Bars to try.
7. Flowers-everyone buys them for their homes.
8. Lots of people from EVERYWHERE (and LOTS of different kinds of fashion)
9. Parks--Kensington Gardens in particular
10. Street Musicians (in Tube stops and Covent Gardens)--Really good and all types of music.

Oh yea and WE MOVE IT TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wee Hee!!!!!!!!

mamma mia!

Loved it! Loved it!

I saw the musical a few years back, and went to the movie last night. FEEL GOOD, MUSICAL FUN!!!

A few things about my first British movie experience:
1. 9.50 for a movie ticket(THAT's $19.00 without popcorn!!!)
2. Movies don't start on time (6:55 for a 6:30 movie). I didn't care--I love previews.
3. When the credits roll, no one moves. They actually sit there and watch them. I was in the middle row and had to pee, so yea, I just had to wait.
4. They had stylish bar with alcohol across from candy and popcorn.

Scrapbooking and baking posts will return soon!

I HAVE INTERNET!

It is exciting, and I feel like a rich woman...Paul got the cord to the computer and now I have unlimited free internet!!

Still no photos yet. Did I mention that the USAF may have lost at least one of our shipments of stuff?

But the tea is soooooo good.

I still might be moving the blog...Google won't let me log in, since my username and email are different. I'll keep you posted.

The best part of my day??? I FOUND A SCRAPBOOK STORE!!!!

BLADE RUBBER STAMPS
www.bladerubber.co.uk
Bloomsbury; London, UK WC1A 2JL

It sounds like it is just for rubber stamps, but definitely it is not. They have a great selection of many, many brands to include (my favorites) 7gypsies and Holy Cow. The woman in the store was extremely helpful and had that "Ooo, I love to create and talk about it" vibe that I love in a scrapbook store.

Blogger Frustration!

OK it seems as though a fluke let me sign in to blogger...

Long story short, I may be going over to typepad....If I do, I will be cupcakesandcoffee or some variation of that so you can find me. I'll TRY to keep you updated.

Ok the long story that you didn't ask for:
**My email that I sign in with is from my charter acct--it doesnt exist anymore because it is tied to my St.Louis house.
**I can't change it because my only other email is hotmail and they won't allow hotmail in the user name.
**Blogger is swtiching to Google sign ins. I CAN'T LOG IN TO LINK IT TO MY GOOGLE ACCOUNT!

No photos and internet is still $4 an hour. I swear I will post more as soon as I can. I have so many tips for anyone who comes to London to live or even just to visit!
(oh and a few entertaining observations, but i wrote them in my planner and I don't have it at the moment.)

Have a good day, even though I have complained enough for all of us!

WE HAVE A HOME!

http://www.foxtons.co.uk/search?bedrooms_from=3&keyword_type=postcode&keyword_value=SW6&price_from=500&price_to=750&property_id=648734&search_form=keyword&search_type=LL&submit_type=search

we move in in about 2 weeks.
SUCH A RELIEF!!!!

Goo Goo Ga Ga

So I told Tate that babies say "Goo Goo Ga Ga" and now occasionally he will be in the buggy and start saying it. We ask him if he is a baby and he replies with "Goo Goo Ga Ga". It is JUST as funny as when my little brother Andy did it when he was 3.

Paul is in Germany for the week while Tate and I are still in London. It wouldn't be too bad, except that Paul filled our schedule with home showings, forgetting that we need time to eat, and that Tate needs a break. IT SUCKED.

Fortunately, I cleared a big portion of the itinerary and I think tomorrow we will either go check out the Waldorf School (haven't found it yet!) or go to the used bookstore where I already scored 3 chick lit books for £4=$8!! They had a great selection of kids books and I don't think they have been read yet--it is more like a book outlet store (excess copies for cheap) than a used book store and we are SOOOO tired of the same bedtime stories over and over.

Pics to come--I promise!! We packed the cord in the 2 week shipment....
love-cat

Observations, day 7

*Whole Foods (or Whole Paycheck as Paul now calls it)in London is actually CHEAPER for some things than the local grocery store!
*Still haven't found a home.
*Decor fits into 2 categories: 1. STUDENT--throw sheets over old couches and throw your stuff in a corner 2. GORGEOUS--family home have done A LOT with a little bit of space. There is little in between.
*Lots of cute, comfy shoes here.
*Diana, Princess of Wales Playground in Hyde Park--AMAZING. We were there for hours today.

In Love with London

Ahhhhh...we are here in London, finally. We have had a different hotel room every night since arrived on Monday, and we are finally in a place we can stay put until we find our new home.

We hit the ground running, seeing 12 places within the first 3 days we were here. We then reevaluated our finances (expensive doesn't even BEGIN to describe) and have expanded our search.

A few observations for now:

1. What looks like a 20 minute drive on a map is really a 20 minute walk.
2. After long walks....Tate has really smelly feet for a 3 yr old!
3. The tea is SO good.
4. The food has been very good. We have had a wonderful selection of chinese, italian, cafe/bistro sandwiches, thai, etc etc.
5. The sun comes at 4AM.
6. Londoners all dress very fashionably. Even the kids!

Paul leaves for Germany on Monday, returning Friday, so Tate and I will explore on our own. I secretly am excited to have my little guy all to myself and get back into our little routine. Sometimes with 2 tired, stressed parents who are desperately in search of a home can be harder than one parent who is just sightseeing until Daddy returns :)

No room at the Inn!

I really want to add pics, because just words on a blog are boring! I, however, have Paul's work computer and unable to add anything off our camera...

So, yes, we are still in the US. Long story short, some butthead on base messed up our visas. The last few days have sucked, with at least one day where we seriously didn't know where we were going to stay at 4pm! All hotels were booked and we only had 5 days allotted to us anyway, even though it was the USAFs mistake. Big thank yous to all of our friends and the numerous offers for housing, even though we were toting along a VERY cranky 2 yr old who was wondering where all his stuff was.

Good News: We are leaving Sunday and we are now in a hotel.

What's been up?

1. Decided on Monday at 4pm to drive to MI to drop off our unsold jeep (8.5 hr drive). Departed at 6pm. Flew back to StL on Thursday.
2. Visas not here yet! Can't leave until 27th instead of 18th as planned.
3. House is mostly empty. Movers to pick up last things (our 2 wk shipment) on Monday.
4. Do I really have to wait 2 months to scrap/create again?
5. Enjoying computer time while Tate watches a show next to me. TV weaning will start after the move! (along with potty training!)

**I took some pics of my layouts from my video that I will post later today.

First blog video

Ok--I wanted to try this.... My hair is really bad and I really don't like taping myself, but I love watching other people's videos, so here ya go.

I could never be an actress...

Last Week in bullet format

*Lunch outside at Shining Rivers (Tate's school) with fresh grown lettuce, berries, cheese, nuts, bananas, mini PBJs, and fish crackers.
*Realtor appts.
*Driving in the car, windows, radio cranked. It feels good to be warm.
*Learning how to share...eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
*Zoo on Thursday? Hopefully.
*In my fav "uniform" of tshirt, shorts/skirt, tevas or flip flops. I actually prefer barefoot, though.
*Taking a Scrap/art break until move it over.
*Hoping all this outdoor play helps shed the extra winter poundage.
*Finally excited now that the stress is subsiding.

Goodbye Party

**Recipes for Cheesecake Pops and Mac and Cheese are linked to title of pics!! luv-cat

Boxed Carrot Cake Mix, Ready-to-Spread Frosting, Sprinkles from Dierbergs.

Cheesecake Pops
Mac and Cheese
Beans, with Bacon and Brown Sugar...dump in to taste.


Pulled Pork: Roast a Pork Shoulder for about 8 hours (salt and pepper)at 350 degrees, cool a bit, then remove excess fat and shred. Add LOTS of BBQ and heat up in a crock pot.

Home Again!

Drinking tea out of this... Have I posted a pic of this teapot before? I can't remember this morning.

And here is my brother and my nephew at the BBQ my parents hosted for us in MI:

Still haven't sold house or car. Going away party is this weekend. Wanting to nestle into "home" for the last few weeks before the big move.

Have a great day!

In Michigan

Sorry for the lack of posts, but we are in MI visiting my family (and dropping off Sabrina, our cat) before we move.
.
food, scrapbooking, ice cream at the park, helping with new flooring, laughing at inappropriate things with my siblings, lots of puppies, and more....
.
Pics to follow sometime between returning home and movers arriving.
Yep--I'm slightly freaking out that time is going by so quickly! I am looking forward to our adventure, but moving...ICKY.

Rainy Day Activities

I watched this movie on Mother's Day. I loved it and cried multiple times...I just love both Keri Russell and Jonathan "My Boyfriend" Rhys Meyers.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day, MOM!!

With love, Cat

Stink Mop and Rag Ball

Hi all--
I know I haven't blogged for awhile and I wish I had some creations to post...but I don't. I got out to Archiver's last Sunday but didn't really get a chance to even make an ATC. We kind of were ambushed by a very friendly guy that wanted to teach us how to draw. He was nice, but I wanted to say "I only get this afternoon of free time! LEmme SCRAP!" (I didn't say it, just thought it.)

OK on to Stink Mop...SO Paul and I were watching a show (I won't admit to which one but it is intended for high schoolers/20 yr olds and it is about basketball and drama in a small town..LOL) and the characters were having a water fight. Paul and I start reminiscing about stupid stuff you do as a kid. Paul tells me about STINK MOP, which I guess is made up on Simpsons or Mike Myers or something...I had a hard time googling it. Apparently, you pee on a mop and play tag with the mop until your parents come home. I know, I know...you are all appalled. I died laughing. And then said "Oh yea...we soooo would have played that!"

Ok-- on to Rag Ball. This was an actual game that we played. We would stand at the kitchen and toss a wet washcloth into the dishwater. You got points for making it and more points for the size of the splash.
1. We were supposed to be washing dishes when the game was invented.
2. No...there weren't any parents home.

I can't believe the stuff we would do and the messes we would make. We also had "Chin Power Clean" that would occur about 20 min. before my parents were due back. We turned up the radio REALLY LOUD and frantically tried to clean up whatever mess we made.

I totally understand if you have lost all respect for me....

In Iowa

Yep...I'm in corn country. NO corn to see at the moment, but it does smell like cow poop when the wind blows.
I'll get back to blogging when I return! Have a great week :)

Cool, crisp weather almost like a fall day. We snuggled up with tea, warm pajamas, and evening snack before bed... Tate hosted his first puppy dog tea party with his stuffed dogs at the table. It was perfect.

"Between the dark & daylight

When the night is beginning to lower

Comes a pause in the days occupation

That is known as the Children's Hour"

.

.

OK, so Tate got to bed wayyyyyyyyy later than that due to a trip to WalMart's toy section, but when I saw him find the baby spoons and coo at the stuffed puppies he had collected, I went with it.

My to-do list shot to H*%#

8a--What are we going to do today?

1. Breakfast

2. MTV Yoga Tape

3. Laundry

4. Make Soap

1pm-What was I thinking????

1. Breakfast took about an hour, mainly because Tate wanted to eat on the deck. It was fun, I'll admit.

2. When I put the DVD in, Tate just yelled "Backyardigans! Backyardigans!" and wanted nothing to do with yoga. He later used the yoga mat as his magic carpet...or train carpet, whatever.

3. Got one load in. That's it. It isn't even dry.

4. Soap Making--was fun for the first 5 minutes. It then was a disaster that ended up with my saying LOUDLY, "Lower your voice!" Yep--total parenting hypocrite. We do have few cute soaps that we ended up with though.

**As I was cleaning up the soap mess, I heard typing, but knew that Tate was on the deck right outside the kitchen. THIS is what I found when I went into the family room. Yep--Tate typing on the keyboard and ALL the computer stuff carefully turned toward the window!! (no--he doesn't know how to type for real yet. Hee Hee!)

Fashion, Feeding, Fun

FASHION- I realize when I became a mama, I thought "Oh cool! I can wear fun casual wear without having to impress a client or a boss!" You would think I would run with it, but instead, my wardrobe has become MORE boring and just plain functional. (I'm sure the extra 10 lbs on my frame has NOTHING to do with it. wink, wink.)

This Spring, I hope to change that. With a move coming up, I have an excuse to purge everything in my closet that I don't love. Any "fashion covets" that you have on your list for Spring??

FEEDING- Our friend, Jen, sent us a spring kit, complete with critter corn and birdseed. Every morning, we are outside even before coffee and I am really enjoying this new ritual.

FUN- Heading to Earth Day Festival today in St. Louis. We always have a blast and are inspired in new ways to help the planet in our everyday living.

Speaking of fun, here are some pics from CKC Scrapbook Convention:

Have a great day!!!

TAG overdue!

I was tagged by Lisa awhile ago...with the upcoming move, I'm just getting around to it:

1. Link to the person who tagged you - Done

2. Post the rules - Done

3. Share 6 non-important habits/quirks about yourself:
*Room must be clean before I scrap, but I don't mind messy once I am creating (Probably the only time I don't mind messy!)
*Habit--cuticle biting when tired
*I can put something off FOREVER, but if it gets put on my "to-do" list, for some magical reason, it gets done that day.
*Must close shower curtain after shower
*I have to eat Pot Roast with tortillas.
*I love tv, but I try to minimize it for Tate.
Yea, I know, I am a total hypocrite.

4. Tag 3 other people: I'm a passive tagger...if you read this consider yourself tagged if you want to participate :)

Mother's Day Cupcake Idea

I Want to try this!! She makes it look so easy...

Party Food

Paul wants to haev a big going away party before we head to London. Sounds fun and all, but the to-do list is currently GINORMOUS. To make things easy, I am thinking about:

1. Catering/Take Out

2. Easy Party Food

ANY SUGGESTIONS? If you went to a party, what would you want? What are your favorite party foods? Think about appetizers, main entrees, and desserts...

**Thanks in advance for your ideas:)

My *first* ATC

So here she is... Not sure how to start trading them, or who to trade them with, but sooo fun and ready to make new ones.

Happy Monday :)

Back from Blog Vacation

Lots has gone on since last posting. For this reason, I will list...
***Paul has camera, so pics next posting.

1. CKC St.Louis was GREAT! photos to come. My favorite part was making an acrylic album. So cool and pretty easy to make it look good.

2. Last Minute trip to FL--awesome to be barefoot, have to stop eating after viewing bathing suit pics.

3. Returning to tons of rain AND a crack in our basement. People are awesome, though, because the company we called that repairs basement floods, was booked a month out, walked Paul through step by step as to how to repair it.

4. Tate currently lying to me about his diaper status.

5. Market Research interview tomorrow about TV, Fashion, and Home Decor. Can't wait!

6. Bread Recipe from Shining Rivers Waldorf School: (we make it weekly into small rolls)

Shining Rivers Bread

1 ½ TBS dry yeast
1 C warm (not boiling) water
dollop of honey
1 stick butter
1 large wooden spoonful of honey
1 TBS salt
3 C warm milk (or warm water)
4-5 C white flour4-5 C wheat flour

Optional Ingredients: sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, cinnamon, raisins, millet, rolled oats, nuts.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sprinkle yeast in 1 cup of warm water mixed with a dollop of honey. Let the yeast float on top of the water without mixing. Put aside in a warm place until it gets foamy.
Put a stick of butter, the large wooden spoonful of honey and alt in a large bowl. Pour the warm milk (or water) over the butter, honey and salt. When cool enough to hold finger n for a count of 10, add yeast.

Sift in the flour, alternating white and whole wheat, stirring with a wooden spoon to make a sponge. The children love to make it “snow” in the bowl! Add and of the optional “secret ingredients”. Cover with a “blanket” and set in a warm place to rest for 10-15 minutes.

Add enough flour to make the dough kneadable. Put a little flour on the table in front of each child for kneading.
Yield: about 2 nations
Bake: about 30 minutes

Thanks Soulemama

I have mentioned this great blog that I regularly read called Soulemama. Well, here at the Schwartz house, we stole a few ideas.

Firstly, we made a birthday banner out of all the scraps of fabric we had in the house. I had white flannel, so I let Tate glitter/marker/paint/glue on those pieces. This took all week, but we will use it in in years to come. So much better than throwing a paper one away....

Actually that is the way I got the idea. I wanted to make a paper banner and then I realized at .60 a sheet of scrapbook paper..."let's opt for something else". I then remembered the collection of fabric that just sits in my house. In fact, I have a few friends that I am unloading the rest on to this weekend.

And our "bookmaking/art kit" that I mentioned in a previous post. Also from Soulemama...