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...

Sunday and Thank Yous.

Thanks, everyone, for your kind words about my sister and your prayers. Enjoy your Sunday, and I hope that you are enjoying yourself, relaxing or spending time with family.

We had brunch and have plans to ride the Metro this afternoon. It satisfies Tate's desire to ride a train...and I have mentioned my love for public transportation here. Sometimes it is better than yoga.

Ballgown for Blogger's Ball

Created with help from Tate...

My Sister

While this is usually a place for lighthearted and creative stuff...I take time out for an anniversary I would rather not celebrate.

A year ago, my sister was murdered. She laid in a hospital bed until Mar 29th when she finally found peace. I miss her every day, but I know she is happy and I am still very much connected to her.

my sister...full of spunk.

A Day out shopping

Tate and I got out today. We had to. Try keeping the house clean and ready to be shown to potential buyers with a 2 yr old.

Today we went to Red Lead Arts in St. Louis and I am inspired every time I go in there. Yes--they have scrapbook paper, but it is SO MUCH MORE. They specialize in more altered art and other papercrafting supplies. Every trip, I see so many things I have never seen before (for sale and things created) when I enter.

Red Lead's blog

Also, If you are free Saturday night, come join an online "blogger's ball" hosted by Paula's Palace of AltAred Art. Check it out if you are confused.

London!

24 hours ago, Paul called and said "I don't mean to mess with you, but we are moving to London in June instead of Colorado Springs in July".

After the initial shock of the very unexpected change, I was thrilled!! We are very excited and hoping Tate comes back from our 3 year tour speaking like Harry Potter.

We are scrambling to get everything done before we need to leave (sell house, passports, our kitty up to date with shots, etc etc etc) and can't wait to collapse in bed tonight.

Wrestling Layout

This morning my mom decided that she is going to make scrapbooks for the Wrestler's for TOMORROW's banquet. I started to brainstorm with her, and started my first page for Justin (my honorary brother) since that was on the project list anyway.
The "Why Wrestle" thing is hard to read, but makes the page. I got it online...

Happy Easter!

Our Easter Ham:We woke up to snow falling...it didn't stick, but it was falling. Yes, our egg hunt was INSIDE.

Scrapbook Retreat Report

Amazing...is all I have to say! I had a wonderful time and couldn't believe it was time to go when it was over. I met some incredible women and everyone was so nice, so generous, and creative. A few of us are going to be able create together again at the CK Convention and I can't wait.

Here are a few things I made:



My "happy house pin" that I renamed my "happy housewife pin". I would have never tackled this project alone but Debbie and Paula, two wonderful ladies I met while at the retreat walked me through...

Tate's favorite creation from the trip. He saw it in my bag, claimed it for himself and hasn't put down his "magic wand" since he discovered it. I had to hide it when we were at school today. If you are in the IL area, our 2 hosts Paula and Carla, will be having another retreat soon. Check out Paula's blog in the future for details.

7 Random Things TAG

Thanks, Stephanie, for the tag....

So here's my list.

1. I've lived A LOT of places. Sacramento/Davis, CA are my favorites. The house I lived in was my fav as well, even though it was small, outdated, and not exactly in the safest neighborhood.

2. I play the flute. I love to play for fun and with other people. Any genre of music will do...

3. I used to fly airplanes for a living. Being a mom is much harder. And it is much more rewarding, but definitely harder.

4. I have brothers young enough to be my kids, but I am as close to them as I am my other siblings who are 2 and 6 yrs younger.

5. I met Paul at a wedding in Vegas. We had a mutual friend for 10yrs, but didn't meet until her wedding and we dated while I lived in CA and he lived in TX until after we were engaged. We are celebrating our 5th anniversary this year.

6. I love public transportation. It relaxes me for some weird reason.

7. I am Chinese, Mexican and Caucasian.

***If you read this, you are tagged!!!

This weekend

***I am going to an altered scrap retreat this weekend and I am very excited. I need to get away and the site is supposedly in the middle of no where, which sounds GREAT to me.

I am kind of a symetrical scrapper, so I can't wait to learn more about the altered look.

Happy St. Pat's Day and have a good weekend.

New Book to check out

Have you heard about this book? "THE CREATIVE FAMILY"
http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Family-Encourage-Imagination-Connections/dp/1590304713/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205345413&sr=8-1

I have been reading this blog in the past few months, and this family inspires me in my everyday life. We even made our own book making kit like this one:
http://soulemama.typepad.com/soulemama/2007/11/making-books.html

SO many great ideas!

**I'll post a photo of our kit once Paul gets the camera up and running. :)

House for Sale!

Hi all!!

WE ARE MOVING TO COLORADO SPRINGS. Yep--Paul got his assignment and we leave in July. I have been busy scrambling to get the St. Louis house ready to sell. So....if you know anyone that wants to live in the IL side of St. Louis suburbs...CALL ME!

I am really excited and ready to make the move. I hate the actual moving day, but I love moving. Oh and I apologize for the lack of new photos...don't ever give your camera to a 2yr old.

Blog Absence

We went to MI for a surprise trip. My little brother was in the state wrestling tournament--they came in 2nd. Then, we got sick. Today Tate is snuggled in the couch with his bowl of dry cereal and lots of tv. I am so tired of the tv, but I need him to lay down. He sounds like a little 2 yr old froggy.
We will be in PJs all day.