Sunday Inspiration

Loving this podcast: (click on photo for link)Listening to Courtyard Hounds

A serene play area from a Waldorf/Steiner school. Makes me want to reorganize all of our toys!
I want to get this now!! One Yard WondersBeen Watching Old Episodes of The City

IT is rainy, and I just want to sit here in my creative flurry and maybe work on my quilt. However, I promised a certain 4 yr old that we will go swimming... He just came out with his "swimming costume" in hand.

Clean with Podcasts

My friend, Ursula, always talks about listening to podcasts. I wanted something listen to on the way to London, so I thought I would take a peek on itunes. A WHOLE NEW WORLD HAS BEEN OPENED FOR ME!!!

Cleaning and cooking are SO MUCH better when you are listening to a podcast.

This was my first one: The Parent Experiment, hosted by Theresa Strasser and Adam Carolla's hilarious wife, Lynette.
This is NOT for the mild eared... they swear a lot, and speak very frankly about being parents. IT IS SO FUNNY. This led to me downloading Adam Carolla's podcast as well. Again, not to be listened to while kids around.

I also found some cool, kid friendly craft podcasts, the LOST podcasts, and even some great childrens' stories.

Half Term in London

Tate at the Tate (Britain), doing a project from the Art Trolley.Natural History Museum. (Tate "my favorite is the Dinosaurus Rex!", as he hides behind the wall while viewing him...)
Happy Chinese New Year in Chinatown.
"Everything is going to be alright" (see top of museum.)

And while Tate and I were in the book store, I found this:

Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts

...and I really, really want it! I love every bit of it. Everything was presented so elegantly and the photography is great.

Top Ten: London with Kids

1. There are no public restrooms practically anywhere. When you go to eat or to a museum, make everyone "go" no matter what.

2. Bring an umbrella buggy. Preferably a Macleran. If you bring a big buggy and try to ride the tube or bus, you will be very frustrated.

3. Try to avoid tube/bus between 8-9a and 5-6pm. (the am rush hour is a bit later here than in US). Oh, and go to the end of the platform when you have kids. There is usually more space there.

4. Pack snacks.

5. Half term: the week that English and French school kids have off in the middle of the term. This means EVERYTHING is busier. If you have to travel during this time (refer to internet for dates), get to the museums before they open and stay for only a few hours. Or, go for the last few hours of the day. The middle of the day is worse than a mall at Christmas.

6. At about 3pm, head back to the hotel for tea, snacks, a little downtime. If you have a child that naps--DO NOT SKIP NAPS.

7. Bring an umbrella and rain cover for buggy...no matter what the weather looks like when you leave the hotel.

8. If you go during half term and want to see a childrens' show, book tickets ahead of time. THEY WILL BE SOLD OUT.

9. Do not, I repeat, do not wear sweats, white tennis shoes, or wet hair to breakfast. All other cultures attend breakfast in the hotel fully dressed and you will look like a sloppy American if you do otherwise.

10. Carry the ugly backpack, instead of the cute handbag. You will be happy when you are able to carry snacks, a few small toys, babywipes, etc AND have your hands free to hold on to your little one on the busy, busy streets.

Cute Stuff Feb '09

A few very cute things....

Meg Originals on etsy
JJandMe

(I want the pants in MY size.)Adams (in the UK)Lirola--such romantic and beautiful stuff.

One Small Change for FEB

In case you didn't read my January post... "One Small Change" is hosted by Hip Mountain Mama.

January: Remember my reusable grocery bags. I did ok. Could have done better. One day when we forget them in the car, Tate and I just put everything in the cart loose, wheeled it out to car, and packed the bag there. He is in the habit of saying "No bag", which is pretty cute coming out of a 4 year old mouth. Also found a cool site: http://www.reusablebags.com/

I'm going to have to order something like this, since Tate had his first packed lunch at school, and ended up eating NOTHING since he couldn't get his rubbermaid containers open on his own. I was forced to use ziplocs today and that is just not going to work in the long term.

February: I started this already in January after being inspired by my son telling me all about "Eco-week" at school. We don't turn on the lights after school unless absolutely necessary (about the time it is time to prepare dinner). This required candles for a few weeks, but now we are seeing more sunlight!!!

Also.....

BAKING SODA AND VINEGAR

Ok-I have tried pre-prepared eco cleaners in the past. I couldn't seem to like them as much as I love my Comet.

I love Comet. The smell. The color.

However, I saw a tutorial on cleaning a stainless steel sink on youtube and the woman mentioned baking soda and vinegar. So I gave Tate a measuring cup of each and thought to myself "Volcano Time!"

OK the STUFF WORKS!!!! It works better than Comet, dare I say. The abrasiveness of the baking soda with the extra power of the vinegar....I can't believe it, but it works wonderfully. Also, it is really fun for entertaining a kid, which was the whole point of me trying it.

Simple Soup

FROM allrecipes.com

Italian Vegetable Soup with Beans, Spinach & Pesto

By: USA WEEKEND columnist Pam Anderson

"This convenient recipe makes getting two meals on the table a snap."

Rating: Read Reviews (26)

Rate/Review | 1,204 people have saved this

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, cut into small dice
• 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick
• 3 medium celery stalks, sliced 1/4-inch thick
• 1 medium bell pepper (red or yellow), stemmed, seeded and cut into medium dice
• 1 pound all-purpose potatoes, unpeeled and cut into medium dice
• 1 (16 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
• 2 (15.5 ounce) cans cannellini or other white beans, undrained
• 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth in can or carton
• 7 ounces loosely packed baby spinach
• 1 cup frozen green peas
• Salt and ground black pepper
• Prepared pesto (found in grocer's refrigerated section)

Directions

1. Heat oil in a soup kettle over medium-high flame. Add onions, and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add carrots, celery, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, bean and chicken broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until vegetables are just tender, about 15 minutes. Add spinach and peas; continue to simmer until spinach wilts, 3 to 4 minutes longer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls, adding a spoonful of pesto to each serving of soup.
2. For lunch, pack soup in separate leakproof containers. Warm soup in microwave and top with pesto.

Preparing for Valentines

Mama craft time...

Another baby block in progress

Tate is home sick today. After doing a bit of decorating, we had little heart shaped sandwiches with some soup. I used the Creative Cutters from Pampered Chef. (I use them ALL the time:)

Living Simply

Here in the UK, we do not get the brand new Oprah shows. This episode was on today, inspired by the article "Back to Basics" in her Oprah magazine.

http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Meet-Followers-of-the-Simple-Living-Philosophy/1

It was really good.

In our house, we try a little simply living, combined with my love of (new) fashion and crafting, Paul's love of People and OK magazines, and Tate's love of Mister Maker (a dude on children's TV that makes stuff.) We bake bread and our own pizza dough, love thrifting, limit TV, and try to play outside as much as we can. Everything in moderation, I suppose.

Recipe Day

These were amazing. The recipe can be found on Food Network's website and I highly recommend it. Yes, you have to knead the dough instead of popping open a tube, but it is worth it (and actually relatively easy).

Any ideas for quick dinners this week?

Pink and Gray

Today when I got dressed, it was snowy outside. It is still in the middle of winter here, but I am over the black and brown of pre-New Year. I put on my favorite gray sweater (that I wear entirely too much) and some pretty pink makeup... I love the combo. Just enough Spring to my blend with my Winter.

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And a craft used for a snow day...

Baby Names!

Soooo...I have posted a poll. Feel free to vote, and anonymously weigh in if you would like. I am also open to new names, as I get bored with looking online, and I don't have a baby name book.

I like unique names. I like nature. I like something that kind of jives with Tate. I don't want anything that is crazy crazy like "Blanket" or "Prince Paul". (I do love MJ, but just not the names he picked for his kids...)

(** Since someone asked..Soleil is pronounced "So-lay" and means sunshine.)

UPDATE: I've met a sweet boy named Kai and a newborn named Tabitha this week... A sign, but in which way??

SNOW DAY!

• baby snowmen
• homemade pizza
• room clean up (obviously didn't get to make the bed...)
• child singing musical style about how much he didn't want to move his puppet show

(Any suggestions on the room, photo #3 of room series? It looks a tad cluttered, and needs art work or something...)

One Small Change

Hip Mountain Mama is hosting a campaign, which I think is very cool. Make one small change...well make 4 small changes in your life that are helpful to the planet between now and Earth Day.

She makes it fun, by specifying specific dates to blog about your progress as well as giving you a few ideas....

Here is the link:

Hip Mountain Mama

Mine first one is BRING MY OWN BAGS TO THE GROCERY STORE. (I always forget them...)

Last Day of Winter Break

He did this...While I did this...After being cooped inside for days, we went on a nature walk. Here is Tate's updated nature table:
And back to the ROUTINE. Loving it....

Order, predictability, clean house, nice and boring...

However, I miss my little sidekick, Tate. He was soo excited for school this morning.

Winter 09/10 Inspiration

In the bathroom at "Moon and Sixpence" in Bath.

I want to wear her outfit.
As I eat this... (prosciutto, salami, pastrami, parmesan, tomato)
I found a few cool things in the magazines I read at Jika Jika (our fav cafe in Bath.)

Another outfit I want to wear:
Love the bright colors to left and in background.
Will definitely use this page as some scrapbook inspiration.

Making Progress!

The best part, is that Tate (age 4) is motivating me to continue working on this quilt. I let him run the sewing machine, and he thinks it is really fun. He steps on the pedal and I say "GO" or "STOP" and he follows accordingly. He has only almost gotten my finger once...

There is no deadline for this...we just create when we have those moments in the evening when we need a change in activity. For instance, tonight we made just one block, and that was enough.

Home Sweet Home Holiday

(That's apple juice in the glass, not wine!!)

I really like when Tate is home from school. Instead of feeling frustrated with what to do, we get into a nice rhythm that I don't want to come out of when school starts back up. Yep, I could totally homeschool my kid.

As we have been home, I find myself being freshly inspired by many websites. I am looking for ideas of fun things to do (there is an unending list once you start looking), and in doing so, I stumble across many things that make me feel inspired as a crafter.

A few sites:

www.soulemama.com

www.scrapinstyletv.com

www.kaboose.com

http://www.artfulparent.typepad.com/

www.marthastewart.com

How the Chins do Christmas Eve

Missing this...
(Chin is my maiden name.)

Every year, my parents make a ton of fun munchie food, and have a ton of people that stop in and eat...kind of like an open house. We also open the presents from the siblings and maybe get and E.C.P. (Early Chirstmas Present) from the parents that night. We eventually make our way across the street for Midnight Mass, for those of us who can stay up until midnight! (I usually require a nap and lots of caffeine.)

Tonight, since Tate was in bed by 7:30p very willingly, and Paul went to bed with a fever, I webcammed with Catie, Mom and Dad while they prepared for the night. It was almost just as much fun!!