book babble and stuff

Creative Stuff: My little spring friends are all done and available here until next Thursday. I think they came out pretty darn cheerful and I just might do something with them & some small canvases for Bella's room. She keeps asking to play with the little guys I have on my desk LOL, like they are puppets. A kid's imagination is such a wonderful place!

Book Babble: I am listening to Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult when I am working these days. It's not grabbing me quite as much as some of her other books have, but still really good. I have been loving her as a writer lately, so far my faves have been My sister's keeper, Change of heart and Nineteen minutes. They were all really well written and made me keep reading each for their own reasons. She really knows how to spin a tale and draw you right in, makes you feel like you know the characters and can almost place yourself right there in the story as it's unfolding.

For my "real" reading time right now I have just started Holding My Breath by Sidura Ludwig which takes place in Winnipeg; my city. That's not something you read everyday. I'm only on chapter 4 but so far so good I would say, I like her writing style.

Life bla bla bla: I am off to get fixed up this afternoon, I always leave it far too long until I am completely ridiculously damaged before I take the time to do anything about it.
I really really hope that the Chiropractor and massage appointments I have scheduled this week can work some magic for my neck/back...I have old car accident injuries and they are in quite a pickle right now. I could ignore it even longer except that I am rendered fairly useless to my family and life in general when I am like this. I would reeeeally like to be in better shape for my girls on spring break next week.
I did manage to get a bit of time to play with my KR goodie box this weekend, not done yet but just taking the time to scrap and play with yummy stuff at a peaceful pace is making me sooo happy. Here is a little peek, at one of the layouts I've got cookin'...all kinds of stuff going on there!Here's to a wonderful week!
Go gently,
CD

creative peeks

A wee peek at the little guys that I have been working on creating in the past week. These little cuties are made on layers of masking tape over chipboard and hand painted with acrylic paints, then accented with art pencils and hand stitches. I have ended up with some interesting finger blisters pushing the needle through the tough chipboard for this pack, but y'know it's a good hurt; like when you work out really well and every time your stomach muscles give you grief the next day you know you've accompolished something...well almost like that anyways LOL! More on these when they are all done in a day or two...I've got to keep some sort of suspense until I'm done right?

Much to my happiness the mail truck stopped by this week with this happy happy box from Kerry-Lynn at Kenner Road...it is all SO delish!!! This girl KNOWS how to pull together colors and new cool products with vintage goodies WOW!

I want to scrap..I want to pull out every piece from this AMAZING goodie box and make a hundred pages RIGHT NOW! forget mopping up basements, cleaning art areas and nursing ridiculously bad migraines, I just want a clean page in front of me, a paint brush near by, some art pencils and possibly a sewing needle in hand.
But alas, reality comes first sooo I am gonna make Friends with an ice pack and some serious tylenol ultra for my head, schedule a few treatments for next week, and catch up on some rest. And then hopefully I can tackle all that I hope to tackle...
we shall see what the weekend holds.
Hope you all have a good one!

Hello wednesday

Middle of the week already?!
Wowee sometimes it flys.
I was just thinking yesterday how great it is to have hints of spring in the air and all of the freshness that it brings. I spent the day opening windows and turning up the tunes, breathing extra deeply when we went outside. The happy bubble burst this morning though when I went downstairs to do the laundry...WHICH WAS PILED ON THE FLOOR, and much to my dismay this spring is apparently also bringing water into our basement along with the lovely fresh air this year...sigh.
that REALLLY sucks!!!
seriously.
So, today Bella and I are gonna head down there and tackle the lifting of everything off of the floor. We are going to hope and pray that there isn't too much wreckage of things we actually care about...I am reeeally not pumped about it, NOT ONE BIT, but that's life isn't it?

In better news, we are super proud of Tiara. She is working SO hard to improve her reading and with the help of good ol' Dick and Jane she is really doing better (thanks Gramie!). It's funny how as a parent I seem to need to learn over and over again how very different my three girls are and will continue to be. I KNOW this, and I Love it, I always have. But somehow, since Emy breezed through reading without batting an eye and has lived with a thick book firmly planted in front of her nose since grade one began for her 4 years ago, I forgot all that I know as a mama and assumed that Tiara would be just the same.
DUMB assumption on my part, since they are different in so many of their other strengths. But I honestly was totally shocked when Tiara started bringing home spelling tests with 2/10 and really struggling to learn to read at the same pace as the other grade 1 kids this year.
I was floored, didn't see that one coming at all.
Just another mama wake up call to keep me on my toes and remember that each of these little people I am blessed with comes with their own bunch of struggles and strengths that will be a part of molding them into who they are.
Go Tiara Go.

Just a quick head's up before I descend into basement drudgery; today is my $1 Wednesday at Little Dreamer. Just for today this $5 Big bundle of artsy label stickers is going for $1. It includes 4 sets bundled up into one; the warms and cools, flat and crinkly mooshed labels. I LOVE the way these print out on Avery sticker sheets for use on paper projects. SUPER fun!!! You can get the Avery sticker sheets at any Staples or other office supply store.
Happy Wednesday!

Grow Journal-Out on a limb

I don't think I need to add anything to that...pretty much me in a nutshell :)
The branch being "out of a box" is kindof symbolic of how I try and face life. It's great deciding not to be boxed in, great to always have a choice.
How do you choose to live?

background is vintage dictionary pages, with watercolors, art pencils, india ink , and pastels. wire is just stainless harware wire, and black squares are hand stiched.

spring goodies #1

Internet was out all day yesterday, which means that our phone was out too, which meeeans that there was no ringing phone or binging inbox, no blogging, or twittering or anything whatsoever to interrupt the peace and flow of the day....not too shabby... I might just need to unplug that modem of ours on purpose every once in awhileI promised a peek at the new kits I was working on and they are done and up for sale. If you are a paper crafter you are not out of luck on the fun, you can print these out for adding onto your pages and projects, and if you are a hybrid or digi creator then you know the drill!

This first one is just a fun way to say all that you have to say in your journal/scrapbook or greeting cards

These little bits were the ones that I was lovingly slaving over last week on the vintage book pages that have been holding my heart lately. They are painted and colored and pen-i-fied and then sewn for a handmade springy total package deal-e-o. ..whew!
Important thing is, They make me happyand one more for now, this is just a simple spray painted alphabet inspired by the art journaling fun that I have been having. It has kindof an artsy, edgy, urban feel and I like that sometimes.
I have at least three more packs in the works and a half cleaned art area. I keep going back and forth in my "work time" clean-create-clean-create.....hmmm hard choice right? LOL
In the end I know that I can create much better when my stuff is organized and when I clear out what I am not using etc. but oh how that takes time that I would rather be making something happy and fun.
Anyways , enough about that, Today is definitely an INDOOR day all the way, we are WAY back to inhumanly cold temps here in Winnipeg and I am a BIG suck when it comes to freezing on that level. The plan of the day is to clear off the kitchen table and pull it out to a new spot, change the table cloth to a new cute springy one that we picked up last week, and of course, try to get the kitchen clear of all things art related. Then Me and the girls are going to cook up their favorite Ham in orange sauce with some good ol' mashed potatoes and garlic bread for a nice yummy supper.
Have a good one friends, it's almost Friday!

Welcome Happy Tuesday

Today is feelin' like a good day,
I started the morning by cheerfully waving and shouting "goooodniiiight!!!" out the front door as Cam trotted off for the bus stop...hmmmm, I think my brain is still sleeping and my neighbors think I am a nut, but that's beside the point. we got lots accomplished yesterday and today is shaping up nicely already.

All 3 girls got their yearly check-ups yesterday afternoon, everyone is healthy and growing good as can be. Tiara was our main concern in the past, we have had some really intense years with her, but she has learned so much about how to cope with her sensory issues over the past year, and all of the anxiety that has gone along with that for her, and has grown leaps and bounds as a person because of it. YAYYY Tia!!!
The smaller 2 girlies went with Cam last night and got all signed up for soccer this spring while Emy and I stayed together to cuddle up and read a new book we are starting. Emy doesn't like soccer so she will be swimming instead...our little fishy girl.
The book we are reading together is Fairest by Gail Carson Levine. She is a great writer and did Ella enchanted which was the first one we read. It was SO different from the movie version and SO much better, we were just itching to get our hands on this one and then hopefully her other titles. We ended up falling asleep all cuddled together and stayed that way until my neck was all crinkled and spazed and woke me up sometime in the night.

How do I know today will be a good day? Well, other than the mixed up greetings to start it out right, it isn't even 10AM yet and little Bella and I have done our exercises, put in some laundry, I have sprayed ink, stamped stamps, and painted paintish things, and Kaiella has painted 2 posters of her own. We have painted her little nails shiny pink, Aaaand...we have read a BIG stack of books together that we pulled out from under the bed where they were hiding with the dust bunnies. If you ever get the chance to pick up This one for a small person that you love I highly recommend it. I bought it for one of my girls last time I was away and we just love it! Such a great little story of Love and the future that you dream of for your child, and the art is really sweet too.I was getting out of the van after dropping off the kids this morning and found a hilarious little gift left there for me. We have this pretty Love heart that I hang on the rear view mirror when I go away to teach, so that every time they get in the van without me it is there reminding them that I am thinking of them and Loving them wherever I may be.

I guess I haven't taken it down since I was away last and there it was looking at me with this bizarre sticker courtesy of one of my funny bunch...what the heck is that???!
I totally had to laugh out loud

well on that fine note I am off to load up another load of laundry with my sweet and eager assistant. I am not known for my efficiency in the mornings so I would have to say that all this by 10 AM is a great start to what is bound to be a fantastic day!
It's up to us right?
all a matter of attitude :)
Have a FABULOUS Tuesday friends!

my most prized possesions

...are great things like this little gift from Tiara

translation: " I like being alone with my mom, it makes me feel calm"

she shines like a star

Another page from my Grow journal.
it's a message to myself...
journaling inside of the word GROW says ""Every single day,never ever stop, never ever settle. Always learn and grow and stay open, life is full of undiscovered goodness."
We all can get stuck in a rut sometimes and forget to look up, I wanted to give myself a reminder not to let this happen :)

The background is made with tape, a text transfer, watercolors, prismacolors, pastels and acrylic paint. Lots of fun!


Today:
the weather is NOT sub arctic and I have fresh air streaming in through open windows...ahhh that puts everyone in a good mood, drives the kittens batty because they reeeeally want to get those birds out there but that too is slightly amusing. Laundry is hanging to dry and filling the house with scents of freshness, Vanilla tea is in my cup and I am putting the finishing touches on a new kit that is nice and springy and made on vintage book pages (Will share later in the week). I would say life is pretty dandy!


The reason I am not presently engaged in 4 year old play is that today the wonderful joys of preschool are busying Kaiella's little mind, and that, my friends is a VERY good thing!
She is show and telling her favorite doll "Maggie" and was pretty nervous about it on the way over to school, so I had her practice on me...cutest girl EVER. she says "...and when I hug her she shines like a star" insert big dreamy sigh and then proceeds to clear up for me that "Maggie does not actually shine light in the room from her belly button, but shines inside of my heart because she is my daughter and I loves her so much....just like you and me mama!"
oh melt my heart... Can you get any cuter than that?!
I'll play my little pony for the rest of my days if I can just bottle her up and keep her so sweet and small...sigh.

Tonight's to do list includes
-finishing my vintage book spring pieces
- working on a new class that I have been cookin' up
-making time to play in my ART journal for a bit...I figure if I can make myself do this every day then it will become a habit to make time for carefree creating again. need it love it want it...gotta do it!
-3 more loads of laundry to wash and hang
and hopefully tea and a movie with my Mom while I am up late "arting"

a life filled with adventure

Today is Tuesday....Tuesday that feels like it should only be Monday and should already be Friday all at once. Kind of that lost insignificant day it seems, but such a good one this week.

My baby is 4 and a half and has re-entered the stage of life where her mind needs to be kept incredibly busy or she will go off on her own adventure, look at that sneaky little face!!!
She adventures through the fridge, making a platter of grated cheese with syrup and frozen fruit with about half a bottle of Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top...hmm, uh, YUM? not so much. Orrr..... she may decide that the entire bathroom needs a vigorous scrub down with a few tubes of toothpaste all in a matter of minutes, you get it, the kid is on a mission to have adventure in this life.
Good for her!
I am too, totally, but for the most part I tend to put a wee bit more long term thought into planning my adventures.
Sooooo I am opting for keeping her mind busy over dealing with her FAB follies, it's better for both of us. Today we had the Chutes and ladders tournament of all tournaments, she wanted to keep on going but finally got so mad at those darn slides that she declared her girl could climb the ladders AND the slides because "she is so beautiful that they just let her", nice, I'm good with that.
Then she chose some books from a forgotten series of ours on behavior and we read some great lessons about snooping, lying and being selfish. Rawkin! LOL, she was hanging on every word it was awesome, total parenting in hardcovers. We then proceeded to paint posters to put up on the wall beside her pillow; good things she wants to dream about ( well, she painted posters and I painted pieces of this new "city streets" pack I am starting )

That lasted just long enough before Bella's "cooking" was about to begin so we had to head it off with a very long and involved game of my little ponies; we were awesome, we went to the fair and to the zoo, and across a frozen lake, our ponies are superstars.
It was one of those days where I got nothing done as far as housework or scrap work or any other kind of work , but I'm totally happy knowing that I spent hours and hours doing something that will matter so much more in the long run.
It reminds me of one of the sayings I try so hard to live by, about how years from now kids won't remember if you had dishes in the sink or a pile of laundry to do, but they WILL remember that you played with them and took time with them.
Tis so true.

Genuine "C"

Just a total play page I have been doodling around on for the last week or so when me and the girls are making things together, or when I'm on the phone...etc. This one is a little 5x5 square of leftover cardboard that was just begging for me to play on it. Will get bound in my "Random creativity" book.
Today...
Looking forward to the weekend, to some much needed extra rest and some family together time, however we decide to spend that. I'm hoping that some of us girls will be feeling a little bit better so that we can get outside for some good fun in the snow!
Happy weekending to you :)

stop thinking and just GROW

I was pretty excited about the meals we had planned for this week until we all got hit with a tummy bug that is making all of that good yummy food sound pretty gross right now.
Ah well, good intentions anyways, there's always next week.
I have been totally slow and unproductive, Me and little Bella have been catching some extra naps and feel like we've got our butts kicked real good. Best thing for it I guess is to drink water and rest when our bodies say that we need to. I am SO bad at that though, SO BAD! I am like a baby around 9 months old when they never want to miss anything. tsk tsk
So.
I did manage to get this little journal page done while I was sitting with Cam for a bit in the evening. I can't stand just laying around, got to keep up with something!
The theme of this book is going to be growth, being free and open to learn and explore and grow in many many ways. I have another one that will be just random, but this theme has been where my heart has been taking me at the moment.

The page is totally not my usual careful detailed creating, it is just free experimenting and was lots of fun to do. The background is made with gesso and molding paste with some different lines and shapes scraped into it, and acrylic paint on top. Letters are done with india ink and a nib pen, gives a really nice dark black and a bit of a scratchy carefree look to the writing. The tree is watercolor paint on canvas ( can be printed out from this pack).
And my grass is made with little green paint strokes, left over bits of painted masking tape from another project's edges, and crepe paper scraps from our valentine kid craft flowers.
Take care, see ya next week, here's to rest and water..whooot!

Art Journaling

So.
I have talked a few times about my decision for this year that I need to do something creative just for me. Something that is freeing and just messy and good with no rules, and for no one else. I just need a creative outlet that I can do everyday that is just because, not for a class, or a magazine, no rules, it can even be ugly as heck...JUST FOR ME to be getting my hands dirty and expressing my lil' heart on some surface or another.
I totally need this.
So I decided on Art journaling.
I have wanted to start an art journal for quite some time but never seemed to have the time. Just like reading, getting exercise, and taking any other time for me I am realizing that I need to MAKE the time to do the things that nourish my spirit and then I am much more good to the people who rely on me. The time will never just make itself, it needs to be a choice.
Choice made, done deal, it's ON!
Here's a few bits of some of the making that has been going on, all works in progress for now.

Please bear with me

I write blog posts as life happens, because I like to look back on them down the road, and because I like writing, but the photos I want to add aren't always loaded yet and sometimes when life gets extra busy there isn't always time to add them etc.
I will always choose living fully in the moment over keeping current online, that's just me.
Time goes by too quickly as it is and these precious little people of mine just keep on growing!
Soooooo, my posts get saved as drafts and wait for me to throw them up later. I've gotten behind in the past but not quite as behind as I have been lately, so please bear with me as I work to get January's thoughts and pictures all rescued from a life in draft and happily posted in the next week or so and then we should be all back to normal :)

The photo above is a little mini canvas that I did in the mod podge booth at CHA in Anaheim last month. I LOVED just taking the time to settle in for half an hour or so and create something just for me that really speaks to me. It just re-enforced how much I need to make time to do that more often. This one is just a mix of words that I want to remember as I live, all applied and sealed with a couple of coats of Mod Podge. Some bits are from magazines, some from old books, a a wee touch of bling...such a fun ( and therapeutic) little project to do.

Happy Friday to you
Live, celebrate, and have a fabulous weekend!!!

meal planning

It worked!

Laundry/shopping day was a RAD success.
Me and Bella are awesome!!!
We even managed to have the time to get a buncha backgrounds made as I was hoping...whoot whoot.
I have been slacking on meal planning for the last while, but we shopped properly and the week's menu is looking pretty good.

-lasagna, salad, and garlic bread
-Cam's AMAZING slow cooker roast
-farmer sausage and princess pasta Alfredo
-Stir fried chicken with veggies and fried rice
-hash brown casserole and a Ham
and for the busy/lazy nights we have
-Taco salad, (the super duper ever delish-child pleasing- all inclusive meal)
- and really good chicken fingers with pea soup

anyone have any really good easy recipes, specifically slow cooker recipes?
Please share 'em, we'd love that!

OK, it's boogie time, Gonna spend a few hours working into the night tonight and get way too little sleep, but I'm feelin' it and I've got to go with that when the inspiration strikes me.
ciao for now folks ;)

today

Laundry and food buying day has come.
There seems to be none of either in the house and I will be off on a field trip with Emy and her class all day tomorrow. I LOVE getting involved with the girls and their school, LOVE heading out on the field trips with them when I can, and I think that I may be more excited then she is about the whole thing!
But first comes today;

Kaiella and I are gonna rawk the laundry pile and do some smart grocery buying -with a list. Because when we make a list we spend less and actually go home with what we need for suppers all week instead of just lots of yummy crackers and yogurts and fruits and what we are hungry for at the time. Please tell me that I am not the only one who does this.

It honestly sneaks up on me every single time and I wonder how the heck neither one of these things doesn't just stay done???!
Funny thing is I rather enjoy both laundry and grocery shopping...seriously enjoy them. I am a goof, I know. I'm good with that.
Hopefully we can get both chores done as much as possible and our other running arounds in the morning so that we have some time in the afternoon to get creative together. I am really hoping to get some journal backgrounds painted and ready for whenever I decide to add to them later and Bella always loves this cuz she gets to make her sweet painted "backgrounds" too, hee hee! My stove is covered in "arting" right now. yeah, I'm making stuff in the kitchen instead of where I should be again....it has been known to happen, I just can't help myself, I get an idea and off I go with it, and duuuude, the sink is RIGHT there!!!!
it doesn't get any better than that!
I am sure that I drive Cam nuts, but he is so darn cute and good about it.
Cam Rawks, I love him.

Ok so before i head into the world you are probably wondering what the heck that mess of painty-ness above is ...not sure, it is creativity, we shall see where it goes.
I mentioned painting journal backgrounds above in my "Plan de Jour" but I guess I should explain that I have recently decided to start art journaling. I will discuss this more later,
time to take on today, happy Wednesday to you!

She's TEN!!!

MY sweet Emy was Ten years old yesterday! I really can't believe it, you hear people say when you are a kid how fast you have grown and you kinda give it a "yeah sure. ok I guess" in your little mind. But honestly from here on the other side, it really does seem to zoom by sometimes...as if she was just a curious little toddler getting into everything or a happy and confident 5 year old walking into kindergarten for the first time only last week. It sometimes seems as if I have blinked and here is this amazing young lady before me with a heart of Gold and so much faith and goodness to share with the world. We are so very proud of the wonderful person that Emy Chooses to be in her life every day; she is generous and oh so kind and uses her time to find ways to brighten the lives of others. What an angel.

It worked out great this weekend with Valentines day falling on Saturday and it being a long weekend here today ( it's called family day) It really was a weekend filled with celebrating her every day and she Loved it!
She woke up for E10 crepes with all of the toppings that she had requested; warm banana pudding, berries and whip cream and some sausages on the side. then got all dolled up and we went out to the movies all together. Nanny made a big birthday cookie for her after a wonderful dinner, and I sat together with her afterwards and gave her a manicure with all of the extras.
Special times for a special special girl.

Happy Hearts day!

All of the little pieces and words that the girls were writing out, coloring and preparing yesterday got onto their cards last night with a little help from me ;) and we got them printed out to share with their friends at school today.
So super cute!
Each girl's card was different and really embraced the spirit of them, their friends were thrilled!
Here is a closer look at one of them; this is little Bella's card. It was SO much work for her little 4 year old hands to write out all of the words, needless to say, she is super proud of herself :)

I was lucky to have a free afternoon today to head down to the school and spend some time at each girls class. they were all so cute and excited to share their treats and cards with each other. I can tell you for certain that these three are going to be dumping out and going through their valentine bags all weekend and most likely into the week!

Today I am so thankful to have a life filled with Love in so many ways, i don't need roses or chocolates, all I need is what I have; a husband who loves and supports me in all that I do, parents on both sides who are always there for us, three little girls who love me with every ounce of their being, and friends all around the world that have made my life a little bit brighter.

getting ready for Love day

This afternoon was all about productive kids. These three girls were in fine form as they worked away preparing to share their Love with all of their friends at school tomorrow. It was about baking chocolate cookies for tomorrow's Valentine parties, working on pretty pieces for me to make into valentines, and getting into the spirit of caring. They were way too cute as they worked tirelessly to prepare. Isn't it awesome how these holidays are SO huge to kids, like the whole world hinges on making sure each and every one is really super duper special?! It is one of the many reasons that I so love having little ones in my house. Where along the way is it that some of us bigger people loose that magic? where do the special days for making each other feel important and Loved become simply the mundane?

got to try and learn from the example of these wonderful small people and keep the sparkle in life, it is so great to look through theur eyes and use our days to make other people smile & share a little bit of happy.
Well, I am not gonna get all super deep on you or anything, I just wanted to pop in to say hi and share some photos of the fun, hopefully tomorrow I will post the girl's finished valentines.
In the meantime what are you planning/doing to get ready for V day this weekend, anything cool?

Quick kid craft

Kaiella's preschool teacher asked me, while I was there today, to come up with a valentines craft for them to do next week , using the doilies that she had bought. I usually need to let my wheels turn for awhile, I'm not too great on the spot. but c'mon these guys are only 3 and 4 years old, I figured i should be able to pull something out of my hat for little ones! Soooo.... I managed to pull together this flower craft using what they had kicking around the classroom and I think it is pretty fun! I don't have great photos of it but just thought I'd share in case you have some time and want to do some crafts with your own little people.

What you need is a coffee filter, a doilee, a piece of green tissue paper or crepe paper, a colored pipe cleaner and a green one, a couple beads, and some random silk flower petals.

1. place the doilee over newspaper or paper towel to protect the surface underneath. Have the little Munchkin rub paint all over it with their chubby little fingers to give it a light coat of color and set your doilee aside to dry

2. bend a colored pipe cleaner in half and get your little one to place beads on the two ends and curl them around a bit to keep the beads in place

3. cut a circle from your green tissue slightly smaller than your doilee

4. Now that the paint is dry stack up your flower:
green tissue on the bottom, then coffee filter, doilee next and pinch them all up pretty with the pipe cleaners in the middle for the "stickie-outie" parts.
Wrap the green stem around the base of your flower bunch at least 3 or 4 times to keep everything all together and then let the rest of it come down as a nice furry stem :)

5. If desired your little one can glue random silk petals in between the doily and filter to add a bit of extra "prettiness"

Kids are just so pleased and proud to have these flowers to give to mamas or Grandmas or whoever they decide needs a lovely little flower to brighten their day, it's super cute!