Enjoying the Small Things

Enjoying the Small Things

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Craftastic Wednesday

September 12, 2012 By Kelle

Happy Hump Day.

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Have you seen these books? Hallmark sent us one for a gift (thank you Hallmark!), and my kids are obsessed. It’s my voice reading the story, and Nella can push the buttons on every page to hear it, on her own.



This morning was the thirteenth kindergarten drop-off day, and it was as if I left her for nothing more than a play date–a casual wave, a confident good-bye, a carefree school girl who suddenly seems so much older.

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On our way to the grocery store yesterday:

“You know what my favorite thing is, Mom?”

“What, Lainey?”

“School.” Smile.

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And my favorite thing, as of late, is nesting and planning and thinking about the next three months–my favorite calendar trio.

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The house purging continues, as does my holiday-planning brain that doesn’t seem to stop thinking, even after Magna Doodle imagery tricks at night. I woke up three times this week to quietly slip out of bed and write an idea down before it was lost.

Pre-Holiday Brain brings you a Craftastic Wednesday.

Intended to be a late birthday gift for my dad, I think we’ll be creating several more of these for Christmas gifts.

Kid Art Vinyl Placemat Set

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We used 3/4 yard of white vinyl (which has a tiny bit of cushion, so it’s great for protecting wood from hot plates) and had enough to create six 12 x 18 in. placemats.

And have you seen the duct tape selection lately? Every color imaginable, patterns, polka dots, leopard print. If only those choices were available when I drove my Ford Escort station wagon around with a duct taped fender for two years in college.

We cut the vinyl to size for each placemat, the girls decorated them with permanent markers, and then I bordered each of the placemats with duct tape. Easy. Voila. And they wipe clean with a damp cloth.

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She drew 132 “3’s” yesterday and said “Around the tree, around the tree, that’s the way we make a 3” for every one of them.



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And a totes perfect gift. Add cloth napkins, homemade spaghetti sauce and a box of noodles, and you just done went and made someone’s dinner.

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So Bam. Craftastic high five.

*****

Remember Blue Q? Blue Q was a sponsor last Christmas, and I heard from many of you that you loved their unique gift ideas. Well, they’re back. With more awesomeness. We use our Blue Q bags (made from 95% post consumer material) at the beach, for restaurant toys, lunches, etc. They come in every size, from giant fit-everything overnight bags to small clutches and pencil cases (oh and Tampon cases–yup. funny ones). And the prints are outrageous–retro, funky, artsy, fun.

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I’m all over that camera messenger bag.



Blue Q’s products are unique and fantastic, but there’s so much more about this company that I love. Not only do they support The Nature Conservancy, but they’ve been the largest private employer of individuals with special needs in Western Massachusetts for over ten years.

Blue Q has heart, humor and style–all reflected in their products.

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Tin Cigar Boxes

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Branch Out Table Lamp

From their We-Met-on-Facebook gum to their Don’t Stop Believin’ Coffee Mug, Blue Q‘s got it goin’ on.

*****

Have a very merry Wednesday. Which is kind of like Christmas but actually nothing like it.

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Filed Under: Make Stuff

Happy Monday

March 26, 2012 By Kelle

I just finished walking Nella under a canvas of midnight blue sky speckled with radiant stars and a bright sliver of a moon. I pushed her in her stroller and opted to go barefoot–a very embracing-Spring-thing-to-do. Except along with a bright sliver of a moon and radiant stars, late March also delivers millipede covered sidewalks, an inviting path for bare feet. I stepped on one and then ran the stroller back home like Flo Jo.

There were other walks this weekend though. Better walks.

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Walks are always welcome interruptions to both mundane and crazy. Sometimes we slip out the door unannounced and wander the neighborhood for an hour. Other times we make a big to-do, gathering leashes, baby dolls and strollers, convincing as many who will oblige to come with us just for a spin around the block.

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This weekend, we reunited with an old friend.

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Even though our weather shifts aren’t as recognizable as the snow-to-tulip transformation present in so many other places in the country, I still feel new seasons every year. I purposefully open windows, buy flowers, take longer walks, eat outside and go barefoot on millipede-free occasions. My kids will know seasons. I will make sure of it.

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We did just that this weekend, slipping out for a Kiwanis Club fundraiser date Saturday night but returning back for a craftastic Sunday.

Inspired by this San Fran studio tour, I knew I wanted to make my necklaces more accessible and visible. Instead of hooks, I decided to use long nails with flat heads that had enough surface area to hold some hot glue. Once I knocked the nails in place, I hot glued a couple drawer pulls, a piece of a broken brooch and some vintage-inspired buttons (bought a variety bag a couple years ago) to the nail heads and, Voila…pretty wall hangers.

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Easy, extremely inexpensive and it serves multiple purposes–accessibilty as well as adding interest to the wall.

*****

The rest was cozy and weekendish.

Good food.

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Good weather.

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Good weekend.

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Darling hair bows from A Little Lady Etsy shop

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*****

Last week’s Friday Photo Dump:

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Friday Phone Dump photos are taken on the Instagram iPhone app (free) and dropped into a 12×12 collage using a photo editing software (Photoshop Elements works). I am @etst (enjoying the small things) on Instagram if you want to follow the feed.

*****

Winner of the Scentsy Barista warmer and Yuzu Dragon scent bar, generated by random.org is Comment #73, Jen: You have more (luck, karma?) with your picture taking than I do turning my camera on. Great pictures – I’m glad that the time with your mother and George was awesome!

Congratulations, Jen. Please send your contact info with the subject line SCENTSY GIVEAWAY WINNER to [email protected]

*****

Sponsor Dashing Bee is returning, continually adding new spring/summer items to their online consignment shop. For those who haven’t discovered Dashing Bee, they offer an impressive selection of baby and toddler clothes and shoes, baby gear, toys, maternity clothes and more–gently used, great brands, and affordable.

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All above items, currently available at Dashing Bee

Use Code DASHING10 for 10% off your order.

*****

I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon for a Hallmark post.

Good night.

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Filed Under: Make Stuff, Photo Dump

Santa, I Know Him.

December 17, 2011 By Kelle

Things that make me happy, right here, right now:

Boot Keychain.

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I’m not really the buy-the-LED-light-up-rose-at-the-gas-station-counter kind of girl. Or the paperback cookbooks/pencil toppers/slashed price CDs. But this boot? It was in a bowl with other little boots at a check-out today. And the lady said they were on clearance. I have a thing for miniatures. And boots. And things that make me think of Michigan in December. Dude, I had to have the boot. So I bought it and slipped it on our shared keychain. Two hours later, I ran out for an errand and noticed Brett removed the boot off the keys and left it in the center console. He has yet to realize I put it back on. I smell a Boot War. The boot stays. The End.

The Elf Went Home.

We’re not making a big deal of it, but turns out…this isn’t the year. The idea of an elf coming alive while she was sleeping was starting to freak her out, and we knew it. And I love that about parenting–the fact that loving your child comes with knowing your child. I know her, I sense her insecurities, I feel her heart beat in sync with mine. She kindly asked for Elfitty to go be with Santa and, um, let’s see…how was it she put it? Oh yeah, “Stay forever.” We smiled and hugged and said “of course.” Maybe we’ll try another year because, yes, it was fun. Until then, there are all sorts of hilarious elf texts and e-mails flying around our family.

Making Gifts.

A doll blanket to accompany one of Santa’s gifts.

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And a brilliant idea from my friend, Rebecca. We made several jars of homemade laundry detergent the other day–telling stories and entertaining kids while we grated fragrant soap bars and mixed powder.

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We found a few recipes online and ended up blending some of them together–one cup of Borax, one cup of washing soda, two cups of grated bar soap (several sites suggest Fels-Naptha or Ivory, but we used a variety of homemade scented bar soaps from Whole Foods). And the best part? Lavender essential oil (I shook at least a good 20 drops per jar).

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We blended it in a blender until it was a well-mixed powder. It smells amazing, you only need one tablespoon per wash, and it’s very inexpensive to make.

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I even tested it. Fresh, clean, stain-removed little baby clothes.

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Yields 11-12 jars from one box of Borax, one box of washing soda and a little more than 12 bars of soap.

I never figured myself to be the make-your-own-laundry-soap kind of girl, but I’m two weeks shy of 33, and I’m realizing all sorts of things about myself in these beginning chapters to Thirties. I can make my own laundry soap. I like a nice boot on my keys.

Wheeeee.

That’s what Nella says when she wants to swing. She points outdoors and says, “Wheeeee.” Sister is communicating bananas lately, and we are eating it up. There is that moment when I figure out exactly what she means, and I’m beaming–shaking my head, smiling, responding with exuberant praise. “Yes! Yes! Nella! Good Girl!” We clap. We celebrate. More words. More knowing our child.

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Imagination.

So she doesn’t like little elves that walk around your house at night. No biggie. There’s so much she does like. Friends, make believe, Daddy.

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Santa.

I combed their hair extra smooth today, wound tight buns, found new hair ribbon, and slipped black patent leather shoes over tights. I usually hate malls, but today we walked into the side hallway and were welcomed by the last chorus of “Frosty, the Snowman.” I smiled. It felt like Christmas–the contrasting monopolized one that, today, actually nicely “accessorized” the homey fireside one we love. I pushed the stroller while Brett held tightly to Lainey’s hand, and we walked past the food court and into the tunnel of kiosks toward the castle of Santa’s crew.
There was no line and, thankfully, this year’s Santa had a real beard and was over 30. He was real, thank you very much. We sat Nella down first.

That went well.

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Once her sister mirrored her on Santa’s other leg, she was just fine. And I love that.

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I couldn’t stop smiling. And my big girl? The one who now suffers from Elfanoia actually relaxed her shoulders, snuggled into that furry coat, and made captivating conversation.

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Sometimes I still have to tell myself I’m a mom. I have two little girls who sit on Santa’s lap and, in a little over a week, I’m going to clutch my coffee cup and cry-smile while I wrap up the year feeling grateful in a moment of clarity–watching my family all huddled together.

That’s all that really matters.

*****

Friday Photo Dump:

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Friday Phone Dump photos are taken on the Instagram iPhone app (free) and dropped into a 12×12 collage using a photo editing software (Photoshop Elements works). I am “etst” on Instagram if you want to follow the feed.

*****

Last minute Gift Suggestions:

Stock up on Body Care Product Stocking Stuffers from Michelle Timmons Arbonne or surprise a mama you love with a subscription to Mamalode magazine (I’m writing a piece for their next issue and excited about a friend’s article in the same issue.).

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Your F.A.Q. questions are great–will answer several next week.

And now…also loving…Vince Guiraldi, fireplace fires, colored lights, planning next week’s holiday meals, knowing things will slow down come Monday, parties and ballet recital this weekend, wearing slippers, good neighbors, my little boot.

And memories of this day, last year.

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It’s mid-December, almost the end of the year…what are you loving right now?

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Filed Under: Holiday, Make Stuff, Photo Dump

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