Olivia Jean: Keepin' it Green

Vegan for a month

2011-05-16T13:53:00.000-07:00

Now that spring is in full swing, Nick and I have decided that our bodies needed some renewal as well! So taking on Bonzai Aphrodite's Monthly Mission for May, we are trying to cleanse by forgoing all meat and dairy! (she is doing all RAW!)

Here is what we have been eating for our first Vegan week...

My everyday breakfast - oatmeal with raisins, walnuts, and molasses. This is what I eat normally, but I have made it vegan by using almond milk (yum!) and EarthBalance "butter"

green smoothies and veggie juice too!

Lunches have included veggie sandwiches made with various spreads. We also found some yummy burritos that totally count from a new Local restaurant!

I have been doing a lot of cooking (not normal!) and am having fun experimenting with new recipes! Although it has been a challenge when I am pressed for time, trying not to fall back on old habits (hello, lets just go out for pizza :P)

Monday was so rushed, so we had a not completely cooked version of this Lentil Quinoa recipe (not pictured....you wouldn't want it to be!)

I tried Bonzai's Vegan Mac n' Cheeze , and though it doesn't taste like the traditional mac, it is BETTER and so YUMMY! I used gluten free pasta, a very comforting dish (much needed when you've got a baby with an ear infection in the house!).

Another success was Nick's portobello burgers last night....enjoyed with a small glass of Victoria with lime and salt....ah :)

One night we cheated because a good friend lured us with chicken enchiladas....she is such. a. good. cook. couldn't pass it up :/

Other than that there has been lots and lots of snacks, dry fruit, nuts, chips and homemade salsa (one day I will get his recipe), it is hard to stay full, but its kinda nice to have this problem! eat eat eat ;)

I feel great so far, much lighter. I find myself avoiding my classic traps, chocolate and ice cream mainly, its good to take a break.

So this is my story for the next three weeks......we will see how our upcoming vacation to Cali goes! I am determined!

Second Season Gardening

2011-04-25T12:56:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all of Nick's hard work....our second season of gardening has begun :D

A bit bigger than last year, and a lot more organized!

Kai got in on the action too!

Hmmm....I wonder how it tastes?

So lovely seeing green! What do you have growing??

Veggie Juicing

2011-04-13T14:53:00.001-07:00

I have always wanted to make veggie juice....but never had a juicer to do so...luckily I am silly and thanks to fellow blogger Sayward at Bonzai Aphrodite I now know that I do not need one!! woo!!

Here is my version of her tutorial

mmmm...fresh veggies....I used leftover Kale, cucumber, carrot, and an orange

Throw them all in the food processor with some water (I added some orange juice also)

and take them for a spin ;)

dump it all in cheese cloth (or like material) over a big bowl

and squeeze, squeeze, squeeze! (just when you think you have gotten all the juice, squeeze some more!)

pour in to a glass (a funnel is helpful, but I don't have one...so I lost a bit in the pour :( )

and omg....YUM! and ZING!

be sure to save the pulp (I am going to add it to our sunday muffins this week)

and LOOK, even big kids like it :D

in fact he liked it so much that he was in much distress when I told him I drank the rest - so we made do with a quick version with strawberries...

I feel great, kiddo loves it.....I think I'm convinced!

Its Official....

2011-04-11T14:53:00.001-07:00

I'm a soccer mom! yikes!

He was so proud

Sunday Morning Muffins

2011-04-05T15:06:00.000-07:00

What better way to spend sunday morning than in our pj's makin muffins?!?

Kiddo loves to hold and crack the egg, he has discovered what can happen to a dropped egg...therefore handles them very carefully now!

He also practices being a scientist.....look how the liquid changes mom! (after we pour in the oil)

and I get one on one time with Kiddo and breakfast at the same time....YUM!

Gluten Free Banana Mini Muffins....comin right up :D

My how time flies!

2011-03-10T15:23:00.001-08:00

And oh how I have been neglecting this blog! As a fellow blogger so wonderfully put.....life sometimes gets lost in the details! Boy there are some major details happening here lately,

Kai is now 5 months old! He is the definition of a bouncy baby boy :)

Cauê just had a major change, a new haircut (for those of you who know kiddo, this is HUGE!)

Before

After

And for me, my newest project is keeping me very very busy.

But spring has sprung around here and new beginnings are all over the place.....I have even gotten a bit crafty!

Kitchen Curtains

and a raised bed for our garden

Yay warm weather!

(next up...a new springy banner :D )

The Best Birthday Present Ever!

2010-10-20T12:37:00.000-07:00

Introducing.....Kai Manu!!

Born on my 31st birthday :D Here is his amazing birth story...

The night before we all had lovely dinner for my birthday, and I was feeling as tired as I had all week (at 41 weeks..thats pretty tired!). All through dinner I was crampy, so a glass of wine was in order to help me sleep later. We came home, put kiddo to bed, and relaxed with a movie for a bit. I went to bet shortly there after and went to sleep quite content! That is until about 3am when I was awoken by rushes I had to concentrate and breath through. I could still sleep in between, so I stayed put and snuggled with my family. At 7am I could no longer deal with them laying down and got up to bounce on my ball. Getting up immediately made the rushes intense, so much I had to start vocalizing through them and timing their regularity. Hubby began cleaning and inflating or pool. All was clean and calm :)

At 8am I called my midwife and she had been at a birth all night! She sent her back up and said she was right behind her, I was so glad she was still coming, and I was to have the same birth team I did with kiddo! My mom and sister were notified as well, Mom was to keep kiddo busy and calm, sister was to film the birth! By 9:30am everyone was there, and we started filling up the pool. I was having some back pressure and Mom rubbed my lower back during each rush, in between I just stared at the pool and wanted in so bad! Hubby suggested music, and I wanted something upbeat.....so he put on a great disco mix from a dear friend :D Thanks Guava!!

At 9:45am the pool was full and I was in.....ahh.....so good! So good....but right away I felt like pushing during a rush, so I did! My midwife did not feel the need to check my progress, she said if I feel the urge, do it! This was immense pressure and hubby was right there for every one, to squeeze his hands tight, he was my rock!

My water had not broken and I thought I had a ways to go still....Kiddo popped is head in once in awhile to check on me, between rushes I was clear headed enough to chat with him....I remember telling him I was ok, and I needed to make these noises to get the baby out!

I could not get comfortable in any position, I tried sitting, all fours, leaning on Hubby, but after all I ended up squatting again....Perfect! My midwife commented that this is exactly how I ended up birthing kiddo! :D So my water still had not broken and I decided to investigate....I reached in, and yup! there was the bag of waters about an inch in, he was coming out with bags intact. I felt a huge rush coming on and roared through it, right in the middle I felt a POP! I thought this was the bag breaking, but nope, I looked down and there was part of the bag bulging out of me....wow...my midwife exclaimed, "Someone get a camera! This is amazing!" haha, I thought so too. At 10:45am another big rush was coming on and I knew this was the last one....it just had to be, it was so intense. So ROAR again, and ROAR once more and his whole body slid out at once! I look down to catch him and I see this little blue being floating inside his bag, utterly amazing, his bag (or Caul) was completely intact! I pulled him up and the caul fell away and he turned pink right away and looked a bit sleepy, then let out a little tiny cry. I realized I could not pull him all the way up so I looked down and his cord was wrapped around his little foot :/ we untangled him and he stopped crying right away. Awww, I could not believe I had another son! He was just perfect :D

We got out of the tub so that we could get the placenta out.....and it was taking quite a while. After a couple of contractions, out it came, along with a TON of blood (after all it was about 4 cups!!!) So everything at that moment became focused on getting me to stop bleeding, breastfeeding, massaging my belly, laying down. I was quite weak after so I asked Hubby to make me up a smoothie with some placenta, yup placenta, in it. I drank that, some juice, and eventually a burrito :). After that I started to feel better, but I knew it was going to be a few weeks before I was feeling completely better (and yes, I was right).

I just kept focusing on my baby, my beautiful baby boy, that I did not have a name for! Didn't matter though, he was delightful!
My midwife weighed him, 7lbs 9oz, and measured him, 19 3/4 in! Great size :D

So there it is, my second and most likely final birth, just the way it should have been. Kai is now 3 weeks old, nursing like a champ, and is still quite sleepy ;) (except at night!) He has steel blue eyes, light brown hair, my complection, and 10 fingers and toes! Like I said....perfect!!

Belly Art!

2010-10-01T10:54:00.000-07:00

You know what can make you feel much better at the "I feel like a balloon" stage of pregnancy?

Belly Art! It makes you feel special, and beautiful, like a walking piece of artwork :D

My Hubby helped me create a belly cast that will one day make a welcome addition to our bedroom wall art.... next to This One.

(I was a little shy to post the whole pic....so here is just the belly for now...)

and my very talented little sis came by for an evening of Belly Henna

Belly Henna is a bit of a long process that involves quite some time siting still (very difficult at 9 months preggo), but it is well worth the 2 -3 weeks that it stays with you! Mine lasted long enough to be captured in my "official" maternity photo shoot!!

You can find more from that photo shoot Here!

(Thanks again to my Hubby for being the talented one behind the camera!)

Getting ready for The Babe

2010-09-14T21:39:00.000-07:00

I do think it's high time for an update don't you?!?

So happy to report that we are now 38 weeks along and doing great! I am gearing up by doing lots of sewing and crocheting for this little one....here is what I have so far....

We are cloth diapering again, so most of the crafting has been diaper related

Here are the crocheted bits so far, two wool soakers/diaper covers. I used the Tickle Turdle Wrap Pattern

I am converting 20....yes 20...prefold diapers into fitted diapers....

I found the best little Kimono Wrap by Habitual, and thought it would be perfect paired with some wool longies for The Babe's first outfit!

(The Kimono is an upcycled pillow case....very soft....and the longies are an upcycled merino wool sweater!)

My very own version of this sleeper (also made from the same upcycled sweater as the longies!). Do I see a tutorial in the very near future?!?

We have gotten all our supplies together for our homebirth as well, here we are trying out the birth pool (ok....its a kiddie pool...but it'll work!)

More on the Henna and Belly Art later!

NYC....through the eyes of a 3.5 year old

2010-07-13T12:12:00.000-07:00

(during our June trip!)

Sewing for Kiddo (Boys Tank Top Tutorial)

2010-06-11T12:46:00.000-07:00

Can I tell you how hard it is to find tutorials for cute boys clothes out there!! I had an urge to make a simple tank top for the kiddo after work, and I only found ONE! and to be honest.....I had a hard time understanding the sizing....hmn

Sooo I decided that I could do this on my own!! I know I am very empowered right :D

Here's my process.....any suggestions will be well received!

I started out with a favorite tank of kiddo's, folded it in half, and cut around (the fabric is a thrifted pillow case)

With extra cut at the bottom and sides for seam allowance

Cut two of those on the fold (and cut about 1/2 an inch more out of the neck line to leave room for the bias binding)

Make bias binding for neck and arm holes, mine turned out to be 2 1/2 in x 18 in

**Edit for the bias binding**

I was corrected by my mother.....bias binding should be cut at a 45 degree angle...thus making it "on the bias" so that it will stretch! Like this or this

Thanks Mom!! I was wondering why it was a tight squeeze over his head!!

Sew the right sides of one of the shoulder seams together (just one!)

Pin RIGHT side of binding to the WRONG side of the neck hole and sew together
(I dont have a fancy binding maker and this way works out best for me)

Here is another explanation

Once that side is sewn, flip the garment over, then make sure the bias binding is folded so you can see the wrong side facing up. Fold the binding in half like so

Fold binding again, this time over the seam, and pin all along the neck hole (covering the exposed seam)

Top stitch close to edge of the binding (sewing through binding and garment fabric

Repeat this binding process for the arm hole under the shoulder seam already sewn together

Sew the other shoulder seam together and repeat binding process for that armhole

Sew down the sides of the garment (I like to start at the arm hole and sew down)

Fold over the bottom edge 3/8 in and then fold over again 1/2 in, pin, and sew

(funny how the light changed on this last photo....its a totally different color!)

Enjoy watching your little one play in their nice, cool, summer top!

Let me know if you try it :D

The Color of Home - Living Room (plus demolition fun!)

2010-06-09T12:15:00.000-07:00

Warm, natural colors and lots of light fill the main living space in our home.......

Toys included of course....

This great 60's "Danish Modern" couch we found at a local antique market! Lucky find.......all thats needed is a little reupholstering job to make it perfect.....I have time....I promise!

We used Olympic's Zero VOC line of paint.....no odor and amazing color selection!
(this advertisement not paid for by Olympic......but I wish it had been!)

aaand here is a sneak peek of some demolition starting at our house.....finally!!! This is just the beginning ;)

I was envious of all the fun hubby was having tearing up our detached "casita"

Kiddo desperately wanting to help too....

and without this special man (my very own daddio) much of this would not be possible! yay for family!

Whew....I get exhausted just watching them....

We are trying our best to find used construction materials over at our local ReStore and whenever we can we will donate our usable materials right back!

Its the little things

2010-05-20T09:44:00.000-07:00

Like laundry.......and being able to do it at your own house :D

This week we finally got a (much coveted) front loader washer!

and we put the drying line up yesterday.....oh how I missed the peacefulness of hanging clean laundry on the line......

I especially am liking the purple we chose for the posts....did you notice?

Spring (and why I've been absent!)

2010-04-28T09:20:00.000-07:00

Has it been a MONTH!!!! So much has happened in this beginning of Spring :) Heres a little snippit......and I promise to be better!

SNOW on the first day of spring :)

Trying our hands at natural egg dying

Our very OWN garden!!

with puddles and galoshes galore :D

A Teeny bit of crafting...

aaaaand.....my main preoccupation....

oh yeah.....thats a baby bump your lookin at!

The Color of Home - Kiddo's Room

2010-03-18T09:54:00.000-07:00

Taken early this morning, while he was still in dreamland ;)

I never thought I would paint my boy's room blue.....but it matched his recycled denim quilt so well. I even made the quilt years before he was born (so I didn't know he would be a boy!). I pieced it together by hand while we lived in NYC (no machine then), with blue jeans collected from our stash and friends! ....aaaand I even took it while we traveled, that quilt has been to Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Mexico! toot-toot!

So blue it was!

The painting is a piece by his big cousin Patience when she was only 9 :) and the records painted one fall afternoon with his daddio!

It is quite a peaceful blue, don't you think?

Three - 30 Days of Beauty - Getting Outside!

2010-03-02T12:30:00.000-08:00

Though the warm weather is not quite here yet......we have been pretending that it is!

Oh to have a nice walk outside, after being indoors all day :D

Basking in the sun..

Wondering....how much higher can I climb??

Taking notice (see the heart)

and a beautiful Sunset.....

and Moonrise all at the same time!

We are soooo ready for spring!!

Two - 30 Days Of Beauty

2010-02-17T11:51:00.000-08:00

Nooks, Crannies, and a New House full of light and potential!

Welcome to the before shots everyone!

Delay

2010-02-15T13:40:00.000-08:00

Due to the big move, we have no internet! Posting has been delayed and I promise to make it up to you soon :)

30 Days of Beauty

2010-02-07T19:43:00.001-08:00

A fellow blogger, over at bluebirdbaby, has started a winter challenge!

The challenge? photograph something beautiful everyday until the first signs of spring arrive :) This will definitely help us all through the winter slumps huh?!?

So here is my first entry, taken this morning.....

After a year of sleeping in his own bed.....kiddo has decided to join us mid night in our bed.....the family bed is officially back :) (well at least part time). I have to say I had missed waking up to his sweet sleeping face....

The Weeks End

2010-01-31T19:54:00.000-08:00

Packing and Thrifting.......that pretty much sums it up :)

Found these treasures at a Haiti Relief Fundraising Sale....isn't that Tea Pot the Best!!

oh.....and the boxes.....they are everywhere!

In between all that there was bit of crafting, reading by the fire, and playing dinosaurs....but no pictures of all that ;)

15 Minutes

2010-01-26T09:58:00.000-08:00

Let me be honest....I have be quite overwhelmed lately....so I snuck in 15 minutes of quiet by the fire last night.

Ahhhhh, that helped.

My brain swirls with ideas sometimes....so maybe you guys won't mind me dumping some of them on you!

We are in the process of buying a house.....oh so exciting! but if you have bought a house you can sympathize, it takes over your whole life!

Here are some things that have been inspiring me (and keeping me up at night!)

I want these for my countertops....but they are pricey (maybe I can ask my dad to make some.....ehem, dad??)

Pegboard....I'm all over it!

Loving this space saving DIY bookshelf

Look at this simple idea!

I am going to try using (or maybe making?) Milk Paint :)

Along with all that....my first craft fair is coming up! Woah....what did I get myself into?? Although I found some fabulous fabric at the thrift store this weekend......can I tell you....I have a new obsession for pillow cases!

Whew! Thanks!

Whats inspiring you lately?

(oh! I just realized I need to change my banner o_0)

Paper Mache Dinosaur Tutorial

2010-01-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

So you all should know that kiddo is obsessed with dinosaurs! He knows so many names (its pretty hilarious to hear a 3 year old sing about Giganotosaurus, or stumble on Parasaurolophus). We support this obsession in many ways, books, documentaries, models....etc....

So in keeping with this, kiddo and I made some Paper Mache Models of our own! Here is the tutorial! (bear with me, I am still learning how to create these!)

Start by watching this video from Martha Stewart that gave me the basic structure idea

So cut out the basic body shape of your favorite dinosaur from cardboard, with out the extras like legs, horns, spikes, etc...

(these have the legs glued on already, but imagine them without)

Cut out legs and two small round disks for each leg. Have a kiddo help you glue the disks together - so you end up with 4 stacks of 2 disks each. (hint: Triceratops and Stegosaurus have longer back legs than front, but Brachiosaurus has longer front legs than back!)

Glue the legs on placing them on top of each disk stack...

The disks make the shape 3-D!

After the glue dries, you will want to prepare your paper mache "goop" (a kiddo term). I use flour and water (+a pinch of salt), mixed to create a liquid consistency (not too watery). You can also use a glue and water mixture, but again, not too watery ;)

In the video they use a pre-made paper mache powder, but if you are like me with newspapers lying around, they work just as well. I tend to like the texture they provide also :) If you use newspaper, rip it up into 2 in wide by 6 in long strips (approximate!!)

Start by securing the leg joints by wrapping the disks first....use a few layers....

Let that layer dry....and then start adding the bulk of the body...dip a strip of newspaper into the "goop" and make it into a ball, this adds bulk quickly...

Let this layer dry while you cut out all the extra parts, (a collar for Triceratops, plates for Stegosaurus). Horns and spikes can be made with the paper mache itself.

I glued the plates on....but stuck the collar of the Triceratops into the paper mache...

After this bulk layer dries wrap the whole dino in one last (flat) layer of paper mache to make it smooth...

Last step! Have a kiddo pick the colors and paint paint paint!

Done :) Yay!!

What a day!

2010-01-09T19:05:00.000-08:00

An exhausting day, but turning three is worth it!

Dinosaurs were everywhere! I had to make a special shirt worthy of his favorite dino....stegosaurus :)

and kiddo and I worked all week on these paper mache dino's (tutorial coming right up!)

of course I didn't catch a photo of him in his custom stegosaurus hat......but no worries that tutorial is coming soon too ;)

but back at the party.....there was good friends, family, and swimming!!! yes even in January!

Oh....what a day!

Sledding! Happy Winter ;)

2010-01-03T18:15:00.000-08:00

A bright sunny day + a snowy mountain = a great day for sledding!!!

Wonderful Sunday!

(stay tuned for more Show and Tell next week!)

Show and Tell (Part Two) & Recycled Legwarmer Tutorial!

2009-12-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

This ones for the sista's! The sister in law had a big trip coming up to attend cooking school in Italy (ooohhh) so I wanted to make her something travel related, and small......and what did my search reveal? A perfect little set of a lingerie bag, shoe bag and passport cover, in (to me) Tuscany style ;)

Originally got the ideas here and here...

and for my littlest of sisters.....some coziness for the rest of the winter!

Re purposed sweater sleeves, into legwarmers!

Looks like a couple of happy customers to me :)

Here is a quick tutorial for the legwarmers...

Cut a strait line starting right at the underarm seam,

then fold over and zig-zag stitch the cut side (I do two rows of zig-zag because I am paranoid about unraveling :P). Its also helpful to scrunch the knit as you sew, otherwise you will end up with a splayed out cuff! (unless that is what you are going for...)

that's it! I told ya it was quick ;)

Show and Tell (Part One)

2009-12-28T07:30:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh.....the week after Christmas off of work....gives me some time to catch my breath after the holiday madness...we have been hanging out in our jammies all day, feels good!

Last week there was no time for blogging, my house was covered in cardboard, yarn, glue, contact paper, you name it.....I badly wanted to give you all a sneak peek of all that madness, but I just couldn't pull myself away.

So now, the show and tell begins, I can't wait to pass along some of the great ideas I found!

First up.....Kiddo's Cardboard Kitchen!!!

Complete with cotton yarn burners, and a thrifted bowl for the sink....

an oven too!

I still have to finish off the edges, and add a faucet.....of course!

Thanks so much to Anna at Forty Two Roads for her incredible work on the tutorial available on Etsy!

This tutorial is easy to understand but make no mistake....it takes some time and will buff up your arms with all that cardboard cutting!!

Kiddo loves it, but I get the feeling he still prefers the real thing!

Growing Tradition (and a Holiday Green Tip!)

2009-12-09T09:23:00.000-08:00

Sometimes its difficult to create new traditions, when there are so many that already exist around you. So this year, we decided to literally "grow" our own!

Sparked by the annual decision to cut a real tree, or buy a plastic one......we decided to buy a live potted tree.....no plastic....no cutting!!

I am pleased to announce the newest member of our family, a Dwarf Alberta Spruce!

It may be small now, but I hear it will grow to about 6 feet!

Commence tree trimming....which took all of 5 minutes ;)

Which would not be complete with out some broken ornaments!!

What traditions are you growing this year??

Finished!!!

2009-12-08T11:13:00.000-08:00

Remember the project that had 3 (count em'..3) sewing machines stumped?

Welll....I finally managed to get ahold of an upholstery machine and got....it....done!

I can't wait to get photos of this cutie (seen here in the belly) in her custom Mei Tai......hope you enjoy the ride!

Thanks to Kristen for the amazing tutorial.....I am learning so much from all these incredible women!

Holiday Shop & Stroll......brrrrr!

2009-12-04T09:31:00.000-08:00

Quickly becoming one of our Holiday Traditions is our neighborhood shop and stroll.....and this year fell on a night that dropped to 21 degrees!

We did have many chances to warm up indoors.....meet some friendly faces....and even be a little silly :)

and oohhh the window shopping!

yay for Holiday festivals!

From here on out...

2009-11-30T18:00:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving break was ah-mazing....full of good food....time with family....crafting....dancing....train rides....

and can you believe.....NO CAMERA!!!

Now that we are on the eve of December....my nights will be looking more and more like this :)

Stay tuned for holiday crafting madness!!

A hat for Grandma!

2009-11-12T12:07:00.000-08:00

This year my grandmother turned 80, and I have never known her better! She has always lived a state over and I only saw her on holidays, but now she has moved close by! I see her everyday, I get to enjoy her stories, find out things she loves (patent leather shoes!), and give her hugs only a granddaughter can :)

During a recent conversation she said she needed a warm winter hat.....and I thought of a recent ravelry.com find that would be perfect for her! I described it and her face lit up..."you would make that for me?"

well, yes, and I did :)

Happy Birthday Grandma!

(and thanks to Cathrine over at YarnKat)

Halloween Highlights

2009-11-03T08:36:00.000-08:00

Dancing Thriller with my co-workers (professional makeup by my very own sis!)

Crafting by a nice fire, with nice friends on Halloween Eve

Trick or Treating with the Fam

Sharing costumes and fun all night long (even celebrated a good friends birthday....Happy Birthday!!)

(kiddo went with neither Batman or Ninja......snowboarder topped them both!)

(Coraline of course!)

(oohhh....Wild Things!!)

What a great Halloween, exhausting, but one of the best yet!

Pumpkins, Pumpkins!

2009-10-29T08:34:00.000-07:00

Or as kiddo would say....Puukins!

Pumpkin Festivals

Pumpkin Shooting

Pumpkin Carving

and Pumpkin Eating!!

which reminds me.....I should make this again :)

Yay for Pumpkins......and Family!!

Halloween Inspiration!!

2009-10-27T08:34:00.000-07:00

Its my favorite time of year :) Halloween!! Here is a sneak peek at costumes already in progress.....

(of course I have two costumes, one scary for Friday....one cutesy for Saturday)

Can you guess what they may be??

Still in need of yellow galoshes, blue spray paint, 20's style hat, and an orange striped turtle neck!

Kiddo can't make up his mind....

Who knows....he may end up being ninja-batman!

What do you all have planned??

Without My Sewing Machine

2009-09-24T09:41:00.000-07:00

Since the disaster with the three sewing machines.......I have hardly sewn a stitch! I have come to the conclusion that my machine needs to be taken to the shop...boooo!!

As always though some disasters are blessings in disguise, and I have reconnected with my non sewing crafts :)

A few headbands courtesy of Creative Yarn

A BIG project made of cardboard......(tutorial coming soon!!)

Last but not least I would like to announce a project that has been keeping me busy most of all

......drumroll please.....

Olivia Jean Photography!!

So you can now expect some posts about my photography adventures as well......stay tuned :)

Fall Chile

2009-09-11T13:55:00.001-07:00

The unofficial start to fall arrived over Labor Day weekend, here's how we celebrate around these parts.....

Fresh Roasted Green Chile,

Homemade Tortillas,

Refreshing Mexican Beer,

Top it all off with Tacos!!

What a yummy way to start the fall season :)

How do you celebrate?

Finally!!

2009-09-04T10:21:00.001-07:00

My fabric for the pants along (which has long ended) has finally come in!

and ooohhhh I love it :)

Did you know Linen is made from renewable Flax?

The Great Pants Along - Fabric

2009-08-25T09:39:00.000-07:00

So I made my fabric choice....

I ordered it last Monday.....and it won't arrive until NEXT WED!!!! I am determined to catch up to the rest of you guys at the pants along....so stay tuned :)

At this rate I will get to wear my new shorts next summer......can't wait!

Green Tip: Pssst......This One is for the Ladies!

2009-08-24T10:04:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I may be getting a bit personal here.....but really, every little day to day activity has an impact and deserves to be mentioned, don't you think?

So, here is my green tip for our most personal of business :)

The Diva Cup!

Have you heard of this??

Needless to say I have :) and so far it has saved over 1000 tampons or pads (and their boxes, wrappers, and containers) from being made and thrown away. Not to mention the nearly $200 I would have spent buying all that trash! I also never have rush to the store in an emergency situation :)

This is a fairly simply idea and it is explained in detail on the above website. Although it took a while to get used to, I am now an expert and it is as easy and comfortable as any other option.

If this does not fit your fancy.....here are some other products I will happily advertise ;)

Luna Pads

Glad Rags

Crocheted/Knitted Tampon??

haha....ok, I have never heard of the last one before today....but who knows it just may work for you!

The Great Pants Along

2009-08-14T10:06:00.000-07:00

Joanna over at Stardust Shoes has invited crafters (an non crafters alike) to explore the world of garment sewing. I have never had much luck in the garment area and think this is a great way to learn....together!

Join along if you like! I will be posting my progress here.....first up, rounding up materials!

I am thinking one of these three fabrics....which one would you go with??

I am leaning toward the middle one :)

Summer Love

2009-08-10T08:52:00.000-07:00

There are so many things to love during the summer, but around our house, two things have really captured our attention.

Mornings bring a quick check on progress in the garden....

The Beginning

And this is what we woke up to this weekend....

Afternoons after work we sit quietly waiting for the hummingbirds to make an appearance

Oh look! There's one now!

Do you see? There it is again!

This is fun!

What has captured your attention this summer?

2 1/2 Years Later

2009-08-02T21:04:00.000-07:00

It's finished! The belly cast from my pregnancy that is :)

Kiddo took an interest in his belly cast this week, so it was decided that this was the weekend it would finally get done.....

And he helped every step of the way!

Applying and sanding the dry wall compound.....

painting painting painting....and more painting:)

Thanks Kiddo!

This is a project that has been very rewarding for the whole family, Kiddo gets to see how small he was and we get a great piece of art for our home!

Here are some other examples for belly art :)

Proud Body

Mothering Magazine Forum

Thoughts on Art and Creative Living

Just for fun, a Flicker photo stream for Belly Henna!

Enjoy!

Green Tip: Save Gas and Get a Great Ass!

2009-07-31T08:22:00.000-07:00

This was the title of a Craigslist add that really stuck in my head......and if you ride a bike.....they are both true!

So what is my bike of choice?? Well.....

Its a beautiful Vintage French bike,

Found at Goodwill for $25, and tricked out by my good ol' Daddio!

I love the details on this bike....complete with mud from yesterday's rain!

Why else do I love this bike......its light, and its got a coaster break!

Oh yeah, and kiddo loves it too ;)

So get out there and ride! The more the better :)

Splish Splash!

2009-07-24T12:05:00.001-07:00

Seems like I have seen many many posts this summer about seaside fun...some examples are here and here

I was beginning to get a bit jealous when I realized we too have a special place to cool off even in the middle of the desert!!

It may not be the beach.....and it has not been renovated in, well, never.....but most of my summers were spent here as a kid, and its looking like my kiddo might grow up here as well :)

What special place helps you through the summer??

Woman Vs. Machine

2009-07-13T13:08:00.000-07:00

I fought with 3....count em' 3....sewing machines this weekend, and they won!

One was my Singer Touch and Sew 600.....top thread breakage.

Next up, my Moms Singer....bottom thread bunching and jamming.

Finally, my Dads Pfaff....got most of the way through my project...then jamming and top thread breakage!

Boy did I try everything to fix these problems, but sometimes you just have to tap out!

and no, I did not take any photos....but here is a sneak peak of the project that had these machines stumped...

I will not throw in the towel! Next opponent.......Heavy Duty Upholstery Machine!

Pea Pod Purse

2009-07-07T08:26:00.000-07:00

Remember this pretty fabric? Well I finally turned it into something!

I am proud to announce my first blog contest winner, AnnMarie, received this pretty spring/summer purse.

The pattern is the Pea Pod Purse from Ottobre Design! Thanks!

Made from reclaimed fabric, this purse is very "green"....it includes a zipper pocket on one side and two sizes of open pockets on the other.

I gained two valuable sewing skills during the process, how to sew binding and invisible zippers (on a curved seam mind you!)

No worries Jessica....yours is coming soon!!

Chalk Painting

2009-06-25T10:28:00.001-07:00

We enjoyed the plentiful rain last night!

Afterwards we did one of our favorite things......painting with chalk on the wet cement!

Chalk does amazing things when wet :)

A wonderful mess indeed!

Fathers Day Fun (and tutorial)

2009-06-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

Love and apreciation to all the Fathers, Daddy's, Papa's, Daddio's, Pai's, Babba's, Pop's, Papi's, Padre's, and Tatah's out there!

For our own special Daddio, a Mini-Quilt to represent their special bond.

The idea came from Roots and Wings Co., follow the link for the tutorial as well!

I made a few changes to her version,

First I added my husbands hand above kiddo's, so it would look as if he is reaching up for him :)

Then instead of using batting I added a scrap of fleece I had to the back,

and finally added a border of contrasting fabric to the top and bottom to tie it all together!

I have to say....he was quite pleased!

Love you!!

I heart vacation!

2009-06-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

Oh to be off work for a week and a half! (and then take another week and a half to recover and begin posting again!!)

Some of the highlights....

Camping with a toddler experiment, which ended in getting rained out (note the stormy clouds in the background)

Dancing with some of the best African Dance instructors in the world (separate post about this later!)

A baseball game under a classic NM sunset

Finally getting a chance to start one of the the highly anticipated gifts.....

....the pattern is cut and the interfacing fused!

ahhh.....it's good to be back....

Out of Town

2009-05-19T08:55:00.000-07:00

It's nice to be spontaneous sometimes! Forget the laundry and cleaning and go out of town!

To admire natural beauty,

(while I admire that great curl!)

Visit some cows,

Take a hike,

Do some fishing,

Enjoy bugs, strawberries, and bare feet,

Two thumbs up for a weekend getaway!

Green Tip: Week 1

2009-05-11T14:23:00.000-07:00

This is the first in a weekly green tip post! Gotta stay true to my name!

#1 - Keep wrapping and bags from gifts to use again and again!

Such an easy earth and money saving idea!

(I contemplated including a photo of my stash....but I didn't want to scare you all away!)

DIY Pregnant Belly Chime

2009-05-11T10:41:00.000-07:00

To the newest member of the Mothers Day tribe.......

A simple charm to soothe the baby inside

I originally wanted to buy this charm from Nova Natural Toys, but alas, I forgot :)

So I decided to be creative and visit my local bead store, Mama's Minerals, and create my own!

Super simple process, and beautiful results!!

Take four chimes and two small rings (the key chain type)

Connect the rings to the top of a pendant

Add the Hook and Eye on the back and voila! a beautiful gift for a mother to be!!

Enjoy beautiful Mama!

Inspiration.....

2009-05-07T10:30:00.000-07:00

......from my local thrift store. Can't wait to work with this fabric and surprise one of my lucky winners!!

What will it be? Any guesses?

Simple Weekend Pleasures

2009-04-22T09:18:00.000-07:00

During a long day at work, its nice to take a break and reflect on the simple pleasure of the previous weekend.....

A walk with a good friend!

A tiny seed treasure

A Colorful Fire Hydrant

The warmth of a humid greenhouse

The calm and color of our local plant nursery

Lastly a quiet and clean craft room (begging to be noisy and messy!)

Hope this helps you get through a long work week also....I feel better already!

The winners are....

2009-04-20T22:04:00.000-07:00

.......drrruuummmm roll........

AnnMarie & Jessica!

Thanks to everyone for signing up, stay tuned for your consolation prize....some great blog posts!

Keepin' it Green Givaway

2009-04-14T11:19:00.000-07:00

In order to promote my blog further I am offering a "Hand Made" giveaway. Subscribe to my blog (RSS or email) by this Sunday and you could be picked to receive a handmade gift by me! I can't say what the gift is exactly because it will be personalized and functional just for you....

Let me know you subscribed by commenting here as well!

I will be picking more than one recipient, soooo....let the games begin :)

He's got it!

2009-04-12T20:53:00.000-07:00

I realize that I am not the only mother out their that thinks her son is the greatest.....but seriously, this kiddo is one cool dude!

Look at him go with my camera that is as big as his head...

He's got quite an eye for composition as well...

Maybe he just got lucky, but I'd rather think that he's a genius!

Felt Pizza Tutorial

2009-04-03T21:29:00.000-07:00

Kiddo has taken to pretending our round soap is pizza dough and runs around the house throwing it up in the air......so I decided to make him a special felt pizza, and I wanted to share the process with you!

Heere we go!

Cut two round pieces, size is up to you but make them the same.

Sew the two together about 1 1/2 inches from the edge.

Fold under both raw edges and pin together.

Blanket stitch edges to finish the dough.

Cut out some toppings and enjoy!

I fully intend to embellish the toppings and make more of them, but being a working mom and all, kiddo would be 10 before he got to play with them!

So.....

This will do for now, since the pizza is going to be eaten by whales anyway ;)

Thanks, and pass it on!

Cloth Baby Shoes & Bib

2009-03-19T21:55:00.000-07:00

Spurred by a last minute baby shower, I downloaded a free tutorial from the aforementioned blog, Stardust Shoes.

My version of her cute set of shoes and matching bib. Recycled Denim!

Sweet Giveaway from Stardust Shoes Blog

2009-03-19T21:44:00.001-07:00

Follow this link to a great blog and sweet yarn/bag giveaway!

Stardust Shoes Giveaway

Spring is here!

2009-03-07T08:18:00.000-08:00

For the last couple of weeks, it has been incredibly warm, and the plants are taking notice. The bulbs that we planted in November are starting to peek out of the soil.....

Kiddo is taking notice too!

How sweet it is to have color back in our lives!

3 month recap

2008-12-16T22:01:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I have been delinquent with my blog for the last 3 months. I was incredibly frustrated with it over the holidays, and decided to save myself the stress. I found a very helpful blog to sort out my issues at -

bloggerfordummies

So here is a recap of what I have been up to these coldest of months :)

The Amigurimi boy doll turned out cute, and my son lovingly named him "Charlie"

The other Amigurimi project, the one I kept a mystery, was a Gnome, also from the Lion Brand website.

I also made a quick gift for myself when I found a beautiful cowl pattern by another blogger at -

craftleftovers.com

Here is my version....I used only yarn scraps and old buttons, not only green in color!

During my crafty x-mas madness, I had lots of help from the kiddo....

I got passed the madness and got to enjoy the Holidays!

Cold holiday Shop and Stroll, Craft Fairs,
and tree shopping (we never actually bought one!)

After the dust settled from the holidays, it was on to kiddo's 2nd birthday!!

Made him this too cute backpack out of my husbands old jeans and yellow fleece scraps.

My adaptation of this bag from Lisa at - u-handbag.typepad.com

WHEW!!! That brings us up to date!

Winter Gardening

2008-11-26T22:28:00.001-08:00

Last weekend was spent shopping for bulbs and then planting them. My goal is to keep us outside even as the weather gets colder.

As we were walking to "Rehm's" (our local gardening center), I was thinking of all the great shots I would get of the munchkin admiring the plants. Although when we arrived, he had plans of his own, he had found the centers cat, Daisy :) We spent the majority of time chasing the cat around and trying to pet her!

A great lesson to stay in the present, it really is a gift!

We eventually did get around to looking at the plants....wow!

The next day we dug up some compost, and planted the bulbs.

Nice and warm for the winter!

Holiday Projects

2008-11-26T18:12:00.000-08:00

After a long hiatus I have finally returned to one of my crafting loves....crochet....

Here are two gifts I am working on

(both are from www.lionbrandyarn.com/patterns)

This one is a secret....shhhh

Can you guess what it is?

Last year I started an Amigurimi doll for my son.

I was not happy with it then, but giving it a second chance has given it new life!

(This is my new philosophy)

Taking a second look

Personality taking shape

All he needs are his eyes!

A fitting fall dinner

2008-11-15T13:37:00.000-08:00

This week I did something this crafty DIYer rarely does, I successfully made a delicious fall dinner from scratch! I had two small pumpkins from our halloween decor, and wanted to put them to good use. So I found this recipe in a circular from our local Sunflower Farmers Market. Originally it is from Christina Cooks, by Christina Pirello.

Here is the recipe!

Roasted Pumpkin and Carrot Soup - Series 6
This soup creates a serene strength and a calm disposition. By normalizing
our blood sugars, this soup keeps our emotions on an even keel, keeping
opera-like drama out of our lives and on the stage.

What You'll Need
2 small sugar pumpkin, seeded
extra virgin olive oil
sea salt
1 small yellow onion, diced
3-4 carrots, diced
grated zest of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon mirin or white wine
2 cups spring or filtered water
1 cup plain soymilk
2 teaspoons sweet white miso
2-3 tablespoons pan toasted pumpkin seeds, for garnish

Instructions
Preheat oven to 375º. Generously rub the outside skin of the sugar pumpkin
with oil and place, cut side down in a shallow baking pan. Sprinkle lightly
with salt and add water to the baking dish to accumulate about 1/8-inch.
Cover loosely with foil and bake until the squash is tender, about 40
minutes (time may vary depending on the size of the pumpkin). Remove from
oven and set aside to cool.
Place about 2 tablespoons oil and onion in a small soup pot and turn heat to
medium-high. When the onions begin to sizzle, add a pinch of salt and saute
for 2 minutes. Stir in carrots, a pinch of salt, lemon zest and mirin.
Saute for 1-2 minutes.
Scoop the flesh of the pumpkin out of the skins and add to the vegetables in
the soup pot. Add water, soymilk, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to
low and cook soup until the carrots are quite soft, about 25 minutes.
Transfer the soup, by ladles to a chinois or food mill and puree until
smooth. Add a small amount of soymilk to thin the soup as desired. Return
soup to the pot and place over very low heat. Remove a small amount of
broth and dissolve miso. Stir miso into soup and simmer, uncovered, for 3-4
minutes. Serve garnished with toasted pumpkin seeds. Makes 3-4 servings.

A day at the park

2008-11-15T12:45:00.000-08:00

Inspired by another blogger, and the fact that we had not had family pictures in over a year and a half. I organized a family picture day at the park with my sister and fellow photographer behind the camera. It ultimately was a bit rushed (hungry and toddler and all) so most of the pictures came out like this......

We were successful at a couple of very cute playful shots....

And here are the money shots....

Beginning this blogging adventure

2008-11-12T21:41:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be appropriate to start off this blogging adventure with my first project completely done without using any pattern or guide! This was a simple gift that I made for wonderful friend and fellow crafter. She has yet to learn to crochet, but hopefully this will serve as motivation.

In the future I will be sure to photograph more of the process so other DIY's can use the idea!

My goal in starting this blog is to combine my passions, photography, crafting, and natural family living. I also wanted a place to blog about the day to day creativity of family and friends. Next project, my adaptation of an Advent Calendar. So stay tuned and enjoy!