Winter Break...craft central

My office was finally utilized for one of its intended purposes over this break. I finally whipped out the paints, buttons, glue, ribbons, sewing machine, etc. and made some cute items for Z's room.

The list for AC Moore looked something like this:
Ribbon (purple, green, pink, red)
Paint
Large canvas
Small square canvases (4)
Embroidery hoop (10in)
Double-sided tape

Here's what it made:

Letter blocks for her name. (Using 8x8 canvases, buttons, glue, paints)

I didn't know I was going to use buttons. I thought I would paint the letters on but as I perused the internet for fun fonts I came across Jan Brett's alphabet which had a "J" in buttons. I knew I had used buttons for a preschool lesson a couple years ago. After sorting and deliberating over the assortment of buttons I came up with what I think is a pretty cool design.



Then we have the ribbon mobile. I wanted it to have more ribbons but oh well.

For this I used a 10 inch embroidery hoop with double sided tape on the inner loop. I attached 18" ribbons put the other hoop over it and hot glued another ribbon on the outside. voila!

Finally, curtains. I searched JoAnn Fabrics but could not find anything I both liked and didn't cost $11/yd. I ended up using old twin sheets that Audrey and I had on our bed when we were little (i love that). I love how they look with the purple and I love love love that they still smelled a little bit like our old linen closet when I got them out.




(i totally stole this idea from sweetfern, by the way. only i had to take 31'' off and they were twin sheets so there's a lot of curtain up there.)

Now I'm on to making cloth napkins. I'm on these crunchy hippie mama message boards where people talk about using cloth cloth cloth. Although I will never be able to use family cloth (strips of cloth for TP, sorry I'm out) or mama cloth (cloth sanitary napkins and tampons. just not for me) I think I can do my part by making Nick's old shirts into some cool napkins for us. Easy peasy.


domestiKate in the hibby-ouse yo!

Winter Break ...part 2

Other than reading tremendous amounts of literature and bidding on E-bay auctions my Winter Break consisted of lots of catching up. Catching up with friends from high school (2 of my favorites) and friends from Nick's high school (a mini CF reunion took place one interesting sunday night) and catching up with family family family.

I also started catching up on my Winter To-Do List. Cleaning the fridge out, framing the remaining diplomas I earned and hanging them up. I started laminating reindeer and making a book of retired reindeer.

I finished M-C Tiny's registries and started truly designing her room. I'll post extra blog on the creativity going into that. It's fun. Currently, I'm debating on a red, green or purple lava lamp for her room.

We have decided to expand our garden this year. Last year we had cherry tomatoes, green and red peppers. With M-C Tiny on her way we've decided to plant more veggies that we can freeze and use for baby food. Yes, we are planning on making some of our own. I'm starting to plan out the garden and do research which is not as fun as planning trips but still satisfies both my need to research and my need to plan.

Speaking of trips, for New Year's Corky and I trekked down to Washington, DC. We spent our first afternoon in Baltimore. Eating at my favorite Hampden eatery, Holy Frijoles. I miss our old neighborhood sometimes but my, the changes! We used to do our laundry at the laundromat where scenes for the John Water's film, Pecker, were filmed. The ladies would sit, constantly smoking and keeping an eye on the joint and happenings in the neighborhood. The laundromat has been replaced with some kind of swanky salon called Padma. HUH? The quirkiness is being replaced by hipness in that neighborhood. I think a lot of Baltimore is but what do I know. The grilled veggie taco salad remains the best I've ever eaten.

We then headed to the American Visionary Arts Museum. The latest exhibition "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" proved to be mind boggling. I love the AVAM because they always mix quotes in with their art. So very Kate friendly of them. The museum always brings me to tears at some point, this was no exception. With quotes like:

"You can't be brave if you've only had wonderful things happen to you." (Mary Tyler Moore)

"All paths are the same, leading nowhere. Therefore, pick a path with heart!” (Carlos Castaneda)

and one of my ALL TIME FAVORITES: "To be nobody-but-yourself -- in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else -- means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting." (e. e. cummings)

We left the AVAM and drove on to DC where we stayed at the Capital Hilton, 2 blocks from the White House. We took the Metro to see the Christmas lights at the Zoo that night. We also ordered room service which neither of us had ever done. I have to say, it was the most delicious cheeseburger ever.


The next day we toured the Hirschorn museum which houses contemporary art. The trip became perfect when I walked around a corner to find a Picasso statue. One quite relevant to my current station in life Woman with Baby Carriage.

We ate lunch that day at the Old Post Office Pavilion. We took a ride up to the clock tower and peered down at the lovely nation's capital.

We walked back to our hotel via the White House where we saw the National Christmas (holiday?) tree with all of the state trees surrounding it. We knocked on the Obama's door but were sad to hear they had stolen away to Hawaii for the Winter Break. It was nice to see the White House when a President I actually have respect for is residing in it. (see how touristy happy i am!?)

That was New Year's Eve. We ate a tasty dinner out complete with delicious lobster bisque. After this we walked back around the White House and back to our hotel where we donned PJs and sipped non-alcoholic wine spritzers and watched J-Lo gyrate in a sparkly leotard to ring in 2010.



Someone once told me that however you ring in the year is a premonition of how it will be. If 2010 has me giggling at the TV with Corky while relaxing... then this year is gonna rock! And, HP, if you could help me to look 1/8 that good after M-C Tiny is born I'd be totally happy with that. :)

Winter Break ...part 1

"Man plans, God laughs." This Yiddish proverb was brought to me by my new favorite blogger, Teacher Tom. (check out the entry where he quotes it, i feel like i'm bound to live it in some similar way)

So many plans are being devised these days. Among them were my plans for Christmas break which I assumed would include a lot of time in my office, creating. This didn't truly happen. I spent about two hours researching and outlining for a writing piece I have been working on for... 10 years, give or take. I did, however, accomplish many things.

For instance, I finished 4 books.
#1) The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray. The final installment of the Gemma Doyle trilogy. I'd give it a 6 on a 1-10 scale. Intended for the teenage crowd, it had your usual girl feeling out of place, finding friends, special talents, secret places, discovering power and of course, ultimately, herself. A bit of romance rounded things out and made it a little interesting. Meh. Entertaining.

#2) Laurie Notaro's latest idiot girl revelations: The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death: Reflections on Revenge, Germophobia, and Laser Hair Removal. My girl is nothing short of HILARIOUS again in this one. Thank you, Laurie Notaro, for helping me realize that there are other women in this world who are as weird as I am. And thank you to my sister for lending me this book.

#3) Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay by Stephanie Wilder-Taylor. As I said on facebook, finally a "mommy book" I could relate to. For example, she doesn't refer to herself as a Mommy. It was a take on becoming a mother spoke to my life, putting down your wine glass and picking up the sippy cup and turning back to the wine when it's appropriate. Not losing who you are even though your life changes completely. I read these message boards where people refer to themselves as "wife to *insert name* mommy to *baby name*" Freak me out some more, why don't you!?!! This book helped me feel 1,000 times less lonely about becoming a mother.

#4) Baby Proof by Emily Griffin. A story about a woman who doesn't want children who finds a hubby who doesn't want children. Obviously something I can relate to right now (dripping sarcasm). This great chick lit. I finished it in 2 days (or night time readings). Your brain doesn't need to think one bit. The story line is only a little bit predictable. It was a hand-me-down from my emily and will be handed down again. It was the perfect read for break.

#5) I'm currently reading snips of The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh. I have read the first portion and love it. Buddhist philosophies and teachings are familiar to me but I purchased this book due to Hanh's great explanation of the 4 Noble Truths & Eightfold Path. He relates the Buddha's teaching to current life. It's beautiful, really but a lot to digest. Thus my taking it a little at a time.

#6) While waiting for 2 new books to arrive from Amazon I decided to open an old book of essays I was reading, The Bust Guide to the New Girl Order. Published in 1999, this compiles articles and essays from BUST magazine -- which originated back in the days of zines, long before blogs when kids like me ran tiny publications from their houses and dorm rooms (thanks again, dad for sponsoring the postage on the original dandelion dreams). I love reading this book because it reminds me of the 90s, when I read my first Sassy article on the horrors of sororities and claiming your body and your identity as your own. love it.

I'll continue describing Winter Break and all of my inane accomplishments another day. Here's a cute picture of me 21 weeks pregnant.

nooooo!!!! i have mom hair!!!!

Is that totally my hair-do or what? Holy. Crap. I need help...like yesterday...

10-10-10!

HELLO 2010!!!

i just know i'm gonna love you!