IT HAS BEGUN

MY BIRTHDAY THAT IS.

And a giveaway for that at the end but pretend to read this because it’s my birthday and you have to be nice to me.

Ah, the relaunch of my blog. I wish I could say that meant an exciting redesign or a shift to word press, but in this case it just means I actually plan to blog more regularly again. I wouldn’t say things are less busy lately – this morning I question my sanity; there was one snotty baby toddler who was in bed again by 9, two cereal explosions, three fighting kids, four missing socks, and seventy-five hissy fits. (Does 75 not come after 4? Please inform the children.)

So as I sit here eating steak and eggs for breakfast (microwaved, and the steak was leftovers, but my mouth has no idea) and eyeing Olivia, bouncing around on the mini trampoline I hauled upstairs to distract her, I oil up my brain and warm up my fingers and ask myself why. It’s not really for the community any more. A lot of that has moved to Instagram, and it’s easy and interactive and neat-o, gang. I love it. So why pick up the blogging? I’ve never seen a red cent for it, although I’ve gotten some really nice stuff - it’s not for the money, honey. So why?

Well, for the blogging itself.

The skills I don’t want to fall by the wayside.

The good quality photos I don’t remember to take otherwise, bigger and better than just that convenient little iphone. The editing, zooming in on little eyes and mouths and memorizing those details and falling in love with them even deeper. Commemorating them in photographs but also in my head.

The writing, always something I’ve done in one form or another. I actually wrote at least two complete novels when I was in highschool, and more that were incomplete; scribbled in notebooks hidden in desks during class more often than not. Oh, they were so awful, but so grand. My friends would read them and encourage me and read them some more, sometimes professing love to the male leads. You know you have good friends when they claim to be in love with your fictional characters, guys.

But I digress. My point is, I’ve been reminded that I love to write, and I love to capture photographs, so I have decided to put more effort into blogging regularly. Use it or lose it. Bear with me as I fumble through, my brush isn’t as skilled as it could be when I try to paint pictures with words these days. But as long as you can see what the picture is supposed to be, I’m sure I’m moving in the right direction.

So, if you’re interested, my attempted schedule will be as such:

My Mondays – the gist of it is that this will be a bit of a free for all. Cute pictures of my kids, slightly dramatized novellas of the day to day, maybe some of my own personal or family recipes, whatever.

Working Wednesdays – This will be the meat and bones day. Primarily sewing stuff, so if that’s what you’re here for, that’s your big day.

Friday Favs – I used to do a weekly round up of Friday Favs, and I’m aiming to do that again. Favorite projects from other bloggers, etsy finds, fav new products or recipes.

I know, awful names, and I won’t likely mention them again except the Friday Favs!

Now, give the people what they’re here for, amiright? Here’s the good stuff!

A little collection from my own personal craft room and shelves, a hunk of cream and gold lace, Martha Stewart glitter Coral Reef collection, a bit of washi tape, some mint rose earrings, and some hair candy for little girls and pretty ladies. And of course, a little wooden laundry pin to remember me by! The accessories are all moi. I may throw in some more stuff yet, but this is the bare bones basic that you’ll get. (sorry about the flash-trashed photo, but it’s full on dark here today. Beats last year, when it snowed on my birthday! Winnipeg – Hoo-rah!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is my first Rafflecopter giveaway so do please let me know if it isn’t working!

Bonne fete a Nico-oooole…

Just kidding, we don’t actually sing it in French. Do I look bilingual to you?

Yes, I realize that was a nonsensical question.

And yes, I do have a french heritage, and no, I’m absolutely not bilingual. I can sing happy birthday, ask a few basic questions, and say “Je n’est parle francais.” I can also mostly figure out what written french means, but if you speak it at me I’ll probably stare blankly and mumble, “Je n’est parle francais. Tu parle Anglais? Non? Ummm… “

Anyways, the moral of the story is, I can’t pull up that other Nicole’s Birthday post up to edit it on my Live Writer so I made a new one. Don’t think too hard about it, for both of our sakes. Also, you should know that tomorrow’s post will be in the afternoon, not in the morning. But look, sparkles!

Okay, that’s a lie. But look, photos!

Those roses? Chris dropped them off for Nicole in the middle of the day. We weren’t even here at the time, we had a crazy day. First a friend dropped by to pick up some tutus. Then we went to a friend of mine’s house, her birthday is the same day as Nicole’s! When Nicole was born Chris called in the morning to wish her happy birthday and right away she was like “Did you have the baby?!” because how often does your friend’s husband call you first thing to wish you happy birthday.

After that, we picked up lunch and went to go get mother-daughter manicures. I thought that up this year and decided I want to make it a tradition with my girls, to take them to get their nails done every year for their birthday. I figure as they get older that tradition will continue to be ‘cool’ even when we go through the phase where they figure I am really not. I won’t start with Olivia til she is old enough to sit still, whatever age that is for her. (Possibly 30.)

After the mother-daughter manicures, partway through which my mom appeared and took Olivia for a bit, we went with my mom and youngest brother to an amusement park. This is another tradition, every summer – not necessarily on her birthday but generally for her birthday in a way – we do the amusement park. Last year I was heavily pregnant and sat out, this year Chris was working and sat out. Nicole is fearless and I pretend to be, not too hard as the park is aimed at mostly the younger set.

She has no idea what that gift is. She just knows it has handlebars. Oh, the enthusiasm of youth! I also love that you can clearly tell it is a scooter before she opens it, but since she is four, she can’t.

Our matching nails! I want to get a better picture, I think it might also be fun to get good pictures in good light of our annual manicures and watch Nicole’s hands grow and mine get old. I mean I won’t necessarily enjoy watching my hands get old but I think you know what I mean.

Speaking of getting old, if you’ll excuse me, I need to sleep for a week. I know, I’m young, I’ll shut up. I am too young to feel as old as I do today, ha. Tomorrow I have a big pile of laundry to tackle and the rest of a party to plan. A friend of mine had offered to help and now I’m thinking I might just take her up on that one!

I know I led you on with reference to emotionalism but I will have to save that for another time; I need to get to bed. I have a lot to do tomorrow!

Party Like It’s My Birthday

Goodness gracious. It was my birthday on Monday and I didn’t say a thing about it. Normally I like to take a picture of myself on my birthday but since I look like I haven’t sleep in a month and that’s not likely to change over the next three months or so, here’s some attractive smiles for you instead.

First, some bloggy fun. I turned 24, so let’s do 24 fun facts.

24 Fun Facts About Lor
1) I used to draw anime-style drawings. And I was good at it. 
2) I’ve fired a rifle on two separate occasions and hit what I was aiming at both times. I do not, however, know how to load a rifle and set it up for shooting.
3) I have ADHD.
4) my favourite color is pink
5) my favourite drink is coffee
6) I am terrified of spiders. Not quite phobic, I can put on a brave face for the sake of the children. But I once sat tensely in a chair for half an hour in my kitchen, waiting for Chris to come inside, watching a spider on the ceiling because I didn’t want it to go hide or something while I was getting him.
7) My favourite season is autumn. My birthday, thanksgiving, pretty, nice temperatures… total bonus that I’ll have an autumn baby as well now.
8) My husband is only a year older than me, even though I’m pretty sure a lot of people think he’s a bit of a ‘cradle robber’
9) I haven’t colored my hair once since after that horrifying time I went blonde two summers ago. No, I’m not going to link back.
10) My second toe is longer than my big toe. My lovely hubby thinks its horrifying and was very grateful when Nicole was born with appropriately short toes.
11) I read the Twilight series. Each book took me five hours or less. Speed reader, hup!
12) I have zero athletic ability. I’d rather hit the gym than play sports with my friends. The gym is less embarrassing. I’m not just saying that.
13) My feet are swollen. This probably wouldn’t have made it on here if I didn’t finally realize it last night and if this had happened to me last pregnancy too. It’s a new one to me, and I’m horrified.
14) I once had a Western Civ paper returned to me with a note from the teacher, “You should use your powers for good.”
15) The longest my hair has ever been is 3/4 down my back. The shortest my hair has ever been (since it finally grew in when I was two, I mean) is about an inch long, probably half an inch in some places.
16) My hair has been crimson, burgundy, dark brunette, and various in-betweens. Its also been blonde, and once it was accidently kindof green.
17) I have green eyes and one of them has a ‘freckle’ in the ring of green. 
18) I can stick out my tongue and touch my nose/chin.
19) I’ve never been in a ‘club’ type bar, only lounge types.
20) With the exception of a two-year span in my toddler years and nine months where we lived with my parents while waiting on possession date for our current house, I’ve always lived in a major city.
21) I’m a Heinz 57 mix of nearly half of the whitest whitey white heritages out there. Mostly Dutch, though, since my dad is straight-up Dutch. So is my husband. No wonder my daughter is so monstrously tall.
22) I went to a private school K-12
23) I have passionate feelings about flyers. Even if I don’t even get around to flipping through my favourites, I get very cranky if they’re not delivered on the day I expect them. Then I check my mailbox constantly and glower around the neighbourhood wondering where the Flyer Kids are. Don’t worry, I recycle my flyers when I’m done poring over them for stuff I won’t buy.
24) I can play the flute

So, what am I doing for my birthday this year? My husband and his brothers seem to have a habit of marrying women who are born in October. One of my sisters in law is six months pregnant, and hi, the other one has four high-energy kids. So we’re all perfectly ok with hiding in my basement watching a chick flick and eating munchies with a few friends to celebrate our Birthday Month. Normally I like to throw myself a big fun bash, but this ninth month of pregnancy is just slaying me. So, low-energy low-prep party it is. But if I get ambitious I’ll force everyone to make pendant necklaces or cake pops. Bwahaha.

So, can’t have a birthday without presents. So, get to your mailboxes! Where are my gifts?! Juuuuust kidding. A giveaway! I’m planning on hiding in my happy place doing some crafting today so we’ll see what I come up with. Come back in the next few days to see what I’m giving away and to enter the giveaway!

Creamsicle & Fancy Tea Party part deux

Every time I grab something from the freezer I grin to myself as the box of frozen treats reminds me of the couple behind me in line who started squabbling over it... "Oh, I didn't see that one, that's what I wanted!" "It was right to the left of what we got..." "WHAT?! You saw it and didn't say anything??!?!?!?!" "I said something! You just weren’t listening to me!" "You did not!" “I did so!” hehehe. They were not exactly subtle or quiet, either, which is what makes me grin. I’m pretty sure I’ve had almost the exact same conversation… generally once or twice a week ;) 

Here are the second half of the Fancy Tea Party pictures… I didn’t take half of them, and they are all pretty blah… Nicole is a bit of a hot mess because she was asleep in the car and wound up getting her braids pulled out over the course of the morning… but they kindof give a bit of an impression of how excited she was. (She looks a little deadpan, but normally she is a feral beast when freshly woken, so this is amazing.)   I’m not sure what Chris thought he was taking a picture of here, the focal point is the chair, but I thought I’d let it through since it’s the only evidence I was present… lol. Yup, that large pregnant lady in the back, piddling around at the stove… Uncles and aunties and family friends and grandma and grandpa… I have a pretty young family, her aunts and uncles that were present are 18 and under. BALLOON. K seriously, her favourite present? BALLOONS. Next year I’m skipping Toys R Us and sticking to Party Stuff, man. As for her gifts, she got a Fancy Nancy dolls (actually, she got two, kindof, and got to pick one… very drama drama. She picked the one I liked better. Peace in the jungle. Mommy wins.) … two puzzles … a toothbrush with her name on it… a PEZ dispenser… a Little Peoples playset… and prior to her birthday, grandma got her ears pierced and bought her Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy, the current favourite book. The Nancy doll she got is wearing the outfit from the cover of that book, actually.

monster/treasure

Ay-yi-yi. You could not possibly fathom how excited I am to have Nicole’s bedroom finished soon. It seems that without a space of her own she is having a hard time coping with life in general, and is driving me absolutely up the wall. Normally when she gets upset she runs to her room to decompress, right now she has her bed in our room and since she knows that is not ‘her space’ she’s been hiding under the coffee or kitchen tables when she’s steamed. Hopefully when she moves back into her room her little ‘wicked streak’ will end. We’re dog sitting little Lily here for a week and Nicole is over the moon about it. She feeds Lily and takes her for walks – inside and in the backyard and occasionally around the block. Poor Lily is a bit overwhelmed from time to time, she is not used to such completely constant attention. Nicole has it in her head that she will prove herself and end this story with a puppy of her own. Chris is of the impression that he would like to get hisself a Basset Hound to be his hunting buddy. I did a bit of research and apparently they are good companions for children. It does not take any research, however, to realize who is going to wind up cleaning up poops and pees off the floor during the training period. There will be no puppies in this house while I am pregnant. We shall negotiate the possibility next spring. Maybe. Meanwhile, I have a pair of third birthday parties to plan. Apparently we shall be having a Fancy Nancy-type tea party on the Sunday, with Grandma and Grandpa and Auntie Tiffany and Uncles AJ & Jamie in attendance. (Jamie will be 15 and hasn’t quite realized he could skip tea parties yet, and we shall see what Uncle AJ, a little further into his teens, has to say about this. Perhaps he shall not know of the tea party part until he’s here wearing a feather boa with a 3 year old niece instructing him not to remove it. Perhaps, indeed.) For that the plan is to make a small tiered cake with fondant, and I’m looking forwards to it, it will be a fun experience.

For the ‘friends’ birthday party, I’m moving it back from when I was originally going to do it, because I was originally thinking a very low-key gathering on Sunday, but did not take into consideration one nearly-3-year-old. FANCY AND A CAKE AND A TEA PARTY. So the ‘puppies and kitties’ party will be later next week, perhaps Wednesday, and I’m keeping that a little more simple. Headbands and face painting will have the guests providing their own puppy and kitty type entertainment, and fish and bone shaped snacks will fill the rest. Simple and fun! And cupcakes because hi, cupcakes. You can’t not have cupcakes. Seriously.

this is two

This is two candles blown out ever-so-neatly with family and friends.
This is a batch of cupcakes eaten icing-first by little people, and some big ones too!

This is the happy birthday girl, eating one of her favourite things.

This is a neatly made bed (I will treasure the picture, lol) with a new comfortor from Gramma.

This is the terrible twos, relished quickly and with lots of enthusiasm.

This is a princess and a monkey and mommy and daddy's precious little baby, already two years old!

(And... we did it! We waited for her birthday to give her the kitchen! LOL... we have a bit of a reputation for NOT waiting to give gifts on the proper day. PS, how cute is this kitchen? It has little baskets! And a pot rack (not shown)... mine doesn't compare!)

PS: I totally forgot... this is the Market Skirt from MADE's tutorial! I plan on adding the adorable pockets yet, but DH needed me to turn a longsleeve sunday shirt into a shortsleeve one tonight. So... later!