The Wall Unit

This wall unit has been idolised in Jay's family for many years.

There's not much about it, really. It's a long bookcase that's from the 70s. 
It's dark brown, with many spindles and shelves, so it's actually made to last.

Both Jay and his sister have been debating over who holds the adoption rights of this shelving unit.

Until now.

Their grandmother's friend was getting rid of her unit that was pressumed to be the same as the original shelving unit in question.

So, I went to see Grandma and picked it up, just in case.

I was very delighted when I saw it in person because I knew it was the unit.

I brought it home and immediately put it together in The Professor's room.

I thought that there should be baskets or boxes to hold the smaller things, and the things that are on their way out, either to a friend or Value Village.

So I started with an old drawer that I have kept for many years.

Ok - it was given to me in college by an ex-roommate because the drawer unit was broken, but I haven't been able to part with this pink drawer! I'm sure she will get a good laugh at seeing this!

I used an old baby blanket that was given to me second hand, so it's not particularly sentimental to me, and works really well in the jungle themed room. 

I layed it out and started hot gluing it in place, then cut the excess.

I was very lucky that The Professor was entertained throughout the hot gluing process!

This one is for toys with wheels (roues) and since Xavier can reach it, he just takes out the cars he wants and the box stays on the shelf! 

I made another one, using a diaper box, but of course as soon as it was seen, there was a marker taken to it. 

It's nothing that the wall can't hide though!

I also covered a bigger diaper box with an old Winnie The Pooh sheet, to use for donations. I was inspired by Amy's idea, and while I don't have the need for many boxes, I do have a need for somewhere to coral stuff that I want to get rid of. 

So that's it! 

I managed to empty a large toy chest because of organization and getting rid of an entire box of clothes and toys! 

Yay purging! 

{Daily Odd Compliment: daily odd compliment: If I had to pick between being friends with you or being friends with Sir Patrick Stewart, I would pick Patrick Stewart. But I'd talk about you all the time.}

DIY Nails and Yarn Card Holder

The change table is gone. 

It was time. 

When we took down the change table (above), we were left with the 1x4's and a big space. I debated what to do with that space for a couple of weeks when today,
 it dawned on me - nails and yarn! 

It's the perfect custom piece that is functional, compact, easy to do, and fun to look at! 

I put in my first nail, then I used a random nail file (different nails but equally useful) to measure the distance between 2 nails. I marked it at the end of the file with a pencil, then moved it to the mark and did the same thing, for the rest of the board. I used 7/8" finishing nails so they are only in the board, not the wall.

Then I tied some yarn to the top left and circled all the nails. I wrapped the yarn a couple times around the nail to keep the tension. Then I hit hammered the nails in a little more, so they aren't going to hurt anybody. 

See?

It was simple, quick and pretty! I call that another DIY win!

{Daily Odd Compliment: Sometimes when I see you, I want to run and hug you. But I don't do that, because it actually happens all the time, and I don't want to run that much.}

Puppy Love

I haven't always been a dog person. But, once Draco shoved his way into our lives, I was hooked. I now know that dogs are one of life's necessities. 

We have pretty much always had pets growing up, but nothing too serious. 

A dog is a fair amount of work and while I was pregnant and we were talking of getting a dog, there is no way I was going to get a puppy. We love to travel and the idea of having a dog seems like a hassle. I wasn't convinced until I saw picture of the black hair ball and long tongue sitting in the grass. 

Of course, if they had properly represented his size, I may have hesitated, but he is the perfect dog for us! 

This past march break, I took care of many dogs and I absolutely loved it! 

So a dream was born - A doggy daycare. 

Who wouldn't want to be surrounded by dogs all day?! 

I want to take a personal dog trainer course, to be able to understand and work with dogs a little better. But if there is 1 thing I have learned from dogs, it's that love is most definitely the way into anyone's heart! 

Currently, besides randomly dog sitting, I work for the Government. 

Ottawa is a Government city, so it's really no surprise, I'm sure. However, every time I walk into the office building, I feel a part of my soul die. 

I want to give all the love back and that's not happening here. 

I'm not exactly sure of who I am (does anybody?) but I know I don't like the person I am becoming by working in this glass building. 

So, on weekends, I clean up dog leavings, to get me a little closer to my dream.

This week, I am taking care of Cleo and Xander again and it's heavenly. 
Cleo even let me cuddle with her! Seriously, that never happens! 

Here's to the future being even more dog filled!

{Daily Odd Compliment: Your smile is proof that the best things in life are free}

Awesome Foundation Birthday

Awesome Ottawa was having their third birthday and they were looking for someone to make some cake so I volunteered.

The Lego cake I envisioned was more like what would happen if Martha Stewart walked into my kitchen and took over, but the result was pretty good, for an amateur!

So, Martha can keep her skills - I have plenty!

I used Satin Ice fondant and it worked really well! Also, very delicious! (I got a few compliments about the fondant at the party) 

I learned from my past experience with using fondant for my wedding cake, that my counter needed to be generously coated with icing sugar! 

I bought a container of white fondant, and a container of pink fondant, and dyed some of the white fondant blue. 

Once all the cakes were leveled and covered in fondant, I cut pieces out of a smaller cake, to use as the top pieces of the Lego. I coated them, along with the rest of the cake, in butter cream icing, then fondant.

Yum.

It was actually a lot of fun to make! (Besides the first cake layer that had too much butter cream icing and cracked fondant. Eek!)
But yes, I would totally do it again!

 (the cake all ready to be enjoyed)

It should be noted that I don't normally do this, but it was just a fun way to try something new and promote myself at an event :)

Nostalgia Overcomes Me

Nostalgia: a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends.

Being an army brat meant many moves.

I was slightly more lucky than some, moving every few years or so, unlike my husband (who moved a few times in the same year). As I got older, the moves got fewer and farther in between. And yet, every house we never returned to, is a house I want to go back to. 

I managed to make friends everywhere we went because I'm pretty social, but I would say the hardest place to step into as "the new girl" was the one where I wasn't just "the new girl" anymore - I was the 16 year old Canadian, in an American high school, in grade 12. Awesome. 

I met Kris when I started working at Moto Photo the summer we moved to Virginia and it was the beginning of a few awesome American summers!

Thank goodness for the wonderful girl who took me under her wing! 

Since then, we have both gotten married (hers was a week ago), moved countless more times, and started our careers but we are still pretty close and that's the best part.

Having friends across North American sometimes annoys my husband, but each person has gotten to know me at a different part in my life, and that's pretty cool to me. 

Especially when I stay in contact with them and watch them all grow along side of me.

But what about the people you lose along the way? 

Even though I have left many people behind, I know this is not an uniquely an army brat phenomenon. What if you could see anyone you wanted again? 

What would you say?

Where were you when I needed you? Maybe.

I miss you? Probably.

Do you ever think of me? Most likely. 

So if you're reading this and we haven't spoken in a while, what are you waiting for? 

I miss your face. 

Nostalgia: a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time

{Daily Odd Compliment: Hanging out with you is more fun than playing with a coloring menu at a restaurant. And sometimes those menus have a maze.}

Upcycling is Priceless : DIY Fabric Bracelet

Is there anything better than turning something old into something new - for free?!

I made myself this braided bracelet (try saying that 5 times in a row quickly) to match a dress I am in the process of making.

I bought the cute clip with a bow at my latest Value Village trip and it cost me a whopping $1 for an entire bag of these suckers! And there must be at least 50 of them in the bag!

I used the seams of the scrap pieces of material from my husband's shirt that was destroyed in the great dog attack of 2013. 

Once I get my sewing machine in running order, the dress will be done in no time! I'm keeping all the scrapes so I can make other accessories! 

Reduce, upcycle and make your children be the models for your latest creation because they don't have hairy arms!

{Daily Odd Compliment: You have one of the brightest minds I've ever known. It's as if the sun looked at da Vinci and was like, 'Sup, playa?' And then da Vinci was all, 'You wanna do this?' And then they created your mind.}

March Break

For the first time since Abby has started school, I took the week of March break off work!

Granted, there was almost more work to be done at home, but it was definitely nice to wear sweatpants and spend time with my kids! 

I also took care of a bunch of dogs and it was awesome!

Monday: We started the week off with some face painting for Abby, and then we (Abby, Xavier, Grandma and Aunt Vanessa) all watched a Little Ray's Reptiles presentation. 

Both of which were free! Yay!

Tuesday: It was a pretty quiet day! My mom was wonderful and kept the kids overnight Monday, so I took all 4 dogs to the dog park, and then went up to the woods with Draco, Felix and my sister-in-law and her puppy. Abby requested we take another walk, once The Professor woke up. She walked Draco, and I love seeing people's face when they see a 6 year old girl walking an enormous dog - priceless.

Wednesday: We went hiking with my mom, and even though it was a little below freezing, it was a very nice morning walk!

Thursday: We started the day off with a visit to some friends, had some lunch, then took care of 2 more puppies! 

Friday: I started the day off with another walk and Abby went skiing with Jay!
I also completed my sweater skirt, and made some pretty good progress on Jay's ripped shirt that I am turning into a dress! Of course, now my sewing machine is being funny, and I have googled it and will reattempt fixing it in the morning!
Time to work on Mel's skirt! Here's a little preview of my work so far...

There are a few more projects I want to get done before April, so I better get on it!
March break was a blast!

 * Thank you to all those who let me take care of their puppies! *

{Daily Odd Compliment: I'm so glad I know you because this year would have sucked a lot more if you weren't around.}

Sweater Skirt

While I was off for March break with the kids, I had a couple sewing goals.

I gave myself goals in groups of threes: I wanted to have 3 sewing projects completed/started - a sweater skirt, and 2 ruffle skirts. Well I still need to buy elastic thread, so the ruffle skirts were put on hold, but I started cutting/getting them ready? And I wanted to have 3 blog posts completed by the end of the week, so that I can feel like I am getting stuff done! 

I did, however, finish my sweater skirt!

First, I took an old sweater shirt that I was no longer wearing, and folded it in half where I wanted the top of the skirt to be. 

(I didn't take a picture of every step, since I didn't think it was necessary)

Next, I used an elastic from an old pair of boxer shorts, and threaded it through with a safety pin, sewed the ends together, then sewed the opening closed.

This is seriously the easiest thing in the world! Try it! Or bring me your old sweater and I will turn it into a skirt that you will love wearing with leggings!

I think I will need to do something fun with the top... any ideas? 

I'm considering making it into a skirt for Abby.. or a bolero? 

 Whatever it ends up being, there will be a post about it!

{Daily Odd Compliment: People are going to say you're weird. And that's okay. Because weird people make life interesting, and those other people probably suck.}  

Infinity Scarves

I went on a scarf making binge.

I love skinny scarves and I had never made an infinity scarf before, so I put the two together! 
Mel called them 'skinfinity scarves', which I think has a nice ring to it, and I will be the last person on earth to argue a pun!  

I went a little crazy! But I just love my knitting machine so much! 
(It is seriously as fast a they advertise on their site!)

I made 2 black and blue scarves for friends who got me a pair of stress boobs for Christmas. 

(They made a good point though, who doesn't like boobs?)
And I made the watermelon infinity scarf for Brigitte. She appeared to like it and it suits her, so I count that as a win!

I also made one for Valentine's Day for Abby's teacher. Jay thinks that it will make Abby the teacher's pet.. I think it's worth the risk! It will be a good learning experience about jealousy!

Of course, after seeing it, Abby wanted one too! So, 10 minutes later, I had made another one for her.

BUT WAIT! There's more!

I decided to make one for Tracy, for her birthday.
(Side note - why the heck is it so expensive to send a tiny parcel through Canada Post?? Is mail as expensive in the states? Seriously - $10 - and I squished it as much as I could before wrapping it! Very odd!)

I hand sewed her initials onto it, for a little more color, and personalized touch.

Another friend of mine, Anne-Marie, also has a birthday in February so I made her a camouflage skinny scarf. 

I didn't mail this one though - I brought it to her in Kingston, and I think that that was cheaper!

Last month, Draco decided that he was mad at us for putting him in his crate, so he attacked Jay's clothes that were sitting on the crate - an awesome plaid shirt (that I am working on turning into a dress) and his Ché sweater (which is twice as old as our relationship). I was really sad about both, and sat on some ideas for a while before deciding to turn the remains of the sweater into - you guessed it - an infinity scarf! 

(I will have a separate post later on how I made this.)

And the cherry on top of my sundae... Kris requested a black scarf! She left the details up to me, so of course, I went with an infinity scarf!

Phew! Now that spring is in the air, I am moving on to sewing stuff! 
Watch for my next few posts about turning a ripped shirt into a dress, and a sweater skirt! 

{Daily Odd Compliment: Every time I think about you, I'm like "Welp, I guess I'm not sleeping tonight!}