For the love of the Doctor - Craft-o-rama

I've just participated in a One Tiny Thing swap on my fave crafting website Craftster. The theme for the swap was Doctor Who - which I've recently become a HUGE fan of.

In any case, my partner received today and now I can post pics here of the Doctor related crafts I made :)
*I am not affiliated in any way/shape/form with BBC, Doctor Who or anything of that ilk. I do not sell these items, and they were made in the spirit of fandom pure and simple*

The most difficult craft I managed to put together was an honest-to-goodness "Bigger on the Inside" TARDIS tote. How? A foldable tote of course! I lined the bag as well, box stitched the straps to make sure they were strong and secure, made sure that the pouch was still useable as a pocket pouch when the tote was in use, and freezer paper stencilled on the TARDIS on the pouch and "Come Along Pond" on the other side.

Happy List

I'll admit that so far this year, my year of Organization & Happiness - I've posted MOSTLY about organization - and left happiness kind of in the dust. But the other night I really started thinking about it. I mean - really.

A few months ago, I saw this little infographic on a friend's facebook page:

 

It's cute, a little trite maybe, but funny enough to get a little laugh out of people... at which point they carry on with their day mumbling "I wish" or something to that effect.

And yeah - "I wish" it were as simple as that. Just 'change something' and you'll be happy. Well.... happi-ER, I guess.

I don't know what to say.... but thanks Craftster!

I'm a Craftster Best of 2011 Winner! 

I was a little shocked! But there it is boys and girls! I won for the freezer paper stencil dress I made for baby sis' birthday this past year.
Here's the link to the actual topic:
The MADNESS 

So.... yeah! Awesome! I'm pretty psyched!

Tea.

Incentive...

Just a quick post:
I've discovered an incentive to get the kiddos to clean up their rooms/playrooms.... apparently standing at the door with a garbage bag in my hands is great incentive to get moving and start putting things away....

I wonder if it would work with the hubs?

Ha ha. But seriously. Some incentive is definitely needed to keep them from sabotaging my KTP on a regular basis.

KTP Sabotage!

SO - Saturday evening just past we had a HUGE party at our house for the hubs' 30th birthday. It was a "surprise" and by that I mean - he pretty much figured it out, but was def. surprised at the fact that we fit about 50 people in our little house. Frankly - I was surprised at that. There was some cheeky talk about whether or not the floor would hold... but it turned out to be a pretty great night.

The house was immaculate (for like the first time since we moved there I think), the food was great (done up right by me, my Mom, and the Moms-in-law), the people were awesome (all our friends are, obvs.) and the party was generally considered a success.

And then I had to clean up. Again. Ugh.

It wasn't so bad, really, I mean, it was cleaning up the plates and cups, and the absolute MOUNTAIN of dishes that comes after a party like that, but otherwise, not bad at all. And Monday started the official first day of KTP.

Week of Cleaning Fury

As part of my goal of seeking happiness for 2012 - I've decided that I'd like to live in a clean and organised house. Now - with two kids 3 and under, a husband, a dog and a crazy crazy life - that's more difficult than you might imagine. In the past we've had a tendency to do a major "clean" once every month or so , usually in preparation for having guests over. In fact, the hubs has even gone so far as to comment to me that we "need to host more parties, because then the house will stay clean." Smart alec.

But he has a point. Cleaning up the whole house in one big push over and over again is, frankly, exhausting, and not a great way to function. So here's the concept. One more big push, one big clean - a five-day-fury as we've been calling it this week - and THEN - a scheduled amount of cleaning, every day for the rest of the year, to maintain the cleanliness. Now - cleaning the house does NOT make me happy, but living in a clean house DOES make me happy - so it's a minor trade off.

This week has been... something. Going room by room in the entire house, over the span of 5 days I have tidied, organised, purged, scrubbed, and reset virtually every spot in my house. And if you want to do it - this is what you can do.

First I started with some lists. And as you all know - I love lists, so that works for me.
An example looked like this:

Organized Misery? Or Happy Chaos?

So - as part of my goals for 2012, and in my search for happiness - I've decided that I'm going to get organized... and stay that way. Now - I love organizing. Actually - mostly I love lists. Seriously - I love a good list. I like sitting down with a clean, fresh piece of paper, writing that sucker out. I love looking at it to keep on track, I love crossing things off (with or without vehemence depending on the item). I do not function well without my dayplanner - which to be honest, is really just a book where I can make lists according to day of the week. I list when I'm going to sleep (which usually results in me saying "SHUT UP BRAIN" a few times) and I list in my head when I'm going through my day.

For example - this morning, I was up, brushing my hair and while I was doing that in my head I was thinking: Get dressed, wake up the boys, make tea, get breakfast, get the boys dressed, do your morning bus run. And then while I was on the bus I was thinking Get home, check email, write blog post, finish cleaning dining room (canning boxes under the stairs, laundry to the laundry room, toys back in the playroom), start on basement and both bathrooms today. (Even my lists have lists.)  Now I'm writing this post and I'm thinking: This afternoon if I have time, put spaghetti sauce on in the crockpot while I work on the other rooms.

Make It Yerself!

Update: Erin pointed out to me that this tutorial was missing some pretty important steps. (Uh, like HALF of them!) How embarrassing!!! So I have updated this post with a much better, COMPLETE tutorial. Sorry readers! And thanks Erin!

I complain about my purse a LOT. Most of the time it's while I'm rummaging around in the bottom, trying to find that secret corner - which I'm pretty sure actually contains a passage to Narnia because... honestly, WHERE do things go? - that my lip gloss, change purse, sunglasses, keys, etc have slipped into because they're "TOTALLY not IN here! Stupid stupid purse!" and then I say that I need 3 compartments, and I need LOTS of pockets, and I HATE when they put a zipper on the top of a purse, because, seriously, they're never strong enough... blah blah blah....

Well - I got spoiled this Christmas - my in-laws and husband's grandmother gave me a BRAND SPANKIN' NEW sewing machine! Whoopee!

So, I finally decided that I wasn't going to complain about my purse anymore, I was just going to sew it myself. So I did.

Now, I've sewn a few things.... mostly straight lines to be honest. I've NEVER sewn a bag, let alone a bag with lining.... but hey - go big or go home right? Okay, technically I was already HOME, but you get the point.

I buckled down, made up a pattern, and just went for it. And so I give you - The ULTI-MOM bag. Think Ultimate + Mom = Ulti-Mom

 

Looks pretty good huh?

To-Dos!

Okay - so I've been thinking about the whole "resolutions" thing... and how I never ever really do them. And while I'm sticking with "seeking happiness" for 2012, I think I need to make a list of To-Dos.

If you know me at all in "real life" - you'll know that I'm big on lists. In fact, I actually LIKE organising things... I just hate having to do it over and over and over. And let's be honest, with an almost 2 year old and an almost 4 year old in the house, I do a lot of things over and over.

But I'm thinking that if I give myself a list of things to do, then maybe it won't feel as daunting as saying 2012 RESOLUTIONS (please imagine RESOLUTIONS being said in the deepest, slightly scary, booming, movie announcer type voice - because that's how it sounds in my head).

And because - dear blog readers - I just love you so much, I've decided that I will share my list.... and my very likely failures to actually complete said list, and my not-so-likely-but-at-least-remotely-possible successes as well!

To start!

Well 2012 - let's see what'cha got!

SO.... I took a little break from blogging - mostly because I was crafting my lil' fingers right down to the bones trying to get everything done for Christmas. It was a hard slog - but we made it. The grand total?

• MANY jars of jam, pickles, sauces, etc. Too many to really count
• 1 pair of knit socks, men's size 12 for my brother-in-law - the FIRST socks I have ever knit, especially considering I just learned to knit in the round this past year. They fit - hallelujah!
• 3 freezer paper t-shirts - 2 for my other brother in law: a Star Trek inspired red t-shirt that says "Expendable" and a blue shirt that says "I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be wrong". (If you know my b-i-l, you'd understand). And one black on black tee with the batman symbol and the words "I'm Batman" in batman font in the middle (batman/big bang theory fans) for my hubby
• A gaming pillow for my sister's boyfriend. He has a bad back and needs something a little bit more supportive to lean on when hanging out at home. He called it a torso pillow because I made it out of a sweatshirt - hey - as long as he likes/uses it - he can call it whatever he wants!
• 2 super hero capes, personalised with freezer paper, and 2 super-hero utility belts with flashlights, noise stick thingies, and pouches for my two lil'heroes 
• knit infinity cowl for my super-fash sister who works downtown (and knew what it was right away - thank goodness - since my Mother looked at it said "What IS that")
• 1 knit slouchy hat (by request) for baby sis plus a huge vinyl purple flower pin, hand sewn
• 1 pair of knit mittens for my sister-in-law
• A knitting loom - made by hubby for my mother-in-law
• A rain stick, made out of abs pipe, filled with kidney beans, and modge-podged like crazy for my Dad
• A knit cardigan for my Mom (my first ever real garment)

PLUS I made all of our Christmas cards
PLUS I did the requisite amount of Christmas baking

I. Was. Exhausted.

Homemade Anxiety

It's 13 days until Christmas. (well, the 14th day from now will BE Christmas, so you know what I mean). We're actually making progress on our homemade Christmas gifts, and I'm starting to feel like we might actually get everything done in time. But here's the thing. What comes with homemade gifts? Anxiety.

I'm starting to worry. What if they don't like it? What if it doesn't fit? What if they won't use it? Think it's stupid? Wish we'd made something else instead? And so on and so forth. That's the thing with homemade gifts, they come with anxiety on the side.

And be honest - have you ever received a homemade gift from someone and thought (Ugh....) and then had to plaster that seriously fake smile on your face and graciously accept it? I dread that smile. I'm so worried that we're going to see a lot of it this Christmas.

Homemade Christmas-o-rama!

WHOA! Christmas is coming up super fast!

Don't you hate it when people say that? Me too. And even though Christmas comes at the same time every year, I am TOTALLY guilty of saying that... daily... this year.

I've talked a few times about us committing to a year of homemade gifts from Sept 2011-2012. And even though all the canning is done (many many pickles and soooo much jam and other goodies), and quite a few gifts are complete (though it's tough to decide whether or not to post what they are here in case my family decides to sneak a peek before Christmas) there's still SO SO SO SO much to do!

Tonight/this weekend, we'll be upcycling a sweat-shirt into something fabulous, doing some freezer-paper stenciling, sewing, and probably more knitting (though I think I'm going to wear my fingers right down to the bone with all the knitting I"m doing). That will knock approximately 4 gifts off the to-do list.

I still haven't decided what to make my husband. : /

Hard to fit?

Disclaimer: If you're a guy reading this you'll probably be either bored, confused, or weirded out. I suggest - if you're looking for something to occupy a bit of your time, other than reading my blog, that you click this link instead: Think Geek

Okay ladies - now that we're alone...

I'll start - my name is Tea and I am a hard-to-fit woman.

Now - I know what you're thinking: "aren't we all?" - and of course to some degree that answer is yes. But if you're able to walk into a clothing store at the mall and pick up ten items and have half or more of them fit the way they should - I'm not talking to you. It's not that you don't have fit problems, I'm sure you do - but the fact of the matter is that I'm totally completely 100% jealous of you. Just so you know.

No - I'm talking about women like me. Oddballs if you would. Now, usually I'm totally okay with being a bit
oddball - in fact, I relish it. I like being "different", and I'm a fairly confident person, so I can usually pull it off. But - brace yourselves ladies - I. Hate. Shopping.

Nope - not joking. Hate it. Ten-thousand percent, loathe with every fibre of my being, wish I could be just about anywhere else, would rather clean my bathroom than shop for myself. And here's why. I'm "hard to fit".

Here's the rundown so you know what I'm talking about:

Day 2 - Raging Meltdowns...

Whew - Day 2 of Mommy only m-f is almost over. Thank goodness. Today was the day of the raging meltdown. Our big'un is almost 3 1/2 and boy oh boy is he ever testing his limits these days. Sometimes we can have a good laugh, when we get things like "Mommy - I have to talk you some questions." "Uh... okay buddy, what?" "Um, I don't want to (eat dinner, be nice to my brother, wear pants, etc)" "Babe - that's not really a question..." but when it comes to things like a raging, screaming, limb flailing, dish throwing super-sonic meltdown because HE wanted the RED cup (which has been his brother's cup ALL. DAY." NOT the GREEN cup (which he just asked for)... then it becomes a little tough.

Now, generally, we just try and reason with him, tell him WHY he can't have the red cup, and him know that his real option is the green cup or nothing... but tonight that resulted in him body-checking the dog (good thing the dog is good natured) and then practically throwing himself down the stairs while screaming "NO green cup, NO nothing, NO bed, NO dinner, NO (little'un) having the RED cup, NO!" Yeah... that's when I decided to sit down on the kitchen floor. It wasn't very effective. He's not really moved by silent protest.

So I just picked up Captain Meltdown, carried him up to his bed, and left him there to scream himself hoarse.

The I want Daddy...s

It starts... hubby's gone, left this morning at around 5:45 am. We've been trying to explain to the boys for a few days now just how long Daddy's going to be gone (5 days, 1 work week, Monday until Friday, etc etc etc) and this morning I was thinking that our big'un (3 years old) was finally getting it. Nope... not so much. The I want Daddy's have already started.

This morning on the bus:
Big'un: Mommy, the kids wouldn't give me a high five and now I'm sad...
Me: Oh, I'm sorry Buddy! What would make you feel better, a hug?
*(nope)
Me: A glass of milk?
*(nope)
Me: A muffin?
*(nope)
Me: Well, what then? Anything you want.

Mommy Only Week

SO.......... hubby's leaving for a week on business. And I'm looking at 5 whole days of "Mommy only". I'll be perfectly honest - I've beed DREADING this week ever since I knew it was coming. It's not that I don't love my boys - I love them to bits, it's not even that I really doubt my parenting skills - I'd say - so far I'm doing alright... I mean, I'm relatively confident that we can make it Monday to Friday without any major injuries and both kids being fed, clean, and slept... not necessarily in that order.

What I'm NOT confident about - my ability to get ME through the week, fed, clean and slept. To not completely lose my mind when the littlest one says "Daddy... are you?" for the ten thousandth time (he does it already when one of us leaves for about 1/2 an hour... by day 3, it'll be painful....dread). To not go completely bonkers when there's absolutely NO ONE else to change that dirty diaper, clean up soap/shaving cream/etc from the bathroom counters/walls/floor... and who knows what else they'll get into.

I can Remember... and I will.

 

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"The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war." - Douglas MacArthur

Tomorrow is Remembrance Day here in Canada. I believe it is called Memorial Day in the states (I'm pretty sure that's what it's called) but no matter what it's titled, it's a day that we remember those who served and currently serve in our military forces. 

It's a tough day for me. And not, perhaps, for the reasons that it's a tough day for a lot of people. I'll be perfectly honest, it's tough because I'm 29 years old, and I’ve never ever been touched personally by the brutal realities of war or conflict. I do not have close family members or friends who serve or have served. I've never suffered distance of having someone away serving, or the loss of someone who makes that ultimate sacrifice. And I can't pretend to understand the longing, and grief, and sadness that those who have experienced that have. 

Sneaky sneaky November

Well now November... when did you get so sneaky? You with your 30 days and your daylight savings time and your clever little Remembrance Day (not that I have ANYTHING against Remembrance Day - PLEASE don't get me wrong, I'll post about it when it's appropriate... THIS is about November) lulling me into a false sense of security when suddenly I actually LOOK at the calendar and realize that it's only 52 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!?

WHAT? GAH! ACK! BLECH? and all other manner of excalamtory strange noises. 52 days? That's IT? Oh goodness gracious.

Do you know what this means, November? Well? Do you? It means that you can't just lull around and waft in like "oh Hi, it's Me... y'know November...." anymore. You've got to announce yourself with some presence! Like "HEY! It's me, November?! Yeah, guess what Lady? Christmas? It's COMING."

Yup. 52 days. That means I have to complete approximately 1 gift project every 2-3 days from now until Christmas. Sounds manageable right? Did I mention I work? Have toddlers? A Dog? Church commitments?! Oh goodness help me. Seriously. HELP. ME.

Hallowe'en complete and on to Christmas!

Finally got past Hallowe'en - a total success! Made the big one's pirate costume...

Little one was a monkey (Did NOT Make this costume)

But we did make the wagon look like a pirate ship!

I love Hallowe'en

I love Hallowe'en. I mean, I really seriously love it. I can't even explain why... in a previous post I briefly talked about our yard haunt... and that's part of it. I love dressing up silly and hanging around on the front lawn scaring the neighbourhood children. It's the one day of the year that that's allowed! (I mean, seriously, people frown on it if you do that at Christmas, y'know?)

This year I'm going with a witch costume, bubbling cauldron suspended from branches over a "fire". Got some great ideas (as usual) from Martha Stewart. Seriously, I know we hear it's a "good thing" all the time, but this website is brilliant if you're looking for crafty ideas and such for ANY holiday.

Check it out yourself if you're looking for last minute ideas...Last Minute Halloween Ideas