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Sunday, February 24, 2013

Kitchens- Hearth of the Modern Home

Recently I seemed to drop of the planet, and all you may have heard from me is a very quick “busy back soon.” I had decided to redo my kitchen, and all my research said “weekend project” and it LIED! I have been working full days all this week with a paintbrush in one hand, or a sander, or a screwdriver. Finally I’ll be putting the finishing touches on stage one tomorrow.

Most people know that the kitchen is the heart of the home, but what they don’t know is that it is the hearth as well. Historically the hearth was the center of the home, and most (or even all) of the homes food, warmth, even clean hot water, came from the hearth. Various festivals existed to light the hearth, add light to the hearth, or burn certain herbs or items. Often the hearth stayed lit constantly, and it was considered bad luck to let it go out. As humanity progressed the hearth changed, it got smaller, less important, then it often went away all together. But in modern homes the kitchen is the hearth. The same as a historic ceremony would exist to add new fire to your hearth today we use our stove more on certain holidays.

If you were to consider the busiest part of your house, or where the most conversation takes place chances are you think of the kitchen. The kitchen is where you make coffee or tea (and drink it to if it’s an eat in) when you have a friend over to chat. The kitchen is where you make birthday cakes, special dinners, Christmas cookies. It’s where you feed your children, where you go for a late night snack, and where you tend to keep important papers and calendars.

And because it is so important it’s important to love it, and to really make it yours. So, stayed tuned for a Kitchen Series- How to Revamp your Kitchen for UNDER $1000. That’s right, floor to ceiling, wall to wall, under $1000. The series will take place over several months, and will be done in 5 parts. I’ll discuss ways to save up the money, fit it into your budget, and discuss tips and techniques I learn while redoing my own kitchen.

I’d love to hear what you love  or loath about your own kitchen in the comments below!

Thursday, February 21, 2013

I'll be back

I'm not gone, just buried in a project that is taking way longer than expected.  Posting again very soon! I'm working on a post about kitchens as the hearth of the home.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Observing Lent

I think I’ve talked before about my Grandmother. The woman who may just possibly be the sweetest woman in the whole world, until you take her picture one to many times that is. She has Alzheimer's, and is quickly fading away from us. The worst part is that while she isn’t really her, she isn’t gone either. It is strange to get inherited items from someone who is still alive. But as she vanishes I cling to all I know. When I helped clean her house I picked some strange things to keep, aprons, a pressure cooker, books, and her Catholic supplies. My Grandma is super catholic, she’s traveled to see the Pope and spent the last 10+ years going to mass 6 days a week, even volunteering for hours everyday. As she vanishes and fades away one thing I feel like I can cling to is her Catholicism. As her old possessions blend into my possessions, and her old plates become my new plates, one thing that will never blend in is her catholic stuff, it will never be mine. I’m not catholic. Until the day I die I will know that those saint cards, rosaries, and medallions were hers.

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And for two reasons, that being one, I am observing Lent. The other reason being that I write about families, and Lent is something many families observe together. Many people pick a family thing to sacrifice, as well as a personal thing. So I wanted to observe it, to honor my Grandma and to experience it with my catholic readers. 

Then I started researching Lent. I found out that exactly when it starts, how long it lasts, and what you have to fast depends on what liturgical calendar your church uses, and also where you live. Eastern Lent is much stricter then Western Lent. Americans get to sacrifice anything we want usually, but in some countries you fast, truly fast. Some starting with removing one thing a week and ending with only bread and water. I decided since I’m not using a religious calendar I’m going to start on Ash Wednesday and go until Easter Eve. No sooner had I given up the idea of more info on Lent than I got my newsletter and an article on Pagan Lent. It isn’t Pagan when you get down to it, it is just secular with well rounded information on fasting and it’s spiritual and physical benefits, especially at this time of year.  For example, the fact that by this time of year fasting could be more of a necessity historically than people realize, since stored foods would be expiring and fresh foods haven’t grown yet. It also talks about healing and the seasonal change during this time. Even the concept of allowing yourself something instead of sacrificing something.

My favorite quote in the article is from Brooke Medicine Eagle, who leads people in fasting and doing vision quests. “Whatever holes in your life you fill with food — or anything else you’ve included on your fast — will become very obvious when you begin to do without them.”

And so, I will finally announce what I am fasting- Drinks. I am only allowing myself water and coffee. No juice, tea, milk, or soda (the big one.) So I drink a cup a day (sometimes two) of coffee with powder creamer, no milk, and the rest of my drinks are just water. Originally I was just going to give up soda, which I only drink once a week or so. Then I decided to give up more, so here I am, writing to you, sipping a glass of nice cold ice water, and counting down to the Dr Pepper I get on Easter.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s isn’t huge in our family, so by no means will this be some amazing post. I hung our heart garland. And we exchanged a few simple gifts.
P2145864I made our heart garland a few years ago. It’s pretty simple. I found a small, simple, crochet heart pattern and made one in every red, pink, or white yarn I had at the time. Then I made a chain of white and occasionally a drop down chain with the hearts on it. And for a truth factor, I STILL have all those same yarns, in the same bag, and just grab it around this time of year for new projects. P2145873
After much searching for a similar pattern I found out I actually had a Ravelry project that shows the exact pattern I used! So if you wanted to make your own just start out with a stash of yarns, a few basic hook sizes (I may have even used just one size) and have fun!(Edited, turns out I didn't read my own info, that pattern MAY be the same one I used, says so on my Ravelry Project Page)
P2145881I DID finish not one, but TWO of the Heart’s Desire Doily! One in a pink cotton blend, and one in white dishcloth cotton. The pink created a cute little centerpiece when combined with a little vase and some fake flowers. They whipped up quite quick, the second one especially since it was partly by memory. And I hope to keep right on going to make a few for belated gifts.
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I made my husband and son each a simple heart, and a valentine. One you may recognize from my stamp carving tutorial, the other I water colored a few weeks ago.

Of course my son was happy. He’s always so happy lately it seems like. Must be making up for the first 4 years where he screamed all the time.
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There is a picture of my husband and son together, holding their gifts, but I might end up divorced if I share it.
My son has been tucked away for many hours in his room making gifts. He declared that we MUST have a present giving party, where we all gave each other our presents. Then he sat down to make even more presents. I hear he made some for his friends too, but I’ve not seen them. P2145885
Mine were a necklace, a puffy picture of a flower, and a glittery heart. My husband got a plain foam heart with stickers, and I’m not sure what else.

My wonderful, over achieving neighbor came knocking with her older boys. They had created adorable valentines. One was a card using a P2145876glow stick as a lightsaber, one was cake ball ice cream cone that said “You’re Sweeter than a Scoop of Ice Cream.” For me was a cake ball pop, and later another one she actually expected me to give to my husband! The ice cream cone did suffer some damage before I got to photograph it. But it was handed out of a basket from a newly 4 year old, to an almost 6 year old, then carried around before it made it’s way to the table. I think it held up pretty well!  P2145891
For dinner I stabbed heart shapes into the top crust of individual pot pies. Then my sweet boy ended the day by making goody bags for two of his animals, and setting them up to sweetly open them together.
Now, if you’re wondering where my gift from my husband is, well, I told him that he has to buy me chocolates tomorrow, so I can get twice as much for the same price! February 15th, is the best holiday, Chocolates Half Price day!!! Stay tuned to see if he carried out his end of the bargain. Hope you had a sweet day!

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Valentine’s Day Wreath

One day I was killing time at the craft store and discovered Deco Mesh rolls were on sale. I had intended to get stuff the next week (payday) to make a spring wreath, and maybe a Valentine’s Day one. Since deco mesh was half price I sucked it up and went ahead and got my supplies. I know deco mesh is a big thing in the design world right now, and I felt confident buying two colors for two different projects. Well, I can say now after this wreath that I don’t like deco mesh! I’m not a fan. Love the finished look, but hate working with it and getting just the look I like. It took me 5 times to get the right amount of puffiness. It may get easier each time, so we’ll see if I still hate it after I do my spring wreath. Which I’ll be tackling in the next few days.

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And here it is! It’s pretty simple really. Pink deco mesh with sparkly bits in the weaving, and then I tucked in heart picks I found at Dollar Tree. Just by tucking the picks into the mesh, the mesh sucks around the stick and holds them pretty well. Then I cut off any pick ends that show. Total cost less than $7, including the pipe cleaners I used for the framing.  I used a coat hanger for the frame, but I might buy a frame for the next one, see if it helps me like deco mesh.

 

Have you used deco mesh before? If you have any tips I’d love to hear them in the comments below!

Monday, February 11, 2013

Stamp Carving Tutorial

I’ve been using rubber stamps in arts and crafts for almost 14 years (gosh!) and have been carving my own for 2-3 years. I’m no pro, but I like what I make. Today I was supposed to use some of my latest carvings to make Valentines with my friend, and she was curious about how I make my stamps. We never did get to make Valentines, we ended up chatting about a million other things instead, but later I decided to carve a new stamp, and make a tutorial.
First I gather my materials. I have the classic stamp carving tool, available at almost all major craft stores, and a stash of erasers. I’ve bought the stamp blanks before, and honestly I like a lot of erasers better, and they’re way cheaper! I usually get erasers at various dollar sections, dollar stores, etc. So far the three pack pictured below of blue and white style is my favorite, and is most like the stamp blanks the craft store sells. I found them at Dollar Tree.
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I also get some paper, usually an index card, and regular pencil. First I trace the eraser onto the paper, so I know exactly what size I’m dealing with. P2115843
Then I draw out my design, making sure to leave space on each side.
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Then I use the bottom edge of the carving tool, and burnish the design onto the eraser. I just carefully line up the eraser to my outline, then hold my design face down and rub gently.
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Then I make sure the design transferred well and lightly pencil on any pieces that got missed, or are just so light they might rub off while I work.
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Then I just start carving. Usually I start with the number 2 blade, and just work. Here’s some shots of the carving as I go. I do switch to a number 1 (super tiny) as needed, like in the curly part of the ribbon on this balloon.
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After the design is mostly ready I do a test stamp. Usually I use a marker to ink JUST the design area, but to show you what is and what isn’t carved I just used an inkpad. What’s red is uncarved.
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I check the stamped image for any errors, lines where there should not be lines, uneven lines, gaps in the carving. Lines can be adjusted, but gaps or breaks in the image means it’s no good. I have to either change the design or trash it. I smooth and fix any errors that show up, then I use some of the wider blades to smooth the carving and then the slicing blade to cut away extra material.
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Usually at this point it’s done! I stamp another test image, and if any errors show up I fix them, and if not I’m ready to craft!
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Here’s the three stamps I did for Valentine’s Day this year.


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If you carve any stamps I’d LOVE to see them! Hope this inspires you to make your own seasonal stamps!

This post has been shared in several link ups. Including Making the World Cuter Monday, Mad Skills, and Make Your Own Monday. Be sure to check them out for lots of other neat ideas, some seasonal and some not.  

Little Ways to Bring the Seasons Indoors

To make your home seasonal doesn’t have to require much time or money, and can be as extensive or easy as you’d like. Here are a few ways to decorate for the seasons or holidays. You could do all of them and still fit each theme of décor into a shoebox to pack it away!

Candles- colors, scents, shapes, all easy ways to decorate and have a little celebration. What I like to do is close my eyes, and think for just a second before lighting each one. I think of a person who needs a little prayer, or I wish for good weather (or snow!) I pray for peace, wisdom, patience. I thank God for seeing another spring. If you’re not spiritual you could simple take a moment to think of a good memory with a loved one, or something uplifting.

Doilies and Table Runners- I crochet and knit and am trying to tackle the mission of making a doily for each each season and holiday. Nothing huge or overwhelming, just a small bit to throw onto the table as a centerpiece. If you don’t crochet or knit then you can buy premade doilies in the craft store and dye them different colors for the different themes, or check out sites like Etsy or Artfire to support handmade. I’m about to tackle this one- The Heart’s Desire, and hopefully churn out at least 1 in the next 3 days. You can also make or buy table runners, which are just larger usually long and skinny bits. Runners are usually fabric, and there are lots of quilting patterns for them if you’re into that!
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Photo from Pattern Website, and it NOT my own.
Vases and Fillers- You can grab a small vase in almost any theme, even just at the dollar store. Then I tuck in a few fake flowers, fresh flowers from the garden, or whatever suits the season. Sometimes it’s a glittery bit of plastic with streamers, sometimes a simple evergreen clipping (always fake, because I’m allergic.) Or force a bulb in a pot, and use it as a centerpiece. Everyday when you sit down to dinner you can view the plant growing, budding, blooming.

Garlands and Banners- Garlands are HUGE right now, and you can even find lots of free printable ones online for all sorts of themes. It seems like any blog that focuses on design or crafts offers one free at some point, or even regularly throughout the year. This is another task I’m trying to conquer, making a garland for each decorating theme. It’s slow going. So far I have a sewn birthday banner, and a heart garland you’ll see soon. I tend to whip up simple ones that only last one season, I want an heirloom worthy one for each holiday. You can make garlands, buy garlands at the store, or buy handmade online. And stay tuned to the blog for new ideas as the seasons change!

Note Papers and To-Do Lists- If you are the kind to use to-do lists, or a pad of paper on the fridge for a grocery list, simply change it out! These pads of paper are so easy to find in any store and are so inexpensive! If you also make little notes on them you can tuck them away, and at year end you know when each one was written, and you could tuck them into a scrapbook for year review book.

Air Fresheners- I make my own cleaners (vinegar, water, and some added bits) and I like to add a few drops of essential oils. The essential oils can add to the cleaning power, but they also can add a nice seasonal fragrance to the room naturally. Since I can't use purchased air fresheners I also make my own spray air fresheners by mixing water, a few drops of rubbing alcohol, and some essential oil. I love to make up a spray or cleaner that seems seasonal to me. You can also add oils to the water when you mop your floor! You can purchase essential oils at health food stores, new age stores, or online. You want true essential oils, not fragrance oils. The price will vary based on what the oil is, but you can buy just a tiny bottle. Some will be in carrier oils, which helps lower the price, but you may need to use a few drops more. Using it for air fresheners, or cleaners takes only a few drops.

Soaps- An easy thing to do is use a seasonal soap! Simply drop a bar or bottle by the sink, and since it gets used up there won't be anything to pack away! You could go all out and get a seasonal liquid soap dispenser. And I wouldn't hold it against you if your Santa dispenser is still out in July. Have you ever decoupaged soaps? This used to be a big thing, and I'll do a tutorial here on the blog. It's an easy way to make soaps for any theme or season!

You could easily do all of these ideas, and even a couple more, and then simply pack them away in a small box. If you wanted to get really into it, then set up a seasonal table (details coming soon!) Try using seasonal dishes, or seasonal towels. You can even change out pictures for seasonal pictures and wall hangings!

Do you do anything special for seasonal or holiday décor? Or really just for the big ones? I’d love to hear in the comments below!

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Year Review Book

I just read this neat post about creating a year review book. And I’m LOVING the idea!! It’s a great time to start too, capturing memories, poems, and bits that I might want to include at year’s end. I also love the idea of taking the time between Christmas and New Year’s to work. A nice review in the final days of the year. Perhaps send it off for printing exactly as the ball drops?
And then the idea of a beautiful, glossy, real book for my family, for me, every year. Perfection.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Valentine’s- The Craft Box

For years my husband and I never really celebrated Valentine’s Day. Then a few years ago at the store I waited in the car and he walked out of the store, jumped in the car, dropped a bag in my lap and said “Happy Valentine’s” and we have ever since. That year it was a digital camera. But now we try to keep it simple. Usually just making each other little things and buying a bag of candy or something.

Even when we didn’t celebrate though Blu and I would do some kind of card making. When he was almost 3 he even made one for the lady who owns the fabric store! I really believe in the creative freedom of such things, so usually I create a box of appropriate materials then let him go to town.

I’ve graduated that system a bit to a seasonal craft box. I use one of the 12x12 plastic boxes with the clasped lid. It holds full size papers with ease, and has plenty of space for extras. Plus the lid clasps shut so he can move it from room to room, even downstairs and upstairs without risking a mess. At Christmas it has supplies for ornaments, cards, anything a 5 year old might want to make. Then I just cleaned it out from Christmas and stocked it up with Valentine’s!

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It has construction paper, cardstock, craft foam, all in red, white and pink of course! Then also cardboard collage shapes (one side is a giant sticker to attach paper, pompoms, whatever) heart stencils, stickers, glitter glues, markers, some cotton balls, and some red and white buttons. Okay, I admit, the buttons are leftover from Christmas they are red, white, and green, BUT they also have lots of hearts, flowers, scalloped circles, and other cute lovey shapes. He already has some glue, scissors, and other basics at his desk.

It is a nice little quiet time activity for him before bed. PJs, brush teeth, relax and craft. He even just made me these just because.

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And I’ve started my Valentine’s Day wreath. Want a sneak peek??? Oh okay, stop screaming!!! I’ll give you a sneak peek! Settle down!

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Are you doing anything to prepare? Does your family celebrate Valentine’s or is it just another day? Let me know in the comments below.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

I don’t have a fire, but I do have this cozy new knit blanket! (Only the second blanket I’ve successfully finished in my life.)

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It’s the Garter Squish on ravelry,  only I cast on way more than called for, by about oh 40 or so. On size 15 needles, 40 stitches is a lot.  I was just going to make a bigger blanket, but when I saw exactly how much yarn it was eating up I decided my stripes would just go lengthwise. I finished it about a week ago, and it has been snuggled by someone almost constantly since. It’s green, yellow, pale purple, orange, light blue, and darkish blue, all held double with a running strand of white. I could picture making another. It was a nice mostly mindless (I kept nearly messing up the i-cord edge, because I usually slide my first stitch) that was nice to take while I waited outside of appointments and such.
It may be the perfect cozy winter blanket.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Candlemas

Happy Candlemas! Febuary 2nd has many names, Groundhog Day, Imbolc, Candlemas, and several more interpretations of the same. When I was deciding which we as a family should try to pay attention to Candlemas resonated with me the most. It’s spiritual without being religious, it’s pretty without being pompous. So that’s what I went with. However, my son clearly liked Groundhog Day better, that’s all he kept saying “Happy Groundhog Day!” I wish I has prepared more groundhog themed activities.
Interesting side note, the idea of Groundhog day is so old that it originated in England where it is actually a hedgehog instead of a groundhog! The idea of a hedgehog predicting the weather is just to adorable for words! Of course the idea of wild hedgehogs puttering about is also just adorable.
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But, back to the topic at hand. First we made candles! I got a beeswax sheet kit at the local craft store, and we made several candles to serve as birthday candles at the upcoming 6 year event, then we made several to just burn throughout the day.
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The four blue, and first two yellow (closest to the blue) are for the cake. The rest were just to use. Not bad for $5! The kit was pretty easy to do. Especially for me, but all I had to do for the kiddo was to start rolling it so it was tight around the wick without breaking. As we rolled we talked about the earth and animals coming out of hibernation. We discussed the candles meaning that the sun is shining on the earth more, something we’ve been reading about anyway in some of our seasons books.
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Traditionally today is a day to begin preparing the earth for harvest, sowing seeds to transplant later, and other gardening work. I intended to repot some houseplants but couldn’t find my empty pots or my potting soil! I didn’t want to work outside because it was below freezing, and I also am waiting for naturalized bulbs to grow and didn’t want to disturb them. I did however spend a few minutes outside checking for bulb sprouts. I have 8! I planted more than 100, but it’s still early, and as much as I love it I’m a terrible gardener, so 8 is joyous enough for me!
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The ability of plants to grow through the hard soil, through the frozen ground, through the mulch, simple amazes me. The sprouts as so strong yet so fragile. I love the movie The Secret Garden, in the 1990’s version when it shows the quick growth of the plants. I often joke that I always wanted to be able to sing and to garden, and I’ve given up singing.
I also started working on the grapevine cone we’re going to use on our seasonal table. I didn’t presoak the grapevine, so it has to be finished tomorrow. Right now I have a wire mesh cone, and an arm full of scratches. 
Today is also a day for spring cleaning. I wouldn’t say that I did that, BUT I did clean and work. My Grandmother’s house is going on the market, so yesterday we made a day trip to pick up all our boxes of stuff. There were quite a few tears shed, and between that and some illness lately I just didn’t have it in me for deep cleaning. But my living room is full of boxes (half Christmas awaiting the attic, and half stuff from yesterday) so I unpacked and put some away. I talked to my son about how we got these items as memories of Grandma’s house. So now he calls them memories. The Memory breadbox makes a Memory Sandwich. “Can he use a memory mug?” I get it. The first thing I unpacked was the mugs. The dishes to match were still in the car. I had gotten home to late, to tired, to cold, to hungry, to carry a heavy box of dishes that were not well packed. I was afraid I’d drop and break them all.
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A memory mug, full of coffee, on the memory breadbox, with what is supposed to be pussy willow being forced to root in the background.
I cleaned up the kitchen and unpacked the memory breadbox. It feels so good, just so heartwarming, to see it on my counter. We love my Grandma’s house, and nothing will kill the sharp tearing feeling that this sale provokes, but these little things help.
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Candlemas is also a day to eat grains. So as a quick dinner I ate cereal, in one of my new memory bowls. The day was great, and was a nice way to both reminisce, and pull us out of the sadness. Which is a part of what Candlemas is, to pull through the cold, hard, depressing winter and move on. Happy Candlemas!!! Now on to Super Bowl Sunday! (I’m not a football fan, but I intend to knit my heart out, eat, and watch some commercials!)

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Roadblocks

My son is almost 6. When I decided to get married, settle down, and have kids I wanted a gaggle of them, 4 minimum. Call me crazy but I would have been ecstatic with 6. I don’t have 6, or 4, or even 2. I have 1, and there is no sign of more in the immediate future. People with kids know two things, 6 years old comes way to fast, and at 6 your kids are so different. They can DO things, really do things. Go to friends houses alone, play in their room alone. (Many people send their kids to school alone, but we homeschool.) At 6 your child has an independence from you that is both terrifying and joyous. “AHHHHHHHH” you can breath, you can pee with the door shut, sometimes. You can go back to work, or tackle a hobby.

At the end of 2012 I reached the point where I questioned “What do I, Alicia Simon, do now?” I could run a craft business. I could go back to blogging, something I’ve done on and off for over 10 years. I could start some other business. What do I want to do? If I run a business, what do I want to do? to make? to sell? If I blog what would I write about? Now, there is one thing you need to know about me, and this is no doubt going to be a running thing, I am a slacker. I trained my kid to pick snacks in the morning so that I can sleep until 10. We unschool. It is January 27, and my Christmas decorations are boxed up sitting in the living room. I joked that I could run a blog called “The Seasonal Slacker” which was all about NOT doing all the seasonal stuff the “perfect” blogs do. Linkys could include things like most out of season wreath.

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My son in some recent snow. And yes that dead plant is in a Halloween Cauldron.

Then I looked at my son. My amazing nearly six year old boy, and I knew time is going to fast. When he is grown, gone, that could be it for me, empty nest. I’ve got to do something. I’ve got to create memories, create traditions. Traditions that he will continue on, traditions that he will remember, smile about, and perhaps even come home for. Traditions and memories that I can look back at, remember, savor when I’m home, alone. In six more years, that brief blink of time that has already passed he will be 12, and then when I blink again he will be 18 years old. 18.

I live over 500 miles from my parents. I moved away gladly, and I’d be lying if I said I enjoy visiting. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing my folks, watching my Dad be goofy, seeing what neat little trinkets my Mom has collected. But I don’t flock home for holidays, or even have any memories of them really. I don’t want that. Your children will grow up, they will not always need you, but you want them to want you. I want my son to move as far as as he needs to be happy, BUT I want him to call, to write, to remember.

And my blog topic was decided. I started doing blog set up, cool title, seasonal background, set ups with my name on everything from Google+, Facebook, Youtube, even Etsy just in case. I started brainstorming topics, pinning on Pinterest, making lists of possible blog ideas. Then it happened,

Road Block Number One.

I DON’T want to be another “perfect mommy blogger.” Posting pictures of how together I am, or at least am pretending to be. I have no intention of making an amazing cake pop bouquet for my kid’s friends for Valentines.Truth be told I hate cake pops. The baker does all that work, and the adorable yumminess is gone in one bite. I do not intend to make a wreath for my front door for every single frickin’ holiday known to man. When my son is grown will he care that I made wreaths and blogged about it? Every time I thought of a subject to share, to inspire you, I would research. I’d pour over pins at pinterest, pictures on flickr, google images searches, and I’d find perfect after perfect after perfect. If you want to read a perfect blog, there are so so many out there for you. I don’t want to be perfect. I want to be real. I want to create memories, I want to create a life, not a picture perfect idea of what life could be. And so writing has been hard. I sat at my work space every day, any spare moment I could, and I’d look at pictures, and I’d brainstorm, and I’d type, and I’d try so hard. Then

 

Road Block Number Two

My family, all three of us, got a virus of flu-like proportions. We don’ts know that it was the flu, but we don’t know that it wasn’t either. My husband is the only one that had a flue swab done, and his was not the flu. We laid in the master bedroom, all together, one big bundle of sick. We’d take turns chugging our doses of natural honey based cough syrup and we’d sleep in piles of blankets, one persons foot and another persons arm the only thing under one cover, and three feet and a cat under another. My desk became covered with medicine bottles, dirty tea cups, and abandoned toys. I didn’t write, I didn’t even attempt it, but when I was beginning to feel better I thought about it. I thought about my first roadblock. Perfection. The word stuck in my mouth like the nighttime-sleepy-achey-coughy-feel-like-I’m-dying- medicine.

How can I blog, about this subject that I care about, and not be another perfect blogger? How can I make it less about what others are doing, and more about me? I’m still not entirely sure. I know two things, I can start by living and doing, and I can write about what happens. I hope you stick around to read about it. I can’t promise it will always be good, I can’t promise it will always be inspiring, but I can promise I am not ever going to be perfect.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Candles

Candles can be everywhere in winter. Tapers at a holiday dinner table, or candles in the windows to light the way home, or just scented candles in a seasonal fragrance. I try to always have a seasonal candle ready to light in my kitchen. Candles can also be such a décor element. One neat thing about candles is that by switching the holder, or the color, or the decorations around it, they can cycle through the seasons.
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Incidentally, My grandmother’s house was one of those places with candles that are never lit. Behind her chair was a clock with a frame and in the frame sat two candles, never lit. On the coffee table two tapers, never lit. UNTIL, one day my brother, a young teen or so at the time, says “How comes these are never lit?” And he pulled a lighter out of his pocket and lit them! It was like stepping on sacred ground. I gasped. And one of us, I forget which, immediately blew them out. Until the day when those candles were packed away they had just the tiniest bit of burnt black wick at the very top.
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Did you know, you can use epsom salt as a fake snow indoors? Pour it into a candle holder, or vase. Or you can mix it with water to make a slush, then brush (use a bad old paintbrush) onto glass. But this next one uses something different, egg white and sugar!
frosted jars
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I can picture this simple display shifting through the year. Take out the pinecones, add felt hearts, replace the greenery with roses, and you shift right from winter to Valentine’s Day!

What about you? Do you have any memories or traditions that involve candles?

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Good Hours

BY: Robert Frost
I had for a my winter evening walk--
No one at all with whom to talk.
But I had the cottages in a row
Up to their shining eyes in snow.

And I thought I had the folk within:
I had the sound of a violin;
I had a glimpse through curtain laces
Of youthful forms and youthful faces.

I had such company outward bound.
I went til there were no cottages found.
I turned and repented, but coming back
I saw no window but that was black.

Over the snow my creaking feet
Disturbed the slumbering villages street
Like profanation, by your leave,
At ten o’clock of a winter eve.

Monday, January 7, 2013

Snow Day!

We’re not having one, but I sure wish we were. To me nothing says winter like snow. The funny thing is I don’t understand why! I grew up in South Carolina, not exactly snow central, but for some reason I equate winter and Christmas with fond memories of snow. All I can figure is that the times we visited my Grandma in Maryland it made an impression on me. Nothing quite like a winter wonderland.

Over the month of January I’m going to pretend it’s snowing everyday and feature various snow and winter themed stuff. We’ll cut paper snow flakes, make hot cocoa from scratch, try some warm yummy recipes, and I’ll show you the cozy blanket I’m knitting. (Hint, it’s the Garter Squish pattern on Ravelry.) Maybe I’ll attempt some of the more peculiar holidays this month, such as National Popcorn day on the 19th, Squirrel Appreciation Day on the 21st, or National Kazoo Day on the 28th. January is also home to backwards day, and opposites day!

Hopefully we’ll also get some REAL snow! Do you love or loathe the snow?

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