Tooth fairies

Umm, what does the tooth fairy that visits your house do with your children's teeth? The tooth fairy around here has difficulty parting with things and has a little collection of them. Someone told her (the local tooth fairy) that it's kind of morbid and probably really gross. 

Please advise.

photo via OhDeeDoh

Back to the real world

I fell off the face of the planet for a week or so for so much needed relaxation time. Javier whisked me off to Palm Springs. Actually, since I'm now gainfully employed and contributing to our household income, I guess we whisked each other away! Anyhow, Palm Springs was lovely. I have a few photos to share and some little adventures, but I have to get organized in my real life first. Mostly I'm glad to be home, though I wish it was not a snowy, freeze-my-butt-off-cold home, but rather a sunny, view-of-the-ocean variety. However, home is home, and where my favourite girl and kitties remained when Javier and I were off basking ourselves in the sun in Southern California. Plus, I'm feeling much more relaxed. Exam results? What exam results? Work? Piece of cake. I'm feeling NO stress.

Toodles. 

48/365 The big reveal

You've asked...you've waited...here it is...Miss Lizzie's new room!

A few things remain the same. This picture was a gift when Lizzie was born, drawn by her godfather. Doesn't it look very arty against the pure white wall.

We needed a place to gather all the backpacks and hoodies for this grown-up 'tween girl. At the perfect height of course. It's a much better place than the end of her bed where they previously lived.


A look back at my sweet little baby girl. The frames and photos are repurposed from the old room, the fabric matting is new.

We also needed a place to group all the little girl bric-a-brac that she accumulates. These ledges work perfectly. The Suess-inspired photo was another present from Lizzie's artist godfather.

The famous blue desk. I love the way it turned out. She stills needs a new chair as I'm not crazy about this set up and understandably it doesn't feel great for the back or bottom to spend much time sitting here. I covered a few corkboard with fabric so Lizzie can pin up more treasures. We have a new "no posters on the wall" by-law in our house, but I figured she still has little things she'll want to keep, thus the corkboards.

Ah, the blasted CURTAINS. I don't think I actually swore during the sewing but there were moments. They turned out well, even if I didn't get around to hemming them.

A sweet little purse. Just an extra pretty doo-dad hanging around.

Remembered those miles of lace I was crocheting? It was used trim the pillowcases I embroidered for her bed.

And the bed. The chandelier silhouettes were a lot easier in theory. I need at least 2 or 3 extra hands and they still aren't completely straight. We are saying that they are swaying in the breeze. I priced out the fabric to make Lizzie's quilt and the fabric cost more than $180.00 just for the top. So I used one of the quilts from my bed instead. And it fits

There are a few things I still want to make or purchase, but she's happy with her more "mature" room. And so am I.

47/365 A Quiet Day

Heaven is a cup of coffee, a good book, a comfy chair, and one of these on a quiet morning.

Of course, I had to clean up this mess first!

I tried to find the recipe for you, but it seems to have disappeared! No matter what recipe you use however, just remember to put your mixer on low when you first put in the flour or you'll have a mess like mine.

46/365 Another day

The curtains were granted a temporary stay of execution. I decided to leave them for a while and hem them in a few weeks.

So except for a few small details and a couple of new pieces of furniture that can only be obtained from that mecca of inexpensive Swedish furniture. I will post a few more photos of Lizzie's fabulous new "tween" room tomorrow. She's just happy it's no longer pink!

45/365 Frustration

I hoped to be able to show off Lizzie's almost finished bedroom, but after spending much of the day trying to turn 7 yards of fabric into 3 curtain panels and still not being finished, I'm giving up for the night. The good news is that Lizzie's room is looking fantastic. The bad news? It might be curtains for the curtains. 

So I'm a tired mom to one child (who is not nearly grateful enough, but still sweet anyway) and thus, I'm taking my incredibly irritated and possibly extremely bitchy self to bed. Tomorrow is another day, and the curtains will be there tomorrow. Nasty curtains, refusing to hang straight and all, grrr.

44/365 Valentine's Day

Lizzie and I always like to plan something a little special for her Valentines for her friends at school. Last year we made felt fortune cookies inspired by Martha Stewart. 

This is a picture from Martha's website. Ours didn't turn out nearly as well, but they were still fun.

It took a little longer to find our inspiration this year. 

I found this Valentine's Day project on Twig & Thistle. 

Again, ours didn't turn out quite as well, but as Lizzie likes to remind her perfectionist mother..."it doesn't need to be perfect, mom". Wise beyond her years, that one.

We added some cinnamon and conversation hearts to each bag in addition to the heart shaped brownies.

I couldn't find the same type of bag, so I just found some small brown bags at Michaels (the craft cartel) and printed out a similar graphic onto plain paper before pasting it on to each bag.

We tied them closed with lengths of red ribbon in a tidy little bow.

We had no difficulty getting rid of the leftover brownies. 

43/365 The fabric cartel

Well I stuck to my guns for about 3 months and I folded like a velvet suit. Apparently my desire to finish Lizzie's redo bedroom was stronger than my dislike of Fabricland.

These people have a monopoly on fabric in this town, a true cartel. What makes the situation truly bad is that I had to pay for a new membership today too! $20.00 for the privilege of saving money at their store.

It's a sad sad day. So sad in fact, I had to eat brownies, lots of them.

42/365 Somebody likes me

My sweet friend Jillian, a new mommy and loyal blog reader awarded me with this the other day.

Here's the description she sent along...

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbon's of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these kind writers.

I'm not exactly sure what "self-aggrandizement" is, but it doesn't sound like a characteristic I'd like to have.

In the spirit of pay it forward, I'm to forward the award to eight other blogs, but I cannot pick just eight. You are all blogging friends. So grab award if you will and feel free to pass it along to others.

41/365 Projects to be

If only I had unlimited crafting time. Oh, how many wonderful things I would make. For now, here's a few of the things on my to-do list...

Some knitted donut rattles for Sassy's little Sprout. Pattern from Crafty Bits. 

A fabric barn for two little boys that I know. Tutorial courtesy of UK Lass in US. I planned to make this for them for Christmas, but, well, I guess Christmas from Auntie OliverRain will be a bit late this year.

These are not my chairs, but I have ones very similar to the one on the left. They are in serious need of some beautifying. Isn't the chair on the right beautiful? This is definitely one my project list. Photo courtesy of Jessica Jones (www.howaboutorange.blogspot.com) via Design Sponge.

Of course, there's also that quilt I want to make, and now that Lizzie's bedroom redo is nearing completion, I am inspired to start redoing my bedroom. And then there's still that dollhouse to complete.

These are the things I need to get done for sure. Can you imagine what I'd accomplish with unlimited free time?

40/365 Couple of favourite things

Post exam I was in need of a little self-TLC. 

First stop on the TLC tour was the coffee shop for my favourite beverage - latte

A couple of magazines to inspire my decorating and fashion style

And a nicely scented Chai Spice candle

I feel relaxed right now even just remembering it. So relaxed in fact, I think I'm off to bed.

39/365 Oliver in repose

Isn't he a handsome boy?

He's a handsome boy who's getting a haircut this week. 

Stay tuned for embarrassing photos (for him, not me). 

And please try not to laugh. 

He's a sensitive young man.

38/365 Are you jealous?

I have something to show you. Are you ready? 

You'll be jealous.

Look at all this snow we have! Can you believe it? 

All lovely and dirty.

Mmmm, icy. I slip every time I leave the house. 

And look at the embellishment it gives my car. Hello car wash.

But at least the sky is lovely and blue. 

37/365 Coveting

A little taste of what is making me drool these days...

It's a 1:18 scale Airstream!

One of the walls in my living room is demanding wallpaper

Can you even question why I want one of these iconic creations

Not exactly sure where this belongs in my house, but I need it

Images courtesy of  Mad Cat Toys; Better Homes & Gardens; Treadway/Toomey Galleries; Etsy

36/365 Doubt

The exam is done. Now the 6 to 8 week period of waiting, self-doubt, second-guessing, wailing, and impatience has begun. My poor family.

The people who create the exam are SADISTS, pure and simple. I could have studied 24 hours a day for year, or taken a 3 1/2 year nursing program (oh wait I did do that), and still have NO idea how to answer most of the questions. The exam didn't test knowledge as much as it tested how you can figure out what answer the exam is looking for. Hint: it's not always the one you would do in real life. Ughhhhh!

Everyone is saying, oh, you'll be fine, but I REALLY don't know that...feeling a bit crazy right now. Oh, my poor family for having to deal with me for the next few months.

I'm distracting myself by making miles of crocheted lace.

Oliver is distracting himself by practicing yoga poses. He calls this 'downward cat'. Note the precision at having both head and legs dangling over the edges of the chair without even interrupting his sleep.

35/365 Gulp

Today is the day I've been waiting for. Today I write the Canadian National Registered Nurses Exam. 

No, I didn't study as much as I could have, but I guess if I don't know what I'm doing by now I never will. 

Yikes

34/365 Winners

I decided to offer two bags instead of one, so I have two winners to announce.

Jillian's Pages

Asthma Girl

Please email me at oliverrain@gmail.com with your addresses.

Congratulations to you both and thanks to everyone who left a comment. Your support and friendships mean a lot.

_______________________________________________

I don't like posting without photos, but nothing too interesting is happening today so this is a picture of the cool twilight sky the other evening. Pretty colour, no?

33/365 Studying

I have a couple of days off. Partly it's because I don't have any shifts booked and partly so I can prepare for my big exam on Wednesday. So this is what I've done so far today:

• Dropped Lizzie off at school
  
• Filled my car with gas
  
• Chatted with my boss about employment
  
• Purchased a coffee
  
• Emailed a few friends
  
• Visited a few blogs
  
• Napped
  
• Talked on the phone
  
• Visited a few more blogs
  
• Played Mah-Jong on my Ipod (totally addictive, by the way)
  
• Swept the floor

Notice anything wrong with list?

There is a noticeable lack of studying going on. I think Javier might have to take away my toys so I'll buckle down and study some more.

Update on list:

• Wrote new blog post (still no studying!)
  

32/365 Welcome to February

Some of us are being highly productive around here today

Thank goodness for Lazy Sundays....

even though I have to go to work in a few hours.