Too busy drooling over the pages to write more than this.....
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Oh Bento!
Let's see, I've introduced my thrift store addiction so I guess it's time to introduce another, recent addiction of mine: Bento.
After seeing all her fun, beautiful creations, I have my friend Papaya Mom to blame for this addiction. I soon made my first Bento. It was ugly. But I was hooked. It's fun, creative, healthy, and makes lunch something my husband actually looks forward too. Not to mention, I can put about anything in Ainsley's cute bento boxes and she'll eat it.
My bento collection is getting out of control. I now have two entire kitchen cabinet shelves now devoted to bento boxes and accessories. But of course I need more.... So today I ventured out to check out more of the local asian markets and stores for Bento stuff.
I'm going to guess that there are at least fifty asian markets within a thirty minute drive from my house. And it's been my mission to check them all for bento. My first stop today was Pika Pika, only about three miles from my house. It's not a market, but a store specializing in only Japanese goods. I walked in and the man working there looked at me in that, "are you in the right place?" kind of way. I said "bento" and he nodded towards the wall. I walked around the aisle and just about passed out on the floor. An entire WALL of Bento. GASP. And with prices so low I really almost hit the floor. My last bento purchase came all the way from Japan and I'm not even going to tell you what I spent on that stuff, not to mention the shipping....
Just some of what I picked up today. *big smile*
Here are some of my bentos.
Ainsley's "fishy lunchbox"
Mommy's bento
So if you're interested, there are tons of great resources out there, like Lunch in a Box and Flickr Groups. Just search the Flickr groups for "bento."
After seeing all her fun, beautiful creations, I have my friend Papaya Mom to blame for this addiction. I soon made my first Bento. It was ugly. But I was hooked. It's fun, creative, healthy, and makes lunch something my husband actually looks forward too. Not to mention, I can put about anything in Ainsley's cute bento boxes and she'll eat it.
My bento collection is getting out of control. I now have two entire kitchen cabinet shelves now devoted to bento boxes and accessories. But of course I need more.... So today I ventured out to check out more of the local asian markets and stores for Bento stuff.
I'm going to guess that there are at least fifty asian markets within a thirty minute drive from my house. And it's been my mission to check them all for bento. My first stop today was Pika Pika, only about three miles from my house. It's not a market, but a store specializing in only Japanese goods. I walked in and the man working there looked at me in that, "are you in the right place?" kind of way. I said "bento" and he nodded towards the wall. I walked around the aisle and just about passed out on the floor. An entire WALL of Bento. GASP. And with prices so low I really almost hit the floor. My last bento purchase came all the way from Japan and I'm not even going to tell you what I spent on that stuff, not to mention the shipping....
Just some of what I picked up today. *big smile*
Here are some of my bentos.
Ainsley's "fishy lunchbox"
Mommy's bento
So if you're interested, there are tons of great resources out there, like Lunch in a Box and Flickr Groups. Just search the Flickr groups for "bento."
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Curious Parenting Observation
So I can't be the parent of a potty training two year old, and not have just one post about the potty, can I?
Now I don't want ignore everything my husband does with raising our child. He really is the perfect dad, and I couldn't have asked for a better parenting partner. We really work like a team, and really look at parenting the same way.
And he dove right into his dad duties when Ainsley was born. I had a c-section and couldn't get out of bed the first day. I really don't think I'll ever forget the image of him changing that first icky newborn diaper. You know, the really icky one? Nor will I ever forget his exclaimation, "Oh my GOD, it's like tar. I can't get it off her....it's ON ME now....it's everywhere....how am I supposed to do this and hold her legs at the same time...oh now she's squirming!"
He'd never changed a diaper in his life. He'd never practiced in those nice parenting classes the hospital offers. We skipped that stuff.
But one thing that I have noticed during the potty training, is that I think that men, my husband included, think that potty training is just mom's job. Now how's that?
About 2% of Ainsley's potty training success can be attributed to Daddy.
But about 98% of her accidents are Daddy's fault too. This is how:
A: Daddy, I hafta pee.
Daddy (holding the playstation controller): Hang on just a mintue ....
A: I gotta pee Daddy.
Daddy: Just one more second...
A: (looking down at the floor) I toldya I had to pee, I toldya....
But, regardless of my lack of help, Ainsley has graduated to big girl panties! Of course, her favorites are the Dora undies.
Now I don't want ignore everything my husband does with raising our child. He really is the perfect dad, and I couldn't have asked for a better parenting partner. We really work like a team, and really look at parenting the same way.
And he dove right into his dad duties when Ainsley was born. I had a c-section and couldn't get out of bed the first day. I really don't think I'll ever forget the image of him changing that first icky newborn diaper. You know, the really icky one? Nor will I ever forget his exclaimation, "Oh my GOD, it's like tar. I can't get it off her....it's ON ME now....it's everywhere....how am I supposed to do this and hold her legs at the same time...oh now she's squirming!"
He'd never changed a diaper in his life. He'd never practiced in those nice parenting classes the hospital offers. We skipped that stuff.
But one thing that I have noticed during the potty training, is that I think that men, my husband included, think that potty training is just mom's job. Now how's that?
About 2% of Ainsley's potty training success can be attributed to Daddy.
But about 98% of her accidents are Daddy's fault too. This is how:
A: Daddy, I hafta pee.
Daddy (holding the playstation controller): Hang on just a mintue ....
A: I gotta pee Daddy.
Daddy: Just one more second...
A: (looking down at the floor) I toldya I had to pee, I toldya....
But, regardless of my lack of help, Ainsley has graduated to big girl panties! Of course, her favorites are the Dora undies.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Labor Day Project: Roman Shades
I've been planning these for a long time. It took me months to decide on a fabric. Decisiveness isn't always one of my strengths. It turned into more of a project than I thought. But, they are done and I am really pleased!
It's never a good sign when a project starts like this....
When I sat down to sew the shades today, the feed dogs wouldn't come up. Feed dogs....never given the oddly named things much thought, but now I hate them. Hate them.
As long as I've waited to make these shades, I wasn't giving up without a fight. Of course I didn't want to wait to take the thing in to the sewing machine repair shop. So I got out a screwdriver and tried to take the thing apart. My husband laughed while he was watching tv from his spot on the sofa. He wanted no part of taking this thing apart. He told me if something went wrong I would just blame him. He was probably right.
I think the mean folks at Singer must make taking these things apart hard on pupose. Maybe to prevent people, like me, who are clueless about the inner workings of a sewing machine from making matters worse. Well I didn't heed their warning. It took me over 40 minutes just to take it apart. But once I did, I found one of the springs had come loose, fixed it and was back in business. I put this machine back together, but discovered an extra, unknown piece. Never good. So back apart it came. Found the home for the mystery piece, but it back together...and....when I plugged it back it, the thing even worked!!
Ha, my dad would be so proud. I don't think there was a weekend of my childhood that he didn't have some appliance in pieces on the kitchen floor.
So after a long day of sewing (not my best skill) they are done!
Of course I couldn't wait until there was better lighting in my kitchen...so the pictures suck, but I couldn't wait until tomorrow morning for better light.
*Edited to add a picture - this is this morning with the morning light coming through the windows.
It's never a good sign when a project starts like this....
When I sat down to sew the shades today, the feed dogs wouldn't come up. Feed dogs....never given the oddly named things much thought, but now I hate them. Hate them.
As long as I've waited to make these shades, I wasn't giving up without a fight. Of course I didn't want to wait to take the thing in to the sewing machine repair shop. So I got out a screwdriver and tried to take the thing apart. My husband laughed while he was watching tv from his spot on the sofa. He wanted no part of taking this thing apart. He told me if something went wrong I would just blame him. He was probably right.
I think the mean folks at Singer must make taking these things apart hard on pupose. Maybe to prevent people, like me, who are clueless about the inner workings of a sewing machine from making matters worse. Well I didn't heed their warning. It took me over 40 minutes just to take it apart. But once I did, I found one of the springs had come loose, fixed it and was back in business. I put this machine back together, but discovered an extra, unknown piece. Never good. So back apart it came. Found the home for the mystery piece, but it back together...and....when I plugged it back it, the thing even worked!!
Ha, my dad would be so proud. I don't think there was a weekend of my childhood that he didn't have some appliance in pieces on the kitchen floor.
So after a long day of sewing (not my best skill) they are done!
Of course I couldn't wait until there was better lighting in my kitchen...so the pictures suck, but I couldn't wait until tomorrow morning for better light.
*Edited to add a picture - this is this morning with the morning light coming through the windows.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Craft Saturday: Suncatchers
Playdoh gets old real fast. Ainsley and I love doing crafts and projects, but we've been in need of some inspiration. So after getting an idea from a friend, today we tried making suncatchers for the first time. Very easy and lots of fun!
All you need is wax paper, crayons, scissors, nylon string/fishing line, an iron and paper/newspaper/cardboard/etc.
1. Shave the crayons on one a sheet of wax paper. I use about a 12 inch wide piece.
2. Place another sheet of wax paper over top -the same size as bottom piece.
3. Place it between two pieces of newspaper/cardboard/paper/etc, making sure that the shavings don't leak out the sides.
5. Iron on lowest setting for 30 seconds or so, just until the shavings have just begun to melt.
6. Once the crayon melts, let cool and then you can cut it into different shapes.
7. Punch a hole on the top, and string it with nylon line and hang it in a window.
Here are our first attempts. Ignore my dirty windows.
And my very uncrafty husband came up with this idea, and even sat down and made this tree himself. He shot me a mean look when I suggested I take his picture while crafting.
All you need is wax paper, crayons, scissors, nylon string/fishing line, an iron and paper/newspaper/cardboard/etc.
1. Shave the crayons on one a sheet of wax paper. I use about a 12 inch wide piece.
2. Place another sheet of wax paper over top -the same size as bottom piece.
3. Place it between two pieces of newspaper/cardboard/paper/etc, making sure that the shavings don't leak out the sides.
5. Iron on lowest setting for 30 seconds or so, just until the shavings have just begun to melt.
6. Once the crayon melts, let cool and then you can cut it into different shapes.
7. Punch a hole on the top, and string it with nylon line and hang it in a window.
Here are our first attempts. Ignore my dirty windows.
And my very uncrafty husband came up with this idea, and even sat down and made this tree himself. He shot me a mean look when I suggested I take his picture while crafting.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)