Monthly Archives: October 2013

Thanksgiving Tablecloth

thankful tablecloth

Here is a snap shot of our “Thankful” tablecloth.

Thanksgiving weekend is here and many are preparing to have family and friends over to celebrate in the spirit of thanksgiving.  Several years ago, I saw this Martha Stewart idea for a “Thankful” tablecloth.  If I remember correctly, she recommended using a painter’s drop cloth and I wish I had taken her advice.  I had some muslin on hand at the time and decided to go ahead and use it instead.  It works okay, but is very wrinkly after being washed and difficult to press.  In the original idea, she suggested using fabric paint and having everyone add something that they are thankful for. I thought it was a brilliant idea and we started our own “thankful” tablecloth.  It is a great family tradition and nice to look back and see what we wrote in previous years.  We actually write the year and our name beside each entry.  Our cloth isn’t very “pretty”, but it holds lots of great memories.  There are other great examples of how this type of tablecloth can be made to look a bit more formal .  I wanted ours to reflect our family, values and the stages we were at in each given year.

Things to Consider:

Here are a few things that you should consider, if you would like to begin this family tradition and start your own tablecloth:

  • Use a heavier fabric that washes well and will not be a nightmare to press (or purchase an actual tablecloth to use).  It is worth spending a little more if you intend to use this for years to come.  In order to stand the test of time, get a good quality fabric to work with.
  • Don’t use fabric paint, use fabric markers.  I used fabric paint and wish I would have used markers.  With fabric paint there is often more dimension in the application and therefore, you need ample dry time.  You may even get little puckers in your cloth when it dries.  It also makes it difficult to press the tablecloth.  The other issue with fabric paint is that it is messy and difficult for most people, especially children, to print neatly.  Stick with fabric markers.
  • Some people suggest using regular Sharpie markers, but in my experience, they can bleed and cause a big mess.  I think there are tricks to avoiding that, but I just wouldn’t risk it.
  • Take some time to plan how you want this to look.  I am a perfectionist and generally would want something like this to have perfect printing that is all done by the same person.  I like uniformity and the idea of having many colours does not appeal to me. However, for this project, I really wanted to have everyone’s individual “mark” on the cloth with each person’s handwriting and thoughts.  So, for me, controlling the colour is what kept it somewhat uniform.

Other Examples:

Made by one person, great design and uniform look (bluecricketdesign.net)
A mixture of colours and much more random. (christyrobbins.blogspot.com)
I like the fact that there is one colour of pen used. (asundayafternoon.com)

Give Thanks!

Traditionally, my immediate family has not always had a big Thanksgiving dinner. My dad often goes “home” to the home town where I was raised and spends the weekend with his siblings and their families.  We used to go “home” as well, but find it difficult with the kid’s activities and such now.  My brother’s family works shift work as does my husband, so it is very difficult to find a time that works.  We often make a turkey so that we can enjoy the leftovers (and have an easy week of cooking) in September because it is so busy around our house.  Regardless of whether we are hosting a big turkey dinner or not,  it is great to take out the tablecloth and take time to formally give thanks.

Having said that, we work really hard to instill a spirit of Thanksgiving every day of the year. There are so many people who are less fortunate than we are.  I am so thankful that I don’t have a family member battling cancer – I’ve been there and it is not an easy road to travel. Everyday, I feel so fortunate to have a healthy family and great friends. It is easy to get caught up in thoughts about what we want or don’t have and unfortunately it is sometimes the news of someone else’s loss or difficulties that brings us back to reality and helps us to “get real” and recognize what is important in life and to just be thankful!

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I Love to Watch You Play

As a parent of children involved in various activities and sports, it is often difficult to know how or what to say to best support your kids. You want to encourage them and guide them so that they can improve, but without being critical and making them feel as though their efforts are not good enough.

Pursuing Excellence

I grew-up in a family/community where hard work, determination, perseverance and strong work ethic were common place. I remember being conscientious and responsible from a very early age. In fact, to this day I have two recurring nightmares:  one about being late for work and the other about forgetting to hand in a University paper on time and it being discovered that I am a fraud and really don’t have a University degree at all!  So for me, it is difficult to understand why anyone would complete a task, pursue an interest or play a sport without trying their very best.  Not striving for perfection necessarily, but working hard and giving it everything you’ve got in the pursuit of excellence. As a teacher and parent, I have always told my students/kids….don’t ask me “Is this good enough?” – if you have to ask me that, then it’s not. You should complete every task to the best of your abilities and only when you have done so, is it “good enough”.

Having said this, you can see how it is difficult for me to connect with my kids about their interests and activities without conveying a message of “it’s not good enough”.  I really have to think about what I am going to say and how I am going to say it, for I know one of my greatest weaknesses is saying too much. I am great at picking out the highlights and complementing them on their effort, but it is difficult for me not to follow it with….”next time you could try to….”  It is in my nature to want to teach and help my children to reach their true potential, but is our advice what our kids really need to hear?  My cousin Elsie shared this awesome article called “6 Words You Should Say Today”.  The article suggests that the words that have the most profound impact on kids are simply:

I love to watch you play!

My Revelation:  There’s No Denying It!

No coaching at the end, no words of advice, just simply – I love to watch you play. When I read this article, it really resonated with me because I have used these words many times with my daughter Eden when she plays piano.

I do not have a musical bone in my body and get stressed when asked to publicly clap to the beat. I do love to dance with my kindergarteners and in fact will sing my heart out when in their company.  They are five years old, think I rule the earth and they don’t seem to notice that I am not great at singing or dancing. We have fun learning together and that’s all that matters.

However, when it comes to knowing and understanding music, I am completely illiterate. I am unable to help Eden with her lessons and homework and have no words of wisdom to offer her.  I can not read a single note of music and am in awe of her ability to pick it up so quickly and figure out songs by ear.  She is the expert, not I. I simply “love to hear her play“.  So when she practises and plays, my comments are always positive, uplifting and simple, for there is no advice I can offer. I wonder if this is what draws her to piano and music.  It is her talent, her interest and her area of expertise.  There is no criticism, no judgement.  When engrossed in her music, she displays an aura of confidence.  She loves to practise and play and never needs to be reminded.  She is completely relaxed and at peace when at the piano.  It is like her “safe” place.  I have never stopped to think about any of this before, but as I was writing this post, I realized so much about her and can’t help but wonder if her passion for music is not somehow connected to the fact that it is something that is completely hers to excel at.  I am sure to the trained ear, there are many areas where she could improve, but fortunately for her, no one at our house has the wisdom to offer any tips ~ we simply “love to hear her play“.

Eden piano recital

Eden at her 2013 piano recital.

I played high school volleyball and continue to play most Thursday evenings.  I encouraged Eden to get involved in mini-volleyball in grade 4 and she seemed to really enjoy it and continued for 2 seasons. However, there were times when she would make comments about not wanting to go or that she didn’t actually like it.  Of course, being a volleyball player, I always had lots of tips and suggestions on how she might improve her skills. Many times I offered to go outside to “volley” together.  She always said “no, she didn’t feel like it.”  This year, she quit and decided to take up dance.  Hmmm, I am not much of an expert at that either….unless of course you count “Tooty-Ta” – I rock at that dance!

It’s pretty hard to swallow, but also difficult to deny. Did I drive her away from volleyball with my “support”?  I am guessing the answer is “yes”.  It makes me feel sad that I might have made her feel bad about herself, even with the best of intentions.  The lesson to take away is this, saying less is worth far more.  Although hard, I will try to bite my tongue and save the tips and critiquing for the coaching staff ~ and just let my kids know how much I love to watch them play!

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Chocolate Coconut Bark

This recipe was given to me by my friend Robin. It is an absolute favourite at our house.  It is super easy to make and there isn’t any sugar in it.  You have got to love that!  The original recipe was for a “cluster”, but she modified it into a square/bark. Way less work. Surprisingly, I have tried this with peanut butter and although good, it is not as delicious as the almond butter version. I am still amazed by how much I love these, as I have always steered clear of coconut dainties. I remember my mom making Nanaimo Bars and leaving the bottom layer because I didn’t like the coconut. My mother-in-law served a version without the coconut base and I absolutely loved it, so of course I got her recipe ~ Robin Hood Nanaimo Bar mix. Too bad it has been discontinued 🙁  I am thinking my aversion to coconut was based more on the coarseness of the shredded coconut in many dainty recipes rather than the actual flavour of it. As long as the pieces are small, I love it!

Chocolate Coconut Bark Ingredients:

  • 1 (5 oz) bag Flaked or shredded unsweetened coconut (I like to grind mine in the food processor to make them even smaller, but not necessary) ~ 5 oz = about 2 cups if you are buying bulk
  • 2/3 cup melted coconut oil + 1 TBSP
  • 1/2 cup almond butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips

How to Make Chocolate Coconut Clusters:

  1. In medium bowl, mix coconut flakes, 2/3 cup melted coconut oil, vanilla, and almond butter until well mixed.
  2. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper and dump the mixture on top.  Use a fork to spread it out as best you can. Apply a second layer of wax paper on top of the mixture and use a rolling-pin to smooth it out.  Peel off the top layer of wax paper.
  3. Put the cookie sheet in the freezer until the layer harden completely.
  4. Once the layer has hardened, melt the chocolate in a double boiler with 1 TBSP coconut oil until smooth (or microwave).
  5. Pour the chocolate over top and quickly spread it out to cover the surface.
  6. Place them back in the fridge/freezer to cool before eating.  Store in fridge or freezer.

Place coconut, vanilla, coconut oil and almond butter in a bowl and mix.
Dump the mixture on a lined cookie sheet.
Spread the mixture out across the pan.
Place another piece of wax paper over top and thenuse a rolling pin to smooth out the surface.
Place the smoothed mixture in the freezer to cool.
Melt the chocolate with 1 T. of oil and spread on the top of cooled base. Freeze.
Remove from the freezer and break into pieces.
Serve the chocolate coconut bark cold.

Enjoy the awesome mixture of crunchy chocolate shell and the chewy coconut base!

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Upcycled Play Kitchen: Part 2

September was crazy busy at our house.  Our September calendar included soccer practises and games, hockey try-outs for both winter and spring league, dance classes, Girl Guides, back to school for the kids and I, a family wedding, our Mother’s and Daughter’s in Touch course, two garage sales, 3 birthdays, piano lessons, Fun Fridays Youth Group, volunteering at Winnipeg Harvest, serving at church, volleyball, a few minor DIY projects, daily blogging and I tried to stay on top of the laundry, meals and house work!  On top of that I was sick with a cold. I am sure that doesn’t sound unlike most of your schedules, but needless to say, my little play kitchen project did not get much attention. However, this weekend was the first in many weeks that we did not have a jam-packed schedule and I was finally able to have a bit of time for it.  If you missed Upcycled Play Kitchen:  Part 1 and want to check-out it out, click here.

Play Kitchen Update:

I finished painting all of the pieces black and then let the paint cure for several days (or weeks in my case) before adding any tape to it.  When I measured out the board for the back of the TV stand/sink and stove, I added several inches of height to create a backsplash for the finished project.  My plan was to create a faux tile back splash.  I had used this technique in our upstairs bathroom, so I knew it would work well for this project. I took my board and figured out where the top of the “counter top” would be and marked it on my board.  I then measured the space that would be used for the backsplash and began to figure out how big to make the tiles. When measuring and marking out the squares, always start from the middle to ensure that the tiles will end up being centered.  I then taped out a grid of 2″ squares that will serve as tiles.  Taking a trowel (or something similar) apply a thin smooth layer of plaster over the taped off area (approximately 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch thick). Very carefully peel off the tape and let the plaster “tiles” dry completely. Gently sand the tiles to create a smooth surface on each tile. Re-tape the grid (your base coat will become your “grout” colour. Apply a coat of primer and then paint. Remove the tape. You may need to touch up the “grout lines” a bit. For durability, add a few coats of clear (non-colouring) urethane.  I think I added three coats to my bathroom backsplash.

I used 1/4″ painters tape to tape of a grid of 2″ squares.
I applied a thin layer of plaster over the taped grid.
I removed the tape right away, before the plaster set.
I applied two coats of acrylic paint to the faux tiles.
Here is a shot of the finished backsplash with the touched up grout lines.

Next Steps:

I haven’t had a chance to urethane the backsplash yet, so I will definitely need to do that.  I will attach the back board and work on pulling things together ~ attaching the sink, taps/spout and stove elements (which I haven’t painted yet). I really wanted to include fabric in the project, so I opted for a curtain as opposed to a door on the sink/stove cabinet. I love the fabrics I found and hope to make a few other accessories to go with the finished kitchen. Stay tuned.

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Tweenkle, Tweenkle Little Star… How I Wonder Who You Are

My cousin Karen commented on this article by Scary Mommy on Facebook.  The title caught my attention and I just had to read it.  Our daughter Eden is growing-up fast and many days I am not even sure who she is ~ hense the title of the post. She can go from happy and kind to monster daughter in a fraction of a second. She can be respectful and helpful or so snarky that I literally have to walk away. At any given moment, you can never be sure “who” you are going to encounter. These days, she does not bring out the best in me, but the worst part is that I can so see myself in her. We both have the same strong personality and I am determined to ride this out with her. It is certainly causing me to reflect on my parenting and think about what and how I am communicating with her. Despite the trials, we will survive this stage and our relationship will remain in tact!

Eden at 5 1/2 years old.
Eden at 11 1/2.

The Scary Mommy post is absolutely hilarious. It talks about “The Multiple Personalities of a Tween Girl” and how parenting a tween is like parenting someone with multiple personality disorder and ranging in age from 3 to 40. The author goes through the 7 different personalities and it is really funny, probably more so because I can completely relate.  I have never visited this site before, but love the disclaimer in the side bar. Too funny!

What’s Working for Us:

  • Quality time seems to be my best weapon, although that can go “south” rather quickly as well
  • The course that we are taking “Mothers and Daughters in Touch” has been excellent for opening up dialogue and helping us to both see things from the other’s perspective.  I would highly recommend it.
  • I find that seeking Eden out when she is alone in her room and just lying down with her for a chat, has really helped to keep communication open. When I try to open up communication during the hustle and bustle of the day, it often seems to backfire and one of her “alter egos” appears.  However, when I approach her in the quiet of her room, she is often really open and receptive. I am often not there more than a few minutes, but long enough to keep the chat lines open and let her know that she is important.
  • There are so many great books out there.  Here are some of my favourites:  Have a New Kid By Friday (Dr.Kevin Leman), Hold on to Your Kids (Gordon Neufeld and Gabor Mate), the Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman (there are specific books for children, spouse and teenagers – all excellent)

Hang in there, for this too shall pass!

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Homemade Poncho

My daughter is in Girl Guides and has accumulated so many badges that I was worried about fitting them all on her sash.  My friend Michelle suggested I make a “camping blanket” ~ basically a poncho for wearing at Girl Guide camp.  I thought this was a brilliant idea and proceeded to buy the fleece and set to work. I found a set of very simple instructions on-line and made my very first poncho!

Basic Poncho Instructions:

Poncho Pattern

There were several pattern options to choose from. Click the image to visit the website.

Poncho Preparation and Sewing:

I was lucky enough to get the fabric on sale for around $10.  I found the poncho instructions to be very good, so I basically followed the step by step directions outlined above.  Click on an image to enlarge the photos to slideshow format.

I don’t include step 6 in my gallery, but obviously I sewed the hood on! I generally don’t pin, but I did pin the hood because I wanted it to fit just right. Make sure you pin with right sides of the fabric together so the seam is on the inside when you’re done. Also, make sure that the hood is centered on the opening. For this, I folded the poncho to find the center of the neck hole and then began my pinning from the seam at the back of the hood which was lined up with the center of the neck hole on the back of the poncho.

I was a bit nervous about the fringe. Although I was careful and patient, it did bring me back to the episode with Those Devilish Eggs.  I was worried that if I made one cut wrong, the whole thing would be ruined. I spent some time contemplating how to make the fringe cuts all the same length and finally got out my Sharpie and marked my scissors.  I just lined the fabric up to the mark with every cut and  “Voila!” all the same length.  I just “eyeballed” the width.The corners were a bit tricky, but I basically made cuts along both sides approximately 3″ from the corner and then slowly worked my way to the corner by angling each cut slightly.  The fringes are not “square” (rectangular) in the corner, but flow well with the rest of the cuts.

For the pockets, I basically looked one of my hoodies and decided to round the corners a bit.  I folded the fabric in half and cut through both pieces of fabric, so that the rounded corners would be the same.  I then folded the edges and made a finished seam around the pockets.  I made two pockets that were exactly the same size and attached one on the inside and one on the outside.  Michelle suggested the inside pocket and I thought it was a great idea, but didn’t want my stitches showing, so I just sewed the front pocket over the inside pocket stitches to hide them.  To be honest, I sewed the top of both the inside and outside pocket in one shot, but the sides and bottom were done separately.

All in all, it was quite easy to make and turned out well.  I was a bit disappointed that I had to add the badges to it, as it looked pretty good without them.  However, I did make the poncho for that purpose, and in the end it actually looks okay with the badges as well.  Eden didn’t know I was making it, and was really excited when I showed it to her.

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Cabinet Rescue

Several years ago, friends were throwing-out this antique wardrobe.  It was pretty much a BFI rescue.  I must admit, it was pretty ugly.  It was painted chocolate-brown and despite the fact hat it was heavy, it was not overly sturdy.  The original piece had a bar across the top and was designed to be a wardrobe.

Antique Wardrobe

The original interior of the wardrobe.
BEFORE: Wardrobe Trash Rescue
In the midst of stripping down the wardrobe.
Here is the wardrobe completed stripped.

I loved the carvings on the front doors, but the oval panels were quite warped.  Once it had been completely stripped down, we realized that the sides of the piece were done in a different wood than the front and thus we decided that stain would really not do it any justice.  It was huge work stripping the paint from all of the nooks and crannies around the decorative carvings on the front, but it certainly made for a beautiful finished project.

Wardrobe Transformation

We also reinforced the back and replace the bar with shelves.  The panels were removed and replaced with chicken wire. This piece has always served as our dining room china cabinet, but we are planning to move it to our spare room for clothes and linen storage. Who knows, it might make its way back to the dining room yet!

AFTER: Painted China Cabinet

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Daddy’s Little Girl

I came across this viral video that really touched my heart. Heath is a father who strived for perfection in all areas of his life.  He is blindsided by the news that his pregnant wife is carrying a child with Down’s Syndrome. This is a short documentary in which Heath humbly shares his feelings and displays a level of honesty and authenticity that is often hard to find. Many may say that “Paisley” is very lucky to have a daddy like Heath, but I am sure that Heath would be the first to say how fortunate he is to have had Paisley. The bond that they share is truly beautiful!  It is well worth the 14 minutes it takes to watch it.  Grab your kleenex!

Watching this, makes me think about how life’s problems and tragedies have a way of forcing us to “dig deep” and as a result, we become a much stronger person.  When I think about some of the difficult things I have had to face, I am often left feeling grateful for the experience and the opportunity to grow and change.  Sometimes failure, problems and tragedy teach us the most and without them, we would never evolve into the people we are meant to be. What an awesome teacher and inspiration Paisley has been for her dad.

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Slipper Chair Upcycle

Several years ago, we bought a cottage that came complete with all of the previous owners furnishings and dishes.  The cottage was very clean and well-kept, but everything was major tacky.  I was looking through some old pictures and came across this photo of the old slipper chair that was left in the cottage.old slipper chair

We removed all of the old fabric and replaced the batting, as needed.  We then proceeded to reupholster the chair to coordinate with the nursery we were setting up for the baby we were expecting at the time.  This chair has really held up well and is still in our daughter’s room.

reupholstered chair
You can often pick-up old chairs on Kijiji for very little. If you are interested in recovering a chair for your home, there are many great tutorials on-line. Here is a step by step description of what you will need to complete such a project.

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Scrapbooking Room Desk

old desk

We bought this desk from friends about 20 years ago. It is an old melamine style desk that served us well, but I was ready for something a bit different. With the “hutch” on top, the actual work space was limited and this often posed a problem for me when scrapbooking. When in the midst of a project, my open layout is over 12″ and 24″, so that doesn’t leave much room for actually planning, creating and preparing the layouts

I found an antique table on Kijiji and decided it was time to get rid of the desk and make some changes. For the most part, I was just glad to see the desk go, but I knew I would really miss the big drawer on the bottom of the old desk. The drawer was originally designed to house a printer, but it served as the perfect location for my Cricut machine. I loved how it was tucked away, but ready to use with the simple pull of a drawer. I decided to take the desk apart and use the pieces to build a box for the drawer. It was pretty simple to do as most of the pieces already worked for what I had in mind. Basically, I just had to move the left side of the desk over to complete the left side of the drawer box and cut the top to fit. I also had to cut down the boards because I wanted it to fit below the antique desk I had just purchased.  I also added a bead board front that covered the existing drawer and extended to the floor.  I then sanded, primed, painted and distressed the drawer.  I used an old handle from our bathroom renovation to complete the look.  It is not perfect by any means, but it allowed me to keep the drawer and make use of the wasted space below the desk.  My scrapbooking room is small and I have to be very creative in order to keep it organized and functional. (I am certainly not complaining, I feel very fortunate to have a space to call my very own.)

Drawer
Drawer

Antique Table/Desk

The antique table was a library style table, with a large drawer extending across the whole front of the desk. The piece was oak, but they were only asking $40 because it was in very poor condition. I really didn’t mind the worn look on the drawer front and legs, but the top had to be sanded and refinished. By limiting my refinishing to the top of the desk, I was able to sand, stain and urethane with very little time or energy expended. The top came out beautifully and the large surface provides a great space for doing scrapbooking and other projects.

antique desk

upcycled drawer

Drawer and antique desk. You can see this room is a bit cluttered. I have so many tools and gadgets that I just don’t have a “place” for everything. Maybe some day!

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