the little things

Bloggin' from my mac! :-)

Oh my goodness, I am in love!  Finally made the switch!  I have been wanting to do it for soooo long.  Like, since before I bought my last computer.  I was so close to doing it then, but didn't because I was pregnant with Harley and I honestly didn't think I could handle the stress... I was slightly 'moody' at the time! ha ha!  So I had accepted the fact that I would have to wait until the timing was right... I definitely couldn't justify going out and doing it for no reason. As much as I wanted to! hee heeeeee!  

I love.  Love love love.

Still getting used to things.  Everything is so different, but not at the same time.  I am finding it hard to break habits.  Like closing things up on the left... still go to the right e-v-e-r-y time! lol

Anyway, I could go on and on about my computer crush. lol ;-)

Here are some pictures from last Thursday.  We had just gotten home from skating (hence the skating dress lol) and Laine decided that she neeeeeded to play with her Skip It.  Remember those?!  The sun was gorgeous and I thought she looked too cute to not go out with my camera.  It had rained that day so it was muddy everywhere.  So here is my girl, out in her sweet little dress, running and jumping through the mud.  Yep, she has always been the perfect combo of girly girl and tomboy. lol

So cool that the Skip It people added a pull out ribbon!  I would have looooved that as a kid!

I was loving the light!

Such a funny girl.

I also want to share a picture of our first painting.  I had seen it a while ago in a store that I love.  Since I had seen it, I had gone to visit it 4 times. Finally James had had enough and told me to just go get it already!  So we went in.  Still though, I wasn't sure.  I mean, I loooved it... but it is just SO bold!  So, I asked if I could put it on hold for one day.  She said yes, and then mentioned that it would be going on sale the next day.  They were figuring out all the prices and would know the next morning what the price would be.  The sale wasn't the deciding factor, but it was a nice little push to get me over my 'nervous-ness' of buying such a bold piece!  I am loving it now though.  When we first hung it I was a little worried about it's size and how bold it was.  I am thinking I was just used to how empty that huuuuuuuge wall used to be!  It is a vaulted wall, so in scale the painting is just fine.  But yeah, before we hung it, the wall was very empty.  I still want to do an arrangement of frames on those shelves... and I am thinking a collection of green glass.  I have a few green vases on there, but I am gonna keep my eye out for a few additions.  Maybe some wooden or metal letters to sit on the shelves... I dunno.  

Please please, I beg you... ignore the ratty old chair that is sitting in front of it.  I really dislike that chair.  I call it 'the cat chair'  ...cause our sweet kitty Molly has claimed it as her own.  See the sinking back cushion?  Yep, that is her home.  Many many hours a day are spent there. lol  That furniture set is the first seating we bought after we got married.  It has had it's day, and now has throw cushions strategically placed to cover up holes that have worn through.  Did I just admit that on the internet? ha ha  Oh well.  Someday.  For now, it is ok.

Here is the other wall that is behind that sofa that is in the lower right corner of the photo above.  I am thinking of doing the frame leaning against the wall thing and some layering in the mix for on the 2 shelves beside the painting.  Kinda like this, but on a smaller scale.

Yep, never-ending list of ideas going through my head.  

Today is the double whammy day.  Skating 5:15 to 6:30, then soccer 6:30 to 7:30.  30 minutes driving between them.  Fun times. lol

Happy Monday everyone!

Fabric and Decorating on my mind...

I have so many ideas floating around in my head.  So many projects that I want to do.  I am finally starting to gather all of the things to get a few things done for the kids rooms.

Last night I finally decided on some fabric for Laine's room.  I went with some yummy yummy totally delicious fabric by Heather Bailey.  It was a toss up between that and some of the Midwest Modern line from Amy Butler.  Both are equally as yummy.  This is perfect.

 

I love the mix between classic and funky!

I am going to make something along the lines of this...

I can't wait!  She needs something like this baaaad!  It should be fun... just hope it turns out!  Life would be so much easier if Pottery Barn shipped to Canada!  Maybe not as fun ...but definitely easier!  Oh well, I am happy to do it myself... I can't wait to see te fabric in her room!  I am going to do some cushions too... and a few other projects! lol  Can't wait!

Ohhhhh, and how cute is this?  Toatally wrong colours for her room... not that I am that picky or anything! ;-) he heeee  But if I ever get ambitious enough, this would be a fun project too!  Of course it would never end up as cute as this one from Anthropologie (another store I am dying to see in person!) ...but it would be fun!

Cute huh?

I also ordered this cute Amy Butler fabric to cover those canvases for Harley's room.  Should be cute!  I saw this idea on the Martha Stewart site ages ago... can't find the image now though. I just ordered the 2 colours for now.  Will probably order more when he is in a big boy bed to make some fun pillows.

Yeah he might grow out of it when he is older... but for now it is super cute!

When I saw these the other day I snapped them up as fast as I possibly could.  If anybody were to have seen me in Michaels they probably would have thought I was a mad woman.

Loooooove!  Totally can not wait to use them!  I think they would make really cool bookmarks too!  There is also a Amy Butler craft tote at Michaels that I think I am going to have to hunt down a 50% off coupon for!

Yes, I am thinking I have a new addiction for yummy fabric!  I would sooooo love to make a quilt someday!  It is on my 'must learn' list!

Now this little guy.  I need him.  Really really bad.  I first saw him in a picture that Danielle Thompson posted on her blog a month or so ago.  Anyone have any idea how I might hunt one down?  Or... anybody seen one of these in their local stores?  If anybody has and is willing... maybe you could help this desperate owl seeking girl out? lol  He is from Urban Outfitters.  I phoned the store in Edmonton and they said they had them around Christmas! grrrr! lol  I think I am out of luck.  A month of searching online and nothing.  I will keep stalking ebay in hopes that one pops up. ha ha 

   

Yeah, I love him.

Gotta run!  Going to get my hair cut and coloured.  It has been waaaaay too long.  Headbands are my best friend right now. lol  I am thinking funked up messy version of Posh Spice.  Yep, we'll see how that turns out! ha ha

Later!

btw... Typepad has changed how you format posts and I am trying to figure out the fonts.  Sorry it is sooooo small right now, I tried to change it but it wouldn't seem to let me.  No patience right now... so it is gonna stay like that till later! lol

Long Weekend

It has been a fun weekend so far!

I love long weekends.  That extra day to just chill is so awesome.  Been busy with yard work, house washing (to remove red fire retardant crap), quading, visiting and hanging with friends (laughed and laughed until 4am!), sleeping in (thank you children for allowing that for the first time ever!), movies, tv, junk food, cleaning house... just a happy fun weekend.

Since I can't post with out a picture... even when it is just a quick post, to let everyone know we still have a house. ;-)   Even if I don't have any 'good' pictures to post, here is a super blurry pic of the kids in the playroom a few minutes ago...

I'll be back tomorrow.  Off to enjoy the rest of my lazy Monday... gotta come up with something for supper.  Craving something extra yummy... not a clue what though.  Ohhhh... and I officially put my 'can't live without' pile away.  I hope I never have to do that again! :-) 

The most surreal day... ever.

Yesterday was an interesting day.  To say the least.  Nightmare might be more like it.  Have you ever been in the position where you need to quickly decide what belongings you need and what ones you don't?  What items and family treasures you can not live without?  Yep, that was us yesterday.

I'll start at the beginning.  I am in town with Laine for skating, we had left the rink and were on our way home... James calls.  He says "don't be alarmed if there is a fire truck in the drive way when you get home."  I am like "huh?!"  Then he says "can you see smoke from the highway?"  I am like "huh?!"  I mean, come on!  I am starting to freak!  He then tells me how the forestry fire people have a fire truck in our drive way to protect us from an out of control brush fire!  OMG!  I finally turn off the highway onto the gravel and I see multiple helicopters (I think 3 or 4... can't remember now), doing a circle... filling with water from a dugout and dumping on the fire.  So insane.  The fire was on the edge of the hill, and we are on top.  We were the closest residence... the first in it's path.  Not good at all.  The police come and talk to us, he says he does not have the order to evacuate yet...  the way he said 'yet' worried me.  So I asked if I should start gathering things.  He looks at me and says, it might not hurt to gather the things that can't be replaced.  OMG!  This is not happening is all I kept thinking.  I ran around in a panic.  Grabbed my albums, my computer (been a while since I backed up photos onto disc... not a good feeling), my negatives, Laine's art work... and my babies footprints off the wall.  My mom was on the phone with me, telling me where to go next... I am seriously running back and forth not sure what to do next.  I never would have thought of the footprints off the wall either, she made me grab those.  It really sucked to look around and decide if you could live without it or not.

It was soooooo windy yesterday.  Insane.  I guess an old fire (at somebody else's residence) had picked up again with the wind and before they knew it, it was into the bush.  The wind was coming in our direction.  They say it was 1/2 mile away... getting closer to our land. 

At one point I looked up and there were 5 airplanes circling and at least 3 helicopters.  All right there above us. 

 

That was taken out my window.  He dumped the water shortly after.  Then the planes started to fly over.  Right over.  Like... we saw the outlined shadow of a plane on our living room wall.  That is when this happened...

Yep, they dumped on us.  Both our trucks, our house, our garage, our shed, our trees... everything.  We found out later when they came up to talk to us about it, that it wasn't intentional... that the pilot had to dump his load or the wind was going to take him down and he was going to crash.  Yes, if he didn't lighten up he was going down... right in our yard.  OMG, I can not even begin to tell you how surreal yesterday was. 

Here is a shot of our nice pretty view... ha ha!  I guess this just may stay on our trees for a while... the guy said it could take years before it is gone.  Nice.  Like I mean, obviously we didn't want the pilot to crash, and obviously we are beyond grateful that they got the fire under control... but still, it looks like a scene from a horror movie! lol  Oh well, 100% better than no trees... or even worse, no home.  I can live with red trees. 

Yep, horror movie.  Kinda creepy actually. 

...and this is just a portion of it. 

he heeee, I was bugging James earlier and said... "now we have easy directions, when you get to the red trees, turn right!" lol

Here is a shot of the second attempt to dump the fire retardant... in the right spot. lol  These were taken from the veranda on the front of the house.

That was their second and last attempt.  The pilots said no more... too windy, and too dangerous!  I honestly can't believe they made a second attempt after having to bail on the first!

It was just nuts.

Totally surreal.

Thankfully the wind eventually died down and they were able to keep it under control.  They are all still out in the bush though...

I am totally keeping my 'can't live without' stuff packed and by the door.  Yep, it can stay there until the firemen go home.

What is up?!

Not only have I blogged 4 days in a row... it is only 8am!  What is up with that? LOL  I have a million things to do today... behind on stuff as usual (why do I always do that to myself?) but I wanted to pop on here quick before I get so into things I start to forget what day of the week it is! lol

Today the midmonth garden went up at 2Peas.  I am happy cause I actually have pages to go up with it!  Totally missed out on the first of the month garden... not a single page! 

I had fun with these pages, the theme was use your stash... which I have lots of! he heeee!  Ha ha, funny story behind this one (cause I don`t think you can read the journaling in the scan) ...I love my pup, I really really do.  She is a kind hearted, full of energy, very lovable little puppy.  But seriously, she has the worst gas ever!  SO bad!  I had to put her in her kennel last night before I could sit down and watch tv!  Yuck.  Yuck yuck yuck!  I am seriously considering taking her to the vet to get checked out.  It is that bad.

It is a good thing she is cute.

This next one ...the idea was to use up a lot of letter stickers.  Which I did.  I almost feel the need to apologize to him about it being all pink and girly! lol  That is how the party was though, one little boy is a sea of pink and countless little princesses running around him.  No matter what, I could not pull of boy paper with any of the pictures! he heeee

Quick question...  anybody happen to know why I am get this ÉÉÉÉÉ when I go to use my question markÉ  Actually all my keys on the keyboard seem to be going crazy.  What did I do to the poor thingÉ  See... ack!  Help me! lol  Anybody know how to fix itÉ  ha ha  Seems I messed it up half way through this post.  No idea.  Awesome.

Umbrella Inspired Bathroom!

Finished!  It was a quick, easy and affordable makeover.  No painting, no reno... just new 'stuff'!  I am really loving how it turned out.  Really really lots.  It is fun and bright and 'kid-ish' without using kid themed bathroom stuff.

I am really loving the umbrella print in that big white frame too!

Please excuse the bad light... no window in there.  Also, please excuse my toilet... I feel strange putting my toilet on here! LOL! ha ha!

OK, so yeah... um, the canvases did not turn out.  This is a quick reminder for myself so I never attempt it again... at least not for a while anyway!  I AM NOT A PAINTER!! HA!  Too stressful for me.  I will keep the mini canvases I bought and cover them in fabric for Harley's room... yeah, that will work.  As long as they are covered up all nice like... they will be fine!  No WAY were they going up! hee heeee!

This worked much better anyway.  Much much much better.  I  had already bought one of these frames, so I ran back this morning and grabbed 2 more.  LOVE how they turned out, and how they fit in with the umbrellas!  I used this digi kit made by the fabulous Cherie Mask!  I love the pop of colour they add to the room... and the big wide white frames... he heeeee, yes, I am loving how it turned out!

Michael's was the jackpot for most of the stuff in here.  I got the 2 baskets (in the perfect blue and lime green), the little red polka dot suit case (thank you for mentioning it in my comments the other day, it is perfect for all of Laine's little hair things), and the big white frame!  Cute stuff there right now!  The lantern I already had.  The lime green towels and rug I got at Zellers.  The polka dot canisters I stole from Laine's room, which were originally from IKEA! ha ha!  I did give her a set of baskets in trade though... we will see if she freaks when she gets home... they might be going back to her room! lol  And the white metal frames I got at Superstore (a steal at $2.44 each!  can you believe it?)  Ohhhhhh, and of course the umbrellas!  That I got here!  The only thing not in the pictures is this... and I love how it looks with the rest!

So there it is... the kids' bright fun new bathroom!  :-)

The new chalkboard... and other ramblings.

I wanted to share the newest addition to the kitchen... the chalkboard.  I have wanted to do this for years and years.  Probably about 4 years.  I think I first saw the idea in an Ikea catalogue (surprise surprise! lol) and I have wanted to do it ever since. 

Do you know how hard it is to come across a chalk board?  I admit I wasn't hunting for one, but I would keep my eye out.  Then, I was in Staples one day and they had some... of course I didn't snap it up, because I wanted to make sure it fit.  When I did go to buy it, they were sold out.  The lady that helped me hunt for one in the storage shelves above said they were flying off the shelves since they started carrying them.  She was so sweet and offered to phone me as soon as more came in.  I said sure!  Not expecting her to follow through... but she did! 

I love it!  I was nervous about the screws going into the cabinets.  Like, what if I hate how this turns out! lol  But I just love love love it!  It will be a neat little thing to occupy the kids while I am cooking supper etc.  Just ones of those things that make me smile. :-)

Yesterday was the first night of soccer.  Crazy evening.  She had skating from 5:15 - 6:30 and then soccer from 6:30 - 7:30!  30 minutes away!  Yeah, something had to give.  So we left skating early and got to soccer on time.  Next week we might split it in the middle and leave skating 15 minutes early and get to soccer 15 minutes late.  We'll see.  Interesting though! lol  Thank goodness she loves both, so she didn't mind the hectic-ness of it at all.

She got to play net first... poor girl, the ball didn't come near her once.  I don't know if she will be as excited to play net next time around! ha ha!

Little man chilled in his stroller.  Again.  He is so good at that lately... chillin' in the stroller.

Yep, he was tired. 

I also wanted to share a picture of my mothers day flowers!  Aren't they gorgeous!!?

I am working on some fun stuff for the kids bathroom today... well it is the main bath in the hallway, but only the kids use it (unless there are guests of course).  I wanted something fun and bright, but I didn't want to go completely 'kid' themed.  I was searching for the perfect starting point.  Hours and hours spent on Etsy... which wasn't a bad thing (heee heeeeee!), but I wasn't finding the perfect thing.

Then it clicked the other day.  I was like duh!  I already have the perfect thing.  From Etsy even.  I bought it for our entry... where it is hanging right now... but I am moving it to the bathroom!  (I have a plan to replace the spot in the entry too.)  So I have a busy day ahead of me!  I bought some canvases and I want to paint in bright simple patterns.  Simple little 'pops' of colour.  Should be fun!  Hopefully I will have pictures of one of the projects (bathroom makeover or art piece for entry) to share with you all tomorrow!

   

Pretty perfect for a kids bathroom if you ask me.  Most days an umbrella might just come in handy during their baths! lol  he heeeee, I can't wait!  It might be a little crazy... but it is for the kids right?!

Wish me luck! ha ha!

 

quads, a buggy and lots of laughs

On Saturday we headed over to some friends of ours... with the buggy in the back of the truck, one beyond excited little girl, and the camera of course!  There was a fire, hot dogs, marshmallows, and lots of laughs.  The adults enjoyed the fire (along with Harley who chilled in the stroller) and the big kids drove around us.  They drove and drove and drove in circles... over and over and over again.  It was so cute to watch them.  They all had their game faces on... so serious, it almost looked like they weren't having fun!  They were though... they were just concentrating really really hard!  Trust me, that is a good thing! lol

This was the first time we had the buggy out this year... she was soooo excited!

Then they had to trade... we had to watch her pretty close, we discovered she has racing blood in her! lol  Always had to pass... competitive little thing!  It was her first time on a quad too.  She did really good!

They were soooooo cute!

Harley hanging out...

 

Then the 'big boys' had a turn.  Um yeah.  What can I say about this one?  They had us laughing our butts off! 

 

...and what do boys do when they get on quads?  Look for mudholes of course!  he heeeee

Yep, the 8 year old owner of this little quad was so not impressed.  She goes to get on it later and says "Jennifer, your husband got mud all over my quad!  Where is that James Johner anyways?!" ha ha!  I think she had a few words to say to him! LOL 

Wonder where my baby boy gets his trouble maker grin from?  Well, I can show you...

Then the kids switched it up again.  Game faces on of course...

 

And now for my favourite shot...

Yep, it was a blast! 

Yesterday we had my sister in law and her family out for the afternoon.  We played Rock Band (James surprised me with it... got his sister to pick it up!), Mario Kart... and ate waaaay too much Chinese  for dinner!  Yum!  I meant to get some pictures of our band rockin' out... but I forgot.  That game is sooooooo cool!  I looove the drums!  So fun!

Miss munchkin was so exhausted at the end of the day, she fell asleep reading her book at bedtime.  She was still holding it too...

It was such a fun weekend!  I think we are all a little pooped!

 

The Blue Room...

I realized last week, when I posted the pictures of the little man with his totally rad baby curl... that I haven't shared pictures of his entire room yet.

It isn't quite done... although is anything ever really quite done?  Nope, I know for me it isn't anyway! ;-)  I want to add some fabric covered canvases to the wall.  Cool funky stuff.  Maybe some little boy vintage fabric... with some polka dots in the mix. hee heee!  Yep, another mission I am on... finding the right fabric.  Another new addiction perhaps? lol

So this morning, I was cleaning... tidying his room, why not take some pictures right?

This is the view from the door...

His bookshelf.  This is the one I painted a few months ago.  Took forever... but it was totally worth it!  The top shelf has some of his car collection... not too sure what else to do with those yet.  I would love some old printers drawers to hang on the wall, with openings big enough to hold them... that would be fun.  Just need to find some!  *hint hint mom!* ha ha!

This is the wall directly beside the door.  The toy box holds his blankets and sheets etc.

More cars...

I love those cars. :-)  These are the ones with small parts.  The other ones have small parts too (tires) but these ones are the 'noooooo way can he play with those' ones!

The crib is my favourite part... I slept in it when I was a baby.  :-)

I think some of the red vintage looking suitcases would be cute in here as well!  lol... yep always on a mission to find cute things for every room! he heeee!

I love paper.

I have a weakness for paper.

Big tme.

I have always had a weakness for all things paper.  So it isn't surprising that it is top of the 'favourite item, can not live without' scrapbooking list.  Well, for someone who loves paper as much as I do... my paper storage was pretty bad.  Well, the idea was good... just needed to follow through and finish it!  I used to have 4 of these folders (looooove these vertical folders!) that worked fine until I outgrew it.  So, for the last 2 years, most of my paper has been in a big ol' pile beside my 4 full folders.  Not very functional at all.  Not good for keeping in order (I like to sort by manufacturer).  If I pulled one out, and for some reason didn't use it... then it would just get stuck on top of the pile, and not in order with the rest of that paper line etc. 

Yes, for a neat 'everything has to be organized' person like me, it drove me nuts.

Why it took me 2 years to fix it is beyond me.  Then 2 Peas got all that wonderful organizing stuff, so yeah... I finally did it!

ohhhh, it feels good to have that all done!  So easy to find what I am looking for now! 

The best part about that cabinet (other than it holds those folders perfectly!) is these doors...

They are part of the EFFEKTIV system from IKEA.  Have I mentioned my love for IKEA? hmmmmm? lol

The flowers on the frosted glass remind me of that 'old school' KI paper... looooved that paper.

Of course after I got in 'organize and clean' mode... I didn't stop there!  I cleaned up shelf a little.  I want to fill this with lots of jars and baskets... I want it to be like a candy store.  Jars of bright fun yummy things.  It is getting there I think.  I need to get some of those new MM storage jars.  I love them because they are nice and light and made of plastic.  Won't hurt little toes if they get pulled out. ;-)

 

Notice my new Amy Butler bag down there in my bag pile? lol  Love it!  Now I can take my stuff with me if I want to!  Not that the need comes up very often, but I thought it would be super fun to be able to pack up a bag of stuff to take with me when we go away for a few days!  Super impressed when I unpacked it... BIG!  Nice quality too... and yummy yummy fabric!  Much more impressive in person!

Now that my room is nice and clean, I think I should go mess it up! ;-)

Later!