trebuchet

weekend...

2012-03-05T07:19:00.001-08:00

Wow! What a weekend we had...

1- started on Saturday getting ready for the b-day celebration (it was great an my daughter had lots of fun with all her best friends!)
2- organized closets.
3- found an unfinished knitting project from last spring and picked it up in an attempt to finish it soon :/
4- worked outside in our yard cutting grass, weeding, blowing leaves...
5- did homework and organized backpacks.

And of course some laundry, cooking, cleaning around the house, getting kids ready for school and all the usual chores to start every Monday's routine...It was a super busy weekend but overall a very productive and fun one!... What about yours? Hope you had a good one too!

birthday...

2012-02-29T04:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my daughter's birthday (7 years old) and from a while we had been thinking about what to give her as a birthday present. Knowing how much she loves to draw and the amount of time she spends filling so many pages with imagination, creating characters, expressions, stories, etc (and also because we kept finding papers and drawings everywhere around the house), gave us an idea.

The idea was to surprise her and replace some furniture in her bedroom with a drawing table.
We bought a table from ikea (of course, nice and affordable choice for kids) with a base that can be adjusted at a desirable height and therefore be used as a drawing table, so she could have her own space in her own room and make it a special place to dedicate all the time she wants to the activity she loves the most.
So yesterday morning, as soon as she left for school, we started getting everything ready, and when she came back home she was really surprised indeed! She was very happy and loved her gift and told us how much she appreciated it and all the drawings she was going to make!

On the walls I hung some empty picture frames where she can display her drawings and decorate her room.
I am so happy because I see how much she enjoys it and because we are able to give her the opportunity to fulfill what she loves. I like watching how much effort she puts in each drawing trying to express what's in her imagination and with dedication to get better every day.
I just love her with all my heart...

soon spring...

2012-02-26T18:34:00.001-08:00

It is so delightful to discover the beautiful sprouts and blooms that remind me how fast the new season is approaching... I took some pictures and just wanted to share them with you...
Hope you have a nice week dear friends!

book bags...

2012-02-23T19:25:00.001-08:00

A while ago I sewed some bags for my van to be attached in the back of the front seats for my kids to store their books, toys, etc and to prevent the usual big mess that you end up with inside your car.
I know you can find them already made or even fancier with pockets and more gadgets, but I wanted to make them my self, with very durable easy to wash fabric, in a fun color and personalized with their own initials.
The first ones I made were a great success! They loved them... once in a while I would replace their books, toys, etc and clean up the trash accumulated in the pockets keeping the car in a "decent" state and again, another way to encourage my kids to read...

After lots of use and many many washings I decided to make new ones, this time, with a more "grown up" look, in a simple easy pattern and again in a strong washable fabric.
I know most kids would always prefer to watch a dvd in the car but I think it is a good opportunity for them to look outside and have the option of reading a book instead of watching a movie and missing the scenery.

today...

2012-02-22T18:25:00.003-08:00

I had been very busy lately but today I had the chance to stay home, slow down a bit, and just do some light stuff around the house.
I also found the time to finish the book that I started a while ago called "The wet nurse's tale". It was a very good story, really compelling and a wonderful example of a mother's love for her child.
We had a grey day today, but very pleasant for me... I think I was able to save some energy for tomorrow, that appears to be another very busy one...
Have a wonderful day!

warm surprise...

2012-02-21T16:28:00.001-08:00

A couple of days ago I had a really nice surprise in my mailbox... Sabine sent me all these beautiful gifts! A lovely card with a "purple finch" that she painted herself and a transparent pebble magnet also with her own drawing. Another big surprise was the softest yarn I ever felt and a pair of knitted mittens or "bear's paws" (also by Sabine!... how special!) I absolutely love and wear them in these cold days! Thank you so much! I truly appreciate everything, especially being hand made, like her blog is called, "With her own two hands"... ♥

black and white...

2012-02-19T13:05:00.002-08:00

Whether on their own or together, these two contrasting colors make a bold statement. Love it! Have a nice week!

boys and girls...

2012-02-16T16:57:00.003-08:00

Beautiful decorative items for the little ones and their bedrooms...

love letters...

2012-02-08T17:16:00.000-08:00

Not long ago, my father gaveme something that I considered a treasure that I wanted to share with youbefore, but then I thought that Valentine’s would be the perfect opportunityfor this post.

He wanted me to have the loveletters that my grandparents (his parents) used to write to each other beforegetting married. I didn’t know they existed and I was so moved by the factthat I was going to be able to learn more about their lives, because I didn’thave the opportunity to know my grandfather (he died way before I was born) andI have very little memories about my grandmother who, according to whatpeople say, I resemble very much.

The letters where written from 1924 to 1926. Thehandwriting is so beautifuland they wrote with such deference and propriety that it made me sighwhen reading the words they used, with affection and respect, admiration and romanticismthat I believe nobody uses anymore.

We rarely think that once our grandparents used to beyoung, passionate and in love and that they had to wait weeks to receive theseletters and wait even more to be able to see each other.

Now I wonder if we should try to bring some of thatromanticism from the past into our hectic cyber world and once in while write a real letter with pen and paper and some sentimental and romantic words like our grandparents used to do.

Have a Happy Valentine's!

grey...

2012-02-06T18:51:00.000-08:00

Grey... boring or beautiful?
What do you think?

rain and chicken soup...

2012-02-04T15:12:00.000-08:00

This weekend was supposed to be a fun one in the company of good friends coming over for dinner, but unfortunately today I woke up having the same symptoms of a cold that my kids had the last couple of days.

So on this rainy weekend we will stay home getting some rest, perhaps playing a couple of games and trying to get better soon with the help of a good bowl of some hot chicken soup.

Hope you're doing well!

great reading...

2012-02-01T17:07:00.000-08:00

Oh my! What a fantastic read! I devoured this book in only a couple of days. It has everything I always look for in a story.

First of all, the author is a woman (love that). Second, it is historical fiction, which always allows me to learn about the past, and how much people had to endure going through really tough situations in order to survive.

The story is rich, it has a solid plot and the characters are realistic. It was truly remarkable... Definitely a must-read!
Last night I started reading "The Wet Nurse's Tale". The story is about a young women in Victorian England who must overcome obstacles of poverty working as a wet nurse (breastfeeding other children when the mother was unable or chose not to nurse the child herself). I think I'll go through this one quickly as well. It's turning out to be very interesting.

stars...

2012-01-30T18:04:00.000-08:00

For a while I had my eye on these 3D stars called "Moravian Stars" at an antique store near my house. They're made of metal and glass and so beautiful. They both have 18 points and each point contains four triangular pieces of clear glass. The metal has a bronze finish but the weathered look is what gives it the real beauty.

Each lantern had been cut and soldered by hand and I am not quite sure how old these ones are...

They can be hung indoors or outdoors although the bigger one is unbelievable heavy.

And so a week ago, I was finally brave enough to ask for a better price and surprisingly they gave me such a good deal that after paying, I found my self almost running out the store in fear that the lady was going to regret the discount... :)

I already have at least ten different places to display them around the house and I really loved them! What a great find!

lots of reading...

2012-01-26T16:43:00.000-08:00

Today I received some of the books that I ordered online a couple of days ago. It always makes me happy when I get home and find a box from Amazon standing at my front door! All of these books have great reviews and completely different topics.

I am already reading "My Enemy's Cradle" by Sara Young, and so far so good! We'll see about the other ones...

Have a great day!

movies 2...

2012-01-25T11:54:00.000-08:00

Here is part 2 of other movies that I really love (not in order of preference) and had been watching lately (some of them over and over again...)

1- The Last Station (2009)

2- The Piano (1993)

3- The Duchess (2008)

4- The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)

5- The Pianist (2002)

6- Coco Chanel (2008)

Have a great day!

rain and baking...

2012-01-22T11:07:00.000-08:00

We are having a rainy weekend in Atlanta. Ideal weather for baking some cookies, enjoy our home together and not doing much. Hope you had a pleasant weekend too!

bronze...

2012-01-19T19:21:00.000-08:00

I am still very busy trying to finish some projects that I need to complete very soon and a thousand other things that prevent me to have the time to blog more often as I would like.

And so, for now I am just sharing some of my favorite images with different tones and shades of bronze. Ah!... such beautiful color!
See you soon!

busy...

2012-01-13T13:55:00.000-08:00

I had been working on a project that I started a while ago. I am so happy to be busy and sitting at my drawing table, that I don't realize how fast the hours are flying by.
I am also trying to spend less time in front of the computer and catch up with the stuff that needs to be finished... although I always have the time to read my favorite blogs ;-)
It seems that winter finally arrived in Atlanta and so I imagine that, during the weekend, we will stay home, slow down a bit, cook some good food and enjoy the warmth of our fireplace.

Hope you have a good one too!

in my mailbox...

2012-01-12T05:22:00.000-08:00

A while ago I found another nice surprise in my mailbox from my dear friend Lily with some lovely presents (and some "to die for" chocolate as well!).

I am already picturing a knitting project for my daughter using these very cute "fish" buttons! Aren't they lovely?

Thank you so much!

soft with contrast...

2012-01-11T08:40:00.000-08:00

I am so in love with these pictures. The
overall look and decoratingstyle has energy without being overwhelming or too bold.

The common factor is the white, which always makes any room feel fresh and crisp without feeling cold (if choosing the right tone of white).
The other point in common is the touch of green (my all time favorite). Bringing the outdoors inside, of course, always makes the space alive and inviting.
These two colors combined are usually my first choice and without any doubt, this color scheme gives a softened look with contrast.
The dark furniture (antique or new, preferably streamline) incorporates elegance, thanks to the infusion of dark brown, without being too sober or too formal that in my opinion, becomes less comfortable to live in (especially when having kids).

What do you think?

delicious...

2012-01-10T07:04:00.000-08:00

I know Christmas has already past, but that doesn't mean we cannot still enjoy some of the traditional and delicious treats.

My all time favorite are pecan puffs (also called pecan balls or meltaways) ... They're just simple nutty shortbread rounds, rolled in powdered sugar. They look like delicate snowballs and taste like heaven. They're totally addictive and that's why I try not to make them very often (otherwise I would be devouring them all in a blink of an eye).

Here is the recipe in case you want to give it a try... Enjoy!

no more tangles...

2012-01-07T11:07:00.001-08:00

Dealing with tangled necklaces when you have to go out and even more so when you're late (in my case, most of the time) can be really frustrating. Especially for my husband :-)
So, using a big frame, I screwed some pegboards onto a thin sheet of wood (that I attached to the back of the frame) to hang my bracelets and necklaces to have them organized and tangle free.

When jewelry is stored away in drawers it can be forgotten. Instead of hiding it in a jewelry box, why not display it as a decorative source? Even if not owning expensive peaces.

Now it is really pleasant to get ready to go out and being able to choose what I am going to wear, without having to deal with annoying knots.

On the down side, now they are very accessible to my daughter's reach as well... and once in a while I see her walking around the house wearing a "familiar" necklace and pretending to be a grown up. The good thing is that she can also put them back in place, without tangling them up!

book and movie...

2012-01-06T17:16:00.000-08:00

At first, I hesitated reading this book, but I kept seeing it on every bookshelf in almost every store that I decided to give it a try, although I am not particularly interested in books written about the Depression era or about a circus.

After a few pages, I could sense that this was going to be more that just a good book.

Not only is it an engaging story that offers a glimpse into a fascinating world foreign to most of us, but it is also a book that can be appreciated by all ages.

It has romance, suspense, adventure, and the best part, a perfect ending.

After finishing the book, I rented the movie and even though I felt there was not enough character development, overall it was pretty good and an entertaining film worth viewing.

beautiful sky...

2012-01-06T08:37:00.000-08:00

"So as to comprehend that the sky is blue everywhere one doesn't need to travel around the world."

Goethe

Going through our pictures, I found a few displaying a beautiful blue sky. Here are some of them...

1- our local air show

2- visiting NASA

3- gum balls still hanging from the sweet gum tree

4- our maple tree already sprouting

5- geese filling the sky

6- flying back home after visiting my parents

Have a great weekend...!

shelves...

2012-01-03T09:40:00.000-08:00

During the holiday break and between all the amusements and fun activities, we also managed to do some clean up and organization around the house. My son's bedroom was in need for some good wide shelves to place all of his legos in order and out of the way. At Ikea we found the perfect ones. So now he is able to display his collection that he is very proud of and still have room to play.
Next on the list; another "organization" project that involves storing all the Christmas decorations, ornaments, tree, wreaths, etc...
Ummmm, maybe tomorrow.

Happy 2012...

2011-12-30T13:45:00.000-08:00

"Every new year people make resolutions to change aspects of themselves they believe are negative. A majority of people revert back to how they were before and feel like failures. This year I challenge you to a new resolution. I challenge you to just be yourself."

A.Elderwyn

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right ...!

no turkey...

2011-12-30T12:23:00.000-08:00

What about Greek food for New Year's eve? I know it is not a traditional meal, but we are so crazy about this Mediterranean cuisine that we don't mind breaking the tradition with some

dolmadakias, spanakopita, tzatziki sauce, souvlaky and of course a good greek wine to accompany our meal.

What about you? What are your plans?

Happy New Year! or I should say... ευτυχισμένο το νέο έτος
(but what do I know, It's all Greek to me...)

roses...

2011-12-28T15:32:00.000-08:00

Morning craft for today... embellished headbands with some nice scraps of fabric!

now reading...

2011-12-26T16:01:00.000-08:00

I am almost at the end of the book "The Hangman's Daughter" (not quite the ideal novel to read during Christmas time) but it caught my attention when I was looking for something "different" to read and I must tell you I am liking it a lot!... It is an exciting story of an era when witches were hunted, and people were very superstitious. The author actually descended from a line of hangmen, and so he takes one back in history to that place in time (near 17th century) describing the executioner's life, his "job", his family and the town's events. I know... a little dark, but I am trying to cheer it up with a warm cup of tea and honey...

almost there...

2011-12-23T13:20:00.000-08:00

...are you ready for Christmas? Is all the wrapping, decorating and baking done? We are ready and trying to slow down a bit so we can enjoy this special holiday. Nothing extravagant, just taking pleasure in being together!
Merry Christmas to you dear friend!

beautiful felt...

2011-12-19T08:34:00.000-08:00

My kids thought about giving something special to their best friends and teachers for Christmas, and so after a couple of ideas, we all agreed in making some colorful, fun and personalized Christmas stockings in different sizes, using felt, which we love, because it is so easy to work with, also very inexpensive, and you can get them in almost any color you want...

We still need to make and decorate a few more and then fill them up with some nice goodies so they can be wrapped up and ready before the beginning of our winter break...
Enjoy your day!

nice and easy...

2011-12-17T13:51:00.000-08:00

We had a nice and easy weekend.

I had no errands to run, it was very cold outside, and so we stayed home.
Our kids enjoyed wearing their pj's all day long, playing and drawing,

and finishing a colorful puzzle.

It was good to stay home relaxing during these frenzy times before the holidays.

Have a good week!

wrapping...

2011-12-16T13:55:00.000-08:00

I really enjoy decorating presents (no matter the occasion) with uncommon and different kinds of embellishments... especially for Christmas, I usually like using many of the beauties that nature has to offer like different pine cones sizes, star anise, dry lemons or oranges slices, cinnamon sticks, etc... I think, no matter what's inside, putting a little dedication and simplicity into the wrapping, always makes it nicer and rewarding when its time to give a present...

I loved that my daughter helped and how carefully she picked and chose all the different embellishments she wanted to glue on the gifts... (another moment to treasure)

Have a wonderful weekend dear friends...

white Christmas...

2011-12-16T07:24:00.000-08:00

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten and children listen
to hear sleigh bells in the snow..."

Have a lovely weekend...!

organization...

2011-12-11T07:38:00.000-08:00

For the beginning of the new year, I am working on an "organization" resolution around the house... the room that needed it the most was my space, where I have all my projects going on... So I decided to make the most of the closet I have and, after taking everything out, I installed a few shelves (I bought a 4x8 sheet of MDF at my local home supplies store and made them cut to size)... then after a nice coat of paint and some good supports screwed onto the wall, I started to organize everything in place and make it look neat and well labeled using all the stuff I already had, like jars, picture boxes, baskets, etc...
I know it needs more color, but I kind of like the clean neutral way it looks now and I'm so pleased that I can find whatever I'm looking for without having to close the door in order to cover up the mess...
Now, I am moving on with other parts of the house... I hope I can keep up with this new year "resolution" I started and don't get sidetracked with other projects that keep "emerging" in my head :(

bread, yarn, fabric, fire...

2011-12-10T07:48:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, after the kids came home from school, we stayed inside, made a fire, and baked some bread. Then I organized some yarn and fabric and went to bed early with a good book. Today we are planning on going to town to see Santa and perhaps take a carriage ride...
Hope you're having a nice Saturday!

forest quilts...

2011-12-03T13:23:00.001-08:00

Last year I fell in love with one of the many beautiful creations that the talented Sharilyn from lovely design posted on her blog. She designed a lovely quilt with a pattern of many cute little trees which inspired me to start sewing and make one for each of my kids...
I gathered a nice amount of holiday prints in their favorite colors and started working right away so they'll be ready for Christmas...

So, last year, when it was time to open up their presents they also found their Christmas quilts under the tree and I was so glad to see how much they liked and appreciated the quilts that I really enjoyed sewing for them...
A couple of days ago we pulled them out of the closet and it made me happy to see how they still love to snuggle in bed every night under their Christmas quilts while asking how many days are left for Santa to come...

our little Christmas village...

2011-12-02T14:00:00.001-08:00

A couple of days ago we were able to complete our little Christmas village, a project that started back in September after we found this little house in one of my favorite antique/thrift store... We had three months to work on it; so we thought... But December came unbelievable fast.

We were able to finish two more houses using balsa wood and popsicle sticks... My kids really enjoyed painting them, adding tiny wreaths to each door, lights, and of course a Christmas tree...

Our small Christmas village needs to grow more, perhaps add tiny people, may be more houses and other decorations, but I think it would be nice to add something every year as a Christmas project... So, tomorrow we will go and find a little Santa Claus and make an addition to our Christmas village...

movies...

2011-11-29T17:57:00.001-08:00

Here are some of my favorite movies (not in order of preference)... the ones I can watch anytime, all the time and never get tired of...

1- Pride and Prejudice (2005)

2- Little Women (1994)

3- Stepmom (1998)

4- Amelie (2001)

5- Jane Eyre (2011)

6- You've got mail (1998)

7- One true thing (1998)

8- Amadeus (1984)

9- Atonement (2007)

What about you? Which are the ones that have inspired you or never fail to put a smile on your face?
Have a wonderful day!

gray but colorful...

2011-11-28T15:00:00.001-08:00

It's a cold and gray day outside, but inside I am seeing lots of beautiful colors for a new project that I have in mind...
Have a wonderful week!

bread baking...

2011-11-27T07:29:00.001-08:00

Yesterday we baked some bread following this recipe and it turned out to be easier and more delicious than we thought it would be!

There is something about baking bread that gives anyone, including kids, a big sense of accomplishment, there's nothing like the smell and taste of freshly homemade bread.
We loved it and for sure it will become a delicious and enjoyable routine in our home especially during the winter time...

Have a great week!

limes and oranges...

2011-11-23T15:43:00.001-08:00

When the cold days arrive and the holidays are just around the corner, I really enjoy having the time staying home doing simple projects, like drying limes and oranges to make little decorations for our home... I love how the fragrance of these citruses fill the entire house with its scent while drying inside the kitchen oven...

So once the slices are nice and brown they become pretty garlands to decorate our fireplace (love the aroma of the oranges that emanates with the heat of the fire) or our Christmas tree (using a thin needle to pierce gently with a fine thread) I love the way the light shines through the oranges or limes showing their beauty and simplicity.

There's a huge amount of projects to do using dried fruits... like for Christmas cards, ornaments, place cards for your dinner table, centerpieces, wreaths, etc...

Or for a good cup of tea with honey... it was very convenient to have some lemons left around because we had been feeling a little sick with a bad cold, so it was definitely the right craft for the week!

jumper dress...

2011-11-23T07:43:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I finished sewing an easy and quick jumper dress for my daughter using some warm and inexpensive brown corduroy combined with a cute orange cotton fabric that I found long ago in a tiny but lovely fabric store...with a warm turtle neck and plain tight I think it will be great for those cold days approaching really fast...

outside our window...

2011-11-22T08:49:00.001-08:00

This morning while I was tiding up the bedroom I saw outside our window a beautiful male northern cardinal... It took me a while to get the camera, adjust the light, then replace the lens and during this whole time he literally kept waiting and looking at me, until I was ready for the picture...

Happy Thanksgiving...

2011-11-18T19:32:00.001-08:00

I truly wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you have the chance to enjoy this holiday with family and good friends...and of course, the good food as well...
All the best...!

loves it...

2011-11-18T05:52:00.001-08:00

As soon as I finished sewing the lovely corduroy fabric that my good friend Lily sent me from Germany into a cute bag, my daughter quickly stuffed it up with some of her favorite belongings such as box of crayons, story books, toys, games, etc... and decided she would take it to her friend's house for a play date and also for long rides in the car...I'm sure she'll give it a good use and no doubt I'll be washing this bag a lot...! She certainly loves it...! Thank you so much Lily...

fall quilt... done!

2011-11-14T15:48:00.001-08:00

After having my two kids with the awful stomach flu virus and a very busy week, I was finally able to, little by little, finish the fall quilt that I started a couple of months ago...
I am fully aware that I am not a quilter and that it has many imperfections, but I am very satisfied with the results and it was very enjoyable to see it coming together... I really like the sawtooth pattern...
...and best of all it's keeping us nice and cozy while we watch tv or just read a book...
Have a great week!

playing in the leaves...

2011-11-13T11:26:00.001-08:00

We had a sunny and beautiful weekend... It was also a little cold, but this didn't stop my kids to go outside and play with the leaves... of course, the fun ended when we had to start raking...

botanical prints...

2011-11-10T06:48:00.000-08:00

Botanical prints are perhaps one of my favorite types of artwork for their beauty, color and simplicity and they are a nice way of adding sophistication and nature to any room in the house...
The other big plus is that you can go to any bookstore and get an inexpensive illustrated botanical book or hunt in some antique or thrift store for unique prints and getting, as a result, a fine and fabulous framed collection for very little money...

vibrant red...

2011-11-06T12:16:00.000-08:00

Have a wonderful and energetic week dear friends, like these vibrant and beautiful reds...

another wreath...

2011-11-04T12:04:00.000-07:00

Another inexpensive and easy project... I made a wreath using some sugar pine cones I had lying around for a long time... I love the flower shapes you get when you cut them in "slices" ...

It's important to have a steady and flat surface to work on when using a knife or a blade to cut through the tough shell of a pine cone... and of course, always wear gloves!
Have a great weekend...!

learning to knit...

2011-11-02T17:13:00.000-07:00

Last year I found this cute little set of knitting needles and I couldn't resist buying it for my daughter who was five years old at the time. She was very excited about the idea of learning how to knit, so we sat down together and I dedicated a good amount of time teaching her... but then, she didn't show enough interest to learn. Or perhaps it was the fact that her little hands didn't yet have the skills to do it, which made her feel a little frustrated.

This year we tried again... and it was amazing how easily and fast she got the hang of it... She was able to concentrate and follow all the steps without loosing perseverance for at least two good hours!

Her first project was a blanket for her little doll, and I cannot tell you how happy and proud she felt when she finished it... This accomplishment made her even more enthusiastic to do more knitting and it made me think that, even in times of Playstations, Wii, X-boxes, etc, these kinds of activities shouldn't be forgotten because of the invaluable fact of knowing how to do things and being able to create something with your own hands...

surprise...

2011-11-01T05:10:00.000-07:00

What a great surprise I found yesterday in my mailbox from my dear friend Lily.
A beautiful corduroy fabric with cute little birds in it and two strips of another color for handles, a nice combination to make a lovely bag... I've even got a postcard and CHOCOLATE!!! A delicious hand made Trüffel Güse fine chocolate made in Hannover, Germany, where Lily lives!
I couldn't wait to taste the chocolate and now I can't wait to start sewing the bag!
Thank you so much Lily! This sweet surprise really made my day!

ten reasons...

2011-10-31T17:23:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, when I went into my son's classroom I saw on the wall a poster about encouraging 4th graders to read... These ten reasons are simple yet wise for kids to understand and to be reminded of the ennoblement and richness that this activity can provide to each one of us... and loving the way I love to read, I took a picture of it with my phone and re-wrote it here to share with you...
Have a wonderful day!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-29T11:00:00.000-07:00

Have a safe and wonderful Halloween !!!

just finished...

2011-10-28T06:24:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading "The Last Time I Saw Paris" by Lynn Sheene... A beautifully written historical fiction with a strong woman as a main character (which I always enjoy) and a good mix of excitement, suspense and intrigue.

A fantastic romantic thriller with an impeccable amount of historical details researched by the author. Worth the read!

Have a wonderful weekend!

weekend...

2011-10-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

We had such a gorgeous weekend, the weather was beautiful and so we stayed home and had the chance to do many things together... We played some games outdoors, enjoyed good food, had the time to make a fall wreath, complete a 3D puzzle of the "Notre Dame Cathedral" and do some sewing... It was busy but enjoyable and productive...
How was your weekend?
Have a wonderful day!

blue and white stripes...

2011-10-21T09:44:00.000-07:00

Blue and white stripes are undoubtedly associate it with the beach, the ocean and summer... and although I am enjoying so much of this beautiful season with its browns, reds, and oranges, I could not resist the freshens, the gleam and the crispness that these two colors together produce and irradiate...

Have a great weekend!

board games...

2011-10-20T14:35:00.000-07:00

Now that the days are pretty chilly and it's starting to get dark much earlier, after dinner and before going to bed, we enjoy playing together some board games that we had been collecting for awhile... some of them are old (even before my husband and I met....)
There's such a variety of games out there and most of them quite affordable compared with some of the toys that most kids want (and which they play very little and get bored very fast) so my personal thinking is that, buying (or giving a board game as a gift), is a great way to spend the money...
I love the fact that our children also enjoy this fun activity, playing from the classic ones to simple memory games, they really appreciate the family time we spend together, taking advantage of the cold weather and cuddling up in our cozy living room...

brown for girls...

2011-10-16T15:39:00.000-07:00

We all know very well that pink or purple are the most favorite colors for every little girl, but I am always trying to encourage my daughter about wearing other ones and how pretty they can look... And I know that brown may not be the best choice for many people, but for me, when it comes to girls clothes, it is, perhaps, one of the colors I like the most (either for cold or warm seasons)... I think there's so many beautiful brown fabrics out there and it can still look pretty and girlie and of course out of the ordinary...
I made this dress for my daughter a couple of weeks ago and she has been wearing it a lot... I guess I'll be sewing more brown outfits from now on...

another rainy day...

2011-10-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

Today we are having another chilly and rainy day... so we stayed home, had a nice hot soup for lunch, then I did some baking (easy and delicious muffins) and now I am having some cappuccino while my kids start spreading their homework on our kitchen table to get ready for tomorrow's back to school day...

rainy day...

2011-10-10T08:33:00.000-07:00

Today we are staying home... there's no school for the next couple of days (fall break)... so we have no plans, just enjoying the rainy day, playing scrabble... have a wonderful day!

green...

2011-10-09T08:26:00.000-07:00

Beautiful green...! (and I promise, no more pictures of myself.... :-)

Have a great day!

hello there...!

2011-10-08T11:17:00.000-07:00

Have a great weekend!

abc done!

2011-10-08T10:28:00.000-07:00

Last night I finished the cross stitched abc that I started long ago for my daughter... She really liked it and of course wanted me to add "pink" to it so it would look perfect for her!

Halloween...

2011-10-04T08:46:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we had such a gorgeous weather, and so it was ideal for us to go outside and put up all our Halloween decorations...
And like every year we also adorned our home inside with cute vintage lights, pretend spiderwebs and all kinds of "spooky" decorative items around the house...
Have a nice day!

butterflies and flowers...

2011-10-02T07:23:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago my Mom gave me a magazine about how to crochet beautiful flowers and butterflies to add as accessories to sweaters, hats, or just make them as pins for a cute winter dress. She showed me how to do it and I think I am getting hooked on these pretty and easy flowers that require just a little bit of yarn and patience.
But I know that before I can entirely dedicate my time to this new craft, I need to finish my fall quilt and the ABC cross stitch project for my daughter, among others that are right now just laying around my desk...
Have you ever tried this kind of craft? If you did, it would be lovely for me to see some pictures!

captivating...

2011-10-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been reading a lot and "Sarah's Key" is probably the most absorbing and memorable book I've read in the last couple of weeks. The story is captivating, emotional and very intense...

I really liked the way the author alternates between the past and the present bringingboth periods together in order to pull you in with a novel that really touches your soul.

Very well written, however painful at times, but with a good description of French historical moments that I wasn't even aware of. I definitely recommend it and perhaps I would also suggest to have a handkerchief nearby...

I am really looking forward to watching the movie.

Have you read the book? What do you think?

orange is for autumn...

2011-09-30T10:40:00.000-07:00

Orange is the most characteristic color of this season and besides the fact that fall is my favorite time of the year, this beautiful and vibrant color makes me really happy!
Have a great weekend...!

handmade...

2011-09-29T14:45:00.000-07:00

During my visit to Argentina I've got this beautiful and unique set of coffee cups as a gift. They are handmade and so original with its handles carved out of wood.
I love them and can't wait to use them!

back home...

2011-09-29T14:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I came back from my trip and I can happily say that it went much better than I thought it would. I missed my kids terribly, but those ten days went really fast!
What didn't go really fast was the long waits at the airports and the flights... but I was able to enjoy the view and take beautiful pictures of the Andes (the world's longest

continental mountain range) and Mt. Aconcagua, the highest peak that rises to an elevation of about 6,962 m (22,841 ft) above sea level... breathtaking!

see you soon...

2011-09-14T14:14:00.000-07:00

Unexpectedly I will need to travel for at least 10 days, leaving the country, not for vacation, but for personal reasons. This is going to be the first time I am away from my kids since they were born. It may sound a little unusual that for 9 years I never separated from them... Although times went by very quickly and in some occasions I felt exhausted, I think I was really fortunate to spend every single day with them witnessing their little achievements and progress and treasuring precious and challenging moments.
So it's not necessary to say how much I am going to miss them and how difficult it's going to be when I think how far from each other we will be.

I still need to do lots of stuff before leaving tomorrow night. The first thing I prepared for this trip, was a couple of books to read (The flight is quite long and I have to wait a few hours at the airport in transit...)
I also wanted to make sure to bring a little something for friends and family and so when I had a few minutes, I got some chocolate boxes, wrapped them up, and now they are ready to be packed.
I am not sure if I would be able to post on my blog while I am traveling, but I'll try to check my mail and comments...
So... I'll see you soon...
I will miss you....
Daniela

lovely...

2011-09-12T07:59:00.000-07:00

Today I've got a surprise in my mailbox from my friend Lily... beautiful ribbons and a lovely card!
What a nice way to start my day!

early dinner...

2011-09-11T09:19:00.000-07:00

Waiting for some good friends...
Have a nice day!

ABC's...

2011-09-10T12:44:00.000-07:00

When I was pregnant with my son, I started to make an alphabet cross-stitch to hang on a picture frame for his nursery room. I remembered how much I enjoyed doing this while thinking how my life would change and how much happiness my son will bring to our lives.
And while I was stitching the letter "G" I remembered we had to rush to the hospital because the time had come....
I think I managed to finish it a couple of months after my baby was born. Being a new mom kept me really busy and I only wanted to dedicate my time to him.

Then when our precious daughter came into our lives, I thought about making one for her as well... The thing is that I never finished it, and the other day, while looking for something else, I found the cross-stitch magazine with the in-completed ABC inside. So, feeling a little guilty I'm now working on it and even though a couple of years have passed I would like to frame it and give her a surprise...

last year...

2011-09-09T08:22:00.000-07:00

Last year I went into a period of time where I only felt the urge to knit and nothing else. May be you feel the same way, when you just have the will to do one thing and only stop when you get totally weary thinking that it's definitely time to try something else...

So, I knitted some little jackets and vests for my daughter who at the time was in kindergarten. I used different qualities and types of yarn and many colors (except pink... of course, always her favorite choice..!).
I loooove knitting, but I know my limitations and I am perfectly aware that I am not very talented at this... that's why I always pick easy stitches and try simple patterns and then, to make it look "nicer" I would add pretty buttons, cute little crocheted balls in a different color around the neck or a colorful and appropriate complement like the beautiful flower pin that my daughter made!
Here I'm showing you some of the "respectable looking" results... (in a very humble way...)

Have a great weekend...!

christmas project in september...

2011-09-07T18:17:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago, I passed by a new antique/thrift store near where I live and found this cute hand made wooden house. Because it has a soft light inside, I thought it would be great as a "night light" for my kids.
They absolutely loved it and at night it looks so pretty with all its illuminated little windows.

Then while at the crafting store, we found several different unfinished wooden houses and my kids thought that they could decorate them as the house I bought first. Using popsicle sticks for the walls and pine cone scales for the roof, we will illuminate them inside using tea lights.
This store also has a nice selection of small accessories for doll houses, and so the project became bigger and more ambitious, because now we are thinking about making a little village for Christmas and perhaps place it under our tree or on top of the mantel of the fireplace (we found a cute tiny lantern and pretend miniature Christmas lights that we will hang between the houses).
And because we still have 3 more months to go, once in a while, and in our free time, we glue and paint the little houses... imagining how beautiful it would be once it is all done.

great reading...

2011-09-06T07:24:00.000-07:00

Last night I finished the book called "The Soldier's Wife". I wanted to blog about it before while I was reading it because it was becoming so captivating and a real "page turner" but then I decided to wait until the end. And now I can tell you that I absolutely loved this novel from the very first sentence to the last one.

This book is filled with rich details, both of the location (Set on the English Channel Island of Guernsey) and of the period (1940-1946). With a mix of love, history, survival and struggle this story left me filled with emotions and thoughts about compromising, courage and moral questions. And of course, I highly recommend it...

in progress...

2011-09-03T08:31:00.000-07:00

It has been a week since I started cutting all the little triangles and squares for my fall quilt and I am really enjoying the process. It is incredibly easy and it is progressing really fast! So far, I am very happy with the results and every time I finish sewing another star, I can picture my family and my self sharing one precious moment on a fall chilly day.

legos...

2011-09-02T18:18:00.000-07:00

My son had been a big fan of Legos since he was 5 (now 9 years old). He would spend hours and hours building and rebuilding, creating new characters and seriously cool "flying" devices...

Building and experimenting is what sparks a child’s imagination allowing him to bring his visions to life. This is one of the reasons why I am not complaining about the fact that his Legos are starting to take over his bedroom, not only because he would always spend his allowance on this, but also because all of our friends and family know about this big passion of his and on every christmas, birthday, or any other special occasion they get more and more Legos for him...

And if you ask my son "If you were in a deserted island and you could only bring one thing... what would it be?" ........... yes, you guessed it....

biscotti alle mandorle...

2011-08-31T18:52:00.000-07:00

Today I felt some kind of impulse to make "biscotti alle mandorle" (almond biscotti). It has been a while since I baked these and I love how the aroma of the roasted almonds fills the entire house.

They're not only delicious with coffee but they also pair very well with red or white wine. In Italy, biscotti are scarcely sweetened, so to absorb sugar when dipped into a glass of sweet white wine but today I followed the original recipe for my kids to enjoy with a nice big cold glass of milk...

thank you...

2011-08-30T16:08:00.000-07:00

Thank you Lily so much for this beautiful postcard... It made me very happy to find it in my mailbox...

I wish you the best from across the pond!

white and green...

2011-08-29T12:31:00.000-07:00

When it comes to decorating, I always try to incorporate colors that will add freshness and light into a space and in my opinion, there's nothing better than green and white (both my favorite colors) to give a crisp touch to any room.
This past weekend I've got some beautiful frames at an antique/thrift store at an amazing deal... so I framed some pictures using a plain white pre-cut mat for our bathroom wall and I think the ferns create a clean and fresh atmosphere.

succeeded...

2011-08-28T17:34:00.000-07:00

Have a great week...

quilt...

2011-08-27T14:12:00.000-07:00

Today I decided which pattern I am going to use in my next quilt. It is called "sawtooth" and probably one of the first patterns used in the history of quilting (the earliest date-inscribed version is dated 1823).
Although it's an ordinary pattern, I never tried it before and I think it will be perfect for a fall quilt.

So, I just finished my first star, and I can tell you that's pretty easy but I definitely need to be constant and not get sidetracked, otherwise I'll never be able to finish it by the arrival of autumn...

autumn...

2011-08-23T20:31:00.000-07:00

Undoubtedly, during the seasons of spring and summer, nature gets magnified in every spectrum of color. But the yellows, golden browns, and ochers from the first falling leaves of autumn, have a unique beauty, light, and warmth. Like in many elements that surround us...

and of course, in fabrics...

colors, colors...

2011-08-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

Ribbons, crayons, pastels and windmills... very colorful and inspiring. Have a wonderful weekend!

birds...

2011-08-16T19:51:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of birds decorating my house... here's a couple of them...

...in the kitchen next to the computer and in our master bedroom on a picture frame.

...on the curtains in the guests bedroom and in the hallway...

...on a big picture frame next to the basement stairs and in the main bathroom...

I absolutely love them, in every color, shape and size, and they can be such a beautiful addition to any room in the house, offering a serene and graceful touch.

pesto genovese...

2011-08-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

We have a little garden in our backyard and every year we plant oregano, mint, chamomile, parsley, thyme, rosemary, arugula, tomatoes and basil.
Basil is one of our favorite herbs and we use it very often in salads and of course pasta. And at the end of the summer, when the plants are pretty much grown, I prepare a very tasty and fragrant pesto genovese, preserve it and stock up our fridge with many little cans so we can still enjoy, the rest of the year, a very good meal of spaghetti with homemade pesto sauce.

(Once the plant is allowed to flower, it produces seeds which can be saved and planted the following year)

world map...

2011-08-13T18:22:00.000-07:00

When my kids where little they had our basement for their own, and they were able to play all kinds of games and go crazy with their train set, soccer ball, and even hockey. But now that they are more grown up, we decided to make it into a "homework" area, where they can expand all their books on a big table and have the space to do their school projects and have the liberty to leave things the way they are...

On one of the walls, we had a big display board with all their kindergarten coloring pages and school crafting... And so a couple of weeks ago I thought about replacing this board with something more appropriate and useful for their school level.

And I thought that a world map with be a suitable idea for a homework area, for them to see and learn about other countries, in which continent they are situated, their flags, and all kinds of stuff about our beautiful world.

And so I bought a couple of yards of canvas fabric and stapled it on the original board (an already made canvas of this size would have been way too expensive). Following a poster map I sketched the continents more or less trying to be the most accurate.

And then the fun part began... painting and choosing the colors (and of course my daughter suggested pink!)

After painting, which took longer than I thought... (I had to apply 3 coats to get a nice smooth color) I went on line and from a free encyclopedia I printed all the country flags on a nice thick card stock paper.
In the back of the little flags I used "sticky doos" (that are commonly used for scrap-booking purposes) and with my kids help we started adding them to our map.

This was another fun and educational project to do together. They have now a better idea about the rest of the world and they are very enthusiastic in adding pictures of the animals that live in different regions of the planet and in the oceans! I am sure that this addition will make it very nice and colorful!

fresh cherries...

2011-08-10T14:06:00.000-07:00

The school year started last Monday and for the first day I wanted to make something special for my daughter to wear... She was a little nervous about being a first grader now, and didn't know which of her kindergarten friends will be sharing her same class. But after meeting her teacher (who is so sweet and caring) she was fine....

And so, using one of my favorite and easy pattern, I made her a dress with this cute cherry fabric that I thought was lovely and fresh... perfect for a fresh start!

ready for quilting...

2011-08-06T20:46:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I started to gather some fabrics for a "fall" quilt that I have in mind and I can't wait to start!

Hopefully I'll find the time very soon and have it ready for the arrival of the chilly days...

The colors are the typical ones, but my wish is to make it fresh and modern at the same time (can you picture that?)

Anyway, I hope I'll be able to show you more images of the process very soon!

treasures...

2011-08-06T13:04:00.000-07:00

I perfectly know that the favorite gift for a kid it is a toy. The thing with toys is that, after a while it seems that they get tired or perhaps bored, and then you realize how many toys are starting to accumulate in your house and how little time they spend playing with them.
So for me the best choice to buy is books. It is unbelievable the amount of beautiful books that we can find with lovely illustrations, nice stories and good prices.

And when it comes to my kids and "allowance day", I always take them to a book store (avoiding the "toys section"). They would pick one, sit down and start reading it and then they would ask my permission to buy it.

And for some reason, buying books for my children makes me feel better than buying toys. May be because I truly love books and I really want to encourage them to read and to love them as much as I do. And my idea is that you can never get tired or bored of a book. Because every time you read it you will discover something new and the story may give you a different perspective.

I was very lucky growing up and having my mother reading to me every day and I still remember how much I enjoyed those moments. I still keep my childhood books and I keep them like treasures. And this is also something that I want my kids to do... to treat books as treasures and to find pleasure in reading.

So, on a cold rainy day, we decided to organize their books, making dividers with nice thick cardboard and printing the letters of the alphabet on the computer. This way it is much easier for them to find them and to put them back in the right order.

Time together...

2011-08-04T06:49:00.000-07:00

This is perhaps one of the last crafts of the summer before the school year starts. We bought this spool knitting kit that comes with everything you need to complete a project, which is so cute and has many uses.

It was a great activity for my daughter who is 6 years old and loves crafts and really dedicates the time to learn and finish all her projects. I really enjoy these kinds of moments, when together we share the same passion for "making things". And seeing her, I see my self at her same age. I use to feel the eagerness to create with whatever I found or had. I hope these moments will last forever so we can treasure memories of both of us spending truly quality time together.

Some crafts and games...

2011-07-29T17:03:00.000-07:00

The school year is approaching very fast... I still can't believe how quickly the summer vacations went by. But we had lots of fun and lots of activities like: going to the pool, playing games, doing crafts, having friends over for play dates and sleepovers...and there were lots of parties and much time spent at the movie theater.

One of the activities that the whole family gets involve with, is making puzzles... we love them, especially if the rain is keeping us inside.

And this kind of weather allowed us to take a break from the heat and make cool crafts using some of the materials we have around like for example, the beautiful shells that we brought from the beach.

And trying to remember what I used to make when I was little, it came to mind that I loved making little turtles with nutshells, beans and glue... My kids thought that they were super cute and in the pictures they kind of look real !!!

We also tried more challenging ones, like for example, wooden puzzles. They come in many shapes and sizes and it kept us busy for a while... you can also paint them after you're done, but we thought that the unfinished color looked really nice.

games, books and toys...

2011-07-24T19:08:00.000-07:00

Before going on vacation I decided to make good use of some of the fabric that was left over from another projects.

We were going to be driving for at least 5 hours, so I thought that it would be fun for my kids to have their own bags with their own names, and be able to carry whatever they thought would be entertaining for this trip (like games, books, toys, etc).

And because I was very "inspired" (even though I had thousands of things to pack and organize before our trip) I sewn a special little pouch for their sunglasses so they could carry them inside their bags.

At the end these bags where very useful and I thought that this would be a way for my kids to make sure and be responsible for bringing back all the stuff that they had packed, instead of relying on other people.

beach time!

2011-07-23T18:14:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of July we went on vacation with the company of good friends to Cape San Blas.

This area is peacefully secluded, and therefore ideal for families with young children.

We stayed in a house on the beach that was convenient for everybody. Especially for our kids who woke up early in the morning, had a quick breakfast and would run to the ocean, taking just a couple of breaks for eating.

Of course we made sand castles, collected sea shells, flew kites, had a fire on the beach at night and roasted marshmallows.

Our friend is very fond of fishing and so all the kids loved and spent a lot of time trying for a good catch.

We were so happy to see how much they enjoyed this vacation and how much they played and appreciate every experience.

The sight was absolutely breathtaking... especially at sunset, when, after a whole day playing on the beach, our children still loved to get in the water waiting for the sun to go down.

crazy about red...

2011-07-22T07:27:00.000-07:00

My son was always crazy about red. So when we moved to our new house, instead of just painting the walls in his favorite color (which would have make the room small and dark) I designed it in a way that, he could have hints of red around his bedroom without being overwhelming.

At that time, my son was 5 and I definitely didn't want to decorate it in a babyish motive that will require improvements with in a few years. So on the walls I painted a world's map instead (of course in red) which he would feel comfortable with for many years.

On the walls we installed a white board and molding, that provides a sense of lightness and freshness and around the room I added more touches of red like the initial of his name on the door, a plane "flying" around his room and his quilt that I happily sewn for him.
And guess which color shirt he always wants to wear?

summer

2011-07-21T19:27:00.000-07:00

With out any doubts, summer it's a beautiful season where the greens became greener and the color of the flowers are just breathtaking.

But on the other hand this summer its being too hot and too long to put up with. I am really

wishing for fall to come and get a break so we can actually enjoy the outdoors doing some activities, gardening or just going for a walk.

..........

Tolstoy

2011-07-21T19:16:00.000-07:00

I bought this book three years ago and after reading a couple of chapters, I decided to put it away and started reading some other books with complete different subjects.

One month ago I picked it up again and for some reason this time, I felt interested about the story.

Yes, I read Mr. Leo Tolstoy's 817 pages and at the end I had different feelings about this novel.

The characters are very likable, but at times it became too difficult to follow and my impression is that the writer devoted hundred of pages about irrelevant topics that didn't add anything to the story.

What I liked the most is that I learned many facts about a time period in Russia, their society, politics and even farming that I ignored and which I found very interesting.

I would certainly recommend it... it is a classic and undoubtedly one of a kind.

.........

Hace unos años compre el libro "Anna Karenina", pero luego de algunos capitulos desisti de la idea de seguir con la lectura. El mes pasado, por alguna razon, senti interes por continuar y al final logre leer las 817 paginas de la novela de Leo Tolstoy.

En general, creo que fue imporante aprender las costumbres, la sociedad, la politica e inclusive la agricultura de Rusia en un periodo de tiempo que completamente desconocia. Los pesonajes me resultaron bastante interesantes (algunos mas que otros) pero al mismo tiempo tuve la sensacion de que, el autor, dedico cientos de paginas a temas que parecian irrelevantes.

En conclusion, creo que se trata de una obra unica que merece la pena ser leida.