just a few things

a cool crisp walk with a friend
the deep cool colour that the moon casts across the floor
the first swirly twirly snow of the year
welcomed change on the horizon
ideas and plans
creativity and work
gratitude for many blessings
good friends to make the days brighter
coffee
a cozy family dinner
hunkering down for a long winter ahead
thoughts of Christmas
just a few things that I am thinking about
xox

notes from my day

:: Seeing :: a little boy help his mama make cookies, a sleeping babe in her ergo  carrier

:: Hearing :: a little babe purr while she sleeps, CBC Radio 2 Drive 

:: Smelling :: dinner cooking away in the oven ... a roast

:: Tasting :: earl grey and orange pekoe tea, homemade oatmeal raisin cookies 

:: Feeling :: like I may have a tinge of a cold coming on, my sweet girl nestled into me while I wear her in the ergo carrier, like I need to take it slow these days. 

happy weekend dear friends 

xox

late night ramblings

me and my little night owl who decided to join the party

Ah it's the lovely time of 3:30 am. Isn't it ironic that even though I am an exhausted mom of two, I am the one wide awake while everyone else is sleeping? Where is the fairness in that?

So some late night thoughts.

1. I have been spending less and less time online and am loving it. Facebook was becoming a bit of a black hole for me and since realizing how much time I was giving to it and not to my real actual life, I have been much happier. Less Facebook and more real face time I say!
2. I have been craving the city. It's the middle of January and all I want is to walk around a city and go eat in a funky restaurant. To wander through little shops in a Chinatown. To buy some new clothes. To go second hand shopping at some decent thrift shops. To go to a big art gallery. (Vancouver would be nice).
3. I am missing my friends and family (back home) a lot these days. I would just love to be able to go out on a mommydate with my best friend and her baby Henri or to spend an afternoon with my sisters and their kiddos.
4. I wish I had more time in the day to do things. I know this is a sentiment shared by many...but I wish I had more time for making art, doing crafts with Noah, and staying on top of the house cleaning.
5. A recent revelation: homemade bread is tastier, cheaper and more healthy than store bought bread. It's also very easy to make if you have a bread maker.
6. Being a mama for a second time is much easier and more enjoyable than it was the first time. No second guessing my mama instincts this time. I just go with the flow and am taking the time to enjoy Katia and all her babyness. This is all true except for when they are both crying at the same time and both want me. It sucks when I have to make the decision of who gets me and who has to wait. I dislike that part.
7. Going to bed at 8:30 pm is not a good idea for me because then I am up for hours in the middle of the night.

And with that I am going to sign off and attempt to get a few more hours of sleep before the day officially starts. Wish me luck. Good night, good day. Happy Friday.

xox

for today

For Today...

Outside my window... it is 8:45 am and still dark , like nighttime. It is the winter in the Yukon and the sun won't be up until 10am.

I am thinking... that I have a lot of things to do today.

I am thankful... for my family. My sweet precious daughter, a tiny little babe that I want to kiss all the time. My funny, silly, out going, clever little boy - he brightens my day. I have so much love for them. And last but not least, my husband who is hard working, creative, intelligent and patient.

In the kitchen...it is about to get busy with the "morning rush". Smoothies will be made for breakfast and then I will get a head start with this soup that we are having for lunch.

I am wearing... black yoga pants, an old favourite charcoal grey turtleneck, my favourite silver disk earrings

I am creating... not much. I have an urge to paint these days, but I don't have enough time to myself to do it.

I am going... to make an effort to find some time to do some art. Maybe paint or collage...nothing fancy, just something for me.

I am wondering... if I can get everything on my to do list for tomorrow done.

I am reading... do magazines count? That's all I seem to have the brain capacity for these days. The January issues of Country Living and Real Simple are on my nightstand.

I am hoping... a good day ahead with minimal 2 year old tantrums.

I am looking forward to... my first cup of coffee, visits with friends, and a toboggan birthday party on the weekend.

I am hearing... Katia make little coos and noises, it's quite cute.

Around the house... there are piles of laundry to be folded, toys to be put away, carpets to be vacuumed, floors to be washed...we have it set out for ourselves!

I am pondering... taking a new direction with my photography come Springtime. Big changes and a lot of work ahead.

One of my favorite things... is that I have been good at using our meal plan this week and have been good at using up what we have in the house. We've had no last minute trips to the grocery store.
A few plans for the rest of the week: write some thank you notes, work on organizing my basement, take Noah out for a few walks (it's supposed to warm up a bit!).
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

for today

For Today...

Outside my window... it has been cloudy with spots of sun

I am thinking... how nice it is to take it slow and not pile things on my to-do list

I am thankful... for so much. For our beautiful planet, for living in the city with the cleanest air in Canada, for time with my family, for the burst of energy I have had today, for getting a full night's sleep last night (thank you hubby)

In the kitchen... I have a crockpot of split pea soup going and a batch of bread in the bread maker

I am wearing... black yoga pants, a long sleeved purple t-shirt and a grey wool cardigan

I am creating... organization strategies for the baby's room

I am going... to take it easy for the rest of the day

I am wondering... if this baby may come early and if we might decide on a different name for her when we meet her

I am reading... The Rhythm of the Family by Amanda Blake Soule

I am hoping... for a smooth week ahead

I am looking forward to... wrapping up all my work in the next few weeks

I am hearing... Noah ask me to "draw Thomas" over and over again (Thomas the Tank Engine). He likes it when I draw his favourite characters on paper for him.

Around the house... is kind of messy. There is laundry to be folded, a baby's room to organize, craft supplies to organize, some Halloween decorations put up. In other words... it looks lived in.

I am pondering... how I will get all my photography work done quickly

One of my favorite things... was that the organist at church played "Let it Be" by the Beatles for the postlude.

A few plans for the rest of the week: there is photography work to be finished, a little baby's room to be organized, play groups to go to, and maybe some early Christmas crafting.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

alexia

Sketch 2 from my request series is of Alexia from my wicked, wicked ways. Alexia is a beautiful, dedicated, awesome gal who has been journaling her weight loss/health story. For her sketch I decided to include words surrounding her that I think describe her. If you are looking for some inspiration I highly suggest that you go visit her blog.

I hope you like your sketch Alexia!

xox

To find out what the sketch book request series is all about read here. I have chosen 5 requests and will be working on them over the next few weeks. After I am done this set I will start up a new series.

this one is for you Country Girl xoxo

The first of my request series, a sketch of the lovely Country Girl and her sweet little side kick Kiki. If you've never been over to Dawn's blog, I highly suggest that you do. Visiting her blog is like taking a mini vacation in the Austrian countryside. There you will find yummy recipes, beautiful sentiments, and gorgeous images. Hope you like it Country Girl!

xox

east coast gal

I may be living in the West now ( North West actually) but in my heart I'll always be an East Coast gal. Just the way it is.

A little sketch I did recently.

Do you have something you'd like to see drawn in my sketchbook? I'll take a few people's requests and work on them over the next bit. Might be a good way to force me to draw more.....

I'm taking requests!

for today

FOR TODAY
Outside my window...I am looking at my backyard for what might be the last time.
I am thinking...of a dear friend who is going through a very difficult time.
I am thankful for...my husband, my son, my health, the "right here, right now" of it all.
From the kitchen...my kitchen is packed up in boxes. We are moving right now....no cooking for me which is hard because I love to cook and bake.
I am wearing...a flouncy tank top with jean capris.
I am creating...I have some sewing projects that are on hold until we are settled into our new home. I will be using my sketchbook while we are on vacation.
I am going...to Ottawa on Saturday. Montreal on Sunday. B.C. the following Sunday and Whitehorse the Sunday after that! Good grief!
I am reading...up on my sewing techniques.
I am hoping...that my friend finds the strength she needs to carry on
I am hearing...the sound of my sweet babe breath in and out as he sleeps.
Around the house...is chaos. Boxes everywhere!
One of my favorite things...I have a few....chocolate, cuddles with my babe, a hug from my man, a fancy coffee from Starbucks, a phone call with my mom, creating something that works out nicely, visits with friends, pasta casserole...
A few plans for the rest of the week: packing, saying goodbye to our friends here in Hamilton, saying goodbye to our home, traveling to Ottawa...lot's is going on.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...


taken from the simple women's daybook.

summertime and the living is easy

A little sketch I've been working on over the past few days. It's my summer to-do list, a fun list of sorts. I decided that it would be an informal list of only fun things that I wish to accomplish, because summertime should be about fun right? Some things on my list include camping, sleeping under the stars, dipping my toes in the Pacific Ocean, picking up my paint brushes, hanging with friends and to collect pretty stones.

For the bunting design, I drew some flags and then left some empty spaces for the ones that I collaged. I looked through old magazines for interesting patterns and colours, cut them out and then glued them on. No matter how many times I see bunting flags, I just never grow tired of them and think they look sweet. I'm actually making a real one right now for Noah's birthday.

So how about you? What is on your summer to-do list? Will you be challenging yourself to try anything new?

Happy Tuesday dearest of dears :o)

little sketches

Just a little sketch I did the other day in my journal. Thought I'd share it with you. I'm feeling guilty that I haven't been doing more art. Note to self....must do more art!
I've been a bit absent from the blog world these past few days. On Friday I had a very busy day of driving all over the province, getting to meet Desiree and Gretchen (more on this later) and then picking up my mama! Can I tell you that Noah was AMAZING throughout the whole day? I felt so bad because he was in his car seat for so long...turns out he is one amazing little road trip buddy!
Anyhow...I'm planning on getting back into the swing of things around here, writing to posts and spending some time reading all my favourite blogs.
Hope you are having a lovely weekend friends!

who I am in 5 categories

This is a little exercise that the department head from the last school I taught at showed me, and I thought it would be nice to share it with you. It can be used to do brainstorming, list making, categorizing ect. The idea is that often when one is trying to make a piece of art with a theme or come up with ideas for anything for that matter, that it is very easy to get stuck and not have a direction to go in. Much like a writer may use a web to organize their thoughts, tracing your hand is a very visual way to plan, organize and simplify ideas. By tracing your hand you are pushed to come up with at least 5 good ideas (5 fingers) and then you can go from there.

I decided to do a hand with 5 categories that I feel that I fit into.

I chose:

• artist
• mother
• wife
• friend
• family

I think this is a great exercise for self reflection. This could also be a great self esteem project with little kids. Have them come up with 5 things that they like about themselves and then decorate their hand to reflect themselves. I'd love to know if you'd use this hand brainstorming method, if you'd find it helpful or fun.

xox

words to live by

About two years ago I painted a very special painting for my aunt and her partner Jo. It was of a tree of life, something that Jo wanted in honour of her mother. The painting was a large image of a tree with leaves and inside the leaves were words, inspirational words to live by.

Unfortunately I only have a really crappy picture to show you and I mean really crappy...but I guess I'll post it so that you get the idea.

That painting has often been the departure point for other works of art that include inspirational words. More recently I have been mostly been working in my sketchbook. Although I do love painting, I find it very hard right now to find the time to devote to it. For me, painting requires both hands and no interruption and that's something that I just don't have much of these days. Someday, someday as Noah gets to be more independent I will have more time for bigger projects. But for the time being I am enjoying working in my sketchbook/journal. I really enjoy leafing through all the sketches I have done over time.

And so I wanted to share my most recent sketch with you of some colourful leaves. I was inspired by a photo that I saw on this post. I chose to put some words inside the leaves that mean something to me right now, at this moment in my life. The words that I chose were:

• embrace
• life
• be thankful
• protect
• love
• create
• from the heart
• beauty
• simple things
• sense of self
• joyful
• a new day
• escape
• be patient

These words, or grouping of words reflect what I am feeling presently. I'm a firm believer in honouring and respecting your own feelings and would recommend to anyone that is feeling overwhelmed with their feelings to just write down what is one their mind. It feels good.

So....if you could narrow your present feelings down to a few words, what would those words be?

Hope you are having a happy Friday friends!

xox

a lovey dovey weekend

Happy Valentine's weekend my lovelies! In my opinion Valentine's is not about fancy gifts, dinners or romantic dates- no! I say bust out the brownie mix, bring on the romantic comedies, have a girl's only party, paint your toe nails pink!

This weekend's agenda is to show Noah what Valentine's is all about- LOVE, spend time with my girlfriends and hopefully have a skype date with my hubby.

Our plans?

A girl's only brunch on Saturday....yum! Have Noah hand out his Valentine cards. Take Noah to see the ice sculptures at Winterlude. Make a run to Blockbuster to rent some girly romcom movies. Do take out on Sunday....sushi maybe?

Here are a few pics of things that we've been up to. Yesterday we made Valentine cards for Noah to hand out. We were inspired by the Valentines that Marta made last year with her lil Benji. Also a sketch I did in my sketchbook with some of the left over paint on my fingers...lovely fingerprint ladybugs!

Happy weekend dear friends. I hope that yours is filled with love.

xox

ps. If you want to read the sweetest love story, read this.

I love....

I love....the thick and heavy falling snow....holding my baby close and tight.....the way he smells after his bath.....cupcakes and earl grey tea- great combo.....drawing silly love hearts in my sketchbook.....going to value village.....having a skype date with my hubby......receiving surprise texts from my hubby where he says I miss you so much.....eating quinoa- it's so good....listening to mix cds made by best friends.

What are you loving?

a winter girl

Here's a little drawing I did in my sketchbook of a winter girl-to brighten your day. She's holding a little something in her hands.

On another note, I just have to share my excitement. Last night, hubbby and I worked on getting our spare room set up as my little studio. It's nothing elaborate but I am very excited to have my own space (instead of the dinning room table) to call my own.

Other news...my blogging birthday (or whatever you want to call it) is coming up. One whole year of blogging- wow! And what exactly does this mean? Well a giveaway of course. So on the 10th tune in....ciao for now.

xox

goals for the new year

I've been working on a list of my New Year goals. Here is a little sketch that I did in my new sketchbook. One of my goals is to make more time for art and creativity. How about you? Did you make any resolutions, goals or changes for the New Year?

turning a new leaf or something like that

As you may know one of the gifts that I asked Santa to bring me was a new Ecojot journal/sketchbook and lucky for me he listened! It's such a pretty one with simple hand drawn graphics on the front. See for yourself.

Here are a few sketches I've been doing. Maybe some inspiration for a new painting?

I just love the feeling of a new sketchbook, empty and full of possibilities. Ready to take on my ideas. But I also feel a strange pressure to make sure that I use this book properly and make more art. One of my new years goals is to make more art. Art is such an important outlet for me, it helps me to feel like I have something else on the go, something just for me. Whether it's just a simple sketch or a more time consuming water colour, it just feels good to create!

Here's to 2010, may there be more creativity and more making of nice things!

xox

just me and my journal

Do you keep a journal or is that too grade 8? I've kept them on and off all my life, but more than ever I love having a journal. Currently my journal is part sketchbook, part collage book, part running to-do lists, and some writing. I don't have any rules about it and really what ever I want goes in it. Ticket stubs, ideas, lists...it's my place to keep my thoughts safe and recorded.

Here are a few little "peeks" into my journal. Oh and a little endorsement...I love Ecojot journals. For one they are a Canadian company. Second everything is 100% recycled paper. The inks they used are vegetable based (biodegradable) and the mill used to produce their journals runs on biogas harnessed from a near by landfill!!! Oh and third, the illustrations/graphics are oh so cute. I love Ecojot and wouldn't mind if Santa brought me a new sketchbook from them!

give thanks

I've been inspired to make a gratitude journal. I realize that this has been done before and I'm in no way inventing this idea. Rather, I am joining the bandwagon of others out there who take notice of the little things and who count their blessings. I am giving thanks for all that I have in my life. The little things that make it all worth while.

To start

• visits with my mom. visits with my sisters & niece (no matter how short). visits with my grandmother, aunts and uncle. Family.
• baking, making and tasting delicious homemade treats with my mom.
• brisk walks that recharge my batteries.
• wet, slobbery, open mouth kisses from my babe. There is nothing more sweet.
• stealing a kiss from my husband while in line at IKEA. Holding hands as we walk around the mall. Feeling like it's just the 2 of us once again.
• candlelit dinners.
• having delicious leftovers and warming up to a bowl of turkey noodle soup.
• Christmas lights brightening up our dark street.
• cinnamon coffee in the morning.
• long phone calls with best friends. A necessity.