Life Lately

               The summer is flying by so fast- I can't believe we have found ourselves at the end of July already! Life lately for this kid has been so full of growth- mentally and physically- this kid is embarking on a whole new exciting world of boyhood. Boys I have decided are weird and stinky- living up completely to their reputation- they eat a lot and are never full. This kid is learning to cook- eggs, smoothies and most recently waffles- at least one day he will be able to feed himself! This kid is all of the male stereotypes with a dash of my baby boy still thrown in- he is so willing to please- offering to help at the most unlikely of times- just when it's needed most.

             This kid is also growing and changing so much- the social butterfly- always talking about an ever changing cast of characters that flow through her life. Stories of cats who do Zoomba and naughty boys at camp- this kid needs to tell all the stories. This kid is turning six in a few short weeks- where the time went I don't know but I am loving getting to know her a little more each day. This kid is already so complicated- something we have known from the start. This kid claims she is one hundred years old just really short for her age.

           Life lately is all about growth for our entire family- we are still adjusting to life with me at work full time and how that changes our summer days. We all appreciate our time together that much more than we did before- making our days together special, quieter and much more relaxed. Life lately for me has been a lot about letting go- of perfection or the myth of it anyways- making due with store bought pizzas and cookies. Life for me has become about making things easy on myself- for us all really because who the heck wants to stand in the kitchen when there are snuggles to be had!

Life Lately

       Life has been moving pretty fast these days of late- so much of our time is spent in motion- running, walking, scooting, swimming. I always have really big plans for everything I am going to do over the summer- such a brief flirtation with light makes these days so precious that I feel like I need to fill those days wisely. What actually ends up happening is quite the opposite- much of our time is spent seeking out cool places by the shore or poolside- which is exactly where the past week has found us!

         Life lately has seen this wee boy of mine becoming more of a "man"- I'm not quite ready to give him up to the world of men as yet but there are brief glimmers when I see the man he is to be peaking through. He is showing an independence I have not seen- walking ahead of the family- eager to get where we are going. The fact curator is in full swing this summer- spouting interesting bits of knowledge that he certainly did not learn from us- showing us where his interests lie. Much like everyone else on earth this boy is wanting validation of his emotions- asking that we at least listen to why he is angry or sad or happy- all of the feelings are happening and they all need to be talked about.

       Life lately has seen this wee girly of mine in new summer sandals- a physical representation of just how much she is growing- her arms and legs stretching and becoming lanky- strong with all the running and swimming. I can see impressions of her friends and classmates where none existed a year ago- sometimes I recognize a funny voice or laugh of another little friend. This one is wise beyond her years- telling us fantastical stories as long as we are willing to listen- so many questions to be answered about life, God and how the world works.

    As I said life is moving pretty fast- I hear Ferris Bueller daily mocking me to look up or I'm going to miss something. I love the family we are becoming- this Golden Age of my children- who aside form constant squabbling are pretty amazing little people. I'm not really afraid of missing anything- I'm not afraid of time unwinding so quickly I can barely breath- I know that these are the days that my children will remember- that will form them and all I need to do is be there- with them for them- to let life happen.

Thrifted Thursday

           Today's Thrifted Thursday is a little bit thrifted and a little bit crafty- truly the best of both worlds- made all the better because it came in the guise as a gift from a dear friend. I have been meaning to write about this for quite some time but honestly so much has happened this summer that I just haven't had the time to write about yet! At the end of July we were paid a visit from my dear friend Sarah- who incidentally wrote a guest post for me last summer which can be read here- she and her family were visiting from Wisconsin. Sarah truly is one of my kindred souls- we bonded in University over beer and thrifting- some things really never change!

          So anyways Sarah and her sweet family stayed with us for a few days and of course she and I both had a few gifties for each other- I almost died laughing when we essentially exchanged wool! Into my yarn stash went this dreamy, soft neutral skien- from a local Wisconsin mill- Blackberry Ridge- the perfect base for one of my natural dyes. Along with this yummy little treat was this wee maroon satchel- purse to you non fashion types! I used this diminutive little bag only a handful of times before my little Miss declared it perfect to tote around her treasures- so I feel I may never get to use this bag again- shades of things to come!

         In other news as much as I am desperately trying to hang onto these final gentle days of summer I can see and feel fall creeping in. The mornings now hold a crispness that simply wasn't there last week- soon it will be boot and sweater weather. The nights come quickly now and the beach toys have all been packed away- I'm reassessing our rain gear- patching jeans- starting to think about soups and baking bread again. The Littles are still out of school- which feels a bit strange and yet totally right- their nature collection is growing daily as we wander and explore our way through our city- easing out of our summer skin and on into fall.

The Magic is In The Scrambled Eggs

      The other day I posted a picture on Facebook of some baking in action along with the long list of edible goods that I had made in an afternoon- I know everyone who saw that picture thinks that I am some sort of crazy kitchen witch. It was definitely a weekend from scratch- the weather was dismal- my kids were playing video games and I took advantage of a couple of hours to get ahead of the lunch situation for the coming week. Did you read that right? My kids were playing video games! I often get asked how I do all this ... stuff (for lack of a better word) and some times what is missing from the picture you see here is the video games, the TV, the messy house, ect.

    So I thought I would give you a sneak peek into what our weekends actually really look like- starting with my favourite day of the week. Friday night we can usually be found at what the neighbours and I have started calling the "Hall Party"- every Friday afternoon parents on our floor throw open our doors and the kids start to run from one apartment to another playing- the Moms for the most part can be found drinking wine- checking in on some of the little Littles but for the most part leaving them to their own devices. Dinner for our family on Fridays is usually either scrambled organic eggs and toasted homemade bread or pizza from scratch (recipe here)- followed by more wine- of course.

   Saturday morning finds Mama with a large bowl of coffee lounging in front of the local news for far too long. We usually like to pay a visit to our local Farmers Market- as discussed many, many times here! I love a good grocery shop to the Farmers Market- but equally important for a lot of our staples is our twice monthly trip to Costco- they have great organics and are conveniently located right up the street from our house. Once the food has been taken care of we usually try for some outdoor time- in warmer weather this is never an issue- heading to the beach or one of the many trails in our area. always more coffee for me in hand- always.

    Sundays are my time to work- I like to get a head start on the week- baking any bread we might need and getting the yogurt started. This all sounds like a lot of work but it really is not- I bake cookies while the bread is rising- the oven is the perfect temperature by the time the bread has risen for the second time. The yogurt just needs to be occasionally stirred on the stove and then jarred and put in the cooler over night- easy peasy. The granola bars are a must- I cant even handle thinking about all the wrappers that get thrown away in a school year- so home made it is.  Lets also mention what is going on in the back ground here- again my kids are probably playing video games- not a beautiful, quiet, felted board game in sight. And it's loud- someone is usually getting hit over the head with a controller- lets be real here life is messy and loud.

   As you can see there really is nothing amazing about our weekends- occasionally we find ourselves in a magical spot in a forest or on a beach- more often than not its just real life with kids fighting while I try and find sanity in the kitchen. Often times what you see on a blog is only a snippet of real life- because really who is interested in reading about my kids fighting over what Skylander is put on the portal? Who is interested in my heaping piles of dishes? Where the magic can be found is that we are together- my kids might be fighting but they are doing it together- I am in the kitchen and the Mr. is probably still working on a Lego project abandoned hours ago by The Boy. The magic is in the yelling. The magic is in the giggles. The magic is in the scrambled eggs.

Grateful

       I am finding it so easy to get bogged down by life these days- not in a bad way just in an incredibly busy way- the days of September are whizzing by at increasing speed and I feel like just hitting pause so I can look up and breath a moment. I have taken to waking and rising very early just so I can have some peace and a moment to myself in which to come here to this space- it keeps me sane- with my first and most favourite latte of the day I can just sit and reflect for a minute before jumping into the fray.

      In that same vein I often find I have much to complain about with little regard to all the good things in my life I have to be grateful for- I give power to the negative and don't even consider the good. The good things far outweigh the negative or hard things - in an effort to acknowledge all that I am grateful for I am pausing this morning- and this is what I have to share.

I am grateful for:

The amazing weather yesterday- making it a treat to walk to and from school twice in our day- the blue skies and crisp winds made it the perfect fall day- perfect picture taking weather!

My boy had a great day at school- as we left many other classmates yelled out at him "Goodbye!"- we felt part of the school community-like we belong- I am grateful for that moment after some really tough weeks

Time spent with just my Girly yesterday- we explored fountains and public sculptures on our way to a friend's house- I love that the word sculpture is even part of her young vocabulary- I love learning who she is on her own

Finding myself a tribe of wonderful women who are just as crunchy, crazy and fun as I am- friends who like tea and cake and wine- separately or together- spending time with them yesterday

Extra canning jars from said friends- I am ever so grateful for those!

I am so grateful that the Mr. has a job- contract work is a pain - I am so happy he has work right now- I am grateful for that- just not the long hours

Looking forward to more "spare" time spent at a coffee shop on my own today- a full three hours with no Littles is still feeling really foreign and I can be quite emotional about it- but I am enjoying actually sitting and reading or people watching- in the city I never tire of people watching!

      My list may be mundane to some but to me these are the things keeping me going this week- it really is the small things like a cup of tea with friends or the sunshine sifting through the window that I have to be grateful for always- sometimes I need to look up and remind myself that. Once power is given to all these good things- the hard and scary things don't seem so bad anymore!

Simple Family Fridays

        Last week I touched on the topic of keeping life simple- or K.I.S.S.- keep it simple stupid- and while the name stupid is not a word I would regularly use- the acronym still sticks in my mind. I was asked by a few readers to elaborate on some of the things we utilize while striving for a simpler life. Now that school is in session I feel like I need these reminders as much as anyone- so I thought I would try something new here- Simple Family Fridays- where I will share some of my tips and techniques in creating a simple family life!

     Simple Tips #1- Eating Sustainably

        We made the switch from more conventional eating to striving for a sustainable diet in Ernest about a year ago- this is not to say that a grocery store threshold never shall be crossed- quite the opposite. What eating sustainably means eating locally, seasonally and organically- planning while staying flexible at the same time. Let me explain this contradictory statement further- we shop a great deal at our local farmer's markets which means that we need to be flexible to substitute one item for another if a particular vendor is not at a market- working from a master grocery list but making substitutions if needed.

      We shop what is in season at the farmer's market- right now tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and corn and then flush out the remainder of our list at grocery stores- carefully. For example we shop at Costco quite a bit- I mean what growing family doesn't? Costco has great deals on chia seeds, organic ground beef, walnuts and organic milk- plus toilet paper- obviously!

       We shop the farmer's market for eggs, sausages and the Bean Boy's Hummus- but hit Whole Foods for dry bulk items like black beans, lentils, oats and bananas- cause bananas* don't grow on trees around here and are a vital part of our morning smoothies! We try and stay away from the interior isles of the store as this is typically where all the packaged goods reside in any grocery store- and at Whole Foods that can be dangerous!

      Shopping at the farmer's markets is so much more fun that shopping a conventional grocery store- in fact mock me if you will- but I get anxiety in grocery stores- I panic and end up with only half the items I came for. Farmer's market shopping can be much more relaxing once you get over the fear of the crowds and sticker shock. Shop wisely and with a list- shop on a full stomach.

     To balance out the cost of local and organic foods as well as do the environment a solid we try and go meatless at least once a week. By choosing to go meatless we are reducing the stress on the land- plus it is heart healthy. Opt for a hearty lentil soup and baguette or bean burritos- with lots of cheese of course!

     In order to keep this whole grocery shopping situation simple I make sure to meal plan for the coming weeks- from the meal plan I can look in our pantry and decide what items we need to stock up on. Now that school is back in meal planning is key- it means at 4 pm I am not scrambling to defrost something- I already know what's for dinner- simple. Needless to say we try and make much of our food from scratch- I have a handful of recipes that are family favourites that rotate with the season- that doesn't mean that we never eat a frozen pizza or take out- cause we do- just very occasionally!

        I hope you like my first post on simplicity- I chose the topic of food and eating as it is always on my mind- feeding my family- planning- being healthy- if you are a regular reader you will I am sure have noticed my food obsession by now. FYI it runs in the family. My final thoughts on food and simplicity are this- food doesn't need to be complicated- it doesn't need to come from a lab- food should be nourishing, tasty and simple.

* I know that bananas aren't local or seasonal but hey we are human and we like bananas- at least the ones we buy are organic!

PS- wow- I almost forgot it's Friday again- you would think by the name of the post I would be aware- duh! Clearly I need more coffee- always more coffee! We are packing up for the last hurrah of this summer- camping in the Okanagan with some dear old friends- yes they really are old- my age at least! Friends I hope where ever you are in this fine world of ours you are surrounded by light and love this weekend- Happy Friday!

That Kinda Day

     We woke up quite early for a school day today- and yet we are still running behind- it is just that kinda day! I dress the Littles - trying to find some clean clothes and having to settle on shorts with long johns underneath for The Boy- he's OK with that- he thinks it's a cool look! Dressing this kid is on par to dressing a cat- which I do have some experience with- it is tricky task and requires large amounts of cajoling but less scratching than with said cat- meanwhile Miss Lo is dressed and twirling around us like a tornado- dancing and letting us know she got dressed "all by myself"- thanks. It is just that kinda day.

    As The Mr. tries to get the kiddos to agree on some form of breakfast food- red peppers for both- bacon for The Boy- egg for Miss Lo- everyone wants something different this morning. I am sitting amidst the chaos trying to write something thoughtful when I remember that The Boy's backpack must be found and healthy snack procured for the day- backpack is located with Monday's leftover apple wedges squished in the bottom. It is just that kinda day.

     I managed a glance out the window as I pulled up the blinds this morning- windy and rainy again today- apparently March is a Lion today- again. I am not looking forward to school pick up in the pouring rain- organizing everyone into rain gear for the walk home- but it is what it is and we live in Vancouver so I am resigned to the situation. I have a sneaking suspicion that if I let it today will get away from me and I won't get to do my Yoga- I'm thinking I have to ignore the mess in the kitchen and sneak in at least a half hour- these days Yoga and meditation is all that is keeping me sane! It is just that kinda day.

A Confession of Sorts

     Over the holidays I had a few good talks with my dad- during one of those chats we started to talk about the negative backlash ( that I am seeing more and more on social media) towards crafters, Pinterest and "Supermom". It is just so strange that when I started this space all I ever wanted to do was  to have a forum to post what I was making and to encourage others to try new things or to push themselves further. It was never intended as a place to brag.

    Here is my confession- I am human- I have faults and am the first to admit to great gaps in my understanding- which is why I am always looking to learn more. My kids are noisy, messy and fight- often- they also watch TV- shocking! There are things I am not good at- you should see my sink piled high with dishes- ask my university room mates- this is not a new thing! I have projects that don't turn out and I get frustrated and mad at time and money wasted- then I set those things aside and move forward or more accurately drink a large glass of wine.

    My dad's advice was to show people some "bloopers" to prove that I am not perfect- but I thought why should I have to prove anything- this is my space! Of course I can only speak for myself but being creative is not an option it is something I must do- it is an itch that needs to be scratched. The negativity I am seeing on social media these days towards creative people like myself saddens me- I know not everyone can sit around and craft with their children- people need to work and being creative is my work.

      I desperately want to live on a farm in the country- I love to read blogs of people who are living that dream and I applaud them- and tuck away scraps of knowledge to be applied to my tiny deck garden.  Should I ever be put in a farming environment I believe it would be a disaster- for starters I am terrified of cows and hard work- but yet I dream.  I'm not hating on those farmers or those decorators or even those financial guru websites- I know we are all good at something - we don't need to be good at everything.

    So for the record I am not a Stepford wife or Martha Stewart - I don't wash the dishes, I am quick to anger and quicker to forgive, I own too many pairs of shoes, I use too much aluminum foil and sometimes don't recycle it, I drink too much wine,  do we even need to mention my spelling, my kids sometimes have snotty noses, I will read an entire book in an afternoon and ignore everything else, I usually hem jeans too short, I can't cross stitch, I can't drive- I have no idea what I am doing with my life but I am loving every second of it!

Happy Friday Friends- I love you- yes even the haters cause I know you don't really hate!

Hitting Our Stride

      September has come and gone and today it is officially October- it is only now after a few weeks with our new schedule that I feel we are finally hitting our stride. I think I have mentioned it briefly that The Boy started pre-school at the beginning of September- he was elated- I was terrified. I was worried that this first child of mine who is so much more than most kids- so much energy, so much enthusiasm, so much more to handle- would be lost with out me. I feel that for the most part I act as a buffer between him and the rest of the world- he is so curious and needs to be in constant motion. Much to my relief school has been good for him- he loves his teachers and is learning that the rules we have at home are more general guidelines for existing in the world- he is hitting his stride.

   What of Miss Lo? She was a little lost without big brother around to play and wrestle with- but she too is adapting to the change. The time when The Boy is at school Miss Lo now gets to have some much needed one on one time with Momma- this second child of mine and I are getting to know each other better and differently. Miss Lo has also started to discover her love of dance and so this has become her thing- she is living and breathing ballet these days- did I mention she is only three? She too is hitting her stride.

   As we enter October we as a family are learning what life is like with busy kids- school, soccer, ballet, paying with friends- my days of hibernating with baby are over. Life is expanding outside of the house and we are adapting to that- life with kids- actual big kids- is busy! These's Littles of ours are finding an identity outside of us- they are doing things on their own and turning into individuals- needing not as much perhaps- unless a grilled cheese sandwich is needed.

    Change, it has been said, is good- and it is but it just takes some getting used to. Acknowledging that we have kids and not babies is exciting but a little sad at the same time. Last night I stayed up way too late looking at pictures from just a few short years ago and how little they each were- at the time I thought I would never see the end of diapers and onsies- now The Boy's shoes are almost the same size as mine! I celebrate these Littles of mine and the people they are turning into- I look forward to my own future as I figure out what I want to do with my life next.  I feel like I too am hitting my stride.