Terrific Tot Tuesday: Bird feeders

During our Easter festivities, Kman and his cousin were given a gift from their Opa and Oma; bird feeders to decorate and hang in their backyards. What a great idea! Here are the little artists at work:

We've already had some fine, feathered friends come for a snack off the back porch!
Thanks for reading.

Wednesday's Doodle: Wainscotting

Here are a few pics of a "little" weekend project...that has now spilled into the week! We loved the outcome of our wall panel in the office, and I saw this look in a few of my decor magazines so we decided to give it a try. This is, without a doubt, a great inexpensive way to give a small space some personality. Once again we used mdf, 8 inches on the base and for the majority of the verticals and horizontals, 4 inches. We took off our old baseboards, placed the 8 inch mdf boards first and then placed a new 4 inch baseboard over top. Then we drew out how the boards would look first, to be sure we liked the look before committing. Then, using carpenters glue and a nail gun we installed. We used as simple l-shaped trim for the chair rail placed on top. Last night I did some touch up wood filling, and today I will sand and then paint my second coat. What do you think?

Thanks for reading!



Terrific Tot Tuesday: Easter Craft

Celebrating Easter with a young family is so much fun. I find that at this time of year everyone has a craving for colour or enjoy getting their hands dirty with new projects for spring. This past weekend we celebrated Easter early with one side of the family. To prepare my husband asked if I would do a craft with the little ones as a gift to their grandparents. So here it is for you! A super easy craft for Easter that can be done at any age.

Materials:

Yellow and orange construction paper
Scissors
Pencil
Googly eyes
Glue

Fold the yellow construction paper in half and then draw an egg shape in the middle (you can have the egg shape touch the left side if you'd like to do a card). With the orange construction paper draw and cut out a diamond shape that you'll fold in half for the beak, and 2 legs. With the help of your little person, trace their hands on the yellow construction paper and cut out, as these will be the chick's wings. Glue the pieces all in place, and voila! Your super easy Easter craft. Happy Easter!

Thanks for reading!

Spring has Sprung!

I have to admit spring and summer are my two favourite seasons. Having warmer weather, opening windows, flowers and gardens, bursts of colour, playing or walking outside, just seems to put many people in better spirits.

The last couple of days have really got me in the mood. I'm noticing in gardens perennial buds, and even some flowers, like tulips, springing. You remember that line from You've Got Mail, and Meg Ryan saying, "Aren't daises the most friendly flower?". Tulips are that way for me. They are full of colour, life and they just make me happy. I went to Vandermeer Nurseries the other day to pick up a couple of tulip plants to bring spring indoors and into our living room.

So go and enjoy your spring weather. Enjoy the tress and flowers budding, getting outdoors more often, opening windows, and letting new colour into your world.

Thanks for reading!

The 3Rs

With Earth Day a week Friday, and with my spring cleaning dragging on, I thought I would share some tidbits on where we've been recycling things we no longer use.

First, is Home Depot. I can't believe how great this store is for dropping off materials for recycling.the other day I was dropping off used or blown light bulbs to be recycled, when I saw this cart full of used paint cans. I asked one of the store clerks if they recycled empty paint cans and they do! So the van has been loaded up for Home Depot run this morning! How many of us have paint cans collecting dust in the basement. Wouldn't you rather they be reused then dumped in a landfill? They also recycle batteries and cell phones. When you walk in to your local Home Depot there are usually tall cardboard bins to place your recyclable goods.

With gardening season right around the corner, flower baskets, or plants will be purchased to spruce up the yard. Instead of throwing out your used, plastic plant baskets or dishes they can be recycled as well. For example, Vandermeer Garden centre has recycling bins you can drop off your used planters.

Make-up can even get recycled! M.A.C. make-up is great for this. You can take your empty eyeshadow, mascara, blush containers, and if you bring enough they give a free lipgloss - free M.A.C. for being eart friendly, check!

I also mentioned how we donated clothes and some goods to the Salvation Army and the Canadian Diabetes Society. There are lots of places that accept used clothing, in any condition. Think of it this way, a teacher may go into these stores and used shirts for arts and crafts with their students. A sewer might go in and recycle clothes for a quilt. I know one blog I follow, she upcycles clothes to make new shirts and hats. So don't assume that your old shirt is worthless - someone may have a vision for it!

So if you're wanted to do some spring cleaning and decluttering without adding to a landfill, look for ways to practice the three Rs!

Thanks for reading.

Terrific Tot Tuesday: Etsy!

I know I usually write about an activity that be and the little guy have done, but I thought this was a fun and good tidbit for parents, or people who love to shop! It's Etsy, and it's awesome! I've mentioned it to a lot of people and if you haven't heard of it, check it out. This is a great online store that allows those people who make homemade creations, or vintage pieces, clothes, (the list is seriously endless) to sell their products on this website.

I bring this up for Terrific Tot Tuesday because I'm getting ready for Kman's next birthday. I wanted to be a little more environmentally friendly and send out a digital invitation, and print one invitation for his baby book. I went on Etsy and found TONS of people who make custom, photo invitations. Someone is coo coo for Elmo, so I had to make sure we incorporated that into he invite too! For $10, I got a customized invite, that I can print at my own leisure, or use in an email invite. How great is that? They had other great packages for birthdays too, such as chocolate bar wrappers, water bottle wrappers, hats, thank you cards, to name a few.

This isn't the first time I've used this site. I have bought vinyl lettering as decor for my boys rooms. There are a few shops that sell pillows using the same material from Tonic Living (the shop is called Milk and Cookies, and the girl that runs it is in Toronto, even better!). There is even a little shop that make ties just for little boys; I was thinking of getting a white one for my youngest when he's Baptised, as I'm worried he won't squeeze in to our family's Christening gown!

So if you haven't checked it out, be sure to today!

Thanks for reading.

Friday's Dream (or more appropriately, goal)

Today was not a great day. It started off on a really bad note, particularly with my youngest. As the day came to a close, a new stress was added to the mix, occupationally speaking.With days like this I'm trying my best to teach myself not to get wound up, and to try to appreciate the people and things I love in my life that much more, no matter what life throws my way. Tonite I hugged my little ones that much more, and I hope to keep things "calm" in my life. There will always be stresses, other career opportunities, or things to do around the house, but I'll never get back the time and the moments back with my kids.

Thanks for reading.

Today's Doodle: Wall Panelling

Oh I'm in love!!!!! This past weekend we tackled completing the wall panel and I love the end result. The only problem is I think our office looks better than our living room now! Oh well, means more decorating! Here's what the wall panel looks like now, thanks to simple, inexpensive mdf panels.

Thanks for reading!

Terrific Tot Tuesday: Bunny Love

Here is a really easy craft for little hands, that can be done at any age. I found this at the Disney website, which you can find here. Both boys helped in completing this project. I admit the one bunny looks more like a mouse then a bunny due to a little person's finger size! All you do is make a thumb print for the face, and use your baby finger to make the two prints for the bunny ears. And presto! Easy Easter craft! Enjoy!

Thanks for reading!

Friday's Doodle

I have a lot to write about today as there have been lots of doodles in this house! First, I promised pics of Kman's duckie art. Here they are:



The materials: yellow paint, construction paper, spatulas, crayons or markers, and a paint brush to put the paint on to the spatulas.








Draw on the legs.




Add some grass.




And there you have it!

 I also mentioned about Tonic Living. From the remnants I bought, I got this Robyn's Blue material that I added to the end of my nursery's drapes, which now fit floor to ceiling which I love!

And finally, last night hubby and I worked on the office, as we started to put up the mdf vertical panels. The horizontal panels are this weekend's job. Take a look:

That's it for now! Thanks for reading!