A Wee Merry

Posted on | October 23, 2011 | 2 Comments

Merry Christmas that is.

If you’re a card maker, have you started your Christmas cards yet? If not, you should! Two months away and it’s one of my favorite holiday!

I’ll make this post short and sweet. Card created using Waltzingmouse’s sketch for this week. Do check it out!!

House Mommy

Posted on | October 22, 2011 | 2 Comments

We all can’t be June Cleaver. Hubby would go broke if I even attempt it. I mean the hairdresser alone would give our pocket book a nice dent!

I did attempt it though last Saturday. I went to gymnastics and then the market with proper ladylike clothing and even a pearl necklace. I did my hair too and dug out a proper handbag from my closet!! June would have been so stinkin’ proud of me!

I’ve been dressing up a bit the last few weeks. While I wanted to look a bit more presentable, the hubby and the M have been griping about my looks. Hubby’s the kind of guy who changes into day time clothes soon after he gets out of bed and I can stay in my PJs (whatever t-shirt I can find and flannel pants) all day or even two days in a row (I used to go to my college classes in the clothes I slept in too). Emma loves to dress up and I’ve pretty much been wearing the same thing every four days – whatever’s on top of the clean laundry pile whether they match or not. More than once my 7-yrs-old have told me to go change because I looked embarrassing.

Yesterday I had a little sweater, nice slacks and a tidier hair do. Emma loved it. She said I looked very nice. Then after I got M from school I changed into some old t-shirt, pants and a house coat that’s full of stains (from my ink pads mostly). I went to see M for something and soon after she saw me she said, “Ahhh, it’s house mommy again. I love it when you dress up nice.” She seriously looked disappointed that I changed.

Maybe I have been taking “casual look” a bit too far. It’s just hard to get all dolled up when I know I have (dirty) chores to do around the house and a 2-yrs-old who can lay her dirty fingers on me at any moment. I’d like to be able to sit on the floor, the grass, etc. without worrying about my light colored pants getting dirty.

This whole dressing up thing did make me wonder about those living thousands of years ago. I wonder if husbands/children back then ever complain about their mom’s loin cloth skirt. I wonder if there was a village style icon that the ladies look up too.

Do you ever think of things like that?

Anyhoot, a little altered piece that I did using pieces from Scarlet Lime, the main October kit. FUN project I did here!! This was a gift for a little girlie. It’s a regular, soft cover, writing book that I covered and did a bit of simple decorating. It took me 30 minutes to do, more less, and from what I heard, the recipient loves her gift.

What is THE Best?

Posted on | October 18, 2011 | 1 Comment

Like all parents I try to do the best for the kids. But sometimes I wonder what the best really means.

Just last week I realized why I’ve been restless about M’s school. While her current (public) school is great and Emma wouldn’t want to go anywhere else I keep wondering if (maybe) I should have enrolled her in the local private school.

It was my mom who made me realize this. She always worries about everything, to the point of not sleeping well. While some things are worth getting heart burns over others, like whether a package made it to us or not, isn’t. In the middle of our conversation about this missing (now found) package she mentioned that she just always wants the best for her kids (and grandkids). While I could have been a bit happier with more social activities in my young life my parents always gave me the best they could afford in terms of education (other things were not as important — this is more less what a lot of Asian/Chinese folks think). It’s just something that runs in the family. As long as the kids go to the best schools (most of the best school are private in Indonesia) my parents, aunts and uncles would happily eat ramen noodles everyday.

Because of this family attitude and my private education upbringing I realize that I am somewhat… or maybe quite… bias on private vs public education. Besides my bias view I was (still kinda am) feeling a bit guilty about not giving Emma the best. The thing is, we can afford it (we can even skip the ramens), and so what I am doing now is going against some long time family belief (I am third generation).

So last week I had this conversation with M:

Me: Emma, I feel bad because I don’t think I’m giving you the best for your school
M: Why?
Me: Because you’re going to your school and not so and so that so and so goes to which might be better
M: I like my school though. I learn lots and I love my friends.
Me: I know. (pause). Is it ok that all your cousins were/are in private schools?
M: Mommy, that’s ok. You don’t always have to be like them.
Me: (hmmm, wise child) Yeah, you’re right. BUT, by high school time if you don’t go to a really good public school mommy’s going back to work so that I can send you to a really good private school.
M: Whatever mommy…

Despite my realization and M and I’s conversation, next March I am going to the private school’s open house. It’s not for Emma. It’s for Jovie… I mean, she hasn’t made any friends yet, right? And M… she’ll just have to live with me giving her homework until she goes to private school.

On the card… a little something using Waltzingmouse’s sketch for this week. FUN, sketch! I was skeptical at first but I honestly had a great time making this. I used Scarlet Lime‘s main kit to help me with this project. Leftovers from another project which I will share tomorrow!!

Title-Less Wednesday

Posted on | October 12, 2011 | 3 Comments

I’ve been sitting here for a good 15 minutes trying to figure out what to title this post. I guess if a title can’t be found in that length of time then the post should just be title-less. So here’s to my no title post…

I actually have a lot to share today. I haven’t blogged in… uhm… a week? Just decided to take a little break and spend a bit of me time because once again I turned 25. I had a few friends celebrating before and after my birthday so it’s been a week of parties and fun. The hubby and I even went on a little date without Jovie freaking out!! I think we’ve reached a milestone here!

For the first time since I was 10 I had a little get together for my birthday. I just invited those I hung out most often and those I like hanging out with even though we don’t see each other often. We had tea and cake at a cafe and had a nice time chit-chatting. I had so much fun that I am thinking of inviting people again next year. Different venue (better cakes, HA!). We’ll see… maybe next year I’ll have no friends {::SMILES}.

Today (or Tuesday – I am writing this was past my bed time), M went to gymnastics. She’s in a new group. The girls in the group itself is fine but oh my, that group has a lot of kids! M came a group of five girls her age to nine!! So tomorrow I am going to have to give them a call and tell them how not comfortable I am with that. On top of my own comfort level I heard the other mums from the group complaining about the new additions too. There were already busy with seven girls, even adding another one would just be a bit much. So we’ll see. While M doesn’t care either way, she likes the girls in both group, she doesn’t understand that more girls = less time on apparatus and also = to less attention. I’ve seen so much improvement in her the last three month’s and I’d hate to have her stall. The sad part is, we might be stuck with this arrangement because they’re short on coaches and the next best gym is 45 minutes away (compare to 30). I am not at all some crazy overly ambitious gym mom but this new arrangement doesn’t look promising at all.

Cards… I have a few cards to share from card making day that I had at my house a few Fridays ago. The above is mine which I proudly paint using water color pencils and the below Christmas card is my friend’s:

And this one is Miss M’s:

Hope you enjoy the cards and before I leave, here’s the Miss:

This was taken during the UK heat wave a week and a half ago. It’s fall but you couldn’t tell from M’s dress.

Have a great one and if you’re a blogger, hope your post is better titled than mine!!!

I Was Organized

Posted on | October 6, 2011 | 2 Comments

I went to my neighbor friend’s house today for a re-do photo shoot and was given the tour of her home. This friend of mine’s pregnant and so of course I got to see the baby room. I LOVE her baby room! It was just the perfect neutral tone with everything organized into cute little cubbies.

The organization reminded me of when M was just born. Her room wasn’t as nicely done but it had similar organization theme. I had bins for diapers, burp clothes, hats, toys, etc.

Fast forward… I have Jovie’s clothes stacked on top of her changing table. M’s is stuffed in her dresser cause that’s just how M puts clothes away, I have junk modeling everywhere, bits and pieces of toys under the sofa, plastic fantastic toys that makes noises, etc. Hubby blames all that on my lack of cleaning/organization ability and me… it’s just what happens when you have two young (creative) kids.

You’d think I don’t buy the child toys but Emma would always get very excited when I receive a package. She’d jump up and down and go: “Mommy, can I have the box, please?” For what this time? I said and she’s reply with something like, “My dino needs a house.” So off she’d go with the box and 30 minutes later I’d hear, “Mommy, come see my dino’s new house.” So up I’d go and in one of the IKEA EXPEDIT square I saw a dino (cardboard) house with furniture made out of whatever M found and of course the dinosaur. On the floor I saw the previous occupier of that square, a beautiful wooden doll house as tall as Emma, and a pretty Le Toy Van ranch collecting dust.

And Jovie… I think her current goal in life, second to throwing tantrums, is to misplace every single thing she touches.

Hubby might not agree but ahh…. those were the days when I was just a bit more organized…

Hope you’ve enjoyed WPlus9′s release and on their website right now shopping for yummy new stamps!! Take care!