M.I.A.... and Mired In Action!

Well, it's been a long time since I paid any attention to my blog...I am sure you all share a similar level of busyness in your lives right now. Back to school shopping, last trips to the beach, camping trips and some of you are actually back to school already and caught back up in the familiar routine of that and all it entails.

This summer has been a  particularly hectic one in our home. We have camped, swam, had the photo shoot for HOLIDAY with Matthew Mead (so you can imagine what that entailed getting ready!), trained and completed a 70.3 mile IronMan race (the handyman, not me...Of course, you knew that already, didn't you!), and took various road trips including our most recent trip to New Hampshire to wrap up some HOLIDAY business...and watch as the handyman swam, biked and ran a ridiculous/admirable distance.

I could lie and say I will be back tomorrow, but tomorrow means back-to-school shopping, groceries, and maybe a bit of lounging around so instead you can read about my New Hampshire trip here.

And in my busyness, I forgot to share this video preview of what has been taking up all of my writing energies this summer, leaving this poor little blog languishing in oblivion.

But honestly, this magazine is going to be sooo worth every late night spent hovering in front of my computer and you - my crafty, cooking, stylish, holiday-loving friends - will LOVE it!!

And I WILL be back with a few new decorating projects I have managed to fit in and bits and bobs that made up my summer.

 Enjoy the rest of yours!!

I'm Lovin' It...

Just a little collection of photos from my camera and my inspiration folder. 

Just a few things I find pretty great.

My new dining area light fixture. You'll see it in all its glory in the pages of HOLIDAY

 My pretty girl. Her hair is that of a wild child lately:

And that's all she wrote...(I'll be back soon!)

 

Goodness! How boring am I?!

Sundae, Sunday...

 

One of my favourite things about maintaining this blog is that it reminds me to create something special from the ordinary. Like putting your best face forward. Basically, if I am going to go to the trouble to snap a photo, record my thoughts, time-stamp a moment in our lives, then I should put effort into making those ordinary moments stand out. Because there is enough ordinary in life and sometimes all that is needed is some extra attention to details. And details matter. You can never pay enough attention to the details when they have the power to make life more enjoyable.

Right?

Right!

On the weekend, we put a real dent in our Summer List, which (for the record) has turned out to be a true blessing this summer. It has given us direction and allowed us to do some of the things we have always meant to do, wanted to do, wished to do. On our list are many easy, quick, inexpensive ideas and two of them involved food (we have to eat dinner, right?) so we did double-duty by choosing those ones.

Sundaes.  

Who doesn't love them? A sundae bar was on our to-do list so a pretty set-up made things extra special:

 

Ice cream: we chose plain vanilla and marshmallow fudge crackle with toppings of fresh strawberries, hot fudge, Maltesers, gummy bears, Dove chocolate mint cups, real whipped cream, and Smarties:

But before all of that sweetness, we devoured salted, vinegared golden crispy on the outside-soft and fluffy on the inside homemade french fries, just like my mum used to make. In fact, I hope my mum isn't reading this because the handyman declared them even better than hers! 

Which, of course, secretly pleased me...

Honestly, they do look pretty perfect, don't they?

(Note: no electric deep fryer was used in the making of theses french fries. They are a once/summer treat so I go the old-fashioned route of employing a "chip pan" - which should only be used by the most safety-conscious cook. Not recommended for scatter-brained cooks. Safety first!)

It is fair to say that it was an extra-ordinary day!
With half of the summer remaining, I look forward to many more days just like it!

Down Memory Lane...

I read a quote recently about how all of your dreams don`t need to have an expiration date. I think that is so very true and we get caught up in wanting to fulfill all of our dreams and wishes in an instant, when sometimes they happen in the order they are supposed to. I am not sure if my weekend adventure qualifies as a dream, per se, but it certainly has been a wish of mine for as many years and I am not sure why it took me so long to see it through.

Memory Lane Heritage Village is tucked away in a tiny place called Lake Charlotte, a blink and you`ll miss it place on the map, but very well worth the trip. I read about Memory Lane about ten years ago when a local newspaper ran a feature on it. Set in the 1940`s and 1950`s, its vintage appeal was/is right up my alley and I made a mental note to check it out. Well, lo and behold, it took me a decade but I finally made it; and although the drive there was longer than I'd anticipated, it was worth every minute - especially since Sophie and her friend were as good as gold! Basically, as soon as I set foot on the path to one of the Village homes, two little sheep - one black and the other white - stepped out in front of me. Looking just like the little sheep in Sophie's favourite book, Emily's house , I knew they were a sign of good things to come.

Ever the dork sentimentalist, I even wore a retro-inspired dress and packed up a lunch in an old English wicker picnic basket I found at an antique shop last summer (it came stocked with butter-yellow flasks and mint condition bakelite cutlery). 

My sister would have had such a chuckle at my antics.

But when in Rome...

And knowing my love of retro fridges, can you imagine my excitement when I saw this pink beauty?! I could honestly have moved right in...until the sheep I met earlier made their way in through the front door, headed straight into the kitchen, and promptly peed on the floor!

(I didn`t take a photo of the pee...aren't you glad?)

Sophie had fun pretending she lived there:

And check out the cute kitchen sink of this little house:

Next up, we headed to the carpenter`s shop where the handyman got all excited about a scythe. Apparently he`s always liked them...not sure why. I have honestly always thought he was born in the wrong era and it turns out he would have made a great gentleman of the 1940`s.

And I have long called him "The Preacher", so he hopped up to the pulpit and did his thing:

(Except he looks a bit demented in this photo)

Off to the schoolhouse where I put Sophie in the naughty corner. Hey, did you notice the map? Much like the one I bought last year! I guess I have finally pinned down the era in which it was produced.

A wish fulfilled and another thing crossed off The List!

******************************

Now, what small dreams can you make happen for you?

It's All About the Kids...

It is isn't it?

I mean, that could be said with a smile or a scowl, depending on the day, the mood or the moment.

And I have experienced the gamut in just the short week since summer break started.

I have discovered that working from home, surrounded by kids and the noises of summer, is REALLY hard. That I may have to shift my thinking and my schedule: working only at night, after everyone is in bed. Because writing creative thoughts for two magazines, while fielding endless questions, supervising swimming, and running a taxi service and an ice-cream stand really doesn't mesh.

Not that I'm complaining (well, maybe a little...). Because if anyone writes me and tries to tell me that there aren't growing pains associated with having the kids home for summer, well, they are too organized or saintly to be my pal. Just being honest...

And because the internet can be a very bad influence on me (for example, I cleaned my oven the other day just because a Facebook friend said she was cleaning hers), I decided to take inspiration from the lovable Meg (who has really set the bar on being a fun mother, hasn't she?) and made this with my girlie:

(and yes, there is a spelling error: Sunday should read Sundae)

Only you just know that making this list is going to come back and bite me...

As in, "Mummy, we need to do something on the list, so let's have a water balloon fight and make a campfire to make spider hotdogs, K?"

And I will grimace while entertaining thoughts of using that list to start the campfire...

And then, magically, I will get in a groove and loosen up and things will get done and I will reap the reward of all that late night working: sleeping in!

Because that's a summer activity, right?

Must go add it to "The List!"

(Sophie's class picnic...we can scratch that off The List, too!)

Happiness is...

Is it possible to not be happy when on a swing?

(Sophie and her cousin, Sarah)

I felt happy just watching them...

Summer, summertime!!

I am ready.

As my eldest finishes his final exam, my youngest son announces he is playing hooky for his final three days next week (and I am okay with that) and my girlie has her field trip, I am hereby declaring the arrival of Summer!

I am through making bag lunches...and waking up in a cold sweat realizing I forgot to pick up bread for sandwiches.

I am ready for full-time flip flop wearing, and less socks to wash.

I am ready to use my clothesline every fine day.

I am ready to fire up the barbecue more days than not.

I am ready to fill my deep-freeze with freezies, and watch my children slyly poke the empty wrappers down through the gaps in the decking.

I am even ready for sand in the tub.

I am ready for trips to the beach and ice-cream or snow cones afterwards.

I am ready to swing on my porch swing with the handyman, listening to the radio on a Saturday night.

I am ready to see my children's hair turn lighter as the sun and chlorine bleach it out.

Speaking of that, I am ready for my own hair to need less touch-ups.

I am ready for even more freckles to sprinkle across my kids' cheeks (and my own!)

I am ready to watch the handyman mow the grass and build me things with no shirt on, while envying his freedom to do so!

I am ready for my friends' annual Canada Day party.

I am ready for CAMPING!!!

I am ready to be the ever present life-guard, and assure myself that daily dips in the pool means they can skip the odd shower.

I am ready for my farmer's tan.

I am ready to wear more dresses than pants.

I am ready to work my butt off writing (note to self: must find way to type while life-guarding)

I am ready to sleep in and hopefully my internal clock will understand that before the summer is out!!

Are you ready???

Non-Traditional Portraits...

I love taking photos, especially of my kids. Who doesn't? But, the photos I enjoy best are those taken of spontaneous moments, in casual settings, and I am less likely to stage the kids for a posed photo, unless it is a special holiday or event.

Remember my obsession with the perfect Christmas card photo??

My sister sent me some photos of our children from several years past, taken at one of my previous homes, and it was a nice walk down memory lane. Here are a few, and yes, my house was yellow (as every one has been!) and was a Colonial style, for those interested in such details:

My niece, Ella, and my little Sophie (camping as toddlers). Aren't they adorable?

But this?

This "portrait" has become a new summer family tradition because it best represents the dry wit of my boys, actually of all of us. It was taken on our summer camping trip to Maine in July, and shows Sophie, mouth slack with sleep, and her brothers mocking her, just like last year. This photo was unplanned, but you can be sure I will be primed and ready to take a similar photo next year. I figure, as long as she still falls asleep in the car, this tradition will remain!!

Last year's version:

Summertime...

Busy day, lots to do, sun is out...finally! I thought I would just share some of my favourite summertime photos to remind ourselves that it really is summer!!

By the way, check back tomorrow for my big announcement!!

photo sources:

image one: my house

image two: Anthropologie.com

image three: Katrin Cargill.com

image four: Canadian Home and Country.com

Vacation or Staycation?

photo source: Country Living.com

There seems to be a whole lot of catch phrases rolling around the tongues of magazines and blogs these days. Upcycling, Repurposing, and more! A favourite of mine is the totally "new" concept of Staycations. When I was young, it simply meant you weren't lucky enough to go on a real vacation (and we didn't). Nowadays, it is a socially acceptable practice that centers around exploring ones own town/city/ province/state in day trip form and/or tricking out your "outdoor space" to coax you into wanting to stay put. Harried mothers, desperate to entertain their children and keep to their budgets (it is a total fallacy that summer is less expensive than winter), comb though their local tourist guides and newspapers, searching for fun and entertaining destinations close to home.

.

Jumping waves with family...free!

Things like collecting seashells and munching on picnic lunches at the beach to painting the sidewalk with a bucket filled with water are making their way onto many to-do lists. Trips to the zoo and drive-in movies are glamourized by mums like me and indoor rock climbing excursions seem almost affordable when compared to the luxury of renting a cottage by the sea for a week.

Tubing outside of Fredericton, N.B.

$10/person...I think!

Many are also looking to their back yards to corral their families and friends with promises of excitement. Many parents have upped the ante and added a trampoline and/or pool to the backyard landscape.

photo source: Coastal Living.com

Hot tubs, outdoor fire pits, badminton nets, outdoor kitchens offer up a resort-like atmosphere for those lucky enough to afford it. Gone are the days of plastic lawn chairs, picnic tables and metal swing sets. Families used to plush comforts at home are even turning up their noses at the ever affordable camping, especially in a tent . Of course, camping in our day didn't require deep pockets for theme parks, either.

I, myself, have fallen victim (happily) to the staycation concept. Although we have a camping trip to the states planned, we have added the above-ground pool and fire bowl as a way of keeping the kids happy throughout the summer months.

photo source: Toast.uk

Luckily, we also have the most spectacular beaches nearby so day trips really can be almost free (save for a few popsicles and a picnic lunch!). While our tent-trailer offers the opportunity for quick and affordable lodging when travelling, the cost of gasoline, snacks, and entertainment when on the road does not really make it as affordable as some would have you believe. Indeed, I honestly don't know how some afford to pack up the camper and family and go away every weekend!

What about you? What approach do you take to summer? Do you travel, rent cottages, or simply be tourists in your own town? Have you decked out your backyard spaces with all the trappings of rest and relaxation, so you can vacation at home?

Will you vacation or staycation?