Holiday Gratitude

Autumn walk in Squamish, BC, Canada

I am a very blessed woman.  I mean it.  I have a wonderful husband who I adore, and who loves me more than I deserve.  Together, we are lucky to have our beautiful 11-month-old daughter.  She is healthy and happy (most days... she is teething, ha!).  We live in the beautiful community of Squamish, and we both have good jobs that we enjoy.

I really feel like sometimes I need to sit back and remind myself of these things and be grateful.  In light of the appalling events that took place last week in the U.S., it's important to be thankful for what we have and appreciate the fragility of life.  Our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected by this tragedy, including the families of the gunmen as that cannot be an easy cross to bear...

Try not to get caught up in the frenzy of the season... spend less money, but give more of your time.  Make memories with your loved ones and enjoy the things you do have, instead of lusting for the things you don't.  Sending love and light to everyone during this holiday season.

View from First Peak, The Chief, Squamish

Happy Monday!
xxx
Caramia

Autumn in Dramatic Fashion

After a glorious summer here in the Sea-to-Sky corridor, autumn has officially arrived.  Bringing with it chilly temperatures, changing leaves, and torrential rains!  I actually like fall since some of my favourite clothes are perfect for the cooler weather.  Boots, sweaters, tuques, mittens... and my brand-new sweatshirt with a dramatic collar!

DIY Fabric Necklace

I saw a feature in In Style magazine a few years ago on some fabric bead necklaces by Louis Vuitton, and I ripped it out for my Inspiration Binder.  These bad boys retail for over $800 (!!!).  Like, holy frig who has that kind of money for a FABRIC necklace?!?!?  No diamonds or gold or anything!!!  Well I figured I could probably make my own for a mere fraction of the price.  So I did some Googling.

Fireworks Taffy

Back view, unfinished neckline

I have a serious shortage of cute tops in my wardrobe.  Lots of my dressier tops are made of hard to wash fabrics, which doesn't really work for my life right now with an 8-month-old baby.  Cotton is pretty much the way I roll these days...  I used a cotton voile for the Taffy Blouse from the Colette Handbook.

But Not A Real Green Dress (That's Cruel)

Family photo at our friends' wedding

We've had amazing weather for most of the summer here in the Sea-to-Sky corridor.  It's been nice, but having a baby definitely changes your outlook on things.  Instead of rejoicing at the +30C temps, I began cursing it, knowing that it would be next to impossible to put the Little Miss to bed when her room was 29C and the sunshine was still streaming into the house.

End of Summer...

It's that time of year again here in Canada... the crisp chill in the air, days are getting shorter, the leaves are beginning to change colour.  Autumn is on it's way!  My husband brews his own beer from scratch, and is quite good at it.  He planted hops at his parents house a few years ago, and it was harvest time while were in the Okanagan for the Labour Day long weekend (Sept 1st)...

The "Enjoy It While It Fits" Bonnet

We're going to a wedding this weekend in Salmon Arm.  It's supposed to be very hot and sunny, and apparently there will be little to no shade during the outdoor ceremony.

So the Little Miss needed a fancy hat to wear!

Adventures in the U.S. of Eh!

Well it's certainly been awhile since my last post... not surprising considering the Little Miss is now 6 months old (!!!) and has decided that she no longer wants to nap during the day... sigh...  But I thought I'd check in with you guys and update you on the goings-on around these parts.

Viewpoint near Manzanita, Oregon Coast

We just returned home last night after a wonderful 9-day vacation to the Oregon Coast (and beyond!).  N and I enjoy travelling and we're always up for a road trip so that we can stop along the way if we want to check something out.  Travelling with a 6-month-old is MUCH different than travelling alone with your spouse, ha ha ha.  Little Miss pretty much dictated our entire trip... if she was sleeping in the car, we didn't dare stop.  But if she was awake and fussy, we would stop ASAP.

The Sleep-Deprived Sorbetto

 Back in 2010, a friend asked me to make her a green skirt.  I misread the instructions and ended up making her purchase way more fabric than was necessary.  So I decided that I would make her something else "someday" as a surprise!

So Many Babies, So Little Time!

As the second half of 2012 is almost upon us, I'm frantically trying to finish 6 (!!!) diaper bags for my girlfriends expecting babies in the latter half of this year.  Including 2 sets of twins - yahoo!  Both sets of twins are due in late Sept, but could come a bit earlier, obvi.  Otherwise the timeline for the other babes is: late June, late August, late Sept (x 2 - or 4!), late Oct, and late Dec.  I've got my work cut out for me.  I'm planning to use the same diaper bag pattern and tutorial that I used for our bag.

Caveman Artisan Bread and the Best Healthy Soup Ever

Sometimes the best food is the simplest to make...

I'm a recent convert to Pinterest (you can follow me here).  I found this amazing and soooo easy peasy artisan bread recipe.  I like to call it Caveman Artisan Bread because it's so easy, even a caveman could do it!

The Sari Minoru

I finally got outside this weekend to take photos of my finished Minoru jacket!

Year 28: In Review

Wowie!  Another year has flown by!  I thought I'd look back at my goals for my 28th year and see how I did...

April Showers Bring May Flowers

I try to get out for a walk at least once a day.  I find if I don't have fresh air I get headaches and don't sleep as well at night.  Plus I think it's good for kids to be outdoors.  Normally I walk along the creekside trail near our house but it was closed due to cougar activity in the area (!!!).  You know you're in Squamish when you carry bear spray or a hunting knife with you on a stroll around the neighbourhood!  Here are some pics I took of people's lovely spring gardens in my subdivision.

Rhododendrons

Giant monkey puzzle tree

Cherry blossoms peeking between cedars

Lovely pink flower

More cherry blossoms

Love the red rhodos

Forsythia

Not sure of this one, but I love it!

Big cedar stump

More cherries

The best springtime flower of all!

Happy Friday everyone!

xxx

Caramia

Spring is Sprung?

Phew, we just got back last night from a wonderful holiday to Saskatoon (and beyond!).  In typical prairie style it was sunny and +15 on Saturday, and then -5 and snowing on Sunday - ha ha!  Nova did amazing on her first flight(s) - and the West Jet staff was amazing, they even gave her a little "My First Flight" sticker.  So cute!

Havin' a time in her Exersaucer!

Procrastination... doesn't make it happen

I promise I'm working on projects, it's just that this adorable little stinker takes up most of my time... She's worth it though.

I am planning to make a few new outfits to wear on our upcoming summer holidays to the Oregon Coast (very very excited!).

Happy Wednesday everyone!
xxx
Caramia

Padded Headboard Tutorial (Bedroom Upgrade - Part I)

I've been wanting to update our bedroom for awhile now.  We are renters so can't make too many changes to the room itself (apart from hanging some art), but our furniture is fair game.  I'm pretty cheap frugal but love one-of-a-kind items... luckily I'm also a crafty lady!  I loooove the look of padded headboards, but not the price tag at a typical home store.  Read on for details on how you too can create your own designer-inspired headboard...

The finished product!

New Year Sewing Projects

Since little Nova's arrival almost 3 weeks ago, I really haven't had much time to do anything other than breastfeed, change diapers, cat nap and have a sitz bath once a day.  That doesn't stop me from dreaming and planning my future sewing projects however!

I started making a baby sling just before Nova's birth which I hope to finish over the next few days.  I also made her a pair of scratch mittens from Home Sweet Homebodies free pattern and a newborn sized hat from the free Whip Up pattern.  She hates wearing the mittens and takes them off as fast as I can put them on...  So I just waited until she was asleep one day and then I cut her sharp little talons.  But she doesn't mind the hat.  Isn't it just soooo stinking cute???

Sooo effing adorable!

It's A Girl!!!

We welcomed our sweet little girl Nova Rayanne at 11:10pm on Wednesday January 18th at the hospital here in Squamish.  She was 6lbs 5oz and we are absolutely in love with her.  There's just something about little girls that makes everyone melt, isn't there?

Happy Sunday everyone!
xxx
Caramia (and Nova!)

Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012!

Feeling rather pregnant

Phew!  What a year 2011 has been...  My hubby and I were chatting one night at the end of December about how much has changed in the past year.  We had no idea as we began 2011 that we would:

• find out we were pregnant 
• both lose our jobs 
• lose the baby 
• both find new jobs 
• get pregnant again
• move to the coast  

And all of this happened within the first 4 months of 2011!!!  The past year really has tested us but provided us with so many wonderful things as well.  New friends, new career opportunities, wonderful weddings and special times with family and friends, plus a healthy pregnancy.  Yippee!