Kid's Craft: Birthday Balloon Card

'Birthday Balloons' Card.

Birthday Balloon Bag.

Ready for Gift Giving.

Wondering what to do with all those kids' artworks piling up?  Here's an awesome idea for you.  My boys recently made these for their uncle's birthday.  I helped them with the cutting and they used double sided tape to adhere their balloon paintings and yarns.  The balloon paintings were actually cut outs from their free-form painting and scribble on letter-size paper.

What do you think?

Little Photo: Show is Over

Don't miss the little precious moments before it's over.

'Little Photo' Series are low resolution, tiny photo snapshots 

using the Little Photo mobile app.

Real Life Comedy

  

This was my first post in Facebook yesterday morning - Monday, the first day of the week. I know you're thinking 'what a way to start the week!  I should have held back on my last sentence on my status post.  For indeed, things kept rolling for me.

Here's the rest of the day:  While putting baby to sleep, he decided to give me a kiss but his forehead hit my lower lip (so hard blood spattered from a nasty cut).  While running to get ice to give myself first aid, I 'slightly' (thankfully just 'slightly') hit my head on the kids' bunk bed corner.  That's when it 'hit' me, literally right?  This day is funnier than a good comedy!  I can either swear at the events unfolding or laugh at it.  I chose the latter.  Hubby always say 'When stuck between the two, choose humor'.

'Little Brother'

Finally nap time came.  I geared straight to my super multitasking mommy mode.  I dialed the tech support (while browsing Etsy) for the CAD (computer assisted design) architecture software we're using for the family business (Yes, I work too. Although most of the times, I wish I can just stay in the studio all day).  After almost two hours of geek talk, they still have not solved my dilemma.  All of a sudden, we (tech guy on the phone and me) heard a shriek louder than my alarm clock.  Baby's nap time is over.  I calmly excused myself and said I'll call back.

Now, baby on my lap, I dialed back in.  This time, I'm on a mission to get a solution.  I spelled my 'mission' to Gary the Tech Guy and asked him what he can do to simplify the rest of my problem.  He said, look for the installation CD and click 'Crystal Reports' file.  All those time, three hours, and he held back that shortcut! Okay, let me do that and call back I said.  Because I need to change a poopy diaper I told myself.

Diaper change - check!  Trains and toys on the floor for baby - check!  Check big brother who was still napping (thankfully) - checked!  Back on the phone with Gary.  The shortcut didn't worked because the laptop where the software was installed was out of memory.  I feel you computer!  I'm almost out too.  I finally gave up with the tech issue and decided to rest for a while.  My lip was still bleeding. I played with my baby for few minutes and I felt better instantly.  Ah babies, my ultimate resolve to keep me in perspective.

I wish I could say that the rest of the day went smoothly but it did not.  But I'll save the rest of the story for another day.  Beside it's just Tuesday.  Here's my recent post:

Nothing beats a good book on a rainy morning...while boys are sleeping.

Thanks again for stopping by and sharing my morning.

Brush vs. Hammer and Drill

Step 1 to 5 Completed. Twenty five steps to go!

Instead of brushes, I chose the hammer and drill today. After months of searching, I finally found the perfect shoe rack for our mudroom. We scored this Ikea TV stand on a clearance sale. 70% off. If you haven't put any Ikea furniture together, let me warn you that it requires tons of patience.

Big help from our little man.

He enjoyed handing out the lightweight pieces to me.

There are no words in the instruction manual, only photo illustrations. The screws, bolts and nuts are all packed together, without separate labeling. You've got to figure it out which piece matches the one indicated on the manual.

All done! Repurposed IKEA TV stand serves as shoe rack.

After almost four hours of hammering, drilling, screwing and awkward bending, I finally finished putting it together (with extra help from my little man and my mom).

Now, we're able to walk in the mudroom without tripping on piles of shoes. It's low enough for our boys to sit on and if it can hold the weight of a flatscreen tv, it should be sturdy enough to occasionally sit on.

My next project will be to put a cushion on top. So, tune in. In the meantime, I'm headed to reward myself with a warm, lavender bath.

- Posted from my iPhone

Once there was a Nest

Carpe diem. Seize the day. A phrase we often hear, but only a few amongst us takes to heart. I, for myself is guilty of occasionally taking the hours for granted. Do you find yourself caught up in the busyness of your day that you forget to realize that there are momentary chances to make a huge difference even through our smallest deeds.

Like the day we found this nest in our yard. My friend and I could have chosen to ignore it and proceed to drive to our destination. Instead, we took the opportunity to teach my little man a brief, but meaningful life experience. To touch a precious nest that once held and nurtured tiny feathered nature friends.

Thinking back, I believe it was there to remind us to make the most of each passing moment in our days. Because someday, we'll all leave our own 'nests'.

Shades of Summer

Today, I'm taking you to our backyard. It's the first thing I fell in love with, before we decided to buy our property few years ago. The old trees give a sense of nostalgia, which often makes one wonder their actual ages.




My husband built our beautiful paver patio as a mother's day gift. Now we get to enjoy the serene summer breeze under the natural shade and dine al fresco. My flowers are blooming too, what more can I ask for?

Perhaps, a little more painting time. Right now, it's all about the 'art of relaxing'. Because in few minutes, the silence will be filled with my boys' playful laughters.

- Posted from my iPhone

Monday Musings

Somebody was up early today to paint with me. I was preparing to start the first painting for my 'Hundred Gardens' Project.


Watching him work on his own space reminded me to enjoy the process with childlike wonder. To occasionally break the rules of art for the sake of pure creativity.


Watching his brushstrokes made me realize once more that we can be who we want to be. In this case, the artists we desire to be. Not defined by the style of art we do, but defining the art we make by who we are.


Just like his painting, others may see it as just another child's doodle. But for him, it's his own 'work of art'. A product of his thought and creative spirit.

- Posted from my iPhone

i heART Dad

It's time for 'Magnificent Mondays'.

My picks for this week - Artistic Gift Ideas for Dads.

Click here to find out more about this week's picks.

I lost my Dad several years ago.

Curating this treasury made me a little teary eyed.

Here's to all the Dads and daddy-to-be out there.

Meet Owyn

The little man exploring Owyn

This is Owyn.  Nope, he's not our boy.  But our boy loves it!  He can't take his eyes and hands of it, eversince  we got it.  

Waiting for Owyn was like waiting for the stork to bring home a baby.  We were filled with anticipation from day one.  We waited one weekend and four days, but it was all worth it.  I was excited to see how our little man will like it.

Owyn travelled more than two thousand miles from Los Angeles to Chicago.  Despite the long travel, it arrived in great shape.  It was superbly packed, cushioned with styrofoam to ensure it's comfy.  One can tell it was built and sent with much love and care.  How can it not be, it was made by a mom.   A mom who creates gorgeous mid-century children furniture from her old garage.

Owyn Toy Box by Mod Mom Furniture

I love pieces that have stories behind it.  As a mom myself, I can just picture her sneaking into her garage during her kids' nap times and getting creative.   Someday when our little man asks me where we got Owyn, I'll tell him it came from a magical garage in a sunny place filled with love, made by a super mom.

Maybe I'll get lucky and hear him say, 'Just like you mom?'.

Sandbox

A Child's Play

It's the weekend.   Nice spring weather, play park getting full and I hear the high-pitch cheers of tiny people (a.k.a. children) outside.  It's only a matter of time until our little one realizes he's missing out on the fun.

I love where we live.  Forest preserves and parks are just steps away from our backyard.  But like any other perks, there are few downsides.  For example, keeping the lawn weed-free is almost impossible.  Nature has it's way of relentlessly sending the seeds of the unwanted sprouts blown through our way.

Then, there are the tennis and volleyball courts directly facing the windows of my studio.  I swear they wave at me each day saying, 'We're waiting for you.'  I used to play tennis back in college but didn't got into volleyball that much.  I'm not much of a 'contact sports' person.  First time I tried volleyball and felt the tingling pains in my wrist last for weeks, I vowed to stick with non-contact sports.  

I lost count how many times I told myself, I'll get back into tennis or learn volleyball.  The courts are just right in our backyard anyway.  Oh, the many plans we make, and break.  This is why I don't mind watching the little man play in the sandbox.

We're both able to 'start over' again.  Forgive ourselves on the plans we break.  There, he builds, creates, digs, piles, and explores, and do it all over again.  While he's busy experimenting on new ways to line up mounds of sand into miniature hills, I savor that little 'pause' time for myself.

I'm able to reflect on few things, just few because within ten minutes or so, he'll be wanting me to jump in there.  If I'm lucky, there'll be kids who'll join him and I can resume my 'reflection' time.  Watching the kids play on the sandbox  reassured me that's it's okay if some of my plans don't materialize.   Or if the dreams we built sometimes break, and expectations fall through.

That it's okay to live imperfectly.  Life is a big sandbox, waiting to be explored.  

Maybe this time, I'll dig into mine with childlike wonder to see what treasures await me. 

A Lesson in Creation

He looked above

And I told him

It was made blue

Especially for you

He touched the grass

Then I whispered

It was made green

Especially for you

He heard the birds 

While I nudged him

They were made

Especially for you

He stared at me 

And kissed my nose 

I knew I was made

Especially for him 

I held his little hands

Thanked God

He was made

Especially for me

For you, my little one, for the lessons we learn together.

Matchbox

We live in a box
Tiny bed and a cot
No kitchen and couch
Only a little bath

Squeezed between two
I call mom and dad
Space too little
Can't play longer

Easily you forget
How much you got
You say it's few
I call it a lot

Don't pity me
I like it here
Small it may be
It's home sweet home

Keep on counting your blessings, instead of what you're missing. You are abundantly blessed than millions of children around the world. This is for you our little one, our greatest gift of all.