I’m jacked to spend Christmas with my quarantine crew. I’ll miss my extended family but I’m also looking forward to 10 days off work with my tiny crew in our matching shirts. Holiday plans over here are definitely different but also matchy matchy.
Family
Who doesn’t love a resolution that involves new shoes?
The beginning of the year can be filled with pressure for some people as they resolve to change and change can be hard. In past years I have had some lofty resolutions none of which I ever followed through on, but for the last three years I have had more success. Part of the success has to do with making sure that I have the right tools to easily follow through on my resolutions.
Three years ago I resolved to listen to more music because it makes me happy. It was a pretty simple resolution, and to be successful I got myself setup with wireless speakers, and a Spotify account. Three years later, I am still listening to music.
Two years ago I resolved to spend more weekend time with my family, to do that I addressed the issues that were hindering my ability to have free time of the weekend. The main culprit was cleaning, so I resolved to pay someone to clean my house. Best resolution ever.
Last year I resolved to run because I have 2 feet and a heartbeat. This was by far the toughest resolution that I have kept up for an entire year. I have completed 3-5K races, 2-10K races and one half marathon. I have run 584 kilometers during 103 running outings in the last 365 days. It wasn’t easy, but I did it, even Saturday mornings at 8am when I would much rather be in bed. There were many many days that I did not feel like running, but once I did I was glad I stuck with it. I joined a running group in January, downloaded the app Runtracker, and bought new shoes.
This year I am going to opt for an easier resolution. I need to sleep more. I am a night owl. My favourite time of day is when everyone else is asleep. I knit in bed before I go to sleep and sometimes get wrapped up in just finishing the row, or piece, or section…. But I also appreciate a good night sleep, which I can’t get if I’m not turning off the lights until after midnight. I have my fitbit to track my sleep, and I might use this as an excuse to get new sheets, pillows and maybe even a new bed.
What are you resolving to change in 2020?
On the Sixth day of Christmas
On the Sixth day of Christmas my true loves made with me…
Glowing Trees
As you can see sometimes I rope the whole family into my crafting adventures. We have done clay workshops a few times together, and it’s always a little stressful, but a lot of fun. These clay trees were easier than the mugs we made in the last project. I think that they turned out pretty good, and the kids are super proud of their creations.
Until tomorrow.
Keep Crafting
Sarah
On the Fifth day of Christmas
On the Fifth day of Christmas my true love made for me…
Cousin Hats
This project started with a trip to Michaels’s with my six year old shadow. He saw the yarn with the pom pom’s attached and it was too soft to walk away from. I bought three balls of yarn, one for him, and one for each of his young cousins. Then my older son wanted one, then I asked my other sister if her kids would like hats. The next thing you know I was making a range of hats to fit 6 months to 13 years old. I knit 8 hats in total in a variety of different colours for all of my nephews, my kids and my single niece.
I can’t wait to see the pictures of all of them in their new toques. But first I have to take a trip to the schools lost and found to see if I can’t find one of my kids hats. It’s been 8 days and it’s missing already!
Pattern to follow.
Happy Crafting
Sarah
3rd Crain-iversary
August 7th is the third anniversary of my brain surgery. On August 7th 2015 I had a crainiotomy to remove a meningioma tumour. I blogged all about my brainy experiences pre and post surgery, and if you are interested in the gory details they are all there in the BRAIN TUMOUR tab at the top of every page.
The meningioma that I called Timmy lived in the cerebellum region of my brain which is the part of the brain that coordinates muscular activity. Pre-surgery I had some issues with dizziness, headaches and was advised to limit my activities to those that would not increase my blood pressure.
To celebrate three years of being brain tumour free we went rock climbing, simply because we can. We all gave it a try, and some of us were more successful than others. I don’t think that I will be quitting my day job to become a rock climber, but it was fun to try.
Christmas Crafts – Day 11
It’s the 12th day of Christmas today, or maybe even day 13 but if you are like me then perhaps you have lost track of the days.
My oldest saw kids making these at school this week and decided that he wanted to make one too. I know it’s hard to believe but I had all of the materials on hand. This was his first sewing project so I am a pretty proud mom. I’m impressed my 8 year old would initiate this on his own, and follow through to completion. Perhaps crafting is genetic?
• On the first day of Christmas my true loves made for me, an Ornament Wreath.
• On the second day of Christmas my true loves made with me, Hot Chocolate Mugs.
• On the third day of Christmas my true love made for me, Plum Wine.
• On the fourth day of Christmas my mom made for me, A Nativity Scene.
• On the fifth day of Christmas a random stranger made for me, Cotton Candy Chemo Cap.
• On the sixth day of Christmas my true loves made for me, Spontaneous Snowmen
• On the seventh day of Christmas my true love made for me, Tiny Knit Scarf Ornaments
• On the eighth day of Christmas my little loves made for me, Reindeer Balls.
• On the ninth day of Christmas my little loves made with me, Dentist approved cookies.
• On the tenth day of Christmas my true love made for me, Beyblade gloves.
• On the eleventh day of Christmas my love made…
A Sewn Stocking.
Christmas Crafts -Day 9
The kids and I usually make a gingerbread house from a kit around Christmas. The goal isn’t about the baking, it’s about the decorating and spending time together creating something.
This year my son mentioned seeing a train gingerbread kit that he would like to make. So I went to the store he thought he saw it in and there was none to be found. I then asked my husband to pick a gingerbread house kit up at the grocery store but he decided not to get one because in his words “we usually end up throwing most of it away anyway”. I do agree but as I mentioned it’s not about the gingerbread, it’s about the time spent together.
Now it’s 2 days before Christmas and after going to 4 stores in search of a gingerbread house or train, or anything gingerbread like we ended up with a cookie decorating kit.
The cookies are hard as rocks because I ate one, just to test it out. Let’s hope none of us have a dental emergency in the next week as a result.
- On the first day of Christmas my true loves made for me, an Ornament Wreath.
- On the second day of Christmas my true loves made with me, Hot Chocolate Mugs.
- On the third day of Christmas my true love made for me, Plum Wine.
- On the fourth day of Christmas my mom made for me, A Nativity Scene.
- On the fifth day of Christmas a random stranger made for me, Cotton Candy Chemo Cap.
- On the sixth day of Christmas my true loves made for me, Spontaneous Snowmen
- On the seventh day of Christmas my true love made for me, Tiny Knit Scarf Ornaments
- On the eighth day of Christmas my little loves made for me, Reindeer Balls.
- On the ninth day of Christmas my little loves made with me….
Dentist Approved Cookies.
If you want to make these too, good luck! Hopefully you find a kit in fewer than four stores.
Christmas Crafts – Day 6
I was making a craft today when my five year old asked if he could have a clear ornament ball which I was planning on using for my project.
He was very excited, and told me he was going to make the ball into a snowman with eyes, a smile and buttons. And he was going to sign his name. He got out the permanent markers and got to work.
When he was finished I suggested that we fill it with snow which like all the other materials, I had on hand. He was sceptical. I got out a jar of snow and got to work filling it up. He proceeded to show my other son and husband his masterpiece, which prompted the making of a second snowman.
- On the first day of Christmas my true loves made for me, an Ornament Wreath.
- On the second day of Christmas my true loves made with me, Hot Chocolate Mugs.
- On the third day of Christmas my true love made for me, Plum Wine.
- On the fourth day of Christmas my mom made for me, A Nativity Scene.
- On the fifth day of Christmas a random stranger made for me, Cotton Candy Chemo Cap.
On the sixth day of Christmas my true loves made…..
Spontaneous Snowmen.
Want to make your own snowmen? You will need clear plastic ornament balls, permanent markers, ribbon and powdered snow.
Start by drawing a snowman face on the ornament with permanent markers. Remove the hanger, fill with powdered snow and reconnect the hanger. Tie ribbon to hang.
So easy a five year old could design and execute it on his own.
Christmas Crafts – Day 2
At Halloween we took the kids to a local craft shop to make Halloween bowls. While we were there the kids saw posters for holiday mugs, and they decided that this “crafting thing” was going to be something that we did as a family. The question wasn’t can we make Christmas mugs, it was when are we going to make Christmas mugs. I can’t turn down a request to craft so I booked us into a family workshop on a Sunday afternoon much to the disappointment of my football loving husband.
My youngest got right into it, and attempted to make most of the mug on his own. He did however forget to sign his mug, which became an issue when it was time find it for glazing. My oldest decided that he liked the frosty mug on the poster for another workshop better, so he made a snowman mug from the image on the poster. Huge bonus points to him for crafting out of the box without a demo.
On the first day of Christmas my true love made for me…an ornament wreath.
On the second day of Christmas my true loves made with me…mugs!
What to make mugs yourself? Check out local crafting shops, studios or art workshops. All the fun without the mess at home.
Cuddle + Kind
If you have signed up for any retail emails you have probably been bombarded in the last few days. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, 50% off, buy one get one free, free shipping… I can hardly keep up. There have been so many emails lately about buying stuff, piles and piles of stuff. Stuff that doesn’t do much for anyone except maybe the buyer, and even then, it’s questionable.
I will admit that I joined in the Black Friday madness, and fought my way through the throngs of people with piles of bags on my arms. When I got home I began questioning my purchases because I bought so much and I didn’t really need any of it. Not one thing….well maybe I can quantify the vacuum. I am a sucker for a good deal.
Had I bought a pile of Cuddle + Kind dolls I would not be racing back to the mall making returns right now. Do you want to purchase a product that has a positive impact on the lives of others? Me too! Join me in supporting Cuddle + Kind on giving Tuesday, and every other day. Cuddle + Kind ethically produces hand-knit dolls that feed children. When you purchase a Cuddle + Kind doll, or poster you are also giving meals for children in need. How cool is that?
Cuddle + Kind produces 21 hand-knit dolls made of natural, premium cotton by artisans in Peru. They are ethically produced through fair trade employment. Every doll gives 10 meals to children in need, 1 doll = 10 meals. Cuddle + Kind has donated 1,527,878 meals in just two years!
Oliver the bear recently came to live in our “wild” house. With our wild boys. I hope he can keep up with the pace. I have one son reading him “The Very Cranky Bear” and the other teaching him how to growl. As Oliver would say “Stay wild at heart”.
I am often asked to promote products, and occasionally I say yes. When I do say yes it’s because the products are in line with my own values and I believe in the companies that I support. Oliver the Bear came to live in our wild house courtesy of Cuddle + Kind, as did his inspirational poster. But the opinions are 100% mine.
Making A Life 