Callaloo Soup

Friends, Food, Family & Wine | Scenes From the Weekend

How was yours?

Toddler Time | Life Sized Me

Kieran and I did a fun activity over the last week: a life sized cut out of himself! I got the idea a couple places: it was one of the activities they did at playschool, but they told me that he didn't want to do it when they asked. Then a few days later I saw it mentioned in this big list of toddler activites and thought I'd try it out with him.

Just like at playschool he didn't want to lie on the paper so I could draw around him. Then I had the brilliant idea to try it out with one of his teddies. At which point he wanted to do it himself! (This is a recent trend, he wants his stuffed toys to do everything he does and vice versa)

 

 

Once I cut the shapes out it was time to decorate! We got out the markers, crayons and stickers and he went to town.

 

 

 

 

 

He finished the teddie that day.

 

 

A few days later we finished up the life-sized Kieran

 

 

Then it was time to put him in the gallery with teddie.

 

 

The finished products.

 

 

This wall is at the top of the stairs and I am planning to turn it into Kieran's art gallery, similar to this one.

And funnily enough, later that day when I dropped him off at playschool, I asked if he'd every done the silhouettem and indeed he had! So I brought another one home. I think we will put that one in the kitchen somewhere.

In the end he really enjoyed this activity, and now he points at the cut out and says "Kieran" every time he sees it.

Toddler Time is an occasional series where I feature activities that Kieran and I do together.

 

 

Some Favourites from Etsy

Since I've been putting a lot of work into my shops on Etsy lately, I've been reminded just how awesome that site is. I took a look at the items I've been bookmarking for future purchases and I still love most of them! Here's a peek at some of the things I love

For Kieran

 

 

Urban Unisex Hoodie Pattern from Heidi and Finn

 

 

 

 Colour Matching set by Mama May I

For Me

 

 

Any bag from Luckycann. I already have this yellow one and love it!

 

 

Copyright Stamps from Avenue 55

For Lucas

 

Le Chef  poster from Villa Figura

 

What's on your Etsy wishlist?

 

Lately I've been.....

Getting my workouts in at least three times a week.

Relishing the sunshine we're starting to see again.

Trying to up my daily water intake. Why is that so hard? Do you have any tips?

Getting excited about Spring. The garden! Kieran's birthday! Warmth!

Appreciating all that my husband does. Like making sushi. And lasagne from scratch.

Marvelling at my little bilingual boy.

Looking forward to hitting the flea markets again.

Reading. A lot.

Thinking about how I'd like us to spend the summer.

Taking a ton of photos.

Enjoying all my online interactions.

Refining my natural hair care routine.

Baking. Probably too much.

Thinking about what direction I want to take this blog.

Gearing up for a big simplifying project.

Wondering why on earth I already need to simplify and declutter after only 6 months in the new house!

What's been happening with you lately?

 

 

Franny Freebie | Facebook Cover Photo Templates

Happy Friday! I am back with another Friday Franny Freebie! I switched over to the new Facebook Timeline a few months back and I have been loving it but I wanted to do something fun with my cover photo, that large photo that is across the top of the page. I also came across this Facebook cheat sheet for various image sizes and I finally did something with it!

This is what my timeline looks like today

 

 

I made a layered template collage that I can add photos to. While I was at it I decided to make three other versions.

 

And today I am sharing them all with you! You can download them here.

 

Download the file

 

Once you unzip the file you should be able to use any of the blank templates in both Photoshop CS and Photoshop Elements to add your own photos. Here's a video tutorial I've done on how to add photos to layered templates.

 

Using Templates and Clipping Masks from Francine Clouden on Vimeo.

If you have any questions at all, feel free to ask! You can also share this with your friends, but please share the link to my post and not the actual file or the download link.

Thanks!

 

 

Sushi Nite | Made by Lucas

Lucas and I love sushi, and when we lived in Lyon we'd have a sushi night every month or so. We found a great place that delivered, and we'd treat ourselves after Kieran was in bed. Sadly, in our new town there isn't a sushi place that delivers, so it's been a few months since we were able to enjoy that special treat.

Luckily as one of his birthday gifts from 2010 he got to take two cooking classes, and one of his choices was sushi making! So last night we had sushi made by Lucas for Valentine's dinner (yes after Kieran went to bed). Here's the proof

The battery in my big camera wasn't charged, but luckily I remembered the Instax and so was able to get these two snaps! Just the motivation I needed to do some film photography.

The meal was absolutely delicious and I think this needs to become a monthly tradtion again. Ok honey?

Welcome Callaloo Soup Vintage

Happy Monday friends! After quite a lot of thought, I have decided to split my Etsy shop Callaloo Soup Designs into two shops. I seemed to me that having such a smorsgarbord of items for sale in one location could be confusing, and so I have opened a new shop Callaloo Soup Vintage to share all my French flea market treasures!

 

 

I currently have six sets of buttons and six sets of trim listed and will be adding more items over the next week. As always these goodies come direct from the flea markets over here! One of my greatest pleasures is heading out and hunting down these treasures, I love having to dig through all the estate lots to come upon the buttons and trims that make me squeal with delight! (Seriously, I squeal. You should ask Lucas.)

Here's a closer look at my favourite listing in the shop right now.

 

Later this week I'll be adding assorted trim packages as well as loose buttons. I also have some adorable doilies and tea cloths waiting to be photographed.

If you're not into vintage (and even if you are), you can still purchase my chalkboard label stickers and poster prints in my original shop, and in a few weeks I'll be adding a new section of paper goods too.

Thanks for stopping by and for taking a look!

P.S. To share this post with your friends you can use one of the share buttons below.

 

Life is a Game: 3 Layouts With the Little Black Dress February Kit

 

 

 

Last month I read this great post on Huffington Post about celebrating the moments, the ones that happen in Kairos time. If you're a parent you should definitely read it! This layout is based on that blog post.

 

 

 

The K-man is such a good traveller that I needed to do a layout about it. The photos come from plane and train trips.

 

 

I finally did a layout with my new and all time favourite self-portrait. I used my typewriter for the journaling too!

Little Black Dress just updated their website and it is gorgeous! They are also having a special to celebrate and you can get 10% off until March 6th. Go check them out!

 

 

Sister Sketch | Yoghurt Face Boy

A few years ago my sister and I started a joint blog to share our scrapbooking. Between babies being born and job changes it fell by the wayside, but we've decided to work an a joint project in a different way. Each month we'll choose a sketch and share our interpretations of it.

This month Vernell chose this sketch by Becky Fleck of Page Maps.

 

 

There's quite a lot going on there, this is busier than I like my pages to be, but that's the great thing about sketches. I use them more like a guideline than anything. I just kept the elements I liked, like the general layout, and the bunting. Here's the page I did

 

Some close up shots:

The journaling with the word stickers is a happy accident, as I made a mistake and used one sticker to cover it up, then added the other two to make it look like I meant it.

I made this page with the February kit from Little Black Dress, I'll share the other pages I made on Friday.

Now hop on over to Vernell's blog to see how she used the sketch!

 

Lunch is Served | How Pinterest Helps Me to Eat Better Lunches

One of my goals this year is to try to eat better lunches on the days I only have myself to feed. Usually I just grab whatever I find when I am on the go, but I decided that I need to treat myself better than that, and take the time to sit and enjoy a nice meal.

Of course my main source of finding recipes comes into play here: Pinterest! I created a pin board called Lunch is Served to save yummy looking dishes for my lunch times. A couple weeks ago I adapted this salad, and it was so delicious that not only did I have it again two days later, but Lucas also made himself one to take for his lunch.

Pear, walnuts and blue cheese on spring greens with a honey balsamic vinaigrette.

Two days later I swapped the pear for apples and added dried cranberries. Equally delicious.

I've also had this spicy sphagetti dish, this pasta dish and this one is on the menu for lunch on Friday. 

I'm also trying to mix things up a bit for my lunches with Kieran, and just this week we have had these quesadillas and these BLTs.

So, are you hungry yet?