Callaloo Soup

Just the Ticket!

There are certain things that just make me happy. Some are very simple (chocolate), others more difficult to pull off (travel). This layout that I did for the October Write.Click.Scrapbook gallery, tries to capture some of my favourite things.

 

It might be difficult to read the labels, so here they are, along with some links to favourite related websites.

Scrapping - well duh!

Write.Click.Scrapbook

Studio Calico

Banana Frog

Photography

Shutter Sisters

PetaPixel

Design Aglow

Crafting

Craft Gossip

Allsorts

Cheeky Magpie

Travel

Gadling

Blogs - double duh!

Soule Mama

Simple Mom

decor8

Flowers

Daffodil

Gerbera

Hibiscus

Chocolate - dark only please

Bernachon

Richart

Okay everybody, hit me up with some links to your favourite places please. It's not like I have enough things to do online right?

Over The Next Three Weeks

• This blog will come to life again - yes, we are reconnected to the outside world again. It's been over a week in fact, but things have been crazy since the move (see below)
• More scrapping will be done
• and crafting
• and sewing
• and taking of photos

We survived the move with only a few casualties: Kieran's chest-of-drawers and our coffee table were chipped, Lucas' computer fell, but lived to see another day. The main casualty was I think my creativity. And energy to do anything more than just make it through the days. And the nights.

Ah the nights! Kieran's top front teeth started coming through just after the move, and to put it mildly it was bad. We pretty much didn't sleep for two weeks. We also think that the move, which meant he was no longer sleeping as close to us as before, was a factor in all this. 

But things will change from now on. I feel somewhat less like a zombie, and have even started to have ideas pop into my head again. Plus my new creative space is almost squared away, and as you know, that makes a huge difference. There are less boxes of random stuff surrounding me, and we even have curtains up in the bedrooms!

So I don't know if you missed me, but I am back at last! Oh and that layout? It's part of the new November Gallery on Write.Click.Scrapbook all about Family Stories.

Dear Internets

It appears that we will have to be apart for an undetermined period of time. You see I am moving house today, and to date have no clue when we will be reunited again. I am hoping it is sooner rather than later, but since our INTERNET company requires all our relocation info (including proof of the new address) sent to them by SNAIL MAIL, I expect it will be longer than we both desire. Oh internets, parting is such sweet sorrow. I vow to do my best to pop in to see you somehow. Until we meet again,

Yours in bits and bytes

Looking forward to the weekend.

This has been a somewhat trying week as we work on figuring out what is keeping Kieran from sleeping properly. Apart from waking up to nurse, he's been pretty fussy all through the night. We think it might be due in part to teething, but we also started back using his sleep sack again, which we believe makes him feel more comforted and safe. So even though the nights might still be difficult, I am really looking forward to the next two days of having Lucas home with us. On the list so far:

1. Scrapping of course. I need to work on some projects that have been on my list for a while
2. Running errands including getting Kieran his first tooth brush!
3. Baking - I'd like to make some oatmeal muffins for breakfast for the coming week; and if La Poste decides to delivers the box from my sister I might also make cupcakes! (She sent me cupcake liners yay!)
4. Giving my hair a good conditioning treatment a la Yvonne
5. Submitting to a couple scrapbook magazines
6. Going to meet our friends' new baby!

Can all this be achieved in a 2-day period? I'm gonna give it the old college try! What are your weekend plans?

Hello September

For some parents, this is the most wonderful time of year, as their kids go back to school. I have three years left before I have to start thinking about that, but in France, this time of year, known as La Rentrée, is the restart of pretty much everything, adult activities included.

Table Tennis starts again for Lucas, and Scrap Club for me. Well they do in theory, as they both happen on the same night. We will most likely alternate so we can each attend every two weeks. We have yet to run a test to see how Kieran will adapt to having only Papa at his bedtime, as I'm usually the one to put him down after his last nursing. We also have to test how he reacts to being bottle fed, as we've only tried it once so far. I'm pretty postive about it though, he has been a very adaptable baby so far.

It's also the start of a new gallery over at Write.Click.Scrapbook. Our theme is Back to School and this is the layout I did

 

That's my sister and I headed off to school back in 1979. For more details on the layout click here. Don't forget to check out the rest of the gallery! It is filled with awesome back to school ideas!

Speaking of my sister and I, remember Sister Scrap? We started this blog last year, but then I got pregnant and things slowed down. Way down. Well we are using September as the perfect month to start things back up again. We have a welcome back post and giveway up already, so hop on over to check that out. 

With the restart of Scrap Club I hope to have more time to work on my various projects, so look out for more news on what I will be up to in the coming weeks.

On my screen recently

I tend to watch TV shows while breastfeeding Kieran. Here's what's been on my screen recently.

 

Mad Men: The dresses and cool furniture almost make me want to live in the 60s. Almost

 

Weeds:No one can get the best of Nancy Botwin!

 

The Unusuals: What a cool cop show! So pissed they decided to cancel it after one 10 episode season!

 

True Blood: I figured I'd jump on the vampire bandwagon and see what this was all about. One episode in I am loving the characters, I think it'll be a keeper.

What shows do you love and can recommend?

Friday Eye Candy - le troisième

In going through my archives I discovered I have two other posts entitled Friday Eye Candy! One of them was just two weeks ago!

I am managing to get some good creative time in lately. Definitely not scrapping as much as I used to, but pages are getting done!

Here are a few done for Banana Frog

 

I love that large arrow and the alpha! The font is called Pharmacy. I use it a lot. This is the large version:

 

But I also like the original size.

 

I also did my August layout for Write.Click.Scrapbook.  This month's theme is Sweet Summer

 

Go on over and take a gander through the gallery. Seriously amazing work from the team as always.

During my week hosting over there I ran a messy scrapper challenge: Grab 5 to 7 things randomely from your desk or stash and use at least three of them on a page. Here's the page I did

 

I think it took me about 15 minutes and is the quickest page I have ever done!

Some more love for American Crafts (no, I didn't make the DT but I still love them!)

 

 

Not bad huh?

In case you're wondering how I am getting any scrapping done, (so am I actually!) here's how. With so little free time, I have now fully embraced  this philosophy. It's the only way I'd get anything done. Whereas before I was able to work on a page from start to finish in one sitting, I now scrap in bits and pieces. So I spend a lot of time turning ideas over in my head to use for later (and sometimes I even remember to write them down)! A few weeks back I had a block of time that I used to print a bunch of photos, so when I do have a moment I don't have to wonder what photos to work on. I spend a lot less time deciding what to use on a page, I don't second guess myself. Plus I am using up my scrapbook kits! It helps a lot to have pre-packaged stuff I can just pull out and work with. So I alternate my days between looking after Kieran and getting in some creative time. It's a lot different around here now, but it works!

How to win friends, influence people and have random conversations with complete strangers

Wear your baby in a wrap while going around town (super cool matching sunglasses optional), and you're guaranteed to get a smile from everyone, and have complete strangers strike up conversations with you like you're long lost friends.

Condrieu: A Family Tradition

My father-in-law had been buying wines from the Perret family for over 30 years, starting with the father of the current owner Andre. With his passing, the torch has been passed to Lucas to maintain the connection and tradition.

On Saturday we took a trip to the vineyard to introduce Kieran to Andre and his family.

 

Of course there had to be tasting of wines

(Kieran and I abstained. Ok, I had a couple sips.)

Condrieu is a very special wine, and one of our favourites.

 

We usually have it at special occasions.

 

I think Jean-Michel will be happy to know that the tradition continues.

(To learn more about Condrieu and Andre Perret click here and here)

Family Photos

We went to a wedding yesterday, and since we were not only nicely dressed but also colour coordinated, I handed my camera to our friend Olivier and asked him to take some photos. They are the first we have of us three together! Kind of fitting that it happened on Kieran's 12-week anniversary.

Just before this, I shot some of my two guys together. I think this one is my favourite

Oh wait no. This one is my favourite

It's so hard to choose! Can you believe it's been 12 weeks since the munchkin boy was born? Tomorrow I'll do a post about what he's been up to recently. Caveat: Bear in mind that these days when I say "tomorrow' it doesn't always work in that way!