Hello my blog readers!  We’ve just had our first long weekend of the summer. Affectionately known as May Two Four, but rarely occurring on the Actual May Two Four.  It celebrates something about Queen Victoria which nobody remembers anymore.  But we don’t need much convincing to take an extra day off, do we?  And take in some fireworks displays whether big or small.  In our family we are in the habit of having at least some sparklers on one night.  Sometimes Husband can be convinced to put on a little fireworks display.  Doesn’t require much convincing…fire and explosions and such are an easy sell.

But here’s something fun that’s not hard to do if you have a digital SLR camera.  That is to take some cool photos of your kids (or friends) with the sparklers.  The hardest part is, you have to turn the mode dial away from Automatic.  Don’t panic!  This is where all the fun of photography just begins.

The first thing is you have to find a Very Stable Spot to rest your camera.  A tripod is great but work with what you’ve got…a tabletop, a deck railing, whatever.  Then you want to frame your shot so that you will capture the whole sparkler-iness.  A bit of instruction to your subjects to stand in one spot and not go dancing all over the yard is helpful.  Now here we go…hold your breath…and turn your mode dial to M.  Still good?  Good.  Now set the aperture (or f-stop) number to something small-ish (it’s actually big-ish but we won’t go there) between about 3.5 and 5.6.  Now set the shutter time to something long enough to capture the whole sparkler design.  About ten to fifteen seconds is probably good unless they are drawing something extremely elaborate.  You will figure that out after a couple of tries.  Make sure your flash is set to go.

And you’re set.  Light the sparkler.  Press your shutter release and say Go.  Wait till the shutter closes then check your image.  If it’s too bright then set the aperture one or two numbers higher (ie close it down a bit – ok, I went there).  Adjust the shutter speed faster or slower as needed.  And give it another go.  Have fun with it.  

When I downloaded these photos I did edit them to remove most of the colour and make them almost Black and White.  I just liked them better that way.  Play with your images and see what looks cool to you.

Sparkler love.  Fun memories.

And if you are interested in what the deal is with Queen Victoria or you’re into the royal thing, check out the movie The Young Victoria.  Hmmm, maybe a good activity for the Actual May Two Four which is still coming up.  Some scones, tea in fine china….

Responding to Tragedy

One of those hard hard times…as a person and as a mom.  What do you do when you are so vividly reminded that there is horror and evil in the world?

Maybe go out into the garden and collect a few blooms and branches for a kitchen table arrangement.  To remind yourself visually that there is still beauty in the world.  Maybe stare blankly at your computer screen till your coffee gets cold.

Maybe bake something that the kiddos love so they’ll hang out in the kitchen for awhile after school.  Maybe send one more text to Husband to make sure he’s still there.

Definitely say extra prayers.

Breakfast in Bed

Happy Mother’s Day!  I hope that all my fellow moms out there are being well celebrated, remembered and honoured today.  Kudos for everything you have invested in the next generation.  One of the most worthwhile things you can do with your life.

And so, here are a few pretty, and yummy, photos to add to your festivities today.

Also I must take this opportunity to extol the virtues of breakfast in bed.  This is a twice annual treat for me, on my birthday and on Mother’s Day.  In my opinion this is an excellent skill to be developing in your children.  It will serve them well in life…and serve you well in the meantime.  It’s important to be positive and encouraging.    And remember that it’s always the thought that counts.

Here is some of the thoughtfulness I woke up to this morning…

This croissant concoction was posted on Teenaged Daughter’s Pinterest board a few days ago…I should have clued in, but they managed to surprise me.  Even the presentation of it was lovely.  I am a proud and lucky mom.  Good job kiddos.

Enjoy your day, Moms, however you have been celebrated.  Tomorrow…onward and upward.

DIY Gift Basket Tutorial

Hello to all of you, and Happy Monday!  It seems to me that the season of showers, both Baby and Bridal, is fully upon us.  And with Mother’s Day also just around the corner, I thought it would be timely to give a little lesson in putting together a smashing looking gift basket.  A super valuable skill for anyone who calls themselves creative.  Why?  Because we all know that as in most things in life, presentation is as important as content.  True for everything from food to job interviews.  Scientifically proven.

So, here we go.

First thing is to shop for your basket’s contents.  And spread them out all over the floor.

Next is shopping for something to contain it all.  The best thing is something simple and practical.  A flowerpot, a bowl, a basket or a tray all work well.  Scour your local dollar stores and the clearance aisles of the big box homegoods stores.  This basket is from my newly opened Target, and is actually a media basket.  I guess for DVD’s, but it could be used in multiple ways, and the pile of stuff I had bought fit in it really well.

Collect up all your wrapping supplies and you’re ready to go.

Next, arrange everything inside the container.  A bit of height is good, symmetry is good.  Also you want everything to be at least a little bit visible and looking good from every side.  Sometimes I tape a few of the things together just to help keep them in place.

Now I know for a fact that many of you will start stuffing the empty spaces with tissue paper.  Don’t do it.  Tissue paper is bad.  Repeat after me…Tissue. Paper. Is. Bad.  There is no way to stuff and fluff it and have it look at all attractive or professional.  It’s not re-useable.  Not even recycleable.  Bad.  So this is what you want to stock up on.

Some stores call it paper shred, some call it sizzle.  I buy it in bulk from Creative Bag so it’s pretty inexpensive and available in a rainbow of colours.  Of course being a fairly neutral girl I buy all the neutral colours.  Natural, white, cream, maaaaaybe dark green for Christmas.

Sizzle is good.  It’s great for fluffing up and filling in the spaces.  It’s a great cushion if there are fragile or scratchable contents.  See how it easily spills out attractively over the edges?  It’s re-useable.  It’s recycleable.  Repeat after me… Sizzle. Is. Good.

Now to wrap it all up.

Clear cellophane which comes in a heavy roll from either Creative Bag again, or Bulk Barn.  When you gather it at the top the trick is to pinch it together as tightly as possible and fasten it with a twist-tie.  The more tightly you can gather it, the more fluffy the pouf at the top will be.  A fluffy pouf is good.  Then tie it up with decorative ribbon.  I like a combination of curly ribbon and wired ribbon which holds its shape really well.  And the details count…cut the ends of the wired ribbon like this.

Can’t go wrong with some whimsical embellishment.  A great tag, an ornament, a flower.  I happened to find these red heart cookie cutters and couldn’t resist them.

And done.

How fabulous does that look on a gift table?  It’s a good gift even before it gets opened.

You could make one too.  It's easier than it looks!

xo andrea

Road Trip Ruminations

Road trips.  An opportunity to expand your horizons.  To be bold and adventurous and see what you can discover.

It all started with this musical being on the Bucket List for Teenaged Daughter and me.  Last chance to see it was in NYC last fall, and we decided on Mamma Mia instead.  So fun!  Then earlier this year, some internet browsing revealed that the Broadway tour of Wicked was coming to Rochester around the time we both have our birthdays.  Rochester…who knew?  Let’s get tickets and figure out the details later.  That’s how it works around here.  Road trip, here we come!

Along came the big weekend, and we had this poignant moment at the border.

Tragic events in Boston during the week made this border crossing a long and sombre one.

Once we were across and Teenaged Daughter had navigated us through a pit stop and into the right direction she quickly got bored and took hold of the camera.  Along with some crazy Selfies, she took this fantastic shot.

Ah, the open road.  Discovery and inspiration await us, and there is a feeling of solidarity as we navigate it together.

First stop, Wicked.  Fantastic.  If you haven’t yet seen it you must make an effort.  If you have, what was your favourite thing about it?  The costumes from the Emerald City were spectacular.  Check out some of the hats and gowns.

The story is a great exploration of finding your own path in life, and a tribute to real friendships.  Best line from a song…Because I knew you I’ve been changed For Good.  True words.

The next day, a walk around the neighbourhood of the theatre and our hotel was like this.

I wonder how my life would be more creative if I lived in a blue house?

And many more opportunities to take pretty pictures…can’t go wrong with an old tree, weathered fence and wildflowers.

A happy discovery…Rochester is home to the Eastman House!  George Eastman was the founder of Kodak and modern photography, and generous patron to the arts and sciences.  We made a visit to his historical home.

Now this is a civilized way to start and end your day.  So exquisite and beautiful.

Can you imagine having a conservatory like this in which to soak in the light…the space…the view…the elephant head?

And check out this library.  Music, writing, books, art, light, fireplace…all my favourite things.  I could live in a room like this.  Couldn’t you?

Ah yes, a good road trip.  We’ve expanded our horizons and deepened our relationship.  Happy Birthday, Teenaged Daughter.  What’s next on the Bucket List?

I leave the rest of you with some decorating inspiration.

Be bold.  Expand your horizons.

Lighting on a Budget

According to Kimberley Seldon, who is a brilliant decorator and equally great teacher, the number one thing that makes an interior look dated is the lighting.  Yikes!  Harsh words to those of us on a decorating budget.  Or who have better things to spend their money on like vacations and shoes.  Lighting can be Really Expensive. 

So my biggest lesson when shopping for lighting is this.  The priorities are function and form, probably in that order.  Shop diligently for something that will meet your lighting requirements.  What size is it?  How bright is it?  Is it hard-wired?  Is it adjustable?  And shop for something that is classic and transitional in form.  It will see you through many more years without looking dated.

What NOT to worry about:  the shade and the finish.  Every big box and discount department store sells shades and these can be easily switched out.  Some of my favourite sources are Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire and Homesense.  And the finish…also easily changed.

So let’s learn from some new lighting that came into the master bedroom recently.

These are the bedside lamps, found at Sears online for less than $80.  Also there was a deal if you bought two.  Score.  So the function was perfect.  A wall sconce which could be plugged into an existing outlet.  No re-wiring required, and I need all the room I can get on my bedside table.  I tidied it up for the photo but in real life it is piled with books, magazines, creams, lotions, beverages, food, books, and did I say magazines?

Also it has an adjustable arm and three levels of brightness.  Perfect.  The finish however is kind of weird.  A pinkish sort of brushed metal that I don’t really understand. 

For the ceiling fixture I was looking for a simple pendant with a drum shade, a very short stem so it would sit close to the ceiling, and a diffuser across the bottom so we weren’t looking up into a light bulb.

You’ll never guess where I found it…Wal-Mart!  Actually!  Less than $30!  So again it’s perfect, except for the finish which looks pretty cheap.  (Well, I guess it is.)  And once you’re at this point, your best friend is a can of spray paint.  For this project I went with the advice of the always-genius Nate Berkus.  If you ever watched his show when it was on, you know he was a big promoter of spray paint for updating or co-ordinating your decor.  But who knew you could get it in an oil rubbed bronze?  Well, Nate, of course.  Oil-rubbed bronze is a great finish for a classic, timeless look.

So this is the product I used.  Since I was impatient waiting for the weather to warm up to paint outside,  I painted down in the basement.  (Well, technically Husband did.)  When the instructions say Well Ventilated Area they are not kidding.  Open up every window in your entire house.

And here is the fabulous, finished, co-ordinated result:

You can see in this close-up how it has the great sheen and texture of a real oil-rubbed bronze finish.

I’m in love with the results.  Just the upgrade I was hoping to achieve in our master bedroom.

So now, Kimberley Seldon, at least it’s not the lighting that makes this room look dated.

Easter Bits and Pieces

So Easter has come and gone for another year.  There were lots of fun traditions that we managed to fit in.  The combination of family time, good food and some candy of course made for a memorable holiday.  Easter lilies are such a beautiful symbol of the season.

I also managed to defrost the outdoor urns enough to replace the evergreen and dogwood branches with some pussywillows and my crocuses from inside.  The blooms are spent but the foliage is so delicate and pretty.

On Good Friday my Family came for lunch.  Here you can see part of the tablescape at dessert time.
 

It’s also tradition for us to colour eggs on the Friday or Saturday before Easter.  The kids all insist on participating every year, which I love, and it’s a lot of fun.

These saturated-colour eggs we do every year.  I make up several glass bowls of different colours, deep enough to submerge at least a couple of eggs at a time.  The colour recipe:  boiling water, a big splash of white vinegar, and a dab of this icing colour paste.

 

 

Covering different parts of the egg with elastic bands, stickers or crayon between colouring it in several different colours makes the cool designs you see above.

This year I tried a new idea from Pinterest.  Brown eggs decorated with a white paint marker.  All the kids were into it and they turned out really pretty!

Magically the Easter Bunny shows up during the night, steals the eggs from the fridge and hides them in the backyard.  Super-fun!  Every year on Easter morning.

Do you think he’ll find it?  He’s pretty tricky, that Easter Bunny!