When it rains it pours

Alright. I give up! I'll blog when I blog. I've been terrible at it this year. "Oh but this time you have two little ones running around!" you say. No, it's not that really.

Last month, I just got over telling Ryan how I am unlucky. I just don't win anything. Really, giveaways, raffles, if there's an odd, you should bet against me. It's safe to go "No Pass" on my a.. You get what I mean.

So, I entered to win an signed copy of this book about traveling to Disney World with kids, anyway. I won. I actually won! You know what else? Ryan won a cool flashlight from a different giveaway. We were on a roll!

Then things turned for the worse. Or should I say worst? We found out some unfortunate medical news (no, not super life threatening), our AC broke, the driver's window of our truck broke, we were waiting to have our ice machine fixed. It seemed all our luck was spent. Then Ella for a fever. It came down a little, then it came back with fervor. It got so high, the thermometer just said "HIGH". We drove off to the ER with the bravest little girl I know.




Ryan said he's already at his limit. I admit I don't know how much more of this I can take. When will we hit bottom and there is nowhere to go but up? Will there ever be an up? I try to be positive and not lose hope, but really. Sigh.

I missed a day

Yesterday was crazy. We practiced setting. Up our large tent for Thanksgiving. In the middle of our efforts it started pouring. I gave the kids a bath and spent the night working on Rett's invitations. I was exhausted.

Today was crazy. It's still raining, I have a headache, and everything is annoying. Everything.

At least some people can find a cozy little spot to relax...




Here's to better days.

Too tired

It's been a really long day. This is my post. I'll post a picture of my lunch if it helps?

Sneaking sweets

I just realized, I don't think I've introduced the newest addition to the family. Last year, I was pregnant, and well, I'm not anymore.

I may have mentioned him and showcased a project dedicated to him, but he hasn't been officially featured on this blog.

Well, blog, meet Everett. We call him Rett, for short.





This is the almost 10-month old that ripped open a snickers bar and devoured it while no one was looking. Fortunately, he is not allergic to nuts and didn't choke on anything. Not so fortunately, do you see that face? That's not the last time he'll be sniffing out the chocolate!

Food finds and waiting

I recently stumbled on a gem of a lunch spot. It's called OEC Cafe (oishii!), and they feature 3 daily specials a week. It's a good thing it's weekly, because it's a trek to get there. I've been wanting to try the vegan cold noodle for a few weeks, and since I was in the vicinity, I decided to go for it!





It was a variation of zaru soba with a goma tsuyu. It came with a side of marinated fried tofu on a bed of wild rice and quinoa and an onigiri with takuan. It was tasty and filling!

I've tried several of their other dishes and enjoyed them all. Hopefully they'll stick around so I can try more of their offerings.

Oh and I'm waiting for UPS. They are taking FOR-freaking-EVER. I thought if I started my post for today, I would get interrupted mid-thought. Unfortunately, I seem to have finished my post and still no delivery. I do have to go to the bathroom... maybe then the doorbell will ring?

First world problems

With Thanksgiving coming up, I start to think about all the things for which I am thankful. It's so easy to get caught up in my complaints, and quite honestly, most of them are first world problems.

My problem of late? Broken ice machine.







It's already the second machine in three years, and second time in three months it broke. Yes, I realize some people don't have clean water or a freezer to preserve food, and here I am complaining about a stand alone ice maker. But after becoming accustomed to a certain lifestyle, how can you ever go back?

Don't be shocked at how shallow I am. Last November, I blogged about my Toto Washlet. This past year there was a blackout and the thought occurred to me that I had to manually wipe...

Too cool for this

This was a busy weekend. Family obligations, weekend chores, and preparing for Thanksgiving. We were running around doing a lot, but unfortunately not a whole lot got done.

The kids are still too young to help, so it takes a lot of effort to tote them around. But at least Ella has found a way to occupy herself playing on my old iPhone 4. She put the glasses in herself, she said it was "just too bright".




If only Everett could do the same...

Apples and oranges

Today Ella was playing with a tablet in the Microsoft store.








She made this.

It's amazing how kids can pick up technology. I had a hard time trying to figure it out, it was like comparing Apple to oranges. For them, I guess it's all just fruit.

Happy Movember!

That's right, it's November!





I seriously don't know where the time goes. I blog for pretty much one month of the year -- and it feels like I just did this.

Anyway, welcome to my 2014 unofficial nablopomo!

I tossed the idea of registering so that I can increase readership, but as if I want people to read my blog (for now...)! Heh.

Design over function

In the DIY world that is blog land, I see a lot of tutorials to make gorgeous stuff that really have no function. I enjoy reading about it, but not like I'd waste time, money, or supplies to recreate it.
It's when you have to use these things in everyday life that you get frustrated. Case in point:

The concept is great. Picture menu, neat inserts with great descriptions, horrible!!
The rivets and laminating have sharp edges and you can't fully open it to figure out what to eat. It's too distracting.

Wrapping presents

I used to think that the wrapping was the gift. In fact, often times, the wrapping was more costly than the actual value of the gift!

Gifts from me were always too pretty to open, so my friends would find ways to preserve as much of the elements as possible. I loved using Kraft paper, beautiful handmade tissue papers, cellophane, gold leafing, mini ornaments, chiffon ribbons, rhinestones, etc. I could incorporate almost anything into the wrapping of a gift.

Now that the majority of my gifts go to kids, or folks that whip out sharp pocket knives to slice through all the "fluff", I just don't feel like putting in the effort. Not that I don't care about wrapping, just that unless you're turning a significant age, getting married, or having a kid, don't expect more than commercial wrapping paper or a gift bag stuffed with coordinating tissue. Also, if it's a time when everyone is receiving gifts, you can bet all your gifts will have a theme so I don't have to stop wrapping just to label it.




Can you tell which are for Ella? Yeah, and the rest of Ryan's gifts are wrapped in silver paper. Ha!

Chocolate covered honeycomb

I was introduced to Violet Crumble as it was losing its presence in the US. If you've never had it, it's light, crispy, and delicious!

For some time there was a substitute, the Canadian version, Crunchie. But those have disappeared from shelves, too.

But guess what? You can still find comparable confections to satisfy the craving... in milk AND dark chocolate versions!

Holiday shopping

I usually don't shop at malls in December, but this year a few people were SO difficult to get the right gift.

I'm surprised how *not* busy the malls are. Ella didn't have to wait too long to ride the train.




Even the food courts have empty tables.

More bags for gifts

I really love making bags! I like making Ella's clothes, but the idea of a bag that can be used multiple times without needing to be laundered gives it a utility factor. Although, I'm pretty sure Ella has used her pajama pants that I've made her over 10 times already. ;)




So I decided to make a more neutral bag for my friend's son. Although I considered making it more "boyish", he's still an infant and she would get way more use out of it.




The bag fits a PBK bento box and a Thermos Foogo. The bag isn't insulated, but I figure it'd be more for dry snacks and the Foogo itself is great* at keeping drinks cold for hours!

I adjusted the measurements from the last bag, since this box was wider and shallower, and to accommodate the drink.




Regardless of size, I just love the bag itself for its finished look. It makes me look like an awesome sewer!

*Not a product endorsement, just speaking from experience.

Champagne Brunch

I forgot to mention, yesterday we went to the Hale Koa Sunday Brunch, in celebration of Fridays birthdays.

It's one of the perks of US Military, Veterans, DoD Civilians, and retirees Nd their guests. It's a decent and affordable brunch that has free all-you-can-drink champagne, really delicious lamb, and house made ice cream. They do have the usual fare: omelet station, crispy bacon, petit fours, etc, but those other things can easily make it worth your dime!

We usually go to celebrate these birthdays since my mother-in-law loves lamb and my dad loves the value of the Hale Koa buffet (what can I say, I've been going since I can remember!). It's the best time to go since the holiday decorations are INSANE!




This year there were real gingerbread mansions, animated winter characters, picture ops, it's sometimes just worth it to check out the decor (we had our reception here 4 years ago ... every banquet hall had a decorated tree!! Less decorations for us to pay for!!)

A breather, sorta

I took a couple days off from blogging. The past week was crazy and I was tired! Not to mention this was a very busy weekend. Friday was my father's and mother-in-law's birthday. With work and running around doing errands, by the end of the day, I was too exhausted.

Yesterday, we went out to get Ella's Christmas present. A Maxtrix bunk bed!




She actually wanted to sleep in her bed! She's too young to sleep in the top bunk, but she's allowed to play up there. She loves it. She slept in it last night, napped in it today, and during her "free time" today she played by herself in the tent.

I was able to work on lining Christmas envelopes and sewing Christmas presents, so more on that later this week. Well, maybe. Depending on how much more I need to get done for Christmas!

Happy anniversary!

4 years ago today, I married my best friend. We've only been legally joined for a third of the time we've been together, but it still gets better everyday.




Delicious Edible Arrangements delivered at work (at the precise moment when this prego-mama was getting hungry, too).

Delicious Alaskan King Crab buffet dinners at the Oceanarium with a mermaid show.




A stroll around City Hall to see the Christmas lights.

What a wonderful day! I don't know what could've made it better. Oh wait, I do...




Ella darted to the snowmen and exclaimed, "Mommy, daddy, Ella, and brother!"

She's going to be a terrific big sis :)

Advanced skills?

Im really not sure what 2 year olds are supposed to be doing. I hear some kids can read by 18 months, but of the kids I can compare to, there's none of those genius levels here.

Ella does her own activities and I don't even have to ask her. That's pretty advanced in my opinion.

Sorting:



Coloring in objects:



She just sits down and starts doing things to occupy herself. I have to check on her because she can be so quiet, I don't even know where she is!

Prize balls

When I was a kid, my favorite thing to do was go to work with my "big sister". It's complicated, but I won't go into details at this time. There's a significant age difference, so basically, I was really young and she had a full on career.

She'd take me to work with her on the weekends, and we'd have lunch at Yum Yum Tree. I would always order the same thing - Teri chicken sandwich and fries. Sometimes we would go into Child's Play, an educational toy shop that I wanted my bedroom to look like.

On a few occasions she let me pick out a toy. I would always pick out a prize ball. It was basically a handful if novelty toys wrapped up in yards of crepe paper. Honestly, the toys were pretty lame, but the fun was in unwrapping it!

For some Christmas gifts this year, I decided to make my own prize balls! They're not as ball-shaped as I imagined, but hopefully they're still fun to open.




I added a rhinestone to indicate where to start unravelling. I made these for Ella's cousins. They usually give Ella a small gift, so I usually try to give them something as well. Last year, I made the older one a ruffle pencil pouch, with a set of colored pencils and an unruled composition book. The younger one, I made a set of those Anthro knock-off bracelets. I know it's not fancy, but handmade takes some time, so hopefully they realize the effort that goes into their gifts.

Again, since no one reads my blog, I can post what's in them!

It's all basically the same, but in different colors:












Each prize ball contains a shade of pink Essie nail color, a sparkly nail clipper, a nail file, a pair of handmade cabochon bobby pins, and two scented glitter pens.

Since they didn't grow up when prize balls were popular, I hope I don't have to explain that I didn't just give them a wadded up ball of streamers...

More gift making

I followed the Lunch bag tutorial over at Pink Penguin and turned this:



Into this:



I'm so glad I finally finished that clutch so I could lift the self imposed ban on making bags! I wasn't sure what to give my teenage cousin for Christmas. I really don't even know what teenagers like. Although, I know she loves everything Japanese culture like Anime, Taiko, and Obento!

This lunch bag was the perfect size for a double stack bento box/utensil kit I picked up on sale at Longs!

I don't know about her, but I would love receiving this as a gift.