In print! The making of our book:

 So excited!!

Here's where my creative energies have been focused for the past while, friends.

I've been illustrating the story my husband wrote to propose to me with!

13 watercolour illustrations.

Adding the text he had written years ago.

Formatting the book and ordering from an online photo book company (Picaboo).

It arrived so quickly!

Finally, a late anniversary gift for my husband, and a delightful storybook to now read to the three bunnies in our nest.

Here's a couple sneak peeks:

That sweet man nervously read me this story almost 7 years ago, over a plate of sushi.

I didn't even clue in until the final paragraph that he was using the story of two bunnies who fell in love in the woods to propose to me.  It's a tear jerker!

So, next time you come over for tea, I'll read it to you.

*P.S: the illustration on the back cover is the exact depiction of our wedding cake too.

Now I've got the bug to want to team up with him and make children's books! 

Mel ;o)

A.musing.mama! 4.2

So this comic is probably funnier if you know my husband.

Or, if you happen to have a partner who has the 'one-expression-for-all-emotions' face.

I'm telling you, it's ridiculously sweet to see this guy's face crack open (and his voice raise to a falsetto) when he sees his baby girl.

We love you Mr.'I'm-smiling-on-the-inside'.

Happy weekend'ing friends!

A.musing.mama,

Mel ;o)

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 Catch up on the previous comics HERE!

 

A.musing.mama! 3.7

The power of a compliment.

Husbands ~ consider your wives.  We sometimes wonder if you still see us as the attractive bride you married.  Now that the kids and the chaos of the daily routines have added gray hairs and jiggly pounds.  A kind word is like your 'super power' to charge our hearts!

Wives ~ consider your husbands.  He sometimes wonders if you have any thing else in your wardrobe other than yoga pants and men's t-shirts.  Dress 'up' for him like you used to when you were *trying* to attract him.  Throw on that shiny lip gloss he likes, and fluff out your hair five minutes before he gets home from work.

Sure, our value doesn't lie in the surface props... but it goes both ways, doesn't it?

Feel good, look good.

Look good, feel good.

Maybe I should go throw my hair around now,

A.musing.mama,

Mel ;o)

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You can find the previous comics HERE!

A.musing.mama! 3.5

Ahhhh yes, that moment when your husband pulls in the driveway... and you both look at each other as if you've been hit by a truck.

"Take the kids, I need a break" we both say (usually in our heads).

 --------

I keep telling my husband he needs to work until 4:50, not 5:00, because it is often those last ten minutes that destroy us.

No matter how good (or bad) the day may have been.

Even if I've managed to get dinner ready, and the table set... every.one is going to be having a meltdown at 4:50.

You know, just in time for Dad to come home and think his address is the insane asylum.

We're lucky enough to have this guy that comes home and jumps right into the fray, helping with dinner, or wrangling kids, or coaxing me out of the corner I may be rocking in....

so, thanks for always coming home to us Ben.

Happy (belated) Father's Day!

Mel ;o)

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You can catch the rest of these cathartic comics HERE!

 

 

A.musing.mama! 3.1

Surely we aren't the only parents that do this?

Whenever the kids are being particularly *demented* and wildly ridiculous, we cast a nod at the other spouse and say "your side". 

Because, obviously.

Happy weekend'ing friends!

Mel ;o)

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Catch up on the previous parenting comics HERE.

 

make.over

New tights.

New hair.

Closet purging.
Crafty planning.

What inspires a re-do or makeover in your life?
I usually have a post-pregnancy rebound where I want to purge.all.the.frumpy.clothes, dye my hair (and resist chopping it - since I *may* still be growing it longer) and reclaim all my weird and wacky styles of dressing (insert husband's groan here).

I guess it's part of the creative side wanting to 'vent' out again.
So yes, I got myself some silly funky tights.  Picked a very tame hair colour - reddish brown.  And attacked my closet with a purging fury.

Ok, I actually stink at purging.
Half my clothes wandered over to my 'fabric corner' to be used for future projects... lets keep that secret between us... shhhhhh.

Now clothing - as superficial as it is - is a funny bone of contention around here.
I've mentioned in the past my husband's dry witted attacks of my *style*.
So, while I like to dress as ridiculously as I have since I was five.. I still want to make the attempt to dress in a way that suits my love too.

Which is hard.
My eye seems drawn to every.thing he would find appalling.
"Ohhh... look - military coats!" I say.
He's not sure why I want to join the armed forces.

"Ohhh... lace, doilies... pretty pretty!" I say.
He's again confused why I want to wear a granny's tablecloth.

"Ohhh... denim shirts/chambray tops... me want!" I say.
"Are you a homeschooling frau?" he wonders.
 
The list goes on... as does his quips and retorts.

When I throw my hands up and say there's no other options left, he says he actually likes most of what I wear!  Huh?  Like I said, it's an endless cycle of amusement and silliness for us.
 -----------
Anyway, most of what I wear needs an overhaul right about now.
Everything is about two sizes too big, or too small.
I think this third baby hasn't let me 'bounce back' as quickly to my original size (or maybe it's the fistfuls of chocolate I consume?).
 ----------------------

And, spring, spring makes me want to purge!
To shake the moths out of my closet.
Maybe I should start some summer sewing.. of skirts.

I'll keep you posted on how that goes over with my man. ;o)

Thinking Spring, thinking fresh starts!
What are you purging or re-doing lately?

Mel ;o)

 
 
 

A.musing.mama! 2.7

Guaranteed, with any 'public display of affection' between the Mama and the Daddy here... there's instantly an attack of little cling-on's vying for more snuggles.

 ------

I can remember our Golden Retriever dog doing the same thing when we were kids... always wedging her nose between any one who was hugging.

Meanwhile, if we kids saw our folks sharing a moment.. we'd stick out our tongues, fake gagging and holler "Ewwwwwww... gross!"

------

So, it's Valentines.  Whoopity-dee... I wasn't expecting much to happen around here since we had a nice lunch date earlier this week.  But that kind man brought me home flowers (Lillies... since "you hate roses" he said).  I made up some heart-shaped pancakes with whip cream and strawberries... so yeah, we still got it I guess.  ;o)

If you have a partner in your nest, I hope it doesn't take one day of the year to remember why you first fell for them.  I hope you still find time to savour those moments together that bind your heart and souls as one.

As a home gets fuller it can seem harder to find real time together.

It can be tough to not see your man as one more person 'needing' you and your affections.

It can be tempting to throw the kids at him when he returns home... instead of yourself.

Here's hoping you still find yourself 'love attacking' your special someone today!

 A.musing.mama,

Mel ;o)

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Catch up on previous comics HERE!

 

 

FIVE flippin' fantabulous years...

Soooo it's been five years of marriage to this Converse clad chap of mine.. and I still manage to botch up when the date is!

Truth be told last month I asked him what he wanted to do for our special weekend.. and he stared at me blankly.. "our anniversary.. helllooooo?"  I said.

"Mel, it's next month babe".

Oh, right.

I hate numbers.... and am equally awful with dates.

But what I don't hate, is this guy.

In fact.. I still love him deeper, more real'er with each passing year God gives us here.

It's funny to even look back at our wedding pictures and think what naive little munchkins we were.. just stepping into the shallow end of what this deep ocean of life and love is all about.

I'm eager to keep swimming alongside this guy.

Diving deeper each day in to what God has in store for us.

I feel so blessed to be front row center in watching him grow and develop in grace.

I admire his dedication and commitment to our family... and how desperately he has sought to provide for us in a tough climate.

I shall affectionately refer to him as 'Dusty' now.. since each morning he comes home covered in flour from the bakery - and as of this week - now comes home at dinner hour covered in sawdust from working for a cabinetry company.

Seriously, he's the man.

-----

Now, a word on marriage.  It seems that such a sacred union of souls is really under attack in our day.  I've seen friends separate, divorce... and suffer heart break.

Nothing saddens me more than seeing married couples not living out the love they once held and vowed to keep.

I don't know where you're at right now... but I truly hope you still love and delight in your partner.

I hope you fight for that.

Make time for them.

Give them the best of you each day (not the dragged down/wrung out/end of the day lump we can feel left with). 

Laugh together.

Go on a hike.

..etc..

And now because I just want to rant:

Ladies...

* Please, lets not complain about our husbands....

* Please don't post pictures of actors you think are "hot" for all your facebook friends to see (including your husband.. )  Guess what - your IDEAL guy is now your HUSBAND.. keep your eyes/heart falling for him each day.

* Please don't repeatedly talk about your ex's with your husband... especially not in front of your kids?!.. 

*  Please show your kids you respect, admire and love your man... don't belittle and berate him.

 *  Have 'contempt for contempt'.. (i.e. don't let resents fester, clear the air quick!).

Yeah.. don't get me started, hehe!

---------------

Ben, my love, you have it all.

You have my heart.

Happy high five to you!

xx

mel ;o)

*If you're a newer reader.. and you missed last years post about this occasion, you can catch more detail pictures from the wedding there.

shiny happy people.

swooooooon.

 Thanks to my friend Kiki for this darling shot.  We recently had her join in on my mama's 60th birthday fun to photograph the family (more to come here I'm sure).

She sent me this shot early though, and... I LOVE it.

Because, it shows my main man, my love, my heart... and he's even smiling!

Now that's my happiness right there.

Have a beautiful weekend friends.

Mel ;o)

(M.M.24) first comes love.

Welcome back to Monday Mamalogues,

linking up to share the beauty and breakdowns of motherhood.

Hello there lovelies, bear with me as I get a bit mushy, sentimental... or something like that.  Again.

That boy.  No, not the little one in front.

That guy, the one I married.

In this stage of life - with the cute kids crammed in between us - it can get easy to lose sight of each other.  I think at any stage of life there's always things that want to get in the 'way' of truly seeing/being with your partner.

Work.

Schedules.

Hobbies.

Stresses.

 T.V.

Like any relationship, it's either growing or shrinking according to how intentional we are about it. 

Most afternoons (during nap time) you'll find my guy and I trying to catch some 'us' time over tea, reading and talking together (if I'm not passed out on the couch from the heat of the summer).

Most evenings you'll drive by our house and see us perched out on the front step (the illusion of 'getting out' while the kids are in bed)... we chat, tease, discuss, and pelt each other with crab apples from the tree.

I really do love that bearded baker guy.

He has all my respect and admiration, especially as I see him growing in grace and a God-ward heart.  I want to be more like him, but... less facial hair.

The more time I spend with him, the more I want to spend with him.

I think we 'owe' it to our kids to ignore them occasionally.

You know, to make sure we aren't always ignoring our partner.

Give the kids some 'quiet play time' or pop a video in.. or tie them to a chair.

Then turn off the phone, t.v's, pagers... all the distractions and just be with your love.

You may just start giggling like you used to when you first started dating... and stuff.

How do you keep your partner in sight in your daily chaos?

mama Mel ;o)

D.I.Y: embroidery hoop wall art.

Pretty simple right?

Just take a group of various sized embroidery hoops and stretch a colourful collection of fabrics over them all.

(As you can see.. I still have to glue the raw edges around the backs of the hoops.. oops!)

Then lay the hoops on the floor first to get a pleasing arrangement... or just keep filling the wall with nail holes, whatever your style is!

A fun punch of colour and pattern to any space.

Here's a couple other inspirations too... this and this! 

---------

For those of you wondering, we just created this play nook for the kids in the corner of our Living Room.  Yes, where the massive T.V stand used to be... what a great purge.

No more T.V, stereo, clutter, junk, stuff, etc!

Upon seeing this blank wall space I said to the hubs:

"I should fill that with fabric hoops"

To which he replied:

"Of course you should, heaven forbid there's an empty space for more than five minutes around here"!

 Oh, the dry wit... but really, he's a very patient 'minimalist' in light of my decor style.

---------

Hoop you have fun creating your own colourful corner!

Mel ;o)

A.musing.mama! 1.7

------

Yep, I'm guilty of this all too often.

Spinning around the house like a Tasmanian devil.

Whirling through the loads of laundry, 

Splashing through the dirty dishes,

Reading various books, er.. blogs.

Holding one kid, then cuddling another....

Yes, that sweet wonder of a man can get lost in the daily chaos.

Do we even remember what eye colour our husband has?

It's a pretty crazy irony to stand at the altar and commit our life to someone, 

only to ignore them in the daily clutter of life.

And how often do we expend our energy on every other little thing in the day... and then give the depleted sag of a leftover lump to our man?

That just ain't right.

Let's make the time to sit across from each other and have some intentional 'eye contact' time.

To hear how each other are doing, for reals.

To drink our afternoon tea together.

To read, and pray together.

To laugh, to tease..

..and, stuff. 

For us, this time is only available in the afternoon.

When the baker man is *awake*.

While the kids nap.

Undistracted attention.

I savour this time of day.

So this one goes out to the one I love.

I'm looking at you Ben.. with those big gray-green eyes...like the colour of fog over a marsh.

Now, go stare at your man (but not in a creepy deranged way)!

Mel ;o)

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Want to catch up on previous 'true to life/motherhood' comics?  Click here!

a list of happy things:

+ paint palettes.

+ summer skirts.

+ new leather sandals.

+ pretty pink peonies.
 

+ snuggling children.

+ dinner ready.

+ quiet times reading/praying.

+ friends who 'get' me.

+ family.

+ chocolate cake.

+ colourful fabric.

+ new wedding band!

***

Just a few of the highlights of my week so far, and how goes yours?

Oh, and yes.. I ordered a new wedding band since I seem to have lost misplaced my chunky big amber one (for the past year)!  I love these stacking, spinner, 'meditation' rings I've seen lately.  Opted to get a frugal version of it from Etsy... and it's a beauty.

Three spinning rings within it (silver and copper).

"A cord of three strands is not quickly broken"

Ecclesiastes 4:12

 You may have guessed I'm not a 'diamond' type gal.

Keep it chunky, keep it weird... much like myself, thank you.

What's making you happy this week?

Mel ;o)

sewing for summer!

 Phew!  Is it just me, or is it getting hot up in here..?

Ontario decided to make up for lost time, diving straight from an extended winter - to summer!  That's all well and good, except for the accompanying *meltdown* of wardrobe issues.

See, after a long hibernation of sedentary living + comfort baking = this mama bear has grown some 'muffin tops' and other such puffiness around the middle.

The notion of 'shoe-horning' myself into my shorts was getting enraging.

...

The solution was nonetheless humorous.

"I'll sew a new summer line of clothing!" says I.

(Visions of flowing, loose, Rita MacNeil-in-a-mu-mu, kind of options danced through my mind).

As I wadded the piles of fabric through the sewing machine... my man walks by,

"I'll call that the widow-maker" he says.

And like rams bashing skulls on the discovery channel, we've been hilariously debating what makes *good* summer attire ever since!

My 'loose and flowy' is his idea of a 'boat tarp'.

I just refuse to grease myself with butter to fit into an outfit.

....

Anyways... here's some of the pieces that I've created lately that we both like (miracle of miracles!):

 One yard of fabric.  Basic A-line skirt with a zipper at the hip.

I didn't even hem the bottom because I'm lazy I love the brown/white spots along the lower half...and the white ragged edge to set it off.

 Mmmm jersey cotton.

Guess where this skirt came from?  Yep, that old sewing fail... I just turned the shirt upside down and cut open the shoulders (removed the lace) and made a funky skirt!

(Yes, life is glamorous here...holding my big boy.. with a creepy Elmo balloon behind us!).

 Oooh, and lastly, here's a sweet simple sewing trick to give your belly/hips a break!

Insert thick elastic in the hip/pockets of your shorts/pants... and all those 'too-tight' pants will fit again!  (I covered white elastic with brown stretchy jersey cotton for those brown cords).

Now you can keep the thrill of maternity clothing with you forever.

I didn't wear a belt... just so you could get the full impact of this heavenly relief.

I may even go eat some more chocolate to celebrate! 

Sew there you have it friends.

Summery solutions and silliness.

Mel ;o)

Steppin' out in faith...

You know that moment when a bunch of 'signs' enter your life to declare one larger message?

First they trickle in like hesitant streams... but as they all flow together, they become a roaring river of truth washing over your heart.

Well, lately this theme has been echoing throughout my days:

'where is my identity found?'

+ First it was through this sermon Ben and I heard a few months ago.  (The hunger we all have to find our identity ~ often seeking to define ourselves by our 'social status' 'careers' or 'accomplishments' etc.  We short-change ourselves by trying to worship these 'created' things instead of the Creator).

+ Then, a ladies group I'm attending has been challenging my outlook in fresh ways week after week.  Recently, the notion of taking 'criticism' as a help instead of as harm rocked my mind.  Who likes being criticized?!  We instantly want to throw our fists up and retort "oh yeeeeah, well you're a no-good-stinking-something-or-other!!".  But that shows how easily our pride gets ruffled - how eager we are to appease it, stroke it, assure it that everyone else has got it wrong.

If someone (hopefully a friend) seeks to offer constructive criticism, can I embrace it as offered truth to help me grow by?  I really want to.

+ Also, Ben and I are reading this book , and this quote just knocks my socks off:
“The labor of self-love is a heavy one indeed…As long as you set yourself up as a little god to which you must be loyal there will be those who will delight to offer affront to your idol. How then can you hope to have inward peace? The heart’s fierce effort to protect itself from every slight, to shield its touchy honor from the bad opinion of friend and enemy, will never let the mind have rest. Continue this fight through the years and the burden will become intolerable…Such a burden as this is not necessary to bear. Jesus calls us to His rest, and meekness is His method. The meek man cares not at all who is greater than he, for he has long ago decided that the esteem of the world is not worth the effort…The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather, he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God’s estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God has declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is, in the sight of god, more important than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything. That is his motto.”

A.W. Tozer.

As these rivers run together, my heart is being reminded that to step out on a firm foundation in this life - is to step out in faith.

If my identity is found in this unchanging love of God... it cannot be shaken.

 Take my creativity, my health, my home, my delights, my 'riches'... none of these define me as deeply as being united in Christ.

There, I said it,

Now, to keep trying to live it.

Mel ;o)

*P.S: This post may seem a bit heavier than my usual creative banter... but it's what/where my heart is... and that's where the posts come from.  Thanks for hearing it, friends!

A.musing.mama! 1.3

Marriage is hard work, they say.

And, raising children can be..well, exhausting.

So.. having the needed energy to work at marriage - with kids in the mix - now, that's a pickle.

While the best way to love your kids, is to love your spouse, they also say.

Well, loving my spouse doesn't feel like work.

I'm quite lucky to have a guy that's easy to love.

 And, while these kids can be draining, they also overflow my cup with affection.

So yes, this whole raising a family deal is a wild ride.

My Ben and I still look at each other with longing eyes...

...over the cacophony of children's chatter and cuddling and crying in between us.

And sometimes, sometimes the best thing said between lovers, is nothing at all.

Mel ;o) 

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(Catch up on the previous comics here!)

thrifty & nifty threads. upcycled fashion. #17.

 Annnnnnnnd we're back ~ with another fun edition of taking something thrifty and sewing it into something nifty!

Or, what could also be called 'further adventures in repulsing my husband'!

(More on that part, later..).

Anywho, here's how this project went:

1. Take one frumpy old sweater cardigan.

2. Use a seam ripper to remove the front panels.

3. Lay those sections as a tracing pattern over fabric of choice (a sheer aztec print seen here).

4. Cut two panels of new fabric and insert into the sweater...sew/surge in place.

Voila!

Bonus features:

+ I sewed the front cardigan pockets back on to the aztec fabric.

+ I added leather elbow patches (as seen in a previous project).

+ The front buttons were replaced with matching wooden ones.

----

Now, back to the husband in crisis.

It's pretty hilarious around here... every weird sewing project/notion I start to design.. he starts to cringe.  It used to be just vests that had him hurling.  But now I have successfully created a whole new line of gag-worthy fashion it seems.

---

While sewing this project, Ben said incredulously:

 "A sweater cardigan... really??"

"Don't worry, I'm about to make it awesome!" 

says I.. triumphantly holding up the sheer aztec material.

"You mean that Grandma curtain material?" he retorts.

"Pfffft..'GRANDMA'?!!..... c'mon, it's AZTEC"!

(as if this word in itself should convince him of how cool my project is). 

-------

Yah, he's still not convinced.

I told him not to worry.. from now on I'll make sure to get his *approval* for my future sewing adventures... maybe I could do a lingerie line... out of upcycled potato sacks.

 Yes, that could be a winner.

For now, I just have a growing wardrobe of 'what not to wear' if I want to catch his eye.

(Here's hoping you all aren't new here... and think my man to be some critical goon, we actually laugh/tease each other in complete affection... which you would have seen on Valentines day).

So, do you ever tease your partner about clothing choices?

sew silly,

Mel ;o)

(P.S... also, if you're new... you can catch up on previous upcycled fashion projects here!)

(Readers Choice) confessions + cooking.

Today's edition is a combination of reader's requests:

----------------------------------------------------------------

(Blue Lace Daisy asked me to cook/bake something, while Trisha asked me to share a 'bare my soul' type post).  So, today I'm a cookin' + confessin'!
Or... bakin' + soul-barin' to be more correct:
 

 Being married to an amazing baker, makes me a bit of a spoiled brat.

I tend to feign swooning onto the couch, while sighing aloud: "IF only someone would bake me a batch of brownies/butter tarts/cupcakes.... whatever".

<crickets> 

For some strange reason, my husband (who's returned from baking all morning) doesn't always jump when I say that.

"Go for it" he'll say... "Just look up a recipe online".

...

"Fine" says I... stomping over to the interwebs.

Oh look, here's an EASY recipe for my lavender shortbread craving!

(Honestly, if a recipe has more than 5 ingredients I'll break out in a cold sweat).

 Then, just to be a real fancy pants... I melted down some white chocolate to dip the shortbread in.

FAIL: adding orange zest to the stove top melted chocolate made it all gum up.. so I had to just trowel it on to the cookies after.

A buttery, lavender'y, yummy treat... nom nom nom!

-----------------------------

Now let me bare my soul further.
Just because I run a blog.. does not mean I'm a domestic diva.
Sure, I'm creative... but in the kitchen?  Not so much. 

If I'm cooking, I tend to just wing it.
I like to invent, throw a dash of this, pop a pinch of that... because following a recipe would seriously cramp my style.
You know, much like the way I hate to follow sewing patterns.. or any written instructions.
(I'm sure there's likely a psychological term for this: stubbornness, recklessness, arrogance..?!).
My husband doesn't get this about me.
"What's so hard about following a recipe?" he wonders.

 Nothing, really.
But in my head, everything.
Maybe I have some unknown 'mental disorder'... but when I see instructions - I get overwhelmed and just sort of go into a stunned state.  (Maybe this is why I never got my driver's license!).
Ummm... is this making any sense to anyone out there?
Maybe I fear the instructions... for fear of failing at them?
Fear of messing up... thereby wrecking the recipe/pattern/project.
It's a wonder I'm creative at all with such crippling concepts rattling around my brain!

But all that, is in my head.
Once I get my hands working... and realise how easy it is to actually create/bake according to the directions offered... I'm delighted at the success!

So there you have it.
Maybe I need to challenge myself to follow more recipes/crafting patterns.
Just imagine how fat and well adjusted I could be!

A musing mama,
Mel ;o)