Lane:[supposed to be sitting quietly because she refused to take a nap] Mum, I need to go into the lounge (living room).
Me:What for?
Lane:To do my work.
Me:What work do you have to do?
Lane:I need to tidy up.
Me:[thinking that this was sounding pretty good] Okay, you can go to the lounge and tidy up.
Lane:[as she leaves the room] And then I need to make a mess again.
For the second installment of our Classic Holiday Movies week, we watched “Holiday Affair" (1949). It’s a classic love triangle story, starring Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh (she’s SO pretty). Throw in a cute kid, lots of snow, and a happy ending, and you’ve got yourself one undeniably cheery Christmas movie.
The film was entertaining all around, and much shorter than the previous selection (about 90 minutes). I enjoyed some of the signature moves of Old Hollywood (two characters having complete understanding of each other about 5 minutes after meeting, the mouth kiss that looks like it would leave a bruise, and falling in love in about the span of a week)…they just don’t make movies like that anymore…or do they?
"That Home" by The Cinematic Orchestra
I can’t stop listening to this song that I just downloaded. So romantic. A perfect wedding/video song…or perhaps I just have weddings on the brain as I’m designing some invitations for my brother’s next-yearly nuptials. Or maybe it’s because it’s Spring, either way…
This song makes me say “mmmmm”…
I might just have to buy the whole album.
So I finally got a sewing machine, and I am SEW excited! I have heaps of ideas for little dresses for Lane, and other bits that will help me fulfill my handmade gift challenge. But I’m also really liking this pattern, especially the blue dress (the pattern is by Lisette, which is owned by the same lady who makes the adorable, vintage-inspired children’s clothes for Oliver + S). I wonder if it would be too much to take on with my very limited sewing skill…
Can’t wait to find out!
baby o
Henry and I went to a session of BabyO on Monday, as part of the ongoing Christchurch Arts Festival. It’s an interactive experience for toddlers performed by Scottish Opera. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it ended up being really fun (Henry must have enjoyed it because he barely moved a muscle during the entire 30-minute session)!
Now if only I could get that buzzy bee song out of my head…
These have to be my favourite postcards. Ever. A box of 100 cards, and each one is a different Pantone (R) colour chip. Imagine how fun it would be deciding which colour is perfect for every mood/occasion/friend.
Here is a Pantone (R) Colour Chart. I’m loving #396 - somewhere between mustard and celery. Which colour is your fave?
challenge #26: clothes swap
Two things I love - new clothes and a cleaned-out closet. The Clothes Swap Party idea satisfies both of these indulgences, and offers some much-needed silliness with friends to boot. Not bad for one party.
Amy and I co-hosted the event. We sent out invitations (above), made some nibbles, gathered up our unwanted/unworn items, and let the chaos begin. We did impose one rule - taking turns. Each girl drew a number and took turns choosing one item at a time. It required a little strategy and a lot of patience, but we all ended up having a good time and taking home a nice stash of our friends throw-aways.
And I got Beth’s yellow cardi(gan).
Yes. It was a good day.
(P.S. Wanna know what these challenges are about? Read more here.)
Our family is doing well after Monday’s earthquakes. There are days when we wonder if this really will ever end. But we are moving forward, digging out from under the sludge and focusing on the positives. This week’s highlight: Lane’s third birthday. What a wonderful contrast she is to these dark days: bright, happy, and beautiful.
life after shock: first steps
Ideally, a disaster will strike when one is at home, right? Everyone will be gathered together, playing games by candlelight and listening to music on the radio. That’s what happened during our first earthquake in September 2010, and as a result it was a much less traumatic experience. But the truth is it’s very likely that when a disaster strikes, one or more family members will not be home. Regardless of location, what you do in those first minutes is vital. Here are some tips based on our own family disaster plan…
Step One: Contact Your Family. You’ll likely only have a few minutes until cell phone towers are either swamped with calls or out of service. Have a plan for who will call whom so you don’t get voicemail (but leave a message if you can). Tip: As a back-up, agree on someone to call out of town/state with whom you can call to communicate with or leave a message for other family members, in case cell phones are completely unusable.
Step Two: Move to Your Designated Meeting Location. We now have three meeting locations, which we have informed our regular baby-sitters of, just in case: (1) Home; (2) the local park (in case we can’t stay/get home); and (3) the carpark of a well-known building on the other side of the city (in case of an evacuation or tsunami warning).
Step Three: Know where your supplies are so you can access them quickly and easily. You will need your radio to listen for updates/evacuations/warnings. Ideally, you want to be able to leave the house in about 5-10 minutes with everything that you need.
I used to believe (superstitiously, foolishly) that if I prepared for a disaster then we would have one. It’s similar to the egocentric fears I experience every time I get on a plane or think about preparing a will. So I didn’t have a plan. But disaster still struck. Not to people on tv, not to people I knew from childhood or from college…to me. Twice. Now I live by a different disaster theory, “Don’t be scared; be prepared.” I encourage you to do the same.
a break from the shakes
Lane on the Devonport Ferry to downtown Auckland (via iPhone)
What a nice weekend we had! We traveled to our old stomping grounds, Auckland, New Zealand, to get a break from earthquake-ravaged Christchurch. It turned out to be a great weekend to be away - there was a large (5.3) aftershock in Christchurch on Saturday, temporarily closing some of the city’s shops and infrastructure again. Boo.
We, however, enjoyed a few days of sunshine, warmer temps, family time, and guilt-free toilet flushing. It was just what we needed!
good-bye summer
A couple of weeks ago, Nate and I took the kids to a local school playground after dinner. It was a very warm day, even into the evening, and we knew it would probably be one of the last. Already trees are turning orange and yellow, and the mornings are quite chill. Soon we will have regular frosts and the days of walking around the house without slippers will seem like distant memories.
Good-bye, picnics in the park and walks to the playground.
Good-bye, open windows and warm breezes. Good-bye, bubbles in the backyard.
Good-bye, summer…
Now this is one flower that even my black thumb can’t kill. It’s by Terrain (think Anthropologie, but for your house & garden). On sale for only $8.25 USD, it’s meant to be placed in a pot or garden, but I think it would make such a lovely addition to a Mother’s Day gift - a non-perishable alternative to those supermarket daffodils.
Made some YUMMY peanut butter cookies the other night with Lane. They turned out flat, but soft and chewy - they actually reminded me of Subway cookies. You can get the recipe here. I added white chocolate chips to some - an attempt to channel the White Chocolate Reese’s Cup (which we never buy here because they are so expensive - $2.50 for a two-pack!). It was a good experiment, but I think the plain peanut butter ones were better. What’s your favourite cookie?
Earthquake Incident Viewer
This website shows zoomable arial views of Christchurch before and after the February 22nd earthquake. Use the links in the top left corner to see some of the most damaged sites. Or you can find us - we live in the suburb of Parklands.
20x200
"Frozen" by Katie Baum (available for purchase at 20x200.com)
I love anything that makes art more accessible. This site brings quality, exclusive works to the masses - starting at only $20!
Some of my favourites: Dandelion Clothesline | Frozen | Baby Giraffe #5 | Nethermead
Make sure you check out the “How to Frame Your Art” tutorial for some great tips on inexpensive but timeless framing.
Which is your favourite?
life after shock
Almost a month ago (wow, has it been a month already?!) we experienced our second major earthquake in six months. Our city, Christchurch, New Zealand, was pummeled by a 6.3 that was shallow and close, meaning the destruction was acute - the worst in this country’s recent memory.
As we continue to process this disaster, I thought I would share the journey with you. As we rebuild our lives, and as we work alongside our friends and neighbours to rebuild our city, I will share with you our struggles (e.g., how to build a make-shift toilet in your garage) and our victories (e.g., actually building a toilet in our garage!).
One thing I’ve always known: after earthquakes come aftershocks. What I know now: life after the shock of a major disaster becomes a new kind of life - a braver, more prepared, more determined kind of life. And it seems more precious now than ever.
日本のために祈りなさい
My heart is going out to everyone affected by Friday’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan. I’ve grown up watching disaster footage on television, and it’s always heartbreaking. But after living through an earthquake (or 2) myself, the footage now triggers a racing pulse and a bit of queasiness as well. I’ve had a taste of what they are going through, and my prayers today are on their behalf.