PREP FOR OUR TRIP

We are heading (tee hee) to Hilton Head in a few weeks. Well that's kind of wishful thinking, we're not actually leaving for 8 weeks BUT STILL... I'm thinking about it! And planning what to bring. It will be Anders' first trip so it's big right? Also, we are a strictly 'carry-on only' family, which makes packing a more thoughtful process.

Today I did something  a bit self-indulgent :)  I ordered the sling I've been oggling for some time now. I first learned about Sakura Bloom slings on my favourite blog Cup of Jo, and oh do they sing to my textilian soul!  I ordered a linen one in driftwood and I think it will be perf for down south in the warmer weather.  I've been wearing Anders in the Ergo in the hip carry position which he seems to like, but it is a bit tricky to get him into with clips all over the place--the sling looks much easier to rig and sartorially speaking knocks it out of the park!

Other than that we're going to get a super lightweight umbrella stroller I'm debating between this one and this one and of course I'll bring the Ergo for longer stretches of babywearing. Anders will spend the week in our bed so that will mean we don't need to take down a travel crib. So I figure the only things we'll need are a few outfits and some toys....

TO DO LIST

Now that we're in the swing of the new year my thoughts have turned to home improvement. There are so many projects I'm ready to get going on and so few (read: like... none) I can do with one hand. However, onward and upward I'm going to write a bit of a list here for snitches and snatches of time during naptime.

From top to bottom...

BATHROOM

• Glue back the hot/cold buttons on the shower
• New shower curtain
• Add a shelf to the storage unit
• Find some art for the south wall

GUEST ROOM

ughh too much...skipping over

NURSERY

• Fix the holes in the wall from the extender hooks
• Build the changing station that fits over the crib
• Figure out some extra storage

BEDROOM

• Mount the piece of felt I want to put on the wall
• Put up the old heating grates
• Put up shelf in closet/put in shoe storage
• Get bedding sorted once and for all
• Get Jimmy a night table
• Rework my night table
• Remove the old blind mounts

STAIRS

• Remove paint from trim, sand and prime
• Sand stairs and refinish
• Install extra 1/4 round
• Repaint trim in lighter grey
• Paint Stairs/Door down to basement

FRONT HALL

• Repaint trim white 
• Repaint bench and shelf and door
• Find a mirror
• Add shelf and hooks under mirror
• Add outlet for lamp on shelf

LIVING ROOM/DINING ROOM

• Buy fabric from IKEA, and make curtains
• Refinish Dining Table
• Commission Buffet
• Rework and paint TV unit
• Have carpet cleaned

KITCHEN

• Tile Backsplash
• Install open shelving
• Install magnetic knife rack
• Frame and hang beef picture
• Make and hang two Linen covered pinboards
• Paint Stool

SNOWY

It's a snowy day today. I guess it had to happen. I was secretly hoping that there might not be any snow this year. Ha, not very likely in Toronto, but it would be so convenient for Anders and I who are more of the TTC persuasion and not of the car driving persuasion. I've decided to stay in my jammies today, we're working on getting Anders back on the nap bandwagon, which got slightly off course after a bit of a busy week :(

I spoke with my highschool room mate and dear friend Juliana yesterday, so in honour of her (and to combat the weather in ol' TO) I will post a few pics from our visit with the lovely Mahelis family in the Bahamas last February.

This is actually their family cottage...nice!

Jimmy enjoying a leisurely breakfast at the Lodge

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I figure the kids are still on holidays so-- so am I. Talk to y'all (my imaginary internet friends ;) next week!

OUT OF THE 'NICE THINGS' VAULT

Now that I am back on the blogging bandwagon I'm going to need a little structure to keep myself motivated. Some regular features should keep me honest, I'm thinking.  On Fridays I think I'll share some of the kabillion links and clips in my 'nice things' file--a sort of lordagsgodis or 'Saturday candy' as the Swedes would say.  Other features I'm thinking of are 'Best of Toronto' to highlight some of the exciting things our fair city has to offer, also maybe one day a week I'll update on the house progress.

So without further ado, the first Out of the Nice Things Vault:

As a true textilian I am going to start with links to some extremely covetable textiles.

1. Swans Island Blankets

I'm in love with these blankets. I have fantasies about going to Swans Island and frolicking with the sheep and learning how to weave on their looms. Lucky me, I actually have one of these blankets; it was a graduation gift from my very thoughtful Mum and Dad. I use in almost every day, Anders and I often snuggle under it when we're nursing.

2. Selvedge Drygoods
Selvedge Magazine is positively drool-worthy for anyone interested in textiles. Luckily my besty has a subscription and lets me peruse each month :) Their drygoods site has many beautiful things. Unfortunately, I don't think they ship to Canada but it's good for inspiration.

3. Vaxbo Lin
This Swedish Linen company is another favourite. Whenever we're in Sweden I look at their stuff it's a bit spendy though so I've never indulged. My Mother in Law gave their bath mat to my Mum for Christmas a few years ago and it really is a lovely thing. They use it as a dish drying mat.

4. Brahms Mount
I clipped these towels from Remodelista one time. Love love love.

5. bookhou

Canadian content :) I love everything these guys do. I bought a bib for Anders at the One of a Kind show this year at the bookhou booth.

Okeydoke...off to bed-d-by.

BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHED

Check out this beautiful  birth photography that I came across via Lovely Morning. Before we had Anders I would have said that I didn't see the point of photographing or filming a birth.  But I totally get it now. As the mum you're way up at the top of the situation and likely have your eyes closed :) I am so happy jimmy took some photos and videos right after Anders was born. It was a pretty profound moment.

FIRST PHOTOS WITH THE REBEL

I am so excited about our new camera. Here are a few shots I have taken, mostly of my muse ;) So far I have been using the "CA" or creative auto mode, which allows you to make some changes like depth of field and exposure, but still automatically focuses et cetera.  I'm quite happy with the results, especially the shots of Anders. I have a sneaking suspicion that photos of the house are going to need some practise and possibly extra lighting, but I'm excited to do some learning in that department!

It is so freeing to be shooting for fun with a good camera. When I photograph artifacts I always have major anxiety; there is a pretty rigid protocol to follow so colours are true and I always manage to get everything perfect and then realize I forgot the ruler or the colour card or I focused without my glasses and all the shots are blurry... This is WAY more fun.

Anders playing with his toys in his chair

Anders fed up of playing with his toys in his chair

Portrait of Toby

Christmas decorations in the living room

Dining room with the christmas tree

Anders

NEW CAMERA!!!

Hurrah, we bought a new camera!

Merry christmas to me from Jimmy, to Jimmy from me and to me and Jimmy from Kris. A shade early, but all the better to catch the look of mild boredom on Anders' face Christmas morning. He's not really into toys quite yet :)  We decided on a Canon T2i and I've been fooling around with it a bit and it seems AWE-SOME. The battery is currently charging, then I'm going to go snap happy and post some (hopefully) pics of a better quality!

P.S. only three days 'till Christmas. Yippee!

MY LITTLE DISTRACTION

Well, my little distraction arrived on the 3rd of September: Anders Erik Frejd!

Who knew one so small could be such a huge force in our universe?!  We love this guy to bits and can't get over how much he has grown and changed in just three and a half short months. Those skinny stick legs he arrive with have turned into cute beefy kicking machines and my sweet boy is full of smiles and almost giggles! Now that I am more in the swing of life with a mini partner in crime I hope to post slightly more often, that is more than the once a quarterly I've been averaging (boo hiss).

I have some exciting posts planned: Progress on the house, baby stuff and all the tips I have for future Clare (and anyone else planning to take the maternal plunge...), our birthstory et cetera; but for now I leave you with the newest member of the Frejd clan!

 

LIFE IN FAST FORWARD

That bandwagon must be icy or something--seem to have slipped off AGAIN! After a good 4-month hiatus I'm thinking a quick fast-forward review might be in order. Shall we take it month by month....

The highlights of May included actually moving into our house (hurrah!) and family trip to France.

The view from our window at our first hotel in Provence...aaaahhhh

Classic Jimmy self-portrait at one of the many hilltop towns in Provence

My gorgeous sister Kris at the Papal Palace in Avignon

Where's the Pelaton?!?

Jimmy and my room at the house we rented in Caromb

Crillon Le Brave. Oh ya....oops did I forget to mention something? Bambino due in a few days now.

Family at the pool at Crillon

June was a work work month.  I pretty much took the month off of working on the house to do some work on a private textile conservation contract. I treated and made storage mounts for six hats... stay tuned for more on that. The month culminated in both the 7th (?!?) annual cake day and 30th Birthday celebrations for yours truly. Kris threw me a surprise party, my dear friend Tonya came for a visit and there was golf. Cake day was a great success. All in all there was a lot of cake involved as I recall :)

Completed mount for a net head-piece

The best part of July was the baby shower that my sister and mum threw for me.  It was a lot of fun and the first time a big bunch of people gathered at the house...Jimmy and I took on some projects to get the house slightly more ship-shape. Plastering the hole in the kitchen ceiling was a big one...never knew plastering could be so much fun :)

Cute baby shower decorations...and WOW look how green the backyard looks!

Awesome block centerpiece!

My Mum extraordinaire!

Jane and I also did some strawberry picking in July at a rather fabulous (if not dog-friendly) organic farm.

Jane thought I looked like a pregnant Mennonite...
what head scarves and peasant skirts  aren't the
height of fashion?

The strawberry's were gorgeous..
definitely going to make a trip to this farm a yearly event!

Jane amongst the berries :)

Didn't think through the whole squatting in a skirt angle...so the skirt became short through some crafty knot-tying..

Oh ya, and we decorated the nursery.

I think August can safely be called nesting month...stocking of the freezer, organizing of the closets and basement. Planning and executing 'Project Front Porch' (much more on that to come) began, as did prepping for our planned homebirth, prenatal classes and some major garden clean up.

(how are none of these photos on my computer...will track down the visual aids)
** UPDATE** aha...here they are

"Mennonite Clare" makes a surprise reappearance for yard work... love how my patio is greener than my lawn :(

Two days before you give birth is an excellent time to sand down your front door...

Ok. Later skaters, now that we're all caught up I have some more detailed posts planned....

** UPDATE** Clare gave birth the next day those "detailed posts" went by the wayside....

HOUSE IN PROGRESS

Oopsy-daisy fell off the blogging bandwagon there....moving right along...the house is moving along! In fact, next week is moving day! Our lovely contractor, Geoff is finishing up this week, some major painting will happen over the Easter weekend, the electricians come to finish up on Monday, Tuesday is van day and Wednesday we should get our cable and internet. Woot!

Here are a few photches of the house in progress (actually it's a bit farther along now but I'm saving some for the big reveal!)

Demolition:

Oh ya..good-bye pink stucco ceiling!

Oooooh what a nice half done kitchen!

New tile floor looks fab yes-no?

Bathtub refurb :)

More nice new tile floor....

New window :)

The fruit of my wheeling-dealing haggling skills (and Jimmy's good taste)

Stay tuned for the big reveal....not too long now...I promise-ish.