Category: Parenting

Christmas gifts for tween boys are NOT EASY

Posted on November 13, 2019 by

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Christmas gifts for tween boys {Heather's Handmade Life}

Our son is almost exactly nine and a half years old. He’s very much entering TWEEN territory which means, apparently, that it is much, much harder to buy him Christmas gifts.

Category: Holidays, Our Son, ParentingTags: , , , ,

Five ways to strengthen sibling friendship

Posted on October 30, 2019 by

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Five ways to strengthen sibling friendship {Heather's Handmade Life}

I’m totally jinxing this by writing it, but our nine-year-old son and seven-year-old get along very well. Here are five specific things I do to ensure they stay best buddies.

Category: Our Daughter, Our Son, Parenting, The Mom SceneTags: ,

The summer camp struggle

Posted on October 14, 2019 by

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This was our kids’ new full-time life, and it had nothing to do with me.

Category: Activities, Career, Parenting, The Mom Scene

I’m Heather Laura Clarke. I’m journalist and blogger in beautiful Nova Scotia, I have an 9-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter, I married my high school sweetheart, and this is the story of my handmade life.

I have depression and anxiety, and I fight like hell every day to keep it from taking over my life. Making things isn’t just a hobby — it’s part of what keeps me alive.

Whether I’m decorating a room, busting out my power tools to build furniture, getting muddy in the pottery studio, sewing clothes for my kids, or cross-stitching a swear word, I’m all about using my creativity to craft a life I love.

@HFXHeather on Instagram
I took these pictures from some of my many "mobile novel-writing stations," like while waiting for the kids to finish a lesson or a birthday party. Like at the hospital while I get an iron infusion. Like sitting on a tiny child-sized chair at the local library where I can keep an eye on my kids playing while also trying to put down another page, another chapter. Anything. . . I take these photos as reminders, as proof, that I’m always trying to get a little closer to the goal I’ve had since I was eight years old: writing and publishing books. . . Today’s post is called WHEN MOMS MAKE TIME FOR DREAMS. I know I have a dream — to be an author — and I don’t think that dream needs to wait until my kids are all grown up. It’s just not easy to make it happen. . . #linkinbio #authorsofinstagram #aspiringauthor #writing #writerlife #parenting #goals #dreams #novelist #novelwriting Who wore it best? 😂 . . . #sewingforkids #fabricstash #saveeveryscrap #handmade Zillions of cut-out sugar cookies with shiny pink glaze and red sprinkles all set for the kids to bring to their classes tomorrow for Valentine’s Day. . Swipe to see what happened to C’s fingers during the process! 😂 Oops! . #valentines #cookies #sugarcookies #classtreat #thatreddyetho Today is @jenniferaniston’s birthday which is practically a national holiday in this house, so of course I have to share the Jennifer Aniston shadowbox that hangs in my home office! . I made this shadow box years ago when I decided I had to pare down my MANY large storage totes. I used to keep every newspaper and magazine clipping I could get my hands on, which was a LOT as you can imagine. (I ran a large online fan club for years and took it very seriously!) . I couldn’t keep it all, what with having babies and them needing space, so I weeded it down to these favourites. My autographs, of course, and a few special photos. . There are rumours of a Friends reboot coming and naturally I am just trying not to get my hopes up (again). In the meantime, I urge you all to watch @themorningshow on @appletv because Jennifer is PHENOMENAL and @reesewitherspoon is fantastic, too. . HBD, JEN! ❤️ . #jenniferaniston #jenaniston #shadowbox #fanart #jenniferanistonfans #happybirthdayjenniferaniston The big project is finished and it’s ... a giant credenza slash entertainment centre slash something to make our giant TV look less giant and more proportional! . Like it? Wanna make it, except customized to fit your stuff exactly? (It makes my heart sing that the sound bar is perfectly built in.) Check out the FULL TUTORIAL! . Wood: @kentbuildingsupplies Stain: @minwaxcanada “Puritan Pine” Paint: @fusionmineralpaint “Picket Fence” Hardware: @phillips_and_chestnut . #DIY #handmade #furniture #customfurniture #livingroom #woodworking #womenwithpowertools We rarely wear our matching shirts at the same time, but last night C and I decided it would be funny to match for breakfast program this morning (and not tell D, lol). He still puts on whatever I lay out for him, so he didn’t realize he had two twinsies until it was too late to change. Gotcha! . . . #triplets #mommydaughter #mommyson #matching #trurons #truroelementary @myhomeapparel #schoolspirit #parenting #sneaky
@HFXHeather on Twitter
My Top Posts
Easy DIY sofa tables
DIY dog crate cover
How to sew a cozy nap mat
How to make a backyard water blob
Our board game wall
Build your own slide-out pantry
Super easy quilt top for beginners
DIY quilt made from old jeans
Anne of Green Gables quilt
How to re-cover patio furniture cushions
PREGNANCY blog posts
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