Fun gift idea: 25 reasons we love you
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| Mmm, Doritos! |
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| Cute panties! (These were wrapped individually) |
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| Sissy’s essential bevs: Caffeine-free Diet Coke and white wine |
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| Woolly scarves! |
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| Family photos of her, me, our mama, her boytoy, and D and C of course! |
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| Mini sockie thingies for people who wear flats |
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| Hairbows (which are apparently popular again, thanks to Pinterest?) |
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| Surly coffee cup (thanks, Dollarama) |
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| She has a sock fetish |
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| Ingredients for her fave food, poutine (and a plate I made using Pinterest’s Sharpie trick) |
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| Kinder Surprise, her fave (I’ve heard my American readers can’t get those? Because they combine chocolate and a toy, and that’s, like, illegal down there? Shame) |
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| Classic literature |
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| Fun necklace (Tassels are trendy! I know this!) |
Once I rounded up all of my items, I wrapped each one individually and put a label on it that described something we love about Little Sis. I don’t know if I can remember them all, but here’s a sampling:
- You always go for the gold: Caffeine-free Diet Coke (gold label)
- You’re the life of the party: Wine
- You are cuddly (but you have sharp bones): Woolly scarf
- You are warm: The other woolly scarf
- You suffer from chronic bitchface: Surly coffee mug
- You are an amazing godmother: Photo of her niece/godbaby, C
- You are a great aunt: Photo of her nephew, D
- You are a good daughter: Photo of her, me, and our mama
- You are a good girlfriend: Photo of her and her boytoy
- You appreciate fine cuisine: Doritos
- You’re healthy and you make good choices: Poutine plate
- You are sassy: Neon panties
- You are bootylicious: More neon panties
- You love turquoise: More panties
- You have a big heart: Panties with hearts on them
- You respect good literature: Babysitter’s Club book (our fave series)
- You have a sock fetish: Ankle socks
- You like a nice Pinterest trend: Hair bows
- You were good shoes: Mini-socks for flats
- Your favourite food is the best: Gravy, fries, cheese (for poutine)
- You are fun: Kinder Surprise (chocolate egg with toy)
- You are a smart and hardworking law student: Purple and pink butterfly folder
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| Here are the gifties! Love that Dollarama pink paper. |
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| I grabbed a cardboard box, cut off the flaps, and put them on the bottom to make it sturdier — there was going to be a bottle of wine and a 2L bottle of pop inside! |
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| Then I covered it with wrapping paper (badly) |
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| Here’s the box, with everything inside! |
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| D helped me cut the black polkadot hearts from the La Senza bag, and glued them on with his gluestick. |
Little Sis loved her big box of prezzies, and it was fun for everyone to see her read each label aloud and open it up. It took a long time, and that’s the fun of it!
Happy Birthday to my sweet Little Sis!
xoxoxo
Who’s ready to get cray-cray and organize this hizzle?
The fun is happening during the seven weeks of Lent. Oh, and for the record, I did give up Diet Coke for Lent (*sad face*) but this is something extra I really want to do.
I’ve made half-hearted attempts to address some outgrown-clothing bin drama over the last week, but so far little progress has been made. I need this as a kick in the butt to MAKE time for the things that I want to do.
Yes, I’m insanely busy. Most of us are. But doing this will make me happy, and happy wife = happy life, right Darling Husband? (I’m sure he’s nodding vigorously)
Emily’s plan for the seven weeks is to tackle her toddler’s room, her baby’s room, her backyard, her garage, her basement, her master bedroom, and the main floor.
Here’s what I’m thinking for my house:
- Week 1: Master bedroom
- Week 2: Toddler’s room
- Week 3: Baby’s room
- Week 4: My home office
- Week 5: The rest of the basement (toy/family room, storage closet, utility room)
- Week 6: Main floor
- Week 7: All three bathrooms
Love Day / Love this day
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| Six years ago today, Darling Husband popped the question! |
- Dressing C in the red “All you need is love and naps” onesie that D wore on *his* very first Valentine’s Day
- Dressing D in an ugly-but-appropriate Valentine-y T-shirt I just happened to find in a bin of clothing last week
- Sweet treats waiting at every place at the breakfast table (Swedish fish for Mama, Cherry Blasters for Daddy, candy bracelets for D, and Gerber yogurt puffs for C)
- A little set of paints/stamps for D
- A shiny new pink and purple cup for C
- Me going around the table proclaiming what I love about each of my special people (and then doing it on behalf of C and D) while Darling Husband rolls his eyes at my mushy-ness
- Lovingly retelling the story of how Darling Husband proposed to me six years ago, today (best Valentine’s Day gift — one that keeps on giving, i.e. diamond rings)
- Eating fresh banana bread that is gobbled before it even gets cut into heart shapes
- Making big plans for heart-shaped lunch foods in the cute silicone muffin tin we’ve been using lately
- Writing a list for Darling Husband so he can pop out to the store for delicious grown-up appetizers to eat as our dinner tonight (Helllllloooo, spinach and artichoke dip with fresh bread!)
- Darling Husband offering to do lovely (long-overdue) errands, like taking our minivan for its something-something (Inspection? Check? Diamond Kote something?) because he knows it will make me happy
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| Our lovely toddler craft wreath |
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| The felt banner I sewed when I was pregnant with D |
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| I love this $2 gem. LOVE IT! |
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| The M and H letters are actually a permanent fixture on our hutch, but I love them especially at Valentine’s Day — coupled with our foam hearts. |
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| D’s lunch from last Valentine’s Day |
I hope everyone has a love-ly Valentine’s Day!
xoxoxo
Countdown to the big 3-0
Yesterday was Little Sis’s birthday (25!) and we’re exactly four years, six months, and one day apart. This means that the day after her birthday always marks the “halfway to MY birthday” point.
And this year? I’ll be turning … 30 …
Poor Darling Husband turned 31 in November, so for more than a year now, I’ve had a pretty good time chirping about how I’m still in my twenties. He’s a year and 10 months older than me, which pleases me to no end.
I’ve also relished the fact that as Little Sis gets further into her twenties, she’s been “catching up” with me. Now that she’s 25 and I’m 29, we’re practically the same age. We’re like equals! That doesn’t really appeal to her, because of course 25 is quite a grown-up age — and I’m supposed to be the grown-up sister, while she is the swishy-haired, youthful sister who goes out past 7 p.m.
Now that I’m on the downward slope to the big 3-0, I’m getting a taste of my own medicine. There is already a lot of talk about my milestone birthday. Party talk, but also OMG HEATHER IS GOING TO BE SO OLD talk.
Now I’m wondering if I should be making some sort of bucket list to complete while I’m still in my twenties? I know 40 is supposed to be the new 30, but 30 certainly isn’t the new 20, so … maybe a few items should be checked off my list?
The trouble is, I feel like I’m already in my thirties.
I’ve been married for almost five years (and I’ve been with Darling Husband for almost 13). I have two children. I drive a minivan (that I freakin’ love). I basically wear one pair of boots all winter and one pair of mom-sandals all summer. I don’t get IDed at the liquor store (which is devastating — Darling Husband consoles me by saying it’s because I have a wedding ring on, and possibly a baby or two in tow, but I don’t buy that). I never go to bars. Or drink. Or dance. My life is basically Footloose, guys.
I will have to think about a couple of fun things to do while I’m still a wild and crazy twenty-something. You know, before I become a lame 30-year-old.
Any ideas for me?
Easy toddler craft: Valentine’s Day wreath
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| Sad little wreath with zero personality |
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| I tied a knot around one part of the wreath, and started looping! (Lots and LOTS of looping) D and I sang “Jingle Bells” during this part — yes, it is February as I write this. I’m not sure why, but he kept requesting it. |
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| Things got tangle-y a few times, and I had to cut my losses (literally), re-tie a piece of yarn to the old piece, and keep going. So there are a few bumpy knots here and there. |
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| Then D helpfully handed me sheets of foam, and I cut out hearts in the exact spots he requested. |
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| We placed the hearts around the wreath (he handed them to me, I placed them) … |
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| … and used a leftover scrap of red ribbon to hold everything on. (D abandoned me at this point and began a new craft of gluing foam letters onto cardstock) |
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| It felt unfinished, so I quickly cut a pink foam heart and tied it on with another scrap of thicker red ribbon. Much better! |
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| I grabbed a zip-tie from the tool bins in the basement and secured it to our door-knocker — strong Canadian winds require zip-ties, not pretty wreath-hangers! |
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| It held up even in this weekend’s blizzard conditions. Woohoo, zip-ties! |
In about 45 minutes, D and I put together this cheerful little wreath — and we even had time to hang it before his baby sis woke up from her nap.
Once Valentine’s Day is over, we’ll probably take off the hearts and ribbon and re-use the white-covered wreath for something different. Maybe a St. Patrick’s Day wreath is in order?
If I ask D his opinion, of course, we’ll probably be making a “Dinosaur Train” wreath!
Happy crafting!
xoxo
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Heather's Handmade Life 