My Weblog

She's So Shallow Part Four

 

Yep!  I admit it.  When they announced the opening of the new Brooklyn Ikea I had an extra skip in my walk.  This is my latest purchase.  I love this fabric.  It cheers me up!  I need it in my life.  I deserve it in my life.  I work so hard! Each and every single person who knows me would agree.  This is what I tell myself every time I purchase something stupid.  You should try it some time!  Seriously though.  The fabric is great isn't it?
On a more festive note.  I will be leaving this concrete jungle for the week end.  We will celebrate the fourth in a small town with good friends, fire works, barbeque and a day at the beach.  Happy Fourth!

A Perfect Day!

Well, my daughters party was fun (more on that later).  I finished the dresses for the store.  I don't have another street fair for two weeks.  I decided dive right in to my new role as "camp counselor" and spend the afternoon with my kids doing some of our favorite "summer things" in the park. 

First stop!  Prospect Park!
It's pretty green.  We have had lot's of thunder storms lately.

Doggy beach

Prospect Park Zoo






Cooling off in the sprinklers!

We ended the day on our stoop in an ice cream induce coma compliments of "Uncle Louie's.
 

I have done so many smocked sundresses lately I am ready to try something new.  Hopefully this week I will have something to show off.  Then again, I'm a full time camp counselor so maybe not.

Last Day of School!

Wow!  School is out for summer.  She is officially a second grader.  I can't tell you how proud I am of this girl.  First grade wasn't quite as fun and care free as we all expected.  This year was quite a jump from Kindergarten.  She worked hard.  She learned a lot.  She loves reading (thank goodness).  She hates writing (Patience sweetie), Math is ok and she loves her friends.  She also learned a few people skills.  She learned that adults are not perfect and they have things that they need to work on too.  She learned that If a teacher screams at a child at school for anything (ie forgetting to cover her mouth when she coughs) it's the grown up that has a problem NEVER HER.  She also learned that with one particular teacher it's best to stay quiet, do what they say as fast as she can and don't get noticed EVER!  This particular teacher also learned something new this year.  They learned that they do not have the liberty to scream at-intimidate-or scare my child ever!  The biggest thing I learned this year is that I am my childs advocate (nobody else is).

This is the picture I snapped on the first day of school this year.  

This is the one that I took on the last day of school.  She definitely got taller.  She lost a few teeth (very exciting) and I think her face looks a little big "older".

This girl learned some great things at preschool this year.  She learned that school is a wonderful place.  She learned that she is safe there and the teachers will protect and teach her.  She learned that mommy always comes back.  She learned that she loves her friends and they love her too.  She also learned that she is capable of charming her way out of anything.  This is a photo I snapped on the first day of school as she is about to go in and meet her teachers.

Here is our "preschool graduate" on the last day on school.  She is very excited to go to the preK at "the big kids school" next year.  I love seeing the difference between the Beijing and the end of the school year. 

I better get off the computer.  I have a birthday party to throw this Saturday!  After that I expect things to slow down (unless I decide that I just don't have it in me to slow down).

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I Know What Your Thinking!

For the love of God!  When will this girl stop making sundresses!  I'm sorry but I just don't see it happening.  Hello my name is Jenny, and I am a smockaholic!  I even had to go out and get myself an order for about 20 of these things at a local childrens clothing store.  You know, I'm only is the middle of planning a birthday party for this Saturday.  I wouldn't want to be able to focus on one thing at a time or anything.  I don't think I have sat down and watched television for about six weeks. 
By the way!  I forgot to say that I bought a serger about a month ago!  I have no idea how to use it.  I have not even opened the box.  I am a bit intimidated by this monster.  I am looking for someone to teach me how it works.  I have a feeling it's not very self explanatory. I finished my pattern making class last night.  I loved it!  I can't wait to try out a few new things. 

Summer In Brooklyn!

It's been crazy around our house and it's about to get crazier!  I am now planning a "Hello Kitty" birthday party for my six year old.  Her birthday is in July but we celebrate it with her friends in June before school gets out and everyone takes off for the summer.  It should be a pretty easy party.  We won a clown at the school auction this year so I don't have to be the entertainment! Yes!

It was my four year olds last day of preschool last Thursday!  My first grader becomes a second grader this Thursday.  That means that I am officially crowned "camp counselor" starting Friday!  I am excited to asume my new duties but I have a little anxiety.  What if I suck?  What if my two little "campers" drive me crazy?  What if I drive them crazy?  What if they kill each other?  I know exactly what will happen.  My two little campers will do exactly what they do every year.  They will fight like CRAZY a pull each others hair out for the first two weeks.  Then they will get into a "groove" and become best friends.  I make a "to do" list for us each summer and try to do most of the activities.  So far what we are planning is:

1) Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and eat dinner at "Grimaldi's"
2) Swimming at the "Red Hook Pool"
3) A week end away at the beach for my six year old and I (more on that later).
4) A childrens gardening class at Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.
5) A weekend away in 7) Take the kids to a Yankees game."Fire Island" for our whole family.
5) Have our yearly stoop sale and get rid of a years worth of crap we have accumulated.
6) Let the girls do a Lemonade Stand on stoop sale day.
8) "Hello Kitty shopping" and Dim Sum in China town.
9) A soccer class for both kids
10) Swimming Lessons.
11)  Learn to tie shoes (I blame it on velcro)
12)  Start a "book club" with my six year old.
13)  Playing in the sprinklers in our favorite water playground in Manhattan.
14) A trip to "Rye Playland".
15) A trip to the Bronx Zoo
16) Concerts in Prospect Park.
17) Lot's of picnics.
18) Finally do our butterfly kit.

Well, that's what I've come up with so far.  I don't think we will get bored. I also bought the book "I Love Dirt" by Jennifer Ward just in case the list isn't enough for us.   It's always good to have a plan (and a backup plan). I am also looking forward to a relaxed schedule, no homework, less stress and a trip out west to see family.  When I write it all down I feel less anxiety and more excitement.  Maybe the role of "camp counselor" won't be so bad.  I guess I'll find out!

I've Been Tagged!

Yep!  It's true.  Someone actually reads this blog on occasion!  I was tagged by the lovely Leah
www.sewspoiled.blogspot.com .  I was asked asked to answer five questions.  So here it goes!

What was I doing ten years ago? 
Ten years ago I was newly married.  I had just come home from a honey moon in Italy and France.  I was finishing up school and LOVED my new career as a social worker.

What are five non work things on my to do list?
Plan some fun things to do with my kids this summer (I am the camp counselor in this house)
Learn to embroider
Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge with my kids.
Go to the Dan Zanes concert in Prospect park
Go on vacation to Washington and spend a week at the Oregon coast.

Things I would do if I was a billionaire-
Hire a full time house keeper.
Travel all over the world
Make my husband quit his job.
Hire a personal trainer and cook/nutritionist.
Take care of my family (this is not in order, by the way)
Do something good to make me feel less guilty for being a billionaire (like end world hunger)

Places I've lived!
I was born in California, moved to Salem Oregon for about a year, lived in the Portland Oregon area for 13 years, Spent about 8 months in Utah.  I have been living in New York City (Manhattan and Brooklyn) for almost the last 20 years.

There!  I did it!  Now I have to tag 5 other people.  This is the hard part.  I'm ganna have to think about this one.  I'll let you know who my victims are!

Happy Birthday!

Last Saturday we threw my four year old her "friends party".  You would think that two family parties would be enough for her but she really wanted to have a party with her classmates.  I made this little number for the birthday girl to wear to her party.  I get the impression she feels very attractive in it:)

The party was a hit.  The kids had fun.  The parents got to chat.  The food was eaten.  The birthday girl couldn't stop smiling.  She chose a "pixie" theme because "pixies have more fun than fairies" aparently.  We invited all the kids in her class to a picnic in the "enchanted forest" (prospect park).  I made a bunch of dress up clothes.  We didn't plan any games.  I wanted to keep it relaxed.  There was a surprise visit from a unicorn (pony).  They had a great time.  I'm being selective about the photos I share of the kids.  I don't know how comfortable the parents would be with their kids photo on the Internet.
The Birthday girl wanted nothing to do with the pony!  She was much more interested in ripping into her gifts when nobody was looking.





Big sister took a few extra rides for her sister.

They melted a little but kids don't care!
 
At least mine don't

I think your right my girl!  Pixies do have more fun! 

"Happy Fathers Day"

This is Jims fathers day gift I made for him last year.  It's a freezer paper silhouette of one of my daughters.  I made one for each of them.  It turned out pretty good.  Believe it or not, they really looked like my kids (last year). Don't pay any attention to the little 'drip" at the bottom.  I meant to do that.  I love freezer paper stencils.  It's a fun way to add some character to a boring t-shirt.  There is a good tutorial on craftster if you are interested.  The only tricky part of this project was getting a profile shot of my kids.  Staying still with your mouth closed is something that just doesn't happen in this family.

Why did I do that?

These are the outfits I made for my kids preschool graduation and 1st grade "stepping up" celebrations.  I really love them both.  They are from some of my fabrics that I have been saving for a "special" project.  On my way out the door to the street fair last week I grabbed them and thought I would just display them as an experiment and see if they sell.  I think I did it because I really didn't think that anyone would buy them.  Well, I am proud and sad to say they are BOTH GONE!  I sold them both!  Luckily I have enough fabric left over to make them again.  I don't think I could ever get sick of making these!

Chicken and cabbage Salad, hair clips and how my life is spinning out of control!!

Ok!  That was a little random.  I fell off the face of the earth for a little while.  I have such a crazy June and I am a little overwhelmed.  It goes like this: May 31st- Street fair, June 7th- Street fair, June 14th- Four year olds birthday party I never threw her!, June 21st- Brooklyn Indie Market, June th- Seven Year olds birthday party!  I also participated in a local children's clothing fashion show while doing the street fair this week end.  I just submitted three outfits (I'll show ya later).  Holy crap I'm wiped out! 
I had a great time at the Bleeker street festival Saturday.  There were no rain storms (it was about 100 degrees though).  I sold twice the amount that I have ever sold at a fair.  I came home and told my husband "I think I found my people".  The people in the village really apreciate hand made products.  I sold some dresses, lots of t-shirts, skirts and my little clippies. 
I did the fair with a friend of mine.  Another local mom starting her own business.  She just got featured on Urban Baby today! (that's a big deal for those of you who don't have kids).  She is from England and sells "Hair Fascinators".  Nobody really knows about them here (yet!).  They are very popular in England and Australia.  She showed me one of her British gossip magazines and EVERYONE had one on (even the queen).  Well anyway, they caught on in the village.

 

This is more for me than for you.  I need to put this recipe somewhere that I will not lose it (again).  It's pretty good. Takes very little time.   My kids love it!

1 wole chicken breast (saute-salt and pepper-shred)

1 half head of cabbage shredded
1/3 cup slivered almonds (toasted)
4 green onions chopped
1 package Top Ramen noodles crushed (chicken flavor)

Mix all together

Dressing

1/2 cup vegetable or sesame oil
3 Tbsp white wine vinegar
1 pkg Top Ramen flavoring
1/2 Tspn pepper (black)
1 Tspn Season salt
2 Tbsp granular Sugar
Mix well

Mix in with salad!  Yum!

I feel like I am working VERY hard today and getting NOTHING acomplished!  (was that dark enough for ya Ken?)