Just Read: "Afterwards"

*the following post is all my own idea, all my own opinions and I have had no contact or anything of sorts with the publisher and/or author, they have no idea I exist. 

I just finished reading "Afterwards" by Rosamund Lupton. Here's the summary from the publisher: 

From The Publisher

From the author of the acclaimed New York Times bestseller Sister comes a compelling, thrilling story of a mother who will do anything to protect her child.
 
   The school is on fire. Her children are inside.
   Grace runs toward the burning building, desperate to reach them.
   In the aftermath of the devastating fire which tears her family apart, Grace embarks on a mission to find the person responsible and protect her children from further harm.  This fire was not an accident, and her daughter Jenny may still be in grave danger. Grace is the only one who can discover the culprit, and she will do whatever it takes to save her family and find out who committed the crime that rocked their lives.  While unearthing truths about her life that may help her find answers, Grace learns more about everyone around her -- and finds she has courage she never knew she possessed.
   Powerful and beautiful, with a riveting story and Lupton's trademark elegant style that made Sistersuch a sweeping success, Afterwards explores the depths of a mother's unswerving love.

I had received an email from Oprah's Book Club with a list of suggestions - this was one of them!  I was drawn into the book instantly, but then was a bit discouraged when the point of view changed. in the "afterwards" part of the book, the main character is describing everything to the other characters on how she saw things. It was a bit confusing at times as I couldn't figure out who she was talking to, or if they were in past or present tense - but the general story line was amazing, and I shed just a *few* tears throughout this book ;) 

You can purchase the book [here], let me know what you think you read it, or if you've already read it! I'm trying to tackle some non e-books next, a book I received from a friend for my birthday and I borrowed (now wait - don't laugh at me!!) the first four books of Pretty Little Liars from a friend as well. 

Completed Projects

I've been sewing alot more lately...I had started BigMans quilt a LONG time ago...I redesigned it recently and just finished the top yesterday. 

I used [in colour order]'s giant block tutorial again - it was wonderfully easy and it's huge! It goes from BigMans nose down to his toes (apparently the rest of us aren't allowed to use it!). I'll post a picture of the backing once I get it ripped apart and stitched back together. 

I also sewed LittleMan a super hero cape. 

well.

maybe it's a secret agent cape - he's "secret agent kitty" 

I made it out of single fitted sheet for a bed that we no longer have. I pulled out the elastic and used the old seam as the bottom hem. I sewed a paw print made out of 4 circles for his logo (yes, it's crooked. whoops).

But LittleMan loves it - he wore it to the post office yesterday and received some encouragement from some drivers and some thumbs-up! 

We're working on getting the backyard set up, and have some furniture to refinish so keep an eye out for those pictures. 

Also - notice the sunshine and greenery in the backyard? That means it's time for summer! I have a salad dressing recipe I'll  be posting in the next few days :) 

Book Report: Home Front

I just finished reading "Home Front" by Kristin Hannah...

[you can purchase here...]

I'm just a bookworm, not a professional, real-deal book reviewer type person so bare with me on this! 

I just loved this book! Just as with her "Winter Garden" and "Night Road" - I read every single word of this book. I tend to have issues with books that babble on about something useless and I'll skip over parts here and there. Not with this book. I read it in about a week, and shed more than one tear over the story. It shines a light onto PTSD and goes along with my beliefs as well - that we need to more to help our soldiers who are battling PTSD after returning home from defending our country. 

I haven't decided what book I'm going to start next - any suggestions? Have you read Home front? Let me know what you think!

*this was a book review all my own, kristin hannah nor anyone else/any company associated with his book are aware that I did this review and I was not paid for this, it's all 100% just my personal opinion. for realz yo'. 

Grandmas Quilt

I made my mother in law a quilt for mothers day and popped it into the mail today. 

I used in color order's tutorial for making one quilt block design into a large one block quilt top. 

(don't mind the black line down the back - that's the cats leash!) 

the top I used with march's shipment of bargain busters fabric from sew sisters quilt shop, and the backing I got in a large bag of fabric I bought from a lady for $10 - so the backing really cost me about 50 cents - incredible deal! 

I just love this quilt and hope she loves it as well. I'm finishing up my husbands quilt this week using the same tutorial but using the star design - keep an eye out for that post :)

Did you sew anything for mothers day? 

Finished: Camping Blanket

I recently finished sewing a camping blanket - inspired by the Purl Bee [here]

the beauty of it is that it's so simple! and I don't need to worry if it gets dirty or well worn while camping!

The two pieces of fabric I found in the clearance bin at fabricville for $1 EACH! they cover almost the whole top of my queen size bed so it's nice and large. I did a simple zig zag stitch randomly throughout the blanket to hold everything in place. 

it's super easy, and super cozy!

also, check out clickin moms [glimpse] project - I'm going to try and tackle following along with this, but keep my pictures private. Just wanted to pass along with photo a day challenge! I'm in love with instagram - so this should be a breeze! I'd love to print them at the end of each week and put them out in one of those ceramic baskets seen [here], but alas - I live in small town canada and I refuse to pay the outrageous shipping charges from the states to here, so I'm on a mission to find something equally cute but local to store them in! 

Preschool Ideas

LittleMan was recently enrolled in a preschool where he was able to go only when I had day shifts, and was able to stay home with me when I didn't work. It was working out great - until the preschool closed. 

I had been doing some preschool activities from a great website that provided some great monthly preschool lesson plans for free. It was working out great - until the site stopped providing them for free.

So I'm going to work up until the end of march to give you some ideas to use for the month of april - and then during the month of april I'll focus on uploading ideas for you to use during may so that you have time to get everything together and be prepared. 

Now I am in no way trained in ECE - I'm doing this strictly for the purpose of getting some educational time with my son. If you have any questions on if this is right for your child - I'm not the one to ask, I'm in no way a professional and I in no way know what your local school board (or my school board for that matter) requires of children who are entering or kindergarten. 

So here's what I have compiled for April so far: 

(but keep an eye out over the next week for more ideas!)

National Ocean Week:  April 1, 2012 - April 7, 2012

1. { crayola }

colouring pages, crafts and lesson plan ideas

2. 

{ click to see more about this book }

3. Preschool ocean theme

4. Ocean Theme Printables

5.

{ click to see more about this book }

National Frog Month (april):

1. Crafts and Activities 

2. More Activities

3.

{ click to see more about this book }

I'll expand more on frog month ideas in another post! 

Easter:

1.

{ click to see more about this book }

2. Easter Pre K pack

I'll expand more on easter in tomorrow's post! 

And Please! if you have any links to other pre-k ideas for april - share them!! I'd love to use them! 

Tree Hugger

Have you checked out the planet green website or tree hugger? I used to check them all the time as they had a writer that I really enjoyed (Kelly Rossiter). They have great healthy food recipes, tips for around the house, and as their titles suggest - ways to be more planet friendly! 

I read an article today that had 20 uses for leftover fruit and vegetable rinds. Now I would like to get a compost going - but being military we never know when we're going to move and I think trying to move a big pile of dirt and compost off military property might be a bit of a task. (sometimes getting rid of the garden is as well, but that's not something I can give up!) 

So from making your coffee pot sparkle to helping you exfoliate your skin - check out this list for great ideas and let me know what you think and share if you have any other tips that aren't on this list! 

http://www.treehugger.com/green-food/20-uses-leftover-fruit-vegetable-rinds-and-peels.html

the Hunger Games: Party Edition

Please tell me you've read the Hunger Games Triliogy? 

if you have - then you have to be a huge fan like I am (I read all three books in a week - my house was very neglected). 

living locurto has done up some free printables for a hunger games viewing party...

Check out the rest {here} 

Here's a couple more links I found with some ideas on having a hunger games party. 

1. Hypable

2.a sweet spot home

3. catch my party (printable)

Please share any links you have related to hunger game printables and party ideas! 

p.s. did I mention my birthdays coming up in march? I'm a big bookworm - I might have to change my birthday from a pink theme, to a book theme :) It's the big 2-6! 

Currently reading...

I finally got my kobo back after the terrible repair department experience. They lost it, thankfully I had a tracking number, and then I couldn't get a straight answer out of anyone. Anyways - I'm pretty happy to have it back and I've been reading up a storm. I'm currently reading the boy in the striped pajamas - great movie. What books have read lately that you loved? I've started a list of books to read but so far I've enjoyed the hunger games and the winter garden, we bought a zoo and war horse.

Cute stationary

I love stationary supplies - I love them even more when they go on sale for .44 cents a pack! I plan on using the little note book to keep track of my book lists - books to read, books to look up, books to add to my wish list!

What books on your list? Have you found any cute stationary supplies lately?

Christmas Ornaments

Last year I got a box of Christmas ornaments from my Mother In Law. 

I finally pulled them out and started painting them, Im hoping to finish them this week! 

The detail in them is pretty small, so it's not something I think would be great to do with kids. The paint dries fairly quick, and the ornaments seem to be well made - although I do recommend a different paint brush, a fine detail one of better quality to get in all the little spots. 

here' what the box looks like:

 here's the paints that come with it:

I'm not sure where you buy it from - but if you stumble across it, I would suggest you pick it up!!

I have a post to put up tomorrow about my grinch quilt - super excited about it! It's the first snow today, I'm for sure into the winter spirit now! Time for some peppermint hot chocolate!

{Wendy Wendy, lounging in the sun}

Clearance Deals

i l-o-v-e love discount and clearance sales.

I recently made the dinosaur pillow case for my son and did a post about it.

I also have started a part time job (on top of my photography business), and grabbed these deals from the bargain & clearance bins!

the best part? they were only $1 each!

you read that right - ONE DOLLAR. O-N-E!!

I feel guilty buying myself items sometimes, but for $1 - I couldn't pass it up! and I totally don't feel guilty for these! 

Lest We Forget

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
      Between the crosses, row on row,
   That mark our place; and in the sky
   The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
   Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
         In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
   The torch; be yours to hold it high.
   If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
         In Flanders fields

"...Cpl Pinksen bravely served with his comrades to help build a stable environment to support a better and brighter future for Afghans. This tragic passing illustrates some of the many risks that the men and women of the Canadian Forces face every day in carrying out their duties..." R.I.P 08/2010

Thank you to all of you brave soul's past present and future that protect the values we hold so dear.

I wear no uniforms, no blues or greens.
But, I am in the military, in the ranks rarely seen.
I have no rank upon my shoulders. Salutes I do not give.
But in the military world is where I live.
I am not in the chain of command, orders I do not give or get.
But my husband is the one who does, this I can not forget.
I am not the one who fires a weapon, Who puts his life on the line.
But my job is just as tough, I’m the one who is always left behind.
My husband is a patriot, a brave and pride filled man.
And the call to serve his country not all can understand.
Behind the lines, I see things needed to keep this country free.
My husband makes the sacrifice, but so do my kids and me.
This is the man I love. The military is his life.
So I pledge to support my hero and stand among the silent ranks known as THE MILITARY WIFE!

Bargain Fabric

In between packing to move to a new location (hello bigger yard!), working two jobs (part time retail - and I run my own photography business), plus being a mama and a wife and my own self - I got in some time to raid Fabricvilles bargain bin: $1 for any piece of fabric, at whatever size it is! I whipped up a dinosaur pillowcase for my son with the bargain fabric and an old basket liner that had broken. 

LittleMan is now asking me over and over to make him a dinosaur blanket! I plan on making him a plaid one that goes with the dinosaur theme done by pottery barn once we get into our new house. and the best part? I still have some dinosaur fabric left over to make into something else for him :) 

Have you checked out your fabric stores bargain bin? What did you purchase and make?

Ruffled Streamers

streamers are a quick and easy "must-have" to really turn the house into party mode for kids. 

But they've been done before and I'm always looking for that extra little easy detail to kick it up a notch!

I made these for my sons halloween party...

(but really - any color combination would make this great for any party!)

totally cute right? two colors and ruffells! and they were so easy! It took quite a bit of thread, and this was about a whole roll of streamers - but considering streamers are from the dollar store, you can't beat it! here's the link to the tutorial for them: { Dana Made It }

Block-a-day Quilt-Uberfest

have you heard of Blue Nickel Studios Block-a-day Quilt-Uberfest?

check it out [here]!

I've got two blocks done so far...

block one: 

 block two:

+

They're terrible pictures - sorry! they were taken with my iPhone. but now that I'm going to tackle blogging again (and I'm back to work part time), I'll start using my big girl camera for blog posts :)

I'm a day behind on the blocks but I've got a few days off so I'm tackling two blocks today so I will be all caught up! Are you doing the quilt along? Let me know! the flickr group is [here] as well! 

book talk

Have you checked out the scholastic page(s) lately?

littleman is participating in the summer "Read To Me" program at our local library which encourages reading every day with him for at least 15 minutes - more on this in a later post!

Scholastic has a blog called { Book Talk }

I'm jumping on the bandwagon late, they are on book three but we're going to follow along anyways.

So tomorrow while we're at the library, we're going to pick up the current book they are reading:

They've already read Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel and LMNO Peas by Keith Baker .

I'm not sure if we have LMNO peas at our local library, but we may pick up frog and toad are friends to read together as well.

are you doing anything for summer reading projects? leave a comment or link to your reading activities! :)

Color Samples

I've started a series of Color Sample's

These are colors from a particular photo that I've taken, with colors that I think flow well together.

You can download the photos if you like, and use them in photoshop to sample the colors.

that way you can use the photos in scrapbooking layouts, blog layouts, party ideas, etc. 

just please give credit and link back to the Q farm if you re-post the photo!

Let me know if you use these color's in a project - I'd love to see links and photos!

Nephews Quilt

We have a Super Little Man in the family now - my nephew! Born on July 1st, 2011 - canada day!

Here's a quilt I'm whipping together to bring out for our visit in august when I get to meet him :) It's just the top so far, its going to be reversable, with back being tie-dyed flannel and having appliqued words: 

eat. sleep. play. repeat. 

I'm also going to make him some taggie animals!

with only four shifts left of work, I've been thinking about blogging more

I've been thinking of easier ways for me to get photos, what I can post about, etc. especially since money will be super tight until I can find a job!

Leaf Prints

It was a bit of rainy day here, so to keep little man busy I pulled out the paints!

We went on a quick walk and chose three leafs to print with.

LittleMan painted them then I helped him stamp them on the paper - quick and easy :)