living life to the creativest

Just a little update.

by Crystalyn

Things have been a little quiet around here. I can’t seem to put into words how I have been feeling lately. Well, without sounding like a crazy person anyway, so I won’t even try. So instead I’ve just been taking it easy and telling myself “tomorrow will be great”. (Not that every day isn’t great. Which I guess is the point. Do you ever feel sad for no reason?) Anyway, the weather has been really nice this week so we have been enjoying a lot of afternoons in the yard. Today we went for a long walk. That was nice.

I’ve been working on quite a few projects lately. Maybe tomorrow I’ll share a sneak peak of them all. I also somehow managed to get the house clean and keep it clean for more than 5 minutes. If that isn’t a miracle I don’t know what is.


Escape Proof Pajamas

by Crystalyn

A couple weeks ago I got a pretty funny request for some escape proof pajamas. My sweet little niece likes to takes her clothes off and play with her diaper, and it’s smelly contents! We like to encourage artistic expression, but needless to say, my sister was getting tired of cleaning up THAT mess. (Juniper pulled that stunt once and it was epic indeed! I should have taken a picture…) Miss Juniper was kind enough to model the pajamas for me. She had just woken up, hence the lovely hairdo. But it works.

I sort of made these up as I went along, using some of Juniper’s pajamas as a template. They zip up the back, and have a button closure at the top. I had some leftover fabric so I decided to sew a little bear to match. Well, it was supposed to be a bear, but it looks more like a hamster/bear/rabbit/pig/man thing. Whatever it is, Juniper was pretty sad that she didn’t get to keep it! So I’ll probably be making another.

My sister posted a cute video of Miss Piper dancing around in her new pajamas. She apparently has names the doll “Mermaid”, which I think is hilarious! Which reminds me, remember those frog dolls I made for Shaun’s cousins? Well, Jacob named his Dracula! Kids are so funny.

 

I’m sharing this post over on iheartnaptime. Now I’m off to check out all the other fun projects!


365 Days Outside > 37-41

by Crystalyn

Day 37
Snow day! It’s always exciting to wake up to a snowy yard.

Day 38
The snow looked like it was going to melt by the end of the day, so before I left for work Juniper and I went outside and built a snowman. I’m glad we did because the snow was ALL gone when I got home!

Day 39
I bought a package of tiny plastic dinosaurs at Target for a dollar. They were a huge hit. Of course they were, they’re dinosaurs!

Day 40
Dad took the kids outside today for a little bit while I was at work. They played with what was left of the snowman and Flynn most likely ate a bunch of leaves.

Day 41
What a pretty day today was! We went exploring in the wooded area behind our house. Juniper and I sat on a log and listened for animals, (We apparently saw an elephant and some tigers!) and then we played in the tiny river running through our yard.


Mushy Day

by Crystalyn

I’m really not that big into Valentine’s Day. In fact, around here we aren’t that big into MOST mainstream holidays. Sure we celebrate holidays like everyone else. But our most favorite holidays are ones we made up ourselves. Because we’re cool like that. (I could definitely go for some chocolate covered strawberries though.)

And besides, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to top last year’s valentines!


A Pretty Floral Dress

by Crystalyn

Juniper and I went through my fabric last weekend. I attempted to organize it, and she played with each piece. Some of them became princess dresses, some forts, and one became a baby that she carried around for almost an hour. (Oh my goodness have I got a funny story about that!) I, of course, decided that instead of organizing the fabric, I would sew a little something instead. A pretty new dress for Juniper seemed like the perfect project for the evening!

I’ve had this floral fabric in my stash forever. I don’t even remember when I bought it. (I DID buy it which is kind of amazing since I almost never allow myself to buy new fabric.) I’m so glad I finally cut it up and made something pretty from it. And Juniper loves her new dress, as usual. Photographing a three year old can sure be entertaining. Lots of twirling and cheesy faces involved.

Ok.. so the funny story. Because really, I can’t mention it and NOT share. Right?

So Juniper had this red fabric all bundled up in a ball, and she had been carrying it around for a while like a baby. She would put it down for naps and change its diaper. Then she comes over to me and says, “The baby is hungry! I fa feed it! I fa feed it with mine boob.” (She adds ‘fa’ into her sentences all the time, I love it for some reason.) I about died when she said that, but it got even better when she lifted up her shirt and said with a look of disappointment, “Oh… I not have a boob. Here you feed it with yours boob.” How I ever stopped laughing I can’t figure out. :)


365 Days Outside > 31-36

by Crystalyn

This week wasn’t such a great week, but we still managed to only miss one day of going outside. (Sticking Juniper on the deck with some bubble soap totally counts.) But missing one day has been the norm around here. Sometimes on really bad weeks we miss two days. It’s not really about going outside every. single. day. It’s more about having fun and being more active. I am SO EXCITED for spring to come though!!!! We are going to have some fun when it warms up!

Day 31
Feeding the birds has become one of our favorite outside activities. I typically give Juniper a bowl of bird seed, which she sprinkles all over the backyard. (She is wearing a dress that I am in the process of making her. I’ll take legit photos soon!)

Day 32
Oh how we love bubbles. Flynn even got to come hang out with us since it wasn’t too cold.

Day 33
Juniper got to hang out with Daddy today. They played frisbee and started cleaning up the yard.

Day 34
I had absolutely no motivation to go outside today, because I had been feeling sick and tired all day. But we made a new bird feeder out of some sticks and a grapefruit. (I got the idea on Pinterest, of course. Originally from Amber Dusick.)

Day 35
I stayed home sick from work today, so during Flynn’s nap I sent Juniper outside to help Daddy clean up the yard. We also had fun watching the birds enjoy their new feeder.

Day 36
Another cold, windy day with me being sick…. Stick a girl on the deck with some bubble soap and she’s as happy as a bird with a french fry. (Especially with her new bubble toys.)


{Recipe} Roasted Cauliflower

by Crystalyn

I wanted to share this super easy, yummy recipe with you all. I’ve been slightly obsessed with this snack ever since I saw it in Whole Living magazine. (January I believe) You just take some cauliflower and drizzle it with olive oil and a dash of spices. (I used jalapeno seasoning, because for some reason I am also obsessed with jalapenos lately.) Then you roast it in the oven at 350 degrees until they are soft and slightly browned. I personally prefer mine a little charred. (I am a huge supporter of burnt marshmallows) I think these would be good cooked on the grill in the summer. My husband is not a fan of cauliflower, so I get these all to myself! (I think I’ll go make some now.)

(I’ve noticed that I use parenthesis a lot…)


Meh.

by Crystalyn

It’s been a little quiet around here lately. I haven’t been feeling well and every time I sit down to do pretty much anything, my brain just stops working. (It’s made work interesting, that’s for sure.) So here I am, curled up in bed with my favorite blanket, drinking ginger ale that my sweet hubby brought home for me, wishing I didn’t forget my cough drops down stairs and finishing up some freelance work before I can go to sleep. I’m not sure how easily sleep will come tonight though. I’m worried about a certain little baby girl, and praying that she will be safe until she finds a home where she can be loved and taken care of the way she deserves… {sigh} Some things you just have to leave in the hands of the Lord. Hopefully I will be feeling better tomorrow. Feeling better is always nice.


365 Days Outside > 25-30

by Crystalyn

Day 25
Juniper got to play in the snow on the deck while I sat inside with a grumpy Mr. Macaroni-n-cheese-face. We were a little disappointed that it didn’t snow more.

Day 26
After church we played frisbee outside with Dad. We were surprised how nice it was outside, there was only a tiny bit of snow left.

Day 27
We got a little crafty outside today and made a fairy garden, complete with tiny house, pebble walkway and lots of random plants.

Day 28
Today was perfect weather to hang out on the deck and look at the clouds. We also played quite a bit in the yard.

Day 29
Another perfect day to be outside. We did a lot of exploring in the back yard today while Flynn took his afternoon nap.

Day 30
It was rainy today (very, very rainy) but we didn’t let that stop us from having a few minutes of outside fun. Puddles are for jumping in! Poor Flynn wanted so much to come out too.


Craft Book Obsession

by Crystalyn

My crafty book collection tripled in size this past holiday season, with Christmas and my birthday. I even got a couple more after this photo was taken! I absolutely love craft books, and it’s my goal to fill an entire shelf with them in my studio. They are just so much fun to look through, I have a whole list of projects that I am excited to try. In fact, once I get these kids into bed I think I’ll go spend some time downstairs. My best friend ever is due to have her baby boy ANY SECOND NOW (Seriously Julie, you need to hurry up and pop) and I just have to make her something fun.

I really don’t think I’ll ever own enough books. Both craft books and regular ones. I just love books. I have an Amazon wishlist with 74 books on it, and I add new ones almost every day! Here are just a few of the pretty books I am drooling over at the moment. (I need to add a “books” category to our budget, I’m sure my husband wouldn’t mind. He is quite obsessed as well.)

one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine | ten


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