My Pretty Little Radio

My sister does a segment called Thrift Blitz over at SelfBinding Retrospect.  Since I am a fan or hers, and of being thrifty, I decided I should do something to add to her link-up party!  I participated last time (yes, I'm that sister, that is my awesome trunk, and that little guilt trip about not having a blog may be the reason this all started).

I was trying to decide what I should share, and knew it couldn't be clothes (I don't do selfies.  They would not be cute).  I was wandering through my house, and realized the only pieces of furniture we have that were purchased new are our bedroom suite (my husband worked for a furniture manufacturer before we got married, and got a good deal because the tint wasn't perfect), and our wooden rocking chair (which was a wedding gift from my wonderful great aunt).

We didn't plan to furnish our house this way, it kind of just happened.  But now that we've done it, I love it.  I love that most of our stuff you can't easily find in a furniture store.  And I love that I have more freedom to paint or refinish or completely tear apart pieces we got used, than I would if we had invested a lot of money in them.  We've managed to gradually acquire some antique pieces (both of our grandparents downsized, so were giving away furniture), and I adore the warmth and character they give to a room.

This time around, I decided to share with you my awesome Kijiji find from last winter!  (Sorry for the quality of the pictures.  Apparently the quality of iPhone photos goes downhill after you drop and crack it).  This beauty was listed for $75, and still had all the components in it.  Now that is more than I would normally pay for a radio, but my plan is not to have a radio (although it looks pretty in my living room for now, and with some tweaking would probably work).  The plan is to find a gorgeous vessel sink and faucet, and make this into the prettiest little vanity for our powder room.  (I had the idea when I saw it listed, so knew the dimensions would work before going to see it.)  And the miraculous part of this whole story, was the husband agreed to the plan!  No argument, no haggling over price, he even went with me to pick it up. 

If you have a thrifting find, go share it at SelfBinding Retrospect, so we can all enjoy your awesome bargain!

Canning with a toddler

It's a cool fall day and my husband is gone for the day to a firefighting course.  I decided it was a perfect day to attempt to make apple butter.  I used this recipe (which is delicious).  It's actually quite easy to make, and I can only imagine how much simpler it would be without a toddler in the house!

Of course, the girls both entertained themselves until I reached the point of no return.  The apple butter was thickening nicely and splattering if I didn't stir it, the jars were being sterilized and ready to be pulled out, and I had to find my funnel, and jar lifter, and sugar and spices.  That was the moment Elsie decided Mommy had ignored her enough! 

She walks into the kitchen holding a cup.  "Ju, ju" (juice, which in her language means milk or water).  And this child does not want her juice in a sippy cup.  She wants it in a big girl cup, so she can dump it on the floor and splash in it, and then look shocked and heartbroken when mommy gets her in trouble.  I give her some water in her cup and she wanders off.  (I haven't found the puddle yet, but I'm sure I'll be stepping in it soon).  Less than a minute later, she comes back in pulling at her diaper "Mommy, poo."  (No translation needed, right?)  I tell her to wait, because toddlers are known for their patience.  She decides waiting is not an option, so instead, gets between me and the stove, and uses her bum to push me backwards until I'm bent in half trying to stir the pot from a distance at an awkward angle.  "Mommy, up".  So I lift her up, bouncing her on one hip, and continuing to stir the pot. 

Finally, my apple butter is ready to be put in jars.  I put Elsie down and brace myself for the screaming.  She fulfils my expectations and has a meltdown, because why can't mommy hold her while filling hot jars with boiling hot stuff?  Why doesn't mommy have enough hands?  You can see from the picture that the end of the world is clearly imminent, and she is the only one who can save it by making her mommy pick her up.

I work through the screaming, finish filling the jars, and then rescue us all from our impending doom (you're welcome)!

And I expect to have not learnt my lesson, and attempt canning again whenever the mood strikes.

A Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day

OK, so maybe it wasn't that bad, but that movie just came to theatres, and I really want to see it. 

Every morning is the same routine, we wake up, get dressed, have breakfast, make lunches, put shoes and coats on, wait for the bus for Paige, take Elsie to daycare, and show up to work with two minutes to spare.  When one of those things gets messed up, it throws off the entire day.

Me:  "Paige, get your shoes and coat on!"
Paige:  "Where are they?"
Me:  "Where you took them off yesterday."
Paige:  "I wore my boots yesterday and want to wear my crocs today!"
Me:  "Then find them!"
Paige:  "Mommy!  My crocs are in the car!"
Me:  "Just put your boots on!"
Paige:  "No!  My teacher told me not to wear them again.  I can't take them off by myself."
Me:  "Then run to the car to get your crocs!"
Paige:  "But I don't have shoes!"
Me:  "Just wear your soccer shoes to the car."
Door slams.
Paige:  "Mommy, I couldn't find my crocs!"
Me:  "Just wear your boots!"
Paige:  "But my teacher told me not to!"
Me:  "Tell your teacher if you didn't put them on, you were going to miss the bus!"
Paige starts crying
Paige:  "But mommy, I can't move the bag!"
Me:  "What bag?"
Paige:  "My shoes are under the dog food bag!"
Bus is honking from outside.
Me:  "Paige!  You missed the bus!  You wouldn't have if you had put on your boots!"
More tears.  I move the dog food bag in the mud room, no shoes.
Bus drives away.
Paige: "Mommy!  The dog food bag in the car. My crocs are stuck under it!"
I go to the car, rescue the crocs, and load the girls in the car.

Paige was on time for school, and I was late for work.

Shortly after Paige arrived home from school, she said she wanted to give Elsie a piggyback ride.  (In the future, that statement will set off alarms in my mind).  From the kitchen I hear Elsie screaming, and go check on them.  Paige is indeed giving her one year old sister a "piggyback" ride, but holding her over her shoulders, upside down by the ankles.

That was enough to snap me out of my mood.  But it's hard to get a five year old in trouble through your laughter.