the latest on the simplified living experiment… (this is part 6)

We are finally into some kind of groove down here. Writing about it seems almost forced in that i already can’t imagine NOT living here. The kiddos are so happy down here. There are all the normal bumps (and bruises) of dealing with a 1 and a 6 yr old but nothing that i can imagine would be better/helped/more healthy in a big ole’ house. MY own “stuff” has however been severely rearranged. At one point if i didn’t put down a meal with all the colors and mostly organic and/or fresh i though myself less of a parent. If I turned on a movie for them for more than 45 minutes i thought i was frying their brains. If i got a babysitter I thought i was taking my time with such young ones for granted.

Things are changing-mostly with me. The kids eat a completely white meal from time to time. I buckled and put on cartoons this morning for Beatrice after a 6am wake up that i just wasn’t equipped to deal with.  I kept unfinished loads of laundry on the floor for 2 weeks until this past weekend.  My being relaxed about these things has had a clear affect on them and their level of comfort. I’m not saying my new thing is to “phone-in” my parenting but actually the opposite in that i was getting crazy, impatient, short, explosive etc from the lack of space as well as lack of another adult partnering in this mad-house! I think taking responsibility for that Mommy-Dearest behavior is the best way for me to parent. To end the madness: Cut  a few corners, skip a bedtime book or two, choose myself once in awhile.  Every day still ends with a huge amount of kissing an hugging and snuggling.

This is a matter of Survival. It has been over 85 degrees most of the summer and we have no air circulation (or A/C) down here and I’m still keeping up at least 4 days at the shop despite being a single parent.  This is why things had to shift! Clearly right?

A tweak here and there makes a difference…(Simplified living experiment part 5.)

While Baby Business was at her Dad’s on Sunday Arthur and I got SO much great stuff done! Our two favorite little projects to improve the apartment were the handles on the inside of the infamous cabinet, “The Housssse”, and the new gate on the steps to the bunkbed. Arthur was so excited to work on these very important tasks that he drew up some plans and a shopping list the night before including our “schedule” for working on the projects: 7am-12noon.

Plans for the big day.

So damn funny. He was so elated when the gentleman at Home Depot checked Arthur’s list and directed him to the correct aisle for hardware…I haven’t seen Arthur so proud and happy in awhile!

The climber who thinks we’ll leave it open…yeah, right!

The end result of our efforts is that now Beatrice can close herself into the cabinet (her preference) but can NOT get up the steps to Arthurs top bunk!

handles help

Life gets easier in some way or another everyday down in the basement!

Crafting “Pop-Up” at Peper and Parlor…

So since I’m getting NOTHING done at night when the babes are sleeping, I decided to just bring all my sewing things to the shop and set up for the summer. There are always a million projects i’m cooking up in my head but it seems like once the clock strikes 9pm and the kids are to bed I’m just too exhausted to do anything besides watch crappy television or just go to bed.

The former site of our Holiday “Land of Little Things” has become our little craft Pop-up!  Last Saturday we had myself as well as some adorable neighbors (Tessa and Delphine both 13 yrs old) stitching away. In between helping customers on what turned out to be a crazy-busy day in the shop, I was still able to get the first stage of some curtain embellishing done!! Arthur stopped in for awhile and even got to make a skirt for Beatrice.

So stop by at any point this summer and you might find a work in progress (or just use the sewing machine at your convenience if you’d like!)

As far as the Land of Little Things: it will certainly be back this October!!!

xoxo

What, i need to pack? ( The Simplified Living Experiment: Part 2)

I’ve been preparing by making lots of gorgeous, pear-green wall shelves (you know i need my pear-green…) for the nooks in the kitchen. I’ve begun packing up our things in boxes. With only 4 days until we move, it dawned on me that i needed to be even more organized than i realized because Beatrice is curious about everything and anything and will potentially climb, move, eat, or destroy anything left on the floor or at her level. Simply plopping all our things down on the floor in a studio is going to create chaos. So the packing begins. (Packing…just to move downstairs…really?)

terrarium obsession

OKAY… so Yomaira has been yammering on-and-on about terrariums since last summer (her husband says its been going on for 3-years now) and we finally are dedicating a blog entry to her love of the little-green-eco-systems-in-a-jar!

These little beauties can be displayed in vintage glass jars, carafes, or any other worthy container. They add a little earthiness to any modern/vintage home! Yomaira has gone from buying gorgeous terrariums from Twig Terrariums NYC  to making her own right at home. With a little help from Beethoven’s Veranda (moss and gravel), Hoboken Hothouse (succulent plants), and Succulents Galore (baby succulent cuttings), many a terrerium has been made by Yomaira & Tacuma – (they even made an appearance at her surprise wedding where four lucky guests went home with a little-green-world of their own)!

These bad-boys are super easy to care for…just a little spritz of water every week or so, and some indirect sunlight! Great for those with/out a green-thumb and super cute for the kiddos!

Interested in making your own? Check this out or ask one of the girls at Peper & Parlor!

Comment below and you will have a chance to win a hand-made terrarium from the crew @ Peper & Parlor!