nippon retro mod dress

Happy weekend everyone! I don't know about you but I was riveted by the Royal Wedding. I had to break off watching to go for my morning run but watched it in its entirety again thanks to all the online videos. Wasn't Kate breathtaking? And the dresses! Oh the sublime dresses. I think I love Pippa's dress more than Kate's. I'm still poring through all the photos online and I just can't seem to get enough. I watched Diana and Charle's wedding way back when. It was such a hot and humid day in July but I loved watching it on tv.

Last weekend, I managed to get a little sewing done. And here's the result. I fell in love with this japanese fabric (which is oh so soft) and bought it on the spot. It's both retro and mod! This is a halter dress that can be worn 2 ways: As a straight A-line halter or you can pull the drawstrings on the sides and voilà, a mini pouf halter dress. As the pouf style, all Keira needs is a lei and she looks so hawaiian..

Wishing you a wonderful weekend! The mister and I will be attending one of my best friend's wedding. The Keikster is off to her bff's. Finally, I will meet the lady that captured my friend's heart. They are so dear and near to my heart. It's a wedding weekend!

she's a "cool kid"!

I've come across some really cool and wonderful people over the net, especially through the blogging and twitter world. As usual, I have no idea how I came across the Cool Kids blog or of its founder and writer, Betsy but I'm sure glad I did. Cool Kids is about just that... cool kids! Also cool stuff for kids like clothing, products and design. Head on over to Cool Kids today, she's got a terrific Giveaway going on!

Keira is featured today over at Betsy's Cool Kids blog. Check her out.. (nothing about cheese this time but she's still a cheese lover. In fact, it was her breakfast this morning!). And check out the fashion choices Betsy picked out for her, it is dead spot on.

Thanks for inviting us over Betsy!

Head on over to the Cool Kids Blog here: thecoolkidsblog.com
And follow the wonderful and sweet Betsy on twitter here: @coolkidsmommy

snapshot catchall - sweet shot tuesdays

Kltworks, Mimimouse, Seventy Tree Bear of Few Words postcard print, OldBrandNew, Momiji

A snapshot of my catchall shelf above my desk and computer. Everything from prototypes of my product design, a mini Stanley Cup (not shown), premiere movie passes, postcards, photos & cards from our voyages and stuff I've collected along the years..

Hope you've all enjoyed your Easter weekend!

of pirates & samurai

My apologies for only photo heavy posts this weekend. I'm suffering from such severe allergy symptoms, I can barely cope. I want to enjoy this beautiful day but I can barely step outside before I feel like I'm being attacked on all senses. I want to just lie down and let this spring pass me by. Luckily, my little Samurai girl is enjoying her time with her buddy, Pirate Alex. Hope you're enjoying your Easter my friends!

Don't be fooled by this sweet face, she can out-pirate the best of em!

My sweet samurai girl 

Things are a growing! and is the culprit to my misery..

www.orage.com

endless energy

 

She wakes up all snuggly and calm but watch out! For the rest of the day this cutie pie becomes the Energizer Bunny and Tigger all in one! Our Saturday was spent waiting for friends to sleep over and a movie date with Keira's best friend. We went to see Rio, so fun!

happy easter everyone!

I've been seeing so many Easter crafts popping up everywhere, on everyone's blogs and sites and honestly, I'm so lazy to actually do them with the Keikster. I did let her pick out a twin to the egg person we got for her last year. That's a bit of an effort isn't it?? Urgh..

Keira has been coming home with all kinds of crafts from school though so it's not all that bad. We have tons of bunnies in basket drawings, bunny drawings and this little guy on top of Keira's head up there came home the other day. Little Peep is made from yellow yarn, felt feet and beak and googly eyes. heehee.. He's really cute!

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

just thinking about.. tomorrow

Keira came home with this drawing she did at school yesterday along with this to say to me:

"(huge sigh) Oh c'est trop longue sans Annie.. I guess I can't watch Annie for a very long long time, maybe 5 and a thousand years... mommy?"

Well folks, I think our Screen Free week is going to be cut short today. Tonight actually as I won't be home and the Mister is taking over for Easter break. There was no tv this morning Day 4 but tonight, I think the Keikster will be looking forward to dancing, singing and watching Annie to her heart's content.

Keira (yes, still Woody!) will be off from school for Easter break until next Tuesday and we will continue to have No Screen On in the mornings for as long as we can muster it. The evenings are better as the telly might be on but Keira doesn't necessarily watch it being too busy being Woody, playing in her room or having playdates over. 

I just wanted to say that I tried this Screen Free Week only because we are tv fiends at home. There is always at least 2 on when we're home and it bugs me. First, that I don't get to watch it and second, that it's a distraction that keeps us from being together (we might be in the same house but not in the same room!). I've also been doing my best to stay away from my computer when I'm home. As much as the Keikster and her dad love watching telly, I love being on the computer. 

I think 3 days and 1 morning is a success! And I hope to keep our mornings screen free from now on. I'm not super mom or anything. I just wanted to challenge my little family, see if we could actually do this. I think Keira has surprised me the most being incredibly patient, sweet and up to a challenge! That's my girl... 

I highly suggest reading Jen Cooper's Classic Play! blog. It is really a great read!

Day 1 & 2 of No Screen Week

Well Day 1 and 2 of No Screen Week has passed and I've got to say, I am pretty darn surprised it's going this well! I haven't heard a complaint, a whine or a whinge from Keira, oops! sorry, Woody except on Tuesday after coming home from school. Keira Woody went upstairs to her playroom and said, "Mom, I have nothing to do.. oh wait! I can colour!". And that kept her occupied while I cooked dinner. Whew..
How are our mornings and evenings without the boob tube? For one thing, there is lots more time for cuddles, tickle monsters and laughs! We've also been eating our breakfasts and suppers at the dining room table together with some pretty hilarious conversations going on. I think once we have the telly back on, I'm going to try to stick to the no screen days.. perhaps in the mornings. I'm loving the mornings!

Day 1
So.. Rewind back to Monday evening.. it was still super windy and cold on Monday so we didn't go out, we stayed in and made Shrinky Dink charms and bracelets! Oh the excitement and look on Keira's (crap) Woody's face while the Shrinky Dinks shrank in the oven was priceless. I wish I had videotaped her! I even have a little charm that I put on my car key chain which reminds me of my girl whenever I look at it.

Day 2
Since I'm doing this at work and during my lunch hour.. these images are SOOC.. I usually like to pretty up my photos but there is no time at work! lol.. it is what it is. Which isn't so bad at all.

No tv? No problem! Bike to the rescue..

Mommy, feel my muscles! I'm strong!

Since the weather was so amazing on Day 2, we went outside after supper. We ended up at the park nearby and this year, they set up these new exercise stations. They're for people who want to cross-train. It was hilarious to see Keira Woody trying to imitate the illustrations at each station and do the exercises too! Check out the video below..

We might just make it into Day 3! But I gotta say, Keira Woody is counting the hours and days when she can start watching Annie again..


huff1, huff2 and.. that's it. from ChantaleP on Vimeo.

Baby Blackbird kids fashion blog - Top Shops for Kids Mtl

I had great fun shopping researching for a guest post I was invited to do over at the terrific kid's fashion and design blog Baby Blackbird! This terrific (and Canadian!) blog is headed by the wonderful Brandy. Her years of experience in the fashion industry really comes through as her blog is eye-candy heavy in fashions for kids. I especially love her Little Lookbooks to Love features and also Mini Street Styles. And Baby Blackbird has just been nominated for Circle of Moms Top 25 Kids' Style blogs. Head on over here and show your nod of approval and ♡ and vote for Brandy today!

Head on over to Baby Blackbird today and check out my fave Montreal shops! thebabyblackbird.com
Thanks Brandy for letting me shop and be a part of your terrific site!

You can follow Brandy on twitter here: @Baby_Blackbird
and lose yourself in her wonderful blog here: thebabyblackbird.com

screen free week - we are in for it

Images and Logos from EllieBellieKids & Classic Play blog

Screen Free Week. Nothing screams Hell-on-Earth or Run-for-your-Lives more than something like Screen Free Week. I love reading Jen Cooper's Classic Play blog, the accompaniment to her company EllieBellieKids. She's an incredible writer and I'm always captivated by her posts concerning parenting, kids, and most importantly.. the importance of kids and play. EllieBellieKids is a wonderful company selling plushies and play things that lets kids imagination flourish and take flight! You should check it out.

Last week, I read Jen's post about Screen Free Week and thought to myself, no way in hell is this going to be possible in our home. I've got 2 boob-tube peeps in the house. Keira Woody's* desk in the playroom even turns into a make-shift 'dining' table and she eats her breakfast, lunch and suppers there (I know I know! I'm bad) eating and watching her favourite shows. I don't know how we ended up this way but I'm the only one who actually eats meals at our real dining room table (in the dining room!).

To be honest, there have been days where I've threatened to throw out every single telly in the house out in the garbage and threatened to have the cable turned off. Especially in the winter. Now that there's more daylight, Keira Woody has been itching to go outside every single evening (all day on weekends) so turning off the tube isn't a problem in the spring/summers.

It's the mornings where I rely on the tube to keep Keira Woody occupied while I make breakfast, the lunches and get myself ready. She doesn't always sit there and watch like a mini zombie. Sometimes she likes the tv on and plays with her toys instead.

So on Saturday, I sat Keira Woody down and told her that starting Monday, no more tv. Nothing. We are going to take it one day at a time. She nodded her head but I'm not sure if she really understood what I told her. We've been pretty good this weekend what with 2 parties, a shopping excursion, her swimming lesson on Sunday and then a playdate afterwards taking up most of the day (with no telly in sight! They were outside all afternoon).

This morning, I woke Keira Woody up and reminded her that there was going to be no telly watching today. She opened one eye up and said, 'not even 1 minute?' and I said, nope. And it wasn't so bad! She lazed around in bed while I showered and padded twittered downstairs with me to eat her breakfast AT THE DINING ROOM TABLE. We had so much fun talking and laughing.

If we make it a day.. I jump up for joy!! If we make it 2 days, I will yell victory! lol.
Who else is going to try this with us? We might just make it 1 day but at least it was a day..
If you do want to try Screen Free Week, head on over to Jen's Classic Play blog and get more ideas on what to actually do with all that time you have on your hands with your jumpin' jellybean kids!
www.classic-play.com

*Keira still insists she is Woody the Woodpecker... huboy.

sunday celebration

We celebrated Keira's Grandmaman's birthday today. She turned ninety! Good thing she doesn't read this blog (or else she'd kill me for writing that!). But hey, she looks damn good for 90. She's a feisty lady (she attributes this to her irish blood). Keira made her Grandmaman a birthday card and I made the paper flower that a good friend sent to us (Thanks so much Katie!).

Keira spent the entire time joking around with her tante Loulou and of course, took sweet care of her little cousin Florence (actually, Keira is cousins with Florence's daddy!). She is always so sweet and patient with her little cousin and today, we often heard Keira shout out, "don't worry! I'm taking care of her!" as they walked off together to either the little room with the piano or the sunroom in the back.

Florence is going to be a big sister soon (her mom is about to pop a baby anytime! I predict either tomorrow or Wednesday latest). Keira is pretty curious to meet him.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend too!

My little paper flower craft made possible by the wonderful Katie

Keira's birthday card to her Grandmaman.. 

Sweet Florence

Florence and her Maman..