Outdoor space in process

Some of you might remember how the walls of our terrace looked a couple of weeks ago. They were painted the same color of our house exterior, some kind of dark gray. Well, a few days ago we painted the walls with a lighter color, it was about time that such a small space got to look a little bigger and definitely much brighter.

The only problem right now is that we are all out of paint and the terrace looks like a construction site, not a very welcoming space right now. 

Silly chalk doormat to make fun of the disaster.

Photographer friends

We love photography, and we are always taking pictures, but I came to realize that we didn't have updated formal family photos. Those when you take a photo session in different locations and dress up with your favorite outfit. We did take family pictures some years ago in Dominican Republic, by other friends who are also great in everything they do. Milton and Ivel from Ivolucion, but Ella grows so fast and changes so much, we needed new ones.

Thanks to one of our great photographer friends, who at the same time is a great person/friend, we finally got our new family photos. Alexis from Alex Mirabal Photography, promised some months ago to take our pictures and he did. Thank you Alexis, you're a great photographer and a great friend!

Goooooals!!!!!

I'm the kind of person that makes a list for everything. Yesterday I made a very personal list of really important things and goals I would like to reach in my life, some kind of bucket list but with acts of kindness, like significantly helping people or the environment.

Of course, there's also that list of enjoyment, things we would like to do someday. Like, for Ramon and I traveling to places we always wanted to visit. And for Ella, well... ride a Hot air balloon (at least that's what she says). I guess is good to set yourself goals and is even better when you achieve them. 

Low budget bathroom decor

I just wanted to share this super low budget bathroom decoration that I personally love. Made with items found around the house. 

The movie collection

I  never found very useful the ceiling height built in storage that is constructed in most of the houses I've seen in this area. Ours is one of those houses and for a long time I wondered what to do with that space in the living room. Then my light bulb went on and I decided to put Ramon's large collection of movies. To my surprise the movies didn't fill the whole space but I believe that in a short time this collection will occupy the whole niche.

Our movie library.

Living on a budget

I have been tempted a couple of times to change the title of our blog to "Living on a budget" since we do everything spending the less possible but without compromising the things we love.

Besides going to the movies (which is something Ramon and I love to do), some frugal ways of entertainment for us could be taking a walk outside, being outdoors or visiting places where we don't need to spend a lot in order to have fun or pass a good time.

Recycled crafts and a little DIY help a lot to this budget living. Just feel good about everything you do, even if it doesn't involve dollar $ign$.

 Ella uses cardboard boxes for crafts and plays with them. After a while we recycle them.

We own many books but we also love to borrow from the Public Library. Is a good way to save some money.

Ella tried an orange

So, as you all know when it comes to food Ella is a very picky kid. She hardly eats anything and the worst thing is that she doesn't even want to try new foods. We have been working on this with her and there are a couple of new things she has tried and now loves. 

Today she tried an orange, which she used to like when she was little but just stopped eating them. 

The sliced orange always reminds me of bicycle wheels so I made her this bicycle to encourage her. At first was hard for her to tell it was a bike but then she noticed. 

Thank you again!

Last year, when my mom came to visit, she gave Ella this easel with blackboard as a present which at the beginning was fun for her because she could use it to draw, color, play charades but lately we have been finding it very useful too. Recently I have been giving Ella short lessons of reading and writing and the board came in very handy. 

I thanked my sister because she surprised me for mothers day with a box of flowers at my doorstep, but I have to thank her again because we were still enjoying these flowers until yesterday when they finally began to lose their petals, thanks again for those flowers Louie! 

And last but not least, I want to thank my mother in law because she finally found (in the Dominican Republic) the dining table for Ella's toy house. She and my mom have been looking for furniture and family members to complete Ella's toy house.

I'm known for repeating myself but I felt that these thank yous* where necessary. THANKS AGAIN!

Rainy days

It has been raining a lot lately here in our area and I feel that besides wearing my rain-boots the days are appropriate to drinking hot chocolate, and for some reason... draw, draw, draw! Is that or that I'm still going through the drawing tablet fever? 

Anyways, all this rain brings many positive things like plants ad flowers watered naturally. Our grass and outdoor plants are growing faster than in other seasons. I've had to trim all the small plants a couple of times because they have grown so much.

There is a small beehive in this climbing plant.

 I love rainy days! Not so much for the seasonal inhabitants in the garage. You must know which inhabitants I'm referring to...

Making a simple cover

Last month was Ramon and I's anniversary. When the day was starting he surprised me with a very cool gift, something that I wanted for a long time. It was a Bamboo tablet and pen to draw directly in the computer and not having to go through the process of scanning every drawing or sketch that I make.

This little gadget is very fragile so I wanted to make a sleeve for it, to keep it a little more protected. 

I bought three super cheap 9" by 12"  felt squares and sewed them together to make a cover. 

Not bad for a 2 dollar project!

Playdate

Being an only child, Ella has a very stretch relationship with Ramon and I. We do many things together, have special family time, do different activities and even play together. But despite our attention she also needs to spend time with children her age. She plays with her friends at school but at home she mostly plays by herself.

These last weeks she and her best friends have been having several playdates and it has been a lot of fun for them. They have snacks, watch movies, play games, enjoy themselves. Whether is in their house or ours, they end up having a blast!

For snacks they had jello and popcorn.

This was a circus tea, dress up, party.

Good eater

Ramon and I have been having a rough time lately trying to make Ella eat different things. She eats a very limited variety of foods and this is concerning us more every day. I love to see how other children eat almost everything, sometimes foods that even some adults wouldn't dare to try. Today I spent the day developing a design idea I had a while ago for a t-shirt. Its called "The good eater". These shirts will be worn by those kids that eat their broccoli, all ye celery eaters, those that can't stop munching and crunching!   

For testing I'm using transfer. First I designed the characters, then printed on transfer paper and finally ironed the design on the fabric. 

Here are three different designs for different ages.

Hopefully soon we will see Ella wearing her own "Good eater shirt".

A mother's love

Mothers day is approaching and everyone is talking about it. Moms play the leading part and act as main characters on this special day. But what about our co-stars? Our children who make cards, clean up, sneak out of the house with dad to find a little something for mom, they also play a very important role on this day. 

Mothers day is this Sunday, so happy mothers day to my dear Mom and Grandma and all the mom friends and family I know who are all great mothers! 

The afternoon snack

Usually after lunch most children expect an afternoon snack. Ella gets really hungry after 2:00 P.M, that's also when she feels more helpful in the kitchen and wants to be part of the process of  meal or snack preparation.  

Cookies made by Ella and Me.

She likes to bake cookies because she is in charge of most of the process and when they're done she feels very accomplished. We like to do this since we work together like a team and spend good quality time. Plus when the cookies are in the oven and almost done the entire house smells like a bakery.

Speaking of smells, another snack we love and gives the house a movie theater aroma is popcorn. We make it in our vintage popcorn machine which I love also as a prop in the kitchen.

Sewing for Ella

Well... I've finally sewn my first piece of clothing. I wanted to make outfits for Ella and I thought that a good way to start was making a skirt and a headband. 

Ella chose the butterflies and ladybugs fabric.

Not too bad for a beginner, although I had another idea in my head of how it was going to suit her but now I know the mistakes I shouldn't make for the next time. 

Pretty girl with a headband.