Writing down future projects...

I am swamped at work at the moment, and maybe precisely because of that my mind is swirling with ideas for new projects... I have noticed that these two happenings go hand in hand: exhausted at work, inspiration for new crafts!

I believe that my crafts are an escape for my work... But as I am so tired at the moment, and due to lack of time there´s no way I can even dare to begin any of those anytime soon. But to pace down my need to craft/sew/embroidery I will write down my next projects...

1. Sew a pair of dungarees to both my nephew and lo
    A friend of mine gave me leftovers curderoy that will go nicely as dungarees. I have the pattern already printed, so I just need to sit down and begin to cutting pieces...

2. Make a lunch box
    This project is on my mind for years now! I already have all the materials needed, PUL fabric, insulating material.... And I actually have to make one fast, as my lo needs to bring his tea to the nursery every day and so if I have a proper lunch box so that he can have a large variety of choices.

3. Re-upholstering chairs...
    Another old project... Again, I have the fabrics... It´s a matter of disassembling the chairs and substitute the fabric. Have to check if the foam needs replacement too though...

4. Embroidery part of this image:

 I have fallen in love with this fabric pattern (I forgot the name of it I´m afraid...once I remember I will write it down and attribute the source), and I think that this would be lovely as an embroidery wall-art...

And that´s it for now... I am not that ambitious in my crafts am I? Although I am pretty sure that I am missing a project or two..

 

Proudly Breastfeeding for 1 and 1/2 years... and counting!

This is a post I wanted to write for a while now, and yesterday after I read this post, I decided to share both my experience and opinion...

I am breastfeeding my toddler for 1 and half years now, and I absolutely love it, I am proud of it, and I am not considering stopping anytime soon. .. I intend to keep breastfeeding as long as my son wishes it, and as both of us are comfortable doing it.

But let me explain firstly this, so I don´t came across as a “breastfeed  radical”…: I don´t think any less of mothers who don´t wish to do the same, and I understand breastfeeding as I am doing now  is not possible for certain life styles, work habits or simply…because a mother decides not to or simply can´t. Is simply a choice that should be left to any mother/baby pair… And it is ok, of course. We all have our child’s best interest at heart, and if a mother can´t do it,  or even if  is not comfortable/does not wish to… does not have to…is that simple. And is alright, and everyone will grow be happy and content independently of their sustenance, either from breast, bottle, other foods….

But on the other hand… I also expect the same level of understanding and respect of my choice to breastfeed and the length of it. It is well-known the long term benefits of nursing even after 1 year (read more here)… So I do get upset when I read that health practitioners say “you should quit breastfeeding” to a currently nursing mum.  And for what reasons is this said? Why should anyone quit breastfeeding? What are the benefits for a mum/baby pair to stop nursing? I really don’t understand this…

But still, I was expecting much more from educated health practitioners… 

Unfortunately breastfeeding is still not completely understood, and a nursing mum still receives some hurtful comments, even if they are not intended to hurt. I was recipient of some, from family members and friends. Questions as “what, you still breastfeed?” “what are you breastfeeding him until he is off to college, or something?” are often common, and they are oh, so hurtful. 

I suspect these comments unfortunately will not stop anytime soon, as breastfeeding and the length of breastfeeding raises passionate arguments from either sides of the topic. Remember the outrage the cover of Time magazine caused once (read more here)? 

I do enjoy breastfeeding my toddler. But it was not easy at all to begin with. It was incredibly difficult for us to learn the intricacies of breastfeeding…. Also my milk took a while to rise, maybe partially because my baby’s birth was complicated (this will be another story), and even after latching was really difficult for us to get the hang of it. So only after 2 months we were proficient at it… And now we are still going strong. So I am really proud of our little achievement.

I enjoy breastfeeding, and feeling my toddler close… But mostly I do it because I feel breastfeeding is the best for him. He is already is eating most foods, even eating by himself. But he still calls for me and asks to breastfeed some times. And why should I deny him this? And if he asks for it and there is no reason to decline, we shall breastfeed… 

For me, breastfeeding is so much more than providing nourishment. It provides as well comfort, security, sense of calm… it also is the ultimate pacifier when he is throwing a tantrum…

I respect other parenting choices. And I expect my decisions, choices, and parenting style to be respected and understood too. And you know what? If in one or two years I still choose to breastfeed… it should be respected the same.

 I am linking up with

Home sweet Home ATC swap...!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I participated in the 6th ATC swap, hosted by the lovely Ali who blogs over Very Berry Handmade.

I was able to finish my card just in time to I post within the deadline... However, and how I explained, all the hurriness caused some slightly imperfections... However I am still very happy with it:

The whole process of creating this card was a learning curve... Next time I will remember to leave some larger margins... I was not able to stitch both parts together from the wrong side and turn it over, and the border that I ended up creating was stitched over some parts of my design...

And here it is...My very first ATC leaving the nest by mail...:

It reached its destination the following day, and my partner was happy with! So I was happy that she was happy with my little creation....

And since this is a swap after all.... On the very same day, even before I posted my ATC card, I received a small package on my mail box....:

With this little beauty inside:

These terraced houses aren´t the cutest? The colours of the ATC I was given even combines with my books that are displayed on the shelf... This little card was made by Jenny who blogs over at the Ginger Bread House.

I have to create more room in the shelf as I surely will be taking part of the next ATC swap!

 

 I am linking up with:

My Sunday Photo || {The Ordinary Moments}

 

I am linking up with these amazing bloggers:

Easter Holidays! - part 2

I am finally posting the second and final instalment of my Easter break... And it will be all about the little activities we have done with our little one. Being in Portugal meant that the weather was great, it was sunny, really warm and so we were able to properly embrance outdoor living!

We went to the beach a couple times, and enjoyed long walks on local parks... And our little human was able to have a proper taste of warm weather!

We discovered that our mini-person absolutely loves slides, after we helped him sliding down, he would immediately try to go up again for a second run...

I was able to dress him with  spring-summer outfits that we had purchased a while back. Those mini-Toms we bought last year at M&S but we were never able to use them until now... How cute are those stars?

Last time that we were on the beach our baby didn´t like at all feeling the sand... This time? he thoroughly enjoyed it! We were not prepared for the beach, as we didn´t have any beach-sand toys, but a really nice lady lend our baby a star-shaped form for him to play with. He absolutely loved it! But mostly, he loved to destroy mummy´s star shaped sand forms...

It was a lot of fun...
Already missing those warm days...

 

I am linking up with these amazing bloggers:

My ATC - Home sweet Home

 I was planning to have this done and over with a while ago, but with all my work and with my other half away this week my free time was shrunk to almost non-existence... So I have been using every single free second existent and non-existent to complete my card... Suffice to say that today I am still far from completing it... I still have to stitch the two halves of it, front and back together.

To get it as it is now, I had to bring it to work today to stitch it during my lunch break... Tonight I will be giving it the extra mile to post it in time tomorrow. Of course with all the hurriness I am inflicting on my little card, it is far from perfect and even further from my initial vision of it. Still looks cute I think!

The theme of this ATC swap is "Home sweet home".  My card´s concept is a story of a young family, mum dad a little baby (Not sure is the baby can be clearly understood though... the white and blue bits are suppose to be the blanket that involves the baby...) that is arriving to their new home. Home in this case has two meanings, as home, the built house, opening the doors to receive the new family... And most importantly home, as your family, home that could be anywhere and anything as long as the family is together...

Here are some pictures of my ATC as it is now...:

I loved the detail of the house´s doors, that can actually be opened! The little pink bow was a last minute idea, but adds some cuteness too... I was trying to have a sweet sweet card. I just hope that is not too childish...

I was able to finish tonight a handmade envelope where the ATC will be inserted. You can see bits of it in the picture below.

It is  a bit different from my original design:

I had to simplify bits of it, dropped the idea of the suitcase and the road... And added some bushes instead...

But the very final judgement will come from my swap partner. I do hope she enjoys it!

  

I linked up with:

 Did you enjoy my card? Stop by this post for the complete finished look...

My Sunday Photo || {The Ordinary Moments}

 I am linking up with these amazing bloggers:

Not so much a regular Saturday

  Ever since we returned from holidays it has been hectic. I was expecting it to be like this... 

But its taking a bit of a harder toll than anticipated. So I am late posting all posts that I was writing, as my second and final instalment of my Easter break, and one other post updating my developments on my ATC....

And so what has been happening?

For the very first time me and my little one are on our own. Dad is attending a conference and so he is away for a bit. And the little one is missing his father (as so is his mother!). This is harder on my little one, as besides having to readjust to the old routine after a break, he is missing his daddy. Its his first time being away from his father for so long...

To sooth missing dad, we went for a nice and fun walk! So today as the day was simply fantastic we went for a walk at the local common...  We took a ride on the swing... And since the weather was so warm and sunny (even though a bit windy) we also had a sweet treat, we had an ice-cream!

But today was not all about fun times... Honestly, I have no idea how single parents cope with all the hardship that sometimes parenting entails. I am on my own for just a couple days and I am simply exhausted. Even more exhausted than usual... All this sudden changes are having a huge impact on my baby´s behaviour.... He is more clingy, and seeking, needing my full attention... I think that since he is not seeing his daddy every day as usual, he may think that I might be going too... Tonight while I was putting him in his bed, his clenched my hands so hard. It was sweet and heartbreaking simultaneously. He doesn't grab my hands as this, I feel that he was scared that I would disappear on him too... I stayed holding his hands until he was fast asleep. Only then his grab got loose...

Lets see how future days go. But I am afraid that my projects and my work will be suffering this week....

I am linking up with:

Easter holidays! - Part one

Happy Easter everyone...!

I know, this is shuch a late Easter greeting... And I am terrible sorry about my silence, buuuuuuttttt..... We were enjoying a well deserved  short holiday in Portugal....!

This Easter break is also a way of celebrating our 9 years of marriage as well... We were married on the 1st of April! I know it´s April Fools´ Day, but is also one of the most  important days in my life. It´s really incredible that we are married for so long, I can´t hardly believe it as I feel that we just said our vows yesterday...! I have been so hapilly married.... Sure we have our ups and downs and as a couple we have our disagreements and our problems. And sometimes it can be difficult to compromise, but overall I feel that my other half does indulge me....

We had a lovely anniversary, went out for lunch at a local cervejaria and also enjoyed all that Lisbon has to offer culturally.

 

We also visited Jerónimos Monastery, which  is simply beautiful!
Near the Monastery lies Lisbon´s  most famous pastelaria,  Pastéis de Belém.

Oh, these were delicious.... It´s Easter break, and there´s no room for any diets.. I believe that I put on several pounds with all the food I had in Portugal!

We also went for a walk in Lisbon centre, the weather was amazing, really sunny we stopped for an ice cream too...

 So many flavours! What to choose?? Decisions, decisions...

This is the view from Rua Augusta, near the ice-cream shop. We walked down-town, known as Baixa. Actually I was also looking for some Portuguese vintage haberdasheries, but couldn´t find it... I was looking in the wrong place, bummer. I found that out once I was returning from our walk, and found the haberdasheries and some fabric shops. Once a crafter we never stop thinking about new projects, not even on vacation...

We are so lucky,overall the weather is warm and sunny, so it has been possible to go to the seaside and play down on the beach! The little one played with the sand and explored his artistic side as well...
It´s still a bit too cold to go for a swim, but we had a taste of the sea too...

I also purchased one of my White stuff crushes, the reversible skirt. Actually it was a Mother´s day late gift... and it has been perfect for the Portuguese sunny weather!  I have been wearing it almost daily!
 And to present my skirt here is my latest experience with my blog, I am posting my skirt as an animated giff image... I hope it works...!

How was your Easter break? I hope you had fun!

I linked up with: