Ice cream illustration

WoW! It has been forever. Having a hard time to make the post even now, since I'm in lots of pain after I got my wisdom teeth pulled on Tuesday. All four of them. O_o Feeling so uncomfortable. Not going into the details of how I was coming out of anesthesia, but it was awful. Leah (who was taking care of me and Ethan that day) said it was like a horror movie. 

But back to something pleasant - the art. I haven't painted anything in so long, it felt good to have some time to use paints and brushes again. Here's a first part (work in progress) of my mini "sweet" project I started on a week or so ago.

There will be three illustrations in total for my three very cool looking frames I found back in December (yeah, I know..they have been waiting for some action to happen for forever). Just hoping I'll have time to finish it soon enough. 

Hope you all doing good!

Apologies for my absents

Hi dear friends. It's an old song - but there's just simply not enough time in a day...or ok! maybe there is, but not enough energy in my body lately. Since we decided to move in to in-law's house, we had to ( we my husband and his sister's boyfriend had to) rip our future bedroom apart to get to the problems it has had for year. It turns out it needs some major renovation work done. So the move has been postponed for a month or so. Meanwhile me and sister-in-law been trying to clean out her old room, which will be Ethan's new bedroom. It's so fun to discover bits and pieces of their childhood or teen hood in the process. 

Ian was sick last week and I haven't seen him in days because he would go work on the house every night, after his regular job. I've been busy at home doing all sorts of everyday stuff, caring for my boy and 7 chickens. Yes! You read it right - chickens. We got 7 baby chicks and soon they will have a coop and will start laying eggs. We have big plans about it and big plans for their poo :) In other, even less exciting, news..we are canceling our health insurance that is why I have to squeeze in some appointments before May 1st. One of them is removal of my wisdom teeth. Ouch. I'm scared! 

So Please forgive me for the lack of activity in my corner. I promise I will treat you to something very good very soon. 

P.S. Tomorrow is a big day - I'm getting started on my sleeve tattoo! YAY! 

No more pacifier in this home - YAY!

It's hard to explain the feeling of satisfaction when you accomplish something so big (at least in my book it is quite big). Feels like I can fly..hehe Five days ago something hit me and I decided to start weaving Ethan off of the pacifier. I read somewhere that if you make a small hole in the nipple and offer it to your kid, he (she) would take it and eventually would lose any interest in the "broken" binky. I started from there, but Ethan figured this trick out right away and got pissy, threw his binky on the floor and looked at me like I was crazy.

The first nap that day was a bit challenging, he cried for about 10 minutes (which felt like forever) and since he was already very tired he passed out for an hour or so. I was in shock and thought it was too good to be truth, the night sleep probably won't be that easy. But I was wrong. When the bed time came, we did the same routing we always do, I left the room, he cried for few minutes and passed out cold until next morning. I could not believe him. I've been very paranoid from the day one about the pacifier and was afraid Ethan would end up so attached to it that he'll be a 3 year old trying to argue with me why he still needs his pacy. Of coarse it would have been my fault and my fault only, because I believe that soothers like pacifier is more for a parent than for the baby. And at some point you just have to decide and take this step, the earlier the better. 12+ months seemed like a perfect timing. He can't say anything to me and try argue his point and he clearly doesn't need it anymore. Obviously every child is different so it's up to the mommy to feel when is a good timing to wean. Mother's instinct does exist :)

Love, M.

DIY inspiration - make your phone case pretty

This gorgeous DIY pressed flower iPhone case almost made me want to have an iPhone just so I can make the case this pretty. Look at it, it's simply stunning. 

We own Android phones, which we love and would never switch to anything else. I have a HTC design and I love it. Unfortunately the case isn't as exciting as all of the iPhone case there are. Otterbox is protecting mine, it's just black color. The outer shell made out of silicone. I've been thinking what can be done to make it more fun and different.So far I have one idea but not sure if it's a good one. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear (read) them.

Free your home from chemicals

The more we were getting into the whole clean eating (vegetarian/vegan/raw/etc) that  only positively affects our insides, the more we were thinking about things we put ON our bodies and how it affects our outer shell. I do admit that with all the knowledge comes a huge overwhelming feeling of "omg so much to do and change. where do i start? how to maintain? it's SO much work?". But it is a transition that takes time and patience. In the end it pays off with healthier bodies, minds and longer, healthier lives.  You gotta start somewhere...

So we started, again, with another movie.

Nothing like a good inspiring documentary, that makes you wanna get up in the middle of the night and do a "house cleanse" by throwing away every single product you have under your sink in the kitchen or/and in the bathroom. After we watch Chemerical there was no doubt the "junk" will be out soon enough. Every time I wash dishes or my hands, or my face, or brush my teeth I can not stop thinking of all the nasty stuff I'm putting inside my body. The eye opening documentary shows how much chemicals are in your home, how they affect your health and your budgets, what alternatives there are and how to make them at home using natural simple ingredients (with detailed recipes available in the movie and on their website). 

Of coarse the "house cleanse" didn't happen that night, because we weren't prepared. No, not mentally (mentally we were ready 100%) but we simply didn't have things to replace the nasty stuff with. First we have to make lists, go shopping and so on. Life has been insane so we still haven't done a thing, which really puts a lot of paranoia in my head haha! But like my mother-in-law loves to say "one day at a time". As long as we know what to do, we will transition soon enough. 

So today I just wanted to share a few links to the recipes + directions (I found via Wellness Mama <- my new favorite blog) of the products that you use at home most often. 

Here you go, enjoy and thank Wellness Mama: all-purpose cleaner, bathroom cleaner, laundry detergent. 

Another favorite part about the blog - is an APP (for iPhone or Android or other smartphone) so all the recipes on the tips of your fingers anywhere you go. You are welcome :D

Hope everyone is doing well! 

xx

We are moving

Life is crazy. One day you feel somewhat stable and that things are going according to your silly plan, next day everything changes. Change is good, even though it might not feel that way at the time. But hey, life would be real boring if you never had the chance to change some things up. Where am I going with this you might ask. OK, I'm being a bit dramatic here ;) You decide if I am.

We are moving back in into Ian's parents house. 

I lived there my first year being in USA. The house is big and the area is just gorgeous. Nature is all around: big lawn, stream, woods, birds, butterflies, deers, raccoons and whatnot ha! The hard part will be co-living with the other married elderly couple, which are also the parents, the in-laws. It's no secret it is a tough one. At the same time I think it will be a great experience (even greater than it was when we lived there few years ago, since now we have the kiddo) to grow as a person, as a mother, as a daughter-in-law, as a wife. If before we were in the basement, this time Ian's parents giving us the whole first floor. We will have our own bedroom, Ethan will have his own (MUCH bigger room), we will be sharing the kitchen and the living area. 

So yep, after working so hard on decorating and making this apartment somewhat attractive, now we will be leaving it for someone else to enjoy :) 

The best part of it all is that Ethan will be enjoying the most beautiful place this summer. He will have a blast running around in the grass, playing with dogs, exploring the nature and so on. I'm very excited to be honest. Also we will be helping my in-laws in so many ways, so in the end I think this change will be a great one. 

Oh and did I mention that Ian's sister, my sis-in-law, my friend lives in the basement with her boyfriend?! I'm thrilled to be so close to her again, it will be just like in the beginning when I just moved to the States. We used spend almost everyday together. So the whole gang is back under one roof. Whoa! It should be interesting. 

Here are few Insta pics we took this past weekend. It was Ian's bday, so we spent it with the fam.

 

Last picture I took two weeks ago

Favorite 13 - the collar obsession

Summer isn't my favorite time of the year. It's too darn hot around here. But right now I'm anticipating this year's summer and our trip to Ukraine in August. And so the serious shopping spree in order. Pretty sure I will never stop loving the collar on blouses, dresses, button down shirts and so on. Plus it looks good on me ;)

Here is my Favorite 13 of all of the pretties with collars I would love to have for the summer. You can call it my summer wish list:

Fav 13 - the collar obsession by marixa featuring a peter pan collar shirt