SHIM + SONS

5 minute jersey scarf

One thing I love about the internet is the abundance of inspiration. One thing I dislike about the internet is the abundance of inspiration. For me there is a fine line between being inspired at what people are creating and being overwhelmed by all the projects I want to try or mediums I would like to experiment with [yes, Mr. Silkscreening, I'm talking to you!]. But once in awhile I will see a project that I LOVE and have to do ASAP and maybe, just maybe, I will actually COMPLETE. [What, you don't have a huge "need to finish" pile of projects?] When I saw Sarah's cute jersey scarf I knew I had to make some for the boys.

Although I love the simplicity of dressing boys sometimes you just want to accessorize their outfits a bit. I tend to rely heavily on cute caps and scarves. I don't know if it is because I started them early, but my boys are really good at keeping their caps + scarves on so it makes it worth buying or making them in my book. So after spotting Sarah's jersey scarf I took the boys to Bolt where J picked out some light grey wool jersey. I bought one yard of the jersey and came home and cut it in a 10 inch strip and sewed the seams together to create a circle of jersey. I love the fact that the boys can put the scarves on really easily and they don't have any problems with the scarf falling off. But I realized after making them that I should have made the scarves at least 18 inches wide so they would be more "full". The photo shows them with the scarf wrapped around twice, although they can wrap them around three times for a tighter fit.

A few days later I found some beautiful teal bamboo jersey at Mill End. This time around I cut the yard of fabric in half so I had a piece of jersey 18"x56". J and I are currently sharing this scarf and I have to admit he looks better in it!

oh to be a kid again

let's makeup

I've been setting a few goals for myself each month in the hopes of accomplishing a few things on my "Lifetime To Do List". The goals for January were mainly moving related, like purging all of the "stuff" that we don't need in our new home. I still need to finish organizing my studio, but it is amazing how having less stuff around the house really makes me feel so good. Some of my February goals included: 1) trying out two new recipes each week [check! will share my favorite new recipes soon], 2) going to bed earlier [no comment...I only lasted one week...need to revisit this goal] and 3) learning to put on makeup. I don't know about you but I am clueless when it comes to makeup. I was always a powder and lip gloss type of girl. But somehow I decided I needed to learn how to properly apply makeup. I am a mother and in my mid-30s after all and I felt like this is a skill I should acquire sooner than later in life. Anyways, a good friend of mine started experimenting more with makeup and I noticed the subtle difference. I complained to her that the Bare Escentuals powder I had been using for several years didn't seem the right match for my dry skin. That's when she recommended I check out Bobbi Brown's creme foundations. I admit, I was skeptical because I always assumed creme foundations left your skin looking cakey and well, looking like you are wearing makeup. But I decided to check it out and after a 45-minute makeup session at our local Bobbi Brown counter [Nordstrom, Washington Square] I came away with a bag full of makeup.

I've had some bad experiences getting makeovers, but this time around I felt like the makeup artist [Jihan] really listened to what I wanted [natural, a little more coverage than what my powder provides]. I know there are many great makeup products out there, not within the Bobbi Brown line, but for a lazy makeup shopper like me I thought it was worth it to buy the makeup since I was happy with how the different products looked on me. I'm going to share what I purchased and what my "new" makeup routine is...well, at least on 5 out of the 7 days of the week.

Step 1:  BB Moisturizing Cream Compact Foundation [beige] [+ foundation brush] = At first I was scared when Jihan showed me the cream compact, but it really goes on smoothly and provides just the right amount of coverage. And the best thing about it is it doesn't dry out my skin. My skin feels moist [and not shiny] all day long.

Step 2: BB Sheer Finish Pressed Powder [soft sand] = Jihan taught me that you don't need to put powder all over your face, rather just a really light dusting in your T-zone.

Step 3: BB Blush [sand pink] = I love how a pop of blush can brighten up your face even when you're feel worn down and tired. Oh and I realized that I was never applying blush properly. Instead of sweeping the brush you just need to pat it on the apples of your cheeks [smile and your "apples" will pop out].

Step 4: BB Rich Color Gloss [pink buff] = I love this gloss. It has more pigment and lasts longer than glosses I've used in the past. And it doesn't dry out my lips.

Step 5: Shu Uemura Eye Lash curler = I have been using SU eye lash curlers for the past 15 years and they are the best. I couldn't live without one! [Oh, and I love my Tweezerman slant tweezers as well!]

Step 6: BB Eyeshadow [bone] = I apply a dusting all over my eyelids.

Step 7: BB Metallic Eyeshadow [gold dust] = For the lower lid.

Step 8: BB Cream Shadow Stick [vanilla] = For the lower lid. I had never tried cream eye shadow, in fact I'm not sure I even knew they existed. I was a little wary when Jihan started applying it to my lower lids but I noticed how it made my eyes "pop". I really love this little stick.

Step 9: BB Creamy Eye Pencil [jet] = I'm too chicken to try the gel eyeliner so I stuck with the easier to apply eye pencil.

Step 10: BB Extreme Party Mascara [black] = Yet another product I realized I wasn't applying properly. Jihan taught me how you make a circular motion when you apply the first few coats of mascara [sorry, I can't really describe it better] to ensure better coverage. And I totally noticed the difference.

Ok, so I know this seems like a lot of makeup and for a minimalist like me I was initially thinking I would only use it once in awhile, but after practicing a bit it now takes me less than 10 minutes to "do" my whole face. There are mornings when I am rushed so I may only do Steps 1-5, but even then I feel like it looks better than my old routine.  One last thing, I never realized how helpful it is to watch someone apply makeup. Whether you watch a makeup artist apply it on you [which is what I did and Jihan was really patient in explaining what she was doing with each product] or watching online tutorials and videos. Bobbi Brown has a bunch of videos and articles on her site but one of my favorite sites [recommended by my friend] is a run by a Korean-American woman named Catalina. She has really great tutorials on You Tube and although she uses more products and brighter colors than what I am comfortable with, I find it really helpful to watch how she applies her makeup.

I'm slightly shocked, amazed, embarrassed that I'm writing a post on makeup since I really don't know what I'm talking about...but hey, I'm slightly less clueless than I was a month ago! And please leave your favorite tips or products or advice in the comments below. If any of you have favorite makeup removers, please let me know! Oh by the way, I finally enabled threaded comments so I'm going to try and be good about responding to questions in the comments section.

P.S And here is a post-makeup lesson photograph. Don't mind the big ham by my side.

the sick house

Last week I found myself home with two sick boys. J felt better after resting at home for one day but j couldn't shake his cough so he spent the entire week at home with me. Everyone is back at school now and although I am still coughing + congested, I feel much better than I did a few days ago.

I love how even though the boys are not feeling 100% they still have the energy and desire to play, draw, read, bake cookies and make paper swords. They had fun finding the rainbow when the sun shined through a glass of water, in fact, j spent a good 45 minutes drawing rainbows.

I was also reminded how j has a series of expressions when he is drawing. First he tucks in his lips...

..and then pushes his lips out...

...and then stick his tongue out. He will do this over and over again in the course of one sitting.

Gah, those dimples kill me!

setting up shop

Last month J's class finished up their math unit on money. Over the course of the unit the children earned "money" in their personal piggy banks and they were able to spend all their money when "Mrs. L's store" opened. J's teacher asked me to set up the store and of course I was more than happy to help out.

I wanted to make sure everything I made was sturdy yet small so they could easily be packed up and stored away for next year. I made a simple "Mrs. L's Store" paper banner by printing out letters, cutting them out and mounting them on textured black cardstock. I then strung all the letters on red + white bakers twine.

I also printed out tags for all the "store associates" [aka parent helpers]. [I originally wanted to make aprons for all the helpers but I ran out of time.]

I brought our cash register from home and set it up in the store. [Our boys play with this cash register a lot and the calculator feature is so handy.]

I forgot my camera that day but we set up three tables and had bins of goodies that cost either 25-cents, 50-cents or $1.00. The children had so much fun shopping and it was a great opportunity for them to count out their money.

Everyone went home with a bag full of goodies. I love J's teacher and her clever ways of reinforcing learning through fun activities.

P.S. I think the cash register + some reusable fabric shopping bags + price tags would make a swell birthday gift!

little artist's bag

It seems like J + j are being invited to more "boys only" birthday parties. I admit this makes me a little sad because I love putting together handmade gifts for their "girl" friends. Although I would love to make gifts for all their "boy" friends, realistically I pick and choose depending on the child and how much time I have. Last month j's best buddy at school was having a birthday party and I was excited because I knew this boy loves arts + crafts [my kind of boy!]. After consulting with j we decided to put together a little artist's bag for him. We picked out a sketchpad, our favorite new "doodles at lunch" tear-off place mats [my boys don't use them as place mats, but love that each place mat teaches you how to draw something new], ruler, alphabet stencil and colored pencils.

I made a simple drawstring bag to put all the art supplies in. One of these days I am going to make a stack of drawstring bags so I won't be sewing the bag 10 minutes before we have to leave for the party [this happens way too often]. Anyways, the birthday boy loved his gift and that's all that matters, right?