My week of solitude

During spring break, Yves and Sienna went to Jamaica for a week. This has been the first time I have ever been alone in my own house for that long! I was giddy and nervous about it. Mostly giddy! For reasons I’m sure you can figure out. I was nervous only because Sienna has been back and forth with the separation anxiety. It wasn’t as constant as it was when it first started but did still rear it’s head occasionally. Even the morning that they were leaving, she woke me up by saying that she wasn’t looking forward to going on the trip because I wasn’t going. I told her it was okay to be sad and it was okay to miss me because I was going to miss her too. But know that when she comes back, I will be here waiting for her.

Well, things were smooth sailing as soon as I dropped them off at the airport! Amazingly there were absolutely no issues, at least that is what Yves told me but I believe him. We made sure we didn’t Skype because I’m sure that would have set her off. Since Skippy had just passed, I was a little sad and out of it. I was still looking for him at his spot whenever I walked into a room. I busied myself with cleaning and a bit of purging. I took some photos of some items I wanted to sell. The first thing to sell was my beloved Nintendo DS and all the games. Honestly, I thought that wouldn’t sell at all! Then I had seller’s remorse especially after the woman who bought it told me how much it was going for. Boy, she got a steal for it! But I keep reminding myself that I haven’t played it in years and at least now it is getting some use (from a 4 year old boy!! WHAT?!) Anyhow, during this week besides cleaning, I went to the Museum of the City of New York, met up with Joy and Pete for dinner, finally went to Mistuwa in NJ and went to see The Grand Budapest Hotel with Starr.

SprayCansGraffitSubwayHaringHaring2CrashPeacockFan

The museum had a graffiti art exhibit, which I really enjoyed. The peacock fan was in the Gilded Age exhibit and Gay Bob was in the Activist New York exhibit.

The museum had a graffiti art exhibit, which I really enjoyed. The peacock fan was in the Gilded Age exhibit and Gay Box was in the Activist New York exhibit.

Met Joy and Pete for dinner at a Japanese place on 14th Street for dinner. I forgot the name and I forgot to take photos! Boo!

I finally went to the Crochet/Knit meetup in Bay Ridge. They meet every Saturday afternoon. Before I went, I had lunch at Paneatico, a place I've been meaning to go to. I had the best salad ever!!

I finally went to the Crochet/Knit meetup in Bay Ridge. They meet every Saturday afternoon. Before I went, I had lunch at Paneatico, a place I’ve been meaning to go to. I had the best salad ever!!


BeefCurry

mackerel

This is what we ate at Mitsuwa. The food was delicious (marketplace I was not impressed with) and the soft serve! I would go back for that alone! Macha Tea, Madagascar Vanilla and the surprising delicious black sesame!

This is what we ate at Mitsuwa. The food was delicious (marketplace I was not impressed with) and the soft serve! I would go back for that alone! Macha Tea, Madagascar Vanilla and the surprising delicious black sesame!


We saw The Grand Budapest Hotel at BAM (first time there-really cool!) and ate dinner at Chuko. Delish!

We saw The Grand Budapest Hotel at BAM (first time there-really cool!) and ate dinner at Chuko. Delish!

Crafty Megaload!

I haven’t done much updating with my blog lately. Mainly because I was in the process of moving webhosts and wanted to do that before adding more content. There was a bit of a rough patch with the move (mainly with WP) and am now happy to say that everything has worked out! Keeping fingers crossed that they stay that way! So as the title of this post says, here is a crafty megaload! Not posted in chronological order but all done this year. If you follow my flickr/instagram, some of these projects will look familiar. I won’t say that I will try to keep more updated as that is always my intention! LOL

Learned this from Creativebug.com. Such a great site! Very easy bracelets and very addicting! These were made in 1 night!

Learned this from Creativebug.com. Such a great site! Very easy bracelets and very addicting! These were made in 1 night!

Made this for Sienna with jingly beads (that Liz gifted me a couple of years ago!)

Made this for Sienna with jingly beads (that Liz gifted me a couple of years ago!)

I started up with crochet again after hanging out with the Made in BR crafty ladies of FB. I was unsure about these earrings but do look nice on me!

I started up with crochet again after hanging out with the Made in BR crafty ladies of FB. I was unsure about these earrings but do look nice on me!

These were made as part of the Iron Craft challenge #7 (geometric shape)

These were made as part of the Iron Craft challenge #7 (geometric shape)

From another class on creativebug.com on caging pendants. Not bad for the first try but do not more practice! The sphere inside is the resin heart one that I will show later in the post.

From another class on creativebug.com on caging pendants. Not bad for the first try but do not more practice! The sphere inside is the resin heart one that I will show later in the post.

GearsEarringsPennyEarringsConvoHeartsEarringsMMearringsThese 4 pairs of earrings were made for swaps. The gears were painted with Vintaj patinas. The pennies I domed and the conversation hearts are real and encased in resin. It was hard to find good ones to encase! The M&Ms are actually made from resin. Not perfect but still cute.
InfinityBraceletRoseQuartzEarringsResinRing1Jewelry specifically for me! The bracelets photo is posted to show the infinity one with the rose quartz, which I happen to have lost last month! 🙁 The resin ring was a few months in the making and one of my entries in The Craftys!
Speaking of making something for myself, I decorated the cover of my Ipad old school style! I used vinyl and my Silhouette.

Speaking of making something for myself, I decorated the cover of my Ipad old school style! I used vinyl and my Silhouette.

Also with my Silhouette, I made this pop up card for Sienna's birthday. The file is from the Silhouette store.

Also with my Silhouette, I made this pop up card for Sienna’s birthday. The file is from the Silhouette store.

And speaking about Sienna's birthday, I always make her a shirt!

And speaking about Sienna’s birthday, I always make her a shirt!

Sienna helped me with this perler Ariel. We did a few other perler projects and this one was the biggest. It took quite a few days to finish.

Sienna helped me with this perler Ariel. We did a few other perler projects and this one was the biggest. It took quite a few days to finish.

Back in January, Sienna requested a guitar. Coming right after Christmas, I thought she was crazy to ask for something else! I made her one instead, which she uses often! I have since decorated that last cardboard piece under the rubber bands. (I found this tutorial online!)

Back in January, Sienna requested a guitar. Coming right after Christmas, I thought she was crazy to ask for something else! I made her one instead, which she uses often! I have since decorated that last cardboard piece under the rubber bands. (I found this tutorial online!)

Made this bracelet for a swap. The bracelet is kumihimo, the left charm made with jewelry clay and the right charm is metal stamped.

Made this bracelet for a swap. The bracelet is kumihimo, the left charm made with jewelry clay and the right charm is metal stamped.

Also for a swap, a fox swap, I made these fox related items. I did a variety of things. Cards with the Silhouette, a perler bead fox, a carved rubber stamp, a pendant, a felt stuffie and some stamped stickers. I love being able to make everything!

Also for a swap, a fox swap, I made these fox related items. I did a variety of things. Cards with the Silhouette, a perler bead fox, a carved rubber stamp, a pendant, a felt stuffie and some stamped stickers. I love being able to make everything!

Coptic stitch journal made with watercolor paper and cover made with canvas. For a swap!

Coptic stitch journal made with watercolor paper and cover made with canvas. For a swap!


And finally, some resin pieces I’ve been working on!
An experiment with a sphere mold. Inside is an image of a anatomical correct heart. Next time I need to make the image smaller as the resin magnifies it.

An experiment with a sphere mold. Inside is an image of a anatomical correct heart. Next time I need to make the image smaller as the resin magnifies it.

I colored some resin with white inside this bezel and placed a water transfer inside. I love how it came out!

I colored some resin with white inside this bezel and placed a water transfer inside. I love how it came out!

Playing with resin and alcohol ink. I love how the colors swirled around.

Playing with resin and alcohol ink. I love how the colors swirled around.

More resin coloring. The fox was stamped on glitter tissue paper.

More resin coloring. The fox was stamped on glitter tissue paper.

I love the Brooklyn Bridge. This is a stamp, also done on glitter tissue paper and placed on a piece of sea glass.

I love the Brooklyn Bridge. This is a stamp, also done on glitter tissue paper and place on a piece of sea glass.

And finally! This photo I took from the Mystic Aquarium was printed on water transfer paper and placed (crookedly!) on sea glass. sll Sea glass kindly given to me by my pal Ingrid.

And finally! This photo I took from the Mystic Aquarium was printed on water transfer paper and placed (crookedly!) on sea glass. sll Sea glass kindly given to me by my pal Ingrid.

March, what a month!

What a great month March was for Sienna! Besides turning 7, she found out she made student of the month for February and her science project got into the fair! And that’s not all! After the fair was over, she came in 3rd place for her grade! She was very happy about that. Also in March was the show her class did for assembly (which she very much enjoyed doing, future on stage, perhaps?). It was called “Adventures in the Land of Video Games.” You can guess what it was about. It was really cute. I was able to get a really good copy of a video of the whole play from another parent.

Team Menou working on the science project!

Team Menou working on the science project!

Posing at the fair with her project.

Posing at the fair with her project.

Her 3rd place certificate and ribbon.

Her 3rd place certificate and ribbon.

Everyone on stage! Her class and a kindergarten class.

Everyone on stage! Her class and a kindergarten class.

With her first grade teacher. I tried to get her other best buddy in (Emily T) but she is shy.

With her first grade teacher. I tried to get her other best buddy in (Emily T) but she is shy.

Student of the month!

Student of the month!

Grandpa got her a cheesecake per her request.

Grandpa got her a cheesecake per her request.

Vanilla cupcakes for her class party.

Vanilla cupcakes for her class party.

Goody Bags for her class party!

Goody Bags for her class party!

An ice cream cake to celebrate (again!) Starr's birthday is the day before Sienna's.

An ice cream cake to celebrate (again!) Starr’s birthday is the day before Sienna’s.

The cake, pre-blow.

The cake, pre-blow.


Here’s a video of the family singing to Sienna. I love the big, huge smile on her face! Password is birthday.

Happy Birthday Sienna Family from Lisa on Vimeo.

Mystic

During mid-Winter break, we managed to get away for a night. We kept it a secret from Sienna until the night before we left but we didn’t tell her who we were meeting up there! What a big surprise to have Sylvie and her family pull into the parking lot after us (timing was a mere coincidence!) She was extra excited when she found out they were also staying at the same hotel as us and we were having dinner together too! I don’t know why having dinner all together is extra exciting. LOL.

Anyway, we left Brooklyn at the insanely early hour of 6 am. I was in the minority about the time so I had no choice but to go with it! We picked the perfect day to go! It wasn’t snowing and the sun was out! None of us have been to the Mystic Aquarium before and it was nice to get there early. The price is hefty compared to the New York Aquarium but there is more stuff there AND there are people stationed by each exhibit to spew out facts about the animals! I loved the Beluga Whale exhibit. I’m sure I could have stayed there all day or at least go between them and the jellyfish and seahorses.
Beluga

Love the photobomb!

Love the photobomb!

I could stare at them all day!

I could stare at them all day!

Love the tail grabbing the plant.

Love the tail grabbing the plant.

So calming

So calming

ClownFishBeigeCoral
Turtle photobomb

Turtle photobomb

Stingrays!

Stingrays!

SpongeBob
They had a very interesting exhibit about the Titanic. I tried to get the girls to do the scene from the movie. LOL

They had a very interesting exhibit about the Titanic. I tried to get the girls to do the scene from the movie. LOL

We brought lunch with us and ate at the picnic tables outside surrounded by snow. Yves has a photo on his instagram. After some pool time at the hotel (Hampton Inn), we headed to dinner. Dinner was at the Dog Watch Cafe, a real cute place. I got some New England Clam Chowder (it was ok, the best one is still the one I had in New Hampshire!) and a fish sandwich.

The next day was rainy. After checking out of the hotel (photo here just so you know Nico was there too!), we stopped by the Mystic Seaport but didn’t stay because of the rain. We’ll have to go back there because it sounds like fun. We did a quick stop at a nearby cemetery for some photos and then headed to New Haven to have pizza for lunch! MMMM!

Sienna picking out her slice.

Sienna picking out her slice.

Thumbs up for anchovies!

Thumbs up for anchovies!


We went to Modern Apizza and it was delicious!! It was then time to part ways although the girls were begging to go over to each other’s houses. LOL.

Santaland

So on Black Friday, we went to a puppet show at Macy’s Santaland. Brian’s mom organized the whole thing as I didn’t even know they had a puppet show! We met them as well as Masayo and her kids, Julian and Maya, at Macy’s. The puppet show was Yes, Virginia and it was barely half full! (Probably because nobody knows about it! Or also because it was the 10:30 am showing!) It was only about 30 minutes long. It was cute!
Puppet
After the show, we headed over toward Santaland. The wait said 1 hour. That didn’t seem so bad! Plus we were a bunch together so that should make the time go fast. We went through the arch and we walked through what seems like a very long and winding hallway that seemed endless. When we finally got to the end of the line, it was like the employees only behind the scenes area. And the line seemed really long. And we totally didn’t think it was going to be an hour. The men folk were almost whining about it but kept each other company. The kids seemed fine although Nico was mimicking Brian a little bit about the wait. Us woman stayed strong! We were waiting! And I was glad we did because when else would we have this opportunity with the kids together? And it really was an hour! The walk through Santaland was very cool and pretty (my very first time there!)

Lots of elves greeted us on line.

Lots of elves greeted us on line.

Loved the trains going around the tree!

Loved the trains going around the tree!

Hard to get a nice shot of all the kids together!

Hard to get a nice shot of all the kids together!

Snowmen
If you are family or on my FB, you got to see the good shot.

If you are family or on my FB, you got to see the good shot.

This was right after we came out from seeing Santa. I was still in awe while Sienna stated that she didn't think that was the real Santa because she saw another little girl come out from a different area! LOL! Too smart for her own good! Apparently, there are a bunch of Santas, which is why the line went pretty smoothly!

This was right after we came out from seeing Santa. I was still in awe while Sienna stated that she didn’t think that was the real Santa because she saw another little girl come out from a different area! LOL! Too smart for her own good! Apparently, there are a bunch of Santas, which is why the line went pretty smoothly!


We got separated into 3 different groups trying to get out of Macy’s! Once we finally got together again, it was off to lunch in Koreatown! Yay! I believe we went to Seoul Garden. Half the table got BBQ, which is what Sienna ended up liking! I got bibimbop and Yves got a pork dish that was tasty but a little spicy for Sienna.
KoreanLunch1KoreanLunch2KoreanLunch3
The girls with full bellies afterward.

The girls with full bellies afterward.

Anxiety

No photos for this, just a post to remind me of this time. Hopefully I can read back on this post and remember how it was (meaning this phase is over and not continuing!) I went to Sienna’s open house last week. Parents were invited to sit in on their child’s class for a couple of hours. Me and Jessica were there, as well as Marta (Emily’s mom), Sammie (twin’s mom) and Joanna’s mom (I can’t remember her name!) After sitting in for 2 hours (and noting how very little Sienna participated although I was happy she raised her hand a lot during science!), I made sure I said good bye. In the back of my head I was wondering if she would get upset. I believe that when I went to the open house last year, she was ok and the year prior, when she was in Pre-K, she got sad. Fair enough, she was younger then. Since she didn’t get sad last year, I was hoping she grew out of that. No such luck. I find out from Emma that she cried for me. I didn’t say anything to Sienna until we were home and asked her if anything happened. She told me she was sad and cried and told the teacher she was sad that I left. Ok. I was a little sad that that happened but figured she will get over it. Still going on!! Argh! Sometimes she tells me she keeps thinking about the picture in her head of when I was waving good bye as I walked out the door and she would get sad. Sometimes Emma tells me. Now she is starting to cry at drop off in the morning. Not sure what is going on.

*Edited to add. A month later and crying at drop off is still going on. Mondays are the worst and usually gets better by the end of the week but not always. We even started trying to meet up with Emma in the morning. It doesn’t seem to make a difference. She is always fine at pick up after school. I think it might be that she is worried that something will happen to me and/or Yves while she is in school. She had mentioned months ago ( a couple of times) that she is afraid to grow old and die and that she doesn’t want me or Yves to grow up and die. Breaks my heart that a six year old would be thinking about that stuff. I bought the book, “What to do if you worry too much”. It seems to help a bit but she still cries in the morning. Still waiting for this phase to pass…

Oppossum!

So the day started off normally. Walked Sienna to school, did some exercises in the basement and was getting ready to do some shopping at the market. I walk toward the car in the driveway when I stop dead in my tracks. A freaking oppossum was sleeping in the driveway! And it looked pretty darn big! I quietly get into the car and hope that it wakes up and leaves by the time I get back home. Of course, not before I took a picture of it and posted it on my FB page! HA!

First photo.

First photo. Doesn’t it look like it’s sleeping to you?


While shopping, I check some of the comments from the photo. A friend asked if I was sure it was sleeping….Shit! It didn’t even dawn on me that it might be dead! Another friend posted an article of how some “genius” city official thought it was a great idea to bring in oppossums to take care of the city’s rat problem. Now there are just as many oppossums as there are rats! The articles were back in 2010 so I am actually surprised this was my first run in.

So, lo and behold, the rat oppossum, was still there in the same exact position. Of course, this didn’t stop me from parking the car as far away from it in the driveway! From the top view, with the position of it’s back leg, he was definitely deceased!

Opp2

After a call to 311, I find out that since it is on private property and shows no signs of it having rabies (like how would I know anyway? It was dead!), I had to dispose of it myself. I needed to put a sign on the bag stating there was a dead animal in there so the DOT can cremate it. Yeah, ok.

I was not going to put myself through the trauma of disposing it so I waited for Yves to come home. Of course, I recorded it, as requested by Laura, at a safe distance away.

Getting rid of the Oppossum from Lisa on Vimeo.

Sienna wrote the sign.

Sienna wrote the sign.

First day of First Grade!

Sienna returned to school on September 9. Sienna wasn’t looking forward to it but I was! Over a month has passed and I’m happy to report that she is very happy in school. She even told me she loves school! I don’t know what this girl did with Sienna but I’ll borrow her for now. LOL. Here are some photos from the first day!

The traditional sign in front of the house.

The traditional sign in front of the house.

Posing in front of school with her best bud.

Posing in front of school with her best bud.

Lots of familiar faces and some new ones. There are 30 kids in her class and I think only about 11 are boys.

Lots of familiar faces and some new ones. There are 30 kids in her class and I think only about 11 are boys.

Following their new teacher into school.

Following their new teacher into school.

She drew this portrait of herself. I love it! Of course she is holding a piece of candy. LOL. I don't know what happened to her nose, tho!

She drew this portrait of herself. I love it! Of course she is holding a piece of candy, sporting her new short haircut and pierced ears. I don’t know what happened to her nose, tho! LOL.

May and June in Photos

Grandma visits

Grandma visits

Made toilet paper roll crafts with Grandma

Made toilet paper roll crafts with Grandma

BBQ at the Balds!

BBQ at the Balds!

Frogs at AMNH

Frogs at AMNH

Frogs at AMNH

Frogs at AMNH

Pavan's BD party at Chuck E's

Pavan’s BD party at Chuck E’s

Isabella's BD party at bowling alley

Isabella’s BD party at bowling alley

roller skating!

roller skating!

Postal Service at Barclay Center

Postal Service at Barclay Center

Miss Cregg card I made

Miss Cregg card I made

Pandora bracelet for Miss Cregg

Pandora bracelet for Miss Cregg

Stepping up ceremony

Stepping up ceremony

Stepping up party

Stepping up party

Camera Obscura class at Little Bird Studio

Camera Obscura class at Little Bird Studio

Nico's birthday at Owl's Head

Nico’s birthday at Owl’s Head

Last Day of School!

Last Day of School!

Last day of school!

Last day of school!

Metric at Mazda event

Metric at Mazda event

Sienna turns 6!

Well, she turned 6 on March 12. We didn’t throw a big party for her, like we did last year, because we bought her a loft bed instead. We went to the showroom at the end of January at Bedroom Source. It came the Saturday before her birthday! She loves it!
LoftBed

We had a birthday celebration at school and that was her party. It was a half day due to Parent/Teacher meetings so we came during her lunch (which is at 10:30!) and brought pizza (reheated from last night since no pizzeria is open at 10:30) and ice cream cones. Yves took off from work and came too.
Here’s a quick video of the class singing to her. Of course, I wasn’t ready so I missed the beginning! Password is bday.

BdayPizza

BdayCregg
Posing with her teacher.

BagHelpGoodieBags
She was a very good helper the night before with the goody bags for her class. She had filled them herself and here she is applying tape to the back of the tags for me. I made the tags with my Silhouette Cameo. I also made her shirt with the Cameo!
6shirt

And since her birthday was on a half day of school, we took her buddies to see the movie Escape From Planet Earth. We also went to the movies last year (and saw The Lorax.)
BdayMovie

Since I knew she was having a school celebration, we did the family celebration on Sunday. My dad asked her what kind of cake she wanted and she requested cheesecake! I wasn’t expecting that! Of course, they got it at the Chinese Bakery and they had it decorated all fancy. Never saw a cheesecake like that!
Bdaycake

My parents bought her an EZyroller. Sienna had seen it last week when we went to visit Tammy and her clan. Zack has one in blue and Sienna kept riding it so we thought it would be a great thing to ask for for her birthday from Grandpa and Grandma!
EZRoller
Don’t let the look on her face fool you! It’s really easy to ride, I was just taking a gazillion photos of her and she was getting annoyed. Paparazzi!

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