Paper Dolls for Boys

Raising 2 crafty boys and thrifting every chance I get.

1 Year Blog Anniversary March 10, 2009

Filed under: Random Bits — twlowenstein @ 11:46 am
Tags: , , , ,

Thursday is my 1 year blog anniversary and it’s got me tongue tied and frozen. I am feeling the pressure to come up with a good give away, as I believe the tradition to be.  I also wanted to re-post some of my earlier entries, but I can not figure out how to do it.

I started without a working camera so all my shots were captured using the computer cam – yeah, it was not pretty but I just jumped.   And am extremely glad I did.  I have grown to know, and even meet a couple,  amazing folks through blogging.  I have gotten advice and support from you and every bit of it has touched my heart.  It has made some crappy situations tolerable because I knew it was going to be good blog fodder (I am talking about you public banana eater).  Blogging has reconnected me with my love for photography and has given me an outlet to experiment, learn and share.  Paper Dolls for Boys also gave me the focus and confidence to open my first Etsy shop (although long ignored, I shall soon resuscitate her).

From reading your blogs, I have laughed out loud (with you, with you all the way), tried new recipes, gotten ideas for crafts to do with my boys or try myself, related to you and your daily mom-ness, reveled in your creative endeavors and kind community spirit.  You all make me aspire to be a better blogger.

dsc_0012

I will be revealing the contents of the giveaway little by little.  As I figure it out really – I am thinking some vintage goodness is in order, books, fabric and general doo daddery. Part one of the giveaway is this “polaroid” esque photo of my Etsy boyfriend and all around mascot.   I adore him and he stands short on a shelf above my computer watching, always watching.

So if you would like to enter in my 1 year anniversary giveaway all you have to do is leave a comment on this post.  I think I’m kicking it old school and drawing names from a hat.  If you want to be entered twice, tell me a good joke in your comment.  I will leave it open until 6:00pm on Sunday the 15th and announce the winner soon after.

I appreciate your willingness to jump in with me and travel together in our little blog cell.  I am not a gushy type gal but I hope you are picking up what I am putting down!

Cheers,

Tracey

 

I Twitter, You Twitter, Together We Tweet March 7, 2009

Filed under: Random Bits — twlowenstein @ 5:58 pm
Tags:

twitter

Who among you can not get enough of me?

I’d love to know what you ate for breakfast, when someone cuts you off in traffic or get a heads up when you’ve posted a particularly amusing journal.

So leave me your link (especially if you aren’t using your account solely for business plugs – some are okay just don’t get all Bernie and Phil’s on me).

I am paperdolls4boys if you want to follow my ramblings.

Image taken from this interesting article found here.

&

Next week is my 1 year blog anniversary.  I think I’m going to do a retrospective.  Wait for it!

Oh, and maybe a giveaway (sent in a timely fashion for SURE).

 

25 (or so) Random Things February 7, 2009

Filed under: Random Bits — twlowenstein @ 4:14 pm

My blend Alexis, over at Knot Sew Crafty, posted her 25 things from FB and I am copying her.  (I’m lucky enough to be her FB friend as well!)  I’m also friends with someone on FB who is friends with Jay McCarroll, of Project Runway fame and Free Spirit greatness (I’m cool once removed).

Some of this I actually plucked from the blog so you may have read it already.  Extra points for you if you’ve stuck with me the whole time, even I have taken a break from my blog a few times!

FACEBOOK Fun:

1. When I was a kid I thought I convinced my dad that I had magic powers. I would “make” the traffic light turn green by timing my “magic” based on the intersection traffic patterns. Of course my dad figured it out but looking back I appreciate that he let me believe I was pulling one over on him.

2. Our family car game growing up was called, “Boom-Boom”. The first person to yell, “BOOM-BOOM” as we crossed the rail road tracks was the winner. My younger brother recently got a tattoo on his arm, right next to his train tattoo, that reads, “BOOM -BOOM”. When he showed it to me for the first time on Skype I said, “This doesn’t mean you win you know.” and then he showed me the fine print of his tattoo that reads, “I WIN”!

3. While crossing the street in Pattaya Beach when I was in College, I was hit by a prostitute (I’m not judging, just reporting the facts) driving a motorcycle who shouted at me while I was down, “F@ck you! I beep horn! Why you not look? ” I lay there bleeding and bruised and flung back at her, “Mee ben ha, lur?” which means, You got a problem? It was all I could come up with in Thai and it was lame. Ask my brother about it, he’s still laughing about how I got pwned.

4. I am a little scared to pump gas into our car and am thankful MA is a full service state.

5. I still watch MTV’s The Real World. Have not missed a single season since New York (the original NY). Love you Norm!

6. I used to have a pac-man phone when I was in middle school. I really really wish I still had it.

7. I got married in pants and we had a jukebox at the reception (in our yard). I am proud of the fact that my husband and I planned every bit of our celebration together.

8. I try and take at least one photograph a day.

9. When I moved to Boston, the summer before Grad School, I was all by myself for my birthday so I walked into a really cool shop on Newbury Street and worked it out with one of the women working there to put together a present for me. I gave her around 30 bucks and told her to surprise me. I came back a couple of days later and had a nice box of little trinkets wrapped all pretty waiting for me.

10. I am having trouble memorizing the number of my new-ish cell phone (I got it last summer).

11. I feel compelled to buy every linen napkin I come across second hand. And, surprisingly, it does not squick me out to use them.

12. I do not like mouth sounds. Public whistlers are assholes.

13. I am obsessed with looking at Real Estate online.

14. I habitually return library books late. I have paid a shockily large amount to our local library throughout the years. I call myself “an unofficial friend of the library”.

15. Raw tomatoes make me throw up. I miss heirlooms.

16. I collect ephemera and had to listen to the online dictionary’s pronunciation of the word many times before I had the guts to use it in conversation. Now I use it WAY too much.

17. I have driven (or ridden) across the U.S. 5 times and we hope to take the kids before too long.

18. I kind of think I’d be a good gourd farmer. Maybe.

19. I go to rummage sales at least an hour early to wait in line before it opens. I have met many interesting people this way although that it not why I do it.

20. I have never sent nor received a text message.

21. I have 2 Etsy shops and have 2 more in the works. I enjoy the process of finding, photographing, and selling immensely. I do not like the shipping at all. Although Paul (or is it Frank?) at my local P.O. is a very kind person.

22. Once during summer break from college I went on a trek upcountry in Thailand and met a Korean man I nicknamed Billy the Kid. We hadn’t even started the trek but were at a waterfall having lunch on the way up to the drop off point and Billy the Kid picked up a police officers riffle and fired it, thinking it was… I don’t know what in the hell he was thinking. Once we all checked to make sure we were not shot, it was funny as hell. He was lucky to not be arrested and we were lucky to be alive.

23. I have killed all my house plants.  Not on purpose.

24. Thrift stores are my happy places when I need a pick me up.

25. My now husband and I went to see the Squirrel Nut Zippers at the Roxy in Boston for our first date. Before the show started we went to the arcade and played air hockey.  In the best move ever, he slid a mix tape he made across the table to me in the middle of the game. Swoon.

If you would like to list your 25 Random Things, feel free!

 

I Am Not Joking January 31, 2009

Filed under: Random Bits — twlowenstein @ 10:35 am
Tags: , ,

Economy in the crapper?  Buy random products off the internet!

dsc_00051

This showed up on our doorstep and my husband was sure it was a joke or a cover for more etsy purchases.

dsc_0014

Nope.

dsc_0010

They are freezing as I type.  I will let you know.

And since you, like my husband, may be curious – they come in packs of 20!

Edit to add, my husband says the bidding starts at $100

Edit Again:  And I quote my FaceBook (tacky but not as bad as a freakin’ Pickle Pop!), “I am surprisingly surprised to report that Pickle Sickles are indeed as disgusting as they sound. Like eating a scratch and sniff pickle sticker.”  It was bad.  Really bad. I touched my tongue to the frozen greenness and immediately knew I would never do it again.  The good news is that I have my Yankee Swap all set for next year!  You have to look on the positive side people!

Someone turned pickle juice into money.  Respect (and puke).

 

GOBAMA! January 20, 2009

Filed under: Random Bits — twlowenstein @ 1:30 am
Tags: ,

Maybe I’ll be better able to reflect on this magnificent day later.  So for now I offer you silliness and celebration.

original_image-41

original_image-1 original_image-51

original_image-2x original_image-8

original_image-4 original_image

Have you tried your hand at making an Obamicon over at Paste Magazine yet?  Bet you can’t make just one!

 

Look at Me When I’m Talking To YOU January 16, 2009

Filed under: Random Bits,Uncategorized — twlowenstein @ 1:21 pm

Ever want to administer a gentle bap to the face of anyone in customer service?  I’m not talking anything that would leave a mark, just an “OK, I heard your tone and I raise you a mitten to the face” kind of move.    Let me begin by saying that I would fail miserably in customer service.

There are many jobs I’d like to think I could do well, listening to the gripes of the masses is not one of them.  I get it.  But if I were ever to find myself working C.S. I would treat them like my first graders, “Yes, I hear what you are saying.  That doesn’t feel fair that your friend got to buy the bread on sale but when you shopped it was full price…” etc.  But why am I sympathizing?  This was meant to be a ‘I’ve been stuck sick in the house for 3 days and you bugged me on my maiden voyage” kind of rant.

Back on point, one of the grocery stores in my town doesn’t have a little corral for the shopping carts in the parking lot.  They just recently closed the place down for a total renovation, looks great but I was shocked that they didn’t finally build us a little channel to shove the carts into.  I inquired about this today, my first day out to forage in days, at the customer service desk.  She took an annoyed tone with me and said, “That is why we have the boys (whole other issue, no room in tired brain for 2 rants) go out and collect ’em”.  She further enlightened me with the knowledge that it would take up 4 parking spaces so that’s why they didn’t build one.  Really?  Well if we were to take a little stroll through the parking lot, the same one I just had to drive through as if it were an obstacle course, then I’m sure we would count MORE than 4 spaces currently being obscured by stray carts.  I know you are thinking why not just walk the cart back to the store and when I’m alone, I do.  But some people are old, some are lazy and some have small children in tow; and I’ve heard tell of a rare bird that is all three. Not a word out of you or it will be a mitten to the face for you (in my head)!

I won’t even start on why she said they don’t have “car carts”, those cute little ride-in shopping carts for the kiddos.

n1420435484_30045602_4950

Ok, read this back and will fully own that I sound like a privileged sh*thead.  Noted.  Off to curl up with my Martha Stewart and gulp ginger ale.

I included a random shopping photo because I am the mom who takes photos of her kids in the grocery store.

As soon as I feel better, I’m gonna change!

 

Coming Clean January 9, 2009

Filed under: Random Bits — twlowenstein @ 12:59 pm
Tags: ,

Dear Blog,

You have been such a great companion  to me.  Don’t get that look on your face, this is not a break-up, or even a “break” for that matter.  I just feel like I need to come clean and clue you in that there is someone else in my life.  I younger, faster and sometimes (I’m sorry) more fun version of you.  I have been seeing Face Book for the last month or so.  Okay a few months but it’s gotten more serious in the last month.  Others have tried to hit on me in the past, (I’m talking to you Twitter) but you always came out on top.  But this time I think I’m developing feelings that just aren’t going to go away.  I hope you are up for a poly-amorous relationship because Flickr is knocking on my door and I just might answer that call as well.

Thanks for being so understanding.  I don’t know if I would be in your place.

Yours truly and multipley,

Tracey

Dear Readers,

And for the record I wasn’t calling folks on FB more fun that YOU.  Not for a second!  Just the venue, the newness and all.  If anyone is on FB and would like to friend me, leave a comment and we’ll work it out in both worlds!

You know I love you best,

Tracey

 

99 Things January 3, 2009

Filed under: Random Bits,Uncategorized — twlowenstein @ 11:10 am
Tags:

Got this from Paige at Funny Magic.

The way it works is you bold the bits you’ve done.  It’s a shame the bold on WP is barely discernible.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars – Most memorable on beach in Thailand

3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor showerSaw Halley’s Comet in New Zealand, that count?
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland- In CA, and Japan & Disney World in FL – all as a child, am avoiding the place as an adult for as long as possible.
8. Climbed a mountain
Old Rag with my dad when I was kid is one of my best memories.
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo – shower count?
11. Bungee jumped – in Thailand, dumb move.  It was off a crane over a “pool” of water but the pool had a crack and wouldn’t hold water.  Didn’t instill confidence but the beer did.
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratchsewing, still learning!
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked – no way in HELL
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill – For my future employer, whoever you may be – I would never do this if I was working for YOU, really and truly !
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb – I’m supposed to go awww and think this is a sweet thing but I have to tell you the idea terrifies me.
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
– they should have added, “With a drink in your hand”
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise – my idea of hell on water (unless it was in Alaska, then I’d consider all offers)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language – I took a self-taught Japanese Language class in undergrad, I learned how to say wakarimasen (I don’t understand)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance – rode with my eldest when they transfered him from a local hospital to Children’s in Boston
47. Had your portrait painted
my mom had a painting commissioned of a “scene” from my wedding and it is HILARIOUS.  I will post it one day.
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie – I was in a movie, produced in The Netherlands I think, that interviewed a few kids from my high school about drug use in Thailand.  (I had no PERSONAL experience)

56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business – paperdollsforboys.etsy.com
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason both from my husband and my oldest son
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving – I feel sick just thinking of this
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check – in my youth
68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper – playing soccer as a kid
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

And I’ll add one to make

100.  Honestly read all 99 of any of these memes!

Feel free to play along and add on your own!

 

Snap Shot of My Day December 19, 2008

Filed under: Random Bits — twlowenstein @ 4:10 pm

Subtitled:  Sweet god I made it home.

Let me pre-apologize to any of my blog readers who may be public banana eaters, more on that to come.

There was noon dismissal for my son’s Kindergarten due to the impending storm so I loaded up my tired little guy for what would normally be his nap time and headed to the school.  I dazzled him with a mommy opera in the hopes of keeping him up but he feel asleep moments from the school.  I dragged him out of the car and he sleep walked into the school.  Not too bad at this point, I was still  a smiling functioning human.  I will admit that my story cracks in part, due to my own poor planning.  I figured I better get a couple of errands done before the monster snow storm barreled down on us.  I ran to the frame shop to get their advice and/or help in packaging two vintage prints someone ordered from my shop.  I usually send out orders straight away but I was intimidated by the fragile glass.  I double bubbled it and taped cardboard all around and then at the shop the kindest woman busted out the serious frame box and helped me out in a BIG way.  Ok, that’s the boring part (I’m afraid it all might fall into that category but I will soldier on). I tell you about it only go give you a sense of time passing.  Time passing ever so slowly with two tired and hungry kiddos in tow.  So then we went to the 5&10 to get an ice scrapper and a rubber chicken.  We then walked to the Post Office, guess we weren’t the only ones thinking of mailing out packages before the storm.  Apparently there is some holiday coming up or something.   45 minutes.  45 minutes!  I kept chanting in my head, “Oh my god, I’m the mom with THOSE kids”.  I am the mom who  has 2 boys wrestling and “torturing” a rubber chicken on the floor of the tiny and crowded post office.  The kind of mom I would have so smugly look down upon not too long ago.  The last straw was when my 2 1/2 year old threw the rubber chicken and hit someone in line.  If you know my 2 1/2 year old you’ll know he’s got an arm.  More than one person has gotten a face full of ball after leaning down close to him in anticipation of a baby-sized throw.  Oh, and then to make it all more rich and enjoyable, the woman in front of me (not a believer in personal space), reached over to grab my package from me and tried to untangle my packing tape.  I said,” No thanks, I got it!” but she wouldn’t stop.  I swear to you I said, “Unhand my package woman.” and yet still, she continued.  She went from being a harmless crunchy older woman to deranged at that point.  And then, then – she took out a freaking banana, peeled it and ate it.  Oh so close to me and my nose.  I swear I almost lost what was left of my marbles.  I think if we looked up the social contract for crowded lines at the post office it would say somewhere that eating a banana in that situation is in poor taste, I can not even type about the peel.  Not sure, but it may or may not also mention the etiquette for a rubber chicken beat down.  Anyhoo, by the time we left the snow was falling and my blood pressure was rising.

Here is the chicken my oldest decided should have a tattoo that reads, “Chickens for Obama”.

dsc_0056_2

And now the snow is pouring down and piling up.  Here is view from my front window.

dsc_00761

I am about to take a toasty shower, put on my warmest robe, grab a bottle of wine, curl up on the sofa with my videos and CHILL.

 

Viva la Revolution December 4, 2008

Filed under: Random Bits — twlowenstein @ 1:52 pm

I am one of those women who lost herself in motherhood.  And I am pretty sure I did it knowingly and willingly.  I am blessed enough to have given birth to both boys after being told I had a 1% chance of conceiving and delivery a healthy baby using my own eggs.  I was thrilled to get the chance to breast feed when I thought it might not happen that way.  I was lazy enough to allow the boys to fall asleep in my lap and happy to get to watch them while they slept, their warm little bodies conforming to mine.  We have sacrificed so I could be home to participate in every milestone, accomplishment, lesson learned and belly laugh.  I have had more hugs than I ever imaged coming my way and my arms are wide open in anticipation of more.  I have reveled in the growth and change in my boys and I am starting to feel like it is the right time for a little growth and change in me.

Sounds like I’m going somewhere with this, but really I sat down to write a little something to accompany the photos I took of my lunch today.

lunch-day-1 cup-apple-pnut-butter1

It is the first time I can remember that I sat down at the table for lunch.  I actually thought about and made myself a meal, set out my softest thrifted linen napkin and used the special dishware from my husband’s Grandmother.  The lunch was nothing gourmet. But it was one of the best meals I have had in a while.  As  I sat by the window with my food and my book and I ate and breathed and read, I started to feel a revolution coming on.  Or maybe the right word is evolution.  It’s time to morph into a woman who is a mom and loves her boys dearly but who also cultivates her self.   I don’t have a map or a plan but the seed feels more powerful than a diagram.  I think and hope it involves a lot more craft nights, some evening walks with friends, more mindful meals, regular nights out with my husband again,  and books.  Books that don’t rhyme, have jelly on them, or involve animals doing non-animal things like brush their teeth and use the crapper (this is another way I am reclaiming my brain, I shall no longer refer to the bathroom as the potty – join with me in this my friends!).

Yes, I will start with quiet lunches, books and the crapper.  Viva la revolution!

And on a somehow related noted I wanted to tell you about an incident another mom in my son’s class shared with me this morning.  She explained how she walked in the school but realized she had lost her keys somewhere between the parking lot and the building.  She went back with all 3 girls only to discover her car in the parking lot, keys in the ignition and the engine running.  (Luckily the doors were unlocked.) I appreciated her sharing this story because while I have not accomplished that feat myself I can certainly relate and we as moms, all moms – moms who work outside the home & moms who are home, benefit from sharing these stories, seeing ourselves in each other and laughing together!