Summer Fun...

Aquarium at Genova and Chiavari

We spent the day at the aquarium in Genova yesterday and it was a hit with the kids.... ok, us adults too. I kind of expected it to be a bit bigger but it was still pretty interesting and it was great to see the reactions and expressions the kids made. Our neighbour and her daughter came along for the ride so the girls were especially excited to have Angelika come along.

So onto the photos... above is the old sailboat in the Genova port right near the aquarium. It's really quite spectacular. I can't imagine sailing on one of those! Below are a few of the creatures we saw... an eel, several kinds of sharks, tropical fish (including Dory and Nemo and the gang),and that's little Sofia checking out the dolphin.We saw seahorses, manatees, seals, jellyfish (like below) big blue fish (Isabella is trying to kiss him.... I think he quite liked her dress), little turtles, big sea turtles, crocodiles, frogs, lizards... did I mention I got to touch a sting ray? They have some sting rays in a pool where you can touch them... that is if they will come to you. It was so cool! At first I was chicken, but I tried again and it was so cool! Their backs feel like they are all slimey and pimply... and along the edge of their bodies, they are really smooth and slimy... such a wierd feeling!

Then when we were all fishied out... we headed to Chiavari for some beach time.... well, we only stayed a few hours and paid way too much for the beach chairs but it was still fun. Maria had never actually been to the sea and either had Angelika so she was super excited. Sofia on the other hand wanted no part of this sticky, dirty sand business.... she was staying put on mommy's chair... we did get her to get down and play a little but when mommy added a tiny bit of water to the sand so it wasn't so dusty, that was the end of it. We then headed for ice cream and a little walk along the sea just to make sure the girls were good and pooped out. It was a pretty great day!

So I know, I've been MIA for a little bit but for a good reason.... HUBBY'S HOME! He's been gone for almost a month so I'm taking full advantage of any days he has home with his girls. We've already been very busy running everywhere.

Yesterday we enjoyed a day at the Fiorenzuola pool (see picts). It was awesome. Nice warm day, the pool was a tad cool but it felt good. The kids had a blast too. They were both asleep before we got out of town.

Tonight begins the festival for our town. There's awesome food, torte fritte, music, torte fritte, and dancing... did I mention there's torte fritte? Torte fritte is soooooo yummy (see photo). Basically it's fried bread.... so bad for you I'm sure, but sooooo gooood!

We're also trying to organize a trip to the zoo. I think the girls will love it and the Cornelle zoo is awesome! They have little vending machines (like those old bubblegum ones) so you can feed some of the animals and one cage has a tube-like cage that runs above where you walk over to another cage for the monkeys to pass through... but beware... last time we were there the people watching the bears got peed on!!! Too funny!!! They also put these little ribbons up when babies are born so you know which animals have babies and what sex in the cages... blue is for boys and pink for girls of course. I'll of course post picts of that trip. We were thinking Monday but a friend of ours who's been taking groups of kids there said Sunday would be less busy. So Sunday it might be.

So if you really looked at our pool picts you might have noticed something missing.... nope, not me! Like I'd let you see me in a bathing suit! Ha! Ha! Nope, the photos are missing a handfull of pretty little curls! We went to see our friend Edy the other day so this momma could get her hair cut and I figured I'd get him to fix the chop job momma did on Isabella's hair... and did he ever! He chopped off all the year's worth of growing ringlets... ok so they were only about an inch long but it took her a year to get it that long! Then Sofia was up... for just a tiny trim off the back as she likes to shake her hair... yep, those curls gone too! Oh well, Edy said their hair should grow in better (thicker I guess) now.... I hope it grows quick cuz I have 2 pretty little girls who could easily pass for boys!!! Sofia is sportin' that little pixie cut that Julia Roberts got that made everyone gasp! If only Sofia had a major role like Tinkerbell in a movie to make up for it! Oh well, it'll be cooler for the summer I guess... GROW HAIR! GROW!!!

I also am very excited to announce that we have a shiny new addition to the family.... a sewing machine!!!! It was in the stars for me! I've wanted one for a little while now.... and the other day G's sister saw an ad on the tv about a sewing machine for sale for only 79 euros!!! WOOT! WOOT! So this morning we went to see what it's like.... ok so it's not a Singer or Brother like the one I had in Canada but this one I think I'm gonna enjoy... it has like a ba-zillion styles of stitches! I can't wait to try it out!

Now onto a few great Etsy finds...

thatstoocuteboutique has these cute personalized towels perfect for the pool or beach!

I'm adding this cute little "ouch pouch" to the list as Isabella has "owies" on her feet from the pool yesterday where to rough tiles rubbed off some skin... and because we all have a bit of red skin....

PillowSewCute has a huge variety of ouch pouches for you to choose from.

Well, that's all I can write today.... Hope you all have a great weekend!

Look what arrived in my mailbox today... Ok, so the picture isn't the best but she was busy twirling around with her new pretty dress. She even gave me a big hug before she put it on.... apparently it was a big hit! Usually she just puts on the skirts I make her but this one called for a hug! Isn't it ADORABLE? I got it from Lil Miss Muffin's shop over at Etsy. I saw it, hummed and hawed as to whether I should buy it... and then I gave in. I figured I'd buy it for Isabella and then Sofia could use it as well, plus, I could use it as sort of a pattern. Maybe make another dress. So this got my mojo going... I was already trying to find the same fabric on etsy incase I wanted to make one for Sofia. I'll keep you posted as to what I come up with.

In the meantime, there are some shops at Etsy that not only sell the patterns (see above) for these kind of cute clothes, there are shops selling DIY kits (see below). How great! They send you the precut fabric and info and you do all the work! It's a great way to try and dive into making something on your own. (images are linked)

I found this on YouTube, I think we all need to start our day off like this I think...


So my little model finally let me get a photo of her with her new skirt.... isn't she cute?

Dana over at MADE designed this great little dress... I might just have to take a crack at it when I have a sewing machine..... I'm thinking, 1 Italian, and 1 Canadian..... for where the girls were born.... too cool! I love how she put the little heart on the city.

I found these scrumptious little delights while blog hopping.... they're just too pretty to eat... ALMOST! (image linked)

I saw this on MSN... I could sit in there all day. What an amazing place to see I bet. You'd feel like you were at the bottom of the ocean!

Here's a few lemony fresh finds from Etsy sellers:

1. Lemon Luggage 2. Rose and Lemon Soap 3. Yellow Plaid Dress 4. Little Lady Felt Brooch 5. Vintage Yellow Purse 6. Yellow and Blue Earrings 7. Yellow and Purple Bracelet 8. Child's Lemon Dress 9. Yellow Flower Crochet Hat

So, yesterday I was completely embarassed! We've (ok I've) been really trying to push the potty training and pantie wearing thing a lot lately. I mean, it's summer and I'm sure it must feel so much better wearing panties than a big, fat, wet diaper in this heat. So anyways, I digress... we stopped in at the pharmacy to pick up some mosquito repelent as they seem to have half devowered my poor Isabella and I'm afraid if she spends another 1/2 hour out in our garden area she'll completely disappear. I turned around to check on Isabella as she always likes to sit in the baby section because they have baby toys etc... and she was standing there looking at me... with THAT face. "OH NO!" She had an accident. Ok, it was her first but I was so embarassed. I quickly grabbed my wipes in the stroller and the kleenexes and tried to clean it up. The ladies told me not to worry about it but this is my first time going through this and I felt so bad. Then to top it off, the Doctor who owns the pharmacy went and gave Isabella this little rubber watch/bracelet. Great, my kid pees on the floor and they give us free stuff! I know I should get over it and it is a tile floor and is easy to clean up, but still, I felt horrible! Next time I'm bringing extra panties!

See this little lovely lady? She arrived at my house yesterday....
...and she brought her lovely girly friends with her... isn't this fabric cute?
She may be Russian but she came all the way from Japan. I couldn't wait to get started on a little skirt for Isabella. I also have enough to make one for Sofia.... I'm thinking it'll be a cute surprise for when hubby comes home. Here's Isabella's skirt. I added this soft satiny ribbon trim and when Isabella walks it creates a great swing to the skirt. I thought it was missing just a little something so I bought some fat baby blue ric rac to add to the bottom edge. It'll be just that much cuter I think. So onto something else....

My peppers are in peril!

My plant is covered in these icky teeny tiny bugs! I'm not sure what to do! I don't want to spray a chemical onto the plant incase it kills it or seeps into the future veggies.... not sure what I should do! I don't want the bugs to migrate to my sweet little baby tomatoes which are right on the table beside it. I thought about moving the plant but I have no where to put it on our teeny balcony. If anyone has suggestions I'd love them.

So I just found these little lovelies...

I found these at Strawberry Fool. I want them! Ok so I'm not too sure why I need the picnic basket as we already have an electric cooler but the picnic blanket would be nice and the little cooler would be awesome when I go grocery shopping as it's a half hour walk for me with milk and meats etc... it would be just so chic and smart! Only problem is... They only ship to the UK! Please oh please ship to other European countries!!! PLEASE!!! I'm in love! They also have plates and other fab stuff if you are in the UK and are interested.

HEE! HEE! HEE!!!

Ok, I had to add these too, they're just too adorable... and they gave me a chuckle. The girls would love these! (They're at Strawberry fool too.)

Well, to keep up with my newest addiction.... here's a super cute tutorial I found for saving a cute child's t-shirt at Make It and Love It. I've had some of those that I have had to throw out because I didn't know how to get the stains out... wish I saw this blog post sooner. Makes me want to dig through the girls' clothes to see what I can cut up! Seriously, check it out! (Image is linked)

Now, onto more sewing.... here's the two skirts I made a while back... I still need to add the ruffle ribbon along the bottom of the second skirt but for now, it still looks super cute on Isabella. The polka dot one is Sofia's although it would probably fit Isabella. I apparently measured wrong and made it a tad big for Sofia. Oh well, she will grow into it. The great thing, it only took 1 fat quarter of fabric for each skirt.

Gosh! I can't believe it's been a week since I blogged! Bad blogging momma! I had good intentions to try and keep up with this little thing but hence, it's summer, it's hot and hubby's away at work which means, more walking trips to the grocery store with the kiddies and more walks to the local coffee bar so Isabella can use her little shovel and pail in the pea gravel there (as our town has the most crappy and unsafe playgrounds I've ever seen!) Isabella doesn't mind, infact she usually asks to stay longer. haha!

So to keep my sanity I've been trying to get my crafty mojo back on. I've ordered fabric and I bought some more yarn... did I mention I sold my first hat the other day? Made 20 euro! Plus I got a few free things at the local coffee bar... The lady that works there (it's her family bar) ordered one for her 6 month old neice... she didn't have any colors in mind and had seen 2 different hats I made for the girls (a floppy hobo sunhat and a newsboy) and gave me full freedom on colours and style... I settled on newsboy as I figured it would stay on baby's tiny head better. Little ones are always pulling at hats (or at least my Sofia did). Anyways, she loved it, and I mean LOOOOVVVED it! The last 2 times I went for coffee I didn't pay for anything cuz she paid for my stuff then the second time the baby's mom was working and offered everything on the house again. Woot Woot! Apparently it was a wild hit!!! Auntie even asked if she could ask again in the future for more hats.... I said sure, I could do up a little kitty winter hat if she liked. I think I'll be getting another order :) This is Sofia modelling it.... it's a bit tight as it's for a 6 month old but it sure is cute on her!

So anyways, back to fabric, I ordered some cute fabric in the past and made some skirts for the girls out of some fat quarters.... and now I'm hooked. I ordered some more and saw this shop (see below) with the most adorable items and thought, I wanna make something cuter than just a skirt. I didn't get a pattern yet, I figured, I'm crafty, let's see what I can come up with.... I'll keep ya posted on how things go. This is the fabric... isn't it fun?


This shop has awesome patterns, click the picture above to check out her blog. She also has an Etsy Shop.