Nursery Prints

I am so excited to share this post with you guys! Recently Brandon was out of town again. Like I’ve previously said, I basically don’t sleep. I am too afraid of the dark, and everything that might go boo. So when I saw a friend pin something to her new baby board, I thought “I can do that.” So I wrote her and like a new mom, she was also up late! After chatting a little bit about what she was looking for I set to work.

The final version for little Reese’s Nursery!

We’ve all seen the Baby Statistic nursery prints. So I figured it wouldn’t be too hard to replicate. {Thankfully instead of blood, I have glitter in my veins.} Much to my excitement, I successfully make one! And then another, and another. It was a little addicting. The mom was so thrilled with them too, that I just fed off her energy. After a couple quick changes, we made it tailored to her liking. I can’t wait to see it hanging in her nursery soon!

This was my favorite version!

An all pink version for a little girl!

A bright and colorful one for fun!

If you are also a new mom and looking for one, I’d be more than pleased to help you make one too! I enjoy making stuff and being creative, so you’ll only have to be patient with me on time. Just email me at lissables@gmail.com for your own custom Statistic Nursery Print!

Thank You Marisa for letting me share your little girls prints!

Comments.

I have a favor to ask each and every one of you today. I am wondering who is still reading the blog, or who followed it for Sawyers story. Please leave me a comment so I can see how many people I’m reaching. If its a big enough number I could start thinking about doing giveaways and such to keep your interest! It doesn’t take long, even if all your write is “hey!” I’d love to see it!

Thanks everyone for the continued support of lissables!

Book Week Day 6. {2012 Edition}

OK I lied.

I said I was done posting about books yesterday but I have some very important books to share today. How could I have forgotten. They are the most looked at books in our house! My shutterfly picture albums. {Yes, they totally count as books!} I am always growing my collection, currently I have 6. With about 4 in the making still. For some reason I can never be up to date with them! Be warned this post is going to  be very, VERY, picture friendly! 😉

Meet the collection: I have 3-8×8’s, 1-8×11 & 2-12×12.

The 8×11 was my first book ever. It’s 2008. An entire year in one little book. Going through it you can see we were apart a lot of the time. There is very few pictures, {other than the wedding} because we were busy trying to make a relationship work London-Toronto, Calgary-Vegas, Engaged and Married! But there is many books that followed so we all know it did turn out in the end!

I upgraded to the 12×12’s for the family year books. Its no secret I have A FEW pictures. Just a few. So I bumped up after seeing my sister in laws books. The size and the layouts slightly changed. I love them. I only just got the 2010 book this spring. That’s how far behind I am! But it takes some dedication to sit down and do one. Make sure it’s perfect, write in all the stories, and then actually order it. I usually wait for some coupon’s. Which was another reason I liked the 12×12 format. It is the one that gets the 50% off sale the most. Worth it.

All my 8×8’s have been “free books.” I get coupons in my emails all the time. But my favorite is the free book coupon! You can only use it on the 8×8 size, so I use it for mini stories. When I want to showcase a distinct event. I’ve used them as gifts, for a friend and our trip together, my mother got one as a thank you for the year of Disneyland, {for my 23 birthday I got a Disney pass, I used all the photo’s we took over the year, to make the thank you book.} I made one of Sawyers Birth story, and his first month.

And the most recent one is Sawyers Craniosynostosis story. I knew I wanted to make a special book about this. So when he is old enough, he can see what amazing strength he had when he was just 8 months old. I am going to forget those little details, but now the entire process is documented! I am in love with this special book. His book is the only one that is a different style. And I have to admit I liked working with the embellishments and different colors. There is so many to choose from, find one that suits your story!


My favorite two pages were the Cranio timeline. To see how many changes he went through in such a short time. And the thank you page. Because we were absolutely blown away by the generosity for Sawyer and ourselves during the surgery. I was extremely touched by each and every one.

If you don’t already have shutterfly, you should sign up! You get some bonus coupons when he sign up for a new account. Such as 50 free prints and other promo’s. For most of us who don’t print out all our digital pictures anymore, this is a great way to actually remember all the excitement of each year. Don’t let your own memories slip through the cracks.

Thanks for following the 2012 Book Week! As always leave me a comment if you have enjoyed the blog in any way!

Book Week Day 5. {2012 Edition}

Well I am not feeling up to my blogging self today. Brandon is back after being away for another 4 days. So finally spending some time together combined with watching footage of the awful Colorado Movie Shooting, isn’t inspiring any amazing blog posts. So today I am going to just list a whole bunch of my other favorite reads! Its going to be the last post  for book week, so I’ll just pump out a bunch of recommendations.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett– If you followed me in the past you know I read it back in 2010! And waited in line for 2 hours to see it at an early screening, while 8 months pregnant and huge! If you didn’t catch the craze int he last 2 years, this is a definite keeper!

The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill-(I just realized that my copy is Canadian and that in America they have renamed this to “Someone knows my name.” As they believed the title to be offending to American history. Whereas he chose the title because it was the name of an actual historic document of the same name.) Regardless of which title you buy, this is a wonderfully written fictional piece that intertwines with actual history. You won’t be able to put it down. It is about a young girl in Africa who is kidnapped and brought to America as a slave. It follows the strong willed girl through her entire life and she refuses to give up on freedom.

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant– Another story following the life of a strong willed girl from 400 years ago. It has over 1000 5 star reviews on amazon. Its that good. In fact, it’s been said that The Red Tent is what the Bible might have been had it been written by God’s daughters, instead of her sons-quoted from the books description on amazon.com

The Distant Hoursby Kate Morton– I have read this and her other works, The House at Riverton and The forgotten Garden. And I love them all. She always weaves between the past and present and a mystery tying them together. They are all page turners and I really connect with her characters.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett– This is a slow paced book, and while I usually dislike that style of writing this book remains a favorite of mine. Set in a party in South America with many high profile attendees, being held hostage. It is an unexpected story of the beauty of life and human compassion. Give it a chance and enjoy a lazy day read. Not all books have to be page turners to be beautifully told.

Philippa Gregory -I can read almost anything from her collections. It started with The Other Boleyn Girl. I read the entire book in one day. I couldn’t put it down. {If you saw the movie, you still need to read it. They left out massive important parts, and gave no character development.} It was followed by The Boleyn Inheritance, which was just as engaging. I’ve read the entire Wideacre series, and just finished The Lady of the Rivers. She writes fiction that follows history. I fell in love with London and the Tudors though these books. I love her style and I love her books.

Jodi Picoult – Another Author that I can’t pick just one book from. My favorites include. Nineteen Minutes, A story about a school shooting, from the point of view of the bullied from kindergarten young boy. You find yourself sympathizing deeply for him. Change of Heart, about a young girl in need of a heart transplant, and an inmate on death row. And how their story intertwines. The Tenth Circle, which was the first of her novels I read. About a young girl who has a strong family relationship, is raped and her father dealing with the aftermath. A journey through hell and back as he puts it. My Sister’s Keeper. You’ve probably all seen the movie, which didn’t come close to the book as usual. And they actually changed many major outcomes. Anna’s story is so much stronger in the book as she struggles with her own inner demons about wanting to help her sister, and living her own life. And lastly The Pact a love story that starts with a suicide pact gone wrong. The 17 yr olds that grew up side by side make a suicide pact and when one survives, it follows his story and the two families, once inseparable and now devastated, now unspeaking. She always writes controversial topics mixed with some legal cases on the events. I don’t like all of her work, in fact I flat out dislike some of them. That is why I shared the specific ones I enjoyed.

Wicked by Gregory Maguire– how can you go wrong here. I love Oz and every new way its retold. I am absolutely in love with the Broadway hit of the same title. I saw it in London with Brandon, courtesy of my then future father in law. And again last summer in Calgary. {sawyer is also a fan as he did incredible dances in my bump every time they sang.} And its got a sequel too! Son of a witch, the continued story of elphaba’s so called son.

Is that enough. I could definitely keep going. So if you are ever looking for another book recommendation, you know where to find me and my inner nerd self. You can follow my Books Worth Reading pinterest page for other favorites and awesome reading quotes. Until then, go read a book and enjoy the little things in life.

Happy Birthday Granberry.

Breaking up Book Week with a double post for July 20. Why? It’s a special day in our house. Its my dad’s first Birthday as a Granberry! {His name is Barry, and a little kid asked him what kind of Berry he was. I jumped on it that he was now a Granberry!} Cake will be on its way soon, can’t wait to wish you a happy {belated} Birthday in person! Here’s to wishing you many happy years of Grandkids and laughter.

Book Week Day 4. {2012 Edition}

Children’s books!

I LOVE Children’s books. In fact it was the one thing I went a little overboard on when we found out about Sawyer. I couldn’t help myself at the annual book drive. It was for a good cause and it had great classic’s! Growing up I couldn’t get enough of Go, Dog, Go. {Possibly because it was the LONGEST bedtime story 😉 } So I love that I will get to read the same books to Sawyer soon. He’s not as into books right now. Except for You Are My Cupcake. Fitting as ever for Mommy. I think the pictures are amazingly cute. And Sawyer just bursts into giggle fits whenever we look at it together.

Anything by Oliver Jeffers. In that local {The Calgary herald annual,} book drive I found Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers.I hadn’t really looked at it too much. I just love simple board books. Its a little over sized which I love, and the pictures again are so sweet. But the big sell for me was the way he captures a little boys imagination. It’s how kids should see the world. We recently got a care package from the Auntie in Calgary for Sawyers surgery. Included in it were: How to Catch a Star and The Way Back Home. I fell in love all over again. There are others in his collection too. {I want to get The heart and the Bottle. But I can’t vouch for it yet, because I haven’t seen the whole book. But how can you not love it when everything else he does is so great!} They are just sweet little stories, and not on the usual list.

I could keep talking about Kids books forever. Like anything Robert Munch, I cant get specific because I would end up listing them all. I gave the boys I babysit, each a book of his last year and they quickly became favorites. And though I love the little picture books we will enjoy these first years, I really can’t wait to break out the one chapter a night books. Harry Potter, The Princess Bride, The Unicorn Chronicles. I do hope Sawyer inherits my love of reading. And the annual book drive sale. O fun reading traditions!

One last thing to share since we are on the topic of many books in a children’s room. I knew back when I was designing his nursery, that I was going to want a big spot for all these classics. But I didn’t want just a regular shelf or chest. Plus we were very limited with space. So I used an outdoor garden shelf. Brandon was mighty skeptical when I brought it home. But to my delight it worked perfectly. I had to add a small board to the bottom so the little books wouldn’t slip through the grates. I absolutely love it. Its unique and low enough for him to pick out books when he is able to walk. Its functional and cute! And a perfect addition to a books lovers room!

Book Week Day 3. {2012 Edition}

Before I lose you, after talking about books for a week, let’s break out the big ones: The series. I feel like lately that’s the biggest seller. Make a hit and pump the sequels out as fast as possible. And then of course make a movie out of it! But I am a fan of that whole process. The longer I can live in the world of a book the better.

I am having trouble narrowing this post down to just a few of my favorite series. So lets just start with my favorite. For a long time I was sure I was going to name my first daughter after the main character, Gemma, because I loved her. My second daughter was going to be another characters name from the same book, Pippa. That’s when you know you love a book/you are a geek because your going to name your child after a fictional character.{Not at all like how Sawyer’s name came along 😉 } A Great and Terrible Beauty By Libba Bray. I think I found the Gemma Doyle series the year I graduated high school? Its hard to keep books straight when you power through this many in a short period. Its like Harry Potter with a strong female lead. Set in a Victorian boarding school and an other world realm. She brings the magic to life so vividly you want to believe it’s real. Its followed by Rebel Angels and The Sweet Far Thing. And though its hard to come by, I think each book holds it own. Usually I find by the last one its barely hanging on to the story. I promise its one you will have a hard time putting down.

The Hunger Games. That should be all I have to say about that one. Its current. Everyone is, or has read it. I sat down last year while I was still pregnant and had nothing to do but read. {O reminiscing is cruel sometimes!} I read one a day. I was hooked. A world I wanted to live in, but not play in! I found Katniss enticing, and I was in love with Peeta. I love to fall in love with Characters. Their world was fascinating. So if by chance you haven’t read the Hunger Games Trilogy, please read it before seeing it. Or if you thought you would catch the movie and skip the book, don’t. As per usual, the books are far superior to the movie. I was a die hard fan, could barely wait the 6 months for the movie to come out, and I left the theatre sadly disappointed. And I even went in with low expectations after hearing the same from other readers. So read the books, always better than the movies {sigh this brings back memories of The Life and Death of Charlie St. Cloud, and its movie. I went to see it opening day at the first showing, I even dragged Brandon along. Another murdered book at the theaters.}

Lastly for today is the Mortal Instruments series be Cassandra Clare. Starting with City of Bones, followed by City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels and just published City of Lost Souls. Which I just got in the mail and can’t wait to break into. {But I am still in the middle of the prequel series: The Infernal Devices series. So I haven’t been able to Start Lost Souls yet.} I have been reading this series since before I was married! So yes, again I was in love with the main male lead. You might notice a pattern that tend to fall in love with my favorite characters. {I think it dates back to Reeve from Face on the Milk Carton, back in 1997! Um that’s 15 years ago!} Jace and Clary don’t disappoint on that front either. Another real world mixed with fantasy world type story. And surprise, surprise, they are making it into a movie too! Why wouldn’t they? But you have a full year before it comes out!! So great cracking, or at least read the first of the 5 Mortal Instruments series.

Of course there is lots of other series I would love to mention. Yes, I just powered through the Shades of Grey series. {Like every other woman on the planet, it seems. I liked it, I just couldn’t get past the poor writing to care more about it though.} The Fever series: think shades of grey mixed with A Great and Terrible Beauty. Most of the series I like are fantasy. I need to get around to reading Game of Thrones, instead of just watching it. I think watching all that Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sailor Moon when I was little made me want to live in a fantasy world.

Tomorrow we’ll discuss an important, very special book collection. Children’s books. So stay tuned!

Book Week Day 2. {2012 Edition}

Are you still with me after yesterday’s V.C. Andrews confession? I hope so. Because today we’re going to talk about possibly my all time favorite book. This is a pretty tough award to give. But this one book has kept me mesmerized through the years. Sundowners by Lesley Lokko. The first time I read it, it was left behind at a dance studio I was working at. Don’t worry I waited forever before borrowing it. Plus I left it somewhere too. A traveling book I guess. I’ve seen it go through 3 different covers already. {Does anyone else hate when books do that! I have definitely bought double copies of other books, thinking it looks so good, only to find out it looks good because I already read it!} Both my copies have been the far right cover.

So on our second Christmas married, I had mentioned it to Brandon but didn’t think anything of it. {It was harder to get your hands on in past years because its a UK writer.} But I unwrapped that little package and it was a joyful surprise! We’ve always had books in our relationship. I think telling him about my love for reading is what made him fall just that little bit more for me. The first present I ever gave him was my favorite book. So he could read it while we were still Calgary-Toronto long distance. {little did we know how many more long distance combinations we could do!} And he has definitely bought me a number of books as presents, gone on opening days of books made into movies. And they were as girly as could be for most of them. He rocks and so do books is what I am saying.

She is a fantastic writer with an ease of guiding you through a number of different countries with confidence. {London, Paris, South Africa and New York to name a few of the places you will travel in this story.} It focuses on 4 young women and follows their life through school and the years after. Lasting friendships that continue to grow and change. I love each one of her characters, I can’t even pick a favorite even though it centers on Rianne and her immediate family and friends. It’s definitely one that I did not want to ever end. Much like most of the books I read. But I am almost happy that it isn’t a series like most of today’s big hits. Sometimes your imagination can finish a book better than an author trying to cash in and pump out extra books. If you have a teen daughter in your house, this book is for them. If you are my age, this book is for you. If you like to read, this book is for you. If you need to escape and live someone else’s life, this book is for you. Love it like a friend. And enjoy an amazing story about the simplicities of love, friendship and life.

“Four Friends, Two Decades. One Glorious Love Story.”

Stick around, 5 more days of book week to go!

P.S. if any of my lovely readers picks one of these books up, let me know! I love to hear if I am actually reaching any of you, or just talking to myself again! lissables@gmail.com. Or just write me to say hey! I recently had another cranio mom reach out to me over the blog {that’s a total of 2 now} and it made my day to know I am actually getting my stories out to someone! Thanks for reading! Check back with us soon!