Musty Buster

So, the bad news is that I started 2014 out on about as bad a foot as you can.  I've been sick in bed since New Years Eve with what is easily the worst flu I have ever had.  If you haven't gotten your flu shot yet, then I strongly encourage you to get out there and get one.  You do not want this super bug.

As you may recall, I was sick off and on for the month leading up to New Year's Eve as well.  All this means that I am waaay behind on all my plans for 2014, especially the ones that involve getting ready for an overseas trip in a few weeks.

When I pulled my trusty backpack out of storage in the basement it was smelling just a tad more musty than I would like, so excuse me while I take care of some housekeeping business in today's first project of the year.

These little packs are great for airing out shoes, coats, backpacks, etc...anything that has the distinct musty odour that things can sometimes pick up from being stored in the basement.

Here's what you need to make your own.

Materials:
-scap of cotton or muslin (must be a breathable fabric)
-thread, scissors, ruler(optional)
-ribbon (also optional)
-kitty litter (not shown)

Steps:
1) Cut your fabric into a rectangle.  Mine is approximately 9.5" X 6.5" but any size will do.

2) Fold your fabric in half, right sides together and stitch the bottom and side closed in a 1/4" seam.

3) Turn your little bag right sides out and attach a ribbon in the middle of the backside, approximately 1.5" down from the upper edge.

4) And now my medication must have kicked in because I stopped taking photos from some reason, but really it's beyond easy....just fill your bag with kitty litter, but don't go above where you stitched your on ribbon.

Then just fold over your top edge and stitch it down.

Now you can tie your musty buster onto a hanger or stuff it into your shoes and the kitty litter will start to soak up any offending smells.

I made another not so snazzy looking one to throw into my backpack in the hopes that it will do it's magic by the time I have to fill it (with light summery clothes and swimsuits!!!)

So there you go, one task down and about 20 more to go before I'm anywhere near ready to get on the airplane.

Oh! I almost forgot to tell you the good news....with such a lamo start to 2014, I figure it can only get better from here :)

Send me some good, healthy, vibes so I can get on with starting my new year, finally~

Tell a Tale: Bride of new France

Something from Canada...

Summary (from Goodreads):  In 1669, Laure Beausejour, an orphan imprisoned with prostitutes, the insane and other forgotten women in Paris’ infamous Salpetriere, is sent across the Atlantic to New France as a Fille du roi. Laure once dreamed with her best friend Madeleine of using her needlework stills to become a seamstress on the Rue Saint-Honoré and to one day marry a gentleman. The King, however, needs French women in his new colony and he finds a fresh supply in the city’s largest orphanage. Laure and Madeleine know little of the place called New France, except for stories of ferocious winters and men who eat the hearts of French priests. To be banished to Canada is a punishment worse than death.

Bride of New France explores the challenges of coming into womanhood in a brutal time and place. From the moment she arrives in Ville-Marie (Montreal), Laure is expected to marry and produce children with a French soldier who can himself barely survive the harsh conditions of his forest cabin. But Laure finds, through her clandestine relationship with Deskaheh, an allied Iroquois, a sense of the possibilities in this New World. 

What happens to a woman who attempts to make her own life choices in such authoritative times?

Bride of New France is a beautiful debut novel that explores a fascinating chapter in Canadian history.

Review:  It's been quite some time since I read this book but can't resist adding it to my "read" shelf so that I don't forget just how good it is.

The story of Laure has stayed with me ever since I read it. This story is fictional but I could envision every harrowing part of her journey clearly.

It's easy to imagine how frightening but hopeful a trip to Canada would have been for a French orphan in the 1660's. Although she went grudgingly, with little hope of a life other than destitute servitude, the thrill of leaving everything she knew would have given Laure a sense that she could be more than she could ever have comprehended at that time.

Of course, the overseas journey was nothing any of us would ever want to endure, and the determination to begin life anew in a foreign land amongst strangers is probably more than any of use could ever survive today, especially at the age of 14. But I love the way the author reeled out the story and the inclusion of Deskaheh, an Iroquois inhabitant of the land who befriends Laure.

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters depicted and loved learning about a point in time and of a piece of history of my country that I had little knowledge about. I highly recommend this book.

From the Virtual Museum of New France

Have you read a book set in the history of your own country and been surprised about what you learned? Leave a comment below~

Little Lace Top

I bought this plain Jane top for my niece ages ago.  I accidentally bought it a size too small to begin with and now she's grown a bit  too.  I'm pretty sure it will still fit, it just might be a little short for her.

So, I shopped my own stash and found all kinds of pretty lace to jazz it up a bit.

Would you believe I've hoarded that
peach lace for at least 15 years?!?!?

First I added a pretty lace collar along the neck edge.

And then I attached the lovely double sided peach ribbon lace along the bottom to lengthen it a bit.

Then I threw together a quick pair of leggings to round it all out and...tah dah!  She's got a whole new, and very pretty, outfit!

I love that lace at the bottom.  I can't believe I've finally used it for something.  Have you ever kept something for an unbelievably long time because you don't want to 'waste' it?  I get very weird about these things and want to make sure that the thing I'm making is worthy of it's embellishments.  How about you?  Leave a comment below (and let me know I'm not the only one)~

The World Outside My Window

It's not such a big place.  Could this be the year that we all do something to make it better?

              

Time lapse of Earth from the International Space Station

Write it Down, Make it Happen

I couldn't let the year start without pointing you towards one of my favourite goal setting books~

Summary from Goodreads.com: In Write It Down, Make It Happen, Henriette Anne Klauser, Ph.D., explains how simply writing down your goals in life is the first step toward achieving them. Writing can even help you understand what you want. In this book, you will read stories about ordinary people who witnessed miracles large and small unfold in their lives after they performed the basic act of putting their dreams on paper. Klauser's down-to-earth tips and easy exercises are sure to get your creative juices flowing. Before you know it, you'll be writing your own ticket to success.

Review: Goal setting involves a lot more than just writing something than down and then suddenly, "tah day!", a little positive thought later, it all works out according to plan.  Henriette Anne Klauser knows this as well, which is why her book may need a slightly new title.  In it, she walks the reader through a number of real life stories and writing exercises that help people to figure out their goals and the steps that they need to complete take to reach them.

This book will encourage you to figure out your goals, focus on an outcome, raise the bar, recognize the utility of resistance, listen to your subconscious, give thanks, and more.  The book itself is easy to read with lots of anecdotes and each chapter ends with an exercise to complete to help you get one step closer to what you want to achieve in life.  

Reading this book alone is not going to change your life.  However, if you use it as the tool that it's intended to be, add a little common sense and positivity, then you never know, you just might start living the life that you've always dreamt~

This year I have several goals that I want to achieve.  In terms of my blog, I'm going to expand the vision slightly and start incorporating more facets of my life.  I always say I'm going to do this but always end up falling back on the crafty stuff, because that's easy for me, and means I don't have to open myself up any more than I already have.

I also want this year to be more exciting.  I've gotten into a real (and safe) routine that I need to break free from.  I'm going to make a big move, literally, and am going to say yes more than I say no.  I'm going to open myself up to new experiences and I'm going to challenge myself more often.  I need to do some more work to figure out exactly what all this is going to look like, but I'm on my way.

I like to think of goals for the year instead of New Year's Resolutions, it just feels like a little less pressure to me.  How about you?  What do you want to accomplish this year?  Write it down below in the comments section...you never know, you just might make it happen!

Goal Setting - 2014

I'm a big believer in setting goals, so when I came across this video I was really intrigued.  It's a slightly different way of going about it all, starting with the emotion you want to feel and then figuring out what you need to do to feel that way.

           

It's kind of a long video, but if you're into this kind of thing I'll think you'll enjoy it.  I'm definitely going to look for the book that they're talking about the next time I'm at the book store.

MarieTV is a pretty neat place that's all about living an inspired life and figuring out how to overcome obstacles to reach your goals and live a life you love.  Check it out, who knows...this could be the year of your dreams!

Happy 2014!