In a groove

It’s the little things that make it feel like this is home…little things like patterned paper, double-sided tape, potting soil, packets of seeds, and projects in mind.

A couple days ago, I headed to the pillow making lady to get some new throw pillows made for my living room. I bought some great Vera Bradley fabric (for you lovers of Vera, I only paid $2.50 a yard!!) because my otherwise beige living area was in desperate need of color. Many colors. Anyway, I also had an idea in mind for some new curtains. Armed with Pinterest photos and my limited language abilities, I spent a good half hour trying to relay what I wanted. I wasn’t super successful, but it was really edifying to be able to communicate a little by myself…even if a laptop with a translator enabled was involved…

The couch isn’t anything I’d ever pick out, but it is what it is.  I love seeing all the bright, happy colors when I look into the living room

I also love all these people laying on my bright, happy pillows…

While out ordering the pillows, I stopped by the trusted flower vendor to get some dirt. I have decided that a little garden on my seventh floor balcony is exactly what I need. Lucky for me, my great friend made sure there were jalapeño seeds and some herb seeds in her last box. I’ve spent some hours out on that balcony trying to clean up the gazillion pots that are out there. They are filled with concrete type dirt that has to be scraped out with this little green plastic kids shovel I found. It’s so fun. Really. I still have many more hours ahead out there, but at least there is some progress being made!

Because I have so much free time (that was sarcasm in case you missed it), I decided, after spending way too much time perusing Pinterest, that the girls teachers needed a little pick me up for all the hard work they out into teaching my babies. My Sunday was spent making the little “extra” gifts…it would have been much more pleasing to the eye if the gum actually had EXTRA written in English and not Chinese…

Also on the horizon is a gift for all the neighbors in our building (only 17). May Day is a hugely celebrated holiday here, so I thought it would be a good gesture to hang a little something on their door. I’ll let you know how it goes once I actually make them…you know, before Wednesday…