Miss Longstocking

... wasn't very cooperative when I tried to take these pictures. But what Pippi Longstocking in her right mind would be. :)

Kitchen table

Haa-o friends (that's how Sisie says Hello right now). How was your weekend? Mine was efficient. We organized and cleaned, and made this kitchen table from a piece of oak counter-top bought at Bauhaus and Vika Runtorp legs from IKEA. Short and sweet.

I really liked our old table, too, but while it fit the four of us (yes, four! That's many), it was too small for when we were having friends or grandparents or imaginary friends over.

That lovely print is by sweet Katarina K.

PS ... And this is the old table:

It's a solid wood table from the 60s or 70s (it's heavy!), I refurbished it myself. The top is high-gloss white glass (perfect for wiping.. ). E-mail me for details if you are interested in buying it. (zweischlitzohren.ät.gmail.döt.com).

Happy week and heeeee-eei (as Sisie says)! I'll be busy preparing for the party on Saturday. See you later!

Pippi

We are practicing for next week's birthday party, which will be Pippi Longstocking themed, and will involve  a lot of walking on and jumping off furniture (and other such great stuff). Fe has been counting down to this birthday for what seems like the last eight months.

I love that birthdays are big and grand in childhood. They should be.

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The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai, c. 1829-32.

My thoughts are in Japan.

DIY Non-toxic Watercolors

I saw these easy DIY watercolors the other day and had to try making some, too.

Oh... it was so much fun! 

And very, very easy, too; using ingredients I already had at home.

Didn't they turn out beautifully?

You'll need:

3 tbsp baking soda

3 tbsp corn starch

3 tbsp white vinegar

1 1/2 tpbsp light corn syrup 

(we used dark, and it was fine, too)

various food colors

Combine the baking soda, corn starch, vinegar and corn syrup. It'll fizz (fun! It's a magic potion!). 

After the fizzing has subsided, mix completely. 

Pour the mix into whatever containers you want to use for the paints 

(I used these very convenient no-spill paint mixing tubs that I brought from Tallinn, 

but you could use anything).

Pour in the food colors, mix and match, and see what colors you get! 

Let them harden for about half a day. After that, pour out excessive liquids.

This was such a wonderful little colorful project for me and the girls. 

The best part is that the colors are non-toxic and they are safe even for little Sisie to use. 

Happy day!

PS A few more pictures of our Tallinn trip here (I am that blur on the couch) and here.

Pretty in Pink

This morning, I forgot that it was Tuesday today, which means we missed kerho (playschool). I simply forgot! Seriously, sometimes I don't know whether I'm coming or going. Fé, who tends to be overly dramatic, was mortified, so I told her she could pick any activity and we'd do it, and of all the things she could have picked, she picked dress-up. Specifically, dress up as princess (of course).

Unlike other girls, Fé a real princess. But Sisie stole her ladyship's sun glasses and court hat. Sometimes it's hard to be a princess. (Also: siblings keep you grounded.) (Also: Sisters are awesome.)

It's Mardi Gras / laskiainen today. I'm always a bit grumpy because they don't have Carnival here, but we decided to follow Finnish tradition and made laskiaispulla (Shrove buns, ie cardamom buns with jam and cream... our jam turned out a bit runny...) People in Finland traditionally also go sledding and eat pea soup. Strange, but fun.