Weekend Flyer

After having Collette, hobbies just faded. She became my full time hobby! It took me awhile to even miss flying; I've been so busy. I'm not sure what reawakened my desire to fly but I'm so glad it has. Flying is a very freeing hobby but sometimes for someone like me... perfectionist and worrier, the stresses of it can overtake the joy. I think that's why it was so easy for me to stray from it, but I've decided that I've done all this work to attain it and I'm going to put it to use! 

Since I'm so rusty my dad offered to do some retraining with me, it's a relief to have someone to go flying with who truly loves flying and loves being the know it all teacher hehe sorry dad but you know it's true! If it weren't for my dad I wouldn't be half the pilot I am. He likes to quiz me on all things aviation, bugs me to fly when I haven't flown... Annoying , yes but also most helpful. 

Pattern work (landing and taking off over and over for practice): As a mama I say Yucka to this, boring yet rewarding flying. I love to see the sites of flying, visit new places, pattern work offers neither. But it's a necessary evil especially to someone who's rusty. So today this is pretty much all me and pops did. 

Patten work also is radio work if your at a controlled airport. The radio frightened me at first. I remember finishing my lesson and the instructor saying "next time I'm not saying a word it's all you", I dreaded that next lesson more than getting my wisdom teeth out. But the day came and I faced it as prepared as I could be and made it through, reluctantly. Now when I talk on the radio I do it with confidence and that just comes with time. If your just starting out don't worry about making a mistake even the seasoned pilots do. With my initial radio call I always stated "student pilot" so as to say "hey you, give me a break I'm trying to learn here and fly this plane at the same time". Can you sense a little frustration? Tower folk *sideways squinty eyed stare*. Sometimes I hear others on the radio, butchering things; & I feel for them. it's embarrassing but just know not everyone is laughing and judging you, granted probably lots are but we've all been there!

Well maybe next time I'll get out of Chino and have some better pictures to share, until then✌️.

French Provincial Dresser Make Over

French Provincial has always caught my eye. Especially in white. We had bought a small dresser for Collette's room as the first addition to her nursery. A year later I decided I wanted a larger dresser with a matching nightstand. So I found and bought both off of craigslist in great shape. They are slightly different but with the same hardware and paint it will look matching!

 

 

You see many variations of these dressers on Pinterest. Most are just painted but still have the old hardware. I love the shape of the dresser and nightstand but have never been fond of the hardware. Luckily I have access to a professional painter, I told him that I wanted a high gloss white and all the holes from the original hardware filled in so I could install new. He did a great job. The dresser looked amazing, and completely transformed.

 

This is the hardware I had picked out before even starting the dresser. I hope it looks as good as I pictured it.

 

The pulls were easy to find. I thought I would use these on the 6 drawers on the dresser and the 2 drawers on the nightstand. After receiving them, they looked great for the dresser but way too large for the nightstand. So I decided to do the same knobs as I did on the dresser for the nightstand.

 

  Here is the finished project. Ah, I love this big dresser. It works great for a changing table and after that phase it will still be a staple piece in Collette's room for many years to come. The nightstand matches great and looks very dainty/girly in her room. The dresser also came with a mirror so we had it painted too but are storing it until we need it. The white gloss paint and new hardware gave this furniture a new life.

 

Collette's Birthday Party

Collettes Winter ONE-derland party was so much fun. My mom and I had a blast decorating the night before and we had lots of Christmas decor that fit right in.

 

Collette's baby book served as the guest book. It's a picture book you can fully customize. I found Mixbook recently and have already made 3 different picture books and a calendar! It's basically digital scrapbooking and every one has come out cuter than the last, as I get more familiar with the capabilities. You Add in your own text including all baby book must haves (1st tooth, words, ect.). I did her pictures in chronological order and I left the last page blank so guests were able to write her a sweet happy birthday note to read when she's older. It was made from the website Mixbook,I usually start a project and order when they have a 50% off sale which is often!   

 

 

 

The favor ornaments were hung on a tree I had as a Christmas decoration and the jar favors lined up on the same table. The tutorial for these is here.

 

The cake was done at a nearby bakery called Pila's Pantry, and tasted great! The cake topper was ordered off of Etsy from ModernBlooms. I love how the topper came out, and its a great keepsake.

 

The ONE banner was also ordered on Etsy from LaCremeBoutique. Initially I had planned on hanging it on Collette's highchair but since it was too big, we used it as a backdrop.

 

 

Collette's onsie said Birthday girl on a pink "sash", I wish I had a better picture of it! From Madibethcreations.

 

 

Collette, to my surprise didn't even try to take her hat off ! The cake was a perfect distraction. Her hat was so cute, and just the right proportion for her head. After searching for a while and looking over many Etsy shops I finally found it on Kutie Bow Tuties. I told you I had an Etsy obsession:)