Series – Page 5 – Olivebell

Category: Series

Baby Shower

I had my baby shower last weekend. It only took me 4 months to plan:) No, but seriously… I started making those tissue flowers in January. I even ordered the peach coloured tissue paper off of etsy. Dane if you’re reading this… I’m sorry. I totally lied. That tissue paper was not from the dollar store. And if we’re telling truths… that dress I bought a few weeks ago? Also not from Value village. It was from anthropologie. Not that you believed me anyways, but still….

Anyways, this baby shower. I think I kinda went DIY crazy and overt the top everything because I wanted to. HA! I dunno… Pinterest became a “thing” after I got married, so my wedding was all DIY, but now with the world of Pinterest helping guide it. Like, lime green bridesmaid dresses? I’m sorry to my bridesmaids. I made you look like Shrek and Fiona. But in fairness, I’ve always been one to make everything myself. I wanna be in control of everything. I learned that when I was planning my wedding. My name is Claudia, and I’m a control freak. Like I get anxious watching Dane cook. Garlic powder? Sure! And we might as well throw in some paprika and cumin in there too. He NEVER follows a recipe. He looks at a recipe only to see what he can change. We’re polar opposites in that sense. So long story short… I made most of everything at this shower. And I truly enjoyed every minute of it. Dane however, did not. There was tissue paper scraps and fake flower petals everywhere since January. I love him. He let me be the nutty DIYer I wanted to be, with only 6 to 8 complaints per day. Which is pretty good.

Thank you to my lovely friend Afton who was just as excited for this shower as I was. Thank you for being the crazy aunty who bought this little one just as much clothes as I have. Thank you for all the pins you sent me on Pinterest, even though I knew you had no intention of touching a glue gun. Thank you for helping set everything up. Thank you for standing in line for over an hour to get the macarons from the duchess. But mostly, thank you for just genuinely being excited for me, and for this babe, and for this shower. Xoxo.

To my Momma. I definitely did not get my DIYness from you. I got my firecracker personality from you. (Poor dad and Dane). But thank you anyways for trying to glue hundreds of coffee filters together to make flowers while Barca was playing. I know it was painful to not fully give Lionel Messi your attention. Don’t worry, they won anyways. Thanks for helping with absolutely everything. And to the people who were wondering if she was actually my mom, and not my sister? I promise she’s my mom. You haven’t seen her “mom” face when we were little. Or have you ever snuck out your window at 16? I did. She’s definitely my mom. But I agree with you too, she’s beautiful. Maybe I’ll get lucky and look like her when I grow up:)

See all these amazing pictures? I didn’t take them. My friend Melissa from http://www.bespoke-photography.com. did. She’s the best. And she totally gets my style and loves a good DIY. Like when I met her, she literally said “DIY is my middle name.” Thanks to Melissa for being so willing to take these for me, and for being good at it. Also, for the adorable moccasins. I’m in love. Go check out her blog:)

Thank you to EVERYONE for coming and making me feel like I’m this glowing, radiant pregnant woman with the cutest little bump. I know you’re all just liars. Trust me, I have a mirror. But thanks for all the warm wishes, hugs, and for just being here, I truly had a great day and loved having you here.

To all my friends who brought food, or volunteered to bring something, again, I know I was a bit of a space case that day, but thank you SO much. I loved the dip (Julie! PS- people were still talking about it after you left), Meliss, your punch was amazing, and clearly my mom thought your dispenser was the coolest. And your cute veggie cups, my dad and Dane both thought that was pretty genius. I mostly ate your fruit dip with a spoon;) Barb, for you banana punch and squares… I don’t think you’ve ever made something I haven’t loved though. (Maybe rare roast beef, but that was Rick’s request, haha!) Brooklyn!! Your cupcakes! My dad legit said “I hate cupcakes, but I ate 3 of the ones at your shower.” When people asked if I had made them, not gonna lie… I totally contemplated saying “why yes. yes I did.” Jenna, your cheesecake only had one slice left over, and that’s because I hid it in the fridge for me to eat later that night. And that’s the truth.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to you all. You’re a pretty neat bunch to have in my life:) And pretty soon, little bean in my tummy will have you all too.

Love, me.

April 7, 2016
2 Comments
by Claudia

Personal

50 Facts about me

: Here’s a bonus fact:

: I take selfies of outfits I shouldn’t be buying….

: All at anthropologie:)

1). English is my second language

2). I can speak 2 languages (Spanish and English)

3.) I’m married to my high school sweetheart

4). I love to travel, and have been to 14 countries

5). I have an irrational fear of my collar bone being touched

6). I love the water

7). My favourite movie is The Count of Monte Cristo

8). I collect cookbooks

9). I love to cook and bake

10). I am a DIY fanatic

11). I love the mountains

12). My favourite flower is a peony

13). I can’t whistle

14). I used to be a massage therapist

15). I was a lumberjack 2 summers ago and chainsawed trees with my best friend

16). I can do a handstand

17). Favourite song is “country roads” by John Denver

18). I could eat chicken fingers everyday (I know… that’s what children order).

19). I have one younger brother

20). I’ve never gotten a speeding ticket

21). I’ve never been hospitalized

22). My birthday is on the longest day of the year

23). I love to read and I reread books all the time

24). My favourite food is my husbands ribs

25). I have no tattoos or piercings

26). I hate ugly feet (go cut your flipping toenails people!!)

27). I always start my diets and workout plans on a Monday

28). I always quit my diets and workouts by Tuesday

29). I love lace and gold spray paint

30). I love boho

31). I enjoy photography

32). I am forever buying unnecessary little trinkets

33). I still can’t figure out which way North or South is (I swear it’s a girl thing… sorry to the girls who actually know)

34). Technically, I don’t know which way East or West is either

35). Every cheesecake I’ve made has been a fail

36). My pie is probably better than your grandma’s though

37). I love canning (basically I’m a grandma in a 28 year old body)

38). Fish and seaweed DO NOT freak me out like it does with 99% of women

39). Mice however……..

40). I saved a calf once in the middle of the night with my friend (It was more like 10:00 pm and Dane did all the work)

41). I saved a moose calf last spring (Again, Dane did all the work, I recorded and freaked out over the mom coming)

42). I saved a baby crow that fell out of it’s nest (Dane did all the work and pretty sure a cat ate him after cuz he fell out again)

43). I don’t cry in movies. Period.

44). I actually like McDonald’s

45). I hate steak

46). I like brussel sprouts and beets

47). I love coke (the drink, and yes, I’m aware it’s bad for me)

48). I always have gum and lip balm with me ( I got your back)

49). I own 4 pairs of Birkenstocks and liked them before they were cool

50). I do crossfit (That’s a lie, but I couldn’t think of another “fact” about me. Here’s one- I’ve never done crossfit in my life)

Peace out homies

April 4, 2016
2 Comments
by Claudia

Personal, Series

Cabin Life

One of the views from the trails

Trestle Creek Golf Course

Have you ever heard of Entwistle? Me either. But that’s where Dane asked if I’d like to live this summer. The golf course he has been working at for the last four years is right by this tiny little town. It has 534 people. Anyways, this golf course. It has this cabin about a kilometre up the gravel road from the course. I was not too keen on living in the woods, in a cabin. And then I saw it. I went from being not to keen, too most definitely NOT keen AT ALL. It had wood panelling on the walls, orange tiles that were cool in 1974, and even then I’m pretty sure you had to be pretty stoned to think that it looked good. It had about 769 dead flies on the floor too, along with red cupboards. Long story short, Dane painted the walls, painted the cupboards, changed the flooring, and put in new white baseboards. And we CLEANED. With every chemical we could get our hands on. Dane built me garden boxes, where we planted vegetables. I even grew my own lavender in a small flower garden.I went from not wanting to live there at all, to not wanting to leave. It’s almost October, and because the cabin isn’t winterized we won’t be able to stay much longer. But I am grateful for this summer. I’m grateful I gave it chance, and I fell in love.

Things I will miss:

1. You’re completely alone

2. The rain sounds one hundred times more beautiful, and the thunder sounds like it’s meant only for you to hear

3. The little froggies that become your music in the evenings

4. The campfires and the warmth it gives you

5. The wind that blows the tree tops and you can’t help but feel that maybe it’s someone saying “hello” to you

6. The sunshine that creeps in through the blinds to greet you

7. The quietness that you hear

8. The trees that surround you

9. The crane, squirrels and grouse that are our neighbours

10. The infamous bear that lives in the trail I do my runs on that I’ve never met

11. Perfect mornings when there is still dew on every single blade of grass

12. The peace that you feel while being here

13. The cotton candy sunsets

14. The simplicity of life, the pace of nature

15. Not having reception or wifi

Things I will not miss:

1. Not having reception of wifi (it’s a double edged sword you see)

2. Running out of water

3. Limited space in the kitchen

4. All the flies

5. The rustling in the woods on the trails when you’re convinced its that old bear people talk about

I don’t want to leave the cabin, this little home I have. I want to stay forever and pretend that there is nothing bad that happens in real life, outside these walls. I want to pretend that I am Laura Ingalls, wild and free. I want to pretend that I am some serious hippy that can easily live off the land. But we all know that isn’t true. I like pinterest, and shopping, and I like water that doesn’t smell like sewer. Isn’t it funny how we realize how much we appreciate something once it’s gone? Well, I suppose that’s how I am feeling right now. I know that my days at the cabin are coming to an end, and it’s now that I’m regretting not having more campfires, it’s now I’m regretting not exploring more trails, it’s now I’m regretting not listening to the birds for a little bit longer.

September 29, 2015
0 comment
by Claudia

Series, Travel

Phillipines 2015

We sold our house, and with the money we made off of it, we decided the wisest thing probably to do was to put it towards our next home. Or buy silver. Or save it. So here we are in the Philippines 🙂 P.s- we ain’t the sharpest tools in the shed, but at least we’re tools in the Philippines!!

We flew into Manila, which took us almost 48 hours with layovers and all that lovely jazz. It’s a busy, loud, smelly, and overwhelming city that if you give it a chance, overlook the fact that it is dirty, and there is poverty, it’s quite a lovely place to find yourself in. There is culture everywhere, there are some of the friendliest people you will ever meet, along with some of the weirdest foods you might ever try….. if you’re brave enough. People told us before flying to Manila we would hate it. That it was too crowded, too much pollution, too busy. And it was. But the thing is, how can you complain when you’re travelling? Its something new, something you may never get to experience again, so just take it all in, enjoy it. You may never get to come back, and at the end of the day, you still get to go back to your home. I loved Manila. Is it my favourite city? Heck no! But I refuse to complain about being given the chance to experience it. Go do a market tour and see how the locals live, you may just find yourself kicking yourself for complaining. I did. Doesn’t stop me from complaining now… but it’s an eye opener. So go ahead, fly to Manila and have your eyes opened.

Boracay is lovely. It’s a long skinny island just off the mainland of Cataclan. It’s very touristy, with lots to see and eat, and lots to fall in love with. Like the kids selling mangos on white beach. If you go, try and find a kid named Toto. He’s a hustler, tell him I say “hey”. The mangos alone are worth going to Boracay for. Unless you hate mangos, then it wouldn’t be. Go to the Sunny Side Cafe and order the mango pancakes that are the size of your face. Eat all of it and don’t step on a scale for awhile. What else…. Cliff jump off Crystal Cove and swim like Nemo back to the ladder, waves are crazy. Watch the sunset. Every night. Oh! And eat lunch at the Lemon Grass Cafe and tell all the ladies there thank you again for keeping my phone for me when I left it there one night, my bad. Even if you stay at the crappiest hotel, eat the crappiest food, and meet the crappiest people (you won’t, but I’m just saying), you will be swimming in some of the warmest turquoise waters, with some of the whitest, softest sand your ugly toes may ever feel. I’m sorry if you have pretty toes.

Palawan. Another Island. Puerto Princessa is Palawans capitol, which is where we stayed for a few days. It wasn’t MY favourite, but Dane, my husband really enjoyed it. My favourite night was when we went to the boardwalk along the beach where there’s all these little shops and places to eat, kinda where all the locals go to chill. Anyways, we bought 5 dozen donuts and went to this boardwalk and started handing out donuts to all the locals. You know that saying “news spreads like wildfire?” (Is that how the saying goes?) Whatever, well news spread that this tall white guy with a short lady that could possibly be Filipino were handing out FREE DONUTS! So in just a short while we had a bunch of little kids following us around, and some adults too, cuz adults like donuts too ya know! The people’s grins were worth it, and I will always remember the night I shared donuts with Filipino locals instead of eating them all myself.

Maribel was a lady we met in Puerto Princessa. After knowing us for about 3 hours, and telling her we were on our way to El Nido, she offered us her home to stay in. Remember when I said you might meet me of the nicest people there? So off we went, she and her husband picked us up and drove us 3 hours to her home between Puerto Princessa and El Nido. We stayed in a really cool Tree house right by the ocean. Her family was also visiting, and her little 10 year old niece Precious, yes, that’s her name, and a bunch of other little kids, were who we spent most of the evening with. We met another little boy named Toto who stole our hearts. He was three and fearless. I hope that if I have a little boy one day, he’s just like him.

El Nido. I can’t say much about El Nido because we were only there for two nights. We missed the ball on booking a place to stay, so we ended up in a tiny room with no a/c, in +37 degree weather. So basically we slept in a greenhouse. I can say that it’s beautiful, small, and fairly quiet. Right now anyways, it’s on it’s way to becoming a hot spot for tourists. We did get to do a snorkelling/island hopping tour, where we got to see the REAL LIFE NEMO AND MARLIN!!!! It was a baby clown fish with it’s dad clownfish I’m assuming, because Pearl was eaten by a shark. That made the whole greenhouse fiasco worth it.

Philippines is beautiful. It’s vibrant and colourful, with sunshine and sand and lovely beaches with even lovelier people. #itsmorefuninthephilippines

This post is long, so I apologize. If you read it, I award you with a hero cookie. I don’t have one to give you at this exact moment, but maybe if I figure out this whole blogging thing I can post my recipe for my chocolate chip hero cookies! They’re pretty awesome. I know they are because I eat a lot of cookies. Talk so0n!!

~Claudia