Sweaters & socks

Fall has arrived in China.

 

Thank goodness!

That summer heat was NO joke.

Sweltering, I tell ya.

I whole heartedly welcome the cooler, slightly crisp mornings we've been having. In fact, I've even started running with Sal after NZ leaves for the office. I use the term "running" loosely..it's more of a run, jog, speed walk, gasp for air, flail my arms kind of outing..but I do it, and that's all that matters, right? I suit up in Capri leggings and a short sleeve T, and Sal usually sports a long sleeve onesie and some athletic pants. Perfect for the weather.

It's quickly become apparent to me, that Sal and I (and some of our expat friends) are the only ones who find this weather enjoyable.

Looking at any Chinese out and about, it's obvious they believe otherwise.

We're talking winter coats on adults, children in layers upon layers, and babies dressed up in fleece suits and covered with blankets.

Clearly, it's cold in their eyes.

So, as with anything here that's different, or out of the norm, we get stared at on our daily run. I get stares, glares, and even yelled at.

Why are they yelling at me?

Because Sal needs a sweater.

Yes, I've been flagged down more than once to be reprimanded for my child a) not wearing socks, and b) not wearing a jacket.

People, we're talking high 60's, low 70's here.

Not cold. Comfortable.

I usually charade back and forth ( or just keep running) that he is okay. He's not cold ( the sweaty nape of his neck seems to be sufficient evidence-my kid's a furnace), he's not going to get sick ( Chinese culture believes that cold weather makes one catch colds), and we're just fine without the unsolicited advice.

Most of the time I let the looks of disgust roll of my back, but every so often it really gets to me. I have to remind myself that this is just a cultural difference between us and them...and that neither way is wrong. Just different.

I can't wait to see what happens when true winter rolls around. I picture little Chinese boys and girls wobling around like the kid in "A Christmas Story", barely able to move in his/her snowsuit..all the while, we finally cave in and put sweaters on.

Cause you know, we don't want to catch a cold or anything.

Make it: Kids Valentines

This year, I'm feeling more festive. I decided that Sal's cousins, all boys, ranging in ages from 11 months to 5 years old, needed Valentine's from the little guy. I'm not exactly sure where I saw the idea for the older boy's mailbox filler, but I am pretty sure it was probably the girls over at eighteen25.

Rather than fill the mailboxes, which, by the way were a steal at $1 a piece in Target's dollar bins, with candy and sweets, I chose age appropriate matchbox cars for the older two, and a pair of red socks and a cardboard baby book for the youngest.

I made tags for the matchbox cars that read " Valentine, I wheelie like you" and the socks that read " Valentines would stink without you" on my silhouette SD machine. I like to use my sihouette for my print projects as well as my diecut projects, because of the handy gridlines, and sizing rulers that the program has to offer.

The matchbox car package was a bit too big for the mailbox, so I cut down the packaging to fit.

And the socks...

All packaged up and ready to give to his cousins on Valentine's Day!

Make it: baby leg warmers

Have you seen these?

I ran across Baby Legs, and love the idea of simplifying diaper changes ( no pants to take off) while keeping babies legs warm and protected while crawling.

However, at $12-$15 a pair, I thought to myself, they can't possibly be that difficult to make on my own. I was right!

I found a tutorial over at everything your mama made & more and made my own boyish version for just $2.

First I bought a pair of knee high socks at Target for $2