Welcome To JillVille!

5 Things Making Me Happy Today...

2012-01-14T10:41:00.000-08:00

1. Spending a lazy, luxurious morning on Pinterest.

2. Finally (as in, after over two years!!) getting my digital photo frame set up and being able to watch a slideshow of photos of my three beautiful children, and the rest of my family, anytime I glance over.

3. Snow!! The first snow of the winter. It's already melting, and heavy and slushy with water, but it's a nice change.

4. Nowhere to go, nothing pressing to do.

5. Coffee by the fire.

3 A.M. Eternal Revisited...

2011-12-23T05:27:00.000-08:00

Way back in March 2007, I wrote a blog post entitled, '3 a.m. eternal'. Now, over four years later, I've awoken at - you guessed it, 3 am. 3 am seems to be my witching hour, and oh what a wonderful witching hour it is. Not. For whatever reason, when I wake up in the middle of the night, I can almost guarantee it - the clock will read 3 am. 'On the dot', as they say.

So here I am tonight having woken up at 3 am on the dot - or, I should say, here I am this morning having woken up at 3 am on the dot. Why? Well, it seems my brain decided it would be a good idea to start rehashing a class that I attended earlier this evening. Or actually, yesterday evening. Or maybe it's 'earlier this 24-hour-period evening'. Oh, I don't know! (Insomnia is nothing if not confusing! Sheesh!)

As is so often the case, I digress.

I am taking part in a course called 'Changeways'. It is a requirement of a bigger endeavour of mine, which is weight loss surgery. The last half hour of every class is spent writing down three goals for the coming week. One of my goals this time was to start a blog. When I wrote 'Start a blog', I meant start a new blog on a website called Obesity Help. Why start a new blog? My new blog is going to be specifically about weight loss surgery. Way back in February 2007, when I started this blog, I wrote in my first ever post that blogging is therapeutic. That is why I want to start another blog that is specific to my weight loss journey. The more therapeutic weapons in my arsenal, the better, right?!

It's funny/interesting to me, looking back at this blog. With this most recent post I've referenced my first ever blog post as well as what turns out to be my second-ever blog post - '3 a.m. eternal'. Ta-da!! Full circle!

I haven't been blogging very much at all lately. As in, this is my first post in over five months. Writing a post with the label, 'Insomnia' is NOT how I imagined my triumphant return! Oh well. One thing is certain. 'Blogging really is therapeutic' - me, February 23, 2007. So, if one blog is good, two must be better...? ("Talk about going from zero to sixty", she mutters to herself). Am I going to be able to keep up with myself? "Speed. I am speed." - Lightning McQueen, 'Cars'. Hmmm...I'm hopeful!

So now I think I hope I think that I can post this, turn off my computer, and go back to sleep. Fingers crossed I'm not back here at 3 am writing a post with the label 'Insomnia' for a really, really long time!

Summer is my drug of choice...

2011-07-08T11:41:00.000-07:00

Oh dear, sweet, Summer - you have returned to me!! I love you so much...

Thank goodness for summer. It's quite amazing to me how much more energetic and motivated I become in summer. Winter puts me in such a state of hibernation, and coming out of it is a long, slow process - especially given the dark, wet springtime conditions that we experience in such generous proportions here on the West Coast. Summer is struggling to get established here this year. Last weekend was spent in Penticton, BC, which is a provincial hot spot. It was wonderful, especially since here at home, in Metro Vancouver, it was unseasonably wet and cold. I soaked up the sun in the Okanagan, and then returned home to find the sun here too - hallelujah!! Then, yesterday - rainstorm. Dark. Cold. Wet. I felt like I was going to explode!! Just as summer is arriving, it's snatched back again. Torture, I tell you!! Today - well, no rain yet, occasional bursts of sun through the clouds, and being the obsessive weather watcher I am, The Weather Network tells me that it's going to be a few days before more seasonally appropriate weather returns. Bollocks!! Barely. Hanging. On...

In other news...My dear, sweet, brown-eyed boy turned 8 on July 5th. We spent most of the day on the road, driving home from Penticton. Casey didn't mind at all. He's so easy and agreeable!! After getting home and having dinner, we sang 'Happy Birthday', enjoyed some chocolate birthday cake, and Casey opened his presents - a new DS game (Lego Pirates of the Caribbean' and a football). We're planning a 'kids party' for later in the month, and Steve is planning a BBQ here at home with family for Casey's birthday and for mine. The big 4-0! That's a whole other blog post.

So far, summer vacation is going very well. Having the kids home for 9 weeks in the summer can be the best of times or the worst of times. I've seen several friends on Facebook whose status updates say things like, "They're bored already!". We're almost two weeks in, and knock on wood, things are going swimmingly. I've got game plans galore, and contingency plans to boot. Summer 2011 is shaping up to be epic - now off to seize the day!

2011-04-03T12:17:00.001-07:00

This is an email that my sister forwarded to me. I laughed out loud reading it - and I could relate to it a little bit too much for my liking!

11 Step Program for those thinking of having kids

Lesson 1

1. Go to the grocery store.
2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home.
4. Pick up the paper.
5. Read it for the last time.

Lesson 2

Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their…

1. Methods of discipline.
2. Lack of patience.
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.
4. Allowing their children to run wild.
5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child’s breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.

Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

Lesson 3

A really good way to discover how the nights might feel…

1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)

2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.

3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.

4. Set the alarm for 3AM.

5. As you can’t get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.

6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.

7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.

8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.

9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive) Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.

Lesson 4

Can you stand the mess children make? To find out…

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.

2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.

3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.

4. Then rub them on the clean walls.

5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.

6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

Lesson 5

Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.

1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.

2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out. Time allowed for this – all morning.

Lesson 6

Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don’t think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don’t look like that.

1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there.

2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.

3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.

4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car. Lesson 7 Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week’s groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

Lesson 8

1. Hollow out a melon.

2. Make a small hole in the side.

3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.

4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.

5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.

6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air. You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.

Lesson 9

Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you’re thinking What’s ‘Noggin’?) Exactly the point.

Lesson 10

Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying ‘mommy’ repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each ‘mommy’; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Lesson 11

Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the ‘mommy’ tape made from Lesson 10above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

(This is all very tongue in cheek; anyone who is parent will say ‘it’s all worth it!’ Share it with your friends, both those who do and don’t have kids. I guarantee they’ll get a chuckle out of it. Remember, a sense of humor is one of the most important things you’ll need when you become a parent!)

7 Things about me that you were dying to know, but were afraid to ask...

2011-03-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

My friend, Eleonor, chose lil' ol' me to nominate for a Stylish Blogger Award. Aw, shucks!! I've known Eleonor for several years now through our mutual love for paper crafting. Eleonor is The Queen of creative cards!! Check out her blog here. Thanks, Eleonor, for the shout out! And by the way, you said that I'm the 'funniest redhead you've ever seen'...I'm kinda hopin' you meant, 'met'?!

The conditions for receiving/accepting The Stylish Blogger Award are:

Nominess keep the love going by:

1.Writing seven things about yourself.
2.Presenting the award to six bloggers.
3.Contacting those people.
4.Creating a link back to the person who did this for you.

So, here are, in no particular order of importance or relevance...7 Things About Me...

1. As Eleonor pointed out, I am a redhead. A 'natural' redhead. Or at least, I was born as one...these days, it takes a little bit of help. My sister is a redhead, my father is a redhead, his three siblings are redheads, his parents were both redheads...you get the idea, right?! LOTS OF REDHEADS!! I was fully expecting to have at least one redheaded child of my own...but no such luck. Brunettes of varying degrees, all three. My sister's daughter is also a brunette. I think that the chain of redheads in this family has been broken. Bummer.

2. Not only do I have the distinction of being a redhead - I also turned out left handed! I don`t know what the significance of this factoid is...I suspect that it has no significance whatsoever, but it`s one more step on my way to the qualifying, magical number seven! Yay!

3. I visited Disneyland for the first time in my life just over a month ago. It was also the first time in my life that I've flown on a 'big' plane (a jet). Makes me sound so small-town, doesn't it?! I actually had a bit of a fear of flying, which I overcame more easily that I thought I would. A feather in my cap!

4. Sometimes I imagine myself in dynamic and rewarding alternate careers...some of these are: Police officer, photographer, children's singer/entertainer, massage therapist, clinical counsellor, prosecuter, horticulturalist/landscape designer, librarian, interior designer, DJ, full-time artist, fashion consultant to the stars...and more!

5. I still remember my Grade 6 teacher calling me a 'voracious reader', which is an accurate description to this day.

6. I am very competitive.

7. I am the coach of my 7 year old son's soccer team. This is my second year coaching. I love it, but I have also learned that playing soccer and coaching soccer are two very different things!! My son loves that I am his coach and wants me to be his coach again next year. I wonder how much longer he will think it is cool that his mom is his coach?

Oh my goodness - I must just be a humble little thing because coming up with 7 things about myself was hard!! And, it took me over three weeks to do it! Now, it's my turn to tag six bloggers, plus the blogger who nominated me...

1. Eleonor (who tagged me)
2. Debby - Love this woman - very inspiring!!
3. Hilary - A very interesting woman!
4. Sandy - A mover and a shaker!!
5. Cari - Beautiful AND creative!
6. Erica - Cute, clever, and creative.

I'm supposed to tag seven bloggers, but truthfully - I don't know many bloggers personally, or to the extent that I would tag them in something like this...I'm SO close though at six...I beg your forgiveness!

Git 'Er Done Challenge at The Inspired Scrapper...

2011-01-25T12:44:00.000-08:00

This week's scrapbooking challenge over at The Inspired Scrapper is to finish an incomplete layout/project. I am guilty of having several (or more!) pages in varying states of completion, so I had plenty to choose from. I settled on the page below, which is about my youngest child's 3rd birthday last year. He will be four in a few short weeks, so I thought it was timely.

*Photo Disclaimer - I don't take very good pictures of 2-page layouts! This is the best that I could do...how sad is that?!

I felt pretty good about the basic composition, but this page is obviously lacking those 'finishing touches'. When I first sat down and started staring at this page, I was completely lacking any kind of inspiration or direction. I was in the process of packing it up again and choosing something else when I told myself to stop!! If I did that, I would just end up having to look at it again sometime, and I thought that this was the perfect opportunity to push myself through a creative block.

Here is the finished layout:

I must say, I am very pleased with the final product! I have been wanting to try an oh-so-trendy banner for a very long time and it was so easy - I love the result! The huge bonus for me is that I used some very ancient Basic Grey Vagabond fiber to hand the banner's flags from. I loooove using up older product!! I also added some older DCWV rub-ons, and I dug into my abundant stamp stash and used three different older and rarely-used acrylic stamps.

Go check out The Inspired Scrapper for some more finished layouts and their 'before' states, and get yourself motivated to finish one or more of your own!

Multitude Monday - Round 14

2011-01-24T09:39:00.000-08:00

Joining in with A Holy Experience for Multitude Mondays...

200. Lego!!

201. A cheery finish to a week that started out a bit rough.

202. Upcoming trip to Disneyland - my first time to Disneyland, and my first time on a jet!

203. Fond memories of wonderful grandparents.

204. Coffee!

205. The West Coast climate.

206. Funky hats that hide a bad hair day.

207. Finding 5 or 10 minutes throughout the day for mental coffee breaks!

208. The wisdom that age and experience brings.

209. Three children who love their veggies.

Multlitude Monday - Lucky Number Round 13!

2011-01-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

190. Finally getting a new cell phone and learning how to text. I no longer feel like such a dinosaur and I am now able to communicate more easily with my daughter when she is not home. And sometimes when she is!

191. Investing new energy into an old relationship.

192. Friends.

193. Creative sparks.

194. A brand-new school building/site for my son and our neighbourhood - and finally being able to walk there and back. It's brought so many people outside to walk in our neighbourhood, and makes our neighbourhood seem that much more cohesive. Such a great new opportunity!

195. My son's wonderful teacher.

196. Power naps.

197. The best drinking water straight from our tap.

198. Grandparents who love taking their grandchildren for overnights.

199. Music.

Multitude Monday - Round 12

2011-01-16T23:25:00.000-08:00

This, my twelfth round of Multitude Monday, was written but not posted on December 27th, 2010, which explains the seasonal/Christmas references. I am posting it now because it is still very valid, and because I want to move on with my next list of ten things to be grateful for:

181. A relatively low-stress Christmas season

182. 'Modern' indulgences - specifically today, Netflix!

183. Starbucks Eggnog Lattes - such a treat!!

184. The many ways my children make each day such a delight!

185. The long-awaited and much anticipated pedestrian overpass finally being completed up the street, creating a much-appreciated short-cut across the ravine.

186. Living a comfortable lifestyle

187. Having experiences and points of reference in my life that enable me to really appreciate my life today.

188. Having resilience.

189. A husband who provides very well for his family.

190. Coming across THIS post again.

Multitude Monday - Round 11

2010-09-27T07:31:00.000-07:00

Joining in again, thankfully, at ://www.aholyexperience.com/

171. Energy. Not always having it, but always getting it back - if only for a short time!!

172. Lucking into the best neighbourhood in the hemisphere!!

173. My two youngest staying over at their Grandparents house - I so need a break!!

174. Community.

175. Being able to coach my son's soccer team again.

176. Only five more sleeps until a girl's weekend away!!

177. The love and affection my little boys give me!

178. Red wine.

179. The opportunity to catch up on sleep.

180. Balance.

Multitude Monday - Round 10

2010-08-16T01:18:00.000-07:00

161. Wonderful neighbours and friends helping out by taking Cody out for a fun day while I'm home sick. I can't thank them enough!!

162. All the photos I've taken of my kids over the years...such treasures.

163. Being surrounded by people who have a zest for life, happy, positive attitudes, and who see things from the 'glass half full' perspective.

164. The perfect summer break...the kind you don't want to end!

165. Reconnecting with old friends and finding them happy and healthy...

166. Laughter as medicine

167. Sesame Street - just as good - in fact, better - after all these years!

168. My husband indulging my need for 'me' time by taking the kids out for a good chunk of the day and then taking care of them right up until bedtime, leaving me do 'do my thing'!

169. Music, music, and more music.

170. A really good stretch.

Casey says...

2010-07-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

I was looking for something to write with in my bedroom this morning. I didn't find a pen or a pencil, but I did find a note I scribbled almost four years ago. It was dated August 17, 2006, and it was about a sweet moment with Casey when he had just turned three. The note reads, "Casey was sitting in his pj's at the table eating breakfast. All of a sudden he stood up on his chair and said, "I have to go pee!", so I said, "Okay!", lifted him down, took off his nighttime pull-up and followed him to the bathroom. That's when he said in his sweet, gentle way - "You're a helpful little mommy!"

Finding a note like this is like coming across treasure - Casey's words from when he had just turned three. He was younger then than Cody is now. In fact, I was newly pregnant with Cody. Such sweet memories!

For Today - Saturday, July 17, 2010

2010-07-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

Outside my window...my yard, my garden - a perfect balance of kid-friendly and mom-friendly!

I am thinking...about what paint colours I need to pick up when I'm in Vancouver today. Is there a teacher's supply store out this way? I'll have to look into it.

I am thankful...for my husband, my hero - working hard to give me yet another special day for my birthday.

From the kitchen...Steve's BBQ menu - ribs, chicken wings, smokies, veggies and dip, chips and salsa, potato salad...the list goes on!

I am wearing...my pajamas. It's been a loungy morning, but I've got to get cracking...

I am reading...stacks of magazines from the library - Good Housekeeping, Family Circle, House and Home, Canadian Gardening, Ladies Home Journal, etc.

I am hoping...for a cancellation to come up at with the Neurologist - I don't want to wait until October to start figuring out what the heck is going on with this chronic numbness and tingling in my arms!

I am going...to finish this post, hit the shower, and head out to pick up some dirt, some mulch, some paint, and my mother!

I am creating...not much these days, and I am missing it.

I am hearing...Saturday morning in the summer sounds...neighbours talking outside, the back gate opening and closing, little boys at play.

Around the house...I've pulled a few areas together a pleasing way, but it's a work in progress. Thankfully, I feel satisfaction in the process instead of frustration. Slowly but surely...

One of my favorite things...my own, homemade, better-than-Starbucks iced coffee.

A few plans for the rest of the week...a (hopefully) perfect combination of home time and park/beach time.

Here is a picture thought I'm sharing with you:
TWO pictures today - a couple of favorites from the week...

Multitude Monday - Round 9

2010-07-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

151. Getting outside

152. Walking

153. Riding my bike with my kids

154. Coming across fun new arts and crafts ideas

155. A new composter

156. My rain barrel

157. Playing Scrabble with my husband out on our patio at night

158. An unplanned and very fun transit trip to S.F.U. with Casey and Cody

159. A husband who is easygoing and accommodating

160. A fun kids party for Casey

{this moment}, Take 2...

2010-06-25T20:28:00.000-07:00

Joining in..."{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

Multitude Monday - Round 8

2010-06-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

It has been quite awhile since I joined in on Multitude Mondays. I had been posting 20 things that I was grateful for every Monday, but then between one thing and another, I got away from it. It is interesting for me to note that, the less time I spent thinking about and acknowledging the little, everyday things I am thankful for, the harder it has been to think of them and even come up with 20 after all this time! I'm 'out of the habit', so to speak, and I think that this is a perfect example of why it is important to be mindful of the little things every day, because if you are not, you notice them less. And by 'you', I mean me! What do you think?

Today, I am listing ten things that I am thankful for. I hope to be able to get back to my weekly twenty (on my way to one thousand) by next Monday.

141. A night out with two good friends whom I've known since childhood

142. Wet, sloppy, unsolicited kisses from my sweet little boys

143. Being able to sit back and watch my little 3 y.o.'s imagination at play

144. A yard/garden that always has sunny spots

145. A great new neighbourhood where my kids have already made a ton of friends

146. An abundance of windows

147. Hosting family at OUR house for a change!

148. The first day of summer!

149. Getting perspective on my life by hearing about the lives of others

150. Feeling my body respond more easily now to walking 10 km.

Casey's snake...

2010-06-18T21:52:00.000-07:00

Joining in..."{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

Wordless Wednesday...

2010-06-16T21:09:00.001-07:00

Should Be Reading...

2010-06-15T15:59:00.000-07:00

"I found your telephone number on an ID tag, buried with a dog. I was curious about the circumstances.", from U is for Undertow, by Sue Grafton.

"Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!"

7 Quick Takes Friday - Round 6

2010-06-11T09:39:00.001-07:00

1. Today at the Inspired Scrapper, two new designers have been announced and a great new Etsy inspired challenge is posted. If you are into scrapbooking/paper crafting, go have a look!

2. As a general rule/challenge to myself, I try to see the positive side of things. For example, when it's raining, raining, raining, and people are lamenting, complaining, boo-hooing, I have been known to say things like, "Think of how happy the trees are right now!", ,or - "Well, it's good to know my rain catcher is keeping full!". However, I am now officially done with the rain. It's June. Time for sun. Time for summer. Yes, I know it's not actually summer on the calendar, but frankly - I don't care. June rolls around, I expect sunshine - at least 90% of the time. I don't want to jinx myself into a drought situation (NOT that I'm superstitious or anything!) but...enough is enough. Please and thank you.

3. Casey has now been in his new school for three full weeks. He has been exhibiting all the signs of a little boy who has made the transition flawlessly - he comes bounding out of school at the end of each day with his big smile on, racing to the playground to play with new friends. He loves his new teacher, says she is really nice (and I wholeheartedly agree!), he's gotten his first 'new school' birthday party invitation, I hear kids calling, "Hi Casey!" and "Bye Casey!" whenever I pick him up and drop him off...it all makes this Mommy's heart very happy. I never really doubted that he would transition well, but it is great to see such obvious signs. I spoke to his teacher after school today just to check in and hear from her how he is doing, and she said that you would think that Casey had been here from the very beginning of the school year the way he has assimilated into the classroom. This is pleasing to no end!

4. We've only been in our new house for three week. I can't believe it - it feels like we've been here for so much longer...this house feels so much like our home, I really never give thought to our old place at all. There are people in our old neighbourhood that I would like to keep in touch with (though not as many as you'd think after so many years there!), but I don't miss Champlain Heights or Vancouver at all! I really thought I would have a bit of a pang in my heart about it, but...nada! Our new neighbourhood really does feel like 'coming home'. One of our neighbours said, "We have an unusually close neighbourhood, and you fit right in!" - and I can feel that, and I'm loving it!

5. I am also loving my yard, my garden. It's so rewarding, so enjoyable. Between walking Casey to school and back every day (which, until the pedestrian overpass is completed, is 2.6 km. ONE way, meaning I am walking that distance 2 to 4 times a day, 5 days a week!)and doing some pretty heavy duty yard and garden work (hauling rocks and bricks, moving plants in and out, etc.) - I am ingesting a fair amount of Ibuprofen! BUT - I'm not complaining. It's a very gratifying kind of achey feeling at the end of the day! I'm really looking forward to seeing how the yard and garden change and evolve throughout the seasons and from year to year. Note to self - start a garden journal, complete with photos!!

6. I really want to get a composter. I have never had one before, but just thinking about composting gets me all silly with excitement! (Yes, this is the type of thing that excites me! Who would have thought?!) Google 'composting' and you will find that there is no end of titillating information about it at your fingertips! Why does it excite me so? I have been trying to find ways of articulating it, but I can't. I think there is just some primal satisfaction for me in it. I found a composting unit at Home Depot for forty bucks. Not a bad deal at all! I have a feeling that somebody in my life might be planning on buying me a composter for my birthday (does this not sound 'birthday present' worthy to you? To me, it is equal to a gift of jewellry. I am a such simple soul...) My dilemma is - do I wait for another month and find out if indeed my birthday hunch is right, or - do I go ahead and get myself one NOW because waiting is very difficult for me and I've wanted one for so long already...I suspect I will end up making a run back to Home Depot within a week's time! That's ok, though, because there are plenty of other gift ideas that can be provided to anybody who is thinking about my birthday...like, a fancy hose reel, or a skookum nozzle for the hose, or an electric hedge trimmer, ...Can you pick up on a theme here? Anything yard or garden related, and I am one happy girl!

7. World Cup 2010 has kicked off in South Africa. I have to admit, with having had the TV tuned into the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics on an almost full-time basis for the entire length of the Games, and with the Canucks taking to the golfing greens so early (again!) this year, it's great to have such a huge and global sporting event to get excited about! I've always been a solid soccer fan, but mostly as a player(and most recently as a coach), at a local, grassroots level. I have never followed the international scene all that closely, but it is not hard at all to get swept up in the World Cup fever, especially in the Metro Vancouver area where we have such a diverse population of people. I can only imagine the scene on Commercial Drive right now! Having played soccer for several years, watching players compete at the very highest level is quite exhilarating and gets my nerve fibers twitching! Because I have a very basic familiarity and 'feel' for their movements, to see the amazing athleticism, prowess, and grace that these athletes exhibit is stunning and gives me such a breathtaking respect for their abilities...the level of performance that athletes can command their bodies to is absolutely awe inspiring! The World Cup is scheduled to conclude on July 11th...just one more sweet reason for loving summer this year!

For Today - Saturday, June 5th, 2010

2010-06-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

Outside my window...sunshine! A rarity recently. Blue sky with fluffy white clouds. A happy scene!

I am thinking...that I *should* eliminate the word 'should' from my vocabulary.

I am thankful...that the weekend has arrived.

From the kitchen...nuthin'! Since moving, I haven't quite picked up the pace. I'd *like* to make some chocolate chip banana muffins, but won't guarantee I get to it today!

I am wearing...Black capris. Black tshirt. Black fleece pullover. So predictable!

I am reading...'Ruby and Iris', by Rosie Thomas

I am hoping...to get caught up on my R&R this weekend!

I am going...to Ikea for three more dining room chairs.

I am creating...not much lately. Need a mojo boost!

I am hearing...birds chirping, dogs barking, lawnmowers whirring, cars passing...

Around the house...unpacked boxes. Still.

One of my favorite things...going to the library, and now that we've moved, I've got new library branches to explore!! Whee!!

A few plans for the rest of the week...I really don't want to think that far ahead at this point!

Here is a picture thought I'm sharing with you:
Cody with his new little neighbourhood buddy. Not only is she close to Cody's age, but she is as cute as a little button!

Insomnia...

2010-05-25T03:34:00.000-07:00

It has been a loooong time since I've been able to say this, thankfully - but now...I think I've got a touch of the insomnia!! It's been creeping up on me for maybe two weeks - one night here, one night there...at approximately 3 a.m. I wake up. And - I'm awake. Tired, but awake. And I can't get back to sleep. So, after lying in bed for awhile, trying to get back to sleep without thinking too hard about it, I get up because I know that I am not going to be successful this way - i.e. the whole 'trying not to think about going to sleep or about not going to sleep while being unable to sleep' thing. Ugh. So, I get up and come downstairs, and inevitably - end up on the computer. Funny thing about my insomnia (well, NOT funny, but you know what I mean...) is that I'm tired, but I can't sleep, but I'm too tired to do anything useful or productive, so although I'm no longer lying in bed, unable to sleep and frustrated, I'm lying on the couch, unable to sleep and frustrated. And, I already know that in the morning, and throughout the day, I will be tired and wanting to nap, and if given the opportunity, would be able to nap. So why can't I just 'nap' right now?! Argh!

This current bout of insomnia comes during an exciting/stressful/overwhelming/ time in our household, which may or may not be a factor in my sleeplessness. We have purchased our first home and have been packing/purging/preparing like maniacs for the big move, which officially happened this past Saturday. Another factor in my insomnia, which is also related to our big move, is that my handy dandy reading light that clips to my book and provides wonderful light for reading but doesn't disturb anybody else in a dark room in the middle of the night (i.e. my husband) has gone missing! While not in use, my clip-on light is clipped to the cord on my bedside lamp. What I should have done in preparation for moving is taken my clip-on light and stuck it in my purse for safekeeping/convenience. What I did do is wrap some packing tape around the lamp stand/cord/clip-on light so that it would all stay together and tidy for the movers. Problem is, when my bedside lamp arrived in our new house, my clip-on light did not! Ack! I don't know what happened to it, but it does not seem to have made the move after all. So now, one of my most sure-fire methods of getting myself back to sleep after having woken up in the middle of the night - reading - is no longer a convenient, easy, non-disturbing-to-husband, etc. option. So...now what?! I think I'll try giving the old-fashioned and traditional method of falling asleep (you know the one - lying down and closing eyes?) another try. Wish me luck!

7 Quick Takes Friday - Round 5

2010-05-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

Another '7 Quick Takes Friday' brought to you with the help of The Conversion Diary...

1. Fridays mean new challenges at The Inspired Scrapper. This Friday features an 'All Things Animal' challenge - go have a visit!

2. Last week I took a drive out to our new city/neighbourhood to register my son for school. Since I was out that way, I decided to take a drive around to get 'the lay of the land'. I drove past a building with a mural painted on it and a sign announcing it as the 'Cloverdale Seniors Centre'. "Wow!", I thought, "That's great! A big gathering centre just for seniors! How nice!". There was an outdoor announcement sign beside the building that said, "Offers programs and services for seniors age 55 and over, including performing arts, visual arts, sports, games, fitness, crafts, special events, and more!". "Lovely", I thought, "Maybe I can find out if there is anything going on there that I can bring my mom out for". For whatever reason, I felt the need to verify in my head the age of my mother and that she would indeed qualify (she's 69). Then, from some strange and forbidden place inside my brain, a voice went on to announce that, not only did my mother qualify as a senior at the age of 69, but in 17 more years, I will qualify as a senior at age 55. Oh my goodness, I practically rear-ended the car stopped in front of me at a red light outside of the centre. In only 17 years, I will be a senior citizen?! That blew my mind!! How can that be?! I'm only 38! How can 17 more years make me an official old person?! 17 years just seems WAY too close for that kind of nonsense!! This whole aging process really is some kind of heavy trip!

3. I read recently in "The 24" that St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver plans to open a 24-hour drop-off room where women can abandon their newborn children anonymously. My initial reaction to reading this was shock - general shock, about the whole topic. I'm not an ostrich with my head in the sand, I know that things like mothers abandoning their babies happen - it just caught me off guard reading about such a...what's the word I'm searching for...blunt (?!maybe?!) solution. I went on to read that 'Safe Haven' policies exist in all US states as well as several other countries, like Britain and Japan. Now, having read that, it surprises me that Canada has not yet got anything like this in place; however, the anonymity of the St. Paul's service will be a first in North America. The article says that hospital officials do not think this service will be used very frequently, and that they hope that it won't be used at all. Wow. This really gets me thinking about a lot of things. Makes me want to hug my children. Makes me want to hug the next teenage mom I see (not to imply that it's only and always teenagers who go this route), and makes me very, very thankful that I have been lucky enough to be able to conceive and carry three pregnancies to term and have them result in three healthy children. Never mind the piles of laundry, the messy floors, the daunting utilities bills, the petty annoyances/grievances with your neighbours or your co-workers or your spouse, etc. - gotta find a reason to stop each day and be thankful. "There but for the grace of God go I".

4. I have been reminded once again of how horribly dependent I am on caffeine to get me going in the morning. I had to have some blood work done this week which required fasting and let me tell you, I was one irritable, groggy mama the morning of my test! I have quit caffeine in the past - mostly just to prove to myself that I can, and after the initial withdrawal (headaches, irritability, fatigue), I definitely notice that I am more 'even' throughout the day, in mood and in energy. Guilty confession? Even knowing this, I am not currently interested in or motivated to give up my caffeinated beverages right now. I enjoy my strong black tea with milk throughout the day, and - with warmer days upon us, I am also beginning to make my own homemade, better-than-Starbucks cafe con leche's - AKA iced coffee with milk. Yes, I know that I can opt for the decaf option but honestly - if tea or coffee doesn't come with caffeine, I'd rather just drink water. In fact, I would classify water as my favorite drink - but tea and coffee are tied for a close second!

5. I saw a person in a Smart Car driving stupid, and it made me think that if I sold a product called 'Smart' anything, I'd want to ensure that the interested consumer actually qualified as 'smart' first in order to maintain the integrity of my product once they were turned loose with it!

6. Upon his return from daycare one day this week, Cody came marching into the house with the strap of his lunchbox slung over his shoulder and announced, "Look, Mommy! I'm 'tarrying' my lunchbox like Daddy 'tarries' his purse!". Daddy prefers to call to his purse his briefcase.

7. Another cute Cody moment happened yesterday. Out of the blue (where so many cute kid things seem to come from!), Cody proclaimed - "Mama lucky!". I said, "Yes, I am lucky! Why do you think I'm lucky?", to which Cody replied, "Love!". Short, sweet, to the point, and very accurate. My Cody is one smart little guy!

A New Tuesday Meme...

2010-05-04T16:48:00.001-07:00

Hello, and Happy Tuesday! I've just come across a new-to-me meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Here is the description/explanation from the blog of how to join:

"Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!"

I thought it sounded pretty fun, so here's my "teaser", from So Much For That, by Lionel Shriver:

"So your answer is to make our children ashamed of themselves, which doesn't improve their math skills one bit."

Carol's whisk-whisk motions were her only giveaway that she was furious.

Are you intrigued? Do you want to run out and find this book? Will you add it to your 'Must Read' list? This is the first book I've ever read of Lionel Shriver's. I've only just started it - so far it seems promising, if perhaps a bit slow right now...

What have you read lately that you would recommend?

Cards for The Inspired Scrapper's Colour Challenge...

2010-05-03T19:19:00.000-07:00

Hello, and Happy Monday! I've got a couple of cards to share today, in response to this week's challenge over at The Inspired Scrapper. This is the inspiration piece:

and these are my cards:

I'm going to use these cards for Mother's Day - I'll stamp an appropriate sentiment inside.

The Inspired Scrapper challenge is open until 9 pm PST Thursday, May 6th and is good for any scrapbooking related project, not just cards. Don't keep your creativity under wraps - join in and share with us!

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

2010-05-01T10:20:00.001-07:00

Yay! A 'holiday' just for us scrappers!! How exciting is that?! Here in Vancouver, it's a damp, overcast day that could turn out brilliantly by the afternoon, or else it could be very, very wet. Either way, it's a perfect day for scrapbooking! It's a typical busy busy Saturday at our house - we've got packing to get through, a kids birthday party, and of course - Hockey Night In Canada tonight where the Canucks take on Chicago in the first game of the second round playoffs (Go Canucks Go!!!), but I know I'll be able to sneak in some scrap time! In fact, I'm in my scrap space right now. I've got my tea, my music, and my fabulous lighting - I'm good to go!

With National Scrapbooking Day comes The Inspired Scrapper's new Blogger-based blog launch. There are some opportunities to win some prizes,a Design Team Call, a colour challenge - lots of goodness!! Go have a look!!

Happy Crafting, Happy HNIC, and Happy Saturday to all my friends!

The Great Outdoor Challenge

2010-04-29T05:48:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of the Great Outdoor Challenge? It's hosted by Lisa over at 5 Orange Potatoes. Check it out and join in - it's super do-able!

This is Casey enjoying our favorite park. It's a perfect place to visit after school as it's on our way home. The first picture is of Casey standing on the root system of a toppled tree, stick in hand of course. The second picture is Casey pulling apart some rotting wood, looking for bugs - specifically, sow bugs. I've also heard them called potatoe bugs, wood bugs, and Casey calls them 'piddle bugs'. The third picture is of Casey's very grubby knees. This is how Casey usually looks at the end of any given day, which just affirms to me that it has been a day well spent! At about this time of the year, every year, Casey's pants are all becoming a wee bit short at the ankles, and/or worn through at the knee. It's perfect timing since we are well into spring - as Casey's pants wear out, he just moves into shorts and I don't spend any more money on long pants until back to school shopping.

Now here's Cody. This first picture is classic - this little boy loves peeing outside! If he needs to go, he'll find a spot and whip his little pants down so quickly I barely have time to protest, and then he's 'watering the plants'. Oh, the joy of being a boy! In the second picture, Cody is measuring how deep the pond is using a stick. This is something that he decided to do all on his own which I find interesting - the things children figure out all on their own, without prompting or input from adults. The third picture is Cody on his wonderful little wooden bike. This bike, without a doubt, is the single best thing I could have ever gotten this little boy. I plan on keeping this little bike forever - one day I hope to have grandchildren who can ride it!

Card Collections

2010-04-27T10:06:00.000-07:00

Hello! Happy Tuesday! A quick post today - I created three collages of some cards that I've made recently. I'm in a card making frenzy, and it's a happy kind of frenzy! I plan on giving the moms in my family card sets as gifts for Mother's Day, which means that I'll need seven sets of cards, six cards per set. Also, I will be giving some sets as good-bye gifts - Casey's teacher, Cody's daycare providers, etc., plus - I will be giving thank you cards/good-bye cards/change of address cards to various people over the next few weeks. I've got my work cut out for me, although I've already got a lot done, plus - I sure don't mind carving time out each day to put a few together. It's one of my favorite ways of relaxing. There is also a Design Team call requiring a card submission - wish me luck! Cards, cards, cards...it's all about the cards these days!

Multitude Monday - Round 7

2010-04-26T08:46:00.000-07:00

121. Happy noise from my boys

122. A fridge and pantry full of good food

123. A glass of wine

124. Bird song outside my windows

125. Sunny spring days

126. Getting my sleeping patterns sorted out

127. A brand spankin' new library card

128. A house with open doors and windows to let the warm spring air flow through

129. A husband who knows pressure points for migraine relief

130. Casey sticking up for his little brother while outside playing

131. Decluttering

132. A long, middle of the night, lying in bed conversation with my husband about everything and nothing

133. Friday night movie nights with the kids

134. Homemade broccoli soup - can't get enough!!

135. Super helpful parents-in-law

136. Dental plan coverage

137. Having the opportunity to be a mom to three beautiful, amazing children

138. Good books on hand to choose from

139. My Grandpa's hostas thriving after I transplanted them

140. Our approaching moving day

7 Quick Takes Friday - Round 4

2010-04-23T12:19:00.001-07:00

1. Challenge Day at The Inspired Scrapper - this week brings us an always excellent sketch by Becky Fleck at Page Maps along with two versions of the sketch by two oh-so-creative and delightful designers, Cari Locken and Virginia Wong - go take a look!

2. I have found another fun challenge blog to participate in - it's The Great Outdoor Challenge at 5 Orange Potatoes. Here is my photo for today:

Yet another photo of my child(ren) at Everett Crowley Park. We absolutely love it there!! I'm going to miss it so much when we move next month. Cody loves this creek - he becomes mesmerized. It is so satisfying to me to just watch him become so transfixed and peaceful...I feel like I can check "provide my children with a great day" off my daily list of things to do when we spend time like this somewhere.

3. GO CANUCKS GO!!! !.
We are huge hockey fans in this house! The Vancouver Canucks are playing against the L.A. Kings tonight, back on home ice, game 5 of the first-round playoffs, with the series tied at two apiece! There are all kinds of great factoids and statistics available in the world of sport, and my two favorites pertaining to the Canucks right now are: 1.) Two Canadian cities - Montreal and Toronto - hosted the Winter Olympics and then went on to win the Stanley Cup the same year. So, given that Vancouver just hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics...well, you know where I'm going with this! 2.) This year's Canucks team is the best team of Canucks we've ever had, meaning that our chances of going to the finals are, on paper at least, pretty good! I remember well both of the Canucks previous runs, first in 1982 and then again in 1994. It's 2010 now, and - it's time

4. While out at a park today with my two youngest, a patch of clover amid the grass brought back a wonderful memory of my Grandma. Every year on my birthday, my Grandma would mail me a birthday card. It always arrived on time, and it always contained a cheque for twenty dollars. The best part, though, is that every year, there would be a four-leaf clover taped to the inside of my card. My Grandma said that she just had a knack for spotting four-leaf clovers among the patches of clover in the grass in her yard. She said that she would just look down, and there one would be. She'd pick it, press it inside one of the big, heavy books on the bookcase in her front room sewing area, and save it for a select few special occasions, one of them being my birthday. I always saved the cards and letters from my Grandma, but not in an organized or deliberate way, and so over the years, they've become lost. Of course, now, as an adult, this saddens me and I would do things very differently if I was able to go back in time. There's a hopeful little part of me though that thinks that if I sort through the boxes of my poorly organized papers and pictures collected over the years, I might be lucky enough to come across at least one of these misplaced treasures. I may actually get around to digging in to some of those boxes this weekend while organizing for our upcoming move - one of my goals for preparing for this move is to finally sort and store keepsakes properly, so my fingers are crossed that I will come across some long-lost goodies. I have never in my life found a four-leaf clover, and I have spent a few idle moments trying (my Grandma's words, "I just looked down, and there it was!" going through my head). Maybe this weekend, I'll find one that has been found once before!

5. Today's Question of the Day at Dictionary.com today is: Why is it called a flea market?

Answer: This is a jocular term for an open-air or street market for mainly secondhand merchandise, which would be the type of items that might be infested with fleas. The first flea markets were in Paris and they were called marché aux puces which translates to 'market with fleas'. Flea market first appeared in English in 1922 as a translation of the French market's name. Flea is of Germanic origin (fleah) and was not spelled flea until after 1550. A synonym is flea fair.

I think I could have made a fairly accurate guess as to the 'flea' part of the term, but nevertheless, it's interesting and fun to get the full explanation, don't you think?!

6. I love being a mom, and I am well aware of how quickly time passes and how precious simple, everyday moments are. I am thankful everyday for my three healthy, beautiful children. Now having said that, there are some things that I won't be sorry to see my children outgrow. I am looking forward to the day when there are no more little bums to wipe. I'll appreciate the day where we can all climb into our car/van, strap on our seatbelts, and take off, i.e. no more carseats. And, it has always been a happy day when one of my children has graduated from having me push them on the swings to them being able to pump for themselves, i.e. Mom can now sit on the park bench or the grass, write in her notebook or flip through a magazine, take a few pictures, and smile and wave.

7. "When you are courting a nice girl an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder a second seems like an hour. That's relativity." - Albert Einstein.

I feel like this quote applies to my life right now in relation to purchasing our first home and our upcoming move. The time we spend purging and packing doesn't seem to make much impact, passes quickly, and still leaves us wanting. Waiting for May 15th, however, the day we take possession and can start moving, is taking forever and the waiting is becoming harder and harder to bear!

For Today, Sunday April 18th, 2010...

2010-04-18T14:36:00.000-07:00

Outside my window...the green glow of enthusiastic sunshine filtering down through new leaves.

I am thinking...that life is good.

I am thankful...for sleep patterns that are finally settling down, and this time I'm not talking about the kids - I mean my own!

From the kitchen...Good old-fashioned Sunny Boy cereal, with lots of brown sugar. Mmmm mmmm...

I am wearing...if you've ever read my 'For Today' posts before, you'll know the answer to this...my at-home 'sloppy slops' - yoga pants, oversized turquoise t-shirt, hoodie...

I am reading...'The Night Birds', by Thomas Maltman.

I am hoping...that my daughter feels better soon, and that I don't catch what she's got even though I can feel it starting in my nose and throat...

I am going...to mega-dose on Vitamin C and my various other elixirs.

I am creating...co-ordinated card sets as thank-you gifts to give to some wonderful people when we move.

I am hearing...'hee hoo...hee hoo...' - seemingly ever-present, persistent, and very welcome black-capped chickadees.

Around the house...Lots of boxes and rubbermaid containers - four weeks until we move into our new home!

One of my favorite things...having the doors and windows wide open to let in the fresh, warm spring air.

A few plans for the rest of the week...Mail a package of cards to Operation Write Home, complete some more gift sets of hand made cards, and more purging/packing around the house.

Here is a picture thought I'm sharing with you...Casey and Cody climbing an enbankment at Everett Crowley Park. Check out The Great Outdoor Challenge at www.5orangepotatoes.com - it's a really fun idea and this is my official first day of joining in!

7 Quick Takes Friday - 3rd Edition

2010-04-16T10:17:00.000-07:00

Another Friday, another opportunity to explore/discuss/consider seven things. 7 Quick Takes Friday is a meme hosted by The Conversion Diary and I love it because it gives me a reason to write about things that I could only otherwise call "7 Random Blips From My Brain', and I try to avoid using the word 'random' in association with anything I write at all costs, if only to give myself the (false) assurance that I am contributing something more significant than 'random' (read: irrelevant) thoughts. Oh, the lengths I'll go to prop myself up...But I digress. So, here are my important and oh-so-enthralling 7 Quick Takes!

1. Fridays are challenge days over at The Inspired Scrapper. Here is my 'Earth Day Challenge' contribution:

Thank you. Thank you very much (said in my best 'Elvis' voice). If you're a scrapper, go visit The Inspired Scrapper and play along. If you're not a scrapper, well - what are you waiting for?! It's a darn gratifying little hobby...

2. One of my favorite, and most useful, websites of all times is http://dictionary.reference.com/. They feature a Word Of The Day, which I love, and they also have a Question Of The Day, which I find really interesting. For instance, some of the questions posed have been:

What is the difference between blatant and flagrant?
What is the difference between a monologue and a soliloquy?
What is the difference between affect and effect?

Oh, I just love it! It gets me all silly and excited...I'm a self-confessed (and proud!) word nerd. Sites like this just thrill me to no end.

3. Miracle hair product alert!! Ok...I really don't like to acknowledge this, but I was not blessed in the hair department. My hair is very fine, very thin...very disappointing. Always has been. Granted, I was born a redhead and that makes up for a LOT, but I truly believe in my heart of hearts that I was meant to be born with the kind of hair that bad girls in rock videos toss around and shake and tousle. Seriously. That is my true hair personality. But alas, this was not meant to be so for years and years and years, I have been trying to work magic with all kinds of hair products that promise to volumize and thicken and add bounce and shine...some do better than others. I have also invested a small fortune in hair tools - i.e. straighteners, curlers, crimpers, hot irons, cold steamers, various combs, picks, brushes...and again, some do help more than others, but there's just never been a day in my teen to adult life that I've ever just had a good hair day as a given, as a default setting, as something to take for granted, as some people I know do. And truly, if one more person says to me, "Well you know, having hair this thick is actually a real problem! It's just TOO much for me to do anything with!"...I'm going to knock their dumb and grinning front teeth out. Is that too harsh? So anyway, it comes in a tiny red plastic bottle - it's made by Schwarzkopf and I think it's proper name is 'OSIS+ Dust It Mattifying Powder'. This stuff is amazing, I'm telling you! Right off the bat, I have to say that less is more and if you overdo it, you will HATE it. It takes a bit of getting used to. Once your hair is dry, lift it at the roots and tap just a tiny bit of the powder out onto the very base of your roots. Then, put your hair down, work your fingertips in at the roots where you've placed the powder, and just give it a bit of a rub. It creates a lot of 'grip' and you can then work your hair up to amazing height/volume. You have to know when to quit, though. It's a bit of a tricky dance between application and then fiddling with it, but once you get the hang of it, KA-BAM!! Big hair. Volume. Height. The best part? It lasts!! Give a little shot of hairspray and girlfriend, you are good to go! Hair starts to settle down a little over the course of the day? Just get your fingertips in there and give another little bit of a rub! I am telling you - it is bloody revolutionary! I could weep, truly, I could. Finally...I can let my inner hair goddess out to take her righteous and deserved place in the sun. The downside of this though, is that I now live in fear of this product being discontinued or some such horror...as soon as I've got me a little bit of extra pocket money, I'm going back to that salon and I am stocking up!!

4. I've said this before, and I feel the need to say it again - I LOVE the library!! Hooray for the public library system! Nothing says happiness to me like a tall, diverse stack of reading material on the end table in my living room or my bedside table at night. In approximately one month, we are moving from my beloved hometown of Vancouver to a city 'next door' called Surrey. One of the first things this made me realize is - new library card! New library system! Numerous new library branches to explore! Be still my beating heart...I did mention I'm a word nerd, right? Confession time...I've already been to my new neighbourhood's local branch and signed myself up for a shiny new library card! Love it! Unfortunately, the policy for new Surrey Public Library patrons is that for the first three months, there is a limit of 10 items per card. TEN! That's it! I am telling you, it was SO hard to limit myself to just 10 books on that first visit...but - on the upside, I am officially three days into the first three months. It will go by quickly!

5. I talk to myself. All the time in my head, but also a lot outside of my head, as in 'out loud'. To myself, when I'm in the house or the car or alone, but also, I find myself doing it a lot of other times too. As in, when there are other people around. It was particularly worrisome when I'd catch myself doing it when I worked in a Geriatric Psychiatric ward. Think about it. I'm sure I resembled a patient more than an employee. The worst part was when I would realize I was talking out loud to myself and look up to make sure nobody had caught me, and inevitably, who would be standing there but one of the Department Psychiatrists. Oh joy. I found that with them, and in fact, with anybody, the best thing I could do was cheerfully acknowledge that I was doing it, via a perky "Oh hello! There I go getting caught talking to myself again!" The doctors would always smile and say something reassuring back, like, "Oh - I do it all the time myself!", but really, I was fully expecting any one of them at any time to slip in a subtle..."So...tell me about your childhood", or something equally shrink-like on me...It didn't help that I sat in an open, shared space area at a desk that faced the back wall so that I really didn't know who was standing behind me at any given time. I took to looking over my shoulder rather frequently...a habit that probably wasn't lost on all those psychiatrists milling about...I'm sure that, not only did they have me diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, but they'd probably already placed me on a short-list/short-cut track to the in-patient unit - never mind that I didn't really qualify as 'Geriatric'..."close enough!", they probably thought. Do I sound paranoid yet?! I'm not quite, I don't think...at least, not all the time...but I do have to say that since leaving that position, I find I'm feeling much less self-conscious and hyper-vigilant...

6. What is up with all the yogurt commercials?! Print ads, radio ads, TV ads...it's all about the gosh-darn yogurt! Has anybody else noticed this? What is going on?!Whatever the big push/trend for yogurt is right now, what it is succeeding in doing is turning me OFF of yogurt! I'm so sick of hearing about it every ten seconds that in lieu of boycotting the TV and/or radio, I have decided to boycott yogurt. But not for the kids. Just for me. Heaven knows I wouldn't know what to do without yogurt as an option for the kids! Does this make me weak?! For myself though, I can sacrifice! It truly is driving me mad and making me cringe at any mention of yogurt. I complain to my husband about this and declare my newfound hate (yes, hate!!) for all things yogurt, and I declare that these ad campaigns have therefore failed miserably, and he says back to me (and I'm paraphrasing a bit...) - "Well, I would say that these ad campaigns have been successful because they've got you talking about it!". Aargh!! The nerve of that guy! Sure, he's got a degree in Marketing, but still...I know what I'm talking about by gosh, by golly!

7. This meme is called '7 Quick Takes Friday'. I often struggle with the quick part - so, having said that, I will end this post here! Besides, I've told my husband that I can't have a glass of wine until after I post this and we're both more than ready and done with waiting! Happy weekend to one and all!

Sunday Stealing...

2010-04-11T13:27:00.000-07:00

Fellow bloggers, tell me - are you ever in the mood for blogging/writing but don't really have anything in particular in mind to write about? That's why I love memes! I Googled 'Sunday memes' and found 'Sunday Stealing' - love the name, love the concept! This is the 'Me Me Meme' - read on, and you'll know why...

1. Never in my life have I been: Outside of North America.

2. The one person who can drive me nuts is: My teenaged daughter.

3. High school was: Disappointing.

4. When I’m nervous I: Get anxious and irritable.

5. The last song I listened to was: Whatever the song was that Justin Bieber performed on SNL last night.

6. If I were to get married right now my best man/maid of honor: My sister.

7. My hair is: Red, chin-length inverted bob, and probably the best/most satisfying it's been in years./

8. When I was 5: My baby sister was born - I was so smitten! It was like having my own living, breathing dolly...

9. Last Christmas: Was the first time my hubby, children, and I have spent Christmas with my sister and her family, and it was so much fun! I'm hoping we do the same thing again this Christmas.

10. I should be..: Cleaning and purging in preparation for moving in a few weeks, but instead, well, obviously, I'm writing this and enjoying ever minute of it!

11. When I look down I see: A carpet that needs cleaning.

12. The happiest recent event was: My husband and I getting pre-approved for our very first mortgage!

13. If I were a character on 'Friends' I would be: Monica. I'm neurotic like that.

14. By this time next year: It would be nice to be about 50 pounds lighter...

15. My current gripe is: Oh, it's so hard to pick just one...but they all pretty much involve the purging/packing/moving situation.

16. I have a hard time understanding: Lots of things! Math, right off the top of my head...Then, of course, the bigger, more philosophical things in life...Also, how did they get the caramel inside the Caramilk bar?!

17. There’s this girl I know that: I have high hopes for and fear for all at the same time.

18. If I won an award, the first person I would tell would be: My husband.

19. Take my advice: Appreciate every day as if it were your last.

20. The thing I want to buy: New furniture/decor for my new house!

21. If you visited the place I was born: You'd be visiting the most beautiful, wonderful city in the world.

22. I plan to visit: Every province/territory in Canada.

23. If you spent the night at my house: You would probably have been up very late drinking wine, playing games, listening to music, and talking.

24. I’d stop my wedding if: How do I finish this sentence?...I've already married my best friend/soul mate, which means that he already qualified in every way all along the way, so I'll just take a pass on this one.

25. The world could do without: Men who prey on children and women.

26. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: Paint a house or pack and move a house - two things that I will be doing very soon. Don't get me wrong - I'm very grateful for the opportunity, but...I still can't help but fantasize about being rich enough to just hire somebody else to do it all for me. Moving really does encompass all the things I dislike most!!

27. Most recent thing I’ve bought myself: Nestabilities. If you're a scrapper/crafter/card maker, you'll know what I mean!

28. Most recent thing someone else bought me: Flowers, chocolates, and a card.

29. My favorite blonde is: Geez, I'm having a hard time with this one...now that I think about it, I don't really know very many blonds!! How about, my favorite blond joke is: Naw, better not...

30. My favorite brunette is: A four-way tie between my husband, my daughter, and my two sons.

31. My favorite red head is: Me!

32. My middle name is: Charlene. I don't like the name at all, except that I was named after my grandpa, Charles - Charlene being the feminine of Charles, so I love the reason why I was named Charlene.

33. In the morning I: Rely heavily on caffeine to get me going. I wish I didn't, but I do. I accept this.

34. The animals I would like to see flying besides birds are: Humans. Specifically, me.

35. Once, at a bar: I met my soul mate.

36. Last night I was: Spending a low-key night at home...my favorite way to spend any night.

37. There’s this guy I know who: Is the biggest ass ever! Well, actually, I don't know him personally, but I know of him...you might too - Tiger Woods? He's this golfer who...well, if you don't know, you can always Google him - type in 'World's Biggest Ass' and it will lead you right to him!

38. If I was an animal I’d be: A female grizzly bear.

39. A better name for me would be: Your Highness.

40. Tomorrow I am: Back to the full-time Mommy gig. For now, my two boys are at their grandparents' house this weekend so that hubby and I can purge/pack unimpeded by little people who pop up at the most inopportune time and claim old McDonald's Happy Meal toys and broken trucks found in the playground as "their most favorite, special toy(s) ever!!" and then demand in the most screechy and intolerable way that these ridiculous little toy-things cannot be thrown out/given away ever, never, ever!!!

41. Tonight I am: Staying up too late, I'm sure - like always!

42. My birthday is: July 18th - I've always loved having a summer birthday!

The Inspired Scrapper - Scraplift Challenge

2010-04-09T10:08:00.000-07:00

Good morning! TGIF! Looking for some scrapbooking/creative mojo? Head over to The Inspired Scrapper - Debby Visser and Susan Tutt have both posted great layouts based on a scraplift of other people's layouts that have inspired them. Join in on the challenge too - the more, the merrier!

Top Ten...Things I'm Looking Forward To When We Move...

2010-04-06T08:04:00.000-07:00

Today I am joining in on Amanda's 'Top 10 Tuesday' meme over at www.ohamanda.com.

After 8 years of marriage and three children, my husband and I have bought our first home. It's such a big step and it's so exciting! There was a time in my life when I thought that I would never own my own house. I've come a long way since then and am so thankful for this opportunity. My Top 10 list today is of things that I'm looking forward to about having a new home:

1. Not having to use the stove top as a counter top.

2. Closet doors that close properly.

3. A full size fridge for this family of 5.

4. Built-in light fixtures in the ceilings.

5. An entranceway that is wide enough to maneuver in, and bright enough, thanks to natural light via windows!

6. Not battling mold and mildew in the windows, closets, etc.

7. A main bathroom that you can just walk into, versus one where you have to inch your way in around the door as you open it because it opens right into the vanity.

8. More square footage.

9. Properly hung/affixed window coverings on all the windows.

10. All the benefits of owning vs. renting from a financial/investment standpoint.

We take possession on May 15th. Let the purging and packing begin!

Multitude Monday - Round 6

2010-04-05T00:05:00.000-07:00

101. Watching rain drops race down the window pane with Cody

102. Cody and I using our fingertips to 'race' raindrops down each other's backs.

103. Children who love to read - with me, and on their own.

104. Drawings from my children.

105. Starting a day feeling tired, run down, discouraged...and having it turn around within a couple of hours - leaving me feeling bouyant again.

106. Beautiful days that are the epitomy of spring - heavy, dark downpour, then the sun breaking through so powerfully, blue skies overtaking the grey, a rainbow appearing, the freshest scent imaginable in the air, and then a misty rain again, but this time with the sun remaining...glorious and perfect.

107. Realizing that overall, I have a 'cup half full' outlook - knowing that things will always come around to good again.

108. Smiles from strangers.

109. Instincts I trust.

110. A long weekend for extra time with my family.

111. A wild windstorm to watch from the safety and warmth of my living room - all natural entertainment!

112. Having a husband whose dependability is predictable.

113. Having a husband whose spontaneity can still surprise me.

114. Having the opportunity and means to buy our first home.

115. Flower baskets that my little boys made me for Easter.

116. A backyard full of numerous varieties of birds to watch and to listen to.

117. Deep breaths that calm and relax.

118. Strong network of extended family.

119. My children's health.

120. My husband's migraine-easing back and neck rubs.

My Life In Song...

2010-04-03T23:11:00.000-07:00

I've come across this game/meme a few times around the Internet and thought it would be fun to try out. Simple directions: use the shuffle function on your music player and see what you come up with in answer to the following questions.

How does the world see you?
Dancing With Myself – Billy Idol

Will I have a happy life?
Pour Some Sugar On Me – Def Leppard
(This 'answer' is somewhat serendipitous because this is the first song that I danced to with my husband on the night that we met)

What do my friends really think of me?
Hot In The City – Billy Idol

Do people secretly lust after me?
Walk This Way – Aerosmith/Run DMC

How can I make myself happy?
Stand By Me – Ben E. King

What should I do with my life?
Home For A Rest – Great Big Sea

Will I ever have children?
Satisfaction – Rolling Stones

What is some good advice for me?
Don’t Fear The Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult

How will I be remembered?
Let The Good Times Roll – The Cars

What is my signature dancing song?
Under My Thumb – Rolling Stones

What do I think my current theme song is?
Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith

What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
Soul Man – Blues Brothers

This was pure fun and frivolity! Give it a try - I'd love to read your answers!

A Beautiful Blogger? Who, me?!

2010-03-30T09:42:00.000-07:00

What a fun perk on a Saturday night - Tracy from Tracy's Treasures emailed me to tell me that she awarded me a Beautiful Blogger award - so sweet! Thanks, Tracy!

Now, upon receiving this award, I have to do 2 things:

1. Share 10 things about me
2. Share this award with 10 other bloggers

Now, it is no longer Saturday night - it's already Tuesday morning, but it took me a while to come up with 10 Things. So, here I go:

1. I flip through magazines, newspapers, manuals, etc. from back to front. One day my 6 y.o. son noticed me doing this and asked me why I did this. I told him that I don't know - I've just always read magazines, etc. this way. He thought for a minute and then said, "Maybe it's because you're left handed". Ding! Lightbulb going on over my head! It made so much sense to me! Casey, my six year old son, cracked the mystery of why I read 'backwards'! I'm glad somebody in this family is smart like that! (And for the record, I don't read books/novels that way - it doesn't work. This much I do know!) I also just noticed that in the little notebooks that I have stashed everywhere (my purse, beside my bed, on my desk) where I jot down bits and pieces of the jetsam and flotsam in my brain, I will write in them from back to front. Hmm...perhaps this is more than just being left-handed...perhaps I'm just backwards! Better yet, I'll just add this to the list of things that I like to refer to as 'my lovable quirks'. That sounds much better than just being weird, doesn't it?!

2. I am freakily flexible. I always have been. It's not because I was in gymnastics as a child or anything like that. I think it's just 'in my blood' so to speak. My mom is also surprisingly flexible, and I remember that both my grandparents (my mom's parents) were as well. (I can't have inherited this from my dad's side - they are notoriously the opposite of flexible - short hamstrings, 'cankles', etc.) I am now a 'big girl', a 'woman of size' - you know, 'zaftig', 'plus-sized', 'generously proportioned', or as my husband volunteered - 'bodacious'. This, however, has not affected my flexibility, which makes it even more freaky - if I ever have occasion to bust out a yoga pose in public, people are suitably shocked and impressed. It's kind of a neat party trick...

3. I was a single mother with my daughter for six years. To quote Charles Dickens, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times". It's not a path I would have chosen, and it's not a path I recommend, but I am grateful for what the experience taught me. It was a pivotal time in my life and it served to wipe away the worst of me and bring out the best in me, and I've carried it forward ever since.

4. I have such vivid dreams, it's like I watch a feature length movie in my sleep every night. Even more so than a movie, though, because the sounds, the smells, the sensations are all so intense - so much more multi-dimensional than a movie could ever be. I love it! Every night is an adventure. Very occasionally, I'll have a bad dream and then the intensity of my dreams is a liability, but this is so rare. Overall, it's a great trait to have!

5. If I ever win the lottery (I rarely ever buy tickets, which makes the odds of winning even MORE remote!), I've always said that the first two places I'd go are a book store and a garden centre. OH, the fun I would have!!

6. I have worn SPF 15 or higher sunscreen on my face every day of every year since I was 21 years old. I had read an article in a science journal stating that the majority of visible aging is due to low grade, long term, daily sun exposure. As a fair skinned, freckle faced redhead, that was all the motivation I needed. I'm 38 years old now - I wonder - has it helped? I don't look significantly younger than I am...Check back with me when I'm in my 50's. Or 80's, for that matter! I remain hopeful...

7. I can't watch that new TLC show, 'Hoarding: Buried Alive". It hits a little bit too close to home. I'm not nearly that bad, but I do recognize that I have tendencies toward hoarding behaviour. If I ever end up being an eccentric old lady (and so far I'm 65% sure that I will be one day), I think hoarding will be one of the ways my eccentricities manifest.

8. I've had my driver's licence since I was 17 years old. In the 21 years that I have been driving, I've never (knock on wood!) been at fault in an accident. In fact, (and again, knock on wood) I've only ever been in a few motor vehicle accidents, and they were all very minor.

9. We own a mini van, and I am so freakin' over it! When I was pregnant with our second child, we traded in our Ford Explorer for a Dodge Caravan. Made sense at the time. Then we had our third child, and the minvan still made sense. Factor in hockey gear, soccer gear, tae kwon do gear, bikes, etc. and a mini van still makes sense. But I'm over it. I don't like the mini van anymore. I don't want to be driving it. I would like to drive a car, or a truck. I feel like I am willing and able to make whatever changes, concessions, etc. necessary to forgo the need for a minivan. I'm not going to rush out and get rid of it, but make no mistake, when it does come time to purchase a new vehicle, it will not be another mini van!

10. I pretty much have music in my head all the time. Sometimes it's background music, and sometimes it's so prominent that it starts leaking out and I actually start singing out loud. Sometimes I'm alone, and sometimes I'm around other people, whom I may or may not know. I think that people sometimes think that because I sing out loud, in public, and often with exuberance and enthusiam, I must think that I'm a really good singer even though it's painfully obvious to the observer that I'm not. Newsflash - I KNOW I'm not a good singer, but that doesn't stop me. I can't help it. I got the music in me and sometimes it just wants to come out! And sometimes, I'll get a song stuck in my head. And, usually, it's a song that I know really well musically, but not so much lyrically. Often, it becomes a fixation, an obsession, and I can't stop it, or get it out of my head, or leave it alone until I exocise it. Thank goodness for the Internet - if it's convenient and I'm able, I get on the Google and search using the lyrics I do know, or by artist/band name. Once I can get ahold of the full and correct lyrics, I can get it all straight in my head and work it out. I think this might sound a bit OCD. Maybe it is...I have had times where I've tended to lean in a bit of an OCD direction. My daughter just finds it really embarrassing. If I start singing anywhere outside of the house, she will hiss at me, "Mom! People are going to think that there is something WRONG with you!!". I also pride myself on being able to come up with a song for any occasion, or to fit any theme, statement, or comment. These are the little ways I keep myself amused.

Whew! Coming up with 10 things was surprisingly hard!! BUT - coming up with 10 bloggers to nominate is easy!

1. Karla. Karla is delightful. She is an amazing designer - check out her digital products! She is so creative - so much eye candy on her blog! And, the icing on the cake, she's a supermom to 5 children. Yes, that's right - FIVE! She's gorgeous, her husband's gorgeous, and her five children are even more gorgeous! She's one of those women that you might be tempted to hate, except that she is so nice, and so real! Check out her blog - you'll see what I mean!

2. Kerry. Another great digi designer. And supermom to three. And all round super creative, super talented, super nice person. And there was a time when Kerry was actually my boss, and she was super at that too!

3. Sandy. Another Wonder Woman here! This is a woman I really admire, and she is one of those women who makes me wonder how she is able to do much more with her 24 hours a day than I do! Sandy is very inspiring. She is a driving force behind Operation Write Home, and as if that isn't enough, she also makes the nicest cards!!

4. Cari. Another amazingly creative woman! So talented, so creative, such a great teacher...love her!

5. Karen. This woman is an amazing photographer - a true master of her craft! She amazes me! And, like Karla, Karen is a gorgeous woman with a gorgeous husband and gorgeous kids - but you can't hate her either because she is truly one of the nicest people I know, and a really great mom too!

6. Debby. One of my all-time favorite scrappers! Plus, she's a really nice person, super creative, and - another Supermom!

7. Erica. Supermom, super scrapper...I'm beginning to think I appreciate a specific type of blogger...Erica's blog is great looking too - check her out!

8. Ginnie. Ginnie isn't somebody who I know personally, but her blog speaks to me!! She is a beautifully real and wonderful human being and she writes about her daily life so eloquently. Plus, her blog is visually gorgeous - her photography is amazing!

9. Ann. Another woman whom I don't know personally, but her blog is so lovely...some of her posts have moved me to tears. She also hosts the meme Multitude Mondays, which I have begun participating in. So much good stuff on her blog - go see for yourself! It's uplifting!

10. Heather. The perspectives she shares on her blog and the way she writes about everyday things perks me up. Also - Great mom. So creative. Amazing photographer. All-round likeable human being. She also has a photo-a-day blog that is incredible.

So there you have it - a collection of blogs hosted by women who inspire me, and I'm so happy to share them with you.

Thanks again, Tracey, for the nod!

Multitude Monday - Round 5

2010-03-29T09:22:00.000-07:00

81. Being able to tickle my daughter's grumpies away. It doesn't work every time, but it works enough of the time for me to be thankful!

82. Two little boys who are great buddies and are happy and busy playing together in our home

83. A weekend with NO outside obligations

84. A sweet husband who brings me flowers, a card, and chocolates for no reason

85. My three little nieces. THREE! Little girls! How cute is that?! Lucky me!

86. The wisdom that comes with age and experience. I'm not claiming to be wise (not yet!), and I don't think of myself as aged, but a little bit older, a little bit wiser - I can live with that!

87. Mascara. My own magic wand. I'm lucky to have thick enough, long enough lashes, but without mascara, you can't see them.

88. Extended medical benefits through my husband's employer

89. My mother sharing her car with us so generously

90. The quilt that my Grandma made me when I was a child. Butterflies and flowers made out of fabric scraps that I recognize from clothes that she made for me, for herself, and for others. Such a keepsake.

91. My cameras. Put me anywhere - if I've got my camera(s) with me, I'm happy.

92. Forsythia. While searching the Internet for gardening ideas for our new home, I came across a less-than-positive mention of forsythia, citing it's short-lived 'garish' yellow flowers, and it's transition to plain green leaves which contributed nothing attractive to a yard or garden. I was offended! I LOVE forsythia, and I always have. It is one of the earliest flowering plants in spring and in late February, early March, any forsythia sightings in Metro Vancouver make my heart soar - such a bold and joyous exclamation that spring is inarguably on it's way!

93. A neighbourhood with an ample supply of sticks of all types - long, short, flexible, breakable, rough, smooth - all eagerly sorted out, grabbed up, looked over, and claimed by my boys and their friends - tools for their imaginations.

94. Toys that do not require batteries.

95. Toys that are not noisy.

96. Turning the TV off. Keeping it off.

97. Art supplies.

98. Laughing and joking with friends.

99. Laughing and joking with my kids.

100. Good rain gear.

7 Quick Takes Friday - 2nd Edition

2010-03-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

Hello! Happy Friday, TGIF, and all that! Coming at you with the great 7 Quick Takes Friday meme hosted by The Conversion Diary. Jumping right in...

1. Is there truly any such thing as a bra that fits well, is comfortable to wear, and makes the girls look great? Is there?! Really?! Because if there is, I haven't ever found one in my entire bra-wearin' life! Am I missing a really obvious/simple piece of the puzzle? What gives?! It's the 21st century for cryin' out loud! We've got space tourists visiting the International Space Station, the human genome has been mapped, and the United States has elected it's first black president. Could somebody please provide me with a comfortable and effective flopper stopper?!

2. Pearl Jam. Eddie Vedder. 'Just Breathe'. Enough said.

3. I love playing 'Lexulous' on Facebook. It's the online equivalent of Scrabble. It can be played against friends, or you can join a table or host a table with other users. It is not uncommon to have multiple games going at once, and some can be finished in one sitting while others last for days. There is one thing about Lexulous that perplexes me though, and it's this: Some people use it as a hot talk forum. I'm not a prude, but come on, people! Time and place! Is Lexulous really it?! Here are some real examples of requests:

"PLEASE READ THIS!!!! Fun girls only. ;) Say 'yes I'm naughty' when you start the game."
"Looking for sexy girls for sexy chat."
"Any other guys sitting at home in their underwear?"
"hot girls 18-30. cum and play - do not play if you don't want to talk dirty x"
"WOMEN ONLY..FLIRTY TYPES only..if you dont want to chat dont play....no blank pics, pet pics, or fake pics..i want to see who im playing..chatting a must..NO GUYS"

Really?! This is an online SCRABBLE game!! Can you find no other forum for this? Does this actually WORK for you?! Is the Scrabble component necessary for your gratification? Forgive me for being judgemental, but I find it quite strange...

4. There are days with my children where I swing wildly between being so besotted with the cuteness of them, so powerfully captured by their sweetness and goodness that it's all I can do to keep from imploding with love - to finding myself catapulted instantaneously into raving irritation and annoyance with them - their whining, their fussing, their dawdling, their pickiness over food - I need to physically restrain myself from bolting from the house, raving like a lunatic, frantically fleeing my suburban home for the wildness of...wherever...anything else is a celebrated alternative and reprieve! Is this a common Mommy experience?! Please - provide me with perspective! I'm either a horrible monster for feeling this way, or in ample good company!

5. I fear that I am turning into my mother. Case in point #1 (and sadly, there are probably a total of TEN or more 'case in point's'...) - I think I am becoming a technological dinosaur. I have never sent a text message. I don't know what to do when I receive one. I know how to program contacts into my cell phone's directory, but I get easily frustrated with the process and ask my daughter to "just do it for me!", which reminds me of my mother's inability to program her own VCR to tape a program and her reliance on us to take care of it for her. It's comparisons like these that send a cold, creeping prickle of fear up my spine...

6. I love books. I especially have a thing for children's books. We are avid library users and always have stacks of library books in the house, but we also have a LOT of our own books too. Now that we've bought a house and are going to be moving in approximately six weeks, I'm looking around at all of our overflowing book shelves and dreading not only the boxing them all up, but the moving them! Boxes of books weigh a LOT! I'm crossing my fingers that we're going to end up hiring movers, but even so - we are going to have scores of boxes of books to deal with. I've always said that if I ever won the lottery, the bookstore would be on my list of Top 3 places I'd go to first...why does it look like that's already happened?! I've got the books, now where's all the leftover cash winnings?! Sigh...something's out of whack here!

7. Another great Friday challenge over at The Inspired Scrapper - mixing black and white photos with colour - check out Cari's and Virginia's awesome examples!

Multitude Monday - Round 4

2010-03-22T00:57:00.000-07:00

61. The smell of the woods after it rains

62. Sunshine for Casey's soccer tournament this Saturday

63. My daughter looking after Cody so well while I coached at the tournament

64. Renewed energy after my cold/flu

65. Having three great days with all three kids while my husband was out of town

66. Spending the afternoon at Everett Crowley Park and letting the little boys run wild like little boys should.

67. Improving sleep patterns for my daughter (resulting in improving moods for my daughter!)

68. A fun OWH blog hop weekend

69. Lexulous - the online equivalent of Scrabble. Good brain strain!

70. Knowing that we will be moving into a more suitable home for our family sooner rather than later...

71. Feeling like I'm doing a good job of getting healthy food into my kids

72. A good stretch

73. My sister's little girl, my niece, turning 3 years old. Such an impish little gift to our family!

74. Finally being well enough to get my hands on my newest baby niece, Olivia - a perfect, pink little bean bag!

75. The bond between my husband and I

76. Steve's safe trip to and from Whistler over the weekend

77. Little boys singing to themselves happily and unselfconsciously at various times throughout the day

78. School administrators and faculty who are dedicated and effective

79. Colour - in nature, in my home, in my children's artwork...bright, muted, riotous, quiet, evocative, tranquil, stimulating, energizing, calming, shocking, earthy - colour, glorious colour!

80. A really comfortable mattress

Blog Hoppin' with OWH!

2010-03-20T00:07:00.000-07:00

Hello - welcome to my little stop along the way in the big Operation Write Home Spring Break Bloghop! If you are are participating in the OWH blog hop and you've found your way here from Vieve Garner's blog, Plaid Polka Dots, you are rolling along merrily! If you have found your way here from somewhere else, well - you are just as welcome, and encouraged to join in on OWH's blog hop - it's big and bold and full of wonderful inspiration, creation, and celebration! Head on over to the OWH Stars & Stripes blog to start at the beginning. Reminder - leave a comment on this post to show that you were here. At the end of the hop, I will be writing on an itty bitty little strip of paper the name of each person who commented, then I will throw everybody's name into a hat (a Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics toque, specifically!) and I will draw one name. This person will be announced somewhere here as the winner, I will make contact via email in order to get a mailing address, and I will be sending a humble yet heartfelt little gift/RAK of appreciation to them. YOU could be the lucky winner - yes, YOU, so don't forget to comment at the bottom of this post.

If you are not familiar with Operation Write Home, I strongly urge you to check them out! It's such a great organization - their mission statement reads, and I quote - "To support our nation’s armed forces by sending blank greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." Their site(s) feature so many heartwarming stories and comments that demonstrate how sending handmade greeting cards overseas, such a seemingly small and simple show of support for some of this world's true heroes, can make such a strong and appreciated impact. Truly, it's the least we can do and I personally find it so rewarding to know that the cards that I so enjoy making can be received by service people overseas who can in turn use them to send words of love back home across so many, many miles to their families who love them and miss them and pray for their safety every day...Like I said, SO rewarding! You can find out more here, here, here, and here!

OK, now on with the show! Participants in the OWH Spring Break Blog Hop were asked to create a 'Welcome Spring'/Thinking Of You spring-inspired card. I have made three cards that say 'Spring' to me - bright, cheerful, and floral. I left them without greetings so that they remain in the 'all occasion' category and can be used for birthday, thinking of you, love, etc. I often do this for cards that I keep in my stash so that they are versatile and can be modified to suit an occasion as needed. For the cards that I send in to OWH, I almost always add a greeting of some kind in order to give them a 'finished' feeling/appearance. Of note, you can go to Operation Write Home's home page to find out what their currents calls/requests and deadlines for cards are (look in the bottom left column). As of today, they are asking for packages to be sent postmarked by:

Mother's Day: April 1
Graduation: April 19
Father's Day: May 15
All other cards: anytime

Alright, now on to the next stop along the way - hop on over to Tami Bayer's blog, Dapple Designs, see what goodness she has to offer, and make sure to leave her some love too!

Thanks for stopping by and playing along! I hope you will be inspired to send OWH a package of your own handmade cards often - or even every once in a while - it's all good!

Happy Saturday!

Multitude Monday - Round 3

2010-03-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

Good morning, and Happy Monday! Time for another round of thankfulness with Multitude Monday, hosted by Ann at A Holy Experience. Her post today planted a big ol' lump squarely in my throat. She put into words so beautifully what my muddled brain sometimes ponders on - "How does a heart sorrow over the time forever gone and still be present to the wonder of the time that is now?" Ok - lump in throat and tears in eyes. Thank you, Ann - your words just happened to find me in a most timely manner.

Now - before I commence with today's installment of 20 gratitudes, I must confess - this list should be numbers 61 through 80, but last Monday I was away visiting my sister and didn't plan ahead for my Monday post. I considered posting it late once I got back, but, well...I didn't. In summary - a quote, from Forrest Gump - "That's all I have to say about that."

Here goes!

41. A safe (but very rainy!) drive to Seattle

42. Being able to spend the first half of Spring Break with my sister, my brother-in-law, and two of my beautiful nieces.

43. Home again safe and sound (sick unfortunately, but still safe and sound!)

44. 'Get well' pictures drawn by Casey

45. The most wonderful parents-in-law ever!

46. Watching my husband carry the Paralympic torch

47. The improving ability to bite my tongue

48. The opportunity for my sons to attend a Paralympic sledge hockey game

49. A regular paycheque

50. Hearing my two boys in the bathtub splashing and laughing gustily

51. Feeling like my daughter and I are experiencing more decent times that difficult times lately...

52. Being surrounded by wonderful green space

53. Photographs. Old ones. New ones. So many great images and memories captured.

54. Accessible health care

55. Daylight Savings!!

56. Good neighbours

57. Getting a big pot of hot black tea brewed first thing in the morning

58. The ability to (often, but not always) find humour in difficult moments/times

59. Moments of 'down time/me time'

60. Other bloggers who share their stories with humour and honesty and eloquence

Share The Love Sunday - The Gardening Edition

2010-03-12T19:38:00.000-08:00

Hello, and welcome to another Share The Love Sunday! Read my page here to find out what it's all about!

With spring in the air, and signs of it all over the ground, I am starting to feel the gardening bug creep up on me again! Additionally, with my husband and I currently house hunting, I'm thinking a lot about yard, landscape, and garden ideas. I've never Googled any of these topics before, and wow - wouldn't you know it - there's a whole lot out there! Here are a few of the sites that I came across that I think I will be spending a lot of time poring over:

In My Kitchen Garden

National Wildlife Federation - 16 Tips For Wildlife Gardening With Kids

Garden Rant

DigginFood

This list could just keep on going - as I mentioned above, these are just a few of an infinite amount of gardening-related sites and blogs that are out there and have me intrigued. I love that a visit to just one blog can lead to finding numerous other blogs to discover. And that, folks, is one of the reasons for Share The Love Sunday. The fun just rolls on and on. So please, share with me what you have come across that you are digging on. That's garden humour right there...told you I was starting to feel the 'bug'. (Please note - your shares can be on any topic that interests you - so link up! Share the love!)

Share The Love Sunday - 3rd Edition

2010-03-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hello - welcome to the third edition of Share The Love Sunday. I'd love to have you play along. Check out my page for all the details!

First share: Creatively Savvy. Susan Stringfellow shares a beautiful and clever technique for using Cuttlebug folders to emboss the edges of 12x12 paper. She's achieved such a great effect!

Second share: Color Me Happy. Diane Payne has created an album made with fabric to hold her monthly creations for Project 12 over at Scrapbook and Cards Today. Such an amazingly gorgeous creation.

What have you come across recently that you are just loving? Share it here!

*Note: Mr. Linky is now closed.

For Today, March 6, 2010

2010-03-06T00:00:00.001-08:00

Outside my window...Cherry blossoms, my humble little straggly forsythia (I think I need to prune it aggressively!), my hostas starting to poke up out of the earth in my garden...oh, how I love this time of year!

I am thinking...about what to pack for our trip down to Seattle...I really should make a list. Bikes, car activities, music, books, medication, rain gear (crossing my fingers that we won't need it!)...and lots of other stuff. I don't pack light, people!

I am thankful...for my friends. I'm pretty lucky in the friend department.

From the kitchen...red wine :)

I am wearing...As always, I just cut and paste this part from my last 'For Today' entry - "my usual at-home uniform - yoga pants, oversized t-shirt/sweater".

I am reading...Hold On To Your Kids, by Gordon Neufeld/Gabor Mate

I am hoping...that this beautiful sunshine lasts for spring break, and that my sister's husband isn't too sick, that my sister doesn't get sick, and that her kids stay healthy too because darn it, it's spring break and we're supposed to be leaving for their place tomorrow!

I am going...house hunting again tomorrow. It's not something I enjoy all that much...it tries my patience. But - I am grateful to be in a position where it's actually something we can be doing right now.

I am creating...lots of cards. I'm really loving the card making lately!

I am hearing...dang it, I wish I could say something other than...the TV!

Around the house...sigh. Well, let's just call it 'signs of happy, busy children'.

One of my favorite things...just regular, everyday life.

A few plans for the rest of the week...Road trip to Seattle, good times with my kids, my sister and her family, lots of photo ops, and then the excitement of watching my husband do his leg of the run with the torch for the Paralympics.

Here is a picture thought I'm sharing with you...A self-portrait of Casey and I from March 5th - goofing around in the van while waiting to pick up Chanel.

A Challenge Is Nothing More Than A Creative Opportunity...

2010-03-04T10:01:00.000-08:00

I've got two cards to share here today.

This first card is based on a sketch over at 2 Sketches 4 You, Kazan's Sketch #47. This card proved to truly be challenging to me because of a mechanical difficulty. The butterfly on this card was cut out of vellum using a Sizzix die, which I bought to use in my Cuttlebug. I'd never used a Sizzix die in my Cuttlebug, but because I've been able to use numerous other brands of dies, I didn't even question whether or not it would work. I ran it through my Cuttlebug and the body of the butterfly popped out no problem, but the finer, fussier antennae had not cut all the way through and tore when I tried to pull them out. I tried again, this time paying more attention to place the die and vellum evenly on the platform with the mats squarely overtop. Again, the butterfly's body popped out without any trouble but those darm antennae were not quite cut through and tore again.

At this point, I contemplated scrapping the butterfly idea all together and figuring something else out, but the butterfly just seemed to be the perfect finish. I just needed a small fraction more pressure on the antennae, so I decided to try using a shim. I had some cardboard packaging from new glue sticks lying on my desk, so I slipped that underneath the platform and ran it through one more time. Success! The entire butterfly popped out easily and intact. "That's using the old noggin', Jillian!", I told myself. I then had two butterfly bodies and one complete butterly, so in order to provide some depth, I stacked the pieces on top of each other and used a very narrowly cut piece of foam tape between each layer to really give some dimension. In order to disguise the foam tape showing through the butterfly on the top layer, I used self-adhesive rhinestones to cover the butterfly's body (or 'thorax' I believe is the proper term!). Problem solved, and I'm very pleased with the finished result. I will be giving this card to my sister-in-law at her baby shower next week.

My second card is based on a sketch at Card Positioning Systems, #156. (Please note - the colour difference angling across the top of the card is a shadow. Oops!)This card was also truly a challenge for me because this is a new size/format for me. I have never made a narrow tall card before. Is there a 'standard' size for these? I just 'eyeballed' a size that looked right, and made this one 3.25" x 8". Although I've been wanting to try this size for quite some time, I had never gotten around to it. The sketch at CPS is what finally 'forced' me to do it. Being a size/shape that I've never tried before forced me outside of my 'comfort zone' a little bit and forced my brain to work and my eyes to see in a slightly different way. Not a dramatic exercise, but still different enough that I could feel the gears in my cranium creaking a little bit. With certain scientific studies indicating that mental stimulation helps offset cognitive impairment, every little bit counts as far as I'm concerned! Thanks to the sketch, I didn't have to overstrain my brain and come up with placement, so I kept the design quite literal and again, I'm pleased with the results.

I tend to want to 'tart things up' a little bit and sometimes struggle with keeping cards (or layouts for that matter) simpler. As well as being more minimal, this finished card has a lot of white space. In theory, I love the idea of white space and am amazed at how effectively some people use it, but on my own stuff, it can make me feel uncomfortable. The longer I 'sit' on it though, the more it settles into my grey matter and makes itself at home. I vow to attempt white space more often!

Thanks for stopping by! Wishing you plenty of creative opportunities of your own!

Random Cute Moment With Cody...

2010-03-02T14:59:00.000-08:00

Cody, being well known for his little cheeky streak, likes to ease his way onto the chair at the computer desk and start tapping frenetically at the keyboard or clicking away with the mouse like a little maniac. I caught him at it a couple of days ago and I said, "Cody!! What are you doing?!", to which he replied..."I'm just doin' my email for tids (kids)".

I can't really say anything against that...I mean, how many times has he asked me what I'm doing only to hear me say, "Im just checking my email"...

Multitude Monday - Round Two

2010-03-01T01:00:00.000-08:00

Well, it's Monday again and so time for another 20 things for which I am grateful. Today's list includes, but is not limited to, the following items - in no particular order:

21. Quiet moments in which to regroup, refresh, regenerate. It's imperative to my survival and sanity!

22. The public library. Oh my word. How I love the library. I get in there and I'm like the proverbial kid in a candy store.

23. My safe and happy home. Chaotic and cluttered - but safe and happy.

24. The opportunity to NOT work outside of the home right now. I'm really enjoying my time at home - really enjoying the cliche-but-oh-so-true quality time with my children - especially little Dookie. He needs it the most, and with him being my last baby...it's particularly poignant.

25. CFOX morning show. I can be in the foulest, most irritable mood, but if I'm lucky enough to have a moment to listen to a bit of the morning show at CFOX, it gets me laughing and feeling good again in no time. Because this is not a program that I consider appropriate for my young children's ears, it's a real treat when I am actually on my own at a time when I can catch it.

26. Cherry blossoms. They are everywhere! What a gorgeous winter this has been, and spring has tiptoed in early!

27. A loving, suportive husband.

28. My new little 'pocket camera' that my husband got me for Valentines Day. So easy to keep in my pocket or purse. Still love my digital SLR, but this little Sony is quite the little workhorse. Lots of great features, and more megapixels than my Canon!

29. Spring Break on the horizon. Hopefully, we will take a drive down to Seattle where my sister, her husband, and their two little girls live. A visit with my sister is long overdue! Better yet, we might even make it a round trip on the train. The Amtrak Cascades is not a bad way to go and the little boys will love it!!

30. Rubber boots. There's a certain satisfaction in being able to tromp around in the rain and know that your feet will stay dry and warm. "There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing." — Sir Rannulph Fiennes. Problem solved!

31. Good, clean drinking water right from the tap!

32. Naps. No explanation necessary!

33. A sense of humour. I can't imagine where'd I'd be without it.

34. Structure and routine. For me, for my children. Couldn't have it any other way.

35. A migraine that didn't quite happen. Got the sensitivity to sound. Got the blind spots/auras...then...nothing. Severe discomfort averted.

36. Clean laundry. Sure it's a bit of a chore to fold and put away, but it's a small price to pay for knowing exactly where to go for clean socks and undies!

37. An engaging paperback novel with a clip-on booklight to take to bed with me. Even if I know I am way to tired to get beyond the page that I'm on, it's insurance - peace of mind towards a good night's sleep.

38. Airborne. My magic elixir. Works every time.

39. The sweetness of little boys.

40. The good fortune of being born into the most beautiful city in the world and being able to raise my children here.

Share The Love Sunday - Second Edition

2010-02-28T01:00:00.000-08:00

Hello, and welcome to the second edition of Share The Love Sunday. For an explanation of how Share The Love Sunday works, view my page here.

Today, I would like to share three Etsy shops that really, really make me wish that I'd learned how to sew!! I think I'll have to add 'learn to sew' to my bucket list - not that I could ever hope to get this good!

1. Adopt An Alien

2. Card Table Playhouses

3. Softies

It amazes me what people can do by taking basic, raw materials and creating such whimsy, fun, and cuteness! I could just stare at these projects for hours - it's almost meditative to me. Soaking up these artists creativity sparks my own (although, sadly, I have yet to produce anything anywhere close to being this delightful). Sigh. Pure bliss.

So what goodness have you got to share?

Below is a Mr. Linky list if you'd like to add a link to your own Share The Love Sunday post. (1) Make sure the link you submit is to the URL of your post and not your main blog URL. (2) Include a link back here.

Thanks!

7 Quick Takes...

2010-02-26T21:50:00.000-08:00

I came across this fun meme over at The Conversion Diary and I thought I'd join in, so without further delay, here are my 7 Quick Takes:

1. Another Friday, another challenge over at The Inspired Scrapper. This one is simply to use flowers. Spring is springing, after all! Check it out, and join in via Mr. Linky!

2. After being married for almost eight years and having three children, my husband and I are now looking to buy our first home. It's a nerve wracking process at times! In the past, whenever I've heard anybody say they were 'devastated' when an offer that they've made on a house hasn't worked out, I would think, 'Relax - it's just a house - find another!'. Nice, eh?! Now - I understand how somebody could feel that way.

3. This is the final weekend of the 2010 Winter Olympics. I'm going to miss it! Living in the host city has been the opportunity of a lifetime - I wonder, have I done enough? Have I taken advantage of all the goings on? How are my children going to remember this time? I think that Vancouver is going to feel some post-event blues. I think I will too. On the positive side, while I've enjoyed watching all the Canadian and International coverage on televsion - I'm looking forward to NOT having the TV on for awhile!

4. I never thought I'd ever say this, but...I actually prefer McDonald's coffee to Tim Hortons and Starbucks! I used to look at McDonald's coffee with complete disdain. Then, sometime this past year, McDonald's offered free coffee in the morning for a period of a few weeks, so I started hitting the drive-thru on my way to work for my freebie, and marketing works, folks, because McDonald's proved to me that their coffee is now not only improved, but superior! I actually crave it now and will go out of my way just to hit the drive-thru. I still feel a bit embarrassed to be seen drinking their coffee (I'm sure that will pass), but...I'm a convert!

5. I have been blogging for over three years now - I can't believe it! I started this blog when my last born child was about three weeks old - feels like a lifetime ago. At the time, I wasn't sure about this whole blogging thing, but three years later - I absolutely love it! I think I'll be blogging forever - although, it will be interesting to see how blogging evolves and what it will consist of in the years to come.

6. I am mulling over the idea of getting a dog. For years, I was dead-set against having any pets, but now...this little itch for a dog is getting bigger. I'm not going to make any sudden moves - it's a huge decision. Like having another child, in a lot of ways. A dog is a big, long-term, and somewhat expensive commitment, and not one that I take lightly. I think I'll have to dedicate an entirely separate post to discussing the pros and cons of adding a dog to our family. I hope my husband's not reading this...I don't think he's anywhere near being ready for a conversation about this! The kids, however, would be ecstatic. We'll keep this quiet for now...ssshhh...

7. It was harder than I thought it would be to come up with '7' quick takes, and I don't know if they'd all qualify as 'quick', but this was a fun meme to take part in and I will definitely be doing it again!

A Short But Sweet Card Making Session Today...

2010-02-24T22:50:00.000-08:00

Today I found a bit of time to indulge my crafty side by participating in two sketch challenges at two of my favorite sketch blogs.

The top card is based on a sketch from Card Positioning Systems, CPS #155. The bottom card is based on a sketch over at 2 Sketches 4 You - Laura's Sketch #46. Two very similar sketches this week!

Thanks for visiting - wishing you well this Wednesday evening!

Multitude Monday...

2010-02-22T18:53:00.000-08:00

While poking about on Facebook today, I saw that my friend Heather had a link to her blog entry for today, which featured a list of things that she was thankful for. I loved the idea, so I am adopting it here. For a full explanation of this concept, go to the Gratitude Community. Basically, the idea is to somehow acknowledge 1000 graces or gifts in your life with gratitude.

I have decided to do this in gradual steps - 20 per Monday for 50 Mondays equals 1000 gratitudes. Maybe some weeks I'll get all crazy and go beyond 20; hopefully, I don't have any weeks where I struggle to even make it to 20. I will admit - I am not a religious person, but I appreciate the concept of recognizing the good things, the fortunes in our respective lives. So, without further ado, here is the first leg of my quest for 1000:

1. A nice day at home with Cody

2. Lots of sunshine and record breaking (high!) temperatures.

3. A hubby who has a strong work ethic.

4. Everett Crowley Park as part of the walk home with Casey after school.

5. The joy of blogging.

6. A real-life and online community of women in which to share my love of all things paper crafting, parenting/family life, and photography.

7. One individual doctor, as well as the wider circle of people who are involved in her group practice, who has been such a lifeline to me for almost two decades!

8. Living in a very advantaged country.

9. Strong steeped black tea with milk. All day long.

10. All the luxuries of our modern era - the internet, microwave, washer/dryer, etc.

11. My sister.

12. My new baby niece, Olivia.

13. All my extended family - I got lucky big time!

14. A good haircut.

15. Good books.

16. The ability to smile, a reason to laugh - everyday.

17. Three healthy, beautiful children.

18. Fresh fruits and veggies.

19. Bedtime 'I love you's' from my little boys.

20. The opportunity for Vancouver to host the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Share The Love Sunday - Inaugural Post...

2010-02-21T22:03:00.000-08:00

Hello, and welcome to my new feature - Share The Love Sunday. For a full explanation, go to this page.

The blog I am going to share with you today is OhAmanda. I came across Amanda's site the way I come across a lot of sites I love - by just linking my way from one blog to another on one of my daily blurking adventures. Oh Amanda has a feature called 'Top Ten Tuesdays' - I just loved this idea when I saw it! I'm always on the lookout for blogging prompts and inspirations and this one really appealed to me. I've got my first Top Ten Tuesday post all written up and queued to go in two more sleeps!

Because this post is my first regarding Share The Love Sunday, it's been published late on Sunday night instead of early Sunday morning. In the future, as noted in my Share The Love Sunday page, I will have my post done at the beginning of the day, but in the hopes of perhaps catching some night owl bloggers, and also as a test run, I am going to add a Mr. Linky to this inaugural post. Any late night bloggers care to Share The Love?

Saturday Night's Alright For Crafting...

2010-02-20T10:47:00.000-08:00

This layout is in response to last week's Inspired Scrapper challenge, which was to use a 'love themed' quote. The quote that I used here is by Elizabeth Barrett Browning and though she intended it in a romantic context, I thought it was also fitting when it comes to my feelings for my son!

The Inspired Scrapper team has knocked it out of the park again this week! The three most recent posts by DT members are based on February's 'Love Is In The Air' theme and use a sketch by Becky Fleck at Pagemaps. I love the way Susan used rolled up patterned paper as an accent - such a great touch! Virginia used a great mix of patterned papers with red being the dominant colour, which lends so much energy and jump to her photos. Erica printed three different photos from three different moments in black and white and then used very pretty colours in her papers for an overall beautiful layout. Love her mixed button accent as well!

As always, I encourage you to check out The Inspired Scrapper - play along with the challenges and share your creation with us using the Mr. Linky feature. There is no such thing as too much inspiration!

For Today - February 17, 2010

2010-02-17T11:03:00.000-08:00

Outside my window...Glorious sunshine!! 10 degrees celsius - welcome to Vancouver, host city of the 2010 Spring Olympics!

I am thinking...about my sister-in-law, Keri. She is pregnant with her first baby. She began having contractions over 24 hours ago and has been sent home from the hospital twice. My thoughts are definitely with her today, and with my brother-in-law, Kyle.

I am thankful...for my husband, for my children, for my life. Also for the opportunity to have a 2 hour nap today to catch up on the sleep I missed last night while Cody had a particularly wakeful, calling for Mommy night!

From the kitchen...Homemade Shepherds Pie for dinner tonight. Must not let time get away from me today, or dinner will turn into leftover spagetti from last night.

I am wearing...I just cut and paste this part from my last 'For Today' entry - "my usual at-home uniform - yoga pants, oversized t-shirt/sweater".

I am reading...an actual adult paperback - "The Devil's Punchbowl" by Greg Iles. I've re-read the first couple of chapters twice now since I usually only read in bed at night and I keep falling asleep after a few pages.

I am hoping...that all goes well for Keri and Kyle and I end up with a brand new little niece, or my first nephew, by the end of today!

I am going...nowhere until I leave to pick Casey up from school. Until then, I am going to stay home and see what I can accomplish around here.

I am creating...a fair number of paper projects lately. The trick for me is actually completing them, and getting them photographed and posted!

I am hearing...nothing but the clock ticking. Sweet silence! Such a treat.

Around the house...lots of clutter. Lots of stuff with no real place to go. Once again, I find myself thinking that it would be easier to just pack and move than attempt to organize.

One of my favorite things...a new baby. A new family member. A new niece or nephew for my husband and I, a new cousin for my children.

A few plans for the rest of the week...once I know if new baby is a boy or a girl, I have some gifts to make. Watch various Olympic events and coverage on TV. Take advantage of our beautiful weather to spend more time outside in the sunshine with my kids. Shave my legs.

Here is a picture thought I'm sharing with you...

An actual photo of my elusive daughter! I think this might very well be the only picture I've managed to snag of her since my above-mentioned brother and sister-in-law's wedding in July 2009! Actually, my daughter took this picture herself with my camera. We were on our way home after she got a very cute new haircut, a haircut that she was actually happy with! A haircut she likes, a photo to document it that she also likes - wow! We are on some kind of roll!

Happy Friday!

2010-02-12T11:37:00.001-08:00

TGIF! Three reasons why this Friday in particular is a great one:

1. Friday over at the Inspired Scrapper means that a new challenge is posted, along with great projects by the designers. Looking for Valentines inspiration in particular? Go check it out!

2. Here in Vancouver, the Opening Ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics begins at 6:00 pm PST. My husband was in BC Place Stadium on July 2, 2003 when Vancouver was awarded these Games. I was watching from home on TV, pregnant with our second child, who was born three days later. Since then, we've had a third child, so we've essentially been waiting for this moment for the duration of our boys' lives!

3. To be honest, I can't come up with a third reason specific to this Friday, but come on - who doesn't love a Friday - any Friday?! It's the kickoff to the weekend, and here's wishing you a great one!

The Inspired Scrapper - Sketch Challenge

2010-01-28T19:05:00.001-08:00

This week, The Inspired Scrapper offered a sketch challenge, using one of Becky Fleck's sketches from PageMaps. Here is the sketch -

and here is my version of it:

I had fun playing with this one - distressing and inking edges, stamping and embossing with utee (can you see the dots in the bottom left corner?), stitching and stapling - good times!

I squeaked in last minute with this layout - The Inspired Scrapper posts a new challenge tomorrow. Come by and check it out!

Two Cards For Two Challenges...

2010-01-27T22:35:00.000-08:00

To begin, I feel compelled to dedicate this post to Kat - thanks for calling me out! (*wink*).

Today's cards are in response to two sketch challenges - the card on the right is based on sketch #48 at Card Patterns and the card on the left is based on a sketch over at Mojo Monday . Both of these sites are great for the card maker who may be in need of a gentle prod to boost creativity and/or productivity.

Vancouver is enjoying a very mild winter right now and Spring is peeking out all around in the way of budding trees and shrubs, and once-dormant bulbs shooting their green tips up through the dirt. This is not good news for a city that is set to host the 2010 Winter Olympics in two weeks, but selfishly, this is great news for me! Aside from the fact that there are multitudes of reasons to love Spring, I’m just very glad that I can photograph my cards outside. I am still struggling to get good lighting with my indoor photography. Plus, I must confess that there is not a decent backdrop to be had inside my house because my housekeeper has been letting her duties slide badly these days (that would be me!). One of my favorite quotes of all times (from the fabulous Phyllis Diller) is a rather apropos way to wrap this post up...

“Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.”

Womanly Needs...

2010-01-14T23:35:00.000-08:00

'Womanly Needs' - this is a poem that I have read/seen before, but a friend on Facebook posted it today and it was good to read it again. I wanted to repost it here, so I did a Google search for the author. What I learned over at snopes.com is that this is a poem that has often been attributed to Maya Angelou but is actually the work of Pamela Redmond Satran.

I find that I appreciate this poem much more today in my life versus several years ago when I first read it.

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..a youth she's content to leave behind....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .....a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honoured...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...a feeling of control over her destiny...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...how to fall in love without losing herself..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...when to try harder... and when to walk away

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...where to go...be it to her best friend's kitchen table...or a charming inn in the woods...when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...what she can and can't accomplish in a day...a month...and a year...

For Today - January 14, 2010

2010-01-14T12:13:00.000-08:00

For Today -

Outside my window...It's raining, it's pouring...huge puddles are forming!

I am thinking...That today is a perfect rainy day to be spending time at home with my almost 3 year old.

I am thankful...For good indoor lighting that helps banish a grey day.

From the kitchen...Peanut butter and stoned wheat thin cracker 'sandwiches' and hot, strong steeped tea.

I am wearing...my usual at-home uniform - yoga pants, oversized t-shirt/sweater.

I am reading...a lot of kids books! Must get to library with an adult card!

I am hoping...that I have energy to spare at the end of the day instead of day to spare at the end of my energy!

I am going...to head out with Cody for a walk/bike ride.

I am creating...a lot of cards lately. Hoping to do more altered projects/mini books.

I am hearing...Cody singing to himself while sitting on the toilet

Around the house....trucks, Lego, books, Crayola, 'hockey guys'...all the usual child detritus!

One of my favorite things...a happy day at home with my child/children.

A few plans for the rest of the week...organize/thin-out kids toys, make another trip to the library, and maybe even squeeze in a visit to Science World!

Here is a picture thought I'm sharing with you...

Cody playing peek-a-boo at the park, two rainy days ago.

Thank Goodness For Challenges...

2010-01-12T14:12:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how many cards I'm starting to accumulate! I think I mentioned in one of my previous posts that one of my goals for this year (I didn't dare make any 'official' resolutions!) was to have a variety of cards on hand so that I would not be caught short without one at the last minute. Less than two weeks into the new year, I think I'm ahead of myself for once! There are SO many card challenge sites out there - it would be a full time commitment to even try to stay caught up with them, so instead, I'm taking my time and enjoying all the inspiration there is to be had.

Here is a breakdown of the challenges used with these cards - and again, I've got a three card to four challenge ratio.

The card on the left is based on sketch #149 over at CPS/Card Positioning Systems. The card at top middle is in response to a challenge over at Caardvarks, this time using a sketch designed for Caardvarks by Becky Fleck. This card also qualifies for a challenge at the 'new to me' challenge blog, "Just Us Girls" - aka 'JUGS'. I'm telling ya, it's fun blog hopping for nothing more than to come across unique, cheeky, and/or entertaining blog names! The JUGS 15 challenge was to use stitching on a project. I appreciated this challenge because not only do I love the effect of stitching on a card, but I don't do it nearly enough AND - it forced me to clear up yet some more space in my scrappin' lair, this time in front of and beneath my sewing machine, so thank you JUGS for a very beneficial challenge!

Lastly, the card on the right is in response to a 3D challenge at Our Creative Corner. It's hard to tell from the photo, but the four flowers across the middle of the card have three layers plus a rhinestone to top them off. I did this simply by using two sizes of circle punches to cut out additional flower centres from the patterned paper that I used for the card. I then layered them, adhering them with pop dots, and then finished the middles with self-adhesive rhinestone centres. Super quick, super easy.

The biggest challenge that I'm currently facing is how best to photograph my cards or other scrapbooking related projects. I get the best results if I can photograph them outside, but when we're in the throes of rainy season, the opportunities for almost anything photography related are few and far between. I would love to hear suggestions from any readers who are satisfied with their project presentation.

I've Always Been Game For A Challenge...

2010-01-08T17:32:00.001-08:00

...and today I found not one, not two, but FOUR card challenges to participate in today - I'm a machine, I tell ya!

The card on the left is based on a sketch challenge over at Our Creative Corner. Then, over at Color Throwdown (fun name!), the challenge today was to use three colours - 'regal rose', 'chocolate chip', and 'dusty durango'. I just happened to have some papers in my stash with the perfect colours in them. I don't know the paper brand because, oddly, there is no manufacturer name on any of them, but they're all from the same line. They are also some of the oldest papers in my stash, so it was wildly gratifying to be able to use them for the Colour Throwdown challenge. All three cards are made with these papers, plus an old, nay, vintage, hoarded, and coveted piece of 'Chocolate Pinstripe' from Chatterbox. This CB paper is one of my Top 10 all-time favourite patterned papers ever! Goes with everything, and lends just the right touch of sophistication to any project! (Did that sound a lot like a 'plug'? Think maybe I can talk Chatterbox into tossing some free product my way?! What's that you say? Pushing my luck? Yeah. I knew it.)

The third challenge I participated in is from Papertake Weekly. The challenge there was based on 'New Beginnings' and there was room for interpretation according to the criteria, so for this challenge, I used a new corner/slot punch that I got awhile ago and never used. It was one of those purchases where I just had to have it after a demo in a LSS, but once I got it home...well, my time filled with other things, my interest waned, then my memory of what to actually do with it faded...eventually, my shiny new acquisition was tossed in amongst all the rest of the usual suspects, unused and forgotten. For some reason, when I visited Papertake Weekly and read 'New Beginnings', the idea of making myself finally use this punch just jumped into my head! Seems kind of random, but - I was game, so I went with it, and lo and behold - it's my new favorite tool-of-the-moment! So, thank you, Challengemeisters over at PW! I was truly inspired!

Now, onto the fourth and final challenge of the day. Prairie Papercrafts and Stamps is hosting a colour challenge as well, and coincidentally enough, the colours named for this challenge are chocolate and orange - very similar to the colours over at Color Throwdown, so - I stayed with the same paper line and made the card in the above picture on the right. Serendipitous the way it all came together, don'tcha think?!

I added the sentiment 'hello' to both of the larger cards, which keeps them in the 'all occasion' category and allows flexibility in usage. 'Hello' is great just on it's own of course, or you can start with 'Hello' and have the card open to read, 'and Happy Birthday to my best friend!', or, 'Hello', then, 'Thanks for all your help!', or, 'Hello', then, 'You annoy me. It's over.'. See what I mean? Truly 'all-occasion'. I then made up a wee little 3x3 card, sans sentiment, just to round out the photo a bit, in keeping with symmetry and spatial relationship. Huh?! Plus, I needed a card for my mom to say 'thank you' for allowing my husband and I ample usage of her car since we are officially a one-vehicle family but are living at least a two-vehicle lifestyle (AKA hockey/baseball/school/soccer/social life/etc. taxi drivers for our three busy children, as well as, oh, you know, things like going back and forth to work!)

So there you have it - three cards for four challenges. I'm going to call it a night! Happy Crafting, everybody!

Another Day, Another Challenge...

2010-01-07T12:37:00.001-08:00

Of the cardmaking kind this time, thankfully! I made these two cards in response to three challenges. Challenge #1, from 2 Sketches 4 you - make a card using the sketch provided in the post dated January 4. The card on the left represents this. Then, Challenge #2, from yesterday's challenge at 365 Cards - use metal on a card. The card on the right uses 2 black metal brads, as well as a heart that I first embossed on a piece of thin metal sheeting using my Cuttlebug and then punched out using one of my big Marvy Uchida punches. This card also fulfils another sketch challenge over at CPS - Card sketches. This is the second card that I've made from this sketch. Operation Write Home (OWH) had a call for Valentines cards that needed to be postmarked to them no later than January 6. I'm a day late, but I'm going to send these two cards to them anyways, along with some others that I've made. Maybe my parcel will get to them in time to make it into a Valentines shipment; otherwise, these cards can get included as general 'love' cards for shipping anytime.

Raising A Teenager Is Hard...

2010-01-07T09:21:00.000-08:00

As a general, sweeping assumption, I tend to think that raising a teenaged daughter is harder than raising a teenaged son, although I've got twice the sons than daughters, so I'lI find out for myself soon enough...This morning was one of those mornings that leave me reeling - and all before 9 a.m.! It's amazing how much conflict and nastiness can be packed into such a short period of time. In my mind, I alternate between 'head in sand' and 'in your face' with my daughter. I alternate between 'leave her alone, she's not as bad as some kids' to 'never mind the lowest denominator, this still is not acceptable according to MY expectations and standards!'. Should I leave her alone? What will I come to regret more - too much attention or not enough attention? Is it all goingn to turn out okay in the end - or will it all go so terribly awry? I feel like it is such a delicate, precarious balance and I'm trying to find the balance without any reliable senses, or information. I know that there are books that I can read, but for every book touting one method, there's another book refuting it. I also think that it's all so subjective and individual. Or, perhaps there is a common, frequent, and/or underlying psychology to the teenage brain, the teenage experience, that lends itself to a method or school of thought that can be effectively applied to any/all teenagers...Another consideration is the specific dynamic that exists between MY teenager and myself - I recognize that the responsibility or ownership of this struggle that exists with my daughter is not squarely on her shoulders...What experiences/behaviours/tendencies of my own are affecting how I influence or respond to any given situation or moment with her? How much can I control? How much do I have to let go of? I feel like I'm caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place and I fear that there is no favourable outcome - at least, not one that's guaranteed. And I WANT a guarantee, damn it! This is my daughter, my first born baby - I don't feel like there is any room for error. I also fear that what right now seems like such a difficult time may only be the beginning. Perhaps I'm just run down and worn out in my thinking right now...I've also heard from some people that the age of 14 is pretty much the worst of the worst, and that a corner to turn is not too far off. I just don't know. What is the middle ground between the theory of 'tough love' versus 'unconditional love'? What is the likelihood of 'happy ending' versus 'worst case scenario'? The answers are nowhere to be found, at least, not right at this moment. For now, I think I will allow myself to pour a fresh, hot cup of tea and retreat into my scrapping space with my favorite blogs, websites,and my music. I'm done ruminating and perseverating, for the time being at least. Sometimes the harder you look for answers, the more elusive they seem. For now, for today, for at least this moment, I am going to let it go.

"All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on."
-- Havelock Ellis

A New Obsession - Card Sketch Sites

2010-01-03T18:07:00.000-08:00

I am currently having a love affair with card sketch sites. Up until recently, I've found using sketches in cardmaking or scrapbooking more challenging than helpful, but somewhere along the way, I turned a corner, gave sketches another shot, and am now obsessed!

This is a sketch from 365 Cards -

This is my version of the sketch -

(I sure wish I could take better indoor photos!)

This is a sketch from Card Positioning Systems (CPS) -

And, this is my take -

This card also includes requirements from today's post, Challenge #45, at The Corrosive Challenge blog, which is to use two favorite embellishments on your card or project. I used ribbon on this card, and rhinestones - two of my favorite go-to embellishments for cards.

I haven't made any 'official' resolutions this year, but one of my aims with paper crafting is to use what I've already got and start digging into my stash - a common sentiment, it seems, among us crafters! I have SO much patterned paper from over the years - boxes of it - so, I'd like to start using it up and making some space under my desktop/countertop where I store it all.

Another of my goals with my card making is to have cards ready and on hand for the numerous family birthdays throughout the year. It's not like I don't know that they're coming, and yet inevitably, I'm flying around last minute as we're about to head out the door for a celebration, frantically slapping together a card. That's just dumb! So, with these two cards, I'm ready for my father-in-law's/grandma-in-law's birthday brunch next weekend! We all have busy lives - isn't it rewarding when you can cross something off of your gigantic, never-ending to-do list - even if it's one of the little things? After all, every little thing counts, wouldn't you agree?

Card Sketch #42...

2009-12-29T18:10:00.000-08:00

...from '2S4Y', AKA 2 Sketches 4 You - a fun card sketch site that I stumbled across while on one of my daily blog hopping excursions. Here is the sketch as seen on the site:

And here is my pretty literal interpretation x 2:

I love this sketch! It's quick, simple, and great for any occasion. I'm getting more and more interested in using sketches - for card making and for scrapbooking. There are a whole lot of great sketches and examples over at 2S4Y - go check them out!

Christmas Is For Caring...

2009-12-18T09:54:00.001-08:00

This morning, Casey was telling me about a creative writing assignment that he had to do at school where he was to use the letters in 'Christmas' to write a word for each to describe Christmas. Casey told me in his earnest, almost solemn, way that he chose 'Care' for 'C' because "Christmas isn't just about the presents, it's about the care".

It is satisfying to me as a mother to know that my child understands the deeper, more important messages of the Christmas season. It is no surprise to me that not only does Casey know it, but he takes it very seriously as well. Casey is such a light in my life!

On The First Day of Christmas...

2009-12-14T12:04:00.000-08:00

The Inspired Scrapper is kicking off a crafty 12 Days of Christmas - I created this cute set of marble magnets for my even cuter cousin, which I also shared at The Inspired Scrapper. Head on over there every day from now until Christmas for the Design Team's scrappy inspiration and eye candy!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

2009-12-11T20:37:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday! TGIF!! Every Friday over at The Inspired Scrapper a new challege/project gets posted. Today it was 'Christmas Cards', and it was my debut assignment as one of the Design Team members. It still thrills me to call myself that! Go have a look! So much Christmas eye candy!

For Today - Thursday, December 10, 2009

2009-12-10T00:46:00.000-08:00

Outside my window...ideal conditions for - I don't want to say it, so I'm going to spell it - S-N-O-W!!! After careful consideration, I vote 'Nay!' - but don't tell my kids that!!

I am thinking...and thinking and thinking...I don't know when I'm going to be able to quiet my brain so that I can go to sleep...

I am thankful...for modern medicine, and for Tylenol 3's. Farewell, gallbladder!! See you again...NEVER!

From the kitchen...nothing to brag about lately. Still planning on a Christmas cookie bakefest, but...nothin' says lovin' from the oven like last-minute concotions!!!

I am wearing...a crazy mix of sloppy old cotton stuff.

I am reading...blogs. Lots and lots of blogs. I'm loving the blogs!!!

I am hoping...that my sister and her gorgeous kids and hubby make it up here for Christmas!!

I am going...to be faced with my fear of flying sometime this spring, rumour has it...

I am creating...Christmas projects for the Inspired Scrapper.

I am hearing...digital music channel 431 - Baroque! Love it!

Around the house....lots of outside stuff inside. Like, the sand table, roller blades, hockey sticks, baseball equipment...sporty toys for active boys! Active boys who are always going full speed no matter whether they are in the great outdoors, or in the dining room...

One of my favorite things...My big, fluffy, most-excellent-shade-of-blue blanket that Casey picked out for me for Christmas when he was three because he wanted me to always be warm. So sweet!

A few plans for the rest of the week...quit my job, scrap space playtime, quality time with kids.

Here is a picture thought I'm sharing with you...

My husband - wonderfully warm on cold winter nights! Super supportive, super helpful, super dad - I thank my lucky stars for him every single night!

Whole Lotta Love...

2009-12-03T11:12:00.000-08:00

So we're nearing the end of the first week of December already - wow! I still feel like Halloween was last weekend. The Halloween candy has finally run out...I'm always happy to be done with it. No more candy battles.

The first day of December proved to be a sunny, clear, and cold one - my favorite kind of wintery day, and it started off in the sweetest way. Early in the morning, while it was still dark out and I was still in bed, I heard Cody start calling from his room, "I tode! I tode! I tode!". Cody has the cutest voice - he's sounds like a hoarse little toad. *Note to self: Must capture that voice on video/audio again soon!*. Then, pitter patter, pitter patter, (actually, more like - stompity stomp, stompity stomp), Cody makes his way into my room, still lamenting, "I tode! I tode!".

"Cody, are you cold?!"
"Yes!"
"Well, come on up here in bed with Mommy so that I can snuggle you up and get you warm!" (He half climbs/I half haul him up into bed with me).

After a couple of minutes, I hear Cody's little sleepy, froggy voice say, "We best friends!".

"Yes, Cody, that's right. We ARE best friends!".

"You da best mommma!"

(He's too sweet. I can't stand it!!)

"Aw, thanks, Cody!! And you're my very best little blue-eyed boy! I love you soooo much!!"

"And I yuv you so much too!".

Oh my word. Be still my beating heart!! Not even three yet. He is the sweetest combination of rough, tough, gruff, strong-willed and intense little guy, and sweet, loving, affectionate little charmer. Both my boys are very much this way. I couldn't be any luckier or any more thankful - such a beautiful way to start the day.

Send A Smile...

2009-12-02T13:39:00.000-08:00

My son is napping (thank goodness!) and so I just poured myself a cup of tea and started randomly checking out my mega-list of bookmarked scrapbooking blogs. I came across a post on Jana Millen's blog with details about a card drive for six sick children. Such an easy and quick way to add a spark of sunshine to a brave little person's day. Go check it out!

For Today - November 27, 2009

2009-11-27T23:38:00.000-08:00

Outside my window...are the Christmas lights my husband put up last weekend. I thought it was a bit too early, but I've adjusted!

I am thinking...about the projects I want to contribute to the Inspired Scrapper.

I am thankful...that November is almost over and yet I've experienced NONE of my usual late fall/early winter dark, grey, rainy day blues!

From the kitchen...nothing right now, but it IS time to start my annual Christmas cookie bakefest!

I am wearing...my typical at-home uniform - some type of sloppy old-school, non-trendy sweats (what would be called 'yoga pants' if they were new and I'd paid a lot of money for them!) and a hand-me-down fleece pullover from my father-in-law. There is no pretense of glamour here!

I am reading...assorted magazines passed on to me from my mom.

I am hoping...to have an incredible surge of energy, starting when I rise tomorrow morning and lasting me through the weekend! Or, actually, forever would be preferable...

I am going...to go to bed soon. Okay...soon-ish. Okay - hopefully before I sabotage my hopes of having the above-mentioned surge of energy by staying up until a stupid time for no good reason.

I am creating...order in my scrap space. Hopefully.

I am hearing...the damn Food Network! My husband loves this channel...and yet, as I look over at him I realize he is sleeping. What are the chances of me being able to turn the TV off without him waking up because of it?? Yep. Just what I thought. He's back, and so the TV natters on...

Around the house....small hints of Christmas, piles of laundry, a lot of assorted kid stuff. Seriously need to purge.

One of my favorite things...red wine. Like the kind that I am sipping right now.

A few plans for the rest of the week...Soccer, hockey, various household-related conquests, and the actual completion of some creative projects!

Here is a picture thought I'm sharing with you...
This is a picture I came across tonight as I was looking through my photo files. What struck me about this photo is Cody's sweet, babyish hand...still kind of pudgy, short little fingers...so cute, so sweet...he's almost past the age where any baby remains,so this picture is pulling at my momma heartstrings right now!

Still pinching myself...

2009-11-24T09:52:00.001-08:00

I'm still surprised to be able to say this...I have been chosen to join a truly amazing group of women as part of the design team for The Inspired Scrapper. I'm beyond excited about this opportunity! These women are some of Canada's most creative talents - to be honest, I'm half convinced that I'm experiencing 'imposter syndrome' - I can't possibly belong among these people that I am now rubbing elbows with! Talk about motivation to 'step up my game'! Thank you, Sonja, for this wonderful invitation! I am so looking forward to getting to know the team better, and I can't wait to get started on my contributions!

And The Award Goes To...

2009-11-23T18:55:00.000-08:00

Me! :) It was such a treat to open up my email this morning and find that my friend Kerry at Kerry'd Away Designs has named me for this Kreative Blogger award. So sweet! Thanks, Kerry! Once the award is accepted, the nominee has to do the following:

•Thank the sender for nominating you.

•make sure you link to the person who nominated you.

•Copy the logo onto your blog

•List seven interesting things about yourself.

•Nominate Seven Kreative Bloggers

•Post links to their Blog

•Leave a comment for each letting them know of their nomination.

So, here's the part where I list seven interesting things about me...('interesting' might be a bit of a stretch, but...here goes!)

1. I write with my left hand, but my right hand is otherwise dominant.
2. I taught myself how to read when I was 3.
3. A photograph of me was part of an exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery way back in the late 70's.
4. I got my first migraine headache when I was ten years old while on a bus with my class on our way to the Museum of Anthropology at UBC for a fieldtrip. I panicked because I thought I was going blind.
5. I started driving when I was 14 years old, thanks to an older boyfriend. I drove the streets of Vancouver for three years before I got my license at 17 (I think this tidbit qualifies as more of a 'secret' thing about me as opposed to an 'interesting' thing - so don't tell anybody!!)
6. I've never, ever tried smoking - cigarettes, or anything else, and I've never, ever done any other kind of illegal narcotic or street drug, etc.
7. I have a fear of heights and a fear of flying. I hope to conquer both!

Whew! That was tough - I wasn't sure for awhile if I'd make it to seven!

Now, it is my turn to nominate seven fellow bloggers.

1. Stacey at Pretty Crafty
2. The amazing Debby!
3. Erica at A Pod of Perkins
4. Eleonor's Stamping Blog
5. Tanya!
6. Joanne :)
7. Carla

Go check out these talented and inspiring blogs! Thanks again, Kerry - this was fun!

OWH Veterans Day Blog Hop...

2009-11-13T22:31:00.000-08:00

Hello - and welcome to my blog! Maybe you found your way here from the Operation Write Home's Veterans Day Bloghop. If so - I'm glad to be one of the stops along the way! If you found your way to my blog through some other means, today I am participating in a blog hop, which, as mentioned, is hosted by Operation Write Home, through their Homefront Blog. Check them out!! OWH is an amazing, inspiring, grassroots organization that collects and ships handmade cards to men and women in the armed forces deployed overseas. The OWH mission statement is as follows:

OUR MISSION
To support our nation's armed forces by sending blank greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them.

As soon as I heard about this group, I knew I wanted to be part of it! It feels good to know that, even in the smallest of ways, I can do something, from way over here in my little corner of the world, to give something in return for the dedication and sacrifice that our heroic servicemen and women provide us. OWH has a Hero Blog that shares letters from these heroes and their families, expressing their appreciation and gratitude for the cards that they receive. It's so rewarding to read these communications from the people our cards reach. It's what fuels my motivation to keep gathering cards together and sending them off, and it gives me an airtight reason to ensure that I make time for my creative indulgences - a definite bonus! I'm in the midst of making as many Valentines Day cards as I can in time for the January 8 mailing deadline. January sounds like a long way off, but the way time goes hurtling along, I know I'll be down to the wire on these! I'm also going to write as many AnyHero cards and letters as I can. Don't know what an AnyHero card/letter is? Click on any of the links above to find out!

I hope to edit this post at some point today with some images of some of my cards, but in the meantime, I'll share this picture of my Grandpa, who was a veteran of WWII.

Now, I'll send you along to the next stop on our bloghop - without further adieu, go visit participant #70 - Chris, at There's No Place Like Gnome. Don't forget to leave a comment! Thanks for stopping by.

For Today...

2009-11-04T22:19:00.000-08:00

"The beauty of the everyday moments". I've been interested in what The Simple Woman has been doing on her blog for awhile now, and I've been seeing her idea adopted on a number of blogs that I visit so I'm going to start doing it here. Seems like a nice way to pause at any point during the day, take notice of the moment, and reflect on it. I'm already certain that I will enjoy looking back on these entries.

FOR TODAY...

Outside my window. . . It's dark. It's late when I write this, but I can see what is outside clearly with my mind's eye - it's a view I have enjoyed for the last several years.

I am thankful . . . To be living in a country that has good medical amenities and accessibility.

I am thinking . . . .That I hope I am feeling a lot better tomorrow because I've got a lot to do around here!

I am celebrating . . . The amount of sunshine that we've been receiving in this little corner of the world!

From the kitchen . . . Homemade chicken soup, the way my Grandma used to make it!

I am wearing . . .Cozy fleece pants and a ratty old t-shirt. Hate to admit it, but it's what I usually slop around in while at home!

I am reading . . . A lot of blogs, and 'Breaking Dawn' by Stephanie Meyer.

I am hoping . . . That Casey is much better tomorrow, and that little Cody stays well.

I am hearing . . . The TV on in the living room. The TV is on way too much. Something to work on.

I am creating . . . All kinds of wonderful things...in my mind! Need to start getting these ideas from imagination to realization!

Around the house. . .Lots and lots and lots of work to do!

One of my favourite things . . . Quiet time in the evenings after the kids have gone to bed.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . .Rest. Recuperate. Get a date booked with a carpet cleaner.

A picture to share...

A Halloween Retrospective...

2009-11-01T18:16:00.000-08:00

So Halloween has come and gone, and oh my goodness, it's November! November 1st, and the clocks have turned back. We've already taken all our Halloween decorations down...Halloween is not one of those holidays that can linger. It's been fun looking through the photos I took yesterday though - a few things struck me...

1. Where is Chanel? My daughter is not in any of the photos because she wasn't there. She had made plans with her friends. She's fourteen so it's understandable, but the idea of letting my daughter go off with friends on Halloween was somewhat nervewracking. It's dark, it's cold, there are ghouls and ghosts and goblins about with firecrackers and no curfews! The reality is, she had a fun (and uneventful!) time trick-or-treating with friends, then went to a friend's house for movies and a sleepover. A nice night, and perfectly suitable, for a teenager. It was a bit strange for me to not have her involved in our family activities. I missed her. But, it's one of those inevitable changes that all parents go through. For all the stages that get left behind, new ones come to replace them. Besides, that's what photographs and scrapbooking is for - I've got lots of great memories to look back at!

2. Casey decided to be a zombie this year. I had to wonder - what the heck does my six year old even know about zombies?! I asked Casey what he thought zombies were and he said they were dead people who were still walking around. I asked him where he heard about zombies. Of course, like so many things, he says he heard about it from a friend. An older boy. A seven year old! Ah, those playground lessons. A child's version of the information highway. We've all been a part of these sharings of wisdom at one stage or another. I have to admit, one of the first thoughts I had about Casey being a zombie was, "Inexpensive/easy costume! Yes!!". He could wear his dobok and be a Tae Kwon Do zombie. He was very excited about this. He was even more excited when the makeup kit we bought included a tube of fake blood. I was less excited about this! The kids wore their costumes to school on Thursday and I painted his face, but I told him that we would have to stop short of wearing the fake blood at school. He couldn't wait until Halloween - it was all about the fake blood! I'm not prudish, but the whole idea made me cringe a bit. Fake blood?! My sweet angel baby Casey was over the moon about fake blood?! It was very hard for me to paint a zombie face onto my little boy, but I got through it and seeing Casey so excited and proud about his costume made me feel pretty good. It's another one of those little milestones in childhood - the changeover from cute, cuddly costumes to grotesque, gory, and macabe ones!

3. Cody, my cute little crocodile. When asked what he wanted to be for Halloween, he told me he wanted to be a crocodile. Well, what do you know?! I just happened to have a crocodile costume in our dress-up box from a Halloween a few years ago when Casey was a crocodile. Again, I breathed a little sigh of relief, thinking about our family's piggy bank. Another thrifty, economically sound option. Then, I had a little case of the guilts. Cody is the child that gets all the hand-me-downs. Clothes, books, toys, costumes...Maybe he should have his own, unique, never before worn or photographed costume. I realized, though, seeing his excitement at getting dressed up for his little daycare Halloween party, and again in the afternoon on Halloween - making his crocodile roars and getting excited about scaring people - this is the kind of stuff that matters. He's two and a half years old! He's not putting the same values or judgements on all kinds of 'other stuff' - he's just excited and having fun! So, I shrugged off all my silly worries and just enjoyed watching him enjoy himself!

It was a fun day overall. We got together with some extended family, had a delicious and creative dinner of 'witches brew' (stew) and 'bat wings' (chicken wings) cooked up by my super helpful and super talented mother-in-law, and the kids got their treat bags stuffed! Now, here is what is, for me, one of those classic parenting dilemnas*. Trick-or-treating is certainly about the fun of choosing a costume, getting dressed up, and having fun running about the neighbourhood at night, getting excited about seeing all the other little ghosts and goblins (or cool looking Star Wars characters!), pumpkins all lit up, and homes and yards being creatively decorated. Trick-or-treating is also very much about getting all that candy! When trick-or-treating wraps up, my kids do the same thing that my brother and sister and I used to do when we were kids - come home, dump their bags out on the floor, and sort through the astounding variety of candy and chocolates that they collected.

*Dilemna - Management of the candy. The sheer volume makes me cringe. Words like 'juvenile diabetes', 'tooth decay', and 'childhood obesity' float around in my brain...We've got a pretty manageable system, I suppose - the kids can choose one piece a day. Well, at least, the two youngest kids. The oldest kid, the teenager, well - she is at the age where she keeps her haul in her room and it's up to her what she does with it. The truth of it is, she tends to binge for a good two or three days, works her way down to the inevitable motley mix of less desirable specimens, and then trashes them. Although my brain twitches a bit thinking about what she's just put her young, growing body systems through for the last 48 hours or so, it's over and done with in a pretty short amount of time. The younger kids are pretty agreeable and cooperative about the doling it out one piece per day over a month or so...when - oh my goodness, can you believe it?! They've eaten it all! It's gone! (wink wink nudge nudge). The classic parental disappearing act. Please tell me I'm not the only mom who utilizes this technique!

My favorite quote of the night: Cody and Casey are sitting on the floor at their grandparents' house prior to heading out to canvas the neighbourhood, just after I've finished painting Casey's face. Cody leans up against his big brother and says, "You're my best Zombie buddy!". So cute! Love the special bond those boys share.

Weatherwise, Halloween was a gem! Not a hint of precipitation. A sunny, blue-skied day settling into a crisp, clear, starry night. Not to mention the full moon! If I'd been magically bestowed with the power to script a perfect setting for Halloween night, I wouldn't have changed a thing!

Now, perhaps a few quiet, calm weeks to just relax before the inevitably frenetic rush towards the next big holiday? One can wish!

Red Friday...

2009-10-02T19:19:00.000-07:00

What is Red Friday? Check out the Operation Write Home website or blog for more information. Here is a card I made using a very old Stampin' Up stamp (NOT a great photo!!) to include in a package of Christmas cards that I am getting together to send off before the OWH Christmas card deadline (all packages have to be postmarked by November 1st). Check out the OWH website and blog. Seriously inspiring, seriously moving, seriously all round wonderful!

To Everything There Is A Season...

2009-10-01T13:13:00.000-07:00

Today is a grey, rainy day in Vancouver. It is also a bit cool. I think this officially ends what has been an outstanding summer here in Vancouver. I'm a bit sad about closing the door on summer, but because it really was such a spectacular season weather-wise this year, I have to be thankful for that much at least, and appreciate the good fortune of this lovely last stretch of Indian Summer that we have been enjoying up until now. Summer '09, we had a good run! Thank you for that! You will go down in the history books (and my scrapbooks!) as a winner! Truly, what more can we ask for? It's got to come to an end sometime, and given that today is the first day of October, I can't feel too much remorse! Besides, I don't like to focus on the negative. Remember the song, 'Turn, Turn, Turn' by the Byrds, from back in 1965, with words adapted from The Bible, book of Ecclesiastes? Click here for the YouTube link. It feels like a good song for today.

At work today, I left my building to head over to the nearby Starbucks. I hadn't yet had a caffeinated beverage and was feeling like my day, therefore, had not gotten off to a suitable start. My drink of choice through the summer months has been the Cafe Con Leche - also known as Iced Coffee, and I have not yet given up on this cold, refreshing beverage in favour of the steamy hot lattes just yet, so I suppose I haven't fully let go of summer...but I digress. This closing thought was not going to be about drinks or long goodbyes...I was going to end this post on a specifically positive, uplifting note. As I mentioned above, I do not like to focus on the negative, in any aspect of my life. I try to look out at the world with the determination that, to a significant degree, the success of a good day, or the failure to enjoy a day, is largely based on how we choose to see things. For example, I left my building today to head over to the nearby Starbucks. The outside world was somewhat dark, certainly gray, and enthusiastically moistened. A woman leaving the building at the same time as me stated, "What a crappy day!". I turned to her, smiled broadly, and said, "I prefer to think of it as lovely for the trees and grass!". She paused, looked doubtfully at me, and carried on her un-merry way. Apparently, she did not feel agreeable with me on this. Hmm. Oh well. I'll leave you with this:

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine."

- Anthony D'Angelo

Conversations With Casey - 2 Years Later...

2009-09-04T21:15:00.000-07:00

While trying to clean and organize my life (I am afflicted with the strange and frustrating 'Always Organizing Yet Never Organized' phenomenon), I came across a piece of paper on which I had scribbled a conversation between Casey and I dated August 26, 2007 - my sweet brown-eyed boy was only four!

We had been organizing (a recurring theme!), photos this time, when I came across this picture of me taken when I was three. The conversation went like this:

Me: "Casey, who is this a picture of?"

Casey: "Chanel? No! You!"

Me: "That's right - that's me when I was just a little girl."

Casey: "You look pretty there."

Me: "Oh, thank you, Casey!"

Casey: "You're welcome."

Me: "Look how long my hair was!"

Casey: "That's why you look so pretty!"

Ok. He melted my heart. He often does!

I also found it interesting that a four year old boy is already defining a girl as being pretty because of her hair. Ah, biology...that primitive, undeniable driving force! Being a mother to TWO boys is going to be an interesting journey. So far, I've loved every minute of it, and I don't expect to ever feel differently!

You've Lost That Bloggin' Feelin'...

2009-08-29T12:25:00.000-07:00

...Whoah, that bloggin' feeling...you've lost that blogging feeling now it's gone, gone, gone, whoah whoah-oh-oh (ba boom, ba boom, ba boom boom boom...) - sung to the tune of 'You've Lost That Loving Feeling' by the Righteous Brothers.

I haven't blogged here since the end of July - almost a month now! It feels like a really loooong, time, and it's not because I've lost that bloggin' feelin'! Everyday I'm scribbling notes and thoughts and ideas all over any scrap of paper I've got lying around next to me (I know, I should use a notebook, and I do have one that I sometimes use, but I can't be consistent about it or I would totally ruin my reputation!). I'm almost always in a blogging frame of mind - at least, while I'm doing something else that makes blogging at that moment absolutely impossible, but - when I DO get to the point in my day where blogging could be a possibility...yeah, that blogging feeling is somewhat...absent. It's a twisted and dysfunctional dance I do with myself, and not just when it comes to blogging! But, that's a whole other blog post! (I will note this new idea down on a nearby scrap of paper and add it to the shoebox full of all my other idea-laden scraps of paper, to be fished out and re-examined at a later date...or not!)

I actually started this post NOT to talk about not blogging, but to make an actual 'real' post about something else altogether, but somehow along the way, the 'not blogging' discussion has become the discussion, and so my other blog post topic can join all it's friends in the aforementioned 'Box of Unrealized and Undeveloped Ideas' for another time.

In the meantime - Hey, look!! I updated my blog! Ahhh...it's great to be back!

Always, Sometimes, Never....

2009-07-31T15:28:00.000-07:00

I got this idea from Eleonor's blog and thought it would be fun to do, so here's my go at it

I always:
Do the driving, whevever possible.
Have painted toenails.
Have to read before I go to sleep, even if I'm already exhausted or it's really late.
Prefer structure/routine/consistency to loosey-goosey schedules or spontaneity.
Wish my sister lived next door.
Require caffeine to start the day.
Wear sunscreen on my face - every day of the year.
Listen to music while I'm in the car

I sometimes:
Swear in front of my children.
Don't drink enough water each day.
Waste too much time on the computer when I really should be doing other things.
Get too much caffeine
Think about getting a dog
Find myself adopting other people's mannerisms/speech patterns/phrases etc.
Have dreams so vivid or realistic that I have to take a moment to figure out if something really happened or if it was just a dream.
Wonder if I've had undiagnosed ADD all my life

I never:
Bite my nails
Wear shoes on carpeted floors
Leave the water running when I'm brushing my teeth
Return movies or library books on time
Tried smoking or drugs
Am superstitious
Wish I was living any other life than the one I've got

Fun and Frolic with Paper and Glue...

2009-07-25T21:52:00.000-07:00

Lovebug Scrapbooking is running a kit contest right now until mid-August and what a deal!! They have 5 small kits available for five dollars, or all five for twenty dollars. I bought two, and LOVE what I did with the Making Memories kit, if I do say so myself! I haven't had a very satisfying go at cardmaking or scrapping for what feels like quite awhile - until now! My 12x12 layout:

From the leftover supplies, I was able to make six cards - adding nothing but cardstock and one ribbon! I still have enough left to make at least two more cards - sooo satisfying!!

"Art is not the bread, but the wine of life."
John Paul Richter

Positive Is As Positive Does...

2009-07-05T13:36:00.000-07:00

I recently came across this blog, called Positively Present. The most recent post there is entitled, "100 Ways To Live In The Moment". It includes a great list of fun and creative ways to try your hand at living in the present. I've borrowed that list and re-copied it here - it's great food for thought! Head on over to positivelypresent.typepad.com and read more about this very positive and gratifying concept!

1.Ask someone about his/her life.
2.Write a handwritten note and mail it.
3.Make a promise (and keep it).
4.Look up at the sky and describe it.
5.Hug someone close to you.
6.Indulge in a long, warm bath.
7.Tell someone how much you love him/her.
8.Do something on your To Do list.
9.Apologize to someone you've hurt.
10.Re-read your favorite poem.
11.Turn off the TV for a week.
12.Relax in bed before sleeping.
13.Eat your favorite thing mindfully.
14.Ask someone an interesting question.
15.Take pictures of your favorite thing.
16.Go for a long walk somewhere beautiful.
17.Meditate for as long as you can.
18.Research an interesting topic.
19.Ask someone for advice and really listen.
20.Pay attention to your breathing for two minutes.
21.Answer the phone with cheer in your voice.
22.Make a decision immediately.
23.Close your eyes and image your paradise.
24.Mentor a young child (or an adult!).
25.Volunteer at a local charity.
26.Write a list of all you're grateful for.
27.Consider all possible solutions to a problem.
28.Take a different way to work.
29.Prepare your favorite meal for your family.
30.Offer praise to someone who deserves it.
31.Pay attention when others speak.
32.Watch a dog or cat (or baby) sleeping.
33.Prepare for tomorrow's work today.
34.Look at the details of a flower or plant.
35.Lie outside in the sun for a few hours.
36.Smile at yourself in the mirror.
37.Say "Thank you" and truly mean it.
38.Share your wisdom with someone else.
39.Do one thing that scares you.
40.Offer to help someone in need.
41.Watch a sunset or sunrise.
42.Visit a local museum and enjoy learning.
43.Organize your favorite photos online.
44.Send an email to an old friend.
45.Draw or paint something inspiring.
46.Host a party for no particular reason.
47.Tell yourself what you love about you.
48.Look for the positive in a problem.
49.Notice when the seasons are changing.
50.Imagine kissing your significant other.
51.Eat an ice cream cone outside when it's warm.
52.Share a joke with a friend and laugh loud.
53.Consider how feng shui might improve your home.
54.Spend a few hours alone, relaxing.
55.Make something from scratch.
56.List all of the things you've accomplished today.
57.Re-purpose something in your home.
58.Go to bed early. Wake up early.
59.Look for fireflies twinkling at night.
60.Pay attention to what your body is saying.
61.Make a very silly face at a friend.
62.Tell a child your favorite fairy tale.
63.Buy a gift for someone for no reason.
64.Watch a very positive TV show.
65.List the things you love about your body.
66.Take a road trip somewhere new.
67.Listen to your favorite song on repeat.
68.Smile brightly at the driver in the car next to you.
69.Write a love letter to yourself.
70.Kiss someone sweetly on the cheek.
71.Ask the question, "Why?"
72.Go for a run (or a quick walk). Move it!
73.Start a new, exciting project.
74.Spend a Saturday email-free.
75.Listen to and accept criticism with grace.
76.Speak cheerfully to your coworkers.
77.Look around you at how many colors there are.
78.Push yourself a little harder when working out.
79.Allow yourself to daydream.
80.Stop a bad habit (right now!).
81.Give yourself advice and follow it.
82.Turn off your phone for an evening.
83.Focus on what you're doing right this minute.
84.Speak to someone as if you really do care.
85.Treat yourself to a tasty snack.
86.Take three deep breaths before falling asleep.
87.Do jump jacks or jump rope.
88.Play with a puppy and watch how s/he romps.
89.Appreciate winter in summer (and vice versa).
90.Think about how amazing an invention is.
91.Hold someone's hand unexpectedly.
92.Wake up with a really long stretch session.
93.Pay attention to others' observations.
94.Watch how clouds move across the sky.
95.Listen to a bird's song (without being annoyed).
96.Introduce yourself to someone new.
97.Write down everything you're feeling today.
98.Think about why you love your favorite outfit.
99.Ask yourself, "What's awesome about this moment?"
100.Call someone just to say "I love you."

She Hates Me...

2009-07-01T12:26:00.001-07:00

...Or so she says. Time will tell. I was thirteen once too, and I remember hating my mom. I just never thought it would happen with me and my daughter. I had reasons for hating my mom. What possible reason could my daughter have? I'm a cool mom. I'm a great mom! And apparently, I am a naive mom...

Aw, shucks...

2009-06-21T11:22:00.001-07:00

Fellow blogger Jen gave me this cute blog award. Thanks, Jen! That's sweet! :) And back atcha!

My Current Obsession...

2009-06-18T14:58:00.000-07:00

...is Cards For Heroes! I've seen the name around, on message boards, websites, etc. but I only recently just got curious enough to look into it further. All I can say is, WOW! What a great organization!! The website is very informative, very thorough - go take a look! To explain a bit about Cards For Heroes, I've borrowed their mission statement from their website:

OUR MISSION

To support our nation's armed forces by sending blank greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them.

Doesn't sound like to much to ask, especially in the face of the enormous commitment and sacrifice these individuals are making for the good of their country and many others!

I was so fired up after getting onto their website that I've put together about two dozen cards so far that I'm going to send off, and I'm going to continue to collect them and send them when I've accumulated a good amount again. This is an American based organization, and I have looked about for a Canadian equivalent, and I have not been able to find anything. If anybody has any information about being able to support our Canadian troops in this way, please let me know! Regardless, I am going to and will continue to support Cards for Heroes.

I have amassed a large amount of cards over the years, either through taking classes or just indulging my need to cut paper and wield glue. I could easily assemble more cards than I could ever use just through my love for crafting, so now I've found the perfect finish line for my never ending marathon of scrapbooking/cardmaking! I urge you to visit the Cards for Heroes website - as I said, it is very thorough, and very touching as well. A seemingly very small gesture of appreciation and fellowship on our part can have such a postive, rewarding impact on these strangers overseas who are putting their lives on the line for us every day - how wonderful that we have the ability to take this hobby, this passion, of ours to a whole other level of meaning in such a simple way!

My Love Affair With Summer Continues...

2009-06-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

Ah, summer...sweet, sweet summer! How I do love thee!

It is some kind of weird karma that made me a sun-worshipping, summer loving, redheaded and freckled pale person who couldn't get even the slightest tan to save her life and burns at the drop of a hat, even after applying the highest SPF known to humankind!

If summer was a man, I'd marry him!

If summer was a child, I'd adopt her.

If summer was an elixer, I'd drink it...

As it is, I declare summer to be my drug of choice and I am high on it! (*disclaimer: the writer of this blog is simply trying to drive home a point and does not, in any way, shape, or form, advocate the use of illegal, illicit, and/or ill-advised street drugs or prescription narcotics).

I trust that you get where I'm going with this?!

And yes, I am aware that technically, it won't even officially be summer for another couple of weeks, but I'm all about 'the early bird gets the worm', and 'Carpe Diem', etc. so I'm getting the jump on summer, it's happening now, and I am positively swooning!

The Joy of Gardening...

2009-05-18T21:29:00.001-07:00

Well, we've got the first long weekend of the summer under our belt, and overall, I'd say it's been a pretty durn good one! The weather, for the most part, was fab!! So warm, so sunny...so much so that I didn't mind the rain today. It really felt like a 'warm summer rain' too...Ah, summer, how I've longed for your arrival! I did a significant amount of yard/garden work this weekend, and between the sun and heat, and then the rain today, it's incredible how much growing and blooming has occurred in just two days! Nature is truly amazing! I just love my yard and garden so much - I can't imagine what it would be like to own a house with a big yard in the front and in the back...oh the possibilities!! One can dream...

I've pretty much run out of room for any more perennials but I find it very difficult not to add something new each year...I think I'm going to have to invest in some large containers in order to fulfill my need to propagate.

Sidebar: When I first wrote that last sentence about 'propagation', I was going to be cheeky and follow with, "Stevie, honey, if you are reading this, don't worry! 'Propagate' and 'procreate' are not the same thing!", but then I looked 'propagate' up on www.dictionary.com and, lo and behold, it pretty much means the exact same thing! Oops! My bad! To me, propagate is a plant term whereas procreate is more of a human or animal term, but I was wrong! So just for final clarification, I used the phrase, "...in order to fulfill my need to propagate" in relation to my enjoyment of gardening and planting more plants! Nothing more! Okay. Sidebar over.

Finding more room for planting perennials is just one of the advantages of moving towards containers for gardening. The other advantage is that it makes it much easier to bring my beloved plants with me if we ever did end up buying a house. I hate the thought of having to leave any of my plants behind. I could probably transplant some of them, but others, like my Japanese maples and my magnolia are maturing and becoming quite settled. I don't know that they would survive any attempts made to transplant them. Oh well, for now it's a moot point.

One thing that I certainly fantasize about when it comes to owning our own home, is having my own vegetable garden, as well as a couple of fruit trees and some berry bushes. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of spending summers at my grandparents' house. They had a decent sized vegetable garden and I so loved going out in the afternoon with my grandma to pull up a couple of potato plants and some carrots, throwing the dirt-covered veggies onto the grass, hosing them off, and then bringing them into the kitchen to scrub, slice, and cook. My grandparents also had several fruit trees. My brother and sister and I would just pick up apples or pears or plums that had fallen to the ground and eat them where we were standing. I don't know that the raspberry bushes would have yielded enough raspberries to make a pie, but then again, we never gave them a chance to. We'd be out in the yard playing with the go-karts our Grandpa made us or building forts with lawnchairs and sheets and we'd frequently drop whatever it was that we were doing to run over to the bushes and stuff raspberries into our mouths - little bitty insects and all. We didn't care! We were children, it was our childhood, and ingesting small bugs was just part of the grandness of it all!

I want some of these experiences for my children. For now, though, as I said earlier, I really do love the yard and garden that I've got and I am looking forward to many happy days spent there this summer with my children!

Another 'Comedy Moment', brought to you by Casey...

2009-05-08T13:17:00.000-07:00

I'm telling you...the kid cracks me up.

Early this morning, I was sitting on the couch in our living room, putting on my makeup with a little hand held mirror. It's how I 'get ready' every morning that I have to go to work. Whenever Casey wakes up, he comes downstairs and sits right up against me and snuggles to keep warm. It's one of my favorite 'everyday' routines. I hadn't had my tea or breakfast yet and my stomach started to growl, so I said, "Mommy's getting hungry! Did you hear my stomach rumbling?" Casey looks up at me with his beautiful big brown eyes and says, "Are you sure that wasn't your bum flute?" Sigh...another beautiful mother/son moment. By the time this boy gets married, I'm going to have SO much material to provide the MC with!

TGIF! What?! Wait a minute...what the...?!

2009-05-06T13:52:00.000-07:00

All day today I have been thinking that it's Friday! If it was Thursday, I could live with that, but Wednesday?! I'm really ahead of myself. I actually had to put a big sticky note up on my computer screen at work that says "today is WEDNESDAY!". Sigh...It's a good Wednesday, though, and I don't work Thursdays, so I guess I'm doing alright! I'm probably all upside down and turned around because my sister and her daughter arrived here yesterday so we hung out at my place last night later than we normally would with the kids on a school night, so maybe that makes it feel more like "weekend mode".

My sister moved to the States over three years ago and hasn't been able to return home since. I say "home" meaning here, where she came from, but her home now IS the States, with her husband and children. It's been a long process for her to get her immigration status/legalities worked out, but finally, this past Friday, she got the news that it had all been approved, and so here she is, finally! We've been down to visit her several times, but it's good to have her here. Let the 'just hangin' out' begin! She'll be staying through Mother's Day. All I can say is, photo ops galore! Speaking of Mother's Day, I've got a request for Mother Nature herself. How 'bout some sunshine?! Please?! It's a special occasion! My sister - my best friend and her little daughter - our little niece, our little cousin - are finally here! We've got some ground to cover - places to go, people to see, things to do...using photographic equipment is oh so much easier when it's dry! Plus, it's just so much easier with the kids!

My fingers are crossed! Truly though, I'm just so happy to have these two oh-so-special people here that the weather is secondary.

Let the good times roll, rain or shine!

Earth Day Spotlight - Coyotes

2009-04-26T20:19:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday was the 9th Annual Earth Day Event at Everett Crowley Park. Here is the event description, borrowed from the Earth Day Canada website:

"Everett Crowley Park was once used as Vancouver’s landfill. VanEast Parks Department in cooperation with Everett Crowley Committee Members and Community Volunteers have turned this abused site into the “jewel of East Vancouver.” Planting of native species and removal of invasive alien plant species is undertaken annually by the Community at each annual Earth Day Event and created a beautiful park for all to enjoy. The site has Viewpoints which offer stunning views across the Fraser River overlooking lush green market gardens and to the East a magnificent view of Mount Baker. Eagles, hawks and owls fly overhead, nature walks and birding tours are offered by the Committee. People of all ages now walk and play in open areas surrounded by towering evergreens. In 2008, 5,000 people came to enjoy a day of free live entertainment, learned new things, got down and planted and had a wonderful day in the Park. Educational booths offer information on how each of us can make small changes in our daily lives to help protect our environment for today and for future generations. We expect a large turnout this year to enjoy what has become an eagerly anticipated event."

All three of my children and I walked over around noon to see what was going on. This was the first year that we attended. It was wonderful! So much to see and do, and there were so many friends and neighbours there to wave to or stop and chat with.

The Stanley Park Ecology Society had an information booth set up which focused on "Co-existing with Coyotes". I found it to be very interesting - I've seen many coyotes in the city - from a distance as well as a few 'too close for comfort' encounters. The SPEC steward who was manning the booth had a homemade 'coyote shaker' that he was demonstrating and passing about. I had never heard of one before, but now that I've seen one, I've decided that it is going to be this week's craft project with the kids! Here is some infomation from SPEC's website:

The Coyote Shaker

Materials:
•Pop or juice can
•About 40 pennies
•Aluminum foil
•Duct tape

Instructions:
1.Place the pennies in the can
2.Cover the opening with tape
3.Cut a piece of foil and tape it around the can

Using the Shaker
Shake the tin at the coyote while slowly moving towards an area of increased activity. The shaker scares the approaching coyote in three ways, through:

1.Aggressive hand motion
2.Loud noise
3.Reflective light

The shaker easily fits in a pocket or bag.

Also from the SPEC website, "It may surprise some readers that the Co-existing with Coyotes program encourages people to harass coyotes. Coyotes are opportunists and always learning, it's a major factor in their success. By harassing a coyote that shows no fear of people, or follows your dog, you send it a message that they have been recognized and that they need to keep their distance. Without a reasonable fear of people, coyotes and other urban wildlife will often become habituated, thereby increasing the potential for conflicts with humans. The most common conflicts involve coyotes attacking pets."

Certainly a good perspective to keep in mind! Happily, I know two little boys with big imaginations and lots of energy for adventure who will be raring to head back to the park to make some noise with their newly constructed, SPEC sanctioned gadgets! I'll arm myself with my ecologically sound, reusable coffee canteen and my camera of choice and I'll be just as eager to head out, in pursuit of little boys' laughter, sunshine, and good photo ops! Fun for all ages!

Good Morning on Good Friday...

2009-04-10T11:21:00.000-07:00

Good morning, good morning, what a good morning it is! The sun is shining, the birds are singing...and I mean, the birds are really singing!! They are quite a lively, busy, active little bunch around here! In fact, at times they sound almost lunatic - such a rapid, fervent cacophony they make. Some of my neighbours complain about their noise, but I love it. I welcome it! It always heralds the arrival of spring, and I will celebrate that always! True, the little winged wonders do start up on the early side each morning - sometimes while '4' is still the first number you see on the digital clock glowing beside the bed, but I will never complain. My mood, my energy, my frame of mind depends too much on the spring and summer seasons, and the weather they bring, to ever grieve any non sequitur like birdsong.

I feel very fortunate to live where I do. I believe that one of the things that British Columbia, and Vancouver, is recognized for is our abundance of wildlife, trees, and greenery. The neighbourhood I live in within Vancouver is almost a parklike setting. Woods and trails and ponds and creeks, all just above the mighty Fraser River. During the summer, I can look out my living room window and barely be able to make out the townhouse complex next door to us, or even my neighbours houses across from my backyard, for all the full, broad, mature (mostly deciduous) trees there are. They are a wonderful privacy screen, and they provide such great sunshade for the children out playing in the summer. It's somewhat startling, in the autumn, to have almost all the leaves fall away to reveal (gasp!) civilization! So dense, and so close - just on the other side of the fence!

I used to associate 'birdwatching' with either odd, antisocial, professor-type men, or your stereotypical 'little old lady' - ancient and frail, looking out her kitchen window at her generous array of birdfeeders, making sure all of her dear little birdies have their seed through the winter. Well, darned if I am not turning into a bit of a birdwatcher myself! How could I not?! I'll be sitting on the couch in front of the big window in the living room when a flash of movement catches my eye - what was that?! I turn and look outside, and a robin has landed on the balcony railing. A minute later - flash of movement. I turn my head. Two little chickadees are skipping about outside on the deck. I look out at the empty playground. Nothing going on out there. Or is there? The more I look, the more I see. Little birds swooping quickly by and out of sight....another robin hopping about on the grass...a couple of crows perched above, overseeing things and waiting perhaps for a sign that the robin might be on to something tasty...And farther above in the sky overtop of the neighbouring townhouse complex, some seagulls are circling about. Seagulls...well I'll be. There's nary a sea around here, and we're a bit more than a stone's throw from Kitsilano...I have seen woodpeckers, blue jays, hummingbirds, hawks, great blue herons, Canadian geese, bald eagles and more - on the ground, in the trees, and in the sky above - right in my backyard.

So here at my house, spring is springing, birds are singing - and there is no place I'd rather be!

All Geared Up and Ready To Go!

2009-04-04T20:55:00.000-07:00

Today was opening day for Vancouver Minor Baseball. This will be Casey's third year playing. He spent two years in 'Blastball' and has now moved up to 'Mini Tad'. While Blastball has the kids hitting the ball off of a T-stand, the Mini Tads have graduated to a pitching machine, which means new equipment is required. At this level, the team supplies the batting helmet, but it was time for a new glove as Casey had grown out of his old one from last season (Cody happily inherited it), and the other new piece of equipment required at this stage is a jock. Sounds like a Daddy job to me! So, a few days ago, Steve took Casey out to look at getting a new mitt and his first jock. Casey wasn't quite sure what a jock is, so Steve gave him an explanation, involving what I don't know. Casey processed the information and then asked, "You mean like armor for your penis?" I can always count on Casey for a chuckle!

This Month's 'The Inspired Scrapper'...

2009-04-03T17:00:00.001-07:00

I am so pleased to say that I was asked to be the Guest Designer this month for 'The Inspired Scrapper'. This fabulous blog is the brain child of Sonja McLean, a whirling dervish of talent and drive whom I have admired for a number of years now, since I first met her at a LSS. I alternate between 'flattered' and 'sheepish' to be included for the month among the very clever and accomplished Design Team members Sonja has working with her at The Inspired Scrapper. This is the layout that I did for this week's 'Rain' themed project. Thank you Sonja, and the rest of the team, for inviting me over to play!

Seven Up!

2009-03-31T23:03:00.000-07:00

Fun, fun! My first tagging! I was tagged by Karla to do the following:

Go to the photos folder on your computer.
Go to the seventh folder of photos.
Go to the seventh photo.
Put the seventh photo on your blog along with a description.
Invite seven friends to join.

So here's what the mathematics turned up:

This picture was taken by me on December 21, 2008 - just a few days before Christmas. This Christmas was a white one, and then some! I don't remember there ever being as much snow in winter around here, ever. This isn't a fabulous shot - it's not artsy, or technically sound, or particularly evocative - but here it is, the seventh of seven.

So now - I have to tag seven people. I tag Margot, Eleonor, Rachel, Stacey, Sheryl, Carla, and Kat!

Alright, friends - post your pics!

A Lovebug Blog Challenge...

2009-03-26T13:51:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited that Lovebug has a blog! I, like many other people I know, are addicted to blogs, so it's great to have another blog to check in on. For those of you who are not familiar with Lovebug Scrapbooking, it is the friendliest community of scrappers that I have ever encountered. Along with the blog, there is a forum, a store, and a gallery. A little something for everyone!

This challenge was a scraplift challenge, and the chosen layout was by Lys, aka 'iamalloverit'. Lys had turned out to be my 'secret Santa' this past Christmas, and I ended up using some of the chipboard she sent me - thanks again, Lys! I'm not a 'literal' scraplifter - I usually use the inspiration piece as a launching pad and then head off in whatever direction I end up going. With this layout, I kept the basic composition and the 'time' theme, and ran with it. Thank you Lovebug, and thank you, Lys - the blog's first scraplift challenge was good fun!

Just sharing some newfound goodness...

2009-03-25T19:57:00.000-07:00

I am absolutely in love with the blogging world, especially as it pertains to scrapbooking, photography, and all things crafty and creative! Last week I discovered this lovely lady's blog o' plenty, and this week via her blog, I linked up to this creative wunderkind. The goodness just never ends, I tell you!