Livin' The Fantasy Life

Seriously??

2011-01-17T17:17:00.002-05:00

Has it really been this long? What is happening to me? I don't want to sound like one of those people who believe that I am just soooo busy that I can't keep a blog but really... it's been busy! What with a house in total chaos and attempting to be mom of the year (ha ha- for those who know me well, you so know that I'm kidding, right?). But in all seriousness... I got nothing to say! Just being a big 'ole homebody and getting organized to, hopefully, sell our house. It's keeping me kind of occupied.
But let's just see for fun what I can come up with... in a day or two:)

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-02T19:47:00.002-05:00

Back at it

2010-08-27T15:11:00.005-04:00

Finally- I got some inspiration going and got a little creative ( with some help from my scrappin' girls, of course)! I didn't go back to where I left off or pack up a bunch of my un-inspiring stuff but instead, I arrived at the shop with pictures in hand. Pictures that I adore from our summer holidays! Something about great pictures makes the rest come pretty easy. It wasn't cheap travelling light but it certainly got the creative juices flowing when I had free-range of all that fun product. Thanks for a great night out girls! And thanks to http://www.sweetsentiments.ca/ for letting us hang around!

Friends who are family- Part 1

2010-08-25T11:24:00.004-04:00

So the highlights of our summer holidays definitely include many, many days hanging with the Fillmore Family! Our first week of summer holidays had P + the kids staying with us (D was on business in Vancouver!). We swam in our pool, went to many different splashpads and went to a couple great beaches.

Taking the ferry back from my parent's house.
Hotel sleep-over on our way home from Ottawa!
Calypso Water Park!
This place is super fun and it was one hot day! We made the most of it and went on all the rides- yep, even P + me! A few hints if you're planning to attend: bring your own drinks + snacks (big line-ups), do not wait in the ice cream line, and watch out for the "lazy" river- not so lazy + actually, kinda crazy!! So worth the drive! There are tons of picnic areas and life jackets are everywhere! Good times for sure!

It was just the kick-off to our Fillmore Fun!

It's been awhile...

2010-08-16T21:47:00.003-04:00

Where to begin really? It's been so long. So much has happened. I can say that it has been a fabulous summer thus far! I have been loving every minute of this hot weather, good friends and great times!

I guess it all began with the end of the year staff celebration. I am still in shock that I won't be walking through those doors, into that school, this fall. How can it be? It's like home there. Leaving there is one of the hardest things that I've had to go through in a long time. Sure, it's not a death or anything, but it's so hard to imagine not seeing "my girls" everyday. All the laughs and good times are hard to replace. I don't intend to try.

So, the party... it was super fun! They spoiled me rotten and made me cry like a baby. Who's kidding who? I was crying for months beforehand! Christie + her husband were wonderful hosts!

That's just the beginning of the summer. But it's on my mind.

More County Love

2010-06-02T18:58:00.002-04:00

I'm not sure how I forgot this place but we absolutely love to camp at Quinte's Isles Campark. We've been camping here ever since we bought our trailer. We love the free livin' back by the lake. Yep...no hook-ups! We still love it! Although, we do think we need a generator! We even make it a Labour Day tradition to camp there with family and friends. They have so many great activities for families, including, a street dance, bands, rock wall climbing, a pool, and a great new splashpad! We can't wait to head out there this summer!

Be a Beach Bum This Summer

2010-05-31T20:37:00.002-04:00

Why not? What else do we have to do? Let's be beach bums! I've been gearing up for summer holidays and thinking a lot about how I love our camping trips and day trips to The County! Nothing beats the food- so love Budda Dog and we really like Sandbanks Winery. But what's not to love about great shopping too? So, stop by here beach bum in the county this summer to find all those fashion needs! Say hi to Cindy and Darrel (my brother in-law)! Then, let's hit Sandbanks Provincial Park for some sun and fun! Oooohhh I love summer!

Hockey Fever

2010-05-24T20:42:00.003-04:00

It's that time of year- hockey playoffs!

Shawn has been wanting a little hockey fan and it looks like he's finally got one. When Gavin started playing hockey this year he was reluctant and a little unsure of himself. One day on the way into the rink he asked, "Dad, what would happen if the rink burned down? Would we still go to hockey practice?". Yes Gavin. But then something happened- he loved it! He watches all the games with Daddy, plays daily at his caregiver's and at home, and he has a million hockey cards! It's crazy! He is so excited to start ball hockey next week. It's hockey fever around here!

So from the pictures you can see that they've also been to a playoff game! Gavin's first NHL game. Sadly, there weren't three tickets so mommy could go as well! But I'm just super happy that he got to go and experience it all. Daddy's pretty stoked too!

Gotta love the dots!

2010-04-08T20:27:00.002-04:00

Don't ya just love this outfit? Super cute huh?

It wouldn't be a party without a sing-along!

2010-04-05T20:38:00.003-04:00

It's an Easter party- Windsor style! Oh they sure do like a party and a sing-along just makes it all the better! Easter weekend was the most beautiful weekend we've seen this spring! It was warm and sunny and we stayed outside on the patio until midnight! Manny + Sam played guitar and the rest of the gang took up the singing and various instruments roles!
Gavin absolutely loved this party! He gets so excited to get together with our family. I'm sure all this singing and dancing has something to do with it! He was the only kid around for the party and it was great that everyone included him in the festivities. Although his requests for Kings of Leon, ACDC and Lady Gaga weren't met, we joked that eventually he'll learn "under the boardwalk", "mustang sally" and "love potion number 9". He's got to... someone has to carry on the traditional tunes!

NINE years! Seriously?!

2010-04-05T20:29:00.002-04:00

Yeppers... it's been nine years since Payton was born! Oh my how the time flies. Wish I had a baby picture of her on this computer to post. She was the cutest little baby ever! She's become quite cute little girl too!

We celebrated her 9 years at my parent's house, with cake and presents! It was fun!

Chicks- Martha-ish

2010-04-05T20:19:00.003-04:00

Cute huh? Nope- they aren't perfect but they are sort of close to Martha's! They were easy to make and fun for Gav and I. We brought these chicks to Monica's for the Easter Party! They remembered how years ago (like 12?) I made delightfully delicious, and much more time-consuming, truffle mice. I did it for Shawn- it was early in the romance and I wanted to impress the big family! Since then, I've been lucky to pull out much more than the basics. It was time!

bittersweet sunday

2010-03-28T17:43:00.004-04:00

I've been kinda looking forward to this day so that I could finally stop saying, "last week at this time we were sitting on the balcony sipping a heineken" or " last week at this time we were eating delicious nachos at Bikini Beach, Orient Bay, St. Maarten" or " last week at this time we were with the best of friends and oh so happy"!!! Sad.

We keep looking at the pictures and thinking about just how lucky we are. We have great friends. We had so much fun. It's not easy to travel with others for so many days. We just kept squeezing in more day, one more opportunity to be together- right up to the final farewell moments in the Orlando airport. Gosh- that was hard. Gavin had been crying all morning; worried that we would miss them and then we finally catch up to the Fillmore's and I lost it! I was an emotional wreck. The thought of being apart again was heartbreaking!

But I've survived because I know it won't be that long until we can all be together again! Best part is... we're already thinking about next year!

Third times a charm!

2010-03-10T21:06:00.002-05:00

I've managed to be pretty organized this time around. Two weeks ago I planned all the outfits that we each could wear. I laid out all the clothes on the bed and sorted, stacked and matched all the possible combinations. Then I accessorized! I captured each outfit on a master list, counted and tallied. So then all I had to do was put them into the suitcases and that's that! Add some shoes and some toiletries and some pirate gear and we are good to go!

So, it's our third Disney Cruise but we are even more excited than ever! This is going to be an entirely different experience because we have our wonderful friends The Fillmore Family joining us. Needless to say, we are so lucky to share this experience with friends. It's the best combination of family time, friend time and couple time!

Tomorrow we are heading to Detroit for a nite-cap before heading out Friday morning. I'm bursting with bliss. Not sure I will sleep a wink!

Mad Love for Bahama Mamas

2010-03-07T21:16:00.004-05:00

Each year, for like 6(?), we've been getting together for a Girls' Weekend! We've done the local bed & breakfast, the fabulous Toronto weekend (Leafs and all!), Niagara on the Lake, Ottawa, Sudbury, and then we decided to kick things up a notch and head SOUTH!

We're lucky. You see, Sue has perks. She works for WESTJET and we fly on her buddy passes, wherever they will take us. Sue is the ultimate planner. She takes care of us. She books flights, hotels and makes us snack-packs! God love her!

We've done the Bahamas, Dominican Republic and last year we did Cocoa Beach. Every year there are new memories and every year I am so grateful for good friends.

This year we headed back to the Bahamas for the long Family Day holiday weekend. Weather wasn't super hot but the shopping was fabulous and the straw market was an adventure. But we still managed to soak in some rays at the beach and by the pool. We lounged in the hot tub- playing the Survivor game. We met great friends like Tony + Jim from Little Rock, Arkansas! They were great company when we ventured out to Atlantis Marina for some shopping, casino and aquarium fun! But really... honestly and truly, it's just great to get away with friends. The sunshine is a bonus!

ELPH Inspriration

2010-03-06T19:29:00.002-05:00

So, after losing my compact Canon last summer I figured it was time to replace it and get inspired to take more photos. I love my Canon XTI SLR but it is difficult to travel with the bigger lenses and I don't always get the shot I want because of how long it takes to prep and sometimes I just don't bother because it's work! There's a time and a place. So, today we bought this little brown baby! It's the newest in the Powershot ELPH line with a full touchscreen on the back. So love this little, tiny, easy camera. Can't wait to plunk it in my purse and await the inspiration that follows. See, I'm hoping taking more pictures will naturally lead to more scrapping. I figure our third Disney cruise is sure to kick start some serious photo taking!

I'm Dreaming of a NEW Kitchen!

2010-03-02T21:13:00.003-05:00

So, if you haven't checked out the blog on my list- along the side- then you really must check out http://blog.urbangrace.com/ - specifically the "coastal and southern" post and then scroll down to the kitchen with the text box that says "Erika's Style Essential". Found it? LOVE it! Especially love the colour of the cabinetry! Love the wide-plank hardwood! Love the pendant lighting. Not so sure about open cabinets for plates though. Would likely change that. After looking again, I quite like all of her work in this whole layout. I would like her to decorate my house. Do you hear me Shawn?

Hello? Remember me?

2010-03-02T20:25:00.005-05:00

Yep... it's been a month since I posted. Sure I've had moments in time where I could have posted but something always came up and I didn't. So, how to sum up a month? Well, we've been busy. Let's see...

We had a great date night! We shopped, we had a great dinner out at Fasooli's and we saw Avatar! Sometimes we have to force ourselves to take that time. We both love to stay home and be cozy on the couch but once we're out and about we are always glad that we did it! It was fun and it gives Gav that chance to hang out with Grandma and Poppa!

We have been in Olympic fever here! The past few weeks have been full of watching the Olympics! I had no idea just how much we would embrace the Olympics and the joy of hosting here in Canada. We couldn't get enough. I especially enjoyed curling. Wierd huh? Who knew? Never even really understood the game- even though Shawn says it's quite simple... get your rock closest to the middle- that just seems way too over-simplified for me. I loved watching both teams make it to the gold medal match and take home a gold and a silver for Canada. And who could resist that hockey game! Wooohoooo! That was fun to watch!

A little sunshine chased away the February blues on the long family day weekend. Nothing like a Girls' Weekend to make February roll on by and to soak up the vitamin d! That's right- we were a group of Bahama Mamas for the weekend and it was soooo great to feel that heat! We shopped, we ate conch fritters and drank Sands Lite and we relaxed on the beach and in the hot tub. Glorious! Simply glorious! If ya haven't eaten conch before, you don't know what your're missin'! Mmmm Mmmmm Good!

After that it's been getting ready for the cruise! Last weekend we did some last minute shopping and packed up all our cute outfits for the cruise! So exciting! It's our third time but it's like the first because we have friends! YAY! We are so lucky that the Fillmore Family are joining us on our week long eastern caribbean cruise! I cannot wait for them to see just how wonderful the ship is and what a great experience it will be for our families to be together to share in the magic of Disney. I simply cannot wait to get to Detroit to see them and to start this holiday!

So, where does that leave us? Crazy busy with work! As a matter of fact, so crazy busy that Shawn is off storm chasing in Vermont and New Hampshire! Flying solo at home makes for crazy days for us! We've been super busy at work with tons of meetings and lots to do. Phew.... good thing the finale of The Bachelor is over so I can get focussed on my work again! HA HA!

But seriously... where has the time gone? I cannot believe that it is March already! After the break... I will begin to start dreaming of all that summer holds- camping, camping and more camping! Til then, I have Disney and The Fillmores to look forward to!

Sunday is the best day!

2010-01-31T16:46:00.002-05:00

It's true! I love a good Sunday! It's my favourite day! I can putter all day with no where to go and nothing to do. I love that! It may seem very unproductive to putter but I actually accomplish quite a bit. For instance, today:

I ran for 30 minutes, cycled and boxed all on the Wii!

Shopped online- bathing suits! What else? Yep, Victoria's Secret and I have become fast friends! Collaborated with friends on a great camping trip- and it's not until August!

Did several loads of laundry.

And now, I cook. I love a good Sunday dinner too! Today we are having ham with fig orange glaze, roasted potatoes and roasted cauliflower with garlic, lemon and olive oil!

Oh and I did do quite a bit of work for tomorrow's PA Day!

Did I mention I like Sundays a whole lot more when I have a PA Day on Monday?

Shout out to friends who are like family...

2010-01-07T20:23:00.002-05:00

Maybe I don't say it enough but I have the greatest friends! I have been so lucky over the years to maintain the friendships that matter. It's not always easy. Friendships take time, patience and a willingness to grow together, even when you're very different. I have to admit... I've had to let some slide over the years. As I get older, I start to see more clearly who is worth the time to keep a connection with. Some may not even connect with me that often but the friendship is still as real as ever. Others, it gets harder and harder to find something in common, to find time to chat, to get along even.

But today I want to give a big "shout out" to my girls who are like family. Heck, they are family!

You know the ones. The ones who step in when you need them, and not because they have to but because they want to. The ones who you can pick up with like no time has passed. The ones who your children love more than you- or so it would seem! The ones that make you feel so at home in their home and are comfortable in yours. The ones who no matter the distance feel like their just around the corner but also make you sick wishing they really were. They're the ones I'm talking about.

Girls- and you know who you are- I feel blessed. I am grateful. Thank you.

Off to a rough start...

2010-01-04T20:25:00.002-05:00

I really wanted today to be "the day" that I begin my healthy stuff but I was awake half the night with stomach cramps and all that goes along with them...ick. Not nice. Had to stay home from my first day back to work after the holidays. Nice. Starting to feel better. Think I may be on the mend. Wierd how this stuff just sort of hits you... when you're sleeping!

Not to mention, we've had awful news. First our beloved caregiver found out that she has breast cancer. Devastated us and knocked us down. Had to find care over the holidays. This was not easy. The thought of sending Gavin anywhere else sickens me. I love Sue. Then, we just found out that Shawn's Aunt Joan passed away- cancer. I'm cancered out. Can't handle it.

So, we're not off to a great start here but I figure, things have to look up. Well, at least there's the Bachelor to keep us entertained!

New Year

2010-01-03T17:13:00.002-05:00

It's a funny thing how we wait for the "new year" to come up with all the different things that we resolve to do- resolutions! It's like we need that fresh start feeling to begin. For instance, over the holidays I kept thinking, "I should do some pilates today." But then I always ended my thoughts with, "In the new year." What difference does it really make? Just another way for me to procrastinate. Speaking for myself, of course.

So, like many others, I've given a lot of thought to this upcoming year and all that it could hold- given the opportunity. I think I would like to keep it simple.

Drink more water. Like the cute little app on my ipod Touch says... good for the body, mind and soul. It keeps track of how much water I drink in a day. Not too much right now but I think I'd like to drink more. And not just Vitamin Water (LOVE!) but more plain old water. It can't hurt.

Do more pilates. I love the idea of doing more pilates but the actual doing gets complicated. When to do this? Morning? Night? Both have their issues but I know I need to do it. It certainly couldn't hurt either.

De-junk. It's a word that's been stolen from a friend. Not sure if it's even a word but it's a good word. No? Get rid of some stuff. Shawn always says, "Don't bring more stuff into the house unless you plan to get rid of stuff first." Kinda defeats the purpose but I am willing to try to de-junk. I want a comfy-chic home. You know, the kind with warmth but not all the clutter to go with it. Minimalist with some fun things scattered throughout. Is this possible? Gonna work on it.

That's it. I think three is a perfectly lovely number to work with. Keep it simple.

Now, off to do pilates- after the glass of wine and before the great Sunday night television starts!

I don't know... is it too soon to start talking about this?

2009-12-30T10:57:00.002-05:00

Holiday Homebody

2009-12-29T17:19:00.003-05:00

In the midst of the holidays and I love that we are being holiday homebodies! We've been thoroughly enjoying the time just being home. I especially love where I live this time of year. It is so beautiful to pull in the drive-way and see our house all aglow in it's own space with no other distractions. Not to mention how much I am loving tobogganing out the back door and our long hikes up the hill to the woods and stream that await our adventuring. Just love it!

We've had our share of family time and company and we've loved having that special time with everyone too! Gavin especially loves the company!

But for this holiday, we are homebodies. We are all about long coffee moments in the morning and hot chocolate in the afternoon, and happy hour by 4:)

Cabernet Franc or Cosmo?

Longing

2009-12-01T21:26:00.001-05:00

So love this outfit at http://www.net-a-porter.com/!

Blogging Inspiration

2009-12-01T21:07:00.002-05:00

So, I've been lacking some good blogging inspiration lately. Don't get me wrong there are tons of things happening around here- good things. Gavin is playing hockey & loving it! We've decorated for Christmas and we're loving Gavin's anticipation of what's to come! But really what's got me excited today is all about me! I've been online browsing & giving my hubby some great gift ideas! So here's a peek at what I'm loving lately! All of these lovely things can be found at http://www.bluefly.com/!

Sunday Sweet Sunday

2009-10-25T21:38:00.002-04:00

I so loved today! We got up and puttered around. I did a little school stuff. Gavin played Wii. Shawn worked outside in the trailer- winterizing. Then we headed into town to go see "Where the Wild Things Are". Gavin so loves this book and he listens to it on tape too! It's definitely one of my faves. So, when the previews started I absolutely loved them. The music, the scenes from the movie- the whole bit just evoked some sort of sentimental feeling inside me.

So, we were all so excited to see it. I'd heard it was pretty deep and had some darker moments. It is PG but I have to say, Gavin was a great age because he didn't understand, nor even realize the deeper stuff, but just enjoyed it on a purely entertaining level. Shawn and I were quite the opposite. Maybe it was our mood or I don't know but we both left feeling like that movie brought out a whole lot of emotions. It's quite emotional near the end- I don't want to give it away- but we were all quite teary eyed. Poor Gav was downright devastated. He gets pretty sensitive to that kind of stuff and he just couldn't hold it in- which made things even harder for us!

The way the movie is made, the characters, the soundtrack and the story all made this movie absolutely fabulous! Definitely provoked some good discussion in the car afterwards.

So then we were off to do some serious grocery shopping- still talking about the movie, of course. I love a good grocery trip. We were all really into it and bought lots of fun and yummy stuff. I get all happy when the refrigerator is all full and colourful. I love all the fresh fruits and vegetables. We cooked a delicious seafood dinner with trout, catfish and noodle wrapped shrimp, accompanied by pancetta vinagrette and brussel sprouts- oh and fresh multigrain italian bread. Did I mention the wine? Our new favourite- Sandbanks WAVES! Loved it.

Shawn & Gav carved the pumpkin tonight. It was super cute to see him drawing out all his designs prior to carving. We saved every seed- to roast, naturally!

Anyhoo, great Sunday night television. Relaxing on the couch. The only thing that might have made it a little better was the sound of good ole football game going in the background while baking up some pumpkin bread. Save it for next weekend!

What makes me smile...

2009-10-16T22:20:00.002-04:00

It's been a few weeks but Gavin has discovered that he actually can read words in a real book. He's quite a little sight word reader! He found that level 1 readers had enough words in them that he could actually read and understand the book! He has a whole set of Hot Wheels books and he just loves the success he feels when he reads one of those to us!

It just happened. One Sunday afternoon, he just started finger tracking and reading! You can only imagine how proud his literacy lover of a mother was! He was pretty proud too! It was super cute to see his little grin when he realized what he had accomplished. Love that face!

So tonight, I snuggled him into bed with the ususal story routine and left him for his 10 minutes of "lights on", when he gets to read his books quietly in bed. After a few minutes he was at the top of the stairs, super excited! "Mom! Guess what Mom? I can read lots of words in level 2 books! I just read the new "UP!" book that Daddy bought me! Listen!" And that's when he started to read to me from the top of the stairs. I could've yelled to get back into bed but instead, I seized the moment! I called him downstairs, by the fire, with me.

He read the book to me! I almost cried. Again, he was so proud that I wish I could keep that look on his face for a lifetime. It made me smile. It's still making me smile.

Still the Rocker I Once Was...

2009-10-14T18:53:00.002-04:00

And to prove that I'm still a rocker-girl... we're off to AC/DC in Buffalo this weekend! Seriously! Sadly, Gavin would absolutely LOVE to join us but no such luck. Not really a kid thing! He listens, sings and watches AC/DC almost daily. He has stickers, hats and dvd/cds. He just loves their music. He will often comment that dad's truck has rockstar music. Ya know the song..."dirty deeds"? Imagine Gavin singing this, "dirty deeds, thunderchief!". It's so darn cute because the words are "done dirt cheap" not "thunderchief"! Oh my! I laugh out loud everytime! So anyway, this weekend we will head out to prove that we can still rock! And rock we shall! I'll get the concert t-shirt to prove it! It is one of "the hundred" things every stylish girl must own!

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

2009-10-13T20:19:00.005-04:00

Yep... can ya guess? That's right folks! Another DISNEY CRUISE is coming our way! Great deal really- couldn't resist! Kids travel free! It was a limited time offer to past cruisers and I could only book 2 rooms. So, we jumped on the deal! And by "we"... I mean, The Fillmore's too!

That's right! The story goes... on a last minute whim, Shawn asked DJ to come here to hunt! And they actually came! He came here for Thanksgiving and so did P and the kids! It was a fabulous fall weekend with lots of last minute plans! Winery tours, shopping at Lulu, pizza at Woodenheads and turkey dinner! Does it get any better? So, we got to talking about March Break and thought maybe we'd look into a few things together. So, we played travel agency for and finally came up with the cruise as the best option, by far! So, we are planning a third cruise and I couldn't be happier!

What's better than a Disney Cruise?

A Disney Cruise with great friends!

152 days to go!

Preparing

2009-09-30T19:54:00.002-04:00

Found this great image of an autumn centrepiece over at Great Bones Great Pieces. LOVE this picture. So, I think I might just whip this up this weekend. It's time to prepare for fall, friends and October!

Mixed Emotions

2009-09-13T21:17:00.003-04:00

Gavin starts SK tomorrow . I am so happy for him. He is so looking forward to getting back at it. He's so ready. Just last week, he started reading all on his own. He really does need to go and be around the kids. But then why do I feel so sad? It's just a whole lotta mixed emotions. It's just another sign that he's getting older (& me too!). I just wish I had a little longer with him home. I hope he's happy and content with our summer. I hope we did all the things he wanted to do. I hope he knows how much we love him.

Fall

2009-09-06T20:00:00.002-04:00

Fall makes me sentimental or nostalgic or something wierd happens. I get all emotional and start this crazy nesting thing. It's just wierd. I start to feel totally different than I did in the heat of summer (or should I say the "not-so-hot" summer). Either way... it's started again! I began a bit of a flirtatious affair with fall a few years back when I confessed that I may actually like fall, despite my LOVE of summer. Maybe it's the return to work or Gavin going off to school or just the cool nights. I don't know. I just know that it's a odd sort of feeling I have- this fall thing.

Mad About Mad Men

2009-08-11T20:11:00.007-04:00

Have you seen it? I've been on a Mad Men binge lately. I've been catching up on Season 1, with full episodes online at ctv.ca!
I am so loving this show! Like I need another show

Summertime Tunes

2009-08-11T17:42:00.003-04:00

There is nothing I love more than a great summer playlist. I don't always put the most current or popular on my list but just the songs that make me happy. I'm kind of a country girl come summer. It's funny because I'm a rocker and I do love a little jazz too! Really, I love all music! So, here it is- the songs I'm listening to this summer!

Petra Haden- Don't stop Believin'
Weezer- Troublemaker
Depeche Mode- Just Can't Get Enough
Billy Talent- Rusted from the Rain
Jack Ingram- Barefoot & Crazy
Black Eyed Peas- I Gotta Feeling
Rascall Flatts- Summer Nights
Toby Keith- God Love Her
Pitbull- I know You Want Me
Stereos- Summer Girl
Kenny Chesney- Out Last Night
Billy Currington- People Are Crazy
Johnny Cash- Ring of Fire (for my Mags!)
ACDC- TNT, She Got the Jack (for my boy and M)
Loretta Lynn (I warned you!)- You Ain't Woman Enough to Take My Man, Don't Come Home a Drinkin', Mad Mrs. Leroy Brown (and the list goes on!)
Tragically Hip- Love is a First
Kings of Leon- Crawl
Lady GaGa- Just Dance
Johnny Reid- Darlin'
Ray LaMontagne- You Are the Best Thing
Cat Power- Naked, If I Want To

So grab yourself an italian soda (with a little Grey Goose?) and enjoy.
Happy listening- if you dare!

Star Wars + Snack

2009-08-10T19:18:00.003-04:00

It's a date night for Gav and I. Yep. Star Wars + snacks! I'm enjoying a cold Bud Light Lime and cracked black pepper popcorn. Gavin is munching down some cold white milk and Doritos! Guess what is on tv? Star Wars! It's perfect!

Summer Reading List

2009-08-06T20:19:00.011-04:00

So here it is... my summer reading list. Crazy to be so late but it really has been one busy summer so far. I love to read! It's a great way to get lost in the summertime. So here's the rundown... The Flying Troutman's is a great, easy read. The characters are so well written that you really do feel like you know them. It's kind of a dark comedy but good god I thought it was fantastic! That nights on air book was a gift from Shawn. Highly recommended by some but not a favourite of mine. The Thirteenth Tale was hard to get into after the Troutman's but oh my! What a great book! I could barely put it down. Very different but a great story. In the mix, I've been totally addicted to decorating magazines. I am loving these two because they are Canadian! The best for last- I bought 3 copies of this book- The Hundred! Two I bought for friends and one for myself. What a fabulous guide to all the stylish things one should own. Dangerous for a shopaholic like myself! I have loved flipping through this book time and time again. I might add, I even own a few of the items. LOVE this book! Finally, I am just beginning the newest Wally Lamb. This guy never lets me down and I am in need of at least one more great read before fall. I'll let ya know what I think but I'm counting on a sure thing!

Here I am!

2009-08-06T19:09:00.001-04:00

Just in case you were wondering... I'm still around! I know it's been awhile but just wait... I am planning a blogging extravaganza real soon. Stay tuned.

Memories of May

2009-06-05T21:37:00.003-04:00

Here's a glimpse at some of the things we've been up to...

Camping May Long at Emily Provincial Park
Fishing
Great Wolf Lodge
Niagara Falls
Gavin's 5th Birthday

It's all good! We had a great MAY! But where did the time go?

Getting Back to Good....

2009-05-25T21:09:00.002-04:00

I am tired of waiting. I'm tired waiting. I am tired.
So this past weekend was The Tragically Hip concert.. which was great. But honestly, I was so excited to finally see The Trews! God I love them! I have been so worn down and not really feeling like myself lately. But I tell ya... a night out with great music, good drinks and great friends made all the difference.
I haven't been blogging because I get so overwhelmed by everything I need to do that I feel guilty doing something like blogging. It feels like a job instead of what I enjoy. Tonight I finally felt like a blogger again.
It's taken me awhile but I think I'm finally getting back to good.

Contentment

2009-04-29T20:20:00.002-04:00

Here's a list of things that are giving me the greatest feeling of contentment...
watching Gavin play hockey outside
drinking a glass of wine outside on the patio
bundling up in cozy clothes and rubber boots and walking around our property
sunsets at 8pm
snuggling in bed with my laptop and some good tv
BBQ steak and a spinach salad
dressing up all cute in spring clothes
pink lip gloss
watching hockey playoffs with Shawn... really, it's true!

Home Alone

2009-04-24T19:50:00.002-04:00

So, this is officially the first-ever weekend that I have been home totally alone! Seriously, I am home alone! Shawn took Gavin and Faith to the camp for the weekend. This is Gav's first weekend at the camp with Daddy. He was pretty excited because with this adventure came many new things. He needed a new four-wheeler helmet, a four-wheeler seat and Daddy even got a new four-wheeler trailer! Imagine all the excitement!
But with the excitement came a little anxiety and sadness for me. I know... silly. But I felt a little sad when they pulled away. I always talk big about all "yahooing" and what not but when it comes down to it, I wish they were here. I'm at my course all weekend anyways so I guess it's no big deal.
And so, for now, I will snuggle up with a glass of wine and some PVR fun!

Donald Duck

2009-04-23T21:27:00.002-04:00

Seriously, as long as my peeptoe shoes are still holding cold toes then I am gonna relive that cruise as much as I can! So there! Love this shot of Gav. He was super excited to see Donald on Castaway Cay! Me too!

This boy....

2009-04-21T21:09:00.002-04:00

This boy is too funny! He makes me crazy but I can't help laughing and smiling when I think of all the crazy things he does and says. Tonight he told me I was hilarious. But not like in a "you're so funny mommy" way but in a "I'm gonna say it like it's an insult" sorta way. You know? Like the teeth are clenched, voice raised and he growls "you're hilarious!". I really wasn't trying to be hilarious... I think he is mistaken. Anyhoo, he is the hilarious one. He doesn't even know it yet!

Escape to the cruiseship once again...

2009-04-20T20:18:00.002-04:00

As long as it is icky outside I'm going to keep on dreaming about the cruise. These pictures were all taken on the island of St. Thomas. We loved Magen's Bay, which is one of the top ten beaches in the world. I can almost feel the hot sun and sand! Gavin made a few friends on this beach. They were from Italy! Ahhhhh... bring on summer!

Yearning for some green!

2009-04-12T10:25:00.003-04:00

This blah brown grass is getting to me. Seriously... can we get some green around here?? Until then, over at Making it Lovely, I found this little bit of sweetness! It made me happy! Happy Easter!

Arrrr... me matey!

2009-04-03T20:39:00.003-04:00

The Pirates in the Caribbean is a fabulous part of the Disney Cruise! It's such a fun time to get all dressed up "pirate style" and have a real pirate themed dinner and of course, to see all the characters in their pirate wear is fun too! After, the deck party is a great show, lots of dancing and music and the fireworks! Disney is the only cruiseline to host fireworks at sea! This was our second chance to take part in the pirate party and so far, both times we've been beat by the time the fireworks are over! It's all good. We still love the party but we've never made it to the end! Gavin was thrilled to see Captain Jack Sparrow this year! So fun. Such great memories! I'd go back again tomorrow!

Handsome Boys

2009-04-01T20:44:00.002-04:00

These are my boys- my handsome boys! I had all these pictures to post from the Pirate Party but I couldn't get past just this one. It just needs it's own space. It makes me grateful. It makes me happy.

St. Maarten continued...

2009-03-28T20:10:00.002-04:00

ST. Maarten

2009-03-28T19:57:00.004-04:00

St. Maarten was a beautiful island! We shopped on the dutch side and then headed over the hills and crossed the French border to Orient Bay. This beach is well known for it's clothing optional limits. There were a few old girls hanging around but nothing too over the top! Gavin and Shawn went sea-dooing and had a fabulous time in the salty seas! Bikini Beach was fantastic; hot, sandy and perfect for lounging around! The Presidente and nachos with fresh guacomole were pretty fab too!

Cruisin' with Gav

2009-03-27T19:14:00.000-04:00

Disney Magic

2009-03-24T20:54:00.001-04:00

Breakfast with Mickey and onboard the Disney Magic

First Round of Photos from Disney Cruise 09

2009-03-23T19:00:00.004-04:00

Open House at the Oceaneer's Club & Dinner at Animator's Palate

Disney Cruise... a week in photos!

2009-03-22T20:59:00.002-04:00

This is just a peek into our second cruise with Disney! You'll be wanting to go too after you see these photos!

Back to reality... but with a tan!

2009-03-22T19:36:00.003-04:00

Well, this has been a fantastic March Break... as if there were any doubts! I really enjoyed just being away but being on a Disney Cruise was a nice perk!

We had quite the adventure just trying to get to the cruiseship. We left Friday after work and stayed in Syracuse. No problem. We got up at 4 am and headed to the airport. No problem. The flight was delayed...problem. We arrived in Atlanta 10 minutes too late for our connecting flight... big problem! We tried a standby flight and didn't make it. We finally got on a flight out of Atlanta at 11:50 and long story short... arrived at 3:50 at the port! That's just 10 minutes before it closes the gangway...yikes. We were stressed. We did the "amazing race" run through the airports and finally felt relief when we were on the Disney bus. Crazy! I will never fly same day to a cruise or with a connecting. Crazy I tell you!

I didn't read one book... so unlike me. Shawn read two and a half books! We live such different work lives that he just loves to getaway and read! Me? I read like crazy all summer but on vacation I just relax. Oh I read a few magazines for sure but no books.

I love laying in the sun! Every day turned out beautifully! We had some clouds and even a quick little shower but the captain did his job well and steered us in the direction of the hot sun... god bless him! There were a few really rough water days and boy did I feel the first one! Last Sunday I was SICK! I get crazy motion sickness on a good day but those waves did me in. Everyone always says that you can't feel it on a big ship. I beg to differ. Really, I finally went to the health centre and got some pills that made me all good. No drowsiness and just happiness. Thank goodness because I would have died if I'd felt that way all week.

We laid pretty low this time around. No big excursions. We just swam and layed around a lot. I guess Shawn and Gavin did go sea-dooing one day in St. Maarten but other than that we were pretty low key. It was great. I think doing this a second time around helped us relax more because we didn't feel the pressure to "do it all"! We took in a great magic show and watched BOLT in 3-D. Both were super fun!

Gavin spent quite a bit of time at the Oceaneer's Lab. He was in a different group this time around and quite loved the new club. It had a huge tv and lots of computers and games and science stuff. He had lots of time with the characters and we didn't feel nearly as guilty as last year because we knew it was fun for him and really good for us.

When Gavin was off playing we got to have some quality time together. We drank coffee on the comfy lounge chairs, hung around the Quiet Cove pool (just for adults!) and shopped in the Disney shops. Did I mention the Heineken Light beers yet? Oh and we drank many a HL! So love those on a hot day! I did however, indulge in a Presidente while in St. Maarten!

We did a couple great beaches. Orient Bay in St. Maarten was clothing optional... scary but we made it through with only a few old girls hanging out. The beach section we were on was called Bikini Beach and had a great restaurant and bar. The water was warm and wavy. Gavin does not like the salty water and had to come out regularly to wipe his face. Too funny!

Maegan's Bay in St. Thomas was one of the top ten beaches according to National Geographic. It was calm and cooler. Again, we played and drank and relaxed. Gavin found a few new friends here... cute italian family. I thought St. Thomas was so pretty. The homes covered the hills and there were some great shops too!

I got two new charms for my bracelet. On St. Patrick's day, we were in St. Maarten and I got a cute little green flower charm. In St. Thomas I got a sweet little starfish charm and a new bracelet! Now I have one more to fill...so fun! Shawn got a new watch... watches are very popular there. Every store has watches...enough already! I was going crazy looking at watches for hours! Sheesh. I picked those charms out in two seconds flat. Let's get to the beach already!

We met many more people on this cruise and on the islands, as compared to last year. Among those were Lisa from Tennessee, Pat from Texas, a few couples from Ottawa,Big Mama and Big Pappa, and a few other characters. Good times. We were sooooo close to becoming a Disney Vacation Club Member. Shawn attended a session, recommended by Lisa, and came back excited. They really do suck you in with all this Disney stuff. Seriously, for Shawn to get excited about this it must have been good but then reality kicked in. As if. There is no way he would ever do that! He is, in his words, "disneyed out"! Me? Not so much but as long as I get to go away somewhere I'm good.

The flight home was far less eventful. We arrived in Syracuse at around 5pm. We made reservations to stay at Holiday Inn Watertown. Yes, I managed to extend our holiday. You know me.. I hate when a holiday ends even one day early. Shawn was tired and didn't want to drive and we wanted to take our time. So, we got up and did some more shopping today. Then we drove home and picked up... wait for it.... our new MACBOOK PRO! Woo hoo. Finally.

All this excitement and good tv to watch. This really is the Fanatasy Life... for today anyways!

My New BFF

2009-03-10T19:57:00.003-04:00

Well, next week is March Break and I just happen to be hangin' with these wild and crazy characters! Can't wait!

Need I say more...

2009-03-08T16:40:00.003-04:00

Good friends, sunshine, fresh seafood, and a hieneken... or 2!

The art of procrastination...

2009-03-06T21:53:00.002-05:00

So, I am a procrastinator. It's not an age thing. I used to think it was. I thought in high school it was because I was distracted by boyfriends, tv or something. In university I was distracted by friends, boys again and our busy partying schedule. Now, here I am. Really, I should know better. I know allllll the reasons to do things ahead of time. I'm obsessed with time. I have issues with LATE. Trust me, I think about things and doing them in a timely manner all the time. I just don't. So today, I accept that I am a procrastinator.
Take for instance this blog entry. Unnecessary. I could be working but I felt compelled to explain this epiphany that I've had. Really. Anyone who knows me, knows that I procrastinate.
Knowing I have this report to write causes me the conflict of obsession with lateness and procrastination. I WANT to make rice pudding... don't ask. I just do. I feel as though I NEED to read this article in my latest Reading Teacher magazine. I would LOVE to coordinate the latest "girls weekend" photos into a lovely blog entry. But what I really HAVE TO DO is get this bloody report done. UGH. I will never learn.
And lastly, how can I concentrate when clearly this is on my mind...

It's All Good...

2009-03-03T14:38:00.002-05:00

Here's some real good things about today...
* Working from home:)
* Sick boy napping!
* Free Leafs tickets for tonight (Shawn...not me!)
* Cappuccino
* Fresh flowers on the table
* Laundry...DONE!
* Still running on all that sunshine from the weekend (wink, wink)

Good Times

2009-02-22T15:39:00.003-05:00

Last night was a whole lotta fun!
We did some whirlwind shopping and then dinner at Windmills. It was delicious!
The show... Who knew it could be so entertaining? I was pleasantly surprised by it all! Nico- WOW! The dancers were super cool!

guess what I'm doing??

2009-02-22T00:13:00.002-05:00

So.... long story short... just got in from a fab night out with Lisa & Andrea. We went to the KRC for a little "so ya think you can dance" show! It was fantastic! But before all that fun... we shopped! How surprising, I know. Anyhoo... I'm a littly hyped up from all the excitement and I am now about to redo our whole bedding! That's right... all new bedding. Can't wait to see how it looks! Can't wait to see Shawn's face when he comes up to bed! More later!

Winter Fun...Even for a Summer Girl

2009-02-16T16:58:00.004-05:00

A new tradition emerged this Family Day weekend! We weren't really planning on doing much of anything but then Shawn proposed a Winterlude getaway and it didn't take much convincing after that!
Really, I'm not much of a winter fun kinda girl. I like to do the odd thing but I'd take some sand and sun over it all! But this was fun! Best of all, Gavin loved it! He had his first Beaver Tail treat and plenty of hot chocolate too.
The weather was perfect for walking around the Byward Market and the various Winterlude sites. We bundled up in our snow gear and out we went for some ice slides, tubing, and to finish it off, a skate on the Rideau Canal. I'd never done this before and it was quite cool! Gavin is getting so much more confident so it was fun to see him in action!
Our hotel had a nice warm pool for the boys to play in and I quite enjoyed the hot tub! And naturally, it's always great to eat out and enjoy something new!
So, it would seem that this may very well be a new Windsor tradition.

Right Now I'm ...

2009-02-07T10:06:00.003-05:00

1. Sipping a great cup of coffee at the kitchen table!

2. Watching Shawn attempt to be the computer geek he'd love to be, by setting up the new laptop.

3. Listening to Ryan Seacrest Top 40 stuff.

4. Attempting to stay clear of Gavin while he plays LEGO Star Wars... too addictive!

5. Planning my "girfriends" meal for Monday night.

6. Procrasinating doing my practicum report for my course...ick.

7. Fighting the tickle in my throat.

8. Trying not to get all hooked on reading blogs right now.

9. Anxiously awaiting a snuggle on the big chair with my new magazines!

10. Wearing all black comfy clothes... that smell like VICKS vapour rub!

11. Eating toast with grape jam.

12. Loving fresh dry cleaning.

13. Looking forward to the skating carnival.

14. Dreading sitting in a cold rink.

15. Secretly hoping for freezing rain so we can't go anywhere!

16. Thinking that syncing our blackberry calendars might be fun!

17. Looking for a little inspiration.

18. Wondering where Paula has been? And how she's doing?

19. Wanting a new cute outfit!

20. Loving this cup of coffee.

Cutest Outfit!

2009-02-02T21:27:00.003-05:00

Making it Lovely is a great blog (see sidebar). She posted this great outfit yesterday! I love that clutch! This girl has a great sense of style!

GREEN with envy

2009-02-02T21:24:00.002-05:00

I so love green! I really love that green is so in this year! Check out this blog and all the cool shades of green.

"Sunday... we do nothing" afterall!

2009-02-01T20:48:00.002-05:00

Yep...that's right! We did nothing and it was great! I really wanted to go tobagganing but we were out in the morning and all afternoon yesterday...playing hockey even! So, I wasn't feeling all that guilty when we stayed in our jammies and had a big bacon and eggs breakfast and then played LEGO Star Wars most of the afternoon! It was bliss.

Cupcakes anyone?

2009-01-31T21:23:00.001-05:00

Lemon-Raspberry Cupcakes
Bon Appetit, April 2008

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar, divided
4 1/2 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel, divided
2 large eggs
1 1/4 cups self-rising flour
1/4 cup buttermilk
4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, divided
12 teaspoons plus 1 tablespoon seedless raspberry jam
Fresh raspberries (for garnish)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners. Using electric mixer, beat butter, 1 1/2 cups powdered suga, and 3 teaspoons lemon peel in large bowl until blended, then beat until fluffy and pale yellow. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating to blend after each addition. Beat in half of flour. Add buttermilk and 2 tablespoons lemon juice; beat to blend. Beat in remaining flour.

Drop 1 rounded tablespoonful batter into each muffin liner. Spoon 1 teaspoon raspberry jam over. Cover with remaining batter, dividing equally.

Bake cupcakes until tester inserted halfway into centers comes out clean, about 23 minutes. Cool cupcakes in pan on rack. Meanwhile, whisk remaining 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon peel in small bowl. Spoon half of icing over 6 cupcakes. Whisk 1 tablespoon raspberry jam into remaining icing. Spoon over remaining cupcakes. Let stand until icing sets, about 30 minutes. Garnish with raspberries.

Quick Edit...

2009-01-31T18:27:00.002-05:00

I almost forgot... It's also Superbowl Sunday! Shawn is off to a poker/game party and Gavin and I may go to the Vanslyke's for some tobaganning fun. I am a sucker for a good underdog story and the Cardinals are my team this time around. If it isn't the Buccaneers then the Cardinals are worth the cheering time.
Go Cardinals! Go!
So much for "Sunday we do nothing". Hmmmm maybe next weekend.

TGIF

2009-01-30T19:26:00.002-05:00

Oh how I love a Friday night! There is absolutely nothing better than going for a drink with the work gang and then heading home for some snuggly clothes and a good movie. Not sure what the movie will be yet but I am loving my lulu pants!
This weekend is going to be a busy one... isn't it always? I really love how lucky we are to have so many friends and fun things to do but do I ever look forward to the weekend when we have nothing going on. Not so sure when that will be again!
Tomorrow, we will head out to take Gavin to music lessons. This is always a relaxing, and entertaining, time. We sip coffee and Gavin bangs on the drum and piano keys while Carol patiently coaxes him into compliance.
After music, we're heading to Rob's house for his annual "Hockey on the Hill" festivities. Everyone is drafted onto a hockey team and the kids run amuck, all the while, cold beer is a chillin'. Really, does it get any better than that?
And then... Shawn and Gavin are off to the Bulls game with the Hicks family! This is Gavin's first official game and he is so looking forward to it!
And me? Well, I really NEED to finish Breaking Dawn so I can live again without the pressure of finishing a book. I have absolutely loved this series but I do remember why I do not read series very often. I get too wrapped up in reading them all and I cannot read anything but that. It's far too much pressure for me.
So, I will finish the series and move on.
Sunday, we do nothing.

This little guy...

2009-01-29T20:14:00.002-05:00

This little guy is super sweet these days! I just love how kind and warm he's been lately. He tells me he loves me for no reason at all. LOVE that! He tells me to have a great day when I drop him off in the mornings. He snuggles in with me in the big chair and I LOVE that!

Since the holidays he's been sleeping in. I love going in and getting him up and he's all snuggled under the covers. I quietly tell him it's time to get up and he snuggles in even deeper... I can so relate to that feeling.

He loves me the most when I play LEGO Batman with him. We rented it for him last weekend and I have to admit I love playing it with him too! I like that he chooses me to play. He chooses Shawn for everything else but not Batman!

This little guy is one funny little dude. I am so grateful that he's mine.

Hostess with the Mostess

2009-01-26T20:03:00.005-05:00

Ode to Andrea... and Twilight!

Andrea, you really are quite something! I am so amazed at how great you are at hosting parties! Your Twilight theme was perfectly timed! I loved every minute!
The mushroom ravioli, the "blood" drinks, the movie, the music, the bookmarks and the trivia! Every bit of it was wonderfully planned! How could I forget the vampire teeth! So good for a laugh! This was so much fun but really, it didn't matter the theme. The company made all the difference! Thanks for going that extra bit to make our night so twilight-ish!

Pressure is on me! I will never live up to your party planning but I will attempt to create an evening that "Wii" will enjoy!

Think about it.

2009-01-20T21:43:00.000-05:00

MySpace Celebrity and Katalyst present The Presidential Pledge

Which one are you?

2009-01-20T21:10:00.001-05:00

Thanks for this Andrea!

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

I Love You More Than...

2009-01-19T20:42:00.003-05:00

Have you seen this cute new site??? Just in time for Valentine's, express what you love about your honey!

http://iloveyoumorethanblank.blogspot.com/

There's a heart on there that says... "I love you more than vampire novels!" :)

Camping just got a whole lot sweeter!

2009-01-19T20:12:00.002-05:00

This weekend was the Toronto RV Show. We finally got a chance to get up close with the Outback! This has been our favourite trailer for quite some time. We love the layout! Finally, we can get Gavin off the table and into a bed. It has a fantastic king bed for us and a great outdoor camp kitchen. We love it!
Sooooo... we bought one today! Yipeee! As much as we both love our little 19 footer, this is going to be great! We are so excited to have the extras that come with the Outback. We don't pick it up until Spring but I've got a lot of planning to keep me busy between now and then. Here's a sneak peek!

Operation Nice

2009-01-14T19:44:00.003-05:00

Have you seen this blog before?
About Operation Nice:
Don't you love it when people go out of their way to be nice? Like when someone waits to hold the door for you. Or when a stranger waves you into a line a traffic. Or even when a coworker shoots you a friendly smile along with a "have a nice day." If everyone was a little bit nicer to the folks they encountered each day, perhaps the world would be a more pleasant place. Operation NICE was initiated to remind you that a little NICE goes a long way!
www.operationnice.com

Too good not to share...

2009-01-08T19:12:00.003-05:00

Lisa... I'm passing this on because you shared it with me and I am grateful. Thank you.

Hmmmm.... I wonder.....

2009-01-06T20:41:00.003-05:00

What do you think? Will it work? Can I dance away a few extra pounds and actually feel okay in a bathing suit by March??? A bikini on the cruise ship? Is it possible? I wonder. Tonight I danced for about a half hour and burned only 165 calories.

The way I see it... it can't hurt. It certainly beats sitting on my butt watching tv. Right?

Now, if I mix in a little trampoline, jump rope and roller blading on this...

Would the Outdoor Challenge help? I'm sure it could.

This is what it's come to. Jay Leno said that an average of 10 americans are hurt everyday playing Wii. He thinks it's sad that we've gotten to a point where we are injured pretending to play sports. Ha. Wait 'til he sees what I can do!

What was I waiting for????

2009-01-05T20:21:00.003-05:00

How did I go this long and not know about "Twilight"? Seriously??? I just bought the book Saturday and I finished... sadly, on Sunday! I could barely put it down. Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm not a real fantasy-ish girl... vampires are not really my thing. But let me tell you, I am always up for a good ole book that keeps you wanting to read until it's done! Love that! This book had me in the preface. Really! I am so intrigued by authors who create something that makes people this crazy for more! How do they do that?
I am anxiously awaiting the next book, "New Moon". Can I wait? I'm not sure.
And I really must see the movie now that I've read the book.

I so needed this. What a better way to end the holidays!

My Girls

2009-01-05T20:19:00.002-05:00

So this is a quick little "shout out" to my girls.... Sue, Erin and Paula! I am so very thankful for our friendship. I love that you girls take charge, make decisions and never change! Thanks for keeping me in the loop, even when it seems that I am way out of it! Love you girls.

Star Wars, Mario Kart & Hot Wheels

2008-12-30T20:54:00.004-05:00

This Christmas was one of the first that we've really noticed Gavin's interest at a peak. He wanted everything and asked lots of questions this year about Santa. It was really fun to see how excited and interested he was in the whole production.

He was so easy to buy for.... he wanted it all! He was mostly interested in anything Star Wars, Transformers, or Hot Wheels. However, Santa surprised him and brought our whole family a Wii! He didn't really know what a Wii was until he saw Mario Kart! He'd seen this game on a friend's DS and was super thrilled when he realized he had it now too! Needless to say, he's been loving that game ever since. I'm letting him video game binge while it's still the holidays. I figure next week, it's back to school and Sue's. So for this week, he plays Star Wars on his Leapster, Mario on the Wii and takes breaks to race a few Hot Wheels cars. It's a good life for a four year old boy!

for

Today I nest...

2008-12-24T10:06:00.002-05:00

That's right. I am puttering and cleaning and getting organized.

I have cleaned the kitchen cupboards and reorganized the drawers. I purged many unused and unwanted items (about a gazillion sippy cups)! I organized all the small appliances into one area. I decided not to continue with "good" silverware and I've merged the good with the everyday! What's the point of "good"? If it's that good let's use it everyday too!

I puttered in the scrapping room. I'm feeling quite inspired these days but the mess of the room has held me back. Hopefully this new organized space will bring me a few good layouts one day soon!

I sorted through Gavin's playroom and compiled a bag of garbage, a bag to "share" and a bag to store...just in case. Some of those baby/toddler toys are too damn cute to share just yet!

I washed the slipcover for the couch downstairs and started a holiday puzzle, while doing so! (I love a good puzzle!)

I've organized some recipes in the hopes that I will get moving and actually bake something...ha!

I have croissants rising in the kitchen... ready to be baked for Christmas morning- a tradition!

And now... how about another coffee, a gingerbread white chocolate biscotti and a little puzzling!

Oh what a day...

2008-12-14T14:53:00.002-05:00

So here's a little update about the kind of day I'm having today"

Gavin set the alarm off in Winners...not the beep beep beep one but the really loud like something bad is happening one!
Gavin pounded on the baby powder bottle with a back scratcher(what?) until it was everywhere in the bedroom and all over him!
The squirrel "proof" bird feeder has a squirrel sitting IN the feeder eating seed. Nice.

Ugh... it must be cocktail hour!

Prayer for Delaney

2008-12-07T20:28:00.003-05:00

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=36801959535&ref=nf

This link will connect you to a Facebook group called Prayer For Delaney. Delaney has leukemia. Her mom is a wonderful friend. This news has devastated anyone who knows her. It has crushed me. It breaks my heart. Let the power of our collective prayers pull them through this.

"Girlfriends on the Go" to the rescue!

2008-12-02T20:34:00.003-05:00

So, recently I read about this book. It's a great idea! Basically, girls get together and decide on a meal that they will each prepare in bulk for all the members of the group. Then we get together again, with drinks and snacks, to exchange our meals!

A couple of weeks ago, we got together and I came home with 2 chicken pot pies, broccoli & cheese soup, cheesy macaroni and chicken bake, ham & potato casserole, and brownies and cookies! It was fantastic! Best of all.... last night we had pot pie and tonight mac and cheese!

Lovin' it!

In honour of beautiful fall weather...

2008-11-07T21:04:00.002-05:00

Just thinkin'...

It's been a beautiful fall! These last few days have been marvelous for my mood! I love a nice warm sun on my face!

I thought I would post some photos from our Cranberry tradition. Thanks Susanne! That was a great weekend! Lots of sun and fun. Not quite as warm, but wonderful.

But here's the real thing... I would take a wet, rainy and cold weekend with those girls than a warm sunny day without them! Missing you girls.

A prayer to the scrappin' gods...

2008-11-01T22:13:00.004-04:00

Please allow me the time and inspiration to get creative.
Please allow me to finish the tasks that need be so that I may scrap without guilt or as a means of procrastination.
Let me use up the materials I have so that I may shop excessively for more paper! Oh how I'd love some new pretty papers!

He's the VIP!

2008-11-01T21:53:00.002-04:00

Wednesday night Gavin and I prepared for what was the most exciting happening at school so far.... he was the next day's VIP! He had a special sharing bag in his backpack containing the special instructions. Bring something to share that begins with the letter i... seriously. Every other kid is bringing transformers and we had to find something that begins with i and something that is meaningful to Gavin.

After much consultation with colleagues at work, I decided to send the insect book and some plastic insects, as well as a book all about the letter i. This book is quite special. We keep it in the trailer so that any bugs found can be recorded, checked and marked with the place and time of finding. Gavin loves this book! It was special to him.

That night, Gavin couldn't get to sleep. He continually sang the VIP song. "He's the V-I-P. He's the V-I-P. He's a very important person. He's a very important person. That's me!" It was too cute.

To kick it off... he had to wear a costume for the school's Halloween parade that day as well. I knew it was too much... a recipe for disaster.

He came home. He was happy but reported that Mrs. R had actually forgotten about the VIP until just before the bus. Really. It broke our hearts but he seemed okay. We still made a huge deal of it all!

As a teacher, I knew those moments were special to kids but I had no idea how much. Being a parent gives a whole new perspecive to education. That day, being the VIP, was the most important thing to him. He couldn't tell me one other thing about that day. It may have been shorter lived than normal and a little more rushed but that sharing was the highlight of his little four year old life. It's a lesson learned. Take time. Slow down. Enjoy the little moments.

Roasted Seasoned Pumpkin Seeds

2008-11-01T21:47:00.002-04:00

My favourite (& only) recipe for pumpkin seeds:

1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ginger
5 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons oil

First, take all those seeds and spread them out on a baking pan lined with parchment. Dry them in the oven at 250 degrees for about one hour. Add 2 tablespoons of the sugar and the oil to a fry pan and add seeds. Carmelize. Remove seeds and add to remaining ingredients. Coat seeds thoroughly. Enjoy! Mmmmm good.

Fall with the Fillmore's!

2008-10-19T20:58:00.002-04:00

Well this one goes down in history for being the sunniest weekend at the Cranberry Festival ever! That's right... we just got home from here http://www.balacranberryfestival.on.ca/! We had a wonderful weekend with good friends (Antunes Family & Fillmore Family), good food (peameal bacon & cranberry chutney sandwiches), lots of yummy drinks (fireside tea, hot cranberry cocktail, wine & coffee)! We camped out at the Gravenhurst KOA and the kids had so much fun! Today they created a whole bunch of games for the grown-ups to play. We went for a nice hike on the trails and naturally, we went to the cranberry marsh for some of our favourite cranberry treats. This is such a great fall tradition, made even better by the wonderful people we get to spend our time with. Now, time to snuggle in and get warm with some sunday night tv!

Finally...

2008-10-16T21:32:00.002-04:00

"Do you know how much easier life would be if we could just love lotion?"
Seriously... after two BIG glasses of red wine, Shawn and I are thoroughly enjoying Grey's Anatomy. This is one of the first episodes that I have laughed out loud in for a very long time. I'm loving it, finally! Maybe it's the wine but I don't know, it just seems really good tonight. I haven't felt like it was that great for a while now. Still sick of Meredith but otherwise... loving it!
Do I love Brothers & Sisters more? Still... kind of.
But Grey's is on the up and up. Have you listened to the soundtrack? LOVE that! Three different seasons on my IPOD. Love it.

King sized Kung Fu

2008-10-12T20:05:00.002-04:00

Just finished watching Kung Fu Panda in the hotel's king size bed! Oh how I love a king size bed. What were we thinking when we bought a queen?
Gavin is snuggled in his bed. Shawn has gone down to his poker tournament and I am loving relaxing and watching Amazing Race with a big glass of vino. This is my kind of long weekend! I love to stay home but boy, do I love this weekend. We have totally relaxed, shopped and today we visited two different zoos! Gavin had a blast! The weather has been fantastic!
Shawn bought a new GPS. It is so great to search for fun places to visit and to sit back and let the GPS do the navigating! Shawn says it saved our marriage! I loved using it to find places like TARGET! Too cool.
Gavin has been such a good boy. We got him 4 little action figures from Star Wars. We watched that movie, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, on Saturday night. He is loving everything Star Wars these days. Those 4 little action figures have kept him more than entertained. Love that.
And so, "the great escape" this weekend was well worth it! We have loved every minute!
We are grateful for this time together!

The Great Escape....

2008-10-09T19:24:00.003-04:00

The weekend is quickly approaching and both Shawn and I felt it would be a great weekend to getaway! I've been putting work first for many days/nights and our weekends are important to us. We want to take advantage of the beautiful fall colours and the LONG weekend!
Sure, we're thankful and all. We'd love to have a big Thanksgiving dinner but... our oven is broken and we really want to go away. Greg says we're always "running". So, for this weekend we decided to go here! http://turningstone.com/
You got it! It's a resort and casino! I know what you're thinking. Gavin is far too young to gamble. True but never too young to shop, swim and lots of outdoor fun!
I've learned that our getaways are so much more fun if we take into account everyone's "needs". So, poker for Shawn. Shopping for me! And all the other stuff for Gavin! It's a good balance.
Monday... we will be thankful with my family. We will eat turkey and give thanks. And... could it get any better?? The weather looks fantastic!

Just another day...

2008-10-04T20:35:00.002-04:00

Woke up with the sound of Scooby-Doo.
Discussed plans for the day.
Debated about a visit to the zoo... not Shawn's favourite.
Decided on go-karts!
Played monster trucks in our bed with Gavin.
Read Wiley Goes to School.
Had oatmeal for breakfast.
Gavin played in uncle greg's dirt pile with Speedracer.
Visited with uncle greg... while he was building our new shed.
Gavin cried because his clothes "weren't cool enough".... honestly.
STARBUCKS!
Had grande vanilla latte.
Drove to Kingston Family Fun World.
Raced in the go-carts.... let Shawn and Gavin win!
Played a round of mini-putt... let Shawn and Gavin win.
Ate lunch at McDonald's.
Shopped at COSTCO!
Gavin slept the whole way home... bliss.
Rocked out to ACDC.
Played Curious George games on pbs.org.
Did laundry... again.
Had wings and beer for supper:)
Ate leftover birthday carrot cake for dessert... thanks again Rob!
Received handmade card from Gavin with his version of the words...."love you mommy and thanks for taking me to ole' McDonalds"
Snuggled on couch with cozy warm fire.
Read blogs.
Gavin went to bed... reluctantly.
Gavin peeked around corner.
Told Gavin to get back into bed.
Gavin stomped back up the stairs.
I told him I love him.
I search for a good movie to watch.
Shawn joins me on the couch... poker game already in session!
Just another Saturday.

Never thought it would happen to me....

2008-09-29T22:16:00.002-04:00

I think I've said it before but...
I never thought it would happen to me!
I am a lover of summer! Really... the hotter the better! I long for the sun and wilt at the thought of cooler days and eventual snow. Or at least, I used to.
Lately, I've noticed the change. I enjoy a cooler, sometimes even wet, day when I don't have the "too nice to be inside" pressure of "doing something". I like to stay in. Do nothing. Putter.
I long to wear my new JCrew, apple green, cashmere sweater! What's not to love about that?? I enjoy the cool air while I sleep. I LOVE having the fire on down in front of the tv. And... I am loving Fall FOOD. What's better than a fall stew, roast or warm autumn veggies. Mmmmm...
I like that I've learned to appreciate the other seasons. I will miss my summertime love but am glad to not have the black cloud of fall hanging over me too!

change

2008-09-18T22:05:00.002-04:00

I read books about change all the time. I write about change. I work with some people who are resistant to change. I know change. I actually like change. But not this kind. That is... I enjoy and thrive on professional readings about change strategies and research. I do not enjoy my little boy changing. Seriously.

Everyone keeps telling me how much he's changed. Like it's a good thing? Sheesh...
I just want him to stay the same. No, not forever but a least until I can get used to this school stuff. But he just keeps changing on me. He's calmer. He's more independent. He's going down the BIG slide at school! He's interested in Pokemon... pure torture!

A good friend reminded me that our children seem all grown up and then you see them asleep and they look all little again. So, I cuddle him while he's sleeping. I turn the light on and look at him. I let him crawl into bed with me. I just love his sweet little face when he's sleeping.

Tonight I watched him play, chat and pick out new books at his school's Cornroast. There were kids everywhere! A great turn-out. And I wondered... does everyone feel like this? I saw a whole new "school" side to him and I admit, I liked it. He was so very proud of himself.
Even the principal knew him! Not so sure if that's a good thing or not!

So for now, I will attempt to accept and maybe even nurture this change I see. What choice do I have?

And ... more retail therapy....

2008-09-14T20:04:00.002-04:00

Just got home from a weekend away with my dear friend Shelley! It was fabulous! We've been friends since kindergarten and we rarely spend any real time together. But when we do it's like no time has passed. We always pick up where we left off and reconnect! It's just so easy to be around her. I am so grateful for her friendship!
So, we decided to get going and get shopping. We went to the outlets in Waterloo, NY and then back to Watertown. We stayed at the Holiday Inn... with no kids and no husbands. We had a wonderful dinner (heineken light too!) and snuggled in for some good ole fashioned chick flicks!
We did A LOT of shopping! Mostly, we bought stuff for our boys but it was delightful. Gavin got 6 new shirts and 3 pairs of pants.... not to mention a few monster trucks! ME? I refilled my stock of vitamin water and some cute things for work! Oh... and some really cute rain boots!
It's not that I was needing more retail therapy but the time away was bliss. Really, it was just the time with Shelley not even the shopping. But the shopping was a bonus!
Now, I am so happy to be home. Just loving my boys and loving my home.
Bring it on Monday!

First Day

2008-09-11T20:57:00.002-04:00

So we did it! We got Gavin off to school on Tuesday. It tore my heart out. I thought maybe I could watch him get on the bus at Sue's. No such luck. He was so emotional that morning. By the time we got to Sue's I was a wreck... couldn't do it. I quickly kissed him and drove off. I parked further down the road trying to convince myself that it was okay and everything would be fine. Then, I decided to go to his school. I parked across the road, where I could watch him get off the bus. Funny thing... I saw a Hydro truck in the parking lot. I called Shawn.
Me: Hi. Where are you?
Shawn: At work, why?
Me: Are you in the parking lot?
Shawn: Yeah, where are you?
There we both were watching our boy. Me, sobbing. Shawn, a little misty. Either way, there were a sea of yellow raincoats floating around. Finally, the moment I needed... I saw him. He was lined up on the wall. So sweet. But still, it broke my heart.

Retail Therapy

2008-09-07T20:14:00.002-04:00

So, thank you for the thoughtful comments girls! I know... I know... he'll be fine. I'll be fine. Friday was great! His teacher is a wonderfully calm and sweet lady. He loved her from the start.
Then we were off to Gramma & Poppa's. He snuggled in for the night with a new XBox game (Lego Star Wars) and we went downtown to The KEG for supper! Mmmm.... nothing beats a steak and red wine to ease my nerves and settle my belly. We had a nice dinner on the patio. It was warm. The food was great! We were happy.
Saturday we woke up, at Gramma & Pop's, and went out shopping... bright and early! We hit Costco, Starbucks, LuLulemon, The Gap, Heel Boy, Urban Trade, Home Sense, and Kiddie Kobbler. We met Gavin to try on new shoes for school! He was so proud of his new stride-rite Slimers! Too cute! Shawn was in a shopping mood. He got lots of new clothes... finally. He looked so handsome in his new digs!
Lastly, we booked our second Disney cruise! It was a little more than we wanted to spend but who can resist after last year's fabulous time! We splurged! We were on such a retail high! It was fantastic!
And today. We filled a starship shopping cart with tons of food for back to school lunches. We puttered around the house. I cleaned out cupboards in the kitchen and the bathroom. We had birthday cake! Yes... it is Shawn's 45th birthday. I can't believe it! He is such a handsome man. I love him more with every new wrinkle... ha ha! But seriously, he looks great! It's been a wonderful weekend. Am I ready for Tuesday??? Probably not but it sure was great to take my mind of it for awhile and just eat, drink and shop!

It's a bittersweet kind of day...

2008-09-05T08:13:00.002-04:00

Today I am struggling.
I am home.
I slept in.
What could the problem be?
I am anxious.
I am sad.
I am happy.
I am worried.
Gavin goes to JK today. No, not for the whole day but for one hour. But still... it's starting. Once he starts, then that's it.... he's in school. Breaks my heart (totally selfish) but I am so relieved that he is excited and sooooo ready.
Ah, my one and only. How can it be? I am prepared for my totally distraught self. Poor Shawn. Like it isn't hard enough and then I have to cry.
Oh I know he'll be fine. That's not it. It's just the growing up thing. I just want more time. More time with him little. Sure, I won't miss the tantrums (when he finally grows out of them) but just the little chubby hand in mine, sippy cups in the cupboard, songs and snuggles at night, and the cute little way he calls hamburgers " hangaburner".
I've spent all week watching parents say goodbye to clingy, crying four year olds at my school. It's hard. I could barely watch. I cried with them. It seems so silly. But it's also so real. My emotions are right at the surface. But this too shall pass.