afterglow

Savvy-ness...

2007-01-14T14:54:00.000-05:00

Angela posted a challenge on Savvy N Sassy about "finding your ness" - it was inspired by the movie "You Me & Dupree" in which Dupree encouraged Carl to find his "Carl-ness" lol...so what does that mean? I am not really too sure...ha! But I do know that I took this challenge and put my own spin on it...the papers are Basic Grey "Blush" and sponsored by Go Scrapping..!!

Savvyness

It's 2007...!!

2007-01-03T20:26:00.000-05:00

Wow 2007 huh? Where does the time go??? Hope everyone had a great holiday and are settling into the new year!
Update on my murder mystery party....
IT ROCKED
omgosh it was so fun. my friends came in character and acted in character --
SO MUCH FUN
so much fun I am planning another murder mystery night in the spring!

here are a few fun photos from last weekend...!

arriving in costume

the judges table

my sister singing "Lets get physical" lol

aaaaughhh shes been murdered!!!

I highly recommend having a murder myster night with friends!

Dan and I spent our new years at the ice shack..it was so nice out! But of course after a few nights away it is always good to be home!!

xoxo

My Last Post for 2006

2006-12-29T09:38:00.000-05:00

Well tonight is party night...the murder mystery at my house. I believe about 24 people are coming over...I am racking my brain wondering where they are all going to fit lol...I get off work at noon today...head home and prepare the jello shooters *yum* (will post photo later!), take down my beautiful pink tree and rearrange the living room to resemble the murder mystery stage. It is called "Murder on the Idol Stage" -- all my friends seem to be excited to play out their roles so cross your fingers for me that this goes off well....!! Everyone is chatting about how they are dressing character -- I will *definately* be taking a lot of photos tonight to share later...!

Tomorrow Dan and I leave for ice fishing for two nights sooo this will be my last post for 2006...it's been a pretty great year.-- some highlights of 2006 included....

-- being published three times for my scrappy work *yay!*

-- drooling -- I mean watching -- JD Fortune and INXS from the 4th row! Whooo hoooo

-- running my first 5KM run and actually ran the whole thing

-- getting better at golfing (plus I scored a new pink golf bag lol)

-- my sister got married

-- my dad has been fairly healthy all year (no long hospital stays!)

-- I met some scrappy friends in real life this year -- Jaklin, Paula, Kelly, Karen, Judy...

-- went to Scrapfest at the Mall of America and hung out with my MN girls - Susan, Jules and Kristin

-- just about completed 200 layouts this year...I think I stopped at 192 this year!!!

-- I have the best kids and husband in the world *smooches*

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

For all the wonderful friends I have....I wish nothing but a joyous 2007 for everyone full of new adventure and opportunity

xoxox

It's time...! Scrapbookers Clubhouse Design Team Call...!!

2006-12-28T11:40:00.000-05:00

Come on over and join in on the fun...we are looking for our next design team. Scrapbookers Clubhouse has amazing kits...it truly is a great site to design for...! Read on for more details...hope to see you apply!!! xoxo

Scrapbooker's Club House has one of the largest online scrapbook stores in Canada. We provided a full stocked store as well as design fabulous kits which sell out each month. We are excited to annouce our next term design team call for six new members . Term will run February 2007 - July 2007. Due to postal time constraints, we can only accept applicants from Canada and USA.

The call...sumbit three items of your work into the design team call album in our gallery that you feel best display your style. We are very interested in getting to know you on our boards to determine whose style clicks the best to create fabulous team dynamics.

Design team members will be compensated each month with exciting kits to design with for the store as well as a 20% discount.

In return, we are asking for your fun loving personality, creation of 4-6 items of quality work with our kits in a timely matter, the ability to devote time to our message boards and contribute praise to our members in the gallery.

If this sounds ideal to you then we would love to have you apply to join our team! Join our boards, get to know us, post your entries in the designated entry album and fill out the following information and email to savvyshare@yahoo.ca

Entries will be accepted until Friday January 26th midnight EST. Design team will be annouced Sunday January 28th.

Full name:
Screen name:
Address:
Email address:
Number of years scrapping?
Three words you would describe your style...remember we are looking for a diverse team with different styles!
Main subjects you scrapbook....
Size of layouts you most create....
Are you currently on any design teams....if so, which ones?
How many message boards are you a loyal member of posting on a regular basis...?
If selected, how much time comfortably could you say you could devote to SBCH (posting, praising, doing challenges)
Do you enjoy making altered items?
What is your fave thing about SBCH?
If you were to give us one idea or suggestion how to improve SBCH what would it be?

saving for a rainy day...

2006-12-27T12:30:00.000-05:00

ok not really a rainy day but I have some definate goals for saving in the new year..and here is my altered cigar box made for Scrapbookers Clubhouse using the January kit....! I sure hope I can meet my goals for the new year!!

Boxing Day...

2006-12-26T18:38:00.000-05:00

Headed to the malls 7am this morning to hit some of the boxing day sales...got a new desk for my computer and a few odds and ends like photo paper...lots of people out there shopping....when I left there were cars in three directions duking it out for my parking spot...!

We also went and seen the Rocky Balbola movie...now...Rocky fans may feel nostalgic watching this movie but I only felt TIRED...man that was just a long drawn out movie -- lol...save your pennies and wait for this one to come on the movie network...I trust it wont be that long until its out lol

Back to work for me tomorrow - sigh...right now though...I am heading down to my much neglected scrapbooking room...its been a while...lets hope I can muster up some mojo!!! Gotta finish up a few DT assignments and then work on final party details for my murder mystery party on Friday!!!

Merry Christmas...!!

2006-12-25T14:36:00.000-05:00

for those following the saga of my rebel...its over...lol...no rebel for me this year

however, this found itself under my tree....yes i cant get over it..lol....this is comparable to past gifts that include...the spare tire for my car and seat cushion for the boat....oh i know its not about the gifts -- of course i know that...but still a girl can wonder what goes on through a husbands head when he buys her this book....!!!

the stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

2006-12-23T20:07:00.000-05:00

"....in hopes that St.Nicholas soon would be there...!!

I am so excited for Christmas...! I really really think that DH went out and bought me a Rebel for Christmas...!!! Here is a photo of the box under the tree for me *giggle*...if it isn't a Rebel, it is probably an equally impressive camera...LOL...I am so giddy looking at it...of course my spirits might take a beating if I rip it open Christmas morning and it isnt my camera....after all my spy work, evidence collecting...if it isn't the Rebel then Dan really put on a good show for me and had me going! lol

So anyhooo....lol....two more sleeps for that baby lol....

*crossing fingers* lol

In other wonderful news...head over to Savvy N Sassy and check out the newest ribbon kit up... our first kit sold out really quick....so hurry and pick up this beautiful pink set by clicking here...!

If I don't talk to you all personally, let me take this time to wish everyone a fun, happy and joyous Christmas and allth best for 2007!!

xoxoxo

Savvy N Sassy.....

2006-12-20T14:24:00.000-05:00

I know...I know...its been a while since I last logged in and blogged! So much has been happening that I just haven't found time to sit down and update.
My friend Rhea and I embarked on a new adventure and opened up "Savvy N Sassy" -- its an interactive site with a gallery, message board and best of all...ribbon kits. We are teaming up with existing stores that sell awesome scrapbooking kits and are creating fun and fabulous coordinating ribbons....!!
Our first kit with Zany Zinnia has sold out! Our second kit with Timeless Inspriations will be for preorder very very soon...!!
Some exciting news to share...we now officially have our first ever design team at Savvy N Sassy. We are so excited to start our journey with the following talented and inspirational ladies...!!

Jaklin Piper
Vikki Leigh
Stacy Abbott
Carla Jones
Kelly Evans
Kimberly Fowler
Martina Brill
Michelle Klomp
Wendy Gibson

and a huge thank you to everyone who applied. It was such a tough decision with 40 equally talented ladies in their own way. I would also like to annouce our guest designers ~ congrats everyone~!!!

Angie Smith
Emeline Ng
Ellen Sosnoski
Angie Simonet
Shell Tisler
Cindy Tucker

On the big screen...

2006-11-19T23:08:00.000-05:00

Paula's blog challenge was to list your favourite movies...soooo here they are! You will note that either I love to watch a cheesy comedy movie starting probably an ex-Saturday Night Live character oooor I love movies about the mob and drugs...lol....

1. Return to Paradise...ummm totally my absolute fave!! Also when I first fell in love with Vince Vaughn. I have to admit, he was much more appealing as an unknown star than the guy who is now dating Jennifer Anniston *insert eye roll* lol....

College grads Sheriff, Lewis and Tony meet by chance and become close friends while touring Asia on vacation. They close out a month-long trip to Penang, Malaysia with a reckless spree that two years later would test the boundaries of their friendship and tragically alter their lives: Lewis is sentenced to die in Malaysia for a drug deal, thusly Sheriff and Tony must decide whether they will imperil their own lives by returning to paradise and turning themselves into Malaysian officials, with the real truth, in order to save their friend's life.

2. The Departed....Leonardo DiCaprio is yummy in a bad boy way....this was a recent movie I seen but very very good!!!

3. Old School...omg this is so freakin' funny!!! I love this movie!!! When Wil Ferral is running down the street drunk and buck naked I about peed laughing so hard! lol

4 Superstar! ... okay yes I forgot to mention in my last post that "Superstar" is a nickname that I have had for a while! I do a mean imitation of Mary Katherine Gallagher and I have been known to tell people at the bar that my name is Mary Katherine Gallagher...but no...I have never made out with a tree before..hahaha

5. Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion....I love the 80s...I just love revisiting those days with a good ol' 80s themed movie ! The plot is far fetched and unreal but hey, its the perfect Sunday afternoon movie!

6. Good Fellas....Ray Loitta used to look hot...what happened?? I am always up for a good Mob story. I love the insight to what happens to such a different culture in society....

7. Finding Nemo...Dory is the most hysterical animated character ever! I bust a gut everytime I think about her talking whale...lol

Caaaan yoooou giive uuuus direeeeectioooons?

8. Pulp Fiction...this movie just rocks! Girls like me don't make invitations like this to just anyone!

9. Blow...I love Johnny Depp in this movie. This movie held me from beginning to end...love love love it.

10. cry cheese allyou want...I *love* Night at the Roxbury! How can you not bob your head when "What is love" starts cranking? lol

all rolled up in one....

2006-11-09T09:54:00.000-05:00

Woooo....*rushing into blogland and sliding in*...it's been a couple weeks since I last blogged so I will try to hit the highlights and challenges all in one here lol

Condensing it nicely is Di's challenge from TTS...

Highlights from October...!!!

What movies and/or tv shows did I watch this month? The Amazing Race, Survivor, CSI (NY, Miami and Las Vegas lol) Went to the movie theater once and seen "The Departed" it was super good!!!

What special days did I celebrate and how? In October it was Trent's 11th Birthday...wow, time does fly doesn't it? Sigh! It was also my moms' birthday...and we had Thanksgiving here in Canada.

What fun things did I do with my friends and/or family? In October I cropped with my friends, held a youth dance on Halloween, Thanksgiving dinner, played a lot of pool in pool leauge!

What were this month’s disappointments? My car...my dumb stupid car - its costing me more money to fix it up every month than to probably make payments on a new one! Crossing my fingers it holds out through the winter at least!

What were my accomplishments this month? I had a layout picked up by PaperArt Magazine, there is a design team call for 2ScrappyChicks and am embarking on a new adventure with my friend Rhea. I also did about 14 layouts!!!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Erica's Blog Challenge....Winter Memories....

Okay here is one to share with you all. I grew up in Victoria British Columbia where snow was rare. Having a white Christmas would have to be a treat if it had ever happened. One year my sister and I woke up and it was actually snowing! I remember being sooooo excited....we had big plans to go outside and make tiny little snowmen. We searched our rooms for heavy sweaters and packed on three pairs of socks because it was SNOWING!!! Giddy with expectations, we ran outside....only to be so disappointed that the snow was just melting as soon as it hit the ground!! lol...now I live where we have snow at least five months out of the year and I hate it!!!!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Share's Blog Challenge...Nicknames....

1. Sugah Bogah - I have no idea where this name came from by my husband seems to think this is cute and calls me it every day. lol...No idea where the origin of this came from but it has stuck and I am destined to be called "sugah boogah" for the next umpteen years!

2. T-Bone or Lil' T Bone - This is a nickname that I believe my sister and her husband gave to Trent and it has stuck. He gets called T-Bone all the time!

3. Mars or Mimi - Nicknames for Mariah. Mars I have no clue where it came from and Mimi came as a result of Mariah Carey and some video she did calling herself Mimi lol...

4. Danny B - Thats what we call Dan lol....or "Dan Dan the Hunting Man" teehee....

enjoy the little things...

2006-10-22T15:44:00.000-04:00

my favourite quote in the whole wide world is...

"enjoy the little things in life, for one day you might look back and notice they were the big things...."

and it is just so true...as my kiddos are 11 and 12 now, I look back at silly little things they have said and done and they truly are great memories that could easily have been forgotten over time...i guess thats why being a scrapbooker is important to so many of us...those little moments have a tendency to get captured through our photos and documentation...

so today's blogging...is something along the lines of those little things ~ its about the simple pleasures in life. I am not talking about the obvious happiness we get from our loved ones, I am talking about those little things that make life just that much more pleasurable...!

1. lip gloss...yessss I said lip gloss! I love wearing different shades and colors depending on my mood and I *love* lip gloss that is scented. Ever try Jessica Simpson's Butterscotch Toffee lip gloss or avon's chocolate fling lip gloss...yum...two of my faves!!

2. my computer...I am an addict...I have no problems admitting that I can not stand to be away from my computer for a whole day and not chat with my scrappy friends!!!!

3. pizza boxes... droooool....those who are scrapbookers know what I'm talking about!! Coming home and finding a lovely white pizza box at my doorstep filled with new scrapping supplies and patterned paper....oooooh, i love creating with patterned paper...i love touching, smelling and feeling new patterned paper....lol...yeah it sounds like a fetish...teehee....

4. the sound of rain...i love the sound of rain on my roof when i am sleeping and i love it even more when i am outdoors camping and it rains on my tent...!

5. a bug free summer day....seriously who doesnt love this?? I love summer, I love the outdoors and I love camping but omgosh the bugs...the bugs in Northwestern Ontario are insane!!! So those rare summer days that are bug free really make me happy!!!

6. singapore slings...my fave drink with a kick...I love to be able to go out once in a while and enjoy one (or five) of these...lol but more often than not, I settle for a can of coca cola...lol

7. chocloate. no explaination needed.

So there you have it, a few simple pleasures that make me happy...! And running with that in mind, I am heading to my scrapbook room to play with my new crate papers...!!!

small attainable goals....

2006-10-15T13:09:00.000-04:00

that's what I like...small goals that can easily be reached! there is nothing like a sense of accomplishment in knowing you had a goal, a plan and you reached it.

in social work we use the SMART application a lot and I also like to add sometimes to my everyday life...

S - specific goal

M - measureable

A - attainable

R - realistic

T - timeline

so having said that here are my five goals I hope to accomplish by the end of 2006...

1. Lose 5 lbs....every pound counts...its hard with a hypothyroid problem but I am going to try and do more strength training instead of just running...all I do is run at the gym. I think I am going to add in more weights and hopefully that will help...

2. Find some albums to put my layouts into...I am so bad at this and I got this idea from Vikki's blog entry...I need to put my pages in albums! So if anyone out there has some good ideas of where I can find some cheap landscape 8 1/2 x 11 album ideas I am all ears!!!

3. Mad Money...I am starting a "mad money" fund to put away $20 a week for a getaway in the future. I am starting now because I dont think I would really miss $20 a week and come next spring I could theoretically have a lot of "mad money" for a fun getaway! So by the end of December I should have $220 away already of mad money!

4. 200 layouts! That has been my goal for the year 2006 - completing 200 layouts! As it stands right now today I have 43 more to go!! I think I can do it...! Go me...go me...lol

5. Small steps to a clean house....those who know me *know* I hate house cleaning but last weekend I actually did a lot of house cleaning and I realized I am less bitchy when the house is a little clean lol...so my goal is to spend a minimum of 15 minutes a day doing housecleaning. Now I know you clean freaks are thinking only 15 mins?? But trust me, this is a baby step for me lol and I am not including laundry time - that is one chore that I do without much thought lol....

So there you have it...I will update my list in January and hope I have some positive results!!!!

Now...have you blogged your five goals to acheive before the end of the year???!

Friday the 13th

2006-10-14T00:35:00.000-04:00

ahh what a week...and it hasn't been all fun!

-- bought new fridge cuz our old one sounds like an earthquake

-- went to a meeting at work and was embarassed to be there with a bunch of adults who acted in such a poor unprofessional manner

-- our furnace went out meaning we have NO heat in our house and our new furnace wont be installed until Tuesday!!

-- I lost 3 out of 5 pool games on Thursday - but I attribute that to the fact that my head was still pounding from the meeting at work earlier on that day

-- I haven't scrapped ALLLLL week -- okay thats the absolute bottom line....thats where I draw the line...no scrapping all week? pffffffft!!!! lol

Now...let's turn that frown upside down...on the bright side of life....

-- my grandpa is doing so much better and even was sitting up in his bed at the nursing home, what a scare we had but he does appear to be getting a bit stronger each day

-- trent's birthday party is tomorrow, i have some fun games planned!

-- I cooked an awesome meal tonight (yes I cooked hard to believe huh???)

-- I got to see my friend katie and her 7 month old baby today

-- I have such awesome people in my life - both in my real life and my online friends...truly...love you all!!! xoxo

and here is a Halloween funny to share...this one was posted by Peggy over at Treasures To Scrap!!!

Happy Birthday Trent!!!

2006-10-10T15:02:00.000-04:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BABY!!

Omgosh I can't believe it has been 11 years since I gave birth to my baby boy...sniff...it's sometimes hard for me to digest the fact that he is eleven...in some ways he is totally still my baby.

Each day he tells me he loves me, plants a wet one on my cheek and always hugs me...and if anyone were to ask him "Are you a mommy's boy?" he would without hesitation tell you "yep!"

I took Trent on a walk this summer around Boulevard Lake with a couple of my girlfriends. My friend Katie brought along her newborn son. She said to Trent "I hope when my son grows up he loves me as much as you love your mom."

sniff...

I am *so* lucky

So to my son...I love you...Happy Birthday. I am so proud to be your mom.
xoxo

Thankful...

2006-10-08T00:47:00.000-04:00

*

*

Well its that time of year...thanksgiving...does one really sit back and reflect what they are thankful for this time of year? I think it has gotten to the point where people associate "Thanksgiving" with a large family meal and for some families...football! Do families really get together this one day and share their feelings about what they are thankful for? I mean, we don't....we get together, eat way too much, talk about everyday life, say our goodbyes and head home. It's like any other family get together but somehow we got it embedded in our heads that on Thanksgiving we should be with as many people as we can and eat more than we should. It's expected.

What is the true meaning of Thanksgiving in Canada? Many believe it has the same meaning as our neighbours to the south...European settlers making peace with the orginal Natives of our land. It really doesn't...it is really a day to celebrate God & a successful harvest. Parliment declared in the following proclaimation in 1957:

"A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed ... to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October."

I am thankful for my family, my friends, my health, my happiness...I am blessed to not have to live in poverty like so many unfortunate families in our country. Sometimes being blessed with so much we take for granted things like a warm place to sleep and food each night to feed our children. I am extremely blessed and very thankful...

So yes, I may have a touch of PMS (lol) but tomorrow at our Thanksgiving dinner I will try my best not to overeat! Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for a lot in my life, I really am. But I am thankful for these things everyday not just the 2nd Monday in October!

Ready for Truth or Scare?

2006-10-02T20:57:00.000-04:00

It's going to be a fun scrapping month ahead...come check out whats happening over at Treasures to Scrap~ there are some really great prizes to be won!!!

I am off to do a challenge or two right now! Make sure you tell them I sent you - we love new victims..errrr...I mean members...teehee...

things you never really wanted to know...lol

2006-09-30T23:56:00.000-04:00

i went to a crop today -- i tell ya it is *hard* for me to pack a few things and go scrap somewhere other than my scrapbook room!!! But I managed to get four layouts done -- which is an unusually long time for me! But oh well four layouts is better than none!
i should really be in bed right now cuz i am exhausted but nope...here i sit at my computer waiting for something exciting to happen...i don't think that is going to happen soooo i decided to post in my blog

anyway here are some random facts that you really probably don't need to know but if you are reading this...you are curious! *and* if you are reading this consider yourself TAGGED - I wanna see your answers in your blog!! Let me know when you have yours up...!!!

Have You Ever...

Worn braces? I sure did...and I am grateful for it because I get comments on how straight my teeth are lol
Broken a bone? I don't think so...oh wait, my finger once...
Had stitches? Yes...ouch I fainted at a bank in the middle of summer and cut open the back of my head...yes my head...no freezing for those stitches...I remember the ambulance came to get me and I was crying saying "You aren't going to cut my hair are you??" lol..yes the big hair days....lol
Gone SCUBA diving? ummm NO! I can't even swim!!
Been stung by a bee? Yes I have...and surprisingly I am not allergic to them!!! I know some of you are shocked lol...
Thrown up in public? Does a party count? lol I remember hanging my head out a second story window and puking on someones roof when I was younger..
Been to overnight camp? As a child no, as an adult yes...just went in May with my daughters class
Written a letter to Santa Claus? Yeah but he never listened...who came up with the naughty and nice rule anyway???
Been sent to the principal's office? who me?? lol..*snicker* uh yeah...

Who/What was the last...

Person to call you? my daughter...asking me about thrush??? thinks my neice has it and was concerned and i guess she thinks i know all about it lol...
Last person you hugged? my hubby as soon as I got home from the crop
Thing you touched (before your keyboard!!)? I scratched my ear...lol
Thing you ate? um...chocolate..yes chocolate...caramel filled chocolate goodness lol
Thing you said? good night sweetie (hubby went to bed)
Website you visited (before this one !!) yahoo mail

blue sunday....

2006-09-24T14:18:00.000-04:00

today i slept in...10:30 am

i decided after two days of sleeping in...i hate sleeping in!

it ruins my day, not enough time to get the things i want to do done

sigh

so i woke up started doing some laundry

did a bit of scrapping

came to the computer

got frustrated!

i cannot figure out how to add in my banner to the new blogger beta

so now i have a bannerless blech looking blog

and i am too frustrated to figure it out anymore

i am more confused than when i started!

today is a gorgeous sunny day

it ticks me off

why?

cuz one year ago today it was my wedding day

and it was pouring with rain

buckets of non stop rain

and therefore my dream wedding outdoors

is still only a dream

we got married inside the hotel our reception was at

it wasnt too bad

we had all our family and friends there

over 120 people

i felt like a princess

and i married my best friend

okay, best male friend

my sister is my best friend - lol

so happy anniversary darling!

hope you are having a good time hunting

She who....is wierd...

2006-09-15T22:01:00.000-04:00

Okay so got a blog challenge thrown at me....to post five *wierd* things about me.
I know.
It's hard to imagine *one* wierd thing about me much less five of them...!
snicker.
people who know me don't call it "wierd" they call it "share" lol

1. I am a hypochondriac. I believe each week I have a new illness - usually the disease or illness I had last week is gone and I am now focused on a new one...with the exception of my heart...I cannot stand to feel my heart beating. There must be some sort of phobia name for this...I guess cuz heart disease runs in my family I am paranoid about having heart disease some day.

2. I have a wild sense of humor and I have humbly taken on the challenge of making every guy I know blush. The guys at work have made me a sign for my desk which says "Hootie's Bootie Party Station...Captain of the Fun Squad...turning the work day into play day..."

3. At work, I am well known as being "anally organized" and I mentor new staff on the proper way to do case management. However, once 5:00 comes, I leave work behind..and I leave my organizational skills behind...I am so not organized at home!!!

4. When I was 19 years old I got a tattoo of a heart and two stars on my left ankle. I did not know I was almost two months pregnant. When my daughter was born, her birthmark was a perfect circle in the exact same spot I had gotten my tattoo while pregnant with her.

5. If I were to choose my job in my next life I would be a dominatrix. *lol*

----------------------------------------------------------------

Okay so there you have it.
five.
i think i could have easily made it ten but my mind was getting out of control there.
lol.

So anyway! If you are interested in some cropping challenges this weekend there are two online crops going on -- it's Scrapbookers Clubhouse's SECOND birthday!! So what better way to celebrate than with a party!!

Also, the new design team at Timeless Inspirations is hosting their first crop with a fall theme - come join us!

Both crops have prizes, challenges, games...!!

oh and I have to say.....................WAY TO REPRESENT CANADA LUKAS!!!
CONGRATS ON WINNING ROCKSTAR SUPERNOVA!!!!

She who...rocked Scrapfest!!!

2006-09-11T20:20:00.000-04:00

Whooo hooo ~ what an awesome weekend at Scrapfest! Seriously, you girls have got to plan to come next year if it is at all possible...it is the ultimate girls getaway!!

We arrived Friday, ate dinner at "The Outback" - gotta love those bloomin' onions!! So yeah at the Outback my friend Susan totally cracked me up - as usual...gotta love her...her outgoing swankyness got us a free piece of cheesecake, a drink and we met....

Scuba Steve.

Yeah no joke Scuba Steve...lol...looong story but the guy was get this...not only a waiter at the Outback at his young age of 38 but he also has raced cars, has been a BMX racing champion, is a dentist (or maybe almost a dentist I dunno...) and he is *also* a stand up comedian - yeah he is just so talented isnt he??? But tell me...why if you are so successful are you a waiter at the Outback?? *scratching head* lol must be to meet chicks HA HA

Anyway on to Scrapfest lol...

I took some awesome classes...Tim Holtz' was always a hoot to take a class with...Jules...gotta love that girl - she has the HUGEST crush on him *giggle* As Tim walked by our table she says under her breath

"oh my gawd girls...Tim just walked by me..." lol then when we got our photo taken she said "oh my gawd girls...Tim just called me his monkey" ROTFLMBO

Okay the BEST classes to take if you can...K & Co classes - HELLO! They give you a ton of free stuff in their classes!!! Tim's wasnt too shabby either but K&Co you get so much more than a $20 value! I have to say though...Bo Bunny...a little disappointed....loved the concept and idea but so not worth the $20 and no gifts to take with you - bummer...

Anyhooooooooo here are a few photos!!! That Tim is sure a cutie lol....oh and yeah as luck would have it we caught wind of the Michaels grand opening in Duluth...that totally rocked!

she who...scraps with yellow

2006-09-02T22:09:00.000-04:00

we all have our fave colors to scrap with...

those who know me know i have a pink fetish.
lol
one of the september monthly challenges on tresures to scrap is to scrap with a color you rarely use
mine was
yellow

i just find yellow a hard color to compliment
maybe its just a hard color to compliment with pink
lol
nonetheless, i took on the challenge and broke out the
yellows

the result....
this AWESOME page
I totally love it!

used some basic grey to compliment it...thought it turned out pretty good and shows my kiddos not at each others throats lol...

she who...has the blahs...

2006-08-31T22:34:00.000-04:00

i am sure we all get this way.

the blahs.

i am just sorta in a cranky mood.
didn't feel like running today.
didn't feel like scrapping today.
didn't feel like even chatting too much today.
just felt

blah.

but tomorrow is the start of a three day weekend...thats got to be worth some sort of yah!

i did sign up our pool team tonight. i am the captain this year and this year we better win a trip to vegas! the year dan's team won i didn't play soooo i didn't go. mind you, i *should* be in vegas if all goes planned to run the half marathon in december.

that means
snapping out of the blahs.
putting on my running shoes.
and running.

tomorrow...i run.

the journal you see is my running journal..made with the September kit contents over at Scrapbookers Clubhouse this month....great kit, check it out!

What is...boho chic...?

2006-08-21T21:33:00.000-04:00

lol...some of my friends and I were talking on an online board and the topic came up - what is boho chic? there is a call for a new idea book by Blue Media Books and they are asking for one of the topics to be "boho chic" layouts...

well I think we all scratched our heads on this one

i looked online and couldn't really find any real examples other than layouts using boho chic paper

so my interpretation of boho chic - earthy colors, layers...kinda a hippie bohemian feel... - I walked downstairs and to my surpise i pulled out this months kit for Scrapbookers Clubhouse and in it was We R Memory Keepers Boho Chic Papers lol...

so voila...Share's interpretation of "boho chic" lol...made with this months design team kit papers from Scrapbookers Clubhouse.

And hey...if you like A2Z papers you have to head over to the site because this month we are having an *amazing* contest - using A2Z papers, send in your entries and you could win a one month design team gig with A2Z judged by Heather Preckle !!! How cool is that!

Oh and on an off scrappy topic...I shot a 48 tonight in golf - whooo hoooo! lol....

she who gets....hypnotized....

2006-08-13T17:12:00.000-04:00

okay so yesterday...yesterday I am at the yearly fair and there's a hypnotist...Tyzen......lolol... you know where this story is heading...omgosh i am DYING here...DYING.... I got myself hypnotized and it is allllllllllllll on DVD OMG OMG what a bizarre feeling and OMG I am so embarassed thinking about it!

First off, I only went up cuz no one was volunteering and the people around me were pointing and yelling for me to go up so being a sport I went up FULLY thinking I would not be able to get hypnotized! Yanno social worker...strong knowledge of how the subconcious mind works lol...I am a STRONG woman, I can fight this...WELL...was I wrong...lol What a wierd wierd feeling...I was fully aware of my surroundings but could not help but to do what he told me to do!

First test was that my hands were clenched together and glued shut...thats the test to see if people could get hypnotized...uh yeah I couldnt pull those babies apart! Next...I was a rock star...yep I was playing the drums and I WAS THE BOMB! Why was I the bomb? Apprantly I said cuz "I am the sexiest mother out there" he thought I was gonna say mother F*&%$# and took the mic away from me ROTFL....

After that it kinda gets blurry but I was an astronaut on a spaceship...made friends with an alien, had the dog from the Jetsons hop on my spaceship and well...the ship crashed and everyone was blaming everyone else....apparanly I was blaming three guys on stage cuz they weren't watching what they were doing because they smuggled on board some adult videos and were busy (HA HA HA) Um...what else....oh yes he said when he turned around we would all think the backside of his outfit was gone - nekkid...yeah so i am laughing hysterically at the hypnotist...and then he goes to the people on stage "in one word can you sum up the show tongiht?" and well you gals know me...I said "WELL HUNG" too frickin funny....

I dunno what else happened - gotta watch the DVD tomorrow - but the grand finale...omgosh he had me pretending to be ELVIS and I guess I was dancing like Elvis...and he asked where I had been hiding all these years and I said "McDonalds" ROTFLMBO - yeah way to go Share to look like your a fat pig who enjoys McDonalds food lol.......then he gave me a guitar and I was doing this guitar solo as Elvis and he said "WIDE AWAKE" snap snap and there I am on one bended knee in front of 200 people so embarassed lol Yeah it was just WIERD I tell ya.... I cant even explain the feeling....but yeah I might have to figure out how to post some clips of it online *snicker* If only it wasnt ME up there on stage, I would have the perfect blackmail material on someone lolol...

Anyway, that there photo up there...thats Tyzen...hes kinda a cutie...lol -- strangly though I really have to say today...I feel kinda violated lol....

eta...blogger is not letting me upload photo will edit later!

define me?

2006-07-16T23:45:00.000-04:00

thats a tough question isnt it? how does one define themselves? here is a layout i created for a circle journal that asked me...define yourself...i cant share the second page cuz it has my address on it lol..but my challenge to you all reading this is to go to your blog or to your scrapbook room and define yourself...! let me know how it goes!

she who posts...monthly....

2006-07-15T21:50:00.000-04:00

hahaha I suck at blogging....seriously...this should be called the monthly update by Share...lolol...

okay so right to the most exciting news first...my sister got married on June 21st! Congrats to Chris & Karen...it was an awesome cultural ceremony. The ironic part was that it rained 5 minutes before their ceremony - HELLO...that was the exact same as *my* wedding lol...we always joked that would happen and well...yeah it did...shouldn't joke about things like that I guess LOL! There was also a tornado warning that day....and I might add it was also in the beginning, middle and end of all this crazy weather HOT and SUNNY...it was just odd...lol

Yep here I am brave enough to post a photo of me and my sis...I am looking right chunky its okay I know. Ever since I got the ulcers in my eyes I have not stepped foot in the gym (that was back in mid-may) so that means I am not running my 5kms a day. Its sad because I was doing SO GOOD and then all of a sudden to stop it sucks. I am really disappointed in myself cuz I know I was making a difference in my weight and now it is all back. Exercising and being consistant at it is very important and I know I have to start going back becuse I know how it feels to get in a good workout and feel better about myself. Cuz right now I admit I am not feeling too happy about throwing those 10lbs back on...sigh...I can only imagine if I kept up my workouts for these past two months how much better I would feel....sigh...

Okay, so now I am making a vow that next week I will go to the gym at least twice...I say twice because Friday we are leaving to go camping and its like 100F here and just gettng the energy to think about getting sweaty is hard enough LOL...so twice...and I will come back and update you all...

I have been exercising though in the form of golf. I go golfing at least 3 times a week. I am slowly improving and think I am getting better...!! Of course there are still times when i want to just throw my club and quit -- lol....

Okay well thats it for now...gotta go do some judging over at Timeless for the Crop-Azing race!!! There is some awesome talent over there!!! xoxox

those little moments in time...

2006-06-11T19:02:00.000-04:00

"...enjoy the little things in life for one day you might look back and notice they were the big things..."

from the first time I heard that saying it was immediately my favourite saying...it is so very very true...sometimes life gets so busy and we overlook the little things.
this doesnt make us a bad person - its just life...crazy hectic life sometimes...!

today we had a picnic at Trowbridge Falls and I snapped this photo of Mariah & Trent...they were helping each other cross the water through the rocks and rough spots...and this photo tugged at my heart.

they will bicker and fight but in the end these two always look out for each other and this moment in time shows how one is reaching out and the other trusts her enough to let her help...

man, i love my kids!

Public Service Annoucements

2006-06-10T16:58:00.000-04:00

lol...I have to tell you I am blessed with the opportunity to work with four fantastic online communities!!! And I am here to tell you that each and every one of them has something unique and fun going on very soon so please please drop by each one and tell them I sent you -- you know I wouldn't be hanging out at a place that wasn't warm and fun!!!

Coming up very soon - oh say like tomorrow...is a week long online crop at 2ScrappyChicks....the design team has some awesome fun challenges for you to do throughout the week - if you have a moment to spare and scrap come and check it out....and the fabulous owners have some great prizes to give out at the end of the week! Come over to... www.2scrappychicks.com (they also have a sale going on!)

Coming up also very shortly is the Treasures to Scrap Birthday Party and grand opening of the online store...girls, I am so excited, this store is gonna be stocked with so many great goodies!!!!! Check it out here! www.treasurestoscrap.com

Check out this awesome contest we are having over at Scrapbookers Clubhouse...this is FANTASTIC!! MELISSA FRANCES herself is judging it!!

We have a wonderful contest for you that will run from today until Friday July 7th.

Make a layout or altered item made up of 75% Melissa Frances products and post it in our Gallery in the Melissa Frances Contest folder.

Easy right?

Carolyn Peeler, Senior Creative Director for Melissa Frances (who is also a guest instructor at Scrapfest in Edmonton this September) will be our Judge.

Winner to be announced Monday July 10th.

The Prize??? Get ready for this:

The winning layout/altered item will be featured in the Melissa Frances Newsletter (which means literally thousands of people are going to see your work!!) AND a $50 prize pack of Melissa Frances product donated by Scrapbooker's Club House.

Feeling inspired? Look at some of the beautiful Melissa Frances product we have here--it will be sure to get your creative juices flowing:

http://www.scrapbookersclubhouse.com/oscommerce/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=49&osCsid=8a1bc0ebd7485166bb98bd338d291262

Now go create! And don't forget to post here to let us know so we can view your wonderful work!

and lastly...this one I am super excited for...a design team (called the Inspiration Team) call over at Timeless Inspirations....we are looking for 4 designers to join the team...and we are having a FUN contest to get those members aboard!

GET READY FOR THE MOST EXCITING SCRAP RACE THIS SUMMER!!

Timeless Inspirations presents...

THE CROP-AZING RACE & INSPIRATION TEAM CALL!!

Six weeks of fun filled challenges and fun running from June 25th - August 6th.

The grand prize for the winner...a 6 month contract with the Timeless Inspriations Inspiration Team and $25 gift certificate from the store!

The term of the contract will run September 2006 - February 2007.

Three other people will be invited to join the Inspiration Team as well!

Anyone wanting to apply for the Inspiration Team will compete in a contest - the lucky winner will earn a DT spot while the three others will be chosen by Michele & Share and another unbiased judge to be annouced- the three chosen will be any member seen as active, participating and show a unique sense of style and creativity throughout the competition. If they dont make it to the next round, there will be a forum to continue to work on the challenges at their leisure throughout the competition. The people chosen do not have to be the winners of the contest...they may have exited early on in the competition but have continued to contribute and play a role on Timeless.

Requirements for being a design team member at Timeless Inspirations

- must have CLEAR HIGH QUALITY scans or photos of layouts - very very important

- must have the time and energy to be able to post on a regular basis

- able to start new conversations, create challenges and be a true inspiration to the members

- fun personality and ability to be a team player a must..!

THE CROP-AZING RACE -- How it works!

six week competition designed to showcase your talent and dedication to wanting to be a design team member with Timeless Inspirations

Anyone wanting to participate must sign up the before June 24th midnight EST and upload one of their fave layouts into the CONTESTANT FOLDER in the gallery (this will be up by June 1st)

Each week the competition begins with a new challenge...a gallery will be created to upload your layouts for each week. the judges score your layouts with a designed score sheet. scoring will be based on....

- CLARITY OF LAYOUTS

- USE OF DIFFERENT OR MULTIPLE TECHNIQUES

- UNIQUE DESIGN

Watch for more detailed rules closer to the date of the contest...we don't want to give everything away!!

Sign ups will begin on June 1st on an official contender thread!! Can't wait for the competition to begin!!!

so there you have it gals...lots to keep everyone busy...come join the fun!!

accident prone & random babblings..

2006-06-09T17:54:00.000-04:00

calgon take me away...!! kids...yes KIDS its not just ONE kid its TWO of them seeking medical attention the past week

lol mariah has a broken wrist ....you hear all the stories about trampolines...well they're true she took a tumble off one and landed on her wrist...sigh! she is okay though just uncomfortable

The following day, my son woke up and his earring -- the earring he wanted and just got less than two months ago -- his earring somehow in the night pushed itself half way in his lobe...the ball of the earring was sitting in the middle of his lobe...i couldnt push it out the front or back sooooooooooooo off to the walk in clinic we go....they say there is nothing they can do sooooooooooo off to the hospital we go and of course because we are not an emergency case we spent HOURS on end there...

finally they froze his ear with a needle, made an incision at the back of his ear and pulled out the earring...stitched him up.... omgosh lol...the doctor said "Well you better let this heal over before getting it pierced again." Trent all wide eyed looks at the doctor and goes "oh no, I dont plan on getting it done until at least I am a teenager!" lol it was too cute...

my sister is taking my kids camping this weekend so i hope that means some golfing for me! i have been steadily getting better at golfing and I truly do like the game...i guess i am a bit nerdy that way lol

and as for scrappin....guilty as charged summer means a bit less time spent on my hobby but I still get to doing it when I can....for your visual pleasure...one of my latest ones...its simple but it cracks me up...trent is hilarious with his shirts and their sayings lol...one other shirt he has says "ways to make money" and its like a cartoon strip...the third ne says "have a yard sale" and there is a sign that says "sister for sale" lolol...oh and he does have another shirt that says "will trade sister for video games" ROTFL...

and without futher adue, i am also doing my blog challenge from Treasures to Scrap - which is to post ten random facts about myself....

1. I love the color pink...I own a pink briefcase (yep I do lol), I have a ton of pink clothing, I use pink golf balls and I even once had my hair dyed pink...but I never used to even like the color pink until I started planning my wedding and everything since then has had to be PINK! lol

2. I work as a Job Developer. My job is to find people jobs...while I totally love my job, it is not the easiest job but soooo rewarding. See, I dont find jobs for just anyone...I find jobs for youth who are at risk and have barriers securing their own employment.

3. At work I am the most organized person in the office...at home I am the messiest person I know!! I have no idea why this is...lol

4. I am about 20 lbs overweight and while it bothers me, I still think I'm beautiful. Being in my 30s has installed a lot of confidence in me and I am so very happy with who I have turned out to be. Of course, I am still doing what I can to lose that 20lbs...and I don't know if it will ever come off but I still have to try!

5. I am allergic to EVERYTHING....well almost. When I had allergy tests done the welts swelled up so much the doctors couldnt tell which welt was from what allergy lol...

6. I love reality tv...a hopeless addict one might say! I will even admit to have watched "Flavor of Love" -- rotflmbo...!

7. I have hundreds of acquaintances but few people I call real friends. I tend to be a homebody who spends a lot of time with my family and in my scrapbook room and I am content with this. The friends I do have are the best friends anyone could ask for.

8. I LOVE LOVE LOVE golf...I would never have guessed someone as impatient as myself would ever take up such a sport but I have and its awesome. I have even golfed on a pga golf course in California.

9. I do not eat healthy....I have a long list of allergies and stomach irritants and sometimes the only foods that stay in me are the ones that arent good for you! And I wonder why I cant lose 20 lbs...? hmmmm....lolol

10. I am so happy I found the internet and online scrapbook communities. Seriously, I have met some of the best gals ever on these boards and have had the pleasure of meeting some in real life too....all because we share a common hobby...who would have though 10 years ago! lol

okay enough random babbling....i gotta do the dishes...since my daughter broke her wrist I guess I am on dish duty for a while lol

xoxox

touch me and i will follow...in your afterglow...

2006-05-24T23:09:00.000-04:00

okay gotta update my blog...I am such a slacker this past month!

so highlights since may 8th...

----> i got 40 ulcers in my eyes <----------

uh yeah.
you read right.

40 ulcers from wearing my contact lenses 15 hours a day for 15 years.
the docs say i was lucky to have caught it in the early stages before permanent damage.
that is very scarey.
so i have made a decision to wear my glasses for a year and get lazik surgery next year.
i think i take for granted i have eyesight and with this scare i will never take it for granted again.

yesterday was my birthday.
another year older and i truly believe another year wiser.
i love life.
if i had to make a wish when i was blowing out my candles (if i had a cake lol) i would only wish that i was more of a patient person.
i *wish* i inherited my mothers patience.

two more sleeps.
until i am in winnipeg watching INXS from the fourth row!! *strating to hyperventilate*

I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!]

okay sorry back to regularly scheduled programming...I will have lots to say when I get back sunday night!!

needed: more hours in a day

2006-05-08T16:38:00.000-04:00

these past few weeks have been insane...i complain about "not having a life" for the longest time then all of a sudden i have such a filled daytimer i am to the point where i pencil in what times i need to sleep at...

so let's see what has happened lately...

- i am going to be published in another book...this one is a mother goose nursery rhyme book illustrated by scrapbook pages...so yes, my adorable neice will be featured in it...i think it sounds pretty cool

- curling tournament...yep i went in a curling tournment and didnt do so hot...but hey, at least i can say I TRIED *giggle* it was fun and i did end up winning a few cool prizes so i can't complain

- golfing...golf season has started so i took a try at heading out to the course...yeah its so NOT like riding a bike where you get back on and supposedly know how to ride again...nope, it took me a few holes to figure out a good grip on my club...i think if i am going to continue to take this sport seriously then i need to get the grips on my club readjusted and made smaller cuz i have such small hands

- camping...i went camping with mariahs grade six class for two nights. it was a lot of fun and i had a pretty good time with the exception of the unbelievable uncomfortable mattresses

- scrapbooking...ha...whats that? i am so behind on it lately...i need a day just to sit down and scrap and catch up

- life in general is good though no complaints with the exception that i need to get my butt back in gear to get to the gym...after my 5km run i um...have been slacking lol

xoxoxo

Run for Life...

2006-04-22T23:33:00.000-04:00

well today was the day! I ran my first 5km race! I did it in 32 minutes and I did not die...lol -in fact I felt pretty awesome when I finished! A great accomplishment that I am super proud of!

I am one step closer to reaching that half marathon goal of mine !!!

the 5km run was for "Run for Life" an organization that promotes organ donor awareness...friends of mine lost their two year old daughter a few years ago while she awaited her second heart transplant. So the run holds near and dear for our team at this run.

heres a photo taken after the race -- Mario is to the left of me...one of my bestest buds ever. It is his daughter Olivia's memory we run on behalf of. He is holding Kiishatay who isn't looking lol and my sister is to my right.

i am a little stiff in the right hip tonight will have to stretch that baby out !

tomorrow is my daughters birthday..omgosh time flies...she will be 12....
uh yeah
TWELVE
i do not feel old enough to have a 12 year old lol
shes a great kid though
has my stubborness but it will all be good in the future lol

here it is....

2006-04-16T21:17:00.000-04:00

my first page of my book of songs...
and of course I had to do Bizarre Love Triangle as it was the song that inspired my thought train on this book of songs...
anyway before you laugh at the photo...
you need to do some serious thinking first...
DID YOU HAVE SIMILAR HAIR?
lol
you know you probably did lol
and dont even try to not tell me you didnt wear black eyeliner!

i already have a good idea for my next page...stay tuned

so other than this layout I also made two for timeless inspirations using the garden line from Arctic Frog....its so pink....
just the way i like it

does that make it 6 layouts done this weekend?
i think so.

okay i have a wicked headache.
the rest of my scrappin will have to wait until tomorrow.

funky cold medina

2006-04-14T21:21:00.000-04:00

remember that song.
snicker.
it was just playing on the radio - too funny. i remember it was so cool to know the lyrics to that song back in high school ROTFL..
dorks.

anyhooo! today is day one of my four day weekend and although this day is almost over I did manage to get four pages done today!

one for BeyondPaper for a sketch I made using the awesome Paper Heart Studio Papers.
one for Scrapbokersclubhouse using very cool foofala papers...aren't those papers great??
two for 2scrappychicks using SEI papers...I even made a layout of myself...lol (see photo lol)

i was going to title it "men love me fish fear me" but that would really be making myself seem really full of myself - ROTFL

i am off to work with arctic frog papers now for Timeless Inspirations! and speaking of Timeless Inspirations I have to give a HUGE shout out to the beautiful birthday girl herself...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHELE...!

so i gotta say though i am feeling pretty lonely right now...easter weekend..my parents are on vacation with my sister, bil and neice...dan is gone goose hunting until sunday night.
mariah is sleeping at her friends house.
trent is down the street at his friends house until 10.

you would *think* i would be thrilled to have all this time alone considering i am always complaining how much the kids fight lol...but i am kinda sad about it really.

sigh.

well, what's a girl to do but scrap I guess?

bizarre love triangle

2006-04-10T14:16:00.000-04:00

get your minds out of the gutter...its a song...not my life...lol

New Order Lyrics

New Order Music Video Codes

Music Video Codes by VideoCure.com

Every time I think of you
I feel shot right through with a bolt of blue
It’s no problem of mine
But it’s a problem I find
Living a life that I can’t leave behind
But there’s no sense in telling me
The wisdom of the fool won’t set you free
But that’s the way that it goes
And it’s what nobody knows
Well every day my confusion grows
Every time I see you fallingI get down on my knees and pray
I’m waiting for that final moment
You say the words that I can’t say
I feel fine and I feel good

Don't you love video codes? Get to watch videos while at work...lol...I totally love this song.
New Order. I remember high school dances...lol...we all looked like a bunch of freakin dorks dancing. And we weren't even drunk! Thats the sad part! lol

I have been thinking and I think I am going to start a mini book of me...but a book of my fave songs...create the book with pages titled my fave songs, the lyrics, a photo of some sort and what sort of memories each song brings. like this one - big hair and high school dances lol...omg i have got some pretty funny photos of my hair....good times...lol
I have so many favorite songs from different eras. I love this idea.
I think I will start this tonight .

Conjunctivitis

2006-04-07T13:32:00.000-04:00

ugh great.
pink eye.

i know --how ironic that i am totally obsessed with the color pink but to actually have pink eyes doesn't make the color pink any funner... lol

check out that pink eye patch ----> hahaha

i am at home today which is okay. gonna get some scrappin' done - enjoy the peace and quiet before the kiddos come home at 3:15 and begin their weekend.

there are two crops going on lists that I hang out on...the funny thing is they are both called Spring Cleaning Crops...lol...guess thats the theme going on both online and in real life. we have been cleaning the house a lot getting ready for summer.

I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER

this summer i have big plans for my yard. i see a new deck...lockstone perhaps...taking down some old shrubs and planting a lot of flowers...i so want sunflowers this year...

if you want to check out the spring cleaning crops you can head over to www.beyondpaper.net and www.scrapbookersclubhouse.com

have a great weekend everyone
xoxox

Run Forrest Run...

2006-04-05T14:46:00.000-04:00

Last night was my first run OUTDOORS. I have been really good at running two miles a day at the gym. I heard stories how running outdoors is so different, how its nothing compared to on a treadmill...so I took my feet to the test. It was a bit chilly out last night - running downwind was NO PROBLEM but running back home was much harder. The crisp wind against my face and tightness of cold in my throat was anything but fun.

I made it though...I ran 1.5 miles outdoors and didn't die...lol...I didnt stop, I didnt walk...I didnt cry...hahahaha. In fact I felt pretty darn good when I got home. I kinda felt like I was a racer heading for the finish line running back home down my cul de sac.

April 22nd I will be entering my first 5km run. I hope I will be able to run the whole event. I am so proud of myself at how well I have been running and sticking to my program. My goal is to be able to do a half marathon in September. Whether I acheive that goal or not, I am pretty sure by that time rolls around I will be running a lot further and feeling better about myself.

Alas...despite my quest to stay healthier and train well...I still refuse to give up my coca cola....lol

drunk typing

2006-04-01T23:19:00.000-05:00

man the weekend is half over already *pout* today was a total write off.
i slept.
i was so tired from going out friday night.
nothing like starting drinking at 5:30 pm and coming home at 2:45 am lol - luckily i did not have a hangover but something has to be said for lack of sleep!
friday night we started at scuttlebutts. dans coworkers were celebrating year end. stayed for a while - had some singapore slings - came home...started drinking some rev coolers..
dans friend paul came over and they played video games while i talked on the phone with rhea.
shes a hoot.
love that girl!
i also left some drunk typing posts on 2SC - hilarious
then i spilled my drink - lol
we left our house and went to a shag and i won some pretty cool door prizes. met up with friends and after the shag went to the brown street station.
the sad thing is...the bar was full of 19 year olds.
this means the 19 yr olds are closer to my daughters age than mine
oh
my
gawd

scarey.

it was fun going out and dancing..havent done that in such a long time! even dan danced...thats hysterical. lol

i guess its bedtime again.
so tired.
yawn

Because I got because I got high...because I got high...

2006-03-30T19:57:00.000-05:00

Come on...like you don't know that song by Afroman...lol...It is one of those songs I used to sing after about 7 singapore slings and 3 shots of tequila rose at kareoke night at the Brown Street Station...lol...ahh good times...reminds me of my friend Solange. A large group of us would go out on kareoke night and have so much fun. Solange was in a car accident and unfortunately passed away a few years ago - afterwards our group of friends slowly went our own ways but she is never forgotten in my heart!! As Solange would say.... "Whuuuuuuut?" lol

Anyway the memory was jogged by Tammy who tagged me! So without further adue....here it goes..!

5 snacks I enjoy:

1. Cadbury Easter Cream Eggs (even with the plastic recall I still ate them I was so addicted lol)
2. green apples with caramel dip (hey the apples are HEALTHY lol)
3. Almond M&Ms
4. chocolate chip cookies
5. nachos & cheese (the best ones I *ever* had was in Hollywood on the strip at a place called
"Pig & Whistle"

5 songs to which I know all the lyrics:

1. Because I was High (obviously lol)
2. A$$hole by Denis Leary (more drunk singing lol)
3. The Bad Touch by Bloodhound Gang (see a trend here? lol)
4. Animal by Nine Inch Nails
5. Pretty Vegas by INXS

5 things I would do if I were a multi-millionaire:

1. hire a tutor/nanny and take the tutor, dan and the kids on a year long trip around the world
2. shower my friends and family with money according to how much i like them -- no equal treatment here!
3. donate money to operate youth shelters and youth programs in our city
4. change my phone number (cuz you know eeryone is gonna be calling!!!)
5. invest in some businesses

5 bad habits:

1. I am a super impatient person...I want things done YESTERDAY! chop chop!
2. I eat way too many things that arent healthy and not enough healthy foods.
3. I spend waaaay too much time on the computer!
4. I am my biggest critic
5. I might friggin swear too much sometimes!

5 things I like doing:

1. scrapbooking!
2. shopping!
3. eating!
4. travelling!
5. being with my family

5 things I would never wear, buy or get new again:

1. MC Hammer parachute pants...yeah you can't touch this -- and rightfully so who the heck would want too???
2. spadex bike shorts...oh yah baby i cant believe i thought they were cool lol
3. fringed leather jackets...no need to explain this one!
4. banana clips...remember those babies in your hair?? sweet.
5. granny boots..oh yes the headbanger is me thought i was DA BOMB BABY in these ...back in 1990~

5 favorite toys: (get your mind out of the gutter girls!!!)

1. my computer (((hugskeyboard))
2. my office sized industrial strength paper cutter - it rocks!
3. my digh definition plasma tv - once you go HD plasma you never go back!
4. my dishwasher...oh wait, those are my children...okay they can stay on the list
5. the ipod i am getting for my birthday so i look hip when working out! lol

5 people you will tag:

1. Jaklin
2. Alicia
3. Kelly
4. Christi
5. Jennifer

It ain't pretty after the show...

2006-03-27T15:04:00.000-05:00

PRETTY VEGAS (INXS)

Video Code provided by VideoCodeZone.Com

Okay so if you are a true JD Fortune/INXS junkie you would read that title and go COOL PRETTY VEGAS!!! if you aren't a fan you are thinking "Hmmmm I wonder what dirt today she is writing about" lol

Falling asleep at the wheel again baby
You’re drifting over the line, line yeah
You’re hands are tied, but you’re losing grip quickly
Fix me, could’nt you read the signs
Thumbing your way to Vegas, dirty And dreaming of the other side
Save me your tears and laughter because It doesn’t matter what you find

I am on mission to listen to my INXS "Switch" CD at the gym every morning so I can memorize all the songs for the concert on May 26th - hee hee...I am so giddy I get to see JD Fortune in concert!!! I told Dan I was so excited he just rolled his eyes and said "I'm not" lol...but he will be excited to go to Winnipeg so we can go golfing that weekend too!
Yeah so I am gonna sing my heart out at the concert and buy me a cool rock shirt...lol...I feel so 80s

*snicker*

It must be a sign...!

2006-03-24T15:15:00.000-05:00

I am one of those people who totally believes that everything happens for a reason. Like all the bad things in my life are part of my plan that created the good things...like something happens to stop me from doing something or something happens that encourages me to do something.

Today at work I thought ahhh what the heck, I am going to the LSS to buy some stuff. It's work..it's break time...I am bored...so I get in the car and at the lights I think for some odd reason I wonder if I have my bank card with me...hmmm not in my wallet...I pull over in a parking lot and sift through my purse...no bank card!! Now my first reaction was CRAP! Then my second reaction was "I guess it wasnt meant to be"...What wasnt meant to be? Was I not meant to go the LSS and spend money? Was I meant to pull over because 30 seconds later had I not, I might have gotten in a car accident?

Just one of those things I guess! I imagine my bank card is on the kitchen table at home - if its not I left it at the grocery store last night - lol...or maybe the $100 shopping spree I did online last weekend will be at my door when I get home today and therefore I really didnt need to go to the LSS did I?

Ahhhh its all part of the master plan....now...lets hope part of that plan that I come into some good cash soon - lol

The next american idol...

2006-03-22T14:51:00.000-05:00

CHRIS DAUGHTRY...

okay this blog entry doesnt need words -- his vocals and style alone speak enough to scream
I AM A ROCK STAR!
Seriously no one has signed this guy yet? Whether he wins or not (but I suspect he will win hee hee) he is definately going places! And I am so going to his concert...I haven't been this smitten with a rock star since...well...since JD Fortune...lol...of whom I might add I am going to see on May 26th in Winnipeg!! *yippeeeee* lol

Chris's Songs on American Idol to date:
March 21st -- Walk the Line
March 14th -- Higher Ground
March 8th -- Broken
March 1st -- Hemmorhage
February 22nd -- Wanted Dead of Alive

Okay so here I leave these photos for you to drool over...

FINALLY! A reason to write...

2006-03-20T18:07:00.000-05:00

...something exciting has happened worth writing about....I am going to be PUBLISHED in a scrapbooking book! Yes!!! Cantata Books has requested one of my boy layouts to be published in an upcoming book about...BOY layouts!!! I am so freakin excited...now I can say I have been published hee hee....!!!!

*doing the happy dance*

Hey I have a blog...

2006-03-16T11:44:00.000-05:00

LOL Yep forgot about this blog...okay thats not entirely true, I knew in the back of my mind I remembered I have a blog I just never found the time to get to it and post in it lol...
So what is new? Ummm not much really. Just scrapbooking and waiting for spring to make its way to the Bay. I went to Toronto a couple weeks ago. Had a lot of fun seeing The Blue Man Group and shopping...got my hair done - it looks fah-bu-lous dah-ling...lol...nice relaxing get away for four days.
I finally finally picked up my wedding photos. As expected I don't like them at all. I guess since we were supposed to get married outdoors I envisoned all these gorgeous photos with scenic fall backgrounds but nope...got caught in a rainstorm and had all our photos taken indoors at the hotel with a lovely blue/green backdrop *insert eyes rolling here* - I mean there are some nice family photos but as a scrapbooker, my photos are the most important thing to me and well...these certainly were not my dream photos. I will have to make due I guess...
Here is a page I did last night for the Design Team at www.2scrappychicks.com - I love how this turned out!!

monday monday...

2006-01-30T11:15:00.000-05:00

blah...I dont have much to say. Nothing exciting has been happening lately. Had a partylite candle party yesterday and let me tell you - oh my gosh those new scents are amazing. My two faves are the cherry blossom and passionfruit salsa. I sold Dan's snowmachine for him yesterday while he was out ice fishing...lol...he had it in the newspaper and some people came by. I told him they bought it because of my savvy persuasion and charm. Of course I am seeking commission on the sale but so far hes not biting on giving me any. LOL I need that commission for scrapbook supplies...doesnt he understand??? lol
Okay leaving you with a layout I did over the weekend. Was for a challenge at www.2scrappychicks.com -- using two monogram letters on your page. Enjoy and have a great week! xoxox

3bugsinarug

2006-01-26T14:44:00.000-05:00

Okay I just found out that 3bugsinarug is seeking Design Team Members...HELLLLOOO...I *LOVE* 3bugsinarug!! Okay so it says one altered item and two layouts...I can do that! I have never tried for a manufactuer design team before and I am sure that there are like a thousand other women trying out...but omgosh...its 3bugsinarug! I am gonna do it...!! Crossing my fingers on that!!

On another scrapbook note, I am on a mission for my sister to start scrapping more! Geesh...that girl...yes YOU I know you are reading this! lol I made her sign up for one of the boards I am a member of the DT...if I have to go over there and put a pair of scissors in her hand and make her cut paper...if thats what it takes...I'll do it. At this point, I am more likely to get her fiancee to scrapbook though....lol

Okay not much time, got a pile of paper at my desk calling my name....I leave you with this fun circle layout I did over the weekend...ahhhh...my kids actually liked each other back then. Being 10 and almost 12, they like to really get under each others skin....*shakes head*....like my sister and I ever fought...hahahaha...suddenly visions of pouring koolaid on my sisters head and her ripping my hoop earring out of eye came flooding at me....

Election Day

2006-01-23T14:40:00.000-05:00

...ahhh election day. Interestingly enough, the news is citing record numbers of people heading out to vote. And historically, record numbers mean a change in government...I am not too big on politics but I do know that if a certain party gets in today there will be a lot of changes and not good ones. There are so many programs out there that rely on funding and without a blink, they will terminate the little ones that need the money the most. It's sad. I think our leaders really need to be enculturated to what really happens to the lower income families, families who live in poor conditions or those who live on a reservation. Do the politicians think that by reading a document or getting briefed by their assistant they can actually understand how these people are living? Do they think flying in for an hour to a remote community they can really grasp the depair and poverty these people endure on a day to day, year to year and in some instances, lifetime basis?
I, for one, dont think they have any empathy. They live in posh homes, no doubt have a maid, their black polished shoes cost more than two weeks worth of groceries for a lot of homes. Politicians get training courses to learn things like "How to properly use your napkin" and I am NOT joking...my husband works for the federal government, I got the inside scoop on some of the insane training courses higher executives have to take. How about....skipping Napkin Folding 101 and going to spend a month living in a low income housing community. Good luck, I hope you don't piss your pants facing the real truth of the state of our country.

the savvy traveller...

2006-01-16T13:35:00.000-05:00

...with each season of cold uninviting winter months, I find myself always wanting to travel. I love travelling. Seeing new places, new sites, new adventures..I love it. I really do. In March I will be heading to Toronto for four days and although it is only Toronto and I have been there a few times, the notion of just getting away from here is rejuvenating and salubrious.

Over the past few years since I have had kids, here is a list of the places I have vacationed to...

~ Toronto (of course lol only once with the kids)
~ Santas Village in Bracebridge Ontario (with the kids of course)
~ Ottawa (twice, so beautiful there, love it both times took the kids)
~ Montreal (with the kiddos, fond memories of our horse & buggy driver swearing at the traffic!)
~ Winnipeg (numerous times with and without the kids, last time to take the kids to see the Black Eyed Peas in concert)
~ Wisconsin Dells (definately an awesome family vacation spot...Noahs Ark is the ultimate water park ever!!)
~ Minneapolis (a gazillion times here...with and without the kids...Mall of America rocks but stay away from ballgames...yawn!)
~ South Dakota ( family vacation...most beautiful Badlands scenery ever...loved Mount Rushmore, loved Crazy Horse even more)
~ Las Vegas (twice no kids each time, cha ching...I love Vegas lol)
~ Grand Canyon (no kids, need a much longer visit if I ever have the chance to go again and would lvoe to bring the kids)
~ Florida (family vacation... two and a half weeks of the best vacation of my life...the sun, the beach, the sand, and of course Mickey and his friends at Disneyworld!!)
~ California (honeymoon, no kids...beautiful and so much to do, definately have to go back someday to explore more!)
~ Washi Lake (family summer vacation...okay I had to add this in, fly in fishing resort in Northern Ontario, no road access, just the peaceful serene surroundings of nature)

So...where am I going this year? I'll check my bank account and get back to you later...!!

the little things...

2006-01-11T10:59:00.000-05:00

here is a list of little things that make me happy

~ camping without an infestation of mosquitos and black flys
~ being mistaken for being much younger than I actually am
~ the smell of Aqua DiGio (makes me melllllllllllllt)
~ having a clean house (rare and few days lol)
~ reality television (although it can get quite tense at times)
~ getting mail (and no not email, actual mail at the house and no not including bills lol)

here is a list of the little things that make me mad

~ brainwashing cults (can anyone say scientology???)
~ speaking of scientology no one irks me more than Tom Cruise (gag gag)
~ not being able to find my adhesive, running out of adhesive andthe cost of some adhesives (lol)
~ mosquitos, blackflies, fruitflies and houseflies
~ the good movies on the movie channel are never on on the weekends, I figure they are doing that to make you buy ppv movies

and here is a small happy moment from a family vacation...

Memoirs Of A Geisha

2006-01-05T10:27:00.000-05:00

Set in a mysterious and exotic world which still casts a potent spell today, the story begins in the years before World War II, when a Japanese child is torn from her penniless family to work as a servant in a geisha house. Despite a treacherous rival who nearly breaks her spirit, the girl blossoms into the legendary geisha Sayuri. Beautiful and accomplished, Sayuri captivates the most powerful men of her day, but is haunted by her secret love for the one man beyond her reach.

I was so anxious to see this movie because I absolutely loved the book. So Dan and I went last night. I don't think he really new how much of a chick flick this really was. lol...but I think he enjoyed it. I loved this movie, every bit of it. Very well adapted from the novel. She is *so* beautiful - Ziyi Zhang - although her name wants me to say zigzag...and well we know she really doesnt have eyes of rain. lol
I like how the movie ended...she gets her man...well at night time anyway, as you know, a geisha cant be a full wife (oooh kaaay) and they leave it at that. In the book, she moved to New York and opens a teahouse and the chairman ends up passing away.
Nobu wasnt all *that* ugly in the movie now was he? The book made it appear you couldn't even look at him without getting the dry heaves.
One of the best novel to screen movies ever....two thumbs up!!!

Happy New Year....

2006-01-04T11:22:00.000-05:00

Bad blogger...I havent been around since last year (oh yes that was sooo funny wasnt it lolol)

So yeah HAPPY NEW YEAR - not sure if anyone other than Michelle reads my blog so this may be dedicated to you Michelle ROTFL....

So new years resolutions...I dont have any but I am going to set a goal to be published this year for my scrapbooking. I have never tried but have a lot of people encouraging me soooo I am going to give it a shot and submit some of my work to be published. Wish me luck! Oh and I think Michelle is entering me into a contest lol...for people who have never submitted anything to be published. Thats pretty sweet.

Things to look forward to in 2006....Six more months until my sister and Chris get married....I just read it in their blog. LOL kidding, I know you guys told me. Hey, sis, here is a photo of us at my wedding lol...um I am going to see the Blue Man Group....crap, thats about it...reminds me I gotta book a plane ticket...!

screw the flu shot...!

2005-12-28T10:16:00.000-05:00

yanno how most holidays people gain weight? well i didnt have the pleasure or enjoyment of eating through the holidays because of the flu...it wasn't a intense case but enough so i had no appetite and i could sleep for days if the kids would let me!! anyway i think i have lost like 5 lbs this holiday season despite all the goodies around me! i thought that having good ol McDonalds yesterday would stay down but it didnt...

today i feel much better but still a bit on the achy bone side...unfortunately now mariah is at home sick. trent is with me at work today - i am only here until noon so hes having fun playing on the net....

oh and yes the title today "screw the flu shot" - i need to point out that i got a flu shot this year, first one in ohhhh 8 or 9 years....and its been 8 or 9 years since I had the flu!!! ironic????

Christmas...has left the building....

2005-12-27T00:44:00.000-05:00

...holy crap...its here and gone already....another holiday season! Here are some reasons I was thankful this Christmas..

Santa must have thought we were pretty good and brought some kick butt goodies!
My husband must have thought I was REALLY good because he bought me a weekend vacation lol...
My son was so excited waking us up at 3:15 am after hearing "a thud on the roof and jingle bells on the reindeer"
It was my cute cute cute little neice Kiishatay's first Christmas.
I get a few days off work lol

and the best reason of all...my dad looked so healthy and happy during the holidays.

For me Christmas isnt always about good memories. More Christmas' than not, my dad has been very ill...either in the hospital or on his way (last year he made it to dinner then left to go to the emergency room) - he has had heart attacks during the holidays...cripes you name it - so sometimes the holidays are a bit of anxiety wondering if my dad is going to be okay!! Ah the guy is tough as nails these days lol...it was great to see him enjoy the day.

Well another four more days left in the year...hope everyone had great holidays xoxoxo

whatever....

2005-12-22T14:07:00.000-05:00

i am back to the "I need a new career" phase...dumb little things always bug me...today no exception...sigh...last week my kids were sick and I stayed home - I'm the mom right? Well because of our stupid union rules I dont get paid for it even though I am a full time employee because in a calendar year we cant be sick more than 5 times or we dont get paid...the kicker...we get 1 1/4 days a month of sick time which equals two weeks right...do the math does it make sense? I can't help it if my kids are sick but the fact I dont get paid for it when I do have sick days piled up makes no sense at all.
I seriously have issues with the whole damn thing....and mark my words my new years resolution is to get a new job.

poker face

2005-12-19T09:53:00.000-05:00

A freind told me about www.picasa.com and since I have downloaded it, I have been playing around with it nonstop. It is so easy and fun to alter photos!!! I have been fooling around with my digital camera settings too, there are quite a few and its hard to determine what they all do! Anyway here is a fun photo I took with the digital and used picasa to lighten up and brighten the snowfall!

Six more sleeps until Santa makes his yearly appearance! I am having twenty people over for Christmas dinner this year...at least twenty...that's only twenty that are confirmed to come! lol

Oh, also it was Dan's birthday the other day. He got a poker set from Karen and Chris so on Saturday night we all put in our $5 and played Texas Hold 'Em...I didnt last too long in the game. In the end it was Dan and Trent, I think they could have played all night those two but they split the pot just after midnight. lol...Here's a photo of Trent with his poker face. I can not wait to scrap this page!!! xoxo

happy happy birthday

2005-12-14T09:42:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was Dan's birthday. Since I had to stay home with a sick kid I took the time with the help of my sister and created this huge dinner for him. Omgosh the ham was to die for...melted in your mouth *drool*...you know it was good because my dad who barely eats anything had THREE servings! Now thats a compliment! lol...We also made a hashbrown casserole - very very yummy and our vegetable dish was broccoli, mushrooms and swiss cheese in puff pastry... we have a wide variety of desserts and I think I gained a pound or two last night for sure but it was worth it. My family was over and Dan's mom came over as well...the only thing I have to complain about is my chairs...seriously, my chairs are all falling apart. LOL....I may have to check out boxing day sales for new ones.

My sister and her fiance bought Dan a Texas Poker Hold Em set....I see the losing of my money in the near future....lol...and Dan's mom got him some pampered chef stuff including the wok...that wok is just amazing....I own so much pampered chef stuff and the pans are top quality. The cooking stones are also a must have because they don't burn anything! And I would burn everything without them lol...

Tonight is Mariah's choir performance. She had a recital on Monday with Slightly Off Broadway where she takes her private lessons. She was a little nervous but sang like an angel... here is a photo of her with her singing teacher...!

thursdays thoughts...

2005-12-08T11:11:00.000-05:00

....well its one day closer to the weekend. I have a Christmas party I need to make an appearance at tomorrow night and then I hope to get some scrappin' done. We are having an online crop over at www.2scrappychicks.com where I am a design team member - come on over!! I like online crops because I dont have to pack up my stuff to leave home and I always get a lot done Not sure what else is happening this weekend. Next week Mariah has two singing concerts. One for her private lessons on Monday and then Wednesday for her Acappela Angels Choir. I'm darn proud of that girl and her singing...I can't sing a tune - I always wished I could sing but I was never blessed with that talent! Ah well, my talent is scrapbooking - I can live with that!!

the busiest time of the year...for who??

2005-12-07T15:14:00.000-05:00

People are always saying this time of year is so busy for them. I really don't understand. To me it is like any other time of the year. I am always busy, I always have plans, I always have things that need to be done. So you have to put up a tree and do some shopping...okay...well I buy new plants during the year *and* I shop all the time. I decorate my house for every changing season...I bet you it takes more time to stuff those darn leaf bags with pumpkin faces on them than it does to put up a tree and decorate it!
I do admit I have more events I have to attend. A couple Christmas parties I need to make an appearance at and my daughters choir and singing recitals. But those are just mere hours. It doesn't affect my life to the extent I am saying "Omgosh I am SOOOOOO busy" -- busy would to me mean you have so much to do you can't imagine being caught up or maybe you can't catch up. The holidays...they always catch up on us so whether we are ready or not, they arrive - same time every year. If people find themselves soooooo busy and sooooo stressed then next year....start in September. Time is very manageable...it just takes a moment for a person to stop, take a deep breath and figure out a point on where to start managing it.....
There are 18 days left before Christmas. You don't have to cram Christmas preparations in a day.

And so ends November...

2005-11-30T14:23:00.000-05:00

...tomorrow begins the first day of the last month of 2005. I am really really shocked at how fast the year went by. This time last year I was getting all excited for a trip to Las Vegas. My sister, her fiance Chris, his brother Richie and girlfriend Pauline and Dan and I all went. It was exciting because I finally got to meet my friend Michelle!! Unfortunately the weather sucked and we happened to be there at the worst rain flooding in the last 100 years of Las Vegas. lol...anyway since then I got to hang out with Michelle again in September in California with much nicer weather lol.

After our trip to Vegas, I began planning our wedding and before you know it - that was over and done with too. I am just amazed that life really does fly by a lot quicker when you are older. I wonder why that is...?

Another fast flying 25 days and Christmas will be here again. I guess I should get those cards out this weekend!

Treasures to Scrap!

2005-11-28T11:00:00.000-05:00

I just found out that I have made the design team over at Treasures to Scrap!! I am so excited because the site is outstanding...there is a ton of talent over there and I am honoured to be able to work with the design team as well as inspire the members of the site. Visit me over there and join the fun... www.treasurestoscrap.com ...!!

Here is one of my latest layouts as well! I totally love it!! xoxox

Bad Blogger...

2005-11-26T16:36:00.000-05:00

I wish it was this warm & sunny!!

...I know I havent been posting much but really there isn't much to post! Life goes on and although its not *boring* there hasn't been anything overly exciting happening either!

I have done some scrapping...hung out on some messageboards, made some new crafty friends. lol...this time of year I tend to become a hermit in my own home. It is too cold - I hate the cold - so I really don't want to go anywhere. I did however go and see Harry Potter last weekend. I am glad I went - it was so good. I think it is really cool how the actors are the same and we get to watch them actually grow up both in the movie and real life. Not like a soap opera where they start with one baby and then six months later in the soap opera the baby is *wow* 4 years old...and hey the year after they are like in grade 6 and the year after graduating high school and the year after that running their fathers cosmetic company -- LOLOL!!!! At that rate they will be in a retirement home by the time most of us turn 20.

well I am off to go scrap a page with a washer on it for a challenge...since I threw out the challenge, I guess I better go do it! lol

it's so freakin' quiet...

2005-11-08T13:52:00.000-05:00

Okay so the office I am working out of...today...there is not one other person here but me....uhhhh very very creepy. I have someone coming out to the office to meet with me later this afternoon about a project I am working on but other than that I have no company!! Very very wierd...

Anyhooo........I did some scrappin' last night. Finally got my mojo back! Made a few easy fun layouts. I realize that I have way too many photos to scrap and I really need to get out of the mode of putting *one* photo on a page. Isn't that bad? lol So I put four on last night....yes yes you can clap. lol....

Here is one of them for your viewing pleasure...omg the phone just rang and scared the living crap right out of me!! lol....

49 days before Christmas...seriously?

2005-11-07T09:58:00.000-05:00

That's insane! 49 days before the most overrated holiday of the year is upon us. This also means I am dreading the snow....lots of snow...in Thunder Bay we probably get a good 5 months of snow each year. Sigh. And there is not one outdoor sport I enjoy that involves the winter. I have never skiied, I can't skate...*grumble*

The past weekend flew right by. Why is it that weekends go by so fast? This week at work is only four days though so I am all about that!! Over the weekend, we of course went to Wired Play and played some Age of Mythology. I won the first game but everyone said it was because they didnt know what type of match we were playing...I don't care, it was a victory for me *giggle*

Saturday we went for dinner at Chicago Joe's. We have like $300 in gift certificates there so hey, free dinner. Um yeah, whatever I ate upset my stomach badly. So with the remainder of our money we are going to rent a poolside room in December and let the kids swim all weekend.
After dinner we went and seen the play "Dracula"... of course this is based on the famous Bram Stokers novel - aren't they all? Well...if you could get over the awful fake English accents (it is bad enough to have one fake English accent in a play nevermind 6 of them for two and a half hours), the over extended hands, and the nudging of my husband who fell asleep half way through...it was okay. lol The stage set was built wonderfully and the effects were pretty good. Well, again with the exception of the glow in the dark bat that flew over the audience to distract everyone while they moved the set around...yeah that was really scarey...lol...

Theater...it really is a hit or miss thing. This one...I would say, there are probably a lot more adaptations of Dracula in the theater that are better but this one was okay. I really wish they had just focused a lot more on Dracula himself other than just talking about him.

Favourite line from the movie: "He...he...he scratched himself and made himself bleed then he...he...he made me put my mouth on it...I feel so unclean"

Just because....lol....

National Deviled Egg Day

2005-11-02T14:25:00.000-05:00

Today is National Deviled Egg Day...last time I ate Deviled Eggs I got food poisoned and I missed work for three days. I don't think I will be celebrating....

Tomorrow is payday and I think I have the whole check spent before I even get it. So many things to pay off....lots of wedding stuff. Reminds me...I need to pay Dan's ring off by December 2nd.

On the good side, because of our wedding expenses, we got a few perks. One of the credit cards we used gave rewards which we exchanged for four sets of two movie passes, popcorn and two sodas. That's pretty much a whole year of movies for us. Nothing out in the theaters right now interests me though so not sure when I am going to the movies...lol

I also got in the mail today 14 $10 gift certificates for the hotel we had our wedding at. And I noted we are due for another 17 certificates to come in the mail anyday now...we have over $300 in credit at the hotel. They have a nice restaurant there so we are planning to book a poolside room in December with the kiddos and relax at the hotel while they swim and we eat and drink...lol hey everything is paid for - how cool is that.

November already...

2005-11-01T10:32:00.000-05:00

Where does the time go? Next thing ya know there is going to be snow on the ground and Christmas will be here...speaking of which, this means there is only 4 paydays before Christmas...so I am going to do a little bit for the kids each payday. Dan's birthday is also in December...but I already know what I am getting him!

Here is an interesting list of reasons to celebrate in November...have fun celebrating!

1 All Saint's Day
2 Election Day (US); All Souls' Day; National Deviled Egg Day
3 National Sandwich Day (Birthday of John Montague, creator of the sandwich); Housewife's Day
4 National Candy Day
5 Guy Fawkes Day; National Doughnut Day
6 Saxophone Day; National Nachos Day
7 National Bittersweet Chocolate With Almonds Day
8 Crystal Night (Hebrew); St. Claude's Day (patron of sculptors)
9 Berlin Wall Opening Day (Germany); Sadie Hawkins Day
10 Tulip Lantern Festival (Switzerland); National Vanilla Cupcake Day
11 Veterans Day; Remembrance Day; Eleven Eleven Eleven Day (Netherlands)
12 Birth Of The Baha'u'llah
13 World Kindness Day; National Indian Pudding Day
14 Operation Room Nurse Day; Children's Day (India)
15 Shichi-go-san, Japan; National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day
16 Button Day; National Moms and Dads Day; St. Margaret of Scotland's Day
17 Homemade Bread Day; National Baklava Day
18 Volkstrauertag (German Memorial Day)
19 National Carbonated Beverage with Caffeine Day
20 National Peanut Butter Fudge Day
21 World Hello Day; Community Day
22 National Stop the Violence Day
23 National Cashew Day
24 Womens Merrymaking Day; Children's Field Day; National Espresso Day
25 Thanksgiving Day (US); National Parfait Day
26 National Cake Day
27 Day of the Covenant (Baha'i); National Bavarian Cream Pie Day
28 National French Toast Day
29 National Chocolates Day; Square Dance Day
30 National Mousse Day; Squirrel Hunt Day

Boo!

2005-10-31T14:16:00.000-05:00

It's that spooky time of the year again! And that time of the year I send the kids out to bring me home lotsa good candy...lol...like I need it...nah, I just want it!!

Not much to update...life has been pretty quiet which is a good thing. I did some more scrapping on the weekend and made a total mess of my sb room. I need to clean and organize it again because it is really bad! I haven't bought anything scrapbook related since September when I was at Scrapfest at the Mall of America and I think a good shopping spree is in the works - and buy some more organizational stuff. I really need to figure out how to get my paper organized. That is really the biggest mess in my room. It's all over the place...here, there....the floor...ugh...its really terrible! I really want this but it's $139 American...I think I know what I am asking for Christmas! *wink*

Random thoughts...

2005-10-27T15:34:00.000-04:00

Ever have one of those mornings where yeah, you got out of bed on the wrong side and no one better mess with you? Yeah that was me this morning. I didn't sleep very good last night and I was a crab this morning....so there is me telling my kids to hurry hurry hurry get out get out or they would be late...I probably seemed a little loud - okay I know I was a little loud and not all too nice about it. WELL...don't I feel like a pile of shit when I go out to my car 10 minutes later and there written in the frost on the front of my car is the words...

I LOVE YOU MOMMY

Okay sniff sniff someone get me a friggin kleenex like right now....what? What are you looking at? Never seen a tired person with mascara smeared? Pfft...moving along...

Talking to my friend Michelle today, she has enticed me with a trip back to California in September 2006....to do a half marathon at Disneyland. I think this is the motivation I need to get my flabby butt in gear and back in shape. (Plus I get to go back to California with a mission!) So here's to running/walking 13.1 miles......

Don't worry about the ribbon & snaps...

2005-10-26T15:23:00.000-04:00

Well this past week, I have sort of gotten my groove back into scrapbooking. I had put away the tape runner and distress ink for a few months while planning the wedding. I got my honeymoon in California photos back and got in the groove to scrapbook them. This week so far I have done 11 pages in the album.

I find myself torn sometimes when scrapbooking...do I just "do it" and put my photos in the album and not worry about how many embellishments I use, if the page is worthy of being modelled in a sb magazine or if it is as good as so and so's album....? Do I sit there and agonize and ask myself what is missing from the page, how can I add in that new cute embellishment I got? Will other people like my scrapbook page?

Ughh....its not easy being a scrapbooker sometimes. So I said to myself "Self....you just need to get this album done and don't worry about all the ribbons and snaps." So that is what I did. I started scrapping. And after the 11 pages were done and I went through them all, I thought "hey, they look pretty darn good" Sure they don't all look like the elaborate pages I have been known to pour hours of work into but they aren't plain. They're good and I am happy. As Queen Martha would say "It's a good thing"

Money doesn't grow on trees...

2005-10-25T17:59:00.000-04:00

congratulations. you are the kiss my ass happy
bunny. You don't care about anyone or anything.
You must be so proud

which happy bunny are you?

Yep kiss my *$$ happy bunny...is he really happy? I dunno....I always thought I was just cute but psycho.

Today's beef...student loans. They are there to help out a poor student then years later they come back after you with a huge interest rate and always trying to increase your monthly payments....cuz I guess they figure that once you graduate you should have a 60K year job...I know I graduated 6 years ago but the loan seems like it is never ending...its definately a thorn in my side. Four more years and 48 more payments of $400 -- talk about the never ending loan. I am going to make sure my kids never get a student loan.

Oh and beef #2...Michelle...where the heck are you??? Gotta run...babysitting my cute cute little neice while my handsome yet pain in the neck at times son is jumping on my back trying to get a turn at the computer....

I am....a goddess

2005-10-24T11:33:00.000-04:00

The Goddess of Magic and Peace. You are a born
star. Always supportive and influential, you
the centre of attention and you are
exceptionally friendly. You are a classic
beauty.

Which gorgeous goddess are you?

Welcome to another Monday. I have actually accomplished quite a lot this morning and have a busy scheduled afternoon so things are definately picking up at my new job. This weekend was also pretty eventful. I painted the final wall in my living room and I absolutely love the color. Dan and I cleaned a lot and things look really neat and tidy. I think this is the point where we take bets on how long it stays clean for. Honestly, I did not get my mothers cleanliness genes! Over the weekend I also went and played Age of Mythology THREE times. I have an addiction problem! Next thing you know I am going to walk into a room full of my friends and family and they are going to be waiting to pull an Intervention on me....lol...
Ahhh well....it could be worse!

Forget about it...gosh...

2005-10-21T23:25:00.000-04:00

dance monkey boy dance!

well here it is another Friday night and I am at Wired Play AGAIN - this Age of Mythology is becoming an addiction...

some day...as Napolean Dynamite is my witness I will win.... *insert evil laugh*

All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey....

2005-10-18T20:28:00.000-04:00

...california dreamin'...!! Looking at my weather maps looks like Las Vegas is not warm at all...its wet and cold...hmph thats how it was when I was there last time....

Heres a photo of the kids and I taken at Belluz Farm this weekend... it was sunny that day!

The world vs ME

2005-10-18T12:58:00.000-04:00

It's one of those days. I am so annoyed by everything. More importantly, I am annoyed once again by the antics of my workplace. Seriously, since we got this *wonderful* union in, I have been nothing but annoyed by the decisions and actions that have occured. Let's take the highlights -- like I won't be getting three weeks holidays until I have been working here for EIGHT years. Hows that for a kick in the pants - thanks for being such a loyal employee. And today, today I found out that I am not getting paid for two days I was out sick two weeks ago. When we got home from California, I had a horrible ear infection, sore throat and inflammed jaw...I guess I should have gone to work if I wanted to get paid. In our union agreement, the 5th time in a year we call in sick we dont get paid for it. Hello? Why do I have 35 hours in sick time right now for? So because I was sick for two days I dont get paid for either. But TECHNICALLY did I not call the second day as well in sick? I am can't decide if I am more mad or more upset. Right now everyone can really kiss my you know what.
It's freakin' so cold in my new office I am going to bring mittens tomorrow. Oh and of course at lunchtime I went home and we have like NO FOOD - just the icing on my cake.. wait, I dont have any cake...cuz if I did I would FREAKIN EAT IT

AUUUUUUUUUUUUFGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Celiac Disease and other stuff...

2005-10-17T11:38:00.000-04:00

So I went to the doctors this morning and he is pretty confident that I have celiac disease...sounds nasty...disease...I am diseased....aughhhh....lol...

Here is the definition of the disease...

What is celiac disease?
Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate a protein called gluten, found in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten is found mainly in foods, but is also found in products we use every day, such as stamp and envelope adhesive, medicines, and vitamins.

You realize that this could seriously affect my bread eating...I LOVE bread....I don't know how I could live without bread...sniff sniff...to make it official I do have to go take a celiac test and it is going to cost me $167 - can you say OUCH? That bites....this was all determined this morning through my allergy testing. Yes it was no surprise that I am allergic to like everything *sigh* but here are my top five allergies....drum roll please....

Horses - yep, horses scored the highest reaction from me so I guess horseback riding at sunset on the beach is out of the question....
Wheat - see celiac allergy
Cats - total asthma causing animal
Grass - I am not allowed to cut the grass anymore *darn darn* (inside giggle)
Fresh Water Fish - all kinds apparantly

He did not test me for grapes because well...it is a rare allergy and they don't have a vial of it but when I described my symptoms he recommended I just stay away from grapes because uh yeah, I am allergic to them.

Now my back and arms are all stabbed and pricked up like I am some sort of junkie...and I am cranky and hungry...hungry for bread....

The weekend countdown....

2005-10-14T13:51:00.000-04:00

I finish work in three hours. It is my last day in my current office. I took down all the photos, artwork and candles that decorated my home away from home. Seriously, if you think about it. I spend more time in this office than I do awake time at home usually. That's terrible...so much of our lives are spent working to provide a living. I think I just created an oxy moron.

Monday I start at my new office and position. I think I will spend Monday decorating...lol..oh I forgot I have an allergy test on Monday morning -- like anyone who already knows me doesn't already know I am allergic to EVERYTHING lol

I am going to clear off my hard drive here now. So many files I have saved on here...photos...favourites....I gotta get rid of all the evidence...hahaha!

I leave you to begin the weekend with this song and thoughts about the man who made me love this song in week one of Rock Star: INXS....Originally sung by The Mamas and the Papas and rocked out by JD Fortune....

California Dreamin'

All the leaves are brown
And the sky is grey
I went for a walk
On a winter's day
I'd be safe and warm
If I was in L.A.
California dreamin'
On such a winter's day

I stopped into a church (stopped into a church)
I passed along the way (passed along the way)
You know, I got down on my knees (got down on my knees)
And I pretend to pray (I pretend to pray)
Oh, the preacher likes the cold (preacher likes the cold)
He knows I'm gonna stay (knows I'm gonna stay)
Oh, California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day

All the leaves are brown (the leaves are brown)
And the sky is grey (and the sky is grey)
I went for a walk (I went for a walk)
On a winter's day (on a winter's day)
If I didn't tell her (if I didn't tell her)
I could leave today (I could leave today)

Oh, California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day

It is best described as a monologue from the Made for TV Movie...

2005-10-13T11:38:00.000-04:00

I love Molly Shannon...she cracks me up...maybe it's because we are both

SUPAHSTARRS!!!

Mary Katherine Gallagher: The reason that I keep interrupting Jennifer would best be expressed in a monologue from the Made-For-TV movie "A House Without A Christmas", starring the Tony Award-winning Mr. Jason Robards. [ begins monologue ] "Oh, Daddy! Oh, Daddy! Daddy, I want a Christmas tree in this house! A big, tall, green, beautiful juniper. And we would have one, Daddy, if you weren't so grumpy all the time. And we would have.. and we would have.. we would have presents, and.. and.. and.. and we would have egg nog with cinnamon and nutmeg and Christmas songs. Oh, Daddy! I want to sing! I want to sing! Do you hear that? Do you hear that?"

Mary Katherine Gallagher: Well, my feelings would be best expressed in a monologue, from the made-for-TV movie "Long Island Lolita: The Amy Fisher Story". And in this monologue, I will be playing the victimized, yet resilient, Mary Jo Buttafuaco. [ poises herself ] "You think that I'm afraid of you, little Amy Fisher? Is that what you think? Huh? Huh? You think I'm just like a little housewife or something, is that what you think? Huh? Huh? Well, you take a good, long look, 'cause you just stepped into Hell, baby! I dare you to step onto this porch again, because if you do, I'll kick your little slutty ass across this town, youwhore! Go ahead, shoot me in the head again, I dare you! I dare you! 'Cause if I spot your fat little pink face on my property again, I swear to God I'll take my two bare hands and I'll kill ya'! I'll kill ya'! I'll kill ya'! I'll kill ya'! [ jumps back and crashes into the stalls, knocking all three down flat, sewer water squirting everywhere ]

Mary Katherine Gallagher: Actually, Father, I also do gymnastics! [ jumps in the air ] Back flip! [ jumps in the air ] Back flip! [ jumps in the air ] Back flip! [ jumps in the air ] Back flip! [ crashes into a stack of folding chairs and collapses to the ground ]Father: [ angry ] Stop it! Stop it! Control yourself, for God's sake, woman! Control yourself!Mary Katherine Gallagher: [ standing up ] I'm under control..

Change is good donkey...

2005-10-12T14:31:00.000-04:00

Famous words of an...ogre....wait, I'm not a donkey....oh never mind!

The point of my message is that on Monday I begin working taking over a new position at work. This position needs a LOT of help and of course, I am the person to tackle it...of course *insert rolling eyes*....I guess it will be a huge undertaking and I am sure I can make the program roll again. Just have to dust off the dial up computer out there and put up a few photos and make it home. It's just a temporary position -- I hope it only lasts a couple months. I will be working outside of my office and into a satallite office where there will be no one but ME - I kinda like that! One good thing is that Dan's office is just around the corner so we will be able to carpool and take lunches together....awwww now isn't that sweet?

Yesterday was interesting, had three young kids - probably in grade 8 - hanging out in our back lane. They were really cool and I say that in the most sarcastic way....they were sitting on the neighbours shed and smoking...smoking definately made them look 14 instead of 13

....the kicker was when they decided to urinate on our fence and spit on it. I went out there three times and told them to politely leave but they were quite cocky and found it amusing to act like tough macho kids around me...now that part is kind of freaky. When I was 13 and an adult told me to do anything or better yet to stop doing something, you better believe I stopped. My kiddos were around and they thought nothing about those kids was cool. Mariah had a friend over who goes to a different school so I asked her friend if she knew who the boys were. Luckily she knew two of them so I went back outside and said "Hey Derrick and Bradley, I know who you are so if anything happens to my fence you better believe you will be the first people I look up" They then I think told me to F Off....so I called the cops. Of course the issue is a non-emergency nuisance call so the police took their sweet ass time finishing their donuts and coffee before coming over. The boys were long gone by then. Dan came home from golfing and wished he had been there - of course he had all sorts of scenerios running through his head how he would have confronted the situation....men!!

As the world turns...yawn.....is it 5:00 yet?? gosh....

Phrases to live by....

2005-10-11T14:38:00.000-04:00

Ahhh these were just too funny not to share....!!

Jingle Bells Jingle Bells...Buy me a drink...

2005-10-11T12:33:00.000-04:00

Meet the World's Greatest Wine-0..ha ha...I was looking through our honeymoon photos and thought I would share this one. We were at Venice Beach, California. The culture there is very different. There were a lot of panhandlers but instead of just asking for money it was like they all had a gimmick of sorts!
We came across this strappin' young lad singing

"Jingle Bells Jingle Bells Buy me a drink...buy me a drink cuz I like to drink..."

And I tell ya...it was funny. There was no stopping me adding a dollar to his cup just so I could take his photo for the scrapbook! Later on that day as I was looking through the digital camera of all the photos I had taken, I zoomed in and asked Dan to look at what I was seeing. Was this "bum" wearing brand new Nike Air shoes? And hmmmm his jeans really aren't torn and ratty are they? Nah, they look pretty new...and that Lakers tank can't really be cheap now can it?

That is when I decided panhandling must pay well! Either that or he was a rich eccentric old man who had nothing better to do than hang out at Venice Beach all day!

Well that brings us to Tuesday. We had a long weekend due to Thanksgiving here in Canada. Glad to have a short work week ahead! Oh hey, I forgot to mention that yesterday I went to the gym - my personal trainer was there and wondered what had happened to me. LOL...I still have like 6 more sessions paid with her. I told her I was going to do a couple weeks of cardio and then her and I would get together to implement the weight training to it. I seen on the new fall gym schedule that they offer belly dancing classes - I might have to check those out and I still really want to try aqua-aerobics.

Okay enough mindless babble...I gotta start working!!!

Two more minutes and I would have conquered the world!!

2005-10-08T21:36:00.000-04:00

The last boy left today at 6:00...overall the party went well. The boys were in bed and sleeping by 12:30 last night which is a lot earlier than I thought they would be awake until. I am so glad they proved me wrong!

The party today at Wired Play was a lot of fun. While the boys played computer games and Dance Dance Revolution, the adults (Dan, Karen, Chris and myself) played Age of Mythology on the computer. I really like that game. Unfortunately you can only get it for a PC and unfortunately my PC is a pile of crap so I won’t be buying it anytime soon. I was so close to conquering the world...lol...I had two minutes left to win because I had built a Wonder Spot but Chris would not give up his undefeated title. He came and slaughtered my poor army and the city I had built!! I’ll get you next time...*insert witch cackle*

Anyhooo....other than that, I think I am pretty tired which makes me a bit irritable and cranky. Yesterday when I left work - like literally one minute before leaving the building, I read something that sort of ticked me off and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. That is such a downfall of mine...I over think things all the time too much and it’s hard for me to just get over it and move on. I read a quote once that I really need to take to heart ~

MAKE YOUR PEACE WITH ALL THAT YOU CAN’T EVER KNOW - AND LET GO.

Or in more simpler terms as Napolean Dynamite would say :
"Forget about it - Gosh!"

My hair...I made a hair appointment because I really thought I was just going to chop it all off. I think I was just having a really bad hair day. My sister thinks I should keep growing it and deep down, I think I know Dan likes my hair longer too. I am going to call and cancel it and see if I can hang on a little longer to my locks.

Oh and the gym...I have made a conscious decision to go back to the gym. Yep, we’ll see how that goes...I’ll keep you posted lol....

TGIF

2005-10-07T17:39:00.000-04:00

Well here it is Friday. I am work but strangely enough I am TOTALLY caught up and at 2:30 in the afternoon there is not much sense in calling my clients for updates before the weekend. So that leads me to....the internet.
Lately, I haven't found much to keep my interest on the net so I thought I would venture out in to something new...a blog. Mixed feelings about this...do I really want people reading all about me? Ha ha...of course, being the attention whore that I am!

Speaking of attention whore...I had the most wonderful day on September 24th. I got married!! Dan and I finally did it after eight years. It was such a wonderful day (the day itself not the weather ugh!) We had 124 guests and it was just a magical day.

After the wedding, we went on our honeymoon to California! Yeah baby - California Dreamin'! I had such a great time. We hung out a lot with our friends Michelle and Dale. They were awesome and I miss Michelle already. Why do we have to live like 3000 miles apart? Gosh! (that was my Napolean Dynamite impersonation!) Oh well, there is always Vegas...

So this weekend is Trent's birthday. I will have a house of boys sleeping over tonight. (Must make mental reminder to find the valium.) Pizza on the menu for dinner and then admist the sea of boys I plan to attack my scrapbook room. Now when I say attack, I don't mean like attack my work and scrapbook - I am just not ready for that yet! I have to clean and reorganize. Get familiar with all my stuff again...it has been a long time since I scrapbooked and while I do miss it, I did notice an increase in my real life social life..lol

Well, it's break time at work...ha ha...I think I am going to go shopping.