April 6, 2012 - Easter is coming

Well today is Good Friday - Easter weekend is here. And that means, soon there will be a house full of chocolate =D / =(

The kids are so excited to have a few days off together. HoneyPie loves it when she can be home with all of us; she misses being able to stay home, not that she is in grade 1.

This weekend is going to be a busy one - This afternoon, DH is dropping me off at a friend's house, and 8 of us are heading to Niagara Falls for the night to celebrate our good friend's upcoming wedding. (Will blog more about that tomorrow) I'll be home sometime tomorrow afternoon and then we will have dinner at my parents to celebrate Easter. Easter Sunday may be a lazy day - nothing planned until Monday when we have dinner at DH's parents - although he will be at the Toronto Blue Jays home opener instead ;)

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend with their families!!!!
xo

April 5, 2012 - 5 THINGS

THAT SCARE ME:

1) Scary Movies

Horror flicks terrify me...that doesn't mean that I don't subject myself to the terror. For example, DH and I went to see Paranormal Activity on Hallowe'en Day 2009 - and why the heck did we choose to go see it on HALLOWE'EN???? This one was SCAAAARY! But, #2 was way worse....I rarely see a horror movie IN a theatre. I'd rather sit on the comfort of my own couch where I can wrap my face in a blanket...and cuddle up with my honey. And I'm so glad we chose not to see Paranormal Activity 2 in the theatre...DH and I are perfect horror movie dates....we are scared/startled easily - and enjoy cuddling and hiding from the movie together.

2) Driving in snowy & icy conditions

I am a very nervous driver in snowy and icy conditions. I feel that now that I have children, my fear of winter driving has increased. I need to keep my children safe - and its not that I don't trust my own driving, it's that of the jerk offs who don't drive accordingly to the weather. Many years ago, DH and I spun out on the highway while coming home from Niagara Falls. We hit a patch of black ice, and spun 4-5 times and landed up on the median. Thank heavens there was no traffic. The car was fine - the tow truck driver was able to push us back down and we were able to drive back home. I also did a 180 when I hit a patch of ice heading to work...I ended up facing a car behind me - the lady was so nice and mouthed "ARE YOU OK?" and backed up to let me turn around - it terrified me. So now, I drive very carefully and keep my children's safety in mind at all times.

3) Ferris Wheels

Oh gosh, I will never go on a large ferris wheel!!! I don't know what it is about them that terrifies me. It may be the height, it may be the fact that they don't look all that safe to me...I hate the look of them. I will go on the pumpkin ferris wheel at Canada's Wonderland with the kids - it is quite small and looks very sturdy ;) AND, because HoneyPie really wanted to go on it. I can't put my fears onto her, so I put my brave face on and rode the ferris wheel with her =S We had a great time...but man, I don't know what I will say when she asks me to go on a large ferris wheel...ugh, I'm cringing just at the thought.

4) Noises in the Night


It never fails, the nights that DH is away and I am alone with the kids, I am kept awake all night by strange noises - - Creaks, thumps, bangs. One night DH was away and all of a sudden his iTunes came on blaring Adele - no idea why, but it scared the hell out of me. I always keep the phone handy in case I need to call 911 LOL Just a big scaredy cat, I guess.




5) Public Speaking

I have a mild case of "glossophohbia" - a fear of public speaking. While speaking in front of others doesn't leave me in a state of physical distress or panic, it does leave me anxious and very nervous. I hated doing presentations in school - the feeling of everyone staring at me would make me nervous for days before a big presentation. Once, in OAC English, I had to do a 30minute presentation on Canada's most influential women...I was terrified. So I set up my video camera in my room, taped my presentation, sent it in with my boyfriend (DH) along with a note saying I was getting my wisdom teeth out (they had already been out for a year LOL) and I stayed home. It was so terrible of me but I had worked myself up so much that I was dreading going to school for that presentation. Needless to say, I got half the mark that I should've because I wasn't actually presenting and able to answer questions, etc. Oh well ;) I was also so nervous about public speaking that I didn't even speak at our wedding (which I really regret). I did speak at my brother in law's wedding and felt good about it - so I think as I am getting older my fear is subsiding a little. But I still have a LONG way to go.

April 4, 2012 - My New Fave App

Has everyone tried DRAWSOMETHING??? It is my new favourite app for my iPhone. It has exploded onto the scene - fifty days after it's release it had been downloaded 50 million times....and I can see why - it is amazing! So much fun.

DrawSomething is a mobile app developed by OMGPOP. In the game, two players alternate turns between drawing a picture for the other to guess. Just like Pictionary. The person drawing chooses one of three "guess words" to draw. Each player earns one to three coins if the drawing is guessed correctly, which build up to eventually allow the player to purchase more shades of color for drawing or "bombs", which can be used to eliminate letters not part of the answer or to exchange their list of words for new ones.

After the drawer has finished drawing, the guesser will view an instant replay of the drawing, minus hesitation and delays. The guesser is given a number of blank spaces and scrambled letters to type the guess word

It is such a fun game - I have games going with quite a few people and look forward to seeing my friends and family's artistic skills.

To check out some pretty amazing drawings done of this app, visit: Best of DrawSomething Some of the drawings posted are phenomenal - wondering if they have some sort of stylus pen. Man, I need to get one of those ;)

If you haven't checked out this app, download it - it's definitely worth the 99Cents!!!!!

April 3, 2012 - Tea

I've never been interested in drinking hot drinks. I do not care for coffee, although I do love the smell of it....I have never really enjoyed tea - perhaps I just haven't found the right one, or the right formula of added milk or sugar...or as my Mom has said in the past "I'm just not grown up enough for it yet" (same goes for wine LOL)

Tea has seemed, in the last little while, to explode with popularity....with new tea shops opening around us - such as Teaopia and David's Tea , I thought I would give ea drinking a shot.

My good friend, Erin, has started a Tea Blog called Erin's Tea. It is a fantastic video blog that she started not too long ago and has already over 3,400 likes on Facebook. It is a fantastic blog where she reviews an assortment of teas as well as talks about different brewing techniques and even yummy snacks that accentuate the tea drinking process. Just a shameless plug for a dear friend ;)

Anyway - all this talk of teas got me thinking today while I was at Fortinos doing my weekly shop...
I decided to buy a box of tea bags. Now, I didn't go somewhere fancy for my teas...just my local grocery store but they did have a huge selection of tea. I decided on a President's Choice one as I didn't want to spend a bunch in case I didn't like it. After the kids went to bed, I got out my kettle and boiled some water and thought I'd try some. I had purchased "Feeling Calm - Chamomile Citrus" as I haven't been sleeping great and I'd heard that Chamomile is a relaxing tea that may help you sleep better.

I wasn't sure if I should add anything to it...so, I drank it as is. I even got out one of my fancy Royal Bone China mugs that my Opoe bought me years ago. Thought I'd better drink my first cup of tea out of something other than a plain coffee mug I use only for guests ;) I must say, it was pretty good. Not very sweet, couldn't taste the citrus at all - but it did have a nice flavour. I am off to bed shortly, so we'll see what sort of sleep qualities is possesses ;)

I looked up the benefits to Chamomile Tea, just wondering if there were any - (next I may try Green Tea, as I hear it helps in weight loss ha!)
This is what I found:
Better SleepChamomile tea's most well-known benefit is as a sleep aid. It is known for its relaxing and soothing properties and is often taken before bed to promote restful sleep. Could definitely benefit from this one!

Stomach Soother Peter Rabbit's mother was right to give him chamomile after he ate too much in Mr. McGregor's vegetable garden. Chamomile is helpful for a variety of stomach problems. It soothes stomach aches, eases the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, promotes elimination, and assists in overall digestion. It is often found in teas for digestion in combination with peppermint.

Menstrual CrampsThe ancient Egyptians used it to soothe menstrual cramps and now science is catching up. One study found that drinking chamomile tea raised urine levels of glycine, a compound that calms muscle spasms. Researchers believe this is why chamomile tea helps menstrual cramps.

Cold Fighter Chamomile has immune boosting properties and helps in the fight against colds due to its antibacterial properties.

Wound Healing The Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks used chamomile flowers in a poultice and applied them to wounds to speed healing. They must've been on to something. In one study, rats given chamomile extract in their water experienced faster wound healing times.

Diabetes Management Chamomile tea is being studied for its beneficial effects in the management of diabetes. In one study, daily consumption of chamomile tea was found to prevent the progression of diabetic complications and hyperglycaemia.

Cancer In-vitro studies show possible protection against several different types of cancer cells.

But also found these Precautions
Some people have serious allergic reactions (including anaphylaxis) to chamomile. If you are allergic to other plants in the same family such as daisy, ragweed, aster, chrysanthemum, or marigold you should use caution when using chamomile. I do seem to have an increase in hellish allergy symptoms when ragweed is high, although I did not test positive for the allergy when I had my test at 10yo....I did not notice any sort of reaction to drink this tea...thank goodness!

So, I think I will continue to try some different teas - maybe even venture into a tea shop for some fun new flavours. I certainly enjoyed my warm drink before bed...and can imagine myself liking something warm in the morning, as well. So - we'll see...wish me luck on my new adventure ;)

April 2, 2012 - The Hunger Games

This past week I blazed through a book that has been getting some major hype as of late. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins was first published in 2008 and I truly wish I would've heard about it before the movie trailers were released.

This book was amazing. Here is an excerpt from Google Books:
A chilling tale of survival from the New York Times bestselling author. In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the other districts in line by forcing them to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the-death on live TV. One boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and sixteen are selected by lottery to play. The winner brings riches and favor tohis or her district. But that is nothing compared to what the Capitol wins: one more year of fearful compliance with its rule. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her impoverished district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before - and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. Acclaimed writer Suzanne Collins, author of the New York Times bestselling Underland Chronicles, delivers equal parts suspense and philosophy, adventure and romance, in this stunning novel set in a future with unsettling parallels to our present.

The Hunger Games was addictive; I could not put this book down. I read every spare moment I had - and with 2 children plus a daycare business, there isn't a ton of time during the day to read. But like I said above, I BLAZED through this book - this novel has been an overwhelming success and now it shows with how well the movie has done over the last two weekends. DH and I are dying to see the movie - hopefully in the next week or so we can arrange to go - as I hear it as great...but of course, not as good as the book.

I am already looking forward to reading the second book in the trilogy "Catching Fire", but want to wait until we have seen the movie...I kind of feel like the two of us are the only ones who haven't seen it yet! ha!
If you haven't read this book - definitely RUN out and grab it. We got the trilogy in hardcover for $35 at Costco. Great price for hard covers....ENJOY!

April 1, 2012 - Newest Addiction

Years ago, I was on a popular social networking site called MYSPACE...soon FACEBOOK was introduced and I received invites which I declined saying I didn't want another site that I would be addicted to. I caved soon after and didn't realize the time I would spend lurking people's walls and photo albums, updating my own page and statuses...just wasting time, when I could be doing other things. And then came....
In case you have not been introduced to this amazing site - "It is a pinboard-style social photo sharing website that allows users to create and manage theme-based image collections such as events, interests, hobbies and more. Users can browse other pinboards for inspiration, 're-pin' images to their own collections and or 'like' photos" Wikepedia

I have spent countless hours browsing the different categories creating my own boards of things I like - Such as clothing, recipes, crafts, and home decor ideas. I have found some wonderful new recipes and have created some neat craft items - such as the birthday wreath and ceramic tile coaster I blogged about previously. I also use it as a piece of motivation - to dream big and to work a little harder.

Yes, I admit, I've been swept up by the hype of Pinterest, but it is a really amazing site. I can search for a certain topic and have hundreds of items show up with the website where I can find more information about that recipe or fashion item, etc.


If you haven't had a chance to check out Pinterest and would like an invite - let me know and I'll send you one. Believe me, you'll love it!

April Challenge

Hi Friends!
I have not been very good at keeping my blog up to date. I keep saying that I will get back to it - and then I struggle with what to write about.

I've decided to present myself with a challenge - - blog every day for the month of April. Starting tomorrow, I will write a post each day for the month. Keep checking back for hopefully daily updates.

DIY: Birthday Wreath

While searching through my new favourite site Pinterest, I came across the neatest birthday wreath. It sounded really simple and I really wanted to do something special for us on our birthdays. So - I thought I'd give it a try.



Here are the supplies you will need.

** 16" styrofoam wreath
** floral pins
** balloons (I used 480)
** ribbon. (2 spools for sure!)



I found the ribbon and wreath at Michaels for $14.99 but 40% with my coupon. The floral pins I found at WalMart for $1.77 for 100 (Michael's had them for $3.44 for 50)...Balloons were from the dollar store. The ribbon is to wrap the styrofoam wreath - the one I bought seemed to shed bits of styrofoam all over the place so I'm glad I bought it...BUT, the spool I purchased only covered half the wreath and I was in such a rush to get it done that I found bits and pieces of other ribbons to finish it off....not thinking that it would look terrible from the back - through the door. But oh well....

The wreath was the easiest craft I've ever done. So, first off I wrapped the wreath with ribbon and then got started on the balloons. All I did was take two balloons, lined them up top to bottom and put them through the floral pin, being careful not to puncture the balloon. I then stuck the floral pin through the wreath...over and over. It was so easy...the kids were even able to help me do it. They loved being part of our new family birthday wreath.

I added some curly ribbon and a little birthday banner and voila! I LOVE IT! It's so bright and cheery and a fun way to celebrate our birthdays! Here is the finished product:



UPDATE: I couldn't stand looking at the mismatched ribbon through the door once it was hanging, so off I went first thing this morning, Buddaroo's 4th birthday, back to Michaels to get another spool of ribbon. I took all the balloons and ribbon off, unwound the awful ribbon, added the pretty red ribbon, put the balloons and ribbon back on and am SO very happy with it now! It looked beautiful on the door and I received many great compliments on it. Buddaroo LOVED having his picture taken with it this morning =D

DIY: Coasters

For teacher's Christmas presents this year, I decided to do something crafty as I had 4 teachers to buy for this year. I had seen
this craft on Pinterest, and thought I would try and make these beautiful handmade coasters.



Supplies you will need:
** 4x4 ceramic bathroom tile - I found these at Home Depot - very inexpensive, 31cents each.
** Mod Podge
** Acrylic Sealer - these were a bit more than I thought but for the amount you'll use, it'll last forever.
** Sponge brush
** Scrapbook paper, any print - I used Christmasy paper ;)
** Thin cork board - I found this at Michaels - was the most costly of all my items.

I didn't take many pictures while I was making them, but it really is an easy craft the steps will be pretty self explanatory.

STEP 1:
Take your tile and brush on the mod podge - cover the entire tile with the glue.
STEP 2:
Place your pre-cut scrapbook paper onto the tile (I cut mine into 3 3/4" squares to leave a little bit of a tile border
STEP 3:
Brush another coat of mod podge over the entire tile/paper surface and allow to dry
STEP 4:
In a well ventilated area, spray a layer of acrylic sealer over the top of the tile/coaster. This will provide a shiny finish as well as make the coaster water proof for any spills or condensation from drinks, etc.
STEP 5:
When the coasters are dry, hot glue a 4" square of thin cork onto the bottom of the tile - to prevent any scratches on your furniture. I had read that you could also use felt for this, but I found it too hard to cut, so I stuck with the cork.

I made 6 sets of 4 coasters - 4 for the teachers and 1 set for each of our parents for Christmas. Everyone loved them - and it was nice to give something that was handmade with love.

Christmas 2011

This was such a wonderful Christmas! It was so one full of excitement and love. The kids are at the perfect age to be so excited about Christmas morning and Santa's arrival. And it was also one of firsts:

*It was the first Christmas that we got to see our beautiful 6 year old girl perform in the school Christmas concert. HoneyPie was part of the grade 1/2 choir this year and they were a part of a well-put together rendition of the Christmas Carol. They sang about 5 songs and there were a few that brought me to tears. "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "I Wish for Peace" I could've been a blubbering mess seeing my little sweetie up on the stage, but I held it together well. We were so proud of her.

*It was the first Christmas that we got to see our handsome 3.5 year old boy perform in his preschool Christmas concert. It was adorable. They sang songs and acted out some little songs - Buddaroo's was "Five Little Snowman Fat (each had a funny hat...out came the sun and melted one...what a sad thing was that...down, down down, down) He did a great job. I am unable to post a picture of him at the concert as per the privacy policy of the preschool - but here is him just before we left for school. Unbelievably handsome!


*It was the first Christmas that we got to spend with our beautiful niece and cousin. AJB. Tim's brother and his wife welcomed their first baby, August 30th, 2011. Becoming an Auntie for the first time has been so very special. I love that little pumpkin so very much. And so do her cousins. It was so special to have AJB celebrate Christmas with us this year - she was our most special gift of all this Christmas.

And, it was the first Christmas that we spent with friends ice skating. Good friends of ours rent some ice for an hour on Boxing Day and invite friends and family for a fun skate. This was the very first time for Buddaroo on skates, the second for HoneyPie. She did pretty well...He wasn't so sure at first, and sat off with me for a while - but eventually wanted to try again and off he went. So proud of them. We have them signed up for skating lessons in January - they are so excited to learn to skate.

It was an amazing Christmas holiday. Christmas Eve here with DH's family...Christmas Day lunch at DH's parents, dinner her with my parents...Boxing Day with my Mom's side of the family....and lots of fun with the kids. We have both taken the full 2 weeks that the kids are off from school - so we are spending it spending quality time with each other. I am so very blessed to have such an amazing husband and 2 wonderful children to share this special holiday with.

Christmas Eve, 2011