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

The Month of the Mustache

Well, it is November again...which means it is the Month of the Mustache...the dreaded MOVEMBER

If you've been hiding under a rock and have missed the thousands of men sporting these hideous 'staches this is what Movember is all about:

From www.movember.ca: During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in Canada and around the world. With their “Mo’s”, these men raise vital funds and awareness for men's health, specifically prostate cancer.
On Movember 1st, guys register at Movember.com with a clean-shaven face. For the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.


Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November. Through their actions and words, they raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health.

At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas celebrate their gallantry and valor by either throwing their own Movember party or attending one of the infamous Gala Partés held around the world by Movember, for Movember.

2011 was the second year that my darling husband participated in this ugly yet very important fundraiser. I was so very proud of T last year - he organized a group of men at his office who raised over $10,000 through donations on their Mo-Space Pages, through raffles and a huge poker tournament with some awesome donated prizes.

Although I razz him 'very often' about his 'stache and remind him daily how more I like his beard....I am so very proud that he is taking part in this wonderful movement and raising money for such an important cause. Way to go, honey!!!!!

Starting Fresh

Hi Everyone,
I know it has been a really long time since I really blogged anything significant, but I wanted to share a new blogging adventure that I have started. In no way will it replace this one, as this is dedicated to the everyday life of this Mama.
Mama to 2 Little Monkeys Weighs In is going to follow my journey to get back on track and lose the weight I've put on since my last weight post...as well as the last little bit to get me to goal. I hope you'll join me over there, as well.
Thanks,
Hollie

♥

You are my soul mate,
my sweetheart,
you are my dream come true,
from now until the end of time,
I give my heart and soul to you.

SMILE?

Found this today on Caprice Crane's twitter:

When people tell you to "smile" they obviously don't realize they're making whatever it is 100% worse.

Definitely true!

♥ MY NANA ♥

Me, Jenn, Nana Christmas 2000 (I think)
Thelma Francis Whitworth b. December 22, 1920 d. July 23, 2002

9 years ago tomorrow, my wonderful Nana passed away. It was a very hard loss for my family as we all loved her so much - and she loved us all immensely. She passed away 53 days before my wedding...I was devastated. She was looking forward to all the celebrations - she loved Tim and was so happy that we were getting married. We lit a candle at our wedding to remember our grandparents who had left us (DH lost his paternal grandmother 9 days before our wedding, another sad loss so close to our wedding).

My Nana was wonderful. I loved being with her. Sleepovers at her apartment, making air popped popcorn and sitting on her balcony chatting away. She loved baseball, specifically the Blue Jays and any sports any of her grandchildren played. She was our biggest fan. She came with us a few years to our cottage - I remember so many fun outings - Funny Farm, Magnetawan, Lake Nippising and the Dionne Quints museum. Any time spent with her was special!

In 2008, on her birthday, two very scary things happened to our family. Around 530pm, I was at the door with one my daycare parents, when we heard a loud bang...Buddaroo had wriggled past our makeshift gate and rolled right down the stairs. He was 9.5 months old. He was fine, but I wasn't...I couldn't believe I had let that happen. Later that night, we headed to our Monday night bowling league. DH had had a couple beers so I drove home...As I was approaching a red light, I slid through the intersection after hitting a patch of ice. There was a ton of oncoming traffic...THANKFULLY, the lady approaching swerved ended up missing us. I was so upset. I cried for hours once we were home. I could've killed our family...and Buddaroo could've been badly hurt or worse by falling down the stairs...and then it hit me...It was Nana's birthday. She was our Guardian Angel! She saved Buddaroo and saved us all that night. People may think I'm silly for believing that...but...I don't care....

My Nana always used to pick up pennies she found on the street/sidewalks...my Mom now picks them up and believes that she is leaving them for her, to let her know she is still with her.
Last Saturday, my Mom's birthday, I went with my parents and sister to a show at the Casino in Niagara Falls. A great time until we almost got into a massive accident. A guy 2 cars ahead of us, slammed on his brakes to look at something - the guy ahead of us swerved to the right and we swerved to the left - thankfully there was enough shoulder for us to get over. We were all pretty shaken up - I said that my Dad has reflexes like a cheetah! Well...the next morning...what does my Dad find at the bottom of the car by the pedals...2 PENNIES! He swears that they were not there the day before...They recently got a new vehicle and it is still pretty tidy...so I think he would've noticed if there were pennies down there. My mom is convinced that she saved us all that night...and to be honest, I do, too. It's all just a bit too much not to believe it, don't you think? She is our Guardian Angel!

I think of her so often but tomorrow I will remember all the wonderful times we had together and thank her for being such an amazing Nana...for making my Mom the person that she is, I am so lucky to have her. And I am so lucky to have had 23 years with the most wonderful grandmother I could've ever asked for. I loved her with all of my heart...and even though the pain of her absence has gotten easier over the years...I still miss her immensely!





♥ YOU ARE MY MOST FAVOURITE MEMORY!!!! ♥

Hugh Jackman...in concert?

Last night, we had the opportunity to see Hugh Jackman in concert. He is performing a one-man show at The Princess of Wales theatre. DH's coworker had a bunch of tickets, so we joined 3 couples to see the show. Now, I must admit I was a bit skeptical when I received the e-mail asking if I wanted to go. Because, I'm sure like most of you...I only picture Hugh Jackman like this....



But, I was so pleasantly surprised by the show. Hugh Jackman was AMAZING. It is so wrong that this man can be so good looking and charming, and also be able to sing and dance and act with such skill.

The show was quite simple...Hugh, a 18 piece band, back up singers, a few projection screens showing some pictures and videos and lots of charm!

But what makes Jackman and his show so amazing is one word: TALENT! Man, he can sing. He ranged from songs by Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire to those by Peter Allen....he even entertained us with some hip thrusts and grinding while singing "Shake your booty" Performing songs ranging from classic to contemporary, he proved to have not only the voice, but the moves.

One of my favorite numbers was where Jackman rattled off Music Man‘s opening scene, I remember watching the movie with my Mom and loved the music...Hugh performed the song playing the part of ALL eight salesmen accompanied by the band’s drummer tapping out a quickening beat of a train rolling down the tracks. Jackman went through a solid two minutes of the opening number performing with a sense of humour and accuracy. It was a riot, as his back up singer Merle suggested he try a 2011 feel to it...it evolved from the class Music Man to the "Harold Mother-Effin' Hill, the music man" It was hilarious.

His show at the Princess of Wales in only on until July 17th, but if you can get there in the next couple days...definitely do it. It is 100 minutes of pure entertainment provided by an Australian hunk that is very easy on the eyes. ;)
An absolutely amazing night out with my hubby.

Wild Rose Herbal Detox - Day Twelve

Well, today was sort of a bust - I was good through the morning and lunch time - but then came the tour at the StoneyRidge winery - I had a bit of wine, some snacks and then later had dinner out with my parents, sister and another couple. Had a burger and fries - I'd been craving something junky - and I had it. Ugh, it was yummy but I definitely didn't feel great later on.
I'm going to try and eat healthier - but I don't think I will be able omit food groups like they suggest (i.e. carbs, dairy, sugar).

DH had an easier time of this detox - and was able to lose 8.5lbs. I only ended up losing 2. Which for me, isn't a good enough incentive to do this again. I really don't know. DH thinks he will do this twice a year...I'm not sure how I feel.
To be honest, I'm so glad we are:

Wild Rose Herbal Detox - Day Eleven

So...yesterday evening, I decided I was going to take the kids to the zoo today. There really wasn't a lot of time to plan my meals for a trip to the zoo. So, today was kind of a cheat day...
I was good in the morning and had my typical berry breakfast...I did not take my pills and such as I didn't want to be feeling off from the laxatives while wandering the zoo and not having bathrooms readily available.

We left here at about 8 and made really good time...my sister, Jenn came with us...we had a fantastic day. The kids had a ball and we loved seeing their excitement.

For lunch, my choices were Pizza Pizza or a BBQ joint...I chose pizza...and boy, was it yummy. I felt off soon after I ate, though, not sure if it was the food or the laxatives from last night...or a bit of both. But afterwards, I felt great....good enough to enjoy an ice cream...a Caramel Drumstick. They say after doing the cleanse to introduce the different food groups back into your diet one at a time...I failed that by adding "breads" and "dairy" and "sugar" Eeek!

For dinner I had chicken and a baked potato...and felt off again after dinner.

I spent the evening outside with the kids - them playing with the neighbours and us parents chatting. It was a great night. Missing DH, though.

Going to try my best to stay on track today - am going on a winery tour with my parents and sister and for dinner afterwards.

1 more day to go!