To Blog or Not to Blog.........

       I love to blog....no doubt about it!! I also love to read and look at other peoples blogs as well!! It's almost comforting at times to see that some of us are going through some of the same kinds of things, that we're not alone. Lately though, I've been asking myself if maybe my blog is BORING???!! I mean, I can't talk about being pregnant, or raising babies......and I really don't want to talk to much about all the heartache I've had to go through with infertility and all the other issues that my body has..so really, what does that leave?!?! What do people want to hear about? I love talking about mostly everything and anything....so should I just keep on continuing with the path that I'm on?!?!?
      I don't think I'll give it up, that's for sure! It's kinda therapeutic.....even if no one is listening or reading!! So even if I'm boring the crap outta people...so be it!!! I'm gonna stick it out...I'm gonna ramble on and on about random life things and I'm gonna keep on reading all about your lives!! So even when you think or know that no one is interested in your ramblings...keep your head up and your fingers typing because maybe, just maybe there will be that one blog that inspires someone, that grabs their attention, that evokes feelings or questions!!!!! Yep.....I'm gonna stick it out and hope that I can at least inspire one person in some small way!!!

                                                                                 

God Bless the Sports Bra!!!!

     I'm going to be starting my running clinic next Tuesday and I'm so excited!!! I really need to do this for myself! My body has had a mind of it's own for the last couple of years and it's time to take it back!!! When I signed up, I went on their website to do some reading. I came across an entire area on wearing the proper bra. Now if you're like me and the girls are rather large, you know you're gonna need something pretty dandy to strap them in...especially while running!! So off I went today in search of an amazing, magical "boulder holder"...and low and behold...I FOUND ONE!!!! This is the MOST amazing sports bra ever!!! It is soooooo comfy and has great support!!! I wanted to share this with you as I know how hard it can be sometimes to find just the right fit!!! So here it is.....the amazing bra!!!!

"Memorable Monday"

    Today is supposed to be my second Memorable Monday, but seeing as how I have to go home and fight with the tax people on the phone....*sigh* anyhow, I'm still gonna try and put a happy spin on this (so far) crappy Monday!! I was still contemplating doing the eyebrow wax thing at an actual place, but really???? I'm a little nervous about it! I have visions of having no eyebrows when I leave. So I think that I will just invest in some more wax/sugar for home and go back to my ol' reliable self doing it!! So what now you ask?!?....


     I'm going to go home and make myself an awesome dinner, maybe treat myself to a nice cold bevvy (this is of course, all after my phone calls that I have to make)...then soak in a nice, warm bath maybe with a candle going...then....well....I don't know!!! But it will still be a nice way to end a loooooooong Monday, even if I do have to spend it alone since the Hubs is at work!! BOOOO!!!! Ah well......Just some more time for ME!!!! Hope all you fellow blogsters also get to have some "me" time!!! You deserve it!!!

My little Helper

      So as I mentioned in yesterdays blog, I couldn't wait to clean and organize my house!! The Hubs got up V-E-R-Y early and headed out...(might I mention that I was now wide awake...) so I figured that I may as well get up and start on my cleaning mission. I was trying to be quiet as our girlie was still sleeping, though she could sleep through ANYTHING!!! I started the laundry, did some folding and then sat to check my e-mail. A few minutes later I could hear the familiar sounds of her bed creaking, which usually means that she`s stretching and about to get up!! Sure enough, her feet hit the floor and then I heard her come down the stairs!!
      I was sure that she was going to be disappointed that she was going to have to sit and watch me clean like a maniac while she was waiting for her grandparents to pick her up....but she actually asked me if she could help!!! I wasn`t shocked, as she is always eager to help out, but I just didn`t think she would want to clean on a Sunday morning!!!! She is just so damned cute!! I handed her the paper towels and off she went cleaning our front windows!! I couldn`t resist...I grabbed the camera and snapped these photos!!!!!(She also fed all the crazy birds in our yard after.....doubly cute!!) What a terrific Sunday morning.....just the girls!!!!!!!

                                                                                  

Sweet Sundays......

     I am really looking forward to tomorrow!!! Although I also hate Sundays as much as Mondays I just have this feeling that it's going to be a very productive, beautiful day!! The hubs has to go out in the morning and Grandma and Grandpa are picking up our girlie (a.k.a....their grand-girlie) to take her out to get her birthday present (btw..there will be a future blog about her celebration and the decor..)..and me???? I'm going to do some cleaning and organizing!! Sounds pretty dull, eh? But for real??? I CAN-NOT-WAIT!!! My house is so in need of some organization, cleaning and just some plain ol' TLC!!! My laundry needs to be done and the Laundry Room really needs to be organized!! I've been on the go non stop all week and I had a fall last Saturday that really took its' toll on my back, so I wasn't really up to doing much after my almost 10 hour days at work!!!! So tomorrow will be my "catch-up" day!!


      I may go out quickly and treat myself to a decaf vanilla latte from Starbucks to start my day....(this is a rare thing for me to do as I can hardly justify paying that much for a coffee....but once in a while..you just gotta do it!!!!) I am going to try and enjoy every minute of cleaning and organizing.....a clean house is what makes me happy!!! I may also think of how I'm going to spend my "Memorable Monday"...( I was thinking about getting my brows waxed as I usually do them myself but am tiring quickly of this...)..totally NOT exciting, but worthwhile!! We'll see how that turns out!!! So here's to looking forward to a wonderful Sunday...can't wait to wake with the sunrise and a latte..(and our beautiful girlie!!!!)

                                                                               

A letter to my two loves.....

    To my Husband and our sweet little Girlie,
                      There will never be enough words to describe just how much I love and adore the two of you. I never thought that I'd be so lucky to have two such wonderful and amazing people in my life. My world is a brighter and happier place with you in it and I can't imagine it being any different!!
                   To my sweet little girl......You are so amazing, smart, funny, beautiful, talented and caring, and that's just to start. I remember falling in love with you the minute I met you, and I'll never forget it. I love that you never give up, that you are independant and feisty and that you still like to cuddle once and awhile!!! You are making so many people proud of you each and everyday and I know that you will continue to do so as the years go on because that's just who you are! We love you so, so much and embrace each and every day, month and year that go by with you in it. xoxo
  
                    To my husband.......where do I even start with you?!?! You made me feel beautiful and special from the minute we met. (oh how I remember that day....I'll never forget!!) It truly was love at first sight for the both of us and I couldn't stop thinking about you!! I love that you think I'm sexy when I'm in your t-shirts and my hair is piled up on top of my head...and that you love me with OR without my makeup on. The fact that you put your trust in me to be a part of your daughters life means the most though.....she is my world and I would give my life for her. I can't wait to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary this coming May....it may be a small thing, but I still can't wait!!! I can't imagine you not being here..(I'm sad when your gone away for a week!!). You are my world and sometimes even my backbone, my strength and my confidence. I love you more than any words can ever express and I thank you for all that you have given me and shared with me. xoxo                                                                                

What a beautiful morning......snowblowing!!!

      Say WHAT??!!! Yeah, you read it right!! I had a thouroughly enjoyable morning this morning snowblowing!! And that was at 6:50am!! It's beautiful out there today..(o.k....we could ALL do without the white stuff) but may as well make the best of it!!! I have about 1.5hrs of snow removal where I'm working right now and normally??? I'd dread coming to work after a huge snowfall. Today was different and not for any particular reason....maybe it was the sun rising and the birds chirping that brightened my mood! Either way,  I just couldn't complain!! Yesterday however, was a TOTAL disaster. Not only would the snow not stop, but the fire alarm went off....SO not what you want happening in the middle of a blizzard!!! Then a little boy kept going and throwing stuff in the toilet...little did he know that he would get busted doing it!!! Now I have a little helper doing "community service" for me! hehe!!

      I'm hoping that this sunshine will stay with us for awhile, it really does wonders for your mood...and your skin to!!!Spring will show its' face when it's ready.....lets all keep our fingers crossed that it will be sooner rather then later!!! So for now, let's just try and enjoy what we've got, even if it is the "white stuff" and take joy out of the smaller things like sunrises and chirping birds!

Happy 10th Birthday to our beautiful girlie!!!

    I can't believe that she is 10 years old today!!! When I met her daddy she was just 3.5years old and so little!!! How she has grown up and become such an amazing, sweet ,caring young girl!!! I love how close we are and how I get hugs and I Love You's.....she will always be the little girl that I wanted and wished for and I love her sooooooo much!!! (there just aren't enough words to describe it...). Though we see her very little, we still try and make the little amount of time matter, and for this double digit birthday I am pulling no stops!!!! Can't wait to see her on Saturday!!! We Love you so, so much and you make our world such a happy place to be in!!! Love you always Daddy and Kristy....xoxo
                                                                                   

Birthday Madness

      Tomorrow is our girlies 10th Birthday (though we won't see her until Saturday) and I have ALOT to do before she comes on the weekend to celebrate with us!!! Im done with the gift shopping and the totally awesome cake is being made by my sis....so all that's left is the decor!!! Well, me being the crazy crafter that I am has decided that I want to make the banner...I know, it sounds simple, but really it's alot of work!! You know when you just have a vision of how you want things to be and you'll achieve it no matter what it takes??! Yeah.....that's me right now. But I am OH - SO - TIRED!!!!

      I'm going to go straight home today and get started cuz I know it's going to take awhile (she's totally worth every minute though!!). I'm trying to decide on colors...guess I'll wait and see what I have in my pile!!! She had a totally awesome party at her mom's so I hope that we can give her an equally awesome party at our house, though there will be none of hers friends as she did that part already!!  If any of you crafters out there have any other cool b-day suggestions, please feel free to tell me about them!! I'm always up for other peoples ideas!!!  p.s......I will post pics as soon as I'm done my creations!!!!

Memorable Monday......

      So today is my first "Memorable Monday" since I decided that I would start having these. My day was actually pretty good overall, but I still wanted to do something that would make it seem even better!! Now I've been pondering the choice of the word "Memorable" trying to decide if it was the right word to use, I mean, some things aren't going to seem like such a big deal, but then I thought "bah, what the heck"......they just might be a big deal to me when on most days all I want to do is come home, shower and sleep (yeah...I even skip eating sometimes.....). So today (even though my overall day was great) I decided to buy some super cute storage boxes(that I was eyeing at my fave store on Sat...) and re-organize some of my craft stuff that doesn't have a place. Then I decided to splurge (not on myself I must add) and get the Hubs the camera that he's been asking for....he hates my high tech one and says that it's a pain in the a**....So I picked up one for him that should take great pics. but not be to complicated. This will be his b-day present from our girlie. I then decided that I would also bake a nice, homemade lasagna tonight....it's one of the things that I can honestly say I'm killer at making, and the hubs LOVES it!!!! So even more reason to make it!!!! Mmmmmmm..I can smell it cooking as I sit here typing away!!
      It really has been a great day...even at work which is something I don't say to often, but I'm working with a great group of people and really great kids, so that makes the day worth getting up at 5am for!! I hope that all of you can find happiness on even the crappiest of days...like Mondays!!!

                                                                                       

     

Sunny Sundays...and Nipple Shields?!?!

Wow......what a beautiful morning it was to wake up to the sun shining in my back door....my clovers s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g to try and get closer to that warmth that was coming through the glass.  The hubs had to work today (which is VERY rare)..so I had the house to myself!!! I took my time getting ready and even put hot rollers in my hair, which if you know me then you know that that is a task in itself since my hair is now rediculously long...it turned out o.k....but I thought it looked kind of "porn starish" which wasn't really the look I was going for!! Anyhoo.....I had lunch with a really good friend today who is 5 months preggers!!!! I am sooooooo thrilled for her...she deserves this more than anyone (after one very heartbreaking miscarriage)...we ate, chatted...ate some more and then hit Babies R Us to get her registered!!
     Well....you should have seen us...oohing and ahhhing over all the cute baby stuff!! But really, neither of us know anything about what a baby (and new mom) is going to need!!! I'm sure it was hilarious watching the 2 of us trying to figure out how to close a stroller...( I told her she should have brought one of her mommy friends, not the one that didn't have any). Then came the nipple shields. Yeah.....so, I don't have A CLUE about these things.....she thought she was going to need some as she wants to try and breastfeed....so I grabbed some, while noticing that there are sizes on them....SIZES??!! I looked at her and asked her "How big are your nipples??!" well...that got us laughing...seriously, how are you supposed to know all these things if you've never been preggers before?!?! Oh well....I guess she'll figure it out!!
     Next we were off to Starbucks for a tasty treat!!!! I had my usual Vanilla Latte (always decaf as I'm not allowed to have anything with caffeine as per doctors orders)...and she had something cold...she's always hot (I'm guessing hormones??!!).   While we were waiting in line I saw this awesome Starbucks travel cup calling to me!!! It looks EXACTLY like their cups that they serve your drink in, but they're super heavy...so gotta be careful not to drop it!!!! I grabbed it up (why not?) and treated myself to a little gift!!!!!!
     We shopped around for a bit and then we both started yawning....we'd been shopping for 3 hrs. now and her "bump" was telling her it was time for a nap. Me?, I don't really have an excuse other than the fact that I was up from 12am till 3:30am feeling sore from the fall that I had on Sat. night..(that's another blog in itself...a funny one I might add). I got dropped of and then decided that I probably needed to go bring the hubs some grub at work. So back in the car I got and off I went to visit him. I admit that I had truly planned on staying longer, but my arm, back, leg and pelvis were getting very sore and I just wanted to get home to soak in the tub. So we chatted (well, he ate), yawned and then he told me to go home and relax.....*sigh*..I love when he knows what I'm needing at that moment. So I gave him a kiss goodbye and an I love you (so very important as you just never know if that will be the last one..) and off I went. That brings me up till now....sitting on my couch, relaxing, blogging and enjoying reading some other blogs. What a great Sunday this has been (and if you've read ANY of my blogs, you know just how much I hate Sundays.) I sure hope that I can have a few more like the one I had today.....though maybe with a little more of the hubs!!!!!
                      

                                                                                

A touch of the Blues.....Baby Blues that is....

     Gah!!!! I'm having one of them days again...ya know, the kind where no matter where you go all you see is babies, baby stuff, and pregnant women (or girls...). Anyone who desperately wants children and can't seem to have them will know this feeling that I'm talking about. IT SUCKS!!!!! You're heart drops, your throat clenches and you feel the need to duck into the nearest bar and grab a nice "bevvy" to help calm those feelings. I've had to fight these feelings for about 6.5 years now, which seems like forever and NEVER seems to get easier. I was hoping that as I got older, the feelings would start to diminish, but truthfully, they've only gotten worse, but I'm trying so very hard to direct my focus elsewhere.. like with my crafts and making our girlie and the hubs super happy!!!      I do get a sense of calm knowing that there are MANY other women out there who also have to suffer with these "shitty" (sorry for the lingo) feelings, and that I'm not the only one out there that has some really down days. I used to always ask "Why me??!!!", but you know what?? Why not me!! Why should someone else have to go through this????? I don't wish this upon any other women...it's not nice and it's something that you have to live with for the rest of your life, not just a few days!! Anyhow....I'm rambling....all I know is that I WILL survive yet another day of the "baby blues"...and I truly hope that all those mommies out there realize every-single-day just how blessed they are, even on those really bad days where you want to tear your hair out!! I'd give anything for one of those days........

You know you're a TRUE crafter when......

     Like I've said before...I'm a craftaholic, I just can't get enough!! I love trying out new projects and I really enjoy getting our girlie to join me in the craft making!! However, there are definetly some sure signs that you are a "true" crafter, some of which are:

- You have glue gun burns on your hands
- You find glitter EVERYWHERE...and I mean even at the complete other end of the house
- You've wanted to throw your Silhouette out the back door more than once b/c it wasn't doing what you wanted it to do
- You go the the craft store a minimum of twice a week
- You get overwhelmed in the paper aisle and are afraid of making the wrong choice..(or is there really such a thing?)
- You lay awake in the night thinking about your next project....(yeah...that was me last night at 2:30am!!)
- All your rolls of ribbon are stored in order of color and season (and wire & wireless)
- You have "backups" of everything....just in case, ya know??!

  If any of you fellow crafters can add anything to my growing list, please feel free cuz I'd love to hear them!!

All things Spring...even for the hair!!!

      I can feel it....Spring is peeking at us from just around the corner and I can't wait!! I've even started getting some plants, getting myself ready for the start of gardening (or cleaning out of gardens) season! I'm also on a huge hair accessory making kick...mostly just for the lil' ones, but I'm going to start doing some for us "older" people!! There's nothing like having a kick-ass hair day and then making it even better by adding that finishing touch..(I'm a hair accessory junkie...especially flowers).So I've created a few already and I will put the pics. up soon....I would love to hear your input on what you think...any improvements etc!! Here's hoping that you also have a little "Spring" in your step!!!!!                                                                             

                                                           

                                                                               

ABC'S

I've seen this on a few other blogs and thought it would be fun to do!!

A-Age:32
B-Bed:Queen
C-Chore you dislike: Laundry
D-Dogs: 1 Millie
E-Essential to start your day: Hot cup of tea
F-Favourtie color: Purple
G-Gold or Silver: Does white gold count??
H-Height: 5'4"
I-Intruments you played: piano
J-Job title: Caretaker
K-Kids: 1 step-daughter
L-Live: Ontario, Canada
M-Mom's name: Margaret
N-Nicknames: my parents call me by my middle name (not sure that counts though)
O-Overnight hospital stays: 2 ..surgery on my tendon and surgery to have an ovary removed
P-Pet peeves: people who chew with there mouth open, lateness and people who whine about their kids!!(try not being able to have any to whine about!!!!)
Q-Quote from a movie: not sure
R-Righty or lefty: Righty
S-Siblings: 1 sister
T-Time you wake up: 5am
U-Underwear: all different kinds...depends on my mood that day!
V-Vegetables you don't like: peas, brussel sprouts
W-What makes you run late: the Hubs
X-X-rays you've had: arm, shoulder, neck, back, leg...doo MRI's count?? I've had 2 of those....I should glow by now!!!
Y-Yummy food you make: Spaghetti and Meatballs, lasagna
Z-Zoo animal favourites: Elephants, Penguins and anything that's a baby

Making Memorable Mondays

    I have decided that I REALLY hate Mondays!!(though it's Tuesday, so I've made it through the last one). I hate knowing that the start of another long, tedious week is going to begin....another week of not knowing where I'm going to be working or whether it will be days or afternoons...(I'm basicallly on call everyday Mon-Fri and work either shift...it sucks!!) So I've come up with a sort of  plan...something to help ease through the pain of Monday. How about making them Memorable??!!


      Now, I haven't quite figured out just how this will work, but I was thinking that every Monday there should be something to look forward to!! Whether it's a nice dinner, catching a movie or even going for a nice walk....how great would that be(provided I'm not completely exhausted) to come home after a Loooooooong Monday and know that something "memorable is going to happen!! I'm going to put my little plan into action and see of it will work!! I'll keep you posted and let you know how it's going!!!  Here's to looking forward to making memories!!

Quiet Sunday mornings

      Sunday morning and I'm up super early..but it's nice!! The Hubs and our girlie are still snuggled in their beds....talking and sighing in their sleep!! Me....I've been fighting a sinus/throat/ear infection and these gross meds. that I'm taking haven't worked yet!!! (give me a BOOOOO!!!). I really enjoy having the morning to myself sometimes, and not because I don't like the fam. up with me....I like it because it gives me chance to think about the day ahead and to do things like write on my blog without any interuptions!!!!! (hehe!!)
      Not sure what we are going to do today...we were thinking about going to Ikea as I need to get a new chair for my craft room...the one I have now is brutal and my back is usually killing me after hours of being hunched over a project!! But the Hubs wanted to wait and see how I was feeling before we decided! So that leaves the question..How AM I feeling???!! Not sure yet!!! runny nose and chesty cough...but that just might not be enough to keep me from getting my chair!!
      I think I just might make a hot cup of tea and soak up the quiet....and hopefully see the sunrise this morning (what??? Sun??? What is THAT????). So here's to enjoying Quiet Sunday mornings!!                                                
                                                                          

Awesome party favors for our girlie!!

      So I finally finished the monogrammed canvas bags for our girlies 10th b-day!! she loved them...which was what I was aiming for!! I also made Ginormous felt flower hair clips (thanks to Tatertots and Jello for the idea) and clipped them onto the bags for the girls to use when they do their hair!!! I told her to make sure she takes lots of pics. for us to see!! ( the party is at her mom's, not here!) So here are some pics. for you to enjoy them as well!

Journaling

       I was out shopping at one of my favourite stores yesterday (Homesense) and of course, I wandered up and down each and every aisle looking at the fabulous stuff. I then found myself in the aisle that is full of notecards....address books....and then...there it was...this totally cool, funky journal staring back at me from the shelf!! Now, this is something that I've been meaning to do for awhile, but I just never got around to actually looking for a journal to write in (o.k....so I kinda just forgot altogether) but now??? there were  NO-MORE-EXCUSES!!!!!!

       I grabbed that journal up and put in into my basket!! I felt really giddy and excited that I had finally found THE journal...the one that I was going to finally start writing in!!!!! I couldn't wait for bedtime to come...(though not sure why I feel the need to write a bedtime....) I wrote my little heart out that first night, from how my day was to still having those nagging maternal feelings that just won't go away!!!! And you know what? I actually wrote in it this morning before I got out of bed!! (our girlie was doing something really cute that reminded me of years past!)

        I am so thrilled that my little trip to my favourite place FINALLY got me to achieve my goal of starting a journal.....any of you bloggers keep a journal????  (though I guess blogging is a form of journaling!!)  This is one of my "small things" that I now plan on embracing....daily I hope!!!!

Embracing the small things.....

     I'm such a stickler for things that have meaning...whether its a little sketch that our girlie did or the name plate(?) that the Hubs welded for me..(picture to follow). Some people( the Hubs) might say that I'm a slight pack rat...(though I do ALOT of purging)..but I just can't seem to let go of the little things that mean the most!!! These are things that bring a smile to my face when I'm having a really crappy day!! Simple things like baking a loaf of banana bread make me feel happy..(especially when it turns out), and seeing my Grandma's cup and saucer that I adored since I was a child sitting on the shelf brings me great joy!!
    
      I really hope that you fellow bloggers also take the time to embrace the small things in life!!! It's amazing how they can sometimes brighten your day!!!! Please feel free to fill me in on your "small" things and what they mean to you!! I have so many, but for today, I will share just a few!!!

Motherly advice????

     I could really use some "motherly" advice....like I've mentioned before, I have step-daughter whom I love like my own and whom I'm very close with. But something has been nagging at me lately....nothing serious..I was just thinking about all the stuff that I do for her (ie...making special treats for her class for the holidays..shopping..and recently, making b-day invitations, and decorating canvas bags for each girl to have). I've starting wondering if I'm infringing on "mom" territory??! Am I crossing the "line" and doing TO Much?? Her mom and I get along, but I don't want to seem like I'm one-upping her, so to speak, because that's not my intention at all!!! I just want to be a part of things as much as I can and want her to be happy!! so please, if you have any advice for me on this topic, please don't be shy....I just want to be sure that I'm not doing the wrong thing!!! Just had to get that out...it's been buzzing around my head for awhile!!

Date night!!!!!

     So The Hubs and I are going on a date this Saturday and I'm soooooo excited!!! ( I know....excited???) YES!!! I can't wait!!!! We've been on opposite schedules lately, and with me being sick this past weekend, I think we could use a fun night out together!!! I miss him!!!! (he's even been sleeping in the other room since I've been sick hoping to avoid the plague...).
      Is it wierd that I wan't to buy a new outfit to wear??  I just want to WOW him...want him to get that feeling like we both had the first time we ever hung out...(and not at work either..hehe). What to get though??!! Maybe I should curl my hair to...whaddya think??!! (any advice helps!!) I'm feeling like a giddy little school girl and I LOVE it!!!! I think that all couples (with children or without) should take a night to hang out together...let loose and have fun!! And that's what we're going to do!!! Can't wait!!!!