a little sliver

creativity overload

2011-07-02T22:34:00.000-07:00

I have too many ideas crammed into my head, with new ones barging their way in constantly. Blame it all on pinterest. It leads me from one DIY to the next, a new blog to another, a recipe to try yet again...AHHHHH! But I absolutely luuuurve it. I do. I'm in creative heaven now that I have more time to indulge in it.

After a loooong 2.5 hour walk exploring our city with Trav, Hank and Isla today (finally back into a home routine after travelling for most of the month,) I found the time to chop rhubarb out of our backyard. It's growing wildly in the back corner next to my garden boxes, and I've been eyeing it for quite some time. After getting a few tips from my awesome MIL, I've decided to take the plunge (rhubarb is something I've never ever worked with before, and I'm not sure I even like it). Travis loves rhubarb betty, so that's one of my many challenges for tomorrow.

I'm also planning on more DIY...for one, repainting and reupholstering our dining table and chairs. It sounds like a big job, but with the inspiration and amazing tutorials I've gathered from here, I'm ready to take it on...and am super excited for the overhaul. Our dining room is the one space in our house that isn't even close to how I envision it to be. I just came inside from an impromptu spray painting session of some lamp bases, and I'm super pumped with the results...especially because it was so easy.

And as another random side note...I found an amazing recipe (via pinterest of course) that yields CRISPY sweet potato fries every time. FINALLY! I love my sweet potato fries, but they often end up a soggy, burnt mess. I tested the recipe tonight...perfect. If you love these fries like I do, you better get on it.

And lastly, I have a baby shower to plan in - eep - less than three weeks! I'm excited to see it come together...more on that once I get pinning!

forgive me

2011-07-02T21:24:00.000-07:00

I've been gone far too long. No excuses. Now look!

All better.

bits & pieces

2011-05-28T15:45:00.000-07:00

*I've been having major chocolate attacks lately! WTF?! And I don't mean the odd craving. Like, I can eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And I do. Oh dear.

*Does anyone else think the song Judas by Gaga sucks?

*Loving the first dance sequence in Beyonce's "Run the World."

*The nursery is nearly complete...pictures to come after holiday!

*I'm reading Shania's book, From This Moment On. Kinda crappily written (really dumbed down), but I am interested in her story. Fame and the road there intrigues me.

*Is it just me, or does it seem like EVERYBODY (celebs included) is preggo? That's cool with me! More friends who are up for baby dates.

*I am OBSESSED with pinterest. Check out my boards! If you've never heard of it, go there NOW!

*I need to plant my garden and flowers right away...I hope waiting until after BC will suffice. At least I just helped my mother-in-law with her much larger garden, so I should get a little somethin' somethin' from there.

*My bestie better not have her baby before I'm home! I can't wait to meet Isla's new friend!!!!

*Wedding shower tomorrow! I love wedding season. And seriously plan to pretend I'm engaged and shop for a wedding dress again.

*I finally got a trim! Trav and I got side-by-side haircuts, with Isla sleeping between in her stroller. Funny stuff.

*Packing kinda stresses me out. Anyone else?

*I need a tan!

*I should go for a walk with Isla right now, but for some reason by energy is seriously lacking. (And it's windy!) Jillian video tonight I think. Why does my energy peak at 11 pm? (Perhaps because that's when the chiclet is in bed?)

*Just occurred to me that my plants need to be watered when I'm gone. Crap.

*I've been procrastinating on some writing projects. Double crap.

*I'm so ready to get away! Yayaya!

isla update

2011-05-28T15:26:00.000-07:00

Here we are, Saturday afternoon. We leave for BC in a couple days, and I'll be MIA for a full two weeks! Woohoo! I still plan to internetz though.

Isla is sucking her hand right now. Not her fingers, but her full fist - her favourite past time these days. At nearly 16 weeks, she likes to stick out her tongue, chats and coos when you hum at her, cries more than she used to, eats a lot and often, and is beginning to roll onto her tummy. She officially laughed for the first time yesterday when I was sniffing her butt for a poop check...it just cracked her up! AND, Trav caught it on video, bonus!

We headed to the doctor on Tuesday and she weighs 13 lbs 7 oz. Not sure the stats on that, but it seems alright to me! Today we strapped on a size 2 dipe too.

As for sleeping, we've got our little routine. Down at 7, feed at 4, then back to bed until 7 or so. Active time for an hour or two, and then we both crash. Luckily the past few days have allowed us to nap together ;) Although I imagine our road trip will shake things up a bit...my positive choice of words!

bb

2011-05-25T05:48:00.000-07:00

Before baby...

I was working frantically on this magazine (you can read it all there too). Since I left when everything was in draft form, a few changes have been made to my work...but you get the gist!

I'm about to eat some oatmeal, watching my little lady rolling - yes, rolling! - all over her play mat. She needs a bit of assistance to get on her stomach, but she's so close. Last night her and I napped from 5 to 7 (whoops!), then I fed her and she was in bed by 8:30...and didn't wake until 6 am! Wow. I just started following the principles (mainly much earlier bedtime) from Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child that I got from the library; so far, so good!

my loves

2011-05-18T21:39:00.000-07:00

Recap: Mother's Day was awesome. Slept in, and woke up with Isla in my arms and diamond earrings on my pillow. Ahhhhmazing. And it still would've been without the earrings part : )

bath time

2011-05-18T21:29:00.000-07:00

twinkle toes

2011-05-18T18:16:00.000-07:00

Even though I know every inch of my baby, I really haven't seen Isla's feet all that much. But with the warmer weather as of late, we've been showing some more skin...and lo and behold, this girl has spidey toes! She spreads them apart like little claws!

Today we tried on our "Mexican dress," a gift from when Nanna was in Las Cabos. Pulled the shade up on the carseat, and out in the yard we went. I've been painting a little funky table for Isla's nursery - a $5 kijiji find. Will post when it's done!

we've been bronzed

2011-05-13T21:27:00.000-07:00

And not the good kind...

Tonight I went to competition and watched a couple of my jazz classes that I taught for half the dance season. An awesome girl took over for me end of January (and thankfully our dance styles are quite similar), and she did amazing with the choreo considering I dumped everything on her since Isla came so suddenly. I've been checking in and subbing every once in awhile, but I was still excited to see them perform. Well, they did fairly well...I was guessing high silvers or so. But no...bronze. Ouch. Haven't had one of those since my first year of dance...you don't see them handed out too often these days.

It was disheartening because I feel they truly didn't deserve a bronze, especially considering the rest of the category (all silvers and one gold.) The adjudicator is local, and in my mind, had one particular style of dance she liked. Cookie-cutter anyone? That's all I'll say; after all, it's only one person's opinion. It's just a little frustrating when even the choreo award goes to numbers with not much thought or passion behind them...they follow the numbers and stay within the lines.

Me and Nat at competition a couple years ago.

Ok, that's off my chest! Perhaps I shouldn't care as much, but I just can't help it! I feel so invested in every student. I was just hoping our girls could've got a boost tonight. But then again, maybe this will make them work harder? It's true: motivating them and seeing them dance FULL OUT has been a challenge and they're just not there yet. I think we've got through to a few though...looking forward to watching a hardworking duet I taught this Sunday, and meeting my old dance teacher for lunch with the Isla-bean.

a few treats

2011-05-13T21:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Isla and I went shopping with my sis-in-law and mom-in-law. The mission? Find SIL a grad dress. We FINALLY found one, at Laura of all places...and it's beautiful! Black and sleek with a flare hem to the floor; no puffy cotton candy glitter that is ubiquitous with grads. She'll look fantastic.

In the meantime, I had time to peruse...and snapped up a few things. It was so weird to be back in a change room trying on clothes, after going months not bothering because of my expanding figure.

What I got:

So comfy!

(In red)

I was one of those people today...I called American Eagle wondering why the shorts I bought are $15 cheaper online. WTF? I was just browsing and realized the price difference. I'm never one to care (I made my first ever return to a store only a year ago!), but now with more time on my hands at home (and my attempt to be frugal, haha) I decided to suck it up and at least ask. The girl cited the American dollar and the shipping as the cost difference...but that makes no sense since our dollar is better and shipping is 7 bucks even. But oh well....I've got the shorts in my hands and don't have to wait for their arrival! (Although it did cross my mind to return everything and buy it all online ;o)

gallery wall

2011-05-10T22:47:00.000-07:00

Via Pinterest

I love everything about this. Seriously, I think I may copy the frame layout...it's done perfectly!

smile hank!

2011-05-06T11:12:00.000-07:00

Vintage Duck Photography

update: life

2011-05-05T22:12:00.000-07:00

10:48 pm. Trav is having a few beers with his best buddy (a few....?) Isla is in bed. Baby monitor beside me. I just finished working out and am drinking a chocolate protein shake. It's an attempt at getting a bit more serious before I have to don my bikini in a few weeks...eight stinkin' pounds until I'm where I wanna be. (And it certainly doesn't help that Trav got Grandma to babysit this afternoon and took me to Lincoln Lawyer...the popcorn smelled divine! So obviously, I copped a few handfuls. Oh, the movie was really great too...a nice introduction back into our favourite nerdy pastime).

Anyway, life has been crazy the past few weeks. It's funny...you'd think technically being "at home" full-time would make the days feels different from the usual nine to five. I guess partly it's me...I thrive on a day that includes a list of at least five bullets being checked off...otherwise I feel as if I haven't accomplished much, haven't given the day all the potential it deserves. In theory it makes sense, but I can get pretty OCD about it. I'm trying to remind myself of just how crazily quickly Isla is growing, and to drink in EVERY SINGLE MOMENT. It's hard, especially with each day blending into the next. I now understand why Moms say they wish they could freeze time. And Isla isn't even three months old yet!

So what's been going on? I've been subbing dance, which I've been loving. Taking Isla with me and getting back into the studio just feels good. I had to play music last-minute at competition the other day (silly mixup, but I wasn't going to not go...loooooove the competition air!), and Trav had to work last minute as it turned out. So I strapped Isla on with the Baby Bjorn, and backstage we went. Think I'm a crazy stage Mom in the making? Haha.

I've also been helping people with their resumes. I just posted a small ad on kijiji, and the response hasn't been half-bad! It's nice to use my technical skills again. I've also got a few writing assignments that I'm about to start with Alberta Conservation; it's nice to stay in touch with them when I'm on maternity leave.

Along with making some extra cash (so we can make my dream come true and go to Maui this winter...Trav doesn't know my master plan yet), I've been slowly working away at finishing up the nursery, living room and guest room. Isla and I are finally enjoying some outdoor walks (not just in Costco!), and I'm trying to stay in touch with other mommies. I need to get in touch with my local Moms' group...I think it would be good for us since I tend to stay close to home if given a choice. Time to get out and meet the people of our new neighbourhood!

Trav and I are leaving for BC at the end of the month to make the rounds with my relatives. I'm beyond excited! It's been far too long, and there's just something about BC...the air is different. It's lovely.

Oh, Trav's at the door. Must've been just a few beers after all. Nighty night.

thinking too far ahead?

2011-05-02T22:02:00.000-07:00

I've never been that into Halloween (even though it was often a big production around here since it's my sister's favourite holiday, hands down). BUT...what other excuse do I have to dress Isla like this?! Would that be mean? (Like when people dress their dogs up in ridiculous getups?) Because I think it's just plain cute overload!

Via Pinterest.

dreamy

2011-04-30T11:49:00.000-07:00

Love this unexpected colour combo. I've been using it as inspiration for the nursery, but I seem to be adding in a LOT more colour...I figure the place to do it is a little girl's room!

Via Creature Comforts.

want!

2011-04-28T18:23:00.000-07:00

Are these available here yet? I detest painting my nails (the smell coupled with the fact they chip in about an hour). Stickers? Yes please! Love the gold.

just chillin'

2011-04-28T18:15:00.000-07:00

ha!

2011-04-26T19:36:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I won't read this to Isla...but how awesome is it?! More commentary on the book here (and more on the interesting author too.)

otto-matic

2011-04-25T22:23:00.000-07:00

I love DIY projects - especially easy peasy ones that don't take too much thought or effort. (Unlike the dresser in Isla's room, which took sanding, five coats of paint, and six months to finish...UGH!)

The project I'm showing you cost $15 total (but my Gma picked up the tab, so technically it was free for me!) I had been looking for an ottoman for the nursery, a comfy place to put my feet up for those bleary-eyed, middle-of-the-night feeds. And extra storage would be a great bonus! However, the only ones I could find were $80 at the cheapest...sorry, not in the budget!

So when I was out visiting my parents, we had a bit of time to pop into my hometown hamlet's haphazard, scarily-stuffed second-hand store. Unique Repeats it's called. When I spotted this little ottoman, I just had to have it...the top lifts off, and I loved the retro vibe. However, this isn't what it originally looked like! I stupidly didn't take a "before" picture, but I'll enlighten you: reddish brown vinyl on top. Ick.

Once I got the otto-baby home, I planned to buy a cute scrap of fabric. Problem is, with a little babes at home I can't run out and shop as much as I'd like...I know, I have it tough :) Plus I mused, surely I can do this for free? So I raided my closet and pulled out a skirt I haven't worn in a couple of years. I won't lie to you - I probably wouldn't squeeze back into it anyway! Pretty sure I got it when I was 15. Anyway, I ripped out some of the seams, cut it up, washed and dried it, and had Trav help me stretch it over the top and staple it on right over top of the vinyl. Ta da! This is what I ended up with, and I'm super happy with the result. It was easy, it adds a pop of colour, and I love that it's a original piece of furniture no one else has. Yay for recycling! Right now it holds all Isla's toys that she isn't quite ready for yet. A great place to stash pretty much anything, and of course, to put up my feet!

she's changing so fast

2011-04-25T15:32:00.000-07:00

Psst...who has the biggest ears in this picture?

baywatch baby

2011-04-20T22:07:00.000-07:00

like everyone else...

2011-04-18T19:15:00.000-07:00

...I'm looking forward to reading Tiny Fey's new book, Bossypants.

Here's an excerpt from the book that I'm totally digging right now.

Prayer for a Daughter

First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered, May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her
When crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels.

What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever, That she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.

“My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.

Amen.

pooping faces

2011-04-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

so serene

2011-04-12T16:00:00.001-07:00

What a beautiful staircase! I'm usually not one for white on white, but this house tour is just plain beautiful. I love how it's functional and effortlessly pretty.

bustin' out the boob

2011-04-11T21:54:00.000-07:00

A do or a don't? I'm comfortable breastfeeding in public...but I do worry about what others might think. These celebs don't seem to. Love this link!

hey cupcake

2011-04-10T22:18:00.000-07:00

Treasures. I love it when I'm in that "hunting" mood and score some cheapo finds at a vintage shop, warehouse sale, Winners, or this time...Goodwill! Yep, in ye old rough 'hood of Beverly is possibly the best Goodwill I've ever been to! (By the way, I'm so over Value Village...waaaaay overpriced for most of that junk).

Last week I spent $15 total on two black and white flower canvases for the guest bedroom (makeover in progress, big reveal soon!), two lamp bases for our bedroom ($2.99 each, just gotta buy the lampshades!) and the most adorable little present for Isla. Behold:

The top pops offs to reveal a candle that smells like coconut, yummmmmmmmy. Adorable for a nursery, don't you think? Anyway, I got this for $1.99...still in the box. Curiosity got the best of me and I had to know how much it's actually worth. A quick google search, and it turns out full price is $27! Wow. I'm pretty pumped about that. If you love it as much as I do and our willing to pay full price, here's the site where I found it.

Plus, Goodwill supports a great cause. It's a win-win. I'll be back soon...considering Trav has ONE pair of jeans right now, I think we'll make it our first stop. Couldn't hurt...especially since he loves saving money more than I do ;)

Happy hunting!

style wishes

2011-04-08T12:43:00.000-07:00

Have you ever checked out lookbook.nu? I go there when I need a refresh, some inspiration. The people who post on there are fearless when it comes to fashion, not to mention totally original and crazy mature looking. The 18 year olds from Brazil look as if they have a ten-year supermodeling career under their intentionally but haphazardly twisted belts. Anyway, here are a handful of my faves for today.

friday friday friday

2011-04-07T19:46:00.000-07:00

He he, I couldn't resist. Did you know that Rebecca Black's "Friday" music video has over 88 million (and counting) views on youtube? Trav routinely checks to see how much it's jumped up.

My bestie is a natural with babies...she's got 11 nieces and nephews.

Anyway, this weekend we're out of town again. Just to ye old Valley. Trav is playing in a hockey tourney, and when he's doing that, I'll get to stay with my bestie! She's due the first day of summer, so we'll probably mostly chat about babies, pull out cute girlie clothes, watch bad tv and cuddle Isla. My how times have changed compared to this time last year! Pregnancy wasn't on anyone's radar. The change of pace is welcome - it's nice to have some home-time after years of go, go, go. I do know though (people tell me so) that these days are short-lived, so we're trying to soak it all in!

*****

We just got back from Isla's first round of immunizations. Poor thing...combined with her nasty cold that's still hanging on, it was a tough go. She still hasn't napped today which is rare for her...she's in the swing (a lifesaver I tell you!) just relaxing and looking around. Hopefully those eyes close soon...I know she needs some sweet dreams.

how much longer?!

2011-04-06T18:56:00.000-07:00

Seriously...how big are my brother-in-law's feet?

The sun did come out today...but our backyard is still covered in a foot of snow. Since actual spring can't come quick enough, I'm reminiscing about our Montana lake vacation a few years ago.

sick baby

2011-04-05T20:33:00.000-07:00

On hiatus...caring for a very sick baby who isn't even eight weeks old is scary! Hoping she's on the upswing.

In the meantime:

The best (and easiest!) from-scratch french baguette recipe I've found. Technically not clean, but soooo delicious!

My latest youtube obsession and summer beauty inspiration. Seriously, how good does she look here?! (Pay no mind to the song~)

My sister-in-law's dress pick for her grad. Love that she's going un-poufy and hint of sexy and simple, all at once. And the price is right!

watch your back

2011-04-02T22:22:00.001-07:00

art for the nursery...want!

2011-03-30T11:25:00.000-07:00

LOVE these. I want the unicorn one...it reminds me of when I told my sister (and she believed everything I said to be true when she was four years old) that if we were animals, she'd be a dirty monkey and I'd be a magical unicorn.

You can buy them here. I wonder if I can get a friend to recreate my own version...

dessert tonight

2011-03-29T12:17:00.000-07:00

What used to be my signature cookie - triple chocolate. Definitely not clean. Very sad, this is.

I've been attempting to keep my eating relatively "clean" to lose the last ten prego-pounds (for more on eating clean, check out this fantastic site I just discovered), but I still have the WORST sweet tooth ever. So I'm constantly on the hunt for healthy treats. Tonight I'm trying fudge cakes with...get ready...black beans! I've made them before, and they do the trick for me. Just be prepared; they're not going to taste like delectable, fudgy brownies. But they work in a pinch when I have a hankering for chocolate. Here's the recipe, courtesy of Clean Eating magazine.

Black Bean Fudge Cakes
INGREDIENTS
Olive oil cooking spray
1 oz dark chocolate (70% cocoa or greater)
1 1/2 cups soft-cooked black beans, rinsed and drained (I used a full 15 oz can)
2 eggs
1 egg white
2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 heaped cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup honey
1/4 to 1/2 cup unsalted walnuts, chopped

Preheat oven to 350F. Mist an 8-inch square with cooking spray.

Melt dark chocolate in a small saucepan over low with 1 tbsp water mixed in.

Combine melted chocolate, beans, eggs, egg white, oil, cocoa powder, baking powder, vanilla, applesauce and honey in a food processor; process until smooth. Stir in walnuts and pour mixture into prepared baking dish.

Bake in preheated oven until the top is dry and the edges start to pull away from the sides, about 30 minutes.

Garnish each piece with a dollop of nonfat Greek-style yogurt, if desired.

Nurients per serving: Calories 230 / Total Fat 12 g / Sat. Fat 2 g / Carbs 28 g/ Fiber 4 g / Sugar 19 g / Protein 5 g / Sodium 120 mg/ Cholesterol 45 mg

jinx!

2011-03-29T12:11:00.001-07:00

I regret writing my last post. Yep, our girl threw her semi-sched out the window. She's been a bit fussy and restless at night which is out of character for her. Off I go to google "get your baby to sleep through the night!"

i totally relate to this

2011-03-27T13:23:00.000-07:00

The crying game. A great blog entry/article by a local writer.

Isla is now in somewhat of a sleeping pattern at night. We waited six weeks, and were sure she was gaining and feeding well, before attempting to stretch out night feeds so we get a few more hours of shuteye between. Before I was feeding every two hours. Now our nights have been looking like this (keep in mind this is only four days...I suppose it could change any time!)

10:30-11 - I zip Isla up in her sleep sack, and into the cradle she goes after a few goodnight kisses. I'm trying to work towards a 9 pm bedtime, but the nights just go by so fast! After a few minutes of grunting, she's asleep.

3:20 - She wakes up to eat! We're back in bed around 4. It takes her about 20 minutes to fall back asleep.

7:20 - Hungry again! This time she's wide awake until about 9. Around then she falls into a deep, deep sleep until 11 am. I usually take her in bed with me and we both snooze for a couple needed hours.

So this little schedule I can live with...although the nights are long (essentially 12 hours!), I get close to 7 or 8 hours of actual sleep, which is amazing.

But who knows? Next week could bring something totally different!

look ma!

2011-03-25T17:27:00.000-07:00

mama baby style...on the cheap!

2011-03-25T17:25:00.000-07:00

Or at least my first documented attempt at it!

Top: Old Navy Maternity (my last maternity piece of clothing, I swear!), secondhand

Jeans: Buffalo, $20 at a crazy sale a few years ago

Boots: yep, the new ones! Sorry you can't see them! Aldo, $108 on sale (originally $200)

Belt: American Eagle, $30

Necklace: gift

I'm in love with Isla's hat...a friend crocheted it. What a beautiful job she did. We get compliments on it all the time. I need my own version ;)

Sidenote - LOVING a high bun. Easy, and works even better with greasy hair! A major bonus since I'm not showering as often as I probably should these days. Check out this awesome tutorial on the Daybook (my current blog obsession).

scary!

2011-03-23T12:11:00.000-07:00

I promise I won't post these videos regularly...just couldn't help myself with this one. Made me smile.

PS - Isla weighs 10 lbs 4 oz...woohoo! Almost four pounds put on since her birth - so glad that breastfeeding is going well! Now if only that conehead would smooth out a bit... I kid, I kid.

six weeks

2011-03-21T16:42:00.000-07:00

Trav tried to lighten the mood before I went into the OR...I was so nervous and couldn't stop shaking. Managed to smile for a photo op though!

Finally able to hold my babes after being so sick from the anaesthetic and try nursing.

Poor Isla was so squished and breech inside that her legs stayed splayed out for a couple weeks. Flexible girl!

Finally going home. All of our clothes were too big for her.

Home at last! (And check out that conehead! Sorry Isla! ;))

Isla is six weeks today. That went by in a blur! But on the other hand, we've come a long way since those days in the hospital. I plan to start writing my birth story tomorrow (after Isla's doctor appointment), as well as get a handle on writing 40 thank you cards - eep!

tummy time

2011-03-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

me and a bit of isla

2011-03-17T21:18:00.000-07:00

A good friend of mine offered up her sister's maternity photographic skillz for my shower present. Awesomeness! Here's a few of the mostly PG ones...some are pretty risque! I wasn't initially big on the idea of capturing my engorged stomach plus additional fat cells plus preggo puffiness, but now I'm glad I did. I mean, years later I think I'll appreciate it.

If you want to check out more of Jessica's work, visit http://vintageduckphotography.blogspot.com/

a bit bad ass...even for me

2011-03-16T20:57:00.000-07:00

That's tongue-in-cheek by the way. Anyway, I ordered these Aldo leather boots online (I was itching to shop but haven't been leaving the house too much these days.) AND...half price! Score. Bought with my birthday money...double score. Stay tuned for how I style them...can't you just picture them pairing perfectly with my rugged stroller?

yep, i'm one of those moms

2011-03-16T20:36:00.000-07:00

I'm part of that complainy cliche now, but I just have to get it off my chest...we had some friends over the other night. One of them innocently asked me (and don't get me wrong, she's a doll): "So, what do you do all day now?"

Um, what?

Believe it or not, taking care of a mini-human takes about 20 hours out of your day.

That is all.

back with a vengeance

2011-03-16T09:49:00.000-07:00

Ok, maybe not with a vengeance. No one would want to read angry, vengeful blog posts, right? Or maybe they would...?

Anyway, I'm not angry or vengeful. Quite the opposite! Busy adjusting to life with our new baby girl. Isla was five weeks Monday. Wow! I laughed to myself when I was perusing some old posts of mine - I mentioned that we wanted to start a family in five years. Bah ha ha! I wrote that about 10 days before we conceived. Nice. (Wait..is it weird you now know the day we conceived?)

Better stop there. Anyway, a longwinded way to say I'm happy to be back!

It's the little things that count...

2010-06-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

This made me smile... The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha lists the simple things in life that most of us appreciate but never really acknowledge. For half of the list, go here. (If you want the whole list you gotta buy the book. It did start as a blog though.)

Take a look at Neil's list and see what resonates with you. Here are my personal favourites (only from 800-1000...they're all good!):

#997 Locking people out of the car and pretending to drive away

#995 Finding money you didn’t even know you lost

#992 Being the first table to get called up for the dinner buffet at a wedding

#990 Picking up a q and a u at the same time in Scrabble

#980 Old, dangerous playground equipment

#958 Being the first person into a really crowded movie theater and getting the prime seats

#943 Using Q-Tips the way you’re not supposed to use them

#935 Eating cookies like Cookie Monster

#933 The first scoop out of a jar of peanut butter

#922 Getting a trucker to blow their horn

#817 Doing something half-assed at the last minute and getting away with it

#816 When the late-night pizza order arrives really, really early

#921 Snow days

#920 Getting the eyelash out of your eye

#909 Bakery air

#900 Multitasking while brushing your teeth

#890 Really, really tall people

#874 The Five Second Rule

#861 Not getting a hangover when you were expecting to get one

#837 Pushing those little buttons on the soft drink cup lid

Something New

2010-05-17T10:07:00.000-07:00

I don't go out that much, but it seems the last month or so I've been heading out every weekend to Whyte or downtown to a bar for some reason or another. We usually hit up the same places...and it gets a little boring to be honest. Suite 69, The Pint, Cook County...they're fun places, but when you're craving something new - especially on a beautiful spring night that feels like summer, they don't always cut it.

On Friday night, a few of us girls decided to walk up Whyte Ave to see if anything caught our eye. We popped into a few places before we went into the Australian-themed pub called The Walkabout (used to be Thirsty Turtle). It was great! Two open patios to enjoy the summer breeze, decent dancefloor, cheap drinks, good crowd, clean bathroom....and several tables of goodlooking guys...nice. (I was scoping for my single friend of course!)

Check it out if you have a chance. I hope to be back on a warm summer night (I'm thinking after a supper of nachos and margaritas at Julio's...)

Seriously, summer can't be beat.

Six for Summer

2010-05-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

Back to my goals...I haven't forgot about you, and I do realize I have just over a year left to complete them! Goals aren't goals unless they're written down (for me anyway!), so here's exactly what I would like to accomplish within the next couple months:

redo the fireplace (wrangle my Dad for some help hopefully)
redo my laundry room
road trip (I'm thinking out by Nordegg somewhere?)
dive (I'm so scared to go in the water headfirst...this is a biggie for me!)
golf
weigh 115 lbs

I think this is a doable amount...some are work, while others should be fun to complete. I think that work/life balance is really important to feel fulfilled and happy. I've certainly realized just how important that is since I started my new job...I feel slightly more relaxed day to day, and find myself not stressing over tiny to-do's I can't get to every night. And maybe the sunshine that comes through my office window a bit more often has something to do with my brighter outlook...

So ready for summer!

I'm Back...

2010-05-07T14:33:00.000-07:00

Lack of posting is because I couldn't access blogger for the longest time. Long story, but it's sorted out now. I've been tagged by Magz again...of course I'll own up! On today's menu: five questions, five answers.

Where were you five years ago?

~Just finished up my second year of my Professional Writing Degree
~Working at the Edmonton Country Club
~Dancing with Canadian Showgirlz
~Dating Trav of course
~Living with Nikki B (but I'm not sure where though!)

Where would you like to be five years from now?

~On our gorgeous quarter, in our dream house
~Beginning our family
~Overhauling the local dance studio
~Working part-time at home, writing magazine articles and freelancing
~Healthy, fit, happy

What was on your to-do list today? (or is!)

~go to the drugstore
~fill up the car
~go the the library
~go to G&E and get dog food
~bank

What snacks do you enjoy?

~tortilla chips and gaucamole
~brown rice cakes with almond butter
~Babybel
~bananas
~oatmeal with homemade chocolate chunks

What five things would you do if you were a billionaire?

~hire a personal accountant
~buy vacation homes all over the place!
~buy a dance studio for me and the Habs for Trav (Am I out of money yet?!)
~help out Trav's family and mine
~donate to a large list of organizations that matter most to us

And I'm tagging:
Crystal
Hillary
Sassy Molassy
Stacy
Jon

Tackling Tuna

2010-04-29T19:52:00.000-07:00

I was a sugar freak. Addict. Chocolate pop-tarts for breakfast was a common occurrence...so was chocolate chip cookies. Or often, nothing at all.

Fast forward nine years, and I think I can officially call myself a healthy eater. Although I try not to be about labels...I'm a big believer in enjoying things in moderation. I've found though through my eating overhaul that small changes set you up for the bigger ones - and it just gets easier as you start feeling better.

I started fairly small - no pop. Diet or otherwise. Once I handled that and didn't miss it (I was never much of a pop drinker, and when it come alcohol, I'm all about the vodka water), I eliminated all juices with added sugar. Since then, here's some small changes I've made...not that I don't enjoy the "off-limits" things once in a while, but it's what I try to avoid almost every day.

1. No pop/fruit punch (any beverage with added sugar)
2. No white sugar
3 No refined flour
4. Only natural peanut butter
5. Chocolate 70% cocoa or higher

Those are the main ones...I also avoid HFCS, sodium benzoate, MSG...basically anything I can't pronounce! As a side note, did you know that in Canadian-made products, HFCS is labeled as glucose-fructose? Sneaky sneaky!

The other bonus with my small changes is that I try new foods - I was a pretty "safe" eater (but not really because I was eating crap!) I now love zucchini, tomatoes, onions, salmon (getting used to it anyway), asparagus, sweet potato...that's a big step for me! I now love to cook and bake...it's can be stressful...but usually I find it relaxing and have a sense of accomplishment when everyone enjoys the food I've made.

One food I haven't made peace with yet is tuna...I had a nasty childhood experience with it when we visited friends of my Dad's. I remember the lady slapping it out of the can onto a piece of white bread and staring at me as I took one bite and almost threw up. I'm sure it wasn't that bad...I just had the thought my whole life that tuna could possibly kill me...so it's finally on the list for me to eat this week! Hopefully made in a tastier way though...what's the best way to eat it when you're an newbie? I'm thinking a tuna salad sandwich or tuna melt?

I hope tuna won't disappoint me...

Missing the country...

2010-04-29T19:35:00.000-07:00

Nothing but a number...

2010-04-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

I was going through my old emails this morning, and found this forward from a friend that I actually enjoyed enough to keep around. Hopefully it'll brighten your Monday morning a tad.

George Carlin's Views on Aging

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions. 'How old are you?' 'I'm four and a half!' You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key.

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead. 'How old are you?' 'I'm gonna be 16!' You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life . .. You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony. YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would! So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60. You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; 'I Was JUST 92.'

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. 'I'm 100 and a half!' May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them.'

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil'sworkshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, whois> with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them , at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

And if you don't send this to at least 8 people - who cares?

I Preached Before, I'll Preach Again

2010-04-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

Great article from the Journal I just stumbled upon...certainly worth a read. Plus a recipe!

Have we lost our ability to celebrate flavourful food that nourishes?

By Karen Gram, Canwest News ServiceApril 15, 2010

"You will get more nutrition and health protection from eating a whole apple than you will ever get from eating applesauce or apple juice," dietitian Liz Pearson said. "The more processed, the more sugar added, the more all these other things done to it, generally the less healthy it is."Photograph by: Photos.com, canada.comToronto-based dietitian and author Liz Pearson thinks Canadians have lost their love for food. It's an ironic statement considering the statistics about how many of us are overweight or obese.

It's also ironic because she has spent a whole hour itemizing the nutrient values of foods we should be eating, as if we should eat these foods just because they are good for us, not because good food (imagine a perfectly ripe peach or a slice of freshly baked bread) sends us straight to sensory nirvana.

Asked if she thought our society was becoming obsessed with the nutritional content of foods, Pearson agreed that on the one hand that may be so.

"But at the same time, I say almost 70 per cent of Canadians are overweight and almost 40 per cent are obese. Somebody needs to start paying attention to their health."

Pearson, who co-authored Ultimate Foods for Ultimate Health, says Canadians are an "obesogenic" population, meaning we live in conditions that lead us to become excessively fat. Probably because of that, the foods we associate with pleasure are sin foods.

"We think we get enjoyment and pleasure from eating high-fat, high-salt, not-good-for-you foods," she said. "But when people learn to eat healthy, they see how flavourful and wonderful it can be.

"I think we have lost our ability to just celebrate food, just as a way to not only nourish your body, but also to share in life with family and friends."

That's why Pearson isn't giving up her day job yet. As she says, somebody's got to get Canadians off the burgers and back to the harvest table.

So here she is, crossing the country, preaching the benefits of whole grains and dark leafy greens, and rattling off the most important fundamentals to good nutritional practices.

- Eat foods the way nature provides them.

"You will get more nutrition and health protection from eating a whole apple than you will ever get from eating applesauce or apple juice," she said. "The more processed, the more sugar added, the more all these other things done to it, generally the less healthy it is."

- Eat fat to absorb essential fat-soluble vitamins, but not too much and not the animal kind.

While we need fat to absorb vitamins A, E, D, K and carotenoids, it packs a calorie wallop, having twice as many calories as protein or carbs, so Pearson recommends choosing low-fat foods and making sure the fat you eat is good fat, the stuff you get from fatty fish and extra virgin olive or canola oil.

If you eat animal products, which are high in "bad" saturated fats that clog arteries, choose lean varieties like skinless chicken or loin cuts of beef, rather than ground beef. Drink skim milk. Eat fish.

- Eat carbohydrates for calories and to fuel your brain and muscles.

But choose complex carbs like whole grains and fruit and vegetables. Complex carbs are high in fibre, which we need for digestive health and gut health and for reducing cancer risk of the gastrointestinal tract. Fibre also keeps us full longer. But whole grains also have high nutritional content, she says, adding she doesn't mean only 100 per cent whole-grain bread. She also means whole-grain pasta and brown rice or quinoa.

- Eat moderate amounts of protein to repair and build muscles.

Pearson says it's a myth that athletes need high-protein diets.

Ideally we should have two to three servings of meat or meat alternatives every day. If it's meat or fish, the portion size should be about the size of a deck of cards. If it's beans, the Canada Food Guide recommends a ¾-cup serving and a ¼-cup for nuts.

As for the types of protein, Pearson would really love people to eat more beans. Black beans, kidney beans and soy beans are excellent sources of both carbohydrates and protein and they have amazing health promotion properties, including antioxidants.

- Eat your antioxidants and cancer-fighting vegetables with every meal.

Antioxidants protect cells from damage that leads to disease, she says. Berries have the most among fruits. Artichoke hearts have the most among veggies.

- Don't forget the chocolate. Dark chocolate has more antioxidants than green tea or even blueberries. Great for pleasure too.

There you have it. Follow these principles and your body may say "Hallelujah." After a while, it will become automatic and you can stop obsessing and start really enjoying.

Then maybe Pearson can give up her day job.

*The only thing I slightly disagree with is the dietician's take on protein and athletes...they need lots in my mind!

~~~~~~

Asparagus, Grape Tomatoes, Portobello Mushrooms & Sliced Almonds, Whole Wheat Penne

This recipe is loaded with good nutrition, providing a great source of fibre, vitamin E, calcium and iron. Developed for the Almond Board of California by Liz Pearson.

1 box (375 g or 5 cups) whole wheat uncooked penne rigate pasta
2 cups (500 mL) grape tomatoes cut into halves
½ cup (125 mL) fresh basil, chopped

5 tbsp (75 mL) extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 cups (500 mL) 3 large Portobello mushrooms, chopped

3 cups (750 mL) 1 bunch of asparagus, chopped
1 cup (250 mL) sliced almonds
4 cloves garlic crushed
1 tbsp (15 mL) ginger, minced
½ tsp (2 mL) pepper

¼ tsp (1 mL) crushed red pepper
½ tsp (2 mL) salt (optional) Parmesan cheese

Bring large pot of water to a boil for cooking the pasta. While waiting for the water to boil, halve grape tomatoes and chop basil. Mix together in a small bowl, adding 2 tbsp (25 mL) of extra virgin olive oil. Set aside.
Dice onion and chop mushrooms. Chop asparagus into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces. Discard the coarse woody ends of asparagus stalks. Crush garlic and mince ginger.
Add penne to boiling water. Follow package directions for done-ness. Most whole wheat penne requires about 12 to 13 minutes of cooking time.
While the pasta is cooking, in another saucepan, saute onions in 1/4 cup (50 mL) of virgin olive oil for 1 to 2 minutes at medium heat.
Add the mushrooms, asparagus, almonds, pepper and crushed red pepper to the saucepan.
Saute for about 6 minutes or until the asparagus is tender yet crisp.
Add garlic and ginger to saucepan and saute for another 1 to 2 minutes. Be careful not to let the garlic burn.
When the pasta is cooked, drain the water and add pasta back into the large pot. Add bowl containing grape tomatoes mixture along with the sauteed vegetables and almonds. Mix all ingredients together gently.

Serve with Parmesan cheese. Serves 6 people.

For more information and recipe ideas, visit wholegrainpasta.ca.

Crunch Time

2010-04-16T07:58:00.000-07:00

I would guess that most of you incorporate some type of abdominal crunch into your workout. I do too...and usually I feel the burn when I'm doing them. The problem is I never feel anything in my abs the next day, and I wonder if it's even making a difference. (I'm a big believer in no pain, no gain!)

A few days ago I did this workout of Zuzana's from Bodyrock TV...and my abs still ache. It hurts (in a good way!) to stretch in the morning, to laugh, to twist - and I love it! I feel like I've finally hit the sweet spot. Check out the video, and you'll see the crunches that are causing me to still move gingerly...three days later.

Failure...my greatest fear?

2010-04-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

I'll admit, I'm a sucker for inspirational quotes...yet I'm still picky. Most of them don't make make me stop for longer than a moment before moving on.

But the ones the do...they make a strong impression. I randomly came across two yesterday that I actually had to scribble in my notebook. They weren't even intended to fall in the category of "inspirational quotes," but I'm taking them that way. And both share the same subject: failure.

Always act as if failure isn't possible.

This one comes from Oxygen magazine (I'm a big fan now...it's just so sensible!). And the other quote is encouraging just in case failure does show up (I know, I know...sorta goes against the point the first one is making...)

"Failure is the world's way of saying 'excuse me, you're moving in the wrong direction'."

That one is slightly modified from words Oprah once spoke, about her first failed tv show.

So there...my simple concepts that have taken me far too long to understand ; )

Has anyone ever said anything that just clicked for you...words you will always remember?

Better Writing in a Few Blurbs

2010-04-12T07:34:00.000-07:00

Isn't the word blurb cool? I just had to use it. Another word I've been hearing myself say a lot lately is absolutely. It sounds so enthusiastic and positive, don't you think?

Anyway, on the topic of words and writing, I'd like to share a piece written by Amy Wylie of Wylie Communications. It's short and sweet and might be helpful in pumping up your writing a bit.

Kindle your creativity: 3 tactics to help you bolster your writing

Authors’ shining examples are out there, waiting to inspire...

I thought the thing I’d love most about my e-reader would be the extra mini-fridge-size space it leaves in my luggage for necessities like thick Marimekko sweaters and airport-size Fazer chocolate bars that I collect on my trips. It turns out that my favorite feature is “My clippings,” a tool that transforms my highlights and notes into text that I can transfer to my laptop.

After a couple of months of using my e-reader, I decided to review my clippings. What I found will help me — and, I hope, you — model the masters, or steal techniques from some of the year’s best writers to make your own writing more creative and compelling.

1. Use metaphor, not modifiers.
One problem with modifiers — thin, lean, straight — is that they don’t paint pictures in your readers’ heads. Instead describing your subject with adjectives and adverbs, engage your readers’ senses with analogy.
Meg Gardiner used this technique to describe a charismatic religious leader in her Edgar Award-winning mystery, China Lake: “Peter Wyoming didn’t shake hands with people; he hit them with his presence like a rock fired from a sling-shot. He was a human nail, lean and straight with brush-cut hair, and when I first saw him he was carrying a picket sign and enough rage to scorch the ground.”

Find yourself writing an adjective or adverb? Could you develop an analogy instead?

2. Coin a word.

Rebecca Goldstein is quite the neologist. In 36 Arguments for the Existence of God, she creates half-and-half words in this passage.

“Auerbach harbors such impatience for the glib literati—the ‘gliberati,’ as one of his own digerati had christened them—that Cass has wondered whether there might not be some personal history.”

Can’t find just the right word? Why not make one up?

3. Twist a phrase. To call attention to an idea, consider changing a word or two in a colloquialism to give it new meaning.
After seeing David Mamet’s Boston Marriage hilariously performed by the Kansas City Actors Theatre, I read the play to make sure I didn’t miss any lines like this phrase twister:

“ANNA: Have you taken a vow of arrogance?”

Want to call readers’ attention to your point? Surprise and delight your readers with twist of phrase.

Regardless of your reading technology, modeling the masters is one of the best ways to improve your writing every day. When you find a passage or phrase or word you wish you’d written, clip it, study and master the technique yourself.

The better your reading, the better your writing.

What’s in your clippings?

Made me smile this morning...

2010-04-09T09:10:00.000-07:00

And Aidan set my heart aflutter.
SEX AND THE CITY 2!

http://mashable.com/2010/04/09/satc2-trailer/

Blah blah blah brochure...

2010-04-07T08:38:00.000-07:00

In the words of Ke$ha. And look at that, I remembered the dollar sign in her name! But enough about her...I want to spend some time on something far more interesting...BROCHURES.

Ha. If you're in the communications industry you'll understand what I mean...it seems every client, and often your coworkers, liken the word "brochure" to being the ultimate problem solver...the answer to every conundrum. Or at the very least, a really sticky bandaid.

You see, a lot of time and effort can go into a brochure...and usually this exceeds the proposed budget. And the worst part? No one reads the damn thing except the people who created it.

I'm not saying brochures should be shunned and never ever considered. All I'm saying is that it's worthwhile to consider other collateral options. Maybe you don't even need collateral at all! Maybe it's a contest you advertise through twitter instead. Maybe it's a calendar. Old school, I know...but how many houses or garages have you been in where a small business calendar hangs on the wall, boasting the company name and phone number day in and day out? That's certainly miles above the bottom of a recycling bin.

Right now I'm exploring options other than a brochure...have you ever seen something worthwhile that WASN'T a brochure? That you actually read? That actually stuck with you?

Bye Bye Bye Brochure. (N*Sync of course...notice I remembered the star. There is a star, right?)

I won't miss you too much...because I know in all liklihood I'll be seeing you again.

Tweets or Twats?

2010-04-06T11:24:00.000-07:00

I know this subject is being beaten to death as of late, but here goes anyway...I'm embarking on becoming a regular on twitter to spread the message of Alberta Conservation. My question is...do you use twitter? Do you love it? Is it merely a trend (as my husband would argue), or the beginning of a new era of advertising? I agree with the latter...and in the meantime, I'm going to do my best to meet new people and make the most of what twitter has to offer.

Check us out: @ConserveAlberta

Happy tweeting!

Weekends in point form.

2010-04-06T11:16:00.000-07:00

Because I write full sentences at my day job ; )

This weekend:

Hank & Vinnie (Jackshit dog...Trav's mom's) got chased by three coyotes! We were in the middle of field in the middle of nowhere...the wellfed coyotes were thisclose, nipping at Vinnie's little booty...whew! Haven't had my heart stop like that in a while.

Trav and I checked out potential farmland to buy...our future dream house locale?

We saw 100 white-tailed deer!

I ate too many mini eggs

I saw Hot Tub Time Machine...hehe

I shopped at Save On and Planet Organic...finally bought a GIANT tub of coconut oil and it was on sale! Score.

I made some progress on my teen jazz class...they're beginning to smile when they dance!

I had a great catch-up with TareBear

Neti-what?

2010-04-01T07:26:00.000-07:00

My sinuses always bother me around this time of year. I'm recovering from a cold I've had for about a week, and now allergies are just around the corner. The only way I've been able to sleep this week is a few squirts of my crack, Dristan. Trust me, nasal spray addictions are the worst because when you do finally check yourself into rehab and go cold turkey, you feel the pain. Not being able to breathe is so uncomfortable...all you can think about all day long.

So after complaining about this on fb, and old aquaintance of mine suggested a neti-pot. I've heard of it a long time ago, maybe once...and now I'm curious. Any experiences using it? It looks really uncomfortable, but to think I'd be washing out my entire nasal cavity is rather exciting. It's like ear candling...I really want to try that too.

Sorry for the gross post. I hope you understand that my addiction to Dristan is taking over.

Here's a bit of what wiki had to say:
Neti pots flush out the nasal cavities by using gravity to draw the flow of saline. Historically, neti pots were used in yoga to assist in clearing the nasal passages, since controlled breathing plays a central role in yoga. The neti pot was introduced to the West approximately thirty years ago, and today many people in the West have taken up a modified type of Neti practice called Jala Neti (water neti) using a neti pot.

The use of a neti pot requires mixing up a saline solution (salt and water) that will be poured through the nasal passages. The neti pot used with a saline solution has been shown to be an effective treatment for hay fever, sinusitis, and other nasal conditions. A conference abstract presented in November 2009 indicated that frequent nasal irrigation led to higher rates of sinus infections - though short term use seemed to be effective.

So I'm thinking about it...is it hokey? Or is it a natural way to get some relief?

I know, I know...

2010-03-29T08:52:00.000-07:00

Shame on me for my hiatus. I apologize! I won't make excuses, I will just say I started a new job.

Yay! It NEEDED to happen. I was no longer happy...in fact hadn't been in awhile...sometimes it takes longer than it should for me to be honest with myself. Know what I mean? I'm always so scared to admit that something isn't working out. When I finally do though, things start falling into place.

But that's how gut instinct works...and gut instinct is something I'm working on listening to more and more. Which leads me to my next point. I was reading through my 101 goals, because really it's why I keep this blog going. More of a personal sounding board to keep my thoughts and goals on track. Otherwise I forget. I'm making alright progress...although the section seriously slacking is the adventure section. Ouch! So my theme for this upcoming month? CONFIDENCE CONFIDENCE CONFIDENCE. To step out of my comfort zone in my personal life, work life and social life. I've definitely improved that in '10, but I can take it much farther. So, for April, I pledge to:

~listen to my gut instinct as much as possible

~ask questions and speak up...I have important things to say!

~stop worrying about what people who do not matter to me think about me or my life

My version of spring cleaning. Slightly more precise goals will make my vision for myself happen.

I have much more to tell you...about my new job, our recent trip to Mexico (Cozumel is amazing!) and the hiccups along the way. I didn't even post on my guidette birthday party! Shame on me...

New lunch experience!

2010-02-22T14:19:00.000-08:00

Some of you may know I'm attempting to "eat clean" – which doesn't mean bland, boring food as many people think. If anything, searching out tasty, healthy food has opened my palate up to a whole new world! I've tried so many things I would've NEVER ever ate back when I was a sugar-addict. I now love tomatoes (whipping up a quick bruschetta toast is the best for an easy supper!), spinach, eggs, oatmeal...yum. I can't let chocolate go completely though...so I've learned to make my own chocolate chunks for my morning oatmeal out of carob powder, cocoa powder, agave and a bit of coconut oil...so rich and delish. That reminds me, coconut is now my new obsession. More on that later...

Anyway, my lunch today. There's a place downtown I didn't know existed until my sis told me about it. She works right beside it on Jasper Ave. It's called Healthfare, and prides itself on local ingredients and healthy food. The inside is entirely made up of environmentally sustainable materials. It's bright, clean and cheery...I loved it. And while it's not cheap, it's a nice healthy treat every once in a while. Today I got their sweet potato fries (although I saw they were actually yams...anyone have any comment on this!?) with their low-fat garlic dip (ahhhmazing!), and an asparagus dill salad. Tasty. Healthy. Love it. Check it out if you're nearby. I plan to try their peanut lime chicken rice bowl next.

Anyone else have any other healthy haunts they love in Edmonton?

Cuuuuuute.

2010-02-03T08:40:00.001-08:00

So you know that folder on my desktop? Where I used to cram wedding inspiration photos? Well now I use it a little less for wedding ideas, and more for whatever happens to strike my fancy. Check out what I've been hoarding.

She has crooked teeth exactly like mine. Therefore I heart.

So I'm not a huge fan of Kristin Cavallari, but I love her easy, breezy beach looks. She always looks natural and unfussy...it's refreshing.

Love the freshness of Miss Blake. Love the outfit, and everything about it!

Lately, I've been loving how cute Lea Michelle has been looking. She rocks...I love Glee and wow, what a voice!

So I'm not positive I love the colour...but the cut in AMAZING. And her figure looks unreal in this. Love, love, love.

What a gorgeous barrette, no? I would love to try this with my hair. The texture is just divine.

Love everything about this look! I want the outfit, and I adore her hair and makeup.

Halfway?

2010-02-03T08:25:00.001-08:00

Like a lot of my online friends, I'm still plugging away at my 101 goals in a 1001 days. Here's the latest I've been able to check off:

Redo the second bathroom. This one was a biggie. And we're pretty much there. All we need to do still is find a special knob for the tub. We need a particular one that is difficult to find. We found a cheap one but the plastic snapped the first time I used it...so in my mind, this is close enough to done! Pictures will be coming soon.

Do a proper chin up and pull up. Yay! This was tough for me, and I'm still excited I FINALLY made it. I can to three chin ups and only one or two pull ups. So I'd like to get those reps up to five...then ten.

Write a handwritten letter to Travis. I used to always do this, years ago. I finally wrote one for his 26th birthday, instead of a birthday card.

Get a library card and use it. I've got five books to read ASAP!

So I think I'm only about halfway (eep!) but if feels good to check off more, even if it's only a few.

Let's daydream for a bit.

2010-01-27T12:14:00.000-08:00

I follow the runway sometimes...but nothing has got me this excited in a long time. How dreamy are these dresses from the Elie's Saab's 2010 collection? I also love the fact that the runway itself looked watery and reflected off the shimmery dresses. If I could have another wedding (to the same man of course!) I think I'd wear something totally different (not white!). Maybe I'd wear the last one here...the muted teal...and theme the whole wedding with that airy, dreamy feeling. Beautiful.

A smart card.

2010-01-26T10:59:00.000-08:00

Finally...after probably TWO years of thinking about it, I've got my butt down to the library and snatched myself a library card! 12 bucks. And I can stop trying to read books I want in the bookstore! Ha. The only small annoyance is that all the new or popular books are on hold constantly...for a lot of my top picks, I'm number 203 or 167... I hope it doesn't take too long!

I just finished reading The Road, (2007 Pulitzer Prize winner) and that got me back into my urge to want to read. It was an unusual style. So barren and cold. But I enjoyed changing it up from my usual (will have to see the movie now too. Who doesn't love Viggo?) The thing is, when I'm reading, I love it. It's hard for me to put a book down...I just becomes far too long between my good reads. So I'm pledging to get back to reading regularly, not only for fun, but also for ways to improve my vocab and explore different styles. And it's always a great conversation starter too. We spent a lot of time talking books with the ladies at a family get-together this past weekend in Three Hills (Trav's Dad's side) and I was dismayed to realize I hadn't read one of all the top picks! So that's how I created the list below.

I have them on hold right now. Do you guys have any other must-reads I should get my hands on?

~Glass Castle

~Eat, Pray, Love

~Poisonwood Bible

~Book of Negroes

~Kite Runner

~The Last Dance (Josephine B. Trilogy)

~In Defense of Food

~How to Make Love Like a Pornstar (hehe)

I know these are some picks that have been popular for awhile now, but it doesn't matter to me. No more I should...I will! Book club anyone?

Playing the game...

2010-01-25T10:49:00.000-08:00

So I like being cyber-tagged...I'm not to the point where it happens often (which is totally fine!) so I enjoy it when it does happen. Megz from This Next Step passed this along:

Write 10 things that make you happy, and then tag 10 people to do the same:

Easy peasy! Perfect timing too. It's Monday, which is reason enough to think happy thoughts. Here's the big ten right now (but they'd probably be different tomorrow!)

~Hank and Saku sleeping with me when Trav is on nights

~Bodyrock.tv

~Learning to eat clean and becoming a better cook because of it

~Reading again (I've got a list must-reads!)

~Playing with two-year-olds but not living with them (yet) ; )

~Oats with gooey chocolate chips

~Planning a vacation

~Having a clean house

~Throwing my hair into a messy bun

~Teaching a great dance class when everything just connects

Been feeling a little blah lately...but this is a fantastic reminder to keep my chin up, as my Mom would say. Thanks Meaghan. Oh, and this is an open invitation...so please go ahead and tag yourself. (I'm not lazy, I swear...I just want people who want to actually do it to do it!)

Stressssssssssssss...

2010-01-15T09:26:00.000-08:00

Work has been, well, work: a challenge to stay sane. But it's Friday, and the week has had its highs and lows. The trick is to remember the highs, I know...but I've always been so terrible at that! People who seem so confident, so sure of themselves in every situation no matter how unfamiliar or big the situation is, seem to keep those good things in their head. While I internally run through my weaknesses, they've wiped them out of their heads completely. How do they do that? Or is it a fake-it-til-you-make-it thing? Whatever is, I'm going to try. I think confidence is the foundation of success...and that attitude may make my work weeks go a little smoother. Or at least benefit me more in the long run! So no second-guessing. No letting anyone determine your worth. Let's try it.

And I'm still working to be able to wear this soon ; )

I plan on posting my fool-proof EAT CLEAN recipes right away. It's taken some experimenting, but I'm finding this new way of eating to be a fun challenge...who would've guessed?

Recipe for the perfect weekend...

2010-01-11T09:36:00.000-08:00

no appointments or deadlines
no work (other than cooking supper for a house full of boys)
a movie
attempting ice hockey outside with perfect sunny winter weather
getting up early to buy groceries at the farmers' market
playing with your dog
napping
reading something you WANT to read
having a clean (fully vacuumed!) house
having just enough energy to do a couple workouts
browsing Chapters for hours with a London Fog in hand
ensuring you do all this with your fabulous husband by your side!

It must've been this combination of things, but I had such a simple but perfect weekend. I feel reenergized and content. Happy. And ready to take on this work week.

Back and...?

2010-01-04T10:47:00.000-08:00

Feeling strange. Maybe it has something to do with the fact I slept in until noon yesterday? My patterns are completely out of whack. Not ready to be back working either...I was enjoying the sleep in/workout/watch tv/browse recipes/make chosen recipe/stay up late watching a movie/repeat routine. Sigh. Usually at this time of year I'm so gung ho about a new year ahead...making plans, promises and knowing not all of it is doable but going for it anyway.

This year I haven't made set resolutions, but my 101 in 1001 days is still running. If I had to nail it down, there are two bullet points floating around in my head:

1. GO TO BED EARLIER. Why, oh why is this so tough? It's certainly not the first time it's made an appearance on zee blog. (Always wanted to write 'zee blog'...not sure why. But there it is.) It sounds easy but I think it's my hardest goal to achieve yet!

2. Learn French. Oui oui oui! I so badly yearn to yammer away in foreign tongue. Then I could understand Trav's hockey games too. (Cause we all know how fulfilling that will be ;) ) But seriously, I do live in a French neighbourhood, I have a French name, and we plan to name our first boy a very French name. It just seems fitting. Ha.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Finally...

2009-12-21T08:53:00.000-08:00

My first wedding blog feature! Check it out if you have a second : )

JAMA!

2009-12-14T10:50:00.000-08:00

Our trip was excellent. There's much to say, but I won't bore you with details so here's the summarized version: Food was excellent, staff was aggressive, airports suck, weather was pretty much perfect, rooms were nice (but don't look too closely), and the scenery was serene. AHHH...a vacation I really, really needed. Any cures to get rid of post-vacation funk though? I'm especially needing it coming home to -38 weather : (

Dance sesh on the beach.

Oh ya, I went brunette the night we left!

And Michael C. Hall...aka Dexter. (No, he wasn't at the resort, but Travis was told about 15 times that he looked like him by various people.) I definitely see a resemblance. He was told this a few years ago too when Michael was in Six Feet Under. Huh.

Off to the beach...

2009-11-30T09:39:00.000-08:00

in one sleep!

Still a pile of work to wade through, but it'll work itself out.

In the meantime, LOVED this post from my friend Megz...she always inspires me and drives me through her words...thanks Meaghan! Hope you don't mind me sharing this :)

Enjoy.

NOW NEVER ENDS.

Seriously!! Life is what it is, and it is what you make of it. Why are you so settled with "good enough"? Why don't you want more from your life? Why are you letting other people dictate your worth? WHY do you keep waiting for tomorrow?

Why are you sitting back and accepting the hand you have been dealt? YOU (and only you) control your destiny and your life. You make decisions every day, and you are the one who gets to determine which choices are excuses and which choices will propel you further ahead.

No one else will ever, EVER get to live your life. It is yours for a reason, a gift from God. Use it to its fullest potential. Surround yourself with people whose sole purpose is to lift you up and help you grow; leave behind those that are holding you back. They are only holding you back because they are scared of the greatness you are capable of. They are scared that they too might possess such greatness.

Don't be trapped by fear.

Quit settling, and start living. Stretch your mind to encompass the possibilities of this world, and start discovering all that you really are and can be.

Now never ends.

Pull Ups

2009-11-25T08:39:00.000-08:00

Can you do pull ups? I've never, ever been able to. In fact, I was the kid that could never conquer monkey bars. (I still can't swing across; it's embarrassing!) Whereas my friend Tara, the tiniest little thing, can pull herself up like nobody's business. WTF?

So my new goal: to do ONE pull-up. A couple of days ago I bought a pull-up bar from Winners for 12 bucks, and Trav installed it yesterday. I did a workout yesterday with about 70 pull-ups...of course I did them all assisted with my ottoman underneath my feet. By Christmas I hope to do one completely and utterly unassisted with perfect form. Long-term? I hope to do ten in a row. In fact, I just may need to add that into my 101 goals...

Meet Sak Man

2009-11-15T20:45:00.001-08:00

**UPDATE

Saku puked on the kitchen table the other day and Trav almost killed him. Seriously. He wants to get rid of him! I keep changing the subject when he brings it up, so I think we're good for a little while...

My chubby kitty Saku. I need to put him on a diet...but all he cares about is food. Cats are cuter when they're chubby, aren't they?

Another Redo...finally!

2009-11-15T20:37:00.000-08:00

These aren't the best photos, but check out what I did with this hand-me-down dresser. I think it was built in the early sixties. I loved the shape, but didn't love the finish. And no handles drove me crazy!

I hauled out all the pieces (on my own!), then proceeded to sand them down with an automatic sander I borrowed from Trav's grandpa.

And this is my favourite part. I absolutely love Anthropologie for the beautiful things they have. But I hate that they're so expensive. Alas, I caved and bought seven of these gorgeous knobs (it was so hard to choose!) at 8 bucks each. I love them.

And the final product! Don't mind the pillows on top...Trav always throws them there. Sigh...guys and their pillows. At least he's not throwing them on the floor anymore. So in total, the project cost me 80 bucks (knobs and primer.) I used leftover paint and borrowed everything else.
I'll feature my next project soon...it actually involves something that hangs above the dresser. I'm still deciding if I want to do more with it, or leave it as is. And after that...I'm really hoping Santa will get me a brand new kitchen counter and backsplash!! Forest green just doesn't do it for me anymore...

This is why I'm growing out my hair...

2009-11-11T09:40:00.000-08:00

So chic; I'm in love. Found at http://experienceparisienne.com/blog/ooh-la-la-how-to-get-a-perfectly-messy-bun/

Ooh La La! How To Get that Perfectly Messy Bun

Whenever I visit Paris, the girls always seem to have such perfectly tousled, bedhead-y hair. So, in Miami, I asked my friend C., a hair stylist, to show me how to twist up my hair casually but beautifully. (No more crappy buns with a rubber band!)

Here are her six steps…

Step #1: Make your hair dirty. “I wash my hair only once a week,” admits C. “When your hair is too clean, it won’t stay put.” After showering, she massages in eitherAveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion or a homemade spray, made with one part sea salt, three parts water and a few spritzes of leave-in conditioner. “It makes my hair piece-y enough to work with,” she says.

(During the week, C. uses dry shampoo to keep her hair from getting greasy. Rene Furterer Naturia is her favorite. “And it smells like roses!” she says.)

Step #2: Next, pull together your hair and hold it straight up (“like Lucky Troll Doll,” she laughs).

Step #3: Then twist your hair down to a few inches above the crown.

Step #4: Wrap your hair around itself until it forms a loose bun, right on top of your head.

Step #5: Pin the bun in place with bobby pins. “Anywhere from four to eight, depending on how thick your hair is,” C. says. “You want it loose but secure.”

Step #6: Finally, pull loose strands of hair from the nape of your neck and around your face to make it look like you’ve worn the bun all day (or even slept in it!) And there you have it: That certain je ne sais quoi.

An old but favourite pastime...

2009-11-10T14:55:00.001-08:00

Back in the day, when I first got the internet and didn't yet understand what it was, I used to look up clothes. And makeup. But mostly clothes. Today I had some time to surf around a little and looked up a site I used to always check out: Victoria's Secret. I go through flings with them...sometimes I'm loving what they're doing, and sometimes it just feels blah to me. One thing is for sure – their models are damn sexy! I love Marisa Miller. My favourite bikini that I bought in Vegas is Victoria's Secret too. The fit is incredible, especially of the bottoms...no smoosh goosh anywhere! Anyway, they've actually got some cute stuff out now. Check out my faves:

I just love off-the-shoulder. I don't know what it is, but it's just sexy to show the collarbone! Initially I wanted a off-the-shoulder wedding gown. Couldn't find any though.

Classic and sexy, hmmm? With jeans or a skirt.

Love the loose T look. Not sure I can rock it though. Not until the summer at least!

I've got my black leather jacket already...but I really, really LOVE this one. Awesome fit.

Another place I hardly get to shop at, but love, is French Connection. The fit is so great, and their pieces are always original and a little different from what everyone else is doing. I have to remember to mark a few of these down on my Xmas list! (Unless we get a new kitchen countertop instead...)

So that was my shopping trip this afternoon! Fun yet frugal... ; )

Yep, updates.

2009-11-10T10:35:00.000-08:00

I know we say it every year, but haven't the past few months been a blur? I can't believe we're only a few weeks away until we fly off to Jamaica for my best friend's wedding. I really need this vacation!

Our resort.

I've got to work on my maid, or matron (I sound old!) of honour speech. Being a full-time writer, I'm expected to have something funny, fabulous...the pressure is on! I keep putting it off, but I suppose I should just spill out the ideas on the page – dumb or not – and go from there. That's my usual working style...let it all out, then edit away!

In the meantime, I've been planning her stagette. Of course, it's themed...I wouldn't have it any other way! I can't reveal it yet, as she might be reading this...so stay tuned for pictures to follow. It's been a lot of thinking and organizing that has fallen on my shoulders, so I really hope it turns out to be memorable and fun.

Tara and I at a friend's wedding in September.

***

I've been spending a couple nights a week teaching at Dance Alberta, and for the most part, it's been good. A great learning experience! I haven't taught beginners in awhile, so in that sense it's been a challenge. Especially with my younger ones. I have noticed that kids just seem a whole lot lazier these days...is it just me or what? I remember in my classes when I was their age that I was always pushing myself to do better. Practicing and perfecting. They just don't seem to care. One girl asked me why we need to stretch or do a warmup. Another one just constantly asks me when the dancewear will be in so she can prance around in the DA logo and say "I'm a dancer." (I imagine this JT style from his Beyonce skit, ha!) I've been fairly tough on them but I think I need to up the ante. I just need to strike the right balance so they don't hate coming to my class! They'll thank me one day : )

Right now I've perusing costume choices online...fun! There's so much more available than when I used to dance it seems. Hopefully most of them like my choices...it's especially hard with the teens.

Cooking you can count on...

2009-10-26T08:52:00.000-07:00

I've been in the "experimental" phase of cooking for awhile now: getting to know what Trav likes, what I like, what's quick and easy and what's worth the effort. I try to use new recipes at every opportunity, and while I don't cook quite as much as I'd like, I've started to collect a handful of recipes I can whip up and know they'll be good. Here's a few of my random favourites; try them out if you have a chance. If they turn out for me, I guarantee you'll make them work too.

Pasta Carbonara

I had never tried this pasta until I made it myself. So delicious! Wholesome, pure ingredients. And yes, not the lowest in calories but it's real food. Kaitlyn and I whipped it up Friday night while sipping some shiraz – bliss. This is the recipe I use, from The Pioneer Woman Cooks. Ree Drummond has taught me so much about cooking and her recipes always turn out. I recommend anything she recommends!

Sweet Potato Fries and Garlic Aioli

Alright, so I don't make the fries from scratch...McCain actually sells them frozen, and they are a better choice than your regular bag of frozen fries. Since trying sweet potato fries last year Blue Plate downtown, I crave them all the time! However, the mayo-based dip (I know, I know, not the healthiest) is necessity. Always, always. This recipe is easy and quick, and tastes just like the restaurant's dip...if not better!

Cheesy Homemade Macaroni

Again, Pioneer Woman comes through! Never, ever resort KD again.

Crash Hot Potatoes

Such simple ingredients, so crunchy and tasty...if you're craving salt or crunch or potato chips, this will fit the bill. And with heart healthy olive oil...it's a much better choice!

Spinach Dip

Travis and I love Kelsey's...people make fun of us for going to the family restaurant, but if you try their spinach dip, you'd understand. Fricken amazing! It's exactly why we go. They used to deep fry their pita chips that went along with the dip, but now they have a baked variety...healthier yes, but not quite as exciting. I found this recipe that rips of the Kelsey's original, and it's pretty darn close! Great for parties, snacking, or just because.

I have more recipes...but those are the ones that initially come to mind. I'll have to do a dessert feature later, because we all know I'd rather indulge in a dessert if I had to choose!

: (

2009-10-23T09:44:00.001-07:00

I'm grumpy and exhausted. At least it's Friday, but ugh. That's not even getting me excited today! I couldn't sleep last night; I was up til about 3. That especially annoys me when I had an early night planned – all to myself. My brother came home with his gf and neither of them were very respectful to the fact that I was in the next room over.... GRRRRRRRRRRR! And it doesn't help that I'm the lightest sleeper ever and my mind likes to race AFTER 11 pm.

Sigh. I'm ready for Jamaica! We leave at the beginning of December, and I'm SO READY!

So here goes, I'm going to do my best to make this day enjoyable despite my complaints and groggy head. I have a million things to be grateful for. And one of those of course is you, so as always, thanks for listening... : )

Quick! New Blog Shoutouts...

2009-10-19T15:49:00.000-07:00

I'm becoming more and more of a blogger fiend...you get so much for free! This made me tear up a little...(must be the strange mood I've been in lately). It's pieces of advice we ALL can use.

And bodyrock.tv - my new go-to workout spot. Zuzana has the most amazing body and determination. And again, it's free.

Enjoy your Monday...I'm off to teach a room of hyper children dance.

Cut. It. Out.

2009-10-07T09:37:00.000-07:00

I've been attempting a healthier lifestyle the last few months or so. Nothing drastic, because this is something I want to be able to adapt and do forever. I've begun by making smallish changes slowly...educating myself along the way.

I've gotten much better at reading nutritional labels and now only eat cereal that has 10 grams of sugar or less, but at least 5 grams of fiber. Not many fit that bill! Kashi Flakes and Fiber is my favourite...but of course I do add in a handful of chocolate chips to take care of my sweet tooth first thing (I hope that doesn't cancel out the nutritional benefits)! I've also started eating almost as soon as I get up. It gets everything revved up and gives me a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

I've also cut out pop completely, diet or otherwise – including for mixed drinks, so that's why I've been a fan of vodka water. That's not to say I'm perfect all the time...at the odd party you're handed a drink mixed with pop and sometimes you don't have much of a choice but to drink it. But overall, there's hardly any pop coming my way. (Trav and I have even been bringing water to the movies!)

I'm ready for my next challenge now, and that will be to cut out margarine and butter on my bread (note that I will NEVER eliminate bread from my diet. It's just not worth going through life without it!!!). I'm going to try replacing it with olive oil. I'm trying to watch the preservatives in my bread too, and have heard that buying straight from a bakery is the way to go. It's ridiculous how many ingredients bagged, sliced bread has. So many additives...notice how it can last for weeks and weeks? That's just not natural; no wonder our bodies are getting confused and softening up. They don't know how to process it...and that goes for sooooo many fake foods. We're a processed nation, and I'm the first to admit I've been a slave to it. It's just so easy! This is much more of my concern as opposed to calorie or fat count. So for now I'm going to try the bakery...how can anyone argue with freshly baked bread?!

I could talk forever about this stuff as I learn more and more...I find it so fascinating in my quest to be healthier, stronger and fitter.

Have you cut out anything or made any recent changes in your diet or lifestyle?

New obsession

2009-09-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

Remember how I used to collect magazines? Well mostly I've cleaned up that habit a bit. To save us money I FINALLY purchased a subscription to Glamour, the magazine I do actually read and enjoy every single month. The rest of them? Shhh, don't tell, but I totally read them in the drugstore at lunchtime. Score! And I check out blogs a lot more to get my reader's fix. Seriously, I've figured in doing so I've saved about 40 bucks a month at least...around 500 bucks a year!

Alas, I have started enjoying something else though...workout videos! I bought two off ebay with some leftover paypal funds I had from a secret shop I did ages ago. I don't plan on getting a gym membership anytime soon, and I really enjoy working out at home (which makes it doable timewise...just throw on my clothes and do it! I save a ton of time.) I just needed a bit of variety because all I was doing was Jillian's videos (which will always be my staples; you know I love her). I just got a new one just the other day that I'm super excited to try, by Cathe Friedrich. She's supposed to more advanced, so I'm pumped to try it because most of them are introductory levels which doesn't do much for me now. My collection is at around 15 or so. Trav and I have Jamaica in December...that's two months to get it tight and together, so I've got no excuses to try every one! I'll certainly let you know how it goes.

Stalled but moving...

2009-09-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

Don't you hate that feeling? Every day I make it through my list of menial things to do: going here, going there, working, cleaning, shopping, filing, paying bills, etc. But then there's those bigger things that just don't happen. Read: bathroom reno. Ongoing for a couple of months now. Between Trav and I and our opposite schedules and multiple jobs, it just ain't happening! Instead I'm working on ways to forget about it and relax, haha. Right now the floor is torn up, and we finally went to End of the Roll and purchased some lino. The finish line is so far away...

Fresh and frugal?

2009-09-10T09:25:00.001-07:00

I've seen inspiration many places...from Jillian Michaels' latest book (LOVE!) to Young House Love's tips on living on less. Trav and I are budgeting tighter now, but that doesn't mean we can't have as much fun as before! I'm actually enjoying ways to cut back...it simplifies life and ensures you're spending your hard-earned money on things that are really important to you. And it certainly forces you to be creative, which is perhaps the best part for me. I have a couple of cheapo house projects on the go that I'm very excited about, so once those are complete, I'm super excited to share them – stay tuned!

In the meantime, I've examined other ways to live a little more simply, and finally thought to give this a try: natural cleaning products. I mean vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice. That's it. Nothing else. No windex, or clorex wipes (my fave), no vim, no bleach...you get the idea. It seemed a little hippie to me at first, but the more I research it, the more I get excited about (I know, getting excited about cleaning. I'm really turning into my mother!) I'm also a migraine sufferer, and usually wake up with headaches in the morning, so I'm hoping this helps. I'm extremely sensitive to chemicals. (I remember this one strong tub cleaner we had. Mom had me clean the shower and I threw up 12 times right after and had the worst shakes of my life! Isn't that scary?) So I thought this might be an interesting and much healthier route to try. And of course, it's cheap!

Here's the article that will get me on my way. I have the products (from the dollar store!)...I'm just using up my old cleaners (I don't want to waste everything) and then I'll be trying these tips out. I also found this article about the endless uses for vinegar totally entertaining. Happy cleaning!

Finally...professional wedding photos.

2009-08-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

I have over 500 photos, but here's a few (okay, a few more than a few) I randomly picked out!

By JDS Photography in Edmonton.

It's been OVER a year!

2009-08-10T13:47:00.000-07:00

I didn't even realize this until now, but my first post is dated July 7, 2008. Wow! I can't believe it's been a year. Now would probably be a good time to reevaluate those goals that hang out on the left side of my screen. I've had to alter a few, as I agree with a friend of mine: things change, nothing is set in stone, so as people we need to be flexible and change too. Otherwise, what's the point? You can't get stuck on the small things that don't go your way. As such I've made rather minor adjustments to my 101 goals...changed a few book titles. Mostly in parenthesis I explain what I've altered.

Now, the numbers: It's been just over 400 days, and here's what I've done (in no particular order):

1. Put up shelves in our kitchen. Too bad that hardly makes a dent in all the renos I plan to do! Alas, this small task pushed me to realize I can do much more alone. In fact, I just finished my dresser redo...it's gorgeous and a post on it is coming soon!

2. Finish the main bathroom. What a painful project. When you need boys' help, it can take a looong time. But the finished product is wonderful. In fact, I'm using that bathroom right now as a certain someone felt the need to tear apart our bedroom bathroom...knowing he had to go back to work. Yep, it's lacking plumbing and walls right now. Sigh. It will be in a state of disarray for awhile, but I do look forward to the finished project. I've been waiting for this one; it's been begging for a major makeover.

3. Finish all my mending. Well, it was done. But how can you keep up on that ALL the time? : ) Just one sweater to do now anyway.

4. Sort/figure out what to do with ever-expanding collections of magazines. I broke down and recycled them. Tear. But I do enjoy this light freeing feeling from letting them go! But I still miss them dearly.

5. Run the Glenora stairs five times in a row without a break. This is one of those goals where I surprised myself and blew the original goal out of the water. The Glenora stairs aren't as close at Millcreek, so Travis and I (finally running buddies!!!) have been running the latter. I set a new record for myself - 15 sets in 33 minutes. That's no breaks! Whooo. Next time, hopefully 16 sets.

6. Do Bikram yoga once a week for at 12 weeks. Self-explanatory. I've taken it back up again. It's still a challenge!

7. Perform an amazing lyrical solo at competition. As I said, amazing is negotiable, but at least I got up there! And I just found out I was in CanDance's top scores (same with out group). That's within the top 50 of close to 2000 entries!

8. Choreograph on a freelance basis. Still doing that, and I have recently accepted a part-time position at Dance Alberta. Yay!

9. Complete and send off a major dance grant. Didn't get it... : (

10. But launched Bon Bon Dance Co. anyway! Our drop-in classes aren't doing too bad, and I'm confident we can keep them up!

11. Clean out my wardrobe of everything I won't honestly wear again. This will have to be an ongoing thing!

12. Get my wisdom teeth out. Ugh.

13. Get new glasses.

14. Get a facial.

15. Renew my passport. But now I need to go through the whole process again with my new name.

16. Go an entire day eating whatever I want and not feeling guilty about it. Don't I do this regularly?

17. Get published. 24 Hours (twice), Avenue Magazine, Up Here Magazine.

18. Make money and contacts through my choreography. Working so far.

19. Stand under a waterfall. (Vegas)

20. Increase my student loan payments. Another goal that I've obliterated, kabam! Lol, sorry. I'm paying them off COMPLETELY this week! Thank to some wedding money and Trav's hard work, we figure the sensible thing is to get rid of them and stop paying that nasty interest! I'm so excited to be rid of them and saving for other more exciting ventures.

21. Sell something online. Kijiji has its place!

22. Create a household budget and stick to it. Again, an ongoing thing, isn't it?

23. Save, save, save for our wedding. We're married!!! And not in further debt! Woohoo.

24. Go to five new restaurants. Been good at this lately!

25. Spend a day on Whyte Avenue exploring. With my Mom; a really nice day it was!

26. Spend an afternoon at the Ledge grounds. When we go engaged!

27. Try sushi. Meh. Maybe it'll grow on me.

28. Hang out at a park for an afternoon. Millcreek Pool this weekend more than passes the requirements of this goal.

29. Meet up with a childhood friend. This was great; I'll always remember it. I'd like to see her again.

30. Take a getaway with my family.

31. Plant a tree. A wedding gift for our front yard!

32. Read My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. It got me. Got me good.

33. Maintain my blog for a year and go back and read the first entry. Yay! Alas, the purpose of this post.

Honestly? These goals have kept me on track. I've even surprised myself a few times and done more than I initially set out to do! While I often feel like I'm not doing enough, and then other times feel like it's too much, I think I've struck a decent balance. Overall? I'm happy and on my way to the life I want to live.

To a T

2009-07-30T12:39:00.000-07:00

Mmm...to me, this home is close to perfection. There's unexpected touches everywhere, and it emits a classic, pretty and feminine feel. (But not too feminine!) This is what I aim for in my home...lived-in things you don't see every day, beautiful individual pieces that don't necessarily match, but when you see them all together it just goes.

This is Katie Ukrop's home, featured on Young House Love. Take a look this blog if you haven't yet – great DIY ideas on the cheap!

Not a huge fan of baby pink, but it works.

What amazing flow! One thing our house lacks...

Love the chandelier (I'm obsessed with chandeliers of all kinds, but Trav thinks they're a waste of money and completely impractical. They kind of are, but their beauty makes up for it!!) Also love the symmetry of the lamps.

Amazing couch. And the windows – wow!

What a neat place!

Mortgage Mania

2009-07-27T10:35:00.002-07:00

Trav and I bought our house in 2007, when the market was through the roof. It's no secret. And we sort of knew what we were doing – or maybe we were just lucky and it turned out ok! Either way, we were ready to buy. I was tired of wasting a $1000 a month on rent...money that was essentially going down the drain. And while our mortgage is a bit more than that, at least it's going towards something of immense value. What was perhaps the smartest move on our part was paying slightly more for a house than what we planned (which sparked some uh ohs at first) in order to have a ready-to-go basement suite. We've had it rented out by people we know personally pretty much since we bought the house – and it's definitely paid for itself. In fact, our rental incomes pay for nearly two-thirds of our mortgage, which is a huge help. And it's income that we don't need to work for! Plus, our location is amazing, right between downtown and Whyte (less than five minutes to each to make work commutes relatively painless), and we're in a neighbourhood we've fallen in love with.

Now that we've got our footing and feel secure in our jobs, we're reevaluating our mortgage and what we can do to pay it off as quickly as possible with the least amount of interest possible. Trav's been busying himself during his days at his second job, poring over mortgage calculators and variable rates and our existing paperwork. What a good husband! Anyway, we did some figuring, and if we're able to double what we save a month now (which I think is doable with me picking up a second job - more on that later - and plus the wedding is over) we'll be able to pay the max amount allowed yearly and perhaps boost our monthly payments...and possibly pay it off in eight years!!! NUTS! I know it sounds crazy, and most people will think we won't do it...but I'm determined. And I'm excited. Imagine, being completely debt-free in our early thirties!!!! If that's not enough motivation, I don't know what is.

I found this article a couple of years ago, and it has fascinated me. This couple lived like paupers and hardly slept to become debt free in about three years. They had zero life. Depressing right? But is it worth it to live like that for awhile? To put you ahead? I'm not sure. In a way, Travis and I are embarking on something similar...just not near as extreme! We still plan on having some fun...I sure hope that can be done!

Reevaluating

2009-07-10T13:09:00.000-07:00

Whew...I thought things would come to a sort of halt with the wedding all wrapped up...but it seems everything is only beginning! Aside from reorganizing the house to put away gifts, doing the thank-yous, more work and dance opportunities, and trying to enjoy some of the warm weather, we've dove straight into our many renovations.

First, our downstairs bathroom needed some R & R with the mould behind the tile. Yummy. Luckily we've enlisted the help of our renters! Trav's brother Ted, and his friend Kyle, have both got some construction experience (went to school for it!), so that's a big help. We are doing it on the cheap however, so the ugly tile and tub have to stay unfortunately.

It makes sense though; if we have hopes to build our dream house in a few years, we have to suck up the parts of our home we don't like and just live with it...and remember what we truly want will be on the horizon!!! (I'm still practicing this! Trav's good at it.)

I'm happy to say that Travis and I share the same taste when it comes to our dream home. We love those older-looking, three-story, farm-house-with-the-porch-and-balcony-in-front-type-houses:

Aren't they devine? I'll be renovating and dreaming... : )

I'm going to try and document this round of renos since I failed to do last go round...which I'm disappointed about because it was a big change!! Stay tuned.

Six Days Wedded...

2009-07-10T10:12:00.000-07:00

It's been almost a week since we said I do!!! I heard from my married friends that the day would fly by, but that it would be fabulous. And it was certainly both - plus so much more. A PERFECT day! Simply stunning...the weather cooperated and I felt truly happy...especially when I saw everyone enjoying themselves. I seriously wouldn't change a thing. We smiled a ton, laughed a lot, and I think a few tears may have been shed. Plus, with wine and beer before the ceremony, how could anything go wrong? ; )

These are pictures from my friends they've shared...there's a few professional ones up on my photographer's blog (who were awesome by the way!!!) I should get all those in a few weeks time, so there's definitely more to come. Plus I still need to highlight the reception...there were some unforgettable moments!!! (Including the emcee's classic Call On Me dance, and me and Natalie's impromptu MJ one glove Beat It tribute.)

More soon!!! In the meantime I gotta get used to this new last name!

I can't help myself!

2009-06-25T09:32:00.001-07:00

More pretty...

2009-06-25T09:28:00.001-07:00

Yes, I have more!

2009-06-25T09:25:00.000-07:00

And more loveliness...

2009-06-25T09:17:00.000-07:00

Martha Stewart doily garland I believe...so much amazingness!!!
Not done my tissue wreath yet...
Dad's taking care of the signs...can't wait to see them!
The bride handmade ALL of her flowers...they were paper origami! (Even her bouquet!) Wow.

More initial inspiration...

2009-06-25T09:08:00.000-07:00

Some of these ideas I'm doing very similarly, some I'm putting my own twist on, and some I couldn't do at all...I don't want too much going on! (I found the hardest part of all of this is scaling back what I want to incorporate and choosing to do only my faves.)

**These images are from all over the net...sorry I haven't given credit when it's due! Most are from oncewed.com,

southern brides and stylemepretty.com.

"Lookbook"

2009-06-25T08:56:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posting!!! It may have something to do with the fact that in JUST over one week I'll be Mrs. Tourneur!!!

I was flipping through my "lookbook," a folder I've got on my desktop that contains some inspiring images for when I was in my planning stages. When I was blog-surfing, if anything tickled my fancy, I just threw it in that folder. It's fun to check it out now, and definitely provides a clear sense of my style and vision which hopefully helped to keep my wedding theme on track! I suppose we'll know soon enough! In the meantime, here's some of my faves from that folder that inspired a lot of my ideas and planning.

Denilore Dress Disaster Debacle...Damn!

2009-06-02T08:52:00.000-07:00

Ugh. I've told this story many times over...for good reason. If any of you girlies out there are looking for a bridal gown, please stay far, far away from this place! I'm not one to spread a bad word about anyone, but this constitutes a complaint.

I went in and ordered my gown from Denilore on September 27th...I found out it was a couple hundred bucks cheaper than Pure Bridal, and the ladies sure seemed a lot nicer to boot! So I thought, sign me up!

I left them alone for a long time...I had heard Denilore took awhile. About 7 month in, I gave them a call. They were very friendly and said it wouldn't be much longer.

At the 8 month mark I called an average of four times a week. It was the same story - it's coming next week, it's in our next shipment...we called the manufacturer and it's ready to ship...we'll call you right back, before five today. I not once got a phone call from them. And then from one of the girls I got, "Well, we're really busy so you should be calling us." Um, ok. THIS IS YOUR JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!! And calling them did absolutely nothing. I was sick of the lies.

Finally I was pissed (and not as much as I should have been!) and Mom and I went in there (for the second time) and the closest thing to the truth that I'll ever get from them came out...apparently my dress was ordered on time, but it was ordered wrong. I don't know what came, but it wasn't right. So instead of letting me know this, they called the manufacturer and got them started on making a brand new dress. I knew none of this...they were smiling and reassuring me it was on its way. GRRRRRR. I was given five guaranteed dates of arrival...each one passed on by and I heard nothing.

I got the dress finally...9 months after ordering it. No discount. No apology...they acted as if everything was fine and dandy...all I got was "wasn't it worth the wait?!!"

They appeared on the Troubleshooter twice, and so far, six complaints to the BBB have been filed. Other brides were in worse shape than me...one girl's dress in my shipment had her wedding the next day after it arrived. Yikes. Poor girl. No one needs that stress before one of her most important days.

You have been warned...stay away from Denilore Bridal!!!!

(I do love my dress though!! Two weeks until I put it on.)

Vegas Virgins

2009-05-26T13:45:00.000-07:00

My sis enjoying frozen hot chocolate from Serendipity.

Fire/volcano show at our hotel, the Mirage.

We didn't do too much of this!

Stagette night - had a blast!

The shopping was amazing! We all had some great finds.

I'm still exhausted, but it was 100% worth it.

For my bachelorette party, me, my sister Nat, and friends Tara and Kaitlyn went to Vegas...and we were all Vegas first-timers so it was the perfect adventure to take together.

Besides hitting up the clubs every night (Tao - so annoyingly busy but cool to see, PURE - so fun, but I paid for it on the plane the next day, and of course, Margaritaville...just plain good times!), we did a lot of walking, shopping (PREMIUM OUTLET MALL IS AMAZING!), drinking, eating and laying by the pool. We stayed at the Mirage, which was a great hotel. The fire show there was cool, er, hot, and our room was nice - modern. We even got upgraded to a room with a view!

I'm jotting down some highlights because I'm so worried that I'll forget the those little Vegas nuggets of memories that made it one of my fave holidays ever!

Jersey girl - this cougar woman tells me how wonderful it is I'm getting married, than says, "My son just got married. SILENCE. SHE'S A BITCH." She later told us she was part of the Mofia...let's just say we were nice to her.

Margaritaville bartender - fast-talker! We couldn't understand him because his words came out so fast...I imagine that must be how Edward and the Cullens talk to one another. Anyway, we still managed to chat after many polite "pardon me"s, and he discounted our bill by like 100 bucks! Needless to say he got an excellent tip ; )

Quizno's commercial - my acting debut! At 3 am we acted in a Quizno's commercial for their new, sexy torpedo sandwich. Our line was "I loooooooove my torpedo." We signed waivers and everything! Watch out for us youtube!

Celebrity stage - a seven foot black man guarding the stage grabbed Tara and I and told us we were exclusively invited to dance on the "celebrity stage." Hmmm...we didn't turn down the offer. After a few glasses of champagne and Tara whining that she couldn't dance (even though she CAN) we decided we'd had enough of being all alone up there.

Topless pool (Bare) - an experience I won't forget! Vegas is a playland, and the topless pool is Silicone land that epitomizes the city in my mind! (FYI - along with your bikini, high heels, big earrings and fake eyelashes are required.)

The scientist - we saw the nerdiest man awkwardly dancing...thick glasses, buttoned-up, the whole bit. We were wondering why he was in Vegas in the first place! And then his "date", a brunette Double-D bombshell, was right behind him, sexily coaxing him to dance.... hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. It really was hilarious at the time.

Of course, there were a few other notable events, but what stays in Vegas........... : )