Random thoughts

* We can't decide wether to sell & buy a new home this year or next
* I am so happy with our decision to find a new daycare
* I love that our vehicles are paid for
* I would love to see Fleetwood Mac in concert
* I am proud of DD for knowing 2 languages
* If I could only have one channel, it would be HGTV
* I really love yard sales
* I would love to rent a cottage for a week this summer
* I need to colour my hair
* I really like coloured glass
* Being creative is an outlet for me. I really don't feel the same without it.
* I love my little family more than I could ever describe
* I need to start planning my trip to NY with my sister(s)
* I am really hoping to take 2 weeks off at Christmas time. If I have to
go in for one day, that wouldn't be bad either
* I have an amazing circle of friends who may not always agree with me
but understand me.
* It's okay to agree to disagree
* I really love fall colours
* oatmeal chocolate chip and pumpkin chocolate chip are my favourite cookies
* I love photography but have lots to learn
* I want to someday visit Alaska

Here a couple of things I have discovered when it comes to a 3 year old.
- princess high heels shoes for little one are not a good idea. They are way to noisy and let's not forget about dangerous.
- Beads. I have picked up and stepped on way to many. Better left to daycare centres. PS - I know it was my idea Kim..hee hee!

Altered Frame

I have done a couple of these in the past but I think this is my favourite so far. We are redoing DD's bedroom and I decided to make some more art for her room. I used leftover paper and embellies that I had. I also already owned the frame (it is 20x16) so the project didn't cost me an extra dime. I love when I can find uses for things I already own.

I think DD has the best room in the house. I love the shabby chic feeling it is taking on. I will post some pics when it is all complete.

The picture isn't really clear as I was a little lazy and didn't want to remove the glass..hee hee!

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

In 4 short months...

I will be able to display some of my spooktacular finds that I got at a yard sale this morning. My SIL, J and myself headed out bright and early this morning. We arrived at one yard sale about mid morning and there was a table dedicated to Halloween stuff. Can you imagine a whole table? K and I were like kids in a candy store. For less than $18 combined, we pretty much emptied the table. I love fall and Halloween decor (not the skulls and tombstone kind of decorations) but the gentler kind...hee hee! The lady said we should have been there earlier. In a way I am glad we weren't because I am sure we would have spent all our YS money at the one sale.

PS - I also got one big ticket item but that is for a later post.

In the following picture notice the little arm reaching in for the stir sticks. It's a good thing she is ghoulishly cute.

Photoshop Elements

Is not for the faint at heart that is for sure. I must admit the learning curve is way larger than I could have imagined. I have had it for well over a month and have spent many hours playing with it. I am happy to report that I have finally figured out how to do a couple of little things with it - and I mean little. One of the things I have learned is how to layer the pictures. I am always in awe when I see pictures with sure great colour or as I like to call it "colour pop". These are just a couple of different layers that I have applied to the same picture. I don't have a lot of photos shot in raw format so I am really looking forward to trying it out with a lighter background.

Think you can spot the original photo, let me know.

PS - I am by no means a pro at this and I realize it but hopefully with some practice I will get some great photos.

Thank you for being a friend

I can't begin to tell you how many times we have listened to the theme song to the Golden Girls this last week. J LOVES the show and so do I...hee hee! She hasn't asked to watch Caillou once this week. It's one of the first things she mentions in the morning and one of the last at night.

If you have seen the show in past, you may remember Dorothy doing this (see picture) in the theme song. J thinks it's the funniest thing ever. lol!

No mother of the year award for me

It's true. I don't think I would even get nominated. I can't believe what I did.

This year the preschool J is attending has a new program in place. You pay $4 per month and they keep a binder of your child's artwork, daily pictures they take of activities they have done and a progress report on your child. The binder was handed to me a couple of weeks ago to review as we had parent/teacher interviews coming up. I know...she is only 3 but it is so great to get the one on one with the educator. The morning arrived and no binder in sight. I have searched my work area, asked maintenance if they have seen it, checked with the Deli across the street from my office (yes, they know who I am...hee hee), searched our vehicles and our home. The last time I remember seeing it was at work. I don't remember bringing it home. No corner of our house will be left untouched this weekend. I need to find that binder. I mean...how does a person lose an 8 1/2 x 11 binder? Needless to say, I don't see any awards in my future. *sigh*

I hear nothing

I remember hearing moms say when your little one is quiet they are usually up to something.

I was in the computer room which is off of the living room and J was watching her nightly program of Caillou and I noticed she was being really quiet.

I peek out and this is what she is doing. I guess the sofa wasn't comfortable enough. Look closely.

PS - If you haven't guessed, it's meant for a doll...hee hee!

4 months later

When I bought my new camera it came with a cordless remote. I have never tried it before. I know...that is so unlike me. Today I decided was the day. So, my little family and I head outside for some sun and fun. J and I had breakfast outside while watching papa fix the breaks on the car. Then we blew lots of buttles and played. The best part happened next. It was snugling/cuddling time. This is when I decided to try out the remote. Guess what? It's pretty awesome and works great. Here are a couple of pics taken with the remote. I strongly recommend investing in one if you don't have one yet. I may appear in some pictures. lol!

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

A "visual" way to save

It's no secret that I love to yard sale. About 14 years ago, my MIL introduced me to it. I had never been to a yard sale before this. She thought me that everything at a yard sale is fair game and if you see something you want, you better grab it quick then decide. lol! Who knew it could be so much fun and every year around the beginning of March I start to look forward to it.

Today I headed out on my quest for the one thing I didn't know I needed yet.

This will be our third year that we do a girls trip to the US. We head out thanksgiving weekend and we shop, laugh, eat, laugh and shop some more. This is the time of the year I start thinking about this trip.

Anyways, today I found that one item I did not yet know that I needed. Can you believe this thing even adds up your total for you? I have decided this is where I will drop my change every evening so that it will cover my cost at the border. Yes, we always end up paying duty. lol!

Day one - bottom of my purse emptied - total $11.19

Now by a show of hands, who wants to help me roll it?

Pillowcase Dress

I honestly don't remember how I found these online but I did fall in love instantly. However, I decided I didn't want to pay $30-$35 for one of these. I decided I would try to make one. Off to Value Village I go. After all, I don't have any cutesy pillow cases.

I am not a seamstress by any means but even I was able to whip up a couple in an afternoon. The second one went much smoother. I have never sewn arm holes before...lol!

How cute would one of these be for Halloween with a black pillowcase, Halloween ribbon and some Halloween embellishments. Can you tell I am already planning one?

Since yard sale season is starting up, you can be sure I will be keeping an eye open for some vintage PCs.

Sisters

As you know may recall from my previous post, we headed North last weekend. My gram hasn't been feeling well and we decided we should visit with her. She is doing better and it was great to see her.

My sister who lives in Moncton called Friday night to let us know that she would be heading our way on Saturday and that our sister who lives in BSA would like to have us over for supper on Saturday. We had planned to come home Saturday but who could say no to surf and turf. Also, my sister mentioned that she had a surprise for us. Oooh...I am always up for a surprise.

Saturday rolled around and I actually forgot she had a surprise. We arrive at my sister L and my sister R is there. We walk in, put our stuff down and after a couple of minutes my sister R says "come downstairs, I want to show you something". We walk into my sister L's bedroom and there is our surprise. I couldn't believe it. My sister M from Ottawa had flown from Ottawa Friday night to spend the weekend with us. That is what I call a great surprise.

We had an awesome supper - surf and turf along with mashed potatoes, ceasar salar and a bunch of other stuff. Evening rolled around and so did the music. We danced and sang like we were rock stars. We created new dance moves not yet released. It was such a great time. I won't forgot that weekend anytime soon.

I love having sisters and sometimes forget how much fun we have when we all get together. We are talking about a NY trip either this fall or next spring and I can't wait to experience it with them.

The North Shore

This weekend we headed to the North Shore. It's actually more like the North East shore, however, somehow the word "East" never seems to be included in the description. If you visit the North shore this time of the year, you are aware that it is lobster season. Luckily for us we have some very good connections and always get our claws on some. Pardon the pun...hee hee!

Of course we brought some back and this evening as I was having some, J said to me "mommy, you having lobster"? to which I replied "yes". "Okay mommy but don't eat the eyes". It had never crossed my mind to eat the eyes...eeeewwww!

333333333333333333333333333333's

Are here.

I think I need a drink.

That's all I will say about that!

Special time

I love when J and I have one on one time doing something crafty/fun. She is definetely a child that likes to have things going on and the more things we have planned the easier the day seems to go. For me on the other hand, the more tired I become...hee hee!

Last week, I purchased some seeds, pots and potting soil. For the past 5 years, I have planted pumpkins/gourds. We have a lot of critters in our area so a fruit/veggie garden is out of the question for us. I love planting my pumpkins every year and I really enjoy watching the grow. It has become a tradition for me. In the past I have bought plants but this year I am trying my hand from the beginning. I am sure when the time comes to harvest them, it will be equally as fun. Since, I love pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, it was a natural decision to get the baking kind. Can you smell it, the fall air and some warm cookies? I can.