Week 1 almost complete!

It's been a great week .. a deliciously tiring, productive week! So much more on the horizon! :)

Our summer fit is going perfectly so far!  We have eased in, enjoyed some together time without over doing it.  The girls have completed all their mind exercises, be it thru math questions or english of some sort.  They have been introduced to new things (kind of nice to be the one to introduce things), and have been enthusiastic throughout the entire week.

Tuesday we spent the day with the Squires and Yorke family.  It was a gorgeous day and we all had a wonderful afternoon full of swimming, snacking and amazing company.  My girls reached some amazing milestones with regards to their swimming too .. both jumped off the diving board and slid down a huge slide for the first time.  A couple hours later, they were peeling off their life jackets and taking on the deeper waters with no fear.  I hate to admit it .. but I think I may have been the one holding them back a little with mommy fear ... they can now officially swim quite nicely!  LOL

Alexa and Mommy!

This pic cracks me up ... the timing is hilarious .. if you know Katie .. you'll get why .. WINK!

Beautiful Riley and Kasey!

 

I couldn't believe how well Kayleigh swam all on her own!

 

 

My sweet friend Katie

 

 

Gabe .. Angelina's new BFF!

 

 

First time on a diving board!

 

 

NO FEAR!

Really tried getting Alexa on her fave .. the slide!

 

 

Go KATIE!

Beautiful water ,,,,, HEAVEN!

The group of us here taking in the rays and water!

Amazing shot!

So as you can see .. SO MUCH FUN! 

Wednesday we took it somewhat easy .. we were all dragging from so much sun the day before, and some rain showers made us feel a little lazy, so we indulged in some tele, Wii but not before we danced our rear ends off while cleaning our main floor. We also got on the floor and did many leg scissors which I am still feeling .. think I overdid it on my hip flexors (I have to remember I am not a young in shape soldier anymore) .. LOL

Thursday we had a impromtu date with my friend and neighbour Manon.  She treated us to a breakie and the girls had hair cuts.  We stopped at the book market and the girls picked up a couple of books for their summer reading!  Alexa picked up two goosebump novels by RL Stein, and we read the first chapter together last night (I can't believe her reading right now .. BLOWS ME AWAY)!

Today we are prepping for Angelina's B-day party tomorrow.  Our Summer fit takes us on an Honesty lesson (part of the values aspect).  I think we will engage in an open dialogue about "crying wolf", and how honesty makes you feel better about yourself, and makes you a good person.  We'll see where things go!

One thing I have added to their books, is everyday if they have done a chore or were exceptionally behaved, helped me out etc .. I have written it on the top of the page.  For every entry they receive, they get a quarter for their piggy banks.  This way if they wish to make additional purchases, they are learning the value of earning, and saving for something.

I can HONESTLY say (LOL) that there will be a trip to Dairy Queen on Sunday!  The girls have worked hard and are off to an amazing start to their summer! :)  As a mom, it's been so amazing spending this time with them and we have so much more planned!  I have been watching my eating and drinking more water as well ... just trying to live healthier!  BABY STEPS!

MMMMWWWWAAAAAAA!

TOPS Girls SUMMERFIT 2011 begins!

HELLO BLOG WORLD! :)

I have to admit .. I have not been loving the blogging world the past few months .. I have gone into hermit mode and didn't feel like reading and writing all about life!  I have kept much of myself (creatively and personally) private!  I haven't felt the urgent need to share all that I have done and I have to say I kinda liked it!  It's like savouring a piece of yourself that no one else knows! In today's world .. everything about one self can be out there .. and I just felt the need to hold back a little and be true to why I do some things ... I do it for me and no one else! :) I don't need pats on the back or approval .. and I am not saying that is why people share their stuff at all .. just saying this was a BIG reason why I did!  Chances are there is only going to be one person who will get this .. you know who you are .. COUGH, Katie Squires, COUGH!  LMAO!  Thanks girl for just letting me be me, and thanks for the long deep chats, the quiet understanding, watching me bump into the wall and then leap over it ... I swear you are the only person who truly gets me 100% .. Cut from the same stone sweets!!!!!!  WINK!

Alright .. sappy shit over with!

So what brings me back to blog land is the fact that I am starting a new journey in my life .... with my girls .. and I want to document it, share it and maybe inspire along the way, and be inspired!

When I first became a mom, I have to admit it wasn't what I thought!  I am likely one of the few women in life who disliked the baby stage!  I know how horrible that sounds .. but it's honest!  My hubs rocked at it ... I swear we are so stereotypically challenged .. but now my girls are 8 and 7 and I have definantely found my motherly groove!  I'm actually gonna toot my horn and say I am RAWKING IT!  :)

The girls and I are doing a ten week program called SUMMER FIT!  I found the books on amazon and have to say ... WOOT WOOT!

This is Alexa's book Summer Fit Gr 2-3

This is Angelinas's book Summer Fit Gr 1-2

The entire idea of these books is too keep the girls sharp over the summer and make the transition from one grade into another as smooth as possible!  It also fills a portion of our days, keeps us active, and ultimately (and my fave) bonds us!

Everyday the girls do a mind activity (can be math, story, puzzle. etc) and a body activity (aerobics one day and strength another), and a values exercise highlighting famous people who have left their mark on the world (ie Mother Theresa).  There is a full online version and community for the girls to watch videos on how to do certain movements, play games and additional worksheets!  I have to say the girls are loving that mommy is moving her rear end with them .. I have done the exercises with them and we have already had a couple of good laughs!

So the catch is that John and I sign a incentive contract each week agreeing to reward the girls if they complete their week.  This week for instance, we have agreed to take the girls to Dairy Queen.

I have to say we are off to a strong start ... they are waking up excited, and eager to start their days.  I am hoping to add additional fun times like mini excursions, play dates, cooking ans whatever else tickles our fancy!

Here's to going strong, and staying strong! :)

MMMWWWWAAAA

Paying it Forward Katieroo Style!

I have an amazing blog post to share today! An amazing gesture!

As many of you know, Christy Tomlinson is offering her "She" Workshop for the next few weeks. Let me tell you .. I have been drooling and so excited to take this! Well unfortunantly after crunching numbers this past weekend, and being true to our budget, this month we just couldn't make it happen. I was so sad! I had my list all ready to go, I was eager .... then other expenses came up that trumped my hobby!

So my dear friend Katie won a spot on this workshop thru a pay it forward post that Christy had done on her blog (I had no idea that was happening)! I was so happy for her, called her and we had a great chat! Next thing I know .. Katie calls me back and says that she is giving me her spot on the workshop! I WAS COMPLETELY FLOORED! Here I am in the middle of eating my mashed taters, in front of my family with tears streaming down my face! At first I was like "No way .. you can't do that .. you won"! She didn't give me the choice .. she had already e-mailed Christy! Within 5 min I have a password and e-mail welcoming me to the workshop!

THE BEST PART IS ... when Katie e-mailed Christy to give me her spot, Christy was so touched about what Katie did .....that she gave Katie a spot too! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? Just goes to show you, that kindness is often rewarded!

Here we were last night, squealing like little school girls! The excitement was palpable!

TY TY TY from the bottom of my heart Katie ... I am not sure if you will ever truely know how much this means to me! You did this so selflessly and from a beautiful place in your heart. I will do you proud and pay it forward to someone else in my own way! YOU KNOW I WILL! :)

Here's to many days of creativity, and being a part of circle of our dearest friends who are also participating, sharing our stories and work .. all of us together!

LOVE YOU
XOOX

MMMMMMMMMMMWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAA!

BOOK REVIEW - BACKSTAGE PASS by Olivia Cunning

Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really enjoyed this book! It would of been a 5 out of 5 except for the fact that there was much anticipation of the dangerous ex-husband, and in my honest opinion, his character did not deliver!

I loved that this book revolves around a hardcore metal rock band. I have yet to come across a series like this! I loved the self doubt of the strong willed lead female and the persistence of the lead male. I loved reading how they both fought some internal struggles, yet remained very loyal to eachother! MY FAVE part of this book ... THE HUMOUR! I found myself laughing out loud several times at the one liners!

This book is full of hot smut .. serious HOT SMUT .. and I loved every minute of it!



View all my reviews

BOOK REVIEW - DESIRE UNTAMED by Pamela Palmer

Desire Untamed by Pamela Palmer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Desire Untamed was my first shape shifter book/series ever, and I have to tell you, Pamela Palmer did not let me down!

This Feral book stars the chief feral Lyon and his soon to be radiant Kara. What I loved about this book was the spiritual/primitive connection to the earth these feral warriors have. The enemy of this series is certainly a force for the ferals to reckon with, and the way this authors described the history that makes the enemy the enemy was thorough. I loved seeing the romance blossom, with that typical much loved big tough man angst I enjoy from the lead man, and the internal and often external fight of attraction and romance from both lead characters.

In conclusion, a great read, and a great introduction to what I deem to be one of my fave series ever! Well done Pamela! :)



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BOOK REVIEW - KISS OF THE ROSE

Kiss of the Rose by Kate Pearce

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


WOW WOW WOW! First off let me tell you I was drawn in far before cracking this book. Any author that can smash together two of my fave reading preferences is an A++ in my books!



I couldn't put this book down! I loved that there was reference made of Tudor history but that the non fiction aspect didn't dominate the book. I loved how the paranormal story was weaved into the history! Kate Pearce was extremely creative with storyline, and captured the true nature to King Henry VIII and the angst that Queen Katherine, while making me swoon over the hot chemistry between Rosalind and Christopher. I have to tell you I love the best friend Rhys and can't wait to read more about him!



I have immediately dived into the sequel Blood of the Rose (Anne Boleyn is my absolute fave Queen), and I am already completely captivated!







View all my reviews

Some Scrappy Fun and a CHALLENGE FOR YOU!!

Hi ya readers! :)  So I am battling another cold or whatever it is going to evolve into!  I had been nursing my youngest this past weekend so it was inevitable!  Started with a sour tummy .. but I took some meds and went to bed early last night .. wasn't up pukey so it worked!  Will rest as best as I can today, push the fluids and see if I can nip this in the bud!  WINK!

So I had a fabo Saturday with my scrappy friends at the Box.  Love the laughs and giggles, got to go out to lunch with one of my besties, and just bask in the estrogen fever!  LMAO

I did manage to create a couple of LOs ... which is amazing for me as I had lost my scrapbook mojo (damn art journalling .. lol) and I have tons of scrap stash and pics begging to be toyed with.  I indeed TOYED! :)

So the first LO was the one that was featured yesturday!  And the other LO was one I had done with some OLD STASH!  Remember Scenic Route Sumner?  Here is a pic to remind you .. it was a few years ago that it was released!

Here is the LO I created with it! :)  Thank you Tojo for the die cut flowers .. they were perfect for this LO!

On another note .. I was a DT Feature on the Hello Cutie Challenge Blog the weekend before last!  I did a mini interview, and shared my all time FAVE LO EVER! :)  Have a read here!  Here is a pic of that LO!

You can read all about my fellow DT team member CASS there too!

While trying to decide which LO I wanted to share as my Fave .. I had the chance to go back into my blog and see older posts and the work I use to create!  It really inspired me to go back to my multi layered roots!  I wanted to post a few of my other faves!  Then perhaps ... post a challenge for YOU!

This was a LO that I had made for a white space challenge!  I had NOT USED ANY PP .. only white cardstock and of course the embellies!  Doesn't hurt that the pic is kinda sweet too!  LOL

This was my first attempt at an ATC .. I creates a pocket so I could insert a journal card!

Recent project ... a series of Picture Frames for my parents mantle.  Went a little Prima crazy here! :)

This LO won me my BAD GIRL KITS swarovski crystal apron .. but the bigger prize .... I DID NIP THAT GROSS HABIT!!!!  Over 6 months and counting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  WOOT WOOT!

If memory serves correct this was a lift from Heidi Swapp ... I think .. been years!  My hunky hubby and a few words that make me think of him! :)

I am not a journaller .. and it is something I really need to work on!  This was a LO that I went crazy on the journalling .. maybe because it there was such a wonderful story to tell!  This is my boy Cody when he was a baby! :)

A LO of my beautiful girls and I!  I have to remember and go back and do another quote with the bigillion mini letter stickers I own!  LOL

I love that tree .. I had flocked it and stickled it ... Xacto knifed the PP ... I just remember this being really fun to make!

OMG .... I chuckled putting this LO together!  I love that it is a pictureless LO (as is my ciggy one)!  Sometimes it's just fun to play with your stash!!!!  :)

This LO went from A to B while I laughed my arse off!  The products were just so young and playful .. so the Lo went in that direction as well!  A whole lot of crazy going on here! :)

So a little self indulging there .. but hey IT'S MY BLOG .. and I'LL INDULGE IF I WANT TOO!  BAHAHAHAH!

THE CHALLENGE!  SCRAPLIFT ME!!!!!!!  Have a look at the LO's I have posted and lift one of them!  That easy!  I will RAK EVERYONE WHO PLAYS!  If you know me .. my RAKs ... WELL WORTH IT!  WINK!  I will give this till next Sunday night .. meaning have your LO completed by midnight on Sunday night (all times work .. will not be getting to this till Monday morning)!

MMMMMWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

HELLO CUTIE CHALLENGE #2

Hello Cutie Challenge blog Challenge #2  is live! :)  The challenge was to find some kind of inspiration in a photo and do your interpretation of it be it an element of the pic .. the colours .. the layout of it!  :)

So here is the pic

and here is my interpretation ...

THE BUTTERFLIES  .... they jumped right out at me!  I chose an old sheet of PP and went nutso cutting all the flowers and leaves out!  I then took the new Maya Road butterfly chipboard pieces and inked then .. layered them and stickled them!  The smaller butterflies are Jenni Bowlin Stickers that I inked and folded and stickled as well!

Have a look and see what my fellow team members made! :)  Turns out the butterflies jumped out at most of the as well!  LOVE IT!  It gave me the idea though to give this challenge another go and see how different I can make it ... I think that'll be fun :)

THE DUE DATE IS 02 APR .. so bang those crafties out .. and let's see what ya got! :)

MMMMMMMWWWWWAAAAAA!

Just me and my girls

Just a few pics of me and my girls taken this past weekend!  We had such a GREAT WEEKEND!  OuT for lunch at Jack Astors, and then went and say RANGO at the theatres!  Great movie!

Thanks for looking!

MMMMMMWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAA!

HELLO CUTIE CHALLENGE BLOG - WE HAVE LIFT OFF!

BIG NEWS!

A couple weeks ago I was contacted from a friend of mine I knew from my Bad Girls days.  Miss "OH SNAP" Lizzie Oakley (AKA ... OAKLES ... LMAO).  Seems Miss L was starting up a challenge blog and had asked me to be a DT member.  I was honoured and accepted happily!

The blog is called HELLO CUTIE CHALLENGES and will feature TWO AWESOME CHALLENGES A MONTH that will be available on the FIRST and THIRD SUNDAY of the month.  Fancy that .... today is the first Sunday of March ... LOL  WINK!

 So REVEAL/PREMIERE Day consisted of a COLOUR CHALLENGE (one of my faves) and I decided to make a mini for the occasion.

I must admit I was a little thrown off by brown in here as I tend to gravitate towards a soft black when I work with brighter colours.  So that in itself was a challenge!

I have had these CUTE pics of my Angelina graduating from senior kindergarten for a while now, and thought these would be the perfect pics to use for this colour palette.

TITLE PAGE

Do you know those white inserts you get when you buy a new album, well I decided to use them up and make my own mini out of them!  I took a KI lace PP as a mask and had me fun with some LIME GREEN and ELECTRIC BLUE Glimmer Mist.  I then snagged a wack of enbellies and papers that matched the colour combos and went to town.

PAGE 1

I used some gesso on left side to white out a place to journal on.  I love the way my dear friend Katie journals on her pages and I lifted that idea for this mini .. I just may do this more often! :)

PAGE 2

I loved watching Angie sign her dilpoma.  It really struck me that day that she had reached a huge milestone in her life ... hard letting go of my baby!

PAGE 3

I found some old Daisy D cardstock stickers in my stash, and as part of this "use my stash" promise to myself, I thought they went perfectly here.  I found some K & Company chipboard stickers that I have been hoarding as well .. time to use them up too!  LOL

PAGE 4

This was such a sweet moment between dad and little girl.  John couldn't make her graduation due to work, but came home with Angelina's first ever bouquet of flowers.  Another big girl moment!  Nothing melts your heart more than seeing a big strong daddy melt at the sight of his little girl ... SIGH!

BACK

This is the back of the album.  I wanted to show a close up of the glimmer misting without all the added pics, papers and embellishments.  I wish that the shimmer was so apparent here as it is IRL! 

So there it is ... HERE is the link to the challenge and all the delicious work my fellow DT members did as well.  The challenge is due 26 MAR 11 by midnight .. details are on the challenge blog!

Oh and as an added bonus .. I am offering my own giveaway here to .. leave me a comment and I will randomly select one winner of a little stash of colour combo related goodies! :)  Will leave this open for a couple of days! :)

MMMMMMWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!