Embrace Life

Better late than never ...

Like most things in my country things are highly regulated. Sometimes that is a great thing - like when banks can't go the route of their American counterparts and we were able to avoid a similar mortgage crisis. Other things? It's just plain frustrating! We still can't get Pandora Internet Radio which many of my virtual friends laud each day.

But tomorrow? Tomorrow we get access to Oprah Winfrey's OWN network. I have always been a fan of Ms. Winfrey and I'm sure to have this channel on throughout my days.

Have you been watching? Catch me up! What are the "must see" shows you can recommend? I can't wait to see what she has put on the air! She has certainly proven to have the "Midas touch" when it comes to choosing talent and definitely has her fingers on the pulse of the world.

For those of us who are local, we can find the new OWN Network on:

COGECO 69/109/969
BELL 526
ROGERS 72

monday musings | noticed

birds are weird, even when the windows are dirty from the wind, dirt and wet of winter they still hit at full speed
- and leave an impression behind (fortunately this time he stunned himself and flew away)
Photo credit: Claire Ouellette (who noticed the strange impression upon her return from school)

• when I watch cooking shows I get all motivated to cook, but once the show is clicked off I loose all desire.
• with only a couple of changes this, here and now, would be my best life.
  
• some people will always be all talk - or worse - all whispers.
• my 40D needs cleaning and I don't want to part with it!
  
• the best part of sleeping, in the winter, is the cold side of the pillow is always really cold.
• when I go to collect the olders from school - after 5PM - it is now light out.
• quitting cheese is brutally hard and I still haven't found a suitable substitute - or lost an ounce.
• the phrase "customer service" really is an oximoron.
  
• the rinks get colder the longer the season goes on. Brr. We start the season wearing shirts and shorts and by the end we're in parkas and Uggs. I'm officially chilled to the bone.
  
• my best creative energy happens mid-afternoon, just as I'm leaving to pick up the kids from school and take them to activities. No chance to settle in until late at night. Sigh.
  
• it is much easier to read a "real" book than one on my iPad.
• the words out of my mouth do sound like a "broken record" which makes me giggle because my kids have no idea what that means.
  
• my new Asics are the best shoes ever.
  
• change and transition is a condition in which I thrive. Strange.
• my children laughing together is the sweetest sound I can imagine.

Oh, Oscar ...

When I was a kid, the Oscars were held during our Spring Break holiday which we often spent in either Palm Springs, CA or Scottsdale, AZ. I always loved the red carpet and how it has always been all about the glitz, glamour and fashion. Since the very first time the elder Ms Rivers asked "who are you wearing?" rather than "what are you wearing?", I was HOOKED. I love the misses, but I really revel in the hits.

This may come as a surprise to those who see me as completely grounded in practical; but I love some really sophisticated, well constructed, colour conscious, stylish glam.

I can't wait until the show tonight! Well, the pre-show anyway :)

Champagne anyone? I'm thinking of picking up a bottle of my favourite Veuve Clicquot and donning my favourite pair of sweats and t-shirt (hey, I'm in Oakville, not Hollywood, I can be frumpy!), hang out in front of the screen in my very comfy overstuffed chairs and play red carpet critic. Sounds like a perfect evening! Join me?

In the meantime, I wanted to share that my lovely friend Kathy Thompson posted, a while back, about some great styles sported on the red carpets of late. I have to agree with most of her observations. What do you think?

Do you like quizzes? I don't know how she does it, but check out yet another brilliant quiz over at How About Orange?

Confession: I haven't watched any of the movies up for Best Picture or anything else since the late-90s. I really lost interest. I don't know if it was the Oprah show on the germs in theatres, the weird "best" choices, or the change to the 10 from 5 best picture format, but I now watch all of the movies after the fact, in the relaxed and lazy comfort of Cape Cod, during our summer holiday. 

To keep your evening even more fun, be sure you download Kathy's BINGO card and follow along!

the simple things | 14

popcorn

my children are addicted to popcorn. i am forever cleaning out big bowls with the reminants of salt and buttery goodness. most people have bread, milk and eggs on their list of staples. my list includes popcorn. i can't imagine a day without the sound of crinkle, ping, slam, beep, pop-pop-pop, ping, shake, pour, tap-tap-tap, crunch. this process repreats at least four or five times on weekends!

Taking stock ...

because the alternative is to disolve into a puddle of tears.

I am a calendar person. My life is one big logistical puzzle as I keep track of my own schedule and that of my four kids, and the biggest kid of them all, my husband. Over the course of the last couple of months I've had an issue with my calendars synching. I thought I had it figured out, all the right buttons pushed and things were fine ... until this last sync. My Google Calendar - iCal - Blackberry Calendar have not only unsynched they are all a complete mish mash of valuable data, none of it in the right place - all together!

So disheartening.

Hot angry tears of frustration welled up when I realized that hours of input was lost and I would have to do it all over again.

Gah.

So, this time, instead of wasting hours and hours trying to figure out what I did right, fix what I did wrong and backing it all up, I headed over to my favourite store like I should have done months ago! I found the calendar I've wanted and bought a monthly notebook and a more detailed weekly diary (bonus: 75% off!!). To hell with Google, iCal and Blackberry, I'm going analogue.

This weekend I'm investing hours and hours and try to reconstruct the important history and put in all future plans. I may not be able to automatically push a button and have regular events repeat into infinity and beyond, but I will be able to know when and where to attend the next pub night, the next blog assignment, the next doctor appointment is being held!

I hope to be back on track by Monday. If I have anything due to you over the weekend or the first part of next week, and I hope I don't, but please forgive me if I'm late or forget altogether. I'll work quick!

Happy Saturday :)

(Yes, I know I get to be in a rink today. Two of them! I'm sure to see one of you there!)

2011 | Family DO | 01 happiness

By most accounts, Abraham Lincoln is considered to have been a pretty smart guy. I've read a number of times - especially lately - his comment on happiness: "we are as happy as we choose to be".

I believe that. I've always believed that.

Now that does not discount tragic circumstances, things that are completely out of our control, but I believe we are, all of us, in full control of our reactions. Certainly the adults are expected to be. In our day-to-day existence it should be pretty routine to walk around in a good mood. If you can't do that then you can change it.

I know you can because I have.

I was raised by a miserable woman who, I am convinced now, was medically unstable. There was no bright side in her life, she was always looking for the lowest common denominator, and if she couldn't find it, she'd make it up. I thought she was unique. She is not. I am happy I survived that foundation and over the course of my years I've learned that there is always a bright side. You just have to choose to see it.

Better yet, choose to live it.

In my house we have two phrases my children will tell you they hear over and over again:

1. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

and

2. Do not inflict your bad mood on rest of us.
(Followed by "go to your room and come out when you can be a civilized human being" - said in varying degrees of volume. We're dealing with happy, not perfect.)

I'm sure there are a number of other phrases they hear and maybe I should pay closer attention! Another post for another time. At any rate, my children are children and I'm trying to ease them into understanding a happy and bright outlook. It's hard. They're kids. They struggle. Everything is either wonderful, or miserable. Black and white. Throw some hormones into the mix and whoa, look out! That's why there are only three rules in our house, the two above and the 24-hour rule: give me 24-hours notice for activities or the automatic answer is "no". Too many rules just confuses things and I'm not interested in living a litigious existence.

My job is to raise all four of them to be reasonably well-adjusted, contributing, confident and hard working adults. A tribute to their upbringing and to their own children.

Is happiness a moral obligation? I don't know that I would go that far, but I received via an e-mail from a friend, this talk:

What do you think? Are we entitled to happiness? Do your emotions dictate your actions or is it the other way around? Is this a philosophy to which you aspire or teach in your home?

Team Up Thursday: Cloudy with a chance of ...

I continue to enjoy these Team Up Thursday challenges and it is great fun to join my friend and wonderful photographer, Shirley LeMay each week combining our interpretation of a theme. I'm always delighted to open my mail to see the final diptych. Check out many more on the Flickr group: Team Up Thursday.

This week the theme was a bit different: CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF ... and this his how we both captured it:

What in the world? The natural for me was "meatballs" so instead of taking a photo we caught the movie on DVD. (Observation: I love how "hero's" in animated features are a bit gawky and normal - with a larger than average schnozz and the females are all sadly the same - even the almost-gawky ones.) Anyway ...

My version: Cloudy with a chance of VEGETABLES in our stir fry; and, in Shirley's version: Cloudy with a chance of CHOCOLATE! This was a very yummy diptych this week :)

I gave up 365 because I can't count ...

This year I elected to not participate in Project 365 or Project Life. I have managed to fill my time with other things, but every once in a while I wonder if I made the right choice. After all, two or three years of the same patterns and behaviour makes it pretty hard to quit and start something new.

I found participating in Project 365 the last couple of years to be overwhelming. Not so much the photography part, I'm still taking at least one or two - if not 20 or 30 - photos every day, it was the uploading in simple upload or blog form that took it's toll.

As much as I admire Project Life, and I especially enjoy the many adjustments participants have made to adjust the burden of the "daily" aspect, I took a good look at my life and realized even with four active kids and so much going on every day, there were too many slots to fill - too much opportunity for blank space! I am not much of a consumer, I do not shop much nor do I care about or collect labels, tags or much ephemera. I spend a lot of time tossing this stuff out of my house, I cannot imagine putting it in a place of honour in a photo album.

(To be honest, for the longest time I didn't understand the difference between the two projects. I get it now.)

I used to get very frustrated with the whole counting. I know, it sounds so simple, but it was frustrating when I'd be posting my July - August - September photos and realized that at some point I had miscounted. Argh. I know a little bit of preparation would have gone a long way and I'm sure it would have taken less time to have manually found a calendar and counted out the days, but I didn't. I tried to find what I was looking for on-line. After all, how hard could it be? Hard.

So the other day, while venturing from one blog to another to another, clicking on links I FOUND IT!! I figured just because I'm not participating in the project doesn't mean YOU aren't so here's the link: Basic Calendar Creator. Now this is the important part:

See the bottom box? Show day number of the year. CLICK IT and voila!

I wonder if I can start again? Or go back and figure where I messed up the last two years?! Time wasted? Worth it?

We'll never know. But I'm happy if I can send someone else, equally as frustrated as I was, in the right direction. I hope it helps and makes life easier for someone else who can't count - I can't be the only one, can I? :)

monday musings | if only

Rarely do I spend a lot of time looking back with a need to change much of anything. The past is the past. I've learned from and apply all lessons, moving forward. Every once in a while there is a twinge of regret for things that never were or never could be ... all of my regrets are mostly "if only" ...

This would be the "since I got married" version because to think of anything before that would be madness.

* * * * *

if only I had not left my first digital camera in its box, unopened, on the shelf for almost 2 years
if only I had taken the time to write it all down
if only I had learned to say no, and stop raising my hand
if only I had spaced the kids out maybe my brain wouldn't have been so mushy (four kids in five years was a bit over the top)
if only I had not been so tired
if only I had just defended myself, or picked my battles better
if only my husband didn't work out of town from 1994 to 2002 - weeks on end with a rare weekend "off"
if only I hadn't been so frustrated and alone
if only I got on the floor more with the kids
if only I was the photographer I am today
if only I could remember the details, they're becoming fuzzy
if only I trusted my instincts more, ignored the need to "be polite"
if only I wasn't so impatient with mess and clutter
if only I hadn't left that day
if only I learned to put myself first, if only once in a while

* * * * *

I realize that if any of those "if only" statements had been different the whole trajectory of my life may have been altered, and that is not something I would want. Well, not at the moment. What would you change, if only?

 

Glimpse: Sigh

As just about everyone knows, my Cole plays hockey. He spends a crazy amount of time in rinks, travelling to and from games, training, eating mindfully, hydrating and obsessively researching equipment. A while back he came bounding in from a morning at the training facility and tossed what looked like a white puck at me:

He got this from one of the facility employees. A year ago I would have been more than a little indignant over the lack of appropriateness of giving something like this to my new-teen boy. Now? I roll my eyes, sometimes sigh, and maintain my fingers in a hopeful crossed position in silent prayer that he's been raised well enough (so far) and do my best to hold my tongue. He's growing up whether I want him to or not!

My new mantra: Pick Your Battles. So, with an arched eyebrow and a shake of my head, I grabbed it to take a photo.

(On the flip side, a couple of weeks ago, when he tossed me a condom - given to him by a teammate - I had a similar reaction: but higher arch, more vehement shake and no photo. Oh, and a stern talk since that was a battle I was willing to wage.)

This too shall pass. I wonder what the next stage will bring? I will resume more finger crossing that I will be prepared! And even more finger crossing that I manage to handle it with humour :)

the simple things | 13

bieberette

my kids have the silliest conversations at our kitchen table. the other evening, caden was playing on the ipad and chloe was just goofing around. i asked her what she was doing and she responded that she was a girl justin bieber :: a bieberette.

One Little Word | Captured | 06

THE STORY: A while back I let go of my cleaning service. Why? They weren't cleaning as well as I liked and they were charging me an awful lot of money to do an inconsistent job. 

WHY DO? There really is nothing more thankless than cleaning a house! It's a disaster if you don't but no one notices or cares when it's all clean. Like most things in life, it's all about your attitude, so I've made cleaning, at least dusting, a fun-ish process. Armed with my FlyLady duster and iPod, I dance through the house a couple of days a week in an effort to keep on top of it all. My job is the dusting, bathrooms and kitchen; the kids divvy up the rest. Note: Duster also makes for a good microphone and drum stick.

* * * * *

JOIN: I'm thrilled my friend Jill has offered us all an opportunity to keep on track! I don't know about you, but weekly accountability is good for me. One LIttle Word | Captured is the perfect way for me to incorporate my one little word in to my life. What about you?

the current | three

listening to the script on my ipod - really enjoying it.
eating plenty of good stuff and no (!!) refined sugar
drinking too much water, feeling like i can float away
wearing a smile
feeling a bit anxious to finish some projects
wanting what i can't have, in this case a big scoop of vanilla bean ice cream
needing a few more hours of sleep than i've been managing the last few nights
thinking too much, too much, too much
enjoying most of those thoughts
wondering and admiring those who seem to do it all, so well, all at once
creating lists, many lists
procrastinating by creating those lists instead of scratching them off
pondering what might be next
loving the forecast
anticipating a full weekend and a great week ahead

idea discovered on this blog. where is your current taking you?

Last conversation ...

I have to say it is with great relief my boy is home from his 4-Day school trip. It was a strange sensation writing up three of these conversations and having a blank page for Cole. Well, maybe not so blank because I was able to fill in a few things: I know his favourite colour is red, it has been since he was very little; I know his favourite season is fall and that he can eat Granny Smith Apples all day long ...

I had no idea he still disliked McDonald's french fries or hasn't had time to read a book, for fun, since summer. 

I'm thrilled to bits that the coolest person both Cole and Chloe know is their little brother, Caden. This has been a wonderful process - very enlightening. Even though waiting a couple of extra days to add Cole's responses to the collection was a bit painful for someone as impatient as I tend to be ... hmm.

I've learned a lot about my kids, their changing interests and enjoyed every minute of their interaction with each other while they answered the questions at the kitchen table. The good-natured bantering back and forth is exactly what I had hoped for when I decided to have a crazy number of children in a ridiculously short time-frame ;) They still drive me a bit crazy, but they are all turning into such wonderful, complex and enjoyable people.

It took me less than a minute to download the template from Designer Digitals. It took about 10 minutes per interview. It took about 10 minutes per template to add colour and background. In total 81 minutes invested in getting to know my kids - something completely priceless. Cheap at twice the price!

What are you waiting for? This is what it's all about! Right?

tgif :: february 2011

I'm trusting Spring will actually arrive and with it melt the ice and maybe wash away some of the snirt (snow/dirt). I hate to wish time away, but as much as I'd like to enjoy the waning days of winter, I'm really looking forward to longer days, safer driving conditions and some more sunshine. (I'm getting really anxious, it was +11C yesterday!)

I'm grateful my big little boy enjoyed his time on his school trip to Kingston and Ottawa - even considering the outdoor camping and crutches. I'm sure we haven't heard all of the stories yet (he just got back yesterday), but know lifelong lessons were learned and he was left with plenty of questions to answer. Now to get him rested and fed and ready to get back to the grind. Though, I am additionally grateful for this 4-day weekend. We all need a bit of a break if for no other reason than to catch up on some laundry when we are not in a rink - for Caden's games!

I'm inspired by so many people around me. So many women deal with their lives - the joys and challenges - with such poise and grace. I don't want any other life but the one I have - well, with a couple of tweaks here and there - but I admire those who are able to live through adversity and challenge with such warmth and kindness. I strive to be like those I admire every day and am grateful for their example.

Do you want to participate in TGIF? If so, get the scoop over at Ordinary Courage. Even if you don't want to participate, do yourself a favour today and head over anyway. You won't regret it!

Hybrid Projects over at Ella today!

The ever talented Francine Clouden has an article over at Ella Publishing Co. today. If you are interested in branching out to hybrid projects - combining some traditional paper/glue and digital elements to your layouts - this is a great place to start.

I was asked to contributea hybrid project and I chose to do a step-by-step of my favourite 12 of 12 as it is perfect for this kind of treatment:

Head on over to the article for a step-by-step on how this page comes together. In addition, my friend and inspiration extraordinaire, Monika Wright shares how to add text to a photograph and Francine has posted about something I've always wanted to do with digital paper. GREAT ideas from both of these ladies, I so enjoy working with them!

Also, while you're over there, go check out the new Ella e-book! Wendy Smedley has combined her talents with Aly Garvey to bring about:

Personally the idea of a heritage album is overwhelming. I like that this book should give me some guidance as to where best to start and what should be included. I don't have a lot of heritage photos or ephemera, but it may be a good way to start for my kids - after all, my life now will be considered heritage for my grandchildren, should I be so blessed, many, many years from now!

Leave a comment over at the Ella blog, or come on back and let me know what you think!

Team Up Thursday: Books

I enjoy these Team Up Thursday challenges and it has been great fun to join my friend and wonderful photographer, Shirley LeMay each week combining our interpretation of a theme. I'm always delighted to open my mail to see the final diptych. Check out many more on the Flickr group: Team Up Thursday.

This week the theme was BOOKS and this his how we both captured it:

My BOOKS: I've been trying to get a "stack" shot all week and I can't seem to get it to work! So, I took a shot of what I'm reading right now: a single book which is huge in it's scope! Kind of like a collection of many mini books (blogs); already out dated when it was conceived but still chock full of great stuff; some blogs I don't like I prefer in book form and it's really opened my eyes to a number of things. So, here you have a single book, but really it is so much more :)

Shirley's BOOKS: I did manage a stack photo - these are various violin music books I've collected through the years - some are recent, some are from my pre-college years. Some of the etude books have interesting "doodles" on them (like how I hated the composer). I have three separate editions of Beethoven's Romance in F Major - my favorite piece in High School.

[Shirley's stack of music reminded me of endless hours studying theory and music while in middle and high school. I took voice and was terrible at instruments - but good with theory. I often forget what a huge part of my life music played for a very long time. Funny how that happens over time.]

More conversations ...

I keep finding more wonderful things about digi-scrapping. The next virtue discovered (or confirmed) yesterday is the ease in the parental quest of "fair". With four kids it's often easy to get caught up in the activities of one or once one project is done move onto the next and have one or more pages for one kid and zero for the rest. I was able to make two more pages, based on the Cathy Zielske template, like the one I made about Caden yesterday, one each for the girls:

MATERIALS: Template: CZ Designs Story Guide Layered Template No. 1 (Designer Digitals); Printed Paper: Ashalee Wall Between Us (Digital Pink Ink); Font: Myriad Pro

MATERIALS: Template: CZ Designs Story Guide Layered Template No. 1 (Designer Digitals); Printed Paper: Poorly Labelled Stash SG_Dec2007_1_Paper; Font: Myriad Pro

I have one in the works for Cole which I'll complete when I interview him upon his return on Friday. Right now I've got the colours chosen - red, of course, and put in my own answers to the questions. I'm curious to see how close I am to the real answers!

I've enjoyed the process of the interviews and learning more things about my children. Not only that, but the process has been fascinating - the questions that frustrate them, the questions they find easy or too hard - how can favourite food be too hard? They've also chosen their own paper and colours to reflect their current favourite.

I've learned that since I file almost 100% of my creative stash (digi and traditional) by colour, the labels are lost intranslation when stored in iPhoto. Must remedy that if I'm going to continue on this digi adventure! I've also figured out some short cuts and fun stuff on PSE which is becoming less and less intimidating every time I use it. I'm still stuck on a few things, but I'm sure to get it all worked out.

At least now I can say I'm enjoying the journey!

Wellness Wednesday: Pick Your Poison

*By no means is this to be considered anything more than Lee just saying what is on her mind. No endorsement. No encouragement. Just doing what I do.*

Option #1:

 

Option #2:

I pick the one with the skull & crossbones.

I have a few really good friends and we get together for lunch - not as often as we'd like! When we do, it is always lively with a ton of laughter and plenty of conversation: we cover all manner of topics like our children, the schools, extracurricular activities, our husbands, new finds and our health. A while back, when lunching with my girlfriends, we combined our new finds with our health.

New find: IODINE - the one with the skull and crossbones.

Mid-winter is never a good time to look toward feeling 100% but I've not been well for a while. It is more of a passive unwell, not an active or aggressive unwell. It took a long time to get here and I have no doubt it will take a while to feel good again. I'm taking some time to lay the groundwork: eating better, sleeping better, exercising better. Part of the new program is iodine.

Apparently iodine is necessary in our system: it enables the thyroid gland to produce hormones needed to develop and maintain the brain and nervous system. Without it you run the risk of heart, liver, kidney and muscle damage if not failure. There is plenty of anecdotal as well as official documentation that without iodine in your diet you run the risk of: hypothyroid and hyperthyroid conditions, goiter, fibrocystic breasts, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, brain fog, constipation, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation, and detoxification issues. Highlighted in green are my obvious issues, the rest are being tested.

We here in the West get our iodine in iodized salt, which I cut out of our household diet years ago in favour of kosher salt which is not iodized. A typical choice made by a number of women I know.

My friend, E, had just been treated for breast cancer and the addition of iodine in her diet was one of many conversations she had with medical experts during her ordeal. There is plenty of evidence linking iodine deficiency with breast cancer. Am I afraid of breast cancer? Of course, but no more so than having a heart attack or contracting MS or Parkinson's Disease or Alzheimer's. What I am is concerned that something strange is going on and it needs to be fixed.

I was slow about doing this. You know, the skull and crossbones were a bit of a put off. While on Facebook last week E asked if I'd tried it and I admitted I had not. E refreshed my memory as to the brand to buy (for proper concentration) and the "test" to see if I actually needed it. A couple of drops on my upper arm (no chance of sweat or water getting to it) and if absorbed in 24-hours it would be a good indication that I was iodine deficient. Well, it was absorbed in six hours. Hmm. I immediately started to take a few drops (0.30 mL) in cranberry juice twice every day.

So, my diagnosis by the dining table may be as effective as the last four thyroid tests I've taken, which means not one bit; but, all things being equal, I'd rather take a moderate amount of poison that will taste dreadful and might cure me than something I know for sure will be tasty and kill me.

Here's to a clear head and weight loss!

Oh, and here's to lunch with my girlfriends - I meet them today at noon. Whoot!

(Now, those of you who promptly climbed up on your high horse while reading this entry, please do not leave any unkind comments if you know or endorse anyone who uses Botox or serve/eat countless things we know are bad for us but don't have a poison label - let's start with French Fries and add in some Pop/Soda just for fun. I stand behind my opinions 100% but am not voicing them for subjective attack purposes - there are plenty of other places for that brand of poison. Now, if you live a perfect life, with perfect choices, you are welcome to throw stones. Otherwise, say anything you want, I love hearing from you! Smooches!)

Early morning creativity

I woke this morning and after the coffee was made and the kids lunches were packed, I parked myself in front of my computer to go through the 80+ posts waiting for me in my Google Reader. I didn't get far! The always inspiring Cathy Zielske had an interview with her Cole posted as a hybrid project on her blog today.

There is a big sale on over at Designer Digitals and I had purchased many layered templates, so rather than waiting, and since my own Cole is out of town, I followed Cathy's lead, as I so often do, and interviewed Caden while he was eating his breakfast:

Template: Story Guide Layered Template No. 01 (CZDesign at Designer Digitals); Patterned Paper: Envy (Ashalee Wall at Digital Pink Ink); Font: Myriad Pro

I am thrilled that I could sit here on my computer across from my boy eating his breakfast and get a page done - and approved - before he left for the bus! I chose the full-digi route, but could easily have made this a hybrid effort. And I may, next time ;)

There is still a ton for me to learn about this whole digi thing, but the portability and speed of it all is really appealing. Do you digi scrap? 100% or part of the time?

Me? I'm off to finish reading the posts waiting in my reader which has now increased to triple digits. It may take all day if I keep stopping and giving in to my immediate inspiration!

Enjoy your Tuesday :)

Happiness Captured :: Week 07

Again Jill and I are capturing our happiness moments through the lens and sharing ...

Jill :: In honor of Valentine's Day and the love in my life. The magnitude of just one little word amazes me.

Me :: I never thought I'd see the day my daughter would choose to spend a Saturday afternoon reading. The hours spent arguing, cajoling and encouraging! It makes my heart sing to watch her flip through the pages and the watch the stack of "read" books pile high.

Where did you capture happiness this week?

the simple things | 12

Tigey

When Caden left Sick Kids Hospital in May 2003 he was given his choice of stuffed toy. He chose Tigey. This little guy has been with my little guy every night - and most days - since. He's been washed only a few times and has suffered a few rips and some stuffing is missing in parts. To Caden, Tigey is the most wonderful toy ever, his constant companion; his confidant; his greatest cheerleader. Caden kisses him in the morning when he wakes up. He kisses him goodnight before he goes to bed. He hugs him tight all night long. I will go into his room during the day and he has Tigey tucked in nice and tight so he is left safe when off to school. Caden is so gentle, caring and thoughtful with his little talisman.

12 of 12: February 2011

01. Caden had a good hockey game today - and he played forward again. Hmm.

02. Claire is such a sweet girl, she had coffee waiting for me when I came in from the rink.

03. Leftovers are always the best part of entertaining the night before! No, that's not true. Seeing friends is the best part, but the leftovers are a nice bonus.

04. Lazy day spent reading some new books. So much inspiration.

05. A bright and shiny day and not too cold. A welcome change.

06. Chloe is obsessed with this new app. According to it, her father was a cartographer in his last life. Who knew?

07. The Bear is like a cat. Finding the warmest place in the house to curl up and read.

08. Cole is in Montreal, at the LCC tournament. The team made it into the finals - without him. He is now sporting a knee brace and crutches. Torn hamstring. (Update: the Appleby Blue Dogs WON the tournament 4-2 over the Royal West Academy. The bus is expected to roll in around 1AM!)

09. My first attempt at SurveyMonkey - getting some feedback from last night!

10. Louis giving me a run-down on his hockey-filled day. Some parents make for great stories. (Shaking head!)

11. A supply of milk and cookies, time for Caden and Louis to settle in for more hockey!

12. After all, it's the family favourite Montreal Canadiens playing their traditional rival Toronto Maple Leafs in Montreal. The second game of the day. Later on, no doubt with more milk and cookies they'll watch the Calgary vs Vancouver game while waiting to pick up Claire and then Cole.

As always the 12 of 12 is just a small taste of the activities in our day - and it helps when I remember to bring my camera! Our days are so full - even a "boring" Saturday with Hockey Day in Canada on the television; warming up clicking over to golf being played at Pebble Beach; anticipating BBMs from Cole with updates on his leg and the Blue Dogs team; taking Chloe to a pool party to celebrate a friend's birthday; Claire being delivered to Oskar's for their evening out; and, Caden searching the Blockbuster shelves for another Wii game to conquer. It was another full 12th today, the very best kind.

Do you participate? If so, let me know and leave a link so I can see how you captured your day!

One Little Word | Captured | 05

THE STORY: A while back Cole took my beloved Asics. This would normally not be a problem, but my boy has Flintstone feet and he stretched them beyond wearablility as he grew out of them. The beauty of Asics is that they have a high arch and a tight ankle and they fit perfectly. Unfortunately they are really expensive and I cannot often find my size (10.5) and have to order on line which, for those of us in the Great White North, is a royal (expensive) pain in the butt.

WHY DO? Part of my word choice this year is to keep me mindful and encourage me to make healthier choices. Instead of blaming my kid for stretching my sneakers thereby rendering me unable to walk or exercise, I cringed a little inside and did two things I really do not like: shopping (I had to go to three stores) and spending. I'm glad I got them - and the water bottle. They've been worn all week and they're lovely!

Bonus: I now know where to go to buy replacements - $99 and my size!

* * * * *

JOIN: I'm thrilled my friend Jill has offered us all an opportunity to keep on track! I don't know about you, but weekly accountability is good for me. One LIttle Word | Captured is the perfect way for me to incorporate my one little word in to my life. What about you?

Rocking the Do | Menah Menah

While coming back from the rink a couple of weekends ago, after a 6-1 thumping, Caden and I were talking about fun videos and he asked about the "Do Do" song. (No, we don't talk hockey, that is always left at the rink!) Anyway, Caden wanted to know how to look it up. Of course, thinking of my guiding word this year, I thought this was the perfect theme song to accompany my efforts.

Now every time I want to rock my do, I'll be thinking of the bright pink back up sistahs :) and Animal, of course.

As for today? Caden's team BEAT the Wings with a score of 3-2. Again we did not discuss hockey on the way home. Today's topic was it's the 12 of 12 and I forgot - yes, FORGOT, my camera!

Like a Hole in the Head!

As in, I need more digital supplies like I need another hole in my head!

Not.

But I got them anyway :)

Why?

The reasons are threefold: I have an idea for redecorating this here blog and I've been looking for some yellow, orange and green digi-papers with ZERO luck - close, but not quite; I found this incredible book from the Freckle Photo Blog (check out page 2 - I can't do a direct link to the post, sorry!) via Ali Edwards and really want to do one for each of my kids; and, there is a SALE on at Designer Digitals.

Even though I couldn't find the exact digi-papers I wanted, it didn't stop me from getting some:

Can you tell by the colours that I'm looking toward summer? The temperatures, anyway!

I was so happy to remember to find the template that inspired a hundred ideas - well, at least 10 per child. Do you suppose I'll remember them all when I sit down to design the books?

A few extras were purchased, because CZ rocks:

Though 90% of the time I'm very much a traditional or hybrid scrapbooker, I am drawn to the ease and portability of digi. It really appeals to my "why reinvent the wheel" approach to a number of projects.

What about you? Are you firmly a traditional crafter or do you use your computer? If you have moved into digi, what are your most favourite supplies? designers? ideas? Link me up!

The timing is crazy because I have a list a mile long of "must do's" but this was just so distracting! I hope you have a wonderful and creative weekend. Mine is going to start with about a dozen ladies here in my home tonight to start a creative conversation; I have two deadlines to meet on Sunday and yesterday I signed up for three exciting new creative opportunities which I'll share as soon as I can!

Team Up Thursday: Sign

I enjoy these Team Up Thursday challenges and it has been great fun to join my friend and wonderful photographer, Shirley LeMay each week combining our interpretation of a theme. I'm always delighted to open my mail to see the final diptych. Check out many more on the Flickr group: Team Up Thursday.

This week the theme was SIGN and this his how we both captured it:

My SIGN: Caden snuck into my bed at some point during the night. This is usually a sign that he is coming down with something or he needs to talk. This particular morning my little boy simply wanted a bit of mama time. Thank goodness it wasn't followed up with a cold - worse, it was the flu!

Shirley's SIGN: Frost on the inside of the windows definitely signals that it is cold as the dickens outside. When I took the picture, it was 0 degF or -18 degC. That was on Monday and it hasn't warmed up much since. Another "good sign" from the picture - it's no longer dark when I get downstairs to the kitchen at 6:45. The days are getting longer, so warmer days will be here soon.

I have to agree with Shirley. I am greatly enjoying the longer days. For me the realization came at the other end of the day. Claire and Cole are usually collected from school around 5PM and I realized yesterday that I was driving in daylight. Warmer days! Oh, I'm so looking forward to their inevitable arrival. I hope it is sooner rather than later. This year I feel chilled to the bone.

Happy discovery ...

I'm a  research freak and when I started on my scrapbook journey, I purchased everything and anything I could find to help me understand the craft better and execute layouts that would be heritage-worthy. A while back I purged my stash of scrapbook inspiration and many books that inspired me are now inspiring others.

I kept a few.

One go-to favourite is:

and you can buy it! Not only that, but you can buy it directly from the writer!

Elizabeth has the rights to her book* and now you can get your own copy! Go quick, quantities are limited. My copy is dog-eared and well loved. I'm sure if you got yourself a copy it would be equally worn and full of inspiration.

* I stand corrected in comments (sorry Elizabeth!!) and now I want to sell all the inventory she has on hand! GO get your copy now :)

On Overload

I'm on overload.

Everywhere I turn there is creative stimulation and I'm taking it all in. Nothing is quite in focus.

So much needs to get done but I'm in a weird, stimulating, exhausting haze of abundance.

It is wonderful.

Now to get all of my kids healthy, laundry done, house tidied, chores run so I can do something about it!

monday musings | want

i want to make a blurb book of my favourite blog posts.
i want to sing regularly.
i want to sit in a neighbourhood pub and fill myself with stories.
i want to take photos of interesting doors (and wonder about the lives inside).
i want to hear the distant sound of a buoy bell ringing.
i want to scan all of my old negatives.
i want to find a good writing app for my iPad.
i want to draw.
i want to write a memoir - all in short stories.
i want to start my notecard project.
i want to feel a tropical breeze.
i want to take a photo walk of my town.
i want teaspoons.
i want to design a course on how to embrace authenticity.
i want a clean house.

Glimpse: Hot Mess in Hot Pink

My poor Moe announced with a heavy sigh, "Mama, I'm just a hot mess today" then promptly bemoaned her circumstance - that of being female. Poor thing. I hear you, chickie.

So then she announced that though she loves her "sick pajamas" it will be the only time I'll ever see her in hot pink. Even in her hot messiness she is funny as well as "anti" all things girl. Oh, the irony. Then she asked for a carb fix: Goldfish crackers.

And a Motrin.

Just a glimpse into my world.

the simple things | 11

garlic

i am not much into using spices or other flavour "enhancers", as i find they often mask the real taste of food. though, you can always find some, er, a lot of fresh garlic in my kitchen. it is the perfect accompaniment to almost everything i cook. even better? it's oh so good for all of us.

Creative Catch Up

I have joined a number of challenges for 2011. Some have gone well, others not as well as planned. At some point I'll figure out why ... and fix! But for now, I'm just going to post what I've missed sharing here:

Team Up Thursday

Shirley and I have done a pretty good job keeping up with our Team Up assignments, so far. This week th theme we chose was Homemade:

This week my photo is the remains of Cole's birthday cake. He turned 14 and left very little on the  plate! Shirley's daughter, Erica, made a homemade birthday card for a friend.

Joy of Love

For the month of February, the talented Kelly Willette has started a photography course where she sends an e-mail each day with an assignment and some great photography tips and advice. Each photo is of a person (or pet) we love and a theme is followed. I am terrible at taking photos of those I love because they are more than fed up with me taking their picture! This month I will not be deterred.

Day 1 DOING

Day 2 ESSENCE

I'm working on Day 3 - Then and Now; and 4 - What They Wear. I have to dig into the archives for Day 3; and for Day 4, I need a cooperative loved one. Clearly I'm being deterred ... maybe I should stick to nature shots!

LOAD 211

I've lost count at how many times I've done a Layout A Day but I think I've perfected the imperfect process. Like I said while participating in the blog hop, I'm a binge scrapper and this works pretty well for me.

Day 1 Learn Through Play

Cardstock: Bazzill
Printed Paper: Little Yellow Bicycle
Stickers: Basic Grey, Heidi Swapp
Font: VT Portable Remington

Day 2 Mini Me

Cardstock: Bazzill
Printed Paper: We R Memory Keepers
Stickers: Kaisercraft
Chipboard: American Crafts
Font: Arial Narrow
Inspiration: Jody Wenke

Day 3 She Plays Hard

 

Cardstock: Bazzill
Printed Paper: My Minds Eye
Stickers: Heidi Swapp
Chipboard: American Crafts
Brads: Bo Bunny
Font: District Thin

Day 4 Our Funny Boy

Cardstock: Bazzill, Dotted Swiss
Chipboard: American Crafts
Brads: Bo Bunny
Font: American Typewriter

I'm struggling with the 52 Weeks Challenge and, a previous favourite, Celebrate Mondays. Picture Winter over at BPC was an epic fail and I really am disappointed in myself. I think it is due to the specific-assignment nature of the challenges. Still working out the kinks and hope to be back at is soon. I've been pretty good posting my Happiness Captured, The Simple Things and One Little Word Captured. The only difference I see on those assignments I manage and those I do not, are my successful photos are less structured and forced. I'm better with a more free-flowing theme.

What about you? Are you keeping up with the ideas you discovered at the start of the year? Which have you fallen off - or fallen on?

4 Simple Goals | February 2011

Last August, Elsie Flannigan posted a simple and doable challenge.

My 4 Simple Goals, February edition, includes:

1. Menu Planning: We've now gone through a couple of months dealing with my cheese intollerance, changing up our family diet using naturopath guidelines and trying out new recipes. All this has been done while managing some insane scheduling conflicts. It's time to develop a monthly menu of those meals that work for us. Once done I have to put together a binder that holds our monthy menu; recipes and grocery lists. 
2. Layout Sorting: Other than self-contained projects, I have layouts in piles all over my studio. I've been stuck in "perfect" as opposed to just settling for "done". It's time to get those piles (at the very least) sorted and ready for inclusion in albums, if not actually put in the albums!
3. Finish the basement bathroom: Really. I don't know if I can adequately express how fed up I am living in the land of the unfinished project. Time to get the glass installed in the basement bathroom - and as a bonus, the boys bathroom as well!
4. Kitchen Purging: As a result of our losing all of our teaspoons - seriously - I have taken a good look at how much stuff I have in the kitchen and how little of it I actually use on a regular basis. Since I've now been cooking 90% of our meals here at home, I have a really good idea of what I use and what I don't use. It's time to clear out the things collecting dust!

REWARD: I would really like to try my hand at growing succulents and have a bare spot on a table for something fun in my family room.

What about you? Do you have a few activity oriented goals you'd like to meet? If so and you participate, let me know! I'd love to see what you have planned.

2011 | Personal DO | 02 sleep

Over the last little while I've heard plenty about sleep: Arianna Huffington appeared on The View, Oprah had a show or ten, Gretchen Rubin in The Happiness Project, Nancy Nally had a heartbreaking post; all saying the same thing: we live a sleep-deprived existence and it is getting dangerous.

Being married to someone with severe sleep apnea, I am familiar with the dangers of sleep deprivation. Living with someone with severe sleep apnea who refuses to use his C-Pap machine leaves me wracked in fear. Daily. Though, if nothing else, 16+ years of marriage has taught me I can only care for those in my home who want to be cared for, so I take care of myself an my children.

In my effort to be around for a good long time, part of my Personal Do this year is to address my sleep, or lack of sleep, depending upon how my 46-year-old hormones want to behave :) A while back, I found a sleep "to do" list which has been repeated in different ways by many experts and non experts alike. Bottom line? In order to maximize your productivity you have to maximize the opposite effort: sleep.

How?

AMOUNT

I am definitely the average person. Those people who go around wearing their "I only sleep 4 hours a night" like a badge of honour scare the crap out of me and are those I want to avoid on the highway! Anyway, the average person needs about 7-8 hours a night to stay fully alert and refreshed all day, and I am now heading to bed at 10PM. Yes, I miss the "good" shows. Oh well. The only exception? Wednesday nights I stay up and watch "The Good Wife" because it is the best show on television - network or cable.

Status: DONE

CONSISTENCY

As I make every effort to be settled in bed by 10PM, the alarm is set every morning for 5:50AM. It used to be earlier - 5AM, but I was always fighting being tired until well into mid-morning. Getting up a little before 6AM makes an easier transition into my day. I consistently get a little less than 8 hours a night. It works. The key? Do the same on the weekends. The weekend is not the time to sleep in. Now, around here the weekends usually mean an earlier alarm as often Claire is timekeeping for a 7AM game and Caden can be at his hockey game, on the other side of town for 7AM. On those days the alarm is set for 4:50AM to get everyone up, fed and out the door on time. 

Status: DONE

DARKNESS

I have always been loathe to do this because I don't want to put up curtains in my bedroom. I have a gorgeous view of the lake and even at night the glow of the moon on the water is so magical. As it turns out, after reading and reading, the light went on and I realized the easiest way to make this happen is to wear a night mask. Why sleeping in the dark is so important? Lots of reasons, but this one really had me take notice.

Status: Mask purchased and I'm getting used to it. Still considering curtains.

NO ALCOHOL OR CAFFEINE

We've all been told to avoid alcohol and caffeine, right? A no-brainer. Well, I'm a slow learner. As part of my Personal Do, I have reduced my alcohol intake and really only have an occasional glass of wine. Well, since January 3rd, and more in an effort to take in less sugar than in an effort to sleep better. But better choices are better for lots of reasons, right? As for caffeine, I have one cup of coffee in the morning and usually it gets cold. It really is that first sip. Love it.

Status: DONE.

NO FOOD OR DRINK 

Rule of thumb is no food or drink two hours before you go to sleep. In my case I rarely eat after 7PM but I've been trying so hard to increase my fluids that I always bring a glass of water up to bed with me! Hmm. Maybe that's why I'm up at 3AM!

Status: In Progress.

RELAX & ROUTINE

The only way to fall asleep is to stop actively trying to fall asleep so it's best to set yourself up for success. The best way to wind down is to have a routine that results in us doing absolutely nothing. Routines can include taking a hot bath, read a book, write in a diary, engage in easy and reflective activities, not stimulating ones like a mystery novel, surfing the net or watching television. Easier said than done. I got into some terrible habits when I had the kids: there were four kids in five years and Louis worked out of town every week - sometimes for weeks at a time - for seven or eight years. The television would be on all night long while I was up for feedings, sick children, sleepless nights. I often have the news channel blaring all night long. 

Status: Relax? Routine? Thinking about it. Have to work on it. Right now it is epic fail!

TEMPERATURE

Turns out the temperature in our bedroom affects the way we sleep, too. Sleep is so complicated! Who knew? Well, in my case I need things to be cool, but I have to have a blanket, some weight on me. Nothing binding and definitely no socks! My bouts with frozen shoulder also force me to have something on my back make things far to tense.

Status: DONE.

EXERCISE

Regular exercise is probably the easiest, quickest way to get better sleep. Seems to be key to a lot of things on my personal do list!

Status: In Progress

It's a slow go, but I am definitely starting to feel much better. There are a few things I definitely have to start doing, but making wholesale change is hard and I don't want to change so many things at one time that I just get fed up and give up. Baby steps. Baby steps.

Wellness Wednesday: Encouragement Box

In mid-January, once all of the frantic idea-a-minute posts were read through and I sifted the do-able from the rest, I found one entry from the thoughtful and inspiring Jamie Ridler that didn't just speak to me, it shouted (nicely, of course) and I found it irresistible.

I knew it would be important to get my "box" put together quickly as mid-winter was approaching and it is one time of the year I find difficult to navigate. The days are bleak and cold and there is little motivation to be found. I'm certainly not comparing my days to anyone who might be diagnosed with SAD, but a little support is welcome.

I have been very fortunate to receive kindness here on the blog in form of comments, and often some of you take it one step further to send me an e-mail, and I have been the recipient of cards and letters in the much coveted snail mail. Taking Jamie's advice to make this simple and not a chore on my "to do" list. I printed the e-mails. I collected the notes. I screen printed the comments. YOU will keep me going through the bleak days and for that I am very grateful.

What helps you work through the winter blues? Do you have an encouragement box? Something similar?

Reflections | January 2011

Formerly called my "lessons" which evolved to my "month in review" I'm going to continue this practice of summarizing the previous month to help me reflect on all that went on in our lives. All of this eventually ends up as the journaling on my monthly pages a la Cathy Zielske.

My summaries have always been about my whole family and our activities which have been perfect for my family album project. In addition to that, moving forward, I am adopting Katie's more orderly approach with some questions for me each month. I've adapted her questions to be more reflective of my life:

What new things did I learn?

What fun things did I do?

What interesting people did I get to know?

What important events occurred in the world?

What special purchases did I make?

Any noteworthy accomplishments this month?

What were my disappointments this month?

Anything else?

I have no idea what I'll do with these collections, but I know I'll be happy to have them.

So, onward ...

JANUARY 2011

• I chose my guiding word for 2011 - DO - and it has been awesome. Hopefully I'll be able to continue rocking the do through the whole year. This first month was fabulous!
• The kids were enamoured with their Christmas gifts through almost the first week of January. Not bad.
• A nasty bug made its way through the house. Not a fun start to the year, but inevitable with such an early start back at school.
• Cole was selected as a Chapel Beacon. Apparently this is a big honour. For me it is a big funny as I'm sure Canon Lenox has never had a student before who knows absolutely nothing about the routines of church.
• Cribbage has taken over the house. Everyone is playing it!
• The World Juniors hockey tournament had the whole household glued to the television for a couple of hours every day up to the big final game! Much to the disappointment to everyone in our home there was an epic breakdown and Canada lost to the Russians. Better luck next year in Alberta.
• Claire was selected Captain of her school volleyball team and it looks like she'll be called up to the varsity team on occasion. She loves the sport and she's very good at it.
• Lost, found and finished my December Daily album. Thrilled with the results. Not only that, but I managed to put together a #reverb10 album together. In the first week of the year. Done. Not waiting in a pile! Whoot :)
• Caden campaigned for Class Prime Minister with the slogan: Vote for Caden Not a Maiden. Hmm. He came in 3rd of 7 candidates - behind two maidens girls.
• Lobster always tastes great, but it tastes even better on sale.
• Squirrelly season has officially begun. Those of us in minor hockey know it's the time of year when playoffs start and new team selections begin - almost simultaneously. It's a bit nutty.
• We all have a "confirmed bachelor" in our lives, don't we? Ours is Pete who stood up with Louis at our wedding 16+ years ago. Congratulations to him and his new bride on their RECENT WEDDING. Whoot!
• Cole was invited back for a special leadership program at OELC. He didn't even look up the dates or considered a conflict, he had such a great time last summer he's determined to go back! We're happy to send him, what a tremendous experience.
• Chloe is playing for her school volleyball team. Though she has never played before she's learning quickly. She has a ton of power with great serves and bumping. We'll have to work on her finesse and control!
• Another Bauer Total One stick broken. My boy needs a sponsor! At almost $300 a stick it's crazy. He's now on a mission to find a stick that isn't as costly and performs the same. I'm thinking a $20 wood stick will work just fine!
• Caden finally got his first point of the season on an assist. He is not the last one in his age group - but close, there are four others still waiting. We keep telling him that being a defensive defenseman is a good thing and he'll not get a lot of points but it is the only measurement the boys have and he's been teased badly over his "lack of performance". It is what it is.
• Late in the month, Cole and his Rangers team headed off to Stratford to participate in the Nations Cup. It was such a good experience for everyone. The results were not as hoped, but they boys played exceptionally well short-handed. They were buoyed by the idea that games played against very stiff competition were manageable. They went to play hard and play hard they did!
• So nice to be joined by non-hockey friends at Caden's local hockey tournament. His best friend Payton brought his parents and brother to the rink to cheer Caden and Hound Dogs team on. So nice to see them!
• Chloe and I enjoyed watching the Golden Globes. She didn't "get" Ricky Gervais' humour - good thing (I loved it); and she loved all of the outfits and bling.
• Claire has started her "I want to learn to drive" mantra we are sure to hear for the next year. As our December baby finally turned 15, all of her friends started turning 16 in January which means G1 season is upon us and Claire has to wait almost a full year.
• Cole obtained a concussion during the Richard Bell Memorial Tournament. He was finally cleared 100% on January 18th. That was a lot of missed time, he picked up where he left off, but with his head up!
• Caden, our little foodie, discovered the sandwich press way in the back of the kitchen cupboard. He is now addicted to making tasty grilled concoctions!
• During the Stratford tournament, I took over 1,400 photos. By the following Tuesday I had them purged down to 101 photos AND cropped, edited, straightened and uploaded to Flickr. So happy!
• Claire has been struggling with time management and her math mark is reflecting her conflict. Once she buckled down, went to extra help and focused on the problem she surprised herself by getting a 100% mark on her geometry test. I think she surprised her teacher as well!
• Weather report: flipping freezing! We went from cold-ish and brown to snow covered and dipping into negative double digits. Brr.
• A lot of the month is spent single-parenting from 4PM to 9PM and later as Louis has been busy with MOHA business. It will only get busier through playoffs. I really should sit down and write out all of the crazy stories from this season. I'm sure looking back, in our old age, we'll laugh at the insanity of it all. 4,000 kids in the organization - all of them with a mum and a dad and sometimes more - makes for some interesting situations.
• Cole turned 14. How is that possible?

My Month

What new things did I learn? More do, less talk. It works. And if doesn't work, change it. Case in point: one of the most worthwhile projects I've ever done is the monthly 12 of 12, but I'm no longer participating with the original group. I am hugely disappointed that the blog is defunct and I feel a disconnect over at the Facebook page: zero sense of community, inclusion or enthusiasm. I encourage anyone who feels the same way to stick with it - just find a way that works best for you :)

What fun things did I do? Interacted with so many wonderful people. Watched some great hockey and volleyball games! Explored many creative ideas and can't wait to make them come alive, to that end, I came up with 52 Projects, a la Elizabeth Dillow, and I'm happy to be on track :) What is better than a list? One that has all of the items scratched off!

What interesting people did I get to know? This was the month of the hockey mum: I got to know better the mums on Caden's hockey team as we spent endless hours at the new 16 Mile Complex during  the Frank Sabatino tournament; and, I got to know Heather Luff (one of the mums on Cole's hockey team) as we drove to Stratford, back from Stratford and back to Stratford again - in blizzard conditions. Such lovely women, all.

What important events occurred in the world? Devastating floods in Australia; a terrible shooting of a child, a congresswoman, a judge and others in Tuscon, Arizona; a terrorist bombing in Moscow; historic vote in Sudan for the south to suceed from the north, taking it's oil riches with it; political uprising in Tunisia resulted in President fleeing the country; landslides killed many in Brazil and left over 14,000 homeless; complicated election stalemate in the Ivory Coast; Egypt has exploded in violence and the situation looks terrifying. Not important, but indicative of bigger issues: Ricky Gervais, a raunchy, rude, hysterical comedian was hired to host the Golden Globes and then reprimanded for remaining true to his stock in trade. Which begs the question: why was he hired?

What special purchases did I make? I bought the "Scrabble" application for my iPad, "World of Goo" and "Angry Birds" oh, and the Oprah app. The kids are happy for the new games as it makes the between-game-time in the rink less mind-numbing. I have been keeping my purchases to a minimum. It is far beyond time to use, and appreciate, what we have.

Any noteworthy accomplishments this month? A plan was put together and much is being completed: two albums, digi detox, thousands of photos sorted and shared, invitations sent for Cape Escape 2011 and A Creative Conversation, becoming more confident in my digi skills, and I continued many changes to my eating and drinking habits.  My very first article for LYM was published along with my very first article for Ella was published with the generous contributions of Francine Clouden and May Flaum. It was a lot of fun taking an article from concept to publication. I hope to do more!

What were my disappointments this month? Our basement bathroom is still not complete - the shower glass still needs to be installed. I did not exercise as much as I would have liked; err, honestly, no exercise would be precise. Sadly, trudging laundry up and down the stairs and folding does not count.

Anything else? I need to know what happens to our spoons. Really. I don't have one teaspoon left in the drawer.

In the meantime, since I'll not be sharing the full Cathy Zielske-based pages here on the blog,  I have an abridged version to share with you using the templates found on Rebecca Cooper's blog:

(Why no share? Our life is filled with people, integral to our story, who have no clue that I blog and I don't think they'd appreciate having their faces plastered on the www without their consent. Often I ask for permission, but a month's worth would be crazy!)

What about you? How do you document your months? In pictures? In words?

Looking to February ... chaos ahead!