Embrace Life

Happy Leap Day!

I am spending my bonus day doing what I normally do on Wednesday. That means I'm busy running errands and organizing "stuff". I actually have a lot to look forward to as Cole is on stage tonight in his school musical "Grease". He is playing a Thunderbird as well as "Teen Angel". I can't wait to see him!

I had plans to create a list of 29 Things I love (right now) and then make a lovely layout to share. Um. Sorry about that, no layout, but here is my list in no particular order:

My kids
Gray paired with anything
Photos + Words
Asparagus
Galaxy 314, Adult Alternative music station
Barbecued rib eye steak with oodles of mushrooms
When common sense is used
Sleep
Cape Cod in the Summer
Our new house - our new life
Listening to & laughing with my kids
Writing my blog - and reading others
Learning new things
The cold side of the pillow
Tutto Fungi pizza from Fortino's on Sunday afternoon
"Once Upon A Time"
Silence
Lunch with friends
Sauvignon Blanc
Recipes EVERYONE likes
Being with those who bring out the best in me
Clean bathrooms
Hell, clean every room
Things to look forward to - and finished "to do" lists
Canyon Ranch, Tucson in Spring
Sushi
Engaging books with solid endings
Walking in the rain
Cultivating a good life

And, in honour of the LEAP part of the day, here is my frogs mini album.

I took a quick flip through and realized there is some updating to do. New life. New frogs.

Enjoy your bonus day! What do you have planned?

 

Project Life | 04

PROJECT LIFE | 04
22 January - 28 January, 2012
Big Event: Cole goes on a school music trip & Chinese New Year

I am really enjoying this project - even when there are challenging stories to add, it is all within the context and flow of our lives. A true representation of our life week to week.

REFLECTION | My album is, surprisingly, photo-heavy. I really expected it to be far more story based, but I've realized I'm making more of a picture book - barely touching the cards that came with the kit. I'm happy it's simple: photos, stories, stickers and stapler!

How has your Project Life surprised you?

hello monday | 15

hello 100th day of teaching. this should be interesting. the plan is to teach and learn as they did 100 years ago. the kids are at an e-school and laptops are banned for the day, as are cellular phones! whatever will they do?

hello academy award fashion hangover. let the disection begin.

hello budd's dealership. looking forward to driving the new truck this afternoon!

hello barbeque. so glad to get you working!

hello barbarian order. i think the kids are going to love these clothes.

hello grease. so much effort - can't wait for the performances.

hello lists. looking forward to 30 days of them! (thanks katrina!)

hello college shop. all ready for my shift.

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week.
i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

LIST 01 | realized lately

I'm a list person.

I thrive in order and control, especially with a calendar in hand! In my effort to "keep it real" around here, I'm hoping to post the occasional list of some kind - preferably relective in nature - and this is my first effort. Things have been a bit chaotic over the last few months and I need a spot to collect those things that leak from my brain!

I have come to realize, fully, lately:

1. My concept of "sexy" has changed. It is no longer defined by a melodic voice, broad shoulders and a twinkle in the eye; it is now defined by employment, humour and more than a little acceptance of humble. Oh, and super sexy is a man who is a good dad to his children. Swoon.
2. We eat a lot of chicken and too many of us prefer dark meat. I have to figure out what to do with the white meat left on the rotisserie chickens we buy!
3. I am disappointed by those in authority who use "privacy" and "confidentiality" as a means to manipulate. The problem is, as a result, they have given far too much power to those they are supposed to guide and protect. Transparency, on the other hand, has very little downside to the genuine and honest among us. I fully embrace transparency. With it comes a feeling of security and calm.
4. This new home of ours is lovely but I miss one thing from the old house: my connection to outdoors. For five years we lived in a house with floor-to-ceiling windows and it really connected me with nature and the weather. I'm trying to figure out how to continue that feeling of connection under very different circumstances.
5. I crave, of all things, oatmeal. Every morning. I have forgotten to set the crock pot a few evenings and it really does ruin my morning!
6. It is way harder to look at the bright side and approach the world with positive intent than the alternative. I'm learning that only the weak and lazy rely on negative energy. I no longer care that my staying away from toxic people makes me appear rude. I'm not rude, I'm just not willing to waste my time on the weak and lazy.
7. A full king size bed to myself? Bliss.
8. I always think I have way more time than I do. I never account for life getting in the way. Those 23 boxes in January? Still stacked up! The appliances? Still not purchased, delivered or installed. The painting? I still must call a painter - but I have yet to find one who is not a thief. Sigh.
9. You never hear the full story from your kids until some time has passed. Only recently have I heard about Claire's first "semi" (in grade 7, four years ago) as we were discussing her most recent "semi", on Friday night. I love how she speaks with such endearment about one of the boys who now, in grade eleven, she doesn't associate with at school. I wonder if he knows? And if he does, does it matter?
10. Sometimes my children speak to me in a language I just simply do not understand. Case in point? Caden speaks "gamer" to me. Um, what was that? Sure. I think. Maybe.

This has to stop! I could go on and on. And on.

What have you realized lately?

Traveling SMASH Book | 01

With a bit of friendly arm-twisting, I managed to finagle myself (with an encouraging nudge from *happy sigh* Melanie Louette) an invitation to join host, (another *happy sigh*) Katrina Simeck, and her uber-creative friends in a fun project: Traveling SMASH. I'm honoured, privileged and way intimidated to be included in this wonderful journey with this tremendous group.

Beyond everything, this has been wonderful just to have the creative opportunity to focus on something outside of Project Life and the simple miracles of my every day life.

Wonderful AND scary!

What is this SMASH thing? Not only was it hard to find, it was something with which I was completely unfamiliar. I had heard murmurs, but it didn't sound like something I could do. Which, of course, made me want to try it out!

So, I went on-line and found a local (aka Canadian) retailer and had had an "International" SMASH book sent to me and went to work. Or so I thought. I had it all opened and ready to go. I knew where it was to be sent - Katrina organized things wonderfully. Then I froze. FROZE.

Fear is a terrible amazing thing. In this company, what if I'm not creative enough? What if I'm not deep enough? What if I disappoint someone? What if I disappoint Melanie? Katrina? Holy smokes. What have I done?

And then I figured it out, I think:

Start with a nice simple cover.

[Edited to add this participant page - photo taken just not posted!]

Say "hello" in different languages! I added in one of my favourite quotes in hope of setting the tone of the album.

I didn't realize how "fuzzy" this turned out when I took the photo, so here is the original .jpg, the theme of my Traveling SMASH:

And with that, the traveling has begun. My book is started and has been sent and received in New Hampshire. I've received Melanie's book, from Montreal, sent to me to add my creative stamp and pass along. I'll only share here what I add in each book as it travels through suburban GTA.

I am totally jazzed by this whole idea!

I am so incredibly happy and thankful to Melanie who convinced Katrina that Canada is not so far away, and though our postal system STINKS we can still participate :)

What do you think of the whole SMASH book phenomenon? Have you created one? Found a good source of inspiration? Please share in the comments.

Returning to ME

I used to have as many dreams as there are stars in the sky.

I've had some thoughts swirling through my head for a while about my journey of the past couple of years. The place I was, where I am now and where I hope to go in the future. To be honest, it's the dream - plans for the future - part I struggle with, not the dealing with the here-and-now. I live a very goal-oriented life, filled with short-term, practical, goals.

I read Jenny's article and realized that I too, over the course of this journey, have lost part of my identity, a significant part of it. I have been so busy being mum to my four kids and wife to someone who didn't want to be married that I got lost somewhere in the crazy of it all. One line in Jenny's article stood out to me: "I had to sit down and remind myself what I liked and what excited me that wasn’t related to Jeff or the kids."

Being so firmly grounded in the needs of my family, I have lost touch with my myself. I have lost touch with my dreams. Bits are coming back and I'm in the middle of mulling those ideas and putting a pretty ambitious (though far more limited than Jenny's!) list together.

In the meantime, I don't want my kids to lose sight of their dreams. As I've learned first-hand, it is so easy to do while dealing with the demands of every day. I wish I had a list of my dreams when I was a teen, even when I was in my mid-20s. I really can't, for the life of me, remember what I wanted to do before my life became what it is today. Following Jenny's lead, I've asked my kids what their dreams are for the future. This is what they provided me:

CLAIRE:

1. Meet at least two of my favourite bands.
2. Travel around Europe. All of it.
3. Learn guitar.
4. Graduate and get into some great universities (e.g. Acadia, Laurier, Guelph, Waterloo, even UBC)
5. Meet some of my favourite authors, such as John Green, Cassandra Clare, Suzanne Collins, etc.
6. Fall in love, get married and make sure it lasts a long time. (What can I say? I'm a hopeless romantic!)

COLE:

1. Travel the world
2. Bungee jump
3. Go to space
4. Get good enough at singing/acting that I can make a profit out of it, big or small doesn’t matter
5. Get a university degree

CHLOE:

1. Audition for a Broadway musical
2. Travel the World
3. Go whale watching in Hawaii or Australia
4. Spend a day baking
5. Learn to play the drums

CADEN:

1. Make the best video game ever :)
2. Get paid to make YouTube videos
3. Have a Guinness world record
4. Travel the world
5. Have 2 cats, 1 dog, and 3 guinea pigs(When I have my own house)

I often laugh to my friends that my children are "four points on a compass" but these lists confirm it! I find it pretty interesting to read that they all want to travel the world (and beyond) - and what they'd like to do. I have a vague recollection of similar ideas.

I'm inspired.

ME:

1. Get off Auto
2. Have my home be exactly what I want it to be, every inch of it
3. Sing, again
4. Travel the world (the part without wars - or highly contageous disease)
5. Lose all of the weight (then get it tucked)

I know, still a bit too goal-oriented rather than dream-oriented, but it is still a stretch for me at the moment.

[A note to Jenny: I have to thank you for your honesty and creativity. You give me the courage to be more true to myself and permission to tackle topics, openly, from which I might naturally shy away. Now I won't. Your blog resonates within me, every day.]

Project Life | 03

In spite of not being around here, I've kept up with my commitment to Project Life. I'm a bit behind sharing the events of our lives, but here we go ...

PROJECT LIFE | 03
15 January - 21 January, 2012
It feels so long ago!

[2-page spread inserts removed]

[Left side]

[Right side]

INSERT ONE:

This was my "Lifting: Naming Your Petals" post from 18 January. Petals on front, article on back.

INSERT TWO:

I'm still waiting for my prints to come back from Persnickety Prints. That's where I send anything over a 6x8 size since around here any bigger is a) hard to find or b) exceedingly expensive or c) complicated. In the meantime, the .jpg files are here. Templates used: Ali Edwards Words and Photos 6x12 Templates (top) and Cathy Zielske 6x12 Photo Templates (modified).

INSERT THREE:

Old Timers Program & Hockey Photo

Our lives are full and I can't imagine having any less than a 2-page spread per week. It also helps my effort for somewhat-equal representation, I need the space!

REFLECTION | I like being a bit "behind". It gives me a chance to get the ephemera organized (if not printed and returned) and longer insert stories written out properly, with a bit of perspective that comes with time.

How are you coming along with your Project Life?

hello monday | 14

hello family day. just another day when everything is closed!

hello new sweatshirts. must get them tagged and ready to sell.

hello gray nailpolish. it's different. i like it!

hello blog. a slow start but glad to be back.

hello sunshine. gray days are warmer, but i'm liking the bright!

hello "to buy" list. oh my.

hello chinese take out leftovers. my favourite breakfast!

hello driving daughter. three lessons in, i'm hanging on tight.

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week.
i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

the current | fifteen

view every day. multiple times every day.

developing plans for the kids over summer holidays.

accepting the gifts of kindness from others.

sending my traveling smash along to the next stop!

lamenting those in positions of power who should not be there - at all.

returning to old eating habits. this must stop.

celebrating the knowledge i can do this!

planning an upcoming huge purchase. scary - amazing - stuff!

embracing this weird (and wonderful) warm winter.

enjoying having something to do. every day.

keeping everything moving along as smoothly as possible.

remembering to say "yes" more than "no".

hoping for a better (less chaotic) routine in the spring.

dreaming of a clean and organized house.

waiting for something to happen. sigh.

looking at my children in wonder. and a smile.

admiring those (many) who do what i cannot.

searching for understanding of adult bullies. so far i can't.

editing ideas, realizing i can't do all i want to do. gasp!

taking charge of a scary situation.

thanking those whose shoulders have been broad enough.

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

MMEW: Food 01

As part of my Move More, Eat Well commitment, my focus for January was to eat breakfast (and take my thyroid pill) every morning. All month I was right on track and (knock wood) have not missed a breakfast yet.

When I went to Canyon Ranch with my sister last April, I learned a lot. I've done my best to retain as much of that knowledge as possible, but I admit, I've slipped! Recently, especially through my exposure to the message board over at MMEW, I've been reminded of a few things. One of those things is the importance of protein at every meal in an effort to keep my blood sugar stable.

I've always had trouble eating breakfast. When I was single I was too busy rushing out the door to get to work; when I got married I was too busy rushing out the door to get to work; now that I have kids I continue to be busy ... making sure they eat breakfast as we're busy rushing out the door to get to school!

My solution?

BREAKFAST CHICKEN SAUSAGES
from the Canyon Ranch kitchens

Ingredients
1 pound ground chicken breast
1/4 cup minced yellow onion
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 1/2 teaspoon dry sage
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, combine ground chicken with all other ingredients and mix well.
2. Form into patties, using 1/4 cup mixture for each patty.
3. Place patties in a large sauté pan. Sauté over medium heat until cooked through, about 3 to 5 minutes on each side or until golden brown.

Serving Information
Makes 8 servings, each containing approximately:
110 calories
0 gm. carbohydrate
4 gm. fat
46 mg. cholesterol
14 gm. protein
202 mg. sodium
Trace fiber

On Sundays I triple the recipe (did I mention kids?):

All ingredients are collected and put on the counter. (I have changed the recipe from chicken to turkey as I find the turkey less "gummy" and easier to handle.)

Once all of the ingredients are combined, I roll the mixture into 1/4 cup balls on a sheet of wax paper.

I cook just about everything in my cast iron skillet and these are perfect. I put the balls into the pre-heated skillet and mash them down flat. I put the heat on medium for 4 to 5 minutes per side.

When I'm done I let the patties cool. There are usually about 22-24 of them when I'm finished. This will keep me and the kids and I going through the week. I put them in a container in the fridge and even though I am loathe to microwave, this is exactly how they get re-heated each morning for breakfast.

For me, one patty with:

Half a grapefruit OR
Bowl of oatmeal* OR
Slice of multigrain toast with peanut butter OR
Baked eggs

keeps me going in the morning. I can really feel a difference when I eat the protein with my breakfast and when I forget (or the kids have eaten all of the patties!). It really gets my matabolism going and I'm actually hungry well before lunch. I listen to my body and have a handful of nuts or an apple before I start preparing whatever is on hand for lunch.

The key? Keep it simple. Prepare*.

It's working!

*OATMEAL: In a 1.5 quart crock pot add in 1 cup of steel cut oats to 4 cups of water. Set on low for 8 hours. Voila. You wake to breakfast! Serve with any combination of dried fruit, fresh fruit, maple syrup, raw sugar, milk, anything that will entice you to enjoy your first meal of the day!

How do you start your day?

Three Little Words

Since I'm a word person, it makes more sense, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day (and the most famous three little words), fill in the blank:

 

"I _____________ you."

with what word will you fill the blank?

believe

enjoy

thank

trust

forgive

hear

miss

or maybe you prefer these other powerful three word phrases:

“I'll be there."

"You are right."

"Go for it."

"Got your back."

"How are you?"

"Please forgive me."

"Now or never."

“Count on me.”

"Let it go."

"Try something new."

"I am sorry."

"Thanks so much."

"Celebrate your victories."

"Let’s be friends."

"Wake your dreams."

"Life won't wait."

"Believe in yourself."
“Let me help.”
“Go for it!”

"Let it be."

"Hold my hand."

"This will pass."

"Speak the truth."

"Today's a gift."

"No strings attached."

"Change is good."

"Learn from yesterday."

"Seize the day."

"Imperfection is beauty."

"Make it happen."

"Family is forever."

"Always be yourself."

"Time heals everything."

"Mistakes make people."

"Knowledge is power."

"Do not judge."

"Safe and sound."

"Stay the course."

"Hugs heal all."

And, of course, the not to be forgotten, especially today … I love you.

I may not have chocolates or flowers, but powerful words work for me!

Here's wishing you and yours a most Happy Valentine's Day.

Break Over & 12 of 12 | February

Happy Monday!

Thanks so much for your patience and your sweet notes of support.

I've really missed blogging over the past few weeks. My break was taken in order for me to handle a situation which required all of my energy and focus. I've spent this time laying all the groundwork for a battle and that's all I can do - for now.

Since I can't sit around and wait for the other shoe to drop, my break is officially over.

I come back with my favourite of all projects. My 12 of 12:

Template: Cathy Zielske | Elements: Karla Dudley | Events & Activities: My family

So? How've you been?