Embrace Life

things we do | week in the life 2013

For the last few years I've participated in the Ali Edwards-inspired Week In The Life project, with varying degrees of success through each effort. I enjoy the project as it really gives me a here-and-now look at my life and gives me the focus I need to really realize what I want to keep, what I don't need anymore and where I want to go with things for me and my kids.

As with any creative endeavour there are tons of ideas when projects start.

• Do I incorporate my Week in the Life into my Project Life?
• Do I participate at the same time as the project is "assigned" or choose another time?
• Do I make the project 12x12 or 8.5x11? Will it be digital or traditional paper and glue?
• Will I put it in its own album or will I print it via Blurb or some other publishing place?
• Will I use Ali Edwards' templates or some other inspiration?
• What will my colour theme be?

So many choices!

This year, as in the last couple, I am hoping to keep things simple:

• I will participate in this project on the designated dates - Monday, September 9 through Sunday, September 15, 2013, using Ali's handy-dandy daily document sheets.
• This will be a project separate from Project Life with Ali Edwards' 8.5x11 templates to be completed 100% digitally.
• Once done, I'll print them off at Persnickety Prints to fill an empty album just waiting on the shelf. (I'm doing my best to use what I have left - a lot of albums and page protectors!)
• You can only plan so much in advance. I think I'll let the days dictate colour, but I'm thinking of basing everything in simple gray or brown with only pops of colour here and there - visually calm and easy with a few words that reflect feeling more than actions.

You know the Arthur Ashe quote: "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." That seems to be my motto and I shall continue to embrace it.

My past projects look like this:

2012 :: 23 April - 29 April 2012
2011 :: Monday - Friday :: Saturday :: somehow I missed Sunday - c'est la vie!
2010 :: 19 April - 25 April 2010
2008 :: 20 October - 26 October 2008

I'm looking forward to documenting my week! What about you?

Project Life | 11

PROJECT LIFE | 11
11 March - 17 March, 2012
Big Events: March Break!

INSERTS | I had to include my 12of12 layout for March! I also printed out a blog post that needed to be included as part of where we are now.

Still behind, but steadily catching up!

How are you enjoying your Project Life, so far?

525,600 minutes + 1,440 more

Are you familiar with the song from Rent?

As the chorus goes:

525,600 minutes, 525,600 moments so dear.
525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?
How about love? How about love? How about love?
Measure in love. Seasons of love.

Well, this year is filled with 527,040 minutes given that it's a leap year. One more day of daylight, sunsets, midnight and plenty more coffee! No inches or miles around here (we prefer centimeters and meters) but I expect plenty of laughter and I hope strife stays in it's place - back in 2011! No matter, it will always be measured in love. Seasons of love.

In order to celebrate each and every one of those 527,040 moments, I've elected to participate in Project Life. The older and more independent my kids become, I find it more difficult to find the time to scrapbook in any traditional way. This knowledge has filled me with fear: I am afraid of losing our stories. Our everyday memories and traditions. So many have been recorded, but there is so much more now that we are all making full and rich lives for ourselves.

THIS project will be the keeper of our life stories for this year. In addition to the ever changing photos and stories, it will hold:

• Mileage (since I spend so much time in my truck)
• Weather (hey, I'm Canadian, it's all about the weather)
• BBM Conversations (a source of much joy and poor grammar)
• Facebook/Twitter Updates
• Blog Articles/Comments
• Gas Prices
• New Recipes/Kitchen Experiments
• Receipts
• New Discoveries: songs, books, blogs, stores, foods, quotes, ideas

I'm hoping to format each week with a Left Page, Insert, Right Page

Inserts will include:

Long journalers for bigger stories, 4 Simple Goals, 10 Things Project, The Current, TGIF, Wishcasting Wednesday, Reflections, and whatever else I discover through the year.

So far it's feeling a bit chaotic, but now that I have most of the elements understood and the opening page put together, things should be manageable. I always find things go more smoothly when it's been thoroughly prepared. Much like my Week in the Life or my December Daily projects, the more time spent in the preparation for success makes the result worth it! The theory also works with painting rooms and laundry :) I'm excited to get started - I'm even more excited to live the stories that will be recorded.

In addition to the Project Life kit (I purchased the older turquoise version), I supplemented with the coordinating digital elements and some Basic Grey stickers I've used in the past and LOVED. I even found a Canadian supplier for my We R Memory Keeper albums and got myself one in orange and aqua. I also got a LOT of cardstock. Oh, and PLENTY of post-it notes which will litter the pages as reminders for what to put where once photos are developed!

Yes, if your keeping track, this is a rather expensive undertaking BUT if this ends up, as planned, being the primary method to store most of my stories - in addition to a couple of other self-contained projects - it should turn out to be more cost-effective than just purchasing at random too much beautiful and addictive scrapbook supplies with some vague idea of purpose. It's about using, not collecting. Right?

What about you? How do you record your stories? Your photos? Your life?

Reflections | November 2011

Photo taken November 25, 2011. A few things to note: short sleeves and no jackets being worn; Cole is, again, lifing Caden; Caden is starting to get big enough he may be unliftable soon!

Another full month has come and gone. This one overflowing with more than the usual dose of drama, joys, disappointments and genuine acts of kindness:

• Auditions for the school musical, Grease, started early in the month. Both Claire and Cole were asked to participate. They loved every minute of it. In the end, Claire has elected to play volleyball next term, and Cole got the part of Teen Angel (Frankie Avalon). I can't wait to see them both in their chosen activities.
• The time changed kicked us all. Well, me anyway. I've been pooped all month! Maybe it's just the lack of daylight.
• Cole is participating in the Upright Rugby Program and enjoying every minute of it. Especially his time at ATC with Rich. Rich is a hardass, perfect. (Cole has elected not to play hockey anymore. Indeed, at this point he would still not be cleared to play with his shoulder a painful mess. I think it was the best choice. Hopefully he's healed by Spring so he can fully partipate and employ all of the lessons learned this winter at rugby!)
• Caden is loving every minute of playing for Coach Andrew and Coach Hess of the Predators. He's a defenceman this year and enjoying learning all these men have to teach. I think they are enjoying his passion and commitment to the game.
• Chloe continues to attend voice lessons on Monday afternoons. Janet is amazing and always encourages Chloe to be her very best. I think we might even convince my girl to learn the piano. We must be subtle :)
• I am really enjoying my time at the Barn at the kids' school. The ladies are lovely and the experience of purchasing is really getting me back into a groove. A buyer/retail mindset I've missed the last decade, or so.
• Claire performed in two big nights: "Appleby Rocks" and the Cabaret Night. What wonderful experiences. The students are so incredibly talented. I am left in awe.
• It's about time I took better care of myself - in a pamper way. Civello is "the" local salon to visit. Given that I am not embracing "mo"vember, it was time to deal with things!
• Contradictory to my "scrapbook" ways, I am not much of a lover of "things". I love stories. But sometime those two things become one. I was crushed when, due to the utter lack of consideration of someone, I lost a very dear gift from my late grandmother. A ceramic Christmas tree. I know it sounds silly, but I was well and truly shaken by it's destruction.
• Pub night. We love it!
• There are a couple of young teachers at the school who have been, at different times and unpromted, wonderful to my children. I was so happy they were able to attend the Maple Leafs game on a day there was no chance we could. I'd love to do more. They are wonderful young men.
• Cole attended his first house party. Years of being a "hockey boy" had prevented him from participating in this particular rite of passage. Dropped him off at 8PM and picked him up at 11PM - with no arguments - he was none the worse for wear.
• Maintenance of the Highlander is a priority (thank you ALC Automotive!) It is the only way we get around hell's half acre and more every day. With the lease coming up it's time to consider a new vehicle. We definitely need something bigger. I never thought I'd do it, but a Suburban looks like the choice!
• Claire's bed arrived from Sleep Country. Soon thereafter we left for IKEA to finish off her room. Now if only she'd put the pieces together!
• Cole is learning good lessons. Specifically: you can only control your reactions and when you don't react well there are consequences. Accountability is key. Good thing he's learning young. Some men never learn, ever.
• Our first snow? November 17. Nothing stayed on the ground, but it was still a bit of a shock to the system! The weather has been so incredibly warm - in the mid teens - all month long.
• Chloe was scheduled to perform at the school "Dignitas" Open Mike night. She was AMAZING singing both Katy Perry's Firework and Adele's Rolling In The Deep. Then we were treated to Claire singing the Maroon 5 She Will Be Loved to close out the evening. My girls are very different and that includes their voices, but boy is it nice to see them on stage loving every minute of it! Chloe was spotlighted in an all-school e-mail and got a special pin for her effort. Another PMM (Proud Mama Moment).
• There is a Spring Break opportunity to go to Europe. I hope Claire enjoys every minute of London, Paris, Florence, Rome and Pompeii. I've already asked if they need an extra chaperone, and alas, they do not.
• Caden's first tournament of the season was up at the Nottawasaga Inn. For the most part it was a lovely weekend, though the boys ended up leaving after only three games. We were home early on Saturday. Not what we expected.
• My children are not perfect, not by any stretch. I think it's better that they are raised by someone who sees them as human as opposed to some parents who believe their children are flawless. Sigh. Especially when those children are known stinkers.
• Claire walked with her friends in the Santa Claus parade in support of the annual Courage Polar Bear Dip. I love her attitude and enthusiasm.
• We were home in time to help with the annual neighbourhood decorating. We got a ton of help from our lovely neighbours and ended the day at Bill and Sandy's for cookies and hot chocolate. I'm enjoying the twinkle lights, and will more when our outside outlet works properly!
• With the help of those neighbours they helped Cole figure out where the water shut off is located for the front and back water supply. In a million years we wouldn't have found them without assistance. Crazy.
• A bit of disappointment at the Appleby Hockey Tournament. Mind you, if the rink were a bit more inviting - metal benches in an arena are not comfortable! - it may have been more appealing.
• I really enjoy the ladies at the College Shop. So nice to engage on a regular basis with adults rather than being perpetually surrounded by pre- and full-teens!
• Cole has been busy with Chapel services at the school - 5 holiday services in a row! It turns out that not only is he in the Chapel Choir and the Cantus Choir - he had two solos he neglected to mention to me! He said he'd be too nervous if I had been there - especially with my perpetually present camera.
• As much as 6:30AM volleyball practice stinks for the kids, I think it may just stink more for the parents who have to get the girls to the school at the crack of dawn. Claire's having fun though, and that's all that matters, right?
• Claire celebrated her Sweet 16 at our old house a month early. December 20 is a bad time for a birthday, so I figured why not? After all, it's totally cleared of all valuables and there's plenty of space. It was a great evening. She was very happy with the simple evening of loud music, pizza, ice cream cake and plenty of friends!
• How do you spell relief? S.O.L.D. As in, the house is SOLD. I found out just as we were putting everything in order for the party. Bonus: a quick closing of December 6. Things are going to be a bit hectic around here for the next little while.
• The morning after the big party we had to get Cole off to Pickering for a Rugby Ontario event, Caden off to a friend's birthday party and then Chloe off to an Oakville Children's Choir performance. It was a really busy day!
• This is an overwhelming time with all of the big "projects" and essays being completed in advance of exams and testing. My job? Maintaining a sense of humour, making lots of food and enforcing bed times.
• I continue to hear "banana poke" every time we pass a yellow car. It started this summer and drove me crazy ... still does! You'd be amazed how many yellow vehicles are on the road.
• Caden destroyed his first pair of glasses - truly mangled them. He just got another pair. Lets hope this pair lasts longer than three or four months!

And with that we start December which promises to be filled with more adventure.

Bring it.

 

Reflections | October 2011

I think I simply have to give in and just get used to our months being of the whirlwind variety! Our October had us going here, there and everywhere, every day packed full of opportunity and change.

• I really enjoyed heading up the Scott Kelby photo walk here in Oakville. It was a cold and blustery day, but a few hearty souls joined in and many wonderful photos were taken. I learned a lot through the process and should I lead things next year, I'll plan my time better as it seems to slip though my fingers!
• Claire is a rock star! Really. At her homecoming (and then at Walkathon) she got up on stage and rocked out singing with the band. She knew all of the words, all of the notes, everything!
• I am not a shopper. The idea of spending a Sunday - 11AM to 5PM - in a mall is outrageous. And I did. With four kids. Save me.
• Typical of Caden: his class was expecting a foreign student to attend. He was arriving from China. What did Caden do? Downloaded the "Mandarin" podcast and spent a day studying so the new student would feel welcome. He really is that thoughtful.
• Warming my heart? Claire is now studying potential universities to attend. I sit in the living room listening to her talking with Cole about their plans for the future and which schools should go onto the "short list".
• My Uncle Bud passed away early in the month. I will always remember his voice, humour and frequent bursts of laughter; that he taught me to play solitaire when I was about 7 or 8 at a summer cottage in Shediac; that he barbequed the most tasty lamb chops; that he happily (I think) played chauffeur on a couple of occasions when I was at university; shared more than a few bowls of vanilla ice cream and nuggets of advice while watching the weather channel late at night; and, that he and my Aunt Beth were married - happily - for 64 years. Wow.
• Hockey season is underway for my little guy. He is so keen he shows up at least an hour before his practices so he doesn't miss out on anything. I love his enthusiasm. Hockey season has ended for my older guy who has elected to hang up his skates and put on cleats instead. The kindness and understanding of his coach really made me think there's hope for hockey!
• We enjoyed (?) a crazy warm Thanksgiving weekend in New Brunswick - it was 30C+. Not condusive to the velvet and cashmere finery I had packed! It was lovely to see so many of my family and family friends. It was a jam-packed few days.
• Chloe is on the school basketball team and got to play in her first game - ever. The Middle One's do a lot of bench warming. She was very good and for a kid who has never played before this year, and did a great job understanding her position and cheering on her teammates.
• I feel somewhat vindicated in my firm belief that you learn more from your mistakes than from your successes with the publication of this New York Times article.
• Mid-month Cole received an invitation from Sport Oakville to attend a Recognition Ceremony. His Crusaders team had been nominated by the Oakville Crusaders Rugby Club to receive a "medal to honour excellence, perseverance and dedication in the area of sport development, performance and contribution to the community." It was a lovely ceremony and nice to see many of the boys and their parents.
• Caden is very happy to be #6 on his Predators team - sharing the same number as his favourite NHL hockey player, Shane Weber. Too bad they aren't coming to the ACC this season. But who knows, he may change favourites mid-season. Fickle, that boy can be fickle!
• So, it turns out I'm on the Parent Association at school now. This should be interesting.
• Cole suffered from hypothermia while away at Temagami with his class. It is never a good thing to get a call from the program director while your kid is away: immediate panic. Cole was fine, but the next time he packs he should be more prepared than cocky ;) otherwise he'll end up back in the silver burrito!
• While Cole was away we, Claire and I, attended the big fundraiser for his team. I was given strict orders from Caden to bid on the big barbeque. I did. We're now waiting on a deliver of a big barbeque! So happy to be able to help one last time and grateful to those guests of ours who attended even knowing Cole was no longer a member of the team.
• I volunteered at two of the four Picture Days at school and it was so nice to put faces to the names that I've heard for years. There are some really wonderful kids, and some real stinkers. I had forgotten how hard it can be to navigate high school. What I did enjoy was some really great conversations with the other mums there with me for the day.
• Claire has caught the first cold of the family. It has really effected her ability to sing and she is so very frustrated. A lingering cough is not helping matters.
• Over half of the blogs in my Google Reader were purged and things are now manageable. Until I add more!
• Nothing beats a quiet tea - following a lovely lunch - with a girlfriend in a quiet corner. Especially if there are peanut m&m's nearby!
• I don't sleep well when my kids are out of the house. This really felt like the month of the sleepover with all of the kids away overnight at one point or another. Maybe if I could coordinate that it all happens at one time?
• Broadway look out! Claire has joined the cast of RENT and attends weekly rehearsals with a new group of friends. She really enjoys it. Cole has auditioned for the school play and hopes to get a part in the school musical, Grease.
• For those four people on earth who didn't know, Appleby hosted Harvest Colours and the middle school baked many delicious treats. Our kitchen was busy with a few dozen vanilla and chocolate cupcakes made ... and eaten!
• Caden was invited out with a teammate to the new family shinny night at Kinoak. The dad was thrilled to have my guy so keen to learn. Big lesson: it's easier to teach someone else's kid. Bigger lesson: there are some really kind people out there - just get out there.
• I met a girlfriend who was in town - well, Burlington - for a tennis tournament with her little guy. So good to see them both and watch him play "my" sport.
• I love that a mandatory part of the Upright Rugby program is yoga.
• Our weekends, for the first time in a decade, are now far more open than ever before. We actually have an opportunity to sleep in and catch up on much needed rest - by all of us. What an amazing change. Good for all of us!
• Now that Cole's hockey season has *poof* gone away, so also has all of the tournaments and commitments. However will we fill that time?
• Parent/Teacher conferences were held at school over two nights. I only made it to the first night so I'll have to catch up on the phys. ed and art teachers along the way! The good news is the kids seem to be thriving with their studies.
• Caden attended his entrance interview. There was laughter coming from the office, so I think that's a good sign. Fingers crossed.
• Claire has started her varsity volleyball practices on the weekends - well in advance of the season. They are a very dedicated group of girls. I'm looking forward to seeing her play this year.
• I'm really enjoying my photo walks. I'm learning a lot about my camera and learning a lot about my emerging photography "style".
• Caden was our only trick-or-treater this year. He went out as Luigi (of Mario Bros. fame) with his buddy Sam. A huge haul, but unlike other years there were no Tootsie Rolls and lots of Bubbles and juice boxes.
• We are all stunned over all the snow in the North East. Nothing here ... yet.
• For the first time ever we are contemplating a road trip - south - for Christmas break. We have 20 days to fill and no hockey tournament. Yes, that's right, NO HOCKEY TOURNAMENT. Hello dolphins and sunshine :)

October reinforced a number of lessons, one key reminder being "if you want something done, do it yourself". And I am. It's exhausing but good. November will be busy with the kids getting to and from activities, rehearsing for performances and studying for exams. I thrive in routine and November seems to be the one month a year where all of it comes together. One variation will be adding Maple Leafs games to our rotation!

12 of 12: October 2011

01. Some mornings it's unavoidable - I come downstairs to a sink of dirty dishes because the washer is full and I left starting it to just before heading to bed. Ugh.

02. Caden is the only one who still has to pack a lunch for school. He's really good about packing good, healthy, fresh made food - all food groups are represented.

03. I opened e-mail to find a notification for Cole who has been nominated for a sport award! Rugby, of course. (I wish he were home to tell him, but he's 7 hours north!)

04. When I leave the house I have to pass Claire's room. Good thing the new carpet will never be worn - it's always covered in clothes. I was exactly the same when I was a teen.

05. Caden is the last to be dropped off most mornings - though Wednesday is sleep-in day for the olders. A logistically challenging morning, today.

06. Back to the house to turn on the lights. Another showing today. Fingers crossed!

07. The baskets on Kerr Street are still full and blooming. I had to capture a photo as Jocelyne and I walked back from our lunch at Stoney's.

08. Only to discover I had no tea at home. We went off to Fortino's to enjoy tea and M&Ms with peanuts - a favourite enjoyed by us both.

09. This was one determined snail. I had fun taking photos from different angles and testing the different cameras and lenses.

10. I was helping with the display cases over at the school and took this watery photo through the windshield while parked in front of the chapel.

11. The Moe is addicted to my iPad!

12. Claire arrived home after a late-ish evening at school. She and her classmates were making a video. I can't wait to see what they created.

Reflections | July 2011

Are you getting tired of hearing that we were busy? Well, this month things did slow down ... a tad. The pace was a little different with more spontaneous days and complete lack of structure. I have to say, for a control freak like myself, it was a challenge!

Adding to the slower pace: our annual holiday in Cape Cod!

The kids really enjoyed the freedom the month had to offer with requests to go here, there and everywhere. Pushing boundaries and rules every minute of every day. With all that going on, we managed:

• Cole participated in the training camp for Rugby Ontario. He was chosen in the position of lock for the U14 team. Plans were quickly underway for tournaments in Ottawa and BC!
• Both Chloe and Caden needed to get new glasses. They look fabulous in their new frames! Even better? They can see.
• I finally got in with our naturopath with my blood test results. He switched things up a bit and things are all working together now. Feeling better every day.
• Passports were collected and consent papers were signed. We were all set for our annual drive to the seashore.
• Claire has re-joined rugby this year and she is enjoying herself.
• Caden is a hooker and a very aggressive rugby player. He really enjoys tackling! He's pretty good at is as he's had plenty of practice over the years with Cole as his teacher!
• There were a number of pool parties - planned and unplanned. Tons of fun! Thank you to our many friends with refreshing water in their yards.
• Cole managed to keep up a crazy pace of Rugby playing for his local Crusaders club as well as the Ontario Blues. He's being injured regularly, but he loves it. The worst injury was a questionable concussion right before we left on holiday. Good timing! Not.
• We took care of him with regular visits to the chiro and RMT. The boy has to find a sport that doesn't regularly turn him into a pretzel.
• Caden loves his hockey and has managed to run away with the penalty title at 3on3 over at Canlan. You just have to roll your eyes. He's so mild mannered off the ice - and off the pitch :)
• Chloe continues to sing up a storm. We're organizing singing and piano lessons in the fall. Any recommendations are welcome!
• I'm also looking for a math tutor, for all of them :) Confidence is key, right? They are good, but not confident, so I need someone to bolster that aspect. Recommendations?
• My very social teenagers are enjoying life as teenagers. There is a ton of drama, lots of questions, tons of laughter, some very off-colour and crude humour, more spontaneity than I can handle, and I now think I know every neighbourhood in Oakville! There really should be a gas subsidy for mothers of teens.
• Someone has to tell my kids that I really do not need to go onto match.com or any other type of coupling site. Really. (But they are so funny about getting me "out there" and dating. Cracks me up. They are so lovely and concerned and funny.)
• Caden took me by surprise suggesting his ideal change in my domestic situation - which made me react with an extreme "throw the baby out with the bathwater" knee-jerk response. I've now relaxed and realized he's only just eleven and he's entitled to his outlandish ideas. I, on the other hand, am not.
• Claire and her good friend Nikki headed into Toronto via the GO train to see Hugh Jackman in his one man show. They were overwhelmed with how wonderful it was - going on and on about how lovely he was - and how they were the youngest members of his audience! Gotta love girls that recognize good looks and talent no matter the age :)
• Disappointed that Cole was unable to attend the Mini Chowder Cup in Foxboro. We were 90 minutes away, with his equipment, but we didn't want to risk his "possible" concussion and turn it into a more serious issue. Lounging at the beach was better for his recovery than a hockey tournament.
• In order to not disrupt the seaside holiday of all my kids, I took Cole home early to make it to the rugby gams vs Lindsay then on to the Ottawa tournament. Often, due to Cole's athletic success - and previously, Claire's athletic success - sacrifices have had to be made. This time around, with much thanks to a helpful community, the only one disrupted was me!
• We received an impossibly low offer on our house. Insulting, really. What are people thinking? At least offer what we paid for the place!
• Our holiday was wonderful. HOT and sticky, and wonderful. So nice to see Grampy and Nanna in such a relaxed and low-key environment. Lazy days were spent at the beach; playing croquet on the lawn; learning to drive (Claire); learning to play pool; listening to new summer music; eating watermelon, ice cream and seafood; mall shopping (ugh); reading summer fluff; napping and lounging around. It was a bit too hot for a few things - tennis or go carting, but fun nonetheless!
• While away I was featured on the Simple Aussie Girls blog. So honoured!
• We were so happy my sister Beth and her family made it up early so we could have a BBQ with them before we had to leave for home.
• I am amazed at the number of people on the road talking, texting, even using their computers in their cars! And speeding. Sigh. Caden observed this behaviour and commented that it was only mums with kids in their vehicles that seemed to drive the speed limit with few distractions. (Little does he know how distracting the kids can be!)
• I participated in the Ali Edwards-lead A Week In The Life project and it's slowly being put together. I went 100% digi this year. LOVE the results! Now just have to find the right printer.
• It seemed much like the month-without-Cole with him being so involved in his rugby. The Ontario Blues U14 team did well in Lindsay then on to Ottawa for the U16 tournament to prepare them for the competition in British Columbia. All I know is there is a big difference between a U14 rugby player and a U16 rugby player - and that is usually around 40 pounds of muscle!
• The end of July has Cole (still) in British Columbia with his team. They are representing themselves well and Cole has fallen in love with BC.
• Much of our time is spent doing very little inside or outdoors, in order to keep the house spotless. The hot and humid was gone - and now it's back. So tired of summer!
• Upon our return we were right back into rugby. Oh, how I prefer the character of this sport to hockey. It is far more brutal but it is also far more honest. I'm thinking I'd love to see some of those SOBs from hockey try to survive a season of rugby - if they did, they'd no longer be SOBs, of that I'm sure.
• I also returned to some drama regarding the new abode. Turns out the sellers want to back out of the part of the deal that made it a deal. Holy smokes! Heaven and earth has now been moved and we're back on track. Though 15 days delayed. Some stress I just don't need.
• I am reading! Fiction! By chance, when walking through Barnes & Noble I found The Girl Who Chased the Moon and it was lovely, enchanting. Once done with it, I ran out and got Garden Spells and will be on the look out for any and all books by Sarah Addison Allen in the future!
• I may have lost a son for a couple of weeks, but Nikki has filled his spot and I still have four to look after, and I'm happy for it. She's a lovely girl.
• Chloe started private singing lessons with her OCC choir director, Janet. She loves it and I love that she has a passion for it.
• Through summer our Pub Nights are a bit few and far between, but the last evening of the month saw us over at the Abbey Arms. I haven't been there in 10+ years. It was good - as long as they can pour beer and wine it's a good pub experience, right?

And with July finished that brings us to August. We still have six weeks before the kids get back to the routine of school and I desperately miss having a routine! This summer has been far more hectic than most and I'm feeling a bit discombobulated. The kids are loving every minute of it with no structure to our days and the embrace of lazy!

The Interviews | Heather Holle

Welcome back to my weekly Interview Series. I am thrilled to introduce you to my lovely cyber-friend, Heather Holle. Heather is lovely, talented, creative and most important, mum to Owen, she is one of my favourite people ... keep reading to see why:

What age did you start keeping a journal? I wrote in a journal on and off as a kid, more off than on. I found it rather boring, and later when I went back to read things it all sounded like whiny drivel so I would stop writing. Truth be told I liked the actual journals more than what went into them!

When my son Owen was about 4 months old I started a blog. It was a way for me to connect with people without leaving my house. And to some extent it saved me from drowning in the depression that came with being a first time mom. I met a lot of great people through my blog and it was a way for me to share things with friends and family that I wasn't seeing as often since becoming a stay-home-mom. I also keep a journal written to Owen that I started around the same time as the blog. I want to be able to go back and read about him when he was little and I hope some day he will want to know those things too.

Who’s diary/journal (dead or alive) would you like to read? I would be interested in reading the journal of Mark Zuckerberg. I recently watched The Social Network and wanted to know more about him. Georgia O'Keeffe. She is my favorite artist.

Who have you suspected of reading your diary? Because I wasn't much of a journal keeper I don't think anyone has read any of that. Morgan may occasionally read the journal I write to Owen in.

What is your idea of the perfect journal? Spiral bound. Pages of various sizes and lots of them. Heavy paper that can support the weight of glue and glitter and ephemera. And a nice big rubber band to keep it all together. I think a journal for me is more about the visual things I can put in it rather than the written word.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse (in speech and/or writing)? "Dude" I say it a lot. And I will use it when talking to almost anyone. Even my mother, I think!

What quote most speaks to you? So many, but these stand out right now.

An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail. -Dr. Edwin Land.

Not being curious is more dangerous than being dumb. -Lizz Winstead

No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit. -Ansel Adams

Who (or what) inspires you? Nature. Light and shadow. Anything on a macro level. I love to look at things from a super close-up perspective. As strange as it may seem I am inspired by things that are clean, mostly in their arrangement. Magazine ads. Decor. Scrapbook pages. Artwork. Anything that is arranged or done in a clean or crisp way speaks to me. I am rarely inspired by things that are overdone. For me those things are overwhelming.

Who is your favourite fictional character? Atticus Finch.

Who are your favourite writers? I have always loved Edgar Allen Poe. Beyond that I really enjoy a lot of writers and will read almost anything.

Which natural talent would you most like to be gifted with? I have always wanted to be able to draw things exactly as I see them. I suppose if I had practiced more and criticized less (I'm a perfectionist) I may have been a better drawer.

What is your greatest creative talent? I can center and level things almost perfectly without the aid of a ruler or level. I can also combine patterns of paper pretty well. This does not translate to combining fabric patterns though! The canvas of decor is too large for me!

What is your greatest creative challenge? I am a perfectionist. I have been my whole life and it affects most areas of my life. For many years it prevented me from trying things that I was interested. Creating and working with my hands have always been part of who I am, probably even in my DNA, but my perfectionist attitude squashed my confidence and prevented me from taking risks. Fortunately, I have a younger sister who is amazingly creative and I learned from her that it's okay to start over, tear things out, redo, cover up, rework or set something aside until inspiration comes. Nothing bad will happen. It's been quite liberating and I now consider myself to be a recovering perfectionist. This recovery does not apply to my work space though. I require a neat and tiddy work space before I can begin a project and I clean-up after each project I complete.

. . . . .

I am a thirty-something wife of almost 10 years and mother of a gregarious and energetic 5 year old boy. I am more comfortable behind the camera than in front. I strive for perfection in many things I do but am also trying to over come my perfectionistic tendencies. I love chocolate cake and ice cream and would eat it for breakfast most days if I could get away with it. In a former life I was an elementary school teacher, runner, biker and eater of vegetables. Now I walk a fine line between marketing and IT, drink too much diet coke and don't eat near enough vegetables. I am a collector of hobbies and have dabbled in everything from glass blowing and pottery to collage art and knitting. Photography falls right in the middle and is my absolute favorite.

I met Lee through a scrapbooking forum and blogging. I think. I admire her creativity,artistic eye and her passion for motherhood. She is one of my favorite Canadians!

. . . . .

Isn't she lovely? Thank you so much for participating, Heather!

12 of 12: July 2011

Sorry for the delay! Our days are full :)

01. Tuesday is always garbage day. Recycling is picked up every week but garbage is every other week. Usually this is an okay system - except when you're putting your house on the market! Luckily they took it all.

02. Cole had an early morning appointment with Dr. Jason Lee - our health hero - and local naturopath. After years of my nutrition advice falling on deaf ears, Jason has made headway with our young athlete and the changes have been remarkable!

03. Up and down Lakeshore. All. Day. Long.

04. The lovely Lisa is a wonderful massage therapist - she first saw Cole and I ran errands. Then it was my turn. We always feel better - body and mind - for seeing her!

05. While I was having my massage, Cole was over at the Hustler Shop checking out longboards. He settled on this orange wheeled beauty.

06. The lock box is on the front door. It's official, the house is up for sale! Less than two months from a twinkle of an idea to reality. No moss gathering here!

07. Time for another fill up! From E to F costs about $75. Crazy.

08. I have to admit, I will miss this view.

09. The final loads of laundry to be folded and put away. The best part of having a house ready for sale - all of the kids are cooperative and everything is always put away properly!

10. Goofs! I love how they look in their new glasses - and they love seeing everything around them :)

11. Nikki joined Claire at the Hugh Jackman concert in Toronto. All reviews were fantastic and they had a wonderful time.

12. The final thing to organize - all of the supplements!

Reflections | June 2011

You would think with June being a "wind down" month that things would have been calm and slow. WRONG! This has to be one of the busiest of a year of busy months! This was a month of transition with a whirlwind of changes for everyone. The pace is certainly not sustainable for the whole family going at a break-neck pace - with the high stress demands of exams and deadlines, but a whole lot got done! Some planned, most not.

(KUDOS if you make it through this whole post! Hard to believe it was whittled down.)

Oh yeah, Athlete of the Year, again.

• Did you know you can walk through downtown Toronto underground? Well, I didn't. Totally new experience. Gotta say, the ScotiaBank offices are HUGE and intimidating.
• Both of my boys are conflicted: they don't know which they prefer, hockey or rugby. What?!? I didn't see that one coming!
• Caden enjoyed his trip to the salmon hatchery and regailed us with factoids for most of the first week of the month.
• I got a cute short haircut for the summer. It definitely fits my current mood!
• Cole finished up his course of allergy shots. I hope they work as well this year as in the past so he can see in September when the ragweed arrives. We're heading to our Naturopath, Dr. Jason Lee, to be on the safe side!
• The annual AGM for the MOHA resulted in the unfortunate re-election of the old regime. Disheartening. But the invested members have spoken so someone has to listen. Glad I'm not involved.
• The olders participated in the annual Relay For Life held at Appleby College. I went and "checked" on them and watched the start - the Survivor Walk. Took a lap around with friends, old and new, and then headed home to mind the youngers for the night. Weird not having everyone home! The Relay For Life goes overnight from 7PM to 7AM and Cole had to leave EARLY! He had a rugby game in Peterborough. Ugh. So up and on the road for 6AM. Happily he got to sleep in the truck and the Crusaders team WON! Claire, on the other hand, came home and crashed for the day.
• In preparation for the walk, I took the olders to a new chiropractor. Bill Nazar's practice is within walking distance from their school which is just what we need. I had met the doc at the "going away" skating party hosted by the Renneker's the week before. Cole even had his very first deep tissue massage. I figured with all of that hockey and rugby he was probably pretty tense - and he was. It is a lovely practice. So, if you're local and looking for a chiropractor, or a massage therapist (Lisa is great), give the Nazar Family Chiropractic Clinic a call at 905.337.9998 and Mary Lou will get you all set up.
• There is plenty of voice cracking going on around here. Sigh. I'm going to miss my baby when he's gone.
• I started a new morning routine. I drive myself over to the school - it's 50 acres of land on the shore of the lake - and I walk the perimeter. Over bridges, up hills, down hills, along the shore, behind a barn and an arena, along a rugby and soccer field. Twice. I have been going 4x each week. I have no idea how far it is, but I'm enjoying the 45 minutes of complete freedom and get lost in the music in my ears. Most of the time I feel like I'm dancing along the shore, I'm sure I'm a sight!
• Holy storms! You know it's crazy when the rain is teeming down and the lightening and thunder crash simultaneously above your house! It was spectacular!
• It was so nice to have dinner with my parents at Cucci in Bronte. Even better to have my sister Andrea, and her family, enjoy with us - they have a crazy busy schedule, too.
• Mid-month, the olders enjoyed a bit of extra freedom - movies and trips downtown - while managing the stress of exams.
• Chloe finished her choir year with a recording session. I can't wait to purchase the CD come September!
• Honest to goodness, I didn't think the rain would stop! Finally it did and the deck managed to be sanded and stained.
• Disappointed that some choices are just so poorly considered and selfish. Not in the least bit surprised, but truly disappointed. Happy, though, that they reinforce my decisions.
• Who knew "The Bachelorette" would have such meaningful lessons for my girls ... and my boys!
• 1000 Awesome Things arrives in my mailbox every day. Every day I smile.
• Going forward, I am determined to fill our lives with kind and positive people, things and experiences. The freedom of not having to deal with daily disapproval is so incredibly freeing and validating. I don't know what the hell I was waiting for ... this, all of this, is worth it.
• My children want me to be happy. I want them to be happy. I need to find a way to explain to them, in a tender and kind way, that though they are in the throes of adolescence and pre-adolescence, that my being with someone isn't necessarily the cure all. But I love that they believe it's possible.
• My girlfriends have to be told the same thing!
• I'm working on a series of mini-letters. It has been cathartic.
• Caden's best friend is moving away. Caden will miss him and I will miss his mum (and dad). We are in the process of trying to find "replacements" though it is an impossible mission. So, really, I suppose we're trying to find "distraction" and then the "replacements" will come. In the meantime we have Skype and Facebook!
• I am thrilled the same family who is moving away, managed to fit in a BBQ (and copious amounts of wine consumption) during the week of their departure.
• It turns out, during the Great Purge of 2011, my helpful kids threw out my old laptop. The place I stored my digital photos from 1998-2006, about 30,000 images. Sigh. Moving on. Realized there is always a way to remember people, places and things and it doesn't always have to be with photos (though it makes scrapbooking way easier!)
• Flabbergasted ... I'm still trying to understand how people can destroy their own city - the place they call home - in front of the eyes of the world.
• I have not spent much time on-line, but when I do I enjoy Pinterest. What about you? Any interesting distractions?
• Chloe's best friend, Kayla, threw a surprise sleep-over birthday party for our girl. So sweet!
• I bought a new house. Let's hope it is more manageable than what I have now. Just have to find someone to smudge it for me!
• We have entered a whole new dimension. Each of my kids now owns a BlackBerry - and they'd better pick up when I call! We are loving the BBM technology :)
• Mid-month, hell, late-month, my house looked like it had thrown up all over the place. I pulled everything out of it's cupboard and started purging. Big time. End-month, it's better but not yet perfect.
• It is amazing how fast, once you've made a decision, that you can move on with hope in your heart. No more anger, no more frustration, no more shame, no more negative. Life right now is lighter.
• Have I mentioned I have the best girlfriends EVER? I do.
• Saw so many friends and watched their children on stage at the Stage It year-end performance. Good to catch up with everyone and cheer - loudly! CC is a ROCK STAR!
• There was a bit of a passport panic - the NAPS tournament had Cole playing in the Buffalo area instead of our side of the border. All is well and he played with the Red Wings team with no border trouble. The trouble was in the rink where he managed to (clean) hit a kid hard enough his opponent had to be taken off the ice!
• You know how when you're getting a house ready for sale, something unplanned happens? Chloe got her first nail polish (received as a birthday gift) and decided to do her toenails in her room. That's okay. The spilled nail polish all over the rug? Not okay. Wall-to-wall replaced!
• Fortunately that should be end of the proverbial "3 Things". The tub that was going to come through the kitchen ceiling: FIXED and disaster avoided. The nail polish incident: FIXED. The computer in dumpster disaster: SIGH.
• Much fun was enjoyed at the Rangers hockey party. What a great group of boys on this, another, new team configuration. It should be a wonderful season with many plans already underway!
• Congratulations to my boy, Cole. He was selected to join the U14 Junior Blues Rugby squad representing Ontario. His first season playing! So proud :)
• Cucci is a lovely local restaurant - even at lunch time - as I found during my second visit of the month. I laughed for over an hour and a half. The food? The wine? The company? A must to do again!
• I took Chloe and Caden over to our new eye doctor. Glasses for all!
• Love that Caden has fully embraced a purge outlook rather than a hoard outlook. Or maybe it's just his new found entrepreneurial spirit!
• I will no longer have space for a studio and 99.9% of everything MUST GO!! It is a bit sad, but you know, I find I'm more creative with less. And then I read this article and felt so much better that it's part of this journey to hightened creativity by embracing minimal.
• I was tempted to try the 31 Strangers in 31 Days project I found over on Tina's blog - which she found here - and was originated here. Then I realized, over the course of the last month, I've met - with no blog, photography or writing agenda - more than 31 strangers. I have spontaneously gone way out of my comfort zone and I'm enjoying greatly talking and laughing with complete strangers. Soon they're not strangers at all!
• Chloe has a new full-sized bed. After years of loving her loft bed (a twin up top and a desk below) it was time to move along. The loft found a new home with a lovely - and very happy - 7-year-old who is loving it!
• The new full-sized bed was put together for Chloe by her big sister as her mother is not fluent in IKEA. Oh, and when Cole came with me to IKEA, you have to know we checked out with a bed. Nothing else. Miracles do happen!
• Inspired by their friends, the olders auditioned for RENT. I love that they are smart, athletic, and willing to get on stage!
• The last day of school was also the last day of the month. A full one. I need a vacation to recouperate from the last 30 days.

I am looking forward to July: anticipating the joys of the slower (?) pace of summer and keeping up with my kids - an oxymoron to be sure. Who knows, maybe I'll pick up my camera and start shooting again. Or even start writing again? Bonus: Not only am I embracing minimal in a very real and practical sense, I am participating in a "Clean Eating" challenge for the month of July with my friend, Jill Conyers. If you're interested, be sure to check it out: here. I don't know if I'll be able to do it, but if I don't try, I'll never know, right?

And with that? July? Bring it on.

The Interviews | Lorraine Clewes

Welcome back to my weekly Interview Series.

Today it is my pleasure to introduce you to my great friend, emotional touch-stone and creative maven  (there is nothing this woman can't do from baking the most delicious cupcakes to creating the most complex cross-stitch works of art), Lorraine Clewes.

What age did you start keeping a journal? I have kept a diary since I was 11. All very interesting things in it such as when I washed my hair! I have continued writing in a diary/journal since then .. for the most part. I used to be diligent and write every day, then it dropped to weekly, monthly and yes, now, yearly! I do try to keep it going.  I have them all too.
 
Who’s diary/journal (dead or alive) would you like to read? Amelia Earhart, Hitler, my mother - she's a modern day pioneer - love to know what was on her mind when she married at 18, had me at 19, emigrated at 22.
 
Who have you suspected of reading your diary? In my highschool years, I'm sure my brother did - that's what brothers do! Again, it was filled with when I washed my hair! Don't really think anyone else has. It's not common knowledge that I keep a diary. Of course, it will be now!
 
What is your idea of the perfect journal? A flat spine, you know, when you open the pages, both sides lie flat. But no spiralbinding - it always unravels. I'm more picky about pens - just haven't found the right pen - not too fine, not inky, nice roll. I'll find it one day!
 
Which words or phrases do you most overuse (in speech and/or writing)? I'm told by my children that I say "14 hundred" an awful lot! In sentences for example, "we've done that 14 hundred times already or it's as big as 14 feet" Don't know why, just do!
 
What quote most speaks to you? I don't know or remember quotes. Anytime I come across one, I always think that I should write it down!
 
Who (or what) inspires you? Friends, my dad, people who can communicate really well.
 
Who is your favourite fictional character? Yup, I admit it.  My fav is Captain Jack Sparrow! A bad guy with a heart and some wicked eye liner!
 
Who are your favourite writers? Shakespeare, Sharon Kay Penman - many others but again, l suffer from brain sieve syndrom. Name me some authors and I'll tell you if I like them!
 
Which natural talent would you most like to be gifted with? Ability to swim ... without fear.
 
What is your greatest creative talent? Non-perfectionism.  I don't believe in perfection. I believe a creation should have at least one "imperfection" to truly make it mine.
 
What is your greatest creative challenge? The technical side of colour eludes me.  I can do anything but ask me to chose the right colours - acckkk!!

. . . . .

Like many mums, Lorraine has no photo of herself, but I have a layout I did of her after a trip to Cape Cod a couple of years ago. I figured I'd change things up and share it with you :)

Bio:
Born in Scotland, raised in Canada.
SAHM I am and proud of it.
Can do anything creative except knit!
Passion is needlework and my children.

. . . . .

Be sure to visit and be inspired by Lorraine at her New Kid on the Blog. Lorraine always has a new and insightful way of looking at everyday things. So lucky to have her in my life!

Up next? My friend Jennifer Larson.

. . . . .

Thank you so much Lorraine for participating!

Interviews | Valerie Mangan

Welcome back to my weekly Interview Series.

Today it is my pleasure to introduce you to my newfound friend (real and of the Ella variety), daily giggle due to our many similarities and, as many know her, card making maven, Valerie Mangan.

What age did you start keeping a journal? I started my first journal on New Year’s Day 1978 – I was 11.  I don’t recall how long I kept it up – I just know it wasn’t for very long. I journaled again in 1988 on my first trip to Europe – I treasure that book which juxtaposes my awe of the amazing artwork I was seeing daily alongside my extreme crankiness from the heat and mosquitoes. I did not officially journal again until I had my first child in 2003. I have, however, kept ‘stuff’ throughout the years – so I have a box full of things (like notes written to friends in grade school, little things from old boyfriends, the note cards from flowers I received, significant greeting cards, etc.) and I consider that a tactile ‘journal in a box.’

Who’s diary/journal (dead or alive) would you like to read? Once I had a peek into my younger brother’s journal and read some unkind words he had written about me. Ever since that day I have had no interest in reading anyone’s diary. I felt so mad and guilty and sad that I violated his trust. 

Who have you suspected of reading your diary? There wasn’t much to read – but if anyone did, it was my mom. If she did, I’m glad she never said.
 
What is your idea of the perfect journal? I would love a simple spiral bound journal of paper that could handle watercolor & paint without being too thick. At least 180 pages but 360 would be great - so if I ever do get around to doing the “Art Journal Every Day” project, I could fit it all in one or two volumes. The journal would also have some pockets in the front and back, and the pages would never break loose.
 
Which words or phrases do you most overuse (in speech and/or writing)? I overuse “trust me when I tell you,”  ‘anywho’ which is not even a real word; “so” and “well.” Smileys, exclamations and expletives; I really need to cut back on all of these.
 
What quote most speaks to you? I heard this one in college and it has always stuck with me: “ Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” Robert Frost

Who (or what) inspires you? I am most inspired by graphic design, particularly type (especially vintage type). It influences everything including my interior design. I also take heavy influence from pattern/textile design.
 
Who is your favourite fictional character? I love “Gone With the Wind” – Scarlett O’Hara is a fave. She’ so outrageous and doesn’t give a damn about what people think of her. Love that.
 
Who are your favourite writers? Wally Lamb, Philippa Gregory, Jane Austen, Fitzgerald – some classics from days gone by that will always be near & dear: Judy Blume and Laura Ingalls Wilder. And I love to read biographies
 
Which natural talent would you most like to be gifted with? It’s a toss up. I’d love to be able to sell (which is so difficult for me) and I would love to be naturally athletic.
 
What is your greatest creative talent? I have a good eye. Mixing patterns, balance…I think this comes easy for me because of my interior designer work.
 
What is your greatest creative challenge? Innovation. I can master any technique I put my mind to, but coming up with innovative ways to employ it is very challenging for me. Sometimes an idea will strike but for the most part I always need a little inspiration ‘push’. I would love to be able to think super creative thoughts all the time! I also have issues with the science of color – even though I know what looks good, I have a hard time explaining why.

* * * * *

Transplanted from Brooklyn, NY in 1974, I’m a Jersey girl at heart. I can’t imagine not living in this great state, so close to the Atlantic Ocean and New York City. I’m mom to Marilyn (7) & Christopher (5) and wife to Dan. I studied Art History and Interior Design in college and have worked in many related fields: as an editor for a fine art magazine, a marketing consultant to commercial illustrators and for the last 7 years as a practicing interior designer.  I am happy and grateful that I have been able to pursue my creative interests through my work. In my spare time, I love to bake and spend time near the shore. I’m an avid paper crafter and aspiring photographer.

 * * * * *

Be sure to visit and be inspired by Valerie at her blog Paper & Cookies. For me, when I need a bit of an inspiration kick, I head over there and fill up my creative tank!

Up next? My friend Lorraine Clewes.

. . . . .

Thank you so much Valerie for participating!

The Interviews | Cathy Zielske

Welcome back to my weekly Interview Series.

Today it is my pleasure to introduce you to my friend, daily inspiration and all 'round ROCK STAR, Cathy Zielske: 

What age did you start keeping a journal? I got my first diary when I was around 11. I used it primarily to record secret thoughts about boys and all of the rebellious things I was doing or thinking of doing. Later, it became a dumping ground for everything inside of my head, a veritable Angst Fest.

Who’s diary/journal (dead or alive) would you like to read? Oprah. Other than that, I guess I’m not as curious as I should be in life. This, of course, is a clear sign of self absorption, which is something I’m really working to improve upon.

Who have you suspected of reading your diary? No one. My mom, God bless her, was very respectful of my privacy. I know this because if she had read my diaries, I would have been grounded until college.

What is your idea of the perfect journal? One with a simple black cover and lined pages.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse (in speech and/or writing? I suppose at times I use “for all intents and purposes” too much. I use ‘veritable’ too much. I want to use ‘minutiae’ more, but only because I know someone who pronounced it “min-u-tay’ repeatedly and it’s always very funny to me.

What quote most speaks to you? I am not a quote person. My favorite quote to date is, “I’m just as God made me sir,” and it’s from a scene in the movie “Spinal Tap.” Every now and then people I know will say profound things that move me in the moment, but I tend to not hold onto those words.

Who (or what) inspires you? Waking up inspires me, because I never really know what a day is going to hold. I used to think I did, but as I’m getting older and somewhat wiser, I’m learning that life has plans that have nothing to do with my wishes and desires. Inspiration can hit from anywhere, and then not at all. I like to be ready to receive it when it does.

Who is your favourite fictional character? Hannibal Lecter, only because his speech delivery was sheer perfection. I know I should have some great characters from classic literature, but honestly? I’m a pop culture girl at heart.

Who are your favourite writers? Here too, I know I should have some that make me seem well-read and smart, but I really don’t. I have loved books by Wally Lamb, Stephen King, Jon Krakauer and J.K. Rowling. But I can love just about any book that to me tells a beautiful and powerful story. The Twilight saga, though not written all that well from a technical standpoint, kept me up nights to finish. So what does that really tell you?

Which natural talent would you most like to be gifted with? The ability to sing well.

What is your greatest creative talent? Design, in the print sense of the word. I know how to place elements on a page to communicate and engage.

What is your greatest creative challenge? Getting started on a big project. I have many in my head right now, and I am facing a bizarre inertia that’s not letting me get moving on them.

. . . . .

[The information below can be found here - click and find the good stuff in the middle!]

Cathy Zielske is a graphic designer, author and blogger with strong ties to the scrapbooking industry. She is the former art director for Simple Scrapbooks magazine, where she oversaw the visual direction of all Simple publications and books.

Originally from Everett, Wash., Zielske now lives quite happily in St. Paul, Minn., with her husband, daughter and son, where she is a big fan of Kettle brand baked potato chips, Crowded House and stretch denim. Further, she is 45 years old and has achieved the height of 5'6. She also likes cheese and requires absolute silence to sleep.

Zielske finds writing about herself in the third person to be a mildly to moderately pleasant experience.

. . . . .

Be sure to visit and be inspired by Cathy at her blog Bits & Pieces. It is such a wonderful space where I have visited every day for years. If imitation is the highest form of flattery then Cathy should be thrilled with my constant borrowing of her ideas and energy. Every time, every time, I feel the pull to be less than authentic and bow to the powers of perfection, she inspires me to embrace authenticity. I am grateful for her every day.

Up next? My friend Valerie Mangan.

. . . . .

Thank you so much Cathy for participating!

 

Reflections | April 2011

Like every month, April was full. Unlike most months, it was highly emotional with many victories and an equal many disappointments. I am often left breathless with the disrespect and cowardice of some people and then overwhelmed with the inherent kindness and generosity of others. This month was one of extremes.

• A lot of technology changes around the house: no more voice mail, call waiting or mailbox; amped up the high speed and the digi capacity; and, changed the satellite services. Saved some money, paid some money. But finally got services that work, for us.
• Enjoyed a volunteer appreciation evening for the hockey association. So good to see hard work and dedication be appreciated and rewarded.
• Chloe joined the Oakville Children's Choir at the retreat centre in north Oakville as part of their recruitment efforts. It was a short visit, but fun.
• Early in the month, Cole's schedule opened up enough that he was able to head over to BTNL on a more regular basis. When they were around to open the door.
• Caden joined his friends for a sleepover and then a morning at their church. For Christmas they had given him a graphic novel bible and ever since he has been fascinated. He loves church.
• Pub nights continue. Love spending time with our friends.
• Caden had his end of season hockey party. What a great bunch of kids and parents. So many stories this season. Lots of laughs, too!
• Can I tell you how nice it is to live in a country that has an election campaign that runs for just little over a month - 36 days to be exact. Election is set for May 2nd. No exhausting American-style election bash and trash marathon.
• Not only that, but for one French debate, when the choice was hockey or politics? Hockey won and the date was changed for the debate. Only in Canada!
• I had my first real dose of pre-posting crazy. Hopefully everyone enjoyed what went up from the 11th through the 27th! I was also computer-free for much of that whole time. THAT was hard!
• Caden participated as the computer programmer in the Halton Skills Competition. His school team did really well! He's so pumped.
• Mid-month, Chloe and the choir spend 14 hours driving to, performing at, and coming home from a competition in Stratford. Chloe had a great time and was chosen as a soloist. She has a beautiful strong voice, and loves using it!
• More church for Caden! I wonder who will be recruited to take him when P and family move to North Carolina in the summer?
• I had a project featured over at Ella.
• The birds, holy smokes, are they ever LOUD. I swear every single bird in our town wakes up in my back yard. What a noise!
• I flew to Tucson with my sister and spent 10 Days and the world renown Canyon Ranch figuring out things.
• While on my way to my holiday, changing planes in Chicago, I got word that Cole - a day late - was cut from his hockey team and left with no options. Well, he had options, but that would have meant doing something mean to someone else, and that is really no option at all.
• It took a lot of effort to get on the connecting plane to Tucson.
• But I'm glad I did and a new journey has begun.
• In the meantime, back in Oakville, kids went to school, hung out with friends, did laundry, made meals and kept house.
• Tryouts continued and Cole is with one of his closest friends again - they had been together 2 years ago. Even better, his best buddy from last year is also on the same team. Always, always, look on the bright side of life. If I can give my children nothing else, I want them to learn and live in the knowledge there is always a bright side.
• The youngers were given, with many guidelines, Facebook accounts. 
• Chloe spent a lot of time with her buddy Kayla and Louis got to know her parents and learned how to manage her "playdate" logistics - and made plans for everyone else.
• Louis got a real dose of parenting in a quick 10 days mid-month. Claire and her boyfriend of almost a year called it quits - well, he did; Cole was blindsided; Chloe and Caden are social butterflies with lots of plans and places to go; there really was very little down time.
• I returned home with renewed energy and purpose - and a clean house!
• Claire attended a show choir with one of her good friends and she might join in next season.
• All of the house was disappointed the Habs did not beat Boston to advance in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Around here this does not mean they stop watching hockey! We're in for the duration.
• Looks like it's going to be a very stormy spring, though I'm hoping it won't be as devastating as the storms earlier in month down south. Scary stuff.
• Claire was in a big performance at school and it was lovely to watch and support her and her friends on stage. Bravo to them for doing such a great job!
• Everyone was up ridiculously early to watch the Royal Wedding. Lots of pomp and ceremony - a great history lesson without getting caught up in the history part.
• And wasn't Kate's dress ridiculously elegant? So lovely and understated.
• Caden decided to run for class Prime Minister - again. Apparently they do this every term. I wonder what crazy slogan he's going to come up with this time! His campaign is even shorter than the national one.
• We missed the deadline for a field trip, the first time ever the form wasn't handed in on time. Chloe will never forget! So I'm coming up with a field trip of our own.
• Caden is in the middle of try outs for the school track and field team. If the kids are chosen based on enthusiasm he'll make it for sure!

Holy smokes, that was a lot of stuff! Great stuff. Rotten stuff. Life is full. Life is good.

Onward into May which will bring my participation in StoryADay, LOAD, WholeHearted Living, May Merriment and One LIttle Word. Those are just the few things I can remember off the top of my head! I'm sure there is plenty more I'd like to do, if only partly, to gain the experience and embrace the inspiration.

The kids have tons of activities starting up!

I wonder how the great plans for May can go awry?

The Interviews | Sherry Morales

Welcome back to my weekly Interview Series.

Today it is my pleasure to introduce you to my friend, busy mum and my own personal shining light (aka non-judgemental pastor's wife), Sherry Morales: 

What age did you start keeping a journal? I have been keeping a journal since about the third grade. I lived with my grandparents because my parents were sent overseas to Korea and did not want me to get behind on my education. Anyway, my grandmother, who totally gets me, bought a diary with a little lock on it. It was Holly Hobbie. I wrote and drew everything in it. It was my best friend.

Who’s diary/journal (dead or alive) would you like to read? Ellen's would be interesting, any of the presidents' wives, mine from when I was younger...

Who have you suspected of reading your diary?  When I was in high school my mother not only read my diary but ripped it apart. When I returned from college I was sick to find that all of my treasured journals where thrown away. Just writing this makes my stomach turn again.  =(

What is your idea of the perfect journal? Well, it depends what it would be for. I have a few different journals going on at once.  My purse journal is handmade with just cardstock and copy paper and is where I jot all of my "thoughts on the run", lists I make when I am waiting and want to be a good steward of my time; then a lined one for my spiritual writing where I keep my notes on books that I'm reading, scripture that I'm memorizing or really good quotes or verses that need to be remembered and sermon notes. And I have my art journal which has to be good enough quality to withstand gesso, watercolors, acrylics and lots of layers and STUFF. I also write my thoughts in these and do art work over/around them.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse (in speech and/or writing)? Hmmmm...I say and write WOW! a lot, I say "first of all" quite often and I think that I LOVE to fade away from a thought when I'm writing with these ... a whole lot! =) Oh, and I love adding smileys - seriously. Oops. That's another one of my favorites. haha

What quote most speaks to you? Wow. (see...there I go again) I have been a lover of quotes for so long. I've got quite the list.  I like quotes of affirmation and truth. Lately I have been paying more attention to quotes that help me to be FREE from judgment and encourage authenticity. I love "POOH"isms.  They are simple, yet wise. Another favorite I recently found was this: "The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference." — Elie Wiesel Wow. That's powerful stuff.

Who (or what) inspires you? I try to find inspiration everywhere. I am especially inspired by my children - each one in a different way, my husband - so much patience and love, a myriad of artists and writers here in the www. My friends. I find inspiration in books...ah...how I love a good book.

Who is your favourite fictional character? Hmm...The Little Prince, The Tree in the Giving Tree, Anne Shirley, Jo of Little Women

Who are your favourite writers? Margaret George, Francine Rivers, Philippa Gregory, Mark Twain, Jane Austen, Shakespeare,...  oh wow. So many to choose from...

Which natural talent would you most like to be gifted with? Memory. I feel like I have forgotten so much and there are questions I have and the answers are probably filed away somewhere in my mind along with the journals that were thrown out. *sigh*

What is your greatest creative talent? This question is very difficult for me.  I am on a journey right now trying to figure out what it is that I'm really good at. I feel like I can "copy" most anybody's work - but there is something DYING to get out, that's just ME and unique, but I think I've been told too many times that I was not good enough or that I was wasting my time and that *junk*. There it is. I said it. So, when I think that something I did might be really good - I end up doubting myself and shuffle it to the side. I don't think I have an answer for this one...YET.

What is your greatest creative challenge? Okay. I just babbled out my biggest challenge and that is to be able to create without fear. That's the biggest one. The other more "practical" answer would be digital anything as well. I don't have photoshop and I am scared to even look at it. I really want to learn to digi scrap (for many reasons) but I have zero confidence in that area.
. . . . .

I am married to my best friend - almost 18 years.  We have four beautiful children ranging in ages 3 to 15.  I am taking a break from teaching high school to spend more time with my kids while they're little.  I love my ministry work - hubby is a pastor of a fairly new bilingual Christian church.  I enjoy spending my time working on my albums, art and soul journaling and photography.  My favorite music is whatever I am currently in the mood for... I love avacados and dark chocolate.  My favorite scents are clean and fresh like an ocean breeze or fresh laundry.  I love laughing - loudly.  I cry easily and am on a new journey of discovery.  Grateful for each new day.
 
I "met" Lee through a scrapbooking board we both used to frequent.  I was always intrigued by her honest - but kind comments, great taste in music, love for her family and her generosity.  If I am following any great blogs or have read any good books lately - chances are that Lee recommended them.  I love a friend that edifies - especially in a world where so many seem to be interested in only building up themselves.  We may live on opposite coasts - but I'm glad she's only a "click" away!

. . . . .

Be sure to visit and be inspired by Sherry at her blog he{art}. It contains a little bit of everything Sherry loves - her big family, her extended family, her energy, her joy and some bling!

Up next? My friend Cathy Zielske.

. . . . .

Thank you so much Sherry for participating!

 

The Interviews | Shirley LeMay

Welcome back to my weekly Interview Series.

Today it is my pleasure to introduce you to my friend, globetrotter, musician and talented photographer, Shirley LeMay:

What age did you start keeping a journal? I recall writing in one while in Middle School and High School, but I was never consistent with writing. I transitioned to recording daily events in college, using a desk calendar. Not a journal of deep personal thoughts, but still a record of the daily rhythm of my life. This continued until I started my Project 365 Blog in 2009, and since then, my main repository of events and occasional thoughts are played out in one of my two blogs. 

Who’s diary/journal (dead or alive) would you like to read? That’s a hard one, because I’m a fairly private person and think most people are the same and wouldn’t want their innermost thoughts read by a complete stranger.

Who have you suspected of reading your diary? I’m a pretty trusting person, so I don’t suspect anyone of reading my journal. That’s my hope, at least!

What is your idea of the perfect journal? Certain aspects of the Perfect Journal for me have changed over time – I’ve gone from fancy bound books to writing in a spiral notebook, from pocket sized books to the standard 8.5”x11” book. But I am extremely picky about the paper – it has to be thick enough not to bleed through when using a fountain pen. And the paper must “feel good” as I am writing on it. The pen is as important as the journal – I prefer the micro-ball or fine fountain pens - smooth, dark ink.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse (in speech and/or writing)? In writing – the conjunctions and, and but. In speech – “Do [fill-in-the-blank] Right Now, Please”, which gets repeated at least 5 times with threats of varying degrees before my kids actually move.

What quote most speaks to you? I have a quote in the sidebar of my personal blog - “Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some,” by Robert Fulghum. I think it’s stayed on my blog all these years for a reason.

Who (or what) inspires you? The beauty I see in front of me (it’s all around you – you just have to recognize it). Nature. Music. I am inspired by anyone who creates harmony and/or expresses beauty, regardless of the medium.

Who is your favourite fictional character? Mulan (and Hermione Granger) – strong women who didn’t let their gender or circumstances get in the way.

Who are your favourite writers? When I was little, I loved Laura Ingalls Wilder. I still love the Little House series (which was re-kindled when my daughter read the books). Nowadays, I like contemporary women writers. For example, I’ve read all the books Amy Tan, Jennifer Weiner and  Katherine Center have written – so at least those three are included in my current  favorites.

Which natural talent would you most like to be gifted with? Empathy. And Patience.

What is your greatest creative talent? In music, I have excellent pitch. I pick up music quickly – like that new song they are trying to teach in you in church – I get it after the second time I hear it. I like to think that in photography, I have a good eye, but most likely that has been developed over the years.  

What is your greatest creative challenge? Telling the story – whether that be through music or photography (or other medium). Translating what I see in my mind’s eye to the photograph. The human eye and the brain that processes vision is so complex and nearly impossible to mimic with a camera sensor. I don’t like post processing, but I do find it can be a creative outlet.

. . . . .

I’m a East Coast bred 40-some year old, enjoying life on the prairie of the Midwest with my husband and our two kids. I was schooled in engineering, work in IT, and I keep myself from going insane well rounded by singing in the car, playing violin, taking photos, blogging and running.

I first met Lee through a scrapbooking bulletin board and I got to know her and her lovely family through her blog. We’ve even met in real life and she’s as fun in person as she is on-line. (Likewise, my friend!)

. . . . .

Be sure to visit and be inspired by Shirley at her blogs: Beautiful Life and Behind the Lens.  Over the years I've known Shirley, I am more and more convinced she manufactures time in a chemistry lab she has hidden in her basement! Oh, time and talent. Sigh.

Up next? My friend Sherry Morales.

. . . . .

Thank you so much Shirley for participating!

The Interviews | Amy Eaton

Welcome back to my weekly Interview Series.

Today it is my pleasure to introduce you to my friend, patient remodeler and bling-challenged, Amy Eaton: 

What age did you start keeping a journal? I never kept a journal as a child but I did keep meticulous records of both of my children’s feeding and sleeping patterns when they were infants. I started scrapbooking in 2005 and blogging in late 2009.

Who’s diary/journal (dead or alive) would you like to read? Probably my relatives who first came to Australia from Ireland and Scotland and Germany.

Who have you suspected of reading your diary? I love that members of the family drop by and read the blog – pity they are so reluctant to comment!

What is your idea of the perfect journal? Uncluttered and easy to read.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse (in speech and/or writing)? ‘Actually’, it is a bit of a problem when your two year old starts every sentence that way and family members laugh at what they have picked up from mum!

What quote most speaks to you? No particular quote stands out to me, but, there is one letter which I love. It comes from the novel ‘Persuasion’ by Jane Austen and is the letter from Captain Wentworth to Anne.

"I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. You alone have brought me to Bath. For you alone, I think and plan. Have you not seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes? I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine. I can hardly write. I am every instant hearing something which overpowers me. You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others. Too good, too excellent creature! You do us justice, indeed. You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men. Believe it to be most fervent, most undeviating, in

F. W.

Who (or what) inspires you? I am inspired by colour, the ocean, friends and family and wonderful resources on the internet.

Who is your favourite fictional character? Anne, from Anne of Green Gables, James Bond, Jane Eyre, The Vicar of Dibley – Geraldine, aka Dawn French and Charlie and Lola due to a lot of reading to young children

Who are your favourite writers? Tim Winton, Mem Fox, Charlotte Bronte, Jane Austen, but, 2010 was a year where I really enjoyed Philippa Gregory’s Tudor series.

Which natural talent would you most like to be gifted with? I would love to be able to sing.

What is your greatest creative talent? I’m not sure how creative this is, but I seem to have a knack for capturing the candid moments of my two children really well ... I scrap those moments quickly so nothing is lost in translation.

What is your greatest creative challenge? Oh, that is easy, I have no clue how to add embellishments to my scrap pages – I am seriously challenged in this department.

. . . . .

I’m Amy, in my thirties, married with two children living in Australia. I love photos and stories, cooking and the ocean. Currently I spend most of my days overseeing builders, plumbers and electricians as we muddle our way through a home renovation, I try to spend as little time as possible with a paintbrush in my hand.

I met Lee through a Shimelle Laine online class specifically for bloggers, and I am continually amazed at how productive, creative and inspiring she is on a daily basis with four energetic children to run around after. (Right back at you my equally busy friend!)

. . . . .

Be sure to visit and be inspired by Amy at her blog Over At Our Place. It is such a wonderful mix of life in Australia (so when I'm cold in winter she has wonderful shots of sunshine and people clad in bathing suits; in summer, when I'm roasting, there are definite signs of cooler weather in her days), many scrapbook projects and the lovely pace of her life with her lovely Engineer and children.

Up next? My friend Shirley LeMay.

. . . . .

Thank you so much Amy for participating!

The Interviews | Sue Sykes

Welcome back to my weekly Interview Series.

Today it is my pleasure to introduce you to my lovely loquacious friend and inspiring photographer, Sue Sykes:

What age did you start keeping a journal? During my studio renovations this past summer, I found a tote with all sorts of memorabilia in it from my earlier years.  I spent hours poring over old diary and journal entries and found some dated back to Grade 6!  It was refreshing to go back and see my life in simpler times, when my biggest concern was if Marty was going to ask me to roller dance at the roller skating rink that weekend… :)  I fell out of the habit of writing in a journal when I first got married, but with the arrival of children, it seems my scrapbook pages capture some of the memories and my blog tries to capture the rest of our everyday life.

Who’s diary/journal (dead or alive) would you like to read? Madonna. Annie Leibovitz. Amelia Earhart. Dr. Martin Luther King. Ansel Adams. Michael Jackson.

Who have you suspected of reading your diary? Oh my, it's humiliating to think that anyone may have read that early drivel!! I don't know who would have had access to my earlier diaries – my sisters were both married by the time I finished grade school and my parents weren't overly snoopy.  And then I got very creative at hiding them when I was away at school and living with roommates… :)

What is your idea of the perfect journal? A perfect journal would be a leather bound book with a dark rich leather cover, and a ribbon bookmark.  It would have lined pages to keep me on course, but the lines should be faint enough to allow for doodling or sketching if I was so inclined.  It would have an elastic strap to keep it closed, as I tend to horde bits of ephemera and sentimental pieces.  Oh, and it would be invisible to everyone but me until I die so I don't have to worry about hiding it away, keeping it in plain site so I can be reminded daily to write in it!

Which words or phrases do you most overuse (in speech and/or writing)? "At any rate…""Absolutely".  "Awesome".  "… But that's just me."  "Oh. My. Heck." and a few four letter words sneak their way in once in a while.

What quote most speaks to you? I have a few that I absolutely love, but my favourite was one by Allyson Jones that was on a card, given to me years ago, by my cousin: "If I could wish for my Life to be perfect, it would be tempting… But I would have to decline, for Life would no longer teach me anything."  I think it's a great reminder that Life may not always be easy, but each bump in the road makes us who we are today.  I love it so much that I commissioned my friend, Katrina Murphy, of Skribblz Art to create it for my scrap studio wall.  I will share photos of it on my blog, once my studio is finished!

Who (or what) inspires you? In my art, I find that while beautiful paper and awesome (there's that word again!) embellishments can make me want to create, I'm usually driven to actually start the creative process, once I've found the photo that I want to scrap.  It's most often that I will pick up a photo and I'll immediately visualize an end result which spurs me on.  I'm often inspired by seeing the wonderful work of talented friends and artists in this industry.  But as we are not all perfect by-the-book applications, I have also been known to be inspired by song titles, merchandise tags, clothing, magazine ads, graphic design, paintings, home décor, and pretty much everything else with which I come in contact.  My husband teases that I could be inspired by a loaf of bread… :)

Who is your favourite fictional character? At the risk of revealing my deep dark secret of a penchant towards sappy romantic novels, I will say that I, on a fluke, started reading the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich and fell in love with Ranger.  I also love Jaime Fraser from the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.  <sigh>  But I think the character that has stuck with me the most since reading it was Aminata Diallo, from the powerful book by Lawrence Hill, "The Book of Negroes".

Who are your favourite writers? Matthew Reilly, Sophie Kinsella, Iris Johansen, Janet Evanovich,  Clive Cussler, J.K. Rowling, Patricia Cornwell.

Which natural talent would you most like to be gifted with? Patience.  Unless of course, you'd consider the ability to fly a natural talent…?

What is your greatest creative talent? Composition in photography - I can picture scenes in my head even before I take them.  Colour in art – I seem to have an affinity to mixing odd colours but making them work somehow – that's a talent, right?

What is your greatest creative challenge? Motivation.  I love to do what I do, but I have a hard time getting started at it.  Once I'm started, though – Look Out!  I'm a train, hurtling down a track… Just try and stop me! :)

. . . . .

I live in Southwestern Ontario with my best friend and husband, Gary, our son, Connor (11) and daughter, Aili (6) {rhymes with Riley… don't worry – everyone gets it wrong! :)}

I've been behind a camera for more than 25 years, working professionally since 1998. While I began scrapping in 2000 as a complement to my photography career, it's become a rival passion! I consider myself fortunate to have worked on several design teams in the industry and to have been published in various scrapbooking publications, including a cover layout for Canadian Scrapbooker. But what I'm most grateful for are the friendships I have made. I've been a contributing writer for Canadian Scrapbooker magazine since its' inception in 2005 and am honoured to be part of such a great team. I also offer photography workshops in an effort to move people out of Auto mode and to get the most out of their DSLRs. It's so exciting to share my passion for photography with others!

Thanks to my sweet friend, Lee, for including me in this series! (You're very welcome, Sue!)

How do you know Lee? You joined my kit company site a few years ago, through a mutual friend and I'd like to think that we hit it off immediately and became friends! :) (We did, we did!)

. . . . .

Be sure to visit and be inspired by Sue at her blog Kewl Beans. It is such a wonderful mix of photography and family.

Up next? My friend Amy Eaton.

. . . . .

Thank you so much Sue for participating!

My days with Donna ... and friends ...

I have to say, this woman wields a mean, er, creative spray bottle:

I am the first to admit I am not into messy. Disorganized, maybe. Ooey, gooey, not so much. It was with trepedation I signed up for this course. Then completely forgot! (Long embarrasing story.)

I arrived in Kitchener on Friday evening, way too early for class, and Karen from The Art House Studio had a store set up in the hallway entrance to a conference room in the Holiday Inn. A store, really. Fully stocked and ready to go. I was thrilled and amazed and then promptly spent way too much money.

I then met Donna Downey, who is lovely. I know of Donna primarily through two people I greatly admire: the dynamic and lovely Cathy Zielske and the gentle and lovely Sherry Morales. Two women for whom I give thanks daily to the powers that be to have them in my life. They like Donna? I like Donna. Now that I've met her? I like her more!

The first class with Donna, "A Life Inspired", was an opportunity for me to stretch. Years ago, while I was in middle school and high school, the days when I fully embraced my artist within, I was all about the mess. The abandon. The complete lack of control and restraint. Ah ... What a lovely reminder of who I used to be. What a lovely reminder that I could be that again. Will I? Who knows. I certainly have enough messy stuff to make that a reality! I did mention the full store in the hallway, didn't I?

I know I learned a lot. I didn't take one note, I just absorbed everything around me. Donna, my tablemates, the other ladies in the room. Fabulous! The best take? When choosing adhesive pick what the item is being adhered to above all. I am hesitant to try a lot of things because I don't want to spent hours on a project only to have it melted onto the floor a few months later. Right? I am now the proud owner of the right adhesive and armed with knowledge.

Here is the whole class with our finished works:

I drove back home and headed straight to bed! Creative fulfillment is a great sleep aid.

Saturday was full of activity in our house but I managed to make it back to Kitchener to attend the "Inspiration Journal" class where I joined Holly, Lori and Sue who had been there for the very, very messy morning session!

We all enjoyed the afternoon of "Inspiration Journal". I learned a lot. I figured out my comfort zone and this class took me far beyond those limits but at least I now know some techniques and gleaned some ideas I know will be applied in my future creations. I do think I have to buy stock in Golden - or become an employee since it's employee owned :)

LOVE these women! Every one of them helps bring out the best in me. Who doesn't want that kind of inspiration and acceptance in their life? I am so very fortunate.

If you're in the area, Karen (I can't believe I didn't get a photo with her!) and her brilliant store (not the one in the hall!) can be found:

The Art House Studio
591 Lancaster St West, Unit 3
Kitchener, ON N2K 1M5
519-954-6620
The Art House Studio

A note to anyone wondering, door to door is less than an hour - exactly 55 minutes away. Well worth the trip given that local options are less than adequate.

I am so very fortunate to have the opportunity to take classes - in person - with so many talented women who cover the spectrum of creative inspiration. Even more fortunate to have a great group of ladies - probably equally if not more talented - who inspire me and give me a good swift kick in the pants every time I need it! Thank you so much Sue, Lori and Holly (and Karen). I can't wait for our next adventure!

The Interviews | Lain Ehmann

Sorry for the delay - I have to figure out AM and PM!

Welcome back to my weekly Interview Series. Today it is my great pleasure to introduce you to my friend, multi-tasker extraordinaire, energetic creative entrepreneur and mum, Lain Ehmann:

What age did you start keeping a journal?
I've kept a journal on and off since I was about 10.

Who’s diary/journal (dead or alive) would you like to read?
Hmmm. Ali Edwards, Becky Higgins, Stacy Julian... all my inspirations in the scrapbooking world! Also, I love celebrity gossip, so maybe some juicy tidbits from those "in the know," like celebrity publicists... that would be pretty cool. And Lincoln. And Oprah. (Just to prove I'm not entirely shallow!)

Who have you suspected of reading your diary?
Hmmm... I don't think anyone has. I was pretty careful about keeping it hidden in my early days. Now, no one cares! ;)

What is your idea of the perfect journal?
I like plain old spiral notebooks. Portable, cheap, and easily replaced.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse (in speech and/or writing)?
"Perfect." "Fab." "Totally." "Awesome." (I am from California, after all!)

What quote most speaks to you?
"As for me and my house, we serve the lord." Joshua 24:15. I actually have TONS of quotes in journals, on notecards, in my files... I'm an inveterate quote-collector.

Who (or what) inspires you?
People who don't take themselves too seriously. Traditional things with a twist, like a classic trench coat in a fab new color, or a Moleskine notebook in lime green. Great photography. Office supplies. Target. Reading.

Who is your favourite fictional character?
How can anyone beat Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter?

Who are your favourite writers?
John Steinbeck, Ray Bradbury, Seth Godin, Erma Bombeck... I could go on and on!

Which natural talent would you most like to be gifted with?
A fabulous voice.

What is your greatest creative talent?
Writing. I can write so people forget they're reading and it sounds like my voice is just speaking in their ear. Plus I can type really fast. ;)

What is your greatest creative challenge?
Feeling okay about not being able to take every creative inspiration and run with it, the moment I get it. It saddens me to know all the creative projects I have that will never see the light of day. But they exist complete in my mind! :)

. . . . .

Take a helping of Rachael Ray, a sprinkle of Martha Stewart, and a dash of Ellen DeGeneres, shake well until blended, and what do you get? Lain Ehmann, scrapbook lover! Lain is a fast-talking, fast-scrapping human dynamo with three kids, tons of ideas, and more books than she could ever read in this lifetime. The author of several books on scrapbooking, including “Snippets: Mostly True Tales from the Lighter Side of Scrapbooking” and “20 Simple Secrets of Happy Scrapbookers” (co-authored with Stacy Julian), Lain loves sharing her philosophy of guilt-free, simple scrapbooking.

Lain blogs at Layout A Day, and hosts a membership site, ScrapHappy. Three times a year, she hosts a month long scrapbooking challenge, Layout a Day (LOAD). Through her challenges, classes, blogs, books, articles, podcasts and videos, Lain helps women make their scrapbooking fun, fast, and fabulous.

How do you know Lee? I know Lee from scrapbooking. Where else? ;)

. . . . .

Be sure to visit and be inspired by Lain at her many places on the www: Layout A Day, ScrapHappy and Big Picture Classes. I don't know how she does it all!

Up next? My friend Sue Sykes.

. . . . .

Thank you so much Lain for participating!

[Since the layouts are so similar, I'm just making them for my own album - let me know if you want me to continue posting, but otherwise, they're being tucked away. I'll show off the final project when done!]

The Interviews | Jane Garnett

Welcome back to my weekly Interview Series.

Today it is my pleasure to introduce you to my friend, talented jewelry designer, walking buddy and fellow hockey mum, Jane Garnett: 

What age did you start keeping a journal? At around the age of fourteen when boy problems started to surface and as a typical teenager, I thought the world had it in for me. I continued for about three years. Now I have a journal which I write in occasionally throughout the year.

Who’s diary/journal (dead or alive) would you like to read? Jesus, Robin Williams, Tallulah Bankhead

Who have you suspected of reading your diary? No one actually. As a teenager I was paranoid that someone would get hold of my diary and all my secrets so I wrote the entire thing backwards. Silly thing is, you just had to know to hold it up to a mirror to read it.  I became quite proficient at the art of backwards script though.

What is your idea of the perfect journal? One that is small enough to carry in my purse and won't weigh me down and boring enough to look at that no one would ever think of opening it to read.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse (in speech and/or writing)? "Right?" "For crying out loud" "Honestly!"

What quote most speaks to you? "It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."  - J.K. Rowlings

Who (or what) inspires you? I’m inspired by flowers and plants, color, music, food, my children (they always have such interesting prespectives), my Mom (who’s just so creative), traveling to foreign places.

Who is your favourite fictional character? Wilbur from "Charlotte’s Web" (it was just one of those books that spoke to me at the age I read it and I still love it). Elizabeth Bennett from "Pride and Prejudice".

Who are your favourite writers? Ian Rankin, Elie Weisel, Ken Follett (specifically Pillars of the Earth)

Which natural talent would you most like to be gifted with? To be able to SING!

What is your greatest creative talent? Sewing and jewelry making

What is your greatest creative challenge? Completion – I always have too much on the go and I’m guilty of storing many unfinished projects. I also have lots of ideas but don’t always follow through on them.
. . . . .

I'm MOM to two boys, one a teenager and one getting there. An ex-IT specialist, I enjoy creating handmade items, whether it's jewelry, sewing clothes, flower arranging or numerous other fun past times. Photography is a passion although I still have a lot to learn and I like cooking (and eating!). My favorite dessert is creme caramel and I absolutely can't start a day without a piping hot, strong cup of tea. Yes, I'm a tea addict.

Jane and I met through hockey while both of our younger boys played on the same team. We learned we have plenty in common - children, health, creative, life in general. I've been greatly blessed to have Jane enter my life! So nice to see her on a regular basis on our walks and she is a charter member of A Creative Conversation.

. . . . .

Be sure to visit and be inspired by Jane at her blog Jacaranda Designs. It is such a wonderful mix of design, family, ideas and inspiration - much like Jane herself.

Up next? My friend Lain Ehmann.

. . . . .

Thank you so much Jane for participating!

DON'T FORGET: You are still able to qualify to win YOUR copy of the new Ella e-book Scrapbooking the Everyday, click over here and leave a comment! Draw to take place on 23 April (Wednesday) at 6PM Eastern. Good luck!

The Interviews | Jill Conyers

Welcome to my weekly Interview Series.

Today it is my pleasure to introduce you to my friend and inspiration, Jill Conyers:

What age did you start keeping a journal? Regretfully I have never kept a journal. A combination of photography, scrapbooking and blogging has been my "journal" for the past 10 (or so) years.

Who’s diary/journal (dead or alive) would you like to read? Steve Jobs, Tony Horton, Jennifer Aniston, Annie Leibovitz, Sigmund Freud, Dean Karnazes (Ultramarathon Man), Tracey Clark and Brene Brown

Who have you suspected of reading your diary? I've never had a diary to read.

What is your idea of the perfect journal? Photography! And a purse size notebook.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse (in speech and/or writing)? "No way" and probably "really?" in speech. I don't know about writing. I'll have to pay closer attention and see.

What quote most speaks to you? This changes depending on so many things. Right now my favorites are: "How often in life we complete a task that was beyond the capability of the person we were when we started it." ~ Robert Brault and "Let go of who you think you're supposed to be and embrace who you are." ~ Brene Brown

Who (or what) inspires you? Day to day life. Really. At one time I lived a life when nothing was fabulous, amazing or awesome. Now I live as if everything is. That is my inspiration.

Who is your favourite fictional character? I don't think I really have favorite fictional characters. Maybe Sookie Stackhouse and Acheron Parthenopaeus.

Who are your favourite writers? I read everything I can find by Brene Brown, Ali Edwards, and Anna Quindlen. And 2 authors that became favorites when I decided to venture outside my reading comfort zone are, surprisingly, Charlaine Harris (author of the Sookie Stackhouse series, True Blood) and Stephenie Meyer (author of Twilight). 

Which natural talent would you most like to be gifted with? Writing. More specifically creative inspiring writing. The use of the written word that expresses, inspires and makes the reader feel and think.

What is your greatest creative talent? Photography. To look at a person, place or thing and capture an image that expresses who I am and my perspective through the lens of my camera.

What is your greatest creative challenge? Right now in my life it's time or the lack thereof. There are so many things I want to do and learn. There is a quote I remember reading that said something like "you can do anything but you can't do everything." I want to do and experience it all. Yes. Right now my creative challenge is time.

. . . . .

About Me: I'm married to a wonderful man 18 years this July. I'm a mom to 2 amazing children. I'm a psychologist for 1000 elementary school children. I organize to relax, do P90X to get strong, and run to feel like I can do anything. My creative medium of choice is photography to capture the details of our day to day and as a creative outlet. 

I've been thinking about how I met Lee and while I know it was via blogging I'm not sure how long we've been friends. I've been blogging since September of 2005 and I can't remember a time when I didn't visit Lee's blog or receive kind and thoughtful comments from her on my blog.
. . . . .

Be sure to visit and be inspired by Jill at her blog Life As I See It. I bet you do one of three things: grab your camera, lace up your sneakers or start reading Brene Brown's blog! Or, like me, you'll do all three. With Jill, I participate in Happiness Captured on an almost-weekly-basis and she heads up the One Little Word | Captured photography challenge on her blog which has really helped my guiding word "Do" come alive for me this year. We have been friends for what feels like forever, and I look forward to meeting Jill this summer!

Up next? My friend Jane Garnett.

. . . . .

Thank you so much, Jill, for participating! It is so nice getting to know you better.

12 of 12: March 2011

01. I'm getting into the habit of leaving the BlackBerry to charge overnight downstairs so it doesn't tempt me at night! That and my morning coffee starts my day.

02. I need a dedicated cup washer, forget the dishes! Thanks to Chloe for (reluctantly) putting them away.

03. Over 250 blog entries to read. Amazing what missing a day does to my Google Reader!

04. Sometime around noon I was wondering where Claire was ... found her. In her favourite place doing her favourite thing.

05. More gray hairs. After a day like yesterday (Friday) it's no wonder!

06. Picked up Sean's dad from work to bring him down to Welland with me and Chloe. I love how this team works so well on and off the ice coordinating drives and child care.

07. My first visit to the scrapbook nook between drop off at the hotel and off to the game at the rink. Many thanks to Lori for always suggesting this place - I finally made it!

08. Once I got to the rink there was no choice but to park in the mud. Everything was covered in it. I'll not complain ... it means Spring is close!

09. Cole was back on defense today. After missing the game this morning (suspension) he did well and redeemed himself in the 5-0 win over Guelph.

10. I drove home from Welland to pick up Claire at Oskar's. We had a quick dinner at the Firehall.

11. Cole was sending texts all night. He clearly wants new skates.

12. Time change tonight. Fixed the clocks, set the alarm. Early wake up tomorrow. The game is at 8AM so we'll have to be out the door by 6:30AM. Time for bed!

Do you participate in 12of12? If so, let me know and leave a link so I can see how you captured your day!

The Interviews | A Series (Me first!)

Last month I made my daily visit Carolyn Rubenstein's brilliant blog where she had a guest blogger, Hope Wallace Karney that day, who took one of my favourite elements of Vanity Fair magazine, the Proust Interview, and made it her own. Wow! It was a challenge to answer the questions she posed and I imagined that it would be for many of us.

. . . . .

What age did you start keeping a journal? I started and stopped several times, but I since I started my blog a few years ago it is where I keep my most consistent musings.

Who’s diary/journal (dead or alive) would you like to read? Steve Jobs, Alice Hoffman, Annie Leibovitz, Whoopie Goldberg, My Dad - the unedited version

Who have you suspected of reading your diary? Years ago, my mother read my journals - out loud, at the dining room table one Thanksgiving. It was a mortifying experience. Maybe why I was afraid to do it again until more recently?

What is your idea of the perfect journal? One with thick enough pages for me to use marker that won't bleed through and I can doodle. It also has to be big enough but not too big. I've just realized I'm one of "those" picky journal people!

Which words or phrases do you most overuse (in speech and/or writing)? "So ...". "Seriously?" "Really?" The occasional "f-bomb". My children would claim other phrases like "is your homework done?", "go brush your teeth" and "is your room clean?" as overused in this house.

What quote most speaks to you? I really enjoy visual quotes, uplifting concepts - like comments made by Mark Twain: "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."; or, "You must be the change you want to see in the world." Mahatma Ghandi; or Maya Anjelou: "Courage is the most important of all virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage." And one of my favourites is from Twyla Tharp: “Art is the only way to run away without leaving home.”

Who (or what) inspires you? Pretty much anything and everything. Nature. My kids. Ingredients: food and creative. The internet. My friends.

Who is your favourite fictional character? Father Tim and characters from the Mitford Series. The Mists of Avalon is filled with fascinating and fabulous characters. Find me someone flawed and human and I will love them - I'll pass on sick, violent and evil!

Who are your favourite writers? Alice Hoffman, Mark Twain, Thomas Hardy, Barbara Erskine, Brene Brown, Jane Austen, Shakespeare

Which natural talent would you most like to be gifted with? Patience.

What is your greatest creative talent? Colour. I get colour. And composition. I have a good eye.

What is your greatest creative challenge? The technical aspects of photography - I am happy to keep most things on "auto". The science of painting and multimedia projects - what adheres to what. I don't have the time or patience to figure out what sticks to what - or what won't stick to what. There has to be some kind of cheat sheet out there! I think I'm a minimalist at heart but tend to add just one too many things to my work ... must embrace restraint! Plenty of challenges :)

A bit more about me:
I embrace imperfection in Oakville, Ontario with my four delightfully challenging, energetic and imperfect children; a charming and imperfect husband, and (blessedly) no more imperfect pets! By day I dabble, with no skill in any particular area, indulging in my passion for photography, writing, and exploring the inspiration that is the internet in an effort to do more good than harm and live a life full of authenticity and generosity. As for the rest of my time? That is spent performing my duties as chauffeur and cheerleader, cook and laundress, friend and mother, drinking buddy and sit down comic.

. . . . .

In the spirit of my guiding word, DO, I wanted to ask these same questions of so many creative women I've come to know on-line and in person. The criteria used was simple. I sent out an invitation and the questions to all of those women I would like to invite if I were to have a dinner party. (Wouldn't that be awesome?) I was thrilled to receive so many wonderful responses!

Over the next 26 Mondays, I will be sharing with you the responses from:

14 March | JILL CONYERS

21 March | JANE GARNETT

28 March | LAIN EHMANN

04 April | SUE SYKES

11 April | AMY EATON

18 April | SHIRLEY LEMAY

25 April | SHERRY MORALES

02 May | CATHY ZIELSKE

09 May | VALERIE MANGAN

16 May | LORRAINE CLEWES

23 May | JENNIFER LARSON

30 May | KATRINA SIMECK

06 June | MONIKA WRIGHT

13 June | CHARLENE O'HARA

20 June | ELIZABETH DILLOW

27 June | LORI MANCINI

04 July | CHERI ANDREWS

11 July | HOLLY ATTFIELD

18 July | HEATHER HOLLE

25 July | FRANCINE CLOUDEN

01 August | KYLA HUNZINGER

08 August | MOLLY IRWIN

15 August | BETH WATT

22 August | MELANIE LOUETTE

29 August | KELLY ASBRIDGE

05 September | BARB WONG

After reading the responses that have come through, I can assure you, this would be one incredibly awesome dinner party! I think you'll greatly enjoy and find wonderful inspiration in this series. I have found myself in tears of joy a couple of times - overwhelmed with the generosity of everyone who chose to participate.

Join me over the next few weeks to meet, or get to know better, these fabulous ladies.

BONUS PROJECT:

I've also decided to put together an all-digi album in celebration of this little adventure and this is the first layout:

I will make a similar layout for each participant so that their words and ideas don't get "lost" in the ether! I am humbled and ever so grateful for the time and attention everyone has taken to contribute to this project and my favourite way of showing gratitude is to make an album!

This has been a great growth experience for me, I used the gorgeous Michelle Martin Vere digi papers to signify evolution and enlightenment with the plan being to continue this theme thoughout the project. (Even better, I made the whole digi layout all by myself with no template! It's very simple, but yay!)

Happy Monday!

Celebrate Friendship with Ella Friends

At the end of September I received the most delightful and unexpected news that I was chosen, with eleven others, to be an Ella Friend. I am still quite giddy over it. What an incredible honour! Since then I've had the privilege to get to know these ladies and I greatly enjoy visiting them via their blogs whenever they have an opportunity to take some time from their full and busy lives to share what's going on with them.

The Ella Friends group is super with an appealing collection of diverse talent and personalities. I have learned so much from each one of my new friends. In addition to being visually inspired they each have life lessons to teach, my heart is full. 

Who doesn't want to be included in a group like that? The best part? YOU can be inspired them, too! Not only will each of us be contributing our ideas and projects on the Ella Publishing Co. blog, the monthly eZine and in the incredible eBooks; but, if you haven't had a chance to click on my sidebar to visit each of them, be sure to click on the links below:

Brenda Johnston

Diana Chen

Donna Jannuzzi

Francine Clouden

Jenni Hufford

Jennifer Larson

Keshet Starr

Mary Jo Johnston

May Flaum

Monika Wright

Valerie Mangan

Today, as a group, we are celebrating friendship. Not only am I grateful for the opportunity to get to know and be a part of the Ella Friends group, I have a wonderful group of women in my life who I am honoured to call friend:

The journaling reads:

You know the phrase "birds of a feather"? Well, I would flock with these chicks anywhere.

For a self-professed loner, I am so very fortunate to have close girlfriends who are so totally different from each other; but similar in all the ways that count:

They tell me like it is with strong, kind opinions; they laugh a lot and make me laugh with the m; they face life head-on, the good and the bad, and there's been plenty of both; they provide perspective and the occasional shoulder to cry on.

On top of all that great stuff, each is super smart, open-minded, kind-hearted, loyal, generous of spirit, fierce, strong-willed, funny, happy, self-aware, decent, respectful, independent, resilient, creative, optimistic, adventuresome, patient and upbeat.

I am very lucky to have them in my life and thank them as often as I can!

What about you? Have you honoured your friends in a layout, photo frame, mini book? The layout above was created last year and when I was re-typing the words, I am happy to admit, I wouldn't have changed one word if I were writing it today. Though life has gotten in the way of my keeping in touch with a couple of the ladies, I know that if we had a chance to have lunch or go out for a glass of wine, we'd do so on a heartbeat and pick up right where we left off - with a couple of more stories and lots of laughter!

Hey! That's exactly what I'm going to do. Call them all and do just that. Time for lunch :)

Blog Friendships & A Hop Winner!

Do you remember my Celebrating Blog Friendships hop of last Saturday? I participated with a number of ladies I've met through the Shimelle Blogging for Scrapbookers course I took about a year ago. The blog hop was expertly orchestrated by Jo and Lizzie, kudos to those brilliant ladies for dealing with the logistics and prizes. Thank YOU for visiting.

As for the results, I have to say WOW your kind words are so appreciated and linking up to your favourite blog friends has expanded my Google Reader - again!

In order to win this:

I asked for each of you to leave a comment on the blog and include a link to your favourite blog friend in order for BOTH of you to win the framed art above. I have to say, you ladies not only write, but also read some EXCELLENT blogs. I don't want all that goodness to get lost so here are all of your lovely words and links:

1. Jo Sowerby :: only one? now that's hard but i will chose abi cos she's my youngest and nearest geographical blogfriend ........... http://creatingpaperdreams.blogspot.com/
2. Melissa :: My favorite blog friend is Sue who blogs at http://suealthouse.blogspot.com/ because I always get inspiration from her blog and she encouraged me to continue blogging.
3. NancyD :: Your blog is so beautiful!! It's a pleasure to look at. My favorite bloggy friend (it's hard to pick one!) is Rachel. She showed up on my blog and was so honest and personable that I couldn't resist her. Her blog is: http://stop-drop-roll-rachel.blogspot.com/
4. Sian :: I'm so pleased to have discovered you :) and I'm enjoying your posts so very much. It's a pleasure to visit - and for that reason I'd like to cheat slightly and nominate your good self as my newest favourite discovery! Here's to many more years of blogging x
5. Amy :: Lee, I am so glad you left a comment on my blog way back when, otherwise I would have been too chicken to comment on yours - yes, it is sad, but I'm too shy sometimes. It has been a pleasure to visit your blog with all of the wonderful and inspiring stories and scrap pages you continually share. I can't say I have favourites - that is like asking a mother who her favourite child is ... however, I know Jacky was signed up for this hop and had to withdraw due to ill health ... she deserves some sunshine I think - here's her link http://scrappyjackylive.blogspot.com/
6. Lizzie :: But, but, but... I can't only choose ONE! That wouldn't be Fair! I have several favourite blog friends... If I only choose one, I'll be leaving the others out! Ok then, how about The Linar Studio? I love coming here! (now that's a cop-out, but what can I do? The others all know who they are... and you can find them listed on my blog, so that's where you need to go now!) Love your blog, Lee and so glad to have met you! Thanks for joining our Blog Party - it wouldn't have been the same without you. :-)
7. Furrypig :: Thanks so much for your great post I have too many great blog friends to pick one, there is K, Mel, Oona, Jo, Kate, Amy, Jacky, Sian, etc etc I love them all!!! AND others too! xxx
8. Gayle (The Scrappy Tree) :: I really can't just choose one! Oh dear! :D Loving the citrus pics here btw :) Gayle xx
9. Monika Wright :: So thrilled to see The Scrappy Jedi on the blog hop list, Lee. She has the coolest roundups on Friday, has an Etsy shop with good stuff (!), just shared a detailed tour of her scrap space to include her thoughts behind her organizing madness and is a talented scrapper! Just a fun place to be! You, my new friend, are a joy to read and so inspirational in your art!
10. Crystal :: I visit you often but have never posted before. One of my very special blog friends is Linds (http://lindslangdon.blogspot.com), who live in the UK. I found her via a link long ago and we have become the kind of friends that phone each other and can hardly wait for the day when we can meet in person. She is funny, thoughtful, creative, a frequent writer and always makes me think. She really is a sunny spot in my days. Thanks for asking - and for sharing :)
11. Jennifer Grace :: Ooh, it's hard to choose a favourite. There's a few I could pick, but I'm gonna go for Sian, because not only does she blog fantastic stories and crafts, she also finds the time to comment on almost all my posts, and the posts of many other blogs too. I think she might be super woman. She is, at least, a super-lovely woman! http://www.fromhighinthesky.blogspot.com/ Great thought-provoking question. Love how you created the letter too. xx
12. Mel :: What a lovely post, so interesting to read about your 'blogging journey' :-) And what a super prize! Like everyone else it is difficult to choose just one blogfriend, but I think I'd have to say Amy (www.overatourplace.blogspot.com) for the reasons given in my own post. An email from her always makes me smile and brings me sunshine :-)
13. Lesley :: I'd like to nominate Mel of I speak Melsh - and one of your blog hop contributors. She was one of the first people to comment on my blog and her blog is so fun
14. Karen :: I love your blog, Lee, and spend way too much time following your links around the internet! Thanks for the inspiration.
15. Kai :: Super cute frame! Some of my favorite bloggy friends were listed on my post for today's hop. So glad to have hopped by... :)
16. melissa :: your posts always inspire me so much, thank you for that!
17. Amanda Rhodes :: I love the shadow box frame! My favorite bloggy friend is http://noteablescraps.blogspot.com/ because I actually know her personally and she comments the most on my blog here lately! We attend the same church and I teach her youngest every Sunday in Sunday School! She loves to digiscrap and I paper scrap.
18. cate :: I love the bloggy world Shimelle introduced us all to! I think my favourite bloggy friend would be Deb of http://paperturtle.blogspot.com - she has the sort of crafty relationship with her daughter that I want with my kids!
19. amy :: Such a lovely post! I am a new subscriber here....looking forward to reading more! This hop has provided many new blogs for me to visit! I joined Shimelle's class late so it's great to meet so many of you! My favorite bloggy friend is Sally at www.dareyousayit.blogspot.com. I see her in person and on the web and she is such a wonderful support to my life!
20. Xnomads :: You have a way with words, Lee! I love your blog and will continue to visit. Thanks for coming by to mine today and leaving your kind words. I will do my best to post more as I'd really like to, but to plan my days better so that I have the time... it will happen! : )
21. Sharyn Carlson :: Oh you are too sweet, Lee! Thank you for your kind words. My best blog friend is also my best friend: http://bobnlindseyschmidt.blogspot.com/.
22. jillconyers :: What a great idea for a blog hop. Off to visit a few links while I have time.
23. S :: What a spectacular unique way to give away your goodies, but I'd never be able to pick just one blog friend; I believe in circles of friends (wink)!
24. Lou :: Mine is a kiwi friend in london: http://scrapadventure.wordpress.com/ love this blog hop and hope to continue visiting!
25. Lisa :: Great to see your blog on this blog hop. I've been popping in from time to time since we were in LOAD together - love your style, love the blog, love your scrapping. So many blog friends it's difficult to chose just one but if I had to, then it would need to be my sister - alifetimeofchances.blogspot.com - we started scrapping on the same day back in Jan 06 and have supported each other through this wonderful creative journey ever since. We don't live in the same country any more and therefore, blogging is a wonderful way to keep up the connection and sharing.

I have to say I've gone to visit every one of your favourites and I am more thrilled than ever to be a part of this blogging community. What a lovely group we have :) I am always appreciative of your words and your visits! I'm now very happy to get this entry posted so I can respond individually to all of your warmth and kindness.

No more delay, as promised, the prize goes to:

  JENNIFER
Congratulations to both you and Sian.

When you get a chance, send along your mailing addresses to me at linarstudio.lc at gmail dot com and I'll get your prizes right out to you :)

Be sure to come back tomorrow for some more "friendship" goodness!

Celebrating Blog Friendships

Hello and welcome to our first reunion blog party! I hope you've enjoyed your journey, so far. It is a lucky day for you! I can assure you, from experience, you are meeting some of the most lovely ladies here on the www.

My story?

About a year ago I hit a blogging crisis. I loved blogging: the writing process, sharing photos, all of the memory-keeping potential; but, after a time, I found my blog (personal and creative) was getting more than a little stale. After all, how many memes and tags could you participate in and keep things fresh? I needed to reinvent, grow and expand upon my self-imposed blogging limits. I knew I needed to gather my courage, let down my guard, stop embracing fear and just go for it. 

Around this time, to my rescue came a course offered by Shimelle. One entitled: Blogging for Scrapbookers. What could be more perfect?

Indeed, I didn't know then just how perfect it was. Who knew when I signed up that I had entered into a community of dynamic, interesing, varied and creative women? Many of whom, a year later, I maintain more than a passing friendship. Though we may be "only" online friends, often I know more about them and their families and their lives than I do the lives of those I see every day. The ladies on-line inspire me every day. All of them are unique in their geography and circumstance but their appeal is universal in their spirit and creativity. I can travel all over the world every day and visit my friends. As immense as the world may be, here in blogland it gets smaller every day.

Your next stop on the hop is the incredibly talented Sharyn Carlson. I can't let you click over without telling you that, among many things, Sharyn is both patient and kind. When I decided to combine both of my blogs back into one, she helped me with Typepad and codes. I was unsure and intimidated by the whole process and she walked me, a virtual stranger, through. I would never have had the confidence without the support of Sharyn!

For those collecting for the grand prize, my letter for the phrase is: Be sure to check out each blog in the hop in order to collect your letters. You will be able to enter for the 'grand prize' at Jo's blog :) Good luck!

Now, for those interested in celebrating your own bloggy friendships, please leave a comment and a link to your favourite bloggy friend saying why they are your favourite bloggy friend. I will draw names on Monday, November 8th at 8PM (Eastern) and you and your friend will win one of these:

In case you get lost on your travel through the blog celebration, these are (in order) the participants:

Lizzie Made

Jennifer's Jumbles

I Speak Melsh

Over at Our Place

Creating Paper Dreams

Gallo Organico

Liberty Cottage

Scrapbooking + Other Adventures

Chatty Crafty Arty Pig

Paperview

Life Behind the Purple Door

Clearing the Brambles

Sian

Rachel B's World

Sunlight & Simplicity

Curiouser and Curiouser

Enjoy the Ride Today!

The LINAR Studio: Embrace Life <<<<< YOU ARE HERE            

Living Artfully

Paper Turtle

Abstracts Mixed With The Extracts

Snaps and Snippets

Scrappy Jedi

Basement Chronicles

Random Reflections

Daily Life: Bits & Pieces

XNomads

Deb's World

Curly Scrapbooker

Enjoy your journey :)

The End of a FULL Day

(At around 5:30PM I found myself at Philthy McNasty's on Speers for a glass of wine, some food and good company. It was the almost-end of a activity-packed day.)

My day started waking Louis from a sound sleep at 6:34AM. At that point he was 4 minutes late being to the rink! Yes, Louis often finds himself awaking from slumber in the big chair in front of the TV - I'm learning this is not an unfamiliar event in many homes :)

I took Caden for his game at 8AM then found my way to Scrapfest in Oshawa. An hour of appreciated silence was savoured in the truck. I enjoyed the colours of autumn and the bright morning sunshine. Had there not been a line of cars behind me would have stopped on the side of the road to collect many glorious photos!

Once I went through the maze that is the Durham College parking lot and finally located a sign that said "Scrapfest" I let out a big sigh of relief. I didn't realize I was holding my breath until I wasn't any more. After all, could I have driven over an hour for nothing? It's a terrible sensation thinking you are in the wrong place!

I was overjoyed to have a chance to meet two ladies I find incredibly kind and inspiring: Sue Sykes and Lori Mancini:

I look forward to getting to know them better in the future and we're already cooking up ways to make that happen. In actual fact, Sue and I who had never met before today, but have known each other for ages, made plans within seconds!

I don't know how much I spent, not much more than $100, but I did find some nice stuff, not just for my December Daily (my current focus) but a few other projects as well. I'm liking the direction I'm taking ... in my head, anyway.

I left Oshawa way later than planned! The plan was to be gone by 1PM and it was past 2PM when I got to the parking lot! Not only that but ALL FOUR LANES of the 407 were shut down (just past the 400 exit) for some reason. (I hate to think anyone was hurt!) This had me getting off the highway in an unfamiliar area of town in an effort to get to Cole's game on time.

For the directionally challenged, like myself, this was stressful.

Combine that with the knowledge that I had two kids at home fending for themselves, Cole had been dropped off at the rink for his game, Louis was at another rink supervising, Claire was with the boyfriend, and my blackberry was chirping, blinging and ringing and I did all I could to resist the urge to answer and put everything in place. Until I cheated. At a long light (Islington & 401) I answered an e-mail, a text and called home. All was well. No worries, I got a finger wag from a driver in another car, * shame * and rest assured I did put the bb down when I started moving again. Hey? It was crazy!

Louis got Claire and Oskar and I met them at River Oaks at the exact same time.

We got to Cole's game with 3 minutes left in the first period. The score was already tied 1-1. We found out that Grey Bruce was originally up 1-0. Oops! It was an odd game, a bit discombobulated. I was thrilled when this happened:

Cole (#55) got his first goal in AAA. It was a hard shot from the point that really shouldn't have gone in and was pretty ugly, but hey, it was a goal, right?

Peel him from the ceiling he was so excited. Totally pumped.

Eventually the game ended with a score of 5-2 for our Rangers. The call-ups did really well and were a great contribution to the team. Apparently Grey-Bruce had a whole new team and I have to say they are very good. As for me? I'm just happy Claire did my communications job and I could just watch for a change.

Until she and Oskar wanted to leave. Immediately. He had to get home for dinner with his family and well, what was I to say? So he was delivered. The team was meeting at Philthy McNasty's for a team dinner so we headed down there.

It was at that point I realized I had consumed a cup of coffee and two cookies all day long. I was famished. Before anyone arrived I had a salad, chicken fingers and a glass of wine. Ah. Life is good.

While I was enjoying my nourishment Claire was busy making plans, aka texting like a crazed teenager, um, okay, texting, and the plan was to go to a movie with the boy. After dinner. Food inhaled. A few photos taken:

and we were off. Boy collected and then they were delivered to the theatre to watch a movie. What movie? I have no idea. He wants to see "The Town", she wants to see "Easy A", if they can't agree, they're going to see Jackass 3D. I hope they can agree!!

That brings us to now. I'm now home and I've hugged my poor neglected youngers. A load is in the dishwasher and in the washer. I received a call that Cole ordered a 24oz hamburger - which, if he eats - in 7 minutes - it is FREE. Ugh. I'm thinking maybe I should not have left!

The beauty of Facebook:

At some point soon Claire will be collected, Oskar will be delivered, Cole will drink a dose of ENO, Chloe will turn off the TV, Caden will stop reading stats, Louis will do yet more work for MOHA and I will organize all of my new scrapbook goodies.

A full day.

Thankfully they're not all this full, but occasionally they're kind of fun. Spread out. At least a few days in between!

I hope you had a wonderful Saturday! If not full, at least fulfilling :)

(ETA: Cole did not eat the whole burger: he left about three bites. To add insult to injury, there is, apparently, a video of the whole episode - including puking - on YouTube, but I can't find the link. I am thankful for small mercies!)

Virtual Baby Shower

Angie Lucas is a mum!

Angie's journey to this point has not been an easy one; the posts regarding her infertility and her blessing made me cry, her experiences through both entries brought both tears of anguish and joy. Angie has gone through so much and I am overjoyed her adventures in parenting an infant are about to begin!

In celebration, today we are all invited to a virtual baby shower to celebrate the arrival of little Keira Jane Lucas!

The idea is to share something: 

baby advice
childrens book suggestion
card
gift (do not feel obligated to purchase a gift to participate)
baby layout
games
favorite lullaby

Join me!

Post your entry and then head over to Ella and add your entry to the linky collection.

Oh, so where's MY entry?

Right here ...

FOLLOW YOUR HEART
(and be consistent!)

All lessons are good lessons. Learn from your past, the good and the bad, and apply it to the adventure you are about to begin. Everyone has an opinion, everyone has an experience, everyone is competitive, even with parenting. Breathe. Get to know Keira and she will get to know you. Follow the rhythm of your relationship, be true to each other and from there you will raise a wonderful woman. After all, you are raising your child to be an adult, not your child to be a child. Every happy child I've ever met has thrived in love, in structure and respect.

Where's the fun stuff? Well, it is uniquely Canadian - and in the mail - chosen by my now not so little girl for Angie's little girl!

Enjoy every minute of it :)

Picture: the one in my head

I take hundreds if not thousands of photographs a month. I have many challenges in which I participate. More than a few assignments. Many reasons to document, pictorially, the events of my kids lives.

I find amid the chaos and crazy of our life that my most vivid memories are the snippets I have no actual photos of ... they are locked in my head. I am sure I'm like many mums, on the camera side of the photo. Unlike the photos, most of my memories have me as a central part of the activities.

I was recently talking to a lovely man who has been integral to my time here in Oakville. He is such a kind hearted and lovely person. He loves me and my kids. No, not my husband, but Cole and Caden's "supplemental hockey coach". The man to whom I took my boys - and even Chloe for a time - to learn how to skate, to learn how to shoot, all the basics of hockey. All the basics of being team members. He was an example of great patience accompanied by great life lessons.

It must be this time of year, but the picture in my head, the one I cannot shake, is that of me with Claire holding a diaper bag and Cole holding his hockey stick walking ahead through the parking lot and me with a double-stroller and hockey bag slung over my shoulder trying to maneuver our way out of the overstuffed van, into the massive 4-plex rink and down to the changeroom - almost always #8, the last one.

(Have I mentioned I had 4 kids in 5 years, and Louis was out of town 5-to-7-days a week for months at a time, er, 7 years?)

Now I look back and shake my head. I find it funny and endearing that others shake their head too. I love that others who were so incredibly kind at the time, are still with me, with great humour, laughing with me about how crazy my life was way back then.

I wish I had a photo.

I'd give anything to have just one.

Proof of crazy! Proof of survival. Proof of great people.

Summer is Here!

A typical summer day. Aah. So relaxing.

Technically I'm a bit late as the equinox was on the 21st! But, as of the afternoon school bell today, the youngers are out for summer. They can now join the olders who have been out on holiday, after surviving ASCENT and exams, since the 18th. They've been celebrating by sleeping!

I am going to unplug for a bit. I've been blogging consistently every day for a while now. I enjoy it immensely. I am afforded the luxury of daily blogging because the kids are busy at school all day and now those days are over until September. I remember last year it was really hard to keep up, so this year I'm not making a commitment to blogging daily. Just every once in a while, when the urge or inspiration hits!

Who knows, the spontaneity of summer might be good for me. Or not. I do not function well without framework. I will surely have some kind of breakdown, or epiphany, or both. Or maybe I'll finally learn to embrace the simple joy and freedom of it all. In any case, if you're around, stop by.

Bring wine :)

Lest you fear boredom will set in, the plans for summer include:

• Gardening/Landscaping (including the taking down of a 3-storey spruce tree in our front yard)
• Celebrations: Louis birthday (today) and Canada Day (on July 1st) and my birthday finishes off the season (on September 4th)
• Football season runs through the end of July for Cole
• Drinking lots of water
• Rugby goes through to September for Claire
• Purging paper piles
• 3 on 3 Hockey for Caden runs through August
• Invite friends over for dinner
• Removing all the nasty prickly-weeds in our back yard
• Trips to Marineland as often as possible for Chloe
• Put curtains up in the Master Bedroom to keep out the heat of the morning sun
• Kayaking for all of the kids
• Stripping and staining the front door
• Walk every day regardless of the weather
• A concert or two
• Sell steaks for Cole's hockey team fundraiser
• OELC overnight camp for Cole
• BBQ as often as possible
• Robotics day camp for Caden
• Stripping and staining the back deck
• Selling spots in the upcoming Golf Tournament to support Cole's hockey team (so, if you want in, call me ... please!)
• Family trip to Cape Cod (only 5 days, but we'll take what we can get)
• Chloe and Caden will be swimming over at the Trafalgar Park pool
• Eat lots of juice popsicles
• Outrigger Canoe Camp at Appleby for Claire (councellor) and Cole (participant). Hmm
• Visits with my sister and her kids who have just moved to Oakville
• Eat fresh local fruit and vegetables
• Purge and organize garage and storage for a fall garage sale/fundraiser
• Biking all over the neighbourhood
• Theatre camps for Chloe, though I'm still looking for good one!
• Picnics at Shell Park and under our big maple tree
• BOOKS, each one of us has at least a half-dozen to read
• Wear sunscreen
• Hockey preparation clinics, camps and tournaments for Cole
• Renovating the basement bathroom
• Trips to Butterfly Ice Cream and Coldstone Creamery
• Golf is always on the list of things to do but we never manage to do it, hopefully that changes this year, at least a time or two
• Make crafts and start some decorating projects
• Relax

How's that for some unstructured structure?

Whatever your plans, I hope you have a wonderful time :)

*8 Things: Discussed at lunch today

I am very fortunate to be surrounded by so many good friends. Occasionally four of us, all former neighbours, get together for the occasional lunch  ... though this never happens often enough! We pick different restaurants around town and today took us to Canyon Creek Chop House in Burlington. Very nice, I'll definitely return - though, no booth next time!

Each lunch always brings a ton of laughter and diverse topics covered. Normally there would be a photo but due to circumstances (Cole to Montreal with the G9 and Louis to Ottawa with the G10) sadly, there was no photo today.

The best part of lunch is the conversation. We are all very different women. All opinionated. All wilful. Not always agreeing with each other but always respecting the other point of view. I love my friends!

Discussed at lunch today:

Facebook: we're all trying to figure out this social network site to keep on top of our kids activity. I think I'm going to be conducting a tutorial sometime soon! I'm sure to need Claire as my assistant since I am far from an expert :) This is an internet age and parenting happens online rather than via phone lines and we really have to embrace it.

Haiti: how terrible the situation is but that it was totally predictable; not the earthquake, certainly, but the devastation. In a country riddled with AIDS and corruption in spite of every effort being made to change all that, for decades. It is a lot to ask for others, for outsiders, to "fix" an abundance of problems endured for generations.

Drinking/Drugs: and other negative influences available to our children. Between us, we have 12 kids, 8 are girls, all range in age from 9 to 16. We're watching our kids muddle their way through the pitfalls of high school and even the pitfalls of elementary school. Fingers crossed, they're all great kids, with great mothers (!!), and loving, positive foundations, here's hoping it's enough.

Outrageous "Sweet 16" events: limos, designer cakes, rented venues. You name it, these kids are getting the star treatment. Like Elaine says "enjoy it, don't expect it at your party". True that!

Cape Cod: we've got our dates and plans to head down to the Cape Escape. I've just started planning, but it will be a smaller group this time around for this much-deserved few days at the beach. Our summer holiday before the summer holidays start.

Hockey: Girls hockey, boys hockey, it's crazy. Oh, the stories. Oh, the laughter, and not so much laughter. We're entering a squirrelly time where we have playoffs and tryouts happening, almost simultaneously. The stories are outrageous, and true! Now that I've shelved my other book ideas it's been suggested that I focus on writing about some outrageous hockey stories. Hmm. Something to think about for sure!

Book Club: after years of getting together and discussing everything under the sun we've finally decided to form a little book club - little because there are only four of us! I failed our first "assignment" a few months back when Lindy purchased "The Shack" for each of us to read. I just couldn't grind through it. I've asked for book recommendations via Facebook and Twitter, but if you have any ideas, leave a comment, please!

Survivor: the "purpose" of our little gathering today was to choose our teams for the new Heroes vs Villains season of the ever popular Survivor television "reality" series. Lorraine was wonderfully organized and brought cut outs of all the cast - with photos! - and a designation on the back of Hero or Villain. Of course, a few of us argued the idea that Boston Rob could be considered a villain! We've put our money into the pool and we'll see how the season goes. Out of the pile, I pulled: Jerri - um, ick; Parvati - um, double ick; Candice - who is she?; Cirie - love her; JT - whoot! Are you watching? Who do you want to win? Should be a good season at any rate :)

Do you get together with girlfriends on a regular basis? What do you like to do together? Do you have a routine or is it more spontaneous?

Welcome!

Welcome from Lemons2Lemonade.

Welcome from theLINARstudio.

After much thought, and much input from you, my lovely readers and friendly bloggers, I've decided to combine both of my blogs and create just one space for me and my life: creative life and every day life. A place for me to embrace all of it, and share it with you.

Welcome to Embrace Life: the good, the bad, the creative!

This is a new space where I hope you pour yourself a cup of whatever makes you happy, sit down for a bit, and enjoy bits and pieces of my life, which will include:

• the books I'm reading
• how we celebrate our every day
• embracing my imperfection
• family and the adventure of raising four children
• food & drink
• creations from the studio
• gratitude
• home decor ideas
  
• things that inspire me
• domestic success and challenges
• music
• serendipity
• my e-course obsession
• people we know
• photography
• places we go
• sports, hopefully not just hockey
• and some writing, who knows, it might be good

Who knew a simple $15US e-course over at shimelle.com would turn into a whole new chapter in my blogging life? It was becoming cumbersome to write two different blogs on two different platforms and I really started to have difficulty deciding what things went where. My creative life is such an integral part of me, I wanted to share my stuff. Having identical posts on two blogs became ridiculous.

I appreciate all of the e-mails I've received from those who have supported this change and responded to my request for input. I was brought to tears, a couple of times, by your kind words and encouragement.

Let me assure you that my "regular" postings will continue as often as I can manage, and for as long as they continue to be interesting! Those include:

• Sunday: For Today
• Monday: My Best Shot Monday
• Wednesday: Wellness Wednesday and/or Wishcasting
• Thursday: *8 Things
• Friday: TGIF
• Saturday: SOOC Saturday
• Monthly: 12 of 12
• Monthly: Lessons

I'm hoping to participate in and share a few other ideas, challenges and opportunities: Creative Therapy, One Little Word (even now, in it's defunct state as of late-October, it is still overflowing with inspiration), Ella Publishing, Co., JessicaSprague.com, write.click.scrapbook., Creative Scrappers and who knows what else is out there to embrace? Oh yeah, on top of all that creative challenge, there is LIFE. Raising four active kids is always a challenge with many ups and downs. I'm thrilled to be in a huge community of those who, with me, experience the joys and struggles of raising teens and pre-teens with integrity and humour. 

So here we are.

The main request from your lovely e-mails was that I maintain the look and feel of Lemons2Lemonade. I believe I have visually, and the content should continue given that I'm bringing it all here! The other big issue raised was in regards to comments. I agreed; but, selfishly, I chose the Typepad format as it is the easiest way for me to respond to comments. I felt that the give-and-take relationship was missing from L2L and I like being able to "talk" to you!

No doubt over the next couple of weeks I'll be fiddling further with formats and such, and feel free to leave me comments if something is not working, or you'd like to see something you like. There are still things to be done, and a blog is never a static project (part of the fun ... and frustration).

This has been such an intense few days of design, decisions and occasional bouts of digi-despair. I never thought I'd ever get to this point of done. I have to say a huge thank you to my new cyber friend Sharyn for her insight and support, Jill for her incredible knowledge, as well as a few others with their hints and tricks, freely shared on blogs and message boards.  The other big thank you goes out to my children for without their need for clean clothes and rumbling stomachs, I'd never have left the computer screen. Well, except for attending over a half dozen hockey games, that got me up and dressed :)

Thanks for your support! I'm looking forward to a lot of fun :)

(For those of you who need your hand held, like me, you can go to your Google Reader and "add a subscription" so you don't miss a post. Or, if you don't use Google Reader, just bookmark the new blog. Don't use the "subscribe" button ... I still haven't figured out feedburner! Be sure to remember where I am, and come back, often!)