Thankful Thursday

 I am thankful as always for my beautiful family....my hardworking man ...my thoughtful & caring little girl...and my sweet & funny "baby"girl
...I am thankful for this huge house to clean (even when it gets on my nerves)
I am thankful that we are both employed even when sometimes the money doesn't seem like enough it's much better than none...
...I am thankful that after tomorrow I will have only one payment left on my van ...and will be FOREVER THANKFUL if I can get just one more year out of it...
...I am thankful for the opportunity to stay home throughout the day to raise my girls, take care of the home and make meals for us each and everyday to sit and enjoy as a family (evenif the meal might be chicken strips & fries lol)....
I am thankful for great supportive friends...they are few and far between but the couple I have I would not trade for the masses

Wordless Wednesday

Ava's favourite place to be in the winter:
parked in front of the woodstove
with some lunch
watching Seasame Street

Tuesday is the new "lazy day" for me :)

For the last couple of weeks I have been so ridiculously busy on Mondays that Tuesday mornings I do not want to do a thing....and well I'm okay with that!
I have spent my morning snuggled up tight on my couch with Ava-Flava watching morning cartoons and dozing off.  It has been WONDERFUL!  Ava loves the cuddles and doesn't mind as long as I don't snore lol.
I am usually super anal retentive about my house work but I really don't care anymore.  Life is way too short to waste my day being exhausted and stressed out about the same old pile of dishes and laundry.  I would much ratehr accept the fact I'm tired and enjoy a nap with  my ever growing "baby"  before she heads off to school or talk to the few friends I have managed to hang on to in my adventures of parenting (and no longer partying).  I am getting the girls to a quick 10 minute clean up of all their areas so we can sit down and enjoy some time "doing" something this afternoon.  I have no idea what that will be but in the last couple weeks of  this miserable winter weather we haven't done much of anything besides drive each other nuts.  Maybe we will play a board game or do a craft.  Maybe we'll read or colour.  Maybe we'll go for a drive (because it's WAY too windy to walk) but whatever we decide we'll be doing it together.

Later when everyone is sleeping I will come home from work and fold the mountains of laundry while watching mindnumbing MTV before bed and tomorrow I will have to deem "Working my butt off Wednesday" lol so I can tackle the dishes and bathrooms

Mondays Music Moves Me ~more Love Songs~

 



February's them is Love Songs all month long....last week Aerosmith stole my heart ...but it got me too thinking what other songs haven't I heard in forever and this is what (slowly) can to mind...so this week's picks for

"MONDAY'S VALENTINE MUSIC MOVES ME!"   are

Library Thursday

Thursday was a bit hectic this week since I made plans without consulting my trusty calender (or using my brain)  BUT we made it to Time for Tots!  There were TONS of families so glad to see an above zero temperature day without snow theplace was packed.  Ava had a great time with her friends singing and dancing away.  Every week she gets even more enthused with the stories read.  I love sitting back and just watching her interact.  it really makes me smile inside and out.

Because I over booked myself for the day we had to rush out right after program so I could drop Ava off with my sister and I could make my chiropractor appointment.  We didn't have a chance to read the book selection left on the Family Drop In table but we did scoop up some supplies to do the Valentines craft....which we will do afterschool on Valentines Day for Daddy.  And we did have a chance to trade in our last set of books for new ones...thank goodness for their awesome online service too because Mommy had no time to search shelves for herself.

This weeks picks for the girls are:  OLIVIA goes to Venice -Ian Falconer, Hey Little Ant- Phillip and Hannah Hoose, Monsters vs Aliens Save San Francisco, Bully Trouble-Joanna Cole and Clementine Friend of the Week-Sara Pennypacker.
...and for Mommy :  The guy Not Taken- Jennifer Weiner and Wife for Hire- Janet Evanovich

The First Timers Cookbook by Chef Shawn Bucher c/o Media Guests

I cannot tell you just how excited I was to find Media Guests.  I am a HUGE book addict  fan and the thought of reading them then getting to tell you my thoughts on them makes me giddy (yeah "fan" might not be the word to describe lol)

So my first review ever with  Media Guests is for Chef Shawn Bucher's book called The First Timers Cookbook.  I LOVE cookbooks!  But this one is no ordinary "recipe"book, this book teaches you the basics and how to use your own mind when preparing food....food to suit YOU and YOUR family...no strict list of things you don't recognize....just basic skills to free you to use your imagine and create tasty food.

I love the witty way Shawn connects with the readers, as if you were chatting over coffee, and the pictures are gorgeous as well as helpful.  He walks you through things Menu planning & table set-up, knives & knife skills, How to cook Beef, Lamb, Pork, Chicken, Fish and Vegetables.  He also provides LOTS of safety tips, that some might not realize, and shopping tips like how to choose your meat cuts and produce.

About Book

The First Timers Cookbook is the basic
cookbook that anyone who has never
stepped into a kitchen, or lived in a kitchen,
can use. It contains simple techniques and
easy step-by-step instructions that truly
teach you the basics to cooking almost
anything. This book will show you how to
cook, not just what to cook.

About Author

Chef Shawn Bucher holds business degrees and a culinary certificate and has worked in the food service industry for over 12 years. Having been involved in most aspects of the industry “from grocery stores to restaurants, hotels, schools to corporate training and development,” he brings a unique and overall perspective to cooking and the food service industry.

Buy The Book HERE ! 
 I personally think everyone should have one even just for reference...it makes a great gift idea for students college bound, wedding showers, birthdays etc

PLAYFUL PLANET ~Storyland Yoga DVD~

I have been looking for awhile for a local yoga class for Ainsley & I to do together. It seems though that any place that teaches/trains yoga has the same class times....maybe if I had researched better I could find some tie to  the 7 o'clock class time...every class is either at 7am or 7pm and neither is a good time for us :(

However, I happened to stumble upon  a product review site offering Story Land Yoga DVDs by  Playful Planet .  I just about did a cartwheel (well maybe not in the shape I'm in ...but maybe after a few sessions with my kids and this SUPER CUTE DVD!) it's exactly what I have been looking for and it's even age appropriate for Ava to join us as well.

I applied but was originally denied (because I'm still a newbie to the blogsphere my numbers aren't as high as some companies would prefer).  However I HAD to get my hands on this DVD so I sent a rebuttal letter....and I'm glad I did because they decided to pick me :)
I was so excited when I got the email!  I could not wait for the package to arrive!  I knew my girls and I were going to LOVE this!

So we just received it the other day as the girls were walking out the door to go to Nanny's for the weekend...they were so stoked about watching it they HAD to take it with them.  By the time they got home they couldn't wait to show me all their new moves but unfortunately I can't seem to get the disc to work in any of my DVD players.

I'm going to post this for now because I think that it's an excellent product and my girls REALLY enjoyed themselves! And hopefully I can figure out what the glitch is and be able to post pictures of just how much my beauties LOVE it!
In the meantime you should head over to Playful Planet and check out the previews they have posted...or just take Ainsley & Ava's word for it and head straight to Amazon.com to purchase it for your own little cuties.

I also can't wait to see their upcoming projects!

Coming Soon to Playful Planet...

We're excited to announce that Katie Cavuto Boyle joins forces with Playful Planet's next release Storyland Cooking ... a Farm-To-Plate program that inspires kids to eat healthy!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Monday's Music Moves Me ~Love Songs~

This week's theme for Mondays Music Moves Me is ~Love Songs~

My picks for this week are my all time FAVOURITE Aerosmith tunes !

One LONG week...

As you might have noticed I have been pretty quiet this week....
The weather has been wearing me down.  Between a touch of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and the added stress of having a seasonal income I just haven't had anything positive to say.
BUT this weekend was a great one :)
Last night Wayne & I celebrated our birthdays (his Jan 14th & mine Feb 7th) with some really great friends and it was just what I needed after a very LONG week of stress.  Then today my mom brought my girls home with an armload of pizza and a DQ cake (with Tink ~my fav lil Disney girl) so I got to celebrate again before heading to work....fast forward 3hours and I got to come home and see the tail end of the Super Bowl while eating yummy taco dip {Congrats Green Bay...although I would have rather the Steelers steal the game like I thought they were going to} and waiting for Glee!

I must say that I think I have kicked the SAD in the butt for now because I been smiling with a brain full of happy spring thoughts all day.  I am looking forward to getting up tomorrow and preparing my FAVOURITE supper ever and baking my birthday cake so I can celebrate again with my family,my best friend & her beautiful daughter.

Music Moves Me

I was excited to find this blog hop dedicated to music :)  
I am a huge fan of music, I much prefer to listen to the radio than watch tv.  I have spent the last few days working in the computer with a long eclectic list of songs playing on YouTube in the background...songs that move me or make me want to move I love them all!
 
But at the moment I am really digging the Canadian guys ...The Tragically Hip...The Trews... Andrew Hunter & the Gathers...and my girls all time fav Justin Bieber lol

Ahhh Monday already?

Oh what an exhausting weekend.  I have been fighting some kind of sickness all weekend...you know that icky feeling you get just before something kicks the crap out of you... I am not sick yet...nor do I plan to be ---I DO NOT Have time for sickness!  lol
It was my weekend to work which puts me on a 13 day stretch (because I got called in on my "weekend off" ) and I had 2 cake orders to do...a huge mess of a house (thank you mother nature I just love snow days *roll of the eyes*) and some unexpected hate mail from Wayne's ex just to stir the pot....I got hardly any sleep all weekend.
But I got it all done (except for the house)and today I look forward to cuddling up with Ava on the couch and snoozing while she watches some cartoons. 

A birthday cake

A baby shower cake

I really hope to get back into a routine this week...with NO snow days.
My goal is to get the house in shape room by room  for our (Wayne & I) birthday party on Saturday....while juggling my everyday lists of  "must-do's"  and still enjoy some time blogging.

Paying homage to some East Coast Talent- Dirty Money - Andrew Hunter & The Gatherers

I stumbled across Andrew Hunter by accident one night while Wayne & I  were out on a "date".  We had gone to see a small band he had made friends with on a construction site while working out of town.  As we were waiting for them to do their set I was captivated by Andrew's voice.  I hung on his every smooth lyric and although it was a chilly night in my port city inside this pub was as cozy and as close to Hawaii as you could feel. 
Wayne & I were heading back to the car and I couldn't shake the tune from my head.  I had to go back and buy this up and coming artists CD.

From that chilly fall night in 2006 and til this chilly night in 2011  I am still every bit in love with my $8 CD as I was that night.  It is my ultimate relaxation.  Gotta love a good ol' Canadian boy.

{This song is from a newer album but I still enjoy the thought behind the lyrics.}

The Winner of the Roundabout Cupcake Sleeves! IS......

...because we had entries on both the blog post & Facebook I wrote every entry on paper and had Ainsley pull a name at Random.

The Winner of the Roundabouts Cupcake Sleeves IS....

We love the Roundabout Cupcake Sleeves! What a super cute idea! Thanks Tish! From Abby's Edibles

By Tricia on Roundabouts Cupcake Sleeves ROCK!!! on 1/21/11

Congratulations Tricia!  http://www.roundaboutsleeves.com/ would now like you to pick which of their 70+ designs you would to claim as your prize

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm Thankful for

...sleeping in
...extra  cuddles & lovin's
...good winter tires & wipers
...snow plows and a strong hardworking man (not hard on the eyes either)
...quality time beading with my lil ladies

First snowfall of the season December ... 2010



snow today Jan 27, 2011



Library Thursday

Today was yet another Snow Day :o
It didn't seem too bad when I pulled out of the driveway but by the time I drove 5 minutes to the bank and 2 more to the library there were drifts EVERYWHERE.
We were already late for program so I told the girls to scoop up a craft and find 1 book each (the usual rule that we never follow LOL) and race me to check out because the weather was getting worse by the second.
This week's theme is Puzzles.

Craft today was Design Your own Puzzle.

You could do this by using a picture you already have and cutting it into puzzle pieces and putting it back together or you could use the page provided and draw your own picture.

We honestly didn't stay long enough to read the themed books or even catch what the titles were..but we are hoping to make it back on Saturday for the mini concert they are having with Zany Lane.

But we did bring home a couple really good ones :)

Princess Story Collection (Ainsley's choice)
Pocahontas (Ava's choice- it's french LOL)
Pocket Rocks by Sheree Fitch (I love her and she's from NB) 

Wordless Wednesday ~Whoopsie!~

Perfectly cute lunch bag...gets a little wet

Very thoughtful Mom hangs it to dry out ...

very thoughtful Mom is also very FORGETFUL at times ....Whooops!

Where in the World Wednesday!

Today’s theme is famous people from your area.

I'm from Saint John, New Brunswick Canada (just above Maine, USA) and some of the most famous people from my area are :
 Walter Pidgeon (1897-1984), Hollywood actor, best remembered for his startling role in "Mrs. Miniver" - a war time classic. Walter was born and raised in Saint John, N.B.

 Donald Sutherland (1934-) Hollywood actor original from Saint John, N.B. Star of hundreds of TV and movie productions such as "Casanova", "Eye of the Needle", "Klute", "M.A.S.H.", "The Dirty Dozen" and the Academy award-winning "Ordinary People."

Dr. Wallace Turnbull (1870-1954), invented the variable pitch propeller, and built the world's first wind tunnel, which revolutionized the aviation industry. He was considered a genius of aeronautical engineering and inducted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame in 1977. He was a resident of Rothesay, N.B.

Nathan Cummings (1896-1985), founder of the National Tea Company (Consolidated Foods of Chicago). Business interest included, Electrolux, Sara Lee, Fuller Brush and General Dynamics.

Stompin' Tom Connors - Charles Thomas Connors
Born - February 9th, 1936 Saint John, New Brunswick
Everyone of his songs stick in your head and I'm sure you haven't never sang one of them without noticing. His song (THE HOCKEY SONG) is played at least once at ever NHL hockey game that is played here in Canada.















Everyone is invited to join us to blog hop and to share where you are from, it will be fun to meet bloggers from all over the world! Where in the World are you?
Please join your Hosts Simply Stacie who lives in Nova Scotia, Canada and Just Married with Coupons who lives in Rhode Island, US on a fun blog hop adventure around the world. Tell us as anything you would like, what country, state, city or region you are from, lets have fun!

Today’s theme is famous people from your area. Ellen Page, star of the movie Juno, is from Halifax, NS. This movie was great!
How to Join Us:

-Follow Your Hosts Simply Stacie & Just Married with Coupons
-Leave us a comment to let us know so we can follow you back & Tell Us Where in the World you are?
-Follow as many people as you like & Let them know Where in the World you are?
-If someone follows you, make sure to follow them back!
-Feel free to grab the button and post on your blog and help us spread the word.
-Have fun meeting new people from all over the world!
ADD YOUR BLOG *AND* LOCATION FOR FUN!

Ainsley's colourful Valentines

This year for Ainsley's class we wanted to do something a little different. So after seeing this post on Frugral Family Fun I knew we HAD to do heart shaped recycled crayons :)

So I went to the Dollarama in search for a heart shaped baking pan and found this silicon mold

...and because I can't ever walk into a dollar store and ONLY spend one dollar I also spotted these Princess & Spiderman Silly Bands (they are ALL about the Silly Bands right now lol)

I already had a package of glitter paper in my scrapbooking supplies (ask how many scrapbooks I've finished...I dare ya! lol)  and it is conveniently all pink and red (I knew it would be really cute to use someday)  so with this we're going to use our heart cookie cutter as a stencil to make the cards....but what we are stumped on is a catchy Valentine rhyme or message....What should we write on the cards besides the usual ol'faithful  BE MINE??

 

 

I was thinking something "colourful" (because of the crayons)  would be cute...but what ??  Any suggestions???

For her Teacher and TA,  we bought a couple of cute containers and plan to fill them with this great hot chocolate mix I found on Lovin My Little Ladies  ...we thought their cards would stay something like " Teacher you warm my heart!  Happy Valentines Day!" ...but we're open to suggestions on that one too :)

Are you doing Valentines this year?  What are your plans, craft ideas etc?

WooHOO !! 100 followers That Is Exciting!

Thank you to all of my new friends!  Passing the 100 mark is a pretty exciting milestone and I could not have done it with out ALL of YOU !  
Reading all of your wonderful blogs and linking up with the tremendous amount of Blog Hops is what has inspired me to start my own and follow through with it :)
I am enjoying every minute with my family and love sharing the moments with people who can relate...and watching you all enjoy your families too! 

I now have a Facebook page which can be more interactive.  If you would like to join me there you can find me at http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/Lots-of-FUN-with-my-FaMiLy/184290314933429

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!

I have started a 100+ Reading Challenge ...why not the girls too??

I have started a 100+ Reading Challenge for 2011  (my list is posted on the left)  ...but now I'm thinking Why not track the books the girls & I read together as well? ...well I do in my Thursday - Library Day posts but why not a condensed list like my own?

I think it will be interesting to see how many different books we have read and which ones we tend to go back to.

If you'd like to join us in the FAMILY FUN  100+ Reading Challenge Please Link up below and let us know where to locate your families list.  I will also try to keep a star (*)  rating next to the titles so we will remember which ones we really enjoyed and might want to go back to.