100+ Reading Challenge

I was reading a post by a cute little blog I found while looking through links on a blog hop and saw this challenge.  I love to read.  I read almost anything.  So  thought why not keep track this year to see just how many books I can actually read at my "job" and in my "spare time".  The blog actually hosting the Challenge this year is also a neat spot you can find HERE!   

You can track my book list on the left  hand side of my home page.

100+ Reading Challenge

It is my pleasure to present to you the 
100+ Reading Challenge for 2011! 

DETAILS:

1. The goal is to read 100 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. Posting on GoodReads or wherever you post your reviews is good enough.

2. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Manga, Graphic Novels, Library books, Novellas, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts.

What doesn't count: Individual short stories or individual books in the Bible.

3. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

4. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2011. Books started before the 1st do not count. You can join at anytime.

6. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, put the direct link to your post where your books will be listed. Include the URL to this post so that other viewers can find this fun challenge. If you’d prefer to put your list in the sidebar of your blog, please leave your viewers the link to the sign up page. Again, so viewers can join the challenge too.

 231 entries so far... you're next! 

---

Organization with the Littles...hmmmm let me think about this one

Fatima from Fur Lined Toilet Seats is hosting her first ever Linky Party and is searching for great ideas for keeping organized with littles.... I have no posts regarding this topic yet 1.) I'm still fairly new to the Blog Community, 2.) I still really haven't nailed organization for the littles....I am (or like to think I am...or was) organized but my girls just aren't as interested.

I did recently post a Wordless Wednesday picture of their clean playroom...but the reason I took the picture is because it is seldom ever clean!

This is what it looks like today...or on most days :( If you look beyond the mess you can see that I have attempted to keep this place organized by building a toy shelf with separate baskets for their Zhu Zhu pets, Little People, Trains, Pony's etc ....and I have a little drawer in their kitchen area to separate food, dishes & appliances/accessories.  They just don't seem to get put away everyday and then the girls get too overwhelmed with the mess and don't know where to start.



The "brain" of our home though is my "office".  In here (when I can dig out my desk) I organize our schedules, bills, income, meal plans etc.  I have a calender that has EVERYTHING documented on it.  Wayne teases me that it is my life support...but since giving him a quick tutorial on how it works I have caught him referencing it on occasion lol.

AND

I also swear by my dry-erase board in my kitchen.  This is my way of forcing encouraging Wayne to be organized as well.  I update this for him at night if he has appointments or tasks for the following day.  He can also leave messages on this board for me (I work at night and he leaves VERY early in the mornings so we don't get to talk very often without littles interrupting).   Also I have a grocery list always accumulating on the side of it so that when someone finishes something out of the fridge or cupboard they can write it down for me to get on the next grocery trip.  With the amount of people coming and going from this house I can't keep track of everything on my own, so this really helps a lot.

I

 






I had to put a cork board behind my calender because
I was destroying the wall behind it.  I take it down atleast
once a week to update my budget, bills paid & upcoming events.
Above it I have all of my bills in a clip and invitations &
coupons in another.  It's nice to have everything together
where I can find it...or walk Wayne through it over the phone.





I love this board because it's not only magnetic but
it is framed with cork board so you can
 tack coupons on it or business cards etc.





AND THE WINNER IS......

The winner of the CSN Stores Giveaway is ......

**Ashley P** said...

i like lots of fun with my family on fb
ashrules2@yahoo.com

Congratulations Ashley from Rays of Sunshine  you have just won the $20 gift code for your next purchase at CSN Stores!!


Thank you all who participated!  And watch for my next giveaway in just a few days

TGIF!!

Oh boy if I ever said it before I didn't mean it like I do today THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY!!!

Today I had way too many details to complete and just not enough time or patience.
You see I make cakes for private orders... I never really meant to make a job of it, it just kind of snowballed...and I promised back in December that I wasn't going to stress myself out over them anymore (Because I am a perfectionist :o) and I just wasn't going to do anymore.  I never know what to charge for my time (because sometimes I end up taking A LOT of time)  and I don't feel right charging a ton when you can get a "fancy" slab cake from the grocery store for $20....BUT I don't buy my stuff wholesale and EVERYTHING is homemade/handmade.....and anyway like I was saying I just needed to de-stress....

But I went and accepted an order anyway.
I told a friend I would do her friend's kid's birthday cake for her...I also have a hard time saying "NO".
This friend wanted a chocolate full bodied Elmo.  So I said "Sure not a problem, I'll rent the pan and yep sure I'll deliver it by noon on Friday."   Do you think for a second I thought to double check that the pan was available??  NOPE.  Do you think I checked my calender to make sure I had nothing planned that day??  NOPE.  Do you think I feel like I just ruined some poor 2yr olds birthday???  Yeah, I think maybe.  
Needless to say I called the lady explained what an idiot I am told her what I could do for her and that I'd knock down the price....then I bake ...then I'm tired and have run out of piping bags so I decide maybe a full night's sleep is a better idea....then I can't sleep and I realize it's also Wayne's Birthday and I have his cake to do, plus a huge lasagna to make and a house to clean before company comes over and I PANIC!!

I am short of time & supplies and most of all PATIENCE....poor Ava just wants her Mommy's full attention and I am rushing like crazy trying to put this cake & now cupcakes together with no time to spare...My butter cream is melting and just won't go RED...it won't pipe right, then there's not enough....This is a disaster!  I finally just finished up, accepted it for what it was and delivered it and gave her back most of her money (to buy a grocery store cake)

 Anyway I am now avoiding even icing Wayne's cake at this point or trying to clean my house...Ava & I had leftovers heated in the microwave for lunch and I'm just holding out until it's time to pick Ainsley up from school before I lift another finger...time to just chill out & re-group.



BUSTED!! lol



Facebook Friday Link up Check it Out!

Thursday Trip to the Library - January 13/11

Today was declared a SNOWDAY so Ainsley had the opportunity to join Ava & I at our weekly library program "Time for Tots".  I was a little worried she was going to be bored because it's really geared to 18-36month olds but they both had a great time!  Ava I think came out of her shell even more having her sister there.  We did the usual singing, reading & ribbon time, with Ava just begging for more lol...we held the librarian in there 15mins past finish time.

 

After program we hit the Family Drop In table.  This week's theme was Apple Pie. They had some cute little books and an ADOURABLE craft! 

The books to go with the theme were:

Thankful Thursday

This Thursday most of Saint John, New Brunswick woke up buried under 35+cm's (almost a foot & half when all was said and done)  of SNOW!  I however was not one of them Thankfully because my strapping, almost 41(his birthday's tomorrow) , young MAN shovelled me out ;)

I am Thankful that my child was not one of the dozens terrified yesterday afternoon when a school bus landed in a ditch.  I am incredibly Thankful that none of those children were hurt.

I am Thankful that my bills are paid and we can splurge a little on pizza delivery tonight (mmmm I love food, especially when I don't have to cook or clean up)

I am Thankful to have a loving family to call my own.  This afternoon Wayne & Ainsley played in the new snow and built a beautiful igloo while Ava & I baked a cake and cupcakes for tomorrow's order.

**Ava doesn't like snow...it's cold, wet & too deep and snow gear & boots are much too heavy LOL...Mommy's girl :P**

I should have gone out sooner to take a picture before it
collapsed under it's own weight.  Wayne and Ainsley had done a beautiful job though!

Feisty Frugal & Fabulous is doing a Great Giveaway for 5 lucky Canadians!

I am REALLY starting to get addicted to giveaways now that I am finally finding follow Canadian bloggers :)
Having a Twitter account is making this so much easier too (I still don't fully grasp Twitter but I can recognize a deal a mile away LOL)

I found Feisty Frugral & Fabulous through a tweet today and she is hosting a Giveaway for 5 Canadians to win Quantum Micro V products!   5 of us!!!   You can find the giveaway HERE!  So head over to Feisty Frugal & Fabulous to check it out Contest closes January 24th, 2011.

Wordless Wednesday ~Proud Daddy (& stepmom)~

Wayne's oldest daughter graduates this year :)

It's Wednesday and all is Well

So I survived...all those worries last night were for not.  I got up this morning and Wayne was gone to work, No snow had fallen and I practically skipped into Ainsley's room to wake her for school.  We had a pleasant breakfast of cinnamon toast, mandarins and milk and so started our day.
I came home from driving Ainsley to school with all intentions of leaving the computer shut down for the day but said what the hey and powered up.....I know you're thinking "Ha! She put everything off another day" ...but I didn't ;)
While the computer loaded I ran dish water and started the laundry then I took a quick peak at Facebook and read my comments here (Thank you supportive ladies! & new followers) and then dove into my list.

Todays List:
- dishes
- laundry
- go to bank
- go to pharmacy
- pick up baking supplies
- pick up produce
- pick up cake payment
- pick up testing supplies
- pick up Ainsley
- cook supper
- sweep
- finish my book (Summer Island -Kristin Hannah...very very good I might add)
- nap

...And I'm very proud to say the ONLY thing I didn't complete on my list today was "nap"...OH and I even set up a Twitter account and a new button (check it out on the right ----------------> )....mind you supper was far from extravagant ...we had chicken fingers & fries.  A big treat apparently, here I have been working like a dummy to put hot tasty meals on the table for years, stews, roasts, casseroles etc etc...and these guys jump & cheer for frozen chicken fingers & fries???  Go figure. lol.

Oh and the dreaded snow storm....well it came!  but it graciously waited til mid-afternoon, so Ainsley enjoyed a full day in class and Wayne got in almost a whole day at work.  YEAH!!   (I had to drive in the worst of it across town to work but it was the perfect excuse to be late)

Quote for today :
 "Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday and all is well"     Positive Thoughts Everyone...or pure denial will get us through anything life has to throw at us!  Happy Hump Day!

Twitter to Blogspot

Can ANYONE PLEASE tell how to get mt "Follow Me on Twitter" to link to my Blog ??
I would greatly appreciate it! Thank YOU!

Are you sure it's not Monday???

Today was Ainsley's first day back from winter break and let's just sum it up to HECTIC!  I honestly did not realize how lazy I had gotten over the past couple weeks.  I convinced myself that I was relaxing...but in reality my kids forgot that Breakfast was a meal, clothes are required for public and that you should wash your hair more than once a week if you expect to get a brush through it. 
Today was a total kick in the pants!  Sadly not just for me but for my 3 year old who DID NOT want to take her jammies off for "real clothes", who DID NOT want to drive her big sister to school or wear her boots.  I know from all the "studies" that kids need a set routine and that routine should continue (for the most part) through holidays and summer break.  But sometimes you just need a gentle reminder.  ....Poor Ava :(   Mommy is sorry. 
So not only did school go back in, Cheer did as well, and because school skipped Monday and dove right into Tuesday I forgot....Ainsley reminded me afterschool that she needed to be there for 6pm.  I also found some new blogs to distract me and projects to start.... and let's just say I ran late with supper (yummy sheppard's pie) and then cheer practise and then work ....and now I'm still putting off things that SHOULD HAVE been done LAST WEEK and guess what????  They're calling for a freaking SNOW STORM tomorrow!!!  {I don't know if I mentioned this but hubby is an industrial roofer, which is seasonal, which means he'll be here ALL DAY tomorrow} I have to do a week's worth or stuff in one day with him watching...do you all remember the Rice Krispie's commercial from the 80's where the mom goes to the kitchen to "slave over" the squares but because they're so simple she prep's them the kicks her feet up then splashes flour all over her and presents them to her family later?  Well almost everyday is like that here.  I am responsible for about 75% of running the house.  We have an agreement because I am neuortic about housework and what qualify's it as done I do all dishes, laundry etc.  He mops and takes out the trash (occassionally scrubs a bathroom or 2...depending on how guilty he feels or stupid he sounded previously).  What I haven't told him is that I am capable of doing everything in a day (if I hold out from the phone, Facebook etc etc) BUT  I just don't want to!  ...anyway back to my point (I'm tired *blah*) IHAVE TO do all of this stuff tomorrow, NO MORE delays! and I DO NOT want him to see my capabilities....It's sounds terrible I know.  We are one of the most upfront and honest couples I know, we share EVERYTHING but I am not ready to share this secret with him...If he finds out then his expectations of me will skyrocket and I am not interested in that.
So now that I have ranted and rambled incoherently I need to hull my behind upstairs to get some sleep before trying to create a small miracle tomorrow. 
Goodnight!

and don't forget the age-old advice "Do not put off for tomorrow what could be done today (or last week)"

I'm just glad I didn't put off that nap I had this morning...because I bet I won't see one tomorrow!! lol

If you could just take a minute Please

If you could just take a minute Please and "like" Build you own Bear on Facebook and vote for Kim Pamerleau Please.  My nephews are in the running to win a Build-a-Bear party in their own home.  How cool is that ?? 
Thanks,
Tish

CSNstores Giveaway!

My first Giveaway!!

Hey guys Thanks for following along!  As a big thank you I'd like to offer you a chance to win $20 gift code for your next order with CSN stores !!

I was going to keep the code for myself  but I couldn't make up my mind what I wanted and the girls own 3/4 of the toy section.
So I thought "What a great treat for my blogging friends"

To enter:
- Visit CSNstores and let me know what kind of product you are interested in??   Something  for you?  A gift?  For your kids? 
Leave a comment below, Don't forget to include your email address & Name so I can contact you. (1 entry)

- Follow through Google Friends Connect ...and comment to say you've done so(1 entry)

- "Like" Lots of FUN with my FaMiLy on Facebook ...and comment to say you've done so(1 entry)

- "Grab" my button and post it to your blog. (2 entries..leave comments with the link to your page)

- Invite your friends to "like" Lots of FUN with my FaMiLy on Facebook and get them to say you sent them!  (3 entries for every friend that mentions your Name)

Good Luck and Have FUN!  contest closes 11pm/EST on January 16th, 2011.

Just saw this on Facebook and had to share

11 Step Program for those thinking of having kids

Lesson 1

1. Go to the grocery store.
2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home.
4. Pick up the paper.
5. Read it for the last time.

Lesson 2

Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...
1. Methods of discipline.
2. Lack of patience.
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.
4. Allowing their children to run wild.
5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.
Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

Lesson 3

A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...
1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)
2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.
3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.
4. Set the alarm for 3AM.
5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.
6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.
7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.
8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.
9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)

Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.

Lesson 4

Can you stand the mess children make? T o find out...
1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.
2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.
4. Then rub them on the clean walls.
5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.
6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

Lesson 5

Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.
1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.

Time allowed for this - all morning.

Lesson 6

Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.
1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.
Leave it there.
2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.
3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.
4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Lesson 7

Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

Lesson 8

1. Hollow out a melon.
2. Make a small hole in the side.
3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.
5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.
6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.

You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.

Lesson 9

Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.

Lesson 10

Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Lesson 11

Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

This is all very tongue in cheek; anyone who is parent will say 'it's all worth it!' Share it with your friends, both those who do and don't have kids. I guarantee they'll get a chuckle out of it. Remember, a sense of humor is one of the most important things you'll need when you become a parent!

"You Might Be A Redneck IF...."

...this is your environmentally friendly mouse trap

I saw this the other day and had to share the giggle :)

Another Giveaway open to a Canadian Girl!!

I had a really had a hard time "getting into" the whole giveaway bit because most sites I find are US residents only...but lately I have been finding some really fun giveaways that I can get involved with. NOW I'm hooked! 
I got up early this morning, thanks to my best friend (just teasing I still love you even though you woke me up on the 1 morning my kids aren't home), and found this giveaway on At Home with Mom.


I LOVE Melissa & Doug products!  Who doesn't really??  Kim has reviewed and is now giving away a M&D Baby Farm  Animals Stamp set!
 Ava loves stamps, crafts...anything that makes a mess and she is also a fan of all of her M&D products :)  I REALLY REALLY hope we win!  {so far I have 9 entries and am working on my my last 3 lol}
 But I do encourage all of you to check it out and enter as many times as you'd like, the only mandatory entry requirement is  for you to follow her here on Blogspot.com.  Giveaway closes on January 23, 2011.

What a great Friday!

I had mentioned in my Thankful Thursday post that I was running short of patience with my darling daughter Ainsley.  But Friday was a brand new day and a very good one I might add.

 For a house full with 4 kids it was the smoothest day we had in a long time.  Ainsley had her friend, Ava Soleil, over for a sleepover and I was "babysitting" the new young fella, Noa who's 10, and I had my Ava running wild amongst the mix.  They were dancing up a storm with Just Dance 2 on the Wii while I smiled watching their moves.  Then older ones head out to the yard to paint snow while Ava Lynne and I made a batch of rice krispie squares.  It was a lovely afternoon full of laughter.

Giveaway at Smookie Style for CSN Stores...Available to US & Canada!! Woo Hoo!

I am super excited to have finally found a fellow Canadian in the blogging community!  ...not that I do not enjoy all of the wonderful US blogs I have found, but being Canadian most of the US giveaways do not apply to me :(


I found Smookie Style Life and Products Reviewed with Verve during a recent blog hop and really enjoy her posts...and LOVE the fact that I can join in on her giveaways!!

Today she is hosting a giveaway for CSN Stores and she offers several great ways to enter, the only mandatory one is you MUST go to CSN stores and find something you really like and mention it on the entry form...simple as that!

So hurry on over the giveaway ends on Thursday January 20th, 2011.