Inspiration from Ashely P

This morning I was catching up on my blog reading and saw this post from My Rays of Sunshine that has inspired me to "gather my thoughts".   I have been on a list making high all weekend because the thoughts of Spring Cleaning are just tumbling though my head...as well as renovations & gardening plans etc etc
As I was making lists and plans all weekend I was thinking "Gee why do I seem to make the same list over and over?" "why haven't I made a master copy yet?  Or schedule a rotation for my (no so favourite) chores?" (I crave routine so a "scheduled" rotation would make me feel much better about scrubbing the toilets...I hope)  So Ashely's post about her Home Management Binder has inspired me to quit thinking about and JUST DO IT  (...I might be a Nike fan when <---- lol).

The binder shouldn't be so hard to follow.  Like I mentioned I crave routine  and I pretty much do most of these things anyway just on random slips of paper (that I often lose, or throw out because I can't stand the clutter).

A calendar ...I already had a post about how my life revolves around my calender
 A week planner....I currently use my whiteboard for family updates/reminders
 Cleaning...random lists
 Bills...on my calender
 To Do's...random lists
 Grocery/Couponing...random list attached to a heavily marked up stack of flyers
Menu....I am now completely reliant on....I find it helps me make a better list and saves me several trips (and MONEY lol) and it helps to keep us from falling back into a "food rut". When I do up a menu I jot down what we had the week previous so not to have them again and then try to preplan the following week if I have extra ideas that I don't want to forget. Wayne & the kids love that they can glance up at the whiteboard in my kitchen and know what to expect...and it helps with Ainsley (6yrs) because if we are having something she doesn't particularly enjoy, say seafood chowder on Tuesday, she can look at the menu and know that if she eats it all that on Wednesday we'll have her favourite Tacos :) **I usually now try to do this on purpose and with an organized menu I can :)

I think it is official before the week is over I am going to have to make my own Home Management Binder....
Thanks Ashely P

Monday's Music Moves Me **Another freebie Week :)**

FREEBIE choice for this week is Some of my Canadian Fav's

WOW! Where did March Go?

I cannot believe this is the last week of March already it feels like it just started the other day...Where did March Go? I certainly didn't spend my time on here, my poor blog has been neglected all month with the exception of a Music Moves Me post or 2.
I have been taking Ava to the Tots Program as usual....I joined a book club FOR ME, that was pretty exciting. I haven't had "mom time" in awhile with my crazy work schedule.  My first book was "Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Tracy Chevalier .  It was okay but it wasn't great, there wasn't much to really talk about BUT the ladies were awesome and made me feel super welcome.  We're reading "Best Friends Forever" by Jennifer Weiner for next months meeting. I have read her stuff before and it's sweet.  She wrote the book "In Her Shoes" that they based the Carmeron Diaz movie from and "My Sisters Keeper" as well.
Umm let's see where else has March gone??  There was "March Break"for Ainsley which was just chaos :o ...I have done a few cakes...

I went shopping in Calais...and I have been planning and organizing fundraisers for the annual Walk for Autism.
All month I have been going through closets, toys, dressers etc pulling out stuff and photographing it to post on an Online Yardsale I set up, all proceeds are going to our Community Autism Centre.  I (and one of my favmani-pedis, chocolate facials, make up and snacks for donations.  I'm really looking forward to it and hope for a big turn out...maybe it will also become an annual event :)
And besides all that I am trying to keep up with my usual housework, Ainsley's schooling, entertaining Ava and working ....but still Where DID March go? I'm frightened to think how fast April will breeze by....I guess the old saying "In like a Lion and out like a Lamb" most definitely suits March 2011 for me.

MOndays Music Moves Me ~ Personal Choice~

Today's theme is a "FREEBIE" !  So, POST WHATEVER MAKES YOU HAPPY! 

Today I need some serious motivation to clean after March Break so my choices are

Wordless Wednesday - Window Replacement 1 of 22...no words now but give me a couple of weeks

Mondays Music Moves Me - FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST

" MONDAY'S MUSIC MOVES ME
  TODAY IS FIND NEW NEIGHBORS DAY  TELL THEM ABOUT US & WHOEVER HAS THE MOST  SIGN UP TO OUR LINKY YOU'LL WIN FIRST PLACE IN OUR LINKY NEXT WEEK!  WOO HOO!"
http://thenewxmasdolly.blogspot.com/2011/03/mondays-music-moves-me.html
so please go check them out and tell them I sent you :)




I had a tough time deciding an artist for this week's theme...I listen to a large variety of music but of my absolute fav's there aren't many females but lately I have really enjoyed this song ...so my choice for "Favorite Female Artist" is :

Thankful Thursday..posted a day late Oops!

Today I am thankful for many things ...my usual  family, friends, health & security but also some fun and exciting stuff as well ...for instants:

...my last car payment is TODAY !!!  5 years later and it's finally over...and time to start shopping again lol

.....It's my weekend off!
and to kick it off I'm heading to my special friend K's for a dip in the hottub after work tonight :)

...I am happy to have Netflix thanks to special friend K's hubby E for walking me through it step by step (also thankful for his genius & time spent on repairing my laptop so I can now feed my FB & blog addiction from bed...won't Wayne love that lol)

....March Break starts today!  one whole week of sleeping in is going to be great

Wordless Wednesday ~Breakfast with Mom & the Ladies~

Thankful Thursday

I am SUPER thankful to be able to stay home(during the day) and raise my girls.  Spending the day cuddling & watching them grow is THE BEST thing I could ever ask for! 

I am thankful that Wayne's tests came back clear.

I am Thankful for great friends that still believe in the old school barter & trade system...3 hair cuts for one cheesecake (and she even share it with us ...she ROCKS)

I am thankful that a dear friend of ours is doing much better now...after he scared the living crap out of all of us earlier in the week by going into Cardiac Arrest. I am also very thankful he was already at an appointment in the hospital when this happened, so there was minimal damage.

I am thankful to see the sun shine today and have my fingers crossed the the weather people have their forcast backwards and plan to remove 10-50cm's of snow tomorrow

I love Party Planning

It's that time of the year...I'm sick of winter and spring keeps teasing me by playing hard-to-get...So it must be time to start brainstorming for Ainsley's Birthday Party!

As much as I could NOT stand being a swollen  hippo pregnant lady during the entire summer of 2004, I have NEVER been so excited to celebrate birthdays in the beautiful weather (my siblings & I are ALL winter babies).  There are ENDLESS possibilities for summer celebrations! 


For the last few years when the "end of winter" blues hit Ainsley & I put our heads together and pick a theme (you HAVE to love a theme)  for her birthday (August 12th)....then we consult our best buddy Google.  

For her 4th birthday she was on a big Veggie Tales kick and their newest movie was The Pirates that Don't Do Anything...so we had a ~Buccaneer Bash~  at a local park (at the time we lived 15mins outside of town and people just didn't seem to like the drive for birthday 1yr & 2yr...we found this location for 3yr and it was a HUGE HIT...and minimal clean up)

Invitations in Root beer bottles

Ava my baby pirate

Cake

My mom gave her a Nemo pinata filled with
treasure...there was a sweet story that was
wrapped with it but as the planner/photographer
I didn't get my hands on it before someone
mistook it for trash :(

Treasure chests filled with even more loot

For her 5th birthday we had a new house and HUGE yard (in a more central area)  so we had a big Circus Party.

Thank you cards for the treat bags

we took pin the tail on the donkey and
changed it up.  I bought whipped cream & mini tart
pans to toss pies at the clown's face



cake...thanks Google LOL once she saw
this there was NO changing her mind

This was a HUGE hit!  I found this at Oriental Trading
and it was worth every penny  

For her 6th birthday we decided since water balloons had been such a BIG success at the last two parties that we would do an all water party *Backyard Water BlasT* ....unfortunately because of all the water we haven't got a single picture of that super fun day but we'll always have tons of memories!

This year for her 7th birthday she wants to go camping at Hartt's Island.  We were up there for Labour Day weekend and it was such an awesome time with their waterpark and playground.

So on this cold and dirty, not quite spring, day I am looking for ideas for cakes and treat bags. ( I have  Counting Coconuts post today to thank for the inspiration, her suggestion to use her Eye Spy bottles in goody bags has sparked me into a Google frenzy lol)

Mondays Music Moves Me - February Love Songs-

Mondays Music Moves Me theme for February has been ~Love Songs~ and for this week my choice is Daughtry's Life After You


I LOVE LOVE this song :)   The first time I heard it on the radio it stopped me in my tracks.  The lyrics hit so close to home for me.  I am thinking it may be a top contender for our wedding song.  My man and I have survived many tough challenges in our 10 years together and through thick & thin we have always been able share laughter...and there is no one I want to spend my life laughing with more than him.



"Life After You"Ten miles from town and I just broke down
Spittin' out smoke on the side of the road
I'm out here alone just tryin' to get home
To tell you I was wrong but you already know
Believe me I won't stop at nothin'
To see you so I've started runnin'

All that I'm after is a life full of laughter
As long as I'm laughing with you
I'm thinkin' that all that still matters is love ever after
After the life we've been through
'Cause I know there's no life after you

Last time we talked, the night that I walked
Burns like an iron in the back of my mind
I must've been high to say you and I
Weren't meant to be and just wasting my time
Oh, why did I ever doubt you?
You know I would die here without you

All that I'm after is a life full of laughter
As long as I'm laughing with you
I'm thinkin' that all that still matters is love ever after
After the life we've been through
'Cause I know there's no life after you

You and I, right or wrong, there's no other one
After this time I spent alone
It's hard to believe that a man with sight could be so blind
Thinkin' 'bout the better times, must've been outta my mind
So I'm runnin' back to tell you

All that I'm after is a life full of laughter
Without you God knows what I'd do

All that I'm after is a life full of laughter
As long as I'm laughing with you
I'm thinkin' that all that still matters is love ever after
After the life we've been through
'Cause I know there's no life after you

BIG THANKS to My Rays of Sunshine for awarding me The Versatile Blogger Award

                                                              Here are the Rules:

- Thank the person who gave you the award!

- Share 7 things about yourself

- Pass the award on to 10 other versatile bloggers.

- Let those other bloggers know that you gave them the award.

Thank you,Ashley for the award! Now, head on over to her blog!She is SUPER sweet!

1. I am an old soul, I think...I definitely don't seem to fit my generation
2. I am a list addict...I have my calender plastered with info and hundreds of random papers ...I try  hard to be organized as much as possible...I think I drive some absolutely crazy with my NEED for details.
3. I strive to be a thoughtful and supportive friend...I don't always have time to physically spend with my friends but I do try to make the time I  get quality ;)
4. I have a love hate relationship with cake ...I love doing them but hate being on a deadline.  I love to be creative & have fun but if I am not in the mood I hate having to complete the project...and I get ridiculously anxious that I'm going to ruin someones celebration :(
5. ...I guess you could say I might have a few insecurities to deal with ...
6. I love dogs but don't know if I have the heart to get another...I get way to attached and can't stand the thought of losing another.
7. I am a proud Canadian music fan!  I love The Tragically Hip, The Trews, Hedley, and Andrew Hunter & the Gathers....and even the Biebs lol (aka Justin Bieber)
   

   
   

Here are some favorites I spend a lot of my blogging time at!
http://loveiseverywhere.blogspot.com/
http://fineandfair.blogspot.com/
http://lovinangelseveryday.blogspot.com/
http://furlinedtoiletseats.blogspot.com/
http://nofiltermom.blogspot.com/
http://massholemommy.com/
http://closertolucy.blogspot.com/
http://preschoolbookclub.blogspot.com/
http://mrskarensclass.blogspot.com/
http://thenewxmasdolly.blogspot.com/

February has been a busy Cake month

February 13th

February 14th



February 14th



February 18th

February 19th

February 20th



Library Day ~February 17~

Another week of fun at Time for Tots!   Ava is singing her little heart out and fooling around with her friends and I love every second of it! Today they brought out the parachute to play Ring Around the Rosie and they had a BLAST!

This week's theme for the Family Drop In table is "Chocolate"

Noa and the girls are going to glue these together and add sprinkles afterschool

The craft was a sweet little felt donut with sprinkles and there were several cute books about chocolately treats.  Today we read :

• Chocolate Mousse for Greedy Goose - Julia Donaldson

This was a very cute rhyming story featuring several different animals and their dessert choices.

• Chocolate Chippo Hippo - Vincent Andriani

This story is about a hippo who is obsessed with eating chocolate chip cookies.

• Chocolatina - Erik Kraft

• Oh Ducky! A Chocolate Calamity - David Slonim

Oh Ducky had beautiful illustrations and a fun story with silly characters in a chocolate factory ...Ava really enjoyed this one

Ava's picks this week are Caillou and Rosie's Doll and Mouse's Tail

Ainsley's picks Eloise Has a Lesson and Eloise Breaks Some Eggs

Family picks are Oliver Has Something to Say and Mallory & the Power Boy

Mom's picks:  My Nest Isn't Empty It just has More Closet Space, Full Speed and Marriage by Design

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