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Friday 30 January 2009

Life Style Changes & Goals

Have you watched the show Biggest Loser Families. I have been watching for 3 seasons now and I am very inspired by these people. So February 1st my husband and I are starting our own Biggest Loser at home. Last April I started a Life Style Change and I was doing really good...loosing weight and inches...fitting into clothes I hadn't been able to wear for a long time. My lifestyle change came to a grinding halt with the passing of my father. Grief does things to a person that you never realize until it happens to you. So for the last 7 months I have tried to follow a healthier lifestyle have had many bumps along the way. I know that living with this extra weight is not good for my health in the long run and I do want to be around to see my future grandchildren and maybe even great grandchildren. I also want to be healthy so I can enjoy times with my family as I grow older. So February 1s is the start date. I am very happy that my husband is joining me on this change as well as it will be easier in many ways to have not only his support but also to have to answer to him not just the scale.

I have learned a lot from the Biggest Loser show as well as the many Prevention magazines that I read. I will be seeing my doctor on the 13th so until then I will not do any strenuous exercising until I have my doctor on board with what I am doing. I want to do this the right way and the safe way so that the weight stays off. I am hoping that the warm weather sticks around so it won't be so cold to go for a walk each evening.

I have tried this diet and that diet in the past only to fail for many reasons, like being the only one in the house making the changes and being drove crazy when they pull out the chips and dip, cookies or chocolate bars and pop. With my husband doing the same things by my side I am sure we can both achieve our long term goals bur for now I am going to set monthly goals.

My first goal being that in the month of February I want to loose over 5 lbs. Ideally I am going to strive to loose 2 lbs per week. I have read many times that it is easier to reach smaller goals than to focus on the ultimate goal which is to get back down to 125 lbs. So each month I will set small goals so that they are within reach. When I have reached my ultimate goal I plan to reward myself with not only a new wardrobe (which I will need) but also a biggest loser ring. Something to remind me of my accomplishments.

So Sunday morning we are both going to step on the scale, take our measurements and start off on a lifestyle change that will last a life time.

Wednesday 28 January 2009

Retirement

Retirement, something we all have to do at some point in our lives. Some people welcome it with open arms others fight it all the way. Some people retire early and other work as long as they possibly can. No I am not retiring any time soon although some days I wish I was.

Today we are celebrating one of my co-worker's retirement. I on the other hand have close to 17 years before I can retire, unless I win the lottery...so if you know the winning 649 numbers please share them with me....it would be a big boost to my retirement fund.

Currently the plan is for my husband to retire first and about 4 months later I will retire. We both want to be able to do some of the things we have only dreamt about all our working years. We want to be able to be young enough and healthy enough to enjoy many years of retirement. If you ask me in a 6 months or a year from now our plans may have changed or they not.

For now I wish my co-worker nothing but the best in her retirement and some days I wish that I was in her shoes and other days I am glad that I am where I am.

Tuesday 27 January 2009

New Stamps!



I am so excited once again as a new set of stamps arrived in my mail yesterday. Ordered from House-Mouse Designs. These little creatures are so cute and I can't wait to start stamping and coloring with them. I have a list of PrismaColored Pencils that I will pick up on Thursday so I can get to coloring these little cuties.

I have added pictures of the stamps that arrived yesterday. Once I have the images colored I will scan them and post them for you to see. I will also take pictures of the finished cards once they are done...which could be a while yet




I really think this bunny relaxing in the tub is so cute.....












....and just like this bunny every bunny needs some bunny to love!








My only limits is my imagination! The possibilities are endless.

Monday 26 January 2009

Chinese New Year

In case you didn't know it today is Chinese New Year or Spring Festival. This is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is often called the Lunar New Year, especially by people in mainland China and Taiwan. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called Lantern Festival. Chinese New Year's Eve is known as Chúxī. It literally means "Year-pass Eve".

Celebrated in areas with large populations of ethnic Chinese. Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the new year celebrations of its geographic neighbours, as well as cultures with whom the Chinese have had extensive interaction.

Chinese New Year is also celebrated and has, to varying degrees, become part of the traditional culture of in the Koreans, Mongolians, Nepalese, Bhutanese, Vietnamese countries. In Canada, although Chinese New Year is not an official holiday, many ethnic Chinese hold large celebrations and Canada Post issues New Year's themed stamps in domestic and international rates.

According to the many tales and legends, the beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called the Nian or "Year" in Chinese. The Nian would come on the first day of New Year to devour livestock, crops, and even villagers, especially children. To protect themselves, the chinese villagers would put food in front of their doors at the beginning of every year. It was believed that after the Nian ate the food they prepared, it wouldn’t attack any more people. It is believed that at one time, people saw that the Nian was scared away by a child wearing red. It became understood by this villagers that the Nian was afraid of the color red. This is why when the New Year arrived the villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls on the windows and doors of their homes. Firecrackers were also used to frighten away the Nian. From then on, the Nian never came to the village again.

Chinese New Year celebrations are marked by visits to relatives and friends, a practice known as "new-year visits". For most Chinese people, returning home to their families is the traditional way to celebrate the new year. New clothes are usually worn to signify a new year. The colour red is liberally used in all decorations in the celebration of the New Year.

The Chinese New Year is traditionally celebrated over 15 days. Each day has a different meaning and tradion such as the second day is for the married daughters to visit their birth parents. Traditionally these daughters who have been married may not have the opportunity to visit their birth families frequently. On the second day, the Chinese pray to their ancestors as well as to all the gods. They are extra kind to dogs and feed them well as it is believed that the second day is the birthday of all dogs. On day fifteen candles are lit outside houses as a way to guide wayward spirits home. This day is celebrated as the Lantern Festival, and families walk the street carrying lighted lanterns. This day marks the end of the Chinese New Year's celebrations. This year Feb 9 marks the end of the Chinese New Year's celebrations.

The Chinese zodiac system is based on animals. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, an animal that symbolizes calm, hard work, resolve and tenacity.

Thursday 22 January 2009

Coloring

Well I did it....I purchased 6 Copic Markers in the skin tones, some Prismacolored Pencils, Mona Lisa Odorless Mineral Spirits & some stickles. Also a few other new items for stamping and scrapbooking. Anyways I had stamped a couple of Magnolia images a couple of weeks ago in anticipation of the arrival of my Copics. Once my Copics arrived I colored the face, arms and legs in on each image and waited until I purchased my Odorless Mineral Spirits. Yesterday before leaving Regina I hit Michael's for a few supplies. So last night after I got home I sat down with my stamped image, Prisma Colored Pencils & Odorless Mineral Spirits and set to coloring. I love how the Prisma's look with the Copics used for the skin tones. I didn't get chance to scan the image to show you all, I will have to do that tonight and post it for you.

My plan is to buy a few Copic Markers each month and a few Prisma Colored Pencils each month to build my collection slowly. I have found one supplier in Canada where I can order the copics and a few from the US. Scrapping Turtle is a Canadian Supplier that I have ordered from as well as Creative Play Stamps in the US is another place I have ordered my Copics from. The nice thing about the Copic Markers is they are refillable so they last you a long time. The nibs are replaceable as well. Your initial investment is a bit high but well worth the money as they last a long time and are very easy to refill. I purchase my Prismacolored pencils at a local art supply store here in town. You can purchase Prisma's in sets or individually. I have chosen to purchase them individually in the colors that I need/want at the time. I have found it cheaper for me to purchase my copics from the US even with the exchange of CND funds to American funds they are cheaper.

I never thought I would be excited to show off my coloring techniques until I tried out my prisma's yesterday. Put it this way I can't wait to add a few more colors to my collection.

Wednesday 21 January 2009

Lost For Words

Have you ever been lost for words...not sure what to say next. I hate that it can happen at times when you really can't be lost for words like during an interview. Worst part after an interview is you second guess what you said and what you should have said. Sometimes it is good to be lost for words as you don't want to talk too much and end up making a situation turn from good to bad or bad to worse.

I find even sometimes I am lost for words on to blog. I guess every good writer is lost for words at some time in their life.

I didn't have to opportunity to watch the Inauguration of President Obama on Tuesday. History was made in the United States that is for certain. I would have loved to be in attendance on this day in which history was made, but it wasn't in the cards for me to be there. I have heard that the judge that was swearing Barack Obama in as the President Of the United States stumbled a bit...lost for words I doubt it...probably caught up in the moment of history being made.

Tuesday 20 January 2009

Final Semester

Today marks the beginning of the end of my daughter's high school years. Semester 2 begins today. In less than 6 months Meagan will have Graduated from High School. Where do the years go...it feels like it was only this past fall that she was starting Kindergarten.

Plans are going forward for her grad party. Hot tub is booked, working on a surprise for Meagan which I can't let out for fear that she gets wind of it....menu is in the planning stages. Hair appointments are booked - trial and grad day. Waiting to hear back from the photographer to confirm the date and time of the photos. Dress, shoes, jewelry and hair pins are on lay away - to be picked up next month...then get it hemmed.

So many things to do and what seems like a lot of time will soon be not enough time.

Monday 19 January 2009

Washing Machine

Okay last weekend it was my lagoon that backed up into my basement. Finally Tuesday afternoon the line is opened up and we can use our sewer again.

Saturday night my daughter is doing a load of laundry when the machine sounds like it is out of balance. She runs down and fixes what she thinks is the problem only for the noise to not stop and the load is completely balanced. After looking into it further my husband finds that the washing machine is done for. It won't spin any more...not exactly sure what it is that is broke but does it ever make a noise. So Sunday Al heads into Leon's to look at washing machines. He comes home with a High Efficiency front loading machine. This is what I wanted, actually I have wanted one a HE laundry set for a while...now I have to wait for something to happen to the dry....hmmm wonder how I can make it blow up/break down without looking like I did - hehehehe I will have to be patient and wait for a new dryer....at least I can still do laundry!

Friday 16 January 2009

New Addition

We are adding to our family again...and no I am not expecting. We are taking in a year old pure bred Shih Tzu - Lucy. The lady we got Rocco from took Lucy and her two pups in after they were abandoned at the vet's office. Check out Molly Dogs for a picture of Lucy on the home page as well as her puppies. Dianne raises the wonderful dogs - ShihChon. If your looking for house dog I highlighly recommend checking out Dianne's website. You won't be sorry with a purchase of a Molly Dog.

We'll get Lucy once her puppies are weaned...around the end of February. We are looking forward to giving Lucy a wonderful home with us. Rocco will have a playmate. I keep telling him he's getting a girlfriend. Nice thing is we don't have to go through the house training bit as Lucy is a fully trained dog. She comes to us spayed which we are very happy about as well and all her shots are up to date.

I will post pictures of Lucy for you once we get her home with us. Dianne is hoping to be able to send me more pictures of her as her hair grows back. She was very badly matted so had to have her hair shaved really short. Never the less she is a beautiful dog - silver and white.

Wednesday 14 January 2009

Roto Rooter

Well Roto Rooter finally arrived at my house yesterday afternoon. After about 2 hours he got our lagoon pipe cleaned out all the way to the lagoon and we are good to go again. It is when things like having your pipes plug up that makes you appreciate the things we take for granted like having running water and sewer in your home. We haven't been able to run any water since Sunday evening when we found that the lagoon was backing up into the basement.

It was such good words to hear when he said I could run as much water as I wanted now. The good news was that there was no root fibres this time so at least we know that the roots haven't been growing through the line.

Anyways I am glad once again that we a functioning sewer.

Monday 12 January 2009

Frozen Sewer Pipes

Yesterday afternoon while my husband was working in the basement and laundry was going he notices that our sewer is backing up into the basement. What a mess that could have been. Anyways he figures that the lagoon is frozen and he just needs to get out there and drill a hole. Upon arriving at the lagoon he finds that it isn't frozen over. Now we know that pipes are plugged and we need to get Rotter Rooter out to drill the pipes out. Last time this was done was about 3 years ago. There is a root system that runs by where the sewer pipe is and the roots grow through the pipe as the root grows through things are caught on the root and build up. A small price to pay for living in the country.

My hubby is calling Rotter Rooter today to have them come out and drill out the pipe. So by tonight we should be able to run water in the house again.

Sunday 11 January 2009

Saturday Night at the Movies

On Friday evening my husband and I decided to stretch our date night over two nights, so we did just that. Friday night was at BP's for drinks and something to eat and Saturday night was Movie night.

We went to see Gran Torino with Clint Eastwood. What a good movie....definitely worth seeing. It is one movie that I think I will buy when it comes out on DVD. I am sure that each time you watch it you would notice something new in the movie.

Al and I also think that we are cursed; it seems that where ever we go to see something we end with a "Laughing Hyena" either next to us or right behind us. Happened at Reba, happened once before at the movies and again last night. OMG this woman laughed at everything funny or not...think she was trying to impress her date or annoy the shit out the rest of the people in the theater. It was everything I could do not to snap on this woman. Yes there were some really funny parts but she just laughed at anything. More than once I wanted to tell her "It's not that funny". Okay it was so annoying nearly told her date to put a muffler on her. Okay now I have vented and feel much better. Had the theater not been full we would have moved seats.

Anyways Gran Torino is an excellent movie, I give a Thumbs Up and recommend it to anyone. It has a great story line and Clint Eastwood does an awesome job, he portrayed the emotions to the point that I felt I was there and could really see and feel what he was going through.

Saturday 10 January 2009

Blog Candy

There is some awesome blog candy being offered this month. Keep checking my side bar for links to follow to enter for your chance to win some of this yummy blog candy.

VALENTINE BLOG CANDY
Michelle over at Donkey Smiles is celebrating Valentines with some awesome Valentine Blog Candy that she will draw for on the evening of January 15, 2009. Click HERE to get her Michelle's blog and check out her awesome yummy candy.



Celebrating 3000 Hits
Emma is offering some awesome candy on her blog as well in celebrating of reaching 3000 hits on her blog in 9 months. Click HERE to go to Emma's blog to enter for your chance to win.

Good luck everyone!

Friday 9 January 2009

Slide Show

For Christmas this year our nephew and his wife put together a Slide Show DVD of what they did in 2008. We didn't know many of the people in the pictures but it was really nice to get to know more about them through the DVD.

Anyways last night I was playing around in ADOBE Photo Elements and found where I can make a slide show with photos, text and music. So I started playing around in this when my husband came up with the idea that I should make one for Meagan's Grad Party that we are having for family and friends. Kind of the life and times of Meagan. So last night I started on the Slide Show. I have about 6 months to complete this project...this is to be a surprise for Meagan. Good thing she spends lots of time with her friends as it gives me the time in the evenings to play around with this.

Al and I are going to go through pictures and scan them. I am going to get Brittany to give me the names of some of Meagan's favorite music... We have boxes and boxes of pictures to go through as well as files and files of pictures on the computer to go through. Good thing Meagan has lots of pictures on the computer from time with her friends.

I think this will be an awesome tribute to Meagan for her Graduation.

Wednesday 7 January 2009

Perfect Timing

Yesterday on the way to work my husband and I decided to have a stir fry for supper. Well as the day went on I decided to make Chicken Chowmein and Amond Gai Ding. So we picked up the groceries after work that was needed and headed home. We decided to pick the mail as well since we had time. Here in the mail is a parcel from my second cousin Elizabeth in Texas. Even though Elizabeth and I have never met in person we have corresponded via email for close to 5 years now and have worked together on our Family History. When my dad passed away he and Pete sent a beautiful flower arrangement, it happened that it was the first arrangement that I looked at during the lunch. When I seen it was from her my heart filled with love as I could feel her presence with me even though she was in Texas. Anyways after opening the parcel there was this beautiful fabric box filled with Fortune Cookies. Like I said perfect timing, a fortune cookie to complete our Chinese Supper with.

Monday 5 January 2009

Out With The Old

It seems that we never have anything to wear but we have more clothes than we could shake a stick at. After going through my closet I found clothes that I haven't worn in 20 years. What I was saving them for I have no idea...probably thinking I will wear that again. My girls are the same way.

So after doing load of laundry after load of laundry I have told the girls that they have to go through their clothes and keep what they want and the rest is going to Value Village. I actually have a friend that has asked if she can go through the girls hand me downs before I take them to Value Village as there might be something that her daughter would like. I told them I am tired of washing and folding these clothes for them to end up back in the laundry room amongst the dirty towels and they are still folded, so to make sure they go through the clothes I put all their clothes in a pile and they have to go through them and fold them. I don't intend to let them leave these clothes in a pile for a long time. They have til the 15th of the month and then they are all gone and I know there are clothes in there that they both still wear. I have my own share of clothes for Value Village as well. I guess you can say my girls come by the bad habit of not getting rid of anything honestly. :)

I need to make room in my closet for any new clothes that I would like to buy so what better time to start getting ride of the old than at the start of the New Year.

Sunday 4 January 2009

Getting Back to Basics

On New Years Eve, Al, Brittany and I decided we are going to try our hand at raising Chickens and Turkeys. Neither Al or I have raised chickens since we were kids so this will be an adventure. The way we look at is I paid $55 for our Christmas turkey that we might as well try our hand at raising them. Farm raised chickens and turkeys taste so much better than those you by in the store that are raised in cages in big barns.

Brittany is all pumped for this adventure claiming she will help take care of them. We asked Michael if he wanted a few chickens and a turkey, only catch is he has to help with the butchering of them. He is in, no problem...only one not too keen on the idea is Meagan stating I am not eating our chickens and turkeys. She said it wouldn't feel right eating something that may become a pet. Well it won't be long and they won't seem like pets to her and I am sure she will enjoy eating them as much as the rest of us will.

I remember a child my grandparents raised chickens and a couple of turkeys. They are so cute when you first bring them home. My God Parents used to own Mid-West Tackle and Hatchery. Each year Nancy gave me my own little box of chicks (usually 3 or 4 of them)these were the unique colored chicks - black and white, all black or speckled. I looked forward to the day we would pick up the chicks each year just to see what unique chicks I got.

So seeing it has been a few years since either my husband or I raised chickens think it is time to do a bit of research on the matter. Better to read about raising chickens and turkeys now instead of being stressed out later.

Saturday 3 January 2009

Happy Birthday Michael

Today my son turns 23 years old. Wow, the last 23 years have flown by faster than I would have ever thought. Seems like only yesterday Michael was in Kindergarten celebrating his 6th birthday.

Yesterday we drove Brittany down to Saskatoon so she could help her brother celebrate his birthday. Before heading over to see Michael and take him out for supper we took the girls shopping. They got some good deals, think the best deal was a coat Brittany got at Bootlegger. Regular price was $69.99 with only one black one left in her size, she tries the jacket on, it fits her perfectly. She notices that the jacket is missing a button, after checking the rack again finding that this is the only one in her size, she says I am going to ask for a discount because it is missing a button it is at this time that she happens to turn the tag over and notices that because it is missing a button they have it for 60% off the regular price of $69.99. So for the couple of minutes it will take to sew on the button provided by the manufacture Brittany saved $41.99.

Trying to get into a restaurant on Friday evening in Saskatoon proved to be a challenge. We should have known better and made a reservation, most places had a wait of 30 minutes up to 60 minutes. So we ended up going to Jerry's.

We didn't want to hang around Saskatoon too late as it was storming pretty good and we had to get back to PA. The worst stretch was from Saskatoon to MacDowall, after that the driving was good.

Thursday 1 January 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a wonderful New Year and all the best for 2009! May you have year filled with good health, happiness and the many blessing from God be yours.

We are off to take our daughter to Saskatoon to spend the weekend with her brother. She is going down to celebrate Michael's 23rd birthday on January 3rd.