Thursday 27 March 2014

WTH Mother Nature?

Snowing again today - blah.  It is almost April and we still have at least 3 feet of snow covering our lawn.  Being Canadian I *expect* winter, but this has dragged on long enough....

Another day on my course at work, last day (final test) is tomorrow.  I love Fridays, we always get take-out pizza and watch a movie.  It has been our family tradition since the kids were babies.  I will have to see if there are any new releases that we'd like to say, or just watch one of our "previously viewed" favourites.

Latest card creation!  I love these Lily of the Valley (LOTV) stamps, they are so sweet.  So I worked on this vintage inspired card which could be used for a few different occasions.  I am submitting this in the Crafty Little Fairies "Add a Tag" challenge.

 


Sunday 23 March 2014

Another Chit-Chat

Sunday again!  This week has flown by.  I had intentions to post during the week but that never happened.  As per the norm, I am participating in Carla's Sunday Night Chit-chat and it always starts off with a picture.  This is yet another picture of my good boy, Findlay.  He was giving me goo-goo eyes on the deck.


And now onto the questions for the week.

  •  Are you reading: Just started reading "Born Wicked:  Cahill Witch Chronicles, Book 1".
  • Are you watching: Watched "Love It or List It" while folding laundry and then a new show called "Believe".
  • Are you looking forward to this week:  I am on a Harassment Advisor's course all week.  Not quite sure if I am looking forward to it, but it's pretty much what I've got on the go until Friday.
  • Is one thing you did last week that you don't want to repeat this week: Nothing that comes to mind. I did shovel snow last week, I would like to try and avoid it this week, LOL.
  • Was your best moment over the last week?  Well, there was nothing stellar but I did enjoy catching jup with an old friend.
  • Is your #1 goal for next week?  To get my bathrooms cleaned.  Yeah, I know...... ugh.
  • Song can't you get out of your head? Nothing really. 
  • Best/Worst financial decision over the last week?  *thinking*  don't think I had any best/worst but I think I should transfer some $$ to savings.
  • Is something that you'd like to learn to do? I would like to learn how to herd sheep with my dog.

I also created this neat card based on a challenge (masculine card)  from the Stampotique Designers Challenge.  I was able to use some of my stash, namely some patterned paper from Scenic Route.



Sunday 16 March 2014

Sunday Night Chit-chat (aka: March Break is OVER)

I don't want to go back to work.  I don't know when it happened but at some point I stopped loving my job. I now actively think about what else I could be doing....  maybe it's a midlife crisis ;)

I am participating in Carla's Sunday night chit-chat, and she even threw in some new questions (I love change!).  Starting off, as usual, with a picture.  I recently posted this on my Facebook page.



My husband knows it's true -  my dogs will lie on the floor right behind my feet so if I stand up, or turn around - WHOOOPS....  I often curse at them but they are always quickly forgiven.

  •  Are you reading:  I just finished the latest book by Patricia Briggs "Night Broken".  I plan on starting to re-read the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon since the TV series is coming out.  So excited!
  • Are you watching:  Watched "Chopped" this evening.  There are a couple of new shows that I would like to try out.  One is called Believe and the other, Resurrection.  They just started like week so I am going to have to try to find them online.
  • Are you looking forward to this week:  Nothing LOL.  Cold weather, work, and a military function Thursday night (aka:  "forced fun")
  • Is one thing you did last week that you don't want to repeat this week:  Two days of medical appointments in Ottawa.  I hate that it is about 2 hours driving (one way) and that's if we have good weather and no traffic in the city....
  • Was your best moment over the last week? I don't know if I had a "best" moment, but I did have a bunch of good moments - which is nice.  As much as I complain about the long drive to Ottawa, if give me and hubby a chance to sit and talk.  Captive audience?
  • Is your #1 goal for next week? As sad as it sounds, I need to clean the bathrooms and start organizing room by room.  On a positive note, get a kick-start on Spring cleaning, 'cause Spring sure ain't here yet.
  • Song can't you get out of your head? I heard the song "Chicken Fried"  by the Zac Brown Band on the radio yesterday.  I love that song and have been humming it on/off since then.
  • Best/Worst financial decision over the last week?  Can't think of anything from last week necessarily but I would say the best decision was to get a financial planner to help us with our investments, primarily RESP/RDSP for the kids and our RRSP's and TFSA's.  Worst decisions has been some of the services, like our home security system and phone contract.  definitely need to revisit those - I know there are better options available.
  • Is on the top of your *wish list* right now?  Wish my neighbors would disappear.  Aside from that, looking on Kijiji for a chest freezer.
Created this darling card the other day. I  used some of my stash with Basic Grey "Capella" paper.  I used my sewing machine to stitch the borders, I was hoping it would show up more in the picture.  Also used a new (to me) Spellbinders die "Ironworks" to make the corner embellishment.


Submitting for the following challenges:

Fussy and Fancy Friday challenge blog - Happy Birthday
Magnolia Down Under Challenge - 5th Birthday
7 Kids College Fund Challenge Blog - Anything Goes with a Twist (die cuts)
Seize the Birthday - Stitching


Thursday 13 March 2014

Where's Spring?

OMG!  My son jumped into our bed this morning because he was cold.  I had taken the thick duvet off his bed a couple of days ago because it was getting warmer (it's back on, for now).  Well, last night the mercury dropped!  I don't know how cold it got but this morning the temperature was sitting at -28 degrees Celsius.  Brrrrrrrr.  We are halfway through March and I am starting to feel desperate for the snow to go away. 

I created this card for the "Magnolia Down Under" challenge.  The challenge is "Birthday" in honour of their 5th Birthday.  Time sure does fly!


Wednesday 12 March 2014

Hump Day

Day 2 of my March Break and it is flying by!  Today we drove to Ottawa for a doctors appointment.  These appointments are the most irritating for me.  It was a pre-assessment since Evan will be sedated for his MRI.  The thing is they ask ALL the same questions every time we go for one of these appointments.  It's not like his Cerebral palsy has been cured overnight or anything.  They have all the notes from the last three times he was sedated for surgery.   I know I am being petty but we have to drive 2.5 hours one way, which is not only long but can be dangerous when you have bad weather (like we encountered on our way back) and with the cost of gas these days, it's not cheap.  In this day and age you would think we could have conducted the question/answer period over phone, skype or facetime.  As for his vitals and weight, they could get that the morning of the MRI.  Seriously.  Right? Okay, rant over.

Here is a card I created using inspiration from a few challenge blogs.  I love this older Magnolia image and I also got to use up some of my older Prima patterned paper that I have been hoarding saving. 



The challenges that I participated in are:


Papertake Weekly - Bingo (I used Button and Flowers, for my free I added a pearl and some lace)
House of Cards - Vintage/Shabby card using a button
Simon Says Stamp - Distress  (I distressed the edges of all the paper using Tim Holtz Tea Dye inks)

Monday 10 March 2014

Monday, Monday

Last day of work completed, and now begins my March break!  Will definitely be spending some time in my craft space :)

I created this card using Sketch #300 at Sketch Saturday and also participated in  the following challenge blog:






Sunday 9 March 2014

Sunday Chit-Chat

What a beautiful weekend!  The sun was shining and spent some nice time outdoors paying with the dogs and NOT freezing my ass off.  My timing has been a little off due to the time change but it so nice to have supper and it is still light out :)

I am playing along (again) with Carla's chit-chat, and we always start off with a picture.  This is a shot I took of Gala today, doesn't it look like she is giving me stink eye?  Why are you taking pictures?  Let me in, already.....



  • Reading:  I am going to start a new book this week, there are lots on my "to read" list and I haven't decided yet.  I have the entire Shannara series (fantasy) by Terry Brooks, or the "Outlander" series by Diana Gabaldon.  Of course, there are always a few supernatural books in my collection to.
  • Listening to:  I have taken refuge in the basement, it is silent other than the hum of the computer.
  • Watching:  Tonight I have a bunch of laundry to fold so I will probably watch Chopped or Property Brothers that I recorded earlier.
  • Cooking/Baking:  I should really get some bread started, we are out.
  • Happy you accomplished this week:  I am drawing a blank.
  • Looking forward to next week:  I work on Monday but the rest of the week - March break.  Mind you, I have to take Evan to CHEO on two separate days which eats up my relax time.
  • Thankful for today:  Having the money to pay for car repairs.  At least now I feel safe driving to Ottawa with the children in the van.
  • Bonus Question: What was your first job?  I can't remember which I did first. (getting old lol) I pumped gas (and propane) at a gas station.  Yep, checked oil and cleaned windows.  And I worked at a grocery store, both as cashier and deli clerk.
 I created this gorgeous card this weekend.  I used sketch #300 from the Sketch Saturday challenge blog.  I also participated in the following blog challenges: