BAFAB Week

***Note: This is a sticky post, so it will remain at the top of my blog till April 1. New posts will appear below this one and I don't know how to do that without it saying April 1 on the post, if you know how to change that, please let me know happy_erin26@hotmail.com. Thanks!

Huh? Oh, it means Buy A Friend A Book. The first week in April is BAFAB Week and I'm going to participate. So, I have lots and lots of friends...lucky me! Some of them comment on my blog, some of them visit, but don't comment, and some just plain don't visit (you might wish you had after this!).

In honor of BAFAB Week I'm going to ask each of you who consider yourself my friend and want a free book, to tell me about the book you want, but haven't gotten around to buying yourself and why you think you should own it. A "friend" can be someone I know in person or someone who visits my blog regularly and comments, but hasn't met me outside blogland. Here's the fun part, I am going to look at the list, ponder the list, maybe even pray (should it get too difficult) :) and then I am going to pick one lucky friend to receive a book. If you're not from lovely Manitoba, I'll pay the shipping to get it to you. I love books so much, that I would just like to share my passion for the written word with you.

Now remember, it's going to have to be a pretty darn good book and reason because the competition's going to be fierce!! And for those of you friends who are lurking, COMMENT! Get in on the action. I want a nice long list to choose from. It's technically supposed to be a surprise, but it kind of will be because you don't know who's going to win. Besides, I'd rather give someone a book that they really want, than one that will sit on the shelf and collect dust (heaven forbid!). You've got 17 days, ready...set...go figure out which book...

Finger painting and body painting with applesauce

Oh, my naughty, naughty girl! She took her own bib off to make better use of her tummy as a palette.

I made this slideshow at FreeFlashSlideshow.com.
Check out these MySpace Slideshows!

A Fashion Show and Some Dirty Shoes

No, there wasn't anyone wearing dirty shoes at a fashion show. Two different subjects.

I went with a bunch of friends to a fashion show this morning. What a wonderful show they put on and it was great that there were quite a few friends and family members in it. And it was no small ordeal. The clothes were great, the music rocked, and the models were fabulous. Louise happened to be one of the models and we were all wowed by her stage presence. She had something going on! Talk about exuding confidence and attitude (good attitude!). Way to go Louise, I was right, you are one hot mama!!

It was funny, as I sat there watching them all strut there stuff on the catwalk, I wanted nothing more than to have the courage and confidence to do something like that. I was a tad jealous, mostly because I feel like I would never have the guts to put myself out there. To get out of my comfort zone and just do the things I secretly love to do. I'd love to be able to be in a band and sing. I'd love to dance (I do, just no one can see me ; D ), and I'd love to have the grace and poise that those models did. To walk with confidence and elegance.

I was in such a state when I got home that I put on my new walking shoes and went out. I practiced walking...what a sight, me swinging my hips and walking down a muddy gravel road. All by myself, singing with my mp3 player. I was actually tempted at one point to start dancing, but I thought that might not be such a good idea as the mud was really soft and I could see an accident waiting to happen. But I did feel refreshed from my first walk of the season and my shoes worked wonderfully. They are no longer glowingly clean. So I accomplished what I set out to do and I didn't have to jump in a mud pit.

I got new shoes!

Ain't they perty? I went and did something I've wanted to do for a very long time (umm...6 years?) Shh, don't tell anyone that I wore the same runners for 8 years...

I thought about ordering some from the Sears catalog, but how do you choose from hikers,
trail walkers, walkers, runners, cross trainers and combinations thereof, not to mention I'd have to order multiple pairs to get the right fit and that all seemed like too much work. I thought about going to Walmart, but then I thought maybe I should get something really good quality (especially if I'm going to wear them for the next 8 years :D...okay I won't do that!). So then I decided to hit the Running Room. They assessed my feet and fit me with a pair to support my very flat arches, which in turn will help my feet and knees not turn in, eliminating knee and hip pain and making walking and yes, even jogging, easier. And they were on sale! The only thing that wasn't really wonderful was that they are white. They shine. They glow! I'm going to go jump in a mud pit to make them a little less brilliant...maybe this one...


(That's part of our back yard...the sod farm shut down the day we were supposed to get the rest of our back yard grass!)

But I'm very happy that I can now start my exercising on the right foot...feet...shoes... : )

I'm starting Monday morning at 7:00. Louise is going to keep me accountable. She said she'd phone me to make sure I'm up and at 'em. So the plan is Tae Bo and Pilates in the morning and a walk in the evening. I'm really excited to put my new shoes to the test. Wish me luck.

Woohoo!

I slept, I slept, I finally slept (said in a singsongy voice)!!!! After a week and a half of coughing my lungs out I slept 7 hours straight without coughing. Mind you, I only slept 7 hours total. If you saw the picture below, that was Kyle, Louise and I hanging out till all hours of the morning (well, 2 a.m. to be exact). I was going to leave by midnight, I think Kyle was too, but we just kept talking and talking and talking. It's one of those evenings that you'd rather forgo the couple extra hours of sleep to be with your friends and really get to know them better. It was awesome! Thanks guys.

Wordless Wednesday

Come on People!!!!!!

If you haven't listed a book for my Buy A Friend A Book Week thingy, you're time is almost up. I don't have nearly as many as I'd like so let's go, people, tell me what you want. And don't get all "I feel so selfish" on me. I'M BUYING SOMEONE A BOOK!!!!!!! It's my choice so indulge me, please, I'm begging you...I'm going to start listing people if I don't hear from you. The whole world's going to know, and then how are you going to feel, huh? Don't make me get mean and nasty about it... :D

Seriously, so far I have requests from the following people: Louise, Ruth, Jamie, Rachel and Kathy.

These people have expressed interest, but not given me suggestions: Dedee and Svea.

So, if you are not listed there and you read my blog, tell me what book you're dying to have.

And if you just haven't listed something for me because you don't know how to comment, here's the trick. At the bottom of each post there's something that looks like this:

Posted by Erin 12 comments

1. Click on the light blue "comments" link and there will either be lots of great things that people have already written to me or you will be the first lucky person!
2. Then there's a box where you can write your commentary and you don't have to be a blogger. That's why there are the "other" and "anonymous" options. Just click one of those and put in your name and website or if you prefer to remain anonymous (which I hope you don't, that's no fun) you can choose that option. So, now you have no reason not to comment.

5 Blogs That Make Me Think

So apparently Dedee nominated me for an award...It's the Thinking Blogger Award (If you want the rules to this game click on this link). I've never won anything (I don't think, if I have I don't recall) so I am very excited and I feel very honored! Thank you Dedee! A speech? Oh, I don't have anything prepared, but let's see here...I would first off like to thank God because everyone else thanks Him first so I feel it's protocol, but in all seriousness, I do have a lot to thank Him for and if I actually start listing all the things that He's blessed me with we'd be here all day. I'd also like to thank my lovely husband who has put up with my blogging addiction and nodded and smiled, pretending to really understand what I'm talking about. I'd also like to thank my 2 darling daughters who have probably felt annoyance at my need to "quickly finish what I'm typing" episodes. And most of all, to my dear readers...I don't feel that I deserve any award because there are so many blogs out there that have so much more than I feel I have to share, but I thank all of you who care enough to keep coming back.

Okay, so now it's my turn apparently. Five blogs that make me think. If you are on my blogroll you already make me think and I keep coming back for the morsels you all offer up each day. But I can only pick 5...hmmm...

In no particular order they are (and please don't be mad if you're not listed here, there are just too many good ones and I am only allowed 5)...

1. Val...a sweet woman I have never met, but feel privileged to call her "friend". Her sincere heart and lovely personality just pours from her words on her Blog.

2. Lindsay...a long lost friend whom I found via her blog. The inner workings of this wonderful woman's mind never cease to amaze and amuse me. Her growth and vulnerability, strength and sassyness make me ache for the years missed. Welcome back to my life...

3. Louise...a newbie but a goodie. Only a few weeks has she been gracing us with her wisdom, but I've learned a lot. And you didn't think you could write eloquently...ha! You go girl!

4. Joyce...her openess, raw honesty and very, very funny humor has made me think many, many times. I don't think a post goes by that I don't sit back and ponder, wondering about my own life. She should write a book...

5. Ruth...always finding nuggets of gold in life's little and big experiences. She is very good at taking something simple and moving to the next level with it, reminding us of God's graciousness and love.

So if you're not on my list it's only because I really could only pick 5. The fact that you're on my blogroll should speak for itself. Thank you all for the enjoyment that each of your stories, pictures and anecdotes has brought to my life, and many others.

Is It Better To Give Than Recieve?

Today I was given something...for free, but I protested, "Are you sure it's okay, I can just have it, just take it? It feels so wrong!" I think I even asked that more than once. The person who was giving me this stuff just laughed and looked at me contemplatively.

"You seem to have an issue with receiving!"

I paused and thought about that. I wanted to protest, because that would be another imperfection in my character, wouldn't it?

"Yeah, I guess I do, now that you mention it". Thinking back on other times people have offered to help me or give me something for nothing in return, I always protest...always want to give something back.

"But you probably like giving to others, don't you?" this person asked me.

"Yes, I love it!"

"This may speak to heart issues you have, you probably have trouble receiving from your Heavenly Father, don't you?" He asked me. "You feel the need to control situations instead of receiving His provision for you."

Oooohhhh...that makes all kinds of sense in my life. My credit card, for one. It speaks directly to the issue of receiving blessing from God. I don't wait on Him, or even ask of Him. I try and figure it out on my own. And then my generosity gets me in trouble. I need to tap into the blessings God has for me in my own life and then I can give to others without putting it on my credit card and stretching myself beyond our means. A win/win situation.

I thought that I just had some trust/faith issues, but receiving...hmmm, that puts things into even greater perspective. All of this, just from going to a bookstore this morning.

And on that note, we've been working through a faith issue about selling our house. We need about $2000 to finish up everything to the point of putting it onto the market in the condition we would like. We automatically thought Oh, we can just go to the bank and take out a small loan, pay it off when we sell and be done with it, everyone does it, it's totally normal! But then I thought about it a little more...

We just finished going through a week where we literally had to trust God to come through for 3 different payments that we didn't have. Even though they weren't big ($35-50 each), something from nothing is still impossible! He did come through and it was amazing. Miraculous, even. So then, what's $2000 to God. We decided to give Him the chance to prove His provision to us in a bigger way. He's proved Himself faithful in the small, now we will sit back and wait for his blessing and His timing. It's not all about NOW...instant gratification. We don't HAVE to sell our house right now, we just WANT to. In our culture want vs. need is a very blurred line. I asked Jer to remind me of this when I doubted. Sure enough, the very next day I saw a "For Sale" sign on the front yard of someone we know and instantly dealt with jealousy. "How come they can just decide to put their house up for sale and do it, while we have to sit here and wait?" Enter Jer, "we don't HAVE to wait, we decided to wait, remember? Faith?" Oh yeah. Thanks Jer. And thank you God for your blessing in our life and the patience to make it.

Video of Aidan

Okay, here's the video. Never mind my funny voice in the background, I have a terrible chest cold. I actually had to cut the video short because I was holding in a crazy coughing fit and I couldn't hold it back anymore. Anyway, here it is...(oh, and don't forget to turn the music off on the side of my blog...)

Silly, Silly Aidan

I'm going to post the video as soon as it's ready with Aidan running around being silly in her half off pajamas. It was too funny. Until then, here's a preview picture to enjoy!

Pointless, mindless wanderings...

I just heard the toilet flush!! "Wow Erin, that's great...who cares?" It is great...it's my new downstairs toilet that just got installed by my dear husband. Okay, I'll go get a picture, just a minute...



Okay, here he is being his funny self. I told him it was going on my blog, but it didn't bother him.


Here's some other great moments in my not-so-great-week... (I had a nasty chest thing going on, apparently yeast can come out of your lungs, too...yay!)


Ella finally giving in to the need to wear mommy's boots. I think she said to my mom the other day "Granny, I want boots with those thingies on them just like mommy has!" (referring to the heels!)

Aidan being her usual naughty self and putting her half eaten bowl of rice on her head and thinking it's the funniest thing in the world. It was...until I had to pick all the little sticky rice pieces out of her fine hair.

What's Really Important?

Have you ever run into someone that you haven't talked to in a long time and you know that they know you're there, but it seems that they are trying very hard to pretend they don't see you, even though you know they do? That happened today. It's the very person I've wondered what I would do if I saw them because there is an enforced silence (on her part) that I have tried to break. It's a relationship that I thought was worth fighting for. It's been almost 8 months since I've laid eyes on her. I did something very out of the ordinary for me. My normal reaction would be to pretend I also don't see her and let her feel relieved that there was no awkward moment to endure and feel somewhat relieved myself while still feeling guilty for not at least trying. But no, I couldn't do that. I walked right up to her, tapped her on the shoulder and hugged her. I think surprised doesn't even begin to describe what registered on her face.

This all transpired at a funeral. Let's just say funerals are really good at getting you thinking about what's important. I sat there at this funeral wondering to myself if there was any relationship that needed repairing in my life because I can't imagine the guilt on either part if one or the other of us would die. I know this all sounds very morbid, but it's a reality. People are gone in a blink of an eye. Life is precious and so are the people in it. I just needed her to know that there are no hard feelings on my part and that in the event she ever wanted my friendship back, she would know I'm still here. No strings attached. I've stopped chasing her and all the memories and I'm letting life take it's course, but I still needed her to know that I'm not some scary person. That the situation between us hasn't taken on a life of it's own and all the horrible scenarios regarding the situation that somehow get created in the mind during an absence aren't true.

I just realize there is no place in life for unforgiveness and silence.

Contest

5 Minutes for Mom is having a great contest to win a dance skirt for your little princess. These adorable creations are from Katchy Kids Dancewear.

Candida Cleanse 2

So I'm starting again. I took a little bit of a break. It was a bit longer than I wanted, but I'm getting back on the wagon. The longer I sit here and feel guilty about not keeping up, the harder it gets to motivate myself. So, no guilt, just the renewed desire to keep going. Thank goodness I went out with a bang and 2 pieces of strawberry shortcake. That should keep me going for a while (hence the bloated emoticon on the sidebar).

Bella Popstar and the Pretty Peach

Clarity!

In answer to Val's question about which books I bought, they are:

1. Personality Plus For Parents: Understanding What Makes Your Child Tick by Florence Littauer
2. Families Where Grace is in Place by Jeff VanVonderen
3. How to Really Parent Your Child by Ross Campbell
4. A Mom's Guide to Making Memories Last by Crystal Bowman

I'm in the middle of the first one about personalities and wow! I'm shocked to see how correct they are. I'm not only learning to identify what my kids are (particularly Ella) and how to relate to her, I'm learning a lot about myself. About my strengths, my weaknesses and my reactions. I'm recognizing that the things I've ridiculed and berated myself for, the things I'm ashamed about with my personality, the places I've felt like a failure, are all part of my make up and they are not to be viewed in a demeaning light. I can take stock of my weaknesses and I can keep them in balance, but they are not products of a horrible person. Anyone who has the same personality type as me would understand and deal with the same areas (for interest sake, I'm a Sanguine/Phlegmatic). So freeing! I've realized why I struggle in certain areas and why Ella and I butt heads so often. We both have the same dominant personality, but different secondary personalities (She's a Sanguine/Choleric).

I strongly recommend this book if you have kids. If you don't have kids, get the Personality Plus: How to Understand Others by Understanding Yourself. It will give you permission to be yourself, while learning to recognize the inherent strengths and weaknesses that go along with who you are, as well as learning why you do and don't get along with certain people in your life.

Thankfully every day has an 8:00 p.m.!!!

I am so exhausted. Mentally. Physically. Spiritually. Emotionally. It was one of those days that makes me question my parenting skills. It makes me wonder if when God was doling out patience, He skipped over me. It makes me wonder what I need to do to change the constant battle that I go through (especially with Ella) dealing with bad attitudes, disobedience, and just life. I guess she's 3. And Aidan's almost 2. 'Nuf said!!

It was so draining, in fact, that at one point I sat by the table almost in tears with this rock in the bottom of my stomach wondering to myself where I've gone wrong and if my kids are going to end up horrible and if I'm screwing them up beyond all repair (oh, the melodramatic side of me comes out!). So much so that I ordered not just 1, but 4 books on parenting, grace and guidance through these years. Oh yes. That is desperation. And it's PMS. I'm probably going to get my books and wonder what the big deal was. :)

Mmmmm, Warm Sunshine!

The sun was so warm out on our porch yesterday afternoon that we just had to take advantage of it. The girls are so excited to be outside finally that I literally have to drag them in the house kicking and screaming when it's supper time. Hopefully that doesn't last all summer!

Caught in the act

It was really quiet yesterday while Ella was in the bathroom supposedly washing her hands. I didn't hear water running or the running dialog that usually accompanies her everywhere she goes. So I went to inspect...normal rule of thumb: if there is silence, there is trouble. This is what I found...

She decided to put on makeup. Mascara to be exact! It was in her hair, almost in her eyes, definitely on her eyelashes, and I don't know how she managed that without stabbing herself in the eye!

Conversations with Ella, Part 2...

I'm cleaning the bathroom yesterday and Ella's playing with her teddy bear when she comes in the bathroom and says the following:

Ella: My teddy's tummy is getting cracked and her baby is coming out.

Me: Her tummy's getting what?

Ella: Cracked!

Me: Is that how babies come out?

Ella: Uh huh, you crack the tummy and take it out.

Me: So how does a baby come out of a mommy like me?

Ella: YOU CRACK THE TUMMY!! (duh, she already told me that)

Me: And how does a baby get into a mommy's tummy?

Ella: You crack her tummy open and put the baby in!

Me: Ah!

It's brilliant what kids will think about and formulate in their heads.

The smell of Spring

For me the smell of spring is clean. Today my wonderful mother came over and helped me clean. It seems so often that I can only do a little at a time and it never feels really, really clean. So my floors are washed, my bathrooms are sparkling, I vacuumed up a dust storm and laundry is well on it's way. And if that wasn't enough, we baked buns. I'm trying to lure my brother to my house to roof our garage and he has this thing for fresh buns. So I thought I would bring him some and hopefully he'll feel really generous and turn up to finish the job that was supposed to get done in October!!! As my emoticon on the side of my blog shows, I'm feeling mighty accomplished right now. It smells fresh in here, and I can walk across my floor without some remnant of the kids meals and/or snacks sticking to my feet! That's a nice feeling!!!! (Does anyone else have to sweep 3 times a day or is it just me?)

"In this silence I feel refreshed with peace..."

The kiddos are in bed, Jeremy Camp playing on my stereo and I'm sitting here reflecting on this morning's service. Our pastor was talking about how there are so many things that make us feel like we're not good enough and make us feel like God might be ashamed of us. This week I've gone through a deep dark valley with our our credit card situation. That's the thing, it's our situation, but I've taken ownership of it and I'm trying to balance the weight of heaviness by myself. It's my credit card, and my habits and lack of faith that God will provide like He says He will that have made me feel this way. I'm the one who should silently suffer and worry about where we're going to get the money to pay for it. So I'm ashamed and it feels wrong to go to God and ask Him to dig me out of this hole (the one I keep falling into). Luckily for me it's not as huge a hole as we've had, but from where I'm standing, it looks unfathomably large.

But amidst all my silent suffering and shying away from God, my heart slowly drew me closer to Him and I humbled myself to ask for peace and help. The verse that came to me this morning after the service was Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." and one of the verses from this morning's message, which also soothed my weary soul, Matthew 11:28-30

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light".

Our pastor said that it seems most of us think that if our burden is heavy, God's will be so much heavier, because He is GOD, but in fact He wants only the best for us!! I felt like Him speaking to me and reminding me that if I put my trust in Him and lay my burden at His feet He would provide for us and His yoke would truly be lighter the the massive one I'm trying to carry on my own. And suddenly I looked at the past few days a little differently...the fact that my neighbor asked me to babysit her kids one day this week and paid me what she pays her regular babysitter was God providing for me in my desperate moment. The fact that my groceries were less than what they usually cost was God providing. Even though I know the numbers and only x amount of dollars come in every week, God still moves beyond our box and shows us His mercy.

What Sacrificial Love...

Okay, so I have the best friends in the whole wide world (I actually mean that without sarcasm, too). In fact, they are so awesome that I've had one of them, who I won't name, offer to help me out with my long list of things to do and be the one to come over for supper or Sunday lunch (#11 & 12) and receive the "just because" care package (#26). She's willing to put herself out for me! Thank you, Louise...oops, I mean anonymous friend...

101 Things in 1001 Days

So here's my "whoa momma" list of things I'd like to do. Not just do ever, but do in the next 1001 days. Why the random number you may ask? Well apparently it's the thing to do. I didn't make it up, but I decided to try and be a little more goal oriented. I'm not great at sticking to things. I've got wonderful intentions, but somehow I always manage to lose my way. So here I go...

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as new year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

My Own Rules
1. If the task involves forming a new habit, it won't be considered complete until it's been performed for at least 2 months without fail. In the event it is failed, I will start over.
2. I will put the date behind the ones that I have completed and italicize the ones in progress

Start Date: March 9, 2007
End Date: December 4, 2009
In Progress: 17
Finished: 13

At Home/Improvement/To Do
1. start potted herb garden (planted May 27/07)
2. start recycling (done April 9/07, got a blue box)
3. buy myself fresh flowers once a month
4. clean bathrooms every monday
5. build and flip 2 houses min., 3 preferably (0/3)

Culinary/Social
6. buy a new cookbook and try at least 50% of the reciped in the book and post a review
7. eat at 529 Wellington
8. eat at Hy's Steak House
9. try 10 new restaurants (0/10)
10. learn about wine/do a wine tasting
11. start giving dinner parties once every 2 months (4/16)
12. have guests over for Sunday lunch or supper once a month (2/32)

Financial/Future
13. create a budget and stick to it for at least 6 months
14. pay off my credit card
15. cut up credit card (1 of 2 cut up, May 4/o7 - once I have my Josh Groban tickets I'll cut up the last one!)
16. give $25/month to a cause/charity/mission (5/33)
17. start a retirement savings plan
18. collect any change I find and cash it in on day 1001 (started April 10/07 - $0.65)
19. donate $5 to some cause/charity/mission for every item not completed by day 1001
20. start using a cash only system
21. for one month, spend no money except for necessities (gas, food, bills, insurance, mortgage)
22. get a will written up

For Fun
23. play bingo
24. find some event or place to wear fancy dress (see #70)
25. go on date with Jer once a month (6/33)
26. send a just because care package to a friend
27. host another clothing swap
28. do the Book Crossing thing
29. participate in a 26 things
30. go to an opera
31. take Ella to the ballet
32. go to an art museum (hopefully in Europe, but it doesn't have to be)

For Myself
33. start learning another language (Spanish or Italian)
34. start a journal
35. journal regularly
36. get peekaboo highlights in my hair
37. go another month without sugar, yeast, flour, vinegars, preservatives
38. get more design/decorating education (workshops, courses)

For Others
39. give blood
40. leave a 100% tip for excellent service in a restaurant
41. have my girlfriends over for a "just because I love you" party where they are all the guests of honor!
42. write more letters
43. write down all my friends birthdays and give them a card made by moi (started March 24/07)

Health/Fitness
44. go to the chiropractor every month (3/33)
45. walk every day (started April 8/07)
46. do Pilates 3x a week
47. drink 8 or 9 cups of water daily
48. have a full day at the spa and get every treatment I want
49. go to the dentist

Habits/Chores
50. floss and brush my teeth every day
51. shave my legs once a week
52. Make my bed every day
53. do daily skin cleansing routine
54. keep up with my laundry (fold directly out of dryer and put away) (started March 9/07)
55. clean my house from top to bottom once a month (3/33)
56. stay off computer until my list of chores for day is done (started March 9/07)
57. Get up earlier than my kids on weekdays

Organization
58. develop all the undeveloped pictures on my computer (50/400)
59. put my pictures in albums
60. go through my magazines and clip all the pictures or articles that inspire me for my design binder
61. redo my cookbook binder
62. have a garage sale
63. back up photos and put negatives/discs in safety deposit box
64. get home videos converted to dvd
65. go through my utensil drawer and get rid of anything I haven't used (done March 12/07)
66. scan my childhood pictures to a disc from Mom and Dad's collection

Purchases
67. buy a new pillow
68. buy albums for pictures
69. buy nice stationary (done for me by Rachelle March 22/07)
70. buy a fancy dress
71. save $500 and go on a guilt free shopping trip

Reading/Crafts/Decorating
72. start my wedding scrapbook
73. start a personal scrapbook
74. finish my current cross-stitch project
75. sew canopy cover for Ella's bed
76. read 50 books (9/50)

Spiritual
77. read bible every day
78. read the entire bible
79. pray with Jer every day (started March 11/07)

Travel
80. start a travel savings account
81. get a passport
82. go to Italy with Jer
83. have a girls weekend in Minneapolis
84. take a road trip
85. go to Vegas with Jer
86. go visit Val in Illinois : )
87. plan a surprise holiday for Jer and myself (weekend or longer - can coincide with #85)
88. do a house-swap with a family from another country
89. go on a train over night in a sleeper car
90. go to Interior Design Show in Toronto

91. go see Josh Groban or Michael Buble (done August 12, 2007 saw Josh Groban)
92. have a vegetable garden
93. get back to 140 lbs.
94. have our own firepit
95. buy my own fondue set
96. get our garage roofed (it shouldn't take 1001 days, but it's already taken 5 months and no sign of the roofers - my dear brothers!) (done April 13/07 FINALLY!)
97. own at least 12 pairs of shoes (all at the same time)
98. finish our headboard
99. paint our front door a different color
100.learn to jog/run (started April 25/7)
101.start a Portfolio for my design/decorating

New Blogger Buddy

I just want to let everyone know how proud I am of Louise for joining the blogging world. Please go and welcome her by stopping by and seeing what a lovely gal she is. Welcome to the blogosphere, sista!

Supper conversations...

With Ella, conversation is always fun. It's rather funny and sometimes completely off the wall. Being 3, I suppose there is so much going on in her little brain and it doesn't always come out in a cohesive manner. Take today's supper conversation, for example...

Ella: Do firetrucks blow fire?

Me: Huh?

Ella: Does fire come out of firetrucks?

Me: No, water comes out of firetrucks to put fires out.

Ella: Oh...Animals can't talk, right?

Me: Right.

Ella: Lions and tigers don't talk. Neither do peacocks.

Me: That's right.

Ella: Not even mommy and daddy tigers can talk.

Me: Nope.

So there you have it. The wanderings in a 3 year olds brain.

Just 3 Words

Found this over at Val's blog (she's a cool new friend I met at the Ultimate Blog Party!). We'll see if I can answer these in only 3 words...that could be REALLY hard for me... : )

01. Where is your cell phone? in my purse
02. Boyfriend/girlfriend? husband (best friend)
03. Hair? long, dark brown
04. Your mother? neat silver hair
05. Your father? going very grey
06. Your favorite item(s)? laptop, camera, ipod
07. Your dream last night? I don't remember
08. Your favorite drink? iced tea always
09. Your dream guy/girl? Jer, of course
10. The room you are in? my dining room
11. Your fear? embarrassed by someone
12. What do you want to be in 10 years? healthy, passionately loved
13. Who did you hang out with last night? laptop and tv
14. What are you not? motivated to work
15. Are you in love? yes I am
16. One of your wish list items? interior design books
17. What time is it? quarter to two
18. The last thing you did? made family lunch
19. What are you wearing? jeans, layered shirt
20. Your favorite book? don't have one
21. The last thing you ate? leftover lasagne, beans
22. Your life? busy, fun, wonderful
23. Your mood? mellow and peaceful
24. Your friends? greatest friends ever!!!
25. What are you thinking about right now? I should work...
26. Your car? gray 2000 Saturn
27. What are you doing at this moment? ummm, dumb question
28. Your summer? very, very busy
29. Your relationship status? married to Jer
30. What is on your TV screen? nothing at all
31. When is the last time you laughed? fifteen minutes ago
32. Last time you cried? fifteen minutes ago : )
33. School? college, distance education

A Book Meme...

Seeing as how obsessed I am with books and reading I thought this would be a good one to do...I found this on a fellow blogger's site. I guess it was put together by a book clubber.
The ones I’ve read (or started to read) are in bold RED.
The ones I want to read are in italics.
I've left alone the ones that I'm not interested in.

1. The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (J.R.R. Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (J.R.R. Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (J.K. Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (J.K. Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (J.K. Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (J.K. Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (George Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. Bible
46. Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Charles Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Scott Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (J.K. Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolsoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davies)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Victor Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Helen Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (John Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down (Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. In the Skin of a Lion (Michael Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (William Golding)
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)

A Very Good Day

Well, the day has arrived, my carpet in my basement is in. The last stair is being covered as I type. This means so many wonderful things to me. Toys will be relocated, scrapbooking stuff will have a home, extra tv will be available, computer desk won't feel like it's in a cold dungeon, kids will have space to run around wild during bible study so that we don't have to listen to them above us. If my camera batteries hadn't died yesterday I would have posted a picture. So I'll do that later. For now I will just bask in the joy of having my basement on it's way to being finished. Baseboards and ceiling are next, and these fortunately for us, are not necessary to use the basement.

WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!

I'm so excited!!!! I've had 1000 hits on my blog!!! This is very exciting for me. I was looking at the stat counter yesterday and I said to Jer, "Only 35 more till I hit 1000, Jer, isn't that awesome?" He just nodded and smiled, apparently not finding as much to be excited about.

Thank you all for stopping by and hope you keep coming back. I'm having so much fun getting to know new people this week. Can't wait to see who else I'll meet...

Another Personality Test (with comments by me)

So I took a color quiz and this is what they've spent millions of dollars and years of research to tell me about myself...(I don't know if they actually spent millions, I kind of hope not as it would be money wasted). My comments are in pink.


Your Existing Situation

Hopes to obtain an improved position and greater prestige, so that she can procure for herself more of the things she has had to do without (Did someone I know talk to them?).

Your Stress Sources

The situation is regarded as threatening and dangerous (Uh oh...). Outraged at the thought that she will be unable to achieve her goals and distressed at her feeling of helplessness to remedy this (Oh, that's definitely me, outraged!!) Over-extended and feels beset, possibly to the point of nervous prostration (It sounds like I need help!).

Your Restrained Characteristics (Do I have a restrained bone in my body?)

Emotionally inhibited. Feels forced to compromise, making it difficult for her to form a stable emotional attachment (hee, hee...).

Your Desired Objective

Wants interesting and exciting things to happen (ya, that's true...). Able to make herself well-liked by her obvious interest and by the very openness of her charm (You've got me pegged...I'm just a charm factory!). Over-imaginative and given to fantasy or day-dreaming (Okay that's kinda creepy how real that is).

Your Actual Problem (I have a problem?)

Depleted vitality has created an intolerance for any further stimulation, or demands on her resources (maybe from my kids...). This feeling of powerlessness subjects her to agitation and acute distress. She attempts to escape into a substitute world (how funny is that? blogging anyone?) in which things are more nearly as she desires them to be.

Your Actual Problem #2 (Oh, boy, another problem?)

Has a fear that she might be prevented from achieving the things she wants. This leads her to employ great personal charm in her dealings with others, hoping that this will make it easier for her to reach her objectives (I don't think personal charm will get me to Italy, do you...unless you know someone with a private jet that I can charm the socks off?).

New Day Resolution

New Year's resolutions are too hard to keep and I don't know many people that have lasted more than maybe a couple months in keeping them. So today I made a new day resolution.

You see, I'm kind of addicted to blogging (and lately, reading other blogs)...ya, ya, you all knew that already, I know. In the last couple of weeks I noticed my house falling behind in the cleanliness area and my brain was in this state of "I don't care" mode. Yesterday I decided that I did indeed care and went on a flurry of cleaning. Storming around the house muttering, "How does this get so bad? Am I the only one who notices when it gets this bad?" and so on. All the while in the back of my head I'm thinking, "You're the one who did or should I say didn't do this! If you didn't spend so much time sitting around at your computer, maybe your house would look better!"

Thus the resolution. No, I'm not going to actually blog less, but I am going to do what needs doing before I go on the computer. Make sure my dishes are washed or in the dishwasher, laundry that needs folding is folded, table is wiped, etc. This will be my motivation for blogging. I will probably have to make that resolution newly every day, but I'll try very hard to stick to it! I'm very impressed with the people who take a hiatus from blogging, but I'll be honest with you, I'm just too fond of it. So I'll make it work instead of letting it take over.

Visual DNA

This is kind of fun. I found it on Leslie's blog. Go and try it, it's fun. Then go visit Leslie! (I met her at the Ultimate Blog Party)

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

I'm so sorry, I failed!

I'm eating chocolate. Not just any chocolate, a Caramel Chunk Kit Kat. I couldn't resist. It needed to be eaten. As of yesterday I've been on my candida cleanse for 8 weeks. I've only given in to temptation in the last 2 weeks because I was told it was okay once in a while now that I was so good for such a long time. But it's amazing the guilt that accompanies each bite. I think the guilt is just a bi-product of telling myself "No" for so long that I'm not sure what to do with the permission. No worries though, my husband has just absconded with the chocolate and I'm not likely to ever see it again. He thinks it's for my own good. He should know better than to take chocolate away from a sugar-crazed-hormonal-mommy! Oh, well, I was starting to get a sugar headache anyway.

Our computer genius in training...

Aidan is a real stinker. And I mean that in the nicest possible "love my child very much" kind of way. She cannot keep her hands to herself. It doesn't matter how many times you say "NO", she is disobedient!! I'm waiting to mark the date when she obeys me the first time I ask and believe me I will blog about it. Lately it's the computer. When one of us is sitting by it, she MUST be on our laps with her sticky little fingers all over everything. Finally Jer got smart. He put Ella's princess laptop on the table beside him...problem solved. Doesn't she look pleased with herself!!

Hand Painted

Even though it's still snow covered in our neck of the woods and even quite chilly, the sunsets are hinting at the arrival of spring. I love sitting on my porch and contemplating the beautifully unique creation each sunset is. It's amazing how quickly they appear and disappear, how most of us never stop to really enjoy the painting in the sky. How you can turn around for your camera and a minute later it has changed. I, for one, am the type to pull my car over to watch until the colors have faded (not to mention it's safer for the other people on the road, since I can't seem to keep my eyes off the sky when it's brilliant!). They leave me breathless and inspired, awed and deeply moved. I can't help but feel close to God for just a few minutes every time I see one. So next time you see one, stop and enjoy the lovely artwork in the sky.

A Bloggin' Headache!

So I joined that there blogging party. The thing about it was to get to know new blogging pals in the blogosphere. There are so many interesting blogs out there and I've spent who know how long looking at a few (only a drop in the bucket of blogs!) and now my neck is stiff and my head hurts. I know I should be making supper, but oh, it would be so much nicer if all the great recipes on all the great blogs I just read would jump off my computer and make themselves! Wouldn't that be great? You click on one and viola, supper. I mean it seems you can click on just about anything else. For example, you look at a list of fellow bloggers, click on a few and viola, friends...there's something to it.

Ultimate Blog Party

I guess the "Ultimate Blog Party" is officially off to a start. (If you don't have a clue what I'm talking about, click on the link on the left with all the partying people on it, then sign up and join the fun!).

For those of you who don't know me, welcome to my life. I'm Erin and I'm a stay at home mom of 2 wonderful little girls, Ella
and Aidan.

And I have a wonderful husband of almost 6 years. In the little free time I have I scrapbook, blog, read, and spend time with friends and family. I'm an Interior Decorator who aspires to become a Designer. In the meantime, I'll keep building houses with my lovely husband and work out all the kinks in my style!

My blog started off as a place to post pictures of my kids (since they were central to who I thought I was) and has become a kind of medium for me to work through my life. I didn't think writing was my strong point and was afraid to put my thoughts out there, but someone encouraged me and said that I wrote the way I spoke and they loved that. So I may not write very eloquently, but I've got things to say and I write it like I speak it. If you want, please stop by once in a while and say hi! Have fun partying with the bloggers. Can't wait to meet you all.

Cyber Me

You can go to meez.com and make yourself (or a version of). Lots of fun!
This is the me that can never be! Maybe one day...