101 in 1001

Christa did it.
Jody did it too.
And now I've gone and done it....FINALLY! After taking forever to complete it, here's my:

101 in 1001

Start Date: Monday, April 19, 2010
End Date: Monday, January 14, 2013

Vacations/Sightseeing/Family adventures
1. Take another trip down southApril 12-19, 2011 Went to Dominican Republic for Steph and Ed's wedding
2. See an iceberg August 7,2011 Saw my 1st iceberg at St. Lunaire-Griquet, NL en route to St. Anthony
3. Visit Lanse Aux Meadows August 7, 2011 Loved it!
4. Meet a puffin in person
5. Visit a castle (hopefully somewhere in Europe)
6. Go snorkelling
7. See Cirque du Soleil
8. Take a ride on a horse (horseback or wagon-drawn)
9. Climb Gros Morne Mountain
10. Go snowshoeing
11. Take my Dad ziplining
12. Do a cave tour
13. Visit a museum August 8, 2011 Visited the Grenfell House Museum & Interpretation Center in St. Anthony - Absolutely beautiful & Educational.

On the Home Front
14. Renovate our bathroom - add a soaker tub, new tile, updated cabinetry
15. Hang pictures/decorative items in the master bedroom (currently there are NONE)
16. Complete the downstairs guest room
17.Paint the kitchen and dining room in BRIGHT colours (Red for kitchen/Purple for dining room perhaps?)December 2011 - my kitchen and dining room are now both bright purple! Yay!
18. Put up new curtains
19. Plant a flower garden
20. Add some plants to the house and keep them alive!
21. Frame and hang one of my own sketches/paintings
22. Fix the pull-down stairs to the attic so I can access it better for storage
23. Purchase a climber/slide set for the backyardSummer 2010 - Sarah is very excited about her new slide and swing set :)

Get it Together
24. Sort and purge bins of old clothes - give it all away or yard-sale itMay 23, 2010
25. Mail Vicki's VERY LATE Christmas 2009 (Yes, I said "Christmas") present August 1, 2010
26. Organize the kitchen cupboards
27. Burn photos onto disks
28. Organize Sarah's toys into binsMay 23, 2010
29. Sew buttons back on to that stack of pants

Firsts for Sarah
30. Take Sarah on her first amusement park ride (kiddie coaster/ferris wheel)
31. Teach Sarah how to do "Cats Cradle"
32. Video Sarah singing May 4, 2010
33. Take Sarah berry picking September 2011 at Lomond Farms in Stephenville and we got poured on!
34. Teach Sarah to swim
35. Take Sarah to a show or movie
36. Teach Sarah how to print her name
37. Teach Sarah how to tie her shoes
38. Have a dollhouse built for SarahCouldn't find a dollhouse builder so we purchased a wooden dollhouse for her, Christmas 2010

For Offspring #2
39. Choose a name August 31, 2010 Charlotte Joy
40. Design and paint the nursery Summer 2010
41. Breastfeed for at least 6mths Ended breastfeeding April 2010, just over 7 months
42. Record baby's first steps (I missed Sarah's)
43. Have maternity photos taken Done by Christa Hann Photography
44. Find a vintage children's book to use as wall art for the nurseryJune 2010, Found one at the local library, scanned and copied the pages - I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed to do that :/
45. Photograph baby #2 with 4 generations

Me, Myself, and I
46. Get contacts
47. Wear a bikini again April 12-19, 2010 during our trip down south - and I didn't look half bad ;)
48. Finish reading the "Outlander" series
49. Get another tattoo
50. Re-evaluate my busy schedule - drop what I don't love April 27/10
51. Buy a good nursing braMay 2010
52. Paint my toenails red
53. Have a girls night out
54. Try a new food
55. Write a poem
56. Visit Clayton's grave
57. Open up my Etsy shop again
58. Win a contest
59. Get natural tan lines (no fake-n-bake)April 12-19, 2010 during my trip down south, got tanlines galore and burn-lines in some places...ouch!
60. Try a new ice cream flavourMay 27, 2011 while in St. John's tried the Laura Secord super dark chocolate ice cream at Laura Secord, yum!!
61. Research to educate myself on a new subject matter

The Hubster
62. Go out for dinner to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary
63. Make a habit of greeting the hubster with a kiss/hug when he comes home from work
64. Put together a 1000-piece puzzle - together
65. Complete Jamie's family tree
66. Watch a movie together for each letter in the alphabet
67. Surprise the hubster with "something" he's been wanting Got him that new bbq that he really didn't need but wanted soooo badly...it's a nice one :)
68. Buy hubster a new pair of Mavi jeans (they fit him best and only has the one pair)

Family Stuff
69. Apply for native status
70. Turn off the TV for an entire weekend
71. Pay off credit card debt
72. Open a savings account (education fund) for each kiddo
73. Interview my Nan about her life
74. Attend my Nan's 80th birthday party (if I'm not in labour at the time) Unfortunately this could not happen - Nan got very sick at the time and had to be hospitalized.
75. Send a card and note to a loved one to tell them how much I appreciate them
76. Mail Christmas cards December 19, 2010 better late than never (my life motto)

Health Stuff
77. Lose 25-30 lbs February 3, 2011 have officially lost 30 pounds!
78. Go an entire weekend without chocolate
79. Eat the required servings in all categories on the Canada Food Guide for at least ONE day
80. Organize a fitness/leisure group specifically geared to Seniors in the community

Being Green
81. Sew cloth "non-paper" towels and baby wipes
82. Set up backyard compost
83. Plant a veggie garden
84. Cloth diaper baby #2 Started September 2010
85. Use Low VOC when painting the nursery

"Work"ing on it
86. Take a full year off for maternity leave
87. Learn a new cake decorating technique
88. Make a wedding cakeJuly 10, 2010
89. Renovate the store front - counter/windows/paint
90. Learn how to make bread

Hobbies
91. Get Isabella's and Olivia's scrapbooks up to date
92. Complete a wedding scrapbook for Mom
93. Complete a scrapbook for Clayton's mom January 2011 Clayton's mom started attending my scrapbooking class herself and, therefore, is doing the album herself :)
94. Learn more about my Nikon & implement to take better pics of my family
95. Complete my crazy quilt
96. Host a full day of scrapbookingScrappy Sunday: May 16, 2010

Being Charitable
97. Donate my hair to "Locks of Love"
98. Send a gift to my sponsor child
99. Purchase a chicken or rabbit or seed packets at World Vision or Samaritans PurseDecember 2010 purchased guinea pigs as Christmas gifts for Papa and Poppy from Sarah and Charlotte.
100. Donate $1 to Charity for every item not completed on this list

What Shows

I met a girl. Someone I could be friends with. When I first saw her I have to admit I was thinking, "My goodness, what a slob!".

Now, I'm certainly not always put together, tucked and tidy, makeup and hair in order. No Sir-ry, I am not!

But I'm talkin' out and about in the drabbiest, slouchiest clothes, hair greasy and unkempt, teeth clearly unbrushed.

And the first impressions part of me wrote her off. And I learned how terribly superficial that was because this girl is really a wonderful person, super nice, friendly, a good mom.

I want to say I learned my lesson - that first impressions don't matter. But they do! I want this girl to realize how wonderful she is. I want her to care about her appearance so that people don't look at her the wrong way. I'm a firm believer that we outwardly reflect how we feel about ourselves on the inside. And sadly, if you don't care about you, then how can someone else care about you?

I know I can't go up to this girl and say, "Ok, you seriously have got to do something about that hair...those terrible mom jeans...the yellow teeth." I just can't.

But I do know what works for me, even when I'm not having a great day:

1) I try to take care of my skin. I cleanse, I moisturize, and I use SPF. I don't do tanning beds (although I did a few sessions to prepare for my wedding). My daily makeup routine is simple and natural looking. I always make sure the makeup is scrubbed away before bedtime.

2) I keep my hair and nails clean. No, I don't always wash my hair every day, I don't need to. You may need to. My nails are not done in a salon or tipped in the most fashionable of polishes. But I like to do a nice hand scrub, keep my nails evenly trimmed, and use clear polish. And if it's sandal season, my feet are scrubbed, nails trimmed and polished. Am I perfect at this ritual? Absolutely not. But are my hair and nails dirty? Not unless I'm in the middle of digging in the veggie garden!

3) I get dressed in the morning. Story: When I had my first baby, I thought how easy it would be to sit around all day in my comfy pj's. I decided right from the start that THIS - this mommy thing - was my new job. Just like I had to wake up and get ready for the office, I now had to make a point of getting dressed for my daughter. There were days when it didn't always happen right away, but it really helped me feel better on the "down" days. Even if I felt sad, I didn't look sad. Was my hair always "Done" - No! Did I break out the dress pants and button-down shirts? - No! Ponytails - yes, lots of 'em! Comfy yoga pants with a decent shirt - yes, lots of that too. But was I out at the store in my pj's with a giant 80's scrunchie in my hair - absolutely NOT!

4) I Smile. I brush and floss and rinse. I visit the dentist. Do I do checkups often enough? No. But I do recognize the importance of having clean and healthy teeth. I don't have what I call "nice" teeth, they naturally have grooves and yellow quite easily. But I try to do the best with what I have.

5) I don't wear the hubsters clothing. I don't care what shape you are, there is apparel out there for you that will fit...in the womens section! Saggy-assed jeans and square-shaped Reebok t-shirts are a huge no-no unless you are painting your house! I went through a grunge-phase in grade 9. I snapped out of it. End of story!

I don't think those things are hard. They are common sense and most basic to me. I'm not the most stylish. I don't have the most funky updated haircut. I don't visit the spa for treatments. I don't purposely buy brandnames. Do I have a problem with people who are/do all these things? My goodness, no! I even envy them sometimes... because do I need major overhaul once in a while? Definite YES!

And I also want to note that going crazy in the opposite direction with TOO much emphasis on "looks" puts one at risk of seemingly lacking in confidence as much as the girl who doesn't give a crap what she looks like. Because let's face it, beauty IS only skin deep and layers of makeup and the latest fashions can only cover up so much.

But at the end of the day, I like who I am. I like how I look. I like what I wear. Not always - but mostly, I feel good about me. And I hope it shows. What about you?

The Big Cut

Today was the day for the big cut. 11 inches, to be exact!

After having many excruciating headaches, I decided my heavy hair was certainly not helping the situation, and needed to be GONE!

My friend Tara was a huge inspiration when she decided to grow her hair out purposely to give to Locks of Love, an organization committed to making wigs for children. What a great idea!

I thought, "Well if I'm getting it cut anyways, I may as well cut enough to give." And that's what I did.

I wasn't sure how to go about doing the Locks-of-Love thing and so decided to put a message on facebook asking for help. I found out I could go to my local hair salon and send the hair in myself. Great!

I made the appointment.

The hubster kept asking, "Are you sure? Did you change your mind yet?"

"Nope"

And off I went.

But first, a couple of before pics:
That's a LOT of hair right there!



Of course, I forgot to bring my camera to take a pic of the actual cutting!
But, here's the after, with ponytail...and Sarah (she was fascinated by my new 'do)...in tow:
(it's a little messy from me raking my hands through it so much...lol)



Holy! Talk about feeling like NO hair! I feel so light and free...haha!
And I'm very happy to be giving my 11 inches to a great cause!

If you're interested yourself visit www.locksoflove.org

The Return

I spent nearly the entire winter devoid of criticisms and snoody remarks.

Returns my grandmother, who had been away visiting relatives for the season, back home a couple of weeks ago.

After only a couple of days and the second time seeing me, she says, "Go put something on your face, for goodness sake, you look terrible!"

I assume by "something", she means makeup. Normally, she wouldn't approve of such cosmetic enhancements but apparantly my porcelein skin was looking particularly pale.

And I'm brought back to my childhood...I've heard it so many times:
"Go put your hair up Myrna, you looks like a streel, I could turn you upside-down and use you for a mop!"

Did I mention I'm getting my hair chopped off next Tuesday and sending at least 10 inches of it to Locks of Love?

I suppose my confidence needed to be brought down a notch. And 80-year old grandmothers lacking filters are just what the doctor ordered. I imagine when I'm 80 I probably won't see much point in hiding the truth either.

Oh My...I wonder what this summer of pregnancy will bring? I'm fully expecting lectures on appropriate & modest ways to dress to hide the growing bump. Either that, or comments on how big my butt and thighs are getting, in the name of predicting the sex of the baby of course!

I'm actually kinda looking forward to it. Funny what you miss when it's not around.

Tell me I'm not the only sucker for punishment from a slightly sadistic grandparent...?

We are the World

I guess I'm a little behind but I just (FINALLY!) watched this video in its entirety ...what a beautiful tribute!



And then this one...another beautiful song to Haiti by Michael W. Smith



Talk about tear-jerkers? Wow!

Where Are You From?

I came across THIS post on Sandra's "Aging Disgracefully" blog and thought I'd give it a go...

• I am from the rock tumbled ocean side and jagged cliff slate, the ebb and flow of tides, bright moon shining, seagulls screeching overhead.
• I am from a front yard full of whales and a backyard full of moose.
• I am from Saturday morning cartoons on one channel only - CBC!
• I am from Sunday nights home from church with my grandad watching Walt Disney and eating fried eggs with far too much salt.
• I am from the hands of an almighty God who created imperfect me in his perfect image.
• I am from road hockey, beach combing, worm digging, mud pies, splinters taken out with sewing needles, swimming brooks, and home at dark.
• I am from snow forts, garbage bag “sleds”, skating on the bay, frozen wool mitts, watching dad cut wood, and crying over fingers and toes thawing by the wood furnace.
• I am from respect for teachers & preachers, and calling everyone “older” aunt and uncle.
• I am from a mother and father who never went to bed angry with each other.
• I am from four meals a day - breakfast, dinner, supper, and lunch (before bed) with tea and homemade bread and pies and cookies to finish each of them.
• I am from raising chickens and ducks and organic vegetable gardens.
• I am from acid-washed jeans, side ponytails & scrunchies, neon slouch socks, gimp friendship bracelets, big teased hair, and a grunge phase of baggy jeans and oversized plaid shirts.
• I am from music I listened to in secret - Michael Jackson, Tiffany, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, George Michael, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi.
• I am from the hymns I tired of as a teenager, but that have become the songs of my soul as an adult. How Great Thou Art!
• I am from ties broken and re-tied.
• I am from a time of searching in cities away only to return to the home of my heart with a call of salt water in my veins.
• I am from many loves and finally finding the one who puts up with me when I’m being completely irrational.
• I am from the road less traveled.
• I am from the need for ink spewing from my pen in the form of poems and lists and sketches and ideas and the dream for that ink to flow in time to the completion of a book with my name on the cover.
• I am from an ancestral desire to speak to trees and sense the spirit of the stones beneath my feet (and wondering why I always felt this way only to discover my native geneology).
• I am from star gazers and rose smellers.
• I am from tears cried at the mere thought of losing my babies and tears cried over the loss of friends and strangers babies.
• I am from bedtime stories and nursery rhymes.
• I am from the need for endless research and obsessing over current interests.
• I am from lifelong friendships with sisters as friends and friends as sisters.
• I am from forgiveness and refusal to hold grudges.
• I am from a life blessed with many riches except those in monetary form... and I am thankful for it!

Where are you from?

Our Princess

Happy Birthday "baby" Sarah!

I can't believe she's 3 years old already....where does the time go? Can anyone tell me?

Slump

I can feel it...it's a blogging slump...it's been coming on for a while.

Maybe it's a pregnancy thing.

The last time I was pregnant, I blogged less...and then less again after I had the baby.

I'm having writers block. Pregnancy makes me super dumb.

No, seriously! It's like I can barely speak, let alone express myself in written form.

My brain is on grow-baby mode and all other non-essential functions are on pause.

So please forgive me for my lack of posts.

It's killing me because I, honestly, LOVE to write. But there you have it. It can't be helped.

It's either blogging or reproducing. My eggs are aging so I have made my choice.

Bear with my...stick around if you can...I'll be here once in a while as proficiency allows.

11 weeks.
Getting over a nasty cold.
Can't breathe through my nose.
Getting a little extra pookiness.
Thinking about nursery colors/decor already!

Beakers Ballad

Ok, you have GOT to head over to LOSE THAT GIRL and check THIS out

Beakers Ballad = Hilarious!!

The fact that the hubster *lovingly* calls me beaker sometimes is a rant for another day!

Raspberries and Rainbows...and Volleyball?

I've added a new Ticker
Over there ---->>
I sometimes refer to growing baby as "baby bean", "Little peanut", etc.
So when I saw this ticker with the size of wee bebe compared to fruit and nuts and berries and such...well, I just thought it was perfect!

8 Weeks
Still tired
But, overall, feeling good :)

Today, I'm making a rainbow birthday cake.
And not just ANY rainbow cake.
Little E wants a rainbow.
So, not only am I decorating a rainbow on TOP of the cake....
I'm also colouring the cake mix all different colours and making the cake ITSELF rainbow too!
When she cuts it...MORE rainbows!
Isn't that exciting?!
Well, maybe not to you.
But to little E it will be very exciting indeed!

Have a great weekend!
Boys Provincial Volleyball tournament happening here at our school...just like old times!
Girls, don't you just feel the boy-crazy 14-year-old in you itching to come out?! haha :D