Dec 4 - 21 days until Christmas

Dec 4 - 21 Days until Christmas

I love Sundays, especially Sunday mornings before anyone is awake.  I love that my house is clean, the errands are done and Sundays are my time.  Sundays are spent relaxing and getting ready for the busy week ahead.

Today, I spent my Sunday morning catching up on my web-shows, my Craft Channel and reading through all the blogs I follow.  I am taking a class through Jessica Sprague called Mouse Paper Scissors Give - and I needed to get my projects completed.  The first project in the class was a really cool subway art project.  We got to create our own subway art using Photoshop - the class came with videos and step by step instruction.  I had so much fun making my subway poster and I can see more projects using these techniques.

I love that I could personalize this with all the addresses that we have lived at, the names of the cities that we grew up in and our kids and pets' names.

I was also able to sneak out to do some Christmas shopping - for the Children's party next Saturday and for my family.  The stores were crowded but I was able to find almost all the items on my list.  Not bad for a spur-of-the-moment shopping trip.

I am all set for a busy work week ahead - meetings, reports due, a board dinner meeting, a trip to Toronto to shop for toys and a vacation day on Friday...ok, doesn't sound that tough really.

Happy Holidays and more tomorrow...

Dec 3 - 22 days until Christmas

Dec 3 - 22 days until Christmas

Saturdays tend to be the busiest day of our week.  We have early morning shopping / errands and afternoons spent cleaning, tidying and finishing up home improvement projects.  And every now and again, we get visitors!

Today, Mum, Geoff and Zena were coming for a visit.  The main purpose of the visit was to introduce our pups to each other, so we might get them together at Christmas.  Zena is a year old, playful, busy and has the sweetest personality.  Bailey is an older girl, but has been lonely for a playmate since Bandit passed away.  Bailey is shy, very timid around other dogs but not mean or aggressive.

The meeting went over pretty well.  We started out with a group walk and Geoff was even able to walk the two girls together until Bailey wriggled out of her leash and headed for home.  Zena loved the fenced in yard where she could run and Bailey was content to let her run alone.  Once inside the house, the girls were ok, Bailey preferring to stick close to Don, Tori or I and Zena found the puppy toy box!  She kept busy bringing out toys and we would decide if that particular toy was Zena-proof.  Zena has very powerful jaws and was able to snap balls into pieces with one chomp!  But it was nice to see the toys being played with - Bandit used to be the one to bring us toys - Bailey has a couple of favourites and the rest get ignored.  When we brought out some ice cubes for a treat (yes...our girls enjoy an ice cube), Zena was able to power through them on one bite.  Bailey opted for smaller bites, chipping away at her cube.  Zena finished half a tray while Bailey nibbled at one cube!

I love visiting with my Mum and Geoff.  My Mum and I can be in a room for the afternoon and never run out of conversation.  I wish we lived closer to them so I could see her more often.  Geoff is amazing with Tori and made more headway with her in 5 minutes that Don and I could make in a year.  He has a way of getting straight to the heart of the matter, getting her attention and making her see reason.  Today's discussion was about college and helping her zone in on what is important to her future.  I know that there will be more discussions, but Geoff helped to spring board us past weeks of attitude.

Not much holiday stuff...I hung some lights on the front window...but tomorrow is another day.

Dec 2, 2011 - 23 days until Christmas

Dec 2, 2011 - 23 days until Christmas

For the past 5 years, I have the pleasure of organizing our Children's Christmas party at work.  I am very fortunate to work at a company that does so much for their employees and helping out at the kids party may be extra work during the holidays, but so worth it!  Just thinking of the kids' faces as they open their gifts propells me into the holiday spirit.

Today was planning on overdrive - the final numbers were due to our toy supplier, and a few last minute details needed to be finished.  I am all set to pick up the toys on Dec 7 - all that remains is one last shopping trip for refreshments and we are good to go!

After supper, we "decked" our halls - our living room got a Christmas make over.  I had to find new places for some of my favourite decorations because we replaced our old entertainment unit for the fireplace unit last New Years.  This meant giving up Christmas decoration real estate...so I am hanging a few less this year.  I will probably continue to add as the holiday progresses, I can't leave well enough alone!

I transformed my bookcase to showcase those ornaments that I can't live without.  I am still on the fence about a large tree...maybe closer to Christmas we will get one.  But for now...our tiny house is fine with our little 4 foot tree in the corner.

Lots to look forward to tomorrow - some Christmas shopping and a visit from Mum, Geoff and Zena!

Countdown to Christmas 2011

Countdown to Christmas 2011 - Dec 1/11

In the past few weeks, I have received email reminders and blog updates from my favourite scrappy sites urging me to prepare for Christmas, get mini-books and journals ready to document the season.  The holiday season will fly by in the blink of an eye and each year I vow that I will take a picture each day in December...and life gets in the way.

So...procrastination aside, I pledge to post each day documenting the joy of the season.  I have so many blessings in my life and I want to make sure that I show gratitude for these blessings.  In recent weeks, I have not felt the holiday spirit and not been as prepared for Christmas as I usually am by this time of the year.  But today, December 1, the holiday spirit came flooding back!

I came into work thinking that today would be a regular Thursday for me, no meetings, lots of catch up to do.  But I had a little holiday surprise waiting for me in my email - a reminder to send my holiday video from Santa.  If you have not tried the Portable North Pole, I urge you to give it a try.  You can find it here http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/home.  I made a video for my brother, Brian and for my daughter, Tori and sent the link home so I can surprise others throughout the month.  It put me in such a holiday mood.  I even shared it with some of my colleagues, spreading the joy around!

The next surprise was waiting for me in our office lobby.  These little lovelies - Mini Melt Away mints...love them.  Don't worry, I was good - only indulged in a few - smuggled them back to my desk and took a couple minutes of reflection letting them melt on my tongue.  (I know...food is not comfort...but they were so good!)  They are from Hickory Farms and you can only get them at Christmas...so that must mean the season is upon us!  Yummy!



The last little holiday perk came after work when I went to visit Dale at Fringe for my holiday hair pick-me-up.  I love getting my hair done because I get to spend time with Dale and he is a master with hair!  But more than that, he is such a great person and since I have been going to him for over 15 years, he know me and my crazy ways and our appointments are filled with laughter!  He is very supportive, always offers great advise and calls me on my denial!  Tonight it was my crazy "trailer park trash" dark roots...so I booked a follow up appt and will have beautiful holiday hair in no time.

I know my day doesn't seem overly exciting, but it put me in a holiday-state of mind and that's very exciting to me!

Happy Holidays and more tomorrow!



Apr 5 - 11

Young love in a cyber age...this is what's been on my mind this week. Watching T and her sweetie in their relationship, noticing the changes that time has made on young love and remembering some of the things that remain unchanged as time marched on.

I think back to when I was 16, and I was totally and completely in love. I remember what it felt like, and the urgency that surrounded everything that had to do with being in that relationship. I know that things have not changed that much, that the feelings are similar, and that I did as T does, planned my day around being next to the object of my affection, the rest of the world be damned. So...as frustrating as it is for me as a parent, reminding her about homework, telling her to get off the phone, and supervising their time together, I really do understand what it is like to be in love.

Back in the day...in the late 80's for example...if you were "going" with someone...you hung out at the mall, or the community centre. Sometimes with your boyfriend...sometimes with your friends, watching him. (Stalking in its form today was not really a big deal back then!) Maybe if you were fortunate, like me, you would sneak your friends into the house when your parents weren't home. You made a mixed tape for your crush, and you spent hours on the phone talking to him, and talking to your friends about him.

Technology has made some drastic changes...the internet has certainly made having a relationship different. Today kids sign onto MSN or Facebook and cyber-chat - without hearing a voice. Words have been replaced by letters inticating words - laugh out loud is now LOL - and physical connection has been replaced by web-cam. T spends her time with her boyfriend via the net...on web-cam. It's truly bizarre to me...she was sitting on the couch beside me, with her computer in front of her. I thought she was chatting online and surfing the net...only to find that the web-cam was on. Her boyfriend could see and hear everything going on in our living room...kinds creepy in a Big Brother is watching kind of way!

They actually spend hours joined together via web-cam...which would be fine if that was the only way they were joined. But surprisingly enough, we still have to watch the kids when they are together, as teen-age pregnancy and STD's are still as real as back in my teen years. I trust my kids and know that they are smart and very aware of the dangers that face them. I have been upfront and honest about the challenges that I faced in my decision to have children young, and I know that they are armed with the facts. And when they look this happy together...who can come between that?

Mar 29 - April 4 - Happy Easter everyone!

Again...Wow...what a week! The best news...we are a family of 4 under on roof! With Alex home and Tori back...boy oh boy our little house is crammed with love. LOL! But with one extra diva, brings the juggling of bathroom schedules, checking of homework, and re-adjusting to the attitude that is all TORI! My husband is a saint...he accepted this new change with his easy-going Don-self, keeping the rest of us "freak-free' in the worst of situations.

I got some quality time with Dale at Fringe on Vine Street in St Catharines. The man is a wizard with hair and I am sporting a new colour...which I love. It's in the regular tones...just a bit more ginger that usual. Now I will blend in with my step-Ford family. LOL!

Easter brunch this year was at Betty's in Chippawa. What a great place to eat! Yummy buffet goodies and the best part was looking around the table at all the family. The kids have all grown up...we don't have anymore babies at the table. Where did the time go? Marisa is the youngest...and she is all grown up! Dad and Lynn were so generous to treat us all to such a great afternoon out. We had brunch, posed for some pics and then, in true-Cranford fashion...hit the outlet mall. It was really cool to have the guys head off toward the Sony store without a word between them...like Sony was calling them back to the mother ship! And us girls gravitated to the shoe stores. The most surprising part...Tania "Mexx'd" Don in an amazing make-over project...but my hubby's cheap-skatedness took over and he did not purchase any of the designer finds. But...I did copy the sizes in to my B-berry and will be using this to my advantage come Christmas, birthday, or sales, I expect to add some Mexx to his closet!

Here are some pics of the Cranford photo shoot...

This is the Ingraham clan...

A rare moment of sisterly-love

The set up of the group shot...technical difficulties...

The good group shot to follow next week...waiting for Brian to get it posted!

Have a great week!

Ness

Mar 22 - Mar 28

Wow! What a week! Easter party craziness is finally over! But before I get to the party and some cute pics...my week has been a whirlwind. I had a meeting in Stoney Creek for the Credit Institute - Hamilton chapter board...and got to see a behind the scenes look at how the Chapter is run. I was asked to serve as a board member and have accepted...so I am committed to a 2 year term. And I thought I was busy now!


Then on Thursday, my sweetie and I went to the Niagara Falls Grand Dinner Theatre to see Maggie's Getting Married - with my Finance colleagues. The dinner was good, the play was ok (the theatre is really much better in Milton) but I loved the company. Our table was hilarious and both Don and I really had a good time. This proves the point that it really does matter who you are with!

Finally...leading up to the Easter party craziness...Saturday 10-12 was insane! But I loved every minute of it. I have been on the planning committee for our company kids Easter parties for a couple of years now...and the hard work is definitely worth the effort. The kids had a blast this year...we let them decorate cookies, make foam photo frames, there was a visit from the Easter Bunny and lots of games and prizes. Tori and David volunteered their time...putting on fake tattoos...the kids loved that part. I was so impressed with the volunteers this year - some from the office and 3 high school students...what a difference help makes! And thanks again to my two high school lovebirds...love you guys for being such great helpers!




Here is a pic of our beautiful, generous, kid-friendly Easter bunny! Thank you again girlfriend...you made the event a total success!

Have a great week!
Ness