Thursday 31 January 2013

Cold

It was COLD last week  The kind of cold that makes the door protest when you try to open it.  The kind of cold that freezes the inside of your nostrils the moment you inhale.  The world was a collage of exhaust.  Constantly running furnaces sent trails creeping up from rooftops, and vehicle exhaust lingered along roadways. The snow crunched and squeaked like styrofoam underfoot.  Even the most diehard boot, hat, and mitt resister was bundled under multiple layers when the wind chill made it feel like -35°C.


This week was a completely different story.  Words like spring-like, balmy, and unseasonal were part of every conversation because it was suddenly warm... like wear a T-shirt to put out the garbage warm.  


Until this morning, when winter returned with a snow-squalling, wind-howling vengeance.  Seriously Canada, make up your mind... is it winter or not?  I guess we'll wait and see what our groundhog friend has to say about it all this weekend.

In other news, hockey play-offs for the boys start this week.  We had a great weekend at the International Silver Stick Tournament in Port Huron, Michigan.  The big kids have wrapped up exams and are starting a fresh new semester.  

And I've been more or less taking a photo a day:








Sunday 20 January 2013

Liebster Blog Award



So, there’s this award here in blogland.  The Liebster Blog Award.  Some time ago I was nominated for it.  I was surprised and honoured that Kristy at Shona Skye Creations and Gaby at The Gab Housewife Chronicles both felt that my blog was deserving of this recognition.

Just over the past couple of weeks I received two more nominations… thank you to Susan at Made by Momma and Niki at Dreaming is Believing.

According to several other bloggers, the Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers.  “Liebster” is German for sweetest, valued, welcome and/or favourite.  As far as I can tell, the nomination is itself the award.  It’s a nice way of recognizing and being recognized.

Wow ladies, thank you!

Now that the end of the year holiday rush has come and gone, and we’re settling into a somewhat quieter month of January, I’m finally able put some thought into this.  Here we go!

First of all, there are some rules:

Each nominee must share 11 things about themselves.  This will be tough, I’m not that interesting.
Answer the 11 questions set for you and create 11 questions for the people you nominate.
Nominate promising new bloggers who have less than 200 followers.

11 things about myself

I love storms… thunderstorms, snowstorms… bring ‘em on!
I’m a speed reader.  I can easily finish a novel in a day… and I read the Twilight series in two days.
I am a night owl and NEED to hit snooze at least twice each morning.
I collected postcards as a child… and still have the collection.
My husband and I have been together since high school.
I don’t know my left from right without first checking which hand I write with, but I have an internal compass and a great sense of direction.
I am terrible at asking for help.
I can’t sing.  I love to sing, and I can nail down lyrics in no time, but it’s best kept in the car with the windows shut tight.
Pralines and Cream is my favourite ice cream flavour.
I love bread, any kind and all the time... I think I'm a carbaholic.
I am a perfectionist, and a procrastinator... bad combination.

11 questions from Kristy:

What is your all-time favourite movie?
Hard to choose, I love so many… Shawshank Redemption
Are you a salty snacks or sweets person?
Both?
Are you a ducks-in-a-row organized person or a procrastinator?
Wanne-be organized… procrastinator at heart
What is your secret vice or weakness?
Chocolate.  I've been known to eat the chips in the baking cupboard by the handful.
What made you decide to start blogging?
I was looking for an easy way to keep friends and family up to date on our lives. 
If you had to pick three words to describe yourself, what would they be?
Procrastinator.  Impatient.  Intelligent.
What is your biggest goal for the next year?
Organize and simplify.  This large family has accumulated a lot of STUFF… and a lot of it needs to GO
If you could live in any country or any time in history, where/when would it be?
Here and now… wouldn’t have it any other way.
Are you a pet person? If so, what kind of pet?
Yes, love our dogs
What hobby do people have that you generally can’t stand doing or aren’t good at?
Knitting… I wish I could, and envy those that can!
What is the next skill, hobby, or craft you would like to learn?
Um, knitting…

11 questions from Gaby

What is your favourite meal?
Breakfast.  I would have breakfast for lunch and dinner if I could!
Water, soda or coffee?
Coffee
What do you like most about blogging?
Capturing and preserving our memories.
What are your favourite spices?
Garlic… and garlic... and basil
Where would you like to live?
Right here!
Salted or unsalted butter?
Salted
What do you prefer? Chicken, beef, lamb or salmon?
Chicken
What is your favourite dessert?
Crème Brulee
What is your go-to recipe?
As a take along dish… Spinach Dip
Do you like Starbucks?
YES!
What’s your favourite casserole?
Tuna casserole

11 questions from Susan

Are you a cat or dog person?
Dog
If you could go anywhere in the world for a vacation, where would it be?
Australia
What is your favourite colour?
Blue
If you could go back in time and re-live any experience in your life, what or when would it be?
Our last family vacation to PEI… it was wonderful
Do you have a favourite number?
No
Do you speak any other languages?
Not fluently, but I have a basic knowledge of French and German
If money and time were not a problem, what would you go back to school for?
Languages!
If you could move anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Home is here… but I have a long list of places I’d like to visit!
What is your favourite movie of all time?
Shawshank Redemption
Shoes or barefoot?
Barefoot
Are you afraid of anything?
Being an empty-nester.  These kids not only fill my life, but they’ve come to define me.  I'm afraid I'll be absolutely lost when they leave.

11 questions from Niki

If the world was ending, what would be the last thing you would want to do?
Yikes, depressing... hold my kids.
Favourite person in the world?
That's tough, so many to choose from!
If you could be someone for one day, who would you want to be?
Oh this is hard... can't think of anyone...
Favourite song?
This is constantly changing.  I will often over-play a current favourite until I hate it.  Right now it's all about Kiss You Inside Out by Hedley
Favourite part of the day?
Late at night when the house is quiet
Best food you have ever had?
Most recently, an amazing filet mignon at Moxie's served with Stilton blue cheese and fig confit... but there's some mighty fine food out there so choosing the best ever would be impossible!
Biggest mistake in your life?
Not getting a University degree
Fav beauty product?
OPI nailpolish... that stuff lasts forever!
Fav TV show?
So many great ones... right now Big Bang Theory
Magazine or good book?
Book!
Laptop or tablet?
Love them both but still use the desktop most!


11 questions for the following nominated bloggers:

Coffee or tea?
Pets, yes or no?
What’s the most unusual thing you have ever eaten?
Favourite way to relax?
Book or movie?
Are you reading anything right now? What?
Favourite season?
Pet peeve?
Morning person or night owl?
Do you collect anything?

Monday 14 January 2013

Photo a Day

I'm not a big New Year's resolutions person.  Motivation to change or improve shouldn't just strike on January 1st of each year.  Self improvement should be a continuous, year-round thing.  I know that if I make a New Year's resolution, I'm most likely setting myself up for failure.  That said, there are a bunch of photo-a-day type challenges that have peaked my interest and make me wonder if that might be just the type of motivation I need to be more intentional with my camera and put it to use on a more regular basis: 

20121228-084720.jpg


January 2013 - photo a day challenge


Looking through the photos from the past year, there are all kinds of hockey and soccer photos, along with the obligatory holiday pictures.... but it's an incomplete story.  There is so much ordinary everyday stuff that happens in between, and it isn't being captured.  That's not to say that I'm going to start taking photos of every cup of coffee I buy, but I want to try and fill the gaps in the scrapbook of our lives.

So here's what 2013 looks like so far:


Treats from cupCAKE


Quality couch time.


Stocking up on books.


Random foot.  


Straight up nachos with cheese and no fancy toppings per in-house 10 year old.


Some snow.


Grade 10 art project in the works.


Devil's Food Cake... bundt style.  I can't bake a bundt without thinking of My Big Fat Greek Wedding.


Plenty of hockey.



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