a seasonal meme

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Mostly paper, but a few gift bags
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real
3. When do you put up the tree? Two weekends before C-mas, but this year I want to put it up earlier.
4. When do you take the tree down? asap .. but usually New Years day.
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes
6. Favorite gift received as a child? we didn't really celebrate when I was a kid .. more in my teen years.
7. Hardest person to buy for? umm .. not really sure
8. Easiest person to buy for? the girls .. they like anything girly
9. Do you have a nativity scene? no
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I'm not picky.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Santa Clause 1,2 and 3
13 When do you start shopping for Christmas? I always say I'll start in the summer, but never do. Usually a couple months ahead I start getting some of the smaller things.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Terry's orange chocolate
16. Lights on the tree? clear
17. Favorite Christmas song? 'so this is christmas'
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? stay home
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? no .. I have a bad memory!
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? a star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? the girls open pj's on christmas eve .. the rest on christmas morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? how it's so commercialized
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? this year .. it's all about us girls .. we're going pink and green!
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? turkey turkey and more turkey .. with cran sauce.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Hugs & kisses :)
26. Who is most likely to respond to this? I don't know
27. Who is least likely to respond to this? I don't know

dutch celebrations

Our local dutch deli celebrates the dutch christmas on the closest Saturday to the actual day (december 5) and last year we missed it, but this year .. the girls and I are bound on being there. I want them to see a little bit of their heritage, by way of their most favourite holiday. Sinterklaas (Santa) will be making an appearance, and I may just be more excited then the girls about seeing him. ;)

analyzed!

Bill posted this on his site, and I thought I'd try and see what it came up for me and my site. Hah .. W.R.O.N.G.!!!!! Does it really think all the female angles I take on topics .. that a man can really be writing this stuff?

TGIF

And I mean that! Thank goodness it is in fact finally Friday! It's been abit of a whirlwind week, and winding down with a glass of wine and some company of friends at some point this weekend sounds like the perfect solution.

I was reading abit more in the quotes book Jodene sent me, and this inspiration by Douglas Pagels sounded just to perfect to not share.

You Have Everything You Need to Take You Where You Want to Go

You have the abilities and talents and attributes
that belong to you alone, and you have
what it takes to make your path of success...
lead to happiness.

You have qualities that get better every day!
You have the courage and strength to see
things through.
You have smiles that will serve as your guides.
You have a light that will shine in you 'til the
end of time.

You have known the truth of yesterday, and
you have an inner map that will lead the
way to a very beautiful tomorrow.
You have gifts that have never even been
opened and personal journeys waiting to be
explored. you have so much going for you.
You are a special person, and you have a
future that is in the best of hands. And you
need to remember: if you have plans you
want to act on and dreams you've always
wanted to come true...

You have what it takes, because...
You have you!

tag, i'm it!

I've been tagged by my sister, Faye
Here's what you do:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

1. I've recently opened up a new chapter in my life .. one that is all of scary, exciting, fulfilling, emotionally taxing, challenging, etc.
2. The MT course I'm taking, has been put on hold for abit. Shelving it doesn't mean I'm giving up on it tho.
3. I'm both dreading AND looking forward to Christmas. Forget about making it a white one .. let's go pink this year!
4. Photography is a passion of mine .. and I'm excited where it may be taking me.
5. I have a very addictable personality .. coffee, phone calls, sunshine, chocolate .. just to mention a few.
6. I miss writing, singing and scrapbooking.

Okay so now for the people I'm tagging. I hate this part of tags, so I did comment on Cori and Jodene's blogs about tagging them .. but if you read this and feel like doing this .. let me know. I'd love to know a little bit more about you!

focused on me??

I'm not used to having the camera turned on me .. unless I'm taking my own headshot photos for fun or profiles. But last weekend when at a friends taking photos of her and her daughters .. another friend insisted on taking my camera from me, and making me face the front of the camera instead. We had WAY to much fun .. pretending to be 'top models' and doing a little dance (these photos will be kept under lock and key), and acting plain silly.

I have to do a little bragging tho. From that photo shoot, I scored BIG on a request of my 'expertise' for a small private wedding ceremony for a friend of a friend. I'm beyond flattered and a tiny bit scared, but it's a great opportunity and something I really look forward venturing into.

lights

This video made it into my inbox and I know it's making it's rounds this holiday season, but I had to share it here as well. The lights are simply gorgeous! It made me really want to enjoy the Christmas season .. take in the lights, the warm cheer that's only present during this time of the year .. the familiarity of tradition.

shooting photos

A good friend of mine asked if I could come over and photograph her and her girls for photo gifts she planned on giving out to her family and friends. As a budding photographer .. I was more then honoured to even be asked, and I had alot of fun with these two beautiful little subjects. They're adorable and oh so photogenic and gave me lots to work with! What I really enjoyed was how you could see their close friendship with eachother. They really were just to sweet!

wordless wednesday

wonder where she's learned this from? ;)

Happy Anniversary!!

54 years ago today, my parents married their soul mates. From afar, I'm wishing them a special day filled with love and fond memories of all the years they've shared together.
Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad! I love you!

movie review

Last night I watched Forgetting Sarah Marshall .. a movie you can veg back to and let the laughter flow from your gut, in spontaneous bouts. It seriously was funny, but had it's serious moments that were touching too. But really, if you're in for a good comedy .. it's a must see! It's even better when you have someone to share the laughs with .. so call in a friend or two to share your bowl of popcorn with.

Check out the trailer first if you must.

more poetry

I found this poem tucked in a brochure I picked up from an office I was at today. How eye opening is this?!

"While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about."
~Angela Schwindt

remember what is most important

It's not having everything go right;
it's facing whatever goes wrong.
It's not being without fear;
it's having the determination to go on in spite of it.
It's not where you stand,
but the direction you're going in.
It's more than never having bad moments;
it's knowing you are always bigger than the moment.
It's believing you have already been given everything you need to handle life.

It's not being able to rid the world of all its injustices;
it's being able to rise above them.
It's the belief in your heart that there will always be
more good than bad in the world.

Remember to live just this one day
and not add tomorrow's troubles
to today's load.
Remember that every day ends and brings a new tomorrow
full of exciting new things.
Love what you do;
do the best you can.

-Vickie M. Worsham

Jodene sent me this inspirational book titled Keep Believing in Yourself and your Dreams, and the above quote is from that book.

super'fied

I've realized over the past month or so, that the girls behaviours have drastically changed, and what they would have tried six months ago and not gotten away with, they're doing now, and because I'm to exhausted mentally to deal with it .. I'm letting them get away with it. And the little monsters you let slide now, grow into supersized full grown monsters in a short while, and then it's out of control and untameable.

Last night, my eyes were opened to this fact after trying desperately to get the girls to settle down to sleep, and two hours later, and at least five trips up to their room to scold, threaten, and yell .. I was at my wits end. This morning things had to change, so I resorted to an old technique I saw on Super Nanny way back when I used to watch it religiously. House rules need to be put into place, and a behaviour chart made to record good behaviours, with reasonable rewards for good and consequences for bad. I sat down with the girls this morning and outlined my expectations .. letting them know that together we'll make up the house rules that we ALL will abide by, and if the weeks chart is filled with stickers .. we'll make the rewards fun and so worth the effort they put forth the entire week.

So here's to hoping for many weeks of less stressing over the fighting, the long dragged out bedtimes, the bickering and the not listening. And maybe if Jo Frost is in the market for a Canadian family to have on her show .. they'll pick me!!! ;)

note worthy!

In our school, when you start grade two, alas you are old enough to be responsible for a planner to exchange notes between teacher and parent, as well as keep track of each nights homework. By grade four, Hailey has this down pat and she's an old pro at it. Last year, we exchanged notes back and forth between her and I, on the extra page that accompanies each week of marked off spots. She got in trouble for that, because it was meant for parent/teacher, not child/parent. This year, she has a new teacher, and a couple night ago while supervising homework and then later initialing the girls planners to acknowledge homework had been completed, I found a little note to me from Hailey.
"I love you Mom, you're doing a good job with me and Alissa."
I can't even begin to tell you exactly how deep that hit. After this past month of trials and tribulations .. it made me tear up reading my daughters words of encouragement. It is because of them that I am standing strong and living one day at a time .. getting past all the emotional junk, to make a good life for my girls. A life free of abuse and hurtful words, a life showing them how strong a woman can be in times of hardship, a life that statistically has become the 'norm' in society .. but that we too can get through it and this too shall pass.

So when I doubt I'm doing the best job possible with my girls .. I shall remember Hailey's little note, and read it to be reassured.

Believe!

Believe
you are beautiful;
cherish your
uniqueness
and be
who you are'
through every hardship,
trust yourself
to overcome.
Be strong
when you can,
cry when you can't;
be wise
of the past
and embrace
now!
Reach out
when you are safe,
hide when
you are not,
laugh often...
and listen carefully.
And never be afraid
to love yourself,
for that is where
all peace ... is born.
-Pam Reinke

November!

Welcome November! I've been long awaiting you! There's so many exciting and/or interesting things coming up this month .. like DLS time, my parents 54th anniversary, and a few other things. I think for the first part of the month, I'm going to focus on decluttering, organizing, purging, and making the one part of my life I have control over .. more manageable and liveable.
When this month is over .. we start the countdown to Christmas .. but I shall not cross that bridge until this months passed.

my precious'!

Here's what my girlies looked like yesterday .. on halloween. This happened to be the last year Hailey has agreed to dress 'cute' and next year when she's ten .. also disappears my cute little girlie and no doubt will come the blood and gore. What was I thinking when I agreed to that? At least I have a couple more years of my cutie fairy dressing pretty.

(l .. Fairy Liss, r .. Bride Hailey)