another meme

this time .. a little risque, but it's the last day of 2008, I may as well get this information off my chest and start a clean slate tomorrow.


1. Is sex best in the morning, afternoon, or night?
ANYtime .. but I prefer mornings .. well rested makes it so much better!

2. On which side of the bed do you sleep?
it used to be the right side, then I changed my room around and now I'm on the left side (if you're standing at the foot end looking at the bed) but I usually end up nicely in the middle by morning.

3. Pork, beef, or chicken?
beef AND chicken are my faves.

4. Have you ever had to pull over on the side of the road to puke?
nope .. and I can say I did learn my lesson about over drinking pretty early in life

5. What leg do you put in pants first when putting them on?
right

6. Candles or incense?
candles

7. Do you dance when no one is watching?
sometimes .. but mostly I sing along at a higher volume when no one is watching/listening

8. Did you play doctor when you were little?
I can't remember if I did or not, tho my younger sister and I played church

9. Stove top cooking or microwave?
stove .. but the microwave is THE best invention ever!

10. Would you rather your car or your house be dirty?
neither really .. it drives me crazy when things aren't in their place and if the car has wrappers or toys strewn everywhere

11. Shower or bath?
shower every day, but love the occasional bubble bath

12. Do you pee in the shower?
I have maybe a small handful of times when the sound of the running water made me

13. Mexican or Chinese food?
chinese

14. Do you want someone aggressive or passive in bed?
I like a nice even balance of both

15. Do you own sex toys?
if a girl tells you no, she's lying!

16. Corn dogs or hot dogs?
hot dogs

17. Your favorite restaurant?
that would be Mrs Riches or the Cactus Club

18. What did you have for lunch today?
it's morning still, but yesterday I had a bowl of tomato/vegie/noodle soup (knorr package)

19. When did you last fall down?
a couple months ago .. on my knees in the school parking lot while delivering pizza to the girls for lunch. Yeah .. it was very humiliating and I had bruises to show for it.

20. Have you ever wished someone were dead?
no .. even I'm not that heartless

21. Love or money?
love, hands down!

22. Credit cards or cash?
debit card actually .. but that's cash.

23. Has there ever been anyone in your family you wish wasn’t?
not my immediate family

24. Oreos or vanilla wafers?
oreos

25. How do you like your steak cooked?
medium rare

26. How do you like your eggs cooked?
over easy

27. Have you ever knocked someone off their feet in a fight?
I've never been in a physical fight .. so no!

28. Would you rather go camping or to a five star hotel?
I've become a wuss .. so five star hotel

29. Would you rather have a root canal or minor surgery?
root canal .. surgery is NOT fun!

30. Would you shave your entire body (including your head) for money?
it'd have to be alot of money for me to shave my head.

31. Would you rather have lice or an STD?
neither .. but I've had to deal with headlice with my girls and it's NOT pleasant!

32. What’s your favorite hard candy?
Werthers Original

33. Ever been to a strip club?
dare I say, yes! but in my defence, I worked at the hotel front desk the club was in, so knew the employees and did NOT sit at perv row

34. Ever been to a bar?
of course!

35. Ever been kicked out of a bar or a club?
noooo .. I play by the rules!

36. Ever been so drunk you had to be carried out of somewhere?
nope .. I do know my limit

37. Kissed someone of the same sex?
noooo

38. Had sex in the car?
yes

39. Had sex at the beach?
no, not yet

40. Had sex in a movie theater?
no, not yet

41. Had sex in a bathroom?
no, not yet

42. Have you ever been in an “adult” store?
haha .. yessss!

43. Is there anyone on your friends list you would ever consider having sex with?
what friends list?

44. Have you been caught having sex?
no .. not really

45. Have you ever kissed a stranger?
no

46. Does anyone have naughty pictures of you?
yes

PAD - 30

We're nearly there .. a whole month of photos, and I'm really struggling for inspiration, so I give you me!
Well, not the real me of course.. just a photo of me, altered in photoshop elements. I used the torn paper filter and cast a pink tone to it because .. well because I like pink! :P

Check back tomorrow for the grand finale .. and if I can actually pull it off, it should be pretty cool.

PAD - 29

Music has always been a part of my life .. not huge .. but significant enough that if I were able to wave a wand and remove it from my past .. I would not be the same person I am today .. not even close. If you were to ask my older sister Faye or my Mom .. they'd tell you stories of how loud my vocal cords were even as a wee infant .. and the first chance I could, I was singing along in church at only months old. My earliest memories have music involved .. I hummed, I sang made up words to songs, I adored making sounds .. it's just in my nature. In elementary school, music was my favourite subject .. I loved chorus when we'd get to perform as a choir, and in junior high and high school, I played several different instruments to scratch that musical itch of mine. Even as an adult, I joined a church choir (just for the Christmas performance), so I could stand in the spotlight and sing my heart out. I've always loved karaoke, and when I'm not singing, I love listening to music. I've become a very selfish person and refuse to play anything child related in the car. That is MY zone! If the girls want their music .. they have to bring their mp3 players along because I'll be listening to the radio.

I have always longed for a real iPod .. yes .. the very brand name. I'm not a music player snob .. but I'm telling you .. when you've had this little adorable pink magic machine in your hand (or pocket), you seriously cannot go back to just any player.
No this was not a Christmas gift .. nor was it a birthday gift. It was a gift from a special somebody that shares my passion for music .. that among many things .. music is one thing we have in common and talk at great length about. The gift came at no particular time or occasion, except that it was a genuine and caring gesture that said so many unspoken things. I have not gone one day in over a month of having possession of this beauty, without listening to it .. looking at photos I'm able to store on it, or even playing the games it came with. If you've followed my blog for any length of time, you'll know the kind of intimate relationship I have with photography .. and the importance of being able to carry photos stored in an electrical device is pure genius!

Music, photos, friendships, electronics such as this, the colour pink .. I'm so in love!

PAD - 28

I have a dilemma! One of my children hates having her photo taken, and the other HATES having her photo taken (all this depends on IF they're in the mood). Had I taken my camera along with me earlier, when we visited the pet store .. I wouldn't have to resort to photographing my dear children again. But you see, I know they'll thank me in years to come ..because they'll not only have lots of photos of themselves over the years, but they'll also have quirky ones like this one that beg for the story behind it.

So let me explain what's going on when I snuck in on them and took this picture.
Like I mentioned already .. we visited one of the pet stores nearby, and the girls fell in love with some llasa apso/shiatsu cross puppies that were performing, playing, barking, rolling, and all out begging to be brought home. I do admit .. they were so darn cute and I'd love to bring a puppy home .. but for one, we're not allowed dogs in our complex and two, I'm sorry but I can't scrounge up $8 let alone $800 to be spent on a dog.
So we left with pleas for a puppy .. and now that I finally got it through the girls head that they won't be getting one anytime soon .. they resorted to playing puppy/owner (like they have many a time) up in their bedroom. And that is why Hailey's bearing a bone and growling.

irises and friendships

This came to me via my email inbox and I wanted to share it here. It reminds me of that saying about how friends come in your life for a special reason, some for a short time, and others for longer or forever. But each friendship is important and special and we glean what we need or what's needed by us, and then move on .. together or alone. I know I messed that up bigtime .. but that's my quick interpretation of it.

There comes a point in your life when you realize:

Who matters,

Who never did,

Who won't anymore...

And who always will.

So, don't worry about people from your past,

there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future.

Give these flowers to everyone you don't want to lose in 2008/2009 including me, if that's what is in your heart.

PAD - 27

One Christmas gift both girls received, were Blo Pen Fashion Kits and it was a hit with Hailey. She made this t-shirt all on her very own using the stencils included in the kit, and only complained minimally about her cheeks being really sore. Very neat concept and alternative to fabric paint, I must say. I'll report back if it doesn't wash up nicely, you can be sure.

PAD - 26

It was snowing earlier .. just a soft lazy kind of snow .. and although at first I thought the girls and I would stay in and just veg the day away .. I suddenly got the urge to get out. Having been cooped in (shoveling doesn't count) since last Sunday, it was high time I got myself out among humans. Except what a day to do it! The mall was crazy .. and the sale on boots that I had intended to totally use to my benefit (or Hailey's anyway), turned up empty shelves. She's not in the childrens sizes anymore, and I will NOT allow my daughter to wear stiletto heels at 9 years old, so the pickings were slim and nothing appealed to either of us.
But by the time we made our way out of the crazy busy stores .. look what we discovered! The snow had turned to rain! Great .. that means it's melting, but will that cause havoc come night time and the temperatures drop below freezing again? I guess I better get used to this feeling we've coined as cabin fever!

PAD - 25

You know Santa did his job when the kids sit quietly for awhile, playing with what they asked the jolly guy for. And this was all before opening anything from underneath the tree!

MVI 7617

Instead of a photo today, I thought the girls and I would send something special to my readers.
We're wishing each and every one of you a very special, cozy Christmas.

tracking

We're using the Norad Santa tracking system today to keep an eye on where the big jolly fella is. But other things on our agenda for the day are:

1. keeping warm and cozy after the latest snow fall last night (tho Hailey will likely want to go work on her fort more)
2. assembling the gingerbread house
3. crafting
4. watching movies
5. drinking hot chocolate/tea
6. touching base with loved ones
7. missing a certain somebody
8. hearing many times over 'can we open a present?'
9. sweeping up the constant falling tree needles (note to self .. cut my own tree next year .. it's fresher and sheds way less)
10. thawing turkey for tomorrow's dinner

Merry Christmas Eve! I'll be back with today's photo a little later on.

new chapter, new year, new content

After December closes and the new year begins, I thought I'd take a little bit of a turn with my blog. Ever since October, I've felt like I've had to censor my words and not share to much depth about my life and because writing has always felt like a creative outlet for me, I have missed it greatly. So come January, I'm going to write from my heart, and share this new chapter of my life here in my little space on the world wide web.

PAD - 23

You know the expression 'it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt'? Well, I decided to venture out long enough to take some pictures of the one daughter that actually likes this white stuff we have an abundance of. (the other daughter .. she's much like me .. likes to stay warm and dry). The neighbour's daughter is here for this week, and they've been making forts in the piles of shoveled snow and stopping occasionally to have abit of a snowball fight. I got this one good, but then just after this (and because I was laughing my ass off that Paige got Hailey something good), I got hit with a snowball. Now I'm pouting because it wasn't just me that got wet .. it was my precious camera too. I dried it off and it's fine, but I'm still pouting. Hence the quote at the beginning!

P.S. I dug my car out before all this happened, and managed to get it out of our parking lot, down the street and up the next streets hill and parked it in a spot that gets cleared on a regular basis after each and every snowfall. It has joined a couple other neighbours lineup of cars because we're all sick of not being able to get out and about, so now I won't be housebound when I start feeling the cabin fever set in. And a snowfall warning is in affect for tonight and tomorrow .. so more and more s.n.o.w.!

Say You Will

PAD - 22

With the recent dumps of snow and cold weather, we've started letting our outdoor cat, Meesha, in more often and he's even enjoyed the comforts of nights in, snuggled up on the foot end of my bed. Yesterday morning I let him out after having slept inside all night .. knowing his bladder would be bursting .. but all afternoon Alissa kept watch for his return and he just didn't come. Last night as a last call to have him come inside into the warmth .. he still didn't come, and I began to worry. This morning when he wasn't at the backdoor waiting for his food, I really began to worry. There were kitty footprints in the snow, but they could have easily belonged to one of the many other neighbourhood cats. But then, when Alissa awoke and peeked her head outside and called Meesha in the only way the little Animal Whisperer can .. he appeared. All cold and frosty and SOOO ready for his dish of food and a treat of milk. He really loves to snuggle with her like this .. but only for as long as HE wants to, and then we interpret it as 'torture' when she makes him stay longer. I do love seeing my little animal lover happy!

PAD - 21

Incriminating photo #1! Don't ask what we were singing along to .. apparently we had a little to much to drink!

what up?

Today's been a wonderful, quiet (tho filled with lots of phone time) day sans the girls from 10am on. I don't have them for the night because I have plans with a group of girlfriends, to party like it's Christmas time! I of course will bring my camera to get some incriminating photos .. so you'll have to wait until tomorrow for today's PAD. I promise to make it worth it tho .. or die trying anyway. *evil laugh*

If your kids are just at the start of their Christmas holidays and already driving you insane .. consider checking this website out for some time fillers.

PAD - 19

To avoid the school parking lot, I trudge through the uneven, unpacked, uncleared sidewalks to go drop off and pick up the girls from school. This part isn't even the worst of it .. but my already dying batteries were crashing hard in the cold weather and I wanted to save a little juice for this.

in need of ...

I'm in desperate need of some new Christmas music. I've listened to the select few songs I really enjoy, and I'm almost sad to say I'm nearly sick of them. So .. if you have a few favourites that are keeping you smiling right now, or some oldie but goodies, would you mind so much sharing them with me?

PAD - 18

It's a 'snow day' today and no school for our entire district because we were blasted with a good amount of snow yesterday and overnight. The girls were thrilled to pieces not to have to get dressed today, and so the lounging began. BUT one disappointment is that Winterfest (aka: craft night) has been canceled. Our school does this thing where one year they have a big concert, the next year is a craft night with a sing-a-long afterwards. I know the teachers have put a lot of prep into what crafts they were going to share, but I can't help but be thankful this year wasn't the concert year or what an even bigger disappointment that would have been for all.

So although I don't plan on going anywhere in which I'd need to drive, I decided to still dig the car out by sweeping it off and shoveling around it. We're expecting more snow tonight .. so having that much less on the car will make it easier for tomorrow. I'm very grateful I don't HAVE to go out anywhere and can snuggle in and stay warm.

After spending my time outside though .. the sun decided to peek it's way through the snow clouds and what a gorgeous bright day it has turned into! I tried picking up the sunshine sparkling off the snow, and was somewhat successful with this photo.

PAD - 17

One thing about the cold mornings, is that the sky is usually clear, and that makes for the most stunning sunrises.
I've enjoyed watching the sun burst forth with it's colour painting the sky .. each and every cold morning this week and it really does do something to the soul to see that first thing in the morning.
We're forecasted to have more snow throughout the day, and the temps aren't planning on coming up above 0C for another week or so, so I'm betting that we'll still have snow on the ground for Christmas. Who knows .. maybe we'll even have a WHITE C-Mas!

PAD - 16

Baby, it's C-c-cold outside! Yep .. it's been dropping down to -12 to -15 at night around here, and warming up to only -3ish during the day. This morning it was time to pull out the toque I made myself last year.

PAD - 15

Don't look to closely .. I doubt you'll find any lint between my toes but I can't be for certain.
I just polished my toe nails a fun bright pink (tho it looks rather orangy here) and fun should be shared .. so voila .. lucky you guys!

PAD - 14

We're looking out into a winter wonderland after having a night of constant falling snow. It's pretty and I'm glad I don't have to go out in it. The best part is it's a dryer snow, so I know the girls will want to get out there and play in it at some point today. Me? I'll be staying in my jammies ALL day! I may be talked into going out to take a few more pictures .. but that's as close to snow this gal gets, for now anyway.

PAD - 13

These girls have become such great friends to me over the years, but in recent months, they've become even more close then I ever thought possible. Good friends are hard to find, and when you find them .. you learn to hang on to them tightly.

Pretty Vegas

Cori suggested I may like this meme/tag and she guessed right .. so here's my answers.

1. Put your iTunes or MP3 or Windows media player on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!Then tag 3 others.

1. IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY? Lips of an angel
2.WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY? Red high heels
3.WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL? Why does it always rain on me?
4.WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE? You are so beautiful to me
5.WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO? I wanna f you (umm I could have censored that :P)
6.WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? To the End
7.WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OFTEN? Umbrella Remix
8.WHAT IS 2+2? Lessons Learned
9.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? You're my Angel
10.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE? I don't wanna cry
11.WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? It's all Love
12.WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? November Rain
13.WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE? Talk (if you know me .. this is SOOO true)
14.WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? Thank You (how ironic)
15.WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING? Sureshot
16.WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? This Love
17.WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST? Can't stop lovin' you
18.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? Believe
19.WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN? Banana Pancakes
20.HOW WILL YOU DIE? Poker Face
21.WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET? Fergalicious
22.WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH? Lovers Tonight
23.WHAT MAKES YOU CRY? You don't have to call me your boo
24.WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED? Shattered
25.WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST? There and Back again
26.IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?Love Shack (yes, I actually have this song on iTunes :P)
27.WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW? So I lie awake
28.WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS? Pretty Vegas

To fun! I won't tag anyone, but if you want to do this .. let me know so I can read your answers.

PAD - 12

Let it snow??!!
Ugh Ugh Ugh! That's what I say .. but the girls have a totally opposite reaction when they see snow. They're totally in heaven, and that's because we don't get it often, and when we do .. it's sure to melt within the same day or so of it falling. I was raised in the cold parts of northern BC and had my fill of snow that when I moved here 12 years ago .. I thought the lush green rain forest of an Island would shelter me from such horrid winter behaviours. NOT! I'm okay with it when we can snuggle in and watch it from the comforts and warmth of indoors, but if I have to go out in it .. bleh!

So it seems Christmas is that much closer, when the snow starts to fly.

PAD - 11

I've been chaperoning along with the grade 2/3 class to their swimming lessons every Thursday afternoon for the past month .. but finally remembered to take my camera along today. Even though Alissa's had alot of other swimming lessons .. it's always neat to see how far along she's coming, and how her love for the water, plays such a big part in how well she listens and focuses on the techniques they're working on. My batteries died, and my backup set was at home in the charger, but I wish I would have gotten her front crawl, because she really impressed me with how long she held her breath and moved across the pool with speed and accuracy. Why do kids 'perform' better for strangers then they do their own parents?

PAD - 10

Just one of the many flavours of this time of the year. The girls have been enjoying one and/or sharing them with friends lately, and these new tastes have fast become favourites. Pineapple, orange, watermelon, cherry and raspberry. Very tempting!

PAD - 9

Yesterday was a total right off as far as productive days go. I wasn't inspired to use my camera, let alone find something worth photographing and uploading to my blog .. so consider it officially skipped.
However, today Alissa's class (front row) along with the grade 5/6 class (back row) performed at the assembly. They sang the Mr Grinch song from the movie, and another Christmas song I wasn't familiar with. Alissa's the one in the striped fleece. As you can see, she's much taller then her classmates, some of which happen to be in a grade older then her. I must breed giants!

PAD - 7

Today was THE day to go visit Santa and make it known what topped the girls list of 'wants'. I think this may be the last year Hailey believes in the magic of this jolly guy .. so those moments I witnessed with the girls whispering with Santa are ones I plan on treasuring for many many years. This Santa really is what brings the magic to the season .. he's by far THE best mall Santa I have met yet.

*this is a photo of the photo we recieved .. so not really the best quality .. but you get the idea. :)

PAD - 6

We finally got our real tree up today .. and does it ever smell devine in here. Mmmm! Probably the best part of having a real tree every Christmas. And this year .. with it being just the girls and I now .. we decorated with soft pink and green balls, ribbons and then of course all the rest of the ornaments collected over the years. Each one tells its own story and it was fun remembering how or when it was made, or who it was from.

Here's a little something to listen to while you read.

PAD - 5

Today, allow me to showcase the beautiful artwork belonging to my talented girlies!
My favourite animal is the giraffe, and most drawings from Alissa tend to be just that .. anything to do with giraffes for my viewing pleasure. This one happens to be .. uhhh .. perhaps the humpback giraffe of notre dame?

Hailey's is not finished yet, I'm told (she has to finish colouring), but I found it so neat that she'd draw something that 'fell' off the surface of the page. And for the record .. the girl's surprised, not scared like I had guessed.

PAD - 4

A little late, but up and ready to use, just the same. Last year the girls and I poured over this special advent garland and spent countless hours hand sewing each piece and making it just perfect to add to the mantel with the colour and just the right special touch added in with the Christmas decor. So yesterday, I pulled it out, strung it up and carefully stuffed each little pocket with two especially chosen caramel hershey kisses. Of course by now three of the pockets are empty .. but this has proven to be a fun, visible way of keeping track of how many days are left until THE day!