June To-Do List

So today is May 31st, let's see if I accomplished everything I wanted to this month:
 

Organize Maddy's closet and get rid of clothes - partially  done - I started going through her clothes, just having a hard time actually parting with some??

Clean up the front porch and maybe a coat of paint or something - front porch cleaned off as much as we can (this is our only storage area)

Plant some flowers - DONE - can't say if they will last though!

Buy some solar lights for walkway - DONE

Go to a garage sale - did not get to one this month, we'll try for June

Start going for nightly walks after supper - Maddy and I went for a couple of walks to the mail after work

Eat at the Big Potatoe (local chip truck in our area) - DONE - ate there twice already!

Have a picnic at the park - bugs are toooo bad!

Take our Plasma Cars out - "Mama", Maddy and I went for a walk and Maddy brought her Plasma car and drove it!

Buy Maddy a new bike helmet - not done

Teach Maddy how to ride her bike - I will say partially, she did go out a few times and is getting better at it but we think the bike is too small for her already...
 

Replenish Maddy's outdoor stuff (bubbles, sidewalk chalk etc...) - started but could use more!

Start reading The Carrie Diaries for June's Book Club - DONE - great read!

Attend the Annual Duck Race - May 29, 2011 - the water was too high this year, so our "duckies" were just our ballots chosen from a bag...and we did not win :(

Check out the tulips at Ottawa's Tulip Festival - Did not attend but I did see tulips as I drove around downtown and Gatineau...didn't attend because there were no Food Network chefs this year!

Start paying off this year's income tax debt - May 20th, my last cheque came out for last year's income tax...this year I owe another $2000 so I will start paying that in June.

See Something Borrowed in theatres - DONE - saw it with the girls on May 14

June To-Do List

Set up our swimming pool

Attend a pool party

Have a picnic at the park

Get some color

Barbecue Supper

Book a day off from work

Plan a summer vacation of some sort

Buy Little Mermaid for Maddy

Trade in Hubby's PS3 games that he no longer uses

Buy Maddy this outfit from Mini Souris

Buy Maddy a new bathing suit

Buy myself a new bathing suit (bought a new one last year but I still wear the same one that I wore like 10 years ago...)

Go to a garage sale

Get a massage

Read the second part of Carrie Diaries - Summer in the City

Introductions

So...I have 26 followers...and on a good day, I may have like 2 or 3 comments to a posting and that leaves me wondering - "are my faithful bloggers still tuning in and reading my blog?"...let's see if I can get some people to write something on THIS comment page!

If you need help on how to figure out how to add a comment, I have pulled this document from Blogger Help...hope it helps!

Answer these questions:

Name: STACY
Age: 27
Favorite Color: Purple
Are you a Canada/US (or other country) resident? Proud Canadian
Favorite Food: Pasta
What could you NOT live without?: Computer

I Feel...

...completely.lost!  


Yesterday morning I woke up to find millions of pop up screens on my computer...I immediately started looking them over and realized that I hit with a virus!

I started the XP Recovery thing but there were 3 fails and I knew that was it.  All that appeared was a black screen and basically My Documents folder...that's it!


I am glad that I have a backup laptop that I can connect and still be online but not having my "big computer" is very sad because:

• I am not a fan of laptops, hate typing on them and the mouse (however I do have my own mouse connected)
• I lost all my pictures (some were saved as backup on USB's but NOTE TO SELF: always back up pictures - glad that anything I did have saved on my hard drive, are actually technically saved on Facebook and this blog...some relief)
• I lost all my music (pretty much anything I listen to from it is on CD's)

Whenever we get our fried computer fixed, I am NEVER downloading music again and I will start savings my pics elsewhere (maybe invest in a backup hard drive while I'm at it)

Anyways that is my rant of the day!!

Weekend Bliss

It's The Great Glebe Garage Sale and I have always wanted to go, however...Hubby (and most of my friends) are in a golf tournament, so that leaves me with Maddy...and garage sales + Maddy = Disaster

It's calling for rain, which sucks, but I think Maddy and I may take a trip into town to Build-A-Bear and then stop and pick up some "planting essentials" (maybe hit ONE garage sale, weather permitting)

I want to put some flowers around my tree stumps and maybe my walkway and get some solar lights to pretty up the yard.

Yesterday, I thought about actually putting in a garden but my SIL has given us her pool for Maddy and we need somewhere to put that...which is going to have be far away from the house, behind the garage cuz it's the only place we get sun (so no garden this year)

Sunday is our Duck Race...I really hope one of our 4 ducks win!  Go Duckies Go - this Mama needs some summer clothes (and Maddy too).

That's about all that is going on...Monday, everyone is taking off work cuz we had to work on our holiday, so they are taking the US holiday...the downside, when everyone in the office is off, that means that someone has to be here, so that is me!  Oh well...looking forward to next weekend...Escape Day!!

Thoughts on Thursday

Following Carolyn with her Thoughts on Thursday...

1. Hubby left the car window open all night and it rained all night...thank god he's the driver and his rear got the dampness...mine did too when I drove from his work to mine but it was only 5 mins...haha - serves him right!

2. Speaking of rain...it's raining again and it's raining tomorrow and throughout the weekend apparently...calling for something like 80mm of rain when it's all done in the next 3 days...AWESOME

3. Skip over to Lena's blog and follow her so we can see what her very first giveaway is going to be...the suspense is killing me!!

4. There was a horrible school explosion in our neck of the woods today...killing one student...so sad!  Read about it here.
UPDATE: apparently conflicting reports are now saying the student did not die...either way, it's sad!

5. I feel like I haven't seen my "babies" in such a long time...those babies in particular are Kaylee, Jessica and Charlotte...I need baby time soon!


Kaylee and Jessica

  

Charlotte


6. I am exhausted - my body is killing me and the stupid cough is still not going away.  I need rest and relaxation (massage and reflexology booked for next week...woo hoo)

7. Operation Maddy in her own bed did not work last night...I was crabby (so Hubby says), cranky and tired and had no patience last night...I decided to let Maddy scream and get over this "sleeping with mommy thing"...needless to say, I fell asleep in Hubby's bed listening to her scream, while Hubby went and laid with her...HOWEVER, I still ended up waking up this morning in her bed with her literally sprawled across my back...yep and you wonder why I need a massage!

8. Did I mention that I am exhausted and tired...

9. My house needs a full day of cleaning (and I still need a day to myself to go through Maddy's closet)

10. Supper tonight...fish and chips maybe?

Thrifty Thursdays

I got a great deal the other day...I received a bunch of coupons in the mail and one of them was Try a Glade Sense and Spray...so I brought the coupon with me to the store, and got one - retail price $10.99...savings $10.99 cuz I did not have to pay a thing for it.  I also got some other good coupons to go hand in hand with this...buy one refill and get one free so I am excited to go in and use them now that I am getting out of the habit of being embarrassed by using coupons!

Here are some coupons for you to use:

Get 50% off an entree salad at MacDonalds by clicking here for your coupons.  The other day, Maddy and I were at MacDonalds, and a lady beside me was eating one of the salads, and it looked awesome...been finding a reason to go in and try one...now I can get one 50% off!  Woo hoo!

With summer coming, who doesn't love a great deal on a summer dress courtesy of Joe Fresh...get your coupon here...the deal is good until June 3, 2011 and it has to be on a dress over $19.

A freebie and a coupon deal: Register for a FREE Aerius 2011 Calendar and you will also get a $10 coupon.
Both items will be mailed to your home in 4-6 weeks.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

My long work hours and working over the long weekend has come to an end...the proposal was submitted yesterday at 1:00 pm with time to spare!!  Woo hoo!


Gardens of Time on Facebook...totally addicted!

The weekend is one more day closer and I'm thinking of taking Maddy somewhere on Saturday...maybe Tubes et Jujubes?

My Nanny and Papa are moving home this weekend...it will be nice to have them closer to us.

Next weekend we are having an Escape Day (if you don't know what this is, read about it here) and I am getting reflexology and a massage...aaahhh cannot.wait.


Tonight is supper night at my SIL's, so NO COOKING for me tonight!


That the world did not end on Saturday...and thankful that Nicole is alright after the horrible tornado that hit Missouri.

Maddy Makes Me Laugh

As you know from this post, I had to work all weekend.  Saturday, I brought Maddy with me so Hubby could spend the day fishing (why ruin EVERYONE'S weekend by me working...)...while she was getting pretty antsy inside all day, I decided to take her for a little stroll outside to get some fresh air and to get some Laura Secord ice cream.

While we were walking there....this is what happened:

Strolling down Bank Street (downtown Ottawa - in the middle of Tulip Festival, equals BUSY), two 20 something girls are standing waiting for a bus (25 degree weather, so they were wearing tanks and shorts/skirts, bare legs, you get the idea)....

We (Maddy and I) are approaching these two girls...

Maddy (LOUDLY): "Look Mom, those girls are SEEEXY eh??"

The two girls sorta look at us and think it's cute I guess coming from a little one's mouth and just smiles and laughs while I am beet red and trying to mouth to Maddy that you don't say that...

Me: "Maddy, you don't say that..."
Maddy: "Well that's what Daddy says...that girls are SEEEXY"

OH BOY!!

I later explained to her that you cannot just tell random strangers they are sexy - I told her she could say they are PRETTY...I'm sure the girls would have liked it from a 20 something MALE but not from a 4 year old girl.

When I thought this was over, we pass a group of 20 something guys...as one walks by - this is what came out:

"That boy is beautiful eh Mom?"

I guess if you want a boost of self esteem (or a good laugh) just come and see Maddy - she makes my day!!

Long Weekend

I wish I was writing this post about the fun camping trip I took, or cleaned up my yard and planted flowers, or sat outside sunbathing and getting some color...but unfortunately, this cookie was stuck indoors - at work this long weekend....YEP - every.single.day!

We have a big deal that is due Tuesday and there was nothing we could do but to come in over the weekend to format and print.  It wouldn't have bugged me if it was a rainy weekend, but Saturday morning when I headed into work, it was sunny and 25 degrees out!  That night when I got home around 6:00 pm, I checked Facebook and everyone was saying how sun burnt they were and how they spent the gorgeous day outdoors, made me kinda sad!  The upside, I am not able to get paid overtime, so I take the time in leave...and I will use it!  I will take a few days off when the weather is nice and the fam and I can do a day trip somewhere with Maddy.  So it all works out for the best in the end, I suppose!

I hope to be back to normal after 2:00 pm Tuesday - May 24 when this deal is signed and delivered!!

Hope you all had a great long weekend and took advantage of the sun and heat on Saturday!

A Few of My Favorite Things

Nicole has tagged me in a re-post to list A Few of My Favorite Things...if you haven't checked out Nicole, go check out her blog.  She's great.  She's one of the first "outsider" blogs I started to follow and I just love her attitude and spunk. 

So here are my favorite things:

1. Maddy - she's like an accessory to me, I cannot leave the house without her trailing behind me...she's great!

2. My Blankie - yep, I am going to be 28 this year and still have my ratty old blankie.  I can't go anywhere without it!  I have to have it snugged around my neck and holding it at all times, if it is forgotten, I have to improvise with another blanket or towel even.

3. My bank card - hahah - I don't know, I just realized the other day when I left my bank card at home that, I can't go a day without it.  I rarely have cash on me so I always use my card.

4. Hot baths - well we all know this from previous posts!

5. Salty/Sweet - everyday it seems that I get a craving for something salty, like chips, only to go downstairs to the cafeteria and walk up with a chocolate bar too!

6. Homemade soup - I could eat a bowl of homemade soup EVERY DAY!

7. My friends - they are great, what can I say...over the years, some have trailed off and don't talk to me anymore but I can say that my 'clique of girls' has always been the same. 

8. New car smell - OKAY, I really don't like this, but our car is close to being paid off and I am itching for a new car, even though we agreed that we wouldn't go out and buy another right away as long as ours was reliable and well...she is - she has over 210,000 KM on it and is only 4 years old, but we have only had to do minor repairs!  I can still look...this is what I am really craving right now:


Nissan Juke

9. Facebook - had to put something from the technology world in here...I am not a texter, rarely use my cell phone, sometimes go on Twitter, but I do like to check in from time to time on Facebook (ok, like I everyday I am logged in ALL DAY, but on the weekends, I just sparatically check it from time to time).

10. Hubby - he can be a pain the butt at times, but overall, I am glad he's around!!

Now it's my time to tag and don't feel that you HAVE to:

Ashley over at The Johnstons
Carolyn over at Life, Love and Puppy Prints
Amanda at Mommy World
Lena over at Mom2MemphisandRuby
Erica over at Young and Fabulous

Thrifty Thursdays

Disclaimer: Some of you may have seen this post, however, when Blogger decided to go offline - I had lost this post and now that it is back, it is saying that I never posted it, so if you caught this last week...I'll have new ones next week.

What better way to start off the summer than with 50% off Starbucks Frappuccinos? Starbucks is having Frappuccino Happy Hour from May 6-15 from 3-5 p.m. where they are giving 50% off of these blended beverages.
You can drop by your local Starbucks and get half off the Frappuccino of your choosing. Just ATTEND on Facebook to enjoy this Happy Hour.

Chapters has a FREE program now to earn rewards towards free books.  It's called Plum Rewards.  It's free to sign up and you get points when you buy books etc...I received mine the other day and with your first eligible purchase online or in-store, you receive 100 plum points.  When you complete your online profile, you get 400 plum points.  You then earn 10 plum points on virtually every dollar spent in-store and redeem points for instant savings.  There are also bonus points promotions where you will see in store certain books will have additional plum points etc...

LIKE TriscuitCanada on Facebook and receive a FREE box of Triscuit crackers (which will likely be a coupon to be used in-store towards a free box of crackers and you will also receive a recipe booklet)

Register here for a free sample of Herbamare Sea Salt.  Herbamare Sea Salt is a brilliant blend of celery, leek, watercress, onions, chives, parsley, lovage, garlic, basil, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, and kelp, all organically grown.
Herbamare Original replaces dreary conventional table salt. Use it as a condiment to perk up your recipes or at every meal to salt your food the healthy way. Add after cooking to enhance taste!
Replaces table salt.

What I'm NOT Loving Wednesday

Ok - I started this post as What I'm Loving but realized that I am sick and cranky and decided there is more of a list with What I'm NOT Loving - so here it is...

I'm NOT LOVING:

• That I am sick (and cranky and whiny)
• That Survivor is over
• That pretty much all my shows Season Finale's were on this week...now what?
• That it's the long weekend and there is NOTHING going on (except, oh yea, I may have to come into work)
• That I got the lovely Notice of Assessment and owe $2,057..AWESOME
• The refund of $466 that I did get back...is already gone!
• The crappy weather (to go with the crappy mood)
• That Maddy is going to Tubes et Jujubes tomorrow and I'm not!

I hope your day is better than mine!

Book Review: Regret Free Parenting

I signed up to Book Sneeze a while back after reading on a blog about this website that they send you books, you read, and then you review on your blog and on another site such as Amazon.  You keep the book!

After I searched the list of available books, I realized that these books weren't actual reading books but more self help and christianity and stuff.  That's okay!  I picked Regret Free Parenting by Catherine Hickem.

This book isn't your typical "mothering" book - it is, but it has a christian perspective on it.  Catherine is a mother herself and wrote this book based on her experience.

The book isn't a preaching book where she is telling you what to do to make you a better parent.  She just gives her opinions.  The section that enlightened me was Section Three - You can live peacefully in the Teenage Years...it's one thing I worry about all the time having a daughter - what will she become in her teenage years, what decisions will she make and what will my impact on her decision be.  This just better prepares me on what to expect.  At the end of the book, she includes a Regret-Free Parenting Plan.

Anyways, if you are up for a simple, self help read (with Christian perspective) - you should pick this up.  I have two copies actually (one had taken over 2 mths to receive so in the meantime they sent a new one...) so if you would like to read one - let me know, I would kindly donate it to someone!

Things Happen so Fast!

Two weeks ago - there was an annual party at our hunt camp.  In the past, it was called Boys in the Bush and it was obviously a bunch of guys invited back to the camp for drinking, food and music.  This year, after renovating the camp, they decided to invite the ladies and called it Boys and Bras in the Bush...with a donation jar for Breast Cancer.  I did not attend, but I hear there was a good crowd, lots of food and good music.


Stole these pictures from Linday's blog!



 

However, that evening, things turned pretty bad.  A good friend of ours, Mike (head honcho at the Camp) and his girlfriend Laurie, were awaken by some devastating news.  Laurie's son, Tyler (who turns 12 today) was sent by ambulance to the hospital.  Friends showed up at the camp to tell them. 

He was immediately sent to CHEO (our children's hospital) in ICU and after several tests and specialists, poor Tyler has been diagnosed with Childhood Leukemia.  As sad as this is, we all are fighting with him and praying that he gets better REAL SOON.  He is in the best care and couldn't ask for a better hospital as he gets the proper care he needs.  Laurie is updating everyone daily on Facebook and from what we hear, Tyler is being very brave and is in good spirits, considering. 



Stole this pic from Tyler's Facebook

 They have lots of family and friends on their side and we are all praying hard for Tyler.  I ask that you keep him in your prayers.  It's going to be a long road for the little guy, but he is a fighter and he will get through this.  He started treatment this week and has been feeling a little sick, but that is a given with the strong meds. 

It just breaks my heart that something like this can happen sooooo quickly.  You have a perfectly fine child one minute, and the next, you get the worse case scenario.  I never want to be in that position. 

Hurry up and get better Tyler - Hubby needs you in the bush this Fall for the hunt!  Stay strong and hope you have a somewhat good birthday party at CHEO today!


Stole this pic from Tyler's Facebook



UPDATED: May To-Do List

Organize Maddy's closet and get rid of clothes - partially  done - I started going through her clothes, just having a hard time actually parting with some??

Clean up the front porch and maybe a coat of paint or something - not done

Plant some flowers - not done

Buy some solar lights for walkway - not done

Go to a garage sale - planning on going garage sale shopping on May 28 when everyone else is golfing and I have nothing better to do!

Start going for nightly walks after supper - haven't started because it needs to stop raining :(

Eat at the Big Potatoe (local chip truck in our area) - DONE - ate there twice already!

Have a picnic at the park - not done, again I need nice weather!

Take our Plasma Cars out - not done, again I need nice weather!

Buy Maddy a new bike helmet - not done

Teach Maddy how to ride her bike - not done

Replenish Maddy's outdoor stuff (bubbles, sidewalk chalk etc...) - started but could use more!

Start reading The Carrie Diaries for June's Book Club - DONE - great read!

Attend the Annual Duck Race - May 29, 2011

Check out the tulips at Ottawa's Tulip Festival - I could go any lunch hour I suppose seeing how I am downtown Ottawa.

Last year's Tulip Festival - meeting Chef Michael Smith

Start paying off this year's income tax debt - May 20th is my last cheque for last year's debt and then I will start over once I get my new Notice of Assessment...awesome!

See Something Borrowed in theatres - DONE - saw it with the girls on May 14

Well at least I have checked some things off and some are partial and will be done by the end of the month.  I think the only ones I won't be finished is the whole planting flowers and painting the porch...I don't think I am going to waste my time doing that seeing how it's not my house!

Weekend Recap

Friday night was a boring night...we sat down and watched No Strings Attached and then went to bed...woo hoo - exciting life!  The movie was okay - it is really not a good movie to watch with kid's around...way too much rated R stuff in it!

Saturday morning I got up and finished decorating a baptism cake for Hubby's cousin.  I think it turned out great.  It was a half chocolate/half white cake.  When I told the girls at supper that evening how I did this, they were amazed I think...I could tell.  I found a You Tube video that showed this but now I can't seem to find it now that I want to share with you guys...anyhoo...it's simple really.  You place your 9 x 13 pan slanted with a tea towel underneath one end so that it's on a slant.  You start by pouring the chocolate cake batter into the pan that is slanted down - stop about half way...then start slowly adding the vanilla cake batter and when it reaches the chocolate, take the tea towel away and continue pouring the rest.  Works everytime. 

Saturday evening - the girls and I met up and went to Montana's for supper where I tested the meatloaf and twice smashed potatoes...and I was very disappointed.  Why did I choose meatloaf...I have no idea, I was craving it, the description sounded phenomenal and I was in the mood for potatoes.  Blech - the potatoes tasted like warm potato salad and the meatloaf had big mushrooms...yuck!  After dinner, we headed across the parking lot (although we should have just stayed in the Montana's parking lot because it was crazy driving around in the rain looking for a spot to park) and went to the AMC theatres to see Something Borrowed.  I was going to do a big recap of it, but check out Sharon's Blog - cuz she pretty much summed it up!

Sunday was a pretty relaxing day.  I made a spaghetti sauce and headed to Church.  After Church, came home, had a nap and just relaxed to gear up watching the season finale of Survivor (which Boston Rob won which meant that Maddy won our pool and is not $180 richer). My parents came over for dinner and Maddy and I made some Chocolate Chip Cookies - a new recipe with vanilla pudding mix - try them out - they are DELISH:

Vanilla Pudding Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, melted, cooled
1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
102 g box instant vanilla pudding mix
2 tbsp milk
2 large eggs
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp each: baking powder, baking soda
2 cups milk chocolate chips

In large mixing bowl, using wooden spoon, mix butter and sugars until creamy. Stir in pudding mix and milk, then eggs and vanilla. Add flour, baking powder and baking soda; stir until batter is smooth. Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop batter by heaping tablespoonsful on non-stick cookie sheets (about 12 per sheet). Bake, in batches, in preheated 350F oven 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool 10 minutes on cookie sheet. Transfer cookies to wire rack to cool completely. Store in airtight container.
Makes about 36.

Friday Randomness

Ok - so I had a post all ready for today, but lo and behold, it somehow magically disappeared during Blogger's technical difficulties over the past couple of days...so I saw that my friend Jill did Friday Randomness, so I thought - why not!!

Last night we watched The Dilemma with Vince Vaughn and Kevin James...it was an okay movie - I would rate it about a 7 out of 10.  There were some good laughs in it thanks to the main dudes in it.  The girls on the other hand...not a big fan of the actresses or their acting for that matter - Jennifer Connolly and Winona Ryder (I was wondering if she had been in anything since Little Women...nothing that I had seen apparently).

Tonight I am making a Baptism cake for Baby Conlan.



Isn't he the cutest??

 Tomorrow the girls and I are heading to Montana's for supper and to the movies to see Something Borrowed for our friend Sara's birthday!  Exciting!

Sunday night is the Season Finale of Survivor...and in my pool, we are still up for grabs to win the pot of money because Maddy still has Boston Rob...but what are the odds that he will win??

Tonight, Hubby and I are watching No Strings Attached.  I'll let ya's know how that one is!

It's calling for rain for the next 5 days - LOVELY!

With the rain in the forecast, I am really hoping that I sit down and go through all of Maddy's summer clothes at some point this weekend...I just bought her some new ones and some "previously owned" clothes from Used Ottawa for a great deal!

This is the last weekend for Hubby to get a turkey and I don't know if it's going to happen...and I don't know how he feels about this...he has gotten one every year in the last 3 years and this year my Dad got one...I sense some jealousy!



Last year's victory