Happy April Fools Day!

 

Happy April Fools! Or if you're my sister Melanie... Happy Birthday. But she doesn't read this, so back to the first thing. I love to laugh and I really don't take myself too seriously. I'm a huge embarrassing, awkward klutz. Whatcha goin do about it?!?! I'm always down for a good prank. In elementary school I used to supply the items and ideas and I'd convince the guys to do the pranks on our teacher. That way I never got in trouble for it. It worked for a while but the teacher caught on that there was a mastermind behind the scenes (perhaps one of the guys cracked under interrogation) and threatened to punish the person coming up with the pranks and not just the prankers.

In my first year of college it somehow came about on our floor in the dorm that it was funny to prank me. This didn't happen constantly but I had my fair share. It started with a simple turning the hot water tap on in one sink while I showered. It was a really old building so that made the shower get a little colder. Then another time they decided to turn a couple taps on at once and let them run while I showered. Pretty soon it began to escalate and there was a few more people involved and now toilets were being flushed as well. Somewhere in there one of the girls found a small bucket. And you can guess what happened with that. Filled with cold water and dumped over the top. Every time this happened I just laughed. There's no need to get upset it's all in good fun.

The last time they ever did this... I have to give them props, they got me pretty good. By now people seemed to have their roles... the toilet flushers, tap runners, bucket dumpers. But they felt something was missing. Ah yes, lets take her towels and clothes and leave her with two pieces of paper towel. The cheap stuff that's usually in public washrooms, the kind that seems to disintegrate when in contact with a drop of water. They all run off snickering and I peek out behind the curtain and notice all my stuff was gone. So I pretend it didn't happen and continue my shower.  I finish and turn off the water and the snickering from in the hallway starts up again. I wasn't about to walk down the hallway with two sheets of paper towel so I did what any MacGruber     genuis one in my position would do. I took the fairly thin shower curtain off it's hooks, wrapped it several times covering some key areas and began my nonchalant walk down the hall to by room. Man, I felt proud of myself when I heard someone behind me say "shower curtain! we didn't think of that." Course when I heard the next person say "hey! where's my camera?" I picked up my pace and walked a bit faster. I don't recall ever getting the culprits back for this one. There was too many people involved in it. And it was  a pretty good prank.

What kind of pranks have you been involved in? Either the pranker or the prankee.

Trip to the City and the Week-end

Yesterday my mother and I went to the city to do some shopping and meet up with one of my sisters at the bridal shop. She's getting married in July! We went along for the dress shopping and today was the dress fitting. She looks so beautiful in it! Excuse the poor iphone quality picture.

In the past visits we had this really rude sales person. She made my sister cry the first visit; second visit she was just rude but there wasn't any hurt tears; this visit just tears of happiness from my sister and my mom. She asked me if I'd take the pictures for her wedding ceremony and reception! She is getting a professional to do the portraits and family ones but she was hoping I would do the other ones. Yay! Last summer when a different sister was getting married I took the portrait and family ones but couldn't do the wedding as I was in it, so Jon did them. I'm excited. And nervous. Going to have to do lots of practice shots at the park the week or two before.

 

Then we went to the mall to pick up a present for a different sister's birthday party on Sunday. She's crazy about dogs (she has three right now). So this wrapping paper is appropriate. I was so proud of myself... we bought $140 worth of stuff and paid $63! I love sales!

 

Any time I visit the city I gotta love me some Booster Juice! A little Strawberry Sunshine with a Go Girl kick makes any day better! The funniest thing to do... get Jonathan to order it! Hehehe "I'll have two Strawberry Sunshines with Go Girl in it" Sometimes he calls it "you go girl".

 

***Sidenote: My mother-in-law writes me emails or facebook messages quite frequently. She's a sweet lady who thinks the world is made of sunshine and puppies. Anyways, every now and then she'll write in the messages "You Go Girl!!" It always makes me laugh really hard *****

 

My husband often makes dinner. I do sometimes but he usually does. For the first couple years of our relationship I usually cooked and sometimes did. But we have some how switched. When he is on afternoon shift at work we make "supper" at 1:30-2:00pm so he can eat and pack some for his lunch break.

Yesterday when we got home my brother and Jon had dinner ready and these waiting on the counter...

Pussy Willows! So neat!

 

I'm really looking forward to this week-end!

Friday I'm taking this lovely elderly lady that I'm friends with, out on a date!

Saturday we're going antiquing! There's an annual antique fair in the city. I went last year with my step-mom and her mom, daughters, and their screaming kids. This year Jon's coming and we might run into them there.

Then Sunday we're firing up the BBQ for the first time this year and having hamburgers and cake for my sister's birthday. Speaking of which, I better not forget to make the cake Saturday night!

What's your plan for the week-end? Are you looking forward to anything?

Save 20% on my shop

So you know how some people go crazy with holidays? Decorating everything, cards, parties, etc. I don't do that. I usually strongly dislike holidays. I'm getting better though. If there was one holiday I would celebrate crazy-like it would probably be April Fools Day! So for that reason I've decided from today until 11:59 PST Saturday, April 2, I'm doing a 20% sale in my etsy shop! And it's not a prank! Serious! So head over to Carissa's Silver Lining and use the code: AFD20 to receive 20% off!

Tomorrow I've got a great post about pranks... so start thinking of your best one! I want to hear them!

Wee Bit of Me Wednesdays

 

 

{one} if you won a trip to Disneyland/world, who would you take with you?

I imagine probably Jonathan. We've never gone on a trip trip. It's always been to visit family. So I would probably make the most of the opportunity!
{two} when was the last time you listened to a CD?

Saturday. My car has a cd player so I bought a few cds for the first time in years.
{three} what spice/seasoning is your favorite?

Neat question! Basil is my favorite right now but it changes sometimes.
{four} if you were in a band, what kind of music would you play?

hahaha! hmm probably classic rock. or perhaps alternative pop? or folkie? Never thought of this before.

{five} if you could have personally witnessed one historical event, which one would it be?

I'm not sure. Perhaps something happy like rescued people or released captives?

{six} if you could go back to school, what would you study?

So my answer for this is kind of weird. I would go back to study psychology which is SO ironic because I did that for three years. And my fourth year two weeks before school started I totally chickened out and switched to a different school and different major... business. But I LOVE studying psychology. I still read my textbooks sometimes.
{seven} if you could go to one sporting event, all expenses paid, which one would you see?

A very Canadian answer here but.... The Stanley Cup game.
{eight} do you drive an automatic or a manual?

I learned how to drive on a manual and my first vehicles were manual. But the past few cars I've had are automatic. My next one will hopefully be standard.
{nine} are you comfortable speaking in front of people?

If I had to right now I'd be SO nervous. In business class I was a wreck for my first speech and after that I did amazing. I was calm and eloquent. But the first one was so bad. Like stuttering, making up new words, skipping parts. bad.

{ten} have you ever experienced an earthquake?

Not that I remember. Apparently we felt a bit of one once when I was younger but I don't recall.

Project Happiness

Today's post is going to be a bit "less light" I don't want to use the word "heavy" because it'd be ironic to infer that this post would be depressing. Read on and you'll see what I mean!

If you've been reading my blog for a little while, you'll probably remember that my day consists of assisting my brother with his homeschooling for this school year. He's 15 and convinced he has everything figured out. He's a pretty smart kid and thinks about deep things so occasionally he does have things figured out. Except marriage and relationships. He's positive he's an expert. Anyways, every now and then he'll out of the blue make a comment about me that is pretty bang on what I had been thinking recently. Sometimes they're a little harsh and falsities that I was also telling myself. But other times they have a hint of truth. A few days ago he said something to me that echoed what I had been thinking about hours earlier.

He said "You are not a very happy person. You should do something about that."

Know what friends? I think he's right. I could blame it on The D word (depression). Or on too much stress. But my life's not that bad. I don't want to wake up one day 20 years from now and be unhappy and all glass-is-completely-dry. For the past year and a half I've been working on a 101 things in 1001 days list. I don't have it posted on here because I started this blog almost a year later. One goal I put on there was to take pictures of 101 things that make me happy. I can't think of 101 things! Don't get me wrong... I don't walk around in with a permanent scowl on my face and children don't run away crying when I walk down the street (although my step-sister's baby screamed when I held her on Sunday) .   I like to think I have a fair bit of joy and happy in my life.

But not enough happiness. I want more.

I know there's lots of happiness projects out there. But everyone's different. So I'm going to have my own pursuit of happiness (totally just remembered that's a title for that movie). Project Happiness if you will.

Merriam-Webster Definition of Happiness:

- a state of well-being and contentment: Joy

- a pleasurable or satisfying experience

So it's something you are and something you have. Interesting.

That's going to be my goal for the next little while. Happiness. In whatever form that is. I'm positive there's lots around. I'm going to make more of an effort to recognize and acknowledge it.

What about you? What's your definition of happiness?

What makes you happy?

 

I found some quotes that make me think. I don't know if I necessarily agree or disagree with them yet. But they were thought provoking:

 

Joy can be real only if people look upon their life as a service, and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness.

- Leo Tolstoy

 

The greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lamat

 

The greatest happiness is to transform one's feelings into action.

- Madame de Stael

 

Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.

- Groucho Marx

 

Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.

- Abraham Lincoln

 

Everything is material for the seed of happiness, if you look into it with inquisitiveness and curiosity. The future is completely open, and we are writing it moment to moment. There always is the potential to create an environment of blame -- or one that is conducive to loving-kindness.

- Pema Chodron

 

We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.

-Frederick Keonig

 

Win a picture from my shop!

The adorable Amy from life's Journey with a smile is hosting a giveaway from my etsy shop over at her blog from now until Sunday April 3rd. Make sure you head on over and check it out by clicking here

And while you're over there why not sign up for her Spring Fever Challenge!  It runs April 4th to June 20th! Last I heard there is 40 of us participating, more the merrier so join in!

Waiting For The Tree To Sink

I live in a weird little town. It has a weird name. Sometimes they have weird festivals; like Festival of the Goose or as I call it Festival of the Quacks.  It's one of those towns that either you embrace it and love living there or you never get it and move as soon as you can, never to return. I moved away to attend college and after living in various places across Canada, I moved back. And honestly, I love it's quirkiness. I love that I can't go grocery shopping without getting stopped by people who remember me from when I was little, regardless of the fact I haven't a clue who they are. Or that we seem to have a community activity that celebrates every season and then some. One weird "celebration" we have here is the end of Winter. I call it celebration because it's occurrence is something pretty much everyone in town looks forward to.

You see, every year for as long as I can remember one morning in January our town wakes up and discovers a used Christmas tree stuck in the snow/ice on the river that runs through town. Some years there is just one tree, other years there's two or three. It's come to be an indication to us town folks of when Winter has ended and Spring has finally arrived.

If the tree is standing upright, it's still a while off.

If tree has slumped over, it's a couple weeks still.

If tree has sunk into the river, Spring has arrived!

Every time we drive across the bridge everyone looks for the tree. Longing for the day it's no longer visible. It hasn't happened yet but when it does there will be happiness! Winter coats and boots are packed away and spring coats and rubber boots are brought out. So here's to the tree... may you sink soon!

Winter Wonderland Warriors Finale

I did it! I completed the Winter Wonderland Warriors! Yay! Today's post about it is a recap of how I did. So to refresh my everyone's memory here was my list of goals:

(1) Lose Weight

(2) Exercise 4 times a week

(3) Be prepared to buy a swimsuit and dress for our trip in May

(4) Be half way completed my correspondence course

(5) Drink 8 cups of water a day

(6) Reduce the amount of coffee and liquid calories I consume

(7) Take more pictures and learn more about photography

(8) blog regularly and courageously

(9) Nurture my creative aspirations whenever I feel inspired

(10) Grow to love and accept myself

So how did I do?

(1) Weight Loss: So while I had weight loss as a goal I wasn't too focused on numbers. I was more concerned on doing the right things to be healthy and hoping the numbers showed. And I think they do... I've lost and kept off 7 pounds. Now considering how many times I was ill and injured... not too bad for me! I'll go on about it in the next point. Check

(2) Exercise: My actual desire was 3 times a week but from past experience then I only put a little pressure on myself and end up with 1 or 2 times a week completed. So I set 4 so I could perhaps "fail" and get 3. Sneaky right. Well it worked better than I thought! By the end I've been getting in 4-5 workouts every week. And I doubled the length of them! Another reason why I wasn't too worried about the goal was I started running and the scale went up. I did some research and sometimes that happens when you start trading fat for muscle. Check

(3) Prepared to shop: We have canceled our trip to Vancouver :( We are going to be more financially responsible and use it to save for a mortgage. Plus I am not ready for a smaller size of clothes yet. But that'll come. But that means No Check

(4) Correspondence Course: So this took me longer than I thought. I did work hard on it and get a lot done. But not half. I hate to not say completed on this one. But technically No Check.

(5) Water: Geeze ok so I did increase my water intake to about 6 cups a day. But seriously 8?! I'd pee ALL the time. Not like I don't already! No Check

(6) Reduce coffee and liquid calories: I cut back the amount of coffee. And when I did drink it I had to drink extra water that day before and after any consumed coffee. As for the other liquid calories I did pretty great! I carried my Nalgene bottle everywhere. Check

(7) Photography Related: I bought two books for my kindle and Jon bought me a huge hardcover book about photography techniques and such. So I've learned a lot already. I'm slowly working through them and practicing as I go! I've been trying a lot to take more pictures and I can see an improvement in technique already but still have a ways to go. Check

(8) Blogging: I'm naturally a really shy person. And ok... I have some pretty negative and insecure qualities. But I've been realizing that not everyone is going to like my blog or me for that matter. But I'm still a nice person! And if I love blogging than blogging I will! So I've posted some topics that make me nervous to hit publish. And I've commented on people's blogs. Usually I worried and just "lurked" but I love the blogging community I've found! Everyone has been so nice! Check


(9) Nurture creative aspirations: This one I did so well on! I allowed myself to spend time creating when I felt like it to sew, or paint, or edit photos. And it's been great! So great I opened an etsy shop! And I made things for other people and get this... gave the things to them. And they loved them. So Check

(10) Grow to Love and Accept Myself: What I love about this goal is everything. I set it thinking I would finish this challenge and not touched on it at all. But every time I accomplished a bit of a goal this one was impacted; after every great workout, every completed sewing project, every marked course exam, every posted blog, etc. Check

Question: Was the winter productive? Yes! I accomplished so much more with this challenge than I thought I would! I showed winter wear to stick it. Ok maybe not that far ;)


Thanks Amy for putting this challenge on and all your hard work on it!!!

Wild Goo--Swan Chase

For the past week now trumpeter swans have been flying over our house making their long trip north. Despite the noise and sometimes nuisance they can cause I love when I first hear them returning as it means Spring has officially arrived. Our town also has another indication that Winter is over but I'll save that for another post. For some reason I am fascinated by these migrating birds. I changed my lens to my zoom one and ran outside but they were too far away. So I waited and threw the balls for the dogs and waited some more. No more came after half an hour so I went back inside. I just sat down and crack open my accounting book again and I hear their distinct call to each other. So I grab my camera and slip into my boots and run back out into the yard. This time I was able to barely catch a shot of them.

The perfectionist in me wasn't happy so when Jon got home from work we went down to the bird sanctuary that is next to the river that runs through our small town. We stood as far on the bank of the river as we felt safe. Just a little on the ice but not too far. And there we saw them... hundreds and hundreds of them congregating.

Some were flying there

Others were already there resting their wings and enjoying the bits of thawed river.

There was one lone one. He lost his friends somewhere along the way. Hopefully he found them in that group!

I posted a couple pictures on facebook and the next day two people contacted me about tips of where I could find more swans. I was already planning on heading to a nearby lake 40 minutes away called White Swan Park where they boast thousands of swans go there every year. So I thought I'd swing by these other locations on the way back. The park ended up being a total bust. Not ONE bird was there! Nothing! They might go there at some point but it's not now! So I headed back to town and checked out the other two places. One was too hard to get to, and I didn't think my car could make it in the farmer's muddy feedlot. The other was also a dairy farm but the birds were right along the road and they didn't even flinch when I drove on the road maybe 10 feet from them. So I got some sweet pictures! There was WAY more here!

This is only one section of them... there was probably over three times this many!

 

Simon says "Look Right!"

 

So now that the swans are back it's about time for the return of the geese! And then Spring is really coming!

Six Things on Saturday

Today is a weird Saturday. Jonathan always has the week-ends off except when he takes extra shifts like today. We're trying save for a  mortgage so the extra shifts are always useful. They just always make the week-end feel off. For all accounts and purposes our schedule today is much like a regular weekday that he is on day shift, except a bit lazier.

• I started reading 33 Men: Inside the Miraculous Survival and Dramatic Rescue of the Chilean Miners... last night and read a bit more this morning. So far it's pretty interesting. I read a bunch of reviews before I downloaded it on my Kindle app and apparently it's a pretty accurate depiction of what really happened.

• I've loved watching all the white swans returning as they gracefully fly above. The other day I went down to the bird sanctuary in town here and snapped some pictures of them against the setting sun. I might post a couple of them in the next couple days. About 40 minutes from here there is a bird park that boasts that every spring/fall thousands of swans show up there. I was thinking of driving out there this afternoon with my camera.

• Alternatively we were thinking of heading into the city today as I need to pick up a few things. I don't really feel like dealing with the crowds today, and Mr. J will be pretty tired from work that he might not feel up to it. We are planning on going to an Antique Fair/Sale next week-end in the city anyways so perhaps we'll just go then!

• Yesterday while grocery shopping we picked up two packs of Kraft's Sizzling Salad line. We're going to have a chicken salad tonight. I'm pretty excited! Feels like we hardly ever have salads anymore! We bought the Greek Chicken and the Chicken Caesar... yum!

• I've decided to set a goal. I want to do the splits. I don't know where this goal comes from or why but I just decided this past week I would like to! Have you done them before? Any tips?

• This brings me to my final point today... for a few weeks now I've been thinking of various shop related things and have decided I want to have some giveaways! I love them! Even if I seriously never win! But I think  it'd be more fun if I giveaway two things at once right?! One to the host and one to a commenter. So here's where you come in! Do you  want to host a giveaway from my shop? I mean who wouldn't like an original Carissa masterpiece on your wall! Ok I guess some people perhaps. I'm thinking perhaps a few giveaways so if you're interested leave me a comment about it, twitter me... (tweet me? ), or drop me an email at kissedafrogblog at gmail dot com. If you know someone else who'd be interested please send them this post! Thanks guys!!!

Friday Love List

Things I LOVE! Because it's friday and everyone loves friday! I thought I'd post about some other things I also currently love!

 

Appropriately titled... I love this show! It's new this year and still airing new episodes but I love the casting dynamic.

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="260" caption="Ingrid dress from Shappy Apple"][/caption]

This dress! Definitely need to purchase this! Doesn't matter that I don't wear dresses. Or that I would be way too dressed up 98% of the time.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="456" caption="From etsy shop JewelrydepotPlus"][/caption]

And once I got that dress I'd need this bracelet to go with it!

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="The Bossi Bag from THEIT"][/caption]

And how gorgeous is this camera bag!?!?! There is a waiting list and I'm totally on it!

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="342" caption="From etsy shop PaupersBounty"][/caption]

I love simple jewelery!

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="462" caption="From etsy shop madelinebea"][/caption]

I LOVE this picture! It would be amazing in my office/craft room! The colors and the simplicity is just wonderful! Makes me happy!

 

What's on your Friday Love List?

A Typical Day

I never realized how boring my typical day was until I wrote it down!

creepy cartoon post

Postcrossing and Blogging Connections

I've just recently joined postcrossing.com. I LOVE getting mail so I thought this would be a fun thing to be involved with. (side-note: I LOVE getting mail so much every roommate and my husband makes fun of me mercilessly for the amount of times I check the mail a week and how obsessed I am about it.)

I sent my first five postcards out and so far three people have received them. One recipient was a 15 year-old  girl from Europe. She sent me a nice email back and something she said in it has made me think the last couple days.

She said "It's so fantastic that I know that you exist on the other part of the world!"

What is it about people knowing we exist, that makes us feel good about ourselves. I think the same probably holds true to most people about blogging. There is something refreshing in the innocent act of interacting through the internet with people you have never and perhaps will never meet. But for that brief minute in internet space you were connected. I know I feel that way with every comment I receive and every comment I leave. For that moment, it's nice to have that connection.

Wee Bit of Me Wednesday

 

 

{one} what was your first job? I always worked on the farm for my dad every summer. But the first time I had a job for someone else was a dairy farm down the road. lol The first store job... was a grocery store in town as a cashier/cash office/acting supervisor.
{two} have you ever seen a stand up comedian? no but one day it'd be fun to see one.
{three} when was the last time you played mini golf? wow I seriously can't remember ever mini golfing with Jon. So that would have to mean the last time I went was when I lived in Kitchener/Waterloo six years ago.
{four} what was the last picture you took? The scrabble tile "Love" one that's on my etsy shop.

{five} burnt food: yes or no? so gross! I cannot make myself eat it.
{six} if you have a pocket full of change, what do you do with it? put it in a jar of change that's sitting on the dresser.
{seven} can you touch your tongue to your nose? no I cannot.
{eight} do you scrapbook? I have one from a long time ago that I never finished. I've been looking for years for a new one to start but I can't find the perfect album. I am starting to think it doesn't exist. :(
{nine} do you buy lottery tickets? I buy the scratch ones sometimes but never the other ones.
{ten} do you prefer to be in front of the camera or behind it? behind it. there's no question. I HATE pictures of me.

Marriage as a verb

Mr. J and I entered marriage with the understanding that it's hard work. And it takes constant effort from both parties. There was no fairy tale allusions here. One thing we do consistently is date. Not every week necessarily but we try for at least every other week. A few months ago I discovered this website about dating while married called The Dating Divas . They have some really good ideas of different fun dates you can do. Anyways on their site they have a quote that is their inspiration. I really like it as it resounds with some of my thinking of what marriage is.

"Marriage is not a noun; it's a verb. It isn't something you get. It's something you do. It's the way you love your partner every day." -Barbara De Angelis

I am definitely not the easiest person to live with. And heaven knows Mr. J has enough quirks to drive me crazy. But no one person is perfect. As long as we always keep that in mind and strive to act our love out for each other daily, we'll be okay.

Before we got married we read The Five Love Languages. It was SO helpful in learning how to better hand conflicts, why our spouse does what they do, and how to better demonstrate our love to the other person. I totally recommend the book. Anyways, through reading it we realized that one of Jon's "love languages" is Acts of Service. This means that by him doing little things for me, it's his way of showing me in his own way that he loves me. So every time he bleaches the bathroom I know it's because he knows I LOVE  a bleached room. Any time he takes the trash out it's because he knows I HATE taking it out. I also learned a lot about myself. I tend to keep my thoughts inside and not verbalize them. I've had to learn that Jon's not a mind reader and even though I think I'm showing him I love him in my way, with his personality and love language he might not be seeing it the same way.

What it comes down to is:

Marriage as a verb.

Because I love this book so much I've decided to do a giveaway! It's helpful not just for married people, but anyone in a relationship! All you have to do enter is leave a comment below! Giveaway closes Sunday evening, March 27.

 

 

****Disclaimer: I'm not being paid or given anything to promote this book. Gary Chapman and the publisher don't even know I exist. I just love this book and want to give it away! ****

Running

When I was in high school I LOVED running. I ran every day after school. Rain or shine. Warm or -30c. Course I ran with a purpose. To shut out my parents nasty divorce. But that's a different story for a different day. I ran after high school 7 days a week. I ran in college, not as often mind you, but it was still a common past time. Then I got busy with life (aka boyfriend, work, marriage) and stopped running. I've longed for the days when I could lose my stress on a challenging run. I tried to start running again a year ago but I felt like I was dying. I decided in January that enough is enough. I will be a runner again. So I started the Couch to 5 k  for only like the thousandth time. And know what? I've fallen in love with running again! I LOVE it. On my days off my legs are antsy an ready to go. And days I run I'm relaxed and in a great mood.

A few of my favorite things about running?

• how I can't help but get pumped and energized when one of my favorite songs comes on the ipod.


• how I can lose myself in a runners high


• how every time the prompter person says " last run coming up" I smile.


• how it feels when I look at the next week's running schedule and panic when it seems scary, only to realize I already do that and more during my free-run times.


• how my walk times often turn into impromptu dance parties when a great song comes on.


• how when I'm having a bad day I can use that to make me run harder.

What about you? Do you hate or love running? If so, what's your favorite thing about it?

Winter Wonderland Warriors~Week 12

Positive Picture:

I think my practicing is starting to pay off and my photography skills are getting better!

Week 12 Questions:

1. What have you done this past week to help achieve your goals?

-exercised twice, it's no 4 times but it was good to have a break.

-a couple days ago I blogged about gaining perspective. It was a heartfelt blog. Sometimes those are hard to push publish.

-on Saturday I took my camera out and snapped some more pictures. Got a couple good ones and put them on my etsy shop.

2. With one week left, what is your plan?

-to finish strong. keep working on all my goals.


3. What was the highlight of your week?

I sold my first photograph on etsy! Someone likes my stuff!


4. Did you have a down point? If so, how did you push past it?

I often have down points. It's a part of clinical depression. I took some time away from everyone and and everything. And remind myself it's ok to have those days sometimes.


5. Fun Question of the Week: What's your favourite television show from the past? Presently?

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention my favorite tv show of all time... The Golden Girls!!! SO good! I have every season and can perhaps quote all the episodes. Presently, I don't have tv so I watch online... The Big Bang, Hot in Cleveland (gotta have my Betty White fix), and Mike and Molly.

Gaining Perspective

I wish that periodically during our life we could print out some sort
of report detailing all the moments in our lifetime that have helped
influenced our psyche and defines who we are. Then we could
intentionally put ourselves in similar situations in an attempt to
continue to grow as individuals. I'd love to know what experiences I
have had, that affect who I am and the decisions I make.

There is one memory that I have from when I was four that I'm pretty sure would be on that report. We were driving in my dad's truck on a wintry day along a certain street. There was an older gentleman hobbling along the sidewalk with a cane, when he slipped on the ice and fell. I, like a lot of children, thought it was hilarious that he fell. So I started laughing and pointing at him. I remember my dad immediately stopped the truck and got out, turned back at me and said how it was not very nice to find humor in someone else's mishaps and to try to see things from other's point of view before I make fun of them. Then he ran over to the gentleman and helped him back up, making sure he was ok. I may have the details a little off. For some reason that moment has stayed in my mind all these years; popping up every now and then to remind me to examine my judgments and opinions when it comes to other people. And to try to walk a mile in their shoes, perhaps on an icy road.

The One Where I Talk About My Etsy Shop

I try not to be one huge plug for something but... bear with me I'm totally going to plug my shop!

I know I said on Monday that Tuesday I would write a post about my etsy shop but I lied. Or I got busy. Anyways, I've had it open for Sunday and am loving it. I've only made one sale so far but had a couple people interested in custom work so that's exciting. Click this button to go straight to it...



I started with just some of my photographs. This is one of my favorites



and this one



ok fine and this one

I can't pick a favorite! I love them all!

Yesterday I added some sewing projects I've been working on. I have a few ideas for some other items but for now I just have coffee cozys on it. If you follow me on twitter, you would have seen a tweet about this one being my favorite because it reminds me of the twitter bird.

 

But this one is a close second

 

I'm sort of a perfectionist and take a lot of pride in my work. That being said I won't sell anything I don't love. So the past couple weeks I've been slightly obsessed. Sewing and photo editing in my dreams! It feels good to have it all set up now! Come by and check it out!

Wee Bit of Wednesdays

 

 

{one} scruffy or clean shaven? clean
{two} what’s your favorite sundae topping? strawberries
{three} do you own slippers? yes a pair of cookie monster ones
{four} did you ever have a tree house? no I always dreamed of one. I had the blueprints all drawn out and place all ready to build one but my dad was a busy man.
{five} how you do relieve stress? exercise
{six} what’s your favorite dr. seuss book? green eggs and ham?
{seven} have you ever taken dance classes? yes one year when I was younger I took ballet and jazz. I want to take something again sometime.
{eight} which do you use more: the thesaurus or the dictionary? used to be thesaurus but now probably dictionary.
{nine} what’s your favorite form of exercise? running
{ten} what’s the longest you’ve ever waited in line? I don't usually go places I have to wait in line. I don't enjoy crowds. So probably an hour?

Winter Wonderland Warriors~Week 11

 

 

Week 11 Questions:

1. What have you done this past week to help you achieve your goals?
-Goal #2: Worked out 4 times this week! yay me!
-Goal #5 and 6: Trying to drink less coffee more water. Doing okay on that.
-Goal #7, 9, and 10: took some more pictures and.... opened an etsy shop!! I put some of my pictures to sell! I'll write a post more about it tomorrow.
-Goal #8: I was brave and posted this Pretty enough to wear the dress

So a pretty great week!

2. There are two weeks left in this challenge – what goals are you making priority?
Wow! Only two weeks left already? I guess working out would be the goal that's the priority?!
3. Many people are on or heading into Spring Break right now, do you find it easier or harder to stay on track when your routine disappears? No one in our household has Spring Break this week so my routine is still in place. But I have to have a routine. I don't function well without one!

4. Tell us something positive about this challenge. Could be something that happened to you, you did, you realized…etc.

It pushed me outside my boundaries a bit. Now I comment more, find new blogs, etc.
5. Fun Question of the Week: The clocks sprung forward this weekend, does the time change mess you up or do you just go on like nothing happened? I thought it would mess me up more than it did. We didn't have time change in saskatchewan so perhaps now my body just goes meh whatever and continues on.

The Best Sweet and Sour Hamburger Sauce You Will Ever Have

Growing up we always had this rule that on your birthday you got to request your favorite meal for dinner. Mine was always Sweet and Sour Hamburger Sauce. To this day it is still one of my favorite dishes. I'm a pretty picky fussy particular eater so if I like it, it's probably pretty darn delicious! I thought today I'd share the recipe with you so it can be your favorite too! Unless you're vegetarian; then you won't like it. It sorta has meat in it. But anyways, one of the reasons I love this recipe so much is it tastes a little different every time. You can mix it up pretty easy. Like if you don't have garlic you can use garlic salt. Don't have celery or like celery? Leave it out or add celery salt. Want to add zucchini? Throw it in.

But here's typically what I put into it...

[caption id="attachment_373" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="So I never usually write instructions on my recipe cards. Jon asked if I could for when he cooks and that's all I wrote! I'm getting much better at writing them out now!"][/caption]

 

These are all the ingredients except the hamburger, pasta, and water.

It's a pretty easy and simple recipe to make! Start by dicing the onion and celery(if you choose to add celery). If you are putting real garlic in, mince it now. In a large skillet brown the hamburger on medium heat in a little olive oil and cook with the veggies you just cut.

When the hamburger is all cooked throw in the 1 1/4 cup ketchup and 1/4 cup vinegar.  (If you are using garlic salt or celery salt add it now).  Also sprinkle salt and pepper in it.

 

Stir it all in

Next add a 1/4 cup of brown sugar and mix it into the sauce.

I never usually measure my mustard, I usually just squeeze it in. But today I used 2 tablespoons and it was a bit too much. So perhaps try 1 tablespoon. But do as much as you like!

Add 2 tablespoons of Worchestershire sauce.

And 1 cup of water. It will look super scary and watery at this point but don't panic. Just stir it all in.

 

Once it's all stirred in turn the heat down to low and let it simmer like that until it thickens. Make sure you stir it occasionally. Should take about 45 minutes or so to thicken. But if you're like us and you can hardly wait till the pasta's cooked to eat, that's fine too.

While you wait for the sauce to thicken boil water in a pot and cook your pasta.

Don't forget to stir your sauce every now and then. And make sure to taste test it! If it needs something more then make sure to add it. It might need some more ketchup or brown sugar or vinegar. Make it to your taste!

When your sauce is as thick as you like it or your pastas cooked. Scoop it over it and enjoy!

This sauce would also be really good as sloppy joes. We are going to try that one of these days. In that case when making the sauce I'll just add less water to it so it thickens more!

So there ya have it! One of my favorite recipes! It's really easy to make and so good! Let me know if you try it! Do you have a favorite recipe I need to try??