Small Snapshots ~ Sun Flare

I'm pretty late posting this today but we've been packing our days full while we are away. I had the camera out A LOT the past few days but it was cloudy and overcast almost the whole time! And when it was sunny and cloudless, we spent the day in buildings! So I'll have to posts two pictures from my archives. I took photos for my sister's wedding last summer and here are two sun flare pictures from then.

 

I'm excited to see what you guys came up with! What are you guys thinking about the time frame for each theme? Does it need to be a bit longer? Like every two weeks? Or is one week long enough?

This week's prompt is suggested by Kirsti at Melbourne on my mind the theme is macro! If you have a suggestion let me know!

Interview With Jon

I haven't really talked a whole lot about how Jon and I met. I don't know if it's all that fascinating. We were talking about it the other night and decided it might be fun to have Jon tell his version of the story. If it's too off then perhaps I'll have to share the right one my version. He didn't know how to start telling it so he wanted me to ask him questions... hope we're not too weird for you guys!

 

Where did we first meet?

J: We met in Kananaskis Alberta in 2006... no 2005.

C: It was 2006.

J: Oh it seems longer hahahaha

We were working in Alberta at a campground, living at the base of a mountain in the middle of no where.

I first saw Carissa trying to unpack her car in high heels. She had a suitcase stuck in her trunk and was reefing on it with her feet on the side of the car. I thought it was pretty funny and got the other guys in the trailer to watch. I yelled "hey the new girl is here."

C: You could have come out and helped!

J: I was having too much fun watching.

When I first actually met you, you came over to our trailer in this big heavy coat. And sat down on the couch across from me, all bundled up looking so small inside this huge coat. You kept watching me. That's when I noticed your blue eyes and knew there was something different about you.

C: I kept staring  because it looked like you were glaring and really snobby

J: That's how I always looked hahaha



C: What did you first like about me?

J: You were interesting.

C: Do you mean "interesting" or interesting. There is a difference.

J: No just interesting. I liked how comfortable I was with you.  And how we had similar interests. I found I always just wanted to be around you.




C: Where did we go for our first date?

J: We went rock climbing with a third wheel. It was a great time.

C: That wasn't actually a first date though.

J: For as long as it took me to ask you, it was a first date.

C: You asked me like two weeks after you met me. That's not long.

J: It was a whole walk to work!

C: haha ok.

J: I guess our first date date was a trip to the city (Calgary), shopping, movie, and dinner.




C: How did you know I was the one?

J: That was the easy part. Pretty much knew it since I first met you. There was something different about you.



C: How did you propose?

J: After putting a lot of thought into picking a ring and Carissa pointing out the exact one and saying she didn't like it. I made a snap decision on a different one. I bought it, put it on a manly chain around my neck  and while we were cuddling I waited until she found it.

C: hahahaha

J: Get your mind out of the gutter.

 

C: What's an interesting fact about me?

J: I got a good one. One day I decided to make Carissa breakfast. I made a discovery. She won't eat most of what I eat for breakfast. About 90% of what I eat. Carissa is very specific about her breakfast. More so than any other meal of the day. Supper you can slap together a dry bun and burger and she's happy. But breakfast is different. It's dependant upon my life.

C: *silence*

J: what you got nuthin to say to that? hahahaha

C: Moving on...

 

C: What is your favorite thing about me?

J: My favorite thing about you is that you keep me accountable and how you love me no matter what. How you're always happy for when I come home from work. And one of my MOST favorite things is how you say the word "buttons" it is so you. You have to know Carissa to know what I am saying.



So there ya have it! The story of us.. as told by Jon!

In 24 Hours

In 24 hours we will be on our way to Vancouver! I know it's not a fancy destination like Europe or a beach. But it's the mere act of going on a vacation that is so fabulous to us. Besides isn't it not what you're doing but who you're with? Anyways, we've never gone on vacation before. I talked about that a bit a few weeks ago so I won't beat a dead horse right now. Needless to say we're pretty excited. We need to get away and just be us. Since we met we've been busy with school or working. After we were done school we were working so much. Almost always opposite shifts and Jon on average worked 70 hours a week. We never saw each other! Then we moved here. And we're always around family. Always. We have (what we think anyways) a really strong relationship. But we work hard on it. Every week we make the time to go on a date. And it's super important to us that we take that time out for ourselves. Even if it's just a short walk around the block or a drive around town. It's not what you're doing but who you're with! *steps down from apple box*

***I didn't take any of the following pictures. Click on them to head to their websites of credit! ***

 

Some of the things we might do and see...

 

We'll drive through the mountains

 

 

 

Visit a beach or two and dip our toes in the water

 

 

Visit Granville Island and perhaps go on a seabus ride

 

 

Walk across the Capilano Suspension Bridge

 

 

See the view from Grouse Mountain

 

 

Drive across the Lion Gate Bridge. And perhaps walk along to go on a search for geocache

 

All in all I think it will be a great trip! Hopefully relaxing and refreshing and full of memories for years to come!

Fill in the Blank Fridays

This week I thought it would be fun to link up with Lauren's Fill in the Blank Fridays! Click the button below and join in too!

 

1.   If I could get away somewhere for the weekend I would go to Vancouver  and I would bring my husband Jon, because that's where we're headed this week-end!!

2.  Something I often rant about is annoying people on facebook, people who keep sending me forwards, people who gossip all the time.

3.  One item I need to have in my fridge at all time is oh gosh this is kind of embarrassing I have two things we always have in the fridge; cheese and avocado. I am so addicted to nachos and also guacamole. It's not even funny. I'm getting help.

4.  My "life-saving" product is mascara. Sometimes it's all ya need!

5.  A friend is someone who loves and accepts you unconditionally. And is always there for you even if it's just in spirit.

6.  If I could write my own blank it would be if you were giving one piece of advice to a newborn child to read when they are older... what would it be? 

7. My favorite kind of art is photography. I love how much can be communicated and conveyed through a photograph.

Pre-trip To Do List

I am SUCH a list person. I sometimes make lists of lists to make. Yeah, I'm that hardcore. Or lame. But whatever. I'm also really forgetful. Last week-end when we went camping, I packed eye makeup remover. Guess what I forgot to pack eye makeup. And an axe. But those two aren't related.

Sometimes I think I need to make more detailed lists. I just looked at my to do list right now and it says "send emails". What emails are those? To whom? I haven't a clue, but I hope I remember soon. All I know was there is two to send. I typically spend 2-3 days writing a to pack list. And then stay up till 3am the day I leave to do laundry and pack. every. time. By the end I say "screw the list! it's ALL going in!" That's probably really the reasoning behind my small closet; it has nothing to do with my disdain for shopping.

This is my To Do Before We Leave list and our map. We're circling all the places we want to see when we are there. That way we can organize our tentative itinerary a bit better. I also have a To Pack list and a few other mental lists but I doubt those will be much help!

To top it all off, you'd think I was leaving for months! Several people are convinced they must see me before we leave. We're not gone that long people! And we've gone a lot longer without seeing each other. Why now?! Anyways, I must go for now. I want to get a work-out in before I go out tonight. But what about you... are you a list person? A list hater?

Etsy Purchase

Gah! I can't believe I've been too busy to blog about my new necklaces!!! Remember my post a few weeks back about my current etsy loves? Well I went and got one of them!! Ok well I got three necklaces, but one of them was in the post! And I wasn't kidding when I said I need one in every color! I'm so excited about them and LOVE LOVE LOVE them! I even contemplated for just a second or two taking them with me camping. But they are way too pretty and nice to wear camping! But I wanted to just admire them a little longer. I ordered them then text my mom telling her about these beautiful necklaces. She's a bit of a necklace hoarder too. I have no where near the same amount as her, but give me a few more months years. A girl can never have enough! They have to suit each of her many moods! :)

And want to have a complex about your neck or arm hair? Take pictures of a necklace/bracelet! I couldn't get a decent picture of me wearing the necklaces. I am the MOST un-photogetic person. EVER. I really am. Hence the lack of pictures of me on here. No what she wore posts for this girl! Anyways... I must show you my fabulous new necklaces from Jello's Kitchen

Love these! Make me feel all girly!

 

 

 

And the neck complex starts. That and if you follow me on twitter you'll know that camping caused me to breakout like a 15 year old. And that was definitely not a pretty (5) years!

 

My arm doesn't usually look that hairy!! But the necklace makes such a pretty bracelet!

 

My FAVORITE! Isn't it so pretty!!??!!

Ok so now run and get your own! Head over to Jello's Kitchen and check them out!

Stylish Blogger Award

Guys... Gals!! Whatever you like to be called! I have received my first blog award!!!

Sarah over at Sunlight After Rain (isn't that a great blog name?!?) has awarded me the Stylish Blogger Award!

Wasn't that sweet of her?! I am pretty excited! As required by the award I must share with you 7 facts about myself. So here we go...

 

1. Give me a cold beer and a good seat to a game and I'm in heaven. I'm a {HUGE} hockey and baseball fan. Canucks and Blue Jays. And I believe that by yelling at the screen I help them play better.

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="381" caption="Attended a Jays Game in 2008"][/caption]

2. I am so particular about what I eat for breakfast. I could probably spend 20 minutes telling you my breakfast preferences. But I'll just say: I don't like eggs, pancakes, sugar cereal or sugar in my cereal. I only like 5 kinds of cereal. And not the bottom of the box or soggy stuff.

3. Don't let my witty tweets and eloquent blog posts fool you. {or my sarcasm for that matter}. I am terribly socially awkward and random. My husband explains it as thinking way too much to the point where it becomes over thinking. Case in point... the other day I ended up emailing the same person 3 times. Two times I misread their email. And tried to explain myself.

4. I hate shopping. I'm not fashion oriented at all. And find malls and stores extremely intimidating and uncomfortable. However, stick me in a michael's craft store and I can be there for days hours. I'd love to buy all my clothes online. Or have a personal shopper. I once had an amazing friend who told me what to buy and I always loved it. But than I moved. I haven't bought much for new clothes since!

5. Please don't hate me and throw things in my direction... I'm the eldest kid in my family. I have 4 siblings. I've always been surrounded by children. I love kids. They seem to love me. But I'm not planning to have any. I feel like I've done the whole raising a kid thing (long back story... ask if you'd like to know :)) I'm enjoying taking care of just Jon and myself.

6. I love to laugh. Send all things funny this way. Jokes, comments, pictures, youtube clips. I'd rather wake up 80 with laugh lines then have frown lines. Watch this youtube video. It applies to this fact so well!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxHLF5GaRUA

7. Oh garsh. For as narcissistic as I am {i.e. always talking about myself on my blog, twitter, to myself} I am having a heck of a time coming up with 7 things. Does that make me humble? Or is the problem I can't pick only 7 things?? Conundrum indeed. Also I love vocab words. I need to find a good Word a Day app.

So I'm now passing it on to 7 bloggers. If you choose to do it great! I love reading lists about people. If not, I won't take it personally! Go check out their great blogs!

 

The Odd Duck
The Girl With The Blue Bow
Of Woods and Words
live your life
Jello's Kitchen
Aleks Handmade
Unladylike Behavior

Small Snapshots: Letters

 

I was so excited to do this week's theme but it was SO much more challenging than I thought it would be! Still fun but I felt rushed with just a week to look for letters! So mine are camping related! I spelt my name...

How did you find this week's prompt?? Can't wait to see your letters!

Next week's prompt: Sun Flare!

This is one I am definitely still learning how to do! If you have any suggestions for themes you'd like to do let me know!

 

 

Spring Fever Challenge~Week 8

 

Goals:

1. work-out 5 times a week
2. go on 5 hikes
3. be 55% done my correspondence course
4. complete 5 projects
5. complete the C25K


 

This week's questions:

1. What have you done this past week to help achieve your goals?
   -I worked out 3 times this week. 3/5
   -Went on a hike to a canyon!  2/5
   - Meant to do some work this week and I got distracted. Drat.
   -I tried a new craft project, making rubber erasers. I think I'm probably at 4/5
   -Oh gosh, I need to start running again! What happened!?!
   


2. What did you do this past week to make you feel good about yourself? Honestly, it was probably just as simple as cheating on my gluten free diet for the week-end and heading out camping. I wore my sweats, didn't wear makeup or wash my hair, and enjoyed a few beer. For a while I relaxed and didn't worry about anything.
   


3. How do you measure success of your goals? Hmm... depends on the goal. Sometimes it's if it's completed in full or 100%. And other times it's the amount of effort and commitment I went into it. I might not complete all these goals by the end of the SFC challenge, but how hard have I worked on them? Have I tried off and on? Followed through with my commitment of the challenge to the end or quit part way?
   
   


4. What is failure to you when it comes to goals? Deciding it was a dumb goal and giving up on it before the end. Or making up so many excuses and not even trying to work on it.
   


5. Fun Question: If you could hop on a plane right now, where would you go? Probably anywhere. I'd love to see anything. If I had to choose right now, then I'd say Europe or Australia, or New Zealand.

 

Winner of the Giveaway!!

Wow guys!! I am really feelin' the love!! Thank-you for all the entries in my giveaway!

The winner of the bird nest necklace is...

Congratulations Cheryl!! I'll send you an email! Thanks again everyone for entering! I've got plenty more in my shop!

May Long Week-End

We decided to spend the long week-end camping. We headed out to a pretty rustic campground. We're talking no electricity, no running water, and outhouses. Usually out that direction I have really poor/no cell service, but I had pretty good service there! So that was a relief. Felt better knowing if there was a bear attack I could call for help! Thankfully no bear sightings!

 

This was our home away from home for a couple nights. We took our camping/hiking/older car out. We usually take that one when we take the dogs out and head out on rough gravel roads.

 

 

We decided against getting a lake side site and instead got one backing onto an open space where the dogs could run and play off leash. Note... non-gluten free chips... I sorta cheated on it this week-end :(

 

 

The first evening we took it easy by the fire with a couple beers=perfect relaxing activity!

 

 

The second day, we got up early and went on a hike to a canyon with a waterfall and a hidden geocache.

 

 

In the summer time when the creek is much much lower people jump off the far side and cool off in a small pool area. Last fall Jon walked across the bridge... way too scary now! That water is so deep and fast moving!

 

 

It's hard to show in a picture but that water was really beating against the rock side! It's crazy to compare it to pictures from last fall.

 

 

That water is typically 5-6 feet lower during the fall! We had planned to let Kudjo swim in there, but once we saw how high it was we changed our minds. While we were watching it tore a tree off the once bank and swept it swiftly down the creek.

 

 

Pretty great view though

 

 

 

When we returned to camp the weather started to turn a bit gloomy so we took shelter under our tarp. We forgot to bring cards so we made our own out of the beer box.

 

 

A little mis-shapen but they did the trick!

 

 

We have an ongoing crib tournament. I always win!

 

Unfortunately the weather for the rest of the evening and the next morning was pretty windy, rainy, and cold. Our little dog was pretty ready to go home he wanted in the car so while we packed everything up he slept in there. But all in all a nice relaxing week-end away! How did you spend your week-end??

And Tent We Must

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="via weheartit.com"][/caption]

Right now we are packing as we  head out  camping!! For this week-end we camp! I don't know about where you guys live, but here in Canada we have a long week-end! And probably like 90% (ok maybe 89%) of the population goes camping on May long. We have never gone camping by ourselves. We always go with other people so this week-end we're going alone, with our dogs.

And when I say camping I mean real camping... not that RV with satellite and wireless. (We once worked at a campground for a summer that was like that and people would talk to each other all like oh my gosh I can't believe we are camping this is so hard on me as they were sitting in the hot tub and sauna). Nothing against that kind of camping I like that kind sometimes. But it's good to do the real kind sometimes too. I'm talking no electricity, no running water, outhouses, no cell service, and maybe 40 people in a 1 mile radius. It's going to be good for me not to check my email or blog frequently. And forget tweeting everything I eat! I'm not overly excited about the outhouses. But I love sleeping outdoors. I used to camp here when I was a teen so it will be nice to return. And there's a cool hike to a waterfall not far from there. Not to mention a few geocaches to find! This should be a good week-end!

We wanted be gone till Monday but we have to dog sit for my brother.  So I'll catch you guys on Sunday! Have a great week-end!

DIY Rubber Stamps

I am such a sucker for DIY crafts! On my old laptop I have probably over 50 projects I want to try. Pinterest is totally fueling that obsession so I'm going to try to try something new each week. Last week I made a sewing machine cover and this week I made DIY Rubber stamps via Pinterest

 

I started with an eraser and drew "love" on it with pen

 

 

Carefully I used a knife and started cutting out the parts I didn't want ink on.

 

When I got to this point I realized what I did wrong. I wrote it like I'd read it not mirror image once I printed it! Opps!

 

So I flipped it over and started again. This time with the letters backwards

 

Stamped it into the ink pad

 

And there ya have it! Not perfect! But not bad for my first second try!

 

 

I decided to try a couple more... a really easy cloud one I am hoping to use for my shop tags. And a more complicated one, a bee. 

Not too hard eh? Think I might make a couple more.

 

Another thing I've pinned a lot of is crafts that use paint chips! I've started my collection. So if you have any ideas for great crafts let me know!

 

Speaking of paint chips... I found the one from when I was choosing paint colors for our place. See the middle color below? That's my bathroom but a little greener. It's pretty bright! But I love it!