Day {1} Entry

Here it is. Simple. Trying to keep it such. I want this to be more about the actual goal than a scrapbook! Also trying to get more of my writing on the page. Hard to do, especially when you are so used to using the computer to print everything out.

Journal Cover

Here it is. I went out and bought the journal this afternoon and did my cover. Now I am nervous. I have committed. The journal is all about goals. My goal - to follow our monthly budget. This is a huge struggle for me. More than anything else in life. I don't like limitations. I don't like being told what I can and cannot purchase. BUT I know that we are counseled to live within our means, and that is crucial for us. I want to build my dream home. I want to build this home before I turn 40. That is only 5 years away. In order for me - us - to accomplish this, we have to be strict on our budget. This is going to be hard. Admitting this out loud. Committing this to paper... Wow. Here's to a new journey.

{21} Day Challenge

Well, Rhonda has inspired me, and so now I have accepted the {21} Day Challenge given by Rhonna Farrer. I am off this afternoon to pick up an art journal at M's and then start. I am only 3 days behind... No biggie!! hee hee (Right) I am very nervous about doing this. I have a problem with allowing myself to be free. I just don't think I can function outside of structure. But I don't want this journal to be like everything else I do in life - totally structured. I am hoping to learn a little about myself, and my sweet friends on the way!! And I hope I have something to give. That is the fear - that I don't...

When you are stumped...

Scrap!! I find it really helps. This is the latest I did of Isabella, again using the Scraptivity March kit. Just loads of fun - all my own hand writing and doodling. And now I am a little more relaxed, and can deal with the challenges at work. You know, I am a pretty smart kid. Really I am. But lately the things I have been faced with at the firm... I am starting to doubt myself. Never good when that happens. Sigh.

Frustrating Day

Today has been one of those days... A day that was so full of promise, and nothing has gone right. I hate those days. They make me frustrated and angry. And when I get angry, EVERYBODY feels it. I was supposed to have my painters come today and paint. They did not show. Now my granite guy was supposed to be here by 3pm to look at my island. So far, no sign of him either. Why?? Are you that incapable of running your business?? Are you that insensitive that no one else's time matters?? I am just amazed at how people have NO pride in their work and don't come through on their word. This is two days now of my time wasted waiting for stupid labourers. All this does is make me even more determined to sell this house as soon as possible and build by ourselves. Where I have TOTAL control of everything. No work done, OR work not done right = no money. Pretty simple. As opposed to how it is now - all money up front and then having to spend valuable time chasing down idiots who do substandard work to begin with. Apparently, spending over $400,000 does not guarantee you good craftsmanship or customer service once the money has been paid. I don't know exactly how much you have to pay in order to get this, but I guess we aren't there yet. Getting angrier by the second.....

And we are off!

And running once again. Monday morning has arrived and with it the usual routine. Spring Break has ended and it is back to school and back to Taekwondo. Also, Ethan starts swimming lessons every Saturday from now until July! Talk about a committment. It never ends.

Isabella has an open house at Wind and Tide coming up - I dont' know how that will go over. She is pretty much a mama's girl - always by my side no matter where I go or what I do. I still don't know how she manages with the sitter every Thursday and Friday. My sitter tells me Isabella does fine - I think she is lying. Or at least trying to make me feel good!

I have a series of "house" things scheduled for this week. Today the painter is coming to do the bathrooms and halls. Then tomorrow I have the granite guy coming to fix a chip in my island counter top and look at a stain. It has been there since we moved in. I don't think the granite was ever sealed properly. Anyways, this is something for them to figure out. I am tired of looking at the stain. For an obssessive person like me, you KNOW that this is absolutely killing me!!

My work deadline is fast approaching... Am I worried?? Ummm, ya. I have a few companies that are not cooperating with me, and I fear that the Corporate Registry is going to fine me if these companies fail to transition by the end of next week. Nothing like a little pressure to get the job done. eeeeekkkk

I hope everyone has a good and productive week. And we are off!

Having fun with this kit

If you dont' know of Scraptivity, or have never had the joy of working with one of their kits, I highly recommend you familiarize yourself with this site (www.scraptivity.com) and get with the program!! This March kit has been so much fun to work with. Here is a layout I finished for Ethan's album. It has been a real release being able to doodle on the layouts, and let go a little. Not being perfect is good - sometimes!! hee hee

Scrapping Day

I just finished a layout of Isabella that I totally lifted from Melissa at Scraptivity!! I have had NO creative juices of my own in the last month or so. So thank you Melissa for allowing me to be creative today! Now, I am very unhappy with the scan... It looks SOOO much better in real life!! I played with the colour of the photo intentially to pick up on the blues and greens in both the cardstock (a really pretty pale blue) and the patterned paper. Oh well. I guess I will have to learn how to use Photoshop better. Now I am off to create something for Ethan. Hope y'all have the chance to be creative today too!!

Diva in the house

Wanna know what an almost 3 yr old diva looks like?? Well, here she is!! Miss Izzy B at her finest. I don't know what I am going to do with this kid!!

Rain, rain - go away!

Poor Ethan. It is Spring Break, and the weather has been absolutely crappy. There is a carnival in town, and I wanted to take him. But the weather, yet again, has turned to rain. This guy is bored. I rented "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" for him yesterday, but even that did not do the trick. He watched it once, and said he did not like it. Sigh. This morning we have been looking at stuff under the microscope. My kid's gonna be a doctor! He is absolutely fascninated by anything scientific. Makes a mama proud!! But he is bored of this too now. I think he is building a city out of blocks at the moment. And it isn't even 9 am yet!! Yikes. Time to call in the reinforcements. I wonder what my sister and niece and nephew are doing today?? Hope they can come and play!!

Today is a special day

Because it is Marc's 35th birthday!!! Happy birthday baby!!! I hope you have a wonderful day.
Love you lots.

Just a little while longer

It will all be revealed. And trust me - it is SOOO worth the wait!!

Coming Soon....

Can't say any more!! But there is a big surprise on the way!! Coming soon to a computer near you... Stay tuned for more information!! hee hee

My man is sweet

Marc is back from his second business trip to Korea in as many weeks. The poor guy is absolutley exhausted. He had back to back seminars to prepare for and give, but he still found the time to go to his "bag lady" and buy me a new little trinket. He brought home this gorgeous little black Coach bag. Absolutely amazing. He is the sweetest man you could ever meet. Love you Marc!!

Pretty things

Whenever I need inspiration, I turn to the haute designers. I have noticed that a big trend for Spring is the colour "nude". It has even worked its way into interior design. Ralph Lauren makes a gorgeous, satiny paint called "nude". But I am not too thrilled with this colour. It is a little too "vanilla" = boring = for me. But that was before I came across these pretty pretty shoes. These are Manolo Blahniks. I could make a sacrifice and wear these "nude" shoes this Spring/Summer. But I may have to sell a child in order to get them!! I think they are $1050.00 US a pair.... Hmmm. I will admire from afar, and continue to gain inspiration from these pretty things.

Feeling "off" today

I hope I am not getting sick. I am feeling off today. My throat hurts a bit - but on one side only. My joints feel achy. And I am tired.... Really not how I wanted to spend my Sunday, or begin the week. Marc comes home tomorrow (yeah!!) and I have files to work on this week from home. So I am really praying that with some good sleep tonight and not exerting myself today, tomorrow I will feel like my old self again. Hopefully.