My super handsome guy

My sweet Ethan had to get glasses. Sigh. I was sad about it at first. I so wanted him to be able to avoid this, but let's face it - the genetic pool was stacked against him. I know all of Marc's immediate family members wear glasses, and in my family, there is only one person who doesn't. Totally sad. But my guy is super stylin' in his glasses. They really suit him!! I love how intelligent he looks!! Trouble is, he is already too intelligent for his own good!! This is not going to help matters any. What a cutie!!

Day {21} - Finally!!

I am finally able to post my last layout. The {21} Day Challenge lasted a lot longer in my house... Oh well. At least it lasted!! I have spent this past week doing a scrapbook for a retirement party that was last night. My sister said the book was MUCH appreciated and the recipient was in awe that someone would take the time to make her something so detailed and so special. That made the whole process worth it. Because let me tell you - by midnight Thursday night when I was only done 9 pages of 17, nothing was going to make me do this ever again!! I am still not sure I will do this again. It was hard. But I am very happy that the scrap book will be loved.

So, my final layout. It is all about me. Me 21 days later. Me in a more positive light. I am proud to say that I stuck to the challenge I gave myself of living in the budget, and not going shopping and buying whatever I wanted. Yesterday was the first day that I went shopping for something for the house - AND it was a pre-planned trip; AND the items were on sale. Double bonus. No surprises and no last minute purchases. Yeah. I will still have to keep this challenge in mind when I am out and about. But that is good. It is always good to keep the big picture in mind and keep yourself in check. Now, I want to do this all over again. I have a few more things I need to work on in life!!

Have a good night.

I have realized something today

I could NEVER scrap for money. I volunteered to do a scrapbook for my sister's school secretary. She is retiring after 20+ years of service. My sister was able to gather all the pictures she wanted in the book, and organize them for me. But she has left the "creativity" up to me. Well, I can't do it!! I have no emotional attachment. I can't journal anything because I don't know who or what is going on in the pictures. And I can't even get titles on the pages because again - I don't know who the people are!! It is soooo frustrating. And it really REALLY cramps the scrapping style. So far, I have completed 7 pages - in one day. My head hurts. I am all out of creative ideas, and really not too happy with what I have created. That makes me mad. It is my work people are looking at. And I am not proud of it..... And it has to be done by Saturday morning. Oh ya, did I mention that it is a 20 page book??!! No, oh - it is!!!! So, lesson of the day - I can NOT scrap for other people. This will be the first and last time I do this. I honestly thought this would be easy. I was wrong. Very very wrong.

Day {19}

Finally getting around to post this one. All about hope. Very appropriate for me today.

One step forward, and two steps back

That is the kind of day I am having. I don't want to get into details. It will make me mad all over again. I am just trying to let go and let God. That is my motto today. I am sure we have been brought to this point in our lives for a reason. And so to abandon it all now seems too rash a decision. I don't like owing businesses. I don't like the fact that everything is always my/our problem, 24/7. I want someone else to have these problems now..... I need chocolate.

Day {20}

I finished this one before I finished Day 19. I will post that one later on. The bag in this picture is the latest from Burberry. I just adore Burberry bags. I honestly think they are my most favourite - and that is saying A LOT from a girl who has 2 Vuitton bags and 2 Gucci bags, among others.... There is something very classic about Burberry - something mature and sophisticated. But Burberry comes at a price. This lovely bag costs $1200 US. So, the quote I used for the inspiration for this layout was very appropriate,

"The ability to discipline yourself to delay gratification in the short term in order to enjoy greater rewards in the long term is the indepensable prerequisite for success". Brian Tracy.

I am soooo in the wrong business

So I am wondering to myself, WHY aren't I the one designing these shoes?? The first pair, named "Carmen Marc" - only $460 US a pair. Ummm - hello?!! What a brilliant name for a shoe company!!! And my gorgeous hubby spells his name with a "c" like above!! And then, of course, the second pair - my beloved Manolo Blahniks. These are alligator - only $2200 US a pair. Sigh. I am so in the wrong business. It is really illegal to sell organs?? I mean, these shoes are worth it, aren't they??!! Sigh again.

Days {16} {17} and {18}

Have been too busy to upload lately. Here are a few more. TFL

Like a chicken

I feel like I am running around like a chicken with its head off!! Where has this week gone?? I worked the majority of the week at the firm, to catch us up kind of thing - we have 5 trials scheduled between now and the end of May - all ICBC defence files. But my home life did not keep up with my legal life!! What happened?? We have had dentist appointments, and taekwondo lessons, and testing, and PAC meetings and YM meetings and RCMP, and it is not even Friday yet!! Tonight I had to bake 2 dozen cupcakes for Ethan's class tomorrow... The laundry pile is not diminishing. And I REALLY want to get some more landscaping done in the front yard, but who has the time?? I am going to call in the curbing guys, and have them build really large curbs around my two front gardens. I want them stamped like antique bricks, and stained the same colour as the trim on my house. But I have to be home in order for them to come and give me a quote and see what needs to be done. I am not home at all next week either.... Yikes. Time to stop and catch my breath and re-organize.

And on that note, do any of you watch Alias? I used to LOVE this show. Last night it was on again - finally, after being on hiatus since December. It SUCKED!!! I have never been more disappointed in my life. The story line was sooo predictable. And like we did not know that Vaughn was alive and well. You could see that coming a mile away. And living where, in Tibet or something?? Oh how dumb. I am very happy that this is it for this show. Five more episodes and it is over, and I will be out of my misery finally! Sigh. You know, I am not a big TV watcher. It is rare that I find programs that I like. So when they go down hill like this, I get angry. Time wasted. I don't like wasting my time!! Rant over. Moving on!

I have 6 more entries to finish for my [21] day challenge (that has now turned into the 42 day challenge!!!). I had better get a move on. Have a good night.

Day {15}

This is about resisting temptation. All these things I have written down are temptations of mine. Some are physical, but many are psychological, and very personal. I know WHY I do what I do. I have to get over this. I have to resist.

Easter with my family

I LOVE family time!! My family is the best!! They are funny and witty and so giving and loving!! We have the best time when we are all together. So these are pics from our Easter Egg hunt in White Rock yesterday, at my aunt and uncle's house. The kids had a blast. My cousins are the best with the children. This is my sweet Marie with Isabella and Ethan. Isn't she just gorgeous!!! It's all good!!

Day {14}

Happy Easter!! Rhonna may be done, but I am not yet. No matter - I am still going strong and totally sticking with it. Yesterday, I even denied myself a purchase and stuck to my committment. It was hard - VERY hard - but it felt good. Step by step. Live for something.

Crisis fixed

Well, if you ever have the opportunity to build a house here in the Cloverdale area, I highly recommend Moscone Developers. My roof leaked yesterday morning. My BRAND NEW roof. Needless to say, I was less than impressed. I sent a fax over to our builder and really did not expect to see or hear from him until today. No. One hour later, there he was at our door. How amazing is that??!! He found the leak (vent flashing not properly secured) and had the roofers come and fix it. Voila. All done in a matter of a few hours. No more leak. Amazing. Now on Monday he will be back to fix the ceiling in my master bedroom. Once again, my faith in good business has been restored. It has really been a pleasure dealing with this company so far, and if I could hire him personally to build my next house, I so would. Now I can enjoy the rest of my long weekend in peace. Yeah. Have a happy day y'all!!

Day {13}

I don't like this quote. Makes me feel that I am not progressing because I do not agree with it, and then I feel quilty for being so close-minded... But I owe a big thank you and a hug to Tammy for sending me a great bag of goodies for my birthday. I have used a few of them on this layout. Came at the perfect time!! Thanks doll!!

My NEW roof is leaking!!

Okay, you expect when you buy a brand new house that the roof would not leak. Apparently, NOT SO!! I woke up this morning and got out of bed and noticed a wet spot on my carpet. Strange... I asked Marc if he had spilled some water sometime during the night. No he says. Okay, where is this from?? Look up... What is that?? My ceiling is actually bubbling it is sooo wet!! Oh my goodness. And of course today no one is around. It is Good Friday. Sigh. So I have huge towels down on my bedroom floor to catch any more drips. And I have sent a very nasty fax to my builder, basically telling him I expect to see him tomorrow morning at 7 am kind of thing to fix this, or else. And now all I can do is pray that the rain will let up for the next 24 hours. Life cannot be simple, can it? These types of annoyances drive me crazy. This is where I have my faith tested - my faith in my abilities to handle these situations and my faith in those around me who have to "fix" it - wondering if they really know what they are doing... So much for a nice, peaceful day off. Hope everyone else has a good day!!

Days {11} and {12}

Going strong still. But REALLY hard now!! Simple entries.

Thoughts on turning 35

Well, today is my birthday. Happy birthday to me. I don't really know what to make of today. Am I happy that I am turning 35? Not too sure. I am not sad or depressed. Just not sure. Am I happy where I am in life? Yes. I look back even five years ago, and we had just bought our first house, and we only had Ethan. And now here we are - 3 houses later and Isabella. That is wonderful progress!! I am back at work part time. That is good. My education and talents are not going to waste. I have a new business (still a secret!! hee hee) and that is going to be very busy and very exciting once the kinks get worked out. We have added the RCMP to our lives - and it looks like they may become a permanent part of our lives. Marc just loves it so much. I see another change on the horizon for him. But that is a few years away. Marc has a new school - our 4th one. That is crazy to think that we have bought and sold and run 4 schools! Life is moving forward. But at least I am not just part of the ride. I am actively moving with it, so that is good. Am I scared of being 35? A little. 15 years ago I was 20. I remember being 20!! In another 15 years I will be 50!! Now THAT scares me!! My body does not function like it used to. That scares me too. I don't know quite what to do with it. Things are moving... Metabolism is slowing down too much for my liking... Ya. So that part of aging does not excite me. And is it wrong that I WANT to be asleep by 10pm every night?!? Hmm. Well, for the rest of the day, I am not going to think about it. I am going to lunch with my mom and sister, and out to dinner with my gorgeous husband, and I am going to enjoy the day. Hope y'all have a great day too!!

It never rains, but pours

So these past few weeks around here have been insane. It was Marc's birthday and my niece's birthay; then Marc's brother and then my brother in law and now mine tomorrow. That's not the end of it. Next week in my nephew's birthday and then my cousin. Then comes my anniversary and then Isabella's birthday and my dad's.... It is hard just keeping everything straight. But to top it all off, a few weeks ago Ethan mentioned that he cannot see things far away. That things look like "dots" to him. Okay... That does not sound good. He gets headaches - too many for a healthy 6 1/2 year old. So yesterday we went to the eye doctor. My poor Ethan needs glasses - for school and for watching TV and working on the computer. Sigh. I thought MAYBE we could have avoided this for a few more years. Not. So, on top of the constant birthday presents I have had to buy, now it is a new pair of glasses for Ethan. Oh well, at least he will be stylin'!! No way my kid is gonna have some goony looking glasses!! But I will hold off on buying him Gucci glasses - at least until he is old enough to pay for them when they are damaged!! You KNOW it is going to happen...

Day {10}

Going strong. I am a few days behind Rhonna, but that does not matter. Even if I cannot do my layout for the day, I am thinking about my challenge. It is always on my mind, and that is the most important part. This quote did not need anything else - in change we find purpose. Simple as that.

Day {9}

I am enjoying doing this journal differently. I am trying whatever comes to my head. Not the best work, but it works nonetheless. This is Day {9}. The jouranling reads:

"The principle is competing against yourself. It's about improvement, about getting better than you were the day before (Steve Young). Truer words have never been spoken to me. WHO am I competing against? WHO puts pressure on me? WHO am I trying to impress? No one. Just me. No one knows whether or not my drinking glasses are new. No one knows whether or not my towels are new. No one knows whether or not the vase on my mantel is new. I have to stop worrying about these things and focus on the bigger picture. I have so many plans for Marc and the children. I have a picture in my mind of where I want us to be in 5 years and 10 years. I want Marc retired. I want to travel. I want to serve a mission and make a difference in this world. NONE of this will be accomplished by always giving in to the impulse buys. Now it is not only the big house I want to build. It is a whole future".

Ethan sure can kick butt!!

This morning Ethan competed in his first Taekwondo competition. And he ROCKED!! He won medals for his form and for weapons - short stick. It was excellent to watch. He loves it so much. And we got to watch the SWAT team and the XMA (Extreme Martial Arts = Jackie Chan kind of moves!!) teams compete. That was mind boggling. These are kids who range in ages from 12 to 17, and I sure would not want to meet them in a dark alley somewhere!! They can move!! Great way to spend a Saturday morning.

Day {8}

This is what came out of my little head today after work. Don't know why. Just went with it. I have the power to change me. Simple as that.

Day {7}

This is getting very hard... Not just doing the journal layouts, but sticking to it!!
This entry is very basic, and a bit rough around the edges. Simple reminder. Trade one thing for the other. A nail is driven out by another nail.

Sick, sick, oh so sick...

I don't have the energy to even sit here... The {21} day challenge is going strong. I will post when I can actually see what I am doing. Have a good day all!! I am going back to bed.

Day {6}

Okay, now I am officially caught up! Whew. It is hard jumping in when the project has already started. And you know me - there is NO way that I could just start at day 3, or whatever day I decided to do this. Not a chance!! Now I am officially brain dead, and the ideas are not coming to me anymore, and I want to go shopping tomorrow!! Ummm, there is still like 15 days to go... I can do it. I can do it. I can do it!! Oy. Anyway, here is day 6. Lots of fun to do. Used the Scraptivity "Bloom" stamp set and my trusty sewing machine. Where would I be without it?!! Have a good night.

Day {4} and {5}

I committed to this, so here are days 4 and 5 which I did last night.

Day {2} and {3}

I am a machine. I did these this morning. Getting hard already....