In the mood

For doing something nice... Sooo, I am on a RAK rampage. I have already completed two packages that are going out the door as we speak. I just feel the need - I just want other people to know that I am thinking about them. I am not a phone person. Actually, I hate the phone. I figure I spend three days a week on the phone at work - constantly. It is never good either. It is always to deal with problems or concerns or more problems... The phone is negative for me. BUT I am an email person and I love snail mail - so I figure I will connect my way and let people know I care! Look out ladies - there may be something coming your way!! hee hee

Have a good day all!!

Ciao

Sunday Catch Up

Forgot last week to post a pic of my guy in his Cubs uniform. This was his first night. So far, so good. I just got all the patches sewn on... Ya, that was funny. I don't know who will learn more in this next year, Ethan or me. Why aren't those patches just iron on?? Come on!!

This is what I found yesterday in my travels. I bought these wrought iron sconces and candles...

A new mum for my balcony. It is huge. Really huge. Love it.

And a new wreath for my front door. I don't even know what this one is made from. It has moss and berries on it... Just love the granny smith apple green colour. Worked very well with my decor.

It is all starting to come together. I still want a chaise and a blanket to replace the little bistro set... We will see.

Have a good Sunday all. I am off to veg before I begin dinner.

Ciao

Happy day for me...

Fall is here and I am thrilled!! I cleaned out the closets this morning and packed away all the "summer stuff" and pulled out all our fall clothing and went to town!! Now all the closets in the house have been de-cluttered and re-organized and I have gotten rid of another 2 huge garbage bags full of clothing that won't be worn again (WHY keep it????) and I love it!! Seriously, LOVE it! Not joking. It is a disease. AND because I did all the closets, I decided to pack away all the summer decorations in the house. I put away all the light pillows and throws and pulled out the dark, heavy pillows and blankets. I still need a few more pillows for the couch in the great room, and I want some nice chocolate brown ones. But I dont' want them feather filled or anything. I want them very plain. They are hard to come by! I think a trip to Pier 1 is in order to see what they have, or maybe Home Outfitters... I am also heading out to Potter's because I am in the mood to decorate outside and I am in need of some fall outdoor cushions and some sconces for the house so I can add candles, and maybe a throw for outside too. I don't know. I want to build a mini living room on my front porch. I can see it all in my little head - I want a chaise on the front porch with some pillows and a throw and a pot of nice, hearty mums on a side table... Sounds comfy, right?? Hmmm. I am not sure if it will all work. But I love a challenge, so this will be fun. We will see what I come up with.

Ciao all.


PS: In re-arranging my closet, I have come to realize that I really only own three colours of clothing - black, grey and white. My accent colour seems to be green or taupe - I have two green jackets and two green skirts and a taupe blazer and some sweaters... I also own 17 pairs of jeans and a dozen white t-shirts. Wow. Can it possibly get any more boring than that?? And here is the killer thing - I went shopping on Thursday and bought a new skirt and two new sweaters and a new pair of shoes. Yes, all black!! I am soooo Italian. hee hee

Very Strange...

Something very strange happened to me on the drive home. I was on Fraser Highway, and I looked into my rear view mirror and there was a light blue mini van behind me. There was a woman driving and a man in the passenger seat. They were Indo Canadian. The woman who was driving looked EXACTLY like Manjit! No joke. Spitting image. I nearly crashed my car because I was so shocked/taken back by the similarities. Same jaw line. Same eye placement. Same long, dark hair, pulled back in a pony tail. Same nose profile. SPITTING IMAGE!! Then when the shock wore off, I was so overcome with emotion that I actually had to pull over and let this van pass me. I could not bear to have this van follow behind me any longer - to have to look in the rear view mirror and see that face and be reminded all over again that she is gone. I have never had this experience. You know how people always say, "You look exactly like so and so...". I have never said that. I don't think people look like other people. I think people are unique and look unique. But this woman could have been Manj's twin. I called my sister because I had to talk to someone who would understand. As soon as I said to Laura what I saw, she said she had just had a dream about Manj the night before, and in her dream Manj came to Laura to tell her that this was all a cover up. That she and the baby were hiding away. That they steal away to visit Maya. That this was all for her protection... Funny what our deepest desires do to our minds - especially when we sleep... I miss her. It is coming up on the anniversary of her death - next month. How is that possible?? Right now I don't know if I am grateful for this strange experience I had or not. It has brought to the surface many emotions again - fear, anger, sadness... Very strange indeed.

Now THAT is customer service!!

Well, I take it all back. I just got off the phone with the lovely, lovely manager of the purple store, and she apologized for the customer service I received there over a month ago (the stamp has been sitting in my drawer since mid July...) and told me to take back the stamp. It is defective. She will send it back. It is not a problem!! You know, this one phone call from the manager has now made me a customer for life!! Seriously. I am beyond impressed that she took time to call me about this stamp. And that she apologized so much for whomever I was speaking to - for their attitude. It is NOT the store policy - they do and will take the product back if it is defective!! So scrappers shop with confidence at the purple store!! Thank you!!

My first scrapping complaint

I purchased this stamp from 7 Gypsies. It is a really cool stamp. Well, I think it is. It jammed the very FIRST time I tried to use it! It is a self inking stamp. The cartridge has jammed and now it won't retract or self-ink, and the ink pad is drying up!! Now, I spent close to $10 on this one stamp. I am none too happy that it does not work. And the scrap store I bought it at (the purple store...) will NOT take it back!!! I am angry. So, I emailed 7 Gypsies this morning. I am curious to see what response, if any, I will get. I am hoping this company will value customer service and reply. I have to say, I am not a customer to mess with. Burn me once and never again will you get one more penny from me!! And, after my experience with the above mentioned purple store's manager, I don't think I will be shopping there anymore either. I don't have time for companies that don't value my patronage. Too bad. I spend a lot of $$$ each visit - 3 or 4 times a month.

Birthday Pics

8 is GREAT!!

Happy Birthday to my big guy!! 8 years old today. Wow. Where has that time gone?? Love you lots and lots buddy!! Here's to another healthy and happy year!!

Pics of the birthday bash we had yesterday to come. My camera is having downloading issues... I hate when that happens!!

Ciao all.

Big Birthday Weekend

For Ethan that is!! He officially turns 8 on Monday, but we are having his family party on Sunday. I don't know where these years have gone?? But he is very excited. 8 is a big number. He starts cubs next week. He is no longer a Tiny Tiger but rather a Karate Kid in Taekwondo (means he has to train with all the big kids now!!). He gets to stay up longer at night now. Big time stuff!! And I am happy we can celebrate it all with him. Should be a busy weekend for us. Hope y'all have a good one!

Ciao

First day of school 2007/2008

Well, here they are. Miss Bella starting her last year of Montessori and Ethan starting Grade 3. HOW is that possible?? I don't know where the time has gone... It is all so bittersweet. I mean, my children NEED school. They thrive on the energy - learning, growing, playing... They love it all! It is amazing. So I never want to hold them back. They have been looking forward to starting school for the past few weeks now. But why do they have to grow up so fast?? Seriously, wasn't Ethan born yesterday?? I swear he was... And WHERE has my baby girl gone?? Look at her with her long leg jeans and Sketchers on and her Strawberry Shortcake lunch box... Sigh. Here's to another great year!!

Ciao all

Some pics from our trip

Here are just a few pics from our trip. More to come. Thanks for looking!!
Ciao

Home Stuff

Well, I missed being home, so I had to bake - double chocolate toffee chip cookies. THE best!! And then I had to update my decor while I was away, so here is my giant clothes pin and my little prayer picture. Just the right kitsch for my home!! Night all!!

Home from our mini-vacation

We are home, safe and sound, and we had a FABULOUS time away!! Seattle is amazing. So much to see and do. If you have not been, I highly recommend you go. Of course, I could be biased - it is just like being in Vancouver! Everything is so green and fresh. Lake Washington and Puget Sound is right there... Pike Place Market is incredible. The Space Needle was beyond cool. Although I have come to realize that I am totally afraid of heights! We were 520 feet above ground on the observation deck. Yikes. I did not venture too close to the edge... We went to the Pacific Science Centre and walked through the Butterfly Conservatory. That was a bit freaky for me since I despise all creatures, great and small, and these butterflies were everywhere - landing on you... I had to take many deep breathes so I would not scream each time one flew past me or landed on me. But the kids thougth it was wicked. We went to the Woodland Park Zoo. Okay, now THAT was a zoo!! It took us almost 3 hours to wander the paths and see everything. The zoo is divided into habitat zones, like Tropical and African Savanah, etc. The animals are all right there - just big motes (for lack of better word) separating you and them. Incredible. And of course we shopped. Boy did we shop!! We stayed in Bellevue which is a suburb of Seattle. Like a 15 minute drive from Bellevue to downtown Seattle. They have the greatest mall - Bellevue Square. Okay, THAT is where I need to live. Coach and Nordstrom's and Macy's and Tiffany and Co. all in the same mall!! Oh ya baby! hee hee My greatest find, though, was my pair of Sketcher's cons for $19.50! Can you say STEAL!! I bought them without even trying them on. I will have to take a pic of them and post. They are beyond cute. And then I found the greatest gigantic red clothes pin in Pottery Barn that I am using to hold phone messages and mail. LOVE it! I will have to post a pic of that also. I did not buy any clothes for me, could not really find anything too spectacular. I did buy a Morino wool sweater for myself at Macy's, but that was all. I did buy Marc some new chinos and shirts. But for the kids, I went crazy! Soooo much more selection and style!! And soooo better priced! I was lucky to hit Gymboree on their Labour Day sale. I bought Isabella a skirt, long sleeve shirt, tights, a jean jacket and two different hair bobbles all for under $50!! You heard right! I picked up polo shirts for Ethan for $4.75 each! I got a 4 piece pyjama set for Bella for $5.99! I bought her a polo shirt and a pair of brown chinos and I don't even think I spent $10 on the set!! I mean, come on! We can't compete here.

But, alas, summer is over, and I am sad. I have had fun having my kids home. I had the most excellent babysitter with us this summer - thank you Jadan!!! Both Marc and I worked hard all summer and were able to accomplish a lot. We are blessed beyond measurement. But now back to the real world. I have an 8th birthday party to plan for next Sunday and then an Emergency Fair to get organized and a kid's party to fit in somewhere... Busy month ahead!

To all kids going back to school tomorrow, have fun!! To all parents, good luck!!

I am off to spend my summer vacation day at my cousin's new apartment and see what I can do for her. I feel some decorating coming on!!

Ciao all.