New Camera

So my birthday is in two weeks - Easter Sunday to be exact. hee hee I said to Marc that I wanted one of those Flip video cameras. I want to take just home movie clips here and there and add them to the blog, and send them to Italy, etc. etc. Well, Marc went out and did research and came to conclusion that the Flip is a piece of junk (sorry if you own one and love it. My husband was not impressed..). And then he came home with this - my new camera. Well, I did not need a new camera. For a scrapbooker, I really hate taking picutres, so I am not a camera snob. I really could care less... BUT this little gem takes fabulous video AND it was cheaper than the Flip! Go figure. So now I have a new 10.1 mega pixel camera/video camera and I guess I am set for a while. And I just picked up a 16 G sd memory card for the camera. Really, I am set! Now, too bad I did not ask for shoes... Who knows what "upgrade" Marc could have found for me!! ha ha (Oh you KNOW I will go out and buy myself some new shoes for my birthday! Please. It is a given!!)

Ciao all.

How can it be...

That my son is about to begin testing for his 1st Degree Black Belt?? Where did that time go? And is he really old enough to be a black belt?? Yesterday during class Ethan received his "envelope" of instructions to begin the testing process. He has an Induction Questionnaire to fill out and a journal to write and an essay to write. And after he hands all of this in, he begins an endurance test - 10 hours long without Marc or I watching or helping him... I think this is what is giving me the stress. The instructions we received are very specific - wearing hiking boots/shoes; layered clothing; bring uniform and sparring gear and weapons to leave at the academy; bring water and food for the day - all of this has to fit in his backpack which he has to carry with him... I am feeling ill... I think it is time for me to start searching for good protein foods that are light to carry and fast to eat. And I guess I will be packing Ethan's asthma meds too... Oh boy. I said it before, and I will say it again - Taekwondo will be the death of me!!

Ciao all.

And just like that, it is over...

Spring Break, that is. I worked part of the week last week and then had time off with the kids. It was nice. We made no concrete plans - just went with the flow. Marc was home, which was great. We have not seen too much of him these past few months. Only 3 more months to go before he is all done his latest degree! Only 3 more months... ;] Now, I like schedules. I like structure. But I have to say, I really enjoyed this Spring Break. No Taekwondo. No Cubs. No meetings. Heaven. So I am sad that tomorrow it is back to the normal "grind". Sigh. I guess I will have to start looking forward to Easter break - 4 day holiday PLUS my birthday. Not bad!

Oh, I forgot to mention - if you are a cupcake fanatic, then you MUST go to Cupcakes in South Surrey. Amazing. On Thursday my mom and my sister and myself and the children went shopping (THAT was hilarious - a post on its own!!). We headed to South Surrey to the new Grandview Corners centre (where H&M is opening up next week!! Yah!!! I don't have to go to Coquitlam anymore!! I digress...) and then we brought the kids to Cupcakes. Oh good gosh. Decadent. So if you are in the neighbourhood, drop by, and have the Red Velvet Cupcake with Cream Cheese Icing. Mmmmm.

Ciao all.

A card, or is it...

I don't like cards. Seriously. I believe them to be a waste of money. And I don't keep cards. Ever. From anyone. Not even my children. Oh, quit the mock horror gasp! I don't like stuff - and cards are stuff! What do you do with them?? Put them in a drawer somewhere? In a box? Then what - 10 years later you have accumulated a lot of junk paper... So when I make "cards" I make these bookmarks. Marc's niece is 12 and this is her "card". It is just 3x6" piece of cardstock with fancy stuff on the front and a simple birthday wish on the back. That is my "card". I think B can use this for whatever she wants afterwards - like a bookmark. Or she can de-construct it and use the bits and pieces and make something for one of her friends. Reuse, resave, recycle, and all that... hee hee

So, are you a "card" person, and if so, why? Curious.

Ciao all.

Creative Burst

I take them when I get them. And tonight I got one. So here is the end result. Half an hour - that is all I allow for the layouts. Then I move on. This one took 20 minutes. Bonus. Time to spare.

Ciao all

They're baaack....

And I could not be happier!! Okay, I have a SERIOUS love for Depeche Mode. I was hooked when I heard "Just Can't Get Enough" back in 1983 - I was 12 years old. They are a techno band to the core and they drew me right in. I think Marc and I have seen them in concert at least half a dozen times... Fast forward 25 years and they have released their newest album (Sounds of the Universe) and their new single entitled "Wrong", and I am in love all over again. I have every album they have produced. I know every song in their collection. I can sing them all. I came home from Seattle Saturday night and Marc had this grin on his face. He turned the iPod on and I heard my beloved David singing, but I had NO idea what he was singing... I turned to Marc and said, "What DM song is this? Did you find a remix of something?". Noooo! It was their new single he downloaded for me! Oh soooo happy! It has a hard techno driving beat - right up my alley. I have said it before and I will say it again - I have no appreciation for anything country; symphonic; spiritual; soothing; calming; new agey; uplifting; etc. etc. Are you catching my drift?? If I can't feel it in my chest, it is of no use to me. Literally. And DM have not failed me! Go to their website (depechemode.com) and listen to the song yourself. And if you don't like it, I don't care! Don't tell me about it. I won't listen anyways.

Ciao all.

Grateful...

"It is not joy that makes us grateful, it is gratitude that makes us joyful."

This saying is in my great room. I believe it with all my heart. And today I am very grateful for the following:

1. Liss, my after school care giver! She is the most wonderfully caring woman I have met. The children adore her as do I. And I am beyond grateful to her for picking up my children after school and caring for them and having play dates for them. The stress she alleviates from me each and every day - I cannot express it enough.

2. Income Tax Returns. Yup. Don't like paying income tax, but sure do LOVE the returns!! And Marc's last tuition payment is due - just in time. VERY grateful for this!

3. A husband who understands and supports me. He works so hard each and every day, and yet he still gets it that I need time away and he is really good about it and steps up and takes over. I don't ever have to worry that the children are not being cared for when I am away. He is marvelous with them. And he keeps a clean house while I am gone! Bonus. Big time. Makes me happy. And a happy mama = a happy family!

4. Email. I have been able to correspond with my family in Italy whom I miss so so so much. Email has been a blessing. Sharing stories and thoughts and pictures. Being able to talk about what is going on in everyday life. Feeling a little less isolated. Feeling more connected. Building a stronger bond. It is a good thing.

Ciao all.

Since I posted my grad pic, I thought I should post a more current pic - more reflective of me now - 20 years later... Lisa posted a comment that started me thinking. No, I am NOT 18 anymore. Thank goodness!! There are times when I still act like I am still 18 - like when I drive alone in the car and my iPod is at full blast and I am singing along... But I am very grateful that that time of my life is over and done with. I would never want to be 18 ever again! It was a hard road. Not knowing who I really was... Wondering what I would become... Worrying all the time about making mistakes that could affect the rest of my life (like at 18 you HAVE a life???)... Trying to please everyone all the time, while never pleasing myself... I never believed I measured up and to compensate for that, I made sure no one around me felt like they could measure up to me. Awful insecurities... So here I am today. I am happy with whom I have become. I am not done evolving yet. Some days are better than others. It is a journey. As I said before, while I am grateful for my high school memories, I would never want to relive them in any detail. A quick stroll down amnesia lane now and then is fine. But just a quick stroll.

Ciao all.

Oh my...

I have not laughed this hard in a LONG time!! Marc cracked out our Grade 12 annual because the VP at his school now was a student teacher when we were in Gr 12 (go figure) and so we wanted to have a peek. I ended up flipping through the book and reading all the notes/well wishes, and I came upon the grads and had to share! Marc wrote my blurb for me, btw. Totally hilarious! And check out my hair!! Could it be any higher?? And I really did struggle with Algebra... I was absolutely convinced that I failed the Provincial Exam and would have to take summer school. No joke. I remember being in the counsellor's office and making her phone Victoria and find out my mark early because I was having a full blown panic attack about it. ha ha Oh, good times! This coming from the same psycho chick who totally missed the last page of the Provincial Exam in Literature 12 and still got 98% on the exam! Oops. hee hee I was a bit over the top about my studies back then... Oh let's be serious. I think my dad's words at my grad from law were something along the lines, "Good for you, and don't ever again go to school while you live under my roof!". As I said above, a bit over the top about my studies...

You know, I never appreciated high school. I thought myself too mature to be there, honestly. Now, 20 years later, I really do appreciate my experiences and the friendships and my wonderful teachers, especially my English teacher (who is still teaching!! Ya. I know!! She is amazing!!). She gave me a skill that took me far in life. I can never thank her enough for that.

Well enjoy. Go find your year book and have a good laugh!!

Ciao all.

Time is getting away on me...

Where has the week gone? Man. Yesterday was my MIL's 65th and this weekend we are going out to celebrate. Adults only. Yeah. It really does excite me to go out without my children, or other people's children. Is that bad?? Hmm. I don't think so. ha ha Although Bella is quite concerned that we are not having a "party" for Grandma = cake. Let's be serious, that is all she is really concerned about - no cake! She is her father's child. But I don't know if I am more excited to go to dinner Saturday night or get my hair done Saturday morning. I am changing colour - going quite light. Okay, blonde. Well, as close as I can get to it without looking like a street worker. Actually I think I am going to do blonde highlights for now and work it in slowly. My hair is sooo grey (not kidding!) and I am very VERY tired of keeping it dark and touched up every three weeks. I think it is time to let it go lighter and hide it with blonde instead. I am quite fair skinned for an Italian - I will be able to get away with the hair colour. I am excited. Change is always fun!

I am also excited because next weekend I am off to Seattle to attend a women's conference. Just me and my gal pals from church. Away. In Seattle. Learning. Sharing. Experiencing. Sooo excited. Really looking forward to this time to re-energize. I need it.

Well laundry calls. Have a good night all.

Ciao

Sunday Creative

These days it seems Sunday afternoon is the only time I have to be creative. And not every Sunday. They are few and far between... So I am behind, again... Sigh. I managed to get the Halloween pics done. A small victory, I guess. I still have Christmas and a few misc pics that I want to get done. I guess those will have to wait until next Sunday, maybe. I miss when the kids were little and I was home and was able to sit and scrap whenever I wanted to... Have a good night all and a good week. Talk to you soon.

Ciao