Thinking about it...

Marc had asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I was looking at this device - the Kindle from Amazon. I held off purchasing it because I read so many contradicting reviews about it. But now I have a friend who has one, so I am going to get her review of it and then see from there. I am very interested in this device - I love reading, but I don't love books. I don't like displaying them. I don't like their bulk and the room they take up. You cannot imagine how unbelievably tantalizing this device is - 3500 books at my finger tips - weighing all of 8.5 ounces! We will see. I am hoping for a good review from my friend.

Ciao all.

I have decided...

That I need to stop working and stay home and craft/work on projects all day. IF I could do that, I would. I have come up with the following things I want to do for the house and the kids:

1. I have a lamp in the formal living room that I want to re-shade. I hate the colour of the shade now - it has faded over the years. But I love the shape. So I want to get some fabric and cover the shade. And while I am at it, I want to make it more contemporary.

2. Fleece tie blankets for both kids. For Bella's room - pink and green. For Ethan's room - red and dark blue. Or maybe heather grey and dark blue.

3. Stretching photos on canvas. Marc has been scanning our wedding photos and we have found some fantastic candids. I want them antiqued and stretched on canvas for my bedroom. A series of them.

4. I have found some cool wall art that I want for my bedroom and I want to get that made.

5. Painting. The whole house. BUT I think I will hire this project out to professionals. 3000 square feet is a lot to paint - properly. That will go on the list for spring.

6. Laundry room makeover. It is time to actually DO something with my laundry room. It has been 5 years now since we moved in and I have never touched that room.

Ya. Just a few things to do around here. Just a few...

Ciao all.

Buon Natale

Have a blessed and peaceful Christmas.

Ciao

It never ceases to amaze me...

The human body - that is. A few months ago Ethan came to me and said he had these little patches of dry/red/irritated skin on his thighs. Hmmmm. I looked and sure enough there they were - about the size of a loonie. I thought psoriasis. Marc thought eczema. So off to the doctor we went and after he hummed and hawed about the patches (he was worried it was some kind of infection!) he made an appointment for Ethan to see the pediatric dermatologist. Yesterday I get a call from Children's Hospital advising they could see Ethan today (good thing Marc is off on holidays!). So Ethan saw the specialist today and his dry skin is a direct byproduct of his allergy induced asthma. His asthma has been pretty bad these last few months. Change in the weather/pressure/too much sugary food... It all affects him so badly. The worse the asthma got, the more dry spots appeared on his body - everywhere. But I never made the connection. Why would I think asthma = dry/irritated skin patches? But apparently they do. So we have a new cream to try and some instructions for bleach baths (yup, you read that correct) and a follow up in the new year. The human body never ceases to amaze me...

Ciao all.

Chewy Ginger Snaps

Rhonda inspired me with her yummy lemonade cookie recipe. This is one I make every year - no fail.

Chewy Ginger Snaps:

2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup white sugar
1 cup margarine or 1 cup butter
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup sugar, on a plate for later

1 Mix the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon and cloves well and set aside. 2 In another bowl mix with a beater 1 to 2 minutes the sugar, margarine, egg and molasses. 3 Add the dry ingredients and mix by hand. 4 Take one good size tablespoons of dough (or more to make a bigger cookie) and roll into a ball. 5 On a plate put at least a 1/4 cup of sugar. 6 Then roll the balls into the sugar. 7 Bake at 350 on an ungreased cookie sheet. Set on racks to cool.


Ciao all.

Shopping across the line...

Last week Marc and I decided to go and do a little cross border shopping. Now, we live seriously close to the border - 15 minutes. I NEVER go across. I don't go across for milk or cheese. I don't go across for gas. Honestly, I don't ever think about it. But we thought it would be something different to do for the evening and so we went. What deals!! I found tons of things for Christmas and poked around in some super cool shops. And drooled in Macy's designer section. And we did buy gas and it was super cheap. And we did pick up milk. Again - CHEAP! So now I think I am going to have to re-evaluate my cross border shopping views and maybe take a trip every few weeks.

Ciao all.

A Lesson Learned at 5:00 A.M.

I was abruptly awoken this morning at 5:00 a.m. by my phone ringing. I looked at the call display and noticed it was a number from the United States. Telemarketers (or so I thought). I picked up in the hopes of telling whomever was on the other end to go away, but there was just an annoying beep. They will stop. I am sure of it. No. For the next hour my phone rang every five minutes with the same number. Now I was beginning to panic. What if these "telemarketers" did not give up? What if my phone was going to ring at 5 a.m. every morning? How much longer can this last? Now what happens if the phone ringing wakes the kids up? I called our phone provider and asked what I could do to block the number. Short answer - nothing really. These telemarketers apparently fall into a "grey" area with the phone companies... Nice... So now Marc and I are awake. The phone keeps ringing and we are getting more annoyed as the moments pass. I pull out the laptop and someone has sent me a link to a flash mob singing the Hallelujah Chorus. It was beautiful. The music was soothing and the message was beautiful. And while we were listening to the music the phone rang again. But this time an actual voice was on the other end. It was not a telemarketer but a company back East trying to send a fax to our home number. Marc explained they had the wrong number and PLEASE correct their error. The woman was very apologetic and the phone calls stopped. Hmmm. Now, is it a coincidence that the answer to our problem was solved while in a spiritual frame of mind? No. Marc and I should have turned to the Lord immediately and asked what to do with our annoyance. Quick to impatient. Slow to learn. That is why we are called children of Heavenly Father. Lesson learned at 5:00 a.m.

Ciao all.

My busy weekend...

My firm's Children's Christmas party. Crafts, food, Santa and loads of fun.



Photo shoot for the in-laws of my two nieces and my kiddies.



Firm Chirstmas bake sale for our charity.



I need to go back to work for a break.

Ciao all.