Wordless #26 - UN-Self Protrait

Clicking through flickr groups the other day, I stumbled across a group called UN-Self Portrait. The idea is to take some photos that represent my UN-Self or alter-ego and post the UN-real me.

So I will take an UN-Self portrait once a month -- here is my January UN-Self.

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{Thank you Amber from Mommy Mania for the inspiration}

10 things

Larry G over at Yesterday, Today and Forever had this fun little writing prompt over at his blog. I like the idea so I asked Larry if I could play along, so he assigned me a letter, my letter is...

The rules of the game are simple. You are assigned a random letter and you should then post 10 things that you love that begin with that letter. If you read this and want to play, leave me a message saying you want to play in my comment area. I'll assign you a random letter and on and on it goes.

10 things I love that begin with the letter 'K'

10. Kaleidoscope:

Do you remember these?
Every Easter the rabbit would leave me kaleidoscope in my basket. I was truly captivated by all the colourful fractals I could create just by giving end a little twist to the right or left.

9. Kitten:

My husband and I gave our daughter a kitten for her 16th birthday back in November. I never use to be a cat lover but this little guy has won me over. I love his cute little pink nose and those little white paws. He's hilarious, playful and full of delightful high-jinx.

8. Kaffir Lily:

This variety of lilium is one of my favorites but it is not easy to find or easy to grow outdoors in eastern Canada. This lily is native to the moist and shady forest floors of southern Africa. I'm going to give this lily another try in my garden this year... hopefully it will survive our cold spring and summer.

7. Kunzite:

This gem stone is one of the prettiest I have ever seen (link). It is mined in Brazil, Madagascar, Manitoba/Canada and North Carolina/USA. Kunzite is best admired unmined because it looses it's pink hue when exposed to light.

6. Karma:

The word karma itself means "action" or "deed" The real philosophy of karma is, in essence, the law of cause and effect. What goes around comes around - what you say, think and do has an effect on what comes back to you as what was said, what you think comes back at you, and more importantly what you do comes back at you. I'm a believer in Karma.

5. Kindness:

One small gesture of kindness can bring a smile to someones face. Try it today... a word of praise, a gentle touch, a helping hand, a gesture of courtesy, or simply just a warm smile. Giving is it's own reward.

4. Knowledge:

"For also knowledge itself is power" stated originally by Sir Francis Bacon.
Some say that one can only gain true knowledge through life experiences... What do you think?

3. Kodachrome:

I am in love with the Kodak Kodachrome. Paul Simon said it best -

Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the worlds a sunny day, oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don’t take my Kodachrome away

Photos from Vintage Kodachrome on Flickriver

2. Kisses:

Who doesn't love to kiss? Kisses rock!

1. Kids:

Of course this is my #1 favorite "K" word. I love, love, love my kids! Oh, and one of my lil'darlings name begins with the lovely letter "K" - it's Kensey

Would you like to play? Just let leave a message in my comments or drop me an email saying you want to play, and I will assign you a letter.

Monday Melting

Winter has been put on hold for today

The fog has rolled in and is making

quick work melting last nights snowfall

I just love a winter thaw
when all the branches get an icy glaze

6 ^°C, Periods of rain and fog patches (Halifax live feed)

Not tonight dear...

Just in case you were expecting an update to that last post I made for FFI's...

The migraine monster had reared it's ugly head on Friday night and I was in quite a bit of pain for all of Saturday. Sunday morning the pain started to subside but left me with a nasty migraine hangover for the remainder of the day.

Weekend Up-date:

We had another nasty snow storm on Sunday that kept us home for the day and evening. I'm not complaining, don't get me wrong - snow means warmer temperatures, which means the cold snap is over for now - yippee!

So there you have it, another weekend down the tubes.
What was your weekend like?

Friday Fill-Ins #107

Click the button to play along


1. Enough with the sex.

2. Sex causes me to be conflicted.

3. I've been craving sex.

4. Sex makes me laugh.

5. I wish I could go to have sex next week.

6. Sex has been on my mind lately.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sex, tomorrow my plans include sex and Sunday, I want to have sex!

Hubby was standing over me just I started this weeks FFI's and declared....
"Hey! 'sex' would fit in all the blanks."

Hmmm, think he's trying to tell me something??? hehe

Cold enough to freeze the balls off a Brass Monkey

That's exactly how cold it is here today.

Here is a live feed from a beach on the east coast of Bonaire ... I'm imagining myself there right this moment.

Did you know?

Back in the day when war ships were made out of wood, cannon balls were kept stacked on deck ready to be loaded into the cannon. They were stored inside a square base and stacked pyramid style with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. This method could keep a supply of thirty cannon balls confined in a small area right next to the cannon. In order to prevent the balls from sliding/rolling from under the others -- the solution was a metal plate called a, "Monkey," with sixteen round indentations. If this plate was made of iron, the iron balls would rust to it.

The solution to the rusting problem was to make, "Brass Monkeys." And because brass contracts much faster than iron when chilled, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the cannon balls would pop off the monkey.

So there you have it! It was literally, "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey!" Hehehe, and what were you thinking?

{ Hope your all keeping nice and warm inside today! }

(photo courtesy of Dave Walsh via Blather)

Wordless #25

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Get To Livin'

I was over at Shadow's blog --1 Door Away From Heaven, reading her post for today titled "would you". It reminded me of a song by Dolly Parton called "Get To Livin’", which prompted this Tuesday's tune.

Go on over to Shadow's place and read her post first, then come on back and have a listen.

The day were born we start to die,

So don’t waste one minute of this life,
Get to livin! (Get to livin’)
Share your dreams and share your Laughter and Make some points.
For the great hereafter. (Get to Livin’)

Better start caring,
Better start sharing
Better start tryin’,
Better start smilin’
And you better get to livin’.

(Thank you Shadow for the inspiration for today's tune)

Filling in the gaps...

of a boring weekend

This weekend was a total bust, well... except for Friday evening. Hubby and I went out for some Greek cuisine at Opa! Greek Taverna.
We had the Kopanisti to start, I had the Salmon Lemonato, hubby had Scallop Souvlaki and had a delicious white wine called Boutari.
Did you know they don't serve Greek wine in a wine glass? Yup, just a regular juice sized glass... I must say, I was a little put off not having my wine in the type of glass I'm accustomed to.

On Saturday hubby had a first aid refresher course he had to take for work so I stayed home and cleaned all day. Saturday evening was spent grocery shopping and picking up some odds and ends at Wal-mart.

Sunday the snow started falling early in the morning and continued to fall for most of the day. The roads were pretty slippery so we decided to just stay put and ordered in for dinner. I did get to do some experimental work on my little blog here... note the menu and the 'Project' page.

Sunday surfing turned up some inspiration links:

• Misprinted Type - I'm so in love with the collage looking header and they offer some great Photoshop brushes for download.
• Kareem Rizk - An outstanding photographer and collage artist.
• 1000 Journals Project - An experiment that follows 1000 journals throughout their travels.
• Inspiration Resource - Pretty much self explanatory.
• Free Design - A freebie resource blog where you can find tons of inspiration.
• Nubbytwiglet - A whimsical graphic design artist. Check our her Q&A sections.
  

Friday Fill-Ins #106

Want to play along?


1. It's January; January is named after Janus, the two-faced Roman god of gates and doors, the god of new beginnings, the god with one face that looked back over the past, while the other looked resolutely to the future.

2. Sunshine and warmth is what I crave most right now.

3. Cork and wine go together like bread and brie.

4. A healthy breakfast is so nourishing.

5. Let us dare to believe, hope, smile, love, live.

6. "So I'm happy that I'm going to my husband, to my country, to my home..."

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner at Opa, tomorrow my plans include grocery shopping and running some errands and Sunday, I want to stay home and tidy up a bit!

New Project

...as Promised

I have been pretty bored with my blog the last few months. Other than the two memes I participate in (Wordless Wednesday and Friday Fill-Ins), there really isn't much going on here. I have had thoughts of scrapping the whole blog and starting from scratch, maybe making a photo blog or even a graphic design/tutorial type blog but that is just so much work and I'm not sure I'm up to the challenge of starting over. So... surfing the net on Sunday, I stumbled upon Kim's blog - Sophisticated Dorkiness - and at the top of her page I followed a link to her Blog Improvement Project. Ah-ha! This could be just what my little spot here needs, so I just signed up and am ready and rearing to go!

Assignment #1 is Setting Goals — What Is Your Blog For?
Looks like I need to dust off the old thinking cap and get going on this one... I'm so excited!

You can read all about the project here.

Wordless #24

Weather forecast is calling for 10-15 cm of snow today followed by freezing rain and ice pellets.
But this is were my head is...

Crystal Crescent Beach, Nova Scotia
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In the mood for a tune

... how about you?

I've been listening to a wonderful Canadian musical talent today, her name is Emm Gryner. I would love to share a song called "Black Winged Bird" from her album The Summer Of High Hopes.

So sit back, relax and let the haunting essence of this beautiful song take you away...

Lyrics here

My Weekend Wraped-up

and tied with a bow

Friday night hubby wasn't feeling well so we decided to stay in. Hubby slept while I went out and took some photos and did some internet surfing. I got some great ideas for a new project, I will share the details with you all later in the week.

Saturday, we took down all the Holiday decorations, got the tree down and cleaned up. Saturday night we went out to my brother and sister-in-laws for a family get-together - fun times!

Sunday we had another family gathering at hubby's mom and dads for brunch - good food, great company!

And that pretty much covers my weekend...
hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Friday Fill-Ins #105

My condolences go out to Janet and her family.

Play along here


1. The world is not your oyster -- Prying it open ruins your chances of putting it back. ~ Matthew Good

2. "Bye... love you" was the last thing I said.

3. I wonder if anything's absolute anymore. Is There Still right and wrong? Good and bad? Truth and lies? Or is everything negotiable,left to interpretation, grey. Sometimes we're forced to bend the truth, transform it, cause we're faced with things that are not of our own making. And sometimes things simply catch up to us. ~ Lucas Scott (One Tree Hill)

4. Here at the end of all things.

5. There's something to be said for simplicity.

6. Right here is where I want to be.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a movie with hubby, tomorrow my plans include a family gathering at my brothers house and Sunday, I want to stay home and un-decorate my house!

♥♥♥Happy weekend♥♥♥

Farewell 2008

Where did the year go?
It's hard to believe 2008 has come to an end.

Are you all ready for a fresh start in 09?
I know I sure am... I have some wonderful dreams and wishes for the new year ahead.

What are you wishing for 2009?

Weekend Update

Happy Monday! I had a wonderful Christmas and a lovely, relaxing weekend .

A few weekend highlights:

Had a delicious family dinner at my parents house Friday night -- homefries and hot turkey sandwiches, a Boxing Day tradition.

Lets see, what else happened this weekend...

Saturday, hubby got up early and headed out to the Future Shop to purchase a new laptop for our son -- got a great deal on one which was a bonus! He also bought me a new graphics tablet and some ram for my computer... gotta love boxing day sales.

{small amount of snow fell Saturday evening}

Sunday we got up early and went to the used record store. Hubby got Alice Cooper Goes to Hell, News of the World - Queen, and About Face - David Gilmour. We spent most of the afternoon relaxing at home listening to his new tunes, then headed out for spaghetti at his parents house.

And that's about it.... how was your weekend?

Friday Fill-Ins #104

Play along here


1. I must visit the Amalfi Coast, Italy before I die.

2. You can't stop loving or wanting to love because when its right, it's the best thing in the world. When you're in a relationship and it's good, even if nothing else in your life is right, you feel like your whole world is complete. -- Keith Sweat

3. I wish I never had to buy another car again.

4. My husband has helped me change my life.

5. I know the song Rappers Delight (Sugarhill Gang) by heart.

6. If I weren't so afraid, I would would love to sing (rap) it before a live audience.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing at home with the family, tomorrow my plans include boxing day sales and Sunday, I want to go to the used record store to buy some vinyl for the collection!

Hope you all had a wonderful Holiday Season!

T'was the Night Before Christmas...

when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse...

{Wordless #23}

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Wishing you all a safe and lovely holiday! I will try to pop in before the new year but will be back full swing in 2009.

See you all soon xxoo

Friday Fill-Ins #103

Play along here


1. Said the night wind to the little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star
Dancing in the night,
With a tail as big as a kite.

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy...

2. The first Noel, the angel did say,
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay.
In fields where they lay (tending? or keeping?) their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

3. Go tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere.

4. It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold.
Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King
The world in (don't know this part)
To hear the angles sing.

5. Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Let your heart be light.

6. And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing, right within your heart.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to attending a holiday dinner theater with hubby, tomorrow my plans include lobster at my mom and dad's house with the family (mmmmm!) and Sunday, I want to relax at home and perhaps do some baking!

Thanks for the lift-up with these Fill Ins this week Janet. I love Christmas carols!

Love and joy come to you all this weekend :)

Off Track

Almost an entire week has flown by and I haven't made one single post.

I'm sitting here at my desk surrounded by piles of so much clutter and a "to do" list that goes on forever. So much to do before Christmas, but I can't seem to get on track. My head has been wandering off again. Where is it, you ask? Well I'm not quite sure but I hope it hurries back... I need it!

Friday Fill-Ins #102

Play along here


1. Friends are there to help each other when one is feeling blue.

2. Good health; it's taking care of your body as well as your mind.

3. (All right, Mr. DeMille,) I'm ready for my close-up. - Sunset Boulevard

4. Eucalyptus is one of my favorite perfumes or aftershaves or smells.

5. The oldest ornament I have is a cross handed down to my husband from his grandma.

6. Take some butter, flour, sugar and a pinch of salt, mix it all together and you have a tasty shortbread.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to finishing my Holiday shopping, tomorrow my plans include more shopping, house cleaning and decorating and Sunday, I want to go to hubbies uncle and aunties for a potluck on the farm!

That's a warp for this week my friends, see you Monday xxoo

Wordless #21

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Toronto Trip (Day 2 & 3)

Alarm went off at 6.00am and everyone was up getting ready for a big day of shopping at the Eaton Centre. The 1 km walk took about 15 minutes in the freezing cold temperatures... -17 degrees Celsius with the wind chill, BRRRR! All with our own agendas, we pick a time to meet up for lunch, then all 9 of us went off in our own directions. This mall is so large - much bigger than any shopping centre we have here in Halifax. I walked and shopped until my legs burned and our bags got too heavy to carry.

Around 7:00 pm, we headed back to the hotel to drop off our bags, freshened up a bit and headed out for dinner. We ate at a pub a few blocks away from our hotel called The Fox and Firkin. The food was great, the atmosphere was warm and the staff were all so friendly. It was just what we needed after a very long and busy day shopping.

Day 3 were were up at the ass crack of dawn again! After a hot buffet breakfast at the Golden Griddle, we took the subway to the YorkdaIe Mall for another shopping trip. We had had lunch at the Rainforest Cafe, got on the wrong train on our way back and ended up backtracking a bit but we made it back safe and sound around 5:00ish, just in time to walk down to the Eaton Centre for more shopping before the mall closed. Bed was a welcome sight that night, my feet were hurting and every muscle in my body hurt - who knew a couple days of shopping with do this much damage to the body? We were up early the next morning and off the the airport for 5:00AM for an early flight home. This time I didn't bother with the Ativan and managed to calm myself just by using EFT.

And this concludes my weekend in The Big Smoke... Read about (Day 1)

Ps. This is my 200th post.... Yay!

Toronto Trip (Day 1)

It's been over a week since my last post. Unfortunately, life has been a bit crazy this past week. Between preparations for a mini-trip to Toronto and trying to deal with my anxieties over flying, blogging has been low on my list of priorities. There was one point last week where I was sure I was going to have to cancel the trip because of my fear of flying, but I managed to suck it up and headed off into the wild blue yonder. Now that I'm back home safe and sound, I thought I'd take a few moments to tell you all a bit about my adventures in Toronto with some of my family and friends.

This year for my sister in-law's 40th birthday, we all decided to go on a shopping trip to TO, and headed out on Wednesday morning for an extra long weekend. The flight up wasn't all bad - my doctor had prescribed Ativan which took the edge off the horrid anxiety attacks I was experiencing, so between that and a relaxation technique called Emotional Freedom Technique, the flight up was tolerable.

We were in the city by 10:30, so we checked in and headed to the CN Tower, located at Toronto's waterfront. Heights, another one of my phobias, was conquered when we road the glass elevators to the top - 113 stories - 342m. I did experience a bit of vertigo looking down, but the views were breathtakingly beautiful over looking the city and Lake Ontario. After the CN Tower we headed back to the hotel to get ready for the theater, we had tickets to see Dirty Dancing at the Royal Alexandra Theater. We had dinner pre-show at a nice restaurant called Alice Fazoolie's, great food but not recommended if you are in a hurry - the wait staff was slow taking our orders and the food took forever. Luckily, the theatre was only a block away and we managed to make it ten minutes before the show started.

"Nobody puts baby in a corner"- This show was AMAZING! Dirty Dancing is one of my very favorite movies ... I can watch this movie over and over and never get tired of it. Ashley Leggat, best known as Casey McDonald from the TV show Life with Derek, and Marcia from Confessions Of A Teenage Drama Queen, played Baby --She was fabulous along with all the other cast members. If your in Toronto in the near future, I recommend you get tickets to the show.

After the theatre, we had an enjoyable trip back to the hotel via cab with a friendly and funny driver. Overall, it was a fantastic day despite all the panic attacks and anxiety. And that concludes Day 1... stay tuned for Day 2 & 3.

Hello everyone!

I just returned from an extended weekend getaway in Toronto. I will post all about my adventure tomorrow after I catch up on some Z's.

Until then...