this woman deserves a party

Earlier this week I went to Kelly's fabulous baby shower at Dinner by Design. Christine hosted and came up with the wonderful idea to have the shower there, so that we could make some meals to stock our freezers, and give some to the mommy-to-be for when baby makes life a little more busy! It was a fun night with some great girls.

I was a little unsure when I first got there, because I am so not a good cook {actually K was probably very unsure about what I would come home with!!!}. But that is the beauty of this place. They get everything ready, and put out very clear recipes...you just put the meals together, take them home to freeze, and follow the easy to prepare directions when needed.

So, my freezer is now stocked with Spinach Basil Stuffed Pork Tenderloins, Rosemary Honey Chicken, Pecan-Crusted Tilapia, Confetti Meatloaf with Cranberry Glaze, Biscuit Topped Chicken Pot Pie, and Crunchy Chicken Tenders {I ended up with 10 meals after I gave Kelly two, because I half sized each one to suit my families portion sizes}. Dinner, anyone?

And congratulations to Kelly! Can't wait to meet the little one!

happy halloween

gotcha...!

And Mother Nature really got us too! We were warned of a winter storm, and we got it. My neighbors are still trying to tell me that "this never happens so early"... Huh.

The snow started some time when I was out Tuesday night, so when I got to my car, it was already covered with snow. And then on the way home, every street light was out {not even flashing red, just out}. I got home just in time for us to lose power, for how long, I don't even know. I think it went out just before 11pm, and one neighbor said when he was leaving for work at 5am, it was still out... All night long you could hear the snow {more like ice really} hitting our house... Good times!

I should have known when these

starting showing up on fire hydrants all over the city recently. And what is up with the four foot high sticks at the end of every driveway? Yes, I moved from a city that got snow, but I don't think we ever lost our fire hydrant or got our driveway plowed in by a snowplow. Actually, I'm not sure I'd ever seen a snowplow. Until now...I saw at least a dozen during our brief storm.

At least the kiddies were excited {Last year Miss S didn't like snow}.

We spent all yesterday afternoon playing outside, until we were drenched and the snow mostly melted {what a crazy heavy, wet snow} and R went in to a neighbor's house to play with a friend from school, and Miss S and I went in to decorate these...

{and here's our front door. Just 'cause we were outside, and I had my camera, of course}...


Stay warm!

oh no

I {heart} Mary Engelbreit.

I love her illustrations, her books, and especially her magazine, Home Companion - "Inspiration for the Art of Life" . It has been my favorite 'artful living' magazine for quite some time now.

So, when I heard that after the December/January issue, her publisher would no longer be putting out the magazine I was very upset.

Now, on the ME website there is a press release that they are looking for a new publishing partner. Does this mean that maybe there will continue to be a Home Companion magazine? I hope so. Hmmm, maybe I will get a chance to ask Mary about her mag, in person..

When I heard she was going to be the guest speaker at the Silver Bella luncheon, it confirmed my need to be there {that, and the fact that it is an amazing paper arts event!}...

so I put in my order for my exclusive print for Silver Bella participants...

and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for more Home Companion issues in the future!

i am going to do this

free online class at JessicaSprague.com

Jessica Sprague is the digital guru for Creating Keepsakes magazine - she is a contributing editor and writes a monthly column. I have never tried digital scrapbooking and doubt that I could ever convert fully {I will always love the tactile paper and glue and scissors and shopping for fun embellishments aspect of traditional scrapbooking} but I am always interested in learning about more ways to preserve my memories and tell my story, so I'm trying this class.

And, I think you should take this class too. You do not have to be a "scrapbooker" to take it. You just have to have some digital photos and a story to tell {you don't need specific scrapbooking tools- you can tell the story in any way that you like}!

are you kidding me???

that is what I yelled at the crazy driver young girl that rear-ended us...{yeah, this really happened}...last week!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? And then there were some other not-so-nice words, that unfortunately, I may have said in front of the kiddies - I know, bad mommy - but seriously, are you kidding me!

You may remember that not too long ago we were also innocently smashed into by another crazy driver involved in a car accident. That accident totalled my soccer mom mini van, and we are still, to this day, dealing with insurance claims.

And then, last week, I was stopped at a red light, in my brand spanking new SUV, with my kiddies in the car {they are OK - but seriously, if one more crazy person decides to drive like an idiot and hits us, they may be traumatized for life and never want to go in a car again}

...where was I...

oh yeah...so the girl behind me hits me! And when she got out of her car in her ridiculously inappropriate for driving, footwear that obviously impeded her ability to stop on time 4 inch high stiletto heels, she was very apologetic. But I was in so much shock from actually being hit, through no fault of my own, again, I yelled at her. I am learning that I yell when put in dangerous situations that involve my kiddies...

{Please note - I am not a bad person, I was just very tired and scared for my kiddies safety, so, after I calmed down and stopped shaking and crying like a baby, I apologized to the girl that hit me eventhoughitwastotallyherfault, for yelling}.

And so the kiddies and I sat on the side of the road waiting for police, and dealt with accident reports, insurance claims and the purchase of new car seats...again.

Could somebody remove the giant TARGET from my backside now please???

madonna in montreal

Best concert ever!

My sister and I loved our Montreal trip. We stayed at the Sheraton downtown

and went to the concert across the street at the Bell Centre.

I wish we had bought tickets for both nights, it was that fun! When we were buying tickets we didn't want to spend too much {and it was hard enough just to get any tickets at all, they sold out so fast online}, but after seeing the show it would have been so worth it to splurge on floor seats.

Madonna put on the best show, new and old music, and the set changes were amazing. It is unreal that Madonna is 50 - her muscles are insane and she never stops dancing! Such a great concert.

While in Montreal, we also did a bit of wandering around downtown, and of course, what we do best together...shopping!

Cheers!

never.stop.moving...

Auntie M is in town visiting the the kiddies...

We spent some time at Andrew Haydon Park on Saturday, playing in the leaves at one of the pirate ship parks.

R and Miss S were, as usual, in constant motion.

They. Never. Stop. Moving.

Always running...

Jumping...

Leaping...
Climbing...
Marching...

Rolling...
Rockin'... Tossing...

Throwing...

Hiding...

Sliding...

Yipeeeeeeee...

silver bella & country living

It is almost time for Silver Bella and I can't wait! Last year's Silver Bella is featured in the current issue of Country Living, and on the magazine's website here.

I am so looking forward to my classes and the Bella Vendor Faire and Prom {check out all the wonderful vendors here}.

My {first ever} ATC's, for the "Fine Feathered Friends ATC Mini Book" are on their way to California. We were asked to create 22 of the same ATC's with a bird theme, and the host of the swap, Gina, is going to compile them into a fat little mini book for each of the swap participants to receive at the event. Here is what I came up with...

{and check out Renee's ATC here - she is also in the swap}.

I am looking forward to getting my book, and meeting the other women in the swap. Now I need to get started on the other swap I signed up for. And I need to start gathering supplies and tools.

Should I buy one of the lovely shirts or charms that the Bella's are creating...like this one, or this one or this one...? Should I be trying to find a vintage prom dress {not likely, but maybe I can put together a fun outfit for the 'prom'}? How many bags am I going to need to bring home all my treasures...?


Oh, the anticipation...!

so far behind...

Where to begin? Life has been hectic lately. I did not mean to abandon my blog. So I'm just going to jump back into it, and start with some photos that I finally took off my camera {they are from October 5th - yikes, where did the last few weeks go}.

This was us, enjoying a fall day at Saunders Farm with Renee and her family, and Diane and her family...

Everyone had fun at the play area...

The March of the Monsters Parade had the kiddies dancing for chocolate...

Saunders Farm is a great place to visit in the fall. R loved the Apple Chuckin' and the John Deere Trike & Tractor Trail, Miss S is still talking about how much she did not like the hayride - "it was too scary" {seriously someone should have warned us it was not for small children}, but other than that we had a great time!