suite francaise

I am reading this amazing book right now...


If you haven't heard about it, check out this review. It is a wonderful read and a historical document {the story behind how the novel was discovered by Nemirovsky's daughter long after her death at a concentration camp is fascinating}.


I have always been interested in books related to WWII and the Holocaust, ever since reading Anne Frank, The Diary of Young Girl as a young girl and then visiting the Anne Frank House {back when I was a university student and I had time to travel!}.


Reading this book, has made me want to go back and re-read The Diary of a Young Girl again. So that will be next on my "to read" list.

twenty ten

I have been reading this
and this

and thisand going to the premier of this

and ordering this because I love her scrapbooking style...

and I've been hanging out with my favorite kiddies and taking them to birthday parties and play dates, hockey and swimming, and school of course...and squeezing in some play time of my own with my girlfriends. There have been girls' nights and breakfasts out after hockey, Sens games and skating in the backyard rink with the kiddies and on the canal at night with girlfriends, homeade pizza parties and Sunday dinners, coffee mornings and scrapbooking nights with new neighbors, crafting get togethers, Rock Band parties...

So far, 2010 has been fun, fun, fun.

There. now. you. are. all. caught. UP!

the time traveler's wife

If you are still thinking about the movie the next day, it must have been good right?

Last night I saw The Time Traveler's Wife with some girlfriends, and I am still thinking about it today. Christine, Jen and I had read the book, and Lee Anne hadn't {which made the experience more entertaining because I kept hearing Jen whisper to Lee Anne explaining things that you could have easily missed if you hadn't read the book. I especially loved the part where I heard Lee Anne say "Well how many of him are there then?}.

I think my review would be that the movie was good. But I am always biased to the book, if I have read it first. I love reading more than I love watching movies. I loved this book. And there is just no way they can put all the detail of the novel into the film, without making it ten hours longer. The film did a pretty good job of touching on the most important parts of the story, but it is harder to get into the characters and really understand Claire and Henry's relationship without all the detail of the book. You know what I mean.

So I highly recommend the book. And the movie is good too. Just different. And if you read the book first and then you go to the movie, you can't really just enjoy the movie for itself. Because if you're like me, you will be constantly comparing it to the parts of the book in your head. Or if you are like Lee Anne, you will be sitting in the theater wondering out loud why Henry's hair is suddenly gray. {Just teasing Lee Anne - you know I love you}!

i have

an infection in the bronchial tree. Lovely. I finally went to get checked out by a doctor, after keeping myself awake for nights coughing, and coughing and coughing {well, really I went to the doctor for Miss S's coughing - turns out she is fine, I am not}. I just have not been able to kick this bug and it is driving me crazy.

When I get a cough it always seems to linger, so I was given an inhaler to use and some seriously strong prescription cough medicine. I am looking forward to a wonderful drug induced sleep tonight...

I think the kiddies and I will be staying in, today. It seems like a good day to snuggle in and watch a Disney movie, and watch the snow fall on the trees in our new yard. I love our new view. It makes me feel like we are in a cottage in the woods, and it looks so pretty with all the snow.

One last thing, that I am thinking about today, is how another one of my favorite magazines is ceasing publication. Simple Scrapbooks. I find this so sad. Renee mentioned it to me when we were out for coffee the other day, and I couldn't believe it, but here is the official announcement.

I have been a subscriber for years now, and I look forward to getting each new issue in the mail. They are now going to combine Simple Scrapbooks with Creating Keepsakes {another scrapbooking magazine by the same publisher}, however they usually feature two different styles of scrapbooking, so I am not sure what the new magazine will be like... And what will I be reading soon if more of my favorite magazines can't survive this economy...???

so i saw it

Twilight. The movie.

And it was alright, but the books are better. The girls I saw it with {Kelly and Lee Ann read the books, and Christine hasn't yet, but is going to now} loved it. We decided to check out the movie on Monday instead of scrapbooking. I am still just thinking about how bad the vampire make-up was! But I did love the vampire baseball game... Overall, I had a good time, thought the acting was a bit cheesy, but, there is just something about that vampire story...

Or maybe it's just like Lee Ann said, "it makes you want to be a teenager again"...
Oy, I am so old!

donna downey is coming...

here! How cool is that? Just as Renee and I were whining that no big events ever come to our city, Tomorrow's Treasures announced that they are bringing Donna to Smiths Falls for two days of mixed media workshops. We could not have signed up faster!

I have always admired Donna's work in Simple Scrapbooks magazine, her books and online. I love how she goes beyond traditional scrapbooking , how she uses fabric and mixed media techniques - can't wait to learn something new from her. So excited that Stephanie and Mellisa will be going too - so much fun to create together! Check out Donna's Campaign for Creativity here.

believing in the power of your passion to create is the gift we all have to share.
"believe in your creative potential, enjoy the creative process, try something new, explore new possibilities, but most of all believe."

Other exciting news - just heard that Silver Bella will be featured in an upcoming issue of Stampington & Co "Somerset Life". I will be watching for it! I just picked up the current issue the other day...

and I am still in love with their new magazine Where Women Create {this one was hard to find here, my Mom tracked it down back home for me - so I think I will have to get the subscription so I don't miss out}...

The photos of Sally Jean's studio are just awesome {I still have to post about my class at Silver Bella with her soon, and I am definitely running out to get myself a soldering iron asap...}.

And I know my mind is really wandering on this post, but check out the sweet Sally Jean charm Renee bought for me at the Silver Bella vendor faire...

just because I convinced her to come to Silver Bella with me {it wasn't really a hard sell though, was it???}. Thanks again Renee!

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!

scrapbook monday

It is 'scrapbook Monday' but sadly I am not scrapping. Sigh. We were in a car accident yesterday {everyone is OK, soccer mom mini van is not}. We were crashed into by a crazy driver gentleman while we were sitting at a stop sign, and ended up being smashed up and turned another direction entirely,air bags exploding, van crumpling... Today we got the kiddies checked out by our doctor, just to be safe, and installed new car seats in our rental car {did you know you cannot use car seats after they have been in an accident?}. Anyway, my back is pretty sore, so I am missing out on scrapping at Kelly's, and instead am laying in bed with my lap top, checking out my favorite blogs!

Since I am not scrapping tonight, I thought I would post a few photos of LOs that were already uploaded onto my computer. They are oldies, but {I think} still goodies...

{totally scraplifted Candice Carpenter on this one...}

Something that cheered me out of my rage against crazy drivers funk today... I found the new Ali Edwards book that I pre-ordered, in my mailbox today {and it's an autographed copy -so cool}. So, when I finish blog stalking I can read all about the mini books that I am going to soon be scraplifting!

the twilight saga?

I have been hearing so much about The Twilight Saga books, by Stephenie Meyer, lately that I decided I had to see for myself what all the hoopla is about. So today, despite the fact that books about vampires are not something I normally would read, I bought the first book in the series. I'll let you know what I think...

handmade goodness

I know I haven't posted in a while, but I have been babying a cold that I caught, and taking it easy. Grandpa was here for a short visit to see the grandkids, and K was in Chicago on a work trip {if only I could have tagged along...and tried to meet Oprah}.

In my cold medicine induced fog, I can't come up with anything interesting to post...so here is some more of my random randomness...

I think I need some of the Cosmo Cricket "Mr Campy" line, to scrapbook our many camping trips {love the retroness}...

I am an etsy addict these days. Love all the handmade goodness! This pretty scarf, from VintageGardenKnits was found in my mailbox on Friday {almost makes me wish for winter}...

I have also been drooling over these hats lately and am thinking that Miss S and I could use them {it does snow a lot here - so they aren't just pretty - they are practical, right?}...


All this lovely knitwear is making me want to pick up knitting again... I have been talking about having a Friday Night Knitting Club in my home {although I am thinking it will have to not be on Fridays - I just like the name, and the reference to the Julia Roberts movie that we can go and see when it comes out...}. Just a chance for myself and a few friends to get together, have coffee, chat and learn to knit. {I sense K and Auntie M laughing as they read this...and K will be making his 'grandma' comments and getting the rocking chairs ready} so - just so we are clear - this will not be your Grandma's knitting circle - this will be a 'chicks with sticks' type of knitting group...OK?!?


Today Renee and I shopped, and had coffee in the Glebe, and talked about all our plans for Silver Bella. We are on the lookout for prom dresses {this is quite the challenge since we are no longer sixteen years old or a size 2 - and, who are we kidding, that is who prom dresses are made for}. Our plan is to come up with some type of prom-like outfit involving vintage crinolines, big {think SJP in Sex & the City} corsages and of course, layers and layers of pearls {to go with the Silver Bella theme}...so we hit a couple vintage shops on Bank Street. I came home without a prom dress, but with some beautiful handmade vintage trims and crocheted flowers to use at Silver Bella or for scrapbooking projects.


Well, that is all I have... Must go get more sleep.

sleep is for the weak

I think I need this book - it is going on my next Amazon order. I have never had so little sleep in my life since having children. Seriously, it is amazing that I am still functioning...

"Sleep is for the Weak" is an anthology of blogging by parents that I have seen advertised on the BlogHer site, you can read more about it here.

you learn something new...

So I realize that everyone thinks their children are genius, but seriously, I think I should be looking into Mensa for my kiddies...

R and Miss S wanted me to read Pinkalicious for their bedtime story.


This is a book that Grandma and Grandpa gave Miss S for her 2nd birthday (so note, we've had it less than a month and it is pretty long) about a girl that eats too many pink cupcakes and so she turns pink (I'm surprised this hasn't happened to a little princess in this house yet, considering how many cuppy-cakes her Grandpa has bought for her...but I digress).

Well, tonight, I start reading and Miss S chimes in reciting her favorite lines "Pink, pink, pink" and "More,more, more". And then, R says "I'm going to read it Mom", and he proceeds to 'read' almost the ENTIRE book literally almost word for word! I just sat there turning the pages with my jaw hitting the floor...

I realize he didn't actually read, but he knows the book off by heart...and I am talking words that I am not even sure he knows the meaning of...and he gets the little details right - like saying "Mommy said" or "I cried" in all the right places. It was unreal!

Perhaps I should get out the video camera to capture this on film...or should I be filling in R's application for early acceptance to University...!

And not one to be outdone by her big brother, Miss S made me proud when we were looking at one of her picture books earlier today. She correctly identified all the objects on the different 'color pages'. On the blue page she pointed to, and said "shoes", "teapot", "pants", "bwacelet"...

and then she points to the item in the bottom right corner, and says "wap top"! "Mommy have pink wap top"! Miss S always makes me laugh - this chick is smart,and obviously very tech-savvy- it does look like a lap top...

Well, at least I'm amused by all of this...

happy birthday to you...

Happy Birthday to my little sister! She is turning a big 29 today :) And here is Auntie M in a photo from my daughter's first birthday. (Old photo, I know, but it is cute and you can see the fun hat I made for Miss S, who as you can see, doesn't look very happy - we must have told her no more cuppy-cakes for you)! So anyway M, I hope you are having a good day and I will see you later so I can give you our present!

Did you see I added a little widget in my sidebar from goodreads that shows what I have read, or am currently reading? I am in a Jodi Picoult phase now - I just bought Picture Perfect to read on my flight to Nashville. And I recently finished Nineteen Minutes and really enjoyed it - and was also really bothered by it - bothered in the sense that I am worried about my children growing up in a world that seems so...tough, scary. What are you reading? I love a good book!

Anyway, I have to get back to packing...but I may try to post photos of some of my minibooks later (I took photos of them while I was packing them)!