- Boy's head on my lap as he reads non-fiction and ignores the fact that I'm watching One Tree Hill
- Wine class, even when I'm stuffed up and want sleep
- Cheesies
- The fact that I enjoy my job so much that I apparently can't take a full sick day off... instead I slept until I couldn't sleep anymore and came in for a half day
- A boss (but not my boss) coming to me to ask me to keep an eye on certain news developments on Twitter, since I'm "in the loop with these things"
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Things that make me happy
I get homesick and whiny when I'm suffering the plague
Monday, April 27, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
When to give in. When to give up.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Easy baking with Alana
Hi! My name is Alana and I blog over at The Good Girl Gone Blog. I'm so delighted to be here. Thanks for having me!
The fab-tastic Elle and I were going back and forth trying to figure out a theme to write about for the 20SB blog swap. We discussed writing about our respective homelands, I'm American and she's Canadian, but then decided against it. (Note: I found this awesome Canadian site when researching non-Canadian material for this post!) We eventually agreed to write random blog posts.
I think I had this one back in the '90s! (Wow, I'm trying to make myself sound old. I'm not actually old.)
I loved making the adorable little yellow and chocolate cakes, but hated waiting for them to cook. Why couldn't the light bulb work faster? I used to sit in front of my EBO in pure anticipation, waiting for that tiny little cake to come out the other side of the oven. Even when the cake was ready, I had to wait for it to cool before icing it and then eating it. Patience is not one of my stronger qualities...you can ask my parents. As a result, I'm pretty sure I used to burn my fingers. A lot.
The cakes of course tasted delicious...but were soooo small! It took forever to make them...and then they were gone in approximately 8.5 seconds!
I can't wait to have a real kitchen this summer where I can make cakes in a non-light bulb operated oven that serve more than one person. Plus, my best friend, Becca, got me this adorable apron for my birthday. I can't wait to wear it in my very own (ish...) kitchen!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Also, you should check out Alana's blog today for some neat enviro-conscious items to help you celebrate Earth Day everyday.
Me, I promise to keep on the Boy about the importance of recycling. It's something I plan to implement with the Beginning of Cohabitation, coming soon.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Dear Kiki,
You're pretty precious here, with your chubbalicious little cheeks and the coveralls with the crotch at your knees. Part of me will always remember you this way.
We haven't always been the best of friends, or even the best of sisters, but I want you to know that today, your twenty-second birthday, I'm thinking of you.
It's hard to believe how much you've grown up. It seems like when I went away to university almost seven years ago, you were going to stay my very young, very innocent, sister forever. Oh how the times have changed.
Though we're not always the best of friends, I want you to know that I try to protect you because you remind me of me. It hurts to see you make the same mistakes that I did, even though I understand why you have made them. I want you to see what a beautiful, smart (yes, you are), special girl you are. I want you to be able to see that no matter what boys tell you.
I'm glad that you're working hard, and that you've found a boy you like to be with and who thinks the world of you. I'm happy for you. And I hope that you crazy kids have a fantastic time at the concert I'm sending you tickets for. Promise to have a drink and think of me... the old times sneaking out the window of your room and taking long walks down the back country roads in our pajamas (and hiding in the ditches whenever we saw headlights).
I understand you, and you, me. My life is better with you in it.
Happy birthday, dear Kiki.
"Sisterhood is a messy, fragmentary, ambiguous thing, an indiscriminate jumble of love, hate, amity, enmity, to be teased out bit by bit." Penelope Farmer
Friday, April 17, 2009
Notte Sento
I can't remember where I first saw this, so if you're the lovely person who shared it with me... I apologize. I saw it in my favourites today and took another look at it and couldn't not share it here. This short film is made from 4500+ photographs, and all of them are gorgeous.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
You'll never judge people by appearance again
YouTube won't let me embed it, but go watch it.
Everyone is laughing at her, expecting her performance to be so bad, but Susan is cheeky for a reason... she's insanely talented.
Doesn't hurt that this is one of my favourite songs from Les Mis.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Show me the money
"Of two things you can be certain; death and taxes." Benjamin Franklin
Being a grown-up has been making me all about the angry and the rage lately. It's been turning me into a less-than-positive person and it's been making me evaluate the influences in my life. Sounds like fun, I know.
Positive: I did my taxes by myself for the first time ever. Well, the Boy may have helped when I was mumbling curse words under my breath at the computer. But the important thing is, I didn't send them home to my mommy! Even though she tried to convince me to! Grown. Up.
So, after dealing with the Tax Man, I've come up with some financial goals for this year. This year, I will pay off my student loan. Hurray! I will keep medical receipts. I will opt for a bus pass over tickets, so I can get the tax break, instead of buying tickets and ending up paying the same amount. Finally, I will contribute more to RRSPs (I sorted this out when I was home in February. Automatic withdrawl, oh how I love thee).
Money is a giant stress, so it's good to at least be able to pretend that I have things under control.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
I shouldn't have worried. For starters, a glass of red while making fun of the "model" talking herself up to a group of young 4H girls does a lot to ease the mind. Secondly, Andrea is fabulous. Finally, it wasn't really all that impressive (though I had been warned).
Some of the stuff that went down the runway was just sad. The music was strange, the girls looked uncomfortable and awkward, the clothes didn't fit, the seams buckled even though the garment wasn't too small and there were loose strings everywhere. Heidi Klum would not have approved. Since I don't subscribe to the same journalistic principles as A., I can let you tell you the good, the bad and the ugly. And oh, was it ugly.
And then there was Tressa Heckbert.
Her show was cohesive, a dash of futuristic, the clothes were well-tailored, the girls looked cool and we couldn't help but comment on the shininess of their hair. Little details made us squeal in delight. The show had been thoroughly thought through and it showed. Not a rogue thread in sight. No "dog fur" poufs chasing the girls down the runway. Everything about Tressa's show was fabulous. It was enough to make us actually want to go to St. Albert.
For more, check out Andrea's take on the show here.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The Easter Bunny delivered early
Unfortunately, I couldn't find a video of "Step by Step" that would let me embed it. Since it's the only song I can remember, it's the only one that matters.
Goodness gracious, they've gotten old.
Monday, April 6, 2009
I bring this on myself
And we're going to a country music concert. Montgomery Gentry. Row 20. Because we're small town country girls.
We like corn fields and the smell of fresh-cut hay. We went to Buck and Does before we went to the bar and we were raised on blue jeans and flip flops. As far back as I can remember, I remember doing chores in the barn to the tune of country radio. Taking breaks to dance beneath the radio and belt out our favourite songs. Staying out of licking range of the cows. Belting out those tunes in the mows even when we couldn't hear them from the radio.
I remember road trips with country on the radio. No matter whether a song is new or old, it all sounds familiar. It feels familiar. It's legs dangling as you lean back on a swing, letting the world wash over you. It's a big hug from those who've known you longer than you've known yourself. It's Mom and Dad's patio with a cold beer after a long day of doing hay. It's long walks in the middle of the night down the backroads. It's home. It's summer.
And I couldn't be more excited.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
I think Facebook just called me a fierce bitch
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Why I'm glad to be Canadian #832019
The federal government, along with other foreign affairs departments, is expressing concern over proposed laws in Afghanistan. One law would make it illegal for Shi’ite women to deny their husbands sex. Women would also need permission to leave the house. Children would be in the custody of fathers and grandfathers only. Critics are now questioning Canada’s commitment to its military program in that country. CBC Radio Clg. CTV Clg.
Read more at CTV online.
Good job, celebrities.
There have been a lot of celebrity public service announcements lately. They've ranged from support for democracy and voting, gay rights, and now, ending violence against women.
I personally find it encouraging when celebrities use their place in society to do something worthwhile. To use their fame to promote an important cause or message that they believe in. Something that many of us would love to do, but that has a much bigger reach when they do it. Bravo.