A Great Gift Idea for the “Crafty Girl” on your list

I received one of the best gifts from my friend Karen.  It was the gift of crafty organization.   If you are anything like me, when I start crafting, my creative genius takes over and my craft zone resembles a colourful paper war zone by the time I am finished.

Karen gave me a gift, which on the surface may resemble a photo organizer, but in reality it is a paper odds, sods and embellishments organizer.  Remember all those paper scraps, the ones too good to throw out, but not big enough to scrapbook with, but might be good for cards, tags, accessories (you get the picture), well here’s what you do with them. Take the individual cases that would nornally house the 4”x6” photos and organize those bits and pieces by colour, season or pattern in to those cases.  Everything now is beautifully organized for your next crafting project all at your fingertips.

Here’s a video clip explaining the process.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvGB-f7iavM&feature=related

 

YouTube - Videos from this email

Awesome gift Karen!  It takes a crafty girl to know one.  Now if I can just remember to keep it organized. Mmmm.

Bad Hair Day, oh my!

My Keegan (16 year old flame point Himalayan cat) is getting older and he doesn’t groom himself like he should.  The result is that his fur gets matted and then needs professional attention.  I know that winter is not the best time to groom him, but given his matted condition, off to the vet for his check-up and trim.

The result was a bit severe.  As you can see, he looks like that poor cat on the “Hang in there baby” poster.   He garnered such sympathy and attention that my sister-in-law swaddled him in a baby blanket!   Now he thinks he needs to sleep in my bed, under, yes under the covers.

To add insult to injury, our other cat Tom (the 20 pound, domestic shorthair that adopted us and has finally won “Largest Cat” title from the Rockton World’s fair and has the trophy to prove it) didn’t recognize poor Keegan when he came back from the vet.  He hissed and spat at the poor boy, thinking that I traded poor Keegan for a wimped-out version of what a cat should look like!

Sorry Keegan for the bad hair day, maybe even a bad hair month, but I am sure you feel better without the matts in your fur.  We’ll try to wait for warmer weather next time!  Besides, it could be worse, you could be wet!

Winter Getaway at Niagara Falls

All three of my girls have January birthdays and the deal at my house is that you have the option of having a birthday party with your friends or we can go as a family to one of the Niagara Waterparks for an overnight stay and swimming get-away.  The waterbugs always vote for the waterpark!

This year we decided to try the Niagara Falls Waterpark and stay at the Crowne Plaza.  The waterpark is located at the Crowne Plaza, but you do have to go through the lobby and take a separate elevator to the park itself.

From my Corporate Marketing Professional standpoint, the Crowne Plaza is a beautiful historic hotel located at the base of the falls with easy access to the Casino, the Hard Rock Café and five star restaurant at the Crowne Plaza.  From my "Mom and Family Event Planner" perspective, it is the least family friendly hotel that we have been to in a long time.

The rooms are very small and we were tripping over one another.  There was no mini fridge in the room which I find very useful when travelling with kids.  (Yes, I pack milk, juice cereal for breakfast and a plethora of snacks for grazing – so the milk stayed in the ice bucket to stay cold).  The beds were hard and everyone had trouble sleeping.  No sleep + all day swimming @ waterpark = grumpy kids There were house rules too.  Street clothes were to be worn when passing through the lobby on the way to the waterpark.  What the heck?  How kid friendly is a hotel that promotes a waterpark then makes you dress for the occasion, then undress to use the waterpark , and dress to come back to your room.

The waterpark is fun and comparable to Great Wolf Lodge and the Americana Hotels nearby.  The proximity to the falls is great and it is walking distance to all the attractions on Clifton Hill (although as a parent I would avoid those places like the plague!)  If you go in the winter, the lights are still on and the falls is amazing at night time!   But the hotel’s $40 restaurant coupon and the “kids eat free breakfast” coupons are not for the family budget consumer.  Oh did I mention the $20 parking fee and the locker fees to keep your “stuff” safe at the pool are all part of the package too.  Lesson learned.

Gotta be honest here, I know that Great Wolf Lodge sounds like more money on paper, but the value is there if you are travelling as a family.  Bigger rooms, fridges and microwaves in the rooms, affordable food on-site (including pizza delivery to your room), free waterpark lockers, free parking, free story time and craft sessions for the kids.  Lots to do without ever leaving the facility.  Americana is OK if you have little children, but your older kids (tweens) will quickly get bored and want to do more than that facility has to offer.

My analysis, from the Mom/Family Event Planner perspective, two thumbs up for Great Wolf Lodge (go midweek if you can for the best room rate and more room in the waterpark), Americana if you have little kids, and the Crowne Plaza should stick to their corporate clients with expense accounts or adults looking for a Casino get away.  (Yes, I did sneak out when the kids were asleep and invest $40 in the Niagara economy!)

Food for thought

One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.  – A.A. Milne


Accept everything about yourself.  I mean everything, you re you and that is the beginning and the end – no apologies, no regrets.  – Clark Moustakas


Some days there won’t be a song in your heart.  Sing anyway. – Emory Austin


If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. – Mary Engelbreit


As a housewife, I feel that if the kids are still alive when my husband gets home from work, then hey, I’ve done my job. – Roseanne Barr

Working Moms Unite!

We are not alone.  I came across this book, "I was a really GOOD MOM before I had kids - reinventing modern motherhood" and I had to pick it up.

Not only is this book written by two working Moms, but they are from the marketing field (Trisha Ashworth is from the Advertising realm and Amy Nobile is a PR Exec.) so I can relate to them on more than one level.

We all have been there ... super mom, super wife, super career executive ... super tired!  Second guessed ourselves 100 times a day and hate to admit, even to our inner most selves that there must be more to life than diaper rash and Preparation H!

If you are like me stuck in that sandwich generation, somewhere between June Cleaver, Gloria Steinem and Madonna, this book is for you.  It's nice to know that we are not alone. These ladies have other books too and a blog if you like what they have to say.  Maybe you'll share some of the dirty little secrets posted there too.

Here's the link ...
http://www.reallygoodmom.com/books/

The Late Church Ladies

I thought I would start the New Year off right by going to church.   I called my mom and asked her if she wanted to join me.  She agreed and we decided I would pick her up at 10:45 am since church started at 11.
Both of us were ready early and were putting in time waiting to go to church.   Away we went at 10:45 as agreed.   When we got to the parking lot, we both thought there were a lot of cars there.  That should have been our first clue.  I dropped Mom off at the front door since she has trouble walking, so the shorter the distance, the better for her.  Besides, it was raining and watching her juggle a cane, purse and umbrella is too much for me.  Away she goes and I leave to park the car.

I had to circle the church parking lot twice to find a spot.   Again, this seems a bit strange, but it’s true.  When I get to the door, I see mom standing in the entry hall.  Apparently we are 30 minutes late for church and the service is well underway.  Not wanting to disturb the service, we decide it best to wait for a hymn before entering and finding a seat.

My mother would pass out if she had to sit at the front pew.  I’m not sure how she thought we would be able to sneak in without everyone knowing we were late, but that was her plan.  My mom is less than 5 ft. so the cloak rack at the back of the church concealed her appearance, however I am taller and both the minister and choir and the congregation in the back 5 rows all knew we were there.

Our big moment arrived when the collection was being taken up.  We slid in to the back row just in time for collection!

Collection and 2 hymns later, church was over.  It was the fastest service I’ve ever been to in my life and as luck would have it, lunch was being served after church.   Mom and I spent more time visiting at lunch than we did in church. Bonus, however next time we’ll get the time straight.

Dance

“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, 
Love like you'll never be hurt, 
Sing like there's nobody listening, 
And live like it's heaven on earth.” 
― William W. Purkey

Caledonia Old Mill Light Display

Christmas is not in tinsel and lights and outward show.

The secret lies in an inner glow.

It's lighting a fire inside the heart.

Good will and joy a vital part.

It's higher thought and a greater plan.

It's glorious dream in the soul of man.

--Wilfred A. Peterson (The Art of Living)

New Year’s Eve Traditions

Ever since our babies came along, we’ve celebrated what started out as referred to as a “toddlers New Year’s Eve” and the name stuck even though the girls outgrew the toddler stage.   It began as a pj party for the little girls (homemade flannelette nightgowns that Grandma Woods had made) and an early dinner of Chinese food from our favourite restaurant.  This worked out well since my brother and I have children the same age and we didn’t need babysitters.  My Dad was also in the late stages of cancer so it was a great way to be together as a family without it being a strain for anyone.  We rang in the New Year at 8 pm instead of midnight.

My father has since passed away, but much of the tradition lives on.  The evening now includes a trip to the cemetery after dinner to put candles on his grave, my grandparent’s grave and our dearest Trevor’s grave who was taken from us when he was only six.  It’s a time of reflection as we pass from one year to the next and to remember the ones we miss so fondly.

In a twist to this year agenda, we added an old fashion crokinole tournament.  We played crokinole by the hour with Dad growing up and now it was time to introduce it to the next generation.   Imagine a family game that requires no batteries, electronics, flash or any modern bells or whistles.  The only requirements are a good aim, steady nerves and a keen trigger finger!  We drew for teams and game position in this round robin tournament.
We had so much fun as we tried to outwit, outlast, and outplay the our opponents.  As in life, there is always a winner and everyone else comes second.  This year’s winners were my brother Todd and his daughter Danielle.  They received a valuable dollar store trophy and clearance Christmas chocolates lovingly purchased from the neighbour Sobeys.

All I can say it that Megan (the youngest and the fiercest competitor) will be more careful in her team mate selection next year and she will be “gunning” to knock Uncle Trigger Todd and Danielle off their crokinole pedestal.

Looking ahead at 2012

Working the board at DAVE FM

TV here I come!

Bucket List

1. Learn to knit

2. Learn to crochet

3. Learn how to Belly Dance – just for shits and giggles

4. Learn yoga

5. Become a judge at local Agricultural Fairs

6. Bungee Jump off something

7. Visit the Grand Canyon

8. Learn conversational French and go to France.  See the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Oh la la!

9. Be a radio DJ

10. Be a television personality

11. Visit Fiji just because it sounds exotic and would be a nice place to stop over on my trip to New Zealand

12. Visit the land down under, New Zealand

13. Visit the set of Coronation Street in England and explore England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.  Not necessarily in that order and not necessarily all at once

14. Start a Blog or two or three

Kicking it at KIX 106

The Mom Show

2012 New Year’s Resolutions

1. Throw the best “Sweet 16 birthday party” for my Alycia because I want to and she deserves it

2. Exercise and eat better.  Take the time to look after myself so I can be the best “me” I can be!

3. Purge the” toxins” from my life that means anything that drains my energy, isn’t  part of my core values, adds no value to my life or my family’s life, I’m cutting loose.  Concentrate on the value added stuff like activities that bring me joy, enhance my health or feed my soul.

4. Volunteer more, especially at my kids’ school.  I want to take “Crafty Mom” to a whole new level

5. Find a job that fits me, not me fitting it

6. Work the social media angle to death!  Understand it and live it.

7. Throw the best birthday party for me and my friends ever!  Theme is Cupcake wars ladies - have spatula, will travel.  You know that I mean!
8. Connect with friends more.  I want to make a concerted effort to catch up and engage them on a regular basis

9. Create and live in a complaint free world http://www.acomplaintfreeworld.org/

10. Laugh a lot!  I’m sure, but have no scientific proof that laughing  lengthens your life!  Some call it internal jogging!  I could run that marathon.