Healthy Eats!

So I've decided that I need to smarten up and start eating right. The smartening up part got kick-started by the part where my jeans have started to cut off my circulation. That and I can no longer 'suck it in'. Ladies and Gentlemen, my metabolism has left the building. Long gone are the days of putting on a bikini without hearing the Jaws theme.

Well, this health fest starts tomorrow. And yes, tomorrow actually means tomorrow! The image of myself eating rabbit foods springs to mind. Carrots, lettuce and celery sticks - oh my! You know those fluffy little critters would eat junkfood if given a chance. Just saying!

Memory Card Mayhem

A couple of weeks ago my work camera's memory card went missing. My youngest daughter had tried to 'help' before by taking the card out of the computer and setting it down for me. So I asked her if she had seen it. At first she pleaded guilty but then took it back when she realized her mom was getting a bit stressed out over the matter. She still helped me look everywhere we could think of but no such luck.

In the meantime I needed something to save my work photos on so I decided to look for my old memory card from my personal camera. Also no luck. I had no one to blame for this one but myself. I had taken it out of my camera a while back and set it down somewhere. Stupid me. I'll never learn.

A couple of days passed and my middle child brought me her Nintendo DS complaining that something was wrong. I looked at it and what do you know - my memory card was shoved in the game slot. Took some doing but finally got it out. With only minimal damage to the memory card.

And finally, a couple of weeks passed and while I was cleaning out my toaster my personal memory card was jammed in the bottom. Don't even ask, because I don't know. All I do know is that the poor thing is a little on the toasty side.

Today I had the pleasure of picking up a co-worker from the airport. Have never met this person but thought it could be interesting. I had asked my boss what this person looked like so I had some description of who I might be looking for. She said that she had met him in Montreal and that he was either black or a punk skater kid. Ummm, ok. Better than nothing...I think. While waiting, I thought that I had heard my name and saw a man heading for a taxi. Being my typical paranoid self and thinking that I had missed him I shot off a quick text saying what color my coat was and where abouts I was standing. He wrote back that he is a black guy with hair in a pony tail and that's the best he's got. Jacket color would have sufficed but oh well. Staying put I waited as people piled down the escalator. Finally spotted him and started walking towards him with a smile. He looked at me like I was mental. Feeling like a complete doof I asked if he was Damion. He said yes. Still no smile or an ounce of warmth in his face. It was going to be a looong car ride to work. Thank gawd I skipped my 'funny' idea of making a sign with his last name on it. Probably best I save that for friends and family.

Soccer Parents

Tonight at my daughter's soccer game I had the 'pleasure' of getting to know my fellow soccer moms. Here are a few things that are fresh in my mind:

* The mom that compliments every kid on the team. While I was very flattered that she thought how great Chloe was doing, I found it quite amusing that she was saying this to all the parents. Sorry, but I don't think that the wimpy kid who runs away from the soccer ball is doing so hot.

* The mom who was pretending to read a book and avoiding everyone (see post below).

* The teenage sister who never comes to soccer and doesn't even know which team her brother is on. Nice going!

* The mom who has the need to constantly talk and talk. And talk. How nice that you had a disease as a child. And a rare one! No I don't think you should run out and buy a lottery ticket as I don't think having a rare disease is "lucky".

* The hyperactive kid that can't sit still and seems to be on a mission to spill my Tim Hortons coffee. Spill it, I dare you!

* The mom who keeps calling her son's soccer skills pure luck. Ummm, perhaps your son actually has talent?

* Then there was the little boy who came and sat beside me. I don't think he knew where his mom or dad were. Must say I didn't mind his company. Luckily his parents resurfaced and he was able to rejoin them.

* The girl on Chloe's team who meant to bounce the ball off the top of her head but instead headbutted it *snicker*

Ways to avoid people: Read a book?

Tonight while at my daughter's soccer game I kept having 'chatty moms' gather around me. I don't mean to sound like a complete cow but I'm there to watch my girl play soccer, not gossip and make friends. Looking to the right of me I noticed that a girl was 'reading' a book. Occasionally she'd look down at the text but for the most part she was just holding it up and looking over the top of it. That and it was Lord of the Rings (who hasn't read or seen the movie by now?). Just as this great idea was sinking in it wasn't two minutes later that she was being swarmed by a bunch of kids looking at her book and trying to read the cover.

Yah, so much for that idea...

I'm alive!

Long time, no 'see'. I'm back. Unfortunately the lamps will probably not be. Tee hee. Tried to find a creative and inexpensive way to re-invent my lamps but no such luck. That and I just plain lost interest. Hey, just being honest here.

Just Around The Corner

For a while now Tom and I have been talking about going to a Roughrider game in Calgary. Since his birthday is before a game in Calgary we seized the opportunity! Besides football, it would be a great weekend getaway for us. After we bribed secured a babsitter for the weekend (thanks Tom's mom!)it was time to find a hotel. My being a fancy pants, I smiled my sweetest smile (yes, it hurt) at Tom and begged for something swanky. After all, it's not like we do this all of the time. So we logged on to Hotwire and took a shot. What was to lose? Aside from getting stuck in a cockroach infested hellhole. We decided on a 4-star hotel in downtown Calgary. No idea what we just paid for we eagerly awaited an email. Here is what we reserved...The Westin. Bee-utiful! Not sure I'll ever want to leave. So far Hotwire is not too shabby! Time will tell. And so will my blog.

Weekend Project Complete!

(Completed many weeks ago. But that's neither here nor there.)

Before. An unused and neglected turtle.









After! A frequently used puppy pool.









Yzerman (white puppy) loves it. Cowboy (black and white) is still getting used to the whole idea. Mostly it's just a big water dish for him.

Project: Success!

Weekend Project

Since my lamp project/experiment is taking a bit longer than I anticipated, I've decided to do another project in the meantime. Turning a children's sandbox into a puppy pool! Recently my family has adopted two westie-x puppies (west highland terrier/shih tzu). The one little fella has short hair (reminds me of a webkinz). The other fella has a longer coat and he loves, loves, LOVES water. So! I thought since my girls really don't use the sandbox much anymore that I should turn it into a puppy pool. Many moons ago we used it as a pool for my oldest daughter when she was a wee one and it worked like a charm! Greatest part is that the turtle has a lid so it will keep the bugs out and the water stays warm.

So stay tuned. You know you wanna ;-)

Tapping Into My Inner Designer - Part Deux

Today I officially began searching for ideas for my DIY lamp project. Confident that I'd come across a drum shade no prob while at The Home Depot! No such luck. So far anyway.

Not letting the first roadblock get me down I continued on and began looking at spray paint colours. Red and yellow and black - oh, my! Then I looked to my left and saw the fluorescent colours. I was thinking of being bold but not that bold. Eek! Will have to save that fun for another adventure. One choice that did catch my eye was a chocolate brown. Only if I can find an appealing fabric or wallpaper (yes, I said wallpaper) to go with it. Problem with wallpaper is that I am not dealing with a perfect cylinder shade. To add to the horror, the lamp shades that came with the lamps I have are ribbed. Argh. New lamp shades it is! May not be my desired drum shade but we shall see!

Last stop was the wallpaper section. So many gorgeous large prints to choose from *drool*. Many that would look great with a chocolate brown lamp base. I took many *cough*generous*cough* samples. Fingers crossed that I can find my very much desired lamp shade. Really would prefer to stay away from fabric. I am a person of very little patience. Fabric + Me - Patience = Not a Pretty Sight.

Before I end this post. I just want to post the cutest lamp. I would love to transform my shades to look like that but am not so sure Tom would agree.



Love the daisies but think I'd go with something more colorful like a gerbera daisy. My favorite flower for any of you who feel like sending me flowers. Wink wink, nudge nudge.

Photo taken from Steven & Chris

Tapping Into My Inner Designer - Part 1

Time for another experiment. I'm on the edge of my seat, are you?

Last weekend my mother-in-law was good enough to come in from out of town to babysit. Being typical Diana she had to indulge in some garage sales first. She loves a bargain! She arrived with an armful of clothes for my girls. Then there were the lamps. Dut dut duuuuuuu! Apparently she got a great deal on them and couldn't pass them up. Had intended on taking them home with her but was concerned that my father-in-law would get cranky about it. Gee, I wonder why. So on my deck they stayed. Either we could keep them or perhaps my newly single brother-in-law might want them. Doubtful. That's when my inner designer kicked in. Why not try to fix them up? What's there to lose? My only concern being that my MIL would want them back and no I'm not joking. Once I got past the tacky gold accents and faded burgundy shades, I thought that it just might be possible to fix these bad boys up! The shades, obviously, are an easy fix. Just need to try and curb my expensive taste - tee hee. The shape of the lamp bases are not too shabby. Of course the gold has got to go! Blissful images of spray paint cans swirled around in my head. Do I play it safe and just grab a can of silver? Or dare I be bold and go with colour. Who knew lamps could bring so much excitement to ones life! Can't wait to go shopping!

To be continued...

Do NOT Try This At Home

Here's my first experiment. Not at all planned and never want to do it again. While on staycation last week my cat escaped out of the house and disappeared overnight. Made for a looong night of tossing and turning. Here were some of my thoughts:

Car screeches to a halt on a street - "Oh man, wonder if she's on the road."
Dog barks - "Oh man, wonder if she's by the dog."
Wind blows a bush - "Oh man, wonder if she's in the bush."
Bird chirps - "Oh man, was that her? Nope. Stupid noisy bird."
Rabbit catches my eye outside - "Oh man, is that her? Nope. Kill the wabbit."

Although traumatic and horrible at the time, it's now kinda humorous. Since then I have smothered my cat with tons of affection. Most likely giving her reason to try and escape from the house yet again.

That's a Spicey Meatball

So I've decided to spice things up a bit and start trying new things. Then post about them. I will be a guinea pig, of sorts. Nothing too crazy like sticking any body parts in electrical outlets or standing on a highway counting to see how many cars swerve around me before one finally takes me out, but I promise to do my best to entertain ;)

So stay tuned!

Just Shoot Me

Just need a moment to complain. I hate my allergies. I hate my allergies. I hate my allergies.

Someone please shoot me.

Okay. I feel a bit better now.

There is a problem completing your call

Last week I was emailed by my boss stating that I had to participate in on a conference call. Sadly this idea kinda excited me. Get to stay at home, pretend to pay attention and get paid for it! Just one teeny tiny problem - the call was to take place at noon. The time when I have my three daughters home for lunch. This was either going to go really well or really bad. With one minute to spare I had all my girls fed and occupied with some sort of entertainment.

I dialed the phone number given and entered the access code. Corporate ladder here I climb! Okay maybe not. But a bum can dream. At first I got to listen to some sweet hold music and then was finally transferred to the 'conference room'. Some guy kept asking if a certain so-and-so was there. Ummm, this is a conference call? The guy finally realized what an idiot he was and made a stupid joke about how if we hear from this person to tell him that he is fired. Everyone started letting out horribly fake laughs. I decided to let out my heartiest cheesy laugh I could muster up. How could I let a chance to make fun of others slip away? Just wouldn't be right.

Finally the moderator began the meeting. He asked if everyone had read the material. Ummm, I looked at the pictures? Didn't know we had to read anything. My bad. Of course all of the ass-kissers let out an immediate "yes!" I bet they even had family members quiz them on it.

As the meeting went on I noticed a humming noise on my phone which gradually turned into a high pitched get-into-your-storm-shelters-there's-a-storm-a-comin' screech. Personally I was just relieved it wasn't my children making all the racket. Yay me! I quickly pulled the phone away from my ear before getting permanent eardrum damage. The horrible noise finally subsided so I put the phone back up to my ear only to have it start screeching again. Deciding that I really didn't have time for this since lunchtime for my kids was almost over I helped them with what they needed. Every once in a while checking if the phone was still screaming. Once the kids were off and my youngest was busy playing I checked the phone again. Someone was saying that they were having problems with feedback and to turn our cellphones off. Cellphones? What great luck! Mine had been misplaced (thank-you Tom). Perhaps I could search through my house using the feedback as a guide. Sah-weet!!

After almost a half-hour of 'feedback' the moderator decided to have mercy on us and said that we'd have to try this another day. Aww, too bad! Just please don't have it at noon again. My kids can't always be angels.

Slap Chop!

The other day while getting ready for work the commercial for Slap Chop came on the television. Recognizing the Sham Wow guy I came to a stand still. There's just something about that Vince guy that intrigues me. Vince went on to show how great and how one cannot go on in life without one of these amazing gadgets. After slap chopping up some eggs, ham, green onion and a pickle, Vince went on to say "you're going to love my nuts." Say what in the where now? Another amusing part was the animated sparkles. Bee-utiful! Just when you thought life couldn't get any better, Vince makes the deal even sweeter by whipping out the Graty! Taco, Fettuccine, Linguine, Martini, Bikini. Vince should seriously have his own show. I know I would watch.

Infomercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUbWjIKxrrs

Infomercial Parody Remix

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaR4LcLbW8I