Internet free week

I loved it.

The first two days were hard because the little Internet voice in my head kept saying "You can find that answer on the Internet.... try Google, try that new blog you found, ask your friends on Facebook...." but I waited, because really - I could wait a few days before I found out if Hope Depot carried the shelves I was looking for or how many times in a 24 hour period does a frog croak, and I could wait to tell people on FB how I just opened a Kleenex box. After that it was a breeze

I have become so accustom to all information at my fingertips at all times of the day and I was seeing it take over parts of my time and space. I want to be in control so I cut it out. I came to realise how much of the instant gratification information is just useless and I can choose to spend time else where and dumping in some actual life fulfilling information in my brain.

I learned so much more about my kid, she shines when given more of my attention. She was less cranky and less likely to pull at me at all hours of the day saying 'UP!' and more helpful and willing to laugh and be her crazy self. I came to realise how much I love this little girl and I was really sad to know that I have been shutting her out while staring at the computer screen.

My week was more peaceful without the constant buzz of the computer. I got out of the house more. People called me WOW, my phone never rings! I felt like I had so much time during the day to get everything I wanted to done that day.

Laundry? done

Kitchen? clean

Floor? washed

Bathroom? sparkling

Beds? made

I loved not having the noise of the Internet on my brain and have the space that was occupied now free for me to think for myself and to wonder about things that are more important to me. I also...didn't DIE! I was a perfectly capable functional human being without knowing what everyone was thinking on facebook or what new DIY project was happening that day on my favorite blogs.

Now I am thinking of having a week free of housework...

Dogeared Jewelry Winner

Comment # 5 is the winner, I will contact you soon :)

$25.00 American to spend via an email gift certificate for someone out there.

To enter, visit the site and leave a comment telling me what piece of jewelry is on your wish list. Contest open for any one of my blog readers in the U.S.A and Can-Ada.

Winner will be announced here, contacted then sent via their email inbox, the gift certificate

Good.....

Contest Closed

Um...

I was given a positive compliment on the weekend. A young guy working at a grocery store on cash told me I "Carry dreads really well." I said "Pardon?" and he said "I really like your dreads, you have awesome hair" I thanked him. Once at home I analyzed my braided down the center, pulled up in a pony tail, fully dreadlock free hair...

On my next trip to the store perhaps I should buy one of two things - some of this:

or this

I Found my Jogging Partner

Now If I could only keep up with her!

With a song in my heart

I don't know why I never checked this out before, seeing as how I can't get enough of my CBC radio 2 station.

Upon exploring the home page I see on the right hand side under Listen Now, there is a header called New Music Channels, My house is ringing with the Jazz channel. I can't get enough. It's a wonderful mix of melodies, some with vocals and some strictly with 'the band'. Have I already said it? I can't get enough.

Elvis turns 75

Elvis in Girl Happy

I was hooked on Elvis because of his movies - as a family on Friday night movie night we would often pick a flick of the King's. Funny, sappy, cheesey, and just a good time. Of course he sings in them as well and usually gets the girl.

I will never forget on one of my Birthday cards...I was turning 13 I think...My brother cut out a picture of Elvis from a magazine, It was actually an ad for an Elvis plate you could hang up on your wall. Inside the card he wrote, "Happy Birthday Mandi, From the King and I"

Tune into TCM today and wish Elvis a very happy 75Th.

How Sweet She is

This is my newest blog discovery. Her name, Marian.

Here is her blog.

She can decorate sugary goodness like nobodies business!

What an eye for decorating and steady hand!

I love discovering 'sweet' new blogs - check her out, and if you do you won't be disappointed but you might be a little hungry for something sweet...

Nutcrackers

For Christmas Day Dinner dessert, I consulted my favorite cupcake book. I attempted the Nutcracker Sweets...They sure were sweet! I have to say as I started I wanted to stop myself when I was at this stage.

They don't much look like nutcrackers...rather freaky looking. But I kept my hope high as I looked at the finished product in the book. "Think positive, think positive"

Here we go, looking more humane

Almost done

And around 1 and a half to 2 hours later... TaDaaa!

I find the most satisfaction when people really 'enjoy' my work

Delicious!

Last year's Christmas

We started the month off with some Baking and I had a little help, rather, a little helper.

It was amazing going to my brothers house for a Traditional Christmas Dinner.As soon as I stepped in his house I had a rush of warm memories from Christmases past and I really missed my Mom! but is was almost as if she was there. Later on she was because of our friend Skype ;) We had..what was it a 32 Lb turkey?! it was seasoned amazingly well and perogies and shish-kabobs (more commonly known as rats on a stick), gravy stuffing, mashed potatoes a veggie and a fruit platter, crackers, cheese, pickles and sausages and Chocolate chocolate chocolate! there was so much and it was such fun having everyone around. We played an amazing white elephant game and Little M snuck off to finish her cousin L's dinner

Back home, one of Santa's helpers who was rather on the skinny side came and helped out at another family Christmas party. Little M was really good and just loved to see the pictures afterwards of her and "Danta"

Don't forget the Christmas PJ's

They are covered in cherry pies, cherries, rolling pins, butter and recipe cards.

Christmas morning was overwhelming for Little M. She wanted to play with her new toys all at the same time, she would grab two and tried to fit all the little pieces in her arms then try and grab another and drop some that she first picked up. Her 2 new favorites are her 'Toast Pop' from J and J and family. This kid loves toast with Jam and she calls it 'Toast pop' so when she opened their gift and saw it was a mini toaster - she was in love. We didn't hear the end of " Toast Pop! Toast Pop!" until she opened a gift from A & A. Inside was a really cute white cat in a blue dress sitting in her own little basket. M hugged it instantly and was torn between "Toast Pop" and "Hug! Hug!"

*Sorry no pictures of that...I need to remember to document things better for your blogging enjoyment*

At grandma's House she was given a stroller and we put her cat into it and she just pushed that cat around so happily and if something or someone was in her way she would forge on and plow through whatever or whoever it was.

Grandma knew what I wanted ....

I love this movie Jooolia!

Above all the gifts and eats I really noticed how much I liked spending time with Family this year.

I hope your Christmas was wonderful too.

One Word

A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything.
The key is to find a word that has personal meaning for you.



I did this last year and looking back I can see how I grew and changed with a lightly wavering focus on the meaning of the word Charity in my life. *I don't know how to link posts with posts like some people do at the bottom of their posts*



My word for 2010 is Trust.

Firstly, the snake song from Jungle book comes to mind

"Trust in me, just in me, Close your eyes and trust in me. You can sleep safe and sound Knowing I am around. Slip into silent slumber, Sail on a silver mist. Slowly and surely your senses Will cease to resist. Trust in me, just in me Close your eyes and trust in me"

I looked TRUST up on a Dictionary web page and chose these definitions.



1. reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.



2. a person on whom or thing on which one relies: God is my trust



3. the condition of one to whom something has been entrusted.



4. to believe.

I like that last one the most. "To believe". To me trust was an image of solid bonding, never breaking - not anything as hope filled as believing. I never thought of it in that light.

I also know that it takes years to build up trust and in mere seconds it can be destroyed and it can be re-built again, stronger than it was before.

I realized there was an event in my life that happened 3 or 4 years ago that I have not let go of 100% and because of that I have learned not to trust my self. This is where this quote rang true to me

"a man who doesn't trust himself can never really trust anyone else" - Cardinal De Retz

In letting go of that life event I can learn to trust myself again, and in turn be able to trust people in general. How much better life would be if I had a more whole trust in myself. And at most, more trust in God, who knows I'm only fooling myself when I think I'm in control of my situation, when really he has waited all along for me to come to a learning point...maybe this point...so I could put more trust in him.

I'm seeing 2010 so far as a great year, bring on the possibilities!

Take 3 and a half minutes out of your day

The Christmas Spirit

We have a winner

There was a contest last week on one of the websites James frequents. It was a fun contest to show some Christmas spirit. We found out today that we won!

Thank you Hello Cupcake for the how-to on the Snowmen

New twist on an old treat...added info

This is the new chocolate covered pretzel.

I want to make these this week - I can just taste them now...imagine making these with caramel kisses?! Click on the link to see more photo's.

Dec 12th - Turns out these are a bit of an old favorite. I asked Gourmet Mom if she knew about these and of course she did!

Here, thanks to Gourmet Mom, is the original recipe for the treats above.

One thing

One thing was making my living room a mess of opened boxes and bags.

This spoon rest.

I put some of the everyday decorations into the empty Christmas boxes before put them back in the storage area. Before I could put them all away I needed to clean this spoon rest and put it in a box. I was reminded so many times a day by looking at the mess of boxes and empty bags in the corner. I kept thinking "I have to put all that away but I need to clean that spoon rest in order to put it in one of the boxes but the sink is full and I need to fold the laundry and clean the bathroom and change a full diaper and oh I forgot I was watching the neighbors kid today..."

I let a simple thing stop me from having a clean living room. I ordered one reality check, I mean, how long does it take to wash a spoon rest, sick it in a box and put some boxes away? Turns out it takes around 6 minutes, well, 5 days and 6 minutes.

What else in my life can I clean up in '6 minutes'? The list is getting longer....

Today's Advent Item

Was this box of Chips ahoy wreath cookies!

These are as tastey as they are cute and also come in Oreo.

If you can't find it for 2 or 3 bucks at walmart you CAN buy it on Ebay.... for $20.00