I was blog browsing this morning (I had plenty of time for this as my dear son decided to wake up at 6:30, stay up just long enough for me to fully wake up, and then go back to sleep, thus leaving me up) and while reading my friends' blog over here, I saw her reading list on the side of her blog and felt inspired.
Okay so I need to compile a list of books for 2011 that I am going to read. I think I'd like to make up a list of 75 to read. I was going to pick 111 in honour of the year 2011, but I'm not feeling quite that ambitious. So. I need your book picks. Suggestions, please! Give me at least three of your favorite books...I'd love to know what's out there worth reading that I have not yet discovered. I prefer fiction, but am really open to anything.
Please and thankyou :)
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
These days
Okay so I know I talk a lot about loving mat leave...but I'm going to do it again. I was saying to my mom the other day that it is hard for me to even begin to describe how happy I am in life right now. Recognizing that mat leave will soon be over, I'm just going to record what my days look like right now. I know that happiness won't cease when I start my job, but my days will just look different. I'm actually really looking forward to being out of the house for a few days a week. Okay okay...I can hear mitch in my head saying "Out of the house?? You can't wait to get out of the house?? You are never IN the house!"
So I admit...Tyler enjoy a lifestyle of being out and about.
One of the constants every week (or nearly every week) is brunch with my fellow mat leave and very close girlfriends. We take turns concocting unbelieveable brunches and giving the old 'screw you' to losing our baby weight for the duration of that meal. Almost every brunch so far has included whipped cream or icing. Dessert Brunch!
Tyler time. I love to just sit on the floor with Tyler and play. He develops so much every day and watching him and helping him learn is one of my day to day favorite things. It's incredible how much pride I feel from him doing something as simple as putting a cheerio in his mouth or stand up while holding onto my knees.
I'm really enjoying cooking, too! I LOVE having the time every day to plan meals. I absolutely HATE coming home at 5:00pm and THEN having to decide what to make. I like having lots of time, and with that time has come lots of inspiration. Don't get me wrong, I still order pizza every now and then, but MUCH less than we used to. I'm discovering many of my mom's cooking talents and enjoying putting them into practice myself.
Now that winter has come it's been getting a little trickier, but Tyler and I go for walks as often as we can. We bought the best stroller ever that is small and lightweight and yet still acts as a travel system so I am totally mobile. Now instead of walking outside we walk around the mall with starbucks in hand with friends. (umm...also, I have become a starbucks addict. No, seriously. I think I have a problem. It's been 2 days since my last caramel macchiato and I'm getting shaky)
Haha okay this doesn't really correspond with the rest of my post, but I have to tell you something I love: having a baby gives me an excuse to be a hidden pentecostal! I get to dance in church and no one cares because it just looks like I'm rocking my baby. HA!
Now that the Christmas season is here I'm also enjoying time just...relaxing. I always feel a deep relaxing feeling when this season hits. It's full of puzzles, tea drinking, burning candles, snuggling under blankets, and classical - then transitioning to christmas - music. I also currently enjoy dragging my child by the ankles away from the tree again and again.
Yes, I realize this is turning into kind of a directionless list, but I dont' feel like stopping yet.
I was contacted by the MB herald recently to write a book review for them! I submitted it last week and I will soon be a published writer. Kind of. It's a start, right? I'm kind of hoping I did a good enough job that they'll continue to ask me to contribute. I'm feeling like my opportunities door has been thrown wide open with this camp job and the world is my oyster. Taking over the world doesn't seem too hard right now. Armed with optimism, I'll keep walking through this wonderful time in life right into the next.
So I admit...Tyler enjoy a lifestyle of being out and about.
One of the constants every week (or nearly every week) is brunch with my fellow mat leave and very close girlfriends. We take turns concocting unbelieveable brunches and giving the old 'screw you' to losing our baby weight for the duration of that meal. Almost every brunch so far has included whipped cream or icing. Dessert Brunch!
Tyler time. I love to just sit on the floor with Tyler and play. He develops so much every day and watching him and helping him learn is one of my day to day favorite things. It's incredible how much pride I feel from him doing something as simple as putting a cheerio in his mouth or stand up while holding onto my knees.
I'm really enjoying cooking, too! I LOVE having the time every day to plan meals. I absolutely HATE coming home at 5:00pm and THEN having to decide what to make. I like having lots of time, and with that time has come lots of inspiration. Don't get me wrong, I still order pizza every now and then, but MUCH less than we used to. I'm discovering many of my mom's cooking talents and enjoying putting them into practice myself.
Now that winter has come it's been getting a little trickier, but Tyler and I go for walks as often as we can. We bought the best stroller ever that is small and lightweight and yet still acts as a travel system so I am totally mobile. Now instead of walking outside we walk around the mall with starbucks in hand with friends. (umm...also, I have become a starbucks addict. No, seriously. I think I have a problem. It's been 2 days since my last caramel macchiato and I'm getting shaky)
Haha okay this doesn't really correspond with the rest of my post, but I have to tell you something I love: having a baby gives me an excuse to be a hidden pentecostal! I get to dance in church and no one cares because it just looks like I'm rocking my baby. HA!
Now that the Christmas season is here I'm also enjoying time just...relaxing. I always feel a deep relaxing feeling when this season hits. It's full of puzzles, tea drinking, burning candles, snuggling under blankets, and classical - then transitioning to christmas - music. I also currently enjoy dragging my child by the ankles away from the tree again and again.
Yes, I realize this is turning into kind of a directionless list, but I dont' feel like stopping yet.
I was contacted by the MB herald recently to write a book review for them! I submitted it last week and I will soon be a published writer. Kind of. It's a start, right? I'm kind of hoping I did a good enough job that they'll continue to ask me to contribute. I'm feeling like my opportunities door has been thrown wide open with this camp job and the world is my oyster. Taking over the world doesn't seem too hard right now. Armed with optimism, I'll keep walking through this wonderful time in life right into the next.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
On life, transitions, and the desires of our hearts.
I have exciting news!!
I am going back into camp ministry.
Ooooo even typing that gives me just a few shivers. I am PASSIONATE for camp ministry. I worked as a camp counsellor for 5 years combined at two different camps and loved every minute of it. The first summer I spent away from camp in my entire life (as a staff or camper from the age of 7 on) was the summer I got engaged. It was actually pretty hard for me to accept that the camp 'era' of my life had ended. I told Mitch that I was still going to pray that God would bring the two of us back to camp ministry one day. He was somewhat skeptical that this would happen as he's the exact opposite of passionate towards camp ministries. (Bad camper experiences will do that to you...) Nonetheless, I prayed.
I had truthfully somewhat given up on this dream at this point in my life. Going back to camp with a small child realistically in my mind did not work so I didn't entertain the thought. Then this winter I was approached about the possibility of a job at camp. I left the converstaion and wept. I had forgotten how desperately my heart wanted to be there. It was a wakeup call for me, and also for Mitch I think. We talked about it for many hours over the next little while and Mitch told me straight out that if this was something I wanted, he was going to do his best to make it possible on the home front for me to explore this opportunity. Just in the last few weeks I entered into conversation about the camp again about working for them. It turns out a position had opened that was PERFECT for me. It's an office administrative position. I'll be working part time (half or a little less), in the city, close to Mitch and home, and during the summers I get to spend it out at camp. They are also excited about my past camp experience and are looking forward to expanding my job description to include things like music and other areas as I grow in the job.
I can't begin to explain how my heart feels with the decision Mitch and I made to take the job. God KNOWS me. He knows my heart and my innermost desires. He has given me several jobs before this one that have perfectly prepared me for this one. He has put me back in camp ministry in the capacity I was hoping to work in while having kids. He has given me a boss who understands having small children and is willing to be flexible. I feel so blessed. I went in to my previous work today to tell them that I won't be coming back after my mat leave is up. They were sad to see me go and I left on a very positive note. The road before me holds so much promise. Remember how I said I was excitable? Yeah...I'm bouncing.
So here we go. It's so interesting how just a few short months ago I blogged about how I felt like something was coming. Remember that? I blogged that I needed something that I'm passionate about. Mitch and I have been feeling for a long time that we've been in a state of 'waiting'. Content where we are, but knowing this is not where we'll stay. Perhaps this is the first step forward in where God is wanting to move us.
I am so excited.
I am going back into camp ministry.
Ooooo even typing that gives me just a few shivers. I am PASSIONATE for camp ministry. I worked as a camp counsellor for 5 years combined at two different camps and loved every minute of it. The first summer I spent away from camp in my entire life (as a staff or camper from the age of 7 on) was the summer I got engaged. It was actually pretty hard for me to accept that the camp 'era' of my life had ended. I told Mitch that I was still going to pray that God would bring the two of us back to camp ministry one day. He was somewhat skeptical that this would happen as he's the exact opposite of passionate towards camp ministries. (Bad camper experiences will do that to you...) Nonetheless, I prayed.
I had truthfully somewhat given up on this dream at this point in my life. Going back to camp with a small child realistically in my mind did not work so I didn't entertain the thought. Then this winter I was approached about the possibility of a job at camp. I left the converstaion and wept. I had forgotten how desperately my heart wanted to be there. It was a wakeup call for me, and also for Mitch I think. We talked about it for many hours over the next little while and Mitch told me straight out that if this was something I wanted, he was going to do his best to make it possible on the home front for me to explore this opportunity. Just in the last few weeks I entered into conversation about the camp again about working for them. It turns out a position had opened that was PERFECT for me. It's an office administrative position. I'll be working part time (half or a little less), in the city, close to Mitch and home, and during the summers I get to spend it out at camp. They are also excited about my past camp experience and are looking forward to expanding my job description to include things like music and other areas as I grow in the job.
I can't begin to explain how my heart feels with the decision Mitch and I made to take the job. God KNOWS me. He knows my heart and my innermost desires. He has given me several jobs before this one that have perfectly prepared me for this one. He has put me back in camp ministry in the capacity I was hoping to work in while having kids. He has given me a boss who understands having small children and is willing to be flexible. I feel so blessed. I went in to my previous work today to tell them that I won't be coming back after my mat leave is up. They were sad to see me go and I left on a very positive note. The road before me holds so much promise. Remember how I said I was excitable? Yeah...I'm bouncing.
So here we go. It's so interesting how just a few short months ago I blogged about how I felt like something was coming. Remember that? I blogged that I needed something that I'm passionate about. Mitch and I have been feeling for a long time that we've been in a state of 'waiting'. Content where we are, but knowing this is not where we'll stay. Perhaps this is the first step forward in where God is wanting to move us.
I am so excited.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Family Traditions
We participated in a fun family activity yesterday...we went searching for the perfect tree. Granted, it was not from a forest but rather from Michael's, but still. A beautiful tree.
If you know Mitch and I at all, you will know that I am enthusiastic and excitable, whereas mitch is...stable. :) Last year's christmas tree event involved him muting the football game so he could still at least watch while I decorated the tree and listed to christmas music. Don't get me wrong - he was in the room the whole time...but decorating just isn't his thing. However, this year was different.
There is something about starting a family that makes you also start thinking a family tradition. This year started off much like last - the football game was put on mute to make room for James Taylor's christmas album. Tyler was asleep so I was able to get started with hands free. However, about five minutes in I realized that the football game had been turned off, and mitch had his head buried in my christmas decorations box. He then proceeded to help me and we had such a nice 15 minutes of decorating the tree before Tyler woke up. Mitch went and picked him up, and held him on the couch as they watched me finish. Tyler was AWEstruck and couldn't take his eyes off the tree. It was such a wonderful time of having my family together participating in preparing for the season.
If you know Mitch and I at all, you will know that I am enthusiastic and excitable, whereas mitch is...stable. :) Last year's christmas tree event involved him muting the football game so he could still at least watch while I decorated the tree and listed to christmas music. Don't get me wrong - he was in the room the whole time...but decorating just isn't his thing. However, this year was different.
There is something about starting a family that makes you also start thinking a family tradition. This year started off much like last - the football game was put on mute to make room for James Taylor's christmas album. Tyler was asleep so I was able to get started with hands free. However, about five minutes in I realized that the football game had been turned off, and mitch had his head buried in my christmas decorations box. He then proceeded to help me and we had such a nice 15 minutes of decorating the tree before Tyler woke up. Mitch went and picked him up, and held him on the couch as they watched me finish. Tyler was AWEstruck and couldn't take his eyes off the tree. It was such a wonderful time of having my family together participating in preparing for the season.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Udder Covers
(part of this post is borrowed from Niki at www.whatelseisred.blogspot.com)
If anyone missed out on the last giveaway at uddercovers.com, you have another chance at a free nursing cover! Just go to the site, choose the cover you want (or gift set for $5 extra), add it to your cart and enter the promotional code: Thanksgiving.
This should bring your order to $0 (or $5 if you chose a gift set) and all you need to pay is the shipping - about $10 I think. That's a pretty good price for a nursing cover, whether for yourself or as a gift. Oh, and if you want more than one, you'll just have to place separate orders and pay the shipping for each cover.
It's totally worth it...trust me. I originally bought a $7 cover that is smaller and now that Tyler is older he can basically just tear it off me while I'm feeding. Awkward. Also, for $10 this would also make an awesome shower gift. Anyway...just wanted to let you know!
If anyone missed out on the last giveaway at uddercovers.com, you have another chance at a free nursing cover! Just go to the site, choose the cover you want (or gift set for $5 extra), add it to your cart and enter the promotional code: Thanksgiving.
This should bring your order to $0 (or $5 if you chose a gift set) and all you need to pay is the shipping - about $10 I think. That's a pretty good price for a nursing cover, whether for yourself or as a gift. Oh, and if you want more than one, you'll just have to place separate orders and pay the shipping for each cover.
It's totally worth it...trust me. I originally bought a $7 cover that is smaller and now that Tyler is older he can basically just tear it off me while I'm feeding. Awkward. Also, for $10 this would also make an awesome shower gift. Anyway...just wanted to let you know!
Excitable Me
I truly am an excitable person. It doesn't take much for me to be joyously anticipating something or other. Today it is brunch because I am making the following:
Pumpkin spice waffles with caramel sauce and whipped cream.
Oh baby.
...Just had to share that.
Pumpkin spice waffles with caramel sauce and whipped cream.
Oh baby.
...Just had to share that.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Baby Baby
I read a blog where every month the author posts an "all things loved in *insert month here*". Here is my list of all things loved...at my time in life. My heart feels so full.
1. This song. Baby Baby by Amy Grant. I'm pretty sure I sing this to Tyler every single day. I don't mean to, but it just jumps out while I'm staring at him with all my love and adoration. Also, there is something about that 80s synth that puts me in such a good mood. "STOP for a minute...baby, I'm so glad you're mine". If you listen to it, make sure you turn your speakers up...it's a song that deserves to be cranked..
2. Starbucks and all that it entails. I make it a rule not to enjoy starbucks alone. (Okay except in the mornings when I have my cup of freshly ground and brewed starbucks after Tyler goes down for his first nap. ahhh mat leave) But a purchased caramel macchiato (drink of choice) must be shared. Yesterday it was with Dominique and Isaiah as we walked down by the river wearing only sweatshirts in NOVEMBER. Which brings me to number three...
3. Friendship. Can't say enough about the wonderful people God has put in my life.
4. Puzzels. Tyler bounces in his jolly jumper in the mornings and growls with glee (I've got to get a video of that as it's SO cute) as I do my puzzle. (Have I already said how much I love mat leave?)
4. My mom. She makes me apple waffles and brings me caramel macchiatos and is the one who introduced me to Amy Grant. What a good woman!
I could go on, (you know, Grey's Anatomy, cookie dough, spending birthday money on a size of jeans I never thought I'd fit into, etc etc) but that's enough for today.
mmm. I always feel good after writing a good list.
1. This song. Baby Baby by Amy Grant. I'm pretty sure I sing this to Tyler every single day. I don't mean to, but it just jumps out while I'm staring at him with all my love and adoration. Also, there is something about that 80s synth that puts me in such a good mood. "STOP for a minute...baby, I'm so glad you're mine". If you listen to it, make sure you turn your speakers up...it's a song that deserves to be cranked..
2. Starbucks and all that it entails. I make it a rule not to enjoy starbucks alone. (Okay except in the mornings when I have my cup of freshly ground and brewed starbucks after Tyler goes down for his first nap. ahhh mat leave) But a purchased caramel macchiato (drink of choice) must be shared. Yesterday it was with Dominique and Isaiah as we walked down by the river wearing only sweatshirts in NOVEMBER. Which brings me to number three...
3. Friendship. Can't say enough about the wonderful people God has put in my life.
4. Puzzels. Tyler bounces in his jolly jumper in the mornings and growls with glee (I've got to get a video of that as it's SO cute) as I do my puzzle. (Have I already said how much I love mat leave?)
4. My mom. She makes me apple waffles and brings me caramel macchiatos and is the one who introduced me to Amy Grant. What a good woman!
I could go on, (you know, Grey's Anatomy, cookie dough, spending birthday money on a size of jeans I never thought I'd fit into, etc etc) but that's enough for today.
mmm. I always feel good after writing a good list.
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