The Day I Was Born

Tell us everything you know about the day you were born.

My aunt, who was 10 at the time, was sleeping over at my parents' home. My mother went into labour and they had to wake her up (I believe it was during the night). I was born around 6PM that evening.

The Versatile Blogger

Thanks Cheryl at One Crafty Mom and Two Ornery Kids for the Versatile Blogger award!

It sure makes you glad when you get an award - people really are reading and enjoying. Thank you.


The award comes with some rules:
1. Thank the person who gave you the award
2. Tell seven things about yourself
3. Pass the award on to 5 other bloggers who you think are fantastic!
4. Let them know you have awarded them the prize.

Seven things about myself ...

1. I like to craft (knit, crochet, sew)
2. I am impatient
3. I am on the Jenny Craig weight loss program
4. I love to read
5. I have two children who are insisting they want broccoli and carrots for dinner (psst ... they don't like them!)
6. I love receiving blog awards
7. I love to clean toilets (hey, I might as well have the only two minutes I have on a clean can, you know?)

Recipients to whom I am bestowing this lovely award ...

1. Win, Lose, or Blog
2. The Creative Homemaker
3. Stardust Shoes
4. Rene Creates
5. One Crafty Mommy

How do you feel about the name given to you at birth?

How do you feel about the name given to you at birth?

I really like my name. It does get confusing sometimes because I go by my middle name. When I got married I kept my maiden name as a middle name and then adopted my husband's surname. When I had my husband go to get my passport before our honeymoon, it caused an investigation because they were so confused.

You get one free pass ...

Perhaps you've played this game. Your boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse lets you have one free pass -- one special man or woman who is so attractive and out of reach that if circumstances allowed it, your partner would allow you to sleep with that person. Most monogamous couples feel safe with the free pass rule as it's more theoretical than practical. Sill, if your partner gave you a free pass, would you use it? On who? (Single people can use this prompt however they please.)

With two young kids I can barely find the energy to sleep with my husband. Why would I want to sleep with someone else? Can I use this free pass to just sleep?

Do something nice for someone today...

Do something nice for someone today. Then tell us about what you did.

I did something great for myself (does that count?). I went to Jenny Craig and after four days of diligently following the program lost 1 lb!

Do you think it's ever permissible to cheat?

Do you think it's ever permissible to cheat?

Well, I cheat on my diet all the time - hence the Jenny Craig relationship I've recently entered into.

What was the worst job you ever had?

What was the worst job you ever had?

I've been fortunate to have some cushy jobs. The job that I disliked most was working retail and being thrown onto cashier position without any training or support. That was tough and caused a lot of red-faced flustering by myself.

What's the one food you couldn't live without?

What's the one food you feel like you couldn't live without? What's the one food you'd rather die than put in your mouth?

I could not live without chocolate! And I don't think that I would like to put eye balls or testicles or certain organs of animals in my mouth - no thank you. I'm weak stomached when it comes to that.

If you could take a train journey ...

If you could take a train journey through any part of the world, where would you go?

I would love to go on a train journey to Hogwarts (Harry Potter's school) but the real one where it is filmed. It looks so beautiful and scenic.

Read and Share: The Jesus Series, Life and Miracles ~ A Review

Description ~ Take a wonder-filled journey with Jesus and His disciples.

The Jesus Series introduces children to the life of Christ. This DVD is an uninterrupted half-hour presentation of Jesus' ministry along the shores of Lake Galilee and the villages near Nazareth. Children will see Jesus call His disciples, feed 5,000 people, heal the sick, teach about God’s kingdom and introduce the Lord’s Supper.

This DVD completes The Jesus Series by presenting the life of Christ in a way that little ones can understand and build a solid foundation on.

My Review ~ I popped in the DVD for the kids before bed. At 4 and 2 years old, the kids settled down and enjoyed the video. I enjoyed watching the stories too and felt it gave me some good questions to ask them in respect to their interpretations of who Jesus was and who God is.

The video was simplified for this young audience and moved along at a good pace to hold their interest.

Some of the characters were difficult to distinguish as Jesus looked the same as one of his disciples. Otherwise I enjoyed the illustrations and the quality of the production.

The kids reaction was "can we watch it again?".

My reaction is that I would be very willing to watch this with them multiple times and that I would be interested in viewing other videos from the series.


A complimentary copy of this DVD was provided for review through Thomas Nelson’s Booksneeze program.

What's your greatest fear?

What's your greatest fear? The unknown is my greatest fear.

If you could take a train journey through any part of the world, where would you go? England through countryside, city and past castles!

What's your superpower?

I am sure that being able to locate items as your husband yells down "Where's my ....?" and you can say "In the middle drawer, under the pink ribbons, behind the yellow tee shirt and to the left" to which he responds "Got it!" counts.

Weight Loss Blip

I should be working out right now. I could go to my gym (but I have no work out buddy and really don't like going by myself). I could be doing the workout video that I told my husband I would go upstairs to do (3 Mile walk with Leslie Sansone that I like to do but really can't seem to motivate myself to get up and start). Instead I am reflecting on my lack of personal motivation and wallowing in my highest weight of my life (other than when I was pregnant). I feel disgusting and this leads to emotional eating. Not my finest moment when I scarf down a bag of chocolate whatevers that I find in the cupboard. I am like an alcoholic but with food and especially chocolate. Too bad we need to have food around to survive but perhaps I would find other ways to stuff my face with junk.

I feel like I have not purpose. My spirit is deflated ~ how do I get it pumped up? My heart is aching, my body is growing, my motivation waning. How do I get these things aligned?

I used to be sporty but how do I join a league or team if I haven't played in years? I want but I don't know what or how to get it. Any ideas would be appreciated. What do you do to motivate yourself, have fun with a fit lifestyle and keep your emotions even-keeled and spirit soaring?

Two Questions Today

What are the five best bands you've seen play live? Believe it or not, I've only seen Shania Twain twice. She was great both times!

Tell us about your first kiss. First, there was nobody before my husband. Second, I was in grade one and for some reason I was going about kissing all the boys. Not sure if those count but I did make sure that I gave a few extras to my crush at the time!

If you could go back in time ...

If you could go back in time and meet your 16-year-old self, what three things would you tell yourself?

1. Enjoy being able to eat what you want and not gain weight!
2. Enjoy being able to do what you want, when you want it.
3. Enjoy your parents and brothers.

Spring Clean & Purge Party

I'm going to start speeding up the list. It's taking me way too long and I'm disappointed that I didn't have committed interest.

Check out the master list and see what I'm doing and when.

Let's clean the house and get rid of our C.R.A.P. together (and it's not too late to join me in case you feel sorry for me cleaning all by myself ...).

Women Food And God

Women, Food, and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything by Geneen Roth
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked this book's general philosophy to eat until you are full and to eat only when you are hungry. Simple enough, right? I realised that, when I am at my ideal weight, this is indeed how I eat. I am more in tune with my body and have trained myself to listen to its cues on an unconscious level. When I bulk up and am focusing on losing weight, this obsession with food brings it to a conscious level and makes me think or want nothing but stuffing my face (and with chocolate, cookies, chips and other such stuff).

I have a lot of resentment towards my most recent weight gain. After I had my son, Travis, in January 2008 I lost the pregancy weight and was in my regular clothes by my 6 week appointment. And then I developed post partem depression. The medication and the illness made me balloon (thanks also to emotional eating!). I was still miserable with the medication and decided to stop medication as I would rather be thin and miserable than fat and miserable. This was July 2009 and I have yet to be able to shake the flab. I've gone to the gym, Weight Watchers, journaled, joined online groups, tried to learn to run but nothing is taking. I need to find my currency other than "when you ask people who are yoked to disordered food eating about their motivations for turning to food, they say things like 'I want peace. Quiet. To forget about myself for a while. To go into another zone'" (Roth, page 72). Also known as emotional eating!

So I'm trying Roth's idea to eat what my body wants. Thankfully she put in the caution that if you are eating everything in sight for more than a few weeks, you are using her Guidelines as an excuse to binge. At first I gained a few pounds but I'm slowly starting to get the hang of it again. I only hope I can maintain the momentum - especially with a girls weekend two days away!

View all my reviews >>

Girls Weekend

This weekend I am going to enjoy my very first ladies' weekend! I've never been one to have a group of friends who do this so I am very excited (and anxious) to see what it is that happens on such a weekend. This particular group has the fact that we are all moms who do or have participated with a preschool program for our children.

I don't drink or smoke and I believe the others do. Not that this is a problem but I just hope I am not the only sober one who becomes responsible for potential irresponsible behaviour or witness to obnoxious behaviour. I hope they don't think I am a bore!

I used to be an extrovert but my introvert, homemaking interests have taken over the past few years. Nothing wrong with that either but I just hope that I have enough in common with these women to be able to relax and develop deep friendships after a weekend of bonding.

It is also the first time I'm leaving the kids with daddy alone. I'm not sure who I am more concerned for! ha ha. They are going to my in-laws so I am sure it will all work out. They better miss me and appreciate that I am a patient and a fun mommy and wife. They will miss me, right? I know I'll be thinking of them the whole time.

What would you be willing to do 1000 times?

Japanese lore suggests that if you fold 1000 paper cranes, your wish will come true. What would your wish be, and what would you be willing to do 1000 times to get it?

I think I'd be willing to do 1000 leg squats if it meant my ideal body weight and shape.

What about you?

You've just been given a million dollars...

You've just been given a million dollars. You are not allowed to keep it or give it to anyone you know personally. What do you do with it and why?

First of all, I'd like to inquire ... that is the point then? LOL

Second, I would donate it to Children's Wish Foundation. They grant wishes for terminal children.

What about you?

Do you owe an apology to anyone? Why?

Do you owe an apology to anyone? Why?

I need to apologize to my kids. Last night I was a little too short of temper. There was a lot of whining (on their part) and I was tired and had enough for one day. I was trying to get them in the bath and then into bed as we were all exhausted from a long day of fun. I wasn't the most patient of parents.

To my children I say, "Mommy is sorry that she was sharp and short with you last night. I am not perfect but I'm trying to be the best parent that you know. I love you both".

I know I'm not the perfect parent but I do want to do right by them. I only hope their memories of childhood is not when mommy and daddy were impatient but of all the other times when we love them and hug them and play with them and do fun things with them. No pressure on the parenting part, is there?

How about you? Want to air a public apology to anyone?

What's the first thing that pops into your head when you think of your father?

What's the first thing that pops into your head when you think of your father?

When we were little we would eat hot dogs and regular Ruffles chips on the weekends. He also took us to McDonald's on Saturday mornings (where I had the big breakfast way back when it came in styrofoam containers) to let my mother sleep in. Those were the days!

Your turn ...

Define "freedom"

Once again, June's National Blog Posting Month's fun daily writing prompt is, "Define freedom".

To me, freedom is being able to eat whatever you want without gaining weight. Pretty boring, I know but it would be heaven to me.

Your turn, define freedom.

What's your favorite poem? (And if you don't have one, why?)

In keeping with June's National Blog Posting Month or NaBloPoMo and their fun daily writing prompts, today's prompt is, "What's your favorite poem? (And if you don't have one, why?)".

I don't have a favourite poem. I don't particularly enjoy poetry as I don't understand it. I recall in one of my university english classes trying to convince the group that I thought the poet was comparing the ocean lapping against the beach as the acid of your stomach eating away at your stomach lining and thus causing an ulcer. I got weird looks but that's what the imagery said to me. How can they tell someone that their interpretation is wrong (or out there)? I do enjoy epic poems but they are usually in olde english so they are hard to concentrate on.

Now to you, what's your favorite poem? (And if you don't have one, why?)

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I'm excited to be a part of June's National Blog Posting Month or NaBloPoMo. They have daily writing prompts too which is great because some days I honestly can't think up a thing to write. Today's prompt is, "when you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?".

My friend and I always played teacher and I thought I would become one. There was this kid, Michael Gates, who failed grade 3 and was in our class. We were terrible at playing teacher and constantly chastising a pretend Michael Gates for wrong-doings. I was a swimming teacher for 10 years as a teenager and young 20-something and that was fun. In school, I never followed the path to become a teacher and I'm not sure why. Perhaps when my kids are in school I'll go to teacher's college and still do that for a few years.

So, what did YOU want to be when you grew up?