My immediate family is not a religious one. We enjoy the holidays, but not for the reason they were intended when it comes to Lent, Passover, Easter Sunday, and especially Christmas, much to my grandfather’s chagrin. He is a very religious man and I think it hurts him that his great grandchildren have not even been baptized. But holidays mean different things to different people; holidays, for us mean family and love.

Holidays are a time for our family to spend together without running around completing last minute errands, going from activity to activity or dragging the kids around for mundane tasks. We indulge in cuddles and kisses while hanging out in our pajamas and gorging ourselves on delicious treats.

I’ll admit, I am totally sucked into the commercialism of some holidays, especially Easter. I love that Easter means baby bunnies, kittens and ducklings. I love that the kids eat chocolate for breakfast and I adore the fuzzy stuffed animals delivered by the Easter Bunny.

Holidays are a special time for us to celebrate love and friendship regardless of one’s religious beliefs. Everyday is special and should be enjoyed with those we love, but only holidays, memories are made and shared however you choose to reflect. Life makes the best story.

No matter how you choose to spend this Easter holiday, I hope you are surrounded by loved ones. If you chose to spend this time in reflection, I wish you peace and love. If you spend the day in your jammies eating Peeps and chocolate eggs, I hope you have someone to peel the wrappers for you.

Most of all: take some time to press pause. Take in your surroundings, your family and your friends. Enjoy their company and shower them with love; today and every day.

:::

I am a member of Hallmark’s Press Pause Panel and have been sent a number of items to share with my friends and loved ones as we celebrate Easter and upcoming Mother’s Day, including: Totally Ticklish Duck who giggles when you tickle her under the wings; the Memory Keeping Recordable Frame which allows you to record a 10-second explanation of your photograph; and the adorable Watson the Raccon who participates as the story is shared aloud.

Hallmark has been the go-to holiday card company for years and now carries on the tradition with other memorable keepsakes which can be enjoyed all year long. Life is a special occasion. Enjoy.

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It’s really the same old story with me, isn’t it? I say something and seem to never follow through. It’s not for a lack of trying; work has taken on a life of its own. Freelance, web design, as well as my day job have begun to boil over to the point I’ve actually been forced to organize! my life. I began (finally) using my calendar – and syncing my calendar! In fact, I may have even gone overboard and set up five: home, kids, freelance, work, and personal. They’re all synced with my Blackberry, iPhone (I know! I went from two years of whining about not having one and now I have both. Go figure.), and Outlook. Now there’s really no excuse, is there?

Part of this whole organizing my life had made me realize I desperately need an office space at home. We have a spare bedroom which currently holds a beautiful roll-top desk (as well as a dead desktop computer) and a queen size bed for when we have guests (never). It’s still in desperate need of updating, but the room is functional and quiet with a washroom (also in dire need of up updating) just outside the door. When we moved here I had every intention of making this room my home office/guest room. I envisioned it painted in a lilac purple, with white lace curtains and deep mauve bedding. The roll top desk would be clean and tidy with all my stationery (Heh.) and computer stuff organized, and maybe even labeled. Eventually it will happen (or at least some semblance of what I want to happen), but for now, my office is my dining room table.

Which is really an improvement from the recliner I was sitting on, for the past year and a half, in my 70′s throwback family room. If you think I’m kidding when I say throwback, then you didn’t see this room. Unfortunately, my peaceful, tidy home office will have to wait just a little longer while we tackled the family room. It’s really the most used room in our home and also the one which needs the most work. It’s dark, dingy, and smelly. No one likes smelly.

The awesomeness that is the stale, musty wood-flanked room really isn’t captured in that real estate photo. What that photo isn’t showing you is the 30 years of dust and unmentionables captured behind the wooden wainscotting-like boards. Nor does it emanate The Smell that will forever be ingrained in my memory.

Finally (in January) we decided it was time to rid our house of this tired, no good, room. Our intention was to remove the boards and scrape the white-painted plaster from the walls in an effort to save money and keep the drywall. It sounded promising at the beginning, but we all know ideas like that are usually too good to be true, no?

Real wood paneling.

No, I didn’t mess up the photo that’s really the shade of the wood above the door.

The shelves where of the same wood as the walls. We’ve kept it stacked in the garage since we’re unsure what to do with it at this point. Some of the pieces could be planed down and reused to create a coffee table for the space later, but others are just too badly worn and dry to do anything with. Some of the shelves were so brittle, they were basically saw dust held in place with humongous spikes.

(The quality of the photo isn’t exceptional, but it gives you an idea of the NAILS! For the record: this particular shot, there are NINE nails holding in one 3/4-inch board ON ONE SIDE.)

You can see in the bottom left of the photo where the drywall had stopped. In fact, even on the far right, where the black paper stops? That’s where the insulation stops too. Nice, eh?

The walls have been protected with the vapour barrier on the outside against the concrete foundation with a paper-backed insulation. This, my friends, means that in order to update this room to what is now industry standard, we would have to remove everything – EVERYTHING – right down to the bare concrete and then reframe and re-insulate the entire room.

I am stuck between wanting to do it properly and OMG it’s going to cost me WHAT?. The insulation is in good condition with no signs of moisture or mould so we we’re currently leaning towards keeping it but I keep waffling back and forth.

The beams on the ceiling are solid wood. Worn and dated, but solid. They will be replaced with new faux beams and these ones will likely be refurbished for something else in this room or another.

Notice on the right side of the beam there’s a copper pipe?

The original wood burning fireplace was converted by a previous owner a number of years ago, and instead of removing the ceiling and routing the natural gas line properly, it’s been supported just outside the faux architectural beam.

At least it’s clearly labeled?

Where we are right now? Well, after pulling all the electrical work out, it became apparent a previous owner had doubled up a lot of the breakers and we were in desperate need of a new panel. We’ve since installed a new electrical panel complete with additional breakers for future work (like a kitchen).

We’re currently at a stand still as our contractor, who was to help Mike, is now MIA. I suspect he realized he had his work cut out for him and bolted before he was in too deep. We now have another guy coming this weekend who has done work for us in the past. Hopefully he doesn’t run from the house like his hair has caught fire…

~

Here’s what we’ve done with the kitchen (Part 1 and Part 2) and the kids’ rooms, if you’re interested.

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I’m a coffee fan. Big Time.

I typically have a large mug when I get up, an extra large Tim Hortons’ on the way to work and a mid-morning Tim’s. Some evenings I like to have lattes and cappuccinos.

But this isn’t about me, or my love for coffee, it’s about YOU and YOUR love of coffee.

Because I have a Tassimo T20 single-cup coffee machine for YOU.

The Tassimo machine is so simple to use that I’ve forsaken my traditional perk coffee for a much faster, and just as delicious, morning brew using their patented T disc technology.

Just pop the disc into the front of the machine for a store-quality brew in just minutes. For someone who habitually forgets to set the timer the night before, this has been a Godsend, people. Godsend.

The discs are bar-coded so the machine knows exactly what temperature, pressure and time is required for the perfect brew.

There’s no mess, no forgetting how many scoops you may have put in, and no leaving behind that remaining last lowly cup-full that sits in the pot as you rush out the door.

Genius, right?

In a matter of milliseconds, the machine is ready with the green light indicating you can brew. There’s nothing sweeter than that little green light at 5am, my friends.

And it’s not just coffee. Hot chocolate, lattes, cappuccinos, espresso – even my favourite Chi-Tea Lattes.

Myself, I prefer the plain ol’ coffee as I’m not big on the milk-like creamers which come with the packages. I’d prefer to be able to steam my own milk, but for making me a quick, tasty cup of coffee or tea, I can’t complain. From well-known brands, like Gevalia, Maxwell House, Twinings and more there’s really more than enough selection for everyone.

:::

I’m not big on reviews and giveaways, but when I was asked to try out the new Tassimo T20 and then give one away to one of my readers (okay, there’s probably one reader left. *waves* Hi Dad! And you can’t even win because you’re Canadian. Isn’t that the pits?) how could I turn down that opportunity?

The only drag is the winner has to be US-based. Sorry, my fellow Canadian winter bunnies. But! for you, I will add $20 via auto-fill to an existing coffee-shop card, or send one of the same value to you in the mail. Fair?

Now, Americus, leave a comment on this post. Any old comment will do. Say hi, tell me which hunk-a-hunk-of-burning-love you would share your Tassimo coffee with, tell me about the snow, whatever.

Giveaway closes on Thursday night at 11:59pm EST.

Tweet this for an additional entry. Make sure to come back and put your link in the comments!

It’s as close to a coffee IV as you’re going to get. Visit @temptingsam to #win a #Tassimo T20 http://bit.ly/hWNJY8

And the business of disclosure: I received the Tassimo brewer free of costs and all opinions are my own.

***

WINNER’S ANNOUNCED!

Congratulations to ginnette4!! She is the winner of the Tassimo T20. Enjoy!

And alimartell has picked herself up a $20 gift card to (one of) her favourite coffee shops! Yay Ali!

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It’s been a while since I’ve posted about my boys.

(Okay, it’s been a while since I have posted about anything; I get it.)

Growing like weeds, those two. One thing I’ll never get used to is when I take a second glance at them and suddenly it dawns on me just how old they’re getting.

Five and two, already; I can’t even believe it.

A coworker mention just the other day that his son was to be transitioned to the preschool room at the daycare shortly, and quickly I was hit with the realization that Carter starts Grade One in the fall. I know the fall is sometime away considering we’ve just had our first real dumping of winter snow, but people: GRADE ONE.

I have childhood memories of Grade One. I’m pretty certain that most of what I can remember is from that time forward. Very, very few from any time before then, but from that point on, I remember things that happened, people in my life, teachers, friends, even things my parents did.

That terrifies me.

It’s great to have those memories, sure; but what I now worry about is my boys will also likely retain bits and pieces of happenings from these days forward into their adult lives. It will likely be spotty and somewhat hazy, but there will be instances where a random recollection of something we’ve done (or didn’t do) will stick out. I want, more than anything, for those moments to be special ones. My heart aches when I think of their memories being ones of conflict or even me telling them, “Not now”.

It’s inevitable they’ll have some reminiscences of those darker moments, and some may even be important one which will guide them towards the men they will become. But, as most parents do, I want their childhood memories to be those of fun times, trips, playing games, wrestling with each other, and a happy home life.

I want to keep them in a protective bubble; free of parental fighting, tantrum-induced yelling, and time-outs. Memories of night-time cuddles, whispered giggles, sleepovers in the same bed, laughter, and love should be recollections of their childhood, because what child doesn’t deserve that?

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I know this exercise shit is getting old. I promise it won’t be forever.

DUDE.

I did a sit-up.

Actually, I did a BUNCH of sit-ups.

In a row.

My legs straight out in front of me, and from lying down to SITTING UP RIGHT.

FUCK YA!

Ahem.

I know Jillian says it’s the easy way, but if you burst my bubble I will be forced to cut a bitch.

My weight went up my 0.6lbs but I am attributing that to the rock hard muscle I’m building not the Big Mac I ate last week.

And! I can do push-ups.

Awesome, right?

Well, I thought so.

Plus, my apron is shrinking.

Did you know an apron is the flap of skin that hangs down after you’ve birthed 9 pound babies from your lady bits? You’re welcome.

Not so cool? My boobs, they’re leaving too.

Speaking of babies…

Hudson’s 2nd birthday is creeping up on me. I can’t believe he’s going to be two. He’s still so tiny, but his mouth? It’s big. He has so many new words and is stringing together small sentences already. His baby fine white-blonde hair is finally beginning to grow, and he’s got nearly a full mouth of teeth.

And Carter. My sweet little boy. I can’t believe he’s going to be five. We’ve signed up for kindergarten in the fall and soccer for the summer. He’s a bundle of energy that just doesn’t stop. He’s hilarious and wonderful and such a great big brother.

I bet you’re wondering what I used to take those amazingly wonderful shots of my kiddos, aren’t you? Well, actually… IT’S MY NEW iPHONE!!

I HAZ iPHONE.

Finally.

Annnnd this is going nowhere, so I’ll just end it here.

Look! Cute kids!

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I’ve been delaying sharing what we’ve completed hoping that it would be done, but that doesn’t seem to be happening. There’s odds and ends that still need to be done, oh! and money! Money helps.

I have this issue with sharing my projects that are unfinished. I don’t know what it is, or why, but it is what it is.  So, if you could be so inclined to break down this psychological weirdness for me, I’d be forever grateful.

Until then, I am sweating and nervous to show you my kitchen, mid-transformation.

If you haven’t seen what it looked like when we moved in, here it is!

First of all, the lights. They’ve been changed out. Simple and inexpensive alternative to Teh Shit.

No more ceiling fan 6 inches from the cupboard!!

Now? Now I have sexy stainless steel a la KitchenAid.

No more broken-down-piece-of-ghetto-trash oven.

If you have a range when resembles the unit which was left here? My condolences.

The fridge looks freakin’ ginormous compared to the dinky cupboards, but trust me when I say: it’s normal. It opens to its entirety, which is more than I can say for the original fridge. Its door would hit that countertop protruding at the bottom right of this picture leaving it to only open half way. It was impossible and stupid, also boggles my mind how someone could live with that for ten years or more, which the previous owner did.

For those interested: my range, microwave, dishwasher, and fridge.

(And no, this is not a sponsored post for KitchenAid. I just love them and I’m really happy with them. BUT! If they wanted to send me small appliances in red I would not object. Just so you know.)

The lower wall area will be covered with tile backsplash; around the doorway still requires paint (which I’m doing today). I am still trying to convince Mike that we need penny round mosaic tiles. He’s concerned that if we do complete a full renovation in five years that we’ve wasted our money. But! I think it’s a way to make this space livable and beautiful for the time being and maybe even prolong the complete gut we’re saving for. And really? What a couple hundred dollars if it makes me happy.

Happy Wife, Happy Life! (That’s what I like to remind him on a regular basis. Very. Regular.

penny round tiles used in a bathroom

There’s tiling, baseboards, (hopefully) new linoleum, and finishing touches yet to be completed (like new blinds that are not metal mini blinds).

But the linoleum… oh, the linoleum.

It’s disgusting. It’s faded. It’s stained. It’s damaged.

The spot closest to the kitchen sink is so discoloured I can’t even scrub it clean. Trust me. I’ve tried. Hate.

But once again, Mike and I are wondering if this part could (should) wait. Though, five years does seem like a horribly long time to live with this shite.

I (just right now) priced it out and found that for less than $500 we can put down new sticky groutable tiles which give the illusion of tile. So yay! for new tiles!

Home Depot: Groutable Natural Concrete

Painting was a whole other demon. The thick and OLD wallpaper glue was a nightmare. After fighting for what seemed like FOREVER; washing and re-washing, sanding and re-sanding, we were finally able to remove the glue and get the paint to adhere to the wall without peeling off with each roll.

Paint colour: Cumberland Fog by Behr.

P.S. As of Sunday (yesterday) the high chair is gone. I can’t freakin’ believe it! He’s out of a high chair already!

Ahem.

This is where you come in, my dear reader(s?). I need help with artwork for the above wall.

I have these prints. I’ve been considering the red one to bring a bit of pop and colour to the space even though I am completely in love with the sage green one.

But, because of the awkward placement of the outlet I think I’ll have to break up the art a little and add some more items.

I need your ideas. I need your style and know-how to make this space work. I want to add a couple pieces that don’t necessarily match, but compliment each other and bring it all together.

So, if your so inclined, please fill my comments with suggestions: Etsy stores, your art, friends art, general ideas, prints from anywhere. I’m open!

I’m hoping my next update will be our main bath which is currently underway, and it damn well better include a conclusion to this kitchen. I am more than ready to have something DONE!

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This past weekend was my very first BlogHer and since I’ve been writing on this site for over three years now, I’ve come to *know* quite a few people. I’ve become very close with a gigantic mitt full of them making it even more surreal to have those people (and more) in the same room at the same time, talking face to face. There’s no other way to describe it other than completely surreal. I mean, you know all about them: their loves, their children, their hard times, their fears and to have never laid eyes on them until that meeting and know exactly who they are is pretty fuckin’ cool.

I can’t remember which night was which nor where I’ve ever had so much fun before.

Krystle (@snarkykisses), Moi and Miss Karen (@karensugarpants) at The Sparklecorn Extravaganza hosted by MamaPop.

photo lifted from Dove Clinical Protection Photo Booth @ MamaPopRocks Sparklecorn Extravaganza

I stayed up all hours of the night living off basic necessities like coffee, pop and free swag food – and free alcohol (DUH!). I think I had one staple meal the entire weekend.

I felt like I was in college again.

Totally hugging on The Michelin Man in the Expo

Totally crushed on people I’ve been reading FOREVER like the GORGEOUS and very sizzle Sizzle.

Me and Sizzle

And her? OMG HER. I would move to Florida and live in a cardboard box just to be with her all the time.

Me and Miss Britt

My Americus twin. I don’t know what more I can say about her besides she’s funny, GORGEOUS and so generous.

Angie and Me. Us. Forever.

Oh, and she likes my bewbs.

My Ali (@alimartell), Me and my Angie, bewb lover (@alotofnothing)

Wednesday night, our BlogHer Carpoolers‘ vehicle arrived. Chevy dropped off a beautiful 2010 Equinox which I immediately fell head over heels for. It’s an amazing drive which I totally pimped out the whole time (because I wanted to, not because they plied me with alcohol and free food). I think I may have even sold it to the gas station attendant I caught drooling all over the hood.

I arrived at Miss Karen Sugarpants‘ house where she greeted me at the door with a beer in hand. Which totally makes up for her calling me a twat. Then I spooned her and snored sweet nothings in her ear for about two hours before we got up and headed out on our eight hour drive to Chicago. Giddy like little high school girls we crossed the border into Americus blaring Britney Spears while Karen earned her new moniker @karengrannypants.

And America? Can you please talk to Target about opening their doors at 7:00am. Kthxbai.

Arrived in Chicago short on hearing (I think @karengrannypants forgot her hearing aid back home because the stereo was louder than loud and my ears were ringing for DAYS) where we met up with my twin, my stalker (WUUUUT?) (P.S. Fuckin’ LOVE her), Miss Shash and my dearest Avitable (Yes, I said dear). A warm welcome indeed.

After finding our room and cracking open our WalMart beer (I never thought I could love WalMart or America more) we met up with Mrs. Flinger (but don’t click that link because Ree has beaten Leslie’s server to a pulp and there’s nothing there.) in the hall as they stuffed bags for the Room 704 Party. Skype doesn’t do that woman justice people. Mrs. Flinger is all kindsa awesomesauce!

Thursday night has become a blur of FINALLY meeting my imaginary friends, parties and swag.

Seriously? What is this swag y’all are talking about? I’ve never even heard of swag. Swag gives me hives.

(If you haven’t listened to Dane Cook’s ‘The Nothing Fight’ then that will mean absolutely nothing to you, just carry on.. we’re walking… we’re walking…)

I know Craftastrophe won a weapon, I drank some beer and walked about six city blocks at 3 o’clock in the morning only to turn around and go back to the hotel.

I paid for a conference pass yet didn’t attend one panel. I’m not sad about that in the least. Because you know what? That conference pass was worth just being a part of those Community Keynotes (Can’t find a link to video at the moment, sorry!) and the Room of Your Own sessions. I stressed a little that I was wasting my money not attending them until that Community Keynote. Then I KNEW why I was there.

Friday night’s Nikon Cocktail Party was totally fabulous. Met some goreous women, and hung out with some of my favourite ladies while I contemplated approaching Carson Kressley but shied away from his lips critisism fame and watched from a distance.

Can I just tell you that party? So well put together, so much fun pretty well the highlight of the trip.

Or so I thought.

Because that was BEFORE I made it to the Sparklecorn Extravaganza.

Oh.

My.

Gah.

I didn’t even get any cake, just a giant unicorn leg of fondant icing.

Unicorn cake. OMFG.

picture from amysprite’s flickr. Go see. She’s AMAZING!

But like Karen said: The party was like a HUGE wedding without all the boring stuff.

And then I went all Gene Simmons on Mrs. Flinger.

So ya. That’s BlogHer.

Ahem.

Oh! And Casey. My dear sweet Casey.

Nothing but perfection.

Another amysprite pic.

________________________

Side Note:

I wanted to thank you all for your outpouring of support during our difficult time in The House of Me. I don’t think I’d be as sane right now if it weren’t for you. So thank you from the bottom of my cold, dark, shriveled heart.

I love you.

There are interviews being conducted with the children starting in two weeks. I haven’t decided if I should be there or just have Carter talked to someone without me there. I’m working through that at the moment.

We close on our new house TODAY. Our internet will be cut from this afternoon until the 11th of August so I have no idea when I’ll be checking in again. I’ll do my best to keep up with e-mails for The Business and I’ll be here and there when my addiction sees that it’s time to head to the nearest WiFi location.

<3

P.S. None of the photos are mine. I’ve stolen each and every one of them. There’s been NO time to download my camera. If you click the photo it will link you to its rightful owner.

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I’m going through a slump. I don’t know if it’s this lackluster design, my brains or the fact that I’m overwhelmed with other tasks in my life, but I am just not feeling like writing typing here at the moment. I try. I agonize over something to write type. I start, I hate it and throw it in draft before I erase it all together.

I look at my stats and the agony increases. The stats show the suckage and it ain’t pretty people. I could just walk away and work on my other online responsibilities, but I don’t want to. I want this space. I want this space to be fun again! I want to love this space like I used to when I first began. You know the feeling. The one where you half smile and sigh when you open your browser to gaze upon a cute design hosting all your favourite images and stories of your life. People are visiting and commenting and sharing in a part of your life.

Maybe I need just need a hiatus…

In the meantime, here’s a friggin’ cute baby for you gaze upon.

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Friday morning us three crazy Canadians and a handsome little baby Hudson piled into my car and made the seven twelve hour trek to Indianapolis where we invaded Casey’s house, ate her food, slept on her couch and kicked The Moosh from her room. In true Canadian fashion, we made ourselves at home the minute we crashed through her front door.

After hanging out with a couple other rowdy Canadians, Casey was truly un-phased by how *cough*classy*cough* we are, and for her to open up her home to “strangers” for the weekend was so very gracious and truly heroic because we are  loud, obnoxious and crass  ladies.

What brought us together? Our favourite preemie, Maddie.

Sunday we participated in the Indy March for Babies which took us on a five mile trek through downtown Indianapolis while we enjoyed the super warm weather and sunshine.

But that was after a truly tragic evening.

Something happened to me this weekend that I have a hard time talking about.

I don’t think I’ve cried this much in months years.

It all started with an all too innocent game of Boogie Super Star.

And ended in this.

In my defense: a) I was copying the dance moves in the game, b) I had NO idea she was filming this hot mess, and c) it made my Hedder laugh so that’s all that matters.

And one more thing? I want to take The Moosh and her mommy home and keep them forever and ever.

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