Tis the Season!

Santa came early this year....

Merry Christmas to us!

We got a new to us 2005 Ford F-150 Super Crew Cab Lariat

and boy do we ever love it!

But I am also looking forward to all things Christmas

and enjoying everything Christmas

like........

new Christmas pj`s

cinnamon scents and apple cider

Egg nog (of course)

lovely centerpieces

presents :)

Christmas music (which I have been listening to for a month now)

Christmas alcoholic drinks

Cookies and baked goods

The Christmas tree with the stockings hung by the fireplace

with

family and friends gathered round.

Merry Christmas to all!

a best friend is everything

Do you know how much you mean to someone?

We don't always realize just how much we mean to others and we don't always let other people know how important they are to us, how vital they are just being present in our lives.

Well with this post it began clear just how much I mean to Ness, one of my very best friends.

I know I'm important to her as she is to me and even though its not always expressed or said, we just know...thats just how we are.

Through the years of our friendship, we have grown closer and closer and even though we live a bridge and a couple hours apart we are just as close.

V. as I have referred to her before, or Ness which is what I commonly call her is a best friend that knows me, truly knows me and we know each other well enough that sometimes nothing as to be said. We just know it will be a green shirt black pant type of day or know that we both just wanna sit on the couch and watch movies.

We give each other advice, we listen to one another. We are in sync with one another.

She knows how I feel and feels for me. I know she wont judge me or think I'm over-reacting, she will just let me feel how I feel and support me and be there to listen as I ramble on and on.

Ness doesn't realize just how special she is and I know someday she will truly realize her potential, she can do anything in the world and I will be there for her, as she would be for me. She is so talented in so many ways...creative and thoughtful.

She hasn't always had the smoothess times but when things get rough, she remains strong.

She is one of the stronger people I know and one of the most giving and caring. Her friends are so important to her and she is the best aunt. She always gives back and I feel so lucky to have her in my life {and I know she feels the same :) }

We've had many adventures together

fun times and some of the best days of our lives

and many celebrations.

Through thick and thin, we will remain best friends.
We will always share laughs, tears, stories, dreams, experiences, adventures, celebrations, the good and the bad.
We will always share our lives with one another because they are intertwine.

Baby Fever

I have a severe case of baby fever......

{i can't wait till this is me}



I have always loved children and babies and youth, all kids of all ages
(hey thats why I am a teacher)
and I have always known that we would have kids and am excited for that day when we start a family but lately this urge has been so strong.
For weeks I have felt this way.
Many of my friends have children and there are new born babies in my family as well.
Some of my friends are pregnant right now and I find myself longing for the same,
I want the same experience.


I know now is not the time but I am excited for when it is...
I'm excited to be pregnant,
to have a baby
someone we will love more than anything
an addition to our family.


Until that day......I will be babysitting more and
spending time with all the wonderful little ones in my life right now.

Thankful

Be thankful for everything you have...

It could be gone in a second

Today I saw first hand the hardships off lay-offs

An intelligent, nerdy type science guy who had been

an engineer for the same companie for years got laid off,

his EI is now finished, his wife is a little nuts since it all

they were coming to the food bank

because in one letter his life changed.

Be Thankful for what you have

the simple things like food.

A woman left a bad situation to end up getting kicked out of her new place

she has 2 young children and is homeless

People get knocked down and sometimes need a little help to get back up.

Thankfully she got accomodations until she can move into an apartment on the 1st.

Be Thankful for what you have

the simple things like shelter.

Be thankful and give what you can to aid others in need.

this week

I am on vacation this week...

well its a transition time between my old job and starting my new one!

I just graduated with my BEd on November 6th, however I can't supply teach until I have an orientation day which has been post-pone till the new year - and its looking like March

(long frustrating story about this)

But

I didn't let that get in the way of finding a job as an educator :)

I am taking a paid internship for 4 months, beginning on the 22nd

as the Environmental Youth Program Coordinator

what does that mean?

It means I will be planning and creating lessons and activities to deliver to children and youth all with a focus on the environment.

I am very excited!

So with a week off what am I do to....

well we moved this weekend and everything is in boxes so first off...

1) set up the house and make it a home

2) decorate for Christmas

3) get 2 personal training sessions in

4) finish the Save the Dates

5) decide on reception decorations and flowers

6) head to PEI for a banquet on the weekend

Leelous

Check out Leelou's Blog for great giveaways and awesome free lay-outs, which I personally always use. They are great! My new layout seems to fit perfectly right now with Christmas approaching and me being a Christmas Queen and my own theme this year is Winter Wonderland.

Shhh

I know a secret but its' not mine to share.

So I have to remain silent about it and its soo hard

because I wanna scream it from the rooftops.

But this secret I will keep.

It actually made me closer to the person in a share anxious excitement way.

Until it is time to know.....

Changes

Changes are coming.....

6 months from now its my wedding!!!

r. and I will be celebrating our love

We will be Married!

This weekend we are moving,

to our own place

just the two of us.

Tomorrow I have a job interview.

I really want this position.

I am very qualified for the position

and praying its mine.

Home Sweet Home

I am excited that r. and I are getting our own place together :)

We currently live in the basement of my parents house and have been for over a year while I completed my BEd, but my hunny has been living with my rents even longer than that....while I was in another city at University and only home for holidays, summer and weekends r. lived here and rented from my parents for a couple years. (most people find this odd or interesting but they get along great!)

But now we have a casa to call our own and will be moving in just over 2 weeks

and this is where I will be preparing our meals - my fav room in the house, haha.

Honeymoon

I'm so giddy and excited because our Honeymoon is booked - almost (looking at flights now)

but the hotels are booked and I have the confirmation numbers

for our trip to the Canadian Rookies.

I have been out west before (3 times) and went to Jasper on the tram and to the hot springs but thats it besides Calgary and Edmonton visiting friends and family but

r. has never been and I know he is going to love it!

The Rookies are known to be beautiful and tranquil and it's actually a "hot spot" for honeymooners and I know how wonderful it will be.

Here's where we will be staying....

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

I'll be hitting up this luxury spa at Banff Springs

and enjoying the views at Lake Louise
Yay! We are leaving the Monday after the wedding and going for 6-7 nights

The little housewife that could

I have been living in the 1960's or so it seems.....

I have been an at home wife {actually fiance} for the past month

while my hunny has been bringing home the bacon.

He's been gone to work and taking care of fiances while

I have been baking, cleaning and cooking.

And here's a secret, I've loved it!

He came home from work the other day early, gave me a kiss and grabbed a couple home-made freshly baked cookies then headed outside and played with d. our baby doggy,

all the while I was setting the table and getting a chicken dinner ready and.....

I was in my glory! I was absolutely happy making my husband to be dinner and cookies.

And it has been like this almost daily for the last month.

This post by m. I found very appealing about this lifestyle

I to want to live in the 1950-60's

This can't last forever though because I start my part-time job training tomorrow and will be supply teaching soon, as soon as they have the next orientation session.

I. am. in. LOVE.

I am in love with the most amazing man

and

tomorrow I am going shopping with the moms and my fab bridesmaid b.

for my wedding gown.

"the dress".... that I will walk down the aisle in,

and marry him in.

It's a big decision and I have already been dress shopping with my MOH, k. and friend c. and b. so I know how I want to look on our special day.

I am helplessly, head over heels, all consuming in love with r.

and I can't wait to be married.

The week was a blur

It's been a week since my last post about lovely beautiful fall, which I have not been able to enjoy as I had hope when posting last week.

This week has gone by in a big blur, as I slept day by day.

I have been in a lot of severe pain and not feeling well so I was in a coma state, drugged up to ease the pain.

Thursday fell into Friday, when I woke up to my fiance making me soup and giving me powerade, then back to sleep until Saturday afternoon came around and I was not in any pain and feeling better, I even attending a charity event that night

but came home early to bed.

Sunday came and was a blur of the hospital visit, a doctor poking at me and drawing blood.

I came home and slept through the pain.

Monday I awake with the severe pain again and once again I took some drugs (perscribe) and went back into my coma state....

until Today!

Today, I feel brand-new, I feel much better and am glad that my body is now working with the perscription to get better and not against me and I'm not experiencing the pain.

So....I'm back to me!

Falling in Love with Fall

Happy Harvest time.

I love the fall season!

Autumn is so crisp, clean and beautiful.

Enjoy the 1st day of fall and all that is ahead.....

family dinners

cozy fireplaces

autumn sun

pumpkins

pumpkin pie

walks with the dog

warm knits

sockies

candy apples

lazy days knitting

apple cider

trips to the apple orchard

long drives on country roads

strolling through the park on crisp days

what will you be doing to enjoy this season?

Dear Journal

So r. and I took k. out for dinner the night before she headed back (which was last night) and we had a lovely meal and a great time. It was hilarious actually and here's why....

r. and I picked her up at her parents place and r. acted like he w

as taking her out

on a date! So he went up to the door when we arrived and even opened the car door for her.

{i don't get this service}

then at the restaurant us ladies went to the powder room and r. was at the bar waiting for our table, when we came out and went over k. says "do you come here often?", "thats a nice jacket showing off your muscles" - I almost died with laughter as they

played this sexy stranger game.

like I said dinner was great - good food, great convos and lots and lots of laughs.

when we dropped k. off, we hugged and said our solemn good byes and hugged again

and then as k. walked up her driveway she turned and said "I'm going to write all about my date in my journal"

Here is our texting conversation between k. and I after this when we were driving home:

Too Funny!

a. (me) - in journal "a handsome man came to the door to pick me up....

k. - he is such a gentle man, bringing his sister as a chaperone on our date.

{note: can'e believe I'm the "sister}

a. - I was a bit intimidated though because his sister is so pretty

k. - I managed to impress her I think. She's a little simple and sometimes says things in strange voices, but I think she likes me!"

{simple...grrrr}

r. and I were laughing so hard, I cried. Hilarious!

More Wedding Bliss

I was in everything wedding heaven Thursday when my MOH k. and I went out on the town. She arrived the night before from Toronto, where is now lives but comes home for visits and there are frequent l-o-n-g phone calls which make it bearable.

We have gone dress shopping for the 1st time last spring when she was home and since then she has sent countless e-mails with dress links for me, ideas on decor and suggestions/thoughts.

k. has been incredible helpful and the plan for Thursday to to tear up the town on a wedding mission....which we did.

We met shortly after 9am and grab our coffess to go. Went to check out Micheals craft store and pick up some great flowers that were 50% off all their stem flowers. Next we headed to a rentals store and check things out, then went a nice drive to find a wedding boutique {little did we know that it wasn't even open yet, just setting up and it was not where we drove all the h**l out there} that was a fail but we check out a decorations place.

Then headed to a fab lunch and then to the dress shop - probrably my fav thing!

*Note: don't eat too much before trying dresses on*

I tried on only 1 dress at this place and was in AWE.....

I felt fabulous and beautiful and like a bride

(not like I was trying on a wedding gown but a bride)

k. took wayy too many pictures(since you're not suppose to)

and the dress number is recorded and in my mind all the time.

I didn't purchase it though because I don't wanna rule out other places I havent gone yet and I still have to go dress shopping with my mom.

For here, we headed over to a stationery store but did not find it (see a trend). It had recently moved so we were not sure. we didn't find the shop but we stumbled upon a new house with a sign reading "OPEN, come in" and so we did and then a guy showed up and we ended up looking at 3 more houses! Ha - we went hosue hunting as well, how would have thought!?!

Later on, we went to another bridal boutique to try on dresses. This is where one of my bridesmaid and her daugther, my flower girl and my mom met us.

My flower girl was so excited and tried on several dresses and oh and ah-ed at us when we came out. Both of my lovely ladies tried on styles that were gorgeous!

I tried on some gowns but none came close to the other one.

It was a great day and its not hard planning a wedding, its fun and just a lot to do.

Next on the list:

- find that stationery shop

- look at some bakery around town

{inspiration for my cake}

Wedding Bliss

I am in complete wedding planning bliss

from the decor, dress, bridesmaid dresses, flowers, invites and more.

It's overhelmingly splendid!

My MOH arrives from Toronto tomorrow and we have a full day of planning and running around to get done, complete with dress fittings.

Family Values

While flicking through channel after channel, I couldn't help to think about the shows that are on for kids growing up these days and compare them to the shows I grew up on (when I was allowed to watch tv).

Not that I am that old but I remember watching quality shows with good strong family values

such as these...

ah the Prince

probrably my fav was Home Improvement

my dad was just like Tim the tool man taylor with all the accidents too

classic Crosby - learnt so much from them


I tried to watch this last night when my 15 year old cousin insisted that we watch Jersey Shore..Oh how the world has changed

I want to get the box seasons of some of these shows, if not all because I want my kids to grow up watching shows with good family values as I did.

Autumn

I had finally found a fab blog layout and then something to do with size I believe with Photobucket meant that I lost the layout I had from Leelou Blogs , which is fabulous and I suggest you all check her out. Anyway it forced me to go searching at Leelou and I found this great Harvest layout which I adore. I figured that I might as well change my layouts seasonally - I change my house around for the seasons and I love love love autumn season.

Autumn brings with it....

- changing leaves

- raking and then having the kids (yours not mine cuz I dont have any yet) jump in them

- my familys' annual pumpkin craving contest

- apple cider

- brisk winds

- long walks

- perserve making

- fresh vegetables

- trips to the apple orchard

- costumes & Halloween parties

- donations to local food banks and charities

- Thanksgiving dinner and many other big dinners

with pies

I love falling in love with fall

every year.

me at the apple orchard last autumn

Not Back to School but Back to Reality

1st off I have been very busy unpacking and settling back into home after being away for the 2 months of summer, so I am just now catching up with reading blogs and posting myself.

I spent the past weekend in Fredericton - AMAZING! It was the first weekend back for all the UNB and STU students so the town was packed with people and parties. I went to visit my sorority sisters and go to the Pro-stock race. I had drinks and laughs and good times with my sisters and some new friends, but I was left with a weird feeling of sadness.

I feel like this is what I should be doing:

I have been going back to school for years and years. 1 year of private kindergarten, 12 years of the public school system with years of changing and growing hell, then 6 years of University with a BA and BEd under my belt and now I'm suppose to be done ?

It's weird but I have this sense of sadness, like I should be getting my books ready, rushing to Staples to buy EVERYTHING (I love stationery stuff) and getting excited about new classes

but instead this is what I'm doing:

well not exactly this but I am unemployed and waiting to attend an orientation that the District here requires all new supply teachers to attend before supplying, so waiting on that and then FINALLY I will be back in the classroom but in front!

I can't wait to teach!!!

So at least I have many 1st days back to school to look forward to in the future

30+ Vows of my Australian Summer – final update

This is my last updates vows list and I have accomplished nearly everything on my list and added more than double to it, IT'S AMAZING! So that means that I have done at least one thing noteworthy daily (on average), truly making the most of this trip :D. Take a look at all the new things I have done on this fabulous trip. Had the time of my life and am now getting ready to go home. I will be on Canadian soil by Sunday night and I'm excited to see everyone but this adventure as truly been incredible so I'm a little sad to be leaving. Check out what I have been up to all summer here Down Under:

1. Go to the Sydney Opera House
   
2. 
   See a kangaroo, more than one wild!
   
3. Go to the Melbourne Aquarium and Zoo (went to the Phillippe Island Wildlife Park and Ballaret Wildlife Park, they are more interactive with the animals), never got to the Aquarium but apparently I'm not missing out, it wasn't that good anyways
   
4. Go on a boat 5 times
   
5. dance in a fabulous nightclub until the wee hours
   
6. Gamble at the Crown Casino
   
7. Go to a Footy game
   
8. Go up the Eureka Tower
   
9. Attend 2 art exhibitions 2/2 – William Ricketts Sanctuary and The World of Mirrors
   
10. Go to the Victoria market
    
11. Buy a Didgeridoo
    
12. See some penguins CORRECTION see a Parade of Penguins, over 800 of them!
    
13. Sit on a patio all afternoon
    
14. Drive on the other side of the road
    
15. Survive 20 + hours of flying
    
16. Learn some Aussie slang
    
17. Put my feet in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
    
18. Drive along the Great Ocean Road
    
19. Bond with my roomie
    
20. spend 10 evenings in the hot tub – 10/10
    
21. meet an Australian hottie or more than a few ;)
    
22. and realize there is no one better than my r. , hubby to be even more so than before
    
23. stroll along streets filled with fabulous shops and boutiques
    
24. see the 12 Apostles
    
25. drink the most expensive coffee in my life (so far life), $7.00
    
26. visit the State of Victoria Library
    
27. Develop some structure in my placement classroom
    
28. Try vegemite
    
29. Get into an Australian TV series
    
30. Hold a Koala – see Koalas and be within arm's reach of them!
    

 

1. Try Kangaroo meat NO! Not making it on the list
   

   
    

Bonus –

1. Try shark fish and chips twice
   
2. Get my picture taken with a hot surfer
   
3. Go to Bondi beach
   
4. Go to Cairns on a fab vacation (just booked), Oh and FABULOUS it was!
   
5. Go to a rainforest, twice!
   
6. Explore some magnificent waterfalls, went swimming in them, got my foot stuck between 2 rocks and went under the water and scraped myself up a bit but it was worth the potential drowning
   
7. Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, ALL DAY! It was incredible, HIGHLIGHT OF MY TRIP!!!
   
8. Have my picture taken with the Sydney Harbour bridge in the background
   
9. Admire and get my hands on some real Louis Vuiton
   
10. Have a real Chinese meal in Chinatown
    
11. Have fabulous accommodations for a weekend in a military man's apartment
    
12. Indulge in good wine which was less than $4 a bottle so we got 2 cases=12 bottles
    
13. Get hit on by an Aussie hottie and flash him my ring haha, it was great
    
14. Watch a live band perform
    
15. See a crocodile feeding
    
16. Hang out and FEED KANGAROOS
    
17. Witness kangaroo love, yup they were going at it
    
18. Take a random day trip
    
19. Have a bird eat out of my hand
    
20. see the biggest trees ever
    
21. celebrate Christmas in July
    
22. go to the famous Cuckoo restaurant
    
23. Visit a dairy farm and learn about the production of milk, plus the artificial insemination process
    
24. Pet a baby calf
    
25. Get some fabulous Oakley gear for my fiancé
    
26. Go to the Chocolate Room…heaven I mean
    
27. Go whale watching and see whales and seals
    
28. Milk a cow
    
29. Witness something truly magnificent takes place in nature
    
30. See lots of Australia's native animals, dingos, echidnas, wallabies, kangaroos, crocodiles
    
31. Go on a river boat cruise and see live crocodiles!
    
32. Go on the Ultimate Party Pubcrawl and get ridiculous
    
33. Drink too many free drinks
    
34. See amazing colourful fish, hundreds
    
35. Lay by the lagoon all day, 2 days
    
36. go swimming at Palm Cove beach scared to death because of the warning sign of possible crocodiles in the waters, EEKS!
    
37. Swim in a grater that was once an erupting volcano, so cool
    
    
38. Do yoga in the middle of the rainforest
    
39. See some gnipi=gnipi, a dangerous stinging plant
    
40. Swim in a fresh water spring in the rainforest
    
41. Watch a jelly wrestling championship
    
42. Enjoy ladies night with free champagne served by topless male waiters
    J
    
43. Cheer a friend on in a Wet t-shirt contest, she won.
    
44. become "one of the guys" on a bachelor party
    
45. meet fabulous people from all over the world, including the Netherlands, Germany, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, the US, England, France
    
46. enjoy authentic Thai and Vietnamese food
    
47. try several exotic fruits at an Asian market
    
48. have the time of my life! Definitely accomplished!
    

 

Ahhh, Success!

Ah, success!

Today I completed my Bachelor of Education degree!!!

It feels fantastic and I am celebrating with 9 other lovely ladies in Cairns, Australia.

In less than 24 hours I will be sipping Margaritas by the pool

and.......

snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef!

So psyched for this little vaca before heading home to Canada.

I`ll be back once I am home and settled with lots of stories and pictures from my trip.