We've just found out that the Toronto District
School Board is slashing the Itinerant Music Program ( Band, Strings,
Orff, Vocal, Recorder, Steel Pan Drums) before the Trustees are informed or
able to vote on this drastic change of policy.
To save a tiny
portion of their budget, they are planning to drastically reduce the
quality of music education for students by laying off the expert music
educators. It's heartbreaking and shortsighted.
My school uses these programs each year, and we will miss them terribly if they are taken away.
It only takes a minute to sign the petition below, and your support will make a difference.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/841/524/940/stop-the-itinerant-music-program-cuts-in-the-toronto-district-school-board/
Thank you!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Tea and a Book - The Dog Stars
Today's tea? Hmmm, what does one drink when discussing the end of our world? A nice calming passionflower, perhaps?
Have you read The Road by Cormac McCarthy? (I have). Seen the movie? (I haven't). It was one of the most bleak and depressing books that I have ever read. I liked it, I couldn't put it down, but it left me with a sense of despair. And not much hope.
The Dog Stars by Peter Heller is of a similar genre. A post apocalyptic tale of survival. This book, while terribly sad, gave me more hope. Not hope that I would "make it" in a scenario like this, though - I'm pretty sure that I would be gone in the early days :). I give this book 5 stars (out of 5). For the hope and the poetic writing :)
Nine years after a flu-like virus has decimated the population, Hig has eked out an existence with his best friend - his dog, Jasper. his wife, family, friends - gone. He lives in an abandoned (well, everywhere is abandoned now) airport alongside gun-toting, somewhat antisocial, Bangley. They have a strange symbiotic relationship, and do fairly well surviving and protecting themselves and each other. (remember, that come the apocalypse we will all be fighting each other for food and fuel). Hig is a former recreational pilot so he is able to fly a Cessna out and around the vicinity to explore and survey the area. Hig is lonely and keeps remembering a voice that came on his plane radio years ago from a town (city?) a long flight away. Unfortunately the town is too far away to fly to and back from (without refueling) so Hig has never risked it... but that voice continues to gnaw at his mind.... Should he take the chance? Could there be something like his old life out there? What is left in the world?
I see now that I need to make friends with some ex- navy seals.... although you know that I just have to look at someone with the flu and I get it. I will not be one of the survivors :) . But, when I read Stephen King's The Stand so many years ago, I thought that I had some promise.... I think that I will revisit that book again soon. Meanwhile, I'll stockpile my olive oil (good source of calories) and keep my treadle sewing machine in good repair.
If you liked The Stand and / or The Road, you will definitely like The Dog Stars. If you want to know what our world could be like after the bird flu and a blood-borne virus kill most of us, read on :). It is a story of love, loss, hope, and the unlikely friendships that we make when our lives are falling apart.
Why do we read these books about the end of our world? To scare ourselves? As preparation for an uncertain future? To make our (current) lives feel so much better?
Music to listen to while you're drinking that tea :
One of my favourite "End of the World" stories was an episode of Twilight Zone -- Time Enough At Last...... You can watch the whole half-hour episode here:
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Tea and a Book
I've been trying to catch up on my reading lately. I currently read a few books a week -- one fiction and one non-fiction. For the past few years, I've been listing the books that I've read on my sidebar (see it over there>>>). I've decided to do a weekly book review here on the blog. I'm doing book reviews for parents bi-weekly on my teaching blog, so I'll see if I can keep it up :)
I'm going to call it:
Tea and a Book
I'm going to call it:
Tea and a Book
and will try to post it every Sunday....
If you would like my opinion on any of my past reads -- please ask.
I have a really good sense of what I will like to read, so my reviews might seem like I like every book ever written :) . But really, I don't like to waste my time, so I choose carefully....
What is your most recent "great read"?
Check back on Sunday for this week's review -- The Dog Stars by Peter Heller (recommended to me by my friend Don Madden over at Fully Flummoxed.)
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Happy St. Patrick's day!
I haven't had one of these for.... 30 years?
But I'm on vacation, so I'm embracing my inner leprechaun!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
But I'm on vacation, so I'm embracing my inner leprechaun!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Zinio + Automatism
Lucky me!
I was a winner on one of my favourite design blogs - automatism! Thank you so much, Lori!
And I won my favourite thing ever! A magazine subscription! Well, a digital magazine subscription :)
It was a giveaway sponsored by Zinio -- a full year's subscription to the magazine of your choice! I already subscribe to Living Etc and Mollie Makes on Zinio so the one that I said that I wanted was Country Living UK -- such a pretty publication, that I occasionally buy in print. There are so many others that I wanted, but I thought that this one would make me the happiest!
I still read plenty of magazines in print - there is nothing nicer than the feel of quality pages in your hands (hello, uppercase you are the best!) -- although I haven't really been buying many during my year of frugal (which is continuing into it's second year!). I only bought magazines last year that I had already committed to through my local store. I have to admit though, that my blog reading and pinterest gives me as much eye candy as my brain can handle.
I was a winner on one of my favourite design blogs - automatism! Thank you so much, Lori!
And I won my favourite thing ever! A magazine subscription! Well, a digital magazine subscription :)
It was a giveaway sponsored by Zinio -- a full year's subscription to the magazine of your choice! I already subscribe to Living Etc and Mollie Makes on Zinio so the one that I said that I wanted was Country Living UK -- such a pretty publication, that I occasionally buy in print. There are so many others that I wanted, but I thought that this one would make me the happiest!
I still read plenty of magazines in print - there is nothing nicer than the feel of quality pages in your hands (hello, uppercase you are the best!) -- although I haven't really been buying many during my year of frugal (which is continuing into it's second year!). I only bought magazines last year that I had already committed to through my local store. I have to admit though, that my blog reading and pinterest gives me as much eye candy as my brain can handle.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Very proud mama :)
My daughter, Miss L, is so strong! She is a competitive weightlifter :)
Here she is at her most recent competition!
She is a very multi -faceted person. Her University degree is in Forest Conservation AND French Literature. She is completely focused on having a healthy mind and body. She loves to thrift and is quite crafty. Check out her blog, reverdie.
She makes the sweetest hooked ornaments!
Here she is at her most recent competition!
She is a very multi -faceted person. Her University degree is in Forest Conservation AND French Literature. She is completely focused on having a healthy mind and body. She loves to thrift and is quite crafty. Check out her blog, reverdie.
She makes the sweetest hooked ornaments!
Saturday, February 09, 2013
Happy Weekend!
After our little snow storm yesterday, today has turned into a BEAUTIFUL day! The sun is shining, the birds are singing.... we can't get our car out of the garage :) .... Tomorrow I will be heading to the Love and Rummage Sale at the workroom. See you there?
Wednesday, February 06, 2013
Big News!
I'm going to make my summers more simple. Well... perhaps they won't be so simple this year, but in the future?
I'll be slowing down and spending the summers in Nova Scotia!
I really look forward to walking out on the wharf in the morning with my tea and just taking in the view and the ocean breezes.... hopefully I won't be running and cursing the dreaded Nova Scotia Mosquito!(who I have met and battled before. I'm pretty sure that the mosquitos won)(they are horrid little buggers - you slap them and they just give themselves a shake and then fly off)
This wharf is a 5 minute walk away....
If you know Nova Scotia at all, I'll be on the south shore..... the closest beach is Carters Beach. It is about a half hour walk away -- just a few minutes on my bike!
The prettiest beach on the coast (ok, that is very subjective. My mom says Beach Meadows is the nicest... and yes, Beach Meadow is a very pretty name). Do you know the beaches in Nova Scotia? Which one is your favourite? I'll check it out :)
A special thank you to Mr. B who was very supportive of this crazy dream.... and to my mom (partner in travel)... and to Sara who enabled me :) and lived vicariously (and sometimes in person!) through the searching, the viewing and the purchase!
(all of the photos here are from my Nova Scotia Pinterest board -- the photo above with the quotation is another view of Carters Beach)
(photos of the house and property will be posted as soon as I get back there to take some)(that won't be until the summer, unfortunately :( The family who sold it to us will be living there until the summer. I can't wait to show it to you! Especially some before and afters.
And I can't wait to see Sara and John and their menagerie again -- and to meet some of my NS blogging friends in person! Especially Amanda Pedro - who relocated from Toronto a few years ago. If you live in Nova Scotia, please let me know!
I'll be slowing down and spending the summers in Nova Scotia!
(We bought a little summer house)
I really look forward to walking out on the wharf in the morning with my tea and just taking in the view and the ocean breezes.... hopefully I won't be running and cursing the dreaded Nova Scotia Mosquito!(who I have met and battled before. I'm pretty sure that the mosquitos won)(they are horrid little buggers - you slap them and they just give themselves a shake and then fly off)
This wharf is a 5 minute walk away....
If you know Nova Scotia at all, I'll be on the south shore..... the closest beach is Carters Beach. It is about a half hour walk away -- just a few minutes on my bike!
The prettiest beach on the coast (ok, that is very subjective. My mom says Beach Meadows is the nicest... and yes, Beach Meadow is a very pretty name). Do you know the beaches in Nova Scotia? Which one is your favourite? I'll check it out :)
A special thank you to Mr. B who was very supportive of this crazy dream.... and to my mom (partner in travel)... and to Sara who enabled me :) and lived vicariously (and sometimes in person!) through the searching, the viewing and the purchase!
(all of the photos here are from my Nova Scotia Pinterest board -- the photo above with the quotation is another view of Carters Beach)
(photos of the house and property will be posted as soon as I get back there to take some)(that won't be until the summer, unfortunately :( The family who sold it to us will be living there until the summer. I can't wait to show it to you! Especially some before and afters.
And I can't wait to see Sara and John and their menagerie again -- and to meet some of my NS blogging friends in person! Especially Amanda Pedro - who relocated from Toronto a few years ago. If you live in Nova Scotia, please let me know!
Sunday, February 03, 2013
Living a kinder life
Some people out in bloglandia are focusing on kindness.
Jane LaFazio is doing The Kindness Chronicles -- the first Sunday of every month. I'm going to try to follow her lead :)
For the month of February at school we will be focusing on Kindness -- I'm challenging the kids to perform 100 Acts of Kindness -- hopefully, after that we will be able to spontaneously give up some random kindness to our peers (and teachers)(and parents). Kindness is an important quality to impress upon the children, no?
How will I show Kindness?
Well, this is one way:
Jane Davies is a collage artist and painter whose work I greatly admire (I even have some of her instructional videos as well as one of her books, Collage Journey). She owns a post office in a small town -- Rupert, Vermont. The United States Postal Powers That Be have cut the hours of service and will potentially close this very cute little post office! She is trying to show the Postal Powers that her PO is needed. -- she has to show that it is bringing in revenue (I can't help with that) and also showing that it has a healthy volume of mail. That's where she needs some help! She's asking people to send her an art postcard (to make this fun, right?). Read more about it here, and get Jane's address. She'll show your postcard on her blog, and if you are fast enough, she might send you one in return!
Jane LaFazio is doing The Kindness Chronicles -- the first Sunday of every month. I'm going to try to follow her lead :)
For the month of February at school we will be focusing on Kindness -- I'm challenging the kids to perform 100 Acts of Kindness -- hopefully, after that we will be able to spontaneously give up some random kindness to our peers (and teachers)(and parents). Kindness is an important quality to impress upon the children, no?
How will I show Kindness?
Well, this is one way:
Jane Davies is a collage artist and painter whose work I greatly admire (I even have some of her instructional videos as well as one of her books, Collage Journey). She owns a post office in a small town -- Rupert, Vermont. The United States Postal Powers That Be have cut the hours of service and will potentially close this very cute little post office! She is trying to show the Postal Powers that her PO is needed. -- she has to show that it is bringing in revenue (I can't help with that) and also showing that it has a healthy volume of mail. That's where she needs some help! She's asking people to send her an art postcard (to make this fun, right?). Read more about it here, and get Jane's address. She'll show your postcard on her blog, and if you are fast enough, she might send you one in return!
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Welcome 2013!
I had lots of "down time" during the holidays -- time to reflect and look toward the year ahead....
Reflecting
My "word" for 2012 was "frugal". I tried to live as frugally as possible in 2012. I did an amazing job, except for a little (ok, large) digression in August -- it's hard to travel (to Northern Ontario, to Phoenix, then Nova Scotia) without buying anything. I am going to continue the frugality into 2013.
This year's word?
Simplicity
I'm trying to live more simply... trying to slow down and not go-go-go so much. To live in the moment. Cut back, declutter. Live simply. Simply live. I'm hoping that it adds more serenity to my life too. I'm tired of rush-rush-rushing.I need to simplify my surroundings too....
My resolution for this year?
NO CANDY. I'm not going to eat any candy (small disclaimer -- I am not going to eat any candy that it not already in my possession, right now, today -- it would be wasteful, and even disrespectful not to eat the candy that was given to me as a gift, at Christmas. Right? RIGHT?) .
So, let's start again. NO new CANDY. So, Mr. B. Don't even think of giving me candy for valentines day. I can't eat it. And sorry, I won't be eating any road trip licorice. (oh, wait, I got some for Christmas, we'll eat that). Is this a cop out kind of resolution? Sort of (hah! speaking of sorts -- I got licorice allsorts for Christmas). Really, I am trying to avoid the mindless eating of candy that happens at school. I'm actually trying to cut out refined sugar... baby steps, people. I've also cut out soft drinks. water with lemon it is :)
So, that's it. Live more simply, eat no candy.
Reflecting
My "word" for 2012 was "frugal". I tried to live as frugally as possible in 2012. I did an amazing job, except for a little (ok, large) digression in August -- it's hard to travel (to Northern Ontario, to Phoenix, then Nova Scotia) without buying anything. I am going to continue the frugality into 2013.
This year's word?
Simplicity
I'm trying to live more simply... trying to slow down and not go-go-go so much. To live in the moment. Cut back, declutter. Live simply. Simply live. I'm hoping that it adds more serenity to my life too. I'm tired of rush-rush-rushing.I need to simplify my surroundings too....
My resolution for this year?
NO CANDY. I'm not going to eat any candy (small disclaimer -- I am not going to eat any candy that it not already in my possession, right now, today -- it would be wasteful, and even disrespectful not to eat the candy that was given to me as a gift, at Christmas. Right? RIGHT?) .
So, let's start again. NO new CANDY. So, Mr. B. Don't even think of giving me candy for valentines day. I can't eat it. And sorry, I won't be eating any road trip licorice. (oh, wait, I got some for Christmas, we'll eat that). Is this a cop out kind of resolution? Sort of (hah! speaking of sorts -- I got licorice allsorts for Christmas). Really, I am trying to avoid the mindless eating of candy that happens at school. I'm actually trying to cut out refined sugar... baby steps, people. I've also cut out soft drinks. water with lemon it is :)
So, that's it. Live more simply, eat no candy.
Monday, December 31, 2012
12 Days of Christmas!
I was busy like an elf in November, making ornaments for my 12 days of Christmas exchange! I was #6!
My wrapped gifts:
Everyone elses wrapped gifts -- I spread them under our classroom tree at school and we guessed what was inside each gift, each day! :
Already open and on the tree is gift #1 -- A button-embellished nest by Alice Early. The kids guesses were all over the place -- a bracelet, a necklace, a candle (they knew the gift was for me -- that's the only clue that they had... so they used their own knowledge to infer what was inside).
My wrapped gifts:
Everyone elses wrapped gifts -- I spread them under our classroom tree at school and we guessed what was inside each gift, each day! :
Already open and on the tree is gift #1 -- A button-embellished nest by Alice Early. The kids guesses were all over the place -- a bracelet, a necklace, a candle (they knew the gift was for me -- that's the only clue that they had... so they used their own knowledge to infer what was inside).
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Guilty Pleasures
Blog posts have been few and far between this fall!
I am still working on a journal round robin (I'm that person who had slowed the RR to almost a halt -- sorry all!)
I made these pages for Jill's book -- the theme was "guilty pleasures"
I am still working on a journal round robin (I'm that person who had slowed the RR to almost a halt -- sorry all!)
I made these pages for Jill's book -- the theme was "guilty pleasures"
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
I'm a Mo Sista!
November is known in my parts as Movember.
So what is Movember?
During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in Canada and around the world. With their “Mo’s”, these men raise vital funds and awareness for men's health, specifically prostate cancer and male mental health initiatives.
On Movember 1st, guys register at Movember.com with a clean-shaven face. For the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.
Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November. Through their actions and words, they raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health.
At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas celebrate their gallantry and valour by either throwing their own Movember party or attending one of the infamous Gala Partés held around the world by Movember, for Movember.
(above is from the Movember site)
The impact of Movember:
This year's theme is Movember and Sons
Here is my mo sista page :) I'm part of a team of mo bros who are growing some mighty fine 'staches!
I'll be sporting a 'stash at school for the month of Movember. Except during my parent - teacher interviews. I only have 15 minutes per interview and I don't want to be too distracting, lol. Mr. Drew can't avoid that with his, ahem, manly moustachio.
It's not too late to join. It's definitely not too late to donate. Please consider donating through me or my increasingly hairy team of MoBros. Just visit my page!
So what is Movember?
During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in Canada and around the world. With their “Mo’s”, these men raise vital funds and awareness for men's health, specifically prostate cancer and male mental health initiatives.
On Movember 1st, guys register at Movember.com with a clean-shaven face. For the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.
Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November. Through their actions and words, they raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health.
At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas celebrate their gallantry and valour by either throwing their own Movember party or attending one of the infamous Gala Partés held around the world by Movember, for Movember.
(above is from the Movember site)
The impact of Movember:
This year's theme is Movember and Sons
Here is my mo sista page :) I'm part of a team of mo bros who are growing some mighty fine 'staches!
I'll be sporting a 'stash at school for the month of Movember. Except during my parent - teacher interviews. I only have 15 minutes per interview and I don't want to be too distracting, lol. Mr. Drew can't avoid that with his, ahem, manly moustachio.
(OMG I'm channeling my inner William H Macy, lol )
It's not too late to join. It's definitely not too late to donate. Please consider donating through me or my increasingly hairy team of MoBros. Just visit my page!
Monday, October 29, 2012
Blissdom Wrap Up
I had 2 favourite parts of the Blissdom Weekend
1. The Costumes and Karaoke party.
If you know me, you will know that I don't really like costumes OR Karaoke. I don't like dressing up, and, well, I've never actually tried Karaoke. But considering that I HATE public speaking, and I've never spoken into a microphone, I didn't expect to even try. Oh, but try I did. Barbara Jones, one of the organizers of BlissDom, begged me to sing with her. Why all the fuss? Because I was the Queen of England. And she was the Queen of Hearts (Tarts). So, yes, I sang with her. And after that I enthusiastically danced the Cha Cha Slide -- and perhaps taught a few people how to do it? All that after only 2 Gin and Tonics :) And, yes, I kept my hand up in that wave the whole night!
Thanks you so much to my biggest fans :)
Shannon Sveda - Canadian ECE
Barb Fine -Little Footprints
Kelly Williams - Black Belt Mommy
Katja Wolfers- Jack Straw Lane
Jennifer Pinarski - blogger for Today's Parent
2. Our Sunday Excursion to the Movember Headquarters. (There were lots of other Sunday Excursions -- see what was offered here)
I went more for the walk then for the Movember part of it, but I was blown away by the Movember presentation! We walked to the Movember (Canada) Head Offices and listened to a talke about what Movember does. I'll be blogging about this in the near future. I've embraced the whole MoSista thing :)
Our Photo walk was brief, but this was the best "networking" I did the whole weekend! I wish that I had more time to talk to these people in depth:
Elan Morgan (she also ran the iphonography microsession)(aka Schmutzie)
Katie York- Motherbumper.com beautiful instagram photos!
Shannon Fisher = truthfully (she's my teaching kindred) (her words :)
Sew Tara - I wish that I had spoken so much more with Tara!!! (sew much more!)
Jenna Jacobson - working on her PhD about Movember! Seriously!
Caron Court - MoSista - 30 Days of Mo (last year she wore a different mustache each day - see them here)
Dana - A Cardinal Sin @radioredhead on twitter
Huh, someone here who's name I didn't get. Leave me a comment if you know who I forgot!
1. The Costumes and Karaoke party.
If you know me, you will know that I don't really like costumes OR Karaoke. I don't like dressing up, and, well, I've never actually tried Karaoke. But considering that I HATE public speaking, and I've never spoken into a microphone, I didn't expect to even try. Oh, but try I did. Barbara Jones, one of the organizers of BlissDom, begged me to sing with her. Why all the fuss? Because I was the Queen of England. And she was the Queen of Hearts (Tarts). So, yes, I sang with her. And after that I enthusiastically danced the Cha Cha Slide -- and perhaps taught a few people how to do it? All that after only 2 Gin and Tonics :) And, yes, I kept my hand up in that wave the whole night!
Thanks you so much to my biggest fans :)
Shannon Sveda - Canadian ECE
Barb Fine -Little Footprints
Kelly Williams - Black Belt Mommy
Katja Wolfers- Jack Straw Lane
Jennifer Pinarski - blogger for Today's Parent
The best of the UK!
You won't believe what was inside that present :)
Barb was 50 Shades of Grey!
The Queen and Steampunk Shannon -- my moral support
Always with a G&T!
Karaoke with the Queen of Tarts (Barbara Jones)
(If you know the source of these 2 photos PLEASE let me know !)
Bohemian Rhapsody
2. Our Sunday Excursion to the Movember Headquarters. (There were lots of other Sunday Excursions -- see what was offered here)
I went more for the walk then for the Movember part of it, but I was blown away by the Movember presentation! We walked to the Movember (Canada) Head Offices and listened to a talke about what Movember does. I'll be blogging about this in the near future. I've embraced the whole MoSista thing :)
(yikes, can you say "bad hair"?)
Elan Morgan (she also ran the iphonography microsession)(aka Schmutzie)
Katie York- Motherbumper.com beautiful instagram photos!
Shannon Fisher = truthfully (she's my teaching kindred) (her words :)
Sew Tara - I wish that I had spoken so much more with Tara!!! (sew much more!)
Jenna Jacobson - working on her PhD about Movember! Seriously!
Caron Court - MoSista - 30 Days of Mo (last year she wore a different mustache each day - see them here)
Dana - A Cardinal Sin @radioredhead on twitter
Huh, someone here who's name I didn't get. Leave me a comment if you know who I forgot!
Sunday, October 28, 2012
48 Things
Today is my birthday.
Here are 48 random thoughts in honour of this fine day.
1. I am a morning person. I love to see the sun come up. I love to walk outside when it is very early and so quiet and peaceful.
2. Water makes me calm. Not the drinking kind. The outside-in-a-large-body kind.
(Carters Beach, Nova Scotia)
3. Hoarding makes me feel safe. I don't know why. Well, that's not true. For a long time I didn't have much money, so I collected stuff to make into other stuff.
4. I miss summer. Really. A whole lot.
5. I love to be alone.
6. Olives, cheese and crackers are the best meal ever.
7. I hate the telephone. I am so grateful for email and texting.
8. Looking at pretty things makes me happy. That's why blogs and pinterest are a huge part of my life.
9. Children make me happy too. Even when they're misbehaving. That's why I'm a teacher.
10. I wish that I had more time to blog. To write. People always say "make time". When? I work full time! I have an hour long commute. I leave the house before 7 am and I come home around 7 pm.I have to eat and sleep sometime.
11. I do my pinterest repinning on my commute to/from work! I do my blog reading and original pinning on the weekend.
12. Poor Mr. B is awfully neglected :)
13. I like to eat poptarts on my birthday. Sadly, I don't think that there are poptarts in my cupboard today.
14. I'm going to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit at the AGO today. I love Frida. So talented. So strong.
15. I always thought that I was a cat person. Nope, I'm a dog person. I love how he follows me around, and then quietly lies beside me. Waiting.
16. I am so proud of my Lovely Miss L. I think that I did a pretty good job of raising her. She's currently looking into a career of making hand crafted furniture. The apple doesn't really fall far from the tree, does it?Well, yes it does, because she's currently into competitive weightlifting. That sounds like too much sweaty work to me. And I don't like to sweat. I even get off my bike to walk it up little hills. But she's into all of that sweaty, hard working, go team go stuff. Go Miss L!
17. Be sad, then carry on. That's how it goes.
18. I am very happy to do repetitive work. I would likely be a great factory worker. I see each task as a chance to get it better each time. I never feel that anything that I make is perfect. EVER.
19. I love to knit. I make socks. The same pattern every time. I just change up the colour of the wool. Maybe someday I'll become more ambitious and maybe add a cable.
20. Christmas is my favourite time of year. Last year I was too tired to decorate my tree. That's not going to happen this year.
21. I don't like to entertain. I do it, but I don't enjoy it. This year, I won't be having my annual Solstice party. Too stressful.
22. I'll still bake the cookies though. And give them away, lol. Because I don't really like cookies. Don't worry Mr. B. You can have as many as you want.
23. I resent the time that I have to spend at the gym. I'm happy that my gym has tvs to watch so I can multi task though....
24. I love to swim (real swimming, lengths, not paddling around in a pool or lake or ocean). But again, I resent the time that I spend doing it.
25. I got kicked out of yoga classes many years ago. Well, not really kicked out, but the instructor told me that "maybe yoga wasn't for me". He said this because I would stress over all of the things that I should be doing at home, while I was trying to unwind in yoga class. Yoga was giving me stress. Irony at its best.
26. I dream about having french doors from my kitchen leading to a deck. Really. Actual dreams.
27. I also dream about sparse, white, light-filled rooms. Hah!
28. I wish that ikea furniture was made better. Love the design. Hate the wobblies.
29. Making art is stressful for me. So why do I do it? Because having made something is completely fulfilling.
30. Just do it. Set a goal and go for it. Be unwavering. Have faith in yourself. I have set many "against all odds" kind of goals. And have achieved pretty much everything that I've ever wanted in life.
31. I LOVE Toronto -- I love living in the big city and being able to access everything that it offers.
32. I LOVE the subway -- my morning commute is fine. So many people ask if I hate it. Why would I hate it? I read a book a week. If I didn't have this commute, I wouldn't read.
33. My bike is sadly neglected. I prefer to walk. I used to ride my bike to work (8 miles each way) when I worked a bit closer than I do now.
34. Pink chrysanthemums make me happy. They always bloom for my birthday. I've been dragging this plant around from garden to garden for almost 20 years. It even stayed in my mom's garden for a few years while I was in between gardens. It didn't like my mom's garden. But it sure likes mine :)
35. One of my favourite things to do here in the city is to walk around the neighbourhoods. Seeing htat (those?) white squirrel in Trinity Bellwoods park is awesome. Hah. I said awesome. At lease I didn't say "eh"...
35. I love Starbucks :) I know that I should be visiting the independent cafes in my neighbourhood. But I love Starbucks! And I don't even drink coffee. It's tea all the way, baby. But hey, I'm not drinking anything at cafes lately.
36. Because I'm still being frugal. I hit a bit of a stumbling point in the summer (it's hard to travel and be frugal)(well, all of the enablers were with me). But I'm saving up for something big. Really big. Can't talk about it now, or I'll jinx it.
37. Carpe diem. Don't sit around waiting for life to happen. Go out and enjoy what you have now, don't wait for what might happen tomorrow.
38.My friend Meep looked at my "I'd Wear This" Pinterest board. She said " Well, it's a bit monochromatic". Yes it is. Black, grey, and brown and some burgundy. Earth tones. That's me! This outfit is so perfectly me. Swoon.
39. My perfect day? Curling up in bed, reading a book and eating chips (plain) while drinking ginger ale.
40. The rain takes away all of my strength. Like Superman and kryptonite. So let's just stay inside, curled up in bed eating chips all week, okay?
41. Since I have to suck it up and brave the rain sometimes, I made sure that I have a perfect raincoat (black, with a hood) and the perfect boots (pink + liberty print, from Target).
42. I don't listen to music as much as I want to. Currently I'm listening to Mumford and Sons... and also to Ingrid Michaelson, who my mom introduced to. Thanks mom! I tend to put one cd in the player, and it stays in there for weeks. I can listen to the same songs over and over and over.
43. I'll be putting on the Holiday (aka Christmas) CDs soon. I'd listen to them all year round if not for the strong protests from the people who I have lived with. So, why don't I just listen to them with the earphones and my ipod? Well, I never thought of that... maybe I will. Well, really I won't because I don't really like earphones, headphones, whatever.
44. I want to embrace twitter. I really do. I try... But it stresses me out. I miss so much! and I don't really get it. It's no feast for the eyes like Pinterest.
45. I *might* be persuaded into getting my drivers license. Maybe.
46. I love my iPhone. I LOVE my iPhone. I'm not sure what I did without it. But I love my peeps more. Mr. B. , the Lovely Miss L. Mom, Dad, Meep, Mrs. W. You rock my world :)
47. I promise that I won't make another blog post this long. Well, maybe when I turn 50. But you will have forgotten this one by then, won't you?
48. To thine own self be true. Follow your heart. Believe in yourself. I wear a ring that has To Thine Own Self Be True inscribed on it -- it reminds me to be true every single day. Live Brave, Live True.
That's all.
1. I am a morning person. I love to see the sun come up. I love to walk outside when it is very early and so quiet and peaceful.
2. Water makes me calm. Not the drinking kind. The outside-in-a-large-body kind.
3. Hoarding makes me feel safe. I don't know why. Well, that's not true. For a long time I didn't have much money, so I collected stuff to make into other stuff.
4. I miss summer. Really. A whole lot.
5. I love to be alone.
6. Olives, cheese and crackers are the best meal ever.
7. I hate the telephone. I am so grateful for email and texting.
8. Looking at pretty things makes me happy. That's why blogs and pinterest are a huge part of my life.
9. Children make me happy too. Even when they're misbehaving. That's why I'm a teacher.
10. I wish that I had more time to blog. To write. People always say "make time". When? I work full time! I have an hour long commute. I leave the house before 7 am and I come home around 7 pm.I have to eat and sleep sometime.
11. I do my pinterest repinning on my commute to/from work! I do my blog reading and original pinning on the weekend.
12. Poor Mr. B is awfully neglected :)
13. I like to eat poptarts on my birthday. Sadly, I don't think that there are poptarts in my cupboard today.
14. I'm going to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit at the AGO today. I love Frida. So talented. So strong.
15. I always thought that I was a cat person. Nope, I'm a dog person. I love how he follows me around, and then quietly lies beside me. Waiting.
16. I am so proud of my Lovely Miss L. I think that I did a pretty good job of raising her. She's currently looking into a career of making hand crafted furniture. The apple doesn't really fall far from the tree, does it?Well, yes it does, because she's currently into competitive weightlifting. That sounds like too much sweaty work to me. And I don't like to sweat. I even get off my bike to walk it up little hills. But she's into all of that sweaty, hard working, go team go stuff. Go Miss L!
17. Be sad, then carry on. That's how it goes.
18. I am very happy to do repetitive work. I would likely be a great factory worker. I see each task as a chance to get it better each time. I never feel that anything that I make is perfect. EVER.
19. I love to knit. I make socks. The same pattern every time. I just change up the colour of the wool. Maybe someday I'll become more ambitious and maybe add a cable.
20. Christmas is my favourite time of year. Last year I was too tired to decorate my tree. That's not going to happen this year.
21. I don't like to entertain. I do it, but I don't enjoy it. This year, I won't be having my annual Solstice party. Too stressful.
22. I'll still bake the cookies though. And give them away, lol. Because I don't really like cookies. Don't worry Mr. B. You can have as many as you want.
23. I resent the time that I have to spend at the gym. I'm happy that my gym has tvs to watch so I can multi task though....
24. I love to swim (real swimming, lengths, not paddling around in a pool or lake or ocean). But again, I resent the time that I spend doing it.
25. I got kicked out of yoga classes many years ago. Well, not really kicked out, but the instructor told me that "maybe yoga wasn't for me". He said this because I would stress over all of the things that I should be doing at home, while I was trying to unwind in yoga class. Yoga was giving me stress. Irony at its best.
26. I dream about having french doors from my kitchen leading to a deck. Really. Actual dreams.
27. I also dream about sparse, white, light-filled rooms. Hah!
28. I wish that ikea furniture was made better. Love the design. Hate the wobblies.
29. Making art is stressful for me. So why do I do it? Because having made something is completely fulfilling.
30. Just do it. Set a goal and go for it. Be unwavering. Have faith in yourself. I have set many "against all odds" kind of goals. And have achieved pretty much everything that I've ever wanted in life.
31. I LOVE Toronto -- I love living in the big city and being able to access everything that it offers.
32. I LOVE the subway -- my morning commute is fine. So many people ask if I hate it. Why would I hate it? I read a book a week. If I didn't have this commute, I wouldn't read.
33. My bike is sadly neglected. I prefer to walk. I used to ride my bike to work (8 miles each way) when I worked a bit closer than I do now.
34. Pink chrysanthemums make me happy. They always bloom for my birthday. I've been dragging this plant around from garden to garden for almost 20 years. It even stayed in my mom's garden for a few years while I was in between gardens. It didn't like my mom's garden. But it sure likes mine :)
35. One of my favourite things to do here in the city is to walk around the neighbourhoods. Seeing htat (those?) white squirrel in Trinity Bellwoods park is awesome. Hah. I said awesome. At lease I didn't say "eh"...
35. I love Starbucks :) I know that I should be visiting the independent cafes in my neighbourhood. But I love Starbucks! And I don't even drink coffee. It's tea all the way, baby. But hey, I'm not drinking anything at cafes lately.
36. Because I'm still being frugal. I hit a bit of a stumbling point in the summer (it's hard to travel and be frugal)(well, all of the enablers were with me). But I'm saving up for something big. Really big. Can't talk about it now, or I'll jinx it.
37. Carpe diem. Don't sit around waiting for life to happen. Go out and enjoy what you have now, don't wait for what might happen tomorrow.
38.My friend Meep looked at my "I'd Wear This" Pinterest board. She said " Well, it's a bit monochromatic". Yes it is. Black, grey, and brown and some burgundy. Earth tones. That's me! This outfit is so perfectly me. Swoon.
39. My perfect day? Curling up in bed, reading a book and eating chips (plain) while drinking ginger ale.
40. The rain takes away all of my strength. Like Superman and kryptonite. So let's just stay inside, curled up in bed eating chips all week, okay?
41. Since I have to suck it up and brave the rain sometimes, I made sure that I have a perfect raincoat (black, with a hood) and the perfect boots (pink + liberty print, from Target).
42. I don't listen to music as much as I want to. Currently I'm listening to Mumford and Sons... and also to Ingrid Michaelson, who my mom introduced to. Thanks mom! I tend to put one cd in the player, and it stays in there for weeks. I can listen to the same songs over and over and over.
43. I'll be putting on the Holiday (aka Christmas) CDs soon. I'd listen to them all year round if not for the strong protests from the people who I have lived with. So, why don't I just listen to them with the earphones and my ipod? Well, I never thought of that... maybe I will. Well, really I won't because I don't really like earphones, headphones, whatever.
44. I want to embrace twitter. I really do. I try... But it stresses me out. I miss so much! and I don't really get it. It's no feast for the eyes like Pinterest.
45. I *might* be persuaded into getting my drivers license. Maybe.
46. I love my iPhone. I LOVE my iPhone. I'm not sure what I did without it. But I love my peeps more. Mr. B. , the Lovely Miss L. Mom, Dad, Meep, Mrs. W. You rock my world :)
47. I promise that I won't make another blog post this long. Well, maybe when I turn 50. But you will have forgotten this one by then, won't you?
48. To thine own self be true. Follow your heart. Believe in yourself. I wear a ring that has To Thine Own Self Be True inscribed on it -- it reminds me to be true every single day. Live Brave, Live True.
That's all.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
More Bliss
Some people asked me what pillows have to do with a social media convention :).
BlissDom is " a gathering for women (and men!) developed to not only bring together Canadian bloggers, social media specialists, relevant brands and agency folks, but also to support and celebrate a burgeoning community who had not yet come together AS a community in one place to learn from each other. With sessions, parties, round tables, brands and networking discussions, BlissDom Canada helped everyone in the Canadian social media community learn new ways to connect, to create, and up their game." (description from the Blissdom site).
Come talk to the best social media folks in the business about how – and why – they do it.
Sit down with your blogging idols and creative muses and have an in-depth conversation about getting where you want to go.
Listen to accomplished authors, businesspeople and social media mavens as they inspire you with their stories of success.
Engage with some of the most relevant brands in Canada who will be there to get to know you and to figure out ways to work with you in the future.
So last weekend, that's what I did. I took sessions on iPhone photography; How to take better photographs for my Blog; and How to make Pinterest work for me. I learned so much!
The speakers were fabulous. Jian Ghomeshi, Susan Cain, Ami McKay, Amber MacArthur, and Bonnie Stewart.
Jian Ghomeshi was so funny! I can't wait to read his book, 1982.
Amber Mac was so inspiring.
I have been on the waiting list (a the library) for Susan Cain's book " Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking".
and Bon Stewart is ALWAYS fascinating.
I have both of Ami McKay's books -- The Birth House is set in Nova Scotia -- a place I hold dear to my heart. (and for all of you lovers of Moth, in The Virgin Cure -- she'll be back! in Ami's next novel :)
More on the Saturday night event and the Sunday Excursions in my next post...
BlissDom is " a gathering for women (and men!) developed to not only bring together Canadian bloggers, social media specialists, relevant brands and agency folks, but also to support and celebrate a burgeoning community who had not yet come together AS a community in one place to learn from each other. With sessions, parties, round tables, brands and networking discussions, BlissDom Canada helped everyone in the Canadian social media community learn new ways to connect, to create, and up their game." (description from the Blissdom site).
Come talk to the best social media folks in the business about how – and why – they do it.
Sit down with your blogging idols and creative muses and have an in-depth conversation about getting where you want to go.
Listen to accomplished authors, businesspeople and social media mavens as they inspire you with their stories of success.
Engage with some of the most relevant brands in Canada who will be there to get to know you and to figure out ways to work with you in the future.
So last weekend, that's what I did. I took sessions on iPhone photography; How to take better photographs for my Blog; and How to make Pinterest work for me. I learned so much!
(I always look so serious when I'm concentrating)
The speakers were fabulous. Jian Ghomeshi, Susan Cain, Ami McKay, Amber MacArthur, and Bonnie Stewart.
Jian Ghomeshi was so funny! I can't wait to read his book, 1982.
Amber Mac was so inspiring.
I have been on the waiting list (a the library) for Susan Cain's book " Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking".
and Bon Stewart is ALWAYS fascinating.
I have both of Ami McKay's books -- The Birth House is set in Nova Scotia -- a place I hold dear to my heart. (and for all of you lovers of Moth, in The Virgin Cure -- she'll be back! in Ami's next novel :)
More on the Saturday night event and the Sunday Excursions in my next post...
Friday, October 19, 2012
Blissdom
This weekend I'm at the social media conference, Blissdom ( here in Toronto) The sponsors are awesome. Sleep Country Canada was here giving away pillows! I got this one, because I sleep on my back. Cotton shell with silk lined fill, and it's hypoallergenic! It's fantastic, I'd definitely buy another.
I'm also working on blogging with my iPhone. I'm not happy with the Blogpress App ( for some reason it loads crappy photos) the blogger App is slightly better, but I can't add links and I can't figure out how to move photos around.If anyone has a better solution, please let me know! I've been whining about this for 2 years! I asked as many people as possible tonight, but they all use Wordpress and I'm not going to convert....
I'm also working on blogging with my iPhone. I'm not happy with the Blogpress App ( for some reason it loads crappy photos) the blogger App is slightly better, but I can't add links and I can't figure out how to move photos around.If anyone has a better solution, please let me know! I've been whining about this for 2 years! I asked as many people as possible tonight, but they all use Wordpress and I'm not going to convert....
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Sailing with Walt and Paul
I couldn't resist this:
I
I visited the Lunenburg Cultural Centre while were were in Nova Scotia. I had read about Amy Rice's Mixed Media work on Poppytalk.
Amy has a book on stencilling coming out in the spring. I've already preordered it!
I visited the Lunenburg Cultural Centre while were were in Nova Scotia. I had read about Amy Rice's Mixed Media work on Poppytalk.
Amy has a book on stencilling coming out in the spring. I've already preordered it!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
August in Nova Scotia
The whirlwind of school caught up with me!
I'm a bit behind....
Mr. B and I traveled to Nova Scotia in August. The weather was FABULOUS!
This floating house is in Mahone Bay.... Could you live in a floating house?
My mom on the beach. Isn't she beautiful? I think that the beach is her favourite place to be. Other than at a bridge table, of course.....
On the ocean front deck. does life get any better than this?
Mr. B and I at sunrise, just before we left.....it was hard to leave. I wanted to stay longer....
Bye Nova Scotia.... see you next year!
I'm a bit behind....
Mr. B and I traveled to Nova Scotia in August. The weather was FABULOUS!
This floating house is in Mahone Bay.... Could you live in a floating house?
My mom on the beach. Isn't she beautiful? I think that the beach is her favourite place to be. Other than at a bridge table, of course.....
On the ocean front deck. does life get any better than this?
Mr. B and I at sunrise, just before we left.....it was hard to leave. I wanted to stay longer....
Bye Nova Scotia.... see you next year!
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