current TV addictions

We're really into this right now. It's our new HBO obsession, although we take it in small doses (like, max two episodes per evening, or we regress too much). I recommend it if you're into that random, awkward type of humor, which we clearly are. The songs are incredibly catchy, in a Jon Lajoie sort of way. And the cute accents and mullets don't hurt either.

In other television news, my favorite show ever starts up again tomorrow night, except I can't watch it "live" since Pat has clients... So I will have to wait (shameful, I know). But if I've waited this long, another little while won't hurt, right? It will be very hard to block out the chatter in the staff room the next day, but I will resist all influences until I've witnessed the episode first hand. In case you're wondering what I'm referring too... hello!! I'm fully aware that this topic deserves a separate and sacred blog post on its own, so I will be back with that in few days, hopefully with at least some answers to the questions that have been intriguing us all.

Time for me to go to bed. I am still sick, this time with a raspy voice that is apparently sexy. I'm not too sure, but I'll take it. Goodnight blog stalkers.

January is so very long!

I can think of a whole bunch of things I "should" be doing right now - like laundry, entering marks, making tomorrow's lunch, etc - but I am here, blogging. Because it's what I do and I haven't been doing enough of it. Because writing is good for my soul. And because I actually have photos to share!! I finally caved and got a year subscription to Picnik. There are lots of fun gadgets when you are a premium user, and considering how often I use this site, I figured it was worth the investment (actually, I found it very reasonably priced).

My superstar boyfriend had these sent to my work the week before last. I know, eh? Isn't he great?

The real story goes like this: I was coming down with a nasty cold two weeks ago (that I'm still not completely over) and I decided by Thursday that I'd had it. I figured it would be in everyone's best interest for me to take a sick day on the Friday to get better. I announced my brilliant plan to Patrick that evening and was met with a strange response. He seemed a bit annoyed/frustrated that I wouldn't be going to work, but he wasn't giving me any info. Finally, after a bit of digging, he revealed that he had ordered flowers for me online, and they were due to arrive the next day (yup, while I'd be at home in my pyjamas). After a bit of bickering on both our parts for the predicament (since we were afraid the flowers would die and they had cost so much money) I phoned my partner in crime, Miss Stacy, and since she's such a great person, she offered to pick the flowers up for me the next day and bring them to my place. Turns out, however, that the flowers were on back-order and only arrived the following Monday! So, I got my "surprise" at work in the end, and it was so fun to see the look on my students' faces when the bouquet arrived. Yes, I am quite spoiled, I am aware. He's very good at these things and I am very lucky. I sense a scrapbooking page on this topic, as soon as I find my groove again in that department.

This past weekend, I got to celebrate my friend Darla's engagement with friends! We had tons of fun and Cheryl and Vero did an amazing job organizing it. The food and games were sensational girls :) And her ring is lovely. I must say Pat did good. Her Pat, folks - We both have Patrick L's, funny, no?

Well, I could go on, but I will keep it short and sweet for now. I want to try to do some digi before bed. Hope your week has been good. The weekend is only two days away!

Here's a quickie before bed and the new week that lies ahead. About the layout, Pat says "it's nice, but you didn't use the Habs colors". Ah well, what can you do? I happened to be working from his computer and I didn't have my full digi stash at hand, so this is what I ended up with. I actually did the journaling first - got the story down, then went to find a picture, then put the page together. It's my new approach and I quite like it. Makes the whole process more meaningful. I just picked up this book at Indigo, which is all about story-telling. Although it was published a few years ago and some of the layouts are a bit "dated", I still find it really inspiring.

I even got a new notebook that I think I will devote entirely to stories to scrap. I had so many ideas today after reading snippets of this book, so looks like I'm off to a good scrapbooking start so far this year.

Other than that... had a great weekend. So relaxing. Dave was spending the weekend at a hotel, so Pat and I had lots of alone time. With Sagua, of course - can't forget our dear little furry friend who cannot give us a dull moment, between eating bags, jumping on top of us when we least expect it, and crawling under the bed no matter how many times we scold her. Still, I love her.

I really don't want to go back to work tomorrow after three days off... Monday morning mini-meetings and bus duty are not ny idea of a fun time. But I do want to see my kiddies and I'm looking forward to our field trip to an indoor activity place this week, so at least there are fun things ahead.

Okay, time to hit the sheets and curl up with a good book. Cheers.

blog make-over and other stuff

I am in the process of making my blog more pretty. I learned how to change the font on the side-bar and for the title and date of my posts. It was a super long process but well worth it I think. You can find out how to do that here if you have the patience and time to do so! I love Kevin and Amanda's site - they have sooo much to offer. I especially love all the awesome free fonts!


The playlist has also made a re-appearance on here as I just couldn't resist the iPhone widget. I mean, it at least makes me *sorta* feel like I have one, which is good to tide me over for a bit. I hate how hypnotized I am by the iPhone. I really, really, really want one. But they are soooo expensive and what is really the point?! I have this debate with myself daily. My alter ego has yet to win out - so sorry, I can't join the cool club ;) Anyways, I'll have to see about this widget because it seems to be slowing down my page - is it just me?


The reason I had so much time to kill on the Internet yesterday is because I took a sick day from work and stayed in my pyjamas until 5pm. There is no shame in that, haha. I actually was quite sick - sore throat, congested, headachy, etc. So I did sweet f**k all and it was nice and well deserved. I didn't really want to leave my class for a day (I'm so over-protective like that) but I think the sub did a good job according to my friend, so that's cool. I would hope so, after I left a sub plan that spanned 9 typed pages - hahaha! I am not even exaggerating. There is so much detail to go into for Kindergarten and I couldn't figure out how to condense it. Oh well, I figure it's better to have more than not have enough.

Even though I was sick, we went to the Comedy Nest last night for a fundraiser. We'd already confirmed we were going a long time ago, and since it was for such a good cause (the Marisa Palliotti Fund), we didn't want to disappoint. It was really fun - some solid stand-up acts and lots of friends there.


What else, what else.... Patrick is crazy busy with clients this week. I think I will go do some groceries for him today and then possibly cook for him this evening. He's been working so hard and he really deserves it.


Before I head out to face the day, here are some things that have been inspiring me lately, which I found at this awesome blog. I really want to do something like this in the form of a book. It's like a combo of Pat and I, which is why I am so drawn to it. Can you believe that the font is actually her hand-writing?! So cool. She needs to make it into a font!

Okay, well, time for me to get some caffeine in my system and start checking things off the to-do list. I have a 75$ Indigo gift-certificate with my name on it and that's making me very excited. Hope you have a great weekend too! Cheers.

Hello 2010

It's pretty crazy when I think about the of the chunk of time in front of me: a new decade that will most likely see me buy my first place, get married, and have children. WoW!! It's pretty meaningful and exciting when thought about from that perspective. But for now I will take it one step at a time. Gotta focus on the moments as they pass.

So the new year is here and there is one day of vacation, sniff, sniff. I have done both a lot and very little. I feel well-rested and energized, although I still think it will be rough getting up tomorrow morning. I can't wait to see how many posters have fallen down in my classroom (note extreme sarcasm). It will be good to go back to routine, to stop eating and drinking in alarming proportions, and see my kiddies. I am also looking forward to working out on a more fixed schedule and hopefully getting over this little cold I can't seem to shake. It's nothing serious, but I feel like it keeps me from reaching my maximum work-out potential. Ah well, what can you do but keep at it, in the hopes it will improve gradually.

I know that everyone's into the resolutions and the word of the year. In 2007 my word was "steadfast", right after my dad's stroke. I think I stuck by that pretty well. Last year, I wrote a bunch of good intentions down, and then never chose a word. There was a lot going on, and I lost focus of a lot of things as certain events took precedence, most notably, the end of Patsy's battle against cancer.

This year, I haven't chosen a word, but I'm hoping that Patrick and I can finally focus on ourselves. Some words that came to mind were "grow", "mend", "accept", and "invest" just off the top. Mehh... Although I really like the idea of choosing a word, it's challenging to find something that sums it all up. So here is a random list of thoughts about the new year and things I would like to do, not necessarily in the order they appear.

1. Mend my relationships.
2. Cook with confidence.
3. Scrapbook the most meaningful stories.
4. Write more, from the heart.
5. Listen with intent.
6. Appreciate what I've got right in front of me.
7. Make my own space.
8. Travel.
9. Spend time with friends, no excuses.
10. Organize.
11. Feel okay with my best efforts.
12. Worry less about other's opinions.
13. Catch up on good TV.
14. Stretch more - do yoga once per week.
15. Take photos weekly, not just of my class.
16. Sing every day.
17. Enjoy small wonders.
18. Remember that life is fragile.
19. Talk to ghosts rather than fear them.
20. Let go. Enjoy.


Well, twenty seems to be a good number. My neck is stiff and I need to practice #14. But first, a layout I made last night. Peace out.

Christmas was good 'round these parts. It came and went quickly, but it was nice. On Christmas Eve, we had the traditional tourtiere supper and then headed out to church. It's the one time I go to church all year, and it's mostly to please my nanny, who likes to show us off to the regulars. I must admit, however, that it probably wouldn't feel like Christmas without the candle-lit rendition of "Silent Night" - a classic every year. And there's something about hearing the choir sing that makes me all nostalgic. It reminds me of the building anticipation that would come at the thought of being home in my pyjamas, leaving cookies for Santa, and hoping to hear the sleigh bells ring. To put us even more in the spirit, this year I even read the Grinch and the Night before Christmas before bed, much to Pat's delight ;)

Christmas day, we got up early to open gifts, then had a brunch, and all too quickly, Pat and I had to rush off to his house to open more gifts over there. We were all very spoiled this year, but it was pretty bitter-sweet, since it's the first Christmas without his mom, and her presence was really missed. I didn't think I would be getting emotional just looking at some of her favorite items, but I did. It was weird, since nobody seemed very open to talking about how they were really feeling. Pat and I were at least able to talk to each other about it, and we remembered her in our own way. I felt her presence in some unexplainable way. I think she would be happy to know where most of us are now.

This year, his father's family came a little bit earlier because some of his uncles had to work that night, so we were able to see everyone before going back to my house for supper. We decided it would be easier to just stay at my place rather than rush back to his again afterwards. We could take it easy and drink without worrying about the consequences, and most of his family was leaving early anyways, so it would have been pointless to go back there. I know we probably let some people down in the process but I am trying to let go of that. I need to accept that we can't please everyone, and sometimes we just need to do what's best for us. Overall, Christmas was good and more relaxed than previous years, so I am happy.

In other news, Pat and I took a trip down to the Burlington and Plattsburgh over the last few days. We followed Ken, Julie, Will and Sarah down and got in some good shopping. We stayed a few nights at a hotel, and there was an indoor pool. I feel like I'm on a completely different wave length right now - work seems like some distant memory, which was well needed I think. I am reconnecting with some forgotten aspects and mending some things that need mending. I am working in slow motion and it's sweet. Anyways, I will try to get back here later with photos of our trip. Right now I need to sort out all the stuff that I bought and try to maybe get a tiny bit of lesson planning done so that I don't need to feel so overwhelmed with a new theme when I get back. I am just excited that I still have a job to go back to! Alright, well, peace :)

Well, it's been a very long while! I really should get back into the blogging groove and be done with the excuses.

There are only a few days left before the holidays and I can't believe how quickly time is flying. I got some good news a few weeks ago: looks like I will be sticking around for a while longer in my class!! It seems like it will be the entire year, but she hasn't confirmed anything. Now she has to give a month notice before returning and everyone is pretty convinced that she wants to take time off with her baby. I am so beyond thrilled about that - I can't imagine what it would be like if I had to back everything up in three days and say goodbye to everyone.

I have been crazy busy getting ready for the holidays, at school and at home. We had a snow day last week, thankfully, and I had the bright idea to make chipboard ornaments for all my students, with personalized messages and all. I don't have many students, so it's not as crazy as it seems. It's kinda the same thing as making a mini-book very quickly, and I had very fun products to play with, so it worked out nicely. Here's a snippet of what they look like:

Tomorrow I will make a gingerbread house with them! It's the pre-baked one from Costco, so all we have to do is assemble. It should be loads of fun. Then we have Christmas concerts, a magician, Santa coming to visit, and pyjama and movie day to end the week. I really hope that everything is ready to be sent home by Friday!!!!

In other news, we had our staff party last Friday and that was really fun. It's nice to have hit it off very well with colleagues who have now become friends. After our extremely long dinner (that included sing-alongs and a crazy gift exchange where you were allowed to steal presents from each other), we went back to Chris's place for the much anticipated game night! We played a very competitive game of Cranium and my team kicked butt. Sorry losers ;) Kidding!

I have another staff party for the Library tomorrow night. I am going to be all staff-partied out I think. That's the price you pay when you have two jobs! A bit crazy, I know. That's why I am so looking forward to the 2 weeks off when I can just go with the flow, hopefully get some scrapping in, and maybe, just maybe, go away somewhere....

Also, on Saturday night, I made dinner for Pat and we had the place to ourselves because my parents went out to a party. I was surprised by gold earrings!! Wasn't expecting that before Christmas, but I am super lucky to have such a thoughtful man :)

Anyways, I'm off to eat supper and then we're going to decorate the tree ce soir. A little late, but better than never, right? Cheers.