Category Archives: daybook

For Today

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Outside my window … the grey stillness of the morning.  It rained last night, and after a parching week in Vegas, I am head-over-heels in love with the quiet cool. _uacct = “UA-4888259-1″;urchinTracker();

I am thankful for … a husband who will ask, then actually listen, console and offer suggestion.
I am creating … a shopping list to organize my house!  Plastic bins and totes and a decaf coffee canister (which is totally unrelated, but still on the list)
I am celebrating … change, summer and the magic of Colour Wonder markers!
From the kitchen … amazing baby potatoes, sauteed with fresh onion and dill, then baked with organic potato-leek soup and grated cheddar to make a vegetarian gravy.  Oh my goodness!  I ate so much that I am sure I won’t be able to eat today…
I am wearing … my fleece bathrobe.  Time to hop in the shower once the bugz are done their pancakes!
I am reading … Gargoyle.  It is very interesting, but strange to say the least.  I’m about a third of the way through, and the way it has gently developed from crass and painful to a softly growing beauty is incredible.  I didn’t even realize the changes happening to the protagonist until it had already happened.  Kind of like life ;)  Beautiful to say the least.
I am hoping … that today provides me with a bounty of insight, peace of mind and calm.
I am hearing … some good country tunes on the radio :)
Around the house and yard … nearly 2 weeks worth of weeding to attack, groceries to buy and laundry to put away.
One of my favourite things … the perfect little ringlets that my bugz get instead of bangs.  So very sweet … just like the poem:

There was a little girl with a curl
Right in the middle of her forehead;
And when she was good, she was very, very good,
and when she was bad, she was horrid!

A few plans for the rest of the week … a visit to the J’Adore Dance studio today, maybe a dance class tonight (!), picking up last week’s vegetables from Julia, filing some business at work (yay paycheque!), picking up more veggies, and heading to Calgary for a team event!
Here are some picture thoughts I am sharing with you (from Vegas, of course!):
Outside the Paris hotel
The musical fountains at the Bellagio – magical!!!
The hotel self-portrait

For Today

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Outside my window … sun, sun, glorious sun!!  It has been far too long without sun, and the last 3 days have been BEAUTIFUL :) _uacct = “UA-4888259-1″;urchinTracker();

I am thankful for … friendships, understanding, decaf coffee, falling asleep on the couch, good times, good decisions and white wine with ice.
I am creating … an organized mind, in hopes that it translates to an organized life.  I really mean it when I say I want a personal assistant…
I am celebrating … the stillness between the storms.  I think today and tomorrow are my only “free” days between the weddings/birthdays/hanging out before today and the mad cleaning/organizing/packing of the next three days.
From the kitchen … a lot of dirty dishes to wash, and some kind of strawberry-rhubarb treat to make
I am wearing … a pink tank top, purple sweat crops and bare feet
I am reading … The System Builder.  Part of our wine-planning day included Julia & I committing to reading one good business or self-development book each month.  Next month’s will be Slight Edge.
I am hoping … that I can get everything organized in my mind while I’m away next week, to put into action when I get home.  
I am hearing … nothing, as I usually blog while my bugz are sleeping!
Around the house and yard … gardens to tame (although the weeding is caught up), grass to mow, CDs to burn, laundry to fold, packing lists to be made, to-do (or to-don’t) lists to make for Leith while I’m gone … and then some.
One of my favourite things … is falling asleep on the couch while Leith watches a movie.
A few plans for the rest of the week … office tonight, planning tomorrow, picking up our food basket, a maternity shoot on Saturday, packing on Sunday and then off to Vegas for a week!!  By myself!!  SHOPPING!!!
Here are (several) picture thoughts I am sharing with you:  Finger painting early this morning!!

For Today

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Outside my window … a sliver of sunshine after 2 days of torrential rains!  Thank goodness … yeesh… _uacct = “UA-4888259-1″;urchinTracker();

I am thankful for … constant support and guidance, a change of heart recently and that our basement didn’t flood – lol ;)
I am thinking … about how to convince my bugz to eat their toast!  They will eat 3 pieces of toast and peanut butter EACH, but when you add up all the leftover crusts, it’s really only one piece.  I’ve tried toasting it just a little (so that the crusts are soft but the bread is warm), spreading the “pea budda” all the way to the edges, yelling, bribing, threatening…
I am creating … nothing, really.  My garden is thriving though, despite the immense weeds that this rain has brought out.  I need to hit that puppy with a garden claw ASAP!
I am celebrating … the successful execution of my mom’s 50th birthday weekend :)  
From the kitchen … nothing last night, as I was trying to catch up on the mountain of dishes that somehow grew to epic proportions.  We went out.  Tonight though – fresh steamed chard with butter and apples, some kind of bison (have I told you that story yet???),  and spicy potatoes.
I am wearing … my pyjamas while I drink my coffee and wait for my monsters to EAT!!  Then I need to get my butt in gear, because we need to leave in 45 minutes!
I am reading … nothing.  I just finished Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris.  It’s the first in the series that the television show True Blood is based on.  It was … okay.  Good trashy reading, not a lot of meat or insight, but it was only $8 and good for the hammock.
I am hoping … to one day be caught up on my housework, or at least hire a maid!
I am hearing … the hum of the refrigerator, and the quiet chewing of cranberries and TOAST – success??
Around the house and yard … much cleaning and weeding to be caught up on.  I need to go through the bugz clothes once again and take out everything that they have outgrown.  I swear, they are actually catching up to their peers!
One of my favourite things … running.  I haven’t ran in, oh, 5 months??  I made one of those goofy promises to myself: if this happens, I’ll start running; if it doesn’t, I won’t.  Well, it did happen (goal achieved!) and now I have to start running.  It kind of feels like a punishment when I re-read that … lol, don’t worry – I actually want to start running again!
A few plans for the rest of the week … a carotid dopplar test tomorrow, dinner with a good friend on Friday, and Cher’s wedding on Saturday!!
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you:
While I have aged a lot since this photo was taken, my mom has not!
Happy (belated!) birthday Mom!!  xoxo

For Today

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Outside my window … a calm, sunny day after a week of tumultuous weather.  We’ve had a lot of thunder-y days lately, but today looks beautiful from the outset. _uacct = “UA-4888259-1″;urchinTracker();

I am thankful for … a day “off”.  I’m not technically off, but I don’t have any appointments scheduled.  I have a lot of housework and business work to catch up on, and we’re in the midst of actually potty training so it’s nice to be home!!
I am also thankful for … so many gifts in my life lately!  We seem to be blessed with many of the intangibles that make life so worthwhile :)
I am thinking … about how to coordinate schedules and childcare for Friday – I have a really busy day leading up to our dinner at Ruth’s Chris, and I’m not sure yet how it’s going to work!
I am creating … a lot of peace and stability in my life through hard work and personal growth.
From the kitchen … one big mess!!  Last night though, we made nachos with shredded chicken and fresh spinach and herbs from my garden!  The first fruits of my labours :) :)
I am wearing … sweat pants and a green tank, which is more than my nekkid babeez!!  Ha!  They are running around in their big-girl panties and nothing else!
I am reading … nothing right now!  I just finished The Success Principles by Jack Canfield and I’m having trouble getting into another book.  I’ve started several, but none are resonating with me right now.
I am hoping … to get this house cleaned up today.  I should take before and after pictures – it’s that bad!!
I am going … to blog later today about my work goals and progress towards having my own agency by November 30!!
Around the house and yard … ants to try and kill safely and organically, chores to be done, and if you thought we’d gotten anywhere on our left-over renovations, you might be delusional…!  We still need baseboards, doors, to prime/paint our front entrance and pony wall…
One of my favourite things … sitting out on our back deck at the end of a long day with a glass of white wine and an incredible husband :)
A few plans for the rest of the week:  Oh my!  Friday, I have a start-up for a new associate, a hair appointment and dinner at Ruth’s Chris.  I can’t blog about Saturday until it’s over ;)  Sunday is my mom’s 50th birthday!!

For Today

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Outside my window … it is the same as every June 17 since the day I was born – cloudy with a chance of showers :)  People think I’m being cynical when I say that it rains every year on my birthday, but it is TRUE!  Even if it is only for a moment – I like to think that the world is crying tears of joy at the sheer wonder of my awesomeness ;) _uacct = “UA-4888259-1″;urchinTracker();

I am thankful … for the wonderful support and mentorship in our agency, which has been integral in keeping me pushing forward.
I am praying … that I get through this 2*th birthday without any anxiety or panic attacks.  Gawd, when did birthdays start to irk me so much??  TOO MUCH PRESSURE!!!
I am thinking … about having a shower, feeding my kids and going to St Albert today!
I am creating … a top-secret plan – mwa-ha-ha-ha!!
I am celebrating … my birthday.  Ugh.  I love other people’s birthdays and I used to be a birthday nut as a kid, but for the past few years, my own birthday gives me hives.
From the kitchen … coffee.  Oh, and I ate the crusts off my kids’ toast.  Ooooohhhhh
I am wearing … my teeny-bopper sweatpant crops, Leith’s big sweatshirt that he’s never worn because I stole it the day after Christmas ’08, and my slipper-boots
I am reading … TBA.  I need a new book, as I just finished my last one.  I am listening to Why We Want You to Be Rich by Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki.  I was a little wary of it, but it is actually very insightful.
I am hoping … that all my prospective agents show up tonight and Saturday to book their interviews!!
I am hearing … Tim McGraw singing My Next 30 Years.  No lie.  The irony is NOT lost on me.
I am going … to Walmart later to buy a patio lounger for my b-day.  Hopefully St Albert has it in stock, as I can’t get an answer on the phone.  Yay for minimum wage customer service?
Around the house and yard … sprouting lettuce, turnips, potatoes and onions!  Peas and beans are thriving, flowers are blooming and weeds are being managed :)  Success!!  Does anyone know how long carrots, parsnip, zucchini and squash take to germinate?  I threw out the seed packets because they were sopping wet…
One of my favourite things … being caught up on my laundry!!  
A few plans for the rest of the week … Open House at the office tonight, Fat Camp tomorrow night (lol), Open House on Saturday morning, Fathers’ Day/birthday BBQ at my sister-in-law’s, Father’s Day/birthday picnic on Sunday with my family … phew!
A quote for today:
“A lot of people are afraid to say what they want.  That’s why they don’t get what they want.” ~Madonna

For Today

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Outside my window … grey skies and scattered showers.  The blue sky tries to poke through now and again, but it’s the sun I crave. _uacct = “UA-4888259-1″;urchinTracker();

I am thankful for … finding out what was up with my little C-boo.  Bring on the preventative maintenance ;)
I am thinking … about how to fill my time this week until Leith gets home.  It’s been awhile since I’ve been the sole care provider on the home front, and this first day is already dragging by.  It’s the evenings at home that kill me, especially since C-boo is still too lethargic to really take anywhere.
I am creating … a to-do list for the week and weekend that is half-business and half cleaning that has been severely neglected (do not eat off my dirt floors, please)
I am celebrating … June, June, June, my favourite month of the year :) Oh, and winning High Impact ;)
From the kitchen … a salad made from kidney beans, corn, bell pepper and cucumber with orange dressing, and dinner TBA
I am wearing … jeans, my striped Sherrie-twin shirt (!), and green slippers
I am reading … a lot of Jodi Picoult lately.  I’ve felt like reading mindlessly and I love being wrapped into her fast-paced, compassionate stories.  They are so good to revisit time and time again.  Recently, I’ve read A Perfect Match, My Sister’s Keeper and Salem Falls.  I have an urge to reread the last Harry Potter book when I’m done – not too sure what my obsession with past favourites is right now…
I am hoping … that this week goes by quickly and productively!
I am going … to go to bed early tonight and hopefully wake up early enough to go for a run before the bugz wake up.  It’s been far too long.
One of my favourite things … is cuddling with my girls when they wake up in the middle of the night.  I love being needed so deeply.
Around the house … floors, dishes and bathrooms to be cleaned, laundry to fold, sheets to change … it never stops.
A few plans for the rest of the week … working at the office tomorrow afternoon, our usual Thursday open house and a whole lotta cleaning!  Hopefully some workouts and yoga on Sunday with Sher ;)
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you:
One of the few pansies that didn’t get its head plucked off by my overzealous bugz…

For Today

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Outside my window … beautiful sunshine and blue skies.  Our spring cold snap seems to be but a memory, and for that, I am thrilled :) _uacct = “UA-4888259-1″;urchinTracker();

I am thankful … for a weekend spent with a good friend, an incredibly supportive husband, two beautiful children and satisfying work
I am thinking … about how amazing today’s training and tonight’s presentation is going to be for the new people in our company.  They will be so proud to be a part of such an incredible association when they leave tonight :)
I am creating … a surprise for someone’s birthday.  Shhhhh….
I am celebrating … Sku’s phenomenal performance on Saturday at the Calgary Folk Fest Songwriter’s Competition – her song, Courage Mr. Cowsill placed 2nd in her category.  It was the most incredible performance of the day – the busy pub was silent and enraptured with her performance.  Complete strangers cried.  I bawled.  You could feel the ghost of Billy walking between the awestruck tables.  A-ma-zing.  Way to go SKU!!  You ARE a big deal :) :)
From the kitchen … imagination.  That’s what you do when you were supposed to buy groceries 2 weeks ago and haven’t really had time to pick up more than milk and bananas…
I am wearing … my housecoat, since I am supposed to be getting ready but I stopped to read some blogs and realized that I hadn’t taken the time to do one of these in awhile.
I am reading … Team by John C Maxwell
I am hoping … that everyone involved in High Impact training reaches their full potential and meets their personal goals for the month.  Even Jarek :)
I am hearing … my bugz dragging around 2 plastic patio chairs that I bought them last night.  $2 at Dollarama!!!
I am going … to the city for our company’s Power of One training today.  It should be incredible!!
Around the house and yard … well, not much.  I’m keeping up on watering my seedlings, but I won’t be transplanting until the May long weekend because I won’t have time before that!!  
One of my favourite things … bloggie dots on my map, and squeals of joy when my bugz see me come home :)
A few plans for the rest of the week … work, work and more work to win our High Impact competitions, follow up phone calls and appointments to book, and a weekend in Fort MacMurray (my first time travelling there!)
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you:
(please use your imagination to fill in the blankness that is created by my laziness!)

For Today

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Outside my window … the sun is shining fiercely down on this beautiful spring day!!  We are supposed to reach a high of +26 today – how insane is that???  LOVE IT!
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I am thinking … about what to do with the rest of my morning/afternoon.  The bugz are asleep, my work is done, and I don’t have to leave the house until 3:30pm :)
I am thankful … that I was able to wade through my mess of a filing system and get our 2009 taxes filed today!  I started this morning around 7:30am and finished just before 11am!  Pretty stinkin’ impressive when you realize I had not tracked a single thing for my businesses (financial, dance or personal training), our rental property or our renovations, other than throwing receipts into one of those 3 boxes …  Lesson learned for next year ;)  
From the kitchen … scrumptious blueberry pancakes leftover from breakfast.  I had to make a modified combination of PW’s Pancakes and my gramma’s biscuit recipe because I had no butter, eggs, oil or Cristco (yuckkkkk).  They turned out really well, and I doubt their will be any left in 5 minutes.  I love being up early in the morning with nowhere to be because I can make tasty breakfasts!
I am wearing … a blue t-shirt and my green penguin pyjama pants, with my pink/yellow/red/orange striped sock slippers.  Hawtness, people. 
I am reading … Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.  I am so grateful that Heather recommended it to me – it has absolutely changed my way of thinking about food.  I was already a changed eater before reading it, but it has taken me on such a romantic journey with simple food that I would almost eat a raw tomato.
I am going … to keep this momentum rolling.  I feel amazing – it’s strange how something as little as waking up 2 hours earlier can push you to do what you need to be doing.
I am hearing … the bugz’ Rock-A-Bye Baby CD playing in their room – Bob Marley style :)
I am creating … a bright future for my family!
Around the house … gardens to rototill, plants to water, lettuce and spinach to transplant and containers to start with squash, beans and peas!
One of my favorite things … reading out on the deck in the sunshine, which is what I’m going to do when I’m done here :)
A few plans for the rest of the week … an appointment and work tonight, an incredible training event tomorrow, subbing at the dance studio on Friday, another awesome training event on Saturday plus an appointment PLUS an open house for a landscaping company … and on Sunday, we garden!!
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you:

Who has 2 thumbs, no make-up on and 2 finished 
tax returns??  This girl!!

For Today

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Outside my window … night has fallen.  It was a beautiful spring day – +16 and sunny!!  I choose to ignore the predictions of snow in the forecast
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I am thankful for … so very much!  Some days I am overwhelmed by the blessings in my life.  It is so nice to know that regardless of what each day brings, on the whole I am happy, safe, secure and loved
I am thinking … about where to take my bugz tomorrow.  I have a goal of inviting MORE people to the Women & Wealth session this Monday, and I’ve decided to combine bug-time and work-time to make it happen!
I am creating … amazing momentum in my life!  It is true that when you stop moving everything grinds to a halt.  I have vowed not to let that happen again until I have reached some of my biggest goals!  Prioritize and focus!!
I am celebrating … SPRING!  Oh, but this beautiful weather has done WONDERS for my poor, warmth-deprived body and soul!  I feel twitterpated and joyful, so very blessed to be out in the country soaking up all this new life!!
From the kitchen … nothing by me!  Leith made some turkey/yam wraps for dinner that were very tasty.  I was gone all day (and evening!), but I am looking forward to trying some of the recipes from the magazine Crystal sent me :)  I did, however, make turkey-chicken soup from our Easter leftovers, and I’ve boiled the bones a second time to make broth – I just need some big Ziploc bags to store it in the deep freezer!
I am wearing … sweat pants and a ratty old tank top, which feels sooooo nice after being in dress pants and heels all day ;)  I love to dress up for work, but I loooooove to dress down when I get home.  It’s the best part of any workday!
I am reading … Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.  It has inspired my new-found love of gardening more than anything I’ve ever read.  Between my garden and the food co-op, I’m just dizzy with a love of fresh vegetables in 2010!
I am hoping … to stay motivated and on this roll, and that the snow in the forecast is a big, fat lie ;)
I am hearing … the silence of a house that is already asleep, other than the clacking of my keyboard
I am going … to bed soon, I hope :)  Leith made me a half a pot of coffee before I left after dinner, but he put the full-pot measure of beans in!  Yikes!!  I may be up awhile yet…
Around the house … the usual suspects ;)  Does anyone want to place a bet on when we’ll actually prime and paint our (beloved!!) pony wall and front entry??
One of my favorite things … sweet bugz with curls, and comments on my blog (hint, hint lurkers!!!)
A few plans for the rest of the week … are you ready?  Community invites and training at the office tomorrow night, office hours and “me” time on Friday, an Arbonne open house to network at on Saturday, Yoga for Water and a client meeting on Sunday!!  Phew!
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you:
C-boo discovering Tinkerbell’s silhouette on the wall of their bedroom … 
it’s actually their stained-glass angel from Grandma D that sits on their windowsill :)

For Today

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Outside my window … it is a beautiful spring morning, with the sun creeping over the tops of our trees.  It’s still a bit chilly, but it’s supposed to be warm and sunny later on.
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I am thankful for … poufy pussy willows, blooming on all the buds around our house and the END OF WINTER yaaaaaa!
I am thinking … about where to put my herb pots, since I don’t really have any indoor sunny places for them
I am celebrating … Easter, of course!
From the kitchen … coffee for the grownups and breakfast for the monkeys.  It has been a lazy cooking week.  I might make something for Easter dinner tomorrow (other than the turkey/ham/vegetables), but I haven’t decided yet
I am wearing … my pyjamas, as always :)
I am reading … Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.  I finally (!) finished The Omnivore’s Dilemma and cannot get past the beauty of real, clean, non-industrial food.  How far we’ve fallen from biodiversity and photosynthesis.  Aren’t humans supposed to be smart??
I am hoping … that my 40-hour work week plan pans out in spades so that my short-term sacrifices have long-term benefits!
I am creating … a workable garden space after years of neglect, and in that I am creating a multitude of blisters on my poor girlie hands :)
I am hearing … Marvin Gaye, and children playing a little too quietly.  Hmmm….
Around the house … herbs to plant, dishes to put away, laundry to start (sigh…it never ends…), a thank-you card to find (found the diaper!), children to entertain…
One of my favourite things … visiting with Sku when she comes up from Calgary!!
A few plans for the rest of the week … Vampire Diaries with Sherrie tonight, Easter dinner with the family tomorrow, a hair cut from my beloved sister, and hopefully a few hours up to my elbows in dirt!
Here is a picture thought(s) I am sharing with you:


my garden layout … any suggestions for my 3rd container?



my pretty herb pots!

Have a beautiful, thankful Easter!