Wednesday, September 28, 2011

All about me

So I stole this blog post from over at the Adventures of the Roberts. I enjoy reading Cari's blog, feel free to check it out.
A. Age: 25


B. Bed size: Queen.


C. Chore that you hate: Cleaning the bathroom



D. Dogs: None


E. Essential start to your day: A glass of juice and most times a shower



F. Favorite color: Blue


G. Gold or Silver: White Gold


H. Height: 5'1"


I. Instruments you play: None


J. Job title: Food Service


K. Kids: 5yo stepdaughter


L. Live: Canada


M. Mother's name: Mom


N. Nicknames: too many to list


O. Overnight hospital stays: none


P. Pet peeve: Not replacing the toilet paper roll, leaving dishes on the counter
Quote from a movie: Someone made me ink


R. Right or left handed: Right handed


S. Siblings: 1 brother and 1 sister, both younger



T. Time you wake up: Either 4:15 or 7:30ish


U. Underwear: yes


V. Vegetable you hate: Zuchinni, peas



W. What makes you run late: Being disorganized


X. X-Rays you've had: Teeth, chest


Y. Yummy food that you make: Curry broccoli chicken, pumpkin pie, pumpkin loaf



Z. Zoo animal: Elephant

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Updated 101 in 1001

I've seen this 101 in 1001 days blog "project" a few times before, but have never really paid much attention to it. I've been meaning to start it for a while now, and finally decided to do it. The only thing was that I underestimated how hard it would be to come up with 101 things! It took a while.

Not familiar with the 101 Things in 1001 Days project? Check out this website.
The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable, or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of effort on your part).

Start Date: November 1, 2010
End Date: July 28, 2013

Marriage & Family
1. “Date night” with Hubs once a month (11/33)
2. Surprise my husband with a gift just because
3. Get married (Completed July 10, 2010)
4. Talk to home every weekend (25/132)
5. Plan a trip to Halifax (Completed Feb 2011 for trip in June 2011)
6. Buy a house (In the works Feb 2011)
7. Have a baby
8. Visit Hubb's family for Christmas (Completed December 23, 2010)
9. Celebrate 1st wedding anniversary (Completed this upcoming Sun)

Mind, Body & Soul
10. Lose 10 lbs
11. Go a week without weighing myself
12. Complete some form of exercise at least 3 times per week
13. Read at least one book per month (6/33)
14. Give up soda for a week
15. Learn a new recipe and cook it at least once a month (5/33)
16. Get a hobby
17. Get my first massage (Completed Nov 20, 2010)
18. Have another manicure or pedicure (Completed February 15, 2011)
19. See a sunrise and sunset in the same day
20. Hike a really large hill (Completed Nov 2010)
21. Go on our honeymoon (Completed Nov 15, 2010)
22. Do something for myself at least once a month (11/33)
23. No dessert or cookies at work for 2 weeks
24. For one week, go to bed at 9:00 p.m. just to read
25. Clear the dinning room table off to eat dinner there again (Completed Jan 22/11)
26. No tv for one week
27. No eating after 8:00 p.m. for a month
28. After baby, get back to pre-pregnancy weight

Home Is Where the Heart Is
29. Put new carpeting in the spare bedrooms (Completed August 31, 2011)
30. Finish our wedding album
31. Buy a new vaccum (Completed December 27, 2010)
32. Get a new bed (Completed April 2011)
33. Get a new dining room table (Completed June 2011)
34. Empty entire fridge, clean it, then put everything back in (Completed March 20, 2011)
35. Reorganize kitchen cabinets and paint them
36. Defrost freezer twice a year (0/6)
37. Buy a new house (Completed March 15, 2011)
38. Finish Painting 2 spare bedrooms (Completed August 28, 2011)

All Work, No Play
39. Upgrade our camera (Completed Nov 4, 2010)
40. Get a new washer and dryer (Completed Sept 2010)
41. Stay on top of the house cleaning (12/33)
42. Start a wedding planning business
43. Help Hubbs with his business
44. Get a permanent job(Completed June 2011)
45. Get another term at my current job (Completed Jan 20/11)
46. Take 3 courses at work

Hit the Open Road
47. Take a spontaneous road trip (2/3)
48. Travel to a foreign country (Completed Nov 15, 2010)
49. Visit Newfoundland
50. Visit friends in Winnipeg
51. Go camping at least once each summer (2/3)
52. Have a picnic in the park we got married
53. Visit the Buchart gardens in the winter
54. Visit Hubbs friends in Alberta

I ♥ Food
55. Update my recipe book with new recipes (At least once a month (9/33)
56. Go out just for dessert
57. Go Out for Breakfast (5/5) (Completed March 26, 2011)
58. Don't eat out for an entire month
59. Make homemade pasta
60. Try something new at least 3 times a year (9/9)
61. Make banana bread with all the banana's in the freezer

Friends Are Forever
62. Email my best friend once a week (6/146)
63. Send Christmas cards each Christmas (1/3)
64. E-mail friends at least once per month (1/33)
65. Catch up with an old friend
66. Have a party or dinner party (Completed June 2011)
67. Send birthday cards to all friends/family in 2011

Pinching Pennies
68. Save for a house(Completed February 22, 2011)
69. Set up retirement savings

Cha-Ching
70. Pay off all debts (Completed August 2011)
71. Pay off LASIK Surgery (Completed February 22, 2011)
72. Buy a second car
73. Budget for a vacation

Pay It Forward
74. Clean out closet and donate to charity (2/3)
75. Donate to Christmas charity
76. Buy something from a thrift store that supports a charity
77. Donate money to a children's charity (5/6)

Just for Fun
78. Go skiing
79. Go to the beach
80. Go to the fall fair
81. Buy a pumpkin from a pumpkin patch and carve it
82. Go to a local museum
83. Take pictures on all our excursions
84. Have a Christmas cookie exchange (1/3)
85. Decorate for Christmas

Hobbies & Skills
86. Blog once a week at least (9/33)
87. Learn to cook more things
88. Get some family tradition recipes
89. Make a scrapbook
90. Read a book a month (6/33)

Capture the Memories
91. Get wedding album (Completed May 2, 2011)
92. Print photoes of each year's events and put in photo album
93. Get photos printed to hang in home
94. Take more pictures
95. Complete 101 in 1001
96. Send more pictures to family

No More Procrastinating
97. Pick pictures for wedding album(Completed Jan 24/11)
98. Clean out email accounts
99. Start an excercise routine


101 in 1001
100. Start a new 101 Things in 1001 Days list once this one is completed
101. Get friends in on this project

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Pumpkin Pie and pumpkin loaf

Since Hubs and I will be away for Thanksgiving this year, I figured that I should do a little fall baking now so we can enjoy a little pumpkin before we leave. Earlier this year I had made a pumpkin pie, however, I had made way to much filling. I froze over a 1kg of the premixed filling for a later use. Today that frozen mix came in handy. I let it thaw in water in the fridge for most of the day and made up a pie crust. Thats right, I make my own pie crust with my grandmother's recipe and unfortunately I won't be giving it out at this time (It's a family secret). Having made to much filling months ago actually made baking today easier, because half the work was already done.
I had just enough filling left over to make a pumpkin loaf. I found a recipe online last fall and saved it to my recipe's as it came out a success and tasted delicious.

Here is the recipe taken from http://www.kitchentotable.com/recipes/dessert/pumpkin-loaf.php.

  • 1 ¼ cups Brown sugar
  • ½ cup Cooking oil
  • 1 2/3 cups Cooked or canned pumpkin
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 ½ cups All purpose flour
  • 3 tsp Baking powder
  • ½ tsp each Salt, ginger, & ground cloves
  • 1 ¼ tsp cinnamon
Beat together 1 cup sugar, oil, pumpkin & eggs.
In a separate bowl mix together flour, baking powder, salt, ginger, cloves, and 1 tsp cinnamon.
Combine pumpkin mixture with dry ingredients just enough to moisten all ingredients.
Spoon into 2 lightly greased loaf pans.
Mix remaining ¼ cup brown sugar and ¼ tsp cinnamon.
Sprinkle over unbaked loaves.
Bake in preheated 350 F oven for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean.
Cool slightly and remove from pans.
Makes 2 loaves.

Another great recipe I made last year was pumpkin muffins. Feel free to check out the recipe as well.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Vacation Update

I posted earlier that Hubs and I finally booked our vacation for this year. Although I won't give out exact details on the resort and when we are going quite yet. I will say we are returning to the Mayan Riviera in Mexico in October. We are so excited to be heading back to Mexico and the best part is we'll be there for 2 weeks!! Oh to be in the sun, with good food, all we can drink alcohol and blue water....I can't wait.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Updated 101 in 1001

I've seen this 101 in 1001 days blog "project" a few times before, but have never really paid much attention to it. I've been meaning to start it for a while now, and finally decided to do it. The only thing was that I underestimated how hard it would be to come up with 101 things! It took a while.

Not familiar with the 101 Things in 1001 Days project? Check out this website.
The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable, or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of effort on your part).

Start Date: November 1, 2010
End Date: July 28, 2013

Marriage & Family
1. “Date night” with Hubs once a month (10/33)
2. Surprise my husband with a gift just because
3. Get married (Completed July 10, 2010)
4. Talk to home every weekend (24/132)
5. Plan a trip to Halifax (Completed Feb 2011 for trip in June 2011)
6. Buy a house (In the works Feb 2011)
7. Have a baby
8. Visit Hubb's family for Christmas (Completed December 23, 2010)
9. Celebrate 1st wedding anniversary (Completed this upcoming Sun)

Mind, Body & Soul
10. Lose 10 lbs
11. Go a week without weighing myself
12. Complete some form of exercise at least 3 times per week
13. Read at least one book per month (4/33)
14. Give up soda for a week
15. Learn a new recipe and cook it at least once a month (4/33)
16. Get a hobby
17. Get my first massage (Completed Nov 20, 2010)
18. Have another manicure or pedicure (Completed February 15, 2011)
19. See a sunrise and sunset in the same day
20. Hike a really large hill (Completed Nov 2010)
21. Go on our honeymoon (Completed Nov 15, 2010)
22. Do something for myself at least once a month (10/33)
23. No dessert or cookies at work for 2 weeks
24. For one week, go to bed at 9:00 p.m. just to read
25. Clear the dinning room table off to eat dinner there again (Completed Jan 22/11)
26. No tv for one week
27. No eating after 8:00 p.m. for a month
28. After baby, get back to pre-pregnancy weight

Home Is Where the Heart Is
29. Put new carpeting in the spare bedrooms (Completed August 31, 2011)
30. Finish our wedding album
31. Buy a new vaccum (Completed December 27, 2010)
32. Get a new bed (Completed April 2011)
33. Get a new dining room table (Completed June 2011)
34. Empty entire fridge, clean it, then put everything back in (Completed March 20, 2011)
35. Reorganize kitchen cabinets and paint them
36. Defrost freezer twice a year (0/6)
37. Buy a new house (Completed March 15, 2011)
38. Finish Painting 2 spare bedrooms (Completed August 28, 2011)

All Work, No Play
39. Upgrade our camera (Completed Nov 4, 2010)
40. Get a new washer and dryer (Completed Sept 2010)
41. Stay on top of the house cleaning (11/33)
42. Start a wedding planning business
43. Help Hubbs with his business
44. Get a permanent job (Completed June 2011)
45. Get another term at my current job (Completed Jan 20/11)
46. Take 3 courses at work

Hit the Open Road
47. Take a spontaneous road trip (2/3)
48. Travel to a foreign country (Completed Nov 15, 2010)
49. Visit Newfoundland
50. Visit friends in Winnipeg
51. Go camping at least once each summer (2/3)
52. Have a picnic in the park we got married
53. Visit the Buchart gardens in the winter
54. Visit Hubbs friends in Alberta

I ♥ Food
55. Update my recipe book with new recipes (At least once a month (8/33)
56. Go out just for dessert
57. Go Out for Breakfast (5/5) (Completed March 26, 2011)
58. Don't eat out for an entire month
59. Make homemade pasta
60. Try something new at least 3 times a year (8/9)
61. Make banana bread with all the banana's in the freezer

Friends Are Forever
62. Email my best friend once a week (4/146)
63. Send Christmas cards each Christmas (1/3)
64. E-mail friends at least once per month (1/33)
65. Catch up with an old friend
66. Have a party or dinner party (Completed June 2011)
67. Send birthday cards to all friends/family in 2011

Pinching Pennies
68. Save for a house (Completed February 22, 2011)
69. Set up retirement savings

Cha-Ching
70. Pay off all debts (Completed August 2011)
71. Pay off LASIK Surgery (Completed February 22, 2011)
72. Buy a second car
73. Budget for a vacation

Pay It Forward
74. Clean out closet and donate to charity (2/3)
75. Donate to Christmas charity
76. Buy something from a thrift store that supports a charity
77. Donate money to a children's charity (5/6)

Just for Fun
78. Go skiing
79. Go to the beach
80. Go to the fall fair
81. Buy a pumpkin from a pumpkin patch and carve it
82. Go to a local museum
83. Take pictures on all our excursions
84. Have a Christmas cookie exchange (1/3)
85. Decorate for Christmas

Hobbies & Skills
86. Blog once a week at least (8/33)
87. Learn to cook more things
88. Get some family tradition recipes
89. Make a scrapbook
90. Read a book a month (4/33)

Capture the Memories
91. Get wedding album (Completed May 2, 2011)
92. Print photoes of each year's events and put in photo album
93. Get photos printed to hang in home
94. Take more pictures
95. Complete 101 in 1001
96. Send more pictures to family

No More Procrastinating
97. Pick pictures for wedding album (Completed Jan 24/11)
98. Clean out email accounts
99. Start an excercise routine


101 in 1001
100. Start a new 101 Things in 1001 Days list once this one is completed
101. Get friends in on this project

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Remembering 9/11

In memory of all those who saved lives and lost their lives today my blog will remain silent in remembrance.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Back to School

Today is the first day back to school for most kids in our area which means school zones are in affect again. Please pay attention no matter where you live as kids will be to excited to be paying much attention.
This year marks the last year of school for my family. My sister graduated high school last year and my brother is entering grade 12. It's hard to believe I graduated in 2004, seems so long ago when I look back. I wish my brother luck and success in his final year of school.

Here's to a successful school year to everyone, whether they are heading to school for the first time, going to be graduating, or pursuing post secondary education.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Happy Labor Day

Hope everyone is enjoying the last holiday before school starts. Hubs is working today and I'm slowly painting some baseboards (I'm not to into it today with the weather being so nice). Other then that its a low key holiday for me.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

September has arrived

We'll August has come and gone and September has made its way in. Hubs and I have had a busy last few days with painting, painting and more painting. Tuesday I came home from work and decided to paint the doors inside; 4 hrs later I finally finished after having worked from 5:30am-2pm. Hubs and I also painted all the new baseboards for the 2 bedrooms when he arrived home from work. I promise pictures will follow for these transformations.

I took yesterday off work since Hubs was off and we got the new carpet for the bedrooms. We got up earlier and finished moving things out of the bedrooms and clearing the hallway. The carpet installers arrived at 12 and had both carpets installed in less then 2 hrs, partially thanks to our help for doing alot of prep work in each room prior to their arrival. We went with a lighter color beber carpet that matches our bedroom and we absolutely love it.

Since we still had most of the day ahead of us, we headed downtown. Hubs had a few things he had to do for work so he stopped in and dealt with them and off we went for a bit to eat. We shared a poutine as an appy. He had a meatball sub with ceasar salad and I had a Philly Cheese Steak and ceasar salad. Then off to the Imax we went (We had plans to go as a movie we wanted to see ends tomorrow and it would have been the only chance we had left to see it). Hubs and I bought Imax passes last Nov, which gives us entrance to all standard Imax movies for a year for 1 price plus a discount at the concession stands and giftshop.

We decided to do a triple feature since we were already downtown and hadn't seen the 3 movies that were playing back to back. The movies we viewed were:

Rescue: Disaster Response

An inspirational and exciting new film about international response to humanitarian crises.  Throug the eyes and reflections of the rescuers themselves, you get an insider's view of a passionate commitment to saving lives, as captured in the real-time filming of the response to the disaster in Haiti.

Journey Into Amazing Caves

Tellshe story of the mysterious world of the underground: the world’s most remote, unexplored caves.  Featuring unprecedented footage from unique and forbidding ice caves, underwater caves, and terrestrial caves. Wriggle through tiny, twisting passages, drop into gleaming blue labyrinths of ice, swim through flooded underground vaults, and enter a world so extreme the microscopic creatures who live there are called extremophiles. Circle the globe, stopping in the hot, lush Yucatán; dropping into barren, frozen Greenland and flying above the primitive red rock Arizona desert. And hold your breath as expedition leaders rappel down steep cliffs into unmapped chambers, hoping to bring back startling new discoveries that may unlock new cures for human disease.

Sea Rex

Experience a wondrous adventure from the dinosaur age. Join an imaginative young woman, in a unique voyage through time and space. Explore an amazing underwater universe inhabited by larger-than-life creatures which were ruling the seas before dinosaurs conquered the earth. See science come alive in an entertaining manner and get ready for a face-to-face encounter with the T-Rex of the seas! This moving doesn't officially come out until tomorrow but we got in on an advanced screening.

*Summaries of each movie were taken from our local Imax website and slightly rephrased to give you an idea of what each film is about.

Lastly, Hubs and I booked our next trip last Sunday. Look for details on this to follow soon.