December Printables and BIIIG News

Good morning everyone!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  Ours was spent getting ready for the holiday decorating. I've been playing Christmas music whenever I can, and just enjoying slowly easing into the holiday spirit.  December is always a weird month for me, I'm busy gearing up for the holidays, and busy winding down the year... kind of a contradiction.  As this year begins to draw to a close, I find myself wanting to be prepared for the upcoming new year, and so, to continue the three month of printables, I'm dedicating December to the Personal Planner.

I don't think I'll have quite as many printables to share as I did last month, a day planner only requires so much, but I'm sure there will be enough for at least one or two each week.  By the time the month is ending, we'll have everything we need to put together a planner for 2013.  I'm so excited to share this with all of you.

December is also the month where I typically wrap up my yearly to-do list.  We've pretty much crossed everything off it this year, which is such a joy.  There is one item left though.  One item I've been working on for over a month now.  If you follow along on Google+ or Facebook, you might have noticed that the cover photos changed, and if follow on those two or Pinterest or Twitter, you might have noticed the sudden addition of new profile pictures.  (I just have to say, having my own picture taken is painful, I am much more comfortable on the other side of the camera)  You may have been wondering why this little ole blog wasn't showing any changes.... well, that's going to be changing in the next week or two.  We're making the move to WordPress!  Yep, I bit the bullet, and we're going to be making the BIG move.

A few little things I want to address.  Both myself and my techy husband have scoured for alternatives, and can find none, so my dear friends who follow on Google Friend Connect will have to find another way to follow.  You can sign up for emails, add us to your RSS reader, follow on Google+, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.  I really don't want to lose you, many of you have been with us from the beginning.

This wasn't an easy decision to make.  I went back and forth on it, a LOT!  As many of you know, I've been looking into alternative options for downloading the printables, and I have to say most of what I could find would either cost me, cost you, or required one or both of us to sign up for an account.... yuck!  Travis was the one who came up with the solution, if we self host the blog, we can offer the printables for download straight from the blog.  No need to use Google Docs or other programs, straight from us to you!  Which is great.  It means that if there is a problem, one of us can look into it right away, not send out an email and sit waiting for a reply.    And really, that's the only reason for the switch.  Blogger has been a joy to work with/on, but for the direction we're moving in it seems like WordPress is the best fit.  So stay tuned for more updates as this week goes on.  And please, if you follow on GFC, pick another way to follow, knowing that GFC wasn't available for WordPress was very nearly a deal breaker.

And if printables, moving the blog, and getting ready for the holidays weren't enough, Liam also has a busy month at school.  Lots of holiday activities, his first Christmas concert, skating (his first time as well) and a few craft days, all requiring Mom or Dad or both to be there.  I love being able to be there for the special days, sharing them with him, watching him interact with his friends and his teacher, gaining insight into what his days are like when he's away from me, they're treasures each and every one of them.  Lots of fun and exciting things happening this month.

How about you?  Do you have a busy month ahead?  Are you finishing up any last minute projects that you wanted to do this year?

Halloween Fun

Ok, so I'm a week overdo with getting this post put out.  That's just the way Halloween went this year.  I was totally unprepared and then BAM it was here.  Considering I didn't get around to getting the outside decorations up until the afternoon of Halloween, I'm surprised I'm getting this post out here now instead of at Christmas.

Normally, we don't do much in way of Halloween decorating.  Normally, Travis carves some crazy jack-o-lanterns, the kids carve theirs and we call it good.  This year though, the weather was milder (I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying living in southern BC again!  I'll take rain over frostbite temps and snow any day) and we were going to hand out candy.  Well, that was the plan, but Travis was on the early morning shift, which meant he was going to be heading to bed around the time the Trick-or-Treaters were going to start showing up, and our Teen decided to go hang at a friend's place, leaving no-one to hand out the candy. My solution to this was to make up a sign saying "Shift Worker Sleeping, Please Take 2 They're Small, Have a Safe and Spooky Halloween."  (I took no pictures of the sign :-(  Bad blogger, no more Halloween treats for me)  Let me tell you though, I QUINTUPLE checked the spell of Shift, because when I first typed it I missed the F.  I caught the mistake as I was typing, but it made me a little paranoid.  Not a spelling mistake I wanted to be making!  

So here's our little set up outside.  Nothing fancy, but it was kind of fun.  I'm thinking next year we'll have to do a little more.  Yep, I've caught the Halloween decorating bug!

Nothing overly fancy, but it was fun.  The front door looked better when I had it open to add the spider web,  Then I made the mistake of closing it.  :-(  I blame the wind....

 See how windy it was?  That cottony spider web stuff and the wind don't mix very well.

 I did manage to get the bushes a little spookified, despite the wind.

 We had our three little pumpkins sitting on the stairs.  Liam designed the faces on the carved one and with Daddy's help got them carved out.

This one is a four eyed, three nosed ... (I really wanna say flying purple people eater lol) friendly little guy.  Liam got all into spooky this year, and wanted it to look spooky, but a "friendly spooky"  Daddy was happy to try to make it happen for him,

This little guy was the first one we carved.  Liam picked him himself on a school field trip.  He only had room for three eyes and two noses, but we opted for a scarier mouth this time. I drew the face for him, Daddy helped him cut it out.  (Travis does a much better job at designing jack-o-lanterns than I do!)

We picked up two pumpkins to carve, but this one was starting to get soft in many places, and I really didn't want to see what the guts looked like, so we opted not to carve it up.  Halloween afternoon I decided to break out the Sharpies.  (I'm thinking it's time to look into getting something like a Silhouette) and turn it into a little sign. Next time I do this, I'm going to make sure the arrow isn't pointing at the other jack-o-lantern.

And last, but not least, in the pumpkin round up, is this little cutie Liam and I did together at his Kindergarten Halloween craft party.  It was so much fun to hang out with him at his school and be his helper.  I take credit only for the shapes and the spider web, Liam was the one who coloured it in.

And here he is, on the table where the treat bowl went.  I filled that bowl with over 200 lollipops, and worried the entire time we were gone that we would run out.  But no, we didn't.  We had LOTS leftover!

And lastly, our little ghost.  I felt really bad that Liam didn't get to be a ghost like he wanted.  (though he was totally THRILLED with the Batman costume) so I whipped up a ghost to hang on the porch.  Liam said he needed a name, and we ended up with Giam. (G cause he's a ghost, and iam cause well, Liam thought it would great if their names rhymed.)

And speaking of Liam, here he is all ready to head out.  

I opted not to fix the red eye, cause it kind of works with the costume.  He was trying to look "serious" but he just couldn't keep the smiles away!  Not a worry for this Momma though, cause smiles and giggles are what it is all supposed to be about.  And we had many of those while out Trick-or-Treating.  Liam didn't like everyone calling him Batman, so every time someone answered the door and made reference to him being Batman, he very nicely pulled up the mask, looked them in the eye and said, "Actually, I'm Liam.  This is just a Batman costume."  It cracked us up every time.  Then he'd put his mask back on and say "Thank you.  Happy Halloween!"  The people answering the door seemed to get a kick out of it almost as much as we did.  All in all it was a great night!

How was your Halloween?  Do decorate for Halloween?  If so, do you go over the top in spooky?  Prefer understated references?  I'd love to hear from you.

Dropped the Ball

Where has October gone?  I mean seriously, how did the last weekend of October just fly by?  This weekend was a whirlwind of activity and I don't have very much to show for it.  Here is what my to do list looked like Friday night:

• Dust Up & Down
• Vacuum Up & Down
• Mop Floors
• Deep Clean all Bathrooms
• Laundry (about 4 loads)
• Deep Clean Kitchen
• Sew Halloween Costume
• Bake something to take to Halloween Party Tuesday
• Carve Pumpkins
• Decorate Front Porch

And you know what?  It still looked like that come Sunday night before bed, minus the boy's bathroom, I walked our Teen through cleaning that one, and he did some of the vacuuming and some tidying up for me, which was AWESOME!  And I did get the kitchen done, and Travis helped Liam carve one of the pumpkins.

Why didn't I get anything else done?  We had too many other things going on.  Saturday afternoon was spent on running errands, probably not the best idea, but we had some fun with it.  Sunday was spent on the "Great Pumpkin Carving Kit Hunt"  NEVER leave that until the last minute.  We couldn't find one anywhere, which kind of sucked because we spent HOURS scouring stores for one to no avail.  Which was a shame because it meant Liam wouldn't be able to carve his pumpkin all on his own.  But Daddy to the rescue, he worked with Liam and made him feel as though he had done all the work on his own, which was totally great!

The sewing of the costume wasn't working out well either, and again, it was Daddy to rescue.  This time the rescue strategy involved a store and Batman.  The look on Liam's face when I handed him the Batman costume and asked if he would like to be Batman instead of a ghost like he originally chose was priceless.  We haven't been able to keep the costume off him, he even wants to wear it to bed!  lol  Score another point for my amazing husband.  

Monday was spent getting the housework done, and Travis and I decided to take advantage of his last day off and spend an hour or two out and about doing things we don't normally do with the kids, like checking out home decor stores and stuff.  Just as we sat down to have lunch I got a phone call from Liam's school. Turns out the kiddo thought it would be fun to walk through a GIANT puddle in his running shoes, and they were wondering if I could bring him new socks, pants, and a dry pair of shoes.... ummm...... we were all the way across town.  So it was a mad rush to the school, and we opted to just to take Liam home, as there was only an hour left of school time when we got there.  

Now my to do list is down to carve pumpkins, decorate the front porch and bake something.  No problem, except I had no ooomph last night, none!  I was drained and not feeling well, and the list of excuses could go on and on and on.  I didn't get anything done last night.  This morning I'm a little busy bee.  I'm baking cookies as I type this.  Nothing like typing for 5 minutes only to jump up to go pull out one batch to put another in.... if this post is disjointed that's why.  I'm trying to play catch up, because I totally dropped the ball over the weekend.

On the upside, the boys will get to help decorate outside.  It's left overs for dinner, which means it's the perfect night to carve pumpkins, and the cookies are just about finished!  

This isn't really anything new for me, and I think it goes with the territory of being a Mom.  Sometimes balls get dropped, things don't get done, they don't go the way we want, or we forget something and put a crimp in all our plans.  It's ok though.  We're allowed to drop the ball once in a while.  As long as we pick them back up or hand them off to someone else, I believe we'll be ok.  As I am continually reminded, each of us is only one person, we cannot do it all all of the time!  

Do you ever have days, weeks, or weekends like this?  How to do bounce back?  Got any advice for how to handle too many balls in the air?  I'd love to hear from you!

Growing an Office

This was supposed to be yesterday's post, but I ran into some troubles.  Really, the first clue that all was not going to go smoothly should have been the thought "I'll just quickly whip this up in Gimp!"  Ha!  First, I don't know Gimp well enough to quickly do the simplest things in it, and I was trying to create a collage of all my ideas.  Not a simple feat.  Then I had to look up tutorials to figure out how to do what I wanted.  (Note to self:  if I need to seek out a tutorial it is NOT going to be the quick and easy project I thought it would be.)  And finally, my stubborn streak kicked in and I was determined to do it in Gimp. The end result... I gave in, admitted defeat, fired up Inkscape, and was amazed at how quickly it all came together.  (I plan to remember this for next time!)  Now, FINALLY, here is the post I was planning on posting yesterday.

So, here we go.  As I mentioned on Wednesday, my office space is one of the spaces in our new home that I'm most excited about.  And to be completely honest, I'm a little scared to just jump in and set it up.  Aside from not having enough furniture for in there yet, there's also this burning desire to take my time, to make each addition to the space something I love, something that blends beautiful with functional.  I want to make it a place I will love for a long time.  I'm willing to spend some time waiting for it to come together, but I don't want to just go forward with no forethought or planning.  I have a board on Pinterest (here) for ideas, things that catch my eye, things that I think I will like.  I pulled some of those images together and thought I would share them with you.

First things first, you gotta have a place to start.  My place was with Liam's artwork, that white and blue combo made me smile, (and not just because he made it, but that really is the best part!) and when I went browsing through my Pinterest boards and noticed how much I seem to be drawn to blues and whites in office spaces, I was sold.  Without further ado, here's my inspiration board!

So, obviously idea number one is Liam's artwork.  The other three I already had pinned on Pinterest, looooong before we moved into our new home.

Number 2, I found here.  I have tried and tried to find the original source for this photo, but haven't found it yet.  If you know where it originated, please let me know, I would love to give proper credit to the creator of this beautiful space.  What I really liked in this one, was how they used a variety of different blues with pops of other colours to add personality.  It's a cohesive look with lots of character.

Number 3, I found here.  It's a craft room designed by Sarah Richardson for Sarah's House Season 4.  While I love the whole room, I chose this one for the use of wall space.  It's pretty, but still full of function.  And I really like the wall colour.

Number 4, I found here.  Again, loving the blues, here with the green, but what I really liked was the nesting desk.  I'm toying with some ideas for DIYing something similar.

It's one thing to look at pretty pictures and day dream about the possibilities, but there is an area that requires just as much (if not more) thought and planning.  How to store and organize all the supplies that fill an office space.  Below are some of my ideas for how to organize the space.

Stuff like this always makes me smile.  There are so many beautiful, useful pieces out there, I had to rein myself in and really think about the space I have and how best I can utilize it.

Number 1:  GODMORGAN organizers from Ikea.  These would be perfect to organize smaller items in a drawer.

Number 2: LACK wall shelf.  I'm thinking 2 of them above the desk would be a great use of the wall space. Using two would allow me to store more items, but still keep it feeling uncluttered.  These ones are two long for where the desk is going.  The space is 71" so there is going to have to be some DIY solutions involved, but I'm up for that.

Number 3: BYGEL cart:  I'm toying with the idea of using this to hold the printer, printer supplies and extra paper.

Number 4: Desk Caddy from See Jane Work

Number 5: Folders from See Jane Work

Number 6: Mail Sorter by Martha Stewart, found at Staples.

Number 7: SPONTON magazine rack.  Again, trying to make use of the wall space.

Number 8: BYGEL containers.  More using the wall space!

Number 9: Translucent Clipboard from Staples.  Though I may just go for the old wooden ones and dress them up with paper or fabric. There are too many uses to name!

Number 10: GODMORGON storage box with compartments  I'm thinking this would be fabulous inside a cupboard, being see through, it would be easy to see what is inside it.

I really want to put my own spin on this space. What better way than taking a plain storage box or magazine file and making it your own.

Number 1 is the inspiration picture from BHG.  Simply cover magazine files in wallpaper to add your own spin.  I'm not sure what sources we have here, locally, for wall paper, but I stumbled across these three on the HomeDepot site (go figure)   Find them here (2), here (3), and here (4).  The magazine files I found here (Ikea)  and my favourite part, the label holder!  I found those on the Lee Valley Website.  I'm think either C or D would look great!  Obviously, this wouldn't be the cheapest of projects, but I think it could be a great way to make an impact.

And there you have the general plan.  I collected ideas to inspire me, formed a plan to add storage, make use of wall space, create homes for supplies, and have some fun dressing up plain items.  Ahh, speaking of dressing up, it really wouldn't be complete without some finishing touches right?  Right!  This part was my favourite, and though I know it will be a long while before I get to this point, I couldn't help but have some fun daydreaming while doing some online window shopping at one of my all time favourite place: Indigo.ca

Fun stuff, the fluff, the items that will move the office space in a direction more towards personal retreat.  And I love each and everyone of these items.

Number 1:  Small Classic Glass Hurricane, to add some sparkle, and bring in a little warmth and some yummy aromas.

Number 2:  Wesley Alarm Clock, because I'm constantly losing track of time, and it just looks perfect.

Number 3: Universal Flat Speakers in Silver.  For those days when a little music is in order.  And they're pretty!

Number 4: Semikolon Document Box.  I was thinking for keepsakes, but it would work great for documents too.

Number 5:  Cable Knit Reading Shawl in Feather Grey.  Love the color, and for this bookworm it would be a perfect addition on a chilly afternoon.

Number 6:  Plush Throw in Steel Grey.  For those chilly days when a little bit of extra cozy is called for.

Numbers 7 and 8:  Agean Mugs in Cobalt and Aqua.  Couldn't decide which I liked best for a warm drink, they both made me smile.

Number 9:  Squirrel Notebook.  (Does that need an explanation?)

Number 10:  Book Box. Love this too!  (Okay, okay, okay, I LOVE all of them) I thought this would be perfect for holding items that aren't needed often.  It's a pretty place to keep them, that's for sure.

I had a lot of fun day dreaming and plotting and planning.  Now that I have some ideas and visuals I'm eager to get started moving ahead with pulling this space together.  There are a few items I didn't include, because I'm still searching for ideas.  They are:

• Window Treatments
• Area Rug
• Desk Chair
• Under Desk Storage

You may also have noted that this has all been office focused, even though the room is for office work and crafting.  I have a plan for the crafting area too, but I know that for me, the office side of it is where I'm going to be spending the most time, and it's also where clutter will be more likely to collect.  Putting a plan in place ahead of time will save me time and grief down the road.

What about you?  Are you dreaming up a new space for yourself or a loved one?  Do you have a favourite go to store for various items?  

**Just a side note.  There are items listed and linked to from companies that have in no way, shape or form compensated me for this.  No affiliate links, no perks, no nothings.  I just chose stores that a) I know are in my area,  b) that have access to an online store, c) had items I was looking for, or d)any combination of the above. All opinions expressed belong solely to me, myself and I!  **

I'm linking up at:

We're Hoooome!!

Good morning.  How are you this fine Monday morning?  We are doing great.  We're enjoying our second morning in our new home, and I couldn't be happier!  The move itself was full of ups and downs, which I think is to be expected.  I thought I would give you a brief overview of what happened.

We got back to our house in the wee hours of the morning on Thursday, and discovered that the yard was extremely out of control.  Travis and our teen spent most of that day working on the yard, while I spent it packing up the inside stuff.  Friday was busy, busy, busy.  We had most of the loading to do, and still some packing.  Thank goodness I had already packed up most of the house, or it would have taken us a few more days to get it all done.  There were only a few minor disasters.  I ripped open my pinkie finger on a loose staple on the love seat, bashed my hand on the door while moving boxes and dropped my phone in the toilet.  (after I just cleaned it! Thank goodness for that). So, if you were following along the Facebook page or on twitter, that's why there was sudden radio silence. 

Saturday was spent in the vehicles coming down to our new house.  It was a longer than expected trip, but we finally got our new house around 4:30 am, Sunday.  We crashed hard for a few hours then got started unloading.  One of Travis's friends came to lend a hand, and words cannot express how thankful I am that he came down here to help.  The boys have their rooms almost set up, the kitchen is half unpacked, and I'm looking forward to taking some time to set things up.

My Mom and Dad are heading down here today, and I really can't wait to see them and show off our new home.  When things are a little less crazy I'll do up a post with pics of the new place.  And my oh my, there are going to be oodles of organizing projects that i can share with you.  I cannot wait!

For now, I'm going to finish my coffee before diving into the cleaning and unpacking.   I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  And I wish you a fantastic week!

Back at the House!

Well, we made it back up to the house last night.  It was a long trip, but we're here!  If you follow along on Twitter (@ScatterSquirrel) or Facebook ( Scattered Squirrel ) then you're already up to date on what's going on. 

We came home to a jungle in the yard.  A slightly major hitch in our time line.  We were hoping to spend the morning packing, the afternoon and evening loading and then hit the road tomorrow morning.  Instead it was all hands on deck to help tidy up the yard, and I've been working away in the house.  But, we have the truck now, and I'm getting ready to kick it all into high gear to get as much done today as I can.  I'm updating the twitter and Facebook page when I take a break, and when possible I'm throwing some crappy pics from my phone up as well.

Did you catch that part about getting back to the house?  I have a whole other post coming about what's been happening these past few months.  Now that Moving Day is upon us, I thought I would let you all in on the secret, we haven't been at home for quite some time.  That's why updates on house stuff suddenly stopped. It's part of the reason posts have been so few and far between.  It's also why I talk about packing and loading as though they are happening on the same day ... because they are!  I promise, when I can sit down at the computer and type it all up, I will share all the whys, whats, and hows.  For now, I'm using my phone and it's not so much fun, and i really should get back to packing.

Have you ever done a quick move?  Any tips, tricks, advice, or what not to dos that you'd like to share?  I'd love to hear them!

Operation Move! Full Stream Ahead!!

I disappeared again!  I know, I know, I know, but we set ourselves a very strict deadline for Operation Move, and I'm here with an update!  Remember waaaaay back when, when I first posted this?  Well guess what .....

I cannot believe it is finally happening.... it feels like forever since we first started this journey.  (almost 4 months now!)  And this time, when I say moving, I mean we're actually doing the move!  The truck is booked, the papers and all that other fun stuff are signed and taken care of, and our new home is awaiting us.  How did we get to this point?  Well, earlier this week Travis and I took the boys on day trip to our new home town.  (This planner was a total life saver) After weeks of virtual house hunting, we had our list narrowed down and we were ready to start actually looking at the homes.  Ummm... you know what they say about the best laid plans right?  Well, we got into town, and phoned all the people who had said to call when got to town to set up viewing times.... NO-ONE called us back.  Seriously, no joke here, we drove all the way there, and no-one we had previously spoken too was available, and not one of them returned our calls.  Part of the problem is that the rental market moves pretty quick down there, but still a call to say they'd already rented it would have been nice.

While killing time, waiting for the call backs that never came, we decided to drive by some of the houses and get a feel for the neighbourhoods.  The last place we drove by was on a nice quiet cul-da-sac, great family friendly neighborhood, good schools close by within walking distance.... it was great.  It was almost 4 pm at this point, and still no call backs.  As we drove by this last house, 4 doors down I noticed a "for rent" sign on the lawn.  We took a chance, gave the number a call, they met us at the house later that evening, and as quick as that we had ourselves a home!  All that work, stress, endless hours on the internet searching the rental ads, endless calls to landlords, property management companies, and in the end, it was one simple little sign that we wouldn't have seen if we hadn't had time to kill.  Isn't it strange how life works out some times?

The house itself is perfect for us.  A little on the older side, but a nice sized yard.  Enough room to spread out, and find quiet time, but still small enough that I'm not spending a ton of time keeping it clean.  I will most definitely be posting some pics after we get this move done.

When is this happening?  Well, next week!  As I mentioned above, we've got the trucked booked, time off arranged, and next weekend we'll be unpacking and setting up our new home!  I am so excited about this. No more living in separate towns, no more long commutes for Travis, the boys will have some time to get settled and familiarize themselves with the new neighborhood before school starts.  We'll have time to get them registered for school, and I should have time to get some of our systems of organization back up and running.  Oh, I can't wait for that part either!  I'm eager to organize and play around with our new set up.  It's going to be a busy few weeks, but I really can't wait.

So, please forgive me if I'm not around again!  I haven't forgotten this little ole blog of mine, I've just been a little busy with life.  I have a few more days of down time before the move begins in earnest, and I'm hoping to take that time to get a little more prepared for the upcoming school year.  So, stay tuned for a couple more printables popping up on here between now and Wednesday!

Anyone else ever have things work out in the most unexpected of ways?  Anyone ever had their "plans" back fire on them?

Dashed Hopes and Changing Plans: An Update and Explanation

This was supposed to be THE post!  The one I've been waiting and waiting and waiting to share,  "Where, oh where, have I been hiding?"  Instead, I'm here with an update.  I'm sure THE post will come at some point, but today is not that day.  So, what's been going on and why haven't I been around more?

We received and accepted an offer on our house ... yaaaaaay....(if you only could hear how feable that yay sounded like in my head.  It's probably closer to yaaaaay)  Don't get me wrong, the offer was very reasonable, everything was ticking along nicely.  The closing date was a short time away, but we didn't mind that.  I was scrambling to get everything lined up, planning the last of the packing, figuring out what extra days Travis's needed to take off, looking for a home to move to, and all that other wonderful stuff.  We were just waiting for the approval date (I'm sure that's not the technical term, but you know it's that "upon completetion of home inspection, upon approval of financing" date written into the offer) and let me tell you that was nerve wracking.  I feel. as though I have spent the last few weeks trapped in a strange limbo, ready to jump at the go signal but yet unable to really and truly move forward.  I haven't been able to really focus on much of anything, as the waiting consumed my thoughts.  Instead I focused on the boys, and on allowing myself the time to zone out, knowing that in a few short weeks I would need to be at the top of my game, focus wise, to pull this move off.


My stomach was in knots for days, and then weeks, as our buyers asked for an extension The significance of the new approval date didn't click in until it came and went with no word.  July 9th, is now in the running for my least favorite date this year.  Why is that date so significant?  Well, I'm sure my Canadian family and friends will understand without further explanation (especially if they are in the process of buying or selling a home) but allow me to explain.  Our federal government has decided that Canadian household debt is too high, and to help lower that they made some changes to the rules for mortgages.  Those rules took effect on July 9th, and our buyers got caught in the crossover.  (Personally, I don't think that was fair, and my heart really and truly goes out to them)  

Here's a general idea of what kind of new rules we're looking at now.  They lowered the amortization period from 30 to 25 years.  Home buyers now need to come up with 20% down, (first time home buyers are at 10%) for more info here are a couple links to articles about it:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/07/09/bmo-mortgage-housing.html

http://www.canadianmortgagetrends.com/canadian_mortgage_trends/2012/07/new-mortgage-rules-kick-in.html

So, what happened next?  Well, our buyers still wanted to go through with it, so they looked at the options they were given and tried to get it all straightened out.  We got the news yesterday that it wasn't going to happen.  :-(  Not totally surprising, but still upsetting.


We've now entered the fourth month of living apart.  Travis and I are both weary of the situation, heck, we're just weary.  I'm tired of living from phone call to phone call, then desperately trying to cram quality time, not just couple time but family time as well, into the brief time he's home.  I want to be able to put a plate in the fridge for him every night, go to bed knowing that if he's not home when I go to sleep, he'll be there when I wake up.  I miss all the little, simple things of life together.  And so, the time of hoping is at an end; it's time for action now.  We can no longer wait for the house to sell before completing this move.  August is almost here, the boys are both starting school in September, we need to get this done and over with before then.  I'm not entirely sure what this new plan will look like.  We've been discussing it off and on for a while now.  What I do know, is that it means a lot of new changes, and I've been spending some time trying to get it all figured out in my head.

In the mean time, I'm going to be hopping back into the world of blogging - no more hiding my head in the sand- and I'm already working on a printable (or three!) to share with you all.  The HMB has been put on hold for a little while, but everything else will continue along.  And, keep your fingers crossed, hopefully in the next few weeks I'll be able to share some more moving tips with you, and I'm hoping to share some "sanity saver" ideas with you all as well!

I hope that these last few weeks have been really good for all of you, and that you are enjoying your summer!


Take care! <3

The One Gadget I Couldn't Live Without!

Alright, be honest, the first thought that popped into your head was "iPhone" right?  Nope, not one of those, infact, I think I could easily live without my POS, WP7.  It's one of those items that breeds love-hate relationships wherever it goes.  (but that's a whole other post)  Actually, the one gadget I could not live without out is ....

my Kobo Touch e-reader. 

I am seriously in love with this pretty little thing.   So, what do I love about it?  Well, first, I love that it was a gift from Travis.  He gave it to me last year for our anniversary.  BEST. GIFT. EVER!!!!  That, right there, is reason enough to love it.  :-)  Onto the more serious stuff though.

I love that Kobo is affiliated with Chapters (Indigo).  Chapters is one of my all time favourite stores.  They have a little of everything,and a whole lot of books!!!  And they're Canadian!  Who could ask for more?  You can also use your Chapters gift card to purchase books on Kobo, which is a nice touch, especially for someone like me who likes to have a budget to work with.

The e-reader itself is really nice.  The quilted back makes for easy holding.  It's light, portable (I purchased a hard cover bookstyle case for it because it comes almost everywhere with me)  and for anyone who enjoys reading outside, you'll love this part too, the screen gets BETTER outside in sunny weather.  Yep!  You heard right, the screen gets better, as in easier to read, when you're outdoors.  FABULOUS right?  That's e-ink screens for you.  And I have to say that, after being affiliated with a Canadian company, the e-ink was the big draw for me.  I wanted something that wasn't backlit, that had no glare, that gave the illusion of reading a book.  The Kobo Touch hit all those points.

It also comes with a few fun features that really appealed to the geek in me.  I can choose from different fonts, change the font size, choose the refresh rate, look up words in the built in dictionary, borrow e-books from the library, and load any DRM free e-pub or pdf book onto it.  This means, that say a blogger I enjoy reading publishes an e-book, in PDF format.  Even if the book is not in the Kobo store, I can purchase it from the blogger, and use Adobe Digital Editions to load it onto my reader.  SWEET!  Love that!

And it has more features.  Like Reading Life, where the e-reader keeps track of wonderful things like, how many books you've finished, how many hours you've read, and what percentage of your library you've gone through.  It will also tell you funny little things like, how many hours you've been reading your current book for, how many minutes per reading session you're averaging, and how many pages you've turned in the book.  (I know, totally geeky, but fun, and it gets better)  Adding to the fun, you can earn awards, little virtual stickers for meeting certain goals.  A little silly, but I can see this having merit for kids who don't like reading.  (and adults who never really grew up.... not saying that's me or anything, but I did happen to notice that I have all my stickers :-) )

Social media plays a huge role in society now, and Kobo jumped right in, and allows to link to your facebook account so you can share your reading experiences with your friends and family.  They seem to really be trying to make reading a social experience, which is kind of neat.  You can have your Kobo account synced through multiple devices, your phone (Android, iPhone, Blackberry) tablet (Android, iPad, Blackberry) and your PC or Mac.  (Not available for Linux yet, but Travis and I are researching ways to get around that) as well as online through the Kobo site.  Best part.... you really can access your Kobo account from all those places, including your library.  You are not confined to just one.  The only thing you need to do, is sync your e-reader with the desktop app to keep it up to date.


Navigating the store is easy, though I will say, it would be nice if it was easier to find the free titles.  The selection is vast and growing for all genres.  You can surf the web on this one, but I don't recommend it.  It's slow, and not very easy to navigate.  This wasn't really meant to be anything but an e-reader.

I know I should tell you somethings I don't like about it, but other than the web surfing being slow, I can't think of any.  Oh, yes I can, they don't have an App for POS WP7, so I can't sync it to my phone :-(  other than that, I'm totally loving it.  It's been my savior during the packing process.  I packed all our books, except for some of Liam's.  Without my Kobo I would go insane.  I have almost 100 books stored on it, and let me tell you, it sure saves space!  lol  Despite all I love about my e-reader, there is still nothing quite like cracking open a good, old fashioned book.  That won't ever change for me.  It just means that I pick and choose the books to purchase a little more carefully.

So, there you have it.  Not really surprising that the one gadget this bookworm can't live without, is her e-reader.

***  Please note that all the opinions found in this post are mine!  I'm sharing this because I really do LOVE my e-reader (ask my husband, my parents, my BFF, my kids... they'll tell you!)  I was in no way compensated for writing this post.  I was not asked to review or share my thoughts on this product.  ***

The Good Ones Never Get Old!

I didn't post one of these last month, because I didn't read anything new.  Not a new author, not a new book by an old favorite . . . nothing new.  Which, at the time, seemed to mean nothing to write about, but oh, I was sooo wrong.  You see, I'm a repeat reader.  I love re-reading books when the mood strikes.  And boy, do my moods ever play a strong role in what I read.  

Lately, with all the changes, I've been feeling really stressed, a little down in the dumps adjusting to Travis being away, and just in need of something to take me out of myself, and preferably something that will make me laugh.  Good thing I have my go to author for just such times.  Her books are witty and full of laugh out loud humor.  Her characters are believable, likable, hate-able, lovable, they've grown and changed as the series has progressed.  Story lines are good, there a few things you can depend on, like the alarming rate at which the main character's cars are destroyed, there will be doughnuts, Tastykakes, and Cluck-in-a-Bucket fried chicken..(Don't read if you have sweet tooth).. if you've read the books, you've probably already guessed that I'm talking about Janet Evanovich, specifically the Plum Series, starring Stephanie Plum.

Newest Book in The Plum Series

They never fail to make me laugh, or at the very least smile.  The main character is bounty hunter who's not so great at her job, but not so bad.  The stories are told through her point of view, and they're told in such a realistic way that you can easily see yourself in Stephanie's shoes.  The cast of characters includes her sometimes partner, ex-prostitute Lula, who cracks me right up.  Her slightly zany grandmother who is a hoot.  Then there are the two men in her life, bad boy bounty hunter, and Stephanie's mentor, Ranger, and cop Joseph Morelli.  Each character is well developed, and they get better and better as the series progressed.  There are other recurring characters too, who add depth and richness to Stephanie's story.  The strength of the characters is one of things that makes this series so great.  Picking up one of the books, is liking visiting with friends.  

I swear I've read the whole series, ALL 18 numbers books, and the 4 "between the numbers" novellas so many times I know most of them off by heart.  It's gotten to the point where I pick which one to read based on what kind of story I'm looking for, because the tone of each one is slightly different.  If you haven't had a chance yet to check out Janet Evanovich's books, you really should.  If you're looking for a light hearted, humorous, mystery to read, this series is the one for you!  I haven't had a chance to check out any of Janet's other books yet, but if they are anything like this series, I can't wait!

I hope this post finds you all having a wonderful day!  Have you read any good books lately?  Do you have a go to book or author?  

P.S.  The first book, "One for the Money" was just released on DVD, staring Kathrine Heigl as Stephanie Plum.  I haven't seen the movie yet.  The reviews I've read were mixed.  The book was great, so if you've seen the movie and thought it was a dud, try the book!

***Please Note:  This is just a personal opinion.  I'm just sharing because I enjoy the books, not because I was asked too. ***

Aaaand.... We're Back!

Hello everyone!  Long time no see.  It's all my fault, and I apologize profusely.  Life got crazy last week.  I think my head is still spinning from the whirlwind activity.  Last time I was able to pop on here, was last Monday, where I shared the Kid's Section of my HMB (here)  I had grand and wonderful plans of posting more all week, but (as you may have noticed) that didn't work out so well.  Monday was really the last normal day last week, ok, Tuesday wasn't too bad, but we had internet issues ALL day that day, plus a showing at the house and all that wonderful stuff.  There's a lot of between then and now, but I won't bore you with the details.  I just wanted to hop on here tonight, and let everyone know, I haven't forgotten you!

Now that things are settling down, I'm hoping to get a few more posts up.  Due to some recent changes in our lives, the complete INSANITY of last week, I've had change a few things up, and I'm a little behind on my HMB, but it's slowly coming together, and I am eager to get back into the swing of things here.  I hope you all will hang in there while I get things back on track.  I'll be back tomorrow with the next installment of my HMB revamp, and a printable for you!  :-)

I hope that you all are having a wonderful evening.  For all you mommies out there, I hope you had a magnificent Mother's Day!

How do you stay sane when life get crazy?

Next Time I'll Know Better ;-)

Do you ever have one of those moments when you realize you have vastly underestimated something?  When your stomach seems to drop out of you, adrenaline begins surging, and you fly into a tizzy in a desperate attempt to compensate for lacking of planning?  That was me at 9 am this morning!

Today was our first realtor's tour, and I thought I had everything well in hand.  I did most of the cleaning last night, leaving just my usual morning things, plus the floors to worry about this morning.  I figured, not a problem, I could breeze through that stuff.  The floors didn't really need to be cleaned, just a quick go over to get foot prints up off them and make them shine.  

Ha ha ha ha .... was the joke ever on me this morning.  Liam and I were up around 7:30 this morning.  I don't like mornings, or rather, I don't like busy mornings.  It takes me a bit to reach functioning level.  This morning was no exception to that.  I was up late last night, Liam is sick with a bit of a cold, our Teen also has a cold, and I'm starting to feel under the weather.  So, I was really dragging my butt this morning, but I was managing to putter around, Liam must have been feeling tired too, because he was taking his time over everything.  It's a very yucky day up here, it's snowing!  And it really is just one of those days to curl up with a hot drink and get all cozied up with the ones you love, not running around cleaning an already clean house.

Around 9, I got Liam to get dressed so we were ready to head out the door as soon as our realtor called to say she was on her way.  I decided to wash my hair before tackling the floors and breakfast clean up.  No word of a lie, I was just getting ready to rinse out the shampoo when my phone rang.  I was hoping it was Travis, calling before he headed out on his shift, but no .... that was not my luck today ... it was our realtor calling to tell me we were number three on the tour, and they would be here in 20 minutes!  TWENTY MINUTES, and I still had floors to sweep and mop, breakfast stuff to clean up.  I hadn't even brushed my teeth yet.  So I flew into a tizzy, flicking on lights, turning up the heat (she said to do that to make it feel cozy) I was trying to sweep, mop, and dry my hair all that same time.  I was sooo not ready for it to happen quite that fast.... my mistake!  A BIG mistake.  But what can you do?  Fifteen minutes later, I got the call saying they were heading our way, I quickly ran around opening drapes, grabbed a clip for my hair(didn't have time to brush it), got Liam dressed in coat and boots, and out the door we went.  There were already realtors in our driveway when we left.  

So, Liam and I went for a walk, and not even ten minutes later we watched all the realtors leave!  Oh my goodness, so much stress and rushing for TEN minutes of their time.  And you know what I discovered when we got home?  I forgot to open the blinds in our room.  I forgot to take the garbage with us when we left, I opened the drapes on two of the three windows at the front of our house, but on the the third one the drapes weren't fully open.  My wonderful son, went behind me turning off lights, even though they were supposed to be on, and his cereal bowl, glass, and my coffee cup were sitting beside the sink, not in it!  Oh, and I had the washing machine going, because that's what I do, I throw a load in first thing in the morning.  And OMG I didn't even notice until we got home that I didn't sweep under Liam's bed.  You could see toys and a stray sock under it, from all the way down the hallway.  

And now that it's all done and over with, all I can do is chuckle about it, and make a note to get EVERYTHING done the night before.  

In other news, Travis was home for a couple days this week.  That's one of the reasons I haven't been on here.  I didn't want to lose even a single moment with him.  The boys both really enjoyed having him home. I don't know how much more of this commuting stuff we can take.  I was told the house will sell faster with us still in it, but I think we might have to find a compromise to that.  Aside from how hard the commute is on Travis, Liam really isn't handling all the changes well, especially not having his Daddy around, so we're keeping our fingers crossed that the house sells fast ... I don't know what else to do.  I'm brainstorming right now.

Have you ever had one of those moments that seems to throw everything into a whirlwind?  Or one of those "why didn't I think this through better" moments?

I hope that you all are having a fabulous day!  

Budgeting Time!

We started the yucky part of this journey at the beginning of the week.  Travis is already down in our soon-to-be new home town, and he's already working at his new job.  That last weekend he was home was a busy one, and it really made me realize how important it is going to be to budget my time during this process.

Sounds kind of weird to be talking about budgeting time, but I believe that it is just as important as budgeting our money.  Change is hard; big changes even harder, and everyone reacts differently to them.  On top of the move, our boys are dealing with Dad not being here and Mom being a crazy woman on a mission.  While our Teen is coping rather well at this point, Liam is feeling really out of sorts.  So much activity in the house, big brother went back to school on the same day Daddy left, Mommy frantically trying to get everything done as quickly as possible ... it's a lot for a little guy to take in.  It's times like these, that the kids need more from us.  (Why does it always seem to be that they need more when you feel stretched so thin?)  And I don't want either of them to feel lost in the chaos.  To help combat this, and to also help me stay on task when I need to, I've started budgeting my time.  When I plan out my day, the first thing I do is set aside time for the kids.  Liam is at home with me all day, so I schedule in play breaks, outside time, and probably his favorite, I figure out what he can help me with.  He loves to help, and this way, I can accomplish what I need to, and still be spending time with him.

Our teen gets home at 4pm, just in time for me to be wrapping up and getting dinner going.  I make it a point to be available to him as soon as he gets home.  Some days he wants to sit and talk, most days he just wants to decompress on his own.  But I'm there if he needs me.  I try to keep projects to minimum during the chaos that ensues between 4pm and 8pm.  We sit and eat together, we clean up the kitchen together, and the kids know that I'm theirs until bed times.   I make sure that whatever I have planned to do between the time Liam goes to bed, and the time our Teen does, is something I can do while hanging out with him.  Our Teen is usually doing his own thing, but I like knowing that I'm there if he needs me.  He's been handling everything really well, but I know that he has his own worries and fears and insecurities about moving to a new town, starting at a new school, making new friends ... if we could spare him that, we would.  On the other hand, he is totally excited to be closer to his grandparents and aunts and uncles, and he's super excited about all the new things we'll be able to do.

Since Travis's schedule isn't set in stone yet, setting aside time for him is a little more complicated.  He calls when he has a moment, or we might spend a few minutes texting back and forth.  Taking time out to grab those moments with him are so very important.    We're the kind of couple who like spending time together, so being apart is not something we enjoy.  Those little "interruptions" are most welcome to me.  They remind me of what I'm working towards, and why I'm spending my days go, go, going from sun up to sun down. They bring me joy, make my heart happy.  I make sure that I take the time to connect with him when we have the chance.   It might mean interrupting something else, but that's ok, because we NEED those moments.

Aside from making sure I have time for the kids each day, and allowing for interuptions, I plan out my projects really carefully.  I pick a focus and stick with it for the day.  That way I don't have too many of those moments my husband call my "OOOh Shiny!" moments.  I pick either one kind of job, like washing windows, or a room and that's my focus for the day until it's done.  I made up a list of everything that needs to be done . . . ok, I admit it, I have more than one list lol, but I'm only working on one right now.  It lists all the big projects, and I pick one each day.  When that one is done, I move onto to the next one.  And I'm getting pretty close to being done the list.  

And last but not least, I make sure to make time for me before I go to bed.  It might be vegging in front of the tv, or reading for half an hour.  Usually it's just enjoying the quiet before turning in.  Catching a few moments to decompress is important for my sanity.

And that's how I do it!  I looked at what I NEEDED to do.  Time with the kids, and time with Travis come first.  End of story, they are what matter most in this world to me. Next up, was the MUST DOs, or the house projects, because the sooner we sell, the sooner we're all together.  Daily cleaning and cooking are scheduled in there too, because they are things that must be done.  And I'm happy to say that the end of the craziness is in sight. I only have a few more projects to finish up and then it's all just maintaining it from there on out.  Thank Goodness!  lol

I will be back later, either tonight or tomorrow with some posts and pictures about the projects we've done so far!  Until then, I wish each and everyone of you a very fabulous day!


How do you handle stressful and busy times?  Do you "budget" your time?

Missing In Action

Hi there Everyone!  I'm so sorry I've been missing these last few days.  It was a busy long weekend here.  On top of the Easter holiday, it was also Travis's last weekend at home before starting his new job, and we were tackling a couple big projects that need to get done before we list the house.  It was BUSY!  In between the projects we tried to carve out as much family time as possible, which meant a couple of movie nights, plus a whole morning off of work, for Easter.

And now, we're at the part I wasn't looking forward too.   I don't mind packing and cleaning by myself, I don't even mind doing the painting and finishing up the projects on my own, but I miss my husband!  And he's only been gone for a few hours, lol   But, it will all be worth it to move!  Or so I keep telling myself. :-)

So, what kept us so busy.... we put in a new surround for the tub, patched a couple holes in the walls, packed more stuff, and Travis and the boys hauled it all out to the shed for now.  Cleaned up the deck and the yard, scrubbed walls, rearranged our room, made BIG messes everywhere, (renos suck at times) and shopping.... I think we had to hit every hardware and paint store in town to get all the supplies we needed.  That was a painful experience.  Thankfully I had already decided on an off white for the bathroom and mudroom, and that was an easy pick.  I'm not going to fiddle with testing a few different colors, I picked one, and that's what it's going to be!  A little crazy, but I figured there isn't too much room for error with a white.

Anyway, that's what we've been up too, aside from cramming in lots of family time with the boys.  So, what's up for me this week .... more wall scrubbing, more packing, more organizing, and then, hopefully, a visit from the realtor to tell me what else to do, where to focus our energy, and to get the ball rolling on getting that for sale sign put up!  Woo hoo!!!!

I will try to get a few more posts up with some pictures of the projects we did.  Taking pictures was the furthest thing from my mind this weekend, so most of the projects are missing good before pictures.  Sorry about that, I just didn't think about it until half way through.

For now though, I'm off to get more stuff done, and I think Liam and I will be making a donation run later on.  I think that is my favorite part of this process, seeing the things we no longer need, love, or want leave the house never to return.  I've been as ruthless as I can, and have managed to collect a few boxes and bags to go to new homes.  :-)  That makes me soooo happy!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, and I wish you a fantatstic day today!!!

Cause You Know I Can't Resist ...

... A good book, or three!  I love to read!  Books, blogs, magazines.... doesn't matter, I just love to read.  I can't pick a favorite genre, I seem to like them all, or at least I can find books and authors in them all that I like.  lol  So where is this going?  Well, they say to blog about what you love, and so I'd like to welcome you to the first post of my first feature!  I'm thinking this could be a once a month post, about something I've read, or something I want to read, or something else book related.   So, without further ado, welcome to the ...

Have you ever read a book that was so thought provoking, or emotional, or engaging that is stayed with you long after you finished reading it?  I just finished a trilogy that was like that. 

Source of Photo

Now, normally, I don't read Young Adult Fiction, however I've been hearing about these books for a while, and was told that they're a good read, despite being for youth.  (Just so you know, I'm not going to spoil any part of the books, no in depth look at plot or characters, so never fear that I'll ruin story for you)  If you haven't yet read them, I strongly recommend them. Suzanne Collins has done a great job writing for a variety of audiences.  You can read the books, (there are three) and take away nothing more than the story she tells.  Or you can look deeper as you read and find a whole of themes, parallels, and food for thought.  Thought provoking is definitely a good way to describe the story she's told.  I can this book finding its way into high school English classes, there is sooooo there for an English teacher to pull out.  I'm sincerely hoping our teen will decide to read them, because I would love to hear his thoughts on them, and what he takes away from the story.  

I could fill pages and pages with my thoughts and ideas on this trilogy, but instead, I'll just say this:  They're an easy read with a lot to ponder, and I strongly recommend them.  And if reading isn't your thing, Friday is the day that "The Hunger Games" hits theaters.  As with any book to movie transformation, I'm sure that much has been left out, or gotten lost in translation.  As I haven't seen the movie, I can't tell you that for sure. I will say that I noticed a couple of deviations from the book in the trailer for the movie, but they were just little things.  

And that, I guess, is all I can really tell you without giving anything away.  Has anyone else read the books yet?  Are you eagerly awaiting the movie?  And how about the book to movie trend that seems to be so popular now, any thoughts on that?  

I wish you all a fabulous day!!!!  

If April Showers Bring May Flowers....

... what do March snows bring?   I guess Old Man Winter just wanted to remind us who's boss for the next five days. :-)  This is what I saw when I looked out the window a little while ago.

Thankfully, the snow has already stopped falling ... for now.  The lovely weather people are saying there is more snow in the forecast during the next couple weeks, though temperatures are supposed to start to climb again.  I really can't wait for Spring!

Spring is in the Air!!!

Today is one of those days that gives me hope for an early Spring.  Up here in Northern BC, Spring seems to take FOREVER to get here.  After months of freezing cold temps and foot after foot of snow, by the time March rolls around, I'm ready for Spring.  I'm ready to be outside without having to wear ten layers, throw the ball around with the kids, get out their bikes, and let them have some freedom.  Buuuut .... that doesn't usually happen.  See, in order to do that we have to get through the thaw, or as I like to call it, the Mud season.  The ground is usually saturated for weeks, as the mountains of snow slowly melt.  In previous years, I've gotten so desperate to be able to use our yard, sans snow, that I've shoveled it out.  (yeah, a little extreme I know, but seriously, by mid-April I want to see my grass start growing again, not piles of snow and ice all over the place)

This year though, we had a weird winter.  When we went south to spend Christmas with our family, it was colder there than up here.  Usually we have a few feet of snow on the ground by now, and we never really got there this year.  We've had a lot days where the temperatures were like this:

This is what our thermometer reads as of 30 minutes ago.

And today isn't the first day it's gotten up that high.  We've had days like this all winter, where it was warm enough out to open up the windows and allow some fresh air in.  What a treat that was in the middle of winter!  

Today though, there is something in the air, a feeling of awakening and renewal.  I looked outside this morning and just felt like Spring was coming.  Just check out this beautiful. blue, spring sky.  Not the watery blue of winter, but the rich blue that says Spring is almost here.

Blue Sky and Sunshine, who could ask for more?

And to top it all off, the grass is starting show through the snow.  Not just in the super sunny spots, not just in the high spots, but here and there all over our yard.  Of course, that also means the drive and lane are slowly turning to mud, and it means that soon I'll be having to wash Liam's outer wear at the end of each day, and probably mop the mudroom once a day, but .... Spring is definitely in the air up here!!!  And oh, I cannot wait until the thaw and Mud, are done!!!!  

Grass, Trees, and just under the grass you can see the 

river of mush that's already started to form.

Honestly, it's too nice of a day to be inside (aside from the wind).  I think I'll save the housework for another day, or at least until later, and get Liam all geared up and head outside.   

Am I the only one eager for Spring?  Any one have any tips on handling the Mud season?