Monday, December 19, 2011

It's almost time!

The presents are bought, the wrapping is done (well almost), the stockings are hung (drapped over the railing) and the treats are baked (and vanishing quickly)!  Let Christmas happen!!

Well if Christmas happened today I am sure we would be just fine but I do have a few things left to do. 

I wonder if everyone did with a little less, I bet they would still be just as happy!

I think that some people see more stuff as better, I don't know if it actually does make it better.  I know that my children will be excited for their new gifts over the holiday's and will definatley play with most of them but for how long?  I will most likely take some toys and pack them away in their closets to take out as a treat over the next few months!  It's like a special treat in the middle of January to get to play with a new toy or game (and frankly January doesn't have many special treats!!!)

I believe people might enjoy the holiday's a little more if they created a budget and stuck to it.  Over buying for the sake of busying leads to guilt, a sense of chaos (when you have to find a spot for it all) and a split second of happiness.

We maybe need to think about the split second of happiness, is it worth it?  Was is worth the money, effort and time spent to purchase they extra things?  Was it worth the guilt that perhaps you feel for buying so much?  Was it worth the effort and stress to find somewhere to put (store) this new thing?

Christmas should be about giving but maybe just a little less than normal!

That's my Christmas wish this year!

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas (and/or Holiday Season!!)

AND a wonderful and happy New Year!!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

A little persistance...

Goes a long way. 

A few years ago my husband and I researched and debated on which camera we wanted to take pictures of our adorable new son.  After finding the camera and realizing my clumsiness we went for the warranty package.  It paid off today!

Approximately 6 months ago I noticed the battery door was split, it still worked but looked a little rough.  Over the next 4 months it got worse, so I found the warranty letter and yup we still had 6 months left on it!  So away it went, they took forever to do a little job and sent us a back a newer model refurbished!  This turned out to be complete crap.

A week ago I took it back in to discuss this and was told they would email the camera brand.  I told them I needed a solution before this weekend and I would be back next week. 

So today, armed with my persistant attitude and my gear, I went back.  I received a new camera today, sure I had to purchase some upgrades and replacements as some of my old gear was outdated. 
BUT I got a new camera that I hope will work out wonderfully.

The moral of this story is if you feel strongly about something stick with it.  Most people would have probably just gone home and lived with the crappier camera rather than be persistant with what they know is right.  Now don't get me wrong, I know nothing is for free and don't expect things to be free.  I was very willing for them to track down my old camera with a new door and have it sent back to me but they were unable to do that.  The next solution was to give me a new camera since the one I was given didn't work up to the previous camera's standards.  I knew this was the right solution and the fair solution.  They showed me a camera that was equivelant to mine and I would have to wait two weeks for it.  I asked them to show me a camera that was a little better and in stock.  I personnally made the decision to upgrade a little and get my camera today.

I hope it was worth it!   We have a special 4th birthday to capture this weekend!



Monday, December 5, 2011

Christmas is upon us!

I am completely unsure where November went.  However, it has come and gone and I just have to deal with it.

December is a busy month!!  We have a 4th birthday to prepare for, parties to attend, even a wedding to attend.  Cupcakes, krispie treats, cookies and chocolate balls all waiting to be made.  Just thinking about all the things that we need to do has me tired!

I love December though, I keep dreaming of the snow but the weather is not quite cooperating and for that fact I have not finished decorating my house!  I just need a little snow fluttering outside, the christmas music to be playing and some hot chocolate and I will be ready!

My biggest task for this week is to bake cookies and prepare for my oldest son's 4th birthday.  He is so excited to have his friends over.  So to keep things simple, I am letting them play with all his toys first!  He doesn't like cake (I know what kids doesn't like cake!!) so we have decided to leave out the cake for this birthday.  I will be making sugar cookies and have them each from frost and decorate their own cookie!  I love it when a snack and a craft come together!!! 

It's so easy to get wrapped up in the presents and fancy activities for birthdays!!  I am hoping that keeping some things simple, like just playing with toys and decorating cookies will help to calm this down.  For each of my children's first birthday's I asked friends not to bring presents at all but to give money to a charity.  First first birthday was the food bank because it was the holiday season, second first birthday was the IWK because we had a family friend in at the time.  I thought both were great ideas and will try that again as our children get a little older and understand more about helping people.  My two little munchkins don't want for much, so they can definately do without a few presents!!!

The Christmas holiday's tend to become more and more about presents.  Now don't get me wrong, I love presents!!  I love receiving and giving presents.  I take my time and think about what would be really fun or thoughtful for each person I buy or make for them!!

I hope to make everyone smile a little on Christmas day!!

Friday, November 18, 2011

To Organize or not?


I started reading the Happiness Project and straight away I wanted to organize everything in my house!

Her first month on her happiness project is about organizing her house, her work, her mind to help make room to be happy!

This is not a new concept for me, I go through my closet at least twice a year and pack it all up into garbage bags and leave it for the Diabetic Associations.  Sometimes if I have particular items in my closet that I have to get rid of because I just don't wear them, either too big or too small.  I cry a little tear and then share them with my friends.  I love clothes and shoes.  Rarely are my shoes shared because I was blessed to have a size 10 foot!  My only two friends who have the same size feet as me live away.  So if the shoe doesn't fit, it goes in the garbage bag bound for charity!

I have a need to organize but usually am bothered by the lack of storage containers available to me.  I really want a store dedicated to storage solutions.  Oh, they exist in the big cities but not here or anywhere near me!  I dream of their perfect little box to hold my makeup on the shelf or the papers on top of my fridge.  I am forced to make due with baskets, which I believe haunt my husband when I am not home.  He hates them!  If only we had a store, he would be happier too!

The next chapter was about marriage, mine has definitely gone through a rough spot.  We continue to work through it everyday.  I however found her solutions useful but surprised she didn't figure them out before.  She spent a lot of time searching through books and magazines and anything else she could find in order to come up with a plan for her happiness project.  Some of the solutions she came up with it seems she should have been able to see them before.

However, I am only finished February and might have a different opinion once it's complete.  I will keep you posted and be forever dreaming of the perfect storage solution!

Friday, November 4, 2011

Enjoying the little things

Well look at that, it's next week and here I am.

This past week has had some really lows.  My world is covered in a film of stress and I am hoping that next week it will even out a bit.  However, compared to others my stress is so minimal to some that it makes me feel silly.  But it's still my stress!

My children are both healthy (cold's don't count!), my self and my husband are doing just fine.  We have a house to go home to and food to eat.  To many just having that is like winning the lottory.  I forget that!  Like I believe many people do.  The same old story goes, there are children starving in Africa so eat your vegetables.  We use the line but sometimes we forget that it's true.

And obviously not just Africa, there are children going hungry in your backyard.  I don't know if it's the holiday season that spurs on these thoughts but they are out in full force!  They definately have been getting more pronounced after having children.  I think that it comes with the selflessness that children bring.  Their needs are greater than your own.  It makes you think outside your little bubble and realize you are pretty damn lucky!

That being said, my children's school are doing a shoe box fund raiser for children in poor cultures.  I love this idea and plan to have my children help me choose items to donate.  They are allowed to send toys, some candies, fun accessories for little girls, soap, t-shirts and hopefully a few notes!  I hope to show my children that we are very fortunate and some people aren't as fortunate!  It's hard for children to understand but it's beautiful to watch them naturally show no discrimination towards others.  I hope that they can keep this trait throughout their years!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

FREX - Making Memories

The smell of corn dogs, french fries and cotton candy is burning into your nose.  Screaming kids, cheesy music, and carnies yelling!

We took the kids to our location exhibition, the FREX.  So many memories are made here every September, and we want to keep those going.

Our oldest son loved the fast cars.....7 trips on the same ride is love.  We ate greasy food, bet on horses, went on rides and enjoyed all the craziness.

Those exhibitions are old fashioned but fabulous.  I fear that all those great memories are going to be forgotten with all of this technology. 

Are we going to miss out on these memories because we are too connected to electronics?  I obviously love the computer as much as the next person, however I feel that some people take them way to seriously.  Facebook, tweeting, texting and all the rest.  Some people forget how to communicate with people in front of them or activities that are outside, away from the technologies and that their glory.

This is a post from September that life interrupted.  The thought continues though.

Writing?

I love the thought of writing.  I also think I have these clever funny things to say and share but when push comes to shove I don't seem to have it.

This is my first post of 2011 and it's October 26th.  Cleary life has taken over!

I want to be as creative as I think I am in my head but there are so many things going on.  Sometimes I don't even know where to start.

So today, I start here.

I hope to be this wonderful mother who does it all, doesn't every mother want that.  I am in the process of trying to take over a family business, I have two beautiful boys, a wonderful husband but no time for anything!  Monday comes and then all of the sudden it's Sunday night again.  Where does everyone find the time to do those things you think are important, I just can't seem to get there.

Perhaps today isn't the day my creative juices flow but perhaps today is the day to turn on the press and see what happens.

Hopefully I will write again tomorrow or maybe next week but the goal is to write every week!