Elsie's Self Portrait Challenge

I'm entering this photo in Elsie's challenge {click here to enter for yourself}. This self-portrait says so much...me with a yummy Starbucks Frapp, having a good hair day, enjoying a peaceful kid-free car on a beautiful day! Hope you pick me Elsie, I'd love to win some stuff from your new line!!!

My Mother's Day

My Mothers Day was fabulous! My family really made me feel special for being a Mom. They spoiled me with gifts and we spent the entire day together. This was the first year I received homemade gifts...the most special kind...see all my goodies below.

Me & my kiddies...the little people who have made me a Mommy!

Beautiful orchids from Cory, Ace & Scarlett...picked out by Ace

Scarlett's handprint

Ice cream sundae made with epson salts, & a bath lufa...made by Ace

Happy Mothers Day MOM!

Happy Mothers Day to all of you Moms out there and especially to my Mother! This is a little tin/book I made for my Mom at a class on Wed night and since it was too late to mail it...she will see it for the first time here on my blog. Casi is the fellow SU Demonstrator who held the class for this lovely tribute book for Moms...I love all the coordinating papers & thoughtful poems she included in the kit. Casi even had us submit a memory we had with our Moms prior to the class and printed them out for us to personalize our keepsakes. I was so inspired by this idea, I have decided to hold a similar class for a Father's Day Book.

Happy Mothers Day Mom...I love you very much and appreciate all that you do for me! This book is for you:

Playdate at the Urban Treehouse

The kids & I have been having some great playdates lately. We feel like we are really getting out and seeing alot of our friends lately...it feels wonderful! Last week we met the Craigs, Hills & Ferguson families (no Daddys) at the Urban Treehouse in Airdrie, AB. We had an amazing time! I was blown away by the amount of thought that was put into creating this playplace/coffee house for parents and their kids. Here are some photos from our visit...we will definately be going back.

NEW Stampin Up Colors

White: A Year of Color - Week 8

Mmmarshmallows!

Remembering Norma

We lost one of the most wonderful people in our lives one year ago today, Norma Avery. She was my best friend Kim's mother and Kim has done an amazing job of carrying on her Mom's spirit over the past year. Words cannot express how much we miss Norma. She will be remembered for her for kindness, her love of children, happy spirit and laughter.

Here is Norma with both of our children, I am so glad my children were able to meet this woman!

August 2005

March 2006

I found this poem on Nancy's blog...it is so touching...

If tears could build a stairway

And memories were a lane

We would walk right up to heaven

And bring you back again

No farewell words were spoken

No time to say goodbye

You were gone before we knew it

And only God knows why

Our hearts still ache in sadness

And secret tears still flow

What it meant to lose you

No one can ever know

But now we know you want us

To mourn for you no more

To remember all the happy times

Life still has much in store

Since you'll never be forgotten

We pledge to you today

A hallowed place within our hearts

Is where you'll always stay.

Stacy's Pita Chips

A few girlfriends & I were just talking about these amazing pita chips today while at a baby shower...funny that Stacy Julian has a post about them today.

What Year I Belong In?

You Belong in 1976

Bold and brash, you take life by the horns. Whether you're partying or protesting, you give it your all!

What Year Do You Belong In?

I Won Some Blog Candy!

Yeah, I'm so excited to have won some awesome blog candy from Sarah! I love the name of her blog: StampStars! Thank you so much Sarah, you have a great blog and I check it out often!

Overwhelmed...

...but in a good way. In the past few weeks, with the anticipation of my 30th Birthday and all the surprises of last weekend, I just haven't been quite myself. I am the one usually planning these types of events for others, so to be in the spotlight {although cool} made me feel a bit out of place. This weekend has allowed me to re-group and settle into my groove again. So to all the readers I have out there, thanks for being so patient with me. And I can't express enough how special my friends have made me feel lately...thanks so much!

Today my best friend Dee-Ann made my day! She did a top-ten list all about ME! Wow does she know me and we have so much in common, thanks Dee for this great treat. Your list is absolutely scrapbookable! Dido back to you...except your household makes the greatest ribs (refer to #9 on the list) Check it out here: Dee's BLOG.

Check below for my 'catch-up' of the Year of Color Challenges. And remember, if you'd like to join, it's fun & free. All you have to do is contact Dee-Ann.

Chestnut Brown: A Year of Color - Week 7

Chestnut Brown is our daughter Scarlett's eyes.

And coffee grounds.

Black: A Year of Color - Week 6

Black is my iCAT.

Apple Green: A Year of Color - Week 5

Granny Smith Apple Green is Ace's old room in our last house. Since we didn't know his sex before he was born, we had an 'apple' theme going on in the nursery...we didn't want a babyish room, so this was a nice twist for a baby boy or girl.

Flower Crazy

For my birthday I picked up some supplies from my local scrapbook store, Scrapbookers Paradise. They sang me Happy Birthday and gave me 20% off of my purchase that day. I kinda went a bit overboard with the flowers...I guess that means I'm stocked up.

Spa Day Goodies

I had fun hand-stamping these goodies for my girlfriends...thought I'd share them with you!

Spa Day invitation (details printed on back)

Gift bags for my girlfriends...shockingly easy to make!


Goodies inside: card, stamp and magnet


Just love this card and 'yes' those are real bon-bon cups

Jenny & her goodies

Kim displaying her gift bag

Details of 30

Well, it’s about time that I share with you the details of my 30th!

Those that know me well know that nothing makes me happier than being surrounded by family and friends. And that’s exactly what the weekend entailed! Most notably, my family traveled from Saskatchewan for the weekend; Mom, sister Christa, niece Kyra & nephew Kelby. They surprised me Friday night around suppertime! I had no idea at all that they were coming.

There are many people I would like to thank for making my birthday weekend special…especially my beautiful sister Amber for coming to my husband's aid and helping with the party planning...my husband Cory…our friends who were all in cahoots about the surprise…everyone at the Newbury Spa for our lovely morning on Saturday...Mom for babysitting the children...and each & every person who attended the party! I had a wonderful time and felt so special.

I could go on and on, so I’ll post the rest of the photos below which speak for themselves. The smiles and laughter that were captured say it all — 30 can’t be too bad if it starts out like this, right?!Photo of me & my '30' cookie baked by my Mom and iced using my Grandmother's antique icing kit...which is very special to our family.

Spa Day with my Girlfriends

To start the birthday celebrations, I invited my girlfriends to join me at the Newbury Spa on Saturday morning for some relaxing together. Joining me that morning were: my Mom, sisters Christa & Amber, niece Kyra, Jenny, Tara, Kim, Christa & Cheryl. We had an amazing time and I will definitely go back. During our visit we nibbled on cupcakes from Crave and sipped champagne mimosas. The Newbury Spa treated me very well and would not let me pay for any of my services that day (I enjoyed a 60 minute hot stone massage and pedicure)...gasp!