Forever and a Day

Hi. It’s been forever and a day, hasn’t it? I fell into a major blogging rut, which sort of carried over into a creativity rut. Not only have I not been blogging, but I also haven’t been crafting or baking. Ok, I still bake occasionally, just not as much as I used to. When I think about this creative rut, it saddens me. I love doing all of those things, so what’s stopping me from doing them? Who knows. I do want to get back into it all though. I miss all of those creative outlets in my life. Enough of this though. Let’s catch you up on what’s been going on lately, shall we?
My sister is getting married in less than a month. I can’t believe that July is sneaking up on me like it is. In May, I hosted her bridal shower, and then earlier this month, I hosted her Bachelorette Party. Both were successful, thankfully!

Toilet Paper Brides

Bridal shower cupcakes

Bachelorette party silliness

Work has kept me busy, but has been good. I finished working with my Friday boys. I can’t even tell you how sad I was to leave them, but it was in my best interests. They sent me off feeling very loved though, dropping by with mini cupcakes, roses and some homemade cards.

I’m now down to working 5 days a week with one family. Well, I do still have my nanny share going on, which means another family drops off their little boy several times a month. I’ve been switched over to salary, which means I now get plenty of paid vacation. We’ve been keeping busy with crafts and trips to the park and zoo. Never a dull moment around here.

We got up close and personal with this guy

Rainy day fun

As for my down time, well, I’ve been trying to fill it up with things to do as well. We’ve been cat sitting for my old nanny family for over two months now. They’ve been trying to sell their house, and don’t want a cat to deter potential buyers. Casey is adorable, so I don’t mind. Stephen and I have been trying to get out for more walks now that the weather has warmed up. I love exploring our community; it seems like we live in such a good one. There was even a quick day trip to the mountains recently.
Oh, and I’ve taught myself how to crochet. I’m working on a baby blanket for my aunt and uncle, who are due in October.

Casey Cat

Mountains just outside of Banff

Pink flowers and gray skies

I’m hoping that by writing this post, I’ll be inspired to blog more. Keep checking back, I promise that I’m not ready yet to abandon this blog forever.

Ten on Tuesday

#127 at Roots and Rings

1. Who is your favorite talk show host?
Ellen.
Ever since I started my current job, I watch a lot of day time TV (during nap time), which means there's not a whole lot on. I've started watching more talk shows, and Anderson is a close second to Ellen.

2. How do you style your hair on a daily basis?
I flat iron my hair (my hair is unruly), then stick it in a ponytail. I am wearing braided pigtails today though, because I was too lazy to flat iron my hair.


3. If you were stuck in your bedroom for a week, what would you need in order to not go crazy?
My laptop, cell phone, books and food. I've already got a TV in there, and we have an ensuite bathroom with shower.

4. What are the best non-reality shows on television?
Game of Thrones is my current favorites

5. Do you mow your own lawn and clean your own house?
I clean my own house, but neither of us mow our lawn. We live in a townhouse complex, so all lawn care is taken care of by someone else. Such a relief!

6. As an adult, what is the best part of summer?
More daylight, warmer weather, barbecue and yummy fruit.

7. If you could ask one celebrity one question, who and what would you ask?
I'd ask Jake Gyllenhaal if he'd like to make out, or something.

8. Post a picture.

We're cat sitting for my Friday Family while they try to sell their house. This is Casey. Isn't she cute?

9. How many books do you read a year?
I've never kept track, but I'd estimate a dozen or so.

10. Which national chain makes the best delivery pizza?
We usually just order from wherever is closest to us. It was Panago at the last place, but now we order from Pizza 73.

Ten on Tuesday

#126 at Roots and Rings

1. What TV commercial do you think is the most annoying?
The one with the squealing pig racing down the hill next to a guy. I have no idea what it's for (Geico?), but it's super annoying.

2. What is the weirdest gift you have ever received?
I once received a coat hanger. Ok, so it was actually just a gag gift!

3. What is a song you thought you knew the words and then later found out you were wrong?
Pretty much every song I've ever listened to. I'm awful for just making up my own words to songs.

4. What are you most looking forward to this month?
My sister's bridal shower next weekend!

5. What is your favorite kitchen appliance? Explain.
I was going to say my Kitchen Aid stand mixer, but I think I'm actually going to go with my dishwasher. I hate washing dishes by hand, so that thing is a lifesaver!

6. If you could have a gift card to anywhere right now, where would you choose? Why?
The place where we want to order our sectional from. I can't remember the name, but it's an online furniture warehouse.

7. What are your favorite pizza toppings?
Feta, spinach and basically any other veggie. Oh! I've actually been on a real big BBQ chicken kick lately.

8. Name something you’re thankful for aside from obvious answers (i.e. family, job, faith, etc.).
My Nespresso. I adore that thing so dang much.

9. What was your least favorite rule growing up?
I don't remember any rules that I hated. I guess my parents weren't all that strict.

10. If you could train your pet to do one thing, what would it be? Example, “Weego” from the Bud Light commercial:
I don't have a pet.

4 Years and Counting

At the end of March, Stephen and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary. I’m amazed that so much time has gone by, yet it feels like it was just yesterday that we had met. We didn’t have anything particularly special planned to celebrate, just dinner and a movie. I should have known better though, because this year, Stephen has been on a roll with getting me awesome gifts. I’ve been downright spoiled!

Stephen likes to watch me look at Pinterest every so often. Normally, it’s so he can insist that I need to make every delicious looking recipe that I come across, but sometimes, he’ll point out a cool project. It all started with this project that I pinned:

{Project via Our Fifth House}

Since Stephen and I have moved around a lot since we first moved in together, we both agreed that it was a neat idea, so I pinned it with the intention of making it someday.

In the weeks leading up to our anniversary, Stephen alluded to the fact that he had an awesome gift planned out for me. I could hardly wait to find out what it was, but I tried to push it out of my mind so that I wouldn’t go crazy. When Stephen got home from work, he presented me with my gift. He had gone downtown one day to take pictures of the first two places that we lived, then put it all together for me.

We decided to hang the frames up by the front door, so that when friends and family come to visit, they can reminisce with us about our old places. I blocked out our current address in the first photo, by the way.

What I love about Stephen’s version of the project, is that he stuck pictures of us from the time we lived in each of those places.

This was back in the first place, which I only lived in for roughly 6 months. Stephen had a roommate, and we knew that we wanted to live on our own. The apartment wasn’t fantastic, but it was my first time living away from home, so I have fond memories of it.

This is from the condo. We both loved that place, but quickly realized that it was just much too small for us. That, and it got so unbelievably hot in there, that we didn’t turn on the heat until it hit –10C outside.

The last place, which I have mixed feelings about. It was our biggest place so far (at the time), so I loved that about it. I also loved that we finally had laundry in our own house, and we had a large kitchen. That was about it. We didn’t intend to move from there after only 1 year, but our landlord decided he wanted to renovate and charge more for the place.

Our current, and most favorite place. It’s the biggest, and the nicest. We don’t plan on moving from here for a long time, so keep your fingers crossed that no one has other plans for us.

I’m a ridiculously sentimental person, so this was the perfect gift for me. It didn’t cost a lot to make, but to me, it means more than an expensive gift. I’m excited to see how the pictures will change in the years to come. (Hopefully we only have one or two more frames to fill!) Stephen sure knows the way to my heart.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?

Ten on Tuesday

#125 at Roots and Rings

1. Would you rather give up pedicures or flat/curling irons?Pedicures, because I've never actually had one. Crazy, I know. 

2. Does your middle name have a family meaning?Technically, no. My middle name is after the family friend that was supposed to be my God Mother. She passed away just before I was born though. I'd say that she was family though. 

3. Do you like to sneeze?I'm indifferent to sneezing. Never really thought about the fact that some people may enjoy it!

4. Do you think kids should need to learn cursive?It didn't kill me to learn cursive, so I say why not?

5. When you go to the beach for the day, what do you take?I don't ever get to go to the beach for the day (no beaches around here), but I assume I would take a towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, a chair, food and reading material. 

6. Which decade had the best music?The 90's, clearly. 

7. Are you a good hand-shaker?I'd say that I am. I can't stand the limp handshake that a lot of women seem to do, I'd rather not shake hands with a limp fish, thank you very much! 

8. Do you have a go-to meal for when you are at a restaurant and you can’t decide?Some sort of pasta dish, usually tortellini. 

9. Do you have slippers?Yes. I get over heated quite easily if my feet are hot though, so I don't wear them often. I'd love to find a cooler pair then the giant purple ones I own. (Cooler in both senses, ha!)

10. Are you easily grossed out?
Most times, yeah. Then again, I am a nanny, and when I'm at work, I'm the only one there to deal with the gross issues, so I just suck it up and do it. I've got a few gross stories that people groan about when I try to tell them. So...maybe I'm not actually that easily grossed out. 

Lately...

Just a quick little update for you guys...
My laptop randomly decided to quit workingthis week, so I don't have much access to a computer, other than on my phone. Luckily, my nanny family lets me use their tablet, so I am still able to read a few blogs during nap time. My only complaint is that I have to read blogs in Google Reader, and not with the Google Next button, which I've come to love. Google Reader is just so plain!
Stephen and I had been talking about getting me a better laptop in the next few months, so he went ahead and surprised me by ordering me a new one while I was sleeping. He's a keeper.

I can't rember if I talked about it here yet, but I've started my nanny share. It's going well, and the extra money is always nice. The warm weather we've had lately meand that we've been spending a lot of time at the park. I can't even tell you how nice it is to get out of the house and meet new people.

There won't be any new blog posts from me until the new laptop shows up. When it comes in, I do believe I owe you guys a post about my anniversary present. It's a good one, trust me.

Tell me, how have you been? What's new in your life?

Ten on Tuesday

#123 at Roots and Rings

1. Do you prefer fabric or plastic plasters? (or Band-Aids if American)
Plastic. I don't know if it's just me, but when I wear the fabric ones, I seem to get them all dirty and gross.

2. Do you prefer gel pens, biro or fine liners for everyday writing?
Fine liners. Sharpie pens are my favorite at the moment.

3. Do you have a fear or needles/dentists/blood (if all three, which is the worst) and is there a story behind it?
I get a bit anxious at the thought of needles, but nothing too bad. As for blood, too much of it icks me out, but as a nanny, it's just a natural part of my job. Dentists though, well, they give me major anxiety. No story behind the reason why, they just do.

4. Do you like jelly? Do you eat it at any time other than when poorly?
Jelly, as in Jell-O? I rarely eat it. I don't find anything wrong with it; it just doesn't excite me. I also don't eat it when sick. Just chicken noodle soup for me!

5. What are your Easter traditions? (if not Christian, insert your own meaningful festival here and tell us about that instead)
Other than the family getting together and having a turkey dinner, we don't have any. As kids, we did wake up to find Easter baskets filled with chocolate and a small gift. I can't wait to have my own kids to start our own Easter traditions!

6. What’s your favourite book that you have read so far this year?
I am seriously slacking when it comes to reading; I've only read Bossypants by Tina Fey. I plan to remedy that soon and start reading more. I miss it.

7. Do you have any magazine subscriptions or recommendations that we should know about?
I've never really been one to have a magazine subscription. I did subscribe to Martha Stewart for a little while though!

8. Favourite etsy store (if you know the owner IRL, also include your favourite that you didn’t originally know IRL)?
I browse Etsy every so often, but don't have a favorite store. I did recently buy some washi tape from here though.

9. If you had play money (£100/$150) that could only be used on shoes, what shoes would you buy?
I need a new pair of every day runners. Not sure what brand I would buy, just whatever catches my eye.

10. If you were going pet shopping tomorrow, what would you choose?
A dog. I've been wanting a dog for so long that it's driving me crazy. We're not allowed to have pets in our townhouse though, so I'll have to wait a few more years.