Well last week was full of highs and lows. Trips to the hospital, injuries, improvements and a whole lot of sugar! During all the chaos, I received some beautiful packages in the mail!!!

The yarn is so gorgeous! Many thanks to Awesome Mom!!!

The bracelet by Dee-Zigns I won during Wish List Worthy’s Pink October Giveaways!

The Katherine bracelet is made from pink freshwater pearls hand knotted on pink silk, and includes a sterling silver breast cancer awareness ribbon toggle clasp.

Halloween was fun. I joined a friend for the morning at a local play group. Ethan stuck to me like glue, but Becca had a blast running free in the gym. In the evening we headed out to our new neighborhood and introduced ourselves as we went along. People were so friendly. Oddly, quite a few of them invited the children in their homes, something I always considered taboo. Egads the candy by the fistfuls! Overly generous, excited neighbors! We were told over and over that not many kids made their rounds anymore.

Thanks for all the compliments on Becca’s costume. It was a fun project! Maybe she will still fit in it next year?!?!?!? hehehe!

I was so miserable, cranky and yucky all over all weekend. A sure delight for my family. We did however, place an order for glasses for both Becca and J AND packed a dozen or so boxes of all that nonessential stuff that lingers about.

I am hoping for a much much more peaceful week, although it is destined to be a busy one. Ethan and Becca are still struggling with colds, as my misery is fading away. Both have been very demanding, needy and draining. It sounds so negative and I hate that, but they have sucked the life out of me this past week. We must feel better soon!

The Opinionated Parent provided an awesome opportunity for me to review a fabulous book, FOREVER ago. As consilation I have written the review over at Being Savvy Halifax, so please go check it out if you are looking for inspiration with the children. I did learn that I am not capable of reading an e-book on my computer. I need to curl up with the book and consume it freely.

Oooo Halloween is less than a week away!!

I love Halloween. The magic of dressing up, challenging your imagination … the spookiness (although downplayed with young children)!

My husband proposed at a Halloween party hosted by the university pub we were attending. hehe. He was a dirty laundry basket, and I was a Post-It Note (last minute costume ideas for cheap!) It was totally a magical moment watching him drop to one knee out on the balcony, under the stars.

Next year I hope to have a Halloween bash at the house, something for the kids to enjoy. I totally wanted to do that this year with our friends, but life is so hectic right now and the apartment is so not party friendly.

Check out Halloween years gone by ….

Are you still contemplating what your little one will dress up as this year? Go check out my article at The Opinionated Parent for some spook-tacular inspiration, a fantastic picture of Becca and a chance to win!

I have one more element to complete this weekend on Becca’s costume and at that point we will reveal her magical transformation!

SHOP (now I have that song from Mary Poppins … “I love to laugh” with the snorts and everything stuck in my head ARG!)! Oooo I love shopping. Our budget and lifestyle do not allow me to really splurge, but then again we appreciate so much more this way. It is hard to explain. Waiting for that item, that perfect piece, just feels so gratifying.

I was introduced to a whole new world of shopping when I was living in California. Not only because you can purchase pretty much anything you can imagine, but due to the friendships I forged there. My friends introduced me to a wide range of open ended toys, yarn, fabric and other lovelies that I had never dreamed of. There are many days I daydream of shopping at Target and the other US stores …

Yet now that I am home, in Canada there is a sense of pride supporting Canadian businesses. Did you know you can search geographically on Etsy and shop local? In these times, when gas prices are insane, the ecosystems are crashing around us due to pollution, shopping at home makes even more sense.

I have attempted in my limited time so far to familiarize myself with local shops in my city, going to them first before heading to the internet. I also have a growing list that I need to format and share with you all soon (it is on my ever growing to-do list, luckily we Canadians hibernate every winter so I will eventually catch up) of online Canadian shops.

I have this insane loyalty to those I adore. Bloggers that I worship, I follow them on their other endeavors (or at least try to), so for me that loyalty extends to shopping too.

I adore Canada, I am so freaking grateful to be back home (even though I miss Target), it makes me feel wickedly good that I am loyal to Canadian shops! It is better for the environment to shop local, and I adore supporting other parents and bloggers!

Do you shop Canadian? Local?

Apples ‘n Oranges is hosting The Ultimate I Buy Canadian Blog Party, all the cool people are in on it

phew. What a week. Really really glad it is over. Honestly it wasn’t bad, just exhausting.

This morning J took the kids so I could have some time to myself. It is a windy, windy day, so I worked on clearing out the 1300 emails (really I am so terrible at clearing it out) that had accumulated and attempted to finish up a few projects. I am happy to see around 88 emails now and some designing done! w00t!

I have been trying to pamper myself a little. So much of this past year has been dedicated to the other people in my life, very little time has been left over for me. I am a tad bit of a diva and got a little cranky about this fact. I am all about being pampered on occasion and feeling extremely special. J is usually pretty good of filling this need, but he too has been overwhelmed this last year. (Thanks Nic for the awesome polish!)

I find that if I do not take the time to feel good and look good, I get moody and depressed eventually. I am not really into the make up scene and really know very little about the whole process. It has never really been my thing. I envied those girls in high school that always appeared polished and put together.

When Harper Collins sent me, Sephora:The Ultimate Guide To Make-up, Skin, and Hair From the Beauty Authority, I wasn’t sure if it was something I could utilize or if it would just be pretty. I was pleasantly surprised and captivated. The book is down to earth and has practical tips, even for the make-up naive like me. I have been attempting to put a little make-up on every time we go out in honour of the book. The tips on sleep and skin intrigued me. Rather than pushing expensive chemicals, the author encourages more sleep, eating well, and goes on to explain why good foods are good for you inside and out. the spoon in the freezer, to treat pimples … yup totally works! Brings down the swelling, and redness! w00t!

A little knitting always helps the emotional state. These socks were cast on last JULY … so hey at least I finished them in less than a year. Sweet, wool socks all ready for SUMMER. I am a tad late for the Earth element for Project Spectrum too. Shhh our secret k? I also finished my first sewing project with my serger!!! However you will have to head over to The Opinionated Parent, to check it out (and you could be the next big WINNER!)

All this talk about me, when the weekend is really dedicated to J and his awesomeness. Happy Father’s Day (quick go buy him something for the BBQ!) Hope everyone has a fab weekend!

This week has been rough. My energy is zapped, something I have not been accustomed to since I started running. This time of the month blows. I am feeling the up side now and took the opportunity to super clean the house yesterday.

Our coffee maker broke. I totally panicked. I (heart) this coffee maker. I am so bummed. It isn’t fancy but it brews a mean cup of joe. J, MacGyver-ed the pot so we can continue to use it, it ain’t pretty but it functions. Not only do we not have the funds at the moment, I also want to make sure we get a nice machine. I hate the pressure of something broken, hasty consumer decisions always turn ugly.

I took Becca & Ethan to a Reptile show with friends at the local museum. Becca loved all the facts and seeing the creatures up close and personal. Ethan was a tad crept out, but it was uber busy there which Ethan is never a fan of. It was really fun to watch the kids get so excited about the animals! I even learned something new! Birds … yup they are reptiles. WHO KNEW? Not I. Good thing I am not home-schooling this bunch!

I think after a hard week, some shopping is in order. The kids need summer hats and I wanted to check out some running shoes. 

Don’t forget it is Father’s Day this weekend. I plan on moderately spoiling J. He is so the best Dad ever.

Check out The Opinionated Parent for an article I wrote and a contest!