My poor kitty!

This is our kitty Maxi. We found her abandoned in our bush about 3 years ago nearly starved to death. She has been one of the best pets that we've ever had. She is incredibly gentle even with Owen pulling at her tail and ears. Unfortunately this past weekend she stepped in a trap and broke her leg. After taking her to the vet's she is stuck with a cast for 6 weeks. She's not too impressed.

We're having a hard time keeping her in the house and she wants to be outside more than anything. Poor thing walks around dragging her cast. She reminds me of a pirate with a peg leg, lol!

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery.

this has been on my mind lately...

I sometimes wonder if we are all meant to have a certain size body. Everyone knows that we all have a different shape and each is beautiful in its own ways. I started a long journey back in 2006 when I joined a weight loss challenge at work. I knew that I was overweight but the number on the scale that stared back at me shocked me to no end. To be honest I wanted to lie when they wrote down my starting weight. At 5 ft 2 I was 190lbs. With a smack in the face I started to eat better though I didn’t exercise much. I was super strict in my food choices. Not too many carbs, no alcohol, no processed foods of any kind and definitely no cookies or donuts. I ended up winning the challenge with having lost 33lbs in 12 weeks. But I didn’t stop there. I kept going till I got close to my final goal. When I started my goal was to go down from an 18 to a 14, then I went to a 12, then a 10 and finally I came to rest at an 8! I was shocked and amazed. Although I missed my goal of hitting 130 lbs I stopped at a132.I always thought that I was a big boned girl and that’s how I was. After loosing 58lbs I found this small petite woman inside.

The year that I turned 30 I was in the shape that I wanted to be for the most part. I’ve never had a firm toned stomach and after 2 kids I knew it wasn’t going to happen. Then I started to try and balance out my eating so that I wouldn’t loose more. But I found that I ended up gaining 10bls that summer I turned 30. It was also at that time that Ron and I decided to have another baby. When I became pregnant with Owen I was about 144lbs. I took the liberty during my pregnancy to eat whatever I was craving. I didn’t have massive cravings but what I did was very not healthy for me. Can we say pizza pops and pop tarts? I gained 60lbs.

After Owen was born I struggled with the eating thing again. How to eat enough to nurse Owen but still loose weight? I’m still trying to loose weight and Owen is almost 2 years old. To be honest I haven’t gone back to that strict eating. I’m not sure what my weight is because my scale is broken. I do know that my size 8’s of yore are buttonable but not pretty looking. There is a whole muffin top coming over top those jeans. I’m wearing the same size tops but my parts are weird. The 10s are a bit big but the 8s are not right either.

I’ve come to the conclusion that I can’t go so strict on my diet anymore. I know that I can maintain this level of weight, after all I’ve been doing it for the past year. Maybe that 10lbs that I gained before I got pregnant with Owen was my body’s way of getting its equilibrium back. I’m not sure. I do know if I go back to eating very strictly I can loose weight. But isn’t it healthier to stay at a normal (for me) weight than to be constantly jumping back and forth between numbers on a scale? I know that even though I do weigh a bit more that I did before Owen that I still feel strong. I’m exercising and eating well. I don’t stress out about having a glass of wine every now and then or splurging on a cookie. I’m learning to love this body, whatever the weight, for what it can do. I’ve been able to give birth to 3 beautiful children naturally, I can nurture them with nursing, cuddling and holding. I can pull 5 kids in a sled for 45 minutes and not collapse in a heap in the driveway. Maybe I need to just focus on my ability and worth as a mom instead of focusing on a number on a scale or a label. My self worth and self esteem is not connected to a number on the scale or a number on a label.

a couple of more :)

This weekend I got a bit of a chance to do some scrapbooking. I didn't get as much accomplished as I did last weekend but I'm still happy with what I came up with. I used up the rest of my Bo-Bunny papers. I made some use of my new snowflake punch (Martha Stewart) and added some Prima pearls and bling. Love the look of those pearls :)

I stretched myself a little with this layout. I took part in a layout race at http://www.scrapshotz.com/ and this is my interpretation of the layout I was to lift. I used a Heidi Swapp invisibles paper inked with blue iris chalk ink. Then I layered on some marshmellow glimmer mist, then wiped the ink off the circle design. Love how it turned out.

simple pleasures

right now I've got a couple minutes of peace and quiet while the kids watch a movie with a snack. Its been one of those days where the boys sound like Caillou (oh joy) and it seems like I'm constantly feeding them. I'm seriously thinking that one has a tapeworm or something ;)

So I decided that before my patience runs out I need to get some postive thoughts for my sanity. I've been kicking around an idea for a post that most likely result into a scrapbook layout so here goes :)

Rebecca's simple pleasures on a day with whining kids...lol!
*1st cup of coffee in the quiet of a morning
* scrapbooking packages in the mail (who saw this one coming?)
* snuggling up with dh in bed...he keeps me warm cause I'm always cold.
* hot cup of chai green tea it refreshes my soul
* Freshly washed babies, especially mine ;)
* driving my truck
* the kids laughing
* feeling muscle pain after exercising
* not having to do dishes
* going for a warm bubble bath without hearing "MOM!!"
* dark chocolate truffles
* freshly printed photos
* a day out to scrapbook, doesn't happen much but when it does I practically skip out the door
* yoga pants, a hoodie & fuzzy socks
* a clean kitchen
* my mom's Ukrainian food (oh so yummy!)
* Strawberry pie, pecan pie and lemon meringe pie made by my Grandma and mil respectivly
* fresh bread
* finding a supper that no one complains about
* warmed by the sun clothes
* floating on water

I'm sure I have many more and maybe I'll add to the list but right now my son is stuck in the toybox and he can't get out, lol!

New layouts to share

So this weekend my husband blessed me with a day off to go scrapbooking and I have to say it was by far one of the best Valentine's presents that I have ever gotten. I came back so refreshed and energized, totally needed for this mom :) I managed to scrapbook 10 layouts, YAY! for kits :) This following layouts are created with the Memory Workshop February kit featuring Bo0Bunny papers. I still have a bunch of supplies from this kit to do more with.

Also on almost every layout I used my new cricut cartridge "songbird" which has a fabulous font in my opinion :)

And look mom! I used purple!

These layouts were created with the Just Cre8 January 2009 kit featuring Crate papers' Prudence collection. Some of my favorite colors are in this kit. So much fun to work with.

The new EK Success large scallop punch that I got from Srapshotz...love this border punch :)

these chipboard dillweed shapes are from Riff Raff designs and are so cool!

using the Just Cre8 kit I also made a mini album with the 7 gypsies acrylic tag album. Ron was baptized this past summer and I wanted to scrapbook the occasion.

all my photos loaded backwards... but I've left space for Ron to journal.

can I get some help?

Can get your vote as to your top 3 layouts? Each layout has a letter in the caption so you can easily vote. Thanks so much!

in honor of Valentine's Day

my dayhome kids and I made heart shaped cookies. This is my brownie cookie recipe with a twist...peanut butter chips & chocolate chips instead of straight chocolate. Now I need to avoid these darn things :P

just a quick one from the weekend

We spent most of the weekend home due to the boys being sick. Managed to head out for a walk Sunday morning in the hopes of getting some fresh air (ie not sickie air) for my kids when I managed to catch this photo. I can't wait to scrapbook this one!

Online crop productivity

Its been a little hard to actually get to a scrapbooking crop lately so I was able to join in at an online crop at Scrap Shotz (http://www.scrapshotz.com/) this weekend. Loved being able to "scrap" with others and complete challenges. Here's what I got accomplished. This one was for a Clean Energy challenge. I'm so tickled about this layout. Its based on a box that I got Owen's first pair of Umi shoes in. Loved the color scheme and graphic look of it so I kept it. Just made with Bazzill and my cricut.

This layout was a bit more time consuming cause I dragged out my sewing machine. My mom would be so proud. The challenge was to do a patchwork denim layout. I used my 6x6 pad of Basic Grey papers, Fancy pants transperancy/chipboard, Making Memories blossoms/denim brads, my cricut, SU! cardstock and plastic flowers.

This layout was for the "knock off'" challenge. I had to do a direct lift from the gallery. I chose a layout done by Jillian and loved how this turned out. Photo of Owen is by Adrienne Ulliac. Papers are by 3 bugs in a Rug, Jenni Bowlin, bazzill cardstock, October Afternoon journalling card, SU! diecuts, Pebbles Inc. chipboard, Bo Bunny brads, Heidi Swapp ghost heart and stickles.

This layout was done for a Ruffles challenge. I used Bazzill, Bo Bunny papers and brads, SU! ribbon, Heidi Swapp flowers & ghost heart, Martha Stewart punches and stickles.

This layout was for a 80's Big is Better challenge. Sorry Dena I had to use a photo from the 80s and this is what I had. Love the mullets, eh? Scribble Scrabble papers, Bazzill, Martha Stewart punches, Scenic Route chipboard, Prima flowers (I think) Doodlebug stickers.

some craftiness going on :)

So Abby and I found this super cute idea in a scrapbooking magazine (Scrapbooks Etc.) and decided to modify it a bit for her Valentine's treats for her classmates. We made it a bit more simple than what was shown in the magazine but it totally worked and looks super cute! All you do is punch 2 scallop circles out of cardstock (I used spellbinders nesties for mine) and punch a circle out of white paper, add a cute word stamp (7 gypsies) and a heart (Stampin' Up!) use tape to adhere both scallops to the flat lollipop. Embellish with ribbon. Super easy and it makes a cute Valentine for her classmates. Best thing is I only had to buy the lollies as I had all the other supplies. Big surprise.

These portfolios uploaded backwards but you'll get the idea. I managed to get some 7 gypsies large portfolios from a scrapbooking store that was going out of business for $2/pack. I ordered 3 cause I thought "well I have 3 kids I'll do something with them" . Open the package and find out that they come 2 to a pack so now I have 6. I used up 3 and I'm not sure if I'll use the others, if anyone wants them let me know :)

So basically I altered them so that each kid could have a place (meaning I could have a place) for all those papers and stuff that are important like swimming report cards, certificates and various bits of their lives. Not saying that everything goes in there, I'm still a purger by nature. Boy that sounds bad but I can't keep everything. Too much stuff sucks the life out of my house (except in my scrapbooking room, that's sacred)

so each kid has one now, complete with their names curtisy of my cricut (winter woodland font),
their picture and some cute paper.

it was also great to use up some stash that I had laying around. Like these diecut papers, never quite knew what to do with them but had to have them. Now they are used and I'm happy :)

Ethan's portfolio includes his Yellow belt certificate from Tae Kwan Do and his Honorable Mention certificate amoung other things.

Yes, I did use my labeller that Ron got me for Christmas ;) love that he gets me.

Inside of Owen's. Not much in his yet, except his baby dedication certificate.

And just a layout that I did for the fun of it this weekend. I had made a mental note to take a photo of Owen in his crib before he outgrew it. Such a bittersweet moment, going from the crib to a real bed, moreso cause he's my last baby. Sniff, sniff.

October Afternoon papers & journalling card, SU! ribbon & cardstock, chipboard word from my stash that I have no idea where it came from.

I have actually other layouts to share but can't right now cause they are on deck for a class that I'm teaching in the next month or so. I'll post some sneakies soon.

This picture tells a story

It may not look like it but it does. It says its been so nice outside that the boys and I have been walking through our bush almost everyday. Which in turn means that *I've* been getting exercise! How can I not when I'm always pulling between 2-5 kids ;) On another note I've begun to exercise again and it feels great! Every muscle I have, and didn't know I had, is sore.

Back into the swing of things

I'm finally starting to feel like my old self again after being so sick with a bad throat/sinus infection + cough. It seemed like this sicky season hung on for a very long time. I can't believe how much energy it sucks out of you to be sick. And how much energy you seem to have once you get better :) I was very happy to head over to my sister in law's on Saturday to scrapbook. It has felt so good to get back to doing what I love to do. I brought the November Memory Workshop kit and just printed out some photos and a tool kit. Sometimes its so freeing to limit yourself to a few supplies. I did bring some extra basic cardstock for myself just in case.

Very weird to use AC thickers again. I haven't really touched them since I got into the habit of using my cricut. It does require a bit more planning of titles and such because you are limited to a certain amout of letters.

I've got so many brads of all different colors that I decided that I need to use them up more. So I accented the scallop around my journalling block (circle) The white thickers didn't come from the kit, but my stash.

I did this layout at home and I did use my cricut to cut the squiggle from the calligraphy cartridge. I put pop up adhesive behind it and cut out the label style journalling block from a rectangle. I used the Scenic Route chipboard words as my title.

Love this photo! My cousin Adrienne took it (www.photographybyadrienne.ca/blog) Loved the little onesie that Owen had on that day. It came from The Children's Place and says "Chicks dig me" :)

This photo was taken on Christmas day and shows my kids at they're typical behaviors. I just love documenting stuff like this!

Scrapping in the new year...

After being so sick and busy I've finally got a chance to scrapbook this holiday season. My monthly kits have been piling up and making me feel guilty so I figured time to bust them out. This was the October kit from the Memory Workshop. I had to scrapbook Ethan's main obsession with joke telling and basically anything humorous. I don't think that he ever starts a conversation without saying "Do you know what's funny?"

This was a photo from this past Easter. It was so great to get a photo of my mother in law and my son :) I'm totally loving the jillibean soup journalling spots (in kraft and white) such an easy way to add your journalling.

I'm a huge fan of fall photos and always seem to have an abundance of them. Loving how the glitter chipboard accents the photos. (glitter chipboard is by Pebbles Inc.)

I just picked up this cute paper from Jillibean Soup and I thought it was perfect for this oversized photo of Abby. I wanted to bring some color to the kraft and brown combo so I added this cardstock from Stampin' Up! (Tempting Turquoise) that really brings out Abby's eyes. A little bit of Prima pearls and a journalling spot to finish up. I added some butterfly punches (Martha Stewart and Cuttlebug)

In an effort to use my cuttlebug embossing folders more I added a strip of embossed paper (houndstooth) as a mat for my photo. This papers are from the September Memory Workshop kit. I had to change the alphabet stickers because the color wasn't right so I colored them in. The photo was taken by my cousin Adrienne (www.photographybyadrienne.ca/blog)

Same kit but I wanted to document a part of my daily routine that was very important to me :)

This photo just makes me smile. Its crazy hard to get a good photo of my 3 kids so I take what I can get. I really liked this kit, the colors were ones that I found easy to work with.