Happy Weekend...

Well week one comes to a close and it has been a successful one on the whole. Down 4 pounds in total which proves that my body was ready to get a move on again. (if you are wondering what week one is all about check out this post)

It is also week one with my parents gone. For those who do not know, my parents live in an apartment in our basement and my mom is my daycare provider. They have gone on a month long RV trip through the States with friends...that means no daycare for us...so far I have only had to take the girls to the gallery with me once, other than that my husband and I have been able to spell each other off (he has been able to take some time out of his other job), and we have a friend helping us out on Saturdays. That means I get the first whole weekend away from the gallery in almost two years...I'm kinda excited.

A whole weekend away from work means I can turn my attention to some long forgotten projects around the house. I might...and I stress might...attempt slipcovers for my two armchairs in the living room.

These chairs have seen better days...sort of. They have been in my family since I was a young girl. When my parents first aquired them they were orange vinyl...then they were re-upholstered in the fabric you see here. 

Almost a year ago I bought this fabric...  

and I have been working up the courage to use it on these chairs. I think I have decided that I will try slipcovering them myself. I only paid $4/mtr for the fabric so it seems silly to spend over $300 per chair to re-upholster them especially since I am afraid I won't love the pattern for the long haul...so I figure what the heck...I'll try my hand at slipcovering...If I attempt it this weekend, I will be sure to let you in on the outcome...good or bad. In advance of that if anyone has a good slipcover tutorial or has tried it themselves and can share some tips...I'm all ears.

Apart from that I am looking forward to a nice weekend with my girls and not thinking too much about the gallery.

Hope you enjoy your weekend whatever it has in store for you!

Happy Friday!

Halloween wrap up...

I am not a huge fan of Halloween...I never trick or treated when I was a kid, my parents preferred instead to take my brother and I out for dinner and then to the mall where we could pick out something special.

As a mom I find it a bit stressful. Coming up with costume ideas and then feeling the need to make the costumes myself. Having said that, when the costume is done it is a great sense of accomplishment, but it is just one more thing on the ever growing 'to do' list.

This year we opted for easy...still home made, but easy. The girls went as black cats...a far cry from the original purple sponge that Izzy wanted to be and a whole lot easier. I simply made cat ears and a tail that I sewed onto a black shirt, painted the tip of the tail white, painted on the nose and whiskers, and Bob's your uncle, we had kittens!

They had fun, my husband had fun,and I handed out candy. All in all it isn't so bad. Izzy has already informed us she wants to be a puppy next year...we'll see if that one sticks.

I did partake in a few candies despite it being day one (see post here) however day two has me down 1.5 pounds...so it proves that drinking water and exercise makes all the difference in the world...and it proves it is exactly what my body has been waiting for...hence it's quick response. That result won't be everyday, but it is a good start. And as for the candy...well we threw all our leftovers out and only kept two small buckets for the girls...I can steer clear of that.

I hope every one had a great Halloween.

Happy Tuesday!

Standing on a line...

I am addicted to sugar...some may laugh but it is truly an addiction, and like an addict, I cannot allow myself any sugar or it sets me down a very slippery slope,of desire and craving that eventually gets the better of me.

For those who do not know I am amid a journey to a healthy weight and lifestyle. It began last February after I thought I was having a heart attack and spent the day in hospital. As I sat there wondering what was happening to my body I could not stop thinking about the fact that I have two young daughters...and a daughter who is just at the beginning of her adult life...not to mention my loving husband sitting next to me. What had I done...how did get this far? I was not having a heart attack, but a prolonged anxiety attack they figure. Regardless something had to give.

Long story short I started this journey I am on and have lost 40lbs along the way this far. Except I have slipped...fallen off the wagon as it were over the last couple of months. It happens slowly at first with a small treat here or there and then the old patterns take hold and you fall into the 'but I've been so good' trap or the 'whats one more' trap. Then you get to the 'oh who cares anymore' phase. Truth is I care. And so it is that today marks day one...again. The new goal is to lose another 40lbs. I have not put a timeline on it, but have challenged myself to workout at least 30minutes once every day for the next 30days.

via pinterest

So here I stand...on the line but I am not giving up! This morning was 30 minutes of cardio and weight training...feels good really. So day one is off to a good start.

Happy Monday all! And Happy Halloween!

Allow me to step on my soap box ...

Hello all...Happy Tuesday!
Okay...I'm gonna get on my soap box...about what you ask? Well, about how we choose to spend our money particularly as the holiday season approaches.

As many of you know I own an art gallery/ gift shop, so the idea of buying handmade, local or from a small independent retailer is close to my heart as it affects me greatly.

Handmade necklace out of recalimed wood, by Adea Chung of Billy Would

Buying handmade can have such an impact on so many people on so many levels. Consider how you feel when you get something that has been made for you, and only you, it is a feeling that cannot be compared. Consider how it feels to receive a one-of-a-kind gift that no one else in the world will own except you, and consider how much care and consideration went into choosing that gift specifically for you, because you are special. It's a pretty great feeling right? Now imagine buying handmade for the people in your life, and imagine passing along such wonderful feelings with each gift you give...imagine what a happy holiday season it would be.

Handmade Serving Bowl by Antje Gagne

Consider how it affects everyone when you buy local. Think of your local merchants and remember that they are also your neighbours. If everyone spent just $50 at a local/independent retailers each month the impact would be huge. The 3/50 project is an online movement that began in 2009 as way to encourage and empower people to heal the economy through mindful spending. The statistics (based on U.S. numbers) are staggering; "If just half the employed U.S. population spent $50 each month at independently owned stores, their purchases would generate $42,629,700,000 in revenue". Imagine how that would affect your community, and your neighbours.

Handmade Piggy Bank by Thomas Suh

With the rise of the Occupy Wall Street movement which calls attention to the disparity of income between the upper and middle class perhaps it is time to make some simple shifts in our shopping habits. Simple changes that while individually are a drop in the pond, when we all focus our attention on them, become waves. Think about buying quality over quantity, about buying ethically over conveniently.

I have adopted a slogan of sorts as the holiday season approaches (only 9 Saturdays until Christmas) 'Buy local or buy handmade, either way you will positively affect someone's bottom line, but it won't be Wall Street's.'

Buying local or handmade is a gift that keeps on giving, to you, to your community, to your recipient.

Who is your favourite local merchant, or handmade artisan?

Thanks for sticking around, I'll step off the box now :c) Have a great day!

I'm so touched...

I had an email from a fellow blogger this morning directing me to check out her blog because....she passed along an award to me.

source



Now this fellow blogger is not a newbie like me, she is a well established blogger with more than 100x the followers I currently have. This fellow blogger is one of the reasons I started following blogs...hers was my first and why I decided to take a crack at blogging myself...she was/is an inspiration to me. So to you Lisa Roy  I say thank you. I am honored and touched that you thought of me :c). If you haven't checked out her blog you should.


 

To accept this award, thank the person who awarded it to you

and include a link to their blog. Then choose up to 15 fellow bloggers

that you've recently discovered or follow regularly

to pass the award along to and share 7 things about yourself.


 Okeedokee...7 things about myself...hmmm

1. I love sushi! More than that, I love all you can eat sushi, but I have to learn to stop before I feel like I'm gonna be sick...it ruins the whole experience.

2. My husband is my best friend and I never tire of him (well almost never).

3. Secretly I would love to write a book one day.

4. I have no idea what I would do without my mom...she is amazing and does so much for me...however I'm about to find out as she and my dad take a long deserved month long RV trip.

5. I love being a mom...I wish it came with a paycheck so I could just be a mom

6. I used to be so messy...now I am a perpetual tidier...I hate things out of place.

7. I love the world of blogs...and I look forward to reading my favs each day.

So...speaking of favs...I am choosing to pass this award along to:

10 Rooms
Charcoal and Crayons
House*Tweaking
Life begins at thirty, right?
The marion house book
His & Hers
The Design Pages
Rambling Renovators

Happy Monday All...off to buy a new car...maybe

Happy Friday!

I thought I would share some of my favorite funny things found on Pinterest...my addiction btw...am I alone?

Happy Friday everyone! Have a  great weekend...did you know there are only 10 Saturdays until Christmas...sorry ;)

Shop local or buy handmade...you have the power to affect someones bottom line.

How long does itt ake you to get ready?...

So as I was getting ready this morning I was recalling an episode of  Gail Vaz-Oxlade's Princess where the money maven gets a young woman's spending under control.

First of all, I love Gail, she is an amazing financial expert whose approach to money and debt makes so much sense to the lay person...she should be setting up curriculum in high schools that all teens should have to take before graduating...it would save so many from the throes of debt. I digress...as usual

The reason I got to thinking about Princess is because the young woman that was featured the other night was 26, and it took her no less than three to four hours to get ready each day. Now I'm not talking getting ready for a night on the town, I am talking get ready for work, or school. Crazy right?



9 step dark smokey eye tutorial via pinterest ... 9 steps

 Now this morning as I was getting ready I took stock of what that took for me (not including a shower); 1. select clothes, approx 3min. (this sometimes takes 10 minutes itself if I am feeling indecisive)
2. get dressed, approx 1min.
3. fix hair, approx 5min. (it is really short for this very reason)
4. do makeup, approx 2min.
There you have it, 11 minutes to get ready. Is that enough time? Do I really look ready?



via pinterest

 To me I do. I decide to keep my hair short because I have three children two of them quite young still, I run a household, and own a business, I need life to be as easy as possible. I wear makeup, but not a lot. My regime consists of moisturizer, some blush, a nude eye shadow, mascara (I can do without everything else, but I have to have my mascara on), and lip balm...that's it.  Don't get me wrong I can  doll it up nicely when going out on the town, but lets face it, how often does that happen?

How long does it take you to get ready? Would you ever take 4 hours?

Happy Wednesday All!