Life Love Laughter Linds

…hubby.   Kev’s the best.   I know I don’t always show how much I appreciate him (and his hard work) but I really do.   He is an amazing husband and father and I can’t imagine how different (and lacking) my life would be if we had not met.

…kids.   They light up my lives.  Two very active, excitable, crazy little monkeys come with their challenges and endless patience-testing occasions, but moreso, they come with hugs, cuddles, kisses, funny antics, and a ton of moments that make me stand back in awe and pride that I am so blessed to be their mother.

…kitchen gadgets.   I figured I should get the important stuff out of the way first, but now that everyone knows my priorities are straight I want to rave about my new T-Fal Actifry!   (Check it out on the T-Fal website.)   Kaleb won’t eat potatoes unless they’re in french fry form and I was feeling guilty feeding him the frozen variety too often (and let’s be honest, baked from frozen just doesn’t cut it.)   I tried fresh cut oven baked but they never came out ‘perfect.’  Always too crispy on the outside and hard in the middle, or mushy, or just yuck.   The Actifry has solved my problems and it only uses a tablespoon of oil!   We’ve used it for diced potatoes and I’ve made fries a number of times (easy-peasy to cut thanks to my Kitchen Stuff Plus house brand potato chipper.)  They come out golden and crispy.  Don’t be fooled though – this is no quick and easy fryer.  Still takes a good 30 – 40 minutes and it costs a pretty penny.   We got ours at Home Outfitters with a 25% off  coupon and I know they’re also available at Sears.    I still have to try wings and it came with a recipe book so I won’t be stuck on ideas.  I figure it’s an investment if I use it a couple times a week – I’m just a little sad it can’t make Olliebollen healthier!  To see some other reviews, just look up Actifry on YouTube.\

We’ve been busy, busy around here… but I promise to update soon with more insight into what’s been going on.    Big weekend ahead – Kaleb gets to meet his t-ball coach and pick up his uniform tomorrow.  Kev has 3 games this weekend.  Kaleb has a birthday party… and if the boys can manage to not beat each other up, we’ll probably be seeing the new Shrek movie too!

I’ve been remiss in my posting but I have a good excuse.  Really!  Honestly!  We’ve been busy and THIS weekend is only going to get a whole lot busier.  I’m sure I posted about my ‘worries’ re: the whole daycare situation…. well it’s worked itself out for now and I’m looking after a good friend’s little boys for the mornings.  They’re close in age to my monkeys and the school schedule is the same so it works well all around.   This week was our first with this switch up in the schedule and while it’s going well, change always takes it toll on us.

Speaking of change, thanks to my magnificent, wonderful, generous mother, Kev & I put a huge dent into our main floor rejuvenation project.   Mom (and Dad, I suppose), took the boys last weekend (while tending to my youngest brother recovering from knee surgery – brave souls!)  The absence of my precious babies means that we were able to tackle the next step, also known as Phase 2:  Painful Painting.

I *HATE* painting… but we limited our arguments and got it done.   The 2 family/living rooms are finished minus the trim work and a couple spots I have to touch up on the ceiling because I find the paintbrush/roller unwieldy.  Seriously, a roller or paintbrush has a mind of it’s own and my inherent clumsiness has no bearing whatsoever on any of the flaws speckling my main floor.

After all my agonizing over the paint colours (and thinking I was thrilled with them), I have to say they look a lot different on such a broad space and different between rooms due to the lighting.   I wasn’t thrilled first off (but seriously, ANYTHING is gonna look better than it was!) and now that we’ve lived with it for a week, I’ve grown accustomed.  Perhaps I don’t love them but they work.  (Although I did a test patch of “A Quiet Moment” and it makes me smile…. really, I love it that much.  I can’t wait to do the kitchen!)

Saturday, we didn’t get down to work til about noon… and worked our butts off sanding and priming until about 6.  Stopped for dinner and started on the first coat of  “Cup of Cocoa” in the family room (fireplace).   Saturday morning, we got a slightly earlier start and finished the 2nd coat in that room and got both coats on in the living room (front room).   Then we slapped on two quick coats of  “Traditional” and after cleaning up and seeing midnight, we called it a weekend.   “Traditional” looked like chcolate pudding being spread on the walls.   Kaleb said he wanted to lick it!

The project:

What with Mother’s Day and the youngest monkey’s birthday tomorrow, this is what we’re living with in reno world.  Not so bad and I’m excited to pick out my accents and know what I’m on the lookout for scheme-wise.

On a completely unrelated topic, J has requested popsicles (not cupcakes) to celebrate his birthday tomorrow with the kids.  He wants chocolate popsicles.  I’m fine with that – it’s his special day!   For the life of me though, I could not remember what were in pudding pops (duh, just pudding!).    I googled it and came across this blog which I will definitely be bookmarking:  Culinarily Obsessed.   It hasn’t been updated in a while but she has some quick and easy recipe ideas and I want to explore some of her links.   Yum!

Sounds relaxing, doesn’t it?   Well let me tell you, it wasn’t!  Selecting paint colours stresses me out.  I don’t know why.  Maybe because I have no eye for decor and HATE the painting process – so whatever I choose, I’m stuck with until it’s so bad I can’t live with it anymore.   (Helloooo?!? 6 years in a 7 year old house and we still have builder white on the walls!)

Friday night we thought we’d get a start on our remodel beginning with a trip to Home Depot.  Usually I love browsing at Home Depot but Friday night we had two cranky kids with us who didn’t want to sit still and then, after multiple trips to the bathroom, Mommy had enough, Daddy had enough and all we did was pick out our paint and supplies.     After all the suggestions on my Facebook note query, we opted for “A Quiet Moment” for the kitchen, with “Traditional” as our accent wall and “Cup of Cocoa” as our main colour throughout.    It sounds peaceful… maybe some of it will transcend into our daily lives!   Altogether, it reminds me of one of those winning scratch Crossword cards…. so maybe we’ll win with this combination?  (I tried for chocolate cupcake instead of traditional but Kev just wasn’t buying it…)

They don’t quite look the same on the screen… which was a whole other frustration.  I  *knew* that colours on screen will not be the same as the chip in store but I spent quite a bit of time selecting a whole other pallette online and got to HD only to decide I didn’t like it after all and couldn’t find any equivalents that made me happy.

Saturday we started Phase 1: Deconstruction.   The carpets (eww!) and underpads made it out.  We pried off all the baseboards and decided they weren’t worth salvaging.   Spent a lot of time trying to contain dust and cleaning up debris.   Forgot to feed the kids (Mommy, we’re really hungry!).  We decided to call it a day.   The boys were cranky after being brushed aside and told repeatedly to stop throwing toys across the floor.    We took them out for dinner and bought a little bit of happiness at the local Kinsmen carnival.  Kaleb is a little ride junky! 

Sunday, we finished some of the tidying and then patched the gazillion holes and dents in the wall.  Yikes!   That also required a lot of furniture shuffling.  It’s amazing how over-optimistic I am when it comes to these things.   3 days later and the kids leave slippers or shoes on in the house, half the patches have been sanded down, and a coat of paint has yet to hit the walls.

On the plus side, it looks like we’re making progress (or a big mess)… and we only fought two or three times!  (Kevin is a patient, patient man ♥)

Living Room (Dining Room) from front entrance:

Carpeted Stairs – how should we cut the carpet?

Family Room (Great Room) from eat-in kitchen:

Looking through to front door from fireplace in family room:

Check out previous post for my design dilemmas!

Who knew?!? Apparently Diana Ross is associated with the Supremes… not the Temptations.  I don’t know my Motown but am finding Family Feud on Facebook (one of my new time-wasters) a great tool to point out that I:
a) don’t think like the general population
b) am clueless when it comes to, well… alot of things!

My other new time-waster is the NY Times Crossword app for my iPhone.  Love it.  Also a big huge fan of Yahtzee (iPhone), Word Whomp (Pogo), and Bejewelled (Facebook & iPhone).   Hmmm…too many distractions in this crazy life!

I have to say with this wonderful weather, I’ve been heading outdoors a little more often and my reading has fallen by the wayside.  Yikes!  I feel like I’ve lost a friend…. but that Mr. Sun is just so warm and welcoming, my fingers itch to get dirty and my legs just want to wander so those books aren’t calling as loudly.   I’m sure once the summer heat arrives, I’ll be lounging with a book in hand and enjoying the sun, but for now, the great outdoors are calling.

Now that we’re down a vehicle, I find I’m taking advantage of the beautiful days and walking more – keeps me from going stir crazy when I’m home during the day.   Usually it’s just a quick jaunt around the block – fresh air for Mommy, burns some energy for whichever of the monkeys are home with me and I feel good.   Today I thought I’d be a little more ambitious and extended my block – to major intersections rather than just around our neighbourhood.

I walked 4.5 kilometres (3.79 miles) in just over an hour – we got distracted by the sights and had a nice chat with a random lady.  Justin walked partway and hopped in the stroller – for most of the hills!  My legs are not used to some of the inclines and my hips are sore.  I haven’t walked this route EVER and don’t think I quite made 4.5 kms last spring/summer when I was walking somewhat regularly.   I’m not used to it yet but it was invigorating!  This may become a regular route for Justin-only days.   I got home and calculated the calories burned:  roughly 352.   Sad!   Although that’s better than nothing, I was curious as to “what” it burned off:   a little more than a medium Tim’s Iced Cap and a little less than a Starbucks Grande Caramel Frappucino with whip.  Thank goodness I’m not drinking those daily and no wonder I’m not losing weight!

On a side note, Justin loved the sights along the way.   We saw the usual:  dogs, squirrels and random birds but extra special, we saw a bluejay, a cardinal, a chipmunk and a tiny purple flower that randomly sprang up in the woods.    I also saw a few trees and flowers that I covet for my garden – is it a magnolia that has the large pretty pale pink blooms?  I love those! 

We bought our LAMINATE!   (It’s not hardwood – sigh! – but we’re hoping it holds up to the wear and tear of kids and the dog better.)  Our home renos will start this weekend, I think!   Yay for updating!   Fresh paint, new floors and less clutter will hopefully make a HUGE difference.    So now I have some design questions (because I have no eye whatsoever for decor!)

Which way would you lay the laminate?    When you walk in the front door, the entrance is tiled and you’re facing west.   It’s open into the “living room” (actually a dining room), with the carpeted stairs off the left, entrance to the kitchen beside the stairs and through the dining room is the wide doorway and half wall separating the “family room” (great room.) with the fireplace.   It’s all very open concept.   The 2 rooms combined are about 17′ x 30′.  It’s only 17′ at the widest points as our rooms all have peculiar angles.   Would you run the laminate wood the length of the two rooms (perpendicular to the tiled entrance, fireplace and two western windows beside the fireplace) or would you run it across, parallel to the fireplace, halfwall, tiled floor, etc?

Second, at the stairs would you butt the laminate planks right up against them?  Or would you leave a landing area?  If you left some carpet behind, how big an area?  The width (or slightly more) than the depth of a step or bring it out and angle to flow with the walls?  Like I said, we have a lot of odd angles in the house!

Thirdly, what colours would you paint my walls? I know, a personal choice… but I can’t decide!  Especially because I don’t have furniture for both rooms and it’s not in the budget.   We’ll be sticking to our blue set, moving the tv into the “living room”, and tossing the ivory loveseats (not kid or dog friendly!)  I’m not sure what purpose the “family room” will then serve – but I’m sure it will become more of a playroom/kid-friendly zone.    Our kitchen cabinets are light (maple), our counters are a mixed brown, and the hardwood is darker with a red undertone.   Decisions, decisions.

I’ll post some pictures in a secondary post so you can get a visual 🙂  Ignore the mess – I didn’t clean up first!

…is exactly how I’ve felt this week.  The kids have been miserable and bickering with one another non-stop.  The rain didn’t help.   Thank goodness yesterday and today were a bit nicer.

In between early mornings, restless sleepers and a midnight trip to emerg with a croupy monkey, I’ve been feeling worn out.   I’ve been tired and cranky which turns into lazy!  So my house was a disaster too…  I know I should be positive and look at all the things I can be grateful for but it’s been difficult to see the bright side of things the last few days.

I need to remember to cast my cares, stop worrying and follow peace.  To lean on others and not feel guilty when I need a break.    I’ve never been good with changes and decisions (as much as I can get quite excited about them!)   Here is what’s been niggling at my brain this week:

* Justin… is sick again.  This kid doesn’t seem to stay away from the sniffles for longer than a week.  As mentioned before, we (read: I) ended up taking him to emerg one night because he woke up wheezing and barking (and then screaming in pain) so badly.   We were fortunate to be seen within 15 minutes of arriving (never happens here!) and then sat through 2 hours of treatment.  The respiratory therapist was great (made a game out of the mask and said Justin was a dragon).   Keep praying that he gets (and stays) well, please.   He needs his strength and has a hard time fighting things off.

** We are now down to one car.   Kev’s lease was returned and he’ll be driving “my” car into work.  This is a good thing (I think) but it will be an adjustment.  I’m a little worried I might start to go stir-crazy being housebound.   Yes, I know we can walk…but it’s B’ville.  Really, what’s there to walk too?   I was (see next paragraph) limited to one or two days a week running errands before… but I took advantage of those days when I didn’t have daytime daycare placements to go out and about.  Doing groceries, meeting friends for lunch, hitting the library, etc. were all done on Wednesdays or Fridays and left weeknights free to just hang out at home.   On a positive side, we’ll be saving a bit of money!

*** I am down two daycare kids as of last week.  Their mom is on mat leave and while we’re excited for their family and soon-to-arrive baby, I don’t have a clue what to do myself.  This family was a big chunk of my income but with summer right around the corner and only having 2 kids on a part-time basis for those 8-9 weeks, I’m not sure whether I should advertise for more summer placements (good money but long weeks!) or hold-off until the next school year starts and keep it strictly before-and-after. To wait until September will mean a few really lean months but a lot less stress… gah, I hate decisions!  It also affects any vacation plans we may have had (see next paragraph.)

****  Our summer vacation plans have gone out the window as of yesterday due to funds needed elsewhere.  We weren’t going to do anything truly exciting but I was going to take at least 2 weeks off and Kev at least one.  We weren’t sure whether we were going to stick around home, road trip, camping or what, but it was in the works.   Now we’re replacing carpets on the main floor.  Diesel had a vicious encounter with the existing carpet and underpad.  We’re missing chunks of both and the carpet was torn all the way back a couple feet and now has an ugly (noticeable) split in it.  We were planning on replacing it eventually… but that was projected for at least another 2 years.   Maybe we can camp out on the new hardwood.

*****  Why are there so many freakin’ hardwood options out there?  I know I don’t want anything too dark, but we brought home some samples and I don’t think I want anything too light either.  I don’t have an eye for decor either so the whole fact that we have very light kitchen cupboards throws me for a loop.   I have a few top runners but my reasons why they’ve made the cut are very varied and include eco-friendliness (bamboo), grain (maple/oak), as well as pricing/financing options.   On the bright side, Kev will take some time off and we’ll work on this project weekends and while kids are in school…. and paint my walls! (So not only do I have to make a decision on hardwood but I have to pick out paint colours, too?!?)

*Sigh*  I know that was a long, not-very-positive reflection… but I’m hoping this week will resolve alot of my concerns and maybe have some happier, sunnier days. 

(PS – anyone have any good venue ideas for a 3rd birthday in the beginning of May???  I’m hoping for sunny, warm weather and maybe we can do a picnic in the park…but last year was cold and drizzly!)

I’m so glad it’s spring!   Sunshine, raindrops, cool breezes, green grass and buds galore!

I wrote a whole post and went to publish when Explorer decided to crash… so I’ll recap our Easter activities here:

Tuesday: 

Sunday:

I don’t often have music on in the house – I’m not exactly certain why, but I lean towards the reason having something to do with the chaos and noise that surrounds this household.   We’re loud!    There is usually one afternoon a week that the house falls silent – Kaleb and the daycare kids are at school, I have no errands to run and Justin is quite content to hang out with Mommy.

These are the days I turn on the radio, pick a digital channel on Rogers or actually use my iPod or the iPod feature on my iPhone.   On a very rare occasion, I’ll pick up one of the kids music cds or dvds (this depends on my patience level and weighing whether the entertainment value will outweigh the annoyance quotient).

 Today, I went even rarer and popped in one of Justin’s PraiseBaby DVDs.   I highly recommend these for any Christian family with a baby or toddler in the house.  Justin is 3 and still cuddles up on the couch and even if he doesn’t watch it, Mommy actually finds the combination of classic hymns and contemporary church songs quite soothing – a sweet serene soundtrack to balance my otherwise crazy, chaotic existance.

We’re coming through a busy week and quickly approaching what is going to be a very busy weekend. (why does the week following a holiday seem so exhausting?) We have birthday parties, kid-shuttling, concerts, laundry, housework, etc. My kids woke up fighting before 6 am this morning and are super-cranky (not to mention the other children who have invaded my home and brought their grumpies with them.) I blame it on the weather – the gloomy overcast skies are not bringing out the best in people today – myself included. I’m feeling icky with a sore back/kidneys and am hoping the antibiotics fight this infection as quickly as they can!

On to happier things, Easter is right around the corner. It’s hard to believe how fast March seems to have flown by. Someone on Facebook pointed out that we only have 9 months til Christmas! I’m glad it’s spring but I much prefer the warmer sunnier days. We have started our seeds (well, the boys did their seeds) in anticipation of adding them to the garden in May. I still have to finish my planning and decide what I want to grow this year and change my strategies as Diesel digs up everything he can right now. I looked in both the front and back gardens the other day and LOVE seeing the new buds on my shrubs and the sprouts peeking through the ground from my bulbs! Mother’s Day will also be here before you know it – check out the most recent Vintage Pearl contest: The Vintage Pearl: the key to my heart { a giveaway! }. They’ve come up with two absolutely adorable skeleton key designs that you can get stamped to reflect who holds the key to your heart. They are beautifully simple and I really love the first key design (nudge, nudge, wink, wink, Kev!)

I have a funny story about a book (ok, maybe it’s not funny but it will give you a slightly deeper insight into how much I love books.) The other day I went to help one of the monkeys with something and left a library book sitting on the back of thecouch. By the time I got back into the living room, less than 2 minutes later, Diesel had pulled off the cover and a few of the title pagesand left a couple teeth marks in the text. I was rather disappointed in the dog but upset with myself for not putting the book out of the way. I was even more disappointed that it happened to be a book I’d probably have no desire to read again.

Yesterday at the library, I explained what happened fully intending to ‘buy’ the book. The librarian looked it up in the system and decided as it was an older book and has rarely been checked out she would wipe it from the system as damaged – she said it was because the sun was shining and things happen! While my greatest reaction was gratitude at not having to buy the book, as she tossed it into the trash I felt like I had betrayed a friend and wanted to argue that no, really, I will pay for the book – just to save it from it’s fate in the bin. Sad, isn’t it? I refrained and with great appreciation let her do me that favour.

Speaking of the library, while I appreciate being able to reserve in advance, with some of the new releases from authors I enjoy I’m not patient enough to wait my turn to read a copy. I really want to read the new Jodi Picoult novel, House Rules. I’m deep on the waiting list. Just wondering if you’ve read it, if I should invest or if you own it, can I borrow please?

I’ve never purchased on Etsy but I shop (window shop, that is) all the time.  Someone (my mother, perhaps?) asked what I look for and honestly, more often than not, I go to browse rather than looking for a particular something.    I look not only for things to buy but often to get some creative inspiration.

Here are some of my recent Etsy faves:

Garden Love Handmade Buttons
$8.50 USD
Seller:  Tessa Ann

These adorable buttons would look perfect adorning a spring-themed
scrapbook page or handmade card.

Reversible Fabric Organizer Bin
$18 USD
Seller:  Baffinbags

I would love to get some of these to organize the monkeys’ room.  Also available in a variety of other fabrics – they’re all just so appealing!

Tri-Fold Colouring Crayon Wallets
$15 USD
Seller:  GetSassed

These are a great idea for dinners out, waiting rooms and long car trips.  Super-cute to tote around as well.  Also available in other kid-friendly patterns.    These might just make it onto my stocking stuffer list!

Vintage Frame Chalkboard
$28 USD
Seller:  ShabbyChalks

Such a simple idea – especially if you have some extra frames lying around.   I would like to invest (or create) my own for my craft room.   

Cotton Dishcloths
$14 USD
Seller:  AnitaMeadeCreations

Just like Oma used to make…except these are knit rather than crocheted.   Still the best kind of dishcloth around!    Use the Etsy search feature and see how many others pop up.

I also love browsing the vintage.  I saw a fabulous dress yesterday and even more fabulous shoes – unfortunately both were too small and too pricey so I didn’t bookmark as a favourite.   I can’t find the photos today.

There are so many other lovely (and some not-so-lovely) products just waiting to be found.   You (well maybe not “you”, but rather “I”) could spend hours getting lost in the goodies just waiting to be discovered.  You can search by colour, just purchased, just added, location, keywords, etc.   Etsy is a world just waiting to be explored.