Roll With It, Baby

I want to be easy-going.  I want to roll with it.  I want to be someone who believes in the visions of others and helps make those visions happen.  OK, so maybe the last “I want” isn’t exactly on the same level as the first two, but that does not make me want it any less.  Or maybe they are more connected than I first thought?

With respect to the first two – sometimes I am easy-going and sometimes I do roll with it.  But generally, I don’t do either of those behaviours enough (certainly, Ty would likely not describe me as easy-going and / or able to roll with it).  When things are going sideways for me and I feel that incredibly frustrating feeling starting to spread through my chest (is that you Stress?  Is that how you physically manifest yourself?  I suspect that it is you lurking around in there, but I haven’t quite figured out how to trump you yet) I do know that the ensuing period of time is not necessarily going to be fun for me, or for Ty (oh Ty, it's always you who bears the brunt.  You know I want it to be different!).

But I try.  And I will continue to try to because I desperately want to be that woman who is effortlessly cruising through life (or maybe it’s just that she appears that way?  Damn her and her perfect hair and outfit!). 

I read something last week that made me reflect on whether I am that easy-going woman.  Bear with my heavy paraphrasing:  When a nearly 17 year old daughter said to her mother “I want to invite fifty of my closest friends for dinner the week before my seventeenth birthday,” her mother replied  “Would spaghetti be okay?”  When that same daughter, several years later, sent an email to her family that said, “When I graduate from law school in two years, will you all fly out to California to spend the weekend with me, so we can visit my favorite Palo Alto places and go surfing?” her mother said, “Are we going to have to wear wetsuits?”
And when the girl said, “As part of my goal to go to all fifty states by the time I’m thirty, I want to go to North Dakota to run my first half-marathon,” her mother said “I guess I should do it, too.”  And this from a non-runner!  

This is the woman I aspire to be.  Although I am not a mother, I wish to model myself after this mother, who clearly is rollin’ with it every single day.

Word.

ps.
Lots of pictures and announcements coming your way!  Will post tonight when I get home because that is where my camera is!

pps.
yes, I've been delinquent.  Work has been dragging me down (hence the stress-related post).  Will be back to my normal self as of Wednesday!

Will This Guest Post Make Me Famous?

ARice Senior, here.  Yep, that's right- Senior, not Junior.  I was asked to guest blog, so guest blog I did.  I'm pretty sure Oprah wants me after this little gem...or maybe Ellen.  Probably both.  People, let's not worry though...I always have time for the peeps...

So I’m almost finished my Christmas baking. Almost. Shortbread cookies, butter tarts, Nanaimo bars, caramel shortbreads squares (new this year- and TASTY), ginger cookies and chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies. It was a labour of love…and a massive investment in butter and sugar!

Baking is one of the things I love most about the Christmas season. I try my very hardest not to scarf down loads of the stuff while I’m chefing away in the kitchen, but usually fail miserably in this task and wind up languishing on the couch cursing the very moment that my brain told my stomach that consuming mass amounts of unbaked goods was a logical and smart thing to do. This year, I was benefitted by the terrible cold settled in my sinuses and chest (cold=benefit? Strange!), but since I couldn’t taste anything, I really didn’t feel like eating anything, and that means more baking for the masses and less in my tummy!

I know you’re probably wondering what a single 30+ gal could possibly do with all that baking. Don’t worry, I certainly don’t consume it all myself…imagine the junk in the trunk if I did! I love to give my baking away as gifts. This is another thing I love about this whole Christmas season…the gift giving. Such a pleasure to give someone something homemade and from the heart and see their reaction! I work in a school and I can attest first hand that teachers are BUSY people at this time of year. While lots of the peeps are dashing from one Christmas party to the next, teachers are often staying late at school, putting on the Christmas concerts and arranging the millions of Christmas activities that accompany the last week or so of school…and lets not forget those senior and junior high teachers that are spending hours in the gyms supervising other peoples’ children on teams. After all that, who has time for baking? So bake I do…and each and every teacher at my school will get a little bit. Sugar, butter and chocolate make people smile. Especially at this time of year!

I should also mention, along with the baking and the gift-giving, that I find Christmas is the time of year where we spend the time, energy and effort to catch up with people we don’t get to see that often…and even those that we maybe do…and I love that about this time of year. Amidst the atrocious winter weather, icy roads and busy schedules, we just seem to make time to fit in time with those people we love and cherish. And that in itself is a wonderful thing. A fabulous thing in fact. There is nothing like catching up with old friends and the people you love with a lovely glass of red or a warm cup of tea in hand. I like it so much in fact, that this just may in come to be my goal for the New Year (noticed I called it a goal and not a resolution)…more time with the people that really matter. After all it really is about the simple things, isn’t it? Baking. Making someone smile with a gift. Visiting with friends. Just a few of my favourite things…

Cutest kid EVER. Period.

This is Isaac.  A joint effort of Caitlin and Scott.

oooooo -- have I mentioned they are currently cooking up Cutest Child Ever #2?  Well, to be fair, Caitlin is doing the cooking.  Scott has already made his contribution. 

Days that begin with "fri" make me happy!

It’s FRIDAY!

Anything fun going on with you this weekend? What about you? And you?

For me, it’s going to be a relaxing one. So excited. Plan is to hang Christmas lights. And that’s it.

Oh, and a run on Sunday morning with the Quick Runners. Which is good, because I need to get in shape! I’ve decided to join the Master’s cross country ski team (if they will have me) and so, it’s officially on. Must get this bod whipped into shape. So, having a little training sesh with Shaunie at 5:00 p.m. tonight. Look out muscles.

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Pet Envy

Tomorrow

Oh it IS coming.  The decade is winding down, y’all – didn’t you notice?  Well, truthfully, I didn’t.  Until today, when I was doing my usual morning thing, eating granola and reading on-line gossip, when suddenly I realized that Lainey was rambling on about end of the year lists and end of decade lists because...well... the end of the decade is almost upon us.  And then, it suddenly occurred to me that it’s almost 2010 (gasp).


What?  A new DECADE?


Well, bring it Universe, I’m ready.


Because looking back on my life, I can truly say that each year of my life has been better than the last.  And I am going to do my best to keep that trend going.  Certainly, I have experienced change.  And has all that change been ideal for me?  Well, no.  Maybe not ideal.  But have I grown?  Yep, I have. And, big picture, things really are unfolding as they should.  


So, thanks for looking out for me Uni.  Love ya.

More Old School

Old School

What's better than great song lyrics? 

Great song lyrics that tell a story.

Hey - you out there?  Do tell songs you know that tell a story. (please)

Careful - this one will get you.

Click: love

Less words, more photos

Great friends unite.

I know you're surprised that the picture hog below is not Ellis.

  I was too.

Trouble.

5 miler - check.

Breaking our own rule - this pic WAS taken after midnight.

Fresh eats. 

Not innocent.  At all.  Trust.

It really was a marvelous night for a moondance.

Selfie.  Why?  Why not.

oh, hi.

I haven't slipped back into blogger oblivion, I promise.  Stay with me.

So -- strange happenings around old Boreham the last few days.  We had work gloves go missing from our front step this week (2 right gloves went missing on Thursday and then 2 lefts went the following day).  After accusing each other of randomly storing two right gloves and then two left gloves in secret hiding places, we finally realized that (clearly) a man with two right hands (one large Ty-size right hand, one small Ains-size right hand) had slipped onto the front step on Thursday to claim the gloves.  And then obviously a man with two lefts had showed up on Friday to do the same. 

Watch for these guys. And don't be nice to them -- they have our gloves.

The second (less-likely) scenario is that some small furry creature is now enjoying a warm bed of work gloves. 

While on the subject of small, furry creatures, a question:  Do you ever think squirrels check out each other's outfits and wonder who looks best (or give each other the "elevator" -- you know the elevator -- when a girl checks you out, up and down, in the least subtle way possible?  You know it -- we've all been "elevatored" at one time or another...or elevatored someone else.)? Do you think they ever compete over things that really aren't worth competing over?

I don't either.

I'm pretty sure they just keep on keeping on, doing their thing, being the best squirrel that they can be at any given moment, being satisfied with all of their furry squirrel parts.

Word.

That's right, she won a half-marathon.

Did I mention we're related?

 p.s.

nice form.

tee!

Onwards

So, I came across this little dude and something about him made me love him.  Maybe it's his nonchalant demeanor, maybe it's because he actually stretched before he started or maybe it's because he just...keeps...running.  No matter what.




And as an aside, I will pause here to give a little "h. yeah" to Nike (don't hate me Qually).  No swooshes (well, strike that -- maybe they are of the subliminal variety), no "just do its", no obviousness.

And yet here I am, posting their video on my little blog. 


Word, Nike.

Morning Cheese

I know he's a chump, but I heart "Everything".   Judge not, please.

Love the song, not the singer, yo.

Halloweenies

Reenactment (of what, I wish I had been there for).

K-Fed, apres Jenny Craig.

Friendsies.

Best.

Holding my breath until Thursday night -- so damn excited for Winterstart.  Promise to do my best to be one of "those girls"! 

Ladies -- see you there, yo.

More love.

For the tiny little amount of $640, these could be mine all mine.

Hey Universe -- why all the hate? Send some love over on my way (I'll help with a suggestion -- please let shopbop.com have a 95% off sale).

Or, alternatively, you could just have these show up on my doorstep tomorrow:

Yes, please.

Loves. These.




Have I mentioned that I am in hate with my work clothes these days? But, I've hit upon this: just because I'm a lawyer doesn't mean I have to dress like one.

lazy nights = two thumbs up

My last night consisted of the following:

Arrive home at 5, immediately hit the couch and nap until 6. Wake up, go to the bedroom where Ty was napping. Try wake Ty up, realize it's fruitless, so join him in napping until 6:40. Finally wake up and make macaroni and cheese (with horseradish cheddar). Eat a ridiculous amount of Mac n' Cheese. Feel full. Hit couch for a Law and Order. Flip to the National, fall asleep after 15 minutes (as a side note -- what is with the new National set up? The news doesn't really change whether Peter delivers it standing or sitting). Wake up, head to bed.

Bliss.

Every once in a while, a girl needs her Mac n' Cheese and a side of laze.

If you want something, go and get it.

Feelin' pretty glorious today.

Welcome Welcome Little Squawker!

Had myself a little catch up over lunch today -- enjoyed a lovely hour with Sandra and gorgeous little chicken, Viena. Check out that lid!

Get Your Happy On

I’ve mentioned happiness is a choice.

Well, I’m going to mention it again, just so I am sure that we all get it. We truly have one hundred percent control over how we live each day.

And, I’ll admit, I lost control a bit on Sunday night / morning, while I was at the Vegas airport, waiting for our flight that was hopelessly delayed. What, you say? Annoyed at a late flight, Ainsley? Doesn’t that go against this philosophy that you have been trying to live? YES! It does. However – it wasn’t the late flight that made me scream at the airport (yes, I actually screamed. And no, it was nothing witty – it was completely un-inspired screaming), it was those terribly obnoxious people who were also waiting on the same flight as we were. But, needless to say, that’s no excuse. So yesterday, when I woke up after a few hours sleep and noticed that it was a beautiful day out, I re-thought about the previous day and came to the conclusion that I could’ve handled the situation a bit better (ok, a lot better). I have control over how I act -- and so I’m going to use it next time.

Now -- on to the happy stuff!

Vegas was fantastic. A weekend away with Ty can certainly be filed under things that make me happy. Along with the blue skies that we had all weekend (plus 31!)....

...we also had a little bit of fun gambling...(this particular machine was my lucky one -- $1,000 bucks!!)...

...we walked around and enjoyed sights...

... and we had some...interesting...meals...

And we saw two great shows.

All in all it was a relaxing and re-energizing weekend. Thanks Vegas! A good way to commemorate one year!

First time "official" thanks were given at 400 Boreham

Well, the weekend of giving thanks has come and gone and there was much to be full of thanks for:

Hung out with the greatest gals, starting on Thursday night and ending on Monday (with lots of hang out time in between);

Enjoyed great dins complete with wine and giggles (Dear Pizzeria Gusto: please remove the pizza with anchovies on it from your menu…anchovies taste exactly like what they are – little fishy tasting fish. Not even the craziest amounts of salt can cover that shit up);

Went for a gorgeous run with the best runner in the world (we hightailed it out to Fort Whyte) – why does running always seems so much easier when you have a great companion by your side?;

PW’d around the neighborhood with Haney and Andrea dressed in long johns and toques and lest we get TOO healthy while we were powerwalking, we brought down our level of health by stopping at Starbucks for a signature hot chocolate with plenty o’ whip;

Had a wind-up party at a brewery. Seriously. A brewery. Oh, and my team dominated at Flippy Cup (yes, flippy cup – at a BREWERY!!!);

Had Andrea model for my photo assignment;

And….wait for it… Andrea and I cooked a (non free-range) 16 pound turkey with all the necessary trimmings for dinner with Mom, Dad, Ty, A. Gail and U. Craig!

So….

At the end of all the craziness that was visiting and laughing and sipping wine and …suddenly…saying goodbye…I did what I always do at the end of these fabulous visiting weekends. I get upset. I miss everyone more than usual. I start noticing the things I dislike about Winnipeg as opposed to noticing the many wonderful things about my adopted home. This feeling hit me last night at about 7 or so, shortly after: (a) I dropped Andrea off at the airport; and (b) Ginnie began overheating and I was in a crap part of Winnipeg with no heat in my car. I trudged home, plopped myself on a chair and let that wave of feeling sorry wash on over me. And compounding that feeling sorry for myself was the fact that I had to go to my first volleyball game at 9 p.m. on a cold and dreary Tuesday night in a place that I'd never been to before with a bunch of people I didn't know. Urgh.

But, being that I committed to a team, and being of the philosophy that if one signs up for a team sport (or anything, for that matter), one should attend, I hauled my butt to volleyball. And…

I had the greatest time.

I laughed. I met new people. I served underhand (and [mostly] made it over the net). I had the most hilarious “hit” of the night (Ty does a deadly re-enactment).

There just might be something to the old "sweat once a day".

Bullying Ty

Here's a pic from dinner with Lank and Jen on Sunday (remember how I said dinner with friends makes me happy?). Cilantro -- hmmmm. Love, love, love.

and now on to the bullying...

Ty falls asleep the moment his head hits the pillow. Usually, I’m really not far behind, but in those few minutes before sleep, I often do a few things that I’m pretty sure drive Ty crazy.

#1. I put my always-cold feet on Ty (how else am I going to warm them up?); and #2. I talk.

Last night, after my feet warmed up, we talked about blogging and then I bullied Ty into talking about what makes him happy (and not just leaving Costco on a Sunday). Practice makes perfect, right?

After a bit of prodding, Ty got into the swing of it. One of the things he mentioned was that playing ping pong with his wife (!) makes him happy. We did play ping pong last night! Glad I could help in the happiness, Wirv.

p.s. I emerged the victor. Mad skills, MAD skills.

Simple.

Happiness is a choice, right? Isn’t it? Can’t you find the happiness in your life every single day if you just look around a bit? I think you can and I think I can.

So – that’s my new goal for my renewed blog. I want to write about what makes me want to get out of bed every morning. And I want to encourage you – the peeps – to think about it as well.

Guys! This is it! This is our life – let’s make it the best one we can, ok?

I have been driving Ty absolutely crazy by finishing many a sentence these past few days with “________________ makes me happy”. (Snippets from my conversations with Ty over the last few days: “New recipes make me happy”; “Having friends over for dinner makes me happy” and “Falling asleep next to Ty every night makes me happy”.)

Ty is trying to get it, but he’s not exactly at the same point as me (his version: “getting out of Costco on a Sunday makes me happy”).

Fall makes me happy! Blogging makes me happy! Friends + Thanksgiving makes me happy!

Sunny fall days at the camp make me happy.

Gorgeous Isaac makes me happy.