Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy New Year

Here we go into another year. Kind of makes you wonder what we are in for! I usually don't make resolutions. This year is going to be different and I am going to blog it all so I have to be accountable!
I am going to be doing a 3 month no shopping starting tomorrow. I am not happy with how shopping has become a past time of mine. Its not that I spend a lot, but it does all add up. I want to fill my time up with other activities and get a rush from them, not from a great "deal" I found. So no shopping for anything that is not essential and no going into any stores. I am purging myself of it all. Okay, I think I am starting to hyperventilate.......
My second resolution is to get back to my low carb lifestyle. I am a carb addict and I need to purge those carbs! I feel way better when I am limiting my carb intake and the fact that I was gestational diabetic on insulin drastically increases my odds of becoming a diabetic. Add to that, that both my Father and Grandfather were diabetic and the odds are not in my favour. I want to avoid that if I can.
My third resolution is kind of a combination of the other two. I am trying hard to cook more from scratch and more raw foods. After having the twins, it was so crazy here that we relied on processed foods a lot. We just had too to survive. I am not happy with us eating it though and want it out of our lives. It is horrible for us and costs way more than eating healthy. So eat better and save money, works for me!
So that's it.. not much else except maybe trying to finish the book "understanding exposure" and actually "getting" it without having my head explode!
I am turning 40 in 6 months. I hate, hate HATE that. I never thought age would bother me, but lately the fact that this is coming up almost makes me have a panic attack. It really gives me a horrible feeling :( I am determined to go into my 40's better than I went into my 30's. I am hoping these resolutions will help with that.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas

It has been a wonderful Christmas. I had so much fun watching it all through the eyes of my little ones. My twins were old enough this year to "get" some of it, and to enjoy it. They loved opening presents! Kristin is young enough to still believe in the magic of Christmas and Santa.
I received a wonderful present, a macro lens. I am anticipating tons of fun with that! I feel very blessed to have had my family to spend this day with. I know there are lots of people that are not so lucky. We have not lost sight of the true meaning of this day.
Yesterday afternoon I had a call from a local store to tell me I had won a contest they were hosting. I won a $2000 travel voucher to a local travel agency. I think the fun part of it, is being able to dream about where I can go now :)
I hope you all had as a wonderful day and felt the peace and love of this special holiday.





Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Cookies


I love baking. I don't have many opportunities to do much right now but I wanted to make a few cookies to give to friends this Christmas. Nothing says Christmas to me like Gingerbread (or gingersnaps)
Someone posted the recipe on a forum I go too. They are good and great for dunking. Here is the recipe.
Gingersnaps
Hard margarine (or butter), softened 3/4 cup 175 mL
Granulated sugar 1 cup 250 mL
Large egg 1 1
Fancy (mild) molasses 1/2 cup 125 mL
All-purpose flour 2 1/2 cups 625 mL
Baking soda 2 tsp. 10 mL
Ground ginger 2 tsp. 10 mL
Ground cinnamon 1 tsp. 5 mL
Salt 1/2 tsp. 2 mL
Granulated sugar, approximately 1/4 cup 60 mL
Cream margarine and first amount of sugar in large bowl. Add egg. Beatwell. Add molasses. Beat until smooth.Combine next 5 ingredients in medium bowl.
Add to margarine mixture in2 additions, mixing well after each addition until no dry flour remains.
Rollinto 1 inch (2.5 cm) balls.Roll each ball in second amount of sugar in small bowl until coated.Arrange about 2 inches (5 cm) apart on greased cookie sheets.
Bake in 350ºF(175ºC) oven for about 10 minutes until just firm. Let stand on cookie sheetsfor about 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool.
Makes about7 1/2 dozen (90) cookies.1 cookie: 45 Calories; 1.7 g Total Fat (1.1 g Mono, 0.2 g Poly, 0.4 g Sat); 2 mg Cholesterol;7 g Carbohydrate; trace Fibre; 0 g Protein; 62 mg SodiumReprinted from Most Loved Cookies © Company's Coming Publishing Limited

Truck Light Parade

Kristin and I met up with her friend and her friends Mom (who happens to be my friend ) to watch the truck light parade. It was a wet evening but that certainly did not dampen the kids spirits any! The parade was fun. Lots of noise!
(you can click on any of these pics and it will open up bigger)




I love this one :)

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Ornamental Snow






We had a cold spell hit us here, feels like -10 with the wind chill 60km winds and about 6 inches of snow. We seldom get snow, maybe a few days a year and our temps are also very seldom below freezing. Basically it shuts our city down when it gets like this, and because none of us are prepared/experienced to drive in it, it is better that we stay off the roads anyways!





When the kids went down for their naps I went out to take pics. I had no gloves and no winter jacket, so it wasn't long before my fingers and toes were numb and my battery was dead in the camera. I was suprised how quick the cold, sapped the battery.

I am sure the neighbors are completely convinced I am nuts.


I played around with textures a bit with these ones. I am not sure if I like them or not. It was interesting though.






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Our poor little humming birds were looking for some food. Not many flowers to be found now. We made sure their feeder was full, and I will also make sure it gets thawed out a couple times a day.




Thursday, December 11, 2008

Socks


I have a friend who has quite the sock collection. Today I was wearing my new (well newer) socks and they made me think of her. I know she will laugh when she see's this post :)

The path less travelled


While I was waiting in the airport with my Mother inlaw, I saw the neatest clouds out the window. The were layered and looked like waves. I was hoping that they would stay that way until I could get outside and get some pictures. They didn't last long enough for me to do that so I went looking for something else.

I had been wanting to get a picture of this particular tree for a long time, this day seemed like the right time :)

I love oak trees, well all trees, but oak are so interesting without leaves.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Ponies

A friend and I went for a drive looking for something interesting to take pictures of. Shouldn't be that hard to do, right?
We passed by a field that had a pony in it and when we parked we realized that there were actually three ponies, some goats, a sheep and some chickens all right there. Jackpot!
They were all very friendly and I just wanted to pick the ponies up and carry them home! Gosh they were cute!