What The Heck!?

Oh.My.Word.

What would possess a person do this to themselves??











You know I usually have something to say, but these pictures have left me speechless, not to mention a little queasy...

Random Ramblings

Today I thought I'd shake things up in my world and shop at a different grocery store because I was feeling pretty wild and crazy.

Instead of shopping at Metro as per my usual routine, I went to Sobeys. I don't go there very often but when I do I get so excited. It has the feel of a US grocery store and I think you all know by now that I love all things American. (Hello Walmart)

I don't know how to explain what a US grocery store feels like, so just pretend like you know what I mean.

While I was driving there, my most favourite song EVER came on the radio: Good Vibrations by Marky Mark And The Funky Bunch.



Oooooooooh mother of pearl.... I loved Marky Mark back in the day. I would listen to this song over and over and over, wishing I could be one of his back up dancers and wear paper bag jeans (remember those?) and go on tour.

My friend and I used to cruise all around in her little Hyundai Pony, all four windows down with this song blaring. We thought we were so cool.

We also used to drive up alongside other cars and point at their tires and say "Your tire's a wheel! Your tire's a wheel!" with panicked looks on our faces and we'd laugh as they'd wave their thanks and pull over.

Yes. I really was that lame back then.

All that just to say that I loved hearing that song again.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

I'm out of the loop as to what is happening on Lost lately. Our tv has been acting up because of pixelation issues. Do you know what that means? I was trying to sound all tech-y there for you. THANK GOODNESS I have Ian because he is downloading the last couple of episodes for me.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Today Julie fashioned a sling out of her scarf and stuck her arm in it and wore it all day so she could pretend what it was like to have a broken arm. She also wore a pair of Harry Potter glasses too. Not sure what was up with that.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

I had to buy a new purse last year because the one I had was all nasty and worn out. I don't enjoy purse shopping and I only buy a new one when absolutely necessary or every ten years depending which comes first. Also, I have an extremely small budget when it comes to them: $25.00 before taxes. I will not exceed this amount, even if it means I have to cart my belongings around in a brown paper bag.

I am kind of in love with Coach, but as my friend loves to remind me, "$25.00 won't even buy you a luggage tag at Coach, Kate."

Anyway, I was shopping last summer and found a bag I loved. Loved. The price? $24.99.

SCORE!

It wasn't until I got it home and went to snip off the price tag that I realized the bag started out costing $100.

DOUBLE SCORE!!

From that moment on, it was known as My One Hundred Dollar Purse.

All that to say, it appears to have a small hole in the bottom of it now.

Grr.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

I am so excited that the clocks are going forward tonight. More daylight = a happy Kate. It's my most favourite time of the year after Easter, Christmas and birthdays.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

I've been wanting to polish my nails for weeks now but I never get around to it. I'm not sure, but I think that could be classified as Extreme Laziness.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

I am loving Beth Moore's book So Long Insecurity. We have been discussing chapter one in my BlogFrog community this week and I am loving it.

If you are interested in joining in it's not too late! You are more than welcome. The chapters are short but full of great things to think about.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

That's a wrap for tonight!

5QF - March 12

Well hello there Friday....you snuck up on me this week.

I am very excited today because my children are now on Spring Break!! Ian is taking a few days off next week and I'm really looking forward to spending some lazy time together.

So excited.

Hey! Who's ready for some Five Question Friday action?



Me!

Here I go...

1. How much time do you spend on the computer a day?

Not as much as I used to, but still more than I should.

2. Will you pay for your children's college or raise them to pay for their own way?

I will encourage them to get jobs in high school to save money for college. While I'd love to be able to pay for all three children, I think it's important for them to pitch in a little as well. If it's their own money then they'll be less likely to fart around while in school.

In theory anyway.

3. Have you ever been in a car accident?

Yes. I was driving with my mother when I was hit by a transport truck while driving 100 Km/hr on the highway. We were sent flying and stopped facing oncoming traffic. Neither of us was hurt, but the driver sued me for a million dollars. He lost.

4. What is your favorite book?

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and The First Time by Joy Fielding.

5. Do you make your bed everyday?

Yep. Every single day. The rest of my house could be a disaster but by golly...my bed has to be made!

You can join in on the fun at My Little Life.

Thanks Mama M!

~ Happy Friday ~

Have a GREAT day everyone!

Black And White Wednesday - March 10

**Edited to add - I took this picture two summers ago. The children and I were walking up the pathway to our house and we saw this snail, so I zoomed in and took the pic. He's a gross little fellow, yet oddly perfect.

Join in on the Black and White Wednesday fun at The Long Road to China!

I Will Produce A Cookie I Like Or Die Trying

Lately I've been feeling the pull to try baking and decorating sugar cookies again. This urge started the same way it always does, with grandiose images of how perfect my cookies will look.

I wanted to make some pretty cookies to give to a friend to lift her spirits and some for a coworker of Ian's as a Thank You.

I scoured blogs for ideas. I gave myself pep talks in my head. I said affirming statements out loud.

Oh yes. I will produce a cookie I like or die trying.

I baked two batches of cookie dough.

Two batches is a lot of cookie dough in case you were wondering.

I decided on tulips, daisies and sunflowers. I also baked a whole whack of hearts and circles, just in case.

In case of what? Emergency??

Good thing I did bake those "in case" cookies because I ended up needing them.

This cookie decorating business is hard work let me tell you. I learn something new every time. Want to know what I learned this time? I learned that piping and flooding are for the birds. No matter what method I use, or what frosting recipe I try, I cannot get my cookies to look the way I want them to.

So, after destroying a dozen tulip shaped cookies, I decided to crack out my decorating tips and try something I saw on this blog.

The result?

Take a peek...



So simple, yet so sweet.



Encouragement...



And thanks...



These cookies are just about my speed and I'm ok with that. Finally.

Now, if I could figure out how to package them safely for shipping I'd be all set!

So Long Insecurity!!

Just a reminder that tomorrow we will begin our new book study So Long Insecurity: You've Been A Bad Friend To Us by Beth Moore in my BlogFrog community.

Everyone is welcome to join in, whether you begin with us tomorrow or jump in along the way - know that you are welcome.

You don't need a blog to participate, but you will need to sign up for a free account with BlogFrog so that you can post in response to the threads, or to begin new ones. Your account will also give you access to several other wonderful blogging communities.

See you tomorrow!

5QF - March 5

Want to join in? Head on over to Mama M's blog My Little Life!

Happy Friday!

Willow Goes To School

Remember when I posted about feeling so bad about missing Willow's half birthday last month?

Yeah.

His half-birthday is this month.

For the love of pete. Pay attention please, Kate.

I have time to bake him a bone-shaped birthday cake and pull out the party hats!

You know I will do it too. That is...if I remember. Ai yi yi.

So here he is at FIVE months old and 46.4 lbs:



He started obedience classes last Saturday and I was so excited to take pictures of him on the front porch, on his first day of school.

Yeah. That didn't happen.

But I did get these!

On our way...I was so excited.



I think he looked nervous. Do you think he looked nervous?



Here we are!



I don't think he was paying attention. Or maybe this is his Concentration Face.



Did you know that PetSmart will return anything? Well they will. They took back the leash we'd been using - and got mighty dirty - and exchanged it for one used for training.

We bought a bucket-o-treats for him. If he doesn't like them we can return them.

Our expandable leash that goes up to 40lbs? Yep, they'll exchange it for the next size up.

Apparently I even could have returned the dog bed that he enjoyed, before he ate the entire bottom out of it. Too bad I didn't know that, because I would have returned that half-eaten bed for a brand spankin' new one.

Can you please tell me what kind of dog would need a bone this size?



Goodness gracious. That's a big bone.

One week down, seven more to go!

Channeling My Inner Amanda

The other day I decided to channel my inner Amanda and try to get all creative with my baking.

Have you seen her baking blog I Am Baker?

Oh.My.Word. She is so incredibly talented and makes everything look so easy.

She is totally responsible for my cookie decorating & cookie cutter addiction.

I admired her so much that I stalked her until she became my friend.

I just want to put her in my pocket.

(Ooh..that sounded creepy)

About a month ago I got the idea in my head that I wanted to bake a pink & purple birthday cake for Jordan's second birthday which is at the end of this month. I am talking about the innards of the cake, friends. Pink & purple on the inside.

Amanda said it might be a good idea to go with one colour on the inside and use pink and purple in the frosting.

But no. I march to the beat of my own drum and I was gonna pink & purple this cake right up.

Right around the time I separated the batter into two cake pans and added the food colouring, I started to regret it. They looked gross.

Still....I popped those babies into the oven, full of hope.

I mixed up my frosting and added the food colouring and went to work.

Before long, I began to feel like Buddy from Cake Boss.

This is the end result.





Looking at the pictures now, I wish I'd cut each layer into two and alternated them.

I can't decide if it's cute or gross. It changes by the minute!

What do you think? be honest, but please be gentle!

Thanks Melis!!

Look what my sweet friend Melis from The Zookeeper's Diary awarded me!



And...



Aren't they pretty?

If you haven't had a chance to visit her blog then you are missing out, my friends. She is witty and warm and wise and I just adore her!

Thank you Melis! Getting awards from YOU of all people makes me all warm and fuzzy inside!

Black and White Wednesday - March 3

Oh how I love baby hands...



Join in on the Black and White Wednesday fun at The Long Road to China!

Goodbye (For Now!) IntenseDebate Commenting System

Thanks to all who helped me try out my new commenting system. I LOVED being able to interact with you!

But...

Some of you were experiencing difficulty in viewing my blog and/or comments and that matters to me, so I've removed it for now. IntenseDebate is looking into this for me, so if I can get it back eventually, then I'd really like to.

I'm off to bed even though it's only 7:30. I have a cold that I can't seem to shake and Ian is kind enough to hold down the fort so I can rest.

Talk to you tomorrow :-)

It Was The Most Dramatic Rose Ceremony Ever...

...at least in this house, it was.

It isn't unusual for me to run my mouth while watching a show I have an opinion about, but even I have to admit that last night I was off the charts.

Why?

Because it was the finale of The Bachelor.

You know, The Bachelor, that show I was never ever going to watch again.

But I got sucked in, just like I do every time.

So here is my recap, Kate Style.

First we have 25 beautiful ladies:



The Girl Next Door:



The One You Loved To Hate:



The crazy one:



The Scandalous One:



The Tease/Player:



The Little Girl:



The DramaMama:



And one Bachelor:



All the components of a typical season.

Oh wait!!

I almost forgot the host, Chris Harrison.



I just love how he comes out of the shadows during the Rose Ceremonies to say, "Ladies....Jake....this is the final rose of the evening."

Um... thanks Captain Obvious. I think everyone knew it was the last rose. Because they can count.

For some reason I just had to find out ahead of time who Jake picked this season. So, I googled Bachelor Spoilers and what did I learn? I learned that it would come down to these two, Tenley and Vienna.

Tenley/Jake/Vienna

I also learned that Jake picked Vienna.

VIENNA!?

Ick.

Still, I watched every week. The spoilers could be wrong. Someone as smart (gag) as Jake surely would pick Tenly, the classy and sweet girl next door.

Men. Clearly this guy was thinking with the wrong part of his anatomy. (Please excuse me for being so crass)

Tenly was crushed. I was crushed.

Surely...surely ABC would make Tenley the next Bachelorette, right?

WRONG!

It's Ali. AKA The Drama Mama.



How do I spell annoying?

A-l-i.

I don't think I'm going to watch this show ever again.

This time I might actually mean it.

New Commenting System

Hey Friends!

I'm trying out a new commenting system I found on Mama M's blog My Little Life.

Could you please leave me any old comment so I can see if it works?

Thanks!