This chick cracks me up

This is my Sasha's last night have Gymnastics classes. I thought I better get the photos as evidence I had her in an activity. I love these 2 photos especially, the one on the balance beam makes me smile when I see how long and lean she is, reminds me that I am doing a good job keeping my kids healthy and full of vitality. The photo on the trampoline just makes me giggle, I was so worried she was going to bite her tongue off. Every activity she does she has her tongue out. What a girl.
Just a quick note today, must get the house ready and lists of activities for when my nieces arrive later today. Amy and Joe are leaving for Costa Rica and we (My Parents and Us) are going to get their 2 little lovelies, Lucy Lu Lu and Good Golly Miss Molly,for 1 week. Should be fun.
Have a lovely day
Marcia

Eating Right

I am always reading about food, whether it is recipe books or magazines or books about food for kids, and more recently through the world wide web. I have been thrilled I can still keep in touch online with my beloved Chiropractors from London; Dr.'s Jamie and Joel Richards Me and my 'fam' had a year and a half of care from them until we moved to Kincardine. If I get a chance when I am in London I will pop in for an adjustment. What I truly loved about their Chiropractic Care was the education and support we received every single visit. Now this dynamic duo have come up with the best lifestyle healthy living program that just makes the best sense to me. The program is called "Life By Design". I am wishing I could take part in their seminars but for now I will have to practice on my own. One of the easier ways to get started is "Eating By Design". There is an easy grocery list for reference and recipe ideas. "Eating By Design" is seriously for everyone, there are a lot of old habits that need to be broken and for me a whole deprogramming of foods that I crave. The following pictures are of a lunch Sasha and I enjoyed the other day. (notice no dairy or grains) It was so yummy and we were super full. The other picture is of the kids lunches packed in their Laptop Lunch Boxes. It is of mostly "By Design" foods. And that is what I am trying to achieve a "Mostly By Design" Life style. Every now and then you need eggs, bacon, toast and coffee.
Nexts stop, joining the gym.

I've come up with a new theme song

Sung to the tune of "Love the One Your with"

"If you can't be in the house you love, love the home you have" well really it is not a full song yet, I have only "written" the chorus' tune, and I hum it while looking through Canadian House and Home, Canadian Style At Home, Martha Stewart, Blueprint (older issues because they are no longer, grrr), Domino and Ikea.
When we decided to finally move to Kincardine we started looking right away, we even put money down on a gorgeous lot, picked a plan and everything then our home in London was not selling, we panicked, pulled out of our new build, then the house sold 3 weeks before we were to move to Kincardine, we toured through this Brick Bungalow just down the street from my parents, walked in, was totally not impressed, but I saw a challenge, I had vision and in the grand scheme of things we would all be together again and we will eventually build again when things are a little more settled. Now that could be 2, 4, even 6 years from now, sigh. However, I have a new feeling about my home (not house, it is definitely a home)
Our home is tiny. I have decided that "Tiny Home" is the new "Extreme Home" Our home provides us with the exact amount of room that we could possibly need. How ECO CHIC of us too. Having a tiny home also produces a closeness that you may not otherwise get from Big Home, it is not easy to hide in a tiny home so you may as well hang out with one another. Making every space useful has been a fun challenge. While I long for a mudroom, I've had to come up with a system that will work for us so our front entrance doesn't always look like the dump. (although I am fully aware it sometimes does during the winter)Trial and error. My Winter/Spring projects: *adding closet organizers to all the bedroom closets
*Sasha a daybed with drawers
*Rolie a loft bed to free up some floor space
*Finish Kitchen - Install Stainless Steel Hood - tile back splash - repaint kitchen - Wallpaper wall with door - paint "info" wall hot pink (why not?)
*Paint banister glossy black and stair trim white. hot damn

My look 'Casually Glamorous with a dash of Modern - Minimalism' Wish me luck. It's a tall order but I just love the home I have.

The Chandelier

BEFORE (With previous owners furniture)

AFTER




It is taking me awhile but my home is coming along nicely. With 3 chandeliers and counting...we have the hot pink chandelier from the boutique coming home, I'm thinking our bedroom, we really can't go wrong.

Old Mother Hubbard Went to her Cupboard...

and I am certain it was not as cute as mine.

You will note: *The very cute green glasses (that my mom has all of a sudden taken a shine too again...after 20 odd years of not using them and keeping them in a shoe box in the basement, to this I say "You snooze you lose Mama!")
*A White Melamine sugar dish that used to be my Nanny's (It was made in Canada...crazy)
*A simply lovely Cream and Sugar set that was a wedding favor from my fabulous friends Lisa and John's big day.
*A ceramic white sugar dish that I grew up using.
*On the middle shelf which I call my Harbour Rose Boutique shelf, I have beautiful serving dishes, and very funky boiled egg cups. I just love pokadots!
*Top shelf my red and white toile tea set my mom got me years ago from Crabtree and Evelyn, Tea canister and hidden behind that is to containers full of sour keys. Pucker up baby.

On a completely other note.
My lovely little boutique rolz&Sassy Baby is officially closed. I locked the doors symbolically for the last time on Saturday at 5:00. Then proceed to get nice and tipsy for the rest of the evening with some delightfully charming dames I am proud to call my friends. The evening would have been perfect if only my sista Amy were in attendance. None the less I am always free to have another night of celebratory vino if she so feels the need.
I already feel a shift in my spirts and closing the store has truly solidified the fact that I am following my heart. I followed my heart starting it and knowing I needed to close it. (if you ever feel the need/passion/drive to open a business don't hesitate to get in touch with me...I'll steer you straight...just kidding I would be happy to chat with you on the pros and cons in an open and honest way that reflects my experience)
I must also take this opportunity to express my complete and utter gratitude for my lovely husband Dalton and my Parents. They seriously rock out with their socks out! Having a family member that owns a business, especially when it is not working out the way they expected, is tough, it is emotionally, spiritually and financially draining for everyone. It was a roller coaster ride my friends. And I am off. Don't get me wrong there were many high points. I'm just saying.

Well it is hockey night and I must get my little chickens fed before we head out. I seriously could write for hours right now, I just have so much on my mind. Lucky for you I'm gonna sign off now,

Good Evening,
Mar

The Resolution 2010 List

1. Make my bed almost every day.
2. Plant a veggie garden
3. Get a compost and cone for the backyard
4. Play with the kids more
5. Work on my patience
6. Think before I react
7. Yell less
8. Breath more
9. Work at being completely dairy, wheat and sugar free
10. Get back into Yoga and walking/running
11. Not make my lists so long
12. Get a job
13. Get rid of my debit cards, cash only as much as I can
14. Continue shopping locally for as much as we need
15. Travel somewhere...anywhere...with Dalton and the kids
16. Wear more dresses

Extra Pictures from the last post

Happy Horse riding Mama's, Mrs. Spencer and Mrs.Pitre

The lovely horses

Me and my husband on Christmas Eve, photo by Rolie

The House is soooo Quiet...

Butter, Onions, Celery and Cranberries for the Dressing

Rolie made Dalton the necklace and gave him chocolates...very proud.

Sasha and my old Cabbage Patch "Nickolas Albert" she got as a gift.

Sasha and her Santa gift

Roland and his Santa gift (I love his face in this picture)

The new year is here and I am starting fresh. My business is closing on the 9th and with that brings, excitement, freedom, peace. Among many other emotions but I am focusing on only the positives from this closing. Wish me luck.

Christmas was delightful. Christmas Eve brought about the true spirit of the Season for me. Friendships, Family, Magical Christmas Energy from the children, and frankly the pure joy I felt in my heart felt great! I want more. Christmas Eve we went to our dear friend Kayli and Gareths for their Open House Tradition, Great food, drinks, lots of people and excited little kids. Next, Jack and his family from Jalna Farms showed up at our house at 6:00 p.m. with 2 lovely horses and a wagon all lit up with Christmas lights. We were lucky to share our fun activity with mom and dad, our friends The Pitre and Zettle Families. We got a one hour ride all throughout our neighbourhoods, we sang Christmas Carols and waved to other Christmas Eve revelers. My heart soared and you could not wipe the smile off my face. What a great time. I am blessed.

Christmas morning was so much fun. Santa was able to bring Roland and Sasha exactly what they have been asking for since the summer. Roland got his Red BMX Trick Bike and Sasha got the Play Mobile Doll House. After gifts were opened we headed down the street to mom and dads for a Delicious breakfast, mom and dad made French Toast Rafael, Fruit Salad and Bacon, coffee and juice. The French Toast Rafael was the true star of the meal, reminded me of bread pudding, only yummier, with Cream Cheese baked in and real maple syrup. Just typing about it has made my mouth water. I feel so lucky to have my mom and day right down the street. Loves them.
Then more gifts, mom and dad got us a gorgeous black onyx chandelier I've had my eye on for the living room. It's bold, it's sassy, it's probably too big for our living room but I don't care, I love it, plus I'm an adult and it's my house so why not. I'll post pictures once it is installed. Back to our house so the kids could play for the rest of the day. Then I made Christmas dinner. Fairly standard food, although I did get a little crazy with the dressing. I always follow my Nanny's traditional dressing recipe but I changed it up this year. While the onions were sauteing in the massive amount of butter I added celery, apples and cranberries. It was nice but I will go back to her straight-up recipe...don't mess with perfection. Thank You Nanny. You and Auntie Yvonne are always thought of a lot this time of year, we had a glass of Sherry in your honors, we miss you both terribly. GRYS. We are blessed.

Boxing Day! The day Rolie was soooo excited about. He truly thought we woke up that morning and boxed each other. Man I wish we had gloves. If we showed up in his room in the morning with boxing gloves on he would have thought he'd died and gone to heaven. His eyes would have bugged out of his head with excitement.
My sister Amy, Joe, Lucy Lu Lu and Miss Molly arrived today. Lu and Molly are two little balls of red headed goodness that I could eat with a spoon, and I was soooo happy to see them. I made the girls silhouettes for there playroom and Padraig Slippers. Fun. Lucy was less then thrilled,poor thing, she is so getting toys next Christmas. Molly was loving her slippers "Slippers on, slippers on". KEY -U-t-NES!
So nice just to hang out with my sister and Joe. We are blessed.

So Christmas is over...the house is so quiet...until next year.