On Health and Vitality

I was visiting some of my favourite Scrapbook Designers' blogs yesterday and was re-inspired to scrapbook and blog about my personal journey to live a life of Health and Vitality. I say re-inspired because it has been on my mind for a long time but I never actually set aside the time to do it. Today was the day!  Here is the layout and my story follows.

The Newtopia Me! I have been dying to use these Amy Tangerine papers,
they are so fun and colourful, glad I finally found the right use for them.

Almost a year ago my best friend stumbled upon something very exciting when she was sought out for a position in sales and marketing with a company that offered a new approach to weight loss and healthy living. We quickly poured over the website to gather more information and I was totally on board. I knew this was going to be good. About a month later she was working for Newtopia and I was in the office giving my saliva sample to have my genes analyzed - not all of them -  just 3 very specific ones related to weight gain.

I had tried for years to lose weight and keep it off. I bought just about every new diet book on the market, exercise dvd's unopened, shake makers, etc., but to no avail, and I was at a point where I wasn't really sure I was capable of losing weight any more. But what I knew is that I needed to make some changes in my life and I didn't want to gain any more weight - so that's what I told my Newtopia personal coach Anna-Roza - plus all the things that I don't like doing (lol)! I told her I could cut back on my junk food, record my food intake, but I would not wake up early to exercise, do a spin or zumba class, join a gym (I'd never go) or commit to hour long cardio classes! So she literally asked me if I could walk for 20 minutes after dinner at a vigorous pace, 3 times that week - how could I say no to that??

That was all it took. I soon saw the benefits of my healthy eating, my taking medical grade daily vitamins, and my increased activity.  With the support and encouragement of Anna-Roza I was already on my way to weight loss. When my genetics came in, it was confirmed - I have a marker on the fat gene (I'm a slow metabolizer), as well as a marker on the other two (low dopamine levels and my stomach does not tell my brain I'm full) - I had to move or I would never lose weight. Wow - I wasn't just a slug with no will power!! I could stop beating myself up - some of it was because I was actually genetically wired this way.

I very quickly increased my walking time and distance, and then decided I was bored and wanted to take it up a notch,  so I joined a Learn to Run Clinic at the North York Running Room, and by December 31st I ran my first 5K race. I NEVER thought I would be a runner - I always thought they were crazy people who seemed to look like they were in pain (including my own brother). I quickly learned that they ARE crazy - but in a really good way! Running 3 times a week all through our very mild winter and spring not only did incredible things for my body, but what it did for my frame of mind was even more beneficial. I really hate winter and I would literally hibernate, but I actually learned to appreciate the thrill of a brisk, cool run, and for once I didn't complain about our Canadian winter. I am still running 2-3 times a week, but

It took me about two months to lose my initial goal of 8 pounds and then I went for the secret goal - I wanted to be below 110 pounds - which took me about another month. Today I am 12 pounds lighter, I have lost a total of about 12 inches from head to toe, and on Mother's Day I completed my first 10K race! I feel incredible both mentally and physically, and for the first time since I was about 20 - I LOVE MY BODY! I still have thighs that have some cellulite and fat knees - I always will - and there's just a little jiggle in my arms - but thanks to my amazing personal trainer Debra Kirsch it is really just a little!

Losing weight is great but what I really wanted to share with everyone is how great if feels to be Healthy and live a life of Vitality. I am living a life I never thought possible.
Live the life you love, love yourself enough to do so.

Thank you for allowing me to share my long story with you.

If you want more info on Newtopia check it out here.

The HEALTH AND VITALITY kind of day...

On Project Life

I was very excited when I arrived home from Israel, and saw my Project Life package waiting for me amongst all  the bills, E-mails, and paperwork.  I did tend to all of those other things, but not before I took a peek at my collection!  I chose the Clementine (for some reason my post is not linking to the picture) theme and I must admit that I am very pleased with the combination of colours. I got the core kit and the page pockets (though I made a mistake and didn't order the full package - grr!). I am waiting for the album to come back in stock and then I will get the rest of my page inserts.

As I mentioned in my previous post, this is something I have contemplated doing for a while now - at least a year - but was afraid it would just be added to my pile of 'unfinished' projects, or even worse, added to my pile of  'never started' projects. Just last year, or maybe the year before,  I signed up for an online course that other scrappers I know were doing - I downloaded and printed everything, ordered and bought the binder and didn't do a thing!!! So when one of these same friends said let's do this together, I hesitated but couldn't resist and jumped on the bandwagon.

 Project Life is about documenting our lives, the ordinary everyday stuff that we do - not the events, holidays, vacations, etc. that we all seem to find so easy to photograph and document - but rather the carpools, food shopping, meal preps, meetings, etc. These are the things we do all the time that are significant to our lives, but we don't feel the need to document.

Since I don't own an I-Phone, the hardest part for me so far is to remember to carry a camera.  I have had to resort to using my BlackBerry so I wouldn't miss out on pictures. I also thought I would have nothing to write about and would be struggling to fill my journal blocks - but I found that my days are full and there is much to say. Of course it's only week 1 so that may change as my weeks repeat themselves!  I am pretty pleased with my first official week even though I haven't decided for sure if this is in fact "Week 1".

I have decided that I will try to journal daily and print my pictures at the end of each week, when I can fill my pockets and do some embellishing. I don't know if I will do much more than what you see here, as the idea is to keep it simple and get it done,  but I can't help wanting to use up some of my stash. And of course I couldn't resist running to Stamping Bella to buy the latest Elle's Studio embellies specifically imported for this project!

Thanks to the other Project Life scrappers for their inspiration, and now that you all know I'm doing this, I guess I have to see it through!

The Project Life kind of day....

I'm Back....

I'm not quite sure what makes today the day I return to the world of blogging but I am all alone in my friend's kitchen in Israel and I decided it's now or never!
My hubby left last night and should be landing in Toronto in about 40 minutes and I have spent the whole morning on the computer while everyone here is at work or school.  I cannot remember the last time I did that - I actually have a bit of a headache but I am determined to finish this. I have been catching up on other people's blogs, clearing out my various inboxes and sending out emails to those I need to be in touch with. The weather outside is pretty yucky - raining and windy - so it seemed to be to put it quite frankly the perfect opportunity to get off my ass and do something!
Those who have followed my blog have asked what's going on and why I haven't written - so many stories, reasons, and excuses that hardly seem important now so I won't bother going into them. I hope you will pick up with me again and that I can perhaps entertain you a little while I publicly share some of what goes on in my life, which as a scrapbooker was why I started blogging in the first place - to preserve my most precious memories...

Here is what the last year has looked like - very briefly!

• was working full time for my dad until now, went down to part time to pursue other opportunities
• continued my scrapbooking workshops at home
• oldest daughter graduated high school and was accepted to an excellent photography program at a University here in Toronto - 1 of 60 accepted - so proud!
• youngest daughter graduated middle school and began high school in an arts program majoring in drama - 1 of 60 accepted (I think, maybe less) - proud of you too!
• son has continued to amaze us with his involvement in school committees, holding down a job (even if it ended up being seasonal ): ) and keeping up with his school work
• had an incredible experience hosting a shinshin - Young Emissary - from Israel and got involved in the UJA committee that oversees the program
• another great summer with my hubby, cottage on the weekends with great friends and even another canoe trip!
• took a life transforming course  (for lack of a better word) in the summer  and have continued with this education to create new ways of being for myself and share with the people in my life - this does not really explain anything, but as I said, it's a brief overview
• started on a new life path in the area of Nutrition, Exercise and Well being with Newtopia - more on that another time, but I am fit, thin and feeling great! This is also my new career path and ticket to financial freedom.
• will begin teaching classes at a Michaels near my home - excited about this new opportunity to share my craft in a very different retail environment.
• In Israel again for the first time in 24 years - creating possibilities for myself is my game this year!
• have committed to living a full life - no more hibernating all winter and longing for summer! I will get together with friends more, make plans, continue to run during the winter with my Running Room group, and have date nights with my hubby!
• I have ordered Project Life which I avoided even though I was intrigued because I was afraid that like so many other things, it would sit in my office untouched- but I am doing it alongside a friend who I know will inspire me and keep me accountable -  I have already agreed to forgive myself if it's not 'perfect'

In Adamit Park, Israel 

So that's it in a nutshell and I will continue to write about life, the ordinary and the not so ordinary. I will post layouts and share ideas - hopefully you will join me again.  That's all for today - this took me forever to write and I am posting it without my Hubby's editing as part of my commitment to being confident! Shalom from Israel! 

The return to blogging kind of day...

When did you grow?

This past weekend oldest daughter turned 18 - I know,  freaky. So I figured this was as good a time as any to post a layout I did recently, as well as to reflect. It is hard to believe that I am the mother of an 18 year old. I remember when she turned 16 and got her G-1.  After she drove to school, I called my best friend and had a little cry. That was huge (btw - oldest daughter is rolling her eyes right now). Wasn't that just yesterday?
In about 2 months my son will turn 16 and we'll have another driver - Yikes - and youngest daughter just got accepted to the Drama program at Earl Haig - high school! I really feel like time is passing so quickly and I'm not sure if I'm ready for what's to come.  It means we're all getting older, including our parents and even though they are all healthy (thank God)(KH, BH), I can't help but think about our immortality. Too morbid - I'll move on.

But seriously, when did they grow?? I see my clients who scrapbook with me starting their families and I remember so well the joys of that stage and all those little milestones and how big they seemed.  All those firsts; first smile, sleeping through the night, first bottle, first solids, first steps, first day of school... the list goes on.  I'm sure I've said it before but it's amazing how easy life was then, well maybe not right after youngest daughter was born, but in general. University, first overnight at the cottage without adult supervision, prom... Different milestones and different parental stresses.  It's all good - just different.

These pictures were taken in August 2009 after the kids all came home from camp and I discovered that youngest daughter was taller than me - not hard to do as I'm not quite 4'10" - but still somewhat shocking. They weren't my babies any more - they were almost all teenagers and I needed to capture the moment. It took me a year and a half to scrapbook it, but I knew I would.

The reflective kind of day....

Winter in Muskoka

 There is something very peaceful about Muskoka in the winter time.  The ground is covered with a blanket of endlessly fresh white snow and the air is clear and bright (at least when it's sunny).  The temperature may have a little bite but it's bearable, somewhat refreshing and it beckons you to go outside and breathe deeply.  Yesterday we went snowshoeing towards the end of the day and it was a most enjoyable experience.  I'm looking forward to scrapbooking some of the pictures that we took.  Here are just a few shots of some winter fun.

She's got style, she's got grace...

The kids are out snowshoeing right now and later - maybe some cross country skiing.  No rest for the wicked or the weary here!  Hope you are all enjoying your long weekend, I know I am!

The winter in Muskoka kind of day....

Precious Minutes

My hubby and my kids - well, my son - have been bugging me to keep up my Blog and so today, as I washed pots, tidied up my house a bit and made out my "To-Do" list in my head, it came to me.  I actually had  two topics, one based on this morning's events and the other on my constant struggle to find time for everything, including posting - thus "Precious Minutes".

As I have mentioned previously, I work outside of the house part-time and from home part-time, which if you've ever run a home business of sorts, you know it is never really part-time.  The saying 'so much to do, so little time' is so apropos.  It starts in the morning when I wake up and lie in bed for a few minutes figuring out what day it is and what I have to do. Then comes the what I want to do and invariably the realization that there just aren't enough hours in the day.  So what comes first? What can wait until my next day off? Can it be done at night, on the weekend, or does it really need to be done at all?

Here's what today's list looks like:

Need to do:

1. Grocery shopping
2. Cook dinner
3. E-mail clients
4. Work on a Scrapbook for a client
5. Deliver film to my son at school - shouldn't be on this list at all!
6. Prepare a layout for a class I'm teaching
7. Take pictures in for developing/printing
8. Carpool

Want to do:

1. Have my brows waxed - this is quickly moving up to a need as I feel like a Bush Woman!
2. Get my hair coloured - also a need due to a large amount of grey cropping up at the front of my head. (Who the hell has two hours to sit at the hairdresser!!!)
3. Have a facial.
4. Exercise - really a need, but too late today already.
5. Finish off 'unfinished' layouts and projects - I realized last night how many I have, urgh!
6. Polish my toes.
7. Read - all day!
8. Take out my camera and just play.

So in the end what will make the top ten?  I'll let you know a little later, but right now I'm going to put my pictures on a CD and then drop film off for my son, who rarely forgets anything, after which I will likely end up at the mall - where I can print my pictures and lose the "Bush Woman" - I do not live in the bush and I am not on an episode of Survivor... or, am I? (Cue the theme from The Twilight Zone!) What I will resist doing is running over to my oldest daughter's school and bringing her more food because she was rushing this morning and her brother annoyed her and she couldn't eat breakfast, and, and, and - that's the other blog! Sorry pumpkin, I just can't do it today, you'll have to make it on your own. But it doesn't mean I don't love you (or I love him more, because I know that's the next thing out of your mouth).

The precious minutes kind of day...

PS:  Just after I wrote this blog my computer (less than one year old Mac desktop) died!  I just got it back and I have a new post to write - this one was supposed to be accompanied by pictures but that all went out the window when I didn't have access to anything!

On the Road Again

I am back - and not just from a couple of road trips, but from some of the insanity of life with 3 kids and two jobs!  I will be honest and tell you that I have had this post in my head and the layout (which I drove myself crazy to do) ready for about 2 1/2 weeks now, but just couldn't get my act together. However, today is a new day and surprisingly I am feeling very motivated for a Monday (this was ready Monday, but not my photos)!  Time to get my creative muses back into the swing of things.


About four weeks ago an unfortunate situation put my brother, mother, father and myself back in a car again and travelling along the Trans Canada highway.  It's been over 20 years since the 4 of us have done this, and it was, in spite of the reason behind the trip, a great time. It really made me think about all those trips we made as kids back to Montreal to visit our family, and all the things we used to do to pass the time in the car.  The funny thing is we all had the same thoughts - I told my Mom that he had better stay on his side, and he said the exact same thing to his wife about me, and my mother had already jokingly relayed it to a cousin!  We used to draw an imaginary line down the centre of the back seat and heaven forbid if one of us crossed that line - "MOOOMMM, (s)he's on my side!".  Before seat belts were such a big deal we actually used to take turns spreading ourselves across the floor of the back seat so we could each lie down. In the "days of old" there was no such thing as DVD players in the car (and no Mini Vans!) or even mini TV sets. No I-pods, DS's or anything else electronic.  Can you imagine?  We actually had to play games or read books!  To pass the time we used to record the origin of license plates, (although there weren't too many other than Quebec and Ontario), play 'Geography', count Christmas lights on 'our sides', play cards,  or colour. We also had family sing-a-longs to such favourites as Fiddler on the Roof, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, or A Chorus Line - give us a show tune and we were ecstatic!  
So what did we do as adults?  Well, no show tunes - Dad only had jazz. Instead, we talked, caught up and reminisced.  We talked about exercise, health, family, careers and what we might have done if we had to do it over again (career wise).  We both managed to stay on our own side!  The truth is, we discovered that we really do enjoy each other's company and we are fortunate to be in each other's lives.


Contrast that with a very recent road trip to New Jersey and Long Island with my kids - a little less relaxing. They have it all - lots of  leg room and each has their own seat,  a DVD player (with wireless head phones no less), laptops, or an I-touch or I-pods - they literally don't have to speak for an entire 9 hour car ride and yet somehow they manage to grate on each other.  I know it could be worse, and occasionally we still play some of those old car games like checking out license plates, and most recently we reviewed the Rolling Stone Top 500. I do, however, look forward to the days when they might enjoy each other's company a little more. 

This was one of our stops on the way
to NJ that became a tradition.

We have travelled to the States ever since they were babies and I remember the days when we had to listen to Raffi and Sharon, Lois and Bram over and over again and try to keep kids who were sick of car seats entertained.  We were so happy when they could appreciate the Beatles, and yes, Musicals (well maybe not hubby!), so we didn't have to hear "one elephant when out to play, upon a spider's web one day...." or "baby beluga in the deep blue sea...".  Below is a layout of one or two trips from when they were little. There were very few trips that Hubby didn't take a picture of them sitting in the back with their eyes glued to the TV. 

Let's hope the next car trip in December is better than the last!


The road trip kind of day.....

Back to School

School Supply Shopping 2009

I know I'm a little late on the 'back to school' theme but with the onset of Rosh Hashana two days after the start of school, I didn't have much time to reflect - at least not here.  Now that everyone has all their school supplies, and the rush is over, I can look back on the last week while the emotions are still fresh. One nice thing this year was school supply shopping. Strange, I know.  I think it's because I used the divide and conquer method, which happened more by chance than by any great stroke of genius on my part. Oldest Daughter shopped in Bracebridge on Labour Day weekend and there were zero line ups, hubby took care of Number One Son and I took Youngest Daughter by myself a week after school started.  I think psychologically it was way less painful because I didn't have to see it all on the same bill! However,  I also didn't get any good pictures because Oldest Daughter was mortified by last year's experience (note the pencil case in front of her face in the photo above) and wouldn't let me bring my camera (as if anybody in Bracebridge besides our family knows who she is!).  I was so tired when I went with youngest daughter that I forgot my camera, and of course Hubby doesn't scrapbook so why would he take a camera?  It did make for a fun layout last year using the School House line of October Afternoon paper.  For someone who originally didn't like most of their papers, I seem to use them a lot! 

Documenting the Chaos

Eventually I'll do a layout about this year that will focus on the morning of, which was a rather pleasant one.

Look how happy they are to go back!

I can say without a doubt that this was one of the least stressful first day back to school in a couple of years.  Everyone seems to be settled and even looking forward to some major milestones that will be marked this year.  Oldest Daughter started her final year of high school and Youngest Daughter started her final year of elementary school - honestly, where did the time go!?!  Number One Son is in his second year of high school, so hopefully there won't be too many new things to throw him off.  Oddly enough this was also the first year I didn't take anybody to school. Oldest Daughter is driving her own carpool on Tuesdays, while I dodge the dreadful traffic of this city and slug it out to work on public transit, and the other two went with their carpools.

The Grade 12 badge of honour.

Kind of nice not to be so needed but kind of sad at the same time.  Of course they still need me to make their lunches.  I dread it every day and I'm not one of those people who can do it the night before.  I know exactly what you're thinking - "Why are you still making their lunches?" I DON'T KNOW!!!  I wonder the same thing myself.  Apparently my lunches taste better -"because they're made with so much love" - says Oldest Daughter, who's totally shovelling s.....  I'm just a sucker.  Thus life is back to busy with getting everyone up (yes I still do that too), teenagers fighting over shower time, lunches to be made, everyone rushing to get out the door between 8:00 and 8:15, carpool, after school late pickups, dinners, and homework - and this is only the first two weeks. I'm already exhausted!! 

New Shoes - A back to school must have.

"School bag in hand, she leaves home
 in the early morning..."

The back to school kind of day....

Muskoka Moments

It has become pretty much a tradition that we spend our last weekend of the summer at my sister-in-law and brother-in-law's in Bracebridge,  otherwise known as "Camp Manolakos".  It is a wonderful way to end the summer and spend some quality time with our family.  They live on Lake Muskoka and the setting as well as the company is fabulous.   Aunty Sheryl makes sure we get outside as much as possible and no visit is complete without at least one hike, a paddle to the beach and a swim to the sandbar.  Uncle George makes sure golf is on the agenda for the guys followed by a little lounging in a muskoka chair with a brew or two. Thanks to hubby we eat like kings all weekend not to mention carnivores.  There's usually a bonfire to end a full day of fun complete with guitar, sing-a-longs and even appearances by some local celebrities.  But, as with the rest of the summer things turned out a little different  this year.  After a summer of major heat waves and lovely weather we were hit with the coldest Labour Day weekend I can ever remember. It rained on and off most of the time and the wind was fierce.  We barely sat by the lake (so much for prolonging my tan!), and no one except the dogs made it into the water. We managed to keep our spirits up even though there was no bonfire, canoeing or swimming.  

The start of our hike, crossing a dam.

A little rain doesn't discourage Aunty Sheryl and she took us  on a short hike by one of the falls in town. All three kids came and it was rather pleasant, as evidenced by the picture below.  We took our dog, Sheryl's dog and a neighbour's and they had quite the time. Our little city dog loves to run around with the big country dogs in the forest, but he's not too fond of bathing in the lake before he can go in the house again!

A rare but precious moment!

On the trail.

The next day two of the kids went with the rest of the gang on another hike, but I opted out as it was raining and I'd had enough of that.  Wish I would have gone, because it looks beautiful and just like Sheryl predicted it stopped raining by the time they arrived at the trail.  Oh well, I'll know better next time.

Cuddles in the Kitchen - where else?

It was a weekend of relaxing indoors instead of out, puzzles and fun family games

- well sort of - Apples to Apples and the game of Imagine can really go either way!  

It is always sad to see a good summer end,

but the adventures of school and the colours of fall can be something to look forward to...that is if you want to see the glass as half full.  

Only 10 more months until summer!!!

The end of summer kind of day....

The Return of Handsome and Gretel

Well, the 'three less' portion of the summer has officially ended with the return of "Number 1 Son" and "Youngest Daughter", also known as Handsome and Gretel respectively. I have sat down numerous times to write this blog and somehow couldn't get my thoughts in order.  I agonized over the title, the content and over the fact that I didn't do a one-less blog when Number 1 Son came home. So here I am almost two weeks later and I am determined to get this done - come hell or high water!
It's unbelievable how much my free time seems to dissipate even further with the return of each child - the endless loads of laundry and the grocery shopping take up so much of our time.  It also amazes me how things pick up exactly where they left off, with me wondering whose dishwasher day it is, or whose turn it is to walk the dog, who left their stuff on the kitchen table, nagging for the laundry to be put away, etc., etc. It's as if six weeks hadn't gone by!

First dinner at home - steak and roasted onion!

Why Handsome and Gretel?  Here is Handsome, but that's not Gretel - that's the wandering Jew.  Though he looks handsome here, the picture is not quite what I want to convey.  They all seem to grow and change at camp and it struck me when he got home how he was carrying himself a little differently and he seemed older.  He's always been confident, but somehow there's a little something extra, which I won't describe exactly because I don't want to embarrass him any further.  Perhaps the fact that he won the Fellowship Award at camp, has something to do with it, although he is a humble sort.  The Fellowship Award is voted on by the campers and it represents the person they feel is a friend and friendly to all, someone caring and kind and who also demonstrates good leadership skills.  I will brag a little and relay the fact that he won by a landslide that the camp director said she hasn't seen in all the years she's been at camp.  I'm not that surprised, but over the moon proud!

Visitor's Day

Then there's Gretel  - look at that face - so innocent and angelic! She had a fabulous summer and also came back with the Fellowship Award from Camp Shalom. What can I say?  I am kvelling (the yiddish word for beaming with pride) beyond measure.  She also grew in stature but like Handsome, there's more to it.  Confidence and security, she seems a little more comfortable in her own skin but I can't quite put my finger on it.  So why the nickname Gretel? It was coined by her other mother because she is constantly leaving a trail wherever she goes!  This is something that definitely didn't change. It took about 2 seconds for her to leave things lying around the house when she returned.  Let's see if they can grow just a little more and do some 'avodah' (the hebrew word for work) around the house as happily as they do at camp - lol (wishful thinking).

This is my life with children, it makes me crazy but I love them and most days I wouldn't have it any other way.

The less free kind of day....

Summer Reading

What a crazy week!  If you've been following you know that oldest daughter came home with friends, although we've hardly seen her - she's been quite busy, which is fine because I had to work and then I taught two classes this week.  Late nights, early mornings and little time to do much, but I decided I needed to be creative and post, so I quickly took a picture this morning and did this layout that I was planning since last summer!  It actually fell into place easily as soon as I saw a layout in Creating Keepsakes September issue that I liked and rediscovered the paper I used from Stampin' Up.  I took the picture of me reading last year, and the picture of the books today.   I am an avid reader and always have been but summer is when I really dig into my books.  I will read constantly, every free moment I have and as soon as I finish one book I'm on to the next.  It is incredible that I actually managed to read so many books, considering I work 2.5 days a week and teach my classes and all the other stuff of life.  But the truth is I have decided that I have to find the time to enjoy a good book (good is the key - I hate when I don't like one because I'm the type of person that will stick it out), even it's only a few pages every day.  I also get to read on the subway now which is a bonus 40 minutes on the days I work.  One of the few reasons I actually don't mind using public transportation - something I couldn't do in the car (well at least not safely)! So here is the only issue I'm having - all of my good friends who used to trade books with me have turned to the other side and have given up actual physical books in favour of the electronic versions.  Thank goodness my mother still buys books!  I have to admit I have been toying with the idea, but have yet to make the plunge - so many options.  

this?

this?

or this???

The debate rages on! I'm leaning towards saving for option 3 - going with Apple products all the way, maybe I'll even give up my Blackberry - not soooo fast.  First I need to learn how to use all the gadgets I have now before I pick up anything else that's new.  Maybe if I put my books down once and a while I might have the time, but for now I will just enjoy...

The reading kind of day...

Home Coming #1

This is it, the beginning of the end of 'three-less'.  Oldest daughter came home from Israel today with a beautiful smile full of happiness and contentment (although I know there is a touch of sadness because she actually had to come home), a great tan and some wonderful stories.  This was her first trip to Israel and I can't wait to see some of the 3800 pictures she took and hear the adventures that go with them. There is nothing like the glow of that first experience in the holy land, it stays with you for a long time and leaves you wanting to return.  

So with the return of oldest daughter (and three friends) it all begins - the grocery shopping- I already spent $146, the cooking - Daddy made steaks, sweet potatoes and chicken rice, the laundry - load number one is in, and the revelations - I got a belly pierce, but at least it's not a tattoo (that's how she made it seem better) and it's not an eyebrow pierce, which I totally hate! Oh well, she's only been talking about it for about 2 years or more, and 17 is better than 15 (I think). Not sure if hubby will feel the same - I better tell him before he reads it here.  

I'll post some more pics later - maybe some comparisons of me and her in the same place but 26 years apart.  Here she is on her free weekend at our friend's house - she's still sporting that smile.

The homecoming kind of day...

Back to the Beginning

I'm going to back track a little bit and go back to the beginning of the summer when my kids left and I had big plans for all my 'free' time.  


I am one of those mothers who happily sends her children off every summer to camp for 4 to 6 weeks.  For the last 5 summers we have been completely childless for a minimum of 4 weeks and it is wonderful!  I subscribe to the philosophy that we all need a vacation from each other - it's good for them and for us.  I thank my parents for instilling this value in me.  Sorry to all those who weep when their kids go to school or camp, I personally do a little happy dance.  I think overnight camp is a great experience for kids, a place to escape all the pressures of city life and it's routines.  It is a place to grow emotionally, gain independence and build strong friendships, which if you are lucky, will be for life.  It is my greatest joy to pass on that experience to my children.  

This is all the farewells.  Oldest Daughter went to Israel and returns home Monday, # 1 Son is at camp in Sudbury and Youngest Daughter is at camp in Gravenhurst.  I used October Afternoon papers and stickers, which I'm starting to love (I'm a late bloomer Dena) as well as American Craft ribbon.  Look at the close up to see one of Emily's great journal stamps, from Stamping Bella.


Ok, enough with the philosophy - truly the best part of all of it is...ME time! 


My first summer without any kids I dubbed the Summer of Sindi.  I didn't work and I made the most of it, meaning I did a lot of nothing! Relaxing, reading and hanging out with my hubby and friends were high on my list of priorities (not necessarily in that order) .  These things are still at the top of my list but I'm  working  and my time is a little less my own.   The overall feeling of is the same - three less (though very loved) people to worry about! Three less lunches and dinners, three less people to shop for, three less people to drive places and at least three less loads of laundry (I feel another layout coming on - entitled '3-less"!). 


So pretty much this is what I am doing with my 'free' from three time


1. Posting
2. Scrapbooking (and not always just for fun)
3. Spending time with my hubby - though not as much as I thought considering we're in the      city all week together for the first time in 11 summers!
4. Relaxing - which includes reading, crosswords and creating my art journal
5. Mahj - occasionally and definitely not enough!


The three less kind of day...

Mid Summer Musings

It is hard to believe that we have already hit the mid summer point.  Why does it seem to have gone so quickly this year? I probably say that every year. This year the kids left much later for camp so it really did seem like a late start to it all, plus some of our friends were away and we didn't have our first official Friday night get together until this weekend. It's just weird and feels off somehow, but I am going to turn it around and not whine (which I fully planned to do),  instead I will list some of the things I am grateful for.  


Here goes...
1. There is still another month of summer left!
2. These four individuals - which really are number one on my list.

3. Our parents who are all healthy and a big part of our lives.

4. All of our family.

5. Good friends who so graciously share their cottage with us and who are more like family.

6. Good friends who are always supportive and fun to be with.

7. A house to call a home.

8. New art supplies - look what they helped me do.

9. On Demand so I can watch the last season of Mad Men when there's nothing else on. 

10.  People who read my blog!

There, I feel better already.  

Look for more layouts this week!

The mid summer kind of day... 

Getting it Done

It is now 1:34 pm on Friday afternoon and I am still in the process of getting it done!  That was my motto for the day.  I was going to achieve great things today - I was going to forgo the sunshine and just get it done.  What exactly was I going to achieve?  Way more than is realistically possible but here is the list:

1.  Start my art journal
2.  Finish my Solelim Layout as promised
3.  Print pictures for a layout
4.  Create a new layout - double page 
5.  Post on my blog - so many ideas!
6.  Read my new book about journaling - how can I just do it - got to know the 'how'!
7.  Work on an album I have to deliver soon
8.  Sit in the sun

So here's what I did:

This is my first attempt at my art journal - don't look too closely!  I feel so silly.  My kids will hate me for this - the sexy is so big! Sorry kids, but what's wrong with me feeling good about myself at the ripe old age of 43 - it took me a long time to be comfortable saying that.  Don't wait so long.  It needs colour desperately, but I didn't think I would want to get so into it.  Now I do!  Dena - help!! It looks like I'll have to take Emily's class (lol).  I want you to know I thought about how this first 'title' page would look all night long! Clearly it's not done yet.  Number 1 - done.   

Here is the layout - I used the new Basic Grey Oliver line and October Afternoon 'thrift shop'. I did borrow the basics of this layout from a layout in Scrapbooks Etc. August issue (page 30).  I'm sure I did something like this myself once - but why copy my own layouts? Oh, and I finally used the Slice that I borrowed from my friend.  It only took me a month. That's how I cut out the title and I did like using it - the my boy part is a sticker.  Number 2 - done.

Couldn't print pictures for my layout because I'm out of ink and at the cottage.  I'm determined to do it because I brought up all the elements.  So, off to Barrie I go! 

Number 3 and 4 - not done.

Number 5 - in progress.    Number 6 - in progress - which is why my journal looks so blah. Number 7 - not even close to doing anything, but the suns not out, so lots of time!  Number 8 - that would be a negative!

So here is Number 10 - get out of my pyjamas and go to Barrie.

The getting it done kind of day....

Shabbat at Solelim

We had a great weekend visiting with our son at  Camp Solelim in Sudbury - yes, you read it right, there is a Jewish camp in Sudbury!  I have so much to write about the weekend that you'll be hearing about it for a couple of posts.  This is our 4th Visitor's Weekend and we have at least two more to go as youngest daughter will be there next summer and the summer after. Oldest daughter may end up being staff there - do you see the pattern?  This was actually my 11th Visitor's day weekend and I have to say - I love it!  It brings back so many fond memories of my summers spent at Solelim as a camper and a counsellor.

My son teaching me some
new moves.

These pictures and the layout I'm working on (but I'm too tired to finish) are a little taste of Friday night traditions.
I remember it like it was yesterday. Cleaning up the camp site, cleaning our tents, showering, dressing up, taking pictures with friends, services on the beach or the rock, chicken soup, roast chicken, challah, shira (singing) and rikud (dancing).  Things have changed so little - the camp site is a lot prettier, the songs and dances are a little different - but the ruach (spirit) is the same and that is what makes it so special. Fourteen and Fifteen year old teens engaged in the spirit of Shabbat (the Sabbath/day of rest), it is so hard to describe the feeling and the closeness - they will remember it and carry it with them forever.  I get so much joy out of watching my children continue the traditions.  The amazing thing about it is that so many of the people that I went to camp with and worked with, or were my counsellors, are there visiting their children too.
As my hubby would say - "It warm the cockles of my heart. And there's nothing like hot cockles!"

Leading Services

The Solelim Shabbat kind of day...

Getting It Together

As promised I have created a layout with the pictures from my Summer Sunset post. I used an adorable paper line that I picked up at Stamping Bella (my favourite place to shop and teach) called, "Sweet Summertime" from Echo Park Paper Co.  I do tend to use papers from the same line when I scrapbook because it's easy and I don't have to think as much.  I 'scrap lifted' (yes, I do!) this one from a layout in the June issue of Scrapbooks Etc. (page 24).  I stepped out of my box and created that flower from the papers which was a technique used in the layout.  I buy the magazines for ideas and new techniques but I so rarely try them.  It's actually a nice effect. One page layouts are also not my forte but sometimes it works. I think it needs ribbon - one of my favourite embellishments. Oh well, I shall self critique no more.

As for the rest of the day....  All was great until I decided that I needed to do some of the filing that I'd been ignoring.  You know the kind of stuff that takes 1 minute if you do it right away but 2 hours when you leave it for like forever. Yes hubby, I do mean 'like' forever!!!!  What was I thinking? I planned to do more layouts.  I think the two martinis I consumed clouded my judgement.

I went from doing this...

to dealing with this.

The sad thing is, I didn't even finish.  The rest is neatly piled in an 'in box' for when my son comes home from camp. I just couldn't deal with having to find new homes for some things.  I did clear some piles on my floor and in the space that usually holds my paper! The joke is that when I'm not scrapping, blogging or chauffeuring children around, my part time job is an administrator! 

The organizing kind of day...

Summer Sunsets

I have been playing with the technical aspects of this blog thing and I'm frustrated so I decided to take a break and just add a post! Much easier!! 

There is something about a summer sunset that makes us all feel good.  I wasn't so keen but my hubby persuaded me to go for a ride in our little putt putt boat and take it in.  It's not the sunset, it's the boat - it's small and leaks and for some reason it makes me nervous.  It was the first sunset of the summer that I actually observed and it was the perfect way to end a gorgeous hot day by the lake.  I hope this will be the summer of lots of sunrises and sunsets, unlike last summer which was the summer of rainbows.  I do have a layout of that - I'll try to remember to photograph and post that one.  

This will end up being a layout some day soon, but I was too tired and lazy tonight to do anything! 

the lazy kind of day....