fish out of water....

Disney's Animal Kingdom! Part 2 of my Walt Disney World report.

2011-01-24T12:51:00.000-07:00

(taken and revised from a previous blog post of mine)

Well, day 2 dawned - very early again. We were totally wiped from our busy day at Epcot, but raring to go and discover our second park of the trip, Disney's Animal Kingdom. (click on any of the pictures to enlarge them)

What a contrast in parks!! Epcot was all futuristic-y (is that a word?) and scientific, and Animal Kingdom was very tropical and jungle-y (pretty sure that's not a word, but it works here). Before we were even in the gates, we were greeted by a cast member with a gigantic, ug-ly millipede in a container, ready to answer any questions any of us had about it. Not really the type of thing you want to see first thing in the morning, but cool, none the less. Entering the park you hear jungle sounds, and music being piped through unseen speakers. Birds - real ones - are everywhere. Storks aplenty!! And real flamingos - that were actually PINK! Not the off-colored ones that we see in our zoo in Calgary - the pink of these gorgeous birds was unlike any color I've ever seen in nature before. Following the path, you pass various areas that house different types of tropical birds, waterfowl and little mammals. Bamboo trees are everywhere and the lovely sounds that they make as they move in the breeze are very much like wood-chimes. It's hard to describe, but very soothing. It wasn't very far into the park when we saw the famous Tree of Life, the "symbol" of Animal Kingdom.

You really need to take your time and see how many animals, birds, bugs you can find carved into it's enormous trunk and branches. It is unbelievable. If you follow the path, you will go underneath and inside the huge tree and be taken to the "It's Tough to be a Bug" 3D show. It is so much fun, as are all of Disney's 3D experiences and we highly recommend it. Plus, who can resist the chance to wear yet another cool pair of 3D glasses!!

As in every Disney park, you will have the opportunity to meet some of your favorite Disney movie characters here. I had the chance to meet my pal Pooh again, this time with Tigger AND Eeyore, so of course, I had to take it!! Eeyore is soooooooooooo cute, I just wanted to squeeze the stuffing right out of him. I am happy to report that I was much more restrained this time with my Pooh encounter, much to the relief and delight of my husband. ;0)

I will say, just because you met a character at a different park, don't pass up the chance to meet with them again. If we had passed by this meeting place we never would have met Eeyore, nor would our girls have been given bouncing lessons by Tigger. Or would our youngest have gotten a skipping escort from Tigger all the way back up the path. Those are the spur of the moment things that cannot be duplicated, and will never be forgotten.

Disney's attention to detail really is amazing. NOTHING is overlooked. There are no "backsides" of things. You won't see the "spot that they missed". It just doesn't exist. Crossing the bridge you look down upon a boat, seemingly moored there by its jungle-dwelling owner. The gibbon enclosure is anything but. It is an acheological site of a temple being restored. The gibbons swing on the scaffolding and climb all over "their" temple.

I should mention, as Disney resort guests, we had access to the early morning hours and late hours - or Extra Magic Hours - at designated parks on different days. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS!!! This day, was the early morning admitting, and it was so worth it. You get in an hour or two before the general public, and really, not many people get up in the morning to take advantage of this. We had no lines for the attractions at all. I will talk more about other good tips like this in a separate post. Speaking of no lines, we then did the rapids (buy or bring a rain poncho) and then the safari ride. This was great, and not at all what I expected. We got quite up close and personal with a lot of animals. We came around one corner, into a beautiful open area and had this gorgeous giraffe standing right there! She was so close, my girls were so excited. Another thing that you see on the safari is ostrich nests everywhere. Real, live, ostrich nests!! With eggs in them!!! How cool is that!! We got a picture of this one sitting on its nest:

We boarded the Wildlife Express train which took us to Rafiki's Planet Watch - an interactive area that educates children on what is living in their own backyards, and how to protect them. It was a fun train, ride and a welcome relief from yet more miles that we were putting on. Thank goodness for good running shoes!!

I do recommend the Planet Watch, as it has some great hands-on demonstrations and interractions for children of all ages, and we were very pleasantly surprised to meet 3 characters while there. Rafiki, himself, Jiminy Cricket, and a princess that we had totally forgotten about! Shame on us!! Can you guess who?? She lived in the woods.......very "in touch" with nature, shall we say.......oh come on.........POCAHONTAS!! We actually saw her before she saw us. Well, I saw her. She was shyly peeking out from behind a tree, watching the presentation and I pointed her out to the girls. I wonder how many other people walked right by her!!

Animal Kingdom does not have a fireworks, or night-time light show as they do not want to scare or upset all of the animals living there, but they do have a fantastic parade. Take the time to watch this. The park closes earliest of all the Disney Parks, so you will be back at your hotel in plenty of time to unwind. I will say, try to get a front-row seat. Park yourself on the ground and get ready to high-five and say hello to Balloo, Pluto, Mickey among others. Your kids will love it. Heck, I loved it!! I dare you to watch a Disney parade and NOT have a good time. I just dare you. When it was time to go, we headed to the Rainforest Cafe for our supper. It is not a Disney operated restaruarant, but it is right outside the park gates. If you haven't been to one, you should go at least once. There's nothing like an angry elephant, or a jungle rainstorm while you're eating. haha! We headed back to our resort - exhausted - again, but once again thrilled with another magical day. It sounds corny, but really, there is no other way to describe it! We still had some time before turning into bed, so took advantage of the early evening and went for a dip on the resort's pool. A great finish to another Disney day!! If you are thinking about going on your own Disney holiday, I would love to answer any questions you might have. Since I'm also now in the travel industry working for Some Beach Somewhere Ltd. I would be more than happy to help you plan your own Disney adventure! Remember I love and welcome all feedback and would love to see comments here on my posts!!

Walt Disney World, Florida

2011-01-13T10:44:00.000-07:00

In February of 2010, my family and I made our very first ever trip to any Disney park. We decided on Walt Disney World because we were going for 10 days and, of course, there are more Disney parks to see in Florida. I will be doing a series of blog posts on each of the Disney Parks in Florida over the next few days, highlighting what I think are some must see and do's. After an excellent direct flight from Calgary to Orlando, we boarded Disney's Magical Express at the airport and were delivered right to our Disney resort - All Star Movies. Check in was a breeze and we easily found our room. It was very clean and comfortable - exactly what we look for in a hotel. As it was already past supper time, we then headed back to our hotel's food court. It is made to look like the concession of a movie theater and we had no shortage of excellent food to choose from. (you can click on the pictures to see a larger size of them)

Our first morning we got up bright and early (with the Disney wake-up call, of course!) and after breakfast, headed outside to catch the resort shuttle to Epcot. One - huge - perk of staying on Disney property is that you have shuttle buses running every few minutes all day to each of the Disney parks, right from your resort. SO easy! There are lines that are clearly marked for each destination, so there is no guessing.

Epcot was amazing. And huge. Be prepared to do a LOT of walking. We wished that we would have taken a pedometer just to keep track of how much walking we did over our 10 days. Out of all of the Disney World parks, you will do the most walking at Epcot. We arrived before the park gates opened and were able to walk right on both Soarin' and Test Track. Both were FANTASTIC and I highly recommend them! We also found that Epcot was the BEST place to meet Disney Characters. Daisy Duck and Stitch were the first, right at the main gates. Then we walked right in to the meeting place for Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, and Donald. If that doesn't get you excited, then you really need to check your blood pressure. ;0) Continuing on into the World Showcase portion of Epcot, we visited pavillions from countries all over the world - beginning, of course, with Canada. It actually reminded me somewhat of Expo '86 in Vancouver, but with wayyyy more. The cast members working in each "country" are all actually from that country. Don't be shy - ask them how to say "Hello" in their home language!! Our girls learned how to say hello so many different ways! It was a great way for all of us to interact with the cast members. Also, each country has a cultural component, a shopping area, and of course, a dining area. I have decided to do a separate blog entry on just the dining at Walt Disney World. It really deserves it.

We met and/or saw several princesses while at Epcot as well. We were so very impressed by just how kind and unrushed all of the Disney characters were. They always took the time to really talk to our girls and ask about them, as well as sign autographs and pose for pictures. Our girls couldn't have been happier.

Now, everyone has their favorite Disney character. Admit it, you do too. Mine just so happens to be Winnie The Pooh. I LOVE Pooh. By this time, I was totally on the hunt for the meeting place for Pooh Bear. We found the place, only to discover that they weren't there. After striking up a conversation with one of the cast members who was at the place, he told me that if I wanted to wait a few minutes, Pooh would be coming out. Those of you reading this who know me, will not be surprised at how totally excited I was. Truly. I would have shoved people out of my way just to be first in line, but luckily I didn't have to. ;0) The moment finally came, and the "chubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff" walked in. In true Jodi style, I fell into Pooh's arms and said "I've waited my whole life to meet you!!". It was worth the wait. If there was ever a place where "grown ups" can feel like a kid again, it really is Disney World.

The architecture and attention to detail is something that Disney is famous for, and there are times, when, if you didn't know any better, you would swear you were in a different country. We had many favorites, but the United Kingdom was definately one of them - and not just because that is where I met Pooh. There are so many little "side streets" and quiet areas to see and enjoy where, often, you will be the only one there. That was one of our favorite things to do was to "take the path less travelled". The little courtyard behind some of the buildings was just like something out of Mary Poppins, and one of my very favorite places. I highly recommend, if you find yourself at Epcot, to take your time and discover your own little places.

Another of my favorite "countries" was Morocco. It was absolutely beautiful. The buildings, the marketplace, the music, the people - everything about it, we loved. Now I'm not so naive to believe that it is exactly like the real Morocco, but we definately added it to our list of "must go to" countries.

We finished our day at Epcot with the amazing IllumiNation light show. It really is a light show - with music, fireworks, special effects. The best view is right in front of the Canada pavillion, as close to the lagoon as you can. Buy a bag of popcorn from the Canadians working at the cart and chat about home while you wait. The park is alive with gorgeous music and colors and lights at night and walking back to our shuttle was a totally different experience than walking in was - even though it was past the same things. Take some time to watch the dancing fountains, and stop on the illuminated sidewalk, and of course, take pictures of the giant Epcot "ball".

We were absolutely exhausted, but totally exhilirated at the end of our first Disney day. The ride back to the resort on the shuttle was a quiet one, to say the least!! Coming up next, Disney's Animal Kingdom!

Give This Kid a Box.........

2010-10-21T08:40:00.001-06:00

Remember a few weeks back when I FINALLY got a dishwasher?? Well, that dishwasher came in a big ole box. My youngest daughter LOVES boxes. She always has. Not like teeny boxes, but big enough that she could squeeze her 9 year old self into - and trust me, she can squeeze into a LOT of boxes.

You can imagine her pure joy at the sight of the big one. She quickly got to work and made that box her own.

Welcome to my home!!

Here we have the typical Welcome mat.

...complete with a key hidden underneath.

Pull up a chair and watch a little tv with me!

There's an excellent show on.

But if you really don't like it, here's the remote.

Like I said, you give this kid a box, she'll make you a dream house.

Twelve Years Ago Today...

2010-10-10T08:14:00.000-06:00

Twelve years ago today I married the love of my life.

And I would do it all over again today.

And then just like that...

2010-10-02T08:30:00.000-06:00

This past week has been an absolute emotional rollercoaster. It has been a week of fear, anger, determination, resolve, and pride. I have discovered, about myself, that I actually DO have it in me to not only talk-the-talk, but to walk-the-walk.

This past week went from being an average week, to a decidedly above average week. A week that I will remember for the rest of my life.

This past week, I became more and more informed, as to just how messed-up our education system is today. Not just on a couple of hours of Oprah, but here, in my little town. Where there are less than 100 students in our school.

This past week, I decided that it was time that I did something about it. And then, just like that, I am a homeschooler to my youngest daughter. That's right, you heard me. This is something that I never thought I would do - or have to do. But here it is. At first, I was terrified: "I'm not a teacher!", "What about her friends?", "What will people think?" Then, thankfully, I snapped out of that. "No, I'm not a teacher, but nobody has my girl's best interest at heart more than me and her dad." "She has played with the same friends since her first day of Kindergarten, and as it turns out, they will be homeschooling with her." And, really, I don't care what people think, but if I had to give it any sort of attention, I would hope that it cause them to be more involved in their own children's education.

No, I'm not preaching. But I am sounding the alarm. We, as parents, truly do need to be more proactive in our children's educations. Sadly, gone are the days when we can trust that our kids are learning what they are required to know to live productive lives in society. This "nobody gets held back" has failed our children miserably. More and more of them are falling through the cracks as a result.

Yep, this has been quite the week. But now, I am excited, and looking forward to the coming year. I will have the amazing opportunity to see, first hand, my daughter learn new things and grasp new concepts. And I will know that I had a hand in that. I am proud of myself too. I haven't felt that in a VERY long time.

How was your week?

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!!

2010-09-19T10:24:00.000-06:00

What a week!! Some weeks are just like that - running the roads every day. For a reclusive homebody like myself, that does not usually bode well. BUT my road trips this week have been most satisfying! Our latest one, yesterday, is the best one yet. Life-changing, even.

Yesterday, my amazing, wonderful husband, bought me this:

A beautiful, shiney, brandy-new dishwasher!!!! (insert game-show music and rowdy applause)

We have lived in our home for 7 years and although there has always been a spot for a built-in dishwasher, we never have had one. We just used the cut-out for our garbage and recycling containers.

I used to not mind doing my dishes by hand. I have a nice view to look at, and I find it sort of meditative. For about the first 6 1/2 years. Then it just became a chore. Especially now that I am baking more than I ever have. You can imagine my pure joy and excitement of having this lovely appliance finally!!! YAHOO!!

We are all on a mission now to dirty enough dishes to run it through it's first cycle..... I tell ya, it's a trip being me.

That Dang Sweet Tooth

2010-09-14T16:06:00.000-06:00

Well, my sweet tooth struck again. It's a rotten pain in the butt, and I give in to it far too often, but I think I'm stuck with it for the long haul. Sometimes I just want something that requires leaving my house for, and since I only leave my house when absolutely necessary, that creates a problem for me and my sweet tooth. Last night I really wanted a mini Blizzard from DQ - and let's all take a moment and give thanks that they FINALLY came up with a mini size!!! Woo hooo!!!! Anyway, for those of you who don't know, the nearest DQ is a good 30-35 minutes away from me. My closest town has a booming population of about 350 people, so no fast food drive-thrus there. I REALLY didn't want to drive, but would have if it meant satisfying that darn sweet tooth. Fortunately, I put my thinking cap on and reason came back to me. 'Why don't I just make them here at home?' Why, indeed! So, that is just what I did. A quick trip to town for some supplies and Bob's your uncle........ incidentally, who the heck is Bob, anyway?? Where did that saying come from?? Anyone??

Ok, so first, you will need some ice cream - vanilla is likely the best base for this.

Throw some in either a blender or food processor and add with it whatever "flavor" you would like. My girls both had Smarties in theirs, or you can add Skor bits (do you have Skor bars in the states? I think Butterfinger is close) or Oreo cookies, or peanut butter cups, whatever blows your skirt up. I did bananas.

Tossed in a little chocolate syrup for good luck:

And whizzed away. That makes me giggle - whizzed....... hahaha...he he he....*ahem* ...moving on...

You don't want to liquefy it, just blend it up so it's more like soft ice cream. I think I had too much banana in here and that really changed the texture - note to self, add less banana next time.

Spoon it into a parfait glass (which I don't have) or whatever, and eat it all up!!

Your sweet tooth will thank you. Mine did.

A Work in Progress

2010-09-13T13:37:00.000-06:00

Over the course of me writing this blog, I have been on a personal journey to be more creative, both in the kitchen, and in my pursuit of craftiness. I have made butter from scratch - Budda Baby , hamburger buns without trying to reinvent the wheel - Nice Buns Betty! , and shown-off some of my crafty projects.

Today, I have home-made chicken stew cooking away in my crockpot, making my house smell divine.

But for lunch, today I'm having something different. I am home alone during the day, afterall and have no food groups to cover, no good example to set. So, with that being said, today, I dine on...........

yep...popcorn. Granted, it is the best popcorn on the planet, due to the amazing popper (more on that in a future post). I can't be raising the bar every day, you know.

I am, and likely will always be, a work in progress.

We Are Just Going to Have to Move....

2010-09-11T07:53:00.000-06:00

This summer has been odd for many reasons. Our temperature was very much below our normal summer temps - usually it's smokin' hot - days and days of 30C+ (that's 86F +) for any American readers - this summer we were lucky to get a week of those temps, and they weren't all in a row either!
We had more rain than we usually get during the summer months too. Which, wasn't all bad, as we had green grass far longer than any other year!

Then there were the bugs. UGH. I. Don't. Like. Bugs. But, of course, being a mom requires me to suck it up, put on the brave face, and be the big ole bug killer when Daddy is not around. We had an influx of brown moths this year. I know that moths don't bite. I know that moths don't sting. But moths are just......gross. My girls positively freak out when a moth is near them. I have had to put on my brave face and kill many this summer. The extra moisture also brought out the mosquitos. Lord, how I hate mosquitos. Having gotten West Nile Virus a few years ago, I see absolutely nothing wrong with anhilating the entire mosquito population. Enough said.
BUT, there was also an increase in a certain other, eight-legged, creature. And, I do mean an INCREASE. We came home from camping one weekend to find the outside of our house home to wayyyyyyyy too many of.......THESE.......(insert scary music here):

EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!

Big, disgusting, scary, did I mention BIG?? CAT SPIDERS. Blech!!! I am not kidding. Just on the eave above our deck alone there were close to 10 of these honkers. I am freaking out just writing about them. Needless to say, I screamed, freaked out, ran in the house, and freaked out some more. They are so big that even my darling, brave, Fire Chief husband, was leery of killing the suckers.

Ya, so basically, unless we get them all, I think we're just going to have to move.

It's really the only rational solution.

Couldn't Imagine a Day Without......

2010-09-09T10:07:00.000-06:00

We all go through phases when we just can't imagine going a day without using something that we have come to love. Or become obsessed with. Whatever. For me, lately, it's these......

- my wooden clothes drying rack. I bought this only last year. Prior to owning this, I would either hang wet clothes on a plastic hanger or on the back of a chair to dry. Then there would always be weird bumps in clothes where bumps had no business being. Or, I would just throw everything in the dryer and hope for the best. Yaaaaa. That didn't work out so well. But now! Now, our lives are filled with clothes that fit and retain their original shape!!! Imagine!! I seriously love this thing so dang much. I don't know how I managed so long without one. In fact, I bought myself a second one the other day. It's the little things...

- this kick-ass cool travel mug. This past summer there was a group of us crazy girls who were in a ladies golf tournament. Two of my girlfriends had these cups and were raving - nay, BRAGGING - about how awesome they were. They can be used for hot or cold drinks. They keep hot drinks hot for up to 4 hours - which, for me, is a huge bonus. Every day I have coffee at home. Every day I get sidetracked and my cup of once-steaming-hot-coffee goes cold. Now, because I have my own ideas and idiosyncrasies about odd things, I do not believe in microwaving a cup of coffee. Once it's cold, then down the drain it goes. So, you can well imagine how this cup has changed my life!! And check this out.......

It is totally vacuum sealed!!! NO SPILLAGE!!! You push a little button each time you take a drink. COME ON!! THAT IS BLOODY BRILLIANT!! I so love these. They come two in a pack and you can buy them at Costco. I had to settle for red because the gorgeous mauve one that I REALLY wanted was at the very top of the display and in order for me to get it, the two Costco employees would have had to move the entire display and use a ladder to reach it. They were totally willing to do it, by the way. BUT, my mom was completely embarassed that I was being so anal about what cup I wanted and had long since walked away, and I figured that any rational person wouldn't let them go to all of that trouble, sooooooo, I said "oh no, don't do that! I'll just take this one!" But in all honesty. I REALLY wanted that mauve set. I would have gladly watched them move that display. I would have even held the ladder! It still haunts me....

moving on...........

- ahhhhhhhh TiVo. How I love thee. No really. I do. Not just me either. My whole family. We can't imagine how we ever existed so long without our little TiVo. Commercials??? BAH! Not for us!! If I want to watch a live show, I will actually just pause it for 20 minutes or so then play just so I can zip through the commercials. And pausing live tv?? WHO KNEW!!! It's life changing, I tell ya.

- my Scentsy warmer. Now this is a little controversial for me. You see I have sold candles for almost 9 years now so I really am being a total traitor to myself. But oh, how I love this!!! I have this theory, see, that if my house smells good, it doesn't matter if it's not completely spotless. And, I am a total freak about smells. Good or bad. My oldest daughter is just like me. To us, the biggest compliment that can be paid to us is being told that we smell good. I keep this puppy going every day. I have a crazy amount of scented wax bricks for it, so I can change the scent depending on any number of factors: mood, weather, season, etc. Like I said, I am a freak about smells.

And last, but certainly not least.............

- my iphone. Now, to be honest, when these first came out, I thought I would NEVER get one. Why on Earth would someone need such a thing?? Heck, I'd only just learned to text! This is just the epitome of self-indulgence......

um........ya........I kind of changed my mind. And I cannot imagine a day without this little puppy. See my pretty pink case?? See my Kenny's picture as my screen saver?? That's not even the half of it. I have apps - oh I have apps. Weather (because, I am a total weather geek), twitter, facebook, No Shoes Radio (Kenny's station). I have games that my girls have downloaded, games that I have downloaded, flash cards for their math, picures, music, you name it. I. LOVE. THIS. PHONE. And yep, I use it every day.

Just thought I'd share. And no, I don't sell any of these things and am not getting paid for endorsing them. (although that would be sweet)

I'm off to finish my still-hot coffee that I poured half an hour ago......;0)

Twenty Random Things About Me

2010-08-31T17:25:00.000-06:00

This little task went around Facebook a couple of years ago. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed really looking at myself and coming up with 20 things about me. What also surprised me was that not a single one of the people that I "tagged" in this bothered to take the time to come up with a list of their own. I heard everything from "oh I'm not that interesting" to "I could never come up with that many things!". Come on. We can all come up with a thousand things about ourselves, but the fact of the matter is, not everyone is comfortable enough to do it. Truly. Why is that? I "tagged" people that I genuinely wanted to know more about. All that I ended up learning about them is that they don't think enough of themselves to sit down for 15 minutes and come up with 20 random things about themselves. Isn't that sad? So, I send out this challenge to any and all who may be reading this : sit down and make a list of 20 things that you would tell Oprah Winfrey about yourself should you ever become famous and present you with the question: "what would people be surprised to know about you?" Just do it!! Have fun! You might just surprise yourself with what you come up with!! I'd love for you to post your 20 things in my comments section, but if you don't feel comfortable doing that, then email them privately to me, or heck, just keep them for yourself! Just tell me that you did it! I can't wait to see what happens!!
*oh and as a little disclaimer, I was working outside of my home when I did this list so one of the items no longer applied so I just did a new one. ;0)

1. I am left handed - and proud of it.

2. I am a huge fan of the Backstreet Boys. I have all of their cd's - even the ones that you could get at Burger King.

3. I believe in Bigfoot, unicorns, and dragons. Try saying that and sounding rational.

4. All my life I wanted to be a singer. I have won Bathroom Idol every year for well over 30 years now, competed in a soloist competition, and came in second when I was 9, and have sung at many friends' weddings. A day without music for me, is not a day at all.

5. Getting up at 5 in the morning to go and walk 5-6 kms, 6 days a week with one of my favorite friends was one of my very favorite things to do and something that I am extremely proud of myself for. I miss it terribly.

6. In August of 2006 I contracted West Nile Virus. It totally sucked and my body is still showing effects of it. Wear your damn repellent people and cover up.

7. I say I'm sorry to my children - for something it seems - at least once a day. But at least I say it.

8. I still say "night, God Bless" to my mom almost every night.

9. I am very rarely ever without 2 things: gum and Lip Smacker.

10. Sandwiches are one of my most favorite things to eat - but they have to be toasted.

11. I cry at eveything. Seriously. Movies, TV, books, songs, music videos.

12. I knew the very first night that I met Rolland that he was - finally! - the one. Two months later we lived together. Eight months after that we were married. And I love him even more now than I did then.

13. I have an awesome tatoo. Christine has the matching one to it. We have been friends since we were 6 years old and I love the sh*t outta her. We can still make each other laugh till stuff comes out of our nose and I imagine we'll still be doing that 30+ years from now - only it will likely be our dentures flying out then. ;0)

14. I love to watch reality ghost hunter shows but they scare the wits out of me, thus, I only watch them in daylight hours, and with my back against a wall. I'm totally not kidding on this one, it's a sickness.

15. I am extremely superstitious. Knock wood.

16. I am head over heels in love with my daughters. Some days I want to keep them home from school just so I can hang out with them.

17. I slept with a teddy bear named Dexter until I was married. True story. He is a very well travelled bear. lol

18. I miss having an uber-close BFF. I have good friends, and BFF's but not like when we were younger. I miss that. You know - the ones that you would call before school just to see what they were wearing, spend all day with them at school, then talk to them on the phone in the evening.

19. I grew up in Vulcan and it p*sses me off that they tore down Hazel Cameron Elementary School and would not even let anyone save a brick from there. If they ever tear down CCHS, I'm takin something whether it's allowed or not.

20. Being a wife and mom is the best job I have ever had in my life. I love everything about it. I love that as I get older, I am learning even more "domestic" things. I can make a kick ass loaf of bread, sushi to brag about, beautiful quilts for my family, and I'm still learning. Just imagine what this note will say in 10 years. ;0)

Nice Buns Betty!

2010-05-28T09:07:00.000-06:00

Hmmmmm, too bad my name isn't Betty. But, let me tell you, I have some pretty spectacular buns. Just ask my husband. Wait. What? I'm talkin' hamburger buns, what are YOU talkin' about? Anyhoo.......

A few months ago, I was planning on burgers for supper, but alas. No buns. If a person lives in the city, or even a large town, that is no big deal. But I live in the country. The closest town has only one grocery store and it is very much hit-and-miss with the hamburger buns there. I was not about to drive into town just to find nothing. So.....to the internet I go. I do not come from a bun-making family, so I've never been shown how to shape buns, how big the pieces should be, etc. I managed to find quite a handy-dandy site that spelled it all out for me. And now, my precious, I will spell it out for you.

Now remember, I'm not setting out to reinvent the wheel here. I'm all for modern pioneering. That being said, pull out your handy-dandy bread machine and, using your favorite recipe, mix your dough using the dough setting. When that is complete, turn your dough onto a lightly floured surface. Do not let it rest, do not pass go, do not collect $200.

Then, if you have one, get out your oh-so-handy digital kitchen scale. If you don't have one, what the heck are you waiting for?? Actually, mine is not a "kitchen" scale. I picked this up at Staples and LOVE it. But please, if your a photographing yours, wipe the flour off of it first....

For hamburger buns, you will need pieces that weigh 2.5 ounces each.

Now, roll these little suckers into a ball using whatever method floats your boat. We aren't aiming for perfection here, but if that is what you go for, then have at it. My dough recipe will make 16 hamburger buns. I do 6 in a 9x13 greased pan, then 4 in an 8x8 greased pan. Like so:

Cover all of these with a towel or two and let them rise in a nice, warm spot. My house isn't known for it's nice, warm spots, so I cover them with two towels each then put them on the stove with the oven light on. It creates just enough warmth that my dough always rises beautifully. It is even nicer when all of your towels match.

Let them rise until they are the hamburger bun size. I'm sorry, this isn't an exact science. Some days it takes an hour, some days longer. You will have to judge for yourself. They should, however, look something like this when you are ready to bake them:

Now toss those babies into a 350F oven and bake for 10-12 minutes - again, everyone's oven is different, but that is a pretty good estimate. When your timer goes, your house will smell divine and this is what you should have:

GORGEOUS!! Now turn them out onto a cooling rack, and enjoy! I really should have finished this post with a nice shot of a freshly bbq-ed burger with all the fixin's on these fabulous buns, but we were really hungry and the burgers were just about ready when I pulled these out of the oven. LOL Sorry 'bout that! But you get the idea.

At the end of your very productive bun-making session, you can say "NICE BUNS BETTY!" and then go and listen to the George Canyon song where the quote came from. http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=fl13kmZ7-vI

The Crafty Side of Me

2010-05-12T08:36:00.007-06:00

First of all...............THE SUN IS SHINING AND THERE IS NO WIND!!! yahooooooooo!! What a difference those two things can make in a person's daily life. My heart goes out to the flood victims in Tennessee, and those in Oklahoma and Kansas dealing with those unbelievable tornadoes.

Now, anyone who has paid any sort of attention to me, whatsoever, in the course of knowing me, will also know that I do, indeed, have a crafty side. I'm not one to design or create things, but I love to be the one to make someone else's design come to life. It feeds my Pisces soul.

Over the years I have done ceramics, rug hooking, crocheting, knitting, and now I'm into quilting and wood craft.

These are two FANTASTIC wood crafts that I did with Terry at Kuntry Treasures :

Aren't they great? I have a long wish-list of other projects that I am itching to do over at Terry's too. Feel free to check them all out. Leave her a comment to say hi and tell her I sent you!

These are a couple of quilting kits that I have done over the past few months:

The chicken wall-hanging has a partner that goes with it - I'm not done that one yet. ;0)

I love my Let It Snow table topper as it is a winter themed item and can be left out longer than just Christmas ones. I am currently working on a long winter table runner, and a gorgeous Springtime table topper. I hope to be finished it within the next few days!

I just wanted to share a bit of my crafty side with you all. Everyone has a bit o' crafty in them somewhere. It is just a matter of finding the right medium with which to express it. I have friends who do gorgeous scrapbooks, photography, wood craft, cake decorating, you name it!! If you haven't found your crafty side yet - maybe this will inspire you to start looking.

Until next time!!

budda, baby

2010-04-26T08:56:00.008-06:00

No, not Buddha, the deity. Budda, as in "smooth as budda". Or as in, I have recently started making my own budda. Yep, that's right. Picture me, a bonnet tied with a nice bow under my chin, my long cotton dress touching the ground, as I sit at my butter churn, humming work songs to myself....

OR NOT!!

Haha, that is a funny picture though. And the first thing people ask me when I tell them I'm making my own butter is "do you have a churn?" If I did, trust me, I wouldn't be using it to make butter. It would be sitting on display as a gorgeous antique in my living room.

GET REAL PEOPLE!! This is 2010!! I'm all for getting back to basics, but I do have to draw the line somewhere. My churn of choice is my good ole KitchenAid mixer. Oh how I love that machine. I cried when I opened it on Christmas morning,m 2008. That's how much I love it.

Back to the butter. You can use a churn, of course. People used them for hundreds of years. Or you can use a jar with a tight fitting lid, and get a wicked bicep/tricep work out. But, if you are like me, I am all about easy peasy, lemon squeezy. And trust me, making your own butter is EASY PEASY!

By the way, the second question that I get asked about making my own butter is "why?". My answer: because I can. I have been wanting to get away from the over-abundance of processed foods in our world today. I just don't think that eating foods that have numbered ingredients can be good for us. I already make my own bread and buns, isn't butter the next step? I love knowing what is in the food that we are eating. Plus, it is cheaper to make things from scratch. Yes, it takes some planning, but to me, and to my family, it is well worth it.

In case this inspires any of you to make your own butter at home, here is how I do it:

Start with some plain old whipping cream. Or you can use heavy cream, whichever is available to you. As long as it is at least 40% milk fat.

Pour that whole container of cream into the bowl of your KitchenAid mixer. I use one liter of whipping cream and I wouldn't want to use more than that as it can get messy later. One liter of cream makes roughly one pound of butter. As you can see, I have a splash guard, but I also drape a tea towel over the mixer and bowl. If you don't have a splash guard, please over your entire bowl. You will thank me later.

Proceed to mix the whipping cream - with the whisk attachment - as you would if you were actually making whipping cream. See it getting thick?

keep mixing it and you will start to see it change texture. Just keep on going. I had my mixer on speed 4. It takes a bit longer, but once the butter and the buttermilk separate, it can get messy and splash all over the place. That happened the first time I did it - not a good scene.

It's starting to turn yellow! See the texture changing? You will also start to see more liquid, that is the buttermilk, and it's a sign that things are going swimmingly!

Then, quite literally, all of a sudden, *poof!* you have a big ole wad of butter in your mixing bowl where there once was cream. This is where it gets messy. As soon as the butter is in a solid mass, turn off your mixer or you'll be wiping buttermilk from places that buttermilk has no business being.

Next, pour the butter that isn't globbed on to your whisk as well as all of the liquid through a strainer and into a clean container. Don't throw away the buttermilk!! That would be very un-pioneerish of you!

See all that you get? Quite a lot. I put my buttermilk in a jar in the fridge for future use. I will be looking for recipes that I can use it in.

Next, you want to "clean" your butter. Get some cold, clean water and pour it onto your butter, which should be, by now, scraped off of the whisk and back into the mixing bowl. You can use your mixer for this part, but I found it just to be messy. So I just took a fork and mashed the water through the butter. This is why it is very important to use cold water. That way the butter won't soften and "hold" the water in it.

As you mash the butter and the clean water, you will get any remaining buttermilk out of the mass. You don't need to wash the butter, but leaving buttermilk in it, will cause the butter to spoil sooner than if it was cleaned.

Just mash, and pour the liquid out - don't keep the liquid from this. You can also squeeze the butter in a clean paper towel to soak up any remaining liquid. I haven't tried this yet, so let me know how it works if you do!

Now comes the fun part. Flavoring your butter. You can really let your imagination - or taste buds - run wild with this. Garlic, herbs, honey, salt, whatever. For this batch, I am taking a little bit and adding honey, and to the rest adding sea salt. Always add a little bit at a time and taste it as you go. All of this from fridge, to container, took about 20 minutes. It is a good idea to leave your cream out to get to room temperature first as this will speed up the separating time, but I forgot to do that. hee hee

Once you have seasoned (or not) your butter, just put it in an air-tight container and keep it however you would keep any other butter. Or give it as a gift. Or make a big ole bowl of popcorn and smother it in your beautiful creation. The possibilities are endless. ;0)

I hope this inspires you to try it. There really is something deeply satisfying about feeding your family something made by you. Good luck!!!!

So Far Behind I Might as Well be First

2010-04-09T07:55:00.003-06:00

Wow am I ever behind! It's not that I have nothing to post about - I have plenty to post about, actually! I think my creative writing juices stopped flowing for a while there. And really, if you are going to talk about something on a blog that potentially a lot of people might read, you want to make it good, right? That's my feeling anyway.

So, here it is, I am feeling creative once again. I am doing more baking, sewing, crafting (thanks to Terry over at Kuntry Treasures!!!!), and thus, I have a lot more to say. Lucky you. ;0)

I will also be posting about my very eventful summer last year, and our amazing Disney trip this past February.

In the meantime, here is a little somethin' somethin'

2009-09-03T07:41:00.005-06:00

Happy Birthday to the best husband, dad, and friend in the world.

We love you!

xoxoxox

Why I've been slacking....

2009-08-13T13:02:00.004-06:00

ok, I have been positively terrible about updating this summer. I haven't been completely slacking, I have been otherwise engaged.

See for yourself:

I will, of course, go into greater detail soon, but you can plainly see that I have been a busy girl.....

My Extreme Home Makeover

2009-06-26T08:02:00.006-06:00

What kind of husband can take a house from this:

And turn it into this:

From this:

And turn it into this:

The best kind!!! Thanks honey!

Ask not..........

2009-05-03T07:42:00.005-06:00

Yesterday was our provincial highway clean-up. Youth groups, families, and 4H clubs set out, orange vests and garbage bags in place, to pick up garbage along our provincial roadways.

I have been a 4H member all of my life, and am now a 4H leader. Highway cleanup, believe it or not, was always a fun day for us kids. Yes, we had to get up way too early for a Saturday. Yes, the weather was often cold or rainy, or both. But it was a chance to hang out with our friends and parents and we always had a big ole potluck lunch waiting for us afterwards.

This was my oldest daughter's first highway cleanup and she was very excited. I would be out combing the ditches right along with her, while my husband and youngest daughter were shuttling other groups to their resepective areas, doling out water, and giving all-around support. To have my whole family out there, volunteering their time and helping out, positively filled me with tremendous pride.

There were some people who didn't show up, because it was "too early" or they had plans later on in the day. I want them to know that they are the ones who missed out. Yes, my daughter was exhausted at the end. And filthy, and hungry as a horse. But she still had a great day, and if you ask her, she will tell you that it was fun. Not once did I hear a single word of complaint out of my little girl's mouth. I wonder, did those that were still in bed, or "busy", get to experience the joy that I did? Did they get to witness first hand what a hard-working, positive, amazing child they have been blessed with??

There are so many opportunities all around us, every day, to volunteer our time. Do we all take them? We are all so busy - but are we too busy to spare a few hours a day? A week? A month? I often get frustrated at the lack of volunteer support in my community. But at the same time, my community also has an AMAZING group of volunteers. It's just a shame that it is always the same people. And don't get me wrong - I am NOT the volunteering poster child, but I do what I can - and am not afraid to step up where there is a need.

I am writing this for two reasons: first, to thank and congratulate my amazing friends, and family, who are right there volunteering their time, beside me. You know who you are! Also, to invite anyone who may read this to ask yourselves: is there something that I could be doing? How can I get my family involved with me? It only takes once and you'll be hooked. I promise you, it feels great.

And so I put this question out to you all:* Ask not what your community can do for you, ask what You can do for your community.

* I realize that I am taking liberties with John F. Kennedy's famous quote, but I am quite confident that he would not mind - after all, my daughter pictured here is named after him. ;0)

Here are some pictures from yesterday. I hope you enjoy them. And for the love of Heaven, DON'T LITTER!!!! ;0)

Everyone gathered and awaiting instructions.

My husband and youngest daughter attaching the caution signs to our truck.

Excited girls waiting to head out!!!

Assigning our positions...

My girl's first piece of litter!!

It's in the bag, baby!

The other half of our mother-daughter team for the morning!

Making our way.....

What a great day. Followed up by a club weiner roast and relaxation in the sun!!

Inside or outside?

2009-04-25T14:08:00.003-06:00

Outside - cool, rainy.

Inside - a hula-hooping husband...

...and two giggly girls

Inside it is. It's really a no-brainer....... ;0)

My Brother

2009-03-21T13:56:00.005-06:00

This is my brother (and me @ 6 months):

This is my brother (and yep, Tom Berenger):

This is my brother (falling from a rather high cliff - he's a movie stuntman):

And, finally, this is my brother:

And it's his birthday today. Happy birthday Rog.
love,
your little sister

Fruit Salad

2009-03-18T13:50:00.006-06:00

tangerine

plus juicy pear

plus very cherry

plus watermelon

plus green apple

plus blueberry

plus coconut

equals one yummy fruit salad...

....that's ALWAYS in season.

Thanks Jess!!!

Wind

2009-03-16T13:02:00.004-06:00

No, that's not wind as in wind up that winder-thingy to make it move. It's wind as in when will this *&$#@ wind ever stop?!

Now when one has a blog, and one chooses to blog about wind, how does one photograph it??

Like this?

Hmmm.......not bad, but you can't really tell how much that tree is moving.

How 'bout this:

That's a little better. See how Sable's long flow-y hair is blowing all supermodel-ish in the wind? She looks good no matter what, but it's still not totally it.

Ok, I know this wasn't it, but Oscar was sitting so nicely. He wanted his picture taken too. Ok Oscar - happy now?? Good boy.

Ok, let me try one more time........

Yep. That'll do.

The end.

Lip Smacker

2009-02-09T06:59:00.006-07:00

I loooveeeeeee Lip Smacker. Always have. I think it is safe to say that I am addicted to it.

It makes me happy. I love all the cute-sy names they have. I love all of the flavors. I love that it adds just the right amount of color and shine so that I don't need to wear lipstick.

You can pretty much find one, or a gaggle, of Lip Smackers everywhere in my house. You never know when you're going to need one, after all...........

here is a nice selection in one of my desk-top drawers........

oh, and here is another hiding in my third desk-top drawer.

See that little box on the bottom? That is not any old box - it's a Lip Smacker collector tin! Let's take a peek inside, shall we?

Ahhhhhhhhhhh................just look at all of those!! That just makes me giddy. There is another full layer underneath that one! This is also located in my office. I guess that you could say my desk is my Lip Smacker home base.

definately in my purse.........

And in my dresser drawer........

Yep, I do looooooooovvvvvveeeeeee my Lip Smacker.....

* I should say that I am in no way affiliated with Lip Smacker. I think even they might be a little taken aback by my collection. ;0)

Any Excuse for Sushi

2009-02-03T15:08:00.009-07:00

My 7 year old daughter loves sushi. Every chance she has to have some, she goes for it. It makes me giggle and I love indulging her. Of course it helps that I happen to love it too. For months all I heard was "Mom, when can we make our own sushi at home?". Well, good ole Santa brought her a "sushi starter kit" for Christmas. While other 7 year old girls the world over were squealing with delight over a new Barbie, mine was jumping for joy over her new sushi kit. Santa, thankfully, also had the forethought to bring a "Sushi for Dummies" book. So, the next few days I spent lots of time on the internet looking up different sushi recipes and ingredients that would not be too hard for me to come by on the prairies. I also was on the hunt for some non-traditional recipes that I could make for my husband, who has an allergy to shellfish. We decided that New Year's Eve would be our sushi making debut.

Here we are pressing the rice onto the nori sheet. At this point, I hadn't realized that I forgot to put the bamboo mat down first. That is what a seasoned pro would never forget.....

See, now I have remembered - along with a few choice words - and we're off and running. This first one is for Daddy - cooked, breaded chicken strips, sliced lengthwise, cucumber, and avocado. Can we all say YUM!!

Ok, now were beginning to roll. I was quite nervous about this at first, but as long as you don't roll the mat up inside your sushi, you'll be fine. You want to roll it up tight. See my excited little helper there?? She was loving every second of this. At the end of the roll, give it a little squeeze to seal the roll. The rice is very sticky so it adheres very well. *a good tip that I got from online is to keep a little dish of water beside you while you're assembling the rolls. If you keep your hands/fingers moist, then the rice won't stick to them.

All finished!! My very first maki sushi. To slice your maki rolls, you will need a VERY sharp knife. If you find that your rice is sticking the the knife, then dampen it a bit with a cloth first. Cut the rolls about 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick. Watch out for your fingers!

Next we made a crab, cucumber and avocado maki roll. Actually it was fake crab, but you get the drift.

So, press out your rice, leaving about one inch of nori on the end closest to you. On that space of nori, lay out your "featured" ingredients. Then, starting with the end closest to you, roll up your maki.
Remember to give it a little squeeze when you come to the end of the roll:

I have read on so many sushi sites and they all say to experiment with whatever you like and/or have on hand. Your only limit is your imagination. I have to say that I agree!

We all loved it and now it's nothing for me to "whip" some up whenever we feel like it. I am looking forward to experimenting with new fillings of all kinds. Hope this inspires you to try it yourself!!!

Jodi

Big Trouble

2009-02-01T19:20:00.006-07:00

Ok, I am in biiiiiiigggggg trouble. I started this sure-to-be-amazing blog, determined to be a dedicated and faithful blogger, and what happens........all hell breaks loose. For starters, pnuemonia happened. And it sucked. Once I was able to be back in the land of the living, it was time to run around like a mad woman and do some Christmas things. Something. Anything. I had such huge aspirations that involved baking and sewing and general domestic goddessness. That was all tossed out of the window when I got dang pneumonia. Thank the Lord for my blessed husband is all I can say. He was such a trooper and did much of the Christmas shopping and running around for me. Thanks honey.

I did manage a 4H project meeting in there though. It was so fun, and our project was beyond cute. Truly, it was. See for yourselves:

It was a good project day, to say the least. ;0)

Every other spare moment I had was spent making pajama pants for my brother and his entire family - 6 in all. Considering I had never made a pair of jammie pants before, I think I did a bang-up job. I also made each of them their own "magic bag" that matched their pants. I think that I got all of that done in record time, but it was worth it to hear how much my brother and sister in law loved them.

Of course, then I had to make my family our very own matchy-match jammie pants:

Thanks for reading this far. I promise that I'll be a better blogger in the future. Until then,

159 DAYS!!!

235 days!!

2008-11-16T19:30:00.005-07:00

yep, 235 days until I get to see Kenny. I am so freakin excited. As it turns out, it will only be Christine and I going together. I was online for 3 hours and 10 minutes and could not get more than 2 tickets together. Bummer, but I'm still psyched!!! It will also be the first time in a long time that Chrissy and I have done something together, just the two of us, and that is going to just add to the fun.

Kennedy is counting down the days until our first Craft 4H project meeting. She is so funny. She's "so excited, she has a stomach ache". Her flair for the dramatic really does blow me away. That child could be making millions some day as an Oscar winning actress. Meryl who???

Our first project is to be a tie blanket, and since I am the illustrious leader, I figured it would be a good idea if I actually knew what I was teaching the girls. So, this morning I whipped up my very first tie blanket. It turned out great and I am impressed with how quickly I got it done considering it was my very first one. The girls will have 3 hours to complete theirs and I'm fairly confident that they will all finish. I snapped a picture of mine - well actually I completely posed it, but work with me......

I'm still stitching up my cute little pillows and working on my punch needle when I can. I also have a wish list as long as my arm of new projects that I want to start when I have all of these done. Quite ambitious, I know.

That's all for now. Early to bed and early to rise.......I'm hoping that my walking partner will let me take her picture for the blog some morning. LOL I like that idea............

oooey, goooey goodness........

2008-11-13T05:32:00.012-07:00

I'm so loving the title today. That is compliments of my life-long friend, Christine. Made me giggle my head off when she first said it to me. Mind you, Christine and I do a lot of giggling about all kinds of things. When you've been friends with someone since you were 6 years old, there's lots of material to draw upon.

Anyhoo, the oooey, goooey goodness refers to the oh-so-yummy stuff on the bottoms of cinnamon buns. I loved the name so much that I just had to give it a try. The dough that I use is so super-fantastic. I have used it for buns, bread, pizza crust and now cinnamon buns. Look how beautifully they rise! Makes me giddy. Now, heres a picture of the after:

Needless to say, they are super yummy!!

Also during my oh-so-productive day I finished my second little decorative pillow. This one is for Christmas and I think it's every bit adorable as the winter one!

That all that I have for now. It's 5:52 am and I'm off for my walk with one of my favorite friends! Our daily walks have quickly become the favorite part of my day and I really miss them on our days off.

TOODLE-OOOOOO!!!!

maiden voyage.....

2008-11-10T14:38:00.005-07:00

The title of this blog "be as you are.." is from both a song and cd of Kenny Chesney's. Anyone who knows me knows that I adore him. Fitting that I should quote him for the title of this little piece of web space.

Speaking if the man himself, I am completely over the moon with excitement as the announcement was made last week that he will be coming to Calgary on July 10, 2009. The last time Kenny came was in 2006 and Rolland and I went. What a great night! There are not many artists out there who sound even better live than they do on their cd's and Kenny Chesney is one of them. Add to that a huge party atmosphere, and tons of fans and you have one helluva night. I can't wait for the next show!! I think next year's concert will be a girls night though - right girls??!!! ;) I will be on pins and needles tomorrow morning as I am able to purchase my tickets thru a fan-club presale at noon. Let's hope the seating Gods are with me!

I'll be using this space to keep family and friends up to date on what I'm up to. I'm terrible at talking on the phone - except to Red Deer ;) - and am not very good at emails either so this way, I can sit on here at any hour of the day and update everyone in one fell swoop. There has been lots to update on lately as my time is now filled with Nordic walking (my favorite part of the day!), sewing, quilting, baking, and enjoying my family.

I hope you all, at the very least, get a kick out of the little snippets that will appear on here. See you around!