Awards- Part 2

Beautiful Women

Most Beautiful Woman-
Gwyneth Paltrow

Ethnic Beauties-

Erykah Badu


Lucy Liu


Beach Beauties-
Giselle Bundchen - Marissa Miller - Sienna Miller

Glam Girl-

Gwen Stefani


Beautiful Funny Couple-
Will Arnett & Amy Poehler

Beautiful Funny Girls-
Ellen Degeneres & Sandra Bullock

Awards-Part 1

1. Best Hair Overall!

Kate Beckinsale

1a. Best Long Hair

Carrie Underwood

1b. Best Short Hair

Victoria Beckham

3. Best Dressed (Natural)

Jennifer Aniston

5. Best Dressed (Maternity)

Maggie Gyllenhaal

6. Best Dressed Mom:

Victoria Beckham

5. Most Beautiful Family

The Jolie-Pitts

Here you go...

Karen & Tamara started the trend! For the rules, check their blogs...

Shia LeBeouf : Transformers, Disturbia, Holes
He has the slightly nerdy factor, which is great!

Adam Brody: The OC
So hilarious! Totally nerdy & trendy at the same time!

Milo Ventimiglia: Heroes, Rocky Baloa
He has a facial flaw, which I love (part of his lip is paralyzed)


Ethan Embry: Can't Hardly Wait, Sweet Home Alabama, A Far Off Place
I have thought he was the greatest since I was a kid.
So, now its just for nostalgia's sake he's on the list

Mark Ruffalo: 13 Going on 30, View from the Top, Just like Heaven
He has the great raspy/quirky voice!

So, I tend to like the nerdy, quirky, funny guys as opposed to the ripped hunks!
(which is explained further in my choice of husband!)
Yes, Mark does know about these choices!

Okay, being inspired by Karen & her hotties list, I've decided to do a little round of
CELEBRITY AWARDS!
You pick the categories, you pick the winners!
This is just for fun!
And this is NOT just Hollywood Celebs!
This can be anyone!
They do not have to be living.
They could be famous in history...if they fit your category!
They CAN be fictional!
So starting tomorrow, we begin!!

P.S. YOU ARE ALL TAGGED!!!!

Resolutions

Well, with the festive christmas season upon us, I am faced again with the daunting
New Years Resolutions.
There are a few that I have stuck with, but many (like you all, I'm sure) that I haven't.
Usually, my resolutions look something like this:

1. Will lose weight
2. Will exercise 1 hr. per day
3. Will be confident in a swimsuit by Summer
4. Will lose weight
5. Will not eat any sugar, carbs, bad fats, salt, red meat, chocolate, white flour, etc...

These lists usually make it to about the afternoon of January 2nd and then I am left defeated, discouraged and I jump back into the old life with guilt, failure & an awareness of my inablity to change on my own.

This year, I want to change that. I want to make choices that will encourage me to make a difference. In me, in my life, as a human being & a member of my community. I've decided to approach it a little differently. Instead of making it the rule to have everything
begin January 1st, I'm making a sort-of bucket list (if you haven't seen the film, you should).
Its more like Goals for the year, instead of changes from the start.
So here are some ideas I have for my resolutions. But I would really like to have your opinions about these things. If you have thoughts about these or you have made these changes yourself, let me know how hard or easy it was to make the change.

1. Get rid of all chemical cleaners and replace them with natural or homemade cleaners
2. Toss the plastic bags & use only reusable grocery bags
3. Recycle
4. Use essential oils as much as possible for medicinal purposes (maybe not replace medicine enitrely, but cut down use considerably)
5. Learn about finances (budgeting, mortgages, etc...) so to not be completely clueless!!
6. Pursue home buying & adoption, furthering our understanding
& knowledge of all that it entails.
7. Make a career plan & pursue online college courses!! OY!

Those are my first 7...I thought I'd start smaller-ish. These things are important to me. Yes, there are no resolutions that deal with my weight, appearance or anything like that. Those may come as I try to tackle once again issues that I'm very aware of, but we will see.

If you know any good sources, websites, books, etc... that have helped you with any of these things, please let me know. I want to be as informed as possible! :)

p.s. though this is not an official tag...i would really love to hear yours!!!!

99 Balloons

Life Updates

1. Mark got a new job that he will be starting Nov.5th. So exciting!

2. We were toying with the idea of possibly buying a house, but have decided against it, for now, because we really want Mark to be settled in the new job before we venture into another great unknown.

3. God has been teaching me a lot about dependence on Him alone. I have a tendency to think when opportunities arise to jump on them and hold on for dear life. I am learning that just because there is an option, doesn't mean its a Yes. This is a constant hard one to deal with. But His mercies are new every morning!

4. Mark and I watched 'Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed!' It was absolutely incredible. Everyone should watch it! I can't even begin to tell you how eye-opening it was!

5. I am officially done photography until after christmas (except for the one family that I have left ;)...you know who you are!!) I'm hopefully getting a camera for Christmas, so I will start up again in the New Year with Mad-Ninja-Photo-Skills (i have no idea where that came from!)

6. We are heading to the Island Mid-November for a conference. I'm excited for that! I love travelling with Mark. He's so cute!!

Websites Galore...Starts Now!

For Suzie:
Childrens Sites:
www.westendkids.ca
www.pinkyblue.ca
www.kikikidswear.com
www.sproutkidsclothing.com
If this isn't quite what you were looking for, let me know & I'll have another go! :)

For Jenny:
I scanned several sites for the asics and they were all around the same price.
Here is the link for one!
And the Bogs
Hope this helps!

For Darci:
Rasta Hat and if you want to make your own click here
Best Restaurants
Knit Tea Cozy & Sewn Tea Cozy
Not sure what your addy is for the dentist search..lol :)

Vote Away!

This is just for fun..so don't feel pressured!
I just added our list of baby names to my blog--->
The link will take you to the page where you can place your vote on
the name(s) you like the most!
Not as important as the recent vote I know,
but maybe a close
1, 450, 934, 205th :)


*Also, I've decided to become an internet investigator.
No, this is not as exciting as you would first think. But, fun none the less. How it works. You weigh in your comments on sites you are looking for...on any subject- travel, pregnancy, cooking, weird facts...ANYTHING! And I'll do the work for you! I'l find and compare sites & find the best one for you. This is not a long term thing, just something I thought would be fun. If no one comments, I'll still put a list of great websites.

Psalm 34

I WILL bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My life makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad.

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.

I sought the Lord and required Him [of necessity and on the authority of His Word], and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

They looked to Him and were radiant; their faces shall never be covered in shame.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe] and each of them He delivers.

O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him.

O fear the Lord, you His saints [revere and worship Him]! For there is no want to those who truly revere and worship Him with godly fear.

The young lions lack food and suffer hunger, but they who seek the Lord, none of them shall lack any beneficial thing....

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their distress and troubles.

The Lord is close to those who are of a broken heart and saves such as are crushed with sorrow for sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent.

Many evils confront the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken....

The Lord redeems the lives of His servants, and none of those who take refuge and trust in Him shall be condemned or held guilty.

To be or not to be...

i have so much to say, and i'm struggling to find words. i feel the faithful hand of God on me lately. Not the one that creates the warm fuzzies in your tummy, but the one that feels like a heavy rock on your heart and its squeezing all the harmful, yucky stuff out. I have been walking blind (what is faith if you CAN see?) and trusting that He is in control. I don't need to know the reason, He just asks me to trust. I would love to elaborate, but cannot. I'd love to open my heart and spill the contents, but I won't. please pray for me though. i am facing one of those life occasions that will truly expose the real character within me. am i going to be like christ or walk on my own.

decisions! decisions!
*sigh*
p.s. this is not a life or death situation. just a season where God sees what i'm made of...lets hope its something substantial.

Tagged!!!

I was tagged by Christy!
The game works like this:
1) Link to the person who tagged you
2) Mention the rules
3) Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about yourself
4) Tag six other bloggers by linking to them
5) Go to each person’s blog and leave a comment that lets them know they’ve been tagged.

I love love love 'Antique Road Show' & 'The Joy of Painting' with Bob Ross! I could watch them all day long!

I have a bad habit of trying to clean my whole house at once. I don't mean all in one day..i literally mean all at once. I will start the dishes, then go vacuum the living room, go to the bedroom and straighten up, go back to the dishes, stop and go clean the bathroom.....It drives me nuts.. I know that there has to be a name for that kinda thing!

When I was 15, i wanted to have grey, white & teal as my wedding colors...it was around the same time, I had mickey mouse border & a giant poster of Bo Jackson on my wall...i was so weird!

When I would babysit certain children (last name rhymes with Lurch) I would make them watch Art Attack, because I loved it so much!

I always wanted glasses as a kid...i thought it was soo cool....not so much (now that I have em')

I hum myself to sleep...i never noticed it before....Mark just recently pointed it out

I tag....Sirena
Michelle
Star
Carin
Marlene
Virginia

???

Hello Friends!
Sorry I have been non-existent in posting. Do you ever feel like you have nothing and too much to write at the same time! Thats how I feel! Like I don't know where to start and yet if I do, how will I wrap up a post with all that is going on!
Oh well, eventually I will sort myself out and share again.
Please give me time, oh patient friends! :)
Love you all!

What to write...

Well, I took a couple days off the net. I was just feeling a desperation to get my life in order. It was kind of funny how as soon as I started Day 1 of what I called 'Project Carpe Diem
(Seize the Day)',
I felt so much better. Please understand, I don't judge anyone who is on the computer, a little or a lot, I just was losing self control personally. My day other than taking care of the kiddies which is 8:30-2:30, would consist of reading blogs, checking facebook 1 million times daily, talking on msn, etc...And somewhere in between, I was trying to fit in my time with God, my care of the home, exercise, studying, meal planning, relationships & ministry. You can see why, because of my lack of control, I was feeling a desperation for freedom.
I began a journal on Day 1, that I am still doing even though I am online again. I will scan my pages and put them online soon. My new guidelines for myself are that I do not even turn on the computer without first doing my devotions & study, clean house, do anything that needs doing like laundry, projects, exercise etc...I found this great website with tons of tips and tools to help you in becoming a great keeper of the home!

I'm also going to begin a home daily routine...exampled here
(obviously i customized it for our life)
taken from
http://www.flylady.net/pages/FLYingLessons_Routines.asp

Monday: Weekly Home Blessing (8:00am-9:00am)

1. Get Up and Dress to Shoes
2. Laundry
3. Weekly Home Blessing Hour
   1. Toss old magazines.
   2. Change sheets.
   3. Empty all the trash.
   4. Vacuum all rooms.
   5. Mop kitchen and bath.
   6. Clean mirrors and doors.
   7. Dust furniture.

Tuesday: Free Day

1. Water and fertilize plants.
2. Spend 15 minutes in the current zone.

Wednesday: Zone Clean and Partial Desk Time

1. Finish Zone Cleaning Chores.
2. Remainder Weekly Cleaning.
3. Make sure refrigerator is clean.
4. Write thank-you notes.
5. Work on menus and grocery list for next week.
6. Budget before going shopping.

Thursday: Grocery and Errand Day

1. Make sure menus are planned before you go shopping.
2. Check grocery list one last time before you walk out the door. Take your list with you.
3. Grocery Day.
4. Errand Day:
   1. Library, Post office etc...

Friday: Paperwork and Misc.

1. Be romantic today.
2. Get food from the freezer for next week.
3. File papers.
4. Write letters and cards.
5. Clean out purse.
6. Fix any clothing.
7. Clean out car and check fluids.
8. Clean laundry room.
9. Send pictures to lab

Farewell..for a bit

Today got me thinking a lot! And I won't go into great detail about it all, but I'm going to be taking some time offline. I'm not sure how long it will be, but I just really feel like I need to spend time getting some things balanced in my life. Right now, they are chaotic in a lot of ways, and I don't like the way its made me feel. So with that said, I bid you farewell.
I hope my return will bring lots of new stories & revelations to share with you!
Love you much! :)
p.s. I still have a phone & I use it!!;)

What a day!

Today has been rotten so far! I feel horrible! I slept the majority of the night in the living room sitting uprsight in a chair; I thought that it would help my back not feel so awful.
But I was SOOO wrong!
I woke up at 6:30am with a headache so bad I could barely keep my eyes open. I crawled into our bed just as Mark was getting up for work. I fell asleep only to be assaulted with nightmare after nightmare! I woke up at 8:30, just as Jordie arrived. At 10:55, Jord and I headed to the car to go pick up Gracie from Kindergarten. I got Jord into the car seat and went to start the car and it was dead. I have no jumper cables and neither does any of the neighbors, so Jord and I had to quickly walk to Gracie's school to get her. So now, we are at home and I still have a headache the size of Texas & I'm caring for 2 children, good thing they are well-behaved!
I'm hoping the day can only get better from here!

*Update: Well, after my selfish 'its all about me' pout, I decided to go to the One who knows the future, sees my tantrums and sucky attitude and speaks Truth to me.
This is what He had to say:

1 Corinthians 4:15-40 (NLT)

15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Just a question...

Hey guys, I was just wondering if you prefer reading blogs that are dark background or light. I've just been noticing that I really have to focus on the words on my blog,..so I'm thinking that I might not be the only one. Thinking of maybe lightening the background color...what do you think?
Let me know! Thanks!

50 things...

I got this beaut from Tamara who got it from Karen ...
Note: I've added links just to make your reading more fun!! Not all but some have links to all sorts of greatness!!!

1) Favorite object in your room?
Ok...thats all dependant on if Mark is in the room JK(*fake gagging myself with finger*) Enough Sap! I love my new wall hanging from Ikea! Its beyond life size and stinkin' awesome!!

2) Have you ever smoked heroin?
Oh my word NO! I have seen addiction in my family & it is so scary! And Heroin! Yikes!

3) Do you own guns?
Well, I have 2 or maybe 3...they are plastic & make a noise that resembles an 80 year old man laughing through his nose!

4) What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic?
Like the Hedgehog?

5) Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
Well, I used to until I was prodded at like a science experiment, now we're on a first name basis!

6) What do you think of hot dogs?
Well, I don't think anything about them, other than how do I not gag while eating it.

7) Favorite song?
Somebody like you by Keith Urban

8) What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Water if its really cold

9) Can you do push ups?
Girl push ups...i'm almost to 70...ouch!

10) Can you do a chin up?
no...but I can do the magic 4 chin roll!!

11) What's your favorite piece of jewelry?
No idea...probably my amber ring from my sister

12) Do you like blue cheese?
No

13) Ever been in a car wreck?
Not a wreck, but an accident

16) Middle name?
Danielle

17) Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment...
Reading, Recipes, Jamie Oliver

18) Name 3 things you bought yesterday?
Cola, paper plates, lunch

19) Name 3 drinks you regularly drink?
Skim Milk, Water, Juice

20) Current worry?
That we'll never get ahead with our finances

21) Current hate right now?
My lack of sleep cause of back pain...ARGGGHHH!!!!

23) How did you bring in the New Year?
i can't remember

24) Where would you like to be right now?
On a holiday with Mark, doing absolutely nothing, but reading, soakin up the sun, drinkin chi chi's and swimming in the pool!!!!

25) Name three people who will complete this?
Christy, cause I'm with Tamara
Dawn, cause she's the faithullest blogger there ever was
Sirena, just cause

26) Do you own slippers?
Yeppers..they resemble white sherpa vests

27) What shorts are you wearing??
None

28) Do you sleep on satin sheets?
Eww...no

29) Can you whistle?
Can I whistle?...listen to this!!!!!!

31) Would you be a pirate?
Yes...the jovial, singing, travelling the seven seas pirate, not the murder you for your booty kinda pirate!

32) What songs do you sing in the shower?
Unbreak my heart by Toni Braxton
Psalm 23 by Temple

33) Favorite girl's name?
Maggie, Adelaide, Dannyn, Bryce, Bom Skylar, Zoe....

34) Favorite boy's name?
Finley, Rhys (Reese), Jude, Arrow....

35) What's in your POCKET?
Pants with NO pocket

36) Last thing that made you laugh?
Mark..of course!

37) Best bed sheets?
I don't have a top sheet, but I love flannel, t-shirty material ones for winter!! Comfy-Cozy!

38) Worst injury you've ever had?
I fell off the monkey bars in grade 6...crushed some discs in my back...other than that, nothing major-stiches, broken toe & finger etc...

39) Do you love where you live?
SO MUCH!!!

40) How many TVs do you have in your house?
2

41) Who is your loudest friend?
My Sister when she laughs!

42) How many dogs do you have?
None

43) Does someone have a crush on you?
Yeppers...my good ol' hubbster!!

44) What does your last text say?
umm..no texting device!

45) What is your favorite book?
The Last Sin Eater

46) What is your favorite candy?
watermelon penny candy

47) Favorite Sports Team?
umm...the Canucks??

48) Where is the next place you want to travel to?
I'd like to go to Toronto for the LTT

WHERE IS NUMBER 49???
Outside my door and across the street

50) What was the first thing you did this morning?
Sneezed..weird!

Grateful, Blessed & A Little Overwhelmed...

Well, last night was my birthday party. This year I did an open invitation. If you heard about it, you were invited! If you wanted to come, then you could. And I loved it that way. There ended up being a lot of people, which was so much fun! Carin (my kingdom sister!) opened up her home to host it & I am very grateful!!

I was blessed by being with all my favorite people (though some of you were missing) and I had an awesome time!
I am also a little, well no, very overwhelmed at the gifts you all gave me! You gave extravagantly and I am so blessed!!
I feel priviledged to know you all. You have enriched my life by just being in it!
Thank you again!!!
Love you Much!!

On my birthday...

Well, 28 years have passed & I would love to tell you I am this awesome, well rounded, emotionally balanced, lovely girl. I'd love to tell you that, but I'd be lying. I am still on the road to learning my true identity, still grappling with bringing my emotions & attitudes under the reign of Christ. I am still a work in progress. But today, on my 28th birthday, I look back at the lessons I have learned along the way...

1. To love the underdog, the unloveable, the outcast
(taught to me by Carol who lived the majority of her life with street people)

2. That surrendering to Christ does not mean you are a drone or a robot, but a whole, diverse, unique & beautiful human being with tons to offer the body of Christ & the world
(taught to me by Kim & Leah, artists & dancers who create and therefore show the world they are made in the image of God!)

3. Surrendering to Christ is laying down your will for something much greater than your own, believing that Jesus knows whats in your heart, for He created it & is more than able to give you the desires that are there!
(taught to me by Mark, who has been my strength & fed the Word to me when dealing with our infertility)

4. Discipline is not a bad thing! No, really! Its not! It is for our sake, just like a tree needs to be pruned so that the rotted branches don't take over the healthy branches. Pruning is painful & hard. But the rewards are endless. Fruit comes from our lives that we wouldn't have thought possible!
(taught to me by my parents, who everytime I was disciplined, would sit beside me & share about Jesus' love for me & how it would change me!)

5. Jesus is so faithful to supply EVERY need! He has come through over and over again. He loves us so much & will take care of his kids! (taught to me by the Colbornes, Penners, Browns... who have walked the road of faith, seeing miracles of God's provision!)

6. I am loved exactly how I am! Insecurities, faults, cracks & sin! And the best part is He loves me enough to not leave me that way!
(taught to me by the team, who live their lives to teach us that God uses scallywags & kermudgens to accomplish great things!)

Well, there is so much more I have learned over the years, things I know in my head, but am still learning to know in my heart. One thing I know in my heart is that God has given me phenomenal friends! Ones that have walked this road with me, lifting my arms, brushing off the dust when I've fallen flat on my face, speaking life into my withering heart & never letting me accept defeat! To those friends, you know who you are! Thank you for making my birthday great! Because I can look back on 28 years and know one thing for certain!
I am loved! :)

Biggest Loser begins tonight!!!!

Check out my other blog for details of why I'm so excited!!!

Beautiful Lolee!!!!!

Its my baby sisters birthday today! She is 21!
This makes me very old, well almost!
She is my iron sharpening iron,
my friend for life &
I'm grateful for her!
She is the first miracle I ever witnessed!
I prayed & prayed for a
baby sister & God answered!
We have had our bumpy road, full of joy & sorrow,
but I wouldn't trade it for the world!
No one knows me like her!

I love you Leah!