I'm the Kind of Girl...

Linking up with a new link up this week :)

I'm the kind of girl who:

- Can make a plan, but doesn't often follow through

- hates making phone calls but can talk on the phone for hours

- is very shy but you probably wouldn't think that if you met me 

- is very thankful for all the acting classes I did when I was younger so I can fake being outgoing lol.

- has an addiction to Cherry Coke and EOS lip glosses.

- loves my iPad mini

- LOVES to buy cute clothes for my kids but doesn't always buy cute things for myself.

- enjoys baking and wishes I could make a career out of it but with moving so much it's not a reality.

- who one day wants to own my own dance studio (again - another item that will never be a reality thanks to the military).

- who is really happy with life right now.  It took a long time to get here, but here is exactly where I want to be.

Craft time with Nora

I really enjoy crafting with my little girl. It's always so much fun. In prepping for Valentine's Day, we decided to do a couple of crafts together. We started by making a bracelet for Nora. We used some pink beads that I bought at the dollar store and they came with the stretchy elastic band which was awesome. So I had her string the beads on and we did enough of the beads so that it would fit around her wrist and then I tied it in a knot for her and she had a blast doing it.






The second craft that we did was foam hearts and pom-poms. I put glue onto the heart where Nora told me to and we glued pom-poms on them. Then she used crayola markers to color on them as well and she's giving them to her Grandma and Grandpa for Valentines this year. For Nora's Nana and Pop Pop we decided to make a card to send them since they don't live here and she put sticker hearts all over a red card. I bought all the stuff from the target Dollarspot which is one of the most awesome places to go shopping for seasonal crafts.

Nora and Ariel smiling for the camera.

And as per usual you can see in the pictures, Ariel was helping us with our crafts today. Normally it's Cinderella or Rapunzel but Ariel got the lucky job. Finally what we did was our normal everyday craft that Nora loves, we painted using her easel so she did a couple of pictures that we will hopefully be able to frame in the near future.

My little Picasso

-Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Monday's Tea Time

Welcome back to Monday's Tea Time!

 

It was a doozy of a weekend.  It really didn't feel like a weekend at all.  Paul was at work all weekend long (except for 3 hours on Saturday morning when I was at a Stampin' Up! meeting).  If we were having tea together right now, I would probably tell you how frustrated I am currently and how I'm trying SO hard not to be.  I understand that my husband is on course, and I understand that it's a very intensive course, but it still really sucks when he doesn't get his weekends because a - Nora and Annika (more Nora) don't understand why Daddy can't be at home to play with them and b - sometimes Momma needs a break.  Kudos to all you Moms out there who have deployed spouses or are single parents - I don't know how you do it.

 

I would tell you that I'm currently feeling like I'm not helping to provide for my family at all.  My maternity benefits end in about 5 weeks (but thank you Canada for providing me with benefits during an entire year after my pregnancy). And I'm not going back to work.  It's not worth it for me to find day care, find an awesome paying job and then have to possibly give it up in 8 months if we get posted.  And with that, I can't apply for any teaching jobs.  As a dance teacher, the "season" pretty much ends in May/June depending on when recital is, and then it doesn't start up until September.  And that means - no one will hire me for April and May and I can't apply to teach next year because we may be moving in October/November.  Oh the frustrations.  And the unknown.

 

I would also tell you how proud I am of Nora today.  It was parent observation night at dance.  To see her go from a teeny two year old who cried and didn't want to go into the classroom at the beginning of the year, to watch her march right into the class and sing at the top of her lungs to all the songs - totally and completely made my Momma heart smile. 

 

Enjoy your tea!!  Hope y'all have a wonderful week!!

Stampin' Up!

For those of you who don't know... (which is probably everyone except my sister and my Mom lol) - I am a Stampin' Up! rep.  I LOVE this stuff.  I'm super big into cardmaking and scrapbooking.  I recently started selling Stampin' Up! again after taking a small break when I was pregnant with Annika (my morning sickness/all pregnancy sickness really put a damper on doing anything lol).  If you're in Canada and you ever want to order from me, just check out my website:



http://karenehansen.stampinup.net



And here are some cards that I made today - I can't take credit for the creativeness of these ones, we did them at my upline's house this morning.  She's really awesome.  



















AND - if you want a handmade card from me, leave a comment with your email and I will email to get your address and I will send you a purty, handmade card from moi :)

Currently

Linking up with Lindsey from OT and ET and this week her co-host is Colleen of Mommy Panda because Randalin from Harvesting Kale is taking a break (and is on babywatch 2014!!)

watching, saying, losing, admiring, making

Watching... Doctor Who, it's our new obsession in this house.  Also Sherlock.  And THE OLYMPICS!!  Love me some Winter Sports :)

Saying... Annika don't touch that... Annika don't put that in your mouth.  Now that she's on the go ALL THE TIME, we have to watch her like a hawk.  Also on the top of the list is - Nora don't grab your sister by the neck.  Nora has a bad habit of trying to "help" Annika but she grabs her neck instead of her arms.  It's funny but not funny lol.

Losing... my mind.  And my memory.  And my phone.  I can never remember where I put it down and then I realize that the ringer is off because it was naptime or something like that.  It's a bit frustrating lol.

Admiring... my sister's knitting.  I have been wearing my hand knit socks lately.   And they are amazing.  She's really talented.

Making... dayplanner pages, crafts with Nora.  And tomorrow will be Olympic crafts :)  SO EXCITED!!!


Next week's words are: shoveling, ignoring, inhaling, hugging, throwing

Thanks for stopping by!!
 

The Witching Hour

My children hate me. No. Seriously. 11 pm in our house lately has been the witching hour. Annika screams. Nora wakes up. Paul gets frustrated. And I don't know what to do anymore. We tried letting both of them cry it out. My children can cry for very long periods of time.


Tonight in order to get anything done, Annika was attached to me. Insure hope she gets some teeth VERY soon, this teething thing is driving me bananas.

Hope everyone gets some sleep tonight, I'm praying my crowded bed will offer a few hours of sleep to me lol.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Resolution Update and February's Resolutions

Resolution Update Time!!

So I decided this year to do monthly resolutions instead of a few yearly resolutions, I found it was easier to try to break it down this way.  So here’s reminder of my January resolutions:

1 . Blog 1x per week

2. Do Women Living Well Book Study

3. Make 10 cards

4. Do more crafts with Nora

5. Facetime with Danie more often

6. Smile More

7. Get Valentine’s Stuff Ready

And here’s how I did:

1. Wellllll, okay – I sucked at this one lol.  I did blog several times, but not once per week.  I blogged more at the beginning of the month and then lost steam as the month went on.  I think I didn’t do so well with this one because I didn’t have a plan. 

2. I didn’t even start the book study.  I did however start reading the book, so that’s a small step in the right direction.

3. Didn’t make any cards at all.  I did however get our wedding thank-you’s all cut and ready to go (they’re only two years late – don’t judge – I had two babies and moved across the country, sometimes you can’t stay on top of everything lol).

4. CHECK MARK!!  We did WAY more crafts this month, including painting and colouring.  And we have even bigger plans for February.  I love being able to have fun with Nora like this.

5. CHECK MARK!!  I facetimed with Danie at least twice a week this month and I hope to keep up with that.  And we also texted way more this month too.  We have GRAND plans in the works for the future so stay tuned for some fun things.

6. I tried to smile more.  I’m not sure if I succeeded or not.  If you ask Paul, he will probably say I was grumpier this month.  January is a long month in Winterpeg, I will be glad for the shortness of February.

7. I purchased all of my Valentine’s goods, and we decorated a teensy bit upstairs.  The plan is do much more decorating tomorrow so I will give this a CHECK MARK too.

3/7 – not so hot but not horrible.  Hopefully February will be better lol.

Now onto February’s goals

1. Make dayplanner

2. Follow my blog calendar

3. Make Valentine’s with Nora and Annika

4. Have Stampin’ Up! Open House

5. Make 40 hair tie packages

6. Earn 400 Swagbucks

7. Make 10 cards.

Monday's Tea Time

I've decided to start a new weekly "segment" on my blog called Monday's Tea Time.  I was going to call it Monday's Musings (but someone already uses that lol) and then I thought about something cute like Cup O'Coffee with Karen... but I don't drink coffee lol.  So Monday's Tea Time it is.  And basically - I'm going to talk to you like we are at Starbucks together enjoying a nice warm beverage of your choice (or a cool one if it's warmer where you are!)

If you were here I would tell you that it's been a frustrating couple of weeks.  And for really no good reason at all.  I think it might partially be the weather because I'm so tired of snow and winter.  I know that I live in Canada but jeepers, this has been one of the coldest winters on record since the '50's.  I just want some warmer weather so we could play outside.  I can't take Nora and Annika out when it's -35 with a windchill.  I would be so happy with temps that were around -10 right now.  That would be like a heat wave for us.  

I've been super snappy lately with everyone and everything.  I feel bad because I've been taking it out on Paul, and he's being a champ by putting up with me.  I just wish I  knew why I felt like this.  

I would tell you that Nora is almost potty-trained.  I'm so proud of her.  She only wears a pull up for nap time and bedtime now and when we go to dance class and gymnastics.  Most of the times when we come home from dance or gym she is dry, but I don't want the possibility of an accident yet because I'm not sure how she'd deal with that.  I'd tell you that I'm having a weird time dealing with other Mom's right now.  I've never been super competitive with Nora so it's weird when I say something about her potty-training and I'm met with statements about how much better other people's kids are doing than Nora and how the method we used isn't the right one.  I'm all for everyone doing what works best for their own children - BUT don't tell me I'm wrong.  And don't tell me I'm wrong with what I'm doing when my daughter can go out of our house in big girl panties and you've had to stay at home for two weeks because your child doesn't really talk yet and doesn't tell you they need to go and they have accidents all the time.  I did something right with what we did with Nora, but she's not your kid, she's mine, and I'm happy with her progress so quit raining on my parade.  (I get kind of worked up about this subject lol).

I would tell you that Paul bought me two new pairs of boots that became the subject of admiration/jealousy at Mom's group on Friday morning.  I'm lucky because I have a husband who thinks of me and the things I've said I wanted in passing.  So when we had some extra money at the end of January, he told me he wanted to buy me a pair of Hunter boots.  We went shopping for them and we happened to find an AMAZING sale and I was able to get two pairs of Hunter Boots and a pair of boot liners with fur trim for less than what I would have paid for to get one pair of boots with the socks (which frankly are quite necessary here lol).  But a certain Mom was like, oh...how can you afford that?  You guys don't have that much money.  You don't work at all.  F. You.  I do actually work - I teach dance twice a month at the preschool.  I sell Stampin' Up.  I sell handmade headbands and tutu's.  Who are you to judge me?  I don't judge you by your boots, in fact, I said that I really liked your boots months before I got mine and I didn't ask or question how you could afford a pair of Michael Kors boots.  It never even crossed my mind until Friday morning.  So yea, it's been a rough few weeks around here.  I'm hoping my Create mantra for February will help me keep my head above water and that it will be a happy and positive month for us.

Hope you enjoyed Tea Time - and if there's interest, maybe I'll make it a link up... I'm not really sure how to do that though lol.  Happy Monday!!

 

SuperBowl Sunday

Well folks, it's that time of year - SuperBowl Sunday.  I'd be lying if I said I knew anything about the NFL.  I'm a true Canadian through and through and I only know Roughrider Football.  Go CFL!!  We probably won't even be watching the game today... correction - I won't be watching it lol, hubby will probably partake in it.  The Jr Ranks mess is holding a big all ranks party for it.  It's a $5 entry and the door prize is an XBox One.  That is the only reason Paul is considering going to that.  Me on the other, I think Nora and I will do some Valentine's crafts this afternoon, because it's only 12 days away!!

So I started thinking about differences between Canadians and Americans (because of this whole CFL vs NFL thing) and here are some of my thoughts:

- I use Celsius to measure temperatures and I really don't understand how to use Farenheit (I also can't spell it).  I enjoy using the metric system, it's super easy.  But as a kid growing up, I did find it hard to switch from living in Oklahoma to living back in Canada lol.

- Why do Canadians not LOVE Cherry Coke?  This is a big issue for me.  While we are on the issue of things Canadians DON'T have from the US - Sonic, Braum's Ice Cream, delicious Taco Bell (ours sucks up here), really great Targets, Cherry Coke Vanilla Coke - the choices down south are endless, Sweet Tea, nice roads to drive on - highways are WAY better as soon as you cross the border, Fritos, Pillsbury Cake Mixes, better cereal selection.

- We do have some cool stuff up here though, like free health care lol.  The Hudson's Bay Company.  LuluLemon is Canadian.  CFL.  Hockey - yes I know Americans have hockey teams, but it is SO Canadian.

I think this post is really on my mind because I miss my sister a lot right now.  And she lives in the deep south. :)  And I have no idea when I'm going to make it down there to visit her again.  I was hoping to go in March but I don't have a driving buddy and Paul said I'm not allowed to drive by myself lol.  Which I totally understand, it's a two day trip of 12 hour driving days and me with two kids will NOT work lol.  At least I wouldn't have the dog with me lol.  And flying is out of the question because it would be two plane tickets (silly Nora being over the age of 2 now lol).  

So enjoy your Superbowl Sunday with your Frito Chili Pie (and if you don't know what that is - you are missing out) and your Cherry Coke.  I'll be thinking of you while I shiver in my igloo and then go for a ride with my dogsled*


*disclaimer - I do not own a dogsled.  Nor do I live in an igloo although it is quite cold here.  Most Canadians live in houses and drive cars and minivans.

February

February.  Already?  I swear, the months are just flying by right now.  I suppose it is because we are insanely busy on a regular basis, and two babies mean a whole lot of activities and schedules and craziness.  But I wouldn't change any of it.

This month though, February, it's my month.  I'm going to OWN it.  And get started on some me things.  I'm very excited and very pumped about February this year.  Here's hoping February doesn't make me crazy and that I can keep up my momentum through the whole month.  

This morning we met with our Financial Planners to set up RESP's for the girls - it was a great feeling to know that we are planning for their future (even if it means a little bit of sacrificing right now).  I also printed up some new planner pages.  And we are about to embark on a new meal planning process - I want to get our grocery/gas budget down to $300 every two weeks.  I think I can do it.  I hope I can do it.  It just means actually making a meal plan and sticking to it.

Happy February 1st to you all!!  Here's to owning this month and making it awesome!!!