Getting to Know Me - 2015 Edition

Browsing through my blog post, I came across this quiz, sent to me from a friend.

Since I want to do a better job of documenting the Here and Now, I thought it would be interesting to see how my life has changed in five years...


1. What is your occupation right now? 
2010: Accountant. Writer. Photographer. Teacher. Mom.  Take your pick.

2015: Mom. Wife. Accountant. Scrapbooker. Event Coordinator. 

2. What colour are your socks right now? 

2010: Pink

2015: Black

3. What are you listening to right now? 

2010: Beautiful Day by U2

2015: Prayer in C by Robin Schulz

4. What was the last thing that you ate? 

2010: Marshmallow egg

2015: Red seedless grapes

5. Can you drive a stick shift?  

2010: But of course!

2015: Definitely.  It's a good skill to have!

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone? 

2010: Gary, via BlackBerry Messenger

2015: My nephew, Cory, via iMessage

7. Do you like the person who sent this to you? 

2010: Absolutely!

2015: Still like her, although I haven't seen here in years!

8. How old are you today? 

2010: 42.  And holding.

2015: 39.  I don't know how that happened...

9. What is your favourite sport to watch on TV?  

2010: Hockey, with soccer and football tied for second place.

2016: Football, hands down!  Probably the ONLY sport I watch on TV.  Even with the Blue Jays in the finals...

10. What is your favourite drink? 

2010: Lime Margharitas and Bailey's on ice.

2015: Gin and tonic, Bloody Caesars

11. Have you ever dyed your hair?  

2010: Ever since I was 19 - heck, I can't even REMEMBER my original shade!

2015: Out of necessity now. So. Much. Grey. (although the "Granny look" is trending!)

12. Favourite food?  

2010: King crab legs

2015: Still crab legs, with salted butter. Also a thick, juicy steak is delicious!

13. What is the last movie you watched? 

2010: Up In The Air

2015: The Princess Diaries (trying to keep Aili awake for her sleep-deprived EEG test the next morning) and Back to the Future (in honour of yesterday - Oct 21, 2015!)

14. Favorite day of the year? 

2010: First day of school! :D

2015: First day of summer!

15. How do you vent anger? 

2010: I'd say yoga... but there's nothing like a good cleansing scream.

2015: See above.

16. What was your favourite toy as a child? 

2010: Easy Bake oven.  Barbie Stylin' Head.

2015: See above.  And my Hot Wheels race track.

17. What is your favourite season? 

2010: Fall

2015: This answer will never change - I LOVE fall weather!

18. Cherries or Blueberries? 

2010: Cherries

2015: Cherries. Unless I'm super hungry and don't want to chew around the pit! :)

19. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back? 

2010: I want them to post their answer on THEIR blog, with a link in my comments so I can see! :)

2015: n/a

20. Who is the most likely to respond?  

2010: I dunno!

2015: n/a


21. Who is least likely to respond? 

2010: I dunno!

2015: n/a

22. Living arrangements? 

2010: Hubby, son, daughter.

2015: Hubby. Son. Daughter. Still waiting for the hubby to agree to another Golden Retriever...

23. When was the last time you cried? 

2010: January

2015: Last week.  Stupid commercial.

24. What is on the floor of your closet? 

2010: Bag of clothes to donate.  Basket of shoes.  Laundry Basket.  Clothes that missed the aforementioned item.

2015: Framed university/college degree/diplomas. Sconces to be hung up. Basket of mismatched socks. (WHERE DO THEY GO!?!?!)

25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending to? 

2010: n/a

26. What did you do last night? 

2010: Easter dinner with family, then played Wii.

2015: Event planning for fundraiser crop (April 2016!! Save the date!)

27. What are you most afraid of?  

2010: Something terrible happening to any of my family members or friends.

2015: Same

28. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburger? 

2010: Cheese, please - but make mine mozzarella and don't be afraid to add some sauteed onions and mushrooms, and a bit of bbq sauce, too!

2015: Cheese - more specifically, a Big Daddy Mac from Mamo Burger!

29. Favourite dog breed? 

2010: Golden Retrievers, of course.

2015: Still love 'em!

30. Favourite day of the week? 

2010: Friday.  The only day where we don't have swim practice or gymnastics or meetings... it's our Family night.

2015: Thursday or Friday - depending on when the football game is! :)

31. How many countries have you lived in? 

2010: One

2015: Still one... unless I win the 50 millions dollars and then I'm moving to Bora Bora.

32. Diamonds or pearls? 

2010: Diamonds - much less pretentious and a whole lot more sparkly!

2015: Diamonds - it's all about the bling, baby!

33. What is your favourite flower? 

2010: Gerbera Daisy, Stargazer Lily, Dahlia, Iris... I'm not particular, if you want to send them...

2015: Peonies. And orchids.

Summertime

Ahhh, I love summertime.

Vacation time, hanging with the kids, back to school shopping, visiting with friends… so much fun to be had.

Of course this leaves little time for other things.  Namely blogging.

(And cleaning.  But that's another story.)

So I'm back, but probably just sporadically.  I just finished with a two day audit at one of my stores, and am gearing up for three inventories, all within five weeks of each other.

I have also made a promise to myself (again!) to step away from the computer more.  I am seriously evaluating my responsibilities and have to make a decision on what will work for our family's needs.  No decisions made yet, as they will be difficult to make but I'm confident that they will be the right ones for me and my family.

In the meantime, I have a July winner to announce, Aili's birthday interview and photo, a studio tour video, some Fall issue layouts to share and the September Sketchy Challenge is coming up on Monday!  So be sure to come back - you wouldn't want to miss out on the fun, would you? :)

And don't forget to upload a link to your August Sketchy challenge - today's the last day for a chance to win!

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the challenges on my blog for a chance to win:
August 2014 Sketchy Challenge (deadline August 31st, 2014)
Leave Your Legacy challenge - Don't Stop Believing (deadline Nov 30th, 2014)

Exhaust Your Excess! challenge blog - check it out!!

Who's The Boss?

So… the topic today all started because of this mop of unruliness.

If  you've ever had a child with fine, crazy-curly hair, you understand my pain.  Now that she's grown older, it's even worse.

Trying to drag a comb through this without any tears or wiggling is like trying to tame a caged tiger.  I find that distracting her is key.  And while I don't usually use television as a distraction, the other night we decided to try to find a cooking show to watch together while I combed.

(She discovered cooking shows like Jacques Pepin's on PBS a few years ago and loves watching them!)

After flipping through the Roku unsuccessfully, Gary came in and said he had the perfect thing… and a love affair has begun.

Cake Boss.

The kids were equally fascinated by the intricate cake decorating AND family dynamics! LOL.

Fast forward to several days (and episodes) later and they are both still talking about fondant, modeling chocolate (said with a Jersey accent!) and lobster claws!.  Aili insisted on spending time with some modelling clay tonight.  I was working downstairs, trying to clean up some of the mess from the flood (more on that later this week!) and she came down to show me one of her finished products:

Isn't it adorable?  She plans on painting this mama dragon and her baby dragon eggs - I asked if she was making this for a project in mind and she answered…

"Oh no, Mama, I'm just pretending it's fondant.  I'm going to be a cake decorator"

Does anyone know if Michaels' has a Wilton class for kids???

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the challenges on my blog for a chance to win:
July 2014 Sketchy Challenge (deadline July 31st, 2014)
Leave Your Legacy challenge - Don't Stop Believing (deadline Nov 30th, 2014)

Exhaust Your Excess! challenge blog - check it out!!

MIA

I'm still here!

[art by guy denning]

There is so much going on around that I am seriously beginning to question whether I am going to be able to keep my head above water over the next month or so!

As I mentioned before, I'm not going to gripe about how busy we are - isn't everyone?  But since the original purpose of this blog was to document our lives (and not just share my designs, although there has been less of the former and more of the latter), I'm going to attempt to document the comings and goings of our lives over the last few weeks:

• On Sept 18th, my dad was sent to the hospital after a visit with his GP and later admitted.  He suffers from COPD and pulmonary fibrosis, and had severe swelling in his legs and abdomen.  They started him on water-reducing pills and ran a battery of tests which concluded that he was suffering from congestive heart failure, as a result of his pulmonary infections.  Over the next few days, his CO2 levels rose dangerously high and he was sent to ICU.  It was touch and go but the next day he rallied and was moved to another room.  Over the last week or so, he has ridden a roller coaster of emotions (as have we!) and varying levels of health so much of our time is spent driving out there to visit and encourage him to eat and gain his strength so he can come home.  As of today, there are no definitely plans as to when he will come home - and then we all need to decide what to do if he is unable to continue to live at home by himself.  He is 85.

• As a result of my dad's stay in ICU, I decided to forgo my crop weekend with my girls at the Encore Dance Fundraising crop in Elmira on Sept 21st.  Extremely disappointing for so many reason, but I'm glad I decided not to go as it was Saturday that my dad's condition worsens and the family was called into his side.  Plus I would have just worried about him all weekend.  On the plus side, I didn't have to pack for the crop - a task that I dread each time!

• Inventory is complete at two of my stores, however there are unexplained discrepancies that causing me some stress and adding to my limited time.  Thanks to Amy for offering to come in and help me get caught up!

• My surgery on Sept 23rd with Dr. Deans went extremely well.  There was no pain (aside from the long needle that was used in the corner of my eyes to freeze/numb the areas - GAH!!!).  There was considerable swelling and bruising and I was unable to wear my contacts, drive, lift, strain or bend for at least 4 days!  You don't realize how often you do these things until you can't!  I'm back for a follow-up appointment next week to determine if another surgery will be required.  Can't say that I'm really disappointed about that - he's such a cutie! :)
  This is my eye, Day 2 after the surgery - and the swelling had gone down considerably, thanks to all-day icing, 30 minutes on, 30 minutes off:
  
  
  

• Connor suffered from what we think may be "turf toe" following his game last week (which incidentally was played on a new artificial turf).  We spent a few hours in emerg last Wednesday and he spent a few days on crutches, and icing it.  He ditched his crutches at a friend's bbq this weekend and seems to be walking okay on it, so hopefully it was a mild strain

• Today, I went for oral surgery for a crown lengthening - I am really starting to feel my age, with all these surgeries!  Some discomfort, but ibuprofen helps and it should heal quickly.  It wasn't great timing on my part, but what's done is done - and Dr. Mason is a fantastic (and fun!) periodontist.  We spent much of the time discussing the fall TV programming.  Or at least she discussed - I drooled and nodded a lot. :) 

Oh, and did I mention I'm hosting Thanksgiving for our entire family? And that I have another inventory (my final!) 3 days later?  Not to mention ScrapFest and CropFest and the wedding and football games and cadets and gymnastics and sleepovers and Halloween and...

Well, at least it will keep me out of trouble! :)

Tomorrow, I'll share pics from Connor's football game - he's so handsome in his uniform!

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the challenges on my blog for a chance to win:
October Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Oct 31, 2013)

Leave Your Legacy: Top Ten Lists (deadline:  Nov 30, 2013)

Her

I just realized that I have several projects published in the Fall 2013 issue of Canadian Scrapbooker magazine that I haven't shared yet!

I know.  You're just beside yourself with anticipation, aren't you? :P

In honour of my Mom's birthday yesterday, I thought I'd post this one first:

Supplies used:  Bazzill and Bo Bunny cardstock; Melissa Frances patterned paper and sticker; Basic Grey letter stickers; Cricut die cutting machine and Songbird font; Martha Stewart Crafts border punch; Prima paper flowers and bling; Stampin’ Up! wood buttons; Robin’s Nest Dew Drops; The Twinery twine; Tim Holtz Distress Ink; JilliBean journaling tag (hidden); Ranger Glossy Accents; vintage lace ribbon; unknown buttons.

This photo was snapped literally moments after my mom stepped into my room, after delivering Aili.  Having been diagnosed with lung cancer just two weeks prior, her proud smile tells the story of how happy she is to have the chance to meet her.

The title is both a play on that, as well as from Aili's perspective - I didn't think my mom would get a chance to meet her final granddaughter.

Hidden journaling reads:

"Aug 13, 2004 - Facing cancer, my mom wasn't sure she'd get the chance to meet you - especially when you were two weeks late!!  We were blessed to have her for four more short months.  I'm glad you two had a chance to meet..."

And what's a feminine, frilly girly page without flowers and bling!?!

I just picked flowers, buttons and bling in coordinating colours and went to town!

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the other challenges on my blog for a chance to win:

September 2013 Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Sep 30, 2013)
Leave Your Legacy: Top Ten Lists (deadline:  Nov 30, 2013

Wedding Invitations | Cory & Taunia

To say that these were a labour of love would be pushing it.

Don't get me wrong - I love my nephew and his fiancée and would do anything for them.  The same holds true for all of my nieces and nephews.  However, these invitations were such a P.I.T.A, right from the start that by the time we could see the light at the end of the tunnel, we were second-guessing our decision to make them instead of ordering them!

I have to say, though - they were worth every bead of sweat, every gray hair, every four-letter word.

Supplies used:  Bazzill cardstock; PhotoShop Creative Suite, StarSunflower Studio digital file; Silhouette Cameo and various cut files; Gabriola and Lavanderia fonts; organza ribbon.

The invitation "folder" was based on a cut file by Lori Whitlock.  I adapted it to fit the invitation and enclosures and changed the flap using part of a Totally Jamie file.  To open, untie the green ribbon and slide off the wide organza ribbon.

*some info has been blurred - to prevent y'all from crashing the wedding! ;)

I designed the invitation, RSVP card and accommodations card using PhotoShop Creative Suite and a freebie digital file from StarSunflower Studio.

*I know, my nephew's full name is a mouthful - but it honours both his grandfathers...

Here's a peek at the enclosures:

The photos are a bit blurry and the colour's wonky, but you get the idea!

As a side note, if you have a loved one getting married, check out the Wed Pics app - very cool way to get your guests involved in capturing their special day!

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the giveaways/challenges on my blog for a chance to win:
August 2013 Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Aug 31/13)
Leave Your Legacy: Pet Peeves (deadline:  Aug 31/13)

Another Milestone

Seems like I'm not the only one reaching milestones around here... Last night, we attended the Grade 8 graduation ceremony at Connor's school.

It seems surreal that so much time has passed since this chubby cutie was crawling around on our floors.

He looked so handsome in his 3-piece suit and tie - my heart swelled with pride when I first saw him.

He's at such a pivotal point - heading off to high school next year, learning to make new friends yet again.  I hope he fully embraces the magic of high school and will participate wholeheartedly, just as his dad and I did when we were in high school.

I find myself relating to Connor's grade school years.  I, too, was slightly self-conscious, struggling to fit in with the "cool crowd", always worried about losing ground over something I did or said.  It wasn't until Gr. 8, that my best friend and I finally just said, "The hell with you all!" and decided to be ourselves and do what we wanted to do and say.

High school was such a different experience, because of this attitude.  And his vice-principal, Mrs. Bellaire, read a beautiful quote by Charles Swindoll that was so a propos for the occasion:

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.  Attitude, to me, is more important that the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do.  It is more importance than appearance, giftedness or skill.  It will make or break a company... a church.... a school.... a home.  The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.  We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.  We cannot change the inevitable.  The only thing that we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.  I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.  And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes.

Connor's come into his own this year in the same way that I did - still shy and reserved, but determined to stick to his beliefs.  I admire him for that.  I hope that he full embraces this passage, takes it to heart and learns to use his attitude to change the course of his life.

His teacher this year, Mme. Fazio, fully supported his creative ideas and encouraged him to use his skills in his presentations and projects all year.

Gary and I were both so proud to hear that he was awarded the Science and Technology award at graduation.  He truly is his father's son!

Way to go, Connor!  You make us proud, not only today, but every day with your compassion, kindness and integrity.  We love you - and look forward to your accomplishments today and always.

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the giveaways/challenges on my blog for a chance to win:
1,000th Blog Post giveaway (deadline:  June 30/13)

Sketchy Challenge:  June 2013 (deadline:  June 30/13)
Leave Your Legacy: Pet Peeves (deadline:  Aug 31/13)

Look Out, Kentucky Derby!

Here I come!

Tonight, after work, I stopped by Michaels and picked up a few items to create my elegant hat for my sister's fundraiser, Miss Lizzy's Tea.  I wanted some specific items, but ran out of time (the fundraiser is Sunday already!) but I have to say, it turned out pretty cute!  Even with the grainy/crappy-lighting i-Phone snaps...

I repurposed my hat from last year.  I would have liked to use a new hat, with a wide brim, but this is what I had on hand - and considering what I paid for it, I really wanted to use it more than once!

The large rose was $10.  I'm sure I could have found it cheaper elsewhere, but sometimes you just have to pay for convenience and timing.

From the side/front:

The cream tulle was $5 from Michaels and the ivory ribbon was salvaged from a gift.  Again, I could have probably found the tulle at the dollar store but time restraints were in play.

From the side/back:

The smaller roses were $10 (one stem with three flowers) and the feathers were stripped off a feather boa that I had purchased for 75% off after Christmas.  Why brown/orange/black feather boas were included in Christmas garland, I'll never know...

Now to choose which dress I am going to wear!

Before I go, I found a few photos online from the 2012 tea party:

2012 Tea Party Committe with host, Liz DelCiancio (standing)

(see my hat?!)

2012 Tea Party servers

When I found these photos, I couldn't believe how much Connor has grown!  He's easily 5" taller this year...  Can't wait to get a photo of he and I on Sunday, in all our finery!

I'm so excited for Sunday now!  But first, I have 300 cupcakes to bake and ice!

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the other challenges on my blog for a chance to win:

Sketchy Challenge:  June 2013 (deadline June 30/13)
Leave Your Legacy:  Pet Peeves (deadline Aug 31/13)

Now What?!

Have you noticed?  I've been on a roll with my blogging lately - thanks to some advance planning and publishing.

But now what?  I had a post planned for today, but it turns out that the project is going to be featured on the Canadian Scrapbooker blog in the near future so I've had to shelf it for a bit.

And all the projects that I have finished are for upcoming issues so I can't share them anyways.  The perils of design team work, I guess.

So instead I will share that it is almost time for my sister's tea party fundraiser again!  I didn't post photos from 2012, because I didn't take photos - she had a photographer come in so that I could help out at the donations table - but I will get some from her and post them soon.  This year, I am bringing my camera to snap photos so that I can scrapbook them.

I am also preparing, as I have to make 300 cupcakes for Sunday!  On the menu?  Mocha coffee, peanut butter chocolate, raspberry vanilla and lemon cupcakes!  Yummmmm... the girls at work are hoping there are leftovers.... :)

If you are in the area, tune into AM800 at 8:20am  - they will be interviewing Liz (and may be giving away tickets! ;))  If you'd like to attend, let me know and I can get you some tickets - they are $40 each (with a $20 tax receipt).  There are some awesome raffle prizes - and several Juicy Couture pieces up for Silent Aucton!

If you are unable to attend but would like to make a donation, please contact me by email!  All funds raised will go to the Patient Assistance Fund for the local Cancer Centre.  Last year, we raised nearly $15,000 for a total of almost $30,000 since we began in 2010!

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the other challenges on my blog for a chance to win:

Sketchy Challenge:  June 2013 (deadline June 30/13)
Leave Your Legacy:  Pet Peeves (deadline Aug 31/13)

Seven Years Ago

and it still feels like yesterday.

R.I.P. Simon, Sept 24, 1997 - Apr 25, 2006

April 25, 2006.

We came home to find our beautiful Golden Retriever, Simon, lying on the kitchen floor, unable to get up.  Gary brought him into the emergency animal clinic that night around 7pm and as soon as the veterinarian checked his gums, he immediately knew that we would have to put him to sleep.

I cried for a week after he passed.

It was months before I could open the front door and not expect to hear his jingling collar.  

And even longer before I stopped searching under my desk while scrapping to feel for that warm furry body to warm my toes.

For the longest time, I adamantly shook my head when people asked if we were going to get another dog.  How could I replace him?  He was the kindest, gentlest soul you would ever meet.  He was so well trained, having had the advantage of Gary working from home during the first six months or so of his life, and me only working three days.  

• When we first discovered I was pregnant, we would randomly walk by him and tug gently on his ear, or pull his tail, just so he would be used to the "loving" of children.
• We could place his food or treat on the floor in front of him and he would wait until we said the magic word, "OK!" before he would eat it.
• We held onto his food while he ate from our hand so he would never "snatch" and inadvertently bite small (or big!) fingers.  
• We could tell him to sit/stay, leave the front door open and cross the street to check the mail.  No worries that he would run away or into busy traffic.
• He was housebroken within a week.
• He was very protective of our family.  One night, I was out for a late night walk through the park and there were a group of noisy teens.  He moved to walk between them and I, and when one inadvertently lunged out towards me (probably enacting a story he was telling), Simon went BERSERK, barking and growling.  It was all I could do to hold him back.
• We used to call him "Hoover".  For months after his passing, I would exclaim to Gary, "Why is the floor so dirty!?  (Especially under the kitchen table...).  It then occurred to me that we had lost our furry little Roomba...

So many other stories and reason why he couldn't be replaced.  It wouldn't be fair to that new little Golden puppy, to be compared to such a dog.

But now?  Now, I'm starting to think that a puppy may be just the thing...  It's too bad that we discovered that Aili is allergic to dogs, or another Golden would be on my list!

Now, to convince Gary....

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the other challenges on my blog for a chance to win:

Sketchy Challenge:  April 2013 (deadline:  Apr 30/13)
Leave Your Legacy: Embrace Change (deadline:  May 31/13)

Things My Nonna Taught Me #124

I created this layout for a DT submission that didn't end up in the magazine due to lack of space so I thought I'd share it here.

Supplies used:  DCWVcardstock; Melissa Frances patterned paper, stickers; Ranger Tim Holtz distress ink; Silhouette Cameo; Good Vibes and Arial fonts; Martha Stewart Crafts and Fiskars punches; The Twinery twine.

Side note:  I don’t often purchase paper packs, since it’s rare that all of the papers will appeal to me.  However, the background cardstock used here is the backside of a patterned paper from a DCWV Christmas stack – it’s a gorgeous kraft colour!  I bought the pack, figuring that I could use the kraft side of all the papers that didn't appeal to my style!

Isn't she adorable, with her weathered skin and like all little old Italian women, a tiny hint of a moustache? :)  I remember her hair was nearly to her waist but she always wore it up in a severe chignon at the nape of her neck.  The only time it would be down was while it was drying after her bath.

Journaling (within photo mat) reads:  

When I was 17, I spent the summer in Italy where my Nonna lived.  Every morning, she rose at 6am to make the day’s pasta.  One morning, I woke up early and snuck downstairs to watch.  She taught me how to make the pasta dough and how to carefully feed it through the machine. Best day of the summer, just Nonna and I… (Photo circa 1995)

Here are the detail images:

Seeing these photos makes me miss my Nonna and Italy.  I definitely want to take my family back to visit the relatives that are remaining there.  One summer....

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the other challenges on my blog for a chance to win:

Sketchy Challenge:  April 2013 (deadline:  Apr 30/13)
Leave Your Legacy: Embrace Change (deadline:  May 31/13)

Tiny Dancer

Last Saturday, Aili had her first dance recital.

I find it a little bit sad that she's almost nine and this is her first recital. :(  But when she was three, we had her in a ballet class which ended in a fairly traumatic episode - everything is traumatic at three, if you recall... - and she wouldn't go to another dance class.  We tried soccer.  And baseball.  And gymnastics.  Nothing kept her attention.

Then Connor's swimming began to monopolize our time and we put her in swimming, since we were there all the time anyways.

Only to find out that she had a chlorine allergy.  Sigh.

Over the last year, however, she has been dancing around the house and singing away so we were determined to try again, just at the local community centre.

She loved it.

So we were excited to attend her recital at the end of the session.  Before her recital, she showered and I blow dried her hair into her natural gorgeous curls.  Truth be told, I think she was more excited about wearing eyeshadow and mascara...

I snapped a quick photo with my phone before we left:

There were so many family members and friends there of all the dancers that I didn't think we'd be able to see much, but we managed to sneak in off to the left side of the stage and snapped photos and this video:


Dance Recital from grayskyes on Vimeo.

My favourite part?  When she finally connects with her daddy, videotaping, and she gives him a shy little grin.

Oh, I love her little hair flips throughout. :)

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the other challenges on my blog for a chance to win:

Sketchy Challenge:  April 2013 (deadline:  Apr 30/13)
Leave Your Legacy: Embrace Change (deadline:  May 31/13)

A Christmas Tradition Continues

Every year, we would all look forward to Christmas.  Not only to spend time with family and friends, but for my mother-in-law's melt-in-your-mouth shortbread.  It was divine.  I actually had to hide it from Gary and the kids or I wouldn't even get a piece!

Last year, I didn't get a chance to keep up with Gary's mom's tradition, after she passed in August 2011.  This year, however, I was determined to try.

I poured over hundred of recipes, looking for the perfect combination of simplicity, taste and what-do-I-actually-have-in-my-pantry??  I finally settled on a simple mixture of four ingredients - and never looked back!


Christmas Shortbread
(source unknown)

Ingredients:
1 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. icing sugar
1/4 c. cornstarch
1 1/2 c. flour

Original Instructions:
1.  Preheat oven to 375°F.
2.  Whip butter until creamy and light.
3.  Sift dry ingredients into large bowl.  Add to butter gradually, beating on low.  Beat on high for 3-4 minutes.
4.  Pat into traditional shortbread pan (or 8x8" square pan) and prick with fork.
5.  Bake 12-15 minutes - do not brown!

Sue's Notes:
I really just winged it for this recipe and aside from the ingredients and temperature, didn't follow the recipe at all!  Here's what I did:

I did whip the butter until it was very light and full of air.  But I'm lazy when baking and didn't sift the ingredients first.  Heck, I didn't even add them gradually!  I just measured them all out and added them to the butter at once.  I did switch to my dough hook on my Kitchen Aid to mix it all together.  Again, I didn't bother to time it - I just kneaded it until all the dry ingredients were incorporated into the butter evenly.

At this point, I decided I wanted cookies instead of bars so I used my mini ice cream scoop to scoop out even amounts of dough.  I rolled them quickly between my palms to even out the balls and laid them on a cookie sheet, about an inch apart.

My oven was set to 375°F on the convection setting and I cooked them for about 13 minutes.  After removing from oven and letting them sit for a minute or so to cool on the cookie sheet, I transferred them to a rack to cool

The photo above shows the cookies right out of the oven, but after they cooled, I rolled them in icing sugar for a bit more decadence.  The option is yours - they are delicious regardless!

My only complaint was that they were a bit bigger than I wanted.  But I would rather have uniformity (via my mini scoop) over petite-ness (via eyeballing).  As I said before, they are so yummy either way!

Enjoy!

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog for a chance to win:
It's a Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Dec 31/12)
Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)

She Would Have...

Mom would have been 82 today.

Mom, circa 1951

And 8 years ago, she would have:

• Not looked a day over 62.  Seriously.
• Risen early and headed out to the Sports Complex for a morning walk and Aquafit.
• Met her "Domino ladies" for coffee at Tim Horton's and shared stories of her grandchildren's and children's accomplishments.
• Called me before I even got a chance to call her to wish her a Happy Birthday, because she called, every day, without fail.
• Dragged my dad out of the house and would have popped in with homemade spaghetti sauce or a bone for Simon.
• Worked on the hand-crocheted bedspread for Aili, because she had completed one for every grandchild before.
• Started planning our next family vacation, because we all had so much fun the year before in Mexico.
• Come to each and every one of Connor's local swim meets, because her grandkids meant the world to her.
• Dropped everything to spend the day with one of the kids if they had to stay home from school, so that we would not have had to miss work.
• Made city chicken, despite the effort and cost, because it was Gary's favourite.
• Proudly shown everyone she knows my published articles and layouts.
• Made sure that our entire family still met on Sunday afternoons for a family dinner at their house.  Without fail.
• Booked a trip to Italy, without even asking my dad, because she knew how important it was to make sure you remember from where you came.
• Made handmade pizzelles because they are Connor's favourites.
• Taught my kids Italian, because your heritage is what shapes you into who you are.
• Made sure that we were going to church every Sunday.
• Never forgotten one birthday or anniversary.
• Been the first one at the hospital when Gary had his heart attack.  Not only for support but out of concern for her "son".

She would have... if she had beaten cancer.

Happy Birthday, Mom - I can't believe it's been eight years.  I miss you today more than ever.