Simple Sunday!

My BFF Carla always posts a simple Sunday post.  I sometimes chuckle since our simple day or day rest always ends up being filled with things to do and work.  Mine today is being spent at work.  I do have a few things I’d like to get done or started though.  What does your Sunday look like? 

Here’s my list …

*put a roast/potatoes/carrots in the crock pot for dinner

*laundry

*work on some sewing items – I’m behind on a few things I’ve promised to get done

*create my Christmas card & shopping list – figure out what I need to make/buy this year

*catch up on some TV from last week and watch the Walking Dead.  Yes I’m a dork but this show is great!

What do you normally do for Christmas gifts?  Do you spend lots at the stores for your loved ones, hand make as much as possible?  Give gifts in kinds to charity instead of commercial gifts?  I always give as much as I can to charity, and love the idea of doing this instead of gift exchanges since most of us already have SO much.  My bff Carla is hosting a blog give away with a twist.  You have the chance to win some amazing handmade items from her, but the twist is you have to donate to her World Vision donation fundraiser.  There is no set amount to donate, but every bit helps and she has already raised almost $600!! Check out her blog to see the gifts she has already been able to give.  It is truly amazing when people come together to help out those who are less fortunate! It really warms my heart!

I’ve noticed I’ve been getting quite a few hits on my blog lately … I’m not sure who is visiting, but if you do leave me a comment!  I love to get to know my readers and be able to check out your blogs too!  I’m thinking of doing a blog contest or giveaway soon to gear up for the holiday season!  Have a great Sunday!

Happy *Handmade Saturday!

I’m out bright and early this morning for work, ton’s of stuff on the go today!  I wanted to take the time to post a few things I’ve created lately … and by lately I mean a few months ago lol.  I’ve been a bit slow with the photo editing and posting, and well just creating.  But I have had a few pushes to do some creating  for special gifts so here they are!

A sweet baby blanket for a beautiful baby girl!  One side is cotton and one side is flannel.  Super soft and sure to keep her nice and warm!  The ribbon was just a quick embellishment.  Kind of finishes it off (or hides the mistake I made LOL) and the blanket could be hung by the ribbon if needed!

This card+coffee sleeve was made as a special birthday gift for a lovely lady I work with.  She’s all kinds of AMAZING!!  She loved it and we had a great evening with some vino to celebrate with co-workers and friends!

And lastly, I don’t always promote that I’m an abstract painter.  But I’ve been commissioned to do a few pieces in the last year as wedding gifts.  It’s really been the push I needed to get back in the studio and paint, I really do love it.  This piece was delivered last week and as far as I’ve heard they love it.  I was told to use black/white/grey and it can’t have anything in it lol.  Sure that should be easy for an abstract painter … this was the finished product of an idea that was inspired by sheet music mixed with lots of texture.

Remembrance Day

I hope everyone took some time today to remember those who have fought for what we are so lucky and blessed to have.  I’m so thankful for those who put their lives on the line every day for us!  Happy Remembrance Day!

Happy Halloween

Photo Credit

Halloween is one of those holidays that I’ve never really gone crazy over.  Don’t get me wrong, I loved to dress up as a kid!  I think my fave costume ever was the year I dressed up as Cyndi Lauper – yes I totally did!   But besides that I think dressing up as a witch or clown were the go to regulars.  I was browsing some Halloween links and found the above ADORABLE witch cakepops!!!  I need to adapt a way to make them vegan/gluten-free!  I totally love the purple hats too!! I love purple, and may have bought the best purple witch hat ever for a costume party. Below are some of my fave Halloween links this year!

1.  Elsie Larson has a list of fun Halloween DIY links on her blog here.

2.  Elizabeth Kartchner has a delish Pumpkin Cookie recipe on her blog here.

3.  Pumpkin Carving patterns here.

4.  Party Box Design has some awesome printables here.

5.  25 Awesome recycled Halloween costumes from The Daily Green here.

Thanks for stopping by, have a very Spooky Halloween!

It finally caught up with me!

Catching the cold/flu that’s going around that is.  It’s been going through work like wildfire.  I’ve been lucky so far and actually quite healthy!  But naturally when I was at the doctors on Wednesday they asked if I wanted a flu shot … I said “No, I don’t believe in flu shots”.  Well I’m biting my tongue now LOL.  I did however wake up to a loving interesting get well card in my inbox from my bff Carla.

Nice eh! LOL it did make me laugh which was what I needed.  Have a great Sunday, and stay healthy!

Michelle, A to Z

Happy Sunday evening!!!  It’s been FREEZING in Southwestern Ontario, and I swear its cold enough to snow!! LOL I’m SO not ready for that white stuff yet.  Things have been crazy since my vacation … I’ve got photos to edit and post that still haven’t been touched.  I’ve got my sometimes dog Axel here with me for almost 2 weeks – YAY!  I was doing some blog hopping and came across this A to Z about me on Kim’s blog.  It looked fun so I thought I’d play along! 

A. Age: 28
B. Bed size: Double
C. Chore that you hate: Mopping
D. Dogs: I love dogs, especially Axel
E. Essential start to your day: coffee!
F. Favorite color: Purple
G. Gold or Silver: Silver
H. Height: 5’3″
I. Instruments you play: I used to play the flute, I want to learn the piano
J. Job title: Youth Program Supervisor
K. Kids: do the 30 million at work count??? LOL
L. Live: London, Ontario, Canada.
M. Mother’s name: Barb
N. Nicknames: Michy, Mich, Chelle, Dobbyn
O. Overnight hospital stays: One
P. Pet peeves: I have tons of things that drive me crazy … naturally I can’t think of one right now LOL.
Q. Quote from a movie: “They say nothing lasts forever; dreams change, trends come and go, but friendships never go out of style.”  Carrie, Sex and the City.                                                                                                                                                                       R. Right or left handed: Righty!
S. Siblings: 1
U. Underwear: Yes I wear them LOL
V. Vegetable you hate: Artichokes
W. What makes you run late: Hitting the snooze button too many times
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Too many to count
Y. Yummy food that you make: Hmmm … I like cooking, but really everything I cook is yummy!                                                Z. Zoo animal: Elephants are pretty amazing!

If you play along, leave me a comment!

ETA … so after publishing, I noticed the T was missing … I did a little hunting from blog to blog to find out what the T was for … funny thing is … EVERYONE is missing it too LOL.

I heart TIFF

This has been the most relaxing week I’ve had in a while!  Thank goodness for vacation!  I’m not gonna lie, I do wish it was a bit longer, but what can you do LOL.  Back to work on Monday (for a 4 day week mind you).  My vacation has just been quiet, low-key, housework and relaxing …. but the first few days were my vacation were the fun parts!  I’ve said for years I wanted to go to TIFF.  I’ve never had the opportunity (or the money) or anyone to go with.  Well this year my Aunt & Uncle were able to get me some tickets in exchange for puppy sitting.  I was SO excited!!!  I had no idea what films they would be for, or what days, really I was happy with whatever I could get (even foreign films with subtitles) LOL.  My vacation started last Friday, and I found out Thursday afternoon that I had tickets for Take This Waltz and Butter.  These two were on my list of 27 would love to see films.  Now the totally awesome part was that my Uncle was able to get me a Priority box seat ticket to the Gala World Premier for BOTH of these films!!!!  Now I had to look up what all this meant … I knew the world premier part … it was the Gala I was unsure of.  Well it meant that the Director, Producers and Cast who were in attendance came on stage to talk, then watched the show in the theatre with us.  Crazy huh!?!?!

I saw Take This Waltz first … this film was fantastic!! Sarah Polley directed it (love her ever since The Road to Avonlea), with a great cast of Michelle Williams, Seth Rogan, Luke Kirby, Sara Silverman and some others who I didn’t know.  All of the above (except Michelle) were in attendance …. SO cool!!!  The movie was filmed in Toronto and Cape Breton which was cool too.  It’s not your hollywood type movie, defiantly an artsy film, but I love those!

Then I saw Butter … holy crap this movie was FUNNY!!! There was a super star cast of Jennifer Gardner, Hugh Jackman, Olivia Wilde, Ashley Greene, Alicia Silverstone, Ty Burrell, Rob Corddry, Yara Shahidi, Kristen Schaal and a ton of others.  All of the females above were in attendance (except Kristen) which was so awesome!!!  This movie will do really well, I’m sure if it … it’s a great mix of humor and sex LOL, the story is pretty fantastic!

Last night I went to the movies (I know my pattern for this vacation lol) with Carla.  We have both been dying to see Crazy, Stupid, Love for a while now.  This has been playing in theatres for 8 weeks now I think.  We were both glad to have seen it … SO funny!!! And honestly … Ryan Gosling … I remember him back in the Breaker High Days … but man he’s a beautiful man now LOL.  This is also a must see film!!

So that has been the highlight of my vacation, now back to some room renovations, Tupperware party prepping, puppy sitting and getting ready for the Terry Fox Run tomorrow.  Have a great Saturday!

5 A Day Challenge

So my dear friend Carla over at My 1/2 Dozen Daily is doing a 5 a day challenge starting Monday. I’m totally up for playing along with this.  Being Vegetarian, Gluten & Dairy free this should be easy peasy right LOL.  I mostly eat veggies with some fruits thrown in and I’m 99% sure I get my 5 a day already.  I’m going to challenge myself for 10 a day.  Check out Carla’s blog to see her  yummy  interesting looking fruit/veggie smoothie.  I can’t stand to try putting spinach in my smoothies LOL.

Here are some typical serving sizes for fruits and vegetables:

Fruits
one banana
six strawberries
two plums
fifteen grapes
one apple
one peach
one-half cup of orange or other fruit juice

Vegetables
five broccoli florets
ten baby carrots
one roma tomato
3/4 cup tomato juice
half of a baked sweet potato
one ear of corn
four slices of an onion
1 cup lettuce

*1/2 cup chopped fruit/veggies – 1 serving

I’ll be trying to post daily or at least every other day with what I had and if it met my 10 a day goal … and I’ll add some iPhone photos of my fruits and veggies for good measure … errr evidence! LOL.

Handmade Baby Gifts

Since I’ve taken up sewing,  I’ve grown to LOVE making handmade baby gifts.  I love making little blankets, bibs, biriping pads.  If I ever have kids they are going to be spoiled rotten with handmade goodies!  Here are a few things I’ve made as gifts  the last little while.

Check back tomorrow for details on the *5 A Day* Challenge I’m taking part in!  Have a lovely Saturday!