The De-junking Begins

Brad and I have lucked out in our marriage and neither of us area pack rats. It's a quality I definitely appreciate in my husband. We like to keep only the things we'll use mostly because we hate moving stuff unnecessarily.

We moved pretty suddenly 6 months ago and really took advantage of the opportunity to get rid of an amazing amount of stuff, especially considering the tiny size of the apartment. The dumpster at our building sure came in handy and anything we didn't use got tossed.

As we prepare for our next move we've started the process early and things that came with us in the last move but haven't been touched since are going to be the first to go.

It started on Tuesday night as we both went through our dresser drawers. It was time to admit that most of those cute clothes neatly folded were never going to fit but someone else would enjoy them so off to Value Village they go. Last night I pulled down my box of CD's. I tossed all the cases, threw out burned CD's and we made room in Brad's CD binders. We're already two boxes down and there are 3 more that didn't ever get unpacked in the new house.

I'm excited to be even more junk free in the future!
L

What Kind of Cupcake are you?

This seemed appropriate after my latest cupcake post.

You Are a Vanilla Cupcake

You are very sweet and mellow. You are easy going and easy to like. You are drawn to those stronger personalities. You get along with powerful people. You are like a cupcake because you appeal to almost every type of person. You are friendly and accepting. You bring out other people's best qualities.

What Flavor Cupcake Are You?

Cotton Candy Fail

I saw a recipe not too long ago for Cotton Candy Cupcakes and thought it sounded amazing. I love cotton candy ice cream so how can you go wrong with a cupcake version. For flavouring all they did was throw handfuls of cotton candy into their icing but I figured I could do better than that.

First hurdle, where do you get cotton candy in May? After a surprisingly low amount of looking it turns out you can buy small bags of it at Superstore, good thing I was paying attention that day.

So here was my brilliant plan, take a bunch of cotton candy and dissolve it in water and then reduce it down to a thick syrup to concentrate the flavour. Then add that to my icing for yummy cotton candy goodness.

Sadly it did not turn out as well as I had imagined… I followed the plan, boiled the liquid until it was a thick (brown) syrup and then added it to the icing. I gave it a taste, fully expecting carnival yummy-ness… what did I actually get? Buttercream. Ugly, brown, yet tasty buttercream icing. I still had more cotton candy so I threw some pieces in hoping it would help but sadly no, in the end it was still just brown buttercream. It was time to make the best out of bad experiment so I coloured the icing pink and blue and swirled it together on top the cupcake, I garnished with more cotton candy (which today is all shrivelled and crusty) and called them done.

Work will be happy to eat them even if they don’t taste a thing like cotton candy and they sure are pretty.

My next attempt will involve finding cotton candy flavouring on-line.
L

A Music Q&A

Stolen from Denise

1. What song do you sing in the shower?
   I've never been a shower singer. When I lived at the Rosehill house we used to hear the boys next door singing in the shower, I always got a chuckle out of that.
2. What's your best karaoke number?
   I don't think I've ever done Karaoke. I hate being the centre of attention so I'm always pretty quick to turn down the mike.
3. Favorite Christmas/Holiday song?
   I LOVE Christmas music, I start listening to it early and continue far past Christmas. My favorites are almost all done by MOTAB, I especially love their O Come All Ye Faithful and they have a Christmas Processional with handbells that I repeat often.
4. Best song for getting psyched up?
   Some by a girly pop group, like Untouched by the Veronicas or My Life Would Suck Without You by Kelly Clarkson. I realize they're not great lyrically but sometimes I can't get enough.
5. Best melancholy, rainy day mood song?
   It Looks Like Rain – Jann Arden
6. What song did/will you dance to at your wedding?
   "The Sun and the Moon" – Mae. That song has stuck with us so much that we're giving our little girl the middle name Mae. The Lyrics were just so appropriate for us…
   "I can not say that I was ready for this.
   But, when worlds collide,
   And all that I have is all that I want.
   The words seem to flow
   And the thoughts they keep running.
   And all that I have is yours.
   All that I am is yours."
7. Best breakup song?
   Already Gone – Kelly Clarkson
   Lost - Anouk
8. What song takes you back to High School?
   Kiss From a Rose – Seal. I can't tell you how much I hate this song. The Lethbridge station, The River, would play it all summer and it reminds me of working at the hot, smelly lunch counter in the Trading Company and it makes me feel gross all over.
9. Do you sing a certain song to your kids?
   My Mom has the best memory for kids songs and will need to teach them to me because I'm not sure I know any of those fun songs. I do want to sing Primary songs to my kids because I think it's so cute when the Sunbeams can sing along. You've got to start early though.
10. What song makes you cry?
    I'm embarrassed to admit that there are a plethora of songs that have made me cry. If I'm into the song enough then I'll start to tear up. Usually first dance songs at weddings make me cry though, they're always so loving and sweet and the bride and groom can't get enough of each other. I like weddings.
11. What song do you want played at your funeral?
    Goodnight Trouble – Sarah Slean
12. What song do you wish would start playing when you walked in a room?
    Today – Joshua Radin (if Brad's in the room)
13. What's a song you know every word to by heart?
    There are lots but I remember I was really proud of myself when I learned the words to Garth Brooks, Ain't Goin' Down (Till the Sun Comes Up). I always wished I knew all the words to Vanilla Ice, Ice Ice Baby. I was pretty sure it meant you were cool if you knew all those words.
14. What was the first 8-track/cassette tape/CD that you owned?
    I'm sure it was some church tape/CD, I used to listen to those a lot. The first non-religious music I remember is Celine Dion.
15. What's your work-out jam?
    Work out… ha! I did go through a phase last summer where I started to jog occasionally (it didn't last long) but my music choice was always the same, The Veronicas. It'll definitely get you going in the morning.
16. Best road trip song/album?
    Chicago – Best of CD. There were many road trips taken to that soundtrack. It will always remind me of trips to Idaho and my sister Jennifer.
17. Ever had a song dedicated to you?
    It seems like along the way there must have been at least one but I can't think of any.
18. What song gets stuck in your head that you can't stand?
    Any really over-played radio song
19. Favorite classical piece?
    I love Yo Yo Ma, Especially when he plays Prelude #5 by Chopin
20. No. 1 favorite artist?
    Jimmy Eat World, although Sarah Slean is making her way up there on the list
21. No. 1 favorite album?
    Futures or Clarity by Jimmy
22. No. 1 favorite song?
    That changes often and there are way too many to list but I never fail to be amazed by how much I love the song Kill, by Jimmy.
23. What's the last song you listened to?
    There was something playing on the radio in the car this morning but I think that hardly counts. I was listening to Kelly Clarkson, I want you, on my bus ride home last night.

So there you have it, a look into my musical tastes
Sorry for the boring post but why should you be entertained when I'm terribly bored :)
L

Craving #3

It's interesting how these cravings pop up… at some random moment I'll have a thought, "I've got to have some candy". Or "Chicken wings would be perfect right now". I wasn't even thinking about food at the time and then all of a sudden my head (stomach?) wants these very specific foods. Well craving #3 has appeared and it's no less weird than the other two, right now it's all about Pop Tarts. Remember how they used to be so yummy fresh from the toaster, how the icing would burn your mouth and the filling would be sweet and warm, well they're just as good as you remember so go out, buy a box and enjoy.

I've started on Strawberry and plan on moving to S'mores later this week.
L

(as I was looking for a suitable photo of Pop Tarts I came across this... homemade Pop Tarts... they look yummy and someone should make me some because it sure won't be me)

The Grass Hoppers

This season of softball has been a little discouraging for me. We've played some teams that weren't very fun, there have been arguments and I've had to find subs often so I wasn't really looking forward to playing yesterday. The weather was gross and I was worried people wouldn't show up on time.

Turns out this game was exactly what I needed. The opposing team was a lot of fun, everyone had a great time and we even ended up winning. I generally don't mind when we lose but I sure enjoy winning.

It's been interesting how quickly my energy level decreases, by the end of the game I'm completely wiped but it's a good kind of exhaustion and I'm glad I'm playing, I'm crossing my fingers I'll make it through the season though.

Hopefully the rest of our games will be as much fun as last night (even if we did get rained on).
L

A Perfect Long Weekend

Shopping
Softball
Settlers of Catan
Sleeping in late
Getting locked out of the apartment
Driving to and from Magrath
Yummy food
A little more Settlers
L

Kicking

It seems lately that Catie has become a little less active. I don't know if that's normal but I used to feel her lots in the morning, evening and night. I still feel her so I'm not worried but she definitely kicks less these days than she did a week ago.

Brad and I were talking about how it's hard for him to feel a connection with her, I feel her growing and moving and she makes me hungry and grouchy (not so much anymore) but Brad doesn't have any of that. We've both been looking forward to the time when he can feel her move so he can start to develop some sort of physical connection. The slow down in her movements has made this take a little longer than I thought it would.

I had him try to feel her move a couple days ago but it was disappointing so I wanted to wait until I was sure there would be positive results. This morning she was giving some good kicks so I thought we'd try it out. There were a few little ones that he didn't feel but after a good size punch I asked if he felt that… he got the cutest smile and said yes, he thought my stomach muscles had twitched, didn't know it was her. So Catie kicked for her Daddy and I'm so glad! They're going to be such good friends.

No one will love her quite the way that he will. He can't wait to nibble on her toes and her fingers and her nose. We're hoping they'll watch hockey together and we're determined to build us a softball player. I can't wait for this girl to meet her Daddy.
L

Second Lunch

I think I've started to notice an increase in my appetite... today my lunch just wasn't enough so I'm now working on second lunch.

Time to brown bag a little extra.
L

Memories of Jennifer

In celebration of my sister's birthday I thought I would pay tribute to her via blog…

A few memories

• Jell-O Popcorn (lime was always a favorite flavour)
• Listening to Chicago on the road trips down to Idaho
• We used to share a room and tickle each others back. I would always fall asleep and she'd have to wake me up so I could continue.
• Cream Puffs
• Pickles… occasionally we'd have pickles with dinner and together the two of us could polish off a jar
• Playing ducks and geese in the snow in the backyard
• When the neighbor kept stealing my bike she came up with the great idea to tie it to the tree

She's creative, smart, amazing with her kids, and a great writer.
She has a fun sense of humor and I'm sad she doesn't live closer, I wish we got to spend more time together and that we knew each other better as adults. She could teach me to make yummy re-fried beans and those bread bowls she makes and could answer all of my baby questions. I'd take her cupcakes and insist she play on our softball team.

Happy Birthday Jenn, I miss you!
L

Home Sweet Home

We found a place to live! And somehow it ended up requiring nothing but patience, it sort of just fell in our lap.

Let me tell you about this house… First of all it's an actual house, not an apartment or a four-plex (which I would have been okay with, I love our current four-plex). It has three bedrooms which means Brad can have an office to study in. We'll have our own laundry, we won't even have to share with the basement. It has a dishwasher! and Air conditioning! You're probably thinking what we were, What houses have air conditioning in Lethbridge? Ours does! It's a reasonable price and in exactly the location we wanted to be in, it just couldn't be more perfect.

We have yet to sign a lease so we're sort of trying to keep our excitement down but by verbal agreement it's ours and we're thrilled.

Now we just need to organize the move…
L

My Weight in Wings

My sister told me once that in her last pregnancy she gained an especially large amount of weight because all food tasted so delicious, she didn't eat anything for 9 months that she didn’t love.

Well I seem to have a touch of that. After our softball game last week we went out for 1 cent ribs. Ribs and I don't get along, we have an unhappy past and wings have never seemed worth the effort but being a good sport I ordered a plate of ribs and Brad ordered some wings. I've never tasted more delicious wings and those ribs were amazing. I've been dreaming about them all day and night and I've got to get more!

Monday night is cheap wings night… who's in?
L

We Won!

We actually won a softball game!

It's that time of year again, softball season! Like last year we organized a team and have now played two games. Our first game seemed very much like last season as we lost badly. We were a little worried that this was foreshadowing but turned out we just needed warm-up and a few regular players there, our second game went great and we won by a run. We still have lots of room for improvement so it should be a fun season but it's great to start off so early with a win.

It's fun to see such impressive plays by our team, we had some leaping catches, some deep home runs, a 9 run inning and I even managed a double play on my own. So here's to the rest of the season with hopefully more wins and some improvement on my swing (it's a good thing I organize because I'm kind of bringing my team down… it's pretty hard to kick the captain off the team though).
L

Baking Discovery

I'm so proud and willing to tell everyone…

I would never have even thought about making them, who does? But I came across an article with a recipe for making your own bagels. It sounded fun to try so I whipped up a batch; and they were so amazing I made a second batch the next day.

I just discovered that pretty much nothing beats a fresh bagel still warm from the oven and proceeded to eat three from that first batch. My second batch was even just about as lovely as the picture below.

I'm posting a link to the recipe so you too can make your very own homemade bagels.
L

Killing Me Slowly

Today I've:

• Booked my next doctor's appointment.
• Re-scheduled my Dentist appointment to a better day
• Looked into prenatal classes (ready to register after some discussion with Brad)
• Picked a weekend for us to move
• Looked into the price of a U-haul
• Made a list of people to help us move both in Calgary and Lethbridge (I bet your name is on it, don't be surprised when you get an email in a couple months :)
• Sent Facebook messages to two friends I haven't talked to in a while
• Wrote out details for the wedding we'll be attending
• Checked for an updated softball schedule at least 5 times

And I still have an hour left… this day is endless and very, very boring and I don't know what else to do to get through it.
L

Sugar and Spice

Little girl's clothes are so much fun to look at!

We're trying to control our selves and not buy out of control but we really love to look at all the fun things Catie might wear.

To celebrate finding out we were having a Catie we went and bought the cutest dress that I fell in love with immediately.

I'm sure going to like dressing this little girl.
L

Counting Down

I'm having a hard time at work these days. There are some very legitimate reasons that I won't got into here but every morning it's difficult to get up. It doesn't help to know I'm leaving soon and it's amazing what you can put up with until you know you don't have too.

Using the tools I learned in Primary I've built myself a countdown to help make it through my remaining 3 ½ months. So far it's proving very successful, I love coming home and tearing off a link.
L

At Least it's Something...

I have all these real posts in my head and I was ready to write them when work suddenly took a surprisingly busy turn and there was no time, and now I forgot the camera and there are some photos to post. So until then you get this, stolen from Denise.

1. First thing you wash in the shower?
I think I wash my hair first, that seems like a logical beginning

2. What color is your favorite hoodie?
When Brad and I got married I stole one of his hoodies, it's black and says Finger 11 on it and is old but it's comfy and Brad's and I love it.

3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?
I would and I will

4. Do you plan outfits?
Not at all which sometimes makes things difficult in the morning. Often I'll have to get half dressed in the morning and then eat breakfast while I think about the rest.

5. How are you feeling RIGHT now?
Tired

6. What’s the closest thing to you that's red?
There's a piece of paper on my desk that has red on it, or an Emergency Procedure paper pinned to my wall but that's it.

7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having?
I dreamed last night that Rachel rented our really great new apartment (fingers crossed) to Camilla and Greg instead of us and as much as I love Camilla and Greg I was not happy about it.

8. Did you meet anybody new today?
No but it's still pretty early in the morning. I am going to a baby shower tonight and there's bound to be a couple people there that I don't know.

9. What are you craving right now?
The cupcakes sitting to my left are pretty tempting. I'm holding out until a little later until others will eat them with me.

10. Do you floss?
I went through this phase where I flossed really regularly and I was so proud of myself, then I went to the Dentist and they told me to floss! I was upset and quit. It never makes a difference to them anyway. – as a little side note, I just read this article talking about how Dentists often make more than Doctors these days but their real money comes from cosmetic dentistry and the market is getting so competitive that they're much less likely to give you a hard time about flossing because they don't want you to change dentists, I'm not sure that's such a bad thing.

11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage?
My Grandma O'Reilly. When I think of cabbage rolls I think of her which doesn't really make sense because I don't think I've ever eaten her cabbage rolls, maybe my Mom tells me they were good?

12. Are you emotional?
You can even believe how emotional. Pregnancy has made it so much worse.

13. Have you ever counted to 1,000?
I don't know why I would have ever counted to 1,000…

14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?
I have super sensitive teeth so there's no way I'd bite ice cream, though the left side is much left sensitive so I'm more likely to chew cold things on that side. I secretly have this few that the teeth on my left side will wear out quicker because I chew so much more often on that side.

15. Do you like your hair?
Not particularly. These days my mornings are all about how I can get 10 more minutes in bed and my hair is really suffering. My Mom gave my a hair cut not too long ago and at first I thought it was kind of an awkward length but it actually turned out to be perfect. It's a length that looks really crappy if I don't do anything with it so it's been a good motivator.

16. Do you like yourself?
Most of the time

17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush?
I'd go out to eat with just about anyone, I LOVE going out to eat.

18. What are you listening to right now?
My boss's conversation with someone but I wasn't actually listening well enough to have a clue what they were talking about

19. Are your parents strict?
Not at all. I was the last of 5 kids so they were pretty lenient with me

20. Would you go skydiving?
No. It's not something that appeals to me at all

21. Do you like cottage cheese?
I don’t mind it in lasagna but that's about it

22. Have you ever met a celebrity?
I sort of met Sarah Slean once… and by met I mean I spoke a few words to her after her concert. That's really it though.

23. Do you rent movies often?
Very seldom, I can't bear to pay the money for them

24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in?
I'm at work, on a very beige, boring floor. Nothing sparkles here.

25. How many countries have you visited?
Four

26. Have you made a prank phone call?
I hate any sort or pranks, I think they're just an excuse to laugh at people and I don't like it. You know that show that comes on, Just for Laughs? I HATE that show!

27. Ever been on a train?
When I was really little my family rode the train to Golden. The only thing I remember are the sandwiches Grandma brought and that I thought we were going to Silver.

28. Brown or white eggs?
White? I don't really have a preference nor do I know the difference

29.Do you have a cell-phone?
Yes, though I hardly ever use it

30. Do you use Chap Stick?
All the time, I have perpetually chapped lips

31. Do you own a gun?
No way, and there will never be guns in my house. People get hurt by guns.

32. Can you use chopsticks?
Yes but when it gets down to just rice I'm done, it's not worth the effort

33. Who are you going to be with tonight?
I'm going to a baby shower so lots of family and women

34. Are you too forgiving?
I would say I'm not forgiving enough, I could certainly forget about things quicker than I do

35. Ever been in love?
Yup

36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow?
Working and I think that's all we have planned

37. Ever have cream puffs?
I love homemade cream puffs though they remind me of Michelle every time who can't eat them anymore because she OD'd on them once.

38. Last time you cried?
All it takes these days is a sappy television show, Grey's Anatomy does it every week

39. What was the last question you asked?
It's boring but I was asking about a report I just finished and when they'd know whether the client chooses us or not

40. Favorite time of the year?
Spring because it's softball season

41. Do you have any tattoos?
I almost got one once, I was drunk on all the fresh from high school freedom and I went as far as going to the tattoo parlour and picking one out. Thank goodness I changed my mind, I just wanted something rebellious so I think I got a second earring instead, I know… I'm so wild.

42. Are you sarcastic?
I love spending time with people who have a really sarcastic sense of humour, I'm occasionally sarcastic but who isn't at times?

43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect?
Nah, I thought it looked stupid

44. Ever walked into a wall?
I have a scar on my eyebrow to prove that I did once but I was so little I don't remember. I often don't give myself quit enough room to clear corners and end up walking into desks and stuff.

45. Favorite color?
Green

46. Have you ever slapped someone?
No, but I was always ready in case an opportunity presented itself

47. Is your hair curly?
Only if I work at making it curly, it's a little wavy on it's own

48. What was the last CD you bought?
The last CD I acquired was Carly Rae Jepsen (just to check it out, it's just as cheesy as you would expect) but it's been so long since I actually paid money for music that I can't remember.

49. Do looks matter?
Yes. We'd all like to think they don't but they do.

50. Could you ever forgive a cheater?
No. Every situation is different but I'm going with no for now.

51. Is your phone bill sky high?
Definitely not. I use it so seldom it feels neglected

52. Do you like your life right now?
I like where my life is heading, right now is sort of a waiting period. Waiting for the baby, waiting for Lethbridge, waiting to be finished with work.

53. Do you sleep with the TV on?
No, I am not one of those people who turn on a movie and then fall asleep. I think I could count on one hand the number of times I've fallen asleep in front of the tv.

54. Can you handle the truth?
Yes, it's better to know

55. Do you have good vision?
I've always had good vision but pregnancy has decreased it a little, I'm hoping its temporary

56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people?
I probably should admit it but absolutely. There are some work people that I'll be very happy not to deal with anymore once I start mat leave

57. How often do you talk on the phone?
I dislike talking on the phone and often screen calls. I don't like the uncertainty of what the person will say and how cornered you feel. The exception is my Mom, we have really long conversations and I love them.

58. The last person you held hands with?
That seems pretty obvious

59. What are you wearing?
Jeans, a button up shirt and a sweater, love casual Friday's.

60.What is your favorite animal?
Really big cats, Lions, Tigers, Leopards… I'd love a pet one if it wouldn't eat me.

61. Where was your Facebook picture taken at?
Middle Name Pride Day a couple years ago at the Rosehill house. That's why I'm wearing a "Hello my Name is" sticker, it says Michelle.

62. Can you hula-hoop?
Probably not, I used to be able to but I'm not sure that's a talent you keep without practice

63. Do you have a job?
I do but only for 3ish more months

64. What was the most recent thing you bought?
Dinner last night. I was busy preparing or the baby shower so we ordered Chinese food and it was delicious

65. Have you ever crawled through a window?
I don't believe I ever have… I put a mattress though a window once. It wouldn’t fit down the stairs so I used the window instead.

66. Is your hair up?
Not very often, I don't like it up, although these days if it buys me 10 more minutes in bed it's worth it.

67.Is your phone right beside you?
My desk phone is right beside me, my cell phone is in my purse in the drawer to my right

68.Do you have a gf/bf?
No but I have a husband

69.Do you wish you were somewhere else?
Do I ever. I'd take a lovely warm vacation or just the morning home in bed, they both sound more appealing than being here.

Stay tuned for real posts next week, sorry it's been so long.
L