Canadian Air Force Mess Dinner

Rome, NY
April 2011

Niagara Falls in the winter...

Toronto through the windshield

Toronto/CN Tower at Night

at Niagara Falls, ON.

you can just barely see the falls through the ice...

mmmm....chocolate!

I made this homemade chocolate out of leftover halloween mini chocolate bars that I had in the freezer. It turned out fantastic. I used 2 different sized ice cube trays for the molds! I am bringing them to a card making workshop tomorrow at the CFMRC.

I think I will make more for a party I am hosting on Tuesday....
definitely a good way to upcycle your leftover chocolate!

trip to NYC in Nov 2010

Goodbye 2010. Hello 2011.

Christmas 2010 is over. It was a wonderful celebration with our two huge families and lots of friends. I am happy this year is ending, it has been a very difficult and sad year with some amazingly wonderful bits thrown in randomly throughout the year. The good was very very good and the bad was very very bad- there did not seem to be any in between. I am hoping 2011 will bring us much health and happiness.

plans for 2011:

• give up eating meat and dairy and soft drinks 100%
• get fit and healthy
• try acupuncture
  
• have a baby
  
• start selling my artwork for $$$
  
• travel to Cape Cod & possibly British Columbia this summer
• try my hair dark for a change & continue to grow it long
  
• drink lots of tea
• plan our next cruise (for Jan 2012)
• plan a Space A trip to Guam to visit Savvy and her new husband either this year or next
• live in the moment, enjoy each day as it comes!
  

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!!

happy birthday to me!

I made cherry cake pops for my 39th birthday party! they are pretty and so yummy!

miscalculation...

I thought I was in my 13th week as of yesterday but just re-did the math and I am only 12 weeks :(
I am super anxious of Friday- our trip to Syracuse to the hospital to get some genetic screening & counselling. I am looking forward to our second ultrasound and to find out everything is ok with the baby. we have finally decided on boy and girl names. Which I believe we are not planning to share, not sure yet.
I ordered a fetal doppler to hear my baby's heartbeating! It should come in Wednesday and then I can post a video of it.

I am hoping to go to NYC in Nov @ 5 months pregnant. Still waiting for confirmation as it is a group trip. Bruce won't be able to go as he has to work.

I started a new craft/hobby. I am super excited about the rest of my stuff coming in the mail. It *almost* makes me want to start a new blog cause then I can talk about everything without censoring. But as this is my 5th blog or something crazy like that I am trying to stick with this one. I just don't write nearly as much as I used to. I used to write EVERYTHING, all the time. It was very much a journal of my life and thoughts.
I think I want to buy this ring =) I had to take off my wedding rings as my fingers are swelling from the pregnancy and I am having a really hard time taking them off. I thought this ring my be a great fill-in but I am not sure what size to get.

My happy moment of the day: snuggling with Ben. I <3 Benjamin.

all roads lead to Rome...

MODERN reusable cloth diapers

They are super cute, environmentally friendly, more economical and easy to use. There are many types (as I have been learning doing all kinds of research). There are multi layer systems, pre-folds, all in one, one size (adjustables), some that need a waterproof outer layer. You can buy flushable liners to make clean up easier. some you soak in a pail, others you put into a waterproof laundry bag. I plan to buy a few different kinds and see which I like best. The great thing is that you can reuse them with more than one child so when we have our second (or third, hahaha) we won't have to buy diapers at all. Or if for some reason we decided not to have a second we can share them with friends or family with newborns. NO diaper genie for us.

for swimming!

stressed? sick?

check this out
wonderful for people and pets.
safe. no side effects.
their rescue sleep remedy is wonderful.

I also recommend:

• probiotics (for adults and kids! for immune system support & digestive issues)
  
• vitamin D (for adults & kids for stronger immune system)
  
• lavender oil (topical first aid but has a thousand other uses... headaches, nausea, acne, burns..)
  
• oil of oregano (for cold and flu, a natural antibiotic, anti-viral, anti-funal...etc safe for kids)
  
• magnesium supplements (most of you need more and you have no idea! good for PMS & mood)
• omega 3 supplements for healthy skin, healthy brain, better focus and memory, better moods, better health.
  

these are absolute MUST HAVES for any first aid kit or home.
I haven't really been sick with a cold and flu for 3 years. When I get something I can fight it off within 24 hrs. Pay attention to the warning signals your body gives you that your immune system is weak and you are coming down with something... then FIGHT IT. boost your immune system.

If you want an amazing book check this one out...

just my non-professional advice for staying healthy all year round =)

*love*

due date: April 16th, 2011
Heartbeat on first ultrasound: 147
length: 1.12 cm

new furniture coming Thursday....

sectional can be rearranged or split up...
plus the ottoman that matches the pillows on the couch!

table and 6 chairs
counter height
marble top

Florida! South Beach & Hollywood Beach

swanky South Beach

my near-drowning experience..Bruce laughed at me as I was in one foot of water but the waves kept pulling me under and I couldn't catch my breath.... and my bathing suit ended up almost falling off and there I was almost naked.... awesome.

not quite the white powdery sandy beaches of the carribean

but nice warm turquoise waters...

Hollywood Beach
Bruce swimming =)
lots of seaweed in the water!
and very rough water.

Hollywood Beach boardwalk...it goes on forever.

South Beach

downtown Miami

When we arrived back in Miami we went downtown and picked up our rental car and drove along the coast, starting in South Beach. It was busy being a Saturday and we decided to keep driving. We drove past Miami Beach and stopped at Hollywood Beach for a swim and a tiny bit of shopping =)

Carnival Liberty ship pictures....

casino bar

we are newlyweds ;)

Emile's buffet
we ate here a lot
nice ocean views, casual, yummy food!

more of the BLUE team trying to win points

steam room- with an ocean view!

hot tub

pink ceiling in the victoria lounge

Bruce on our balcony

kiss!

congo line!
late night deck party

scavenger hunt pic
they were on our team!

pretty ceilings on the ship

ocean salt from the ship's railings
the decks are made of teak

blue team contest

love the staircase

our scavenger hunt team
we won!!!!

best drinks EVER.

the Lido deck

GO blue team!
It was like a cruise ship frosh week =)

we had to learn crazy line dances!

our bathroom

deck party.
BLUE...there it is! I think I lost my voice that night from all the yelling.
way way too much fun.
We were on the blue team all week (the ship was split into 3 teams)
We didn't win :(

glass elevators from the main lobby.

the party is just getting started...

drinking a bottle of wine before noon the day our grand turk port was cancelled.

We had a ton of fun on board the ship. Karaokee. Deck parties. Mardi Gras. R-Rated late night scavenger hunt. drinking. dancing. being silly. watching movies under the stars. vegas type shows. shopping. casino. dining. swimming. hot tubbing. spa. sauna. steam room. seminars. It was all very organized and so many activites going on all the time. you will never say "I'm bored" regardless of your age. The customer service was phenomenal. Every staff member was *always* cheerful no matter what.

Our stateroom was 1057. Deck 10. Pananarama.