Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving my Canadian friends.  The whirlwind of a weekend is coming to a close and as I reflect back on it, I am overwhelmed by happiness and thankfulness. On Saturday evening as  I looked out of my kitchen towards my living room my eyes were greeted by a happy crowd of people I truly love and treasure.  My parents, my in-laws, my grandmother, aunt, uncle, cousin, sister in-law, my nephew and family friends. (I deeply miss my sister and her family at events like these but they are always in my heart and on my mind.) The faces where joyful and the chatter was LOUD.  As the evening unfolded we had many laughs, mostly as people across generations tried Miss. H's newly purchased hoverboard, we caught up on our busy lives and celebrated being together.

 

As our guests arrived one by one, the girls would rush to the door to greet them and asked them to express what they were thankful for.  I also had the girls participate in this little activity.

 

 

 

 

As I reflect on what I am thankful for this year, the list is endless.  Here are my top five:

 

1. My girls and husband.  They are my world, the reason I strive to the best version of myself.  Sure there are times  I feel like I need a timeout, or I am not doing enough, but they are always there to lift me up.  Just yesterday we were talking about watching the movie Bad Moms, and miss H. says, "why do you want to watch a movie like that?  You aren't a bad mom."   Melted my heart.  And my hubby, well I am so thankful to have a person who know me so well that he can look at me when I am feeling wound up and just say, "Bo, I think you should go for a run."  He always believes in me and makes me feel strong when I feel unsure.  He is jam to my peanut butter. :)

2.  Family.  My family is always there for me; through good and bad, happy and sad, exciting and disappointing.  Regardless of my decisions, they always have my back and I wouldn't have been able to accomplished the things I have  without them.  I am internally grateful to my parents who gave up so much when they fled our war torn country.  They fought so hard  to pave a path of opportunities for education, health, happiness, and success, for my sister and I.

 

 

3. Friends.   Sometimes you have an opportunity to meet people and connect with them on such a deep level that they become part of our family. I have many beautiful friends but Amber and Ashley have there for me for years and years.  They have become part of the community that helps me raise my family and are always in my corner.  My Bosnian heritage taught me that it's important to have a community/village to help you raise your family.

 

4.  Health.  Having a body that lets me live life to the fullest and to embrace opportunities that arise.  I love being active and I am grateful for a body that allows me to lead that healthy lifestyle with my family, such as getting outdoors regardless of the season or Saskatchewan weather.  As I look at my two grandma's I am regularly reminded that our time on the Earth is short and that we need to seize every chance we have to be happy. 

 

 

 

 

5.  My home.  I actually tried to find out how many people across the world own their own homes.  I found various answers but north America seems to have the greatest number of home owners.  I love having a big house (I think it's big and since I am the one cleaning it, that's all that matters), a backyard, and a nice community.  All that being said, I always keep it all in perspective and know how lucky we actually are.  Most of the people around the world share their homesteads with  their parents, or in-laws, or they rent apartments.  I am not the kind of person that needs all the newest and shiniest gadgets, and I want to pass that on to my children.  I am constantly talking to them about how fortunate they are but also that they themselves might not be able to  have a "house" and a "backyard" when they first set get started on their own.  The prices of homes have drastically increased and there is a good chance that they may need to start off smaller or even raise their families in smaller dwellings.  My wish for them is avoid giving into the pressure, of keeping up with the "Joneses", but instead to be thankful for the things that they do have and be grateful for that.

 

Other: My job. My colleagues.  Education for my children.  Fresh and clean water.  Transportation.  Free health care.  Beautiful parks and nature at my fingertips.  Various community events.  Libraries.  My puppy. The list keeps going.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!



Betty Rubble Style (Cheetah Print)

Welcome to Bedrock!   I am Betty Rubble.   (if you are unfamiliar with that it's from the Flintstones)  On Wednesday I wore this little cheetah  number to work and had many compliments but leave it to a man to say,

 

"Bo, it's not Halloween.  Why are you dressed like Betty Rubble?!?" 

 

Yes.  I guess I kind of do look like her but I am okay with that.  LOL.  In fact, I think this might be my Halloween costume for this year, throw my hair up in a ponytail, throw a bone into the mix, and call it a day. 

This dress is fabulous for so many reason.  First off, it's an awesome print.  Second, and more importantly, it's the comfort of the dress that really sells me on it and keeps me grabbing if off of the hanger.  It has a tiny bit of stretch in it  so that you can get in and out of it with ease, and though it's fitted through top half, it flows out at the waist.  The length is perfect for wearing to a business-casual office or into a classroom. This dress is comfort disguised as work attire. 

 

 

I love gold accessories with the cheetah print, like this statement necklace I snatched up at a garage sale last summer.  I also decided to pull out my amber bracelet that I received from Europe as a gift some years ago and play with different shades of brown. 

The day I wore this outfit just happens to be the same day that winter arrived here in Saskatchewan.  I dug out my spicy mustard sweater  to keep me cozy and warm. 

 

I plan to ware this same outfit again this weekend for Thanksgiving (Canadian Thanksgiving).  Happy weekend everyone!

DIY: Thanksgiving Candle Holder

 

On Saturday evening I was down to only one child (insert: gasp, clap hands, happy dance).   The "littlest me" was off on an sleepover adventure with her aunty and baby cousin and "pre-teen me" had a friend over.  Initially I thought H. and her friend would want to help me out but they had other plans, which was just as well.  How often does a mother of two get time just to do her own thing on a Saturday night???  NEVER! 

 

I decided to forge ahead with the project that I had seen on Pinterest.  I will be hosting 16 people for Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday evening and I want to do a couple of things to spruce up the space without breaking the bank.  These candle/vases were easy-peasy (kindergarten teacher talk)  to make.

 

Materials:

-mason jars (I bought a pack of three but also switched things up and used the ones I had)

-fake leaves

-glue (I used Tacky Glue)

-mod podge & brush

-twine

 

 

Procedure:

1.  Glue leaves onto the mason jar.  I overlapped mine, it looks better if you overlap quite a bit.  Initially it was tricky to get them to stick to the jar but  once I placed a layer of mod podge over top it was much better. 

2.  Right after you've glued the leaves down use mod podge to seal the leaves to the mason jar.  I found it easiest to turn the jar upside down, with my one hand inside of it, and then to apply the mod podge with a paintbrush.  I was generous with the mod podge and made sure I covered every bit of surface.  It will appear white, like white glue, but it will dry completely clear.  I also repeated this step once more the next day after it had a chance to dry. 

 

3.  Let the mod podge dry overnight.  I simply then used the twine and the Happy Thanksgiving tags I created to place around the rim of the jar. 

 

4.  I used small mirrors and the craft leaves to create a center piece for our dinner table.  The candle light, along with the fall shades  of the  leaves,  created a stunning reflection in the mirror.  My plan for Saturday evening is to have one long mirror with the mason jars serving as candle holders in the middle of our table and two decorated mason jars filled with fresh flowers.  I will update the photos once Saturday actually rolls around.  Until then I have used the jars to add some seasonal décor to our regular cabinet display. 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving Canadian friends!

Mustard Yellow Pants Four Ways

 

I don't know about you but when the weather starts to grow colder and the days get shorter, I gravitate towards dark colors such as gray, black, white & black, brown, burgundy, etc.  Here in Saskatchewan the cold days come faster and stronger than most other places and I have to make two conscious decisions:

#1 To keep moving/exercising even though it's dark when I get up

#2 To keep color in my wardrobe

 

Today I am going to share how I am wearing these bright, mustard yellow pants that I recently purchased at Banana Republic.  I love the color but I am not crazy about how tight they are.  The girl at the store assured me that these would stretch a full size and not to go with the size larger but that hasn't happened and I often feel self conscious in them.  I just might go back this week to see if they still have some and pick them up in a larger size, because you know winter weight is coming my way and I'd like to been comfortable in them. 

 

#1 Cozy Style:  This is my favorite outfit because it's totally mommy/playground functional, as well as work appropriate without the puffer vest.  I've had this vest for probably close to 10 years now.  I LOVE it in the fall while the evenings are still warm enough to layer it over a long sleeved shirt.  Give me a cup of coffee and off we go to the park!

#2 Work Attire:  Business casual is the way to go around the office most days.  A simple white tea with a navy blazer was a perfect balance to these bring pants in the office.  To add just a little more spunk to the outfit, I pulled out my leopard print booties; it's been way too long!

#3 Polka dots and riding boots.  This was the first way I styled the pants while out doing errands in the city in early September.  Looking back, it just might be a bit too much color for me. 

 

#4 Simply Everyday:  I would wear this for work, errands, coffee with friends or going to the park with the kids.  What makes this outfit is the beautiful beading on the sweater and the simple, neutral flats.  This sweater is an oldie but a goodie.  The day I wore it I just wasn't feel my best self and I needed something a little less fitted was the way to go. 

 

Shop this post: 

Mustard Yellow Pants (Similar- PrettyLittleThing)

Puffer Vest (Similar- Michael Kors )

Leopard Print Booties (Similar- ModCloth)

 

Any suggestions of what else I can pair with these bright, bold pants?

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Girls Weekend: To Be 20 Again

FUN!  LUAGHS!  BEAUTY!  #IFEEL20AGAIN. 

 

That pretty much sums up our girls weekend getaway.  There was five of us girls that drove up to Waskesiu Lake for the Outter Limits Fun Run.  The ladies I went with are all incredible women and some I've known for a long time, since University, and other friendships  have been formed thoughout my years of teaching.  We are all intelligent, confident, strong women that  are at various points in our lives.  The beauty of having such a diverse group is that we can all learn from each other and grow with each other.

 

I don't get to do girls weekends often, or EVER, but I am finally at a point where I can leave the girls and feel good about it and finicially we can offered that kind of get away.  Our time together was short but sweet.  We drove up for the run on Saturday morning before the run, so we were up early, and were home by mid-afternoon on Sunday.   Running through the bush trail, surrounded by the fall color palette is breathtaking.  Honestly it moves me like nothing else.  With every step, hill, turn, it seemed to get more and more beautiful.  Being a fun run, there was no timer and no pressure for a personal best.  I ran and ran and ran.  Every step filled my soul more than the previous.  I ran because I loved it.  I ran because I wanted to.  I ran because I felt passionate about it.  My love for running has returned.  (Sidenote: Since my half marathon race, I have had a hard time running just for the pure enjoyment and so this was an amazing  feeling). 

This was my trail.  Breathtaking. 

We ended up staying in a two bedroom cabin and boy did we laugh.  The kind of laughs that make you keel over, hold your pee and laugh with your whole body.  We sang all the best songs (Red, Red Wine, Bye, Bye, Bye, etc.) and we drank some red, red, wine.  There was a dance and we stayed out on the dance floor until the very last melody had it's turn; Lindsay and I were out there as if we were still 20 and had not a single worry in the world.  It was an absolute blast! 

 

Lindsay and I have been friends since the first day of University, when I tried to cheat off of her in our English class.  :) 

Shot, shot, shot.

 



We also took in the nature and marvelled at the fall colors that surrounded us.  We hiked 9km the following morning through the trails and held on to the peacefulness that only being in nature can provide you with.  I love being out in nature.  I also love watching the waves beat against the shoreline and the sun rays reach  the water making it sparkle and shine.  As we drove away from our weekend, we all took in the beauty surrounding us and we were all thankful to have created new friendships and strengthen old ones.  We vowed to return next year and make this an annual event. 

For me, I was ready to come home.  To see my girls.  To take on the business that is my life, but with a  fresh and renewed sense of self.  I wish these girls weekends happened more frequently but I am also thankful that I have a chance to have them at all.

 

Happy hump day all!



A Refreshed New Look

Ahhhh.  I just wrapped up my first big professional development presentation of the year and I am exhausted.  I am enjoyed the 20 minutes of piece and quite in my house while my husband is out with the girls.  Though I feel tired, I also find the whole process exhilarating and meeting all the new K-Gr. 3 teachers that I will be working with this year is the best part.  The team I work with is funny, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and invigorating. 

With the start of a new year comes a fresh new look so I treated my self to a new hair color/highlight combo.  You know when you are a mom and this is just the most pampering you get so you are excited for days?!?  Well I was and then........My color was awful!!!!  :(  I wanted to cry.  I came home and my 9 year old asked why I had "gray" hair pieces.  (not the best time to hear this honesty) What do you do in these situations?  I usually just want to pay again and have it fixed by someone else but being as we are really watching our spending at the moment, I texted the lady who did it and I was just honest with her that this was not at all what I had hoped for.  She was WONDERFUL and had me come in the next day, she put a toner on it and though it's not what I indented, I feel that I can live with it and feel good about it. 

Old hair color. Bye, bye, summer.

Strange, ash color that I didn't like.
 

                                             

New Fall Color!

 

What do you do to spruce up your look or to pamper yourself?

DIY: Musical Wall

This is such an easy DIY project friends. If I can do it, anyone can.  I am not usually that crafty but as I am getting older I am becoming willing to step out of my comfort zone more often.   This spring I was looking for some new pictures for PWIM (Picture Word Inductive Model that our school division uses for language arts and a beginning place for inquiry in K-Gr.3) I came across an outdoor symphony photograph, that we got permission to use for educational purposes, and  I loved that these children are exploring music in an non-traditional classroom and in a non-traditional way (a mix of real and created instruments).  Right away I knew I wanted to bring that idea of music, the outdoors and non-traditional instruments to our youngest learners to explore and hopefully be inspired to learn and create new ways of creating music.   

Materials:

 

-palette                                          -xylophone                                                   -cheese grater

-screws                                          -wooden spoons                                           -egg beater

-nails                                             -plastic container                                           -metal bowl

-hammer                                       -cheese grater                                                -metal colander

-power drill                                   -pot                                                               -soup cans   

-utility hooks     

-twine                         

 -an item that I found at Value Village but don't know what it is, but it makes a great sound!

 

 ****Anything you can find that would make a unique sound is a good buy.  I was really hoping to find a wooden wind chime but no luck.

The set-up, assembly and clean-up took maybe an hour, so you don't need a lot of time.  

 

First step:   I took off the xylophone pieces from the instrument and string them on twine.  Be sure to think about the length of the twine so that they all hang at the same length once you place them on the palette.  I used nails to hang the xylophone pieces off of.  

Second step: I lined everything up on the palette to see what arrangement would work best.  I had to rearrange it a few times.

Third step:  Start working!  I used a power drill for the very first time in my life and it made me feel STRONG, EMPOWERED, and HANDY.  

 

Fourth step:  Clean up.

 

Fifth step:  HAVE FUN!!!!  My girls were thrilled with the wall and they created musical patterns, concerts, incorporated dance, etc.  Let's just say it's a new favorite toy and who cares that it makes a ton of noise, it's outside.

This musical wall I am taking to work to give away as a prize for new teachers but I have promised the girls that we can go shopping and purchase new items so that we can make another one to keep in our backyard.  Total cost was approximately $40. If you are a teacher you could easily give parents a list of possible items that you might need and I  bet everyone would be happy to bring at least one item.    I am actually considering making one for our nephew as a birthday present, something different and unconventional.