Winner Winner Winner!

yes.

it's true.

I won.

I know.

I can't believe it either!

BLING

Eat your heart out, Paris!

(Bead ring made by pumpkin,

Groovy Girls tattoo found in the bottom of the junk drawer)

"Dear John"

This is post 101 for me here in my little world O' Blog...

Why no fanfare for my 100th post?

Simply....

I'm a bit deflated.

Not because I don't love blogging or reading others blogs

I do!

mean hundreds of hours absorbing and sharing ideas have not been wasted!

no...

it's gotten me off my tush, out of my rutt and into a newer and better me for the most part.

but I've been feeling that I'm not so sure what this road I'm on is for...

I mean, what kind of blog do I have?

Is it crafty?

no. not enough anyway.

Is it a way to reach my family that lives miles away?

not really. I don't post pics of my kids or share the innermost workings of my family.

I guess this is the space where I share my thoughts.

The thoughts for me.

What I love, hate and need.

This blog originally started as a bit of therapy.

To help me overcome my dad's death.

And most of the time it is.

But lately, it just reminds me that he's not here and I'm not celebrating his life in print.

I'm avoiding his death and the feelings that hurt.

so no more.

Every Monday I will write my father a letter.

A "Dear John" letter

--apt since his name was John.

And trust me, they may be sad.

I still cry alot.

but there are happy things I'd like to share too.

And I will.

Thanks for listening....

Let me preface this post by saying I love my mother.
I am devoted to her more now than I ever have been

and couldn't imagine my life without her.

She and my father worked hard to teach us (my bro and I ) the value of money

and never to waste.

Anything.

That being said,

I've always thought of my mom as a bit of a pack rat.

She's always had trouble parting with things,

letting go,

or throwing out.

In a lot of ways she's right.

You may have a use for it in the future.

or

you just like it.

What proof?

Why do I stereotype my own mother?

Well...

it could be because up until they moved 6 years ago

she had every Christmas issue of

Chatelaine and Canadian Living

printed since 1979!

Canadian Living Holiday Edition circa 1978

Which I actually now wish I could get my hands on them!

I digress....

I have a similar problem.

And this is my confession.

My weakness is none other than strawberries.

Yes I am perfectly aware that they sell them in the grocery store year round

however I can't bring myself to pay a high price for fruit picked before it ripens

and has more air miles than I do!

This problem is inherited

Because, as I mentioned the move 6 years ago--

while clearing out their freezer to move across international waters,

I inherited my mother's strawberries...

dated 1998!

But Hey mom--no one can call you cheap!

Those freezer bags must have cost a pretty penny when I finally got around to eating them in 2004,

they tasted just like the day you froze them!

Proof of my own obsession?

Here in my freezer lay my very last bag of frozen sliced strawberries

packaged 1 year and 4 months ago.

Sitting on a bed of stewing beef

and nestled cozily in between english muffins and shredded zuchini.

It sits in limbo.Waiting to be used.

I have a lovely recipe I'd like to use them in.

mmmm....

yummy.

but alas,

if I use them,

they will be gone.

This is inevitable and I struggle.

They'll be gone.

and it's winter soon.

I won't be able to restash my freezer for another 9 months!!

I have trouble parting with the last bag every year.

To the point that we've eaten all the one's from this year

and I was saving this bag from last year as my back up.

I've been frivolous with my strawberries and

now I'm down to the back up bag.

What's a girl to do?

Am I the only one that hoards and agonizes over things?

Strawberries oh so sweet,

How much longer...

shall I wait to eat?!

mirror, mirror on the wall....

Mirror Ball Dot by Michael Miller in Lime Sheen

Purchased from Contemporary Fibres

Mirror Ball Dot by Michael Miller in Gold Sheen

Purchased from Ivy & Mae


Mirror Ball Dot by Michael Miller in Clay & Mango

and Sage

both purchased from Sewing Supplies by LoraLee



Mirror, mirror on the wall...



who's the brokest of them all....



Me!





p.s. I think I practically cleared Etsy out of Mirror Ball fabric but I left a little for you

--better run--it's on sale!

Festive Fall Decor

Welcome to my home!

I'm getting into the fall decor a little late as here in Canada

we're already in the -minus temps.

and it's popping up Christmas everywhere

However,

We had a Dinner Party at our home and a fall theme it was!

Our porch and entry way were full of pumpkins and gourds...

Hubby did this display all by himself!

Isn't he a regular Martha Stewart?!

The centrepieces were a trio of filled antique canning jars...
The large ones were 1/2 gallon size.

I filled them with chunky pot pourri,
dried apple slices and
some faux berry twigs from the dollar store.

All on a bed of coffee beans.
I love to use coffee beans in decorating
and they fit the theme perfectly!
We wrapped the cutlery in a napkin and then tied them with twine.

So cute!

I had been racking my brain on that one and my very creative cousin came to the rescue with that idea that she had seen in a magazine.

Our place cards were mini pumpkins (gourds) with a small slice cut in them off to one side.
We slipped in some handprinted name cards and

VOILA!

My friend MO made the cards
and made short work of helping me set up!

She is a fabulous friend and I couldn't have done it without her!

Tanya had a great snack idea
of mixing candy corn and peanuts
on her blog the other day so I filled some bowls for the tables.

YUMMY!
What a success!

God has inspired me with these fabulous colours

Now to find fabric that does them justice

Give your kids "crepe"

OOOH!

It's been a long week and it's only Wednesday!

I've been barking orders,

breaking up fights

snapping at the drop of a loaded spoon of yogurt

and just...well...

It's been crappy.

So instead of giving your family--well--

um... a poor attitude...

try giving them "crepe" instead!

Start with your regular old Aunt Jemima Pancake mix and water it down so it offers a skinny pancake type.

You may need to experiment to get the right consistency...

however I use enough to just cover the bottom of my large skillet.

You want these babies plate sized.

To one side spoon on a generous helping of sliced strawberries or fruit of your choice.

Mine were frozen and then thawed so they were extra juicy.

Dollop on some Cool Whip over the strawberries.

If it's been a particularly hairy week then adjust your serving size to suit.

As you can see it's been a bad week for me so I'm taking my comfort in Cool Whip.


Now gently roll up and place seam side down on the plate.


Trickle or smother
(totally up to you as to how much comfort you're needing)

in Hershey's Chocolate Syrup

Hershey's really is the best but i totally understand if you have to cheap out :)
Add a layer of maple syrup and dig in!

Not only is it comfort food but your family thinks you're a star for making such a fun and yummy supper.

And who can't take comfort in that!

Go on and give your kids "crepe"!
They'll thank you for it :)