[cool products: Things I'm Loving. Now.]

** this was written on Thursday, January 20 2012 ... and as a little update, after last night's worship practice and the kids tucked into bed, I watched "The Biggest Loser" and circuit trained with the stationary bike, free weights, floor-ab exercises and jumping jacks.  Felt MUCH better after some sweat.   But, my sugar addiction is calling me ... **

A few things to start off ... 

I am, once again, addicted to sugar.  I actually had a mind-blowing headache this morning, and popped (literally) 8 halloween-sized chocolate bars in my mouth.  One after the other.  And now my headache is gone.

How sick is that??

The cold weather isn't helping (it's -6Cdegrees here).  It makes me want to eat carbs and do nothing.  Well ... nothing, in a form of exercise.  So annoying since I was just starting to get back into running last week.

Why is it such a battle?  Some days I have such control ... only to lose it, along with all dignity, the next day.  One moment I feel wise, the next ... a fool.

Ah yes ... life.  Just keepin' it real here ... and I'm going to start again.  Right now ... and I'm going to brave the sugar-headache.  I think.

ANYway ... onto what I really wanted to write about ... 

FUN things *grin*.

Now ... I'm far from a beauty, far from a style-diva.  But there are things that I've found as of late that I'm really loving and thought maybe, just maybe, you'd like 'em too.

Skin Tint FX:  This is a mineral-based makeup that has literally change my perspective on makeup.  See ... I've been using a moisturizing SPF tint for years now ... and within a couple of hours, I was shiny and icky.  I was told about this product from the girl at Shoppers Drug Mart and WOW.  I bought it just before the Christmas Production and was AMAZED at how I never had to retouch ... even between shows.  My make stays, matte, all.day.long.  And it's SPF 30.  TRUE.  (Mine is in colour "E" ... light.)

Conceal FX:  Why.  Of course, the perfect match to my new skin-tint-mineral-makeup.  And seriously.  This stuff actually CHANGES colour to match your own.  No lie.  I'm amazed every time I put it on ...

L'Oreal Infallible Lipgloss:  This winter I had a "look" *blush*.  I know, it sounds silly.  But I loved the ruby-red lips and gold-glitter eyes for the Christmas season.  This lipgloss is fantastic.  It doesn't move.  Not even after singing for 2 hours in the Christmas production *grin*.  It can feel "sticky" and isn't really a moisturizing balm, but hey - it stays.  I like #315 in "Rebel Red".

TippyThai Handmade Bags:  I found this shop on Etsy and ordered this amazing bag!!  I love it, love it, love it.  It's made out of "wipeabe" material, it's grey and red ... lots of zippers.  Oh, it's so great.  It was lovely to toss out my ripped-fake-leather-icky-bag.

Slumdog Millionaire:  Ok.  I just might be the only person in the world that hadn't seen this movie, but last Saturday night my hubby and I put on NetFlix and watched this incredible film in amazement.  Wow.  If you haven't seen it - it's disturbing and wonderful all at the same time.  I really enjoyed it ...

Ok.

That's it for now ... and if you haven't already - head over to my RedHanded Photography blog HERE for a chance to WIN a coveted cowl scarf by the amazing Nicole Roberts Designs.

The winner will be announced on Wednesday, February 1 2012.  Thanks for entering, and be sure to follow the contest RULES to be eligible to WIN!

Have a great one!!

[redhandedphotography: Who Wants to Win?]

CONTEST.  CONTEST.  CONTEST.

Ok friends ... I have something VERY cool brewing over at my RedHanded Photography Blog.  A contest with a cool prize, no matter WHERE you live *grin*.

Interested??  Oh, I hope you are!!  It's taken a whack-load of time to get it up and running ...

So, here's the link:  Redhanded Photography Blog: contest: Who Wants to Win?

Follow the directions, and YOU could win!!

Have a great one!

[talk: My 2012 "Word".]

For the last few years, I've asked the Lord for a "word" for the year.  One word ... a word that would keep me focused on His plan for my life.  Two years ago, it was "perspective".  And I can tell you truthfully that it was a powerful year for me in growth.  Last year, it was "intention".  I believe many things happened in my marriage, in my friendships, and in my role as a mother because of this word.  I found myself asking, "why am I doing this?  what's my motive?" so many times.  It was good ... Some days I was proud of myself and some days ... well.  I failed *smile*.  Glad He picks me up over and over again.

This year?  Well ... it's a strange thing.  Why?  Because I actually told a friend a couple of months ago what my "word" was.  And now?  I'm not sure if it's the same one *blush*.  Oh brother.  But this word that I've chosen now has been confirmed to me over and over and over as of late.

It is:  "generous".

We all know that having a generous heart is not really a money-thing.  It's not even a tangible gift-giving thing.  Having a generous spirit, to me, is seeing a need and meeting it with the resources that I have.  Whether it be financial, relational or hospitable ... whether through prayer, time or effort.

Generous.

I find myself, as I do every year, challenged in more ways than one by my "word".  I'm a saver ... so giving money away when I would, perhaps, rather see it go elsewhere ... it's a challenge.   And being generous, to me, doesn't mean that it's easy ... for example, my hubby and I really like to host.  We like to be generous with those in our home ... but what about being generous to those outside of our circle.  What is God calling us, calling me, to do?  What does being generous really mean?

I think about my day-to-day.  My time is sacred ... I'm organized and have things set to the minute.  What about being generous with my time ... even if it's not convenient?

Oh, I'm thinking it's going to be a year of stretching for me, if I allow Him to do what He's planning.  But I believe that it's going to be a great year too.  I have many dreams of being better at who I am, of increasing the depths of wonderful relationships, of setting goals and meeting them with His help.  I want to stretch myself ... be wiser, healthier, friendlier.  I want to look at myself this time next year and see growth.  See change ... see fruit.

Last night I was reading the Word and this verse leapt off the page, without any plan on my part.  Again, it was such a confirmation to me:  

1John 3:17 ... "... if anyone has material possessions and sees a 

brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, 

how can the love of God be in that person?  Dear Children, 

let us not love with words or speech, 

but with actions and in truth."

Being generous.

And I guess now that you've read this, being accountable too *smile*.

Have a great one.

[vacations: Sun Peaks 2012.]

It's an annual thing ... 

Every year we head up to Sun Peaks, just outside of Kamloops BC, with my folks.  It's been a little family tradition for many years - back when my nieces were able to miss a few days of school, and long before we had our own kids.

But now, it's our turn to enjoy the slopes with our little family and it truly, truly is one of the highlights of our year.  After a very busy Christmas and New Years (we have 4 family birthdays in 7 days from the 25th to the 1st!) ... we look forward to some "forced" quiet time.

Mattias has been skiing for ... two years?  I think?  Last year both boys were in ski schools and such ... so we weren't sure what to expect for this year - but they were both really excited.

Our first day was on the Bunny Hill, "Gentle Giant".  Tias zoomed down after a couple of goes, and weaved onto the off-trails just a bit (as much as you can on a bunny hill *grin*.  Siah?  Cried.  Hated it. 

GONG SHOW.

For day two, we decided to get Siah a 1hour lesson with Teresa.  She was his ski-school teacher last year, and he was SO excited to see her again.

Honestly ... it was amazing what one hour with her did for him.

So while Siah had his lesson - Lu, Tias and I followed along.  Tias would race down, catch the t-bar up, and catch up to wherever we were on the Bunny Hill.

By the end ... they were exhausted.

And SO proud of themselves.

I was in charge of all of the meals and our evenings were spent in the hot-tub, playing games and watching movies ... 

Josiah won the "Sorry" game.  Fair and square.  He just about lost his mind, he was so happy *grin*. 

And Katia?  Well ... next year she'll be joining us on the slopes.  But right now, she isn't potty trained  - so we decided to wait one more year. 

By day three, Siah was already going on the chair lift to the TOP.  We did "Rambler", the boy's favourite green run ... over and over and over.  It was the perfect run for us ... lots of trails and small jumps for Tias (and Lu *wink*) and smooth sailing down for Josiah.

Can you see the boys in front of Lu on the hill?

This was SO funny.  Lu was showing Tias a trail, put his pole down for some grip and the pole sank down into the snow - and Lu leaned and fell over.  It was impossible to get up - and the boys and I were laughing SO hard.  And so was Lu.

Tias had two 1hr lessons as well ... best thing we could've done for both boys.  I'm a big fan of teachers who teach well.  Teresa is one of those people (and she's finished up her education degree back east ... you can sure tell).

Then, we had to say good-bye to my parents.  Tias cried (he always does).  He loves SO much.  

But, everyone was really excited for our friends the V's to come join us for a few nights.  Their three kids were awesome ... and it was like a brand-new time away.

Mattias and Owen ... Now.  Let me tell you ... this kid  can ski BLACK runs, straight down - no fear.  He's incredible.  And was such a great little friend to Tias.  It was positive peer pressure at its best, and Tias did his best to keep up.  Owen was kind enough to do blue runs with us - and then he went off with the dads to the black runs later *grin*.

I love how the dads were on one side of the lift ... tiiiiiiiiilt.

Debbie and I hung out with the girls and Josiah.  It was sunny, pretty warm and so much fun. At least for the first day of skiing with them ... the second?  Snow ... like icing sugar.

The kids (dads!) built a slide into the hottub out of snow.  I didn't try it ... no thank you.  But they loved it.

The nights were full of family time ...

And they even built a toboggan run in the back too ...

It was a fantastic way to spend the first week of 2012.  A massive "thanks" to my parents for bringing us up, once again, and for blessing our friends with a little weekend get-away too.  It was just what we needed to regroup and slow down  ... 

Can't wait for next year!!

[talk: Drowning.]

HELLO 2012!

Guess what?  It's PURGE week *grin*!!!

Oh yes, my friends ... I purge the house a lot - but after the Christmas hustle and bustle, I get itchy to get the extra stuff out.

We are blessed to have so many in our lives who's "love language" is gift giving.  Oh my goodness, the little things - the big things ... Christmas can be overwhelming with two families like ours.  Overwhelming in a truly fantastic way.

So ... January is purge month.  Out with the old, making room for the new. I will be going through closets (yes, it feels like I JUST did this ... but with growing kids, it needs to happen often); I'll be going through toy bins (eek ... broken toys, bits-of-toys, no longer-played-with-toys);  I'll be getting rid of things that we no longer need, things that will bless others, things that just take up room.

I know ... you hear this a lot from me.

But I find that as soon as I begin to feel like I'm drowning in extra-stuff, everything goes downhill for me. I start to eat more, and move less.  I start to feel down on myself.  I stop getting into the Word and feel a distance in my spiritual life.  And when I'm unhappy with myself, my home feels it.

The good thing is that I recognize it now - before I feel like I can't get up for air.  And I had a fanTAStic week with my family last week (more to post on that later) ... and now I have come home feeling behind, overwhelmed and ... drowning.

So - how am I going to beat it?

Well ... I'm going to look at the things that clutter up my home and clutter up my life and say, "you're not welcome here" and it's going feel like fresh air.

Oh. 

And I signed up for my first 10km race for next month.

*grin*

That'll help *wink* ... 

And over on my RHP site ... another "I Heart Faces" challenge.  You can check it out HERE.

Have a great one ... and happy 2012!!