Anniversary Weekend

On our long weekend, about 1 1/2 weeks ago, Stephan and I went out to Waterton Lakes Provincial Park to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. We have both wanted to go back and visit Waterton in the winter, for a long time, so we finally did it!  We spent two wonderful nights there, and walked around the trails for a little bit, and explored the town in the middle of winter.

This is one of my favourite places in the mountains to visit, and I love any time I get to spend there.

Here are some highlights from our trip! And, as always, I take too many pictures!

Sparkling wine and chocolates - which I ate and drank all on my own

KING SIZED bed.  Stephan was shocked (because I hog the bed and covers) when
he still had space on the bed.

Fireplace #1 - living room

Fireplace #2 - bedroom

We brought snacks along, and I forgot a plate to put my balsamic vinegar and oil on,
so Stephan improvised and we used the soap dish! 

Can you see the people climbing the waterfall?

Look closer!

Walking along the waterfront

Cameron Falls

Hiking through the forests - we didn't get too far without snowshoes,
as we fell into snow up to our hips!

A pretty little Gray Jay

Prince of Wales Hotel

Boat Launch and a "small" snowdrift

This is my favourite photo from the weekend - I love the mist from the lakes,
and the clouds above the mountains!

Random thoughts

I enjoy watching shows on real estate, House Hunters and House Hunters International being some of those.  I really do love shows like these, I sit and check out real estate on my free time, to keep myself up to date with the market of where I'm living (as I know I won't be in this house forever). 

But lately, there are a few things that bother me when I watch the couples on these shows.  And that is the attitude of some of the women towards their spouses and/or boyfriends, who they are purchasing a house with.

Today I was just floored with the episode I was watching.  I can't remember the entire sentence the female spouse spoke, but it was something along the lines of "When it comes to ........."something".....I always win, I always get my way".  I'm sorry, what?!!  Earth-to-woman, you are in a relationship.  Its about give and take, making concessions, working together.  Not you getting your way. GROW UP.  As the show went on, it got worse.  I missed the beginning, but the husband was clearly looking for an area to do art, or to have a studio.  I was unclear if art was his living, or a very major hobby in his life, but when he was commenting on one of the houses that had a potential area for him to work on his art in, his wife simply rolled her eyes, said "whatever" and walked away, while saying over her shoulder that the garage would work for an art studio, even though he didn't like the idea as it wasn't heated in the winter.

Now I know I don't know the full situation, and that I only get to see what clips the show chooses to show me, but WOW.  I just found that extremely disrespectful.  She is not the first wife I have watched to be self-absorbed in the house-hunt, just the latest that I have found frustrating.

I can't say that Stephan was thrilled when I invested some money in trying to sell my art, and he's not so thrilled that it hasn't worked out ..........yet (I still plan to work on it), but he has been nothing but supportive and encouraging about it, and is hoping it works out for me, despite his reservations. And I love him for it. THAT is what a relationship is about.

This woman's lack of concern over her husband's major interest was very troubling for me.  I hope, for them that this isn't how their married situation is, but simply how the show has portrayed it (which often happens).  I hope that their marriage is truly happy, and not at all one-sided like it appeared on the show.

This weekend:

Here's a little preview of where I'll be going this weekend:

via

via

This past Sunday was our 5th Anniversary, and since Stephan was away on shift, we decided to  celebrate it this weekend.  Its actually quite convenient, as its a long weekend and Monday's a holiday.  I also had no Kindergarten today and tomorrow, so we decided I would take tomorrow off, and we would spend two nights at one of my favourite places in the mountains: Waterton Lakes Provincial Park. Its very quiet there in the winter, and we have always wanted to go back and visit while the snow was falling.  I can't wait to see it, I can't wait to relax in one of the places I love most.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Organizing

This weekend, I did a little organizing around the house. I love how little things can make such a huge difference!



BEFORE

AFTER

 

 

MASTER BATHROOM

 

BEFORE:



AFTER

And this is the best I could do for this post, with blogger being glitch.  I couldn't put captions on the pics, and no matter what I tried, I couldn't get the writing off of being in the centre.  I've tried both explorer, and safari, and its the same problems on both.  But, at least I got something posted.

Either way, I love finding things that need to be organized, and then organizing them.  And I love how much more manageable the drawers are in the bathroom.
 

Blogging gitches

Is anyone else having problems with Blogger lately?? I have a post I've been trying to complete for the last two days, but every time I add a caption to a picture, it pops that picture up to the top of the post, and my pictures get all of out order.  Its making impossibly, and extremely FRUSTRATING to try to get something posted.

Not fun, Blogger, not fun.

While I was reading last night....

Look closely, do you see the problem? 

100 pages away from finishing a book I bought over a year ago, and now I can't finish it!  Grrrr! Looks like I'm stopping at chapters on my way home tonight! 

While I was getting ready this morning

My own personal body guard! 

They seem to become more attentive when Stephan is gone for work. I woke up this morning with Leo one side, and Anna in my arms on the other side. 

Dear Calgary

I know that, before I moved here, I was warned that I would hear ads on the radio talking to people about road rage.  And while that is true, there ARE ads on the radio about the road, I have discovered that they are more geared towards EXPLAINING basic (and what I think are common sense) rules of the road ..... because people here have no clue, not because they are angry drivers.  Just clueless drivers.  After all, Canada's Worst Driver did rank Calgary as the 2nd worst city in Canada to drive in. And its for a very valid reason.

But this?? What I just saw this morning?!! This is sad.

A TV commercial explaining to people that the common flu or cold is NOT an emergency, and please do not come into the emergency room at the hospital, but your local walk-in clinic, or call the help line.


................SERIOUSLY?!


That's just sad, Calgary, that's just sad.  And a little bit pathetic.  No wonder our wait times at the hospitals keep increasing, despite best efforts to drop the wait time.  A losing battle.

I'm just a little ......shocked.

I love my slow cooker!

Coming home to the smell of dinner in the slow cooker when I walk in the door is the best ever! 

Beef vegetable soup with barley 

A surprise at church

Last night, I was not feeling it. I was too tired, I didn't want to go to church. Right now, as our choir leader has taken a leave of absence for personal reasons for the last while, I am both the organist and choir leader. So that means I pick out the songs for each service. And I don't mind in the least bit! This week has just been very busy at work, I'm behind in paper work and tired. So all I wanted to do last night was stay home and go to bed. However, that's not a choice for me right now. So off to church I went, where I found this waiting for me on the keyboard:

A new journal for the year, which I use to pick out and write down songs for the choir. 

And this wonderful card from one of the priest! 

The words inside may have brought some tears to my eyes. And it couldn't have come at a better time! It most definitely brought a smile to my face, and picked me up.

Pants shopping

So I've lost more weight, about 18 pounds in total so far. Im actually just below my target weight (now its just time to tone up a bit more). Needless to say, I have one pair of jeans that fit. That's it. Time to go pant shopping! So that's what I did today. And this is what I got: 

Haha, I know! But I couldnt resist! I did find a pair of jeggings, my first ever. I've never really thought I had the body for them, I'm still not sure I do. But I thought I would try. They're tight, but the next size fits too big. I've been reassured that they stretch A LOT. So we shall see! 

A wonderful surprise

Coming home to a letter in the mail box from my Omi is perfect 

Not much beats that! 

P.S: I cant remember the last time I received a letter via snail mail! 

Calgary weather

I think it's safe to say that Calgary has a lot of snow. 

Happy New Year!

So I totally disappeared for the rest of the month.

It was just crazy.  After my last post, I got hit with a really bad sinus infection.  My doctor is the other side of the city, and so I went to a walk in clinic.  It was a huge fight to get medicine, the first doctor wouldn't give me any, saying that antibiotics wouldn't help because the infection wasn't bacterial (but that's what a sinus infection is), and that I need to open my windows and keep my bedroom at 8 degrees Celcius with a towel by my head. I went back to a different doctor the next day, as I've had enough of these to know that this one wasn't going away on its own, despite my best efforts.  I finally, FINALLY got some antibiotics, and pain killers to deal with the pain.  Yes, it was that painful.  Stephan came home from his last shift to me crying on the couch. 

So THAT is how my holidays started. 

I had the week off of work of Christmas, and Stephan was home from work for 2 weeks, so I just to an absence from blogging to spend some much needed time with him.  He's on the road so often, so just two weeks of relaxing with him (ok, I still worked the 2nd week, but it was quiet) was absolutely wonderful.

I had a wonderful Christmas, we stayed in Calgary and went over to our Calgary family on Christmas day.  And New Years was quiet, just me and Stephan.  We went out for a nice dinner, and then spent the night cuddled up on the couch.

So, Stephan has gone back to work as of yesterday, and life is back to normal. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

So sorry!!

I'm sorry for the long and unexplained absence last week!

Things just got really busy last week, as I was finalizing and preparing for report cards to be handed out on Friday, and last night (Monday) was the kids' Christmas Concert at work.

So, it has been one heck of a busy week!  And on the weekend, all I did was catch up with sleep.  I have been so lately busy, staying up late and getting up early to get things done, that I was just exhausted.  I feel asleep on Friday night at 9:30, and only woke up for Stephan to drag me to bed.  I slept 11 hours that night, and still fell asleep Saturday night before 10pm.  I guess you could say I really needed the sleep!  Needless to say, my Zumba routine has completely suffered.  But I'm hoping to get back to Zumba class on Thursday!

But I am back, and looking forward to catching up on what everyone has been up to in the past week!

I'm in Canmore!

But just for the night. Even though Stephan is only gone for 4 days/3 nights, I thought since I only got Stephan for 2 nights between shifts (and since the winter weather was good) it was decided that I would come visit him in Canmore for the night. Canmore is only about an hour or so from Calgary. It's a short visit, but it's nice to be here with him. 

Especially since he surprised me with a 6-pack of 

my favourite local Canmore beer! 

Weekend Recap!

This weekend was pretty low-key.

Stephan was still stuck out of town on shift, working 12 days instead of 8, so after work on Friday I went and finally got started on my Christmas shopping for my family back in Ontario.

Saturday I slept in, or tried to.  Usually its Leo who wakes me up howling for food in the morning, while Anna cuddles in my arms.  Not so.  This time it was Anna.  She was knocking things off the dresser, the bathroom counter, the night table.  And she wouldn't stop!!  I threw a pillow to scare her away (because if I lock her out of the room, she'll scratch the door apart), and then she made it clear for the rest of the morning that she was ticked off.  So that made 2 grumpy person/cat in the house that morning!

After I lazed around for a bit, I went back out to finish the last few presents for Ontario.  I also picked up Stephan from work, FINALLY!  And then, found out he's only getting 1 day off before leaving for work again on Monday (HORRIBLE!).  Luckily, he only has a 4 day shift and is back home Thursday.  I feel bad for him though, he's exhausted and would have liked the week off to recover.  He barely had time to get laundry done before today.

So we just relaxed before heading to bed.

Sunday I had church in the morning.  I spent the afternoon cuddled up with Stephan on the couch, napping.  And then watched the Grey Cup (Canadian football equivalent of the Superbowl) and made Chili for dinner.

This weekend, I also worked on getting a facebook page started for my artwork.

Feel free to check it out!

www.facebook.com/JessicaErinCreations

How was your weekend?!

Cold days call for...

Cold days call for a big bowl of tomato soup (or any kind of soup!!) and crackers. 

See, I knew this Christmas bowl would come in handy!!!! 

It's Cold!

We're in the middle of a really cold week.  Like -27 degrees Celsius cold!  I don't mind so much :) I really do love winter, and the cold doesn't bother me that much.  Don't think I'd be out hiking in this weather though!

I was off of work early because of an appointment, and ran a few errands in the afternoon to the butchers and then the grocery store.

I splurged on Salmon for dinner

I glazed it with maple syrup and a bit of soy sauce.

And added a Ceasar salad, and a baguette with Balsamic vinegar and oil.
Baguettes with vinegar and oil are to die for right now.  LOVE IT!

 And I finally, FINALLY got my laundry done! And the floors! (I was very productive).

Yesterday I got back into my Zumba routine. I've neglected it for the past couple of weeks getting things ready for the craft show.

Speaking of the craft show, it didn't go that great.  We had a big snow storm the morning of the show, and combine the bad weather with the location being out in the country a bit, there wasn't a lot of people there.  My friend did well with her bows, but our Christmas blocks and my artwork didn't really sell, although I did get a lot of compliments on them!

We're hoping that our next craft fair at the end of November, which is right IN Calgary, will go better. 

I did get a few ideas from the craft show though, as a few people thought that my smaller 4.5x6" prints were cards (since they were mounted on foam board, they looked a big thicker).  So it might be a good inexpensive and quick idea to make some of the prints into cards, as well as some of my scenery and bird pictures, which I could then hopefully sell.

I haven't totally decided if I'm going to do that yet, but I need to decide soon, by this weekend!  I like the idea, but I'm reluctant to spend more money until I sell a bit of stuff. 

How was everyone's weekend?!

Its a double miracle!

Last night, a sister at church told me about a place downtown that might have the bags I need.  After spending all night and morning searching online for something, and my break today, I called them.  Low and behold, they had the bags! And in a variety of sizes, all of which would fit my prints.

It also worked out well that I had to go into work early today, as someone was sick, and so was out of work in time to make it downtown to this art shop (which I otherwise would not have been off in time for). So I decided to buy the bags, because I had been checking the status of my order online all day and it still said "In transit", and was not yet out "for delivery". Not willing to risk having NO bags, and not able to come back to the store tomorrow, I made the purchased the bags.

And then I got home.  And checked the mail.

Guess what was in the mail?!

THE BAGS I ORDERED!

But it actually worked out well, funnily enough, as I had measured one print wrong which would not have fit in the original bags I ordered, BUT did fit in the NEW bags I just purchased tonight. 

I also designed and printed my labels for the bags, and the picture of me on the labels turned out darker than I had wanted, but I was unable to correct at.  It was bugging me a little at first, but the more I looked it, the more I liked it.  Even though it was dark, it kinda had a silhouette-looking-feel to it, and it grew on me.  I might still fix or change it later on, but I'm happy with it.

I'm all ready for the craft fair on Saturday, and I'm super excited now that I have the finished product in front of me.

Take a look!

My picture in the top right is not quite that dark, but still a little more dark
then I like.  You can kinda make out facial features on the actual label.
However, I still think it looks fairly good, although I may adjust it
later down the road.  

Thanks for all your support, well-wishes and thoughts yesterday! 

-Jessica