Getter DONE !!!

There is so many things that still need to be done as much as I hate to see the rain today it did give a chance to kick my house chores in the a-- today !!! AS well as get some much needed tasks done too !

So todays list of things to do
- make a comfort meal for supper

- LAUNDRY
- dishes (was way too tired to deal with them last night )

- Use my blackberries up

- Plant my garden seeds and start in the house greenhouse .

- clean out the fridges
- get baby bassinet out and the bedding for it washed
- Do our summer to do list and hanging it up
- get blog partially caught up

Well not bad for a  days of work but I am pooped now . But I even managed to get two extra packages of meatballs done up for the freezer which is always a bonus I am always making extra stuff to freeze away so we have good & fast meals on hand . And really is ever possible to get all the laundry done and put away and not have a item in the hampers . PLEASE share details if you ever have managed this I would love to know how you do it .I still have a meeting tonite which is at 8 MB time in Saskatchewan which I have a 45 minute drive to get to it . UGH !!!!! But really want to be there to voice my opinion . Tomorrow I am on the carpool detail with a near by neighbour we take turns from week to week taking our girls to preschool .So we don't have to each go to town every wednesday it has been working great .I love it !! But tomorrow I may be dragging my behind out of bed to get on the road . I hope to have afternoon nap tomorrow maybe wishful thinking but all well . A girl can dream can't she ........

Slave Driver

So my hubby says this what I have been the last few weeks a SLAVE DRIVER . Well we live on a farm and there is never ending things to get done and since the weather has not been cooperating with him being out in the field . I can keep everyone very busy around here . We have got the hedges all trimmed down about a foot or two , as well as the ever greens trimmed up as they had branches sitting on the ground (which will give me  another couple feet in my garden which means at least another row.)  and trimmed up the raspberry bushes .We also got a new flower bed started out front of the house . So when the weather smartens up I guess I got my self some work to do . I have also potted some of my flower pots and planted some wild flowers around the yard .I am attempting a natural look by scattering them along the fence line were we have longer grass. So call me a slave driver but we have a nice yard because of it . Will post pictures when I get a non rain day as I forget to take pictures as we were doing cause apparently I was being too bossy !

TGIF

OK its a HUGE garage sale weekend and I am getting ready yes it does need preparation SO I decided to give you all a HUGE Garage Sale101 List of things you need to know .
SO Here it is
                                                        Garage Sale 101                                                                                    
1. Be ready before hand this means the whole day before this is what you need.
 - wallet FULL of change and have your bills ready too but don't carry anything over $20.00 bills .
 - be fueled up (when garage sales are open at say 9:00am be there at 8:45 the early bird does get the worm )
2. Dress in layers you never know what the weather may be like and you don't have time to change .
3.Put your poker face on . I suggest wearing a hat or sunglasses . This is serious people .
4. Bring a snack and drink . WARNING to not drink too much there is NO time for pee stops . Water is just so you do not get dehydrated , like in case of a emergencies .
5. This is not a social hour no small talk . Move in check it out and get your stuff and on to the next one . Time is ticking people . HELLO !!! You might miss something good.
6. Traffic rules are meant to be broken this day . So driving down a street in reverse is acceptable for a good one .Quick and sudden stops happen . No seat belts or "FAKING IT " . Hanging your head out the window and telling people to move it or lose it .  OK use common sense and watch for children they are out too . OK on a occasion or two or three I may have had traffic rage and had the urge to throw stuff at people or flip a finger but refrained from doing it
7. Serious saling means no kids allowed . Come on how can you work a productive day with them around .Just saying this is serious . Just make sure you bring them home something .
8.Barter no deal is final . Work it like you are in Mexico .But do not be disrespectful .
9. Just because its does not have a sale tag on does not mean its not for sale . EVERYTHING is for sale for the right price . So just ask . This is no time to be SHY !
10.Remember everything can be repainted or re purposed use your imagination ! This will be your best finds .
11.Just because there is  a sale you do not have to stop do the drive by you are allowed one drive by before its just creepy or weird .
12.RAIN days are the best your competition will be low as well as the prices .be brave and go out . Because you will never no what you might miss out on .
13.Package deal if you are buying more then one thing offer them a package deal price .
14. ALWAYS  go out with a budget on your day and can only break the budget if you will never find another one or will carrying regret forever .
15. Trying on clothes over top is acceptable .But keep your own clothes on .
16. Never ever ask to go into someones home . SORRY that's wrong on all levels .No pee breaks or anything . This is so rude and disrespectful to the person and their family . FIND a public washroom or family members home close. Or do the discreet pee behind a bush some where .
17.If you pull up and find something that you really like and they are not going down .Either suck it up and bite the big one or show up at the end of the day if they are really wanting to get rid of it and its still left and you should get a lower price and if not . WHY is it in there garage sale to begin with .
18. You have the right to ask if its still working and if they would plug it in for you to see. And if they will not . DO NOT BUY I REPEAT DO NOT BUY .
19. WASH all the items you bring home . PLEASE its for your own good . You do not know the previous life the item had . PLEASE wash it !!!
20. Leave the  engine running !!! Sorry mother earth I try to be kind to you every other day ,but I need a quick get away as well as its nice to be one step head of everyone else leaving too.

So there is my list of 20 I know theres so much more knowledge I can share with you but there much more garage saling head so I will keep updated and  share my wisdom with you . I have many years of garage saling in me I was brought up young with it .Yes my mom broke one of my rules and that what makes me the BEST garage saler that I am today . THANKS mom .I must say I never always appreciated the garage sale as I do now too .  I will share my knowledge with my kids some day but for now. I need this time for me to unwind .
I really think garage saling is kinda like a sport but with no special equipment required. We are the hunters and we are out to catch the BIG one . When you know of a good sale you keep it a secret and keep going back for your self . Just like the good spot for deer. Although garage saling is like a team sport too but bring the MOST trust worthy .Share with everyone in your group what you maybe looking for and they can help you scope it out much quicker then working alone. Just because you do not have enough room in your unit does not mean you should decided to make the purchase most people will let you buy now and get later . But pay up front so they do not sell the item on you and go back when you say cause they are doing you a favor .Also don't knock it until you have tried it .
 So until next weekends garage sales . HAPPY BUYING !!!and good luck .

Family FIRST

You all know how important my family is to me and if I share my family time with you . You are also real important to me because sometimes that's not easy for me to do when we are all together . I really appreciated every little thing about this visit with our DMAN as it maybe our last time as a family of five maybe by next time this little man may surprise with a early delivery and we will be 6 .HOLY six . I am so ready for it . Some may think we are crazy and maybe we are but we will be crazy together .

I watched everything my kids did thinking this may be the last time with just you three ,even when we were in the truck I looked back and thought there will be four car seats oh so soon . But some things are priceless . We had a birthday party to attend and I took all three of you even though I was dead tired . The moms were inside as we let the big kids play outside. I looked out once to see Dman sitting crossed legged in front of his sister also cross legged .She was crying I wanted to go check as our Addy is not much of a crier but I was frozen in this moment of watching you two work it out. It amazes me with the lack of time you two have together how really close you are to each other .You could tell D was trying to comfort her with words then a hug and then it was as if he was pep talking her about some life lesson . They then got up and starting walking to the house then stopped to give each other a hug and a kiss and kept on your way . You two took my breath away literally I am weeping now picturing what I saw that afternoon . I was so proud of Dman as it did not bother him that the boys were around to see him help his sister and comfort her this way . He was not too cool for her at all . I then went out to see what happened ,typical day of life as kid someone pushed someone etc . But I was so proud of my kids and so glad they have this relationship that I can say not too many other siblings would share with 4 years difference between them as well as lack of time together.I then also get concerned that will Izzy and little man every have a relationship of any sort like that or of any kind with their older brother as Addy has . This was also a AHH moment as Oprah would say that we are raising our children right or at least in the way we feel is right for us and them .

So during our family time I have started a family tradition with my children once again as my mom did with us . Usually every Sunday in the summer we go to the Red Barn at Kenosse Lake . Its first kick off weekend is usually May long weekend but for some reason this weekend it was not open . SO when life hands you lemons make lemonade right . So my sister and I ( the usual Red Barn duo with our troop of kids behind us ) took the kids to DQ for Ice cream what else can not make kids happy well and two preggo mamas too . It was also some good cousin visiting time too. And we now fill the table full of kids and with two on the way that will make two tables for us in the future .We then parted our ways . I took my kids to the play park and let them burn some energy off before we made the trek home. I must say that Carlyle has one great park and well looked after too . They should be oh so proud .

Another family adventure did on this long weekend was made a trip to Minot ND for some movie time and a little shopping . I must say the Movie RIO is a must see . It was great pick and we all enjoyed it .It got my parent thumbs up for not not being one of these kids movies that are trying to appeal to adults too by sneaking in bad stuff discreetly in when we all know are older children so get it .
We also spend so much time outside when it was not raining too .As well as had our own movie night as home . We also shared much of our weekend with the IN LAWS as this has been only our second time seeing Dman since Christmas and everyone was itching to see him , but so look forward to having our big summer visit and getting more of our own family time together too a long weekend is just never enough .
Hope you all enjoyed your long weekend with family too !!

I am alive .

So I have to say my long weekend made me hit the wall . Literally i was down and out all day today . I could not even walk well  barely .Not a lie . I definitely could not go downstairs I was so worried  that I would not make it back up ever . I pretty much bed rest myself for the day . Jeremy took a office day and did work at home and let me have some down time .So very garteful for my hubby this day even though i had to crawl out of bed to give a much needed break for a while . I have learned that bed rest 24/7 would not be a could idea for me or my family , but every once in a while is doable . I slept for the most part but when I could not sleep I was BORED !!!! I definitely need to go out and buy some new books or borrow from friends and family . This baby is definitely giving me a run for my money ,but I am so sure he will be 100% worth it .
So as previous posted from my last post . I made the round trip from Swift Current to home again . Which alot of people did not think it was a good idea for me to do . Now by no means am I agreeing with them now as I would not want to do that as the trip was manageable . But I must admit that a pregnant women by NO means should be sitting for that long at all cause not only did I bring our Dman home but also brought home or got hemorrhoids from sitting so fricking long . SO no I did not make the trip back . To I care that the world wide webs knows I have hemorrhoids heck no its life of a pregnant women and if you didn't know that could happen well it can . Reality check people !!!! Being pregnant is not all about being glowing and full of life inside . You actually are bitchy , sore , swollen , a nut cake some days ,tired, and trust me its not all about smelling roses during 9 months . BUT the pay off is absolutely perfect and no one can give you that feeling again .

TGIF

Well I made it through my day yesterday round trip to Swift Current and back to pick up our DMAN . So this mama is swollen and tired but will survive. I couldn't be happier to have these smiling faces all back together .

I so wish all you mamas out there appreciate having your children with you all the time . Now I don;t mean never take some well deserved mamas time to her self but appreciate all the little things . Cause what I would do to have my kids all together all the time would be priceless . Money can't buy that kinda love .But for the mean time I will enjoy the time we got so I will be gone for the weekend from blogging and by Tuesday will probably feel like this .

FAMILY RULES

I have found this great idea to post family rules VIA Pinterest . Although I did not want a frame version as they had posted . I had been working on a door project for awhile now and thought  that would be a the PERFECT spot for this . I had these little people since we lived in town and they had been packed up and brought along and finally decided this would be a great spot for them ,but since then our family has grown so on order through Stampin Up is Addy's NEW stick person . she should arrive on Friday and was added in for now I have hand drawn her in for now.

Door Project ~started by this door is here to stay until our next Reno begins which at this point I hope will not be for a year or two away but in the mean time I had this ugly door. So I had bought some chalk board paint and painted the steel door . So in the end I had a chalk board magnetic door to use for whatever . I then used some SU buttons and hot glued them to magnets . I knew that I was putting our stick people up on this door but after that . Well this family rules just came perfect to put up here for now anyhow .
If anyone is interested in purchasing your own stick people  family please leave me a comment and I can hook you up .

SIZE matters .

Whoever said size doesn't matter was oh so wrong . Since we have been living here at the farm . My hubby and I have been having a going on discussion about what size .... OK we are talking about our second T.V for the house on the main level . I could life without but if we are going to have one .
 SIZE does matter .
So we agreed on 40 inches .
But when we go to to the big block store and all the walls covered with T.V's my hubby could barely contain himself he wanted a bigger one .So I guess does really matter . I said a deal was a deal and walked away . When I came back we had a 43 inch T.V being brought to the front for us to take home .
well what do you do .
The salesman was trying to make me feel better by saying well the 40 inch was actually more money this one was cheaper .
What you going to say to that ??

...but you always have a plan .

Actual conversation with hubby .
Clock  5:15pm MB time
ME: oh my goodness what are we having for supper ??
Hubby :I don't know
ME : well you don't have any ideas for me .
Hubby:You seriously don't have a plan
Me: No plan .
hubby :But you always have a plan .

Oh boy! MEN . I don't always have a plan I usually just wing it !

Weekend Photoshoot

for the Fight For Fonstad .When this opportunity came up my mom jumped on the chance to get some pictures of all her grandchildren . Three local photographers, one day , 20 minutes of photo time all going to a good cause . You can see our little monkeys sneak preview  here and the other two photographers here and here . Great job and well done to all the photographers .
A huge THANKs to Jason for working his magic with our 5 little people all under the age of 4 . Look forward to seeing the rest .

TGIF

Oh Friday you have finally came around for me . A busy day but I know a weekend of rest is in sight . My hubby took this picture of me on date night

 and then today I looked at it my first thoughts were HOLY man I look tired wore out and just plain BLAH !!! Then second reaction was my hubby is really letting me leave the house looking like this . UGH !!!! But today after a busy morning I came home to a message on the phone from my doctor saying that my hemoglobin is low ,so that would explain it . So a quick trip to the drug store to pick up some iron pills I hope that will get me back on track soon .
So at least all was explained for my tired wore out self .One more thing I also wanted to point out my BIG 30 birthday is this year ,so one of my goals and reason  for my drab hair these days has been a turning 30 goal I had for my self to grow my hair out and donate it . I am not able to dye my hair and trying to grow it out as long as I can to make the best growth for someone that needs it . So the days I am frustrated and ready to cut I think of someone else that can use it . Hoping for alittle R&R this weekend .

Wonderful women ~ Wonderful Weekend

                I spent my Mothers Day weekend with this group of wonderful women .

What a inspiring bunch we had attend our 2nd annual Scrap Away Retreat held in Glen Ewen this year . I will share more details with you all real soon .

Black Beauty

and not a horse but I received this great camera as a late Mother's Day gift .Its the Fuji Instax mini 50s Piano Black camera .{HEART}

My husband had planned a double date for my folks and us .We had supper at the Olive Branch got alot of my preggo cravings in ,then after supper on our way back home my hubby handed me this late but very appreciated gift .It was on my wish list so I was so thrilled . I have been so busy that I have only took one picture with it and look forward to taking more then making a wonderful mini album for them . I have been on a big kick of mini albums lately and plan on starting Monday Minis which will be a mini album class on every second Monday starting very soon . Just waiting on a order that has been MIA for a few weeks but has found it way back on track with me really soon . Keep you posted with class schedule very soon .

 I also have been very lucky too have inherited these oldies too .

I was grateful that FIL came across these in his dads basement this past weekend and knew I would be interested in them for sure as I was thrilled when I saw them . Have a perfect spot for them very soon too .

Addiction

not that I need another thing to take away my time from me but this one is a inspiring place to be but maybe gives too many more ideas then I already had to start with .
Is anyone else Addicted to Pinterest ???If you already have jumped on the band wagon you can find me here .Add me up if you are already on .
Leave you with this of course a Pinterest find .

Credit for this is from etsy.com

Mothers Day Crafts

      Crafty post of what we gave our mamas for mothers day !!! It was a family project .
      First of all everyone even the hubby had to help make these bags with me and the girls .

So this was just a cheap canvas bag I found and then the girls painted their hands on the bottom for the grass and I ran some felt through the Big Shot to make flowers ,hot glued them on with some buttons and a pretty bag .We then added some garden things to the bag .  

Here's my fave Mothers day project which I will be hosting a fabric album class real soon so watch for details if you are interested in this next project  or leave a comment .

Album cover with Velcro closure.

This was page one with a family photo and I could hardly resist not taking pictures out in the green grass .

The people I {LOVE } most in the world !

Our kidlets .

Us all together !!!

more kid pictures.

Hand made felt flower .

This was a fun and quick project required no sewing at all !!

So watch for class coming soon on a fabric album soon ......

Happy Mothers Day to all you wonderful mamas out there.

How important it is for us to
RECOGNIZE &  CELEBRATE
Our Heros and SHE -ROES !
~~~~Maya Angelou ~~~~

GONE Scrapping !!!

                         Gone away to our Scrap Away Retreat be back on monday .

What do you think I am up too with these ??

I had to go picking again ..... I am sure my hubby appreciates it so  much . Although this picking trip I was learning another skill cause the only way my hubby would let me go is if I practised driving our farm truck that is stick shift which I never really learned the proper way to drive . I can tell you Izzy got a kick out of it any how and I don't think I caused anyone to bad of whip lash . My hubby is concerned that someday I may actually have to rely on the old Ford someday so wants me to learn how to drive it . Anyhow these are the items I picked last night .

Some vintage soda bottles

as well as some vintage books that I found and have dyed some of the pages !!!

What do you think I will be doing with these ???

You will have to stay tuned to find out .

Also will  leave you with this quote :

TOO much of a good thing can be wonderful !

         ~Mae West ~

Gratitude Gifts for friends

Here's a gift to a friend that I had misplaced a item for quite sometime , which I hope I can blame on my baby brain right now . So I did appreciate her patience for me .

This was for a friend that is AMAZING and inspiring to me !!! I always appreciate her generosity that she gives to our family , her skills and her friendship .

Thanks to having wonderful women in my life .

Show gratitude to someone in your life .

I must say there is more gratitude gifts to come to more people in my life too !!!

Manitoba Picker

YES .....I am a picker . Its true another persons junk is ones treasures . Here are some treasures I found doing alittle picking . So as promised here are my treasures . Not sure where there homes will be be for sure .
                                              FIND # ONE & FIND # TWO

                                                     FIND # THREE

FIND # FOUR

                                                                FIND # 5

 or so there is a FIND  # SIX , SEVEN  ,EIGHT and NINE ,but my computer is not cooperating with me on downloading pictures .SO when it decided to work I will share those finds with you too . And I found a home for a few of these things already so excited . Lots of scrubbing going on to make these shine but welll worth it .

So until my next picking and not my nose !!!

Fun in SUMMER

Yes I know talking about summer when spring is barely hanging on by a thread these days.But I just found this great thing to add to our summer things to do list . I promise to share our summer things to do list this year we are just reusing the same project and just changing the list from last year . It was great for little reminders of all the little things and some big things we wanted to TRY to accomplish . But back to the summer memory keeping for kids I am {Heart} with the idea of this . My kids are very much crafty and love keep trinkets so what a great way for them to be creative all summer long . I am also in love with the Smash Journals too !!! This will rock !!! So if this interests any of you make sure to check it out .

Sharing with you : Motherhood Matters

                                I would also like to share this with you this day .

                       "Of all the rights of woman , the greatest is to be a mother . "
                                                                           ~Lin Yutang ~

                                          Join the challenge with me today !!!!

I heart ......

There are some things that just bring a little smile to your face .I was on a moms day out shopping with a great friend and was on cloud 9 when I found this antique treasure for $30.00 .It is so practical for our household and the best part the kids love wheeling it down to my laundry room to help fill the washer with it . Now that I have brought this sweet item home reproductions of them have been popping up every where now.
Like - House 8810
        - Pottery Barn

                                                    Here's my sweet deal !!!

What does it feel like when you're INSPIRED ????

I feel .......alive , energetic , passionate , electric , simple , incredible , buzzing , flow , connected , calm , powerful , joy , genius , renewal , amazing , soulful and full of goodness . That's how I have been feeling . I have got my crafty energy back and have been working up a storm . Everyday whether its a few minutes or a hour or two I have been spending time in my studio and its just been flowing out of me . I feel so ALIVE right now . Making the the time for me everyday for something I have a {LOVE} for has been making me a better mama and wife . So the sink has dishes in it and the laundry is overflowing the  basket ,so be it !!
Will share all my crafty projects real soon most of them right now are gifts for people around me .
               SHARE with me . What makes you inspired ???How does it feel ???