Coffee & Mags

One I gave up for health, the other for Lent. And I bought both today...

But I have fantastic excuses!

The magazine - Marie Claire Idees.

Have you seen this magazine?

It's so lovely that I squeal and cry a little (okay not really) every time I get the new issue. And it totally helps me learn French (okay, here I'm absolutely fibbing).

Plus, the guy at my local magazine shop brings it in ESPECIALLY for me &

calls me when it arrives. So really how could I not buy it?

And the coffee? It's swiss water decaf and my cafe owner friend assures me it has VERY minimal amounts of caffeine in it. And that was the whole point of this exercise. I can still drink it and not have heart palpitations or jitters.

So really, I'm not cheating at all, right? Yay me!

Shedding the winter layers

Have you met my friend Dorothy? She the quiet sort. Doesn't complain much, but I can tell she's felt the cold quite acutely throughout this very long, hard winter.

Do you know how I know?

She's been wearing a sweater, two scarves, and a jacket for most of the winter.

Poor thing.

In honor of the arrival of spring, on the calendar last week, and on the thermometer this week (yay, for melting snow), she's decided to ditch the winter clothing...

...and tie a pretty spring apron around her dainty waist.

Oh how we both love spring.

The Family Room

It's all finished!

Source: Better Homes & Garden - small space issue (scanned)

Just kidding. I haven't had a moment really to work on the room in months, but this photo above is my inspiration for decorating the room.

I've decided to go with a cream colour for the room and I'm planning to paint the woodwork white. Pretty scary I know but the woodwork is in terrible shape so a little paint can only improve it. I have no idea how to decide what shade of cream to go with. Any suggestions?

Source: Fabric

I really want to go with colourful curtains for the room, but I cannot find anything remotely close to what I want so I think I may have to sew my own. Not looking forward to it particularly, but what's a girl to do?

Living in a smaller cities, our furniture options are rather limited. We've been scoping out alternatives in Calgary, about 3 hours away. Crate and Barrel offers a vast selection.

Source: Crate and Barrel

I'm kind of fond of this Axis sofa and I think that it just might be long enough for Javier's long legs (for napping of course!)

Source: Crate and Barrel

My main criteria for a coffee table are round edges as we've had lots of bruised shins with our current rectangular one and a smooth surface with no grooves or ledges to collect dust. I think this Bel-Air piece might fit the ticket.

Underfoot I'd love to have either of these rugs from the Rug Company in the UK.

Source: Daily Mail

Source: Absolutely Beautiful Things

Alas, I don't have an extra $3000 lying around.

Sadly, until I have a more days off in a row than I have lately, my dreams for the room remain just that and the room still looks like this...

Oh my, I've got quite a job in front of me.

What lives in your basement?

Does it have glowing, red eyes?

No one to blame by myself

I'm so tired of winter and I'm so tired of piles of boots everywhere. Why can't everyone put away their shoes/boots?

Wait. These are mostly my shoes and boots.

It's devastating to realize that I'm the messy one in the house.

The "Real" Me

I got tired of looking at my ugly sweaty self every time I looked at my blog. This is the me that I like to show most people.

Hair dry and straight. A touch of makeup and a smile. All is good.

I'm off to learn how to be a good pediatric nurse today.

Bringing back the Fire

Witness the hot, sweaty, makeup free me.

Very few people get to see me this way outside my family.

And now I will have to kill you. (ha ha ha)

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I'm getting back into workout mode after taking a week off. I've been dragging my butt around in a wheelbarrow for the past few weeks, feeling so, so tired. So when I read an article about over training I decided that's what was going on. Possibly not true, but I needed an excuse, and quite truthfully it's been pretty busy around here with running to skating practice and extra events, plus someone's birthday has been pretty big!

I started back today with a 30-minute TurboFire workout after a week of doing nothing. Exercise related, that is, because I'm never, never doing nothing. And it was hard. But it feels good now.

I've got to say, this healthy living stuff is time-consuming. I spend 40 minutes working out, then 2 hours planning my healthy meals for the week. And I haven't even gone shopping yet.

And this is what I do on my day off. The week has yet to begin!

How do YOU celebrate turning 13?

If you're name is Lizzie, then you...

Hang out with your family.

Eat lemon meringue cupcakes for breakfast.

Get the gift of many books (a Kindle) from your parents.

Enjoy fondue as your special birthday dinner.

And lick the remaining Toblerone fondue from the dish. Mmmm.

Participate in a regional figure skating competition.

Spend lots of time giggling with best girlfriends.

Including a trip to the shopping mall for the first time on their own.

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Thirteen years ago I fell truly in love for the very first time with a very special baby girl. That loves continues to grow every single day. I can hardly believe that that baby girl is a teenager. I can't wait to see what the coming years bring. I'm sure it will be incredible.

I shouldn't have blogged about the nice weather

Look what we're waking up to this morning.

Poo.

Rain has decided to hide her face and go back to sleep.

Spring-ing

The temperature has finally risen above freezing, the sun in shining, snow is melting, there are big mud puddles everywhere making our cars disgustingly dirty, and it is absolutely GLORIOUS! It's been a very cold, very wintery winter for us here. Just a few warm days and everyone is much happier around here.

My thoughts quickly turn to footwear. As much as I've loved wearing my knee boots this winter, I can't wait to put them into winter storage along with all my socks. Maybe I'll just burn all my socks instead along with the winter coat I never want to see again.

I can't wait to wear flip-flops again. And not look crazy like I did wearing them when I got my pedicure in December.

Craziest Gadgets

Okay maybe not these flip-flops, though the idea of squishing my toes around in soft green grass is very appealing. And I do see little bits of green grass peeking through the melting snow.

Victoria's Secret

These sequiny numbers are more my style. Maybe some online shopping at Victoria's Secret is in my future.

But sometimes flip-flops just aren't appropriate, so i will dig out my favourite ballet flats.

Cole Haan

I spurged last year on these patent Cole Haan flats. My feet said "thank you". (So did my ego from all the compliments I got). I love these shoes.

Toms Shoes

I also love my Toms. Lizzie got the gold sparkly pair. And I prefer to wear them without socks.

Yay for no socks weather. And yay for spring!

I miss coffee

It's now been 10 days "off the bean". I thought that once I got past the first week I'd be home-free, but alas, my cravings were almost unbearable yesterday. I really felt very, very sad.

On the plus side, I feel fantastic. Much less jittery. Even my co-workers notice my hands don't shake as much. I never realized how anxious I really got before. Plus my resting heart rate is in the 70s instead of 85+ beats per minute. That's got to be a good thing.

It's hard. I'm getting sick of peppermint and green teas. But I think I'll make it through, because I discovered this fabulous new product today at the health food store.

Teeccino! It's a delicious coffee alternative made of ground herbs, grains, fruits, and nuts. And it doesn't have any caffeine. Plus it works in my espresso maker so I've already enjoyed a Teeccino latte. Mmmm.

If anyone tells me it causes anxiety, jitters, or anything else, I might shoot myself.