Everyone needs a little TLC!

Winds + Trees = An Insurance Claim!

2008-10-07T20:52:00.000-07:00

Here is what happens when you have huge winds and are surrounded by trees... thank goodness for insurance!

To Cut or Not to Cut?

2008-09-17T17:35:00.000-07:00

I have VERY long hair! I started growing it in October of my grade 12 year. I graduated in 2001. Sooo that would make it a VERY long time since I have CUT my hair. I obviously have trims, but have not made any drastic cuts to it. I always had shoulder length hair or chin length hair - anything in between that as well. Lately I have been pondering the thought of chopping and I mean CHOPPING it off. By that I mean go back to an off the shoulder length cut. Perhaps even one of those funky cuts that is slightly shorter in the back and is slightly longer in the front so I get some volume at the back top of my head. I'm sure you're all confused by now. I know I sure am, but with my decision to cut or not to cut. What if I cut it and I hate it? It took me soooo long to get it to this length! What if I look fat or ugly with the short hair? I'm so scared! Then i think to myself do I cut it in stages? Well I don't know about all of you but I sure don't like paying for unnecessary hair cuts! And I go to an expensive hair stylish because I usually only have to go a few times a year! Oh what a pickle this is... any thoughts?

One week left...

2008-08-25T15:19:00.000-07:00

One week of summer left for this Teacher :( I've loved having everyday to do with as I please - that has not happened since high school! But what was better about this summer was I actually have funds and a car, unlike high school summers off ;-) As much as I've loved having time off I'm totally ready to head back to work to replenish my bank account! This will be my first full year of substituting and I hope it's pretty steady! I'm scared that September will be slow :( Maybe there will be some teachers not ready to come back to work hehehe. Doubtful!

I'm also hoping this will be my lucky year and get a teaching contract! It doesn't have to be full time, it could be one day a week and I'd be a happy camper - obviously I get to sub on the rest of the days of the week. But I'd like this year to be the year I get my foot in the door!

I'm spending my last week off with my man :) I couldn't think of a better way to spend my last week off!!! I think my next post just may have to be about him and include some pictures - I'm over my superstitiousness about posting about his greatness ;-)

Summer Update!

2008-08-12T12:19:00.000-07:00

I did it! I picked a new blog template!!! And I'm quite happy with it's sophistication! I LOVE it! Now if I'd only use it more often ;-)

This summer has been fantastic! I have NOT worked so that means each and every day is MINE! I am still mooching off my parents so that I can save save save for a house or condo :) So along with mooching I get the privilege of spending my days at the lake we live on! My mom is a school secretary so she also has summers off and we spend our days basking in the sun, swimming and visiting. It's a rough life. I have been busy with friends as well - the girls try to get together at least once a week and now one of my girls has a brand new baby boy so we let him join in the girl time ;-) Two of my girlfriends and I hosted a baby shower for her on the weekend and it went splendid! Maybe that can be the next post :)

In other news I'm no longer a single gal :) but I am afraid to blog about him or how great he is for fear it will jinx it hehehe. One day you shall learn of him :)

This coming up weekend my brother is coming home from Edmonton to visit!!! He hasn't been home in a year!!! We are all very excited! We are going boating and having a BBQ and just anything fun we can cram into his week long visit!

Even though I'm loving having my summer free, I'm a leetle bit ready to get paid again for doing what I love - TEACHING!!!

Hope you're all having a happy summer!

Toy Soldier

2008-06-15T12:20:00.000-07:00

May I present the Adult Hip Hop class performing "Toy Soldier"!

I am second from the left in the second row :-)

Enjoy!

No Spa :(

2008-06-09T17:35:00.000-07:00

A day at the spa is what we had planned... what we got was not!

The two of us walked into a local spa where we had made an appointment 2 weeks in advanced to have manis and pedis together. Somehow the ditz taking our reservation only put me down for the mani and pedi and my friend down for a mani, so they didn't have enough people on staff to do the job. We obviously are NOT impressed and are waiting for them to try to fix this. The ditz offers us our manis now and come back at a later date for our pedis. UMM don't think so! That's not what our day was planned for. A second ditz joins our conversation and says, "Oh I'm sure ditz number one has offered you all we can do" - ummm no! Ditz number two then offers, "well I can slightly reduce the price of either the manis or pedis. Hmmm NO! We left!

An hour and half later after some retail therapy I walk back into the spa and ask for the owner's phone number. Ditz number one wont give it to me but took mine - great! So my day can be interrupted when it's not convenient for me! Two days later I still had not heard back from the owner. I phoned the store and ask to speak with the owner. Ditz number two says, "sorry she's not in today, can I take your number?" I respond, "actually I was in on Saturday and left my number and she still has not called me". This lady proceeded to apologize and asked if we could work something out. She asked me what would fix this problem and I said, "honestly I thought you'd offer one of the treatments for free". She responded, " well I did - which would essentially give both of you 50% off one of the treatments you were coming in for". This business SUCKS! Clearly they do NOT get customer service!!!! They totally ruined our special day and then to show no consideration towards the mishap by not phoning me back is just a slap in the face!

NEW INFORMATION
I just got a call (Wednesday), we were supposed to have our spa day on Saturday, from the owner of the spa. She apologized and said it is their policy to give the missed treatment for free. So she will be speaking with her employees and putting us in the computer from free pedicures!!! Now was that so hard ditzes???

I do not recommend the Matisse Day Spa in Duncan BC.

Wii......

2008-05-21T16:36:00.000-07:00

5am...

This is the time my day started today. Why, you ask? Because I had to have this...

The Wii Fit! For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Wii gaming system and have not heard about the excitement surrounding the release of Wii Fit (game) you must live in a cave! JK This game is super cool! It gets people up off the couch and is like having a personal trainer in your own living room. The games are fun and you don't even feel like you are exercising! Check it out more here... http://www.nintendo.com/wiifit/launch/

I recommend this to anyone who gets bored with running or has trouble making it to the gym :-)

Quick Trip...

2008-04-15T16:45:00.000-07:00

I left Friday evening on a flight to Edmonton to visit my big brother! He just moved into his own basement suite and needed some furniture so I spent his money picking out things he needed :) It was fun. He showed me around the big city, we went to West Edmonton Mall for a short time - I've been there before, and we also went to the outlet stores (Guess and Mexx to name a few). I just love outlet stores. I returned on Sunday evening and was pretty tired.

We had a great visit and a lot of fun together - I can't wait to go back because I miss him every day!

I took some pictures from the plane which look really cool - have a peek!

Warning: Scattered Update

2008-02-24T10:06:00.000-08:00

First order of business - If you read my last post, right to the bottom, you would now know that I am a WORKING teacher! I am on the substitute teacher list, which is no longer called that. It is called the TOC list (teacher on call). I have worked everyday since getting hired - which is apparently uncommon. I sure hope it's not beginners luck and that I keep getting called everyday!!!

With working comes the ever so lovely paycheque!!! I may or may not have done a LEETLE damage with that sucker! I bought new teaching clothes - that's kind of a necessary, right?

And new bedding to go with my newly painted and decorated room.

And then I bought something REALLY fun...

It's a GPS, but not JUST a GPS.......it's a PINK GPS!!!

This cute little thang is AWESOME! It even lets you download different cars - clearly I downloaded a pink one!

Now for your job. I want to name my new little helper, but I need some ideas???

Argh!

2008-01-31T12:17:00.000-08:00

I graduated a month and half ago. I have two degrees and have been certified to teach in BC. I have NO job! Nobody is hiring here in the Cowichan School District - I was told maybe in April! Nobody wants to hire me for a part time job as they know I will leave them if I get a call to go teach. This SUCKS!

So I decided to do a mini-makeover of my bedroom. I painted a nice shade of brown (I'll post pictures when my room is all done). It would be nice to purchase bedding that matches my new paint job - but I have NO job, which means I have NO money! Am I coming across bitter? GOOD! I AM!

I did have a craft day and I made this sign! I had seen one in Linens and Things but it wasn't big enough. So I made my own! What do you think?

At 1:23 today I got called to be on the TOC (teacher on call or aka substitute teacher list) WOOT! WOOT! NOT SO BITTER ANYMORE! HHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA SOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!

Little Dudes and Spew

2008-01-08T15:49:00.000-08:00

After Christmas I went to visit/nanny with the family that I was nanny for this past summer. It was a lot of fun. I got to spend quality one on one time with each of my little dudes. We went skating, went to the park, visited with their family, had a new years party - fun fun fun!

For the new years party we used the fondu set that they had given me for Christmas and invited some of their friends over and had a whole fondu spread. Cheese, meat and chocolate fonudus!

Sounds like a great time, right? It was...until...

I GOT VIOLENTLY SICK the last night I was there. The little dudes had thrown up once and twice at the beginning of my stay but I had managed to avoid it, so I though. I threw up so much and so hard it felt like I had been beat with a rubber hose. I got home that morning and then a few days later I got broncitis and a sinus infection! Today is the first day I feel like I can function since last Wednesday.

Here are some pictures I took of my little dudes with my new PINK Sony Cybershot T70! Thanks Santa! ;-)

Have you heard the news???

2007-12-23T20:14:00.000-08:00

It is official.......I'm a TEACHER!

I graduated on December 14 and before I even walked across that stage I had already sent my application in for the substitue teacher list. Hopefully in Jan. I get the call to come for my interview :) As for now I am enjoying my well earned time off and not using my brain for anything but fun stuff :)

After the graduation ceremony my grad class of about 50 plus dates went to the Grande Hotel in Nanaimo and had a wonderful dinner and visited with the people that we had been in a class with for the last 3 and half years and will probably not see for quite some time, if at all ever again.

Here is a picture of me - The TEACHER!!!

I am wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!!!
I hope Santa is good to all of you!!!

SPICE UP YOUR LIFE!!!

2007-12-03T11:26:00.000-08:00

Last night I spiced up my life at the SPICE GIRLS CONCERT! It was awesome! Even David Beckham and their boys were there watching mom on her opening night. They were actually in the box up behind us..it was pretty cool! Here are the pictures and video from the concert.
***

I have just waited an hour for another photo to upload...I give up...for now.

Shopping and Aaron Pritchett!

2007-11-24T22:29:00.000-08:00

Today I went shopping with a great gal pal of mine - Jenn! We got a lot of Christmas shopping done, which is great! I even got myself a present from Santa :)

Tomorrow night I am off to the Aaron Pritchett concert with some friends of mine - it should be a blast :)

I don't have too much else to report on. It's back to school on Monday and two weeks left of practicum :) Graduation here I come!!! I'm sooooo excited, I have the dress, the shoes, the sexy under pieces, the hair appointment, the hair clip and the date :) YIPPEEEEE so much fun!!!

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend :)

A little bit of everything...

2007-09-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

I found out where I'll be doing my final teaching practicum.............Maple Bay Elementary in Grade Two with the bestest teacher ever!!!!!!!! And my Momma is the secretary there!!!!! This is gonna be so much fun for my last practicum before I graduate!!! So excited!

I don't have too much else to report...

The family that I was a nanny for this summer is potentially coming over for a visit next Sunday - they live in Vancouver and I'm on Vancouver Island. If the weather is rainy they will post-pone though....but I hope I see them sooner than later :-) I miss those cute little dudes!

I'll update the dating scene soon... ;-) Stories, stories, stories...as always! hehehe I'll give you one little tid bit - Porsche Boxster Convertible!

Back in School :-(

2007-08-27T09:31:00.000-07:00

Here I sit in class, for the second week in a row, and yes it is Aug. 27th. SUMMER IS NOT OVER PEOPLE! I am sitting in a computer lab awaiting my instruction on what I am to work on next. As you can tell I am a little bitter. However, like I have said before, the quicker I start the quicker I am done! Graduation is December 14th! So exciting! Let my life begin!

In happy news, I am heading camping for a night or two with my friends - we have Fridays off :-) And I also have a date this weekend! Hopefully this one goes better than the last - eeek! All I can say is he talked way too much, and not only that but it was all about him! PAINFUL!

So I'm sure you're thinking, "I thought she had a boyfriend?" Well I did. We broke up just over a month ago. So onward and upward :-) But look on the bright side - now you get to hear of all my funny dating stories again hahaha.

Also, I'm hoping the weather holds out this weekend as my parents finally purchased a sea biscuit for the boat and I am dying to get out and try it. I was like 10 the last time we had one (we gave it away with the boat when we sold it years ago). We now have another boat and are just getting back into the fun watersports that can be done with a boat :-)

Hope all of you have a great week, and just be thankful you're not sitting in a stuffy computer lab ;-(

My last day as a nanny...

2007-08-17T08:47:00.001-07:00

Today is the day that I have to say goodbye to my two little sweet boys that I have played with all summer, 5 days a week. Aidan (3 and half) is such a great little guy - we have a lot of fun together and I will miss our weekly baking session - sometimes bi-weekly :) And Everett (14 months) has learned how to walk this past week which I'm so glad I got to see and be a part of. I think I'm going to miss his huge smile and giggle the most - and his cuddles :) I plan to visit often so I know I'll see them both soon, but still, I have spent a lot of time with these boys and feel very honoured to have been given the opportunity to be their nanny.

So the reason I have to leave today - school. I start on Monday! I am in my last semester of school of the Education Program and I only have 7 weeks of classes and 6 weeks of practicum - therefore we head back earlier than any other student. Oh well, just that much closer to being done.

Well I better sign off now - hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

Family, Sun, Friends, Cold drinks and Fun!

2007-08-06T11:51:00.000-07:00

Well I figured I should post something new, but I don't have a lot to report.

Saturday was my Gramma's birthday party here - she is 74! It was a nice gathering of family that included swimming in the lake, BBQ and alcoholic beverages ;) Gram's even stayed until 9pm!!!

Sunday I went to the waterslides in Victoria with my friends and had a blast! It was like being a kid again. Good times had by all :)

That brings us to today - Monday. The family and I were going to go boating and tubing, but everyone was kinda feeling lazy so that idea will be put off until another weekend.

Hope everyone who had a long weekend has enjoyed their extra time off :) Happy fun in the sun!!!

Celebration of Light Fireworks!

2007-07-26T11:15:00.001-07:00

Last night Tyler and I went to Kits Beach to watch the Celebration of Light Fireworks! It was amazing. We got there around 7:30 and got a pretty sweet spot close to the water on the sand. We were right infront of the barge so it was great! We brought a picnic dinner and just relaxed on the beach - the time flew by way too fast. We are going to go next Wednesday which I believe is China and last night was Spain.

Here are some pictures :)

Ramblings

2007-07-18T15:08:00.000-07:00

Hmm...what to report? Tyler and I went to Playland on Sunday - that was really fun! I had never been on any of the "scary rides" before (yes, I'm 24) but I did most of them! Including the Hellavator! I got sick after going on a really spinny ride and unfortunately we left - so we need to make another trip back now that I feel confident and could enjoy the rides more now and not be so scared that I'm going to fall to my death on some of them :)

Today is hump day - yippee! Aidan and I just baked muffins and we visited the library this morning. The weather has been rainy and is supposed to be like this for the rest of the week :(

I am heading home this weekend for a visit and hopefully see some friends I haven't seen in a while. The summer is almost over for as I start school again on Aug. 20th :( My weekends are pretty much full from here on out and I still feel like I haven't done enough or accomplished all the things I wanted to do this summer - I'm sooooooo NOT working next summer ;)

I'm getting excited to head back to school though, much to my fellow collegue Kyla's disgust! But it all means that I will be even closer to becoming a teacher! I feel like I want to make enough money for a sweet trip and just spin the globe and go where my finger lands! I am finally craving that travel and change bug. I think it was always that I didn't have the money to do it and now that I will be done school I feel like I can now get out there and explore :)

I'm surprising Tyler on Thursday night with a little outing - can't say where just in case he does ever check in on my blog :) I'm hoping he likes it and we have a blast there :)

Well I think that's about all...Happy Hump Day :)

Long Weekend!

2007-07-03T19:38:00.000-07:00

I had a very busy long weekend. Friday night started with a "Mill Party" - this is a party that my Dad's work puts on and it's down on the ocean and there is great food, a live band (That's 70's Band) and cheap booze ;) Then Saturday I was asked to play in an orthodox softball tournament as the team was short girls. So I played in two games - even made a double play!

Sunday and Monday is when the real fun happened! I caught the 10:30 am boat over to Vancouver to have my handsome man pick me up. We started off with lunch at a pub in Horseshoe Bay - met a VERY friendly man from Ireland! Then we headed back to Ty's place for a dip in the pool - so refreshing. We decided to head to the grocery store to get some ingredients for what was to be a lovely dinner made by Ty and dessert by me! I made a peach crumble...and Ty, ofcourse out does me all the time, he made a pasta with pesto sauce, asparagas, tomatoes, prawns and then on the side he made wicked garlic mushrooms and garlic bread! Wow! The man can cook!

We then put our warmer clothes on and grabbed the blanket to head down to the waterfront for FIREWORKS! I had such a great time just laying around with Ty just chatting and being silly - the best way to be :) I loved that night :)

Side note: what I didn't love about that night was the stupid Canada Day tatoo I ripped off my face and took my skin with it!!!! Yeah, wedding on Saturday and I have a huge scab on my face! Not impressed!

Monday was also VERY fun. Ty told me to pack up and we were off...I guessed about 5 minutes later where we were headed (cause I'm soooo S-M-R-T!) We went to this place out in Abbotsford called Castle Fun Park. We went in the batting cages, played mini-golf (I won - hahaha sorry Ty) and we played the silly games inside that spit out tickets if you do well - I think we all know what I'm referring to? Then we headed back out to Tswwassen to the beach and I took him for dinner at Alfa's, a Greek restaurant.

I really enjoyed myself - minus the tatoo incident!
Thanks for the fun Ty!

Such a sweet guy...

2007-06-25T09:56:00.000-07:00

So this past weekend was supposed to be full of fun, while it had it's moments it was not what I had hoped for! Friday after work I drove over to Tyler's to spend the weekend. Friday night was nice and relaxing, we went for dinner and came home and watched "Open Season". Saturday morning I woke up...SICK! I was all stuffed up and a pounding headache from my sinuses. We thought a nice late morning, early afternoon hike might help to clear me up - it did feel good! Then we had a nap and just took our time getting ready for our fancy dinner plans for Tyler's friend's birthday dinner that night. I was feeling pretty good, and we left around 7. Dinner was at 8, but by 9:30 we hadn't ordered, as not all the guests had arrived, and I started to feel awful!!! Light headed, totally starving and ready to be sick. I had to get Tyler to take me home :( But I told Tyler to head back to the party. I'm so glad he was able to have a fun time - if he didn't go back I would have felt even worse! He did so many sweet things for me that weekend, he'd cut up fruit for me and leave it beside the bed for me to nibble on, he went out at 8am to get me cold medicine and while we were at dinner he went across the street to get me advil - what an incredible guy!!! I owe him big time!!! So Sunday was pretty rough as I had been up all night sick, so I slept in and then drove back to Tsawwassen in the afternoon. Hopefully next weekend will be A LOT more fun! Canada Day Fireworks!!!

Here is a picture of Ty and I lookin' all fancy and fantastic together before the dinner that I never got to have hahahaha!

Baby Shower!

2007-06-14T10:11:00.000-07:00

On Sunday I attended a baby shower for friends of Tyler's and mine (they were Tyler's friends first ;). Colleen and Gerrett (hope I spelled those right) had a beautiful baby girl named Jordyn. She got lots of great clothes and toys - she's so fashionable! ;) Tyler did a great job of baby shopping - with one idea from me :) The boys all went mountain biking while the girls chatted, ate great food and played with Jordyn.

Here is a picture to show the cuteness of baby Jordyn :)

I'm GRADUATED!

2007-06-06T13:25:00.000-07:00

I officially have my Bachelor of Arts in English and Physical Education! Yesterday at 2:00pm I walked across the stage at the Port Theatre in Nanaimo and received my Degree. One down, one to go! The next time I walk across that stage will be on December 14, 2007. I will be receiving my Education degree! That's right, I will have TWO degrees! I can't wait to be done. I start school again on Aug 20th for 7 weeks of classes and 6 weeks of practicum. Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait to be done!

First Day of Work....ok Play!

2007-05-28T19:33:00.000-07:00

So today was my first day as a nanny. The day started off at 8:00 am with some toy playing. The rest of the day consisted of naps, snacks, lunch, toys, outside time, and cartoons! Not too shabby! Tomorrow is the first time I take the oldest one to play school. Should throw an interesting twist to the day. Maybe we'll even make it to the park tomorrow.

I was a little upset last night, being in a new place and having all the responsibility, but I'm feeling a bit better today.

Hope tomorrow is fun!
Toodles :-)