Before Christmas

I know we still have about 2 months but I have already been thinking about Christmas gifts all year round.
I have already purchase some item through out the year and I will have to say I am about 75% done.
Mostly I just have to wrap them.
I am never big on Christmas.
Many years I hated it because of the stress.  Still do.

Last year was the first time that I didnt have a Christmas get together.
Only because someone decided to host a birthday party a week before and people only wanted to go to that and not the Christmas party...go figure.
I am not sure there will be another one this year.
If no one wants to come, I am not going to force them.
This year I wanted to host a Thanksgiving Dinner (Oct 11) but no one wanted to show up so once again I have cancelled it.  The past two years we had a fun time but I dont know why people just dont want to show up this year.
Next month I will be asking people if they want to show up for a birthday party.  I wonder if I have to cancel that one too!

School

Sometimes I feel like the school is always thinking of ways to get more money.
So far:
BBQ - meet the teacher was $1 for a hotdog or $0.50 drinking box or a cookie
Pizza Lunch - $4 for two squares or $4 for a square and a drinking box
I know the extra money they raise will go towards school supplies/equipment.
It is only the start of the school year.
Plus there is even a fundraising on top of it.

Photo days are the worst.
Why do they make it impossible to afford.
It is more expensive than if I take my girl to Walmart or Loblaws.
I should be also thinking of booking a time for a photo shoot for our Christmas photo.

Glymm Update

I am enjoying my Glymm box this weekend.
So far I (we) ate all the jelly beans.
I didnt think they will last long since I had to share it with the family. :)

Yesterday I have tried Lise Watier and I found it really bright orange-red on me.
I kinda like how it apply to my lips it but I think I will get a different colour since it is really bright on me.
I am not sure about the Principessa Lip Balm ($11).  It feels very similar to Bath and Body version and it is only $7.50 and $5 if it is on sale.
Vasanti eyeshadow is very bright and pink on my skin.  I am not sure about the colour since I usually buy earth tone colours.
I am having fun trying them out in the comfort of my home.

On another note, this afternoon the family went to Magenta Studio to participate their halloween contest.
Hope we win!

Cookies

The other day I have bought some cookie cutters for Halloween.
It has been years since I made sugar cookies.
I use to have this old recipe but I have misplace my recipe book years ago when I moved.
That is what happens when I was moving every few years.
I have been searching online to see the best sugar cookies recipe and I hope I have found the right one.
However I dont have royal icing.
It uses egg whites only and I dont like using it in the icing so I will just use regular icing instead.
I hope it taste good.

The cake pops (balls) were eaten.
My hubby took them to work and to his soccer buddies.
Burp!

Shopping

This evening it seems we went everywhere in a short period of time.
At first we were going to Vaughan Mills because I wanted to checkout Lululemon.
It was impossible to get on the highway so stopped at Harvey's instead.
I think they make one good burgers (as well as Five Guys).
Then to Costco
Then to Michael's, then to Chapters.
Here I have purchased my daughter's birthday gifts.
She is going to be excited.
I was thinking maybe to invite a few of her classmates over for her birthday.
I know there will be at least two girls but I wonder if there will be more...
This will be her first birthday party with kids.
I have always done it with my girlfriends and family.  Maybe this time it will be different.
I will just have to wait and see.

Failed

My cake pop experiment was horrible
It takes great! but it fell apart!
So I have cake crumble with icing.
I guess I will have to attempt it with chocolate next if I have the energy.
It is such a waste.
I think I am missing something.
First the cake crumbled then the chocolate coating is sticking.
Maybe I am using the wrong ingredients.
What a waste of time.

Ouch!

It is 9pm and I started baking.
Why 9?  It is because both kids are a sleep.
They are too young to be in the kitchen.
Maybe when the older one is 5 or 6...maybe
So I have tried to do the pop cake but instead of chocolate I am using vanilla.
I am not sure if it will work but it is worth the shot.
Both the cake and the icing is made from scratch.
It is alot of work.
Once the cake was baked I knew my hubby wanted to eat some so I made another chocolate cake from the box using a new cake pan.
The cake pan was shaped like a cupcake where you can add the filling.
Well, it didnt go what is should look like but he ate it anywas.
Finally the cake was cooled I started the chopper to breakdown the cake...opps!
Yes, I was not paying attention and sliced my finger.
Usually I dont hurt myself while baking but I hardly use my chopper.
It is now past midnight and I am finally done with a big pile of dishes to clean.
No, I dont have a dishwasher.
One of these day I will get one.
So the first step of the cake pop is in the fridge.
I dont even know if I did it right.
I guess I will find out tomorrow.

Costco

I've never was a Costco membership until I had my first child.
For Christmas I've asked my brother that I wanted a Costco membership.
Then the next year I asked for the same thing.
For the two years, I have noticed that their price of milk was the cheapest.
Cheaper than No Frills, can you believe that?
After that, I have kept the membership.
You really need to know your price before you shop in Costco.
Sometimes it is not always the cheapest.
Also sometimes they have items for a limited time.
My greatest purchase was a size 1 boot for my girl for under $7.
I didnt know how much it cost until they rung it in.
I just hope it will her through the winter season.

Not working

It has been about a week using the Bliss samples and it is not working.
I still have large pores and my nose still peels.
Yuck!
I think I will have to try another product.
I went to Sephora website to help me recommend some products I should try.
Last time when I went to Sephora I mentioned my nose issue and she said yup, it is always the nose.
I thought I was the only one.
I always admire people with perfect skin.

Hopefully one of them will help me.
The over the counter does not work.
The somewhat expensive stuff by Bliss does not work either.
I know there are hundreds of products out there and one of them will work.
I use to use Clinique but the past few years they have some new items that maybe I should give them a shot.
My problem is spending money on items that does not work...it is just a waste of money.

Michael's

When I have the chance I love to go to Michael's
I had my hubby print out their weekly coupon
My daughter was with me in the store.
She saw some horse/ponies figurines and she didn't want to let go.
I used my 40% coupon when her daddy took her to the car.
I am going to give it to her either for her birthday or Christmas present.
It looks like we are going there weekly to pick up a few more.
There were 4 or 5 different types.
She is going to be a very happy girl when she opens her presents.

Sweets

I love sweets.
I love anything that has sugar.   Lots of them.
I also love to bake.
However, being a mom of two (or three is you count my hubby).
Twice I have tried cake on a stick.
I thought I should learn how to make them.
I have found out they were created by bakerella and she was featured by Martha Stewart a few years ago.
They are called cake pop.
It looks pretty easy to make.
It looks like chocolate truffles that I use to make when I had the time.
I think I will make them as a dessert for my Thanksgiving Dinner Party (If I am going to have one.)
People are just to busy with their family that friends don't get together to celebrate it.
http://www.bakerella.com/category/pops-bites/cake-pops/

I also took out an old breadmaker that my in-law use to own.
It is really, really old and it does not come with a manual.
So I search and search but no lucky but I did find some useful information.
I will try it anyways.
If it does not work I will have to buy a new one.

Worried

So I picked up my daughter from the bus stop.
She asked if her teacher called?
I asked why?
She said "I didn't hurt them."
Now that got me worried.
Then I asked, "Who did you hurt?  The teacher?"
She said "Nobody."
Then I asked "Then why would the teacher call me?"
She said "She is not."

This conversation does not sound that she was not being good today.
So I have checked her bag to see if the teacher left a note and waited to see if I will get a phone call.
No calls today.
However, I will be meeting the teacher this week just to get to know them and to see the classroom and her cubby.
I wonder if the teacher will ask us to set up an appointment to official discuss "the situation".

My little girl does have a hard time listening and following instructions.
She likes to do what she wants to do.
I know she is very smart when it comes to what she wants.
She has been in day care since she was 10 months old and has participate other programs like soccer, ballet, and karate.
Most of the time she just does not want to do what you want her to do.

Home Audit

This year we are thinking of insulating the walls and attic.
Since I do find it really cold during the winter and hot during the summer I thought it was time to fix the house so we can be more comfortable.
We found out the attic was not properly insulated and the walls has no insulation at all.
So far we have 3 quotes and I am waiting to book another one...we are playing phone tag.
I think after it is completed we will be all nice an warm this winter and save on our energy bill.
We were thinking of replacing the A/C but the auditor said it is not worth it since we need to spend about $4-5K to apply for the grant and using it 2 or 3 months out of the year, we wont be saving much.
He said spend $300-$400 to have it maintain or fix is fine for now until it dies and then spend the money on a new A/C.
Owing a house is like hooking a big hose to your bank account.
We did purchased an older home with no or minimal fix up.
So far we replaced the windows and doors when we first moved in.
New fridge and dryer (we barely used the dryer so we didnt need to get one)
New furnace
New pavement for our driveway (it does not look new anymore)
Then we redid the basement
Then the upstairs bathroom
New roof
New ceiling lights and potlights (never existed before)
New backyard fence.
Yeah, that is within 5 years.
It does not stop here.
Lots more to do.

Samples junkie

I love samples especially when they are free.
I always sign up for the P&G samples when they come out a couple times a year.
It is also a great way for me to try item that just came into the market.
What I really like are also makeup samples.
In the past they use to give out perfume miniature bottle samples.
Now it is just paper or packaged samples which really sucks.
Sometimes you get samples when you order $34 worth of items but sometimes you have to spend alot more than the minimum to get the freebies which really sucks.

I love going to Sephora to browse around.
I usually don't buy anything because I have no idea what to get.
My mom never taught me how to wear them so it is basically trial and error and lately tons of research.
I am so lucky to have youtube to help me along the way.
I can't remember how but I discover the Luxe Box by Loose Button who ships out beauty product samples to your door for a nominal fee.
They are like Birch Box like the US but Luxe Box is only for Canadians.
Then I was trying to find another company like Loose Button but couldnt find any in my google search...but I did find another one! via facebook of all places...LOL
Yeah!
Glymm Box is another one just for Canadians (for now)
I am still waiting for my first Luxe Box and I won't be getting my Glymm Box for another month.
Also, with Christmas coming and any samples I don't like I can use as stocking stuffer.  :)
Hey, Christmas is expensive so I need to find ideas where ever I can.

Shots

I took my baby to the doctors for her vaccinations shots.
Lucky I didnt have to wait long.
I hate that I make the appointment but I end up waiting for an hour or so.
I mentioned this to the other mothers while we were waiting at the bus stop to pick up my little girl.
The other mom does not believe vaccinations.
She said that the school allows it only if you have this letter notarized by a lawyer.
I thought everyone has to have it done or the school expel the child.
She mentioned about side affects and religion issues and if you organics and no meat and etc... her kid will be OK....I was not going into a big discussion or politics or whatever.
I have never met anyone who does not vaccinate their kid but whatever.
I rather get the vaccination than take any chances but I am not a big believer on the flu shot.
I am not worry about being safe.
It is just that it is possible that you can take the shot but end up getting a flu.
It is like trying to cure the common cold...
However, if I was exposed like a nurse or doctor by all means get the shot.

School

My little one has officially started school.
Met a few moms which is really nice.
If I have any questions I will know who to ask.
It feels like my heart is breaking when she goes off to school.
I cant believe my little girl is going to school.
This will be her 5th day at school.
She seems to like it which is really nice.
She will ask me if she is going back to school tomorrow and when I say "yes" she is very happy.
My worry that she will listen to the teacher.
She is very stubborn and thinks of ideas which will get her way...doesn't everyone?
I think the benefit of putting her at the day care is she get use to other people and routine more easily.
Plus her good friend is also attending the same school and class.
A friend's kid who also started this year, who has never been away from home was a terror.
First day he had to have a talking and a time out.
Poor kid

Yesterday I found out her teacher was suppose to be on maternity leave but lost the baby around 5-6 months.
It is very sad.
We dont know the details but that is what the other mom told me.
I am surprise that she is back to work so soon.
The other mom also told me that another teacher lost her second child.
When that happened she took about 2 years off.

Working

It has been about six weeks I have been trying to lose weight.
The past 3 weeks I walk 5K and later in the early evening I go for my run...more like a jog.
It was tough for the first 4 weeks but it is getting a little better.
I am hoping to lose as much as I can before the summer is over.
I have read that this Fall, the weather will be room temperature so I think I can go out until the end of Oct or early November.  Fingers cross.
Once winter comes I will not be going out for a jog or a walk...it will be too bloody cold.
However I am thinking of taking out my floor mat and teach myself a few yoga moves.
I am even thinking of joining a community center yoga class to get me started.
It will be during the winter session I will be looking into.
I have about 25lbs to lose so I have a long way to go.
Ideally more like 30lbs +
Having two kids really did some damage to my body :(
I am not going to sit and cry about it...baby steps...I just wish it could go faster.

Yum

The other day I bought some Oreo Sippers.
It must be new since I have never seen it before.
It is OK...nothing special.
It was on sale so I bought 4 boxes.
What was yummy was this honey dew melon I bought few days ago.
It was very sweet and I am glad my little girl also enjoys it.
I am trying to expose my little to sushi so she can take some to school.
I guess it looks scary but it tastes really good...only if she get use to it.
I do worry if she does not eat her lunch during school but if she is hungry enough she will eat.

Finally!

After months and weeks of research, I have planned our family vacation.
We wanted to do something before my little girl first day of school.
It is like one last celebration that she is all grown up and heading off to school.
It will be sad to say good bye to all her teachers and friends at the Day Care but I know she will make more at her new school.
In a way, I don't want her to start school.  It means she is growing up too fast.
It just feels like yesterday she just came into our lives.
School = a lot of learning and growing up.
All I want to do is shelter her and keep all her to myself.
I am not sure if I will cry  but I will feel both sad and excited.
I bought her a Hello Kitty lunch bag, Bento boxes, and tons of drinking boxes.
I know she will be OK.

Cosplay

I was looking at people dressing in cosplay (costume play) and sometimes I can guess who they are and most of the time I have no idea.  Either I dont watch enough or I dont play video games anymore.
I have never been to an anime convention but always wanted to.
I guess I am too old to attend one. :(
Some people really go all out and create these crazy costumes.
I am impress.