Welcome to the iPad generation ...

Well... I have joined the masses. I'm proud to have a new apple product in my house. All of you please add me to draw something. Already addicted. So sad lol.

Sometimes life comes full circle....

Fort Saskatchewan ... we meet again. Last time I was here  It was SO cold and snowy. I thought I was going to have the same issues this time. I left Lethbridge in the midst of a crazy rain storm and before I even made it to Granum I was fighting icy roads and crazy amounts of snow. I did pull over just before Nanton and debate whether or not it was worth continuing the trip. I weighed it out, I haven't seen P since April 10 - But I was in my new car (update on that later!!) and wasn't totally confident on not-great roads. But, P was going to be at work until 7:30 and he was expecting me to be at his hotel when he got done.... how bad would I feel if I had spent an entire day hoping to go home to him to get a text message that said "bad roads, not coming". So I said a little prayer and kept going. By the time I got to Calgary it was back to rain and before I hit Red Deer - the sun was shining and I was singing along with Heart.  

Had dinner with P then called it a day - I was exhausted from driving and being stressed and he was tired from a 14 hour day (I didn't mention that he was REALLY late and the front desk refused to give me the key with my name on it because they weren't the ones on shift when P set it up for me to have one.... *sigh)

So needless to say, all I have done today is go to the fitness centre and work out and watch the Manchester United game (woot win!!)

Now to call down for towels (AGAIN) and maybe go find some adventure... or just get some lunch. 

<3 

Wisdom teeth #2, 3 & 4

If you remember (or you probably don't) I had one wisdom tooth extracted last year (August) 


I had to get the other 3 removed eventually. I have been really not looking forward to having all the pain and crankiness all over again, and I assumed it was going to be worse this time as I was getting 3 teeth instead of 1. 
     I was RIGHT! 


Actually it wasn't that bad. I was sedated. Those of you who know me well won't be surprised as I hate strangers being in my personal space (or smelly non-strangers, you know who you are!) and I also really don't like the dentist. So its pretty much an anxiety riddled experience to go. 
My mom came with me to take care of me (P was away on a job for a few days) and it was actually a really nice bonding experience. 


So I had the 3 teeth removed by Dr Murray on Thursday March 29. I came out of the sedation a lot better than last time and didn't feel so drugged. I came home and used the orange tea bags they sent with me - ok SOMEONE out there is a genius, they work SO well!! I was amazed. 


I won't go into any gorey details, you can ask my mom, actually don't, she was gagging a bit when it was going on and may not want to relive the experience. 


The worst has been the past couple days, I'm really sore but I think I'm healing up pretty good, just having a hard time talking normally, Call the store if you don't believe me, however I have caller ID so I will know who you are.


One week down, hopefully this next one goes fast and then I can eat more than "soft" foods. Another name for "soft" foods is "borrrring stuff" 

New Glasses!!

I am blind... ok not really. I actually know a handful of people who have worse vision than me. Normally, I wear contacts and hide how thick my glasses are. Lately, I have been getting a lot of migraines and the first thing that really bothers me are my eyes.

So it was time to get new glasses.

They are purple, I'm sure you're all shocked.

No pics because I have a new laptop and need to organize my photos.

Imagine how adorable I am tho  ...

My mom is awesome...

I forgot to add this to my last blog post 


  My mom is so awesome - I always send her pics of my drawings/painting and she can be counted on to say "looks great" "good work" or "what the crap is it?" most times. For Christmas she found me an awesome Artist bag (I'm an Artist, the bag says so) And I was taking off to class the other night and P snapped a pic cause I looked "creative" or maybe he just wanted my mom to know I use my gifts... anyways, 


THANKS MOM!! 

teehee... love this bag

Bad blogger... Look a painting!

I'm sorry... I have been busy.


Ok UPDATE! 


I have started painting in my art classes and I'm LOVING it! So much fun and adventure using colour now. I mean, pencil sketches are fun ... but this is a whole new level.


Now... I feel like I can draw pretty well. I am NOT a very good painter. BUT I know that everyone starts somewhere and with the amazing teacher I have I'll get there (I'm actually already seeing myself getting catching on faster each class) 


So for your viewing pleasure ... My first painting! 

I had NO idea what I was doing... can you tell? 

The original by an unknown artist on the left 

Getting closer ... 

Sorry for the weird glare ... come to my house and see it if you want
"A Study of Unknown Artist"

Wedding Dress & Stress

When you get engaged - there should be a little tag attached to your ring. It should read the following: 

People are going to ask you for every detail

of your wedding in approximately 

47 seconds. 

Have fun with that ;-) 

 I found myself in a bit of a panic with all the aspects of planning a wedding - there is SO much to think about and decide. I have to figure out what I want (well P too, but he mostly just nods at anything that makes me smile and scowls at anything I turn my nose up at) 

Ta-Da moment 

Anything I saw in a wedding magazine (ones I purchased, I don't just snatch them out of strangers hands or anything) I would either put a little post it note label on the page or actually rip the page out. Then I went to a binder that is full of page protectors, and I slide the ripped paper into the protector - and I use the label to write what it is I like about the page (otherwise I come back the next day and wonder what the crap I even liked about it)

Stress level decreased!

Also - ordering my wedding dress tomorrow. Its starting to get real! 

Migraine Prevention Methods

I get migraines. My first one was at 8 years old and I clearly remember it like it was just a couple weeks ago. It was a Sunday in the spring, you know those spring days when the sun actually starts to feel warm even though there is a lot of snow on the ground. We spent all day outside after church walking through the fields and playing in the quickly melting snow. Then it happened. So much pain I was pretty sure that I was going to die.


My dad took me into the hospital in Cardston and I don't even remember the ride other than the hiway seemed to have A LOT more bumps in it than normal.


I remember they gave me some pills that were nasty and I fell asleep. Then my dad had to take my to my Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's (they lived in Cardston up on the east hill at the time) because he had a meeting. My grandma was supposed to give me a pill after an hour and the doctor had said it may make me feel sick and I may need to throw up....


  (warning - graphic) I filled Grandma's giant turkey roaster, the big one you could have probably bathed my younger cousins in if needed. 


Magically I felt better ... my Grandma was kind enough to find me one of my uncle's t-shirts as I had pretty much ruined my clothes.


Anyways, since that day I have been always on the hunt for ways to find relief from my migraines (Grandma is on a mission in France so I can't go cry on her couch and get sick lol) 


This past month my head has been giving me so many issues I didn't know what to do. I had my eyes checked, I got a different kind of solution for my contacts, I changed my eating habits, I quit drinking coffee, I drank more coffee, I took vitamins and plenty of other suggestions from other people. Last Saturday, I got home from work and took down my pony tail and felt this HORRIBLE ache behind my eyes as I did... So I made a decision ....

11 inches of hair (in some places cause I had a lot of layers) GONE!! It was a bit of a shock to my system, I haven't had hair this short since I was ... born (I had A TON of hair when I was a baby) But the instant relief I felt when my stylist was done was AMAZING. Now, I'm sure this won't magically CURE my headache issues, but its like night and day the difference I feel in my neck and around my temples, and who doesn't like to shake things up once in a while with a big change. Especially with all the big changes in my life lately!! 

He popped the question....

Well its official! P & I are engaged!! 

I am kinda shocked at how many people "FINALLY" or "IT'S ABOUT TIME". I didn't think we had been dragging our heels all that much. We officially started dating October 10, 2010 (after a quite a few hanging-outs and dates and pool games and bbm-flirting while he was away working) So as of Thursday January 12 2012, at about 10pm (he really did try to wait until Friday the 13th, my favourite day, but was too excited) We are officially together! 

I absolutely LOVE my ring. Its the ring I would dream about wearing for the rest of my life. I think P has the GREATEST taste ever (he did ask me to give him a detailed description of what I wanted)

So now starts the WEDDING PLANNING!!! So excited! 

I get to marry my best friend - This makes me SO happy !! 

Wedding date has been set for October 5th (this post is late because we had some back and forth of what day to get married due to the nature of P's job and not sure when the season is starting up)

Here is the ring up close

And now its on my finger!!!

Creamy Ranch Chicken

Pinterest is so great! So many times I sit down to do my menu planning and am totally clueless of what even sounds appealing to write down (even in pencil) Or what I may possibly have the energy to cook after a VERY long day!


I have stumbled upon such a great website via Pinterest. 

www.realmomkitchen.com

There are SUCH great simple ideas there and we (ok me, P just nods and smiles when I talk about food) decided to try a few of them out over the next few menu plans. 

The finished product. Not sure why
my pics never go where they are actually placed

You cannot believe how GOOD this smells!!!! :-) 

P approves the bacon ;-) 

Here is the recipe: (next time I am going to add mushrooms and green onions)

6 slices bacon
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into bite size pieces
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons ranch dry salad dressing mix
1 1/4 cups milk
3 cups dried medium noodles(I used egg noodles)
1 tablespoon finely shredded Parmesan cheese

1. Start your water for your pasta. Cook noodles according to package directions.
2. Cut bacon into narrow strips. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Drain bacon on paper towels; discard all but 2 tablespoons drippings.
3. In the same skillet, cook chicken in reserved drippings until no longer pink, turning to brown evenly. Sprinkle flour and salad dressing mix over chicken; stir well to coat the chicken. Stir in milk. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 1 minute more. Stir in bacon.
4. Serve the chicken over the noodles. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

http://realmomkitchen.com/56/creamy-ranch-chicken/

Organisation Project Jan 2012

Do you ever have one of those moments where you see something and it triggers a GREAT idea? I was picking up some stuff at the store for my sisters baby shower (cancelled by the way due to the baby showing up 20 days early, lil' stinker) and I noticed a package of clothespins. It got me to thinking about the "old days" when my gramma W used to put her laundry out on the line and how she had ALL these clothes pins and I always picked out the newer ones because they held onto the clothes better than the old worn ones - TA-DA LIGHT BULB MOMENT!!! 

My big project for this month was to organise my closet and get it all sorted and easier for my brain to handle. My problem is that half my clothes end up on the floor due to the fact that they just fall off the hangers - CLOTHES PINS!!! I bought a package and now all my wide neck shirts or slippery type clothing are HANGING UP!!! 

I feel like a genius right now. I'm sure someone thought of this idea a billion years ago but I'm going with I'm super smart!! 

My dresser got re-organised also!! 4 bags of clothing went to the donation bins. Wow, I don't know where it was all hiding (yes I do, on the floor of my closet haha) 

Great start to my year!! 

Shoes are 1 heel out 1 toe out per pair
so you know what they look like

Happy New Year!! 2012 here we go!

What a fantastic year 2011 was and what a great year 2012 is going to be!!

New Years resolutions for 2012:

    Be more organized - 1 small project/week and 1 large project/month

    Try new recipes - Going to make 1 new thing per week (should be fun!)

    Spend more time with friends (setting up more dinners and outings!)

Can't wait !