Yep I am at it again…

Ever been in that head space where you feel blah everyday… uugghh, that’s me nowadays, and loads of it has to do with the fact that I feel awful in my own skin. Just plain gross!

Summertime doesn’t help… skimpy clothes, ridiculous heat wave forcing you to wear less and less, and the insane amount of weight I have packed on over the last year; it’s all made me miserable.

So here I am, in the most public way I know… well, that’s not technically true… I do feel much safer posting here than Twitter or Facebook… but either way, here I am saying I am TRYING AGAIN … I am jumping on the bandwagon… I am starting a new plan (of starvation) of sensible ‘no fun boring blah’ eating.

Wish me luck but if you do see me enjoying a cinnamon bun or choc.chip cookie, DO NOT look twice and just know inside; that it must be one of those days,

Thanking you for your support ahead of time,

Smiles, Carole

Who needs those stinken boys??

All men in my family are extremely handy… both my grandpas, my dad and even my baby brother… but sadly I had little opportunity to learn from any of them.

What I did have though; was the privilege to be raised in a single parent home by one of the strongest and most competent woman on the planet, and my Mom fully believed in the concept that YOU can do anything you put your mind too. (also that girls can do anything and everything boys can do… do well, while also putting the laundry away and mixing dinner on the stove).

Even though, Mr Perfect is coming to visit tomorrow, and I am only 3 days out of surgery… the entire west coast of North America has been warned about the heat wave coming this weekend and I really wanted to get my fancy new air conditioning unit hooked up.

So there I was sprawled out in the living room with little pieces of plastic, hoses, long plastic slats and bits everywhere. Then I do what everyone on the planet does nowadays when they are trying to figure out how to do install, assemble or create something new… yep, I log’d into YouTube.

My motto – if there isn’t a YouTube video on it; you don’t really want to do it.

(Sadly though there was nothing for my make or model of unit but Danby did have a couple ‘semi-‘ helpful ones)

The hoses were abit of a battle, the window bracket was a nightmare… totally didn’t fit – the screws didn’t fit properly – and trying to maneuver around this behemoth was brutal; it weighs a friggin ton at 85lbs.

After about 20mins of trying to get these stupid lil screws to work with no luck, I decided to do what I ALWAYS do with having a hardware dilemma . I drove over to Home Depot… yes, this is my default. My grandpas sadly have passed, my dad is thousands of miles away, my brother is working… but my mother did tell me that I can do this, so DAMMIT,  there I was on my way to Home Depot to get some advice as well as reassurance that what I have done so far is correct and that these screws are TOTALLY wrong. 🙂

I was not in there more than 10mins,  got everything I needed as well as a quick boost of confidence… and was headed back home feeling much better.

My window fitting isn’t air type (or even close), the whole unit needs to sit in the middle of my living room and I am still trying to program the remote control programs but currently it is 28C degrees outside and I am quite cool & content typing up a blog post telling the world… that even though we love those stinken boys, and life would be a drag without them… we really can do anything ourselves and yep, Mom once again you were right.

Thanks for checking in, Carole

Spent the weekend with the incomparable Dina Wakley

I had been looking forward to this weekend for months – and she didn’t disappoint.

I signed up for Dina’s colour class on Day 1; even though we know my true colour love is brown – all shades of browns –  taupe, cream and beige. I love me some neutrals… but Dina is all about the bright vivid colours and I knew, if I were going to get some brilliant sage advice anywhere, it would be from her.

This woman knows her stuff – she is the author of 2 books on ArtJournalling, Colour, Design and Composition as well as a designer of her own paint line with Ranger, stencils with Crafters Workshop and much more… is a brilliant and hilarious teacher as well as a genuinely kind and sweet woman.

Dina shared a couple of her worksheets with us – explaining how colours relate together, which was perfect for me since most of what you read or are taught about colour  is all artsy-fartsy airy-fairy mumbo-jumbo like… what does the colour say to you?? can you feel what colour to use next? which colour is speaking to you? but naturally don’t go with the obvious choice …uugghh, hated it all.

But Dina’s explanation was very logical, less airy fairy… brilliant. Easy to follow and plan!

Then day 2, at A Cut Above, we played with bright colours again and spent time focusing on how the pages need to be complimentary since you can see through the cuts. It was awesomely fun…

The page below is a layout for Cut Above and you can see the page, stamping, and images behind it.

Thanks for stopping by and letting me know what you think,
Carole

Words to Remember… often

Pinterest Love

It’s no secret I LOVE PINTEREST… if you don’t know it (hhmm, where have you been?? lol… it is a plethora of eye candy from amazing new yummy recipes, scrapbooking ideas, travel tips and inspirations, home projects, art stuff and sssoooo much more!!!) and my accounts is at under ‘vancouverscraps’

It is my Facebook for time sucking… 2 hrs will go by and I don’t even notice… I am literally on it every single day!! I have close to 3000 pins and over 1000 likes… ‘Likes’ mean they haven’t been pinned yet because I just need to check the source or their usefulness.

I have some projects, recipes and home projects that I really love and am so excited to share them with you. (click on the linked text)

Ok first as I type this I am snacking… yes snacking on croutons… I know, I know; croutons… but you must try these amazing morsels. Garlic Butter Croutons

They are divine… and you won’t be able to save them simply for just salads, I promise. I am picturing them crumbled on top mac n cheese and more.

I made these roasted potatoes for my man and holy crap they were good  They were so flipping good that even though they were initially for him, I ate way more than my portion as they came out of the oven, as they cooled on top and before even hitting the table. I cook them longer than the recipe calls for and I just watch them to get super crispy… I LOVE crispy!!

An abstract art piece caught my eye one day and I tried to do my own version when Doris and I were out at Raw Canvas one night – after some yummy munchies and a couple glasses of wine.

Of course, mine needed to be much less bright and in my neutral palate, but I love the way it turned out and more importantly, we had a ton of fun.

Then there is one of my most favourite canvases ever!!  I came across a brightly coloured African Map of splatters on pinterest and was initially going to buy it til I figured out a way to do it myself.

I die-cut the continent with my Silhouette and dabbed a variety of, yes neutral, paints at again Raw Canvas in 2013 then brought it home to spray and splatter. and once again, love it!!

See this is why Pinterest is so brilliant to me, it is so full inspiration and ideas for you to jump from.

What have you discovered, attempted and loved from Pinterest?? Share… I can’t wait to see

Thanks tons for checking in,

Carole

 

Wordless Wednesday

Layout finally completed from Oct13

As J reaches 7 1/2yrs old, and is FULLY embracing all that THAT means… if you have hung out with a 7 yr old lately then you know what I mean. 🙂
I am drawn to our simpler times and fun memories.

This was a layout I started in Oct 13, and just finished it last month. (one of my goals for 2015 is to complete projects… and yes, I don’t need reminding that it was a goal from 2013 and 2014…lol)

Here is the journalling …

You had another tooth ready to fall out any second, but tomorrow is Gr 1 picture day & your Mom was really concerned about it. So, as we headed to McDonald’s for dinner tonight, I asked you to try & chew on the other side of your mouth so you wouldn’t knock out your tooth accidentally. You thought about it for a second, than responded…

But I eat my veggies on that side.

It was such an innocent and quick response that I had no words. Man, does he have his Dad’s wit!!

Thanks for stopping by,

Carole

I SUCK as a gift giver…well, last yr at least.

WOW, you know you have too much on your plate and perhaps that your last year was beyond overwhelming when you give one of your best friends her birthday gift in January when her birthday was the previous JUNE!!!

And to make things worse, I have actually seen her a few times between June and now but always had too much going on in my head to ever remember to actually bring her gift and card with me.  Uugghh, brutal!!
Sorry JillyBean!!

But I promise 2015, to be/do better! It has already started out much better and I am actually starting to feel like myself again. Alil more energy, alil more business focus and alil more mental grounding than I have had in over 13 mos. And hold the phone… think I am going to get to the gym this week. Doris and my man have inspired me!!

This month, I spent some amazing time with one of my favourite US mixed media artists, Donna Downey (sadly no Bill this time, he was off selecting fabric for Donna’s new line) as well as had some great nights out with friends and am finally getting some good quality time with the man.

All in all, 2015 is looking up. Yes, I know we are only 6 weeks in but come on people, it’s all about keeping positive.

Thanks as always for checking in, Big Hugs, Carole

A new year… is that possible??

I honestly can’t believe it is already January… where did that last year go?

But either way,  here we are on the precipice on a new one and here I am once again full of hope, faith and a fist full of dreams and goals for 2015.

Once I get some time next week, I hope to work on updating the blog with many of the events of 2014 as well as include some of my goals and paths to get them accomplished.

Found this quote on Pinterest last week, and immediately knew I had to make it mine,

All the Best in 2015, and here’s hoping next week when I check in I have been able to keep at least a couple resolutions alive…lol

Carole

 

 

Sea Kayaking off Vancouver Island with the Orca Whales… sort of

Was alil freaked out about this trip as I did NOTHING to prep for it… not one tiny bit of training or toning… lol, yep definitely no toning going on.
This working full time this yr, while trying desperately to keep PC a float is killing me… I am dying, I tell ya!! The big red S has always been a no-brainer for me, literally. Great place to go socialize and never ever gave it a second thought while doing the job or after I punched out but this year has been VERY DIFFERENT…uugghh
ok sorry; … nuff about my work rant… back to the Kayaking.

So as mentioned above, I was alil freaked out about this trip for all the reasons mentioned.. then they gave me this sexy outfit … and again, nuff said 🙂

We got to the orientation meeting, met the guides and previous owner of the company. He recently sold to ROW Adventures but every now and then, comes on these excursions when he is in town, purely because of his love for the region…yay BC!! We were really lucky to have Peter join us. He had a millions stories and tales… I loved it! What a lovely (small) group of people… all American, the other guests were.

We started day one by loading the kayaks down at the pier that was super slippery and filled with jelly fish… or sea jelly as they are now known as. I spent most of my time rescuing each jelly by gently picking them up and placing them back in the water. (Yep, a couple people found it weird… ask me if I cared :))

We then set out for ‘camp’. The paddling started out OK once I got alil instruction but after approx 1 hr, my carpal tunnel started to act up and both hands went numb… uugghh, I didn’t even think about it prior to booking this type of trip. But thank goodness, at about the same time, everyone was starting to feel it and needed bathroom breaks so we pulled into the next beautiful cove. Here we discovered some very unusual star fish… again, known as Sea Stars now… uuggh being politically correct has never been my strong suit… but here was also my first visit to the ‘loo’… yep pine box in the woods. Good times… not.
But to find the silver lining, this was the view on my way back to the beach… gorgeous!

We were lucky to also have Monica with us as a guide, she is studying to be a Marine Biologist so had a ton of info to share and a pure love of nature and wildlife… we got along great …lol… actually she ended up being Peter’s girlfriend… sweet couple

 

 

 

I borrowed my man’s underwater camera and got some fun shots of kelp. It was really interesting learning about it, its growths patterns etc from the guides. I just remember growing up in the West End that it was an irritant while swimming down at English Bay but it was interesting learning the other side of it.

 

Then after WAY too much paddling; we finally made it. We pulled the kayaks WAAAYYYYY up on shore so they wouldn’t float away… they were loaded with all our gear and weighed a friggin ton. While carrying them, all I could think was ‘buy a friggin rope’ … achieves the same result; no floating away.

This stunning view was mine the next morning, actually EVERY morning… the fog hung around alot, and was chilly in the morning but was very cool to kayak through during the day, well, until it was foggy and rainy for 2 days straight. But made for some interesting photo shots… again always looking for the silver lining.

Each morning we were also greeted with an amazing breakfast … we actually got Eggs Benny one day. How the heck do you make Eggs Benedict on a camp fire… these guys are miracle workers. Plus they also went the extra mile by always making everything look beautiful.
Monica usually had a lovely fruit platter all cut and adorned with greenery and/or florals.

When not kayaking thru the day, Peter would take us on nature hikes thru the woods. This is where I learned how to tell a Hemlock… limp top due to its below average sized pine cones and a cedar or spruce.  We also made our way to other shoreline campsites to meet other kayakers… 2 others groups were from England… WOW imagine coming all the way here just to go kayaking on the coast. COOL!

I got some great shots in the woods but this is one of my favs… love it!! When taking pics anywhere… I try to remember on occasion to look up!!

So as I mentioned earlier it rained a fair amount while on this excursion, so I really embraced the layered look. I don’t usually do layers as I don’t like adding extra girth needlessly, since I do a great job on my own 🙂 but here I am showing off my layers and enjoying a few rare moments of sun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are a couple shots of some of the whales we saw… sadly a few times they would come in closer but I never had my camera ready since it was raining so much I didn’t have it out (since I am such a ‘nervous nelly’ about it getting wet)

This was a sweet family pod that visited us a few times… it was great this last time as we put the hydro phone in the water and could hear them ‘chatting’ with each other. It was super cool.

 

 

 

This would’ve been an awesome day to have had my camera ready for as the whales were close to us… and would’ve been super close if we were in the kayaks but as you can see from the water; it was super choppy so we didn’t leave the shore. Plus it had been raining, so my big camera was in my tent.

Here are some random shots of everyday life…

This was the kitchen/eating set- up with Monica’s fruit plate, yummy oatmeal breakfast cake (yep didn’t get my pineapple upset down cake, but loved this one) and my steaming cup of tea. Without a Starbucks anywhere to be seen, I settled for a big cup of Tetley a couple times a day.

Hahaha is it weird that I have this many food shots??…but it is my favourite part of most days.

But I was in a stunning part of our region so let’s finish up with a sunset shot … this was the view from my tent as the sun set each night. We would start ‘Happy Hour’ at 5p… where I discovered the joy of boxed wine, brie warmed on the open fire, sea salted whole nuts, green grapes and crackers…so yummy!!

Thx for checking in once again, All the Best, Carole