Day 3

Two questions were asked of us today:

"Tell us about your social media! Where can we find you? Link to your twitter, pinterest, Facebook, instagram, or google +. If you don't use those sites, then tell us why not!"

I use facebook...that's about it. I don't think that my life is interesting enough for Twitter, and I honestly don't know what instagram or google + is! I barely know what pinterest is, either!

"Also, what are your favorite websites? Are there any that you check daily? What do you like about them?"

My favourite places to go, on the web, are actually other blogs :) One of my go-tos is this. Katie, the writer, is SUCH an inspiration. She's had tragedy in her life, major upheavals, and also, in the end, such joy. I highly, highly recommend reading her blog (if you don't already!). It will give you a new perspective in life, for sure.

Another one I love is written by a women named Bev. Her blog started as a way to detail her struggle with infertility, and now, thankfully, it follows her growing family. I LOVE her writing style, and have also been inspired by her writings, so I suggest you check it out!

Since you seem to like them...

...here are a few more cupecake designs...

Turtle

Pie, anyone?

Easter Bunny

Some of the designs are ones that I come up with on my own (Green Bear, Pirate cake), but I get a lot of ideas and inspiration from the "Hello Cupcake" book line. I have other cupcake and cake books as well, but the HC brand seem to feature ideas that are a tad easier and less expensive to make! I just saw that there is a new book out, and I'm practically frothing at the mouth to get it...!!!

Also, I love that our Bulk Barn stores rent cake pans, for just 1.99 per day. Much better than purchasing them!

Commenting Challenge - Day 2

Today's topic instructs me to blog about my blog.

Uh oh. I think I kind of blew it, by writing about that yesterday. That's what I get for not following ALL instructions! Well, let's see what I can do...

Well, Iève already told you about how I stopped blogging, how I want to re-enter the blogosphere, and what I want to blog about. I have even told you a little bit away why I want to blog. But here is what you do NOT yet know:

1. This computer is broken and will not allow me to use certain keys; specially, ones that control certain types of punctuation. I prefer to use my husbands computer, but right now, this is all I have. I am telling you this so that you understand why my writing may seem choppy or mispelled at all today, as I try to avoid using words and phrases that involve those keys.

2. I like cake and cupcake decorating. That is one thing that I forgot to mention in yesterdays post...and something I would like to post about on this blog as well. I have never taken any cake decorating classes, so my creations are not always very polished or professional looking, but nonetheless, I am proud of them. Here are some examples on what I have done in the past:

Ladybugs, for a girlie party... Birthday cake, for a little pirate... New Years Eve celebration Valentines Day
Cake, made to look like my daughters cherished teddy bear...

3. My want to blog was the result of being inspired by some wonderful blog ladies. I would like to write more about my favourites, but in case that turns out to be one of the topics of this challenge...I will hold off :)

Tell me about your blogging loves!

Commenting Challenge!

Two posts in one day!!! Amazing!

Anyway...even though I really want to blog more, I've realized that, in order to feel motivated to post, I need to have readers! I mean, isn't that the point of blogging? To inspire, motivate, or share your life with others? I now know what kind of blog I want this to be - one that focuses on not only parenting, but also crafting, baking, and anything else that ordinary life has to offer! To help others realize that our lives don't have to be glamourous to be incredible!

So, in an attempt to inspire myself, and hopefully gain some followers as well, I have joined a blogging challenge! You can read details here:



Today's topic instructs me to introduce myself. So, here I go...

For any new blog readers: Welcome! Even though I've had this blog for awhile, I really didn't post a lot, and that is something that I want to change! So welcome to my new and improved blog!

My name is Bren, and I live in Ontario, Canada, with my husband and two children (who, as you may see from the photos to your right, are quite adorable). We also share a home with my parents, and while I realize that this arrangement is many peoples' nightmare, it works very well for us! In the future, we are considering getting a home with a completely separate in-law suite (as opposed to the partial one we have now), so we are considering this a "trial run" to see if it works out! So far, it is!

One thing that a lot of people don't know about me is that I've had some pretty serious problems with mental health in the past, and I'm happy to report that although there are still some struggles, I am SO much better! I will probably address some of my history at some point on this blog, but it's pretty depressing (no pun intended!) and I'd like to keep things a bit more upbeat for now!!! All I will say is that you can have these problems and still be a very normal person - and I consider myself pretty normal!

Hope you will join me in my quest to lead a fulfilling life!

What's Been Bothering Me...

I can't decide how to start this post without having it turn into one major rant-fest, so I've decided that posting it as a list is the best way to go. Here are ten things that are just driving me crazy right now:

1. Mothers judging other mothers. Whether it's breast vs. bottle, working vs. staying at home, cloth vs. disposable diapers, or even whether or not to feed your child organic, it seems that moms just can't catch a break. Why is that? Can't we be supportive for a change?

2. People who won't wash dishes. Ever. Just because there is a dishwasher does not mean that you should put in pots that take up the entire bottom space, when it takes two minutes to wash them by hand.

3. The housing market here. It just hasn't dropped as it should have.

4. The fact that, due to financial, emotional, and other reasons, we are done having children. (Shanny, I can totally relate to your latest post about the whole "third child" thing)

5. People who use their turn signal when they don't need to (like when the road CURVES) and people who don't use it at all.

6. Sushi. Nobody ACTUALLY likes Sushi...

7. Post-secondary education: it's expensive as heck, and often doesn't help you get a job anyway. And on that subject...

8. Businesses that could pretty easily train a fairly intelligent person to do the job, but still require a university degree to even get an interview...even though they are still going to have to train that person to do the job...

9. Politics. Or, rather, politicians. Stop wasting your time fighting with each other and actually try to start solving problems...

10. My scale. Obviously, it's confused. I don't actually weight those extra pounds, do I?

What is bothering you? Feel free to leave comments...

So it's been...two years?

My oh my, how the time does fly! Anyone still listening? Because I have so much to say... But what, oh what should be first new post be about? You help me decide - leave a comment! What would you like to hear about first? 1. Donovan's birth story 2. Our family's future (more kids, yay or nay) 3. What has been bothering me 4. FAQ about my family Glad to be back!