Why Weight?

So, I am not special. Like many moms out there, I am trying to lose weight. Also like many moms out there, I am not only trying to lose BABY weight (of which I only have about 4 pounds left, thank you very much) but also MARRIAGE weight. Admit it - you know what I mean. I am hoping, that by writing this post, I will hold myself more accountable. I will eat better. I will exercise more. And I will have a better attitude about my body. I WILL fit into my old clothes - even if it takes time. Who else is trying to lose weight? What helps you stay motivated?

Award Nominations...

Alrighty...so, even though I am still awaiting more questions for my future Q&A post (see below and please comment) I feel the need to share that I have been nominated for two awards:

So here are the rules (rules are included for both awards):

1. Link back to whoever nominated you.
2. Write 11 random facts about yourself.
3. Nominate 11 bloggers.
The next couple were rules from the Liebster award only:
4. Let everyone know when you nominate them.
5. Make up 11 questions for them to answer.
6. Answer the questions that have been given to you.

Just like Shanny, who nominated me, I am nominating my favourite bloggers for two awards instead of just one. Just follow the 6 rules listed above, and you'll be done!

My Random Facts:

1. I can move my baby toes independently, as well as some others, which makes me very good at picking up objects without bending over
2. My idols are Walt Disney and Jim Henson - and basically anyone else who doesn't lose their childhood imagination
3. I love Christmas - I'm already in the planning stages for the next one!
4. I would love to win the lottery (who wouldn't?!) but I rarely buy tickets
5. I'd love to be a stay-at-home mom forever, but finances won't support that (see above, hee hee)
6. I barely have any eyebrows - I have to draw mine on
7. I rarely get sick
8. I refuse to believe that anyone ACTUALLY likes sushi...
9. I had to be tested for HIV as a child, after a blood transfusion in the 80's
10. I have NO interest in seeing the Hunger Games
11. I am a night owl, for sure. No one told my circadian rhythm about 9-to-5 schedules...

Questions from Shanny for the Liebster award:

1- Do you have a phobia? What is it?
- Flying!
2- What came first, the chicken or the egg?
- Egg. Dinosaurs were laying eggs far before birds came along :P
3- Describe yourself in 3 words.
- Obsessive, Loving, Nutty
4- Are you a night person or a morning person?
- Definitely a night person
5- What is your favorite dessert?
- Chocolate cake, from a box
6- Love at first sight, yay or nay?
- Undecided, honestly!
7- Which one would you choose: books, clothes, or gadgets?
- Clothes.
8- What is your favorite hobby?
- Music, although I don't make time for it like I should. I play the piano and flute, and also the piccolo
9- Where are you right now?
- In the family room
10- Why do you blog?
- To record my thoughts, share my creative/craft projects, to reflect upon my family life...so many reasons!
11- What is your favorite season?
- Summer!

Here are MY questions for everyone:

1. Do you give yourself a bedtime? If so, what time?
2. Do you have any recurring dreams?
3. What is your favourite number?
4. Do you have pets? If so, what?
5. If you could bring one famous person back to life to have a chat with, who would it be?
6. Describe your living quarters
7. Name one thing you love about where you live
8. What was your favourite subject in high school?
9. How long can you hold your breath?
10. What is your favourite holiday?
11. Name your favourite unhealthy food

Here are the Nominees! (For both awards)

1. A Baby, Maybe
2. When Hello Means Goodbye
3. Three Cheers for Babies
4. Homemade By Jill
5. The Busscher Family
6. Our Journey to Embryo Adoption
7. From Gummy Bear to Sweet Baby
8. Jenna's Journey
9. Through Clouded Glass
10. Down at Fraggle Rock
11. Cupcakes and Candy Canes

There you have it!

Challenge = FAIL

Okay, so I had to stop the blogging challenge with two days left. Why? Because I just simply could not make time to even turn on the darned computer! The baby has been a bit fussy lately...plus, it was my anniversary, then my birthday + mom's birthday + Canada Day yesterday, so I had a lot to do! Please accept these excuses, and my apologies!

(And yes, you read that correctly - I was born on my Mom's birthday, which also happens to be Canada Day. Any other July 1st birthdays out there?)

Anyway, the last two posts I missed involved talking about my hobbies (which I've already touched on in previous posts) and discussing my dream vacation. That would HAVE to be Bora Bora...although I have no idea how I'd handle the plane ride (I'm afraid of flying!) But the thought of those on-water bungalows is just so relaxing...awww...

For my next post, I need your help! I have always loved it when popular blogs do a "Q&A" for the blog author, so, I'm going to attempt one of those (even though my blog doesn't have too many readers yet, hee hee). It will turn into a "getting to know you" type of thing! So, in the comments section on this post, ask me your questions! Any question, and you can ask more than one! It can be about creative stuff, family life...as long as it isn't too personal, I'll answer!

And one last thing...Happy (belated) Canada Day, and Happy (early) Independance Day to my American neighbours!

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!