Friday Link Ups

Yes, I am three days letting posting this..despite my being off all wknd. Ugh!

Anyway....here are some of my favourites from this past wk.

1) Cleaning Fairy

I have already mentioned this, but my aunt came on Monday to help us get ready for Christmas, in the way of cleaning. You wouldn't know it by on how things look now, but it was clean..honest!

2) Brother/Big Bang Theory 48 Hours

Isaac came for his WAY belated birthday present. We watched Big Bang, but we also watched a few movies, which was fun.

3) Free Groceries/Free People Magazine

Mom bought us groceries again. Yay! Crackers, cheese, fruit, drinks. Yum!!! I also just found out that Mom bought the December 7th issues of People...the one with my BFF Adele on the cover, so that makes me very happy. Oh yah, and she is going to give it to me. I have been trying very hard to not buy a ton of magazines right now.

4) Actually Getting $ for Stuff  I Sold

I actually got almost $20 in 24 hours selling some of our Christmas decorations on the bidding site. Love it! It's really funny, b/c when I first started with the site, I didn't sell much AT ALL, but in the last little while, it seems that some of my stuff will sell...if even for a few cents!

5) All things Christmas

SO many things regarding this...Christmas decorating is done in our house...finding A Charlie Brown Christmas on DVD, lots of yummy treats, the 12 Stars of Christmas at Starbucks (which I just found out about today), Christmas magazines, and music...the list goes on. I am feeling a bit down about Christmas this year, but I do love the excitement and wonder that it brings as well.

It is now Tuesday night/Wednesday morning :) Almost in time to link up again for this Friday :)

Have a great rest of the week!

Weekend/Days off Wrap Up/Let's Be Friends Blog Hop

**** I am linking up with Tiffay@The Dwelling Tree for this week's Let's Be Friends Blog Hop****

Happy Monday!!!

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Our went really well. Very productive, but fun as well.

 THURSDAY
 I was up and off to a staff meeting that didn't happen. I had an appointment at 11:15, so I stayed out and grabbed McD's for breakfast. I went to my appointment, and came home and hung out. I went back out and ran some errands, I think. I grabbed a few things for supper (as in nachos), and we had a lovely supper and watched some shows. I also watched THE WIZ, which was awesome. Hubby went to bed early, and I just hung out and watched that, and blogged.

FRIDAY 
Was payday!!! I relaxed in the morning, and I paid some bills. I went to Starbucks, and grabbed an Eggnog Latte, and it was SO nice, and SO busy inside, that I sat outside and journaled for a bit. I also got some Christmas Blend coffee from the GC that we got from A's sister. I went to the library, and I ran a few more errands, where I found the DVD copy of A Charlie Brown Christmas, and then went home, and Skyped with my sister, who is in Far, Far Away. We started putting the lights on the tree. We had fish and chips for supper, and I went out and had coffee with my friends at Starbucks (yes, I went to the same SBX twice in one day..lol). We had a nice time. I came home and hubby was already in his show, so I read Christmas Magazines in our room while listening to Christmas music, which was so, so fun. I think I watched some more shows when hubby went to bed. I think we got caught up on some of our shows on the PVR.


SATURDAY
Had a nice sleep in (until 8:30..which is early for me..lol, and hung out in the morning. I dragged got hubby out to a local craft fair, which was fun. I bought some hand made earrings, and we got some sausage from the indoor Farmers' Market. We went to Tim Horton's and had a snack, and tried their Sugar Cookie Lattes. They were ok, but not great. I love the SC White Hot Chocolate, though!!! We came home and started decorating the tree. We listened to Christmas music on our TV (thanks, Stingray!) and then hubby wanted some glue and glitter, so I told him to come with me, since I didn't know what kind he wanted. We went to two dollar stores before we found what he wanted. We went to Wendy's for a quick supper. On our way back, we took a detour, and drove around and looked at some Christmas lights. SO FUN! The fact that I got him out TWICE in one day is amazing!! We did a bit more to/on the tree, and we watched A Charlie Brown Christmas, and then he went to bed, and I watched A Christmas Carol. I stayed up late, as usual, watching Christmas episodes of FRIENDS, and some of Pure Luck. I also put some of our Christmas tree decorations on the local bidding site, and all but one set sold!!!


SUNDAY
I tried a new church (well, IT wasn't new, but it wasn't my usual church), and it was good. I grabbed a GBL, and a muffin on the way. Yes, I was late. The service was good. I might even go back. I came back, grabbed hubby, and we went to A and K's for lunch, tree decorating, cookies, and a movie. It was fun. We came home around 4, and we finished up the tree, and I decorated a bit more of the house. We listened to Christmas music, and I had popcorn for supper. I called my cousin for a late night chat, and I watched Christmas episodes of FRIENDS.

So that was our weekend. I hope that my next set of days off are a bit quieter. It was good, though.

Christmas/Winter Bucket List 2015-16

So last year, I came up with this bucket list for Christmas/Winter. Well, I thought it would be fun to do another one. I was just re-reading the one from last year, and I totally forgot about half of them!!! Here they are again to refresh all of our memories:

1. Buy ONE Christmas DVD/CD, some fun accessory, ornament, decoration. (I have bought A Charlie Brown Christmas on DVD, got a new set of Christmas earrings, and I got a few ornaments from people so far this year, and I bought some decorations).
2. Sleep by the tree with its lights on (you can interpret that how you wish..lol).
3. Make a Gingerbread house with hubby (we usually do this every year).
4. Baking (either with someone or by myself).
5. Bake Christmas cookies for our neighbours (I have done this the last couple of years...not sure if I will do this this year though..)
6. Read Christmas magazines (or a Christmas novel) while drinking some Christmas bevvy, in front of the tree, while listening to Christmas music (Bonus if it's snowing!). (already read my mags while reading Christmas magazines)
7. Watch Christmas movies with hubby (as well as alone). (already done this)
8. Make (and drink!) either homemade apple cider or some mulled beverage. (did this with K awhile back)
9. Christmas Carol (I actually don't do this..but hey, you never know!)
10. Go to a store (Wal-Mart, Superstore, etc) at 2 or 3 in the morning (while they are open 24 hours).
11. Take a walk (downtown would be awesome) in the snow while the snow is falling.
12. Do a Christmas Bible Reading Plan.
 13. Attend an indoor Christmas Event (Play, musical, theatre, concert, {either church and/or community} etc).
14. Attend an outdoor Christmas Event (Santa Parade, Holiday train, Christmas tree lighting, Christmas Community event...ie...Basics for Babies...Gift Fundraiser, etc).
15. Watch a Christmas special (not movie). Bonus if it's live. (I already did this..watched THE WIZ, and it was great!)
16. Help Serve the Hungry (Salvation Army, etc)/Do a Good Deed (Give someone a GC, adopt a family/single Mom, etc).
17. Go to a Christmas Eve (or Day) Service (or Mass, etc).
18. Go Ice Skating.
19. Sip hot cocoa/hot chocolate in front of a real fire (bonus if it's outside!)/roast marshmallows/s'mores (bonus if it's with hubby..and even BIGGER bonus, if I end up turning this into a picnic; stargaze)
20. Decorate the tree (duh!).
21. Go and check out the lights (on houses) (drive or walk).
22. Visit a Farm (Christmas Tree/Stables, etc- Ok, I realize that we WILL be visiting OUR farm/ranch, but sometimes, visiting another farm is kind of fun-and go on a sleigh ride.
23. Toboggan
24. Play in the snow; build a fort/snowman, make a snow angel.
25. Christmas Crafts (already done, and I am horrible at it!!).

Things to do with H:

1. Build a Snowman.
2. Bake.
3. Watch a Christmas movie. (already done, while I was looking after him...twice actually, as I was there a week prior. Last week, we watched the Old Classics..so fun!)
4. Do a Christmas craft. (already done..as I said, I am horrible)
5. Go to a Christmas event (not sure if this will happen, but you never know)
6. Read a Christmas story together.

One thing that I didn't put on there this year, as we will be in town for Christmas, was to go shopping at the new grocery store in Clearwater. That is a memory I will always cherish...so many fun times spent with Mom shopping "late" at night. So fun!!

So...that's my/our list for this year!!! As you can see, I have done a few already...so that's a good thing!! What things do you have planned this year?

In a Blogging Funk

I seem to be in a blogging rut/funk lately. I haven't really had the urge, or desire to blog. I had a bunch of posts in my drafts, but I ended up deleting them. I have a few that I will probably publish on/in here soon, but I have to finish them. I hate when I get like this...not that having a blog is a thing that that I have to do, but it is something that I do like doing, but when I get into a funk, then I wonder if I should even continue blogging. I never know what to write, or where this blog should go. Blog link ups are fun, and all, but I don't really think they show the real me.

I have been in a funk in general. Just blah about everything. I do try to be content with my life, and to not complain, especially when we read, hear, and see of all the horrible things going on in the world. But, I definitely feeling like I am under something, I am just not sure what it is. Some of it has to do finances, and I have decided to be even more strict with our budget/spending. We shall see on how that goes. December isn't really the time to start such things, but you have start sometime!

Here are a few things that happened in the last fiscal week.

I looked after H for about 48 hours last wk. We had such a fun time. I took him to Tim Horton's, Starbucks, the library, to Wal-Mart, and to the dollar store. And, like any good auntie, I bought him things that I couldn't afford. Ha! Actually, I really didn't spend much on him. We had fun; watching some Christmas shows, taking a drive to see the lights, and having lots of fun chats. A (my brother) took us to lunch at Swiss Chalet. Yum. I took last Friday off as a lieu day, which was awesome.

I worked last wknd, and it was actually a boring wknd, but I got some paper work done, so that's good. Monday, my Aunt came to help us clean up our living room. I gotta say, I am SUPER happy that she came. Even Anker was ok with it. You wouldn't know it now, but our living room was clean. We now have Christmas stuff strewn everywhere. Tuesday, I ran some errands, and my brother came over to have is long - awaited Big Bang Theory Wknd (that was during the wk). The guys also watched Jurassic World, while I journalled in our room. I went to a ladies Christmas party at our church. I wasn't in a super good mood, but I had a fun time, anyway. I came away with a nice scarf, and a cup and coaster thing. Very cool.

Wednesday (and some of Tuesday), was spent trying to figure out on why hubby doesn't have his PWD Pharmacare coverage anymore. Neither of us were amused, and I think it is just a paper glitch, and I hope that it will be resolved SOON!! At any rate....he SHOULD get his chq this month (due to the new system, he hasn't been getting a chq since August), but we will see on the 16th.

Mom bought us some groceries, which was very helpful. We had a lot of the food while Isaac was here. We got lots of yummy treats.

We hope to get our tree and the rest of our house decorated this wknd. All while watching TV/movies, blogging, journalling, errands, and reading magazines. We shall see on how much I/we get done.

I watched a few shows today....Y&R, and a Lego Documentary that hubby had recorded, I also watched THE WIZ this evening, which was great! I love on how NBC is doing a Christmas musical every year. I missed last year (Peter Pan), and I had on our PVR for months, but I never got the chance to watch it. I did watch Sound of Music two years ago, though, and I thought that was pretty good.

I think that about sums up the last week or so. I will try to get back into semi-regularly blogging sometime in the near future next week. LOL.

Friday Link ups!

Happy Sunday/Monday!!!

I hope everyone had a great wknd! I worked all wknd (though I did take Friday off as a lieu day..yay!), so I am rather tired, but happy that I just have one more day of work, then I get a day off. Yay!!

Here are the five faves of this wk:

1) Gift Cards

Hubby's sister gave us our Christmas gift early: 4 GC's! One for Starbucks, one to The Bay (A Canadian department store), and one to Cineplex, $25 each, and a Visa GC for $50. We are stoked!!!


2) Time With H.

I spent a little over 48 hours with H this past wk. His mommy was away for a few days, and she had asked me awhile back if I would mind looking after him while my brother was at work. We had a such a fun time. He really is a ham, and yes, I had SUCH FUN spoiling him!!!

3) My Fairy God-Mother

AKA: My aunt who wants to clean up our house. I am not sure on how to put this, but I am not the cleanest housekeeper around (well, I used to be...then I got married..lol)...and top it off with my working, and hubby being a bit of a hoarder (though, thanks to our shed and a spare room, that has eleviated the issue), and now that we have a kitty again, well, it can get a bit messy. Aunty V came over to see our house, and a few days later, I sent a text to our family members asking us to pray for us. She called me and said that she wanted to come and help us clean up our house to get it ready for Christmas. We weren't sure on how to take it, as we didn't think our house is TOO bad...but I really think she just wants to help us out. Besides, she is bringing and making lunch.

4) Showing (some) Restraint

I have been a little bit better at/and not spending so much money on coffee, and magazines. I SO wanted to get this wks issues of US and People, b/c it has my girl Adele on it, but I held restraint. Even my aunt said that she was impressed that we haven't had to borrow money from them lately.

5) A Husband Who Understands/Gets It:

Not gonna divulge too much info, but spent about 10 minutes (which is a long time for him...lol..I mean, I interrupted his show..lol) listening to me while I went on and on about my day. Love it. Hashtag #blessed.

5.1) You Version Bible App

I actually had this one as Christmas/Advent Devotions, but I HAD to change it, b/c there are just so many great things I love about this app. I JUST now checked out my Christmas/Advent Devos on/in my YV Bible App. People, this is awesome. LOVE IT! There are probably 20 devos...ranging from 2 days to 30 days. It's fabulous! I am STILL trying to get through my Devotion (49 days) on Infertility that I started in the summer. I keep forgetting about it...then I may read a day or two...love the Sciptures, but I love the devotional content. They are always so encouraging. I also just finished a 5 day devotional titled Believing in God No Matter What. It was great reading the verses and the content.


That's all for this week!!!

Friday Things/TToT

Happy Saturday, Friends!!!

Hope everyone had a good week. My week started out not great, but then it got better. Oh wait, that was last week. This week has gone pretty well. Work is going is going well, and everything is awesome. Isn't that what everyone loves and wants to hear? Ha! Actually, it as gone pretty well. Nothing too exciting, but nothing horrible, either, so that's good.

Here are my five for this week:

1) All things Christmas!

I thought that my parents had ALL of our Christmas stuff, and it turns out, that we had a couple of boxes....some of the decorations, and ALL of my movies and music..so, yay! I also bought some Cutie oranges yesterday-I was looking for some Mandarin oranges, but I couldn't find any-, and I am drinking my Christmas "coffee" out of our Christmas mugs. I also found and brought out my sweaters, and my winter/Christmas PJ's. I have already started listening to Christmas music from my own CD/TV/YouTube, and I have watched HA2, and have watched a couple of Christmas movies (or is it just one?). I watched Madea's Christmas, which is awesome. I am going to my brother and SIL's today to watch a Christmas movie, and drink cider. Yay!!

2) Date Night with Hubby.

Last night, A and I went on a date. Yes, a real one. We went to Montana's and we had a yummy meal, then we went and watched HG MJ PT2. I didn't get a picture of us at the theatre, as my phone was nearly dead, and I didn't get the greatest picture of my food, but trust me, we went out on a date!

We event went on a late night Wal-Mart run, as I had forgotten to grab a few things when I was there earlier in the day.

...speaking of which....

3) A New Electric Mixer

Our hand-held electric mixer died a couple of weeks ago, so we bought a new one last night for under $20 bucks. It's no Kitchen Aid, but I think it will do the trick.

4) Starbucks Christmas Mugs

I bought two Starbucks Mugs off of one of one the bidding sites yesterday. I over-bid a bit, cause I thought that EVERYONE would want them, but it turned out that I was the only bidder. Anyway..two for 7 bucks isn't bad, and I really love them.

5) A New CD (and the Restraint to buy ONLY one):

I FINALLY bought the new Carrie Underwood CD! I also ONLY bought one...despite my wanting to buy about 10 that I had seen (Christmas, and non-Christmas...yup.looking at Adele's new one), and lots of movies (both Christmas and non). Anyway...I love it!! I know have ALL her CD's!!!

6) Pop-Tarts

I have wanted Pop-Tarts for awhile now, and I finally bought some last night. Now, they are no pastry struedel, but they are pretty good. I may or may not have had two for breakfast this morning.

7) Grandma Getting Better

My gramma has been in and out of hospital (and surgery) all summer with her appendix. She got it out a few weeks back, and she is doing awesome. My mom was there when she got sick the second (or fourth, depending on how you look at it), and my other two aunts were there to help her as well. I am SO thankful that she is doing awesome!

8) TV

Ok, I know this is super-shallow, but there are some good TV shows on lately. Amazing Race, Y&R, Saving Hope, Grey's Anatomy, Hot in Cleveland (I am binge-watching season 5 as I type this), Big Bang Theory, DWTS, and a few new ones that look great, and that I have already PVR'd; Cake Wars, Farmhouse Rules, and The Pioneer Woman, plus a few movies (again, Christmas and non), that I found on several channels. I am "sad" that a few of them are now on Winter Hiatuses, but that's a few less that I have to watch :)

9) Thankful/Grateful

I just touched on/about the attacks in Paris, and Beirut last week, but I wanted say that I am SO thankful that I live in this country. Although I realize that it could happen here, I am thankful that it hasn't yet, and that we live in a relatively small city, that things like that are highly unlikely. That being said, I am also cautious that it COULD happen here.

10) Cheap Gas

Y'all, gas around here is CHEAP! And that makes me/us SO happy!!!

I filled up last night (even though our car was 3/4 full, just based on principle.

Well, those are the five and 10 for this week. Hope everyone's weekend is going swimmingly.

Linking up with...Life in Leggings 
For:

XOXO Rebecca for:

Bright on a Budget
for:

The Farmer's WifeFor:

ALizAdventures
For:

The SlaughtersFor:

...and....

A Fly on Our Chicken Coop Wall
For:

Guest Post Swap, Anyone?

So, I am just throwing this out there...would anyone want to do a guest post swap with me? Is this a thing? Do people pay to do one? I would love a little more traffic to/on my blog, AND I would like to talk on someone else's blog about infertility. So..is anyone interested? I have seen this on other blogs, and I thought it would be a fun thing to do! I think it's fun to see/read other people's guest posts on other people's blogs. It's neat to see who other bloggers love to follow, and why they think these people are cool.

Yes, I realize that this is all this post contains....but I am too tired to write a longer post right now. I might combine this with another post later this wknd.