Five on Friday/Randoms

Here are some Friday Faves from the last while. I will try to keep them short and brief :)

1) Shoes
I bought some shoes from Value Village a couple of weeks ago, and I really like them. Well, I love one pair. The other pair? Not so much! I wore them to my work Christmas party, and it did not go well! At least they were pretty! I might sell them, or I might keep them for when I need a fun pair of shoes. I really love the other pair, though!

               I love these boots! These shoes below? Not so much! But don't they look pretty?

2) Christmas (plans, movies, parties, decorating, baking, etc)
I actually decorated our tree a couple of weeks ago! We also bought some more ornaments today, so we put some of those on the tree. I went to another party that we girls had. 3 of us were missing, but we four had fun. I had fun at our work Christmas party last wknd. There was fun, food, laughter, and spitting crickets (dude, it's a thing!). The party was over by 8:30. #christianspartyhard I also started (finally!) doing some baking this weekend! I of course, have watched a million Christmas movies!! Our plans this year involve going to Victoria to see Anker's sister and her family. She found us an awesome deal (well, an awesome deal would be for 10$, but it is close enough!), as we don't want to drive, and the bus service since Greyhound closed down is a bit dicey. We are going for 4 days, and we are looking forward to it! There have been a few girls' parties, as well. I think I have blogged about them, but 4 of us girls got together this last Thursday. We had appies, and we watched a movie, called Book Club. It was hilarious!

3) New Owners of our Complex
We have new owners of our apartment complex! We were a bit worried as who would buy it, but we found out WHO bought it, well, we were pretty happy! The owners are actually semi-related to me! The want to keep the place as is, and not demolish it...nor raise the rent..Yay!

4) Hypoxy Rear Defrost thing working
Late last winter (or early spring), the connector to our rear defroster on our car went. Anker found something online that would work. It never came. Well, it took about 4,000 phone calls to PayPal and to Canada Post, and lo and behold, it came! He put it on the next morning, and it worked!!! We said a few prayers that day, y'all!

5) Not getting sick
While everyone at work has been sick with some sort of plague, I thankfully haven't gotten it! I know I still could, so I will not be smug, but to be honest, I am really surprised that I haven't gotten it yet!

6) Dates with Anker
Anker and I went out on American Thanksgiving evening. We were only going to go for coffee (which we also did!), but then went to Denny's for dinner. I had to the Turkey Dinner, and it was actually pretty good!!! It was nice to spend some time together. Then, yesterday, we ran an errand, and then grabbed coffee on our way home. Last weekend, we decorated the tree, and then we had brunch in front of the tree, while we watched Christmas Chronicles. It was cute!

7)) Grant Mullen Wknd
One weekend in October, I went to my parents'. The churches in town were co-hosting a speaker named Dr. Grant Mullen. He is a doctor from Ontario, who now specializes in mental health. I went all day Saturday, and I really enjoyed it. I also got his book, and Mom bought me a dvd.

8) Socials /Snack/Secret Santa(work)
We have socials (coffee/snack/drinks out) once a month. I didn't go to the last one, but I will probably go to the one this week. It is fun to go and hang out with my colleagues, have some laughs, and just relax at the end of the day. We also have snack day one a month (they sometimes happen on the same day!), which is kind of fun! We have lots of fun goodies, and it makes packing my lunch a bit easier (less food to take!). We also had our 2nd annual secret santa at work. It is completely optional to be involved, but I would say about half of us do. I know it's a bit more $ (not super expensive gifts, but it does add up), but it is fun, and it helps to get to know our co-workers a bit more.

 The gifts started coming in on Monday, and I wasn't sad about it. Below is a teacher gift from one of the students.

                           I think this was Day 2 of our Secret Santa. I got chocolates. Yum!!!

9) Senior (and our own) light tours
I went out with a friend to our city's light show last Thursday. It was good, but I could have covered more ground if I had driven myself. It was nice not to have to worry about (not) driving off the road while looking at the lights. After the tour, we went downtown, where we had coffee/hot chocolate and goodies, and listened to a Rube Band play. I was home SUPER late, so was a tad annoyed..oh well. At least I could say that I have gone, now. A week or so prior, my friend and I drove around (after getting coffee from McD's) looking at the Christmas lights. I had fun driving around looking at everyone's lights!

10) Two Party Weekend
The Remembrance Day Long Wknd, I went to TWO parties on ONE night! Can you believe it? You would think I was 35, or something! Our friend's bday was on the 10th, so we went to a Chinese place, and it was so good! After we were done, I went over to my other friend's place for a couple of hours, as she was having her bday party, and she had invited me. I wasn't sure if I was going to go, but I ended going for a bit, and I had a fun time!

11) The Grinch
I saw the new Grinch movie a couple of weekends ago. I liked it.

12) Baby, It's Cold Outside
I am glad this song is back on the air. Really, people have WAY too much time on their hands and over think, sometimes!

13)No snow
I am happy that it hasn't snowed yet! I really do dislike winter driving!!

14) Winter wear
I finally took out our winter wear the other wknd. It has been fairly cold on and off the last couple of weeks. It had to be done!

15) Kraft Lime Dressing
Y'all, if you haven't tried toe Kraft Lime Dressing yet, you should! It is devine!

16) Christmas Concert
Our school's Christmas concert is this week. I will be going, as moral support :) It should be a fun and crazy time!!

17) Being an Aunty Again
I have been sitting on this news for awhile, but I am going to be an aunty again! My brother Luke, and his wife are going to have baby #3 in the spring!! N is 6, and L is almost 4! We are all so happy for them, as they have had some miscarriages, which has been very heartbreaking for them.

18) Advent Bible Reading
I have been slowly been reading some of the Advent readings. I have about 10, including one that I started last year.

19) Placement Cards
I have also decided to open up an Etsy shop, for clearly, I have missed my calling. I was asked to make placement cards for our work party last wknd, and Y'all, they were epic!

20) No Payment on my SL for a few months
No payment on my SL for the next few months, which makes us very happy! We are going to be really short on funds for the next couple of months, as we found out that Anker won't get his full disability cheque next week, and won't get any in January. Not sure on how we we will manage, but we will somehow.

21) Pinterest ideas for school
I am pretenting that I am a teacher, and going online to find a few ideas to keep the kids occupied for the next week or so. I am happy that I found two Bingo Games, a couple of Booklets (including a memory game), and a few crafts :) If you want to find a relatively easy craft, go here to check it out! It is a Christmas Tree craft. You can decorate it with whatever you want! I found a few things from the dollar store, and they worked really well (small pom-poms, sticky "jewels", sticky "gifts", etc). Go here for some free Bingo printable!

22) Steeped Tea Party
I had/held an online Steeped Tea party last week, and I didn't think that I was going to get the host (or any other) gift, and sure enough, at the last minute, some orders came in, so I was able to get a ton of stuff!!!

Five on Friday - First Week of School Edition

Yes, it's now Wednesday, and I am just now getting to write about LAST Week...lol.

1) Back to School Picture

I don't have children, but I took a picture of myself going back to school...because, you know..#blogginggoals.

2) An Awesome Class

I love the class this year! They are all SO sweet!!

3) Mid-Week Waffles

Who says that waffles have to be only on weekends? Anker had made waffles the weekend before, and I woke up craving them, so I had them with peaches, bananas, and Greek yogurt. Yum!

4) An Amazing Teacher

I work with an AMAZING TEACHER! She is so sweet and patient with the kids AND me!!! She is super caring and kind. She brought me a PSL on Friday!

5) Friday Coffee With Friends

Two of my co-workers and I went for coffee on Friday after school. I had the SCM, and it was SO GOOD!!

Sorry so late, but I (and so can you) still link up!!

Five on Friday

 I actually cannot blv it's Friday already! This last wk went by fast! I had a great week, and I hope you all did, too. Here are some of my faves of the week (not in order).

1. Steeped Tea Party

On Sunday evening, I hosted my first ever (of any kind) online party! B/c our place is small, and I stress about having people over, not to mention that fact that Anker doesn't get out of the house, having an in-house party stresses me out a bit. I know that these online/FB parties are all the rage, and I have even been invited to, well, LOTS (I don't think I have actually really "gone"to one!). Well, I gotta say that I had fun, and that I would definitely do another one. I love that I can shop in my jammies, just chilling out at home. I love a night out with the girls as much as the next gal, but I also love me a night in. Plus, you can invited 100 people! I had gone to a tea party at K's before Christmas, and although I hadn't bought anything, I did love their products. Most everyone who came to my party bought something, so I got a lot of credits, which turn, allowed me to try some of their stuff.

2. Coffee with a Friend/Trying a New (to me) Coffee Shop 
My friend Jill, and I have been trying to get together for MONTHS! Btwn my being a hermit, our living on opposite sides of the city, to her busy life, to my getting sick, Christmas, etc..well, it's been awhile. We FINALLY got together on Wednesday for an hour visit, while her daughter was at gymnastics. I also got to try out PDK Cafe, a place that has been open for just over two years, but, b/c of the location (downtown, pay for parking), and to my forgetting about it, I have never been had the chance to try it yet. It was SO GOOD! Their donuts are fabulous (I even was nice and brought one back to Anker, plus I brought one home for the next day). Their mocha was DELISH! I will be definitely be going back.

3. Victoria on PBS

I am loving this new series! Yes, I do realize that most of these are things that I have previously mentioned. Well, what can I say? Really, what can I say? These are the exciting things happening in my life. Ha! Seriously, though..this is going to be a great series. I am not sure on how many seasons it will air...maybe 10?

4. Winning A Pasta Dish

I won a pasta dish from a local pizza place (not sure why I am having issues with posting links right now). I ended up buying another $8 pasta dish, and they were both really good. Plus, I have found one of the best garlic breads ever! I always love winning things!! I had actually one a few GC's from  them before, but I had never redeemed them, b/c they were only $5 (when a regular dish is usually $20+, you tend to not worry so much about going clear cross town to grab a measly 5 buck GC), but I thought a pasta would be worth it. Plus, I picked it up after church on Sunday. Bold Pizzeria.
 


5. A Great Week.

I generally had a great week. Anker got some (sort of) unexpected money from PWD, a spent Thursday evening with a friend, the work week went well, and tonight, A and I met up with my aunt and uncle and K, and we went to the movies. The guys saw Star Wars, and we girls saw Hidden Figures. Amazing! Watch it. I also cleaned up my blog layout a bit, and I am deleting some blogs that I no longer follow/inactive blogs. I went out for coffee (alone, of course), had some library time, read magazines, got kicked off of the FMC bloggers group...(true story)..it was a great week! It really was! Oh, and Anker started taking down the tree this week, and we are having a turkey dinner (just the two of us) tomorrow evening. Or maybe just the turkey. Who knows?

Have a great weekend!

Five on Friday/SUYL/Random 5

Well, I am FINALLY "caught up" on posts, as of today :)

Yes, it is the little things, people!

I am linking up with the girls for this wks FoF. Yes, I could do a hyper link with all four, but since it has their blog names on here, well, you can find them. I link up with April, Liz, Darci and Christina.

1. New (to me) Wardrobe
My friend and neighbour gave me a bunch of clothes the other night. I love them!!! Tops, pants, and some tank tops. I don't need to go shopping for, well, at least awhile!!! I will post a few pics sometime.

2. New Hair
I got my hair cut the other day. It hasn't been this short in forever. I happened upon some pics of when I got my hair cut last summer, but it wasn't that short...
Here is a little comparison:
June 2013

 Feb 2014

                                                        See? Shorter!! I really like it.

3. Roll up the Rim is back!!!
What Dunkin' Donuts are to Americans, Tim Hortons is to Canadians. As much as I love my 'Bucks, I love me some TH's FV. SOOOO good!! Plus each cup has TWO chances of winning this year.

4.  Canadians winning GOLD in Women's Hockey.
Yes, we won, but the Americans made us work VERY hard!!! It was a great game for both teams, ladies. But you gotta learn to be good/gracious losers!!! You all looked mighty ticked at the medal ceremony.

5. The Rest of our VDay Wknd
Our wknd ended up being ok. Saturday evening, hubby and I watched a couple of movies while cuddling, which was really nice. Hubby also bought me a few things on Sunday for Vday. I think we watched a movie on Sunday night, too.

                                          Yes, they are red and white candles for Canada.

                                              Linking up with Kelly for this wks SUYL.
This week it is on infertility. This SUYL was originally slated to be done last summer, but she completely forgot about it, and she decided to do it another time. Well, the time is finally here!!!

Here is the original post from June 2013 intended for that wks SUYL:

I am blessed to be linking up with www.kellyskornerblog.com this week to talk about infertility.
This has become a very real and sad reality for Anker and I. And this has a special place in my heart. I haven't really talked too much about our infertile journey, but there are a few posts in which I have highlighted/touched on it.
As some of you are aware, I have PCOS (if you don't know what it is, look it up), which basically causes me not to ovulate on my own. Since finding this out (for sure) in Jan 2009 (approx.), I have been on Metformin. It has eased my cycles immensely, for which I am grateful. After trying for awhile, we (or I) started wondering why I wasn't getting pregnant. We were going to get some tests going, when I got sick in March 2010. Fast forward to August 2010; we went to the BCWCH for me to get checked out and to see if whether my body could indeed carry a baby. I was thought that I was told that we could cautiously go ahead with getting pregnant. I was going to start on Clomid, but I didn't want to spend $$ we didn't have on meds, when hubs hadn't gotten some tests done yet. Fast forward to February of last year. Hubs got tests done...and sadly, we aren't able to have them on our own. I also found out that I have the CF gene (as does some of my other family members), and I am also diabetic, have high cholesterol, among other things. Doesn't quite make me candidate for mommy-to-be of the year, does it?
This past winter/spring, we started asking hubby about using a donor sperm.  Anker said that it would be ok, as long as I was healthy enough to carry/deliver a baby, and it is what I wanted. Adoption is not an option for us, and hubby doesn't really want to adopt or foster kids, which makes me sad. I don't know if I could foster kids, either. Anyway...I went to my OB/GYN, who was all for my going the SD route.  A couple of weeks later, I got a call from her, asking me to come back to discuss some things. I wasn't exactly ready for what she had to say..although I should have. She said that the doctors at BCWCH said that it would be a health risk for me to carry and deliver a baby, and my doctor said that in her good conscious and good health, she wouldn't be able to recommend me to a Fertility clinic, and for me to have a baby. This was disheartening, to say the least. I didn't cry, but I was upset. Another dream. Gone. Dead.
To be honest, I am done with even trying anymore. Life hasn't been the kindest to us (see the other days post), and we don't have the money for things a baby and child needs. I don't eve know if I would make a good mom. Anker is over 50, and has decided that he is too old be a dad, and I am too tired to try to convince him otherwise.
Everything in life (well, most things) have been a struggle. Not everything has come easy. I didn't get married at 19; I got married at 31. I am not super skinny, or even fit; I am over weight. I haven't (until now) had the best training; I went back to school at 36. I haven't really had a job where I have enjoyed going to; until now, where I am working. I love it. I have had some mean bosses (and I mean, MEAN); I would cry all the time, because I didn't want to go to work. So honestly? I am done with trying anymore...just done.
To be honest, infertility sucks. NO ONE understands what it means to have (what I call) TRUE INFERTILTIY; when you can't have kids, and aren't able to adopt. EVER. I love how some people THINK they understand; "it took us a year to get pregnant", "We stopped trying and BANG! we got pregnant"..."it was hard to get pregnant with my first, then BAM, we have 4 more with out even trying!!" People try to understand, but they can't. Some people are really good in trying to say something nice, and I really appreciate it. They try to encourage, and say they are praying for God's will for us, etc...which is very sweet.
In a world where Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook are places where people put on their pregnancy announcements, (not to mention celebs getting pregnant every 5 minutes...yes, I am looking at you K&K!!),it is hard to keep from becoming bitter. I have had to hide my PG friends' FB posts from my news feed. I don't go to baby showers, unless I absolutely have to. There are days that I am ok, and other days where it just plain sucks.
Take yesterday, for example. I got into a bit of a bad mood. I have two wonderful FB/Blogging friends...One is a BLM, and one who is an adoptive momma. One who is still missing her girl she lost nearly 3 years ago (who has 54 others, and one on the way), and one who was talking about taking her babies on an outing. And I was sad:( I wish I could have the "problem" of taking out my 2 or three small babies, or missing my girl, while pregnant with another...I haven't even had a positive PG test! I have taken many...you know..just in case:) It is always negative. I hate how I get upset and bitter at these wonderful people who are just going along on their journey.
I don't know what God has in store for us. I would love to go to Africa, or Asia, or somewhere, and work in an orphanage, and love on those babies and littles. I am praying that God shows me (us) where to go. I would love to work with kids in some capacity here as well. Which is probably partially why I turned down the job last week.
So, infertility is something that you deal with every day. Maybe not ALL the time, but yes, at some point in the day (at least for me), I think about it. There is some talk of our Health care system covering infertile treatments. You know what? I agree! Why? Because it is a disease of our Reproductive organs. Smokers who smoke for years, and get cancer get free health care. Why shouldn't infertile couples? Just my opinion. Anorexia is a disease; there is help. There is (AA)  help for alcoholics...anyway...that is a post for another day..:)
So, that is my post on infertility:) I would love to hear from any of you, especially if you are a Canadian Childless Momma!!
PS...in totally unrelated news, my Alberta (and some of BC) friends in a flood, please pray for them today. The City and a lot of AB is underwater. Hashtag # yycflood, and you will get TONS of pics:)


I also did another post inspired from one of my infertility groups on FB. You can read it here.

I just saw that Nancy is doing R5F this week, so I thought I would join in.

1. I have way too many TV shows that I am watching. Just when one show is ending, another show is starting. Amazing Race, The Little Couple...Call the Midwife...geez. Thank heaven's for our PVR.

2. I need to clean my house. Like really clean it. Then I watch Hoarders, and realize that it isn't that bad. Then, I sit down and watch more TV.

3. I have had to start on my nerve pain meds as of tonight. I have had DNP for a year, and I have been kind of ignoring it, and hoping that it would go away. Then, I got the meds in November, and it seemed to clear up. The last couple of days it has been really bad. I have it in my feet. I need to get healthier. Sigh.

4. Wednesday, I had a day of nothingness, and I loved it. I did do a bit of clutter cleaning, but other than that, I FB'd and hung out. I only went out to get the mail. True story.

5.  I actually made a healthy meal last night. We had lamb meat balls/loaves. They were really good! Every once in awhile, I get the urge to make a healthy dinner. Tonight wasn't one of them.

5.1. I haven't been called to work at Job #1 since last Thursday. Thankfully, I have been working at job #2, which helps.

5.2. My computer is sick. It keeps taking me to Asian Beauties. Jeez, aren't I pretty enough?? Hubby needs to spend time fixing it.

Above all..I am thankful for that somehow we get by. God is in control, even though we don't always see it. I don't know how we manage like we have (well, I do, but I am still in awe). I am thankful

Five on Friday/Valetines Day/Wknd Edition

Happy Saturday!

I hope you all had a great wk! Ours was pretty good. Hubby is going through some health concerns right now (I will update you in another post), and I seem to be really tired from my new job (another blog post), and our house needs a good cleaning, but we are doing ok, I am behind in DA, CTM, and other shows, as we are watching the Olympics pretty much 24/7, but those last few things are very tiny

Most of what I have for FoF this week is Vday related, which is why the title.

1. Valentine's Day Cookies at SBX.

I got a couple ystrdy, in hopes that hubby and i would have them last night for dessert, but we didn't feel like it by the time we were done our supper. So I took them today when I met up with my sister, and Uncle (at SBX, of course!). We all three shared two. They were pretty. good.

2. Valentine's Day Socks.

Yes, I got two more pairs. I think I have 5 or 6 now. I am slightly addicted to pretty socks!! I am wearing the pink ones right now.

3. Custom-Ordered Pink Hot Chocolate (yes at SBX).

I asked them for pink hot chocolate. They said they could put raspberry flavouring in it. Yum!

4. Pay Day.

'Nuff said. I may or may not have gone and got a few weekly magazines :)

5.Brioche Cinnamon Buns (yes, at SBX).

They brought these out in the New Year. YUMMY! I have had more than my fair share of these. They are amazing heated with butter.

6&;7. Coffee Dates with Sisters

I had a coffee date with my SIL the other day. We had a short but nice visit. I also got to see my sister today too for a bit. She had to come in for an eye appt (she is fine, but she was having a really sore eye this past wk, and our uncle offered to bring her in), and Mom sent us some meat, so we all met up up for a quick snack. Good times.


 ..and just because I can...

 If you have a great soup recipe (which I don't, bc I don't make them), visit my friend Kelly's blog and join up for this wks SUYL and share it there.

You know who I link up with every Friday (I really don't feel like posting four links today)!

Five on Friday in One or Two Words (and a few days late)

1. (New) Job.

2. (New) Link Ups.

3.(New) Long Wknd.

4. Olympics.

Five on Friday/Random 5

Hello Friday!!!

I was going to add pictures to this wks post, but I just don't feel like uploading them to FB, then saving them, etc.

To be honest, I am a bit in a bad mood. Just really stressed....hubby is stressed....that being said, here are a few things that I enjoyed this wk.

1. Downton Abbey SSN 4.

A friend from our Bible Study who is a fellow DA fan felt that she needed to get me season 4. That's right, I can now FINISH the season at my leisure..love it.

2. Club Soda.

I love it with juice. It tastes good and b/c it has no sugar, you only have to put in a little bit of juice to make it drinkable. Love it.

3. Extra money and 2 more GC's.

We got taken to lunch today by the treasurure and his wife, and our mentors. They fave Anker a Thank you gift, two GC's and some money to help us out. It was muchly appreciated. We also went to visit our pastor, and he gave us a bit more money to help us. We were able to get our car insurance paid this month, and we divided the rest.

4. Scandal.

I have watched the first half of the first season. The jury (i mean me) is still out on whether or not I will continue after this season is finished, but I must say, I do quite like it.

5. Coffee Date.

Hubby and I had a date afternoon at Starbucks the other day. We each got a drink (cap for him, HC for me), and we shared a cookie. I know. we live a wild and crazy life. We had a nice time together; we talked about his appointment (which I will blog about later), and read the paper, and just people watched. We had a nice time.

Random 5 Friday

1. We have a new neigbour. She stole our parking spot. I already don't like her. I slept on the couch last night, to see if she is a partyer. She went home last night, and so far, seems to be quite. We shall see.

2. I am going to have to re-vamp my resume. I guess I am back to job searching. I may even have to do some volunteer work, just to get some experience.

3. I am totally into Y&R right now. Even Anker is into it. We are watching it every day. I don't like on how they are re-casting and getting rid of main (and old) characters, but it is good.

4. I have way too many magazines out from the library, but hey, I am not paying for them, so who cares, right? I currently probably have about 50 mags. Yup, I am a bit of a mag-junky.

5. We (or rather I) re-arranged some pictures in our house, and put some up on our entertainment unit, and on our wall. I am trying to make our little house a home.