My Creatively Random Life

As 2013 draws to a close I look back at it with very mixed feelings, it was not an easy year for me by any means but I learned a great deal.  So here, for your reading pleasure is a list of things I learned in 2013. 1) Appendicitis does not always happen like people say it does. 2) Kindergarten is just as boring now as it was 28 years ago, only now I'm the one having to explain to MY kid why she HAS to go. 3) I don't drink enough water. 4) I hate water. 5) If I block out the little perfectionist voice in my head that wants to edit everything as I go I can do an incredible amount of writing in a short amount of time. 6) Writing is still my greatest passion. 7) Things don't have to be perfect and that is okay. 8) Time spent with the people who are important is worth more than any gift. 9) There is nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it. 10) There is still stuff that can give me nightmares. I'm sure there's more but it slips my mind i...

So I made it out alive but barely, really I kind of limped out the end.  I was a day late finishing overall and I am in no means proud of my last few posts but I finished.  I think all in all for being sick and just winging it I feel good about how I did with it. I found some awesome blogs to follow this year.  While I didn't make it to many in the last week I made it to a good number in the first few weeks and way more than I did last year.  I still need to work on my commenting as sometimes I just don't know what to write.  (sometimes I just don't know what to blog either so I guess that makes sense) I am already looking forward to next year, especially since I already have a theme, almost all my topics and a couple of posts written.  Now quick, everyone cross their fingers that I don't get sick. 

This last post is in honor of the Leafs making the playoffs for the first time in forever.  (Go Leafs Go!)  Zamboni is a brand name for an ice resurfacing machine.  They drive around the ice and put down a thin layer of water which then freezes and makes the ice smooth again.  Neat huh?  Now I always thought that they were melting the ice until I looked it up.  You learn something new every day! When I was looking through my son's cars for the Zambonis to get a picture I was hoping to find the Leafs one but I didn't.    

As I was saying in my W post, Yoga Booty Ballet is one of my favorite workouts.  I find Gillian and Teigh to be entertaining and easy to follow along with.  (unlike a lot of workout videos I have collecting dust on my shelves)  Also the workouts are challenging and fun at the same time. I also find the workouts very calming.  Lots of stretching and breathing with gentle cardio.  Probably what I will start up with when I am allowed to exercise again. 

In my opinion the X-Files is one of those super awesome shows from the 90's.  (and there are so many of them)  I will admit, I only watched it through the seventh season and then I kind of lost interest, but it still ranks as one of my favorite sci-fi shows. (from the 90's anyways) If you haven't seen it (get your ass on NetFlix and watch it!  Watch it now!) it is about two FBI agents, Mulder and Scully, who investigate the paranormal.  It's one of those shows that has a wonderful blend of stand alone episodes and an over all story arc.  (this is why I love rewatching old shows, real story arcs)

Since I developed the habit of doing it, one of my favorite things to do is workout.  I get up extra early in the morning before the monkeys just so I can get one in before I start my day.  (it's what keeps me from going crazy) Like anything I do (slightly addictive personality) when I first started I went a little crazy with the workout videos.  I tried everything that looked even remotely interesting.  But I have now settled into a few favorite workouts that I just rotate through. Not being able to workout because of this whole stupid appendix thing has left me feeling a bit on edge.  (psychotic)  It's terrible and I can't wait to get back to my early morning workouts.  I have been walking but it's just not the same.  Favorite Workouts: 1) Turbo Fire 2) Yoga Booty Ballet 3) Turbo Jam 4) Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred 5) EA Active 2 6) Hoop Dancing What's your favorite workout?

I am a huge fan of things that are fun to say, (dinosaurs on spaceship anyone?) and one of my favorite fun to say words is verbatim.  Meaning using exactly the same words. Repeating your remarks verbatim is something your children are particularly talented at doing when you you wish they wouldn't.

Wait, what?  Am I running out of post ideas because I am behind?  (maybe a little)  This is a serious post though.  One of my major goals this year is to finish my sewing course and start working my way through the massive collection of patterns that I have collected over the years.  Mostly I want to start making my own corsets but my sewing skills are not there yet hence the sewing course. You want to know where underwear comes into this right?  Well, one of the projects I have in my current pile of things to be sewn is underwear.  I bought this pattern last year thinking this is within my current sewing capabilities, and I will be able to make myself cute little under things and think of all the money I will save.  (okay, I was really thinking TARDIS underpants) My plan was to make a few pairs from fabric in my stash and then invest in some fabric once I got the hang of it.  Then I hit a snag...finding lingerie elastic.  You see,...

This is the scarf I just finished up for Cat, I know she's not technically a toddler anymore but preschooler doesn't start with T.  I really love this yarn it is Red Heart's Bikini (weird name I know) and I just love how bright and fun it is.  Cat is in love with it as well and I am thinking about doing a blanket up in one of those wavy type stitches because I think it would look really neat.

I apologize for being late for this post (and the next three or so) I had some things come up that have made life a little (or a lot) crazier than usual. For a while in my early 20's System of a Down was one of my most listened to bands.  They still rank on my have to have on my playlist and I was deeply saddened that my scheduled conflicted with getting to see them play when they were in Toronto for Heavy TO last year as they are awesome live. I think what I like about System is really the same thing I like any artist that I like for more than one song, or one album, they have a range when it comes to their music.   It doesn't all sound the same, there are a variation to the messages that comes across through it.  There's something behind it in the first place.  Two examples of what in my opinion are vastly different songs from SOAD are Aerials and Prison Song:

Sometimes when the kids stay home for the weekend we get up to some pretty random stuff.  Today we joined Richard of Muddy York Walking Tours for a Battle of York Battleground tour.  We then popped over and wandered around Fork York for a bit.  The weather was a bit blustery (or a lot) but apparently that is historically accurate for April of 1813.  The tour started at the western edge of Toronto's exhibition grounds, where Richard explained to us in detail how the American ships landed (west of where they intended due to the wind) in the harbor and around 1,800 soldiers ended up on the shore.   The Americans fought their way Eastward against the British and Canadians from there.  The Battle of York marked the first victory for the Americans in the War of 1812. The tour took us across the Canadian National Exhibition grounds which are littered with monuments.  We got to see Scadding Cabin which is the oldest building in Toronto.  It was origi...

I'm not sure what to call this dish.  It's one of those ones that my kids love that just jumble a bunch of random ingredients together in a bowl. 1 package quinoa 1 can corn 16 oz baby spinach 3/4 cup shredded cheese 1 tbs olive oil 12-16 radishes (chopped) 2 cups cooked turkey breast (cubed) 1 tbs minced garlic Cook quinoa according to package directions.  In frying pan heat olive oil over medium heat.  Add radish and garlic.  When radish starts to turn translucent begin adding spinach, stirring as you add.  When you have about half the spinach added to you pan, drain the liquid from the can of corn into the pan, add the rest of the spinach.  When the spinach has cooked down add the corn and turkey to the pan.  Take the quinoa and put it in a large bowl, when the vegetable and turkey mix is heated through, pour it on top and mix together.  Add cheese, mix again and serve.  Chopped Radishes Radishes and Garlic ...

As you may be able to tell from my super awesome new badge, I have joined an awesome new club.  They are called the International Geek Girls Pen Pals Club .  The best part, I get a pen pal.  (so cool, right?) When I was a teenager I had a few pen pals, (slowly over the years we lost touch) but I thought it was an awesome experience.  It was a great way to learn about how other people live, and make new friends.  My pen pals helped me get through some very tough times in my life. Anyhow, I am very excited about getting a new pen pal. (some might say a little too excited)  I didn't manage to get my name in until round three (bummer!) so I don't officially have a pen pal yet but I have been getting prepared. I haven't gone too crazy because I don't know what my new friend to be likes yet, but I picked up some tiny ponies to send with my letter because well...they are awesome! Also, I am well prepared with stationary. (for the next century or ...

So, this ranks in my top five Buffy episodes for sure.  Maybe even my top three.  Anyhow, with the overdose of musicals I have seen lately I have them on the brain so I thought I would get them out of my head.  The theme of Once More With Feeling is the characters being forced to express something they are hiding from the others through song.  It is really quite brilliant.  Some of Whedon's best work, in my humble opinion.  The songs range in style from rock opera to 50's sitcom theme and are accompanied by some pretty brilliant dance numbers as well. So, without further ado, here are my favorite songs from Once More With Feeling.  My number one is Giles singing this (unheard) to Buffy.  Anthony Stewart Head is so flipping talented.   My second favorite is Anya and Xander in all their adorableness. And of course, I couldn't forget my favorite person ever, in the whole world.  (he literally makes my knees weak *sigh*...

Ok, so being a parent I have to ask.  What's up with this thing where a kid does something mean, inappropriate, horrible etc and then when you talk to their parents it's all I can't see my kid doing something like that?  I mean my kids are a lot of things but p er fect does not make the list.  I am willing to own up to them doing things.  My daughter hauled off and slapped your kid?  While there's probably at least an 85% chance your kid provoked her in some way I have to admit, my daughter....she has a temper.  So she will be apologizing for her behavior.  And she'll be punished as well.  Now, if you tell me the same thing about my son and yeah, I will have a lot more trouble believing you.  The kid is just not that violent, you would have to push him pretty far, and even then he's more prone to hit an object than another person.  Either way they are pretty good kids about admitting that they did whatever it is that happened once ask...

This morning on my way to work I read this post from a YMC blogger and it got the wheels turning in my little brain.  First of all, why are people so mean to each other?  And second, the vast number of times I have want to set the  feral little animals  kids who call me mom at the end of the driveway with free to good home signs round their necks. The truth is though, in the moment, when there are a bottle full of snails loose in your apartment and sliming their way over everything while your son sleeps. (no lid, he thought they would stay in on the honor system)  Yes, I wanted to put him and the snails out to sleep in the yard.  After much, much yelling.  But it's a little bit funny no?  I have to admit it, then it wasn't, but now my reaction when I picked up his school bag and discovered it was writhing with snails....freaking hilarious.  The fact that he honestly thought they would stay in the bottle, adorable.  The l...

Okay, so I am just going to show all my geeky tendencies in the challenge this year.  As far as things that keep your brain sharp go I am nuts over logic puzzles, always have been.  Basically a logic puzzle consists of a grid and a series of clues, you use the clues to mark off spaces in the grid and make a locgical deduction to solve the problem. 

So, I am a day late with this post.  *sad face*  I feel really bad "K" was eluding me yesterday until after board game and wine night.  And trust me you didn't want me writing a blog post after that.  (although, who knows alcohol consumption may improve my rambling) KerPlunk was one of my favorite games as a child. (I like noisy stuff)  It consists of a hollow plastic tube, colored straws and marbles.  Basically the straws fit through the middle of the tube in a layered web and you pile the marbles on top of that.  Players take turns pulling the straws out and hoping that the marbles don't drop.  The player that dropped the least marbles at the end of the game wins. Super fun!    I have fallen in love with playing games again.  What are your favorites?  

Jewelry is one of the more recent crafts I have dipped a toe into.  I used to be very intimidated by it but last year I bought these gorgeous handmade beaded anklets at a street festival and I got very inspired to give it a try.  So far I have only made a few pieces because well, I do like a million things but I love how they have turned out. These are pictures of a set of earrings and a ring that I made for my best friend that somehow never managed to make it up on to my blog in all my bragging about neat stuff I make.  (it happens, I craft more than I blog sometimes)

Picture I took of one by the lake in Toronto   This post was inspired by a conversation I had with Ace this morning about what he was going to do with the rocks he had in his pocket.  An Inukshuk is a stone landmark built by people, they have a long history in the Inuit culture.    They may have been used as markers for travel routes, navigation, or to mark a food cache.  The most common type of Inukshuk is actually a single stone place in an upright position.  The more familiar person or cross shaped cairns are thought to have developed with the appearance of Europeans explorers in the Artic.    With Vancouver using an Inukshuk as part of their 2010 Olympics Logo they are now pretty much recognized world wide.