Sadness, fear and lack of trust in humanity :(

I know I have not posted in a long time and I hate to post such a negative post, but i need to get this off my chest. As most of you know, a lot of bad has been going down in the world the news never seems to be good anymore. And I for one am having one heck of a time dealing. The sheer thought of my daughter being exposed to this hatred in the world shakes me to the core, I am TERRIFIED of ever having to let her go anywhere without Mommy or Daddy. She has been telling us lately that when she turns 5, she gets to go to school, this alone scares the bejesus out of me, not because she will be going to school, but because I will not be there to protect her form things. The thought of anyone harming my child sends this feeling of uncontrollable rage coursing through my blood and a fear that stops my heart almost dead. Why is it that humans have to do such horrific things to one another? Why is that those who commit these heinous and horrible acts never seem to suffer the wrath of what they have caused? Why is it always us, the good people who walk around in a bubble filled with fear?? How is this fair? I am sickened that someone can cause so much fear and uncertainty in mankind. What ever happened to Love thy brother, trust thy neighbour and good faith in everyone? What happened to the days where we could let our children play outside without total adult supervision at all times, where women can go for a jog on their own without being raped, where teenagers acted like friends and didn't torment the living crap out of someone just because they were a little bit different. Humanity needs a HUGE wake up call!!!!! Boy how I wish I could stay home with my child, home school her and be with her always to shelter her form all the evil, but I know I can't do that and that is what scares me the most..... That is all for today.

Answer's to Jill's Leibster Questions

1. You are given a free round-trip ticket to go anywhere in the world for one week.  Where do you choose to go? Ireland of course
2. What is your biggest fear? Dying or becoming deathly ill.
3. Poker, Euchre, or other?  (if other, tell me what your game of choice is!) Poker or Wizard (game of Trump)
4. What is the one TV show you can’t miss, and can’t wait to watch each week? None really.
5. Is there a book you love, and have read over and over?  If so, which one is it? Catcher in the Rye
6. People magazine has given you the almighty power: YOU get to choose the Sexiest Man Alive.  Who do you pick?  Johnny Depp, Matthew McConaughey
7. What’s your favourite scary movie? House of 1000 Corpses & The Devil's Reject's
8. You’re invited to a party and told to bring your “signature dish” – what do you bring?  Usually 7 layer dip 
9. What is the #1 item on your Christmas Wish List this year? Nothing :)
10. If you could see any singer or band in the world, which would you choose? Well I have already seen Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, KISS and a handful of other's so I would have to say The Stones would be next on my list.
11. They’re going to name a pizza after you, and you get to pick the toppings – what are you putting on your pizza and what are you going to call it? Topping's: Chicken, garlic sauce, Feta, tomato's and black olives and I would call it: The Yum-O
12. Bonus question:  I just have to ask, in honour of Breaking Dawn Part 2 tomorrow night.  Team Edward or Team Jacob? Team Edward

Very rare post!!!

Hey everyone,

I know, I know, it has literally been like a year since my last post...Yikes....Worst part is, I come on here EVERDAY to read all my friend's blogs....Terrible I know :( Anyways, while reading Jill's post today, I thought it would be fun for me to answer her 11 questions. Not for the award part, but just for fun. Also I will list 11 random facts about myself. Let my reader's (if I have any) know a little something about myself!!! So here we go:

1. If you could have a conversation with anyone, living or dead, who would you choose and why?

         Definately Jim Morrison

    2.  How did you come up with the name of your blog?
         Ummmmm, I used my name and the word  blog,  lol

    3.  What is your dream vacation destination?
          Ireland

   4.  When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?  
        I wanted to be a firefighter like my Dad, so no I did not end up doing that, and I am also
       not where I thought I would be, I work in the government, if you know me well enough I am
       not very content with my job (don't get me wrong, I count my lucky stars I still have a job) but
      what I really see myself doing is being a chef!!!

   5.   Put your iTunes, iPod, or whatever on shuffle…what’s the first song that comes up?
         Disarm by Smashing Pumpkins

   6.   What is your all-time favourite book?
         Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger

  7.    If you could buy anything right now, what would you buy? 
         A house :)


  8.    What are you craving right…now?
         Ruffle's and Dill Pickle Dip :)

 9.     What is your absolute favourite song lyric?
          People are Strange, when you're a stanger, faces look ugly when you're alone.....

10.    I told you about my dream car…now you tell me about yours, OK?
         Probably a nice spacious SUV, I love my Escape but somehting bigger would def. be nicer :)

11.    Beach, pool, or not a fan of the water?
         Pool at my parents house!!! Oh and their hot tub too :)


11 Random Facts about myself:

1. I have 6 tattoos and I am about to get a 7th!!
2. I have a SEVERE phobia of birds
3. I hate the heat and most of the time the sun :( ( I know, but it makes me sick :( )
4. I have an anxiety disorder :(
5. I LOVE to read and refuse to part with any of my books, ever, I guess you can call me a book hoarder :)
6. I have a cat, which is amazing considering I hate cats.
7. I have had the same friend's all my life, and have made many new ones, but have always kept the same friends :)
8. I don't want to have another baby, because I am happy with just my Abby...
9. I love watching old re-runs on T.V or DVD series...repeatedly
10. I am so busy this summer that I am totally looking forward to the fall when I can relax!!!
11. I have been 8 months smoke free, aside from the occasional menthol cigarillo on the weekend when I have a drink!!!!

There, a few things about myself!!!! Aside from all that, things have been well for me and the fam!!! I also get to keep my job for awhile longer!! Fingers crossed that I never have to worry about losing it again, talk aboutmajor stress!!!! Anyhoot, I may try to post more frequently, but I can't make any promises!!! Have a good one :)

~M~

Oh my....How long has it been???

Alright so as you see, I have not made a post since February......Alot has happened since then, well nothing overly exciting but......Let's start with the most important thing:

1. Today is day 14 with no smoking for me :) ( I had 2 slip ups during this period) But I am confidant that this is it folks, no more smoking!!!!!!! However, I do have concerns about this...I haven't slept in 2 nights now due to the fact that I am having trouble breathing...Is this normal???

2. Abigail has grown sooooo much since my last post, she walks, talks and is the sweetest thing ever! She is on her 9th ear infection since her 1st bday, so finally the doctor got her on the list to see a specialist at CHEO!!! Hopefully this will be the end of the infection. Poor kid!!!

3. I recently attended one of my best friend's (and fellow Blogger: Life as I know it) wedding on saturday, what a beautiful wedding!!!!

4. I will be starting weightwatchers after the long weekend!!! My goal is to lose 30 lbs before My cousin's (and BFF) wedding next July, as I am in the wedding!!! Not onyl for that reason do I want to lose the weight but it is one of the main reasons!!!

5. This summer ha been soooooo busy that I can't even begin to tell you about it, lets just say I am so happy that I no longer have busy weekends! I can finally relax and enjoy some much need R&R and family time! september is just around the corner, so that means Parc Oméga, here we come! it also mean s my 3 year wedding anniversary is coming up. And shortly after September comes November, the month where I turn the BIG 3-0, wowza!!!!! Crazy!!!!!

All right, since Im at work, I will keep this semi-short. I am still slowly working on my 101 list and hope to accomplish a lot more now that I have more free time! I also plan to start posting regularily again. Hope you enjoyed the brief update, see you all soon!!!!

Cheers
Mandy

Wow, it has been some time

First things first, my baby girl turns 1 this friday, how crazy is that.......I cannot believe how fast it goes. It seems like yesterday she was born, and here we are having her first birthday party on saturday :) With Abigail turning 1, this means I have to return to work. I go back on Valentine's day, not only do I already hate this holiday, but now I really hate it, lol.....I keep trying to think of ways to not have to go back to work, but unfortunately, I have to. With that being said, I'' move onto the progress of my 101 list.

#1 Read 10 new books (progress)

The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult (DONE)

Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult (DONE)

Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult (DONE)

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult (DONE)

Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

'Scuse me While I kiss the Sky Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child by: David Henderson

Life by Keith Richards

#14 26 movies starting with a different letter of the alphabet

A: Anvil

B: The Bounty Hunter

C: Crazy Heart

D:

E:

F: Fubar 2

G: Going the Distance

H:

I: Inglorious Basterd's

J:

K: Killers

L:Life as we Know it

M:

N:

O:

P: Pirate Radio

Q:

R:

S: Sex and the City 2

T:

U:

V:

W: Winter's Bone

X:

Y:

Z:

45. Take my daughter to see her great grandma in Barry's Bay (She has moved back to Ottawa, but I will take my daughter to meet her there instead) DONE december 28th.

63. Buy a new wardrobe for work DONE wednesday feb. 9th

71. Find 10 new recipes and try them out over the period of 2 months (see below) ** I need to prolong this as I have been slacking on the recipe front.** will keep u posted

1. Turkey Kielbasa soup (Gross)

2. Turkey Meatloaf ( Quite yummy)

3. Crock-pot Pulled Pork ( Sooooo Good)

4. Swiss Steak ( Unfortunately it needed to be cooked longer, the veggies were too crunchy, but otherwise good)

5. Fettuccine a la Carbonara ( To Die For)

6. Chicken Parmigiana ( Again to die for)

7. Chicken Kiev ( Better than M&M's)

8. Fried Chicken with Creamy Gravy

9. Cheesy Italian Meatball Casserole (Done, not as good as I thought)

98. Learn to drive a ski-doo DONE saturday Feb. 5th at Lonnie's farm

I will try and post this weekend about Abby's party, but can make no guarantees as we are super crazy busy with Jason's Mom on sunday for her 50th bday. I am going to try and be more faithful with my postings when I return to work, as I will have my lunches free to do what I please. Until next time, hope veryone has a great end of week and even better weekend :)

**M**

Re-cap on my 101 List

Okay so as usual I am always posting late, or hardly ever at all, but at least I am making an effort. This post is just a re-cap on my list so you can see my progress, as well as the progress on certain things. So again, here is my list:

Mandy's 101 List:

1. Read 10 new books (See below)

The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult (DONE)

Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult

Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult (DONE)

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult (DONE)

Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

**The rest to follow soon**

2. Go vegetarian for 1 week

3. Go to Las Vegas

4. Sew an article of clothing

5. Go on a radom road trip

6. Take my parents out to dinner

7. Create a blog and post everyday for a week (Done)

8. Go see a film on opening day

9. Rent a cottage for a weekend with my husband and daughter

10. Take Abby on a trip to see Grandma in Chatham

11. Take a cooking class

12. Quit smoking

13. Lose 25 pounds

14. Watch 26 movies I've never seen starting with each letter of the Alphabet (List of movies to follow soon)

15. Watch a 3D movie

16. Learn to play an instrument

17. Spend more quality time with my husband

18. Plant a tree for Abigail

19. Walk 30 minutes everyday for a week

20. Do my wii fit everyday for a whole month

21. Clean out storage closet (Done)

22. Organise our walk-in closet (Done)

23. Do more things as a family

24. Organise my movies alphabetically (Done)

25. Organise my books

26. Save for and purchase new tv and blu-ray

27. Go on a date every 2nd month (at least) with my husband

28. Learn to shoot a gun (Done)

29. Go partridge hunting with my husband

30. Take swimming classes with my daughter

31. Take a class (Yoga, Dance or maybe an art class)

32. Plan family vacation down east and actually go :)

33. Volunteer in a womans shelter

34. Donate to a charity

35. Make wedding and baby scrapbooks

36. Start writing again

37. Plan and host an elegant dinner party for 6 (Done)

38. Cook a 4 course meal for my husband

39. Organise a girls night every other month

40. Participate in the walk for the cure

41. Get a higher position at work

42. Start looking into prefab homes and planning for our house

43. Become debt free (except for car payment as we just got it a year ago)

44. Get a membership at the library

45. Take my daughter to see her great grandma in Barry's Bay (She has moved back to Ottawa, but I will take my daughter to meet her there instead)

46. Learn to make maple syrup with my husband's family

47. Learn to make christmas ragout and tourtiere with my Dad and Granny (see below) Done

December 11, went to make tourtiere

December 23, making ragout

48. Go to a hockey game with my husband

49. Try dog sledding

50. Go for a hike in the Gatineau park with my family

51. Take 10 minutes everyday for a month to clear my mind

52. Make pasta from scratch

53. Write my will

54. Obtain, fill out and submit forms to have my body donated to science when the time comes

55. Somehow help troubled teens

56. Not log onto facebook for a full week

57. Spend a day at the spa with my mom and pay for it

58. Grow an herb garden

59. Learn to make pickles

60. Host a poker night

61. Join a league ( besides baseball )

62. Grow my nails long

63. Buy a new wardrobe for work

64. Try canoeing

65. Make 3 new friends

66. Go horseback riding

67. Learn to crochet

68. Learn another language

69. Play bingo

70. Write a letter to myself to open in 10 years

71. Find 10 new recipes and try them out over the period of 2 months (see below)

1. Turkey Kielbasa soup (Gross)

2. Turkey Meatloaf ( Quite yummy)

3. Crock-pot Pulled Pork ( Sooooo Good)

4. Swiss Steak ( Unfortunately it needed to be cooked longer, the veggies were too crunchy, but otherwise good)

5. Fettuccine a la Carbonara ( To Die For)

6. Chicken Parmigiana ( Again to die for)

7. Chicken Kiev ( Better than M&M's)

8. Fried Chicken with Creamy Gravy

9. Cheesy Italian Meatball Casserole (Done, not as good as I thought)

10. I haven't found one yet, I'll keep you posted

72. Go to an arcade

73. Go to the casino and put 25$ on black

74. Go to the christmas craft sale

75. Get a puppy

76. Go see a play

77. Go see a musical

78. Do a random act of kindness for a stranger

79. Create a recipe book

80. Go without internet for a week

81. Have a spa day

82. Carve my name on a tree

83. Watch the sunrise and sunset in the same day ( Done , December 15, 2010 )

84. Save $5 for every task I complete

85. See a drive-in movie

86. See 10 classic movies I've never seen

87. Leave an inspirational note inside a book for someone to find

88. Put 5$ into a savings account for my daughter for every uncompleted task

89. Have a game night with friends

90. Put up blinds in my daughter's room finally

91. Go to church with my grandmother and daughter on christmas eve

92. Spend a whole day watching movies in bed

93. Send a message in a bottle

94. Go on the haunted walk of Ottawa

95. Go to the war museum

96. Finish reading the Harry Potter books (I'm in the middle of #5)

97. Go skating on the canal with my husband and have beavertails and hot chocolate

98. Learn to drive a ski-doo

99. Go snow-shoeing (sp?)

100. Get a new hairstyle ( Done, I dyed my hair a deep chestnut brown for the winter)

101. Get a tattoo of my daughter's name

Now, I do not want to have to keep re-posting the list everytime I complete something, so what is the best solution for this? Also, how do you "cross"things off the list,a s in put a line through it on here? Any ideas or help would be most appreciated!!!

Hope everyone is well, and is all geared up and ready for the fast approaching holiday season, I know I am. I am very much looking forward to my little pumpkin's first xmas!!!! We bought her an awesome wagon that converts into a sled!!! We also took her to see Santa last week at Carlingwood, what an experience, poor pet cried the whole time :( Hopefully I get to post again before xmas, but if not I wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas!!!! Goodnight to all.

Again, it has been sometime.....

Hope everyone is well out there!! I myself have had better weeks, I am in the midst of quitting smoking!!! I know I know, should have never started, but better late than never right? So I actually went over 72hours without a smoke before I caved, but I will be right back on track as of now! I bought myself enough gum to last a lifetime and will use the nicorette inhaler this time to help with the "nic-fits" I cannot do this cold turkey. So once I have completed this no smoking I can check it off my list as one of the biggest accomplishments on my 101 list. I apologise in advance to all that will have to endure more mood swings from me again.

RE #71 Try 10 new recipes in 2 months

I started this task on October 28th, so I still have time to complete but so far here are the recipes I have tried:

1. Turkey Kielbasa soup (Gross)

2. Turkey Meatloaf ( Quite yummy)

3. Crock-pot Pulled Pork ( Sooooo Good)

4. Swiss Steak ( Unfortunately it needed to be cooked longer, the veggies were too crunchy, but otherwise good)

5. Fettuccine a la Carbonara ( To Die For)

6. Chicken Parmigiana ( Again to die for)

7. Chicken Kiev ( Better than M&M's)

Here are my 3 other recipes to make before my deadline of Dec. 28th:

8. Fried Chicken with Creamy Gravy

9. Cheesy Italian Meatball Casserole

10. I haven't found one yet, I'll keep you posted

If anyone would like a recipe let me know and I will send it to you, I think it would be too long to type them all out in a post.

On another note, I found a daycare for Abigail!!! We went to meet the lady in Aylmer tonight at her home, awesome lady, clean home and Abby took to her right away, I have a great feeling about her! So next week Abby will start a slow integration into daycare, as I have to start paying her as of next week to keep my spot with her, since she is also subsidized, what great luck I had there!!

Hope everyone enjoyed the post and hope to be posting again soon. Cheers to all,

~M~