To all the Grumpy Non-Apple People

This post is dedicated to all the grumpy non-Apple people (my husband).  Apple is awesome.  It's no fuss, no muss and it looks great without trying so hard.  The iPhone is a perfect example.  The size is perfect for a regular person's hand, you are able to reach all the functions without having to take your other hand out of your pocket.  The screen switches from portrait to landscape faster and the auto-correct is better.  We have better apps and there so much more variety than what you are used to.  It's always sad when a non-Apple person realizes that they are shut out again from an awesome app that would make their lives easier and more interesting.  Unfortunately, you will always be playing catchup.  I'm sorry that you feel left out, especially when we can iChat and Facetime, and you are left out of the conversation.

We know that you are secretly jealous that you don't have an iPhone and can't say anything now, but we like you anyway.

7 Days

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about time.  For the last 3 months, I have been measuring time in days.  Getting to one day and then the next.  More recently, I started to think in weeks.  Time is a funny thing.  I know that I have been thinking for a while that as I get older, time seems to move more quickly.  Over the last few months I have been very aware of time.  How slowly it can pass, especially when you are sick and scared.  How quickly it can pass when you are sharing good news with friends.  This week I found out that 7 days can pass by in the blink of any eye, especially when you are coping with tragedy.  7 days.  168 hours.  10 080 minutes.  It seems like so much and so little all at the same time.  Now I am wondering what the next 7 days will bring.  I know that it will be better than the last 7 days, it's just getting there.  I will be glad to be able to look back and have it behind me, rather than having it to look forward to.

Project Life; Tired of it. (warning: a vent)

I know that it is really popular, and many people do it, but I am sick of seeing it everywhere.  I'm talking about Project Life.  When I first heard about it a few years ago, I thought it was a great idea for people who were busy or for people just getting into scrapbooking.  Since then, and especially this year, it's all I hear about!  I can appreciate a good system, and the projects are cute, but so many companies and designers have jumped onto the band wagon, that I almost gag when I come across yet another product or post about it.  What happened to layouts and mini-books?  There are so few out there and it's frustrating.  I subscribe to a lot of blogs, and I find myself flipping quickly past the ones about PL. 
And the gushing!  People that like the system REALLY like it and I think that's great, but the gushing about it is nauseating.  I like to listen to a wonderful podcast called Paper Clipping Roundtable, but when I see that it's going to be about PL, I skip that week.  I have tried, but the gushing and how they won't go back, it's so easy blah blah, just gets me every time.  I realize that I am fortunate and have spare time I can devote to the hobby, but I also like the creativity that comes with putting together layouts and mini's.  I have some favourite designers both paper and digital that I started following because of their style, but have started skipping their posts as well. 
PL is for people that want to just get the memory down for future generations or so that they can be "caught up"  and it's just not my style.  I like the looking for products, the kit clubs, the different papers and embellishments, all the "stuff" that goes into a good layout.  PL is divided page protectors, journaling cards and most of it in 3X4 sizes.  Everything cut up and stuffed into a pocket.  I know it works for some people, and I've heard the argument that people who didn't scrap before can document their memories etc.  Yay for them!  I'd still like to see some more traditional layouts and mini books about individual topics.  I can't be the only one, can I?

Happy New Year!

Another year has begun, 2013!  Yikes!  I'm just wondering where the time went.  I feel like as you get older, time goes faster.  I wonder why that is?
After a wonderful holiday break, I'm feeling rested and ready to go back to work.  Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be on a permanent vacation, but my numbers didn't come in on the lottery!  I'm not quite as ready as others out there to start getting into work mode, but I'm getting there. 
I don't usually do resolutions for the new year.  I feel like there's no one perfect time to start working on something that you want to improve or be more aware of.  I have chosen a word for the year.  This started for me a couple of years ago when I read about it here. My first word was story and I enjoyed that word a lot.  My word from last year was Me- I know it sounds egocentric, but it worked.  This year it's Believe.  I am already finding ways this word will help me through the year both physically and mentally.  It will be a journey for sure.

I have been a bad blogger again!  The end of school finished well, the concert was a success and I floated into Christmas vacation on a sugary cloud of happiness. 
This December was one of the more busy ones that I can remember.  I made a point of getting us out and doing things all month long.  We jumped on a bus for caroling, a community event called Music   that Moves you.  I went to hear the community choirs sing christmas songs and I also managed to squeeze in a performance of the Nutcracker!  That was as well as movies, visiting and skating.  Very busy.  We had a very busy first week of holidays with invitations to dinner, a gift exchange and other chances to visit.  Chris was fighting a cold for the entire week, and I finally took pity on him and postponed a dinner I had planned with another couple. 
Christmas Eve we spent alone with yummy food and a couple of movies.  We had a lovely Christmas dinner with Bryce and Michelle and their family and managed to get out to shop on Boxing Day.  We both found a pair of snow pants for skiing, so counted ourselves lucky and went home after that one stop.  Boxing Day shopping is not my favourite time to shop, unless it's online.  The weather finally warmed from -30 something to -10 or so which is nice.  We have been able to get out skiing a couple of times.  We are lucky and the Nordic Ski club maintains trails at a local golf course.  Yesterday there was a Mama moose and her calf hanging around.  We avoided their little area and just turned around instead.  The sun has made an appearance as well, which makes the temperatures a little easier to handle.  It's been beautiful skiing weather for sure. 
As we are wrapping up our last bit of vacation time I am finishing up a couple of December projects that I started as well as thinking about taking down the decorations.  I've tried to bargain to keep the tree up, but no dice.  Ah well, I guess I just have to figure out another way to get miniature lights into the livingroom decor!

We're almost there

The last week of school before a holiday is always hard, but this is Christmas!  It's even worse.  Especially with Christmas being only a week away.  The kids are high strung and excited, the teachers are exhausted and counting down the days.  Christmas Concert is tonight, and then we can take a little breath.  I know that most parents love the concert idea, but I don't think many know how much time and energy goes into putting on a "little show".
Anyway, I will be more than ready to hit the pub on Friday night, putting it all behind me.

Let it snow!

I was all ready to start December with enthusiasm.  On the first, we went for dinner with friends and on Sunday morning I woke myself up with the chills and it didn't get better.  The Flu had hit it's mark.  3 days later, I was able to make myself appear human again and make it into work.  Our class was supposed to start a few different projects, and we have made a lot of progress with them. 
At home, the decorating is mostly done, but not totally finished.  My cards have yet to go out, although I have collected a bunch of addresses, so those are on the list for tomorrow night. 
We have feet of snow, and I have to say, I can't wait for more!  It is supposed to warm up, which will be too bad because all the great snow we have will get yucky.  I haven't gotten out to ski yet as the temperatures have been so extreme.  We've been sitting at -30 something with windchill for most of last week.  I don't own all the fancy gear to be able to get outside in weather like that.  Good news is, we did see the sun for a few long periods today.  That's always nice.  I am really hoping to get out skiing this week, but it looks like it might have to wait until the weekend.