How do you remember me?

So this post had me a bit stumped, It is day 23 and the challenge is a way in which I want to be remembered.

It has me thinking of how I live my life, how those brief encounters with others can affect them. Do they remember me for a moment, for the rest of the day. I hope if they do spend a fleeting moment in remembering their day it's a positive memory of the stranger who smiled, who offered a helping hand, who held their place in line, who patiently waited for their child to finish. I'd like to think that I am a happy, positive, caring individual who if I even met you for the briefest moment you would want to smile from our encounter.

Now I know I don't always leave this impression, sometimes I have other things on my mind and I don't notice that I could have held the door open for that person behind me. I'm sure I'm not smiling 24/7 and I know that sometimes I am not the most patient person in the world (particularly behind the wheel). This challenge today is a bit of a wake-up call, to try to be more positive, smile more, be more considerate of those around me and more aware of the needs of others, even perfect strangers. A good reminder to live my daily life on purpose.

I also thought about how those who love me and know me best remember me, or rather think of me. I was lucky enough to marry the most wonderful man this summer. We found Jerry Stilson who is an amazing marriage commissioner. Each ceremony he performs is personal to the couple he marries, he asked us each to give him 5 words about the other, these words were to be kept secret and so we didn't know what the other had said until the ceremony. The words my lovely husband used to describe me were:

Intelligent

Kind Hearted

Silly

Full of Life

&

Caring.

This is high praise indeed (even silly is praise coming from my husband he means it in a positive way as in I'm happy and don't take life to seriously, that I enjoy life and laughter) and hopefully I can continue to live in such a way so that others will think of me in the same way. I guess I don't just want to live in the same way but strive to be better everyday!

Surfin' the webisphere

Today I get to introduce you to some of my favourite websites! It's day 22... If you want to catch up on all those other days you missed here you go.... Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6,Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12,  Day 13, Day 14, Day 15, Day 16, Day 17, Day 19, Day 20 and Day 21

I know it's just supposed to be one, but come on there are so many things I love doing on the web.

So my fave window shopping (and real shopping) site is
ETSY
they always have the most interesting stuff like check out the fun ties in this shop

And this shop has some of the most adorable little patterns

And I've purchased the most gorgeous feathers here, many times

On to some of my favourite blogs..
I've been following I am Momma Hear me Roar for a long time. Cheri has the cutest ideas and tons of boy crafty ideas. I am sure to check out her blog nearly every day.

 

Another blog I can't pass up cause she always has me laughing and her projects amaze me is Tidbits from the Tremaynes. Seriously Mandi is full of movie quotes and hilarity!

Now of course I should add Pinterest, but who doesn't LOVE pinterest. I mean you need to go check out the fantastic ideas like this one

Pinned from Christina Re

Isn't that beautiful, it's lace tape, so cute... but I love that it inspires me to possibly just use lace, or use lace as a stencil to get the same feel... pretty!
or funny bits like this one

still laugh every time I see it!

What are some of your favourite places to hang on the web?

I did it MYYYYYYY WAAAAYYYYY!

look at us go, I'm on day 21: Something I know I do differently than most people....

Well when I was thinking about today's challenge I really had a hard time. I think often when we do things differently than most people we may not realize it, we assume that everyone does it the same way as us, and until we see someone else doing it differently we don't even know that we do it differently. So there may be many things I do differently than most people but I just don't know it yet.
As for something that I already know I do differently than most people, I think I wrap my christmas presents differently than most people. I think the key here is MOST people, I am sure there may be other people who wrap similarly but I don't know anyone personally that wraps presents the same as I do.
So how do I do it? Well first is the buying process....

Every year at the end of Christmas I keep an eye out for pretty wrapping paper that is on clearance, but I don't just buy any pretty paper, I buy 3 rolls that co-ordinate with eachother. I then save this paper all year and when the season comes around I pull it out, Usually I'm pretty excited as I have anticipated wrapping with it all year. Plus wrapping paper is way overpriced so getting it at 70-80% off is always fantastic!

The actual wrapping part.... probably not much different although I like them to have nice neat corners and such if possible.

(photo to come once I charge my camera battery)

The different part is that I wrap my presents making sure I use an equal amount from each roll, or rather that I have a good mix of all 3 different papers under the tree, For example I would never wrap 2 large boxes in the same paper, they would have to be different paper... and if I had a lot of little presents I would try to make sure it was alternating wrapping papers. I know this seems strange to most people, but man it looks SO pretty all wrapped and under the tree ( I also buy co-ordinating ribbon and bows of course).

What happens to the wrapping paper left over from years before you may ask?
Well if it is plain silver or red or any other type that is not necessarily Christmassy it can be used for other gifts through out the year. And if it is very christmassy I can use it for white elephant gifts or other christmas gifts that won't be living under my tree for any period of time. (LIKE, if a friend or neighbour is popping by and I want to give them a little something to take home with them, it would likely not be matching the wrappings under the tree.) I have also donated it to friends who I know haven't bought wrapping paper yet. It can also be used for fun crafty projects!

There you have it.... Am I considered OCD when It comes to my Christmas wrapping process? Or just a little odd?
And just as a side note, I try to change it up every year, so one year I may have silver/black/white. the next year I would make sure to have some colour involved, reds golds and green, And yet another year it may be blues, whites, and silver. There are so many different pretty papers I feel the need to switch it up.

Food, glorious food, we're anxious to try it

We have hit Day 20: A food I like and a food I dislike.

Narrowing it down may be a bit tricky as I love a lot of food. But I'd have to say my favourite is a really well done Thai meal. It's always hard for me to explore thai restraunts because I'm searching for the perfect one with Gorgeous coconut rice. In Edmonton Viphalay is the best!

 

 

 

SO good you must try it if you're ever in Edmonton!

My usual order would be starting with the satay (SO fantastic) And Gai Himapan (Orange Cashew Chicken) with an order of coconut rice (they make an amazing coconut rice!)

a great review at eatyourcity.ca

 Now onto food I dislike. It's not as much fun to talk about but I can share I really dislike fried eggs. blech!

source

 

Not appetizing....
Can we get back to talking about the delicious coconut rice please??!?!!

Have a fantastic day, and I hope you enjoy all your meal experiences today!

Stumped... but carrying on..

Hello All, So I have been MIA it's because among other things day 18 has me stumped. I am still in the slow process of unpacking and setting up our home. So finding a favorite room at the moment is difficult and nothing is quite photo ready yet. SO I decided to just skip it and come back later. 

On to Day 19: A talent

 I feel blessed to be given many talents, but not only that to not be afraid to share and develop my talents. One of my talents is singing, I've been singing since childhood, I sang at weddings as a child. Spent my teen years singing in community talent shows, weddings, church, and even funerals. I've always had a love of singing and have sang in many different choirs, both church and community choirs. I now teach Music Together classes singing with children from babies-five years old and their grown ups who love them.  I just love to sing so much and hope to spread some joy through music when the opportunities arise.

Here's a few little photographs of me singing my heart out.

check out my attitude

that's right I'm on a chair and bustin' out in song!

Karaoke with roommates... work it!

I wish I had some photo's from my stagette. We sang Karaoke, it was FANTASTIC!

Anyways what are your talents? I know I have some very talented friends and family.

ART

So today is Day 17: An art piece.

Click to find out more :)

Not sure how I'm interpreting this today, is this a piece of art I've made, or possibly a piece of art I love.....
I think I'm going to go with the latter.

It may seem morbid, and truly no picture I can find online does it justice. But I recall sitting at the Louvre and just staring at this painting for a very long time. I find it very moving and beautiful.

Paul Delaroche: La Jeune Martyre

I also LOVE elephant art. I always enjoyed heading to the Edmonton Zoo to watch Lucy paint. One day I would love to own some Elephant art!

Some of Lucy's art

AND
An artist whom I always am in awe and inspired by, not only is she extremely talented she is also a very dear friend.

my friend Brenda Vawter: Inspired by Michelangelo's David (This painting is For Sale!)

Hope you've enjoyed some art!

To catch up here you go.... Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6,Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12,  Day 13, Day 14, Day 15 and Day 16

tears on my pillow pain in my heart caused by you...

click this button to learn more about this challenge

It is Day 16: A song that makes me cry

I am not afraid to cry and many songs have made me cry. I am particularly moved by live performances if the artist can portray their passion through the music. 

Thinking back to a time when I cried during a live performance I was reminded of Eivor a singer from the Faroe Islands who I was able to watch perform at the Edmonton Folk Fest. She has such a hauntingly beautiful voice and performs with such passion! I wish I could remember exactly which song brought me to tears but unfortunately I can not. Here is a video of one of her performances.

  As always a chance to catch up Day 1,Day 2,Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6,Day 7, Day 8,Day 9,Day 10, Day 11, Day 12, Day 13, Day 14 and Day 15