I used to wonder where all our money was going. Then I decided to count up all the 'spending' that was going on in our account - only the food spending. Now I know. We (*coughdavecough*) spent in the month of February, $500 plus on lunches, snacks, and possibly cigars. Ahem.
Needless to say, we now have a budget. I spent the better part of my day off creating a colorful, well-organized, multifaceted spreadsheet that will (hopefully) help us control our money a leeetle better.
As a result of this fabulous new plan, I found a bunch of money that I think would look really good in an account labelled 'Vacation', in addition to the 'New Car' money and the 'Date Night' money.
Stay tuned for our future vacation plan. It's going to be AWESOME!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Kraft Hockeyville 2009
Kraft Hockeyville 2009
Check this out. Terrace is in the running for the coveted title of HOCKEYVILLE 2009, a contest put on by Kraft and CBC. If we win, we get ultimate bragging rights, $100,000 to put towards our arena and an NHL pre-season game gets played right here in town. (PLEASE GOD, LET THE OILERS COME TO TOWN!!!)
Anyway the important thing is that you all VOTE AS MANY TIMES AS POSSIBLE!!!
Check this out. Terrace is in the running for the coveted title of HOCKEYVILLE 2009, a contest put on by Kraft and CBC. If we win, we get ultimate bragging rights, $100,000 to put towards our arena and an NHL pre-season game gets played right here in town. (PLEASE GOD, LET THE OILERS COME TO TOWN!!!)
Anyway the important thing is that you all VOTE AS MANY TIMES AS POSSIBLE!!!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
CUTE WITH CHRIS POST BITCHES!
I recently sent in a picture of my hideous ankle in to Cute with Chris, along with a pic of Zoe and one of Dave and Sierra snuggling. And to my enormous surprise, when I viewed his site this morning he had posted it! OMG!! The only crummy thing is that...he posted the pic of Sierra snuggling with Dave, calling her Zoe and blaming her for my ankle, which couldn't be further from the truth. BUT STILL! SO EXCITING! I can't wait to show Dave his internet-fameousness.
Sunday Style
Adria Vasil's 'Ecoholic' is a succinct yet informative guide to a wide variety of eco-friendly products and services. It is also a CANADIAN book, so...we can actually get the stuff. There is a large amount of up-to-date info about scary stuff that you may not know were in your make up or your food, as well as healthy alternatives from old-timey non-disposable shaving to ethically and environmentally responsible mutual funds to fair trade tea.
The websites for the products and services mentioned are printed in green as they are mentioned in the writing as well as in a handy index at the back. There is also a guide of stores that carry said products, by city.
I do have a criticism: There appears to be one glaring omission in the area of Fair Trade Coffee. Please take the time to check out Level Ground Trading, which is not mentioned in 'Ecoholic'.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
The Oscars
I have a confession to make: I LOVE looking at the best/worst dressed lists online. Although I'm sure the feelings of some actresses have been hurt in the making of these lists and the cutting commentary that sometimes comes along, I feel that in some way, this secret hobby of mine helps me to be kinder.
You see, there is this THING in all (most?) women - this snappy, aggressive, under-the-surface competition that goes on. Who is skinner, prettier, more talented, has a more successful/better looking partner? Who is a better mother or who is raising their children the "right way"? Who has the "correct" political, religious, ethical, or moral leanings? Who has the biggest/best decorated/cleanest house, who cooks the best tasting/healthiest food? It seems that these competitions can be based on anything. ANYTHING.
So it's only natural that I enjoy critiquing the most glamorous of them all. As shallow as it is, perhaps it helps me get that snappy, ugly side of me out of my system so that when I'm with my girlfriends, my thoughts don't deviate, finding reasons to internally criticize the people I call care about so that I can smugly and irrationally feel superior. Or is it simply mindless entertainment turned to self-awareness? I don't know.
The best/worst list is most certainly not the only facet of Hollywood that I succumb to.
I LOVE movies and I have a memory for names. My husband often complains that I know too much about the stars, that I pay too much attention. I just know their names is all. I have a bit of a memory for previous work, I enjoy seeing and appreciating the diversity in people's careers, especially when they are used in widely differing roles.
In any case the Oscars are tomorrow. We do not have cable so we are heading over to Grandma and Grandpa's to watch the big event and I have made it my business to watch nominated films all week in preparation.
Perhaps I will start posting regular movie reviews as an outlet for this little hobby of mine.
And if this happens, POST A DAMN COMMENT. Your silence is killing me.
You see, there is this THING in all (most?) women - this snappy, aggressive, under-the-surface competition that goes on. Who is skinner, prettier, more talented, has a more successful/better looking partner? Who is a better mother or who is raising their children the "right way"? Who has the "correct" political, religious, ethical, or moral leanings? Who has the biggest/best decorated/cleanest house, who cooks the best tasting/healthiest food? It seems that these competitions can be based on anything. ANYTHING.
So it's only natural that I enjoy critiquing the most glamorous of them all. As shallow as it is, perhaps it helps me get that snappy, ugly side of me out of my system so that when I'm with my girlfriends, my thoughts don't deviate, finding reasons to internally criticize the people I call care about so that I can smugly and irrationally feel superior. Or is it simply mindless entertainment turned to self-awareness? I don't know.
The best/worst list is most certainly not the only facet of Hollywood that I succumb to.
I LOVE movies and I have a memory for names. My husband often complains that I know too much about the stars, that I pay too much attention. I just know their names is all. I have a bit of a memory for previous work, I enjoy seeing and appreciating the diversity in people's careers, especially when they are used in widely differing roles.
In any case the Oscars are tomorrow. We do not have cable so we are heading over to Grandma and Grandpa's to watch the big event and I have made it my business to watch nominated films all week in preparation.
Perhaps I will start posting regular movie reviews as an outlet for this little hobby of mine.
And if this happens, POST A DAMN COMMENT. Your silence is killing me.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Style Experiment
I'm not really sure if anyone is reading this blog other than my mom, (thanks mom), but if anyone out there is interested, I plan to start posting regularly about products that I really enjoy using. I think for now it will happen once a week, perhaps on Sunday.
I bought this lotion at the local drugstore because it is paraben-free, phthalate-free, propylene-glycol free and dye free. I thought, hey that stuff gives me cancer, so I should buy lotion that doesn't have it! Little did I know that it would also smell amazing! This one here is 'Lemon Cream' and it smells exactly like lemon pound cake, you know, the kind with the sugary glaze on top? EXACTLY like that.
I love it so much that I went back the next week and bought a lavender scented bottle to use at work. It seems that whenever I use it, the realtor's offices simultaneously empty as employees start drifting towards my desk in search of the source of the scent. It's lovely and I don't mind sharing.
J.R Watkins website here.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Along with Cupcakes
Valentine's day has come and gone, but I thought it would be nice to mark the occasion with some goodies for the office. I recently started a property management business under the love and protection of the real estate office in which I work as a receptionist. I can take no credit for the initial success of this venture, since the people here have pretty much held my hand through the entire process, and have been the source of ALL my clients.
Yaay for cupcakes and home-made cards!
Still working on it.
Eventually I will mail this card, with the corresponding gift, to its patient and gracious recipient. Perhaps I will squeeze the word 'belated' in there.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Meet the Dave
Amber: David, what is your full name?
David: *sideways glance of disdain* you know what my full name is.
Amber: How would you describe yourself?
David: Awesome.
Amber: Anything else?
David: mmmhmm. I would describe myself as a warrior class adventurer trapped in a 21st century North American culture who doesn't know where to go or how to get there.
Amber: Interesting.
David: You're welcome.
Amber: Favourite color?
David: White. And black. Because white holds all the colors and black hides them all.
Amber: If you were a car what make and model would you be?
David: No idea.
Amber: Really, you got nothing?
David: mm mm. (That's like the no version of the grunt).
Amber: Please complete the sentence: I will always remember...
David: a specific pain I have in my heart.
Amber: ...ok. Chocolate is...
David: for weak people.
Amber: You're going to look like such a weirdo on here. I don't understand...
David: corruption, no wait, I do understand corruption. I don't understand...(getting distracted by watching batman)...I don't understand why....why....I don't understand why....I don't understand...are you just writing that?
Amber: yes
David: *scratches head...pauses batman...why good people that are aware of bad things don't do anything about it..as a generalization.
Amber: What do you propose?
David: Let's not think about it and watch batman.
David: *sideways glance of disdain* you know what my full name is.
Amber: How would you describe yourself?
David: Awesome.
Amber: Anything else?
David: mmmhmm. I would describe myself as a warrior class adventurer trapped in a 21st century North American culture who doesn't know where to go or how to get there.
Amber: Interesting.
David: You're welcome.
Amber: Favourite color?
David: White. And black. Because white holds all the colors and black hides them all.
Amber: If you were a car what make and model would you be?
David: No idea.
Amber: Really, you got nothing?
David: mm mm. (That's like the no version of the grunt).
Amber: Please complete the sentence: I will always remember...
David: a specific pain I have in my heart.
Amber: ...ok. Chocolate is...
David: for weak people.
Amber: You're going to look like such a weirdo on here. I don't understand...
David: corruption, no wait, I do understand corruption. I don't understand...(getting distracted by watching batman)...I don't understand why....why....I don't understand why....I don't understand...are you just writing that?
Amber: yes
David: *scratches head...pauses batman...why good people that are aware of bad things don't do anything about it..as a generalization.
Amber: What do you propose?
David: Let's not think about it and watch batman.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Sprinkles?
The snowflakes are not snowflakes. They are white, and appear to be made of half-frozen water, but they are perfectly round. And all identical. All the way to work this morning I was staring at the ground, at the snow piling in tiny peaks on the tips of my boots, trying to figure out what it was I was walking on. It was dry and almost squeaky, like styrofoam packing peanuts. It rolled and crunched under my feet and I realized the little beads were slightly smaller versions of those round sprinkles that come on doughnuts or Christmas cookies.
Wouldn't it be fun if they snow came down multicoloured like those sprinkles, although it would probably raise a few serious questions about the environment and climate change.
I hope that is what I dream about tonight. Rainbow-coloured sprinkle-snow that doesn't melt, but is perfectly healthy and is used as a flavouring for foods, like powdered sugar or maple syrup.
mmm.
Wouldn't it be fun if they snow came down multicoloured like those sprinkles, although it would probably raise a few serious questions about the environment and climate change.
I hope that is what I dream about tonight. Rainbow-coloured sprinkle-snow that doesn't melt, but is perfectly healthy and is used as a flavouring for foods, like powdered sugar or maple syrup.
mmm.
It's creeping up on me...
My homework is starting to push me into a corner. It multiplies faster than rabbits, piling up in the corner of my living room. Behind me as I play 'asteroids' on the xbox and watch old episodes of 'The Office', next to my bed as I cuddle with the pups in the morning after Dave leaves for work, littered across the kitchen table as I eat my breakfast and read the morning news.
It knows.
By Saturday I had no other choice. I completed some history, some math, if only so I could leave behind the nagging feeling of being watched, stalked by a hungry predator.
This morning I will be done with English whether I've conquered my foe or not, the mid-term starts at 6.
Elizabeth helped me wage the battle on Sunday, as we waded through words, theme and hidden meaning alone in my kitchen. Without her, well, I wouldn't be here today.
Until next time, college papers, math assignments and history reading. Until next time..
It knows.
By Saturday I had no other choice. I completed some history, some math, if only so I could leave behind the nagging feeling of being watched, stalked by a hungry predator.
This morning I will be done with English whether I've conquered my foe or not, the mid-term starts at 6.
Elizabeth helped me wage the battle on Sunday, as we waded through words, theme and hidden meaning alone in my kitchen. Without her, well, I wouldn't be here today.
Until next time, college papers, math assignments and history reading. Until next time..
Thursday, February 5, 2009
THE FLOODING
The weather in Terrace is unpredictable at best.
We moved in March and had a beautiful, cheery spring that I thought would gradually evolve into a beautiful, cheery summer.
Nope.
We had about two weeks of hot weather the whole summer. Every other day was cloudy, cool and sucky. For me, most disappointing summer on record, hands friggin down. It was especially disappointing when this was our first summer in our own home - a home with a big, south facing, grassy yard and high fences. Any guesses at what I wanted to be doing?
This winter has been no less odd. During the fall months, every time I mentioned that we were from the Island I was greeted with knowing chuckles and warnings about blizzarding cold minus 40 temperatures and the mountains of snow. (Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize that Terrace was North of my previous home, thank you for enlightening me with your infinite wisdom).
However, all the dire warnings I received about so-called "Terrace Winters" were bunk.
Instead we get big dumps of snow, about 2 feet at a time. Sometimes this will happen a few times in a short span, leaving us with precariously creaking roofs. The lovely added bonus about Terrace is that the snow plows leave a fully concrete windrow that is impossible to drive through (believe me, I've tried) in front of the driveway, blocking me in. Or out, on occasion.
But the kicker here, is that this type of insanity only seems to last for a few days, until you get an entirely new crazy-maker: Rain.
Yes the Rain. You'd think that with all the "minus 40 temperatures" people seem to think we get up here, we would not be able to get rain in the middle of winter. The thing about this rain is that when it comes, which is always a few days after a large snowfall, ensuring that the ground is completely frozen, it comes in sheets and torrents, causing FLOODING.
My house, so far so good. Other peoples houses, like the ones I manage professionally for my JOB? Not so good.
Flooding=Amberslowlygoingcrazy123456...
We moved in March and had a beautiful, cheery spring that I thought would gradually evolve into a beautiful, cheery summer.
Nope.
We had about two weeks of hot weather the whole summer. Every other day was cloudy, cool and sucky. For me, most disappointing summer on record, hands friggin down. It was especially disappointing when this was our first summer in our own home - a home with a big, south facing, grassy yard and high fences. Any guesses at what I wanted to be doing?
This winter has been no less odd. During the fall months, every time I mentioned that we were from the Island I was greeted with knowing chuckles and warnings about blizzarding cold minus 40 temperatures and the mountains of snow. (Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize that Terrace was North of my previous home, thank you for enlightening me with your infinite wisdom).
However, all the dire warnings I received about so-called "Terrace Winters" were bunk.
Instead we get big dumps of snow, about 2 feet at a time. Sometimes this will happen a few times in a short span, leaving us with precariously creaking roofs. The lovely added bonus about Terrace is that the snow plows leave a fully concrete windrow that is impossible to drive through (believe me, I've tried) in front of the driveway, blocking me in. Or out, on occasion.
But the kicker here, is that this type of insanity only seems to last for a few days, until you get an entirely new crazy-maker: Rain.
Yes the Rain. You'd think that with all the "minus 40 temperatures" people seem to think we get up here, we would not be able to get rain in the middle of winter. The thing about this rain is that when it comes, which is always a few days after a large snowfall, ensuring that the ground is completely frozen, it comes in sheets and torrents, causing FLOODING.
My house, so far so good. Other peoples houses, like the ones I manage professionally for my JOB? Not so good.
Flooding=Amberslowlygoingcrazy123456...
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Nostalgia
This photo is of my Nonno and Nonna holding my dad as a baby. My favorite thing about this picture is my Nonno's wicked stripey socks.
Kermode Moose
Being the ignorant city girl that I am, when I moved to Terrace I was surprised to learn that there is a special type of bear up here called the 'Kermode bear' or 'spirit bear'. It's basically just an albino black bear, but there is a larger than normal population of them up here. I remember the spirit bear figures that were painted and displayed all over downtown Victoria a while back, but at the time I didn't realize that they were actually a real type of bear, unique to the Northwest Coast.
My bad.
It's a pretty big deal up here. A few months ago some people managed to snap a few shots of an albino squirrel and it was on the front page of the Terrace Standard for 3 days.
A sign of both the priorities of Terrace citizens and of how little happens here.
I know it wasn't spotted in Terrace, or in BC for that matter, and certainly not by me, but here it is folks, courtesy of Cute with Chris, take a look at your first Kermode Moose, bitches!
My bad.
It's a pretty big deal up here. A few months ago some people managed to snap a few shots of an albino squirrel and it was on the front page of the Terrace Standard for 3 days.
A sign of both the priorities of Terrace citizens and of how little happens here.
I know it wasn't spotted in Terrace, or in BC for that matter, and certainly not by me, but here it is folks, courtesy of Cute with Chris, take a look at your first Kermode Moose, bitches!
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