Home

This is my home.

My Grandparents home in Gambo, Newfoundland.

I am now 33 years old and have spent a good chunk of my lifetime here.

Growing up, I didn’t live in Gambo, but I spent every summer here. School would be finished in June and it would only be a few days after, and this is where I would be.

We would go fishing, or play out in the backyard, or down to the swimming pool. If on the odd chance we were in the house, you can guarantee that The Toronto Blue Jays game was on. My Grandparents and I would sit down and watch the game, or at the very least it would be on in the background while we sat down to eat.

9 pm was lunchtime. Nan would be sure to have the table laid out with cookies and crackers, and anything else you wanted. There would be company showing up, and we would all be laughing and singing, or watch the Blue Jays game.

This home has always been a source of happiness and love.

Sunday Mornings was for Church. I would get ready with Nan every Sunday morning and head down to the Salvation Army Church for Sunday Service, and in the afternoon she would bring me back after lunch for Sunday School. At night I would be left with my Grandfather, so that Nan could go to the night service, which was usually an outdoor service in the summer.

As the season have come and gone, serious changes have happened, good and bad.

I have grown up and married and have had children of my own, my Grandfather has passed away, and sickness has come knocking.

My Grandmother is the matriarch for my mothers family and I can only hope I can be half as amazing with my 3 children as she has done with her 8. She is a beautiful bright soul who doesn’t let anything get her down. She is always there with open arms.

This house is my home. For as long as I can remember this house ( and my Aunts house up the road) have been a proverbial security blanket for me and I’ve always felt safest here.

Have a beautiful Sunday everyone, I know I will because I am home🧡💜

Story Time

Today I was going to write a book post. I was going to tell you everything I like about a certain book, and why you should run out and buy said book right away. I was going to post lovely pictures of the book with its beautiful dust jacket.

(DISCLAIMER: I am not writing this to hurt anyone. This is a past story and it has been almost 2 years since it happened. Life is Better Now)

Plans change. I have a story stuck in my head that I think you should hear.
So for all of you lovely people, today is…..wait for it…

#WednesdayMotivational

A little over a year and a half ago, I went through a really tough life changing period in my life. It was the week after Canada Day, and everything in my life crumbled at my feet.

Alcohol was involved, Cops were involved. Now before I go any further, no I wasn’t drunk, no I didn’t fight someone in a club, or anything like that. It was supposed to be a fun time though. The Grandparents had taken the 3 kids for the summer, so I was free to do as I pleased.

I wont get into detail as too what happened that night, or name names, but it was just a pivotal moment in my life, and after that everything changed. I do not write this to make anyone feel bad for what happened.

The aftermath of that night is still fresh in my memory though. As I said, the children were away with the Grandparents, and I was left alone in a big house. Left to my own brain to rerun everything that had transpired. I spent the next 7 days waiting for a doctors appointment. 7 days, at 24 hours a day, equals 168 hours I spent awake.
I wasn’t scared or terrified, but I just couldn’t shut my brain off to go to sleep. Netflix and smoking became my best friend. Energy Drinks and Pepsi were my go to drink, and I barely ate anything. I binge watched the heck out of Grace and Frankie, and movies in between.

I think this was the lowest point in my life because I truly felt I had no one around me close by to talk to or help get me through this. I was completely and utterly alone in my mind. My family was a 7 hour drive away, and the very few people I did know in this town were busy with their own lives, and I felt like I would have been bothering them anyways with my own problems.

So I stayed awake, and I thought, and I cried. Not the quiet sob, or silent tears streaming down my face. I ugly cried. I bawled my eyes out until they were red and sore, and my chest felt like it would cave in at any moment.

When I was able to gather myself together, I would just leave the house to walk to the store for smokes, or more energy drinks or Pepsi. I know that was probably all contributing factors to my staying awake, but in that moment I didn’t care. The outside world was a blur. Nothing in that time mattered.

I finally got to see my doctor that Thursday, and ended up being prescribed something to help me get some sleep. I spent the next 24 hours in bed in and out of glorious slumber. I felt refreshed enough after that to gather myself up and hold my head high again and carry on.

Carry on I did!

In the weeks following that event, I moved out of that town and closer to my family, so close that I live with them now, and things have never been better. They help me with the kids, and I am able to focus more on working on blogs and writing.

The whole long lengthy point of me telling you this story is so that if you can take anything away from it, I would want you to know that in a moment of your deepest despair, no matter how bad or ugly things are getting in your moment, it will get better. It may not be tomorrow, it may not be next week, but the sun will shine again, and you will come out on the other side like the true warrior you are.

You Will Survive This!

It took me a long while after to realize, one of the hardest moments in my life was also one of the best because if it didn’t happen, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I wouldn’t be as content and happy with my life and the path I am headed on now.

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, and that this week is good to you.

Keep Striving for Greatness.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Happy Valentines Day💕

That sums up this post.

Happy Valentines Day.

I hope you have people close to you that you love and love you.
I hope you know you are loved.
I hope you take the time to breathe today.
I hope you know you are a magnificent being.

That’s a lot of hope, I know.

Today, know how truly blessed you are. If you are alone on this Valentine’s Day, why not treat yourself to some me time. Even if that is just taking a bubble bath and sitting back with a coffee and reading a good book.

Treat Yo Self… to some chocolate, and a good movie.

This day doesn’t have to be about all the material stuff you can give someone, that true just collects dust in a corner. Do something nice for someone else.

If you have a spouse/partner, help with the house work, or offer to make a meal. Come together as a team and show your loved one that they are appreciated.

Sending all my love to anyone who reads this.

The Happiest of Valentines Day to you All from Me.

My Kids Nintendo Christmas List.

This years Christmas is a little different for my children. They usually have very different, very particular items they ask Santa for. This time around though, its different, aside from my youngest daughter asking for the usual Pony or Puppy, the resounding ask between all 3 of them is Nintendo Switch Everything. I swear they get their taste in electronics from me.

Since Christmas is right around the corner, 13 days to be exact. I figured I would make a list of the top 5 Nintendo items that are anticipated by 3 children under our Christmas tree this year.

1. Nintendo Switch

This one is an obvious one. The console is perfect for so many different reasons. You can have it connected to the tv, but if someone else wants to watch tv, it can easily convert to a handheld and be carried on the go. Right now there is a promotion on at Walmart, if you buy a console you also receive a $50 Nintendo Eshop card, which is enough to buy a downloadable game.

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/nintendo-switch-console-with-neon-blue-and-neon-red-joy-con-and-nintendo-50-e-shop-card/6000196784704

2. Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu/ Let’s Go Eevee

The Latest games from the Pokemon Franchise to were released on Nov 16th and have had a huge success in the less than 2 weeks they have been available. There is probably not too much difference between the two games except for the main Pokemon.

In this house we are divided down the middle on favourites. The girls like Pikachu and the boys like Eevee.

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/nintendo-pokemon-lets-go-pikachu/6000198423385

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/nintendo-pokemon-lets-go-eevee/6000198421123

3. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

This game is set to be released on December 7th, and will most definitely be received with the same excitement and hype as the Pokemon Games, if not more. People have been waiting for this Game since the time of the GameCube.

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/super-smash-bros-ultimate-nintendo-switch/6000198427224

4.Pokemon Mega Construct Battle packs.

My kids are intensely in love with Legos and Pokemon, so this brings both together perfectly. They range in size and price. You can get massive battle scenes, or individual Pokémon in pokeballs to build and have endless hours of fun with.

https://www.ebgames.ca/Toys-Collectibles/Games/730590/pok-mon-battle-assorted

5. Pokemon GX Boxes

These boxes also range in price depending on the main Pokemon on the box. It has the Pokemon foil promo TCG card, 1foil oversized card, 4 Pokemon booster packs, and a code for the Pokemon Trading Card Game Online.

My kids love spending time playing the card game, having battles and comparing cards.

https://www.ebgames.ca/Toys-Collectibles/Games/742974/pok-mon-trading-card-game-lucario-gx-box

There you have it… I’m sure there are loads more Nintendo items they would love to have.

What are you and yours asking for this Christmas? Any Crazy off the wall items?

Pokémon!

Gotta Catch Em All!

If you are anything like myself, you just sang that line in your head.
(This is the nerd/geek in me coming out in full force)

Pokémon became a very large part of my childhood in 1998, when it first reached Canada. The franchise began in Japan in 1995.

That year, and many after, I spent the better part of my time collecting cards, having battles with my friends, and watching episode after episode of this beloved series.

It probably helped that I lived in a very small town with not much to do, but we spent our time keeping ourselves busy and out of our parents hair playing this. After a time the Gameboy Colour came out and we would spend our hours between playing cards and taking turns playing the game on the lovely Nintendo handheld. Don’t get me started on how much we loved the Pokémon Master Trainer Board game.

Now, the sad part in this story is that I grew up and got rid of my old Pokémon cards, which like many other people, regret to this day. I don’t know what it is about these cards though that keep me coming back. Maybe the nostalgia of a less complicated time.

To this day there is something very therapeutic about opening a booster pack of cards and sorting through them order of types, and putting them in protective sleeves.

For me, the only other things in my childhood that I immensely enjoyed would have been Disney and Harry Potter.

My Monday Motivation in this little story is that things were good then, and they will be good again. Find something that you enjoy, no matter how old you are, have a hobby. This may seem like something for kids, but this franchise has been around for 24 years, so I believe that this is for all ages. The ones who began with Pokémon have all grown up now and new generations have come to love the cute imaginative creatures just as much as we have.

For me, I am lucky my children love Pokémon has much as I did growing up, and now I have a little excuse to have Pokémon around the house. Even if I didn’t have children, I would still have the cards because they bring a sense of calm to me when I just need to unwind. Again, I know how nerdy this is sounding. In the back of my head I ca  hear it.

“She organizes cards for fun. Someone has issues.”

Well there are people out there who collect dead bugs for fun. To each their own.

Keep your inner child alive!

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken and Rice.

Tonight’s Supper was so easy. I put chicken thighs into the slow cooker at 11 am this morning and let them slow cook on low all afternoon. I also salt and peppered them.

At around 1:30 pm, I pouring in a full bottle of VH Honey Garlic sauce to add the best flavour to the chicken.

The I just let the chicken cook on low until 4:45 pm.

I took the chicken out of the slow cooker to drain and placed it on a plate.

I also made a pot of minute rice which took roughly 10 minutes to cook, from boiling the water to adding the chicken bullion cube and taking off the heat and keeping covered for 5 minutes.

To add to that, I made a noodle sidekick for the children, who aren’t to fond of rice on times.

It turned out to be a beautiful meal, and I used the sauce that was left over to pour over my rice which adds some lovely flavour to the rice.

This meal turned out amazing!

The chicken cost $6

The box of rice was $4( and that box will last a long time in this house)

The sidekick cost $1.

Mommy, I love you.

I hear these 4 words a million time or more in the run of a day.

And this makes everything better.

It makes the hard times worth it, and the good time that much sweeter.

Sometimes it’s because they want something.

Sometimes it’s because they are after doing something wrong.

Sometimes, just sometimes, it’s because they are just enjoying a moment of cuddles.

I live for these moments because they put everything into perspective. The moment I heard those 4 words, it helps me slow down and enjoy that in a few years time, all I will be hearing is “Mom, leave me alone”, or “Mom, You’re embarrassing me”.

Through all the mess and clutter of the house and our lives, right now my children still want me around, and that’s great. Even when the day comes that they don’t want me around, I will still be there.

Standing behind them to cheer them on, or help them up when they need it.

They will always be my children, and I will always love them.

Epic Mom Fail

Not in a bad sense, but in hind sight, I could of handled the situation a whole lot better than I did.

STORY TIME!

Yesterday morning was like every other. I got up an hour before everyone else, got the kids clothes and lunches together, and then got them up and ready to start the day.

So me and their father brought them to school, and as usual he dropped me and 2 kids off, while he took the oldest to the middle school. Same as usual. nothing different….yet.

Now children 2 and 3 always go to the breakfast program. In this school it is encouraged that all children attend the program, so that no one child is singled out for not having breakfast that morning, and to give all children their best start to the day.

Side note: I don’t really understand why mine go, because they always have a full breakfast each morning before they go to school. I think it may be for the yogurt drinks.

Anyhow, today they decided to go together, 2 would wait with me until 3 came back down from putting his backpack in his locker and changing his sneakers. Mistake number 1. I foolishly said I would wait with 2 until 3 came back, which took forever.
so I told 2 to go on and that when 3 came down I would let him know that she was gone on to the cafeteria. Somewhere in between ok mom, and I love you, in my sleep deprived mind, I told 2 that I would wait for her to come out to give her one last hug before she went on to class. Mistake Number 2.

3 came down the hall as slowly as possible, talking to anyone who would make contact with him along the way. He is a very social animal and will befriend anyone willing to look his way.

By this time I should of already high tailed it out of the school, but oh no not me, foolishly as he walked by not noticing me at all or the fact that his sister had gone on without him, I had to call out to him to grab his attention to let him know that his sister was already gone in. Mistake Number 3. He couldn’t of cared less that I was wasting my morning standing in the main entrance to the school. He went on in and with 3 mins was out again and back on his merry way upstairs. Meanwhile, I am left standing there wondering where 2 is.

After everything was said and done, she comes skipping out of the cafeteria not taking notice that I was still standing there and I had to call out to her for her to come get her hug.

By the time I got out of the school, their father was wondering if I got lost. I sat in the van, and just shook my head in bewilderment as to how stunned I was to wait around for 2 kids who were perfectly fine. I could have been out of the school 20 minutes before I actually was, and out doing all the errands that I had to run yesterday.

MORAL OF THE STORY  

From now on, they get 1 hug each from me and sent on their merry ways for the day, and I high tail it out of there like a cat on a hot tin roof. I make my butt move it out before one of my lovely little angels can snag me into staying longer than I need to.
I love all 3 of my children with all of my heart, but I don’t need to be standing around a school entrance waiting on them all morning when I will be back there at 2:30 pm to pick them up.

The Mom Voice

This Monday morning has been a bless and a curse.

The kids went off to school fine, but my nerves are worse than if it was the first day of kindergarten.

For future reference I refer to my children on social media as 1,2 and 3.

A little back story, 2 and 3 have had to get a hug,kiss, and high five from me as part of their routine everyday in school last year. It is what calmed their anxiety and got them ready to face the day in school. Now they needed to do this about 3 times before I left them at the school. Comforting for them, nerve wrecking for me. I would love to be the parent that just drops them off outside and rushed off to my day, but unfortunately that is not the case. For whatever reasons their separation anxiety piqued last year in the new school, and it as that way all year.

Fast forward to this year, where I spent the last two weeks of summer vacation explaining to them that I can only give the hug,kiss,and high five once and then they would have to go on. Their merry ways and I would be outside the school waiting for them at the end of the day.

So this morning, I dropped 2 and 3 off at school and their father dropped 1 off at the middle school. 3 went on to her classroom fine. Now, this is the first time 2 has had to go upstairs in the school and find his way to his classroom on his own. He also had to wade through a whole hallway of new kindergarteners and their parents. 2 was a little tears eyed as he walked away from me, but he held his head high and disappeared into the crowd.

This is where my mom nerves kick in. I don’t know if he got upstairs, I don’t know if he found his locker, and I certainly don’t know if he is ok in his classroom right now. I did the exact thing I said I wouldn’t o this morning and I stood and waited there for 5 mins, while no kid came back to me.

Now I know a lot of you may think I am crazy, and I am sure everything will be fine and he will come out of the school fine this afternoon.

BUT…. The little mom voice is sitting in the corner in the back of my head, wondering all day if he is ok. Another side note, 2 is also in the process of being diagnosed with ADHD or something else. Last year he threw tantrum after tantrum about being afraid of going to school, not wanting to go on the bus, and has gone so far as to hide under the bed crying because I was being a horrible mom trying to make him go to school.

The school as been so helpful this past year, helping me get him into the routine of being left in school, even if it did take a whole month of me dropping him off crying in the office and sneaking away. Those days were long and agonizing, because I would leave him there crying, after a morning off struggling, and then he would have a great day in school, and come home happy go lucky.

So, this is why I have the fears I have this year. This is only his second day in school, and last Friday I was able to take him up to his classroom, and help him find his locker.

Now I will putter around the house and make myself busy to keep my mind off it until it is time to pick him up the afternoon, where he will be fine, and he will tell me all about his day, and I will be so proud of him.

That is my mom rant for today. Expect another post tomorrow 🙂

UPDATE: Everything went fine, and my mom nerves were unfounded. They all had a great day.

Sunday

Sunday, Sunday, lovely Sunday. The rain is pouring, the air is heavy and thick with humidity, and the sound of thunder is anticipated any moment now.

I sit here scrolling through my twitter feed, coffee in hand. Taking in this slow day, in all it glory. There aren’t many slow days in this house, and this moment won’t be forever. Soon a child will come calling for food, or screaming because a sibling looked at them the wrong way. For now though, I soak up this momentary peace, ever so fleeting.

I know there is a list a mile long of house work that can be done, but you won’t see me doing any of it today..

It will still be there tomorrow.