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.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Girl, Stop Apologizing!

(Photo http://www.thehollisco.com)

I preordered this novel weeks before it became available on chapters.indigo.ca. I finally received my copy yesterday via UPS. I am halfway through reading already, and I could not be more pleased with this purchase. Rachel Hollis has hit every cord in my heart so far. Every page is one enlightening moment after another.

If I could ever recommend a Self Help/ Goal Achieving book for anyone to read, it would be THIS!

She knows how to reach your heart and your unspoken thoughts with every word she writes. She is able to speak to the little girl in my heart, who was always trying to please everyone but myself. I had tears in my eyes, and was nodding my head in agreement and hadn’t passed the introduction yet.

The layout of the book is out of this world:

Part 1 is 9 different excuses to let go of.

Part 2 is 7 behaviours to adopt.

Part 3 is 6 skills to acquire.

I love how she is able to incorporate her own life lessons into each excuse,behaviour and skill. She isn’t just tell you what to do, but how she lived it and what she did to get through it.

I know this book is going to be attached to me for a very long time, and I hope that all of you go get a copy too.

10/10 rating on the book.

I hope all of you have a great week. Sending much love from me to you.

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.

F.O.F

I’m having a deep session of F.O.F today.

It’s been in the back of my mind for months now, maybe even years. It’s been the one thing that holds me back in a lot of my everyday endeavours.

What is F.O.F? Well I’m glad you asked. F.O.F stands for Fear Of Failure. It’s that tiny nagging voice that crawls up from the dark recesses of the furthest, deepest corner of the mind. It spreads doubt and fear of everything you try to think of, create , or do. It tries to make you believe you aren’t good enough. It crops up at the worst of times, asking the doubting questions and attempting to extinguish any spark or flame you may be trying to ignite within your soul.

At the best of times it can feel like a road block or wall has been built right in the middle of the path to your dream. At the worst of times, it can feel like chains around your neck, wrists, and ankles. The chains haul you down under the water, trying to drown out any thought of doing something new and exciting.

F.O.F will say why try that? No one is going to want to see it anyway. No one will want to hear what you have to say. You aren’t important enough to even be thinking of that.

You need to stamp that voice out.

Don’t listen to that voice, because if you do… you’ll never experience any of the beauty life has to offer.

There will always be people who want to hear what you have to say, and want to see what you have to bring to the table.

You Are Important!

You have been placed on this Earth to do great things. Destiny has a way for you.

You may not see it right now… but you will find your path.

Let your light shine, and don’t let a single person try to dull you out.

You Are Beautiful inside and out!

Besides what so wrong with failure?

If you fail at one thing, it’s just the opportunity to try something new, or try again till you get it right. Don’t let failure hold you back.

In the words of Rachel Hollis:

“You were Made for More”

Hey All!

Big things in the works for 2019.

Oh wait!

Happy New Year!

Almost through January, and I’ve got some big surprises in store for this year. Please bear with me and hang around to see all the fun we will have.

Lots of love and hope this Saturday finds you well.

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?

Wednesday Wisdom! I’m back!

First off I need to apologize for my little hiatus I’ve taken for the past couple weeks. Life threw me for a loop and knocked me down.

Now I am back fiercer than ever and with a clearer vision of where I want to to from here.

Self doubt creeped in and reared its ugly head once again, and my mind became a dark place where every bad thought took over and I lost belief in what I could and will accomplish.

Once in a while life i gonna throw a curve at you or knock you down completely. The main point that you need to take away from all of this is;

It’s ok to fall down,

It’s ok to fail,

It’s ok to get knocked down,

But please get back up, come back stronger than ever before. Show the world that you won’t stay down.

You Are Loved.

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.