...sisters...

These days, any time spent with my sister, is not taken for granted, as in only a few short months she will be  married and moving out of the country with the man of her dreams!

So tonight...I'm just sitting here...cherishing the past 5 hours...

After fresh flowers, a delicious dinner, sipping wine, shopping for shoes, purses, jewellery, clothes, listening to new music, dyeing hair and having a cup of coffee together...I'm really realizing I'm gonna miss that girl!  We've had so much fun in the last few months getting ready for the big wedding day and just hanging out!  I feel so blessed and thankful she's been home these past 6 months - spending some time with us before she goes - a blessing we never thought we'd have!

These are the times I'll never forget!  

Blessed!  

~A sister is a forever friend.   - Author Unknown

RECIPES!!!

So, this is my new recipe binder!  I'm seriously addicted!  I spend all my free time looking for new recipes to try!  I love it!  It all started because my current recipe book was falling apart and I could never find the recipes I was looking for!  When I got married my mom asked all my shower guests to bring along their favorite recipes and since then my collection has been growing, due to baking exchanges and some other events!  Thanks to my many family and friends for sharing some of their favourites!  Also, in the last few years I've fallen in love with the Kraft Canada website.  They have so many recipes and meal ideas, with common household ingredients that taste amazing!  You should take a browse, if you haven't done so before!  Seriously...it's addicting!  So many meal ideas, and baking fun!  I've even used a few of their cupcake and birthday cake ideas!  Fun!

So, this is it...

I made several category pages and placed those pages in page protectors.

APPETIZERS

SALADS

SOUPS

MAIN DISHES

CROCK POT DISHES

MARINADES & SAUCES

SIDE DISHES

BREAKFAST & LUNCH

COOKIES & SQUARES

CAKES & BREADS

MUFFINS

DESSERTS

FRUIT DIPS

DRINKS

SNACKS

 Then I typed out my existing recipes and put them behind each category page.  I've got all my recipes organized together now, with room to add more over time!  Great fun!  Hopefully over time I'll make the binder more creative, but until then this will do!  Let me now if you are ever looking for a recipe or two!  I have a bunch of favourites!  Or if you have a favourite...let me know, I'd love to try it!!

A few of my favourite things...

So...I've recently come across the website 1000 awesome things!  It's quite entertaining...
http://1000awesomethings.com/

Here are a few examples in their list of their awesome things...
*  hitting a bunch of green lights in a row
*  track pants
*  the perfect egg crack
*  dropping your cell phone on the sidewalk and then realizing its totally fine
*  the smell of the coffee aisle at the grocery store
*  popping bubble wrap
*  biting the last piece of a Popsicle without loosing any of it
*  pulling a weed and getting all the roots with it
*  when a public washroom has paper towels instead of hand dryers
*  stealing a nacho off someone else's plate
*  vacuuming a dirty carpet and hearing all the tiny rocks going through the hose
*  placing the last piece of a puzzle
*  shoveling handfuls of popcorn in your mouth really fast and spilling it everywhere (this one's for Mark!!)

I could go on...and on...AND ON.... since there are 987 more!
but I thought it might be fun to list a few of my awesome things...

*  sleeping in and waking to the sweet sunshine gleaming through the window
*  enjoying a cup of coffee with my love
*  telling a joke and people laugh with me
*  the feeling of excitement and passion welling up deep inside -- love it!
*  the relaxing tingle when you first climb into the hot tub
*  hearing one of my favorite songs come on the radio/ipod, and cranking it really loud
*  beating my brother-in-law in scrabble
*  the little ones in our lives -- hearing 'ti-ti' (auntie) and 'uncu' (uncle) from Ethan, and when Maryn and Laene run around with sheer excitement when we walk in the door
*  sharing long conversations with good friends -- renews my heart!
*  making a craft and it turns out beautifully...
*  eating chocolate... 
*  finding the perfect gift for a someone special
*  when someone surprises you with something -- knowing its exactly what you need!
*  laughing so hard your stomach hurts...

Hmmmm... contemplating the good things in life today!