Nieces Rock

Yesterday, I went to Calgary with my sister-in-law and the nieces.  Our original intension was to check out a new organic farmer's market, but when the nieces decided to come along, it became a girls' day out.

We started off at the market... well, we started by driving past two Tim Horton's before we found one that had a reasonable lineup so we could get breakfast... then we went to the organic market.  It was good (I came away with a grass-fed beef roast that will be chopped up for THIS Mediterranean Beef Stew,  fresh honey and handmade gnocchi) and it was nice to go to a farmers' market that was mostly limited to things that farmers actually produce, rather than people selling crafts.   ... don't judge me for the gnocchi.

After the market, we swung over to the first of two malls that we ended up visiting.  The focus there was mostly clothes for the girls, and we had both successes and challenges.  It's pretty disturbing how overtly sexual some of the clothes are now for young girls, but luckily they both seem to understand that there's a big difference between attractive and sexy... both are still drawn more to classy styles.  The older niece, who is an avid golfer,  cleaned up on a few golfing outfits.  The younger niece, who is like me and loves all things sparkly, ended up cleaning up at a sale by bringing home about 7 new sparkly outfits...  oh, to be ten and wear sparkles every day.

In one store, I zeroed in on some bags right away.  The younger niece loved them too, and thought I'd picked it out for her.  I said HECK NO, that's for me; but agreed that there was no reason why we couldn't have matching bags.  So, I got one for carrying my stuff to zumba classes, and she got one for her overnight trips to visit her grandparents.

Cool bag, eh?  It doesn't show very well in the picture, but it's covered in clear sequins.

Regularly priced @ $37.  Cost $10.98 thankyouverymuch.

After that, the girls introduced me to my first bubble tea, and then it was time to head home.  All in all, it was a fantastic day.

Back in the Day

My dad and I used to have a lot of fun together.  I remember my mom shaking her head and tsking a lot around us when we came up with our crazy ideas.

This series took quite a bit of planning - we had to wait for a loose tooth, we had to wait for it to fall out, and then we had to wait until my favourite shirt was clean so we could finish the series in a convincing way.  

I'm thinking of getting this printed and framed.  I'm not one for self portraits, but these ones make me smile.

I love this thing

I have been lusting after THESE since I saw them on Pinterest a few months ago.  I'm a big avocado fan, and usually eat a few a week.  I don't, however, like guacamole or mushed up pieces of it that look like somebody is starting to make guacamole.  I like slices of it on sandwiches, and (mostly) cubes of it in salads.  It's not unusual for me to have a tomato and an avocado for lunch.

So, when I finally got to go to the William Sonoma store on the weekend (it's new-ish to Canada) I snapped one up.  It wasn't cheap for a kitchen gadget, but I've used it and it works like a hot damn.

It's so simple, but it's genius.  And, with this new kitchen toy, I see lots and lots of avocado in my future.

Another Decision

After much angst about getting rid of furniture that I like to make room for a desk in a place that I don't really want to work, I've decided to build a room in my basement.  It's a room that I have always intended to build, someday down the road.  In my mind, I've been so stuck on "down the road" that I it never occurred to me that maybe the time is now.  I have been trying to figure out where to set myself up to work, and it just occurred to me that I've been putting a lot of effort and planning a lot of money for something that would be temporary at best if I do it upstairs.  I work at home now, so now is probably the time to build the proper space.

I had planned to complete the entire basement at once, but maybe it'll be easier to do it one room at a time.  This room will be fairly large... eventually, it'll be a tv room/games room/office/library type room.  I'll start the walls, ceiling and the floor, as well as the desk portion and maybe some bookshelves.  The rest can follow as funds are available.

A friend of mine's husband is a contractor, and has recently set out to work on his own.  He did their house, and seemed to do a good job.  I will also plan to do as much of the work myself as I can to save money.  If I can, I'd like to have this done in the summer.

I've decided

My least favourite thing to do:



Bra Shopping.




It's an exercise in frustration.  I had to go to four stores today.  FOUR.  

The problem is that I am fairly generously endowed in that area, but I've lost enough weight that my old bras don't fit.  I  used to buy my bras at the fat lady store, but now my band size is smaller than they sell, so I have to go to regular sized stores, only they don't usually carry large enough cup sizes.  

And, so I went from store to store, and chiselled away at my body image with each attempt.

Somehow, I ended up in a change room across from a woman with exactly the same problem.  Sad to say, we bonded over excessive boobage.  Luckily, we both hit pay dirt with a sales woman who not only knew her stuff, she knew the inventory.  Even then, we were there for over an hour, as we tried on bra after bra and tossed them over the change room doors to swap back and forth.    Finally, as we were both about to give up, we came upon the miracle bra.  Not the one that pushes your boobs up to your chin - this one holds everything where it belongs and fits properly while miraculously not looking like something my granny would wear.  

We each bought three.

A Clothing Quandary

He's taking me out to a fancy restaurant in Calgary for New Year's.  On the way, he wants to stop at a favourite provincial park of his, so that we can do some winter photography together.

Considering that we'll be hiking in the cold first, and then going out where we'll be expected to dress up, I don't know what to wear.  This is complicated by the fact that I currently own one fancy-ish blouse, and I wore it when we went out on our first date.  

Guy #2

I haven't said much about guy #2 yet.  Mostly,  that's because I haven't been sure what to say.    At first, I almost stopped seeing him  because he was so... nice... that something didn't seem right.  I had trouble believing his sincerity, and thought maybe he was trying to manipulate me.

I don't have a great track record with men.  Some of my past relationships were with guys who talked down to me or bossed me around, and then I moved on to a charmer who criticized me so much he gave me an ulcer before doing me the favour of cheating and giving me the incentive to move on.  From there, I had a few relationships with guys that I had to walk on eggshells and be careful around, lest I appear too interested and make them feel pressured to commit.  There have been a few relatively good guys mixed in there over the years, but it's fairly safe to say that my expectations are pretty low... which is why I've been single for as long as I have.

But, guy #2 stayed in touch just enough to keep him on my mind without making me feel crowded.   When we are together, he's positive and optimistic.  He pays attention when we talk, and remembers our conversations later.  He talks about (suggests) future plans, as though he has no fear that I'll read between the lines.   If a day goes by without us having a reason to talk, he sends me a quick message, just to let me know I've been on his mind.  And so, even though I questioned him at the beginning, I've been responding to his emails and calls, and going out with him when I can.  It's been good... it's been pretty great, actually.  It's taken a while, but I've come to the conclusion that he really is a genuinely nice guy who simply wants to treat me like I'm something special.

It's early days, no doubt.  We are still getting to know each other and testing the waters.  I'm not sure what will happen with him, but I think it'll be fun to figure it out.    Even more, I've realized that if this is what relationships are supposed to be like, I've been missing out.






ps - "guy #2" isn't a great name.  He got it originally because I was getting to know Dr Sheldon Cooper (AKA Guy #1) when we first got in touch, and he's kept it because he shares a first name with my good friend's husband.  
We were either going to have to go with Your _______ and My _____, or else ____#1 and ____#2.
Right now, it seems presumptuous to call him My ______, so he gets ______#2.