Rockin' Out

First day at the new job was great! Lots to learn, lots of differences between service and manufacturing companies.

Not much on the tube these days. So I am on the hunt for new tunes for the mp3. These are the tunes I am rockin' out to most (in no particular order).

Chillin' - Wale ft. Lady Gaga
Imma Be - Black Eyed Peas
Revelry - Kings of Leon
Lolli Lolli - Three 6 Mafia
Hard To Be Hip Hop - Classified ft. Maestro
Beggin - Madcon
Take Me On The Floor - The Veronicas
Rusted From The Rain - Billy Talent
Free - Subway
Roll - Flo Rida ft. Sean Kingston
Obsessed - Mariah Carey
Jump - Flo Rida ft. Nelly Furtado
Fire - 50 Cent ft. Nicole Scherzinger & Young Buck

Most of these artists are well known with the exception of couple. Subway is my good friend's son. His CD, On The Right Track, is fabulous! You can check him out at www.speakfresh.com

If you have some other great songs to recommend, post a comment.

When One Door Closes...

....another one opens.

Friday was my last day at my old job. I had been there for almost six years! Time sure flies by. There have been lots of ups and downs there, mostly downs as of late. I have always considered the company to be like a family, but it has lost that feeling. We once were an office of fifteen, and then down to three, now down to two, and will be down to one at the end of August.

On Friday, we had a little farewell get together. Most of the people who worked together when we were the Fierce Fifteen enjoyed pizza, conversation, laughs and each other's company. As I sat in the room, listening to everyone chat and laugh, I realized that is what I missed most. I missed those coffee breaks, the potlucks, the get togethers, the camaraderie, everything that made it the best place to work. Lately, it has been just that. A place to work. We will always be great friends regardless of where we are in life, and for that I am truly thankful.

New job starts tomorrow bright and early.

Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back!

In spring 2008, I chose to participate in the Relay for Life to honor the memory of my grandmother, Betty.

She bravely fought cancer for over a year until February 2008. She refused to give in, refused to be labeled as someone who had cancer, until a week before she died. She is one of the strongest women I have had the pleasure of knowing.

So in 2008 I started Team Prairie Chicks and we got together again this year. We did a lobster raffle this year that raised over a thousand dollars on top of our pledges. Last year, it poured rain most of the night and despite being cold and wet, we made it to the end. This year, we had clear skies which made for a better night.

My favorite part of Relay is the luminaries. For five dollars, you can buy a luminary that lights the track all night. I bought a luminary for my grandmother and for my grandfather that passed away from stomach cancer in 1990.






At dusk, they hold a luminary lighting ceremony to give you the chance to reflect, remember and share in a moment of silence.









As I walk the track, I reflect on all the memories I have. All the sleepovers, the Christmases, the Canada Day celebrations, the family get togethers at my grandparents' huge 3 storey, 100+ year old house. My memories of Nanny's cooking, her quilting, her personality. My memory of her holding her head up high, never complaining as cancer ravaged her body.

It was those memories that kept my feet moving around the track. As my feet and knees began to ache, it was the memory of her struggle that pushed me around the track for one more lap.

It was my memory of me holding her hand, speaking softly to her as she drew her last breath that kept me there to the bitter end and keeps me doing this year after year.



Nanny Betty, I love and miss you everyday. I know you were with me last night and I couldn't have done it without you.






A huge THANK YOU to my friends. True friends are the only people crazy enough to stay up all night,walk till you get blisters, and drink unknown amounts of Timmies when they could be home in their nice cozy beds. I love you guys.

Another big thank you to the volunteers and event organizers for pulling off another awesome Relay. Bigger and better every year.

Thank you to every one who supported and pledged Team Prairie Chicks. Brooks Relay for Life raised over $241,000!!

UPDATE: Donations toward our Relay are permitted after the Relay has taken place. Brooks Relay for Life has raised over $253,000 to date! 699 participants rallied around the track. 62 survivors provided inspiration and hope. 84 volunteers made it happen.

Almost Home Time!

It won't be much longer before I am listening to Emma's baby giggles, enjoying delicious morsels of fresh seafood, and standing in the Atlantic.

For now, I have this to tide me over.

This is my sister, Jess, and that adorable little Emma!!!! Jeremy sure knows a great photo op when he sees one!

Play Time

My baby girl, Sika, loves to play and will play for hours and hours on end. Her favorite toy is a hair elastic. Who would have thunk it?

Today on lunch break, my husband was spinning a quarter on the kitchen table. Sika just sat and stared. But, then she got that brave, curious kitty face.

"I'm not allowed to have my paws on the table, but maybe they won't notice."

"Going for the gold!"

"I win, I win, I win!"

Old Friends, New Beginnings

Over the weekend, I had an opportunity to visit with my close friends from high school. Julie and Stephanie moved to Calgary a couple years ago. I met Julie in my grade seven year at junior high. Through Julie, I was able to meet Stephanie at Allison's wedding in 2007. Our friend, Allison, still lives in Nova Scotia. Allison and I have been friends since we started elementary school. She decided to fly out for a visit and introduce us to the new love in her life.

Meet Madeline.

Doesn't that cute dimple spread a smile across your face?

And does she ever giggle! Baby giggles are infectious!

So it was a great visit, but not nearly long enough. I was great to spend the weekend with old friends and reminisce. On Friday, I decided I needed a new beginning with a new job that I start at the end of the month. I have been at my current job almost 6 years so this decision has put my stress level near maximum. Spending time with friends was the best relaxation a girl could ask for. Although, a pedicure would have been a nice addition. Maybe next week!

Nanny Ruth's Sweet Rolls

On the hottest day we have had so far this year, I decided to bake rolls. Not the smartest decision ever. I have been wanting to adapt my grandmother's recipe to my new stand mixer from the moment I loaded it into the cart at Costco.

My grandmother has always baked up many different delicious treats. When she visited me a couple years ago, she wrote out a few for me. I already have a handwritten recipe book that she gave me when I graduated high school, but I always am looking to try new ones. This is her Can't Fail Rolls, that we all know as her sweet rolls.

These are the ingredients.

1 cup milk (the milk was shy, that's why it's not in the picture)
1/3 cup margarine or shortening (I used margarine)

1/3 cup sugar

1 egg, beaten

5 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tbs yeast

Start by scalding the milk, margarine, and sugar in a saucepan. Let cool.

I poured it into my mixer bowl to cool quicker. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of sugar in 1 cup of lukewarm water and stir in 1 tablespoon of yeast. Allow to sit for 10 minutes or so. I have always been yeast challenged, so I have invested in an instant read thermometer. Liquids should be between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit to properly proof.

Add yeast and egg to cooled milk mixture. Add flour and salt. Mix until dough ball forms, or knead for 9 minutes by hand.

Turn into a lightly greased bowl and allow to rise for one hour. Shape into rolls and place into greased pans. Allow to rise another hour.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. The rolls in my glass pan took a few minutes longer to brown. Turn out on wire racks to cool. With a little knob of margarine and a paper towel, grease the tops.

Pretend you are looking at the fresh baked rolls smeared with butter and strawberry jam, as in my haste to sample the bounty, I missed the photo opportunity.

Enjoy!