The five of them combined are grace, truth, creativity, ingenuity, positivity, beauty, wisdom, wit and strength personified.  For the most part, they do not understand that if they want something that they cannot have it.  Because in their minds, they can have it, they just need to figure out how to get it.  (How many times have I wished I could believe this is true in my life? I’m getting closer to that belief watching my babes in action though).

Today is Miranda’s third birthday.  She is a delight and a demon (the answer will depend on who you ask and when) but when she smiles, my world ceases to have problems.  When she cries (her legitimate cry, not her boundary testing, patience-stretching three-year-old I’m-going-to-cry-until-your-ears-bleed-and-you-give-me-what-I-want cry), my heart aches in my chest for her.  I love watching her learn about her world, conquer her fears and worries and take control of her environment.  At three, she has not yet been told that it is not okay for a girl to speak her mind, so when she feels someone has crossed her line, she can often be heard saying things like “leave me alone!  Get your hands offa me! I’m mad at you!”  She doesn’t smile politely and take it.  And I admire that.  And I hope that as she grows and matures that she refines her delivery but does not soften her stance and start doubting her own right to 1) be heard and 2) be treated with respect.  She will learn compromise and communication techniques, give-and-take will come, but I hope that she never gives so much that she loses her beautiful, fiery spirit.  Happy Birthday, my Miranda.

Rocking the granny look. Shopping bag? Check! Sunglasses? Check! Bubba (Pacifier)? Check! She’s ready to own the shops. The only thing missing is the cane to whack people out of her way – LOL!  Please, Ms. Moon. Never lose your sense of individuality, never lose your sense of self, and never let anyone tell you that you’re anything less than perfect. Just the way you are.
P.S. This was taken in March, the pacifier and the winter coat are both distant memories now *grin*

My first born. Can’t believe how grown up he is, can’t believe how much we’ve been through together and cannot believe how incredible proud I am of the person he is and the man he is becoming. Hard working, artistic, strong and very personable. He’s been with me my whole adult life, was the reason I became an adult, really, and I don’t know what I would do without him. Life may send him for a loop sometimes, but he does not give up, he keeps working hard to figure out his life path and how to live his dreams and achieve his goals.

Mason – strong, fit and intense. Three things that I admire about him so much and something I aspire to be one day. He’s so smart and quick.  Once he knows what he wants, the world better get out of his way, because he’s going to get where he wants to be, one way or another.  And it doesn’t hurt that he’s cute as all get out too!

Paxton, four months away from being five years old, taught himself how to ride a two-wheeler yesterday. In well under an hour, he had mastered his new skill and was ready (in his mind) to go “speeding fast!” Once we shared the secret of braking, he stopped Flintstoning that bike and he was a pro. So proud of his determination, perseverance, and self-confidence. I love and admire his gentle, quirky spirit so much.  Paxton, you “fill my bucket” * everyday.

An impromptu picnic in the backyard, Victoria Day weekend.. My smalls pulling funny faces and enjoying being outside together, eating peanut butter sandwiches. I am keeping this memory very close to my heart and using it to remember that it is okay to relax and just be silly for no reason at all.

Sharing, caring and smiling. I can’t remember a time that I didn’t love this kid’s smile. I called him my sunshine from the beginning and my sunshine he remains today. He works hard with his daddy, no matter what they are doing.  He does not frustrate easily and is generally one of the happiest-go-lucky kids I am blessed to know.  I wish I could learn his secret, I would be a better person if I were more like him.  We all would be.

So many lessons to learn and I so want to be open and available to learn them all.  I really need to figure out how to simplify my life to give myself time to not only learn the lessons my kids have to teach but to practice those lessons as well.  Stream of consciousness to do list: Lunches to make, dishes to wash, husband to kiss, carpets to vacuum, laundry to wash, hang, fold, dinners to cook, errands to run, showers to take, kids to cuddle, vitamins to take and distribute, sunscreen to apply, boo boo’s to kiss and family to cherish.  Not in that order, at all.

*to fill one’s bucket is to increase their happiness – at least I think that was the gist of Paxton’s explanation   He learned about the concept at school

P.S.  If you’ have not ‘Liked’ The Keswick Blog on Facebook or ’Followed’ along on Twitter or checked out The Keswick Blog on Pinterest, then you’re missing out on micro-blogging that happens when time or circumstances do not allow for a full-blown blog entry   Come on over and share the insanity!

P.P.S.  So now The Keswick Blog is on Instagram , find thekeswickblog there to see some random things that do not make it to Facebook, Twitter or the blog - Too. Many. Sites. Where will it end?  *thud*

Look at the cold, cutting glare in those eyes. And then look at the blank, trusting innocent ignorance in Will’s eyes.
My God. It’s like taking advantage of a two-year-old.

I followed Will Ferrell because, well, being Will Ferrell, he comes out with some witty tidbits at make even this cranky woman smile ( his tweet to the effect of resisting the urge to roundhouse Justin Bieber in his midget head won me over, I must admit), and I followed Vince Vaughn because I somehow happened to be online the night he joined Twitter and Will tweeted a shout out suggesting people follow Vince too, since he was new to Twittertown.  Why not?  I thought to myself.  I like his movies and maybe he’ll make me laugh sometimes too. So I did.  This was less than a month ago, I think?  Anyway, they each tweeted sporadically and independently for the first while.  And then it happened.  I’ll let the pictures do the talking now. (For non-Twitter users – the newest tweets appear that the top of the screen, the ones below it were tweeted first/earlier, so read each picture from the bottom up to have them in the correct chronological order).

Typical Will Ferrell Tweets – circa April 14 2013

Pre-capture funny-type tweets from Will Ferrell. Circa April 20, 2013

And then the takeover. Zombie tweets of Will Ferrell under Vince’s voodoo spell. Circa April 22, 2013

More tweeting from suspected zombie leader Vince and his loyal follower, Will. Circa April 22, 2013

Inspirational zombie tweets. Free Will Now, dammit! Circa April 22, 2013

Declarations of love between captor and captured. Circa April 22, 2013.  Classic Stockholm syndrome (to be honest, I always kind of thought that Will was kind of syndromie, I just never imagined this would be the syndrome)

Worrying that we’re ‘on to him’ Vince directs Will to toss out a few token “independent” tweets but quickly yanks him back into line. Free Will!  This man was not playing will a full enchilada to begin with, his therapy bills after this will be GINORMOUS! Circa April 22, 2013

Now firmly under his control, Will accepts that he cannot change his fate as zombie tweeter under Vince’s spell. Will! Wake Up! Circa April 23, 2013

Encouraging his zombie to dream big. You’re a cruel, cruel leader, Mr. Vauaghn

And now Will is not a good enough Twitter slave? He must make improvements. Oh, the humanity! Free Will(y)! Circa April 23, 2013.

I just know that this is not the end of the story. Once the heavy hitters get a hold of this, the story is going to EXPLODE and they (the “real” investigators will blow the roof right off of Mr. Vaughn’s demented, evil plan to take over the world, one adolescent boy at a time, using one of their idols as bait. (TMZ, are you listening?!?)  If a tired, frazzled, fat (but fabulous) housewife in Keswick can spot you so quickly, do you really think others are not already plotting to dethrone you?  Oh, I am fairly certain they are. (I would, but I have far too many children to tend to and WAY too much laundry and vomit to clean up on a daily basis.  Oh, and my minivan needs servicing, so that puts me out of the running to lead the charge.  When your life is as glamorous as mine, rarely is there time for mundane human-race-saving feats) Make no mistake about it.  We’re on to you sir, oh yes, yes we are.

To be continued…

Here are the top five things that I would NEVER purchase or keep again:

1. A house that has a bathroom, powder room or toilet off the kitchen, beside the kitchen or in the kitchen.  While I realize that it was my destiny to have just such a house, honest to Hades, I could live the rest of my life without ever being in my kitchen and hearing ‘poo’ sounds, smelling ‘poo’ smells or hearing a toilet flush, or worse, not flush after being privy to the first two ‘never wanna agains’  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my house.  It was love at first sight and I would not trade it for the world, but I do have many days when I seriously consider losing the main floor powder room.  It probably does not help my affection for the location of said amenities that the front door is a straight shot from the toilet in the powder room, so unsuspecting visitors can be completely met with the sight of one or another of my darling children sitting on the toilet smiling, grunting or just chillin.’  Yes, yes my children are class-ay (and apparently not shy).

2.  Diet pills (OTC or Rx), diet foods, replacements, etc.  These so DO NOT work.  There is no ‘magic pill’ to lose weight.  You fat?  Stop eating too much and get your ass moving.  You out of shape?  There is not a pill out there that will give you six-pack abs or rock hard buns.  Waste of money, risky to your health and  ineffective?  Three strikes – you’re out!  I’ve realized that if I want to change my body, reduce its size or shape, I’m the only one who can do it – the multi-billion dollar diet industry is NOT in business to help ME.  It exists to help themselves.  To get richer and more powerful and influential. While I get fatter and more discouraged.  No thank you.

3.  A brand new car.  I have purchased ONE brand new car in my life.  And I had the five years of payments to prove it.  And in year six, it was written off.  Cost average, even with the insurance payout (which was nominal, even though it was still a ‘new’ car in my eyes and very well maintained), that car cost me $400 a month, plus gas, insurance, and maintenance.  Had I looked for a good used car, that monthly cost would have easily been cut at least in half and it would have not hurt quite as much when the car bit the biscuit (you know, when that fool turned left out of a side street right in front of me, in the rain? Yeah, that biscuit).  The least cost-effective way to own a car, for me anyway,  is to purchase it brand new.  NEVER AGAIN.

4. Peanut Butter Snickers and Chocolate Philadelphia spread (not together).  Two words: Nasty as shit.  Ok, three words, but honestly these are two completely pukey products.  Peanut Butter Snickers is not like a Snickers bar (my favourite), and not like Wonderbar (also a good choice), and nothing  at all like a Reese Peanut Butter Cup (but really, what is?).  It is like they (the chocolate-making people were trying to create something that was a combination of all three of these gems in one package.  And they failed.  Miserably.  Well, miserable for me anyway, because I really wanted it to be delicious and it was nasty.  As shit. And that made me sad.  As shit.  Oh, and the Phili Chocolate spread – VERY high hopes that it would be more Nutella-like and less chocolate cream cheese like and I was disappointed.  This Phili product is also nasty. But even more than that, it is irritating.  Nutella is wonderful, but so, so, so BAD for you, so I don’t buy it because I cannot be trusted not to just sit down with the jar and a spoon and kill it in an evening.  No similar risks with the Philadelphia chocolate spread.  It will be the first thing, in a long time, that I just pitch and not fight my way through to finish, so as to not waste food or money.  Looking on the bright side (because, let’s face it, that is what I do), this is not like chocolate cream cheese, which I feared it would be, and the texture is not gag-inducing or weird at all, but the taste just is not there.  It’s bland, plain nothing-ness made me sad and did nothing at all to alleviate my chocolate craving.  After sad it just make me irritated and angry, so I won’t be wasting money on that again.  I can get pissed off for free and spend my chocolate dollars on something that actually tastes like chocolate.  Like Godiva.

5. A laptop from Wal-Mart.  My Toshiba laptop died last year after four years of faithful, constant and reliable service.  We were so close, I really never expected it to leave me.  But it did.  And it took a lot of my shit with it (it must have been someone’s ex-boyfriend in a previous life).  And because I stay home and raise the children, keep the house and cook the food, I do not bring in much actual money.  So I feel guilty spending actual money on myself (although Mr. K.B. encourages me to do spend said money ), so I set about to find the cheapest yet still workable laptop solution that I could.  Enter Wal-Mart.  They had the lowest price on an Acer laptop.  The processor was acceptable, the hard drive was acceptably large and the memory was adequate.  I’m not a gamer, I do not watch television (often) on my computer and my graphic art skills suck, so I really do not need anything super fancy (as much as I admit to liking super fancy computers).  So I bought it.  And while it’s fine, it is really nothing more than that.  The keyboard is off center or screwy, so for the first couple of months, my 75 to 80 wpm average, dropped to about 20 because the keys were in the wrong place and I had to spend so much time deleting wonky words.  No bells and whistles.  It’s functional but I doubt that it will last me as long as the Toshiba did. But, so far it has kept me online and blogging, so while I would not purchase another Acer, I do not totally despise this one (not like those fucking Peanut Butter Snicker bars – I’m so bitter about those, it is barely amusing). Time to start a ‘New computer’ savings account at ING (oh, how I love ING accounts!).

I’ll be back later this week with a list of 5 things that I LOVE and would totally purchase again and again (but will not, because that would make me a hoarder, and I’m too fat for t.v.), just to create some balance between complaining and praising the things that I have chosen to have in my life.

How about you?  What would you never, ever buy again?  What if it were free?  Would you take it?

P.S.  If you’ have not ‘Liked’ The Keswick Blog on Facebook or ’Followed’ along on Twitter or checked out The Keswick Blog on Pinterest, then you’re missing out on micro-blogging that happens when time or circumstances do not allow for a full-blown blog entry   Come on over and share the insanity!

My four-year-old son took some blocks to the head at school (of course) and then, while outside enjoying this (finally!) warm weather with his class, tried to pick a blade of grass and got a ‘grass paper cut.’ Oh good lord. I’ve never even heard of a grass paper cut, but his thumb sure has. And it’s his ‘sucking’ thumb. Double shitastical.

I have a dentist appointment this evening for a routine cleaning.  My last cleaning resulted in total oral carnage and I, ever the optimist, do not expect tonight to go that much better. Triple shit.

A perfect trifecta of shit. First world problems at their finest.  Woe is me. But not really.

Good thing dinner is pancakes, bacon and scrambled eggs – breakfast for dinner is always a fan favourite. No one can be sad when pancakes and bacon are on the scene

And my final thought for the moment, which occurred to me earlier this afternoon and made a smile just a little: The older I get, the harder it is to get skinny.  Happily, the older I get, the less I care about skinny.

And really finally this, which has nothing at all to do with my post today but which makes me smile every time I see it, so I want you to see it to:

Those stethoscopes are cold across species (apparently) but this baby monkey takes the cake for cutest reaction ever! If seeing this little dude doesn’t make you smile, you may not have a pulse. Have yourself checked out, quickly.  Unless, of course you were once attacked by a band of adorable baby monkeys who ‘cuted’ you to pieces and left you scarred for life with a debilitating phobia of baby monkeys.  In that case, carry on, this picture is NOT for you.

You are awesome.

**End of Spoiler Alert**

I have now reached the age when rumor has it that all of my past poor choices catch up with me and I begin to fall apart (did I really think that it was a good idea to NOT wear sunscreen, for real?).  I never believed it was a ‘real thing’ but slap my ass and call me a converted believer because it is all TRUE.

I wish that I could sit down with my 16 year-old self (after apologizing profusely to my parents for not believing them, and even, *gasp* laughing at their wisdom) and after giving some very concrete examples of the badness that would be coming my way (aches and pains, lines and dimples, jiggles, wiggles, lumps and bumps – the usual “your shit is falling apart, ‘yo ” happiness), kick the living holy hell out that know-it-all adolescent me (just for good measure, I have always been on the wrong side of stubborn) until I learned to appreciate

1) the gifts and talents that I had (have) and nurture those gifts;

2) who I was as a person, in relation to myself and others (am);

3) what I had (have) to offer and learned to stop worrying what people thought (think) about me because, as it turns out, they were (are) not thinking about me, they were (are) too busy thinking and worrying about themselves;

4) how I looked (look) and felt (feel) and;

5) the people in my life for who they were (are).

If I could go back and get my sixteen-year-old self to understand just those five things, how much different would I be today?  How different would my life be? Better?  Worse?  I have no idea.  At the end of the day, would I really change anything about where I am and what I have today?  NO.  Not for anything would I change where I am and what I have in my life today. But I would like to be healthier and have more energy so that I could better appreciate and enjoy all of my life blessings.

Fortunately for me, while my chronological age continues to climb at the required Mayan calendar intervals, my maturity age is learning-delayed, more accurately mildly retarded, so in reality I still have lots of some time to get myself on track and stop the decline.

So, seeing as my uber-slammin’ DeLorean and waste-powered flux capacitor are in the shop  future do not actually exist (and yes, my reference point are suck in the 80′s, thankyouverymuch), my sixteen-year-old self will so remain, frozen in time and blissful in her agonizing ignorance.

It turns out that the world isn’t watching me, the world doesn’t know who I am.  I am free to make mistakes, make a fool of myself, to say what I think, what I want, and to fuck some serious shit up and there will not be global and eternal repercussions.  What a freeing feeling to not live in fear of creating skeletons who could one day leap from the closet and sink your battleship.  What a truly liberating realization.  Knowing it now is almost as good as knowing it always.

A friend of mine from adolescence recently shared this on her Facebook wall and for some reason, for whatever reason, it spoke volumes to me.  So I’m sharing it with you just in case it speaks to you as well.

Thanks for the reminder, P.B.

P.S.  If you’re not ‘Liking’ The Keswick Blog on Facebook or ’Following’ along on Twitter or checking out The Keswick Blog on Pinterest, then you’re missing out on micro-blogging that happens when time or circumstances do not allow for a full-blown blog entry   Come on over and share the insanity!

P.P.S.  So now The Keswick Blog is on Instagram , find thekeswickblog there to see some random things that do not make it to Facebook, Twitter or the blog - Too. Many. Sites. Where will it end?  *thud*

1) Hung our laundry to dry inside (I have been doing this for a couple of months now, since Mr. K.B. built a killer drying rack for me.  I have not used our dryer once and it has cut our Hydro bill by at least $30 a month – sweet!)

I love this rack. It folds flat for easier storage, holds at least two loads of laundry at a time and will dry two twin-sized comforters at once. It is just the best!

2) Prepared all meals at home, dinners made from scratch (lasagna, jerk chicken with rice, pork loin roast with pan gravy and veggies), lunches are leftovers and sandwiches etc, breakfasts are cereal, bananas and milk.  Snacks are fruit, veggies and yogurt.  It is amazing how much food you can buy and prepare for the cost of just ONE dinner out.

3) Took my pre-school aged girls (one is mine, the other I watch three days a week) to a free program at the local elementary school aimed at preparing them to enter Kindergarten in the fall.  It is an excellent program, I highly recommend checking to see if your local area has a similar program if you have babies heading to kindergarten soon.

4) I re-wore my yoga pants (*snort* yes, I wear yoga pants even though the very thought of actually doing yoga makes my hair hurt.  And yes, I am aware of the absurdity of wear yoga pants for everyday living, but they are comfy  and they fit.) Hell, I wear running shoes but would be hard pressed to tell you the last time that I actually ran. I’m a walking fashion contradiction (or disaster). Being at home with the kids means that unless one (or more) of them vomits on me or uses me in place of tissue (happens more often than I care to reveal), that I don’t really get my clothes dirty, so I can wear them more than once (undergarments excluded – ewwwww!).  Saves time and money because I’m not washing and hanging clothes unnecessarily.

5) Made use of some coupons for Garnier Body 7-day lotion which resulted in getting purchasing six bottles for $11.14 (including HST), instead of $20.14, the “sale” price, that is a 55% savings.  Anytime I get purchase things that our family uses, eats or needs for 50% or greater off the retail or sale price, I’m a happy mama.  (Oh, and by the way, the Garnier Body Intensive 7 days lotion line is FABULOUS.  It is my new ‘go to’ lotion for dry skin, I have tried them ALL and this is the first one that has made a difference for me.  Wal-Mart – $2.97 Rollback right now, SDM had a tear pad coupon $3 WUB2 but there are other coupons for this product out there because it is still a relatively new line.)

Loooooove this lotion! If you try it, let me know what you think of it!

So, that’s a glimpse into my frugality this week.

 P.S.  If you’re not ‘Liking’ The Keswick Blog on Facebook or ’Following’ along on Twitter or checking out The Keswick Blog on Pinterest, then you’re missing out on micro-blogging that happens when time or circumstances do not allow for a full-blown blog entry   Come on over and share the insanity!

First, SPELLING does matter and relying on spell check is severely limiting your marketability and desirability. For example: You don’t loose weight. You lose it (or, if you are me, you GAIN it, but I digress). If you drive your car like an asshole, then your car needs to be impounded and you need to LOSE your licence (or at the very least your pretentious, overpriced smart phone  that makes you think that you look successful while you flap your LOOSE lips spewing forth regurgitated thoughts that you read online and think are clever.  Newsflash: using your speaker phone function while HOLDING YOUR PHONE is not operating your phone HANDS FREE, fuckstick).

Wow – that last bit rant came flying out of left field.  Go figure, someone is a little bit tightly wound today, perhaps?

Second, and even more importantly, now that Winter may or may not be over, and Spring may or may not be here, I noticed something this morning, while walking two of my boys to school.  Other than the birds singing (kind of, I think they are also fed up and confused by the weather) and squirrels dodging pick up trucks while they race half way across the road, only to stop, look all around and either continue on their way or double back, causing endless swerving, swearing and squashing, something appeared to be different.  Something that was not here yesterday and is here today.  It is not sunshine because there is none.  It is not warmer temperatures because it is cold and miserable.  It is not snow because then I would shoot myself, not write a blog post. No, what was new just really may be the beginning of the end.  People worry about zombies, people LOVE to prepare and worry about zombie invasions. But zombies would be obvious and big and there is no way you could be walking along, la-ti-da, and then suddenly realize that you were, in fact, surrounded by zombies, now could you?  No, in the words of my eight-year-old “that couldn’t be real” (said with great disdain and authority).  So what other-being take-over would be subtle and have a good chance of catching most of us unawares?  I found out this morning.

Worms.

Hundreds of worms.  All over the roads and driveways, posing as tiny little sticks and debris, camouflaging themselves with dirt and gravel, but there was no hiding.  They were everywhere.  Walking through a worm minefield is as ridiculous looking as it sounds.  But those bitches are tiny and they have absolutely no resistance.  One light step and there are smushed worms everywhere, including on the sole of your most favorite walking-the-kids-to-school-looking-like-the-grim-reaper-and-not-caring- even-a-bit boots.

I know that it is wrong to wish harm to any living thing, but I really need the plague of worms to be gone before I have to leave the house again.

I would wrestle a rabid goat to get to my kids.  I would walk across razor blades (brand new, sharp ones, ya’ll) to rescue them from danger.  I would go without food forever if it meant that they could eat. I would donate all of my organs, eyes, blood, bone marrow, whatever I had to make them healthy and whole if they were sick. But, I’ll be honestly honest with you now.  I am really not sure that I can deal with crossing that sea of living-dead worms again.

 P.S.  If you’re not ‘Liking’ The Keswick Blog on Facebook or ’Following’ along on Twitter or checking out The Keswick Blog on Pinterest, then you’re missing out on micro-blogging that happens when time or circumstances do not allow for a full-blown blog entry   Come on over and share the insanity!

But things that need to end NOW go on forever.  Like this ‘now you see me, now you don’t’ winter.  And bullying.  And homophobia. And laundry.  And bad drivers.  And this godforsaken WINTER.  Enough already!  It’s cold.  Snow is heavy, even the fluffy stuff gets heavy after the third or fourth time shifting it.  We’re (the people of Keswick) are tired of it.  The snow is pretty, yes.  On CHRISTMAS.  The rest of the time it is just a huge, cold, bitter pain in the toe.  We have pissed Mother Nature off something fierce and she’s sticking it right back to us with this schzio weather.

“Dear Mother Nature,

We the people (or at least a good handful of us) realize how much we’ve messed up managing the planet.  We’re sorry.  We’re trying really hard to stop screwing everything up.  We’re trying to stop developers from raping the green space to leave homes for the wildlife and trees. (Council meeting is on Wednesday to seek protection of the North Gwillimbury Forest – I signed the petition – did you?!?)  We’re trying to reduce our waste, recycle, upcycle, freecycle as much as possible.  My legs are exhausted from all of the cycling, to be honest.  But I will keep doing it because it is the right thing to do.  And because if I don’t people will judge me.  Harshly.  Like you are now, just because I’m being so completely, winter-frozen honest with you at this moment.  It’s ok, I don’t mind.  Just please, please, please, call off this bitter cold, this endless falling of snow and let Spring come to Keswick.  We’re not so bad, we’re just really, really cold.  The freeze fucks with our brains and mangles our decision-making abilities.  Warmth and sunshine should fix us right up.

Yours truly,
The Keswick Blogger
P.S.  I totally dig the woodpecker you  moved into my front yard.  He’s wicked cool.  And the owl in the back yard, he’s a boss.  The blue jays and cardinals are a sight for these sore, winter-blind eyes as well.  Wish the Forest freedom fighters luck at the Monday meeting!  I can’t imagine what next winter is going to be like if we wipe out yet ANOTHER unsullied nature space.

P.P.S.  In case you’ve forgotten what Summer (which follows the fictional Spring) in Keswick looks like, I’ve included a few pictures ”

They won’t all fit on this summer. But since ‘this’ summer may be a fictional event, I won’t worry too much about it for now.

This is screams SUMMER to me! Come on already, the kids are ready for the beach

At this moment I am

…happy that my family is healthy (colds and flus be damned) and everyone is growing well, physically and emotionally.

…a bit overwhelmed thinking of all the tasks that I want or need to accomplish in the near future.  Regular ‘a day in the life’ stuff and other ‘because I want to’ things.

…heavy.  True to my New Years goals, I have not shed a single pound or gained a single ounce of muscle.  And strangely enough, my energy levels have not increased either.  Coincidence?  I think not.

And when I’m feeling blue, I read this, relate to it and feel better again while I reach for a cookie

…so proud of my girl.  Day five of potty training and not an accident in sight.  She went from baby to big girl overnight.  Day one she wanted me to sit in the bathroom with her.  By day three she was getting herself situated for business and looking at me with that sweet face and saying with a smile ’out, Mummy.’

…tired just thinking about March Break.  We’ll have some good times, and I won’t have to get up quite as early or make lunches the night before or wait for the bus so that will be a nice change in routine. But I need to come up with some plans for when cabin fever breaks out and the smalls turn into mini-UFC fighters in the living room…

…pleased that I chose this morning to walk over to the younger boys’ school and drop off a form and some cookies.  I got to sneak into the assembly and watch the kids in action and get some reassurance that the boys are in the right place for their education right now.

…loving the sunshine outside and the warmer temperatures.  Bring on Spring!

…not looking forward to Daylight Savings Time coming into effect this weekend.  I hate losing an hour of sleep, I need MORE not LESS!

…thinking about all of the ways that I can do better with the resources I have – emotional, mental, physical, financial – I have many resources that I should be putting to better use to benefit my family and others.

…valuing life experiences and learning from them more and more.  I will not live with regrets as long as I am always learning how to do things better, smarter, and happier.  Ego really does get in the way of peace and tranquility too often.  The older that I get, the more I think that the Tibetan monks have the right idea in many ways.

In keeping with the peace and love theme, this is a little something I snagged from Pinterest eons ago, but can’t for the life of me remember who from. It may not be the nicest sentiment, but I’m nothing if not honest, eh? But this was the OLD me. I’m much nicer now.

Yes, I do see how the images and my commentary contradict one another.  Apparently I am a more complex (read conflicted) person that I realized.  Shit.  I have much ‘me’ work to do, it would seem. Apparently.

P.S.  If you’re not ‘Liking’ The Keswick Blog on Facebook or ‘Following’ along on Twitter or checking out The Keswick Blog on Pinterest, then you’re missing out on micro-blogging that happens when time or circumstances do not allow for a full-blown blog entry   Come on over and share the insanity!

P.P.S.  Apparently The Keswick Blog is on Instagram now, find thekeswickblog there to see some random things that do not make it to Facebook or the blog - where will it end?  *thud*

There are eleventy-billion apps out there.  Each one promising to do more, make my life easier, funnier, prettier or smarter.  But this girl has a budget.  And while $1.99, $2.99, or even $3.99 do not sound like a lot of money to spend to get all of the aforementioned perks, it adds up quickly and I am very committed to not spending our money frivolously or thoughtlessly.  So, I haven’t purchased a single app.  But I do have tons of them anyway.

FREE APPS.  Two loverly words.  Music to my ears.  It is right up there with FREE KINDLE books.  Most awesome shopping.  Ever.  Honestly.

Since receiving my iPad, I have EARNED $25.00, learned how to grow a pineapple plant and checked out library books without leaving my house. (Ok, I had to leave my house to shop for the groceries which resulted in the $25, but I leave the house for that purpose regularly anyway, so no special trips or added expenses were incurred).

These are a few of my favourite apps – maybe there will even be one here that will help make your life go smoother, funner, or prettier *grin*  (Yes, I am taking a hiatus from grammar today)

 Checkout 51 Rebates on everyday groceries.  They list 10-14 deals each week.  The week runs from Thursday at 12:00 a.m. to Wednesday night at 11:59 p.m.  If you purchase the item listed, you take a picture of your receipt, upload it to them (using the app).  They review, approve and add the rebate to your account.  Rebates on items run from $0.50 to $3.00.  Sweet!  Once you have accumulated $20 in your account, you request a cheque and they’ll mail it to you from their Toronto-based office within 7 business days.  My $25 cheque will be here any day now – hoorah!  Check them out here.

Pinterest. Yes, we’ve all heard of the site, but before the iPad, I never really went on it.  It wasn’t a site that I could sit in front of my laptop and surf.  But on the iPad, I LOVE Pinterest.  I can peruse it for five minutes here or there quickly and easily.  Follow The Keswick Blog on Pinterest here and see some of the wonders, wonderfulness and wrongness that I have ‘pinned.’  I was never a Martha Stewart fan (ok, I’m a life-long scoffer), but seeing all of the things on the Pinterest app really make me wish I was less ’Roseanne’ and more ‘Martha’ *grin*

Evernote.  Clip it from the web, on your tablet or computer.  It syncs so no matter where you’re accessing your account, all of your ‘notes’ are there.  Organize your notes into separate ‘Notebooks.’  It is almost too easy.  This is great for grabbing recipes and the like off the ‘net.

WeatherEye HD has proven to be very accurate in telling me what weather systems to expect and when.  I love the hourly breakdown and the long term forecasts.

 Overdrive Media Overdrive makes it possible for me to search, order, and read and/or listen to a bazillion books from the library.  They don’t have ALL the books that the brick and mortar library offers, but it’s an excellent alternative.  I mean really though, nothing could replace the feeling of an actual book in my hands and turning the pages, but since I have read using my iPad, Overdrive makes it much easier (and cheaper!!).

Honourable Mention goes to the Kindle App.  I have downloaded a ton of free Kindle books from Amazon.ca.  I used to spend obscene amounts of money on books.  Now I can’t bring myself to spend .99 for an eBook, but I sure to appreciate the books that I can get for free .

Refusing to pay for apps does limit me somewhat, but I really did not want an iPad to have one more way to spend money.  So I haven’t let it become that.  So far.

What are your favourite apps.  Are you a Playbook, Android or iPad person?  Or could you care less about the whole tablet craze and prefer your laptop/desktop set up and the rest can go and get stuffed?

*Because I was equally excited and it touched my heart so much, I have to mention that I also received a Pandora bracelet, which I love, love, love, for my birthday last month from Mr. KB and the kids.  I am definitely taking my time choosing charms to adorn it that hold special meaning to me (and yes, I have the Pandora app too, but it doesn’t thrill me as much as the bracelet and my other apps, so it didn’t make the top five list).  And filling it with charms that symbolize what means the most to me is why I really wanted the bracelet to begin with.   I am very blessed and very thankful for all of wonderful people in my life.

P.S.  If you’re not ‘Liking’ The Keswick Blog on Facebook or ‘Following’ along on Twitter or checking out The Keswick Blog on Pinterest, then you’re missing out on micro-blogging that happens when time or circumstances do not allow for a full-blown blog entry   Come on over and share the insanity!