happies!

I've been in a much better mood this past week or so but I've been busy in my regular, non-internet life and so things here have been a little neglected. Other than the obvious (work), most things are going pretty swimmingly here. I've got posts planned - some updates on crafting, and some recipes, and I'm working on a breakfast-y recipe for Amanda as well (at this point I mostly just need to write it up, and make the two components at the same time so I can take a photo or two of it) but I'm more being drawn to my other activities lately.

Life's been good. A small sampling of recent and coming events:

• Amazing, can't put them down, make me laugh out loud books. I'm just sad that in 500 pages I'm out of reading material (so, Sunday, maybe)
• Binding the Scrappy Trip quilt. I mean, I don't like binding by any means, at least not the first part, but my blanket is practically a blanket. I feel like that wins at life.
• Baby nephew cuddles. He's so cute I'd even change a poopy diaper for the chance to hold him. I've changed a few diapers already, but none of them poopy.
• My niece's quilt is underway. Just barely started, but I began doing some of the piecing this week. This will be a long haul, really, and some of my math may have been a little short so I might need to order more fabric. Which is an excuse to get a few more things "for me", right? Or at least some basics?
• BBQ that doesn't suck. I'm not a fan of BBQ, really, but Bunny and my mom love it. Bunny's had a few things the last few weeks that aren't hamburgers/hot dogs/chicken wings though which makes summer eating more manageable for me.
• Odd visits with friends. Yes, I will come meet your great aunt if it means I have a chance to hang out with you.
• Rossi won Assen! Even after having the results spoiled this is still a huge thing to have been able to see. Rossi! Winning! For the first time in over two years.
• Cooking for other people. I've taken to making doubles of dinner and bringing them over next door, because I figure new parents need a break on the cooking, and it's always so rewarding to cook for other people. Especially when they rave about my cooking.

What's putting a smile on your face this weekend?

loooong week happy stuff

This is shaping up to be the longest week ever. Six days of work in a row, and an extra half hour in the office each day. Plus last night I somehow ended up staying half an hour late on top of that. Which is all to say I'm wiped. I don't have a real post in me today, but I could sure use some happy thoughts to carry me through to the weekend when I head off for my best friend's stag and doe.

Favourite things this week:

• Waking up to the puppy cuddling me
• Coffee already made when I get up
• Talking with my favourite bus driver on the way to work
• Prescription sunglasses. Vision and light protection for the win.
• Doctor Who, because the season finale was amazeballs even if they keep on coming out with announcements that make me sad.
• The Catalunya race is next on the MotoGP calendar. Catalunya is my favourite track. (Although I have to say the lower class races at Mugello last weekend were awesome! But Rossi crashed first lap in GP and that just ruined the main event for me.)
• My bank account balance. It makes me smile when I look at it lately, and getting close to those goals is important to me.
• Snuggles with Bunny. Because duh.
• My brown crocodile print heels. Hot, and comfortable to boot. But not boots.
• My nephew is almost due. I want to meet him!

happy things

It's been a long week. A good week, but a long week and I'm out of intelligent conversation and book reviews (although I finished one more ... it just kind of isn't worth reviewing) and recipes so instead here's a list of things that are making me happy in my life. Because everyone likes to enter the weekend on a good turn.

• Cat cuddles. Moetzel snuggles me in bed, and Phoenix has been letting me pick her up more lately. It's so unusual and I'm adoring it.
• Valentino Rossi, on the podium! The Doctor back in racing form makes for extra exciting GP races this year and there's nothing like seeing this man come from behind - he made Qatar extra exciting, and I'm so excited to see how the rest of the season plays out. Only one more week until the Circuit of the Americas.
• Doctor Who. My favourite Doctor. Last week's episode was wonderful and I loved the Doctor's speech, and there's a new episode tomorrow. Yes, I am looking forward to that.
• Quilting things. Bunny took me to a quilting shop in a nearby town last weekend, and I picked up a couple of co-ordinating fat quarters to go on a quilt I'm planning for the future and I'm already daydreaming about it. Plus the quilt shop was really kind of awesome, and I think I'll enjoy going back in the future. I've also got all but two of my Scrappy Trip blocks done, and I'll be passing on the baby quilt next week.
• Dreaming about going to an improv class with George Clooney and Jack Black. That actually happened. Also I'm pretty sure George Clooney was teaching some class in a tower in my dream.
• Butterscotch blondies. I may have even improved upon my original recipe which is saying something. The rich butterscotch flavour in blondie form? Delicious.
• Putting up good numbers at work. It always puts me in a good mood. Also, getting co-ordinating schedules with my favourite coworker. Again, it makes for good moods.
• Flame. It leads to so many good things, and it's mesmerizing to watch.
• Coupons. Discounts on dinner, free concessions at the movie theatre ... everything's better with a coupon.
• Mesopotamia at the ROM, opening in June. It'll be a busy summer and I'm not sure when I'll fit this in, but I'm excited.
• Caramelized onions. I am in love with everything about them - the taste, the texture, the process, and the things you can do with them.

happy things for Friday

Because I'm tired and it seems like a good way to round out a week, and it's been awhile I'm giving you happy things for your Friday post. Missing out on the roses is always so easy and I love focusing on the good for no other reason than I can.

• Impromtu road trips, even if it's just to buy stuff for Bunny's models.
• Progress on the crafting. I'm having fun and a decent amount has been done lately. 
• Curling up with a good book, and having tea delivered while I'm reading. Nothing's quite as good as that, right?
• Choosing exactly the right books at exactly the right time. There's nothing like the punch in the gut feeling of a fictional character telling you exactly what you needed to hear, or going through a situation you're struggling with.
• The cats. Because they're both pretty cute. I like cute.
• When old friends invite me to the post-wedding pig roast. How's that for celebration?
• Starbucks hazelnut macchiato because I can never get enough hazelnut coffee. Almost as good as my preferred latte from Second Cup. 
• Original artwork. Even though it's not hanging up, I love having it.
• My handmixer that I'm almost loving more than the KitchenAid. It's not monster sized, which makes my life easy.
• Having about half a dozen recipes I want to share. Sneak peak: crepes, gratins, cookies, stir fry.
• Puppy snuggles, because they're always a favourite.
• Back rubs in bed from Bunny.
• Having a day at work. Last month was hard and I was stressed and frustrated the whole time. When the days are going well, it makes going in the next day that much more exciting.
• Busy days in the kitchen.

happy things on a cloudy day

Last week I was feeling all refreshed and re-energized about life, like the sunshine had just come out from behind the clouds. This week has not been so fun. Not because life's not good - it absolutely is. My hip started acting up at work the other day, and the only way I've been able to get even remotely comfortable the last few days is half lying down, leg propped up on a pillow with a heating pad keeping me warm. It's made work, where I'm pretty literally chained to a desk somewhat trying and just generally has me a little extra snarky and grumpier than I like to be.

That's ok though. It's nice to be in a not entirely bright mood and realize that really, the only thing holding me back is physical discomfort. When the rest of my life feels like it's in order I can live with that. Plus what better time to focus on all the awesome things in life than when things are just on a little downward spell?

So it's only fitting that I do a possies post. Here are just some of the things making me happy today:

• Having awesome, productive money talks where Bunny and I both come out being on the same page. Especially when we were both willing to compromise to get there.
• Reading metaphysics. Metaphysics lite, but still it's the most serious philosophy reading I've done in years and I miss spend hours thinking about the difference between something and nothing. My brain feels energized.
• Bonuses at work. Who doesn't love extra money? And even though for some reason Bunny likes to think of it as "my" money entirely (probably because it comes on gift cards rather than as cash), I don't. It makes it feel a little extra special when we buy Bunny something.
• Hot pink zebra print lounge pants. Self explanatory.
• Buying quilt batting for the baby quilt. I'm getting there, and I'm actually seeing a project through. It's exciting.
• Having frozen dinner options for when I don't feel up to cooking.
• Bunny's aunt is making me a blanket! We all know how I love blankets, and crochet is one thing I can't do plus my knitting skills stop at "scarf". Beyond which it makes me feel like real family.
• The sewing bag my mom got me for Christmas, because it's awesome and also useful.
• Decaf tea for after work, and hazelnut lattes on the weekend.

What's making you happy these days?

things which make me happy

I'm having a kind of blah day today. Right after Bunny's teeth got fixed and the grumpy pain monster went away he got sick and so there's been the sucky sick man in my husband's place. Although he's pretty adorable when he's sick. I also maybe had a wee bit of a freak out over the living situation again today, crying in the car after running some errands about how much I hate living out of boxes (finding my winter coats should not be such a big ordeal) and all that other garbage. So it's time to focus on the good stuff, because there is so much good stuff.

• Myself, my family and those who are near and dear to me are all fine in the wake of Hurricane Sandy
• We live in a place where the most we're ever affected, personally, by a hurricane is some big winds and heavy rains
• My adorable puppy who has been especially playful lately
• The end of my husband's tooth pain. I love seeing him happy and pain free again.
• Having the best husband in the world
• Knowing enough about motorcycles to be able to have a somewhat informed discussion. For people who've known me for awhile, this is surprising. Personal growth and more knowledge.
• Quilting and other sewing projects that keep me happy, calm and sane. Plus the sense of accomplishment that comes along with them.
• Sour cream and onion chips.
• The really amazing potato and leek soup my mom made the other week.
• First snow! It happened, it was beautiful, and it was light.
• My three month review at work just passed, and it was all glowing positive. Plus, I maybe get a little bit of a raise, which is always nice.
• Our savings are growing again. October was a good month for us, and while we'll probably have less to show for November and December what with Christmas and all it's nice to see those numbers grow.
• Babies that people I know are having.

happies

I'm tired, and I have a half dozen posts in the first draft stage (ie, written in a notebook because I wasn't at the computer) for you but I'm really too lazy to type them up. So that in mind, I did want to give you something and I figured a TGIF happy break was called for.

In no particular order, these things make me happy:

• The collection of beautiful new brown things I have: dress, shoes, bag
• Buying an amazing purse original price $398+taxes, actually paying $154 taxes in
• Going to see my best friend this weekend
• Text conversations with my funniest/most supportive friend
• Bunny cuddles
• Dexter. How did it take so long for me to find that show.
• New season of Doctor Who. (Not so excited for losing the Ponds though)
• Weekends off
• Fresh coffee
• Living near family

Tuesday happies

Smile day! I'm in a good mood but I'm super busy. Here are a few of the awesome things going on in my life:

• new earrings from Bunny, because I love having things to wear that remind me of him
• those crazy blue boots
• shaking hands with Susur Lee when I was at his restaurant last week
• knowing that I like prosecco much better than champagne
• Orson Scott Card, because I'm always amazed by what an amazing writer is
• getting positive reviews at work
• friends being understanding, even when they're upset, when I tell them a big bit of super secret news
• travel mugs, because taking coffee in to work is a good thing
• my new wallet/clutch because it's classic and adorable and this amazing shade of powder blue
• the Coach Outlet in Cookstown, where I plan on scoping out some awesome new purses
• my new vase-like thing, beautiful, functional glass that might as well be art
• new bras that fit better in the band. Not falling out in a thing to be loved.

How about you? What's making you happy this week?

things that make me happy

It's been a nice week or so around here, and I wanted to take a minute to celebrate a few things that have made me happy lately. So here goes!

• Drive in movie dates. Or, drive in movie double dates with my in laws. Super fun times were had by all, even if we did fall asleep during parts of Avengers
• Bunny's ring, which has been bought. What, you mean it's time we get this party started already?
• Fireflies! There were fireflies and they are beautiful!
• Downtown on a beach. I haven't managed to make my way there this year, yet, but it's one of my favourite parts of Barrie.
• MotoGP Season! I love me my races, and I love watching them together with Bunny even more.
• Garage sales! Great stuff, for under cheap prices and all the fun of trying to find it.
• Lightweight blazers. Because nothing feels as professional as a blazer.
• Having a reason to dress up professionally. Heck yes!
• Finding another one of Bunny's tickle spots. This one may be even weirder than the belly button.
• New jeans! Jeans that fit. Skinny jeans and boot cut jeans and having options of what to wear on my bottom.
• New dresses. I've got some serious cuteness going on in my closet.
• Credit for shoes. SHOES! I like me some shoes.
• Having a laundry machine. This appliance makes my life complete, and it makes me sad to know that we won't have one once we move out. I love doing laundry here! (Just not putting it away.)
• Puppycuddles! Always top of the list, really.
• Bunny being super happy with the shop he's working at. It's refreshing to see him happy with his work situation again.
• New opportunities and changes on the horizon, and hitting home.
• Surviving six months of shitstorms. Coming out stronger on the other end.

How about you? What's awesome that's going on in your life lately?

life, and happiness

With everything that's been going on lately, it's hard to find things to smile about, but we've been plugging along at it. There are a few things, though, that deserve special mention.

1. Bunny's sister is married! She got married in Jamaica on Friday afternoon (we told her there was no way in all heck we were letting her change those plans) and we are all thrilled for her.
2. I am marrying into the best family ever. I already knew this, but this past week has really driven that home. And woah, is that a wonderful thing.
3. The care and support we've been overwhelmed with, whether it be from family, neighbours, our friends nearby, friends from the internet, down to the care we received at the hospital and funeral home.
4. Poppa Bunny is home. His urn is beautiful, and he's in the living room. Later we will spread some of his ashes in his favourite fishing and hunting spots (including the spot where he shot his one and only urn.)
5. Being surrounded by the people who love us. Right now, that's important.
6. The freedom that being unemployed/freelancing has given Bunny and I to be where we need to be while all this is happening.
7. My new blue dress that Bunny adores. Seeing him happy is really good.
8. Decisions Bunny and I have made regarding our future that are still very private, but we're very excited about. This has thrown a lot of perspective on some things.
9. The pictures. Oh lord, the pictures. They are by turns heart breaking (Poppa Bunny with his only grandchild, which are beautiful but I can barely stand to see) and hilarious (Poppa Bunny wearing my mother's dirty panties on his head, and the lead up there. That was, oh, fifteen years ago) and going through them has been good.
10. Valentino Rossi coming in second at Le Mans this past Sunday. The Doctor is in the house!

Ten is good. If I can think of ten things that make me happy right now, I'm good.

mid-week happy break

• When Bunny makes a big production of dancing around the living room on his way to kiss me
• Getting to stop in at "the office" and kiss Bunny midday
• Delivering the beverage of choice for his coffee break
• The way Jethro smacks his jaws together, twice, when he's really excited about/impatient for a walk
• My future mother-in-law's banana bread
• The dish rack full of freshly cleaned dishes
• Calling back to say "I love you" less than ten seconds after hanging up the phone from an angry/frustrated/annoyed/mean conversation
• The smell of my home in the evening
• My heirloom clock
• Our sideboard/mantleplace with the collection of original artwork, antlers, animal skulls, Cheyenne's Paw Print, a stuffed Angry Bird, a globe that's actually a cigarette holder, a cat's ashes, a bowl of change/jewellery and the sphinx. It's an odd collection, but it's perfectly us
• Thinking about a new series of Doctor Who
• Getting to know Bunny's family better at his sister's bachelorette
• My morning latte
• Parmigiana-Reggiano
• The mess that is my coffee table
• Pashminas and scarves
• My new vintage cocktail dress
• Getting interrupted for doggy kisses
• Christopher Moore books

silver linings

There have been a few bright spots in what has otherwise been a pretty awful week.

I've had a profound appreciation for being unemployed this week - otherwise I never would have had the opportunity to simply hop the next bus to my mom's when I needed to be there on Wednesday. I could not be more grateful for the fact that nothing stood in my way. To be able to be at home now, hidden in a burrow of blankets on the couch alternating between being ok/hurting like hell and unable to stop crying/just trying not to feel so bad for a few moments instead of trying to appear to be ok in public. I'd had enough of crying in public by the time I got home Wednesday night. (I just don't like crying in public in general. I'm sure the sentiment is shared by many.)

I was reminded of the fact that even though we have a difficult, loaded relationship that I have a mother who loves me, a lot, and only wants happiness for me. Of how I have the best brother in the world, bar none. That even though my extended family is one giant mess, the people who matter are always there.

And Bunny. Always Bunny.

Who bailed out early on a friends' birthday to come home and be with me. (Please note that I told him to still go to the party.) Who talked and cuddled on the couch. Bunny who went out and bought hot chocolate and didn't say a word when I drank three mugs. Who just said "ok", kissed my forehead and turned on the TV during his nap yesterday when I told him the quiet was bad. Who held me in bed and stroked my hair when I cried half the night.

To have someone who I could simply snuggle into and cry to. It's not that I've never cried to Bunny, or in front of Bunny before. There have been tearful phone calls, and when I have PMS I cry for no good reason and I just can't stop, and probably a hundred other times. Never, though, have I ever turned to someone in the middle of the night and just cried my heart out.

Excitement on the Horizon

Today, I have exciting things going on as far as the job hunt goes. Which reminds me that I'm currently unemployed.

Sometimes, being unemployed sucks, right? Yeah we all know that tune. It becomes very important to keep yourself busy and socialized, or else you run the risk of turning into a hermit who talks to cats like they are people. Wait, what?

There's been more effort put forth lately to keep in contact and make plans with friends, which is harder for me than it should be. There's a recognition that perhaps I need to find more things to do in the neighbourhood, and that there are some initiatives that my co-op has that I could get involved in to make my life more enriched. (Next week I'm hoping to get into a meals program that cooks in our co-op centre weekly and sells the meals at-cost to community members living on their own. It's my kind of thing.) It's realizing that "oh shit, I haven't returned that email from two weeks ago" and apologizing. It's saying "hey, the last few times we've made plans you've come here, why don't I hop on the train this time."

It's considering shelling out $200 for pottery or yoga classes even though I'm really trying to be more careful with my money. I really should just do it.

In all this planning and trying to fill the hours, it's also important that I get excited about the things I do plan and those things that are just past the horizon by are going to be super fun.

It's thinking about going out for drinks for Bunny's friend's birthday next week.

Or going to the opera in April. (That excitement's been building since Christmas.)

Taking advantage of the occasional daily deal, spending some money even though it hurts, and getting tickets to go see Avenue Q with friends this summer.

I'm excited. Good things are coming.

little pieces of awesome

Lately there has been a lot of time, here. Time spent doing many things: writing and rewriting resumes and coverletters, sending them out. Bookmarking job listings. Following up with people, getting responses back, going to interviews. All good, job related things.

My life, though, is so much more than that. Just like I have never looked at a job, or a career, as defining me as a person (something I can't imagine ever happening, truly), being unemployed and looking for work does not define me.

The past week has been full of these little moments of amazingness and I thought I'd round up a few extra-awesome ones here. So here goes!

• Cuddle time. Even when I'm not in the mood for it, it's one of the most important parts of my "work week"
• Bunny kissing my forhead when I'm halfway asleep
• Making butter. Squeezing fresh made butter in bare hands. It's one of the reasons I've always loved baking - getting your hands right in there. There's something very viscerally appealing about something so basic as butter.
• Puppy snuggles
• Slow dancing to Bright Eyes in my living room. Every time Bunny and I slow dance at home it brings to mind the most vivid memory of the first New Years Eve we celebrated together, and how we came home from Nathan Phillips Square and danced around in our itty bitty apartment. He was wearing his African man-skirt.

Of course, none of those (or even all of those together) give you a picture of what my life is, or who I am. But they get awfully close to describing some of the best moments of me in the past few days.

round UP & plans

Yesterday was a very, very good day. In a nutshell it featured:

• An interview that went very well (and was in response to the first resume I sent out in the new job search) & that I have been asked to do some follow ups with
• Not getting gittery/nervous in said interview
• Getting to wear the new suit! Which made me super happy
• Home-made dip for dinner
• Puppycuddles on the couch at night
• Post-interview coffee with my momma (cause she was right around the corner and why not? I don't get to see her enough)
• My momma loving my suit - especially as I was worried she wouldn't like it, being that it is a little fashion forward
• Good karma acts, because sometimes you just have to put yourself in someone else's shoes
• Reading more of the Jane Austen biography

Things that I'm excited for that are coming up:

• Grocery shopping tonight!
• Recipes throughout the week, hopefully including:
• Risotto (mushroom)
• Butter! (which will then both be indulged in and baked with. Because you know, it's home made butter)
• Some sort of tart
• Torchwood: Miracle Day
• More puppycuddles
• Morning lattes
• Tidying up
• Cross stitch

that & this

Bit of a roundup post:

• Emergency funds are good things, even if annoying, and I thank myself for that gift every day
• Promising things on the horizon in the new year, starting with a discussion that I'm very excited about
• Bunny has been extra-special amazing lately, which is worth noting. Seriously, I have the most wonderful man in history
• Style alert: I bought two new pashminas (red paisley with black touches, tone on tone bronze paisley) because I found them super cheap in Chinatown and oh my goodness gorgeous
• Dim Sum Seafood King review still to come - I promise
• Christmas shopping is COMPLETE (well, Bunny still has some to do)
• I bought Bunny's Christmas present literally right in front of him, and it was hilarious
• I have sooo much wrapping and baking to do in the next three days, as evidenced by the four or five batches of frozen cookie dough & the pile of unwrapped presents
• Must locate tape and present tags, those could be helpful
• Bit of a rollercoaster couple of days
• The Help (the movie) is almost as awesome as the book, which is a win to me
• It's time to choose a new book to start in on. I'm considering the Scarlet Letter.
• My cross stitch is getting beautiful. I've got a lovely iris taking up most of the space in the hoop right now, and so much blank cloth to take care of
• Bunny is making dog food now, and it's stinky
• Three more days until we are picked up to head Barrie-wards
• The new coffee (our old favourite, but it's more expensive than I really like to spend on coffee but it's great coffee, and I'd rather buy medium-expensive beans than go out and pay for fancy drinks all the time) is fantastical and I love it

we sit and find flaws in everyone, I wanna keep you by my side holding off tidal waves

Day 3 of unemployment, so far, has meant:

• Waking up even EARLIER than I used to wake up for work, all on my own. I laid awake in bed with puppy cuddles just because I could
• Getting dressed properly - jeans and socks, and undergarments, for no other reason  than I feel better fully clothed than in pajamas
• Realizing that this is a great time to explore my nudist tendencies, if I so desire
• Reading the news, and the blogs over two double lattes, made to my exacting specifications
• Being able to pull together a snack at the first signs of hunger pains without thinking about it
• Writing a post to submit to APW, and having time to come back to it
• Putting all the dirty clothes in the laundry basket for no reason other than they bothered me
• A dishwashing dance party with the puppy to the ever wonderful soundtrack of the Format

Now, I don't want to jump up and start making grand generalizations about things after only three days at home. This whole being unemployed thing has me thinking about the statement "I am not a morning person". I have never considered myself to be one - I'm a great night owl.

Here's the thing though, I've been waking up and enjoying the mornings these past three days. What I'm starting to wonder is if I don't need to change my statement. I'm wondering if it might be more accurate to say "I am not a social morning person". Cause I'm sure loving puppy snuggles and am enjoying waking up at a normal time.

It feels good.

thankful

So, yesterday was a pretty rough day on some levels. Everything is still very raw and like and open wound, but I want to remind myself of all the amazing things in my life that are either independent of the crappiness, or are going to come out amazingly because of.

1. Bunny, and having the most wonderful partner by my side though everything
2. Financial smarts & planning ahead
3. Morning lattes
4. Baking!
5. All the new recipes I plan to try
6. Living in a co-op
7. My beautiful, messy home
8. Having the time to clean my home up
9. Having Enough
10. The chance to explore my dreams
11. Time to myself
12. Puppy cuddles
13. Not having a job I hate
14. Knowing that I'll be ok
15. Knowing that I can take care of my finances