PICTURE PERFECT!!!

I just finished reading this book by Jodi Picoult, it was honestly not one of my favorite books of hers, I did not have it read in 5 days like most of her books. It was good though and helped me to understand something I have often wondered in life. The book is about a women who meets this famous actor she would be the least likely match for him, or atleast that is what hollywood thinks, but as you get to understand this man you realize he is the perfect match for this women. Throughout there marriage he abuses her over and over again and she keeps going back. Abuse is something I have never understood, I do not understand how someone could be abusive, and I do not understand how someone could stay with someone that is abusive. Reading this book though enlightened me and helped me to understand why it happens and why women stay with there abusers. It makes me even have a little but of sadness for the man that abuses his wife or girlfriend. If you have ever wondered about these things read this book, it will help you to understand.

DANCIN' DANCIN'

This song makes me want to do exactly that. You know those songs that if you are feeling blue all you have to do is play it and your attitude will totally change. We'll this is one of those songs for me. Yesterday I danced around like a maniac in my bedroom with my puppies, well my husband looked at me like a crazy person, but I don't care it was so much fun. Seriously try listening to this song and not dance, or at least bob you head up and down. It is impossible.

SNOWBOARDING!!!

Unfortunately I do not have any pictures, but this past Friday, we had the opportunity to go snowboarding with the Harkers. For the most part it was a beautiful day, the teenagers had that weekend off school, so it was packed with kids, which made me a lot more nervous. The morning started of slow and frustrating. This is only my 3rd time snowboarding, and I will openly admit I am not catching on that quickly. We will see a couple more tries and if I still have harboring feelings I might trade them in for some ski's. However after lunch, Royall and I decided to take a break from snowboarding. They had this awesome hill that you could ride these blown up tubes down, and may I say I could not wipe the smile of my freezing cold face. It without a doubt goes down in my history books as one of my funnest days. I think me and Royall tallied it up and we went down about 10 times, if we had more time on our hands I am sure we would have gone down it even more. So a great fun weekend, I wish I had pictures to show how much fun it was, next time I will for sure. We are hoping to go again in February for Mark's birthday.

MEXICAN LASAGNA!!!

Serves: 6 • Preparation: 20 min. • Cooking: 20 min. 6 DEMPSTER’S® 100% Whole Wheat 7 in. Tortillas, halved 1 lb (500 g) extra-lean ground beef 1 packet taco seasoning 1 cup (250 mL) water 2 cups (500 mL) salsa 1 (19 oz/796 mL) can black beans, drained and rinsed 1 cup (250 mL) corn niblets (frozen or canned) 2 cups (500 mL) shredded cheese ¼ cup (50 mL) chopped green onions

PREHEAT oven to 350°F (180°C).

BROWN beef in skillet. DRAIN. STIR in taco seasoning and water. BRING to a boil, REDUCE heat and SIMMER for 10 min.. STIR in salsa, black beans and corn. REMOVE from heat.

PLACE half of meat mixture in an 8 x 8 inch (2 L) or 9 x 9 inch (2.5 L) baking dish. TOP with half of the tortillas, making a single layer by placing the cut, straight sides against the edges of the pan and overlapping the rounded edges. SPRINKLE with half the cheese. REPEAT layers and SPRINKLE with green onion.

BAKE uncovered in preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 15 to 20 min..

TIP
ADD ½ cup (125 mL) chopped fresh cilantro to the meat mixture for extra flavour.

This was delicious, I made it for some friends the other night and I think they all agreed. Quick, easy to make, and yummy.
Just an extra yummy tip I added sour cream and guacamole on the top once I served it on people's plates, just to add that extra Mexican taste.

1 new meal learned for the year 11 more to go!

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!

I have the cutest dogs ever. Last night my house felt like an igloo and no matter what I did I could not get warm, so finally I grabbed two blankets turned on the fireplace, and lied on the floor by the fireplace while I read my book. After 40 minutes of reading I got up to get a drink, go to the bathroom, and send off a couple of quick e-mails. when I came back into the family room this is what my dogs were doing. Honestly how cute is this.

HAVE YOU SEEN THE SNOW!!!

I think I have heard my husband quote that about 100 times, but really have you seen the snow, it is crazy, but also beautiful.

What would you do if you won the Lottery???

I know what I would do, well atleast I think I know what I would do. Last night I had a dream that Mark (only the man in the dream was not Mark, how weird is that) and me won the lottery, I can't remember everything we did, but I remember that we moved to Africa and lived in the wild with all the animals. I don't know about you but if I won 30 million dollars I don't think I would move to Africa and live in the wild, I would definitely visit but not live there full time. So then this morning I got to thinking what would I do if I won the Lottery (even though I know that will never happen seeing as we don't buy Lottery tickets). First off I would move, no questions, I don't know where but I know it would be someplace that I could have a beautiful home on a lake. My home would honestly not be huge, probably a bungalow that is about 1800 sq feet on each level. So nice and big but not ginormous. Reason being I would hate to have to clean a house that big and there is no way I would have maids, the thought of that, ewww no way. I would definitely share with my family and Mark's family so that we could all be well off financially and go on lots of vacations and spend lots of time together as a family. Does a million for each family sound fair. I would probably then take about 10 million and invest it in something with high interest and just live off that for the most part. Our home would be on about 300 acres, and we would have horses, cows, a husky and a Labrador. We would spend our days riding our horses, going on runs with the dogs, canoeing on the lake, and spending time together as a family. There is no question some of that money would go to help the needy, but to be honest I don't know what I would do, I think I would other just take a big chunk of it and give it to the church and say hear, do what you need to with it, or I would start up some kind of charity, seeing as I would not be working, and devote a lot of my free time to that. It would other be something like the SPCA, or something that helps children who's parents don't have the money to put them in all the activities children should be in. We would travel someplace amazing every year, first starting with Africa. Then when are children are about 17 and 15 we would travel for a whole year around the world. See everything, experience everything. Now if only I could make this dream happen without winning the Lottery.

So my question is What would you do if you won the lottery, I would love to know what other people's dreams are, so if you want to have some fun dreaming up the perfect life do so on your blog so I can read it, or for those who don't have a blog just let me know.
could you imagine waking up to this every morning

I THINK I'M IN LOVE!!!

I found this amazing website that offers coach purses and other coach products at discounted prices, I think I am in love with this purse and these boots, however buying these will take almost $200.00 out of my clothing budget for the year. That would leave me $100 for the rest of the year. Maybe I can sweet talk Mark into buying them as a really really early Birthday present. Then I technically don't have to take it out of my clothing budget. Oh yes and purses and shoes are included in this budget :(

ECONOMICAL PUPPIES!!!!

A couple of months ago I was reading in a Women's health magazine and they had a section on animals with little tid bits of information, one of the tid bits said that if you have company coming over and your dogs breath stinks you can feed them a carrot, not only does it freshen there breath but it also cleans there teeth, acts like a bone. So one night I decided to give it a try, I honestly did not notice a change in there breath, however I have found the cheapest treat ever for my dogs. Every time I go into the fridge they just sit there bagging for a carrot. I love that there favorite treat has gone from being about $1 per bone to probably $.10, way to be economical puppies.

LONG IT IS!!!!

I guess the votes are in and the long darker hair won, 4 to 1. Thanks to all those that gave there input. Mark was the only one that voted for the short, blonde hair, but seeing as he also liked the long dark hair, and that was secretly the one I was hoping everybody was going to vote for that is the route my hair will be taking. It will take time and patients as the last time I grew my hair out really long, it drove me so nuts that one day I want in to a hair dresser and said just cut it all off. I am hoping this time though I can hold out get it to wear and how I want it.