Wednesday Ramblings...

Here is what has been on my mind this week...

1.  I am attending a bachelor party this friday (that's right, I said BACHELOR).  I am standing as a "grooms woman" at Antoine's wedding next week- which automatically gives me the right to attend the stag.  I will be sure to share this rare insider's experience with all you ladies next week (if I survive).  Here is a peek of what I may have to encounter:

Now I just need to find out WHAT TO WEAR!

2.  The water situation here on the West Coast of the island is so crazy this year.  And by water situation, I mean lack of water.  For the first time since I can ever remember, we have a water restriction put in place.  Really, what are all of us going to do now that we can't fill our swimming pools? haha.  There is also a fire ban for the whole island.  I wanted to have a backyard fire last night and my father asked me if I want to be responsible for the forest fire that might occur.  Nope!  Seriously though, this is the best June I have ever experienced.  It rained maybe two days.  The poor frogs are not as happy about the situation.

3.  I only have one week to break in a pair of heels, perfect the bride and groom dance song I have to sing and pick out a hairstyle.  I am officially more stressed than my own wedding.

4.  My favourite things this week include:

family potluck, 

especially when my grandmother brings pineapple squares

This scarf

Brought to you by Forever 21

lilacs

and my little sister

both of which are in this picture:

Danny is alright too.

5.  One thing that is NOT my favourite is Jonny working nights and me having to watch America's Got Talent solo.  

What are your favourite things?

The Cutest Retirement Party Ever!

Today, after celebrating the end of school with my CYN kiddies, I got to go to my first backyard retirement party.  My good friend from Ottawa was home to throw the party for her mom, whom I just happen to work with (and who is one of the most amazing, inspiring teachers that I know).  They are also my next door neighbours, so I got to come home from work, throw on a backyard-party dress and skip on up the road.

The theme of the party was "vintage teacher" which was oh so cute.  I didn't get the greatest pictures (too busy socializing) but I'm sure they'll give you an idea of how well my friend pulled off the decor.  Hats off to her!!

An old teacher's desk serves as a candy/cake table

I have a weakness for pennant flags, these are great

Delicious shortbread

Beautiful backyard... another love of mine: paper lanterns

love it!

Every teacher needs an apple pillow

fire pit to die for!

This may be my new love, paper straws! 

Old school desk... we actually used a very similar one as our signing table at our wedding!

What a refreshing afternoon!!!  Can you believe that the weather here has been so nice all June that we actually have a water ban in place?  A WATER BAN (no washing your car, watering lawns, filling swimming pools) in NEWFOUNDLAND.  I'm pretty sure this is the first time in history!!

Tara

Wednesday Ramblings....

This is what is on my mind this week....

1.  Last Thursday was Elementary Sports Day at school, which left the hallways smelling of buttery sunblock instead of the usual cafeteria lunches/industrial cleaner smell.  It was quite heavenly, and made me stop for a moment and realize summer is here!!  It's a whopping 25 degrees outside, and I have visions of camping, swimming and vacationing fighting for room in my head.  Someone please remind me why I decided to work this summer instead of enjoying a long teacher-summer off!

2.  True Blood has started, and I am so excited!  Now maybe my inner nerd will stop talking about zombies all the time and concentrate on vampires for a while.  Jonny has officially banned the words "zombie apocalypse" from my vocabulary, to which my friend Antoine says "He'll be screwed now if it ever happens, because I won't be able to warn him".  So Jonny is zombie meat... and now you all now my guilty pleasure/hidden geekery tendencies.

3.  My favourite things of the moment include such things as:

Tootsie Roll Pops

This website

musicnotes.com

For all your musical needs.

And this guy:

Because he cleaned my car, and it's no longer comparable to a dog kennel.

4.  I have recently learned that: Being an interviewer is no more fun than being an interviewee, that spending a Saturday night at a grade six prom, volunteering with your aunt and mother-in-law can certainly be a time, and that if you feed setters too much- they will get fat.

On a more serious note, I have been reminded, once again, that some children are hungrier than me, that some children are poorer than me, that some children are sadder than me, and much much more unfortunate.  Actually, I have been reminded that I actually do not know what it is to be hungry, poor or profoundly saddened, without hope.  I hope you all take a moment to appreciate all the small (and large) things in your life that you may have taken for granted.

I'll leave you with that

Tara

A picnic in the park: or not!

A few weekends ago Jonathan and I decided to spend the day at our favourite Provincial Park with my in-laws David and Kathy.  We packed up my very small Mazda 2 with our extensive camping/picnic gear, had a field day at the grocery store and donned our sunglasses on the gorgeous drive.  We may have even forgotten the fact that we lived in Newfoundland, on such a hot sunny day, but sadly we were reminded once we parked the car at our day site and explored the area.  Only a true Newfoundlander could appreciate the torture that is a swarm of black flies.  Only a Newfoundlander knows what it feels like to have your ears buzzing, and your skin crawling and your bites itching.  Doesn't sound pretty does it?  Well, it isn't.  This is why, as avid campers, Jonny and I own bug jackets, a dozen citronella candles, copious amounts of bug repellent, and a car to drive away.  Last year, during work, Jonathan was dropped off in the middle of the forest by helicopter, only to realize that he had forgotten any form of fly bite prevention as the chopper flew away.  That night, when he returned home, it looked as though he had eaten a bowl of pea soup (which he is severely allergic to).

The point of my story?

We didn't stay in the park.

We decided to have our picnic in the in-law's beautiful backyard.  We even did it in true campsite style by pulling the cars on back and sitting up the table with our camping gear.

The one and only picture we managed to get at the park

Ahhh... that's better, no flies here!

Puppy is hot!

David with his yellow hat... which really matches the decor

A beautiful summer sky

Jonny and I pose for a sunny picture

I'm nothing if not coordinated!

I worked in the kitchen all afternoon for this dessert, haha

Well, here is hoping you make the best out of every situation!  Though it didn't quite go as planned, we had a fabulous day!!

Tara

Remember me? {Spring in review)

I'm sorry, mostly to myself, that I have not written lately.  Excuses are as follows:

-New Job

-Nice Weather

-Laziness

Now that Spring is over and Summer is trying to set in (although the cold temps state otherwise), here are some of the things I was doing this Spring when I wasn't blogging:

Visiting

Singing

Playing

Adventuring

Fixer-upering

Exploring

Dining

Picnicing

Loving

Organizing

So there you go.  I would say that I will write more when things settle down, but summer is coming up and summer does not equal settling down.

But, I have some things up my sleeve.  Stay tuned!

Here's to busyness: the work, the play and everything in between.