Thursday, September 29, 2011

DANCE first. THINK later.

"Dance first. Think later. It's the natural order."
-Samuel Beckett


"Dancing is like dreaming with your feet."
-Constanze


"Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with your heart is another."
-Author Unknown



Mariah doing a little dance at the DANCE studio yesterday!


Mariah putting on her TAP SHOES at dancing
She told me it was "EASY PEASY!"


Tapping into a little pre-lesson dance
on the fireplace hearth yesterday! 


Really putting her heart and soul into it! 


A little STARBUCKS treat on the way to dancing! 


Beau trying to DANCE his chubby little feet
 into Mariah's flip flops! 


This adorable little SUPER BEAU MAN
DANCING his way around the back yard last week


Mariah and Beau having a DANCE OFF in front of their TV!
This was a week or so ago.


Mariah's shirt and face says it all!
This was a picture from the summer time.


Celebrating our 38 year anniversary of our DANCE OF LIFE together!
Met on September 27th 1973... here we are on September 27, 2011


A great little read and awesome beverage to go with it!
This was the inspiration to today's blog title.



Yesterday I had the pleasure of looking after Mariah for the afternoon. Wednesdays are her dancing days, so I took her to her lesson, too.

She is becoming so grown up now that she is in kindergarten, and I love her 

free spirited ways!
We made 2 stops at STARBUCKS on our way to dancing. She wanted a "PINK" cake pop ... but the first STARBUCKS only had the chocolate ones, so we then made a stop at a second one to be able to get a PINK one.

She confidently dressed her self into her dance outfit and proceeded to dance in the dressing room at the studio. There is something so cute and uninhibited about a five year old.

I enjoyed watching the class giddy with excitement waiting for their lesson to begin.
They have a special charm and energy at that age that is hard to describe... you just have to see it to understand how adorable it is!

Mariah was enthusiastic about dancing when we came back here afterward, and she suggested playing the game of 

DANCE STUDIO!
She wanted to be the teacher and I would be the student. So off we went to our basement with some music and our tap shoes!
I also had my camera in my hand...
but Mariah quickly said...
"No Cameras allowed in dance class!"
To which I replied...
"What if I want to take a picture of my new dance teacher?"
She then said very firmly and with such authority...
"NOPE... not allowed!"
Her next line was...
"OK... you stand over there and be the "COFFEE-CAT"!"
 (I knew she meant "COPY CAT")...
but how cute was that?!
My heart had a little chuckle over that line.

Shortly after she tired of teaching me how to dance ... she suggested we create a bulletin board... so we did a little crafting and then her mom came to pick her up!

I truly enjoyed her, she is becoming
such a fun age.  I know these memories will
DANCE on in my heart forever !

Tuesday  was the date Brian and I met in 1973 on a blind date in Edmonton. So in celebration of that memory we went out for a special supper. We went to a new restaurant in the city called SABOROSO.
It is a great experience... it is like a buffet, but the food is brought to the tables on long sticks and carved in front of you. They come over to the table until you are STUFFED!
It was delicious...
I  know we will go back there again. It was a fabulous meal and celebration of the
38 years since we met.

I have been going to the gym much more lately, and although it isn't quite like dancing... it is exercise none the less, which is a good thing.

The little book with the same title as the blog today... is a great little read of 618 rules to live by as compiled by Kathryn and Ross Petras.
The title "DANCE FIRST. THINK LATER."
was what sold it to me, but I am enjoying all the quotes and rules within it as well.

What a great statement it is, too, and so true, as I watch both Beau and Mariah as they
DANCE their way through life.

I have been taping many shows on TV lately and amongst them is 

DANCING WITH THE STARS.
I always enjoy a DANCE show!

I am also still watching ELLEN daily. 

She loves to DANCE as well...
and her spirit and fun light hearted sense of humor always
puts a smile on my face.

Yesterday she had a great one man band on her show. She discovered him on youtube. His name is BERNHOFT. He is from Norway.
I replayed his song "C'mon Talk" over a couple of times, and infact went and got my tap shoes on, because he had a cool groove and rhythm along with a great voice, too.

Now I am off to watch the X-FACTOR...
 a singing reality show...
which I also enjoy!

On that note...
I'll switch from the rhythm to the rhyme!

When I think of life,
mine seems like a DANCE,
I still love to DANCE, too,
when I get a chance!
There is just a real pleasure
to the rhythm and the rhyme,
I'll always just love it...
to TAP DANCE in time.
DANCING is something
to free all concerns,
And it is just something,
that my heart still yearns.
To see my sweet grand babes
doing their DANCES,
Free spirited giggles
and slap happy prances!
It's so rewarding to
see a face with a smile,
And the spirit of one
wearing tap shoes on tile.
I'll continue to DANCE
whenever I can...
Because it is something,
of which I'm a fan.
TAPPING into simple...
how special it can be,
Yes DANCING is a pleasure,
especially to me!


Monday, September 26, 2011

LiFE ... is what you make it!

I think MOTHER TERESA has a pretty good recipe for LiFE!


Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is Life, fight for it.



My
"LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT"
mug is filled with green tea!
Today's SEIZE THE DAY calendar page says this...
"By forgiving we release and open a space in our hearts
 for something wonderful to grow."


SHUFFLE is almost saying...
"AHHHH... This is the LIFE!"
in her facial expression. 

This picture looks like MARIAH is saying
"LOVIN this LIFE!"
This was last night as we enjoyed the beautiful fall weather.


Beau is LOVIN LIFE  and his bottle
in the comfort of his mommy's arms 


Mariah last week on her way to Dancing.
She was loving the little buddies I recently found in the garage.
She is giving them new LIFE here in the spotlite of the flashlight! 


My little BEAU- MAN/ BATMAN!
He is looking like is loves LIFE where ever he is not supposed to be.
He just climbs right up on the computer table now!!! 


BEAU here the other night in the tub...
Living LIFE in the BUBBLES...
(is it a co-incidence that the little devil is floating above his head???!) 


Shuffle this morning on a beautiful fall walk.
Both her and I were enjoying LIFE and all it's AUTUMN SPLENDOR!


Just one of the many photos I snapped along the way this morning...
Colorific! 


It's a beautiful LIFE in my own backyard even!!!


This morning as I wondered what theme to write my blog about, I noticed the
MOTHER TERESA
recipe for life above...
and thought LIFE was a good title!

I was reminded that yesterday would have been the 11 month anniversary of mom's passing. She passed away due to severe dementia.

This morning I received an informative email forward from my sweet Auntie Betty in Chicago.
This forward stated things to help  prevent some of life's aging diseases such as Dementia.
In short... here are the list of 10...
1. Drink 3 to 5 cups of coffee per day.
2.Floss your teeth daily
3.Google info on subjects that interest you to stay informed.
4.Do 30 minutes of aerobic type activity daily,
and eat salmon and vitamin B
5.Drink apple juice for better memory
6. Protect your head from all injuries
7.Meditate... do yoga
8.Get your daily Vitamin D (800-200 IU of D3)
9. Fill your brain with purpose
10. Avoid infection

I found all of the above to be very informative. I was pleased to know I am doing many of the above listed suggestions!

This morning on my beautiful walk with Shuffle, I decided to take my little pocket camera along to capture some of the beauty out there... such a great walk it was, and made me feel so grateful on so many levels.

I went to a class at the gym, too... and was so surprised there were only 3 people in the class today. I guess everyone is out enjoying this wonderful  autumn we are experiencing.
I was glad I had gone to the gym, none the less... the class was awesome!

On saturday we looked after Beau while Jana and Nels took Mariah to the LION KING movie in 3D. It was great apparently,
and a win-win for all!
We loved every minute of our little mischievous BEAU... he is lots of fun and keeps us on our toes because he is a real little goer now. He is the perfect example of one who
LOVES LIFE!

Last night we had the family over for a delicious barbeque, and to be enjoying it out on the deck in the evening of late
September is really something.
Life really is good.

Tomorrow is a date I still remember every year.
September 27th, 1973
was the date I met my hubby on a blind date!
That was a very special day in my LIFE!

"Life is a big canvas and you should throw all the paint on it you can."
-Danny Kaye


"There are only two ways to live your life.  One is as though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as if everything is a miracle. "
-Albert Einstein


"You only live once, but if you work it right,
once is enough."
-Author Unknown

So on those little quotes....

Life is what you make it,
and it is up to you...
To make it just the best you can,
in everything you do.
Enjoy the little simple things...
with every single season,
And stop to realize that everything
just has a reason.
Like leaves that change from green to yellow and orange on to red.
And understanding why we capture
sweet memories in our head.
So many little wonders
happen every day,
But taken all for granted
in a funny kind of way.
I am trying hard to treasure
everything right here on earth,
And value it for what it gives,
and for all it's worth.
Life itself is precious...
and it truly is a gift,
And when I stop to think of it,
it really gives a lift.
I have to thank my lucky stars,
I know I really should...
Because when all is said and done,
MY LIFE IS VERY GOOD!


Saturday, September 24, 2011

OVER THE TOP!... (O.T.T.)

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."
-Henry David Thoreau


"Live in the moment and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering!"
-Fanny Crosby


"Be yourself, everyone else is taken."
-Charles Schulz


"The fastest way to freedom, is to feel your feelings."
Gita Bellen


Today's "Thought of the Day" in today's newspaper was this...
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."
-Wayne Gretzky


... and although in his case, this quote refers to his hockey shots on goal... to me it refers to shots on the camera of my grandkids... I think one can never have TOO MANY SHOTS!!!





Mariah and Beau
OVER TOP
the stand up sand box yesterday
 happily playing and getting along so well! 


The kids enjoying the SMURF and little BUDDIES bin
I found in the garage! 


Just when did this little super baby turn into such a big boy?
Oh those converse runners... so darn cute! 


Mariah having fun making a little MUPPET PARADE! 


Beau just debating about stealing something out of Mariah's Muppet Parade!!! 


Mariah being a good big sister and pushing her little bro on the swings! 


Beau decided to sit right in the bin of little buddies!!! 


Enjoying a little picnic fun on the front lawn.
Here is the OTT GRAMMA QUEEN and her favorite two munchkins!!!


My brother Brian and Beau both enjoying the sun glasses  


Mariah sporting some shades...
and Grammie D's PJ top, too! 


Beau loving the chimes out front! 


Check out the "COOL"
diamond sticker tattoo on Mariah's arm.
Another treasure found in a bag in the garage!!! 


Mariah enjoying the sunshine and funshine in the back yard yesterday. 


Beau thinking about what trouble he will get into next!!! 


Beau getting into mischief behind a chair on the deck!
His face says it all!!!!


Beau eating a popsicle in the kitchen sink.
I stuck him there because he was painting my kitchen walls with it other wise!!! 


Mariah finding some interesting special leaves and ladybugs!
She had captured a favorite ladybug and called it "POLKA DOT!"



Mariah singing and dancing in one of her mom's old dance costumes
 to Justin Beiber on youtube,
while Beau accompanied her playing drums on the ice bucket!




People have always referred to me as
"OVER THE TOP"!... (O.T.T.)
I'm fine with that title, because it is the truth!

Everything I do is in extreme... but I'm ok with that, because that is just how I am!

For instance, yesterday while I babysat the two grandkiddies, I took 184 photos... I know it is a bit O.T.T.... but I always think you can never go back and capture those memories later... right?!

On thursday I was out enjoying a lunch with 3 of my dance teacher friends...
Brenda, Nadine and Nicole.
I happened to mention my blog and how I was always so OVER THE TOP with it, and said that I should call my next blog "OVER THE TOP", then Brenda said... "Haven't you already used that as your blog title?" to which I replied...
"Actually no, but I talk about how much I possess that quality!"

I am feeling somewhat O.T.T. with my TV interests lately.  I almost feel like I am watching so much in the evenings that I could qualify for a professional TV watcher. I tape many shows each day and try to spin through as much as I can each night! At least I avoid all the adds that way!

Last night we took a TV night break and went out for supper to one of our favorite restaurants, ATHENA with friends 

Joan and Gerry.
We always enjoy our visits and meals with them. We must be on the same page of life, because we share lots of common bonds while we are out together each time.

Earlier this week I shared a little STARBUCKS coffee time with my cousin Gwen. We, too, are often on the same page as well. I so enjoy everytime we can get together, too.

Today I'm thinking of my good friend Linda, in Lanigan... she has a very bad sore leg. I'm sending her healing wishes so that soon she can come to the city and share a STARBUCKS and visit with me again!
Yesterday my nephew BRAD had a birthday and it was a reminder to me of 36 years ago when I became an auntie for the first time!

My brother BRIAN popped by and shared the morning with me and the grandkids yesterday. I feel so lucky to have a brother who shows such a genuine interest in my life and he truly enjoys spending quality time with us. He has really bonded with BEAU in particular this past year with all my babysitting days with him.

Well I feel like my life has made many forward strides in this past while with the 

gym and garage cleaning... 
feels good!

I must say that the new TONY BENNETT CD is very STELLER... I highly recommend it.
My mom and dad were big Tony Bennett fans...and this CD is every bit as good as his first duets CD, if not better including duets with 17 great artists. I am listening to it now, so it is providing the perfect soundtrack for my blog today!... Did I mention I love music?!

Well on that "NOTE"...
here is my O.T.T. poem for the day!

OVER THE TOP!

I've been known to some,
as something called "O.T.T.!"
And really it's a title...
 that suits me perfectly.
Whether I am playing with my grandkids,
or my friends,
The title "O.T.T." is right for me,
and never ends!
Some people really find me
to take things to extreme,
From everything I do each day,
through every single theme.
But really it is how I am,
and I'm happy with it, too!
I think I'll always be "O.T.T."
in everything I do...
Whatever makes me happy,
will have to be my way,
So I will keep on keepin' on
throughout my everyday!




Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Rewarding Journey!

"The Journey is the reward."
-Chinese proverb


"Wherever you go, go with all your heart."
-Confucious


"Take care of your body, it's the only place you have to live."
-Jim Rohn


"Living on Earth is expensive, but it does include one free trip around the sun every year."
Author unknown



Here I am sitting in my garage where I have spent a lot of time lately...
JOURNEYING through the boxes and clutter that has accumulated over time!


I'm proud to say the JOURNEY is going well...
and stuff is getting sorted bit by bit.
Thank  goodness for rubber maid bins for storage!


This little treasure-find... brought back a flood of memories!
I came across these little Smurfs, and other little buddies
in a bigger bin that has been barried for years.
These brought hours of fun for my kids, and
now my grandkids can enjoy them, too,
and the JOURNEY can continue!


Last night we had a fun little visit with our adorable GRANDKIDS
*Mariah and Beau*
Their life JOURNEY is going so fast as they continue to grow and mature. 


Mariah is very inventive and was playing a little game here...
she is learning so much in Kindergarten, and
has picked up her teacher's English accent, too... so cute!
I love her sweat pants... they say
"EAT, SLEEP, BREATHE, DANCE"
on them!
(they are from our friend Shelley Tookey's Dance Studio) 


BEAU was on the go...
He seemed to want to carry my purse,
and he dragged it around like a pull toy!  


My new "MOU" boots!
These are new in at Jana's SWANK SHOE LOUNGE store.
 Brian decided to surprise me with a pair last night at Jana's,
when we went for our visit.
I am quite sure they will make the WINTER JOURNEY
a whole lot warmer.
How thoughtful of him to arrange with Jana to bring them home.
He is such a sweetie!


These are the tags from the boots,
I love that they say
"natural just got sexy" 


Some of my new SCENTSY products to make my house smell delish!



I have been on a JOURNEY lately... mostly sorting and cleaning in my garage.

I have also made a huge effort to JOURNEY to the gym more often again, as well.

I have to say that the JOURNEYS have been REWARDING in many ways.

It has been years since we have both parked in our garage, but I am quite happy to say this year we will both be able to park there again.

When the kids got their licenses, Brian opted to park on the driveway as he figured the kids would never get going fast enough to clean off their windshields in the morning.
What a kind and thoughtful dad he was!

After the kids were gone, the garage became home to my studio STUFF... and believe me there were boxes and boxes and more!
As I gradually was able to get some of that moved out of the way, mom moved from her house to her apartment, and our garage once again became the storage for much of her stuff.
Then she passed away last fall, and more stuff landed in our garage!

So you get the picture....
we have a LOT OF STUFF!!!!!
So since I have been officially done my babysitting duties with Beau... this fall I decided to make it my job to sort through the
GARAGE, and it has been
an ongoing process for sure...
but so rewarding on many levels.

I have been trying hard to get to the gym lots, too. Yesterday I did my TWO classes again, I am now calling Tuesdays... TWOS-DAYS, and hope to stick to that plan. Peggy, the body flow teacher yesterday celebrated a birthday. She reminded us how we take our first breath when we are born...and continue to BREATHE every day along our JOURNEY of LIFE!

"Birthdays are good for you, the more you have, the longer you live."
-Author unknown


I took a BREATHER from my ongoing garage clean up yesterday to go shopping
and visit my friend, Gailene.
We enjoyed a
PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE together, too.
That is fast becoming my new favorite beverage, but I have to be careful not to have them too often...  once in a while it adds
spice and balance to my daily JOURNEY!

A couple of weeks ago I went to a SCENTSY party with my two sisters-in law...
BEV and BRENDA.
This is a new thing where you get the scents you like to melt down in little burner type things.
They are different than other ones, because they plug in and have a light bulb in them  instead of a candle to melt the wax.
I am enjoying the sweet scents in
my house as I type!
I bought a few different scents...
but have one called "Sentimental Cider"
melting now and it smells delish!
I also have a little air freshener hanging in my garage now called
"White Tea and Cactus", so when I go in the garage it smells so fresh!

I am one who loves my daily music... it helps get me through my JOURNEY of daily life.
I am very excited to get the new
"TONY BENNETT DUETS II"
which came out yesterday,
to add to my ongoing collection!
(At least CDs do not take up lots of room!!!)

So on that little note...
here is my poem for today...

REWARDING JOURNEY

My life is a journey...
so I'm journeying along...
And every thing is better,
when its with a little song!
Sorting through the boxes of life
my garage has had,
Will make some room to park our cars,
and that will make us glad.
Funny how the years go by,
and things just don't get done,
But I'm now trying to tackle them,
and actually having fun!
It's little things like treasures,
that I find along the way,
That make me want to JOURNEY forth,
continue everyday.
Keeping things in balance,
is also very good...
I'm getting to the gym more,
as I know I should.
Filling in the spaces
with occasional Pumpkin Spice...
They really are so yummy,
I don't think about it twice!
So in this little JOURNEY
of life that I am in...
I'm loving the REWARDS these days
that feel just like a win!



Sunday, September 18, 2011

WALK ON!

"All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking."
-Friedrich Nietzsche


"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others, for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness: for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone."
-Audrey Hepburn


"As a single footstep will not make a path on earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again.  To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives."
-Henry David Thoreau



Here I am with SHUFFLE and BRIAN last night at the start of the
"LIGHT THE NIGHT WALK"
for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada 


Here is the starting gate...
it was such a lovely night for a walk for a good cause. 


Friends, Ross, Trona and their 2 youngest kids, Mark and Rae. 


Midway on our walk we ran into this group...
who apparently come out to many charity events in the city!



Brian and Shuffle just before the walk! 


This is a photo I snapped around this time last year at STARBUCKS...
I am once again loving the PUMPKIN SPICE LATTES!!!
I will need to do lots of WALKING to work them off, now. 


A cute pic of MARIAH, BEAU and their daddy, NELS a week ago.
Today  NELS  hit the milestone age of 30...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NELS!!!


A very impromptu pic I snapped at the gym yesterday following a Body Vive class.
Here is Kim, a former dance student,... Theresa, the class instructor,... and Gail, Kim's mom!
We ended up going out for a coffee and visit following the class.

The last week has been a busy mix of building up calories at Starbucks, and trying to burn them off at the gym!!!
hehehe

I made it to a record breaking 6 classes at the gym last week... and am trying desperately to get back into some kind of shape again, however, I am really just loving the new fall pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks...
so one kind of defeats the other!

Last night, Brian's boss from work, Ross, sponsored a team to walk in the
"LIGHT the NIGHT WALK"
for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.
We have never done this walk before, although I have walked in other charity walks. This one was so nice at night time with balloons filled with lights in them. We took Shuffle, too, so she felt special as well and we all enjoyed the lovely weather, and the exercise while we walked and talked through the beautiful route for a very good cause.
Brian lost his Grandma to Leukemia years ago, so that made it even more close to our hearts.

I enjoyed getting caught up with Trona, Ross's wife, and their daughter Rae, while the guys and Shuffle walked on ahead of us. The time few by with our conversation!

I also had another fun visit earlier yesterday, too. I had gone to the gym for an 8:30 AM
"Body Vive" class. After the class a former dance student, Kim, who now lives in Edmonton, was there. Her, and her mom, along with the class instructor, Theresa, all went to Tim Horton's for a coffee and a visit. It is always fun to catch up with gals like Kim...
she has always been so enthusiastic about everything she does in life!
I like to refer to girls like her as "SPIRITED!"

Brian has taken the weekend off, so we have done some other fun stuff, such as go to the Farmer's Market yesterday followed by a nice leisurely stroll and shop on Broadway yesterday afternoon. I loved the wonderful fall weather... perfect for that kind of a shop experience...
and ofcourse one more Starbucks!!!

Tonight we will have some of the yummy veggies we bought at the market yesterday. Brian has them now marinating in a great concoction to barbeque later...
I am so grateful he loves to cook so much!

According to my good FB friend Arlene...
it was on this date in 1997 that
OPRAH's ANGEL NETWORK was established.
In her first year 3.5 million was raised in the world's largest piggie bank toward many good charity causes!

I am all for any thing that is to raise funds and  awareness of any good causes and charities.

Today Mariah and Beau's daddy, NELS is celebrating his milestone 30th birthday...
and I am wishing him
a wonderful day of CELEBRATION,
as he WALKS into a new decade in his life!

On that little note... here is my rhyme of the day!

This past week has been
one with fun at the gym.
It's also had STARBUCKS
drinks filled to the brim!
Those Pumpkin Spice Lattes
are truly "delish"!
Would be better if calorie free...
oh... I wish!!!
Thank goodness for weather
that's nice out for WALKING,
And reasons to get out...
ROCKING and TALKING!
It is also in just what one sees, too,
I've found.
To make life so great,
and so good all around!