Eats, Treats, Sweets, Feets!

"It is the sweet simple things of life 
which are the real ones after all."
-Laura Inglas Wilder

"Be sure you put your feet 
in the right place, then stand firm."
-Abraham Lincoln

"Life is SWEET!"
-Author Unknown

"Chocolate is the answer. 
Who cares what the question is."
-Author Unknown

Here is BEAU with CHOCOLATE cookie on his face at
Market Mall riding the little cars
while his sister was in the Haunted House there!

Mariah was a bit scared after the Haunted House
but had a little ride in the cars after too.
Then her mommy, daddy, brother and Poppa and me all
went for a little TREAT at CRAVE which is behind in this photo. 

Saturday morning BODY VIVE group at GOODLIFE GYM.
We were TREATED to Tim Horton coffee and cookies
 by teacher, THERESA, (in centre),
following the new launch of the class.
Great classes always by her and Trent, (who is not in this photo.) 

Out for more BIRTHDAY EATS!!!
Brian really celebrated his 60th Milestone last thursday and we ended
it that day with a nice meal at Mr. Rizzo's.... YUM!

One last photo of Brian on his MILESTONE BIRTHDAY...
I hope he found all the celebrations to be SWEET ... just like he is!

Out for more EATS... with my dance buddy, Brenda,
 last week at Rock Creek Tap and Grill!
It is always a TREAT for me when ever Brenda has time to go for a lunch.

The special TREAT I made Brian for his Birthday...
I created a hard cover book on my MAC computer
of many family memories ... and he really liked it.

Good friend Jacquie here yesterday browsing through the book.
We always do Sunday morning EATS with her and partner, Bob at Fuddruckers.
She popped by here following that yesterday to get some assistance with her ipad. 

Shuffle modeled her Halloween Costume for Jacquie...
she is so proud to be the LITTLE MERMAID this year...
She is ready for the TRICK or TREATING to start!

TREAT bags for Mariah's dance friends today at dress up day at the studio.
I'm not sure how many kids she dances with anymore... she is in 3 different classes! 

These are my new SWEET FEETS!
I not only love the TOMS brand... I love the concept behind it
and that under priviledged children get shoes
with every sale of a pair of this brand.
I bought these on from my daughters SWEET shoe store
... which recently was named the most popular shoe store in the city,
SWANK SHOE LOUNGE

2 Former dance students, KELLY & ANDREA
 showing off their
SWEET FEET at a little TAP class last night!

Here is KELLY who taught me last night in a little TAP Class.
It was kind of a TREAT for me to be the student this time...
as our roles of Teacher/ Student were reversed!
And I might add
 TAPPiNESS will always bring HAPPiNESS!


This last week has been on going
celebrations involving
EATS, TREATS, SWEETS and even FEETS!

My hubby BRIAN really felt celebrated ringing in his MILESTONE 60th Birthday.

Now it is on to HALLOWEEN preps...
and an exciting time for all the people who like the dressing up and treats involved!

I was out shopping on Saturday and ran into my cousin Gwen in the mall. We spent an afternoon of fun searching for attire for my nephew, Jeff's upcoming wedding... and ofcourse a fun little TREAT
of a coffee break, too!

Saturday at the gym, my BODY VIVE teacher, THERESA... (who I used to teach dancing to when she was a little girl)...
offered her class a special TREAT
of Tim Horton's coffee and cookies after the new launch of the class. That was all fun and really SWEET of her to do that!

I always consider any outings for breakfasts, lunches, suppers, drinks and or coffees... to be TREATS... and as you can see by my photos
I have had many of those lately!

Last night I attended a little TAP CLASS
by former student , Kelly, and it was a TREAT, too... first of all to put on my shoes and just TAP... but also to see him as a teacher...
fun to have the roles reversed!
It was SWEET to also see former student, Andrea there as well. Although the class was small... it was an opportunity to TAP into for me!
I cannot remember the last time I took a dance class... and my brain was somewhat slow last night... however that being said...
my heart was on full speed ahead...
It's always SWEET to TAP!

Later today I will go to see Mariah's little dance classes in their SWEET Halloween costumes
at the dance studio. I have made up
some little TREATS, too!

I know BEAU & MARIAH are excited for Halloween... and so is my doggie, SHUFFLE!
I have never seen a doggie love to have clothing on more than her...
so SWEET and funny!

On a different note... I am sure praying for all people in harm's way with the very extreme weathers going on out there...
I hope all friends and family in the paths of
HURRICANE SANDY stay safe.

And my rhyme of the day...

This is a week of many tricks and treats...
Many celebrations and many little sweets!
It's not so bad when balanced with the gym,
To aid me in my mission to try to tone and trim!
Lots of ghosts and goblins
will soon be at my door,
And I can share a lot of treats,
until there are no more.
Halloween is nearly here,
so after all the SWEETS,
I hope to burn off calories with my
TAPPING FEETS!

A MiLESTONE... & A MEMORY!

"Life isn't a matter of milestones but of moments."
-Rose F. Kennedy

"Life goes by in the blink of an eye. Appreciate the moments."

"Each day comes bearing it's own gifts... Untie the ribbons!"
-Ruth Ann Scabacker

Celebrating BRIAN'S MILESTONE 60th Birthday
while looking at the many MEMORIES in the photo book
I made on the computer for his gift! 

Brian by the Birthday Table on his "day early" celebration yesterday...
For his MILESTONE BIRTHDAY which is actually today! 

Mariah looking very PARTY-ish...
in a little gown I found for her to wear to an upcoming wedding
for my Nephew next month! 

Mariah helping her POPPA BRIAN open his
birthday gifts... wrapped in this great POLKA DOT WRAP! 

Mariah and Brian enjoyed the little trip down MEMORY LANE
while Beau enjoyed the cupcakes! 

Nels and Jana enjoying a moment together at the party yesterday! 

The GUYS at the party yesterday...
Nels, Beau, Brian and Greg!...
4 generations of wonderful men in my life...
lots of Milestones and memories! 

A cute father son pic here from the birthday celebration! 

Mariah put on a little performance wearing a party hat and dancing with balloons!
My sister-in-law, Bev... visiting in the background. 

My sister-in-law, Brenda with her kids Maxwell and Rowen
popped by the birthday festivities after Rowen's dancing lessons last night! 

I went  with a Halloween Theme for the 60th Birthday Cup cakes.

Brian was happy to have his grandson show up at his work
today on his special MILESTONE day! 

Beau enjoying a cupcake for dessert
after sharing lunch with his poppa at work!

The staff at Brian's work lined up the SINGING COWBOY
 to stop by during lunch today and embarrass
BRIAN on his MILESTONE BIRTHDAY!
It was a fun and entertaining little display!!!

I think BRIAN got a kick out of the fun...
and here he is getting his cowboy hat... from the cowboy,
who calls himself "JIMMY JANGLES"! 

Today is also a MEMORY day for me as I recall this date 2 years ago.
My mom passed away on Brian's birthday...
so I will likely always have some
mixed emotions on this date.

Here is a little quote with my mom in mind...

"A Mother is she who can take the place of all others,
but whose place no one else can take."-Cardinal Mermillod


Today we are celebrating a MILESTONE for my hubby, Brian as he reached the age of SIXTY!
This date is also a reminder of this time two years ago when I said farewell to my mom...
I think this date will have mixed emotions for me from here on in.

We did a little family gathering last night here with Brian's side of the family joining us for supper and cupcakes... gifts and celebrations!
It was fun.
Too bad his mom cannot get out as much any more, and his brother Bruce lives so far away, but they were all here in spirit if not in person!


Today he was celebrated once again on his REAL DATE... at his work. They hired the "SINGING COWBOY" to come out and embarrass him during the lunch hour in the staff lunch room... and that went over really well... and was a fun and entertaining way to ring in his new decade!

I went to the gym previous to that and during the body flow class there was a song that literally brought me to tears...
I actually posted it on my Facebook page today.
 The song is called "STILL HERE"
by Natasha Bedingfield...
and for those of you not  on Facebook...
you can youtube it and hear the words.
They really hit home with me today.
"I'll never forget how you
made me feel I belong...
I still see you, I still feel you...
we'll never be apart,
you're still here in my heart."



The whole song really does describe how my mom made me feel...
and how she lives on in my heart...
it truly was a tear-jerker for me today!


It is funny how the songs that play in a day where ever I may be, seem to dictate the soundtrack to my life at that moment in time.

I have had another fun filled week of lead ups to this day... I was out for coffee with cousin Gwen on Monday and out for lunch with my dancing buddy, Brenda this week, too. I have tried to make it to the gym with my friend, Ella, in and around all events this busy time of year.


I am wishing my hubby BRIAN the
Happiest Birthday today as he enters
a new chapter in his life...
It is a MiLESTONE & a MEMORY!

On that thought...
my rhyme of the day!

This day is filled with mixed emotions for me,
As it is about life mixed with death, you see.
My hubby was born on this date years ago,
But my mom also left on this date as well... so,
It brings out the best and the worst in a day,
Reminders of happy mixed with sad,
one could say!
Two people who influenced who i am now,
With thoughts of them both, it's a mix somehow!
I celebrate them both,
because they're both so dear,
And even though my mom is no longer here...
Somehow her voice rings on in my head,
And is with me all day long and even in bed.
But I know she is smiling on me up above,
And sending me kisses and all of her love.
So today I'll focus on the milestones at hand...
And celebrate BRIAN because, he's so grand!

Weekend of FUN!

"Fun is where it's at. That's why you 
have to be there."
-Oaquai

"All for fun, and fun for all!"
-Oaquai

"Why wait for the weekend to have fun?"
-Loesje

This is a FUN breakfast at Broadway Cafe on Friday.
 Here sitting with friend, Jacquie and with waitress, Nichole...
She even brought me a polka dot mug with whip cream on my coffee!

Here is Nichole with Brian and our friend Bob on Friday.
 Nichole even let Brian have "white" toast in honor of his upcoming birthday!!!
(That is a little joke they have had FUN with for years!) 

I had a little FUN Starbucks outing with my friend/neighbor, HEATHER,
on Friday afternoon to celebrate her birthday...
we did not get a photo, but here is the card I made her
with her and my friend Ella on the card as well!

More party celebrations here...
Brian ready to blow out the candle on the carrot cake he had at our Regina friends'
Mike and Lynne's on Saturday night!
This is the FUN REINACTMENT!!!!...
because he was too quick to blow out the candle the first time!

This is a photo of Brian and me out for some appies
and a special meal on Friday at the Hotel Saskatchewan in Regina.
(Another FUN early Birthday celebration for Brian!) 

We had some FUN with our Regina friends,
Mike and Lynne on the weekend...
They are always such GRACIOUS HOSTS whenever we stop by ...
 

Another pic of me with Brian on our WEEKEND of FUN at
Mike and Lynne's!
Their home is so lovely, too!!! 

Lynne and I managed to get in a little "SISTERFRIEND" bonding too...
which we always enjoy and have FUN doing! 

SHUFFLE tried on her "LITTLE MERMAID" costume which we found in Regina...
We put it on as soon as we picked her up from the doggie daycare where she spent the weekend.
Shuffle really felt like a PRINCESS in her costume...
and how FUN is it?!!!! TUTU cute! 

Mariah and my niece, Rowen choreographing a dance on my in-law's front deck
yesterday when we popped over for a visit there.
These 2 always have such FUN together!
 

Mariah sharing a little snuggle with her Poppa when we all
stopped by to wish my mother-in-law, Blanche a Happy Birthday yesterday!
...so even more party celebrations!!!!

Ro and Ri looking sweet and sharing more fun! 

Beau between bounces on the couch at Jana's last night!
He was full of life and had a very runny nose, too...
which only BUMMA could wipe! 

More special snuggles for POPPA when at Jana's last night! 

Shuffle was whining for her costume when we got back home,
so once again we dressed her up and she fell asleep in it on her special blanket,
with the little lobster that came with the costume.
I have never seen a dog love costumes more than SHUFFLE...
 she is just TUTU FUN! 

Here is the FUN selection of music we listened to
on our little REGINA ROAD TRIP...
MUSIC always makes things more FUN!!!!


Today as I sit down with my red and white polka dot mug of coffee with the caption
"Life Is What You Make It"
inside it...
it is truly a reminder to me of how true that statement is!

We had a great time this past weekend from start to finish... Brian took Friday, Saturday and Sunday off... so we had a fun WEEKEND by joining our friends, Bob and Jacquie for Breakfast at Broadway Cafe on Friday morning.
We always have FUN when connecting with them as well as all the great staff at that restaurant... especially Nichole.

I met my neighbor, Heather for a quick Starbucks birthday coffee outing on Friday before Brian and I headed off to Regina for a little early Birthday weekend get away for his upcoming milestone this week!

Brian chose going away over a party for his 60th which is coming up this week on Thursday.
We spent Friday night in the lovely
Hotel Saskatchewan... and joined up with friends and former next door neighbors from years ago... Mike and Lynne later Saturday and had FUN with them.

We did our traditional Kaiser tournament ...
and I'm proud to announce the
GIRLS ROCKED and beat the GUYS!
hehehe... the guys usually win...
but not this time!


Mike and Lynne were gracious hosts
for us as they always are...
and their home is beautiful and so comfortable. They also put on a delicious meal
that night followed by
a yummy breakfast and lunch before we headed home yesterday.
THANKS to them for all the
FUN we shared once again!


I always enjoy the music on the journey
and put the CDs in the blog that made our journey fun... it was relaxing so we could
also visit too along the way.


We picked up Shuffle from Happy Dog Acres where we always board her whenever we go away. She was anxious to reconnect and felt really special when we dressed her in the adorable costume we found for her to wear for Halloween this year!
I thought the LITTLE MERMAID was so appropriate with Jana having done her many contracts as the LITTLE MERMAID in JAPAN at TOKYO DISNEY SEA years ago!
SHUFFLE loves her costume!


We met up with family for Birthday cake at my in-laws yesterday, too. It was my mother-in-law's 87th birthday yesterday... so it was fun to catch up with the gathering of relatives there.
I know she enjoyed all the FUN of family there for her special day...she felt celebrated!


Jana had us back to her place for
CHINESE FOOD for supper last night as well... so the celebrations just went from one place to another...and the FUN continued!


I know the celebrations are still going strong this week too... as we head toward more BIRTHDAYS and occasions...
My cousin JOHN will celebrate his birthday on Wednesday...and my hubby BRIAN
reaches his 60th milestone year on Thursday.
That day is not only a MILESTONE...
but a MEMORY for me as well.
This year on the 25th of October...
Brian  not only turns 60... but it is the 2nd year anniversary of my mom's passing...
kind of a CAKE and ANGEL sort of day!


On that thought...
here is my rhyme of the day...


It's always good to have some FUN...
Whether alone or with someone!
Whether at home or on a road trip,
Whether eating cake or having a sip.
Whether at a party or just daily life,
Whether with friends or as hubby and wife!
Every day and through all kinds of weather...
FUN is what ties the journey together!

GOODLIFE CELEBRATIONS!

"When you spread around joy and happiness, then life all around becomes a grand contagious celebration."
-Anna Trimiew

"Fill each day with life and heart. There is no pleasure in the world comparable to the delight and satisfaction that a good person takes in doing good."
-John Tillotson

"If we live good lives, the times are also good. As we are, such are the times."
-St. Augustine

The card I crafted for my in-laws for their 62nd Anniversary yesterday.
They definitely have a GOOD LIFE worth CELEBRATION!

A texted pic of Mariah with her fancy hair do
before the Justin Bieber concert on Tuesday night.
She was living a pretty GOOD LIFE for a six year old! 

Another texted photo of Mariah ... her in a limo ride to the Justin Bieber concert with her little girlfriends... definitely celebrating fun things in life and living the GOOD LIFE all round! 

A cute photo of Mariah with her Great Grandpa Greg yesterday
when we dropped by to share our Anniversary wishes. 

A cute photo of Mariah with her great grandma Blanche yesterday
... note Mariah's Justin Bieber hoody... should last her till she is an adult!!! 

I gave in to a chocolate chip cookie craving on the weekend...
cookies make an ordinary day extraordinary! 

Here is a sign from GOODLIFE GYM
with the breakdowns of the classes offered and
how many calories are burned by doing each class! 

Here were Beau and Shuffle this afternoon...
sharing a GOOD little moment together! 

This bucket of little toys has brought many good moments
to not only my grandkids, but to my own kids when they were small, too! 

In spite of being in the kennel a lot when the grandkids are here,
Shuffle does like the GOOD LIFE she has at our house with us.


OCTOBER is filled with many
CELEBRATIONS for family and friends, too.
But my life is GOOD year round regardless of occasions to celebrate.

I am really so grateful for the GOODLIFE GYM and do try to get there often for many varied classes throughout the week. I met my friend, Ella, there and we now get together consistently for coffees afterward at each of our homes...
we have created a real bond and share lots in common. I am glad to have someone to attend classes with, and it keeps me going more often, too. The teachers and the classes at that gym are always great and worth celebrating!


Mariah was sure living the GOOD LIFE this week. Her, her mom and two other friends and their little girls made a real CELEBRATION out of going to the JUSTIN BIEBER concert on Tuesday night. The 3 young girls got their hair done at a salon and then got happy meals from McDonald's to eat on their LIMO ride to the concert with their moms.
I am not sure who was more excited for that event... the kids or their moms!!!


I mentioned that my mother-in-law's birthday was yesterday... however I had her birthday and anniversary turned around. It was actually my in-law's 62nd Anniversray yesterday and my mother-in-law, Blanche will celebrate her birthday this coming Sunday.

Today is my niece Emily's 16th Birthday in Vancouver...and next week my hubby Brian, will be celebrating his milestone 60th Birthday one week from today.


In addition to family celebrations galore this month there are also friend celebrations too. Tomorrow I am going for a birthday coffee with neighbor, Heather. My  friend, Diane has a birthday tomorrow as well.
Wishes to everyone celebrating special days and dates in their lives.


Last night I talked on the phone with two of my long distance GOOD buddies... Linda in Lanigan and Lynne in Regina. I love it when we can connect VOICE to VOICE!
Always GOOD to catch up with them in whatever way I can.


I have been enjoying all the TV shows I follow all week, as well. However last night's broadcast of the X FACTOR was not as planned ... got delayed and an old broadcast was on some channels while the newer one was on others... hard to know
where to follow it this week!


I enjoyed time spent with Mariah yesterday and a visit with my in-laws, too. Today I had some one on one time with my 2 year old grand son Beau when I babysat him for a bit. He was already into singing Jingle Bells...and particularly liked when after the line
"In a one horse open sleigh"... he was always ready to yell out "HEY!"


I am always so glad to be a grandma, and that my grandkids live so close and I get to see them lots. That is something GOOD
always worth CELEBRATING for me!


This weekend Brian and I are escaping on a little weekend getaway for a little CELEBRATION of his upcoming birthday
next week. We do not go away often...
but I think this will be GOOD for both of us!


On that thought... here is my rhyme of the day...


I'm lucky to have a life that is good...
And I live it the way that I think I should.
Celebrating each and every day...
In sometimes just a simple way,
With people I enjoy to be around,
Doing things where goodness does surround,
Celebrating occasions big and small...
Making the most of each and all!
Living my life in a way that I love,
With the ones on earth and angels up above.
It is good things that I get to share,
With people who take the time to care...
And it is not at all by chance,
GOODLIFE is a CELEBRATION
kind of dance!