That Little EXTRA!

"The difference between ordinary and extra ordinary 
is that little extra."
-Jimmy Johnson

"It's never crowded along the extra mile."
-Dr. Wayne Dyer

"And in the end it's not the years in your life that count. 
It's the life in your years."
-Author Unknown

Last Sunday was an EXTRA special Birthday Brunch for me…
and this was an extra beautifully wrapped gift with an
extra specially crafted card from friends Trona and Ross!

Friends Jacquie and Bob always put that little extra into everything they do,
and this little brunch party at their beautiful home, was no exception.
From the decorative table, to the delicious food, wonderful friendship
and extra thought into every detail… right down to a singing
birthday candle… it was a morning fit for a princess,
which is exactly how they made me feel!

I received some beautiful gifts with extra thought in them…
and made an extra wish when blowing out the candle on
the delicious cake, too!

Trona is holding the cake, here as well as sitting with friend Ella on the couch.
Ross was also there… no photo of him!

Our friend Vern has been in Australia for the past month and returned just
in time for this extra special birthday celebration at Bob and Jacquie's.

My day was full of lots of EXTRA fun all day…
from the birthday brunch
in the morning…

I went to critique some solos all afternoon for the BSOBAD
dance studio at St. Joes Collegiate, with assistance from friends,
Yarnel, and Tara as well as Shannon(missing in this pic!)

Then later in the evening Jana and I shared a Birthday toast
in honour of both of our birthdays…
Mariah took this photo, so it isn't our best angle…
but its thought that counts… right!?
I didn't get many more pics at that celebration, but lots of
extra love and gifts, and some more extra special cards!

I also had a couple more celebrations last week…
a birthday treat lunch with friends, Heather and Ella, last Saturday…
with pizza and cheese cake as well as some lovely gifts.

Yesterday I met my cousin Gwen at Broadway's Starbucks
for a cousin catch-up and extra special visit, too.

Earlier this week I was out for lunch with some gals from the gym
as well… but no photos were taken there.
I also made two gym classes this week also... woohoo!

I looked for a photo of my kids Jana and Colin at a birthday…
but couldn't find one… and instead found this cute
memory of them when they were 1 and 3 in the summer of 82…
sharing a little foot soak together at the lake.

Hard to believe this week Jana turned 35
and next week Colin is going to be 37.
These two have been EXTRA special
to me all those years.

I do love a card… but it is extra special when the card
is a crafted one… yesterday I received the red one
on the left... in the mail from my son, Colin and his girlfriend, Caro…
her mom crafted the card, and it had such a nice personal handwritten
message in it from Colin… it really made me feel
 EXTRA SPECIAL.

I still like to craft cards too when I get a chance too.
On the right are my cards I crafted for  my two kids
for their birthdays this year.
I know Colin received his yesterday in the mail because
he texted to thank me for it and he really liked the photo on it, too!

I have had Beau a couple times this past week to babysit too.
He wanted to wrap up some gifts for his mommy the one day
and picked out some EXTRA special oldie photos to tie on to the gifts.
HE had fun making set ups with the Jenga blocks as well.

We get a lot of EXTRA time with JAZZ their dog, too…
in fact he is here again today… I think he is with us as much
as he is with his own family! He is an extra good dog, though…
so long as there are no chocolates around!!!

It is extra special now that Beau likes to play games with his gramme D.
We were playing a few games of Jenga here just on this past Tuesday.
Beau takes winning quite seriously!
He has an extra competitive side!!! hehehe

Last week, I noticed a banana on our counter going bad…and it
had a face in one of it's bruises!
The face reminded me of this old photo of Jana when she
was in her 20's!… maybe it is the hairdo more than the face!!!

Last week… my good friend, Gailene and me went out for a coffee and shop through
winners. We were taking pics here with some big monkeys …
we found to have that
little something EXTRA!
We always have so much fun together… I think we are like two big kids
at heart… with EXTRA emphasis on the FUN!!!




Welcome to my second blog post of 2016!
This past week has been full of lots of EXTRA celebrations seeing as it is once again family Birthday season!


Since my last blog both my daughter and I have celebrated birthdays… and next week my son will have one, too! January has a lot of EXTRA celebrating going on…and not just because it is a new month in a new year…
but we have so many birthdays in this month.

My celebrations did have a lot of that little EXTRA in them, too. Thanks to our very good friends, Bob and Jacquie for hosting a fun birthday brunch in my honour right on January 10th… the date of my birthday. They always do such an extra special job of entertaining for whatever the occasion… and this party was no exception… with every little detail in place. It was nice to celebrate with good friends there, too, and thanks to everyone for the gracious and generous gifts.
I know everyone put a lot of extra thought
and love into each one.


The same day as my birthday I did an afternoon of critiquing dance solos and duets at St. Joe's collegiate for BSOBAD dance studio. It was an afternoon extra full of dancing and a fun way to celebrate my birthday. Thanks to good friend, Tara for writing my comments as I dictated them for her while watching each dance. Thanks to buddy, Brenda for inviting me, too… it was an ezra special honour just to be asked to do this.  There was some great dance numbers that day… with lots of extra work displayed all round.


The evening of my birthday our kids popped by… so my day was filled with that LITTLE EXTRA from start to finish.
Thanks to Jana, Nels, Mariah, Beau and Jazz for stopping by with gifts and extra love on my special day.


Good friends Ella and Heather treated me to a fun birthday outing the day before my birthday and we had a great visit and yummy pizza as well as  a special cheese cake with a sparkler in it, too. Thanks to them for generously
treating me to lunch,  gifts and cards.


Jana and I celebrated a little together the previous week in honour of her milestone 35th Birthday with our mother daughter mani/pedi date, seeing as she worked on her actual date which is the 11th.
We did meet her and Beau for a
lunch outing yesterday too.


My hairdresser,  Marla, treated me to a hair service last week in honour of my birthday… how very generous of her. Thanks for the good hair days always, Marla,
and thanks again for birthday hair treatment!


I received two tickets to SYTYCD tonight as a gift from my good friend Brenda… so I am going on a dance date with my grand daughter, Mariah to that show. I think it will be EXTRA SPECIAL for both of us to have that fun little bond together doing something we both love to do… Watch Dancing!


I have done a lot of EXTRA things in and around the many duties we have to do lately. I am always so appreciative of all the friends and family who
put that little extra in to my daily life.
I got many wishes on the internet… both FB, and email as well as many texts and phone calls and many in person Birthday wishes…
For all of that extra love I am over whelmed
and so very grateful.
Thanks to everyone for making my heart so full.


Today my childhood best buddy, JAY, is the milestone age of 60. Her and I go way back. She grew up across the back alley from me and we were best buds right through school and up to when we each stood up for each other as
the maid of honour at each others' weddings.
Although we do not see one another often any more…
I know we would pick up right where  we left off,
 if we got together. Happy Birthday JAY!

Next Monday my son will be 37 already…
where does that time go?
I feel extra blessed to have become a mom back
on January 18th in 1979. Thanks to both my kids for making the motherhood chapter of life
 more than EXTRA SPECIAL to me!
Happy Birthday Colin on Monday.


I continue to do the things that bring EXTRA fun into my life as I journey forth… and even though there are many things not so fun… I continue to make the most of the best
and least of the worst… the best that I can!


On that note…
here is my rhyme of the day!

This week I decided to take a little extra time,
To prepare my new blog and to write my new rhyme!
With birthday celebrations and so much more,
With extra special birthday cards and the gifts galore.
Once again at birthday time, I felt the extra love,
From my friends and family, both here and above.
I tapped into a day that filled my heart with dance,
And I just shared some photos…
 for you to see it at a glance!

New Year… New Balance!

"Learn from yesterday.
Live for today.
Hope for tomorrow.
HAPPY NEW YEAR"
-Author Unknown

"Life is about balance. Be kind, but don't let people abuse you. Trust but don't be deceived. Be content, but never stop improving yourself."
-Author Unknown

"Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony."
-Thomas Merton

I got some cool NEW BALANCE sneakers for Christmas…
and what better way
to kick start a NEW YEAR!

I am shown standing on a funky new bath towel with red polka dots
and the brand name "CARO!"… which I got as a gift
from my good friend, Brenda.

I love to start NEW years with NEW Fun Calendars...
I actually have 4…
but above are two of them…
one daily one  called ENJOY THE JOY…
and a hanging one with inspirational
people from the city and quotes… this calendar is entitled
BALANCE SOLE to SOUL.

My goal for 2016… is to find BALANCE…
LIVE MORE and WORRY LESS

January features two gym instructors who inspire me
at Goodlife gym on a regular basis…
Trent and Peggy.

A Mary Engelbreit hanging calendar
says this for January
"Go Forth and Be Fabulous"

I have two little calendars with quotes and
fun pics that have daily inspirational quotes…
to keep me on the positive track from the very start of each day.

Brian and I stayed home this year for New Year's Eve…
and had our own little celebration!

Beau helped me make the 2016 banner too…
which I ended up hanging on the BSOBAD bulletin board later.

Beau, Mariah and their dog, Jazz stopped by on New Year's Eve
and helped us get into the spirit of things with the hats and
noise makers and posed with us for a few photos, too!

The grandkids are off to a great new start in their newly renovated
basement… their carpet finally arrived on the last day of 2015…
after some delays…  now they are  already to start off the new year
with lots of extra space to give their home more balance!

Beau spent some time with me on new year's eve day …
we made fun banners… played games and he loves to hide on me, too!
I love when I can spend one on one time
with each of my grandkids… Beau had a fun afternoon with us.

Mariah is doing her very first solo this year in character ballet.
She just received her costume for that… her theme is
a little dog walker… and how adorable is her costume?

She loves dogs so the theme is so perfect … and here she is
with her dog, Jazz, New Year's Eve.

Last night I picked her up from dance lessons and brought her here after,
and her and I watched some of the new season  start of American Idol.
I love the times I can share with my little dog loving dancer! 

New Year's Day 2016… we met Jana, Nels and their kids
at Saskatoon Inn for a family brunch to kick off the new year…
the food was yummy.
Mariah was loving the chocolate fondue…
while Beau drew pictures at the table as he waited for his food!

Everything was so beautifully displayed…especially all the tasty desserts!

The kids liked throwing money into the wishing well in the lobby too
making wishes  for a great start of the new year.

Good friends, Bob and Jacquie hosted their annual New Year's party,
but we did not go this year… however I popped by on New Year's day for a visit
and they offered some food from their party for me to take as well.
Jacquie is modelling her funky new years party shades…
and their place looked so festive and stylish.

This coming Sunday we are invited to a brunch at their place as well.

On January 2nd… it was the 16th anniversary of my dear dad's passing.
He will always be UNFORGETTABLE and remains in my heart forever.

The famous father/daughter song called "Unforgettable"
 always makes me think of dad.
I was saddened when I heard singer Natalie Cole
passed away on Dec. 31, 2015.
Her UNFORGETTABLE album is the only one
I ever purchased in 3 formats…
LP, Cassette tape, and CD…
She will be missed but her and her father's legendary song
will live on along with all the songs they recorded over time.
I did use lots of their music in my dance teaching career.

A couple of days ago, former dance student, Justine
 and her mom, Cindy popped by.
Cindy brought us a nice gift of flavoured coffees from the store she works at,
called Ambassador Coffee.
We had a great visit, and thanks to Justine…
 she got my computer printer going again, too!

Jana and I have been doing a traditional mother/daughter
manicure/pedicure for the past 5 years together
in honour of our January birthdays.
We did it yesterday which is early this time.
This year Jana is celebrating her milestone 35th birthday …
next Monday, January 11th.
Hard to believe my baby is that age already.
My son will be 37 on January 18th.

I am always a bit sad to take down the Christmas decor and tree…
but today was the day… I now have all the decorations carried down stairs
waiting to put away in the Christmas cupboard for another season…. and
that is always a balancing act to get them all to fit neatly in there.

I do enjoy recalling who gave me all the decorations as I pack them
away and have some very fond memories as I do that.

Brian and I stopped by Jana's store the other day and she was modelling
a  new TOKYO toque she bought…
she has many fond memories of her years when
she was a professional dance performer at
TOKYO DISNEYLAND, back in the day.
I am proud of how successful Jana has become in her life… both
her dance career and now her Swank Shoe Lounge shoe store…
and the mom to my sweet two grandkids, as well.
I wish her all the best on her upcoming 35th  birthday!


HAPPY NEW YEAR…
and welcome to my first blog post of 2016!

Our lives have been somewhat hectic with many things leading up to this post, and therefore today I am trying to find some balance in life once again.


I know life is truly a journey for everyone… each one of us has a different one and it is all about trying to find the perfect balance and for some of us it is sometimes easier said than done… but one day at a time. I am a true believer of living life in the moment and trying to make the most of the best and the least of the worst.


January is a month of reflection and celebrations of many things in our family… from life to death. I always remember the day we lost my dad suddenly in the year 2000 on January 2nd. His kind personality and many things he shared with me live on. In fact I really try a lot to follow the wonderful example he set for me when I was growing up.
He was always so positive and cheerful and had the best outlook on things in general, so for that example I am forever grateful. Dad is very unforgettable, and I am pretty certain he did not have one single enemy in his life…
he was such a well liked man.


With each passing year it becomes more evident that we are all just passing through in this lifetime.  It is all about making the most of the time we have as no one really knows how long we have. So therefore I am trying to find the perfect balance for the time that I have to share with who ever is in my life for how ever long we are here together.


January is a big birthday month for our family, too… so it is a month to celebrate our years… and for each candle we add to our cake, we need to just keep celebrating… right?!
That is my thought and plan anyhow!


I am already lined up for a couple birthday celebrations… a lunch on Saturday with friends…and a brunch on Sunday with some more friends… and I will celebrate when and where ever I can!


Also on Sunday I am honoured to be asked to critique a solo duo showcase for the dance studio where I do some work… BSOBAD. I look forward to an afternoon of good dancing…and I will just make critiques for each dance by adding comments and stickers of encouragement and construction before the dancers compete this season.


I always have hopes to start the new year off on the right foot…and this year is no exception… I have made an effort to get to the gym a couple times and hope to do so lots as the year moves on. I have made many good friends at the gym and we have enjoyed some coffees and lunches over time. Next week a group of us are going for a lunch outing again. I feel grateful for the many groups of wonderful people I know… they all add such good balance to to my life.

Speaking of balance… soon we hope to install a new floor in our kitchen following a leak in our dishwasher in late November… our floor is very warped and makes it hard to feel balanced when walking over it!!!


I was happy for the start of a new season of American Idol on TV last night… the start of their last season. I have watched each season in it's entirety …and watched many singers go on to fame from their humble starts on that show. Next week I look forward to seeing the touring group from the TV show SYTYCD
when they perform here in Saskatoon.
I have watched every season of that show as well.
I love the competition singing and or dancing shows… it is always fun to watch their journeys and careers as they begin.


Last night my grandson, Beau and his little hockey team got a chance to go on the ice before the first period and the second period of the Saskatoon Blade hockey game… what a thrill for Beau! I was able to pick up Mariah from her dancing last night and have some one on one with her until her mom came for her after Beau's hockey.
As the grandkids get older they become more involved in more things and I see less of them… but I do cherish the times we can spend with them when we can.
They add a special balance to my life as well.


I hope our 2016 Birthday season is a happy one…
the family birthdays begin this weekend…
So here's to many fun celebrations to come!


I do enjoy sharing the happy and positive things in my little journey of life... but I am not sure I
will continue with my blog every single week.
 I have decided to write it when I feel I have time to do it…
and in the mean time I will aim for lots of balance
in my life for the new year.
Thanks to all my blog followers for stopping
by from time to time to check it out.
I wish all of you lots of balance…
in your
happiness, health and relationships
in 2016.


On that note … here is my rhyme of the day!

Once again it's a brand new year,
Time to move forth from the festive cheer.
Try to get balance from day to day,
With all that we do and all that we say.
Take the good as well as the bad,
Focus on happy, and don't dwell on sad.
Life is a balance, that is sure true…
Here's to a new year that's so good for you!