A "FAIRY TALE" WEDDING!

"Once in a while right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale."
-Author Unknown

"If you see the magic in fairy tale, 
you can feel the future."
-Danielle Steel

"Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale."
-Hans Christian Anderson

Here is the cutest little FAIRY TALE
flower girl and ring bearer coming down the aisle of the
KNOX UNITED CHURCH at Saturday's big wedding! 

A very close up shot of my princess- grand daughter,
MARIAH as she sprinkled flower petals on her way in!
(Too bad my camera was too slow to actually get her full head in this one.)

The full 19 piece wedding party at the Church...
 here featured on a little crafted booklet form card
 I made yesterday morning to present
to the bride and groom at the gift opening. 

A couple more photos in the little booklet
with the wedding party divided into two halves!

The very STUNNING BRIDE... SAVANNAH...
making her FAIRY TALE  come true! 

Even the church in the snowy setting looks like one out of a FAIRY TALE. 

A cute pic of my Dear Auntie Betty from Chicago here with my brother Brian
as we had a little snack at the Free House Restaurant between wedding and reception! 

Another photo from the little FAIRY TALE booklet!
This one from the reception. 

Friday I helped decorate the Manhatten Ballroom ...
into this very picturesque FAIRY TALE/ VEGAS looking
room... which is seen here on the evening of the wedding.

Here are the very happy and proud parents
of the groom and their new daughter-in-law,
at Saturday's reception.
My brother, BOB and his wife, ARLEEN.

The newly weds...
and what a cute FAIRYTALE COUPLE they make!
SAVANNAH & my nephew, JEFF. 

A cute SHOE game played at the reception.
They had to hold up whose shoe was most like to rule different things...
this one might be about who will take up the most closet space...
I see they both held up SAVANNAH'S shoe in this one! 

My daughter, Jana and Savannah...
both wearing FAIRYTALE SMILES! 

My other nephew, Brad and his very sweet wife, Janelle.
Brad delivered a great TOAST to the groom and Janelle
did a wonderful and very meaningful reading at the church.
These two are also like a perfect FAIRYTALE couple!

Another FAIRYTALE couple...
Jana and Nels! 

My Cousins sharing a great little visit with our visiting Auntie Betty
here at the reception. 

Another great RELATIVE photo...
Here are my Auntie Mary and Uncle Charlie
here with their 3 daughters,
 Pat, Gwen and Bev... and son in law, Bob.
This was following the church part of the wedding.
I love that they all proudly wore their poppies in honor of
Remembrance day.
TALK about FAIRYTALE type SMILES!!!!!!

Here is a pic of me with my sweet hubby, Brian before the wedding.
Right behind us... my mom and dad can be seen on the shelf
in a photo. I know they would have been a prat of this
FAIRYTALE wedding day in spirit from the heavens above.
Infact with all the big snowflakes coming down on Saturday,
they must have been blowing many kisses down from heaven! 

My Auntie Betty spent the night before the wedding here,
 and we had such a good visit... this is us before the wedding together.
She is such a cherished auntie for me and
reminds me a lot in personality of my dad. 

A very sweet little hand crafted card and angel left for me from my Auntie Betty,
in the room where she slept on Friday night!
I will cherish this as well. 

This was Beau and his BUMMA crafting with stickers...
or "DICKERS" as he calls them...
 at yesterday morning's gift opening and brunch held at TUSQ restaurant. 

Savannah and Jeff at the gift opening
 as they opened my little crafted card/booklet.

The last page of the booklet has a few pics of the decorating day.
Jeff, Savannah and my grandkids Beau and Mariah at the hall,
getting excited for the FAIRYTALE to begin!


Thanks to any one visiting today's blog...
first of all may I say... this post does have more photos than my normal ones do.
However that being said...
I do take a lot of photos of my daily life, and this weekend was no exception to that rule!!!!!!
In fact I took a total of 172 photos from Friday through Sunday inclusive,
and a couple of videos, too!
I was actually disappointed with the quality of my photos... but the memories of the splendid FAIRY TALE WEDDING
will live in my head forever!


Friday was spent decorating the Manhatten Ballroom for the FAIRYTALE to begin!
All the bridesmaids and the bride and groom along with many family members helped transform the room from just a big open space into a FAIRY TALE picturesque room.


I was so happy to have my Auntie Betty staying with us for the evening before the wedding.
She is visiting Saskatoon from CHICAGO.
We had a nice supper, visit and even reviewed some favorite TV shows together... a nice evening all round. Betty shared that she enjoys staying different nights with different relatives as it gives her more "one on one" time with each. She is my dad's youngest sister, and I see so many resemblances between the two...
in looks as well as in personality.


Saturday's weather forecast was a bit
WINTERY to say the least...
but oh how it set such a beautiful look
for the day.
Jeff and Savannah wanted a
WINTER WHITE WEDDING DAY,
and they got their wish!


The church was beautiful, too, and such a wonderful setting for the FAIRY TALE to begin.
Aside from being so very happy for the newly weds on their special day, I was also a proud GRAMMIE, too, as I watched my sweet grand daughter, MARIAH, sprinkling flower petals down the aisle. She took her job very seriously... infact she even practiced it here the day before as she sprinkled hair accessories out of a little bag in our living room!!!!!
She couldn't have looked more darling and
I couldn't have been more proud!
She was the MINI PRINCESS in this FAIRYTALE!


There was a long lapse between the church
and reception... so we took Auntie Betty for a little visit with my in-laws, Blanche and Greg followed by some of the family gathering for a supper at FREE HOUSE on Spadina Cres.
More fun visits there all round!


The reception for the over 500 guests was
 full of life and sparkle... There were several toasts by the many wedding party members followed by words of welcome
and thanks by the families.
I had a couple of favorites...
I loved the toast to the groom, by my nephew BRAD. JEFF had given the toast to him two years ago  at his wedding, too.
Both boys do a great job of speaking and delivering their keen senses of humor...
so enjoyable. Arleen did a lovely welcome to the family speech to Savannah, too...
which ended in a delightfully written poem, which I am assuming Arleen wrote.
( I always enjoy a poem!!!)
Brad's wife, Janelle had also done a lovely reading at the church, which was well delivered and full of great meaning for the day.


Yesterday family and close friends were invited to share in a nice brunch at TUSQ restaurant, while the newly weds opened gifts.
It looked as though everyone had a great time the day before... but were a
little more relaxed this day.


Yesterday I also thought of
 REMEMBRANCE DAY
And thought of the many soldiers
who served for our country...
I proudly wore red and my poppy
in their honor.



This is a great quote and a favorite
of the groom, My nephew, Jeff,
which was included on the back
of the wedding program on saturday,
which kind of
sums things all up for this blog...


"When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down 'happy'. They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them... They didn't understand life."
-John Lennon


On that quote... my poem of the day!

I felt the wedding was like a fairy tale dream...
From the picturesque beauty,
to the bride and groom's beam!
Many a photo was taken all day...
But being there in person was the very best way,
To capture the beauty from the very start,
So many moments really captured my heart.
It renewed the spirit and love in us all...
From the warmth of the people
gathered at the hall.
My flower girl princess stood out to me...
As she sprinkled her petals so perfectly!
Some of the readings and toasts
were just devine,
I had some favorites and
ones that were just fine!
The snowy forecast sure
delivered the weather...
But didn't hinder every sparkle and feather!
The event was filled with all it should be...
A HEAVEN SENT day...
and a fond memory!

SNOW much Happening!

"Some people want it to happen, some people wish it would happen,
others make it happen."
-Michael Jordan

"Where does the white go when the snow melts?"
-Author Unknown

"Snowflakes are kisses from Heaven."
Author Unknown

Beau and Mariah having SNOW much fun
on Sunday here!

Mariah and Me ready to put the hat on our snowman!

The snowman seems to be leaning back a bit here!!!!!

My niece Rowen with Mariah dancing in the hallway
at the dance studio on sunday when we went
to take down the pumpkins off the bulletin boards...
Those two also have SNOW much fun always!

In spite of the  backwards lean on the snowman... by Monday
it had face planted into the lawn!
That was the shortest life of a snowman that I have ever seen!

Shuffle in her SNOWMAN sweater checking out the weather outside!

A snowman on out fireplace mantel.
the little signs beside it have a great message for day to day life!

The gifts I wrapped last week for the wedding tomorrow...
10 groomsmen and 5 bridesmaids!
In addition there will be a flower girl and ring bearer as well.

In my busy travels this week
I have managed to taste 3 of the CHRISTMAS
varieties of STARBUCKS lattes...
all SNOW yummy!
... and I always love their red cups.

One of many updated bulletin boards at the dance studio...
changed from pumpkins to snowflakes
... and lots of new pics and signs, poems etc!

A fund raiser calendar...
JANA is featured on the month of AUGUST 2013.
$5.00 from each sale goes to
RONALD McDONALD HOUSE.

The front of the calendar...
Life really is all about BALANCE!
(the photos in this calendar are all great, too) 

SNOWMEN always make me smile...
I purchased this new little mat at Walmart this week,
and it definitely puts a SMILE on my face!
...some times it's the little things that make me happy!!!!!


Well this has certainly been a mixed bag type of week with SNOW MUCH HAPPENING!I decided to get up early and write a quick blog, as later this morning I'm off to help decorate the hall for my nephew, Jeff's wedding tomorrow.

This week started off with lots of SNOW on Sunday, and by Monday it was melting away, but since we have seen rain, sleet and more snow!

It has not only been a mixed week of weather, but activities for me, too!
Monday I was at a funeral and it was a nice tribute to my in-laws' neighbor Kay... she was obviously well thought of.

I went for my body vive class at the gym on Tuesday only to find they were replacing that class this week only with a boot camp class.
Although it wasn't my favorite class... it did kick my butt! I think the dance teacher in me didn't enjoy the fact the circuits didn't all go to the music playing in the background!!!

I enjoyed a nice cup of tea and visit with my good friend Ella at her lovely home on tuesday as well.

I have been tuned into all my favorite TV shows... Ellen, XFactor, The Voice...and watched the grand finale of Over the Rainbow, too... and was happy the girl I liked won the part of Dorothy in an upcoming staging of The Wizard Of Oz to be staged by the famous Andrew Lloyd Webber.

I spent SNOW MANY hours updating the bulletin boards at BSOBAD dance studio this week. I know looking at the photos of the boards really doesn't look  like they take much time... but believe me they do! However that being said... it is time I enjoy as it gives me a place to be creative on my own time.

Friends and relatives in USA will be happy with the fact OBAMA was once again voted in as president for another term. I do not follow  politics much... but was pleased to see him win the presidential race.

I did some cleaning here yesterday for my house guest, Auntie Betty, from Chicago. She is here for just a little over a week, and is sharing her cheer with many of the in town relatives while in town. Tonight she is with us. She came for the big event tomorrow which is my nephew, Jeff's wedding. It is funny how it often takes out of town relatives coming to town, to unite the ones who live in town already!!!!
I look forward to having her as my guest... she is a very dear aunt to me, and my dad's youngest sister.

I'm also excited for MARIAH to be a flower girl at the wedding tomorrow... this is her third time of doing that role! She was a flower girl twice before for a couple of Jana's friends... once when she was only 2 and then again when she was 3! Now she should feel like a real "PRO" at it at the age of 6!

I had a couple of funny HAPPENINGS while shopping this week...
Twice I purchased things at different stores on different days only to find them missing when I got home. So I had to return to the stores to get what didn't get into my bags!!!!
Also while buying groceries this week... my big order went through and was all bagged... my check was written and the receipt would not print... so due to store policy, it had to ALL GO THROUGH another till... what an ordeal!
Thanks to Safeway for giving me a $10.00  coupon to use on my next order for that little inconvenience! The funny part about that story was that the second time my order was rang through... it came to 4 cents more than the first ring through!!!!

Well I will be wishing my Nephew JEFF and his bride to be, SAVANNAH all the best tomorrow as they enter the journey of marriage....
 for them a little quote...

"Marriage is the golden ring in a chain whose beginning is a glance and whose ending is eternity."
-Kahlil Gibran

and on that quote... my rhyme of the day!

This past week has had a really big mix,
Some snow and also a wee grandkid fix!
From funerals to weddings...
lots on the go,
And creating boards and gift wrapping so.
Cleaning the house to be
"company ready"...
For my house guest this weekend...
My DEAR AUNTIE BETTY!
Helping to decorate for the big day...
Flower girl wishes for my girl born in May!
Not as much gym for me this week,
But a boot camp I took gave me a peek...
Into how it would be to get into shape fast!
SNOW much going on... memories to last.
Sending my love to the groom and his bride,
A day filled with bliss
as they enter their ride,
On the journey they'll
take together in their life,
As a brand new husband...
and his sweet wife!

SNOW ANGELS and SNOWMEN!

"When it snows you have two choices;
shovel or make snow angels."
-Author Unknown

"Whenever a snowman melts away a snow angel is added to heaven that day."

-Author Unknown

"Snowmen are the closest thing to a perfect man- they're cute, they're well rounded, and they know what to do with a broom."
- Author Unknown

My grandson, BEAU and grandaughter, MARIAH...
are my little ANGELS... here making ANGELS in the SNOW! 

The cute SNOWMAN we made in my front yard yesterday,
the kids are loving the snow and mild winter weather.
(Beau has on his sister's hand-me down PINK snow pants,
and Mariah in her bright purple hunter boots!! )

A little Sisterly-brotherly LOVE in the snow! 

My niece, Rowen and nephew, Maxwell popped by
 right when we finished the SNOWMAN!
Rowen stayed and played with Mariah and Beau all afternoon
and joined us for supper, too.

The SNOWMAN-inspired snack of the day...
I made frozen yogurt snowman cones for the kids ...
Beau only like the CHOCOLATE hat on his!

Beau having a little snuggle with his poppa last night! 

My two sweet ANGELS...
Jana and Mariah having a snuggle last night. 

Mariah was a real little ANGEL and
crafted some special pictures for her mommy and daddy. 

Beau's hair is so long...he had it in a "PONY" again yesterday!
Here he is with my brother Brian last night at supper time. 

STARBUCKS has their SNOWMAN cups and winter lattes again!
I visited there with my sisters-in-law, Bev and Brenda on saturday,
and tried the gingerbread latte. .. pretty tasty!

SHUFFLE was happy to have on her SNOWMAN sweater on Friday
to keep her warm for the first big snowfall of the season! 

Here is Shuffle playing in the snow on our deck on friday.

Got out my SNOWMAN mugs and made
a tasty little chai tea latte with cinnamon on Friday. 

I replaced some of my pumpkins with Snowmen... after October!

Jana made this cute SNOWMAN in grade 8
at school and I hang it every year, right now it is on my front door.

I saw these cute little ANGELS on pencils at the dollar store and
bought them to have around at Halloween with their ORANGE colors.
I loved their little polka dot wings, too!!!!
With my mom's funeral being on OCT. 30th, 2010,
 I will always think of ANGELS at Halloween each year now, too.
I got one for Mariah and Beau to have as well.

Our Winter Wonderland backyard on Friday morning...
so much SNOW!


I would say that winter has officially arrived.
I'm glad all this snow and ice held off for Halloween this year at least.

Friday lots of people chose to stay warm and cozy in their homes and didn't try to tackle getting around in the big weather change.
I did lots of shoveling that day...and that snow was super heavy, so I felt I had had my workout for the day, even though I missed getting to the gym that day.

Saturday I made it to my body vive class with my friend Ella, and then later that day attended a trade show with my two sisters-in-law...
Bev and Brenda. We ended our afternoon with a yummy treat at STARBUCKS . They have their winter latte and cup collection once again... which always make me happy!

Yesterday first thing I got a text from Jana saying her kids were missing their grandparents! So we went and picked them up for the day. We had a fun filled day of playing in and outside. My niece Rowen joined us for some fun as well as supper, too.

We also had my brother Brian and Jana and Nels for a yummy chicken catchitori supper made by my ANGEL of a hubby, Brian!

Rowen and Mariah came with me to take down PUMPKINS and hang some SNOWMEN on the studio bulletin boards yesterday as well.

Today we are attending the funeral of a dear friend, KAY. She was the next door neighbor of my in-laws, Blanche and Greg. She was such a sweet lady and lived to be 100 years old, so she lived a very good and long life. Now she is joining the fleet of ANGELS
in the heavens above.

On that note... my poem of the day...

Some people really do not like to
see that very first snow fall,
I kind of like the pretty white
ground cover all in all!
It is one which does allow
to make a cute snowman,
And also many snow angels
around when I can!
It brings so many childhood thoughts
of playing in the snow,
I used to like to dress up warm
and play outside you know.
Now I relive those times
in my grandkids so sweet...
It is a family fun time
that really can't be beat!

TRiCKY TREAT!

"There is a child in everyone of us 
that is still a TRICK-OR TREATER 
looking for a brightly lit porch."
-Robert Brault

"In North america "Trick or Treat"
 has been a customary 
Halloween tradition since the 
early 1950's."
-Wikipedia

"TRICKY TREAT!"
-This is the term my good friend, Linda's 2 year old grandson, REED, said enthusiastically 
last night when "Trick or Treating" at his GRANNY'S HOUSE!... 
I loved the term so much it was 
the inspiration for today's blog title!

It was a little "TRICKY" capturing the traditional
FAMILY TRICK OR TREAT photo last night...
Beau was all over the map!
Jana didn't get a chance to dress up this time,
she worked till 6... so too rushed.

This TRICK or TREAT photo of the grandkids and
 the dog actually turned out cute considering
how hectic it was while I was taking it!
Mariah and Shuffle were both  "THE LITTLE MERMAID"
& Beau was a "FIREMAN" ...
but it was more than TRICKY to get him to wear the hat, so we gave up!

SHUFFLE is looking timid here...
I think that scary WITCH spooked her...
she is thinking "WITCH way can I go to hide?" 

SHUFFLE was  "PAWS"-itively adorable in her
Little Mermaid costume watching for all the Trick or Treaters .
She LOVED HALLOWEEN!!!

It wasn't TRICKY to get her to pose for several photos,
She was all about being in a photo... just like a little movie star! 

It was TRICKY to recognize NELS and MARIAH at first in their disguises.
Mariah looked pretty cute as a red head I thought!
Nels had his traditional halloween favorite hippy jacket on...
but all his added on facial hair kind of scared Beau! 

This is a cute mother-daughter picture...
one day it would be fun to get them both in a Mermaid costume together...
 but that could be TRICKY! 

Beau seemed more interested in the ribbon that tied up his TREAT bag
and the BATMAN coloring book in it than any of the actual chocolate TREATS! 

When it was time for them to go... it was TRICKY to get Beau to leave...
 he wanted a blankie and a balloon, and a "NUGGLE with BUMMA!"
(snuggle with grandma!)
... Which made my day!

The special TRICKY TREATS for the kids!
oddly neither of the kids were as excited about the candy
as they were about the books. 

Mariah wore this little ROCKER costume at school in the afternoon yesterday.
I'm not sure why she didn't want to wear her mermaid costume then...
but she looked cute and was very enthusiastic when I dropped her off after
a little HALLOWEEN lunch together at Boston Pizza!

Here she is again on Monday at her dress up day at dancing.
She is standing in a kind of tricky on the ankles kind of pose! 

WITCH way to GOODLIFE FITNESS?????
This was the NEW BODY class yesterday morning
taught by Nicole in the Witch hat in front.
My good gym buddy Ella (on the left) and I
went from the gym to STARBUCKS after, too.

One more pic of the TRICKY TREATS... with the
WITCHY PUMPKIN.
I added books to these packs later.


Well another HALLOWEEN has come and gone...and it was successful although...
sure not as many kids out as there once was in this neighborhood. It is always TRICKY estimating how many TREATS to buy...
and as always there is an abundance
of them leftover. So now it will be TRICKY to not keep dipping into those TREATS myself!!!
We had a grand total of 28 treaters out last night... including Beau and Mariah.

My dog, Shuffle LOVED HALLOWEEN...
and was ever so eager to greet each and every trick or treater who came to our door.
I had her in her costume and on her leash so she could step outside each time...
and the kids got a kick out of her, too.
I saw many cute costumes and had a lot of polite and grateful kids out , too, I might add!


I once loved Halloween, too...
but not as much any more.
I enjoy parts of it... but mostly I am happy when it is done for another season and I can put away all the orange pumpkins, etc.
in fact that being said... I have already switched from my regular ipod of music to my separate Christmas only one as of today.
I am guessing by mid November I will have a head start on decorating
for that season as well!

I have been to the gym each day this week... but still with the intake of the little chocolate bars I have had... it will be a little TRICKY getting to that "NEW BODY"!


Even though it says
 "COFFEE CRISP makes a nice 'LIGHT' Snack"
I am not fooled by that ... hehehe... but I am somehow lured in none the less!
So it might be  more like SLIM SLOW
instead of SLIM FAST!!!
Oh those darned "TRICKY TREATS!!!"

I enjoyed a visit with my neighbor, Heather along with my gym buddy, Ella following our gym on Tuesday. And Yesterday was out to Starbucks, too. Apparently tomorrow is the new launch of the Christmas
drinks and cups at Starbucks...
they always lure me in too...
just another TRICKY TREAT!

My heart still goes out to all people in the paths of HURRICANE SANDY... and I will keep you all in my prayers and thoughts...
I hope it is not too TRICKY to STAY SAFE!

on that note... my rhyme of the day!


TRICK or TREATIN' 's come and gone ,
for another year.
I enjoyed the costumes
worn by those so dear.
However, there are TREATS galore
left for me to eat...
Way too many for me...
lots and lots are sweet!
Halloween is TRICKY
to know how much to buy,
Not as many witches out this year
and on the fly!