Rainy, paint, chili

So it's been raining here....a lot. I know I know....those of you who live down south would embrace this cool burst of rainy weather. But for me I like my summer to last till labour (yes I am Canadian and I spell it that way) day at least. I know its coming back this weekend, but its been a lot of rain! I think the fact that I have some furniture to paint also is making me bummed. I planned on painting on my day off (today) but alas due to the weather it will be postponed. Josh and I have been working hard to decorate our apartment a bit. Little by little we have added pieces and stuff to make our place feel more cozy and like ours. When we got married all our furniture was given to us. Which was a blessing for sure, but now we are able to add some pieces that are more us. Still for super cheap! (think thrift store/craigslist/big warehouse filled with stuff this guy sells in Gloucester for cheap cheap cheap)
I will post some pictures before and after of what we have done when we are done.

Anyway


My favorite things to do when it rains are :
1. Wear these

2. Read. I am currently reading this and this.

3. Watch a movie or an episode of this

4. Drink Tea I love this

5. Make soup or chili. I did make some chili and made up my own new recipe. It was pretty darn good.

I started with 2 pounds of ground turkey
1 onion chopped
1 zucchini chopped
1 squash chopped
1 green pepper chopped
2 pressed garlic cloves
sauteed all that and added chili powder and cumin to taste
1 can of diced tomatoes (not drained)
3 cans of light red kidney beans (not drained)
4 pices of uncured nitrate free bacon cooked and chopped
I just kept added in the chili powder and the cumin till I got the right amount of flavor.
It was yum!

OK that's enough links. ha.
So what's your favorite thing to do when it rains?

Decision Made:

After reading things like This and hearing advice from many people (thanks everyone who added their input)
I am going off the pill.
I've decided its just what is best for my body. Josh is so ok with it and supports my decision to move towards being the most healthy person I can be. I couldn't do it with out his support. Or the support of these folks. And following this way of living.

Hang on its going to be a bumpy ride......

Take a Chill Pill

WARNING TO ALL MEN***Girly topic post****

So I have been on the pill for a long time. Too long in my opinion. I started it at a young age due to rough cycles. I also liked the benefits of it clearing my skin. I was on Diane 35 all through highschool and college and then when I got married I had to switch because they don't carry that one in the states. Well I tried Ortho Try Cyclin, that one made me gain weight and be depressed, and then went on YAZ that was ok but still had some side effects. I tried to get off it in 2008 but my skin broke out HORRIBLY and it was awful so I went back on out of pure desperate measures. Well here I am in 2010 and want to get off again for a few reasons:

1. I think that its not the best to be on it this long esp if I want to have kids in the next 2 years or so.

2. I am going natural in every other area of my life so I figure I should in this one too. I think God has created my body a certain way and I want to be as close to that way as possible. I have seen it do great improvements in my allergies and other areas to eat Paleo style. And have heard good things about it helping your skin when you eat Paleo.

3. I feel like it has effected me more than I know areas of my marriage, moodiness, sadness ect. and want to stop raging hormones as much as I can

So any advice? What were your experiences with the pill? And what do you do after you have kids or in between kids? Did it effect your skin? Your moods?

So Long Honda

Well we got a new car. Its a 1998 Maxima. As you might know our Honda was totaled in a car accident in December. We won't talk about who was driving, or actually who started driving and then the snow was so bad he then asked someone else to drive, who was over confident and thought she could handle it. And then slid in to the back of a truck that stopped to avoid hitting a car in front of him. No we wont talk about that. Instead we will talk about the new car and say goodbye to the old. As a few of my friends have done in the past! Actually about Their Maxima's go figure.
New car:


It's pretty nice. I like the black. It's slick. Drives awesome. And its a V6. Dear Honda was not. Let's just say it makes getting on the short on/off ramps in New England a lot easier. It is missing a few key things my Honda had. But I will live. I am thankful for it and it is very nice.

Ok now to say goodbye. Ok I have driven Honda's for most of my life. I like them. I am familiar with them and know where everything is. I am sad to see it go. And both Josh and I had one. But its over now. And now a poem.

So Long Honda it's been fun
I will miss your roof that is also called sun
Your leather seats were divine
I was so happy to call you mine

So Long Honda it's been grand
You will always be my my favorite brand
Your sound system always was the bomb
I loved listening to my favorite song

So Long Honda its been a ride
You came to Boston oh, such a long drive!
Your bright green paint and shiny leather dash
It's all gone now left in the past.

So long Honda.

Worst Day Ever.

Well a week ago today I had the worst day I've had in a long time. It started out well, but went down hill fast.
Jacob the little guy I nanny got his finger stuck in the shower drain. We were in the bathroom, I was on the phone with his mom discussing the plans for the day while standing right beside him. He went to play with some toys on the edge of the shower. I stood there while he played and went to pick him up to leave. I didn't see he had his finger stuck in the shower drain. I lifted him up and well you can guess what happened next. Blood. Lots of Blood. It was awful. He had cut his little finger on both sides. I wrapped his finger in a paper towel and lifted it above his head and walked around the house trying to get the bleeding to stop while waiting for his dad to circle back home (it happened about 15 minutes after he left). I started crying because I felt so bad. Jacob who was screaming. Stopped to laugh at my crying face. I was relived he was able to still laugh, and forget about his shredded finger. I felt awful! SO AWFUL! Mike and Noelle were great about it. Reminding me this sort of stuff has happened to them, and its part of kids being kids. But I still felt AWFUL! I think your first trauma with kids is pretty hard to just get over. I guess I have been here 2 years and nothing has happened yet, so I guess thats a good thing. Poor Jacob had a mammoth hand wrapped up when returning from the emergency room. We had to wrap it in a baggie while he ate.


Of course he ripped that off fast in his crib and we had to resort to mittens to keep him from picking at it.


Well He figured out how to get his mittens off in his crib (with his teeth prob) and we had to resort to taping a sock on his hand to his shirt! What a rascal!
Then later that day a cat hair got in my eye which resulted in this pretty picture


We also found out that day that my Stepmom's brother in law was found crushed in Haiti under the rubble of his building he was staying in. He was an RCMP there on peace keeping efforts. It is a sad tradgedy and my heart goes out to my stepmom and family. I love them and wish I could be there with them during this time. Please pray for them. The body is being shipped back to Canada sometime this weekend.

Needless to say it was a bad Thursday. So far this one has been much better!

Time

2 months till we go to Birmingham
3 Weeks till we go see our old college friends in PA
12 days till Lost Premier
48 hours till I can drive the Maxima (gotta get a title and plates)
10 minutes till nap time
5 seconds till I get a much needed snack

Thankful to God for the blessings in my life Have a good day!

Life After Bob

No not Bob Saget, Carter, or Marley
The Stacked Bob....





Getting a bob hair cut was quite a step for me. I hacked off 10inches last September and I am currently trying to grow it out, and have been for almost 4 months. It feels like I am getting no where. If you ever made the decision to get a stacked bob I am sure you have felt the after pains of growing it out.

Here a few of my solutions:

A) The Hat

Very helpful to get through the awkward "can't fit in a pony/and looks dumb down" stage.

B) The pigtails



Brings out your inner child, and great for working out or a day at the beach.

C) Wear it wavy

Great for the rainy days of New England (gah!) and hides the unevenness of the back.

ABOVE ALLLL! Do not get your hair trimmed or cut. You think it helps but all it does is take you back 3 months. You just have to let it grow out....and wait through the awkward uneven stage to pass.....

Bob and I had a good run, but I am ready for High Ponys, Messy Buns, and long curls again. Bye Bye Bob.....

Oh Chi

Oh Chi
You have been a good friend
You tried to stay hot till the very end
You kept my hair smooth, shiny and straight
I loved how fast you worked, I was never late

You have treated me well for two years at least
I know with out you my hair is a beast.
I will miss your long cord, and your sleek design
I know you dear Chi, will always be mine.

So long. Fairwell. I can't promise you you won't be replaced.

Still 25.

I was filling out a form yesterday. It said check what box your age category is.
a. 21-25
b. 26-30

Hold up. How is this fair? As soon as I turn 26 I am ripped out of the young fun 21-25 category and stuck in one all the way up to 30? I just couldn't bring myself to do it. My birthday is in 9 days. I'll stick with the 21-25 as long as I can.

Is that a grey hair?

Oh and I might finally get my license on Tuesday. I am the oldest Permit holder in the world. I better get it before I am in the 26-30 category or they might not even let me drive anymore.

Top of The Charts

I love music. It is so powerful. It can bring back a memory in an instant. It can cause you to worship and fall in reverence to a Holy God. I can cause you to sweat more, work harder, drive faster, and dance around your house like a crazy person.

Here are a few of my fav's

Top 5 Workout Songs: These just cause me to run faster, do 1 mile more, pump harder, and love every minute.

5- Forever - Chris Brown
4- Disturbia - Rihanna
3- Closer - NeYo
2- Beat It - Michael Jackson
1- Stronger - Brittany Spears

Top 5 Driving Songs: On a pretty Sunny day I just want to cruise along to some good tunes

5- Back to You- John Mayer
4- Tiny Dancer - Elton John
3-Young Folks - Peter Bjorn & John
2 - Name - Goo Goo Dolls
1- Give A Little Bit - Supertramp
Oh and pretty much any of Coldplay's songs

Top 5 Dance around your house like a crazy person songs:
5- Single Ladies - Beyonce'
4- Here In My Arms - Hello Goodbye
3-D.A.N.C.E - Justice tied with Mercy - Duffy
2- Just Dance - Lady GaGa
1- Forever - Chris Brown (again....one of my fav's)

Top 5 Chillin' Songs - When I want to lay back and relax
5- CS Lewis Song - Brooke Fraser
4 - You and Me - Life House
3- Like A Star - Corrine Bailey Ray
2- No Surprises- Radio Head
1 - Satellight - DMB

Top 5 Love Songs - Make me want to light some candles and slow dance with Josh oh and smooch. Sorry :)
5- You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker
4- Crazy For You - Madonna
3- Faithfully - Journey
2- Still the One - Bryan Mcknight
1- Wonderful Tonight- Eric Clapton

Top 10 Worship Songs (there is just too many to only have 5)
- These songs always bring conviction, and deeper love for my Saviour
10- Hosanna - Brooke Fraser
9- Sing to The King- Passion Band
8- Till I See You - Hillsong United Live
7- Glorious - Chris Tomlin
6- Nothing But The Blood - Charlie Hall
5- From the Inside Out - Hilsong United
4- None But Jesus- Hillsong
3- Lord of Lords - Brooke Fraser
2- Before The Throne
1- The Mercy - Sandra McCracken


Well there is a glimpse in to my music Library. Of course there are many more, but I don't want to bore you to death. So what are your current favs? Worship? Workout? Love? Driving? Always up for some new tunes so give me some ideas!

Diners, Dollar Heads and Drivers

So we had a great time at the beach :) It was lots of fun and we got lots of SUN!
I must say the ride home was quite adventurous. First of all I couldn’t help but noticing the weird combos at some of the diners we past...."Thai Food & BBQ Sandwiches" First of all....I am quite Certain the only place to get a good BBQ sandwich is in the true south, Alabama, ect. Second....I am not sure I would trust that Thai Food....
We encountered some "Idiots" I like to call them, as we were driving. It is not law for Motorcyclists in Florida to have to wear a helmet. So we saw lots of what my Father in Law affectionately refers to as "Dollar Heads", people driving around with out a helmet. He calls them this because basically they obviously feel their head is worth about a dollar. He feels His head is worth at least 300$...hence what he spent on his helmet, which he wears. Next as we were happily driving home on one of those back roads....an Idiot pulled out from behind us to pass us and another car, and the on coming traffic was so close to hitting them they had to swerve over on the shoulder of the road. Ridiculous. Then this caravan of two cars one which has no license place full of teenagers proceeds to play chicken with the on coming traffic. Then here is the kicker, the boy in the passenger seat of the SUV opens his door and hangs out of it as they are driving. I couldn't believe they could be this stupid. I mean don't get me wrong I had my stupid days as a teenager (just ask my dad) but this was over the top. I decided I needed to call 911. So they patched me over to the sheriff’s office, and as I drove by and got the tag number of the SUV, the look on the kids face was fear. It was obvious I was talking to the Police giving their tag number. As we turned the opposite way from them, we saw an unmarked Deputy car go after them. I am not trying to ruin these kids spring break, but they could have killed someone, or themselves. As we continued on our ride we stopped for some lunch. I went to the bathroom and politely chit chatted with the girl who came in after me. She came out of her stall as I was drying my hands, and said "Well off to WORK" and walked out with out washing!!!!!!!!! She just happened to be who handed me my Ketchup packets. Let’s just say fries taste just fine with out Ketchup.

A New Spot...Blog Spot that is....

Amanda-
Well, after using Xanga for about 5 years I have finally admitted that it is DEAD, and I have ventured over here. I am hoping that this proves to be a good spot. Josh and I both plan on blogging here...which also will be a change. He never had much interest in Xanga.
Well Seeing as it is a new blog I should share a few things about myself.... keep in mind the order is not due to significance.

1. I am a Canadian...that's right born and raised. This is both a joy and a heartache....I love my country and enjoyed living there and there are some things about it that I miss a lot..... (like real snow (unlike what we skied on in North Carolina, Tim Horton's, and my family to name a few) So being a Canadian is a great thing! Except I am now going through this terrible process called Immigration. BLEH. It takes lots of Money, time, fingerprints, and paperwork. I will be glad for the day I get that little plastic card in the mail giving me back some freedom.

2. I am married to an amazing man. He is a leader, a prayer warrior, a man of God, disciplined, strong, gentle, compassionate, fun, humble and handsome, all at the same time! I am so excited to see what God is going to do with Him. He is going to be an amazing pastor some day. I am just lucky to be able to be his helpmeet.

3. Not to boast....but I am very good at doing impressions....or so I've been told. :)

4. I like to cook but hate hate hate to clean up.

5. I am messy.....I try to be clean but it just magically gets messy in a bout 2 days.

6. I switch around pictures on my fridge based on what family member is coming over....we have 4 sets of parents you see.

7. I want to learn Hebrew and Greek like my husband

8. I love teaching the Word...it sets me on FIRE!!!

9. I am very insecure about my ears, and my stomach...hey had to say it!

10. Most people look at me and think they know me but they don't. They think I am girly and not and not out for adventure. When in fact one of my favorite things to do is Ski as fast as I can down a Mountain. I also love to ride bikes....motorcycles (my hubby has one) and normal bikes.
I also love to be on water of any kind. I have Parisailed, and White Water Rafted a few times. and I LOVE IT. I love camping and hiking and hope to go to the Western States sometime and do that.

11. I love music.

12. I love to dance. I mean Love it!!!

13. I have a very talented brother who will be famous some day. He makes amazing video's and art, he is a musician and much more. I love him so much it hurts sometimes.

14. I love french fries, Chips, Gingerbread cookies, and Licorice.

15. I go on Facebook way more than I should.

16. I have been saved out of a lot of junk and have so much thanks to give to Jesus for rescuing me. I truly want to live gospel centred.

17. When people ask my what my dream job is....I think of being a mom...and a partner to my husband.