Riding the wave - again but different

Oh my goodness…we just went on our first cruise. I often say I am "riding the wave" of grief, well, this time we were riding the waves for real. On the way to St.Thomas, man the water was rough. For the whole trip I did not quite feel myself. I was in a fog, swaying, dizzy, not feeling very pleasant to say the least. When we returned home I still felt like I was swaying for up to 4 days afterwards. Yikes. But, here I am and I am feeling more like myself.

My daughter and I took some pictures, lots actually, so I thought I would share a few with you. This way you can cruise with us and not get sick!

All credit goes to her and her talent of tweaking them to better each one.

New York airport

 yummy we didn't have time but enjoyed some Ben and Jerry's in Puerto Rico, I never knew the cones were warm! aaahhh!!

New York 

Miami

St. Thomas. The sand was the best here out of all the places we stopped. Soft (?) white sand….

Puerto Rico

This was my favourite place to visit. 

Grand Turk

These shells were found everywhere there!!

No sea-sickness anyone? Good! Happy journeying =)

Movie news - a news interview and a little musical presentation

Wowee everyone! I was interviewed with my Co-star, producer, director and friend David today for Global News.  More promoting for our movie Ghosts of '43! Check us out on TV tonight at 6 pm! (For my local fans…otherwise I may post a link to it later)

Also…

 Click on this link and you'll be taken to our vimeo site.

Ghosts of '43

and this one will take you to another site as well.

Ghosts of '43

Make a donation and get a copy of the movie!

Thanks guys!

Chocolate - cookies, cake, & pudding oh my!

Please let me know how this site works out. I "found"it and have been dying to try everything chocolate, (pretty much) but since Halloween (dang you cheap chocolate!) I've had to resist the temptation for now.
Just look at the pics below - hot chocolate, pudding  and even those cakes you can buy prepackaged!

fudge

chocolate cream cake

fondue

pudding

hot chocolate

Here's the link: Delish

Lemme know how it goes people => 

happy chocolate journey-ing =}

Clean Waffles - Yum!

Kids tried and true -

This comes from The Gracious Pantry:

I made mine with just whole wheat flour, considered grinding up my wheat in my super blender but decided to use up what I already had…check out her site to get the full recipe. They tasted fabulous and …no fat people!  This is a low down on what Tiffany's recipe calls for. (Remember to use a natural sweetening source when sitting down to have a bite: - maple sugar or honey and not too much if you're eating clean and shrinking your waistline)

•  whole wheat flour
•  milk 
•  egg whites
•  vanilla
•  cinnamon
•  baking powder

She also has many other recipes listed. Just in the 'waffle" department she has: sweet potato waffles, gingerbread (can't wait to check that out), almond lemony blueberry, Belgian, protein powder, even clean brownie waffles. I will be returning to her site for sure!

Megan Nicole

My kids really like this young lady. She sings other peoples songs and changes the "bad" words into something cute. She also has some of her own songs. The videos are very professional. Just take a look…

I believe this one is her own song…

My kids thought this was so fun!

Here's her link. She is such a cutie! Megan Nicole 

The Art of Being a Woman

My husband and I watched "Chasing Mavericks" and when it was over I found myself crying. Selfishly crying.

Sometimes I stop and recognize that my life is "going on" without him. Other days his memory hits me so hard it throws me and I come crashing down. This boy, this character, reminded me of my Brian. Always smiling, seeing the positive, the good in others, knowing how we (him and I) were meant to be together, (his curly hair), a love for life, adventurous - and even when the negative bullies were cruel in his life he was still kind to them, encouraging them to "ride the wave". Interesting how in my life I have said that we "ride the wave of grief".

Being a woman is glorious. We are emotional and sensitive and these can feel like a blessing and a curse. If we did not cry and hurt - would we see the good in others? Would we reach out and help someone else who is crying? Good women are helpful and sincere.

I have been reaching out to people in my life more. I have moved past the prideful days of negative hurt and expectation. (That does not say it will not try and hit me again and tempt me) I was the girl/woman who sat hurting in the back wanting someone to reach out and help me up, talk to me and listen, but then rejecting them and finding fault. We are all here to learn and grow. I feel I am growing now. I feel the need to reach out, to help others and get them talking. When we open up, truly, without embarrassment is when we connect. As women, (and obviously I am not a man so I cannot speak on their behalf) when we share is when we connect and when we connect is when we can help.

People die everyday.  Friends get sick and suffer. Neighbours and loved ones suffer from emotional "stuff" and hide away. I have found that we are all so much a like. The secret emotional thoughts you may have had, someone else may have felt that too, even if, when looking at them they seem so "put together" and maybe they are. Have you considered that they may have come from a dark and hurtful place but have risen above? Are conquering the adversary? Are recognizing their self worth? And maybe they may have something they could share with you too? Help you to rise above so that in turn you can help another in the future?

What a beautiful place we live in. If I could be so bold to everyone out there it would be for you to pray and ask - "help me to be all that I was sent here to be". If we all shared, if we all connected, if we all lived by just the simple 10 commandments or better yet even the simple golden rule of : "Do unto others as you would have done unto you",  also  "LOVE ONE ANOTHER", wow! What a more glorious place to live!

Remember, let's be happy on this journey! =>

More Ghosts of '43 Pics

You can see these and more on Facebook at Facebook.com/ghostsof43.

Looking forward to this movie…Please spread the word and like us on Facebook.

Pinterest

Hi Everybody! I am in such a good mood- but it is late and I really should get some sleep. " Early to bed and early to rise, will make a man (and woman) healthy, and wealthy and wise!" Healthy, Wealthy and Wise

Check out Pinterest - some pins are mine and most belong to others. Could be you! ;)

Just take a look at this Christmas Decor - jumping ahead too soon? Well, I saw it and could not resist!

I wanted to repost the link but it wouldn't work to do so. Said it did not exist anymore. Apologies folks, but just look at how elegant this is…

Good night everyone! 

Homemade Soft Taco Shells

I realize these have cornmeal and cornstarch and many are opposed to such things these days, however, we like them and I KNOW what's in them!  :)

Homemade Soft Taco Shells (given to me from a friend but we adapted it, somewhat)

MIX:
3/4 cup cornstarch
1 cup skim milk

THEN ADD:
2 eggs
1/2 tsp salt

FOLLOW BY ADDING:
1/3 cup cornmeal
2 tbsp olive oil

I have found that using my Kitchen Aid was (obviously) more productive in keeping all the ingredients mixed together than using a whisk…

Heat frying pan and spray with olive oil. On my stove, I set the burner to 8. (Which is not quite the highest heat). I use my soup ladle to get the right amount in my pan. They need to be thicker than you might do when preparing crêpes.

Put in your protein in with whatever veggies/toppings you desire, tuck up the bottom and then roll.

We use ground turkey (beef, chicken), or left over chopped up chicken (beef) with homemade taco seasoning. (from Tosca Reno's recipe found in - Oxygen Fitness Magazine listed below)Yummy! 

Taco Seasoning

• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1/4 tsp each onion and garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp crumbled, dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp black pepper

Time Stands Still

They say that time heals all things.

"They" must not have finished their sentence, or else it was not quoted properly. 

I am healing but the hurt is there; always ready to remind me of a love that does not die.

I go on, day by day; enjoying more of the little things, (Of course, I am a high stress person, so it's not until those quiet times that I realize: how cute my little girl is while trying to hang up her own shirt, how beautiful my other little girl is even when she is making a mad face at me, how the other is so remarkably sincere and just loves to snuggle up with me, one of the oldest ones has such an incredible smile and a beauty within, the other acts tough but is gentle and warm, and our son, so strong and yet so tender and always loves to make people laugh, and my new husband who gets the blunt of my grieving and yet stays true and kind to me.) And yet, amongst all this wonderfulness that is life, I catch out of the corner of my eye - HIM.

Sometimes it's just him and other times it's him & his dad. In reality it is not either of them. It could be  the way that person walks, or how tall they are, or their hair cut and glasses, maybe a scent. Then this random person evolves into Brian and his Dad and I am transported back in time to a memory. It lasts just a moment but the moment lasts forever. 

I could be rolling out sugar cookie dough which becomes bread and Brian is eating the dough out of the bowl only to get a belly ache. 

Now it's the colour of the leaves on the trees. How he loved colour. And I am transfixed again. We are walking, jumping, laughing. The girls are throwing leaves up in the air. Time stands still. 

Remembering can be a happy flash back.

I am certain this movie has me thinking more and more about Brian. This will be a healing journey for sure. Stay tuned for more about Ghost's of '43 and where you can watch it!

Ghosts of '43

This weekend was a fun one. I had a photo shoot with some fellow actors promoting a family documentary/Canadian WWII aviation history film, entitled Ghosts of '43. I woke up nervous about the project. I am one of the leads in this film (that is currently in production). Regardless, it will be a healing project for me for at least two reasons that come immediately to mind: 1. I haven't been back at acting since my husband Brian died. 2. His death and the story line of the film are closely linked for me, and as such I will heal throughout the filming process. 

Here are some Ghosts of '43 pics…there are many more to enjoy on the Facebook page…https//www.facebook.com/ghostsof43 so if you like it then "like" it on Facebook! More updates will be posted there.

Please stay happy on your journey! 

Love this Anatomy link

I just had to share…if you're looking for a site that is truly helpful for learning your mooskals! (muscles) then check this out! You can scroll your cursor over each highlighted muscle to check what you already know! (Or don't)

Shapesense

Have fun with that and let me know what you think!


Have a Happy Journey Today!

Fitness Inspiration

After sharing a fantastic girl's morning out with my best friend, we started talking fitness and she shared this amazing story that I'll share with you. But first, take at look at this shake…

I got this recipe from Kelly's blog, eat-yourself-skinny.com 

Not bad, but today I "tweaked" it a little. I put in vanilla protein powder and 1/4 cup of skim milk. It looked creamier like this…

My other girlfriend makes veggie shakes for her kids because they don't like eating veggies in her house. Why not? Gotta have 'em.

Okay, are you full of suspense? This lady is remarkable. I hear that she gets up at 2:30 am, starts by reading her scriptures and then goes for a run before hitting the gym- she's 76 by now! And she started when she was 50, after her sister died. Okay people, what's our excuse? We are probably gonna live a long life, so why not give ourselves every opportunity to be the best we can be - with faith, good works, eating right and exercise! luv ya ;)

Ernestine Shepherd

Here's her site - http://ernestineshepherd.net

Let's all be happy in our journey…if you need to, begin today! Way to be Ernestine!

Good Eatin'

Hi Everybody! Talk about good eating! If you are in the area, and you like Italian food, I would recommend trying out  homemade dishes, with fresh ingredients from Tasty Tomato on Stoney Plain Rd.

Since it was a "Cheat" day for me and my Hubby, we dug right in before I even thought to take a pic. I enjoyed the tiny little meatballs, (called circo ? sounds like Cheer-oh) tossed in penne with a somewhat creamy tomato sauce. Hubby tried the shells with chicken and mushrooms. The focaccia bread was super fresh and yum, delivered with an oil and vinegar dip;  (which we always love).

So, dessert came and after enjoying a few mouthfuls, I popped out my camera and voila! A picture for you. This dessert is called Bacio bianco. It was a yummy vanilla ice cream filled with a raspberry sorbet,  covered in a dee-lish white chocolate and drizzled with raspberry sauce.  What a great way to end our cheat day.

Now I am off to actually watch TV! (something I hardly ever do) but it's all because Sara Richardson is back tonight with her new show Real Potential. So Happy in the Journey….   :)

Super Cute - Super Easy UpDo's

Hello again everybody!

Thank you's go out to those of you who have commented on my hair recently. This is my trick… I found it on the web!!

Her name is Kate and she is a cutie. I am throughly enjoying her tips on hair. Below are a few of the 'do's I have tried either on myself or my girls. Her link/blog is listed below.

Kate's Blog

She has video tutorials for these and more. Thanks so much to Kate for helping us look beautiful too!