MS: Going With The Flow

I haven't talked much about my MS lately. I think because I've been trying to hide behind the good to make me feel better, focusing on the positive things life brings my way. But, lately, the pain is getting to be too much. It started at the beginning of the year in my lower back, and that's where it has stayed. It comes and goes -- sometimes to the point where I can barely move. Lately, it has been constant. I went to the doctor, had an xray, bloodwork and bone scan -- all came back normal which is great but doesn't help understand why I'm having so much pain. That's when my doctor prescribed a medication to dull down the pain. It's the first medication of many that I've tried over the years that has actually worked some.

So, that's where I'm at with my MS. I'm still at the same place I have always been except with more pain. Thankfully, the major MS attacks I've had previously haven't showed their ugly face lately. Probably because I'm not working and can manage my MS better.

To keep up with the positive thinking, hope everyone has a joyous weekend! I know I will spending time with my family. Any fun things you'll be doing this weekend?

Happy Chanukah!

Wishing you a Festival of Lights...
sparkling with fun and lit up with smiles!

Happy Chanukah

Sushi Anyone?

A toy after my own heart....

[wooden sushi playset found in the kids section at HomeSense]

Holiday Window Shopping: HomeSense

It's that time of year again -- HomeSense is twinkling with beautiful things for the holidays!

After a quick stop into Starbucks for my Peppermint Misto, I took a moment for myself and wandered the aisles of HomeSense. I felt a sense of calm surrounded by the beauty of all that glows during the holiday season. They truly have some wonderful and unique decor for great prices.

Here are a few things I came across...

[add a little bling to your tree with these beautiful ornaments]

[add these sparkling trees to a mantle or group them together on a table as a centrepiece]

[welcome your guests with holiday table decor]

Read more about my HomeSense finds here, here, here, here and here.

A Gift From Shutterfly: Free Holiday Cards

My friend, Sheba, has made some wonderful cards for a few different occasions online at Shutterfly. When she posted on her blog about receiving 50 free Christmas Photo Cards from Shutterfly just by blogging, I had to join in! Thankfully, I haven't done my Christmas cards yet.


I've already started playing around with creating my own holiday cards. It's real easy, fast and fun! There are so many beautiful cards to choose from with tons of different layouts and options to add your own pictures and personal message. I'm having a hard time narrowing down my choice to just one! Shutterfly has some other great things you can make as well such as photo books and photo calendars -- both wonderful ideas for gifts for the grandparents!

If you're a fellow blogger and want to join in the fun of creating your own holiday greetings, sign up here to get 50 free cards for yourself! This offer is the perfect way to get started on sending out holiday cards to your all the wonderful people in your life!

Coconut M&M's

I just finished off the last of the Coconut M&M's my friend, Sheba, graciously gave to me. YUM! Now if only they would sell them in Canada.

'Tis The Season

The kids are in the family room watching The Last Airbender with their friends. I'm sitting in the living room with a glass of wine while I admire my new poinsettia. I was able to put up a few decorations outside today before the chill from the wind set in. As I glance out the window, I can see the lovely glow from the lights twinkling outside in the background.


I still need to buy some inserts for the planters outside -- hopefully I can find something tomorrow.

The poinsettia was only $19.99 at Costco for a huge plant! I'm thinking of going back to grab one more for the family room. I love that they add a little shake of sparkle to dress the plant up a bit.


Even though it's chilly outside, there's something about the glow from the Christmas lights and the sparkling holiday decorations that make me feel all warm inside.

Have you started to decorate for the holidays?

Words To Live By

I saw this wall sign and my heart instantly lit up with happiness. Words to live by! If only I had a free wall to add it to.

[from the Etsy store Signs Of Vintage]

Freshening Up A Bedroom

Looking at Bella's bedroom one day, I decided it needed a little help -- a little rearranging and something to add a splash of colour to the room. The double bed, a hand-me-down from my grandmother, had been pushed up against the wall for long enough (she'll learn not to roll off both sides of the bed, right?). It was time for a change.

I noticed in a Bouclair flyer a few weeks ago that a Kids Collection would be coming out soon. I showed Bella her options of what could be her new bedding and daringly let my three year old pick which one she liked best.

Here are the results of a Bouclair bedding make-over. Bella and I had so much fun putting it together!

Thanks Bouclair for bringing some colour to my little girl's room!

I strolled through Bouclair and came home with this:



And ended up with this:



I had this green lamp leftover from Lucas' baby room so when Bella came into our lives, I decided to add a little sparkle, and a little pink:



I've always wanted a chandelier in a bedroom or bathroom. Bella's room was the perfect place to add a little something special to dress up the ceiling. I found this chandelier at Canadian Tire on sale for $49.99:



Who says art has to be expensive? I bought these frames from HomeSense for $10 each. I found some pictures of roses from my garden and made some prints. Voila!:



One summer, Lucas and I decided to have some fun taking silly pictures of ourselves. I framed the pictures and they now hang in the hallway upstairs. Last year, Bella and I had our own silly fun:



This Ikea Smadal bookcase was the perfect addition to house Bella's collection of books and accessories:



I've been thinking for awhile now what to put above Bella's bed, when I came across these - wall stickers. And at $12.99, who could pass up this deal! It was really simple to apply the flowers to the wall, just peel and stick. They are easy to remove too:








One happy girl!

Starbucks Holiday Flavours

I'm super excited [though my wallet might say otherwise] -- holiday flavours are out at Starbucks!

Can I get a woot! woot!

With so many yummy flavours to choose from, it's hard to pick just one.

Today I'm Cafe Mistoing it up -- grande, non-fat, light foam, bold, peppermint, cafe misto. Could my order get anymore crazy? Well, yes, yes it could if I had asked for it extra hot, but I forgot.

Peppermint Cafe Misto -- Mmm, like a warm hug from the inside!

What are some of your Starbucks favourites?

[order scribbles]

Tall Boots

Now with leggings making a come back (and me finally accepting the 80's all over again), I've been admiring my friend Sheba's tall boots for awhile now. They are a fun, flat boot -- aka mom-friendly.

If you have been following my blog, you might remember that I bought a pair of tall boots last year. I thought they fit when I bought them but after smushing my foot into a pair of boots that are half a size too small, I've come to terms that I need to let them go and invest in a new pair.

Enter, the Bay.

I happened to walk by the shoe section yesterday and staring at me was a pair of Chinese Laundry tall boots similar to Sheba's pair and on sale for 25% off -- woot woot! Bring on the leggings!

Boo! Halloween 2010

Halloween was quite the event this year!

Lucas really got into the excitement of ghouls and goblins, even requesting the house be decked out in scary decorations. I've never been big on Halloween decorating but I seem to be getting more and more into it as well (oh, Dollarama, how I love thee). The things we do for our kids! He also discovered if you hit the townhomes, you can cover more homes faster. Oh Lucas!

This was the first year Bella made a costume request -- Hannah Montana, of course. I knew one day we would have the best of both worlds.

And I got to wear my wedding dress princess costume again.

Hope everyone else had a spooktacular Halloween!

I am...

enjoying a Pumpkin Spice coffee from Timothy's -- YUM!

I am...

enjoying some peanut M&M's. I've had a craving for the last few days and finally got some!

Wall Bling

Recently, the question, "What do you have on your walls?" came up. We don't have much wall space in our house as it's fairly open concept, but I've managed to fill most of the wall space we do have.

What do you have on your walls?

I am...

frustrated that the colours on my blog look a lot different on my PC than on my Macbook. They looked better on the Mac. Back to the drawing board. Blog decorating is so much fun, and a lot cheaper than house decorating!

I am...

back from ice skating with the family -- our Wednesday night ritual.

Picture Wall

I finally got around to adding some pictures to the wall going up the stairs. No nails this time. I found a new love - 3M Picture Hanging Strips. They are awesome! Make sure to use the proper amount of strips for your frame. I found out the hard way. Thankfully there was no broken glass.

[pictures from our trip to Punta Cana in January 2010]

I am...

home from watching the movie The Killers with my girlfriends and full from wavy Lay chips with French Onion dip, a glass of white wine, Balsmic Vinegar and Sweet Onion Miss Vickie's, Junior Caramels, another glass of wine, Sweet Chili Crispie Minis, more Lay chips but with Helluva Good Dip because we finished the first dip and then finished the night off with my last sip of wine. Oy, my belly! Can I just say, what a waste of two hours....the movie that is, not the food or the great company. Hmmm, just realized we forgot to eat the cupcakes.

You know I haven't had my coffee when...

...I sit down to read today's (Monday) paper, finish it and then realize it was last Monday's paper.

I am...

happy when I'm helping others.

What makes you happy?

Tuesday Ramblings

[The Toronto Star article on The Bee's Knees blog]

Last night I wrote a list of things I want to do today but instead I'm sitting on the couch trying to take in as much rest as I can. I made myself some coffee, read the Toronto Star and started reading a blog called The Bee's Knees after reading an article about it in today's newspaper (it inspired today's post). Today is the last day for a long while where I will get to do this -- have time for myself, for my body to rest when it needs to. School is out, it's Luke's last day at daycare and while other mom's are probably a bit excited to share some extra time with their kids this summer, all I can think about is how am I ever going to keep up with my child? I feel bad keeping Bella in daycare this summer but I don't know how I would ever manage keeping two of them busy without finding myself on the floor gasping for energy. It's not that she completely hates daycare but I know she would rather be at home. The thing is, when she's at home all she wants to do is cling and hang off me -- it's completely draining at times but I do love the cuddles and how happy she is when she's doing it.

I had my neurologist check-up this month. I always walk in with a smile, and did this time too, but when he asked me how I was I flat out told him I felt like crap. I had to stop the Betaseron injections a few months ago. It was draining me and didn't feel like it was making a positive impact on life with Multiple Sclerosis. So, now I'm trying a medcation called Cymbalta which is supposed to combat nerve pain. I started with a half dose and worked up to the full dose. It's been just over two week since I started taking it and while I'd liked to say the drug is working I'm still not quite sure. I never thought I could be any more tired than I usually am but this medication has me napping. Yes, NAPPING -- something I never do and never have been able to do. I've been going to bed early too. I guess you could say I'm truly tired rather than my usual drained self. The weirdest thing that has happened while being on this drug is the yawning fits. About six to eight hours after taking it I start yawning uncontrollably. At first I thought nothing of it but them people started noticing and then we started timing it. Like clock work I tell ya! I've heard this tiredness side effect will subside which is something to look forward to. Now that I think about it, Cymbalta might be working a bit. Let's hope because nothing else I've tried ever seems to do much.

My last sip of coffee is done. I best get on with my day. Enjoy yours too!

Smile!

[sharing a smile at Tim Horton's for lunch]

Tag! I'm it!

My wonderful friend, Sheba, tagged me in a game of blog-tag so I thought I would join in the fun too! The kids fell asleep on the ride home from dinner tonight at Lone Star (yum!) so I'll take this moment to be it...

Step i: I was tagged by Sheba here.
Step ii: Sheba was tagged by Faiza here.
Step iii: Faiza was tagged by Joana here.
Step iv: Sheba asked me 5 questions, which I answered below. I have tagged a few more bloggers and asked them to answer five questions! I hope they will play along too...
Step v: If you get tagged, you:
a) Answer my questions to you on your blog in the form of a post.
b) Ask 5 questions of your own.
c) Tag some people. No minimum. No maximum. Just tag!
d) Come back and comment in this post below with a link to your blog post once you've tagged someone else so I can see what you wrote.


i: What are you looking forward to this summer?
The sun, days and nights without the bulky sweaters and jackets, sipping fun bevies with the warm sun shining down on my face, working in the garden with more gardens to be added...I LOVE SUMMER!

ii: What's your all-time favourite summer recipe?
I don't think I have a recipe specifically for summer but I do love a good salad during the warm summer months...leaf lettuce, candied walnuts, strawberries, goat cheese and balsamic dressing...YUM!

iii: What was your best vacation and why?
Steve and my spontaneous New York trip...one that I'm often reminded of every time there's a boxing match on tv. My new favourite vacation memory is the trip we went on this past January with the family to Punta Cana. The kids keep asking when we're going back, like we can just jump in the car and go. The pictures on the wall will have to do for now.

iv: Who do you call [on the phone] the most?
My mom, I guess. I don't really talk on the phone all that much anymore now that there's email and, get ready for this, I can finally text! Bring it on, baby!

v: What is the most recent book you read? Did you enjoy it?
Um, does reading a Sex and the City 2 article in the Tribute movie magazine count? Actually, I don't think I got to finish it...hmmm, off to find that magazine to continue reading where I left off.

Now it's turn for a few others to be it! I'm going to leave it up to you what you'd like to write about but it has to be at least five things about yourself - maybe a favourite little place to shop, something we might not know about you but want to share, plans for the summer that you're excited about, how you used to dress when you were younger (remember pinned jeans and jelly shoes?) - be creative! Hopefully the people I've tagged will join in the fun as well, and be sure to come back and comment here with a link to your answers! Tag! You're it! Lisa, Dusty, Herrad.

If you haven't been tagged and want to join in the fun then consider yourself tagged!

Happy blogging!

It's been awhile

April 8, 2009: the day this blog was born.

Almost two months ago, I watched Keep On S'myelin's first Blogiversary roll by...a silent woot! woot!

I keep popping in, starting a post and then pulling back. I didn't think I would like blogging. I didn't think I would have anything to say.

What would I write about? What would be the point?

Point is, I love blogging and I love reading all of your blogs too. Problem is, it was becoming time consuming. I loved blogging more than doing what needed to be done.

My garden is starting to bloom.

I bought a new end table for a steal at Pottery Barn.

I'm still as tired as ever but hanging in as always.

I've been battling Pokemon and Polly Pockets and trying to keep the ship afloat.

All stuff I want to blog about and hope that I can do again soon.

Hope everyone is doing well, if you're still reading!

17 years together. 17 years apart.

We were together for 17 years and now it's been 17 years since we've been apart.

So fitting that you passed away on April Fool's Day! Everyone still remembers your jokes and silly ways. We reminisce often and always get a good chuckle. You still have a way of putting a smile on every one's face.

Miss you, daddy!

xoxo