The dreaded staff Christmas party.

I have never been a fan of socializing with the people I work with. I don't go for lunch with other colleagues, I don't text or facebook with them after work hours or on weekends. I like them all well enough, but lets face it. I see them 8 (or more) hours a day, 5 days a week. I really don't want them more than that.

Well, 'tis the season for the dreaded staff Christmas party. In the past, I have definitely been that person who never went to anything. I decided that this year, I would go. Josh and I got dolled up, drove into Dartmouth and were, of course, the first ones there and had to make awkward small talk with the owners of my daycare for about 40 MINUTES while other colleagues arrived. 

The free drinks/appetizers and full on meal were appreciated, although the group games (complete with the drunk owners yelling instructions through a microphone) were not. Also, I did love getting a Christmas card from said owners with $10 in it, "a token of our (the owners') love".

All in all, I (we) did it, it was not horrible, and I was home and in bed by 10:15. Until next year.

Ready to go.

Our tree!

Josh & a really big chunk of PB/mallow bar.

Apple picking

Last Sunday we went apple picking in Windsor with some of our bible study friends. We had a delightful picnic lunch and then we started our apple picking. We had a beautiful day for it and had a great time together! The apples were not so impressive (apparently it was not a good year for apples), but we had a good time as a group in the sunshine. 

Friends and our picnic lunch!

A random man was taking pictures of us, so we asked him to take a picture with our cameras too!

Apple picking success! Peter, Josh and Matt.

On Wednesday I had a bit of extra time (a rarity these days) and I made an apple crisp (from the Epicure website) to serve at bible study on Thursday night. It was a total hit and well worth the cramped hand from peeling apples (a chore that I really detest).

2 years later....anniversary celebration (+ Codie because she's cute)

On Sunday Josh and I spent the day in Halifax with our friends Matt and Katie. We had lunch at a restaurant called Niche, where our waiter was attempting to be snobby and perhaps somewhat British? The food made up for it. After lunch we went to Tim Horton's and got iced capps because it was hot outside. Then we took an hour and a half cruise around the harbour on the Tall Ship Silva, which was quite enjoyable in the sunshine. We had a lovely day spent with our lovely friends to celebrate our second anniversary. 

Also, I had to include a picture of my darling niece Codie, because she's so super cute. 

My beautiful baby niece Codie Rose.

The Tall Ship Silva in the Halifax harbour.

Josh and I in front of the Tall Ship Silva.

Katie & Matt, and Josh & I aboard the Tall Ship Silva.

Josh & I on the harbour boat cruise.

Things I want to write about....

The first thing I want to write about is this awesome taco salad supper I made last night. Here it is:

I scrunched up a ball of aluminum foil and draped a flour tortilla over it, baked it in the oven at 425* for about 8 minutes. In retrospect, I would have bumped that down a bit and moved my oven rack down because the bottom of the tortilla was getting a bit brown before the rest of it was crispy. Anyway, the end result is a nifty taco salad "bowl" that you can eat! My meat filling was leftover chicken cut up, with peppers, onions, mushrooms, taco seasoning and salsa. Top that up with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and Kraft BBQ Ranch salad dressing (you can buy it next to the pre-bagged lettuce in the produce section) and you've got yourself a super duper taco salad supper!

The next thing I want to write about is the hot stone supper we had last week with our friends Matt and Katie. I had never heard of hot stones before but they were a truly delightful experience! You bake them in the oven first and then light burners underneath them to keep them hot during the meal. We had peppers, onions, mushrooms, asparagus, steak and chicken on our hot stones. A very fun, interactive meal idea - great for entertaining. I had so much fun that I immediately bought 2 of them from Kijiji! Highly recommended.


Along with our meal, we had a delicious rice dish that Katie made, with onions, peppers, carrots, mushrooms and garlic. We also had a baguette, sliced. You definitely have to "work" for your food at this meal, tending to the little grill in the middle of the table, but it's a lot of fun and gives you a great chance to socialize with guests without having to be in the kitchen making supper!


We're selling our old BBQ on Kijiji. And when I say "selling", I mean giving it away for free because it's quite rusty inside. But still works!


Our deck is almost complete! Josh just needs to install the railing and close it in around the bottom. Both of these things he will work on throughout the summer. What do you think?


Here's a funny story about this patio set: We bought it at Walmart, where it was on for $225, regular $299. We thought, "What a great deal! Let's do it!" So we go to Walmart and after about 40 hours we finally find someone to help us. The young lad in Seasonal gives us a sticker with a bar code on it to take to the till and pay for it. We say "OK" and go to pay. An older man is at the cash register and scans it in. It says "Patio Set $98". He says, "Is this the right price?" And we say (because we're honest), "Well, it was advertised for $225." I say, "But if that's what it is scanning in at, then that's what we'll pay." And off we go with our patio set for $98! Steal of a deal on that one.


Also, here is my laundry on the line.

Date Night

Last night Josh planned a date night for us! We drove to Kentville, which is about an hour west of Halifax. It is a cute little town in the Annapolis Valley. We had dinner at "Rosie's Restaurant" and then went on to see the play "Sadie Flynn comes to Big Oak" at the local community theatre. It was a great night out with my favourite man. We had some time to kill before the play started, so we took some photos in our car! Enjoy :)

Sue the T-Rex

Yesterday Josh and I went out with our friends Peter and Julia. Our first stop was the Museum of Natural History in Halifax, to see Sue the T-Rex! Sue was found in South Dakota in 1980. She was eventually sold at auction to a museum in Chicago for $8.4 million. Sue is the largest T-Rex in the world!







After our museum tour we went to a restaurant called "Fireside" in Halifax. We gave it a solid 8 out of 10!








All in all, a delightful way to spend a Saturday!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Last night Josh and I hosted a Valentine's Day Party for our small group friends. We had a fun night with fruit and fondue, cupcakes, Sex in a Pan (appropriate, we thought), and spinach & artichoke dip with pita chips. I also served "Pink Punch", made with strawberry ice cream and pink lemonade - very sweet but good!



We also played a version of "The Newlywed Game", where couples have to answer questions about each other and try to get matching answers. It was a ton of fun and we all learned a little something about each other.






We had a fabulous time together and we think we'll make it an annual event!

Surprise Surprise!

on Sunday i had a surprise going away party! i am still confused about how mom, amy and alison planned it without me catching on at all! they are either very sneaky, or i am very oblivious! either way, it was a really fun come and go afternoon with cake, lemonaide, friends and family! in the evening, the aunties, uncles and cousins came over for hot dogs and corn on the cob, all delicious and wonderful! it was such a fun and surprising day!

on monday, julie, amy, alison, mom and i drove to Minot to do some shopping. on the way there, we had to pull over on the side of the road because it was raining and hailing so hard we couldn't see a thing! thank goodness julie didn't freak out, we were very proud of her for surviving our "toad trip"! the Minot mall was alright, had a Target which was fabulous, and Old Navy, American Eagle, etc. so i think we all did alright in the shopping department. either way, it was a fun time.

today i have started packing with mom's help (i throw her things and she wedges them into shoes, pockets, under the suitcase lining, etc.) tomorrow we must start hemming pants, always a big event! this evening i also went for dinner with my dear friend Jodie and it was wonderful as usual. tomorrow my friend Johanna and her new baby son Kaleb and i are going to Ninga for lunch! i think that will conclude my friend outings, so after that i can really get into the packing and getting myself ready to go!

First Annual Steak and Croquette Night

July 1, Canada Day, was our First Annual Steak and Croquette Night. next year we hope to involve all members of the family...oh wait...i guess i won't be home next year...ok well maybe the year after we'll involve everyone. this year was only Dad, Amy and I. we had a fun night of playing croquette (although not the well known Ultimate version...sorry, no fire jumping this time).

on Monday Amy, Donny, Clarke, Alison and I went to the beach. the water was it's usual green with floating algae, but this did not put us off! we are used to such "treasures" floating in the lake and so into the water we plunged! it was a terrifically hot day and the beach was humming! we had also pulled the siding off of our house that morning and so the beach was a well deserved break.

Billy the Dog has gotten a red polo shirt from Old Navy and is quite the fashion icon.

Tomorrow I leave for a 6 day American vacation! i am headed to Minneapolis tomorrow and will meet my friend Ashley (who lives there) and Ang (who is coming from Saskatoon). we'll be there until Friday morning and then Ang and I will continue on to Portland, Oregon to see Alicia, Scott & Stacy (hopefully), Emily (hopefully) and the main event...Eric and Lacey's wedding! these are all people I met in South Africa and it has been over 2 years since some of us have seen each other. I am really excited to reunite with these people who were part of something so huge in my life. I'm sure there will be much reminiscing. I get back Monday, July 9 and after that, there's only a month and a bit until I leave for Belfast. it's all coming so quick and it makes me nervous, very excited and scared all at the same time. normal? i think so.