:: Season of Change ::

{ SOOC Tulip Photo by Moi }


:: Well, I have fallen terribly behind on blogging! It's been a crazy few weeks here for us and we are trying to adjust to a season of change ::

:: We are getting back on track and hopefully getting into the swing of Spring. I love Spring but it also brings lots of extra things to do around the house ::

:: So I'll be back, I promise....with Easter update {see told you I was behind!} and lots of other lovely random thoughts! ::

:: Happy Mothers Day!!!! Hope y'all had a great day! ::

:: In the office today ::

{Picture Taken by Moi | Cherry Blossom 2009}

:: I'm trying to finish up the final details on multiple little details {that take a whole lot of time} in the office today --- We're not quite a fine oiled machine around this place, yet. It's coming though ::

:: Paul and I are working on budgeting better, paying more attention to our multiple business transactions and trying to balance the house with more awareness and thought. However, this process not only takes time but exhausts us at the same time! No wonder people get divorces over finances -- they are truly a pain in the royal tookus! ::

:: So that's where I'm at today, trying to do my part in the running this financial kingdom we own {ha ha ha} --- In between dealing with all of that, I've got this little monkey to contend with! ::


:: If you look close you can see that the first two pictures he's seeing what he looks like in the mirror on the wall...apparently getting caught playing on the dining room table isn't a big deal, but what you look like while getting caught is more of an issue! It probably doesn't help that Mama shows up with a camera in hand to catch the culprit on the table. I mean really, who disciplines their child by taking pictures of them "caught in the act" first!?!?! I guess I do! ::

:: Have a fabulous weekend Lovelies -- I'm going to try and finish this dreadful paperwork up ASAP so I can enjoy some time in the sun, getting some chores done and going out for a surprise outing tonight! ::

:: XO - Shawna ::

:: Old House New Look :: Vote = Win ::

:: Hey Lovelies -- I've just entered Benjamin Moore's contest called "Share Your Style" ::

:: The contest is to see your before and after pictures of a room in your house, I could potentially win a $2,500 room make-over - Fun Fun Fun! ::

:: So make sure you go here and vote for me - even if you like the other rooms better, vote for mine ;) -- Kidding, kinda! ::

:: One of my blogger friends entered her B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L dining room here ::

:: Here are my dreadful before pictures ::

:: If you have a fabulous room and you would like to enter the contest yourself, go for it - you can enter here ::

:: Happy Voting! ::

XO :: Shawna

:: So, I'm back ::

{Centerpiece from Absolute Adoration}

:: Yes, it's true, I'm back at it - sort of! ::

:: Really, I'm still in recovery mode. I'm trying to get my life back to normal. Normal is something that my life hasn't seen in almost 6 weeks. I have been so entrenched in Absolute Adoration that I have completely neglected doing the normal, everyday, focusing on me, type things ::

:: So I have been hibernating here at home since Sunday and it feels good. I'm taking pictures of the simple things, cleaning clothes, organizing life, taking time to cuddle my kids and most of all, not feeling like I have to be checking my computer to see if there are any updates for the conference ::

:: As for the conference, it was great - turned out beautifully and most of all God showed up in a real way to each who were willing to receive Him. Tammy Trent was awesome as was Rebecca; we are so blessed to have had the chance to be in the presence of each of these women of God! ::

If you haven't done so, you can read a few updates from some of my lovelies that wrote about their experience at Absolute Adoration here ::

:: Char ::
:: Kristin ::
:: Laura ::
:: Crystal ::

:: I'm leaving you with those links to read and I'm going to go clean something while I have two sets of little feet down to rest -- It's good to be alive and to live in such a blessed country -- Remember today is Earth Day - So do something nice for our beautiful earth, I think I might go for a walk, that's not really something nice for the earth, but it's better than going for a drive! ::

:: Oh and just one more thing; if you have been keeping up on Stellan from McMama's blog
and Stellan's Name Gallery - this weekend I took the opportunity to get Tammy to pose w/ Stellan -- Please continue to pray without ceasing for this wee little man and his great little life, and remember all the little ones who aren't healthy but battling for their lives -- I am so thankful for my kicking, screaming, sometimes-not-so-fun little big boys ::

:: Blessings my lovelies, I'm back at it here and I hope to visit you all via blog soon and very soon! ::

:: XO - Shawna ::

:: I'm Gone From Here ::

:: For now... ::

:: I'm up to my elbows in the finishing details of our Women's Wednesday conference called Absolute Adoration ::

:: It is going to be an amazing event full of fun girl stuff, an amazing testimony by Tammy Trent, terrific worship, an artisan trade show and some fabulous surprises! ::

:: So if you want to see me or talk to me you'll just have to break down and buy a ticket to the conference...You won't be disappointed! ::

:: Here are the details ::

*Friday April 17th - 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
*Saturday April 18th - 9:30 am - Noon
CLA in Langley
Tickets are $40 and can be found at Blessings Christian Marketplace in Langley, House of James in Abbotsford or our church offices (Maple Ridge or Langley)

You can also purchase tickets last minute at the door -- If you can only make it to one of the two days the cost is just $25

I hope I see you there, and if not...don't worry I have not died, I'm just wading through gumballs (more on that later, or come to the conference to find out what that is all about!)

:: XO to you lovely Ones! ::

Unto the Lamb

:: During this Easter, I pray the very reason we celebrate Easter is close to your heart and that you are aware what our Saviour, the Lamb did for you. I know I am! ::

:: I'm almost ready to celebrate the Sabbath with my family, one bathroom to clean, a few more clothes to iron and another batch of Paska to put in the oven ::

:: Ps. I heard this song about a year ago - it's simply overwhelmingly touching to me ::

:: Vacation Tips ::

:: Hey Y'all! Sorry I haven't been around lately, I've been ankle deep in planning for our Absolute Adoration conference (more on that later), plus doing cakes, planning family events, let alone dealing with the daily grind. Life is busy! ::

:: At any rate, I writing this post for your opinion...Paul and I want to get away on just a short little trip aka meaning a cheap trip. We will not be taking our kids on this trip, it's just for Paul and I. So we're thinking of Vegas. Neither of us have been to Vegas, and figure that it would be a good mixture of Sun, Shopping, Sights & Relaxation ::


:: This is where you come in -- Have you been to Vegas, if so, what is your opinion of Vegas? ::

:: Be honest, I've heard many people say "Vegas is great, but" - bear in mind that we don't have much moola to spend and Vegas would hit the spot as we would probably stay with one of Paul's friends that lives there, which would mean hitting up a show or two! ::

:: I'm open to hearing about the hotel you stayed at, the shows you went to, the places you ate and the best spots in town ::

:: Thanks for all your help! ::

:: XO - *S ::

:: ASAQD ::

:: It's "ASK SHAWNA A QUESTION DAY" ::

:: Here are the rules ::

No. 1 - There are no rules.

No. 2 - Ask me whatever you want.
No. 3 - If you have never posted a comment on here, now is your chance.

No. 4 - You can post your question anonymously if you are too shy to have your name attached to it.

No. 5 - Again, there are no rules.

No. 6 - Have fun!

:: This post will be open until Monday evening -- Have fun! ::

XO :: *S

* * *

:: Answers ::

Wow you girls came up with some humdingers...and let me say, you stumped me on some of these! Okay, disclaimer...I am totally {sometimes} indecisive, most of the time, however when I'm not totally undecided I totally know what I want. Does any of this make any sense!?! Okay so on to the answers ::

Q: What is your favorite quick and easy dinner recipe right now?
A: Currently my favorite quick recipe is lettuce wraps

Q: What is my favorite or least of the following?
1. Body Part
Favorite: Boobs - Least: Stomach
2. Item of clothing
Favorite: Trouser Jeans - Least: Poor fitting bra
3. Place to visit
Favorite: London, England - Least: Home Depot, it gives me an immediate headache
4. Things to do in my spare time
I don't have spare time
5. Food
Favorite: Anything I'm not supposed to eat - Least: Carrots & Brussell Sprouts

Q: What is my #1 favorite quick tip for getting the house on the way to "in order"?
A: Pick up the floors...well not literally, but pick up and put away everything that is on the floors. Start in the entrance, shoes on the floor into the shoe bins/racks...and go room by room...soon enough you will find that you have pretty much picked up the whole house and your spirits in the meantime. This is the first thing I do when I want to clean or do a quick "once through" my house.

Q: What is your #1 best storage advice for a pantry?
A: Limit the space that you allot for the pantry...if you have too much space you will pack too much junk. And, make sure to go through your pantry every 3 months. When I sort through my pantry I make up my "pantry meals" using stuff found in my pantry and deep freezer that needs to be eaten or else it'll be wasted, this saves us money and keeps the junk in the pantry down to a minimum. I also have three jars with rotating choices of snacks for the boys that at any time they can access {sometimes this is a good thing, sometimes not so much!}

Q: What is your #1 favorite pick for best nude lip colour?
A: My face concealer outlined with a bit of #666 Brandy Wine {yeah, bad I know} lip liner by WET 'N WILD then topped w/ a clear gloss or vaseline...Love it! And it has been my standard since I was 15!

Q: What is your #1 favorite CD right now?
A: Kim Walker - here is my song

Q: What is your #1 thing you look forward to in Spring?
A: The sun setting later in the evening, it feels more refreshing to have the skies brighter for an extra hour after dinner + a nice walk + the smell of the grass being cut for the first time + the fresh flowers blooming out of the ground..I could go on, I really LOVE Spring!

Q: When are we having another baby?
A: We're in discussions as to if we are going to have another one...we vacillate back and forth between going for it and having another one, or being completely content with having the boys. We are some days SO good with the two boys, but both of us would like another baby...we'll have to see what this next year bring, as of right now though there are no plans for a baby.

Q: Favorite dessert to take to a friends place?
A: I don't have a favorite really, I do love to make Social Apple Betty {by best of bridge} - it's a warm, light, apple dessert that you top with vanilla ice cream...it's usually a super hit!

Q: How do you pick yourself up when you're feeling blah
A: Depends on what kind of blah I'm feeling - sometimes I just need to wash my face and take some time to freshen up and that hits the spot. Other times I need to get fresh air, dance around the house blasting music or sit down and read. Sometimes even cleaning helps me fight the blah feeling - - - I know, I'm sick!

Q: Do you have a non profit/charity that is near and dear to your heart?
A: Yes, UGM {as they call themselves now} but to me it's still Union Gospel Mission. For a very very long time I have been hosting meals there through my donations and I have to say that the first time I thought about it is when I was nine and I saw my Grandpa filling out a form for a donation.

Q: What is your favorite worship song?
A: I don't know if I have a favorite right now but I do love anything by Kim Walker

Q: If you could go on a vacation anywhere in the world where would you go?
A: Right now, I would be happy to go anywhere warm...however a dream of mine has been to go to Greece & The South of France. My most favorite place to vacation is Hawaii...that is where my heart rests first.

Q: What is your song, the song that describes you to a "T", more like, hey that's me when you hear it?
A: WoW - you really stumped me on this one! I don't really have "a song" - I have so many facets of me that are so diverse that I will go from loving my country songs to classical to pop...I am a total pop rocker when I'm in the car - I LOVE dance music! So the answer is no, I don't have a song, that being said -- I have signature songs that represent different parts of my life and at any time I hear that song and it totally transports me back to that time in my life...I LOVE music...almost all of it, seriously even rock - do I look like a rocker type girl?

Q: Who would you go see for the ultimate concert experience?
A: I've been to quite a few concerts, but my all time, always wanted to see concert, I would have to say Celine Dion would be my first choice, then Sting, then Phil Collins...told you I had eclectic taste in music ;)

Q: What is your favorite thing to do in the Summer?
A: Go to the lake for the day

Q: Do you and Paul have nicknames for each other? Names that you can share that is ;) What about nicknames for the boys?
A: Nicknames I have for Paul: "Babe" & "P" are the typical ones but if I'm mad at him or he frustrated me I call him "Jerk face" - I know, not nice but it's true. I'm happy to report that mostly he's called "Babe"!
A: Nicknames Paul has for me: the most typical is "Shaw", "Babe", "Shawnee", "Georgie" - yeah, apparently I wear a few different hats! Mostly though it's "Shaw".
A: Nicknames for the boys: Jacob is usually "JJ" to me and "Jakers" to Daddy - Cole is usually "Cole" (I know so original!) and often "Coley" - then there is Jacob's nic name for Cole which is "Ugh Huh", but just today he started saying "Col" clearer, so we might get rid of the "ugh huh" but if you ask Cole what his name is he says "ugh huh" so we're afraid it's stuck!

:: Thanks for all the fun questions gals! You really had me thinking on these ones! ::

XOX :: *S

:: Hey Y'all! ::

:: I'm here, I really am...and I have oh so much to write about but I've been up to my ankles in cake and when I'm not doing cake, I'm "spa-ing" a whole bunch of fun girls and if I'm not doing that I'm working on our upcoming conference at our church ::

:: So there you have it, I have so much to share, things in our everyday life, things in my spiritual life, Spring type things, oh so much, so don't worry -- I'll be posting some juicy stuff here soon and in the meantime, since I haven't done it in a while there will be an open post of ASAQD coming right up! ::

XO :: *S

:: Another Invitation ::

:: Hey Girls, this is it "blogger friends SPA night" to the 23rd of March firm & final! ::

:: I'd love it if you would come out and enjoy some great conversation, refreshments & SPA products & demo's & if you want to bring a friend - I would love you even more! ::

:: If you just read my blog and don't have a blog, again you are more than welcome to come out -- The more the merrier! ::

:: Thanks a bunch ladies - I can't wait to relax with y'all in person! ::

XO :: SHAWNA