Cyber Monday

Oh my goodness friends! I had no idea Cyber Monday was even a thing and I was totally unprepared for Black Friday. Next year I plan to be much more prepared (as in save up!) and take advantage of some of the sales.

For instance if I had saved up before hand I would have totally fallen for the Kate Spade Suprise Sale of 75% off and bought this purse!

Swoon! 

It is always fun to shop sales! 

As it is I did purchase a baby monitor on Black Friday from Babys R Us for half off.  It's easy to get carried away by shopping online. I had a shopping cart full of baby things but then talked myself out of purchasing all except the one item that was on sale for Black Friday. 

This morning I had some fun shopping for baby in the Cyber Monday sale and getting distracted by all things baby online.  There are so many cute baby clothing sites! Here are some of my purchases and some items I intend to yet purchase!

1. Minimoc Mocs

Minimoc Mocs are adorable and handmade in Canada. I love them and could just imagine them paired with these items. I have purchased a pair of red minimocs. These Lion and Flamingo are next on my list but at $45 a pop I want to measure little ones feet before buying.

GAP, Old Navy and Banana Republic were offering 40% off purchase price today with the code CYBER and free shipping for orders over $50. I purchased the tights, knit bear hat, embroidered smock dress and multi-dot zip footed one piece for a little over $50 total. It is easy to spend $50 in store for one item so I was quite pleased. The cardigan is on my list for the next sale or I will try to find a similar item at a lower price somewhere else. I had zip front one piece from Old Navy in my shopping basket too but decided against purchasing today when the Cyber Monday deal did not apply to it because it was an everyday steal item.

2. GAP Solid Tights 

3. Old Navy Zip Front One Piece: In the Pink

4. GAP Shirred Flare Cardigan

5. GAP Knit Bear Hat

6.GAP Embroidered Smock Dress

7. GAP Multi-dot zip footed one piece

Did you do any Black Friday shopping or Cyber Monday shopping? 

A Backlog of Reads

Here is another reading challenge update in less than a week! I have a backlog of books I've read to write about.

Here is what I've been reading:

A Book A Friend Recommended: The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo


I've been seeing this book blogged about, instagrammed and mentioned in numerous conversations so finally decided to read it and see what all the fuss was about. I am not sure if it is worth all of the fuss but there a few good ideas that Maire Kondo presents.  I almost feel like it could all be summed up in a short handout. I should have taken notes and made that handout for you all. The read is relatively quick and by the time you are finished you think I should pass this on so that it does not clutter up my house.  I passed it on to my mom.  So...this is not a comprehensive review by any means as I read the book in early October and what did not stick then is long gone.

A take away concept I did absorb was to consider if something brings you joy. As I have already been in the process of thinning out my wardrobe and thinking about capsule wardrobes this concept was easy to grasp and I think I was already there. It is the idea that the items of clothing or books should be items that you love and which bring you joy. If not then it should be discarded. I was inspired after reading this book to consider and let go of some of the things I hang onto but are stored in closets never to be seen or used. I have way too many books and notebooks/binders filled from courses I have taken. I intend when unpacked to purge many of my books- either to sell or give away. This is a project I intend to tackle in the new year in the new house!

I also liked the idea of tackling categories not rooms. I had done this with my clothes and it definitely made it easier to assess and discard. I also did this for my husband who is much more emotionally attached to items and often keeps items for sentimental value. I do not have as deep of an emotional connection with items. I think in helping someone else this philosophy of asking is this something that brings you joy or is it something you love is very helpful. With L and his 20 collared golf shirts for instance some of his sentimental value was the fact that he had purchased it at such a great deal on such and such shopping trip, but when questioned if he loved it or it brought him joy when he tried it on it was easier for him to part with. I assembled all of my office type supplies as one category and sorted into sub-categories. It definitely made for ease in locating and when I was diligent returning. Unfortunately as we are in transition as as my husband needs some of these they have slowly meandered from their location. It is really a challenge when living with someone else! My mom also commented on this while she was reading it saying she must be single!

While I see the value of this type of organizational decluttering philosophy set forth by Marie Kondo on a day to day basis there is still the straightening of a room and putting away of items that must occur. For instance right now I survey my living room and see that I have not finished yet decorating the Christmas tree so the boxes of decorations are still out. There is a book on top of these boxes that I checked out from the library. Clearly it should not live there but my hands were full of groceries when I came home. There are two loads of folded laundry that should be put away but L is sleeping as he is currently working nights and I don't want to disturb him. A blanket has slipped off the couch and the pillows on the couch need fluffing, a hoodie hangs over the edge of the couch, the coffee table is a mishmash of television remotes, coffee cups, receipts, socks that did not have mates, keys, and diabetic supplies I just picked up from the pharmacy. Clearly tidying up is not magic but an ongoing process of picking up and putting things back in their homes or straightening them so they do not look all haphazardly placed.

This book is clearly inspirational and if you google this title you will find all kinds of inspirational accounts of how this book has been life changing. Amazon gives this book 4.5 stars. Goodreads rating ranges from 3.1-3.8. I give it a 3.


A Book Set During Christmas: Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

What a fun read! I liked it! I give it 4 stars. If you enjoyed Arrested Development you will enjoy this novel with it's deadpan absurdity. Bee has achieved in school and as a reward asks her parents if for Christmas they might go to Antartica. Her parents reluctantly agree. This sends her mother into a tailspin as her anxiety over travelling increases and she relies on a virtual personal assistant to arrange their trip. Her husband becomes suspicious at the actions of his wife suspecting she is having a mental breakdown and plots an intervention to commit her to a mental hospital that goes awry when Bernadette disappears. Bee to make sense of her mother's disappearance collates the Internet postings, public records and private emails she has received from an anonymous source.

A Book Set in a Different Country: Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Anne Fowler

This novel started out slow and I was not sure if I would enjoy it but by the end my reservations were dismissed and I recommend this novel. I give it a 4 star rating. Goodreads rates it at 3.79. I finished this novel just after reading F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, This Side of Paradise. Reading this novel in succession to the novel by Fitzgerald as well as having read The Great Gatsby years ago made my enjoyment of it much more immense. I was not familiar with the lifestory of Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald that has been mythologized. It was an interesting fictionalized take on the emotional life of Zelda that Fowler interprets from various accounts, and a look women's issues in the 1920s.

A Popular Author's First Book: This Side of Paradise by Scott Fitzgerald

This novel also started out slow and was full of poetry and language that I did not grasp. My favorite point actually came when the novel switched to a play while at the same time I thought it entirely odd that the genre had switched for a short section. The descriptions of the setting in the play reminded me of Tennessee Williams. I would not have thought Fitzgerald a literary genius based on this read despite reviews that claim it was a romantic and witty novel. The main character spun helplessly or deliberately out of control throughout the course of the novel. There were little heroic qualities about him. After reading the novel Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald I could see semi-autobiographical aspects of Fitzgerald either his fears or his desires woven into the character of Amory. If you plan to read Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald do give this novel a go. The context is worth it. I would rate this novel a 2.5.



I likely will not complete the reading challenge by the end of December that I started at the beginning of this year but I think I have made a solid effort.

I went through the remaining categories this past week and made a list of books I intend to read, which is half the battle.

A Book By a Favorite Author You've Never Read Before: Truth & Bright Water by Thomas King
A Book From Your Childhood: The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery
A Book with a Colour in the Title: The Jade Peony by Watson Choy
A Book that Came out the Year You Were Born: The World According to Garp by John Irving
A Book with a Love Triangle: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
A Book More than 100 Years Old: Beowulf by Unknown, translated by Seamus Heaney
A Book Set Somewhere You've Always Wanted to Visit: Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard
A Mystery or Thriller: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
A Book that Scares You: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
A Book Your Mom Loves: ??
A Book Published This Year: The Royal We by Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan
A Play: The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov
A Book You Were Supposed to Read in High School But Didn't: Davita's Harp by Chaim Potok


As always if you have a novel choice for one of these categories that you think I should read do recommend as my choices are not yet set in stone and I love to hear from you! What have you been reading? What do you recommend? Did you read any of the novels above that I listed or reviewed? What did you think of them?

Fall Reads

It's high time I wrote a post about what I've been reading before I forget what these books were even about.

I love the way that blogger mr.thomas & me rates books. This girl has great book review and reading link-ups. I've been trying to figure out a consistent way of rating books I've read.. So borrowing from Amber here is a rating star rubric:

* stay away
** ehh...don't bother
*** it's okay, I'm conflicted
**** Yes, of course
***** You need this ASAP


Love Anthony by Lisa Genova

Earlier this year I read Still Alice by Lisa Genova which I loved and highly recommend. I have yet to see the movie which I intend to see but obviously am avoiding because it will be heart wrenching I imagine. Love Anthony by comparison is disappointing. The character writing her debut novel from the perspective of an autistic boy that was in essence the secondary character's story just seemed contrived or a fantastical incredible coincidence of magical telepathy. Focusing on Olivia's journal and story I think, the gem in this novel, could have vaulted this novel into the same category as Still Alice. Amazon gives this novel 4.5 stars. I give it 2 stars for my reading challenge category a book from an author you haven't read yet. I was expecting much more!

Quiet by Susan Cain

I purchased this non-fiction book a long time ago and it sat on my kobo reader for just as long hence falling into the category a book at the bottom of your reading list. I thought this book would be about the value of quiet rather than an introvert vs. extrovert expose. I love quiet spaces- art galleries, museums, nature, Catholic Churches. Our world is noisy and it's not just coming from the extroverts. I go to my in laws and the tv is on non-stop. I waffle in defining whether I am an introvert or extrovert. Likely I am an introvert because I do enjoy solitude, reading, listening, but I have little problems with teamwork, open plan work spaces, brainstorming, and multitasking. Depending on the circumstances I can be gregarious and I do enjoy parties! It's funny really that in my relationship with L he is the talker and I'm the listener and yet I'd consider him more introverted in social situations than I am. For instance if we go for a drive he talks the entire way (unless he is sleeping, or studying) so that after several hours he is almost hoarse, whereas I think I really have nothing new to say. I do wish I was more articulate, had stronger socializing skills, was more comfortable in the spotlight, and had a natural ability to think and speak on my feet. Cain argues in favor of introverts in a western society where introverts get a bad wrap by focusing chapters on scientific studies. She finds introverts at the top levels of the business, legal and educational world. She argues introverts tend to think more deeply about problems and persist for longer in trying to solve them. Introverts are supposedly more likely to care about the feelings of others, to make excellent compromising leaders, and to be excellent negotiators (Cain's particular area of expertise) based on their ability to seem soft and actually be tough at the same time. She argues that the extroverts in powerful positions she has seen are more likely to take unjustified risks, to get hopped up on the thrill of the chase, to listen to the loudest person in the room, and to walk all over introverts. It was a slow, slow, slow read. I think it is meant to read like an affirmation for introverts. For me it was not the book I was expecting and I really didn't need to be affirmed as an introvert. Amazon gives this best seller 4.5 stars. I give it a 2.

The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood

This summer you could buy MA novels for less than $3 on kobo. I decided to complete the trilogy I had started to read. My brother in Vancouver highly recommended this novel when he read it. I preferred this novel to Oryx and Crake. Perhaps it was the feminine perspective? Or less sexualized language? although there is still aspects here especially regarding sexual violence against women-- MA does enjoy writing dark dystopian novels with sexual undertones. I understood that this was a parallel perspective but it took me some time to realize that some of the characters were the same from the first novel. When I finally realized this it had a deeper intrigue. I found the Gardeners an interesting group because they anticipated the "waterless flood" or natural disaster that would obliterate life or purge mankind. The Gardeners are societal outcasts. Their oral poems/songs are weird. They are ingenious. They prepare for this flood by storing supplies and learning how to live off the land. Because of this, they are the only ones who are prepared when Crake's virus wipes out the majority of the human population. This is the story of the disaster, the events leading up to it, and the people who survived it, told from the outside. Amazon gives it 4 stars. I give it 3 stars.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

I deliberated forever about picking a Pullitzer Prize Winner novel. I know they are great literary reads but have you guys seen the size of these? And the price tags! So I went to the library after made a short list of possible Pullitzer Prize titles I was interested in reading and searched the library database for books on the shelf in the library. I know they can order in books from other libraries in the province but I wasn't ready for all that. All this time I've been buying books, but with moving realize I have too many heavy boxes of books. I've re-discovered the wonder of the library! I got a library card and signed out two books. I was interested in this book because of its arts connection, but 784 pages!

The novel drew me in! I didn't expect this to happen considering the far-fetching plot, cloying stock characters, overwrought message, Dickensen comparisons and gaudy cliches book reviewers warned I'd find.

The novel centers around a painting, The Goldfinch as seen through a tear in the cover image. The Goldfinch (Dutch: Het puttertje) is a 1654 animal painting by Carel Fabritius of a chained goldfinch. It is an oil painting on panel of 33.5 by 22.8 cm (13.2 by 9.0 in). The work is in the collection of the Mauritshuis in The Hague, Netherlands. In a tragic terrorist action at the Metropolitan Museum of Art 13 year old Theo Decker acquires the painting. This action will both haunt him and provide a connection to his lost mother through the course of the novel. I liked the twist when Theo finds the painting missing even if the chase to Amsterdam and the Boris connection seemed a little crazed.

The main character had such flaws and at times I really didn't like him but I was still curious to what depth he would unravel. He seemed to land on his feet unscathed despite the amount of drugs he consumed. My final criticism of the novel is the last chapter or epilogue that tried to wrap up the novel and tie off a few loose ends. If this is what the reviewers meant when they said overwrought message I agree. Without this last impression the book was a zippy, enjoyable read.

Amazon gives the novel 3.5 stars. I'd give it 4.

Home Build Update

The roof & shingles are now on. Most of the windows have been installed. Framing is complete on the main floor. Basement concrete floor has been poured and framing is underway. 

Today we met with the builder, electrician, plumber/heater (haha what do you call the individual who installs the heating system?) at 8:30 am. Brrr it was so cold as the house only has minimal heat in the basement for the curing of the concrete. 

It is exciting to see the progress. 

They had to put up a sold sign out front since there have been several interested individuals asking if the house is for sale now that the park layout behind our property is almost complete and two offers! 

32 Weeks Pregnancy Update!

Today I am 32 weeks pregnant! 

We had photographs taken on Friday by jsterkphotography 

Here is a preview sample that she posted for us. 

I am excited to see the other photos and hope to use some for Christmas cards. 

I like Jenae's style of photography.

32 Weeks: It's amazing to think that our baby will be here in eight weeks. The baby is measuring approximately 4 pounds now. Scientists have discovered that babies at this stage dream now. How amazing is that and how did they find this out I'd like to know!

Gender: So far L is still guessing what the gender is and I and everyone who knows has kept the secret.  (L wants to find out when the baby is born.)  I think he is having all the fun guessing! It is hilarious. I asked him what he thought it was going to be on Saturday and so far he thinks it is a boy. 

Total Weight Gain: I have gained 9 pounds. I am sad to say I have acquired three stretch marks. They are lowdown on the lower side of my belly. I thought I had evaded them and then one day after a shower was looking in a mirror and noticed a red line. I would have missed seeing them without the help of the mirror. Now I lather up continually with body butter cream but I think the damage is already done. 

Maternity Clothes: With only 8 weeks to go I do not foresee myself buying much of anything more. Except I foresee myself panicking around the time I have to attend L's Christmas party as there are some wives/girlfriends of the power engineers that are gorgeous and dressed to the nines! So likely I will think that I need something new to wear. I bought this really pretty black and white stripped dress at the beginning of my pregnancy but I have yet to wear it! Not a very good investment! I thought I would wear the dress during the summer and then when that never happened thought maybe for the maternity shoot but it was really cold out and windy and the dress is built more for summer. Now the pants I bought earlier with the elastic belly that goes up to just below one's bra really are painful just around the bra line/rib line. I wear them to go out or in the morning or for a few hours here and there but mostly I wear legging type pants which are very comfortable. I really think they should make maternity underware. Underware can be really uncomfortable. I tried buying a size up but really that does not help because it just means they are not wider in girth rather they just go higher up so that you are wearing underware that almost reaches to your bra. So I just wear my regular pre-pregnancy underware but low-down. 

Sleep: I sleep mostly on my left side until my hips to mid thigh hurt and then I switch it up to my right side. I love my king size Kingsdown bed when we go back to our house. I am glad to be off the double that we slept on in Regina when living in the condo. That was painful and I could only sleep on it in 3-4 hour streches. We bought a new Kingsdown queen bed for here so tonight will be a trial run for that bed here. My hands were going numb at night for the past three weeks if I did not have them stretched outright or at least down and straight. This was very uncomfortable at first since I am used to craddling my pillow in my hands or having my hands up by my chin. I think I've gotten used to sleeping like this now and largely the numb hands issue has been resolved. 

Symptoms: I am glad that there are only eight weeks left. Really I have had a good pregnancy and I have nothing to complain about as I remember all the years of infertility and just wishing to be pregnant.  But the truth is pregnancy does stretch you and is not a walk in the park. Actually a walk in the park at a fast clip is hard work because of the weight of the baby bearing down. I need to make more of an effor to exercise but have been terribly lazy as it gets colder out. I have really terrible looking bruises/ probable vericous veins on my left leg. As the uterus grows, it puts pressure on the large vein (the inferior vena cava) which in turn increases pressure in the leg veins. Hopefully as far as what I have read some of this disappear after delivery. Thankfully for the most part the heartburn of the second trimester has dissipated. I really only have pain along my rib/bottom of bra line from my tight pants and sometimes when I sit as I think that everything inside is competing for space. 

Tests: I failed my 1 hour glucose test at 30 weeks and so had to return for the 2 hour glucose test at 31 weeks. With the 2 hour glucose test you fast for 8 hours prior, then they first take your blood, after you drink this really sweet orange drink in 4 minutes or less that has 75 grams of glucose or sugar. After an hour they measure the glucose in your blood stream again and compare it against the first measurement. And after two hours they take a third sample of blood. Unfortunately I learned today that I also failed the 2 hour test and so have now been referred to a dietician. I suspected I would fail the glucose test as I really do not respond well to sugar. I try to avoid too much sugar as I feel sick if I have too much sugar. I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), an endocrine disorder, that along with the other array of non-fabulous symptoms including infertility shows up as insulin resistance or impaired glucose tolerance. So Wednesday I visit a dietician. Interesting.

Upcoming: I have both the dietician and doctors appointment on Wednesday of this week. This weekend we have prenatal classes. I am nervous about giving birth so hopefully this will assay some of those unknowns. Sometimes I think a c-section would be easier and so much faster but I really need to dig deep, find some courage and tell myself I can do this. 

Life:  We have moved into a basement suite after the sweet housesitting operative fell through. The lease on our downtown condo was up for renewal and we chose to not renew in favor of finding a cheaper and better situated location. If we had known the house-sitting opportunity would fall through we would have stayed put in the downtown condo. And so we are here until our house sells the province over and our new house is built. I keep telling myself technically this is only 4 months away which in the grand scheme of things is not that long. This change has not been good for L with his sleeping needs for shift work as the upper tenant has heavy feet, noisy friends, and loud furniture that he continually adjusts. I will write a post some day about living with a spouse who has anxiety, but for now I will just say that life these days is challenging. 

Fall Scarf Exchange

How fun! A fall scarf exchange! 

It was pure excitement when I found one hosted by Whitney, Elizabeth, and Courtney that I could participate in as a Canadian blogger. 

Scarves are a necessity on the prairies in the winter. They are so cozy and warm and keep the cold northern winds from burning your face. It's crazy really that you can get a burn from the cold! 

It's almost winter here! I saw a skiff of snow last week when I woke up but otherwise the snow hasn't settled in. It is -1 degrees Celcius today. It should warm up to 11 degrees by Saturday of this week but I see that a few flurries are in the forecast for next week along with colder temperatures. A new scarf is just in time!

I was matched with Sarita another Canadian blogger who has a lovely blog! She is very beautiful and has the most adorable little girls. It was so fun to open the mail and have a package waiting! It was wrapped sweetly and I wish I had taken a picture before I tore into the package.

I love it!

It is grey with a touch of dusty rose pink. The colours and texture are just my style!

Thank you Sarita for the fabulous scarf! It is the best!

I was matched with Chrissy in Leduc. I know that she has received her scarf as she sent me a message shortly after receiving it. Chrissy is on facebook. In the matching process I learned her favorite colours and styles and while it was fun shopping for someone else it was a little stressful I might add hoping she would like the scarf I sent. I am glad to hear she likes it!

I am enjoying seeing others scarfs on instagram tagged #fallscarfexchange15