Maybe Christmas perhaps, means a little bit more.

My first free day in as long as I can remember and I'm doing everything in my power to avoid going for a run, lol! My long lost blog needs some attention and what better time to check in than a cold December day with nobody home to interrupt my relax time.

It's December! Holy smokes! My last entry was in May which means it's been over half a year… lots has happened, but really it's the same ol' deal. Kids, school, work, family… and trying to keep it all balanced. The scales have been tipped dramatically while I've been in school and my family has been surviving without me. I have one month off from school and am planning on making the most of it... lunching and coffee with my pals, quality time with the kids, a date or two with the hubby and maybe I'll paint the front entrance that I spackled and sanded in preparation 4 months ago. But mostly, I want to veg out, take naps, rejuvenate the soul... Take Christmas for what it is and not get caught up in the chaos of it all. I'm feeling protective of my time off and if that means saying no to a Christmas party or two, that's fine by me. No point in getting back into the swing of things in the New Year feeling more burnt out than before.

Christmas for many is a religious holiday, but in our home it's about the traditions. Some old, some new, but never the less, it's about making memories. I've had some time this week to catch up on my design shows and am horrified by the holiday commercials. Thank god I have a pvr to fast forward through them, but one caught my eye and it's been bugging me ever since. The commercial was showing that cheaper prices at a certain store meant you could buy your kids more and implied that being a good parent means buying your kids Dr. Dre Beats headphones AND a new smart phone. What kind of screwed up message intended to send parents into a guilt induced fit is this?!? I've talked to too many parents lately that are stressed out at Christmas time trying to keep up with the Joneses. Well, I hate to break it to you kids, not in this household!

Believe it or not, Christmas is NOT about the presents. If that were true, Christmas would only last for an hour or two… tops. I want Christmas to last as long as possible (because really, when else can you drink Rum and Eggnog?!).

So on that note, here are my thoughts on what makes Christmas at the Sebel household:

New ornaments. For us, Christmas starts with making our annual trek to Hallmark to pick out the perfect ornaments for the tree. Every year when we decorate the tree, the kids put them up starting with their first Christmas and it reminds us what the kids were interested in each year. Two years in a row Aidan chose motorcycle ornaments. Try telling a 3 year old that the ornaments aren't toys. The missing handlebar and kickstand are proof that he couldn't resist and every year it makes us smile. This year Natalie chose The Little Mermaid (although I'm sure if they had My Little Pony she would have chosen that) and Aidan chose the Pirates of the Caribbean skull that plays the theme song. Although I pointed out to him that he hasn't seen the movie, he informed me that he wants too, which apparently justifies his choice. I'm pretty sure he just wanted a "cool" ornament, but either way, it's a funny memory and he left happy. I love this tradition that I share with the kids. Dylan has his own special things he has with them and this one is reserved for me.

Getting the Christmas tree! I am an advocate for real trees at Christmas. No offence to the artificial "tree-ers" out there, but it will just not suffice in our home. I have some notorious tree getting experiences that I've blogged about before, and there have been moments when I've threatened to buy a fake tree just so we wouldn't have to trek out in the cold, fighting about who has forgotten the kids' mittens. But nothing compares to the smell of a real tree, and what would Christmas be without wrangling a real tree in the stand to make it stand up straight. I have some definite ideas on what I like, shocking lol! A Fraser Fir is tall and slim, fitting into our small living room perfectly. The stiff branches leave space to hang our O-so-special ornaments that we have collected. And I should mention, the majority of my ornaments compliment the colour scheme of my home. (I did mention I'm in school to be an interior designer, right? Lol!)

Hanging the stockings. Years ago my aunt knitted matching stockings for every member of the family, each with a Santa and our name on it. And keeping up with traditions, each member that had been added to the family gets one made. Dylan's and the kids' are a lot newer than mine… My stocking has yellowed over the years and my pom pom is missing, but I love seeing them hung up by the fire. Even though they clash with my colour scheme, Christmas wouldn't be complete without them. ;)

Decorating the Gingerbread house. I am no Martha Stewart when it comes to baking and I will unabashadly state that I buy a kit from Superstore. And you know what? My kids could not care less. They love decorating the little house and I love not fussing with the baking. It's a win-win situation.

Advent calendars. I especially enjoyed advent calendars as a kid and it's no exception with my kids. When else do you get to have chocolate first thing in the morning, without asking your parents and not getting in trouble for it?! It's the build up of excitement and the anticipation of Christmas that makes  advent calendars so special.

Playing in the snow. Sometimes technology isn't the best thing and it's hard not to notice that we live in a society where our iPhone is an extension of our hand. I will be the first to admit I'm no angel in this category either. We have had a cold winter already this year, and for the past few days a little pond in the back of our town has frozen over enough for us to skate on. The best part is there is no cell reception which means you have to be in the moment! I did bust my phone out to take a few pictures and videos of the kids skating and I was a proud Mama watching them show off their skills. Aidan is quite the little hockey player and is completely obsessed! It felt like a true Canadian winter and maybe one day when Aidan gets drafted to the NHL, I'll show off these videos like Gretzky's dad did. Just sayin'. ;)

Letters to Santa (and sometimes technology is an awesome thing). A few years back I heard about a website where Santa sends your child a personalized video for Christmas. You can choose if your kid has been naughty or nice, which I will admit has been tempting lol! Last year I actually chose for "Santa" to let Aidan know that he thinks he could be a bit nicer to his sister. You should have seen the look of terror on his face! Poor kid, but I will tell you that his behaviour improved dramatically. I say, why get your kids to believe in Santa if you can't use him to your advantage? Lmao! Make your own video at http://www.portablenorthpole.com/home

Christmas movies. Polar Express, Narnia, The Grinch, Rudolph the Red nosed reindeer, Frosty the Snowman. What is better than curling up with some Hot Chocolate (with Bailey's for the adults) and watching movies about the Christmas spirit? This year it was way too cold to go to our local Candlelight Parade and the kids voted we stay home and watch Christmas movies instead. We had friends over to join us and I think we may choose to make this another holiday tradition!

Christmas shopping with my mom. Every year my mom and I take a day off in the weeks before Christmas to do some shopping on Robson Street in Vancouver. It started back when the kids and I would take the train into town to meet up with my mom. It has now become a girls day in town (without the kids) full of last minute shopping and lunch. I look forward to having this time with her, and my cousin, who has just moved to the area is joining us this year. I can't wait!

Christmas dinners. I of course love my family dinner on Christmas Eve with our German and Ukrainian dishes. Our family heads out to my Grandparents house in South Langley and after dinner, we pile into their tiny living room to open presents. It's total chaos cramming so many people (about 14 of us) into a super small space, but I can't imagine it any other way. The crackle and smell of the real wood burning fire is magic. But really, it's all about the kids presents. My mom gets so excited giving them their presents that she seems like a big kid herself. I smile every time I think about it. It's bitter sweet this year as my Grandpa's health is not so great and I can't help but think that this will most likely be his last Christmas with us. I'm going to soak in every minute of it.

Dylan and I have been lucky that our families celebrate Christmas on different days as neither one of us has to miss out on the traditions we grew up with. I'm lucky as one of my favourite things about the holidays is Christmas dinner at my in-laws. It's so different than what I grew up with but I love it equally as much. My family is fairly casual and what I mean by that is, you can wear your Sunday best or your sweatpants and nobody will take notice. It's about comfort foods, coziness and "cracked ice cake", my mom's traditional desert that involves Jello, graham crackers and whipped cream. Dylan's family is about the holiday dress, everyone done up to the nine's, the wine is flowing and the food is amazing as everyone brings one dish which means the food is top notch. It's loud and boisterous (usually about 30 people), we wear our tissue paper crowns that come out of the Christmas Cracker Snaps while Christmas jazz plays softly in the background. My in-laws have been putting the feelers out to pass down the hosting torch, but I'm holding off for as long as I can. It just won't be the same.

Christmas is not any one of these things, but a combination of them. It all boils down to one idea that the Grinch sums up perfectly…

My point is, I'm over trying to figure out what everyone else is doing at Christmas and we are doing what works for us. No guilt for not getting my kids an iPod touch. No excuses for wanting to stay home with my family in my sweatpants instead of going out. Enjoy your family because that is what it is really about. Most importantly, I want my kids to have wonderful memories and traditions to pass down to their kids should they choose to have families of their own one day. I want to show my kids that the value of something does not equal it's worth. Merry Christmas everyone!

 What are your holiday traditions?

Mr. Destiny

I know for some, turning 30 is not that big of a deal. One of my closest friends spent her 30th watching a movie with her parents... my husband was away on a business trip for his 30th and can't for the life of him see why it's such a big deal for me. But supposing I live to the ripe ol' age of 90, I've completed 1/3 of my life so far, and to me, that is a huge accomplishment all in itself. 

I've often considered myself a "mature" human being. And I use the term loosely because anyone who is close to me knows I can be wildly immature at times ;). Having said that, I've often wondered if being the oldest child of divorced parents forced me to have a "more adult" view on life. Although I consider myself to be an "old soul" (if you will), why has it taken me until this point in my life to figure my shit out?

Ok... I admit... not all my "stuff" is figured out... and far from it. But just shy of a week from my 30th birthday, I feel I know who I truly am. I know what I want, what I value, what I feel is worth waiting for, or not. I'm curious... do most people feel this urge to analyze their personal achievements around the age of 30 or is it just another number for most?

Lately I can't help but wonder if I'm living the life I was meant to live. I have never felt so fulfilled as I have recently going back to school. But, if my happiness creates others unhappiness... is it worth it? This may not be a comment that most would admit to, but I realize going back to school full-time has had an impact on my family... some positive (setting a good example for my kids) and others negative (My family sees me less, my husband has to work extra at home, running the kids around, picking up the slack caused by my absence. I'm also working 1/4 of what I used to, which means things are tighter financially). Although I proud of my accomplishments, I wouldn't be human if I didn't admit I felt some guilt for putting myself first. My aunt once told me that guilt is a useless emotion, and I try to remind myself of this.

My balancing act... will I ever really achieve it? My mind takes me to these dark places when my life is unbalanced. This I know for sure. Is it possible for one area to be overflowing with success without jeopardizing other areas of your life? Maybe this is what my thirties will be all about, figuring out exactly how to create a bountiful life in all areas. 

I'm reminded of the girl I was the day I turned 20. I had just gone on a date with this really cute guy and I knew he was the one (although I wasn't prepared to admit it just yet). I was preparing to go back to school for esthetics until I figured out what I wanted to do with my life. On the outside, I was a bubbly personality, oozing with self confidence, but on the inside, I didn't really know what I wanted from life. I was angry and bitter about the end of my parents' marriage and knew I never wanted that for myself. I had little self respect and was searching for meaning. 

A decade later, and that cute guy is my husband. I love him more than I could have ever imagined, although somedays I wonder how we have made it this far... (I'm convinced it's pure stubbornness on both our parts, lol)!  I'm amazed that it took me this long to figure out what I want to do with my life, career wise, although grateful that I have figured it out now when I can properly appreciate it. I have learned that time heals most wounds... and though sometimes the lessons still sting, the further removed we are from a situation, the easier it is to reflect back and to see what lessons we were meant to learn. I have no regrets... and if I could go back in my life like in "Mr. Destiny", I think I would make the same choices. Although my life hasn't been perfect, I'm content with the life I have helped to create. I'm positive that I still have important lessons to learn and those lessons won't come easy, but that's life and I'm okay with it. 

Confucious said, "To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it". Next week a new chapter begins for me, and with it I'm letting go of the things that have been holding me back. Here's to a new decade, a new beginning, new goals... Here's to thirty, baby... I can't wait to see what the next ten years will bring!

Balancing Act's 1 Year Anniversary!

A year has come and gone. March 1st marked the one year anniversary of my blog and the completion of my Happiness Project. I wouldn't have guessed a year ago that a small choice to start a Happiness Project of my own would lead to some amazing life changing decisions.

As my happiness project comes to a close, I am desperately trying to, once again, create balance in my life. The name of my blog, Balancing Act, is how I've come to think of life in general. A happy life is a balanced life... and an act that I will always be attempting to perfect.

I've also come to the realization that, alas... I am not superwoman. My seriously awesome husband has picked up the slack over the past few months, and I'm so grateful that he is so supportive of me going back to school. It's been hard on the entire family and I absolutely could not have done it without him. It's not only the days that I'm gone, but the endless hours of homework that have kept me from basically doing anything other than school related work since January. (I started this post on March 6th for god's sake! That's how often I get down time these days, lol!)

As one chapter is beginning, another is closing... I've made the difficult decision to cut my work hours drastically starting next term, with plans to close my esthetics business later this year. It means saying good bye to clients that I have come to love over the years... but I suppose there is always some sadness when a life chapter ends. Many of my clients have become friends and it will be a sad day when they are no longer a part of my everyday life.

The upside is, that I finally get why doing what you love for a living is the most amazing gift anyone could ever wish for. Although I am sleep deprived, never see my friends or my family, I have never felt so fulfilled in all my life. Design is in me... has been for as long as I can remember... Words cannot express my joy. I'm nearing the end of my first full time term as an Interior Design student... a dream I never thought I would realize. I'm still in awe.

2013 is a milestone year for me. A new life path... and my 30th birthday. I'm saying goodbye to my twenties, and I can't say I haven't had an amazing decade. I've figured out who I really am, what I want from life... what is worth fighting for (and I'm still learning to pick my battles). I've set the foundation for my future life, and I can't wait to see what I will encounter on this journey of mine.

Another huge milestone for 2013...My little girl is enrolled for Kindergarten in September which officially means my babies are no longer babies... My little boy turned 7 on Valentine's day and my sweet baby girl turned 5 a couple of weeks ago. We celebrated by getting her ears pierced, something that she has been begging to have done for about nine months... and something that her Daddy had a hard time with ;). I haven't had much time to spend with them lately, trying to work and go to school, so I've been trying to make our time together count. For Christmas, my sister bought the kids one of my favourite childhood books, James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl, and I've really enjoyed reading a few chapters every evening with them. With both kids in school full-time this September, I'm also trying to really appreciate the weekday mornings I have left with just me and my little girl.


There are many things I have learned about myself, and life in general, throughout the process of completing a Happiness Project. Here are some of my favourite lessons...

• I crave a simple life. That doesn't mean I want my life to be simple... But for my busy life to be simply organized. The chaos of an unbalanced life is suffocating at times, but exhilarating too... meeting somewhere in the middle of those two extremes is my happy place.  

• I work well under pressure.

• My husband is awesome... and sometimes not. But he works his ass off for his family, lives for his kids and loves me a lot. I appreciate him very much, but I don't tell him nearly as much as I should. 

• Less is more. 

• My kids are beautiful, talented, smart, caring, independent little people and I love them more than life itself. They make me laugh, and sometimes cry, and sometimes feel guilty that I don't see them enough... My biggest hope is that I am showing them it is never too late to follow your dreams... and that happiness is a choice you make everyday, and not an eventual goal. Independence is important, but so is being open to help. 

• My friends are my family that I was able to choose. I have the best friends in the world, whether I see them every two years, or every two days. Everyone of them adds something amazing to my life and I am so incredibly lucky. 

• My mom rules. Enough said. 

• Find a way to honour the things that mean the most to you. Surround yourself with happy memories and make your home a haven. At the end of the day, your home should be a place that makes you feel warm and fuzzy. 

• Take the time everyday to think of something that you are grateful for. And in the words of Sheryl Crow... It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you have. A grateful heart is a content heart is a happy heart. 

• Loving yourself is the best gift you can give yourself. On my bad days I need to remind myself that I am doing the best that I can. And by doing my best, I have no regrets. 

• Go with the flow. 

• Fake it till you make it. 

Moving forward, I hope that I can continue to learn from the Happiness Project. Little everyday choices have had a huge impact on my life... Small actions became huge reactions. I will continue blogging,  although there may be stretches of time between posts. My blog remains a place for me to check in, write out my thoughts and bring clarity that often I didn't realize I was seeking. Thank you to everyone who has given me words of encouragement... it brings me more joy than you can know.

Alicia
xo

Insist upon it.

My year of resolutions.... a recap.

It has been 11 months since I began my Happiness Project. Almost an entire year has passed in the blink of an eye. Some resolutions have stuck, others were a challenge that I will continue to overcome. I have one last shot for the month of February where I will attempt to be "Bootcamp perfect". 

To jog my memory, I went back to the beginning of my blog and read about my adventures over the past year... it really put things into perspective. It may not be evident to others, but comparing my life now, I feel I have grown enormously. 

MARCH
Boost Energy (Vitality)

• Go to sleep earlier.
• Exercise regularly.
• Toss, restore, organise.
• Tackle a nagging task.
• Drink more water, remember my vitamins.

APRIL
Remember Love (Marriage)

• Quit Nagging.
• Don't expect Praise or Appreciation.
• Fight Right.
• No dumping.
• Give Proofs of Love.

MAY
Aim Higher (Work)

• Find a balance

JUNE
Lighten up (Parenthood)

• Acknowledge the reality of people's feelings. 
• Write it down.
• Don't feel as if I need to say anything.
• Wave a magic wand.
• Admit that a task is difficult.

JULY
Be serious about play (Leisure)

• Be a treasure house of happy memories. 
• Find More Fun.
• Take Time to be Silly.
• Start A Collection.
• Go off the Path.

AUGUST
Make time for friends (Friendship)

• Remember birthdays. 
• Be Generous. 
• Show up. 
• Don't gossip. 
• Make three new friends

SEPTEMBER
Buy some Happiness (Money) 

• Indulge in a modest splurge. 
• Buy needful things. 
• Spend out. 
• Give something up.

OCTOBER
Contemplate the Heavens (Eternity)

• Use "wasted" time to meditate on gratitude
• choose to have a good day 
• forgive 
• If I don't have anything nice to say, say nothing
• smile more, and inspire others to do the same

NOVEMBER
Pursue a Passion (Design)

• Photograph/Appreciate Nature
• Read "fluffy" novels
• Go to a concert
• Meditate/Run (Same thing for me)
• Eat great, healthy food
• Design a space
• Read architecture magazines
• Snuggle with my cat
• Watch a TV series with my husband
• Go to the beach with my family
• Have coffee with a good friend
• Blog/Journal

DECEMBER
Pay Attention (Mindfulness)

• Examine true rules
• Stimulate the mind in new ways
• keep a food diary

JANUARY 
Keep a Contented Heart (Attitude)

• laugh out loud
• use good manners
• give positive reviews
• find an area of refuge

FEBRUARY
Boot Camp Perfect (Happiness)


With my checklist in hand, I am ready for what this next month will bring. It may not be easy, but the greatest lessons in life are learned when we are being challenged. I'm ready to kick some happiness ass! ;)

LIVE LIFE BOLD

According to Wikipedia, New Year's Resolutions go back as far as the ancient Babylonians who made promises to their gods to return borrowed goods and repay debts. The Romans began each year making promises to their God Janus for whom the month of January is named. Each year, as the new year comes to pass, I struggle to decide the one thing I want to improve on the most this year.

Last year, I was unaware that I was about to begin a major shift in my life. I had recently read the Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and my wheels were turning. Why not start an entire Happiness Project myself instead of the usual one or two resolutions? It was a daunting thought and I was unsure if I had the drive to complete it. As I've said before, I'm a Gemini through and through... which means I'm excellent at completing projects to about 80 or 90%. So in February, when the host of our Dress Club suggested the idea of completing Vision Boards for out monthly get together, I knew immediately what I was going to put on mine. My vision board was going to be shaped like a Lotus flower which represents growth. Each petal would represent an area of focus in my life... and one of these petals would be my Happiness Project.

March marked the beginning of my happiness project and this blog. I have blogged about my monthly goals as a way to keep me accountable. But this blog has done more than that. It is my monthly checkup, a way to organize my thoughts and to judge my own progress. Starting out I didn't know that my blog would inspire others. I also didn't know that the kind words from the people who read this blog have inspired me... to be a better writer, to be more honest with myself and to be true to who I am.

Every April I head up to Naramata in the Okanagan for The Spring Festival of Awareness with my mom. It is a spiritual weekend full of workshops covering topics from yoga to animal communication to quantum physics. It may sound bizarre, but every year I leave feeling renewed, refreshed... almost like having a new perspective on life. And every year, I plan my weekend from start to finish. I'm going to this workshop first, then for a massage, then here, then I'm going to have a nap, then I'm going there... This past year, the week before I headed up was a very emotional week for me and I felt like my life had been turned upside down. I needed this weekend to clear my thoughts. I didn't have the energy to plan a thing and left it up to the universe to guide me to what I needed to hear and learn. One of my life lessons I have learned is that the most amazing things in life happen when you let go of expectation. Every workshop I attended over the next two days left me with one very clear message: Love myself. It may sound very general, but I can't begin to tell you how profound this was for me. I think of myself as a very positive person. I don't beat myself up a lot and don't worry about the small stuff. So hearing that I needed to love myself was a bit surprising... But, I had been putting myself on the back burner, waiting for life to sort itself out so I could start living. I was carrying a lot of guilt with me and decided I would needed to let it go. I came home from that weekend away and made a decision that would set the stage for my new life. I wasn't waiting for life to happen to me anymore. I was going to love myself by making things happen... by saying its ok to pursue my dreams... by letting go of unhealthy friendships, strengthening healthy friendships... by forgiving others, forgiving myself... and by just saying the words.

The summer was a great one. I soaked up the sun. Drank mojitos. Attended an information session on Interior Design. Should I do it? I enrolled in my first class of the Interior Design program at BCIT that was to start in the Fall and counted down the hours until class started. It was a huge milestone and I am still in disbelief that I did it... that I'm doing it. I have actually just started my second semester and am now going to school full-time which makes me smile just typing those words. :) And the bonus is that I am teaching my kids that education is important, and it's never to late to make your dreams come true.

2013 is lined up to be a fairly monumental year for me. My life is undergoing a major transition from working mom to working mom who also goes to school full time. I am also turning 30! It feels like yesterday I started this blog, and the Happiness Project... It felt like I had a long time to complete all the things on my "30 year bucket list", but not surprisingly, my birthday deadline is fast approaching. Almost 5 months to the day to conquer the remaining goals I have set out for myself.

My Happiness Project is rapidly coming to an end as well. This month is the second to last and my resolution is to "Keep a contented heart: Attitude". I am going to laugh out loud, use good manners, give positive reviews and find an area of refuge. My newly completed office space was intended for homework, but I find myself coming in to read a book or just to surf online. It's cozy and girly and is all mine! Perfect refuge. Next month is the final month for the Happiness Project and I will try my best to be "Bootcamp perfect". My only regret during this entire project is not keeping track of my goals on a daily basis. It's so easy to forget the tasks for the month. So for my final month, I am going to make the chart that I have been saying for the past year I would make so I can check off my accomplishments daily. After it is all said and done, I'm going to keep up with my blog... it helps keep me sane, and in a way, is a resolution all in itself.

Having said all that... New Years would not be New Years without a health oriented resolution. Getting physically fit is listed as one of the top resolutions for New Years along with quitting smoking and getting out of debt. New Years is a reminder for most of us that we need to jump back on the health bandwagon. Nothing like overindulging on sweets and wine through the holidays to add some fluff to the waistline and make you crave vegetables that have been seriously lacking from your diet. My challenge this year is find the time in my insane life to run. After all, I'm not going to be able to run a half-marathon if my training involves sitting on my butt and eating cheese and crackers. And I'm certainly not going to get any less busy. I've come to the sad realization that I am going to have to start getting up and hour earlier to run in the mornings. I love my sleep and it pains me to leave my warm cozy bed in the am. Our now three month old Doberman puppies are two bundles of energy and are going to need to be walked daily... pretty great motivation to get back at it!

So instead of struggling to come up with one or two resolutions this year like I have done in the past, I have done the exact opposite and come up with more resolutions than I can count. Pasted on my Vision Board is a quote that says LIVE LIFE BOLD. Bold is defined as: necessitating courage and daring. And that is exactly what I intend to do. Happy New Year!

Rum and Eggnog

We are getting our Christmas tree today! I've always loved Christmas... It's the only holiday I decorate for and love everything about it. The smell of the tree... The lights giving off a soft glow in the living room at night... Everything just feels so cozy with all the decorations out. Let's not forget the rum and egg nog!

A week after Dylan proposed (8 years ago!), I was so excited to get our first Christmas tree together. We didn't have any money to decorate it, so Dylan said we should just wait till the following year to to get one. He could see the disappointment on my face... A few days later when I returned home from work, in our living room stood the most beautiful 10 foot tree. Although it was naked, it was the most beautiful Christmas tree I had ever had. The following Christmas I was pregnant with Aidan and we were staying with his parents while building our new house. Even though there was a foot of snow out,  and we didn't have our own living room to put a tree in, we made our way out with my in-laws to help them pick the perfect tree; and so the tradition began. It's important to me that this day is perfect. And if you have children, you will understand that it is damn near impossible to have the perfect tree getting experience. Throw in Dylan (who always thinks our ceiling is higher than it is), myself who requests a tree that has stiff branches that are spaced enough to hang ornaments, but not so spaced that it looks like a Charlie Brown tree, and two kids that will inevitably complain that they are too cold, or they have to pee, or they are hungry, etc.

Two years ago was the worst tree getting experience in our history. Money was tight and so when I heard about this tree farm not too far from our home that offered pony rides, hot chocolate for the kids and all trees were $20, I had a small hope that we could still get the perfect tree! Compared to the $100+ we were used to spending, I was ecstatic! This was going to be the most magical day yet! In my excitement, I rushed the kids into the car. It didn't matter that I had no address for this "blissful" tree farm, I knew we would find it! We drove around for awhile in the area where I had been told this tree farm existed with no luck. My hopes of having the "perfect" day were rapidly coming to an end. We settled on the next tree farm we found... and as we unpacked the kids, I realized I had forgotten their winter coats, gloves and hats. No worries! We were going to find the perfect tree in minutes! As the wind whipped our faces, and the kids began to whine that they were freezing, Dylan and I started to argue. It was my fault for forgetting the kids clothing! Why didn't I have an address for this tree farm! The tree doesn't have to be perfect! The day was ruined... and as we loaded our $20, lop-sided Douglas fir tree with droopy branches on top of the van, all I could think was, "I am going to salvage this day. I am going to have a glass of wine and decorate this tree and make it beautiful. I am going to put on Mariah Carey's Christmas album (even though it kills Dylan to listen to it) because, dammit, it is going to be a good day"! We got the tree home, set up and as I was getting the ornaments out, without asking, Dylan brought me a glass of wine. "I think you need this", he said with a cheeky smile. I slowly began decorating the tree and it was starting to look decent. I was so wrapped up in the moment that I had totally forgot about the glass of wine. Where had I put it? "Dylan? Do you know where I put my glass of wine"? His face turned red. "Don't even tell me you drank it", I said in my serial killer voice. We literally had a dollar in the bank, and the bottle of wine had been a gift to me from his parents, and I had saved a glass for today. He doesn't even drink white wine! His silence said it all. It was the final straw. "NEXT YEAR HAD BETTER BE THE MOST !#@@$#^%^ING MAGICAL TREE GETTING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE OR I'M GOING TO DO IT.... I WILL GET A FAKE TREE", I screamed! Looking back now it is hysterical, but in that moment I wanted to start searching the classifieds for rentals where I was going to move when I packed up my belongings and left, lol!

Last year really was the most magical tree-getting experience of my life. It made up for the previous year 10x over. My sister-in-law had gone to a tree farm the year before and she promised it would not disappoint. As we walked through the entrance, we were greeted by a "helper" who handed us a saw, explained where we would find the tree that met my criteria. Carols were piped through speakers in the fields that added to the Christmas cheer. Afterwards, we were treated to live carollers and even Santa himself was there for the children to have their pictures taken with (with our own cameras at no extra cost). As we sat around the fire they had burning with hot chocolate in hand, I could not have been any happier.

As we set out today, on what I hope will be another "perfect" day, I'm reminded of my goal for this month's Happiness Project... Stay in the moment... enjoy the day for what it is. Whether it's perfect or not is not important. This day will be perfect, regardless. I am spending the day with my family, and coming home to a warm house. Mariah Carey is on stand-by, and of course the all important glass of wine! Today will be perfect in it's imperfection. :)

Just another minute...

It's the most wonderful time of the year because it's starting to feel like Christmas! While grabbing a coffee on my break at school today, I heard my first carol of the year playing and I couldn't help getting that feeling. You know, the one that makes you want to bust out the decorations and start baking? My neighbours have started turning on their Christmas lights which means my husband will begin to be harassed to put ours up starting tomorrow. ;)

Next month's goal in my "Happiness Project" is to be more mindful, to stay in the moment. What a perfect time of year to hone these skills. Nothing like major family commitments, an overloaded work and homework schedule and honouring family traditions to distract you from the task at hand. But as I delve into all the festivities December is sure to bring, I am committing to stay in the moment. And to also pay attention to the quiet moments that may have otherwise passed me by.

Tonight after bath and reading time for the kiddies, I tucked Aidan in, tucked Natalie in as per our routine and was about to head downstairs when I heard Aidan call me back into his room. His needed me to lay his pillow flat. "Bud, your pillow was laying flat when I tucked you in a minute ago", I reminded him. He relied, "I know Mom, I just wanted to spend another minute with you". For all the grief my 6 year old (going on 60 year old) son gives me, he occasionally says little things like that that melt my heart. I laid his pillow down and was about to leave when a little voice in my head reminded me to stay in the moment. I asked him how his day was (I had left for school just as he was getting up this am and didn't arrive back home till the late afternoon) and as we chatted, he played with my hair. It was about two minutes we spent chatting and I couldn't help think that one day I will most likely never have moments like that with him... and that I really needed to cherish him.

So whether it is a small moment like the one I had tonight, or an annual event like packing up to find the perfect Christmas tree, I am committed to "be mindful" of my attitude and to stay in the moment.

Two weeks ago, our family adopted two new babies... Fur babies to be exact! I know what your are thinking... Who in their right mind would adopt two puppies at the same time? It has been very busy, but our new additions are very sweet and they happen to be the cutest little things you have ever seen! (I may be slightly biased, but they are seriously adorable). Which happens to be a very good thing, because if they weren't, I would have lost my mind by now with all of the pee and poo I have cleaned up! But having two is easier in some ways. For example, they don't cry at night... not even once because they have each other to snuggle with. I have found myself comparing the experience of new puppies to the first few weeks I had my own babies. Yes, both involve a ton of pee and poo... And I just can't believe how fast they are growing up! And that they have such little personalities, right from the get go, just like my own children did. Jax is my snuggly boy. He will let his sister beat him up for awhile, but when she crosses the line, he lets her know. He gets very upset if you scold him for peeing on the floor and wants to come snuggle you immediately to say sorry. Jules on the other hand is full of energy and always wants to play. She is eager to please and bosses her brother around even though he has a major size advantage. Both are very sweet though in completely different ways and most importantly, the kids just adore them. Even Toby my cat (who sometimes thinks he is a dog) is coming around to the puppies and I'm sure in time he will let them know who the real boss is, lol! Yes, the puppies are a huge addition of work on top of our already busy schedules, but I love seeing the smiles on Aidan and Natalie's faces when they are with them and that is definitely something I will always cherish.

So here's to staying in the moment... Enjoying every little bit of my life (the good and not so good) and to making the most of it!