high school girls

i love to blog...
gets my mind off
january(and real life)...
lately i have really worked to
create a more personal space here.
i have opened my door to the world.
putting it out there.
me.
putting me out there.
friendly, chatty and always ready to make
a new friend.
my simple blog.
no rules here.
no advertising.
my blog is not overflowing with awards
or sponsors.
simple.
fun.
so how come sometimes it makes me feel
like it's high school all over again?
the mean girls...
the cool girls...
the drama queens
and the wanna bees.
if i could go back and give my 16 year old self some advice,
it would be this...
be yourself.
carry on.
xox

thank you friends...
i'm so glad to have you here!

eat, pray, love and fold

 i thought i would treat myself to a movie.
i never do this,

i chose "eat, pray, love".
i read the book a couple of years ago
and i loved it.

julia was FABULOUS....
the movie was beautiful.
it took me away...
while i folded laundry.
(i am addicted to pjammie bottoms)

it had me craving spaghetti...
and a hut in bali.
the men in the movie were all as beautiful
and captivating
as ms. roberts herself.

see it if you haven't.
it's lovely.

wordless wednesday...around the house

i hoard fortune cookie fortunes..

for probably 10 years
i have kept every fortune.
my refrigerator has 34
on it.
(yes, i just counted)
when we moved from the last house
they were carefully packed and unpacked.
so often the fortune has been bang on.
at times it has known more about me
than i knew about myself...
or were unable to admit.
tonight's fortune is a perfect example.
this one is so "me"...
afraid to go out of my comfort zone and take a chance.
i never did steal any bases as a kid either...

we had a nice dinner with dad
(hi dad!)
wow it's cold out there...
the house is snapping and popping.
the air is more chilled than you could imagine.
-29
windchill...makes it feel like -37.
oliver can get his "business" done in about 11 seconds.
poor pup.

nana and grandma moses

i finally got a little job done.
it took minutes.
why didn't i do this years ago?
my grandparent's farm holds
far too many wonderful memories to recall.
i always loved the curtains in a little room
at the front of the house.
i had no idea then what they were..
i just loved the pictures of the people, the horses,
the houses and barns.
...grandma moses...

at some point the curtains came down
and i became the happy owner of them.
having a bit of it hung in my home,
finally....
makes me happy.
thank you nana
xox

cherries...

i love cherries

they remind me of summer visits to the farm

i just wanted to share them with you

i am grateful for cherries in january...

worth it

i know that if i stick to a plan
i can reach a goal...
things are changing already.
good stuff.
p.s.
i am addicted to polyvore...
but i say it's another outlet for creativity.
more good stuff.

where bloggin' happens...

While waiting for the 4th load of laundry to finish
up in the dryer
or
filling time before the girls
get home from school...
you might find oliver and i hanging out in this
cozy room of ours.
this is where most of my blogs are created.

the daybed works swell for hanging out too...
and oliver is so pleased to help me
by putting his little chin on the laptop...
i have a great view from here
even on a day like today
when all i can see is snow.
snow, snow
and more snow.
xox
leanne

thank you...

nice to hear from old friends and new...
a few regulars must be away from their computers,
but i met some nice bloggers from distant lands!
don't you just love that?
i put all the names in a hat (literally)
so if you commented anytime/any post over the weekend
or sent a message by e-mail...
you were in there honey!
and the winner of little bro moose
and love, love, love
is.....
laura...from ireland!
love to you...
i'll get all the info from you
and a package will be heading your way!
thanks for playing!
xox

sunshine and happiness...

began the day with the sun coming up
over the treetops...
a beautiful way to start the day.
words to describe my sunday...
crisp, bright, calm, cozy,
coffee, toast...
orange.
(i'll fill you in on the orange part later)
happy winter sunday from muskoka
xox

my first little giveaway...love from the north...

3 years of blogging...
i can still remember the butterflies in my tummy
when i hit that "save" button
for the first time...
and so finally i am getting around to celebrating
this little creative place i've made.
this sweet moose was something i picked up while
christmas shopping.
i'm keeping his big brother for myself.
 little bro moose will
find a new home.
who knows where in the world he'll travel to?
how fun is that?

now for some more serious stuff.
diamonds and silver.....
not.

valentine's day is just around the corner...
and i love hearts...
and i love to blog.

these are just for fun
and there are 3 of them...
so if you have someone you love
then you could share.

if you would like to leave a comment
you'll have all weekend.
if you don't have a blog account
please send me an e-mail
i'll read them all
and we'll throw your name in a hat
and i'll let you know how it all turns out...
...monday...

happy weekend
with love and gratitude
from
muskoka
xox

just for you link lurkers...

here's a favorite re-do
we had this wood screen door leftover from
a past reno.
couldn't part with it because
it was a gift from mom and dad.
poor hubby had to drag this thing here to the new house.
it is HEAVY.
so i asked him to cut the bottom off
add a mirror
turn it upside down and mount it to the wall
attach some hooks
and a shelf under it
(there are brackets and  more hooks under the shelf)
i love it
and there's not another one like it.

p.s.
my blog is turning 3
i think i should have a giveaway!

music and falling down

i would call this a near perfect day.
there was good music playing...so stuff got done

and i am 
happy to report that i accomplished day 4
of loving me...
(i mean exercise and eating right)
i fell off the wii board...
and i cursed out loud,
but i'm fine.

go easy girl.

i did chores
and had a teeny nap with oliver...
he's finally learning how to snuggle.

i love this kind of day.
xo
(thanks for visiting with me)
how was your day?

the loving me part

i need to eat oatmeal with fruit and cinnamon more often.
i don't really want to...
but i have to.
i need to make moving my bod
part of the daily routine.
i love wii fit.
who knew you could sweat while ski jumping??!
i am VERY good at the hula hoop...
and i actually enjoy a long jog
while in my pjammies...
very cool.
i think i've waited my whole life for this.
xox

who loves sarah?

Sarah 101
who caught the first episode this week?
i found the room a bit bright for my taste
but i love how she's breaking down the process
and making it all about educating...
take notes friends,
'cause this girl knows a thing or two.
yay for sunday nights with my girls,
sarah and desperate housewives...
nice.

ok...get ready...

...right after we have one more lazy day...
i'm going to get my butt in gear
things are going to happen
i'm going to get creative
things will get organized
great meals will be prepared
laundry piles will disappear
floors will shine
rooms will get painted ....
i'll get moving on the treadmill
i'll make smoothies
and lists
and i'll read
and do yoga
and nap...
honestly, once the girls are back in school
i'll be getting busy!
what's on your list?
xox

inspiration...

i don't remember where i found this
but i probably saved it because i knew
that january was on it's way.
xox


dedicated to mikey on his birthday
with love

ahhhhhh that's better.....

this morning i awoke
to the sun rising up through the trees...
and that can alone can make all the difference.

it's not fair to say that the grayness of yesterday
was the sole reason for my down in the dumps mood...
i also blame it on taking down the christmas tree,
a full blown case of plantar fasciitis (aka..ouchie foot)
and i should also include a touch of pms...

what a beautiful day today turned out to be!
boo and i hit the ski hill after lunch
and that bright sun felt SO great...

i was so thankful to have zero pain in my foot.
apparently i should just wear my ski boots more often...

and i'm not sad about the christmas tree anymore...
 totally over it.

sunshine and fresh crisp winter air
is great for what ails you...
fresh cut fries at the chalet help too...
especially if you get an orange crush to go with them.
aren't i right boo?

desperate for a dose of sunshine...

elsie boo wanted to ski today...
it would be our first time out this winter.
between getting ready for parties and christmas
and an unusual amount of rain last week
we just haven't gotten around to it.
...but to be perfectly honest
it was the last thing i imagined doing today.
it's been days since the sun came out
and it does play tricks on my mood.

but it snuck up on us this afternoon...
and came out for a few minutes.
of course i ran to get my camera
because if i could just capture the light
and hang on to it for future dark winter days...
ohhh and the snow was falling so slowly,
those big fat snowflakes.
the kind you catch on your tongue.
i didn't actually today.
but i should have.
probably would have been good medicine for
the after-christmas-dark-days-of -winter illness i've got.
keep your fingers crossed
that the sun will make another appearance tomorrow
while we're on the hillside.
xox