A Colourful Life

August in Granville Island

It is the last few days in August and here in Vancouver, summer is giving us one more dose of sunshine goodness.  It was hot the last few days and this weekend is gonna be a scorcher as well.  I've been busy taking pics all aroundGranville Island.  Have a look:

This is a shot of the water facing away from downtown with the office buildings and condos on the lower west side of the Cambie Street area.

 

 

The water park has seen lots of action this summer!  It is always the scene of sceaming, running  kids, and their breatheless parents trying to run after them! I will usually take my lunch out and sit by the bench facing the waterpark and watch funny little episodes between parent and child or between  2 kids.  I love my kids but I'm glad I don't have to go to waterparks and chase after them anymore.  I've done my time!

 

The water park outside the False Creek Community Centre and the Kids Market -- lots of little preschool kids take day camp trips here to spend the day with their school groups.  It's nice to see them all in their color coordinated t-shirts!

 

 

 

 

The children's artwork proudly displayed outside the community centre.

 

I've always wanted to climb this big drum, but it's always full of kids! 

 

 

We can't forget the flowers around Granville Island -- much too many to photograph.  They are everywhere.

 

 

With parking at a premium....this is the transportation of choice!  It's going to be a busy winter on the island coming up....as we prepare for the 2010 Olympic Games.   The island is federally owned and there's always a huge chance that dignitaries will visit.  Exciting.

Summer....almost over.

...kinda sad, isn't it?....that summer is practically over?  In less than 3 weeks, it's back to making school lunches, working out driving schedules and helping with the dreaded homework.  I hate that part.  Sometimes, I feel like I'm the one going to school.....and I specially hate when the kids come home with a special project that I need to go shopping for.  I remember once awhile back while learning about ancient Rome, Jordan had to go into school dressed as Pharaoh.  Where does one get a Pharaoh costume and what in any way would that have helped him learn about the Roman times better than if he just went to school in his own clothes????  Sometimes, I just scratch my head and roll my eyes.

I took Alyssa back to school clothes shopping last week.  She's entering High School now and it's all about the clothes.  She got a couple of jeans from Bluenotes and some nifty new tops at Urban Outfitters.  Of course, the outfit is not complete without the hair stuff and she also bought these:

 

I normally would have questioned why she needed 10 new headbands, but she looks really cute wearing them and it keeps her hair off her face!  Plus, she doesn't know it yet, but I plan to wear some of them myself....and no, I won't be wearing the one with the pink bow!

Jordan moves out in 2 weeks -- to go live in my brother's apartment which is much closer to the university.  I need to help him move and get settled in, with whatever food he needs, dishes, toilet paper, sheets, etc. --  all the essentials that an 18 year old boy would not think of.  I'm anticipating a lot of "Mom, I don't have any blah, blah, blah....can you bring me some?" phone calls the first few weeks. 

My new Winter Wishes card class is ready to go and you can see the class samples at the I'm Impressed blog here.  Here is one of the cards up close.

 

 

To see the dates this class will be offered click here to see the class calendar.

 

Feeding my Brood.

I am not someone who spends too much time in the kitchen.  I am not and will never be Julia Child or Martha Stewart.  If I ever start to act and talk like Martha Stewart, please grab me by my collar and slap me on the head.  Heaven forbid I turn into that crazy woman who makes marshmallows from scratch.  It is a universally held truth that in my house, mealtimes often get in the way of life.  Today was no different.  After working all day on a day that strated at 6 AM at bootcamp in the gym, dinner was the last thing I was thinking of.  Try as I might to get something wonderful and homecooked on the table that contains most of the major food groups, I have stopped deluding myself into thinking that I will be supermom and manage to do this daily, let alone on some days.  So what to do??  Why stop and buy dinner of course.  I stopped at Pho Hoa Vietnamese restaurant on the drive home and bought Vietnamese Pork Chops with rice, lemongrass and tasty sauce.  YUMMERS.  I often buy this on the way home cause it only costs $7.99  and the serving is so large, it's enough to feed 3 of us. (by 3 I mean....myself and the kids.....Doug is in Toronto on business....)  When it costs a measly $8, why cook????  No brainer, people.  I also brought home fresh fruit from the market.  Today, the bounty was unending....

 

I have never eaten so much fresh, organic berries as I have this summer since I started working on Granville Island.  Love it!  I've been told that berries are high in anti-oxidants and I do believe that and I must say, I've had my fair share of anti-oxidants this past couple of weeks. 

On the work front, we have a new shipment from Magenta that just arrived.  Stop by and check the store blog in the next couple of days to see pics of some of the new loot that just arrived.  In the meantime,  here's a card I made today.

 

 

I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink to stamp the image, then coloured with Copics.  All the supplies used to make the card can be purchased at the store or online.

Enjoy and have a great week ahead! 

Whistler 2010

It's hard to believe that in 6 months athletes from all over the world will gather right here where I live for 2 weeks to compete with each other -- the world's finest and the pride of each of their own countries.  The Vancouver 2010 Olympics games will run from Feb. 12 - 28, 2009 with venues in Vancouver, B.C. and nearby Whistler Mountain Resort.  The brand spanking new Olympic Oval, the venue for all the speed skating events is right here in Richmond, B.C., just 15 minutes from where I live.   It is already opened, my kids have gone there to skate and it also hosts many other facilities, including a world class fitness and training centre.  This past weekend I had a couple days off and my family drove up to Whistler, B.C. to spend some relaxin' (and shopping!) time.  The highway heading up there has been greatly improved and most of it is now wider and I must admit the drive to and from took less time than before. 

Here are our kids, right in the village at Whistler doing their jump shots.  Our kids love to do these jump shots!

 

 

The resort is ready -- the chairlifts, gondolas and the Peak to Peak Gondola are all ready.  This gondola ride is a must do when in Whistler -- it provides a 360 degree view of both Whistler & Blackcomb mountain.  Very pretty!   If you are planning a trip out here next year to watch some of the games, you will be in for a treat!  Our city is beautiful and the scenery is unlike any other, so come on down and visit us!

At work, I've been playing with some itty bitty stamps.  This card is made using a stamp set by Hero Arts containing 24 little inch sized stamps.  They are perfect for inchies, but are so versatile that they can be used to create backgrounds as well, as I've done on this card.

 

 

To see the full stamp set with all the stamps check out the I'm Impressed blog here.

Have a great rest of the week!

 

Wedding pics....finally!

Okay, folks  -- as promised, here are some wedding pics from my niece, Taren's wedding which was held 2 weeks ago.  It was a wonderful, sunny day and everything went according to plan without a hitch -- a beautiful wedding!

 

Doug & I before leaving to go to the church.  Doug is wearing a barong, which is the typical formal wear in the Philippines.  

 

Here are the kids -- all dressed up in their wedding attire.  Both of them were in the wedding party.   So grown up!!!!

 

Taren and Chris at the altar.  Taren looked gorgeous and Chris was handsome in his tux.....so touching to see my niece take this next chapter in her life.  I remember babysitting her when she was just a toddler and we would draw and colour on paper before bedtime!  How time flies.

 

The reception was held at the Richmond Country Club, where all the previous weddings in the family have been held.  We love that place.  The barbecue dinner is to die for -- with ribs, beef and chicken -- all barecued to perfection!  The speeches were funny and touching -- specially the speech delivered by Ashley -- my niece and Taren's sister.  That speech was a true test of mascara waterproofness!!  When Ashley said....."Taren, thanks for letting me sleep on the floor in your room when I was scared at night and for hating all the boys who broke my heart.....",   I just lost it.  I cried again when Taren made her speech.....geez what a night!   We danced till 1 AM, and at the end of the night, we were tired but sorry to see it end.  The entire family had a great time as usual!  It might be a while till the next family wedding....no one else is ready to take that step.....at least not that I know of!

Summer is half over....in a month the kids will be back at school.  I need to go clothes shopping for Alyssa -- she has grown a lot taller this summer and she's now taller than me!  Jordan needs clothes, too but he takes care of that himself....heaven forbid he is seen out with me at the mall -- he would rather be skinned alive and dipped in iodine before that happens. 

Playtime in my craft room -- and this is what I made tonight.

What is it????  It's a teabag holder -- here it is opened up below.

 

 

I will be teaching this as part of a totally hands on Stampin' Up class.  If you live in Metro Vancouver and would like the info on this class, email me and I'll send you the details.

 

Gonna Turn Blue if I Don't Stop Eating.....

.........blueberries!  Working at Granville Island where the market is just steps from the store, I am very spoiled in that I am able to buy fresh fruits and veggies daily.  This week's addiction -- blueberries!

 

Every Thursday for the rest of this month is the outdoor farmer's market and they have organic blueberries that are the biggest I have ever seen!  And the sweetness of these berries -- OH MY Freakin' GOSH.....so yummy and naturally sweet.  I bought a 5 lb box a few days ago and during the ride home, I was eating right from the box (.....driving with one hand and feeding my willing mouth with the other.....such a bad girl!) and by the time I got home I think I had eaten half the box.  I bought some french vanilla yogurt as well and after dinner, we had these.....

 

Nothing beats natural, sweet goodness direct from mother nature to finish off a hard day at work! 

On the home front.....I know I promised pics of my niece's wedding and they are coming.  It's been hectic and I have to chill for a bit and realize that there's only so much I can do in one day....so the pictures are coming, but you won't see them today.  But soon!  Doug drove in with me to work today as he does from time to time to enjoy the morning sun out on the deck behind the market, facing the water.  It was gorgeous and sunny today.  We went to the gym first to play an early game of squash, then we headed to the market for coffee and blueberry scones which we ate on the patio.  Such a nice day!

 

 

Can ya' tell I've got a mouthful of blueberry scones here.....they were fresh and delicious.  I do love working where I do!

Don't forget that the Stamp of the month is now available for half price at the store and you can see it on the blog here.   Last week I played with some Flower Soft -- for those of you who haven't yet heard about this cool new product, check out all the colours at the store.  Here  is a card I made using the Heather Mix.

 

You can see the Flower Soft -- I put them all over the flowers.  I'm not 100% sure, but I think this product is shaved foam that is dyed in many different cool colours!  It is so addictive to use. 

 

We have all the doo-dads you need to use this product at I'm Impressed -- the flower soft glue, the wires, the labels and cards, the pot stickers -- and the actual Flower Soft in many different colours!  Come and check it out.

Enjoy!