24/365 there is joy to be found in the little things...

but also in the big things sometimes
such as a lovely gift from your husband that
happened to be an i-phone which I have been wanting for some time.

Scott picked me one up today and then set it all up so I could have it for my trip tomorrow.

YEAH! This deserves a double WOOT WOOT.

I have a work blackberry so another phone really wasn't something I needed immediately
but as I have been exploring social media and how to create community of change agents (these are people that kick a little arse and create positive change), we were realizing that having access to twitter and a camera
were going to be important,

I promise that I will not have a i-phone picture on here everyday,
but I was just so darn excited to get the hipsmatic app that I had to
take a picture with it.

23/365 being jealous of a one year old...

is so wrong, I get it

one of those sacred rules,

don't be envious of others

However, seriously...

check out these eyelashes,

you know you are a little jealous!

and then this smile, oh this smile, I LOVE it

and how can you not love a blueberry face?

Isaac, 18 months of age.

21/365 4 more sleeps and a surprise

I was oh so brave when I booked my flight and

purchased my conference ticket 4 weeks ago
for Blissdom but now that I am 4 sleeps away
from a day of travelling alone to a different country,

to a city that I have never been to,
with the task of "being myself and not being nervous,

as truly everyone is just like you"

creating an ocean of butterflies in my stomach.

However, as I listen to the pep talks of my friends

and read the many posts of Blissdom alumni
sharing their past stories
I am finding my big girl panties and

getting ready to make the absolute most of this opportunity.

Deep Breath. Shelf the drama. Just get er done.

and if it's possible (doubtful) it is time to

stop over thinking the situation.

Hey, stop laughing... it could happen and no

I don't see that pig flying either

Anyways, I am finally in a head space of "it is what it is" and

I am who I am, so take it or don't

as I will not allow others opinions to define me.

Perfect, all ready to go.

Then to affirm my feeling of taking on the Blissdom world

there was a large box waiting for me and it

held many treats from the wonderful ladies at Blissdom

and a few of the sponsors ( ConAgra Foods, Freschetta, Hallmark, )

Kaeden and I had a great time looking through the box of treasures,

his favourite was the recordable book from Hallmark,

he had me record the story right away and has been playing it all night.

This would be a great gift for Aunties and Grandmas to get/record for the little

ones in their lives. It was really easy to use, well other than Kaeden and I cracking up

and I would have to re-record it but that wasn't the books fault!

I love the cookbook and the very fancy looking pizza cutter.

There was also some cool popcorn (that pops into its own bowl, have to love that Mr. Redenbacher - the stop sign in the picture is of the popcorn box), a few coupons (I just hope we can get most of these products in Canada, I will have to look into that), and a $10 visa card (for food to make a recipe out of the cookbook)

We are off to a good start, that Blissdom and I!

20/365 love is still in the air

19/365 they may not be winning but they tasted good

Flames = not good
Flames Chocolate = delicious

I was invited to a Flames luncheon with a co-worker today
and it was great. (There will be another post about it). They
put these chocolates on our table at the end, and I so
wanted to take a picture of the plate as there was 6 white, 6 dark and 6 milk chocolate
but I was trying not to be a complete embaraasement so
instead I snuck a couple into my purse.

*** I realize the photos lately have not been great, stick with me, I promise they will get better.

18/365 things that made me happy Tuesday...

brand new colourful sharpies

that are tucked away in my favourite

happy face mug

sitting on my clean desk

that is across the hall

from a good friend

who made me laugh.

a morning Starbucks

7 days until Blissdom (social media conference in Nashville)

7 days until a TARGET visit

6 1/2 days until the launch of my new website (hopefully)

5 days until my new business cards (for my new website) are printed, they are so awesome!

not wearing my huge parka, toque and mitts as it was almost warmish

quiet time alone in my room.

what made you happy this Tuesday?

17/365 "All you need is LOVE" ~ the beatles

~ this photo and a cute button card added to purple fuzzy monkey

16/365 button button, who's got the button

15/365 ribbon + a 3 year old = babysitting fun

14/365 it's beginning to look a lot like...

Valentine's Day!

it is very helpful when decorating for Valentine's day
that the colour red is the accent colour throughout the house.

13/365 I am on a roll

with a Self Portrait for the week on a Thursday, instead of waiting until the very last minute on Sunday Evening...BOOHYAH (wow, 1990 called, they want their word back, but it just seemed to fit tonight).

Thursday morning. 8:21 am. in my car. in the parkade. listening to Sports Radio. freshly applied lipgloss. picture is an avoidance technique against going out in the cold.

12/365 - wordy Wednesday returns...

with important messages:

11/365

up to this point I wasn't really sure I believed in reincarnation

other than I did find it an interesting story-line in movies and

found people's stories of feeling their loved ones presence

in butterflies, turtles etc... intriguing.

well, I will be putting myself in the "I believe" column from this day forward,

I am 100% convinced that Tetley is a reincarnation of Aphrodite.

we always said Aphrodite was more of a cat than a rottweiler and I think

she has found her way back to us in her true form.

ummm why? you tentatively ask while wondering if I need to cut down on the caffeine in my life.

1. I went to the SPCA to get a totally different kitten. Tetley picked us.

2. She is a carb addict. As you know, Aphrodite moved very little unless there was bread on the counter and she would go to any means to get to it. Tetley has been caught scratching at the micro-wave door (where we hide the bread from her) to try and get a "fix".

3. She is an amoeba. She lays in front of the fireplace and on furniture she is not supposed to be on sprawled out very unlady like. All things Aphrodite was known for.

4. She loves to have her hind quarters rubbed (what cat likes that?, none I have ever met, it is crazy) and she backs into your hand and wags her whole back end just like you know who.

5. She pushes her head under your hand for a pet.

6. Like Diti, she is a huge Scott fan. Given the choice both of them would sit by him than any of the rest of us.

7. Has the same "and?" face when they are somewhere they shouldn't be

8. The one that confirmed for me my reincarnation theory... Diti was famous for crawling up beside me and sniffing/nuzzling my hair when I came back from Chris's (my hairdresser). On Friday night, after my hair appointment, I was typing on my computer and Tetley came up onto my shoulders and started nuzzling and sniffing my hair just like Diti. It gave me a chill.

Now I am sure its coincidence but its a nice thought that Diti is still with us, even if it is actually just in memories versus an actual reincarnation.

*** more about aphrodite if you are new to my blog here

10/365

self portrait, week 2

still not liking self portraits but

in the spirit of stepping outside the box and

working through tasks that make me uncomfortable

I continue...

8/365

Shelby.

Au Natural. 2pm.

Ready for a night out. 9:28pm

6/365

Scott.

5/365

Tetley.

4/365 random thoughts Tuesday

Some rules are important. Some are not. You get to choose. Be careful though, as you are accountable for your decision(s).

The picture today is not technically sound. It is very overexposed. My dirty little secret? I did it on purpose and I love it.

My house is ridiculously cold right now and I can't feel my toes.

There are an unbelievable amount of organizations in our communities, our cities, our country, our world that are doing amazing, inspiring things to help others. Not only help, but facilitate opportunities so individuals can be self sufficient and that is awesome. I will do a post with link of a few that I have found. Our world is doing amazing things, what part are we going to have in it?

Today is day one of Operation Healthy Family - Take Two and I ate 3 chocolate kisses and tons of healthy stuff so I am going to give the win to healthy today.

My one little word has been chosen. it is unique and not on the current Ali Edwards list but it's me and it is going to guide me this year. I think it deserves a post of its own so stay tuned.

The people in San Antonio, El Salvador are in my thoughts, everyday. I often wonder are they ok, what do they need, are they healthy, do they have food? When can I go back? My soul needs a service led by Pastor Jorge (in Spanish).

I miss team red and the other individuals from our trip. For a short time we had our own travelling Texaco loving community and I liked being part of it.

My lack of punctuation and capital letters is horrid tonight and I apologize. I really should go back and fix it but I think my tiredness will win over my OCD tendencies.

I will just start now with English skills my teacher sister will be proud of.

My eyes are stinging and I stink. The ultra strength non scented tiger balm is a FAIL. My arm is still killing me and no one will come sit by me because of the tear inducing smell.

I have decided what I want to be when I grow up. It also deserves it own post. I'll get on that.

James Blunt has a new cd out and I had no idea. If it was not for the NBC commercials where he is playing "Stay the Night" I would have never known, can't believe I have banned tv during the day and only for an hour or so at night. It is a fountain of information for me.

I had to go play it on i-tunes while typing this. It is a very catchy with aww shucks romantic lyrics.

I also downloaded Paul McCartney's Dance Tonight, an extremely uplifting song, I suggest it next time you need a little pick me up. Don't worry, feel free to crank it up in the car and sing/dance along because you will be giving someone else a giggle to brighten their day. You can trust me on that, I have a little experience with it.

I think I just knocked Scott unconscious with the smell of my tiger balmed arm.

In case you were wondering, and I know you are, Taylor Swift's Love Story is now playing and yes I am singing along off key, maybe it wasn't the smell but my singing that knocked him out.

The OCD won and I have gone back and fixed my Capital Letter and spelling issues I had going on.

I could probably come up with random top of my head thoughts all night but I have probably lost 90% of you guys by this point already so I am closing shop and heading to bed.

Good night,

Dee

3/365 - the anti-one little word

Ali Edwards, a very talented illustrator of her world

using photography and writing chooses "one little word" every January

that will inspire and guide her throughout the upcoming year.

She has thousands of followers who carefully choose their own "olw (one little word)".

Please go here for more information on this wonderful project.

I choose a word each year but in past years I have not really done much with it other

than choosing it. This time, I am going to treat my "olw" differently. I have

narrowed it down to two and will share shortly.

However, this post is not about what my word is but rather what it will not be...

my anti one little word for 2011 is "mediocrity"

If it is possible to dislike a word with all your might

this is it.

I don't like the way it is spelt,

I dislike saying it

and I am 100% against everything it stands for.

ok, Dee-Ann, we have followed you to this point

but what in the world does your picture of the Flames

and your rambling about words have anything to do

with each other?

The Flames lost tonight 5-2 to a team that

they should have beaten.

They looked awful. The game was boring.

There was no jump in their step.

No sense of urgency.

They embraced mediocrity.

Never mind that the fans expect more

for their well earned dollars they have spent to

support their team,

more importantly the players need to

expect more from themselves and each other.

As I sat watching my team tonight,

I couldn't stop thinking about how

sad it is that a group of 25+ individuals,

who at face value, seem to want for nothing,

could play with such casualness and mediocrity.

Leave it all on the ice and lose,

I am absolutely ok with.

Not showing up and putting in half the effort,

never ok.

Therefore I will suggest to the Flames that

they change their "OLW" from "Mediocrity"

to "Unacceptable".

Unacceptable to do your job half arse (because you and me would be fired if we didn't perform)

Unacceptable to place the blame elsewhere (it is not the coach (or your boss) or your co-workers issue, you own it)

Unacceptable to not take ownership of your own individual play.

Unacceptable to embrace mediocrity.

Leave it on the ice (or floor, or boardroom, or desk - whichever applies)

all the time.

This is how I am trying to live my life everyday

and my children (and their friends) have certainly heard

the above more than once.

What is your anti-one little word?

and as well, what would you choose as your one little word (OLW)? That one word to inspire and guide you for the next 362 days?

2/365 Self Portrait Sunday returns

This is one of my LEAST favorite pictures to take,
as there is a good reason I am BEHIND the camera all the time!

However, when I went through Project 365, 2009 where I had a day dedicated to self portraits I had a great collection of pictures that will prove to my grandchildren (which I will not have for another 10-15 years) that I did actually exist while their parents were growing up.

~ this picture was taken with my new Diana Lens