Long time, no blog!

Well it has been a long time since I blogged, and no creative pursuits... or fun outings that I can really think of which have a picture to go with...

So I will just write...

Yesterday I got a really nasty letter from someone, it was very hurtful and judgmental. I feel I have been a victim of adult bullying. What a mean lady.

On the positive note, isn't it times like these that remind us how much support we really have? My friends and family helped me feel soo much better! They reminded me of how far I have come and that the message was cruel and untrue. Even if there does happen to be some truth in it, which I will decide on my own... without help from mean people... it isn't any of her business as a complete stranger.

There is a way to say something when you are concerned and a way not to. There was no reason for her to be cruel in order to express this concern.

It reminds me of my very favorite bible quote: <sup>(Luke 6:41-42)

41</sup> “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴² How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

I try to live with empathy, understanding and kindness. I really try to keep an open mind and let God be the judge of right and wrong for others in their lives. I do acknowledge that it isn't easy... at all, but I can't imagine EVER writing an e-mail to a complete stranger and pointing out everything I think they are doing wrong in their life... That is a horrible and hurtful thing to do to someone. I honestly can't wrap my head around how people can be so mean.

So, Tons of love to all my friends who supported me yesterday when I was feeling like dirt on the bottom of this lady's shoe. You removed me from her shoe, and put me back in the garden where I will feel nourished and continue to grow... on my own and with the help of friends! No bullies allowed!

Love, Michelle

Scrubbing Bubbles^® Extend-A-Clean^™ Power Sprayer

I am a bzzagent. This allows me to test new products. The most recent campaign I have been invited to is the scrubbing bubbles extend a clean power sprayer campaign. I received a bottle of this product to try out and some coupons to give away (let me know if you want one)!

It has a very cool sprayer that you just hold in and it sprays continuously. That was definitely my favorite feature, although it sprayed on quite heavily.

Although it claims to make the job easier, I really didn't find this to be so. I found the only thing that made it easier was the power sprayer. Everything else was the same as a regular foamy bathroom cleaner.

This product also claims to continue cleaning for 4 days after use. Since I only clean the bathroom once a week maximum.. this really wasn't a good reason for me to buy the stuff. I found it left a film on the wall that is very difficult to get off. I am still trying to get it off, a week and a half after use! It also took half a bottle just to clean my small bathroom once. Maybe I sprayed it too liberally?

Another thing about the product that bothered me is that it suggests using it in a well ventilated area (which I don't have... small fan, no window) and the smell was very nice... but not when all I could think of was that I was inhaling strong, potentially harmful chemicals....

It claims to make cleaning easier... but I have found way easier ways to keep my bathroom clean over the years, and this just seemed like a hassle to use!

Our calendar :)

I bought this great calendar from one of our local education stores engaging minds. It is such a fantastic store!!! Anyway, the lady who was working suggested I cut slits and use paper clips because the lame slots they have cut for you make it just about impossible to use from the front only without pushing from behind the poster. So, I decided to take pictures of my journey of getting the calendar ready for use :)

Here are some of the supplies I used:



It took a little while to get the positioning of the hole right!!




But I got into a good groove :)


and here is what it looks like, it is so easy to slide the number in under the paper clip!!!




If you look closely, in the bottom corners of each squares, you can see the tiny slots you are supposed to use... ugh... that was not fun!!




Here it is all set up for the day I did it!! (I meant to blog end of August as shown here, but my computer broke and needed to go to the store for repairs for 2 weeks)!!




Now for the weather wheel :)




I needed to put in a little brad so we could use the arrows to point to the appropriate weather each day :) Here is my cute little brad:




and the finished product!! Eeek... lame I know, but I am soooo proud!! haha :)





Here is the finished wall :)

two dayz of garage sales :)

Out of business sale!! So happy we have a kitchen now!!! $20 for this :)



and then my friend found me another one for $20...I couldn't resist!




Got this (thrown in with furniture) at a great garage sale...you could walk through the yard, garage and whole 4 floors of the house :) It was great!! There was just prices on everything. I thought the veggies and the large picture of fruits and other healthy food might inspire us to eat healthier!! lol :)




These were painted by the lady we bought them from!! Aren't they beautiful!!!!




These were from the same sale as the fruit picture and food/basket




Got this whole box of craft stuff for $3.50...includes glue gun, paint and string among other things...I haven't fully gone through it yet!




This cradle was from a going out of business sale, along with the bunny puppet in it and the stuffie under that :)




new couch (and chair, not shown), globe and some school supplies... white board, blackboard, crayons, colouring books, organizer, calculators...






Our new set up downstairs:





Bought some chairs from the out of business sale...it was a preschool or daycare







Not from a garage sale, but here is a new bookshelf I bought from wal-mart $130




Some big tubs I bought for sand play and water play!! Can't wait to try them out!!





Another going out of business sale... Bought this patio set for $100... it is very sturdy.. built well :) I'm so happy with it :)



I bought this stuff for $1 each.. I thought they would go great in Raenen's bathroom :)




So I did buy even more, but that is all that I took pics of!! I am overall quite happy with it all :)

more downstairs...

This is where I moved the air hockey table...toys and stuff will be in that corner



TV area... I will have to do something about the 'crampiness'




The current choice for where the desks go, and the space on the wall would be where the kitchen will go... so this will make that corner even squishy-er...




The "I'm a little teapot" poster I wanted to be in the kitchen area

Our day at the Japanese Gardens in Lethbridge, AB

Japanese flower arrangement.. was very very interesting!!!




The Japanese dancers :) The instructor pulled Ky out to teach her some moves :)






The sand art demo :)





The drummers




The bonsai demo which would have been WAY cooler without the DRUMS playing at the same time he was trying to talk!! This part was poorly planned, I really would have liked to hear what he was saying AND separately listen to the drums!



The girls getting their pic together in front of the waterfall :)




This is where we watched a tea ceremony :)



The calligraphy demonstration, Raenen was able to choose the word she wanted, and she chose "Love", her middle name :)





Raenen and her friend took turns at the friendship bell :) You can make the bell sound all across the garden!