Things I Want Thursday

This is another fun little thing I'm going to try for the next little while.  My wishlist for "things" is typically frivelous, but still....stuff I want.

1.  Batman Zip up Hoodie -- because, come on.  Who doesn't love Batman?  He's my favourite hero.  He doesn't even have super powers.....just a lot of cool gadgets that make him a totally kick ass superhero.

http://www.dresslily.com/hooded-long-sleeve-printed-pocket-design-hoodie-product939702.html

2.  Super cute maxi dress - because I love me some maxi dresses

http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses/cheers-on-the-cape-dress

3. Polaroid Mobile Printer -- prints images directly from your smart phone.  Maybe now, I may actually get some pictures printed, instead of lost in the cyberworld.

https://www.amazon.ca/Polaroid-Printer-Printing-Technology-Compatible/dp/B00TE8XKIS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464236506&sr=8-1&keywords=Polaroid+ZIP+Mobile+Printer+w%2FZINK+Zero+Ink+Printing+Technology+-+Compatible+w%2FiOS+%26+Android+Devices

4.  This super cute blouse - because I can always use more fancy work clothes

https://www.torrid.com/search?q=+Floral+Georgette+Surplice+Blouse.

5.  All this super cool workout gear -- maybe this will help me get motivated to get my sweat on.

52 Weeks of Gratitude Challenge

This is a super cool challenge; one I wish I had seen at the beginning of the year.  But I'm going to give it a go anyway.

#1.  Why start this challenge?

When I saw this, I knew immediately that it was a challenge I needed to complete. I can sometimes get caught up in the negativity around me and forget to be thankful for all of the positive things. Don’t get me wrong – I am completely in love with my life and wouldn’t trade it for the world.   So – here’s to be more grateful and more positive in my life. Out with the negativity, in the awesome-sauce-ness.

Three Things

Today I thought I'd share three things about my three favorite boys.

1.  Andrew just finished his first year of university.  You have no idea how insanely proud I am of this kid.
2.  He will still hug his mom.....in public.
3.  He is one of the funniest, and caring people in the whole wide world.

1.  Max has the quickest wit of anyone I've ever met.  He can pull out some zingers and amazing one liners without skipping a beat.

2.  At 6'3" he towers over the entire family (he just turned 16 last week y'all)

3.  He likes shopping more than most teenage girls, and has a great sense of fashion and style.  

1.  Ryker is a natural leader.  He is a people magnet and always has kids clamoring around him to be his friend.

2.  He get deeply intense about everything he puts his mind to.  He loves to draw, play basketball, and is a whiz with a Rubiks Cube.

3.  He has the biggest heart in the world and loves to show affection.

I sure do love these boys of mine.

Why I DON'T Believe In Karma

I don't really believe in superstitions....but more than that, I don't believe in Karma.

"What?!?", you say.  "How can you not believe in Karma?"  I know, I know.  Karma is one of those lovely thoughts that help people sleep better at night.  It's all about balance and justice and blah, blah, blah.  I just don't believe that there's some cosmic force, doling out justice; and if there is....well, it really sucks at doing it's job.  There are some people in this world who were dealt a really crappy hand, and that is never going to change.  Likewise, there are some really awful people out there who have truly never known suffering.  

Karma is one of those ideas that makes people feel better when someone else has wronged them.  "Oh, don't worry; karma will come back and get him".  But what happens when something bad happens to YOU?  Do you get a flat tire and think, "Oh, that must be karma paying me back for taking that guys parking spot?"  When a loved one gets cancer do you think, "Oh, well they must have done something pretty shitty to deserve this fate"?  Of course you don't; because when people believe in karma, they believe it only serves to avenge those who they think deserve it, or to award us for a good deed.  It never affects YOU badly; you're just the victim of someone else who deserves bad karma.

People embrace karma in the same way they do superstitions.  It gives them a sense of control in an uncontrollable world.  No amount of salt over your shoulder or knocking on wood is going to change any of it, so just embrace the wild ride.  Be a decent person; not because there is some karmic reward for you in it, but because it is the decent and human thing to do.  

Teach Your Children Well

I read something this week, and it broke my heart. 

A woman posted on Facebook about how she had sent out over 30 invites to her son's classmates, for his ninth birthday party, and no one showed up. The woman went on to say that when asked where all of his classmates were, her son replied, "Well, they probably won't come because I am different; but that's ok, because when your different, that's what happens." 

After no one showed up, the woman called the parent's that had RSVP'd and they told her that their kids weren't going to be around a kid that was different and weird. And that was from parents of second graders. Parents of seven year olds...

The woman's son is not your "normal" nine year old. Due to a rare birth defect that caused the soft spots in his head to fuse before birth, he has the mentality of a four year old, can not read or write, and has blank seizures, all due to several skull expansion surgeries and spinal taps. And he has a scar that runs across his head, because after he was born, his parents decided to utilize a life changing surgery, rather than let him die. 

Do you know why this woman's story broke my heart, and has probably broken your's by now, too? Because it's a realization that cruelty, discrimination, and just plain being mean, are all learned. That parents sometimes are just assholes for not teaching their kids to love, to be nice, to include. All this little boy wanted was some of the kids that he spends the majority of his day with, to come celebrate a great day with him. To come have fun and play games, and to wish him happy birthday. But their parents' refused to LET their kids play with the weird kid. 

Why? Because his weirdness would have rubbed off on them? Because he was nine years old, and in a class of second graders? I get that maybe the parents didn't know the whole story, but what child actually deserves to be singled out like that? I mean, what made their kids so special? So special that they weren't allowed to show compassion. Did they have to face so many difficulties in life at such a young age? I doubt it. 

Kids themselves are innocent. They are a blank slate at birth, and they are taught (let's hope it is indirect teaching) to either be nice or to be mean. They are taught to love, or to bully. They learn from their parents. They are products of their parents. 

If you are a parent, I beg of you to teach your child the right way. To teach them kindness. To teach them to include the weird kid. To teach that even though someone is different that doesn't mean that we are rude or mean. To teach them compassion. Because no child deserves to have no one show up to their birthday party. 

How Well DO I Know My Husband?

So, last time I did a post about hubster, I received a few emails from readers telling me what a fun idea it was. (Totally not my idea, but I'll take the credit anyway).  So I decided to do it again.  I've been in a bit of a blog slump and needed something to write about anyway.

1.  He's sitting in front of the TV.  What is on? -- Likely something sci-fi.  Other favorite shows are The Blacklist, Arrow, The Flash --- basically any Marvel/superhero type show.

2.  You're out to eat.  What kind of dressing does he get on his salad? --  Well, he typically doesn't order salads, but when he does they are Caesar; so I guess Caesar dressing.

3.  What's one food he doesn't like? -- Sushi

4.  You go out for drinks.  What does he order? -- Sambucca paralyzer or a Caesar

5.  What's his nickname for you?  --  Either "Babe" or "Love"

6.  If he was to collect anything, what would it be?  --  He has quite an extensive comic book collection from when he was younger.  He also has a rather large trading card, stamp and coin collection.

7.  What would he eat every day if he could? --  Bacon

8.  What is his favorite cereal?  --  Raisin Bran  

9.  What would he never wear?  --  Well, never say never, but he hardly ever wears jeans......or shorts.

10.  What's his favorite sports team? -- Ummm......my husband doesn't really do sports.  He's kind of the anti-jock.  I'm the sports fan of our relationship.

11.  Who is his best friend? -- Me, of course.  Followed by Nathan, Jack, and Shawn.

12.  What do you do that bothers him? -- Ummm.....I'm a bit of a procrastinator.

13.  What is his heritage? -- French on his dads side, Norwegian on his mom's.

14.  What kind of cake would you bake him for his birthday? -- Angel food with strawberries and whipped cream.

15.  Did he play sports in high school? -- No, his parents thought sports were a waste of time.  However, his dad was friends with Stu Hart (Stampede Wrestling), who always wanted Ross and his brother to be a tag team duo.

16.  What could he spend hours doing? -- Working......no, seriously.  The man is the biggest workaholic I've ever met.

17.  What is one unique talent that he has? -- Well, he has many.  He's amazing at time management.  I think being a chef taught him that.  Oh, and cooking!  He's AMAZING!