Birthday bliss …

Well folks, it’s that time of year again. MY BIRTHDAY! … Yesterday, I had been teased all day with the possibility of a Snow Day/Day off from school & the kiddies. The storm was set to start today around 11:00 a.m. We were unsure as to whether or not this was enough to actually cancel for the day.

As I awoke to my alarm this morning at 6:00 a.m., I reached for my iPhone & quickly dialed the "Snow Line” … I was saddened to hear the message on the other end had not been updated & that there would be still be school. This is not because I don’t love my job. It would have just been lovely to spend the day home in bed, cuddling with the pup & the hubby (especially on one’s birthday).

In any case, my luck did in fact turn around at school with the announcement that school would be ending at 12 noon. I would still get a half day off to enjoy the afternoon at home. Lovely!

So here I am … between Facebook birthday checks & twitter updates, to blog about none other than myself. Boring, I know but tough. I’m the birthday girl & I get what I want. So here goes …

I love to read (during summer vacation of course).

I’m a lefty (but shoot, throw & kick right).

Snuggling on the couch with Boots makes me happy.

 

I’d be lost without my iPhone.

I dislike cooking (only because I have zero confidence in that area).

I’m petrified of needles (I usually pass out).

I love to lay out in the sun (by our awesome pool).

I’m sort of obsessed with taking pictures (not of myself, I swear, this is the only picture I could find of myself holding a camera).

I’ll never say no to any type of cheese (huge loser, I know).

I love rugby, basketball & waterskiing.

Golf irritates me (only because I find it difficult to actually hit the ball).

I’m married to my best friend.

I love, love, love my girls.

My family – (new & current) - are absolutely amazing.

Life is good at 28!

 

Sheila xox

It’s that time of year again …

 

Report card writing-time already!?! Seriously, where did the time go? I feel as though just yesterday was the first day of school. September & October flew by. Now, as the end of November draws near … teachers in New Brunswick know exactly that that means ……… REPORT CARD TIME. I am currently in my 4th year of teaching & each year, I had hoped to learn the secret to writing report cards in record breaking time. This has unfortunately, somewhat failed to happen. We have been pretty lucky at my present school. For the past two years we have been able to take a 1/2 day for 2 out of the 3 reporting times to actually work on report cards. This was thanks to our wonderful teacher’s working conditions fund.

I have no idea where this money has gone but for some reason this option is no longer available to us. So here I am working long into the night all week & probably will have to for most of the weekend (which should actually be my birthday celebration weekend .. BOO!) …  I have to apologize for the negativity. I absolutely love/adore my job & if it means that I have to bust my butt for 3 –4 weeks out of the school year, then it is totally worth it! As my best friend never fails to remind me, teachers do get 2 months off a year so I should just SHUT-UP! ha-ha .. Love ya Channy!

All because two people fell in love …

Today’s post is dedicated to our amazing Engagement Photo Session by The Floating Landscape Studio (a photography company based out of Toronto). The Mr.’s family had taken in one of the photographers (Catherine) as an exchange student while she was attending high school in N.B. & his parents basically call her a daughter now. Her and her husband (Dan) had done the Mr.’s Sister’s Wedding in July 2010 & had done an absolutely AMAZING job.

We were thrilled/stunned when they phoned us shortly after we announced our engagement & also offered to do our wedding free of charge because we were ‘Family’. My husband and I could not believe they would make such a generous offer considering all they had done for his sister the previous summer.

They exceeded far beyond what little expectations we had in all that they were able to accomplish for us during our Wedding Weekend – engagement picture session, love story video (shown at our wedding before our entrance into the ballroom), rehearsal dinner pictures, wedding pictures (before, during & after) & wedding video) – all in 3 days! INCREDIBLE!

So this post begins with pictures from our Engagement Session.

Rehearsal & Wedding pictures still to come …

Dan & Catherine (& their awesome videographer, Ian!!) arrived into town Thursday afternoon, August 11th, 2011. They called us from their cell phone to ask us where we should meet them… Hubby (to-be at the time) & I looked at each other and realized that we had not yet figured out a location for our shoot! We also had to quickly to get showered & ready because we had spent some time that morning/early afternoon in our pool with his sister and her husband (which was obviously far more important at the time).

We finally decided that we wanted the shoot to take place at a park. In Moncton, that left only a few options. We decided to have our engagement pictures taken at Centennial Park (Moncton, New Brunswick). We phoned Catherine back … & got ready as quickly as possible. Threw on whatever clean clothes we had (which totally stressed me out because we had not even decided on cute clothing sets, not that they had to match but I wanted everything to flow nicely) & headed for the Park.

& I must say they turned out beautifully …

Here are some of my favorites …

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sheila xox

Kitchen Nightmares!

For those of you who know me, you know that I am not very comfortable in the kitchen. At times, I even fear it. I just don't have the confidence when it comes to cooking. I feel as though I will totally bomb a recipe before I even try. I don't know why this is how I feel. Perhaps it is the lack of overal kitchen experience. Another reason that this seems to be a feeling that has continued since meeting my hubby is because he absolutely loves cooking. He has a certain talent for it that comes so natural to him. I am almost envious.

This morning I awoke with a feeling to make a new recipe! ... This certainly does not happen often so I decided to take full advantage. After sleeping-in until 11 a.m. .. I felt as though some type of Brunch-related meal was in order. I searched online for egg casseroles & came across this little gem of a recipe for a 'Brunch Egg Bake'!

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/brunch-egg-bake/detail.aspx

I felt as though this was an easy recipe for me to try. I like recipes that do not involve too many steps or ingredients. This did have multiple steps however; they were all steps that I knew how to do or have done prior to this. Deep down inside, I knew I had what it took to actually make this (hopefully without any slip ups).

>>> I apologize for the brutal picture quality in advance .. I hope to get a new camera soon <<<

Ingredients (with my own substitutes)

• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup diced mushrooms
• 1/3 cupe chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped sweet red pepper
• 1 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 cups diced fully cooked sausage
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Place 1 & 1/2 cups cheese in an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish and set aside.

In a medium skillet, saute mushrooms, onions and red pepper in butter until tender; drain. Place over cheese; top with sausage. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. In a bowl, beat eggs. Add milk, flour, parsley, basil, salt and pepper; mix well. Slowly pour over the cheese. Bake at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

Et ... voila =

It was actually yummy ... & I didn't make a mistake. Whoop Whoop! The only change I would make next time .. is putting less parsley.

I would definitely recommend this recipe. It would be great for a family brunch gathering & is super easy (trust me)!

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

Sheila xox