Rugby Family Secret Santa 2011!

Oh … & the tradition lives on … Every Christmas (or just about), I get together with a few of my really close rugby girl friends to have a Secret Santa Gift Exchange. Some years we have included a sleepover while a potluck is ALWAYS a MUST!

This year it seemed to be very crazy to try and plan for an evening where everybody would be able to attend. Two of the gals live a distance away which makes it hard for them to come. We were able to plan it for a week-night even though in the end those two ladies were not able to come (one of them at the last minute due to a death in the family – I’m still thinking & praying for your fam MB).

We went ahead and had our potluck/gift exchange a couple nights ago & it was tons of fun. It is always nice to get together with these ladies especially for the holidays. Here are some pictures from our amazing night together…

This is Channy (my BFF & MOH. I get to be her MOH next summer!!!!!) .. & her famous apple cider.

One of my FB status updates had been how Cheese balls are my favorite thing at Christmas time & my friend Kimmy had surprised me with a Cheese ball mix!! I accidentally forgot it at her place but can’t wait to try it when I get it back.

Channy texting away. I’m not sure if this is when she found out that her fiancé Kevin had a ginormous gift waiting for her at their condo. Channy isn’t the best with surprises … she is fine if it’s a surprise that is given to her on the spot but if she has to wait, it’s a killer!

This is my friend Jen. She is the proud mama of a beautiful little girl and twin boys. She is definitely happy to be out & about this fine evening. Socializing isn’t something she can do often so when it happens, she enjoys to the max (just watch her mad ‘Just Dance 3’ moves later in the post …

Meet Kitty. Innocent, yet not so innocent.

Check out my best friend’s mad wrapping skills below. This year’s theme was singed paper! I’m totally pinning this to pinterest for sure.

This was for one of my friend’s that could not attend. Not by choice might I add. We missed you MB! xoxox

Check out my friend Kim’s amazing tree topper. She thought the beads didn’t look so great around the tree and had no topper. Problem solved.

To the right, a Christmas present from Kathy! Thank you : )

                       

My friend Sylvie coming in from a storm?! HAHA. No, she actually lives close by to my friend Kim & just walked over.

Kimmy posin’ up a storm!

The introduction of the hat! Kim was showing us some of her products from her new hobby & Sylvie absolutely loved this hat that Kim made. She loved it so much Kim gave it to her! She’s just cute as a button wearing it!

Her current project …

Grrrrr …. lol

Let the games begin!

                               

Cleavage shot for my bestie (who thinks she has no boobs) ! ; )

Gift opening begins. Chantel was obviously first. She couldn’t contain her excitement. Kim got her a beautiful belt from Danier. It was so ‘Channy’. (I forgot to add that everyone had to wear the hat while opening gifts which was hilarious)

                  

Kim got a charm from me : ) Santa better bring her a charm bracelet!

Jen had Sylvie and got her a bottle of wine, stem-less wine glasses & a beautiful scarf.

                    

Sylvie got Jen a key holder. Well, two of them. She got to choose her favorite. Very tough decision.

                   

Oh and she also got a wine stopper. A bunny wine stopper. Jen admires and gazes at her new best friend.

Jen, were you a prankster in elementary school?

I love these ladies!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Sheila xox

Blogger: Oh, how I’ve missed you!

For some reason I can’t get into a blogging routine. Although, this is probably due to the fact that the month of December can be extremely crazy for a teacher. Over the past week or so, things at school have gotten extremely busy with all sorts of Christmas-related activities. I am very much looking forward to having a full two weeks off to recuperate and re-energize.

My husband and I just had ‘Christmas’ with my family last night because my brother and his fiancé are going to be out West this year visiting her family. We  all went over to my parents’ house for a nice family supper where we later exchanged gifts. My brother and his fiancé gave us a beautiful frame with the lettering ‘LOVE’. Each letter is a different object that looks like that particular letter. I’ve seen some similar ideas on pinterest. The frame will look absolutely perfect in our bedroom.

& I am beyond excited about the gift my parents got us: A TRIP TO FLORIDA! We will be meeting my mom & dad there over our March Break. I am so excited we will be going down south and spending some time in the sun.

Pictures from last night will be posted soon. Unfortunately, I had forgotten my new Canon (XS) at home. Sadness. My trusty Mother took over the picture-taking for the evening. They have an excellent Canon camera as well (basically a point & shoot on steroids). I will share soon.

In the meantime… I will share a nice family picture of all of us from my wedding this summer, August 13th, 2011.

LOVE THEM!

Sheila xox

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