{ :) }

I found some old pictures I had scanned who knows when. I have a feeling I have posted some of these before. If so, sorry about the repeat.

Check out the amazing hair styles I used to have :). Not sure how old I am in this picture. Maybe 16. ??
Lukion toisen luokan kuva. 11th grade picture.
I loved my red hair. I got my hair done the day this picture was taken. I remember how cool I felt when my hairdresser put those silver streaks in my hair. :)
1986 Graduation picture. Not a sharp picture but evidence that I did graduate from 12th grade. :)
Me and my boyfriend when I was 18. :)
18 years old again and returning home from Italy. This time we took the train there. Spent a month in Italy (Rimini, Rome).

Right before leaving on my mission to Ireland. I was 21. This skirt got ruined as soon as I got to Ireland and started biking. :) Check out the shoulder pads? I was so in style. :)

I hardly have any pictures of my mission as my camera broke on the day I arrived in Dublin. This girl was one of my favorite companions. We had so much fun together!

I kept seeing these Finlandia Vodka ads in Ireland. This one was in Belfast. I loved my leather jacket but now it seems so big and bulky. :)

Jay and I during our mission's Christmas Conference. We look so young! :)

My hair is this curly naturally. No perm. Ireland's wet climate was perfect to keep it curly.

{flowers and ads}

Our poppies are starting to open up.
These are flowering too.

So is one of our neighbor's apple tree. Gorgeous!

Spotted in our neighborhood.

Two great ads. It amazes me that out of two magazines, I was only able to find two that I liked. I keep thinking I should do a scrapbook layout inspired by the kitty ad. Love the opposite color scheme in the Heinz ad. That could be inspiration for a scrapbook layout colors too. :) I don't get people who have a hard time finding inspiration. Inspiration is everywhere.

{shook}

Shawn Desmond - Shook.
Heard this again while out today and remembered I like this song.
Also: Added couple of Simply Red's songs at the bottom. Scroll all the way down if interested.

{smoothies}

(image via google image search, i drank my smoothie too fast to remember to take a picture :))

Smoothie season has officially begun!

We love smoothies in our house. Sienna and I just had a yummy one: melon/mango juice with frozen bananas and mangos. Sunny yellow smoothie for a sunny day. :)

In case some of you have never made a smoothie, here are couple of tips:

*Put juice in the blender. I fill mine approximately 1/3 full.

*Then start adding frozen fruit/berries, not too many at a time.

*Make sure you cover the blender before you turn it on. (duh :))

*Blend until smooth.

***The most important thing is to watch the blender while you keep the motor running. You have to make sure the juice is moving constantly. If it's not and the motor makes lots of noise, you're about to kill your blender. I might have some experience of that. Might. :) If fruit gets stuck in the blades, use a long wooden spoon for example to unstuck it before you turn the blender on again.

*Keep adding fruit/berries until you like the consistancy of your smoothie. We like them quite thick.

*Freeze pealed banana chunks in freezer ziplock baggies. I find that bananas make the smoothies nice and creamy (and sweet!). You can freeze any other fruit/berries in the same way. Or buy them from the grocery store's frozen section as I do. Costco sells huge bags for a reasonable cost.

*Make sure you use a good quality juice, not those sugary "fruit drinks". Pure juice only. We like to use either apple juice or mango/melon juice but you can use any juice.

So easy. So healthy. Kids love smoothies!

Try different combinations of juice/fruit/berries. You can add yogurt or milk too. Or protein powder or what ever you wish. :) You can even "hide" some veggies in there for picky eaters. Some people add ice cubes in their smoothies but we don't. I find that when I use frozen fruit/berries, the smoothies are cold/frozen enough. Ice just dilutes the taste. But if you don't have frozen fruit/berries and you want a smoothie, then use ice cubes and fresh fruit/berries.

There you have it. Have a fun smoothie season! :)

ps. +27C today.

{this & that}

Artist: Brian Kershisnik

www.kershisnik.com

Yesterday I had a really tough morning. Remember how my blessing promised me energy (and I got it) but also comfort (I knew I'd still be sick). I looked in a mirror yesterday and did not like what I saw. Tired, baggy eyes, skin pealing under my nose from blowing it too much (where does all that yucky stuff come from?!), terrible hair day (has been for a while, I need to get my hair done desperately, I lost my hairdresser and need to find a new one) and "aliens eating my upper lip". Yep, a long line of cold sores on my upper lip again. I seem to get multiple ones when I'm really run down and when I have to blow my nose lots. Anyways, I was having one of those "swim in an Olympic size self pity pool" moments (gotta love Neal A. Maxwell and his way with words!). I was eating breakfast and started reading the Ensign (our church's monthly magazine for adults). An article totally touched my heart. I was crying and reading the words over and over again. Beautifully written article about hope. Gotta love the Spirit and how He can comfort and uplift you when you're down. People who don't believe in God, miss out so much in my humble opinion. If I just remember to turn to God when I'm down, I'm always uplifted and comforted. Always.

If you're down, look up! :)

The article can be read here, if anyone is interested:
Hope: The Misunderstood Sister by Larry Hiller

Other things that cheered me up yesterday:

*worked on my Energy Journal
*realized that Jay had bought cherries
*took pictures of Sienna's cute braid pigtails (before they got ruined by her bike helmet)
*Sienna riding her bike
*the New Moon movie trailer
*listened to Inside Acappella (I so love them!) when I gave a ride to Robin to his yearly Special Olympics picnic
*seeing Hawrelak Park even just quickly while driving through (all the geese! we so need to go for a picnic there!)
*reconnected with an old friend in facebook
So despite all, it was a good day. :)

Lotta Jansdotter has some new cuteness on her web site. I'd like to get my hands on this lovely scrapbook album.

*lotta jansdotter


Sienna is playing computer games on Jay's computer as I'm writing this. It's so fun to sit side by side and do our thing. :)
Found this at Elizabeth Kartchner's blog and I thought I'd do it.
When I was a child... I lived on an island and went to a school that had only 12 kids total.
I can't imagine my life without... the gospel, Jay and Sienna.
If I could be anywhere, I'd be... with all my loved ones on a fun trip (touring Europe for example).
My least favorite chore is... dusting.
If I could be on any tv game or reality show, it would be... So You Think You Can Dance (it would mean I could dance!).
If a mystery package arrived on my doorstep, I'd hope it would be... how about some tickets to a fun show for Jay and I, or tickets for a fun family vacation, even better. :)
My guilty pleasure is... chocolate and magazines.
I thought I would never... be able to have kids.
If a genie granted me three wishes, I’d wish for... If you had to be totally selfish with these wishes (no world peace kind of stuff) then: a housekeeper/cook, a personal stylist who'd get me new clothes when I need them (for free! :D) & do my hair, better overall health. And to have amazing artist skills! And dancing skills. More time. That Jay wouldn't have to work but could spend his days with Sienna and I. And... And... :)
Your turn!

{i can't wait! i can't wait! i can't wait!!!!!!!!!}

{heidi swapp in edmonton}

Here are some of my pictures from "Edmonton All Day with Heidi Swapp".

My big House of 3 bag that had all the goodies in it.
Heidi telling us the story behind the Energy Journal idea.
We all signed this booklet for Heidi.
Our conference room. I was sitting right behind these ladies in the front.
I took a lot of pictures before I realized my flash was turned off. Pay attention, sansku, pay attention... :)

Something about this old chandelier made me take a picture of it. :)

A quick peak for you of some of the projects Heidi brought with her.

Heidi's Home Album. Just few of the pages.

Check the House of 3 web site if you're interested in buying any of these kind of kits. There's lots of awesome stuff there. Digital stuff so people who don't have a scrapbooking store where they live can just print out stuff and still scrapbook. They are very handy for those of us also who have a scrapbooking store nearby. Just another fun way to scrapbook.

I fell in love with this black plastic (I know, I still liked it) bling bling heart. :) It was so big and bulky.

A layout she had made using the same inking technique we practiced that day. Heidi has five cute, cute kids.

Loved this heart she had made with ink and rubberstamps.

There you have it. Just a peak. :)

I'm sure this won't be the only scrapbooking event I'll go to. I'm hooked. :)

*heidi swapp
*house of three