Confessions of a "Cricuteer"

Yes, I am a "Cricuteer"...a proud owner of a Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter! I received one as a gift a couple of Christmases ago, and I looooove it! I am an aspiring paper crafter, and it's my most favorite crafting tool - and I have a LOT of tools! I'm not kidding! My "addiction" store is Michael's, and I can't walk into WalMart for a pack of gum without a visit to their craft department! Family members often wonder why I need so many supplies and tools. Isn't that akin to asking a chef why he needs so many different ingredients, spices, knives, utensils, pots and pans in his kitchen?!

George Bernard Shaw said, "Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last you create what you will."

Isn't that neat? So wouldn't it be a shame if the creative process would be frustrated by something so...preventable...as running out of double-sided photo tape, or not having the right decorative-edged scissors, or being a half page short of just the right shade of sage green embossed self-adhesive cardstock (btw, totally kidding about that last example...I've yet to find embossed self-adhesive cardstock) Hahaha!

My Cricut tools are a category in themselves...and I've recently added to them by purchasing the "Jukebox" and also the Design Studio Software. My newest adventure into the Cricut realm of crafting will be cutting adhesive vinyl. I admit I'm pretty excited to try it!

I look forward to the day when I'll be able to post pics of my craft room (at present it looks as if a tornado touched down and stayed a while) and the imaginative creations that will come to pass! Ahhh...sweet dreams are made of this!

P.S. This blog was inspired by joelle...who joined the "Cricuteer" ranks this past Christmas when she got a Cricut Create! It's nice to know that I'm not alone in my "mania"! Happy crafting!

Sunshine on my shoulder makes me happy...but happier still when it's on my face.

I had a great time at the ward primary activity last evening! It was a culture night, and I helped to do a presentation on the Philippines. As I gathered "souvenirs" I'd brought home from serving my mission there, and Googled the latest facts and stats , I felt a lot of gratitude. I am grateful to have come from such a culturally rich and diverse place. I am also grateful to have had the opportunity to move to, and grow up in Canada. The opportunities afforded to my family and me here, could never have happened had we stayed in the Philippines. Though it is a great country in its own right, it is not the easiest place to live, and raise a family. I'm glad my parents had the foresight and courage to transplant us to this "brave new world". I'm sure it wasn't easy for them to leave all that was dear and familiar. I know it was quite a culture shock for me when I returned to the Philippines to serve a full-time mission! (That will be the subject of a future post or two I'm sure.)

Ah ha! So this post helped me to go back to the true purpose of this blog, which is to become more aware of, and thus more grateful for, the joys in my life! Mostly I think it's helped me realize that although the frigid weather has returned, it's all a part of the wonderful blessing to live in Canada! Hahahaha! At least the brilliant sunshine has returned too! I love the fact that I have to squint to look up at the cloudless blue sky today! I think I'll bask in the sunshine some more now....

P.S. Hope springs eternal that I'll one day raise my posting average! I've at least maintained it (currently at one/week) by writing today!

P.P.S. I'm not sure why this isn't coming as easily as I thought it would. I've never found writing in my journals as...daunting? Maybe it's because my journals have always been for a reading audience of...one. Maybe, I should just stop stressing about this so much, and just write. After all, no one else has to read this if they so choose, right? Hahaha!

Friendship and Chocolate Toffee Pudding

Yeah! Another post! And it only took a week to do it! This whole blogging thing seems to be tougher than I was anticipating - though I think a lot of worthwhile things in life seem to be, at first!

Today was a WONDERFUL day for a number of reasons! First, the temperature finally rose above "bitterly cold"! I have been trying to not complain so much in view of the other calamitous weather that has been occuring in other parts of the world. However, even the most hardy, and "seasoned" Winterpeggers were beginning to fray at the edges this year! I was afraid that the break in this frigid winter was going to be...well...spring! So, hooray...I was able to walk outside with my jacket unzipped, and without worrying about how quickly any exposed skin was going to freeze!

Another reason today was great was because I met up with a friend for lunch! Sounds pretty run-of-the-mill and ordinary right? Well...considering that it's been almost 20 years since we had seen each other, it was pretty out of the ordinary!

Jo and I met in 6th grade, and became collectors and traders of Teen Beat and Tiger Beat posters! I made sure I gave her all of the Duran Duran (and especially John Taylor) ones I found, and in return she gave me all the C.Thomas Howell (where is he now?!) ones she found. Hahaha! It was a rewarding system! However, we unfortunately lost touch shortly after high school graduation. Then...along came Facebook! So a BIG shout out to Facebook for facilitating our "mini-reunion"! She's been living across "the Pond" (and has a great accent and "English" vocab) for about 10 years. Hopefully it won't be another 20 years before I get the chance to reconnect with more "long, lost friends"!

By the way, the Chocolate Toffee Pudding at Earl's was YUUUUUMMMMY!!

New Year's Resolution

Hooray! I'm actually keeping (okay, technically starting) a resolution that I've made for this year...this blog!

This is my initial foray into the world of blogging...other than reading friends' blogs! I love the quotation under my blog's title, and so will endeavor to use it as the purpose for keeping my blog!

I hope to record my "relishing" of life, to witness of the joys I find in my journey, and share love with the amazing friends and family I've been blessed with in my life!

To all who may visit and spend some of your precious time here - thank you and happy reading!