just represent'n

Blogging from my phone today from my office Multicultural Day. They put me between Scotland and Vietnam,a nice random placing, and we had a hoot rooting every one on. There was great diversity with our organizationand the food,oh the food, was a-mazing!!!

My little table did alright. I had some Shreddies and Maple filled cookies (that I may or may not have smuggled in my carryon) for snacking pleasure and I made some Apple Jack for drinking pleasure.

It was so neat going around the 'World' trying new authentic dishes. I'm already planning for next year. Hellooo Nanaimo Bars and Poutine. I just need to find a place that sells cheese curds in Orlando. Let the search begin.

>^..^<

a squashed tomato

Even though I've been back from Canada for a week and a half, I'm still playing catch-up. Sure it was a relaxing vacation, but I never thought it would take this long to get back into the swing of things. Aye ya yi!

One thing I got to do this past weekend was get a little scrapping done during Skrap 'n Chat's online crop. yesss. I created this page for my challenge to document a Now and Then moment through photos. I still get a little teary when I look at Maribel's 1 year photos and then look at her now. She's growing up to be such a beautiful little girl with such spunk.

I still feel like a squashed tomato playing ketchup heh heh but the weekend is coming up soon and I have many fun crafty things planned along with some no fun chores that need to be done. I'm all about balance. Oh and sleeping in is on the list too.

>^..^< 

Oh Canada part II: final days

Warning!!! VERY Photo Heavy!!!

Day 4: 9/14/2010

Mmm Poutine

Well I knew I wouldn't be able to go through this vacation without partaking in Poutine so Vic and I picked up the kids from school and stopped at the Red Barron hot dog joint for the best poutine in town!! It was succulent and so worth the 17 points. Sorry Suzanne, but it was delicious!!! I didn't count the ketchup I added later. Probably should have though...

poor sherrykins

While Vic was inside the store ordering the food, I heard some sniffling and looked back at poor Sherry, covered in her brother's yogurt tube. She tried sneaking it but it backfired. Literally. Poor thing.

The Aidanator

Aidan had Tae Kwon Do that evening so I went along to watch. I didn't want to be a total Auntyparazzi so not to distract the kids from their lesson I only snapped when I knew he was concentrating on his moves and not posing for me. This kid likes to pose. A lot.

This was his favourite part of the lesson for sure. As soon as his instructor came back with the padded mitt (no idea what it's called) he was the first in line to run up and kick it. I love how you can see his little foot off the floor.

Day 5: 9/15/2010

boingy boingy curls made from a straight iron



Today was picture day so I curled Sherry's hair for the special occasion. She loved them so much, she bounced everywhere to feel them boing back and forth. I do the same thing. hee hee

Bubble Tea

Christein treated us all for lunch at a Vietnamese resturant and me, my very first Bubble Tea. It is an "interesting" drink to say the least. I'll let the next photo do the talking.

I gave my dad a sip and he too shares the same feelings for the drink. Safe to say that I will not be ordering one of those anytime soon. Vic slurped down my "pearls" after I drank off the top.*gag*

As a bit of revenge for the "nummy" Bubble Tea, my Dad challenged Christein to a pepper eating contest. Dad would taunt Christein with, "Come on Christein are you MAN enough?"
I wish I took a picture of the teeny red peppers but alas I was busy scarfing down my hot soup instead. The peppers were no kidding 1" long and 1/4" wide. Seriously tiny. They warn people about the little ones as you can see why. Christein waited until my dad broke face first then he ran to the "washroom" for an undisclosed period of time. Meanwhile Dad drank all the water that was left on the table and sucking in bouts of air to keep the spice at bay. Vic and I enjoyed every minute.

Christein, Maggie, Victoria



This photo really melts my heart. The love these two have for Magnolia is so clear. She is so blessed to have such loving parents and siblings, and Aunty Jenn of course ;o)

Does this hat make my head look big?

We ended the day at Montana's for Vic's birthday and the people forgot to take the hat back. She's so lucky. I thought it suited her just right, don'tcha think?

Day 6: 9/16/2010

Dad and I made way to Edmonton and I loved how beautiful the scenery was on the drive back. It was a 6 hour drive so we didn't really do much other then drive. And listen to jazz. That's the life.

Day 7: 9/17/2010

April and Me

Today was the day of meetings. I started my day with a little meet and great with a cool chickie from SkrapnChat, April.  I love meeting online friends face to face, it's so cool that you can pick up anywhere in any conversation and never run out of things to say. We "talk" almost everyday so it was like meeting up with an old friend. I just hope I wasn't too crazy as I can tend to be a little more "out there" in real life then on line. On line you can proof read before hitting the "post" button. In real life I have no "preview" button so I tend to blurt. A lot.

Robert, Me, Joanne, Luke

After April's I left to the north side of Edmonton and met up with my biological family. I haven't seen any of them since Christmas of '05 so our visit was over due. Well over due. My birthmother and I are sanwhiched between my younger brother's Robert and Luke. At least I know where I get my height.

Day 8: 9/18/2010

Jessica and Me

Nichole, Me, Jody, Victoria

Another meet up day today. This time is was with my friend (and fellow SkrapnChatter) Jessica. I also met with my cousins Nichole and Jody at the Olive Garden. We stayed there for almost 3 hours just catching up and having a great visit. Nothing like family visits down memory lane. Oh the stories...

*drool* tasty peanut butter marshmello square and a Canadian Colada smoothie *drool*

After a little bit of shopping and culture shock at West Edmonton Mall, I had to indulge in some Booster Juice Canadian Colada and a Second Cup Peanut Butter coloured marshmellow square. Mmmm succulence.

Me, Lindsay, Lizzeh, Kristi, & cute Alaina

After the mall, I met up with my dear chums from the Old Navy days of yore. I love friend gatherings with lots of laughs and stories to go 'round. But it's meetings like these that make me miss living in Edmonton. Like, lots.

Day 9: 9/19/2010
No Photo. :'o(

It was an amazing vacation with so many visits and so many hugs. I have to admit I cried a little bit everytime I thought about flying back to Orlando. I'm going to miss my family so much this time. More so then before but another trip is already in the works. After all I can't miss my nephew's baptism in April now can I? I didn't think so! ;o)

Until next time Canada! Now where's my box of Smarties...

The entire collection of photos from this trip can be viewed here in my Facebook album.

>^..^<

a walk in the park

So back to my vacation updates my dad and I gave my sister a little break from her onions and took them out for a walk in Henderson Park, in Lethbridge. It was so nice and the weather was just right for some activity and little photo shoot.
I got carried away. Again. Sorry. But how could I not when I have such eager and willing subjects? Seriously?

My dad has this super awesome lens and let me try it on for size. I had heard of this lens and it's awesomeness from a sweet friend and after trying it out, it is now on my "Must Buy" list. I just love the clarity and depth of the photos. Not to mention, the subjects are dear to my heart which made the experience all the more awesome. I have to say, these onions were so good to me. I'm not used to hearing, "Auntie Jenn take a picture of me!!" and have them hold the pose until I say, "Got it!" They spoiled me for sure.

I finally took the time to learn to memory some manual mode features and tricks since picking up this photographer's "bible". For the longest time the phrase "F/Stop" eluded me and I just couldn't figure it out and frankly was a little scared to ask. I was afraid I was going to sound like someone asking where the "911" button on the phone was. Stoopid. *shh don't let Maribel hear me say 'stupid' or she'll come back with "Oop! We don't say that word!" * But with a little patience and note taking and practicing with my "Jacking Instructions" my family's term for the Operator's Manual...by George I think I finally got it.

Dadeo in Henderson Park 100mm f/2.8

I was so excited when my dad entered the realm of digital photography. YaY!!! He purchased a Pentax K7 and guess who got to teach him how to use it? It's a sweet camera but I still favour my Pentax Kx and I have to say that it's so great to be able to talk "shop" with someone who is willing to listen and understands what your saying. Poor Joe tries so hard but then he'll start talking video games to even the field. I don't talk camera talk with Joe anymore. 

Of course I'm no pro or anything but I'm content with practicing on my favourite subjects and this sweet little family really made it easy for me to capture those moments I never want to forget.

My final vacation highlight coming up next.

>^..^<

bento madness. madness I say!!!

Before I left for Canada I ordered some cute lunch boxes and accessories that I learned were called Bentos. I bought them because I wanted something cute and fun to help me with my portion control and it turned into something else.
A monster!!!

And so it begins. The pig head is a single level box found at the Dollarama. It was the only one left in the store so yoink. I so wish we had a Dollarama here in Orlando. It seriously rocks!  The shark box is a snack box found at Publix and the Hello Kitty box along with the top left and top middle box were bought at the T&T Super Market while in Edmonton. I wish we had one of those here in Orlando too. *sigh* I'm getting homesick already. How is that possible?

The two yellow rectangle boxes and the triangle boxes were purchased from this cute online shop BentoBonanza. I love that they have a spot for the cutlery and chopsticks and that it fits the Target dollar spot cutlery I buy for me Maribel.

I seriously can't wait to try out these egg molds. Basically you boil your eggs and while they are hot you peel the shell and gently fit it into the mold and submerge in ice cold water to cool down and they come out in that shape. It still boggles my mind a bit but I couldn't resist the chance to try them out. I'll let you know how it goes. I also fell in love with the little monkey jam containers. I think the banana as the spoon is so darling. Maribel gravitated to those right away and are already a favourite.

No Bento box is complete without some way to cut the sandwiches into fun shapes for a cute presentation and well, it's also one of the only ways to get them to fit into those tiny boxes. I found the butterfly and dinosaur sanwich cutters at one of Target's dollar spot and ordered the fun animal shaped cutters from BentoBonanza along with the food picks. Maribel liked eating her rolled up lunch meat from these sticks so much that she used the sticks to pick up every bit of her sandwhich. So silly.

Other Bento goodies include: silicon grass food seperaters; little animal cups from the Dollarama; purple trainer chopsticks for Maribel from her Aunty Vic; Wilton silicon cupcake cups from Michaels, little sauce containers with animal heads.

So I think this is a good start. And upon further research on what to fill these little treasures I came across a couple blogs that are so inspiring and have since added to my ever growing blog reader list. Wendolonia and Another Lunch. I think what I love so much about these is that they use leftovers which makes lunches easier for the busy morning rushed mom that I am.

So here is my first Bento. This is Maribel's for daycare today. I'm a long ways away from my lunches looking like any of the fun ones linked but I'm a newbie and will pick it up as I go along.
I fear I may turn into a Bento monster. It is a full moon after all.

>^..^<

Oh Canada part I

I had the total pleasure to fly home to Alberta, Canada last week and meet my new precious niece and squeeze and visit with my family. I'm not sure if many of you know but ALL of my family live in Canada so There's nothing like coming off the plane and stepping on home soil. *deep breath* ahhh home sweet home. When I get homesick, it can get painful at times. The best thing was being greeted with a rainbow. I LOVE rainbows.

Day 1: Saturday, 9/11/2010

I flew in Saturday afternoon and my Calgary family and I went to Red Lobster for dinner. My sister and her now 3 kids met up with us there and we filled up on succulent seafood and belly laughs. It's always great to have get togethers after so long of our own lives and schedules. After dinner we hugged and squeezed our good bye's and my Dad and I made our way down to Lethbridge where I would spend the next few days with my sister and her precious family. She beat us there (speeding I'm sure ;o)

We all were so tired when we got to Vic's that Aidan tried sleeping in my Dad's bed which was the bottom bunk. After several pleading's for him to move to his own bed, he complied. Barely.

Once the kids and Dad were in bed, Vic and I stayed up and I unloaded my two suitcases that were FULL of Maribel's old baby clothes that I had held on to for what ever reason but so glad I did. Now little Maggie will get to wear them and I won't feel so bad donating them because I know they will get used. I didn't realize how effecient my packing was until we unrolled everything and layed it all out. It was a mountian.
Totally worth it.

Day 2: Sunday 9/12/2010

There was no church as it was Stake Conference so we just chilled in our jammies until 2:30. It was so nice. I couldn't get enough of my new little niece. Every chance I got I would snuggle up with her and sniff her head while she cooed in my ear. Truly the best sound ever.

Day 3: Monday 9/13/2010

We started the day fairly early and while Vic dropped the onions off to school I got to care for Maggie. Oh what a sweet treat. She had her 2 month check up scheduled so when Vic returned off we went to see her Dr. I took a little video but when Vimeo finishes it's forever uploading I will post it. So the picture will have to do for now. ;o)

Here's the video. Remember to turn off the music from the side bar ==>

Maggie's 2 month check up from Jennifer Carlberg on Vimeo.

The kids were so excited to show me around their school when I came with Vic to pick them up. Here they are standing next to their pics. Sherry's was a self portrait. Can you guess which one is hers? I'll give you a hint...she's missing a little off the top. hee hee.
I just love seeing them all cute with their giant backpacks and saying hi to their little friends. I still have a couple years before M starts school so this was a good ice breaker for me.

I think I have slammed you with enough photos for now. If you've hung on this long you rock!!!
More coming tomorrow.

>^..^<

baby hungry

I am back from my trip to meet this little presh. I got to spend 9 days with my family and oh boy was it hard to say good bye this time. I miss her so much already.

I miss hearing her coo in my ear while I did the bounce and sway.
I miss the smell of her hair.
I miss her teeny tiny hands and super ticklish feet.
I miss her smile even if it is from gas.
I miss helping her dress in her mini clothes.
I miss the feeling of accomplishment when I got her to take her soother. 

I told Joe that we need to step it up because I'm baby hungry.

>^..^<

i stand corrected

as usual.

So I have this sister.
Her name is Victoria.
She's a great sister.
Super witty.
Beautiful.
A great mother.
Very loyal to her friends and family.
A hard worker.
She makes cute kids.
Not afraid to speak her mind in one of the rare truest sense.
Great at correcting poor spelling.
...and grammer.
She says I've become American-ized. Nice.
 
I now say things like INsureance while my Canadian family says inSUREance.
I say Soda, they say Pop.
I say Restrooms, they say Washrooms.
I say Y'all, they say....not y'all.
I say endure (enDERe) they say endure (enDURe)

She likes to point these things out in the only Victoria way.
Oh Home Sweet Home.

I know you can't help yourslef Vic and I love you all the more for your little quirks. But look out for that day that I catch you in a slip because oh great will be the day that the corrected will get to correct the corrector.

Happy Birthday!!! 28 never looked so good ;o)

>^..^<

the culprits

I decided to wake up before the birds and attend the only meeting available before I leave for a week so that I'm not too far behind when I return. While waiting for the meeting to start I thought about how far I've come on this weight loss journey and how far I still have to go. It hasn't been easy but I really do feel a difference when I make those better choices. I mean you get out of it what you put into it right?? Right.
And then I got thinking of all the favourite foods that got me there... 

I won't lie. It's been tough at times but as I look at the calorie count and fat content it has made some the decisions easier. Why do the foods that are so bad for you taste the best? Why? Whyyyyyyyyyy?
I gained +.6. Boo. Hiss.

Stats:
Day 6 of Week 8:
Week 8 Goal: Write down every BLT (Bite, Lick, Taste) while on vacay. I think I can, I think I can...

New Weight Goal: Lose 20lbs
Total Lbs Lost: -10.2
Lbs left to new goal: 11.8

>^..^<

always behind

So I signed up for this class to make a custom embellished tee thinking that I could totally do this and keep up. It started last week and I was really good on Day 1 with the cutting everything out part aaaaaand that's where I kinda stopped. I'm so bad for that. Starting a project and leaving it unfinished for who knows how long...

This is kind of out of my element because it requires a lot of hand sewing. I stink at hand sewing. Like skunky stink, that's how bad I am at it. Well a few days ago Joe picked up Season 1 of the OC (for .99cents-love him) and since I'm not one that likes to watch tv without doing something else I decided that tonight I will take the bull by the horns and start my pinning and sewing all in one sitting. I feel like a brave little toaster. 
I just hope I can keep track of my needle or this could get messy.

Happy Humpday!!

>^..^<

slowdown summer

Oh summer, slow down please. Just a for a little bit? I'm having so much fun with my little sunshine and we've gotten so much vitamin D this summer it's been wonderful. 

Even though I'm a fall girl, I will still be a little sad when summer is over. All this fresh fruit and flower blossoms have made me really enjoy summertime despite the wicked heat that Florida is famous for.

And now time for the winner of my little passport giveaway.

I wrote down every name and added a paper clip and put them in a large bowl. I gave Maribel a little fishing pole with a magnet at the end and told her to go fishing. She thought that was the bees knees :D

And the winner is.....

Yay Tracey!! Your little package is all bundled up and ready to ship out Tuesday!

Since I leave for Alberta this week (doing the happy dance) I googled Edmonton's weather forcast when I get there:
High in the 60's F and low in the 40's F. Aye ya yi!
That's our February weather here.
I'm gunna freeze.

>^..^<

sump'in like that

Last night we were driving to McD's for a 3point ice cream cone and instead of going inside I drove around to use the drive thru and M asks," are you 'dust going through drive thru or sump'in?"
Lately that has been at the end of every question. It doesn't matter what she is asking, she always ends it with "or sump'in."

"Did you cut your hair or sump'in?"
"Is dinner ready or sump'in?"
"Did you go to work today, or sump'in?"
"Can we go to Target, or sump'in?"

Not sure where it came from but I have an idea...she has been watching the Muppet's Wizard of Oz a lot lately and I'm thinking maybe that has sump'in to do with it. ;o)

Have a splendid long weekend!
I think we are going to pay a little visit to Mickey Mouse this weekend. :D

You still have a chance at my little giveaway, I'll draw the winner tomorrow.

>^..^<

skinny

I don't think that word ever applied to me except in high school when I was dancing. Even then I wasn't "skinny" but I was fit. Well here I am several years later on my way to the skinny me and I am loving this journey.

"Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." Kate Moss

I love food too much to give it up completely but this statement helps me make those healthier choices. Fresh foods, new recipes, and a positive outlook. Three keys to success.

One thing I haven't done yet is document my measurements. Not sure why but I am buying smaller sizes already which is Grrrreat! (think Tony the Tiger) I guess that's a form of measurement of a sort. Still, I might jot the inches for a later review. Might be neat to see after 6 months or so of healthier eating.

Ooo and I reached my 5% goal!
Yay for skinny-er!!

>^..^<