Enough Talk...

If you know me, you know that I am the type of person who says they are going to do something... And then says they are going to do something... And then says they are going to do something...  And then writes it down on a list of things to do.

Eventually, most of it gets done... It just takes an incredible amount of list making to accomplish my goals.

The lists floating around my house can get pretty annoying sometimes, as there are usually 3 going at time.  One in the car, one in the kitchen, and one that I can never find.  

It's SO great... (a little bit of sarcasm inserted here)

I'll admit, it is pretty satisfying when you complete something and you are able to cross 3 things off your list... 

Not so satisfying however, when your Husband points out that you are, in fact, crossing off the same item 3 times, on 3 different lists.

Who asked him, anyway?

I didn't realize I had such a problem until my friend Sue Jean pointed out that she spotted one of my lists written on a ripped up pizza box.  I thought it was genius by the way, but she thought it was weird and bought me a box of note paper.

As a "professional" List maker, which I will now call myself, I have developed categories that I use on a daily basis.  

Feel free to use them if you wish.

The Important Stuff
Raise $10,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society

Write a blog post about hair chopping fundraiser

Find someone to cut your hair for free (preferably a professional)

Solicit donations from all your closest friends who are going to pretend they never read this part. :)

The Daily stuff

Make beds

empty dishwasher

Make dinner

Go to stupid work

The Fun Stuff

Bake Cookies

Go to HomeSense

Crank the tunes and pretend you're a Rockstar

The Necessary Stuff

Grocery Shopping

Wash Bathrooms

Vacuum

Laundry

The "I Have Absolutely NO Intention of Doing This" Stuff

Wash floors

Clean closet

Clean out storage room

Clean Garage

The "Holy Crap it's Almost 5pm and I Need Things to Cross off My List" Stuff

Write List

Have a shower

Email someone.  Anyone.

Look for something edible in the fridge for dinner.

Hope your husband doesn't read this list.

On August 31, 2012, I made a commitment to raise $10,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society in Honour of Mr. Shin and Lynne Ferris.

And every day since then, it has been at the top of my Important list.

We are almost half way to our goal of $10,000. From wedding cakes, to dessert tables, cookie favours and bake sales.

For months, I have been talking about chopping my hair for the next fundraiser, and talking about chopping my hair, and talking about chopping my hair.    

My 4.5 year old Daughter joined in, and so did my Mom.

So enough talk.  here we are.  Ready to chop, chop, chop. 

Short. 

We are aiming for the first week of April for our haircut.  No shaved heads, but it will be short.  I promise. 

 

The money we raise from pledges will go to the Canadian Cancer Society.

And the hair will be donated to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization which provides hair pieces for financially underprivileged children dealing with long term hair loss.

To pledge us online, please click here Or contact one of us.

If you wish to donate a haircut (or 3), or know someone who would be willing, please let us know.  

Please note:  we really would prefer a professional, so that excludes most of my friends and family. :)

Thank you for your support!

IF I COULD... {For Mr. Shin and Lynne}

If I could
Jack Johnson   

To listen to this song Click Here

A brand new baby was born yesterday

Just in time

Papa cried, baby cried 

Said "Your tears are like mine"

I heard some words 

from a friend on the phone

that didn't sound so good

The doctor gave him two weeks to live

I'd give him more if I could

You know that I would now

If only I could

You know that I would now

If only I could

Down the middle drops one more

Grain of sand

They say that

New life makes losing life easier to understand

Words are kind

They helped ease the mind

I'll miss my old friend

And though you gotta go

We'll keep a piece of your soul

One goes out

One comes in

You know that I would now

If only I could

You know that I would now

If only I could

There are 10,000 reasons for this post.  

Here are two {For Mr. Shin & Lynne}

Although they would never meet, Mr. Shin and Lynne would share two things in common.

They both had amazing Daughters (which, coincidentally I consider two of my very best friends)...

Mr. Shin (with his Daughter Sue Jean)

Lynne (with her Daughter Mel, and her Husband Bruce)

And secondly, they shared something that no one ever wants to have in common.

Cancer.

When I heard about the Cancer, I hoped and I prayed For a miracle for the two of them. It sickened me that I couldn't do anything but watch, as my friends painfully witnessed their parents fight the biggest battle of their lives.  

The fight for their Life.

I continued to pray for a Miracle, but it would never come.

Mel and Sue Jean's parents slowly faded away and began losing their battle to the horrendous disease.

It simply wasn't fair.

On November 19, 2010 I received this email from Lynne. At the time, she didn't know that she also had Cancer.

"I am forwarding this on behalf of my nephew Ryan who is riding for his Dad Wayne (Bruce's Brother) who is valiantly fighting bowel, colon and liver cancer.  Anyone who has been through this or knows someone who has (nearly everyone you talk to, it seems) understands the Fight is tough. Wayne and Jean's both boys (Kyle, too) have a very nasty lesson in Life, reality check as you will, and have matured greatly during this time.  They have both stepped up to the plate to help Wayne in every way they can. If you feel inclined, please donate.  I know myself how much demand there is for our hard earned money for Charities, and don't feel sorry if you are unable to donate."

Thanks, 

Lynne and Bruce 

One year after this email, on the evening of December 11, 2011, Lynne passed away.  

And sadly on February 19, 2012 just two short months later, Mr. Shin would also lose his battle to Cancer.

"And though you gotta go

We'll keep a piece of your soul"

-Jack Johnson

There are 10,000 reasons for this post.

(These are just a few):

As of today, I am a proud supporter of the Canadian Cancer Society, and my goal is to raise $10,000 (through various events)for the 10,000 reasons for this post.  The money raised will go to Cancer Research to honour those who have lost their lives to Cancer, and those who have fought and survived this terrible disease. 

It is for Mr. Shin and Lynne Ferris. For my Grandma Hardy, Grandma Elsie, Doug Nairn, Holden Clarke, Mrs. Peterson, and Gord Aitchison. It is for Salimah's Mom. For my Uncle Marco, Sue Shearer, Duncan Mckim, Grandma Martyn and Aunt Barb.  For Laura, for Heather, and for my Auntie Marion. It's for Wayne Ferris, for Amanda (Easy Peasy Organic) and Sukaina (Sips and Spoonfuls) and to Paula (vanilla bean baker) who started Frosting for the cause last year to raise an incredible amount of funds for Cancer Research herself.

Want to join me?
1.) You can help by spreading the word.

2.) To Donate, Please Click Here

3.) Or how about baking a batch of cookies for your colleagues for donation?  :)  It's pretty fun!

Or Banana Bread?

Or Cupcakes?  
(Also pretty fun!)

Stay tuned for a Bake Sale near you.

There are 10,000 reasons for this post... What are yours?  

It's Love Day

What is Love??

Love is Laughter.  Belly Aching Laughter.

Love is 6:00 family dance time.  Music. Husband. Kids.  And lots of silly dancing.

Love is singing to your wife and kids (even when out of tune).

It's getting up in the night with a sick child to let the other one sleep.

Love is a phone call in the middle of the day just to see how you're doing.

It's a Sunday drive.  Coffee, music, and lots of conversation.

Love is having the ice scraped off your car on a cold Winter's day.

It's laughing when you feel like complete garbage.

Love is jumping on the bed.

Love is Sunday Banana pancakes.

It's taking a 15 hour flight to Hong Kong (for the weekend) to take your wife shopping, when you hate shopping.

Love is taste-testing one thousand recipes until you finally get it right.

 

What does Love mean to you?

Happy Love Day!

xo

Hot Cocoa Holiday Packs

I've been dying to make homemade Marshmallows for some time now, and I thought it would be the perfect time of year.  I also made Hot Cocoa and packaged it all together in some cute little gable boxes.

Peppermint Marshmallows

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

With a Gingerbread Snowflake

Wishing you a wonderful Holiday Season!  

Jen

Spreading Holiday Cheer (Flight Attendant Style)

Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome aboard.  

14 years ago, I started working as a Flight Attendant for Air Canada.  Amazing how fast the time has flown by.

During the holidays, I like to leave a little cookie "greeting" for my friends to find in their mail folders.  Something a little more edible than a Greeting card.  ...Although sometimes when you are stuck on an airplane, a greeting card can sound pretty delicious... :)

 This year they will be receiving a F/A Jen cookie.  (I promise I look more feminine in real life... Well, at least I hope I do.

For those of you traveling over the holidays, may you have safe travels!

For those staying close to home, may you enjoy your time with family and loved ones.

Happy Holidays! 

xo

Jen