Shoes to Shiraz

Today is my birthday.

It is officially my last year in the dirty 30s; next year I graduate to the big leagues- the mostly feared /loathed 40s.
I feel like I have spent the last 9 years both defining and losing myself.



I wrapped my brain around being a mom in my 30s. I gained 2 beautiful children but also weight.
I experienced some of my greatest teaching moments and also said goodbye to my career.
I fell more in love with my husband, honoured my family and stayed true to my friends.

But at the same time with all that goodness, I spent a lot of time doing things for others and lost contact with myself. 
I got too busy.
Don't we all do that at some point in life? When do we ever get that person/time back?

We have this version of ourselves that we're striving for that is possibly imaginary and practically unattainable. You know the narrative:
It's the if onlys that occupy our mind.

The if only I had the body I had when I was 20.  My God, if only I could jump as high as I could when I was 18 without my knees breaking.  If only my skin was as clear and tight and glowy as it was 5 years ago.

We're constantly looking back, wishing for something that is as far out of our reach as high, firm boobs and non-jiggly arms are.

Thusly, I have decided that starting now, I'm going to spend the preparation for this next decade looking forward.  My 40s are when I will rediscover who it is that I am actually becoming.  I will embrace the hobbies that cater to my creative spirit.  I will let go of the people, things, habits that were of my youth that don't serve me now.  I will unabashedly say no to things I don't want to do while whole-heartedly and intentionally committing to projects that bring light to my spirit and perk to my step.  I will continue to cherish the friendships that have faithfully walked beside me and put all my heart into my family.

I'm not scared of 39.  Too many special people in my life didn't make it to 39 and don't have this honour and privilege to walk amongst the living.

So there you have it, my anthem for this year. 

This is 39

I am Deena.  I was born Dena but changed my name when I was 13.  I love my family and friends fiercely but also need my breaks and my 'me' time.  I stand proudly and firmly rooted in the Canadian prairies.  The open skies, whether dancing with Northern Lights or speckled with millions of stars blankets our home.  I live just outside of Saskatoon on an acreage but am from Prince Albert.




It is cold here.  Often.  You may wonder why people would want to live here, but I think just by looking at the news coverage over this tragic weekend, you would see why.  Heart.  Strength.  Love.  We are only 1 million in our province, but it's crazy watching all the coverage and seeing just how many people call Saskatchewan home.  I love my home because of the people and wouldn't have it anyway.  While I'm on the topic of this past weekend, please say a prayer for all the families going through a nightmare right now.  I have a former student who lost his brother in the accident, so please say an extra prayer for him. *update- his brother was misidentified and is in fact alive.  Prayers to those families.

The purpose of this post is to reintroduce myself to you.

Probably a good time to be revisiting yours truly as our world has shifted quite a bit since I began blogging.

I started blogging on April 15th, 2009- at that time I had a sweet little 18 month mancub at home and I was just getting my footing in the wonderful world of parenthood and was just about to turn 30. I was only 8 years into my teaching career, having just moved to my position at Holy Cross.


Fast forward  9 years and I have a 10 and 7 year old and I still feel like I'm getting my footing as we transition into a different age where the kids are super independent and pretty darn fun to hang out with.  After changing what teaching looked like and moving to cyber, I am now retiring as of June.  Yup, hanging up the cleats after 17 years.


In fact, I must say we're at a very strange transition point in life.  For the first time in our time together, Dan isn't glued to work and is transitioning out as well.  We have way more time together and it has been great for our little family. He will be busy once this snow melts clearing trees and building a fence around our new property.  Meanwhile, I am (im)patiently waiting the dig for our home (also once the snow melts).


As for blogging, strange things have happened.  Here I am with all this time and it has been the last thing I wanted to do.  So things will be changing too- I am scaling back and am also starting to take away the content with my kids.  They are getting to an age where they will be aware of their digital footprint and I don't want things online that they may not want online.  The reason I started blogging was to document our life and I have done so and am glad I did.  I print out books every year of all my posts.  I don't want to stop doing that.  So in respect for their privacy, I will be going back to blogging our going ons, but it will be on a private blog.  This one will remain until my flame runs out, whenever that will be.  You just may hear from me much more sporadically.

So if you made it this far, congrats.   You are now well versed in the world of me.

My dad- the king of the aviators. Just a random Tuesday chez nous.

Would the real slim shady please stand up?

Shit. Now that song is going to be stuck in my head and I only know like 2 lines so it'll be those two on repeat.  Geesh.

Clearly we're talking spectacles today as I'm following the Blended Blog prompts for fashion for the next so many Wednesdays in the hopes of getting me out of my blogging funk.  I also filed my nails down so I actually like typing.  Random. I know.


via GIPHY


Since laser eyeball cutting off surgery last year, I have been an avid sunglass wearer...before that not so much, so I'm pretty new to the sunglass love game.

I have found a fave though in the past year and have managed to snaggle a couple of pairs from this brand.   Have you heard of Quay Australia sunglasses? They're popping up in boutiquey local stores (like White Dahlia or Dutch Growers) in Saskatoon and I'm sure they're everywhere else too.  I love them because they're fun and different and I like to think that I'm also fun and different.  The price point is a little high, so letmetellyou how excited I was when I found them on Hautelook via Nordstrom Rack for much cheaper (here)

This is my first fun pair:



and the second fun pair that I found during a moment of weakness while floating around on Nordstrom Rack online....

I would love to talk to you about Spring, about how we're enjoying the fresh outdoors, with the sweet sounds of birds chirping and snow melting.  But nope.  We're in the -30s again and can't seem to snap out of winter. 
I will attempt to get out of this 4th winter funk by joining in the TBB ASKS spring themed fun,

1. Spring starts when I bring out my Bluebellgray pillows and decor.  So definitely anything floral screams spring to me.



2. The first thing added to my wardrobe in the spring is something purpley- and that usually means me rotating all the colouring clothing out of the archives and bringing out fun jackets, like Virginia.

2) We stayed at le Centre Sheraton right in the heart of downtown.  It was close to shopping on all the fun streets and a quick 30 min walk to le vieux Montreal.  Subways and the underground tunnels are super easy to navigate around that area too.

Bichette on first, Guerrero at the plate

Pink the colour, not so much my fave.  I barely ever wear it.

P!NK the singer, for sure my fave.  Most because of her badassness



So in honour of our upcoming trip to see our favourite rockstar, P!NK in concert dans la belle province, I have actually photographed some fashiony pictures and turned them in to a style post.  Spring must be in the air!
At a ringette tournament in Regina back in February, I got these pink Hunters practically for free at DSW. They were like 10374482% off. I had to buy them.  Plus they are the first Hunters that fit my strong calves and don't look weird and bendy.  Must be because they're mid-calf and awesomely pink.