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I don't really know where to go with this post other than to say that I'm in a glass case of emotions.



Do you ever get in a mood where you just can't handle anything else?   I think that's the best way to describe it.  I'm on overload?  If you are french and I say that je suis débordée...then that will make the best sense.  Sorry. No english word is as good at describing my current state of mind.

Which is bizarre because I'm quite happy with my life- I love my cyber to mom to wife to me ratio.  I think that I'm more emotionally débordée.

What could possibly be bugging me you ask? Well it's a combination of little things that have just snowballed....and have made me realize I need to take a step back from stuff.  For example...little changes I am making is not doing things that I know are a waste of my time and saying no more guiltlessly.  Two meetings were scheduled for yesterday that could have been sent in an email. I vote useless emails be banned from life.  Or I took on being the team manager for Lucia's ringette team thinking I could handle sending a couple of emails and setting up the schedule.  I now realize it is not the roll for me.  I really should be on the ice, teaching the athletes.

Anyway, little realizations that will amount to little changes that will hopefully help me get out of this funk.  Other things that will help immensely? Going back to my old school and teaching my students from last year which is what I'm doing today and I can't wait!  And if that doesn't help, how about a little getaway to Vegas with some special blogger friends to see my bff, Britney later this week?

And now that I've been truthful about my state of mind, let's look at some cute.  Halloween being tomorrow and The Blended Blog hosting a link up for all things Halloween- let's look at what our kids will be dressed as this year.

We'll be trick or treating with my sister and her kids and I am jealous that she got her kids to go themed.....such perfect costumes and even better that they are each their spirit Potter.  Kinsey is really a Hermoine!



My kids told me what they wanted to be and voilà the costumes appeared via Amazon Prime.  Some year I'll be crafty and sewshit.

Or not.  I did have some fun using my makeup on my darling deerest, Lucia.





Yup, nothing like using that expensive Dior Art stick as fun makeup for my kid.
#sacrifice

Happy Monday.
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Decided to go with the What's Up post being linked up with Mix & Match Mama today.  Not feeling overly blog-inspired these days.  Sigh.  So formulated for me post, here we go:


what we're eating- The second turkey I had bought around Thanksgiving...you know, because one can never have too many turkeys.  I plan on cooking the monster on Saturday and having my house smell divine all day.

what I'm reminiscing about- Last year's excitement of watching Gilmore Girls. I really hope they do a second revival.  Also, I think either the Office or Gilmore Girls will be on my re-watch binge list. Speaking of Gilmore Girls, I received some products for review from RoseGal...check out this awesome sweatshirt that my sister ordered.

what I'm loving: Our sweet Lucia finally lost her first tooth.  She was so excited and promptly went to writing the tooth fairy a note and then to telling me that she thinks that I'm the tooth fairy. Sigh.  She's always been our realist.

what we've been up to: keeping busy as usual.  Did a fun splurge event...you can read about our splurge group and all our fun activities here.

what I'm dreading: Making final decisions for the new build because I love everything.  My brows girl (Bloom Studio- check her out!) introduced me to the German Schmear (which sounds perverted but is actually pretty)...now I'm trying to figure out how I can tie this into my modern farmhouse.

what I'm working on: My goal is to have finished Cmas shopping by the end of October..I'm close, but it is looking like it will spill into November.


what I'm excited about:  our cat came back! We had a scare on the weekend with Fuzzy going missing over night.  It was raining all morning on Saturday as we searched for her.  Willis was bawling, Lucia was in a frazzle and honestly, I had given up.  But then alas, the cat came back and man, I haven't seen Willis vibrate like that since he was a kid getting excited over bouncing balls.


what I'm watching/reading: Fall and Halloween calls for Harry Potter movie marathon.  Kyla also picked up this awesome Harry Potter Sweatshirt from Rosegal.  I need to steal it from her.  Speaking of Halloween make sure you check out all the Halloween deals on Rosegal.
As for reading, I'm reading tons too but will save that for another day.  You can follow me on GoodReads if you like.


what I'm listening to: a book.  More on that sometime this week.

what I'm wearing:  All kinda of comfy this week:

Spanx leggings, Aritzia Sweater Dress and Cardigan.

Twinning with la Lucia

Floral t-shirt from Rosegal

Camo flats!

what I'm doing this weekend:  Trying not to lose my mind with all the things we have to fit in.  It's good busy but it's busy with basketball game and practice, piano party, annual kids' halloween photo with friends, sacrament preparation, track meetings and book club.  Oh, and I just said I'd cook a turkey.

what I'm looking forward to next month: November is a great month...it starts with a trip to Vegas with my blogging buddies to see my BFF Britney and Elton...there's a nice super long weekend...and there's the hope of that first snowfall and decorating for Christmas.

what else is new: I'm currently scheming.  As usual. I solemnly swear I am up to no good.


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Welcome to the TBB Fall Home Tour. 

From mid September until mid November my walls are festooned with colourful leaves, twinkly lights and cozy candles.  A plethora of pumpkins take over the outside porch (usually the crazy big ones) and the smaller sugar pumpkins (perfect for pies) stay indoors.   I limit myself to adding a piece or two to the decor each year for each season- this year it's a wood sign that says 'Eat More Pie'.  

How fitting, cause that's what I'm doing as I compose this post.


 My main focus for any fall or winter decorating is warm and cozy at night.  There has to be twinkly lights somewhere and they are all on a timer.


 I have the odd Halloween thing here and there but for the most part it's fall all the way in this house.


Okay, and a random Christmas tree.  I just can't put this one away.....my Grandma kept her Christmas tree up year round so let's say this is my homage to her.  Yup, we'll go with that



So. many. pumpkins.


The outside decor is mainly pumpkins and frozen plants.  I should get around to trimming them back before the snow flies.

My favourite part of fall though isn't the inside decor but the colours that our sky takes on at night and how that reflects itself onto the wheat-shaded ground.  So beautiful and oh, so blessed to live here.



You can check out my previous year's post here:

Fall Decor 2016
Fall Decor 2015
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It's been 3 years running with our splurge group and I thought it was about time that I start writing down all the fun things we've done and all the ideas I've been stockpiling in my brain.  If you're not familiar with a "splurge" group or call it something different, basically we have 11 ladies and each month we do something fun, put in 20$ and draw for a winner.  The "winner" has to spend the money on herself and then put together the next month's shindig.  This weekend we're gathering at the local corn maze for a spooky and tipsy event.  I look forward to these gatherings every month with these ladies!  Here are some of the things we've done and what I'd love to do:


1. Dinner theatre- Off Broadway Dinner Theatre
2.  Movie night- hit the VIP theatre and see something you would only see with your friends. Also popcorn and wine.
3. Wet Paint Pottery- cool concept..pick an item, paint it, they fire it and you go home with a cool treasure.

4. Sleigh Ride- perfect wintertime fun.
5. Corn Maze: Strawberry Ranch, Italian Club
6. Supper out: We've done the Keg, Moxies...you name it.  Sometimes it's nice to get out and not have to worry about little ones.  It's fun trying new restaurants too

7. Nature walk: not many places more beautiful than the Saskatoon riverbank in the fall.  Grab a coffee and get some steps!
8. Escape Room/Breakout Room: Deadlock Escape, Breakout Escape, Mastermind Live Escape- I can't remember which one we did in YXE, but it was blast.
9. Workout Class: We've done a spin class and an OTF class- always fun to sweat with friends.
10. Favourite Things Party: Everyone brings something they can't live without (you fix the price limit) and you do an exchange.


11. Meditation Class: Saskatoon Buddhist Meditation
12. Psychic Reading or Tarot cards
13. Freezer Meal Party at home or Dinner Rush
14. Hockey game- Go Blades!  Just kidding, I don't speak hockey.  Except Jordan has the sweetest Blade billet staying with them and it makes me want to go cheer for him.
15. Rush Game (Lacrosse)
16. Apex for Adults (although all I can picture are a bunch of women peeing their pants...)
17. Santa Claus Parade (might have to bring the kids along)
18. Paint Night: Holly's Wine and Paint

19. Walking Pub Crawl
20. Bingo
21. Square Dancing class
22. Canadian Light Source Tours (Synchotron)
23. Comedy Night (Yuk Yuk)
24. Fun Run, Walk, Marathon type thingy...that foam run or that colour one
25. Solar Gardens: we've done a succulents class and had a nice supper out there.

26. Prairie Lily RiverBoat Sightseeing Tour
27. Bowling
28. Batting cages
29.  Tipsy Mini Golf...because everything is more fun with wine.
30. Vision Boards and Clarity Coaching : Jolene Watson

31. Skating- preferably outdoors with magical snow falling
32. Theatre: we saw a Christmas Carol last year and it was great!
33. Potluck: easy and cheap!
34.  See the symphony play something cool...like the tunes from Harry Potter.
35. At home pedicures : we brought our own polish and did our own pedicures
36. Try out a new restaurant in the city.
37. Christmas Cookie Exchange- always a hit with us!

38. Attend a Book Reading : McNally Robinson- I think we did this by accident one year.
39. Distillery Tour: Lucky Bastard, Crossmount Cider, Black Fox Farm
40. Cooking class: D'reens
41. Brunch- Blue Grass Brunch Sundays at Bon Temps
42. English High Tea- Little Bird Pattiserie
43. Christmas Carolling- don't forget the Baileys!
44. Holiday Flea Market: Cmas Craft shows are the best!
45. Curling

46. Bootown
47. Art Gallery Tour- check out the new Remai Modern!
48. Haunted House: Berry Barn
49. Toboganning
50. Cross Country Skiing: rentals here
51. Backyard Bonfire and weiner roast
52. Farmer's Market
53. Festival of Trees
54. Sundog Art Faire
55. Oktoberfest
56. Cajun Spice Boil: Bon Temps Café- an awesome experience!


57. Pajama Party, at home movie night or Bachelor/Outlander viewing..pick your poison.
58. Fishing at Trout Pond in Forestry Farm
59. Host a money talk, budget night. See my post here on the event I did last year.
60. Fondue Night: UFondue
61. Makeup and Photo Night
62. Host a fancy dinner party
63. Canoe or kayaking down the river
64. Casino Night at Dakota Dunes
65. Get in the Christmas spirit with a Cmas concert- I highly recommend the Fireside Show in YXE
66.  See a musical: Saskatoon has Chicago and Wizard of Oz coming our way before Christmas
67.  Attend a local festival: jazz fest, taste of Saskatchewan....
68.  Volunteer: so many possibilities there!
69.  Wine night: Premier Showcase
70.  Put together a salad in the jar party and eat healthy all week

I'm sure that once I've re-read this list I will think up more.  What about you? Any fun ideas for a night out?

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We're not going to be shocked and appalled when I tell you that occasionally I click on those random pop up shops that appear sporadically on your FB or Pinterest feed, are we?


Aren't you ever curious if those pretty dresses fit? Well I was and man, am I ever glad I tried it.  Actually, this isn't the original dress I ordered, I'll have to save that one for another post.  This is her younger, hip sister who wanted to be out and about on that miraculous fall day that felt more like summer.


The site I ordered from was JessaKae.  This dress, the 'black jane' is super soft and stretchy and has pockets.  I find that the waistline is also forgiving and has become a perfect piece for this beautiful fall weather we've been having.  It came from somewhere in 'Merica...so of course there were customs and duty and shit but it came within 2 weeks of ordering and was a good price point for the risk of buying from a place unknownst to my shopping habits.


My stunning, younger sister ordered the same dress but in navy and it fit her perfectly too.   So we both deem this dress in particular a winner.  I'll have to post the other winner later.



An InLinkz Link-up
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It is no hidden truth that I love hosting, feeding people, taking in people when they need a place and pies.  And I can tell you exactly where those loves come from, none other than my maternal role models: my mom and my grandmas.

This past weekend was my almost favourite event of the year, friendsgiving weekend that actually did turn into a whole weekend event.  I'm not sure I would do it that way again but it was nice to spread things out and have the ability to have a good chat with the people who came on the less busy day.  It's tough to find time to fit everything in, so opening up two days was my way of accommodating it.

What we ate:


Back in the day, my ma would host a come and go event in the fall and would bake a billion pies- so the food inspiration came from her....I made saskatoon, apple, pumpkin, chocolate pumpkin, banana cream and lemon meringue pies.  The most popular was lemon meringue and the apple. 




 I was going to make a big pot of chili but decided I suck at chili and went with one of my mom's best dishes: spaghetti.  It was easy to make a giant pot and for Sunday when it had dried out a bit- all I had to do was add some frozen (premade) tomato sauce and voilà it was back to life.  I was also feeling energetic on Sunday morning and made some buns so they could make sandwiches if they didn't want spaghetti.  They were all gone by the end of the day, so definitely would do that again.


What we drank:

One downer of having this during the day, with the kids, out in the county is that day drinking isn't a popular sport, so I didn't have any fun cocktails to serve.  I did put on some apple cider with mulled spices and if anything, it made the house smell delicious.


What we did:

Chatted, visited, caught up.  I did quick photo shoots in the corner for my friends' cmas cards.  I have been taking my friends' cmas cards photos for many years, so this actually makes it easier to do.  I had a moment of ambition where I thought I'd have organized stuff for all the kids, but they kept themselves quite busy in the basement with lego, the switch or outside on the trampoline.




Thoughts for 2017:

Eventually my goal will be to put out one long banquet table and host a sit down meal, but I think right now with the kids being a little young- it will be too loco for that.  So for a couple more years this come and go thing is going to work.  I think that once we move into the new house, I'll host the epic Friendsgiving that I'm envisioning.


What I love about this event is that it's my time that I get to do something for my people.  These are the families that we've known for ages and who have been by our side in all the ups and downs.  It is so hard to find time in our busy worlds to take a break and it brings me so much joy to be able to bring all the people I love under one roof and break bread with them.  There's something sacred and special about that.

Here are a few of my favourite pictures that I did for them.  Seriously, so many cute kids.












You can read last year's Friendsgiving post here- and I gotta say, this is just year two doing it and last year I had two nights planned with my different groups of friends...this year it was two days but with all my friends...what will next year bring?





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About me


About Deena
I am a proud Canadian, hailing from the Prairies, in a province that is hard to spell but easy to draw: Saskatchewan. My biggest loves in my life are my family, because that’s the right answer. Other possible answers to that question are beer and clam on a hot summer’s night, cheering on the Blue Jays, hanging out with my spicy friends and masterfully puppeteering my way around the many projects I take on. Sometimes witty, sometimes sassy and always cussy, yet on the occasion I’ll pen something thoughtful, join me as I document my way through life and try not to embarrass my family.

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