THE LAST TWO WEEKS IN A NUTSHELL..

...I haven't posted much in the last two weeks...Not too sure what I been doing but I think I have been really busy??!!?!?

As mentioned previously, my mama came to visit for the Easter weekend...We had a very lovely weekend!!! We managed to do a bit of wedding stuff while mama Light was in town as well which was great.

On Saturday, Brad and I and the mama's took a drive out to Westport to look at the Stepping Stone Inn again (now that there is not snow on the ground). This is the place that we are getting married on July 15th of this year...And quite frankly, I think it is going to be wonderfully gorgeous (hehe)!!! Right now, I need everyone to start praying for a beautiful day (weather wise) on that day!!! Also we took a little stroll through the actual town of Westport... Very charming...I think our guests will enjoy it, especially those traveling from out of town. It is located on the Rideau Lakes and is very cottage-country like...

After our tour around Westport we made a quick stop in Perth at the Cloud 9 Bakery...Where Jane is going to make Brad and I's wedding cake...We looked at several books of pictures of cakes she has done in the past and they looked wonderful!!! uummmm Cake!!!

This same day we also managed a meeting with Yvonne (a very good friend of Brad's family) at her flower shop in Carleton Place. She will be doing our flowers for us for the wedding, which I am very thrilled about!!! I think she had some fabulous ideas and whatever we finally decide on flower-wise I just know is going to be outstanding!!!

After this slightly exhausting whirl-wind day...mama Christine hosted yet another one of her tasty dinner parties!!! This included Brad and I, mama Light, George and Yvonne and of course mama and papa McCready!!!

Sunday was also great...As this is the day we had our Easter get together with Brad's family...This was hosted at Brad's Aunt Patti Ann and Uncle Bills house...and of course was just lovely!!! Sooooo much food!!! As usual...It was very busy...With everyone together and especially with the young ones around!!! I posted videos previously of Brad playing with Madison and Colby - - - SO CUTE!!!

Monday, before I took the mama to the airport we did a bit of wedding shopping and window shopping...Funnn funnn....

Last weekend was a bit of a write-off as the weather was awful so it was pretty lazy around our place. Well that being said..We did manage one of our Sunday drives. I learned two things...1) Pontiac is a very pretty area...Might consider moving there oneday...And 2) There is nothing worth seeing in luskville...

The last two weeks...Brad has been up near Toronto (Mondays - Thursdays) for work which sucks cause I totally miss him when he is not here :( But I guess on the brightside...I get him home again on Thursday and he gets to have Friday off which then means we get a bit of an extended weekend together!!! I have been extremely busy with my job the last two weeks as well. I have been teaching one of my colleagues as well as learning new material with in our department. On top of that I have taken on an additional role (billing) within the maintenance fee department as one of our girls is transferring with GLH out to Vancouver!!! So it's been 'good' just really busy

Well I guess without every single little detail that brings us up to spead...

I'm looking forward to this weekend and perhap will have better stories, pictures and/or video for sharing next week!!!

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Easter Weekend

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A Wonderful Easter Weekend!!!

The best part of the Easter weekend...?!?!?!? My mama came to visit us!!! Thanks mama for a wonderful weekend!!! Hopefully will find time at home to wind down from our very busy weekend!

***This is a photo of Brad and I with our moms taken this past weekend!!! Boy, we are a good looking family!!!!

30 is the new 20!!!

...Well...Here I am...30 years old now... and I survived!!! And ... to tell you the truth...it wasn't all that bad!!! Although I had to work (a bummer on a normal day , but even moreso on your bday), it was not all that bad of a day!!! I had many wonderful thoughtful birthday wishes, presents, flowers, dinner, cake, phonecalls, etc...and not too too many jabbings or jokes about how I am now 30...

A little article I read on the internet yesterday...I thought this was quite funny...

"Unless you make it into one, turning 30 is not a death sentence... It's not every day your closest friends, family, workmates, boyfriend and boyfriend's parents gather to honour you. It's vital that every incumbent 30-year-old sets some strict survival guidelines to ease the transition from lithe 20-something to lumpy 30-year-old. Here are some helpful tips:

Before the day

Think about how spotty you were in your teens, how drunk you got at your 21st and how broke you were in your 20s and thank your lucky stars that you won't ever have to go through that again.
Tape a pic of a gorgeous 30-something celeb, such as Cameron Diaz, Uma Thurman, Kate Moss or Liz Hurley - to your computer/fridge/dashboard and refer to it during any dire pre-birthday moments of panic. Remember, they are all over 30 and fabulous!

Banish magazines containing any articles entitled 100 must-do pre-30 activities (they may as well be called Watch Out! You're Running Out Of Time). Instead, make a list of all the amazing things you have done... and gloat.

Spend the last days of your 20s pampering yourself. Book yourself in for a facial, a pedicure, and an all-over tan – whatever makes you feel fantastic!

On the day

No matter how cold it is, wear something slightly revealing to your 30th birthday celebration. No, not knicker-revealing... more glimpse-of-cleavage-revealing. Make sure you know (and everyone you know knows) that you've still got it, and aim to flaunt it.

Discourage any type of speech making. Should you notice any of the following - tapping of champagne glass with fork, clearing of throats or any members of your family getting to their feet - quickly and loudly draw everyone's attention to the delicious items on the dessert menu.

Any birthday cards selected from the 'humour' section of the Paperchase card rack are clearly not from your true friends. 'Funny' cards sporting illustrations of old fat people knitting and hilarious verses about how saggy your breasts are about to get should be marked return to sender and posted directly back to the offender.

Unless you already have them, there should be absolutely no mention of husbands or babies at your 30th. You are not Bridget Jones.

Unless you make it into one, turning 30 is not a death sentence - I have plenty of friends who are still having fun and living life well into their 30s (and, believe it or not, their 40s!). Take any well-intentioned-but-frightfully-annoying 30th birthday comments with a pinch of salt... and relax. You only turn 30 once!"

Copyright © 2005 handbag.com

And so on that note, I'll end with a great big thank you to everyone who made entering 30 ...Not so scarey after all!!!

Love Stacy xo

A Fun Packed Weekend for Two Little April Fool's!!!

April? Good God...Where are the days, months, yeeeaaars going?!!! It's true, the older you get the quicker the time goes by...

On Friday night, after a VERY LOVELY summer supper (bbq chicken and shrimp with tossed salad) cooked by my wonderful fiance, we went and saw a hysterical (yes, hysterical...I laughed so hard I cried) movie... FAILURE TO LAUNCH !!! If you haven't seen it yet, GO!!! http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1808722048&cf=info

Saturday night we said "see you soon" as opposed to "good bye" to Brad's good friend Tyler...Tyler has accepted a position with West Jet Airlines and leaves for Calgary next week!!! Good Luck Tyler with your new adventures, we can't wait for those free passes to start rollin' in...(kidding). Keep in touch!!!

Sunday, yet another fantastic day for weather in the Capital...perfect for outdoor play in the yard!!! ...A walk through westboro (Ottawa's trendy area), and burgers on the BBQ at mama and papa McCready's later in the evening!!!

Now it's Monday and back to the J-O-B...!!! Everyone have a wonderful week!!!

Thoughts For Today

Well, we have been engaged now for 4 (wonderful) months...With that, has come alot of (much appreciated) advice ... Today I thought I would post some of the most important ones, cause sometimes in our hectic lives we tend to forget...I think it is very important that we try and remind ourselves of these things daily...

15 Ways to Be a Better Partner

Talk. Talking may seem so basic, but believe it or not it is one of the most neglected aspects of a relationship. Sometimes one partner can take the other for granted or maybe they are just too tired at the end of the day to talk, but remember - talking need only be a recap of your day and it could lead to other discussions. Talking is the foundation of every relationship, so always remember to say something.

Listen. If talking is not your strong point, then listen to what your lover has to say. Perhaps she needs to communicate with you or get some things off her chest, or just vent about a lousy day. In any case, listening is a very important thing, because it shows that you care about what your loved one is thinking.

Appreciate. Say thank you - a lot. Don't take your partner - and all of the things he does for you - for granted. Try not to forget to let the other know how much you care. Love is a rare thing and always make sure your honey knows you are so happy to have them in your life.

Share. We learned in kindergarten that friends share, so why not share with your significant other - in every sense of the word! Share your lunch, your feelings, your theories. It’s a fact that sharing brings people closer.

Compliment. Don't forget to give a nice compliment every now and then. "Love your sweater", "Your hair looks so good today" and "Have you lost weight?" are all good choices. Make up a new one everyday - by looking for the positive things in your mate, you will soon forget to see the flaws. And you will also make your partner’s day!

Give. Give little gifts as often as you can. You don't need to spend a mint to show you care - you can even make something. If you see something that reminds you of your sweetie, get it for them. Just remember that everyone love to receive things!

Take. For as much as you give, also be a good taker. If a gift is offered to you, be gracious about it…your lover wanted to show you appreciation with a present so don't ruin the moment and say "you shouldn't have" or be apathetic about it! Say "THANK YOU" and give a hug and a kiss. It will make the moment magical.

Support. If your honey believes something you don't or says something you don't agree with, be sure to support her anyway. The worst you could do is contradict her in mixed company, so simply smile and put your arm around her. Additionally, if your boyfriend or girlfriend is looking for a job, show your support by helping with the search. Your companion deserves a higher level of respect so be sure to stand by him or her no matter what.

Defend. If someone or something is out to harm your soul mate, be sure to step up to their defense. It could be verbal slander, physical threats or even just work politics, but if it is in your power to do something to stand up for your lover, then do so.

Be honest. Don't sugar coat things just to keep your significant other happy. If something is bothering you, share it. If you are upset at the world, let her know why. If you don't want to go to a party, just tell him. You will find that not only will you be happier, but your relationship will benefit because you are communicating.

Make time. Your relationship should be one of the most (if not the most) important things in your life. Don't let the daily drudge get in the way of spending time with your loved one. Find the time to watch a movie or go for a walk or eat dinner together. Cancel other plans or meetings if necessary, but remember - how can you be "together" if you spend no time together?

Gather. Get together in groups for some new fun. Get a few couples together for a dinner, or let him tag along on a night out with your friends. Mixing up the crowd and making the group as diverse a possible puts the players (you and your honey) in a new scenario. You may discover a side to your lover you never saw before one-on-one and it could make you fall in love with them all over again.

Study. Bone up on topics the other likes - read about impressionism, listen to Blink 182, do a web search on Brad Pitt. You will have more to talk about (which we already know is always good) and you may discover that you really like football!

Care. Consider getting something to take care of together: a fish, a dog, a chia pet…whichever you prefer. Sometimes sharing responsibility can promote the idea that you are a team and bring you closer.

Laugh. Above all, be sure you laugh. If you don't have fun, it’s not worth it, right? Make jokes, tickle, play games - have fun, and your love will last for a long, long time.

2006 Edition of Getting to Know Your Friends!

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:30 am

2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds of course!!! They're my birthstone!

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Well, It hasn't been all that long ago...but I seriously can not remember!!! Uh oh

4. What is your favorite TV show? Don't watch shows on a very regular basis...but I'm starting to get hooked on Home and Garden shows...My fav. is Extreme home makeover (cry my eyes out every show)!!!

5. What did you have for breakfast? Today, a bowl of cereal and a glass of juuuiccce...!

6. What is your middle name? Michelle

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Anything that Bradley cooks for me!!! He's such a GOOD cook!

8. What foods do you dislike? I like most things...but I have still never been able to even try escargot! Eeewwwww!!!

9. What is your favorite chip flavor? Salt and vinegar!!!

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Who listens to CDs anymore?!?!?! I love singin' along with the country station in my car...

11. What kind of car do you drive? Honda Civic Si ... it's very hott!

12. Favorite sandwich? Steak and cheese!

13. What characteristics do you despise? People who don't take responsibility for their own actions and always manage a way to blame it on someone else. That drives me nuts!

14. Favorite item of clothing? JEANS!!!

15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? ...On an all expense paid tour across Europe with my future husband!!! That would be an amazing experience!

16. What color is your bathroom? ...right now the upstair is light green and downstairs is a brownish color...They are both getting pre painted VERY soon!

17. Favorite brand of clothing? Silver and Lucky Jeans!

18. Where would you retire to? Somwhere with dry heat all year round!

19. Favorite time of day? Super time!!!

20. What was your most memorable birthday? Humm not sure....5th maybe...Five is SO exciting!!!

21. Where were you born? Kirkland Lake in Northern Ontario!!!

22. Favorite sport to watch? Hockey of course!

23. What fabric detergent do you use? Whatever is on sale the week we buy it!!!

26. Coke or Pepsi? Regular Pepsi...but diet coke!!!

Spring Has Sprung In The Capital

Unfortunately, I live in a society that requires me to work Monday to Friday 8 am to 4 pm (sometimes later)...
Fortunately, I work for a company that gives me 1 hr 15 min to break for lunch.
What a gorgeous day it has been in the Capital today...I think the temp was about 11 degrees C !!! That's considered t-shirt and shorts weather here in Canada (well ALMOST) ...and according to Environment Canada...it looks like we may even stay in the plus all week!!! YEAH!!! Fingers crossed for continued nice weather :)

The Fortune Farms Sugar Bush...

Oh what fun Brad and I had on our Sunday drive this week!!!

...Yes, I am a Canadian and this weekend was my first Trip to the sugar bush!!!

Unfortunately I forgot my camera (again) this weekend...but the link attached will allow you to see everything we saw ... and probably a little more! The most interesting fun fact we learned while at the Fortune Family Sugar Bush..."It takes about 40 litres of sap to make one litre of syrup"!!!

It really is an amazing process and having seen the whole process certainly gives a person a whole new appreciation for Canadian Maple Syrup!

http://www.fortunefarms.on.ca/ffstuff/ffwelcome2.html

Stacy and Bradley ... Getting Married July 15, 2006

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

...well, thats what they say at least...
I'm new to this whole blogger thing, but everyone seems to have one...SO I WANT ONE TOO!!!
Not too sure what I'll do here, but I guess we'll see...