Flowers for your Friday

Happy Friday, friends! Have you got exciting plans for the weekend? We're going to be in the bathroom, plumbing in our new tub and sink, and getting the wainscotting put up {wait until you see! it's so pretty in there now!} so we'll be pretty busy. Fingers crossed we can find some time to sit and relax in our gorgeous garden at least once between now and Monday!

Happy things/Friday flowers

This has been a busy week, both at home and at school. I can feel the end of the school year approaching {7 weeks to go} and the pace of life is picking up. The sun has shone though, I've managed to keep on top of things, and I've been feeling pretty good.  And so, without further ado, I give you some happy things with which to end the week...

Colourful bamboo flower pots that my students made for their moms. They were so excited to paint the pots, pick out just the right plant, and scoop the soil. I think they turned out beautifully, don't you?

I know I keep going on about my lilac trees, but seriously. Look at them. They're gorgeous! And they smell heavenly. 

Lovely lupins, beginning to bloom. This is my favourite season in our garden.

And finally, Frapuccino Happy Hour! Half price fraps every afternoon until May 12? Yes, please.

Happy Friday, friends. I hope your weekend rocks. Don't forget to call your mother on Sunday and tell you how much you love her!

E xo

Flowers for your Friday

 via here

It's Friday and tomorrow is the first day of fall. Two very good reasons to celebrate if you ask me! Fall just might be my favourite season...

Other things that are making me happy tonight: takeaway Noodle Box {Singapore Cashew Curry pour moi! yum}, girls' movie night at Charlotte's house, a jug full of fresh flowers {including one giant sunflower!} on my kitchen table, a letter in the mail from one of my favourite friends, and plans to attend Apple Fest on Sunday with all the cousins.

Happy Weekend, friends! It's going to be a good one.

In bloom

Even in the middle of this hot, dry summer, our garden is full of beautiful blooms. I especially love the orange one. Isn't it stunning? It turns up every year, in the front and backyard, and it makes me happy every time I see it.

Speaking of happy, here are a few other things that are making me smile at the end of another lovely, sunny summer week: grandé green tea lemonades for $2 at Starbucks {thirst-quenching and delicious!}, moving up the wait list at the library for Downton Abbey season 1, eating barbequed burgers + corn-on-the-cob for dinner {with juicy watermelon for dessert}, re-watching episodes of LOST with my friend Charlotte {who's never seen it before... can you imagine?!}, my huge and still-growing team of enthusiastic ladies who will be Running for the Cure in September {to donate to this very worthy cause, you can follow the link here}, sitting in the park writing letters, hanging out with my hilarious and completely awesome sister, an outdoor movie date this weekend with my boys, and making some fabulous plans with my most favourite of friends...

Hope you have a fun-filled weekend, friends! See you Monday.
E xo

PS: In addition to changing my template and creating a new blog header, I've finally managed to widen the margins to allow for bigger photos. What do you think? I love it!

Happy things to end the week with

Really? For real? It's Friday again? I don't know where the week went, but I sure as hell didn't have any time to post much of anything, did I? Sorry about that. My mom sent me a message on Facebook tonight to say she missed Much Love Monday and Flowers for your Friday this week. She's so cute, my mom. And I'll make it up to her soon... In the meantime though, how about some happy things with which to end the week? {I know that that's the right way to say it, but sometimes I need to reign in my inner grammar snob... so I never use it in the title}

Anyway. Happy things. Here you go:

Friday flowers. Love, love, love the lilacs in our garden.

Leaves rustling in the breeze, and blue sky peeking through their green canopy.

Going for long walks in the sunshine with these two

And taking rests in the tall grass on our way to get a slurpee

It's a short list, and a simple one. But I can see the theme running through it. One of relaxation and time spent together. Summer's coming. I can feel it, and it is such a relief. All year long, summer feels like a faraway dream. And then it arrives and it's real and I just can't believe it, you know? The fact that it's a long weekend and the weather has been so amazing really helps. In addition to the usual housework and yard work over the next few days, we'll also be sleeping in, staying up late, and heading off to the fair and the parade {same as every other Victoria Day weekend!} Maybe we can even grill up some burgers on the barbeque. Mmmm. All we need now is corn-on-the-cob and watermelon!

Good-night, friends. Happy Weekend.

Happy things to end the week with

Out of nowhere this week I got hit with the flu and, days later, I am still recovering from it. Still, that's no reason not to post some happy things at the end of the week. Let's ignore that nagging cough and focus on the positive, shall we?

 Cherry blossoms + the Starbucks drive-thru

 My little gardener

Rosy apple blossoms in the backyard {who else thinks of Betsy and Joe when they see these?}

A vase full of tulips in our bedroom

 I tidied up my office. Love my great big desk!

Two good things about this: 

1. I hung that print by myself. And 2. Those are words to live by.

Happy Weekend, friends. I hope you get lots of time to play.

Happy things to end the week with

There are a million tulips in my garden! Okay, maybe not a million. But definitely a hundred. 

It's pro-d day today. Which means a catered lunch, plenty of chit-chat with like-minded colleagues, and coming away with some fabulous new ideas to try out in my kindergarten class. It also means not having to get up quite so early as I normally would, and I'm all for that.

The birthday parcels just keep on coming! I am one lucky girl.

Skype dates and phone dates with my lovely, faraway friends. I've got a few coming up.

I like to wear my silver Tiffany & Co. charm on a necklace, regardless of what I'm wearing {skirt and sweater, jeans and a tee, whatever}. It makes me feel fancy.

Dylan and I are going for a run/bike-ride this weekend. I'll run, he'll ride alongside me. Love it.

Fringe is on tonight. I'm looking forward to curling up on the couch with Alan {and some popcorn} to watch it once the boys are in bed.

It's the little things, isn't it?

Happy Weekend!

E xo

tulip photo via here

Friday Flowers {and other happy things}

Monday morning flower stall on the Upper West Side

 {I wanted to bring a bouquet home with me on the plane}

It's been a long week, and one of adjusting {half-heartedly, I'll admit} to our work and school routine again. I can't help but wish I were still on vacation, and still in New York {oh, how I love that city!}, with no responsibilities and an agenda that's just full of fun. Is that selfish? Maybe. But I can't help it. Rather than waste time feeling guilty, I figure I'll edit my million and one photos, put together my NYC posts and relish all the lovely memories. I'll daydream about going back. And I'll keep reminding myself of that quote, "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." Who said that? Whoever they were, they didn't know this girl very well! It's definitely something I need to work on. So, here's my list of a few happy things to end the week with. You can't say I'm not trying...

* Saw The Hunger Games last night with Cass, who has just moved back to the island. Loved it! 

* Our cherry tree is in bloom. So much pink blossomy prettiness in my front yard!

* Cadbury's Mini-Eggs. Need I say more?

* I had a nap after school today. For an hour. I have a feeling there'll be a few more of those in my immediate future.

* My birthday's this coming Thursday. I think it's time I started making some fabulous plans, don't you?

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends. I'm going to want to hear all about it...

Happy things to end the week with

Hello, friends. Happy Friday. Here's my list of happy things at the end of a crazy busy week.

* I don't tend to spend much time on tumblr anymore {Pinterest is so much easier to organize}, but last night I had a marvellous time scrolling through all the pretty pictures and adding some to J'adore. Here's one of them:

{Flowers for your Friday... it's just like old times!}

* It's a pro-d day today. I love a little change in routine every now and then, especially when it means I can sleep in a bit. And it's amazing how much you can accomplish when there aren't any kids in the school!

inspired by this alphabet art

* Making plans for NYC. Wheee!

hello, Central Park...

* I finally signed up for Netflix. What fab movie will I watch next, I wonder? {any suggestions? I'd love to hear}

I can't stop thinking about Ferris Bueller {those Super Bowl ads were too awesome}

* I've been running regularly {going longer and farther all the time} and have now pre-registered for the 2012 Run for the Cure, which I intend to run {hard} the whole way. Take that cancer, you stupid bastard.

Me, post-run, 2009

* Rumour has it that there are cherry blossoms on Oak Bay Avenue. Be still, my beating heart.

pretty pink blooms via here

Hope you're having a fabulous Friday, full of little things that make you happy, too. Any big plans for the weekend? I'll be running the show at our preschool open house/registration day, catching up on laundry {ugh, always with the laundry!} and tackling the dust bunnies under the beds. Good times. Hoping to make some homemade pizza, too, and curl up on the couch with Alan {and a glass of wine} while we watch a few episodes of Fringe... 

Like I said, it's the little things.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy things to end the week with

some flowers for your friday, via tinywhitedaisies

Pumpkins everywhere! In my latte, in the french toast we had for breakfast, on people's front steps...

Late September sunshine means I've got my flip-flops back out of the closet for a few more days.

Dylan's joy at coming 168th in the district cross-country race this week. "Wow, Mum! That is a really high number! I did great!"

Fridays spent in my library.

Making plans to finally finish the living room reno {there's not much left to do, but what there is will make such a difference}

Calling out to the boys and having Dylan reply, "Oui?"

{speaking of speaking French} 

The letter I got from Em yesterday.

It's October tomorrow. You know what that means... Thanksgiving! And Halloween! Yay! I love them both. 

Happy Friday, friends. Hope you've got some fabulous plans for the weekend...

E xo

Flowers for your Friday

via here

This week has been a blur. I get up at 6, struggle to get everyone else in the family up and fed and out the door by 7:45 {why is it such a struggle? I make the lunches and pack the bags the night before, but we are still not in that fast-moving school time mode, I expect...}, drive off in one direction to drop Sawyer off at daycare, then head in the opposite direction to drop Dylan off at his huge new school, which {thank goodness!} he loves. Then I leap into my van again and rush {cursing and sweating and doing everything in my power not to succumb to road rage} to my school where I fly through the doors way too close to the first bell of the day. I have been teaching 4 and 5-year olds who are adorable but exhausting {and a few who are way too whiny and weepy for me to handle on not enough sleep!}, and have yet to even think about getting my library up and running {that is the plan for today... hurrah! I am so ready for the quiet of the library}. After school there are the boys to pick up, soccer to attend, lessons to plan, and meals to prepare. There are boys who need baths and books and a lot of time to unwind before bed. In the evenings, I have been dealing with a load of preschool stuff, as we get the new school year at our co-op up and running. There have been multiple meetings, and I feel as though I have sent and responded to a thousand emails. A president's job is never done, let me tell you!

This September has been challenging so far. I have taken on a lot of responsibility- a new preschool job, a new teaching job {not to mention that I'm now working 4 days a week instead of 3}, and a lot of commitments for the kids, too. Swimming lessons start this weekend, and I'm wondering if I'm going to regret that hour I've committed to on Sundays. We shall see. Right now I feel overworked and overwhelmed. I've got a sore throat and a headache, and I just want to be in bed. But I know what September's like. I'm sure it will get better.

via here

It will get better. Right?

* On a less gloomy note, there's an autumny chill in the air, and I'm totally wearing tights to school today! yay!

Happy things to end the week with

What a week. I'm not sure I can fully describe just how tired I am. It has been a week of reunions and new beginnings, which are wonderful, but also a week of early mornings and late nights and many, many meetings. I am struggling to get back into a workable routine, one where we can all be happy, and relatively well-rested. It's Friday though and that first long week is over. There's a lot to be happy about, no matter how sleepy I might be feeling. 

I am loving the kindergarten classroom that my friend Deb and I are sharing. We put a lot of hard work into setting it up this summer, and I think it shows. 

Our classroom tree. Each student, and both teachers, will have an apple on it. See mine? The kids will be making theirs next week.

Colourful, cheerful and very well organized. We can't wait to order our new rug to replace that grey one- it will be covered with butterflies, and the letters of the alphabet!

 Books in our little classroom library. Pete the Cat is a personal favourite of mine.

 More books. And some excellent literary friends, like Lilly {of the purple plastic purse fame}, Scaredy Squirrel and that pesky pigeon {don't let him drive the bus!}

Wearing my red dress on the first day of school. Don't I look teachery? 

Other things I'm loving this week include: the fabulous late summer weather {HOT and sunny}, listening to Dylan talk oh-so-excitedly about Grade One and his new school, ice cream sandwiches at DQ before soccer practice, and an early morning pumpkin spice latté on my way to work {my first this year and it was soooo good!} It must be nearly fall now... That's another happy thing. Fall. I love it. It just might be my favourite season.

How was your week? I hope it was marvellous. Here are some flowers for you. And an awesome chicken pillow. Because that's how much I love you. Happy Friday, friends!

I can't find the original source for this photo. All I've got is this. If you know, can you let me know please, and I'll credit properly. Thanks!

Flowers for your Friday {back-to-school edition}

via one charming party

I can't believe it's Friday again already, and that August is over! It was a long, lovely month and I really enjoyed it to its fullest. August was all about sunshine and blue skies and time spent on the beach with friends. How can you go wrong with a month like that? You can't! 

Now it's September and everything's about to change. I felt the chill in the air today as I watered the garden and stacked some firewood {okay, I didn't actually stack it... I just tossed it onto a giant pile in the woodshed}. I had to go inside to get a sweater! The days are getting shorter, the darkness is coming more quickly each evening, and there are leaves on the ground. I don't mind though. I'm looking forward to the piles of leaves in the yard and the pumpkins on the doorstep,  to wearing my tights every day and stopping for a pumpkin spice latte on the way to work. I'm even looking forward to having a fire in the woodstove and to smelling the woodsmoke in the evening air {despite all the work that's involved and dust that it creates}.

I am sitting here at my desk, school supplies stacked up on the floor beside me, waiting to be labelled. The kitchen cupboards are stocked with granola bars and applesauce and fruit leather, the fridge full of cheese and bread and crunchy red apples. The boys have new lunchboxes and they can't wait to pack them. New school clothes are folded in drawers, waiting to be worn. First day outfits are all picked out!

Officially, today is the last day of summer vacation. After this it's the long weekend, and then on Tuesday the new school year begins. Dylan will be in Grade 1, Sawyer will be in his final year of preschool, and I will be a kindergarten teacher {and the school librarian of course! no way I'm giving up that gig...} 

The boys and I are going to spend the day downtown today, riding the harbour ferry and eating fish & chips {with ketchup} at Fisherman's Wharf, and maybe even getting an ice cream cone at the Beacon Drive-In afterwards. It's to be a celebration of the summer that was, and a nice way to welcome the autumn that lies ahead. Do you have something similar planned? You should! Because it's going to be fantastic.

I've really enjoyed all your comments this week. They made me smile, each and every one. So thanks. And happy, happy Friday to you!

E xo

Happy things to end the week with

It's Friday again, the last one in August. I'm off to spend the day outside in the sunshine. But first, how about some happy things to end the week with?

* Birthday parcels, ready to mail off this morning.

* Fresh blackberries. With vanilla ice cream, they'll make the perfect dessert.

* Getting to spend more time with my sister yesterday {even though, collectively, our kids were obnoxious and drove us mental}

* Big Bang Theory. So funny. How is it that we've never watched this show before?

* Getting preschool work done: Executive agenda? Check. Orientation night schedule? Check. Calm, collected and organized president? Check!

* Walking in the loveliest warm ocean water= happy feet.

* Doctor Who returns tomorrow night!!! Awesome. Let's kill Hitler!

Plans for the weekend include more beach time, a picnic, Starbucks {and lesson planning} with my teaching partner, baking a blackberry crumble, reading a good book while I lay in the grass somewhere, lounging on the couch eating popcorn and watching sci-fi with my hubby, and- fingers crossed- hopefully going to see The Help on Sunday night {I adored the book and can't wait to see the movie}...

How about you? What has your weekend got in store? Whatever it is, I hope it's excellent.

Happy Friday!


PS: Flowers for you. Bet you thought I forgot...

image via here

Happy things to end the week with

This week has been busy. Dylan's been attending French immersion daycamp every afternoon out in Sidney, so we've been driving an hour or two every day, getting him there and back. He's loving it though, and I can tell he's getting excited about Grade One {which begins two weeks from Tuesday!} I've had some appointments too, and the gradual build-up to the beginning of the preshool year. So yes, a busy week. And quite a good one, too. Some happy things to end the week with:

 Let's start with some flowers for your Friday {as is tradition} and our flourishing veggie garden. 

 Getting to spend three fun-filled afternoons with my sister. Sawyer and I had a great time with her and Kilian while Dylan was at French camp in their neck of the woods. We drank lattes and diet Cokes {not at the same time!} and laughed a lot.

 Freezies! Sawyer likes the red, but I'm partial to the blue ones.

 Beautiful farmland on the Saanich Peninsula, and plenty of corn-on-the-cob!

 Have you read Flat Stanley? This is "Flat Dylan."

 And "Flat Sawyer!"

Getting to see my friend Nerine and meet her beautiful baby boy, Makayo. He's so tiny!

Other happy things this week:

* phone dates with Em

* reading a book in the bath

* White Zinfandel
* Christmas shopping for the Irish cousins!

* sunshine and blue skies every day

* a different vegetarian meal for dinner each night {so far, so good}

* skyping with Cassie

* Dylan's figured out how to "pop a wheelie!"

* sending off a few fun things in the mail

* getting the playroom re-organized and clearing out a lot of old crap

* crazy sales on school supplies {love me a new box of crayons!}

* lime sorbet... so good on a hot afternoon

How was your week? Have you got a lot to love this Friday? Do tell!

E xo