Total hockey MANIA.

It's playoff season, for those of you who don't follow hockey. In fact, I'm pretty sure that the majority of people who will read this post don't have a clue who's even in the playoffs this year. Or maybe have never even seen a game. That's okay, I can deal. :) Being Canadian, you grow up with hockey, it's just part of life here. And yes, we do take it pretty seriously. Kind of like Americans and NFL football, I guess.

So let me fill you in on a little bit of what's been happening in our neck of the woods since 'les Canadiens' ( our much revered and beloved hockey team) came in first place in the Eastern Conference last month. In a nutshell, our city has gone berzerk, for lack of a better word. We're now in Round 2 of the playoffs against Philadelphia, having (um, just barely) beaten out Boston, a huge Mtl. rival, in Game 7 of the first round. All anyone talks about lately is hockey, including me, my kids and dh, who happens to work at the Bell Center p/t, and is lucky enough to be part of the action. And there is lots of action. When we won Game 7 against Boston last week, a few idiots unfortunately acted like we'd already won the Stanley Cup, and rioted in the streets downtown. They burned cop cars, broke store windows and went on a rampage. It was downright embarrassing, and pretty shameful to true hockey fans. It was even all over Youtube, and the American newspapers had a field day with it. But what I think they don't understand is that this city is hungry for the Cup. I'm in NO way condoning the stupidity of these morons who think rioting is acceptable behaviour, but we haven't won a Stanley Cup since '93, and we're chomping at the bit for it, literally. It's our heritage. Montreal IS hockey. Like, 95% of the NHL is pretty much made up of French Canadians, or something like that. So, it's s huge thing.

I don't remember the Cup win in '93 much (except for another riot down Ste. Catherine Street, lovely), but this is an incredible feeling that no-one wants to end, so the Habs just can't lose it, see? There'd be many depressed souls if they end up losing against Philly, especially since they've beaten them pretty much all season long in regular play. So please, if you're a praying sort, say one for the Canadiens tonight. We NEED to win this one, it's crucial. Meanwhile, I'll be busy screaming at the tv and trying to keep it cool in front of my kids. :p

One more hockey related thing before I bore you to tears, if it's not already done.. The thing I'm most amused about through all of this is that my oldest son Bobby has all of a sudden taken a HUGE shine to hockey. What's funny is that he's never wanted to even put on a pair of skates in his life( believe me, I've tried, coaxed and bribed to no avail, since people look at you really funny here if you tell them your kid doesn't know how to skate- the horror!) but all of a sudden, he's reading the stats every morning in the newspaper while he eats breakfast, and hasn't taken off his Kovalev t-shirt for a week. So now, he's stated he *might' want to learn how to skate next winter. Hallelujia!!

I'll leave you with my latest page, done for Cathy Z's type challenge over in the SS Studio blog. It's a very simple one to get me back into scrapping, since I've done nothing but stare at my paper pile the entire month save for assignment layouts. Between work and my dh being away the entire month of April, scrapping has pretty much been a moot point, but I hope with this, I'll fall nicely back into it. So be sure to head over and do some of CZ's challenges for a chance to win some cool stuff. And be sure to check out the goings-on there on NSD too.

Have a great hump day, as they say. My kids snicker when they hear this. ;p

I'm working on NSD stuff at the store, and it's crazy! So much to do, so little time...

Oh, and....

GO HABS!!!!!!

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Some Martha love...

If you're like me and love Martha Stewart, you need to run out and buy this issue immediately. It's the annual colour issue, and it's gorgeous. Just the cover alone has my all time fave colour combination of turquoise and hot orange. There's lots more great colour combos inside, beautiful photos, and cool ads to be inspired by. I've been totally wanting to scrap all weekend because of it, and that's a good thing, because nothing much has inspired me since I started to get sick a few weeks ago. Now that I'm feeling better, I'm going to be keeping this issue beside my scrap table for a while. Say what you will about old Martha, ( ok, don't, because I'll get mad at you. :p) but she sure does have style and taste, and this issue is pure eye candy!
Have a great Sunday everyone! Now I have to get back to my own non Martha-ish reality, and finish scooping the dog poop in the backyard that's accumulated all winter.
Somehow I doubt that Martha has to deal with that job. :p

I hope to post some layouts later this week, finally. Be sure to check out Celeste's blog for a cool challenge, if you're in the mood for one!

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This is cool...

I'm excited about this! ( and also a bit overwhelmed by the flyer itself, lol) I'll be teaching a class for Simple at my favourite lss, Scrapbook Centrale ( where I also happen to work. hehe) on NSD. You can contact the store for sign up. There will be some cool projects, fun give-aways, and hopefully a good time to be had by all. :) Hope to see you there!

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Happy Birthday to me..

I won't mention how old I am here, so don't bother asking! Suffice it to say that I'm at that age where I don't want to discuss numbers. :p And with this nasty virus/bug/arthritis thing I've come down with, I actually feel about 40 years older than I should. Yes folks, I'm a good example of why you should always go to the doctor when you feel under the weather.




I woke up Saturday am with my joints swollen beyond belief, and a red rash all over my arms. I couldn't close my hands or make a fist and I was so exhausted I could barely walk. Needless to say, I freaked out and called my good friend and neighbour, who drove me to the clinic. I was a basket case. I was told I have a bacterial infection of some sort, probably due to my sinus woes from a few weeks ago, and they put me on antibiotics for 10 days. It seems to be helping, but I'm still very stiff and arthritic when I wake up, and it lasts for a good 2 or 3 hours. Today I'm not feeling as good as yesterday , so if it's not better than this tomorrow, I will be going back for blood tests and whatnot. But other people have told me they've had this, and it goes away with time. I am praying it's fast! Please send me some healthy vibes instead of birthday wishes if you would.. I sure could use them right now. Have a mentioned that I'm a total hypochondriac, and have been having all sorts of awful thoughts running through my head for the past few days? NOT good!! My hubby is away on business, so I've decided to take a few days off of work, to relax and get better. I just want to feel my age again, and not 80, kwim?

I won't be having a cake, but I thought this one was kind of cool. I'll be taking the kids to Dairy Queen after supper, ( take out from my fave pizzeria) and we'll have Blizzards to celebrate. :)
And then it's hockey night in Canada baby! GO HABS!!!

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I'm it!

I've always wanted to answer those tags thingies on other people's blogs, so I'm particularly excited to be tagged by the awesome Ms. Candice Palmer. Hi Candice. :)
So here goes my first tag evah..

Two (nick)names I've gone by: Mel, ( most people) and Melita ( only dh calls me that)

Two things I'm wearing right now: jeans and a black t-shirt. Can you say BORING? I need a SPRING wardrobe!!

Two of my favorite things to do: sitting on a beach, or travelling, preferably to a beach. ;)

Two favorite drinks: ice cold Coke, and good red wine.

Two movies I could watch over and over: Good Will Hunting is definitely one. I can't think of another right now.

Typically, what time do you wake up? 7am. Ugh!

On a good night, what time are your kids in bed? hmm.. 8:30 ish?

What is your favorite kids show/movie? I have a soft spot for Sponge Bob. Movie-wise, I'd have to go with Ice Age. But I recently saw HSM 1&2, and LOVED those! So did Bobby. He's growing up.

What is your favorite chore? Uh, yeah, right.. is this a trick question?

What is your favorite quality about your mom? well, this is a hard one for me to answer, as my Mom is no longer with us. It was 2 years ago just last week that she passed away, and I miss her so, so much. The thing I miss most about her, is that she was my biggest supporter. She believed in me, and loved me so much. That's something you can't get with anyone else.. I love you Mom.

I will tag Barb and Moon, if you're reading this ladies!

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birthday week continues..

We're still in full birthday mode here. I just finished baking a cake for tomorrow's party of 12 kids ( give or take, I've lost count. ). They'll be doing an obstacle course here.. http://www.fortangrignon.qc.ca/, ( not sure how to do one of those direct link things) and it promises to be a blast. I just hope I can keep up with all those screaming kids given I am still feeling like crap. I need to go to the doctor either tomorrow after the party or 1st thing Monday, since I'm pretty sure I have a sinus infection, and can barely muster up enough energy to get out of bed the past 2 days. Have I mentioned I hate going to the doctor? I have white coat syndrome, and even the thought of sitting in a waiting room filled with sickos makes me tremble. I've been feeling progressively worse the past week, and I know it's inevitable that I have to go. Gotta suck it up!

As promised, here's a pic of Bobby opening up his Ipod on Thursday night:

He was obviously pretty thrilled with it, but I think even more so with this present, from Noah:

a Webkinz snake. Which just proves my theory that even though he's now 11, he's still got some baby left in him. ;)

I'll leave you with a layout I did last week and had posted at SS, but their site went crazy, and now all my layouts have mysteriously disappeared. I'm not sure they'll be able to fix that one!

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Birthday portrait with dog

Happy 11th Birthday to my sweetie Bobby!

It barely seems possible that 11 years have passed by so quickly. It's cliché, but oh so true.. they really do grow up in a blink of an eye. I love this kid SO much. He's a handful sometimes, but he's super smart, funny, and we're ultra proud of him.

I would have preferred a photo sans dog, but he insisted, and since it's his day, he's the boss. ;p

We're off for a birthday supper in a few, and I'm anxious to give him his big gift, an Ipod. He's been coveting mine, so I figured it was time he got his own. I'll let you know how he liked it!

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