It’s a new day, it’s a new dawn…it’s 2010!

In the past, the prospect of a new year has brought hope, goals, resolutions, and clean slates. The beginning of this decade was inauspicious at best as I was laid up with a nasty case of strep throat. In fact, I was so under the weather that I actually forgot to bask in the novelty and freshness of not only a new year, but a new and promising decade. In order to regain that feeling, I’ve started a new project. I’m going to document what will surely prove to be a magical and glorious year by keeping a photo journal. Last year was full of changes, blessings, transitions, and missteps; however many of the details are muddy or forgotten. This year I will take a photograph every day and post it here with a brief description. Sometimes I feel like my life is a monotonous string of mornings and midnights, the hours in between being largely mundane and fleeting. But I know this isn’t true! I will seek out the blessings, the lessons, and the epiphanies and I will be grateful for them all. I once read that how you spend your time is how you spend your life. I want to make sure that I’m spending wisely and I want to remember, if not each and every moment, at least the notable ones. Dear friends, I invite you in for a peak into my world. It may not always be pretty or universally significant, but it’s mine…and that makes it worthwhile.

Happy New Year all!

*Note – I am not a photographer or the owner of a high-end camera.
The photo quality may be inferior, but the days these pictures represent are most certainly not.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

January 26, 2010 - Reunited and it feels so good!



Todd has returned unscathed from his boy's weekeend and I couldn't be happier! We spent the evening eating burgers, watching a movie, and playing games on my Ipod. However, he had the nerve to beat my high score on reMovem by more than 100 points! I've got some catching up to do.

January 25, 2010 - Surprise dental work both sucks and blows.



This morning I went to the dentist for a cleaning and ended up in the chair for 3 hours getting drilled and variously tortured. But on a positive note, I ran into an old friend from university at the Dentist's office and then I went to my brother's house to have a gander at the baby's room. They've done a wonderful job! Hurry up, little one- Look at all the goodies that await you!

January 24, 2010 - Showers of happiness!


Today was Heather's baby shower. You know what that means? The little guy's world debut is just around the corner! I can't wait to meet him and snuggle him and spoil him rotten!

January 23, 2010 - Murphy's Law LOVES the B.A. Baracus Band!


This pic is pretty blurry but I didn't want to blind the B.A. Baracus Band with my flash. Good times were had at Murphy's Law this night. I ate a huge bowl of mac 'n cheese followed by some tasty caramel cheesecake and 2 glasses of wine while listening to the finest 80s tunes played on guitar, djembe, and kazoo. HUZZAH!

January 22, 2010 - Snugglin' in my Jammies


Every Friday night should be this good. Lounging in my cupcake jammies and hugs and kisses from my best girls. Life is sweet.

January 21, 2010 - You Love Me!



Today was fairly uneventful so I decided to take a photo of all my birthday cards that have been hanging in the dining room since December. I'm so loved. :)

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

January 20, 2010 - La Vie Boheme


Tonight I went to see Rent (featuring the original 'Mark' and 'Roger') at the Canon Theatre with Todd, Jenn, and some co-workers. While I enjoyed it, I decided that I would have liked it more if I had seen it in the mid nineties when I was younger and full of angst. I would have been all 'Yeah Mark, don't sell your soul to the establishment just cuz you have no heat or food or necessities of life! Fight the power! Rage against the machine! Don't be a rat in a cage. (Insert your favourite grunge era lyric/band here.)
But now that I'm older and have a fondness for heat and food and the necessities of life, I kept thinking, why don't you take the sellout job so that you can fund your own independent film project and live in a proper apartment?
Sigh...what happened to me?!

Friday, January 22, 2010

January 19, 2010 - Blue Tuesday



Blue Monday has rolled over into Tuesday. I’m tired. I can’t get myself out of bed. But there are birds in the trees and the poinsettia that I put outside to throw out decided to bloom! Hints of spring are on the horizon. Ah bless.

January 18, 2010 - Blue Monday



Apparently the third Monday in January is the most depressing day of the year. The holiday spirit has long been exorcised, credit card bills showing just how much you overspent in December start appearing, winter is here and not leaving anytime soon…even the dogs are depressed. Just kidding, they were really tired from a long walk when I took these pictures!

January 17, 2010 - Sunday in the Beaches



Ah Sunday —Perfect day for coffee and stroll in the Beaches with your best gal pal. I had yet another Starbucks cupcake (shared with the lovely Miz Harvey this time), and bought a new wallet and a spatula. We also discovered that The Body Shop is discontinuing their Satsuma perfume! I hope that Jenn has recovered from this devastating news.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

January 16, 2010 - The Baby Whisperer



Todd and I babysat the adorable Gallately kids tonight and I found out that my boyfriend is The Baby Whisperer. I mean it; he should have a TV show. Or a cape and some kind of superhero outfit.

The first time Colyn woke up he was pretty grumpy. I checked his diaper and it was dry. I swaddled him the way Paul showed me (on the Elmo doll) and that had no effect. I rocked, burped, bounced, and serenaded him and still he wouldn’t go back to sleep. When Todd came up to check on things 20 minutes later, I must admit, I was frazzled. Todd redid the swaddle, held Colyn’s legs still so he couldn’t thrash about, and made shushing noises. The child fell asleep in about 2 minutes.

Colyn woke up about 3 more times (although mostly to smile and giggle at me!) and each time I went up to coax him back to sleep, I failed. At one point, Todd checked the monitor and said “I don’t think you wrapped him tight enough. He’s kicked his way out.” We went upstairs to re-swaddle him, tighter this time, and within 8 seconds the child was sound asleep.

So much for my mad swaddling skills.  ;)

Note: This photo of the Gallately men (Poppa Paul, Colyn, and Ewan) was taken back in September when wee Colyn was born. What a good looking bunch of boys!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

January 15, 2010 - Stick me with a needle whydontchya?!





I got my flu shot at work today. (boo)
My arm hurt so I treated myself to a Starbucks latte and vanilla bean cupcake. (YAY!)

January 14, 2010 - "Is every woman someone’s daughter?" (Tracy Jordan)



Tonight was positively lovely. Todd and I ordered yummy Thai food and watched multiple episodes of 30 Rock. Not a bad way to spend a Thursday!

Friday, January 15, 2010

January 13, 2010 - hurry down sunshine


The first line of hurry down sunshine reads: “On July 5, 1996, my daughter was struck mad.”
How’s that for an opener?!


I finished this book today. It was fascinating but hea-VY! I wonder why I always want to read these weighty novels. I think I need me some Bridget Jones or Shopaholic next.

January 12, 2010 - Steak and Company


I came home from work to find that my lovely roommate Princie had made a delicious home cooked meal for all of us! Her cousin Susan (that's her on the left) was visiting from ‘The North’ so we were all treated to some wine and a tasty dinner. Notice how I chose to take a picture of the people rather than the meal?

P.S. Stew looks like a GIANT next to these diminutive ladies! lol.

January 11, 2010 - I won the lottery



I won $5 on a scratch ticket today. I think I’ll let it ride.

January 10, 2010 - My First Ipod!


Oh Joy! Oh Bliss! Today I got my very first Ipod…EVER!

Isn't she pretty? I think I'm in love.
I also watched Paranormal Activity alone in the dark and scared myself stupid.
It is the scariest move ever.

January 9, 2010 - Flank Steak and Cheesy Buns


At long last, I finally got to spend some quality time with my Todd. We had planned to make a Mexican dish out of the cookbook I got him for Christmas, but discovered that the recipes were largely for slow-cookers. Since we didn’t want to eat dinner at 2am we decided to make flank steak with a red wine reduction sauce, baked potatoes, asparagus, and delicious cheesy buns. Mmmmm...cheesy buns...


P.S. I have a sneaking suspicion that my photo journal will consist largely of pictures of FOOD!

P.P.S. Watched District 9 and while it was not what either of us suspected, we both gave it a “thumbs up”.

January 8, 2010 - Sushi goooood.



Jenn and I went to our favourite sushi place in the Beaches and, per usual, we ordered too much food. But DAMN it was good! I forgot to take a picture of the food when it arrived but managed to get a picture of the aftermath. Good Gravy...

Thursday, January 14, 2010

January 4th, 2010 - The First Tumble of the New Decade




It's a fact that I fall down a lot. Here is the damage I did falling UP the stairs on January 4th. In my defence I was sick and tired and simulaneously carrying a sleeve of premium plus crackers, ginger ale, and a laptop tray that I had received for Christmas. (Did I mention I was sick?) Ouch.