182 Digital Puzzles

Jason got me a new tablet for Christmas which means that the one I have been using for years is now going to go to someone else and will be brought back to factory settings. This means that the record of all the digital jigsaw puzzles I have done over the past couple of years will be lost:

There were 182 that I have finished! Most of the images were travel landscapes, with a few art and animal ones thrown in too. I used the app Puzzle Crown, which if you started a puzzle saved it in the tablet and you could work on it offline, so I did that a lot. You could pick from three different 'cut' styles and a range of difficulties, I usually worked on the highest difficulty so that meant it could take long time to finish. In fact, when I was in the hospital being induced, waiting to give birth, I was also working on puzzles - these four in fact:

I wanted screen shots of my 'puzzle history' before I lost it all. Made sense to post on Always Standing, in hopes that would mean I would start posting more. (This tablet has a keyboard that can attach to it which makes it easier to post from.)

Xmas List 2021

* Used items are always welcome!!

Sweeton-Woods Family

- IKEA Gift Cards (For Pax closet in porch)

- Forks

- Plastic or silicone spatula, bowl scraping kind

- Window cling winter decorations

- Large wood cutting board

- Combination lock (Locker at pool)

- Vector cereal

Me

- Sims 4 expansion packs (PC)

- Travel bags for toiletries

- Pajamas (Women's XL)

- Boardgame: Cartographers

- Soap and Glory Flake Away Body Scrub

- Masks, wire at nose

- Cheap Sunglasses

- Waterproof waist pouch for phone, swimming

- Arm pouch for phone, jogging

- Small garden snips, pruner 

- Work gloves (Tight, bit stronger than garden gloves)

- Honey roasted peanuts

- Dried Mango

Jason

- Gift Cards: MEC, Amazon for Kindle books

- UV Swim Shirts (Men's Medium)

- Long stick-style umbrella

- Coffee Beans

- Sour Candy

- Coke, in glass bottles

- Craft Beer (Anything but wheat)

Cigi

- Beach towel

- UV Swim Shirts/Suits (18m)

- Bath toys

- Baby hair brush

- Baby toothbrushes

- Nut butters (No sugar added)

- Burt's Bees Baby Shampoo

- Thinkbaby Sunscreen

- Gerber Baby Cereal

- All/Any Books (Duplicates sent to Edmonton cousins)

--- Indistructibles

--- Classic Bernstein Bears (new ones are religious)

--- Bath books

--- Audrey and Don Woods

--- Munch

--- Dr. Suess

Two

- Small pet bed

- Stick with string toy

Xmas List 2020

Fetus

Not yet born, not celebrating Christmas, no presents please.

(If you have a gift that really really must be given, please do so through Jason.)
 

Me
- Gift Cards
--- Dollerama, Ricki's, Chapters

- Pixel 4a case

- Pixel 4a screen protector
- Epsom salts
- Soap and Glory: Flake Away body scrub
- Bath bombs, no glitter

- Plastic or silicon spatulas (flipper of pancakes kind)

- Stick with string toy for Two

- Running socks

- Easy crockpot cooking cook book

- Tank tops, any style, LRG

- Brown sugar bear (for freshness)

- Ivy, succulent, or cactus plants

- Cloth face masks with wire at nose

Jason
- Gift cards
--- Amazon (for Kindle Books), MEC

- Sweat pants, Med

- Socks
- Coffee beans (not flavoured)
- Sour candy
- Coke in glass bottles
- Craft Beer (not wheaty)
- Cheap Sunglasses
- Spray sunscreen

- iPhone charging cord

- Drill bit set (for holes, not for screws)

- AAA batteries

Joint
- Gift cards
--- Home Depo (for new lawn mower)

--- IKEA (for a dresser and bookcases)

--- Michael's (for frames)
- Boardgames
--- Ticket to Ride: Expansion Maps
--- Trivial Pursuit: Bet You Know It
- Large plastic cutting boards
- Soup pot with lid, roughly 8qt

- Baby Yoda tree ornament

- Large winter/Christmas window cling decorations

Lush Bath Melt Review

ERin and I recently did a trade. I had a facemask kit that I bought a few years ago and never found the right person to give it to and never used it myself - she needed something for a secret Santa thing. Then she remembered that I like to take baths, and she had received some bath stuff over the years that she didn't think she would use - which I was excited to have. She gave me a couple of bath bombs and a "bath melt" from Lush yesterday.

This morning I dropped the bath melt into the tub as it was filling up and the result can be summed up as basically disastrous. Mid-bath, I had to look up on the Lush website what even was a bath melt and was I using it correctly, and I was, but they are called bath oils even though they are in solid shapes. Then I looked up tips from the official Lush YouTube channel on this product and it still said that I should be using the full thing. But I gave up, and pulled the last third of it out of the water and put it beside the tub to use next time. (Yes I will use it again, maybe the smaller amount will improve things.)

According to Lush:
When it comes to bathtime luxury, there's no holding back. Our bath oils deliver an enchanting experience for those times when you truly want to transform your body and mind. Decadent butters and loads of essential oils melt into the water, then into your skin for a supremely softening and scented utopia. These little confections nourish your skin with moisturizing butters and softening oils to counteract the drying effects of a hot bath.
1. Run your bathwater making sure it’s just how you like it
2. Drop your bath oil into the bath and its oils and butters will melt to soften your water and skin.
3. Be careful when you’re getting out of a bath with one of these, because they can make your tub a bit slippery.

So, I am glad that they call them oils, and not melts, but they are really really greasy. I had to use shampoo to clean off my hands before looking up the stuff on my phone. The main issue was the sparkles, I have always thought of glitter as the herpes of craft supplies and the same applies to the body/beauty kind. It was a bit exfoliating and gritty but it also doesn't wash off! I am covered in gold sparkles, and I mean COVERED! I don't even know how you would achieve this look for a costume (say if you were wanting to be a shimmery sea monster or 1990's porn star for Halloween) apart from a professional makeup artist. I have a very even coat of teeny tiny gold sparkles, everywhere. When I videocalled ERin, to explain that this gift given to her might have been some type of sabotage, she thought I was still wet from the shower. Nope, just covered in sparkles, I was bone dry.

Also, the warning at the end of the Lush instructions it true, it is so oily that getting out of the bathtub is downright dangerous, I was worried I might die. The rest of my day will be spent trying to clean the gunk out of the tub before Jason needs to shower tomorrow morning, I am guessing this will take multiple attempts. Don't even want to think about what the glittery, greasy, goo is going to do to the pipes.

At the moment though, my skin is very soft. It is hydrating, and I feel great, except for itchy nipples from the sparkles. I will finish up the last bit of it, I do love how smooth my hands and feet feel.

Xmas 2019

Jason
- Gift cards
--- Amazon (for Kindle Books), MEC
- Coffee beans
- Pour-over coffee brewer
- Clear glass coffee mugs
- Front bike light
- Sour candy
- Coke in glass bottles
- Craft Beer, not wheaty
- T-shirts, size Med
- Cheap Sunglasses
- Spray sunscreen
- Basic electric toothbrush OralB head
- Franks Red Hot Sauce
- iPhone charging cords

Me
- Gift Cards
--- Ricki's, Dollerama, IKEA
- Books (used is fine)
--- Fiction, William Gibson, Jasper Fforde, Gail Vaz-Oxlade (Never Too Late)
- Bullet/dot journals
- Fineliner colour markers (for journal)
- Epsom salts
- Soap and Glory: Flake Away
- Canned corn
- Martin's Apple Chips
- Black no snag hair elastics
- Bath bombs
- Stud earrings, backs that click shut
- Metal pasta claw serving spoon

Joint
- Gift cards
--- Home Depot, Canadian Tire, Cineplex
- Boardgames
--- Ticket to Ride: Expansion Maps
--- Trivial Pursuit: Bet You Know It
--- Seven Wonders: Duel
--- Rummikub
- Glass Clip tupperware containers
- Wood cutting boards
- Screwdriver set
- Collapsible salad spinner
- King Sheets (100% Cotton)
- Animal safe sidewalk salt
- Shower curtain liners
- Strong fridge magnets, with clips

Christmas Changes

I like that my Christmas traditions are slowly adjusting to be less material/consumer driven. Don't get me wrong. I love buying, giving, and receiving gifts - remember giving gifts is one of my main Love Languages! However, with a tiny Toronto house, I don't have room for a lot of stuff, and I have always valued experience more anyway.

This year Kristen and I went to a play together instead of doing gifts - with the added bonus of a dinner at my favourite vegetarian restaurant Fresh a head of the show. (We saw a musical parody of the TV show Friends.)

The lists that get sent between family members each year and leaning more and more towards consumable items - we ask for our favourite foods, household items we need, fun treats of one type or another that we wouldn't necessarily buy for ourselves but really enjoy. These types of gifts bring such joy and at the same time don't add to clutter.

Xmas List 2018

Two
- Treats (Temptations Dental)
- Little mouse toy
- Litter deodorizer (Arm+Hammer)

Joint
- Gift cards
--- Home Depot, Canadian Tire, Cineplex
- Travelling coffee mugs, not plastic
- King Sheets (100% Cotton)
- Help installing kitchen faucet
- Animal safe sidewalk salt
- Shower curtain liner
- Kitchen scissors
- Super large bath towels
- Foaming hand soap
- Steak knives
- Strong fridge magnets

Jason
- Gift cards
--- XBox, Amazon (for Kindle Books), MEC
- Coffee beans
- Sour candy
- Coke in glass bottles
- Craft Beer, not hoppy
- T-shirts, size Med
- Socks, shoe size 10.5
--- black dress, white athletic
- Sunglasses
- Spray sunscreen
- Dove for men shampoo
- Bar soap
- Clear glass coffee mugs
- Franks Red Hot Sauce

Me
- Gift Cards
--- Ricki's, Dollerama, IKEA
- Books (used is fine)
--- Fiction, William Gibson, Jasper Fforde, Gail Vaz-Oxlade (Never Too Late)
- Boardgames
--- Ticket to Ride: Expansion Maps
--- Trivial Pursuit: Bet You Know It
- Epsom salts
- Soap and Glory: Flake Away
- Canned corn
- Martin's Apple Chips
- Compact over-ear headphones (with cord)
- Android smart watch
- Kitchen scissors
- Potting soil
- Basil plants/seeds
- Chap stick
- Black no snag hair elastics
- Bath bombs
- Stud earrings backs that clip
- Travel toothbrush

Birthday Kittens

ERin and Anne emailed me this for my birthday. 

Makes me want another kitten real bad.

A Flying First

My birthday falls almost exactly one month before our major event at work. I don't really feel comfortable taking any time off leading up to it, in fact often I work over the weekends on top of Monday to Friday. So, Jason wanted to plan a surprise for me and the end of April would be the last possible time I might feel comfortable take a couple of vacation days.

I didn't know where we were going, which turned out to be Florida to explore The Everglades and Florida Keys. I found out in the UP Express on the way to the airport. It was a very exciting last-minute reveal.

As any regular reader of Always Standing would know, I have flown quite a bit (it has its own tag.) But last night on the way down something happened on the plane that I have never experienced before - They called for a doctor!

Near the end of the three hour flight, an elderly women a row or two behind us got up to use the washroom and fell down. (What what I heard afterwards it was more of a 'passed out' than a 'fall' so I guess the proper term would be she collapsed.) The man that was with her, a few other passengers and a flight attendant were taking care of her.

I thought it only happened in the movies, but I soon heard someone ask over the intercom, "If there is a doctor on board please identify yourself to the nearest flight attendant or ring the assistance bell." Right away a bell chimed in front of us, in first class. Soon after a woman can striding through the curtain. (I was quite happy that is was a lady-doctor.) I think the doctor was helpful since it wasn't long before the passenger was back in her seat and everything was back to normal with the crew.

I was surprised that they do this, as the population ages it might sense to have at least one attendant on each plane that is also a nurse, so that there is accreditation beyond First Aid and CPR. Also, calling for a doctor is fine, but what is their specialty is way off from general medicine? An orthopedic surgeon is a doctor, technically so is someone with a PhD in Art History.

Plant Nite!

Succulents In A Fish Bowl

Teri and I, taken by the instructor

March 2018

Part of my Christmas gift from Teri this year was an evening together making a terrarium. I have been to a few of the ones that are for painting a canvas - with both Tessa and Kristen on multiple occasions. I always have issues figuring out what to do with the picture afterwards. Teri had heard me complain about this aspect and thought the plant one would be a good solution. It was! We had dinner together at the pub beforehand, as these things are often hosted at a bar, and then made a little planter. It has inspired me to re-pot my other house plants too!

Also, is it just me or does Ter look the same as she did in 2006 in the photo? Way to not age over the past 12 years. This shot actually reminds me of an exact picture of her from somewhere but I couldn't find it on the blog and I am not heading over to Facebook to see if it is there. Either-way, basically if you just refer to this photo, she is still 22.

Spring Switch

Today I switched out my winter purse, which is a basic black one - for my Spring Purse. Kristen gave me the blue and white striped bag that I use in the warmer months a few years ago. I can't believe it still looks good, the black ones I use over the winter only last for one season.

Feels good to make the switch, clean things out, reorganize everything.

New Milestones

The following photo, and caption, was posted to Taylor's instagram a few days ago:

We measure the moment they take their first steps, first word, first day of school... but it’s the small milestones that make me all mushy. First LEGO set put together ALL BY HIMSELF! #excusemewhileicry #legomania #bigkidsclub

Congratulations Lochlan! And it doesn't look like it was an easy one. It is true that it is a milestone registered by parents (and relatives) and I don't think it is even a small one. Jason was really excited when his nephew reached an age were he could be given 'real' lego instead of the larger duplo style.

56 Hours In Iceland - Rushing To Take Off

I surprised Jason for his birthday with a quick trip to Iceland. (And I mean, quick, we are in the country for just 2 nights, a total of 56 hours.) This has been the biggest surprise yet, in terms of distance for sure, and it included a flight etc.

My plan to create an elaborate Game of Thrones themed story to build to the surprise reveal didn't end up happening because I was busy with work. I ended up telling him the night before our 6pm Thursday red-eye flight. This way he could help with packing in the morning while I had a meeting at the office.

As usual we were rushed heading to the airport, which I find exciting and Jason finds nerve-wracking. Even with all his panic we were almost an hour and a half early to the gate, ridiculously early in my mind.

Xmas List 2017

Two
- Home Depot Gift Card
--- for supplies to build a new Litter Cabinet
- Litter deodorizer
- Ball-shaped toy

Me
- Gift Cards
--- Ricki's, Reitmans, Dollerama, Lululemon
- Books (used is fine)
--- Gail Vaz-Oxlade (Never Too Late), William Gibson, Jasper Fforde
- Boardgames
--- Ticket to Ride: Europe, Trivial Pursuit: Bet You Know It
- Sims 4 for PC
- Snow shovel
- Epsom salts
- Soap and Glory: Flake Away
- Canned corn
- Oral B electric toothbrush heads
- Martin's Apple Chips
- Safari shirts  (beige) LRG
--- long sleeve, tank tops

Jason
- Gift cards
--- XBox, Amazon (for Kindle Books), MEC
- Thermal gloves for cycling, 5-15 degrees
- French press
- Coffee grinder
- Sour candy
- Coke in glass bottles
- Craft Beer, not hoppy
- Safari shirts (beige) MED
--- long sleeve, t-shirts
- Safari pants (beige) 33-30
- Hat for safari (shades back of neck)  7.25
- Socks, shoe size 10.5
--- biking, black dress, white athletic

Joint (Jason and I)
- Gift cards
--- Home Depot, IKEA, Homesense, Canadian Tire
- Knife sharpener
- Type M plug adaptors
- Home Reno Assistance
--- Help installing cabinets and counter top above washer/drier
- Camera accessories for FUJI X-T20
--- extra batteries, second battery charger, SDXC cards, screen protector
--- leather case (coffee colour), camera strap
- Cotton king-size sheets
- Black and Decker 20V Max 1.5Ah Lithium Ion Battery

Sleepovers - Child Vs Adult

I just got back from a quick four-day trip to Calgary. Jason used his Aeroplan points to get me flights out west for my birthday, so I could spend some time with ERin and Anne. (It was going to be during Stampede but got postponed to August.) I thought I would discuss the weekend as a comparison to sleepovers, specifically birthday party ones, I had as a child:

Length of Time
Not just a single night! Since I am in Toronto, Anne in Calgary, and ERin in Edmonton, if we are going to spend time together it only makes sense for it to be a few days. I flew out on Wednesday evening and back Sunday night.

Location
Instead of gathering in the living room or basement of our parent's house, we stayed at Anne's trendy apartment in the Kensington area of Calgary.

Sleeping Arrangements
We don't need to all be in the same room, and our bodies are too old to sleep on the floor. I got the fold-out couch with some awesome memory foam.

TV
Morning cartoons, fun movies, or late night television? Nope! An episode of Chef's Table in the afternoon.

Snacks
No chips, candy, or popcorn, instead we helped ERin by taste testing some new chocolate flavours.

Meals
We traded in the pizza and hot dogs for Anne's fabulous cooking. She made us orzo salad, fennel and zucchini soup, fish tacos with homemade mango salsa, and more.

Dessert
I used to love decorating cupcakes. But this weekend we helped ERin make two different fancy cakes (I was minimally helpful.) We started with the very complicated Pacific Cake that took much of Thursday, and then quickly whipped up a modern version of an Opera Cake on Saturday.

Restaurants
Our choices for a Friday night out on the town were not kid friendly at all. First stop, for appetizers and margaritas, was Anejo, where they make the guacamole and salsa right at your table. For dinner we went to Klein Harris, where I had beet salad and hanger steak. We also made a few breakfast/brunch stops at a pie place in Anne's building - I kept getting the quiche, so good!

Daily Essential
It used to be such a regular thing to visit the corner store, usually for ice cream or candy, during a sleepover, but now that we are older - it is coffee! Made at home or quick visits to a cafe.

Amusement
Hard to remember all the things that I did as a child at birthday parties; swimming, movies, games. In Calgary we went on a road trip to the mountains, visits to ice cream shops and the grocery store, dinners out, dinners in, a cat cafe, and lots of walking around the city.

Conversation
Did we talk about boys? Yes. But also our families, friendships, pets, careers, travel, health, education, and more.

Friendship
I think it gets even better as we get older. It was a wonderful weekend, I love those two so much.

I Do Things Too

I did mention before that Jason has been doing a lot of work around the house, but I am also trying to be involved too. A few weekends ago I dug up the Perennial plants that I already had (two Bleeding Hearts that were a birthday gift from Mom last year, and some Irises from Aunt Dan). We need to do some serious work in the yards this year and I will replant them in the Fall when I know more clearly where our gardens are going to be. I got some planters to keep on the back deck so I can look after them over the summer. I also bought more perennials (manly Hydrangeas) since I really feel like Annuals are a waste of money.

Back Deck Planter Garden

Before & After - Spring 2017

And Why Did I Go?

So, since I haven't been away, and most people knew that I wasn't, what has been the cause of the month-long blog hiatus? A lot of friends and family have been wondering why I haven't posted, and everyone has their own ideas as to the reason behind my stalled writing on Always Standing.

Here are the theories I have heard:

- The trails of home-ownership. Nope. It has been a busy Spring at Casa Verde but more for Jason than me. He has been working on the lawn, trying to get rid of weeds and seeding in more grass. While I was in Ottawa this past weekend Faye and David came and helped Jason and Noah tear down the gross shed/kennel behind our garage.

- Newly wedded bliss. Nope. I know we just had our honeymoon, BUT. We got married in September 2016, moved in to our own house in May 2016, bought our home in December of 2015,  and we had started to live together in October 2013. So the bliss wouldn't really be the type to keep me from posting.

- My new job. Nope. While it is true that I am working long hours at the office in preparation for our big summer event, it has only stopped me from posting in that I don't want to log into a work computer to do it. We use Google for everything here and having my account on the computer to access Blogger might get tangled up in the accounts I use for work. But I often have my personal computer here so could easily pop on it during a break and fire off a post.

The actual reason:

- My tablet broke! I don't think I ever mentioned that I had my own tablet but Jason got me a very nice Google Pixel C for Christmas. (It was intended for my birthday but came so early that I got it at Christmas instead.) Well, I have been using it to post on Always Standing because it is always on hand and the Blogger interface on it is okay. I hadn't realized how much I relied on it to blog, but I do. All my Azores posts were done from the tablet, it is pretty much my main computer now. Well, the screen on it went wonky about a month ago and Jason spent some time trying to fix it but ended up having to send it away. I have it back now and posting will pick up again.

Shepherd's Wedding Cake

Pulled out a tupperware of what I thought was Shepherd's Pie from the freezer this morning so that it would be thawed to eat for dinner. I haven't really made shepherd's pie in a very very long time so I don't know why we would have it, but I thought it might have been put there by my mom.

Got home this evening ready to split it between Jason and I and warm in the microwave. When I opened the container I noticed that the 'mashed potatoes' at the top was in a beautiful rose pattern and realized that we had defrosted the top portion of our wedding cake eight months early. Oops!

I cut off a small part and put it in a labelled container to keep until our one year wedding anniversary in September - we will eat the rest for dessert tonight.

Note: Meg, Jason's sister, made our beautiful cake. Rich carrot cake with delicious cream cheese icing. Photo by Stephanie Beach Photography.

Christmas Kitty

Spending the weekend at the cottage and having Christmas. I got Rasta a new cat blanket with sailboats on it. Here he is sitting pretty.

Rasta - Photo by me, on my phone

The Taste Of Grapes

Sunday Mornin' Coming Down - A post about my Dad each Sunday, named after a song that he loved.

When my dad had his hip replacement surgery I sent him an Edible Arrangement, a pretty bouquet made of cut fruit. I remember talking to him on the phone a couple of weeks into his recovery and he said that when he was finally able to eat something, since the pain medication made him very nauseous, he started with the grapes from the arrangement. He was so thankful for those grapes and talked about how sweet and refreshing they were.

Teri, Monica, Maria, Matty, and K sent me an Edible Arrangement yesterday and I had the grapes right away. My dad was right, they were awesome; so cool and juicy, a great thing to have when you start eating after surgery.