Back in Business, Baby!

Although I usually steer clear of Boxing Day sales and their ridiculously rowdy shoppers (not to be confused with the ridiculously INSANE Black Friday shoppers) I had an important mission this year: REPLACE MY CAMERA!
As some of you know, my camera and all my gear ( and my laptop) had been stolen during a break in at my house back in the summer and while Telus had replaced my laptop, I still had no camera. So after months of trying to scrape together whatever I could possibly set aside (and a generous donation from my family to my "camera fund") I braved the crowds to hunt for a good Boxing Day deal on a new camera and YAY! I found one!
So my camera and I are safe and sound back at home, and I am ready to start the new year out with a new camera and some great new adventures! And yes, this pic that I posted here is hopefully the last one taken from my cellphone for awhile, hehe =)
Happy New Adventures,
-J

LOOK WHAT I GOT FOR MY BIRTHDAY!

Besides the oodles of homemade gifts my sons showered me with today ( I love them!) I wanted to share with you a particular item I got for my birthday this year - a pair of beautiful feather earrings, made for me by a girl in a local coffee shop! I admired the one she was wearing and when she said she made it herself I immediately placed a request! These handmade beauties are each one-of-a-kind originals ( she never makes the exact same pair twice) and just so you know, THERE WAS NO HARMING OF BIRDS IN THE MAKING OF THESE EARRINGS! They are made of 100% moulted feathers from bird sanctuaries. (She has a gorgeous orange parrot feather earring I have my eye on still, haha)

Besides being beautiful and unique, there is another reason these earrings are special to me. Do you know why birds moult their feathers? Becuause once a feather is matured (come to end of its life cycle) it is a dead structure. It becomes worn down and needs to be replaced. Healthy feathers grown in their place, necessary not only for controlling body temperature and keeping out moisture, but for proper flight.

People carry around dead feathers too, it's called "baggage." You all know what I'm talking about! And we walk around hanging on to all these dead feathers, and wonder why we can't ever seem to get off the ground! It can be extremely difficult letting go of the dead weight that is holding you down - believe me when I say I've been there! - but eventually you have to come to realize that's exactly what it is: dead weight holding you back from soaring the way you were meant to. It may have been a part of you in the past, but it's purpose has been fulfilled, it's life-cycle is over. And in order for healthy feathers to grow, the old ones MUST GO!

Feathers are meant to lift you OFF the ground, not drag you down in it!

As we are nearing the end of 2010, I encourage you to please, [PLEASE don't bring any "old feathers" into the new year with you! Let the new year bring new feathers, new opportunities and new people, and may your hearts finally get back to soaring freely the way they were meant to!

If you find you need a reminder to keep you moulting all those old "feathers", buy yourself a pair of earrings like I did, I'll let you know who to contact!

Happy Christmas, Happy New Year, and HAPPY FLYING!!!! =)

FREEDOM TO CELEBRATE

Christmas holidays are a time to celebrate, a time for reunions with loved ones, family and friends. It astounds me then, that even though christmas comes just a month and a half after Remembrance day, so many people forget the REASON we have the freedom to celebrate with our loved ones, or celebrate anything at all for that matter, is because of the men and women in service overseas who fight to give us that very freedom. Please take a minute or two to click on the link below. (I haven't found one for our Canadian troops yet so if you know of one PLEASE let me know!) As you are celebrating this season with your loved ones, please remember those who do not have that same luxury, those who are placing their lives on the line every day so that people like you and I have the freedoms we have. These selfless individuals all have families whose only Christmas wish is to have them come home safe and sound. Please keep them in mind. To see their stories, and watch the most inspiring real-life reunions that are certain to warm your heart right to your very soul, go to:
http://www.operationfamilyconnect.com/

OH, CHRISTMAS TREE ...

Last night the kids and I decorated our tree!

It took us all week to decorate it due to a shortage of ribbon ) we had to make a run to the store to get more) and busy schedules (homework and music lessons, and my office at work had a decorating party too). But here she is, all ready for the holidays. At least that makes one of us, hehe.

My dearly loved cellphone, whom I lovingly named "Buttons" suddenly realized the other day that her warranty had expired not long ago, so she randomly threw a hissy fit and went all psycho on me! Luckily I managed to talk my providers into a brand new cell phone for FREE! I also tweaked my plan, and I have a much better deal than I had before. (the trick is simply to not take no for an answer with these guys) . So "Buttons 2.0" and I are going to continue our Cellphone Photography adventures together, and I thought I'd start with the first one of my tree!

May your trees be fancy and your cellphones be sturdy, hehehe

-J =)