Diva Loca

Do you believe???

So I was sitting here watching the Superbowl for probably the very first time in my life and feeling VERY FRUSTRATED that we cannot see the American commercials. And then the I Believe commercial came on and I was VERY THANKFUL that we were stuck with Canadiana. OMG PEOPLE HAVE YOU HEARD THIS? I've heard short snippets of it here and there and even tried an itunes search for it the other day to no avail. But how can you NOT love being Canadian when seeing the images and hearing the song? Wow...(I'm not having any luck finding the one I saw on tv on YouTube, but this will give you an idea!!!) 

I am SO PUMPED for the Olympics. I recently read that a little girl I used to babysit, Danielle Poleschuk made it onto the Canadian team for Ski Cross. Who would have known all those years ago when she was just learning to walk that she'd end up on the Olympic team...

While out and about yesterday, I treated D and I to early Valentine's gifts in the form of RED MITTS for the games and Vancouver 2010 sweatshirts. I wasn't sure if D would be into it or not, but he LOVED HIS!!!

It's been a great weekend...

Friday we were busy shopping for house stuff (without any luck) and topped off the evening with a nice dinner for two and then came home to watch The Hangover again!

Saturday had more shopping for house stuff (for me) and wiring stuff (for Denis). I didn't have any luck on Saturday either. Ho hum.

But....none of that mattered because we had an amazing night...

We had tickets to see one of my all-time favourite artists, Chantal Kreviazuk. Lesley and I have been looking forward to double dating on this one since the LAST Chantal concert. Unfortunately her half of the double date is in the military and had to attend training. In the end, Mom Turpin ended up joining us. We started the evening with a yummy dinner at Milestones and then headed over to Centrepointe Theatre. It was the PERFECT venue for Chantal.

Her opening act was a BIG OLE PLEASANT SURPRISE,  a singer/songwriter by the name of Meaghan Smith. Remember that name because I have a feeling we are going to be hearing MANY great things about her in the future. Her husband was her "band" and they were this adorable mix of quirky and sweet. Lesley said she just wanted to adopt them! ha! Her new CD comes out on Tuesday and I'll be picking it up on itunes. Not only was she selling CDs at the show, she was also selling HANDMADE PURSES. I HAD to have one. They are super adorable and one day when she's famous I'll say I have one of her originals.

Then it was time for Chantal to take the stage. I could see that girl in concert EVERY SINGLE DAY and not get tired of it. My favourite is when it's just her an the piano - wow wow wow. Her stories are HILARIOUS and she has such a potty mouth.

I couldn't find any video from last night's show, but I found this from Friday's show in Montreal...

We did manage to sleep in a bit this morning and just as I was getting ready to get my day started, Miguel phoned from the Canary Islands...YEAH. I love talking to Miguel. He's working in a hotel over there and said he plans to call frequently. OH YEAH BABY!

This afternoon we did something I said I'd NEVER do...we saw the movie Avatar. Denis keeps saying how badly he wants to see it, and I kept telling him he was outta luck if he was hoping I would go with him...I HATE SCI-FI WITH A PASSION.

Then last week I had a change of heart. He's been working SO HARD at our house through the renovations and I knew it would mean so much to him if I would just suck it up and go. Welllllllllllll. HOW SILLY WAS I to think I wouldn't like it. I LOVED IT. We saw it in IMAX 3-D. I was hooked within the first 10 minutes. What a great date!!! D loved it too, and he loved that I loved it!

Renos are going VERY well. In fact, even better than I imagined. The only thing left to do is finish the painting and install the closet. We should be done by next Tuesday with all the big stuff. Our bedroom furniture is scheduled to arrive the first week in March. We are still having trouble finding mirrors and lighting that we like/want for our bathroom, but I'm sure that will come in time.

The odds n' ends will come together in time. I have to say I LOVE the changes, specifically our room. It has gone from crazy psychedelic lime green to a very sooooooothing cream. I can't wait to see it with the new furniture and linens...it's going to feel like a new house!

Well, I've got to get back to business stuff. We've found some new solutions we've been searching for, specifically for our Web site so I've got to get going on that.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend and don't forget to watch the OPENING CEREMONIES on Friday night! Just one week to go until V-day...I can't wait. I found a really silly/cute gift for D. It's got the perfect level of cheesiness for the holiday!

'night lovelies...

Renovation update...

Hi lovelies!

Happy Tuesday from the dust!

Our renovations are in FULL SWING right now. The hardwoods are done. Well, 98% done. They just need to do some wood fill at a few transitions.

The trim work has begun. We've upgraded all of the trim on the second floor to match the main floor and he is finishing a few projects on the main floor that never got done when we moved in and did the original renos down there.

The hope is that painting will begin either by the end of next week or early next, and it will likely take close to a week to finish. I FINALLY picked all of the colours on Sunday evening, and I can't wait to see the finished product. I LOVE colour. I LOVE design. I HATE RENOVATING - all the dust and dirt, YUCK. I have done VERY well though this time around if I do say so myself.

It helps that we have our own little world set up in the spare room. This is where we'll be sleeping for the next few months (likely) until the new bedroom furniture arrives. Fortunately we have an ensuite and walk-in closet in here so we aren't "roughing" it too much! D said the other day it sort of feels like we're staying in a hotel. Very true.

D has been working from home throughout the process. He was supposed to have time off last week, but work has been so crazy he ended up having to work the entire time. Most of the evenings are spent in the attic wiring several new additions to our home automation system. I was informed the other day that when all is said and done, we will have 11 smoke detectors in the house...CAN WE SAY OVERKILL? I think we will be the poster children for fire safety....WAIT - DOES THAT MEAN THE FIREMEN WILL COME AND INSPECT? OH YEAH BABY! You can install all the fire detectors you want!!!

He's also installing a media component with ceiling speakers in all rooms, including over my soaker tub for when I have long bubble baths...BLISS!

Here are some pics of the renos...

Our makeshift bedroom in the spare room...

All set up in the spare room walk-in closet...(we managed to fit it all in by donating LOTS of our old clothes)

 

Our room full of equipment...(see the holes D made over the fireplace for the tv?)

The retreat of our bedroom...

Upstairs hallway...

New and improved baseboards in my studio...(still finishing work and painting to be done)...

And to show you the reality of home renovations...

MY SCRAPBOOKING GEAR IN THE SPARE ROOM BATHTUB!! oy vey! I NEVER thought I'd see the day...

So there you have the update from crazy town central...

I'm off to try and get some sleep before the crews arrive in the morning...

'night lovelies!

Canada for Haiti

Hey lovelies.

I hope you are having a great Saturday. I like many of you I assume watched Canada for Haiti last night and both D and I were moved by the images we were seeing. So tragic and so uplifting all at once. To see people singing and dancing amidst such chaos was quite amazing.

Now it's our turn to help out. We made our donation last night, and I STRONGLY encourage you all to do the same. Every little bit helps and we can ALL give something. Maybe it means giving up a coffee or two at Timmies or buying just a little less on Scrapbooking supplies this month. 

After seeing the images on the screen, I just wish there was so much more we could do. I'd love to be able to just walk around with food and water. It's so frustrating.

So give what you can and let's help this amazing nation out as much as possible!!!