New Years Eve

Here I sit with my two daughters and hubby, eating brownie sundaes, drinking a crisp Pinot Grigio.
Now how's that for class? Ha.
We're actually having a great time.
Alley is super stoked that she gets to stay up until midnight and watch the ball drop.
She and Brooke helped make the brownies I just indulged in. We played family feud and I'm getting ready to kick some ass in our Uno tournament.

2009 had its ups and downs but overall life is good.


The 4 of us are healthy, happy, and living a comfortable life in a warm house.
For you, sweet internet friends.......... I wish that 2010 brings magic and love ... a new journey ... hope and faith ... inspiration ... good health ... success ... and most of all, peace.
We'll talk again, next year.
Jewelgurl
x o x o

Song Of The Day: What If By Kate Winslet

Who knew Kate has such a beautiful voice? The song is taken from the 2001 animated film Christmas Carol:The Movie which is based on the Charles Dickens classic novel. Winslet provided the voice of Belle in the film, which also stars Nicolas Cage, Jane Horrocks and Simon Callow. At Winslet's request, the proceeds from the single were given to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Sargent Cancer Care for Children.

Resolutions for 2010

Every year without fail, someone asks me if I made any New Years Resolutions and my answer is always no because, I know I will break them and feel like a failure.

I have decided this year on the eve of a new decade I would break with tradition and since I'm going to break them anyway, I might as go hog wild.

Here goes.......... I'm going to workout everyday and become a hard body.

I'm going to work at a soup kitchen every Saturday and go to church every Sunday.

I'm going to learn French.

I'm going to keep my house spotless and make wild passionate love to my husband every night, after I cook him a gourmet meal.

I'm going to sew my own curtains.

To be continued..............

2009 In Review

I began keeping a weekly log of my week day activities starting in April 2009.

As I reflect on the year I realize I have accomplished much. These are a few of the highlights of the past year.

I have................

Worked 53, 12 hour night shifts

Worked 44, 12 hour day shifts

Worked 2, 8 hour day shifts

Worked 6, 8 hour over-time shifts.......it seemed like more.

Worked out at the gym 65 times

Watched 55 movies

Watched 12 seasons of television series on DVD

Read 20 books

Attended a Toronto Blue-Jays game (lost to the Baltimore Orioles)

Attended a farewell dinner for a colleague (Rumour has it......he may be back)

Attended the Olympic torch run

Had my two year MRI (all clear)

Made my first trip to the Vaughn Mills Mall

Bought storage units for my basement

Remodelled my daughter Brookes bedroom.......Pink and Chocolate Brown

Replaced my 19 year old furnace

Bought a brand new table and chair set........It only took me 5 years since the addition but it was worth the wait. It takes my breath away every time I look at it.

Received my H1N1 vaccine and so did my whole family.

Joined Zip.ca

Went to Casa Loma

Went to New York City ( Saw Al Sharpton and Obama. Sat less than 2 feet away from Nicole Kidman while sipping Frappicinos in Starbucks and watched Paul McCartney peform atop the Ed Sullivan Theatre)

Got fitted for hearing aids and then returned them because I hated them

Attended the C.N.E........Garth joined the girls and I this year

Dog and parrot sat

Had my nephew stay with us for a week

Bought a Nissan Versa

Went golfing 3 times

Attended a meat roll 3 times

Went for a ride in a Hummer Limo

Attended a family photo session

Saw Kiss in concert

Attended my parents 50th Anniversary Celebration

Celebrated two 50, two 40 and two 60 milestone birthdays

Attended two funerals

Attended a Whitty/Welstead family reunion

Went to Cedar park

Attended Moonlight Madness in down town Bowmanville

Attended a summer BBQ/Jumping castle with friends

Attended Gal Pal outing at cottage

Stayed with my mom for a week during her knee surgery

Wow........I wonder what the next year will bring?

My Favorite Albums Of The Decade

Johnny Cash - American : A Hundred Highways IV & V

Jack Johnson - In Between Dreams & Sleeping Through The Static

Robert Plant & Allison Krauss - Raising Sand

The White Stripes - The White Stripes :Get Behind Me Satan

Norah Jones - Come Away With Me, Feels Like Home, Not Too Late, The Fall

Diana Krall- The Girl In The Other Room

Things I Am Looking Forward To In 2010

1.)Lost

2.)Brooke turning 13 (not really sure I am looking forward to that, but it is a milestone)

3.)Spring and wearing flip flops again.

4.)Getting my book club that I started up and running.(I need to READ the book before Jan 26th)

5.)The Olympics

6.)Tim Burtons Alice In Wonderland

7.)Norah Jones Concert at Massey Hall

8.)Great Wolf Lodge With my girls

Song Of The Day: This Land Is Your Land By Woody Guthrie

"This Land Is Your Land" is one of the United States' most famous folk songs. Its lyrics were written by Woody Guthrie in 1940 on an existing melody, in response to Irving Berlin's "God Bless America", which Guthrie considered unrealistic and complacent.


This is the Canadian version by The Travellers that I learned in public school.


I really enjoyed watching this version by a very young Bruce Springsteen

Song Of The Day: Other Side Of The World By KT Tunstall

I love the imagery in this song.

Acts Of Kindness Make Me Feel Warm & Tingly

Check out this sign in the window of this Portland Oregon cleaners. I love reminders that there is good in the world.

Interesting People Of 2009

As I reflect here is a list of folks who made 2009 a little interesting..........

1.) Lady Gaga.......Infectious songs and outrageous style.

JJ Abrams.......First for another great season of Lost and for a new refreshing look at Star Trek.

David Letterman......My favorite late-night host coped with scandal in an upfront way and also sharpened his funny bone as the year rolled along.

Patrick Swayze......I think we were all in awe of this man and his positive outlook.

Kate Gosselin.......Inescapable as she is on every magazine cover I see while I stand in line at the supermarket.

Jillian Harris......The Canadian Bachlorette......Apparently she is on the new edition of The Bachelor in January, offering advice to the ladies.

Karate Kid Remake

Check out this trailer for the upcoming remake of "The Karate Kid."

Song Of The Day: Good Day By Jewel

I like this song about the ups and downs of life and day to day feelings.

Song Of The Day: 12 Days Of Christmas

Happy Holidays

My Christmas Newsletter is complete.

Christmas Eve

Today is Christmas Eve, also known as Pajama Day.

As per our tradition for the past 12 years we each open one gift on Christmas Eve and we all know it will be a new set of pajamas.
My daughters are always easy to find jammies for.



Alley looks sweet in her pink and blue plaid pajama bottoms that are so soft and snuggly with her pink pj top that says "I love vampires" while Brooke looks fetching in her more traditonal red and white plaid pajama bottoms similar to Alleys with a red pj top.

Garth loves his Grey lounge pants that match the black pj top with a silver Superman logo on the front of it.

I scored a sweet three piece set (top, bottoms & boxers) that are pink and grey that feature hearts and elephants with the slogan "Jumbo Love" throughout.

Jumbo love is what I am feeling as I spend a quiet Christmas eve with my family preparing ourselves to snuggle in and watch a Christmas Movie.

May this Christmas Eve wrap itself about you like a new pair of comfy pajamas and warm your body and heart. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Things I Like About The Holiday Season

Festive treats and baked goodies

The sense of nostalgia when spending the day handling the decorations.
People are generally nicer to each other.
Christmas lights
Spending time with family and friends
Traditions
Great sales during the holiday season
So many wonderful scents and smells in the air......evergreen wreaths, freshly-baked gingerbread, cinnamon sticks.

Trailer: Sex & The City

Just a teaser.......

Hubby & I Pick Our Best Movies Of The Decade

Jewelgurls choices in no particular order

Knocked Up Gran Torino

Capote

Gladiator

Thirteen Going On Thirty

Infamous
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Buttons

Moulin Rouge
The Girl Next Door
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Casino Royale
No Country For Old Men
Crash
Elizabethtown

25th Hour
Grindhouse
Little Miss Sunshine
Dark Knight
American Psycho
Elf
Mean Girls

Slumdog Millionaire

Garths choices in no particular order

Gran Torino
Revenge of the Sith
Elf

Coraline

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Buttons

Zodiac
Lord Of the Rings Trilogy
Moulin Rouge
Kill Bill Volume 1
Casino Royale

Rambo

Elizabethtown

Gladiator
Rocky Balboa

Snatch
40 Year Old Virgin
Napoleon Dynamite
Attack Of The Clones

Superman Returns

Batman Begins

Letters From Iwo Jima

The Black Book

Thirteen Going On Thirty

The Mist

Here is a great video that reflects on the movies of 2009

Song Of The Day: Christmas And Me Are Through By Your Vegas

Around the holidays we become inundated with the usual same old Christmas tunes. The tried and true songs are terrific but "Christmas and Me are Through" may change all that you have ever known about holiday melodies.

Santa Gets Interrogated

I think Jack Bauer might be on the naughty list.

Song Of The Day: I'll Be Home For Christmas By Katherine McPhee

The other day as I turned the key in my front door I thought about how blessed I am to have my home. I know there are many people who dream of owning a home one day, but home is not a structure... "home" is where we live.

When describing "home" I think of not a material thing but an emotional feeling. As a child I moved a lot and had a lot of instability. Until I met my husband I had no idea where I had been or where I really wanted to go. All of a sudden it felt okay to take a deep breath and think about it. I know living in the moment is recommended but as a child until I was 20 at least living in the moment was all I did, living house to house and school to school.

Why I live where I live:
I live in an ordinary house, semi-detached, garden front and back. My house has three bedrooms a big kitchen a pleasant living-room, and a finished basement that gives us much enjoyment.
I passionately love my job and my coworkers, and they are here. We found our house almost fifteen years ago when we moved to this town to facilitate my job.
It is just far enough away that I don't feel suffocated by familiarity, but close enough to that I can easily visit the people I love.
It is a skip, hop and jump away from Toronto, a beautifully diverse city.
I live here because this is where my life led me and because it’s my space. I live here because the shape of me is in the chairs and the bed, because I know where my books are, I know what that green shoot is that I see in March, and the one that turns up in August.
I know the pair of doves that coo during the morning’s cool air.
I live here because it holds memories.
Over time, we developed little habits that have become part of our everyday routine. The familiar drip, drip, drip of the morning coffee. We enjoy the first fresh hot mug each morning while the girls watch their cartoons and morning shows. Dinner around the table whether it is a full sit down, chow down, talk about your day dinner or even if it's take out.
The clean up, the dishwasher pumping away, T.V. time, homework, bath time, playing games, reading with the girls, computer time or bedtime.

My home is where my memories remain and where new ones are anticipated.
It is where my heart lives and loves.

A Little Piece Of Me Is Going To Mars

Recently I embarked on a space adventure and you too can join in and your name will be included with others on a microchip on the Mars Science Laboratory rover heading to Mars in 2011. I am going to make one up for each of my daughters as well.

Trailer: Toy Story 3

Here is an extended clip.

Trailer: The White Stripes: Under the Great Northern Lights DVD

This intrigues me.......but I need to know when it is available for viewing. Does anybody know

Song Of The Day: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus By The Jackson 5

This song brings memories of my childhood to me.

This might prove to be a very useful link over the next few days. I imagine there will be some great Boxing Day specials as well. Time to put the GPS to work.

Happy Flashlight Day

I never knew......

This Week I........

Worked a 12 hour Dayshift

Worked a 8 hour Dayshift overtime

Worked 2 12 hour Nightshifts

Finished up watching the 5th season of Greys Anatomy

Attended the Olympic Torch Run Ceremony in Bowmanville with Garth and the girls.

Took my car for an oil. lube and tire rotation.

Finished all my Christmas wrapping.........whew!

Did some more Christmas baking........you can never have enough sweets.

Watched The taking of Pelham 123 and loved it.

Watched Survivor Finale.

Enjoyed Christmas Potluck with my nightshift crew.

Went to urgent care for dry eye problems.

Bought tickets for Norah Jones at Massey Hall.......I am so excited.

Dropped my kids off with their Aunt, Uncle and cousins for them to spend some quality days with them over their Christmas vacation.

Went to my favorite place for fish and chips.

Spent time reading...........better than the movie.

Watched my 2 daughters feel the joy of giving to the less fortunate during the Holiday Season. We had previously decided as a family to make it a tradition to create a Christmas basket of food and toys to donate to the local charity of our choice within our community. The girls helped with the shopping throughout the year and with bringing them to the charity.

RIP Brittany Murphy

Brittany Murphy died of cardiac arrest early this morning, after her mother had found her unconscious in the shower. The actress was 32.

Song Of The Day: Christmas Wrapping By The Waitresses

This Christmas tuneis narrated from the point of view of a busy single woman who is adamant that she will try to sit-out the exhausting Christmas period, not participating in the traditional Christmas activities ....except for making dinner.

She reveals that, during the course of the year, she has attempted to meet up with a man she encountered in a ski shop the previous year. Despite the couple's attempts to meet, a succession of mishaps conspires to keep them apart.

Finally on Christmas Eve, the woman (after stating that A&P provided her with "the world's smallest turkey"), in her haste to prepare dinner, realizes that she forgot to purchase cranberries. She runs to a local convenience store, and ends up running into the man. In a wild coincidence, he, too, was making dinner and also forgot to buy cranberries. This coincidence hints that the narrator, and therefore the listener, shouldn't completely abandon their faith in the magic of Christmas.

Stefani Germanotta, now known as Lady Gaga is one smart cookie. Here she is performing at Ultraviolet Live, NYU's annual talent show in which she ended up coming in 3rd place. She is clever in that she understands that talent alone doesn't always guarantee success.

Song Of The Day: Here Comes Santa Claus & Must Be Santa By Bob Dylan

Today is double play Bob Dylan Day as I have been slacking on the festive tunage. Christmas in the Heart is Bob Dylan's 34th studio album and first Christmas album. All Dylan's royalties from the sale of this album will benefit the charities Feeding America in the USA, Crisis in the UK, and the World Food Programme. Dylan said that although he is Jewish, he never felt left out of Christmas during his childhood in Minnesota. Regarding the popularity of Christmas music, he said, "... it's so worldwide and everybody can relate to it in their own way."

Rick Springfield Sets Out To Write A Memoir

Rick Springfield is writing a "extremely candid" memoir, titled "Late, Late at Night." It is scheduled to come out October 2010.

Trailer: Iron Man 2

May 7th.........I'll be at the theatre.

Trailer: Alice In Wonderland

This new trailer has me soooo...... excited to see this Tim Burton flick but this promo for my favorite TV show gets me even more excited.

Song Of The Day: That'll be Christmas By Thea Gilmore

Thea Eve Gilmore is a British singer-songwriter.

Song Of The Day: Fairytale Of New York By The Pogues & Kirsty McColl

Shane MacGowan was born on Christmas Day. This beloved Christmas tune goes through so many emotions (bliss, melancholy, bitterness) yet it leaves me feeling giddy....just like a Christmas song should.

Tim Hortons Free Skating Schedule

Tim Horton’s free skating is back and this year it’s offered in 3 provinces.
1.) Alberta
2.) British Columbia
3.) Ontario

Song Of The Day: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) By U2

This song has been covered by many artists including.....KT Tunstall, Smash Mouth, Death Cab for Cutie, Joey Ramone, Sha Na Na, Jon Bon Jovi, Cher, Hanson and Mariah Carey. It is this version I love best.

2009 In Review

The year 2009 is now coming to a close, and it's time to take a look back over the past 12 months through photographs. This is only part 1 of 3.

Song Of The Day: The Little Drummer Boy By Bob Segar

I like this 1997 cover version that very noticeably excludes all religious names or references (e.g. "then, he nodded" instead of "Mary nodded" ... "little baby, I am a poor boy too" instead of "baby Jesus, I am a poor boy too."

Link Of The Day

As 2009 comes to an end I thought this was a pretty cool site that lets you reflect.

This Week I........

Worked three 12 hour dayshifts.........ugh!!!!

Attended parent teacher interviews.

Continued to watch Season 5 of Greys Anatomy......Why can't I watch Greys Anatomy without turning into blubbering, weepy mess?

Attended school Christmas Concert.......Brooke rocked the house playing in the school band.

Took the kids out of school on Friday for a field trip into Toronto to go to Castle Loma............Very pretty during the holiday season.....Pictures to follow soon.

Errands, errands and more errands but my Christmas shopping is now complete........Ahhhhh!

Went to see the Disney flick, "The princess and the frog" with my daughters and god daughter Miss Isabella and her Mommy Sheila. A good time was had by all.

Watched the movie "Driving Lessons."

Song Of The Day: A Christmas Duel By The Hives & Cyndi Lauper

Released last year, this song is a naughty little number about a boyfriend and girlfriend who hate each other cheat, lie, burn etc, but by the chorus they forgot all that bad stuff for the sake of Christmas. The lyrics make me laugh.

12 Days Of Christmas

A well made animated version of The 12 Days of Christmas. Enjoy the next 12 days.

Stock Up On Stamps

Canada Post is increasing the prices of postage stamps from $0.54 to $0.57 on January 11,2010.

Alicia Keys In Concert

The rebroadcast of Alicia Key's performance from NYC's Nokia Theatre on World AIDS Day 12.01.09. Presented by American Express.

Song Of The Day: I Wont Be Home For Christmas By Blink 182

Enjoy this song that tells of a man who is fed up with Christmas and the various events that accompany it. As a result, he grows angry and violent, leading to a night in jail which stops him from being home for Christmas.

Trailer: Brooklyns Finest

Release Date Spring 2010.

Cool Gift Ideas

1.) Charlie Brown Christmas Yahtzee......The Charlie Brown Christmas Special is a personal favorite for me.

2.) Marilyn Monroe: Your Personal Fashion Consultant......This book features dazzling archival photographs and savvy fashion quips, but the fun doesn’t end there.You can “Punch Out and Play” with each fabulously dressed Marilyn Monroe to create twelve paper dolls in fantastic poses.

3.) Stylophone.........an iconic pocket electronic musical synthesizer that has gone on to become an international phenomenon.

4.) Philips Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock......uses simulated natural light to wake you over a 30 minute period. It gradually brightens the bedroom, simulating a natural sunrise refreshes and energizes. Add nature sounds, birds chirping, or the traditional radio too.

5.) EyeClops Mini Projector....Watch your favorite movies, TV shows and video games on a super-sized screen up to 60" wide. The EyeClops Mini Projector works with DVD, iPod, iPhone, video games, cable and satellite TV. The projector fits in the palm of your hand, so you can take it with you for indoor and outdoor fun. Simply plug it in and play TV shows

6.) Cool Collectible USB Flash Drives.....This small little gadget comes in various sizes..... 256Mb up to 16Gb handy for file transfers, but that doesn’t meant they cannot be fancy.

7.) Relaxing & Supportive Bed Rests

Laugh Of The Day

I love it!

Song Of The Day: Silent Night By Sixpence None The Richer

Silent Night is a popular Christmas carol and the lyrics of the song were written in German by an Austrian priest. The song has been recorded by over 300 artists such as Enya, Andrea Bocelli, Stevie Nicks and Bing Crosby.

Sketchy Santas

In a couple of these the kids should be scared.

Song Of The Day: Do They Know It's Christmas By Band Aid 20

Band Aid was a British and Irish charity supergroup, founded in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia by releasing the record "Do They Know It's Christmas?" for the Christmas market that year. The single surpassed the hopes of the producers to become the Christmas number one on that release.
The Band Aid 20 single was first played in November 2004. Participants included...Bono, Dido, Robbie Williams, Snow Patrol, Joss Stone, Natasha Bedingfield and Chris Martin (Coldplay).
Bono, Paul McCartney and George Michael were the only artists from the original Band Aid who had been asked back to lend their voices to Band Aid 20.

25 Sites To Watch Free Movies Online And Stream Free TV Shows

My galpal Sheila just sent me the most amazing link that was too good to keep to myself. Passing the love along........Thanks Sheila.

Festivus & The Airing Of Grievances

According to the "Seinfeld Orthodoxy," Festivus is December 23. Check out this entertaining forum for airing grievances.

Happy Birthday Mom

Just last week it was all about Ray,
today it is all about.........Fay.

Happy Birthday Mom! I hope Dad is spoiling you ( hint, hint)

CBS cancels 'As the World Turns'

CBS is canceling the soap opera As the World Turns after more than a half-century on the air.

CBS says the final episode will air next September, in its 54th year. Daytime dramas have been in a long-term ratings decline, and CBS ended the daytime soap Guiding Light earlier this year.

Through the years, actors Marisa Tomei, Meg Ryan, Parker Posey and James Earl Jones have appeared on the show.

Song Of The Day: Merry Christmas, War Is Over By Boy George and Anthony Heggerty

Their voices sound like they were meant to be together in song.

Trailer: The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Check out the upcoming live-action Disney fantasy movie that makes me kind of think..... Harry Potter meets Spider-Man.

Christmas Chuckle

Rudolph was the deer that got caught in the headlights.

This might be a cute getup to wear to the staff Christmas party.

Song Of The Day: Santa Baby By Eartha Kitt

Eartha Mae Kitt was an American actress, singer, and cabaret star. She was perhaps best known for her highly distinctive singing style and this 1953 hit Christmas song "Santa Baby". She is also known for her role of Catwoman during the third season of the 1960s Batman television series when she replaced Julie Newmar.

12 Things You Might Not Know About A Christmas Story

I watch this movie every Christmas.

Song Of The Day: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas By Tori Amos

A sad yet beautiful version of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas."

Christmas TV Guide

Here is your guide to all holiday-themed specials, episodes and movies as well as series and movie marathons for all of December. Check back daily as it will be frequently updated.

This Week I.........

Worked two 12 hour nightshifts.

Worked out three times at the gym.

Took girls to get their hair done in time for Holiday Season

Spent time catching up on PVR shows

Went to Oshawa Centre to spend Sears Points before they expire on December 16th

Had to buy a new furnace after 19 year old one konked out.....ugh!!! (Thankfully we are having a fairly mild winter as new furnace does not get installed until Monday)

Drove to Brantford and spent time with my parents.

Went to my brother and sister-in-laws open house. Was able to visit with my aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. (A much needed highlight to a very trying week)

Learned of the sudden death of a young colleague and husband of a friend.......Sad!!

Song Of The Day: River By Sarah McLachlan

This Joni Mitchell song has been covered by many artists such as Tori Amos, Rosanne Cash, Holly Cole, Shawn Colvin, Robert Downey Jr., Heart, Herbie Hancock, Indigo Girls, k.d. lang, Barry Manilow, Aimee Mann, Sixpence None the Richer, Sara Bareilles, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Michelle Branch, and Corinne Bailey Rae. I am a fan of this version.

Make Your Own Snow

We haven't gotten any snow yet and I am not complaining but I visited this site and
grabbed a pair of scissors to create a one-of-a-kind snowflake. You can attach a message and watch it fall. Visitors can respond to your message (or snowflake). You can see mine listed as Jewelgurl.

Song Of The Day: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town By Sugarcult

I like this edgier version of this Christmas tune.

Christmas Chuckle

Sacrilegious yet very funny

Song Of The Day: Frosty The Snowman By Fiona Apple

Fiona almost sounds happy as she sings this fun song.

Barbie Christmas Idea

This is the perfect collectible for the Barbie collector that loves all things Barbie. He's called the "Palm Beach Sugar Daddy Ken."

Song Of The Day: Mistletoe By Colbie Caillet

A nice tune to sip eggnog while a log burns in the fireplace on Christmas Eve. Granted, you might fall asleep, but it makes for pleasant atmosphere nonetheless.