Snowday Schmowday

That springlike weather that Ottawa has been enjoying disappeared quite suddenly, when we were hit yesterday with a snow storm.

Let me tell you that my back is paying the price today.  Shovelling heavy heart attack snow is not my favourite pastime to say the least.  Ideally, I would have spent the evening all cozied up in my warm home, but unfortunately piano lessons were not cancelled.  I cannot understand why they weren't, but c'est la vie.

To get to piano, a neighbour had to help shovel me out, as I got stuck backing out.  Then, at piano, I got stuck again when I parked at the side of the road.  Thankfully, they had a shovel for me to borrow.  Nothing like shovelling a city street!  When I arrived home, I got stuck again in the parking lot.  When I got out of my car to go grab my shovel, a neighbour very snarkily said, "You aren't planning on leaving your car there, are you?".  Shut up, lady.  Just shut up.  When she realised that I was stuck (after I had been shovelling for a while and then tried unsuccessfully to move my car), she did start helping.  I didn't appreciate her rudeness, but she redeemed herself by being helpful.

I managed to get into my spot after about 20 minutes.  I'm thankful that it was at least mild.  And that it didn't take 30 minutes! Our hired snow removal contractor has been horrible all winter and yesterday was no exception.  Not hiring them again next year!!!!

Today, the roads are still not the greatest, though not as bad as yesterday.  Still my boys, who thought today would be a snow day, have protested going to school.  I am letting them have the morning off.  Hopefully by then the roads will be a bit better.

Time to try to fix this back of mine.  Today's project is to start cleaning out my china cabinet [shudder].  Be afraid.  Be very afraid.

What did that groundhog say again?

Well, I'm starting to doubt Wiarton Willie and Punxutawney Phil.  Though yesterday was beautifully mild, today started with sleet and now is snowing like mad.

Regardless of the weather, this morning I decided was a good day for a bit of spring shopping, so I hit my local Dollarama and IKEA to see what I could find.  Confession, I really only went to Dollarama to pick up some odds and ends like parchment paper and those foil burner cover thingys.  I ended up getting some uber cool sharmrock springy headbands and an Easter tin to boot.  And....

A Fishbowl Vase!!!  Just like the one that I saw on The Glamorous Housewife's website yesterday!  I was so happy!  Make that beyond happy.

At Ikea, I purchased some everyday stem glasses.  We used to have a set, but they all got broken, so I was thrilled to see that Ikea had decided to bring them back into their inventory.  I also purchased a couple of picture frames for a picture frame project I have been wanting to do, as well as some pretty white candle dishes. 

I really cannot wait to decorate for spring.  Of course, first I have to find everything in my storage room!  With the finishing of our basement, many things have gotten buried. I really need to organize and purge.  First I need to get the rest of the house in order though.  I sometimes feel as though I'm drowning in a sea of clutter.  Baby steps....baby steps.

Meet My Fancy New Laptop / It's Cocktail Time!

Okay, to you it all looks the same, but to me, I feel like I have finally stepped into the modern age.  It was actually quite funny.  The day after I purchased my laptop, my neighbour, came back from the store all beaming.  She proudly announced, "I just bought my first laptop!".  I told her that I had just bought my first too.  I also suggested we start a club ;)

This week has been good so far.  I decided that I wanted to drink a fancy cocktail for Oscar night.  No beer or wine for this little lady.  I mentioned my plan to my mom while we were out having lunch and said that I would love to try a Cosmopolitan or something similar.  Sure enough when we arrived back at her house, she poured me one.  Going to my parent's house is like going to Southfork in the 70's & 80's; I'm just waiting for JR Ewing to come in and pour himself a drink.  They have a crazy full bar.  I have nothing....one day I will tell my story of my shenanigans of wanting to make a Long Island Ice Tea in the summer, until I realised that it would cost me $100 in alcohol to get all of the ingredients!  Not so at my mom's house.  She. Has. Everything....and then some.

Instead of mixing a drink, she had a bottle of pre-mixed Cosmos made by Smirnoff.

I have to admit it was quite tasty.  Apparently, we had bought her the bottle a couple of years ago for Christmas, though both hubby and I cannot remember doing so.  

You see in theory, having a nice cocktail is lovely, but when you're starting from scratch, there are a few things you definitely need to get.  First stop, Stokes, where I picked up two nice martini glasses.  I looked at the cocktail shaker, but wasn't yet sure if I wanted to buy the pre-made drink or if I wanted to simply buy the ingredients and make my own drink.

Second I went to the liquor store.  Nothing like looking like what you don't know what you're doing there.  A very nice worker did her very best to help.  She must have noticed the look of confusion on my face.  Unfortunately, no matter how many times I said that I wanted Cosmopolitans, she would try to sell me margaritas or strawberry daiquiris.  Bless her heart.

I was almost up to the cash with the pre-mixed stuff, when much to my hubby's confusion, I decided that I wanted to mix them myself.  So, I bought some Smirnoff Citrus Vodka (I feel like I'm endorsing Smirnoff in this post) and a bottle of Cointreau.

When I got home, I washed my new glasses and put them in the freezer to chill, and made sure that I had ice cubes made (you would be surprised at how many times the ice cube tray gets put back in the freezer empty or with only one cube).  I researched Cosmo recipes and decided this one http://www.cointreau.com/cocktails/creative-cocktails/cosmopolitan-261.html. Unfortunately, I didn't have the lime juice, so I sent out my husband for some when he was going to the gym.  He took WAY too long, so I mixed my first one without the lime juice.  I'm a wimp and found it too alcohol-y, so I added a splash more cranberry juice and then it was perfect.  I also noticed that their conversion from oz. to mL is wrong.  20mL is not 1 ounce - 30mL is!

It was so yummy.  I painted my nails while sipping my cocktail, then felt weird drinking alone, so I waited for Mr. Slowpoke to return home.  Now, I cannot blame him at all because I just sent him out for lime juice, as the recipe said, but when I made it with the lime juice he bought, it just didn't taste right.  I did my research and discovered that it apparently had to be Rose's Lime Juice, which is actually a sweetened lime cordial.

The next day, I went out and bought my cocktail shaker, which came as a set with a double jigger and strainer.  I looked for Rose's Lime Juice to no avail. Then, on Sunday, I found some while I was grocery shopping.  I was giddy that I had found it!

I spent the afternoon preparing hors d'oeuvres for Oscar night. Hors d'oeuvres that were never actually eaten because everyone was still full from the supper I had made!  So, the kiddies and I had some for an after school snack yesterday!  I swear next year I am having an Oscar party!  Kiki and I dressed up (not ball gown dressed up, but dressy for a Sunday night of tv watching) and I did my hair and make-up.  Then I spent my night tweeting and sipping my cocktails while my husband slept on and off.  Did I mention I am having an Oscar party next year??!!??

I find that this is a pattern in my life.  I put so much prep work into events that only include my family, which in this case consisted of a half-asleep husband and children that had to go to bed at 8:30, so it was pretty much just Kiki and myself.  Guess I need to get more social.  I'm vowing to entertain more once the basement finally gets finished.  Then, all of the children's toys and stuff can be out of my living room and dining room!  Of course, it costs money to entertain, so that could be a problem too.  Still, I really would like to do it.  I love having parties, even if it brings out my OCD tendencies to do so!

Week of Boredom

I'm getting old, Dammit!  It seems that 2013 keeps reminding me of that!  Two weeks ago, one of my daughters caught Hand,Foot and Mouth disease - A pesky childhood illness.  Luckily, she only had a mild case, but a few days after noticing her blisters, I came down with that all-over bodyache that sometimes precedes an illness.  Only this time it lasted FIVE DAYS!!!!!!!!  What the heck!?  It also took me no time at all to become completely exhausted.

By last Wednesday, Boy 2 had HF&M. Currently, Boy 1 has it too.  ANYWAY, three days ago I slept wrong and have not been able to move very well since then. My back muscles are so sore that any movement causes me great pain. I am not the type of person who can just sit around. I am always thinking about what I have to do next, so this is seriously driving me crazy. Seriously.  This is why I take five minute showers; I always feel like there is something else I should be doing. Let's not mention my house! My house is so messy right now! I need to find a way of making this heating pad portable. 

Enough complaining.

I am going out to look at laptops either later this afternoon or tomorrow morning. My computer expert person is only available today! So I should go today despite the pain. Right now I am posting this from our tablet. My desktop is broken (it only needs a new power supply, we think).  I am pretty excited about the prospect of having my very first laptop! My teen girls have them but they don't really like to share theirs...plus my eldest's power cord is broken. This will be my very own!  Hell, I haven't had a new computer since 1999 or 2000.  My other was a hand me down.

This is very exciting for me!

Signing off for now. Almost time to start picking up the kiddos at school and I need a coffee in order to wake myself up a bit!