A little catch up...

Hey friends.

A few of me friends told me that if I don't post a new blog soon, they're going to stop following me and beat me with sticks.

Some friends, huh?

So I just wanted to do a quick post to say that I haven't forgotten about you all.

I am just taking a break from internet land to spend some family time with the ones I love. I promise I will have about 5 posts to do when I come back on Tuesday.

Hope you all come back to read!

There, Christine, Ashley, Jenn and Kayla...now you can all shut up. I posted.

I really love you all.

A dying mans (or womans) regret...

Pretty somber title, I know, but I saw this on Facebook and it really made me think about how to embrace life.

Go take a look.

Top 5 regrets of the dying

A Tuesday Ten Link Up Party

Well, it's been a week since I posted last.

Yeah, a whole week.

I didn't really think anybody would miss me, but my wonderful friend, A, reminded me today. She said she's been clicking on my blog, to see if I had posted, so obviously she is a stalker and is sitting and waiting and wishing for me to update you all on my life.

Right, A? Right?!?

So, here I am, updating you all a bit. Unfortunately, for you, I have been ca-razy busy and blogging has kind of fallen by the wayside (is that the right term? I feel like it's wrong), it's Tuesday though, so seems like a fantastic place to start up again.

With, a linky linky party!!

Today I'm linking up with Miss Mommy for my Tuesday Ten.

Gonna be pretty basic, since my brain is mush and I don't think I'm going to get it back until after Christmas.

10 Things I'm Into Right Now...

1. This show.

Seriously. He is old enough to be my dad, and kind of a jerk. Is it wrong to have a mega huge crush on him? I'll admit, it's probably mostly due to the accent, also, he's got a kind of bad boy thing going on. Lie to Me has been on Netflix, so I have been watching it every night. Love it.

2. Pinterest! I love pinterest. I love feeling so inspired, I love seeing what my friends are into, I just love it. I have been finding so many awesome crochet patterns too.

3. Crochet. I learned how to crochet over the summer and I have started selling crochet hats. It's been going pretty good, and I'm considering opening an Etsy shop. We'll see though. I might just want to keep it low key so I don't get over whelmed.

4. White chocolate "Ho Cho" from Tims. So delish

5. Mumford and Sons. Speicifically the song "The Cave". Click the link. Listen to the song. Tell me you are not in love with the lead singer. His voice makes me go weak in the knees. They have such a celtic feel to them, and I am kind of in love with celtic music. Thank you A, for always having their CD in your car so I can always listen to them in your car.

6. This book.

It was actually loaned to Cuinn to read, since one of our friends knows that he has a bit of an obsession for anything zombie. As in, he has a plan for when the outbreak happens. Not if. When. Anyway, Cuinn is not a huge reader, and he's been ca-razy busy so I asked him if I could read it first (we have a rule in our house that states the owner of the book HAS to have read the book first before anyone else. It saves a lot of arguments.), he said it was cool and I have been loving it! The writing is pretty good and I think I am going to add Jonothan Maberry to my list of authors I want to read more from. If you're into this kind of thing, pick it up. It's a good read.

7. Pasta salad. Who says that salads are just for summer? Not me, that's for sure! I make a mean pasta salad, but I generally only make it for pot lucks. Even though it is fantabulous and I really should make it for my family. I love pasta though, so I always make it. I gave my friend the recipe I use, but I forgot to give her my secret ingrediant part. Well, didn't forget as much as I with-held it. It's still great without it, but my secret ingrediant makes it a Sarah's original. Sorry C, I'm not givin' it up either. ;)

8. My trip to England. I have been getting ready, making lists, scouring the net for idea's on how to make a baby sleep in an airport where the lights are constantly on. How to make a transition like this less terrible for Aislynn. Basically I have been submerging myself into this trip. So excited.

9. This show too.

Namely....Justin Walker. Be still my beating heart. I really can't stand Tommy and Sarah though. Does anyone else watch this show? I love it. I have been re-watching my seasons. You should all start loving this show.

10. Family time. Although our family has been under a lot of stress lately, and very busy, Cuinn and I take the time to have family together time. It is so important to us to have down time together. Even if it's just dinner together. Which we do every night. (except the nights Cuinn works. Which sucks. Majorly.) Cuinn and I have been doing extra cuddles with each other and Aislynn so that even in the crazy busy-ness of life, we are all reminded what's important. Not just during the Christmas season, but throughout the whole year. Family comes first. Always.

So what are you all into right now? Go link up and read the other lists! And don't forget to vote for your fav!!

A Tuesday Ten Link Up Party...

Well, it's Tuesday. You know what that means? 

A Linky upper party! Woot woot!

I have never had as busy a Christmas as I have this year and I have about a billion things going on in my mind that when I am spending time with people I'm kind of a mess and having a hard time talking to them and being normal.

I just spent some vegging/tv time with my good friend A at her place and was really enjoying myself. Until my inquisitive Aislynn dumped half a mug of hot chocolate all over herself and A's beautiful wood floors. Color me super embarassed. Basically I got Aislynn changed, tried to help clean up the mess and ran outta there with my tail between my legs. Nothing like a kid making a huge mess to embarass you out of hanging out with someone.

Anyway, I'm so scattered and all over the place, it's making me even more forgetful than usual. Which is saying something. So today's Ten is pretty simple.

Ten Things I Need To Remember This Week!!

1. Saturday, Simon, Amanda and Aidan are coming over around 5ish or 6 for dinner and then to watch Aislynn while Cuinn and I go to his staff party. Tidy the house, get the air mattress out, find some clean sheets.

2. Cuinn's staff party on Saturday, need to get a Secret Santa gift. $10-20. Find the Secret Santa list and make sure it's all organized. Call restaurant, switch reservation from 930 to 9. Get skirt from C by Thursday to make sure it fits and goes with outfit.

3. Call A's hairdresser to see if she can fit me in sometime. My hair is a gong show and I would like to have it done before I go to England.

4. Get the lawyer to write up the letter for me saying that Cuinn knows and allows me to take Aislynn overseas. Make sure that it is all ready and notorized in time.

5. Get Simon, Amanda and Aidan's gift and Cuinn's family's Secret Santa gift.

6. Get the house organized for Cuinn's parents visit. I.E. clean sheets for our bed for them, make sure our bedroom is ready for them to stay in, move furniture around to fit the air mattress for Cuinn and I, find the leaf for the table so we can eat meals together, write up menu plan for 5 people instead of 3, figure out schedules and things.

7. Hide P and A's gift somewhere before they get here on the 14th.

8. Call dr in the city who, hopefully, has Aislynn's old test results for genetic testing and see if they can fax it to Sick Kids so they have it on file for when we go on Friday for our appointment.

9. Give A her Christmas gift and the outfit back that we had to borrow today. And apologize profusely, again, for the hot chocolate accident. 

10. See if C and A are willing to change the baking day (again) from Friday to maybe a day next week? Or if they want to do the baking in the afternoon so that I can hopefully make it there after our appointment in the city.

11. Wednesday = day off from EVERYTHING to refocus on Aislynn and what is really important in this busy season. 

12. Pick up center piece from church on Thursday. DO NOT FORGET!!!

Oh dear, I seemed to have gone past just 10, and to be honest, I could still keep going.

How do you keep from going crazy at Christmas time? When do you make time for family? What kind of schedules do you keep?

Make sure to head on over to Miss Mommy's to check out all the other Tuesday Ten's and vote for your fav.

Which is obviously mine. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

A Weird Little Annoyance (or love, I'm still not sure)...

I have a weird annoyance and joy...

And they're the same thing. 

Weird, I know, but I wouldn't be me if I wasn't weird.

I think it's really annoying when people say "Oh, your daughter is so much like you/you hubby/any other random relative/person." 

I think it's annoying because I really don't see it. At all. All I see when I look in my daughter's eyes is Aislynn Ryder Simpson.

I see a really funny little girl who loves to laugh like a velociraptor.

I see a very inquisitive person who tries her hardest to get into everything and figure out what each button does.

I see an independant child who would rather crawl there by herself than have her parents carry her there and doesn't mind playing by herself

I see a sensitive girl who just wants to go over and comfort her friends when they're crying.

I see HER eyes, HER features, HER smile.

I see her.

And I kind of feel like it takes away from HER when people compare her to anybody else. I also don't want her to compare herself to anybody else. I want for her to continue to be an independent, strong willed, inquisitive and outspoken little lady. I want her to stand on her own two feet and be someone she can be proud of. Because if she is proud of herself and happy with herself, that is what's going to make me proud to be her momma.

On the other hand though....

When people tell me she looks like me, I beam. I always reply with a hearty "Thank you!" Which is always met with a chuckle over how enthusiastic my thank you is. I love, love, LOVE that people see me in her. Mostly because I take it as a huge compliment. My daughter is, pretty much, the most gorgeous baby in the entire world. Seriously, if I was into that kinda thing, I would totally send her picture to Gerber because she could totally be a baby model. 

I mean, check out those cheeks!

Check out that smile!

Look at her baby blues!

Even when she's crying she's awesome!

And not only is she the most gorgeous kid in the world (because that's really not what it's about, but c'mon, how can I not brag when my kid is that adorable), she is hilarious!

She saw that my friend S, the photographer, was coming with the camera and she stuck her tongue out! 8 and a half months and already such a ham.

She gives me the worlds best kisses. She is so easy going. She loves EVERYONE.

How can I not be proud when this is my kid?

So when someone tells me that she is so much like me, I take that as a major compliment, because she is an amazing kid so far, and that's partially because of me and something I'm doing right.

I love my daughter. I love that when I look at her I don't see anyone else but her. I love that she is Aislynn and that she's mine.

So, even though it's weird to me when people tell me she is so much like someone else and I really want to remind them that she is Aislynn, I guess I think it's pretty cool that they can see that she is a product of the love shared between Cuinn and I and that she has some shared features and idiosyncrasies of Cuinn and I.

Basically she is awesome.

A Silent Sunday

Source: itworksforbobbi.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: rareandbeautifultreasures.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Enjoy your Sabbath. 

A Christmas Update...

Oh, hey guys, what's up?

We've been awfully busy around here, and I know I promised I would tell you guys my big news about Christmas a few days ago, but I can't help it. We got busy. Don't hate!

Anyway, now that I've got the babe to sleep and I'm all alone, I've got a few minutes to type. So, I'm going to try to tell you all what I've been up to. And in as little words as possible!

Cuinn's parents called us, and guess who's coming for a visit? Yep, Grandpa P and Grandma A! The original plan was for them to drive here, but now that they are seeing how crazy winter is they changed their minds and are flying here and staying for a week. They won't be here for Christmas (Booo!), but they'll be here for a week. We're looking forward to the visit, even if it is only for a week. Grandpa has never met his fantastic Grand-daughter, so it's an extra special trip.

Cuinn and I have been talking more about England and little things we are trying to keep in our minds so we can remember them for the trip. Since I am flying there myself and Cuinn will be joining me later, I'm a little lot more stressed right now. I have so many awesome idea's though, on how to get through the trip. To be honest, I'm less freaked about the plan ride as I am about getting through security and the airport and then waiting to board. I really hate doing all that by myself let alone with a 10 month old, who really doesn't like to be carried and would rather crawl everywhere if I let her. We are on a red-eye, but, as you should know by now, my daughter is so inquisitive and interested in the world around her that I highly doubt she'll fall asleep until we're on the plane and the engines hum her to sleep. Please pray for me that it goes smoothly. That I have a really nice person sitting next to me who won't get mad if my baby is annoying. That the flight attendants are as awesome as my friend Krysta (so sad I'm not flying with her airline, it would be so awesome to have her workin' my flight!). That Aislynn and I can sleep on the plane so we are well rested when we land. That when we do get to England, finding my parents/luggage/the correct place to go is smooth. Pray that everything goes hunky dorey. 

Tonight is our first adult Christmas party. We're dropping Aislynn off at a friends house for the evening and then off to the Christmas party. To say that I'm nervous would be a vast understatement. Every ten minutes I think up another lame excuse I could give to our hosts about why I can't make it and have to stay home with Aislynn. But, I know that it will be good for all of us if Cuinn and I have a night out, just us, without the babe. Plus, this will be good practice for next week, since there is no way I'll be allowed to bail on Cuinn's staff party. So, I figured if I post my worries here, you all will hold me accountable and I'll have to go to the party  now. Isn't it funny how a blog makes you a little more bold? Thank you all for forcing me to go to this party tonight. You're awesome.

Last night I went to a craft night at my church. I don't have pictures because I am failing at bringing my camera with me lately. When I get to bring my craft home, I will take a picture and show you all though. They are borrowing it for the churches potluck on Sunday. It was that good. Well, and I offered it. 

I made my first sale yesterday! No, I do not have the Etsy shop up and running yet, I'm selling them on Facebook right now, to see if it's worth having a shop. Go check my page out. It's called Sarah's Stitches. I am really excited about this and I hope it takes off. But not too much, because I still want it to be fun. The page is still a work in progress, so don't be expecting the amazing-ness of a real online store. It's just something I want to try. So it's on a trial basis right now. The hats would make a fantastic Christmas gift though. Hint hint. 

So, that's basically it for now. We're keeping very busy with Christmas funtivities and family time. Cuinn has been working a bunch and it's been kind of sucky. 6 days a week is no fun, but it does enable him to have more time off with us in January.

I hope you all are enjoying your Christmas season and savoring time with family!