Frickanannies...

Feel better now?! Yes, when I first heard that (phrase?) it was smack in the middle of a really rotten day and I couldn't not laugh... Seriously - you try saying 'FRICKANANNIES' with a straight face! I can't take credit for this brilliant-ness though (hey, today is all about making up new words!) that goes to @MulderFlorals (on Twitter of course) or Melissa Mulder for those of you who haven't caught on to this gigantic time wasting fad...err fantastic social networking medium! (see @Kitestring for more fantastic information on this!!)

So despite my rotten day, the sun is shining and the temps are starting to show some promise that spring is here - although I refuse to get my hopes up that it is in fact here to stay, I can't shake it - I am in a funk... perhaps it's the catchy travelocity roaming gnome song... doodoodoodlootootoooo...I need to get out of here... but what I do know is something has gotta give!

With this new season rapidly approaching (power of positive thinking right...) I've begun to try and figure out what really it is I am supposed to be doing... not so much the purpose of life - but the purpose of MY life... and after a bubba (yes, my term for the new size I think Starbucks should introduce into their lineup) Vanilla Latte, I started to list all the things I am great at...

...there are so many that I would take up too much of your precious time listing them all here! but the one (well 3) things that I couldn't ignore: my greatest accomplishments, thus far, Abby, Ashlan and Reid. No I'm not saying that my entire purpose in life is to have kids - but for me, during these short years before they grow up and move away - teaching them and loving them, and being their Mom really is my purpose right now. I love it... and I'm great at it (well almost all of the time...) which is a good thing, because (they have no choice!) I've got a ton of cute little projects that would really embarrass Brent if I sent them into work with him - and not school/playdates with the kids...

So with Spring around the corner - I encourage you to think about your purpose. What are your goals? What is it that you've always wanted to do? And if you are having trouble snapping out of your funk, remember Frickanannies! it'll make you laugh at least!

"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."
~ Judy Garland

Amanda
Inspire Marketing

Mabel's Label's Super Cool "Blogher '10 Contest"

An electrical storm is going to wipe out the Internet – and because as my husband puts it, I am on twitter 27 out of 24 hours a day – I saw this update!! Wipe.out.the.internet! Yes I had to ‘shush’ the kids and focus intently on this…

My Dear God.. Action Plan – Call my Starbucks on Locke St. to verify they are still in business (check!) I mean really – this could quite possibly signal the return of coffee shops that require me to use their drive through for a pretend cappuccino (shudder), not allowing me to lounge in their lovely, comfy chairs, sipping my beloved Grande, non-fat, Vanilla Latte with caramel drizzle, laptop open to some very important websites, while blissfully ignoring Abby and the twins…

After assuring me my latte will be waiting, as always, the next equally frightening revelation came to the fore. I will actually have to make friends face to face in the school yard when dropping off and picking up the kids…not just through my computer screen…and you know what this means? Yes, I will now have to put on some makeup and fix my hair!

I am however sitting comfortably with the knowledge that my other passion; Scrapbooking will not be affected.. and what a huge relief that is. Yes, I can cut and paste very comfortably without my laptop…besides, I really hate having to clean my keyboard when glitter gets on it…

After having some time to digest this news, I think I’m going to be ‘alright’…knowing that I will still have my Starbucks, being left with no alternative but to spend more time with my husband and children, and that there will also be more time for friends, I say this: Bring on the storm!

Amanda

Submitted for the Super Cool "Mabel’s Labels BlogHer ‘10 Contest"

I love Mabel's Label's - not just the labels, but their people ...
let's hope I get the chance to represent!!

On "Anyways Friends" and others in our lives...

Thursday night means TV time for me (okay...Wed night too!!) but there are few shows that I do eagerly anticipate watching - yes I will admit that Greys and Private Practice are two of them. I'm not sure why I watch them though - as I end up reaching for the Kleenex box every single time.. but I suppose this is a good thing - because they are making me think by triggering these all-over emotions!

On last week's show there was a Wedding .. okay a pretty significant one: a teenage pregnancy prompted Wedding, but I won't recap the show here .. www.ABC.com does a pretty good job of that already - but I do want to share my thoughts on the father- daughter speech: where he referred to a memory he had of his daughter as a little girl, saying to him that he was her 'Anyways Friend' ..

An 'Anyways Friend' - by Sam:

Is the one person in your life whom,
no matter what you say or do,
no matter what they've been through with you,
will Love you anyways ...

Kinda like those commericals when they tell you some obscure fact about a person and you go 'huh' afterwards right?! Yeah, that's what I did too ...

So it got me thinking about my 'Anyways Friend' .. all the other friends - and people I thought were friends... in my life. How timely too, as yesterday (Sunday February 21st, 2010) in the Guiding world was 'Thinking Day" - because in the last few weeks I've been shown some true colours and real motives of some people I did consider a friend.

Yeah I'm upset and disappointed - but this is all part of the big picture right?!

As I sit here an think about all that is going on and all that is yet to be (hey isn't there some poem about that?!!) I am so grateful for My Anyways Friend, and all my other real and true - old and new - friends that are a part of my life.

I watch Abby making her new little friends and it takes me back to a time when all it took to be a friend was to want to play in the dress up / play kitchen with them .. how simple and easy it was! My hope for her, Ashlan and Reid is that they too are blessed with an 'Anyways Friend' and a few other true friends that make all the other disappointments seem as insignificant as they should be....

Amanda
Inspire Marketing

To My 'Anyways Friend':

Here's to the nights that
turned into mornings, the
friends that turned into
family, the dreams that
turned into reality, and the
likes that turned into love ..

Groundhogs, Tigers and LOVE? OH MY!

Happy February! (yes already...time IS going by fast...) and you know what that means right? GROUNDHOG day!! why am I so happy about this you ask? Well for one, it's a day that everyone can celebrate along with me - you know, where each day is the same?! ... get it?! ha..okay dokay..I guess it does lose some of it's meaning when I have to say 'get it?' .... but regardless, I'm hoping we see the critter - or do I not want to see him?! - all I know is that I DO want Spring!

Maybe the Tiger will chase him out (or keep him from coming out?!) and bring in Spring? February 14th, 2010 marks the start of the Chinese New Year - and it's the year of the Tiger: perfect timing for people born under this sign - for the tiger is a sign of courage, and people with this sign are said to have a lively temperament, are outgoing, truthful and affectionate...they rarely hide their feelings! Great for someone who loves Valentines Day......

I don't know if I was born in a year of the Tiger - I'd like to think I fit that criteria, good or bad, but do I love Valentines Day? no, not really..... well not the part that says we need to spend too much money on flowers, chocolates and anything else you'd like to get for me dear husband (Starbucks gift card)...but I do love the part about it that lets me make heart shaped cookies and cute little treats for Abby's JK class - something we can do together - and use up all my pink card stock!

The timing also allows me to make a Feast for two, at home! So if you're like me and really not that fond of waiting in super long lineups for an over-priced dinner you were rushed through, then I encourage you to create a romantic dinner - that will let you keep your Starbucks budget too!!

Need some inspiration? Join my Facebook page: Inspire Marketing and take a peek in the Discussions area, you will find great recipes, ideas and events that will Inspire that inner groundhog or tiger!

Amanda
Inspire Marketing

Words to live by ....

QUOTES!! I love Quotes .. as if you haven't noticed that by now .... and I particularly like this one.... I mean really, who hasn't had their share of struggles? (and if you haven't, well kudos to you - we need to meet for coffee because even though I am on the right path, there are still some hurdles I need to get over!) but this quote gives me hope .. hope that 'this' is worth it .. worth the juggling, the late nights, the self-doubting ... hope that while I might be struggling to make things 'work' - I am making progress.

I've recently teamed up with Opti-Mom (www.opti-mom.ca)to bring her fabulous events to Hamilton - definitely making progress with the event umbrella of Inspire Marketing - but also to get some really cool events happening here in my home town!! Stay tuned for an Event Schedule - hammer-style - to be posted, I promise you will be glad you did!

In addition to the making money side of Inspire, (someone has to support my Starbucks budget...) I am thrilled and very excited that 'Read to Succeed' is getting ready to launch. Our 'give back' to this great community of ours is about to take off. The next few months are going to be no strangers to struggles - we have a tight and aggressive timeline - but I am confident that all this hard work is going to be worth it! Books, kids and our community - what better way to give back.

So when you are struggling with what life throws at you - remember that without it, there would be no progress.... Believe in you!!!

Amanda
Inspire Marketing

Success doesn’t come to you…you go to it. -Marva Collins

Happy New Year! ~ 2010 already...WOW!!!

I'm not one for making resolutions - and that should come as no surprise to any of you by now! What I am doing and have done in the past, is make some promises. Promises to live my life the best way I can, and in turn, hopefully some good, positive, things (maybe even changes!) WILL happen. Last year I made a cute little reminder of the important things in my life ... it was a great way to remind me..keep me focused if you will, of what really was important.

Success doesn’t come to you…you go to it. -Marva Collins ... pretty powerful words right? You bet your Starbucks loving booty they are!! And I am going to print them out and post them EVERYWHERE....yes, that is right - E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E.! Why? Well because 2010 is the year that things are going to happen - and to quote our dear friend Dan - 'if I had $1 for every great idea I had....' you get the picture - enough talking over my Machiato's, now is the time to put those ideas into action!

I've been doing a lot of research and drooling over some awesome sites I've stumbled across (think paper heaven....ahhh..bliss!) and now, more then ever - I am Inspired! So no resolutions for me - nope, not even to reduce the amount of trips to my favourite coffee shop! - but some pretty powerful promises. And you? I challenge you to make some promises - you will thank me in a few months!! Look out 2010: the future is so bright, we have to wear shades!

Amanda
Inspire Marketing

Go Go Go Go!

"Go, shorty
It's your birthday
We gon' party like it's your birthday
We gon' sip Bacardi like it's your birthday
And you know we don't give a (bleep)
cause it's not your birthday!"

Not that I'm a huge (or any kind really..) fan of 50 Cent - but IT'S MY BIRTHDAY and last Saturday night we did party - like it's my birthday!! Homemade Chinese food dinner made by my friend Christina, then we all headed over and rocked Ray's Karaoke like it was nobody's business!!!!

So it's December 22nd, 3 days before Christmas, and it's my birthday .. yup, I know what you are all thinking 'geesh, that sucks...' and I know my Parents think that is what I think too .. that some how (I think) I got ripped off growing up with my birthday being so close (3 days...) to Christmas ... So this blog is going out to them. And Brent. Why? Because they've made sure that even though my birthday is so close, I've always had a party, I've always had separate presents to open - that aren't wrapped in Christmas paper - and that I celebrated like it was the middle of June (or February, you know cause it would be more convenient then ....)

I have some pretty awesome friends - and family - and because of them having a birthday 'so close' to Christmas is pretty cool .. all that extra attention and stuff... you know us Capricorns, we love attention!!


".......Go, go, go, go, go, go
Go, shorty
It's your birthday
We gon' party like it's your birthday
We gon' sip Bacardi like it's your birthday
And you know we don't give a (Bleep)
cause it's not your birthday!...................."

Amanda
Inspire Marketing