10 of my most favourite things !!!!!

Okay.... first I must let you know that I am taking this idea from my friend's blog .... I loved the idea of a favourite things list. Since I tend to "rant" on my blog a little too much I thought that this would be a healthy departure . Recognizing the things in my life that I really really love. I am not going to put people on my list . Of course I love my family, friends etc etc. These are the things that put a smile on my face and literally get me out of bed some mornings. Some of them I take for granted and some of them I recognize and bow down to on a daily basis !!!

1. Signs, notes, drawings, secret messages, and home made cards from my daughter. She leaves them beside my bed, puts them on the passenger seat of my car, and sometimes just hands them to me. I get them often and they are given with love. She also likes to draw pictures of me on the big chalkboard that is painted on the wall in our kitchen. You can tell where she has been because she leaves a trail of artwork in her wake. I cherish all of them.

2. For those of you who know me well, there is no doubt in my mind that at some moment in our relationship you have become concerned over my obsession with the shower. I LOVE to shower. I consider myself to be a very clean person and yet at least twice a day I partake in this simple luxury. I love everything about this ritual. The feel of the water , the products I use while in the shower and the cleany clean feel when I get out. I especially love going to bed with wet hair ! In the summer it sometimes gets up to around 3 or 4 times a day . I know , I know ..... not very eco friendly. I keep them short though. Most of my friends factor in shower time when they invite me anywhere and know that before I head out after work I MUST shower.

3. Hello Sharpies ! They are fantastic . I adore them. Just look at them ! I carry a set with me at all times. There is a special set at school that only I use.( my students know that touching them is a huge risk ) A sharpie can fix most things. A nick in the paint on the wall,( blending may be needed ) a chip out of the heel of a shoe, anything that requires a nifty label etc etc. They are sharp, colourful and simply put a smile on my face !!!

4. My Saje products ! I love them. This is a Canadian company that creates the best holistic, organic, harmonious products ever !!!! They make this stuff called "Moon Cycle " that my husband would like me to purchase by the truck load. It is " roll on remedy for normal to heavy periods" AND it helps to "reduce the negative effects of ovulation and menstruation on the emotions and physical body " I don't even think I need to explain this any further ..... this stuff may be the reason that I am still married !!! I spend 5 days a week with many 12 and 13 year

old kids who sometimes all call my name at the same time...........there are times when I am one

drop of lavender oil away from a career limiting move ! The products are all natural and when I am covered in the yoga balm I feel calm and centered and better able to handle life . It sounds silly but it is true . Check out their website. I blame my friend Andrea for getting my started .... she got me my first bottle of yoga oil .

5. My daughter's prosthetic ! This is her newest model ! She went with a pink and brown design this time.( note the blue painted toenails ) She was born missing her fibula ( the little bone in the lower leg ) and has worn a lower limb , below knee prosthetic since she was just over 1 year of age. I never ever take this wonderful device for granted . It enables her to run and climb and play and swim and most of all be her creative independent self ! It is the most expensive item in our home but it is priceless !

6. The first sip of my first Friday pint at The Albion, or The Wooly, or Shakespeare's or wherever the crowd has decided to go. It is a ritual that has become known as the "staff meeting" amongst my teacher friends. We come from different schools but at some point most of us have worked together somewhere. We love each other, support each other and listen to each other's battle stories. We all love what we do and we are doing it for the right reason but that pint at the end of the week is just SWEET !

7. Ah one of my favourite haunts. I love the Bookshelf. One of the things I like the most about it is that it has smelled the same since I first walked into it in 1987. I feel good when I am there. This is where I order all of the books for my classroom. I browse, I ponder, I smell, I plan, and yes...... I purchase ( all to often I am afraid !) How many places can you watch a film, shop for a book, order a yummy lunch , and at night ----dance and drink in an upstairs bar. It is an icon in my town.

8. My two new cotton scarves !!! When I visited my friend Marcie in February she exposed to these super soft scarves made of cotton t-shirt fabric. They are bright and stretchy and so so so fun. I was super pumped when I found them in a little boutique called Blush downtown. I am not fashion savvy at all but these babies help me become a little more hip !

9. OK fine , for those of you who were wondering when it was coming..... yes my fucking crackberry ! There ? Are you happy ?

10. Lastly ...... whatever book that I happen to be reading is always my favourite thing. I will talk about it it , touch it, covet it , smell it, and love it . This is what I am reading right now and it is a gorgeous book ! Books typically factor heavily into my blogging so I will not elaborate . I would feel remiss though if I did not mention that I treat my books with care. I do not lend them out if I feel the individual may not treat them with the same measure of respect. I actually had my own bookmarks created with a set of rules on them that one must follow while in possession of one of my books. Like for instance..... if you take my book into the bathroom - just keep it .... it is now yours.