New year's eve.... last chance for the giveaway....

Here we are, the last day of 2010... for me it's been filled with family, friends, happiness, sadness, hope, challenge, and everything in between.... All in all, it's been a pretty quiet year for me, and that's just the way I like it....

First off, my family and I were so excited to be able to watch the 2010 Winter Olympics together, and super-duper excited that they were being hosted by our own home country! We were so proud of our Canadian athletes and their efforts.... win or lose, it didn't matter... we loved every. single. minute. But, also have to say, Sidney Crosby's winning goal in over time to take the gold from the U.S. team was over-the-top!


I started my little 3 monkeys inc Etsy shop, which I have great hopes for in 2011.... I sold several hats before Christmas just by word of mouth, and found they are being very well received....


3 monkeys inc is also now on facebook.... social networking seems to be a great way to drum up business.... and now forces me to be even more of a multi-tasker....

Babies have grown inches and inches over the past year, and I'm sure by the end of next year, I'll be dwarfed by at least one of them... and he'll only be verging 9 years old... and I am left with the same question; why do they grow up so fast? Of everything in my life... this is the one of the things I think I can handle the least...


I committed in September 2010, to walk a 2-day, 60km journey in September 2011 to benefit women's cancer research.... This is a very personal thing for me, as my friend Becky has been battling breast cancer for what seems like eternity.... What do you do for a friend who is going down such a tough road? You stand by her, you hold her hand, you wipe her tears (and your own), you just be a friend.... and still, as friends we are left with a feeling that we need to do something.... I know what I'm feeling is nothing compared to what she is feeling; but, by doing this walk with my 3 lovely teammates, I feel like I'm helping in some small way.... We can beat this.... I know we can....


My family has suffered the loss of some family members, seen some born, enjoyed hearing news of weddings to come, graduations, new jobs, the list goes on and on... not unlike any of your families, I'm sure....

More than ever, my year was filled my little family; Craig, Liam, Marek and Camryn, without you, I would be nothing.... and my best girls; Tasha, Sherry, Becky, Kim, Lindsay, Crystal, Jamie, Nicole, Jane, Jayne, Rebecca, Stephanie... and all of the new friends I have met along the way; you ladies along with my little family, have stretched my heart to the limit, and when I feel I couldn't be loved anymore, you all stretch it just a little more.... Family and friends... that's how my 2010 can be summed up... could anything be better than that?

Best wishes to you all, for a Healthy, Happy and Love-filled 2011 ;)

Don't forget: The GIVEAWAY ends tonight at midnight!
photos courtesy of Getty Images, Stephanie Eidt Photography, and Me!

My journey has begun....

Some of you already know that I have decided to take a 60km walk in September, and some of you have decided to join me.... what a journey it will be.... I will be honoured not only to be doing this to support the great work that the Princess Margaret Hospital does for cancer research; but doubly honoured to be walking for some very special women in my life; women who have struggled through their own battles with this horrible disease and some who continue to fight.


This will be an emotional weekend walking with the great group of ladies who have joined a team with me; and walking alongside many fighters, survivors and crusaders.... I'm anticipating a weekend full of hope, sisterhood, tears and pride.... I can't wait to come across the finish line, knowing that I've helped even just one person in the fight.... and I can't wait to see my little family waiting for me at the end.... these are all of the feelings and emotions that are pushing me to do this, and to do it well.

For my friend Becky, I will carry your spirit in my heart the whole way, and knowing you are bravely fighting will be my driving force. This is a very personal journey for me. Becky you DESERVE to win this fight.... my gloves are on, my shoes are tied, my legs may hurt and my muscles may burn; but it's for you that I gladly, willingly, and proudly do this.... I won't let you down, I won't let me down, I won't let my teammates down, or the millions of other women who we are fighting with....

I'm working toward my goal with the help of my beautiful friend, Kim, who is pushing me and my body with some real kick-ass workouts.... but I need it, I need to push my endurance, push my spirit, and push my ass off of this sofa.... Thankfully I'm not alone, my wonderful husband has chosen to do the training with me, which also drives me to succeed.... I am truly a lucky woman to be surrounded by so many loving people.... thanks everyone for your support in my journey.... I love you all...

Have a nice day all ;) xo

GIVEAWAY.... just a reminder....

Lets keep the Christmas giving going! Just a little reminder to enter my skull and crossbones hat giveaway.... it will be closing on December 31st at 11:59 p.m.... don't miss out.


To enter, become a follower of 3 monkeys inc blog and leave a comment on the original giveaway post, here....

Good luck everyone and have a great day ;)

photo courtesy of Stephanie Eidt Photography.... check her out!

'Twas the night before....

It's true! It's finally here....

Remember as a kid how excited you were going to bed the night before Christmas, and how you thought you'd never be able to sleep? These are some of my fondest childhood memories....

The flurry of emotions you felt when you woke up on Christmas morning, the questions that raced through your head; Did Santa come? Should I get up or wait for everyone else to get up? Does Santa think I was good all year? Is it really only 5:30 in the morning?

Yes, people, I am the child who awoke every Christmas morning at 5:30 a.m.... much to my family's dismay.... the excitement was always too much for me.... so much so that my mother had to finally tell Santa to leave my stocking on the end of my bed just so my head wouldn't explode having to wait for everyone else to wake up.

And believe me, I tore into that little red sock with the white fuzzy fur trim like a dog ripping into his new chew toy.... And it didn't matter to me that it was eerily filled with things that looked like they came from our kitchen.... Santa left it for me. That was all that mattered. Santa knew I was a good girl and was awarding me with nuts-in-the-shell, a big juicy orange and both hard and chewy candies that had the power to excavate any dentistry that called your mouth home.... I didn't care that the only thing in the stocking I really liked was the orange. It was mine, and Santa placed it SPECIAL.... just for ME. I mattered enough to him.... I was happy.


These feelings have NEVER escaped me.... still, I go to bed the night before, and wake up Christmas morning with the same butterfly-in-my-stomach feeling.... only these days, I'm excited and overwhelmed that my children get to have the same feelings I did.... The comfort in knowing that someone thinks you are the most SPECIALIST person in the world....

Merry Christmas little monkeys, I hope the memories we make will give you a lifetime of warmth and hugs.... I love you all to the moon....

And Merry Christmas to all of you.... I hope your holidays are filled with love and family and laughter.... cheers and have a fantastic night before ;)

Night lights....

Outside our front window....



Lighting up the Falls....



Meeting Buzz and Woody....



O! Canada....



2 more sleeps....
Have a nice and relaxing day ;)

Last minute gifts and wrapping....

Okay, people, so there are only 3 more sleeps 'til Christmas.... it's CRUNCH time! Well, not really for me, but for tons of people who leave their Christmas shopping and wrapping til the very. last. minute.

My shopping is all complete, and I plan on finishing my wrapping to-night! But, don't feel envious of me, please don't.... I do, in fact, leave things to the last minute.... the hand-crafted gifts. The gifts that take the most thought and time to complete; I leave til the last. minute. Why, you ask? Because when it comes down to it, I'm lazy, I'm a procrastinator, I'm a busy mommy of 3 very busy monkeys.... should I go on? Here's my confession: While I love nothing more than to give a hand-crafted item to someone special, I tend to focus on the store bought gifts first because they are easy and really require very little thought. Make sense? I start all of my hand-crafted gifts, then I find that life just gets in the way... oh, they'll get done... I seem to work very diligently under pressure. So, if you knock on my door at 11 p.m. on the 24th, I'm almost positive you'll catch me sitting at my sewing machine, with crochet hook in one hand and a paint brush in the other while my breads and cookies are baking away in my aging oven....

Anyone else like this? Please say yes.... even if it's just to make me feel better about my lack of self-discipline....

Have a great day everyone ;)

GIVEAWAY TIME.... CLOSED

4 more sleeps til the big man comes!!!!

And in the spirit of the season, I'll be giving away one of these babies....


Ok, so not really the babies.... they're all mine and I'm not willing to give them up for anything ;)

Instead, one lucky winner will receive one hand-crocheted skull and crossbones hat made especially for you or a little monkey in your life...


Made from soft and chunky acrylic yarn in my smoke free home.... The giveaway will be open to all 3 monkeys inc readers.... just become a follower, if you're not already, and leave a comment telling me your favourite winter activity or memory, old or new.... and of course, leave me your e-mail address if I don't know it already....


The giveaway will be open until December 31st at 11:59pm.... I'll post the giveaway winner January 1, 2011!

My favourite winter memory, you ask???? Well, it was made just last night.... we packed up a cooler full of snacks and egg nog, loaded the monkeys into the family bus and took an hours' drive to Niagara Falls.... When we arrived, we bundled the kids up in their snowsuits.... although, it was such a mild night, it wasn't totally necessary; but they had fun rolling in the snow anyway.... we walked through the Christmas light display, looked at the Falls, ventured up Clifton Hill and back down again... snapped lots of pictures here, there and everywhere, then piled back into the van and headed for Dufferin Islands where we ended our night with a picnic on a snow covered table that Mr. Monkey had to scrape off with our windshield scraper.... it was one of the best family adventures we've had.... These are my favourite kind of memories, and they make my heart burst with pride and love for my little family....

Good luck with the giveaway everyone.... and I hope your holiday season is full of the things that memories are made of.... have a fantastic day all ;) xo

photos courtesy of Stephanie Eidt Photography.... check her out!

3 monkeys inc is now on facebook... become a fan!

And don't forget to check out what's in my Etsy shop!

Warmth-on-a-cold-day soup....

So, here's a SUPER easy recipe for a SUPER yummy soup that really is hands-off.... now that's my kinda soup.... easy-peasy, no-thinking-involved....

And to be honest, I don't really have a name for this soup, so if you'd like to make one up, feel free.... For now I'll call it....

Pond-Hockey Soup because that's what we were doing the day I made it....

2 generous size boneless pork chops, cubed
1 parsnip, peeled and cubed
1 small zucchini, cubed
2 carrots, cubed
1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
1/2 cup onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped fine
1 19 oz. can of diced tomatoes
4 cups of broth, chicken or veggie
1 tsp dried oregano
baby spinach
fresh basil
parmesan
fresh cracked pepper and sea salt to taste

Throw the first ten ingredients in the crock pot in the order they are listed. Cover and set to low temperature. Let it cook for 8-10 hours. Seriously, it's that easy.

When serving, tear 2-3 fresh basil leaves and a handful of baby spinach into each bowl, ladle soup over top.... the basil gives a huge pop of flavour, sooo much better than dried basil.... sprinkle a generous amount of parmesan (freshly shredded is best, but if you're like me, freshly shredded is just too darned expensive) on top with some fresh cracked pepper and sea salt.... So good on a cold day :P

And, by the way, I would have taken a picture if I hadn't eaten it all up.... it's seriously THAT good, I didn't think you'd want to see a picture of my empty bowl.... Let me know what you think....

Fantastic giveaway over at retro mummy....

I've entered a FANTASTIC giveaway and encourage you to as well.... It's being hosted by Corrie of retro mummy.... She's a lovely lady from Australia who is happily married and has 4 children under the age of 5! You can read about her, her family and check out her wonderful crafts on her blog, retro mummy....

Corrie is giving away 20 fat quarters! This is an AMAZING winning opportunity! I could make soooo many pretty little things, the possibilities are endless!

Doesn't this look as yummy as a bowl full of candy?! Check her out!

Happy sunday all ;)

Christmas wishes....

I've never been one to ask for or expect lavish gifts.... I'm happy with whatever comes my way (or doesn't, for that matter).... and so this year my wishes are simple and heartfelt....

I wish for my children to have the happiest Christmas ever....

I wish for my husband to know that we understand his job sometimes keeps him from us on special calendar days; but to know that they are just days , and that we can make any day special as long as we're together....

I wish for my family and friends to enjoy love and happiness in their lives this holiday season, and always....

And, my number one wish this year.... for my girl, Becky.... you deserve to have the weight lifted off of your strong and tired shoulders.... I wish for your happiness, to hear your laughter, and more than anything.... the cure.... xo ;)

picture courtesy of microsoft office

Holiday tutorial links - ENJOY!

Ok people.... here are a few links to get you in the festive mood... try one or more for yourself and lets see what we end up with....

Here's a FANTASTIC tutorial for Christmas Crackers by Rachel of PaperCraftsByRach. I'm very sure you'll be able to pick up the cracker snaps at Michael's Craft Store here in Canada... or even Wally-Mart.... I will be trying this myself....


beautiful photo courtesy of Rachel at PaperCraftsByRach....

This is an AMAZING tutorial for some really cool glass hanging tree ornaments over at Pridestampers blog.... this has made it to my "to-do" list for next year....


happy snowman picture courtesy of Pridestampers blog....

Here's a SUPER EASY tree skirt tutorial over at Chickpea Sewing Studio, that can be easily embellished in any way you want.... the wonder of felt is that it doesn't require hemming; just cut and sew (or glue, if you're so inclined.... a-hem, you know I'm talking to you T, lol!).... also, the beautiful thing is that you can buy yards of extra wide felt so your tree skirt can be very large for even greater holiday impact....


picture courtesy of Chickpea Sewing Studio....

And... to TOP it off.... Kristen over at Kristen's Creations has a really POUFFY tutorial for a non-traditional bow tree topper....check this out!


photo courtesy of Kristen's Creations....

Just four ideas to share today.... these are some really simple projects for any crafty skill level.... I always feel better at Christmas knowing that we've created something with our own hands to hang or display or gift.... it really seems to be a holiday tradition that gets lost in the commercialism of the season.... lets bring back a little handmade Christmas, you'll be proud of what you've made and I guarantee it'll make you see the season in a whole new light....

More to come.... is there anything else you might like to see me post for the holidays? Leave me a comment or drop me an e-mail.... I'll see what I can do.... Have a wonderful day friends ;)

**EDIT** Just a little note to remind everyone, that if you click on the highlighted words throughout the blog posts, you will be directed to the links and their respective pages/posts.... so sorry if I didn't clarify this sooner, some of you have asked how to get to the links.... so here you have it! Happy linking :D

Christmas sewing....

It's here!!!! It's December, and I'm sure you're all feeling the crunch too.... trying to get to your last minute stops, thinking of all of those presents that need wrapping, making sure you haven't forgotten anyone.... sound about right?

This year, true to my word, I have NOT gotten carried away with the gifting.... in a bid to keep things a little less commercial, I've made some presents for the kids, and limited what we did purchase. It's not about the presents, right? Something I've been drilling into my guys (and gal's) heads since they were just little monkey-bubs.... I know they still only see it as a get-a-gift holiday, I'm not that naive to believe that my valiant efforts are actually being heeded at this point in their young lives.... but, no harm in starting early with teaching the real meaning of the season.... right?

Aaaanyway.... I always buy jammies for the monkeys for Christmas; I know, I know, every kids dream gift.... but, a necessity nonetheless.... Well, while perusing the fabric store, I came across some fun-fun-fun flannel fabric (ha! an alliteration!) that I thought all of my bubs would love.... so out came the sewing machine, and 2 sleep pants, 2 sleep shorts and 1 jammie set later....

Here's the girl-babes set. I love these two prints together, they're so sweet and not so overly in-your-face-I'm-a-girl....


I followed this tutorial from Habitual for the top and just used a pair of sleep pants we had for the bottoms.... easy peasy weezy!

I will not be showing the boy pants and shorts as there are usually 2 sets of spying-prying eyes lurking around the house at any given moment....

I still have a few more things to whip up.... or not.... that still remains to be seen....

Have a fantastically fun flurry filled day.... Ha! another alliteration! I know, Mr. Monkey tells me all. the. time. that I'm a word-nerd.... I don't care, without words we'd all be pretty boring....

great day all ;)

Girl's night fun....

Last night I attended a little crafty night, held at my good friend Becky's house... we made these little beauties....


These are the four cards that I made. I'd give credit to the teacher; unfortunately, I arrived a little late.... not my fault, there was a dog outside near where I parked that was growling and barking at me, I had to return to the safety of my car and find a parking spot somewhere away from the mean ol' doggie.... Aaaaanyway, I was late and didn't catch the name of the girl who was instructing us.... but she was great, and I'm truly amazed that she didn't clobber me because I'm sure my slowness and questions were annoying, to say the least....

It was lots of fun.... I'd never tried card-making before last night.... and have to say, I. LOVE. IT. When I got home and showed Mr. Monkey, he was impressed but very quick to add that I didn't need a new craft. He's right, I know, but I enjoyed it sooo much.... I just may be able to sneak some little crafty card-making into my crafty repertoire without him really noticing.... is that wrong?

These cards were made with Stampin' Up products, you can check them out here, and tell me if you could resist getting hooked too....

Special thanks to Becky for hosting.... I love you lady and with everything you've been dealt and are still being dealt, you are an ever gracious hostess.... I have nothing but admiration for you sweetie, xxoo....

Have a great day all ;)