Time for a Challenge

Over the past few months I've been spending a lot of time thinking. Thinking about everything that has gone on in my life this year - trying to get a better understanding of who I am and what I am meant to learn from it all. I know, sounds like fun, doesn't it? Ha. Well, I've decided that I'm spending too much time looking back and focusing on the difficult things, instead of being appreciative of and grateful for all the wonderful things in my life. The one year anniversary of my Mom's passing is approaching quickly, and in her memory I want to try out something new... I'm challenging myself to write down five things a day that I am thankful for. I'll be posting my entries here. I won't always be able to post every day, but I'll catch up on missed days at least once per week. My Mom was a hugely positive and grateful person and I feel it's my duty to carry this legacy on.

So, here goes nothing...

Day 1 - September 12, 2011

1. I am thankful for being born into the family that I was. I had the most amazing Mother, and still am fortunate to have to best Dad and sister.

The Best!

2. I am thankful for my husband. For his patience, kindness, humour and for loving me just as I am.

Happy Day!

3. I am thankful for chocolate.

4. I am thankful for books and all the people who are brave enough to write them.

5. I am thankful for all the little people in my life who bring me such joy and laughter (especially Lois, Rebecca, Matthew, Emily, Oliver, Simon and little Eleanor).

Oliver and Simon

Miss Eleanor Jane

Lois, Matthew and Rebecca

Emily

Living Room Update

So, after many months of being indecisive, Mark and I finally purchased some more furniture for our living room. While it's still not complete, it's at least at the point where I'm no longer embarrassed to open the front door for the Chinese food delivery guy!

We added a couple of pieces from West Elm (we LOVE West Elm).

Coffee Table (with sliding top and lots of storage capacity)

 

 My favourite piece (we don't have the yellow cushion)

We also bought an area rug from West Elm. We originally had it in the living room, but have now moved it to the family room... again, with our indecisiveness. We're hoping when Tara comes to visit at the end of the week, she'll help us get our decor in order! How great is it to have an interior designer for a sister!

Love the chevron striping - just don't know which room to put it in

Finally, we purchased a few throw pillows from Crate and Barrel to add a splash of colour to our very neutral room. I absolutely love grey and yellow together. Now if only the yellow looked better with the rug. I guess I may have to find a new rug that ties it all together. There are worse things in life than having to continue to shop!

Some colour!

Two of these help to brighten things up

Now I am in serious need of some wall decor, accessories, a side table and possibly a bench for the front entry. I can smell my Visa card burning already!

This Year

On Sunday, Mark and I will celebrate our first wedding anniversary. For most couples, I would assume that this is an exciting milestone, but for us, I feel like it holds some extra special meaning. Mark and I have not had the easiest year. This fact actually has nothing to do with my husband, or our marriage. It has to do with the variety of 'obstacles' that have been thrown our way since our wedding day.

Our perfect day

Looking back on everything, I can honestly say that we were able to have three glorious days of wedded bliss before we had to start dealing with reality - harsh, hard, unfair reality. Our wedding was perfect - absolutely perfect. Everything I had ever dreamed of. The following day was also perfect - spending time with both our families (for what would turn out to be the very last time). We had one day to ourselves, and then, my Mom was admitted to the hospital. Without going into too many details, the next few weeks would be filled with ups and down, resulting in my Mom's passing, exactly six weeks (almost to the minute) after Mark and I had said our vows. 

The happy family (circa 1982)

The following days and weeks are a blur. Instead of living the life of a happy newlywed, I was living the life of a grieving daughter. I had quit my job three days before we lost Mom, in the hopes of helping her and my Dad deal with all that was going on. So in six short weeks I had changed my living situation, marital status, name, and career, only to be hit with the blow of losing my amazing Mom. To say I was overwhelmed would be an understatement.

I managed to make it through the next few weeks before Mark and I left on our preplanned honeymoon in Australia. It was a wonderful trip, but now I can see that it was much too soon and while there were moments of joy, it was not what a honeymoon should be. Mark was amazing through it all. I can't imagine being a new groom that suddenly has to deal with a wife who is not who you married. Only my Mark could handle it with such grace, understanding and compassion. I couldn't have got through it without him.

My rock and me, in front of some rocks (Kangaroo Island, Australia)

We were struck with another 'blow' just two days before Christmas. Mark was told he was being transferred from Calgary to Toronto - and fast! Mark and I moved across the country, away from all I have ever known, at the beginning of March. We've been in our lovely new house for a few months now, and I'm still taking it one day at a time. I take time every day to appreciate all the things in my life that I am so lucky to have. They say people never change, but if there is one thing I know for sure, I am not the same person I was last August. 

Exploring our new home province

I can honestly say, I don't know what lies ahead, but I look forward to facing the next adventure. Fingers crossed that our second year of marriage will be full of happiness. I know it will be filled with love.

Canada Day in Ottawa

Mark and I were lucky enough to spend the Canada Day long weekend in our Nation's Capital. I had never been to Ottawa before, and Mark hadn't been since 1989, so we were both excited to go!

Mark had to work on Thursday, so I spent the afternoon exploring downtown Ottawa, and was lucky enough to get a glimpse of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, after they laid a wreath at the war monument.

Prince William waving at me

Snowbirds taking a trial run

Our beautiful Parliament

We headed downtown again on Canada Day to check out all the festivities. There were more than 300,000 people on the Hill, and it was over 30 degrees - so we didn't last all day, but got a good taste of the party and returned to see the fireworks that night.

Mark enjoying the fireworks

Some of the crowds at the afternoon show

William and Kate's entourage

While we were in town, we got to spend some time with Mark's Aunt and cousins. It was great to catch up/meet them all.

Ottawa is a beautiful city - and I'm so glad we went! Oh, and it was my birthday too. It has turned into a bit of a tradition to go away for my birthday, so I've mentioned to Mark that I'd like to keep that tradition alive :)

Furniture Shopping - Ugh!

One of the most important people in my life (my sister) is an interior designer. I've always been in awe of her talent and ability to throw together a room (and an outift, for than matter). Well, until now, I did not truly appreciate how good she really is - and how inept I really am.

Mark and I moved in to our new home three months ago, and our living room has been sitting empty (except for a beautiful Crate and Barrel bar) since then. Whenever our doorbell rings, I cringe at the thought that the neighbour, Chinese food delivery man, or welcome wagon lady will think we're strange for having an empty living room! That being said, I've been putting off decorating the room, but we finally bit the bullet and decided to start some furniture shopping. We've been browsing for a few weeks, and decided that we would purchase a sofa, arm chair, and area rug this past weekend. Well, eight hours later, we came home exhausted, having only purchased a sofa. Ugh - I am indecisive and incapable of visualizing what things will look like together.

So far, this is what we have:

Kenton Bar - Crate & Barrel

Petrie Sofa - Crate & Barrel

I think we're going for a mid-century look (can you say, Mad Men). If anyone has any ideas for area rugs or arm chairs, feel free to let me know. Please keep in mind we have white walls, light hardwood, and a red kitchen that can be seen from the living room.

For now, I will spend hours on the internet, obsessively looking for exactly what I need. After all, if the internet worked for finding my husband, I'm sure I can find a stupid rug!

Good Times in the UK

After our once in a lifetime trip to Eastern Europe, we spent a little time in the UK. Dad, Tara, Mark and I explored London for a day, before Mark and I headed to Northern Ireland for 5 days.

Tara, Dad and I at Trafalgar Square

Dad and Tara had never been to London, so it was a day filled with sightseeing, and more importantly shopping! I'm pretty sure Tara was in her element, and will want to go back again.

Westminster Abbey - just a few weeks late for Will and Kate's big day

Parliament and Big Ben - my very favourite building

 I learned something very interesting while walking around London. Mark admitted to me that our trip to London just before our engagement was a very important one - if I hadn't fallen in love with the city, and more specifically Parliament and 10 Downing Street, he may not have proposed. All jokes aside, somewhere deep down, my husband still wants to be Prime Minister of Great Britain.

After getting Dad and Tara on a flight back to Calgary, Mark and I headed to Newcastle, NI to visit the Annett clan. We attended a lovely wedding of one of Mark's old school mates. And, Mark's Mom, sister and sister in law planned a 'homecoming/wedding reception' for us and all the relatives that couldn't make it across the pond for our wedding last year. It was a wonderful evening, and I was lucky enough to get to meet several Annett relatives that I had yet to meet. Mark has a huge family - something I'm not used to!

The sign that our nieces (Emily pictured) made for our party

All in all, it was a great trip, but a tiring one. It was nice to get back to Canadian soil (especially because Toronto temperatures have been soaring since we returned). Hello, summer!

The Pallays (and Annetts) do Hungary

Well, we're back in Toronto and have mostly recovered from the jet lag. We had a fun, busy trip - we covered a lot of miles!

Budapest was beautiful. We spent lots of time walking around both the Buda and Pest sides of the city, took a bus/boat tour, visited a museum, an art gallery, the central market, the opera house, and ate some delicious Hungarian cuisine.

A view of Pest from Buda

We also rented a car and spent some time driving through the countryside, both in Hungary and Slovakia. We visited both of the towns that my grandparents came from. A dream come true for my Dad!  We stayed at a lovely winery hotel and enjoyed tasting some of Hungary's finest.

A lovely hotel, with beautiful rooms and delicious wine!

On our last day, we enjoyed a bus tour out to Lake Balaton. It was a warm day, and we soaked up some sun and took in all the sights.

Lake Balaton

Finally.... before we left, we had to enjoy another cone of gelato! The trip was unforgettable (especially for Dad). I would highly recommend Budapest as a vacation destination.

My three favourite people

That's all for today! I'll post more about the Northern Ireland portion of our trip later.