4 Weeks Ago Today

Wow. A lot has happened in my life lately. It's hard to believe that 4 weeks ago I was this pregnant!! I remember feeling so uncomfortable and so ready to meet this little baby of ours.























On June 15th I got my wish! Olivia Carol Powter was born at 8:07am in our home. I had a water birth and the experience was truly everything that I wanted it to be. Peaceful, gentle, calm and so completely natural.

Then, three days later we moved! I've promised myself to never do anything like that again. We've lived in chaos for the last few weeks complicated by the loss of our phone and internet services for two weeks. I can't lie-it's been crazy and overwhelming yet somehow we've gotten through it.

I'm bleary eyed as I write this. Nothing prepared me for how busy life would be with two little ones. I'm loving every minute of it AND still feel like if given the chance I could fall asleep for 10 years. My to do list is a mile long but I'm trying to be patient with myself. Getting this posting done is one thing I can tick off, next will be updating my website with new fall workshop and retreat dates--very exciting so check back to see what I've got planned.

I feel so lucky to have two amazing children and a very incredible husband. My goal is to try and get enough sleep and exercise so that I can resemble the woman that I know I am and not the sleep deprived crazy grouch that has sometimes shown her face! I also think that our household is about to become a lot more structured. I'll keep you posted on what it's like to be an WAHM (Work At Home Mom) with a two year old and a 4 week old. Yikes.

I also had the opportunity to write an article for Prema Sai's Wholistic Living Magazine, check out page 20. It's all about how to keep your relationship alive and thriving when you bring baby home--pass it along to anyone you know is pregnant and tell them to check out my workshop for expectant couples!

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes AND for beign so patient with me to get back to blogging. My goal is to be much more consistent so we'll see how things go.

Dream big. Imagine. Be inspired.
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Register for This Weekend's Workshop

I am so excited for Saturday. If you haven't yet heard about this workshop click here for more info. There's still time to register and if you enter the coupon code "workshop25" you get $25 off the registration fee.

LIFE IS GOOD LATELY.
Sometimes I have to remind myself that my life is good. I can get caught up in the details of living and forget the overall big picture. I can find myself wishing for time to pass or for this or that thing to hurry up and show up which is totally NOT living in the moment or being connected to the present. I have to admit that I've felt s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d lately--both literally and figuratively. I'm 36 weeks pregnant and trust me, that involves a lot of stretching so that's the literal part. But figuratively speaking we're also "birthing" our new home with the major renovation project we took on with Rectangle Design (who we can't say enough amazing things about).

Everything is coming to completion soon and I'm getting anxious to see the final product but how does that take away from my experience in the moment? What am I missing out on? My goal for the next two weeks is to be patient and connected and focused on just enjoying the process. What can you do to bring yourself more into the present? Give it a try.

Dream big. Imagine. Be inspired.
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I love weekends!

We had a lot of fun around here this weekend!! We planted flowers and mowed the lawn and Jake got very good at watering the garden. How is it that two days can fly by so quickly?

Mat built us two raised garden beds this weekend. I've become a huge fan of the "Square Foot Gardening" concept. One box is 4ftX4ft and the other is 4ftX3ft which means we can potentially have 25 different crops of herbs, veggies and flowers AND they make it sound so easy. I'll keep you posted on how it goes. All I know is that there's nothing like home grown vegetables and I love the idea of growing our own produce in our backyard.
We already have a ton of rhubarb so I picked some today and by tomorrow night it will magically become strawberry rhubarb crumble--so good.

Dream big. Imagine. Be inspired.
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Incommunicado

The literal translation of incommunicado is that one is in a state or condition where one is unable or unwilling to communicate (adverb) OR a manner in which communication with outsiders is not possible for either voluntary or involuntary reasons, especially due to confinement or reclusiveness (adjective). Which one is true for me this past month? It's not that I'm unable or unwilling or confined but perhaps I have chosen to be a bit reclusive....? Maybe. With so much on the go I'm choosing to savor the quiet, non-busy moments which seem few and far between but they are there and I need them. I like them.

Check out this egg free chocolate chip oatmeal cookie recipe I found on Allrecipes.com! We tested it in our kitchen today and they're awesome. I think it's fantastic as who doesn't love to eat cookie dough? I know I do and Jake does too but I always worry about the fact that there's raw egg in the dough and we could get sick. Now I don't even need to think twice--yum.
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I love this photo!! Talk about a child's true ability to be gentle and generous and love themself. How great it would be if this was sustained throughout our entire life--what would be possible?

Dream big. Imagine. Be inspired.
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Egg Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Check out this recipe I found on Allrecipes.com!

Posted using ShareThis

Bunnies and Eggs.

Oh this was such a great long weekend!!! I got to spend it with my two most favorite people in the world and we just did FUN things like garden and bake and fill Easter eggs with goldfish and shreddies and then hide them. My life is good.



I had a really good conversation the other day about the whole concept of balance and whether it's possible and/or achievable and the key thing for me is fully recognizing that I'm in conscious control of what I do and do not do. That means I never feel like I have to do something, I'm not a victim of my circumstances, in fact I'm the CREATOR of my circumstances. For me this is freeing--I know that I've always got a choice and with each choice comes consequences (some positive, some negative) but I ultimately get to choose what I want to experience. That doesn't always make the moment I'm in easier but at least I have a reason for doing it!

This week is FULL--(again, that's the way I've created it), we've got places to go and people to see and errands to run. There is still space in my upcoming workshop this weekend for expectant couples so if you've been on the fence, sign up now!!! Tell me how you heard about it and get $25 off the registration-sweet deal!

Dream big. Imagine. Be inspired.
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Balance, Life and Courage

BALANCE. This is a word I hear a lot in my business as everyone seems to be trying to achieve it and yet never feels like they're quite there yet. For me, balance is something that needs to be looked at in the overall big picture because trying to achieve it on a day-to-day just doesn't seem to fly on my end. Some days are super hectic, crazy busy and then others are slow and calm. Some months are crazier than others and it seems like it might just be that way with years too. We're in a crazy period right now and I'm Ok with it. I choose to be Ok with it. In fact, everything I've done has actually created my life to be this way right now--so really, I just have to laugh and go with the flow.

LIFE.
COURAGE. I love the boldness of nature. I love it when the buds start to form on the trees--they take a risk that there won't be anymore snow and they just go for it. It's like they know that if things don't work out this year then they'll just have to try again next year but it's worth trying. If you don't try things you don't get anywhere at all, there's no growth. I'm trying a lot of things right now and I've decided to stay curious about the outcome rather than attached to an expectation of how I hope things "might be". It feels safer that way.

Other news: If you're up and awake tomorrow morning check out Global am news @ 7:20am and Breakfast TV between 9-10am--I'll be on and speaking about the upcoming workshops I'm facilitating for expectant parents. Very fun.

Dream big. Imagine. Be inspired.
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24 Hours Calgary, 31 Mar 2009. Cover and P. 4

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Today I was featured in a little magazine called 24 Hours--very cool! The editor had heard about my upcoming workshops for expectant couples and wanted to know more.
24 Hours Calgary
31 Mar 2009














I have a few more media appearances in the next couple of days: CTV lunch hour news on Thursday, Breakfast Television on Tuesday morning, and Global morning news on Wednesday. If you get the chance, tune in to watch!

Dream big. Imagine. Be inspired.
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A very full day and some cool things happened too!

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it yet but I'm taking a photography course and the pic above was from an assignment we had to do. We had to experiment with different shutter speeds and moving objects and this was my favorite from the series I took! It took me two years to actually commit and register in this course and I'm absolutely loving it--things are finally making sense.

AND--the really cool thing that happened is that I was featured in Canadian Business Online today. Well, not me necessarily but my business! Check out the link below.
Life is good!

Dream big. Imagine. Be inspired.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE...

Jennifer Powter Professional Coaching Announces Calgary’s First and Only Relationship Workshop for Expectant Couples

CALGARY, ALBERTA (March 24, 2009). Jennifer Powter Professional Coaching is pleased to announce "Keeping Your Relationship Alive and Thriving When Baby Makes Three."

This innovative workshop includes topics such as money management, intimacy, redefining roles, community support, and examining assumptions and expectations about parenthood.

“This one-day workshop helps couples prepare for the many adjustments their relationship will require with the addition of a new baby,” says Gail J. Dahl, Executive Director of the Canadian Childbirth Association and Award Winning & National Bestselling Author. “I highly recommend this workshop to any new family and only wish it was offered when my partner and I were expanding our family.”

The International Coach Federation states that individuals who engage in a coaching relationship can expect to experience fresh perspectives on personal challenges and opportunities, enhanced thinking and decision-making skills, enhanced interpersonal effectiveness, and increased confidence in carrying out their chosen work and life roles.

About Jennifer Powter Professional Coaching
Principal, Jennifer Powter, is a Calgary-based professional coach and facilitator. Jennifer’s services are built upon her core belief that happiness and fulfillment occur when people discover their true inner passion, connect to their values, and do what they love.

For more information, please contact:
Bloom Communications Consulting
Clare McWilliams
Media Relations
p. 403.809.2826
e. cmcwilliams@telus.net

or

Jennifer Powter Professional Coaching
Jennifer Powter, Principal
p. 403.923.5367
e. jennifer@jenniferpowter.com
w. www.jenniferpowter.com

Some days are easier than others...

Today was just one of those days where things didn't really roll smoothly and I have to admit, IT GOT TO ME! I had an appointment at the bank with a business adviser and had to bring Jake with me which I imagined wouldn't be a big deal. I'd bring a few toys and Jake would play nicely in the office while I "talked business". NOPE. Instead, Jake threw a full-fledged tantrum in the middle of the hallway and people came out to stare, I mean close their doors. Nothing says "professional" like bringing your toddler to a business appointment--lesson learned! You may ask, why didn't you just get someone to watch him??? My answer: LIKE WHO???

It's experiences like these that are clearly helping me realize I need to start asking for help or paying for help. More on that later. Luckily, a trip to the store to get some "puddle boots" helped make everything right in the world for all of us. Thank you Mat!


Life is definitely feeling FULL these days and between being a WAHM (I just learned this acronym, it means Work At Home Mom) and planning a fantastic new workshop in Calgary for expectant couples and starting a group coaching program for moms in April, I'm also 6 months pregnant and living in a small state of chaos in a rental home while our real home undergoes massive renovations. I'M LEARING TO BREATHE AND TAKE ONE STEP AT A TIME...because that's all I can really do, right? My life is an adventure. I choose to see it that way AND I also choose to make it that way. How are you choosing to see and live your life?

Dream big. Imagine. Be inspired.
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CHANGE, CHANGE AND MORE CHANGE

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power."

Alan Cohen

I like this quote--it seems quite fitting for my life right now. I haven't posted for a while but that's what happens when your WHOLE family gets the flu for a week. It wasn't pretty around here-trust me. But back to the real topic. CHANGE. Change is an absolute constant in my life. I've always embraced change and looked forward to it. I've created it in my life even if I didn't need to. I've always looked at change as something positive, to me it's about growing, stretching oneself, and learning. However, what I'm discovering is that along with change one requires rest, or, at least I do. For me, change typically involves some sort of physical effort but the more tiring part is all of the thinking and mental processing that goes along with change. My mind needs a break! So, this week I'm taking one. What do you want to change? What do you need a break from? Whatever it is, it starts with you. Create it!

Dream Big. Imagine. Be Inspired.
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Progress!!!

Wow. What a surprise! We took a little drive by our house today and this is what we saw. All of the stucco has been stripped, windows were delivered and will be installed next week, some basic framing in the basement was done and in general great progress was being made! Thank you Rectangle.

All in all it's been a very low key week around here. My little guy, Jake, got super sick on Tuesday night and it's pretty much brought my life to a standstill. All that has mattered is making sure his fever doesn't get too high, he's drinking enough fluids, and that I'm here to comfort him. Mat is sick now too so I'm just crossing my fingers that I stay HEALTHY. Short post as I need some sleep--it feels like a precious commodity around here right now. Good night and sleep tight everyone.

dream big. imagine. be inspired.
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Validation

If you have 15 minutes this is worth taking the time to watch. It's about seeing the good in someone that they don't see for themselves and telling them. It's about giving compliments. It's about acknowledgement. It made me feel good watching it. I hope it does the same for you.

My challenge? When you're in line for that cup of coffee or getting groceries or whatever it may be take the time to notice something wonderful or unique about someone and tell them. Watch their face light up.

dream big. imagine. be inspired.
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An Amazing Family Day Weekend

CRAZY HAIR!!! I love this photo-Jake and his Dad were busy playing in his new Ikea tent this morning and this was the end hair result! I just liked the way the light fell across both of their faces and seeing Jake's fine hair stand on end. Tomorrow is haircut day!!

I also love this picture...

I'm getting a very heartfelt hug and kiss. Today was one of those days where our day was just perfect. We got to sleep in, have a yummy breakfast as a family, get some errands done and play in the park.

What I love most is watching Jake and Mat interact. They love each other so much and make each other laugh so easily, in fact Mat can make Jake laugh so hard he pukes (this has actually happened a number of times). I just felt so grateful today and I'm sure this is in part due to an article I read in the paper last week about a man who went to visit his parents in the Democratic Republic of Congo and ended up being held captive for 7 months by the Lord's Resistance Army. I felt sick when I read it and I haven't been able to shake the images his words conjured up.

How is it that I can be here in Canada with my child and husband and have no worries about food, safety, clothing or shelter when on the other side of the world women and children are being raped and butchered? It brought back memories of watching the movie Shooting Dogs. I cried throughout the movie but the ending truly caused me to sob hysterically for the next two hours--I just didn't know that this was going on. Call me naive, call me self-absorbed, call me what you will but the point is even after learning more about the situation I felt so helpless. I still do. And I don't know what to do about it. We sponsor a child but that seems like such a small, insignificant thing. I'm not too sure where I'm going with this but it's in the direction of me learning how to make a difference, not just in my own family or in my own community, but for the sake of humanity. What do you do to help make the world a better, safer place for all? Big question isn't it?

Dream big. Imagine. Be inspired.
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Sweet Surprises -- Happy Valentine's Day

Nothing is better than a surprise! I was surprised with dinner out at one of our favorite Indian restaurants last night for an early Valentine's treat. The babysitter was booked, reservations were made and I didn't know a thing about it. It was the first time that Mat and I have been out together, alone since Jake was born. That's 20 months ago...definitely long overdue. BUT, I get to surprise Mat with yummy brownies and a little Valentine's prezzie that I know he'll love.

Things have been very busy and very good around here lately. I will soon be a regular contributor to a new online health and fitness magazine (not yet launched but I'll keep you posted), arrangements are in the works for a very cool and very fun workshop for first time expectant parents, the first edition of my newsletter will be sent out shortly and I've got some great new clients to work with.

Jake has been super fun and as soon as I figure out how to post video clips I'll post one of the funniest ones I have of him.
I've also discovered one of the coolest sites around: www.rentacoder.com
You describe the kind of project you need done (ie. newsletter, flyer, brochure, website, e-book, etc.) and indicate the maximum price you're willing to pay and then it's like a reverse auction. Coders from around the world bid on your project and you get to decide who you want to work with. Very cool for people like me who have no design skills!

So, what's up for this week? Hopefully a little get away to Canmore with my Mom and Jake for two nights, a birthday celebration and lots of exercise!

Dream big. Imagine. Be inspired.
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I learn so much everyday

I'm feeling a bit tired tonight and don't have any "hot" topics to write about but when I think about my life I realize that I learn so much from this little guy of mine. Jake reminds me to be in the moment, to give hugs and kisses with enthusiasm, to say "I love you" all of the time and for no reason. He goes after what he wants with persistence and isn't afraid to let me know when his needs aren't getting met. I love doing things with him and if we've had a hard day, well, there's nothing that a little mug of steamed milk can't cure. I'll treasure these moments with him for a lifetime.

Dream big. Imagine. Be inspired.
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Just Decide...

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about who I am, what I do, what matters, and what I'm choosing to create in this life. All of these thoughts are tied into my previous post in some way or another. What I know is that until I really choose to commit to something I can waffle in the world of indecision and confusion forever. And sometimes, for me to choose to commit, I just need to forget all about the "how's" and the "why's" and just say YES. And, once I do that things really do seem to fall into place. What do I mean by commit? I mean going after the things in my life that are important to me just by simply DECIDING to do so. It may mean registering for a course, signing up for a marathon, booking tickets for a vacation, or conducting a new workshop--but you'll see that for all of these things one simple thing is required: ACTION. I need to say "yes" and then follow through with the details (like actually registering, making a phone call, posting a brochure up, etc.). It's almost a formula:
DECIDE + COMMIT + TAKE ACTION = ACCOUNTABILITY & FOLLOW THROUGH which leads to HAPPINESS & FULFILLMENT

What I also know is that going after the things that I want won't always be easy. It might mean waking up at 6 am to fit that run in, having to ask for help, saying NO more, or whatever my challenge in the moment might be, but in the end it will be worth it because I will be living my life and moving forward. What do you need to decide just to say "yes" to? What action can you take to increase your commitment? Do it!

Dream Big. Imagine. Be Inspired.
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Commitment

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one fact, one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans. That the moment one definitely commits oneself then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issue from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance that no man could ever have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now."
-Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

I had to get this up and I'll write more tomorrow on the significance of the above words in my own life.

Dream big. Imagine. Be inspired.
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Are You Kidding Me???

Don't oversleep. Don't oversleep? Are you kidding me? This fortune was clearly not meant for anyone in our household as sleep is a precious commodity around here. Our days end somewhere around 10-11pm and can start anywhere from 5:30-7:00 am. Once upon a time I actually enjoyed getting up at 5:30am to start my day with a good dose of healthy exercise but it was summer and I was younger and I could take a nap in the afternoon if I needed to. Things are a little different now!

I'm all for having a productive day tomorrow--there are still boxes to unpack, recycling to drop off, toy baskets to organize, workshops to plan, and despite the hours I'm awake during the day, there still never seems to be enough time. At least, that's the perspective that I'm in at the moment. But is that really true? If I'm honest with myself, the answer would be "No, of course there's enough time". The question I need to ask myself is "What needs my focused attention right now?" which reminds me of a quote I saw the other day:

That which matters the most should never give way to that which matters the least.

How true is that? So, even though there are a million "things" that need to get done around here I'm probably going to take Jake swimming or to the park to run and play and then we might celebrate our day by sharing a yummy steamed milk (his favorite). The boxes will be there for another day but who knows, maybe Jake will have a memory of his day tomorrow that will last him a lifetime.
(By the way, I've tried to get this section to match the font size in the above section about a million times but it won't publish correctly, any ideas???)

Dream big. Imagine. Be inspired.
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An inspiring reminder about friendships

My mother-in-law forwarded me a link to the short video below (thank you!)--if you have 5 minutes it's well worth viewing. Author Kelly Corrigan wrote this moving essay about women's remarkable capacity to support each other, to laugh together, and to endure.


I'm in my early 30's (can I say that if I'm 34?) and haven't yet had to go through some of the experiences Kelly Corrigan spoke about yet I found myself teary eyed at the end of her reading. I identified with so much of it and could imagine the rest. I find myself at a point in my life where true friendships are deeply cherished and I long to connect more with my best friends and make new ones. Lots of things make that difficult--time, geography, careers, kids, schedules, vacation time, money, etc. I'm in this weird stage in life where I've lost touch with my university friends, have moved cities & provinces to move forward in my own life and wept and hugged friends goodbye as they've moved away to go live theirs.

Girlfriends have always been like air to me--a necessity. Yet, as I juggle the priorities in my life nurturing my friendships seems to be something on my "to do" list and I can never quite seem to find enough time which is just NOT ok with me anymore. Because at the end of the day my girlfriends will be there with me in the good times and celebrations and will also help get me through the hard, sad, scary moments that I know will be in my future (and just for the record my husband is not exactly chopped liver but this post is about girlfriends not husbands).

I dream of a girls weekend away with good food, great wine, late nights, long walks, and tons of giggles. I know if I can dream it I can create it and that will make it become a reality and something to really look forward to.

What do you need to do to strengthen your friendships? Do you think you "create" friendships or do friendships just "happen"? Thoughts?

Dream big. Imagine. Be inspired.
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Is it Time To Renovate?

It's very weird to have our house go from this...

to this in a matter of 24 hours. The above photos were taken before we took possession of our house and so it's not our stuff but it gives you a good idea of what it looked like. The photos below were taken on Saturday.
As you can see, we're doing a massive renovation of our house. Both the main floor and basement are being gutted and essentially we're redoing everything. It's a big job. What's interesting for me is how this renovation is serving as a metaphor for my own life. It's made me think about my "foundation" and "bones" and also what needs to be updated on the inside. What have I outgrown? What was useful at one point and now doesn't serve a purpose? This means consciously paying attention to things like my habits, routines, things I say to myself, my story if you will. Just because that's the way I am/was doesn't mean I need to stay that way. I can choose to change. I can choose to renovate my life--keep what I like and ditch the rest.

I saw a quote the other day that I liked--it went something like this "The purpose of life isn't to find yourself, it's to create yourself everyday" or something along those lines. This links in perfectly with my "renovation metaphor"--what do I want to create for myself today? What do you want to create for yourself? How would life be better if you did or didn't have something? Who would you get to be?

Dream big. Imagine. Be inspired.
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Pure and utter chaos!

This is the state of the basement of the house we just moved into on the weekend-craziness. We're about to start renovating the house we just bought 4 months ago with a cool company called Rectangle that's based here in Calgary. I have to keep telling myself that this will all be worth it in the end. And that means taking it all in stride that we'll be moving again in 5 1/2 months with a 2 year old and a brand new baby.
Jake was an absolute star throughout this whole move and to say that I was a proud mama would be an understatement. He rocked! Today is about getting rid of the chaos and getting a bit more organized, seeing our midwife, meeting with our contractor, and trying not to eat ice cream and hot fudge sauce for a snack.

Dream Big. Imagine. Be Inspired.
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Where'd the last 2 months go???

Wow! I'm not too sure how to start this blog off after taking another big break. Where did the last two months go anyways? They seemed to spin by in a whirlwind around here. Combine being pregnant, Christmas, planning a massive renovation on our home, trying to find a new place to live and that about explains what I've been up to! That and enjoying all of the awesome things winter brings-like taking my 19 month old tobogganing!

I've also had to figure out a few things--like why am I writing this blog and who am I writing to anyways? A) Clients B) Family C) Friends or D) All of the above
What I've finally decided is that I'm writing this blog for me--it's about my life and my experiences. That means it's going to be about being an entrepreneur AND a stay at home mom, it's going to be about challenges I face and successes I experience. It's also about what I'm learning along the way in this awesome adventure called life.

Dream Big. Imagine. Be Inspired.
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