3 Wishes for a Happier Year of 2008

As a listaholic, it is extremely difficult not to make any at all or keeping to only a few lists....I could never celebrate a New Year without making a "goals" list. I don't call it a Resolution because they never work for me. Instead, a goals forces me to obtain one or some of the goals I have set for myself that year. I have for many years, have written and update a list I called "100 things to do/succeed before I die" and I am proud to say that each and every year I have not failed to achieve at lease one goal from my list. I truly believe that in order to anyone to achieve anything in life, we must first make a goal or write it down so we are now tied to it. Then we need to choose one or more to put the whole process in motion. Without first writing the goal down, it is as good as gone. Also being the queen of procrastination, I will attest to it that it does work!!! If you want to start reaching your goals...do it!!! If I can do it, there is not reason why you can't!!!!

Here are some of the things that I have achieved on my 100 list:

** Open and run a business....I am now a pretty successful realtor in Calgary.

** Learned to play golf.

** Start a family...I now have 3 wonderful little monkeez

** Learn to drive a standard car...It was difficult but I did it!!! Especially on those hilly roads in Vancouver, BC

** Take singing lessons...and I learned a lot ... thanks to my singing instructor

** Join a Choir..I am now with a wonderful bunch of people at Second Chants!!! Check out our performance at the end of May this Year !

** Buy a bigger home for the family...not an easy one but I did it...finally last year (one of my last year's goals)

** Lose 30lbs...it took me 4 months but I did it!!!

** Meditate every day....it does wonders

** Learn Yoga...I love it and want to get back doing it.

** Make amends with family and learn to forigve my father...Have done the best that I can...still on the works.

Here are my 3 wishes for this New Years:

** The world is not just about you and me...but in order this world to work..it needs to be about "community". We can't just go home and shut the door and not care...by not caring for your fellow human beings you are destroying a future for your children. So, learn to take care of everyone in your community and teach your children the same. This world WILL be a better place to live.

** List, List, List!!!! Making lists are fabulous therapy!!!! (Believe it or not). Better than paying high priced psychiatrists!!! It will help you sort your thoughts and find better solutions. Try it!!!

** Moral of one of the VeggieTales episodes....Treat your friends the way you want to be treated. We always complain that so and so has treated us bad...we need to also consider how we talk about others and how we treat others..especially those who are dear to our heart!

Have a Happy and Joyous year in 2008!!!

I would love for anyone to share their lists with me...do you have a resolution list? A goals list? A lifelong list? a Wishlist? I believe wishlists are vEEEEEEERy important...hehehe especially passing it on to a loved one at Christmas!!! At least you are guaranteed to get something you want :o)

Also, pictures are worth a thousand words...starting today, I am going to end each of my blogs a with photo of my day.

3 to Die For Desserts

** Creme Brulee - worth every pound gained!
** Barefoot Contessa's Coconut cupcakes
** Anything related to chocolate mousse!


What are some of your yummiest desserts? Share with me!

3 Reasons to Love Yourself First

** to learn to love others, you must learn to love yourself first
** Because you deserve it
** So you can pass this love on to your children

3 Movies seen in the last 3 days

** Transformers -- well done...worth watching
** Haunted Mansion -- pretty basic horror mansion storyline.
** Cinderella -- still a good classic children's story.

What are you favourite movies? Share with me!

3 Lists to make for the New Year

** Revised list of 100 things to do or see before I die.
** Birthday/Christmas List
** List of true and tried recipes for an heirloom album.

What are some lists you would like to create? Share with me!

Top 5 Christmas Activities

Happy Holiday Season! Every year I had great intentions to spend more time with my family and less money on holiday gifts during this festive season but every year I always succumb to the "commercialization" of it. However, this year, I made it my goal and I am happy to say that I have achieved it!!!! We all get caught up in the commercialization web of spending money for our loved ones and buying things they "want". This is what the big businesses want you to believe....what we really need to do is get back to the basics with Christmas. What does Christmas mean to you? For me, Christmas was a chance to touch base with all my family and friends near and far and a priority is to spend "quality" time with my kids, not buy them a toy on the "hot" toylist and leave them be. Toys don't mean anything when you don't spend the time to play with them. Christmas is also a time I like to give back to the community as well. If I had the power invested in me to make everyone achieve a warm, loving and happy Christmas I would..however, my powers are only limited and I can only help in ways that I can afford to. Every year our family make something yummy to deliver to those that are not as fortunate as some of us are. This year we will make something yummy to a women's shelter. I know it is not much...but it is important to not forget those that are spending this holiday season with sadness.

True happiness is not bought and having the latest Prada or Blackberry or Playstation, instead it is treasuring what we already have!!!

From our Family to yours....Merry Christmas


IMG_0859
Originally uploaded by monchicheez

Making and decorating Gingerbread Train

Colouring Christmas Pictures

Trimming the Tree














Christmas Eve Dinner Hot Pot Style



Family Christmas Picture

Being Thankful

Happy Holidays!

I love to scrapbook and I am in the process of doing a "Thankful" book for my family. I thought I would share this with all of you. I hope that each and everyone of you will sit back and think for a moment during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season to think about all those wonderful things and people we are thankful for making our lives so beautiful.

My Thanks album:

1. I am thankful for my family. Family means we are always cared for and are never alone.
2. I am thankful for Daniel, he is my best friend and my soul mate. Together we share our goals and dreams.
3. I am thankful for my children for their laughter and for their smiles and most of all for their unconditional love. I am so thankful we have them.
4. I am thankful for love, for the love of my partner and for the love of my children.
5. I am thankful for the life that I am leading. For life, that ended up being so very different from any life that I thought I was going to lead. For a life that is so much greater than I could have ever imagined.
6. I am thankful for my friends, those I see everyday and for the friends I rarely see but love so deeply.

5 Quotes worthwhile sharing....

1. Settle with the past, Engage in the present, Believe in the future. Because life is a voyage that's homeward bound.

2. Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breaths away.

3. If you want your dreams to come true....DON'T oversleep!

4. Life is like a box of chocolates.....PRICELESS

5. To bring happiness to others, we must be happiness. - Thich Nhat Hanh

My 5 Thoughts of the Day

1. Why is it that people only "care and love " more during the holiday season? Why can't people be more caring throughout the year?

2. Why have people in this world become so selfish and apathetic?

3. Where do birds go when they fly south? Are there specific destinations for different types of birds?

4. Why do we all want to keep up with the Jones? Who are the "real" Jones?

5. How does Santa Claus know where all the little boys and girls live? What if they move before Christmas?

My Promises to My Children

I am obsessed with making lists…it all started with simple grocery lists and now it has become a life obsession with me. We all need lists in this world!!! To start off, I want to share a list I have made to my children

1. I will take care of you the best that I can.

2. I will not take out my frustrations, fear, anger on you.

3. I will not yell at you when you do something wrong.

4. I will always put you first in my life.

5. I will provide you with all your needs the best that I can.

6. I will instill in you confidence, honesty, compassion, generosity and kindness.

7. I will not lay my hands on you when you do something wrong.

8. I will be patient, caring and most of all, LOVING to you.

9. I will not rush you to grow up.

10. I will allow you space to be whom you want to be.

11. I will teach you to be environmental and earth-friendly.

12. I will show you how to be patient and loving.

13. I will respect and honor your decisions.

14. I will listen to your needs and concerns.

15. I will not push my agenda & goals on you.