What should I wear???

I live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, don't cha know?

And today, I am participating in this wonderfully cool event for Ottawa Bloggers:

Only A&J from Please Pick Up your socks would be cool enough to host this type of event.

What a neat way to meet other local bloggers - I really only know a few locals suffering from this addiction! I cannot wait to meet some more!

At most parties, I have a bit of fear regarding mingling - ya, ya, I know, I love to talk and in most respects I am a classic Type A Extrovert - but the idle chit-chat that occurs when first meeting someone, ya, well, not my strong point. I tend to find a comfortable subject and bludgeon it to death! Not always the best first impression!

Oh! I so want them all to like me and accept me into the Ottawa Blogging Community - to call me one of their own......ahhhhhh......to only hope!

I hope that I do not dwell too much on why I blog, or the fact that I have a 5 year old, a 4 year old and an almost 2 year old Princess Diva. Or that I dwell on all the cute things they say and do! You know how some moms can go on and on...Ya, I have the tendency to do that too! I also love talking about my family and all the fun we have together. I hope they ask me about my job - oh, I love my job and talk lots about that...as my hubby rolls his eyes! Seriously, I count myself lucky to find a job that allows me to work outside the home, but still be a full-time SAHM. Or maybe we can chat about my love of soccer, my new fitness regiment or my recent weight loss and how I lost a toddler? Maybe I will find a new scrapbooking pal? Wonder if anyone else did the NaBloPoMO? Oh! I hope I do not dwell on this, or rant about this, or complain about this, or brag too much about this....

I am getting so excited!!! This Virtual Christmas Party is going to be GREAT! Run, grab a mug of eggnog, cozy up to your computer screen and participate in the fun!

I encourage you all to click on over and meet a few of my fellow Ottawa Bloggers. We are pretty nice, for the most part, and a fun group of bloggers.

You do not have to be from Ottawa, to enjoy the musings of Ottawa-bloggers!

A month Early

Christmas may come early on The Fringe!

Yep. The Fringe has been nominated for 2 awards, and now, it is up to you, kind readers, to vote.

The first round of voting will conclude on November 28. So, please go and vote now!

The second round of voting will narrow the list of nominees in each category down to the top 5 from the first round of voting.


So, please click click below to vote for The Fringe - your click could get me into the second round of voting. And that would be WAY COOL and would be an AWESOME early Christmas gift!

Best Family Blog

Best Blog

You do not have to have a blog, nor do you have to be Canadian to vote. So, please vote!

A proud Canadian

It’s that time of year again. The Canadian Blog Awards are now accepting nominations of your favourite blogs and bloggers.

Well, The Fringe is probably not of the calibre they are looking for - but I encourage you to visit the following Canadian blogs and feel free to nominate any of them for some Canadian blogging awards, eh!

Mighty Morphin Mama - OK, if I could meet only one of my new bloggy-friends, it would be Mighty Morphin Mama - I idolize her and her blogs ROCKS!

Lunatic Fringe - She is desperate to win a popularity contest of ANY sort in her lifetime.

Don Mills Diva - The Diva and I met on-line when we were both first starting to blog. Her stories about her son, her journey as a mom and inspire me to find my inner-diva!

Lunatic Fringe - She is desperately seeking attention - she is learning how to throw temper tantrums from her 20 month diva - so, you better nominate her, or she may throw herself to the floor and start screaming!

Hella Stella - OK, a blog about a bulldog puppy, a brilliant musician, and a fun-no-kids-yet-life...I am living vicariously through Stella's wonderful stories, and just loving it!

Lunatic Fringe - Anyone who had 3 kids in 38 months deserves a prize...being nominated for a Canadian blog award will do just fine!

Speilmoms Ramblings - Shay is one busy super mom, homeschooling her 4 children, running, and just enjoying life in beautiful BC.

Lunatic Fringe - This loony blogger is on a weight loss journey like no other - she has lost almost 35 pounds since September...all through a medically supervised liquid diet...she would certainly savour the sweet taste of victory if you nominate her!

The Daley Stamper - Karen is a sweetheart of a friend. She is also one of the most talented card-making and scrapbooking people I know. Her passion for stamping is so pure and I love seeing her newest projects - She would be a perfect candidate for the best crafty blog.

Lunatic Fringe - Life's short - live on the fringe and take a chance on a loony Canadian blogger who is totally addicted to blogging!

You have until November 22 to make your nominations!

And if you do happen to nominate The Fringe, well, I would be humbly-honoured!

Well, excuse me while I go update my profile on Blogger to include the personality traits of self-adoring, self promoting, narcissistic, desperate to win something, soup-box preacher, and totally loony for a nomination!

OK - get - go nominate a deserving Canadian for a blogging award.

Edited to add - you do not need to be Canadian to nominate or vote...so, no excuses, for anyone! Now - GET!

Thursday Threesome

I have a threesome of things that I would like to brag about. My Thursday Threesome is about three things I am super proud of right now!

1) Diana at Forgetfulone was so kind as to recently present me with a wonderful award. Diane writes a wonderful blog full of insight, honesty and informative tidbits and inspiring scrapbook accomplishments that have all made me a regular reader and bloggy-friend.


I am so happy that my posts make her smile, and not run away screaming or even worse, shake her head in disbelief! In all seriousness, I am so honoured that she would present me with this award. Thank you Diana!

2) Nissa at Nissa's Niceties presented me with a great award and a wonderful compliment when describing the Lunatic Fringe. I blushed when I read it!



The rules that come with this award are:

1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.
3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that presented her/him with the award.
4. The award winner and one who has given the prize have to show the link “Arte y pico” blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. Show these rules.

So I'm passing this award on to:



Little Elvis' mom at Pregnantly Plump. I totally love her blog: she and I seem to have so much in common, starting with our equally adorable 18 month olds! Her wonderful photo and video montages ROCK! Go check her out!

Kathryn at Seeking Sanity is one amazing mom and blogger. Her honesty, sense of being and wit draw you into every post. It is like you are watching and enjoying life, right there beside her, her hubby and her three gorgeous little boys!

Amanda at Shamelessly Sassy is, well, sassy, brilliant, witty, edgy and simply wonderful!

Mishelle at Secret Agent Mama is a brilliant photographer - I would so buy a coffee book of her photos! She ROCKS!

Alf at I Shot a Man in Reno knocks my socks off - every post is funny and true - where else can you get grass-growing update photos and awesome lessons of life in the great west? Alf keeps me in stitches and while we could have played on the same soccer pitch in high school, I am sure she was too cool to hang out with the likes of me!

3) Finally, I am proud of a project I just finished. We are attending wedding of the century in 9 days and for weeks I agonized over what to give as a gift. I am sure I will get tons of blogging material leading up to, during and after this wedding, so I will not yet go into any details - but lets just say that with DJ being a ring bearer and the wedding being out of town, this wedding is costing us a fortune!

Normally I would not share a photo of upcoming wedding gift, but I am certain the bride is too busy and occupied to visit the Fringe. Plus, I want to show-off my handy-work!

I found a neat picture frame on sale (actually bought two so I could have one since the sale price was AMAZING! ) I inquired about the colour scheme and flowers for the wedding...then in a few days completed a small personalized cross-stitch for the bride and groom. I inserted it into the cool multi-picture frame and VOILA - home-made wedding gift!

I am quite proud of how it looks and I am proud that I only spent a third of what I figured a proper wedding gift would cost - I figure the time, effort and love that was placed in every stitch should increase the value!

Here is the finished product that I am very proud of...what do you think? Is it an acceptable wedding gift to give my hubby's cousin?





So, what three things are you proud of today? Take inventory - it makes you feel pretty good to brag a bit! Go for it!