Salut!

I am writing this post from Quebec where I have now lived for two weeks. I'm sorry to have abandoned you all for so long but the move while working full time and doing a major downsize was quite the .... experience.
Things are going well here. We are still settling in. A fair amount of unpacking and shopping needs to be done but we are fairly comfortable. I'm not suffering from any shock of moving to a French province or anything like that.
More to come...

Sunday Night Chit Chat - May 20/12

Reading?
I finished off "Remember me" by Christoper Pike this week. It was a book I read as a teenager and still really enjoyed it the second time around as an adult.
Now I'm reading

I have no idea where I got this book from. I'm only a few pages in so far so I'm not sure how I like it yet.

Watching?
I finished watching all 4 seasons of Felicity this week. What a crap ending! Now I'm catching up on different shows before I go to bed online. Last night I started watching the movie "Friends with Benefits". So far it is hilarious!

Listening to?
Today I danced around the kitchen to one of my old Jack Johnson CD's. LOVE his music.

Cooking/Baking?
I have no been very good about cooking lately but I'm trying to always make sure I pack a lunch to save money. Tonight I'll try to make up some salmon sandwiches for tomorrows lunch and then cook for the week tomorrow.

Happy you accomplished this week?
I made a lot of phone calls (see previous post) and sent off my passport renewal. I also had my niece over for a sleep over and finally got to spend some time with my cousins new baby. I love family time!

Looking forward to next week?
I look forward to crossing more things off my moving list. I'm hoping to get a lot of packing and cleaning done. Every week I look forward to spending time with my mom. She is my best friend and I love how much time we spend together. She is so helpful and always there for me.

Thankful for today?
Today I am thankful that my boss decided to give me the stat day! That means tomorrow will be a stressful day as I'll be the only technician but I'll be making double time and a half so in the end it should all be worth it :)


For more Sunday night chit chat visit here! :)

Busy Busy Busy

This week has been super busy for me. I worked 40 hours and between shifts I was sleeping, sorting and researching our move. Its been a lot to handle. I did however get a few things accomplished so that is good.

I sent off my passport for renewal. I'm really hoping it gets back in time because its my only photo ID (they gave me a certified copy) and I need it to get through the border. There is no passport office in my town so I had to go to an office where they verify everything and send it express post for you. Fingers crossed on that one.

I spent hours on the phone with both Canadian and USA customs and border patrol to make sure we have all our correct documents and to minimize any problems crossing over the border with two cats and a trailer full of stuff. It seem straight forward enough. I don't anticipate any problems if we follow their directions.

I looked into insurance coverage. Since we'll be traveling through the USA we want to make sure we have insurance in case something happens. Well to keep my insurance an extra month I have to pay for the entire month myself and that would be $320!! Eek, I think I usually pay $35ish monthly. So I made sure to thank my boss for supplying me with awesome coverage. For two weeks through Pacific Blue Cross it would be $84 for the two of us. Now BF is looking into what his new insurance covers and trying to get me added on right away to see if we can avoid the $84.

I went down to the Service BC center where they said my business name is still registered. Yay! I want to make a slight adjustment to the name though and want to find out if its only valid in BC and if I can keep it registered while I'm away. I'm a sole proprietor so apparently that may only make it valid in one province. So I got a number there to call the head office to ask more questions.

Moving is stressful!!!

I did however make time to have a sleepover with my niece. We stayed up late eating pizza and hanging out. The next day we took the bus downtown where we ate a whole bunch of new foods at one of my favorite Mexican place. She tried her first margarita (virgin as she is 10) and loved it. She told me she wants to travel when she is older. She wants to learn new languages and travel the world. I told her the few Spanish words I knew and she promptly put them to use in the restaurant and was delighted when people responded.

We checked out a book store where we both found a great book to purchase. When I was at the counter paying I realized I had meant to go to the book store next door. Oops, but everything happens for a reason. I've been trying to sell of a bunch of my books and haven't been able to find a place that buys as well as trades. This store buys!!! So I will have to do another good sort and then haul them down there to see if they are interested in any.

Then we went down to the waterfront and strolled along with icecream cones. Mine made me sick but it was fun at the time. Then we took the bus to meet up with my mom and then went to her place for dinner. My cousin was there visiting my Uncle with her new baby. It was awesome.

Today I'm hoping to pick up something super cool that I found online. I will show you guys later on what I mean. We will also stop by the fabric store and maybe have some more Mom and daughter time. I also need to clean up this pig sty at some point.

It never ends :)

 

The Tiny Details

Moving is so much work! I will be leaving BC near the end of June to move to Quebec. There are just so many tiny details to go through. BF and I are forming a list so that we stop fretting so much and have a plan of action. This week I sent my passport off for renewal, he booked a trailer for hauling a few choice items and we are working out all the other details.
We are planning to just keep things we really wont part with and this should all fit in a small trailer. The plan is to drive the the USA to save some money on gas and enjoy a few things along the way. We will sleep in a tent and our two little furmen will sleep in the truck. Its going to be a long drive but I want the piece of mind knowing my most prized items, like a handmade items from my grandparents, will be safely tucked away behind us on the road.
This week I need to contact border patrol to make sure I have all documentation for the furmen and to make sure we don't have a problem getting in and out with all our things.We are also looking into insurance for while we are in the states. I asked yesterday at work if my boss would consider extending my benefits a month or two and he said no problem if I pay his portion and mine. Well.. that would be $320. Eek! We'll figure out an alternative. I also need to keep packing and putting things in my sell/donate piles.
There are so many things to do. Most importantly is forming a list with BF.
It will all be worth it in the end :)

Happy Mothers Day to all the Furmama's out there!

The love between a person and their furbabies is indescribable. My two kittens are my children and they're my whole world. They bring so much to my life and I love them endlessly. This is a shout out to all the furmama's out there. ;)

Chipotle and Pepper - taken last Halloween.

Locked Out

Sorry for the lack of posts. I have uber busy lately and then the worst thing happened.... I forgot my blog password. Nooooooooo!! Took awhile for blogger and google to help me out with that but now I'm all good. I guess autologins can backfire on you, lol.
Can't wait to update you all on what I've been up to :)

Sunday Night Chit Chat 04.15.2012

Ahahaha Just Had To Share This FB Beauty

Reading?
 I am currently reading The Confession by John Grisham. He is my favorite author and I'm slowly collecting all of his books. This one is great so far. Once I'm finished I'll check out the movie version


Watching?
I really need to catch up on Survivor and some of my other reality TV. Right now the Apprentice is on but I'm not really watching. 


Listening to?

I've taken a big liking to my old Jack Johnson CD's lately. Its a wonderful way to start the morning off. 

Cooking/Baking?
Today I'm not cooking at all. I had a late lunch with a friend whose birthday party I missed. Since then I've just been snacking on fruit and veggies.


Happy you accomplished this week?
I set up an appointment to have my consultation for having my wisdom teeth (all 4) removed by an oral surgeon. Eek! Not something I want to do but I know I need to do it.
I also pulled out my sewing machine and had my uncle help me get it set up.
I gave notice at work and announced officially that I am moving to Quebec.
               
Looking forward to next week?
I am looking forward to getting my cavity filled tomorrow and knowing that I've been so much better about taking care of my teeth so there is only one small filling to do.

All the girls from work are meeting up for appetizers and drinks tomorrow night. I am REALLY looking forward to that.

Thankful for today?
Today I am thankful for a mother who always helps me out when I'm in need with no hesitation. I love you Mom!        

Want to read more Sunday Night Chit Chat... head on over here :)

Its Official

I gave notice at work! Not an exact date but I told him I'll be leaving some time in June. He was very supportive and told me I'll always have a place there. Aw! Best boss ever! Now I am slowly telling all of my amazing coworkers. They all very sad to go but are already dreaming up the epic goodbye party I will. The last one was legendary. Imagine people being carried out by their spouses and drunk happy tears everywhere. Now that is a good time in my books :)

This time I'll leave my wallet at home and bring a designated amount of cash though. Drunk ATM visits are the worst for your financial picture.

Sell Everything!

Today I logged on to talk to BF online via video chat. He told me he had a great idea! Screw all the calculating the cheapest way to move our things. Just sell everything, pack two check ins each and pay extra to fly with our two kittens.

WTF!!! I had no idea that I was so attached to my things! Just him suggesting it made me break into tears. I have slowly adjusting to selling almost all of my furniture except a few select pieces and parting with a lot of things. To sell everything is just plain not okay with me.

There is my book collection that I love and have slowly acquired and refined over time. My crafting stuff that has run me a pretty penny and could also turn out a few bucks once I move. My keepsakes such as handmade items from my grandparents, yearbooks and such. My select few home decor items. Last but not least my every day items and clothing. Certain kitchen items. I told BF I could possibly get down to 20 boxes.

After taking a good look around I could bear to part with quite a lot but not enough to avoid trying to move some things beyond airplane check in. BF and I are researching other options including making sure our Pathfinder is up to snuff and buying a cheap trailer or towable camper.

So I have a few questions for you....

1) Could you sell everything at a seconds notice and just pack a few suitcases?

2) What item(s) would you not be able to part with?

3) Any affordable ideas on moving my lovely things?

Operation : Prepare to Move

Well I've basically made the decision that I'm moving. There is tiny little 1% of me that feels hesitant but I'm assuming this is normal. BF and I viewed two apartments when I was visiting Quebec and have decided on one that we are going to rent. This means I'll be moving across Canada this summer. Quite a big commitment and challenge for me but I've decided to run with it.

I realize that its going to be a struggle with the language barrier but its something I know I can overcome. The first step is to sign up for a free online Rosetta Stone French class. I've also been looking at French picture dictionaries and carrying around a pocket sized phrase book. Once I move I know I will be surrounded by French speaking people so I need to start now. 

I would really like to be able to bring in some income from home for the first few months as I adjust to my new surroundings. I've been digging through my craft room to come up some ideas. I used to design jewelry, design little trinkets and do rice inscriptions. I used to make a few good bucks off it so its something I'm interested in starting up again. 

Last night my uncle helped me set my ancient Viking sewing machine. Everything looked in working condition still and he said he would make sure it was in top notch order before I move. Right now I'm just trying to remember how use all the settings and sew in a straight line. Its a little frustrating at times but everyone has got to start somewhere. I know once I get back into things I'll soon be loving it again.

I've also considered doing some childminding on the side or taking calls from home. Does anyone have any other suggestions?