Category Archives: About Me

Why board games are for everyone

So my husband and I are into board games. He is a lot more into board games then I am. Really, he is more into board games then most people. And he wins a lot of the time. It makes playing games with him tiresome sometimes. So when events happen and I can play with other people, it’s great! Friends of ours are celebrating International Table Top day, a day to play “table top” games, by inviting people over for the weekend to play board games. Really, this was supposed to happen next weekend but people were busy. I got to meet new people, play games and have a lot of fun. And really, that’s what board games are all about. People. It’s a time for people to interact with each other. So in this world where people are so absorbed by social media and apps and texting and all that, it’s really good to take time and turn all that off to look at people face to face and have fun with them. It is our dream one day to open a board game cafe. A place where people can come and play games. No electronic games aloud. A place where people can interact with each other. A place where people can feel like they are a part of something and that they are no longer alone. We are a social race. Humans can only survive in a group. Studies show that people go insane if they are alone too long. So I encourage everyone, go out and by a board game. I recommend Ticket to Ride as a good starter game. Catan is also a good one. Play it with everyone you know. They ask for a recommendation for your next game. It’s amazing how it can bring people together. I look forward to hearing how much you enjoy it too.

Life… Mine or Theirs

Sometimes being a parent is fun. Sometimes it’s a struggle. It is always rewarding, even if it doesn’t feel like it. And sometimes, it sucks the life out of you. I love my kids so much. I do so much for them, and if I were to change anything, it would be to do more for them. The thing is, I can only do so much. So if I do more for them, it means I do less for me. I keep telling myself that there will be time latter to do all those things that I want to do. Just wait until the kids are a bit older and then I can work on that show, or go to that event and meet that person, or learn how to fly a helicopter (really, I think it’s the next thing on my “want to learn how to do” list). But I just can’t help the feeling of missing out on something. This weekend, there is an event going on in Vancouver that I would love to go to. Here is the nerd in me coming out big time. I love cosplay. At the Vancouver Fan Expo there are classes on how to make armour, how to do cosplay on a budget, and many more. Also, you get to see all the fantastic costumes. You also get to go in costume, and no one thinks you are strange. They actually think you are cool! That’s amazing. There are also three people who are going to be there who I would like to meet: William Shatner, Carrie Fisher, and Brent Spiner. However, my little baby girl is turning one year old. So I have planed a birthday party for her on the one day that all these people are going to be in Vancouver. So I can’t go. I could cancel the party and take her with me and celebrate her birthday at the Fan Expo. But then I would have to let other people down who are really looking forward to this Teddy Bear Picnic. And really, would I be able to live with myself if I didn’t have a party for my precious little bundle? I don’t know. Maybe in a few years I’ll know. But not now. And she won’t remember it. She really doesn’t care right now. All she cares about is that mommy and daddy love her. So, is giving up your life worth it? I know it is. It’s just, when you are in the moment, it feels like you are dying so your children can live.

Anyway, I have a question for William Shatner, Carrie Fisher and Brent Spiner. What, in your life, have you given up for others who are important to you? And was it worth it?

Salad in a Jar

I was introduced to this fantastic idea… making your weeks worth of salads in one day. Pack them as tight as you can in a jar to keep them fresh. You have to layer them in a particular way…

  1. dressing
  2. veggies that don’t absorb moisture (ie: cherry tomatoes, carrots, snap pees)
  3. greens. Start with celery or cucumbers and finish with your lettuce.
  4. add nuts on top if you like.

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Cook up some chicken or some egg and add when ready to eat it. They can keep in the fridge for up to two weeks! Use wide mouth jars for ease of packing everything in tightly. I made six of these for some friends who are having a had time finding time to make food lately. It only took me an hour. But I’m slow at chopping.

What I think of John Lennon’s “Imagine”

I’m going to start by saying that I really do like the idea of peace and equality for all people. I assume that’s what John Lennon was going for. But the world he presents is rather flawed. Here’s why:

“Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky”

Okay, I have to stop this already. No Heaven or Hell. So life just is. We are born and we die. That’s it. Seems really depressing if you ask me. No Heaven of Hell gives us a life with no hope. Nothing to live for. That’s sad.

“Imagine all the people
Living for today…”

If you live only for today, with no thought of consequences, You might have a child before you are ready for one. You might end up in jail for something you thought was just some harmless fun. You can destroy your brain with too many drugs. You will destroy the planet you are living on by not caring what happens tomorrow. For our own survival, we need to live today for tomorrow.

“Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do”

You’re right. It’s not had to “imagine” no countries. It’s just impossible to actually accomplish. No countries would imply one of two things: 1) We would be a global “country”. No borders. All would be under one government. That’s a bit too much power if you ask me. 2) No government. That would be great. However, history has shown that people don’t really know how to do this. That’s why government was created in the first place.

“Nothing to kill or die for”

If you have nothing in your life worth dying for, you have a sad life. I think what he means is, no murder. That would be great. But that’s not what he wrote.

“And no religion too”

Again, this seems rather devoid of hope. Also, lack of diversity. Everyone would be a drone without the ability to think for themselves.

“Imagine all the people
Living life in peace…”

Here is the one thing in this whole song that would be great. Peace. The problem is, you can’t just get rid of the things that make people fight. Love makes people fight. If you just get rid of the things that cause war and murder, you end up in a world just like in “The Giver”.

“You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one”

Assimilation is not the only way.

“Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can”

It’s called Socialism. Or Communism. It depends on how you want to look at it.

“No need for greed or hunger”

We already don’t have a “need” for greed or hunger. There is enough food for the whole world right now. It just can’t get to all people due to lack of roads, other’s taking it, or people not knowing that it should be given to others.

“A brotherhood of man”

It’s called a monastery.

“Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world…”

Okay, so there is a second thing that would be nice. But really, Canada is trying to share it’s land. You can buy large bits of property up north for… NOTHING.  No one wants it.

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one

Please people, think.

Mothers Day Card Fundraiser

So, there are a lot of people who go to my church. That’s a good thing. The bad thing is that the building is very small. It’s also seen better days. So they decided to start planing for a new building. That’s a good thing. The bad thing is that new buildings cost a lot. So I’m doing a fundraiser for my church. That’s a good thing. I can’t think of a bad thing in that…

Mother’s Day cards, by donation. The suggested donation is $5 with 50% going to the church for a new building. I know it doesn’t seem like much but every little bit helps. And I think we have a sponsor who will match all the donations to the church. So really, you give a little, twice gets given, and you get a card for your mom too!

Here is one of the cards I’ve done so far. If you would like something more specific, just ask. I might be able to do something for you.

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I will try and post more cards as I make them. You can e-mail me at lora-lynne@frewing.ca with any questions, purchases, or whatever you can think of in regards to my cards. Thank you all. Have a great Mother’s day! (It’s May 11th for those of you who don’t know).

A New Member

So, I haven’t been posting anything for a while and I thought I would share with you the reason why…

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I love having another baby in the house. She is wonderful. After two weeks of life, I can already see her getting bigger. Her big brother just wants to hold her all day, and her big sister gives her kisses any chance she gets. I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful family.

How I joined Stampin’ Up!

How did I become a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator? I paid $125 for the starter kit and signed up. That was it…

Okay, why did I become a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator? That’s a bit longer of an answer. I had been doing paper crafting for a long time. So I already knew what the stores carried and I was already a fan of stamps.

One day I was invited to go to a Stampin’ Up! open house. This was my fist exposure to Stampin’ Up! The demonstrator putting on the open house (soon to be my up-line) had so many wonderful cards out on display. I looked at them all to see how she had made them and was amazed at how many different uses one stamp could have. I was a big copy cat at the time, so I tried to absorb everything that I could so I could try it at home with what I had.

Then I saw this one card that was made with the same colour ink, paper and ribbon. I remember thinking, “Yeah right. Where did she find all that stuff to match?” My friend who had brought me looked at me and said, “That’s the joy of Stampin’ Up! Everything matches.”

I bought my first stamp set at that open house. My friend booked a party, and of course I went to it.

My soon to be up-line showed us so many great ideas and techniques. I had my baby boy with me (he was still nursing at the time) but I still had enough time to get all the cards made. They were so easy and fun. But the thing that got my attention this time was the cleaning pad. “Wow,” I thought. “I wouldn’t have to take all my stamps out to the kitchen to clean them in the sink any more. That’s amazing. It would save so much time and do such a better job. And I would have to wait for the stamps to dry.” But unfortunately, I didn’t have the money to spend on things I didn’t need for immediate survival. Somehow, food always seems to take top priority.

But I didn’t stop thinking about it.

Now, another thing you must know about me is that I grew up with a mom who sold Avon. As a young child, I would help her deliver fliers to the neighbours and watch as she put her name on the back of catalogues. I had so much fun helping her with whatever I could. As I grew up, I often thought about starting my own little home based business, just like my mom. But I’m not really an Avon lady, and Tupperware just didn’t seem to be my thing. There were lots of other companies that I looked into, but time after time they just didn’t seem to fit my personality.

So now I’ve been to two things involving Stampin’ Up! and I can’t get it out of my head. “What if I sold Stampin’ Up!? Could I do it? I love the product, and the idea.” Almost a year later I e-mailed the lovely demonstrator I had met only twice, and signed up. I thought I would give it a try.

I still remember writing my name and contact info on the back of that fist pack of catalogues. Every time I get new catalogues in, I smile as I pull out my pen.

Who am I?

I never really know what to tell people when they say, “So tell me a bit about you.” I’m left with questions like, “What do you want to know? Things like I can put both of my feet behind my head, or things like I graduated University with a Major in Drama and a minor in Mathematics?”

“Or do you want to know more of the family things, like I’m married and have almost three kids?” I’m pregnant at the moment. I have a month and a half left to go. I’m really ready for this child to be born.

Usually when people see that I’m pregnant they go into the questions, “How far along are you? Is it a boy or a girl? Is this your first?” My answer, “I don’t really know how far along I am, I’m not one of those people who keeps track. Yes it’s a boy or a girl. No this is not my first and don’t look at me like that, I’m older then you think I am. I’m just a very small person.”

So, in summery, I am a wife, a mother, a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, a math tutor, a light designer, a photographer, and when I have a moment, I have a retail job too.