Friday, October 31, 2014

101 in 1001: 30 day update

The first 30 days of my 1001 day plan have come and gone. I completed a number of tasks, got started on some, and realized I need to work harder on others. 

Swiss Chalet SauceI'm maintaining the Trim Healthy Mama (THM) food plan on a daily basis for the most part. I did "cheat" a couple of times this month - most enjoyably with a soup bowl of Swiss Chalet sauce to go with my fries, and with a slice of Bailey's Irish Cream cheesecake. The best part of the plan though is that I can start over every 3 hours. I'm able to maintain my weight, and continue to lose weight and inches.


This past Spring I bought a lot of plants for my front yard. I decided to put in lavender, rosemary, mint, and oregano so that I would have something scented, and edible! This month I cut them, dried them in the oven, and put them in jars. This was something new for me so I was rather pleased with myself.

I'll share more about some of my other goals in the coming weeks.

What about you? What have you done in the last 30 days to work towards your goals?



Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Weekly items for 101 in 1001: Skin Care routine


Skin care routine weekly
I didn't understand the importance of a skin care routine growing up. My sister sold Arbonne and now sells Avon and has better educated me on this topic! I use the following products on a hit and miss basis, I figure I won't make time for it daily but I can at least aim for weekly. 

Products I love:
Avon skin so soft fresh smooth silky stay shave gel - I like that this blue gel stays on my skin until I shave it off, it doesn't drip off like foam does.

Avon Anew Reversalist creams - night, day, eye, and eye veil. The eye veil is my favourite as it provides a gentle veil under the eye that reduces dark shadows.

Ekos creamy hand balm, Cacau - This pulp hand cream provides 36-hour moisturisation for your skin, leaving it delicately perfumed.

Ekos leg and foot cream, Cacau - Enriched with cocoa butter, this leg and foot care cream provides 30-hour moisturisation for dry areas, imparting a delicate perfume.

Ekos body butter scrub, Cacau - This exfoliating butter enriched with cocoa butter, sugar and plant oils removes dead skin cells. Your skin is left delicately perfumed.

What are your favourite skin care products?

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Daily items for 101 in 1001

Some of the items on my 101 in 1001 list are one-timers, some are yearly, quarterly, monthly, or weekly. Here are my daily ones.


Spiritual: Daily Bible reading
Spiritual: Daily prayer





Health: Maintain THM food plan daily
Health: Exercise 30 min daily

Monday, September 29, 2014

101 in 1001 Challenge


Back in 2005 I heard about the "101 in 1001" challenge. It's essentially setting 101 goals to accomplish in 1001 days, which is roughly 2.75 years. I completed most of my goals in the 1001 days between August 29, 2005 and May 26, 2008. 

I'm really glad that I took on the challenge then because one of the most significant goals I set was to interview my grandparents about their family history. My grandfather was later diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia and has been in a long term care facility since January 2011. I am so thankful that I was able to spend time with him and capture our interviews on tape.

I also made a "kindred spirit" friend through investigating Freecycle - my goal of decluttering accomplished, I was able to add a friendship with a wonderful family!

I've decided to take on the challenge again. Between October 1, 2014 and June 28, 2017 I hope to accomplish 101 things. I'll be sharing the list and keeping you updated so check back!

Monday, April 28, 2014

It's never too late for Easter bonnets


There's something you might not know about me. In fact, even if you know me in real life, unless you are a Facebook friend who tracks my photos carefully, you might have missed something.

I think my interest in headcovering came early, as I recall loving the look of Easter bonnets and wishing I could wear one. In early 2013, my sister shared with our sister-in-law and I how she had felt led to begin covering. My sister-in-law researched it and approached her pastor about it and began covering in summer 2013.

As I considered 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, I felt that this was something that I too wanted to do. I talked to my husband about it, but he was hesitant because he was concerned that people would think that he was in some way domineering. He is far from it, and is hugely supportive of me and the journey God has been taking me on. I waited and began pointing out the very few women I noticed at church who covered. At a church of 500+ I think I spotted maybe five women who wore anything from an African style head wrap, to a bandana.

I began wearing scarves so that I would have something handy should I feel led to cover during a service. In September 2013 we attended a conference at the church and during the worship I felt to kneel and pull the scarf over my head. I immediately felt such a deep sense of connection with God's presence, like I was enclosed in an intimate space with Him. After this my husband told me I could go ahead and cover if I wanted to.

I started out wearing small hats, as it seemed like a subtler way to go. People glanced briefly at them but didn't say anything. Then one week I wore a scarf wrapped around my head - acquaintances didn't know what to make of it! One came up and touched it and teasingly asked what I had under there. But another asked me if I had taken up headcovering and she longingly shared that she wished her husband would approve of her wearing one. She asked me what I thought of the scriptures around it and I explained I wasn't actually prepared to discuss them that day as I had began to cover more out of conviction that from a thorough study.

I mainly wear bandanas that I purchased at Ardene. I also have a few hats purchased from the Salvation Army Thrift Store, and some knit berets that I bought at Once Upon a Child. I have several scarves (Salvation Army and Value Village finds) and would love to try more of a tichel style. I currently only cover my head when I go to church, when we celebrate Shabbat at home, or during our recent Passover celebration. I have interpreted Paul's instructions in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 as applying primarily to the public gathering of believers. I have thought about the implications of this when I attend a small group/Bible study, as well as at family gatherings. I haven't crossed that bridge yet though smile emoticon

When I started covering we were attending a large charismatic church in a major city. Since then we have moved to a smaller Pentecostal church a few minutes from our home. Denominationally they are very similar, we moved due to wanting to put more roots down closer to home. Neither teaches headcovering, though I have not been opposed at all in this practice. 

I read a number of sites that had been suggested to me in order to better understand the arguments against headcovering. In the end, the most compelling reason to me is simply that it is commanded in the same breath that other directions we have been given and maintain are.

As a woman who works outside the home, it's easy to get caught up in being in charge of things. When I wear a headcovering, I remember the order God has set out. I'm thankful that God is my husband's head and that my husband is my covering. I am blessed.

I was very encouraged a couple of weeks ago when I noticed the gentleman sitting in front of me searching his Bible app for the section on women and headcovering in worship! I am hopeful that as people see me and wonder why I am wearing a headcovering, that they will be challenged to accept all of God's truth in scripture. 

Friday, January 31, 2014

Create Your Own S.O.P. Story!

Over the last two days I've attended the annual Ontario Library Association Super Conference, with this year's theme being "A Universe of Possibilities." A plenary with Creativity Expert David Usher (oh, and also a Juno Award-Winning Musician) challenged us to think more creatively, and other sessions filled my head with information and ideas of how to provide more innovative services at the branch I lead. Since I wasn't speaking this year, I convened a couple of sessions, including one that provided the opportunity to craft my own Statement of Purpose (or S.O.P). 

The session was presented by staff from the Brampton Public Library (Julie Andrews-Jotham, Margaret MacMillan, and Julie Mandal).




The process went a little something like this...



After a couple of revisions, this is what I have for my professional Statement of Purpose:
I'm an enthusiastic people leader. I'm committed to motivating colleagues by sharing knowledge gained through my 14 years of  public library experience. I do this through speaking at seminars and coaching and mentoring. I'm resourceful in assisting customers by connecting them to materials or programs that will meet their needs. I'm energized by helping people identify their passion and meet their potential!

Now you try it!





What's your Statement of Purpose?

Monday, January 6, 2014

My 2014 Reading List

As a librarian, I’m obligated to read certain books in order to keep on top of trends and be able to advise customers. According to my Goodreads account, in 2013 I read 33 books (10267 pages), which would be about 2.75 books per month. That seems low to me as I thought I had read more.





In 2014 I’ll plan to round that up to 3 books a month, for a total of 36 books. I've outlined my reading list below and you can also follow me at https://www.goodreads.com/Kristina_MLS




Plan to Read
1 on Marriage


1 on caring for older parents

Job Related Reading
Book Club 8
February Before I go to sleep, by S. J. Watson
March Flight behavior, by Barbara Kingsolver
April The red tent, by Anita Diamant
May Through black spruce, by Joseph Boyden

Award Winners 3
Scotiabank Giller prize nominee/winner = Through black spruce, by Joseph Boyden
Canada Reads nominee/winner
Keep Toronto Reading selection


Forest of Reading
More info here


Blue Spruce (K-2) 4
I Dare You Not To Yawn, by Helene Boudreau, Serge Bloch


If You Hold A Seed, by Elly MacKay


Oddrey, by Dave Whamond


This Is Not My Hat, by Jon Klassen


Silver Birch (Gr 3-6) 3
Express (Gr 3-4)
Cryptic Canada: Unsolved Mysteries From Coast To Coast, by Natalie Hyde, Matt Hammill


Jason’s Why, by Beth Goobie


When I Get Older: The Story Behind “Wavin’ Flag”, by K’Naan with Sol Guy, Rudy Gutierrez


FICTION (Gr 5-6) 2
Record Breaker, by Robin Stevenson


Ultra, by David Carroll


NON-FICTION (Gr 5-6) 4
Off to Class: Incredible and Unusual Schools Around the World by Susan Hughes


Our Rights: How Kids Are Changing the World, by Janet Wilson


The World In Your Lunch Box: The Wacky History and Weird Science of Everyday Foods by Claire Eamer, Sa Boothroyd


Warriors and Wailers: One Hundred Ancient Chinese Jobs You Might Have Relished or Reviled, by Sarah Tsiang, Martha Newbigging

Red Maple (Gr 7-8) 1
Between Heaven and Earth, by Eric Walters


White Pine (YA) 2
FICTION
Live To Tell, by Lisa Harrington


My Book of Life By Angel, by Martine Leavitt


NON-FICTION 1
The Secret of the Blue Trunk, by Lise Dion, Liedewij Hawke


Evergreen (Adult) 4
Indian Horse, by Richard Wagamese


Tell It to the Trees, by Anita Rau Badami


The Winter Palace: a Novel of Catherine the Great, by Eva Stachniak

Triggers, by Robert J. Sawyer


Golden Oak (new Adult readers) 2
Emily Included, by Kathleen McDonnell


My Name is Parvana, by Deborah Ellis