Bad Roads, Easter Visit And Beauty Makeovers

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Alberta, children, daughter, Diana Schwenk, Easter, family, friends, Hump Day Chronicles, laughter, Life's like that, living in the moment, love, Makeover, makeup, Michaela, Michaela's Beauty Warriors, Relationships, Rosalind, Spring

This past weekend, my daughter and I thought it a fine idea to spend Easter together at hers and her boyfriend, Werner’s place in Rosalind, Alberta.

The morning I was to drive out there, we talked on the phone about how bad the secondary roads were due to snow and we decided to meet in Camrose for dinner and then drive to the farm together afterward, in case my car got stuck.

Well as luck would have it, the roads were not as bad as we thought they would be and I arrived earlier than anticipated, too early for dinner, so we met at the Paint Pottery where I painted a mug, Werner painted an elephant and Michaela painted two plates. I can’t wait to see the finished products after they’re glazed and baked!

After dinner we headed out to the farm and parked my car about a kilometer away from the house at the old school because the muddy gravel road that leads to the farm-house would surely have swallowed up my little Toyota Tercel.

It was a wonderful weekend that included a stunning makeover for me by Michaela, a not-so-stunning, but fun as heck, makeover for Michaela by me and Werner, and a wonderful Easter meal shared by me, Michaela, Werner and his parents Claudia and Manfred.

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Michaela and Werner, thank you so much for hosting me this Easter, it was so good to see you again!

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

For more Easter fun, check out me and Werner doing Michaela’s makeover on the link below!

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F100010097341891%2Fvideos%2F442868522726389%2F&show_text=0&width=560

And, oh if you like makeup, you might want to head over here https://www.facebook.com/groups/1295392280541774/ and check out Michaela’s Beauty Warriors page. She really knows her stuff!

Don’t Call Her A Dork. Be Nicer.

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Alberta, Anthropologie, Be nice, Calgary, Canada, daughter, Diana Schwenk, Easter, family, happy, Hump Day Chronicles, living in the moment, Michaela, Relationships, wine

Michaela at Peter’s Drive-In, Calgary AB

This past weekend, my daughter with beau-in-tow, came home to spend Easter with me.

It’s always great to see her. We don’t often get to visit as we live a three and half hour drive apart.

This time I remembered to renew my parking pass so the kids could park in my assigned spot behind my apartment building, while I legally parked on my street.

In the past, I haven’t done this, so Michaela has had to park a few streets away and move her car every few hours.

A gift from the Easter Bunny awaited Michaela’s arrival

Yeah, yeah, I won’t be getting the Mother of the Year award anytime soon!

But before you go getting all indignant about the way I treat my daughter, know that Michaela, AKA The Tornado, has her own way of getting even.

She has this uncanny ability to pretty much destroy a room seemingly by just walking into it.

Within minutes, it looks like a storm has blown through!

I don’t mind. Really. It’s a small price to pay for the pleasure of spending time with her.

My late birthday present from Michaela

…A few years back, Michaela and I discovered Anthropologie, a boutique store that sells unique merchandize, including a mishmash of dishes. At the time, I told Michaela that one day I would start an eclectic collection of plates and cups. She remembered this and brought me two pieces (above) to start my collection…

Be nicer. Don’t call your daughter a dork. Be nicer.

One of the things I enjoy most about Michaela is her sarcastic wit.

We often lovingly jab at each other.

An endearing habit, that I’ve come to expect from Michaela every time she visits, is the writing of a message on my whiteboard.

On this last visit she added items to my to-do List.

For some reason, she felt that ‘Be nicer’ had to be stated twice.

But be nicer didn’t have to be stated at all. They brought a bottle of wine.

And wine always makes me nicer.

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

What did you do for the Easter weekend? What makes you nicer?

A Camrosian Easter

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Camrose Alberta, daughters, Diana Schwenk, Easter, family, growing up, kids, love, peace, Ramada, Relationships, teens

I’ve compiled some tidbits for your reading pleasure on my Easter trip to Camrose, Alberta to see my daughter.

Riptors, their mating habits and other fascinating facts

I always stay at the Ramada in Camrose when visiting my daughter because they have a swimming pool and we both love the water.

We also both love making up stories.

The rare and elusive Riptor

On a previous visit I pretended I was a raptor while running under water with my upper body leaning forward and my hands looking like I imagine a T-Rex’s hands look, only I said Riptor instead of Raptor.

Michaela thought that was hilarious and immediately corrected me – a favourite pastime of hers.

So on this Easter visit we pretended we were British documentary narrators informing the public on the elusive and rare Riptors only our British accents sounded half Australian so we invented Braustralia a country where incidentally, the rare Riptors live and mate (rather brutishly, making the mating of sharks seem rather tame) and also commented on how they wean their young.

“What? Wait. Wean? Michaela Riptors don’t nurse their young!”

“Really Mom? Riptors aren’t real!”

The Feature Nail

I never paint my fingernails because the moment I wash dishes or do anything whatsoever they chip. But Michaela wanted to paint my nails because “they look fake” they’re naturally long.

“Why is that one nail a different colour?”

The Feature Nail

“That’s the feature nail.”

“Why can’t my middle finger be the feature nail so I can show it to people in this way…?”

“Mom!”

“Just asking…”

Timmy Run

I’ve never let Michaela drive my car, but on this visit I really wanted a Timmy’s coffee but I was already in my sweats and didn’t want to go out.

“Geesh Mom, I’ve been driving for a year, I’ll make a Timmy’s run.”

“Umm…OK.”

Well the earth didn’t implode and no one was maimed and I got a Timmy’s coffee.

Maybe I need to acknowledge my baby girl is all grown-up now?

TOMS

I bought Michaela and me matching shoes, TOMS to be exact. They are very comfortable and when you buy a pair the company also gives a pair to a child in Haiti or some other tropical place.

Yup, they even travel there and hand-deliver them – I’ve even seen pictures of smiling children wearing them!

It got me thinking…what kind of company could I start where I could charge somebody double for something and then personally deliver the same thing to someone else who lives by a tropical ocean?

Peace

Peace

My daughter bought a bunch of bracelets that all said different things on them and gave me the one that says Peace. “

Because Mom, I think that peace suits you.”

Easter Dinner

Michaela and I were invited to a most delicious Easter dinner at her Dad’s house.

Who says exes can’t get along, especially when there is a home-made meal involved!

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

You know…every time I see my daughter I’m struck with what a beautiful and smart young woman she is.

I just know she is going to make a mark on this world!

How did you spend your Easter?