Grunge Monday

Well to celebrate the return of spring (?!) I splurged on a $5 pair of sunglasses at our stop in Niagara-on-the-Lake over Easter. Hubs quite liked them...but when I got home I wasn't so sure, so I tried them on again for him, just for my daily affirmation.

And he said, "Yeah, they're cool, they remind me of ....



Is that a compliment?

I suppose I should take what I can get.

(Really, this was just an excuse to include one of my favourite performances from an artist gone too soon... )

Weekly Winners #17

During the Easter break, along with Easter dinner with the family which afforded us a lovely drive through country roads, we also took advantage of the sunny days for a trip to the Niagara Butterfly Conservatory.

Shoes aren't made in China ...

Love these clouds

Feeding ...

Well, the birds and the bees and the ...

UFFC
Get back in the ring!

Spring Colours

For other Weekly Winners check out the home of Sarcastic Mom

Scrolling Saturdays - My Pickle Story

As I'm just such an original, I thought I would jump on the bandwagon and re-post a story from about two years ago as my contribution to the pickle story club :



... so the kids are having a great time in the bath, splashing, laughing, hahaha, chortle, chortle ... then G turns red, leans forward and L says:

" Is G having a POO?" ...so Mommy leans her forward a bit more and checks down there with her HAND and EEEEEEWWWWWWW!

Out with the kids, out with the toys, fun logging expedition for Mommy ensues. Kids finished the bath in parents' tub.

I think I should leave bath duties to Dad.

Who happens to be away again! G is now a busy, busy 14.5 month old toddler, who likes to climb and beat up on almost 6 year old L. I keep telling L to keep his face out of her way. He seems to like the abuse.

Settling in to the SAHM thing quite easily now. Regular playdates are de rigeur. The politics of playdates are the big issue now. How do you keep track of who you've had back, who you've got to invite, how to avoid the kids who aren't sweethearts but whose parents are?

I'm going to try to keep this daily blog up as my pseudo journal. I'm hoping I'll be able to look back and say - this is what I was doing when....

Read about a 41 year old woman who remembers everything to the day - her life keeps running like an ongoing movie. Don't know if I'd like that - there are some parts of my life (ie. junior high, early high school) which I would just as soon forget.

Went to the Comrags fashion show with my sister on Tuesday. Had dinner at San, cute little Korean place designed by sister's friend. So uber cool, so not me! I couldn't concentrate on the show, the models looked like they could be my daughters, and very bored. Kept focusing on the one girl's hair - I need a haircut so badly it's not funny. You know it's bad when your husband notices it needs a cut.

Well, must go, the fabulous miss G is wailing. That was my break!

*****


Happy Saturday to everyone, and happy Earth hour ... I'll be with you in the dark tonight.

Vaio-OUT!!!

Fashion Friday - Haiku

Girlie is not well;
Fever, vomiting, sad eyes
Fashion Friday brief

*****

Snow should blow away;
Colours, prints beckon in shops

Feet covet Stellas

More Haiku Friday here.

Thursday Thirteen : I confess

I was tagged by Melinda Zook (7 random confessions) and Real World Mom (7 random things), so as I'm such a multi-tasker, I thought I'd combine my efforts here on a Thursday Thirteen morning...

Six Synonyms for the Word "Confession"

1. Admission
2. Affirmation
3. Concession
4. Declaration
5. Disclosure
6. Revelation

Seven Random Confessions

1. I have major potty mouth while I’m driving.

2. I have never tried any drugs other than prescription or Over-the-counter variety. Goody-goody I know. I certainly had the opportunity, but after a while it was just “what’s the point, if I haven’t done it so far, why bother?”

3. I have, however, smoked cigarettes, a cigar and even an herbal cigarette (eeww). All without coughing up a lung.

4. I tried to do the ultimatum thing to get an engagement ring. Silly, silly girl. Bad advice from a gorgeous friend whose own strategy did work. Now she’s rich.

Didn’t work for me. But in the end I still got the guy.

5. I am a terrible liar. If you hooked me up to a lie detector machine, I’d probably set it on fire.

6. I was a really mean big sister while growing up. At least to my sister who is only 20 months younger than me. My brother is the baby, so I spoiled him more than anything else.

I used to tell my sister that she was adopted (she didn’t have a strong resemblance to anyone in the family). And also that when you flush the toilet, the water comes back up through the tap.

I’m sure she still thinks I’m a bitch the odd time nowadays. But just won’t tell me to my face.

7. I let my kids have way too much screen time. My daughter learned what the Statue of Liberty was from TV.


My son plays Runescape too much (I bought him an upgraded account to vanquish the whining). To remedy that, I asked him if he wanted a blog (you know, at least he’d be doing some creative writing). Hubs reaction: “Uh, we are so NOT going there … are you NUTS?!”

So there's thirteen for ya. Thanks to my second cup of java, I can add this morning.

This one has been around for a bit, so if you haven’t yet done it and feel so inclined … gotcha!

For more thirteen go here.

Wordless Wednesday

(Wordless ... only because she had to stop chattering for a few minutes

during her first appointment ever!!!)

Might as well face it ...

I stumbled across this survey the other morning while surfing for more blogs… I have absolutely zero time to do this, but such an insatiable appetite that I couldn’t help it! The survey is part of research being conducted by a mom completing her Ph. D, and specifically about moms of preschoolers (under 5) who blog.

Having been on the “student” end of things and knowing how difficult it can be to recruit participants, I didn’t hesitate to take the survey. I grabbed my coffee, sat down, and went to it. Actually completed it in record time and then thought nothing of it.

At least that was during the morning hours. Then as I was going about my busy day, niggling thoughts began swirling around in my head, thoughts prompted by some of the questions that had been posed in the survey.

Bubbles brain farts popped from deeply hidden brain cells …Did I really answer it as honestly as I could have? … Do I not really feel more overwhelmed on most days than I would like to admit? … Surely I spend more time blogging than I fessed up to … Aren’t I finding blogging more of a lifeline to a community than just a fun hobby?

I know first hand the complexities of creating a survey, and how it can seem almost impossible to compose a non-leading question. I’m not criticizing the design of the survey at all … I’m just having a harder look at how I answered it.

Later that evening while the kids were making pizza with their Dad, I was finalizing the last parts of my mammoth hair post (all that scanning and loading, Blogger not co-operating…). In between loading I was chopping up peppers and helping out with the toppings when I could, but honestly, my blog post was my priority. Ian then says to me “Stop blogging!” So I went to work on more peppers, but to my absolute dismay, tears began welling up and I think it was clear from my body language and my frenzied chopping, that I was not a happy camper. Ian came up behind me to ask me what was wrong, giving me a hug, which of course just let it all loose …

“This is all I have that is my VERY OWN!”

Which isn’t exactly true, but I can be a drama-mama like the best of them, a whoa-is-me chicka-dee when the timing’s right. Or more like PMS’ing in a major way.

This is what happens when I think myself into a frenzy. But somedays, it really does feel like it's my one place, the one stop in this crazy world that is just for me, myself and I.

*****

After my momentary lapse of sanity, we had a lovely dinner. I then headed out to pick up some last minute things for the Easter weekend meals (I always forget that ONE IMPORTANT ingredient). At the supermarket, as I stood in line to pay, I watched as a father and his son unloaded their groceries onto the belt in front of me. I noticed this woman standing next to me rapidly flipping through one of the celebrity rags.

Just as it was my turn to load my groceries, the woman shrieked and ran hurriedly in front of me, furiously trying to reshelve the magazine she was reading, while pulling at another, featuring the most unbecoming photo of a pregnant Lisa Marie Presley feeding her face. Her husband looked up in alarm and asked her what the problem was. She shouted "Presley, ooh Lisa Marie, looks so BAD". Her husband looked at me very sheepishly , as I tried not too successfully to contain some giggles.

So I guess my life could be worse... I could be addicted to blogging AND deliriously hooked on celebrity trash.

Your lights are on, but you're not home
Your mind is not your own
Your heart sweats, your body shakes
Another post, is what it takes

You can't sleep, you can't eat
There's no doubt, you're in deep
Your throat is tight, you can't breathe
Another post is all you need

Whoa, you like to think that you're immune to the stuff, oh yeah
It's closer to the truth to say you can't get enough, you know you're
Gonna have to face it, you're addicted to ...

(thanks to Robert Palmer for inspiration)

Weekly Winners #16

It's spring, so let's go to the Beach ...

Blue skies

Digging for ...

Easter rocks

Happy Easter to All

For other Weekly Winners check out the home of Sarcastic Mom

Fashion Friday: To Hair is Human

I've noticed that lately there's been a little self-portrait posting going on in the blogosphere. Some have been super-brave and posting pix of themselves first thing in the morning (started by sweetney , but all beautiful women); I don't have the ballzz to do that, but I did see another hair-meme-ish round a few weeks ago, courtesy of fabulous bloggers Rima, Kami and Motherscribe. Sort of a hair-retrospective - I don't know where that genius originated or I would certainly give credit where credit is due.

This one I can handle. So without further adieu, here we go.

It all started out pretty cute.

The bowl-cut has a sort of androgeny which was highly under-rated at the time...

Losing teeth, but the hair is shiny still...

( Okay, I'm totally skipping the bullying-worthy years... after all, this is my blog. Still there are some guffaw-inspiring pics upcoming...)

High school post-braces and after-contacts!!!! Whoo,-hoo- dig that Farrah/Little House/ Leather Bowtie look..

High school grad. No such thing as flat irons yet. This is what happens when an Asian girl with stick straight hair wants to do the Madonna-Like-A-Virgin curl ... and it goes horribly wrong. Nothing like capturing that for all eternity during a momentous occasion... and again on your blog.

Dating, hotness (well, as hot as I got) years ahead...

Jodphurs and thigh-high riding boots! Longer shag-me hair, though.

At one of the various weddings we attended when I so wanted a ring.

Lab 1 guy in all his mullet glory (he's gonna kill me for this one...)

The Married Years

Wedding photo... Bob #1

I did what one of my male friends complain that women all do once they get married. I got shorn. Actually, this didn't look so bad...over a decade before Posh Beckham made it "in" again... I look happy. Must be in Barbados or something...


Oh look, it gets worse! How to look like you're a forty year old suburban mom before you hit 30. Or how to rock the sweatshirt over Dexy's Midnight Runners overalls. Not good.


Bob #2. Grad school convocation with my baby boy as a bonus. Boy L was 18 months old here.

Work function, so looking very coiffed. Also a little bloated from fertility drugs, TTC #2, about 10 pounds heavier than my ideal weight. Thought that by slimming the photo with cropping technology I might look trimmer. Probably not.

Baby girl is 4 months old here as big brother turns 5. Mommy needs a haircut - badly.

And she does it, finally. Baby girl is just over two. Happy bangs.

Bob #3. This was after a summer of long hair. And it's a little red.

I think I liked it better as it grew... I can barely contain myself.

And the most recent cut? Welcome to the house of DORA!!!!!

This is me normally; not so poufed. I'm also thinking about going back to my natural (not grey yet though) colour. For something completely different.

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL WHO ARE CELEBRATING AND FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T, ENJOY THE BREAK!!!

Thursday Thirteen

So the secret to being a successful Stay At Home/Work At Home mom is the schedule, correct?

By George, I think she's got it after three years! This lacksidasical, flexi-mom schedule just doesn't cut it anymore. Let's hop to it!

Tuesday To Do List:

1. Make breakfast and lunch for big boy – Check
2. Make coffee for big girl and bigger boy, get the girlie her breakfast- Check
3. Book birthday party for big boy - Check
4. Bring girlie to preschool, spend 10 minutes prying her off of me while she cries and pulls at me... rush home before having to pick her up again in less than 2 hours– Check
5. Have conference call with client – Check
6. Prepare business profile – Half check
7. Set up the life schedule that should have been set up about 3 years ago – Huh?
8. Pick up girlie and go to supermarket for ingredients for dinner – Check
9. Add chocolate bunny sucker for whining girlie while picking up said ingredients –Check
10.Make lunch for big girl and girlie – Check
11. Clean up family room and try to engage girlie in this activity – Check
12.Pick up big boy for dental appointment– Check
13. Quick stop at Zellers to check for Bakugan as big boy was so good at the dentist; no luck, but kids dilly-dally anyway. Rush home to get dinner in oven - shoot, it's late! – Check

13a. Make an appointment in a schedule to set up the life schedule that should have been set up 3 years ago.

And it's now Thursday.

Oh my crap.

Wordless Wednesday (kumbaya)

(De-stressing with the Little People)

Vacation IMBY

(Okay, this is a long one. Remind me next time that "For crying out loud, blog vacation doesn't mean "pent-up blog fodder to justify novel-length post". There are pictures for a bit of reprieve...)

After looking at the various options for our March Break Vacation:
Mexico? No, Ian will get sick, guaranteed.
New York City? That would be great! Any hotels under $400 a night that can accomodate 4? We still have to deal with airfare ... ugh. No.
Miami, Florida? That's an idea, hey we've got friends going too. But wait, everything's booked, and what's available would cost, oh, maybe close to $7K including Air, but no food? Ugh, no.
Washington DC?- they've got a cool spy museum!!! I have no clue where to stay, and besides, no decent flights.

It's difficult to book a holiday and throw down all that cash when your partner's not around to consult. He trusts me, but still.

What we ultimately decided to do, and a lot had to do with the fact that hubs just got back from a long airplane ride anyway, was spend a few days downtown. Yes, book a hotel right across the street from the ROM and do some sightseeing in the city. My inner self was screaming "Hotel with pool, hotel with pool" while my other inner self was siding with hubs that we wanted to AVOID the screaming pool, and try to have somewhat of an adult break for ourselves too.

So that is what we did.

We stayed at the Park Hyatt, known for its Stillwater Spa. Situated in the chi-chi Yorkville area, no pool, but across the street from the ROM. And despite the fact that I forgot my swimsuit (gee, how convenient to have to throw some shopping into the itinerary) I managed to squeeze a massage into our schedule. I need to do that more often.

The kids weren't complaining initially...

The first night we took them to the restaurant Sotto Sotto, a little place on Avenue road that is a favourite of the Hollywood set. Their wall of fame had so many celebrities on it, I wouldn't know where to start. Who hasn't been there? We asked G to use her quiet voice, but during the dinner, because of the low ceilings, it got fairly loud, so much so that she screamed "Why is everyone so loud", and no one even noticed. The staff were fantastic with the kids, cooking up some great pasta for our boy, while the girlie just sat and coloured her book. I was star-searching but was out of luck. However, the meal was everything I had expected it to be, excellent Italian cuisine.

The next day we took the kids to the ROM. After its recent renovation, we were anxious to see what it was like inside. It was busy, we're talking a line-up around the block busy at 11 AM. We fell into the marketing trap and bought a family membership so we could squeeze in through an alternate entrance. But you get your money's worth in two visits, so it was a no-brainer.

We were mightily impressed with the Darwin exhibit and will have to visit again.

For dinner that night we were initially thinking Hemingway's (I think there were a few Colin Farrell sightings there) but it is a lot more of a pickup joint on a Friday night than mid-weekend brunch. I saw free internet there, but stayed away. Aren't I good?

We opted for Remys, a place I used to go as a younger partyer, but now was quite family friendly. Our waiter commented on the girlie's backpack (Teletubby) and asked if she knew of the NEW guys. Of course she did; she was the most impressed.

The one thing we the parents, were most enjoying was that we could WALK everywhere. And the one thing the kid (ie. older one) was NOT enjoying... was the fact that we could walk everywhere. We forgot the stroller, so little G was feeling very grown up and loving the promenading with Daddy. Our strapping lad was asking for the "are we there yet" update every 30 seconds.


With that in mind, we decided to take the kids down to the Distillery District the following day (yes, we're gluttons for whining punishment). Check this out...

Look again, yes that is a BIKE buried in that snow!

We just love the old buildings and the cobblestone roads. They've done a fantastic job of making great use of a historic site. There are so many galleries, shops, little restaurants. The kids didn't want any of it (why do they want ice-cream on this cold winter day?) but did agree to pop into the Fluid Living furniture shop so they could try out the handmade Hastens beds showcased so invitingly. At about $69,000 Cdn per King size, they're a steal, don't you think? Liam announced that he wanted one...maybe if the tooth fairy drops off about a million under his pillow next time, we might consider.

While there we managed to pick up some chairs for our kitchen ... we are now about 95% done that reno now!!! Just need a light fixture as we've grown a bit tired of this avant garde look:


On our last night, we thought we would go somewhere kid-friendly and found the neighbourhood Gabby's. As we were seated, G got a bit "creeped out" and asked who "that guy" was. She pointed up toward the television and guess who was peeking down at her ...

He freaked her out so much that she had to switch places for dinner. But on a positive note, we wicked parents used the threat of Elvis to cajole her into eating her dinner. Thank you, thank you very much.

Even though we were only thirty minutes from home, the kids were anxious to get back to their abode in the morning. So despite the fact that the St. Patty's day parade was about to start just around the corner, we left the city. My kids probably wouldn't appreciate the green beer that I was contemplating for myself later on, anyway.

The one thing about taking a holiday with the kids, is that it's guaranteed to make you want to take another one without them. Although we each got alone time with the kids while the other had REAL alone time, we had ZERO time together as a couple. Too exhausted to do much other than sleep.

Don't get me wrong, I love my kids. They are the joy of my life. In fact, I live and breathe them. And I suppose herein lies the dilemma.

I think we'll be booking our anniversary weekend trip a couple months early.