here are some of my favourite things

Pretty Mommy over at Whose Mommy is That is having a contest. I thought I'd enter.

I have been on a mission to find the perfect body wash. I love yummy smelling body washes but won't spend a fortune on them. Unfortunately I have come across several duds lately so they are sitting unused in my shower and will I probably never get my money's worth from them...
My first dud is the Softsoap Ultra Rich Shea Butter Mosturizing Body Wash. It just doesn't lather enough and the scent is so minimal it might as well not be there at all. The second dud is a really cheap one called Eves St. Claire Strawberry body wash. It smells great but I never feel clean nor does it mosturize at all.

My favourite body wash from the drug store to date is St Ives Shea butter. It lathers really nicely, smells amazing and leaves my skin feeling smooth and soft afterwards. This is a winner in my opinion. The next one I really enjoy using is Strawberry Kiwi Body Wash from Life Brand. It is an awesome sweet smell and lathers to just the right amount. It rinses off nicely and leaves my skin feeling soft too.
Another new find is the Olay Shower Rinse. When I first heard the idea of a mosturizer you use right in the shower I thought it sounded absurd but I accidently bought this product thinking it was body wash so I tried it. It is awesome. The first time I used it it left my skin feeling a little sticky and I was dissappointed but after using it for a few days I started to notice a remarkable difference in the softness of my skin- especially my arms for some reason. Now I use this product daily and I will likely repurchase it!! (one warning though- this product leaves the bath tub a little slippery so watch out AND I do notice the tub gets dirtier now that I started using this-i think the dirt just sticks to the residue or something)

Last is my new Olay Face Mask. I love this product. I use it every other day and I find my skin feels nicer and looks smoother too. The product is applied to a dry or slightly damp face and left on for 5-10 minutes, until it's dry, then rinsed off with a damp wash cloth or just warm water. You do not need to wash your face afterwards as it acts as a cleanser too. Again a winner!!

Do you look (insert religion here)?

The other day the family and I were over at my in-laws house. We all got to talking about our different friends and such. My MIL made a comment that I have not been able to keep out of my mind since. She said "such and such doesn't look Jewish" Now I have heard this expression before and I never really thought about it much but this time it really bothered me.
How does one "look" their religion? Do you "look Catholic"? Can you "look Christian"?

What differences in appearance does a Jewish person have versus a "non-Jew"? All these questions have been going through my mind since our conversation.

Friends I met in adulthood have commented to me that I don't look Jewish. What does Jewish look like?

Do I look Jewish? Do you?

Happy Canada Day

Living in Canada is such a privilege. I love living here and would never choose to move to another place for so many reasons.



In Canada I as a woman am free to do anything I please. I can wear pants, I can wear make-up, I can show my face in public.



In Canada I can go to the doctor and not have to pay a fee. I don't have to worry that my insurance does not cover the procedure I need. I can see my doctor about any worry I have and not have to pay a fee(which may change in the future because some do abuse this privilege)



In Canada I can choose any place of worship I want. I have many choices within each religion as to the degree of observance I feel comfortable.

In Canada I enjoy democracy. I get a vote-and I like to think my vote counts....

Why do you love living in Canada???

Gay Pride Parade

Today is the day. The Gay Pride Parade used to be one of the "can't miss" events of the summer for me and my friends. This year hubby and I decided that attending the celebrations would be just too much of a hassle. The parade used to be a fun way to show support for the gay/lesbian community, the floats were just fabulous and so many businesses came out to salute their members. Now the parade seems to have lost some of its appeal. It is not really family friendly, it is nearly impossible to navigate a stroller through the crowds on the crazy busy downtown streets and the floats have been getting chincier and chincier with each passing year.
Does this mean we support the gay community any less than before? No of course not, it just means we will support them from the comfort of our living room or through other, quieter means.
As I get older I have also started to realize that the eccentricities displayed in the parade are not neccesarily the norm of the gay community and many (if not all) gay individuals are just normal everyday people like me and you. They go to work, they date, they cook, they shop and they just live their lives. Do you think these parades are neccassary? I have enjoyed them in the past but wonder what you readers really think about all the fuss :)
Let me know...

Our day at the zoo...

Today we celebrate...

My baby's first birthday!! Hard to believe a whole year has passed since he came into our lives. This has been the best year of my life so far!!

Home Sweet Home

Travelling is always fun, hopping in the car, taking a road trip and visiting new places has always been something I've enjoyed. Doing it with a baby is a whole other ball game. The boy was very good-he's always very good, but babies fuss and babies get tired&cry and they don't always like being trapped in their car seats for 6 hours with nothing to look at but the rear window!!

For me though the best part about a trip away is coming home. There are so many things to enjoy in the comfort of one's own home-too many to list really so here are just a few

1. sleeping in your own bed
2. having Tim Horton's walking distance
3. no mosquitoes milling around my ears at night
4. cooking my own food (i do love eating out but love eating home made by me food even more)
5. enjoying my morning pot of coffee at my own pace :)

Today we celebrate..

All the fathers out there!!!

put your hands together for...

my hubby...Congrats go out to Gavin for receiving an award recognizing his academic achievements in the Faculty of Education this year!! All that hard work paid off :)
I had no doubts he would do it but it's always nice to be officially recognized!

what i need

Here's what you do: Google "your name + needs" and pick the first thirteen that make sense. This is hilarious (especially since Lindsay Lohan's mom is named DINA!!!). Most are not anywhere near what I need!! Thanks Chrissy!!

1. Dina needs to get help

2. Dina needs to be a MOTHER

3. Dina & Lindsay Need Rehab

4. Dina needs to grow up and realize she's not only a mother, but an ADULT,

5. Dina needs a faith-based program

6. Dina needs to keep her eyes on her children

7. Dina needs heart surgery

8. Dina needs help wiping herself or something

9. DINA Lohan needs to make up her mind

10. Dina needs love, compassion, support Doesn't everyone???

11. Dina needs to have her brows redone the only one that is kind of true!!!

12. Dina needs pain medication to treat her back Occassionally true!

13. Dina needs a big performance

10 things i can never wait for...

1. nail polish to dry. I can never wait for my nails to dry. If i paint them myself I will inevidently need to go pee or brush my hair moments after I've applied the last stroke and my nails will get nicked. A huge reason i usually wear clear or very pale colours!

2. toast to pop. When I'm hungry, I'm hungry and I just can't wait!!

3. my hair to dry. My thick hair takes a good 30 minutes to dry properly if I don't want a lot of frizz. I usually end up with a poufy, frizzy mess because I just can't stand there drying my hair until it's completely done. I usually end up letting the bottom layers dry naturally because my arm gets tired of holding the hair dryer up!!

4. the end of a book. I have a long time habit of almost always reading the last page of a book half way through the book!

5. reading a full newspaper article. If I start an article and it is continued on another page I will almost always stop reading the article. why can't they print the whole thing on one page?!?!

6. people to get to the point. I can't stand when people take forever trying to say what it is they are talking about. I find this kind of funny because I know I do this exact thing!

7. being put on hold. If I call somewhere and am put on hold for too long I will almost always hang up and never bother calling back!

8. long lines at the checkout. I just don't have patience to wait in long line ups. I refuse to wait in lines at stores such as Children's Place or Superstore. I would rather not shop there or not buy something than wait in ridiculous lines!

9. slow walkers. I can't stand getting stuck behind a doddler. I will almost always overpass or try to get around slow walkers.

10. waiting in general annoys me. If I need something done I like to get it done. I hate waiting for others to do things for me and often end up just doing things myself

some favourites

Here is a short list of some of my fave stores...
1) Reitmans great for casual work clothes and simple classic styles. I love this store. The prices are great although the quality isn't always that great.

2) Old Navy can always find jeans that fit me here. Prices are great but clothes are not always made well. Sometimes styles are kind of weird or too young.

3) GAP great classic style. Very good quality, clothes from GAP always last me a few years.

4) WINNERS just so much fun to shop at Winners. You never know what you'll find. Great for trendy lower cost pieces.

5) Le Chateau believe it or not, this store has some really nice clothes that actually fit people who are larger than a size 2!! I recently rediscovered them while shopping for a coat and figured that i'd need an XL but only needed a M!!! (although i haven't actually bought anything here for a really long time-with the exception of a necklace)

6) RW I forgot about this one...definitely one of my favourites. Pretty good quality and always has amazing sales!!!

Today is my lucky day :)

I recently realized how important it is to have a few staple items in ones wardrobe. I unfortunately realized this during an emergency "i have nothing to wear to a bar-mitvah TOMORROW" moment. Lucky for me Jill figured this one out a lot sooner than I!! She came was able to save the day at 8pm on Friday evening when I needed a dress for 11 am the next day!!

She lent me this beautiful green and black number that my husband likes so much he suggested I buy it from her!!

Today I did a little shopping after popping into my office to complete my return to work paperwork. I found this dress at Reitmans and was really pleasantly surprised when the reduced price was even further reduced!! I got this really cute black dress that can definitley be dressed up or down for a whopping $15 !! Can you believe it?!?! AND to think i wasn't sure i was going to buy it because i didn't think it was that flattering...glad i rethought it and realized I can wear better undergarmets to do the trick!

Now here is my list of wardrobe must haves

1. a really good body slimmer. Ones of these suckers can take you from a lumpy size 12 to a slim smooth lined size 10!!

2. a great pair of stilletoes. i LOVE the look of really high heels with pointy toes (like the ones i'm wearing above)

3. a little black dress. One that can be worn during the day and also in the evening. I have another one that is definitely an only evening dress, as it has spaghetti straps and a few sequins.

4. a great pair of black slacks. Also a move from day to evening pair.

5. and of course a really great handbag (which I am working on getting!)

6. a few structured jackets. I have a few and I love them. They make me feel a few pounds thinner when i look in the mirror and they can be layered, and worn nicely over jeans or with dress pants

7. a "real" necklace. Not costume jewelry, something with value and substance that can be worn with any neckline. i have a beautiful diamond heart pendant necklace that i wear to many occassions.

8. also a "real" pair of earrings. Not costume jewelry but something with real jewels, and gold.

9. a pair of skinny jeans. i'm not talking about those skinny jeans that are in style now but a pair that make you feel great. when you put these on you just feel good about yourself, your butt feels smaller, you exude confidance.

10. sexy sandals. no explanation required :)

I predict trouble on the horizon

do i have to...??

return to work that is... i got an email today from my team leader letting me know my return to work date is June 10th! I was so shocked as that is only 3 weeks away! I had planned on taking until September off (unpaid) but after discussing it with the hubby we decided it might be more realistic for me to return in August instead. He has been off work this year doing his 3rd YES 3rd bachelors degree (he collects them) so we have been living on my mat leave income plus a little extra from my employer. Gav is going to look after the boy in August and I will go to work. Elie will start daycare in September (boohoo) but what can we do???
I wonder how Gav will manage for the month doing what I have been doing for the whole year...time will tell AND I'm pretty sure the daycare lady will be able to take the boy a little early if we need her to :)

something to think about :)

You Are 46% Bitchy

Generally, you're an average woman, with average moods. But sometimes... well, watch out!Sometimes, you let your mean side get the better of you. And you enjoy every minute of it.

How'>http://www.blogthings.com/howbitchyareyouquiz/">How Bitchy Are You?

test

just testing the comments thing...hope it will work...

my new hairdo...

here it is...now if you can tell the difference between before and after let me know!!!(aside from the roots being fixed)

What hairstyle is right for you???

This is similar to what I have but I just can't get the poufiness out from the bottom layers...

Your Ideal Hairstyle:

Full and Textured

What'>http://www.blogthings.com/whatwomenshairstyleisrightforyouquiz/">What Women's Hairstyle Is Right For You?

Salon Scams

Have you ever walked up to the register after having your hair done to be shocked by the pricetag of your new do? This seems to happen often in my experiences. There are signs posted outside a salon stating a big special for certain services and next thing you know the person at the register is telling you those services aren't on special with the person who did your hair. This seedy practise at salons makes me so angry. It it not like I can't read and don't know better but I have been caught in this trap more times than I care to count. Usually the difference in price is fairly significant too (like a $150 cut/color compaired to the $79.99 sign in the window) On several occassions an extra charge for "styling" has been added to the cut, Can I ask, who goes to a salon and doesn't have their hair styled along with the blow dry (First Choice clients excluded) and how can the salons justify charging an additional $10-$15 for this "service"???
I suppose one way to avoid this nasty surprise is to inquire before the stylist starts as to the price, another could be to always go to the same salon/stylist (which i never do, BTW) but part of the appeal of walking-in to a salon is that i can go spur of the moment. I don't have to plan and schedule my day around my hair appointment....or perhaps salons should learn the word HONESTY and UPFRONT?!?!

Customer Service.... anyone???

Recently Jill posted a few of her pet peeves. One of them mentioned a serious problem with customer service these days. I have to agree strongly with what she posted. In the last couple of weeks I have been reminded over and over again about how customer service has gone to the dogs. The kids that work in retail just don't seem to understand the importance of treating customers with respect. I'm not even talking about going beyond the call of duty but just plain respect. Yesterday hubby and I were told "we're only human" when we complained about the length of time it was taking for our order to be processed. Firstly we had been told 40 minutes (on Saturday) then another 20 minutes, then after returning to the store THE NEXT DAY the order was still not ready. The clerk didn't seem to understand that we would have been fine with an honest "it'll take 2 hours" rather than leading us to believe it would only take 40 minutes. Well after calling the head office and speaking with the district manager we will be receiving a refund for a portion of our order and the clerk is being reprimanded. (I am now on a mission).
The other instance that comes to mind is my experience picking up drugs from the pharmacy. I went to get my refill and inadvertantly left it behind after paying for several other items. When i went to pick up the paid drugs I told the manager that nobody had bothered to call me to inform me I had forgotten my prescription. Lucky for me i hadn't needed it immediately or second trip to the store (which is quite far from home) would have been neccessary in one day. I understand that things get left behind all the time but I should have been called. The manager didn't even bother to apologize for the error nor did she even appear sorry, all she said was she would inform the pharmacist of what happened-What good does that do?

I have worked in customer service and client relations for many years and know how important it is to treat customers well. Without satified clients many of these stores would be closed down and these clerks would be out of jobs.
The problem seems to be partialy due to so many youth who grew up in the "me" generation. They were handed everything they ever needed or wanted, they were led to believe the world revolved around them and now they are displaying this attitude while sabatoging their futures. When they get into "real life jobs" they will be shocked to discover the world is full of sacrafices and things don't always go the way they want!

a few life essentials

After running into Jill at the drugstore this morning I started thinking about some of my "can't live without" essentials

My new favourite accessory, the headband. Since I now shower in the evenings in order to enjoy a long luxurious baby-free time to myself it is hard to get my hair to look good in the mornings. I can just pull my hair back in one of my many headbands, put on a little makeup and off i go...no more fussing with a flat iron, gunky gel or tonnes of hairspray. I just brush through my bed head hair, headband and i'm done!!

Olay essentials daily moisturiser. It is a cream and sunscreen all in one. Love it!!

Baby oil. I use it after the shower, all over, especially on my extremely dry feet. I find it works better than any moisterizer I have tried and smells nice too! If my feet are really dry and cracked I put baby oil and vaseline on and then cover my feet with socks. My feet are nice and soft in the morning.

Activia yogut. I have done the ACTIVIA CHALLENGE and I have to say it really really worked for me!! My digestive system has been a little screwy over the past 10 years or so and now that I eat one of these a day I feel amazing!! No more bloating, a lot less discomfort. I highly reccomend it!

Tylenol cold medicine. I have been sniffling and sneezing with a sore throat for a few days now. I wake up in the morning feeling awful, pop a day time relief Tylenol and I feel better the whole day. Same goes for the night time relief pills. I double my dose to two pills for night time and voila, i am able to sleep, my sniffles go away and I don't feel the scratch in my throat until morning!

Cheerios. This is more something i have on hand to keep my headaches to a minimum. My little guy loves them and they can keep him quiet and entertained for a good hour at a time!! Just pour some on his tray and I can actually clean the whole kitchen while he pops them in his mouth!! Yeah for General Mills Cheerios!!!

in honour of my 145th post...something fun

You Are 40% Lady

You tend to make up your rules of etiquette, throwing all conventions aside. And while you try to be a lady (sometimes), your behavior is often quite shocking.

Are You A Lady?

How ironic!!!!

You Are a Ham Sandwich

You are quiet, understated, and a great comfort to all of your friends. Over time, you have proven yourself as loyal and steadfast. And you are by no means boring. You do well in any situation - from fancy to laid back. Your best friend: The Turkey Sandwich Your mortal enemy: The Grilled Cheese Sandwich

What Kind of Sandwich Are You?

OH MY GOODNESS...they got it spot on!! I used to LOVE HIM :)

Your 80s Heartthrob Is

Michael J. Fox

Who's Your 80's Heartthrob?

How often do you....

do the following...
i was watching Oprah a while back and she mentioned that she changes her bed sheets every other day...i thought that sounded a little excessive (she probably has someone do it for her) but it got me wondering about the following
How often do you
1) change your bed sheets?
2) wash your floor?
3) vaccum the carpets?
4) do laundry?
5) clean the bath tub?
6) wash the sinks with bleach/disinfectant?
7) dust all major surfaces?
8) run your dishwasher?
9) clean the toilet?
10) sweep the floor?

Here are my answers
1) once a week (or sometimes 2 weeks)
2) once a week (now- i used to wait way longer but now that we've got a baby-must do it more often)-was talking to a friend who said her nanny cleans their floor every day- I wish!!
3) n/a (we have no carpets)
4) once a week (about 5-6 loads in one day)
5) once a week or two
6) try to remember once a day
7) oy...not nearly enough(usually do it when i can clearly write my name in the dust)
8) every other day
9) try to remember once a week or so
10) should do it once a day but probably get to it once a week

FOODOLOGY
Q. What is your salad dressing of choice? i like balsamic vinegar with raspberry or honey mustard

Q. What is your favorite fast food restaurant?A. Swiss Chalet
. What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?A. Satay on the Road or Trappers
.Q. On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant?A. I think %10 is adequate or %15 if the service was really good
Q. What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?A. sushi
Q. What is your favorite type of gum?A. Cinnimon
Q. What is your wallpaper on your computer?A. a cute picture of Elie
Q. How many televisions are in your house?A. 2 one in living room and one hidden in the basement.
BIOLOGY
Q. What’s your best feature?A. I think my hair
.Q. Have you ever had anything removed from your body?A. nope-well does a sliver count?

Q. Which of your five senses do you think is keenest?A. Smell.
Q. When was the last time you had a cavity?A. oy, almost every time i go to the dentist (well the last dentist-i'm sure he "invented" some cavaties KWIM??
Q. What is the heaviest item you lifted last?A. well i bought this HUGE pack of toilet paper (50 rolls) it felt pretty heavy to me
Q. Have you ever been knocked unconscious?A.no but been unconscoius due to excessive drinking...
BULLSHITOLOGY
Q. If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?A. No.
Q. Is love for real?A. yup
Q. If you could change your first name, what would you change it to?A. when i was a kid i wanted to be named Jennifer because all my friends were named Jennifer- i hated having a unique name
Q. What color do you think looks best on you?A. red
Q. Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake?A. not that i know of
Q. Have you ever saved someone’s life?A. no
Q. Has someone ever saved yours?A. litterally no, possibley yes if you count helping me with a flat tire on the side of a highway...
DAREOLOGY
Q. Would you walk naked for a half mile down a public street for $100,000?A. depends on how public
Q. Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100?A. sure, maybe even for less than $100!
.Q. Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000?A. uh...no way
Q. Would you never blog again for $50,000?A. yes!! then i'd have time for things like exercise again!!
Q. Would you pose nude in a magazine for $250,000?A. Sure but i doubt anyone would WANT to look at the photos!
Q. Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1,000?A. depends on how hot...
Q. Would you, without fear of punishment, take a human life for $1,000,000?A. i couldn't do it!
Q. Would you give up watching television for a year for $25,000?A. i think i could do it
Q. Give up MySpace forever for $30,000?A. Yes. Never been on it
DUMBOLOGYQ:
What is in your left pocket?A. lint and a tissue
Q: Is Napoleon Dynamite actually a good movie?A. hated it...thought it was really stupid
Q: Do you have hardwood or carpet in your house?A. all hardwood
Q: Do you sit or stand in the shower?A. stand
.Q: Could you live with roommates?A. not anymore. Family doesn't count right?
Q: How many pairs of flip-flops do you own?A. none. i just gave them all to Goodwill!
Q: Last time you had a run-in with the cops?A. never. I have never even been stopped once !!
Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?A. aren't I already grown up??? and the answer is still I have no idea!!
LASTOLOGYQ:
Friend you talked to?A. Jill- ran into her at Shoppers this morning
Q: Last person you called?A. Marlene. Needed to confirm plans for the day.
RANDOMOLOGY
Q: First place you went this morning?A. bathroom
Q: What can you not wait to do?A. get my hair done and manicure
Q: What’s the last movie you saw?A. Conversations with other women (rented)Q: Are you a friendly person?A. I try to be.

day 3

It's day 3 of my new WW plan and I am doing pretty well so far. I have kept within my points allotment all 3 days but have not been that great at getting in 6 glasses of water, 2 cups of milk , 5 fruits or vegitables and a multivitamin...i do feel my stomach less bloated and gross but i know there hasn't been any weight loss quite yet (which is okay but it would be a nice bonus)
i have actually been able to get in a little exercise too (so if you see a lot less of me on facebook-it's because i've decided to take out my runners and be more active while baby is napping rather than browse that ridiculous sight!!!)

Weight Watchers

Almost 2 years ago i decided to join Weight Watchers. I had gained a lot of weight in a very short time and was really down on myself. WW did the trick. I dropped the 20+ pounds I had gained and felt better about myself. Today I decided I'd had enough of all the extra (baby?) weight and decided to go back on the program. Now I won't be attending meetings as they are rather pricey, and I already have all the material from last time. I will just try to stay committed to eating healthy, watch my portion sizes and try to exercise more often...
Since today is day one, i am doing great!! We;ll see how it goes over the next while- i have given myself a time line and small goals along the way- wish me luck!!!

Ode to birthdays

on the night of my 34th b-day...
i am having a very romantic date with blogger
baby is screaming cause he probably made a logger
I am not feeling that great
because i definitely overate (thanks to Passover for that)
hubby is watching the telee
but really all is swelly...
what happened to the days when birthdays were for fun???
oh yeah- we had a kid and now all that is done!!!

happy birthday to me :)
I will enjoy the pretty anklet hubby gave me, and take myself to the mall to get myself something special as I haven't bought much for myself in...let's see When was Elie born????

chag sameach

My favourite holiday of the Jewish year is here. Passover is always my favourite time of year. Spring is in the air, we have an excuse not to eat bread, family gets together for a wonderful meal (or two) and of course my birthday is around this time of year as well...
This year I am hosting the 2nd sedar (feast) For tonight's menu we have
Chicken soup (made by my MIL)
Matzah balls (made by my dad)
Orange and fennel salad (made by my mom)
Sweet and sour meatballs (by moi)
Chicken with peppers (by moi)
Garlic mashed potatoes (by moi)
Potato kugel
Carrot Tzimmis
Apple kugel
Lemon chiffon
fruit salad

5 question meme

1. Are you religious and/or spiritual? How does that affect your daily life?I am not religious but I am a traditionalist. I enjoy the customs and traditions of the Jewish religion and try to follow the basic concept of Judaism-which is often lost when one tries to "do it all". I believe in a higher being and that one gets what one deserves in life so it is important to be the best person you can be (although sometimes that is a little hard) My beliefs only affect my life in the sense that I think about the consequences of the decisions I make on a daily basis.
2. If you could choose anywhere in the world, where would you like to live? Why? Israel. If there was no conflict and life was peaceful I would love to live there. I have been there twice and can honestly say that I felt so at home and at peace with myself when I was there. Life felt more relaxed and less hectic. Everyone just enjoyed being.
3. What do you hate about being a mom? Lack of a full nights sleep. I am totally exhausted and don't think i'll ever feel fully rested again. Also not having 100% of hubby's attention anymore-although i love seeing with our son-they interact so sweetly together.
4. Name three people you would miss if they went out of your life (family not included). And why you would miss them. WOW. This is a toughy...my obvious answer would be my brother but we can't say family...okay- Jill, we laugh together in a way i can't laugh with anyone else. She just gets me!
Deb- she is one of my new mom friends but it feels like i have known her my whole life and we have so much in common. She is such an amazing person and i am really happy to have her in my life now- who else would test my experimental curry and help me scrapbook all in one evening?!?!
I just can't think of anyone else right now- might update later.
5. What is your favorite material possession?
I'm going to have to say my engagement ring as well. I love wearing it and I love looking at it. If I ever forget to wear it I feel naked! Is it weird to say that i'm actually proud of my engagement ring????

On Films

Since joining the ranks of parenthood hubby and I have watched more movies than i can count or remember the titles of...
Here are a few of them

Some Good Movies................................. Some Bad Movies
1. Half Nelson...................................................... 1. Art School Confidential
2. Babel ................................................................2. Larry the Cable Guy* not my thing- Gav liked it
3. Little Miss Sunshine.......................................3. Brick
4. Missing in America ........................................4. I love your work
5. Water............................................................... 5. The DaVinci Code
6. The Devil Wears Prada (sort of good/bad) 6. Failure to Launch
7. Running with Scissors.................................... 7. The Family Stone
8. RV

Movies I have seen with the little guy
Good.........................................Not so good
1. Happy Feet.....................................The Illusionist
2. Because I said so............................The Prestige
3. 007 Casino Royale.........................The Departed
4. You me and Dupree.......................The Breakup
5. Dreamgirls.......................................The Guardian
6. The Holiday
7. Step Up
8. Stranger than Fiction

Stolen from Jill. Just to show how "well read" i am (insert eye rolling here)
1. The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee) READ IT
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery) READ IT
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry) READ IT
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling) READ IT
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling) READ IT 14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving) READ IT
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden) READ IT
16. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Rowling) READ IT
17. Fall on Your Knees(Ann-Marie MacDonald) READ IT (WELL 1/2 OF IT)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Rowling) READ IT
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien) READ IT
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold) READ IT
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams) TRIED TO READ IT
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom) READ IT
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett) READ IT
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay) READ IT
38. I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb) READ IT
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant) READ IT
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini) READ IT
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella) READ IT
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom) READ IT
45. The Bible
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt) READ IT
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb) READ IT
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver) READ IT
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald) READ IT
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling) READ IT
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough) READ IT
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood) READ IT
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolsoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje) READ IT
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. Tigana (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving) READ IT
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down (Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer) READ IT
91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)READ IT
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield) READ IT
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)

On Breastfeeding

Before my son was born I was sure I wanted to breastfeed. I was convinced about the positive aspects of nursing and was not going to pollute my son's body with nasty formula. Then the birth happened. My first attempt at nursing him was not a success. He just wouldn't latch and I wasn't producing any milk yet. I was very upset, angry and frustrated. The nurses at the hospital were not very helpful. One nurse instructed me to do this, the other said do that and yet another said "now this is the right way to do it". A good friend, and hardcore breastfeeding advocate came to the hospital and made many attempts at assisting me to get it right. We tried tube feeding, taping a tube to my nipple and putting Elie on my breast this way, NOTHING, we tried feeding him with a syringe and still nothing. Another friend, who is a registered nurse, tried to help me over the phone. It was very hard, and very very painful. I was becoming discouraged and the hospital was very quick to hand me bottles of formula, which they informed me i needed to give my little boy as he would become dehydrated and lose too much weight. Reluctantly I succumbed to their nudges. After 3 days at the hospital they discharged us and sent us away with a box of formula, bottles, a few nipples and absolutely no knowledge on how to properly breastfeed. I was devastated. My husband being the great man that he is, found as much information as he could find on breastfeeding clinics and lactation consultants, then called them all until he found someone to come over to our house ASAP. Since I had had a c-section it was impossible for me to go to one of the free clinics and it also appeared that there was a long wait to see anyone there...we paid the fairly high price for the most wonderful LC to come and help me. She did a fantastic job and I have referred her to several new moms as I am now a keen advocate of breastfeeding too. It was worth every cent to have her come to our assistance. During the process of learning what techniques worked for me and my baby and talking with Timea the LC, I was told that formula should only be given to moms by prescription. I thought that was a little harsh and fanatical but now after almost 9 months of breastfeeding I believe this is true.
Of course there are days when I feel like a dairy cow and wish that I could stop breastfeeding but I know that I am giving my son the absolute best start in life and there is no way powder manufactured in a factory can be as healthy and nutritious as milk produced by my body made for my baby.
What started out as a terrible nightmare has become one of the most positive experiences for me as a mother. In the beginning I thought my nipples would come right off they were in so much pain but using the breathing techniques I learned at prenatal class helped me though it. I was sure I was going to have a nervous breakdown due to being so torn on what to do about feeding my son. I wanted to breastfeed him so badly but it wasn't coming naturally and it seemed like the hospital had some sort of conspiracy with the formula companies so that new moms would feel like formula is easier than feeding the natural way. Through persistence, and lots of help from friends and a great LC I was able to grant myself the wish to breastfeed. I just wish more new moms out there did the same as me.
Remember Breast really is Best!!!

good stuff about me, not so good stuff about me..

Inspired by Jill's posting I thought I'd try to think of 10 things in total (not so sure I could come up with 10 of each today-feeling really crappy)

5 good things about me

1. I make friends easily
2. I am a good money manager- i can save better than many people i know
3. I am a good cook and like to cook for others
4. I have an amazing memory- if you tell me something once I will usually remember it-so be careful!!!
5. my husband and my baby are the most important things in the world to me- iwould walk to the ends of the earth for either of them

5 not so good things about me

1. I am a little lazy
2. my house is never as clean as I think it should be
3. I can be a little cheap- i like to save money and worry that money will run out so i don't spend it easily
4. I am too sensitive and take things way too personally at times
5. I am a terrible sick person- if i'm not feeling well you'll all know about it!!

food meme

1. What's your #1 comfort food? any type of soup. My new favourite is sweet potatoe and carrot soup
2. If you were on a deserted island, what one food would you want to have with you? carrots- i can eat them day in a day out and they are soo filling and yummy raw!
3. What is/are your signature dishes? (What dishes are you 'known' for?) well i make amazing zuccini muffins, excellent tillapia and this nice couscous dish with dried cranberries
4. It's Friday night, you don't know what to cook. You opt for...stir fry with sweet and sour sauce
5. What's your biggest weakness when it comes to food? carbs- i love bread and crackers
6. What food can you absolutely not eat? caviar- i have tried but just don't like it
7. You need a drink. You grab a-diet coke or a coffee
8. What's the most decadent dish you've had? seafood lasagna with bechemal sauce-DELISH!!
9. What's your favorite type of food? Korean or a close second is sushi
10. Favorite dish? Soon tubo chigae (tofu stew-very spicy and yummy
11. If your partner could take you to any restaurant you wanted, which one would it be? Tavern on the green in NYC...just because it's so famous
12. Are you a soup or salad person? definitely love making and eating soup, but do like nice crispy salad too
13. Buffet, take-out or sit-down restaurant? depends on my mood but usually sit-down as I always overeat at buffets-but i do like the fact that you can taste a little of everything
14. What's the most impressive dinner you've ever made? let's start with dessert- chocolate covered strawberries, sole with yogurt dill sauce, carrot califlower soup and moroccan couscous
15. Do you consider yourself a good cook? pretty good but i have to be in the mood to cook
16. Do you know what vichyssoise is? of course- soo yummy in the summer when it's really hot and you don't want hot soup
17. Who's your favorite TV cook? i don't have one
18. Can you name at least three TV cooking personalities? Rachael Ray (her annoying big mouth makes me cringe) Emeril ( i know he's passe but BAM I still like him) and Bobby Flay
19. Homemade or homemade from a box? Homemade no doubt
20. Name 3 or more other foodies you are going to tag. Danielle, Karen and anyone else who wants to do this silly meme :)

Dontoearth

In Sunday's Toronto Star there was an article on the life of Don Crowdis. He is 92 years of age and writes a blog on the stories of his life. I find it fascinating. I cannot imagine being married to the same person for 70 years (which he has!!!) if hubby and I are ever married for that long i'll be 102 and he'll be 106!! Unfortunate to think about but realistically probably won't happen...
Check out his blog here.

i hate winter

Here i am at 4:50 in the morning wide awake. My poor little boy has been up every night for the last 3 weeks with either teething pains, coughing or a blocked nose. I have done everything i can and it just doesn't seem like enough. He has been nursed to the point that I am so sore, his nose has been baby-vacced, and he has been given Tempra, Camillia, and Anbesol...and against my husbands' advice i have rocked my crying baby to sleep. BUT GUESS WHAT??? It worked! Thank goodness.

NOW I have to deal with my own cold and sore throat. I thought I was coughing yesterday due to a reaction to something i smelled but NOPE, i have a full blown cold now too. I think i'll go sleep in front of the TV on the sofa as not to disturb hubby who is now peacefully sleeping thanks to my rocking baby to sleep!

MILF

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For all the moms out there...loved this one

A man came home from work and found his three Children outside, still In their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty Food boxes and wrappers Strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife's car was open, as was The front door to the house And there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding Into the entry, he found An even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked Over, and the throw rug was Wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a Cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys And various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, Breakfast food was spilled on the Counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog Food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a Small pile of sand was spread By the back door. He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over Toys and more piles of Clothes,looking for his wife. He was worried She might be ill, or that Something serious had happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, Scummy soap and more toys Strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a Heap and toothpaste had been Smeared over the mirror and walls. As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife Still curled up in the bed In her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up At him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, "What Happened here today?" She again smiled and answered, "You know every Day when you come home From work and you ask me what in the world I do all Day?" "Yes," was his incredulous reply. She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it." Priceless...

why blog????

Blogging is supposed to be fun. It is supposed to be stress free, it is supposed to allow me to write and express my thoughts and opinions without harsh critisicm or judgement.
Lately I have not felt that blogging is any of these things. After some ridicule on a post I did regarding personality and underwear choice was bashed by someone She wrote the following on a board accesable by all the mothers in my online group "HI, I’m new to the group and have some concerns. I looked at the website and looked at some links of members and found a very disturbing posting.
“When I meet someone new I always kind of wonder (not in a perverted way) what kind of undies they like to wear. I try to figure out based on their personality and persona if they are cotton brief wearers, thong or tanga enthusiasts…sometimes I even get a peak at their undies when they bend over to pick something up -which are most often sticking out from the top of their lower than their underwear pants “ "I have two little girls and do not think a mommy should use a baby group as a place to fulfill her weird fetish. I find it strange a mommy would even post such a thought knowing her website is linked to this site. I think I would be very uncomfortable now around this mom wondering if she is looking at me or even my girls. Maybe this mom needs some help? I just think as a mother I should make other moms aware of the thoughts this mother has. It was under gaviesgal or something like that (a blog) I’m just very carefull having two young daughters with a world full of crazy people (male & female)"
I tried to blow these ridiculous comments off but I cannot stop thinking about how this mother misread my innocent, attempt at a funny post as something dirty and deviant. There was absolutely nothing there intended to make anyone uncomfortable or believe that I could possibly do harm to another woman or a child. This comment has been weighing on my mind since I initially read it a couple of days ago. I have never met the woman who wrote this in person and really do not care to meet her EVER.
There have been other posts in the past that were misconstrued as well. I won't get into all the details now but I just want to make the point that sometimes email and the written word is not taken in the context it is written. People may read between the lines-and incorrectly at that, or the writer does not express what they are trying to say with enough poise and eloquence that they are misunderstood. I suppose this is why we spend years taking English classes analysing writings of all sorts!
Before you respond to my query please note that most of my "mommy friends" came to my defence and did in fact stand up for me, stating that this comment was ludicrous and absolutely unfounded but it has still be on my mind and I would love other views on what this one mother read into my post (which i deleted because I was so upset by these accustions)
Thanks everyone!!

Water

I watched the emotionally charged film WATER this evening. Set in 1938 Colonial India, against Mahatma Gandhi's rise to power, the story begins when eight-year-old Chuyia is widowed and sent to a home where Hindu widows must live in penitence. Chuyia’s feisty presence affects the lives of the other residents, including a young widow, who falls for a Gandhian idealist.
This film has left me wondering about the state of the world.Also of how blessed I am to have been born in Canada in a time when women have so many rights and freedoms unlike those in less advance societies of another time.

i have a sicky on my hands

Elie has had a runny nose for almost 2 weeks now. Gavin and I didn't think it was anything more than a cold, as so many of the kids in Elie's playgroups have been under-the-weather as well. A couple of nights ago we noticed Elie was coughing and wheezing a bit so I took the little guy to the doctor today. Boy am I thankful I did! The poor little guy has a virul infection and something similar to bronchitis. He is now on ventilin and we must administer it to him 2-3 times a day until the wheezing stops. I'm so grateful he is going to be okay but as it always goes when I leave the doctors office, I have a terrible cough now too-and a runny nose!!!

my new hair and EYEBROWS :)

i finally took the time- and really 3 hours is a long time- to have my hair done :)
I sat in that chair while Ricky the new stylist at the Ultimate Cut, coloured, washed, dried, highlighted, washed again, cut and finally blowdried my hair to perfection...it was a long process but oh so worth it!! I felt like a human again and low and behold NO MORE ROOTS!!! This woman really knows what she is doing and in my search for a great hair stylist/colorist I have finally found someone I would go back to more than once!!!
Congratulate me!!!
Yesterday I actually took the 5 minutes I needed to have my unruly eyebrows waxed...they had gotten completely out of control- again I would recommend Maryam at The Cut Above in the Promenade. She did a fantastic job, with very little pain, little time and complete honesty- i told her i wanted my brows shaped a little more and she didn't try to do the impossible but told me outright that i would need to continue coming back to her for a few times before I can get the shape i want. Since getting pregnant and having Elie my hair and my eyebrows have completely changed texture so it would be best to continue with the same women each time rather than trying someone new every time I go for pampering!!
anyway here are a couple of pics- the first one is of my new hair and old brows, the second one is my hair AND brows (not the best pics but better than the self portraits i had attempted ) :)))

baby loves apples :)

adventures in body waxing...

well not as exciting as the title sounds...I decided to try and wax my own eyebrows as I know both Jill and Christine have done this task before. I bought the Andreas face and bikni wax a while ago and did try it once but was not successful so i put it away until the other day. I figured that Elie was sleeping and i didn't feel like cleaning the house so i pulled out the box of wax strips. The instructions say to warm the wax strips between your hands by rubbing- i used a hairdryer as i did note that last time the wax was not warm enough. I thought this might work...well here are pictures of my before and after...tell me what you think.
i have not had much luck with my attempts to wax my own eyebrows...I think i'll make a trip to the salon tomorrow to have them done proffesionally- i know the bushy look is in again but this is just too much :0
I can't see any difference AT ALL!!!

4 things meme....

I've been tagged once again...

Four places I have worked:
1. Ultra Mart
2. Bootlegger
3. 21st Century English Hagwan
4. Dominion

Four movies I would watch over and over:
1. When Harry Met Sally
2. The Notebook
3. Forest Gump
5. 10 things I hate about you

Four of my favorite TV shows:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Desperate Housewives
3. The Apprentice
4. Y&R
Four places I have been on vacation:
1. Las Vegas
2. Seattle
3. Dominican Republic
4. Margarita Island

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Sushi
2. Thai
3. Korean
4. Ethiopian

Four things I like to do in my spare time:
1. Shop for Elie
2. exercise
3. read
4. pick my nose...j/j want to see if you're paying attention, i'll have to say nag my husband to clean up his clutter
Four people I tag (tag as many as you like, it's okay)
1. Danielle
2. Karen
3. everyone else has been tagged...
4. nada

No Babies on Board

"No Babies on Board"
The recent news about a family being kicked off an AirTran flight because they were unable to get their 3 year old daughter to take her seat caught my attention. I was curious to know what others thought of the ailine asking the family to depart the plane and later reimbursing them for 3 tickets plus offering them an upgrade. The comments left on the MSN site seemed to mostly agree with the airline. I was surprised but quite happy to read that most people believe the parents needed to take control of the situation rather than letting their daughter run the show. A 15 minute delay doesn't sound like much but when listening to a 3 year old whine for that long i'm sure it felt like an eternity!
I have never flown with a child but i have been on flights with crying children and I can say it isn't pleasurable at all.
What do you think of the airlines decision to kick this family off the plane after the child caused a 15 minute delay to all the other passengers???

Live and Learn!!

When Elie was only 3 months old I registered him for a bunch of classes through Toronto Parks and Rec. How did I know that he would be napping during these times and I would not be able to make the classes?!?! Now that I am a more experienced mommy I know that morning naps are really important and I would never interfere with my little guys nap time!
Now that I have withdrawn from both yoga and sing&play it's back to Salsa Babies on Friday afternoons. I am actually happy because SB is way closer to home and lots of fun for both Elie and I!! PLUS I get some exercise too :)

10 Things I love that start with 'G', and 10 things i hate

Chrissy had this on her blog and it looked like fun, so I decided I wanted to play. She was assigned the letter “T” and then assigned me the letter "G".

10 Things I love that start with the letter 'G'

1) the most obvious GAVIN my loving, amazing hubby
2) grapes- just so sweet and delicious
3) gravy- love it but don't eat it too often
4) Grey's Anatomy- a great TV show
5) Grey- my new favourite color- i wanna paint the bathroom again and this time it'll be light grey
6) GAP, gotta love their clothes. the jeans last forever and the styles are classic
7) gefilte fish- yummy!!!
8) Green beans, so good for you and versatile to cook with
9) Greatness
10) Generosity

10 things i hate that start with the letter 'G'

1) Guinness beer- well all beer but this one starts with G
2) gumbo- never tried it but it sounds gross
3) gum chewing- not gum itself but people who chew gum like cows really bothers me!
4) greek salad- too fatty and overpriced for a few lettuce leaves and some feta
5) guilt- i hate feeling guilty or being made to feel guilty
6) games- not board games but head games
7) goop/gel- like the *hi* some people put in their hair
8) greed- not a fan of selfishness or materialism
9) giants- just freak me out for some reason
10) Gentrification- when the lower-income folks are booted to the curb and no longer have a place to live

why i don't always make the bed :)

In Honour of National Meme Week :)

I took this TERRIBLE TWOS meme from Christine....
Two Names You Go By:
1. Dina
2. Devorah (my hebrew name)
Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1. Turquoise top from Old Navy
2. Black yoga pants from Old Navy

Things You Want in a Relationship:
1. Openess
2. Honesty

Two of Your Favourite Things to do:
1. read chick novels
2. watch movies

Two Things You Want Very Badly At The Moment:
1. a big plate of pasta with rose sauace
2. new furniture for my boys' room

Two pets you had/have:
1. 2 cats
2. a puppy
Two people who will fill this out:
1. no clue
2. again no clue
Two things you did last night:
1. went to my cousins bar mitvah
2. ate greasy food
Two People that live in your house:
1. baby Elie
2. my husband
Two things you ate today:
1. toast with butter
2. vegetable lasagna (homemade by me)

Two people you Last Talked To:
1. my mom
2. my friend Aliza

Two Things You're doing tomorrow:
1. working out on the elliptical machine
2. laundry

Two longest car rides:
1. Toronto to Florida
2. Bangkok to Ko Samui

Two Favourite Holidays:
1. Passover
2. Chanukah

Two Favourite beverages:
1. diet coke
2. cafe latte

Elegant Casual????

We received an invitation for my cousin's Bar Mitzvah. The invite stated on it that it was "elegant casual" now my question is WTF does that mean???
In my opinion it meant kakis or slacks with a shirt, no suit required for men and dressy but not formal for women...well the event took place last night and my hubby (on my ill advice) went in just that kakis and a nice dress shirt...every other man there (with the exception of the DJ) showed up in a suit and the Zaydi of the bm boy was wearing a tuxedo...why would the invite state anything about the attire if normal attire was expected and there was nothing unusual about what one should wear (like many wedding invites state black tie welcome or i have seen a brunch wedding invite state elegant attire but I have never seen an evening event, bar mitvah or wedding, state casual elegant. What would you have done in this situation? and was my assumption that "casual elegant" meant slack but not jeans completely off the wall (obviously it was based on everyone elses dress for the event) AND is it better to be under dressed than over dressed???

Where i've been in the world...

create your own visited countries map
or vertaling Duits Nederlands

easy, healthy, fishy

In my search for yummy healthy dinner options I have discovered this delish dish...
it is herb crusted tilapia with yogurt dill sauce

take however number of fillets you want and top each with one tablespoon of yogurt, then take some minced dill (you can use fresh or dried) and sprinkle over each fillet. top one tablespoon of grated parmesan cheese on each fillet and one tablespoon of breadcrumbs. Season with a little salt and pepper, bake in oven at 400 dgrees for 20 minutes. YUMMY!! (i have also done this same recipe but pan fried it in a little olive oil- even yummier but less healthy)
This goes nicely with steamed cauliflower and broccoli and a baked potatoe.

The nostalgia continues...

This is Lisa...back at Graduation 1997...all made up on her wedding day and most recently at a wedding :)

I have been in a reflective mood lately. I have decided to post some of my old photos and look at how some of us have changed (or not!?!?!) Here are a few photos of Lauren...graduation from Ottawa U 1996, absolutely stunning on her wedding day and more recently with her daughter and my son :)

here are more THEN vs NOW shots...

Graduation 1996 The New Mummy look..2006

Can you believe this????.

While trying to actually work on some of my New Years resolutions I came across a huge box of pictures. I thought it might be fun to take a stroll down memory lane and look at some "those were the days" shots as well as some old vs newish ones...boy it's time we got out the camera and took some recent friends photos!!!
JILL: AUG 26 1993
Jill and Dina December 13, 1993
Jill November 1996
Jill and Dina New Years Eve 2000

I've resolved to...

Well it's pretty early January first and I've been up for a while. I decided that part of my New Year's resolution would be to get up early daily and do the errands I've been avoiding since Elie was born. I have been complaining for ages now that the house is a mess and needs to be organized- well since I have realized that hubby's promises of doing this job are pretty empty I'm doing them myself- slowly but they are going to get done!
I also wanted to finally finish decorating the nursery so I started on that too, i've hung the mural we bought for him before he was born. I'm off to get a frame for some of his pictures to hang those too (well that will have to wait until the stores are open tomorrow)
So here is my list of things I would like to work on or things i resolve to do/change
1)I am going to try and just do things rather than complain that they need to be done (like cleaning the house, the car etc...)
2) think before i speak and not take things so personally(especially with family members)
3) make some time for myself each day-either by exercising or reading a book for my pleasure- both things i loved doing before but haven't done in a long time
4) start cooking more again- i've been a little lazy lately and have bought too many frozen lasagnas and mousakas to be healthy!
5) try to call friends more often- i have become an email junky, if people don't use email as often as i do then i tend to lose touch with them
6) read the newspaper or at least try to listen to the news more often- i feel completely out of touch with what is going on in the world
7) not get so upset when Elie is crying uncontrollably and remember he is just a baby and baby's cry
Okay that is it- 7 resolutions for 2007...