do your homework!

I have never been one to do homework. Back in school i kind a' sort a' did my research and homework. I would really rely on others for help and always managed to get by...even managed through university this way!!
Now that i'm a mom i have realized just how important doing homework really is. There are many many baby products on the market and so many important choices to make. I have relied somewhat on the experience of others to guide me through what to buy and what to avoid. Unfortunately i have had to learn for myself that some products just don't work for me or don't have all the features i need or want. Strollers, car seats, baby carriers, toys and even choices on furniture to be made...cheap is NOT always better and what worked for one mom most definitely doesn't work for all moms.
Most recently i have been searching for a double stroller. I bought the Peg Aria Twin on the recommendation of a friend and was really unhappy with it. The basket sagged, the wheels got stuck and it just didn't fit through doorways as easily as it should. I found it very clumbsy to manouvere. It was light weight and was pretty good for going to the mall but not much else. Forget taking trips to the park or the zoo where long walks on pavement or uneven surfaces were neccessary. One double stroller gone...lucky i was able to sell it easily!!
The second one i got was great on the roads, moved well over uneven sidewalks and seemed pretty comfy for the kids too.Baby Trend Expedition Jogger..unfortunately once this mammoth was assembled we couldn't fit it into our trunk! Getting it through doorways was IMPOSSIBLE so i had to take the kids out of the stroller before getting into the house, fold this monster up outside and wait for Gav to come home in order to take it in and downstairs (which wouldn't have been a problem if we had our own garage) Lucky Toys R Us didn't give me any hassles returning it!

Now i'm eyeing another beauty...Phil and Teds sport buggy with a doubles attachment...all the reviews are raving about this...do i take the plunge? and do you know anyone in person who has this stroller, are they happy with it, do they find it easy to use, easy to fold, easy(ish) to lift into their trunk...don't feel like buying and selling so soon again!!

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT

Join me and others you may know at the 2008 Breastfeeding Challenge. Saturday October 11 at 10 am. Click here for more details. Spread the word!!
If you are in Toronto the location will be North York Civic Centre at 5100 Yonge St.

what not to do...

i think it's very important for children to have wonderful memories of childhood...creating memories (and good ones at that) has been a priority of mine since deciding to have kids...but i now wonder if i am suffering some severe mommy brain as lately i have made a few really silly/stupid decisions regarding taking the kids places this summer

first mistake:
taking a trip to Niagara Falls for the day. We wanted to go to the casino just to look around but were told that we couldn't take the kids with us. Also the 2 hour drive each way felt a LOT longer coming home than it did going as we heard a symphony of crying for a good hour as both kids were hungry and definitely tired. I begged hubby to pull over so i could feed the baby and stop her wailing but he was on a mission to get home and wouldn't give in to my plea..

next mistake:
shlepping both kids BY SUBWAY (which was the only really smart thing we did) downtown to Buskerfest. It was way to busy to see any of the acts and navigating the intense crowds with a double stroller was nothing i want to try again EVER!!
Lucky for us the St Lawrence Market was nearby so we could escape the heat, walk around and eventually settle down at a table with some amazing yummy food from one of the vendors. We will definitely go back to the market but leave the bigger kid at home or go when he is in daycare! Buskerfest is something i will say "been there,m done that" about in the future!!

Getting a fancy sprinkler for our backyard...the boy just doesn't like it. He will beg us to put it on then scream his head off if the water comes anywhere near him...i want to yell "make up your mind already" but i do realize he is only 2 and that is part of how he learns etc...

I now realize that they are too young to really care where we go and taking them to the park is just as much fun and stimulating for them as going to all these fancy places...when they are older they will actually enjoy our effort and for now the local park and malls will be just fine!!!(btw fancy pansy- you told me this ages ago and i %100 agree with you...just had to figure it out for myself !!)

okay i got those things off my chest now i can go to sleep in peace :)

Movie Madness

Since all we really seem to do anymore once the kids are asleep is watch movies I thought I'd give you a quick review of a few great finds we've seen lately.

Flawless A crime/drama set in 1960 London, where a soon to retire janitor (Michael Caine) convinces a glass-ceiling constrained American executive (Demi Moore) to help him steal a handful of diamonds from their employer, the London Diamond Corporation.

The Air I breath Forever linked together by ruthless crime boss Fingers (Andy Garcia) and a series of unpredictable twists of fate, the characters of THE AIR I BREATHE weave together in an existential study in luck, both the good and bad.
The Cleaner A former cop who now earns a wage as a crime scene cleaner unknowingly participates in a cover-up at his latest job

(these previews are not written by me. I have taken all of them from other sources on the web)

All three of these movies were really well done and kept my interest for the whole duration of the shows. I would recommend all of them for you to enjoy!! Good job picking 'em hubby!!

i have been out of the blogsphere for so long now i was thinking of just killing my blog altogether but decided to give it another shot and see how i feel afterwards...
Since having baby #2 i have been in another world!! There are so many things to remember and also things to get used to when dealing with a 2nd child as well as a girl...just changing a diaper is completely different and definitely a lot harder with girls!! Chasing a 2 year old and trying to explain the need for patience and being gentle towards the baby is a challenge all on its own!! Luckily babies are a lot more resilient than we think and don't really need to be handled like china dolls all the time- and when wooden puzzles fall on their heads the bruises heal SUPER fast too!!
Recovering from the c-section has also been a lot tougher this time around. I have had numerous trips to the doctor and have been suffering the aftermath of very harsh anti-biotics, opening and resealing of the stitches and nursing an extremely hungry baby through all this. Not fun and not something i could have expected or been prepared for in the least!!
okay i have complained enough for today and i have to go take a nap as baby is sleeping and i need some rest to catch up on the sleep i've missed over the last 3 weeks....

a few things to do...

So my vacation has started...that is the 2.5 weeks i have off until the baby arrives...i have a huge TO DO list and i am just wondering how much i'm actually going to get done...most of it involves some sort of cleaning project. AND I say project because these things aren't just tidy up a shelf but involve some serious emptying, purging and tossing of LOTS of things...

Here is my list

clean out both my and hubby's closets
rearrange linen closet
clean out coat closet(AGAIN)
clean out E's closet
clean out computer room/baby room closet
get a mani/pedi/serious waxing
wash all new baby clothes (lucky there aren't THAT many)
get hair cut, color and highlights

hmmm the list doesn't seem THAT bad now that it is written down...let's see how much i actually get done. My goal is one item per day, with a few break days just for R & R...

Just a Vent...

The other day i was at the gas station filling up when a car pulled in to the pump next to mine. It was a fairly recent model Mercedes with all the trimmings, nice shiny rims, flashy skirt and modern detailing. That car cost big bucks...the only problem was the 3 year old bouncing around in back seat WITH NO CAR SEAT IN SIGHT. I couldn't believe my eyes when I first saw this kid jumping around the back seat, up closer observation i realized there was no car seat installed in this car at all. I don't know if the car belonged to the kid's parents or if she was just a passenger in someone elses car but there is absolutely no excuse to risk the life of an innocent child by not restraining her in a car seat (or at the very least a booster seat).
I was so angry but I couldn't bring myself to say anything as one never knows these days who is holding what weapon or just how defensive and angry the recipient of my nasty words will get. I just let it go and drove off shaking my head in disbelief and praying that car wasn't in some horrible accident where surely that little girl would be seriously hurt...
What can you do in a situation like that? Would you have said something???

I'm back...

at least for today !! I can't believe a whole month has passed and I haven't committed to one blog entry...where does the time go??? OHHH I know...it's been so hectic with trying to get the house ready for the newest addition...our nursery is STILL an office, with just a few less books to contend with...we have no place for the baby to sleep yet- unless letting her sleep in a pack 'n play is seen as acceptable...(of course we do have a bassinet that she can use, but if she is anything like DS she won't want to stay in that for very long-he only used it for 6 weeks, glad it was a gift and we didn't fork out the $200 bucks for it!!!)

We have made some progress though, we picked out paint and a border for the room. We do know where the furniture will go, once we actually order it! and i have a couple of sleepers ready for bringing the home.
Things we still need:
crib
change table
double stroller
diapers
curtains
book shelf
...and the list goes on!!

alright maybe since i have taken today off (as a "rest" day) i should get a move on and actually work on the things that need to be done!!!

Cheers!!!

Earth Day is coming

amazing how time flies...i've been meaning to post for over 2 weeks now and just haven't had the time or energy...now all my blog ideas have passed but I will try ..

In honour of Earth Day I wanted to post about a few things I have tried recently around the house. Some have worked for me and some...well we'll just say at leave I tried.

Things I like
1) using baking soda to scrub the sinks. They really do come out shining and clean looking. Just don't use too much or you end up with a bit of a mess to contend with. I finally got the proportions right after a couple of tries.
2) hanging some laundry rather than using the dryer. I tried hanging everything but found that my underwear and socks didn't feel quite right on when they weren't dried in the dryer. They felt kind of crunchy and uncomfortable. I will continue to use the dryer for those garmets.
3) using vinager to clean the counter tops. I don't mind the smell and it basically gets things clean. If i really want to disinfect I will use a cleaning product with anti-bacterial components because I'm not sure vinigar contains any.
4) using old towels cut into smaller cloths to scrub counters and other surfaces rather than paper towels. Not only are we helping the environment but also saving $$ on paper towel.
5) walking as many places as possible rather than driving. This can be a hard one for many people as in todays world so many people live in the suburbs and driving is a neccesity but for us there are many things close by that driving seems a waste (and it can take longer to make the left hand turn onto the street in front of our house than it takes to walk to where we are going!!)This one also depends on the weather, now that it is nice out it is MUCH easier to do this..i personally can't imagine walking to the grocery store with a stroller in the disgusting snow we had this past winter!!
6) using reusable bags at the grocery store and other shopping excursions. I just don't get why more people don't do this. It just seems to make sense, yet you'd be surprised how many store clerks look at me funny when i tell them i don't need/want a bag!
7) using compact fluorescent lightbulbs. I resisted buying these for a while because they seems so pricey but after needing to replace our bedroom light bulbs more often than i felt needed we took the plunge and bought the compacts, they are great! AND I only need one verses two or two verses three as they are super bright!! Now i won't have to replace them for quite some time (I hope!!)

Things I'm not so keen on
1) I read that one can unclog a sink by pouring baking soda, followed by vinegar and boiling water down the drain...this method just isn't working for us. And now that i've been losing tonnes of hair due to pregnancy hormones the sink is seriously clogged..we need some liquid Drano to do the trick i think :(
2) reusing my dishwater. I don't actually wash dishes by hand that often but when i do I just can't imagine taking that water and going to water my plants (i should say plant-we don't do well with plants around here) SOMETIMES i do take the vegitable water I used to boil/steam vegitables and use it to water my outdoor flowers(when i have actually taken the time to plant any...none so far this year)
3) ...hmm i thought i could think of a few more things i was having trouble with but when i really think about it so much of it just seems to make sense...

what to do...

with a 21 month old on a day when there is nothing open or you don't want to go out??? Well we tried painting, that resulted in lots of screaming and lots of colors...ON THE FLOOR- luckily i bought washable paints so it wasn't such a terrible thing but painting only kept him busy for 15 minutes during an 8 hours day (my boy rarely sleeps during the day and if he does it's usually only for 20-30 minutes-if we're lucky)....on the suggestion of Karen's friend whom i ran into at the mall one day, we tried playdough. OY VEY is all i can say!! For some reason the squishing and rolling of blue playdough on my sons' high chair tray resulted in a huge fit and crying session...he just didn't like it and absolutely wouldn't TOUCH it...well that was a nice 5 minutes spent during a really really long day!!!

Any suggestion on what you would do with a bored 21 month old child ??? We really don't want him to watch more TV than he already watches (I am sad to say that he already has a grunt/word for Thomas the Tank Engine, Dora and Diego...no need to encourage more character admeration!!)
HELP!!!

Earth Hour...

seemed to be a success in our neighborhood. I looked out the window around 8:30 to see how many people had turned out the lights and my estimate would be 50%. Not bad, not amazing but a start...the only problem we had with it was there was really nothing to do as we couldn't go anywhere with sleeping boy upstair so we went to sleep too....hence my new posting at 2:15 am!!

Going to bed at 8:30/9 ish seemed like a great idea only now i am awake and I don't foresee falling asleep again until 4ish so the internet is going to be my best friend for the next couple of hours :) Oh well...at least tomorrow is Sunday and i can rest- lol...who am i kidding ??? There is no day of rest when one has an almost 2 year old to take care of and entertain for an entire day!!

sometimes...quality pays!!

After 15 years my beloved Revlon hairdryer decided to say it's final goodbyes a few weeks ago. I had bought that dryer at Shoppers Drug Mart when i was in 2nd year university. It saw me through graduation, my short hair fase, moving overseas (and yes it did come with me) moving out on my own, long hair again, getting married, having a baby and too many others to mention...
I was mid-blowdry when hubby walked in and noticed something smoking, flames coming out only inches from my head-how i didn't notice i am still not sure...but that scene started my search for a new hairdryer. Luckily i had just washed my hair so i had a few days grace before i NEEDED to get myself over to a beauty supply outlet store...(i only wash my hair once every 3 days to avoid drying it out and damaging it)
I researched a bit and shopped around before making the best purchse ever!! I got myself a Bablyiss red ceramic dryer. This thing is the best thing that has ever happened to my hair. I always thought i needed to use my chi iron everyday to flatten out my puffy hair-what i didn't know was my puffy hair was a direct result of an old, crappy hairdryer! No product or styling aid has done the things to my hair like this amazing dryer. I have been getting compliments on my hair from my coworkers for days now...i keep telling them it's the new dryer!
i just hope this dryer last me 15 years like my last one did!!

let the fun begin...

Today is day one of our hopefully 3 week renovation. We have finally, after much umming and ahhing decided that we NEEDED to have our basement made into usable, livable space. With baby #2 on its way in less than 3 months there was no way we could manage without the space this renovation is going to create.
I am so excited since we get to pick out carpet and paints, moulding and trim-something we never got to do with the purchase of this house- everything was already here (as much as i like or dislike it) -well we did pick out paint but for the basement we can do something more fun if we choose and less "functional" as i like to call our choice of colour in the rest of the house.
It is too embarassing to post before photos of the basement so i'll just try to take a few during and some definitely after shots!

Let's just hope that the 3 week time frame actually stands and we can have our house back to "guest worthy" shape in no time!!

it's a love hate thing...

I love Toronto. I can't imagine living in any other city long term. Sure we talk about how much easier life would be if we moved to a small place with cheaper real estate and slower pace of life, but i doubt we could ever actually do it (and kudos to those who have/can done it...just not for us).
With all the amazing things about Toronto, the restaurants, theaters, cultural neighborhoods etc there is one thing i can't stand...PAYING FOR PARKING. I hate hate hate having to pay for parking. It just seems as though there are fewer areas where one can actually park for free. Government wants to encourage people to take public transit but they don't expand the system enough and those areas where the subway does reach you must pay an arm and a leg to park in order to leave your car and take "the better way".
The other day i went somewhere and had to park for 1.5 hours...$7 later and i was able to get home again ARGH...had i been able to get to my car about 5 minutes faster then i would have saved $1.75 as i was dinged for the next .5 hours...it's pay per 1/2 hour and any part there of...
i know that places like New York City have even crazier parking situations than we do but it still peeves me that one must pay for parking in a RESIDENTIAL neighborhood. They have built so many condos in business areas that now one must pay to visit friends who live in these neighborhoods...they don't even have visitor parking as these spots would likely be taken by people working the area rather than for their intended use...
anyway that is my parking rant for today...

Good bye old friend

After 8 years it was time to say good-bye to a dear old friend. She just wasn't giving me what I needed anymore and our friendship was becoming more strained and stressful with each passing day. When we were first introduced we got along really well. She was so reliable and I could count on her without an issue. Her and I took many trips together. We went camping, to Montreal and even to Niagara Falls.
Unfortunately my 1997 Cavalier wasn't able to survive another winter. She just gave up the fight and we had her towed away on Monday evening. How sad to see her last triumph out of the garage hooked up to a big tow truck. We couldn't even have one last trip together before our final goodbye. It feels strange to be attached to a big hunk of metal but after so many years together I can't help feeling a little emotional and sad. She was the first car i'd ever bought with my own money. Getting her was the start of my freedom as an independant adult.
BUT on the bright side....i got a brand new car. A pretty Khaki colored Jeep Compass. I'm sure this new friend and I will have many good times together. We're already planning trips to the wild north to visit friends, camping and other trips during the summer.
To my new friend: we look forward to spending many years with you- we promise to treat you well and hope you do the same!!!

what could be better...or easier!!???

Another family favourite around here is Tuna Cassarole...here is my version- SOO simple, and SOO yummy

1 box of mac and cheese
1 can of tuna
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 cup of frozen peas

cook mac and cheese as per box instructions. Add other ingrediants, mix well, transfer to a baking dish and bake in oven at 400 for about 20 minutes. Sometimes i sprinkle a mix of cheese and breadcrumbs on the top before baking to give it a nice crust...tastey but not neccessary :)

food is on my mind...

lately the only consistant thing around here is my need to make dinner and/or breakfast and lunch...i have kind of been wanting to turn this into a food blog anyway so here it is...

Sundays in my mind should be a day for relaxing with family, a day to enjoy a nice leisurely breakfast, read the newspaper and stay in PJ's for a better part of the morning...since I don't seem to have the luxery of relaxing, reading the paper or staying in my PJ's all day anymore I relish in my Sunday morning breakfast routine. These days it has been my need for home made pancakes and eggs...
Last week i made chocolate chip pancakes, which the boy gobbled up in just moments. Of course it was the first time he had had pancakes and the first time he had had chocolate (other than the occassional glass of chocolate milk)...Today I decided to make it a little healthier and do blueberry pancakes instead. He wasn't impressed (and neither was I for that matter-but that didn't stop me from eating 4 HUGE pancakes before i decided i didn't like them) Hubby of course ate them AND told me how good they were...ah nice hubby!!

Here is my recipe

1 and 1/4 cup pancake mix
1 cup milk (i used whole milk as it's all i had on hand)
1 egg
1 TBSP oil
pint of blueberries or cup of chocolate chips, could probably use bananas or other fruit if you wish
mix all ingrediants together

pour by spoonful into sprayed, preheated frying pan, wait for tops to bubble and turn over to brown other side.
Make sure not to use too much batter per pancake or they won't cook in the middle and might burn on the outside.
This recipe is supposed to make 12 pancakes but i always end up with about 8!

If you have a pancake recipe that you use and really like let me know! I'm open for experiments!

and the absolute best meal...

is friday nights when i don't have to cook and mom and dad do all the work!! Thank goodness for Shabbat dinners! Stress free in so many ways but oh-so-stressful in so many other ways!!

my next favourite meal...

SLOPPY JOES!!!
This has got to be the absolute easiest meal ever!!!

Take one pound of ground beef, brown in skillet, add one can of diced tomatoes, and one packet of Sloppy Joe seasonging mix, simmer for 20 minutes then serve over toast or buns (teehee)...YUMMY!!

my fave (and easiest ever) dinner

I have been on a quest to find really fast and easy dinner solutions. I don't want to get into the habit of making pre-cooked or frozen foods so i have been experimenting with a few different recipes lately...
my new favorite dinner is turkey meatloaf. This is the easiest receipes EVER!

Ingrediants:
1 can of jellied cranberry sauce
1 cup of chunky salsa (i like using medium spice)
2 tablespoons brownsugar
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 pound of ground turkey

On stovetop, in saucepan melt the can of cranberry sauce, once melted add salsa and sugar.

In bowl combine turkey, oatmeal and 1/2 cup of cranberry mixture. Shape into loaf and put in baking pan, cover with 1 cup of cranberry mixture. Bake in oven at 425 for 45 minutes.
The rest of the cranberry mixture can be frozen or kept in the fridge for another time. Serve with a salad and potatoes and viola!!
I love having the cranberry mixture in the freezer so that i have a really quick and easy meal solution for another exhausting evening!

who knew...

I have been out of the blog circuit for a little while now. Since starting a new position I haven't been online nearly as much and my blogging has nearly come to a halt...but today i decided it was time to post about some things I just find unbelievable. These things are things I have discovered since my work has taken me in direct contact with the public rather than dealing with people on the phone.
Here is my list of shocking discoveries (okay shocking to me but possibly common knowledge to many)

1. oral hygeine is not very important to quite a number of people...
2. education is not a priority to more people than i ever imagined- i have come to meet more than a few people who have not finished high school, never mind have university degrees!
3. many people think if they claim ignorance all their issues will be resolved- ie. What do you mean I had to report in every other week, and now my claim has been cancelled???
4. Almost nobody actually reads the questions they are answering and then cannot understand why they have made errors.
5. again to do with reading- SOOO MANY people do not read instructions (myself included on occassion) and then can't figure out why they aren't being allowed to progress to the next question...
6...my all time favourite- i am in total shock as to how many people DO NOT know how to use a computer!! I can understand seniors not being comfortable with this "new" technology or not knowing how to use a mouse or whatnot BUT I'm talking YOUNG-really young-(early 20's) people who cannot use computers. How do these people expect to get jobs if they don't have basic computer skills? I don't have wonderful computer skills but I can use a mouse, navigate the internet and compose a word document if i must. there are more people out there than i thought possible who are terrofied of these mean nastey machines we now encounter daily. I don't know how these people function on a daily basis without basic skills. I guess they figure if they beg someone will do the work for them...in this electronic age it is really important IMO that people get with the program and get into the 21st century!!

slowwww cookin' parts 2 & 3

I'm in love...the slow cooker i borrowed from my mom has been getting a tonne of use...more use than she ever gave it!!
Since borrowing it ( well since taking it-who are we kidding?) i have been having so much fun and saving a tonne of time cooking in the evenings. It is the easiest kitchen appliance we have to use and it takes no time at all to prep for dinner-either in the evening before bed or in the morning before i head out the door.
My second time using the slow cooker, i just dumped some cut up vegetables (carrots, potatoes and onions) in, then put in frozen chicken breasts, topped with salt, pepper and about a cup of chunky salsa, turned it on low and left for the day, We returned home to a great meal and i had time to veg on the sofa watching TV rather than making dinner...ahhh what a life...
This morning i did something similar but i cooked a whole roast. I was skeptical that it would fit in our slow cooker as it is an older model and seemed smaller than the ones i have seen in stores today BUT i was pleasantly surprised to discover that 6 diced potatoes, a cut up onion and a 4 pound roast all cooked nicely in there. All i did was add a little diet coke (it helps tenderize the meat) some onion soup mix and a tiny bit of water. The meat was so tender i was really pleased, as was hubby since not only did he enjoy a home cooked meat and potatoes dinner on a Monday night but he also gets roast beef sandwiches for the rest of the week at lunch time:) Sure beats caf food!!

Slow Cooking...

after all the hupla over on Chrissy's blog about slow cooking solutions I decided it was time to borrow my mom's slow cooker and see what all the fuss was about. So this morning i woke up a little earlier than normal (was up at 6 instead of 6:35) to prepare our dinner for this evening. Since i didn't have a recipe to follow and i just had a bunch of different vegitables in the fridge along with some cubed veal in the freezer i just chopped up potatoes, yams, green pepper, red pepper and tomatoes. I dumped it all in the crock pot along with some chicken stock, water and tomato paste...put in on low and crossed my fingers.
Hopefully we won't have to order a pizza for dinner tonight as I have no idea what is going to come of this experiment i created...
I think i might buy some of those slow cooker solutions just to have on hand and at least i know they will taste alright. Plus i'm exhausted from getting up early to prepare dinner for this evening!!!

happy happy day...

who can believe how fast 3 years go by?!?!?! it was 3 years ago today that hubby and i got married. It was the most magical day but also the COLDEST day of the year- and i swear it hasn't been as cold as it was that day since! A few people had to leave their cars at the hall because their doors were frozen shut or their cars just wouldn't start after being out in the cold for so many hours.
My cousin (and Junior bridesmaid) turned 13 on our wedding day and now she is a stunning 16 year old beauty. Hard to believe how fast things change and how much kids grow in 3 years!

We have accomplished quite a bit in our short marriage....we have a beautiful son and another on the way!! We are in the process of fixing up our house (a never ending project) and we have managed to live with one car for the past 4 months (just to see what it would be like and if we could manage like that long term-great way to save $$ especially on gas- if we really need the 2nd car it's there for our use but we try to limit usuage for this experiment)

Hubby- happy 3rd anniversary!!!

Tonights the night!!!

Bon Jovi here we come!!! After purchasing tickets for this concert almost 2 months ago I kind of wish it wasn't tonight...feeling kind of crap and haven't left the house in 4 days as i've had a fever, cough and cold AND I can't take anything to relieve my symptoms expect tylenol which doesn't really do a heck of a lot...

anyway i'm going to try and ignore the sniffles and dribbles of sweat pouring down my forehead and enjoy the show!!
Who knew he'd be coming back in March?!?!

2 DAYS WITHOUT...

internet access and i have been way more productive than i have in ages!! Our poor old computer was attacked by another virus and had to go to the computer doctor again this weekend. I was without internet, computer games and photoshop for 2 whole days...usually i would have been bored silly twiddling my thumbs and wondering what to do with myself. This time around I decided enough was enough and I got out my cleaning supplies, finished 3 pages in my scrapbook and even baked 8 dozen cookies. It was amazing! I even caught up on a tonne of sleep as my hubby took baby out and about town so i could do as I pleased...such a sweety pie!

Now what will i do when i get home??? Catch up on all the emails i missed, the blogs i try to read and all the new babycentre posts...hmmm so much for productivity :)

it's cookie time

Last year during the holiday season some friends and I participated in a cookie exchange. We each baked 10 dozen cookies and gave 1 dozen to each person in the exchange. I received some awesome cookies, some average cookies and honestly some just plain awful ones (luckily those who took part in the exchange don't read my blog-and those that might make fantastic cookies:)
This year I was thinking of making a new type of cookie. I tend to always make chocolate chip or some variation of that- last year i did a chocolate, chocolate chip cookie, which were really tasty but could be made by anyone...this year i want something spectacular...any suggestions, ideas or recipes???
Chrissy- i should break out that Cookie Cookbook you gave me the first year we met when you got my name in the gift exchange at WTC!!!

My 200th post...

it better be a good one...
Well i'm not sure about great writing but things certainly are great around here...Elie started to walk one week ago and now he is RUNNING!!! We can barely keep up with him!!
The weather has been so nice, warm and sunny we took him to the pumpkin patch yesterday and he had a ball!! He was even chasing a couple of little girls around!! Watch out moms!!!
My good friend and i have been making an effort to speak to each other rather than just email...she has been really good at calling and hopefully i'll learn from her example and pick up the phone too...
AND The icing on the cake...drum roll please...i'm gonna see Jon Bon Jovi in concert with a great girlfriend Dec 7th!!! I am uber excited as i haven't seen a live concert since the Dixie Chiks with FansyPansy...i think it was a whole year ago!!! Bon Jovi is such a doll too...

If you had...

3 hours on a Saturday afternoon with no kid or hubby around what would you do with yourself???
This afternoon hubby took the baby to his parents house for a visit and to watch a huge rugby game. I had already had my afternoon nap while baby was sleeping so I decided that I'd do some much needed cooking and cleaning...I managed to make: carrot-cauliflower soup, red lentil- zucchini soup, sweet and sour meatballs, pasta with salmon and cheese, apple cake and baked apples...plus i actually washed all the pots and pans, turned on the dishwasher, cleaned up all my mess(normally i'd leave it in the sink for days and continously curse at it as i walked by)...and was just finishing up just as the door opened to the return of my hubs and my beautiful son!! No time to relax but now i've got a tonne of food to cover dinner and lunches for the week to come -phew i'm tired!!! What a productive day!!
i think i'll go to bed...

Had to share...

YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2007 when...

1. You find yourself entering your password on the microwave.

2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.

3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of four.

4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.

5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.

6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.

7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.

8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.

10. You get up in the morning and go online before getting your coffee.

11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. :)

12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.

13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.

14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.

15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list.AND NOW YOU ARE LAUGHING at yourself.

Go on, forward this to your friends. You know you want to!

Good Times...

The last few weeks have been great ones. The weather has been nicer than normal (although i am missing the lovely cool crisp fall weather we normally have) the sun has been shining and I have had chance run-ins with several old friends.
It is so hard to keep in touch with people you meet along the road of life. Even in this day of email and internet communication it is easy to lose touch. When one changes jobs, moves to a new home or even changes email addresses the chance to lose touch is there. Recently the family and I ran into an old friend/co-worker and her family. Last time I had seen her she was expecting her son. He is now 5 years old and such a big, handsome boy!!! It was amazing to see them and catch up for a few minutes. It might be another 5 years until we run into each other again. They are downtown dwellers and we are suburbanites...
Then a couple of weeks later I was walking around at Word on the Street with the family and there right in my path was another old friend/co-worker from the same old job...it was so awesome to catch up with her. She has a beautiful g-d daughter and she was excited to meet my son as she made him laugh hysterically-so much better to meet in person than to look at photos on Facebook!!!!
Yesterday i ran into another old friend, in the most obscure place. I was waiting in the parking lot of my office building for hubby to come and collect me after work. He was running late and i was getting a little worried, when out of nowhere there appeared another friend. He told me he walks that way almost daily, had hubby not been late i would have never met him there. It was really wonderful to have a few minutes to catch up. I learned that he is now living in his own condo downtown rather than renting. He left our old company about a year ago and just seems so happy himself!
Then to add to the positivity, i met up with an old friend for coffee last night and it felt like no time had passed since last we saw other...imagine 10 years had gone by!!!
AND this week a great friend will be in town and I cannot wait to spend some time with her in person catching up and just having plain old fun :))))

CUTE...AND TRUE

COLOR IS GOOD :)



Yesterday I went to the doctor for my yearly physical.
My blood pressure was high, my cholesterol was high,
I'd gained some weight, and I didn't feel so hot.
My doctor said eating right doesn't have to be complicated and it would solve my physical problems. He said just think in colors...Fill your plate with bright colors... greens, yellows, reds, etc....


I went right home and ate an entire bowl of :



And sure enough, I felt better immediately.
I never knew eating right
could be so easy.

Dissappointed

with the new TV season.
I had been waiting with anticipation for the arrival of Private Practice, the spin off of Grey's Anatomy, unfortunately the first 2 episodes just haven't held their own IMO...we'll have to see what the next couple of shows have in store or else i'll be scratching it off my must see list for the week...
The first episode of Grey's Anatomy...was REALLY REALLY looking forward to that one but I unfortunately slept through it...went to take a short nap at 7 and didn't wake up until midnight...argh...the 2nd episode though was alright but i'm not convinced I'm going to love this season as much as I have loved the past 3...
I missed all the shows i wanted to catch that night...survivor, ER and Greys... well i'll catch them in reruns eventually!
Was really looking forward to the new Kelsey Grammer show Back to You. Unfortunately i wasn't laughing hysterically with this one either. I just couldn't help thinking of Fraser rather than this new character...again i'll have to give it one more chance before I give up on it completely.
A nice surprise though has been Ugly Betty. It is actually quite funny and if I manage to stay awake during the 8 o'clock showtime I think i'll make this part of my weekly viewing. I caught quite a few reruns of this show over the summer and found it really funny, quirky and just enjoyable overall...who knew!!

The Power of Positive Thinking

A few years ago I decided that I was going to be a positive person. I totally changed my attitude and my outlook, things really did feel better. Life was good, customers at the store where i worked were happier, I was happier!!! I was able to do things I had avoided in the past, I lost weight, gained a boyfriend and just seemed to have more fun in general...then something happened and the cynic in me reared it's ugly head again...not sure what happened but over the course of a few years i was back to my old ways!!
I have decided that I'm going to return to that positive person I had worked hard to become. I have started this new attitude at work and already i notice that irrate clients and unhappy seniors in general aren't getting to me(as much). I have been able to push aside their nastiness and come out on top!! I have stopped muttering obscenities under my breath when i get off the line and just move on to the next client!
It is amazing what a change in attitude can do for ones life!! I feel like I can enjoy every day things a lot more- just taking a walk or the fall colors on the trees seem like amazing miracles that we are meant to observe and be thankfull for!
Let's hope I can learn a lesson from Chrissy who is ALWAYS super positive- as long as I can remember she has been such an inspiration for positive thinking/attitude. and keep this up!!
UPDATE: So weird that i wrote this post today and then this article appeared on MSN...

What do you hear???

I get called a variety of names...Clients just don't listen, don't hear or really don't care when I introduce myself to them on the phone. My name is Dina yet I get called Tina, Pina, Gina, (all which i can understand people mistaking as they sound similar) but recently I have been called Georgina, Regina, Julia and even Michelle...if someone continously gets your name wrong do you bother to correct them or just let it go??? I tend to let it go and laugh about it afterwards :)

Do you "brown bag" it?

I recently came across this article and it got me thinking....
Brown-bagging it is better
Students who eat lunches made at home and eschew school cafeteria food are less likely to suffer from obesity, says a University of Alberta researcher. Paul Veugelers, co-author of the study published September 13 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, found that children who eat regularly and eat home-cooked food with their families are on the road toward developing healthy habits. Research found that students who buy lunch at school are 47 per cent more likely to have weight problems than students who bring lunch from home, and students who regularly eat their meals in front of the TV run the risk of becoming overweight. The study surveyed 4,000 Nova Scotia students.



I wonder how true this is for adults too. I almost always bring my lunch from home. I take care to make lunch for both hubby and I each night before bed in order to have it ready to go in the am. Neither of us are obese (although I could stand to lose about 15 pounds) I have noticed many over weight people in my office, they are often eating lunch from the food court. Are they just not inclined, uninspired or don't want to pack a lunch? Is it too hard or time consuming to make something to take with? I guess if it were up to hubby he would be buying lunch daily but I do know he would probably try to get the healthiest alternative... Why would some people choose to buy an unhealthy lunch rather than make something at home and bring it to work with them? Just the time it takes to go to the food court or local restaurant, order lunch and eat it, plus the added costs of eating out everyday is a major deterrent for me! I guess if you look at it from another stand point- i could be called the "lazy" one- i don't want to get off my butt and run downstairs, out the door and over to the mall to buy my meal during my 30 minute lunch break- i prefer to relax at my desk or outside on a bench on a nice day and enjoy my "picnic" :)

Missing the Mark

In today's environmentally aware society it absolutely baffles me how many people still don't understand the importance of reducing our consumption. I constantly notice people ordering coffee to go in toss away, non-recyclable cups(which i am guilty of too but have reduced doing considerably since getting my reusable, thermal coffee cup), taking numerous bags from various shops while shopping (when each bag might only contain a single item each) or using paper plates on a regular basis because it is "easier"

Today while browsing my local Joe section of the Super Centre I tried on and went to purchase one item. At the cash the clerk rung in my item, and was about to put in a plastic bag when I said "Oh, I don't need a bag, I have my own" Her reply was "let me put in the plastic bag, then you can put it in your bag" I looked at her and said "what would be the point then, I'm trying to reduce plastic bag consumption" I was not surprised by the clerks' response to my own bag as I have had quite a few retail clerks ask me if I'm sure I don't want a bag. WTF??? If i have said I don't like extra bags then I mean it!! What would be the point of carrying my own bag in order to fill it with a plastic bag...argh!!

The Super Centre has been running a line of commercials recently stating that they are trying to reduce the number of plastic bags that end up in land fills by a billion this year. This clerk should probably be made aware of this ad compaign. She should also be made aware of the need to use less plastic bags and to preserve our beautiful earth a little longer. Considering this store sells their own line of reusable grocery bags I was a little dumbfounded by her ignorance. Perhaps I should write a letter to the head office notifying them of the incident!

On a serious note...

On the anniversary of 9/11 my thoughts are of course on that day in history which changed everyones lives forever but they are also on events a little closer to home. Today my husband called me as I was leaving work to let me know his school was in lockdown. As a student had been stabbed. Later we would find out he had been stabbed to death. He would be late picking me up.
My worst fears were coming true as hubby left a very good school in an afluent neighborhood to teach at a school run by the school board. A school in a much less "prestigious" neighborhood where the students had more to worry about than whether or not their parents were going to buy them a sedan or an SUV for their graduation. Many students at this Scarborough school seem to come from poor families, a majority of which appear to come from single parent homes. These kids worry about whether or not they are going to live to see the next day, if the gangs will bother them or if they will get knocked off in a drive by shooting. What has happened to childhood? Kids today just don't seem to get it. They think life is only the here and now , they don't think about their futures. Small insignificant details are mistake for life altering, life shattering events and taken so seriously. What could this young 16 year old boy habe done to his old school mate to warrant being stabbed, left to bleed to death in the parking lot of his high school? I can't imagine that this grudge held against him was worth his life.
His poor mother!
What has happened to Toronto the good? Our once safe, beautiful city has been run down by violence, poverty and in my opinion severe over-population. A city where I once felt safe sitting on my porch or taking an evening walk alone is no longer a place I want to live or raise my children. With each passing violent act reported on the news, i'm sure there are several that have not been reported, this leaves me with a sense of fear. I feel like packing it up and just moving to the country side! The multi-culturalism that once made this city feel world class seems to have divided it in so many ways. So many rivals fighting to occupy the same space. Why can't we all just get along.

adventures in hair dressing...

Who ever said suburban life was boring never took a trip to my local mall for a haircut! Over the weekend I decided that a new do and some retail therapy was in order. I hit the mall first thing Saturday morning, sans baby or hubby!
The hair cut is pretty good, the color a lot darker than I had expected and is still taking some getting used to but I do like it a lot. Got some cute tops too.
The surprise was the little mouse running around the salon. Next door to the hair dresser is PJ's pet store...apparently they have a big problem with rodents getting free and taking shelter in the salon. The little white mouse was quite cute and didn't look dirty or disgusting- i didn't have a problem with it being there but the elderly ladies who come in weekly weren't fond of the little mouse. Appently the back room is filled with runaway grasshoppers and crickets too!!!
Lucky they are moving

Help my hair!!!!

I am desperate for a new hairstyle. My current style is just so blah!!! I am bored and in need of something new, fun, stylish yet manageable as I have very little time to fiddle with it in the morning.



I have been admiring the "Victoria Beckham" but think it may require frequent touch ups as it is quite short in the back. My other idea is a layered bob, shorter in the back and longer in the front, coming down in angular sweeps around my face...Trying to find pics to post of what I am trying to describe....
This was my last hair cut, which was nice for about a day or two but is now scraggly and unkempt (the nice styles lasted about a day or two ARGH!!!)



Any suggestions ladies???? I like these...but am open to ideas :)

Grammar drama...

I was never concerned much with proper use of grammar until I began teaching it after university. The difference in correct format and usage of words was never something I ever really thought about. Now I am a really grammar nut. I can't stand when I see incorrect usage or when I hear people speaking and using fowl uses of the English language.
A few of the written offences that really blow my fuse are:

using their/there incorrectly....come on that is such an easy one to get right!!!
our/are
to/too/two
were/where (these aren't even pronounced that same)
Some of the spoken errors I hate hearing:
Yous (as in yous people)
ain't (there ain't such a word...the word is there isn't)
I didn't hear nothing yet...should be I haven't heard ANYTHING yet (ARGH!!!)
we's (as in we-more than two)

And the thing that really nags at me is typos...i don't always correct them all but I usually at least try to do a quick edit and read over before submitting.Some of my colleagues have no problem sending email enquiries ridden with errors and it just grates on my nerves.Don't even get me started on spelling mistakes!!!! ..that's just me :)

times are a changin'

I have never enjoyed change much. I kept the same part-time job for 18 years, from the time I was in grade 9 until I was pregnant with my little bambino. That job saw me through many phases of my life...i litterally grew up in that store. I have been in my current permanent position for 5 years now and can't imagine going anywhere any time soon. I have had the same car for 10 years now and have even lived in the same neighborhood my entire life....
BUT one change I really enjoy is the change of seasons. Once the weather starts to cool down and autumn is in the air, followed by winter I get excited at the idea that new things are on their way. I look forward to the fall colors embracing our trees, the crisp cool air and the sweaters I get to bundle up in to take the chill off.

Do you enjoy change? what changes do you look forward to?

For a good laugh...

rent BLADES OF GLORY

Hubby came home Friday evening from his weekly excursion to Blockbuster with Blades of Glory. I had been avoiding this movie as I really thought it looked kind of stupid, mindless and downright trashy. I was pleasantly surprised. This spoof on the world of figure skating had both me and hubby in stitches laughing so hard. I'm not entirely sure I would have found BOG sooo funny if I had been more awake but being exhausted, and in need of a good laugh allowed me to enjoy almost every moment of this comedy.
BOG stars Will Ferrell who proves to have a diverse acting ability in this flick. Newcomer Jon Heder (of Napolean Dynamite fame) does an outstanding job as well.

The Story Chaz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell) and Jimmy McElroy (Jon Heder) are two fierce competitors in the world of Figure Skating. They often compete for the gold medal in competition in the singles' male category. Chaz is a belligerent sex addict who competes 'solo' and has no coach and no family. He grew up on the streets of Detroit and he got out of a life of crime to skate. Jimmy was adopted by a billionaire when he was a young skater and his whole life has been dedicated practicing and winning skating tournaments. Jimmy is very effeminate- nothing like womanizer and chief competitor Michaels. The two compete at what the producers (one which is Ben Stiller by the way) dub the Olympics without using the actual name. They share the gold medal and get into a horrible fist fight on the podium. The Figure Skating Association bans both of them for life. Jimmy is disowned by his father and Chaz ends up skating in some children's show, getting drunk and feeling worthless. One day, one of Jimmy's stalkerish fans goes to see him at his new place of employment where he stocks shelves and sells skates. He informs him of a loophole where skaters can actually still skate if they are banned for life, but they must skate under a different category. Events unfold and Jimmy's old coach (Craig T. Nelson) comes up with the idea to form the world's first ever male/male team. Jimmy and Chaz must put aside their differences and learn to be a team. They are challenged along the way by their new chief opponents, Stranz Van Waldenberg (Will Arnett) and Fairchild Van Waldenberg (Amy Poehler). They stop at nothing to try to ensure that Chaz and Jimmy don't compete, including using their sister Katie (Jenna Fischer) to do their dirty work. The goal is for Chaz and Jimmy to overcome all odds and win the final 'world competition' in Montreal, Canada

The Peoples Princess

It hard to believe it has been 10 years passed since Diana Princess of Whales was killed so tragically. I will always remember the day Diana died. It was a warm sunny day in Korea where I was living at the time. I called my girlfried to find out what was up for that day and she immediately told me the news of Diana's death. I just couldn't believe it.

Her poor boys (well not poor in monetary sense of the word but to lose a mother is horrible no matter who you are or how rich your family is) I felt for them. They had worshipped their mother and adored them.

Harry's eulogy was spoken so eloquently and passionately it brought tears to my eyes. I can only hope that my son will remember me that way when I die...
Eulogy for Diana
The text of Prince Harry’s eulogy for his mother, delivered Friday at a memorial service in London:
William and I can separate life into two parts. There were those years when we were blessed with the physical presence beside us of both our mother and father.
And then there are the 10 years since our mother’s death. When she was alive, we completely took for granted her unrivaled love of life, laughter, fun and folly. She was our guardian, friend and protector.
She never once allowed her unfaltering love for us to go unspoken or undemonstrated.
She will always be remembered for her amazing public work. But behind the media glare, to us, just two loving children, she was quite simply the best mother in the world.
We would say that, wouldn’t we.
But we miss her. She kissed us last thing at night. Her beaming smile greeted us from school. She laughed hysterically and uncontrollably when sharing something silly she might have said or done that day. She encouraged us when we were nervous or unsure.
She — like our father — was determined to provide us with a stable and secure childhood.
To lose a parent so suddenly at such a young age, as others have experienced, is indescribably shocking and sad. It was an event which changed our lives forever, as it must have done for everyone who lost someone that night.
But what is far more important to us now, and into the future, is that we remember our mother as she would have wished to be remembered as she was: fun-loving, generous, down-to-earth, entirely genuine.
We both think of her every day.
We speak about her and laugh together at all the memories.
Put simply, she made us, and so many other people, happy. May this be the way that she is remembered.

wonderful time of year

I love late summer...aside from the glorious weather (with the exception of this strange weather we're having now of course) the shopping is so abundant. Loads of amazing sales and deals to be had!!! Yesterday I decided to be a great, wonderful, awesome wife AND do a little (well A LOT) of shopping for hubby. I went to GAP and got him a savvy red, pinstrip button down for %50 off!!! It just looks so sharp!
Then off to MEXX I went...I never usually venture into this store but the huge sales signs in the window lured me in. Everything was on sale and then an additional %25 off that!! I got hubs a striped black shirt, a sauve blue dress shirt and 2 stylin' t-shirts!
He was so impressed with my purchases he told me I can shop for him anytime!!!

Today it's shopping the sales racks for me!!! Wish me luck!!

update on my newest toy...

well i was quite dissapointed with my CHI purchase. It stopped working after 2 days so i shipped it back to the seller and it is being replaced with a new one. I really hope this doesn't happen again as the savings I incurred by purchasing it online will have been eaten up with return shipping costs!! ARGH....i did a little research and noticed that quite a number of people who have purchased the CHI online received duds like i did!!! strange-don't ya think??? perhaps this kind of purchase is best done at a reputable retailer at retail prices just for consumer protection!!!

my newest toy...

I have less time than ever to get ready in the mornings so i have taken to showering before bed and just straightening my hair in the morning. This saves me a good 30 minutes as a 10 minute shower and 20 minutes blow drying my hair are unavoidable.
I asked around, read some reviews, checked out prices and decided to try my luck at getting this CHI on ebay. My first 3 or 4 attempts at bidding failed as i was outbid by an average of $2!!! SOO I finally managed to start bidding about 2 minutes before the auction ended and won!!!
So far I am not ecstatic about the CHI. I tried it before bed and got reasonable results. I used it again in the morning and the results were a little better. I just don't see how this thing could straighten really curly hair or if it does work to do this it would take a really long time! I thought, given the great reviews of this CHI, that I would have stick straight smooth hair in just moments- i didn't! I had to pull my hair through peice by peice about 2-3 times before it was straight enough for my liking. It took me way longer to achieve the look I wanted than i had expected. Perhaps my expectations were just too unrealistic...
I'll try using more and see if I just need to get the hang of it or if it really isn't just as good as my old Conair flat iron...

mamma does know best!!!

When I was a teenager I honestly believed my mom didn't know a thing. I swore up and down that she was just too old to know anything about how young people acted. I fought with her on many issues, always insisting I knew the truth/real answer. It was not until i reached some form of maturity that i realized how much mom really knows!!

Mom used to tell me over and over again that I needed to watch my behaviour and actions because everything I did had a direct impact on either myself or my family. I thought she was nuts! Now I realize just how true her words were. She said "everyone knows everyone" and that your behaviour will follow you. Boy was she right. With the Facebook Phenomenon I can see how many people know each other. Nothing can be kept a secret these days!! AND it is so easy to find out information on people with just a few clicks of the mouse...i was able to find some personal information of a few people, just based on their status comments on facebook!!(as an example of how careful you have to be!!!)

Mom used to tell me to wear a hat because it was cold...i would never wear a hat in the winter-it just wasn't cool...now i would never go out without one on a cold day!!
and of course there are the times when she would say "take an umbrella" and sure enough it would rain!!!
Moms are a lot smarter than teens give them credit for...and now that i'm a mom i can say IT's True!!!

a few fashion mistakes more than a few people make

photo taken from www.cartoonstock.com

I am not a fashion goddess, nor do I pretend to be BUT I do feel that i have a decent sense of style and I know what looks good, what is appropriate and what definitely looks bad.
Lately I have been noticing fashion more often than I had in past, this could be for a variety of reasons but mostly i think it's due to the fact that I'll be returning to the work force really soon and will need to get dressed in more than just sweats and t-shirts.

These are some things I have noticed which really bother me...

1) wearing clothes that show your bra. Bras are meant for under your shirt and really shouldn't be exposed. If you need to wear a bra under a tank top or with a spaghetti strap dress, wear a strapless bra PLEASE!!!
2) wearing running shoes for things other than running. These shoes are just plain ugly unless they are at the gym or being worn for the purpose they were intended.
3) showing way too much cleavage. This is a BIG no no for me. I hate having to avert my eyes away from other woman's breasts(and it's really hard not to stare ). Please cover up the girls. If you have to wear a lower cut top than please put a tank top or camisole under your shirt so your girls aren't hanging out!! Night club wear is excluded...
4) wearing pants that show your underwear. The style of lower rise pants seems to be dying down a bit-thank g-d- but for a while there it was nearly impossible to go a day without spying the top of women's panties. i don't need to know if you are a thong, brief or tanga wearer (although it is interesting to see if your underwear choice matches your personality type)
5) message t-shirts. They used to be cute- back in the early 90's and also on teenagers. Grown women shouldn't wear them (unless they are home cleaning the house or in the garden)
6) short shorts on anyone other than an Olympic runner...they are usually just plain wrong and everyone really doesn't need to see all that they reveal- shorts that are riding up between your legs when you're walking just can't be comfortable.
7) a pregnant belly hanging out under a tight t-shirt. I know Rachel on friends made this trend popular a few years ago but not all trends look right Do they???
8) wearing trends just because they are trends- doesn't mean they look good!

Throwback Thursday #3

I have less than one hour left to get this TT post in!! Sooooo me to leave it to the last minute but i do have good reason...i fell asleep shortly after putting the little guy to bed, fully clothed, full makeup and all!! Now i'm awake but only long enough to write a post...it's hard to find pics to share of the good old days. Those photos are all tucked away in albums and not on my computer for easy access so i'm going to share a pic or two of my little guys from last year when he was just born...oh what a year it's been!! I"m back to work on Tuesday and this chapter of SAHM will have come to an end

help us win...

I took the little guy to have our picture taken the other day for a photo contest. Please vote for us here. It would be so nice to win something right before returning to work!!!
Ours is picture # 6.

Thanks so much!!!

Throwback Thursday #2

I love this photo. I don't really remember it being taken but I just adore how my dad looks so proud of his little monkeys. He is just glowing and happy in this photo. I must have been about 3 years old and my brother looks about 5 or 6 months here, unfortunately the picture isn't dated. It is hard to imagine that my dad was ever this young or this thin! and he had so much hair !!! I remember always brushing his hair into a pony tail on the top of his head. It was very funny!!

my attempt at curly...

have gone out the window. I'm a little dissappointed as I purchase rather expensive frizz control serum a while ago at Trade Secrets. The sales woman there promised me gorgeous wavey, frizz free hair after applying the Bed Head Control Freak to my normally slightly wavey hair. It didn't really do much before my hair was cut and I thought perhaps my hair was just too long and lacking any shape for the product to work. So this morning I attempted to do the curly thing. The stylist told me to apply an anti frizz product-which i did- and then put in some gel-which i did...the results are absolutely disgusting and I am going to go wet and dry my hair with a blow dryer as soon as i'm done this post!!

NOTE- i attempted my hair at 9am...it is now about 11:30 and these pics were taken just after 11...my hair was/is STILL wet and nowhere near dry- i can't wait any longer to dry it as if i had actually needed to be somewhere this look just wouldn't cut it!

any suggestions on how to get the look i want if i ever attempt to go curly again...

New hair new me!!

Life is all about choices and making decisions. I had a choice to make today that kind of sucked at the time but turned out well in the end. My finances have been a little tight lately due to the end of my maternity leave and hubby being in school for a whole year with no income. I was in desperate need of a hair cut, but I was also supposed to meet some friends for lunch. It was either the hair cut or lunch but definitely not both! I opted for the hair cut as lunch would have been nice but not really worth the dough and my hair well...i have finally found a stylist i like and who seemed to actually listen PLUS no surprises regarding price PLUS he didn't try to sell me on coloring my hair (which could use a touch up but i'm well aware of that fact). I would recommend Mattia at L'Attitudes for a great cut.


Here are some before and after pics:

farewell till next time

My husband has two younger sisters. Each has one kid. The middle sister lives in Zurich and was recently here for her annual visit. It is kind of sad that we will probably only see our nephew once a year for the next few years as i don't foresee travelling to Switzerland often and they have very demanding jobs as it is difficult for them to get away for long periods of time.
While they were here all the cousins had a great time. Here are some photos.
First from our day visiting them up at the cottage they rented

Our trip to the zoo

The family (well minus my brother and his wife unfortunately) was all together to celebrate the boys' first birthday!!!

Look at me now ma!!!

My first Throw Back Thursday entry

Inspired by the ladies over at Pinks and Blues, i decided to join in on the fun. I thought about all my hair fashions over the years and chose to show ya'll some of my old styles...YIKES!! These two are both circa 1993. Don't you just love the full crimped look or my gina bangs?!?! OH MY...how about my "club outfit" how could i have thought a blouse and suit skirt would be sexy for a night of dancing???? The jeans and jean shirt don't seem THAT BAD, i think that outfit was my staple back then. I haven't changed my love of jeans but have changed the style and color of the ones i wear now :)

another reason to avoid these fashion fumblers!

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Consumer/story?id=2530368&page=1

(picture borrow from http://www.ihatecrocs.com/ )

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...