Wednesday 27 December 2006

When I was younger I used to wait anxiously for Boxing Day and go on a major shopping spree. I would battle the crowds at the mall and even on occasion wait in line to get into a much worshipped store. Those days are long gone. I would never dream of going near the mall on Boxing Day anymore. There is no way I would manouver our giant stroller among the crowds without running over toes and being glared at by other shoppers. The sales might be good but my sanity is more important to me these days!! I'll just have to go shopping when the hysteria has calmed down and just pick thru what is left over on the sales racks...
i can't imagine waiting in hour long line ups just to get that one major bargain...i heard there were serious lines at Coach in Yorkdale- as if the stuff there goes on sale enough to make the wait worth it!!
As it happens I still haven't made it out shopping and might manage to get out there come spring!!

Sunday 24 December 2006

the irony of it all

The other day was Elie's 6 month birthday. We celebrated by singing him happy birthday and then by taking him to the doctor for his check up. He received his immunizations and I got the flu! The doctors office was full of coughing, vomitting, sick children and I was so worried about Elie that I made sure to cover his face, wash his hands and turn him away from those hacking children BUT I forgot all about me. Ever since Friday when we came home from the doctors' office I have been achy, sniffly and carrying a high fever (101 degrees) Now that it is Sunday morning and I was lucky enough to sleep the whole day yesterday I am finally feeling a bit better.
Now my question is, how does one avoid getting sick when going to the doctors' office? I have been hearing of many cases recently when children go to the office for a check up and end up getting sick because they were exposed to some disease(flu, whooping cough, chicken pox etc) in the waiting room. Should there be 2 seperate waiting rooms? One for sick people and one for healthy? or perhaps the office should only book checkups on Mondays (or one designated day) and take sick people during other days of the week. It just doesn't seem fair or right that my beautiful healthy baby had to be exposed to germs and disease while waiting to see the doctor. It is just lucky that I got sick and not him!

Wednesday 20 December 2006

WICKED

We went to see Wicked last night. Rather than buying each other gifts to celebrate our anniversary we decided it would be nicer to just have a nice evening out. It was.
The musical was a lot of fun, not a brilliant story but easy enough to follow and purely entertaining. I would recommend it to almost anyone, but I would definitely recommend getting a little bit better seats. The same problem exists with many of the older theaters. The seats in the balcony levels are very close together and the rows are practically on top of each other so if you are a little shorter or there is a tallish person in front of you, your vision of the stage might be compromised.
I did not find myself singing or humming the songs after the show but I did enjoy listening to them during the show. Perhaps I'll get the CD and listen again:)

Monday 18 December 2006

Wow a wedding took place :)

wow tomorrow is our 2 year anniversary!! where does the time go??? I still remember the day I met Gavin so clearly and here we are 3.5 years later married and with a beautiful baby boy!!
To celebrate our day Gavin is taking me to see Wicked and I can't wait!- i am also going to watch our wedding video (but i won't subject Gavin to it as i know how much he loves watching it :)

hand creams

Now that the winter is here and the air is very dry it is time to invest in a good hand cream. I have been using Glysomed for a number of years now and really like how soft and smooth it leaves my hands but it is a little boring. It has no pretty scent and no sparkles or glitz. I usually smooth it on in the morning and it lasts through a couple of hand washing sessions without reapplication, i love how it works but I want something more fun too.
I also use the Body Shop Brazillian Body Butter which has a sweet nutty scent and works well on dry skin. There are a couple of things I dislike about this product. Firstly the price, at almost $20 a tub I feel insanely guilty about using more than a pea size blob of this at one application. Secondly, i don't like the tub format. I feel like I am contaminating the product each time I dip my fingers in to scoop out the cream. I know some people might use a popsicle stick or something to avoid this invasion of bacteria but I know I would never bother with this. I wish the body butters came in a pump style container with a cheaper price tag!
I recently decided to try the Olay Quench Therapy. It was on sale at Shoppers for $6.99 and something about the container appealed to me (probably the mauve color and the pump) so far i have been satisfied with the product. It has a nice light scent and the pump is easy to use. The only problem i have is the fact that is claims to be for extremely dry skin, i do have this on my hands and my hands have not been cured of this problem since using OQT...the skin around my nails and in the corners of my thumbs is still very dry and a little painful-
so now I am asking for your suggestion on which hand creams are best for really dry, cracking hands/nails.

Thursday 7 December 2006

Thursday 30 November 2006

Deal or NO Deal



My mom and I love watching this show then talking to each other about the contestants...each time I watch I wonder to myself "would I stop at this point or would I just take one more risk???"
This show is all about doubt, risk and of course greed. How many times has the contestant actually gone as far as to lose everything because of pure greed or just plain stupidly BUT on the other hand sometimes the contestant caves in and takes the deal only to discover that if they had just opened one more case they may have doubled their money or taken home the big prize...what would you do if given the chance to make a Deal or No Deal????

I've been tagged AGAIN!!

...this time by Jill
The ABC meme...
A - Available/single? Married almost 2 years.
B - Best Friend? Jill She knows WAY too much about me :)
C- Cake or Pie? hmm cake- apple or pie pecan!
D - Drink Of Choice? coffee or peach shnapps and cranberry
E - Essential Item You Use Everyday? toothpaste
F - Favorite Color? ruby red
G - Gummy Bears Or Worms? bears
H - Hometown? Toronto, Ontario.
I - Indulgence? the occassional Second Cup latte
J - January Or February? January.
K - Kids & Their Names? 1 kid, Elie Reese
L - Life Is Incomplete Without? sunshine
M - Marriage Date? December 19 2004.
N - Number Of Siblings? 1 brother.
O - Oranges Or Apples? depends on my mood- usually apples
P - Phobias/Fears? fear of getting breast cancer. fear of larva
Q - Favorite Quote? No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Eleanor Roosevelt, R - Reason to Smile - looking at my little boy everyday!!
S - Season? fall
T - Tag Three or Four People? MommyMar, Danielle , Gavin
U - Unknown Fact About Me? i have cut my own hair on more than one occasion
V - Vegetable you don’t like? eggplant
W - Worst Habit? getting mad at stupid things and blaming my husband
X - X-rays You’ve Had? Teeth, uterus, wrist, skull
Y - Your Favorite Food? pad thai
Z - Zodiac Sign? Aries

Wednesday 29 November 2006

a blast from the past

This idea was taken from Chrissy
The idea is to HIGHLIGHT the songs you liked from your last year of high school and to xxx off the ones you didn't like (in this case the list is the TOP 100 songs from 1992)
1. End Of The Road, Boyz II Men xxx
2. Baby Got Back, Sir Mix A-lot
3. Jump, Kris Kross
4. Save The Best For Last, Vanessa Williams
5. Baby-Baby-Baby, TLC
6. Tears In Heaven, Eric Clapton
7. My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It), En Vogue
8. Under The Bridge, Red Hot Chili Peppers
9. All 4 Love, Color Me Badd
10. Just Another Day, Jon Secada
11. I Love Your Smile, Shanice
12. To Be With You, Mr. Big
13. I'm Too Sexy, Right Said Fred xxx
14. Black Or White, Michael Jackson xxx
15. Achy Breaky Heart, Billy Ray Cyrus xxx
16. I'll Be There, Mariah Carey
17. November Rain, Guns N' Roses
18. Life Is A Highway, Tom Cochrane
19. Remember The Time, Michael Jackson
20. Finally, CeCe Peniston
21. This Used To Be My Playground, Madonna
22. Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough, Patty Smyth
23. Can't Let Go, Mariah Carey
24. Jump Around, House Of Pain
25. Diamonds and Pearls, Prince and The N.P.G.
26. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me, George Michael and Elton John
27. Masterpiece, Atlantic Starr
28. If You Asked Me To, Celine Dion
29. Giving Him Something He Can Feel, En Vogue
30. Live and Learn, Joe Public
31. Come and Talk To Me, Jodeci
32. Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana
33. Humpin' Around, Bobby Brown
34. Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover, Sophie B. Hawkins xxx
35. Tell Me What You Want Me To Do, Teven Campbell
36. Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg, TLC
37. It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday, Boyz II Men xxx
38. Move This, Technotronic
39. Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen
40. Tennessee, Arrested Development
41. The Best Things In Life Are Free, Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson
42. Make It Happen, Mariah Carey
43. The One, Elton John
44. Set Adrift On Memory Bliss, P.M. Dawn
45. Stay, Shakespear's Sister
46. 2 Legit 2 Quit, Hammer
47. Please Don't Go, K.W.S.
48. Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes), Mint Condition
49. Wishing On A Star, Cover Girls
50. She's Playing Hard To Get, Hi-Five
51. I'd Die Without You, P.M. Dawn
52. Good For Me, Amy Grant
53. All I Want, Toad The Wet Sprocket
54. When A Man Loves A Woman, Michael Bolton
55. I Can't Dance, Genesis
56. Hazard, Richard Marx
57. Mysterious Ways, U2
58. Too Funky, George Michael
59. How Do You Talk To An Angel, Heights
60. One, U2
61. Keep On Walkin', CeCe Peniston
62. Hold On My Heart, Genesis
63. The Way I Feel About You, Karyn White
64. Beauty and The Beast, Calms Dion and Peabo Bryson
65. Warm It Up, Kris Kross
66. In The Closet, Michael Jackson
67. People Everyday, Arrested Development
68. No Son Of Nine, Genesis
69. Wildside, Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch
70. Do I Have To Say The Words?, Bryan Adams
71. Friday I'm In Love, Cure
72. Everything About You, Ugly Kid Joe
73. Blowing Kisses In The Wind, Paula Abdul
74. Thought I'd Died and Gone To Heaven, Bryan Adams
75. Rhythm Is A Dancer, Snap
76. Addams Groove, Hammer
77. Missing You Now, Michael Bolton
78. Back To The Hotel, N2Deep
79. Everything Changes, Kathy Troccoli
80. Have You Ever Needed Somone So Bad, Def Leppard
81. Take This Heart, Richard Marx
82. When I Look Into Your Eyes, Firehouse
83. I Wanna Love You, Jade
84. Uhh Ahh, Boyz II Men xxx
85. Real Love, Mary J. Blige
86. Justified and Ancient, The KLF
87. Slow Motion, Color Me Badd
88. What About Your Friends, TLC
89. Thinkin' Back, Color Me Badd
90. Would I Lie To You?, Charles and Eddie
91. That's What Love Is For, Amy Grant
92. Keep Coming Back, Richard Marx
93. Free Your Mind, En Vogue
94. Keep It Comin', Keith Sweat
95. Just Take My Heart, Mr. Big
96. I Will Remember You, Amy Grant
97. We Got A Love Thang, CeCe Peniston
98. Let's Get Rocked, Def Leppard
99. They Want EFX, Das EFX
100. I Can't Make You Love Me, Bonnie Raitt

Tuesday 28 November 2006

fashion meme

Fashion Meme
Thanks to Curiosity Killer

What's your hair colour: blonde.
Your skin tone (see chart): pallor caucasion
Your eye colour: blue
Your favorite fashion colour (to wear): I like red or white around my face, on the bottom i prefer black or brown
Tell us about your personal style: i would have to say classic. I like a good fitting pair of jeans with a taylored sweater or (I used to wear) button down shirts
What's your favorite designer/brand? This is a hard one- i don't buy designers but I do like the GAP...what can i say?!?!
What are your favorite pieces in your wardrobe? i have a really pretty brown skirt i bought at RW, i love that is has a small ruffle at the bottom and a gathering in the back- it reminds me of something Stacy London might wear
What do you usually buy? hmm...baby clothes these days...JEANS and t-shirts are my wardrobe staples! I can dress very casual when I am working so I don't need to waste money on nice clothes. Plus i love WINNERS and sales.
Where do you usually shop? The mall during end of season sales. I never buy anything full price, unless i have a coupon for money off (like the $10 coupons for OLD NAVY).
What city are you located? Toronto
Would you recommend people to travel to your city, and for what? I'm in Toronto and if you like to shop high end, we have got it here, we also have great international markets, like CHINA TOWN, Greek Town, Little Italy...so you can get anything here if you want to pay for it!!

Saturday 25 November 2006

Some silly things I think about...

lately i have been noticing that some things really bother me to the point that i need to rant a little...

1) why do shampoo companies make the conditioner bottles smaller than the shampoo...i ALWAYS run out of conditioner before shampoo and then when the bottle is smaller I need to open a new conditioner bottle thus starting the cycle over again...

2) DOVE soap is wonderful, it conditions the skin, leaves it soft BUT the bar melts all over the place...how does one stop the mess that occurs from this melting bar soap?!?!

3) the new flip top toothpaste tubes are great, they reduce the messy clumps of dried paste BUT the tops are made with such flimsy plastic that the top almost always breaks before the tube is done, thus defeating the whole benefit

4) Why are spray bottles designed so that the consumers cannot use the last bit of product?? Have you ever noticed that you cannot possibly spray every last ounce out of the bottle??? FRUSTRATING!!!

5) my last annoyance for today...the paper cups that many coffee retailers use to serve coffee get so hot you cannot hold them safely...I cannot count the number of times I've cursed TH because the cup is too hot to hold and I didn't ask for a double cup- they should either redesign their cups or automatically give you a "sleeve" to avoid burns!!

Tuesday 21 November 2006

How I met your father

Nowadays it is no longer "taboo" to have met on the internet. It is actually kind of cool and very common place as it is becoming harder and harder to meet people in the "real world". I was thinking about all the trial and tribulations I had while searching for my beshert and I couldn't help laughing at all the doosies i had, and of course all the "nice guys" i had met before meeting my sweety pie. When my son is old enough to ask and wonder about how his parents met I will not be embarassed in the least to tell him the truth about how we met.
I know several people who concocted stories about how they met their sig-o's because they were ashamed or embarrased to admit they used internet dating services...boy have times changed!!
Just my thoughts on this subject...silly but mine!!

Saturday 18 November 2006

i think got it

Okay i have been figuring this out and I think i got it....i didn't realize that anything i had added before would be deleted...so i've been slowly re-inputting all the links and such- will get it eventually!

Friday 17 November 2006

what the heck!?!?

okay i'm completely frustrated!! I am trying to figure out how to get my blog back to normal form and it is a complete mess now...the title is in the wrong spot, the links i created are all down at the bottom of my page and I don't know how to fix it...anyone HELP!!!!

Tuesday 7 November 2006

weddings...ahhh

Sunday evening Gavin and I ventured out without the little guy. We went to a beautiful wedding at Casa Loma. It was the first time I'd been to an event at the castle and I have to say the room where the ceremony took place was absolutely stunning. The dining room (which really is the library) was a little crowded and there was no "head table" the way we are used to seeing one, just a small table for the bride and groom and two round tables on either side for the brides' family and one for the grooms' family.
Regardless it was awsome and we had a great time.
Here are some photos of the evening:

The brides' BIL Ben and nephew Sam

The groom-in tails!!











Lisa and Eliot

Saturday 4 November 2006

all about me

Stolen from Jill
First name? Dina
Were you named after anyone? Yes, my paternal grandmother Dora.
When did you last cry?earlier today-but only because i was chopping onions to make chili...oh and on Thursday as I had a terrible headache i couldnt get rid of
Do you like your handwriting? I like my printing but not the writing.
What is your favorite lunchmeat? i love pastrami but don't eat it much (very bad for you)
If you were another person, would you be friends with you? that's a hard one, since i know my bad qualities...but probably yes,
Do you have a journal? this blog is supposed to do the job of journal- i stopped keeping a journal after my mother found and read my last one
Do you still have your tonsils? i do
Would you bungee jump? I DON'T THINK SO!!
What is your favorite cereal? raison bran
Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? sometimes
Do you think you’re strong? when i have to be
What is your favorite ice cream flavor? coffee, with chocolate flakes
Shoe size? 7.5
Red or pink? red- i would have had red as my bridesmaids color but getting married in December i didnt want it to look like christmas theme
What is your least favorite thing about yourself? i tend to compare myself to others
Who do you miss the most? my brother, he and his wife recently moved to Vancouver and talking on the phone is not the same plus he is missing my son grow up
What color pants, shirt and shoes are you wearing? black yoga pants, blue t-shirt, black socks but no shoes
Do you want everyone to send this back to you? if they want to
Last thing you ate? caramel rice cake
What are you listening to right now? my husband sing rhyms to our son
If you were a crayon, what color would you be? red
Favorite smell? chocolate chip cookies baking
Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? my MIL
The first thing you notice about people you are attracted to? their teeth- i can't stand bad teeth, and i love a great smile
Do you like the person you stole this from? Well, of course I do. Would I read her blog if I didn't? (I even copied her answer here!)- ditto!!
Favorite drink? cranberry juice with vodka
Favorite sport? to play- none, to watch- i 've been enjoying soccer these days
Eye color? blue
Hat size? no idea
Do you wear contacts? nope, i can't be bothered, i do have glasses but i'm only suposed to wear them to drive
Favorite food? Korean tofu stew
Scary movies or happy endings? happy
Summer or winter? summer
Hugs or kisses? Hugs.
Favorite dessert? do i have to pick one??? I would have to say ice cream
Who is most likely to respond? Christine
Least likely to respond? Jill- she already answered all this
What books are you reading? Anyone out there by Marian Keyes
What’s on your mouse pad? don't have one
What did you watch last night on TV? Wife Swap
Favorite sounds? Elie laughing
Rolling Stones or Beatles? Stones
The furthest you’ve been from home? asia and Israel(which is technically Asia too)
What is your special talent? i can cook anything I want
Where were you born? Toronto.
Who sent this to you? nobody, i stole it from Jill's blog .

Saturday 28 October 2006

just for fun

from Jill(stolen from Toya)
So, the idea behind this meme is that you bold every one of these things that you've done and leave the rest in standard typeface.
01. bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. swam with wild dolphins
03. climbed a mountain (in Bali)
04. taken a ferrari for a test drive
05. been inside the great pyramid
06. held a tarantula
07. taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. said "i love you" and meant it
09. hugged a tree
10. bungee jumped
11. visited paris
12. watched a lightening storm at sea
13. stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. seen the northern lights
15. gone to a huge sports game
16. walked the stairs to the top of the leaning tower of pisa
17. grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. touched an iceberg
19. slept under the stars
20. changed a baby's diaper
21. taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. watched a meteor shower
23. gotten drunk on champagne (cheap champagne)
24. given more than you can afford to charity
25. looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. had a food fight
28. bet on a winning horse
29. asked out a stranger
30. had a snowball fight
31. screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. held a lamb
33. seen a total eclipse
34. ridden a roller coaster
35. hit a home run
36. danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. adopted an accent for an entire day
38. actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. had two hard drives for your computer
40. visited all 50 states
41. taken care of someone who was drunk
42. had amazing friends
43. danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. watched whales
45. stolen a sign
46. backpacked in europe
47. taken a road-trip
48. gone rock climbing49. midnight walk on the beach
50. gone sky diving
51. visited ireland
52. been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. in a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. visited japan
55. milked a cow
56. alphabetized your cds
57. pretended to be a superhero
58. sung karaoke
59. lounged around in bed all day
60. played touch football
61. gone scuba diving
62. kissed in the rain
63. played in the mud
64. played in the rain
65. gone to a drive-in theater
66. visited the great wall of china
67. started a business
68. fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. toured ancient sites
70. taken a martial arts class
71. played d&d for more than 6 hours straight
72. gotten married
73. been in a movie (yup i was an extra in Police Academy 4!!!)
74. crashed a party
75. gotten divorced
76. gone without food for 5 days
77. made cookies from scratch
78. won first prize in a costume contest
79. ridden a gondola in venice
80. gotten a tattoo -
81. rafted the snake river
82. been on television news programs as an "expert"
83. gotten flowers for no reason
84. performed on stage
85. been to las vegas
86. recorded music (sure i used to record the radio onto cassettes back in the day)
87. eaten shark
88. kissed on the first date
89. gone to thailand
90. bought a house
91. been in a combat zone
92. buried one/both of your parents
93. been on a cruise ship
94. spoken more than one language fluently
95. performed in rocky horror
96. raised children(am raising child, does that count?)
97. followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. passed out cold
99. taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. walked the golden gate bridge
102. sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
103. had plastic surgery
104. survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
105. wrote articles for a large publication
106. lost over 100 pounds (not all at once but i lost 30+ pounds when i was 22 and i have just lost almost all my baby weight )
107. held someone while they were having a flashback
108. piloted an airplane
109. touched a stingray
110. broken someone's heart
111. helped an animal give birth
112. won money on a t.v. game show
113. broken a bone
114. gone on an african photo safari
115. had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118 ridden a horse
119. had major surgery
120. had a snake as a pet
121. hiked to the bottom of the grand canyon
122. slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. visited more foreign countries than u.s. states
124. visited all 7 continents
125. taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. eaten kangaroo meat
127. eaten sushi (yummy!)
128. had your picture in the newspaper (does the Jewish magazine count?)
129. changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. gone back to school (i went back to Uni to do my TESL )
131. parasailed
132. touched a cockroach
133. eaten fried green tomatoes
134. read The iliad
135. selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read
136. killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. skipped all your school reunions
138. communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. been elected to public office
140. written your own computer language
141. thought to yourself that you're living your dream
142. had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. built your own PC from parts
144. sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. had a booth at a street fair
146. dyed your hair
147. been a dj
148. shaved your head
149. caused a car accident
150. saved someone's life
That was fun. Leave me a comment if you do it too!!!

Sunday 22 October 2006

The War At Home

The War at Home is a half hour comedy on FOX about two parents Dave (played by Michael Rapaport, from "Boston Public") and Vicky (played by Anita Barone, from "The Jeff Foxworthy Show") and their daily battles against their teenage children to keep their home, their children, and themselves in order.
I LOVE this show and I'm so happy to have discovered it is back on the air. I get really upset when a great show comes on the air and then it's cancelled without warning. I was just thinking about The War at Home and decided to check if it was going to be back on as I hadn't seen it this season...can't wait till Nov 5...Ohhh pish, just remembered we have a wedding that night- must remember to set my VCR and actually watch this hilarious show!

Wednesday 18 October 2006

KNOW THYSELF

i HAVE BEEN TAGGED BY THE BEAUTIFUL CURIOSITY KILLER
"KNOW THYSELF" TAG!
What is/are YOUR:
Easy how-to ways to beat a bad mood? i could say, think positive thoughts but that is bullshit- usually a good workout or a good cry or a long sleep does the trick
Never-fail lip color? I still love VIVA GLAM II by MAC, that c0lor always looks awsome on my lips, regardless of the season or my mood
Personality type (via myersbriggs)? according to the qualitative analysis i am:
distinctively expressed introvert
very expressed sensing personality
moderately expressed feeling personality
slightly expressed judging personality
Greatest strengths and weaknesses (like in a job interview)? I always hated this type of question...greatest strengths- good communication skills, great command of English Grammar, understanding of peoples needs. Weaknesses- i hate being critisized, i am very sensitive
Names of the trees in your yard? who the heck knows!! That tree has been there way before I was born!
Mother-in-law's favorite flower? i'll have to play safe and say ROSES
Names of 4 friends whom you're going to tag
Jill Christine Gavin and ...have to think of a last one!

Monday 16 October 2006

our stalker

We currently have a stalker in the neighborhood. I have seen this stalker continously come around every day for the past few months, although I had seen the offender as far back as 2 years ago. This stalker is a white male with bushy, matted hair and green eyes. The stalker comes around and torments little Owen, the smaller, more timid of our two cats. The offender appears to be a ferrel cat. Each time I hear the frightening hissing noise coming out of Owen's mouth I just know the awful white cat is near by. These two cats have a long standing hatred of each other and continously attempt to attack each other through our back door. Thank g-d for screens and glass to protect our little Owen. The white cat looks pretty vicious and I cannot imagine Owen lasting very long in a real face to face fight. In fact this cat has been in so many fights it is either missing an eye or has had an eye scratched to the point of being so swollen and infected you cannot even see the eye itself.
Unfortunately no amount of yelling at or shewing away makes this beast cat disappear. He seems to want to torment our little sweet Owen and will sit at the back door for hours at end causing complete disruption and tumoil around our home. Any suggestions or ideas (other than setting out laced tuna-which i could never actually do) on how to get this beast to leave our little Owen alone??? He is the bully and instigator in this whole matter and I'd love to have this long standing fight come to an end!

Saturday 7 October 2006

What do YOU do when...

1. you meet a totally obnoxious person who will not stop talking to you, someone you cannot imagine ever being friends with

2. your husband comes home from a work function with a piece of green food stuck between his 2 front teeth, and you know it was there all night

3. you notice someone very obviously staring at your engagement ring while in the midst of an exercise class

4. you really really have to let one rip but if you do everyone will hear it and know it was you

5. you have met the same person over and over again but cannot for the life of you remember their name

6. you bump into someone from high school who looks absolutely awful but used to take amazing pride in their self appearance

7. you meet someone and their really really homely baby

8. you realize that you had a booger hanging out while you were out lunching with your good friend (and she never mentioned it)

9. the back of your pants get all wet because of the rain and it looks like you peed your pants

10. someone asks you what your husband does for a living and looks horrified when you tell them

All of these things have recently happened to me. Just wondering if my reactions were similar to what yours would have been...

Thursday 5 October 2006

Ugly Betty

There has been so much hype over Ugly Betty I was wondering if anyone has seen this show. I would like to watch it but it conflicts with Grey's Anatomy and I am really too lazy to go to the basement TV to set the VCR to tape the show (and then i have to go back down to the basement to actually watch the show)

oh my

i was just hitting the "next blog" button on the top of the page when I came across this grotesque display...I guess in all my years of internet use I have never actually realized how easily accessible this stuff is. Now as a parent I will have to make a very concerted effort to control and watch what type of sites my children are looking at!
Okay finished my rant!!

Saturday 30 September 2006

book meme

One book that changed your life: Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. This book taught me to enjoy every moment of your life. Do not take life for granted
One book you read more than once: the oxford english dictionary- i read that one all the time and seem to go over the same spots over and over again
One book you want on a desert island: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. This book is so dense and full of detail it could take me a long while to read and there is so much to think about it would keep me occupied for a while!
One book that made you cry: The Girls by Lori Lansens. The story of conjoined twins who overcome huge obstacles and live suprisingly seperate lives despite never leaving each others side.
One book that made you laugh: Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. I love this trashy sort of book- i especially laugh because I don't know how anyone could get into so much financial trouble by shopping!! I mean have some self control!!!
One book you wish would have been written: 10 easy steps to get rid of a psycho Brazillian lover.
One book you wish had never been written:I'll have to copy Jill on this one. After 10 failed attempts at read Moby Dick I finally gave the darn book to Goodwill,
One book you are currently (re)reading (again & again): The Yale Child Centre Guide to Understanding your Child.
One book you have been meaning to read: The History of the Future by Gavin Kanowitz. I feel really guilty that my husband spent ryears and years writing this book and I have yet to read it...okay maybe i'll start right now.
I am not going to tag anyone...nobody who hasn't already done this reads my pathetic blog anyway

Wednesday 27 September 2006

Postcards from the Mothership

Postcards from the Mothership
i agree with allowing women to nurse babies anywhere they need to as babies must eat BUT I'm not sure this woman was discriminated against. She was not asked to but her boob away and stop breastfeeding, she was told that she cannot bring her baby to the class PERIOD. She probably should have inquired prior to the registration about whether or not she could bring the baby to class. Perhaps there was a safety issue or health concern ( this is a pottery class, maybe there are fumes and possible toxins in the air)
Of course she has a right to nurse her baby anywhere she needs to but this is not the real issue here-the issue is whether or not the baby is welcome in the class at all...

Monday 18 September 2006

we've been tagged...

3 Things That Scare Me
*brinkley barks
*loud noised
*the milk drying up
3 People That Make Me Laugh
*bubby
*mommy
*daddy
3 Things I Love
*milk
*bath time
*sleep
3 Things I Hate
*a dirty diaper
*loud noises
*when mommy drinks too much caffeine
3 Things I Don't Understand
*why crying is not the best form of communication
*why I MUST take naps
*why i have to wear those dreaded onesies!
3 Things On My Desk/Table (or blanket)
*my blue rattle
*a picture of mommy and daddy
*my photo album
3 Things I Am Doing Right Now
*dreaming of milk
*sleeping
*looking very cute
3 Things I Want to Do Before I Die
*taste something other than milk
*make my mommy and daddy proud
*discover a new physics theorum
3 Things I Can Do
*eat my fists
*smile
*make "talking" noises
3 Things I Can't Do
*walk
*talk in adult language
*eat solids
3 Things I Think You Should Listen To
*baby einstein CD's
*my cooing noises
*CHUM FM 104.5
3 Things I Think You Should Never Listen To
*Marilyn Manson
*Culture Club
*Settler Radio
3 Absolute Favorite Foods
*mommy milk
*mommy milk
*mommy milk
3 Beverages I Drink Regularly
*mommy milk
*mommy milk
*mommy milk
3 Shows I Watched as a Kid
*Baby Einstein
*baby animals
baby songs
3 Babies I Tag
* Ella
* Kaira
* Nathan

amazing!!

On my search to feeling human again I have discovered a few interesting things...firstly, putting on jeans rather than sweats can make a person feel like a participating member of society, second, a little mascara and/or eye shadow makes all the difference in the world to how a woman looks and finally one teeny weeny pair of earings can make me feel pretty as opposed to frumpy...i can be wearing the same jeans and t-shirt but put on a pair of earings and WOWSA...i feel normal again!! I am going to have to invest in a few more shorter pairs as my little guy has discovered pulling on my long earings and boy does he have a grip!!!

Tuesday 12 September 2006

Winners?!?!

Yesterday I took a trip downtown. After walking around Yorkville for a while I decided to check out the new Winner's on Bloor. There was so much controversy and hooplah made about this store opening in this location I needed to check it out. Well this store is not your typical Winners! The first indication that things are different here was when I looked at a beautiful purse by TOD'S and discovered the $1200 price tag staring back at me...my jaw hit the floor! The next item in question was a stunning wool coat (name brand i'm sure) with a price of $999.99 (why bother with the .99 at this point?!?!) I also came across loads of shoes in the +$200 range...I'm just prepared to spend that kind of money at Winner's of all places... and Winner's is supposed to be affordable...i guess affordable is a relative word.

Monday 4 September 2006

we went to a wedding last night and after agonizing about what on earth to wear I decided that i would get a body "slimmer" to put on under my dress rather than buying a new dress....well after spending a small fortune on the DD full peice body armour I have decided that I would have been better off just getting a new dress....oh well I can always wear it after the next baby (but hopefully i won't gain 1/2 as much weight next time as i did this time)
anyway here is a pic from last night...

Friday 1 September 2006

some new pet peeves

Since becoming a mom i have developed new pet peeves...here are a few of them

1) strangers who think they can give you parenting advice. I don't want or need advice from the woman working at the Winners fitting room on whether or not my baby is hungry, or on how to hold my baby

2) impatient drivers who honk or follow too closely- CAN'T they see I have a baby on board sign displayed in my window and don't they care??

3) people who think they can just touch my baby without asking or wasing their hands- i'm talking about strangers in stores or little kids who may be covered in germs (the parents of which don't bother to tell them to stay clear or look and not touch)

4) MORE TO COME...have a case of baby brain and I can't think of the others right now

Monday 14 August 2006

I feel good

It is so amazing how one silly pair of jeans can make a person feel human again!! I recently bought a new pair of jeans to fit this new rounder, more voluptuous body of mine and I cannot comment enough on how much better I feel. Until this new purchase of mine I had been shlepping about in yoga pants and draw string sweats which are extremely unflattering, I had not realized how much pregnancy weight I had actually lost as those were the same pants I'd been wearing throughout my pregnancy. Now that I have been wearing jeans again I feel sexier, look thinner and actually got a few complements from my MIL on how good I look now (YEAH for me:)

Saturday 5 August 2006

oh boy

I have decided that enough is enough...I never wanted to be one of those sweat pants clad moms who becomes a frump once the babies are born...SOO on my adventures at Yorkdale today I bought some new clothes-nice new jeans and capri jeans AND I made a pitstop into Sephora. This was only my 2nd time in Sephora and I have to say that store is pretty darn neat...had I had more time I may have done more damage but I only had a few minutes as hubby and baby were waiting outside the store for me-so i could only buy the one hair product I knew i wanted and didn't have a chance to try out other stuff (thank goodness actually) but I am committed to trying to look and feel my best even with baby in tow. I have started to exercise more, eat much healthier and even put some make up on again and before I know it I'll be fitting into my size 6 and 8 clothes that have been just taking up space in my closet since I got pregnant.
I want to be a yummy mummy!!

Monday 31 July 2006

becoming a parent

It is amazing how becoming a parent can totally change your perspective on life and living. This amazing new experience brings you to a whole new level of contemplation and understanding of the world. Since my son Elie was born almost 6 weeks ago my life has undergone so many changes...not just the obvious ones like dealing with sleep deprivation, no longer thinking of myself first, and the need to take care of a tiny human being, I'm referring to things like learning to smile at things that may have bothered me before- ie- the screaming kid being dragged out of the mall by his mom, or the woman who just pulls her breast out and feeds her hungry baby in the middle of busy food court. (I have yet to do that BUT I have been forced on 2 seperate occassions to feed in more public places than i would have normally found comfortable or appropriate-first time was at Baskin and Robbins one evening- no way were we going to make it home to feed since the walk was about 20 minutes and Elie was VERY HUNGRY, the second time was just yesterday while hubby and I were taking Elie for a nice walk through High Park-we were forced to sit down on a park bench and just feed him- it didn't matter that tonnes of people were walking and driving by- baby was hungry and that was that!!)
I have also learned that being and patient and relaxing are key to making life easier for myself. If my boy is having a crying frenzy and I can't figure out what the source is I have to just take a deep breath, relax and handle it, I cannot get all worked up or else the crying will never stop- usually all he needs is a little bouncing and hugging and he is good to go- we even get some sweet smiles these days.
The neccessity of teamwork has also been reinforced drastically over the last 6 weeks. Hubby and I must work together to make this parenting thing work and be enjoyable, if we don't than there is definitely the possibility of a meltdown.
Other things that have changed in my life is my relationship with my own parents. I have always found my folks to be a little annoying and have always been annoyed by them...lately I have never been more greatful that they are here and able to help out. My mom has been a g-d send these past weeks, she comes over, takes care of baby and lets me rest, shower or just have some ME time AND she loves doing it too!! The only thing she can't do is feed my little sweety (unless i pump a bottle which I like doing at times anyway)
I have realized that the world news is no longer important to me. I would rather watch Baby Einstein on repeat play than take the time to watch the news (especially with the sh*t that is going on now) Watching and reading the news just makes me angry and I want my baby to feel only happy vibes from me. I have been smiling a lot more lately and I think Elie will appreciate it.
HMM...I am certain that there are more a lot more ways becoming a parent has changed my perspective but right now I am having a baby brain moment so I'll let it go but if/when I remember I will update this entry :)

Thursday 13 July 2006

oh to lose something so beloved...

I recently took a trip to Shopper's Drug Mart to pick up some of my favourite shampoo and conditioner. Inner Science has been my brand of choice for a while now as it was affordable but not awful the way so many drug store brands tend to be. Unfortunately when i saw it was on sale I also saw the sign saying DISCONTINUED...oh boy now what was I going to do??? The company that makes Inner Science attached coupons to the bottles for a new Pantene shampoo but I have never had great luck with Pantene and do not find their shampoo does great things for my extremely hard to manage hair. Any suggestions on another reasonabley priced brand that will tame my thick, wavey, stubborn hair??? HELP!!

Wednesday 12 July 2006

The Jewish Magazine

I have posted before about the power of Jdate but I thought I'd post about it again because this time these powers are actually in print!!!
A few months ago
Jill told me about this guy who was writing an article about Jdate success stories. I immediately emailed him and we arranged a phone interview. Gavin and I spoke with him for about 45 mnutes and gave him "our story". Some of the details in the article are off but the gist of it is correct. Gavin and I actually met in August 2003 not 2004 but other than that things look A-OK...anyway check out the article on pages 28 and 29 of the magazine.
Enjoy :)

Monday 10 July 2006

the breastfeeding debate....

I didn't plan on making this a baby blog as I do have a site for my little guy but this issue has been on my mind a lot lately and today I went to a mommy group were we discussed the issues of breastfeeding quite a lot. Most of the moms in this group formula feed their babies and all the little ones are healthy, thriving energetic little people...
anyway I was recently forwarded this article and thought I"d post it here as I found it very inspiring and helpful (although I am choosing to continue breatfeeding for a while still)
Read and let me know your thoughts on this

Confessions of a Closet Bottle Feeder

I admit it. I had no interest in breast feeding before my daughter was born. I knew it was the "thing to do", but it just didn't seem like the "thing" for me. Secretly I hoped my new baby wouldn't figure it out. I dreamed I wouldn't have adequate milk supply. I imagined all sorts of scenarios that would give me the easy out and make it okay not to nurse my new baby daughter. Then on December 30, 2005, my little girl was born and suddenly my world changed. I couldn't believe that she was our creation and I was continually amazed that she depended on me for life. I was in love. In an instant, I was determined that I would breast feed her exclusively and suddenly I had no interest in a bottle or formula. For those first few days, we struggled and learned together and I had never been happier. While I thought I was doing a fine job with the feedings, her second doctor's visit proved me wrong. Our little girl was still losing weight and she was very dehydrated. I was devasted. My doctor all but threw a can of formula at me and said "get this kid on the bottle"! I was crestfallen. Tears ran from my eyes. I was horrified. I was annoyed. How could this be? Things were going so well. I spent hours with a private lactation consultant (at $150/hour!!) to help me perfect the feeding routine. A few more days of crying for both me and my baby (she was obviously STARVING!) and close to $1000 worth of consultation services later, I was forced to introduce the bottle. At first I wouldn't feed her. I refused to be the one to give my baby this powder and water mixture. It seemed so unhealthy. It seemed so unnatural. Most of all, it seemed so unfair. Everyone else seemed to be breast feeding. So devasted and ashamed, I couldn't and wouldn't bottle feed my daughter in public at the beginning. I was so fearful that someone would judge me as an inferior mother because I was giving my daughter formula. If I did have to feed her in public, I'd prepare the bottle at home, so that one might think it was pumped breast milk. It took me about two months and a lot of sad and lonely days to get over this insecurity. I am proud to say that my daughter is six months old and now she rarely eats a meal INSIDE of our house. She snacks at Starbucks, she lunches anywhere from the local park to the Four Seasons' Studio Café. My daughter is healthy and thriving and thoroughly enjoys her bottles of formula. Countless people have enjoyed bonding with her while feeding her a bottle and this has given me a lot more time and flexibility. While I support and applaud any mother who breast feeds her baby, I now know that how you feed your baby is a personal decision. My daughter couldn't be happier, and neither could I.

Friday 7 July 2006

it's been a long while since i last posted but circumstance has not allowed me as much time lately as i used to have :)
anyway I thought I"d write a quick note on how shocked i've been about the the whole "mommy"culture...who knew there were such things as Lactation Consultants and that they charge big bucks for their services, or that there are a million different types of breast pumps on the market, or that you can get tonnes of different bouncy chairs...more models than car makes in some cases...boy if you want to spend $$ in the blink of an eye, have a baby and you can spend spend spend, all before baby even reaches one month old!!
Thank goodness for generous grandparents and income top-ups!!!!

Thursday 15 June 2006

kitties and kiddies

Up until this point in time our 2 kitties have been our babies. They are hugged and kissed and played with constantly (when they are not sleeping of course)...We are just hoping that when Baby K arrives the kitties are not too jealous and can cope with the new addition to our family. We do know that our new kiddy will be taking up most of our time and we will have to make sure our kitties don't feel neglegted...We may have to invite friends and family over (namely my brother who loves to play with our animals) to spend special time with our furry babies...
anyway i thought I'd share a pic of our older baby Jamie sneaking a ride in our new bassinett-oh what a sight he was!!

Tuesday 13 June 2006

my last day!!

Today was my last day of work. I can't believe I won't be working again until next year...still feels surreal and very dreamlike!! Everyone had the same advice for me- Get sleep now, while you can...and that is just what I plan on doing for the next week and a half!
My team threw me a surprise baby shower today. I can honestly say I was blown away! I knew SOMETHING was going on but I had no idea just how much prep work and planning they were actually doing. Here are some pics of the wonderful party they had for me :)


Friday 9 June 2006

my new obsession

A few months ago I rediscovered the library. I had always liked reading but had gotten out of the habit for some unknown reason. So one rainy Saturday afternoon I decided to make a trip to our local library branch, I grabbed my hubby and drove to the library-he was in heaven as reading is just his thing (our house is filled to the brim with tonnes of books-all non-fiction unfortunately for me) I picked up a few books and enjoyed them immensely...but lately I have been going for the "chick lit" category. I don't know what it is about these books but I just can't get enough of them- they aren't as trashy as Harliquen Romance novels but they are generally very easy to read, involve some sort of love interest, and of course some type of conflict which inadvertantly always finishes with a happy ending...
My latest book is called Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin. It is about plain-Jane attorney Rachel who cannot find love but on the eve of her 30th birthday she ends up in bed with her best friends' fiance. AND of course they fall in love and the story just progresses from there, predictable but a good read none-the-less...
I have already requested Emily Griffin's next novel entitled Something Blue which is written from the view point of Darcy, Rachel's once best friend, whereas Something Borrowed was told from Rachel's standpoint. The first chapter or two was previewed in Something Borrowed so I think I will enjoy it just as much as I did the first book in this new series.


At least these books have reinstated my love of reading and I hope that eventually I will be inclined to get back to the more intellectual books of my past but for now I am superbly enjoying the chick lit genre.

Thursday 8 June 2006

I love my hubby

This morning my husband said to me "I better learn to change diapers." He is so funny and cute!! I think the realization hit him this morning that the baby will be here in exactly 2 weeks and he really hasn't a clue how to deal with babies! Sure he has held a new born (maybe twice) and kind of oohed and aawed at them but never had to deal with bathing, changing diapers and all the other niceties that come with new babies...
This is one of my favorite pics:

He looks so scared of breaking Daniel...hopefully he'll get better with our baby!!!

Tuesday 6 June 2006

easy cooking 1,2,3...

Since I will be out of commision for about 6 weeks after the baby is born my husband will be responsible for feeding us...I am looking for some VERY EASY recipes that he can use. As of now he can make 1 dish- Chicken baked with rice and mushroom soup. It is tastey but I cannot imagine eating it everyday for the a whole 6 weeks!!!
I do plan on making a few things and freezing them so that we do have some good food to eat and I'm sure my parents will be able to help out a bit in the kitchen too but now is probably a really good time for hubby to learn to cook anyway!!
any suggestions PLEASE????

Monday 29 May 2006

making progress

So I decided to make a big trip to Walmart today...I was in search of baby essentials and I did find some things I really needed...and $50 later I got some pretty good stuff including 120 nursing pads, some receiving blankets, baby bath soap, body wash, shampoo, bum cream and a cute little rubber ducky...Now all I need is a little bath tub and a diaper genie and we should be good to go for a little while anyway.


Yesterday I got a tonne of "vests" as my MIL calls them, from my SIL-....to me they look like undershirts but I guess that's what they were called in SA-her little one has outgrown them and is now walking so she doesn't wear them anymore. We also got a bunch of new GAP clothes that Ava never wore as she had SOOO much stuff she never had a chance to wear it all - It really does help that her paternal bubbie works at the GAP in Portland and is always sending her new outfits!!


I am pretty sure we'll be okay with the "stuff"....just need to set up the room which is all painted, just need to put together the crib and the glider, and hang up some of the cute decor. I think it will look pretty cute :)


that's all for now!!

Wednesday 24 May 2006

those mischievous squirrels!!..garden part 2

I finally got around to the back of the house yesterday to plant my tomotoes and zucchini for the season....well today when i went out back to water the new additions I noticed a number of holes in the ground where the zucchini seeds had been planted. Now I KNOW I didn't just throw the seeds in and leave it all open like that so my only conclusion can be that those cute little furry squirrels dug up my freshly planted seeds...luckily they didn't get all the seeds but it looked as though they got about a third of them (which my actually be a good thing because after reading some more on planting zucchini seeds I think I may have planted WAY too many in a fairly small area)... time will tell what actually grows this time around- years ago we tried growing broccoli and ended up with heads of earwigs and absolutley nothing edible...




I have been noticing peanuts all around the lawn and front garden lately as well, I assume those were planted by the squirrels over the fall and winter for food...perhaps my little friends have just been trying to access their peanuts and came across my zucchini seeds...who knows...




Can't wait to see what happens with this experiment of mine...i usually play it safe and just plant tomotoes but after speaking to Jill one day a while back I thought zucchini squash might be a good choice and it's always nice to have variety...plus I made a mean zucchini chocolate chip muffin!!!

Friday 19 May 2006

editing questions....

okay whenever i write an entry on the blog I make sure to seperate paragraphs, put in correct punctuation, and all that jazz- to make it things make sense but when i hit publish post the blog just turns into one long paragraph and the whole thing just doesn't look right anymore...can someone tell me what i'm doing wrong??? this publishing error has made my blogs in the past take on a new meaning, and not always the right meaning!! How do i fix this problem???

my garden has arrived...

I finally got started on my garden. I had been procrastinating it for a while now as the ground was too hard and sandy, I was tired and I just didn't have the energy to crouch down and put in all those flowers...BUT today was the day. I woke up early, ran some errands with my hubby who had the day off work too, then ventured over to the Home Depot Garden centre.. we picked out a bunch of flowers in a mix of colors and I also bought some vegetables to plant in the back yard... came right home and got started. Of course it took me way longer than it would have if I was able to bend down on my knees and really get into it but i was able to put in all the flowers with only a few breaks along the way. Thank goodness for all the rain we've had the past few days as the ground was the perfect texture to turn over and plant. Maybe tomorrow i'll get started on weeding the back and the other side of the garden...


For now the front still looks kind of skimpy but once the flowers bloom and grow in it is going to be sooo pretty :)



The vegetables are going to have to wait a least a day or two before I venture into the backyard to plant them. There is only so much energy left in my reserve for one afternoon :)



Happy planting!!!

Thursday 18 May 2006

great day

So far my day has been wonderful! In spite of the rain which soaked us this morning we've enjoyed our day. We met with a wonderful doctor who did an ultrasound and showed us our baby in great detail. She was able to point out baby's hands, feet (which are resting on my bladder and cervix-explaining all the sharp pains i've been getting lately) and the little head and even the ears!! We were even able to see the umbilicle cord in color on the moniter. So far we have a 5 pounder on our hands but there is still lots of time to grow!!
Baby looks really cute and we are very excited to meet the little one...just over one month go, unless baby get impatient and comes out early...oh the next 5 weeks are probably going to fly by so quickly we won't know what hit us!

Tuesday 16 May 2006

one more day of work to go..

woohoo...i have an extra long weekend coming up...i have Thursday, Friday as well as Monday off...then i have a short day Tuesday as i have another doctor's appointment.... lucky me :)
I booked Thursday and Friday off not even realizing that it was a long weekend anyway..i'm surprised my leave request was approved as i know at least 5 people from my team alone who will be off those days...not complaining-just commenting...
woohoo...i will enjoy my rest and relaxation time immensely!!
Then it's one month left of work till i am off for the year...i officially booked my maternity leave to start June 19 !!! very exciting!

Friday 12 May 2006

hay fever

Oh you gotta love spring...as lovely as the gorgeous sunshine and beautiful flowers are the redness in my eyes and this runny nose really bites!! I don't normally suffer from allergies but every few years or so the pollen or something in the air is really high causing me to suffer with these dreaded allergies. Normally I'd just take a reactin from my hubby's stash but being pregnant I must just suffer through the next few weeks with box of Kleenex in hand and remember to only wear waterproof mascara :)
Lucky for me this only happens irregularly as I have witnessed my hubby suffer over and over again with awful allergies. He is just drained of all energy, cannot sleep, can barely eat (as if he needs this problem, he's SOOO skinny) and just wants to sleep sleep sleep...leaving me bored and lonely and feeling really guilty as I can't usually empathize with him.

Monday 8 May 2006

Okay, BLUE Jays, Lets play BALL


Went to the Jays came this evening. It was awsome. The Jays played an amazing game and won 5-1 over the Los Angeles Angels.
A special thanks to Mandy for giving us the tickets. The seats couldn't have been better, 15th row from the field right behind 3rd base. Lucky for us she doesn't like baseball !! This was baby's first game and I think we have a future fan on our hands as there was lot's of movement going on in the belly during the exciting parts of the game!!

TSOTSI

I recently went to see the South African movie TSOTSI. This movie won the Best Foreign Language Film of the Year at the 2006 Academy Awards. This movie was one of the most moving yet disturbing films I have seen in a very long time. It takes place in the townships of Johannesburg where life is all about survival of the fittest. Gangs and violence are the norm and become the only way of life most of the young know or aspire to. The young Tsotsi is a 19 year old product of his upbringing in this ghetto environment. He is the leader of his gang, up to no good with no future and nobody who really loves or cares for him. One night after a drinking binge, and a heightened need to exude authority he takes it upon himself to carjack a woman driving a BMW in a very well off neighborhood. Unbeknowst to Tsotsi he has also committed a kidnapping. The small baby he finds in the car becomes a source of inspiration and allows Tsotsi to really grow up in a way nothing else has allowed him to do before.
This movie has moments of extreme violence and can be disturbing but would not have been as effective had these sceens been toned down in the least. I would highly recommend this movie as I have heard from recent immigrants from SA that it really is an accurate representation of what South Africans live through on daily basis.

Thursday 4 May 2006



I have rediscovered The Body Shop. A few years ago I fell in love with body butter, especially the Brazil Nut scented one. It is so sweet and delicious smelling I have been tempted on more than one occassion to taste it!!! I can curse the person who gave me a tub of this stuff as a Kris Kringle present all those years ago-gave me an addiction!
This cream is so thick and rich you only need a tiny amount to soften your hands and arms, one tub can last me months and months...lucky for that as this stuff is a little pricey- even with a gift certificate I felt a little guilty forking out $18 + tax for body cream...but i know i'll enjoy every bit of it.

inconsiderate drivers

As i drove to work this morning I encountered a few very rude and inconsiderate drivers out on the roads. I am still shaking because of the stupidity of one particular asshole woman who was behind me while I was waiting to make a left hand turn from a side street to a major road. This woman obviously had very important things to do today as she wouldn't stop her ridiculous honking and probably yelling (I could see her irratic hand motions in my rear view mirror) as i waited for the way to clear. Perhaps she wanted to risk getting into an accident but my being 7 months pregnant I was not taking any chances by playing chicken with cars coming right at me at 60km per hour.
I find that drivers in the city have become more and more aggresive as the population multiplies. If one isn't aggresive to some degree than you get nowhere as people are no longer curtious in letting you in if you signal and wait. Now I usually try to help fellow drivers out by letting them in as long as they signal- often this curtousy isn't even regarded with a thank you wave...argh!!
ANYWAY that was my rant for this beautiful sunny morning!

Saturday 22 April 2006

for the love of shopping...

I used to LOVE shopping and would buy things on impulse whenever I felt the need for something new...thankfully I no longer have that spend $$ impulse the way I used to but on occasion I still feel the need to buy something new for myself...today was just one of those days. As I was driving home from grocery shopping muttering about the awful weather and the lack of sunshine on this miserable rainy day, I decided to stop into the Nine West Studio Outlet store for a pick-me-up.
I tried on half a dozen pairs of shoes and finally settled on these babies:

I got them in black and I think the $34.99 I paid for them was a pretty good price as the original sticker price said $120.00 (who knows though)
These shoes will get me through the summer as I can wear them with jeans, skirts, dress pants and capris too...probably not with shorts BUT I rarely wear shorts anyway so that isn't really an issue for me...
While I was at the store I came across a really cute handbag (for those that know me really well you may know that I love purses-but don't always give in to my passion for the purse)
Here is my newest bag obsession:


Although the web-site says $19.99 the store was selling it for $64.99...so maybe this isn't the exact one but I couldn't justify spending $65 on a purse but if I can get it for $20 than maybe just maybe I'll have to give in a grab this cute number...
anyway enough about my adventures at Nine West...time to take a nap!!

what we all long for

I just finished reading the book What we all long for by Dionne Brand. This book takes place in my home town of Toronto and is the story of 4 twenty somethings living downtown. They each take turns telling their stories about coming to grips with life, love and friendship. Each tells their tale of family struggles and relationships which have affected their whole beings.
I really enjoyed this book and recommend it for those who enjoy gripping tales of life in the big city. I am going to look for other Dionne Brand books at my local library branch.

Thursday 20 April 2006

my 50th post!!!

WOW...this is my 50th post...feels like I should make it something good...hmm...I can celebrate the end of Pesach...well yeah-but boring...I could ramble on about nothing particular-again kind of boring...or I could just say:

YEAH it's spring, the weather is awsome, the sun is shining and I didn't even wear a jacket over my t-shirt today!!! Can't wait to get into the garden and plant some pretty flowers, tomatoes and maybe another vegetable or two (my attempt at strawberries 2 years ago failed miserabley but maybe I'll give it another go)

Enjoy this amazing weather while you can- it's gonna get HOT soon!!

Wednesday 12 April 2006

A long way down

I just recently finished the book A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby.
As described by Jamie Watson Hartford County Public Library:Four different people find themselves on the same roof on New Year's Eve, but they have one thing in common–they're all there to jump to their deaths. A scandal-plagued talk-show host, a single mom of a disabled young man, a troubled teen, and an aging American musician soon unite in a common cause, to find out why Jess (the teen) can't get her ex-boyfriend to return her calls. Down the stairs they go, and thoughts of suicide gradually subside. It all sounds so high concept, but each strand of the plot draws readers into Hornby's web. The novel is so simply written that its depths don't come to full view until well into the reading. Each character takes a turn telling the story in a distinctive voice. Tough questions are asked–why do you want to kill yourself, and why didn't you do it? Are adults any smarter than adolescents? What defines friends and family? Characters are alternately sympathetic and utterly despicable, talk-show-host Martin, particularly. The narrators are occasionally unreliable, with the truth coming from the observers instead. Obviously, a book about suicide is a dark read, but this one is darkly humorous–as Hornby usually is. Teens will identify with or loathe Jess and musician J. J., but they will also find themselves in the shoes of Maureen and Martin. This somewhat philosophical work will appeal to Hornby's fans but has plenty to attract new audiences as well.–

Definitely a highly recommended read!

Monday 10 April 2006

New baby blog

Okay since my post on my new baby blog seems to have caused some confusion i've decided to change it a little...

My new baby blog is HERE

We have started collecting stuff for our little bumpkin and you can check it all out HERE.

Hope this alleviates some of the confusion

Wednesday 5 April 2006

Pre natal

We went to our first pre-natal class this evening. It was a lot of fun and we met some very interesting people. I think there were about 8 couples in total, all of them are due some time in early to late June...then there is our due date of July 6...but who knows when the baby will actually come into the world. Like the instructor said, babies have personalities all of their own right from the start (and I've seen witnessed this with friends babies and our neice and nephew as well) SOO the baby may decide it has had enough and wants out before then or may just decide to stay in longer than expected....
We learned about different coping methods for pain, different ways to relieve some of the pressure we may be feeling in our back, knees and other parts...everything was extremely helpful-i'm sure we'll be using some of the techniques we were shown very soon!
Looking forward to next week !!

Tuesday 4 April 2006

33 YIKES!!! It's my birthday

In honor of my 33rd birthday and to borrow (or steal) an idea from my dear friend Jill I am going to tell you 33 things about MEEEEE....

1. I have a small group of really close friends and I like it that way (no need to have tonnes of friends I have no time to see)
2. My husband is my bestest friend
3. I can't take critisism (will let it bother me for days and days afterwards-about ANYTHING)
4. I am cheap (I will look for the lowest gas prices even if it means waiting until i'm only driving on fumes)
5. I work hard for my money and can't throw it away frivilously (so i usually wait for sales to buy anything)
6. I have worked the same part-time job since I was 15 years old (with the exception of a 2 year leave of absence to go live abroad) REALLY TIME TO QUIT!!!!
7. I lived in Korea for 15 months after university to teach English
8. I used to LOVE to party at night clubs in my younger days
9. I now prefer to stay home and watch a movie with hubby
10. I have done my own taxes a few times
11. I have been watch the Young and the Restless since grade 7
12. My favourite TV show is What Not to Wear
13. I am expecting my first child
14. I want 3 children
15. I still suffer from naseau and heartburn even at 6 months along
16. I plan to join Weight Watchers after this baby comes
17. I LOVE pickles on all sandwiches
18. I will not/cannot eat mushrooms
19. I cannot live with out diet Coke/Pepsi
20. I cannot tolerate any kind of pain (from sore feet to a small scratch YUCK!
21. I prefer flannel PJ's to sexy lingerie
22. I sometimes call in sick just to use up some of my leave time (I have so much accrued time I won't be able to use it in a lifetime)
23. On my days off I eat way less then when I'm at work
24. I love taking baths but always shower afterwards because I dont' feel really clean after a bath
25. I have never been to the same hair stylist more than twice
26. I hate clutter
27. I am not the best housekeeper
28. I am very sorry I fired the cleaning lady for not living up to my standards ( I should have just told her in more detail what I wanted her to do-she isn't a mind reader)
29. Every year I resolve to keep my resolutions
30. I always break my resolutions within a few weeks
31. I love reading trashy chick lit
32. I love eating spicy foods
33. I LOVE cooking for other people

Monday 27 March 2006

Heart Burn

OH food glorious food...something I used to enjoy SOOO much NOW it's another story...have been discovering almost daily things I can no longer eat...
so far here is my list:
peanut butter
chocolate
licorice
raisons
banana
v-8
salsa
ketchup

fruit flavored tea (almost any type)

Tuesday 21 March 2006

Two Can Play that Game

This is the start of a book I have been trying to write for some time...let me know what you think so far!!

Dating and relationships are not things many women take lightly. Even in today’s modern society of empowerment and independence women are still bound to the notion that they need to find “the one”. Unfortunately that search for the one is not as easy as one might imagine. During the search it has been my experience that one may encounter a variety of bumps and barriers on the road to eternal happiness. Once we have exasperated our own resources, tired of the bar scene, the lack of decent guys at the gym and just not meeting that special someone at the local grocery store we sometimes go into panic mode. “Will I be alone forever? Why do ugly girls have boyfriends and husbands while I am still single? What does it take to find the right one? Then it hits- offers for BLIND DATES all over the place. People think just because your single and he’s single that it’ll be a perfect match. Forget the fact that he is a chain smoker and I’m allergic to the slightest smell of smoke or that I am really health conscience and enjoy working out regularly while he is at least 30 pounds over weight and breaks a sweat walking to the car from McDonalds while munching on large fries and a coke.
This book is about the trials and tribulations of blind dating and more recently internet dating and what can happen when the chemical reaction explodes.
After speaking to a variety of women about their experiences I have compiled a commodore of stories and reactions to what should be described as youthful fun but has come to be described as intolerable and often nauseating.

MOST EMBARRASSING DATES

Some of the worst parts about dating include the embarrassment factor. Why is it that some people have absolutely no clue when it comes to etiquette or simple people skills? It seems obvious to me and also to my female friends that common sense should dictate what would seem to be appropriate attire for a date. One story that comes to mind is a friend that was taken to a really trendy restaurant on the 54th floor of a building in downtown Toronto. Unfortunately they were turned away due to the fact that the guy was wearing RUNNING SHOES!!!- that was almost as bad as the guy who showed up at my door wearing SOCKS AND SANDALS!! I was NOT impressed with his attire but gave him a chance anyway- bad move- the guy was a total bible thumper and not my type AT ALL. He went on and on about his last blind date and how he was disgusted that she had admitted to smoking pot on occasion. “I won’t tolerate that!” he stated as he slapped his hand down on the table. People were looking at us- that’s how loud his declaration was.
VERY EMBARRASSING!!!

NOTHING IN COMMON DATES or TOO MUCH IN COMMON

You’re single- he’s single- why not give it a try???
That has got to be the worst rational for setting two people up. It has happened to me repeatedly. No matter how much your “friends” and relatives tell you the other party is “nice” and respectable etc there is always room for lack of judgment. My very first blind date is the perfect example of this phenomenon. I was 22 and he 33. I was still a university undergraduate who wanted to party and spend time going out and seeing the world-He on the other hand was an established medical doctor who had delivered an impressive number of babies by that stage in his career, had spent time traveling and experiencing life, as well as made a huge career change-gone from law to medicine. I was still exploring my options and really not that focused on anything at that point of my life. He was looking for a wife and I looking for a partner in crime. Just not the ideal match! I heard later he ended up marrying a fellow doctor.
Then there’s the friend who was set up with someone just because they are both teachers, never mind the fact that he was a real macho type and she absolutely NOT into that at all.

Monday 20 March 2006

She's the man...

Saw a very cute movie today. Really enjoyed the light hearted, romantic comedy starring Amanda Bynes as Viola Hastings and James Kirk as Sebastian Hastings her twin brother in She's the Man. Both hubby and I entered this movie with few or no expectations and came out really happy. The laughs were great, the story light and the outcome, predictable yet sweet...give this one two thumbs up!!

Wednesday 8 March 2006

Saturday 4 March 2006

The Oscars

Who will be watching The Oscars this Sunday night? I have only seen 2 of the films nominated for best film this year. Crash and Munich were both very well done but out of these 2 flicks my vote would have to go to Crash.

Friday 24 February 2006

Wall of Light



I finished reading this amazing novel by Israeli auther Edeet Ravel. The story takes place over the course of one day and takes readers through the lives of three generations of one family. Without giving away most of the book I will say that Sonya Tel Aviv university math professor tells the story of her coming of age experiences. Although a brilliant math scholar she was until this day quite sheltered and has come of age through some serious self growth and realizations.

I would highly recommend this book!

Tuesday 21 February 2006

old friends

How nice it is to see old friends again...Sunday morning I had the opportunity to meet up with an old friend whom I hadn't seen in almost 8 years. My dear friend Connie and I met in Korea while we were both teaching ESL there back in 1996-1998. I left Korea for home and she stayed on a while longer then went on to Taiwon for about a year...she returned to Canada but lived in Vancouver up until about 2 weeks ago when she made the move to Toronto in search of a better job and perhaps a more exciting life...Thank goodness for Email!! We have been able to keep in touch all these years and it felt like just like only weeks had passed since the last time we saw each other and not 8 years!!

Wednesday 15 February 2006

Blach...

Woke up with a headache for the third day in a row this morning...decided enough was enough and I was going to stay in bed and relax rather than going to work and dealing with cranky, money starved seniors complaining that Canada sucks, the government sucks and the pension doesn't pay them enough...I've had the mind to just say "deal with it" on occasion-but value my job too much to actually say those words...ANYWAY ...I enjoyed my day off immensely!! Slept, read my new library book, did a new Stepping for Pregnancy video and managed to fight the headache from returning full force...now to avoid it returning when I return to work tomorrow...might have to ask my team leader to have the florescent lights turned off above my work station at that may be part of the cause of these recurring headaches.

Tuesday 14 February 2006

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!

Have a happy happy day!!!! Celebrate life, love and enjoy!!!

Check out these cool facts

Thursday 9 February 2006

HOW TO STAY YOUNG


1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them "
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9 Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Thursday 2 February 2006

SUCH A CUTIE PIE!!!!


I HAD to show off this gorgeous pic of our little nephew Daniel!!!!! He is growing SOO quickly. I can't believe the last time we saw him he was only 1 week old and really tiny... this is from the lastest set of pics my sister-in-law sent from Zurich of her and her son. Just look at those cheeks!!! Really pinchable- can't wait to see him again in June when mom and baby will be here visiting.

Sunday 29 January 2006

vacation...

Oh boy do I need a vacation...since working full time over the last 2 years I really appreciate the 5 weeks vacation time I get off yearly...Think that I'll take a week off in March while hubby has time for March break...been SOOO busy at work that all I have energy for in the evenings is reading, eating and sleeping...maybe a week off will rejuvinate me.... we went to Europe for 2 weeks in the summer which was awsome and then had 3 weeks off last December for wedding and honeymoon, took a week off in November.. but really feeling the need to take another week SOON...maybe we can manage one last trip in before baby comes...I'm thinking Cuba...hmmm nice warm air, sand, sea and nothing to do but relax...

Review

I have struggled for years to get the smile I wanted. I have tried teeth whitening at a clinic, every type of toothpaste imaginable includin...