finally

after using the same bedroom set my parents bought me for the my 13th birthday for YEARS...we finally decided it was time to invest in new furniture. It was a hard choice and we looked at tonnes and tonnes of sets. We finally decided on a traditional set that will last us forever and will never go out of style-and even if it does OH WELL!!
I also decided that I was going to get proper bedding to go along with our new "adult" set...i loved it in the store but am not so sure I love it anymore...it is kind of shiny and hot, plus i'm finding that little things snag on it UGH!!

"Car-Free day"

Today is supposed to be Car-Free-Day. I don't think that many people observed this attempt at being environmental. I didn't. I would have, i really would have BUT Toronto, being the "world-class" city that it is does not have a transit system that allows for people living the burbs, working in other burbs to take transit in a reasonable amount of time. For me to get to work by transit it requires taking 2 busses, 2 subways and then another bus...a route that would probably take me 90 minutes, to drive it takes me 40-50 minutes (in traffic-20-30 with none)
If the higher-ups really want people to observe things like car-free days and take public transit days than they have to get with the program and start building better, more widespread subway lines. Sure these things cost money but so does paying the city-counsellors and other government officials 6 figure incomes when really they deserve IMO 1/2 of what they are paid!

What can we do to make those in charge aware of our serious discontent with the system??? Any suggestions???
(this post was started days and days ago but I am only just getting around to finishing it today Oct 1)

Monday Morning Beef

CYCLISTS...
today on my 40 minute commute to work I encountered several cyclists ALL of whom didn't seem to know which rules they should be following. Are they meant to follow the rules of the road that all other vehicles follow OR are they considered pedestrians? This caused me some serious stress and several heart-in-throat moments. The cyclists seem to do whatever pleases them and not have any consideration for others on the road. The big HUGE problem here is if you are the one driving the 1000 tonne car and not the 5 pound bicycle you are likely going to cause serious damage or injury to that often non-helmet-wearing human riding the bike. If you are going to ride a bike instead of walk or drive PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE obey the rules of road. You are either a vehicle, which mean you must stop at stop signs, signal (with your hand!) and give those who get there first the right of way. If you are riding on the sidewalk-then you are a pedestrian- you MUST MUST MUST stop at stop signs/lights, get off your bike and walk across the street and above all- whether you are an adult or a child WEAR A FRIGGIN' HELMET!!! You can save your own life by following the rules and giving us drivers some warning you are there!!!

my new faves

Since I am only working part-time these days we (or I) decided that I am perfectly capable of cleaning the house myself. No more cleaning lady for us (for now). I have been looking for quick cleaning solutions that are simple and also environmentally friendly. I do use white vinegar a lot but also wanted other less stinky cleaning ideas.
I have come across a couple or great web sites lately which focus on just what I am looking for.
My absolute favourite is http://www.happyslob.com/ . There are so many awesome tips on how to keep the house clean and tidy without much effort and time involved!
Check it out...not only is it useful but it also gives me a little chuckle every once in a while :)

my wishlist

from Etsy

I finally did it...

after g-d only knows how many years I finally got myself a pair of new sunglasses. I used to have a clip that fit over my regular glasses but since getting new glasses and not keeping track of the clip I just stopped wearing sunglasses. I would just squint and bear the sun shining into my eyes. I even drove home from work right into the glaring sun daily without any sunglasses. Who knows how many wrinkles I unnecessarily created by my lack of protective sunglasses. Now that I have been wearing them for just over a week I am totally addicted to them. I cannot go outside in even a little sun without them on!
It could be that my eyes have become accustomed to them being shaded...it could be that they are a lovely pair of Prada sunglasses that cost me a pretty penny so I don't want to take a chance by putting them down and possibly losing them...who knows:)
On another kind of weird note...my eyes were tested recently and after about 18 years I no longer need to wear glasses. I do have a very slight prescription but so close to 20/20 that I really don't need them!! This makes me so happy!!!

my baby boy (who really isn't a baby anymore but you know what I mean) is full of so many funny comments and observations!! This evening I was trying to explain to him that at his new daycare (which he starts tomorrow) there are going to be many kids of different cultural backgrounds- up until now he went to a daycare where all the kids were Jewish and for the most part white. I told him there were going to be kids who are brown and black and Asian etc...he said "and green???" and Blue?? it was hilarious!!!
I am not sure he really understands that tomorrow he will not be going back to old school-which he loves! but will be going to a new daycare closer to home. I tried to build up excitement and explain to him that he will be able to walk to daycare with us now! I really hope all goes well and we don't regret our decision to switch

HELP!!!

We moved into our house almost 3 weeks ago. It has been such a pleasure to live in a much more spacious place with parking directly in front of our house and a lot more storage. The only problem I am having is what to do with all the mess we brought with us from the townhouse. I am by no means a neat freak but I like to try and keep a somewhat clean and tidy home. I have no idea what to do with all the piles of crap that have been accumulating around the house. My excuse at first was that we just moved in, but it's been 3 weeks now...my next excuse was a lack of furniture- well now we have furniture in the boys' room and our bedroom furniture is coming soon- plus we have an awesome built in right in our walk-in closet (plus a second closet in our bedroom for hubby's clothes)... so why do i have all these piles all over the house?? Is it just inevitable that my lack of cleaning skills creates mess or can i get rid of them somehow?? Please any suggestions would be much appriciated!! The piles of stuff are going to be the end of me!!

Parenting Stylist?

Must one follow a parenting theory to be considered a good parent these days? There are so many philosophies and theories on what is right and best for the development of your child. It can be really overwhelming-especially to the first time parent.
When my son was born I was handed advice on what to do when he sleeps, when he eats, when he poops, when he wees, when he cries, when he walks, when he talks...well you get the picture. I found myself doing what worked best for me and for my family. I didn`t know if I was following one theory versus another- i just parented. We lived our lives, raised our baby and did what seemed to work.

Now that I am a mom of two I find that some of the things we did the first time around aren`t feasable the second time around. I also find myself questioning the `type`of parent I am.
Would one consider me a follower of attachment parenting OR am I an advocate of Cry It Out

I would never let my baby cry for...say 40 minutes in her crib BUT I don`t always pick her up and coddle her when she cries. I do go into room, pat her back and try to calm her down, if she is hysterical. I don`t rock her to sleep nightly. Nor did I nurse her or read to her until she is asleep in my arms. I put in her bed and usually she fell asleep within a few minutes of being put to bed. My daughter woke in the night until she was 10 months old. Did I go to her and nurse her because it was the fastest way to get her back to sleep- you bet I did! Do I put her down in her crib when she is obviously exhausted and let her cry for a few minutes before falling asleep for the night- well I do that too!!

All these theories on parenting and all the advice that comes with its followers can be so super duper confusing!

a long time fave

I started using Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream a few years ago on the advice from Fancy Pansy. This is still one of my all time favourite products.

The purpose of this product is to provide shine, protect the hair from heat styling and provide overall managability. It does all this and more!
I use a tiny pea size amount in either damp or dry hair. Then I either blow dry or straighten my hair. My hair is left so soft, shiny and just plain beautiful (if I do say so myself!!) I recommend this product to anyone I know who has longish hair with lots of flyaways as it really helps in managing them too!
It is a little pricey and only seems available at Sephora in Canada but I have started buying it on Ebay, thus saving about $9-10 on each purchase (and normally I end up buying from places that have FREE shipping too!!)
Definitely 2 thumbs up on this product!

sometimes...

if my timing is right I get to see this Super Dad walking his kids to school in one of these

Every time I see this man pushing his quad stroller in the Bayview and Sheppard area during the morning rush hour commute I can't help but stare and also smile. It is obvious why I stare-it's hard not to- I smile because I admire this man for taking his kids to school/daycare in this enviromentally friendly vehicle and also because I am SOOO happy it is him and not me! Can you imagine 4 babies the same age?? YIKES!!!

A few reviews

I haven't been a great blogger lately...i just haven't had much inspiration these days but after dishing out good money and being a bit dissapointed more than once lately I decided these reviews were neccessary.

I needed to buy new shaving cream. My hubby went and used all mine up so when i went to the store looking for something new this product caught my eye.
First off I loved the packaging. It just looked so pretty and the description of the product seemed to fit the bill. The package is made from soft-plastic so it doesn't rust in the tub and is apparantly easier to recyle.

I will finish it because i bought it but won't be making this mistake again.

The shaving cream is not the traditional type that lathers when you apply it. It is non-foaming and you are supposed to just apply a thin layer to the area you are shaving. I tried it on my legs first (and only place) i was able to get an alright shave but not nearly as smooth as I normally do with my old shaving cream. I do enjoy the scent and it is available in other scents but next time I'm going to buy my tried and true brand :)

I accidently picked up this mascara at the grocery store. It is supposed to highlight one's eye color by adding flecks of that color to the mascara...i honestly don't see any difference between this mascara and any other drugstore brand. This product isn't any better and in fact I actually find it kind of useless. It doesn't lengthen my lashes, it doesn't help bring out the color of my eyes (as the claims state) and it doesn't even go on easily.
I would definitely leave this product out of my shopping basket next time!

This jasmine vanilla hand soap by Bath and Body Works is just delish. I LOVE it. The scent is so pretty and it actually lingers long after you are done washing your hands. I tried quite a few of them at the store and really enjoyed this one the most. I am not convinced that is actually helps soothe and calm but it does smell nice and doesn't leave my hands dry so I'll be buying this one again!

just a few things...

I have been thinking about lately. Nothing really serious, nor really important but things I need to write/vent about none-the-less...



First question- How long can you leave milk out before it goes bad? We have been staying at my MIL's house for over a week now and if I hear the words "put the milk away" one more time I'm gonna gag... I believe the milk can be left out for a few hours before you have to wonder if it has gone bad- she believes it can go bad in just over 3 minutes on the counter, even in an air conditioned house. AND if milk has been heated for about 30 seconds can it later be put back in the fridge to be consumed the next day- i think yes...WHAT DO YOU THINK?



next, why do shoe laces come undone, even if they have been double knotted...i have sketchers, which I love except for the fact that the laces are always untying- ARGH



Why do people buy then waste food? There are so many starving people in the world and then we here in NA buy food, let it sit in the cupboard/fridge then toss it out without even giving it a second thought- what a waste of food and money (IMO)- even if it is only slightly blemished and can be partially salvaged! The green bin always seems to be full of perfectly edible decent food...oh well



okay getting tired so i'll think of more later

isn't it amazing...

how fast they grow up?!?! I can't believe that not that long ago my little boy was a nursing, crying, toothless, deep dimpled baby...and now he is still sometimes crying and definitely still has the deepest dimples I have ever seen but he certaintly isn't toothless and he no longer nurses. AND he is asking us a minimum of a 100 questions a day...not just silly questions but really thought provoking, unable to answer without thought questions.
Today he asked us why daddy is bigger/taller and mommy is smaller/shorter. I had no idea what to tell him- and said "that is the way men and women couples are supposed to be" I'm sure some couples where this isn't true might argue with me but I was in a bind for an answer and didn't want to give him my standard "i don't know". Then the boy looked at me and asked "mommy, why do you have eyelashes?" I was dumbfounded! My son is 3 not 13!! I told him to keep dirt and dust out of our eyes. He seemed happy with that and went on to splash his applesauce on the floor like a typical 3 year old should!

it's almost time...

for the big move. We have been packing up slowly and getting things done but unfortunately due to the City workers strike we can't throw out as much stuff as we had hoped. We have bags and bags of recycling just piling up in our shed and no place to put it! I guess we'll have to take it with us and just put it out at the new house- argh!!

I can't wait until we can live normally again. We have been in the process of packing for so long now. It is horrible. The mess is driving me insane and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it until we have moved in and completely unpacked. My guess is that will not be an easy task and may take me way longer than I hope!!
Somewhere under all this rubbish are our lives...and some normallcy!

the things one overhears...

in the elevator...

Today i overheard 2 kind of late 40ish women talking about shoes. One says to the other "Oh I can't wear sandals, my feet get too cold." The other says " I love my sandals and couldn't wait to wear them" The first women then says..."gee I would LOVE TO GET A PAIR OF JELLY SHOES!!"
OMG- do they even make those anymore??? Last time I saw a pair was in grade 6...that was ummm about 25 years ago!'
Needless to say these 2 weren't the most fashionable ladies around :)

Since my return...

to work we have had some pretty crappy dinners....let me think- it's been one week and I have already served my family- grilled cheese, frozen fish and fries, a very simple chicken and rice dish (5 minute prep- 30 minutes bake)... no fine dining here anymore!!

$.05 a bag...

I think the new policy of all stores, not just grocery stores, charging 5 cents a bag is great...but recently- like in the past 2 days- I have been asked by 2 employees of the same video store, if I need a bag, I reply "no thank you" and when I go to pick up my videos, they have been bagged...WTF?!?! Why bother asking me if I want a bag, if you are going to give me one when I answer no???
Is it that people just don't listen, don't care or forget?? I found it really annoying both times!

Where does the time go

It has been a whole year since I stopped working outside the home. I left work the end of May 2008 to go on my second (and likely last) maternity leave. The time has just slipped by without my even noticing. I look at the calander and I can't believe I am back to work in 2.5 weeks! It is going to break my heart to leave my little darling in the care of someone else while I go to the office every day. I know it will be good for her and in the long run good for me but it just means that another chapter of my life is coming to an end. Instead of newborns and itsy bitsy cuddles we will be dealing with other things, fist steps, maybe potty training (the boy is very resistant) and moving to big school/daycare...why can't we just freeze time for a little while and defrost it when we are ready???

tease me baby tease me...

our internet/computer has been on the fritz for a while now. We have had to take it to the "doctor" quite a few times over the last few months...this last time they told us that it would more expensive to fix than to buy a new one. We opted to buy a new one. It was ordered ages ago (or at least it feels like ages) but hasn't arrived yet. Our current computer will give me a few minutes here or there where i can actually log in to my email and read some. Unfortunatly it won't allow me to open any emails received in Hotmail but I can read gmail- so i can log in, see that I have 26 new messages but can't read or delete any of them...argh the teasing this system is doing is just killing me! The computer also has a habit of turning off by itself while i'm mid project...or just finally sitting down to defrag after a long day of mommying...

anyway better not take any chances...happy day everyone!

craving craziness

I never really believed in the legitimacy of cravings. In the past I never had real, severe cravings where I absolutely had to have something or else all hell would break loose. During pregnancy I didn't have cravings, before my period I don't remember ever having them (of course I only had my visitor 3 times in 4 years since getting pregnant, nursing then getting pregnant again-so my memory might be a little skewed!) Well now I have a completely different view on the whole craving issue! Yesterday I wanted chocolate, I NEEDED chocolate, I could not get through the evening without having some rich yummy chocolate to snack on. There was no rhyme or reason to it- I just knew I had to have it. Luckily I had a small stash in the cupboard! Today- after 19 beautiful months period free my dear old friend has decided to reappear for a visit! SOOO weird as I just had no idea she was coming around, she just showed up unannounced. I guess my cravings were justified after all- and so are all the ugly pimples I broke out with like an oily teenager! I just thought they were stress induced- guess I was wrong about that too!

Earth Day

Today is Earth Day. A day when people are supposed to recognize their commitment to the earth. A day when people should make a conscience effort to be kinder to the environment.
We as citizens of the earth need to realize that we are just borrowing this planet for a short time. We cannot assume anymore that someone else is going to pick up after us, clean up our mess or fix what we have broken.
It is unfortunate that so many people only recognize the need to be green on Earth Day. They don't translate their green-ness to every day living!

I have definitely become more aware of my need to be green over the last few years. It started with the use of reusable bags at the grocery store. I no longer take a bag when shopping. I carry my own reusable bags most of the time. Now I try to bring my own bags to any store, not just the grocery store! I have actually noticed that some stores now have incentive programs if you use their reusables! Water bottles are another huge environmental issue. I try to never drink water from a plastic bottle. I stopped buying the cases of water too. I feel lucky to live in a city where the tap water is perfectly clean for drinking. It is treated with fluoride and can only do me good to drink! Of course the fact that %80 of plastic water bottles don't get recycled is another incentive not to use them. AND I am saving lots of money by just reusing my aluminum SIG bottle!
I also try to clean with vinegar instead of harsh chemicals. Unfortunately this one is a little harder for me as I don't find that vinegar actually cleans as well as Windex or Clorox. I just need to find the right vinegar/baking soda combination to suite my needs.
There are so many other ways to help out the environment. Some of them take a little more effort than others but I just wish everyone would do their little part to make a more significant difference.

Say hurray to Earth Day and hopefully every day will become "be kind to the earth day"

"I want my body back"

When I had my first baby I met a lot of women who claimed they stopped breastfeeding early because they "wanted their bodies back". I really wasn't sure what that meant and I was too embarrased to ask them. My intentions were to breastfeed as long as my son wanted and I did just that. We went until he was 15 months old and I honestly don't remember ever feeling like my body wasn't my own.
Just recently I have also encountered some women who claim they want their bodies back and are trying to wean. Their babies are only between 3 and 6 months of age. Again I don't know what women mean when they make these claims. Do they feel chained to their babies so much so that they think they cannot have any sort of life outside of mommyhood? Do they think that once the nursing stops they are magically going to return to their pre-pregnancy size? Is feeding a baby breastmilk, from the breast, so enprisoning that one feels trapped by it? I just don't get it!!

April Fools Day...

any suggestions on how to get hubster this evening?? My plan to make his sandwich green this morning didn't pan out :) (no time or food coloring!!)

house sale blues...

Our house has been on the market now for about 120 days...that is a LONGGGG time in the world of real estate. We have had so many showings and so many people trudging through our house looking...and I am SICK OF IT!! Every time the real estate group calls to let me know someone is coming it is a stampede to get the house in "showable" condition...not an easy feat with two small children around! The housing market seems to be at a standstill and so many people in our area have decided that they want to leave too...which means now that our next door neighbors have put their house up for sale too we have fierce competition...bastards!!!

I have learned a few things or two since this all started though! 1)I realized that more than 1/2 the toys we have here never get used! There are bins and bins of toys that haven't been in use for months now and seem to not be missed at all! 2) I have learned that it isn't so hard to keep the house in reasonabley clean state so that it usually takes me about an hour to clean the house from top to bottom(well that isnt deep cleaning but I am hoping potential buyers aren't looking under the bed for dust bunnies or in hidden corners for piles of junk!!) 3) I no longer leave dishes in the sink for days on end!! (i'm sure some former roomies of mine wish i'd learned how to do this years ago!!!) 4) I have learned that aside from a couple of major things I actually love my house and would stay here if only those 2 major things could be easily fixed-they can't -well one could the other impossible!! 5) i have realized that the "big" house I thought i wanted/needed isn't really what I want or need and all I yearn for is a garage and a driveway! the bigger we go the more cleaning we need to do-YUCK!

a decision..

I decided a while back that I was going to get a personalized blanket for SIL and the new baby...now to decide on which one...





I have seen these in person and really like them BUT I came across this website recently and also really like them...any thoughts???

more baby news...

My SIL and her hubby just had another baby girl. She was born at 1 pm this afternoon and weighted in at 5lb 5oz. Name to be announced...

Dr Seuss...

We recently took the book Gerald McBoing Boing out of the library for our son to read. We thought that since this was a Dr Seuss book it would be a funny, cute rhyming story. Unfortunately we were quite disappointed with this book...
based on a 1950's cartoon short the story is about a young boy who doesn't talk words but makes noises instead. Perhaps in it's day it was cute or funny but this story remind me and hubby about a number of dysfunctionalities in society. Perhaps Gerald has turrets syndrome or a different disability...and his parents were embarrassed by him to the point that he wanted to run away..until he used his sound affects to make them rich...
please watch the video and let me know if we were over reacting to this story or if we are truly justified in not allowing the boy to read this book anymore!
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNsyQDmEopw

march menu

I have been finding that if I don't meal plan for the week my grocery shopping is just totally ineffective. I end up with $150 worth of bits and pieces with nothing to use for actual meals...
now that I am trying to really lose the baby weight and get back into shape (not the same shape but some shape I hope!!) I have decided that creating a weekly menu and shopping for it might make life easier...
This week I have the stuff to make
chili
sweet and sour meat balls
shake and bake chicken
turkey meatloaf
chicken stir fry

I also add a green salad to every meal as well as rice or steamed vegetables- depending on what the main course is (i don't add veg's if i make chili as it's got loads of them already in it, same with stir fry)

Now if i could only be as organized with making lunches for the week as well...i usually end up just making hubby a turkey or chicken sandwich with a fruit and granola bar thrown in...he eats whatever I make and would just get caf food if i didn't pack him a lunch...better work on my organizational skills for my return to work in a few months time!!

March resolutions...

i never bothered with New Year's resolutions but have decided that since March has arrived and i am nowhere closer to my fitness or weight goals i will try to get on track. I have been eating anything and everything for a few weeks now just due to poor laziness and absolute lack of will power. I cannot stand how i feel- inside and out! My tummy is achy, my bones are creaking and I swear i feel a good 10 years older than i should!
Weight watchers is a really healthy, realistic option SOOO once again i am going to give it a go. Please wish me luck!! We have a wedding to attend on May 17th and i would really like to fit into one particular dress and not have to buy a new one that fits!!

service supreemo!

I have been noticing for the longest time that customer service has gone curbside on so many levels. So many retailers and establishments just don't provide the kind of service one would expect,given the nature of business. Today I had the opportunity to be proven wrong.
I recently purchased a new single stroller in "Perfect Pink" for my baby girl. I LOVE this stroller in every way, except that i encountered a tiny problem with it very soon after I got it. After hemming and hawing and unsure about what to do i finally emailed Jolly Jumper, the maker of my stroller. They replied back within the hour! The person i corresponded with told me i could come in to the factory and have the stroller fixed within 20 minutes. I did just that.
I entered the office baby in hand and the receptionist called someone to the front who actually went out to my car and brought the stroller in for me. He took a look and asked to have a seat. The receptionist then offered me coffee and a seat for the baby, which i accepted. I waited a very short time (felt like much less than the estimated 20 minutes) and the stroller was back in my hands all fixed and ready to go! The repair guy then lugged in out to the car for me and put in my trunk again! I was so impressed I actually emailed the company to thank them for such awesome service!
On a side note- it was way cool to be in the Jolly Jumper offices. I would have LOVED to be able to look around and admire some of the sample products they had on display but i got the feeling had i done that it would have been a bit much!

on the road again...

to healthier nails.
Lately my nails have been horrid. They are all cracking and breaking really low. They get caught on everything and bend backwards causing me serious discomfort and pain. I have been told it is probably due to a calcium definciency but I drink tonnes of milk and eat lots of yogurt so I'm not sure about that assessment. Anyway I have been trying to get them back to some state of normalcy (well not to break when i look at them at least-not even to LOOK good...just not hurt) so i pulled out my old nail care box (and i do mean OLD...i found polish in there i bought in Korea in 1996!!) I found a bottle of Witchcraft nail repair and applied it last night, crossed my fingers it might workd and went to bed...this morning my nails feel a million times better!! They are not pulling on things and are not as cracked as they were last night!! One coat of this stuff and i feel so much better...now they don't look great as this stuff isn't shiny and feels kind of coarse but if it works to repair the damage i'll live with it until i can get out to have a mani!!
Thanks Witchcraft!! You make a product that really works magic!!

Yet another Mazel Tov...

Fancy and her husband had another beautiful baby girl this morning. Baby Girl joined the world bright and early this morning :)
I can't wait to meet her :)

Mazel Tov

My brother and his wife just had their first baby. Baby Boy arrived just after 4 am and I am very excited to meet my little nephew!!!

busy yet bored

i try to keep busy. Having a baby to care for all day keeps me really busy but for some reason the past few weeks i have felt this terrible boredom itch. I take the baby to music class once a week, we go to yoga and have playdates with friends but i still find myself alone with my own thoughts more than i would like. Those times when she is napping and i should be cleaning or cooking or doing laundry, updating my scrapbook etc...i am just bored, lazy or a little depressed...could it be the lack of sunshine?? Could it be that i am too tired to do things but not tired enough to sleep during the day?

Finally...

after searching and searching for almost 2 years for new boots (yes that is how long i have been browsing the stores and looking for new boots-nuts- i do realize) I have FINALLY found the perfect pair of new black boots. Yesterday FP and I took a trip to the Mall and i found my pair at the Bay of all places. Of course the fact that they were %30 off and I had a $50 gift card helped make my decision to buy a little easier ;)

I couldn't find an exact picture of them online but these are them in the "taller" version. I have heard of Timberland before but never really paid much attention to them- i am so glad i tried them on!!

I'm so happy, so happy ...now i will have dry feet...i even sprayed them the moment I got home to help protect them :)

Another awesome purchase lately was this bag. After admiring it for TWO YEARS and never wanting to spend the $$ on it...i finally took the plunge and cannot be happier. I know it will last me FOREVER, as ROOTS purses do last a long long time...(in fact i have one friend who still uses the mini-backpack from University-we graduated in 1996!!!- but i won't get into that here!!) If i had held on to my white roots bag from ages i ago, i'm sure it would still be in perfect condition!

I have learned a valuable lesson here....just get the one you want in the first place or you'll think about it for so long and end up buying it...thus waisting the $$ on something cheaper you don't love as much!

Yeah for the seasonal spending spirit!!

if dreams came true..

this bag would be mine...
but at this price...well i'd rather pay the mortgage!!

December Doings...

This year December actually means a lot more to me than normal...there are so many exciting things going on!
First- we are just waiting for my nephew to be born...he is due on Dec 17th but could come any time now!! I CANNOT wait to meet the little guy!! and I am super duper excited to hold a newborn again. I know my baby is only 5 1/2 months but I already miss the "newborn snuggle".
Second- Fancy Pansy is having her baby too!! I am really really excited for her- and again i cannot wait to snuggle with a wee one again!! and of course i'm so happy that her baby and my baby will be born in the same calander year making them both in the same grade. (i'm secretly hoping it is another girl so that they can be great friends too)
Our anniversary is also coming up...4 years of marital bliss. Oh how much we have done in these 4 years!! 2 beautiful babies...a couple of new cars and hopefully a new house one of these days!

And this year I thought it would be nice to start a family tradition of having an annual Chanukkah party. It will be nice for the kids and hopefully fun for us too, Since i never had cousins my own age i am hoping my kids will have some experiences i never had

my finale

i so wanted the final post this month to be grand...unfortunately after a very exhausting day and hardly a moment to think let alone think of something wonderful to say i'm going to cop out and just post about nothing (feels like Seinfeld..a show about nothing!)

i hope that maybe i will have been inspired to write a little more than i had been over the past few months. Now that i know i can take a few minutes each day to jot something down :)

under the wire...

almost forgot to post today...

not sure what to say

it's time for bed

hope i can rest my sleepy head :)

the world stops...

for nothing.
The other day i was on my way downtown to visit Chrissy when i started thinking of these philosophical ideas...the one that has stayed with me is that the world and those living in it don't stop their lives for anything. Your personal corner of the world can be in complete turmoil, things happening that just don't seem fair and life not the same as what it was before but everyone around you keeps on going about their business.
Some days i don't get a chance to breath, or even to shower. I don't leave the house and am completely out of touch with the outside world (well aside from email and my blog followings) yet news still happens those days! Such a weird feeling knowing that!

cookie exchange

This will be our third annual cookie exchange. I have been pouring over my cookbooks looking for a new and interesting recipe for something grand. My problem is i don't like to roll dough, don't like to use a cut out and don't like weird or hard to find ingrediants...this is making it hard for me to make something new and interesting!
Last year i made mocha chocolate chip cookies, the year before i made double chocolate chip cookies...yesterday i bought a HUGE bag of chocolate chips but i really want to try something different...
any ideas??? before i eat the whole 1kg bag of chocolate chips !

i can learn a few things..

from my 2.5 year old...he has a love for reading like none i've ever seen! Every day when i pick him up from daycare he is sitting in the reading corner with a pile of books. Each night before bed he insists on having 3-4 books read to him...now he has taken to looking at The Big Book of Knowledge. His daddy bought it for him before he was born and he LOVES this book. It is a bunch of facts and tidbits all about history, science, politics and more. I must say that i don't know about much of it but this book is helping me learn-right along side my little boy!!

Kidisms...

Elie is such a character these days. He is very strong minded and has definite likes and dislikes. Yesterday for example he absolutely refused to wear his winter boots home from daycare so i had to carry him kicking and screaming out of the building to the car...how embarrassing- and of course by the time we got to the car he had wore me down so i changed him back into his "new diego shoes" (which aren't new anymore but try telling him that) Kick me for getting him those shoes that light up!! He prances around in them all evening and even wants to wear them to bed-g-d help us when he outgrows them!

This morning the little monkey looked straight at Jamie cat and YELLED- "FUCK OFF JAMIE" Both Gavin and I burst out laughing. More out of shock than actually finding it funny...so of course he repeated himself about 5 times, just to make sure we knew exactly what he was saying! Now where on earth did he hear that phrase??? (insert eye roll here)

The boy also knows all about farts. He announces quite loudly whenever he has made one, and also whenever someone else in the house has made one. He loves to tell us that his sister farts all the time- yes we know!! of course he says these things with such character and animation we can't help but laugh- which of course encourages him greatly!

No is his favourite word these days. Even when we know he wants something he will say NO just to frustrate us and to exert his "independence"
Boy are we in trouble when the little girlie starts talking too - and learns all she can from her big brother!!

give me a break!!

this past weekend we realized that since having kids we hardly ever get any time to ourselves...we can't remember the last movie we saw together in a theater (well i'm pretty sure it's Knocked Up-which came out in summer 2007)
How do some people do it? Go out, have alone time and have much needed "me time"...

OMG

i cannot believe how much STUFF we have managed to collect in the 4 years we've been living in our townhouse...when we moved here and collaberated our two households into one i tried to declutter and toss as much stuff as i could. The only problem is i love momentoes. I keep photos and clippings and old movie tickets of days gone by just to save. I try to keep them all in albums or in boxes but eventually they get full and spill over....this time i'm going to get rid of anything pre-1992...that would mean any concert ticket stubs or play book i find will have to go!

lets see how i do!

and they're gone...

my SIL and her family live in Zurich...they come every few months for a visit. This time the visit was extra special as their newest addition came for her first visit to Toronto. We all got to meet Alexia for the first time- she is only 5 weeks younger than my baby girl so it was cute to see them side by side. My bundle is definitely a big girlie though!! I think she looks much older than her cousin!
They have gone back to Switzerland and we're not sure when they will come for another visit. My SIL was lucky this time as she was able to bring her nanny along for an extra pair of hands - especially since her husband was unable to come.

So-long and until we meet again...the little one might be walking and the bigger one will most likely be in kindergarten!

copy cat...

I have nothing original to say anymore...so i decided to steal/copy Karen today :)

1. Do you like blue cheese? yummo!! yea
.2. Have you ever smoked?Once or twice...but never really liked it-thought it was cool back in grade 9
.3. Do you own a gun? No.
4. What flavor of Kool Aid was your favorite? the blue one
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? sometimes
6. What do you think of hot dogs? Love em! but went through a 5 or 6 year period where i wouldn't touch them!
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Don't watch x-mas movies...oh wait maybe Home Alone. Does that count?
8. Favorite thing to drink in the morning? Coffee.
9. Can you do push ups? not anymore
.10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? my engagement ring. I still love it!
11. Favorite hobby? Who has time for hobbies these days...well scrapbooking when i get around to it!
12. Do you have A.D.D? Not that i know of
13. What’s one trait you hate about yourself?i panic very easily.
14. Middle name? Rachel
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.1) is it time for Y & R yet.2) why are we selling our house now.3) Will the baby EVER fall asleep?
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Coffee,diet coke, Crystal LITE .
17. Current worry? getting the house clean enough to show
18. Current hate -not following weight watchers on the weekends
19. Favorite place to be? in bed under the covers
20. How did you bring in the new year? I can't remember that far back
.21. Where would you like to go? Spain, Italy and Greece
22. Name three people who might complete this: My SIL Leora, Chrissy-if she weren't so busy with the new baby and Fancy Pancy?
23. Do you own slippers? Yes.But heck if i actually know where they are
24. What shirt are you wearing? Old Navy Fleecy in Red
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No they are cold and uncomfortable
.26. Can you whistle? i haven't tried in a long time
27. Favorite color? RED
28. Would you be a pirate? yuck- no!
29. What songs do you sing in the AM? There was a Duke of York, he had 3000 men...okay i'm a mommy!
.30. Favorite Girl’s Name: Julie
31. Favorite boy’s name: Jamie
32. What’s in your pocket right now? $$ for the cleaning lady
.33. Last thing that made you laugh? The guy at Home Depot- he said i know way more than his wife...which must be really little as i don't know that much about quarter rounds and mouldings!
34. What vehicle do you drive? Jeep Compass
35. Worst injury you’ve ever had? havne't had many, but i'll have to say breaking my pinky finger
36. Do you love where you live? love the area but not the house itself (thus our puttin gup for sale!)
.37. How many TVs do you have in your house? 2
38. Who is your loudest friend? Probably a tie between Fancy Pantsy (sorry hun-but you know it's true!!)and Lisa.
39. Do you have any pets? 2 annoying cats Jamie and Owen
40. Does someone have a crush on you? not that i know of
41. Your favorite book(s): hmm...that is a hard one, i haven't read anything worth while in a long time!
42. Do you collect anything? no, trying to declutter
43. Favorite Sports Team? dont have one...but hubby would say i should say Liverpool Soccer Club

That's all folks :)

NEW CELLPHONE LAW - 2008 ONTARIO

This came to me today from my dad so i thought i'd share :)

According to new law that goes into effect Nov 1, 2008 you will no longer be able to use a cell phone while driving unless you have a 'hands free' adapter.I went to Circuit City and they wanted $50 for a headset with a microphone for my cell phone.
Having a friend in the cell phone business, I talked with him and was able to come up with an alternative, working through Office Depot.These kits are compatible with any mobile phone and one size fits all. ?I paid him $0.08 each because he bought in quantity.??Then we tried it with Motorola, Sprint, Verizon and Nokia units and they worked perfectly.A photo is attached so take a look and let me know if you want one.??Also, forward this to anyone you know, who has a cell phone, and who may want one!?

where does the time go!!

Today is my baby's 5 month birthday. I cannot believe how fast she is growing up. Each day we see developments and changes. She loves to laugh, has started rolling and even puts her pacifier in her mouth herself sometimes!
She has definitely started teething and is a drooling monkey all the time. Each night she wakes up needing to feed more often as it is soothing for her gums to nurse a lot!

Soon she will be sitting up on her own and crawling too...oh i am going to miss this wonderful baby stage!!

a few reasons

to actually keep the car seat done up while you are not moving.

Yesterday i realized just how important it is to do the car seat up at all times. Whether you are sitting and waiting for someone or in a moving vehicle it is really for baby's best interest to have the seat done up. You just never know when someone might hit you and the car jerks about or hits another car creating double impact.
This happened to a mom and baby i know and luckily baby was not injured but mom has learned that she will never undo the car seat while waiting outside older childs' school again!

I also now do up every safety feature on my stroller or snap 'n go. I used to think there was no need but now that i have really thought about it i think those features are put in place for us to use and are there for a good reason. How sick would i feel if baby fell out of her stroller because i didn't bother doing up her harness while she was in it!

my head is...

still spinning over some recent family rubbish that i would rather not post about here...
some people are so out of touch with reality!

carrots anyone...

i decided to invest a whole $1.79 on a 10 pound bag of carrots...Don't ask me why! I saw those huge carrots for such a low price, i just couldn't resist. Now i have a whole lot of cooking to do! i'm thinking...carrot cake, carrot muffins, carrot salad and also carrot soup...i have some great recipes but if you (anyone...anyone...) have a favourite you would like to share, please do!!

i thought i was a genius :()

After reading and re-reading information about how unsafe the JJCole bundle bags are because they interfere with the car seat safety straps I had a revelation. I thought that I could cut out the back of the bag and therefore the strap wouldn't have to be threaded through anything. I really thought this was such an amazing idea and was praising myself for being pure genius...until i heard that this is a common thing to do!!
I really didn't want to toss the bag away as it does keep baby warm and cozy in her carseat but i couldn't keep using the bag knowing that i was putting her life at risk. Now I can use the bag and my conscience is clear as the straps no longer get all squished up so i can do them up nice and tight.
A pic of the new backless bag :)

speechless

Don't really have much to say today. My mind is on what to do over the weekend to occupy the kids and what to make for dinner ... oh joy!

Happy Birthday

fancy pantsy :) (my lone reader i think!!)

hope you have a great day :)

in my thoughts

and prayers. I cannot imagine how it feels to have a baby born so early. Christine seems to be so strong and is always so positive. She is amazing.
I can't stop thinking about her and her little baby girl.
Please g-d, make sure to take care of her and to ensure she has a very uneventful hospital stay.

wow, she's here

my dear friend Christine had her baby yesterday at 28 weeks gestation. Mom and baby are doing well.

Why Remember

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=history/other/remember/why

thank goodness...

all is okay with Chrissy. We were all so worried. Maybe, just maybe it was all our thoughts and prayers that is making her baby stay right where he/she should be!!

i took the plunge...

and bought a Graco Duo Glider. Let's hope this is it, as if i'm not satisfied this time around i'm just going to throw the whole need for a double idea out the window!

are you a morning person???

i am pretty good at getting up, getting going and doing what needs to get done in the mornings. My hubby is the same. We don't know how or why our son is a total freak in the morning. He cries, throws tantrums and is completely unreasonable (not that many 2 year olds are). We now just work through his madness and ignore the rants or else we never get him going where he needs to go!

graco = breako...is this really true??? so many people have them and seem happy with them so what am i afraid of? i really don't have anyone to impress and they r affordable...i think i'll take my head out of the clouds and get what we can afford!

adventures in baby wearing

While I was pregnant with baby M i decided that I was going to wear her a lot more than i ever wore E. I thought it would be a great experience for both of us. Bonding. That is what I thought we would do while she was being carted around in a carrier. While I do love wearing my baby girl I have been finding that my body was just not made to wear baby for long periods of time. Yesterday baby and I travelled down to the Babytime show sans stroller so i could be hands free...was a great idea in theory but after 4 hours of having the baby on my front i am really really sore today!! I have tried quite a few carriers thanks to my dear friend Fancy Pantsy-who has lent me a sling, Bjorn and Mei Tei! Each one of the carries has their benefits but each also has their downfalls. i won't post my opinions here as i would rather any reader who may come across the blog make a decision bases on their own experinces!

Today we are double stroller shopping again as I have realized that I cannot wear M and put E in the stroller for too long...

DNR

While watching Grey's last night I thought about the reality of do not resesitate(DNR). I always thought that if i were in a situation where i was unable to communicate what i wanted or i was no longer able to do things for my self- as in on life support- i would want to be allowed to die gracefully and just go without hanging on to possible false hopes....now that i am older my ideas seem to have changed a little or perhaps i am just more confused as to what i would want for myself in this situation. What i think about now is less selfish and more to do with my family...what would they want? how would they feel? is it fair to them?

How would I feel being in the reverse situation? What would i want to do if my parents were ill and in need of life support? I know they would not want to suffer and i know my father specifically has told me many times that he NEVER wants to be kept alive through unatural measures- i know what he went through when his sister was ill before the decision was made to take her off life support...and i would always want to respect his wishes but i imagine that is must be so difficult to let go...
what do you think?

i have been plagued...

with an inability to sleep. It all started when the baby was waking up for her night-time feeds and I wasn't able to fall back asleep. Now I just cannot fall asleep at all. I lay in bed for hours just watching the clock change. Sometimes I do drift off for several minutes but that always seems to be interupted by the need to get up and go feed the baby or to pee. This lack of rest is really disruptive to my life, it makes thinking straight hard- in fact i am often walking around in a total blur and i am unable to finish a sentence before forgetting what i was talking about in the first place. (well this is my new excuse anyway :)
I hope this is only temporary as i know that sleep problems can wreck havoc a persons life!

my 2 cents

Given the historic events of yesterday it feels as if I should post regarding the results of the US Presidental election. But i really don't follow politics that closely and anything i know is really hearsay from my husband and his family, as they discuss politics at length- often. I know that history has been made and that being the first African American President is a huge deal, i know that the vote was really close and i know that he better really prove himself an asset of all hell may break loose!

Disasters in the kitchen...

I consider myself a pretty good cook. I can make simple meals and occasionally I'll attempt things a little more complex. My favourite part of being in the kitchen though is baking!
Recently we took the little ones apple picking and although the apple trees were mostly picked out we managed to still get a nice big bag of fresh yummy apples. I didn't want to waste any of the apples (I HATE wasting food and get very upset when we have to throw away rotten produce) so i decided to make a baked appled dessert. Now i have never made baked apples before and I didn't have a recipe so i was trying to do something i have never done before freehand...hmmm not a good idea!
The basic idea was to put the apples in a hot oven, after coring them and stuffing them with raisons and cinnomon. I did just that...but i totally forgot about them and two hours later smelled something super sweet coming from the kitchen. My baked apples burst and turned into baked apple sauce!! I have to admit that even though they didn't look the way i wanted not did they taste like what i was expecting they actually tasted pretty good!! Next time I'll have to set a timer and pay attention to them as i got distracted with other things and that was that!
anyone have a good baked apple recipe, with proven results???

Terrible Twos...

Oh boy. Nothing could have prepared me for the terrible twos! I am challenged on a daily basis with my patience, and parenting abilities. Who knew that there was not a hint of exaggeration involved when people described the hell on earth of having a very stubborn 2 year old.
This morning the fit involved his desire to wear his new Spiderman PJ's to daycare. There was no way we were going to allow that to happen- especially since the said PJ's are covered in dried playdough and other goodies after a weekend of refusing to take them off! (they are currently being laundered-something i had to do the moment he left for daycare!) Of course the fact that he had been up since 5 am due to the time change and was on a sugar high from his Honeycomb cereal didn't help the matter any!
Kudos to my husband for getting the tantrums under control this morning with a much needed "time-out"! This method of making fit throwing boy sit in a corner for 1 -2 minutes to calm down actually works for us! Thank goodness because I was pulling my hair out in sheer frustration at not knowing what to do!

The Must Haves

My brother and his wife are expecting their first baby soon. I am super excited to meet my nephew and to spoil him rotten :)
As I have mentioned before there are soooo many baby products out there on the market it can get really overwhelming for new parents. My personal recommendation on must have items...

a bouncy chair. This item gets used daily and has been a life saver on so many occasions. Both my kids have slept in this chair when they would nap nowhere else. They love the soft bouncy motion of this. And even when the batteries die and there is no vibrations they love it. The toy bars vary so much from chair to chair and I am not really sure it matter which one you get but we love ours.

swing. again a sleep aid for baby. Both my babies used the swing when they were really little to sleep. Now that the little one is almost 5 months she isn't as keen on sitting in the swing but we still use it on occasion. Our swing is borrowed and is obviously older as the kids who used it are now 7 and 3! There are tonnes of brands and styles to choose from but expensive doesn't mean better! I would probably get one that plugs in as batteries can get expensive and bad for the environment is disposed of incorrectly.

exersaucer. again something that gives you time for yourself (somewhat). Baby can play, bounce and have so much fun while you watch the smiles and giggles. Both babies could spend hours in our exersaucer! Although I think my older one liked it a little more than the baby does (but we'll see-she is still pretty young)

Jolly Jumper. I didn't get one of these for a long time as i thought we had no place to hang it. I finally gave in and got one after i tried it out at a friends house. My son loved it so much, i used to hang him up on the washroom doorframe and i would shower. This allowed me to peek out and entertain him while i was able to shower! We got the original JJ and I am looking forward to passing it along once we are done with it!

Those are the products that I would recommend to any first time parents. Of course some of them can't be used until baby is at least 3 months and able to support their own head.

NaBloPoMo

I have decided to give it a try this year...what do i have to lose!!

My first post...

Last night we decided to take E out trick or treating. He didn't quite get the point but was really excited to get to wear his Spiderman outfit. Unfortunately he was too frightened of the Jack O Lanterns to actually go up to any of the houses. He was also really really scared of some of the masked kids who came to the door. Of course some of those kids were way too big to be going door to door- and some who came weren't even in costume!
I was more disappointed than he was.
Maybe next year :)

Happy Halloween!!!

When i was a kid we would get hundreds of kids at our door trick or treating. As the years went by we started getting fewer and fewer kids coming. Then we had none...it's been many years since we needed to hand out candy on Halloween! I guess that has something to do with the fact that most people in my neighborhood were extremely orthodox and do not condone celebrating this "pagan" ritual. I think this is just a fun innocent reason for kids to dress up and have a good time! Unfortunately there are some nuts out there so everyone has to make sure they are safe...check your treats before you eat and of course- Have a fun, safe and entertaining Halloween!!

good bye to tradition

A favourite Toronto tradition is in it's last year. After 84 years the Hadassah-WIZO Bazaar is finally waving good-bye. This annual shopping tradition for many is something I personally have never been to but am going to attempt today. I will never get another chance!
I know the crowds start early but after much debate mom and I decided that leaving the house at 7 am and heading downtown to wait in line outside with baby was not a good idea...if i miss my chance to get the good stuff...OH WELL!! at least i can say i have been and maybe i won't be tempted to spend as much mula if the good stuff is gone :)
...wish me luck...i'm am hoping to score a pair of boots and a new bag, and of course some stuff for E and M :)

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!!!