Hubby and I are having one of those weeks where we are feeling burnt out and tired. On Tuesday evening, we decided to order-in pizza (haven't done that since mid-January!) and eat dinner with the kids in front of the television. Sort of a comfort-food and comfort-visual evening. It's fairly impossible for us to find anything that we all want to watch due to a combination of ages and interests. The only thing we can ever manage to agree upon is … [Read more...]
Impractical Purchasing: The Bicycle Edition (Part 2 of 2)
May 24, 2012 by 5 Comments
Okay, so where were we? Ah, yes, I had rudely let the season three finale of Glee interrupt my story about my (lack of) bicycle. And since then I also let two children with fevers, a work project, and countless other errands get in the way too. Geez - where are my priorities?? Let's get back at this, shall we? I had walked away from the oh-so-cute retro bike with custom painting so that I could choose something more practical that fit … [Read more...]
Impractical Purchasing: The Bicycle Edition
May 22, 2012 by 5 Comments
I can stick to a budget, sure. But what I choose to spend my money on? Well, sometimes it ends up with me coming home with a bag of cereal that cost more than $10 bucks, while other times it has resulted in more than $100 spent on blue suede boots. Not so practical, I know. In this edition, however, the stakes are higher. I had a budget for a bicycle. This was last autumn. As the cold weather approached, Hubby and I figured that the stores … [Read more...]
Pillow Talk
May 17, 2012 by 8 Comments
source Okay, I want to talk pillows. (What, did you think I was talking about something else?? No, I really mean pillows! This is not a book review for Fifty Shades of Grey ... sorry to disappoint.) Like most things related to "home decor," I have never taken an interest until we moved into a new family home last June. Whereas before I was addicted to stalking the MLS Guide for my favourite neighbourhoods, now I am addicted to stalking home … [Read more...]
Sending Strength and Inspiration via the Seattle’s Children’s Hospital
May 15, 2012 by 7 Comments
My friend Cassie was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer in February. Since then, she and her family have been living through what most would describe as hell. But you wouldn't know it from speaking with them -- they are dealing with a brutal treatment regime one day at a time, and finding moments of joy where ever they can. Just recently, she shared how her and her mother are supporting each other: Our motto together has become "If we don't … [Read more...]
Beaches Boscobel, Jamaica: A Tween’s Perspective (Day 4)
May 12, 2012 by 3 Comments
Stella, who is almost 10 years old, and I have just returned from Beaches Boscobel in Jamaica, where we were invited to experience the resort. If you’re a parent and you travel to the Carribean during winter, then you’ve likely heard of Beaches Resorts. This chain of resorts is known for providing an above-and-beyond experience to families and their young children. But what about the “tween”? When your child is not a “little kid” nor are they a … [Read more...]
Help! I’ve Got a Kid
May 9, 2012 by 2 Comments
If I'd actually had enough spark left in me at the time, that's precisely what I would have cried out to the world almost ten years ago. But I didn't. Because it was too hard just to get out of bed, let alone care for my new born baby. I'd been smacked hard with a postpartum depression stick and was completely and utterly overwhelmed. I knew other mothers didn't feel like I did. And that made things feel worse. I distinctly recall observing … [Read more...]
Beaches Boscobel, Jamaica: A Tween’s Perspective (Day 3)
May 6, 2012 by 4 Comments
Stella, who is almost 10 years old, and I have just returned from Beaches Boscobel in Jamaica, where we were invited to experience the resort. This resort is all about providing a full family experience, so I am sharing Stella's journal -- spelling mistakes and all -- with you so that you can get an older child's perspective, not just an adult's. On Day 3, we had a really special experience because we left the resort and had a visit to a … [Read more...]
Beaches Boscobel, Jamaica: A Tween’s Perspective (Day 2)
April 30, 2012 by 2 Comments
Stella, who is almost 10 years old, and I have just returned from Beaches Boscobel in Jamaica, where we were invited to experience the resort. If you’re a parent and you travel to the Carribean during winter, then you’ve likely heard of Beaches Resorts. This chain of resorts is known for providing an above-and-beyond experience to families and their young children. But what about the “tween”? When your child is not a “little kid” nor are they a … [Read more...]
Beaches Boscobel, Jamaica: A Tween’s Perspective (Day 1)
April 29, 2012 by 7 Comments
Stella, who is almost 10 years old, and I have just returned from Beaches Boscobel in Jamaica, where we were invited to experience the resort. If you're a parent and you travel to the Carribean during winter, then you've likely heard of Beaches Resorts. This chain of resorts is known for providing an above-and-beyond experience to families and their young children. But what about the "tween"? When your child is not a "little kid" nor are they a … [Read more...]
Everything’s Amazing and Nobody’s Happy
April 25, 2012 by 16 Comments
Hello my lovely bloggy friends, Stella and I are now in Jamaica (my Jamaica 101 post)! We were invited to come and visit the Beaches Boscobel resort in Jamaica and it's actually our first "girls' trip" together. Beaches Resorts cater specifically to families, so we are here to experience the resort and its activities to the fullest. I will be telling you all about it ... but first, I want to tell you about the trip to get here. To fully … [Read more...]
Jamaica 101
April 17, 2012 by 17 Comments
Stella, my 9-year-old daughter, and I are going to Jamaica next week. I know ... awesome, right?! We are really excited, despite the realization that we actually know very little about this country. So, won't you join us as we teach ourselves a touch of geography, history, and social studies? Where in the world? First of all, the WHERE! Below is map showing the island of Jamaica in red. From our home town of Ottawa, if you were to catch … [Read more...]
Last Night at Von’s
April 15, 2012 by 1 Comment
It's been a while since I went out for a dinner that wasn't work-related. Where you can just sit, and let your mind wander between conversations and whatever thoughts are poking around inside it. A girlfriend was turning 40, and so eight of us gathered to enjoy a meal and drink some wine. I sat down in Von's restaurant in the Glebe, and then I noticed the wall in front of me. The entire wall was covered with portraits. Each face, … [Read more...]
Ottawa Giveaway! The Seagull – A Modern Ballet at Canada’s NAC
April 8, 2012 by 5 Comments
Canada's National Arts Centre has generously offered two tickets for a giveaway to Coffee with Julie readers! Up for grabs are two orchestra-level tickets to The Seagull, by the National Ballet of Canada. It's been given brilliant reviews here, there, and just about everywhere. Canada's NAC, Ottawa Friday, April 13, 2012 Curtain time: 8 pm 2 tickets To enter: This ballet is based on a play authored by Anton Chekhov and first produced … [Read more...]
I have Cloud White walls! (And other notes on my Dining Room)
April 6, 2012 by 238 Comments
I know that I am supposed to be sharing some cute Easter egg craft with you but that's not happening. There are no Easter crafts in this house. Sorry to disappoint. It just didn't happen. But what did happen is white walls. Three to be precise. Hubby and I decided to "test" the white wall concept by painting the dining room (since it irked me the most at the moment). Here is how our dining room looked before we (the royal "we") started … [Read more...]
A muffin-making virgin no longer.
April 3, 2012 by 3 Comments
Last week, I got all inspired by my copy of The Looneyspoons Collection (TLC) and made muffins. For the first time. Ever. Please don't ask how I got this far in life without having made muffins because then I'd have to admit to you all the other things that I've never cooked or baked. It's a long list. I was actually going to make a cookie recipe because it had fewer ingredients (and therefore seemed less intimidating), but Stella, my … [Read more...]
Sightseeing in Seattle
April 1, 2012 by 4 Comments
It's Sunday evening and I am sitting in an airport waiting. Although actually seeing new places keeps me alive, the travel to get there is so tedious. And I seem to dislike it more with each passing year. I'm returning from Seattle. I flew in on Wednesday afternoon for work, and despite a busy schedule and it raining cats and dogs the whole time I was there, I managed to get to see a lot of the city's sights. It's a cool city. Sort of feels a … [Read more...]
Reader Review of Great Wolf Lodge (Part 2 of 2)
March 28, 2012 by 13 Comments
This is post is a continuation of this one here if you'd like to catch up. Coffee with Julie reader Sarah McCormack of Photos with Sarah is sharing her recent experience at Great Wolf Lodge with us! ************************* The water park itself was incredible, lots of slides for all age groups. I would recommend it for children ages 3-13. Although there are some big, thrilling slides, they may not be as thrilling for … [Read more...]
Reader Review of Great Wolf Lodge (Part 1 of 2)
March 27, 2012 by 7 Comments
This week, I am so happy to introduce you to one of Coffee with Julie's regular readers and commentors (bloggers love their comments!). I first met Sarah when long-time friends were proudly sharing their professionally taken family photos. I immediately asked for the photographer's contact info, because the photos were just that good! (Warning, one look at Sarah's newborn portfolio makes me clucky and might do the same to you!) I booked Sarah for … [Read more...]
The Looneyspoons Collection: A Giveaway!
March 24, 2012 by 35 Comments
A little while back, I wrote about David Chilton, author of The Wealthy Barber and The Wealthy Barber Returns. (And did you hear the news that he's going to be one of the "dragons" in the next season of the Dragons' Den? I think he'll be fantastic!) In the most recent book, he details how he came to publish massively popular Looneyspoons cookbook with sisters Janet and Greta Podleski. Published in 1996, Looneyspoons broke publishing … [Read more...]
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