just percolating...
"When I first attended a slumber party some 25 years ago, we prided ourselves on avoiding sleep. Sprawled out on the floor of a friend's basement with pillows and sleeping bags, my companions and I would heartily fight any drooping eyelids by ingesting sugar and cola. Fast-forward to this morning, and slumber -- in lush, high-end bedding no less -- resumes its rightful place in the term "slumber party." Tip-toeing down the stairs to join me in … [Read more...]
It's been a while since my last "cooking with Julie" episode, but I wanted to assure you that your advice and counsel have not got to waste. So, without further adieu, I shall present to you a (drum roll please ....) Oh, okay, I admit it! I did yet anotherchicken recipe! Yep, go ahead, call me a chicken in the kitchen! (That's right Ken, the self-proclaimed 'kitchen-bitch,' I can take it.) Bock. Booock. Cluckity cluck. Now that we got that … [Read more...]
Thanks to all of you for following me here to this custom blog site! I've been working with Brendan to learn the in's and out's of some of the more technical aspects of blogging. (I'm still at the Sesame Street level, but he's really patient.) Some of my learnings include: 1. Techies do not like Internet Explorer. I had no clue that it was such a big issue, but I think Brendan has pulled out his hair on many an occasion as a result of … [Read more...]
About a month and a half ago, I wrote this post "Sigg: not so super, after all?" I don't get attached to brands much, but somehow I had developed an affection for my Sigg. The news that Sigg's original liners had been made with BPA felt like a sneaky little trick had been played on me. Sure, I understand that the company says it never claimed its liners were not made of BPA, but rather that its liners didn't leach BPA. (I wanted to provide you … [Read more...]
If you're of my vintage, you'll likely remember the MacGyver television series. If you've never heard of him or if your memory would simply like a little jog, each episode went like this: Cute-guy lead character (i.e. MacGyver) would face a huge crisis without breaking a sweat. He'd calmly concoct a solution such as a bomb de-fuser from a paperclip and a piece of gum stuck on the bottom of his shoe. In our family, we like to refer to my … [Read more...]
We're all sick here. Yucky, nose-dripping, achy-type annoying sick. Not the real serious, barfy, feverish, gonna-die sick. And as much I would like to wallow in it, there are deadlines, lunches to be made, and heads to be shampooed. In other words, life goes on. But it gets tricky when you really want to see a friend. Do I risk spreading my contagion to them? For instance, I haven't seen my best friend for weeks and we're scheduled to spend … [Read more...]
The mail doesn't actually come to our house. We need to go to our local post office and look in our box for mail. It's a quaint-little-village kind of thing to do, isn't it? I like going to check my mail, but for some reason I don't get around to doing it much. Kind of like my exercise regime, I guess. Anyhow, when I finally get there, it's overflowing and often jammed to the hilt. (I would imagine that our family's box is a pet peeve of the … [Read more...]
I'm tired of hearing about "stranger danger," and I don't like the idea of teaching children the concept of "stranger danger." I mean, really. Is it really necessary to instill a fear in children about their fellow community members when the facts show that child abduction is an extremely rare occurence? My child already has her own self-instilled fear of aliens, does she need this one too? So please, spare me the fear-mongering. Why? … [Read more...]
![A646-printer-and-bag[1]](http://d3826520.u488.hspheredns.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/A646-printer-and-bag1-150x84.jpg)
I just saw that my bloggy friend Dani is having an awesome giveaway and I thought you might not want to miss out! It's for an HP Photosmart A646 Compact Photo Printer. I'm sure it's an awesome printer, but I'm all about that cute little bag that comes with it. To enter the contest, click here. … [Read more...]
My new socks make me happy. … [Read more...]
I like it when friends or family take the time to pick out a special book for one of my kids as a gift (and inscribe it with a personal note). And I like to do the same for my friends. Recently, I've come across three great resources that make finding good books a lot easier. (So no, I'm not going to give up on my daughter who is reading 4-inch Pokemon gamer guides and nothing else these days!) #1: A Diamond in the Window My friend Brenda … [Read more...]
In 1969, hippies travelled from far and wide to attend Woodstock. They came to appreciate the vibe and the amazing music. They drank lots, they drugged lots. It was a good time. It's 40 years later, in 2009. Writers travelled from far and wide to attend Wordstock, at Ryerson University. They came to appreciate the wisdom and experience of amazing traditional and new media journalists. They drank lots of coffee. It was a good time. So that's … [Read more...]
My bloggy friend Andrea invited me out on a date to check out some Mozart. A night on the town is always welcome, but I was also really interested in this new orchestra performance format that the NAC has recently adopted. Produced by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, this format is called "Beyond the Score: Classical Music Exposed." It's been extremely well received by Chicago audiences and naturally the NAC is looking to replicate some of … [Read more...]
Voila! A fresh new design, just for us! I really hope you like love it. Yes, I'm using the "l" word here. Too much? Okay, I'm pretty invested. But I really do hope you like it lots and lots. Check out these features designed to make the blog more friendly for you: Categories: Along the top are the categories of Living, Family, Travel and Media. This means that is you can't stand reading about diapers and kids' birthday parties (the … [Read more...]
Dear readers, Thanks so much for your encouragement and I am really looking forward to sharing my new blog design with you! There is one last housecleaning item to take care of though so that I don't lose you. If you've been reading my blog via www.coffeewithjulie.wordpress.com, could you please update that to www.julieharrison.ca? Also, if you're a subscriber, don't forget to update the RSS feed link! And if you haven't subscribed -- come on, … [Read more...]
I used random.org to have one of the names be virtually pulled out of a hat and the winner is ... Pam! Congrats Pam! You now have two tickets to the NAC's production of Mozart's Final Piano Concerto -- Beyond the Score. (I'll email you directly with details.) So, as my "date" Andrea said her blog, a peek inside the fishbowl: LET'S HERE IT FOR A CLASSY NIGHT OUT! (To further whet your appetite, you can also read what Andrea wrote about the … [Read more...]
My daughter's tastes are what many refer to as "tomboy." She has never taken to playing with dolls of any sort, never cared for the colour pink and couldn't care less what she's wearing as long as she's allowed to play in the mud with it. My husband and I have always chosen to just go with the flow, and let her play with whatever she likes, however she likes. So it's never been an issue at home. And socially, it's never been an issue either … [Read more...]
Beyond the blah-brown exterior of our country's National Arts Centre is a vibrant group of employees, volunteers and an ever-evolving programme of theatre, music and dance. Don't believe me? Well, here's proof for you: their marketing department has a cyber-marketing division. How hip is that? This same cyber-marketing division is hosting a "Blogger Night" at the NAC on Wednesday, September 30th. By a Blogger Night, I gather that they're … [Read more...]
I started this blog in June. Within 2 weeks, I was an addict. My head is always spinning about, thinking about potential blog posts and ruminating about other people's posts. I just love how the blogosphere keeps my mind a-buzzin'. Most of all, I love the fact that people actually come here, read my words and take the time to comment. Oh, I love, love, love that! Not sure why, but if you want, you can pay a therapist to figure out why I need … [Read more...]
Ah, wondering why I've tried another recipe so soon after the last one? I know, it's out of character but hubby's away. And while hubby's away, this wife must cook. Well, okay, not really -- he did leave two meals for me in the freezer. And I admit to ordering in pizza last night. But tonight, those chicken breasts sitting in the fridge gave me the guilts. As in, "if you don't cook me tonight, you're throwing good money into the garbage!" So, … [Read more...]
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