Daughter: Have you noticed I haven't asked for very much for my birthday? Mother: Yes, I did wonder a little about that. Daughter: Well, I've been keeping a few things from you. Mother: Oh. Daughter: See, I didn't want you and Dad to have to spend all your money on my birthday presents. So I'm going to save up all my wishes and ask Santa for them. … [Read more...]
A movie about blogging
August 14, 2009 by 4 Comments
I'll be the first to admit, I haven't been out to the movies much in, say, oh ... the last seven years. Yes, coincidentally, since I've become a parent. So, I might be wrong here, but the movie Julie & Julia was the first movie that I know of with blogging as a central focus. Even though I couldn't care less about Julia Child, and cooking in general for that matter, I was excited to see this movie. And that had everything to do with the … [Read more...]
Thursday's Thought
August 13, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss … [Read more...]
Wasted Beauty
August 11, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Like a dog with a bone, I've been racing through Eric Bogosian's three novels and raving about them on this blog. The first one I came across was his most recent, Perforated Heart, while the second one I read was Mall. Sandwiched in between these two, he wrote Wasted Beauty (2005). All three novels focus on American culture, and I think it's safe to say it's a fairly scathing perspective. Or as Hillary Frey says, "this is the stuff of ugly … [Read more...]
On (not) educating other people's children
August 10, 2009 by 2 Comments
I'm at Jiu Jitsu with my one-year-old and we're watching and waiting for my 6-year-old to finish her class when bounding-in for the next class come a sibling pair aged 5 and 7. They immediately approach me (as us Moms know, babies attract the hoards!) and start ogling and asking questions: "What's he doing?" and "Can he walk?" and "Does he have teeth?" but "Can he talk?" Their interest is so genuine, so adorable. Then out of the blue, the … [Read more...]
Design freebies @ The Small Object
August 7, 2009 by Leave a Comment
![stickerB2[1]](http://d3826520.u488.hspheredns.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/stickerb21.jpg)
So there is this girl named Sarah and she makes these great little small objects. No, I don't know her. But you know how the internet is like that -- I just stumbled upon her -- and what a treasure of talent she is! Her company is called The Small Object. She creates absolutely delightful things ... like custom cake toppers for wedding cakes made from wooden clothes pegs... ... and rubber stamps featuring her own unique illustrations (my … [Read more...]
SYTYCD
August 5, 2009 by 5 Comments
If the initials SYTYCD mean nothing to you, then move along. I won't be offended (just this once). As for the rest of you fellow So You Think You Can Dance Addicts ... well, our season is now coming to an end. Here's what I'll miss: Brandon's dancing. That boy is an absolute machine. I mean, really! He has not missed one step the entire show -- completely flawless technically and performance-level too. Just a pleasure to watch. Mia Michaels … [Read more...]
MALL
August 4, 2009 by 2 Comments
As you might have guessed, I gave up on Edward. He and his little Twilight entourage did nothing for me. I felt bad just dumping him, especially when he was supposed to be so sexy and all. But, hey, c'est la vie. Us middle-aged women don't have a whole lot of time to waste. So, I've moved on to Eric. As in Eric Bogosian. If you clicked on that link, well, there's no denying that he's no pretty boy like Edward. But his mind is deep. And dark. … [Read more...]
Writerly happenings
August 4, 2009 by 1 Comment
Writers are always on the hunt for ways to improve their craft, and I'm no different. I'm always sniffing around for new ideas, new initiatives, new ways to learn. At BOLO the other night, I overheard a number of bloggers mention that they were writers as a day-time gig (alot of fellow corporate communicators) as well as some stay-at-home-moms who said that they aspire to be writers. So, I thought that I'd share some interesting writerly … [Read more...]
Robson Rambling: A Recap
August 3, 2009 by 4 Comments
My "baby" brother Adam (he's 26) saved me from some expensive life insurance after I posted "His Next Great Adventure." The four of them were not, in fact, climbing Mount Robson, but instead were hiking Berg Lake Trail. They are all back safe & sound now, and thrilled with their adventure-filled time together. Even though Adam is supposed to be sweating it out on some kind of graduate computer-y thesis-y thing, I badgered him into … [Read more...]
How fast can you blow through $1,000?
August 1, 2009 by 6 Comments
Tired of budget, budget, budgeting? Let's have some fun! Someone just handed you $1,000 in cold hard cash. It's all yours, but you must follow the rules to keep it. The rules: 1. You must spend it. No savings, RESP and responsible things like that. 2. It cannot be anything you actually "need." It can only be spent on "wants." 3. No big ticket items. No individual item can be more than $200. 4. No time to waver - you must develop your list in … [Read more...]
Dear Convenience Food Marketers
July 27, 2009 by 5 Comments
Dear Junkfood Convenience Food Marketers, In this economy, I feel it is my duty to provide you with some valuable feedback that can help you cut your costs. You see, I've noticed some changes to your packaging. Lately it includes copy intended to market to someone looking for a healthy meal. Consider the following two standard favourites: Kraft Dinner Original and Chef Boyardee Ravioli. The Kraft Dinner package is now sporting a substational … [Read more...]
My own personal BOLO
July 25, 2009 by 10 Comments
As I drove home from Blog Out Loud Ottawa, I had the summer wind whipping through the car and the music on high. And something strange happened; I started to cry. But it wasn't a bad cry. It was a good cry, if you know what I mean. I think it was a release of sorts. Because, truth be told, I've had a tough time adapting to life back in Ottawa after a year away in Australia. It's something I don't dare to say out loud, for fear of offending my … [Read more...]
Out of the mouths of babes.
July 24, 2009 by 7 Comments
Me: So ... did you hear Mommy on the radio yesterday? 6-year-old Daughter: Well, yes I did. But I didn't recognize your voice. Me: Yes, people can sound different on the radio. I think it's because of the microphones. 6-year-old Daughter: Oh, I see. It really didn't sound like you at all. Because I heard the voice of a really calm lady. … [Read more...]
All In A Day
July 23, 2009 by 2 Comments
Okay, now it's my turn to panic! All In A Day called (you know, CBC's afternoon radio show) and asked if I would come in to be interviewed on the show to talk about Blog Out Loud Ottawa. I love All In A Day, so I swooned and said 'yes' immediately. Here's how the show is described on their site: All In A Day is Ottawa’s number one afternoon drive program, not surprising considering that CBC Radio One 91.5 is Ottawa’s number one radio station. … [Read more...]
Let's Panic!
July 22, 2009 by 2 Comments
Oh my! I can barely write I am laughing so hard at this new website launched by mommy-blogger Alice Bradley of Finslippy fame, and her co-hort in tongue-in-cheek-crime Eden Kennedy. Although I'd seen Bradley before from Momversations, I hadn't come across Kennedy as of yet. You can immediately get a feel for Kennedy's humour style though by visiting her blog yogabeans, where her son's action figures demonstrate ashtanga yoga. These two women … [Read more...]
You know you're not the next Martha when …
July 21, 2009 by 6 Comments
...before your husband leaves on a trip he fills the fridge and stocks the freezer with casseroles. If I'm lucky he'll leave me a little stash of cash and some take-out menus too. We don't want the children to get scurvy now, do we? … [Read more...]
His next great adventure
July 20, 2009 by Leave a Comment
People who meet us now, after 12 years of marriage, invariably like to say, "Opposites attract!" But it wasn't always this way. When we first met, we both shared a love of nature. Not a love from afar, a love that compelled us to trek deep into its midst. As far as we could go, to places where you really felt no other human had ever stepped before. The peace. The quiet. The conquest. My husband's thirst for adventure has only continued to … [Read more...]
Sweet Spot
July 19, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Looking for a sweet spot to just hang out and have a coffee? Or perhaps you'd like a coffee but your partner for the afternoon would rather a cold beer? Well, hello Raw Sugar cafe! In the way that Ottawa is always such a funny, small-world-sort-of-place, I told my neighbour Kim that I'd be reading at BOLO (Blog Out Loud Ottawa), being hosted at the new(ish) Raw Sugar. She then pointed me to an article written by her sister, Shannon Beahen, on … [Read more...]
I'm going to blog out loud
July 17, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Despite being a complete neophyte, Lynn has warmly welcomed me to BOLO 2009 (Blog Out Loud Ottawa). It's an event where a group of Ottawa bloggers and readers get together and, over coffee (my favourite thing!), read/listen to favourite posts. Click on the icon to the right to get all the deets! I've been lurking around in the blogosphere for a while now, so I'm really looking forward to meeting all these awesome Ottawa bloggers in person. If … [Read more...]
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