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...]
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...]
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...]
Spring Fever!
March 20, 2012 by 17 Comments
Spring fever is real. SO real for us Canucks! The weather was so gorgeous this past weekend that all the neighbours were out front of their houses washing cars, kids riding bikes, and big smiles all around. One big way that spring fever hits me is my wardrobe. I look at it and think -- it needs a complete overhaul! But, alas, I looked at my budget and thought -- nope, not gonna happen! However, I did pop over into our local Superstore and … [Read more...]
Happy St. Paddy’s Day!
March 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment
I have a colleague in my office who spoils us with special treats throughout the year. Yesterday, she brought in the cutest cupcakes for St. Patrick's Day. It's the small things that really make a difference sometimes, isn't it? Cupcake by Andrea Larose. Photo by Leslie Bayford. … [Read more...]
DIY Design: Daily Life Vignette
March 13, 2012 by 6 Comments
When you're a blogger, you don't really know who reads your blog and who doesn't. But when a man enters my house and comments on my front hall using the word "vignette," well I just *know* he's a reader! This happened a few weeks back when our friend Tim came over. Today, he popped in after work and glanced at our cabinet and asked if my most recent vignette was titled "Daily Life." From left to right: Lone owl, sample baseboard, ornery … [Read more...]
Love. Your. Body. Now.
March 7, 2012 by 10 Comments
When I turned 40, I had a celebration with my girlfriends. There were no gifts allowed, but a girlfriend gave me a gift in what she wrote in a birthday card. She wrote: "Remember when you were 30 and looked back on the photos of yourself when you were 20, and thought - wow, I looked great. You will be thinking the same thing when you're 50 looking back at yourself now." At first at thought ... "Gee, thanks for the reminder of how much I am … [Read more...]
Zumba® Fitness and My Quest for True Love
March 6, 2012 by 13 Comments
Growing up, I loved to dance. Most days after school, I grabbed a bus and headed to the studio for a class. Some evenings, I had two classes. I simply couldn’t get enough of them! When I was about 17 years old, I stopped taking classes and then moved away for university, where there were no classes offered. I didn’t realize then how big a loss that was … losing my true love. Since then, I’ve tried rugby (played winger when they let me off the … [Read more...]
On Children, Travel, and Inclusion
March 4, 2012 by 6 Comments
In our North American society, children are often considered to be annoyances in air travel, restaurants, grocery stores, and even when they are quietly feeding. I think that as a parent, now used to life with young children, I have far more tolerance than I might have had when I was child-less. In fact, it barely even registers with me that a child is making loud crying noises unless it is the specific crying that I recognize as one of my … [Read more...]
Oh the Babies!
February 29, 2012 by 5 Comments
There is a huge influx of new babies arriving at our office. The first arrived last week. A beautiful little girl, who arrived early at just over six pounds. And I saw her. I touched her little toes. Oh my ... And there are more babies arriving! Three more on the way, to be precise. I can clearly remember being a young 20-something gal and rolling my eyes so hard it hurt when the women at my office would rush out to greet a colleague … [Read more...]
Free Money Monday! (and Canada’s Children’s Arts Tax Credit)
February 26, 2012 by 19 Comments
It's Sunday, but I've already got the Monday blues. It's not that I don't like my job, it's just that the longer winter goes on, the more I just want to do nothing but curl up with a book and a fresh pressed coffee. A beach sure sounds nice right about now. But I digress ... I'm actually here to write about the taxes. I kid you not. I really am. Specifically, Canada's newly introduced Children's Arts Tax Credit. You've already likely heard … [Read more...]
Let’s Get This Party Started
February 22, 2012 by 3 Comments
Dear Cassie, Okay, so it's no party. Or at least, it's a party no one wants to get invited to. And it kicks off today. But let's get this chemo started up and get that cancer out of you. The sooner you start, the sooner you can "Ring the Bell." The tradition of ringing a bell when your final chemo treatment is complete is something I didn't know about. But I watched this short docu-video created by a Andrea Ross and Mark Blevis, a local … [Read more...]
The Wealthy Barber Returns: 5 Takeaway Tips
February 17, 2012 by 5 Comments
Have you ever read The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton? The year before I graduated from high school, this book on personal finance hit the bookstands with a storm! Over two million copies have been sold in North America, and I think that’s because of its unique fictional format. Here’s how Wikipedia describes the book: The book is structured around a story of three people in their late 20s visiting Roy, the title character, for lessons in … [Read more...]
Dear Grammys: What message are you sending?
February 13, 2012 by 22 Comments
Dear Grammys, I'm not sure what message you're trying to send. But I can tell you what message I received from your show last night. For all the young and impressionable young people watching the Grammy's yesterday, one thing was made clear: If you can dance and sing, we're willing to turn a blind eye. Well, at least if you're a man. Dancing and singing trumps all, people. Chris Brown, who in 2009, was brought in on criminal charges (and … [Read more...]
Stay Strong
February 7, 2012 by 1 Comment
Cassie, this is for you. Stay strong; keep your faith alive. I know you love this song, and when you listen to it, always remember there's strength in numbers ... think of all of us behind you. We've got your back -- so you just focus on looking forward. You'll get through this. xoxox … [Read more...]
Cancer Sucks. And so does Pink-Washing.
February 2, 2012 by 4 Comments
Back in October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I shared my thoughts on pink-washing in a post called "Don't Drink the Pink Kool-Aid." In it, I questioned all the pink ribbons being slapped on everything from cell phones to chocolate bars; and wondered out loud about corporate profit-teering from an illness that is hurting so many of us. I didn't have any easy answers, and instead decided that rather than promote one of the many pink … [Read more...]
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