On Friday night, I went to a neighbour's vernissage. (I like using this word "vernissage" because it makes me seem all cultured-up, doesn't it? Okay maybe not. But I still like it! I used it with my brother on the weekend, but he didn't seem half as impressed as I was. "Verni-what? What word are you using?") Um. Where was I? Ah yes, I was at a vernissage. Which is the opening of an art exhibit and it's the fun part because the artist is there … [Read more...]
The Spring Haircut
May 14, 2010 by 12 Comments
My children were both long over-due for haircuts. And Spring felt like the time for it. It's an errand that I had kept moving down on the list until this week. I had an hour's space between after school and when we would have dinner that I thought I'd use this time to strike this task off the list once and for all. So, I piled both kids into the car. Stella, my seven-year-old, was not pleased. To her, getting her haircut is about as … [Read more...]
8 Tips for Camping with Kids
May 10, 2010 by 2 Comments
Good Monday morning! My daughter Stella has shared her top tips for successfully camping with kids in a post that is now live on the Kids in the Capital blog. If you are ever in the care of children in Ottawa, this is the blog to hit for ideas! It covers activities, playgroups, books, crafts, cooking -- you name it! -- all neatly organized under the "Categories" listing on the right-hand menu. Definitely worth a visit. Hope everyone has a … [Read more...]
I’ve got a good mother
May 9, 2010 by 1 Comment
The lyrics from Jann Arden's song "Good Mother" have been ringing in my heart and mind all weekend. I like to use these kinds of pre-fab holidays as an opportunity to count blessings ("blessings" is a word I use simply for lack of a non-religious alternative). I'm feeling very grateful. Thanks Mom! I love you. xoxxox *************** Good Mother, by Jann Arden I've got money in my pocket, I like the color of my hair. I've got a … [Read more...]
Business Casual
May 7, 2010 by 9 Comments
I watched the movie Wall Street this week. Do you remember it? It was an Oscar-winner from 1987, directed by Oliver Stone and starred Michael Douglas as an incredibly wealthy but unscrupulous trader and Charlie Sheen as a young, desperately-eager-to-make-it-big stockbroker. I wanted to remind myself of the movie and its plot because a sequel is on its way. To be released in September, the sequel also stars Michael Douglas as the same … [Read more...]
Skin cancer doesn’t happen in Canada, does it?
May 4, 2010 by 8 Comments
When you live in Australia, as we did just recently, you very quickly realize how seriously they take their sun protection. The combination of a light-skinned population with prolonged sun exposure leaves Australians at real risk. The risk is so high, in fact, that according to its Cancer Council two in every three Australians will develop skin cancer before the age of 70. More than 440,000 Australians are diagnosed with skin cancer every year … [Read more...]
This makes me happy …
May 1, 2010 by Leave a Comment
... so I thought I'd share it with you! What can I say, a group of university, baseball-wearing guys singing Lady Gaga's Bad Romance really makes my day! Check it out. On the Rocks is the University of Oregon's all male a cappella ensemble. … [Read more...]
I giggled and stomped, but the cup just kept laughing!
April 28, 2010 by 1 Comment
There's so much happening around Ottawa that I think one can be forgiven for missing out on even something as fantastic as the NAC's Kinderconcert series. It seems this series is one well-kept secret; one that -- happily -- I have now stumbled upon! Here's what I found when I attended my first Kinderconcert, titled Giggle & Stomp ... Before the show: there were fun interactive activities and displays set up for the children to enjoy. My … [Read more...]
Thinking aloud about envy (with Andrea)
April 21, 2010 by 6 Comments
Just as I happened to be reading an article titled "Envy at Work," my friend and fellow blogger Andrea at A Peek Inside the Fishbowl published a new post titled "Thinking aloud about envy." The article I was reading had initially intrigued me because envy isn't a common topic for Harvard Business Review, or business research in general for that matter. Also, I work in the area of organizational change management and I wondered if envy played a … [Read more...]
Confessions of a Former Gleek (part 2)
April 20, 2010 by Leave a Comment
In the first season of Glee, I found that Will (aka Mr. Shuester) shared many of my feelings of lingering doubt … Why did I never chase my dreams? What might have happened had I actually auditioned all those years ago? Now, let me tell you, I did not relish the thought of being like Mr. Shuester. Quite the contrary. He seemed like a loser. A wanna-be who just never made it ... [please click here to continue reading!] You won't want to miss … [Read more...]
Recipe for a Wonderful Evening
April 16, 2010 by 3 Comments
1. Call up a good, true friend that you haven't seen lately because the mundate elements in life keep stealing all your time. 2. With only one day's notice, ask that she join you for an evening out. 3. As you step into the car pulled up at your driveway, you can already feel that the mad rush to get dinner and homework completed early was worth it. 4. Darkness starts to set-in fully as you drive from your outskirt homes to the city, all … [Read more...]
Confessions of a Former Gleek (part 1)
April 14, 2010 by 1 Comment
I get an uncomfortable mix of emotions when I watch certain things. A ballet performance. A theatrical play. And the hit television series Glee. I imagine other former gleeks take pleasure in watching these things. But me? It teases out raw, bittersweet feelings... [please click to read more] … [Read more...]
Personal style: Sacrificed at the altar of family
April 3, 2010 by 22 Comments
![a_view_of_our_tent_trailer[1]](http://d3826520.u488.hspheredns.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/a_view_of_our_tent_trailer1.jpg)
Most of the folks in our circle started out strong. We wouldn't sacrifice our personal style just because we were starting a family. Hell no! Just because we'd be parents didn't mean we'd have to give up our sense of "cool." But, one by one, we've all slipped into family-dom. Some jumped in whole-heartedly, while others -- like my husband and I -- tried to hold on stubbornly to as much as we could. Here are some flashing signals that you … [Read more...]
Sharing stories
March 29, 2010 by 5 Comments
There's been a great deal of interesting and intelligent debate -- as well as some yelling, screaming and posturing of course -- about woman and blogs as of late. In one situation, some "mommy" bloggers were put under the academic microscope, while in others, the mainstream media snickered at mothers and their interest in blogging and, strangely, pronounced that women didn't blog, only men. People I know who don't read my blog often ask me … [Read more...]
I’m still thinking about hyper-parenting
March 23, 2010 by 6 Comments
Hyper-parenting. You might remember that a little while back, I wrote a post sparked by the CBC documentary Hyper Parents and Coddled Kids. And I'm still thinking about it. The whole concept of hyper-parenting is never really far from my mind, actually. It's something that I consciously, actively want to avoid doing to my children. And yet, it seems we live in a world where hyper-parenting is almost becoming the norm. Or at least that's how I … [Read more...]
The March Break Highlight
March 23, 2010 by 2 Comments
So, all the Ontario kidlets are now back to school. I hope most of you were able to enjoy some March Break relaxation. Things here have been busy for me (as I'm sure it is for other Ottawa local readers since government fiscal year-end = lots to do and all on by an immovable deadline of March 31st). Wouldn't it be great if the kids' spring break started on April 1st? My 7-year-old, Stella, and hubby, however took some time off for quality … [Read more...]
Ottawa’s NAC & staying relevant
March 19, 2010 by 11 Comments
We're about the same age, the National Arts Centre (NAC) and I. It would seem that, like most of us, the NAC's biggest fans are its parents -- the generation that created and brought this centre to life. But there's no doubt about it, its biggest fans are getting older. The people who are their most loyal subscribers will soon be retiring from their seats in the audience. Fresh bottoms will be needed to fill these seats. Bottoms like … [Read more...]
Winner of the NAC tickets!
March 15, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Thanks to everyone who came to visit and enter their name into the draw for 2 tickets to see Mysterioso: Music and Magic opening at the NAC this Thursday! I just entered all of your names into random.org and the winner is KELLI! Congrats Kelli - I will contact you directly with the details. … [Read more...]
Magical mystery tour (ticket giveaway for Ottawa’s NAC)
March 11, 2010 by 9 Comments
Magic shows make me think of a Ken-doll look-a-like man, a Barbie-esque assistant, and tacky costumes with too much skin. And velvet -- lots and lots of velvet. But I've never actually seen a live magic show though, have you? Well here's your chance: Joseph Gabriel will be performing a magic act in concert with the National Arts Centre orchestra. The show is called "Mysterioso: Music and Magic." I'll admit it does sound a bit cheesy and I've … [Read more...]
If you were an Algonquin College Advertising student
March 8, 2010 by 18 Comments
I'm going to be stopping in to Algonquin College as a guest speaker tomorrow. I'll be speaking with students in the Advertising Program and the particular course is Professional Practice, which is described like this: Attitude, communication, and human relations are the key to surviving in the ever-changing world of advertising. This course helps you prepare for workplace success by providing practical expectations and useful tools to make a … [Read more...]
Winner of the GCTC tickets!
March 8, 2010 by 1 Comment
I was so pleased to see the interest in blood.claat -- a unique and fabulously performed piece -- playing at the Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC)! I entered everyone's name into random.org to come up with a winner's name (and no, Kaitlin, you weren't too late!) and the winner is: STEPHAN. Congrats! I am sure you'll have a wonderful night out. I will be in touch with you directly to organize the details. If you are still planning on … [Read more...]
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