Monday, March 28, 2011

hide and go freeze


I really have been making a concerted effort to refrain from talking (aka-bitching) about the weather.
I'm trying to look on the bright side.
It's bright out.
Really bright.
Plenty-o sunshine.
But regardless of all that vitamin D, I'm still freezing my buns off.
I'm so tired of wearing my salt stained boots and big black puffy (mom uniform) coat.
Bring on the cloudy rainy days so I can crack out my hunters and black Lululemon rain (other mom uniform) coat.
I'll take it over this arctic nonsense.
How do they cope in Inuvik? or worse...Winnipeg?
Speaking of coats, I'm so glad that I got Lulu a full length winter coat this year.
It's so much easier to deal with than snow pants everyday.
But as cute as it looks on her, I have to say, I'm getting a bit tired of that too.
Fingers crossed that it warms up soon, as her one and only pair of winter boots are almost at their expiration date as well.
Crazy all the growing that these little creatures manage to do in one season.

So spring if you're listening..Come out come out where ever you are...

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

For the Love of Blog



Lately I've been asking myself why continue blogging?
When I started this blog over 5 years ago, (wow time really flies when you are rambling on about yourself) the blogging community was all so new and exciting.
These days everyone and not only their mother, but even their grandmothers have blogs.
The blogs I used to turn to for my daily fix of unabashed honesty and most often comedy, have become a ghost of what they once were.
No longer anonymous, most of the blogs I used to frequent are so candy coated and self censoring that I find them not worth the read.

I miss the old days, all that honesty and self deprecation, not to mention the outlets for ranting about the ups and often downs of domestic life.
Now when I read the majority of blogs, it seems as though everyone is ultra happy effortlessly juggling careers, motherhood and relationships.
They all seem to be growing their own vegetables, sewing their kids clothes by hand, redecorating their house seasonally (if not weekly in some extreme cases) shopping for fabulous- yet never mainstream (g-d forbid) fashionable clothes, hunting for hard to find vintage fabric and antiques and baking delicious organic food from scratch everyday.
Yet they still seem to find the time to read amazing literature, take fabulous trips and lest I forget, having the time to document it all on their amazingly stylish blogs.

Don't get me wrong, I admire and am inspired by some of these blogs.
But reading them can really make a gal feel like a major underachiever.
I'm no slouch, in fact I'm a pretty go go go kind of person, and try my best to be slightly above mediocre at the best of times;
So I just can't fathom how some of these, most often women, seem to have lives like this.
Or do they really?
Is it all a big facade?
And more importantly, when do they find the time to watch quality shows like The Bachelor, Top Chef and Hoarders?

Anyhow, what I'm getting at is, I still like blogging.
I have yet to change my template or the look of my blog.
I'm a creature of habit, what can I say?
I'm also aware that big daddy has spilled the beans and this blog is no longer as anonymous as it once was.
Hi Julie, I know you're lurking out there somewhere. Busted.
Not to mention almost every member of my gym.
I know, I know I haven't been since last Thursday, giving the old bod a bit of a break this week.
Be back soon I promise.
Nothing like being outed while half naked in the change room.
Yup, that's me The Petite Gourmand.
So much for anonymity.

I don't visit other blogs like I used to so I really don't get comments the way I once did.
That part I do kind of miss, to be honest.
But for those that do take the time to stop by and say hello, I am very grateful.
Truth be told I really don't have the time nor the inclination to put more energy into generating more "readers".
I don't really write for a specific audience.
I do it for me.
And to keep a bit of a journal on my (our) lives.
The good, the bad and the ugly.
Fortunately for us, it has been mostly good over the past few years.
I know that some day I will be very grateful that I did.
And I hope that when I look back, I can be proud that I kept things real.

Anyhow I better run, I have chicken to feed, a sweater to knit, a marathon to train for, a conference to attend, a fabulous party to plan, a Russian literature class to study for and oh I almost forgot, a band to form.
Since I just taught myself how to play the piano, harmonica and the banjo last week....

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Little Big Daddy


We went to the TIFF on Saturday and they happen to have free activites for families on the weekend.
And who doesn't love FREE activities on a rainy day?
We had fun making clay figures and then got to learn all about claymation.
I think I had more fun than Lulu.
I made a mini version of big daddy.
She made a princess a butterfly and a bird in a nest.



Big daddy made a witch.
At least that's what he was calling it.


It had better not have been a model of me....



It was super fun making the stop motion videos.
I would love to do this at home.
I can't wait to see the mini episodes in a few weeks.



So if you are looking for something fun to do check out Tiff.

To celebrate the wild world of Tim Burton, TIFF Bell Lightbox presents a season of weekend fun for families.
Free Drop-In Activities
Every Saturday and Sunday until April 3, 2011 (excluding February 20, 21)
Ages 8+

From 11:30 am to 3:30 pm, parents and children can drop by the RBC Learning Studios on the 3rd floor to participate in the following free activities:

Crafty Characters*
Create your own Burton-inspired creatures from our bins of quirky parts, pieces and craft supplies.
Animation Station
Take a favourite toy or a creature of your own design and bring it to life through the magic of stop-motion animation.
Be in the Scene*
Through the magic of green screen technology, immerse yourself in the stunning sets of Tim Burton’s films.

* These activities will also run every day the week of March 14-18.

Friday, March 04, 2011

california dreamin part deux



I can't believe another week has come & gone.
It's hard to imagine that this time last week we were in sunny California.

Our trip to L.A. was a lot of fun.
It was really nice to see family, and for the first time ever, it went absolutely smoothly staying with relatives.
No drama whatsoever.
Usually by the second or third day we are all ready to get home, but this time was an exception.
Not only were my brother-in-law and wife great hosts, they also happen to have a gorgeous home in the Hollywood hills.
So it was a real bonus being so close to all the action.
Action being the Oscars last week.
Holy hoopla.
And holy traffic.
I may never complain about Toronto traffic again.
But aside from the gridlock and seemingly endless time we spent in our rental car, we really enjoyed L.A.
We managed to do some hiking and got to hang out in some nice parks.
It was so nice to see green leaves and green grass again.
We also spent a day in Santa Monica and went to the pier and saw the ocean.
We didn't have any celebrity sightings but it was fun riding the ferris wheel and walking around all of the shops.
Speaking of, stopped here en route.
Definitely worth the stop.
Especially the almond croissant at Farmshop.
Yum.



We couldn't go to California without a day trip to Disney.



Though as much fun as Lulu had there, she couldn't wait to get home to Davey her "dog cousin."




And as much as she enjoyed a few of the rides when I asked her what her favourite part of the day was, her response was "the shuttle bus from the parking lot to the park, I thought that was really fun".
Go figure.
Could have just skipped the park and taken public transit for a thrill instead.
Clearly our next activity should be to ride the TTC for a day.

Oh and no trip to the states would be complete without a pit stop at American Girl.
Lulu was in H.E.A.V.E.N.
I have to admit, I kind of was too in an osmosis kind of way..
Big daddy not-so-much.

We also managed to do some fun things for Big daddy & I as well.
We went to a very hip neighbourhood- Silverlake- to check out a few stores I've been wanting to see.
Had delicious lunches and went to the farmers market which was great.
Big daddy & I also got to have a dinner date on our own which was a treat.
Too bad it wasn't two days later though, we might have spotted Christina Aguilera getting sloshed at the table beside us.
We went to Mozza- Mario Batali's L.A. restaurant and it was excellent.
Needless to say it was good people watching and more importantly our meal was delicious.
We also went for sushi one night and as we left had to walk through a sea of paparazzi waiting outside.
L.A. is one crazy town.
I'm just glad we didn't run into Charlie Sheen a.k.a. Mr. Train Wreck.
What a mess.

We really had a fantastic time, and the absolute highlight was getting to spend time with family.
I've never seen Lulu happier than when she is with her extended family.
It really was so nice to see.
And what a bonus that we have brothers that live in such fun cities.
Next stop San Francisco or maybe Taipei?....