hello 2013

Well I dare say I am finally on the road to recovery.

Not to be a Debbie downer, but this was the Christmas break that was anything but.

We have barely left the house since school got out on the 21st of December.

Cabin fever is an understatement.

Anyhow it's a new year and must move onwards and hopefully upwards.

Aside from feeling sorry for myself for the past couple of weeks, I did manage to spend a bit of time reflecting on my life and things I aspire to for the new year.

I'm not really a resolution kind of person as I tend to try to do that throughout the year.

But I do hope that I can make a few personal changes that will help me to find the sometimes elusive feeling of contentment and happiness.

The number one thing I would like to change is to stop thinking about everyone else's "greener grass."

I have a tendency to focus on what others have or how great they seem to have it.

Great vacations, bigger houses, more time off, never seem to get sick...grrrrr

I need to remind myself on a daily basis how blessed I am with my life.

Things are good;  really good.

And even though we don't technically have any "green grass",  flagstone and boxwoods are okay too.

Speaking of our abode.

I really hope we can start putting our plans into action when it comes to the renovation.

As much as I resist change, especially when it comes to my home, it's time.

As daunting as it might seem to have to move out and start from scratch, the purge will feel good.

And hopefully the end result will be well worth it and I can stop obsessing about the house.

There are so many more important things in life than a house.

But still....can't wait to get the wrecking ball rolling.

I've set a few goals in the career dept. as well.

Nothing too different from last year.

Working for big daddy twice a week.

Have to make sure I make that more of a priority.

The last few months things kind of slipped through the cracks, so I'm looking forward to making more of a contribution and helping out.

As far as fitness goals I guess just keep doing what I've been doing.

I still love my favourite classes at the gym and my favourite instructor.

I would like to offset it with a bit more stretching- aka Yoga and also more outdoor activities.

Hiking, cycling, walking the dog etc.

But not being able to get to the gym much over the month of December has been tough.

I miss feeling "strong fit & healthy"

inside joke.....

I really want to make more of an effort with this blog.

I'd like to get back to shooting food and feeling inspired about what I feed my family.

It's still one of my passions and even though there are a ton of incredible food blogs out there, I need not be intimidated.

I just need to cook.

Also bring back the restaurant reviews.

Haven't done that in ages.

Mostly because 2012 we ended up going to many of the same old same olds.

But there are a ton of new places in the city that I can't wait to try out and write about.

Listen more. Talk less.

Okay I say this every year, but must watch less T.V and read more.

It's not like I don't have a ton of great books I'm wanting to read...it's just that I get stuck in a rut and end up on the sofa in front of the television watching a whole lotta crap every night.

I mean Breaking Amish, The Bachelor, Top Chef, The Real Housewives of Vancouver, Beverly Hills AND New York....crazy.

I do however draw the line at Jersey.

Even I won't stoop that low.

But I am a confessed reality T.V. junkie and it has to stop.

Or at least be reined in a little.

Boardwalk Empire doesn't count. Currently my favourite show. So great and can't wait for the next season to start.

But there really should be a few nights where the boob tube (literally) stays off and I find other more intellectually challenging things to occupy my evenings.

Speaking of things to occupy my evenings..

I really really want to edit all my digital photos and print a few photo books.

I'd love to maybe send some to the grandparents as a surprise.

Aside from school pictures, they barely have any of Lulu.

It's crazy that after 8-9 years I haven't created a photo album.

Not to mention how much space all the images are taking up on my computer...yikes...

It's definitely on the top of my to-do list for this year.

Avoid school politics.

Have more fun.

Take a family vacation.

Life is short and it flies by so quickly.

Continue to embrace and enjoy having a seven year old.

Every single day is a gift.

Periodically remind myself to stop what I'm doing and colour a picture with Lulu or help do Barbie's ponytail...

The dishes can wait.

It's such a cliche but keep trying to not sweat the small stuff.

Because on the grand scheme of things, so many of the things I tend to worry about really aren't worth the head space.

see above re: school politics..

So last but not least, I want 2013 to be a happy & healthy year.

Especially not just for myself but for my family as well.

And you too (all three of you ; ) thanks for still dropping by and reading this often mundane blog.

I promise to put in a little more effort and try to make things a little more interesting in 2013.

                                                        Happy New Year!

countdown until 2013

Well as 2012 draws to a close, I have to say that I am quite ready to ring a new year.

A few weeks ago I was feeling a bit overly confident when chatting to someone about how I think we have finally turned a corner on the health front this year and that maybe our immune systems are finally getting stronger after three years in the school system.
Should have kept my mouth shut.
Needless to say, the sick fairy dropped by our house on Christmas morning and doesn't know when to take the hint that it's time to leave.

Big daddy has the cold that just won't quit. Two weeks of misery and still hanging on.
I unfortunately got steam rolled by the flu and was in bed for three days. Thankfully am now on the mend.
But my sweet Lulu has been as sick as I've ever seen her.
She was clobbered by the flu then also a very nasty viral infection that won't go away.
She hasn't eaten in a week.
Has zero energy and is coughing so much that I'm feeling the need to take her to the doctor for a second opinion. (unfortunately we were already at the Dr. office on Friday...good times)
Poor Lulu has had the worst Christmas ever.
We cancelled everything we had planned for last week.
Theatre tickets, dinner with friends, skiing up north with friends, enjoying the first snowfall, Christmas dinner!
I think I'm more disappointed than Lulu though.
Yesterday she said to me (in her stuffed up weak little voice) "good thing I didn't get this sick during school mama and on my holiday instead so that I won't miss any school work"
I mean seriously?
Breaks my heart.
To add insult to injury, the fish that she got for Christmas (the only thing she really really wanted and asked for from Santa) died after only 24 hours.
Devastated is an understatement.

Oh and to top things off Chelsea knowing that Lulu isn't feeling well, hasn't really left her side and was snuggled up with her on her bed.
But she accidentally fell off and injured her leg and started limping and shaking.
Not my puppy too...gah...
Add one emergency trip to the vet hospital after hours (cha ching $$) to the list.
Oh and to add a little extra drama it all went down during our first official snow storm.

And there you have it- Worst. Christmas. ever.

So yes. Very much looking forward to the end of 2012- and hopefully with any luck everyone will be happy & healthy once again.

Bahhumbug.

Merry & Bright

Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year...

sad state of events

I'm not really sure how to begin this post.
There are no words really to convey the shock and horror over the tragedy that took place Friday in Newtown Connecticut.
It's beyond comprehension how someone could do what they did.
My heart goes out to all those innocent children and the families whose lives are now completely destroyed over such a senseless act.
The children were mostly the same age as Lulu and all her class mates, and I can only imagine how devastating it would be if had been her school.
I keep thinking of the gifts already wrapped and under the tree that will never be opened...
It's so very sad.

I've been trying to shield Lulu from any of the news about it.
I just don't think I want to jolt her sense of innocence and security when she goes to school each day.
Not sure if they will be discussing it tomorrow or not.
It's really not something I want her to know about really.

I was originally going to rant about the teacher's strike and how infuriating it is that they are walking out on the kids the week before Christmas, but I don't feel it's right to complain given the latest turn of events.
At least she has a class and teacher.

It makes me hug her a few more times each day and tell her how much I love her even more than I did before and really appreciate the moments that we share together like making special decorations for her little tree in her bedroom...

decking the halls

Well I guess we are officially into the holiday season.
I usually don't start to think about Christmas until my birthday is over and done with on December 3rd.
sigh....yes...another year has come and gone...and now unfortunately I can no longer say that I just turned 40.
There's no way around it, I'm full-on in my forties.
42. How the heck did that happen?!
Anyhow, despite my middle age...I feel great. Or at least for the most part.
Trying to ignore the fact that I now have to hold things away from me when reading.
(time for reading glasses I guess..sigh..)
I feel like such a cliche.
Also the perpetual aches & pains that tend to pop up here or there at any given time.
Lately the here or there being my knees.
Should they be making that sound when I bend down?....yikes....
Sadly it maybe time to ease off on the kick boxing classes for a couple of weeks.
But to help remedy all that, I spent my B-day at the new 4 Seasons Spa.
Best. Massage. Ever.
What a treat!
The spa is so lovely and relaxing I honestly didn't want to leave.
Did I mention, Best. Massage. Ever. already?
90 minutes of pure bliss.
I also had a nice dinner with my family and bonus that one of my favourite uncles happened to be in town.
So all in all, it was a fun way to deal with getting yet another year older.
I mean celebrate...

Anyhow as is tradition, as soon as all that nonsense is out of the way I like to get the house all festive and start to decorate.
First things first- send big daddy out to get our Christmas tree aka Hanukkah Bush.
We thought about heading up north to cut our own, but I figured I might have been pushing my luck a bit with Big D.
Seeing as we only started doing a tree in past few years when Lulu could get into it.
Before that, we would just have Christmas at my parents.
But I really do like having a tree, falling needles be damned.
It's so nice.
The smell, the twinkling lights.
It just feels so official.
So now we just need to decorate it.
Planning on making a bunch of homemade decorations with Lulu this year.
She is beside herself with excitement over the prospect of being able to glue, glitter and glamourize the tree with her mamma.
It really is adorable how excited she is.
and I confess...I think I'm even a little excited too.
Having a seven year old is THE best.
Bonus that she can now read the baking instructions until I finally break down and get myself a pair of reading glasses...

Thankful days

I know it's American thanksgiving this weekend, and we had ours weeks ago, but I'm feeling particularly thankful these past few days.
Every so often I kind of have to remind myself how fortunate I really am.

First of all, the weather for the month of November has been absolutely fantastic.
There's something about blue crisp skies, sunny days and above seasonal normal temperatures that always puts a bit of extra pep in my step.

Speaking of a little extra pep in her step, I'm so incredibly grateful for my beautiful daughter.
I try to be thankful for her everyday, but lately I am just so happy to watch her in action.
She is just so full of joy.
It's contagious..
Always happy and full of energy.
She is excelling in school, has lots of great little friends and has been pretty healthy so far this school year.
Knock wood.
When she is happy- I'm happy.

I'm also so incredibly appreciative for my amazing husband.
The past few years have not been without their challenges, but I feel like we weathered the storm and made it out okay.
16 years and still standing side by side.
He is such a hard working guy and I'm so lucky to have him as a partner.
You could not find a better provider or anyone more loyal and caring than Big Daddy.
He does so much for our family so selflessly and I'm just....well.....verklempt....

Anyhow just wanted to put it out there.
It's good to talk stock of all the good things in life when you can.
Because life really is beautiful....

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone south of the border...

last leaf standing

                                                                The one red leaf, the last of it's clan,
                                                                That dances as often a dance it can.
                                                              Hanging so light, and hanging so high,
                                                             On the topmost twig that looks up at the sky.
                                                                      ~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge ~

Or in this case..yellow...

Almost all the leaves have fallen from the beautiful old trees surrounding our house.
That is, the ones that are still left standing.
We spent the better part of the day yesterday raking and in big daddy's case- blowing them all away.
The man sure does love his leaf blower...
What an incredible day to be outside, the weather could not have been nicer.
It was like a contrite gift from Mother Nature after the wrath of Sandy last week.

It's sad to say good-bye to yet another autumn.
It always seems so fleeting.
Just when you start to get used to the fall, the local hardware store has the shovels and tobogans displayed front and center.
Let's just hope we have a few more weeks though.
I'm not quite ready to say good-bye to Autumn 2012 just yet...


Oh and one of my favourite children's books, perfect for this time of year is 
Fletcher And The Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson.
Lulu & I just love the story and the sweet illustrations.

4 more years....please.

Wow time certainly does fly.

I posted this four years ago.

Wonder what will happen tonight.
I so wish I could vote.

Oh and if you haven't read this, check it out.
So touching. Now that's a great leader.

And for a good chuckle read this while your'e at it.

Or this.

And also this.

Anyhow fingers crossed...

watch a little girl grow

The past few weeks I've really been reflecting about how quickly life is flying by.
Maybe it's the change of season..or perhaps it's the fact that my little girl is growing up so fast.
It's hard to believe I have a 7 1/2 year old daughter. (as of today- happy 1/2 birthday Lulu!)
I just can't get over how much bigger and more mature she gets every day.
That being said, she is still so small, sweet and innocent to me.

Big daddy & I are also in a bit of mid-life reassessment period at the moment.
Trying to figure out what our new goals and aspirations are for our future together.
Because let's face it, at 40 (well 41 to be more accurate- at least for the next month or so...)
We have accomplished most of the things we wanted to achieve by this point in life.
But both of us are ready for a change and some new challenges.

One of the things that we seem to be endlessly discussing these past few months is our home.
We've been here for eight years now and we either want to renovate or move.
It's really time for a change.
The frustration is that we absolutely love our neighbourhood and have no desire to move from it.
But the house prices are still so ridiculous.
Plus to be honest, we already have a home that really fits all of our needs, so really..why move?
Aside from our egos.
I guess we both thought that we would eventually be in something more like what we both grew up in.
ie. Bigger and nicer.
Then again, neither one of us grew up in the city- especially not in one of the most desirable and expensive neighbourhoods in the city.
And if we are being realistic, we already have a bedroom that we don't even use.
(aside from housing stacks of dusty books and outdated magazines- must deal with that room sooner than later)
So do we really need a bigger house with more rooms?
There are only three of us after all.

I'm pretty sure we have made our decision.
We are meeting with an architect tomorrow so at least the wheels are in motion.
Because let's face it- mama needs a new kitchen..
but note to self- must refrain from checking out MLS listings and going to open houses every weekend.
Once we commit- there's no turning back.

And seeing as time really does fly by so quickly, at least we won't have to downsize when we are empty nesters..right?

So don't even want to think about that yet though.
-shudder-

and speaking of time flying by check this out.
I can't believe Lulu is half way there already....sniff sniff...

west coast whirlwind

I can't believe it's already mid October.
The weeks have just flown by.
Big daddy was away for almost three weeks.
Yes that's him on the red carpet at the Emmys...



Then as soon as he got back we were off to San Francisco for a family wedding.
We had a really nice time despite waking up at 4 am all weekend.
What is it about that 3 hour time difference? it's such a killer.

Anyhow we stayed in Berkeley at this hotel.
It was in a nice location and Lulu got to swim in the pool which was a bonus as usually this time of year can get a bit nippy.
But the weather all weekend couldn't have been more perfect.
I'd never been to Berkeley before and we really enjoyed it.
It's a very laid back town and we really enjoyed exploring the University campus and the cute neighbourhoods surrounding it.
What a fantastic place to go to school.

The first day we decided to go to the Lawrence Science center which was a great way to spend the afternoon with a 7 year old (and a 42 year old)


it was such a treat to have some quality family time with just the three of us, it felt like it had been forever since we'd had that chance.
My favourite part was just sitting at the top of the hill overlooking the entire bay area with my two favourite people.
We also went to a few good local restaurants for lunch and went to the "gourmet getto" on Shattuck.
Our main destination was to see if we could get a table at the famous Chez Panisse one of Alice Water's very well known restaurants.
Unfortunately we did not (maybe next time) but we did stumble upon a fantastic Jewish Deli called Saul's. Best Matzo ball soup- ever.

We also checked out the goods at the Cheese Board. Another local favourite.
The cafes and casual sandwich shops along College St. were also really good.
Our dinners were spent doing family stuff, so no really extraordinary meals out to report about, but it was all good and we still had a fantastic time.

But we did  luck out and found a really cute farmers Market in downtown Oakland.
Lulu loved it, especially the free hula hoop lessons and the wood oven pizza.

Again, the weather was spectacular and it was so great to just wander from stall to stall checking out all the produce. (though I have to say we are pretty spoiled here in Toronto - I dare say our veggies actually look better than in California at the moment...I know....crazy)

But the real highlight was spending time with family and watching Lulu with everyone and seeing her connect with all of her relatives.
The wedding was really fun and Big Daddy's brother has such an eclectic and interesting group of friends who we really enjoyed getting to know.
But the best thing really is his new wife.
She is such a sweet and genuine person.
I'm so thrilled to have her as a sister-in-law.
Not to mention Lulu who is over the moon about having her as an Aunt.
He hit the jackpot, she's definitely a keeper.

So all in all, a lovely long Thanksgiving weekend.
Feeling very thankful indeed.