all dressed up and nowhere to go

So tonight we were invited to a swanky 40th birthday party.
I was really looking forward to a night out with big daddy as he was away last week and we haven't had a chance to get dressed up and spend a night on the town in a while.
My parents offered to come into town to babysit Lulu- I asked if they were sure- because I could always just book someone in the neighbourhood.
They said no- they really wanted to spend time with her.
I booked them over 3 weeks ago btw.
Unfortunately they both have colds and cancelled on me a few hours before the party.
Dang.
So I basically call everyone I know sending out an S.O.S. and came up empty handed.
Is there a nanny convention in town or something?
who knew it would be so difficult to get a babysitter? geez.
I was pretty bummed since it would be me bowing out of the party rather than big daddy- since it's really more his friend's birthday.
double bummer as I actually got a new outfit for the occasion-which I never do.
At least not in the past few years.
Formal nights out have been far and few between since I entered mama land.
So I put my new fancy frock back in the closet for another day..sniff sniff...
Put on my favourite six year old black velvet Old Navy track suit, poured myself a glass of wine (or two or three) , got a bag of skinny sticks from the cupboard and decided to watch a "quality" chick flick.
He's Not That Into You.
Totally corny- but just what I needed.
Well that and about half a bag of 2 bite brownies.
and ohmygosh I think I have a crush on Bradley Cooper now-are those contacts? or are his eyes really that blue?

Who needs a fancy glamorous soiree to have a good time anyhow??

let's get physical

Is there anything better than working up a good sweat?
At least for me anyhow.
I LOVE a good work-out.
If I could, I would hit the gym at least five times a week.
I only wish.
But lately I have been at least managing to get there 3 times a week and it feels fantastic.
It makes me feel more energetic, sleep deeper and generally feel better about myself.
It doesn't hurt that some of the instructors at my gym are easy on the eyes.
And you know who I'm talking about ladies ;
"Ladies" referring to a few very savvy women that work out at my gym who figured out about this blog.
Yup, I was outed in the change room.
Thank g-d I wasn't naked.
Now that would have been mortifying.
So yes that's me, the sweaty one with the pink blotchy face, fixated on the hot instructor at the front of the class, trying my damndest to suck in my muffin top and to kick just that little bit higher every time he comes near me.
A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do.
Am I right ladies?
don't tell me you don't do the same...;
So now when I talk about my kick-ass-kick boxing instructor, certain people...uh hum...
know exactly who I'm talking about.
The only problem now is that it's really hard to keep a straight face during class when Mr.Hot pants is demonstrating various exercises for his most bodacious glutenous maximus.
Oh I'm sorry, I didn't quite get that, would you mind showing us again?
hee hee.
But in all seriousness, I really love doing challenging classes and feeling fit and healthy- it makes a world of difference.
How about you, what are you doing these days to stay fit?

is it dry in here?

As luck should have it our dryer broke down over the holidays.
I've been waiting for this to happen since we moved into the house actually.
One of the agreements we had to sign when we bought the house was some clause about appliances that could potentially break down soon after we took possession of the house.
What are ya gonna do when you're in a bidding war with five other couples.
Okkie-dokkie- where do we sign?
So we assumed the washer & dryer were on their last legs and we would most likely have to replace them soon after moving in.
That was 6 years ago.
I can't say that I'm sad to say good-buy though.
I swear it was the most annoyingly loud dryer in the world- the timer buzzer could seriously wake the dead- it was that loud.
Every time, even after 6 years, it would make me jump when I heard it go off- and there was no way of turning it off.
I felt like Pavlov's dog.
Super annoying when putting a load in before bed- then being woken at around 3 a.m. thinking the fire alarm is going off.
Anyhow good riddance.
So for the past couple of weeks we've been hanging at the local laundromat.
We- as in big daddy & Lulu- that's considered a holiday outing isn't it?
I wash- he schlepped to the dryers to dry.
I'd say that's fair right?
Bonus that it all happened during the boxing week blow out sales- so our brand new front loading LG w&d was almost 50% off.
Yay.
They are being delivered as I write this- I can't bare to watch as the delivery guys are hacking up the walls and getting slushy snow all over the place.
shudder...
It's a sad state of affairs when I find myself getting excited over home appliances.

new year

At the beginning of every new year I tend to make a few resolutions.
But this year I've got nothing.
Okay maybe not nothing, but it's just that I feel like I've been making resolutions all year long.
Each week I tend to give myself these mini pep-talks.
Like for example:

Stay healthy- and exercise, eat well and get enough sleep- check.
well that is when I'm not struck down with some unfortunate plague.

Read more watch less television- check.

Be organized and manage my time better- check.

Cultivate and form good solid friendships-check.

Find some babysitters so that Big daddy & I can have more time either alone or together.
Chhh...oh right no check- darn.
Still working on that one.
Who knew it would be so hard to get a sitter during the holidays?

Try to be a better parent- more patient and calm in frustrating situations.
Okay really need to work on this one- big time, especially after the holidays.
See above re: desperate need of a babysitter for some occasional alone time.

Try to embrace more that the city has to offer in the way of arts & entertainment for families- check.

Seize the day and make to most of it- rain or shine- or even when it's 30 below and your eyeballs freeze the second you step out the door.
Try to spend more time outside- even if it's just going for a walk around the neighbourhood after Lulu has gone to bed.
There's something very restorative about walking aimlessly in the dark to clear your head at the end of the day.

Be more Positive- look at the glass as half full and give people the benefit of the doubt- check.
or at least I'd like to think I do most of the time, but there's always room for improvement in this department.

Finally- Be more grateful.
It's so easy to take all the amazing things in my life for granted- so I need to constantly remind myself how good I've got it.
Life is very very good.

So in a nut shell, I just want to continue trying to be a better person, wife and mother and I'm hoping that this decade is as exciting and fortunate as the past 10 years have been for me.

Wishing you much health and happiness in 2010!

T'was the night before christmas

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there

Anyone else have little inquiring minds asking what Santa does if the fire has been burning all night and the chimney is hot enough to cause first degree burns?

Or what if the house doesn't have a chimney?

Or what if the kids live in an apartment with a doorman?

Or does Santa know the code for our security alarm?

and does Rudolf have GPS in his nose?

and why aren't there any girl reindeer's? that's not fair.
(I say Vixen to that one)

But she has no eyelashes- and all girl reindeer have long eyelashes mama......

It's gonna be a long day.

squeek

Not a creature was stirring.
not even a mouse......

played like a fiddle

I made a promise to myself that I would do my best to refrain from blogging about being sick all the time.
Last year (and the year before) I feel like that was all I ever wrote about.
Damn germ filled school system...
For the most part I have kept things to myself this year.
But truth be told- the sickies have been making their rounds here at casa petitegourmand since well...the second week of September.
Since then it has been a rotation of one thing or another.
flus, colds, strep throat, bronchitis.....and that's just me I'm talking about!
And I always thought I was so healthy.
What a joke.
We were almost NEVER sick before Lulu started school.
That being said-I am still so grateful that we all have a week off from being sick while we were away in November.
Very Grateful.
I think I would have had a breakdown if that hadn't been the case.
But since we have been back, things haven't been so rosy.
Big daddy had the flu on my birthday 2 weeks ago for the third year in a row- yay!
Lulu has missed three different birthday parties, a Hanukkah party and same goes for me.
Not too into going out these past few weeks due to a very nasty cough that won't go away.
I feel okay- minus the headaches caused from coughing my brains out- but I guess all this phlegm is starting to take an emotional toll on me.
To top things off, Lulu woke up last night complaining of ear pain.
grrreat- here we go again....
she's just getting over 2 weeks worth of feeling terrible and now something new?
I gave her some Motrin and she slept through the night. Fortunately for both of us.
But she woke this morning- super glum.
No temperature- but not herself.
She said- and I quote- "I'm just feeling sad because the sun isn't shining and I feel like staying in bed all day"
I thought these excuses not to go to school weren't supposed to start until at least the 4th grade?!
She also cried her eyes out when big daddy left for work- also not normal behavior.
So I really didn't know what I should do.
Let her stay home and get some rest in case she really isn't 100% better.
Or make her go to school and hopefully being there would bring her out of her Monday morning funk.
There were plenty of tears while I was trying to assess the situation and make a decision-and that's just me I'm talking about...kidding...sort of....
so in the end- Lulu managed to squeeze another home day out of me.
Funny enough-she made a miraculous recovery as soon as I hung up the phone to her school.
sigh....
So how do you really know when your child is really sick, or maybe just feeling melancholy or even just plain tired?
and how do you react?
Oh and am I the only one catching every single virus out there?
It seems like I'm the only mom I know who is chronically ill- or am I imagining this?

don't judge a book by it's cover

Well these may not look like much.
A bit of a plain Jane looking cookie on the outside.
But it's what's on the inside that counts right?
Trust me- these babies are worth buying the cookbook for the recipe alone.
Chunky White chocolate Cranberry cookies.
yum.
Though- to be completely honest- mine for some reason are not even close to being as good as the author's version.
Maybe they used Ghirardelli White Chocolate instead of President's choice?
Either way they are still fantastic.
I was a lucky taster during the shooting of the book.
Two very talented sisters (and friends) wrote this fantastic cook book and I think it's a real winner.
I was drooling over all the delicious recipes last night, putting post-its on page after page.
Oh and the photography isn't too shabby either ;
If you are looking for a great holiday gift- this book won't disappoint.
oh and even Heather agrees- it's a Heather's pick.
She always seems to get it right.

post-mortem

We are back from California.
I'd have to say that all in all it was a fun trip.
We went to Palm Springs for Big daddy's brother's second wedding.



It was a bit of a long haul.
A 4-5 hour flight then 3 hour drive-but it was worth it in the end.
So glad they decided to have the wedding in Palm Springs.


Lulu was a champ and didn't fuss in the least.
We stayed here and were fairly impressed.
Very funky decor and lots of inspiring little details.


Very pretty grounds with nice views and 2 different outdoor swimming pools.







That being said- in my experience with Boutique hotels- it's often style over substance.
and for the prices we paid there were plenty of details that were over looked.
Mostly the fact that it was so child un-friendly.
I know I know, not every hotel wants kids- but business is business.
Anyhow we tried to make the most of it.
But after spending $18 on a hotdog by the pool for Lulu the first day we wised up and decided to leave the hotel for the rest of our meals.
Especially breakfast.
I mean $23 for oatmeal!! for a 4 year old!
and it wasn't even very good.
so needless to say Starbucks was our best friend all week.

does that look like it is worth $18. U.S.?
I think not. oh and the the fries were cold.
Shoulda gone to Jack in the Box.
But fortunately I found this place.



Aside from the crazy portion sizes it was the perfect breakfast and lunch spot.
I think I scored a few points with my inlaws since they had things like chopped liver, kishka and matzo ball soup on the menu.
Speaking of my in-laws..
One of the highlights of the trip was the fact that we got there a few days before the rest of the family and wedding party arrived so that we could spend some quality time with Big daddy's parents whom we don't see very often.
It was so nice to spend time alone with them.



It's taken me almost 13 years, but I must say that I really hit it off with my M.I.L.
I think sometimes certain relationships take a while, and now I can totally relate to the need to protect your "baby".
Big daddy being the youngest of 4 boys and her "baby".
So now I get it.
And funny enough I discovered that she & I are more similar that I had originally thought.
Who knew?
But most importantly, Lulu got a chance to really bond with them and that alone was worth the almost 12 hour journey.

The wedding itself....well what can I say?
Big daddy's brother "p-diddy" seems really happy, and that's what really matters.
we are really happy for him, and it's nice to finally have a sister-in-law that I have a few things in common with.



Lulu was absolutley adorable as a flower girl.
Such a shame that I have no photos of her in focus.



We managed to sneak away from all the wedding hoopla for a drive to Joshua Tree.
So glad that we did.
Very breathtaking.



Bonus that our rental car had satellite radio and we were chilling out to some sort of restorative yoga trance music.
Just what our souls needed.



Mind you we could have done without the constant chatter in the back seat wondering "how much fuuuuuurrrther????"
That was a tad annoying.
Okay very annoying.
But I have to cut the kid a bit of slack seeing as the week was so packed with stuff.
She was pretty great considering..
oh and the 4:30 a.m. wake-ups kind of sucked too- damn three hour time difference.
Just when we got used to it, it was time to come home.
Ah well it was all worth it.
One of the best parts of the trip for me was that for the first time ever-I really felt like a part of Big daddy's family.
Like I mentioned, sometimes relationships take time to develop.
I'm also very happy that Lulu has so many loving people in her life and family.
She's one lucky girl.
But most of all, lucky to be home.
Because as nice as it is to go away, it's always good to be back.

california dreamin'

We've been in Palm Springs all week and having a great time.
Lots of family, sun & fun.
Oh and a few wedding vows as well.
Lulu was the flower girl and can I just say how absolutely adorable she was.
My heart melted hen she walked down the aisle last night.
There's plenty more to write about- but I have to shower and get the very thick coating of hairspray out of my hair before the good-bye brunch this morning.
I had my hair and make-up done by the fabulous Jose- it looked cute- but holy flammable.
I avoided all the candles for fear that my head might explode.
The morning after.....


Anyhow very to happy to report that we are really enjoying ourselves and have all managed to stay healthy and happy for an entire week. yay!