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!