spilling the beans

It's hard to believe it's already the end of November!
I'm still sneaking Lulu's Halloween stash after she's gone to bed each night..
Must throw that crap out once and for all.
Time to make room for the candy cane ice cream and Christmas cookies.

November really was a bit of a blur.
So much happening, so little time to sit down and blog.

But all is well and life is good.
Lulu had her first official report card and we were pretty pleased with her teacher's comments and her over all results in school.
Shockingly there were no comments about her being too talkative (like her dad & I were) in class.
On the contrary, she puts up her hand and is always eager to please the teacher.
So much so that she has a very strong sense of justice.
She likes to play by the rules and gets very frustrated when her peers do not.
Sometimes a bit too frustrated.
Lord let this continue though her teens..

She also keeps me up to speed on who's doing what and who got in trouble each day.
Which of course I completely encourage.
As long as it's not her, I'm happy.

So yesterday, while walking home from school, her and another girl from the neighbourhood were clowning around as her mom and I made small talk while trying to get them to get a move on so we could get home.
They were playing with some sticks they found on the ground.
Eventually we got home and Lulu decided to tell me something that this girl had said to her.
Apparently she whispered to Lulu "let's scratch the cars parked on the street with our sticks" and "let's spit on our moms"
I did hear Lulu say "no we'll get in big trouble."
And that's when we parted ways.

So when she told me about it, I thanked her for being so honest and told her that it wasn't acceptable behaviour in the least.
Even if they didn't actually do it, even joking about it is wrong and not funny at all.
She agreed and said that's why she decided to tell me in the first place.
I'm glad she gets that.

Now if Lulu said something like that I'd want to know about it.
No question.
So today I ran into this girls mother and told her what Lulu had told me and her reaction was well.....complete denial.
I was a bit taken aback actually.
She basically said that there was no way her daughter would say something like that and practically accused Lulu of lying.
I was pretty pissed.
If someone came to me and casually said you might want to know something that Lulu said out of your ear shot, my reaction would be "really? I'm floored that she would say something like that, it's a bit out of character but I will definitely be speaking to her about it later." and "thanks so much for letting me know."
Then I would go home and have a pity party and wonder what I've done wrong to have my daughter thinking that spitting on me would be remotely funny.
But that's just me.
And for the record, I'm 99.9% sure Lulu would never say or do anything like that.
She's not perfect, but she is a pretty respectful kid.
This girl on the other hand is a bit on the unpredictable side, so quite frankly I wasn't surprised at all.

But now I kind of regret telling her mother about it.
I didn't make a big deal out of it and tried to be as nonchalant as possible, but still.
Like I said, I'd want to know.
I am so annoyed by her reaction.
Should I have said nothing?
what would you have done?

11.11.11

"We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude." -Cynthia Ozick

ahchoo

Honestly I hate to post about being sick, feeling sick or looking after a sick kid and sick puppy yet again.
But unfortunately that's been my reality these past several weeks (or maybe it's months) but whose counting?
It's been nothing major, just the usual annoying colds and flu making the endless rounds.
What drives me crazy is that I feel like it's only us that seems to get sick all the time.
Us as in Lulu & I (and now Chelsea)
I just don't understand why.
I am a complete clean freak and germ-a-phobe so I don't get it.
We have one of the healthiest diets I know of.
Laurens favourite meal is Quinoa, tofu and kale.
Need I say more?
I've been using my juicer every day making vitamin rich concoctions like carrot, beet apple ginger juice or Orange, pineapple, carrot ginger just to name a few.
Not to mention all the healthy meals I've been making.
Seriously healthy.
Very little alcohol happening around here either. sniff sniff.
Trying my best to get 8 hours of sleep a night. Lulu gets 10-11 hours.
I practically have hand sanitizer on a holster.
Exercise is a regular part of my week- it's like breathing for me.
Of course I haven't been able to get to the gym as much as I would like to with all this nursing everyone back to health business.
I could be a spokes person for Natural Health Magazine.
So I just don't get it.
why us?
Is this normal?
Are we the only ones who seem to be fighting off viruses on a weekly basis since the beginning of school?
Maybe I should just run to the nearest Walmart and lick the escalator hand rail and then go use the bank machine and put my fingers in my eye right after pushing all the buttons?
Heck maybe I should be really crazy and go outside without a coat on?
Or maybe I should fill up our car with gas (not full serve) and wipe my hands on my mouth after touching the hand pump.
Oh and then I should go stand in line at the nearest walk-in clinic and just breathe in all the coughs and sneezes.
We should just go to McDonald's for all of our meals from now on. Hmmm I wonder if they have tofu Mc Nuggets?
Okay so I'm rambling...I suppose I've been cooped up too long.
What I'm really trying to say is that I'm super frustrated that there is nothing I can do (or so it appears) to prevent from getting sick.
I'm doing all that I can, but it just doesn't seem to work.
Maybe I'm missing something though.
am I?
Anyone out there have any fool proof tips for staying healthy at this time of year, aside from surrounding ourselves with a giant plastic bubble?

here comes the sun

Yesterday when Lulu's bedroom was awash with warm orange light first thing in the morning we almost didn't know what it was.
Are they shooting a film next door and using large lights?
Did the street lamp get a newer brighter bulb?
No wait, I think it's actually the sun!
We almost starting jumping up and down on the spot.
The sun, the sun! where or where have you been?
of course it only lasted until after lunch. sigh..
Is it me, or has it been endlessly rainy and dreary this fall?
Aside from a gloriously warm Thanksgiving weekend, I can't remember the last we time shuffled though the autumn leaves, and stared in awe at all the beautiful colours on the trees.
Lulu is usually busy collecting leaves to and from school, not this year.
Instead we've been hiding under an umbrella for most of October.
I'm definitely getting my moneys worth out of my Hunters.
I just hope Halloween isn't a bust.
Nothing worse than a rainy night for trick or treating.
Wah wah.

I haven't been writing much these days.
I seriously can't believe how fast the days fly by.
There just never seems to be a spare minute to sit down and just think and reflect.
When I do get a second to myself, I feel like I'm always compiling To-do lists in my head instead of just thinking about what has already been accomplished.
Either that or I end up writing about mundane things like the weather.
Have things really come to this?
I guess my brain is just tired.
Perhaps it's a lack of creative stimulation, or maybe I'm just feeling a little parental burn out.
Either way, I'd love to turn things around.
Finish a good book, see an interesting film.
Go to an art gallery.
Maybe a little time out from car pooling, play-dates, taking care of sick puppies & children and grocery shopping might just do the trick.
Well that, and if the sun makes another appearance soon..



another gratuitous puppy picture, I know.
I can't help myself.

Sound Bites

There are days when I feel like I'm a 27 year old trapped in a 40 year old's body.
Sure I'm responsible and for the most part, fairly mature when it comes to life, don't get me wrong.
Then again I was pretty responsible at 27 too.
Ish.
But when it comes to music, I feel very different from my fellow peers and other moms.
I love discovering new bands (even better when they are easy on the eyes)

I can't tell you how many dinner parties that we have gone to and the music is just BAD.
I mean Rock Lobster? realllY?
and Love shack by The B-52's?
Cummon.
And do we really need to hear more Lady GaGa? do we?
It's always too loud and then the obligatory dance in the same spot around the kitchen island embarrassment ensues.
Myself or big daddy try our best not to partake, regardless of how much Pinot was consumed.
I draw the line at being a dancing cougar.
I love my friends, don't get me wrong, but man their taste in music is quite frankly...awful.
Or at least in my not-so-humble-opinion.
(and if I know you and you are reading this you most likely do not fall into this category)

There is the type of music you play when you have friends for dinner and are trying to have a conversation, then the kind you just want to party to, and then there is the kind you play when you are in your car, there's the cooking dinner variety and then the early morning get up and go (or even better ease into the day kind)
My point is, there's so much great music out there that has a time and a place.
With itunes, Satellite radio & the awesome app. 8tracks, there really shouldn't be an excuse for listening to bad music.
Then again, maybe these are the reasons for all the bad music.
Too much to choose from.

Big daddy & I were out for dinner last weekend and the restaurant we were at was playing THE WORST music.
It completely ruined our dining experience.
That being said the previous weekend we were out as well and this restaurant was playing THE BEST music.
We didn't want to leave.
That's the way it should be.

So speaking of good music...
This is what's been in rotation around here these days around my place.

The Antlers- Burst Apart
Foster The People- Torches
Iron & Wine - Kiss Each Other Clean (going to see then live on Saturday!!)
Little Dragon- Ritual Union
Beirut- The Rip Tide
Bon Iver- For Emma
Kings Of Convienence- everything they've ever done
Angus & Julia Stone- Hollywood
Azure Ray- Wake Up Sleepy Head
Elephant Parade- Bedroom recordings
Rosie Thomas- All The way From Michigan
SeaBear- The Ghost That Carried Us Away
Sufjan Stevens- Seven Swans
Fleet Foxes- Fleetfoxes
The Go Find- Stars On The Wall
Gem Club- Breakers (so hauntingly beautiful)
Kings Of Leon- everything..love these boys..huge crush on all the Followells.
Hot Chip- The Warning
Waldecks Gramaphone
Francis England- Mind Of My Own, Lulu knows all the words...so cute.
Stan Getz- Standards
Roger Miller- Classic

Okay so maybe the vast majority of this music isn't really music to party to.
Then again it depends on what you define as a good party...

What are you listening to these days?

21 day challenge

I've always considered myself to be a fairly organized person, or at least I try to be.
But sometimes life gets in the way and things get busy.
so I came across this idea and I'm going with it.
I think it's a great way to stay on top of things, yet not feel overwhelmed at the the never ending piles of things to do around here at casa petitegourmand.


21 DAY ORGANIZING CHALLENGE

Join the Challenge (at any time)
Day 1 - Junk Drawer & Cutlery drawer
Day 2 - craft supplies & lulu's art work (take digital images of everything & put them in the ol' circular file a.k.a. the garbage)
Day 3 - Tupperware drawer (quite a collection going after all those wild tupperware parties I go to each month..kidding..)
Day 4 - Linen Closet
Day 5 - The shed and gardening tools
Day 6 - Dresser Drawers (specifically the sock situation. Get rid of all old socks and buy new fresh ones for the winter. Already did the underwear drawer last week and it's changed my life. Is there anything better than a drawer full of brand new, perfectly fitting ginch?)
Day 7 - The Pantry (otherwise known as my one food cupboard in my tiny kitchen)
Day 8 - Coat Closet
Day 9 - Toy organization
Day 10 - Laundry area
Day 11 - The Freezer
Day 12 - Spice Cabinet (remember to replace anything older than one year, nothing worse than stale cumin)
Day 13 - Medicine Cabinet (check expiration dates!!)
Day 14 - Under bathroom sinks
Day 15 - home office- edit magazines
Day 16 - The Fridge (do I really need eight types of mustard?)
Day 17 - edit books- (keep the keepers, donate the others to the library)
Day 18 - make-up, cosmetics and lipsticks (that stuff expires too, I'm pretty sure I have nine year old eye shadows.. I know, gross)
Day 19 - Master Closet & big daddy's "Not-So-Master" closet
Day 20 - Photos (this may take another 21 days!)
Day 21 - bookmarks (specifically all the blogs that no longer exist, have moved or that I no longer read)

wish me luck.

Edited to add: I think I'm on day 13 and I am nowhere close to doing what I had planned on doing.
Talk about being overly ambitious.
Instead of beating myself up over it, I'll get to that stuff when I get to it.
Like I said, sometimes life just gets in the way.
well that and when the tempeture is in the high twenties and the sun is shining, who really needs to be inside organizing?
To be continued in November..

back to school

How is already mid September?
The last two weeks have literally flown by.
The days are getting shorter and much cooler.
I had to do the ol' closet switch this week and say good by to all my tank tops and thin cotton blouses,
and hello to the plethora of gray, taupe & black sweaters that I can never seem to get enough of.
Same goes for Lulu's closet.
Out with old and in with the new.
Happily a bunch of things still fit her from last winter, so hopefully things have slowed down in the growing department.
But once again she is one of the taller kids in her class.
How I created a tall child is still a mystery to me..

Speaking of school, Lulu is really enjoying it so far.
We completely won the lottery in the teacher department, which I couldn't be happier about.
She is in the same class as a few of her good friends and has already made some new ones.
The morning routine is not nearly as hectic as I thought it would be.
In fact, we have time to spare and still get to snuggle and sip tea and talk about last night's dreams.
I'm quite relieved about this because there is nothing worse than starting the day off in a rush.

Bonus that I've actually lost 4 lbs from all the extra walking back and forth from the school every day.
Eight trips total.
Including lunch time.
Chelsea (my other baby) is absolutely loving all the walks and all the attention she gets when I take her to school.
Having a puppy in the fall is the best.

Truth be told, I'm really loving it.
The routine, the walking, everything.
Well maybe not the very nasty virus Lulu picked up last week and the four consecutive days of fever and sleepless nights followed by a rattling cough that also kept her (me) up at night.
So no sleep, no appetite = grumpy.
So that part wasn't too much fun.
But today she seems to be back to normal- which is a good thing.
Welcome back to the germ factory I guess.
I'm sure there's plenty more where that came from.
One virus down, only a dozen more to go...sigh...

I forgot how amazing our neighbourhood is and how many great parents there are that are involved in keeping our school what it is today.
I feel really lucky to live here and even more fortunate that Lulu gets to grow up going to such a fantastic school with such a strong community spirit.
Friday night there was an outdoor PJ and Movie night for all the parents and students.
Despite her cold it was so much fun.
I also had to send in a poem or story about Lulu for her teacher to read to the class.
This is what I came up with...

Lulu

You are my precious little flower,
that is constantly in bloom.

I watch as yet another milestone,
around the corner looms.

It seems like only yesterday,
that we shared a single breath.

But now it seems like tomorrow,
you will leave and I'll be left.

I know the life of an only child
is not always filled with ease.

You've had no one to borrow from,
share secrets with, or tease.

And yet, no matter what life brings,
you take it all in stride.

The strength of character you always show
fills my heart with pride.

I'm so proud to be your mommy,
It's the best I've ever felt.

love momma xoxo

Completely corny and maybe a little over the top, but this about sums it all up.

high tide

What is it about time flying by so quickly during the summer months?

It seems like it was just yesterday that we bid the kindergarten yard a farewell.
Now in a mere FIVE days we will be back to the grind.
I say "we" because even though it's Lulu starting grade 1, I'm the lucky one that gets to go back and forth to the school yard every day.
THREE times a day actually, which actually equals SIX trips back and forth from our house to the school.
Not sure how this will actually allow me to get anything accomplished.
At least anything that isn't located in my neighbourhood.
Apparently most of the kids come home for lunch each day, which was so not my plan.
But for the first week I will conform, and then hopefully when she is settled in a bit, I am hoping on alternating days for lunch.
I mean I would really like to have a bit of a life outside of motherhood.
I.E. my old career..sigh...
As a bonus, I also get to take Lulu to all her after school programs three days a week.
I can hardly wait for the frenzy to begin.

I'm sure it will all be fine, and even though I sound like I'm already complaining (okay I am totally complaining) I'm secretly looking forward to the whole school time routine.
That's what being a mom is all about, right?

It was a busy summer and hopefully a fun one for Lulu, but quite frankly, I'm exhausted from trying to keep her entertained for two straight months.
Fun as it might be to hang out 24/7 with a six year old.

That being said, I really need to stop worrying about myself and how I'm going to adapt to our new routine and instead focus on Lulu and her fears or anxieties about going back to school.
Not that she has mentioned anything so far, but still, I really need to be there for her and be positive.

Speaking of being positive, although the summer flew by, it still isn't completely over.
So instead of fretting about the days ahead, I'm going to soak up the last few days of summer 2011.

the dog days of summer

Well we finally did it.
we caved and got "Lulu" a puppy.
Introducing Chelsea.
(we got her in Chelsea NYC)
After just a week at home, this dog is clearly "my" puppy though.
Lulu has kind of shirked all responsibility.
"you want me to pick up her POOP ?!!!" "ahhhhh! NO way!!"
So the cleaning, walking, training and over all total responsibly, is completely up to me.
No big surprises here.
To be honest, I don't really mind.
I forgot how much I love having a little dog around.
Though the poop thing does take some getting used to.
Who knew 11 week old french bulldogs went 6-8 times a day?
It's like having a baby all over again.

But she is so sweet and even though puppies are A LOT of work, I'm sure it will all be worth it.
let's hope.....



Oh and I guess I'm not the only one who thinks these dogs are adorable.

the tide is high

It's strange, even though I see Lulu everyday, occasionally it hits me like a ton of bricks how much bigger she is now.
I get so caught up in day to day life and then BAM! I realize she's six and is no longer my little peanut.
Okay, she still is, and always will be, my little peanut, only now she's just a taller and smarter peanut.
While she was in camp she somehow picked up the phrase "for real" and now says it with vigor at the end of almost every sentence.
I thought this wasn't supposed to happen until at least age 13??
Anyhow, it's pretty cute, and every time she says "no for real momma" big daddy & I look at each other and try not to crack up.

It's really great being able to take time away from our regular life & routine and really notice these little changes.
I'm having such a great time on this road trip.
Lulu was completely chilled on the ride to the coast and it really didn't seem to take very long.
Big daddy had his doubts, but I knew it would be smooth sailing.
Six is the perfect age for long road trips.
Bonus that now she can read maps and signs, so there really wasn't too much "are we there yet?"
Connecticut is lovely and it was nice to dip our feet in the Atlantic Ocean- despite how incredibly cold it is. brrr
I'll take a great lake any day.
But the waves and the salt air is always so restorative and calming.
We ate at the famous Mystic Pizza.
Which was..meh...pretty good, more importantly Lulu loved it.
Though speaking of food, what is it about American kids menus?
all they ever offer is pop, chocolate milk, deep fried chicken fingers, pizza, hot dogs, grilled cheese and french fries.
Not a veggie in sight.
No wonder there is an obesity epidemic going on here.
Don't even get me started on the portion sizes!
At one place I ordered a salad and I swear it was on a serving platter!
Easily could have fed 4 or 5 people.
Lulu had a pasta dish that also would have been appropriate for at least 2 or even 3 adults.
Crazy.
Anyhow we are now in NYC and the food, well...what can I say about the multitude of amazing food options?
I love this city.
First stop yesterday was Rickshaw Dumplings.
Yum yum.
Then we relaxed during a torrential downpour at Pret A Manger.
LOVE this place.
I wish we had them back home.
My kind of fast food.
We had a nice casual dinner at an Italian restaurant near our hotel called Apertivo.
Good pizza, salads and pasta.
Brought Lulu back to the hotel and her cousin offered to babysit so Big daddy & I could go for a walk around town.
Did I already mention I was in Heaven?
Oh and we are in a really awesome hotel suite with a brand new kitchenette and separate bedrooms.
It's like having our own apartment in Manhattan.
Gotta love P.Diddy big daddy's bro.
So that's it for now.
Looking forward to plenty of fun and excitement over the next few days in the big apple.

like for example this...
Yup I saw this unfold today while shopping on 5th ave.
never a dull moment around here, that's for sure.

Oh and also Big daddy & I were interviewed by the Today Show while walking down the street.
They asked us about Marriage and what drove us crazy about each other.
Ummm do you have a few hours??
kidding of course.
but check it out.
the best part is at around 2:40 into the video

Why do husbands tune wives out?

NBC’s David Gregory talks with marriage therapist Hal Runkel and psychologist Judith Sills about some of the hot marriage issues such as why men often don’t listen and why women constantly tell their husbands what to do.