Father: "That used to be Mommy's church." Son: "You mean she owned it?!" … [Read more...]
According to plan
September 11, 2009 by 4 Comments
I had a great day planned out for yesterday. It's been 7 months since I've returned to Canada from Australia and in all that time, I still haven't had a playdate with just me, my 14-month-old son, my sister-in-law and her 17-month-old son. While we were in separate countries, we both gave birth to boys -- cousins! -- just a few months apart. This kind of playdate is exactly what I pined for during moments of homesickness in Australia. Somehow … [Read more...]
Glee-ful reminder!
September 9, 2009 by 2 Comments
Don't forget -- there's something good on the tube tonight! Check out Glee. It premieres tonight on Fox at 9/8c. Edited at 10:05 pm to add: Did you like the premiere as much as the pilot? When I watched the pilot, it seemed so fresh, so hilarious. But the premiere, not so much. … [Read more...]
SIGG: not so super, afterall?
September 8, 2009 by 5 Comments
We've been using Sigg bottles for ages. And that really says something, since we don't spend our money lightly on fads. We're talking $30 for a water bottle to put in a child's lunch box. When there's a plastic alternative that's less than $5, we've clearly drawn a line in the sand. Why? It's enviro-friendly not to be constantly purchasing plastic water bottles all the time. Sigg bottles are also extremely tough and survive even the worst … [Read more...]
Food for Thought
September 5, 2009 by 5 Comments
My husband never fails to be disappointed with the produce from our local grocery store. Well, to be fair, it's not just our local store -- it's any grocery store. After dinner, he'll look longingly at some peaches he picked up that day at the store. He'll pick one up, roll it around in his hand, maybe even give it a sniff. Then he'll sink his teeth into it. "Ugh," he'll pronounce, then put it down and push it aside in disgust. "It looked … [Read more...]
Don't stop believin'!
September 4, 2009 by 4 Comments
I'd given up television. On the one hand, we have the serial dramas. But I just don't think it's good for a person's psyche to become immune to watching murders in slow-motion, detailed autopsies and horrific abuse of children night after night after night after night after night. Okay, you get my drift. On the other hand, we have reality-television serials. I've noticed a slew of new ones added to the stock standards of "American … [Read more...]
Would your husband notice?
September 2, 2009 by 2 Comments
In More magazine's September issue, a writer gets her face pumped up with injectable filler and bets that her husband won't notice. Or at least she hopes, since he's philosophically against these kind of "youthenizer" treatments. Her article "Is my epidermis showing?" reads a bit like a sad commentary on modern family life. When her husband arrives home after work, she's on pins and needles wondering if he is going to notice. Instead: He comes … [Read more...]
Awesome autumn daytrip
September 2, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Pssst! Got kids? Then you won't want to miss out on this awesome autumn roadtrip. It's an easy daytrip -- or an overnighter, if you please -- so pack up some roadtrip snacks and get the kids ready! Pick up a copy of this Saturday's Ottawa Citizen (Travel section) to get the details. … [Read more...]
Letter from South Korea: Part 2
September 1, 2009 by 1 Comment
In my first "Letter from South Korea," we covered off the basics of who, what, when and why Meaghan Harrison chose to leave Canada and teach English overseas. Now, in Part 2, we can learn a bit more about this experience on a personal level. You’ve been in South Korea for six months now … what’s been the most challenging aspect so far? The most challenging is just the day-to-day life. The majority of Koreans don't know English, so … [Read more...]
Letter from South Korea: Part 1
August 30, 2009 by 4 Comments
How does a recent graduate stay hopeful? The unemployment rate for youth climbed to 14.9 per cent in May, says Stats Can. One in five young adults have moved in with a friend or relative, says Maclean's. Most are suffering from recession anxiety, says the Calgary Herald. If you're graduating soon, recently graduated or a parent of one of the former, I hope you'll take heart with this "Letter from South Korea" post. Below, you'll find Part 1 of … [Read more...]
Thursday's Thought
August 27, 2009 by Leave a Comment
"I realized the power writing has, and it has also helped me deal with my rage ... It gave me a lifelong commitment not to be afraid to speak out about injustice." -- Dominick Dunne … [Read more...]
4 Ingredients
August 26, 2009 by 5 Comments
The only thing that Julie from the movie Julie and Julia and I share is a name. I have never lived in New York City (although I certainly would if opportunity afforded it), I am not a newly wed (we're clocking 13 years over in this corner), and perhaps most critically, I do not enjoy cooking. I just don't understand how people love to cook. It's sort of how I just can't understand how people love to go running. It's not that I wouldn't want to … [Read more...]
Character flaws
August 23, 2009 by 3 Comments
I'm a sucker for anything with "character." You know, one of those people that real estate agents market "charming" properties too. Also, the type that buys a new lipstick simply because its packaging is just so darn beautiful. And last but not least, the buyer of highly impractical, but terribly cute shoes. I can see how this could be considered superficial. It's that whole form over function thing. But so far, this has not led me wrong. Back … [Read more...]
I blame Dora
August 22, 2009 by 4 Comments
Although I like to blame Dora the Explorer for my daughter's pinata fascination, the truth is that it's become a bit of a cherished tradition around here. It all started on her fourth birthday (yes, that time when all children exposed to a shouting girl in a jungle become madly infatuated and start learning Spanish at amazing speed). We were in Australia at the time and the only thing that Stella requested for her birthday celebration was a … [Read more...]
Travel with Baby
August 20, 2009 by 9 Comments
There is many a parent I know who choses not to travel when their child is a baby. I completely respect this decision. But this post is for those who would like to continue travelling, even after baby, and might be looking for some tips. The tips here are a combo of practicality and inspiration ... 5 Tips for Travel with Baby Tip #1: Try and keep your bedtime rituals going for the evening, but flexibility is the name of the game during the … [Read more...]
Thursday's Thought
August 20, 2009 by 1 Comment
It is necessary to write, if the days are not to slip emptily by. How else, indeed, to clap the net over the butterfly of the moment? ~Vita Sackville-West … [Read more...]
Thank-you
August 19, 2009 by 5 Comments
Just after 5 am this morning, I flipped my eyelids open and standing before me was my daughter. "Hi Mom! Is it time for me to open my birthday presents?" she whispered. "No hon, it's a bit too early still. Lay in bed for a bit," I mumbled. She dutifully returned around 6 am and we all hung out on our bed together and watched as she gleefully opened each gift. She was thrilled with everything -- even her cards. Every so often, as she was … [Read more...]
Sunday morning in my house
August 16, 2009 by 1 Comment
Daughter: Mom, will you play with me? Mother: What do you want to play? Daughter: Pokemon. Mother: Um, okay. But first you have to brush your teeth. Daughter: Okay, great!! Thanks for bribing me, Mom!!! … [Read more...]
Santa better start saving now!
August 14, 2009 by 6 Comments
Daughter: Have you noticed I haven't asked for very much for my birthday? Mother: Yes, I did wonder a little about that. Daughter: Well, I've been keeping a few things from you. Mother: Oh. Daughter: See, I didn't want you and Dad to have to spend all your money on my birthday presents. So I'm going to save up all my wishes and ask Santa for them. … [Read more...]
A movie about blogging
August 14, 2009 by 4 Comments
I'll be the first to admit, I haven't been out to the movies much in, say, oh ... the last seven years. Yes, coincidentally, since I've become a parent. So, I might be wrong here, but the movie Julie & Julia was the first movie that I know of with blogging as a central focus. Even though I couldn't care less about Julia Child, and cooking in general for that matter, I was excited to see this movie. And that had everything to do with the … [Read more...]
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