Archive for the ‘Living’ Category
January 17th, 2012
Smuggs — here we come!
Our family didn’t downhill when I was growing up, nor did Hubby’s. We’d like to introduce the kids to downhill while they’re still young. You know … before that fear factor sets in. Fear stops a lot of people from doing a lot of things. But when you start young, or at least have a little introduction to something when you’re young, it always seems to make a difference. Like learning to swim as a kid versus an adult, or a new language, or sport — you name it. Our adult minds can put so many barriers in front of things that youthful zeal simply doesn’t allow for.
I don’t even really care for downhill skiing though. It’s just an experience that I’d like my children to have. But when you visit a ski resort for a weekend, it is a HOLIDAY! And I love holidays. So I am so excited that we’re going to visit Smuggler’s Notch, or “Smuggs,” as it’s often called.
I’ve heard about Smuggler’s for ages and the thing that really caught my attention was the stellar reputation of their kids’ programs. The resort has invited my family to visit for a three-night stay this winter season. To help us learn more about the resort and plan our stay, we were sent a package, which arrived this weekend.
Wow, this is no ski hill and a few restaurants. This is like a winter Disneyland — there is so much to do!
We watched the DVD that came in the package on Sunday evening. Stella, who’s nine, is particularly excited about the zipline and the arts & crafts programs. Max, who’s three, is interested in the skiing with other children. And Hubby, who is snow-crazy, is excited that not only can he ski and snowboard, but he can also go ice-climbing.
As for me, I’m looking forward to having a proper ski lesson (normally I just point my skiis straight ahead and hold my breath down the green hills!) and taking part in a guided snow-shoe trek. But I’m also hoping that if the kids’ programs are as great as they are reputed to be, that I can grab a bit of “me time” while we’re there as well. Is that so wrong?
January 16th, 2012
Impractical Purchasing, NYC edition, part 2
Back in October for Month of Me, I celebrated my 40th by hitching a ride with Kerry to Brooklyn. We didn’t actually know each other, more than a few emails here and there, but that didn’t stop us! We spent a great few days wandering together and then parted ways when my mom arrived into the Big Apple so we could jointly celebrate our birthdays.
While in New York, I only bought a handful of things. But what I bought seems to indicate that I am not a particularly practical girl (see Part 1 for evidence.) This is Part 2.
Hubby called out, “I think she’s here!” I skidded over to the front window of the house and sure enough, there was a blonde woman sitting in a car idling out front. I popped my Birks on and went outside. I could see she was reading on her e-reader and I knocked on the window and waved. She explained that the drive to my place had taken less time than she’d anticipated. I insisted she come inside and have a coffee or something. This was Kerry, and we were going to drive to Brooklyn from Ottawa that day. Woot! Woot! I was so excited.
I ran about the house frantically stuffing things into my bag and then started kissing the family goodbye. The door to the front hall got opened and closed before Kerry could say, “Don’t forget a jacket.” I’ve been needing a new mid-season jacket for AGES. The one I have is fine enough. But it doesn’t cover the butt and isn’t warm at all. So I just shrugged happily and said, “I’ll buy one there!”
Only now that I’ve spent some time with Kerry do I realize how crazy she must have found me that morning. She is a very organized person. It would not surprise me to find out that she’d had her bag packed and ready to go weeks before hand. Now that I am no longer a virtual stranger, I have no doubt that if she was in that position again, she’d say with a straight face: “Take your jacket. Don’t be a dumb ass.” But she was standing in my front entrance with a bunch of strangers, so she simply bit her tongue and we went on our merry way.
Needless to say, it was not long after we’d arrived in Brooklyn that she lent me an extra jacket that she had with her. She didn’t seem in any rush to get her jacket back from me, so we didn’t rush out to go clothes shopping. Instead, we spent our time walking the streets, visiting museums, and browsing book stores.
But on the way from one place to another, we happened to walk by a shop window that had a fabulous jacket hanging in the front window. We decided to go inside and check out the price. It was $330. I didn’t even want to try it on at that price. But Kerry insisted. It was a great fit and a great colour. Kerry also inspected it for its practical features like waterproofing and whatnot and was suitably impressed. She then began some kind of complex mathematical calculation that involved estimating how many times I would wear it, and for how many years, and what that equated to in a per/wear cost. My eyes were starting to glaze over and I decided that I needed a coffee in order to decide if I would buy it or not.
We had the coffee. I didn’t go back and buy the jacket.
I felt quite pleased with myself about it, actually. I am so disciplined! I am so frugal! Hubby will be so impressed!
Fast forward a few days and I was now staying with my mom in New York City. I really wanted to show her around SoHo, with its funky shops and cafes. It was her first time in NY, so I thought it was a “must do.” While there, we popped into a favourite shoe store of mine: Camper. I’d never actually bought any shoes there yet, but on practically every visit to New York, I’ve gone to visit Camper. The shoes are uniquely styled and are reputed to be very comfortable too. So off Mom and went!
We oogled. We aahhhed. I grew particularly fond of these black booties:
They were black. Black is practical!
But they were priced at $205.00. It seemed a bit steep, especially considering I didn’t actually need any black booties (I already have two pairs).
Both Mom and I walked out empty handed. I was unsure I wanted to spend the money, and she was unsure that they would be comfortable. Both highly practical considerations, right? Right.
So we went and had a cafe lunch at a sweet, little Italian place. We were seated at the front windows, which were actually glass doors that could be folded out in nice weather. The weather was not only nice — it was wonderful! We sat and watched all the shoppers stroll by while we ate. When we were done, Mom thought we should go back to Camper again. Who was I to disagree? Besides, it was her birthday, so I needed to indulge her. Right? Right.
This time, we both tried on a few pairs. And both of us left with one pair each. You’re thinking I was impractical and bought those steeply priced black booties, aren’t you?
No, no siree! Instead, I bought a pair of steeply priced blue swede boots. Everyone needs a pair of bright blue boots, right? They’re practically a wardrobe staple, really.
Warm, waterproof jackets are so overrated.
P.S. Both Mom and I are finding our Camper shoes to be sooo comfy! (She bought these ones.) Very happy with our purchases all these months later.
P.P.S. I just found out via Twitter that Coffee with Julie is shortlisted in the Canadian Weblog Awards! So, so, so honoured to be in such great company!
January 13th, 2012
What is the appropriate way to celebrate 15 years of marriage?
Last week, Hubby and I passed a pretty major milestone — 15 years of marriage.
When we celebrated our first anniversary, we went to a bed and breakfast in Kingston. Although it sounds peaceful and romantic, and that was certainly the intention, it really wasn’t. A couple staying above us came in really late and made a whole lot of racket laughing and stumbling around drunk, which was followed by some other, ahem, “noises” that kept us up half the night.
But after that first anniversary, it all starts to get fuzzy and mostly involves me forgetting what the actual date was in January (thank goodness Hubby had the date engraved on his ring or we’d never remember!). We did, however, manage to pull out all the stops for our 10th anniversary. Hubby asked whether I’d like a special piece of jewelry or a trip. I said “trip!” And off to Cuba the three of us went (Stella was 5). We had a fabulous time!
Now, it’s 15 years. That’s a biggie sort of anniversary, isn’t it? In the morning, Hubby gave me this beautiful card:
I looked up what the traditional gift is supposed to be for year #15 and this is what I found:
“Crystal is the primary material for the fifteenth anniversary with glass as the modern material and watches as the alternate modern choice. Beautiful crystal jewelry, crystal flowers, or a figurine would make a nice gift. The crystal anniversary is also a great opportunity to invest in a feature piece of decorative crystal or art glass for your home.”
So in case Hubby was feeling a bit lost, there is some definite clear guidance out there on what is considered the appropriate gift for celebrating a 15th wedding anniversary. Being a man of unique tastes, he instead opted to give me this. He explained that this gift, with its ability to increase the effectiveness of our interpersonal communications, could certainly get us through the next 15 years.
What can I say? The man is genius. GENUIS! I tell ya.
Happy anniversary baby! xoxo
January 3rd, 2012
My Bedside Table Books: January 2011
A while back, Stella (my nine-year-old daughter) and I added Amazon widgets to the sidebar of this blog — take a gander over on the right-hand sidebar of the blog’s homepage. We didn’t have any ambitions of getting rich off of our 4%, but rather to share what’s on our respective bedside tables as fellow bookworms.
I don’t know about you, but I just love poking around people’s bookshelves and knowing what people have cracked open and set their minds to. So I thought I’d return the favour, so to speak.
This month, I will update my widget to show the following books that are currently sitting bedside — some waiting patiently, some already started.
The Meaning of Children by Beverly Akerman
I wasn’t sure what to make of this book when I first heard the title and saw the cover. I thought perhaps it was a non-fiction piece when Annie from PhD in Parenting suggested a few of us head out to the author’s reading when Akerman, a Canadian writer, was in town. But it is actually a collection of 14 short stories — each unique in its own tale and perspective. Katherine Hewitt of the Globe and Mail sums it up nicely: “Each story is an independent experiment, with varying results. But the sum of its parts is positive.” I really enjoyed this book. If you like short story collections a la Alice Munro style, I think you will too.
Enchantment, by Guy Kawasaki
I picked up Enchantment to participate in the Business Book Club that Karen at The Media Mesh started up. I haven’t started the book yet, but I’m really interested to participate as soon as I can get it read. Mostly, I’ve been wanting to read it because I admire everything that Kawasaki has achieved — he founded Alltop.com, held a key role at Apple, and is the author of 10 books. Not too shabby, eh? The book has become a sort of touch point in marketing circles, and I’d like to understand all the buzz.
The Hundred Dresses, by Eleanor Estes
I was inspired by a recent post by Andrea on her blog A Peek Inside the Fishbowl to start up a Mother-Daughter Book Club. I reached out to a few girlfriends who had daughters the same age as Stella and shared the idea and they immediately jumped on board. For our first book, one of my friends suggested The Hundred Dresses because, although it was originally written in 1944, it touches on the timely topic of bullying.
One Day, by David Nicolls
I had started to read the book Sarah’s Key but was really finding the material too emotionally disturbing, so I reached out to my Twitter folks for a “light reading” suggestion. I can’t quite remember who suggested this One Day, but I picked it up and couldn’t put it back down. It seems I was not the only one who read it compulsively, as this NY Times review attests, and now it is being made into a movie with Anne Hathaway. It is an interesting take on the classic Ross-Rachel long suffering, unrequited love story.
The Wealthy Barber Returns, by David Chilton
If you’re of my vintage, you’ll recall the original Wealthy Barber book, which was released in 1989 and was a hit with its story-telling format for finance lessons. I recall this book, handed to me by my parents I think, as a welcoming way of learning about managing your own personal finances. I’m about 3/4 through this book of Chilton’s and I’m finding it just “okay.” I suppose if I was a young person who was just starting out and needed to learn the basics, I’d appreciate it far more. But as it is, I am not gleaning much in the way of new insight and his jokey humour is starting to wear on me. However, Chilton’s approachable style to finance remains a breath of fresh air, and I’m definitely getting some good reminder notes.
Okay, so let’s be real … I have way more books than this stacked up high, teetering away on my bedside table (it’s a bit of a “problem,” says Hubby), but I am going to take a rest here. So tell me, what’s on your shelf?
