A late Thanksgiving post

I had meant to post on Thanksgiving Day, but I've had a terrible cold that put me down for a while. I'm just starting to feel like myself again.

So due to the terrible cold most of my long weekend was spent moaning and groaning and feeling sorry for myself. That is when I wasn't wiping my nose, or taking Tylenol, or pontificating on the evils of prolonged usage of Advil on the liver.



Then on Monday morning (Thanksgiving) I'd had enough of myself and said, we're going hiking. So off we went to the wilds of Oka and hiked the Calvaire trail. It was lovely. It is a connection of trails about 5 km long with little chapels or prayer stations dotted along the way. All connected at the top by a group of 3 small chapels. And what a view from the top. Magnificant. I had expected to see more red and yellow foliage, but there was still a lot of green.





Feeling a little hungry after our hike we stopped by the Oka Monastery to buy some cheese and maple chocolate. Originally made by the monks, they still oversee the production.



I was even feeling well enough to cook the fowl and make fresh cranberry sauce and giblet gravy. So all in all not a bad day.

Today's gonna be a good day

This summer I discovered Fitflops. For the uninitiated these sandals are supposed to do everything from giving your bum a great shape, to strengthening your legs, to giving you a workout while you walk. I just think that they are the most incredibly comfortable sandal. I wore mine all summer and was sad to think that I had to put them away when fall arrived.

Then today low and behold while we're all out shopping at Rockland I found these beauties. Fitflop slippers.



I couldn't believe it. They also had little boots but they looked too much like Uggs for my liking (ugh). Didn't have time to try them on as it was 5 minutes to closing and I hate to be rushed. But I'm heading back tomorrow. Yeah.

Big sale in the shoppe

I've put all my short sleeved tees on sale in the shoppe to clear out my summer stock.

I have been spending more and more time designing for my adult tee shoppe. So is this the beginning of the end for my children's tees?

Not sure yet. Have to make some decisions.Can't do it all.

Have a lovely Thanksgiving weekend. And eat lots of turkey.

the carcass of summer has been incinerated

The last night before school started and Shel turned to me as I was putting him in bed and uttered these words, "The carcass of summer has been incinerated."

But where, I asked him, did you pick up this language?

He looked at me incredulously and said, "The Coneheads".

A little overdramatic, but accurate.

Why is it as soon as the page turns from August to September you can feel the difference? One day it's summer and the next day it's September. Almost fall.

Pictures of the night sky taken on the way back from Ottawa to Montreal.

August 2 - back to school (shopping)

This is what August 2 looks like. Can you believe it?

I thought that I would be ahead of the game by picking up some school supplies this morning at Jean Coutu. So this afternoon I'm bragging about it to another school mom who tells me she has finished her back to school shopping.

what the.....?

You've got to be kidding me.

So I rush off this afternoon to pick up a few more things and the place is packed with mothers, arms laden with school supplies. They poor clerk at Jean Coutu can barely get the stuff out of the box before it is snapped up.

It was too crowded for me so I grabbed a few things and plan to go back this evening to try to finish most of what is on Shel's list.

Now if I could only understand what most of it is.... what's a Blue Lepage Fun Tak?

Summer in NYC

We just got back from spending 5 days in New York instead of our usual trek to Nova Scotia.

I was concerned that we would have terrible weather and be stuck in our hotel room, but it was magnificant.

We did all the usual tourist stuff, but we also spent a nice afternoon in a children's park in Hell's Kitchen. I thought it was a non-gentrified neighbourhood, but turns out it still costs a fortune for a 1 bedroom apartment there.

We stayed on the Upper East Side and found lots of little restaurants. On our last trip to NYC our eating experience was not so positive, but this time we were very happy. I recommend Angelo's for Italian and Wild Ginger for Thai.

I bought this at Williams Sonoma and can't wait to try it out with both sweet and savory fillings.



(first celebrity sighting - guy from Bedtime Stories) (second celebrity sighting)

Cape Breton dreaming

First official day of vacation. Great trip planned to NYC, but I still wish we were going back home.

Cape Breton, near the Keltic Lodge

Wow, it's been a while since I've posted. Just too many life events going on.

• School ended for another year
• Summer camp started
• Visit by these lovely people.
• Computer problems - now sorted out
• Planning a vacation here
• Leaving the life of a consultant to be permanent (that was scary)

I'm going to try to be more faithful to my blog and post more often.

To do list for the summer:

• Buy an ice cream maker and make loads of homemade ice cream
• Actually use my panini maker
• Return here
• Create a business page on Facebook
• Improve my tennis game (I have to now that the wee man is in tennis camp
• Get out of the city more
• Introduce the wee man to "campy movie night".
• Start my latest venture and focus on it for a while.
• Read a classic that I've always meant to get to.
• Schedule more playdates and not just spend the weekends running errands
• Improve my roundhouse kick.
• Finish decorating the wee man's bedroom.

That's a good enough start.

I had computer problems a while back and as a result I lost all of my favorite links. At first I was horrified, but then I managed to find the ones that I frequented the most and found some fantastic new ones. Here are some of my new favorites. Great reads.

• Shutter sisters
• Life in a sippy cup
• Garance Dore
• Lobster and swan
• Shining egg

Newest obsession: Apartamento

Old photos

I recently found these old photos.

First bbq of the season

Well, not really, we bbq all winter long, but this if our first family bbq where we ate outside.

You can tell that Max is really into it. We did have pity and give him a wee bite of bacon.



I am not a beer drinker, but I did enjoy this Cheval Blanc Blanche. Very light and had an aftertaste of ginger.



We're all in various stages of recovery from spring colds and viruses. It really has slowed things down. I had hoped to have a lot more accomplished but it will all be done in it's own time.

Gift certificates available in shop

Making gift giving easier. Gift certificates are now available in the shop.

Jellyfish tees

More jellyfish tees. Some for the shop, some for birthday lootbags.

For my son on his 8th birthday - 100 Rules to Live By

Another year has passed (already). Every day I marvel at this person you are becoming (I still see you as the little guy in the photo). Soon you will be the one giving me advice (or at least just telling me what to do), but before that happens I have a few words of advice that I should pass on to you. So I've complied this list of 100 rules or quotes mostly made up of things that I have learned or would have benefitted from myself. This list is by no means exhaustive and you may not agree with everything, but trust me, if you follow half these rules you'll do ok.

1. Know how to eat a lobster.
2. Never, never rest contented with any circle of ideas, but always be certain that a wider one is still possible. (Pearl Bailey)
3. Know which utensil to use and when.
4. If you do get into a fight, hit back, hit hard. Make sure he goes down.
5. Use your napkin.
6. Women love it when men smell good.
7. A rainy day can be just as beautiful as a sunny day.
8. Make sure you have two sets of keys in case you get locked out.
9. Remember birthdays (especially your mother's).
10. Unless you are at the gym, never wear white socks.
11. White shoes can work, but you have to be confident you can pull it off.
12. Know your cuts of meat before you order at the butcher. He'll respect you more and you'll get a better cut.
13. Try to see life the way your art teacher taught you.
14. Be kind.
15. Don't be embarrassed to ask for directions.
16. Know how to dance.
17. Use dental floss and keep good dental hygiene. None of which should be done in public.
18. Be a good swimmer, but always fear the water. It is more powerful than you are.
19. Make sure your professors know you by your first name.
20. A white, button down shirt always looks good.
21. Know how to use an iron.
22. Know how to tie a Windsor knot.
23. The 70s produced some excellent music.
24. Make sure you can rock out to the same music as your dad. It'll give you something to do together when he gets old.
25. The only jewelry you should wear: a wedding ring and a watch.
26. Don't be the last one to say "Good morning".
27. Listen to children, they have very wise things to say.
28. Respect animals.
29. Own a good set of china and a set of every day dishes.
30. Some days you may be too well to go to work.
31. Take a road trip.
32. Once in your life work in the service industry, it can tell you a lot about human nature.
33. If you need to take time off between high school and university, but not too long or you will never go back.
34. If you see someone looking at a map, offer directions.
35. Being a kid is fun, but being an adult has its moments too.
36. Look at people when you speak to them.
37. Know how to drive a stick shift.
38. Know when it's enough.
39. Putting it in writing is forever.
40. Don't spend all day baking croissants when a great patisserie is around the corner.
41. Respect the earth.
42. Swim with the narwals, don't just limit yourself to dolphins.
43. Have children.
44. Always bring a hostess/host gift.
45. Never take the first swing, but stand up for yourself. You'll only have to do it once.
46. Vote. If you don't vote you don't have the right to complain.
47. Watching old movies with someone you love is special.
48. Don't let anyone make up your mind for you.
49. Know where you came from.
50. Know when to not say anything.
51. Be selective about revealing personal information.
52. Our whole lives are governed by time, measure it with a fabulous watch.
53. Have a dinner party at least once per month.
54. Compliment others.
55. Good sportsmanship = good character.
56. Know how to cook both dinner and dessert.
57. Chocolate can be considered health food in certain circumstances.
58. Red is definitely your color.
59. Believe in something.
60. Your childhood friends will be amongst some of your most important relationships and the ones you will remember.
61. Don't leave laundry under the bed.
62. If you only have time to do one chore, do the dishes.
63. Don't take crap.
64. Someday there will be something more important than bionicles.
65. Sing.
66. Watchout for sharks and not just the kind that swim.
67. Don't tip for bad service.
68. Bragging is really unattractive.
69. Just because someone says "I love you" you don't have to say it back. Unless it is your mother.
70. Women love shoes. Don't understand it, just know it.
71. Know how to take good pictures.
72. Know a good joke or ice breaker.
73. Don't waste your money on inferior wine.
74. Listen to opera.
75. Own a stylish overcoat.
76. Comb your hair and brush your teeth before you leave the house.
77. Don't expect life to be entirely easy. Sometimes the things most worth having you have to work for.
78. Read literature.
79. Travel. Go everywhere you can, but always come home.
80. Open doors, pull out chairs, stand when someone comes in the room. This has nothing to do with feminism and everything to do with good manners.
81. Never correct someone publically unless they are an asshole (sorry about the language).
82. Patience is a virtue, unless it's not.
83. Be physically active.
84. There are 2 things you should never compromise on; a bed or shoes because if you are not in one, you are in the other. (this bit of advice is thanks to your paternal grandmother).
85. You don't always have to be in the driver's seat, sometimes the passenger's seat has the better view.
86. Save your money.
87. Never accept things at face value. A little insight can go a long way.
88. Read the instructions first.
89. Carry kleenex.
90. Invest in real estate as soon as you can.
91. Don't make excuses. No excuse is better than a bad one.
92. It's a fact, no one's cooking is as good as your mom's.
93. Turn your phone off after 9:00 pm.
94. The more languages you speak the better, but choose your languages and your language wisely.
95. The problem with winning the rat race is you're still a rat. (Lily Tomlin)
96. Lying on your back looking at clouds can be a great way to spend a day.
97. Accept your actions, everything is for a reason, and move on.
98. Own a tool set and know how to use it.
99. Be yourself, no one is more perfect than who you are.
100. No matter where you go or what you do, your dad and I will always be there for you and love you to pieces.

Happy 8th birthday my beautiful boy.

Hip Kid on MyMomsView

Lynette at My Mom's View has written up Hip Kid on her blog and is hosting another Hip Kid BYOB giveaway. Check out her blog it has lots of great stuff and interviews.

And the winner is.....

And after much delay due to colds and flu, the winner is.....

Mona!

Congrats Mo, your name was pulled out of a hat by the wee man. I will be in touch shortly to make sure I have your latest address. Enjoy!