17 Oct PUMP UP THE JAM!!
Some say music makes the world go round. For me, music gets me through hours of exercise and training every week. It can get me across the finish line of a 10 km run, other days it pushes me to lift more, to do one more push-up or the last 5 squats.
For me training and music go hand and hand. I don’t remember a single workout when I didn’t have my music pumping.
15 Oct Montreal is CRAZY for Dayzzz’s Salads
*UPDATE - Cafe Dayzzz's downtown has closed. However, you can now visit Cafe Dayzzz's Express in the Brunswick Medical Centre in Montreal's West Island at 955 boul. Saint Jean in Pointe Claire. My fascination with chopped salads began in New York, where they pervade every...
10 Oct This is what art does for children
The best. That’s what we all want for our children. The best? What does that even mean? Talk about putting a ton of pressure on ourselves, right? When my daughter was born, I remember thinking “I want to do everything I can to make sure she has the best…” Now, between work, school, drop off and pick up, story time and bath time, birthday parties and more – I keep thinking “Let me just get through the day!” Of course I still want to do everything I can to help my daughter develop, so I recently put her in sports so she’s active and, of course, I read with her every chance I get. She started Pre-K this year so we’ve got the social part covered. What else? How can I teach her patience, improve her hand-eye coordination, and work on her self-confidence, amongst other things? How many activities should I put this kid in?
Luckily, there’s one that hits all of the markers mentioned… and it’s simple: ART.
08 Oct Thanksgiving Sticky Date Cake with Toffee Glaze
Sweet things are a major component of a classic Thanksgiving dinner table; from candied yams or carrots and cranberry sauce to maple glazed ham, and of course dessert.
06 Oct The Messy Milestone of Potty Training
Currently, my family is in full-on potty training mode and I have come to terms with the fact that for now, our lives must inevitably revolve around my son’s unpredictable peeing and pooping schedule. I have been patiently waiting for this time to come, dreaming of a day where I would no longer have to add diapers to my shopping list. But now that it’s here, I am realizing that helping him achieve this momentous milestone is a TON of work involving patience, creativity, perseverance and many pairs of underwear.
03 Oct Homework & Cell Phones
When giving workshops to parents, one of the most common questions that I am asked is what to do about kids who can’t separate themselves from their cell phones during homework time.
01 Oct Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
In a quiet town of Britain, Louisa Clark is twenty-six and has just found out that she is out of a job. She still lives with her parents, as she is the main person who is supposed to support them. Finding a new job is quite vital but her skills and qualifications are close to nil. In the household, Lou must sacrifice her bigger room to her younger sister, Treena because she went ahead and got knocked up and now needs the room for both her and her son.
30 Sep Skin care to beat the winter blues
As much as we don’t want to admit it, winter is slowly creeping up on us and the first thing I always notice is the change in my skin. To keep your skin looking fresh I’ve put together an easy skin care routine to get you through the cold winter months.
29 Sep Living with a life-threatening allergy
I have always been what others would consider to be an "overprotective mom" to my two boys. Being a worse case scenario thinker has made me "one of those moms".
When my son was suddenly diagnosed with an anaphylactic peanut allergy at the age of 6, this pre-disposition instantly transformed me into a one person army defending his peanut-free safety.
24 Sep The Secret Ingredient
My grandmother and I were very fortunate to be so close.
Not close in terms of physical or geographical distance since there was always about 500 km between us. But rather, the rare type of close where not only could we finish each other's sentences but start them as well. As years went on, our very special bond transcended onto my husband and children who loved Big Bubs with as much heart and soul as I did.
23 Sep A letter of LOVE: To MYSELF
I just recently opened a letter to myself that I written at the age of 22. That is now over 20 years. I did not expect to wait so long to open it but I never felt ready. At 22, I was caught up in a vicious food cycle that had basically taken over my life. I remember age 22 being a very tough time in my life; a time of feeling very unworthy and incomplete. I was open to change; I desired change. It’s hard to believe how a simple exercise would truly impact my life.
22 Sep How I Lost My Lady Parts But Gained So Much More
I was diagnosed with a BRCA2 gene mutation (breast and ovarian cancer gene) in December 2008. My lifetime risk of developing breast cancer was 87%, my risk of ovarian cancer; 45%.
16 Sep My Very Own Renovation: Part III
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The structural beam is in and electrical work is being done[/caption]
It has once again been a super busy month in the house since I last posted!
15 Sep A Visit to the Emergency Room!
I recently had the experience of spending 24hrs in the ER. I have to say the experience was quite surreal. My time spent in the ER taught me the following:
11 Sep Are You Up to Date…
Combating infectious disease is no easy feat in today’s worldly world! We are all vulnerable, some more than others…
10 Sep Keeping your kids fit
If you are 25 years old or older you probably grew up similar to me in that we spent most of our free time as children playing outside.
08 Sep My Son’s First Sleep-Over: A Challenge In Letting Go
My little boy turned 3-years-old. Time is certainly flying by as I continue to hold on for dear life to this crazy roller coaster ride.
05 Sep The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
I have not read a heart-wrenching, dramatic novel such as this one in a long time.
The power of a parent’s love is clear and it is strongly felt, even if you have never had children. The time period of the novel matches the plot perfectly, providing a somber backdrop to the story, which is set in Australia (1920s).
03 Sep Shopping for School Supplies
When I was younger, I loved back-to-school time. There’s a special excitement attached to choosing new binders, notebooks, pencils, pens, etc.
01 Sep Enjoying Quebec’s Local Produce with Blueberry Crumb Cake
To kids, August means back to school; for adults, it means back to work, and watching this month pass us by we reluctantly accept the end of the summer season.
29 Aug Stuff my kids say….
I usually write about women and work. But a big part of my "work" is raising my precious little boys. And the stuff they say is sometimes hilarious. I love the humour in their words. It gets me through the day.
28 Aug And POOF! He’s gone.
As the owner of a dating events company, I am constantly immersed in the day to day trials and tribulations of anything and everything related to dating. Recently, a girlfriend of mine attended one of my speed dating events and wound up meeting a guy whom I felt would be a great match for her. You could imagine my delight when they hit it off so well that their first date followed that very same evening. Within a span of a week, they had been out a total of four times with him having made all the efforts to reach out, plan the dates and keep in touch almost daily. He was smitten!
Their last conversation was by phone and ended with a promise to follow up for their next date… and tumbleweeds.
26 Aug Validating Your Child’s Feelings
I recently came across an article in Psychology Today called The One Emotion That Really Hurts Your Brain, which discusses a study’s findings that humiliation makes the brain feel very uncomfortable. What struck me about this article, however, was not the outcome of the study, but rather the fact that we, as a society, experience humiliation on a regular basis, sometimes without even realizing it.
25 Aug 42 is too young to die
I can’t remember with any certainty who the first friend of mine was to have sex, who the first one was to get married or who had a baby first. I will never forget my first friend to die, though Tamar was a gorgeous 42 year old...
22 Aug Turkey and zucchini burgers that rock!
When was the last time you were really surprised by a random act of kindness? Imagine my surprise when my 22 year old nephew showed up at my house for a mother’s day brunch and gifted me with “Jerusalem: A Cookbook” by Yotam Ottalenghi and Sami Tamimi.
21 Aug My very own renovation: Part II
A LOT has happened since my last post! It is going to be hard to figure out where to start, but here it goes!
18 Aug Dive in!!!
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I'm getting my nerve up to dive into my not so warm pool.[/caption]
I’ve had days that I’d rather go for a bikini wax than actually put on a bikini or bathing suit - but I’ve put my bathing suit induced anxiety aside to hit the pool for a swimming workout.
14 Aug A Weekend of Debauchery, Mommy-Style
Three years into this motherhood gig and I feel I have finally mastered the art of “me time”. I get my nails done religiously. I have fairly regular nights out with friends. I even find moments to sip my Starbucks alone, uninterrupted.I do all of these indulgent things with a clear conscience. I feel zero guilt. It has become crystal clear to me that in order to be the best mom I can be, in order to sustain my sanity, I’ve got to set aside moments in the week to prioritize myself.
