Sorry to have been such a Debbie Downer on my last post. I let my “glasses” (as in rose coloured) slip for a bit and I was in a little funk. I have so much to be happy about and thought that it was high time I shared with you some great pictures and stories about my fabulous husband and my fantastic friends!

You know from a few posts ago that I was not all that keen on turning thirty. I decided to embrace it, I mean seriously, I could NOT be turning thirty and so thirty is a good thing!

I woke up nice and early on June 19th thanks to my adorable son who felt it necessary to get up at 5:45am to talk to the birds. He helped me open my gifts (a yoga gift certificate and the book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller- READ IT!) and then we got up for breakfast and showers. By the time my mother and sister called, Austin was in full-blown melt down mode and I was reduced to tears (serves me right for staying up until 1am knowing full well Monkey doesn’t sleep in!). Needless to say a cup of coffee and a car ride to the market later, Austin woke up a new child and I was a happy mommy!

We wandered around the market taking in the smells of the fresh fruit, veggies and home made goods that fill the building. We stopped at my favorite bread kiosk, the Boulangerie for bread and pastries. As we were paying, Austin reached into a basket and took a pain au chocolate. The boy has good taste! The flakes of croissant dough were all over his shirt and my back and chocolate was smeared all over his face. It was too cute!

After picking up some peonies we headed to the grocery store and got some lunch. We arrived at Point Pleasant Park and walked along the path until we came to the perfect picnic spot. It was so beautiful at the park. We were sitting on the ocean’s edge and breathing in the salt air. I love the rocky beach, littered with shells and driftwood. It reminds me of home. We chased Austin and soaked up the sun. It was pushing 2pm and I knew another meltdown would soon follow if we didn’t pack up and head home for a much-needed nap. (I could have used one too!)

A few picks from the Boardwalk and Park

We finally got home just after 3pm and, still clueless about what was about to happen, I raced into the house to run to the loo. As I was unlocking the door, I caught sight of balloons in my living room window. I opened the door and my house was full of friends and family. I couldn’t believe that G pulled this off right in front of my eyes. He never surprises me because I am way too nosy and I always guess.

At the end of the day I fell into bed with Austin and G, exhausted and grateful to feel so loved. I could not have planned the day better myself. It truly was as close to a perfect day as I could have ever ordered up!

Thank you to everyone who helped G pull off the surprise and for all your birthday wishes. It’s going to be a great decade!

Run...

Sunday I ran.

I got out of the house before I lost my mind at my little monkey who just refused to listen to me or to do anything that I wanted him to do or behave the way I wanted him to behave. I’m not sure when exactly my patience started to wear thin…during our morning trip to the park he ran out into First Lake to catch the ducks, he pulled at Stanley’s leash the whole time I was trying to get him in to, he tried to put his fingers in the kitchen aid WHILE the motor was running, he wouldn’t eat, he wouldn’t nap, he wouldn’t let go of the hammer, he wouldn’t keep his shoes on...and on and on the list goes.

Somewhere between his bath and trying to wrestle 32lbs of defiant toddler boy into PJ's I just gave up. I admitted defeat and told G that he had to take him and I needed to run.

Hitting the track felt good, I played Macy Gray’s Beauty in the World over and over as I ran trying to escape my day, trying to put it all in perspective. By lap 4, I had to talk to myself and push myself to get to lap 6. And then I realized how much better I felt when I got my run in and how far I had fallen in two weeks.

I’m not all that used to getting compliments and I realized that when I start to see changes and I start to get compliments and other people notice that I am changing, I fall off track. I think it’s no big deal I can have a cookie. One cookie probably would be fine…but I had three. Just that kind of stuff. I’m trying hard today to stay on track.

As much as I wish that one day I could just wake up skinny, I know that isn’t going to happen by itself. I hate that I have to take each day as it comes, plan and think about my choices. It sucks that one cookie can make such a difference in my day, in how I feel about myself.

I don't mean for this post to make it sound like I had a horrible weekend or that I don't love my life. I had a great weekend that included a challenging Sunday.

The magic of a pencil skirt

Let me start by saying that I had the MOST wonderful weekend! My husband, family and friends pulled off a great surprise party on Saturday afternoon (and let’s face it…it is not easy to pull one over on me!). And the day was perfect. I will post about that as soon as I upload pictures from my camera.

Sunday I had to go get some clothes…I was actually shopping for shoes but I ended up in Ricki’s and then realized that none of my clothes actually fit me well anymore. I found this great hot pink shirt and decided to try on a pencil skirt just for the hell of it. Those of you who know me well know that I don’t wear skirts all that often, but something about this skirt just had me. I tried it on and it was too big. They didn’t have any on the next size down so, on Monday G ended up at MicMac picking up the skirt.

This morning I wore the skirt to work…I don’t know if it the Spanks sucking me in or the way the skirt fits but I feel a little more professional and am sitting up straighter. When I walked down the street for a coffee (thanks to the multiple Starbucks giftcards that I got for my birthday) I walked a little differently too…I think most of that is because there isn’t a lot of room in this skirt to walk like a normal person…I feel a little more confident today. I’ve been getting compliments left, right and centre and even noticed a guy giving me the up-down when I was walking to the bank on my lunch hour. That hasn’t happened in awhile...accept from my hubby of course!

I have to say that I feel fabulous today! I think I need more pencil skirts…and while I’m at it maybe I will revisit the stilettos….maybe….

A birthday tribute too funny not to share!

At work we have a little things where we provide some information and Elizabeth Smith (or me in the event Elizabeth isn't around) writes a birthday profile to share with the staff. This was in my inbox this morning and I thought that I would share it here! Thanks for making me smile today Elizabeth!!! (I especially love how she interjected with her stories!)


On June 19th, 1980 our dear little Lisa was born in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. Good Lord, I was in college in Ottawa then and partying in Hull, Quebec every Friday and Saturday night!! I am getting OLD.


Anyway, back to Lisa!

Little Lisa was a bit of a performer when she was growing up. She’d sing and dance for just about anyone and would make any piece of furniture a stage, get up on it and perform. I think I saw her doing one of her performances at the Holiday Party at St. Mary’s Boatclub last December. She was definitely up on a table.

Lisa performed in Fiddler on the Roof and Charlotte's Web with the NL Theatre Company.

In high school she went to Ottawa for Forum for young Canadians and met Jean Chretien. In 1998 Lisa was the Corner Brook Winter Carnival Ambassador. I went to Marble Mountain in the late 90’s for a ski trip and there was no snow!! We spent a night in Cornerbrook at Gary’s Place dancing and drinking rum. So, it ended up not being a ski trip for the IWK that year, it was a drinking trip. When I see the commercials for Marble Mountain and how much snow they get, I usually fall over laughing!! Oh, back to Lisa!!

Lisa loves to travel and has done the whirl wind tour of Europe, been to Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal & Nashville.

She used to be quite the groupie with many bands and is seen below hanging out with a very notorious playboy!!

Forrtunately Lisa met Gordon at Bluenotes in the Bedford Shopping Mall while being stocked by one of his friends. It was love at first site and they got married on July 10, 2004 (which happens to be my birthday!!). It was time for her to stop hanging out with the likes of Gene Simmonds and other bad boys like him – thank goodness for Gordon.

I’m no expert (I use to be!!) but Gordon looks like he was smoking something a little funny in this photo!! (I should clarify that this picture was taken in the wee hours of the morning in the Ottawa airport on our wy to Nashville....G didn't smoke anything! lol)

Then on October 14th in 2008, the light of Lisa’s life was born.

That little boy is getting so grown up and is going to keep his mom and dad very busy.

Just about time for another one I think!!

Lisa, hope you have a wonderful birthday on Saturday.

Happy, Happy Birthday!!
From your Foundation Family.

Attempting to embrace the big 3-0!

So in a matter of days (34 hours give or take) I will be turning 30. I have to say that I am not thrilled about the idea. My 20’s have been so defining for me. The things that I have accomplished, experienced and tried have shaped me in major ways and I am scared of the uncertainty that comes with starting this next chapter.

I don’t agree that age is just a number. I really do think that age can impact how we view things. Some people say that 45 is too old to be out all night partying and others think that life begins at 45. I have a problem with the whole “Life begins at…” mindset. It bothers me because it means that whatever happened before said age doesn’t matter, doesn’t affect who you are or how you act. I almost think that at 30, I should be further ahead in my career or that I should have traveled a little more in my 20’s BEFORE I had the responsibilities of a job, house, husband and child. Don’t mistake my wonder about my level of accomplishment as regret because I do not regret any of the choices that I have made (well except for that one choice to drink the vodka before Super Cousin’s 19th birthday….).

I do think that it’s very valid to say, “I found my life’s purpose at…”. I always worked very hard to accomplish the goals that I set out for myself. I worked hard at school and was involved in so many activities and worked part time. I went to university and studied hard (played hard too) and worked practically full time while I did it. I started my job and worked hard to meet my goals and the goals of the organization. My life’s purpose became clear to me the day my son was born. All of the experiences and lessons that I had been through before were preparing me for helping guide his life.

Now being a mother is not the ONLY thing that I am but it affects practically every aspect of my life and directly impacts the decisions that I make. There are days when I want to just go out an shop till I drop…but I don’t because what little free money we have needs to be spent more wisely. There are weekends when I want to stick on a pair of fake eyelashes and go out and get my groove on…but I don’t because I have no idea how to put on fake eyelashes and my friends here have grown out of the downtown scene and the vision of getting up at 6am to a toddler who wants to go “owside” to blow bubbles and look for “planes” after a hard night of drinking just doesn’t appeal to me.

What does appeal to me is good times with good friends, quality time with family, yoga, running and a great blog writing session. I love my skinny vanilla latte and a homemade treat. Cuddling with my boys and kisses from my husband. I love slashing in puddles with Austin and having him "help" me in the kitchen. I love a good phone conversation with my sister.

30 will be fun. 30 will be filled with so many days of growth and change. I can remember being a kid and all of the great times that I had with my friends growing up and how our house was full of friends and cousins all the time.  Of taking pictures of Monkey with a dirty face and lovin' our life.

I have no idea what G has planned for Saturday, I've been told that we'll be getting up, getting dressed and heading out the door. I am going to grab the camera and capture the day.  Hopefully it won't be anything embarrassing, like the time I turned 12 and my mom gave me a bra for a gift...at my party...in front of boys! Hopefully the gifts won't be hard to get into like the time I turned 16 and Annette and Jules duck taped a massive box closed....20 minutes later I finally got down to the small box holding the Sweet 16 charm (which I still have btw!). Maybe I will make a stop at Lululemon to get my long desired and awaited sweatshirt courtesy of those same amazing friends (and the Little One!)! I can't believe I can wear a 12 now....that in itself is a great gift!

Come on Saturday! Come on 30 and everything that you will bring with it!

And on a side note...can you believe that this crazy kid is 20 months old?!? Where is the time going. I need to get on planning his birthday party. I have a feeling it will be a "To-mass" theme!!! He loves his apron by the way.

Happiness is....

In my world happiness is the simple things.  Like yesterday's day off and spending some quality time with Monkey and friends (two play dates in one day no less!) and then making cinnamon rolls in my kitchen, looking out into the backyard where Monkey is "mowing" the lawn with his bubble mower while G was actually mowing the lawn.

Austin wants to help in the kitchen. Every time I am cooking or baking he wants to help me by adding ingredients or stirring. I went looking for an apron for him and everything was so girlie. So yesterday during our outing to Wal-Mart inspiration hit and I decided that I would make him an apron. I got a pattern and then Monkey picked out the material...really he did. I was all set to get the CARS fabric when he started going nuts over "To-mass" and asked if he wanted red or blue and he said "Boo" so this weekend he will have a Boo To-mass apron to wear when he "helps" in the kitchen.

Happiness is watching Austin drag his new hockey stick (thanks Aunt RyLee) around the house, into the shower, to the store, outside, inside, to the supper table, in to the bath tub and wanting to take it to bed with him. I'm taking this as a major hint that I will be a very proud (and broke) hockey mom. Thank goodness student loan will be paid off before he is old enough for hockey season!

Summer is coming. The sunshine was streaming through our windows this morning an it made it very difficult to get up and ready for work. I can't wait for tomorrow morning and the time to curl up on the living room sofa with my Tassimo skinny latte looking for birds and buses out the window with my Monkey and his hockey stick. I love my weekends. Fingers crossed that we win the Lotto Max tonight so that everyday can be a weekend day. Moments are so fleeting and I feel like there is never enough time to soak them all in!

This summer is going to be fantastic...I can feel it. Maybe it's the full day of sunshine getting to me...but I just know great things are going to happen!

A True Champion Child

In 2004, shortly after I had joined the IWK Foundation team and was knee deep in my first Telethon, I had the honour of meeting Spencer MacKay and him mom Rebecca. Spencer wheeled up to me and introduced himself while presenting a donation in the Gallery. We had a few laughs and I was immediately touched by his very special spirit. Spencer has a way of making the world smile. I am serious! This kid can light up a room and bring a smile to the grumpiest of faces. He has such a quick wit and you can’t help but be attracted by his optimism.

In 2005, Spencer was chosen as the IWK’s Champion Child and I got to accompany the family on the Ottawa portion of the Celebrations. During that time, I watched as the other children followed Spencer around and were all drawn to him. Where ever Spencer went, there were at least 5 or 6 others following his lead. Spencer would laugh and make jokes about how he was “da bomb” when I teased him about all the girls who wanted to hang out with him. At the time he was 10 and had just passed the “girls have cooties” stage.

One night, Rebecca and I shared a cup of coffee in my hotel room. Rebecca was in serious need of some girl time and I was intrigued by the incredible strength that she showed every day. She told me about Spencer’s birth and how doctors prepared her and the rest of Spencer’s family for the worst. You see, Spencer was born with a rare form of dwarfism, as well as other health complications. Rebecca was told that he would likely not live past the first three months of his life. Instead of living each day with dread, Rebecca chose to celebrate Spencer’s life. Each and every month she had a birthday party with cake and decorations to celebrate his presence in the world. She never gave up on him and she always encouraged everyone around Spencer to be positive and rejoice his life.

As time passed, Spencer grew stronger, showing that he would have a life beyond the walls of the IWK. After spending 18 months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the IWK, Spencer was finally able to go home with his mother and family. While things are not perfect, Spencer continues to persevere against the challenges that he faces with his health. He has undergone many surgeries to help him live a full and active life.

In 2008, Spencer showed up at the IWK Radiothon and bragged that he had something to show me. Without any hesitation he climbed down from his chair, grabbed his walker and strutted across the Parker Reception Room. I was in tears I was so excited! I was thrilled to hear that all day Spencer had been asking his mom when they could come in to show me!

Working at the IWK, I have a lot of opportunities to meet incredible people and amazing kids and some of them grab a hold of your heart and never let go. I think everyone on staff has “a kid”. Spencer is my boy and continues to inspire and amaze me.

A few weeks ago we ran into Spencer at a local restaurant. He begged to take Austin for a ride on his chair. I told him that my boy was still a bit too small to go cruisin’. Spencer looked up at me with a look of concern on his face “I thought I was your boy…” Melt my heart! Of course I quickly explained that he most certainly was my boy and that I adored him and nothing would ever change that. He then said that he didn't mind sharing me with Austin.

Just a couple of days ago  Spencer was awarded the Premier's Award for Positive Change. He acknowledged for his advocacy work as a Children's Miracle Network Champion Child for the IWK and also for his 'unofficial ambassadorship' at his school at Park West, where he takes new students under his wing, and his feeding the homseless by participating in Sunday Suppers. The Premier's Power of Positive Change Award was launched September 2008 in recognition of two Nova Scotia high school students who caught the public's attention with a pink t-shirt crusade in support of a bullied student. Every year 10 Nova Scotia students are honoured and it does not surprise me one little bit that Spencer made his way onto this distingushed list!

I know this is a bit of a long post but Spencer deserves some devoted time and space. For the first time ever CMN has selected a Canadian child to be featured in a special story to air on Telethon this weekend. The story will be introduced Dr. Oz and, you guest it, will star none other than my boy Spencer! Grab a Kleenex and follow this link. I guarantee that spending just 5 minutes with this courageous, amazing kid and his awesome family will forever change your life!

Starbucks...how I love you...but not your calories

Did you know that a Starbucks chocolate chunk cookie is 9 WW points?

That makes me sad....at least a Grande Skinny Vanilla Latte is just 3WW points...There can still be joy in my tummy as long as there is some moola in my pocket!

Another weekend gone…

Plans changed but it was still a fabulous weekend! The weather was gorgeous on Saturday and we took full advantage of it. Monkey had his swimming lessons in the morning and he had a blast. Normally about half way through he just wants to do his own thing but this week he followed the instructor for the full class. He was so proud of himself for floating on his back.

Our playdate/BBQ was rescheduled because the other kiddos weren’t feeling well. We took full advantage of the extra family time and worked in the garden. Gordon mowed the lawn and Monkey helped him. Austin wanted to be just like his Daddy on Saturday.

There is just something about watching Gordon with Austin that makes me love him even more. I know I’m getting mushy but just hear me out…G is not exactly a big gushy guy. He has always been great with kids but he never fully “let go”. With Monkey there is no hesitation, he loves on him in a big way and has so much patience. He gets Austin involved and shows him how to do big boy things but he gets down to Austin’s level and plays baby games with him too. It’s obvious to everyone that G LOVES being a Dad and that is pretty cool.

Sunday was pretty laid back. The weather wasn’t great but we managed to get a few errands done. Poor Monkey got a ding in his forehead where he fell into the corner of a wall. Sometimes I should just wrap him in bubble wrap! Seriously the child has no fear and when he goes, he goes 100%!

I hope he never loses that.