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Showing posts from 2012

Reflections, 2012: A Year In Review

2012 passed by so incredibly quick, don't you think? It seems like only yesterday I wrote a post about  the changes I would make in 2012. Some of them came true, others did not, so this year, I am not making any big promises that I cannot keep. The year ended with immense tragedy that we're all still struggling to make sense of. December was more emotional than other years, filled with lots of tears, laughter, and happy times with the entire family. The only thing I have learned from all of this is how important it is to cherish every moment. And that's my only resolution for 2013. I'm going to enjoy it all. Or try to, anyway. And I'm going to remember the importance of putting things in perspective. When you do that, you see how you really have nothing to complain about. And that everything you need... you already have. Here are some of my 2012 highlights: This year, I discovered my new favourite show ever , Mad Men. And then I discovered another incredible

Heartbroken And Horrified

This afternoon, I will pick up my seven year old son from school and tell him about the heartbreaking, horrific, senseless tragedy that took place in a school similar to his, in a neighbouring country, in a city that now has to come to terms with this unimaginable tragedy. Edited to add: When I saw my son's smiling face after school I could not bring myself to say anything to him. Instead, I just hugged and kissed him and let him run off to play with his friends, keeping my eyes on him the entire time. Tonight I will once again be thankful for this day, and I will hug my children tight. Every day is precious. Every moment we have should be cherished. 28 people dead... 20 of them small children. This is what happened today in an elementary school in Connecticut. Beautiful, innocent, perfect children, in school— in school —shot dead by an evil person, shot dead with weapons that should not exist, since it has been proven, time and time again , that guns do more harm than good

12 Awesome Things About 24h Tremblant

When Volkswagen Canada asked me to join them at 24h Tremblant as their official blogger and team member, I very enthusiastically said yes. I'm Volkswagen's biggest fan , and 24h Tremblant is one incredible weekend with one mission: to raise money for children who need it the most. 24h Tremblant is a 24 hour non-stop friendly skiing (and snowboarding) relay that takes place on the mountains of Mont Tremblant. Throughout the night, teams compete to cover the most terrain and ultimately aim to raise the highest amount of money for very deserving children's charities. Volkswagen Canada was the main partner of the 12th edition of 24h Tremblant, and I was so proud and honoured to be there as part of their team. Thank you, VW! Being in Tremblant was emotional, fun, exciting, and so worthwhile . The energy from the participants, the smiles on the children's faces, and the encourangement and cheers from everyone watching as team members skied for 24 hours non-stop wa

How To Avoid A Holiday Shopping Hangover

Tis' the season for spending, my friends. For me, it's so hard to stay within a reasonable budget during the holidays. After all, I have children with lists and a big family to shop for. Not to mention all the new decorations and wrapping paper I need! And the stamps, and the Bailey's and a new sparkly outfit and ..well, you get the idea. December is brutal on my wallet, and every year I try to think of ways to save money so I'm not weeping into my credit card bill come January. I mean, I'll already be dealing with a case of the winter blues, so I don't need "I need to sell my house because I spent too much money in December!" as something else to be blue about, right? Mobilicity recently conducted a survey about holiday shopping, and results showed that 58% of Canadians say they spend more than they should during the holidays. 59% (that would be me!) say they make impulse purchases which of course leads to feelings of guilt and a bad case of H

Radio Ga Ga

Well, I'm off to to the ski hills for 24h Tremblant ... look out! I'll be doing some night skiing with my VW team all in support of some amazing children's charities. I'll be keeping you updated all weekend, (and blogging as VW's official blogger!) and I might tweet from the chair lift, too. Hey, I know it's not a good idea, but how can I resist? This Friday morning started off great, too—I got the chance to co-host the morning show with Dylan Black on 101.9 Dawg FM. The two of us actually used to work together years and years ago... and we even graduated from the same college, too. Good times! Can't wait to do that again! I do miss working in the world of radio... Oh! And be sure to check out the new issue of Ottawa Family Living Magazine —I wrote a feature article called Fabulous Moms! Happy weekend, friends.

On Top Of The World

I've got some exciting news to share... Volkswagen Canada asked me to be their offical blogger for 24 Hours Tremblant! That's right, you guys. I'm being sent to my favourite ski resort in Mont Tremblant, Quebec this weekend as part of Team Volkswagen . I'll be reporting back with all the exciting things that are going on, and I'll be tweeting about how nervous I am to be back on the ski slopes again. Let's just say I haven't gone skiing in a very long time... and um, how will I ski down the hills while tweeting without falling? All joking aside, I'm beyond honoured that VW asked me to take part this way. After all, I'm a car girl , and most definitely Volkswagen's number one fan. The 24h of Skiing is actually North America's biggest sporting fundraising event that's already raised over 10 million dollars for children's causes. This year marks the 12th annual edition and will once again take place on the slopes of Tremblant. 3 da

My Top Eight Gifts For The Holidays!

The best part about the holidays for me is the shopping. Okay, that sounds awful, doesn't it? Actually, that's not the best part. The best part is spending time with family, decorating the tree with my children, sipping hot chocolate by the fire place, and seeing my children's excitement grow as we get closer to Christmas. It's also about giving back . I love how festive and beautiful everything is, the holiday parties, the cookies, the Bailey's, and yes, the shopping . Especially for my children, especially when they don't give me a list with impossible to find toys on it, and when they remember to stay within Santa's budget! I also enjoy shopping for my mom, best friends, and my sister. Because that means whatever I find for them... I get for myself, too. (Wait.. .am I doing this wrong?) Anyway, here are some great gift ideas for giving—or for receiving, hint, hint —this holiday season! Loulou's Top Eight For Her: Sephora Color Daze Bloc

What Will My Boys Remember?

The  memories of my childhood are still vivid in my mind. Pictures sometimes help bring back certain memories, as do certain scents, or places. My grandparent's apartment in Greece, a home-cooked meal by my mom that I loved to eat as a child, and the smell of my father's cologne all take me back, instantly. I remember happy, carefree days, and of course, regular days of family dinners around the kitchen table and rushing to the family room to watch Today's Special. I remember favourite t-shirts, my old bed, eating chocolate chip ice cream for the first time with my great-grandmother in her backyard, and snuggles with my mom late at night. I look at my children now and wonder what they'll remember when they look back to their childhood. All the laughter? The brotherly fights? The tired sigh from their worried mother? There is so much I want them to remember, and some things I would rather they forget. Like hospital visits, or when I yelled at them to go to bed.

Mastercard Delivers Black Friday Deals For Canadians at Saks and Bloomingdale's

I love that I'm Canadian, but I envy my friends south of the border sometimes. Especially on days like Black Friday. I'm a certified shopaholic, and to be able to take part in the shopping frenzy that goes on the day after Thanskgiving gets me excited. However, stores will be crazy busy, and even though you can score some amazing deals, who wants to spend all day waiting in line? Imagine being able to shop these great deals, without having to deal with parking lot chaos, crazy line-ups, and people misbehaving? Well... here's a secret: We can! We can shop to our heart's content, and reap the benefits of the fabulous sales, only with a Canadian twist. Hello, online shopping... My friends at MasterCard have been working closely with top US retailers to deliver Black Friday deals to those of us north of the border. Deals like free express shopping from Saks, for instance. I know . It's almost too good to be true. From Friday November 22 until December 10 ,

'Tis The Season For Giving...

"Cherish every moment" were probably the wisest words of advice I received when I was pregnant. Looking at how big my boys are now, it's hard to remember that once upon a time, they were snuggled tightly in their blankets, sleeping peacefully in their cribs. There are so many amazing memories I have of my children as babies, and truthfully, they'll always be my babies, no matter how big they get. There are definitely things I don't miss about the baby stage, though. Like the diapers. If you're a mom, you'll know what I'm talking about when I say it felt like half the day was spent just changing diapers... over and over again! When I was pregnant for the first time, selecting all the things I needed for my baby registry was fun but a little stressful. The one item I was told to put on my list was the Diaper Genie . Once my baby was born, I made good use out of the Diaper Genie. It's no wonder the Playtex Diaper Genie is the best selling diaper

Whirlwind

Can you believe Christmas is literally around the corner? It's unreal how quickly November has flown by! I don't know about you, but this has been one of the busiests months ever. School events, red cups at Starbucks, dances, parent-teacher interviews, book fairs, events, dinners, art shows, TV appearances, doctor's appointments, work, life, laundry... the usual. But more . It's been a post-it notes everywhere kind of month. My mom's limited edition print was launched at her art show last night at Koyman Galleries. CHEO CEO Alex Munter was there to talk about the importance of art in the hospital, and how the money made from this print will benefit the children. A personal friend of ours who is the head neurosurgeon at CHEO was also on hand to talk about the equipment that will be bought from the sales of this print. From this one print (The Joys Of Youth) $25,000 will be going to CHEO . After all the prints are released, CHEO will receive $150,000 . How a

Living In a Boy's World

My boys are four and a half and seven years old. They're best friends, and the more time they spend with one another, the more fun they have together. I hear them giggling, scheming, watching movies, dancing Gangham Style, and reading books in their bedrooms. It is awesome how close they are, and it's awesome that I can be in a different room now, folding laundry, knowing they're okay, playing together. Of course, boys will be boys, and I'll often have to break up a fun wrestling match about to turn bad. Moms just know the right time to step in, you know? Having boys has taught me so much, and has opened my eyes to a whole new world (of anxiety.) From construction vehicles to the world of  Minecraft and LEGO, I am immersed in the land of boys and I love it, even though my boys are also very hyper, eat like an adult football team, and don't always pick up after themselves. They're incredibly smart, and incredibly funny. They make me laugh constantly. As much

Unspeakable Horror

I didn't sleep well last night. I was tossing and turning, checking on my children, kissing them, convering them with their blankets, tossing and turning some more, and wiping away my tears. The horrific nightmare of a story that happening yesterday in New York City is something I cannot stop thinking about, no matter how hard I try. I've been sick to my stomach, thinking about this mother, her poor little children , and her surviving child. I cannot imagine— yet, I can —the pain, the grief, the questions, the living nightmare this family now has to live through, every day that remains of their lives. A perfectly beautiful family, shattered, torn apart, in the blink of an eye, in a horror story come to life. Some stories haunt me and stay with me forever. This is one of them. When you become a  mom, life changes so drastically, so suddenly, in a million different ways. The emotions and feelings we experience once we enter the world of motherhood is like nothing else. No

Joys of Youth

One of the things I love best about the fact that my mother is a professional artist is her ability to capture children in their most innocent and happy moments with her paint brush. This is why her work is so popular with her customers, why people can't stop at just buying one piece, and why her art brightens the hallways in schools, community centres, and hospitals across Canada. My mom is having her annual art show with Koyman Galleries and I'm very excited that this year, they are releasing a Limited Edition print called Snow Day with proceeds going to the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Each print will be numbered and signed by the artist, too. CHEO is very special to me and to my children, so I'm really happy about this partnership. The series is called "Joys of Youth"  and the series will be published over the course of the next few years, with a new title available in time for each Christmas season and Mother's Day. Also for s

50 Shades Of Awesome, Toronto Style

The third annual BlissDom Canada conference has come and gone... just like that. It came and lasted all of two minutes (that's what it felt like to me!) but it was worth it, of course. There is always so much to bring home from these conferences—creative ideas, fresh perspective, new friends, and always, inspiration. After all, BlissDom Canada is a weekend filled with some of the smartest women in the blogging, writing, and social media world, so it's hard not to feel inspired and excited about what you'll do next. Yes, the first few days back after a blogging conference are hard and wonderful... they're wonderful because you get to re-connect with your family and those hugs you receive from the kids? Priceless. The first few days back are also hard because you're not face-to-face in the same room with so many fabulous people.  Friday night was all about connecting with the members of the Yummy Mummy Club . Erica Ehm hosted a fabulous dinner for all her blo

A Little Bit Of Bliss And Some Tips

The third annual BlissDom Canada is taking over the city of Toronto in just a few days... and I'm SO excited! I love that this conference takes place in October, giving us all something to look forward to so soon after BlogHer .   Every time I attend a blogging conference, I come back with new memeries, stories to tell, and laughter to remember. Oh yeah—I learn something new at each conference, too, like who has the best moves on the dance floor, who can last until 4 a.m. at a karaoke bar in NYC, and who will have me in tears, both happy ones, and sad ones. (There are always some sort of emotional tears at blogging conferences, which has something to do with the brilliant people you'll talk to and listen to, combined with the fact that you don't get much sleep and are basically surviving on wine and cupcakes for three days.) This weekend, I am going to be speaking at BlissDom Canada as a Community Leader . My topic is "How To Price And Value Your Services&q

Thankful

It's Thanksgiving weekend! Well, here in Canada it is, and that means most of us will be getting together with our loved ones and eating a lot of food. More turkey, anyone? Anyway, I often write about the things I'm thankful for, and top of my list, every single day of the year, is my children. I'm thankful for my children, and I'm so blessed to be their mother . They are my life. Of course, I'm thankful for my entire wonderful family, and for my best  friends . I'm thankful for these things every day of the year. I'm thankful that even though I don't often stick to all my New Year's resolutions , I'm easy on myself, and I'm thankful I've had this space to write about everything like my love of music or my appreciation for the many friends I've met through blogging since 2007. I'm thankful that I have a place where I can talk about all things fashion and shopping , and this year, I'm thankful that I'm going

Top Five Items That Will Always Be In Style (And What To Never Wear Again!)

I'm sure we've all looked at pictures of ourselves from "back in the day" (wait - we can say that now, right?) that make us laugh, cry, or cringe. We laugh when we see the awful hairstyles, we cry when we look at how absolutely flat our abs once were, and we cringe when we see the fashions we used to wear, from safety-pinned jeans and shoulder pads, to mis-matched earraings and push-down socks. Oh, yes... I am sure you're guilty of wearing certain items that were trendy at the time, but are now so awful you want to burn the pictures and the box they came from. However, back then, you thought you were HOT STUFF ... am I right? Right... Yeah... I was guilty of wearing the heck out of these red pleather pants. Worst yet, I would wear these awful pants with little cropped tops and go out in public. This picture was taken after I had graduated from university, when I went to college to fast-track my Broadcast Journalism degree. I can't even look at this p

Random Pieces Of Awesome (And Where You Can Find Me!)

Can you believe how quickly September has gone by? In just a few days, October will be here, and then before we know it, we'll all be talking about the holidays, the cold weather (wait—I'm already complaining about that, damn Canada!) and Christmas shopping. (I've already got my list...) Anyway, things have been busy up in here, as things usually are in September. My boys have happily adjusted to the back-to-school routine, and after-school activities like swimming, and I'm loving that they're together in the same school, finally. Things with me have been good, too. I went to the Madonna concert a couple of weeks ago and even though she was 2 hours late to hit the stage, it was worth it, because hello , Madonna. It helped that I was in a nice big box with my friends, with our own server, yummy food, and drinks flowing all night long. Anyway, if I'm not blogging over here, you can always find me on my shopping blog where I write about a whole lot of things

On Meeting Wolf Blass, The Man From The Land Down Under

Someone great once said, "For every occasion in life, there is reason to drink wine." Actually, I just made that up now, but I'm sure many people have had that exact thought. Drinking wine is something I enjoy, immensely. I'm no wine expert (yet) but red or white, my love for a great vino knows no boundaries. Wine is my drink of choice with dinner, when I'm celebrating happy news, attending a wedding, travelling, having a night out with friends and family, or when I have guests over for an evening. I enjoy my wine when I'm flying, too. It tends to take the edge off, you know? Also, when I drink wine I'm doing my body a favour, since it's good for you. So, win-win, right? I was invited by Natalie MacLean (the talented Canadian author of Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World's Best Bargain Wines ) to attend an "An Unforgettable Evening of Wine, Laughter, and Storytelling" at Restaurant 18 on Monday night for a tasting of eigh

School Days

We've come a long way (four years, in fact) from the day my oldest son started junior kindergarten.  It has been a mostly smooth journey throughout the years, and my boy has loved every second of grade two so far. He's in a classroom with all his friends, sits next to his best friend, has an amazing teacher, and this year, his little brother joins him at the same school. Today was little D's first day of kindergarten. It was an orientation "meet the teacher" morning, and he was so brave, it made my heart hurt. I held it together pretty well, though. Until I got to my car, and opened the little bag with a few items (tea, tissues, a cotton ball) his teacher gave me, attached with a note... Here is a little gift for you as you leave your precious little one with me on the first day of school. As you hold the cotton ball in your hand, the softness will help you remember the gentle spirit of your child. After you have gone home and dried your tears,

The Power Of Awesome

He walked on stage to Fleetwood Mac, and exited to Tom Petty. I mean, really, he had me at hello. Bill Clinton rocked the socks off of us last night, and even though I'm a proud Canadian, I felt like an honorary American, at least for a little while. How absolutely incredible was his speech, you guys? It was brilliant, and witty, and his words moved an entire nation. Clinton also bit his lip a lot, like only he can do. (I lost count after a while.) And when he spoke, we were listening... "I want to nominate a man cool on the outside but burning for America on the inside. A man who believes we can build a new American Dream economy driven by innovation and creativity, education and cooperation. A man who had the good sense to marry Michelle Obama." Okay, seriously? He's a charmer, President Clinton is. I believe (and I don't have a political background, except for when I worked for an MP here in Canada) America will vote for Obama for another four years,

36 Things I Love On My 36th Birthday

Today I'm thirtysomething years old. I am another year older .  It's not that I'm not okay with being another year old, it's just that... I guess I'm kind of in shock over how old I really am. Not old-old, (not that there's anything wrong with old!) but well, there is no denying it now—I'm definitely an adult. And well, getting... older. I celebrated my birthday at the Marriott in Yorkville last year in a two-floor Presidential suite with my family and friends, and it was one of my most memorable birthdays. This year's celebrations won't be as glamorous, but I'm still excited to blow out my candles, because I have a lot to be thankful for. Every day is a blessing, after all. Last year, I wrote about 35 things I love. I'm adding to my list, and I will not focus on the things that annoy me . Like people who are terrible drivers and people who are mean and people who bite down on their forks or don't understand that Katniss shoul