Snapshot Sunday: week 34

Sorry I'm tardy again! We got in late last night from a quick trip to NYC and I was too tired to upload photos. Internet was sketchy while we were away, so I couldn't do it then either. I threw in an extra shot to make up for my overdue post. Hope you are all enjoying the last week before you have to put away your white pants...Labour Day is just around the corner! ;)

[day 234: Now that's dedication: finishing a mural in the rain.]

[day 235: Fresh pears are even more delicious at the park!]

[day 236: All-you-can-eat sushi...this was only a small sampling of everything the 3 of us ordered.]

[day 237: When did he become big enough to go on the teeter-totter by himself?]

[day 238: Chasing a duck on the bank of one of the Finger Lakes.]

[day 239: Just like me: a little NYC, a little India.]

[day 240: No trip to Brooklyn is complete without brunch!]

[day 241: Alice mural on the way to the Holland Tunnel.]

ETA: Fixed day 238!

Read more...

A sign?

Lately, I've been feeling a bit unsettled in various areas of my life. Yesterday while driving, I told myself that certain things are out of my control and that I just have to accept what comes my way. At almost the same time I got caught in a quick rainstorm only to see this as I drove out of the clouds:

It's a sign, don't you think? Keep your fingers crossed for me everything will work out.

Read more...

It's a Photoswap!

I finally had Leslie's photos processed at my local Shoppers Drug Mart and let me say, they are fantastic! She used a *real* camera as opposed to a disposable like me. Here's a smattering of her photos and a link to the rest:


Rhianne, thank you so much for organizing such a fun project! Can't wait to see everyone's photos. If you're interested in the rest of the Photoswap 2010 submissions, which are rolling in, check them out in the flickr group!

Read more...

Rub-a-dub-dub

After a long day, a soak in the tub is always a welcome treat. Sometimes a good book, a glass of wine or just being able to close your eyes for a few minutes is all it takes to wash away the stress of daily life.

Or, if you're almost-two, a soak in the tub means lots of splashing, pouring and exploring...but most of all, it means BUBBLES!

yes, he eats the bubbles.

Indio's idea of paradise is being submerged in a couple of inches of water with a few cups and buckets at his disposable. More recently he has become a huge fan of bubble baths. I'm a fan too because the suds distract him and he doesn't seem to squawk as much when I try to rub behind his ears.

This new love has put me on the quest to find a bubble bath that is as chemical-free as possible [at least free of the *bad* chemicals] but still bubbly. I've tried a couple of *safe* soaps but the bubbles were disappointing at best. So, if you have any tried-and-true favourite healthy bubble baths, please pass on the info. Thanks so much!

Read more...

Snapshot Sunday: week 33

Ok seriously, where did the summer go? The last full week of August is upon us and the weather has begun to change a bit, though the sticky humidity hasn't fully retreated just yet. I'm currently in work-limbo, but the new school year still signifies the end of vacation for me. Hopefully, I'll know whether my *vacation* is really over by this time next week. Hope you all are gearing up for a great week!

[day 227: A boy and his dog.]


[day 228: Indio has mastered mama's scrunchy face!]


[day 229: Amazing sunset at my parents' place.]


[day 230: Garden bounty.]


[day 231: Bubble boy.]


[day 232: Loukoumades, aka delicious morsels of sticky fried dough, from Athens Bakery on the Danforth.]


[day 233: Doing daddy's stretch routine.]

Read more...

Photoswap 2010 results are in!

Well, half of them are because um, my half is still unprocessed in my purse. I promised myself I would get them done before the weekend so I better get on it!

My partner, Leslie of 17 west lane, posted a few of the photos I took with the disposable camera I picked up at CVS on our last trip to NYC. It was a Kodak PowerFlash that wasn't as easy as a *point-n-shoot.* The lack of zoom and LCD screen, and not being able to review any shots once they were taken made it difficult to get used to.

Waiting for photos to be developed is so 1990's! But the anticipation of what will be revealed once I do develop the film Leslie sent is pretty exciting! And seeing my photos on her blog was neat because I really had no idea how any of them would turn out.

Here are the 3 she posted. I promise to post hers soon!

^woman reading by a *stream* that is actually dirty water between box stores in my 'hood.

^leaving my beloved Brooklyn via the Manhattan Bridge.

^another shot from my stomping ground in Toronto.

Click here to see the rest of Leslie's set. I'm a bit dismayed that there is a weird orange streak on some of the photos and that the flash inadvertently went off when I didn't want it to. It's all a learning experience, right?

Read more...

Snapshot Sunday: week 32

I think I may change *Foto Fridays* to *Snapshot Sundays* permanently. The weekends seem to lend more time to editing photos and getting them up before my self-imposed deadline.

Hope you don't mind another Indio-heavy week...I'm having trouble believing how quickly he's growing up. *sniff sniff*

[day 218: Couldn't you just eat this face up?]

[day 219: Trying a grape tomato seconds before chucking it across the yard.]

[day 220: Not a happy camper during an at-home haircut.]

[day 221: Ok, so I didn't take any photos today other than the drain I already posted, but I never did share this pic of all the rice noodle rolls cousin Jaret and I ordered at Congee Wong when he was in town a few weeks back. No, we didn't eat it all, though we did try!]

[day 222: My crazy kid going down the slide on his own.]

[day 223: Oatmeal in the park. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.]

[day 224: Fulfilling our charitable duty on our anniversary. My favourite flavour: Cappuccino Skor. What's yours?]

[day 225: Alley art.]

[day 226: Anniversary blooms.]

Read more...

To My Dear and Loving Husband

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee;
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me ye women if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole Mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee, give recompence.
Thy love is such I can no way repay,
The heavens reward thee manifold I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so persever,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.

~ Anne Bradstreet

Happy 4th anniversary, my love.
xo

Read more...

Clean

My bathroom is clean.
My kitchen is clean.
My kid is clean.
I've even had time for a breakfast, lunch, and a shower!

Wow, this is turning out to be a productive rainy day!

Read more...

Foto Friday: week 31

It's August? What??? How did that happen?

This week I had 3 cameras on the go: my trusty point-n-shoot, the dSLR, and a disposable film camera for Rhianne's PhotoSwap, which wrapped up this week. Funny thing was, I found it harder to take photos with the plethora of cameras rather than easier! And it was a complete learning curve for me using the disposable! Of course, I can't post any of the film photos because I have to send them off to my partner, Leslie, so enjoy the selection of digital photos I did manage to take. Hope you're all having a fabulous week!

[day 211: Sharing a plum.]

[day 212: Date night on the Danforth.]

[day 213: Why is everyone against weeds? This one is so pretty.]

[day 214: Another snail photo in my parents' garden.]

[day 215: If I had more space, this would become a rant, but for now, just a caption. Five City of Toronto camp counselors doing absolutely nothing while their charges run around unsupervised. Oh wait, one guy is doing something: texting on his cell phone!]

[day 216: How many raisins is too many?]

[day 217: A rare dinner with my Montessori girls at the Keg. How is it that I see them just as infrequently living in the same city as I did when I lived in NYC? We made a pact to change that starting now!]

Read more...

What I loved in July...

I know I say this every month, but wow, it's already August! Where is the time going? I'm still trying to finish Indio's *first year* photobook and I haven't even started 2010's. Summer vacation is half-over, which means work starts in a month! How can we slow down the clock of life...or at least find the time to do all the things we want to do? While I try to find the answers, I did find time to list some of my new favourite things. Being home full time this past month has meant that Indio and I are spending lots of time together, hence the plethora of *baby goods* listed below.

1. I first bought Banana Nut Cheerios at Target in NY back in June, but that box didn't last long in our house. E, Indy and I all clamored for the last bowl, thinking we wouldn't be able to get our hands on these delicious little O's until we ventured south of the border again. BUT, as luck would have it, I stumbled across them again at our local grocery store and can breathe easy now that I know there is an unlimited supply in our house!^via
2. As much as I don't love the food in Little Italy, NYC, I was a regular at Ferrara on Grand Street for their gelato and cannolis. How excited was I when I stumbled across a Ferrara kiosk in Central Park while exploring the city with Sophia and Indio??? We devoured 2 mini cannolis between the 3 of us, Indy opting to lick the cream out of his share and leave the soggy shell for the pigeons. [Other than his birthday cake, Indy hasn't had much in the dessert department. Is it all downhill from here?]
   
3. As Indy gets older and more independent I have been on the search for the *perfect sippy cup.* I was about to give up, thinking my boy was destined to a life of drinking milk from a bottle when I tried the Rubbermaid litterless drinking box & Playtex Insulator Twist & Click. Both cups are rigid enough that Indy can't squeeze its contents out and they are also spill proof. No really, they are!
4. Crayola washable crayons are an ingenious invention! They clean up with just a wipe of a wet cloth and thankfully, they are non-toxic since Indio likes to munch on them as much as he enjoys channeling his inner Picasso.
   
5. Red wine. Only in the past few years have I really begun to enjoy wine, specifically red wine. [though I do love a chilled glass of white on a hot day.] It's a great end to a long day, a fantastic accompaniment to a delicious meal...and it's good for me, right? Do you have any vino recommendations for me?^via
   

What are some of your favourite products these days?

Read more...

From the mouths of babes

Indio has been calling someone named "An" for a couple of days now. I couldn't for the life of me figure out who "An" was until I asked him to call daddy and he said, "An?" I finally clued in that he was calling E "hun" because that's I call him!

That's pretty darn cute if I do say so myself.

[gratuitous photo of the above-mentioned cutie.]

Read more...