PERPETUAL BOUNCE

This moment . . .

2012-01-27T08:01:00.001-05:00

Inspired by Amanda Soule - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

This moment . . .

2012-01-20T00:01:00.001-05:00

Inspired by Amanda Soule - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

This moment . . .

2012-01-06T03:01:00.000-05:00

Inspired by Amanda Soule - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

2011: month-by-month

2011-12-31T00:01:00.000-05:00

What a year it's been! And it flew by oh-so-quickly! It felt like the whirlwind of life left little time to ponder and reflect, but the memories of the last 12 months came flooding back as I looked through the year's photos on flickr. This end-of-year post was inspired by Bianca's post of 12 photos, one for each month, of 2011.

Happy new year, everyone! May 2012 be a year of inspiration and love. xo

january

february

march

april

may

june

july

august

september

october

november

december

This moment . . .

2011-12-30T12:42:00.000-05:00

Inspired by Amanda Soule - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

A Christmas tradition I'd rather not continue

2011-12-26T10:41:00.000-05:00

For the past two years E has been sick with strep over the Christmas holidays. Poor guy is in so much pain that he's basically been down for the count for the past 3 days.

Hopefully his antibiotics will kick in soon and New Year's won't be such a bust.

^via

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T00:01:00.003-05:00

Wishing you and yours a most festive holiday!

can you believe 2012 is a week away???

Santa, Santa and more Santa!

2011-12-21T20:27:00.001-05:00

This year December seems to be all about *threes*: Indio had his third birthday, it's our third Christmas season as a family of three and we visited three different Santas in search of the best photo-op. [Last year's smile was caught in the first take.]

attempt #1: macy's 34th street, the epitome of christmas overload in nyc. honestly, it was pretty, but not all that.

attempt #2: we thought a visit to last year's santa would warrant smiles, but alas, that was not the case.

third time's a charm: finally! it was happenstance that a jolly santa and a jolly toddler were at the mall at the same time!

This moment . . .

2011-12-16T16:43:00.002-05:00

Inspired by - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

3rd Trip Around the Sun

2011-12-15T08:07:00.000-05:00

I know it's so cliche to say this, but I really can't believe I'm writing this post. It seems like only yesterday I was pregnant with Indio and here we are today: three years later! The last three years have been an adventure and a half. I've learned so much from my little guy and he continues to amaze me every single day.

Happy birthday to the most fabulous boy in the world! Love you like nothing else!

A glance back in time . . .

the day our lives changed forever: december 15, 2008 @ 8:07am

1st trip around the sun

2nd trip around the sun

the big "oh-three" @ 8:07am this morning

This moment . . .

2011-11-25T10:01:00.001-05:00

Inspired by - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Gobble! Gobble!

2011-11-24T22:00:00.000-05:00

So much to be thankful for including a delicious meal with family who traveled from upstate NY, California, Florida and New Jersey.

Tomorrow: we're on a quest to find red velvet donuts. After that, I need to stop eating.

37 Years of Love

2011-11-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here's to all you've lived through, laughed at and triumphed over with your arms around each other.

H A P P Y
A N N I V E R S A R Y !

Typical weekend

2011-11-20T12:00:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's been 3 months since we made the trek south back to NYC. We're not living in our old 'hood this time around so we've spent a lot of time on the weekends trying to find new places to make "our" places. Of course, I had to find the closest Starbucks!

Our local Sbux sits on Shellbank Basin, which empties into Jamaica Bay. There is ample outdoor seating, both on the ground level and a 2nd-storey deck, which overlooks the water. Though it's never empty, it's a big difference from the busy-ness of my usual Sbux near work and such a fun way to wind down after a long jaunt in the park with my boys.

the basin

dome lids always make milk taste better
[cassius is lounging under the table]

a rare photo with my boy

This moment . . .

2011-11-18T08:00:00.001-05:00

Inspired by Amanda Soule - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Season of Splendour

2011-11-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Other than the freak snowstorm back at the end of October, NYC has been seasonably warm this fall. The trees seemed to be a bit confused at first, some changing colors on time while others remained green. I've spent a lot of time outside, both with family and my class, basking in the colors, trying to get in as much as I can before the leaves are gone.

This week, the students and I went on a neighborhood *leaf walk* collecting "specimens" to explore in class. Though I know the science behind the season, it's still quite difficult to wrap my head around the beauty that currently surrounds me.

little feet in crunchy leaves

interesting stoop dwellers

gold

prospect park

Shark attack!

2011-11-06T08:14:00.001-05:00

It's daylight savings time for those of you in my part of the world. Did you remember to "fall back" an hour? I thought I'd use the extra hour to finally finish my Halloween post.

pretty pumpkins

This was the first year [of 3] that Indio actually had some idea of what was going on. He was super-excited the days before because he knew he would get to wear a costume, though he kept changing his mind about what he wanted to be. In the end I picked up a cozy shark costume from Old Navy, which was perfect since Indy has been studying oceans at school and promptly told me he was going to be a "predator" when he saw his getup!

On Monday afternoon we set out to visit Louly's house -- my traditional Halloween stoop hangout pre-Indio and a perfect perch to watch all the costumes in the neighbourhood parade by.

Indy joins the gang on Louly and Bill's stoop

You cannot imagine Indio's delight when he realized that not only did he get to wear a costume, but he also got candy from complete strangers! After almost 3 years candy-free, my boy was delirious with excitement and an overdose of sugar! Lucky for us, he has no idea where his stash is now and doesn't seem to care. Phew!

After what felt like hours of trick-or-treating, we settled in on Ginna and Henry's stoop for a glass of vino with cheese and crackers. Thankfully, Indy ate some of the crackers and cheese and finally stopped with the candy only because Henry put him up to the task of handing out candy. Now I know what to do next year!

treats from Henry

the loot!

sugar overload

And a few from the previous weekend's parties:

pumpkin rings are the tastiest

snow in october? didn't anyone get the memo: we aren't in Canada anymore!

Dia de Los Muertos

2011-11-02T23:59:00.000-04:00

just in under the wire.

It's the most wonderful time of the year

2011-11-01T13:51:00.003-04:00

Ok, maybe not the most, but still pretty darn good! Sbux have their holiday cups and drinks out! I'm enjoying an extra-hot salted caramel mocha as I sort through last night's Halloween pics for my next post! YUM!

Happy Diwali!

2011-10-26T11:42:00.003-04:00

[yes, this is a photo from last year! i'll have new ones tonight.]

Wishing you and yours lots of love and prosperity for the new year!

In search of the Great Pumpkin

2011-10-16T22:34:00.003-04:00

Did you know NYC actually has a bonafide farm in its midst? I was shocked too!

We drove out to Queens Country Farm this past windy Saturday in hopes of visiting their pumpkin patch to find the perfect gourd for our Jack O'Lantern. We were kind of dismayed at the lack choice and didn't end up taking a pumpkin home. We did get to squeeze in a few barnyard animal sitings before someone declared it nap time by way of fussiness with a touch of crankiness.

It definitely wasn't a farm like the ones past the suburbs, but it was a brief escape from the concrete of the rest of the city.

king of the hill

"found one!"

so many chicks, so little time

A new fave

2011-10-05T12:00:00.000-04:00

I'm not a big fan of *drugstore chocolate* and prefer really good, really dark chocolate instead. I do, however, make exceptions for Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. How excited was I when I saw these at CVS? They are the perfect pick-me-up treat!

And . . . I'm back!

2011-10-02T09:18:00.004-04:00

For real this time! I can't believe it's been almost a month since I've posted and more importantly, since I've caught up on all the blogs I normally read!

School is in full swing and I've already survived the first field trip of the year. After a week of rain, the sun finally joined us for a wonderful [and tiring] excursion to Brooklyn Botanic Garden last Friday. I was shocked at how tired I was by the time we returned to school!

japanese garden at bbg

One thing we missed on Friday was our usual mid-morning snack. [Though our snacks are nutritious and delicious, I've been warned of the perils of eating *student-handled* snack. Needless to say, I've already had my first cold of the season.] Each student brings in snack on an assigned day, sets it up and figures out how much each person in the class is allowed to eat. The ensuing snack signs are hilarious and adorable.

absolutely no sneaking!

And in personal school news, Indy no longer cries at drop off and eagerly goes to his teachers in the morning. Monday, he starts attending 5 days a week! Yay, Indy!

my big boy on his way to school

Hope you're all enjoying your weekends. Can't wait to catch up on my blog reading!

School Days

2011-09-09T20:24:00.002-04:00

first day of school smiles

Where does the time go? It's been 3 weeks since we moved to NYC and 2 weeks since I started back at school. The kids arrive Monday, but the last 2 weeks have been spent prepping our newly-designed classroom and getting ready for our class of 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders.

On top of all the work excitement, E and I have been busy getting ourselves ready for a huge milestone in the lives of parents: sending your baby to *school*.

Indio began nursery school yesterday and what an emotional day it was . . . for all of us. As excited as we all were, a few tears were shed at drop-off. But at pick-up Indio was reluctant to leave and about 10 feet away from the building he asked if he could "go back to school."

I can't believe my baby boy is going to school though I'm so happy we found a fabulous place for him to play and learn.

On the move . . . again!

2011-08-17T09:17:00.006-04:00

I've seriously neglected this blog for too long. I have a bunch of post ideas lined up in my head, but haven't had the time to sit and actually formulate my thoughts. I'm hoping this will change once we make our big move back to NYC. Yep, it's official, I can't deny it any longer: we're moving . . . on SUNDAY!

I'm overwhelmed with emotions that span the spectrum: anxious about the preschool application process in NYC, excited about going to work at my *old* school, sad to be leaving family and friends once again, but oh-so-happy to have E at home all.the.time. No more of this traveling back and forth for him, leaving me and Indio alone in Toronto.

I hope you're all having a fabulous summer. I've kept up with some of my blog reading, though I'm still a bit behind. I'll catch you all up-to-date soon with a few posts about what I've been up to while in complete denial about this move all summer! xo

Freshly picked!

2011-07-22T00:20:00.004-04:00

getting messy [my mom managed to get indy's shirt looking almost new again!]

Last weekend, my parents and I decided to take Indio on an impromptu cherry picking excursion. Growing up, we would faithfully drive out towards Niagara every summer to pick baskets upon baskets of cherries. I have so many fond memories of *pit spitting contests*, climbing up to the *highest branch*, and picnics at Niagara Falls after a day of eating almost as many cherries as we picked.

Indio loved every minute of it and was especially excited that mama allowed him to take the pits out of the cherries on his own [my boy is growing up so fast!]. He was amazed at the vastness of Niagara Falls, though he continues to call it "the waterfall."

my monkey

"it's raining!"

photo op with my parents and family friends

Budding Chef

2011-07-20T22:24:00.005-04:00

In an effort to keep Indio busy this summer we signed up for *Little Chefs*, a free cooking class organized by Ontario Early Years Centres. I was hesitant at first because the class is timed perfectly with Indio's nap and I didn't want to risk a cranky toddler every week, but he's been a trooper and has sacrificed his midday snooze for a little culinary education.

We have only attended 2 classes so far, but both have been loads of fun! We start the class with a circle of songs and stories and then get right into cooking. The instructors are great about teaching routines such washing your hands before cooking, waiting your turn [some seem to struggle with this one!], learning about the different food groups and actually measuring and mixing the ingredients. It's quite amazing to watch a room full of toddlers so engaged in creating their own snack!

During our first class we baked blueberry muffins and made watermelon juice. Indio loved pouring ingredients into bowls to prepare the muffin batter. However, he had a hard time grasping the fact that he couldn't just eat the watermelon off the plate instead of actually cutting it to put it in the blender.

pouring flour

mmmmuffin!

The end result was delicious, and I'm not just saying that as a proud mama. I think even pastry-chef-in-the-making, Summer, would be impressed! We ate the muffin hot out of the oven and Indio drank his juice so quickly that I'm not sure he even tasted it!

"mom, may i have a real knife?"

so refreshing!

This moment . . .

2011-07-15T07:50:00.000-04:00

Inspired by Amanda Soule - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Sneaky sneaky . . .

2011-07-13T22:27:00.003-04:00

Woah, it's been awhile! How are you all doing? I've been swimming in blog post ideas but have had a difficult time trying to sit down and write!

Since the school year ended and E made an early return to NYC, Indio and I have been busy, busy, busy! You'd think with all this activity, my boy would be eating up a storm, but as many 2-year olds do, he seems to have lost his appetite, some days living on fruits and waffles.

In an effort to ensure he's getting as many nutrients as possible, my dad and I concocted a delicious smoothie that's perfect for these hot summer days. Indy calls it "Popeye" because I told him Popeye eats spinach. He doesn't even know who/what Popeye is! And yes, I said spinach. Don't worry, you can't even taste it!

I didn't calculate the nutritional info yet, but I can definitely say it's really good for you and I'm ok if that's all that Indio wants for dinner.

Popeye Smoothie

1 large banana
1 mango
1/2 cup raspberries
2 handfuls or more of baby spinach leaves
1.5 cups milk [whatever kind you like . . . I used 2% cow's milk because that's what we give Indio.]
ice

Put everything in a blender and hit "on". Voila!
Yields about 2.5-3 cups, depending on how much ice you use.

lending a hand

No words . . .

2011-06-22T06:37:00.001-04:00

To describe my excitement for next Tuesday:

via

Weekend Update: Fathers' Day

2011-06-19T22:00:00.000-04:00

So blessed to have such amazing men in my life. I hope Indio is taking notes from these three wonderful fathers.

papa

nanaji

aja

Time Capsule

2011-06-16T07:53:00.003-04:00

Sara from Feeding the Soil posted this video link, which brought tears to my eyes. I'm a sucker for almost any sort of *scrapbook,* but this one may just take the cake. I wish I had seen this two and a half years ago, when Indio was first born.

I still love his fill-in-the-blanks baby book and the Blurb books I make, but this is another cool way to preserve time.

Weekend Update: Brooklyn

2011-06-14T07:02:00.000-04:00

Another food-filled weekend in our soon-to-be-home again. I love watching Indio enjoy all the things I love about NYC.

melty mishap at the brooklyn ice cream factory

a *strawberry bagel* . . . aka indy's first taste of fried doughy goodness

burning all those empty calories with a scoot around crown heights

Bittersweet

2011-06-13T17:31:00.003-04:00

Load the car and write the note.
Grab your bag and grab your coat.
Tell the ones that need to know.
We are headed north.

One foot in and one foot back.
But it don’t pay to live like that.
So I cut the ties and I jumped the track.
For never to return.

Ahh Brooklyn, Brooklyn take me in.
Are you aware the shape I’m in?
My hands they shake, my head it spins.
Ahh Brooklyn, Brooklyn take me in.

[... I and Love and You by the Avett Brothers]

I am . . .

2011-06-07T22:02:00.001-04:00

. . . eating grapes that taste like lychees, they're so sweet! YUM!

And typing up my packing list for NYC. Yep, I do that.

This moment . . .

2011-06-03T14:21:00.000-04:00

Inspired by Amanda Soule - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Solitude

2011-05-26T16:33:00.003-04:00

I'm on a school overnight trip to Queen's University and today I had some time to explore on my own. The last time I was in Kingston, Ontario was with E on our 1-year anniversary, which was almost 4 years ago! This trip is so very different: I'm staying in a dorm room, I'm here for work, and I don't know a single other adult here!

My day started out a bit soggy at first. The rain started just as I was making my way out the door. Good thing I had an umbrella!

I've been carrying a lot of tension in my neck and back lately and E has been pushing me to get a massage. How fitting was it that the first place I passed was a spa? I settled in for an hour of relaxation at the hands of a fantastic RMT. Luckily, once I emerged from bliss the rain had stopped.

After that, I walked along Princess Street to Starbucks for an extra-hot coffee misto . . . YUM! I trekked down to the Lake [Ontario], popping in and out of adorably quaint shops and boutiques. The sun even came out and warmed me up [but also made my hair a frizzy mess!].

don't fall in!

frizzy self-portrait

holiday inn by the water

After a few hours, I thought it'd be best that I head back as the forecast is calling for severe thunderstorms this evening. I didn't really think I could have such a lovely day on my own in a town I knew nothing about, but it turned out grand.

minibux: mocha coconut frap, verdict? delish! [minus the whipped cream.]

best seat in the house

Do you like to explore on your own?

old stone and academia seem to always go hand-in-hand

luxuriously fragrant lilacs

May 2-4

2011-05-25T12:31:00.003-04:00

I've been neglecting this blog for sometime now. The only excuse I have is that things are a bit crazy around these parts and changes are happening, but they are taking a toll on me. Oh, and I've been spending every waking minute with my Kobo. I'm hoping to get back into the rhythm of things [blogging, exercising, etc] before report card season hits me full-swing! In the meantime, a few snaps of my guy, whose energy is boundless.

puddle jumper caught mid-flight

can't get enough of ravi aunty's luscious green

cuddling in the morning's rays while watching nemo, our newest obession.

balancing like a *graceful* swan [who, by the way, were taller than indy!]

This past weekend was Victoria Day here in Canada, aka a long weekend. We spent so much time outdoors, trying to make up for the lack of vitamin D the week before with all the rain. Indio took full advantage of the sunshine.

This moment . . .

2011-05-13T14:36:00.002-04:00

Inspired by Amanda Soule - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

To all the mothers in the world:

2011-05-08T11:36:00.000-04:00

Wishing you a fabulous day!

I'm lucky because not only do I have the most fabulous mom, I also have a wonderful mother-in-law.

my mom with me on a trip to india

my mother-in-law with e in guyana

And the icing on the cake: celebrating Mother's Day with my own son who spoiled me rotten [with help from his papa]!

me and my babe in new york

Well Fed Cinco de Mayo: Rebozos

2011-05-06T07:23:00.002-04:00

My love of Mexican food has not been fulfilled since we moved to Toronto.

In NYC, I was spoiled with the plenitude of restaurants serving delicious, authentic, affordable Mexican cuisine, but up north, my luck hasn't been as great. Sure, there are Mexican restaurants here, but definitely not as many as in NY. And authenticity is hard to come by because apparently just adding avocado to a dish seems to make it "Latin American."

E grew up eating authentic Mexican food made by his Mexican-American mother, so he is an even bigger critic than I am!

In honour of Cinco de Mayo, we set out to finally try Rebozos, a local restaurant that began in the owners' living room. Apparently not much has changed as the owners still live in the house the eatery is in, except that now Rebozos has expanded further into their living space.
We ordered chicken enchiladas verde [E], a chicken quesadilla [Indio], and a chorizo burrito [me]. The chef made a mistake and made a chicken burrito, so he threw in a chorizo taco alongside it.
Everything was delicious! Indy ate the insides of his quesadilla with gusto and asked for more. E said this was the closest we've come to finding food like we had in Mexico on our 2004 trip. And I was very happy and very full after my hearty burrito! The only thing missing was a margarita!

Rebozos is a must try for anyone looking for authentic Mexican cuisine in Toronto. We'll definitely be going back!

Rituals: AM vs. PM

2011-05-05T08:06:00.000-04:00

creating a math test for my class while drinking a grande extra-hot low-foam lactaid bold misto with two pumps vanilla . . . kept warm by alicia's cozy.

winding down at the end of the day with tetley tea and a piece of birthday chocolate . . . thanks, p!

A boy's-eye view

2011-05-03T08:56:00.000-04:00

As Indio gets older, our visits to his birth city become more of an adventure for him [and me, trying to keep him busy!]. I try to think of new and exciting things to do with Indy, who is at an age where he's curious about everything but has the attention span of a, well, a 2-yr old.

We took a customary subway trip along the A line from Indy's grandfather's place towards Far Rockaway. The train travels above ground in this segment and goes through the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and along the ocean, so there's lots to see. Not surprisingly, Indio was just as intrigued with the workmen repairing the tracks as he was the Atlantic.

here comes the A train!

playing footsies on the train

Indio's current obsession with all things transportation meant a visit to the NY Transit Museum was in order. We met up with Julie, Jonas and twins, Jesse and Miles for a morning of exploring buses, trains "from the olden days" and enough turnstiles to make you dizzy.

don't let the pigeon [or toddler] drive the bus!
supervising an oil change at the mechanic

A trip to NY always includes a visit with Alicia, Monty, Dulce and puppeteer extraordinaire, Kirsten. And much to Indy's delight, our night was filled with children's songs, complete with actions!

there was a great big moose . . .

Of course, Indio wouldn't leave all the picture-taking to me. This boy has an eye.

indy showing off his shutterbug skills to me and louly

While the humans are away . . .

2011-05-02T19:26:00.000-04:00

. . . the pup will play!
Cassius enjoyed the Easter weekend with a *treat hunt* at Parker Pet Care, our go-to boarder in Toronto. The staff treat Cash like royalty and he returns the love through wet doggy kisses and peeing on their floor every time we drop him off.

Well Fed: Brooklyn

2011-05-01T22:00:00.007-04:00

I know I've been MIA for a bit, but I finally found a moment to sit and catch you all up on our most recent trip to NYC.

Whenever I return to New York my trip seems to centre around food . . . delicious food. This trip was certainly no different!

My first stop wasn't actually in Brooklyn. After an overnight drive through torrential downpour I met up with my cousins who were stopping in Manhattan for the night for a piece of Crack Pie from Momofuku. And yes, it is every bit deserving of its moniker because it's that good. Bonus: it was served alongside a cup of Stumptown java.
Back in Brooklyn later in the week, we enjoyed dinner at Bocca Lupo in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. The evening began with an aperitif of Tequila with fresh strawberry, basil and balsamic vinegar. YUM!

My final night in Brooklyn I met up with Sophia for a delicious meal at Iron Chef in Brooklyn Heights.

new york, crazy couple and hardrock rolls

We walked through DUMBO before heading back to the 'Heights for some Crumbs cupcakes: Raspberry Swirl and Baba Booey, aka heaven in the form of peanut butter and chocolate!

bklyn bffs

love

Home away from home

2011-04-21T21:21:00.002-04:00

Packing for a visit back to my other home. So excited to see everyone!

Pockets Full of Sunshine

2011-04-15T09:40:00.004-04:00

The week in photos. Abridged.

glimmers of colour in my parents' garden

blurry, but still cute

Indio asks about this big "pencil" every time we pass the hospital. Yesterday he said he was going to draw cupcakes with it for his Aunt Addie's birthday!

Well [Over!] Fed: Birthday

2011-04-11T21:12:00.002-04:00

Five straight days of indulging in delectably rich food and I've finally thrown in the towel!

My birthday *weekend* began last Wednesday with a scrumptious meal of braised short ribs followed by a dessert plate piled high with banana bread pudding, chocolate molten lava cake, gelato and fruit at Ferrovia.

a rare moment when Indy was actually sitting still at Ferrovia

Thursday, was a wonderful evening with fellow bibliophile, Faiza. We filled ourselves up with General Tao's chicken and Malaysian noodles at the cute and quaint, Indochine, and still had enough for leftovers!

Friday was filled with more noodles and chicken at Satay on the Road with Lis and P.

mmm . . . vino

E and I enjoyed a much-needed date night Saturday. After hours of deliberating on which restaurant to choose and finding out that most of our choices were already booked up, we finally ended up at The Keg, a faithful fallback. With perfectly seared steak and delicious twice-baked potatoes paired with a *Keg-size* glass of wine what more could a girl ask for? A Dairy Queen Blizzard, that's what! Of course, I stuck to my usual: Cappuccino Skor. More than the food though, I relished the time we had to just *catch up* after what felt like weeks of crazy-ness.

delish!

The weekend ended with a great brunch at Hothouse Cafe with Jen and Bill and homemade cupcakes from Jen.

I've probably gained 5 lbs since I began celebrating my birthday, but I have the rest of the year to work it off, right? For a birthday that was seeming a little anticlimactic, it ended up being just perfect. Spending time with my family and friends and filling my face with all my favourite foods was more than I could ask for.

I think I'm over dessert for awhile though. Did I just say that?

Happy haiku to me

2011-04-06T09:55:00.001-04:00

wow! how fast time flies
around the sun one more time
what's in store this year?

birthday smooch for mama

From the mouths of babes

2011-04-04T21:59:00.003-04:00

As I'm getting ready to tuck Indio into bed this evening . . .

Me: What song do you want me to sing you tonight?

Indy: Ooh na na

And so instead of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, tonight's lullaby was Rihanna's What's My Name.

This moment...

2011-04-01T00:01:00.000-04:00

Inspired by Amanda Soule - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Really?

2011-03-31T08:38:00.002-04:00

More snow?!?!

I left my house amidst a mild drizzle and drove a mere 2.5 miles north into snow!

Spring, where are you?

Bad Mommy Moment

2011-03-30T21:08:00.000-04:00

Both E and I have been pretty adamant about restricting Indio's sugar-intake since he started eating solid foods, but lately that area seems to be a big-fat FAIL.

Indio had his first bite of cake when he turned a year old. His next bite was somewhere around his 2nd birthday.

But with all the recent birthdays and celebrations, he's had more than his fair share of tooth-decaying goodness. Now he seems to think everyday is a birthday.

Luckily, we are still able to distract him with bribes of mango or berries. Yes, I've progressed from feeding my kid cupcakes for dinner to bribing him.

devouring papa's bday cupcake [made with love by patricia]

mini ice cream cones to celebrate papa's bday [again] with nani and nana.

mickey mouse never tasted so good! indy is hoping angelina has another party soon!

Question of the day

2011-03-28T14:24:00.001-04:00

How is it that I never have anything to wear, yet I never seem to be able to get through all the laundry in our house?

My husband, my heart

2011-03-24T00:01:00.005-04:00

Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be.
[Robert Browning]

baby E

Happy birthday, my love.

Weekend Update

2011-03-22T22:01:00.000-04:00

I know, I know, it's late Tuesday and I'm just getting around to a Weekend Update! Forgive me; E is away in NYC, I'm battling strep throat [again!] and still managing to get myself to work and Indy to daycare on time.
We incorporated a new *tradition* into our library that I saw on inchmark: tracing Indio's wee hand along with mine on the end paper of his books. Cassius tried to get in on the action too!

Our daily walks have made a comeback into our lives and Saturday's was one Indy won't soon forget. It was my little boy's dream: Mighty Machines galore wrecking an old wine-making warehouse. We went back on Sunday to see the remains. I wonder how soon condos will be up in this spot.

mesmerized by the machines.

Sunday aftermath.

Saturday evening we finally got to catch up with K, V and little Jason. We ordered "greasy Chinese food" as K lovingly calls it and watched the hilarity that is Jason playing Dance Central [this boy's got moves!] while the big boys played ping pong. Can't wait for our next get-together.

armed with chopsticks and ready to eat.

This one's not from the weekend, but I couldn't resist my boy drinking his milk out of a Sbux cup in the bookstore . . . the apple doesn't fall far from this tree!

Finally!

2011-03-17T20:52:00.003-04:00

I know spring is still 4 days away, but signs of warmer weather are finally popping up all over!

Weekend Update

2011-03-13T21:01:00.000-04:00

Why is it that a week can go by so slowly only to have the weekend over in a blur???

Friday was a chill evening at home with the boys. We had the perfect rainy-evening dinner: chicken pot pie with a salad and of course, wine.

Saturday, Indio woke up under the weather. We knew something was up when he refused to eat. [The men in my family don't do that very often.] Lucky me, I was holding my little guy when he proceeded to throw up all over me and the computer keyboard. That was fun. Needless to say, our afternoon plans of a playdate and dinner with the Nurse family had to be postponed.
I still made the baked ziti I had planned for the evening, and after a 5+ hour nap, Indio even tried a bit.

Thankfully, Indy was back in action on Sunday. After a family walk in the misty morning, we headed uptown for a birthday lunch for Nanaji [my dad] at The Host. It was great to hang out with my folks and brother, even though the consensus was that the butter chicken wasn't up to The Host's regular standards.

Because we were still so full from lunch, our dinner tonight consisted of a cup of tea and some wine. Indy had some leftover ziti, though he tried to get into the wine.

How was your weekend? Did the time change affect you?

all better and his appetite is back with a vengeance!

Shakespeare in Action: The Diary of Anne Frank

2011-03-13T16:13:00.000-04:00

^via

Last week, my class and I went to see a theatrical version of The Diary of Anne Frank. The show was done by the company, Shakespeare in Action.

I know this story fairly well, having read it in junior high and taught it about 7 years ago to my middle school class in Brooklyn, but seeing it live on stage was still as moving as if reading it for the first time. The actors were so real, taking on the personas of the various characters in Anne's life. The woman who played Anne was amazing! She relayed Anne's innocence and youth so well that you truly thought this 20-something-year old was 13.

The play told the tragic story of Anne's family going into hiding during World War II in Amsterdam. Though the plot is somber and atrocious, the play also showed the personal side of each character, including the sweet first love between Anne and 16-year old Peter, who was also in hiding with his family.

Of course, no amount of lighter material could make the ending easier to digest. The final soliloquy by Otto Frank, Anne's father and only survivor out of the 8 people who were in hiding in that cramped attic, reduced me to a sobbing mess.

I hate that this story was ever written but am so glad that it continues to be told, especially in a world where such evils still plague humankind.

The Good Stuff: Battery-Operated Toothbrush

2011-03-07T21:32:00.004-05:00

Since Indio was 6 months old, bedtime has always been a fairly easy time in our household . . . except when it came to brushing his teeth. In the beginning, before those pearly whites even made an appearance we were diligent about gum massage, and up until more recently, Indy continued to allow us to brush his teeth for him.

With his recent explosion of independence and stubbornness, he began protesting and fighting me. I had to pin his arms down and between all the thrashing and screaming, try to polish each one of his tiny chompers.

I turned to some of other moms for pointers and that led me to a battery-operated, brightly coloured, Go, Diego, Go! brush by Colgate.

What a fabulous invention! Indio wants to brush his teeth all.the.time. He asks for his "Day-go brush" even when it's not time to brush his teeth. And he still finally lets me get in there to rid his mouth of the "sugar bugs" [another tactic picked up from another mom].

Card Catalogue

2011-03-04T12:20:00.003-05:00

One of my New Year's resolutions was to try and not incur any library fines this year. That lasted about 12 days, but I'm still proud to say that so far, I've only racked up 60 cents in overdue charges -- pretty good for a gal who was regularly paying a couple of dollars each month!

The Toronto Public Library has a great collection, which I take full advantage anytime I hear of another *great read*. I love that I can put a book on hold and then when it finally comes up in my queue I've totally forgotten about it so it's like a surprise as to what I'm going to read next!

Lately, I've devoured a few good reads:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.

This book has been on my *to read* list forever and I finally got around to picking up an audio copy for my commute.

I was a bit annoyed that at the beginning and end of every cd the announcer stated "this is disc ___ of The Perks of Being a Wallflower" but in the end this was a blessing in disguise as I realized that after listening to disc 5, disc 4 was starting! Oops! Luckily, it wasn't too hard to listen to the discs slightly out of order.

As for the actual story, I love this book. it is such a great coming-of-age tale of a sweet ninth grader who is socially awkward and brilliant beyond his years. Though it's been a few years since I was in junior high/high school, this book brought back a wave of memories and emotions of a time that was both tumultuous and triumphant. A perfect quote from the book: "So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be."

Definitely read it before the movie comes out next year!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

This was our Book Club pick for February, but I was a bit delinquent and didn't get to reading it until after our meeting. My consensus only 50 pages into it was that I was a bit worried it was going to be too gruesome and gory for me. Once I got going, I'll admit it was hard to put down. Even with the brutality, the story was compelling and left me wanting more. I don't think I'll jump right into the 2nd and 3rd books of the trilogy, but they're definitely on my radar now.

Unbearable Lightness by Portia de Rossi

I really wanted to like this book, and at the beginning, it was fairly engrossing, but by the middle I found myself skipping passages and almost entire pages. I think this would've have been an excellent magazine article, but as a book, I felt it went on a bit too much. I could relate to some of what Portia went through, but again, felt like it was just a really long diary entry that wasn't especially interesting.

Little Bee by Chris Cleave.

I think I've used the adjective "heart-wrenching" a lot this year when describing the books I've read, and Little Bee is no different. The story was difficult at times, and more than heart-wrenching, it was gut-wrenching. but it was very well written and captivating. I definitely couldn't put it down and often fell asleep with it on my face. I can't really divulge too much about the story because the author explicitly asks that readers let other readers find out for themselves, so you're going to have to pick it up and tell me what you think.

Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler

I wouldn't have picked this book up on my own, but luckily it was sent to me by the lovely and wonderful, Claire. I loved ending my day with a few pages at the Homesick Restaurant and was sad when it was finished. The story follows Pearl, a single mother, and her 3 children as they grow up in their dysfunctional family in Baltimore from sometime in the 1940s to 1975.

At first, it was really hard for me to connect with any of the characters because I didn't like any of them, but by the end I felt empathy and even a bond with them all. I liked that each chapter was from the point-of-view of a different character, with some overlap so I got to read how each character may have reacted to a particular instance.

I'd recommend this book to anyone...though it is not "beach read", it was fairly quick to get through and very thought-provoking.

Well, there you have it, just an inkling of what's taking up real estate on my night stand. Oh, and at the time of this post's publication, my fines were up to 90 cents and an official block was put on my account! Have to remedy that pronto!

Love Bytes!

2011-02-24T12:38:00.003-05:00

Looking for new reading material? Check out my guest post, Love Byte #24 today on Priya's blog:

Well Fed: Kraft Sizzling Salad

2011-02-18T15:11:00.005-05:00

A couple of months ago I had the opportunity to review Kraft's Chicken Caesar Sizzling Salad kit, but haven't had a chance to post my thoughts until now.

Some of you may already have guessed that I'm not that adept in the kitchen, so anything that makes preparing dinner easier is always welcome! The kits each come with a cooking sauce to use with your protein and salad dressing for your greens. All you have to do is add the meat and salad fixings.

E sautéed some boneless, skinless chicken breasts while I prepared the salad. In just a few minutes, we had dinner on the table!

The simplicity of the meal was appreciated on a busy weeknight and it tasted pretty good too! The cracked black peppercorn cooking sauce smelled great, but I found it a bit too *peppery* for me. I loved the flavour of the salad dressing [who doesn't love a rich Caesar dressing?], I only wish it came in a low-fat version.

Overall, we were definitely satiated. Paired with a glass of vino, I'd definitely make another Sizzling Salad soon, maybe this time with beef instead of chicken.

caesar salad is never complete without croutons and parmesan!

If you have any foolproof, quick and easy dinners for me to try, please pass the recipes my way!

He likes it!

2011-02-14T21:01:00.003-05:00

In honour of St. Valentine E and I picked up some sushi on our drive home. E is still under the weather, so I was surprised he opted for MY favourite cuisine instead of something more *comfort food* like, but I didn't argue! We chose an assortment of maki [rolls], including California rolls for Indy, though I was prepared to make him a separate dinner in case he didn't like them.

thomas chopsticks make mealtime fun!

Lucky for me, the apple doesn't fall from the tree, and my boy gobbled up his rolls and drank his miso soup with gusto!

Happy Love Day!

2011-02-14T11:05:00.006-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

I know some think that Valentine's Day is a made up, commercial holiday, but what's wrong with a day to show your love? [And eat chocolate.]

I'm looking forward to a relaxing evening with my Valentines.

What do you have planned?

Weekend Update

2011-02-12T17:53:00.005-05:00

After a week that felt like it would never end, the weekend arrived and is now almost over! Both Indy and E have been battling illnesses, thankfully at different times of the week, but still not fun for them. Indy is finally healthy though E still has a pesky cold.

Our weekends usually include watching SNL and one of our favourite segments is Weekend Update. Here is my Weekend Update:

^via

Friday -- 416BookClub: I didn't finish reading this month's book choice, The Hunger Games, but I plan to, even though the subject matter is a bit gruesome for me. Faiza, Judy, Marta, Naaz and I met at the new-ish midtown restaurant, the Burger Cellar for tasty burgers [mine was topped with Gruyere cheese and mushroom ragout], the best-sweet-potato-fries-I've-ever-had dipped in chipotle mayo, and Kawartha Dairy's delicious Moose Tracks ice cream. Oh, and I can't forget Marta's fantastic suggestion that we order fried pickles! Now I know why Snooki loves them so much!

As tired as I was, it was great catching up with the 416BC girls. Next month's my pick so I need to choose a fun eatery for us to try!

Saturday -- I took a couple of hours to myself while Indy napped to go shopping for a dress for next weekend's Pink Party [fun!] and groceries [boring]. E and I needed a low-key evening to ourselves, so we stayed in and caught up on our PVR'd shows while enjoying delicious Mexican Hot Chocolate with mini marshmallows. Kary's post put me on the quest to find some in Toronto, and I lucked out today while grocery shopping.
Sunday -- The weather is finally warming up . . . to a balmy 3 degrees Celsius today! We ventured to the park, which was desolate. Not a single other soul joined us in our trek through knee-deep snow, though if they did, Indy would probably have invited them to join him in a snow snack!

I hope this trend continues because my family has been missing our daily walks, which hasn't been good for anyone! I'm definitely one of those people whose mood is affected by the lack of sunshine. I've heard that taking Vitamin D supplements can help battle that.

Do any of you get down when the weather is bad? Have you found ways to help your mood?

Hope you're all having a restful Sunday and gearing up for a great week!

Really?

2011-02-10T08:31:00.001-05:00

Didn't the groundhog predict an early spring? Well, when is it arriving???

Snow day!

2011-02-02T12:22:00.003-05:00

our local snow clearing service hard at work

In preparation for a winter storm that was supposed to hit Toronto last night, wreaking havoc over the city, a snow day was called at school for today. How anti-climatic was it then when I woke up this morning to a new layer of snow, no worse than anything we've had so far? No blizzard, no whiteouts, definitely nothing to fret about. But who am I to complain? I get to stay home with my boys, enjoy the snow outside and then some hot cocoa by the window as we watch the snowplows clear our already-cleared streets. Bliss!

Back to the grind

2011-01-29T09:40:00.005-05:00

Hello readers! I hope you haven't given up on me because I've been MIA lately.

This week I started back at work...FULL TIME...after not working at all for over 6 months! Though this opportunity came out of the blue, it was the perfect time since I was ready to go back to work, but having to jump in full force with no notice has definitely taken a toll on my body:

I am so tired!

a photo of cassius from the archives

I haven't felt this exhausted since Indio was born. I can barely keep my eyes open after 9pm and have fallen asleep on the couch this week more times than I care to count.

To add to my fatigue I've managed to do 3 super workouts this week, one at the gym with my class--a perk of the new job!

Even with my need to hit the sack early, I'm loving the new venture and I'm invigorated by my workouts!

What's been keeping you busy lately?

Fat Blaster? For real?

2011-01-24T08:38:00.004-05:00

Remember that *resolution* I made to get my butt to the gym 3 times a week this month? Well, I have to admit, it hasn't been as easy as I thought.

My pass is only good during off-peak hours, so 7am-5pm, and I thought I would take advantage of Indio's naptime to get to the community centre, but that's much easier said than done.

I will say that I have kept up with 3 workouts each week for the past 2 weeks, though lately I've been relying on a set of DVDs that E has lying around called "Barry's Bootcamp". Yes, these are high on the cheese factor, but they are also high on the potency of the workouts. I've only been doing the 21-minute upper or lower body *Fat Blaster* workouts and I'm already feeling a difference.

I've said it before, I don't like exercise, and hardly have the motivation to do it alone at home, but if I can get in a decent workout in under half an hour, including stretching, I'm game. This week I doubt I'll be able to get to the gym at all, so I'm going to try to add the 12-min *Mission Specialist* ab workout to the end of my regular 21-min workout.

Any tips on how to stay motivated? And what about that whole thing called healthy eating? How do you stay on track? That's my next hurdle.

^via

At your local cinema

2011-01-12T11:13:00.008-05:00

E and I are avid movie buffs and over the holidays we had lots of opportunity to go out and watch a few flicks at the theatre.

Thanksgiving weekend we were in Missouri visiting E's mom and sister and decided to see Love and Other Drugs, which was really cute. I've loved Anne Hathaway since her Princess Diaries days and thought she was great in this film, even if there was a bit too much *boobage* on her part. Jake Gyllenhaal was adorable in his role as a relentless pharmaceutical salesman. The movie also provided an interesting [not always favourable] look at the world of pharmaceutical sales.

I was really hoping that How Do You Know would be the cute, romantic comedy of the season, but alas, it failed me miserably. With a stellar cast, who acted fairly well throughout the film, the storyline still didn't gel or make that much sense. There was no cohesion between characters, who all seemed to be doing their own thing. Maybe the editing needed to be refined, or maybe a better plot should have been written. Either way, this one isn't even a rental, no matter how much I love Paul Rudd.

Another one of my favourite actors [hotties] who has been prominent in theatres lately is Marky Mark, aka Mark Wahlberg. He stars in The Fighter, the based-on-a-true-story movie about boxer Micky Ward who has spent his life in the shadows of his brother, Dicky Eklund, former boxing hopeful turned crack addict. The acting in this film was fantastic, especially Christian Bale's portrayal of Dicky, which was phenomenal! I loved this movie even though some parts were predictable. E said the boxing scenes were "weak", but as someone who doesn't know the nitty gritty of the sport, it seemed real to me. I'd definitely recommend this one!

Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis paired up in Black Swan, the dramatic thriller about one ballerina's quest for perfection. Though the storyline wasn't that different than most perfectionist dancer plots, the added psychological twist made this film. Portman did an excellent job of playing Nina, a ballerina consumed with dancing to the point that she couldn't separate reality from fiction. The Oscar buzz surrounding Portman's portrayal is clearly worthy.

The Company Men. This movie gave emotion to all the downsizing that has occurred in the US since the most recent economic collapse. The plot centered around three men who lost their jobs at a large corporation while the company continued to buy property and pay its head honcho a $22 million salary! Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones and Chris Cooper do an excellent job in their characterization of these men who have to redefine themselves in every aspect of their lives. And though I'm not a huge Kevin Costner fan, I loved his role as the working class brother-in-law. This one might not be a must-see in the theatre, but it would be a good rental.

Phew! Hope you're still with me. Have you seen any of these films? What did you think? Any recommendations for our next movie night out?

all images via tribute.ca

Village on a Diet

2011-01-10T22:37:00.004-05:00

As much as I dislike exercise, I love watching other people do it. E and I used to watch the Biggest Loser every Tuesday until the producers thought it would be a good idea to make the show 2 hours long each week and we quickly decided we had better things to do with our time! We had a quirky [secret, until now] routine of eating Taco Bell takeout while watching the BL participants trying to change their eating habits for the better.

Now Canada has its own version of a Biggest Loser-type show called Village on a Diet. It's about a small town in northern British Columbia where 60% of its inhabitants are overweight or obese. The entire town wants to get healthy and in the process, try to lose a collective 1 ton in 10 weeks! And health and fitness experts have been flown in to help them do just that.

We watched the first episode last week and the second tonight and I have to say, I'm hooked. Though there are moments that are a bit overly-dramatic [trainer being "tough" with trainee], this documentary-style show is done so well, giving viewers an inside look at the struggles and triumphs of an entire town.

Village on a Diet is definitely giving me motivation to stick to my own goals. Hopefully, the rest of the season won't disappoint.

If I write it down I have to do it

2011-01-10T00:01:00.002-05:00

I'm not big on new year resolutions [I tend to make more around my birthday], but healthy living is always on my list, anytime of year. Exercise is definitely not my favourite thing to do and sweets top my list of sustenance, so this is a real challenge for me. Luckily, I married a fantastic fitness expert who helps keep me in line.

In November, I finally bit the bullet and joined the gym on a 3-month trial. I hadn't stepped foot inside a gym since the days of being pregnant with Indio! During November I was pretty good at getting to the gym, but December was a bust! First, we were in NYC, then I had strep and we had guests for the last 3 weeks. [I know the die-hard fitness buffs would call those "excuses".]

Well, it's now January and I am back on the wagon [or elliptical machine!]. I only went to the gym once last week, but I'm still hurting from that workout. My goal is to go 3 times a week before my pass runs out in February, so that's 12 times. Will you help me stay motivated?

I think I'm going to convince E to buy me a pair of Nike Free running shoes if I can keep up my gym routine until spring. What motivates you? What do you do for exercise? How do you stick with it and not lose steam?

via

Slip Sliding in the Snow

2011-01-09T09:42:00.004-05:00

Our good friends, Marta and John, lent us their toboggan to use while we had E's family visiting over the holidays, but we didn't have enough snow! We finally got the chance to test it out last Friday after a mini-snowfall on Toronto.

Indy loved "sledding" and kept saying, "Do it again!" each time he got to the bottom of the hill. Mama and Papa were cold long before Indy was ready to go home, but that's probably because Indy was a little Michelin Man in all his layers! Maybe I need to invest in a pair of adult-sized snowpants!

Do you like the snow? Is there any snow where you are? I'm secretly hoping for an early spring, but I do love the look on Indy's face when he's in the snow...

building a snowgoose!

tasting the snow

"wheeeee!"

all by myself!

Project 365: the bittersweet end

2011-01-01T23:11:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year! I hope you all rang in the New Year exactly the way you wanted to. Our night was low-key, but fun and somehow we were out until 4am! Nights like that are rare these days.

Last night also marked the end of Project 365: an entire year of photos, one taken each day, 365 total...finally complete!

Three cameras [Canon SD940, Nikon D60 & Blackberry Tour], two computers and lots of time was spent compiling the images that loosely represent my year. Though sometimes an arduous task, I'm so glad I completed it and am now getting ready to make a Blurb book of all the images.

I won't be tackling the same project in 2011, but I am on the search for another photography project of a smaller scale, maybe something once a week, so let me know what you're doing.

[day 354: Poutine--a true Canadian delicacy.]

[day 355: End-of-dinner Americano at Marcello's with E's baby sis...YUM!]

[day 356: My very first Christmas tree--how adorable is it?]

[day 357: Deciding what I want on my Ali Baba's falafel sandwich...DELISH!]

[day 358: Christmas eve apple pie, served with President's Choice Loads of Caramel Cashew Toffee Ice Cream...say that 5 times fast!]

[day 359: I find nutcrackers a bit creepy, but very Christmas-y so I made sure to include one on our tree.]

[day 360: Marcello's again, this time with a different sister of E's...chili olive oil, rosemary olive oil and balsamic vinegar--all so tasty that I think I ate an entire basket of bread with them!]

[day 361: Stuck in traffic at dusk on Bloor Street.]

[day 362: I'm not a fan of fried chicken because the only kind I've tasted is fast food, but E's mom made some from scratch and I am officially a convert! It was so good that I even dreamed about it that night!]

[day 363: Indy's obsession with balloons continues well after his birthday.]

[day 364: This is now becoming an annual holiday shot at P's mom's after-Christmas lunch.]

[day 365: Ready to ring in 2011 with some of the best people I know.]

Falalalala Lala Lala

2010-12-27T10:15:00.001-05:00

This year I hosted my very first Christmas dinner, complete with turkey and Claire's sweet potato soufflé! E grew up celebrating Christmas, but I basically took in the festivities at friends' or cousins' houses since we didn't really celebrate in my house, so it was a big deal for me to begin traditions for our little family.

We combined Indy's birthday with Christmas since E's mother, father, sister and her husband were all here visiting from the States.

The house was festive, the food was delicious and the air was full of love!

Hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas too!

oh christmas tree my christmas tree...

indy's first words christmas morning: "what is THAT?" as he pointed to the bounty under the tree.

sleepy-eyed: you know i love you when i'm willing to post a bed-head family photo!

the fabulous chocolate/vanilla/pudding birthday cake made for indy by my bff, jenn

indy now equates birthdays with cake...guess it's better than thinking it means "presents"

'Twas the night before Christmas...

2010-12-24T00:01:00.001-05:00

Wishing you and yours a fabulous Christmas full of love and joy!

Second trip around the sun

2010-12-15T08:07:00.002-05:00

Two years ago today our little boy was born and our lives changed forever. The passing of time is always so bittersweet because I want to savour every minute of it but I love watching Indio grow. As he learns new things and navigates his world he reminds us everyday of how lucky we are to have such a beautiful, caring, smart and vibrant boy.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Indio!
We love you more than words will ever be able to describe.

new to the world

world explorer

Ornament Swap 2010: My Bounty!

2010-12-08T23:12:00.003-05:00

This year is the first year I will have an official Christmas tree in our house and I thought what better way to adorn it than with an ornament from Micaela's Ornament Swap 2010! I was lucky enough to be paired up with a wonderful swap partner, Erin, who is a fellow Canuck [she's out west in the beautiful land of British Columbia] and has such a fantastic blog!

Yesterday, I received a wonderful package from Erin containing the cutest, most adorable little additions for my soon-to-be Christmas tree! I can't begin to thank her enough for her thoughtfulness [she read I loved elephants in a comment I made on Micaela's blog!] and originality [they were handpicked from an Etsy artist: MaiseyHandmade.]

love the twine and teeny tag.

I can't wait to put these guys up on our tree when we finally get it! Thank you so much, Erin! I hope you receive your ornament soon, if you haven't already! Canada Post promised me it would get to you safe and sound this week!

how perfect are they?

erin knows soft ornaments are best with a toddler exploring everything!

Snapshot Sunday: weeks 49 & 50

2010-12-07T10:36:00.002-05:00

Two weeks of photos and the only two weeks of 2010 before we're onto the next decade of this millennium! Are you ready? I'm not...at all.

[day 338: Dufflet's chocolate banana cake--perfect for an uncle's birthday!]

[day 339: Taking advantage of a child-free Sunday morning with brunch at the Lakeview.]

[day 340: Woke up to rooftops ready for reindeer.]

[day 343: Dino dinner.]

[day 345: Road trip indulgence--the McGriddle is sweet and savoury at its best!]

[day 346: Unplanned outfit coordination.]

[day 347: Hostess Carla cooked up a delicious veggie meal of broccoli slaw-stuffed tofu with soy chorizo & quinoa...I swear to all you carnivores, it was spicy and delicious!]

[day 348: Yes, that's my son in a bar in his pajamas being mauled by an older woman.]

[day 349: Celebrating at Grandpa's with homemade cake while mama is sick in bed.]

[day 350: Seems I always snap a bridge pic when leaving NYC. Makes me yearn for it even more.]

[day 351: Red curry and pyramid rice from Spring Rolls.]

[day 352: Post-movie Blizzard...made the flick more palatable.]

[day 353: The union of two of my favourite foods: poached eggs with guacamole and avocado...that blackened thing over on the right was well-done potato rosti.]

Snapshot Sunday: week 48

2010-12-05T21:06:00.003-05:00

Woah, it's December and almost 2011??? In 10 days my baby turns 2. TWO! As exciting as this is, I'm feeling pretty bummed about it actually because I want to stop time and keep him little for a bit longer. I finally finished his "first year" photo book and ordered it from Blurb. I'm trying to finish year two before the end of the year. It's a lofty goal, but I think I can do it.

This week's photos are missing day 338 [yesterday] for the mere reason that I'm too lazy to wait for my photos to upload right now, but the rest of the week was pretty colourful.

Hope you're all enjoying the last month of the year. Are you preparing for the holidays? Have you received snow yet?

[day 332: This restaurant reminded me of a friend who shares its namesake.]

[day 333: Washing dishes or just making a bigger mess?]

[day 334: Crazy-beautiful sunset filtered through a dirty windshield.]

[day 335: 'Tis the season for a festive CN Tower.]

[day 336: Would you accept a kiss from this yogurt monster?]

[day 337: Funky mural on west Queen St West.]

Well Fed: Columbia, MO

2010-11-30T21:35:00.001-05:00

After a week filled with Midwest hospitality and deliciously over-sized meals, I'm shocked I haven't gained 10 lbs! We had a great trip visiting E's mom and baby sis, Addie, in Columbia, Missouri, and eating to our hearts' content! Our meals consisted of some great home cooking and these worthy takeout meals:
First stop: Smokin' Chick's BBQ, Original Missouri BBQ. Now, growing up in Canada, I didn't fully realized there was a cuisine called "BBQ" until I met my Midwestern husband. He has taken me out a few times in search of authentic BBQ in NYC [didn't happen] and in Kansas on previous trips to visit his family. But it was only on this trip that I fully understood why people salivate at the mere mention of baby back ribs. Chick's baby backs were tender, fall-off-the-bone tasty. I did find the St. Louis ribs a bit fatty, but the baked beans and potato salad didn't disappoint. I'm officially a BBQ convert...

...and so is he!

Since first meeting E's familia, Dairy Queen has became a staple during our get-togethers, but this time we skipped the DQ and headed to Culver's for frozen custard. Addie tried to convince me that custard was just thicker ice cream, but after sampling the Concrete Mixer [a Blizzard in disguise], I'm pretty sure they're the same consistency and equally tasty! I had the banana/Reese peanut butter cup combo...Heaven! [Just a bit of warning: do not look up the nutritional info at Culver's if you want to enjoy your custard!]

[right before I devoured my 'Mixer]

Being in a *college town* [Columbia is home to the Mizzou Tigers] it's almost a necessity to have good pizza to keep the students well-nourished and Columbia didn't disappoint. Addie took us to Shakespeare's Pizza in the downtown district for some mouth-watering, whole wheat crust deliciousness [you didn't think "mouth-watering" and "whole wheat" could be in the same sentence, now did you?] Voted "Favorite College Hangout" by Good Morning America, Shakespeare's was packed to the rafters and had an hour long wait! Luckily, we called in our order and it was ready to go when we got there. Our pie was piled high with toppings that it was a balancing act trying to get a piece to my mouth without it falling apart in my lap! Paired with a yummy red wine, this pizza dinner was just about perfect.

^via

Definitely check out these spots if you're ever in Columbia. I'm still salivating reminiscing about our trip!

Snapshot Sunday: week 47

2010-11-28T18:47:00.000-05:00

Hope those of you south of the border had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We were in Missouri for the family feast, which was as relaxing as you can get. Lots of eating, playing and even some working out. Really! I have the photos to prove it!

What did you do for the holidays?

[day 325: Sitting behind first class still gives you lots of leg room...I couldn't even touch the seats in front of me. Too bad all the first class passengers were probably cursing our unhappy tot during the flight. Yes, we became that family.]

[day 326: Columbia, MO is full of lakes and ponds that Indy was eager to check out.]

[day 327: Working out at Wilson's, a chic boutique gym that costs less than the stinky gym-rat gyms I belonged to in NYC.]

[day 328: My after workout shake...Yes, I worked out twice on vacation!]

[day 329: Thanksgiving breakfast made by my little man. Authentic Canadian maple syrup too!]

[day 330: Midwest hospitality even extends to the airports: plastic baggies for your 3oz liquids and gels! They even made an announcement for a lost turkey lunch left at a gate. Makes traveling to JFK or LaGuardia that much more painful.]

[day 331: Happy at home...and sporting papa's hat.]

Holiday Greetings: free from Shutterfly

2010-11-22T16:38:00.009-05:00

I've always loved sending holiday cards since I heart all things *snail mail*. With the addition of Indio to our lives and the colossal number of photos we have of him, it only made sense to capitalize on his cuteness with the yearly seasonal greetings.

I've always preferred the quality of Shutterfly for prints to send off to the grandparents and family and photo books to commemorate our vacations, but only last year used them for their large selection of holiday greetings. I loved the simplicity of Shutterfly's site, from uploading and storing photos, to editing them for my card. Their cards are printed on thick card stock in either 5x7 folded or flat and the ever-chic 5x5 flat size.

last year's choice.

Of course, I couldn't limit my snail mail to just the end of the year. So this year, I also made Halloween and Diwali cards.

my sweet pumpkin

happy diwali: of course, I couldn't choose just one!

I still haven't narrowed down my choices for 2010, but these are a couple that I've already saved in my project gallery. [I don't want to ruin the surprise!]

yes, we've already done santa photos this year...i hate crowds so i decided to avoid them this year!

Visit Shutterfly if you're looking for traditional or modern, fun and funky, simple or ornate greetings to send all year long. If you're a fellow blogger sign up to get 50 free holiday cards for yourself! Shutterfly wants bloggers to review its new holiday card designs, no matter how big or small your blog is!

Snapshot Sunday: week 46

2010-11-21T00:01:00.000-05:00

This week is a bit of a blur. Indio was sick for a big chunk of it. E was under the weather and up to his eyeballs in work and apparently I only used my phone to take photos. I was desperately trying to get our holiday cards ordered, Blurb book completed and pack for our trip too!

We are probably mid-way to Missouri by the time you read this. We are headed there to visit E's mom and baby sister for American Thanksgiving. I'm excited to see them, explore Columbia, and eat turkey! Hopefully, I'll have time to blog from there, but if not, see you in a week!

[day 319: when mama runs out of coins for the fountain, Indy gets his own!]

[day 320: my fearless boy at the indoor playground, followed by his knight.]

[day 321: sbux holiday drinks taste even better when it's buy-one-get-one!]

[day 322: I ordered a Lactaid decaf latte and got sewage water. as much as I want to support mom-n-pop shops, at least with the big corporate guys, they get it right every time.]

[day 323: sticking grapes in his ear because his mouth was full.]

[day 324: our time at the playground is quickly diminishing as the weather gets colder.]

From the mouths of babes

2010-11-18T21:41:00.004-05:00

My heart goes a-flutter every time Indio says, "Tank you!" for everything from a bowl of grapes to helping him off his highchair, without us prompting him. I'm sure Miss Manners would be just as proud.

It's beginning to feel a lot like...

2010-11-17T21:04:00.005-05:00

blank canvas: rockefeller center circa 2006

I know it's still only November, but I'm already getting giddy thinking about the holiday season. This year, I will finally have my very own Christmas tree! Growing up in a Hindu family, we didn't celebrate Christmas [though we took advantage of the Boxing Day sales!], and I did exchange gifts with friends and spent a lot of time at my cousin's place, whose house was always festive and traditional.

E grew up celebrating Christmas, and though we both don't like the commercial aspect of the holiday, we are excited to begin our own family traditions and continue those he shared with his family.

To jumpstart my ornament shopping, I joined the lovely Micaela's Ornament Swap! I was paired up with a fellow Canuck, Erin and after perusing her fantastic blog, I set out today in search of the perfect adornment for her tree. As I was walking along Queen St West in downtown Toronto I stumbled upon a fabulously ornate store called Ten Thousand Villages.

From their website:

"Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit Fair Trade Organization (FTO). FTOs are non-governmental organizations designed to benefit artisans, not to maximize profits. They market products from handicraft and agricultural organizations based in low-income countries, providing consumers with products that have been fairly purchased from sustainable sources."

I only had about 20 minutes before my parking meter ran out, so I had to move fast. [I have bad luck with trying to outrun meter-maids...] TTV had so many gorgeous ornaments decorating their faux trees that it was hard to narrow down my choices, but in those 20 minutes I managed to collect about 20 beautiful, handmade embellishments that would be perfect on almost any evergreen.

I can't share my wares just yet because I want Erin to be surprised when she receives her swap package, but as soon as my tree is up and decorated, I will be sure to post it here.

Do you celebrate Christmas? What are your holiday traditions? Have you started any of your own?

one of the ornaments i had to pass up...though i may go back for him b/c he's utterly adorable!

Snapshot Sunday: week 45

2010-11-14T17:48:00.000-05:00

Another week gone already. It's crazy how quickly they seem to be slipping through my fingers.

Have you started thinking about resolutions? Do you do that sort of thing? I don't, but maybe this year I'll start. What do you have in store for 2011?

[day 313: after almost 2 hours of fun at an indoor playground Indy found this sandwich board to be more exciting. go figure.]

[day 314: I couldn't get the camera out fast enough to capture Cassius's nose inside E's slipper. weirdo.]

[day 315: I was trying to distract myself from the pain of my first gym visit in over 2 years(!) with the pretty leaf.]

[day 316: unbelievable fog on the drive home from girls' night.]

[day 317: my latest library acquisition and my fancy new bookmark.]

[day 318: another at-home haircut. wow, he looks like a little man!]

Festival of Lights

2010-11-12T14:24:00.000-05:00

Last week, my family and I celebrated Diwali, the *Festival of Lights*. Diwali marks the new year for Hindus around the world. This year Indio was super excited to light the diyas, calling out "Candles! Candles!" all night long, and eat all the delicious food my parents prepared. It was a really special moment for me to share something that I loved so much growing up with Indio and E.

homemade Indian sweets with real silver foil

colourful diyas

lighting sparklers and fireworks outside

Indy's favourite part of the evening...I have to admit, it took a lot for me to let him hold his own sparkler, and luckily there were no injuries!

Help me make a bike or two

2010-11-11T21:03:00.004-05:00

[how many is too many?]

I finally have a good reason to buy lots of Swedish Berries and Mini Eggs! [you really can't understand my joy the day I found out I didn't have to wait until Easter anymore for those scrumptious chocolate eggs!]

Cadbury Canada has started a fantastic project, the Bicycle Factory, as a way to build bikes for children in Ghana, Africa to help them get to and from school. Last year, they built 5,000, which they are hoping to do this year as well.

How does eating Swedish Berries and Mini Eggs fit into this? Well, each Cadbury product has a UPC that can be entered on the Bicycle Factory site. Each UPC equals one virtual bike part and it takes 100 parts to make each virtual bike. [Trident and Stride gum as well as all Cadbury chocolates also qualify for bike parts.] So, if I was the type of person who already ate her entire candy stash from Halloween, I might have just built an entire bike. [Good thing I'm going to the gym these days.]

Unfortunately, this project ends on Sunday, so go eat some chocolate and start building some bikes!

What have I gotten myself into?

2010-11-10T08:25:00.000-05:00

Ack! I just signed up for a 3-month contract at a gym! I haven't stepped foot into such an establishment since mid-2008, but I finally realized that just living with a fitness guru wasn't really getting me into shape. I'm nervous and excited to get back on track. Wish me luck!

Technicolour Tuesday: week 44

2010-11-09T16:00:00.002-05:00

Seven weeks of 2010 left??? That's it? Wow. I have to say, I'm pretty impressed that I've stuck with Project 365 this long, [patting self on the back] but I don't think I'm going to attempt it next year. I'm looking for a new creative photo project. Anyone have any ideas or things you've done in the past to record your life in pictures?

[day 304: Fruits of our labour.]

[day 305: Sous chef at it again.]

[day 306: Nothing like grilled cheese and tomato.]

[day 307: His handknit acorn hat still fits!]

[day 308: Festive cups always make my latte taste better.]

[day 309: What are we going to do with that mop???]

[day 310: A gift from mom--I think it's a lily of sorts. Hoping I won't kill it.]

[day 311: Totem pole in Little Norway Park, right by the Toronto Island Airport.]

[day 312: Riding the choo-choo at the mall.]

Diwali Mubarak!

2010-11-05T00:14:00.001-04:00

May this Diwali
bring light to your spirit,
warmth to your home,
and joy to your life.

With lots of love from our family to yours.

What I loved in October

2010-11-04T14:35:00.004-04:00

The past month was chock-full of product suggestions from friends. Here are a few that have become staples in my life already:

I was lucky enough to lots of face time with Paula over the last two weeks, and of course, that meant sharing our fave items that get us through the day [besides wine!].

While at the Dollarama checkout counter, my eyes caught sight of a Reese Bar. Now, being a huge fan of chocolate and peanut butter, it was hard to look away, but I did...until a voice behind me said, "Have you tried these? Mmmm, they're so good!" [I never said she was a good influence!] And yes, it was! I ate the bar over the course of almost a week, savouring each little piece while reading in bed. I'm glad this is a limited edition, though I may just have to make a Dollarama run soon, before they run out!

Being moms, Paula and I are always looking for new and exciting snacks for our kids, who seem to get bored of anything we buy in bulk. [You liked it last week, which is why I stocked up this week!] On a short grocery store trip [read: Indio was with us, thus the shortness of the trip], Paula pointed out Voortman's Ginger Kids packed with *whole wheat goodness*. I just had to pick up a pack for Indio. Funny thing is, I think he's had one cookie so far while they've become a complement to my evening cup of tea. Hey, they're good for me! It says so right on the package!

Since having Indio, my hair has become more curly/wavy. No really, I'm serious! Of course, the wonderful combo of only knowing how to style my hair straight and not having enough time to do such styling, I've been looking like a hot, frizzy mess most days. Nooreen, my go-to makeup and hair gf [she did my wedding makeup!] continues to put up my with constant badgering of how to get my hair to look like hers. Her new fave curly products have become my new faves too! Pantene's Curly Hair Series are a product-phobe's dream! The Curl Enhancing Spray Gel and Satin Hold Hairspray don't make my hair crunchy and I can apply them over and over again for a few days without my hair looking greasy. If I was organized enough I would even show you a pic of what my hair looks like today, day #3 since washing it.

^via
^via

All Hallows Even

2010-11-02T04:28:00.001-04:00

Indy has been obsessed with pumpkins ever since the first orange squash was on display for the season, so the build-up to Sunday night was exciting, to say the least.

We carved a pumpkin for our porch and walked around the 'hood in search of ghouls and ghosts. E wouldn't let Indy trick-or-treat because he didn't want him to feel bad about not being able to eat the candy. I was hoping to distract Indy and eat it all myself. Oh well. At least E saved a few mini Coffee Crisps for me.

modeling their costumes before the big day. cassius wasn't thrilled that his was so small.

scooping out pumpkin guts.

waiting for trick-or-treaters

our first family jack-0.

The month formally known as November

2010-11-01T02:56:00.002-04:00

^via

Today is the first day of Movember, as in *mo* for moustache. Every November, men across the world come together to grow a bit of facial hair for a cause that has recently become much more dear to my heart: prostate cancer.

From the Movember website:
"The rules are simple, start Movember 1st clean-shaven and then grow a moustache for the entire month. The moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health, the means by which awareness and funds are raised for prostate cancer. Much like the commitment to run or walk for charity, the men of Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days."

The bad news about prostate cancer:
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer to afflict Canadian men.

The good news:
Over 90% of prostate cancer cases are curable if detected and treated in their earliest stages.

By bringing attention to this far-too-common disease, hopefully more men will get tested earlier and funds will be raised to help with research and education.

Now, don't worry, I won't try growing a 'stache this month, but I did recruit my brother to join the movement. I'll keep you updated on his *growth*. To find out more and/or support the cause visit Prostate Cancer Canada.

Snapshot Sunday: week 43

2010-10-31T21:19:00.004-04:00

A short *week* since my last installment was just last Thursday. And surprisingly, no sign of Indio.

[day 301: "Where transportation is safe and always fun."]

[day 302: Supporting a cause by making a delicious dinner.]

[day 303: Driving home from Buffalo with my honey beside me. It was a long two weeks.]

Technicolour Thursday: week 42.5

2010-10-28T23:59:00.000-04:00

[day 290: Blast from the past.]

[day 291: A ritual since I was just wee--a hot cup of tea in the afternoon.]

[day 292: My brother is one of Indy's favourite people...probably because they both love causing trouble.]

[day 293: One of the *attack pinecones* that came after Cassius.]

[day 294: Fellow Torontonians, did you vote? I did, but was dismayed by the results.]

[day 295: Exploring numeration at the Ontario Early Years Centre.]

[day 296: Children of the Corn--pink for Lisa's amazing strength.]

[day 297: Not technically my photo but a good one nonetheless...in Manhattan, sent to me from E.]

[day 298: Fido enjoying the smell of exhaust fumes.]

[day 299: Something about this photo is pure cuteness.]

[day 300: Retro-ish board book I wanted to buy for Indy.]

Music to my ears

2010-10-28T12:13:00.003-04:00

I'm sitting on Paula's couch alone, catching up on my blog reading, with the lo hum of Indio and his two little friends playing in the background. This newfound independence is fantastic...mine and his!

Mall Walking

2010-10-27T03:25:00.002-04:00

[ready to feast on pad sew noodles]

Recently, Indy and I ventured to a mall together. [This is a big deal since Indy already abhors shopping though I think it's more the sounds and lights in the mall than the actual shopping...he's much like his papa in this respect.] We met up with Paula, who came prepared with toys and books for Indy...and she didn't even have her own kids with her! Now that's a prepared mom!

I was amazed at the number of other moms with strollers crawling the mall and kept thinking, "Why are there so many moms here in the middle of the day?" only to realize, "Duh, I'm one of them and this is the best time for us because all the other people are at work!" Only difference? My kid wanted to run amok and touch everything while all the other babes were either sleeping or watching the world go by perched in their strollers.

Though we didn't stay as long as I could have sans bébé [that whole nap schedule thing got in the way] and I didn't buy anything for myself, we had a great day and Indio was so tired that he fell asleep before we left the parking lot. [Guess it's tiring trying to outrun your mama at every clothing rack!]

[dollar store treasures that complement the current firetruck/garbage truck obsession...just hope they don't contain BPA or whatever other chemicals I should be scared of.]

Paula and I have already set our next mall date, but this time Indio already has other plans!