PR LISTS and random musings

I am suddenly on a gazillion PR lists. 

I get offers every day for diet books, skin rejuvenators, books, magazines, brand-new-your-kid-is-sure-to-love-it toys, the best kitchen aids ever.

And when I don't respond they follow up. And follow up. And follow up.

And then offer me more.

Bath products and candles and books for review and even a TV (which I would have to return so, no thanks).

I would say I turn down about 95% of the pitches I am sent.

I wrote a few poems and was thinking of submitting one for publication.

Then I remembered I'm not a poet.

At all.

And stringing together a few words for the sake of, does not a poem make.

I sent Z upstairs to change his underwear because he had an accident.

He was gone for 30 minutes.

Then I got worried.

I went upstairs and found him asleep in his bed.

With a pair of my husband's boxer shorts on.

I don't even know what to say about that except,

I wish I had taken a picture.

It is pouring rain and my naturally curly hair is very sad about it.

It shows me this by exploding.

I counter by putting it in a pony tail.

I fear that curly hair is endeavouring to make an escape.

Considering that I have to see REAL grownups tonight, I better go and do something about it.


Oh ya, W took his first few steps. 
Then fell. 
He hasn't tried again. 
He's soooo my kid!

Little Drummer Boy

Dear Uncle Matty,

Thank you so much for the drum set you bought my older brother. It's my most favourite toy ever!

Love,

Will

My 'Oprah'

Women of Toronto went insane over the past few days. Oprah was in town for an instalment of her 'Life Class'. Women lined up for hours, some paying hundreds of dollars, just to hear Oprah and her gurus. 


Full disclosure: I'm not a big Oprah fan. I'm not a huge "lightbulb moment" fan. I find a lot of her gurus talk in circles and they annoy me. I don't really buy into the motivational junket as a general rule.


However, I respect the fact millions of women (& men?) are inspired to be bigger and better as a result of Oprah. So I'd like you to introduce you to my 'Oprah'...the woman who has inspired me to go big or go home. To really reach for the goals I have set out for myself and to not settle until I have done everything I can to reach them. To not talk, but to take action.

Read all about her here

Thanks Sammie for being my 'Oprah'! I'd stand in line for hours to hear you talk anyday:)

When You Get Feedback...

aka: How one (slightly) negative comment is all I can think about

I recently found out that a short story I wrote will be published in an anthology.
I am beyond thrilled because, as you might remember, one of my Resolutions was to write more often and submit it...

My writing is not contest winning. This I know. I don't write to be dark or overly insightful. I don't swear. I don't include sex. Nobody dies or tries to die or wants to die. Pretty much everything that is in contest winning writing is missing from mine.
I do write to entertain, however. I write about people I know, people I've seen, stories I've concocted while eavesdropping on strangers. I am never overly serious. I like fast-paced wit, with a touch of sarcasm and a smidge of seriousness.

So when I learned that the second story I have ever submitted for publication was, indeed, to be published, I was over the moon. When I learned that three real authors/editors had chosen my piece from hundreds of submissions, I was thrilled. When I read the bottom of the notification email and saw this praise from one of the judges:

The ‘voice’ grabs the reader first line to last. Fast paced, cleverly constructed,  sparkling prose. I actually shrieked out loud. When I read a little bit further and saw this criticism: Missed great opportunity in ending.  I lost focus on everything else and it was all I could think about. Interesting how every positive comment can be drowned out by one criticism.

My Obsessions

I'm linking up with my friend Sara at Saige Wisdom, with her awesome idea for an obsessions post.

I'm going to start with the most obvious/least known of my obsessions...

J.P. Arencibia...am I right?

Blue Jays Baseball- I cannot tell you how excited I am for baseball to be back. I could literally watch baseball every day. I don't know why because, yes, it is slow moving game and can be very dull. But I love it. Every dull minute:)
(and not just because some players are beautiful to look at...).

 I'm going to a game with my cousin/friend (ok, she's my husband's cousin but I consider all his cousins my family and friends- I love them all so much) in May and I can. not. wait!




Working Out- I love the high I get from running or doing a kick boxing workout. I have to work on not becoming discouraged when I don't see fast results. Truth about me= gain weight incredibly fast, lose weight incredibly slow.  Luckily, I know that I will lose it because I already have once... Booty Camp Fitness is by far the best workout I have ever done. I am obsessed with my husband getting home...just so I can work out!

Sugar Snap Peas- Y.U.M. That is all.

These faces- I just love them. They are the most beautiful little creatures. A lucky mom, am I.

 He is almost three. Can you believe it? He is so beautiful and creative and fiery. He knows what he wants and he gets it...seriously, he gets it.

At 9 months, he is the antithesis of his brother- laid back, will eat anything, goes with the flow. Adorable

Meal Planning Monday

I wrote this on Saturday, believe it or not... it was the only day I could get to the grocery store to get everything we would need for our weekly meals...
I didn't bother to make a meal plan for last week and I saw a real difference in how we ate. Haphazard, thrown-together meals that often lacked the kind of nutrition I would like to see.

For this week, I am only planning dinners. As I get better at this whole planning thing, I hope to plan out the kids lunches as well. We mostly stick to crackers and cheese, pb&j sandwiches, cream cheese rollups, fresh veggies and fruit, hummus and pita, etc... Z (the almost 3 year old) is very very picky with what he eats, despite my best efforts. W (the 9 month old) will eat anything. True story. He's a hoover and can put back ALMOST the same amount as me.

So, this week our meals will include:

Monday

Sweet and Sour Chicken with Bell Peppers and Batsami Rice

Tuesday

Pasta and sauce (child request) or homemade mac and cheese if I have any energy:)

Wednesday

Molasses Coffee Marinated Pork Chops with mashed potatoes and carrots (Z will probably have chicken fingers...or left over pasta. He will only eat chicken and NO you can't fool him. I've tried.)

Thursday

Leftovers (whatever we have) and salad

Friday

 Pan- Seared Tilapia (with fresh lemon juice, butter, salt and pepper) and steamed broccoli/cauliflower.