The dawn of a new reality

Did you all like that one post I put up this summer?  It was awesome, wasn't it? Yeah...

Well, I did write many more of them in my head, usually at 2 am, but obviously none of them made it into the computer.  I even took photos specifically for blog posts, and then sort of shuddered at the thought of opening Photoshop and ran outside.  And that is where I spent pretty much every day this summer - outside (see photos above)!  With the boys, of course, and family either Out East or Out West - and yes I realize that my life is kind of ridiculous, and I am spoiled absolutely rotten.  I thought I would throw together a few of the look-how-awesome-my-summer was shots into one big clump to get them out of the way. :)

My comeuppance has come this week, as both boys start full days at school.  Suddenly I am none too fond of Mr. McGuinty and his full-day kindergarten (the very thing I was crossing my fingers for when I was a working mom paying for childcare).  It's like the end of the most glorious, happy, unbelievably-amazing vacation - a two-year vacation at that.

Two years of being at my kids' every beck and call, of crafting, colouring, drawing, breaking up fights, kissing owies, twisting the chicken timer on the time-out spot, and developing an amazing respect for the phenomenon called 'quiet'.

Two years of days at the park (feeling incredibly guilty as I facebooked and instagrammed my brains out), listening to toy cars discuss red lights versus green lights, denying TV, and then binging on 10 episodes of Max and Ruby (usually with a chaser of Caillou).

Two years of tantrums at the grocery store, book store, cafe, halfway to the park, halfway to the car, in the car, outside the car, upstairs, downstairs, and especially on the time-out spot - many of them thrown by yours truly.  Two years of spontaneous hugs, puzzles, stories, bike rides and snuggles.

You get the idea.  It only hit me last week that days like these will now be confined to two months in the summer, if they still want to hang out with me that is.  For the rest of the year I will have to make due with those fun hours around dinner and weekends, like regular folks.  It was a tough realization to come to terms with, but being grateful for those two years really, actually (Cam's favourite word) did help.  There some sobbing, gulping-for-air tears (all mine) last week to be sure.

But this week things seem to be shaking into some sort of new reality.  I am trying to take it easy on myself and not demand that I find a job STAT (which is how I feel).  I am happy to report that I am still gunning to do interior design, I will keep up with the marketing consulting, and the encaustic project is still a go.

So there you have it, my life in a nutshell.  I am sure you really didn't need to read it, but for some reason I needed to write it!  I seem to have been putting off blogging until I had all this stuff squared away, and now I hereby give myself permission to get back into it. :)

The Steven and Chris Adventure

How did I suddenly end up showing my home on Steven and Chris?  That is a mighty fine question.  About a month and a half ago, I got an email out of the blue from their Senior Decor Producer (awesome job title BTW) asking if I would be willing to do a tour of my house for the show.  I responded enthusiastically (i.e. many exclamation marks were used).  There was no set timeline, so I got my butt in gear to finish off a few things, like the photo wall in the dining room.  Then suddenly, while I was at the ROM with my kids and visiting Mother-In-Law Diana, I got an email on my phone asking if maybe they could come the next day???    Wowzers.  I like to think I remained calm, but I have no doubt my mother-in-law would argue otherwise.

That evening I cleaned like a MOTHER... so many things were stuffed into drawers and closets that have yet to be re-discovered.  Then, as I checked my computer, thinking of everything I had left to do before they came, I realized that the next morning I had parent duty at Cam's nursery school until 11:30.  They were coming at 1.  Swear words were uttered.  To say I was a little distracted while setting up the kids' snack would be a bit of an understatement.  

Luckily, I got another email that morning saying that they would have to reschedule.  THANK YOU UNIVERSE.  By the time they came the following week, I even more time to stash away the clutter and 'style' my house (as in, I made my son's bed and put the toaster oven on the back porch).

I wish I had taken the opportunity to grab some good photos of the house that day, because Lord knows it will never, ever be that tidy again!  However, I was a busy bee for the 3 hours that the producer Barb was here, discussing wording, trying to remember the wording we discussed, fussing over every object in every room, doing voice-overs and on-camera takes.  They did the whole house, although the segment on my bedroom was cut and we discussed many, many more items than were shown!

After Barb left, the videographer Ved stayed for another 2, almost 3 hours taking shots of all the details in the house.  I think he did an amazing job.  The fabulous Diana was thankfully still in town and took the boys out for the entire afternoon (I have no idea where!).  There was no way I could have done this with them in the house - there is no way they could have been that quiet for that long!

Diana was a little surprised to see the cameras and equipment still here when they got back at 5pm.  The boys were great about not making a huge mess in the rooms Ved hadn't shot yet.  We asked him to shoot the kitchen first so that Diana could start making dinner (yummy knedliky!) before the boys lost their minds.  Below is may favourite shot of two professionals hard at work.

Then off they went, and I think before Ved had even finished pulling out of the driveway Cam had emptied a bucket of cars all over the living room floor and Will had an armload of trains dumped on the sofa.

Then Diana left, and my parents came, along with Chris's brother Dave.  (Did I mention that during this I also had William's birthday party - two days after the above scene - and Halloween, and had enjoyed visitors for about the last 5 or 6 weeks, starting a few days before my brother's wedding?)

The great news is that Mom was able to come to the studio with me to tape the "live" interview with Steven and Chris.  When I was in the green room, they asked if I thought she would mind being mic'ed as well - and I thought it best not to tell her in advance and make her freak out.  So just before the taping started, they gave a very shocked Barb Mackay her mic!

Photo courtesy of Flora Di Vetta

We had a lovely time and I was so glad she was there. It was really neat to see how they put the show together.  For example, the banana ice cream they showed at the end actually took about 15 minutes, and they were having a fit about it.  Also, the interview with the singer was done in front of a totally different audience, and we did not actually watch the entryway segment either!  Plus they actually asked me a few more questions, but I guess my nervous blathering responses needed to be cut in the interest of time. :)  But I am glad they kept the part with my mom - although she later confessed that she had no idea what they were meant when they asked her if she DIY'ed. :P  (She does by the way - she has recovered many chairs, sewed many curtains, and done more than her fair share of painting; I come by it naturally.)

So there you have it, my whirlwind adventure with fame.  It was a blast and I am hungry for more! They may have created a monster - I am crafting reality show pitches as I type. :)  WELCOME to anyone new who came from the show and actually read this whole thing - I would love for you to stick around!  And thanks to those of you who have read from the beginning - you are the wind beneath my wings. Don't worry, I won't forget the little people. :)

Thrifting in Saint John

Of course there was no way I could NOT visit the Value Village in Saint John.  They had some amazing stuff there - so much of it I would have snapped up in Toronto, but my mom was with me and her enthusiasm was... underwhelming. :)  However it was seniors day and she got me an extra 20% discount so she did make herself useful (plus she probably saved me from having to pay extra for an over-weight suitcase.)  But how awesome is that huge brass seagull above??  SO awesome, that how awesome.

I kinda liked these quirky brass duck bookends too.  They got an eye-roll from mom.  

How about this pretty hand-painted set?  They would be great espresso cups.

The amazing this about thrifting in SJ is finding local pottery like this lovely planter by Crimmins Pottery.  Mum was more interested by these ones, although the top one had a crack, and we decided we didn't love the pattern on the vase below.  The butter dish in not Crimmins, but rather another NB potter and it came home with me (it got the mum-stamp-of-approval).

Seriously??  A piano?  And not a bad looking fireplace screen beside it either...

And forget antique stores - how about this antique sewing machine and table for $30 bones??

This silkscreen from Nova Scotia almost came home with me - I thought I could reframe it  and really show it off.  Yeah, probably should have nabbed that one.  Ah well.

This print of the Rothesay Netherwood School was tempting me as well, not because I went there, but more because it just reminds me of home.  Again prettier in another simple black frame...

I ended up with some costume jewellery and a pair of Crimmins candle sticks, plus the butter dish.  Not too shabby!  Plus it was fun to go with mum, despite my grumbling.  She was that little voice on my shoulder, except standing beside me and up-ing the ante with frowns and eye-rolls.  Not that she isn't also gifted at thrifting - in fact she picked up most of our beach toys from Value Village, and they were a huge hit, and I am super pleased with the butter dish.  When we got home she showed by a beautiful bowl she had from the same potter.  What do you say mumma, shall we hit the VV's in Toronto next visit? xo

Hand in Hand

I love this bracelet from Kate Spade - all the more knowing that 25% of sales will be donated to Women For Women International, which helps women survivors of war rebuild their lives.

If you visit the Women for Women site now, you can send a very meaningful Mother's Day Card to your mom, or any mother you admire, for a small donation.  Brilliant.

More rings to covet

I saw these rings on Love & Victory and mentally started jumping up and down like my two-year-old waving my hand in the air and saying, yeah! yeah! I want it! me! (Physically I was cool as a cucumber.) I also thought about having a third just because three stacking rings are so much prettier than two... yes, this is how I make decisions.  Can you blame me?  Don't you love that the fonts are all different...?

Seen on Say Yes to Hoboken

Me = Runner ?

While at home in New Brunswick I have started learning how to run.  Since I am now a career mum, opportunities for fitness are harder to come by.  When I was working I could hit the yoga studio at lunch, or even go to the gym before kids... but now it is hard to find an hour to do anything, and there isn't that much around our house.  So running seems the perfect solution.

Every time I think of wanting to be able to run, I think of the Nike commercial above.  I remember seeing it on TV and loving it, and when I looked for it on YouTube (everything is on there!) I was surprised to see that it had been taken off the air after all kinds of complaints that it was making light of violence against women.  I find this surprising, as to me the spot is so empowering (and funny!).  The message I took from it was you have to save yourself and be your own hero.  (Being fit and gorgeous is just icing on the cake!)

I have been using the Couch to 10k app on my iPhone and I LOVE it so far.  It seems like a slow ramp up to actual running, but I can feel my legs getting stronger and my running sections getting more comfortable.  I highly recommend it.  It helps that my route along the river is just beautiful, even in the fog and rain.

It also feels good to discover my inner athlete - as an "artistic" kid I always thought sports and physical fitness were for the jock kids, and not something I should be involved in unless I was a sucker for embarrassment.  I hope my boys grow up feeling that they can be athletic AND artistic - at the same time!

What about you?  What are your fitness routines and priorities?  Anyone else feel like there just isn't enough time?

Enough typing - I gotta get my shoes on and hit the road! :)

Life Decisions and Such...

After much deliberation, I have finally made the decision to leave my job at the symphony and join the prestigious ranks of stay-at-home moms.  I probably would have carried on working if our amazing nanny hadn't had to leave.  Even then, although I thought hard about staying home, the idea of change was scary (as were the financial implications), so we hired a new nanny.  However, that didn't end up working out, and after she left (6 days in), it seemed the universe might be telling me something!  So I screwed up my courage, followed my heart, and tendered my resignation.  

I will be very sad to leave the TSO.  I have made life-long friends there, learned an incredible amount from some brilliant people, and been lucky enough to spend each day promoting and marketing something I believe makes a difference to the people and the fabric of the society we live in.  However, as my boss wisely said, there will always be a symphony (hopefully) and it will always need marketing, but my little guys are only going to be little for so long, and I don't want to miss any more of it than I already have.

I have a feeling that my life is going to change in ways I haven't even considered yet - kind of like the feeling I had the night before my first son was born - but I am kind of excited by the idea.  (Or at least I am now - talk to me at 3 am...)  However, if you have ANY advice, recommendations, or ideas on how to entertain two toddlers through 3 solid weeks of rain, how to seek out adult company, how to make a few bucks on the side, or where to find the best play centres, I am all ears!  And also up for coffee-fueled play dates. :)

My last day at work is this Friday - yikes!  Here's to new adventures!  

Cheesy quotes from my Pinterest page - they ring true these days!

The Small Things

My amazing friend Krista introduced me to this incredible blog, Enjoying the Small Things.  What an inspiring perspective this Kelle (the blogger) has, I especially love her post about 'filler' vs 'fuel' days, as Krista knew I would.  I actually have a similar theory about people in your life - there are those that give you energy, and those that drain your energy, and you need to try to be around the former more than the latter in order to be happy.  (Krista, by the way, is one of the first people, in my life, who come to mind as the former.)

However, before you dive in to that post, you have to start by reading Kelle Hampton's daughter birth story, and be forewarned, you will cry.  If you are a sap like me, you will cry A LOT.  It could be sappy, but it is so HONEST and raw that you can't help but be moved, especially if you are a parent.  The accompanying photos are breathtaking.  Wow.

Why having a toddler is like being at a frat party

I just saw this hilarious post on Suburban Snapshots and just had to re-post it.  It is pretty funny, especially the added comments below. Hey - university parties were fun, right?  Oh but Mum, I only heard about them from other people...


Ten reasons raising a toddler is like being at a frat party:
10. There are half-full, brightly-colored plastic cups on the floor in every room. Three are in the bathtub.
9. There's always that one girl, bawling her eyes out in a corner.
8. It's best not to assume that the person closest to you has any control over their digestive function.
7. You sneak off to the bathroom knowing that as soon as you sit down, someone's going to start banging on the door.
6. Probably 80% of the stains on the furniture contain DNA.
5. You've got someone in your face at 3 a.m. looking for a drink.
4. There's definitely going to be a fight.
3. You're not sure whether anything you're doing is right, you just hope it won't get you arrested.
2. There are crumpled-up underpants everywhere.
1. You wake up wondering exactly how and when the person in bed with you got there.


My favourite additions from the comments:
- At least one person is lying on the floor, either face up or face down, singing at the top of their lungs.
- You ask the two nearly naked girls what they're doing and they say they're having a 'naked underwear party.'
- There is a pretty girl alternately screaming and crying at you (or at nothing) from the staircase.
- You look inside the "clean" cups for offending material before filling with a drinkable liquid. 
- You find yourself saying things you never thought you'd say- like: "Please stop licking the dog"
- Someone has pee on their pants and marker all over their face.


Oh yeah.  Good times.  Gooooood times. Anyway, Brenna's blog is hilarious, and so on the money.  Check it out if you are a mom.

Swagger Wagon

Clever advertising - Sienna has a whole playlist on YouTube to accompany this funny commercial. The humour reminds me of Modern Family. Is it wrong to want a Swagger Wagon? (This is what we are currently using at my in-laws and it is, um, kind of AWESOME. In a truly lame way.)

Mother's Day

I hope everyone enjoyed a lovely weekend and mother's day!  Mine was especially nice as it was my first as Mother-Of-Two, and my own Mumma was here to celebrate with me.  I got her the lovely bouquet above as she loves peonies.  Luckily, I get to enjoy it too since she is staying here!

Using this fabulous tutorial, I also made her a fabric flower brooch.  Poor Mum had to mind the kiddies while I put it together for her though, since I only got the sewing machine back from service on Friday.

1. Fabric Flower, 2. Fabric Flower, 3. Fabric Flower,
4. Fabric Flower, 5. Fabric Flower, 6. Fabric Flower

I am lucky to have the bestest Mum in the whole wide world.  Happy Mother's Day Mumma!
(photo by the fabulous Tara McMullen)

Family Jewels

There were lots of beautiful pieces of jewellery on the blogs around Mother's Day that I had thought about posting but never quite got around to it.  I saw this stuff today though and thought it was so pretty and unique with its use of antique spoons and flatware ends.  Maybe for Mother's Day next year? :)

Made by SpoonerZ on Etsy!