To Chance

I am three days fashionably late. It was then, at the cottage that I hugged you and wished you a happy anniversary. I went on to tease you for my present knowing very well that we had not purchased each other gifts.

With your quick wit you promised that you were going to buy me a coffee. You know the way into my heart is less than two dollars. You did not let me off the hook and wondered what you would get in return. I promised you this.

“We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person.”
– William Somerset Maugham

You are but a hint of the twenty three year old boy that I boldly walked up to and introduced myself to fifteen years ago. I still hear it in your laughter. I catch it in your bright smile and that mischievous spark in your eye.

You are barely the same man that I joined at the end of the aisle when I wore the white dress and made big promises to only six years ago.

It’s hard to say if it was marriage or having children that changed our relationship because we waited nine years before either. The thing that surprises me most is that I am still discovering you.

The happy chance is that six years ago there was one girl professing her love to you and now there are three.

No Kisses

Finally, after what feels like forever, I'm feeling better. Since I've been so run down and stressed I got not one, but two cold sores. So attractive. I want to hide in my house for a week. I'm embarrassed to even go to the coffee shop. I've been so busy that I've managed to hide behind my computer. Fortunately the awesome people that I work with have been delivering coffee and sustenance to keep me going.

I have been having a super hard time holding back the kisses to my girls. After few days of big hugs, I was struck by a revelation. I had not once stopped myself from planting a big one on my husband. While we are a touchy feely couple we are not kissy kissy. I think when I am healed, I'm going try and work on this. Kisses make everything better.

Since I am in hiding out mode, I received an advance copy of Petite Anglaise by Catherine Sanderson. I would love nothing more than to lounge in my backyard with a frosty beverage and devour this novel.

If you live in the Toronto area and would like your own copy email me at cmcreate[at]gmail[dot]com.

There is a bonus to this offer, as you will also get an invitation to a blogger's brunch launch party on Friday, June 6th. Say that three times fast and this is going to the first three people who are fast!

You can look for this book in stores as of June 17th and check out Catherine's blog petite anglaise.

Holiday Style

I take great pleasure in the romance of Christmas. Decorating the tree, baking cookies, holiday parties, Christmas carols, family gatherings, greeting cards, wrapping presents, and on and on...

Another fun aspect to the season is dressing our daughters in holiday party outfits! During a recent trip to Costco, I came across some fancy dresses. I picked out two and held them up for Colin's approval. Immediately he refused. He hated them. Colin is one of those dads with a strong opinion on fashion. In one sense it is great because he has come home with some adorable clothing items for the girls but I still find it strange when he vetoes some of my picks.

He has decided that our daughters will not wear black, shiny dresses. I protested that this is typical holiday wear for toddlers. He feels that they look Italian. Well fashion guru husband, what do Scandinavian, Irish, Scottish, English, German, Polish, Ukrainian Canadians wear for the holidays? Italian fashion designers want to know.

In The Stars

Five years ago it was a blistering hot day. We went to a local microbrewery and promised to laugh, love and grow together...


Happy Anniversary honey!

I've Unleashed a Monster

Colin has caught it... the blogging bug. I can see it in his eyes as they darken and flash electrifying, devious possibility. He leans over and threatens, "I'm so blogging about this." It makes me giggle, as did his post of our girls covered in chocolate bars. I think this may be trouble.

He is finding the name of my blog a little too feminine for him. Come on, blue is for boys, right? I probably should have given it more thought before I dived headfirst into the creation of this site.

Now that we are a quarter way into 2007, I have decided that I need to be a better person. I need to stop feeling like I'm suffocating under the weight of the never ending list of things to do. I need realign my priorities and be a better daughter, sister, wife, friend and even a wee bit better mommy. The last identity is where most of my efforts have been focused. I should be more in contact with the people that I love. I need to pick up the phone, write emails and I really need to send my mom her Christmas present. (I'm sorry mom!)

I recently visited a friend who is the author of a stunning, mouth-watering food blog. All I can say is that I am glad that I am a mommy blogger because there are no expectations placed on us. When getting together with a food blogger, you know that you will soon experience an explosion of tasty delights.

Strawberry had to sample the icing on every delicious Carrot Muffin when we weren't looking. I'm so sorry about that. This mommy blogger cannot even control her kids.

Driving Each Other Around the Bend

Thirteen She said/He said Pet Peeves about each other. (Thanks to my sweet husband for once again contributing and putting up with me!)

1. He leaves cupboard doors open. 2. She eats ice cream from the container. 3. He doesn't drink anything hot. My visions of romantic Sunday morning's drinking coffee together are shattered. 4. She watches brain numbing, crap entertainment television shows. 5. He makes up his own rules for driving. For example he says that yellow signs are only a suggestion and therefore do not need to be followed. 6. She never fills the car up with gas. 7. He thinks going away on a vacation is a waste of money. 8. She leaves garbage and recycling on the counter, leaving me to get rid of it. 9. He has a crazy method in loading the dishwasher that somehow makes the dishes dirtier than when they went in. 10. She nags me about the dishwasher. 11. He leaves his clothes all around the house. 12. She nags me about the clothes around the house. 13. He used to slam the toilet seat down until we purchased one of these. It is seriously the best invention ever! Links to other Thursday Thirteens:

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No Plastic Required

It's hard to come up with anything witty when I'm too busy pretend shopping. I'm Stylehiving to beat the band. The only thing better than virtual shopping is to turn it into a game where I have a score! When other people add one of my items to their own list, I get a point. My ultra competitive personality has kicked into overdrive.

I can't stop adding pretty things to my list. Now I just need to arrange for Brangelina to drop a parachute of large bills over my house. How could I possibly go another day without caffeinated soap, cupcake containers, designer ducks or a smores maker?

The stars may be slightly out of whack because I never would have dreamt that I would be sharing the following details.

When you send two guys to get a movie and suggest the new Harrison Ford DVD, imagine my confusion when they return with Matthew McConaughey. Who has possessed my anti-chick flick husband? This has to be the work of a pretty sales girl at Blockbuster.

A very sleepy Strawberry sighs. "Mommy, I need new batteries." This go-go gadget girl never gets tired.

What is the world coming to? Should I be stocking up on candles, bottled water, canned goods and cereal? I think I better buy a bottle of Gin incase of an emergency.

Surprise Guest Post

Today Buttercup walked five steps. At Daycare. I am wallowing in self pity because I did not witness her first steps. There was no repeat performance no matter how much I pleaded and cheered this evening.

This is where my post would have ended but I found a surprise e-mail. Even though he's had a starring role featured here as my husband, after meeting the mommy bloggers, maybe he's been inspired to take it up a notch. Plus why didn't I think of it earlier? It is pure genius to include guest writers in November! This is the first entry by niloc, my backwards husband.

So Jana started this crazy NoBlowSomething post a day for the month of November and I understand what a challenge it can be to write consistently for a whole month. She has asked me for help but I know she meant around the house or with the girls. I don’t think she would expect to find this in her email or if she would even use it in a pinch or not. (I totally expect to be edited in some way or other.) I don’t know the rules for the post a day thing. A post is a post. It doesn’t really matter who writes it.

Today I was feeling the dent that I put into that vodka bottle last night. Waking up with the baby on the couch was a bit of a surprise this morning. The rest of the day was muddy and it took us forever to get the ball rolling just to get out of the house to get groceries. The girls were also cranky and tired to top it all off. It would have been a great night to veg out and curse the beginning of another work week… but I had a concert to go to.

…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead (yes, that’s the real name of the band) are from Austin, Texas and are one of those bands that won’t ever have a Top 40 hit. They fit into the college radio, emo/alt rock/punk sound that I love. I try to catch them every time they come to town. Their shows always sell out so I was happy to get my tickets early from Rotate This. I called my brother up to make plans for when and where to meet before the show and he tells me he’s tired and didn’t feel like going. He's younger, with no kids, what kind of excuse is that? The ticket was paid for so no big deal. It was only 20 bucks. I’ve sold tickets at the door before. It was just a bit of a pain in the ass that he copped out on me. I got to the Phoenix early enough to try and sell it but gave up after twenty minutes or so. More kids were coming out of the bar than there were going in. I hate wasting a ticket. I would have given it away to a fan if I had the chance. When I did go in the doorman overly scrutinized my ID. Next year I am going to be twice the legal drinking age and I’m being sized up by some dummy no-neck bouncer. Instead of being annoyed, I guess I should act like a chick and take it as a compliment.

Anyways… the point of all of this is that the Trail of Dead has a song called "Will You Smile Again?" that reminds me of a good friend. The creative energy whether you are an author or a musician is the same but louder. The lyrics explain the need to express yourself. This is something that every writer must relate to.

"...the paper's your soul and your blood's in the pen
And maybe then you'd see the light
And read the truth that you had to write."

Thanks, but no thanks

We stop at a red light. I notice Colin checking out a young thing with legs up to here. I'm feeling a wee bit jealous because I've never pulled off a mini skirt in that fashion. It is unfeasible when you are not quite five foot four.

Teasingly, "So you think she's all that?"

"hmmmm..." (Wisely choosing to remain silent to avoid unnecessary grief.)

"Well tall girls aren't your type. All your ex's are my height."

"I found tall women enticing but I was too intimidated and shy to approach them."

Gasp! In quick retaliation, "Well I preferred short, dark haired men."

"You can have Tom Cruise."

Edited to note: He was pleased as punch with his comeback and we laughed ourselves silly. Thankfully it also put an end to my self-conscious girlie ways.

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Izzy has worked her magic making my home so pretty. It makes up for having to redo my site with the Beta advances, which has been taking up all my time.

Thank you Izzy. You rock my world!

Summer fresh

I got home from work. I dropped my purse and the Febreze that I had purchased on the kitchen table. I realized that I had left my cell phone in the car.

I returned to the house to find my husband misting Febreze towards his face.

"DON'T SPRAY IT DIRECTLY AT YOURSELF!"

Sheepishly, "I was wondering why it smelled so summery."

It seems he thought it was this.

I couldn't stop laughing while I cuddled with my lovely scented husband.

Dangerous downtown living

Last night, while I slept, our house was broken into. Colin had gone upstairs and returned to the kitchen where he had left the sliding door open to cool off the house. This is where he ran into a team of masked bandits looting our kitchen. Being brave, he took on all of them. It was one super hero against seven intruders. Six of them scurried out the door but a little one jumped into the bottom of the stroller. With a little persuasion, victory was Colin's.

The bad guys were a hungry family of racoons. It was like a scene from Over the Hedge. They were boldly getting revenge. Earlier Colin had sprayed them with water when he saw them sneak into our yard.

My mom had warned us that animal life would jump at the chance of getting a free meal. Yes mom, you were right and I expect you to say "I told you so" in our next conversation. I guess we are lucky that it wasn't a skunk or even worse a real criminal. Tonight the AC is turned on and all windows are closed.

On a happier note, Leith, the beautiful son to Jennifer and S, joined them early on June 5th. Jennifer is recovering from post complications of her delivery and is still in the hospital. Feel free to send them some good vibes and wishes at her delicious food blog that is now featuring pictures of their delectable new baby.

Butt, of course

Tonight, while peeling potatoes, Colin and I had a thought provoking conversation. All the greatest moments in our relationship have been in the kitchen, preparing potatoes, but I'll save that for another time.

C - "Have you seen the back of that magazine? It's porn!"

J - "That's not pornography. Porn is nude and cheesy. I would say that's more erotic."

C - "Really? Hmmm... I like it."

This was the advertisement we were discussing:

Oh my goodness, even when I was sixteen, my butt did not look like this! I've always known Colin was a butt man. There's been times out shopping where he cannot hide his fondness for my behind, constantly giving me a grab. This is pretty remarkable being that he used to be so afraid of public displays of affection that it took him years before he would hold my hand. He's gotten so bold that he slapped my friends tush thinking it was me. Boy was he embarrassed.

My butt looks more like Jennifer Lopez's. That is if she skipped her daily workouts in favor of marathon video game sessions, while munching on truckloads of Krispy Kreme Donuts. How could he possibly like me, if he likes that? I suppose this wasn't a good conversation for us to have while I'm hormonal and feeling blob-like. Winter hibernation has caused me to put on a few pounds instead of losing the extra baby weight.

I think I'll start The Blog Diet. This is spending every spare second I have reading all the other one million and one posts, instead of running to the kitchen for a slice of that birthday cake that's still in the fridge. Well maybe after the cake is gone.