I feel like spring, no I need spring

Looking outside you couldn't even begin to think about spring with the 3 feet of snow on the ground, but I'm finding that what I'm creating now for the shop is definitely more spring-like.

It's time to get out of the winter doldrums and think fresh. Spring colors. New attitude.

I've just added these two t-shirts to the shop.

And I'm working on a new spring bag for some little ladies (or gents) to put in the shop hopefully by the weekend. Maybe a peek later.

More snow

We're getting more snow. I actually love snow, but hate winter, is this possible?

Normally by February I am so ready to pack it in for summer. But this year, this sounds odd, even though I'm sick of winter, I'm not sick of snow. I actually want more. I guess I haven't filled my snow activity quota this year. We've only been sledding once. Haven't been skating at all. The school hasn't gone skiing yet. I guess I'm just waiting for these activities before winter can officially be over.



In the mean time I'm hibernating. While the boys are spending all their free time at the dojo doing karate, I'm nesting. Baking cookies, planning spring paint jobs, although certainly not cleaning. I've found the most amazing cookie recipe. It's not a recipe with vegetable puree, but it's pretty damn tasty. Lots of rolled oats, brown sugar, applesauce, very little butter. So maybe it's not so bad afterall. And if you add raisins instead of chocolate chips, it is only 57 calories per cookie. Tonight I added raisins to the batch, and maple-butterscotch chips. Very yummy. The boys eat the batch within a day of them coming out of the oven. Quite flattering. You'd think I actually made up the recipe.

My friend, Mathieu, has finally opened an etsy shop. He's making these absolutely amazing notebooks. He does all the stitching himself (such a Renaissance man). They are beautiful and I know will sell well. You can check out his shop. Please do.

life in an old house

We live in an old house. It was built in 1931. We have bricks on the outside of our house that are stamped Cookville 1929. With the exception of the brand new condo we lived in for 4 years and various apartments when I just finished university, I've always lived in an old house.





When we decided to sell the brand new condo (with central air-conditioning, indoor heated parking, and straight, gleaming hardwood floors) and buy a house, I told the husband that we were buying an old house. I wanted character. I still love old houses, but now that I'm paying the heating bills (as opposed to my parents) I'm telling you that character is overrated.



I do love my old house, but old houses are special. So I've created this list for those of us who love old houses. You know you live in an old house when...

1. You can tell how cold out it is by how hard the butter is in the butter dish.
2. You can tell from your heating bill that in 1931 old bunched up newspapers were considered to be sufficient insulation.
3. Your leaded windows are absolutely beautiful, but don't stand too close to them unless you're wearing a winter coat.
4. Yes, you can get by on 160 amps of power.
5. There are light switches throughout the house that don't seem to turn on any lights.
6. You can't turn on the dishwasher, microwave and the vacuum at same time without blowing a fuse.
7. Conversations with friends, who also live in old houses, always end up about french drains and foundation problems.
8. If you get through the winter with under 10 new cracks in the walls or ceilings you're lucky.
9. At night the heavy footsteps in the hall is just the cat.
10. Winter wear is made up of many, many layers.

Mothers and Sons

Sonogram of the wee man. Can you see his little face?

When I was pregnant with the wee man, I knew I was having a son. There was no other option, a daughter was not in my cards. When the husband and I went for the amnio and the technician asked what we thought it was, I didn't even have to hesitate before answering, didn't matter what was on the screen, it was a son. And sure enough it was.

The relationship between my son and I has always been special. We have this mantra, there is no privacy, we're family. The reason I bring this up is because I read an article this weekend on nudity in families and do you let your children see you naked. I found it fascinating that statistics showed that when we were children lots of parents didn't encourage nudity, but even still those of us who have grown up with this are comfortable with it. I know in our house it's been 7 years since I've gone to the bathroom alone.

But I have to remember that not everyone is comfortable with this. Because the wee man is not old enough for me to allow him to go into a changing room alone yet (I guess that age will be when he turns 35, I'm kidding), if there isn't a family changing room (which creeps me out), I take him in the women's changing room after swimming. I'm starting to see looks like I shouldn'd be doing this, but for heaven's sake he's 6. He might be a little curious, but really he's harmless. I'm curious as to what other mothers of wee men do.

Saturday morning

This doesn't happen too often. It's 9:00 am on a Saturday morning and I find that I have 2 hours in front of me before la famille returns from a morning of karate classes, and before I have to take the wee man to swimming lessons followed by The Spiderwick Chronicles (I am so looking forward to this movie).

Saturdays are always so crazy. Karate, swimming, errands, grocery shopping, playdates, never time to do anything else and I'm always glad when Saturdays are over. But the husband has taken over the karate run (something that the two of them do together) leaving me with a couple of hours of free time.

It's not like I don't have anything to do. I need to start a freelance writing job that is due at the end of the month, heat press some t-shirts that are going to be added to the Shop this weekend, write personal recommendations for some ex-colleagues on LinkedIn, iron the wee man's school uniform so I won't be left with ironing Sunday night, pack the swimming bag, and, and, and... but I think that I will have a cup of tea and read the article in this morning's paper about how organic cleaning products really aren't all that "green" afterall. Ugh! Is it really so difficult to go green? Apparently this practice is so common it has an official name, greenwashing. Is it back to vinegar and water and homemade cleaning products? Hmmm. That could be a new business venture...

Well this is a first

As a seller you are always measuring yourself by your last sale. Well, I've hit a new high. I listed a t-shirt and sold it within 15 minutes of listing. I am so pleased. I hope my buyer loves it.

I tried I really did

Janick from NeaJewelry invited to join her photo a day for a month group.

I tried to take a picture every day, I really did, but I lasted 3 days. I found that after working all day and coming home and by the time I could actually take a picture, I was either too tired or just unspired. I would rather not take a picture than take an uninspired picture. So I did what I could. I do have to make more photography time, afterall I love it, but right now is not the best time.

We are in the midst of a very busy month. I've been going through big changes at work, S has a big science project due for the science fair this week, and he just took his karate yellow belt exam on Friday. From the above photo can you tell how successful he was?

Now he goes to karate 4 times per week and he also goes to watch the husband in his karate class to see what else he can pick up. If anyone in the Montreal area is thinking of enrolling their child (or themselves)in karate, run don't walk to see Stacy at Shotokan Karate Cote St. Luc. Stacy is the most amazing teacher you could ever have. He has the patience of a saint, yet he expects results.

I'm in the process of updating the shop again. Drop by and see what's new.

The green life

Well I wanted to give you regular updates on my new green life, but if the truth be told, I haven't really made any progress since the last time I blogged about it. Thankfully, I haven't lost momentum, but, unfortunately, I haven't gained any either.

We are still incorporating dark green veggies into our everyday diet. We have a lot less fires in our fireplace this winter. I am still buying organic cleaning products. I am looking for a distributor for organic children's t-shirts (I have found one, but if anyone can recommend an organic t-shirt wholesaler, please let me know). Shel and Martin are eating lots of raw veggies, but I need to work on this.

But no more progress. I'm still looking for good quality organic cosmetics. The next step is to buy organic meat. This may be a problem as we have been going to the same excellent butcher for years and the husband doesn't like change. But the hormones in meat have really frightened me.

Many years ago when I decided to go to the gym, I found what worked for me what having an exercise group. If I didn't want to go I would always think, what will they say if I don't, and it helped. It made me go to the gym. Maybe I need an organic peer group so it will force me to make changes more often.

One person who does inspire me is Kris Carr from Crazy Sexy Cancer. I find her to be an incredible inspiration to live well and to make the most of every day. If you don't know of Kris, check out her Web site and how she didn't give up. She is truly a hero.

I took this from her Web site today and they are words to live by:

1. Get Real
2. Eat smart
3. Live like you mean it
4. Dig deep and tap into the sweet spot where your spirit cuddles
5. Speak up and get active
6. Plan for a long future BUT live in the moment

Fat Tuesday

When I was growing up in rural Nova Scotia this was always Pancake Tuesday. Every year my mother, father, sister and I would get in the car and drive to the Half Way Cove Church Hall and have a pancake dinner. For some reason I always remember prizes too. Not sure why. Maybe my sister can clarify this memory for me. I can remember looking foward to Pancake Tuesday every year.

It was a big church hall where communal tables were set up where we ate and ate and socialized. A good time was had by all. Religion didn't matter. Jewish, Catholic, Anglican, it was just Pancake Tuesday.

I had meant to come home and make pancakes tonight (using Mona's recipe), but that just didn't happen. So we will celebrate Pancake Tuesday on Sunday instead. Tony, if you are reading this, you are welcome to drive down from Toronto to join us! :)

BTW someone, who shall remain unnamed, is taking his yellow belt karate exam on Friday. I think that he's a little nervous. I'll keep you updated.

A new adventure

Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone and try something new.

When I opened my Etsy store I was stepping out of my comfort zone. Up until then I just sold (or gave) my t-shirts to friends, or sold them to daycares. Then I decided I needed to step it up and Etsy was there at the right time and provided the incentive I needed to start selling.

Then around Christmas time I decided that I was going to open a Dawanda store. And again I stepped out of my comfort zone to try that.

Now a new opportunity has presented itself. Not long ago, Sarah from 90210 Organics contacted me and asked me if I would be interested in selling through them. 90210 Organics is located in Beverly Hills and the attraction was definitely there. But I had never sold through a store before and that was definitely stepping out of my comfort zone. But sometimes you have to take a chance and see where it will take you. Professionally and personally.

So, there you have it. I have a feeling that this year will be filled with professional and personal challenges. I think I'm up for it.