Embracing my inner slummy mommy

Slummy mommy's choice of rainwear.

I've noticed (as someone who used to dress well would) that there is a definite dress code amongst the yummy mommy set. I'm sure that it exists everywhere and there are probably regional differences. What the yummy mommys (hereinafter referred to as ym's) wear in Vancouver is probably quite different from what the ym's wear in Toronto or Montreal.

And of course it is seasonal, there are the winter and summer trends that must be worn by ym's in the know.

I've noticed that here in Montreal the winter ym's wear the ubiquitious North Face down filled coat. It can be slightly different in that it can be the knee length version or the ankle skimmer. Colors must be either brown or black. I have noticed the occasional renegade sporting the white or green version, but they soon bow to the black/brown pressure.



Last fall it was capris pants worn with Tory Burch flat ballet shoes. And they had to be Tory Burch to be "in". I even noticed one ym with a little flip to her hair. Very retro and hip.

In our neighborhood of Westmount/NDG/Hampstead the bag of choice is of course Louis Vuitton. And if you choose not to carry the LV bag but instead carry a sporty little Longchamp bag you definitely have the LV wallet.

Now that summer has finally arrived (and it took its damn good time in getting here) the objet du jour is the Birkenstock thongy sandal (no idea what the name of this puppy is). I have to say that I do like the comfort of Birkenstocks, and really like this sandal, but because it is worn by almost every ym in my neighborhood I just couldn't buy it.



Ok, I'll come clean. I do have the North Face knee length black puffy winter coat. And I love it, but next year I will sell it on craigslist and buy the Canada Goose long coat before it too becomes trendy. I have the short puffy version of the Canada Goose coat and when I was writing puffy I wrote puggy instead - that really says it all. That being said, I can go out in -20C weather and not feel a bit of cold. To hell with trendy.

I did carry the LV Speedy bag but couldn't stand it anymore and sold it on craiglist. I did keep my LV wallet, but I bought it in Italy and well.... you know.

Even though I love the Birkenstock thongy sandals instead I bought a pair of Hogans which I LOVE!!! No one else in my neighborhood has them and so far they haven't made it to the ym uniform.

Since school is out and most of the ym's have already headed to Maine for the summer I have no idea what I'm supposed to be wearing, so I guess I'm ok wearing my knee length Lulu Lemon yoga pants and Hip Kid t-shirt (a little self promotion, I have to support my ym uniform somehow), my Hogans and my sporty little Longchamps bag (although these days it is usually replaced with a camera bag). Unless of course I run into a ym that I know and bow to peer pressure.

I love etsy!!

Latest etsy purchase from gemmafactrix.

I was interviewed by a journalist with our local newspaper this week for an article she is writing on etsy. I realized halfway through our interview that I was absolutely gushing about etsy, but I can't help myself. In a lot of ways etsy has changed my life and I know that it has changed the lives of a lot of people. It has provided us with opportunities that we NEVER would have had otherwise.

As a silkscreener, or photographer, or a woodworker, or a knitter, or [name of craft you do goes here] there has never been a place where you could sell other than local craft shows. Etsy has opened up the world to amazing crafters and artists.

Not only do I sell on etsy, but I have bought a ton of stuff on etsy as well. I love the fact that I can talk to the person who has made the article I am buying. I can ask her (I say her because 96% of sellers on etsy are women) if she can change it a little bit, or if I have hearted an item that has sold I can ask her if she can please make another one for me. I find the sellers on etsy personable, friendly, professional, and above all know the meaning of the words "customer service."

I have hearted so many items on etsy that I may never buy them all, but it doesn't mean that I'm not going to try. Even the wee man is addicted to etsy. I have even heard him telling women in Starbucks that his mom sells on etsy. I hope that seeing me selling encourages him to become to sell on etsy one day.

If you haven't checked out etsy, don't waste any more time. I know you won't be disappointed.

When life gives you organic lemons.....make lemonade

The husband is in Wisconsin on business so the wee man and I have been busy taking care of each other. We bought some organic lemons and decided that we were in the mood for lemonade.





We also decided to bbq pizza. It was delicious!





The wee man said to me after dinner that he would like to make dessert. So I relaxed around the table and gave him about 15 minutes. He showed up with yoghurt, drinks, and ice cream with cake and cookies. I was so impressed. We shared dessert. The end to a perfect day with my little man.

Growing wings

wings



end of the day

Suck it so you won't get brain freeze

Words of wisdom from a 7 year old.

current temp. 32C



summer...

• the smell of fried clams and chips from the beach fish shack
• mr. freezes
• breakfast on the deck
• summer rain storms
• the smell of a freshly mowed lawn
• the sounds of children playing outside way past their bed time
• iced rooibos tea
• green (just green)
• vacation plans
• bbq

Elusive

Every summer we have a family of cardinals living in our backyard. This summer is no different. A couple have built a nest in our cedars, although I think that they are only part time residents. They come and go and sometimes we don't see them for days. Although they are never very far because we can hear them. Sometimes I see him in a tree the next street over, and I know it's him.

He's a beauty. I've started referring to him as my beautiful boy much to the chagrin of my 3 cats who can envision him in a sandwich. But I do my best to look out for him and his partner.

I often go out on my back deck and there they are with their distinctive chirp. But as soon as I grab my camera, they're gone. One afternoon not long ago, it was all lined up. The light was right, my beautiful boy was in the tree, I had my camera. But damn SLRs. As soon as I had it set up he was gone.

This morning I can hear him out in this big tree, but can I see him. Not a chance. We are trying to devise a way to make our backyard more cardinal friendly in hopes that he will stick around and I can get that elusive picture.

Karate camp - June 2008

Some photos from karate camp. Both the husband and the wee man attended. I was impressed with both of them.

I'm in a treasury

Woke up this morning to find my red cowboy t-shirt in an all organic treasury! Check it out before it's gone!

The skort that is included in this treasury just goes to show that organic can be sexy!