How To Survive Life in The Suburbs

Escaping The Cold at Castaway Bay, and a Give Away!

2012-01-27T07:07:00.001-05:00

Lately is seems life has been revolving around what we “have” to do. Kids are shuttled from school, to dance, to piano, to gymnastics. Homework is completed, dinner is crammed in. Where is the family time? The down time? It feels dark all the time, life is hurried and we live in a constant state of rush. This is not what I want for my family.

When I was offered the opportunity to whisk my loved one’s away to Castaway Bay in Ohio it seemed like it was meant to be. Time away from the hustle, the bustle, the computers and the phones? Yes please. Sign us up!

Following a freak blizzard that covered our city in a blanket of horrible white stuff, the Hubby and I bravely packed up our girls, a cooler of snackage and we were on our way! Final destination, Sandusky Ohio, Castaway Bay, where it is always a balmy 82 degrees!!

We arrived and were warmly greeted by the Castaway Bay staff. Check in was fast and seamless. We received the key card to our rooms, ID bracelets (that also were our passes into the water park), and directions to the main attraction. The Castaway Bay Water Park.

My girls skipped down the hall towards our room, dragging their carry on’s behind them. Do you have any idea how cute that is? We entered our room, the Manatee Suite, and were pleasantly surprised by what we found! Ideally located just a stones throw from both the Crabbie’s Quarterdeck Arcade and the Waterpark, was our suite with a perfect floor plan for a family of four.

In the first Caribbean style room was complete with two Queen size beds, a television and a little table and chairs over looking the bay. The adjoining room housed a King size bed, a second television and an identical table set up. How great is that view! Oh if only it was a little warmer so would could have taken advantage of this fabulous outdoor space.

The King sized bed room also had what is best described as a mini kitchen! A mini bar, counter space, coffee maker and microwave.

The two rooms shared one big bathroom. The bathroom was showing it’s age a little bit, but more then did it’s job for our family of four. Tour of the room complete, we wasted no time jumping into our suits and headed to check out the waterpark!

Now I should tell you, I am always cold. Actually, I think I have been cold for about three months, but when we walked through the doors of this indoor tropical paradise and were met by balmy air and sweet Caribbean music….Sigh, I had finally found a happy place! So warm!!

We staked out chairs near the wave pool and got on with the business of enjoying our day.

Giggles in the Wave Pool.

Races Down the Water Slides.

Basketball in the Heated Pool, and challenging each other at the Cargo Crossing.

Countless number of runs down Rendezvous Run.

Exploring Lookout Lagoon.

….and the glorious hot tub. A hot tub that can seat 91!! Oh my word how I enjoyed that indoor/outdoor hot tub. Sigh…so tingly and warm!

Eventually we did leave the water park and explored the rest of what Castaway Bay had to offer. We feasted on pizza for dinner, created keepsakes with the cutest ever Castaway Bay T-shirts, and had the opportunity to meet Snoopy!

We checked out the gift shops and watched some talented little one’s sing their hearts out at Karaoke night. My little gamers used up their allowance (and then some) at Crabbie’s Quarterback Arcade, and we all indulged in some hot chocolate at Ebb & Edy’s Deli before we finally called it a night. So tired!

Castaway Bay was clean, incredibly well supervised with friendly and accommodating staff, and allowed you to set your own pace. Choose to laze away your day at the water park, or run run run and jam in the activities by taking advantage of the Spa, shopping, arcade, and all the scheduled family fun you and your loved one’s can handle.

We played, we laughed, we re-connected as a family. We forgot about the world for a while. What a gift. These are the moments my children will always remember, these are the memories I want to give my girls.

Thanks Castaway Bay for a great weekend!

Of course I can’t just leave it at that! What a horrible tease it would be to brag about my stay at Castaway Bay and offer you nothing! How about a little giveaway?!

Do you live in the Ohio area?

I have Four Indoor Waterpark Day Passes to give away!

Approximate Value $120.00!!!

*Please note. These are passes for the Waterpark only, accommodations are not included.

How to Enter:

1) If you would like to win these passes just tell me so in a comment! (and leave me your e-mail address!)

2) Want a second chance at winning? I’d love it if you would LIKE my Facebook fan page.

3) One more way to win! Follow my blog publicly and/or tell me that you do!

*Winner will be chosen using random.org. Closes Friday Feb 3, 2012. Giveaway is for day passes only. Open to US and Canadian Residents!

Wishing you all a warm and wonderful weekend!

Safe Travels

Mwah!

*Disclosure: My family stayed at Castaway Bay as their guests, the opinions in this post are my own and were not influenced by accommodation.

I Can Be Bought

2012-01-25T07:00:00.001-05:00

Sometimes money isn’t a big enough currency. Cold hard cash might be nice, but it’s not what this Mama really wants!

After a night with precious little sleep I will trade you just about whatever you want for a Grande Chi Tea Latte.

Hubby, he can name his price for a back rub with no strings.

Kids want extra time at the computer? They “pay” for it by being quiet.

He’s willing to take the kids to the Dentist so I don’t have to. Now I owe him the world. (I’m ridiculously scared of that ~~creep in the white mask~~ Dentist guy)

If Hubby needs a big favour from me he knows what tricks to try; dangle a love letter in front of me, build a big fire in the fireplace, sit and chat about vacation plans for the future, dream with me about all that is to come…..I’m freakin putty in his hands. Pathetic.

Does this mean my currency is coffee, backrubs, quiet time and love letters? Uh, Yep, all that and chocolate.

You want to negotiate with me?

Turns out it’s pretty easy, I can be bought.

Dreading Specky The Speculum

2012-01-23T07:01:00.000-05:00

I can feel it already. Tomorrow is going to be one of those days. It’s the annual event all women dread, we put it off and yet we know we simply must do it. It’s the annual physical. (uh note to the men folk who read my blog, you might want to just move along now, this post is not for you)

Tomorrow morning I will shower as if I am getting ready for a date where I know I’m going to get some uhhhh attention? I will shave, lather and be sure I am extra super squeaky clean. Why? Not because I am looking forward to some “come hither” time with someone I love, but because I have a date with the cold hard invasive claw that is known as the speculum. Frankly, this kind of date sucks!

It’s not just the little blue sheet, the humiliating weigh in, the making small talk with a kindly Doctor as she examines your privates, the boob check…it’s the dread that builds up to this day!

It’s trying to figure out which socks weigh the very least (every ounce counts on those scales). Which underwear and bra are “Doctor” appropriate, and for this self confessed hypochondriac it’s talking myself off the preverbal ledge. What if she finds something? What if these constant headaches are more then just headaches? What if the gnawing ache in my stomach is more then the “simple” ulcer I have decided it is and my well meaning Doctor scares the crap out of me with a litany of tests. Oh she does like to order tests.

Sigh. Stupid to worry, worse to complain about having access to health care.

Perhaps tomorrow I will get lucky. Maybe Specky the Speculum will be warmed up and waiting for me under a heat lamp, maybe it will be quick and painless, maybe I will weigh less then I think I do, maybe she will prescribe an anti-biotic for my “oh so simple to diagnose stomach ache” and all this worrying will be for naught. Maybe.

A girl can dream right. Sometimes being a women is so much more complicated then it seems.

Never Under Estimate The Power of Flowers

2012-01-22T07:00:00.002-05:00

My Hubby’s doing it again. Gleefully texting his “boyfriends” (can I call them that?), talking with wild gestures on the phone, and firing off e-mails to these buddies, and guess what? NONE of it is about me! Dramatic POUT. Yes, the Dear Husband is planning his annual golf trip with “The Boys”. Sigh. I’m not against some quality dude time, after all, I need time with my gurrrls, but does he have to be so darn excited about it? Enough already!

Thankfully, as this annual event has been happening for a few years now, he’s learned a few tricks. One of these, flowers make everything better! Yep, I said flowers. Flowers have power!! I may be a modern Mama, but this doesn’t mean that when Hubby’s away, and I hear the door bell ring to find I have received flowers by post, that I am not the swooniest, old fashioned, over the top joyful, skipping around the kitchen kinda girl in the world. Happiness! For me, a delivery of flowers remains a romantic, sweet, loving gesture that reminds me my dear Hubby is thinking of me even when he is away! (what a very smart man)

Lucky for Dear Hubby ordering some gorgeous Calla Lilies, Gerber Daises, Orchids, or good old fashioned roses has never been easier. Creative and talented florists are easily found with the click of a mouse, and the gorgeous arrangements can be delivered right to your loved one’s doorstep.

So a note to all the men out there. Looking for a way to unexpectedly brighten someone's day? Flowers aren’t just for Mother’s Day, Valentine's Day, or to make up for a big fat mistake. Flowers chosen with care, and arriving on your significant other’s door step for no reason at all…. those hold the most power of all.

Disclosure: Pictures courtesy of Interflora. This post was written on behalf of Interflora, however all opinions are my own.

I’m Either Very Old Or Just Getting Easier To Please

2012-01-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Not that long ago, I was a girl who was excited about the prospect of a night out. Oh and by “night out” I mean wearing my fancy heels, dinner at a nice restaurant, dancing with my gurrrls wearing my “bar” clothes, and making enough noise to be slightly north of obnoxious.

Suddenly I realize, me definition of a good time has changed. Dramatically. You know what excites me now? Prepare yourself, you may not be able to handle the awesomeness of it all….

-A night in. Put the kids to bed early. Have a late dinner, watch a rented movie and SPLIT a beer with my man. I am such a rebel!

Oh it gets worse. Prepare yourself for the other blow your socks off events things that I find extremely titillating. Ready?

-The Dollar Sale at the Grocery Store. Seriously, when I walk in and find out I can buy a bag of cookies, a bag of apples, a bottle of shampoo, a giant jar of pasta sauce and a huge carton of chocolate milk for FIVE bucks I am text my girlfriends, call my Hubby and spread the news happy. Pathetic.

-Kids get invited to a play date at the same time. The stars must have aligned because this means I have just scored an hour to myself. Love.

-Hubby surprises me by bringing me home a cup of coffee. (Large, double cream) Very Happy.

-Hitting all the lights green on the way home during carpool. Yes, this brings me joy.

-Finding some chocolate left in my super secret chocolate stash. Bliss.

So does this make me altogether too easy to please? Have I lost a little of my zest for it all? Nah, thinking I’m just in a happy place right now. Must be that, cause I don’t feel super old and pathetic…..?

Coffee With A Girlfriend and A Dirty Old Man?

2012-01-17T07:01:00.000-05:00

Today I finally had time to sit and get caught up with a girlfriend. Granted, that coffee was in the middle of a busy mall food court, but this still counts as quality girl time!

As with all girl chats, we started with the polite chat before we got into the good stuff. You know; how are we really doing, how are the kids, what is making us want to pull our hair out or cry bittersweet tears. Oh, and maybe a little bit of gossip too! Anyway, just as we start getting down to it, a gentleman who I would guess to be in his mid 80’s leaned over from his table and interjected with a little remark about an article in todays paper. An article about a very bad man taking very bad pictures. (um foreshadowing?) We politely responded, and then got back to our ~~gossip~~ conversation.

Five minutes later the “gentleman” was on the move. He approached our table, picked up my giant purse, moved it out of his way and made himself quite at home with us, at our table. (Nervy!!) “Move over there, I’m going to sit and talk to you, I come here at noon everyday and am such a people person” he declared. He might have been old, but he was a quick one! This lonely old man had made himself comfortable IN MY SPACE before I even had time to register what was happening!

Okay, so he was a lonely old soul right? We could put our conversation on hold for a few minutes and have a wee chat with a sweet little old man right? (this of course is the super secret silent conversation that is exchanged between my girlfriend and I with nothing more then a glance ) At first the gentleman was just as expected…a sweet little old man, VERY quickly telling us his story of his many years in the military, his dear wife in a nursing home with Alzheimer's, and his eleven children. He even had pictures. Cute right?

Ahhh, but then the tides turned! Conversation turned to “How his life sucked.” (his words, not mine) His language started getting a little more colourful? There was complaining about the Grandkids, getting his parts touched at the doctors office, talk of boobies, telling us we should “respect” our Husbands, back to the war, back to his wife and how her life is great because she is the sick one and he is the one suffering, again with the cursing. Ug. Now I was getting uncomfortable. My first assumption of “Awe, poor old lonely guy.” had turned into “Ew…time to get away from Dirty Old Man. Red Light Person. Red Light Person!”

Pretty sure my girlfriend was starting to feel the same. As much as I’d love to help brighten this strangers day with a little friendly chit chat….this was no longer feeling friendly.

I sorta kinda obviously checked my watch a couple of times, then we politely made our escape. Sigh. Sorry dear old “gentleman”. Next time you want to make small talk with a couple of Mama’s from the Suburbs, stick to the sweet talk of Grandkids or even the troubles with your wife. Leave out the cursing, private pokey doctors visits and the boobie talk. Your audience will last longer.

It Even Impressed My Husband…

2012-01-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

I just ran in the rain from the mailbox to my front door. A BIG brown box clutched to my chest to protect it from the wicked weather. Once inside, my fingers actually shook as I tore open the box, so eager to see what was inside. What was waiting for me? Memories. Better then any scrap book I could have created, better then all my photos casually stuffed in a box. A beautiful book from Bellflower Books.

Let me explain, last May my Hubby and I took the vacation of a lifetime. We had saved and planned and even used a little more room on the credit card then we should have so that I could be ridiculously selfish and celebrate my 40th Birthday in Paris France. Its a trip I will never forget. Or will I? Here it is, eight months later and the details were starting to get a little foggy? What was the name of that restaurant we loved so much? Do you recall the name of the Avenue we used to stroll down every single day, and the place with the famous Hot Chocolate was called???

Enter Bellflower Books with an opportunity to create a memory book like no other! A way to help us preserve those precious memories.

I quickly set up an account on their site. Here’s the link www.bellflowerbooks.com …trust me, you will want it! At this point you are able to invite other authors, friends, family members to contribute a page. Hmmm….we have a big family getaway this August. Three generations of family going to stay at a cottage together, this might be a great way to preserve those moments!

Now that my account is set up, we are ready for the fun to begin.

Pick the style of book you like. So many to choose from! Here is just a very small sample of what is available:

The rest is easy! Create a name for your 1st page, select a picture you would like to go with it, download, and then write your heart out.

Create as many pages as you like!

Want to see a few of mine? Of course you do!

*These screen shots do not begin to exemplify how gorgeous these glossy pages really are!

Once you are done writing, you can go back, edit and even re-arrange pages.

Note: One thing I did not do well enough was proof read before I submitted! I found two errors! (I was just two excited to get the book submitted!!) So my tip to you, proof read and then have someone else read your work and double check!

Use the easy to follow payment instructions and you are done!

Now all you have to do is wait for the delivery.

The waiting is the hardest part.

As I have just now finished pouring over MY creation I truly have tears streaming down my face. Paris was magic, and now thanks to Bellflower Books those memories are easier to share with friends, family and these incredible moments are preserved for a lifetime!

If you have a trip, a special event, a summer of fun you want to capture, or are looking for a unique gift, I can’t think of a better way to do it then with Bellflower Books!

I’m happy to announce that this wonderful company has offered my US readers a $20.00 discount on the creation of their own Bellflower Book!! Just use the code SAVE20GC as you check out! You can also find them on twitter and Facebook. Don’t be shy about stopping by to say Hello!

I hope you have as much fun creating your Bellflower Book as I did!

Disclosure: I received a Bellflower Book as compensation for this review. The opinions in this post are my own.

Fashionable Shoes and Broken Teeth

2012-01-13T08:01:00.000-05:00

Turns out I have a catch phrase…or two! Advice from the Suburbs. Words to live by? Maybe! Ready?

#1. Fashion Before Function.

Yes, those Christian Louboutin Shoes look and are AMAZING!! I might have picked up a pair of these little beauties in Paris. Le Sigh. They are beautiful and even tone my legs and butt, you know, because the heels are ridiculously high. The problem, I can only wear them for about four hours before my back is screaming at me and my toes are bordering on numb. Comfortable they are not. TOO BAD! Suck it up girlfriends. The rule is Fashion Before Function!

#2 Protect The Pretty

(Warning. Horribly graphic picture ahead)

Ready…..

Here comes the sad sad picture of pretty gone horribly wrong…

Eeeekkk!!

Now, where was I? Oh yes, Protect The Pretty.

I AM CANADIAN!! All the man boys yell this as they head out onto the ice WITHOUT cages on their pretty little faces. Why? Why would you not put a piece of steel between you and wooden sticks and flying chunks of rubber? Well, because they are MEN, they ~~are stupid and disillusioned and under the mistaken impression that they~~ can stop the pucks from hitting them in the chops with sheer will power!

This is “Will”. *Name changed to protect the ~~dumb~~ pretty.

Looks as if “Will” forgot his Superman cape this cold Canadian day, the price….five teeth and a broken jaw. This is not pretty. This is painful and expensive. He did not heed my advice, because he, like all other Men, are too cool for cages. Remember Canadian or not, when you step out on that ice, Protect The Pretty.

So common sense, words to live by or just my brand of blonde advice? Meh, I don’t know, but it’s been working for me!

Be careful in your heels and out on the ice this weekend!
Mwah!

Crushing on Inanimate Objects - Loving Toshiba

2012-01-12T15:07:00.000-05:00

I am jinxed. Well, when it comes to electronics anyway. As a matter of fact, my loving Hubby has “banned” me from touching his laptop. (Yeah, so he doesn’t have to know I touch touch TOUCH it just to spite him ALL the time) Ahem. Anyway, back to me. I have managed to kill one computer, one cell phone and no matter how careful I was with my notebook, I hung it, froze it and ended up cursing at that thing just about every single day. Me and pretty electronic things just don’t get along. Until now!!!

Enter into my world this super pretty Toshiba Satellite L745 Laptop.

She arrived on my doorstep all wrapped up in bubble paper. I might have “squeed” a bit as I unwrapped her shiny newness.

Ta Da!

Now that I have been using the Toshiba Satellite L745 Laptop for more then a month I can say with confidence that there are many reasons it is the perfect laptop for me….for you!

*It is user friendly.

*It is light weight ( I take her everywhere)

*It has a 14” HD Screen!

*It has a built in DVD player.

*Boasts more then 8G of memory, more storage then I will ever need.

*I have to discuss the keypad. Having gone through my share of keyboards, I have to tell you I love the touch, the feel, of the keys. It sounds like a silly thing, but it makes a difference!

*The laptop has built in stereo speakers.

*An integrated web cam.

*Ports include a place where I can slide my full size memory card. (no more hunting for the camera cord to hook up!)

*The battery life on this laptop lasts FOREVER! I have gone more then 5 hours without having to plug in!

*One other feature that must be mentioned…face recognition! Very Star Trek!! Toshiba explains this futuristic feature like as follows:

Log on—with just a smile.

Toshiba Face Recognition is the ultimate hands-free, hassle-free way to logon to your laptop. No keeping track of hard-to-remember passwords. No unnecessary typing. Just your unique visage gazing into the built-in Webcam on your notebook and presto―you’ve got access! How’s that for sci-fi technology?

I would describe it as extraordinary!!

In summary, the Toshiba Satellite L745 is the perfect, reliable and budget friendly choice for students, bloggers, and Mamas alike!

As I made my way through University, work and now my blogging career, I have used and abused many brands of laptops. I can say in all honesty this Toshiba Satellite Laptop has been by far my favourite! Confession, I’m crushing on my Toshiba Laptop.

Disclosure: This post was written as part of a Toshiba Brand Ambassador Program, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Warm and Fuzzy Feelings Can Get You Through

2012-01-11T06:21:00.000-05:00

My children are healthy.

Hubby is snoring beside me.

Cat is fat, funky and funny.

The Dog is a senior citizen and regularly emits what can only be described as toxic fumes.

The house is full of laughter, hormones and sometimes tears.

There are celebrations to look forward to, and dreams not yet come true.

There are hard times behind us, and challenges ahead.

I’m ready.

Life is beautiful, messy and ever changing, and I know I am blessed.

I wouldn’t change a thing.

Tips For Surviving A Sleep Over In The Suburbs

2012-01-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

1. First, we need to change the name of these damn things. These events are in no way “Sleep” overs. “Stay” ~~screaming, giggling, eating, being as loud as humanely possibly~~ overs. This would be much more accurate!

2. Caffeine is required. New rule for a more civilized suburb society: If you take your daughter to one of these “Stay” overs, take along a cup of coffee for the stressed out hostess, she’s gonna need it. (and quite possibly develop a super mad girl crush on you)

3. Food. You think you have enough? You don’t. Pre-teen girls are like pit bulls. Cute and innocent looking on the outside, much like a starving pack of wild animals when put together in a pack. All the gossiping, laughing and random dancing makes them bottomless pits.

4. Stock up on Tylenol, Advil or whatever is your current headache drug of choice. If the ear splitting rendition of 12 girls singing along to “Fat Bottom Girls they make the rockin girls go round!!” Glee style doesn't get you, all the head shaking from the “I can’t believe I just heard that.” to “Did they just eat 6 pizzas, 3 bags of chips, a giant bowl of popcorn and a platter of fruit?” will. Promise.

5. Prepare yourself for a reality check. You know how you secretly think you are kind of a cool Mom? You know firm but friendly and often with good hair? Well, at about 2:15am when it is getting noticeably louder instead of dying down to a dull roar, this perception of yourself will be changed in a big bad way. You will no longer be a cool Mom. Sadness. You will be the Mom going down two flights of stairs in your Lulu yoga pants (cool Mom) all stompy like to tell those girls it is time to “SHOOSH” ( uncool Mom) Being a grown up is hard.

6. LAST. The next morning when you have served waffles, bacon, fruit and three kinds of juice to an extra ten bleary eyed girls and you are feeling kinda proud, and slightly victorious for making it through the night unscathed….DON’T! The worst part of the “Stay” over is yet to come ~ the emotional, teary eyed, exhausted, refused to take a nap because she is a teenager now and doesn’t need one part!! Deep breath.

Ahhh, isn’t life grand!

Party Mama, Suburbs Style?

2012-01-06T07:01:00.000-05:00

My “baby” turns thirteen this week. Thirteen. I am so not ready to be the Mama of a teenager. This thrusts us into a whole new era of well, everything!! Including birthday parties? I actually thought we might be done with parties. I like a good birthday party, but I am not one of those crazed “Party Mamas”. For one fleeting ~~insane must have forgotten who my kid was~~ moment I thought we could just grab one or two good friends and go to a movie and dinner? Yah, I was way wrong. Do you know how hard it is for an almost thirteen year old girl to pick just TWO friends to do something special with? Do you know how many social pitfalls a pre-teen can encounter if she steps on toes, leaves someone out, picks the wrong friends??? Sigh, girl drama. The solution? Mama throws a big ole fashioned sleep over party. Tally of screaming pre-teens. Ten ~~and counting~~. I better start upping my caffeine intake now. It’s going to be a very very long weekend.

One thing this Mama did decide to put her foot down on; Loot bags. Teenagers don’t need loot bags….but they do need some sort of “thanks for coming to my paartee” parting gift right? (I may not be a party Mama, but I do have a little bit of social grace.)

Here is what BlueEyes and I came up with!

Cookies….. in a jar! I’m no Martha, but seriously, these are super cute.

Every dry ingredient you need to create delish oatmeal, smartie, chocolate chip cookies.

Layer them up all pretty like in a mason jar, add some fun ribbon, attach a recipe card and voila! Super cuteness in a jar. (I know, maybe too cute, but cut me some slack I’m trying to hang onto a little bit of cute for my baby’s 13th Birthday. Sniff)

First problem of my dear daughters thirteenth year solved, just about ohh 356 more to go!

I have a feeling 13 is going to be interesting!

Does Facebook Make Mean Girls, Meaner?

2012-01-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

I am the last great resister. Well, at least according to my oldest ~~slightly dramatic completely normal~~ daughter. Up until this week I have flat out refused to allow my almost 13 year old to “get” facebook. Even as the compliments were thrown at me: “Please Best Mom in the world!” “You are AWESOME” “You so don’t look 40 Mom”. (Okay that last one might have helped, that and she turns 13 this week so facebook thinks the kid is old enough to have an account)

So why am I anti- facebook for my kids when I boast 3600 Facebook friends, love them all and am a tad addicted to the site?

I think it’s kind of evil!

It breeds insecurity.

Creates opportunities for jealousy. You can quickly feel left out, left behind and forgotten.

Discourages true communication between peers.

It makes mean girls….meaner? You know that girl in High School who was always Look at me! Look at me! (because they were the prettiest, the smartest, have the most stuff and were clearly having more fun then you? Facebook gives them a chance to virtually rub it in your face, crow it from….well their status updates. All. The. Time. ) I know some of these ~~unthinking kinda obnoxious~~ peeps are exaggerating or just being braggy and boastful, but will my 13 year old daughter see this pathetic cry for attention for what it is?

If I continue to be a hold out (a serious contradiction for a social media addict) what kind of message is that? Do as I say, not as I do? I am so not that Mama. Besides, she is truly one of the last “non-facebookers” in grade 7. Am I hurting her socially? Is this holding her back? Am I a big fat meanie?

Facebook is supposed to help my daughter stay in touch with her girlfriends…uh maybe even some boys, but what if instead it makes her jealous, anxious, stressed and sad. What if those mean girls she has encountered in real life take a stab at her in cyberspace?

I know I can’t protect her forever, but gee, like life isn’t hard enough already. Sigh. This Mom thing doesn’t get any easier does it.

Decision made. I caved. Rules were set, warnings were given. Mean girls watch out cause this social media Mama has her eye on you!

Wish us much luck…it’s going to be an interesting ride.

Awkward Moments Courtesy Of Granny?

2012-01-03T07:03:00.000-05:00

So I kind of thought I was the pioneer in this family of writing the passive aggressive love letters, voicing my inner most thoughts for the entire world to see, you know getting it all down on “paper”.

Turns out I am but a babe. My Granny, she is the grand dame of letters and poetry and she showed her stuff at Christmas.

As I lay upstairs ~~tossing my cookies~~ having my pity party for one. My fabulous Hubby carried on and made sure my entire family still had Christmas. This included drinks, appetizers, a full turkey dinner and of course the traditional gift opening. This year, with a twist. My sweet old Granny, in her 93rd year, had written MY Husband a poem and recited it aloud for the entire family. I missed the whole damn thing. Don’t worry, don’t worry! I got my hands on a copy!!! So without further adieu, a poem, from MY Grandmother to MY Husband. Oh yes, let the Awkward begin.

(and for the record I adore my Grandmother and think her brilliant beyond words…I just don’t have a clue where the hell this poem came from? Perhaps it was helped along with some Sherry? )

Dear B

Do you remember our Christmas last year

When you opened your gift with the greatest of cheer

Only to see half a bottle of wine (Oh yes she did. Last year she gave him a HALF a bottle. That’s how she rolls)

And cried with great sorrow “Is this truly mine?”

So this year the bottle is full to the brim

For you to enjoy and to keep yourself trim

And never for get that I wish you much joy

For my Grand-Daughters Lover’s a really great boy!

Oh. YES. SHE. DID.

Oh Grandma. Sigh. You are one of a kind. Thanks for the giggle and helping to make this Christmas one we will never forget.

My Girls Love Bugs – HEXBUGS!

2012-01-02T21:02:00.000-05:00

My girls were spoiled this year. Thanks to Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents and detailed lists to Santa, I’m pretty sure every wish they had came true. One gift my youngest received was the HEXBUG Nano Habitat and some fantastic wiggly creatures to go with it. I was fairly certain this would be met with glee, but to be honest, not 100% sure. After all, just last week SweetGirl did come running out of the bathroom pale as a ghost screaming for her Daddy because she did not want to “share her shower with a spider”!

When the spider “lover” opened her HEXBUG gift I was ready, armed with my camera to catch her true reaction to these strange and wriggly bugs. Her look…. pure joy!

Gift opening HAD to stop for just a minute so she could open up the HIVE, set up her bugs, and show them to the very interested cat!

The result of this gift has been hours of entertainment. This is high praise from little girls with more then their fair share of new toys, books and electronics to occupy them!

Some things I loved about this HEXBUG Nano Hive Habitat Set:

-it is transportable! (easily folds up to store too!)

-my little architects can customize the design and layout within the HEXBUG Nano set, allowing for even more creative and imaginative play. The Seesaw and Merry-go-round for HEXBUGS…fun!

-this set is two levels! Well that’s just cool.

-the HEXBUG Nano Hive Habitat Set can be connected to any other pre-existing habitat set or used as a stand alone toy.

A big thank you to HEXBUG for the opportunity to review their product. Shopping for January birthday parities will now be a snap! HEXBUGS and all the accessories are great for both girls and boys alike!

Disclosure: I received product for the purpose of review. Opinions in this post are my own and in no way were affected by said product.

Escaping The Suburbs

2011-12-31T07:00:00.000-05:00

It doesn’t always go the way you planned.

Our plan; one last great escape before 2011 came to a close. The kids had a ridiculous amount of time off school…two whole weeks..and we needed a not so “spendy” way to carve out some family time together!

It should have gone like this:

-Picture perfect Christmas. Leave It To Beaver style. Sorta. (with wine, Hubby cooking and me being greedy about chocolate and gifts)

-one gluttonous day in PJ’s, a Boxing Day tradition.

-three panicked hours of packing and then hit the road!

-Borrowing a gorgeous cottage on a lake for a full week of family fun.

How it really went:

-48 hours of Mama tossing her cookies ~~I know TMI but seriously it was awful~~

-three more days of being as weak as a newborn kitten, and whiner then a pre-schooler an hour past nap time.

-one broken furnace (Seriously. So now I’m cold too. Freakin fabulous)

-a crying pathetic pity party for one siting in the bottom of the shower ~~because I was too weak to stand up but was gettin kind of rank and needed a shower~~ feeling like I had ruined Christmas and even the damn house was now conspiring against our almost free getaway

-finally pulling up our boot straps ~~and my fake everything is FINE face~~ and making a run for the lake

-Two girls, 1 cat, 1 dog, 1 unbelievably patient Husband and me. A modern suburban motely crew. *Note to fellow suburbanites: When the cat cries in his crate it is not because he is lonely and wants to play. Do not let him out to “play”. He shall just squat down on your floor and pee vigorously . Gagging and screaming ensues. Pit stop required.

-Mama ends up over doing, well, everything and is relegated to being a useless tool sitting beside a roaring fire as my dear daughters take turns repeatedly asking me “Are you feeling better now Mommy?”. Each time getting the patented Mama response “Oh I think so Honey, Mommy just over did it today.” ~~while silently cursing myself for dragging myself so far from pharmacy's and hospitals.~~

Now a reality check. All are tucked snugly in their beds and here I sit writing my very first post for Escaping the Suburbs….anxious for 2011 to be over, thrilled for all that 2012 holds for all of us. It’s not the way I planned to get here….. but we made it. Sometimes you just have to roll with the punches or they will truly knock you down. Life is good and I am blessed.

I’m thankful for friends, family and readers alike!! Cheers to each of you as we usher in this New Year! Be safe, be healthy, be joyous. Hoping we all have a chance to Escape the Suburbs in 2012, and I will have some great adventure's to share along the way! I can’t wait to see what the New Year will bring and where it will take us.

Much love…

Christmas Eve, Trampolines and Tossed Cookies

2011-12-29T07:29:00.000-05:00

Christmas Eve was a great success. Dinner at the in-laws, gift opening, giggling grand children, too much food and Great Grandma falling asleep in her chair. There is something reassuring about consistency.

Christmas Eve saw the traditional opening of one gift, new PJ’s and Christmas Cookies for Santa. Sweetness.

The kids went to sleep quickly, I was the one up tossing and turning with excitement. This year Christmas was going to be perfect! (You know, as perfect as Christmas can be in the Suburbs with two kids, a dog, a cat and me cooking for the entire family when cooking is so not my forte)

Christmas morning started out just the way I had hoped. My SweetGirl bounding into our bedroom announcing it was “CHRISTMAS!! TIME TO GET UP”. And so we did. Present opening started as planned. Happy girls, happy parents. Then….I felt the need to speed things along. I started rushing my children. Hurrying them from one gift to the next, encouraging them to move along, all under the quizzical stare of dear Hubby. Finally it was time for the big reveal. The last big present of the day. We had a small treasure hunt through the house, complete with a very bad poem, that led our PJ clad girls to the garage to find their ….drum roll please…..

Trampoline! Yes, the big gift we had been saving for and aching to give to our dear daughters. The secret I had been keeping for months!

Thirty seconds after the big reveal……Christmas was over for me. I dropped the video camera, and made a run for the Master Bath. That bathroom is where I stayed for the next 48 hours. So sick, so sad, so disappointed. This was not the Christmas I had planned. I was meant to be passing cookies, not tossing cookies. Now here it is the 29th and I am still in the depths of a pity party for one. Feeling like I let down my girls, my Hubby, my parents, my sister and her family. The worst of it, I’m still sick!

Small reality check. It’s just a flu. (and I did lose 5 lbs) I will recover. It does make you count your blessings and say a little prayer for all the people who are truly ill this Holiday Season.

So for now, I will try and put this yuck Christmas behind me and drag my dehydrated butt downstairs to open the rest of my Christmas Gifts.

Happy Ho Ho Ho to all of you. Hope your cookies this year were served on a plate, not in a porcelain bowl.

Mwah!

It Was A Rockin Talkin Elf Hat!

2011-12-28T13:11:00.000-05:00

Who knew some of our biggest giggles on Christmas Eve would come from passing around the best Christmas Hat ever created! The Rockin Talkin Elf Hat from Hallmark Canada! With a simple press of a button this bright coloured hat takes a room full of fairly quiet family members into rowdy, laughing kids with cheers of “Again” and “Ohhh I want one”. This little number is simply adorable! It “dances” and “sings”! Love.

Beware, when you put on the the Rockin Talkin Elf Hat, you might be susceptible to spontaneous moments of dancing! (whether your kids like it or not) Each family member tried this on and not one was able to stand still! The wiggling of the hat is truly contagious. My only regret, that I didn’t get three of four more so I could have a whole set of dancing elves in the house.

Thanks for the giggle Hallmark Canada!

Disclosure: I am a part of the Hallmark Canada Press Pause Panel,
in association with Hallmark Canada. Product was provided to facilitate this post, all opinions are my own.

Basking In The Glow

2011-12-24T13:36:00.001-05:00

It’s almost Christmas Eve. A night to celebrate all that is special to us in our own unique ways. For me, for our family, we celebrate by making time for family, exchanging gifts, sharing a meal, a laugh and counting our blessings.

I try desperately ~~too often in vain~~ to slow down and enjoy each moment, knowing that childhood is fleeting, that time passes too quickly.

For this very reason I must get off this computer and go make some memories!

Today I wish all of you the happiest of the holiday season, a very Merry Christmas and wishes for a peaceful, healthy and joy filled New Year.

Thanks for being part of my each and every day!

Hugs from the Suburbs….

Squeezing in Date Night with #Equal and #CBias

2011-12-23T08:25:00.000-05:00

The Christmas crazies have taken over my life and I have a confession to make; date night with Hubby, it’s fallen victim to the time crunch. Sad right? This week we swore we would carve out even just an hour for each other and sneak away for some couple time. I might have cheated a bit, we headed to Starbucks, right next to my favourite Chapters so I could pick up just one more gift!!

As we waited in the quickly moving line to order our coffees, I managed to talk dear Hubby into splitting a huge piece of luscious looking lemon poppy seed loaf. Yummo. This is the perfect treat for us to split because he doesn’t love it nearly as much as I do. Why is this good? Uhh I get more! We placed our order. Grande Tazo Chai Latte with Soy Milk for me and a Grande White Mocha for the Hubby. I took a moment to ask the super friendly barista if she had any Equal. Since I’ve switched to Soy Milk I could use a little more sweet in my drink. I’m not quite used to the change in taste. She politely gestured in the direction behind me and pointed out two other sweeteners on offer, but no Equal. I was appreciative to see two other sweeteners available, but Equal as a choice would have been nice!

After getting my Latte just the way I like it, I headed back to a different Barista, double checked that there was no Equal and requested a comment card. I did assure her that I also wanted to provide Starbucks with the feedback that their staff are truly the friendliest around. Seriously, where do they find these people. As “surveys” are only headed out randomly, and there were no comment cards available, I was directed to their website at mystarbucksvisit.com. Perfect and so easy!

Hubs and I sat, enjoyed our snack and fabulous coffees. So great to just sit for a moment and watch the world go by. We might have had a giggle at couple of the super flustered shoppers flying in and out! For once, those panicked patrons are not us!

New Years resolution. More quick coffee dates with my Hubby. It really does make the day that much brighter.

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias Opinions expressed in this post are own.

If you are interested in learning more about Equal you an find them on twitter at @EqualCanada or on Facebook!

How To Survive Christmas In The Suburbs

2011-12-22T08:23:00.000-05:00

Christmas is coming and it’s confession time. I am NOT ready this year. I have decided I need to help myself by taking a little pressure off! Here is a post from a couple of years ago. I’m going to go and wrap some pressies, finish some shopping and re-bake the cookies I ate. If you don’t see me commenting for a few days it’s because I’m in full on Christmas Panic! Happy Holidays! Mwah!

Christmas come and goes in a flash!

All that prep.

The shopping, the baking, the organizing..the panicking?

How can one little Mama possibly keep her family of four happy, get them to all the open houses, family Christmas gatherings, through the meals and survive the photo shoots in one piece?

It's not easy my friends.

Here are a few tips I have learned along the way:

Start shopping today for next year, it's the only way you are ever going to get it all done without breaking the bank.

When you think you are done buying all of your gifts, your not. But one extra super generic gift for when some peep who is clearly nicer and way more thoughtful then you shows up with a gift for you. You don't have one for her? Awkward.

Same goes for Christmas cards. When you go get the mail and there is some love sent to you from your second cousin twice removed, it would be sweet if you have an extra card on hand ready to go. Throw that baby in the mail IMMEDIATELY. Butt is now covered.

Don't make the damn Christmas cookies so far ahead. You and your wee ones (mostly you) will eat them and then you will be forced into re-creating all those mouth watering yummies.

Plan out those Christmas Eve and Christmas Day outfits for yourself and the kiddies a good week in advance. I guarantee you will be short at least one pair of tights and possibly a red sweater. While you are at it, have at least one back up plan for all your lovelies. Food disasters, hormones or the fact that you ate 4 dozen cookies and no longer fit in your "go to" pants may force you into a back up plan.

Do you have enough AAA and AA batteries? NO. You do not. There are never enough. Go get some more.

Sweetie, no matter how hard you try you are going to be tired. It's OK. You can sleep in January.

Be prepared with Tylenol, Wine and expectations at a realistic level and you are ready for the season of Peace, Joy and Christmas in the Suburbs.

Happy Holidays!!

Mwah!

Worst And Best Cookies Ever Made

2011-12-21T07:07:00.000-05:00

Christmas is less then a week a way people! Are you ready? I didn’t think so. (If you are, just don’t tell people, there are a lot of jealous evil haters in the world. Cough. Cough.) One major thing I still have to get stroked off my Christmas to do list…make the worst and best Christmas Cookies ever created.

Let me explain.

For some reason, “Chocolate Haystacks” A very polite name for cookies that look like little piles of poo, have become Christmas cookie traditions in our house. It is just not Christmas until our kitchen counter is covered in the world's ugliest, and yet most addictive chocolaty cookie.

So…I thought I would share this ~~not so secret super addictive you are going to hate me~~ recipe. You’re welcome.

Chocolate Haystack Cookies
Very simple.
Over very low heat in a VERY large pot melt:
*1 cup chocolate chips
*1 cup butterscotch chips
When smooth mix in
*2 cups Chinese noodles (broken down a little bit- I usually do this in a large Ziploc before I begin)
*2 cups peanuts
Stir until thoroughly coated. If it looks a tad runny throw in more Chinese noodles or peanuts.
Transfer by heaping spoonful's on to waxed paper and allow to set.
You're done! Except you now have to lick the spoons and then wipe the chocolate joy off your babies faces

Will keep for a couple of weeks in an airtight container in the fridge, or a couple of months in the freezer! (Be warned, if you are a chocolate addict like I am and try and eat them straight out of the freezer, be sure to chomp with your back teeth, PROTECT THE PRETTY, don’t break off a front tooth eating this chocolaty goodness. That would be embarrassing.

*Picture borrowed from Esquire.

Beauty and The Beast in 3D! Giveaway

2011-12-20T00:17:00.001-05:00

Tale as old as time..Song as old as rhyme …Beauty and the Beast.

I have been humming this tune all day long, and I’m willing to bet if you are a Disney fan like I am, you are now singing right along with me.

Do you live in Toronto or Waterloo? Then I have a sweet Giveaway for you!!! Beauty and the Beast is being premiered in 3D at a select number of theatres on January 7th 2012. I just happen to have two family passes of four to give away! Squee!

If you have a couple of little people in your life that would enjoy seeing this Disney classic on the big screen here is your chance to see it in a super special way! (and might I add before anyone else)

Here are the details:
Toronto: Saturday, January 7th at 10:00 am at SilverCity Yorkdale
Waterloo: Saturday, January 7th at 10:00 at the Galaxy Cinemas Waterloo

Here is how to enter!!

1. Tell me the name of any other Disney move that you adore! Also, please include in your answer if you would like to see this special screening in Toronto or Waterloo.

Easy Extra Entries

2. Follow me on twitter or tell me that you already do! @SassyModernMom

3. Please give this giveaway a tweet! Let’s make sure all the Disney fans know about this new release! You may cut and paste if you wish.

Win a special screening pass 4 four 2 C Beauty & The Beast in 3D! #Toronto #Waterloo via #SassyModernMom #Giveaway http://bit.ly/tvSHl1

ONE tweet a day for this contest to help get the word out!

4. Like my Facebook Fan page. Please Or tell me that you are already a fan!

5. Comment on one of my other posts and come back and tell me you did.

Thanks so much for entering and Happy Holidays!

Contest open to Canadians only and will close on Jan. 4th. Winner will have 48hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Tickets will be sent electronically and you will be put on a VIP Guest List.

AND THE WINNERS ARE:
TORONTO: #39

Amy said... 39

daily tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/amym_brown/status/152741009426628608
thanks
amym_brown @ hotmail.com

WATERLOO: # 47

Kady L. said... 47

I LOVE The Little Mermaid :) Waterloo please.
kady@thebeerguy.ca

Congratulations Ladies!! I will get your tickets sent out to you!!

Wild Nights and Gingerbread Houses

2011-12-19T07:01:00.000-05:00

One precious weekend a year the In-Laws take the kids over night for an evening of Gingerbread House making, movie watching, and overindulging. From the state of them when they get home, I’m pretty sure sleep is not something happening at this “sleep” over.

You know what? I don’t care! I look forward to this weekend all year long! I know my girls will have a fantastic time and Hubby and I have an entire evening where we get to act like adults with no responsibility!

We can go out for dinner, drink a bottle of wine, see an R rated movie…or at least a movie that doesn't have cartoon characters in it, stay out late without calculating how much extra we will have to pay the babysitter and in general be selfish and spontaneous again! Bliss.

So the special Gingerbread weekend, that was THIS weekend. Both the girls and I were having our very own special kinds of countdowns. Little one’s were marking down the days on their dry erase boards outside their bedroom doors. Me, I was working out the timing of which day I should shave my legs. Sexy right?

My youngest SweetGirl had the nerve to catch a nasty cold this week. I stuffed her full of some awesome vitamins, filled her with nutritious food, and that snotty nose stopped dripping just in the nick of time. Our night alone was saved. Girls were dropped off at Grandmas at 5pm sharp on Saturday night.

Hubby and I were alone in the house. I might have giggled and danced a little at the anticipation of an entire evening of adult time. So do you want to know what we did? What our biggest hearts desire was? What we wanted to do more then anything else? Here’s how it went:

We went to the grocery store….without kids begging to put more stuff in the cart.

We picked up coffees…and talked quietly, without interruption.

We cooked dinner together…..in our own kitchen. Crab cakes, shrimp, stuffed chicken, rice, salad. There was of course chocolate for dessert.

We watched TWO movies from the comfort of our own couch, with a roaring fire beside us, and more snacks than any two people should ever eat.

We were in bed by midnight, because that’s how we roll….

It wasn’t wild, or crazy. No drinking, no crowd, no noise. Just the two of us (with a pact not to talk about the kids) enjoying a quiet evening at home and reflecting on how ridiculously lucky we really are.

…and I wouldn't change a thing.

I can hardly wait for our next wild weekend.

(Good grief I am old!)

Tell Me the Truth You Bunch of Liars

2011-12-16T08:33:00.000-05:00

So I’ve been reading lots of lists lately. You are all so nice. So warm, and fuzzy and grateful for the wonderful things in your life. Waxing poetic about how much you love your Husbands, your kids, the roof over your head and the extra time with your family. To that I say PFFFT. Whatever! Might I add Uh Duh? We know this already!

I want to know what you are TRULY thankful for! Here, let me get you started.

I’m thankful for:

Visine, which I spray in my eyes every single morning to try and disguise how truly tired I really am.

For under eye concealer, so I can look like I am remotely human as opposed to the zombie Mom that I sometimes am.

Actually, to make-up in general, I bow down to you. Mwah.

I'm thankful to coffee, I big fat squishy heart you! Caffeine is simply a vital part of my life.

I’m grateful for the one or two nights a year my parents and in-laws take the kids overnight! I love my children more then life itself and the house is kind of creepy quiet when they are not here, but we are being honest right? Walking naked from the bedroom to the bathroom is super cool, extra sleep and uhh acting like grown-ups with a little less real life responsibility once in a while, that is brilliant!

I’m thankful for McDonalds. Who doesn’t need a little fast food fix once in a while? If you can avoid all fast food, well, then I guess you are a better Mama then me. You know what, add hot dogs, ice cream and popcorn to this list. They have all been used as substitute dinners ….because that’s how I roll.

I’m thankful for the mornings I can find matching socks. It’s the little things.

I’m grateful for the days when the flyers out number the bills in the mailbox.

I love it when the kids declare they have no homework. I’m so tired of homework.

I’m thankful for the evenings when we don’t have to carpool to gymnastics, dance, piano or play dates. (Yes, sometimes I’m happy to be lazy, and thrilled to encourage TV or computer time! GASP!)

I’m grateful to find one more bottle of ketchup at the back of the cupboard when I thought it was all gone.

I’m thankful for the one pair of jeans that makes my butt looks good.

And thrilled if I find some chocolate left in my secret stash. (Every Mama in the Suburbs must have a secret chocolate stash)

These are not the big things that make a person happy, these are the real things that bring joy and make life a little easier. So fess up and tell me the truth….have you got a little guilty pleasure you are thankful for?

PS If today is Friday, it’s the last day to enter my Holiday Box Giveaway from You’ve Been Gifted!