March isn't my favourite month.
There, I said it. Apologies to those who celebrate birthdays or other significant milestones this time of year. I've tried to like it, it is the month of Spring after all, but in this part of the country it's dreary and damp and dirty and just drags on.
By March I just want winter to be done with already. There are a few breakthrough days when the sun shines and the temperature rises, but it's almost always just a tease as the temperature dips and the sun goes into hiding again the next day.
So what do I do to keep my spirits up? I keep an eye out for the simple things. Yesterday I was walking in the drizzling rain to pick up Claire from daycare and heard a bird chirping. It made me smile because it was the first chirping I've heard in a very long while. Today I was strolling through Canadian Tire and was pleased to see the bikes and camping gear and gardening supplies out on display. Count on retail stores to be ahead of the calendar. There were a few shelves of snow boots and other miscellaneous winter gear, but they'll be gone soon ;)
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Daylight savings
There already aren't enough hours in the day, and tonight we're going to lose one. Bugger...
Happens every year and every year I'm not quite ready for it.
Happens every year and every year I'm not quite ready for it.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
More Torono FUN
Time again to set the alarm for early morning dance registration at the local community centre this coming Saturday.
Tiny Tot Jazz back in the Fall was a great success and Lauren is ready for another class. She skipped the winter session because I figured getting into the swing of me going back to work and picking up from daycare would be enough of a juggle during the week. On cold winter weekdays we all just want to get home, and the weekends commitment free.
Tiny Tot Jazz back in the Fall was a great success and Lauren is ready for another class. She skipped the winter session because I figured getting into the swing of me going back to work and picking up from daycare would be enough of a juggle during the week. On cold winter weekdays we all just want to get home, and the weekends commitment free.
Spring is near and it's time to dance! This time around Lauren has requested ballet. Now that she's 5 she'll be with the 5-7 year group which will likely mean a class that's a little more focused. The Tiny Tot group was fun, but the 3 and some of the younger 4 year olds in the class tended to run amok.
Getting a spot in the class may be tough. Ballet is already a popular class and there are very few classes to choose from. The best available for us is Saturday morning at 10:15am which I'm sure is prime time for every other family as well.
Ah well, the best I can do is be in the ready with mouse and phone in hand. Wish me luck!
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Renos 2013
While I was tidying the girls room this morning I pulled Lauren's bed away from the wall to tuck in a bed sheet and noticed water condensation on the floor. I ran my hand along the wall and felt that it was cold.
Zut alors!
The cold wall is a known issue, as is the cold floor. The room is at the front of the house and level to the roof overhang that's above the front porch. Because there's no insulation in that part of the roof, there's no barrier from the cold. We knew we'd have to get to fixing this sooner or later, but hoping for the later. Now that I see water in the bedroom, I think we need to bump this project up on the priority list.
2012 was a no reno year. Claire kept us busy enough, and after spending a good chunk of money and living through dust and noise and paint fumes while upgrading the living and dining room in 2011, we needed the break.
C wasted no time and sent out a message to G, our favourite contractor to chat about availability and cost. A few hours later we were sitting around the table chatting about the what, when and how much.
In addition to the bedroom project, we talked about the backyard. The space has been pretty much unused for the last 5 years, and it's time to take it back. It's postage stamp size as far as backyards go, but it's ours. And how wonderful would it be to eat breakfast out there on a nice weekend morning, and dinner on a warm night.
G mentioned that he would sooner get a space heater for the cold wall and spend the money on the backyard first. This is exactly the kind of advice I wanted to hear from someone who knows better about what projects to do first.
So, all being well with finances, we'll tackle the backyard just as soon as the ground thaws and the temperature begins to rise. Once we're into the summer months we'll look into getting the room done and hopefully finished by the fall.
Phew. 2013, here we come!
Zut alors!
The cold wall is a known issue, as is the cold floor. The room is at the front of the house and level to the roof overhang that's above the front porch. Because there's no insulation in that part of the roof, there's no barrier from the cold. We knew we'd have to get to fixing this sooner or later, but hoping for the later. Now that I see water in the bedroom, I think we need to bump this project up on the priority list.
2012 was a no reno year. Claire kept us busy enough, and after spending a good chunk of money and living through dust and noise and paint fumes while upgrading the living and dining room in 2011, we needed the break.
C wasted no time and sent out a message to G, our favourite contractor to chat about availability and cost. A few hours later we were sitting around the table chatting about the what, when and how much.
In addition to the bedroom project, we talked about the backyard. The space has been pretty much unused for the last 5 years, and it's time to take it back. It's postage stamp size as far as backyards go, but it's ours. And how wonderful would it be to eat breakfast out there on a nice weekend morning, and dinner on a warm night.
G mentioned that he would sooner get a space heater for the cold wall and spend the money on the backyard first. This is exactly the kind of advice I wanted to hear from someone who knows better about what projects to do first.
So, all being well with finances, we'll tackle the backyard just as soon as the ground thaws and the temperature begins to rise. Once we're into the summer months we'll look into getting the room done and hopefully finished by the fall.
Phew. 2013, here we come!
Monday, January 21, 2013
Feng Shui
I was sitting on my comfortable couch in the living room watching The Marilyn Denis Show today and learned that having a couch up against a window is bad feng shui. Something about energy being sucked out of the person sitting on said couch and floating away.
Zut alors!
Because guess where my couch is? Yes, in front of the living room window.
Unfortunately there really is no other place to put it. Options are limited in a 10'x10' area, and the only other wall that's big enough to accommodate the couch has the TV mounted to it. That would make for really awkward TV watching and a kink in the neck.
I wonder if I can counter the effect of my family and friends' energy flying away by adding other positive feng shui elements to the room, like plants, or bowl of fruit, or something.
Need to do some research on that...
Zut alors!
Because guess where my couch is? Yes, in front of the living room window.
Unfortunately there really is no other place to put it. Options are limited in a 10'x10' area, and the only other wall that's big enough to accommodate the couch has the TV mounted to it. That would make for really awkward TV watching and a kink in the neck.
I wonder if I can counter the effect of my family and friends' energy flying away by adding other positive feng shui elements to the room, like plants, or bowl of fruit, or something.
Need to do some research on that...
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Namaste
The signs are out there and calling to me.
Yesterday I found a postcard in the mailbox for the Mindful BodyWorks yoga studio. They opened up just last week and are located down the street. Literally a 2 minute walk from my front door.
I've been meaning to try yoga for a few years now. I did try one hour long class at the Y once about 12 or 13 years ago when a friend invited me along as a guest. It was waaaay harder than I thought it would be because I knew nothing about yoga, just that it involved stretching and meditation which I assumed would be easy. I was in a lot of pain the next day and haven't tried again since.
My attitude towards yoga has come a long way in those 12 or 13 years and I'm ready to give it another go. Cycling is great, as is the "exercise" I get from climbing the stairs in my house and lifting my children, but I'm looking for a more well rounded mind/body workout. I even bought C a yoga DVD for his birthday with the intention of borrowing it. Ok, so his birthday was in July and I haven't yet watched it, but I intend to really soon!
It's a brand new year, time to try new things right now.
Yesterday I found a postcard in the mailbox for the Mindful BodyWorks yoga studio. They opened up just last week and are located down the street. Literally a 2 minute walk from my front door.
I've been meaning to try yoga for a few years now. I did try one hour long class at the Y once about 12 or 13 years ago when a friend invited me along as a guest. It was waaaay harder than I thought it would be because I knew nothing about yoga, just that it involved stretching and meditation which I assumed would be easy. I was in a lot of pain the next day and haven't tried again since.
My attitude towards yoga has come a long way in those 12 or 13 years and I'm ready to give it another go. Cycling is great, as is the "exercise" I get from climbing the stairs in my house and lifting my children, but I'm looking for a more well rounded mind/body workout. I even bought C a yoga DVD for his birthday with the intention of borrowing it. Ok, so his birthday was in July and I haven't yet watched it, but I intend to really soon!
It's a brand new year, time to try new things right now.
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