We went out for lunch yesterday with our three kids and it was actually fun. Sometimes it's not fun. In fact, there are occasions when dining out with them is an absolute nightmare. However, when it's fun, it's great. It means exploring new foods together, sharing an experience, and it's one less meal to clean up at home. More »

I made it to the gym, and took a nap with my kids. Perfect afternoon. The kids had phad thai and played with their cousins - I love seeing them play together, blissful and content. The Boy looks funny and cute with this two missing teeth in the front of his mouth. The Girl is always in high heels and lip gloss - even when she's wearing her pyjamas. The Baby is less cranky after 4 days on antibiotics, but feeling better and more herself. More »

  The Baby has had a fever for four days. I have never seen her this miserable, and it's breaking my heart.  The Boy lost two teeth today.  They've been loose for days, but were finally set free by a Werther's caramel given to him by his teacher. My husband took me to a dingy club to see an indie band, Surfer Blood. They were surprisingly (to me!) very very good and I had fun.  Weird moment of the evening: Bumping into the Boy's teacher (see previous bullet) there!  I've tried every morning this past week to get up at... More »

When Jen went on to demonstrate Twitter and Tweetdeck, along with everything you can do with these tools, I was amazed. Sitting in my kid/family/baby bubble, I've gotten rusty, stale, out-of-date. I'm all like, "I'm down with the kids and technology. I'm hip." Whatever. I'm a stay-at-home mom who's losing her edge. So much is going on and passing me by so rapidly. Itunes and Facebook have a new format every week and I'm struggling to keep up. More »

My twenty year high school reunion is coming up. As I reconnect with old friends, and plan our get-together, I find myself increasingly nostalgic about the eighteen wonderful years I spent in St. Stephen, New Brunswick. There are countless reasons why I loved growing up there. Here are but a few that come to mind: More »

The Boy will soon turn seven.  This is unfathomable to me.  He is still my baby, and how seven years have passed I don't know.  That, however, is a story for another post.  This post is full of questions. Questions that I thought were still years away.  Just a few months ago, it was easy.  The kids went with me to the Ladies' Room.  It was a non-issue.  Now, it's another story. For instance, at the Airport:  "Mom, there's no way I'm going to the Girls' bathroom. I'm not a girl and there's just no way." "But, sweetheart, how can I send you... More »

After a while, the eyes crave new things.  New colours, designs, ideas - it's stimulating to the senses and invigorating to the soul. That's how I felt when I went shopping in India.  Everything is so completely different. and there is so much variety.  For example, if you want high end fashion, there is Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Stella Mcartney, you name it.  If you want jeans, or polos, there is Levi's and Lacoste. There's Aldo, Nine West and Hush Puppies for shoes. You get everything that you get here, but more too. Along with all the American/Euro stuff, you get... More »

To say that my taste buds have been dormant would be an understatement.  Eating in India is like nothing else. Don't get me wrong, I've had lovely meals here, at people's homes and elsewhere. But there's something about food in India that ignites the taste buds with an explosive pleasure that I've yet to experience anywhere else. This past trip, I made a list. I was strategic and focused in my culinary intentions.  I had been meticulous about diet and exercise for the whole past year; but for that month, I intended to eat with abandon and relish, succumbing to the tantalizing... More »

We're back from our wild and wonderful vacation! The trip was amazing - food, shopping, family bonding, a multi-event family wedding and lots of sun.  I wanted to blog more frequently from Chennai, where I was based, but it proved to be more difficult that I hoped with a clingy toddler constantly attached to my leg! We arrived in Chennai after a long flight on Jet Airways (21 hours in total including the stopover), which brought us to India via  Brussels.  The Girls and I had a blast travelling with my brother and nephew, and the journey's difficulties (e.g. the... More »

We've been here for two weeks and have finally gotten over our jet lag and intial maladies.  My husband and son arrive tonight and I can't wait to see them.  Last week, my daughter was missing her North American fast food so we made a trip to McDonald's.  There are several locations here - we went to the one at Ampa Mall.  It's incredible how the fries in India can taste exactly the same as the ones in Toronto! I love the regional changes they make to the menu to make it more Indian. With a largely vegetarian population, the... More »