Embrace Life

things we do | journaling project

I'd like to think that I'm a journaler, but the reality is, I'm not.

Sure, I have OODLES of Moleskine and other journals - in various stages of started, but none complete.

I'm, at best, a dabbler. At worst, a flake.

I've joined "The Sketchbook Project" for four years now and have yet to complete and return one!

I received notice a few weeks ago that it was time again to order a new sketchbook for this year's version of the project. Could I face another failure?

Apparently, I think I can.

But I did one better this year, not only did I get the sketchbook, I bought an IDEA BOOK. I'm all about the "give me 10 examples so I can start" - clearly I'm a visual person. I really don't "get" it if I can't see, feel and touch an idea. The book is FANTASTIC! Now I'm really jazzed to get going.

In the meantime, I got a small project - Recipe Swap. Fun, fabulous and really not that small at all!

Plenty to keep me occupied for the next little while. Not that I was at a loss for something to do. I'm already engaged (and enjoying) Susannah Conway's Journal Your Life course and looking forward to starting Clean & Simple: The Workshop with Cathy Zielske next week!

list | 10 of 52

52 LISTS | Week Ten | LIST THE WAYS YOU CAN CLEANSE FOR SPRING

• Change furnace filter
• Purge furnace room
• Clean out basement entry and front entry closets
• Walk – every day
• Swim – at least 3x each week
• Drink more water and/or green tea every day
• Reconcile all documents and prep for upcoming (divorce) case conference – such a long process!
• Purge closet and dresser drawers
• Unsubscribe from all emails that are of no further interest
• Find a replacement for Google Reader!
• Update "Control Journal" with new and upcoming activities
• Dedicate time, every day, to be still – and quiet
• Take another photo walk; plan another, and then another
• Journal, for me, every day
• Turn the television off at 10PM
• Read before bed
• Stick to consuming minimal refined sugar (still stuck with my single teaspoon of “raw” sugar in my coffee each morning)
• Map out plantings and use of outdoor space for this summer
• Choose colours for rooms in need of freshening
• Map out and hang all photos & paintings
• Sort and purge all “creative” tools and supplies. Keep only the things that will bring me joy and fulfillment moving forward.
• Go through all of the “great articles” discovered while doing the ONE little WORD vision board and read – file if worthwhile, toss if not
• The linen closet is a disaster, decide what to keep and donate the rest. Put all linens together by bed-set and wrap in pillow case
• Have kids go through all books and purge for school sale
• Have kids go through all closets and purge clothes for donation or hand-me-down to the next in line :)
• Go through first aid and medicine cupboard and update

CHALLENGE: This week I will Spring clean by ...

• going through all of the financial and household files, currently in a pile, and put them in proper folders for easy locating!

hello monday | 63

hello reset. thank you harley pasternak, in preparation for my trip to tucson, i think this is the perfect approach. if it works, i'm full of ca-ca. if it doesn't there is something wrong. i am really hoping for ca-ca.

hello brené brown. boots on, indeed.

hello routine. i am sad to see my girl go back to boarding, but the idea of routine is kind of appealing :)

hello cold. i know i've been whining, but it's still here. i am not happy. doing my best to ignore it. thank you advil and scotties.

hello girlfriends. lunch on tuesday and friday. whoot!

hello restoration hardware. i have completely given up on pottery barn >:| and have gone with restoration hardware to save my bathroom woes! they promise two weeks. omg. can it be true?

hello short week. sigh. easter. why can spring break and easter break not be combined? eight scheduled school days in the month of march. i totally get why the international students will be "late" back. i should have just taken the kids overseas for a month.

hello ducks. time to get you in a row.

hello dave grohl. love you. seriously. this talk was absolutely amazing and i sent it to everyone who means anything to me - with many thanks to the brilliant cathy zielske. but, with respect, i'm still looking forward to "the voice" tonight!

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week.
i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

the current | twenty-five

dateline: oakville, ontario, canada @ 8:03pm on march 20, 2013
weather outside: winter isn't over yet BUT they say to expect sun on the weekend.
mood inside: sniffly, headachy and sick.

drinking green tea. not sure i like it, but it is nice to drink something hot when you're sick. i feel like i'm doing something good for myself.

eating chicken noodle soup and pasta. perfect.

cooking will have to wait until i feel like cooking. even at the best of times i'm not an enthusiastic cook, but this week has been all about the soup and rotisserie chicken.

listening to the sounds of "survivor" coming on the television.

watching my kids hanging out, all together, on the couch. i love that they get along. well, most of the time!

reading the icarus deception by seth godin as well as the power of why by amanda lang. well, i'll start reading again when i can find my reading glasses!

wearing yoga pants, t-shirt and sweater. yep, the long black one!

packing up some research material for in-the-truck reading

planning to watch the first two seasons of downton abbey. i ripped the plastic off the dvds i've had sitting by the television for months!

feeling like i'm finally getting things completed - in my head. i love holidays away but the catch up when we return can be brutal! at least the list is now complete. hopefully i'll be able to get to it by the weekend.

stopping my constant hope that my kids' father will contact them. nothing before they left to wish them well on the cruise. nothing upon our return to ask how they enjoyed it. so sad. for all of them.

wanting to continue in this amazing journey of vulnerability. life altering. thank you for the last three years, brené brown - and to my too-distant friend monica mcneill who started this whole ball rolling!

needing the warm weather to arrive - and stay. if not warm, at least some sunshine and blue skies!

wishing for some creative inspiration. not feeling it right now.

waiting patiently, and without input, for claire to decide which program, at what university, is her choice for the next four years.

thinking about what household project to tackle next. so many choices!

enjoying big brother canada. so very canadian - and not always in the best way :)

paying very close attention to my intuition. the universe is starting to come in loud and clear.

encouraging my kids to be confident and kind within themselves as well as with others. i figure if they master that, they'll do okay.

celebrating rather than cursing my need to research and learn new things. even new ways to consider old things.

cultivating silence. really enjoying the meditation practice i'm learning through the oprah & deepak meditation challenge. i started late as we were away, but these first few days have been the perfect way for me to learn something that has always facinated me.

marveling at all of the wonders in my world.

anticipating spring! birds singing. buds on trees. green grass. sunshine.

and i'll spare you the self portrait. here is my view for the last few days:

anticipation | spring

Taken May 2012

I don't know about you, but I found this winter to be long. Maybe it was the endless months of snow, or the constant wind, ice and grey skies - not a normal happening here in the bubble. Even with two tropical trips - another outside-our-normal happening - the months seemed to slog on in the dark and cold. In spite of it all, a lot got done and many lessons were learned!

With the arrival of spring, we are looking forward to:

• Blue skies and sunshine.
• Baseball games and practices. Softball games and practices.  I'm sure both leagues will be getting in touch with us soon. I'm anxious to get the schedules plugged into the calendar and address all of the conflicts. Then I'll pack up the cooler and folding chair and put them in their permanent position in the truck.
• Concert excitement. Claire and Cole both enjoy going to see bands as they stop in Toronto and other local areas. Though the events are in the summer, the tickets will be purchased though spring and the anticipation will be a joy to experience with them.
• A finished master bath. I am so disappointed in Pottery Barn. Renovation Hardware will, again, come to my rescue!
• My two Gemini babies turn 14 and 13 - and my home will be, officially, filled with teenagers! Give me strength :)
• Embracing silence. The practice of meditation is being tried for the first time, after years of curiosity. I know for sure if it is not continued, the practice of silence will be. And maybe that will be enough.
• After MUCH begging, pleading, negotiation and hesitation, my boys will be playing rugby for their school teams through May. I love rugby as a sport, though I don't know how anxious I am to send them back onto the pitch. Sigh.
• I love living in a home full of music. Chloé got the part of Genie in Aladdin and I can't wait to see her perform in the Middle School Play! She's gonna kill it :)
• Many container plants filled with succulents for on the back deck. I just have to be patient enough to wait until after the May long weekend to plant them!
• Many hanging plants filled with trailing ivy and flowers for on the back deck. I have to be patient with this too.
• More container plants for the front of the house. This year I'll be planting my own. NOT impressed with the expense or poor performance of the plantings last spring done by "the professional".
• A new entry mat and I'd love to get a big brass door knocker for the front door.
• A fresh coat of paint on everything that needs a fresh coat - bathrooms, bedrooms, hallways, doorways. This may be a big job!
• Cole is back to NYC with the Appleby Cantus Choir. They're performing at Carnegie Hall! And then he's back again with Grampy since his earlier trip was cancelled. The weather should be way better in April!
• A final decision regarding Claire's university selection. I've already offered my opinion and will now maintain my silence and let her do the choosing. After all, it's her future and time for her to take charge.
• Purge! The annual Spring Clean has started. What is on your list?
• Fire up the BBQ!
• Our annual Mother's Day brunch with my family in Toronto. I love these "command performance" events. Watching all of the kids - mine along with those of my four sisters - grow up into amazing young adults.
• Stepping completely out of my comfort zone and meeting another group of parents at upcoming games.
• Cole is performing in the Peel Music Festival. His songs include "C'est Moi!" from Camelot, "Love Who You Love" from A Man of No Importance and "All That's Known" from Spring Awakening.
• Lunches on the patio at Jonathan's. Every time I go, I miss my friend Bill. I toast to him every visit.
• Maybe another driver? Claire has completed the course but has yet to take the driving test. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the fact that the family vehicle is a Suburban. Maybe she can borrow her uncle's Jetta? We'll see!
• A big bright umbrella for our patio table. Tomato Red? Bright Orange? Lime Green? Cyan Blue? Turqoise or Teal?
• Back to Canyon Ranch in Tucson with my sister! I'll be taking bunch of medical tests to get to the bottom of some unsolved questions and move every day on my favourite under-water treadmill. Oh, and get back to better eating and portion control reminders!
• Journal Your Life with Susannah Conway should give me some inspiration to start journaling for me again. I'm also looking forward to seeing what Cathy Zielske has in store in her Clean & Simple Workshop. 
• Continuing with theme of pushing my comfort zone and embracing vulnerability, I've purchased a ticket for the school Spring Fling with plans to attend. Alone. Not that I won't know anyone, I just don't normally do this kind of thing.
• Final exams! It's time to bear down and end the school year with the best marks ever!
• Graduation for my girl, Claire. Big plans for the big day. I am so excited for her! I keep thinking of all the time she has to learn: to make mistakes, correct her course, learn some more. It's been great so far, and only gets better from here.

There is so much going on and so much to look forward to with days getting longer and warmer. It will be hard to stay focused on finishing up the school year, but we're all determined to get the best marks possible - it's a team effort!

things we do | volleyball

Claire was a co-captain of the Varsity Volleyball Team at school last term. It is a sport she loves and I'm sure she'll find a way to continue to play in coming years - intermural at university, beach during the summers, technique classes with Pakmen.

There were only three returning players this season and the expectations were that it was a "building" team. All that being said, I think they did remarkably well and I enjoyed a number of very close and exciting games. Claire had dreams of OFSAA for her graduating year but it wasn't to be. She will have to settle for earning her school "colours" for her efforts. Some life lessons are harder than others.

Next term? Softball.

list | 9 of 52

52 LISTS | Week Nine | LIST THE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO

• Take a traditional cooking course from knife skills to making stock to full-on big gourmet meals
• Fly to Bora Bora and stay in an ocean bungalow
• Take pottery classes and experiment with making the art that lives in my head
• To a massage therapist - regularly
• To Newfoundland to watch icebergs float by and eat fresh seafood
• To my retail space, filled with my art and my writing and my energy
• Cruise through southern Europe and northern Africa with stops in Portugal, France, Spain, Italy, Morocco, Gibraltar, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Malta, Croatia and Greece – any or all :)
• Take a photo safari to South Africa
• Take the kids to Scotland to visit castles and golf courses and fields of purple and yellow
• Walk through the Distillery District with my camera, and to Queen’s Quay, the Beaches and Union Station in Toronto
• Back to the desert with my sister
• To Jonathan’s patio for lunch and people watching all summer long
• For a walk around the Appleby campus, regularly
• To a publishing house, completed manuscript in hand
• Through the car wash at least once a week, love a clean truck!
• Swimming at the Oakville Club and on to the tennis courts
• Back to the Cloister’s, this time with the kids, back to the Greenbriar, too
• To listen to Brené Brown and Malcolm Gladwell and Seth Godin and Pema Chodron and Dalai Lama and Sir Ken Robinson and Daniel Pink and Tony Robbins and Oprah and Ken Follett and Dan Gilbert and Susan Cain and Whoopie speak, live.
• Off to a creative retreat, like Squam, to learn from others
• Back to Cape Cod, every summer, forever

 CHALLENGE: This week I will go ...

• On a cruise to the Eastern Caribbean with my kids, on the Oasis of the Seas, with stops in the Bahamas, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. (And, I did!)

Nourish | Rediscovery

Sometimes it just isn't worth the argument. Then enough time passes and you forget the things you loved. It sounds impossible.

That's exactly what happened.

And then the years passed.

You would think it would be easy to just go back and do the things you enjoyed, but echos of criticism is paralyzing even well after the cause is gone. I'm here to say, it isn't easy. First you have to remember where you once found joy and then you have to brace yourself to find it again. It sounds so silly, but it isn't. At all.

Now that I've embraced my fears, I'm savouring and enjoying three things I had to abandon to keep the peace:

MUSIC

I was in Organic Garage in early November and heard Laura Brannigan's "Gloria" come on in the background. Every woman in the store, of a certain age (ahem), stopped. We listened and smiled. I took in a deep breath and slowly exhaled. When I was younger I loved Laura Brannigan. I sang her songs, I danced around my apartment, I felt free and joyful. Oh, the years of verbal abuse I suffered, from the resident music expert, for daring to find joy music created by someone who was simply a vocalist. Standing there, in a grocery store, watching the women around me have the exact same response as I did had to be one of the most validating experiences in recent memory.

COOKING

Nothing I cooked was good enough. Ever. Why didn't I cook like his mother? I don't know. Perhaps because I wasn't his mother and even his mother didn't cook as well as his memory! As a result of constant criticism I just stopped cooking. I feigned disinterest. I did a lot of re-heating. You know, pick up pre-packaged crap from the frozen food aisle, toss a salad and voila, dinner is served. Green Giant brussels sprouts saturated in butter in a plastic boil-in-bag is not what I consider to be a vegetable - for that matter, neither is shake-n-bake or canned soup.

MOVIES

I like happy movies. Adventure movies. Documentaries and historical dramatizations. Rom-com-adventure-fun movies. Give me a movie with a great story, realistic writing and great cinematography. Often I don't care who is in it. As long as I learn something or feel something positive when it's over, I'm happy. Gross movies are ... gross. War movies are ... about war. Heavy subjects do not automatically make for a good movie. A big "star" does not always make for a good experience. I stopped going to movies, claiming fear of germs, so as not to be lectured on why I was wrong about my interpretation or opinion.

How does a person live without music, movies or food - for years? You choose your battles and these were not the battles I was willing to fight. There were others that were more important - at the time.

I have to admit, I am incredibly happy to have music, cooking and movies back. Whenever I want!

Every day, when I'm reading or writing or driving, I am listening to AltNation or some other Alternative Rock station. On my iPod I have plenty of "classic" rock (including the much maligned Laura Brannigan). My music compromise of now is to listen to more of what interests my kids. As a teen I remember music being very important to me. I hear certain songs and the memories come rushing back. It is equally important to my kids. They enjoy introducing music to me and I honour their enthusiasm by listening to - and enjoying - every single song. It's been fun to introduce them to a few tunes, too!

Though our schedule is crazy, having us going here-there-everywhere after school every day, I have managed to introduce a number of new recipes to the kids. They have developed their own tastes and I often cater to them, sometimes I offer up something new. They also have hot lunch options at school each day which have expanded their food repertoire. Yay! Most of my experimentation happens on the weekends and then I modify things to be a quick mid-week version. It's worked really well and I enjoy the challenge as well as the health benefits.

I don't know if it was a good thing that the first movie seen in a theatre in years was ARGO. I really think it may have spoiled me for every other movie! We have a theatre in walking distance from the house and I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate a mid-afternoon visit a couple of times a month. Just imagine all of the conversations I can now participate in as I'll have an opinion of my own rather than one gleened from eTalk!

This journey of rediscovery has been wonderful. I am genuinely grateful for all of it. Truly nourishing and enriching my soul. You don't really appreciate things until they're gone - and then return.

hello monday | 62

taken last week in St. Thomas, USVI

hello photos. from our march break in the caribbean. there are hundreds of them! the good thing is i've become quite proficient with the delete key :) got a few wonderful shots. good thing since i forgot to order any while on board!

hello brené brown. as always, thank you for the reminder and validation that this journey to vulnerability is where i need to be. with some fingangling we managed to hook up the feed from facebook onto the television. so glad my kids are so tech-savvy! with much gratitude, thank you.

hello earth hour. this used to be something we recognized: 2008, 2009 & 2010 - even in a passing manner. i think we'll do it again this year with a more proactive effort. mark your calendar: march 23 from 8:30PM to 9:30PM.

hello pottery classes. so excited to start!

hello home. we hit the ground running within hours of returning and don't plan on stopping all week!

hello seth godin. i got busy and forgot. now i'm playing catch up. i'm sorry to be so far behind. no surprise, brilliant stuff!

hello resumés, cover letters and first aid courses. claire and cole are getting ready to apply to work at summer camp this year. nice that they'll get paid rather than my doing the paying for a change :)

hello brené brown. again, thank you for the reminder and validation that this journey to vulnerability is where i need to be. with some fingangling we managed to hook up the feed from facebook onto the television. so glad my kids are so tech-savvy! with much gratitude, thank you.

hello university acceptances. claire got in to every single program in every school she wanted. now the real work begins! hopefully she gets back to class next week with a clear decision made.

hello new york city. cole is off for a couple of days to the big apple with my dad. broadway plays. world class shopping. chop houses. conversation. it should be a great time for both of them.

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week.
i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

around the house | book purge

One of my favourite things in my home are my bookshelves. They're huge and hold so many things that make me happy! What doesn't make me happy is the clutter. I really have to learn that in order to bring in a new book, one has to go. I recently managed to fill up two cases of books to donate.

BOOKSHELVES BEFORE:

BOOKSHELVES AFTER

It was a big job, but well worth it!

The Oakville Literacy Council holds a big used book sale at Hopedale Mall in the spring; in addition, there is going to be a book collection at the kids' school run by the Middle School Council from April 8-18. This has provided me with motivation to get to and purge the rest of the bookshelves in the house! There is a large Ikea Expedit shelving unit in each bedroom, each needing a purge and tidy-up. 

Then again, another option is this idea I came across a little while back: a little outdoor book garden. Another time and place and this would been fun!

How do you manage your books?

Photo Walk | St. Lawrence Market, Toronto

I have not been back to the St. Lawrence Market, in downtown Toronto, for a very long time - more than 30 years! I remember it being vast, busy and filled with food. Very little has changed :)

Every Saturday afternoon for the next few months, I will drive to downtown Toronto as Chloé has started in an acting program. The traffic can be questionable so it doesn't make sense to drive home, 45+ minutes away, when she has only a 3-hour class. There's a lot to do in my home town.

Located less than 2km away from her lessons is the St. Lawrence Market. Last weekend, I took the opportunity to visit again. This time, I wasn't the child, I brought Caden along.

I have to admit, it was stimulating - the sights, sounds and (I'm sure) smells. Caden does not appreciate crowds and he was more than a little uncomfortable with the chaos of it all. It is such an unfamiliar experience for him. Further proof my kids need to have the suburban knocked out of them - I have succeeded with the first two, now it's time to citify the next two!

Caden was far more comfortable walking along outside the market. The problem this particular day was he decided not to wear a coat. Not a good idea! Though it was only -1C outside, it was damp and gray - bone chilling. Not conducive to a nice leisurely walk around town.

I was able to get a couple of shots:

Looking North toward the market from where we parked.

The one thing I think I love most about my hometown is the mixure of old and new - architecture, cultures, traditions ... all of it. So wonderful to see this old church tucked among large modern skyscrapers.

One of my most favourite buildings from my childhood? The Flatiron building. Gorgeous! The view behind has changed, but the building remains the same. Toronto is vibrant and always changing but holding onto the old parts that make it wonderful, to me.

Then it was time to take my shivering boy back to the truck then on to the studio to collect Chloé from her class.

The weather was not on our side today. At all. I was still happy to share a bit of Toronto with Caden. With Chloé's classes close to King Street and Parliament, there is still a ton to see: the Distillery District, Queen's Quay, The Beach, and many more places - maybe up by where I grew up in mid-town or around the Annex (oh, how I'd love to live there!). We can have an adventure every weekend. Toronto is such a great place and I'm hoping my children will learn to love it as much as I do.

list | 8 of 52

52 LISTS | Week Eight | LIST YOUR FAVOURITE ALBUMS

• EAGLES | Hotel California & every Greatest Hits album
• IMOGEN HEAP | Speak for Yourself & Ellipse
• QUEEN | News of the World & Night at the Opera
• NEIL DIAMOND | Jonathan Livingston Seagull & all others :)
• ABBA | ABBA & The Album
• FLEETWOOD MAC | Rumours & Tango in the Night
• MICHAEL JACKSON | Bad, Thriller & Off the Wall
• MAROON 5 | Songs About Jane & It Won’t Be Soon Before Long
• GENESIS | And Then There Were Three, Abacab & Duke
• MADONNA | Madonna & Like a Prayer
• MUMFORD & SONS | Saturday Sessions, Sigh No More & Babel
• PETER GABRIEL | So & Peter Gabriel
• CAT STEVENS | Tea for the Tillerman & Greatest Hits
• KT TUNSTALL | Eye to the Telescope & Drastic Fantastic
• SUPERTRAMP | Crime of the Century & Breakfast in America
• NATASHA BEDINGFILD | Unwritten & Pocket Full of Sunshine
• TRAIN | Train & Drops of Jupiter
• BLUE OCTOBER | Foiled & Approaching Normal
• KILLERS | Hot Fuss, Bones & Battle Born
• KINGS OF LEON | Only by the Night & Come Around Sundown
• COLDPLAY | A Rush of Blood to the Head, Viva la Vida & Mylo Xyloto
• CORINNE BAILEY RAE | Corinne Bailey Rae
• DIDO | Life for Rent & No Angel
• SANTANA | Supernatural, Shaman, All That I Am
• CAROL KING | Tapestry
• STABILO | Happiness & Disaster
• NEIL YOUNG | Harvest
• PRINCE | Purple Rain, 1999 & Around the World in a Day
• BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN | Born to Run & Born in the U.S.A.
• CARLY SIMON | Coming Around Again & Greatest Hits
• JAMES TAYLOR | Sweet Baby James, James Taylor, October Road, JT
• U2 | The Joshua Tree, Beautiful Game, Achtung Baby & War
• CRANBERRIES | Linger & Everybody Else is Doing It

You can link up here at Moorea Seal.

hello monday | 61

what a difference a year makes. orchids (above) photographed in las vegas :)

hello march break. sleep. walk. eat. read. sleep.

hello canon 40d. ah, my old friend. time to dust you off and use this week!

hello thirteen reasons why. break reading for chloé. no doubt this will create many conversations over the next couple of weeks.

hello outdoor sectional. now to find you someplace for a reasonable price.

hello grimm. happy to have you back!

hello big clean. time to tackle the difficult jobs: bookshelves and ceiling fans.

hello warmer temperatures. it's such a long time between now and sustained warmth! we'll survive as long as there is sunshine :)

hello swimming. every day of break. maybe caden will join me?

hello journal. lots rattling around in my head. time to write it all down. 

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week.
i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

- See more at: http://thelinarstudio.typepad.com/embracelife/2013/02/hello-monday-59.html#sthash.B8Q5eImX.dpuf

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments. - See more at: http://thelinarstudio.typepad.com/embracelife/2013/02/hello-monday-59.html#sthash.x66AlrJk.dpuf

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week.
i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

anticipation | spring break

Taken March 30, 2012. There is hope!

Most of us here in Oakville are happy to live in our bubble - a place where the weather is ranked #1 in Canada. Because of our proximity to Lake Ontario we rarely get snow in the winter and it is quite cool in the summer - well, in comparison with many other places. This winter? It's been a winter, a real, honest-to-goodness snow- and wind-filled miserable few months. We've had snow. A lot of it. We've had wind. Huge winds have come to make my morning walks icy or wet followed by gobs of heavy snow to make everything pretty but treacherous.

Spring break will bring with it a much welcome escape! I believe I've mentioned a bagillion times over the last few months that I'm so happy my boys are no longer playing hockey and this year is the first one where we are able to enjoy time away as we have no coach-voiced edicts to stay over the break. This year we have plans to head toward the sun. Yay!

Well, that will take up one week of our break - a crazy long break. For reasons I have yet to understand, our school will be closed from March 8 - 24 and then again March 28 - April 1 for Easter. Essentially that means the kids get a whopping eight school days in the whole month of March. Most of the parents I know are even taking the days between leaving only four school days in March for their kids. GREAT for the overseas boaders, but really? I have no idea what we're going to do with the extra time except SLEEP.

Relax. Refresh. Renew. That's the plan.

Hopefully by the time April rolls around we'll have some buds on the trees, some sun in the sky and a brighter outlook on things.

This has been a very long and very dreary winter.

pmm | cole is perchik

When the All School play was announced earlier in the year, I was a bit hesitant about how Fiddler on the Roof would be received by the school community. It's an "old" Broadway musical about a poor Jewish milkman, father of five daughters, who is struggling with the changes in pre-revolutionary Russia. I have always loved the music and the story, but would the kids find it relevant? (Some people actually thought it was literally about a fiddler - on a roof.) It was as opposite Grease as I could imagine!

The minute it was announced Cole, of course, focused on landing the role of Perchik, the young revolutionary who falls in love with one of the daughters. Once he got the part, lines were memorized and songs were perfected. His dancing? Well, he had fun!

He, and the rest of the 70+ kids who participated - on stage, back stage and in the pit - were wonderful!

I enjoyed both performances immensely!

It looks like Fiddler on the Roof must be relevant as it's on the slate of offerings at Stratford this summer. Though I don't know that we'll go, I'm glad an "old" show with concerns about changing traditions and pushing limits is still being seen and enjoyed.

pmm | caden is on the swim team

When the coach of the Middle School swim team approached me at a school event about Caden swimming for the team, I was surprised. Caden? Swim?

I was immediately brought back* to his time in intensive care at Sick Kids, then his recovery time at Bloorview and what I wanted most to do was hyperventalate at the absurdity of the idea. Instead, I simply asked him if he wanted to join the school swim team. He did.

It's about him, not me, so he joined.

It took me until the very last meet of the year to go and watch. Our school has a very small deck and it's hard to take photos. Well, that's the excuse I use :) Caden asked me to attend the last meet of the season at the Etobicoke Olympium. How could I say no?

Caden was entered in three events: 50M Free, 50M Backstroke and 200M Free Medley. I made it out to the pool mid-morning and managed to see him in the 50M Backstroke. I love that every time I ask him how he did in a meet he claims "great, best time yet". He gets it. At this point, the game is not to win the heat but to always beat your personal best. In his 50M Backstroke race he beat his personal best by over 8 seconds. Yay! He came in 43rd place - out of 50 participants

My boy continues to be very angry with me that I have made him stop playing football. He's not pleased he had to give up rugby, either. (It turns out he really didn't like playing hockey, so he was happy mama made him stop. As it turns out, skates hurt - among other things.) We are trying to find a suitable alternative.

That alternative just might be swimming. He likes it way more than hockey and a bit more than rugby. He has even agreed to attend "Performance Swim Camp" this summer in order to get better. Caden's mother is a big believer that if you don't do something well you don't grasp the "fun" in an activity. The better you are at anything the more fun you will have. I encourage Caden's improvement no matter what the activity happens to be.

To be completely honest, I'm just over the moon that we can even experience these arguments and joys and lessons - bring it. I'm so proud of him!

* * * * *

* In 2002, just before Caden turned 3 he almost drown in our pool. His father called me at an event and I rushed to our local hospital to watch the medical staff try to shove a breathing tube down his throat. For an hour. I was then transported, via police car, to Sick Kids hospital in Toronto where Caden remained in a coma, in urgent care, for a week then onto another floor - it's a blur. Upon his discharge, he and I then spent a month, every day, at Bloorview where he went for therapy: occupational, psychological and physical. It was the most traumatic experience of his life. And mine.

list | 7 of 52

I had joined up with 52 Lists at Moorea Seal a couple of weeks ago and continue to write the lists, though have forgotten to post here on the blog once I started :) Mind you, my last Tuesday post was all about lists anyway - just not these prompt lists!

52 LISTS | Week Seven | LIST THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL HEALTHY Mind, Body & Soul

• Cold, filtered water with lemon slices
• My fitbit – and the captured stats on my computer
• Music that makes me want to move
• Walking around the campus of Appleby College – up through the forest, along the lake, over the field – gorgeous, full of change of scenery and change of pace
• Cool and sunny days with a hint of a breeze
• My new tennis racquet
• Bowls of fresh fruit – raspberries are my favourite
• The initial sensation of my head plunging underwater for my first length of the pool
• Taking my thyroid medication every morning
• Every time I visit my naturopath – and get my B12 shot
• Shopping the perimeter of the grocery store
• Open and happily learning new things
• Embracing my newfound ability to be calm and thoughtful in times of high stress and imbalance
• Taking deep breaths – I am finally learning to exhale
• Keeping my lists manageable – celebrating the “ta-da’s” more than the “to-do’s”
• Each month that passes that I do not have a cigarette – I’m up to month 154
• Joining the tennis “ladder” at my kids’ school
• Getting out of the house and meeting new people – and even better, getting out of the house to spend time with my established friends
• Purging clutter
• Hugs
• Trips to places with sunshine to show my kids
• Knowing my limits
• Sore, aching muscles at the end of a workout: tennis, strenuous walk, or bike ride
• Reservations made & trip to Canyon Ranch in Tucson, AZ!

What about you? What do you do to make you feel healthy?

4 Simple Goals | March 2013

My 4 Simple Goals, March 2013:

This month has the kids in school for a total of 8 days. Seriously. 8 days. My goals will be kept super simple because I'll have very little free time to accomplish much!

1. PHOTO ASSIGNMENTS. Over the last couple of months I've taken the Snapshots of a Good Life program lead by Karen Russell. The weather has been so dismal and the light so gray, I've not done any of the assignments. With the promise of better weather, it's time to catch up!
2. OUTDOOR SPACE. We have no back yard, but we do have a back deck. It's about 15'x15' with a gas barbeque, big dining table and an air conditioner. I want to make it more of an oasis with some planters and a place to relax and read. Time to design!
3. FICTION BOOKS. I've made an effort this year to read more novels. A couple that I've read have stuck with me because they're disturbing. Critically acclaimed, but disturbing. I need to find four books that have a good story. Suggestions welcome!
4. SENIOR SESSIONS. The school campus is gorgeous and I want to set up some senior shots. At least a day of taking photos of Claire to send out very-American-inspired graduation announcements. Time to map out locations and equipment.

REWARD*: I'm thinking a Reiki session with Helen just might be in order :)

*I recognize that meeting the goals is reward in itself. This is a reward beyond that - a small tangible token.

What about you? Do you have a few activity-oriented goals you'd like to meet? If so and you participate, let me know! I'd love to see what you have planned!

In August 2010, Elsie Flannigan posted a simple and doable challenge. I've been doing it ever since!

hello monday | 60

cole playing purchik in the school production of fiddler on the roof

hello chest cold. poor chloé had a miserable weekend. fingers crossed it was contained!

hello back to regular length school days. this week has no more "fiddler on the roof" rehearsals. the performances were fabulous!

hello furnace repair. of course, it conked out first thing saturday morning. a new fan is all it needs, but it was a sweater-filled weekend. thank goodness for the fireplace. and for a family friend willing to come out and make a diagnosis on the weekend - and come back to fix it today!

hello university acceptances. so proud of my girl claire. now to make some really big life decisions. laurier? queens? unb? the break is well timed.

hello kindle. looking foward to using this new little toy, every day.

hello one little word assignment. "take action" indeed!

hello last week of the term. it's been crazy getting all of the assignments submitted. we're looking forward to march break. then easter break. only eight school days in march!

hello rugby. the pressure from my boys to play this year is really intense. the problem is, of all the sports they've played, this is my most favourite, and probably least dangerous. decisions!

hello homeland on bravo. looking forward to seeing it!

 

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week.
i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

- See more at: http://thelinarstudio.typepad.com/embracelife/2013/02/hello-monday-59.html#sthash.B8Q5eImX.dpuf

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments. - See more at: http://thelinarstudio.typepad.com/embracelife/2013/02/hello-monday-59.html#sthash.x66AlrJk.dpuf

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week.
i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

a reminder to take the camera out of the bag more often

hello day after oscar. my favourite part of all the hoop-la is to watch the review of the clothes the morning after. From what I saw, this should be good!

hello new week ahead. last week was a challenge. i suppose i needed that reminder.

hello seth macfarlane. wow. brilliant. quick. sharp. sigh.

hello braces. today is the day the bottom braces will be attached. i know for a fact my sweet moe will still be "cute" as much as she abhors the idea!

hello dna tests. being sent to 23andme.com today.

hello jamie. this parenting thing is tough sometimes. i am grateful to have an expert along for the (bumpy) ride.

hello big brother canada. seriously.

hello fiddler on the roof. months of preparation will culminate in the big performances this week. break a leg everyone!

hello another month gone by. the older my kids get the faster time goes. i was told this would happen but never realized just how quickly things would speed up!

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week.
i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

- See more at: http://thelinarstudio.typepad.com/embracelife/2013/02/hello-monday-59.html#sthash.mIRkJnGt.dpuf

a reminder to take the camera out of the bag more often

hello day after oscar. my favourite part of all the hoop-la is to watch the review of the clothes the morning after. From what I saw, this should be good!

hello new week ahead. last week was a challenge. i suppose i needed that reminder.

hello seth macfarlane. wow. brilliant. quick. sharp. sigh.

hello braces. today is the day the bottom braces will be attached. i know for a fact my sweet moe will still be "cute" as much as she abhors the idea!

hello dna tests. being sent to 23andme.com today.

hello jamie. this parenting thing is tough sometimes. i am grateful to have an expert along for the (bumpy) ride.

hello big brother canada. seriously.

hello fiddler on the roof. months of preparation will culminate in the big performances this week. break a leg everyone!

hello another month gone by. the older my kids get the faster time goes. i was told this would happen but never realized just how quickly things would speed up!

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week.
i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

- See more at: http://thelinarstudio.typepad.com/embracelife/2013/02/hello-monday-59.html#sthash.mIRkJnGt.dpuf

ONE little WORD | March Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to the second installment of the 2013 One Little Word Blog Hop! I'm so happy for all of the enthusiasm and the great group of participants this month. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's project.

My apologies for the frustrations of last month. Things were a bit wonky with the links as Blogger has changed it's format and I can no longer provide a simple list of links to participants. Truly frustrating when trying to fun a blog hop for the first time! Let's hope this time through things are smoother for everyone - blogger and reader!

If you like what you see us doing, it's not too late to join in! If, after going through the hop, you are interested, head on over and join the One Little Word journey with us!

I sign up for a ton of classes and the best part is when I'm given an opportunity to do something I've never attempted before. In this case, a vision board. I've seen vision boards and dream boards made all over the place but I've only created one - years ago - digitally using photos found online and put in the spots provided. This was way more challenging.

TOTALLY OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE, it was time to get messy and tear apart every magazine I had lying around the house to find what I needed in order to accomplish this task. In the end, I had enough material - photos and words - to create 10 boards!

Sometimes choice, for me, can be paralyzing, so I went through and quickly selected my favourites - and then did it again, and again - and narrowed it all down to what you see on the board:

Click on the image to open in another window. Click again to enlarge enough to see all of the elements.

How does my word "nourish" fit into things? Well, I want to nourish all of the things on my board - from the central quote to all of the elements included.

I do hope something in this project, or how I'm participating in it, has piqued your interest. I'm sure you'll find a lot of great stuff along the hop. Head on over to visit the other participants. A One Little Word journey around the world!

Next up is Cheri at cheriandrews.blogspot.com!

This is the full list of participants, in case you get "lost" you can always come back here and find your way again:

Lee: http://thelinarstudio.typepad.com/embracelife <<< YOU ARE HERE

Cheri: cheriandrews.blogspot.com <<< YOU ARE GOING HERE (and so on!)

Lisa: http://backtoallen.com/category/challenges/one-little-word/

Michelle: www.table-for-five.com/category/one-little-word/

Julie: www.eggsandherbs.com

Kara: http://iwannabemewhenigrowup.blogspot.com

Margareta: http://www.paperpilekitten.com

Karen: http://womenontractors.blogspot.com

Nikki: http://www.inkyart.com.au/ 

Melanie: http://mellybirddesigns.wordpress.com

Angela: http://angelanoel.com/

Kathryn: http://www.katlodesigns.com/

Jackie: http://blog.jacquelinewolven.com/

Dona: http://orangegearle.blogspot.com/

Paige: www.approachingjoy.com

Ruth: http://suburbansahm.blogspot.com

Kathleen: http://jkplusthree.blogspot.com

Missus Wookie: http://mrswookieswanderings.blogspot.com/

Naomi: www.poeticaperture.com

* * * * *

and, please go visit Kelly at her blog www.septemberblue.net I blew it and completely forgot to add her as a monthly participant! She has a ton of inspiration to offer. Since her blog is last on the list, be sure to spend more time there and poke around a bit :D

and, as it goes it turns out I screwed up TWICE! PLEASE go visit Veronica at her blog www.veronicanorris.typepad.com. As with Kelly, take a look around - great stuff to be found there!

* * * * *

The hop is scheduled to go "live" at 6AM Eastern. Have fun!