All I want for Christmas is...

1. Lululemon pants
2. Lululemon sweatshirt
3. P.J's (tank and long pants)
4. Aperture (software)
5. HomeSense Gift certificates
6. A facial gift cert from Dermacare
7. Jacob Gift Certificate
8. Nine West Gift Certificate
9. Ipad (I won't get this, but I thought I would throw it on here!)
10. Any "Tarte" cosmetics I can get my little hands on

Is it impersonal to request gift certificates? I am requesting them because...well, I really enjoy shopping for stuff and picking out things I like for myself. Also, you can get some bangin deals on boxing day and the week after Christmas, so why not use your gift certs to reap in the deals?

Do you like to give/receive gift certs?

xoxo Gong Show Mommy

Travel Blog

I have missed my mommy blog while away in Montego Bay, on vacation with my hubby. I have to admit, I was tempted to go online and blog while away, but I had made a promise to myself that I wouldn't spend much time doing the things I do at home (ie. facebooking and blogging). I did my utmost to enjoy the time away from my every day routines and relax.

But, I decided that upon my return, I would blog about the resort and Jamaica in general-rather than mommy stuff.

First off Geo and I are VERY picky when it comes to resort travel. There are many reasons for this. 1) George has a wheat allergy so the food matters a lot to us 2) We love resort travel- and have been many different places 3) we are kinda high maintenance in general-especially when dishing out a tonne of our hard earned money to go away somewhere.

We stayed at Secrets Wild Orchid. It is a fairly new (March 2010) resort in Montego Bay. Arguably the BEST location in Montego Bay- right at the tip of the peninsula. We had an amazing view of the mountains from every spot on the resort. All rooms are ocean front.
It was glorious.

Here are a few things I learned while in Jamaica at Secrets Wild Orchid:

1. I am one of the few people in the world who does NOT have a tattoo
2. 99% of the world look better clothed than in their bathing suits
3. I don't think it is necessary to eat fruit and food that is GOOD for you on vacation
4. Rum Cream is better than rum in all traditional frozen drinks
5. Jamaicans are the BEST, most SPIRITUAL and POSITIVE people in the world
6. Jamaica is my fave spot in the Carri bean to visit
7. Tropical mosquitoes, Canadian mosquitoes- no matter what type of mosquitoes, all like to feast on me (not to self: bring antihistamines next time)
8. I will ALWAYS pay to upgrade to a Preferred resort or VIP area within a resort. The benefits are unreal for really, quite a reasonable cost
9. Travel with my hubs (just us as a couple) needs to be more of a priority. We need to nurture our relationship just as much as we nurture Phoebe

I had to include this one. This is a store at the Montego Bay airport. Too funny.

Apparently this is Bob Marley's Brand name? Who knew?

My attempt at artistic photography: ) These are my footprints in the sand.

Namaste. Nothing like doing yoga at the ocean. Those rocks were slippery little suckers so I couldn't hold the pose like I normally do, but it was still fun.

Huts along the beach

Hubs and I at the Italian restaurant.

Jerk Chicken, MON! This was a daily staple for us. Every day, we would get it and eat it on the beach, beer and daiquiri in hand!

Because of the mountains where we were, the clouds often congregated over the mountains in the distance. We still got quite a bit of sun at the resort, but in many pics, it looks cloudy. I think it made for gorgeous pics.

View from our balcony of the pool and beach.

If you are interested in my travel resort ratings, check out my post on TripAdvisor.com

I WOULD LOVE COMMENTS FROM YOU GUYS ON RECOMMENDED RESORTS, as Geo and I are actively planning our next getaway!

Dog Kisses

My blond cuties!

Daily Cuteness

Hitting and kicking

Okay..I am disturbed.
P. has taken up hitting and kicking-but the only person affected by it, or should I say, victim to it, is my husband.
I don't know why she decides to hit and kick him only, or for that matter, at all.
It seems to be only when he is going to change her for school or gets her out of her crib.
She screams, "NO MUMMY!" and then hits him. Oh, and as she hits, she says "hit"
It is actually funny from afar, but still annoying-no mom wants her kid to be the "kid who hits"
Anyway, the daycare tells me she doesn't do it there, so we aren't able to find out from them what tactic of discipline works.

Currently, George takes her hand and says sternly "NO HITTING!"
Then Phoebe responds by laughing.

Lately, he has been saying "No HITTING" and then laying her on the floor and leaving her (sort of ignoring her)
She still thinks that is funny.

Advice?

Microwave news

Hey all,
Awhile ago I spoke to you all about making healthier decisions in life since becoming a mom.
I spoke about avoiding the use of Microwaves wherever I could.
I just found this new article from Dr. Mercola-a website I frequent a lot!
Please read - I would be interested to hear your thoughts on the article and if it will change any of your behaviour.

Dr. Mercola

Fall pics of the fam

So my dear friend and rookie photog took some beautiful pics of our family for us a few weekends ago.
I am sharing them with you-hoping for feedback...which do you like the best? think...Christmas card. xo

Trick or Treat!

We had a glorious time trick or treating this year. Phoebe and Stella were little bees. Aren't they soooo cute?!

A conversation with Phoebe

Today I rushed home after getting my hair "did" to be here for Phoebe's bedtime.

I ran over and hugged her and then we had a little chat.
I love that she is talking now. It is fun having her respond to me.

Me : "Hi Phoebe! how was your day?"

Phoebe : "Mummy!"

Me: "How was school?"

Phoebe: "Ali" (Ali is her fave teacher from her old room at school)

Me: "I know that you saw Ali at school today, but what did you do? Did you play with your friends?"

Phoebe: "books!"

Me : "Oh, you read books!"

Phoebe: "Yep!"

Me: "What were your books about"

Phoebe: "Puppies!"

Me: "Oh, puppies! What did you see on your car ride from school?"

Phoebe: "Bus!!!"

Me: " What did you have for lunch?"

Phoebe : "appo juice"

Me: "Oh, that's nice, what is your favourite snack?"

Phoebe: "Mummy"..(um, nursing was over months ago...but I will still take that as a compliment: )


Ah...the joys of mommyhood and seeing them grow up so big.
Love her so much!

Movin' on up!

Today my precious 20 month old moved "up" to the toddler room at daycare to be amongst the "bigger kids"
Many things about this baffle me. How could she be old enough to be out of the baby room already? how will she handle being without her other teachers and friends? how will she handle sleeping on a cot, and more structure?
From the sounds of it, she did AWESOME! She had a 2 hour nap on her cot and didn't even need to have her back rubbed. She played and sat well for story time and ate lots at lunch. So far, so good.

Like many proud moms, I wanted to take a special picture of her before she moved over to the toddler room. Like, a first day of school shot from back in the day! In doing so, I remembered that I had taken one of her before her first day of daycare. I can't believe how much she has changed in 8 months.

12 Months old- heading off to Daycare for the first time



Now, 20 Months old -graduating from the baby room into the toddler room. I wanted to take the epic "on the front stoop" shot, but P. wouldn't stand still enough...so we have her in action. Running away from me laughing into the street! (Our street is a dead end and rarely sees drivers...but still) Could this be the beginnings of the "terrible 2's"
Did I just jinx myself by writing that?

Gong Show Mommy MIA?

Hey there to all my faithful readers.

I have been taking a bit of a blogging break these days.

My excuse? Well, being a busy working Mom, of course!

Many of you know how difficult it is to juggle, life, daycare, work, hubbies, home, friends and family now that I am a mom.

I have really been trying to take more time for myself. Even though blogging is something I really enjoy, I have decided to cut back during the week. This is because I have once again, made a committment to get my mommy-butt to the gym. I really need to tone and firm up. I am still not to my pre-pregnancy weight (even though my clothes fit-they don't fit the "same" - if that is possible.) So, back to the gym I go.

Geo are hoping to get away somewhere hot for our 5 yr anniversary in a few months...and I am just not in the shape I want to be in so I have motivation!

Like many of you moms, I am exhausted at the end of the day so it is hard to get to the gym, but if I make it a habit, it will all come back to me. I am a Type-A personality with a tonne of excess energy (Even though I am tired all the time) and if I don't work off my energy, my moods suffer.

This week has been good. I have been productive at home and work and in a good mood. Working out helps me achieve more.

So, instead of blogging, I am at the gym working the bootay!

Another person in my life who is working it a lot these days is little miss P.

At 19 months her biggest loves/interests are as follows (in this order):

1. Mummy
2. Puppies
3. Busses
4. Cats
5. Ale (Daycare Worker)
6. Music
7. Dancing
8. Shoes
9. Binky
10. Bubba

An additional newsworthy thing that has been going on:

Language skills: Phoebe says every word she hears. Not always perfectly, but she at least attempts it.

This is both exciting and scary. We have had to clean up our vocabulary as a result-much of what we used to say around her is not necessarily things we want her to repeat (if you catch my drift)...

Funny words/sayings she has said so far:

-big cuk (big truck)

Amazing things she has said so far:

-I love you (said "I lub you..." but who cares???!!she told us she loved us!)

-Happy

(as a Mom, hearing your child say both those things is unreal-so friggin exciting!)

Phoebe's fave words to date: (said perfectly and clearly)

-Mummy (also my fave of the words she says)

-Daddy

-Yia Yia

-Papa

-Nan

-Pop

-Ali

-Bus

-Puppy

-Cat

-Horsie

-Elmo

-Book

-cookie

-baby

-Poop

-Pee

-purple

-Pink

-Blue

-Two

-apple

-No!

-Shoe

-Sock

-Duck

-Cow

-Pig

Words she is currently "working on " saying:

-Cuk (truck)

-Bink (Binky)

-Bubba (Bottle)

-Stya (Stella)

-Mumma (Grandma)

-Dool (Julia)

-Nitty (Whitney)

-Ott (Scott)

-Take (Steak)

To follow up on numbers 6 and 7 above, I need to reiterate how cute baby dancing is.

She has quite the rhythm. Her favourite music is R&B and Pop. Her favourite songs are "California Gurls" - Katy Perry, "Your Love is my Drug" - Ke$ha, and "I'm only gonna break your heart" Taio Cruz.

Check out her dancing in this vid. Sorry for the poor videography. Aunty Whit was laughing pretty hard while filming.

The Gongers hit Calgary!

We did it! Phoebe and I-all on our own! We traveled to and from Calgary, just the 2 of us!

I have to say, I am proud of myself for doing it. Travelling alone with P. isn't something I thought I would ever do (on a plane etc.) but I did it.

Besides the puke, poop and mini temper tantrum, everything went relatively well!

We had a fabulous visit with Aunty Whit.

Took P's first plane ride.

Went to the Calgary Zoo.

Got to know the kitties

Ate some cupcakes

Had fun in the Tub

Tore up the park

and had many dance parties.

Thanks Aunty Whit for your hospitality. Phoebe wants to go back, one day!

Daycare drama

Up until today, I have only had the most positive of experiences at our daycare. We LOVE the women in P's room to bits. They are the most caring, wonderful, giving people in the world and they get paid basically not much to do what they do. They send thoughtful gifts home to us on every occasion, give P. all the love I could expect from anyone besides me, keep a journal of photos, artwork and pictures she draws for us, and they follow basically all my quirky directions (feeding her prunes 3x daily by spoon-using special sunscreen, babywipes and diapers etc...) I love them.

It is a sad time for me, because September is when the babies (0-18 months) move up to the toddler room (18 m-3yrs) Phoebes will be making this great leap in just a few short weeks. I asked if she could be in the toddler room that is situated right next to her "soon to be old" baby room. The rooms share a potty and she would see her former teachers more that way. She is even getting to move with her 2 little bestest buddies, Julia and Leila. I was so happy.

Until today.

When I went to pick her up, the kids were all outside playing so I snuck into the school to pickup Binky the blanky and check Phoebe's poop log (yes, they log her poops for us)...anyways...as I am walking by her soon to be "new" toddler room, I hear a woman shouting at a child, "I SAID SIT DOWN NOW!". This got my full attention and I stood outside of the room to witness a young blonde teacher grab a 2yr old little girl by the shoulders and force her down to sit. The girl didn't fight it, but looked shocked.

NOT AS SHOCKED AS ME, THOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I must have had a appauled look on my face because I stood outside the room staring in for a few seconds before I made my way to get Binky and the poop log.

I contemplated what to do so I decided to go by the room again. At this time, the blonde bitch who yelled at and forcefully disciplined a child was explaining to the other teacher (who I am sure confronted her about her behaviour) "I asked her to sit like, 3 times!!!"

OH NO YOU DIDN'T!!! YOU DIDN'T JUST MAKE AN EXCUSE FOR YOUR POOR BEHAVIOUR INVOLVING AN INNOCENT CHILD, DID YOU?

Gong show mommy marched off to collect P. and then went right into the director's room to explain what had happened.

Thankfully, today was this "intern's " last day at the centre. I gave straight up feedback to the director that I did NOT feel comfortable with that woman being around my daughter and hoped that she wouldn't be returning to substitite teach at the centre.

She assured me she would give my feedback to the blonde bitch and that it was indeed her "last day"

I said "I hope so!", emphatically as Phoebes said her bye byes and we were off.

I mean, I know that kids can be crazy frustrating and that working with them all day is freakin draining and everything...but in my mind, there is absolutely no excuse for her behaviour. I don't care if she was having a bad day.

What are your thoughts?

Singin' in the rain!

So, we had some fun yesterday in the rain. Phoebes loves water. Pools, splashpads, showers, and rain! The only water she doesn't like is the bath, really.

Anyways, we got home from the mall yesterday and it was raining out. Phoebes wanted to run in the rain and we thought, oh what the heck, it is almost the end of summer-who cares if it is past her bedtime.

Here are some pics of her in the rain. So cute! I wish I could catch the sound of her laughter in these pics!

Another "venting" post

So, this is how it went down yesterday:

Wife: Goes to brush her hair in the bathroom in front of her sink and steps in a pool of "substance".

Wife: "what the ?#$5&@!"

Husband: "Oh, sorry, (toddler) peed on the floor"

Wife: "And you didn't clean it up"

Husband: "forgot"

seriously???

Drop in's

I have noticed lots of mom's saying to others, "just pop in sometime"...and I wonder, are they serious?

Who really likes it when people "drop in" to their houses?

Do any of you?

If I were to guess, the people who like drop ins are the regular Martha Stewart types that have the fresh baked muffins on the go all the time, and have a full face of makeup on, and proper clothing. (what I mean by proper clothing is an outfit, not lulu's or pjs). If you tell me that these people have all of the above going on and also work a full time job, I would probably puke in my mouth.

If you were to drop by my house right now, this is what you would find:

• Me, just up from my afternoon nap-braless and underwearless in my ratty pj's
• My hair half wet and sort of kinky from sleeping on it wet
• My face is splotchy from some of the picking, plucking and squeezing that went on when I passed by the magnifying mirror
• my house is a DISASTER. Dishes in the sink, toys everywhere, beds unmade.
• Really, I am a total gong show right now.

Oh, and fyi, I don't have any fresh baking or anything to offer you or your kids when you come by.

I bet you all wanna "pop by" now, don't you?

Even though drop by's aren't really conducive to my lifestyle, I would still love to see you so gimme a shout and we will make plans! xo

Cellulite is the new "cute"

Customer Service Props

I am constantly complaining about customer service. Either I am just a stickler with high expectations, or I am totally jynxed most of the time.

Because of this, I would like to give props to 2 businesses that have offered us amazing customer service lately.

We went on our first vacay since Phoebe was born (sans Phoebe and overnight) and stayed at this amazing boutique hotel in the T. and had dinner and saw a concert.

While at the hotel, we were given beyond the expected service-given a free umbrella to walk around Toronto with, free cappucino machine (to name a few).

The room was impeccable as well.

The best part of the service at Le Germain in Toronto was that after we had gotten the beep out of dodge and were on our way home, I realized that I didn't have my lifeline (aka Blackberry)

Total gongshowmommy fashion dictates that I freak out and call the hotel to tell them of my discovery.

The were very nice, offered to send the custodial mgr to the room to check for it and that they would call us back.

In the meantime, I found my BB in my suitcase and was so elated forgot to call back the hotel (my bad!).

About a half hour later, they called us and said there was no sign of the BB in the room. I thanked them and explained that we had found the BB and not to worry.

Then about an hour later, we get another call...it was the hotel. They had a blackberry returned to them by a Taxi driver and just wanted to confirm with me that I had the correct one? Are you kidding me? as if ! this NEVER happens to me.

It wasn't my bb, but that is okay. It goes to show how much they value their customers.

Le Germain-Toronto

I was so thankful to them that I am writing a huge satisfaction email to them and posting on their website my good fortunes with them.

Enjoy the following pics and website. The hotel was dreamy.

Another spot we recently went to was Boston Pizza here in London. Unlike most restaurants they catered to us having a baby and what I call a "limited window". They were amazingly quick with everything. It was a great experience.

Any of you guys have any good or bad customer service experiences lately you would like to share?

Gong show vacay

I guess it wouldn't be me if I didn't have bad luck even on vacation!

I need to preface this blog by saying that I never get to go away for pleasure. This was the first time in 17 months that George and I went out of town OVERNIGHT-without Phoebe.

It was supposed to be a much needed and enjoyed vacation...and for the mostpart, it was...I guess...

We had an amazing time on Wednesday at our amazing hotel (Le Germain)-we used a bunch of points we had collected on our MC so that we could stay there and it was great! there was an amazing tub and rain shower and the room was so modern (I got inspiration from that hotel for our basement and bathroom reno!)

Then we walked around King St. and looked in some design shops and found the perfect light fixture (we have been looking for YEARS) to replace the fugly one in our hallway leading to our basement. So exciting!

We then had drinkies on a patio and then returned back to our hotel for a nap and to get ready for the Kings of Leon concert at the Ampitheatre. It was a fun concert-not as good as the one we saw in London, but very fun!

We then went to Ultra Supper club where we sat in the bottle service section (but didn't pay bottle service-we were such scrubs) and watched their midnight fashion show for Coach. It was so much fun and so different than the bars here in London. Not that I really go to the bars in London anymore: )

So, all in all, the first part of our vacay was good. Then something must have happened in the cosmos that caused everything to become a gong.

Things that were gong shows on our trip:

• Toronto traffic
• Ontario place-gongs didn't have our tix at will call
• Both our cell phones died-no chargers
• I lost my lifeline (I mean my Blackberry)
• We forgot to arrange a sitter for our dog-had to call in the troops to help out!
• it rained, didn't have an umbrella
• iphone app for finding a breakfast place failed and took us out of the way by 4 km, and to a place that didn't exist. Gongshowmommy was hungry, bitchy and had major blisters from her sandals
• George had a work EMERGENCY while we were on our way home. Had to hit Toronto DVP traffic to go to Concord to pick up a cable.
• George ate cous cous by accident. He can't have wheat
• Skunk at home sprayed 2 of the workers doing renos at the house. They thought it may be in the house afterwards because they couldn't find it!
• Yia Yia backed my car into her garage door and caused some damage.

Yeah, it was a gong, but in the large scheme of things, I am beginning to realize that even though the gongs listed above were stressful at the time, they are really just the "small stuff" and I shouldn't have let them put a damper on the vacation.

It is great to realize this once everything is over, eh? I need to start working on realizing this when these types of things happen-so it doesn't get out of control.

Way easier to say than to do, I know.

Even though I missed P. to bits while we were away, I still need another vacation from my vacation.

It's been awhile...

since I have posted to my blog. This is pretty much a result of me being EXHAUSTED from all the fun we have been having this summer!

Here are a few of my fave pics from the fun family and friend activities we have had in the past few weeks. I am sure there are lots more to come this summer!

Phoebes was behaving badly during our photo op. I really wanted to get a cute pic of the two cuties together but no such luck. Lincoln looks cute, though!


He's like "what the beep is up with that kid?"




Truce?



Beebs and I at the lake. She is in her straightjacket-which I think is an amazing rule. No kids outside the cottage unless they have on their lifejackets.

I am such a rule geek.



The fam. It looks like P is pretty happy to be with us, but really, she is just having a love affair with her salt and vinegar chip



BFF's to be...water babies!!!

Beebs and I loving the exotic poolscape at A.S and U.D;s house!