This is why I don't miss having cable TV, even during this week of premieres:
http://www.globaltv.com/video/index.html#video
http://video.citytv.com/video/home/0/
http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows
Also, it helped that we watched The Office premiere at a friend's house on a wall projector.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Lightening and darkening
Even though not many of baby D's clothes are purchased new (or even purchased at all- many are gifts or hand-me-downs), I want to get as much use out of them as I can. I also want to encourage baby D to eat all manner of healthy foods, even the ones that have a propensity to stain. Bananas and avocados, I'm looking at you. Straight out bleaching works well, but only for whites, as most people have known forever and as I discovered through trial and error. A friend of mine blogged awhile back about an oxygen-based bleaching agent, so I'm testing it out on some stained clothing. The unfortunate thing is that D has outgrown most of these things, so I'm really only cleaning them to put them away again. Here, for your viewing pleasure/horror, are some of said pieces:
This one actually was purchased new, on clearance for 3 or 4 $. It's meant to be kept at my parents' house for emergencies, but I forgot to leave it there.
This was one of the outfits D wore the most this summer, at least until she stained it beyond wearability. I attempted line-drying it in the sun to no avail.
This is an adorable shirt from neighbours' girls, which I had been longing for D to wear. I'm all about yummy cakes, tea and biscuits. It got stained on the first or second wear.
I should probably have worn gloves or something. My fingertips got a bit bleached (although I've just re-examined them, and they look fine now).
In other news, after a lifetime of being blonde, I had my hair dyed dark on Monday! This is a huge deal for me. I did it at the request of Hubby, who has long wondered what I would look like as a brunette, and who alone recalls a conversation in which I promised him the opportunity to find out. He reminded me again some time ago, and even offered to pay for a subsequent appointment if I hated my hair so much that I wanted to go back to highlights. I had been thinking about it ever since, not only because of his request, but also because it would probably be more economical to be a brunette. As it stands, I go twice or three times a year to get my hair cut and highlighted, and even though I have a hairdresser who works out of her home and charges substantially less than any salon, it can still add up. As a brunette, I could probably get away with going once or twice a year. It was decided then, although I was resolved not to tell Hubby about it until after the fact.
A number of timing factors came into play; I wanted to go dark in the fall (because light hair really lends itself to spring and summer, and winter is dark enough), and at a time when I wouldn't unwittingly be pregnant (I made sure to take a test before going to my hairdresser's), and between major life events. We have a bit of a break between now and our big family wedding, so I can go back to highlighting my hair if I want. I'm undecided for the moment.
Every now and then, I'll catch my reflection and get freaked out because I'm still not used to the change. Hubby did the same thing in the kitchen yesterday evening; he had noticed it (and complimented it effusively), but kind of forgot, and then turned around and thought I was someone else! Baby D, sweet little thing with the memory of a goldfish, didn't notice a thing out of the ordinary when I picked her up from my mom's after my appointment. Her demeanor seemed to say "Oh good, you're here. We can play some more now!"
As I continue getting used to the change, I'm going to make a real effort not to care about what other people think about it. I did this for Hubby, who tells me all the time how beautiful he finds me, regardless of my hair colour, and it's not for anyone else to decide how they like it. It sure was neat to see his face light up when he came home and saw what I had done.
This one actually was purchased new, on clearance for 3 or 4 $. It's meant to be kept at my parents' house for emergencies, but I forgot to leave it there.
This was one of the outfits D wore the most this summer, at least until she stained it beyond wearability. I attempted line-drying it in the sun to no avail.
This is an adorable shirt from neighbours' girls, which I had been longing for D to wear. I'm all about yummy cakes, tea and biscuits. It got stained on the first or second wear.
I should probably have worn gloves or something. My fingertips got a bit bleached (although I've just re-examined them, and they look fine now).In other news, after a lifetime of being blonde, I had my hair dyed dark on Monday! This is a huge deal for me. I did it at the request of Hubby, who has long wondered what I would look like as a brunette, and who alone recalls a conversation in which I promised him the opportunity to find out. He reminded me again some time ago, and even offered to pay for a subsequent appointment if I hated my hair so much that I wanted to go back to highlights. I had been thinking about it ever since, not only because of his request, but also because it would probably be more economical to be a brunette. As it stands, I go twice or three times a year to get my hair cut and highlighted, and even though I have a hairdresser who works out of her home and charges substantially less than any salon, it can still add up. As a brunette, I could probably get away with going once or twice a year. It was decided then, although I was resolved not to tell Hubby about it until after the fact.
A number of timing factors came into play; I wanted to go dark in the fall (because light hair really lends itself to spring and summer, and winter is dark enough), and at a time when I wouldn't unwittingly be pregnant (I made sure to take a test before going to my hairdresser's), and between major life events. We have a bit of a break between now and our big family wedding, so I can go back to highlighting my hair if I want. I'm undecided for the moment.
Every now and then, I'll catch my reflection and get freaked out because I'm still not used to the change. Hubby did the same thing in the kitchen yesterday evening; he had noticed it (and complimented it effusively), but kind of forgot, and then turned around and thought I was someone else! Baby D, sweet little thing with the memory of a goldfish, didn't notice a thing out of the ordinary when I picked her up from my mom's after my appointment. Her demeanor seemed to say "Oh good, you're here. We can play some more now!"
As I continue getting used to the change, I'm going to make a real effort not to care about what other people think about it. I did this for Hubby, who tells me all the time how beautiful he finds me, regardless of my hair colour, and it's not for anyone else to decide how they like it. It sure was neat to see his face light up when he came home and saw what I had done.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
And we're back!
Back to school? Not so much. Actually, for the first time in over two decades, I didn't go back to school this year. My parents came over and we had Chinese to celebrate. It does feel strange not to have anyone in our household going back. On Tuesday, I watched for the school bus to make its usual stop in front of our house, but it never came! Much to my surprise, as well as that of the parents and kids waiting, I'm sure, it doesn't go down our street anymore. I quite liked the routine of it.
And speaking of routine, that's what we're back into. After a wonderful summer filled with weddings and cottage weekends, we are back to staying home on Saturdays and Sundays, for the most part. It will probably be a very good thing for baby D, who is now 11 months and just starting to make strange. This past weekend, we were at my parents' cottage with them, and she was a tricky combination of sick, tired, and accident-prone. There was an incident involving a folding table and some squished fingers that I'd rather forget, although Hubby photographed the aftermath. Thank goodness for soft bones!
As much as it pains me to start saying goodbye to summer, I have always loved the fall. I'm so glad we live in a climate where we get to see the seasons change, for better and for worse. I don't mind the rain, and the cooler temperatures mean we'll spend more time outdoors (as I discovered this summer, neither D nor I do particularly well in extreme heat). There are also church bazaars to peruse, more fun weddings to attend, a very special first birthday to celebrate, baking to be done, and knitting to continue. Things will go back to normal, people won't be away on vacation, and we can resume spending time with friends and family nearby.
We wish summer a fond farewell with some pictures from Gams' cottage, where D had the opportunity to experience life sans electricity and running water.
And speaking of routine, that's what we're back into. After a wonderful summer filled with weddings and cottage weekends, we are back to staying home on Saturdays and Sundays, for the most part. It will probably be a very good thing for baby D, who is now 11 months and just starting to make strange. This past weekend, we were at my parents' cottage with them, and she was a tricky combination of sick, tired, and accident-prone. There was an incident involving a folding table and some squished fingers that I'd rather forget, although Hubby photographed the aftermath. Thank goodness for soft bones!
As much as it pains me to start saying goodbye to summer, I have always loved the fall. I'm so glad we live in a climate where we get to see the seasons change, for better and for worse. I don't mind the rain, and the cooler temperatures mean we'll spend more time outdoors (as I discovered this summer, neither D nor I do particularly well in extreme heat). There are also church bazaars to peruse, more fun weddings to attend, a very special first birthday to celebrate, baking to be done, and knitting to continue. Things will go back to normal, people won't be away on vacation, and we can resume spending time with friends and family nearby.
We wish summer a fond farewell with some pictures from Gams' cottage, where D had the opportunity to experience life sans electricity and running water.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
So impressed I may start shopping here
Taking advantage of baby D's rare morning nap, I decided to get caught up on wedding gift-buying. I googled the bride's name along with bridal + registry, and it took me to the shop they're registered at. Now, this is a first: it's a local family-run business, and they don't have an online shopping option, so I called to find out if I could purchase something over the phone. Here's what I loved about this experience:
-it took me no time at all to speak to a real person; I pressed two buttons, and was immediately transferred
-the customer service was EXCELLENT! The girl assisting me told me that I could either come in and pick up the gifts or have them gift-wrapped and leave them at the store for the couple to get after the wedding. She also specified that she wouldn't call them until an appropriate time after the wedding to let them know there were items for pick-up. Additionally, she knew how to spell my last name, which never happens!
-the place is bilingual, and I could have been served in French if I had so desired.
-the whole thing took about 10 minutes, which was sufficiently impressive
Go check them out! I know I will.
-it took me no time at all to speak to a real person; I pressed two buttons, and was immediately transferred
-the customer service was EXCELLENT! The girl assisting me told me that I could either come in and pick up the gifts or have them gift-wrapped and leave them at the store for the couple to get after the wedding. She also specified that she wouldn't call them until an appropriate time after the wedding to let them know there were items for pick-up. Additionally, she knew how to spell my last name, which never happens!
-the place is bilingual, and I could have been served in French if I had so desired.
-the whole thing took about 10 minutes, which was sufficiently impressive
Go check them out! I know I will.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Wedding wear update
Well, I am pleased to say that the wedding wear challenge will continue into the fall, thanks to the latest round of invitations! Hubby and I are honoured to be attending three weddings in the fall (and he'll be flying solo at one in Chatham, which is just a bit too far for baby D and I).
Congratulations to the lovely couples, who we can't wait to celebrate with! I'm looking forward to remixing more dresses and accessories, and for the last of the summer weddings (coming up on Friday), I decided to raid Travelling Sister's closet, since we are the same size and I enjoy her style. I tried on (but did not have the presence of mind to photograph) four dresses, and chose the only flattering one to wear. It's vintage and several kinds of awesome. It also got me thinking about the sole exception to this whole wedding wear challenge for 2010.
That would be my brother's wedding. That one's kind of a big deal, and thus it warrants a new dress. New to me, anyway. I love me some vintage dresses, and although I have a couple of nice ones, and have lost the pregnancy weight and then some, the old bod is not what she once was. My favourite vintage dress came from a shop in Bobcaygeon, of all places, and it doesn't zip up too well anymore, which is heartbreaking. So before Youngest Sister goes back to school this fall, we hit the shops to find a new dress each.
First stop: Rideau Centre. We were initially only there to find shoes for Mom, who already has her mother of the groom attire bought and ready to go, and didn't she go and find the exact shoes she was looking for, in her size and on sale, in the first store we went to? Oh, and they're comfortable, too. I'd be jealous if this wasn't the first time she's found comfortable dress shoes in her life. Anyway, so then we decided to look for dresses for ourselves. Baby D's already taken care of, but that's for another post.
So we looked in all the usual places:
Le Chateau (and I'm sorry, but if you want me to pay 130$ for a dress, it had better look amazing on me, and you had better have sizes for real women)
RW & Co (a few lovely things on clearance, but no great fits and no great prices either), and a few others. I decided that even if I found something nice, I didn't want to be potentially wearing the same thing as another guest. I wanted to go vintage.
Today Sis and I went downtown again, this time to check out various vintage stores. We visited Young Jane's on Dalhousie (the street is classed up, almost beyond recognition), which had mostly casual hipster fare, Aunt Olive's on Gilmour, and Ragtime on Flora. The latter two had much more in the way of dresses. At Aunt Olive's, the owner went down to the store room to bring up some more formal pieces when she found out we were looking for something to wear to a wedding. The prices were reasonable, and the help was excellent. Same thing at Ragtime, but they have so much more merchandise (some of which is rented out) that the quality of individual pieces can be lower. I tried on a beautiful blush-coloured dress from the 50s, and it was pretty much in tatters.
The dress I ended up buying was from Aunt Olive's; it's a fairly simple polyester/jersey one with an empire waist and a full skirt (both of which are must-haves). One of the neatest things about the dress is that it unbuttons at the front so I can nurse baby D if need be! How great is that? The other great things include the belt that the store owner found for me (which is impossible to describe without the adjectives neapolitan and stretchy, neither of which evoke images of beauty or class), and the price (54$ for the dress and the belt, taxes included). Now I just need a sturdy necklace and some cute shoes to match!
And since the wedding is in November, I may already have a suitable shrug to wear... cheeky baby will be slightly larger than shown.
Congratulations to the lovely couples, who we can't wait to celebrate with! I'm looking forward to remixing more dresses and accessories, and for the last of the summer weddings (coming up on Friday), I decided to raid Travelling Sister's closet, since we are the same size and I enjoy her style. I tried on (but did not have the presence of mind to photograph) four dresses, and chose the only flattering one to wear. It's vintage and several kinds of awesome. It also got me thinking about the sole exception to this whole wedding wear challenge for 2010.That would be my brother's wedding. That one's kind of a big deal, and thus it warrants a new dress. New to me, anyway. I love me some vintage dresses, and although I have a couple of nice ones, and have lost the pregnancy weight and then some, the old bod is not what she once was. My favourite vintage dress came from a shop in Bobcaygeon, of all places, and it doesn't zip up too well anymore, which is heartbreaking. So before Youngest Sister goes back to school this fall, we hit the shops to find a new dress each.
First stop: Rideau Centre. We were initially only there to find shoes for Mom, who already has her mother of the groom attire bought and ready to go, and didn't she go and find the exact shoes she was looking for, in her size and on sale, in the first store we went to? Oh, and they're comfortable, too. I'd be jealous if this wasn't the first time she's found comfortable dress shoes in her life. Anyway, so then we decided to look for dresses for ourselves. Baby D's already taken care of, but that's for another post.
So we looked in all the usual places:
Le Chateau (and I'm sorry, but if you want me to pay 130$ for a dress, it had better look amazing on me, and you had better have sizes for real women)
RW & Co (a few lovely things on clearance, but no great fits and no great prices either), and a few others. I decided that even if I found something nice, I didn't want to be potentially wearing the same thing as another guest. I wanted to go vintage.Today Sis and I went downtown again, this time to check out various vintage stores. We visited Young Jane's on Dalhousie (the street is classed up, almost beyond recognition), which had mostly casual hipster fare, Aunt Olive's on Gilmour, and Ragtime on Flora. The latter two had much more in the way of dresses. At Aunt Olive's, the owner went down to the store room to bring up some more formal pieces when she found out we were looking for something to wear to a wedding. The prices were reasonable, and the help was excellent. Same thing at Ragtime, but they have so much more merchandise (some of which is rented out) that the quality of individual pieces can be lower. I tried on a beautiful blush-coloured dress from the 50s, and it was pretty much in tatters.
The dress I ended up buying was from Aunt Olive's; it's a fairly simple polyester/jersey one with an empire waist and a full skirt (both of which are must-haves). One of the neatest things about the dress is that it unbuttons at the front so I can nurse baby D if need be! How great is that? The other great things include the belt that the store owner found for me (which is impossible to describe without the adjectives neapolitan and stretchy, neither of which evoke images of beauty or class), and the price (54$ for the dress and the belt, taxes included). Now I just need a sturdy necklace and some cute shoes to match!
And since the wedding is in November, I may already have a suitable shrug to wear... cheeky baby will be slightly larger than shown.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
More delicious deception
Continuing the cookbook testing, I've now made several of the recipes from Deceptively Delicious. These include:
-mac & cheese (actually, Hubby made it and used two different veggie purees, cauliflower and butternut squash)
-grilled cheese (with butternut squash, and I don't like squash but you can't even taste it. Probably my most favourite so far.)
-chocolate pudding (with avocado; very rich, but somewhat off-putting in that the green avocado oil seeps out of the pudding. And I like my pudding cold, not warm)
-chocolate cake with chocolate cream cheese icing (the cake was pretty dense but dry, so I'd use oil instead of margarine next time and add more melted chocolate; the cream cheese icing was really good but also very thick, so I'd thin it out with margarine or something
Overall, the savoury items are beating the pants off the sweets. I'm hoping to test out a few more of the desserts to find something suitable for baby D's upcoming birthday (not for another couple of months, though). I also need to craft some manner of invitation if I want people to show up to this thing.
-mac & cheese (actually, Hubby made it and used two different veggie purees, cauliflower and butternut squash)
-grilled cheese (with butternut squash, and I don't like squash but you can't even taste it. Probably my most favourite so far.)
-chocolate pudding (with avocado; very rich, but somewhat off-putting in that the green avocado oil seeps out of the pudding. And I like my pudding cold, not warm)
-chocolate cake with chocolate cream cheese icing (the cake was pretty dense but dry, so I'd use oil instead of margarine next time and add more melted chocolate; the cream cheese icing was really good but also very thick, so I'd thin it out with margarine or something
Overall, the savoury items are beating the pants off the sweets. I'm hoping to test out a few more of the desserts to find something suitable for baby D's upcoming birthday (not for another couple of months, though). I also need to craft some manner of invitation if I want people to show up to this thing.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
File under: I guess this is why we have baby gates
This morning I got quite a shock when baby D demonstrated a much improved ability. We had come downstairs to give Hubby a chance to sleep in, and I was letting her roam the reasonably baby-proof main level while I checked my email. She had gone a little too quiet, so I got up to check on her; I heard her banging on some cupboards, and made my way to the kitchen, where I had last seen her heading. She wasn't in there. I looked in a couple of cupboards just in case, to no avail. I still heard her, though. Which only left... wait, she can't climb stairs yet, can she?
As it turns out, she can climb all 17 of the stairs, disregard the sleeping bags and backpack on the landing, and maneuver her way into the guest bathroom where there are delightful cupboards which make a very pleasing sound when struck. I am all too aware that this could very easily have gone sideways. The baby gates are now firmly in place.
As it turns out, she can climb all 17 of the stairs, disregard the sleeping bags and backpack on the landing, and maneuver her way into the guest bathroom where there are delightful cupboards which make a very pleasing sound when struck. I am all too aware that this could very easily have gone sideways. The baby gates are now firmly in place.
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