Category Archives: holidays

Snow bugz!

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We had the chance to get away during the Christmas break!! Leith and I really wanted to, but it wasn’t looking realistic…until we suddenly booked a Saturday night in Canmore. We originally planned to ski at Lake Louise, but right after Christmas, we decided that cross-country skiing was more within our budget.

Read: $90 for 2 days, instead of close to $500!

The bugz received princess skis for Christmas. They were a great little purchase: $40 for skis that strap to their winter boots, grow with them, work for beginner downhill and cross-country,and includes poles. We really wanted to get them out and used to the winter, instead of hiding indoors for 8 months…

We decided to get cross-country sets for ourselves as well. There are so many places to go where we live, and it’s so much cheaper to get outfitted than for downhill! Our skis weren’t ready to go before we left, but we had boots, so off we went…

We spent Saturday at the Canmore Nordic Centre, where Sku met us and helped out big time. My kids always respond so well to her :) She had them out on their skis while we waited in line for our rentals. By the time we caught up, Kit-Kat was in love with skiing. C-boo was doing really well, but she wasn’t as confident as her sister.

We went about 1.5km down the easy trail before we turned around. It was slow-going, and not at all the workout I expected, but it was so much fun! It was nice to take it easy, too – I hadn’t skied since Girl Guide camp in 1992 or 1993… C-boo tired out quickly, and was done. She alternated between skiing and stubbornly trying to carry her skis!

We warmed up with some hot cocoa in the lodge, and then headed out for some skating! Grammy and Poppa gave the bugz their first ice skates this year, and they were SO excited to finally try skating!! Kit-Kat was a natural once again. Within 5 minutes, she was actually taking steps on her own for short distances. When we left 30 minutes later, she was barely holding on to my hand for support!

C-boo wasn’t as confident, but she still got her skates on and tried! She liked “skating” with her winter boots on a little more ;)

We tried to get out again this morning, but it was much colder and neither kid wanted anything to do with skiing. I can’t blame them: they got more fresh air the day before than the entire month previous! We packed up before lunch and headed to Sku’s for a visit instead.

Today may have been a bust, but I’m still excited to get out again! I love downhill skiing, but it gets far too expensive far too quickly. For rentals and trail fees, we paid only $90 for two days of cross-country! At home, we’ll have our own equipment, and plenty of free trails. With more practice, I think our girls will learn to love winter :) As Kit-Kat said:

“I love skiing, but sometimes I don’t.”

Thank goodness for a big backyard!

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Wishin’

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Ah, the season of giving is upon us! My Christmas shopping is all but done, thanks to the miracle of online shopping. Staying out of stores this year allowed me to keep to my list and my budget, avoiding impulse purchases and junk drawer fillers.

Unfortunately, it didn’t allow me any window shopping time for myself. Now it’s December 10th, and Leith is begging me for gift ideas. This is the first Christmas since 2008 that we’re exchanging gifts with each other, and he’s out of practice. I can’t seem to come up with anything meaningful that isn’t a) ridiculous or b) lame. I don’t do the spa thing, or the night on the town thing, or the jewellery thing, or the candles and roses thing. I’m kind of a pain in the ass…

But if money were no object, and he had all the time in the world, these would be great starters:

1. 3 nights in Vegas! …Leith has never been. I would love to take him to my Disneyland for a long weekend and do amazing things like a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon, or rent a ridiculous car to cruise around in, or ride the roller coaster at New York New York. And I want to take him on a culinary tour. I could spend a week in Vegas just eating…

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2. An iPad mini…our iPad has been MIA for two weeks now. I have NO clue where it is. The bugz refuse to admit fault for its disappearance. It’s gone. I have searched EVERYWHERE imaginable for it. While I can’t stand the concept of the iPad mini, I love the much cheaper price tag on it.

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3. A new MacBook…I hate being confined to my office to work. We tried moving my computer out to the living room for a few months, but my tendency to sprawl resulted in being banished back to the cave. I’d love to be able to pack up my work and take it to the studio or swimming pool as well. I could be so much more productive while I’m waiting for the bugz to finish their lessons! 

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4. A weekly cleaning service…this is no big deal for some, but I have a hard time justifying it. It really doesn’t take me long to wash the floors or clean the bathrooms or change the bedsheets. I just hate doing it. If it were just thrust at me though, prepaid and prebooked…well, I’d have to accept it ;)

5. 3 nights in Victoria…we missed out on our weekend getaway this fall. It was supposed to be our first getaway with each other in 3 years. And I love Victoria so much. 

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6. A huge, tacky massage chair…the tackier, the better. A big, monstrous, black leather beast that locks your arms and legs in and jiggles you into a pool of nothingness. Something that could never be considered “furniture” because it’s so ghastly. Something that requires a smoked-glass-and-brass side tablebeside it. And a faux-tiger throw.

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7. A family ring…Leith’s birthstone is blue topaz, and the bugz’ are aquamarine. For years, I’ve wanted a 3-stone family ring with his in the middle and theirs on each side. White gold. Small, understated, and just pretty.

8. A king-sized bed…Leith keeps denying me this one joy in life. As the bugz get bigger, my space in our queen bed gets smaller. Leith doesn’t even try to accommodate them. He just moves downstairs at 2am. Even with only 3 bodies in the bed, there’s no room. He says our room is too small. I tell him THE BED IS ALL WE NEED!!! And there is plenty of room. He’s just a spoil-sport.

9. A Bose surround system…the greatest pain in my first-world life is the sight of our hideous 6ft-speaker-component-system in the basement. It hurts my heart and my pride. I would happily throw that overpriced piece of hell in our fire pit, cackling with glee the entire time. Alas, I can’t even lift one of those beasts. Dear Santa: please bring us a Bose system. Thanks.

10. A general contractor and unlimited budget…I love our little country home, but there are STILL things that haven’t been completed: door trim, baseboards, windows…I’d also love to knock down a few walls upstairs, replace the sunporch and deck, and refinish the basement. And I don’t want to do any of it myself. THAT would be a Christmas to remember!!

So there you have it. I do know what I want…it’s just beyond the scope of Christmas 2012. Hopefully I get the Snuggie I’ve wanted for the past 3 years, at the very least.

Awkward Magz

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Most people are surprised when they hear me describe myself as socially awkward. I mean, with all this raw wit and my amazing good looks, I should have a social calendar booked well into 2014, right?

Um, no.

While I have no problem dancing on a sports field in front of 10,000+ people in a half top and short-shorts, and happily speak in front of crowds with a moment’s notice, I really hate intimate social settings. There are but a few times that I am happy to throw myself to the stranger-lions:

  • tweet ups where I “know” most of the people
  • play dates
  • that’s it

Weddings? No way. Company picnics? Hell, no. Anything else? Kill me, please. Make it slow and torturous so that it takes up the time I should have been at the party for. I really hate parties and social gatherings. While I do warm up quickly, I need to be prodded first. I rarely, if ever, make the first move to speak to someone I’ve never met. I have spent many a gathering sitting silently by myself.

I will sit for an entire day, hoping and praying that the event that night is cancelled.

Tonight, for example: for the first time in 7 years, Leith and I are going to his company Christmas party. This is no ordinary division or office party with a handful of workers and their wives. Oh, no. This is the full-meal deal: corporate party, cocktails-at-6:30, formal dress, company-wide blowout at Northlands.

This means hair, makeup, dress, heels, the works. It means dropping my sweats and pulling out my ponytail holder.

This means doing my own hair, which I suck at. Makeup, no problem. Hair? Ugh. Can I pleeeeeeeease wear a ponytail?? No, wait: my dresses are all too formal for that. BAH! Don’t mind me weeping in my bathroom at 3:30 this afternoon…

Did I mention that my sister dyed my hair a gorgeous auburn-to-electric-blue-to-purple ombre this week? It’s amazing. And totally not formal when left up to me. I need her to beautify me, but she’s working today. *weeping*

With a closet full of dresses that never get worn, I am NOT buying a dress just for tonight. Bonus: I don’t own a “dress” coat, or even a pretty winter jacket. I’m going to roll up in a gorgeous dress…and a hoodie.

High Heels and Hoodies – I should rename my blog…

Then, my socially awkward husband and I are going to go sit at a table with people neither of us know…because his division is small, and most of the workers have left in the past two weeks, or are from out of town, or just don’t come to things like this…

And I will want to get DRUNK. But I won’t…because getting drunk when you don’t know anyone is far worse than going out drinking with your friends…

Hopefully, we can put ourselves out of our misery by 9pm and go home.

Or, maybe it will be a blast, and we will sit with awesome people and laugh and tell stories and dance and win great door prizes…

Either way, if you need me today, you can find me curled up in a ball of anxiety, rocking gently on my bathroom floor, pleading with my flat iron to please make me beautiful.

Awkward Magz: now in Holiday colours.

1000

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1000 posts.

That’s a lot of rambling to put up with over the last 4+ years. It’s a little over 250 posts each year. You’ve listened to me ramble a lot.

Sometimes, it’s been inane mutterings. Sometimes, I’ve actually had something good to say. I’ve covered the gamut, from breastfeeding to mom-formula, from policing to cancer, from twins to contraception. It’s never boring around here!

I’ve fought with my Christmas tree and with my demons. I’ve moved and changed jobs. Myyyy, how I’ve changed jobs! I’ve baked and cooked and gardened. I’ve made cheese. I’ve been through not one, but two 101 in 1001 lists. Well…the first one ended in defeat, and the second is still in progress.

I’ve travelled alone and with my husband, and even with my kids. I’ve taken pictures along the way, and journaled my way through life. I’ve made good choices and bad choices. I’ve even made really bad choices. I’ve told my story.

And along the way, I’ve developed some fabulous friendship through the ether. I’ve cultivated relationships and poured my heart to my readers, who have loved me and accepted me with open arms for the most part.

So, to thank you for this, I’m having a little giveaway:

Leave me a comment on this milestone post about your favourite MagzD post in the past 4.5 years.

Let me know what your favourite charity is as well, and in one week, I will draw a random comment. I will give $100 to that commenter’s charity, and $100 to the Canadian Cancer Society as well.

You know, just to say thanks for putting up with me. Xoxo.

***

This post is a part of the Summer Blog Challenge (and I’m still down by two!!). Join the rest of us:

Natural Urban Mama
This Mom’s Got Something To Say
The Dulock Diaries
2 Plus 2×2

Planning a dream

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My dream as a child was to go to Disney. All my friends went. We would watch The Magical World of Disney every Sunday night, and I would dream of the day that I would walk under that magical castle.

When I was very young, we didn’t have the money. Then, when I was older, my baby sister was too young. Then, when she was old enough, we were too busy. Then, when we were no longer busy, no one else wanted to go…

In 2004, my family decided to visit my grandpa at his condo in Tampa Bay. My parents decided that we would take a few days out of the two-week trip to drive up to Orlando. They wanted to go to Universal Studios. After 22.5 years, my parents were taking me within miles of my dream but not setting foot in it.

I pulled the most stubborn move of my life: I decided I wasn’t going. I would forgo a free trip to Florida over being tortured by my dream flitting further out of grasp. It just wasn’t fair.

A few weeks later, my parents changed their mind and decided that Disney World would be more fun. I let them think it was their idea ;)

We arrived at the park just as the gates opened for the day. We barely stood in line for any ride. My then-16 year old sister smiled the whole day – a feat for any sullen teenager! The weather was perfect as we sought out characters to sign our autograph books. the souvenirs were cheaper than expected, and our money kept stretching.

The best part, though, was that it was Tuesday: the day that wraps up with the lights parade that was on every single Sunday night Magical World of Disney. The floating snails and floats and princesses…all of it was mesmerizing. At the end of the parade, as night fell, my family stood on Main Street, USA and watched the fireworks explode over the park.

I cried.

I sobbed as my 23-year-old dream finally came true. It was a perfect day in every way.

From the moment the shock of our twin ultrasound wore off, my husband and I have known one thing:

When our girls turn 6, we will take them to Disney. We wouldn’t wait; we would save and plan, and we would take them before all the excuses piled up and they were suddenly 20-somethings.

But life happened. Unpaid maternity leave happened. No overtime happened. Failed careers happened. Debt happened. We spent 4 years picking through the wreckage until we got to this point: this place where we are happy, safe, and comfortable.

Today, I set out to start planning our trip of a lifetime. I had a $15K budget in mind. We’d decided against a Disney park trip, as the thought of days of rides wasn’t appealing to us as parents…and especially knowing our kids!! We knew one thing though: it had to be a wake-them-up-take-them-to-the-airport kind of surprise. No knowing, no hints, no help.

But when we chose a cruise, it became harder. The flight to port was difficult to coordinate. And then, a lightbulb:

We fly to Orlando. Spend the next day at Disney world! Drive to Port Canaveral the following day to catch our cruise in the morning. Spend 4 nights on the ship. Fly home.

It was perfect!! A day of Disney, with two nights at a crazy Disney resort hotel, followed by a Disney cruise! All the memories we could possibly want, without any waiting! Fly, BAM: Disney! Drive, BAM: Disney! No layovers, waiting in an airport hotel for the fun to begin.

The best part? Splitting it up like that (instead of a 5- or 6-night cruise) means cutting my $15K budget in half! All priced out (for 2013, not 2014), it came in at just under $6000 including taxes. Add in 2 travel days of food, and Disney park food, an spending money, and we might spend $7500 total. Not the savings gouge I expected! And with only a year to save, I was worried. It was possible, but tight.

This? This is a dream come true. We will be surprising our bugz, going to Disney World, boarding a cruise ship on their 6th birthday, visiting places we’ve never been, and creating amazing memories.

It’s going to be hard to make it through the next 18 months!

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This post is a part of the Summer Blog Challenge (and yes, I know I missed yesterday!!). Join the rest of us:

Natural Urban Mama
This Mom’s Got Something To Say
The Dulock Diaries
2 Plus 2×2

Family time

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A short and sweet blog tonight, as I snuggle in to a soft, fluffy bed with my family. We’ve ordered a movie in our hotel room, and we have a high cuddle quota to meet. We’re dino’d and swim’d right out!

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Time for some quiet family time until we fall asleep together…and rest until it’s zoo time tomorrow!

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This post is a part of the Summer Blog Challenge! Join the rest of us:

Natural Urban Mama
This Mom’s Got Something To Say
The Dulock Diaries
2 Plus 2×2

10 Things

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  1. I have horrible taste in music. I love everything, but my goodness! My iPod is stuffed with nothing but country music and bubblegum pop lately. I think I’m secretly harbouring a 13-year old somewhere… One Direction, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato…oh, my!
  2. This is my desktop in the living room right now. I can’t even bare my office to you. It’s terrifying. I’m past the point of even helping myself. I think I just need to light everything on fire and walk away…
  3. I really want one of these. It’s a bluetooth speaker from Bose. I have a sick love of all things Bose. The problem is, I just spent $500 on a SoundDock for the dance studio. This one though? It would mean having my iPhone/iPod in my pocket; not tearing back and forth to the speaker = smooth class transitions. It’s also SO small – about the size of a hardcover book – which would be amazing during festivals and competitions! I could have bought a refurbished one in Vegas for about $80 less…but I’m tempted to just shell out the $330. Ahhh, decisions….!
  4. Can you picture me in this?? Hahahahaha…but seriously, I’m ordering it for dance parties. And maybe for Wee Dance classes. And Fridays, in general…

  5. Where does one buy fabric in Edmonton? I remember there being many fabric stores once upon a time. I really want to get my sew-on, but where do I go? There’s a Fabricland in the west end…there’s Davey’s wholesale. Ikea? Where do my crafty friends go??
  6. I am SO EXCITED to take my bugz to Calgary and Drumheller this weekend! We got an incredible deal on a hotel for Saturday night – free penguin slippers AND zoo passes!!! Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE PENGUINS??
  7. Leith and I decided last night that our 1990 sofa bed in the basement has officially met its end of days and should be put out of its misery. Time to go couch shopping for a sectional that fits more than two people…laying down!

  8. I took the girls to Cafe o Play yesterday for the first time in 5 months. I think it’s safe to say that we’ve outgrown the screaming hoards of toddlers, despite my always-tasty Yummy Mummy latte. Oh my. We were only there for an hour before I had to high-tail it or start drinking… But with the long winter looming, we decided to buy a family pass to Telus World of Science. It’s only $150/year for a family, which means that it pays for itself after only 4 visits. Done and DONE!
  9. I am very excited about a couple of opportunities to promote KeyLime clothing in the near future! Suffice to say that I am a huge fan of their locally produced active wear, and cannot WAIT to share more…but I have to hash out the details first ;) Patience, my friends!
  10. This is the lamest post ever. I’m trying to find some redeeming quality…really, it’s just a time-waster and a post-filler. Sorry. Let me make it up to you: blueberries and chocolate almond milk. Thank me later…

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This post is a part of the Summer Blog Challenge! Join the rest of us :)

Natural Urban Mama
This Mom’s Got Something To Say
The Dulock Diaries
2 Plus 2×2

Cure for the rain

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What do you do when the cold and rain greets you after a week in heaven?

You book the next trip to sunshine. You pack up the kids, haul them to Canada Place, and renew the heck out of your passports.

You get your mom to book flights for the whole family. Like, all four of us, the grandparents, Aunty Jocy, Uncle Blain. As in, back-up-childcare-in-Mexico galore!!!!!!

And then…you sit back and wait six months with the sunshine taunting you through the grey autumn and hectic holiday season.

And you also book a weekend getaway to Drumheller and the Calgary Zoo. And start planning a 4-day holiday to the coast.

After all, the only cure for a post-holiday hangover is another holiday…or three!

***

This post is a part of the Summer Blog Challenge! Join the rest of us :)

Natural Urban Mama
This Mom’s Got Something To Say
The Dulock Diaries
2 Plus 2×2

Stranded & Starving

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Well! So much for dinner…

I am currently stranded at the airport in Las Vegas with no money. Actually, that’s a lie. I have lots of money, but none that I can access. I haven’t eaten since breakfast, and I won’t be home until 2am at the earliest.

None of my credit cards will work here. One has given me a headache all week, the other has a mystery PIN. My debit cards don’t work at the till in the States, and the ATM keeps declining all FOUR cards! I have so much available, but not a single dollar that’s accessible.

It started Monday: I went to check in to my hotel with my business MasterCard and it was

    declined

. I have a low limit (on purpose), but I’d over-paid it by $1500 specifically for this trip so that a) I wouldn’t need to get to the bank, and b) so that I wouldn’t have to worry about receipts for my accounting. My phone wouldn’t process the toll-free number, and I couldn’t check in without a credit card for the deposit. I finally got ahold of MasterCard, and they told me that, despit over paying, I still wasn’t allowed to use more than my credit limit in any given month.

Um, WTF?

Thankfully, they overrode it and I was able to check in. I didn’t have a single problem all week. I charged everything from the hotel to Starbucks, from drinks to cab rides. Then I tried to spend $8.64 on dinner at Carl’s Jr and it was declined. I went to the ATM. Declined. I tried both my personal and business debit cards. Declined. I even tried my personal MasterCard with a totally different bank. Declined.

Then I tried all four cards at a different machine. Declined. My online banking shows positive balances for every single account but I can’t get dinner. I am starving. My cell reception won’t let me call the toll free number – they can’t hear me, and it breaks up. I tried using a pay phone, and as soon as the automated machine picked up, the pay phone would scream in my ear and disconnect.

I know that there are far worse situations to be in, but I’m so frustrated right now! I haven’t eaten in 7 hours, and was outside walking all day. The next food I get will be when I get through customs at the Edmonton airport at 1am.

Sigh…not the best end to an incredible week.