Before And After

I still enjoy...

Going on vacations.

Buying new shoes.

Spending time with my family and friends.

Swimming in the ocean.

Watching my favourite TV shows.
Getting lost in Saks.

Going for my weekly blow-dry.

Pedicures. Manicures. Massages.

Dinners out.
White wine.
Sitting in my favourite chair with a good book.

Going to the movies and eating popcorn.
A night out with my closest friends.

However... no matter what I'm doing, there is one thing that is always on my mind—my children. No matter what, I'm thinking about them, and hoping they're okay.

As soon as I became a mom, life shifted for me in a way I never expected.

There is only before and after.

Life before children was mostly worry-free, in the sense that I had no one to worry about 24 hours a day, for all of eternity, except myself. I could be irresponsible, if I wanted to. I could stay out as late as I wanted to. I could sleep in if I was tired.

Life after children is wonderful in an infinite number of ways, but the never-ending worry that comes with it was something no one prepared me for. No one can prepare you, really, no matter what you read or hear from your family and friends. The biggest change of your life happens once your baby is placed in your arms.

I was walking around in an unfamiliar state once I got home with my new baby. I never thought I'd sleep again, and I never though I'd leave the house again. I didn't want to see a single human outside of my family. I didn't want to hear from anyone. Of course, as the days and weeks went by, things got much easier, in many ways, but the shift never went back to what it was before. Of course, with baby number two, things were much more easy to handle, but still...

A friend of my mom's once said to her: "My daughter never had children. She'll never know the love of having a child of her own, but she'll also never know the worry that comes with it."

It's the times when your child is sick, when you're in the hospital too scared to even look at the doctor, the times when you can't even put a single piece of food in your mouth because you know you'll just throw it up from the worry you're feeling, that are the harderst parts of motherhood.

And here's something—it'll never, ever go away, that worry. And here's another thing—every age comes with its own set of challenges, fears, and worries. It's the hardest job in the whole world. It's a constant job. We are on 24 hours a day. 

Of course it's worth it.. I never imagined my adullt life without children, and I feel blessed, beyond measure.  But becoming a parent is such a life-changing experience you can't prepare for no matter how hard you try.

We are all in this together, I suppose—we're a special league of superheroes. I'm just trying to figure out what colour my cape is today.

Gonna Make You Sweat

Every morning I wake up at the same time as my children and the mad rush begins—shower! Make-up on! Fix hair! Find something to wear! Dress the children! Run downstairs! Make breakfast! Make lunches and snacks! Beg the children to brush their teeth! Pack the backpacks! When will I learn to get up and get ready before the children? Hopefully one day soon... seriously.

When I'm stressed to the max about getting everyone out the door on time, I thank goodness that I don't sweat it—I handle it! Seriously, I'm thankful for the awesome Lady Speed Stick Power because it provides long lasting protection to help me not lose my cool, so to speak, when I'm in stressful situations like the daily mad rush out the door with two children. It works.

I recently reviewed two new Lady Speed Stick products and they worked like a charm, helping me through all my daily crazy sweat-inducing situations at home, on the way to school and to work, and in any situation you can imagine.

Lady Speed Stick is so awesome, they decided to spread the love, too. They're giving away six baskets full of Lady Speed Stick products!

Just click here to enter! Simple, right? Totally not sweat-inducing! Just tell us... what makes you sweat?

Come on... we want to know! And, okay, we want to laugh along with you, too. Was it a blind date you went on? An unexpected visit from my mother-in-law? Leaving the house with two different shoes on? (Yes, this has happened to someone I know!)
Lady Speed Stick truly offers long-lasting superior protection, and I love the invisible Lady Speed Stick—no need to worry about stains anywhere on my clothes, no matter what colour I am wearing! It's also available in four different frangrances (yum!)  to keep you feeling fresh from morning to night.

Here's a coupon you can use, too. You're welcome! And remember... don't sweat it—no matter the situation—handle it!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I received compensation from Colgage. All views and opinions are my own.

15 Reasons I'm Awesome

I'm awesome. Because I'm a mom.

Here are 15 reasons why:

1. I survive—in fact I can function—amazingly well on three hours of sleep a night. I know this to be true because it's been my reality for the last seven years, give or take an hour (or two).

2. I can carry more in my arms than the average human at the same time. We're talking a suitcase, a child, a bottle of water, a purse, two sweaters, a pair of running shoes, snacks, passports, and a stroller. While walking down a broken escalator trying to catch a flight.

3. I host playdates with children and I let them invade my entire house.

4. I live with little dictators and I am a calm and rational person in spite of this.

5. I can put together impossible LEGO creations.

6. I eat Goldfish crackers off the floor for dinner.

7. I put all sorts of weird things in my mouth to clean them.

8. I have endured listening to many hours of that annoying brat, Caillou, without breaking the television set in a fit of rage.

9. I have accepted the fact that I only need 3% of my bed to sleep on.

10. I'm okay with waking up with little feet in my face.

11. I am able to change sheets without waking a child who is sleeping on top of these sheets. This is gold medal-worthy, friends.

11. I  know everything there is to know about Minecraft. Sort of.

12.  I still play Super Mario Bros.

13. I sometimes hide food from my children.

14. I have broken up epic sibling battles while driving through scary snow storms.

15. I have gone on vacations and boarded planes witth two young children without any assistance from anyone, and have lived to tell the tale.

What about you—how does being a parent make you even more awesome than you were before?

Start Spreading The News

I don't know how I'd handle breakfast in my house if my children were picky eaters. Thankfully, I've lucked out in that department—I have children who consider breakfast their favourite meal of the day!

It's always a mad dash in the mornings at my house, so knowing that my children have a favourite food to eat for breakfast is a huge help. 

My boys love cream cheese, and I love how easy it is to prepare breakfast beacuse of this. We spread Philly Cream Cheese on bagels, tortillas, pita bread, and toast, and with a side of fruit and maybe some oatmeal, breakfast is served! Anything to make things run smoothly in the morning, I'm a fan of.

When I saw the new  Chocolate Philly I knew it would taste incredible—and yup, I was right! It's so, so good. You really do have to try it for yourself. I promise—you'll love it.

My favourite way to enjoy my Chocolate Philly? Spread on a warm, toasted bagel, with a side of strawberries. (Great for dipping, too, of course!) Or, on a tortilla, wrapped up, with strawberries inside. So yummy! Here's the best part—with Chocolate Philly you not only get the dairy goodness of Philly, you're also getting the deliciousness of pure milk chocolate—with half the sugar and calories that other similar products provide. So, you're eating healthy, too. Win-win, right?

You know what goes great with a Philly Chocolate breakfast? Enjoying that breakfast in... bed. That's right. In bed. Served to you by your loved one. I know, I don't remember the last time I ate breakfast in bed, either. Philly has a fun Facebook contest going on right now, where you post a status update saying that if you get 20 likes, your sweetheart will then serve you breakfast in bed. Voila.. the pressure is on, and delicious, Chocolate Philly will be yours to enjoy in your comfort zone!

Philly also has a great coupon offer on their Facebook page starting on May 21. Check it out, because you don't want to miss a great offer like this.

Chocolate and cream cheese were totally meant to be together this way... now go spread the news (and the love) yourself!









Disclaimer: I was compensated for this post, but views and opinions are my own. And I love my Philly cream cheese!

Sun Safety With Coppertone

Summer is finally here! Well, almost. It's May, the weather has been fabulous, the grass is growing, and the pools are open for the season. My boys have taken full advantage of this, already, and it's not even June yet. No complaints from me. Not even one. I will not say a negative thing about the weather until it starts getting cooler again.

Summer is so easy, don't you think? No more snowsuits, boots, messy slush, hats, mitts, scarves... it's just flip flops, sunscreen, and go!

I was flown to Toronto for the day a couple of weeks ago to attend the Summer Lunch and Learn Event on Sun Care and Allergy Symptoms Management with Coppertone, Aerius and hydraSense. It was a very beautiful event that was also very informative. It was great speaking to a doctor and allergy specialist about the effects the sun has on our skin, and especially the effects of the sun on the skin of our young children. It is so important to be aware.

Since becoming a mom, I'm keenly aware of the importance of staying safe when we're outside in the sun. I'm no longer the girl who lays out in the sun wearing a bikini with nothing more than sunscreen with an SPF of 4. I'm now the responsible mom who stays better protected while spending time in the shade, whenever possible. Besides, I don't have the time to just relax in the sun—my boys never sit still to allow that to happen!

I've long ago packed away the oil and have embraced sunscreen with protection of at least 30 SPF or higher. I slather it on my boys, too, and prefer to use a higher SPF on them. I use a generous amount too—did you know each time you apply sunscreen, you should use a golf ball sized amount? At least that's easy to remember! Sunscreen is the number one way to protect yourself from sun damage.

Here are some Summer Sun Safety Tips for you:

Cover Up: Try to wear long sleeves and a hat with a wide brim. Wear protective sunglasses, too. I also buy protective swim shirts for my boys to wear when they're swimming outside—the added protection is great peace of mind for me.

Use Sunscreen: Of course we all know the importance of sunscreen and protecting our skin, right? You should be wearing at least a bottle with SPF of 15 or higher. I use 30 SPF on me, and usually something as high as 60 for my children. Make sure to re-apply every two hours, and every hour if you're in the water, even if the sunscreen is water-resistant.

Find Shade: I used to love spending time in the sun, but now I actually prefer staying in the shade if I'm outside all day, on the beach, by the pool, or just walking around in the great outdoors. If you're going on a picnic, try to pack an umbrella with you, and stay in places that offer plenty of shade, like parks with nice big trees.

Now, go enjoy summer safely. Your skin will thank you!

Disclaimer: My travel arrangements to and from Toronto were paid for, and I received Copperone, Aerius, and hydraSense products to use and review, but all thoughts, views, and opinions on this topic are my own.

The Great Gatsby: My Review

When I was in high school, I read The Great Gatsby for the first time. I remember liking it, but not loving it. I decided to visit my past and read the book again, and this time, I loved it. Loved. I didn't want it to come to an end, and now I'm in the I-just-finished-the-best-book-ever mode, where I refuse to pick up another book because I'm scared I'll look at the words and not feel as connected and not love it as much.

This is of course nothing new for me, as I easily become obsessed fall in love with things: movies, songs, books... and I sort of expect everyone to feel what I'm feeling, too. To hear that some people didn't love The Great Gatsby, the book, or the movie? I don't get it. I get annoyed.

"What do you mean you don't want to see it again RIGHTTHISSECOND?"

"How could you NOT love it?"

"You haven't even read the book yet? What are you waiting for?"

I saw the movie. And it was beautiful. And chilling. And sad. All the really important parts were done so, so well. I was holding my breath for the last 30 minutes of the movie. Really, it was that good. I loved Leo as Jay. He played a great Gatsby. And Tobey was perfectly cast as Nick. Carey was a fabulous Daisy, right down to her voice.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, one of the best American novels of all time, is a must-read for everyone. Only then can you begin to appreciate (or, dislike) the tale come to life on the big screen. I don't understand what there was to not like about the movie, though, because I thought it was done incredibly well.

I think being that he was such a modern man, Fitzgerald would have loved this take on Gatsby--after all, Jay Z is on the soundtrack--and what an amazing soundtrack it is, by the way.

Do I give the movie two thumbs up? Absolutely, old sport... absolutely. Although you can't create the past exactly as it was before, you can try, and this movie does a great job of that. The costumes, the lavish settings, the acting--I thought it was perfection.

I just want to talk about how much I dislike Daisy with everyone I see. And how I keep trying to change the ending in my head, just so it's not so damn sad.

Now excuse me while I stock up on flapper dresses and get lost in the soundtrack, while I search for my grade 11 essay on The Great Gatsby. I'd love to see what my thoughts on the story were, back then.


“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

Random Thoughts: From Abercrombie to Gatsby

My Hair:

It's no big surpirse—I love being blonde. What started off as a few highlights when I was 16 years old turned into me having a head full of blonde hair a few years later. The thought of going dark scares me almost as much as the idea of cutting my hair does, but having to do my colour every month was getting to be a bit much. This week I took a brave step and let my hair dresser add low-lights to my hair. Okay, it was more of an intervention, but that's all behind us now. I love my new hair colour! A lot! I'm still blonde, but with more depth and definition, I guess.

 

Abercrombie & Assholes OR Abercrombie & Filth

When I was younger, I shopped at Abercrombie, mostly because as a Canadian I loved shopping at stores we didn't have here. Also, because I thought some of their t-shirts were cute and funny, like the "Dependently Wealthy" one that's still somewhere in my closet. Of course, once I passed a certain age I stopped shopping at Abercrombie, not because I couldn't fit into the clothes anymore, but because obviously there were far better stores to shop at for someone my age. Also, it's dark and a bit smelly in Abercrombie, no?

So you all must have heard about some guy named Mike Jeffries? He's the CEO of Abercrombie, and he makes Pete Campbell look like the the world's best human in comparison. Apparently, Mike doesn't want ugly and fat people shopping at his store, because his store is only for the "cool kids". Huh?  I have a huge problem with this idiot sharing his opinion publicly like this, because first of all? Abercrombie is NOT all that, and second of all? He's promoting eating disorders in young children. Newsflash: Not everyone is skinny. Not everyone looks the same. Who is HE to decide what's attractive and what's not attractive? And can we talk about how he, as an adult, is encouraging bullying, self-doubt, and depression in young people? I don't accept his stupidity. I'll no longer buy clothes for my children from that store. And I shop a lot, so take that, Abercrombie and Filth. This is not about being authentic; it's about being an asshole and as someone who represents a store that young people spend their parents money in, you f*cked up, dude.

 

 

Busy (Busy!) Week: 

This week—this month, actually—is really, really busy. I know we're all busy, but seriously, I don't think schools take into account that some parents also have full-time jobs, because whoa, the hours we've spent on homework and projects this week! My seven year old did as much work last night as I did in four years of university. Okay, slight exaggeration, but you get my point. This, after what was an incredibly busy week at school that included a book fair, a volunteer recognition assembly, an open house, and an all-day field trip that I happily volunteered for. I love that I'm able to volunteer in the school as much as I do. Being present this way for my boys makes me happy, and they love when I'm there, too.

Mother's Day:

What do moms want for Mother's Day? I put together some great gift ideas on my shopping blog, but truly, all I want is what I cherish the most from my children: something from the heart. My five year old was excited to give me the gift he made for me at school, and my heart almost exploded from love and happiness. There's nothing else in the world I need.

The Great Gatsby:

I read the book in high school (like everyone else I know) but I don't remember it well enough, so I'm reading it right now. I can't wait to see the movie tomorrow night. It looks Oh-my-God-incredible. Is it all hype? Is the book that great? Will the movie be amazing? We'll soon find out...




Hotel California:
I made it through three days of awesome fun in Laguna Beach at Mom 2.0! I mean, I made it through hearing about, reading about, and seeing pictures from my friends of how fabulous Mom 2.0 in Laguna was. No, really—it was nice to see how much fun everyone was having, and the location was simply gorgeous. Next year, I'll be back. I have my ticket for Mom 2.0 2014 already, and so do a lot of my favourite people, so that makes me very happy. One word of advice to my friends who blog and work in social media and want turn their passion into something more? Don't miss the chance to go to Mom 2.0 next year. It is so very worth it.

Greek Easter:

The reason I wasn't in California, as most of you know, was because it was our Greek Easter weekend and as usual, it was a beautiful weekend of fun, family, and food. Emphasis on FOOD. And more food. Greek Easter is really about the food, after all. Did I mention the food? And since Easter took place in May this year, and since it is an unseasonably hot May, the kids swam all day and had the best time of their lives. The lamb was good, too!

Shoe obsession:
I currently love Tieks and need a pair, like, yesterday. Only problem? I can't decide what colour to get. IMPOSSIBLE decision. So I blogged about it, naturally. See why I am having such a hard time deciding on a colour? I hate decisions!


And... that's all from me. For now. Time to kick back and relax, because the weekend is here. Okay, maybe there won't be any time to relax, but still, the weekend is here, so have a good one, friends.