I’m a foodie. I love the enjoyment that comes with eating great food. I’m not talking about chips, cookies, or any kind of junk food. I’m talking about fabulous dips, risotto, grilled salmon, home-made bread, filet mignon with a balsamic reduction…need I say more.
I have been known to talk about what I should have for my next meal before I finish the meal I’m having. I love watching the food network and would spend my first lotto winning's on hiring a professional chef live with me.
Of all the food items I love there is one thing that makes me smile inside and out. You know the kind of food that once you put it in your mouth you instantly warm and fuzzy all over? That guilty pleasure for me is a good croissant. I can’t get enough of a fresh croissant from a bakery, especially in Europe. It is the perfect combination between bread and dessert. I know it is 80% butter, but I could never turn one down. Oh and a chocolate croissant is simply heaven on a plate – no dessert tops that for me (Maybe Erica’s special chocolate and cinnamon cake).
I don’t know whether I’m like this because my spent my entire youth in the hospitality industry or the fact that I’m surrounded by such amazing cooks, minus me. All I know is that a good meal or croissant is worth every calorie no matter what Dr.Oz says. If you disagree with me I would suggest you watch the Disney movie “Ratatouille”. Enough said.
Bon appétit!
I have had enough…I don’t want to hear it…I simply can’t take it anymore!
Why do people have to tell you how much money they spent on a purchase? I’m not talking about the people who tell you about great deals on flights. I’m also not talking about the people who tell you what they spent because they feel guilty for shopping and want you to know they didn’t spend that much. I’m talking about the people who constantly tell you what they paid, whether it is the shirt on their back or the paint on their walls, because it makes them feel good.
Let me give you a few examples…
Scenario 1
Q: “I love your living room. It's so cozy”
A: “Thanks. These curtains were only $4 at Costco and this couch was $100 since it had a small mark on it. Oh and did I mention that the lightening was only $8 a piece.”
Scenario 2
Q: “I have that same shirt. Did you get it at Banana?”
A: “Actually I got it at Winner’s for only $15.”
Please stop. Seriously people, please stop this insanity. I use to think that people did this to help other people find deals but then I realized they do this to feel like the superior shopper. It is the notion of one person being good with money and the other not so good. It is placing judgment without actually saying it. And regardless of whether you paid full price or half price, the answer to “I love your living room” is “thank you, we love it too.” And if someone says that they have the same shirt as you, don’t tell them how much you paid when you know they probably paid full price - that’s just rude.
Personally, I do not place any judgment on what people buy. If you want to spend a lot of money on a hair cut or a fancy car - all the power to you. There is no need for any of us to know the dollars and cents behind other people’s purchases and frankly I don’t want to hear it.
It is always great to get things for less than they are worth. It is the greatest feeling. But my plea is for people to keep this enjoyment to themselves. Let’s save the money talk for our accountants.
There was an article in the Fact & Arguments section of the Globe and Mail that really hit home for me. The title was "It sucks to look like a kid". Right away I felt a connection to this writer. I was thrilled that someone else suffers from the same issue that I do – looking like a teenager when you are actually an adult.
If you look at pictures of me from high school and pictures of me now, the only real difference is less chub in the cheeks, but that is it. I’m about to be 30 and I could pass as one of my husband’s students!
I understand that looking young is suppose to be a good thing. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard "You will be grateful when your in you sixties." Frankly that is a long time to wait!I’m not saying that I want to have wrinkles or weathered skin. I'm simply looking for the respect you get that comes with looking your age. When you are an adolescent, you don’t really care whether other people respect you (perhaps it is because you think you are always right) but once you are in the work force and making grown-up purchases like a house or insurance, respect is essential. Nothing bothers me more than being told that I look to young to doing the things I do or that I couldn’t possibly relate to the content of a conversation. It drives me bananas!
I have tried to do things that I thought would make myself look older but nothing helps. A new hair colour, new clothes, glasses, eye make-up and more. C'est la vie - I’m destined to look 17 for the remainder of my life. The only thing I have going for me is my love of easy listening, my practical approach to things, and my huge Mum wallet. If I pull out my wallet at the LCBO, they instantly know that I’m over the age of 19.
I would appreciate any input from my readers but my next step is to enter a contest where I could win a complete make-over. Wish me luck!
The star-spangled dust from the inauguration has almost settled and I thought what a better way to get back into my blogging then to discuss my thoughts on the events. Instead of speaking my mind right away, I have sat back and listened to all the reactions of Obama becoming the big cheese or as my niece says so eloquently, “The President of the United States of America”. (Oh Isabella, you are destined to change the world one day).
Most of the comments were centred on excitement, change, happiness, and hope however I was shocked to still encounter negative input from the usual skeptics - “Why is everyone acting like he is the Messiah”, “He is only half black” , “Democrats are going to make the market worse”, “Canadian’s should care more about our own elections”. The list goes on and on and I’m super impressed that I didn’t pounce on a few of these comments as they were said.
Tuesday was a refreshing change for world to watch or should I say feel. I can’t remember a time when I have witnessed millions of people smiling and hugging each other. Did you know that not one fight took place that day within the crowd? I can’t remember a time when people felt empowered to take responsibility for their own actions and for each other. I can’t remember a time when people were more accepting of change then they are now. For me, Obama has restored my faith in the ability that one person can make a difference.
Regardless of his family tree, religion or political preference, I think that Obama should be admired by all those skeptics for his intelligence, his drive, his charisma, and for how his words and ideas are inspiring the world. Like religion, you may not agree with everything but if someone or something lifts the spirits of people it is a good thing, and should be respected. As for any negative comments that revolve around race, I simply loose respect for these people. How embarrassing that such ignorance still exists today. How many movies does Disney have to make in order for these people stop judging a book by its cover?
As for Canada, I hope the inspiration from this event will have a ripple effect on us. I love being Canadian (although winter often makes me second guess that feeling) but I wish the Prime Minister or any member of a party would stand up and remind me why it is great to be a Canadian. What are they doing to inspire us to want to work hard and support Canada? What are they doing to remind us where we’ve come from, why we must preserve and protect Canada and want to make it a better place? Instead of telling us why one party is better than another tell us how you plan on turning things around or at the very lease inspire us!
As Obama has so beautifully mentioned in his speeches, change does not come over night but I’m already impressed with the mark he has made.
As we head into fall I can’t help but stop and think about all the things that have happened this year. Is it just me or do you notice as we get older the more things tend to happen in a year - substantial things? More and more of my friends are having babies, my weekends are packed with weddings, and my bank account is taking a hit from all the house warming gifts.
It has almost been a year since I got engaged and in that year I have planned and executed a fun wedding, I have a new nephew, I moved out of my apartment, I bought a house, I change jobs, my parents sold their house and the list just keeps on going.
It has been two months since the wedding and as the dust settles I find that all these adult changes and decisions have gotten the better of me. I haven’t really felt like the fun-loving, confident Jos that I rely on and love. I can’t put my finger on the reason and I have not been able to get back to the old me as of yet.
The other day I decided to go for a run since exercise tends to make me feel better. It was a very satisfying run. You know the kind where you feel like you could go for hours. When I finally returned to the house I started my “post-run” stretching routine and happened to look at the perfect patch of green grass in front of me. Then out of nowhere I had this urge to do a cartwheel, an old-fashioned elementary school cartwheel. I did laugh at this notion at first and was also unsure of my ability to do one at the ripe old age of 28 and a half, but the urge would not go away. So I did a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching and I proceeded to leap into the air like I was performing at the Olympics. It was amazing! Not my skills of course but the feeling. I continued doing cartwheels until my wrists got a little sore. This one little action was making me smile, laugh, and feel overwhelmingly happy. In a nutshell, it made me feel young and carefree again. So it got me thinking, maybe this was my first life lesson in the importance of staying young at heart while I venture down the road of adult decisions.
I know it sound silly but since I have done this cartwheel I have started to feel like myself again. I can’t imagine that something so silly would do the trick but maybe that was all I needed. As a result, I really want to pass this idea along. The next time you see that patch of grass, do a cartwheel a round-off or whatever you use to do when you were young. I promise it will brighten your day, even if you don’t make it to the other side.
Despite what you hear on the news every night, we live in an amazing time right now. There are so many companies out there trying to make a difference in the world of being “green”. They are making leaps and bounds in terms of creating products that perform the same or even better than our popular brands and for a reasonable price.
Being a sales person at heart, I feel I need to give a shout out or a plug to two brands in particular:
1. Green Works by Clorox
2. Seventh Generation
The switch to more natural household cleaners has been a long time coming for me. I have been reading and speaking to a lot of people about how toxic our current cleaners are for the environment and our own health. So when I saw an advertisement for the new Green Works natural cleansers by Clorox, I was intrigued. 
Unlike other companies that try and come up with new ideas by tweaking their existing formulas, Clorox started from scratch creating natural cleansers that are made from 99% natural ingredients. These cleansers are biodegrable, not tested on animals, do not contain any harsh chemical fumes or residues, and can be found in recyclable packaging.
I use to be an avid Lycol and Vim user - you can not get any stronger than that stuff - so the Monica Gellar in me was not completely convinced in the cleaning power of these products but let me be the first to tell you that I was wrong. This stuff is amazing. I have officially switched. The all-purpose cleaner is my fav!
The next amazing company is called Seventh Generation. Located in Vermont, this company is truly at the forefront of a cultural change in consumer behaviour. The name itself is derived from the Great Law of the Iroquois that states, “In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.” A concept I wished our grandparents would have listened too. Similar to Clorox they have created a line of non-toxic household products from phosphate-free dishwasher detergent to chlorine-free baby diapers. Every time you use a Seventh Generation product you are making a difference by saving natural resources, reducing pollution, keeping toxic chemicals out of the environment and making the world a safer place for this and the next seven generations. Brilliant concept!
The best part about these products is that you can find them in regular stores. I purchase my Seventh Generation dishwasher detergent from Canadian Tire for only $3.99 and the Green Works products from my local grocery store!
The point I want to get across is that there is no reason why we shouldn’t all be using these products and supporting companies that are trying to make a difference. We are all familiar with the theory of supply and demand. If we support these products and companies, the others will soon follow. Cost or convenience is no longer a reason to not buy green…it is easy to be green.
Although the nights still feel a bit cool it is safe to say that spring is officially here. Mother Nature did not win. We all survived the winter of 2007-2008 and boy was it ever a long one! I think it was so brutal in Ontario that accepting the spring weather has been somewhat of an unbelievable thing.
Beside the temperature there are a several signs I look for to know that spring is definitely here:
- The snow tires are coming off
- People are smiling and talking to each other
- Exercise is back into the routine
- The garage/driveway becomes a neighbourhood hang out again.
- You can smell the sweet sent of a BBQ cooking dinner
My all time favourite sign that spring is in the air is the sound of all the birds. Have you ever stopped to listen to them lately? It is not just the occasional song but constant chatter from morning to night. I have always thought that the birds are just like us when it comes to seasons. They have been trapped inside a tree for all of winter and now that it is nice out they are able to visit with their friends and talk about the day. I also love how early it starts. As soon as the dawn starts to break the birds start singing. I love waking up to it. I think it is something we take for granted here in Ontario. I have been all over the world and hearing birds sing is not a normal thing, even in other provinces of Canada.
So in light of spring being here, I urge everyone to savour the moments you enjoy about spring. The months seem to be passing by so quickly, that I think it is important to note those things that make you happy instead of all those daily things that bring you down.
A few years ago I remember watching Oprah and listening to a discussion on how our society doesn’t raise boys to be men, but rather raise boys not to be women. Mothers and fathers are equally responsible for teaching boys that girls are weaker and more emotional. Parents often scold little boys not to cry when they fall and hurt themselves saying 'Be a man, toughen up.' As a result, they learn to repress their hurt.
I was thinking about that notion today and how I think we ladies do not give men enough credit sometimes. Could you imagine those days where everything is building up and you couldn't let it out? I don’t know about you, but I cry at least one a month about something. Normally it is when I’m feeling overwhelmed or frustrated and sometimes it is out of happiness. My Fiancé never understands why I cry when I’m happy.
It is such a release to cry but it is something that most men just don’t do, and I actually feel sorry for them. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t think everyone should now start losing it on a daily basis but I think men should be able to express an emotion without being thought of as a lesser-man. By the way, crying as a result of a sport does not count.
On that Oprah show that I watch, there were several well respected athletes and professionals speaking about how men carry a big weight of expectation on their shoulders that they feel women don't appreciate. They want to be able to provide for their family, be sexy, be tough and strong, yet when they are struggling they are not supposed to let it show. It was interesting to see how many men felt the same way.
I still think being a woman today is harder, but I try to keep this thought in the back of my head when dealing with the men in my life. The only time I have zero sympathy for men is when they get sick, but that is a whole other story in itself.
I’m a foodie. 
