Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Terrific Tuesday!

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Why terrific?

Well I just got some great news.  My son's girlfriend is bringing my granddaughter to my work on Thursday for a visit.  I'll get to show her off to a lot of people who want to see her.  Hubby, the kid and I bought her some outfits on the weekend that I'll be able to give her.





Also, sis got a job and I'm so happy for her.  We'll be getting together for a BBQ very soon and I'm dying to see the house with the new renos.  Every summer is busy for us and most weekends we're not around.

This weekend my FIL and his girlfriend are coming to stay for a few days and then next weekend the kid and I are attending a wedding on the Saturday and then on the Sunday we're taking my mom out for her 81st b'day.  Hope she's up for it as she hasn't been doing too well.  We just may have to take the party to her.


Oh and let's not forget I have a garage sale to plan.  There are ribfests to attend (and we go to them all), the College Street Italian festival (Taste of Italy) and the one on St. Clair (Corso Italia).  Also, we'll be going to the Falls for a few days of much needed "R&R".  The kid and I are planning a "downtown" day where we'll eat at the outdoor cafes and roam through the shops on Queen West.


Oh and while we're downtown I'' research vintage clothing, accessories and of course my beloed "fascinators".  A friend of mine at work was weraing a beautiful blue feathered one today.

Well stay tuned and have a great eveing everyone!

Ciao


Monday, May 28, 2012

Issue Monday!

Monday, May 28, 2012

Okay well I have to start off on a serious note.

I was watching Dr. Drew this morning on HLN and his guest was a woman who posted a picture on Facebook of her 12-year old daughter holding a sign meant to embarass and humiliate her regarding a posting that she had done on her Facebook holding an unopened bottle of beer.

The mom wanted to "teach her daughter a lesson about what's okay to post and what is not okay.  I get it but I don't agree with this sort of punishment.

Humiliation and embarassment is NEVER okay.  It's emotional abuse.  Honestly, more attention has to be made in school about good parenting.  People are having children with no idea how to raise them.  If they lack common sense then they need to learn certain behavioural skills.

It's just plain cruel...

Now on another topic:

Restaurants around the city need to get on board with offering gluten-free meals and educating their staff. 

For example, the kid and I went out to breakfast yesterday to begin our customary "mother & daughter" day.  We frequent this particular restaurant a lot because of it's cozy atmosphere and delicious fried potatoes.  Anyway, we had a different waitress this time and when we ordered breakfast she turned our order into this complicated ordeal.  How difficult is it to order a regular breakfast and skip the toast and eggs?  What should have took a minute ended up taking at least five.  She doesn't didn't get it...

Wake up restaurant owners and get educated about offering wheat-free fare to your customers and I promise your business will grow.  There's a lot of us out there.

Now there are many issues I'd like to touch on but time is of the essence.  So I will continue my various rants throughout the week.



Please remember to hug your kids and for heaven's sake do not embarass or humiliate them.  They will thank you one day....

Ciao everyone and have a great week!







Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Back to Work!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Hi everyone!  Hope you all had a wonderful long weekend.  I know I did but of course it goes by too quickly.

On Sunday we celebrated my SIL's 58th B'day with an outdoor get together and bar-b-que.  Perfect weather and great food (thanks to hubby the chef).





My granddaughter is growing in leaps and bounds and obviously I'm a proud grandma.

My son did good!

Now on another note:

Don't forget that this week and next week is "unlimited" trash pickup.  I personally love these times of year because we can get rid of a lot of stuff (which I will also be doing at my upcoming garage sale).  More about that later...

Also now for the "deals of the week".  With a lot of the Zeller's stores closing down there are good deals to be had.  We picked up a lounge chair that matches our patio set (pretty much) for 50% off the regular price.  Also for $19.99 a colourful outdoor area carpet to add more colour.  There's some good deals on toys for the little ones.  We will probably go back and pick up a "Mr. Turtle" pool for Natalie's when she's over for her visits.

We checked out the "Brick Tent Sale".  Not too impressed and I recommend you avoid. 

Now that the weather is nice and warm, hubby, the kid and I will be checking out a lot of the events around town and I will be reporting back so stay tuned...

On closing, I'd like to mention that this weekend also brought sadness.  I want us all to remember "Robin Gibb" a gifted falsetto singer that along with his brothers, formed the Bee Gees.  He was taken from us too soon but I know he's in a better place after years of suffering with both liver and colon cancer.  He was my favorite of the group and I will miss his enormous talent.

Bye Robin.  You're voice will always be in my heart.

Ciao everyone...





Thursday, May 17, 2012

Tiresome Thursday!

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Why tiresome Tuesday?  Well after a few "good" days healthwise my Celiac illness took me by surprise this morning as I was getting ready for work.  Most days I just suck it up but this was not one of those days.  I had gotten up exra early to get a headstart on stuff needed to be done around the house and outside in preparation for the weekend.  Also, posting before work gives me a feeling of accomplishment but unfortunately that didn't happen. Oh I did get some stuff accomplished but not as much as I would have liked.  

You see to explain to people who don't suffer from the disease that you can feel on top of the world one minute and then WHAM you're down for the count.  Extruciating stomach cramps, headache, nausea and then the fatigue sets in.  For those of you, like me, that have to live with this on a daily basis, thankfully it's not always so intense.

Anyway, enough doom and gloom...

Now on another note:

I wanted to let everyone know that Betty Crocker has a cake mix out that's gluten-free.  Now I had to try it and let everyone know if it's like most of the others out there that have a "different" consistency and a funny aftertaste.  Well it's fabulous!  Very hard to tell the difference between regular cake mixes I must say.  I made chocolate cupcakes with french vanilla frosting and seriously had to control my desire not to eat the entire batch.  I brought a few in yesterday for my co-workers to try and they gave me the thumbs up.  Good job Betty!!!  I will be e-mailing them to let them know how thankful I am that they've gotten on board with gluten-free products that don't taste gluten-free.  Finally, more manufacturers are getting wise to the fact that Celiac disease is on the increase and people who suffer with this illness are consumers too.

Now I'm still searching the web for my deals of the week which I have got a bit behind on.  I aplogise for that.  Looking for deals on vintage clothing and of course my beloved fascinators.  Stay tuned as the bargains are out there.  I will be showcasing them soon.

A couple of pics to share:


The kid with her new "do"




Our patio that we put took together on the weekend


So lots more to come but time to rest for more research.

Ciao...

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Wacky Wednesday!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012


Okay well I'm back after a busy few days and this weekend coming up is only going to get busier.  We are expecting lots of company to celebrate my sister-in-law's birthday.  Hope everyone had a terrific Mother's Day.  I know I did.

A good friend posted about how grateful she was for everything good in her life.  Well I agree with that.  I'm very fortunate to be surrounded with good friends and a loving family.

Saturday we went to visit the boy, his love and my beautiful granddaughter.  She will be 6 months old on the 23rd.




Now, as most of you know,  I have an extended family as my dad married a second time after my mom.  The woman he married I loved dearly and has passed on.  She was like a mom to me and from the minute I met her there was an instant connection.  I know why my father loved her so much.  My dad and her kids were everything to her.  She always treated me like I was one of her own and will always love her for that.  Bless you Jean for giving me that.


Being a mother is a daunting task.  Of course it has many rewards but the responsibility you take on when you have a child depending on you for everything can be overwelmimg at times.

Let's thank all the mothers out there who have willingly sacrificed everything so that their children could have a better life.

Now let's not forget about my mom who went through 3 days of labor to finally give birth to me.  I was twelve pounds and breach.  Not a lot of fun.

I love you mom!



To be continued...

Ciao everyone

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Super Sunday!

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Why Super Sunday you ask?  Well hubby arrives home tonite from his trip and I can't wait to see him.

Don't get me wrong,  I have had a great weekend.  Lots got accomplished and the kid and I went everywhere.  Unfortunately though,  there are not enough hours in the day to go everywhere and do everything that you want to do.

Now I have been researching and plan to hit the thrift shops in search of "vintage" fascinators.

For the time being here are some more samples of what's out there:




The last is my personal favorite.  A Victorian sample.  I also like the forties-inspired first one.

If you are looking for something vintage and not just fascinators but clothing, furniture, bric-a-brac, check out garage sales as they are everywhere now that the weather is getting warmer.  You'd be surprised at what you might find.  Also, antique jewellery can be found at a lot of these sales and they make a nice accessory as well as making a peronal statement in your wardrobe.
I still wear pearls I bought for a steal at a garage sale years ago.

Now on another note:

Remember when I went to see "Riverdance" at the Sony Centre?  I loved it so much that I entered an online concert to win tickets to see them perform in Dublin, Ireland.  Well, I wanted to mention a couple of the performers in particular.

Their names are Jason E. Bernard and Michael E. Wood.  They are the listed in the program as the "tappers" but they were so much more.

When they came on stage they breathed life into the audience who by all accounts were enjoying the show so far but the "tappers" took it to another level.

I can't say enough about these guys but at the end of "Riverdance" they got a standing ovation.  Well deserved.

So I'll keep researching my deals and my vintage haunts and keep everyone abreast of my endeavours.

Until later...

Ciao



Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Fasinator Tuesday

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Hope everyone is well and sorry I'm late with my post.  Been crazy busy on the homefront helping hubby get ready for his upcoming trip among other things.
Why title my post with "Fascinator Tuesday" well I'm in love with fascinators.  Ever since I saw the beautiful and outrageous ones worn by the aristocracy at Will & Kate's wedding, I was intrigued.  I've always loved hats and head adornments of all kinds but these really make a statement.

There are many available at stores like Winners and even Shopper's Drug Mart has a few.  Also, check out websites online.  Okay, they are not as elaborate as what the aristocracy were wearing at the Royal Wedding but I fell in love with one I saw at the Winner's on the Esplanade in downtown Toronto.  I should have taken a pic of it.  It was black with a round wide brim tilted to the side and adorned with pearls and silk.  A must see.  Quite ornate and  beautiful.  Below are a sampling of some other fascinators available.


The above are just a few examples of what's out there.  I will be posting pics of more that I find.

I think they are going to take off in the fashion world big time from just a select few wearing them to everyday women wanting to wear them wanting to make their own personal statement, especially with the warm weather fast approaching.

I purchased an understated one in black with pearls that I will be wearing to an Irish wedding in June.  Can't wait.  Don't know which I love more, hats, fascinators or scarves or maybe I just love accessories.  Mmmm I'm getting some creative ideas.

I'll be on the hunt for more "fascinators" and post them on my blog with prices and availability.

Stay tuned..... but for now

Ciao