A-Z About Me

Ok so lately, I have realized that some people are actually reading this blog and seeing as I am a classic self-defeater this has meant that I now have a massive case of writer's block. The mere fact that somebody besides my best friend may read this has paralyzed my normally non-stop mind.

Thankfully, my very first follower http://www.howtosurvivelifeinthesuburbs.com/ posted this on her site and I am shamelessly stealing it. Ok well, am a little ashamed but what the heck, hope she doesn't unfollow me....

A-Z Meme

A. Age: 36. Gah, am closer to 40 than 30...what in the?
B. Bed size: King. Both DH and I need our space.

C. Chore you dislike: Laundry, it never ends

D. Dogs: None now, but did have Duke a beagle terrier mix who was the best dog ever!

E. Essential start to your day: Coffee of course and a snuggle from Max

F. Favorite color: If you asked me, I would say purple but I always wear black
G. Gold or silver: Silver, always

H. Height: 5' 6"
I. Instruments you play(ed): None, unless a one handed version of Jingle Bells counts
J. Job title: Mom/Wife/Daughter/Sister/Friend/Twitter-Lover

K. Kids: One gorgeous, amazing, funny, sweet, drives me crazy son named Max who is 2.

L. Live: In Canada, near the big bad Toronto
M. Mom’s name: Elsa, she hates her name

N. Nicknames: None :P

O. Overnight hospital stays: Only twice once to have my tonsils taken out and the other to push a baby out. Let's just say its not fair you only get ice cream & get put under when two grape size objects are taken out and not when you are expected to push out a 9lbs, 1 oz baby out of your vagina.
P. Pet peeves: Cheapness, Arrogance, & people who cut in line

Q. Quote from a movie: "Don't let anyone ever make you feel like you don't deserve what you want". - Heath Ledger, 10 Things I Hate About You All women should put this on their mirrors

R. Righty or Lefty: Lefty!

S. Siblings: One older brother
T. Time you wake up: Whenever Max does unfotunately
U. Underwear: Always
V. Vegetables you don’t like: None, really but if you asked Max on the other hand.....

W. What makes you run late: Oh everything, Max, Max hiding my phone, Max being hungry, Max being cranky, Max being tired,....notice a theme here?
X. X-rays you’ve had: None, actually.

Y. Yummy food you make: I make an awesome banana bread & seafood linguine

Z. Zoo Animal Favourites: The Lions of course, they are the bad-a**es of the zoo

Ok, so let's open this up since this is all about me, any questions out there? I promise to answer them all.

Happy Thursday everyone!

Getting Over Having It All

"Having It All" is the line we are treated to when we are in school.

Of course you can! Want a super-career/big house in the suburbs/gorgeous and equally successful husband/2.5 kids/clean house/fabulous social life sure why not?

I think we get fooled into thinking that if we do not have all these items neatly checked off we are somehow failing and the massive self-help section at my local chain bookstore seems to support this notion.

I've been thinking about this over the past few months as I have felt like one of those who couldn't "hack it" since but instead of focusing on what I gave up I have realized what I have gained such as this moment.

This was taken in the middle of a weekday which never, ever would have happened before. I got to enjoy a moment of just pure Fun for no reason. (Which we all know is the best kind....) and I am finally realizing that this is where I may not have wanted to be but is where I need to be.

I think the myth of "Having it all" never lets us enjoy the present, we are always doing the mental checklist and always finding it and ourselves somehow lacking as a mother/wife/friend/sister/daughter/employee/boss and whatever other hat we wear throughout the day.

I think it is OK to focus on some roles more than others at times. Babies won't be babies forever (although if you would have told me that when Max was three months and I hadn't showered in 5 days I would likely have punched you.) and you won't get certain opportunities ever again so it is OK to let some roles take more importance at times. We are not failures for doing this but rather human. Be as kind to yourself as you would be to your best friend if she asked what you thought.

So what do I think, can we have it all?

Yes, I think we can have it all, but not all at the same time. So take what life throws at you and run with it, you may never get the chance again.

Things I wish I knew in High School

The other day, I received a note from an old Facebook friend letting me know that our high school had officially begun planning a reunion for later this year. She asked if I was planning on going and the truth is I am still not sure.

High school for me was some of the best years of my life and it did give me my4 BFF's who I don't know where I would be without them BUT it also gave me some of the worst/hardest life lessons ever. While in hindsight I should be grateful for them at the time, I never thought I would recover.

Some of the things I wish I knew in High School were;

1. Some guys will just say things to get in your pants.

Yes I know this is a lesson we all have to learn but I am still embarrassed of how naive and grown up I thought I was that I could handle all that comes along with listening to those type of high school boys.

2. Not every person you meet will be a true friend

For a girl in high school this is a hard but necessary lesson to learn. Not everyone you meet is looking out for you so choose your friends wisely and don't waste time obsessing over those who aren't

3. In a few years the cool people won't matter

You know the "cool" crowd? Well, for a lot of them, high school is their peak, their time to shine and the decisions they make will change the course of their lives and in some cases even diminish their potential. Don't be one of those people who peak in high school. There is life after high school and it can be fabulous if you let it.

4. Study, Study, Study

Have I made myself clear? There are many things that other people can take away from you like jobs, money, boyfriends, and even husbands but one thing nobody can take away is your education. Now I am not saying you must go to University (but it wouldn't hurt -that's the mother in me talking). Education opens doors that can never be closed. When you get out there in the big bad world, you want to make sure you have as tools as you can.

5. Listen to Yourself

What moves you? We have the great luxury in the time we live in that we chicks have options. Do you want to run your own company? Go for it! Want to travel the world by yourself? Do it! Fulfill your dreams, you only get one life as you so go live it!

6. Kiss Lots of Frogs

You have the rest of your life to be married to one person and trust me when you are old and gray your grandkids will be super impressed that you got around. Enjoy your single life, because trust me it will be the last time you get to do whatever you want whenever you want. Just because you haven`t found `the one`doesn`t mean you can`t enjoy the search. Haven`t you learned anything from Fairy Tales? Sometimes that guy that looks like a frog really is your Prince Charming, warts and all.

7. Yes, you will have to work hard and No there aren`t any shortcuts

If there is one thing that I have learned, is that everything worth having comes from hard work. Don`t go always looking for the easy way out because in the end it won`t make you happy. You won`t understand why but you will always feel a little cheated if you are always looking for the shortcut. It might seem easier, but in the end it is always harder.

8. Gather your tribe.

Surround yourself with people who want to see you succeed. Don`t listen to the haters, life is too short to spend it with people who don`t love you. True friends don`t compete with you and want you to be the best you can be. Your tribe can be whoever you want, family, friends, co-workers heck you might even meet a stranger in a coffee shop who will end up being your bestie - just make sure you grab those kindred spirits and keep them with you.

Whew, those are some pretty heavy things to learn in 4 years of High School. This is probably why we don`t learn these things until way later.

So what about you? What do you wish you learned in High School?