I planned on writing a follow-up to Thursday’s post, in which I recognized while writing the post that my focus on weight and diet has gotten obsessive and out of control. But, it’s not to be. At least not right now. I suppose partly because I don’t want to dwell on it. I want to let it sit. I want to embrace the recognition, and when I’m moved to write again, I will. And, I know you understand.

Anyway, I thought we should lighten things up here. Kind of like how I lightened the heavy load on my back that was MY HAIR when I got a haircut this weekend — and can I get a WOO WOO? It’s only been, like, HOW MANY MONTHS? Hee! Check it:

Seriously, I must have taken 20 pictures to get this one OK one. And that’s not berating myself (à la Thursday’s post) or the haircut or my photography. It just plain didn’t photograph well. Basically, the haircut’s awesome, and it was a welcome treat (à la Thursday’s post). The hairdresser insists that I part my hair to the side like that. I’m usually a middle-part girl. What do you think?

And, yes, I do have other hoodies, other clothes. I just happen to take pictures of myself for you EVERY TIME I wear this particular hoody….

To further lighten things up, I’d like to share my anniversary cake with you. Josh and my 6th anniversary is coming up on March 23rd. Since my parents will be away that day, they wanted to throw a wee party for us on Friday. My mom made a really nice dinner and got us this cake….

REALLY sweet. We had a good chuckle over the fact that they misspelled my name (which, by the way, everyone does). But we had an even BIGGER chuckle over the fact that NO ONE WAS AT THE PARTY. My brother and his wife were away, my sister’s husband was sick, and MY OWN HUSBAND JOSH-O had made other plans that he totally couldn’t break because I FORGOT TO TELL HIM ABOUT THE PARTY. So, there I was, cutting the cake and everything by myself, at our teeny tiny little anniversary party. HA! Maybe you had to be there…. But, we DID harass Josh by IM’ing him lots of pictures like this one of me and my new haircut and OUR anniversary cake, ha ha….

In case you think that come hell or high water Josh should have been at the anniversary party, he more than repaid me. He took the kids THE ENTIRE DAY on Saturday — to the mall and to Chuck E. Cheese!

While Josh-O was out with Rascal, Monkey (and her Pablo and Thomas the Train toys), I slept, I FINALLY finished all those the hundreds of pages I was hired to edit, I (half) caught up on some email, I Blipped and Tweeted A LOT, and I cuddled with kitties…. It was BLISS. And so needed….

For a so-called stay-at-home mom, I always have a RIDICULOUS amount of work to do. And it’s ALL self-imposed. Crazy, I tell you! Crazy!

Love!

xo Haley-O

Last night, I neglected my blog in favour of SLEEP. I had to. Besides, it was a holiday in Ontario today: Family Day. Yes, it’s days like today that make me really love my province…. I’ll tell you all about our special Family Day tomorrow. Because, apparently, we still have the Valentine’s Day recap to get to. And, I know you’re all on the edge of your couches WAITING to hear what movie Josh-O and I ended up seeing. Was it the one YOU recommended?

I can safely, categorically, say NO. No. No. No.

Because…. Have you forgotten that Josh-O and I have the WORST LUCK when it comes to movies? We are ALWAYS late — even when we leave extra early — and we always end up seeing something other than what we planned, usually a kid’s movie. Like the time we ended up seeing Open Season. In the theatre. IN THE THEATRE.

IN THE THEATRE.

Anyway, our bad movie luck continued on Valentine’s Eve — our first date in a LO-HO-HONG TI-HI-HIME (a really REALLY long time).

The evening started off great. We dropped the monkeys off at it’sgrandma and papa’shere’s house and headed out to a new Indian restaurant in our area. We took a couple pictures of our dining selves with our blackberries. But, Josh-O looks terrible in all of them (ahem), so here’s the one picture we got where neither of us looks like we have a double chin….

I did my makeup and, as you CAN’T tell…, my hair. I wore my favourite new hoodie (which, as I found out the next day, still had the price tag hanging off it…). I felt good. And, the food was good. It’s always hard to get the waitstaff to understand what it means when I say “I’m vegan.” Our waiter couldn’t quite figure it out because he was so obsessed with telling the chef I had a “dairy allergy” — only to put a plate of chicken thingies in front of me. “She’s vegan,” Josh tried to explain. “I JUST LOVE THE BIRDS,” I added.

It was delicious and romantic. Josh and I began to remember why we got married in the first place…. Aww….

THEN. We decided we were not going to do the “Indian theme” and see Slumdog Millionaire after Indian dining. No. We were going to take advantage of our night at the BIG SCREEN, and see Coraline 3-D style. I was so excited. I’d never seen a 3D movie in the theatres before (not since Epcot Centre, anyway)! This was going to be GREAT! Wait ’til all my readers hear about this, I thought….

So, we get to the theatre. I’m pulling my hair behind my ears in anticipation of the 3D glasses. We go to the machine to pay, and, LO AND BEHOLD, there’s no 3D Coraline, AND the time is different than what it said in the papers. If we were going to see a 2D movie, it was NOT going to be Coraline because, NOW, I only want to see it in 3D. So, we BOLTED to a nearby theatre to see Slumdog.

…Only to get there…. Too late. We were too late. So, we ended up seeing the only movie we could make it to (without keeping it’sgrandma and papa’shere up all night with the monkeys)….

The International. With CLIVE. I was so depressed at first — because I really didn’t want to see this movie in theatres. But, then, pretty-much right when the movie started and CLIVE OWEN APPEARED ON THE BIG SCREEN, I relaxed. I MELTED.

It was a pretty good movie. Way too violent for me, which I expected, since I posted this very photo on my old gossip site months ago….

But, GARSH, Naomi Watts is gorgeous — and totally not a young thing….

I loved her! But, I was TRÈS disappointed that there was absolutely NO SEX in the movie. Not even a peck on the cheek. Naomi Watts’s character was even married to some other hot dude. Seriously, TRÈS disappointing. But, it was okay, because I filled that gap by imagining myself nibbling on Clive’s neck during the parts of the movie that I didn’t understand (which were many).

All in all (who says that anymore?), it was a great night. I cannot WAIT to go to another movie. Maybe with a girlfriend this week? Shopoholic anyone?

In other news…. I got lovely flowers for Valentine’s Day, which I’ve placed high up on the fireplace mantle — like a dangling carrot for poor Minden….

And…, Monkey got the best Valentine’s gift ever, from her perfect mother Build-A-Bear. I didn’t expect it to be THIS cute and big and SOFT….

Build-A-Bear also has a gift for one of YOU. I’ll tell you more about it after our current contest is over — check that before it’s dunzo!

What? You still here? You want MORE? Wasn’t this post LONG ENOUGH? I mean, MY GOODNESS! I mean, this whole thing could have been written in TWO SENTENCES: Coraline was 2D and we were late for Slumdog. Saw The International.

Just wait till tomorrow, when I tell you all about what we did TODAY! Are you on the edge of your couch? Stay tuned….

Oh, and, want to know what melts my heart (other than CLIVE!)? The thought of Tanis, of The Redneck Mommy fame, and her NEW 5-year-old son with special needs. She was FINALLY able to adopt her dream child. Congratulations, Tanis, on your beautiful new SON! See, Gorgeouses, there is much GOOD in this world.

Love!
xo Haley-O

Okay, Gorgeouses, I’m QUASI taking the night off from blogging because I have this headache, see. And, it’s my own fault! Because I bought THIS for my kids today….

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANGBANGBANGBANGBANG BANG BAAAAAANNNNNGGG!

I was TIRED (after, sigh, another night of SCREAMING), in a haze, and the thing was ON SALE. And, and, Rascal is such a DEPENDENT player. I needed a new toy desperately. I’m getting bored of all his other toys…. *cough.*

ANYWAY.

So, Valentine’s Day is on Saturday. And, apparently, it’sgrandma and papa’shere know I desperately need to GET A LIFE. So, they’ve offered to forfeit their own romantic Valentine’s Day so they can babysit our little monkeys while Josh-O and I go out on the town. How nice is THAT?

Josh even suggested we go to a vegetarian restaurant….

Methinks it’s going to be a GOOD Valentine’s day….

So, here’s where you come in.

We want to go to a movie. Josh-O and I have seen just about every movie there is to see ON VIDEO. But, we haven’t actually BEEN to a movie in I CAN’T REMEMBER HOW LONG. So, what to see? What to SEE!?

Here’s a list of the movies that are out right now (and that we’d see — i.e., no HORROR movies for me, or movies with too much violence…because I’m a delicate little flower……). Now, it’s up to YOU to tell us which movie to see. Here are your choices (And, you better comment — no more of this NOT COMMENTING business! heh. LOVE):

It’sgrandma says this one’s FABO.

I love me some TRASH. Then again, this IS the perfect rental.

Slumdog Millionaire…Paul Blart. Paul Blart…Slumdog Millionaire. Decisions decisions!

BRAD. But do I feel like crying on my first date in MONTHS?

Can’t wait to see this one…. But, will Josh be that into it?

Love me some Isla Fisher. Love me some Sophie Kinsella Confessions of a Shopaholic….HAVE to see this at some point.

I can’t WAIT to see this movie. And, it’s exactly the movie you’d see on the big screen. Hint hint. Josh and I both love a good fantasy………..

So, what do we see???

LOVE!
xo Haley-O

CONTEST over at Goodies. We’re talking SKINCARE and MAKEUP! Check it!

Oh gosh. I’m so preoccupied watching The Golden Globe Awards that I forgot I had this post to write. It’s just, I haven’t enjoyed an award show this much in a long time. Maybe it’s the Brad Pitt, or the STEVE CARELL, or the Johnny Depp…, among others? The Angelina Jolie in sparkly white dress….going home with the Brad Pitt (I find that so hott). The ADORABLE Steven Spielberg….

The reason I’m actually (FINALLY) writing something right now is because, sadly, Colin Farrell is boring the Starbucks Soy No-Water Chai Tea Latte out of me…. And, that takes A LOT. (I’mbackonthewagon. But, LD tells me her naturopath told her that it’s totally not my fault I’mbackonthewagon. My BODY is craving the noxious caffeine-and-sugar combo. So, totally NOT my fault that I can’t kick this habit.)

And, I just got a tweet from Margalit explaining why Colin isn’t perhaps as captivating as he used to be: “Son has Angelman’s Syndrome, VERY rare genetic disorder with terrible outcome. It’s so sad.” Sad, indeed. If I’d known that, I’d have appreciated his speech more, and the new, sober, thin, humble Colin Farrell. My prayers go out to him and his family. Luckily they have the wealth and resources to give James the good quality of life that, I’m happy to have just learned, many children with Angelman’s Syndrome are capable of having.

In any case, hearing things like that makes you realize the triviality of some of your own issues and appreciate life’s fragility.

And, today, I really appreciated both my children. I surrendered to my exhaustion from not sleeping in several days (RASCAL!), stayed as present as I could, and just took everything in: the Monkey’s first dance class, and her teething, sleepless brother’s endless activity.

Monkey’s first dance class has left me utterly fahklempt. It was so precious.

She looked so adorable in her pink leotard and tights, her pink “gymnastic shoes,” her pink “hair thing.” It’s quite the dress code, actually. We went to the dancewear store to buy everything just yesterday. It was the very same dancewear store to which my mother took ME when I was Monkey’s age. Isn’t that crazy? I was so nostalgic…. This dance store has been open since 1972….

So, her very first dance class has come and gone. They don’t allow the parents to look in — which is a shame, but it’s smart…. They have blinds on the windows to the classrooms. Of course, I peeked in through the teeniest cracks in the blinds and in the door and watched my little Monkey skip around and NOT LISTEN to instructions! That’s my girl! The 14-year-old assistant caught me peeking, though. *BUSTED*! Oy.

They open the blinds on the last Sunday of every month, and I AM ALL OVER IT! Cannot wait.

After dance class, Monkey went to the basketball game with Josh-O and his friends, and their daughters….

Go, Monkey!!!

Meanwhile, I stayed home with the inconsolable Rascal. The past week of sleepless nights is, no doubt, a result of aching gums. The poor little guy’s cheeks look like an alcoholic’s nose….

He must have slept for maybe 45 minutes today. The rest of the day was spent eating playing with playdough, painting (I still have a big red dot on my nose!), drawing, playing with the Monkey’s Backyardigan dolls, feeding the squirrels. I know, total excitement. But, he was adorable and so sweet, as always…. And, I stayed present. When I couldn’t, I held a kitty….

By the time Josh-O came home, I was beat. And, Rascal was still running around eager to play….

But, did I mention…? We painted. And, for me, there’s nothing more relaxing or rewarding than painting, …and yoga. And, maybe this is what it takes to get me back to the easel: a teething little 15-month-old who wants NOTHING but to be with his mama…, to try new things, to be creative…. Did I mention, to be with his mama…? and all night long…? Aaaarrrrghh!

Hope you had a great weekend! What did YOU do?
Love…
xo Haley-O

I can’t seem to write ANYTHING. So much to say, and I just can’t get it together! So much to say — and, oh! It’s my cousin from NYC. I’m telling you: procrastination city over here…. Oh, and, look. Try typing with THIS staring at you:

Actually, I’m still getting over my FLU SHOT, which has rendered me DROWSY, IN PAIN, NAUSEOUS and DID I MENTION DROWSY? How ’bout EXHAUSTED? It was a little unfortunate because I was sick in New York, and we had to go home early from the Museum of Natural History….

Ooops! Sorry, wrong picture — that was Toys R’ Us (LOVE!)…. Here’s the museum….

Yeah, we’d been walking for a while, and then, all of a sudden, my feet felt like they were going to FALL OFF. And, I got f-f-f-reezing and achy everywhere. We had a wedding event that evening, and I totally didn’t think I’d be able to go. And, I was willing to sacrifice the WRATH of Josh-O’s family to FREEZE alone in my hotel bed. But, I ended up popping two advils (which I never do), and I MADE IT!

Speaking of wedding…. I promised I’d share my uggers dress with you! I only managed to get one pinkberry picture — which I took to send to my family back in Toronto. WARNING: it’s frightening. WARNING #2: my breasts are actually THE SAME SIZE; one is NOT impossibly bigger than the other….

I’m really not sure which boob is the actual size…. Anyway, I wish to thank DRESSMAKER FROM HELL for the lovely job on the PLEATS that made me look TRAY fat. I’ve always wanted to be the FAT BRIDESMAID. And, SHE (helped) make it happen. LOVE. Also, if I look like I was punched in the eye? It’s ‘cuz I’m pretty sure I WAS punched in the eye. My left eye was THROBBING with pain all day. Monkey slept in our hotel bed, so it’s very likely I was thwacked in the eye by either a foot, a fist or an elbow. Probably an elbow. Or, a knee. Because, if I remember correctly, Doc didn’t inject the flu shot in my eye….

Fortunately FOR ALL, the kids looked great at the wedding…. Monkey was a beautiful flower girl, and I was TRAY fahklempt walking down the aisle with her while she meticulously and with great seriousness scattered the rose petals….

Awww! I KNOW! And, look at my little ringbearer…. RAAAASCAAAAL! IN A TUXEDO (check the shoes!)!

Josh-O looked really spiffy himself…. Here we are at Rockefeller Center….

(That’s my bad angle. The photographer at the wedding, you should know, made sure I was photo’d at this angle, but with a little less nostril, of course, in all the photos. Which makes me SO happy. Because those are, like, FOREVER.)

We loved being in New York. It’s a fascinating city. We stayed at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in the heart of Times Square….

This picture was taken at FOUR in the afternoon. 4pm!!! It was SO DARK. Eerie almost. Surreal…. Sublime….

Check out that orb! Do you see that orb up there? Ghost?!?!?

Central Park, of course, was my favourite….

Also…. ALSO, the American Girl doll store. We went there to get Monkey the PERFECT gift for being such a great flower girl. EVERY girl who is ANY girl in NYC has an American Girl doll. They. Were. EVERYWHERE. Have you BEEN to this place? It’s insanity. LOOK:

No. They are not kidding.

Dolls. EVERYWHERE. Little girls. EVERYWHERE. And, it’s very serious…. There’s even a freaking cafe (“freak” being the operative word here)….

The monkey came out with this doll….

…whom she named SHIELA (don’t ask because I have NO IDEA where she got that name from…), middle name PEELA. Of course, we got monkey and the doll matching pajamas and slippers — because that’s…what you do….

We TRIED SO HARD to get Rascal a gift, but he wouldn’t take anything! Everything we gave him was THROWN out of the stroller…. See how hard we tried? See?!

Nothing. You know how hard it is to NOT be able to give your kid a gift? I bought him a little toy phone today, though, and he loves it. So, s’all good.

Hey, by the way, check it! I met my first bloggers ever! I’ve never met any bloggers that I didn’t know in real life EVER (oh, except for Toronto private-blogger Lisa B, whom I met in the parking lot at Loblaws). And, I survived. I met the lovely Steph, who quit blogging (wah!), and AmyD, who’s as gorj and fabulous as she appears on her blog. It was AWESOME meeting them. Who knows? Maybe I CAN go to one of the Toronto blogger events? Maybe I CAN go to a Blogher conference after all? Maybe I CAN meet other bloggers in real life? Maybe it’s NOT scary! (Granted, these were TWO bloggers…. not TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND MILLION….)

Highlight of the trip?: Monkey in the airplane. We’re all waiting to get out of the airplane. It’s late. Everyone’s quiet. All of a sudden, monkey’s little voice blurts out loud and clear:

“MAMA, I MADE A STINKY THART!”

Mmm hmm. That’s ma girl. Of course, everyone on the plane was laughing. And, one day she’ll get her “f”‘s right….

…but, I’m in no rush….

I’m feeling very ANGRY today. Yes, ANGER is the dominant emotion. And, I would hate to be the child of someone who is ANGRY. So, the kids are safely tucked in their beds — far away from my WRATH. GRRRR!

Why angry, you ask? TWO WORDS:

HALLOWEEN TREATS.

LOOK AT THEM!!!

We have THREE BOXES just like this. And, knowing our neighbourhood, that won’t be enough. We’ll be out of them by 7pm….

Sigh, anyway. They’re making my blood boil — sitting in the foyer like that — because I CAN’T EAT THEM. This is one of those times where I just HATE my oversized compassion muscle. In every single chocolate bar in that box, there are “Milk Solids.” Why couldn’t I have gone vegan AFTER Halloween?

I’m basically stuck watching everyone eat chocolate. Salivating, smelling the chocolate, getting by on RICE MILK with Chocolate Nestlé Nesquik Syrup, which PETA has listed on their “ACCIDENTALLY VEGAN” page…. But, seriously, ew. It just doesn’t compare to KIIIIIIIIIT KAAAAAAAAT…. Oh well. These things are worth sacrificing, in the end. And, imagine all the calories I’m saving. And, the cows. Beautiful, beloved cows.

Now, I’m popping popcorn…. And, I burnt my fingers on the pot. See, the Universe doesn’t like it when I’m angry…. No really. Whenever I get angry, MORE annoying carp happens to make me even MORE angry…. It’s a vicious cycle. Whereas, if I just sit down for a bit and BREATHE and, say, enjoy my popcorn, things seem to turn around. Here’s hoping.

Mmm. Good popcorn. I’m not even thinking about chocolate anymore. And, I’m now only a wee bit angry. Because ate a TON of popcorn….

Seriously, though, I deserved that popcorn. I had a rough day. Motherhood. It’s hard. I have NO time for myself. And, I’m having an issue with that right now….

When I don’t get enough time for myself, I definitely start to get ANGRY. I WORKED with my kids (and it IS work — hardest work of your life) from 7 this morning until 8:30 this evening. I didn’t get my half-hour lunch break or my 15 minute coffee breaks. I got NOTHING. I’m actually thankful that my friend Court gave me the wrong directions to her house because kids in the car for A WHOLE HOUR? Strapped to their seats? Plugged in Ipod? And, WHAT YOU HAVE IS BLISS.

It’s sad that the only time I have to myself is in the car. But, it’s the sacrifice I make.

Cooking with two toddlers at your feet? NOT BLISS. BRUTAL!

More sacrifices. No wonder I’m ANGRY. Sacrifice is my middle name. Actually, it’s Rachel, but, you know….

Then? Josh-O gets home and decides to carve the most ELABORATE PUMPKINS in the country. So, guess who has to bathe the kids whilst the ARTIST creates?

He DID do a pretty good job….

…on ONE of the pumpkins. The other was a flop. This?

…was supposed to look like THIS CAT….

I told him when he started that the cat one was WAY too ambitious. But, whatevs. He tried. Had the best fatherly intentions. He’s a good guy, that Josh-O. He knew I was tired and angry (umm, ANYONE would know). So, he cleaned the kitchen, and the dining room floor — under Rascal’s chair. We had spaghetti. BRUTAL clean-up.

In addition to being angry, I was very NERVOUS tonight because my cousin Miles was in the bottom three of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA. I knew he would be because I wasn’t wild AT ALL about the West Coast Swing routine he was given this week…. Check it!

I am a huge Rex Harrington fan, by the way…. LOVE!

Anyway, Miles danced for his life tonight and did AWESOME (I’ll get you the video asap)…. He’s an AMAZING popper. I couldn’t be prouder. LOVE! His partner Lara was also safe tonight. And, she’s really proven herself. So, we’re good!

Hopefully, he’ll get Hip Hop next week….

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, Gorgeouses! I hope you dress up and eat a lot of POPCORN…. And, hey, winners of the Halloween Contest are announced over at GOODIES. There’s also proof there of what a VERY BAD MOOD I was in this evening. It’s a very unflattering video. As usual, now that you mention it. Must get Josh to try a different angle….

xo Haley-O

The Monkey woke up this morning with a new hairstyle! That’s what happens when I don’t brush her hair after her bath, I guess! And, check out that grog (“grog”=groggy face…my cat Simba gets that all the time, so we call him “The Grog”). But, as you can see from the smiles, she LOVES her new hairstyle! …So do I….

This morning, I went to get Josh breakfast in bed. That was the anniversary gift. It was a big gift because I was exhausted this morning. The Monkey woke up at 4am and was feeding for 45 minutes! …and, because I left the house in jogging pants and no makeup–in time for the morning rush at Starbucks…ack! Luckily, I didn’t see any familiar faces other than the staff (who looked horrified when they saw me! kidding, they’ve seen, like, everyone in the neighbourhood at their worst!).

By the way, Y & R is rocking these days. I hated Sharon a few weeks ago, but, now, she’s looking better and is finally on to Nick and Phyllis–duhhhh! finally! I’m loving this whole scenario. Though Gloria is usually a guilty pleasure of mine, what is she thinking! Don’t do it! We don’t need any more “solvent” disasters on the show. It’s enough that we have to see Sheila again at all (probably with Lauren’s face courtesy of her apparently genius plastic surgeon friend…).

Here’s what my sweety got me for our anniversary. He did well! The new Gucci perfume. He said he tried to get me a more “adult” perfume….So much for my Paris Hilton perfume–another guilty pleasure. Speaking of guilty, I’m starting to feel guilty because the Monkey’s kvetching and I’m sitting here. Later!