Martini Momma

Morning Quickie

Hey, get your mind out of the gutter - I did have a quick morning, quick coaching session before the kids were up and now a quick blog before gymastics but NO not a quickie:)  I am holding down the blogging fort because 1 momma is sick and 1 momma is en route to TO. 

Last night was book club and it was wonderful - our group is so great - we had big laughs, great food, pink lemonade gluten free cookies, and a surprise case of wine delivery.  Does it get better than that?  Guess what, we decided to bring back the books to book club- hilarious.  We have still be reading but they are easy fluffy type books SO all you hard core readers please comment with greta book ideas.  We want a big list so to get a head start during holidays and vacations.

Tea - I am loving the festive tea's from Cornelia Bean - in fact so much so that I spent $150 in there the other day (some gifts and some splurging based on my card reader - note:that excuse does NOT work with husbands)  Is tea the new martini?  Anyhow, I HIGHLY recommed White Rain to get your morning started (with Mate -the healthy energizer)  and Granny's Apple Pie Green Tea.  It has already been 1 week with no coffee - rather smoothly I think.

Tonight I am celebrating a birthday with a friend and tommorrow is Winnipeg Montessori Mom's Gone WIld or some version of that!  Hope you are finishing up your shopping or ejoying a quickie (quickie anything:)

Foreshadowing in the Story of Life...

I spent the day working on my upcoming coaching series and could not help but reflect on many of my own choices and path.  As I was composing the piece about intuition and desire -

Our deepest wishes are whispers of our authentic self…..and you are here today ready to stand up hear and acknowledge them, to make something great of them....

How could I not help but reflect on my own whispers, wishes, and intuition throughout my life?

All of sudden as if the universe wanted to let me know I am on my way to really honoring it (my own intuition, that is) I was given two signs.....

1.  This quote appeared on my google search -

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matter compared to what lies within us - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The irony is that this quote was first introduced to me almost 4 years ago on a beautiful silver bracelet at a shop while on vacation in Vancouver.  I never knew at that time who the quote was by but the phrase captured my attention.  It stood for the pain of losing a future soul from an ectopic pregnancy in between Harris and Evy.  It spoke to me for not for recent loss of unborn child or the possibility of having or never another but the strength I found in myself and family in accepting that.  It spoke to me about something within.  Something within that I would find out the next day was Evy. 

Invariably, Ralph Waldo Emerson would become one of my favorite sources of inspiration without my knowing until much later in my life of who he was.  This quote of his is in fact on my coaching cards -

No one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourself - Ralph Waldo Emerson

2.  I later went looking in the storage room for something and a dusty old book got my eye -

Something More: Excavating your Authentic Self- Sarah Ban Breathnach

I had picked up this book years ago while living in Calgary after the whispers of my wishes were screaming so loud to be heard.  In others words I was CRANKY with my life (not all of it) but the part related to ME.  We had decided to move home and I was determined to find something I loved, something that mattered. I took time and looked but eventually relenting to pressure and expection (mainly my own and my inner critic "Miss Let's Be Realistic Here - it all looks good on paper, can it really be that bad?) I caved and never read the book, returning to the world of 'realistic' and Engineering.

Thankfully and maybe by divine intervention - I DID go onto to find strength and courage to change elements of my life....BUT TODAY?

Just TODAY I find the book, a book for whatever reason escaped garage sale and book swap.  A book - all about coaching, finding passion, listening to yourself....wow.

If you are interested in finding out about your own whispers - send me a note....I leave you with this quote....of course, by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail - Ralph Waldo Emerson

New discoveries....

The past 7 days have held much newness for this momma.  In my quest to heal my insides, I still find myself battling hard against the bloat.  Ironically when we were in Fargo, at our very hotel was The Red River Celiac Conference.  After Brent's insistence, I asked if I would be allowed to poke my nose in (while the boys were occupied)and they happily moved out of my way. 

I wasn't able to listen to any speakers but did browse the vendors trade show.  In my travels I accumulated many leaflets that I have been reading since I came home.  Believe it or not, there was a fair bit of information that I hadn't yet discovered.  And better still, I rediscovered some of my favorite products pre-Celiac, which I had been avoiding, are SAFE.

Caesars and Oh Henry Bars are GF!  Yeah.  Last night over roasted chicken and yams, I dotted my palette with a delicious libation and finished my meal with but of course, a Oh yes, Oh Henry!  Hooray.

Also new this week was a trip to Fort Whyte (not new) but watching the evening migration (new) was an hour that delighted my soul. 

 

 

Nothing like a prairie sky to make you grateful to be a girl from Manitoba.

Also in the category of new, Brent and I had ribs, Bush's Bourbon Baked Beans, homemade apple cole slaw, our friends Katie and Tony and a bottle of Cline's Zinfandal.  Yum, yum and extra yum.  K & T were unaware but I have really been dabbling in Californian Zins these days.  I am speaking to the red variety of course.  I loved the full yet smooth fruity tones to this wine.

Quiet mind and ready body, tonight is a girls night out here with The Winos.  Sure to be full of new insights, new laughter and new experiences with OLD friends.  What's new in your life?
 

OK - time to weigh in...

 

"Peace is not something you wish for; it's something you make, Something you do, Something you are, And Something you give away."

~Robert Fulgram

Closing out my week on BEING your Best and taking care of YOU, I thought I would end with an inspirational recap.  One of the conversations that we had at the Retreat got everyone thinking about what makes them tick.  As I mentioned earlier in the week - do what makes YOU happy. 

So, as various conversations were unfolding about love, serenity, and organization, from across the room, I heard The Coach.  This is why she is such a GREAT coach.  She softly said, I know what I need each day to make me happy.  I need FRESH AIR and GOOD FOOD.  I believe that she elaborated on what these things meant to her and what else she needed, but instantly, I thought..."Wow - that's brilliant."  She knows what she needs.

So, in between trying to settle the monkey that is in my head - swinging from branch to branch - I thought, "What do I need each day?"

And after a pensive week of wondering, I have come to this conclusion...

Each day I need to be active, that may mean taking the stairs or wearing ankle weights.  It may mean a run or just a walk...but I need to move.  Each day I need to be organized, if I am out of sync, I - am - out - of - sync.  I know it is anal and I am trying to let go of the 'NOT Necessaries" but still WANT them on my list, ready to tick off should time allow.  Most importantly, I need love every day.  I love my boys, I love my family and I love my friends.

A wise woman, once told me that certain people are brought to this earth to be a channel through which learning, love, inspiration are communicate with others.  I know that in order to be my best, I need TIME with my husband, I NEED time to snuggle my boys, to rub their bellies and to whisper in their ears how MUCH I love them.  I need my girlfriends to raise me up, to challenge me and to INSPIRE me.  I need to write, this blog for me, to be in sync.

When those buckets are full, all else is simply bonus.  I am thrilled to have home cooked food to nurture my body and now peace to quiet my monkey.  Yesterday Simone left a comment on meditation from this website and I am going to check it out.

So, here`s my conclusion on a week of being my best!

This week, I went to Hot Yoga at Moksha where I was quiet with myself, I went to bed early, I let the house be a little messy, I finished my article, I woke up early, I gave my entire nursery furniture to someone who needed it more than we needed money and I found myself reserving judgment.  Ok, now it's your turn to weigh in.  Did you honor yourself and DO something for you?

Book Club Booyah!

Another very entertaining bookclub (aka  - drinking of the minds) maybe this person has a point but we did discuss the book - very interesting read (Still Alice by Lisa Genova - a glimpse into early onset Alhzemier disease) and get some mega important LIFE issues sorted out!

1.  RUN to get this at Costco - It comes as a package together and is D-licious:)  We loaded up again and again until it was gone. 

2.  The word Douche, Super Douche, and Douche Bag are making a come-back  - join in now, try it on, have some fun!  ***Use sparingly for those such situations that REALLY are deserving of such a super cool word!

3.  3 is the NEW 2 ( ie.3 is the new black) Word on the street is 3 kids is the WAY to go - thankfully I have alwyas been a brown girl so I feel no need to hunt now the new black :) 

Always, good for a little book talk, at least one hot parenting topic debate, some silly gossip, LOTS of wine, and TOO much food

Love ya Book Club:)

My List

To all mommas and kristina,

Such a good question about books but it took me a while to complie my list, the kids were already in bed by the time i thought of it each night and turning on the lights to snoop through countless books didn't seem like a good idea.  I've included boy and girl books as we seem to read them interchangeably.

• Parts and the sequel More Parts  (funny, boy humor)
• Cloudy witha chance of meatballs ( my fav from my childhood and now, my kids)
• Too Many Toys (true to every parent out there, can't say enough about this book)
• If I were a lion
• Alice the Fairy (We even read it with the snotty little princess voice)
• I'm Gonna Like Me ( Have lost this book and am planning to purchase again, I like it that much.  I may even read it to junior high students)
• Fancy Nancy
• The Jolly Postman
• The Gruffalo (smart book, kids both love it)
• Jazzy and the Jungle (Daddy reads with crazy voices)
• I know a Rhino (girl looks like Maggie, so I ADORE this book)
• MY FAVORITE Sometimes I like to curl up in a ball
• How I became a Pirate
• Freckleface Strawberry
• The Giving Tree (cry every time and love it)
• I Love it When you smile
• The Party (tattered, its been read so many times in our house and pictures from Barbara Reid are so fun)
• Wild Things (yeah, movie opens on Ty's birthday)
• Brooke Shields book on being a big sister is GREAT

2 special Books

My mom and I read at Grandparents Day together a book called DREAM.  I was pregnant with Ty and she was about to be a grandparent for the first time.  Her whole being swelled with pride when I waddled into Maple Leaf School to share the book in front a packed gym with my mom's staff and many visiting grandparents.  She wrote me a note in a copy of the book that I will cherish for the rest of my life.  She could not wait to be a grandma and she was a GREAT grandma.  The following Grandparents Day, my mom had already passed away, but my mom's school called me again.  I did not read for them and I didn't even attend, it was too painful.  They delivered a book to my house, The Gift of Being Grand.  It is the most wonderful book about being a grandparent and the joy that experience brings.  It's smart, funny, and incredibly moving.  I tear up every single time.  My mom would have loved it, just like me.  My copy of the book sits in the nursery on a shelf, a message from each of her staff written just for me about my mom and the joyful memories they shared with her.  What a treasure!

I also LOVE the book SOMEDAY and give it to all expectant mom as gifts.  That book also makes me cry, a theme I enjoy in my readings.

Garcon, there's a fly in my soup!

Come on, I know you are wondering how my soup was.  Yum, my mouth is watering just thinking about it.  I dusted it with parmesan, ground flax seed and cracked pepper and it was d-licious.  You should try it.  I threw diced carrots, onions, parsnips, zucchini, tomatoes, GF chicken soup stock, roasted chicken, fresh garlic, basil, and oregano in my crock pot and poof!  Seriously, easy, nutritious and delicious.

Also begging to be chopped or diced or baked in my kitchen these days are these...

I think a apple cake with cream cheese icing a la Mollie's post on Monday may be a bit adventurous but I could definitely tackle a GF Apple Crisp....

Wednesday where the hell did you come from???  Focus is all in my world these days.  I had mentioned on Monday that I was choosing two things that HAD to get done each day.  Today I have to READ, READ, READ or I will not finish my book for tomorrow's BOOK CLUB!  I have missed my book club friends and am so anxious to catch up with everyone.  And, I have to focus on EATing Chocolate.  I have an industrial sized bar of Bernard Chalebaut Dark Chocolate begging me to devour it.

Speaking of reading, Kristin, you had asked for fav books for wee ones...  Here is my list.

• Miss Nelson is Missing
• Stella Luna
• Where The Wild Things Are
• Bob and Otto
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar
• Click, Clack, Moo
• Farmer Duck
• Goodnight Gorilla
• If You Give A Mouse A Cookie
• There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
• I Love You Sticky Face

How's that for starters?

Equillibrium? I am afraid not.

 

I finished A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry.  Seriously - did it really end like that?  I absolutely grew to love the book and the characters seemed to dwell within these walls by the end of the summer.  I could see them in my head and wondered about the next day of their life, never mind the next year or eight years!

My general impression was that the story was a beautifully written portrayal of life in India.  It was very sad at times and a true testament to the human spirit, especially the strength to endure.  I loved how the author wove words from other languages into the cloth that was the story.  I completely loved the metaphor of seeing one's life through the patches in a quilt.

But...I refuse to believe that it ended this way.  In fact, I stayed up until 12:30 in the morning last night anxious for a happy reunion or at least a faithful ending.  One in which I could put my book into the archives and smile knowing within the pages of this book people triumphed.  I don't know... what did you think?

Don't look now, there's an angel behind you.

Our MM January 2009, book club selection was The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson.  I was please when we had selected this book for many reasons.  I loved that it was written by a Winnipeg author.  I loved that the author received one of the largest signing bonuses for a first time Canadian novel in many decades.  I also loved that the book has fantastic artwork on the cover which lead me to believe the novel would be risque.

Our "meeting" was fantastic and racy but had nothing to do with the book.  We got carried away with fondue, wine and sleep training.  Just as we were leaving though, Kath, Nicole and I had a brief discussion in which both of them brought alternative perspectives to my version of the story.  Kath mentioned a variation that her MIL (Monica) had - which I think I will adapt as my own.  Very cool.  And Nicole had a similar but equally paradoxical version.  I enjoyed my evening immensely but came home with a burning desire to know more about this book.  Nicole, thank you for hosting.  You are a smart, witty, techie, raw person whose writing I love and I really appreciated seeing you in your comfort zone.

Back to Andrew, yes I am on first names basis with him, I started googling him.  He's weird, for sure.  But so interesting.  His novel took him 7 years to write.  Thank God, that's a time line I can work with - inspiring.  He claims that he met one of the characters in his mind and couldn't shake her.  She kept hounding him to be written until he broke down.  He needed a narrator to tell her story, but right from the started envisioned her hair and even her eyes.  She looked at him.

So, now I'm thinking that either I am not weird enough to write or not creative enough or maybe I don't drink enough.  Do all author have characters following them around?  The only personalities that follow me around are: a pirate, a black and tan pooch, and a wee pudgy one who demands "night, night" so that he can be in his crib with his soother.  Side note: I shit you not, I have created a monster.  G asks to go to bed several times a day now because I have trained him that soothers are for bedtime.  Is there a training manual on that one? 

Alas, I press on and I write and perhaps one day I will be alone with my thoughts (when I am retired) and a character will come to me and demand to be written.  Until then, the job search continues as does the quest for personal greatness.  However, like everything else worthwhile in our world, it is effort to be the best.  Occasionally I catch myself tempted to apply for a job where I could get up every day and perpetuate crank, but when that happens I kick my own ass and think, "What would our Life Coach say?"

Book Review: The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie Society

This is an enduring story that is set in London in 1946 post Second World War.  Juliet Ashton is a writer who is looking for a plot for her next book when she receives a letter from a man that she has never met.  In corresponding with DawseyAdams, she finds a literary society that came together during war times.  The society befriends Ashton and through many personalities and stories, the idea for her book is born.  The members of the society begin writing to Juliet.  The entire book is in letter format.  That being said, it does not take lengthy prose to learn of hope and love, hardship and sorrow.  There are lessons of friendship and love and the camaraderie that comes with tough times.

I really enjoyed the book.  I personally think I did myself a disservice by reading it slowly.  The letter format made it too easy for me to put it down and read it in a manner that was choppy.  That being said, the story is filled with history and is written in a way that engulfs the readers.  The beautifully depicted landscapes really appealed to me.  I think there are parts of this book that will touch everyone that picks it up.

I definitely recommend it and don't believe that it needs much discussion so don't feel it is limited to book clubs.  One last thing to mention is that the lead author passed away before the book was completed.   Her niece finished out the project.  It is really unfortunate that Mary Ann Shaffer didn't see the successes of this novel.