What a green demand looks like

I've been a member of the We Can Solve It Campaign (even though it's American...hey, it's an INTERNATIONAL issue) and this is the latest ad they've put out.

I really like it because it shows just how important it is that we do something about climate change and it's not about green being the new black or that it's now cool to recycle. Being environmentally friendly shouldn't be a trend or a craze, in my opinion. It should just be THE WAY. So now that we see the danger that lies ahead, we're acting now, and hey, better late than never.

I love Herbs

I missed buying herbs this summer and given that I have no time to cook these days (and Jaye is doing more experimenting in the kitchen and grill - YAY!), I guess it's okay. Come time for the intense training to end (I'll admit, I'm getting tired of running until I have to force myself to believe that the pain is good), I'll be back in the kitchen...and with me, enter this thing:

I think thing is so cool ("this thing" being the Kitchen Counter Herb Garden"). I don't think I'll actually get it since I don't have much counter space for it and it's really expensive, but I think it looks so lush and imagine the aromas that would come from it. I could stick my head in it every so often and just smell cilantro for days (I love it, Jaye hates it).

Save me

My husband is addicted:

The next question

So we have moved on from
"How's the wedding planning?"
"How're you feeling?"
"Getting cold feet?"
"How was the honeymoon?"
"How's married life?"

to

"Are you pregnant?"

I get it at least once a week, even from people I don't really know. Heck, I even got it right after we got engaged, just before the wedding, during the honeymoon, and right when we got back. And now, for some reason, I'm getting all these emails from companies that sell baby things (e.g. I was a subscriber of TheKnot.com and now I also get emails from TheNest.com) and even the ads on Facebook are no longer for wedding photographers but for baby merchandise. It's fine, it doesn't bug me, in fact, I kinda like it because it reminds me that one day, I'll be able to say "YES!", but here's the deal.

If you know me, you'll know already that if I am, you won't even have to ask. I'd probably have already created an iron-on shirt and have it gushing out of my ears. The screams of joy from my doctor's office alone probably would have given it away. And, by then, I'll probably have recommenced getting in touch with my tear ducts (I haven't cried since the wedding, people. How messed up is that?), so much so, that there'll be a canal forming from my eyes to my jaw line.

So no, we're not pregnant yet, but I'll definitely tell you when we're blessed with someone (or someones?).

Saturday morning's (mental) To Do list

• Roll around
• Press the snooze button
• Press the snooze button on another device...
• ...and yet again on another...
• ...and on a final
• Wonder why all the alarms are going off on a Saturday morning
• Remember that sleeping in on Saturdays is a memory...is it October yet?
  
• Get up!!!!
• Tiptoe so Jaye doesn't wake up
• Wash up
• Look in the mirror
  
• Psyche yourself up, e.g. "Treeh, you're gonna finish another lllllong run today."
• Gear up, get dressed
• DEODORIZE!
  
• Put something small yet nutritious in your belly
• Load hydration belt with
  
• electrolytes
• carbs
• supplements
• liquids
• music
• phone
• keys
• ID
• money
  
• STRETCH!!
  
• Warm up
• Give groggy Jaye a kiss-see-you-later
• Laugh at Jaye's reminder that you're "hard core" and store it as emergency fuel
  
• Start stopwatch
  
• GO!!!!!
• Keep going!!!!!
• Forget the pain in your foot, keep going!
• That pain in your knee is normal, keep going!
• Supplement
• Pee if necessary
  
• Go!!!!!
• Finish
• Stop stopwatch
  
• Walk home
• Stretch
• Shower
• Fill tub with cold water and, if necessary, add ice
• Grab a book or magazine
• SOAK
• Avoid inflammation
  
• Towel off
• Moisturize
• Rub Myoflex all over to avoid muscle soreness
  
• Eat
• Nap if possible
  

Bullies

I do some work promoting the Dove Self-Esteem Fund and came across this at work this week.

32: Ask Lisa: The newest form of bullying and how to help your kids cope
Dove Self Esteem Fund

I have heard so much about the risks of bullying but the new catchphrase seems to be "relational aggression"...how is this different than bullying and what do I need to know to protect my daughter's self-esteem?

"Relational aggression" is the new term used to refer to bullying behaviors that are intended to harm another girl's friendships or to affect her sense of inclusion in a peer group.

Girls may purposefully ignore or exclude others, spread rumors, divulge secrets and tell peers not to associate with another girl as a means of retaliation. Other behaviours include using hostile body language such as eye rolling or repeatedly criticizing someone's clothes or appearance. Relational aggression can start quite young with threats such as "If you don't do what I say, I won't play with you," but is most prominent in grades 5 through 9. Most girls seem to grow out of the behaviour or learn new social skills later in adolescence.

Relational aggression creates a hostile social environment in school and affects a girl's ability to learn and grow. It is associated with problems in peer relationships, higher levels of depression, and lower levels of self-esteem.

You can help your daughter navigate her middle-school years with these tips:

-Diversify her friendship groups. Her sense of belonging will increase through friendships formed at church, clubs, and sports teams or through other interests.

-Encourage relationships with adults or younger children in your social circle who appreciate her for who she is.

-If your daughter is caught in the middle between friends, encourage her to be loyal and empathetic, ideally to support the victim but at the very least not to take part in the aggression.

-The Self-Esteem Bubble Activity at www.campaignforrealbeauty.ca/girls may help your daughter strengthen her sense of self.

-Talk about all aspects of a situation. Your daughter may tell you about being a victim but may avoid mentioning when she was the aggressor.

-Listen well and don't downplay the importance of an incident. If relational aggression is an ongoing problem, become an advocate and work with other families and school personnel to initiate solutions.

I went back to my elementary school a few months ago and the first thing I saw on the wall when I came in was a sign that read something like "This is a bully-free zone" or "Zero-tolerance for bullies".

It's good and bad. Good in the sense that there's so much more awareness about bullies and bullying and so, more effort to end it and more support for those who are victims of it. Bad in the sense that it was going on back when I was a kid (and I'm sure the same goes for you and you and you), and it still goes on today...not just kids but with adults as well. Yes, I just admitted I get bullied.

BUT,

it doesn't get me down. I'll admit there are times I'm tempted to "bully back" or sit there and suck my thumb while my tears blister my face (haha!) but I think overall, I have a good sense of self and I know I'm a lot more than the belittling I get sometimes.

"You're the best you that ever will be" - Norman Vincent Peale

Crocophile revisited

www.crocslovehate.com

Why I prefer NOT to drink bottled water

Click here.

Date night

Jaye and I went on a date this weekend (but what exactly constitutes a date?). We drove up to Oakville and spent some quality time with our fave funnymen, i.e. we watched a double feature at the drive in...

I TOTALLY TOTALLY TOTALLY recommend these movies...so frickin' funny!

Oh the places the internet can lead you...

So it's Sunday afternoon and a conversation starting with buying tickets for Toronto's comicon (Fan Expo) ends with -- well, you'll see.

My brother was asking where the nearest Ticketmaster outlet was and so I went to look it up. That led to...

...me checking out which concerts would be coming up in case there was anything of interest, which led to...

...seeing a list of performers over the next few weeks, which led to...

...a Boy George concert, which was cancelled. This led to...

..."Who's Boy George again?" says Paul. Which led to...

...Googling images of Boy George, which were more up-to-date than we had hoped (and so did not recognize him), which led to...

...YouTubing Boy George, which led to...

...




Hope you enjoyed that! Have a great week!

26!

Happy birthday to my husband! 

A new list

Not only to balance the two columns I have going here, nor just to compile another list because I love lists, I created a new list to the right of things I recommend.

I thought it'd be fun and I'm just going to keep on adding to it.

Note: I am a Dysoner for life. Add vacuuming to my list of things I love to do in the house. (Hark! Do I hear another list! j/k!)

August 1, 2008 means...

...it's LEI'S LAST DAY!!! WOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Thanks God! ;)

Could DIY hair be overrated?

I CUT IT OFF! But this time, I didn't cut it off, I GOT IT CUT! I thought about keeping the length but decided, "Aw heck with it, I'm getting my hair cut!" The last time I got my hair cut for real (i.e. it wasn't by experimenting haircutting students) was in 8th grade. Can you believe it? And guess what? My hair ACTUALLY moves now! AND there's no bulk! I'm starting to wonder if I should ever cut my own hair again. AND they'll trim my bangs for FREE!

I found an awesome place. I'm so happy with it, and I'm tempted to cut my hair even shorter next time because I was inspired by another woman who got her hair cut there as well and it looked awesome. I'll think about it.

And for your enjoyment: