Its Potty Time!

(Sorry about the pun, I couldn't resist!) I've been meaning to start potty training and realized in order to this, I kind of needed one important piece of equipment, so here it is, the PINK potty! I didn't mean to buy a "girl" specific one, but I wanted to order it online and this was the only colour that this particular model came in. I'm probably the ONLY parent in the world looking forward to this, and to be honest, I don't really know why, but I can't wait to see how cute Ms M will look on her very own toilet. Good thing I'm camera-less these days, otherwise you might be subjected to a photo of another "first" to come...

Jury Duty

This week I have been on Jury Duty. I had been kind of dreading it, thinking of it as a chore but when I got there on Monday, I realized I was totally wrong about this experience. Its in fact, quite the opposite! I found it to be extremely relaxing to have an entire day essentially to yourself while you wait to be called. I had my laptop, could check and respond to work emails (totally uninterrupted!) and even managed to read an entire book (when was the last time I read?!). It was "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", a book I had purchased just prior to giving birth thinking I would read it while in the hospital. Boy was I wrong about that one. Anyway, I finally got to reading it, and it was pretty good, I'm looking forward to reading the next one in the series which I've heard (from all the nurses in my delivery room,) is better than the first.

Alas, my jury duty has now come to an end. Yesterday my panel was selected and luckily I didn't get chosen (also luckily I had my book to read throughout the extremely boring process where they call each randomly chosen person up to the stand,). It was the trial of a cocaine dealer and expected to take 5 days. The weirdest part for me was going to the cafeteria at lunch and seeing none other than Mr. Suspected Cocaine Dealer in line behind me. That was very interesting...

It was a very welcome break to the monotony of every day work life. Looking forward to it again in another 3 years!

A mish mash of thoughts...

Seeing as how I've been out of time for blogging lately, decided to throw together some random happenings...

A new dessert
Recently one of my mom friends introduced me to the ultimate time-saving dessert. Warning, it's extremely deeleecious and incredibly addicting so be warned. Mix together a box of crushed Ritz, a can of sweetened condensed milk and a bag of skor bits. Bake in parchment lined square pan for 20 mins and voila, salted toffee squares.

New shoes
Now that The weather is nicer, my mom has been taking marley for walks outside. Unfortunately her soft soled Robeez just weren't cutting it on the rough pavement and her one pair of outdoor shoes are now too small. (noticed small baby callouses on her big toes the other day) So today I bought her a very pricey pair of Crocs. $40! Maybe I'm being cheap but forty dollars for plasticky foamy shoes just doesn't seem right. Unfortunately my selection is limited while on my lunch hour and I just couldn't get the image of her calloused toes out of my head so my mom guilt won and baby got herself a new pair of shoes.

First words
So far we only have three, hi, bye and hot! (Which I discovered when serving her steamed rice that was in fact, too hot.)

Brilliant!

A few weeks ago at my jewellery party I had mentioned to someone that my necklaces are always tangled before I put them on. Putting them in a flat jewellery box isn't the greatest and who has enough space to find a jewellery box tall enough to store the necklaces vertically. My neighbour Amanda overheard and suggested the most brilliant idea that has changed my life, 3M Command removable hooks! You just stick them up in your closet and voila, necklace hooks! No nails, the hooks are removable at any time and leave no mess. My 6 necklaces are all now neatly organized and ready to be worn at any moment.

Great idea! (However I should have thought about Marley's reach before applying those hooks, she was in my closet the other day and there's about half an inch of space when she's on her absolute tippy toes between my lovely necklaces and a jewellery disaster...)

Babooshka!

Bad hair day

Jewellery Sale with Photo!

Finally managed to download some pics from the new camera. Here's the shot of my dining rom table covered in jewellery from the Stella and Dot party. Fun!

Stella and Dot Party

This weekend I threw a small gathering of ladies for a very important cause. Ok not an important cause at all, but instead a need to fulfill the inner shopaholic in all of us while in the comfort of my own home! Refreshments, nibbles and jewellery, who could ask for anything more on a drizzly Saturday afternoon. I had gone to one of these jewellery parties before and the salesperson had asked if anyone else would be interested and I thought, why not? It turned out to be a great shopping experience. She brings all of the lovely pieces and puts them on display for anyone to try on while all the guests get to chat, socialize and enjoy the company of friends. I think almost everyone ended up with a little something and of course, I ended up with some great pieces as well. The best part about their jewellery is that most of the stuff converts and can be worn in more ways than one. The necklace pictured is actually held by a clasp by the tassel that moves to various places to change the look entirely. I didn't buy this one, but thought it was interesting nonetheless.

All in all, a great way to spend a weekend!

Down and out

Its the new year and I only have one blog post to show for it, what is going on? Well, first of all, I have given up on my lousy camera which means no photos taken which makes me less inspired to post. Then Marley refused to get any substantial sleep due to major teething and now I have the worst cough ever! I never got sick, no fever, no flu symptoms, just woke up with a scratchy throat one day and the next day had a terrible terrible incapacitating chest cough. I often end up coughing so hard that I make myself throw up or gag on a daily basis. Its been hard to get any sleep which makes it hard to get anything done during the day. I have my fingers crossed I will shake this thing very soon. Especially now that Miss Marley is sleeping just a bit better at night. We went back to cry it out which seems to have been successful enough (went from getting 1.5 hrs at a time of sleep to 4 hrs!) and she actually wakes up less during the night (back to 3 times instead of the 5 or 6 she was doing before). So things are looking up on that front. I just need to shake this cough.

Since my mom has been taking care of Marley for us I've been fortunate to come home to cooked meals ready and in front of me at the drop of a hat and weird remedies that get shoved down my throat (pears and garlic?) but I don't mind because when you're sick, there's nothing like having mommy take care of you! And of course my house is spotless, and my daughter is very well cared for. I am very very lucky and am enjoying every minute of it!

Christmas

 This year we celebrated Christmas at my aunt's house in Scarborough. My cousin Cat and her two kids were up visiting from Maryland so our usual food table got even bigger with all of Cat's deeleecious additions. We ate, we opened gifts, we stole gifts (Bumpits made an appearance this year,) and we all enjoyed some good quality family time.