mini road trip

We went for a little road trip today. Mr C had to visit some stores for business and he took us along for the ride. Whippee!  First stop, Target. Now, many Americans can't understand why alot of Canucks go wild for this store. Seriously, it's a design-oriented Wal-Mart, non? In fact, I used to design bedding and packaging for Target stores. It is a seriously hard store to get your products into. In any case, there is no Target to be found in our province. Hence the Target mania.

In any case, it's been a while since I set foot in Target. Well, since 2 summers ago in California. I wanted 2 things specifically: this Dwell Studio Marrakesh coverlet for our guest room and/or this Dwell Studio for kids Bird in Tree bedding for Keira's room. Both of which weren't available at that particular Target store. There were 2 other choices I was going to go for.. but I just couldn't make up my mind. So I ended up with these:

I think these are old issues. I just love the fact that they're reversible! Lovely with my korean silk embroidered comforter my mom gave me.

I actually managed to buy myself a shirt! Wow. But the rest of my purchases were all for Keira. Specifically, I was looking for shorts/skorts for summer. Again, either I will have to buy 2 sizes too small for her and risk having them fit at the waist but being super short shorts or I'm going to have to start sewing and adjusting the ones I buy. Which I actually have to do. Thank goodness they're elastic waist band. Still, either I fatten this kid up or just get used to my sewing machine. I was also looking for sandals for her but of course, too wide. She really does have skinny feet! Just like me.

The spoils. Notice a theme going on? I have to adjust the waist on that skort. The shoes will probably never get worn.. knowing Keira she'll wear them for 2 seconds and then scream and pull them off saying they're too loose. If so, anyone want them? They're size 10's.

We also ended up at Applebee's. Now, when we walked in the restaurant there were alot of grumpy looking faces in there. After placing our order, I figured out why: everyone's orders were late! When Keira's mac n cheese finally came, man, she dug in and scarfed it down. Didn't even wait for it to cool off. Both Mr C and I had the sliders. Those mini burgers. Oh yum! My pulled pork slider was great! But who the heck can eat 3 of them?! And what up with the super sized drinks? I felt bad leaving half the plate and only drank about a quarter of my drink. And people, I was hungry! But Keira ate her entire plate. So... Applebee's should make kiddie sized plates for adults too.

Waiting is hard for a kid!

We ended up at Michael's and Borders as well. Let me tell you, it is dangerous to shop with the Keikster. Dangerous! She didn't whine, she didn't yell, she didn't have a fit nor did she drop to the floor with super tantrums... she just calmly tried to convince me why she wants or needs that or this item (although about 3 weeks ago, I didn't buy her something at Provigo and she did a super pout and almost had a fit). She is a smart little chicky. After having told her that I have no more money she said, "okay.... but how about Papa?"

life's what you make it

After two years, this tee we got at Laguna Beach finally fits!

Sad news folks. My camera died. The 'weighs a ton lugging around' camera. I have no idea what happened. It ran out of battery and I guess it just didn't want to live anymore. I popped over to Simon's Camera store today and asked them to get me an estimate on repairs. Yeah, ain't gonna see my camera for the next 2 - 4 weeks.

So I'm down to my original trusty Lumix. It's smaller and more compact. But I miss my Canon.

Is it just me or was this week just horrible? I think it was just me. Bar none the most awful week at work I've had this year. Can not believe how one person could make life at work a misery for just about everyone. 

In any case, I've caught yet another cold and am trying to destress for the weekend. Keira's school called me at work yesterday asking me to pick her up and take her home. Apparently, she was vomiting all over the place. Mr C had meetings all afternoon so I rushed home but took my external hard drive from work with me. No way I'm gonna take a half day off, was going to work from home. The only thing was.. while waiting for the metro train, I thought it would be better for the Mr to take Keira home and then wait for me as it only takes him 15 minutes to get home from car and as it wasn't rush hour.. would take me an hour and a half to get to my car at the bus depot parking lot. Murphy's law... my cell phone (which is a pay as you go crap) time expired even though I still had tons of minutes on it and I only had 40 cents on me as I forgot to get $ from the guichet. So I couldn't phone him. Grreat. 

Getting to my metro stop.. I ran to the Fido stand to fill up my minutes only... Fido wouldn't let me make a call to refill because my time had already expired! WTF!! I only had time to run to the Fido stand and back to my bus stop at the metro and lucky for me, it arrived. Otherwise, I'd have been there for an extra hour. 

So.. running, sweaty faced, I get to the school and I see... Keira sitting in front of the nurse's office dangling her legs, all smiles waiting for me. Ye-ah. She barfed cuz she coughed too hard after eating lunch. This was the panic?

All smiles with her goggles and bathing suit!

And here today... made sure to take it easy cuz.. life's too short right? After school, I let Keira make her 'specialty' meal for us (you know, mixing all kinds of spices and crap in a bowl) making a huge mess in the kitchen. Big deal. Mr C cleaned it all up afterwards. hehe! And for bathtime, ah.. bathtime turned into swim time! She had fun and at the end of the day and an awful week, that's all that matters to me.

Listening to french lullabye songs at the end of the day.. eerily enough, she knows which ones come after the other..

happy new year! 2010

Keira is wearing the chinese jammies we got for her. Her korean hambok is too small and the one I have that was mine is too big for her yet.

Year of the Tiger - The Korean Tiger!

Happy New Year everyone! Wishing you all health, happiness, prosperity. 
We celebrated yesterday en famille. It was just easier to get together yesterday. We decided not to go to chinatown and brave the packed streets & restaurants. Instead, we headed to another suburb where there is a big chinese community. We should have made reservations but that's what happens when everything is done on the fly.
It didn't matter as we ended up eating at a vietnamese restaurant. And it was good! Sadly my camera died last night so I don't have any photos of our night together. 


Hope you all have had a great start to the New Year as well!

deadmau5

Deadmau5? Yes, Deadmau5. As in techno music. She loves it! Here's her rendition of what he looks like.

winter olympics - vancouver 2010

Images from www.vancouver2010.com

Did you watch the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics? Mr C and I were hoping to watch the ceremonies with Keira but wouldn't you know it? It was one of those days where she wanted to sleep early. I know. WHAT?!

Yep, she turned in early so we watched the coverage by ourselves. I thought it was... nice. Slow. Slightly less hokier than Lillehammer, waaay less wacky than Albertville. I can't even remember Torino! I loved the wheat field scene. To be honest, I thought alot of it reminded me of the Superman films. lol. Flying in the wheatfields with the guy who looked like Superman the teenager in the beginning of the films, the ice crystals that resembled Superman's lair, etc. I was half expecting to see Lex Luthor pop up somewhere. Or Lois Lane. Isn't Superman canadian in origin??

Anyways, the whales going across was excellent.. I loved the native dancers. Wow. I wish there was more of them dancing and being showcased than anything else! Nelly Furtado looked like some kind of wannabe pole dancer. And the most amazing voice... Nikki Yanofsky! Wow! The best part though was when that dude from NWT came on and did his poem/shout out about Canada. Awesome! Hope you enjoyed it too and hope... they get some snow!

Putting together her McD's mascot train...

She really loves Sumi!

little project

Our new/old re-upholstered bean bag! Total cost: About 8.99cdn for 1.5 meters of fabric.

Was sick today but... as usual, couldn't sit around and be still. So I got out the fabric I had bought a while ago from Ikea and grabbed the butt-ugly bean bag I got from my sister. It was a sample from one of my sister's friend who manufactures and creates outdoor furniture + accessories.

It was also leaking a bit from the seams and tiny little plastic/poly bubbles were coming out. It was also covered in a nasty blue naugahyde type of.... thing. I was thinking of shelling out some $$ for this:

From Cocoon Couture

Or even this:

Fatboy from WhereDidYouBuyThat.com

But c'mon! I had a free bean bag from my sister! Ugly but F R E E. So I measured one of the panels (there are six panels sewn together) and started from there. I ran out of material for the larger end and took another fabric to make up for it. Looks pretty good!

This is the Annamoa fabric (5.99$ a meter)

The new Charlotta Teckning fabric from Ikea. About 7.99 a meter

Then I went to Ikea cuz I couldn't stand the existing curtains we had in our play room. It was the remnant from the previous owners. I was disappointed to find out the fabric I wanted was discontinued but found this manga-type new one! I couldn't resist! It reminds me of the comic books my dad used to buy for me at the japanese grocery. All the Doraemons, Candy, Goldorak and Ataman's. It was easy peasy. I loved the unfinished selvedged edges and decided to keep it that way (good thing too, I had 4 panels to sew!). I think it turned out pretty good! 

Still coughing and feeling queasy but feel like I've accomplished something nonetheless. Now it's time for the Olympics!

vancouver 2010!

Couldn't resist getting this Miga hat + mitts set at The Bay this week. I could've gone wild in the Olympic merch section but... held back. Those mascots are sooo incredibly cute! I can't wait for the games to begin. Hopefully, they'll have some snow..

shaggy dog

Check out the shaggy dog who was with us the whole weekend! Aka Keira. I can't believe how fast her bangs have grown and after hearing a whole bunch of people at school and at home tell me how long her bangs are.. I finally gave her a trim tonight. Here are the before photos. The after will be posted once I get a chance. I gave her a bath right after the trim and washed her hair so... not sure if she now resembles a Vulcan or Romulan. Will have to wait til the AM. Happy Monday y'all!

a rib meal weekend

The sister, the cousin, the Keikster..

Another weekend. Gone. Amazing how time flies so quickly during the weekend but slows down to molasses on weekdays. What gives? In any case, Keira woke up on Saturday wanting to see her cousins.  We were also going to meet up with friends for lunch on Sunday and it worked out really well as the restaurant is in the same part of town.

Loved this Saturday Night Fever dance floor! Obviously the kids did too.

Could barely make them standstill for 1 photo..

Wheee!!

Is this rock climbing wall cool or what?!

Cutie pie.

Keira and I headed to my sister's place for a sleepover day and I let Mr C have a day off. Am I a sweetheart or what?! lol. Actually, am looking for a reliable babysitter for the Keikster so we (the mister and I) can have a date night.

In any case, when we got to my sister's place, they were all ready to head on out to a big indoor kid's play area and Keira's big treat is to go in other's people's car (preferably with her cousins or her friends in the backseat with her) & mom and dad need not apply. Disposable us.

The indoor kid's place was huge! And clean. The best part of it was that I was able to relax and sit and despite the huge place, could still be able to see Keira run around. She's like a little gazelle that one, bouncing around really fast. Boing boing boing on little tippy toes. Meanwhile, her cousin's like a lion. He starts off slow and then bang! Runs in full force. You know, 3 months in age makes a huge difference still. While Keira loves to explore and will now (finally) go down the humungous slides, her cousin still finds it too high and turns around. Interesting.

Anyways, 3 hours of madness and it was time to head back to my sister's place where an incredible evening meal was had. The kids turned in pretty early and we had time to just sit, watch a movie and relax. My brother in law was in the basement putting up gyprock. He's renovating the basement BY HIMSELF. It's been partitioned, bathroom installed and everything! I'm freaking amazed.

I don't know why I asked for a picture here, it was super windy and ccc-cold!

Today, met up with Mr C at Bar B Barns! A Montreal rib joint. We hadn't gone in such a long time and the times we had gone, was at the downtown location. Mmmm... ribs! I think in the States they'd think our big plates was a small. But man, it is super filling. Wish I'd taken a pic! We met up with our super fantastic friends! Keira and Ella really get along and we ended up crashing at their place after lunch. Man, I think we could've all slept. Even the girls were really quiet playing with the dolls and heading home, Keira crashed out in the car. I love watching her snooze in the car seat. Too cute!

I checked up on the girls and found them all gussied up. Howdy Princess!

Is this not the most amazing toy corner niche ever?! I love the wallpaper and everything.

And there you have it, a weekend gone. Unbelievable. How was your weekend?

thursday night soundbite

Me: Keira, can you eat your carrots? C'mon, just one.
K: I can't!
Me: Why?
K: Because my legs... my legs are allergic to it!

friday night out

Finally Friday! This entire week, the three of us have forced ourselves to get out of bed and on with the day. I did manage to wake up 3 times to work out at 5:30am. Am I crazy? Well, I once read that Michelle Pfeiffer got up at 3am to work out. THAT's crazy.

Anyways, we weren't planning on going out tonight but... we did. For the past 2 or 3 weeks now, Keira's been pining and asking for a Littlest Pet Shop toutou. "Le papillon maman! (the butterfly one)". I told her she can have one for her birthday but every day... she keeps asking for it. People, the peer pressure has already started! Her friends have it, she wants one too now. Argh!

Now, I don't want to be one of those spineless parents who give in (too late) or even those parents who reward their kids with stuff each time they do what is asked but... I caved. Not only did we notice a change in Keira but her teacher noticed something as well. And not the good type of notice. More like, "Keira has started shouting in class. It's disruptive. She also needs to learn to share toys/books". I had Mr C write to the teacher in the agenda. Mr C's french is way better than mine and I wanted to make sure she understood our concerns. Well, it turns out that all that hulabaloo started when Keira stopped sucking her fingers at school/class. Her one last soothing mechanism whenever she gets tired, upset or anxious. We didn't know! Her teacher also told us that she's noticed that Keira is beginning to assert herself and trying out how to. Ah..

Knowing is half the battle and since then, we had a "talk" (if you could call it that) with Keira and pointed out how happy we were that she stopped sucking her fingers at school (not to worry, she does it at home. lol) but that the shouting must stop. We also told her to start sharing and even did a mock scenario. Our own version of Sharing for Dummies.

In any case, I then told her she can have a Littlest Pet Shop toutou if she made an improvement in her behaviour. And tonight, we got a great comment from her teacher and we made an impromptu stop at ToysRUs. Oh man! I've crossed over to the Dark Side.

Kiki and Mr C. They are so alike!

Mac n Cheese on their menu! Lucky us.

Needless to say, the Keikster was extremely tired and extremely happy. We made a stop at Mike's restaurant to eat supper and headed home. Me feeling happy but slightly annoyed at myself for giving in so easily and spending money on something she didn't need.