Baby Naphan

Have you ever seen a 2-day old baby with a full head of red hair?

If you haven't, I feel sorry for you. Because it has got to be THE CUTEST SIGHT in the entire universe. Hubster and I witnessed it last night while visiting our best friends at the hospital.

Kim (blond and petite) and Charlie (VERY tall and redheaded) now have another addition to their family of 3. Along with their first son, Liam (blond and petite), they welcomed little Nate (can't tell if he's tall... but definitely redheaded) into the world on Saturday morning.

Liam's a mini-Kim and Nate is a mini-Char. A-freakin'-dorable.

(Oh - and when Kim asked Liam who the little guy was, Liam answered: "Baby!" When Kim said, "Baby who?" Liam's response: "Baby Naphan!" Ummm... cute much??)

Those little boys are going to have the perfect blend of love, laughter and happiness in their lives... because their parents are caring, fun, loving people who will adore their kids, and at the same time, won't take life too seriously.

Welcome to the world, Nate. You've got one heck of a start.

Me time

Is it just me or is the world getting busier and busier and life getting faster and faster?

The weekend went by in a blur before I had time to even begin to feel rested up. Maybe because I crammed in breakfast with friends, dinner (2 hours away) with more friends, a 16km run, a shower for my nephew, hubster's hockey game, laundry and 2 movies.

And even though I really enjoyed myself and everything I was doing, I felt a little frazzled - and found myself wishing for those precious weekend mornings spent lounging in your pjs until you're good and ready to get going.

You know those mornings... when the house is quiet, so you pad down to the kitchen in your bare feet and make a big breakfast you can lounge over slowly. You wrap yourself in a blanket on the couch and catch up on some silly TV while eating. Or you make yourself a big mug of steaming tea and curl up with a book.

And in the back of your head, you know there's laundry to do and groceries to shop for. You really should exercise, clean the bathroom, work in the yard, do those dishes... But you just don't care. Because right now is your time. You're not working or commuting or making meals or running errands. You're just revelling in your time.

Indulging. Relaxing. Recharging.

And you're a better person for it.

I love the smell of Starbucks in the morning

Right now I'm drinking a fabulous Starbucks latte in an attempt to wake up out of my stupor. (If I were a hip, early-adopter, I might make that very same statement on Twitter. But I'm not. Don't understand the Twitter. Fear the Twitter.)

I'm getting close to zombie-like status - and am about to use toothpicks to hold my eyelids up - because I was out drinking pints of beer with hubster's hockey team until 1am. On a school night.

I am so smart. S-M-R-T.

(**And now... a musical interlude! Tall and tan and young and lovely... do do do do do do do do do...**) That song is STILL stuck in my head. Blech.

Anyway, as I was saying - Wait... what was I saying? Oh that's right: Nothing interesting!! Seems that this dead tired thing affects my writing. Which is rather unfortunate since that's how I make a living. Won't the big wigs at work be happy to hear that little tidbit of info?

I'll be all: "Buy this cellphone... blah diddy blah... I'm tired. Leave me alone, dammit!! Blah blah... rate plan... Wha? Where am I? Who are you???"

And then they'll be all: "You're fired. Get some sleep. You look like hell."

Me: "Fine. I don't need your stinkin' badges anyway."

Big Wig: "What badges? We're in advertising, stupid. You write copy to sell cellphones to people who don't need them."

Me: "You're stupid, stupid. (Pause. Blink, blink.) No wait! I need this job. I've gots to support my Starbucks habit. I need the job to pay for the Starbucks to keep me awake so I can do the job. It's a vicious cycle, yo."

Big Wig: "You're boring me."

Me: (Hanging head in shame) "I'm boring myself."

Big Wig: (Staring at me with look of disdain)

Me: "I'll just show myself out."

Tall and tan and young and lovely

This tune was played over and over and over again at the resort in Mexico.

Now, it can play over and over and over again in your head.

The club sandwiches definitely make the list

I've been to paradise, y'all.

You may have heard of it? The Mayan Riviera?

Anyway, an all-inclusive, lie-on-the-beach kind of a vacation is not usually mine or hubster's first choice of getaway. But, as you know, we were going to a resort for a destination wedding. And we were really looking forward to getting the opportunity to do something different: relax, lie around on the beach, eat and drink as much as we possibly could. You know - all the stuff we haven't really done much of on our sight-seeing, adventure vacations so far.

And people... this vacation did NOT disappoint. There was much relaxing, lying around and eating and drinking to be had. Among that, a few other highlights:

• GORGEOUS resort. And I mean Gorgeous with a capital G. The grounds were beautiful, the staff was really friendly, our room was incredible.
  
  
• Amazing beach. White sand and aqua waters. Need I say more?
  
  
• The food... oh, the food. SO good! They had "dressy" restaurants that just opened for dinner. We tried out the Italian and French ones. And let me tell you this: It. Was. Incredible. (You know I wouldn't lie to you when it comes to food).
  
  
• Snorkeling right off the beach. Saw a few stingrays among the other incredible fishies. Amazing.
  
  
• 24 hour room service. They brought us many, many club sandwiches and Coronas at all hours of the day and evening.
  
  
• The nightly beach-side bar hangout. Our giant group found our way there each night for a few beverages. There's nothing like hanging out, laughing and chatting over drinks as you listen to the ocean lapping the shore and feel the warm night air on your skin.
  


• Being with a big group of our friends. It just made the vacation. There was always someone to hang out with, dine with, go swimming with, chat with, have a few Mexican beverages with. I met a lot of great new people and got to spend quality time with friends. Honestly could not have been better. (And - we've got a whole ton of memories and inside jokes now... which make us all giggle whenever we bring them up.)
  

Sigh. Such a blissful experience. Definitely one that I won't be forgetting anytime soon.

Another cervesa please

I'm back from Mexico, peeps!  I don't think I've ever consumed so much food, alcohol and guacamole in one week, ever. EVER. I really mean it... ever.

Anyway - update on my lovely week to come. Right now, must deal with an enormous pile of laundry, do something about the fact that there's no food in my house and overcome this insane climate change. 

But... it's all okay. Cause I'm so happy right now. 

So very happy.

If you see me wandering the aisles, please confiscate my credit card

I've already posted today. But my recent trip to a certain store warrants another blog entry. People, I have a sickness and I am fully willing to admit that.

Me and the fine, fine establishment known as Shopper's Drugmart? Yeah, we've got a love-hate relationship. I LOVE everything about the store. The well-spaced aisles. The colourful bottles and lotions. The fact that you can find EVERY SINGLE THING you need in that one place. (And usually in a cute, little package).

I love that I can go for last-minute items for my trip - and find something to soften my skin, give my hair more shine, protect my lips in the sun, save my sensitive tummy, freshen up my underarms and soothe a sunburn. I love that I now have a bag full of products in bright blues and oranges and pastel greens and pinks. (I know. I'm weird. I totally get that.)

But the "hate" part of the relationship? The fact that I walked out of there having spent $130 on said products.

Oh yes. I have a sickness alright.

Dreams

I had two very vivid dreams last night.

One: I was chain smoking these long, thin cigarettes (bitch-sticks, if you please). Very odd since I'm not a smoker and cigarette smoke makes me REALLY sick.

Two: I was running my half marathon. But I kept going the wrong way and had to back track and run the route over and over again. AND - the most vivid part was when I was running up a very steep hill, carrying an awkwardly big duffel bag for some reason. I wasn't even carrying it across my chest - for ease of movement. Oh no. I had it on one shoulder, so it was all bulky and bumping into my leg with every step I took.

I woke up with a dry, scratchy throat and feeling extremely exhausted today.

(But that's all forgotten by now... since I'm only TWO DAYS AWAY FROM MEXICO! Try not to miss me too much, y'all!)

Who in the world is Cindy Sherman?

I'll admit, I didn't know who Cindy Sherman was before last night.

I still don't know who she really is.

But after the documentary I watched last night, I do know this:

1. She's an artist.
2. She uses herself in her art by portraying different "characters" and then photographs hersef.
3. She's pretty amazing.
4. You can learn more here.

A big glass of pity for table four, please.

On my commute home from work yesterday, I threw myself a 20-minute pity party.

I've been DARN happy lately... but yesterday afternoon, I got all good n' annoyed. A couple of co-workers really rubbed me the wrong way (they don't read this, so I have no problem venting here). And as a result, I left work in a royally bad mood. Not the greatest way to end the day.

As I was on the train, soaking in my own pity until my fingers got all wrinkly, I thought to myself: "Self: why are you focusing on this? Why are wasting your valuable time thinking about how cruddy those people made you feel? You need your energy for those hills you're about to run tonight, so git yer darn priorities straight!!"

And so I did.

Want to know what happened? I had an amazing run, I enjoyed my evening, and I even found myself singing aloud as I puttered around the house, doing my thing.

Huh. Imagine that.

It's incredible how much control we have over our own happiness.

Hello

(How clever is the title of my blog today? You like it, oui?? Unfortunately, the cleverness of the title may have a direct correlation to the level of cleverness in this actual blog post. And for that reason, I must say: Je m'excuse.)

It's been a little while since the last update. Hence, my issuing of a formal apology: Dearest, dearest Internet... Please accept my humblest of apologies for my complete lack of ability to blog on a regular basis. I must repent. And I fully accept your choice to shout "For shame!! For shame!!" at me, should you feel it necessary.

But yesterday - oh yesterday. I was busy, yo.

Work was insane. I'm not quite over the time change yet. All I can think about are the million and one things I need to do before vacation next week. So I pretty much stumbled around in a haze yesterday. Not conducive to good blogging. At. All.

Anyway - onto bigger and better things. Like... tonight. I shall overcome yet another running challenge, injury free (hopefully), when I tackle hill running. Our running group jogs over to a hill, runs up it and walks down it all in the name of building strength and stamina.

Will it work? Will Hez actually build up strength and stamina? Will she remain injury-free? And - most importantly of all - will Hez wear stupid running clothes??

Tune in tomorrow to find out!!!! (Dun Dun Dunnnnnnnnnnnnnn.......)

Hez's Top 10

Top 10 Signs That You're Not Quite Ready for a Mexico Vacation:

10. In natural light, you must wear sunglasses before looking at any of your exposed skin.

9. You have yet to experience the dreaded "Spring Cleaning" Wax Ritual.

8. The rolls you're carrying around are not the dinner variety.

7. Upon seeing yourself in a bathing suit, you instantly curl into the fetal position while chanting "The horror. The horror."

6. The only Spanish you know is "Dos Cerveza Por Favor". (You still need to learn the Spanish words for Daiquiri, Margarita and Pina Colada.)

5. There isn't enough aloe vera supply to meet your demands.

4. Shaving your legs seems like an extremely arduous task.

3. You still have Winter Feet.

2. You can't find your summer clothes in your closet full of turtlenecks and heavy sweaters. Thanks very much, Canadian climate.

And the number one sign that you're not quite ready for a Mexico vacation.......

Your Canadian skin vs. the Mexican sun. Enough said.

Smug with a hint of smug

I have decided that I fit into several "smug" categories. Categories that, when put together, create something so horridly awful that all friends and family may soon disassociate themselves from me. I'm talking about... The Perfect Smug.

The categories are as follows:

• Smug runner. You know the type, yes? You may have seen them out and about in EVERY TYPE OF WEATHER IMAGINABLE. Nothing stops them. And they have all the gear - from the nerdy little water bottle belt to the tight-fitting stupid reflective clothing. That is me. I fit into that group. And what makes us smug? Well, simply because we run. And you? Do not.
• Smug married. Hubster and I have both hosted, and been to, dinner parties. We have matching Sigg water bottles. We travel to places like the Galapagos. We like to hold hands and talk at length about how wonderful it is to be married and how happy we are and how life is only worth living if we have each other. We don't notice other people gagging around us. We. Are. Smug marrieds.
• Smug Toronto worker. I ride the subway with my iPod in order to avoid any conversation with the dreaded stranger. I wear giant scarves in the winter, tied more for style than warmth. I sometimes dine at places in "trendy Yorkville" and I have a daily Starbucks. I give people directions like "Go left at Harry Rosen, right at Sassafraz". I work in advertising.

Oh god. Am I smug.

In these tough economic times...

...sometimes you just have to laugh. That's what I choose to do today. As do my fellow creative team coworkers.

We've decided that in each meeting we go to today, one of us must work the phrase "in these tough economic times" into the conversation somehow. Without informing others of why we're doing this. Or why we're all trying to stifle giggles once said phrase is uttered.

So far... Creative team: 3. Economy: 0.

Take that.

This is the moment

For some reason, hubster has been extra mushy lately. Snugly. Kind of emotional. Touchy. And huggy.

Not that he isn't often sweet and loving and wonderful... But most of the time, if the situation doesn't call for a hug, he doesn't really "do" snuggling. He likes his space. Especially when sleeping. (And while drifting off to sleep, if I try to cram my feet in between his legs and rest them there... HELL to pay! Hate! Loathing! Anger!)

I've joked with him, asking what he's on lately and why he's suddenly much more mush-tastic. But since he isn't a new member of the little-blue-pill-takers... there really isn't a reason. I guess I'm just lucky. Hubster's going through a snuggle-spurt.

Gag to the power of gag. (I will sit here and patiently wait for your desire to purge to subside.)

I guess it really just comes down to happiness. Hubby is happy lately. I'm happy.

When I told a friend of mine that I was 30 - and could she believe it??? - she answered "Yeah. Because 30 is fabulous. And you're fabulous! You've got your life together and that's what 30 should be." After I finished blushing and giggling, I started really thinking about how good things are for me.

Really. When I think about it - having a mushy husband, liking my job, being close to my family, having great friends and feeling like I'm a decent person - makes me pretty happy to be where I am and who I am.

That, and all the other little things, make life pretty wonderful.

I could focus on the economy and worry about money and try to avoid exposure to everything that might increase my risk of dying. Or, I could take pleasure in sipping tea on a cold morning. Treasure the fact that I can wear my pj bottoms until 5pm on the weekend. Relish the sense of accomplishment of an 11km run, after I'm done. Enjoy laughing until my sides hurt. Cherish the simple act of my husband's hand on my knee in the car.

It's all about perspective.

Find your moment. Enjoy it. Adore it. Sometimes all we've got to get us through the day is something as small as an unexpected hug.

Life can be pretty damn amazing.