My birthday (2 months later!)

The problem with being so intensely busy at certain times of the year is the backlog of photos and posts I don't have time to think about let alone publish!  Now that life is quieter (read: saner) I am able to go through my camera (over 3000 photos!  Yikes!) and get posts organized, prepped and ready for you!

My birthday was a quiet affair - the Suburban Prince and Little Prince took me into the city for lunch at my favourite restaurant in Yorkville.  The food there is ok, consistent, but the people watching is awesome!  I always call ahead and book my favourite table so I have the best seat in the house!

First off tho...

You may recall I did a giveaway for the Luna company a while ago and they were so much fun to work with!  They sent me a big box of their bars to try out and review and they gave away boxes of bars to my readers!  As if that wasn't enough....look what they sent me for my birthday!  How sweet!  I love their bars for a treat in the afternoon - so much healthier than a chocolate bar and just as, if not more yummy! Thank you Luna!!

Cousin Willie and his wife sent me these pretty flowers!  I was out having my toes done and came home to this big bouquet!  Such a lovely surprise!  Thank you Cousin Willie!

I ordered a few things for myself from The Preppy Princess and she was soooooo kind and sent me a little present all wrapped up and tied with a bow!  Lilly Pulitzer croakies were inside!  I love them!  Thank you Preppy Princess!

We made a quick stop at Hermes for my perfume (let's not even talk about how it was half the price at duty free in Scotland) then made our way to lunch.  Important things first...bubbly and a beer. 

 We saw a wedding go by!  A few Goyard bags, lots of spendy cars and more than one famous person.  Lunch was yummy - I am a creature of habit and always order the same thing at every restaurant I go to...at Remy's it's the penne pollo.

What's this?  Downton Abbey across the street?  

William Ashley had their windows all done up for the 100th anniversary of the Titanic and tied it in with a Downton Abbey promo!  Serious eye candy!

The 'skins' on the front windows were very impressive!

I think this is meant to be the downstairs kitchen/dining area.

 Upstairs dining....I love the candelabra!  I went inside to enter the contest but I didn't win.  Too bad!

On our way to the gourmet grocery store we passed Kevin O'Leary.  I'm still kicking myself for not giving him my elevator pitch but the Suburban Prince wasn't paying attention and couldn't confirm it was him.  Anyhoo, I'm 99% sure it was him and will be sure to shove ribbon at him the next time I pass him in the street.

I'm not a desserty person.  I love chocolate and feel if it isn't chocolate, it isn't dessert so usually I pass and my waistline thanks me.  I do make two exceptions tho...key lime meringue pie and Swedish princess cake.  I did a little searching and found a Swedish bakery in Toronto that makes them so after a little bit of twitter tag I got my rincess cake ordered!  Since they are not open on Sundays (the only day I would be in the city) they made arrangements with the butcher across the street that is open on Sundays so I could still get my cake!  Now that's customer service!  Thank you Beaches Bake Shop!  

I think a pink and green cake is just perfect!  That's not fondant...it's almond paste and tastes so perfect with the other elements of the cake!  On our way home from lunch and shopping we stopped to pick up my cake and made our way home.  We relaxed on the couch together all with a slice of cake.  Ahhhhh.

Sponge, jam, pastry cream, whipped cream...oh my!  Yum!  I was very impressed at the size and price of this cake and it even managed to last long enough to share with a couple of people!

In case you are wondering what the Suburban Prince gave me....my Hermes perfume, a Lilly laptop sleeve, a KJP bracelet, eyelash serum, and a bee garden ornament.

Adrienne at The Rich Life sent me this KJP bracelet...I love it!  I've had sooo many compliments on it!  Thank you Adrienne!

Wendy at Madras & Pearls made this pearl bracelet for me and sent it up!  I love it and wear it all the time!  Thank you Wendy! It's perfect for summer!

I think that's everything...if I forgot someone or something please let me know so I can make the addition!

If you can, please leave your comment here instead of on Twitter. Thanks!

Have a fabulous day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! 

The Suburban Prince is working so I am spending the day with the Little Prince and then off to Rotary tonight for dinner.  Valentine's day doesnt mean much around here - we both feel we dont need to limit our love to just one day and at this point have little to prove.  No pressure here!

Did we all see the Grammy's last night?  I haven't heard of most of the performers but I do remember Drake from long before he was Drake and was Aubrey Graham of Degrassi.

Rihanna's dress reminded me of ornaments we had when I was little.

Have a fabulous day!

Writers&Friends - Fundraising Event

Each year this area hosts an event called Writers and Friends at the local private school.  It is a highly coveted ticket which raises a lot of money for a local charity.  Different authors come each year and the event brings out the snootiest of the snoots.  I love being outsnooted!  Hermes Scarf Friend had tickets from her work and invited me to come with her!  We had drinkies and nibblies while we mingled in the crowd, placed our bids in the silent auction and rubbed elbows with some of Canada's greatest authors.

There was a reading by each author followed by a wonderful dinner prepared by the school.  I met lots of fun people who I have kept in contact with along being exposed to writers and books I might not have picked up before.

Wayne Grady was the MC.

Kim Echlin read from her book set in modern Vietnam.

Lisa Moore read from her book set on the east coast during a disaster.

Drew Hayden Taylor was my favourite of the evening and I ended up buying his book for the Suburban Prince.  Drew is like a big cuddly teddy bear who tells naughty jokes and giggles at himself.  The beauty of an event like this is while having dinner we can mingle with the authors and get our books signed!

Lawrence Scanlan must live somewhere around here as I saw him walking down the street not long ago.

And of course....Farley Mowat.  He lives in this town and is our local celebrity.  Since he lives very close to me I see him from time to time and he comes to a few events a year in town.  I even saw him in the grocery store a couple of weeks ago!

Farley was the author we all read as children.  He has written some adorable stories about life with dogs, boats and owls.  He has also written a few semi-autobiographical novels.  It was such a neat experience the first time I met him after reading all of his books when I was in school.

He has more than one ship named after him as he is one of our loudest fighters for the environment. 

He has appeared on countless shows - here he is being interviewed by Canada's George Stroumboulopoulos (who probably went into television because there is no way his last name would fit on the back of a hockey jersey).

Farley even has a star on the walk of fame!

Have a fabulous day!

Friday's Random Thoughts!

Since I enjoyed this so much last time I thought I would do it again!

- I saw Eclipse last night.  I think I left a few brain cells in the theatre.

- We have been watching Mad Men from the beginning and as much as I think life was simpler - it seems no one was happy in 1962!  There isn't one single character who isn't miserable or cheating on his wife.  I admit I dont actually like Don Draper but then one has to wonder if Betty Draper has any redeeming qualities.  It's obvious why he cheats - what he wants isn't attractive to him and what he is attracted to isn't what he wants.  Notice the one quality all of his 'mistresses' share?  Not one of them would let Don Draper push them around.  All of these women are strong and he finds that very very attractive. 

- Remember when we were kids and our own personal safety was number one and we were taught not to walk behind moving cars and to look both ways before we cross the street?  Are video games to blame for the complete lack of fear society seems to have of moving cars?  Every time I am backing out of a parking spot someone will just saunter by regardless of the fact that I might not see them and might not stop.  Yes, legally it would be my fault but then I wouldn't be dead.  I am shocked at the number of times I have to slam on my brakes to not his someone who stepped out onto the road without checking for oncoming cars.

- I dont understand why everyone is so upset about Barack Obama being on The View.  It was essentially a Barbara Walters interview right?  Sure he could be somewhere else doing something else but he chose to let America know where he was for that hour of his presidency.  Who knows what he gets up to the rest of the time!

- Do I need to point out to the media that Chelsea Clinton is not JFK Jr? 

- We are having a small cocktail party next weekend.  One couple still has not rsvp'd and today is the date on the invitation.  This is the first time they have been invited to our home and this is not a good first impression.  If I dont hear from them today it will be the last time they are invited to our home as I have a zero-tollerance policy when it comes to invitations.  If someone doesnt rsvp they are never invited again simply because I don't surround myself with people who dont have even the most basic manners and who will cause resentment.  Disregarding an invitation is the fastest way to tell me you aren't in my league.

- Where did July go?

- I bought a GPS the other day and it is a fun little toy!  I will never waste time searching for a gas station again!

- A friend of mine has been dating a girl for a couple of months and he called me the other night to tell me she is pregnant and he proposed.  Turns out she was still holding the damp pregnancy test when he coughed up a ring he bought years ago for another girl (Yup he just gave his bride-to-be and mother of his unborn child an engagement ring he bought for someone else!).  As of right now she is 3-4 weeks pregnant and has the fabulous news plastered all over her facebook - she convinced him she has to go public in case anyone at her work comprimised the confidentiality clause they all signed upon being hired - she would have to tell them she is pregnant in case she has to refuse to do certain tasks.  I've seen cats mark their territory with less efficiency.  I suspect this girl - who is 39 by the way and a nurse so she knows a thing or two about reproduction and ovulation - recently read How To Trap a Man and put the system into action the second she finished chapter 4.  I asked him if he is sure this is the girl he wants to spend the rest of his life with - the response was 'I'm pretty sure' and 'I think so'.  These things never end well.

- I have yet to play a round of golf this summer - the days are flying by! 

- The Suburban Prince has almost finished the garage overhaul.  There is just one section of wall left to be painted and more shelving will be built to fill it.  By Labour Day weekend I will be pulling my car into the garage!  No more trudging through the snow while carrying a 30lb child to the car!

- We got a new washer and dryer last weekend which makes me so happy!  The old set came with the house and I have hated them for 4 years!  The washer was a front loader and they always stink.  The dryer chewed up clothes which meant I had to hang up and iron anything I didn't want ripped to shreds.  It had quite the appetite for Izod polos!  The new set has a top loading washer which is what I grew up with and what we have in our other house - it was so nice to run the first load I almost started crying!

- The Little Prince is talking up a storm!  He is learning new words all the time and is repeating full sentences.  All of our hard work with the language specialist has paid off!  When we leave his room after changing his diaper he says 'Bye bye poopoos!'.

- I went to a Rotary meeting the other night and everyone was very friendly and welcoming!  It is a much happier place than the sorority I checked out.  Everyone spoke to me and we had a great time chatting about summer and all of the activities Rotary does.  I am looking forward to going again!


Have a fabulous day!

Tom Cruise was berry picking?

This article was in the Toronto Star this week.  I lived in Markham (on the north border of the east end of Toronto) for 15 years and have been to Whittamore's countless times.  When I moved in with the Suburban Prince we used to buy fresh veggies there all the time.  Imagine my surprise when I read about Tom Cruise et al making an appearance at my old stomping grounds!

"Katie Holmes, actor and wife of Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise, was spotted at Whittamore’s Farm, in Markham this weekend.

Her arms were full, laden with a bag containing fresh fruit pies and, of course, her 4-year-old Suri.

Holmes, who is here making a TV mini-series on the Kennedys, took her daughter berry picking around 3:30 Sunday afternoon.

But the pair didn’t stay long, said Taylor Whittamore, who is the supervisor at Whittamore’s Farm, which claims to have the largest farmer’s market and pick-your-own farm in Ontario.

Holmes’ driver and security guard later told staff at Whittamore’s that Suri had become cranky while out in the field picking.

The mother and daughter, decked out casually, only picked $1.14 worth of strawberries before they headed back to their car.

Holmes was wearing a checked shirt, skinny jeans and brown biker-style boots. Suri was shoeless, wearing a pink dress.

Holmes, whose husband Cruise is promoting his movie Knight and Day, was apparently anxious to get back to the car because she didn’t want to be recognized and appeared to have forgotten to pay for the strawberries she and her daughter picked.

Staff from Whittamore’s had to chase after them for the money, Taylor said. But it was soon clear that they had intended to send the driver or security guard back to pay. And indeed, the driver came back in a black Escalade and paid.

Initially, some of the staff wasn’t sure it was Holmes and Suri when the mother and daughter first arrived.

They thought maybe it was her, but then didn’t think it could actually be her.

“It was very exciting,” said Taylor, who asked if she could take a picture of Holmes and Suri. The request, however, was denied. But a paparazzi photographer captured their picture as she left Whittamore’s Farm.

“We haven’t had anything like that happen ever,” Taylor said. “It was a blur.”

Later Holmes and Suri stopped at the Whittamore’s Farm market where they bought some more goodies. Holmes bought a couple of fresh fruit pies, including a strawberry pie, as well as a cup of strawberry ice cream.

Holmes spent some time wandering around the store, looking at the fresh produce, said Suzanne Whittamore, who runs the farmer’s market. “She came into the market and purchased strawberry ice cream for Suri. She browsed around the store and she picked up a couple of pies.”

Suzanne said she kept to herself while she was in the market. “She didn’t look at anybody directly. She had a bodyguard with her.”

Holmes was maybe in the store for about 10 minutes Suzanne said. And while the cashier who cashed her out didn’t recognize her, everyone else in the store did but left her alone.

Holmes and Suri left after that, missing the children’s play area and the animated singing chicken show that’s on offer."


Honestly this whole event just baffles me!
 
1.  Only $1.14 of berries before leaving?  Am I the only mom who would not rush their child out of a situation just because they were a little bit cranky?
 
2.  Didn't want to be recognized?  How about don't marry one of the most recognizable movie stars in the world.  Do famous people realise once they are famous they will be recognized?
 
3.  Staff chased them for the money?  $1.14 to be exact.  We have all done it...you would not believe the number of times I have left the grocery store without paying for the eggs I tucked into the top of the stroller to protect them - not once has a store employee chased me to my car for the money.  You can barely find a Whittamore's employee to answer a question about potatoes let alone chase someone to their car to pay for 3 strawberries!
 
4.  They were going to send a driver back with the money?  It doesnt occur to them to carry cash when going into a store?  Especially a farmer's market! 
 
5.  A fan asked to take a photo and was denied?    They went to a very public place, of course people will want a photo!
 
 
Have a fabulous day!

Open Letter to Katie Holmes/Tom Cruise

Dear Katie,

Please pull yourself together.
You are far too young to look this old.
You have money, you have people.
There is no reason you cant brush your hair and put on a little lip gloss.
The bag lady look just isn't working.
Lots of moms who don't have full time help manage to go out into the world looking better than they did when they crawled out of bed that morning. You can be one of them!
We miss the old Katie!

Regards,
The Suburban Princess




Dear Tom,

Please encourage your wife to be her former fabulous self.
She might just need permission to take the time for herself.

Signed,
The Suburban Princess