the thirties grind

Momcabulary Monday: Mombie

mom·bie [mom-bee]

a woman who has a child and becomes a different person than she was before; her conversations revolve around toilet training, feeding schedules, and cleaning products; there’s a glazed look in her eyes and she appears to have been brainwashed…she’s not – she just hasn’t slept in five years.

Kenny Rogers’ advice for new fathers…

Having kids is a bit of a crap-shoot.  Some people are born parents, others struggle significantly…and a few (let’s face it) can barely look after themselves, let alone another human being.  What I think is one of the biggest gambles of becoming a new father, however, is not knowing how becoming a mother is going to affect your partner.  It’s funny because, the lyrics of Kenny Rogers’ famous song, The Gambler, really apply here. Read more…

What to do in Vancouver this weekend (June 15 & 16)

Starting this week, I’m going to start profiling what’s going on in and around Vancouver on the weekends because, let’s face it, weekends are what most of us live for.  Here’s what you can get up to – with or without kids!

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Absurd Vancouver Property (June 13th, 2013)

Last week, I finished my cross-Canada tour in Alberta.  This week, I’m going to go back to looking at a few pricey celebrity abodes and compare them to what the same amount of dosh will fetch you in The Couve.

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My 2013 Father’s Day gift ideas…

1. Ray Ban Wayfarers – what dad wouldn’t love a new pair of shades, right in time for summer?
2. Whisk(e)y stones – pair these with a nice bottle of his favorite poison.  I’ve found them in Chapters, Restoration Hardware and Winners.
3. Gift certificate for Lucky’s Doughnuts – dad doesn’t have to stick to his healthy diet all year long!  Spoil him with some of the best in town!
4. E-Cigarettes – if you have a guy who likes to sneak the odd puff (oh the shame!) these are a great replacement!  He should still be sneaky, though…don’t want to teach the kiddies bad habits!
5. Meinhardt’s custom gift box – made by you!  I recently did this for my dad’s birthday.  Go into Meinhardt’s and pick out a bunch of goodies that dad will love.  For a small fee the staff will wrap it up in a nice box for you.  BAM!
6. Harry’s Truman Shave Set by J. Crew – a couple steps above that old Bic he’s been using.
7. Legacy Liquor Store tasting session – Select from private tasting seminars or build your own for dad.
8. Flip Flop Shops Father’s day special – includes a pair of Beer Cozy flip flops from Sanuk, a beer cozy and a bottle of Dad’s Root beer, and the choice of having the package delivered right to your Dad. For every package sold FFS will donate $5 to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation.
9. Martial Arts classes – he dreamed of being Bruce Lee when he was a kid.  Help his dreams come true by registering him for a few lessons!

So, Vancouver real estate is unaffordable. Who cares?

Lots of people don’t want to acknowledge that real estate is unaffordable in Vancouver.  They poo-poo the notion that the average person cannot afford to buy a home in this city.  They argue that we’re “world class”, comparable to cities like New York and London…we should stop feeling “entitled” and accept that this is just the way it is.

However, the connection between Vancouver housing costs and what, in fact, is actually driving them still lacks transparency…and I had not heard it articulated as well as I did in Kerry Gold’s recent article in the Globe and Mail.

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The REAL Real Housewives of Vancouver: Julie Nowell

A worker of magic, and a creator of awesome moments, Julie spends her time balancing multiple businesses that all work towards the purpose of creating community and providing unique engagement. An engaging speaker and trainer, a passionate (and positive) blogger and a digital publisher, Julie gets to work with brands and individuals who are looking to polish their ideas and create memorable experiences for their clients and customers. A “good influence” human, whose main goals are working hard and being happy. Simple really (but super rewarding). Julie Blogs about happiness at www.3chickensandaboat.com and consults via www.threechickenconsulting.com.

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Momcabulary Monday: Dairy Queen

dair·y  queen  (/ˈde(ə)rē /kwēn/)

What I began to call myself when the rigors of breastfeeding my first born began.*

Seriously…one night, after putting my daughter down after another blissful day of her battling with my swollen, chaffed and sore chest, I sat with with my double electronic breast pump, squeezing out every last drop before bed when it occurred to me…I am being milked like a bovine right now.  WTF is up with that?

*Nobody tells you that breastfeeding is NOT easy for everyone.   It was one of the hardest things I ever did…so I never, ever judge anyone who either can’t breastfeed or decides not to.  Breastfeeding kicked my ASS!

Win a $50 gift card to spend at Wonderlab by Toys “R” Us!

Earlier this month, Toys“R”Us, Canada opened its first learning concept store at 1331 Marine Drive in North Vancouver. Named Wonderlab by Toys“R”Us, this new concept for the company reinforces its role as the expert in educational play. All of the products sold in the store promote learning, discovery, creativity, exploration and role play.

“As the toy authority, Toys“R”Us knows that moms love products that teach and entertain their children,” said Liz MacDonald, vice president, marketing, Toys“R”Us, Canada. “The philosophy behind Wonderlab by Toys“R”Us is that playing is the most important part of learning and when kids play they aren’t afraid to experiment and try new things. We want to foster kids’ imaginations by giving them a place to start learning that discovery and exploration happen through play.” Read more…