I know it has taken me a while, but I have just discovered Sephora.  I had heard of it, but because there weren’t any local stores, I had never actually been in one.  A friend from Montreal was visiting a couple of months ago and brought me to the new Ottawa store as she was looking for something they didn’t carry at the Montreal store.  We were only there briefly but I knew I had to go back soon.  She told me about the Beauty Insider card and newsletter, and if you sign up they send you a free birthday present.  So of course I signed up and this weekend I went to the Ottawa store to pick up my free lip gloss trio (yum!)  The store was sooo much fun.  I went with a couple of girlfriends and we spent over an hour just browsing and trying out funky products.  I ended up getting some wonderful Makeup Forever false eyelashes, a glimmery eyeshadow also from Makeup Forever, an eye shadow brush and my free lip glosses.  Of course I went back yesterday to look some more and got a sample of Hope In A Jar (Philosophy) and Fudge Cake shower gel (Philosophy).    I also got a gorgeous eyeliner from Sephora.  This place is amazing – you must check it out!!

Yesterday was my 37th birthday…woohoo!  I had a wonderful day: a pedicure, a nice lunch with a friend, a viewing of Twilight and Edward , dinner out with my wonderful family and cupcakes.  Today I am going for high tea with my girlfriends.  Life is good.  I have never understood why women feel the need to pretend they aren’t aging.  Society plays right into it as well.  Last night as I was being serenaded at the restaurant they pretended I was 22…I quickly corrected them.  I want my children to know I am proud to be 37 and getting older.  I am in great shape physically, much better shape than I was in my 20’s.  Hell I can run a 10k in less than an hour I am wiser, more relaxed, making much better decisions.  I am very happily married with two wonderful children.  I am so blessed in this life and I love watching everything change each year.  I wouldn’t give any of this up to go back to being in my 20’s.  My 30’s are wonderful, I wonder what my 40’s will bring?    So people, embrace aging and teach your children how much better it is to just be comfortable in yourself.

I read about this awesome new font that is available free to download here.  This is a font that was developed to look good, but saves ink when printing as there are little holes in each of the letters.  I think it is brilliant.  Please download and start using it in honour of Earth Day (yes I know I am a day late )!

I can’t believe it!  I ran my 10km race yesterday and made it over the finish line in 59:35.  I had an amazing running partner who basically got me through it.  By kilometre 1 I was already sore and winded.  He just somehow made me keep moving.  I just kept telling myself I could do one more at this pace, and I seemed to be able to.  We even ran the second 5 km about 30 seconds faster than the first 5.  At one point we were running past a few people who had finished their race and one of them yelled to my running partner that he had better stay with me.  It was at that point that I realized how horrible I must look .  Fortunately I was too tired to even laugh at that point.  With 1/2 a kilometre left I saw that I was at 58:15 and I looked at my partner and said there is no way I am NOT doing this…and I found some inner strength and powered through…I still cannot believe I did it.  I am so proud of  myself!  And not too sore today either.  Yea!!

I am gearing up for my big race tomorrow.  I am running a 10km race and I have set myself a time goal of 1 hour.  My last 10km race took me 1:07 which was the fastest I had ever run that distance and I was thrilled.  I don’t actually think I can hit 1 hour but hopefully I will do it or at least get close.  I have had a rough week so it is nice to have something positive to focus on.  I will report back and let you know how it went…happy running everyone!

I woke up bright and early yesterday morning to go for my 13km run.  It was sunny outside so I was very excited about getting out there and enjoying the day.  I wore a light hat and a couple of layers as I knew it would still be a bit chilly out there.  It was actually a beautiful morning, sunny, and probably close to zero degrees celcius.  Oh yeah, and then there were 39km/h wind gusts.  Freaking 39 km/h!!  The wind was actually blowing me backwards.  At one point it was blowing directly up my nose so I was having trouble breathing.  I struggled so hard to finish that run.

Several times I just stopped looked at the sky, shook my fist and yelled, “Seriously????”  As I round the corner on my last kilometre, I thought, okay I survived.  And then the wind gust came again and that last kilometre threatened to reduce me to tears.

Why do I do this again?

I just read one of the most wonderful books I have ever read.  Still Alice by Lisa Genova tells the story of a woman who is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s Disease.  The book allows you to go through it with her, from the first signs, the diagnosis, right to the end.  It is a lovely story, that sheds some light on a very scary illness.  It was beautifully written and researched and I think everyone should read it.

My husband shared this great story about my children with me this morning.

As he was driving them to school they were arguing about who knows more. My husband told them to stop fighting and that very soon, they’ll both be smarter than Daddy. He added that when that happens, they’ll have to get good jobs and make lots of money so that they can take care of him. He said he will need to be taken care of because he would have to sell all of his stuff to pay for two PhDs and would then have to live in a cardboard box on the side of the road.

there was a pause…

and then our 7 year old son pipes up, “It’s OK Daddy…you’ll still be smart when we’re smarter than you.  We’ll take care of you and Mommy either way. You guys won’t have to live in a box.

What a cute kid!

My children had a really wonderful weekend. My son had his last hockey tournament of the year and they made it all the way to the finals, which they lost.  He even got an assist on the only goal scored in the semi-final game. I was so proud. He played with heart, style and enthusiasm. What a wonderful thing to watch!

My daughter also had a dance competition this weekend. Her dancing was so fantastic and energetic and sharp! They got great marks for all 4 dances and we were very proud. The surprise came at the end of the competition when their jazz number came in second overall for their age group. We were all thrilled! Her lyrical number continues to reduce me and all the other mothers to tears each time we see it. When I watch that dance I am in awe of my daughter’s grace, beauty, poise, and most of all her dedication to dance.

I am a very proud mommy this morning

Just for fun today…my favourite five male movie actors to look at – and let’s be honest, this list changes daily   And I specify movie actors, because of course there is an entirely different tv list .

5.  Johnny Depp – Every movie is good with Johnny Depp in it – and every woman I know thinks he is hot!

Johnny Depp

4.  Ethan Hawke – Just love him and he is a writer too…

Ethan Hawke

3.  Robert Downey Jr – How hot is he?  Before rehab, after rehab, whatever – just yummy.

Robert Downey jr

2.   Robert Pattinson – my favourite guy de jour – especially when he is playing my beloved Edward.

Robert Pattinson as Edward

1.  Matt Dillon – my all-time favourite actor…always.

Matt Dillon