happy new year!

happy new year's everyone! we're staying in tonight...becca & her family are coming over and we're putting the kids to bed at our place. we have a full menu of extremely unhealthy appetizers, followed by a bernard callebaut chocolate fondue...makes me think about setting new year's resolutions.

i don't know if i ever have ever set a new year's resolution for myself. i do set goals often throughout the year, but it seems that most of those goals are not related to my well being. i am thinking this year is the year to get a few things back on track. i don't want to be unrealistic and say that i am going to get up at 5am every morning (like i used to pre-ryan) and go to the gym. i think i would like to take up yoga...a little r&r for my brain! i am too darn wound up all the time...don't tell my husband that i am admitting that! anyone know of a great (beginners) yoga class? it has to be somewhat challenging or you will lose me after the first class. it also has to be in the evening. let me know if you have anything to recommend. i also want to drink more water...i know, lame right? but it's true...i used to drink 12 glasses a day, now i drink an average of 3 (i'm drinking water right now...although i know the martini chasers are on the way!). fresh start tomorrow!

anyway, i just want to say happy new year and thank you to all who read the blog and support our store!

here's to an amazing year ahead!

cheers,
j

getting out!

we had a fabulous dinner out last night. the time flew by and the next thing we knew we had been sitting for 3 hours (enjoying adult conversation!). i had to admit though that i was quite disappointed with our server. i don't want to bad mouth the restaurant on my blog, but when we asked him to split our bill for us (there were 9 of us), his response was that he could do it, but it would take him 15 minutes...he sounded so inconvenienced and was rude about it...i'm pretty sure we won't be back to that restaurant- there are many other great ones in saskatoon that i would prefer to dine at. anyway, it was nice to get out. ryan loves having the babysitter to play with and layla slept the entire time (she even slept in for me this morning!).

so, we had a huge breakthrough yesterday. layla took her first bottle from me. it is actually stressing me out quite a bit. she doesn't always take a bottle and now that we are introducing formula, she is being even more particular about when she'll take it. we are heading to toronto in a few weeks for a trade show and perry & the girls are coming (his brother lives in TO). layla has to take the bottle regularly by then because i will be busy. i am sure things will work out as they always seem to, but it's just one more thing to think about.

i know it's long overdue, but i thought i would post a few pics from our staff party (hopefully you'r reading, kristan!).

j

off to use my gift certificate from the cravings gals for an anti-stress massage this morning...SOOOOOOOOO looking forward to it!!!

sophie

one more thing i forgot to mention...last week's US weekly magazine, page 1...nicole richie and daughter, harlow, holding on to sophie the giraffe. sold at cravings! check it out...

http://www.sophiegiraffe.ca/

layla absolutely loves hers...one of the only things she will actually chew on while she is teething! oh, also forgot to mention, she has 4 teeth now!!

have a good one
j

SLEEP!

super busy day at the store yesterday, which was great! i apologize to those of you that had to try on maternity clothing in the washroom. we promise this won't happen in our new space!! i went to bed at 7:45 last night...i got 10 1/2 hours of sleep! that is the earliest i have gone to bed since i can remember. i obviously needed it. my body just doesn't seem to handle too much of waking up at 6am and working until midnite every night...and kids & running around in between! today is a new day. perry is working and then has hockey so i can't go in to work...a good excuse for a day away!

tomorrow is full force ahead with our leasehold improvements! can't wait for the paint and to get rid of that hospital green they had going on in there. can't believe we're almost in january and our move is fast approaching...lots of work ahead! we have ordered quite a few new lines for the new store- super excited for the expansion and to mix things up a bit!

anyway, off to watch hannah montana (ryan's new favorite show) and then i think we'll head to the book store...in a few hours when it opens!

have a great day!
j

happy boxing day!

well, my boxing day shopping was anti-climactic. i really didn't find much...maybe i just wasn't in the mood shop today (very unlike me!). i went early this morning and then enjoyed the rest of the day with perry home. i even managed to get a nap in- something i haven't done in months.

the store is open tomorrow from 12-4 so i will be there. it'll be nice to get a few hours in during the day instead of at night. i've been working pretty much every night that perry doesn't work and i find it so much more difficult after taking care of the kids all day, cooking, bathing, bed time...and then work begins...despite the fact that i'm not at the store during the day, i am still managing to put in some good hours....just not much "me" time right now. it is worth it though. i still feel that layla is too little for daycare. i'll probably start layla mid-late february. we'll start with one day a week and work up from there. it'll be good timing with the new store opening.

anyway, off to relax and enjoy a quiet evening at home

j

a very long day

when you don't celebrate christmas there isn't much to do on the 25th. i have both kids tomorrow and perry is at work. he works every christmas to give those that celebrate the holiday the time off. for me it means a LONG day of nothing! we'll probably go to shoppers at some point for an "outting"! i've been going with ryan every year just get out of the house. layla's turn to share in the tradition! we rented a few movies as well so that will help. i'm not sure why tomorrow seems longer than any other day of the year???...maybe because boxing day can't come soon enough! i am a HUGE boxing day shopper. i haven't done too much damage since ryan was born and we stopped going back to alberta over the holidays. one of my best friends in calgary and i would go every year...we even had a system in place for the stores that had hour long line-ups. i'm not scared of the crowds, in fact i would probably say it makes it more fun for me! i am going to venture out for a bit on the 26th (sans kids) to see what i can find and maybe use a few gift certificates!

well, i wish you all a merry christmas...i am sure you won't be bored tomorrow!

j

cooking & baking

thought i would write quickly while perry & ryan get groceries, layla is sleeping and i am enjoying my first cup of coffee of the morning (one of my favorite things). i have a full day ahead of me- cooking & baking. tonight is the first night of chanukah. we are off to becca's place, which relieves me of cooking a big meal (thanks becca!). i am not, however, dismissed from making potato latkes and for some odd reason, i feel like making challah (bread). maybe it's the weather? i figure if i'm spending the entire day in the kitchen, i might as well make a real mess! i am actually looking forward to it and ryan is super excited to help me...we'll see how long that lasts!

aside from that, everything is going well at the new space! our flooring should be arriving at the beginning of january- we were a bit worried about that. just need to find a bathroom light fixture, a few mirrors and a couple more display tables (so excited to have so much more space!). becca and i have spent quite a bit of time seeking out some great new lines and have placed numerous orders over the past couple weeks. i don't want to give it all away now so watch your inbox for announcements over the next month or so!

i'm off to download pictures from our staff party...apparently a few people are waiting to see them!

have a great day and happy chanukah!

j