the way way back....

I really enjoyed this coming of age story. Awkward and shy Duncan (Liam James), spends the summer with his mom (Toni Collette) and her belittling boyfriend (Steve Carell). Duncan strikes up a friendship with the manager of a local waterpark, played by the charismatic Sam Rockwell. It is a funny and heartfelt look at Duncan's journey towards his own confidence. This film perfectly captures one of the rare topics touched upon in movies, the importance of a father figure in a boy's life. I found this movie was the perfect mix of funny, charming and heartfelt. Allison Janney and Sam Rockwell are at the top of their game here.

the room

Hello friends! I have missed you and I've missed utilizing this writing space. We were housesitting for the past two weeks while my parents were away and we've been using the time to reno our home's only bathroom, so life has been a little unsettled .
While at my parents place, I couldn't help but notice that they still have that room. Did you grow up  in a home with a room where fancy furniture goes to die? Okay, it doesn't actually die per se, but it is left remarkably alone. Dusted? You bet! Used? Lol.  
Do you remember these kinds of conversations growing up? "You want to have your friends over? Sure, but just don't even think about going in the living room!" or "The chair in the living room looks like it was moved two inches to the left, were you in there?!?!"  Hey, I know, let's buy up all the fanciest furniture we can find, display it ever so elegantly, and then don't let anyone in there. It didn't take long before I started to see the irony in the title of the so-called "living" room. One of my friends even had a mom who kept her fancy furniture covered in plastic. Because nothing is more inviting than keeping a nice thick layer of plastic crinkling loudly beneath your every move while you are conversing with your friends.
I wonder, with today's generation living in smaller, open concept spaces, will the fancy room eventually become a plastic covered memory?
So, we're housesitting at my parents, and this morning, my little one wants to go in THE ROOM to play the piano.  I've navigated more covert operations, so I kneel down, look her square in the eyes, and say, "Stick with me kid. We've got this!"
But as I stepped upon the plush carpeting, I couldn't help but scream. Blood curdling you ask? Affirmative.
Three- not one, not two- but three piles of electric yellow vomit on THE ROOM's white carpet, courtesy of my dog. How long it had been there, I do not know, because I seldom had tiptoed into THE ROOM during our stay. I ran around the house like a CRAZY person. I'm pretty sure I looked like a cartoon character whose legs move a million miles an hour in the air before they gain any semblance of forward motion. My daughter found it all to be quite hilarious as I sprinted around shouting at the top of my lungs, "If there is a GOD, you will point me in the direction of the cleaner and spare my soul!!""
I kid you not, I was firing two bottles of spot shot, one in each hand, like they were pistols with endless rounds of ammunition. My inner dialogue went something like this: Why did I leave the door open to this room, was I born yesterday?!? Why the $*%& did my dog have to pick THIS ROOM to toss up electric yellow cookies? Who the $*&*# has white carpeting?!? 
I'm going to check on THE ROOM tomorrow morning, before I pick them up from the airport.
If it isn't clear, well, it's been very nice knowing you all. xoxo
sidenote: My husband informed me that he recalls seeing the dog run off with our daughter's yellow crayon.

random images from the weekend....

Hello friends, how are you? Sorry for the absence from this space lately, we're busy back and forth between our home (renovating our only bathroom) and housesitting for my parents, so I don't have access to my usual set up these days. Did you have a fun weekend? We took Craig's parents away for their 50th anniversary! (I did the math and I'll be 76 on our 50th! I have a feeling my party dress will be paired with some kind of support hose....)  We rented cabins up at Harrison Hot Springs, swam in the amazing hot spring pools, had a delicious feast, stayed up late playing games and drinking champagne - it was the perfect getaway. I hope you had a fantastic weekend! I'll be sure to  update this space more throughout this week. Our neighbours were outside tonight putting up their Christmas lights, I'm beginning to feel the buzz of excitement in the air, are you?

xoxo

lest we forget

My father in law at today's procession.

(Sopwith Camel photo courtesy of aviation history.com)

At the age of 20, my grandpa was a Lieutenant in WWI for the Royal Air Force and became an ACE, taking down seven planes while flying a Sopwith Camel, like the airplane pictured above. Hi co-pilot? A stuffed animal, with bullet holes through him. My dad still has the stuffed animal to this day, along with his father's fascinating flight log book. My grandpa also served in WWII and survived the trenches. He died 10 years before I was born. I wish I could have met him and asked him about this period of history.

Today we took our little one to the local Remembrance Day ceremony to applaud the old veterans as they walked by, proudly donning their medals. As airplanes soared above and the bagpipes played, I had a lump in my throat, thinking of how young, how brave and how vulnerable these troops were and are to this day. 

xo

have a delicious weekend!

Hello friends! What do you have on your weekend line up? I'm really excited to get together with friends tomorrow night for appies and this game, which, if you haven't played and have a naughty sense of humour, it is hi-larious. I've also got a mom's night out lined up and the hubs and I are taking the munchkin to see her grandpa march in the Remembrance Day ceremony.

I thought I'd give you a few Netflix (Canada) recommendations if you're looking for a cozy afternoon under a blanket on this rainy weekend:

Here's a few good ones you may have missed (click on the name to see the trailer)

If you're a fan of Woody Allen, you'll love:
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Midnight in Paris

If you enjoy indie romantic comedies, check out:
Ruby Sparks
Newlyweds
Lola Versus

IF you're up for suspenseful drama, try:
A Winter's Bone
Gone Baby Gone
The Lookout
A Perfect Getaway

Have a fun filled weekend!! xoxo

feeling inspired

(top image Robert Genn/bottom image Sara Genn)

This morning while having coffee with a friend, she informed me that beloved local artist Robert Genn has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and has, perhaps, a year to live.
He is busy going through all of his paintings, categorizing them into "destroy", "sign" and "keep."
I couldn't believe it when I heard he's destroying some of his works of art, but his reasoning is that he doesn't want any work circulating after his passing that is subpar by his standards.
I was so moved how his diagnosis is forcing his hand to reflect on his life's work and choose the pieces he wants to leave behind as his life's legacy.
What would you want as your legacy?

Aside from his accomplished work as a painter, a big part of Robert's legacy are the his mega-talented children.
His daughter Sara was one of my classmates in elementary school. When I first moved out to White Rock, I was blown away by her warm and welcoming spirit. She seemed like an old soul, wise beyond her years. Today I have learned that she is a successful artist by her own right, living in New York. Her artistry has also found her living in France, Spain and Italy. Her twin brother James writes and directs for television. Their older brother David is a member of the rock band 54-40 and previously spent six years as lead guitarist for the Matthew Good band. (He's also married to local news personality Tamara Taggart and they have three children together).
I was moved by the creativity that is so prevalent in the Genn family. Obviously their father's gift shaped their childhood. It's like when you see a professional athlete's child effortlessly step in where the parent left off in their career. There's a level of genius that seems to pass down throughout these families.
It really struck me today that I want to be inspiring for my daughter. I want to do something big with the years I have left on this planet. Our time here is fleeting. Let's tap into our biggest potential and leave a legacy of inspiration. If someone were to write a biography of your life, wouldn't you want it to be a page turner?
Dream big.  Be kind to one another. Create your own amazing adventure.
xoxo

off to bed...

Hi guys, did you have a fun weekend?
We had friends over Friday night for cocktails, Saturday night for dinner and went to a potluck Sunday. It was one of those weekends where I really have to pinch myself and think, am I this lucky to know all of these amazing people?
Don't you think if you're surrounded by the right people, they can make even the most ordinary events extraordinary? There are so many wonderful quotes on friendship out there,  like how true friends can "grow separately without growing apart"....or how good friends are like stars, you don't always see them, but you know they are there....
When I think of the friends I have collected in my life, I get the warm and fuzzies.
With friendship, I think it's definitely quality over quantity - those who truly let you be yourself, who make you laugh, who support your dreams, who help you back up or lie down next to you if you fall down, who accept your quirks and who make you feel like they are just as excited to see you, as you are them.
Here's are some cards about friendship that made me smile:

xo