STRENGTH

WW-FALL

THE FIRST FOUR WORDS

Lazy, Peaceful, Lovely, Passionate- I'll take it! Tell me yours...

FABULOUS IDEA

FALL- FAMILY- RUN

The first day of fall is finally here but our family has been enjoying fall festivities for the past few weeks now. I took one last dip in the pool last week while my Dad was here just to make sure summer was over, Brrrr... it was freezing!

We've have had a few warm days the last few weeks but yesterday and today screamed fall. The Canada Army Run was a great way to mark the first weekend of fall. We bundled up the kids at six am and headed to the city to join the 22,000 other people taking part in the Army Run . It was such a nice course to run. This city is beautiful.

As I've said many times fall is my favourite season. This weekend I went through my closet. I put all my maternity clothes in a bag to give to charity. ( very sad face ) I packed up all my summer clothes and put them away and pulled all my fall clothes out of storage and washed them. I can't wait to wear my first turtleneck.

I bought Euan the Radio Flyer Scooter and gave it to him last week. We all had a good chuckle watching him try to figure out how to ride it. I think he needs a little bit longer though. By next summer he'll be a pro!

I wonder what lovely surprises this fall will bring for our family. Happy fall friends! xoxo

CCTV BANKSY

SUPER SUNDAY

Today was pretty awesome.

I had some really special quality cuddle time with Euan after his nap.

I won the lottery...2 numbers is a free ticket; I believe, this was because I bought Daddy Walker a ticket too. Pay it forward people!

Thanks to inspiring L, I had my first fall Starbucks drink a Salted Caramel Mocha. You know those little testers they sometimes hand out? that's all I really needed, but the tall one I ordered was delicious.

This afternoon I spent some time alone (heaven) shopping at Walmart; I bought a few bits for Romilly's room. It's looking awesome! The mattress my Dad ordered for her room was delivered Friday. This weekend we worked on her lamp & shade, painted some letters & hung up the new curtain rod. I can't wait to finish it and take the final pictures.

I bought Euan a kitchen set a Walmart for no reason at all, other than I knew he would totally love it, and he did. He played with it all afternoon- we all had a go! Daddy Walker joked- it's the only time he had seen me in the kitchen, the cheek of him! 

Yep, Sunday September 15 was a pretty amazing day.

Gratitude. LLBC xo

FALL

TGIF-ENJOY

I took Daddy Walker for a manicure & pedicure this afternoon. He didn't have a choice in the matter. *wink* Anyone who knows my Dad would probably never picture him going to the spa.

 It was interesting to see all the ladies reactions when he sat beside me in the massage chair rolled up his pant legs and dipped his feet into the foot bath. A lady about the same age as Dad came up to us and let us know we had inspired her to bring her x husband in, and get his feet sorted- apparently he had asked her to do it.. the cheek of him!

Dad really enjoyed it and even said his feet felt lighter!

I could have definitely used a glass of champagne today at the spa.

1 WORD- AWESOME

QUESTIONS YOUR HUSBAND ASKS THAT MAKE YOU WONDER 

SIMPLE STRAIGHT LINES

BABY JANE

I'm in love!! Now I just have to order the Baby Jane Sun Bonnet pattern from Etsy and try to make it for Romilly.

GET OUT OF TROUBLE

There once was this recipe called " get out of trouble chocolate cake" that Husband got quite good at making. Tonight I found a new get out of trouble go to- from the incredibly gorgeous Tiffany Atlas collection. They launched the collection in NYC tonight. Absolutely stunning.

SITTING

Time is flying and my sweet little petal is growing. Having a little girl in our life is pretty awesome. Now that she is a little older we are getting to enjoy all her smiles. She still loves motion. Our friends Andy & Dawn helped us out with this by donating their swing which has been put to good use. Both my kids love the music and movement-it rarely get's a rest. Euan had such a melt down the other day I let him eat his lunch in the swing; it's a good thing he is only 25 pounds.

RAFA

L guest blogged last week choosing Nadal to win the Men's US Open.  Since Andy is out, I will cheer for Nadal this afternoon. I just got a text from L that said "I'm loving it!!! Vamos rafa!"  Anyone else notice the Queen of Spain is in the house. My Dad and Husband are cheering for Djokovic. Some friendly banter shall ensue! 

DADDY WALKER

My Dad is in Ottawa for the next few weeks. It's his first time meeting Romilly and seeing our home in Ottawa.

Today we all went into the city and Dad got on a bike for the first time in years; we were all impressed. 

The weather is getting colder, the trees are changing colour and the days are definitely getting shorter. I thought Dad and I would get some swim days in, but it would be a polar bear swim this week! 

My favourite season is approaching. Although having the pool this year will make fall's arrival bitter sweet, it has been nice to put on my jeans and buy a few fall tops this week. LLBC xo

MONDAY

FLASH MOB PICNIC

I won't be going this year but it is now on my list. Tonight Ottawa is celebrating Harvest Noir which is a flash mob picnic, but that's not all it is. The surprise location will be announced two hours before. Everything about this sounds fabulous and fun, the most intriguing invitation I've had this year. I remember reading about something similar to this in Paris called the Dîner en Blanc but it was a huge secret and by invite only. I love that everyone, is invited to this pop up picnic. 

 For  more information about this exciting pop up picnic go to www.harvestnoir.com

GREY GOOSE HONEY DEUCE

Andy Murray I hope you are enjoying one of these tonight!

NEEDS WORK

"Always behave like a duck — keep calm and unruffled on the surface but paddle like the devil underneath."

– Jacob Braude

BACK TO LIFE

Look who was super smart looking on his way back to school this morning. We had a Skype date with C and took some first day back pictures. What a smile!

"Laughter is the closest distance between two people."

NIAGARA

H

It's that time again...

Connor starts school in England this week, our time with him went by much too quickly but we made some great family memories this summer. We took  Connor to Toronto airport last week and after a very tearful good bye made our way to Niagara Falls for a late anniversary getaway.

We stayed at Marriott Falls View and upgraded to the Presidential Niagara Suite. This suite is not much different from a regular suite other than  having a spectacular full falls view on one side and city view on the other side. The other great thing about it was that we were able to have two cribs in the room which gave the kids a very restful nights sleep.

Steve and I ordered late night room service from the Terrapin Grille and had it set up in the living room where we watched the nightly illumination show. I wasn't sure how cooperative the kids were going to be the next day so having a falls view room was a great way to take it all in.

After a great nights sleep and all-inclusive breakfast I checked in for my appointment at the full service Serenity Spa in the hotel. It was heavenly. In the afternoon we skipped all the pricey tours for another time when the kids are old enough to enjoy it and walked the length of the falls. Niagara is magical!

A PINCH

A pinch and a punch for the first of the month. I'm back!!!

It's Labour Day long weekend here and a lot of us North Americans will be spending it camping. Be safe, have fun & enjoy beautiful wildlife in the great outdoors peeps. SEPTEMBER is going to  be an amazing month. LLBC xoxo