My New Hero

My new hero is one of my best friends, Jennifer Jakob. She just gave birth to an 11lb 4 oz baby boy.

House Hunting?

If you're interested in buying the house in this video, let me know. The owner is a friend of mine. It's a perfect starter home for a young family.

• 3 bedroom, 7 year old home in Bridlewood (Kanata, Onatrio)
• Large fenced yard
• 4 schools within walking distance
• Huge park with jungle gyms and soccer fields just steps away
• All hardwood and ceramic floors
• Custom-built entertainment system
• Open concept layout

MLS listing

Lighter Than Air

Well, not quite lighter than air but I did lose 2lbs! I started running again this month to train for the 10k race in May. This time my goal is to be faster.

And if you're going to give me slack about how I don't have to lose weight, I have a story behind the reason. Last year, after all the training I did, I actually gained 10lbs. I know it isn't due to muscle mass either because I had to buy bigger pants to fit my waist. I was devastatingly disappointed after my race last year because one of the huge bonuses I was looking forward to after all that running was a nicer body. I've since pinpointed the reason down to some meds I was taking so I have done what was necessary to come off them. Now my goal for this year is to lose that 10lbs. I'm running again and I'm eating properly and so far it's working. I even avoided going to a friend's party last night because I knew she would have delicious food there (plus I was looking forward to a quiet night to rest).

Two down; eight to go!

We Are The Champions

Yesterday was the annual cub car rally. This was Aidan's last year and our last time to ever have a child take part in the event (yeah, I'm feeling old). I am so proud of our troop. They were the winners of the Grand Howl trophy. They are judged on how well they come together and how they said the Grand Howl together. I'm sure volume has a factor in it too.

We didn't just take home this trophy. Boys from our troop also took home the Best Design trophy and Best Creative Design trophy. How did Aidan do? He was 5th in his category. His best buddy Kaiden came in 4th.

Kudos to their cub leader, Ian.

Obama Mania

Today, the first African American President of the United States, President Barack Obama made his first foreign visit to Canada. I am very lucky my office is right around the corner from the Parliament Building. I was able to get great footage of his motorcade when he left.

Then we all wondered why he was driving in front of the office and turning into the ByWard Market. A group of us at the office decided to go outside and see what was going on. It turns out, he was getting a Beavertail and went into the ByWard Market building afterwards to buy a scarf for his wife and cookies for his girls. How cute is that!




I tried to get video footage of him when he came out of the building. I couldn't see so I held my arm up as high as I could and used my cell phone camera to be my eyes. I was hoping that I could say I saw him by viewing my footage later. Much to my disappointment later, the guy in front of me blocked my cell phone's line of sight and I totally missed seeing him. I was RIGHT THERE!!!! Luckily my boss, David, got a much better view and got some great pictures. I'm still jealous and angry that I didn't get to see him though when so many others did, especially because I was there.

Photo courtesy of my boss, David

Photo courtesy of my boss, David

Photo courtesy of my boss, David

I do feel bad for the people who waiting on Parliament Hill to see him. However, the news told everyone that you probably won't see him from the distance they were kept at and all the security measures at the building doors. Lucky for the people in the market who were able to see him up close and personal. They didn't even clear out the market building. One newspaper of him inside the building showed that there were still regular people inside...crowded, but they were there.

Photo courtesy of Ottawa Sun

Well, at least I could say I was there; a moment in history.

Enjoying the Good Life

Sheldon did good this Valentine's Day; much better than last year's barbershop quartet although that got the most creative, but embarrassing award. We went shopping for a couple of hours and bought him some much needed new jeans and a coat, then spent half the afternoon at the spa together (body scrub, 1-hr massage, pedicure, and chocolate covered strawberries), and then a fabulous 6-course dinner at Foundation (one of the restaurants on my list and it was GOOD). Before we went home for the night, we went for a stroll through Confederation Park to look at the Winterlude ice sculptures (or what was left of some of them after our unseasonably warm temps). This was totally a Jessica-approved day. It was so much fun and so relaxing.

Ahhh, what I would give to live like this all the time.

The Food Experience

I've come to realize lately how I love to go out to eat. I don't get to do it often but when I do, I want to go to a really good restaurant. Not only does the food have to be good but the atmosphere as well. Because of Sheldon's gluten-free dietary needs, we usually go out for sushi. Now that I work downtown, my eyes have been opened to the plethora of restaurants that are just in the ByWard Market alone. What a shame it would be if I never get to eat at them!

A friend I carpool with told me about the Taste of Winterlude event in February where you can "enjoy exclusive prix-fixe menus, fine dining experiences...culinary delights at some of our best local restaurants." This has me excited as it will give me a chance to eat at some of the pricier restaurants that I normally avoid because of the price.

As we're planning for Angelina's last birthday with us before she moves to B.C., we asked her what she had in mind. She said she didn't care as long as it was with her best friends and good food had to be a part of it.

The same group will be going on a Montreal temple trip this weekend (as our first and our last for a long time) before Jen has baby #3 and Angelina moves. Jen requested that we go somewhere good to eat after. A friend at work told me that Montreal is having restaurant week as well. Once again, good food has to be a part of our festivities.

Then Sheldon asked me to pick out the restaurant I wanted to go to for Valentine's Day.

This has got me researching restaurants a lot and I've come up with a list of places I'd like to try or just go to again to try some different menu items. I've compiled a special list and put it in the right column of this blog.

One restaurant in particular has really grabbed my attention; Atelier. It sounds like they mix art, science, and food together which creates a really unique experience. They serve a 12-course tasting meal that includes items such as caviar creamsicle, nitro noodle soup, liquid centres, and yellow snow (not sure what that one's about but I'm intrigued). Take a look at some of the pictures I borrowed from their website. It's so artistic! For more pictures, check out their gallery.





Hopefully the list will provide my husband and friends some new ideas of where we can go the next time we have something special to celebrate. Perhaps I'll even create a Favourite Restaurants list. Until then...happy eating.