Is this model too thin?

Buffalo Jeans are a Canadian company founded in Montreal. I’ve never thought much about these jeans until going into the Wellesley Street subway station near my home and seeing this ad on the wall of the station. (Opposite the same ad appears in a Vancouver bus shelter, where James Sherrett snapped it to post on AdHack–good idea, James). 

Look, I don’t have a thing about models being thin–that’s their job. But this image crosses the line. I’ve started thinking about my 11-year-old and her friends sizing up this model (who gives sub-zero a whole new meaning) and wondering what it would take to get this body. . .and the thought gives me the willies. But I sure can’t quarrel with the hacking.

Filed under: kids, life , AdHack, Buffalo Jeans, model, sub-zero, thin

Catching Up

Whew–been a few days since I blogged. It’s been busy, busy, busy, on the publishing front and I’m putting the finishing touches on the first column for singlemindedwomen. If you haven’t gone already, go now! This is a great site–already has so much useful info on it, I’m still finding things I didn’t see earlier. Last night I read about Bella de Paulo’s Singled Out and also enjoyed Melissa Chapman’s review of A Cup of Comfort for Single Mothers edited by Colleen Sell.

And here are a few pics from my daughter’s 11th birthday! That’s Sim tucked in behind the top picture. The game they’re playing is one we play at all her parties. You can find instructions here. Basically, two teams of kids get construction paper, tape and scissors, and each team tries to build the tallest free-standing structure in 20 – 25 minutes. It’s terrific problem-solving but best of all, keeps the kids thoroughly occupied. Below, the other team gets serious with height!

Filed under: critical thinking, kids, life, solo life , A Cup of Comfort for Single Mothers, Bella de Paulo, birthday, kids, Melissa Chapman, Singled Out

Wordle art distracts me on a slow Tuesday

Here’s a nifty program. Take a bunch of text, go here, and plug it into the program. It will give you a fabulous word cloud featuring one predominant word. Hit the randomize button to see all the styles and colours.

Here’s what a portion of my website homepage ended up looking like.

 

 

 

Here’s how the page on narrative turned out. I like this style a lot.

 

 

 

You can see the full-size versions of a bunch of people’s word art by going to Wordle and looking at the gallery. Way too fun–great for kids too.

Filed under: kids , fun, text, word art, Wordle

It’s called hubris

From ABC News’ The Note:

In case you were wondering whether politics are at play this week: “An Obama ad team will be on hand for the Berlin rally, which figures to become part of the campaign the same way President Ronald Reagan’s emotional D-Day anniversary speech in France did, as a TV commercial,” Paul West reports for the Baltimore Sun.  

Maybe, says the campaign, but: “When the president of the United States goes and gives a speech, it is not a political speech or a political rally, said “a senior foreign policy adviser,” who spoke to reporters on background about Obama’s planned speech, per Politico’s Carrie Budoff Brown.

“But he is not president of the United States,” a reporter reminded the adviser.

Meanwhile, CNN senior political analyst David Gergen said the following about Obama’s meeting with Iraq’s prime minister:

We have a long tradition in this country that we only have one president at a time. He’s [the sitting president] the commander in chief and the negotiator in chief. I cannot remember a campaign which a rival seeking the presidency has been in a position negotiating a war that’s under way with another party outside the country.

 

 

Ouch.

Filed under: life , campaign, hubris, Obama, president, rival, United States

The Responsibility Project: Growing Up

The Responsibility Project asked me to check out their latest film, Growing Up. It features four beautiful kids aged 5 – 20 talking about growing up and being responsible in a perfectly natural way. It’s a lovely film. But are the kids responsible or are they exceptional? The two older kids seemed more like exceptional young adults to me. In particular, it was not necessarily “responsible” for 20-year-old Jenna to put her acting and singing career on hold to work with kids with disabilities, but it may be considered an example of exceptional choosing. To say that it is responsible implies that Jenna would be “irresponsible” for choosing a singing and acting career, something that clearly isn’t the case.

Liberty Mutual has made several other fictional–and quirkier–films, each one asking a question about some aspect of responsibility. This is the first time they decided to make a documentary.

But here’s the deal: as a teaching tool, Growing Up is less successful than the other films. The problem with depicting four wonderful kids is that doesn’t teach anything; it just announces something. The kids watching the film will just sit there and think, “I’m not that kid.” Better to start with grey or negative situations that get kids talking–or even advising–because it’s less initimidating to measure yourself against a situation in which everyone is not behaving perfectly. This would also be a way for kids to actively engage in thinking about the idea of responsibility instead of having the idea presented to them, something modern pedagogy no longer supports.

Just my 2 cents.

Filed under: Responsibility Project, kids , Growing Up, idea, kids, Responsibility Project, teach, teaching tool

Mama Mia! For pure fun, go now!

Mama Mia made its North American debut at the Royal Alexandra Theatre here in Toronto so when they made the movie my heart did a little patta-ping.

Could I have ever imagined Meryl Streep in the role of Donna?. . .nah. . .but she’s good. However, Christine Baranski as Tanya steals the show and Julie Waters is just too crazy to rate. I loved them all.

Rarely described as a single-mom story, Mama Mia is exactly that until the last few minutes: free spririt (Donna–Meryl Streep) gets pregnant, has her baby (Sophie–Amanda Seyfried), flourishes as a mom and hotelier on a Greek island. Daughter decides to marry at 20, wants dad at the wedding, discovers mom’s diary, and invites the three male candidates who qualify (Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgård, Colin Firth).

Since my daughter knows nothing about her biological parents and has a slim chance of ever meeting them, this part of the story has always intrigued me. Sophie is genuinely stuck on meeting her dad but soon realizes that solving this mystery is more complex–and possibly less rewarding–than she bargained for. Amanda Seyfried is lovely as Sophie but so young! I swear my 11-year-old is almost as tall, and the scenes in which Streep helps Sophie get ready for her wedding were so poignant I couldn’t hold back the tears.

The surprise scene for me was Meryl’s “The Winner Takes It All” number. First off, this song is a killer. If you’ve ever been dumped and seen your loved one carried off in a puff of crow feathers, then you know what I mean. But Meryl is one of the best actresses around and her rendition of this song–combined with that Greek island scenery and her swingin’ that red shawl around in front of Pierce–made this the ultimate agony anthem.

Whew.

So what you really need to know: they aced the musical numbers and it’s a treat to watch a bunch of women who have definitely passed menopause tear it up. Our movie theatre was FULL and people burst into song and applause during “Dancing Queen” and “Super Trouper.” Go and have some fun. It’s not as sharp and tingly as last summer’s fave–Hairspray–but you’ll leave in a great mood.

Filed under: kids, solo life , ABBA, Amanda Seyfried, Colin Firth, dad, Mama Mia, Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, single mom, Stellan Skarsgård, wedding

10 things I love that save money and time

It was the no-name tin foil that got me thinking about doing this list. For years, I bought the expensive brand, listening to a little voice inside my head that said, “You know what a cheap haircut looks like. Now imagine cheap tin foil. It’s probably see-thru.”

And it’s true–there are some things you just can’t scrimp on. BUT that’s not the whole story. There are great freebies, reliable cheapies, and products that save you money because they’re so damned ingenious. To make it onto my list, a product has to be one of these things.

1. Tap water

You can’t beat it. Our city (Toronto) has a little campaign going on right now to convince people to drink water from the tap. I’m hoping we’ll join other communities in signing the Think Outside the Bottle pledge and switching to tap water. Kudos to my gym for going with filtered water and getting rid of the water and pop machine. Those plastic bottles? Bad. We don’t need ‘em. Go visit the Think Outside website to learn more.

2. Free e-cards

How many times have these delightful little products saved my kiester. Love the animation, love the music–love sending ‘em, period. Yahoo and Hallmark forever, but if you ever require a free human or pet sympathy card, check out the unique free cards at Self-Healing Expressions. I was so glad to find them.

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3. Defrizzer serum

When you’re a single mom, you don’t exactly get to browse the hair care aisle whenever you like so products you choose can be hit and miss. Not so with this one. For years, I searched for a product that would detangle, stop the “puff,” make my hair look sleek without oily build-up. And I found it! It even does a decent job on humid days. The defrizzer serums are amazing. My current favourite: John Frieda Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection.

4. Debbie Myer’s Green Bags

I got a set of these as a gift, and they blew me away.

And they’re washable.

Debbie’s bags are usually seen on shopping networks but you can order them directly from her website. If you’ve been under a rock since the new millennium, Green Bags prevent the build-up of damaging ethylene gas that occurs with ordinary plastic bags and let you keep fruits, vegetables, and cut flowers for weeks and weeks. Great for when you buy that broccoli, eat half of it, and can’t convince the kid to eat it again.

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5. No-name tin foil

Yup, I’d been buying the expensive brand for years when I stood in the aisle comparing 100 feet of no-name with 25 feet of brand name, and ka-ching. Everything you need tin foil for, you can do with no-name and if you want to double it up occasionally, it will still save you dollars and dollars.

6. Teriyaki sauce

How do I love thee, teriyaki? Too many ways to count. Teriyaki sauce is enhanced soy sauce. I add it to DD’s burgers, use it on salmon and chicken, and sometimes sprinkle a bit on vegetables if I’m grilling or browning them quickly. It just makes everything taste good. Note: You can eliminate salt when you use teriyaki. Our standby: Kikkoman

7. Matte lipstick

Speaking of food, did you know that a woman ingests about 4 pounds of lipstick over a lifetime? Blech. But here’s the deal: matte lipstick definitely lasts longer and I’m a diehard. Just detest wandering around with a set of puckers that feel like petroleum jelly. The queen of the mattes is Clinique’s Soft Matte Lipstick, which has been around for ages and costs $14 in the US. It really does stay on better than most. Note: Watch for it as a freebie in the bonus packs.

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8. The Samsung Mono Laser Printer

Bought one because my daughter’s godfather researched them all. When he bought his, he raved about it. Now I have one and I rave about it too. I have the old 2010 model, but you can generally find later models for around the $100 range. This printer often makes it into the top 5 in consumer research reports. It’s attractive, sturdy, and easy to operate.

9. Melissa and Doug Toys

First happened on these toys for kids when I was shopping for a gift for my new niece. Not only do I love the look and feel of the product, the value is superb. Opposite, the stamp calligraphy set which I purchased at a local Toronto shop for around $20 but which you can order an Amazon for $11.83. They also have a “responsibility” magnet toy to start kids thinking about simple things to say and do (saying please and thank you, helping with chores).

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10. Rainbow Cinemas

If you live in Canada, you already know that these theatres are the best deal in town. I mean, you’ve heard of Discount Tuesday, right? Well at Rainbow, Discount Tuesday (prices quoted for Toronto) is $4 for everyone. (In Regina, it’s $2!) The regular matinee price is a budget-busting $6 for everyone. Only in the evening does the price of an adult ticket rise to $8.50. Plus, they hold the line on prices of drinks and popcorn. Coming to Toronto? If you want to catch a flick, check out the Rainbow Market Square first.

Filed under: food, kids, life, solo life , cleap, Clinique Soft Matte Lipstick, Debbie Meyer Green Bags, free, free e-cards, Frizz-Ease, ingenuity, Melissa and Doug Toys, no-name tin foil, Rainbow Cinemas, Samsung Mono Laser Printer, tap water, teriyaki sauce

Must Love Kids, but do we love this show?

Ok, so as I was ready to relax and watch Must Love Kids, I realized that our Himmy had burped up one good hairball in the middle of my mattress and it took me at least five minutes to clean up the mess and change the sheet. Ergo, I struggled with attaching names to people. But I really liked the three women featured. Having said that, it’s too bad that mainstream shows like this can’t feature something other than three white heterosexual women. Imagine the ripples if one of them turned out to be gay or bi or Arab or Aboriginal or you name it.

I’ll be very anxious to see what Ms. Single Mama thinks, but my verdict was generally favourable. While this is an elimination show a la Survivor, you weren’t aware of it until the last five minutes. Three single moms got to meet an assortment of six or so eligible men in different venues. An overwhelming need to clean out the litterbox (currently at the foot of my bed) at 9:10 prevented me from figuring out what each venue was but at least one of them was a boat. And one group of guys cooked. It took one guy to get them going but they did it. And how good is that.

The moms brought it on on date night–each one looked stunning. Tracy (pictured) was the most poised. Brimming with confidence, she hugged the guys right away and just seemed in charge. Vanessa had said she mostly wanted someone who would love her kids but when she walked in, the guys were gobstruck. Kristin seemed like the strictest mom but the guys loved her; she didn’t eliminate anyone. And the guys were also pretty awesome. Of course, they were on their best behaviour, but what the hey. It’s no picnic appearing on any reality show, much less a dating one.

I thought the show did a decent job of presenting the realities of dating with kids. Moms love their kids. If dating’s going to work, it has to start with that bald fact. At this rate, this show might be more interesting than The Baby Borrowers.

Filed under: kids, life, solo life , dating, eligible men, elimination show, Ms. Single Mama, Must Love Kids, reality show, single, single women, Survivor

Wonton heaven

Simone leafed through her cookbooks this afternoon telling me she was itching to cook something. Instead of dessert, she picked wontons, and it turned out that we had a bunch of ingredients ready to go. The rest we bought today. This is a completely kid-friendly operation–low on fat, and fun to make as dinner stretches out. As one batch comes out, you can start eating and anticipate the next batch.

Our recipe (reproduced here) is adapted from Kitchen for Kids, a cookbook given to my daughter back in 2005.

Ingredients

2 green onions

6 oz. of uncooked pork or chicken (we used veal because that was all the grocers had)

1/2 tsp soy sauce

1/2 tsp vegetable oil

1/2 tsp garlic salt

pinch of of pepper

1 large egg white

6 cups of cooking water to cook the wantons

wonton wrappers (I had NO idea where to look for these, but at our grocery store they were kept in the produce aisle in a refrigerated area. Coulda fooled me. We also looked for them in the pasta aisle–they are strikingly similar–but no go there. So my advice is to ask.)

Makes 16 wontons

Directions

Mix the green onion, ground meat, soy sauce, oil, garlic salt, and pepper in a bowl.

Put the egg white in a small bowl and beat it briefly.

Heat the cooking water on high. As soon as it boils, turn it down to medium.

Cut open your package of wonton wrappers. Ready a nice clean surface to make the wontons. We used a medium-sized cutting board. Lay one wonton flat. Place a spoonful of meat mixture on the wonton. Brush (with a pastry brush or your fingers) the egg white around the meat and all around the perimeter of the wonton. Place another wonton on top. Press the top wonton down while crimping the edges together and pressing out any bubbles. (The egg white is acting as a glue.) Make sure the edges are sealed by running your finger all around and pressing down. Set the wonton aside.

NOTE: I soon realized Simone’s cookbook recommended using two wontons because it’s simpler to line up the corners and easier for kids to handle. You can skip the second wonton by folding one wonton into a triangle. Squeeze the edges as usual. This is the more classic dish; the double-wonton version has a little too much wonton-to-meat ratio! However, your child may find the Kitchen for Kids version easier.

Once you have five or six wontons to go, place them in the simmering water for 10 minutes. Repeat in batches of five or six (three batches). Once they’re done, remove with a slotted spoon or skimmer.

Eat as you go and enjoy! We loved them. Simone had eaten homemade wontons already at a friend’s house and declared them just as wonderful.

Filed under: food, life , chicken, egg white, garlic powder, green onions, pepper, pork, soy sauce, veal, wonton, wrappers

Karma makes the world go round

I was in the Wicket a few weeks ago bundling off a package when a young man flew over to the counter and announced that he had mailed a card 15 minutes earlier but had not actually paid for the card. In unison, the cashier and I said, “Talk about honesty.” The young man graciously brushed us off with “It’s karma. I had to come in.”

“I can tell you–most people are not that honest,” the cashier said to me knowingly after he had paid his $2.75.

Interesting thing is, most kids in the West grow up hearing the same honesty speech and it isn’t linked to karma. We connect honesty to character and individual choice, i.e., honesty = being truthful, sincere, reliable, having integrity, and adhering to an objective moral code.

So there are two questions: 1. Why is the law of karma more attractive than western morality? 2. Is this a sincere shift or are people just worried that something’s going to come back and bite them in the ass?

Filed under: life , Add new tag, character, choice, honesty, integrity, karma, kids, lie, moral code, sincere