Archive for the ‘Life’ Category

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How do you know if somebody really means it when they say thank you?

It’s rare that yours truly (that’s me, btw) would ever be speechless. And yet, if I'm honest, I can say it's happened to me a few times.

It’s simple, but it means a lot – sometimes. (photo, courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

When? When I’ve been at my most vulnerable and someone was there for me: my mom coming over in a taxi when I was really sick, my boss at work giving me time off when I needed it, my friends talking to me at all hours when I was going through a dark time. And all I could say was thank you.

Here, my top 5 favourite thank-yous.

Oh, Sally, you’re too cute!
I have seen this clip of Sally Field getting an Oscar for Places in the Heart soooooo many times – this girl is overwhelmed with emotion, and she is speaking straight from the heart. When she yells "You like me! Right now, you really like me!” you know she's someone who is just so grateful for the recognition.

You know a PR company didn't write this for them
This week, I received a press release telling me that Brite Futures (band) was breaking up. Here's one of their songs that I really like.

And here’s what they posted on their Facebook page.

“Our most cherished memories come from being around the people we grew to love...everyone we’d see singing and dancing like crazy at our shows...every sweaty kid who talked to us at the merch booth after the show, everyone from every corner of the globe who we got to know online, and all the extremely talented and generous people who became part of the NPSH/BF team, helping us make some of our wildest dreams a reality...

“So to everyone who’s taken the time to listen to our music, watch our videos, write about us, perform with or work with us, thank-you for letting us be a part of your lives in some small way. It's been such an amazing privilege and a pleasure, it means so much to us.”

From the future Ultra-Lord of the Universe
It's a thank-you letter a kid wrote to someone who spoke to his class. He obviously wants to do something very special for this man, so he tells him that when he becomes the lord of the universe, he will let Mr. Ramon live in his 200-storey castle, where unicorn servants will feed him doughnuts off their horns.

Really? A commercial thank-you?
I know it sounds ridiculous, but this lovely P&G video is a tribute to honour and showcase the amazing moms behind the Olympic athletes at the London 2012 Olympic Games. It made me cry. And they’ve set up a Facebook page so you can post a thank-you to your mom.

I know this one’s for real
This is the email I got from my friend Cheryl this morning. It's a thank-you to me and two other friends for taking her out for her birthday. We’ve been friends for a long time, and one thing about people you know for a long time is that you know when they're being sincere.

“Thank you my friends for a lovely evening. I feel spoiled and special!” It was our pleasure, of course, to treat her. It was a simple acknowledgement of how we made her day.

I used to think thank-you was just a word. But now I realize it’s possibly one of the most powerful things you can say to someone.

Because if you mean it, it comes from a very deep place, the part of us that is truly grateful for other people rocking our own personal worlds in the universe. And when worlds collide, it’s pretty nice to have a safety net, where we can count on others to love and support us in our everyday lives.

Your turn. Anybody you want to send a thank-you to out there? 

What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice, and everything nice,
That's what little girls are made of.

What are young women made of?
Ribbons and laces, and sweet pretty faces,
That's what young women are made of.

What's so great about being a girl?

I asked this question to a few girls in my life, both young and old.

Suffice it to say...being a girl rocks.

There are so many reasons why, I just had to narrow it down.

4. Playing dress up

So, without further ado, here are the Top 10 reasons why being born female is quite simply...AWESOME.

10. Clothes shopping

9. Makeup, hairstyles and pretty nails

8. Pigtails

7. Wearing a fancy dress on your wedding day

6. Tea parties with teddy bear friends

5. Being emotional is OK

4. Playing dress up and wearing mommy's high heels

3. Girl talk

2. Giggling all night at slumber parties

1. Becoming a mom

What would you add to the list?

Mom, ma, momma, mommy, mother, mum, mummy, mam.

Whatever you call her, she is the first person you run to.

Whether you skin your knees, read your first word, need a tummy rub, pass your Driver's Ed test, experience your first heartbreak or need help picking out your wedding dress, she is the one you want to share your news with. She will encourage you, praise you, console you and love you through it all.

Photo credit: Nancy Menezes

You know that your mom will be there, no matter what...

Mother is the bank where we deposit all our hurts and worries.
– Unknown

Mother is the one we count on for the things that matter most of all.
– Katherine Butler Hathaway

Who ran to help me when I fell, or kissed the place to make it well? ... My mother.
– Ann Taylor

The best medicine in the world is a mother's kiss.
– Anonymous

God could not be everywhere and therefore He made mothers.
– Jewish proverb

A mother loves her children even when they least deserve to be loved.
– Kate Samperi

All I am I owe to my mother.
– George Washington

The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.
– W.R. Wallace

These are a few mom quotes that I absolutely love. I hope you do too.

To the moms out there, enjoy your special day. Embrace those children and praise their artwork. Put your feet up, sit back and watch your handiwork. They love you with everything they've got. There ain't nothing sweeter than that.

Happy Mother's Day to you.

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Every day, I get up and start the day. Some days, I feel good and I am ready to go, others, it takes all the energy in every cell of my body to do it. Why? It depends on where I’m at in my life.

Wouldn’t it be fabulous if it were just this easy?

And then I started to think, hey, maybe it is! Let’s begin with love.

Love: Set an intention every morning for your day. Don’t have one? How about this: “I'm going to treat everyone I meet today in a loving way – including myself!” See if it makes a difference.

Hope: “I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.” This from the Dalai Lama. Don’t judge, but don’t despair, either.

Faith: Whoever – whatever – you believe in, do it with all your heart. And believe that it will work out: It always does, not always as we want or expect, but whatever it is, you can deal with it. Start with faith in yourself.

Patience: Ralph Waldo Emerson suggests we adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. And it’s true. As kids we rush to grow up; as we get older, we want to slow things down. Stop wasting energy, we can do neither. Accept it.

Courage: Also sometimes known as boldness, fortitude or bravery. It’s calling upon your inner strength in the face of terror – whether it’s a fear of public speaking or stopping terrorists on a mission, as did passengers on United Flight 93 in 9-11.

Understanding: This always reminds me of The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, especially this part: O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand. If we all sought to understand others, the world would be a different place.

Peace: I pray for peace, for inner calm and for world peace.

Passion: What is a life without passion? It can be anything you love that makes you joyful – from food and music to sports and activities, passion makes your life worth living. Don’t worry if you don’t have one yet, I’m still trying to find mine.

Healing: So many of us are broken or wounded from events and experiences that we have suffered in our lives. Do whatever you can to help yourself and others heal their wounds.

Strength: What did Christopher Robin say to Winnie the Pooh? You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. Every one of us!

Beauty: Right now, go to a mirror, look yourself straight in the eye and tell yourself with feeling and conviction how truly beautiful you are, in your own words.

Freedom: The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. Something we all take for granted unless we never had it, or it’s taken away.

How about you? What do you need today?

We know our pets keep us healthy (daily walks with the dog get us off the couch, and snuggling up with your pet can be a great stress-reliever) but did you know your pet has the potential to literally save your life? Earlier this week I attended Purina's annual Animal Hall of Fame ceremony in Toronto, where I listened in on four incredible stories that show how loyal, hard-working and tuned in our pets can be.

Here are their incredible stories:

Nanook, St. Catherines, ON

(CNW Group/Purina Animal Hall of Fame)

Siberian Husky cross, Nanook, was just a puppy when she woke owner Coleen as she neared a heart attack during the middle of the night. While Coleen and husband Gord tried to sleep, Nanook circled the bed, howled, barked and licked their faces. When she awoke, nurse Coleen noticed pain in her arm, and began to feel pressure in her chest, quickly realizing she was having a heart attack. Gord called an ambulance and by 11a.m. that morning, Coleen had been through surgery to place three stents in her heart.

Monty, Camrose, AB

(CNW Group/Purina Animal Hall of Fame)

Last March, in the middle of the night, orange tabby Monty acted unusually. Owner Patricia Peters woke up to her cat biting her fingers, and when she got up to put Monty on the floor she suddenly felt very dizzy. Newly-diagnosed with diabetes, Patricia slowly made her way into the kitchen to check her blood sugar, with Monty leading the way down the hall. When the pair got to the kitchen, Monty leaped to the counter and sat beside her blood testing kit. Seeing her blood sugar at a dangerously low level, Patricia took sugar tablets, then waited 15 minutes to re-test her blood. Monty sat with Patricia as she waited and when she re-tested her blood, it was back to normal. Patricia and her doctor credit Monty with saving her from slipping into a diabetic coma as she slept.

Bree, Blissfield, NB

(CNW Group/Purina Animal Hall of Fame)

Sleep never seemed to come easy to two-year-old dachshund, Bree. Owner Michele said she remembers waking up often to Bree's little snout in her face, or to Bree licking her face in the middle of the night. Last September, Michele woke to Bree sitting on her chest who also frantically forced her snout in to Michele's mouth. At that moment, Michele realized she was having a very hard time breathing and felt like she was drowning. Her husband called an ambulance, and when it arrived Michele was put on oxygen, and discovered her blood pressure was dangerously high. At the hospital, Michele learned she had severe sleep apnea, and that every night, little Bree had been waking her up to help her resume breathing again.

Service Dog of the Year: Titan, Oakville, ON

(CNW Group/Purina Animal Hall of Fame)

One stormy night last year, a woman called 9-1-1 and told the operator she had just gone to a wooded area, purposefully overdosed on medication with the intention to end her life. While the operator spoke to her on the phone, and tracked her general location, Constable Tara McLorn and Police Service Dog Titan raced to the woods in attempt to reach the woman before it was too late. Through high winds and torrential rainfall, Titan worked quickly to find the woman's clothes at the side of a river bank. With a stronger scent to track, Titan led Constable McLorn and her team to the woman, and they were able to help her from the water, just as the effects of the drugs began to take their course. The woman was rushed to the hospital and was saved from the overdose and treated for hypothermia. Tara credits Titan's fast action and direction with saving the woman's life that night.

Each of these animals are now recognized as one of Canada's most heroic pets, have their photo and story added to the Walk of Fame, located at Pawsway in Toronto.

In 1968 Purina began recognizing the life-saving heroics of Canadian pets, and this year added dogs Nanook, Bree and Titan, along with orange cat Monty. So far, 128 dogs, 26 cats and one horse have been inducted into the Purina Animal Hall of Fame.

Tell us: What does your pet do to make you feel better? My dog Bink is so enthusiastic about getting outside and moving around, it's contagious. I certainly spend less time on the couch and more time outdoors since bringing him home.

Money is and always will be a delicate subject – in any relationship. But there are some things you just need to ask about before you pledge to a commitment of marriage or living together.

It's best to get everything out in the open so you can start fresh with no secrets.

Money secrets can cause feelings of insecurity and resentment.

Timing  and environment

• Schedule some quiet time with your loved one.
• Make sure you're not fighting and that you're stress free. And kid free.

Be honest; please

• No matter what choices you've made in the past – be honest – because this affects your partner's future too. I know I would respect someone more if they were honest about their money situation right off the bat rather than finding out about it later.

Questions to consider

• Do you have any outstanding debts, such as school loans, credit card debt, car payments or a line of credit?
• Have you acted as a cosigner for anyone else? Have you helped a family member purchase a home or a car?
• How often do you take risks? Do you play the lotto? Bet on horse-racing? Play Pro-Line?
• In general, what do you feel the importance of money is?
• What are your goals for the future?

Whatever decisions you make, at least you will be armed with the truth.

I hope the answers to these questions match your values and goals... for better or worse.

Between choices of flowers and chocolate boxes, spa gift certificates and dinners at home, there are endless ways to show our moms just how much we care about them on Mother's Day. However, I was recently made aware of a wonderful program through Oxfam Canada, where you can give your loved ones gifts that keep on giving, long after their special day has passed.

Would you buy a goat for Mother's Day? (Image courtesy of Oxfam Unwrapped)

Goats. Chickens. Seeds. Donkeys. Wells.

Oxfam Unwrapped is a program that lets you purchase gifts for your friends or loved ones, that go to people in the developing world. For example, you can purchase a goat through the Unwrapped program (in your mother's name, for instance), and it will go to a mother in Asia, Africa or Latin America. She will then use the goat to help her family get nourishment, and quite possibly become more self-sufficient.

“These sheep are my hope. They have made me more confident in my family and in society. My son loves animals and I just feel happy when I see them." - Wubalem Muluneh a mother of two in Akaki, Ethiopia. (Image courtesy of Oxfam Canada)

The gifts vary in cost -- a chicken costs $15 and a donkey is priced at $120 -- but the benefits make all the difference in the lives of so many people in various parts of the world. A gift from the Unwrapped program is literally a gift that keeps on giving.

Some additional perks of the program?

- Oxfam handles your delivery
- You get to see your gift in action
- You can choose your gift based on interests and budgets

“Now that we no longer have to spend three hours carrying water, we have more time for our family, our children. Thanks to Oxfam we have been saved from being displaced during the floods” - Sakina Katun in Mathpara, Bangladesh. (Image courtesy of Golam Rabban/Oxfam Canada)

So this year for Mother's Day, think globally, and give your mom a gift that crosses boundaries and makes a lasting impact on the lives of people around our planet. Visit OxfamUnwrapped.ca for all the details.

What are your special plans for Mother's Day?

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Every day, I am surprised at how easily inspiration comes to me. Sometimes, it’s a beautiful new dessert from the Test Kitchen that I get to sample. Last week, it was the excitement over a new summer T-shirt that doesn’t hug me in all the wrong places (The Gap, $29). And this week, it’s our new intern here at the magazine, Tasha.

I love interns because they are so fresh and lovely – oozing the energy of their youth that surrounds them like an invisibility cloak they are unaware of. I like it that some of that excitement wears off on me. And so, I asked Tasha, “Who inspires you?”

Apparently, an older person, her grandmother. Some of the stuff she told me was so touching, I asked her to put it in writing. So this week, I’m turning over my inspirational post to my inspiration.

Tasha, as a baby, with the woman who’s been inspiring her all her life, her grandma.

By Tasha Zanin

For the past year, I’ve been living with my grandparents to save money while going to school. I love that she lets me live under her roof rent-free and leaves a lunch for me on the top shelf of the fridge every morning, but I hate my morning commute. What I didn’t expect to gain from my living arrangements is a role model.

When she first came to Canada, my nonna worked two jobs, Monday to Friday at a factory and Saturdays serving weddings at a banquet hall, to provide for her family, and still managed to put a healthy home-cooked meal on the table every night. And now she’s still taking care of her family, long after her own children have moved out. She’s allowed me and my cousin to move in, keeps an extra bed for visitors and even puppy-sits my uncle’s new dog.

I’ve realized no matter how busy she is, my nonna always makes time to call her siblings in Italy. If she can make that long-distance call, I can certainly find time to check in with my parents and brother, maybe even go home for dinner now and then. Sometimes it feels like I’ve spent weeks chained to a desk in the library, but I’ve learned that no matter how busy I am, there’s always time for my family.

There’s a saying Nonna has when my cousin and I complain about not being able to do something, like build Ikea furniture. “When your bum hits the water, you will learn to swim.” And every time she says it, she reminds us that when she married my nonno (Italian for grandfather), she could barely cook. Fifty-two years later, her home-cooked meals are the envy of my friends. It’s not just a lesson in cooking she’s teaching me, though my tiramisu is almost as good as hers now. She’s inspired me to dive head-first into whatever comes my way. And the Ikea shoe rack in my closet is holding up!

The most inspiring thing she’s taught me? A little bit about love. By the time she was just a year older than I am now, my nonna was married and my dad came one year after that. She met my nonno as a teenager and fell in love. Despite a 12-year age difference and a long-distance relationship (my nonno used to send her letters and money from Canada), she wasn’t afraid to take the leap of faith to move here to marry him, leaving her family and friends behind. That’s love, or, as the song goes, “That’s amore.” When you know it’s right, and you would cross thousands of miles across an ocean to live in a different country for love, it probably is.

What she’s taught me: Her love story inspires me to be brave, to take chances and trust that with a little work everything will fall into place.

How about you? Who’s inspiring you this week?

Kids say the funniest things, don't they?

At times they have us rolling on the floor with laughter and other times they cause us to stop and think.

Here are a few quotes from my nearest and dearest little friends that are both funny and insightful.

"I can't read, but I know cookies!" – Morgan, age 6, after being questioned about how she knew the difference between oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip cookies when she couldn't yet read.

"Mommy, my tummy has a headache." – Mackenzie, age 3

"Giving up is an opportunity of darkness." – Hailey, age 7, after her sister said she was giving up on a puzzle.

"Why is the band called Queen if they are all boys? They should be called Kings." – Ella, age 7

"Ahhh... I need to relax." – Cillian, age 3, as he jumps on the sofa. Did I mention he's 3?

"You're a bum-bum face."– Alyssa, age 4, as told to her older brother after she had asked her mom if bum was considered a bad word.

"Superman, I'm on my way." – Tristan, age 4, after hearing a crash in the other room.

"My taste bugs aren't working very well." – Morgan, age 6

"Mom, Tristan coughed all over the couch. Now we have to fertilize it." – Hailey, age 7

"Do these have nuts? Because I'm allergic to penis." – Mackenzie, age 5, after being offered a treat at a friend's house. She has a peanut allergy.

"Don't worry, I left some for the fish." – Amy, age 7, after taking a long drink at the water fountain.

What about the little people in your life? I'd love to hear all about the funny things that come out of their mouths. Please share them in the comments box below.

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.”

Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote those immortal words in 1850. How could she have known that more than a century and a half later we could use these same words for the four-legged loves of our lives?

Photography: U.S. Army

To celebrate reaching one million Facebook “pet fans,” Petco (a U.S.-based pet supply company) recently asked followers how pets make life one million times better. Here were the top 5 responses:
1. He loves me no matter what.
2. He’s my best friend.
3. He makes me laugh.
4. He's the perfect stress-reducer.
5. He gets me off the sofa.

We asked our Facebook friends a similar question – What does your pet do to make your life a little brighter? – and their responses lovingly confirmed Petco's survey. Here are a few of our favourite responses.

• "They really don't have to do anything. Just looking at my dogs makes me smile." – Debbie Lauzon

• "I'm fostering five kittens right now and the joy I get from watching them play is amazing. They let me love and snuggle them all the time." – Karen Shier

• "Darby loves a snuggle first thing in the morning. If I'm sitting in a chair he'll lie against my chest and go to sleep. His brother Liam is very vocal, and if I'm not getting out of bed soon enough he'll jump on the bed, wake up me and meow in my face." – MJ Westaway

• "When I come home from work my Buffy jumps from the couch to the floor and back about six times, then runs over to me talking in a very high-pitched voice, as if to say, 'I'm so glad you're home!' It's so nice to be loved so very much – and it's also wonderful to be able to return that love to an appreciative being. I am blessed!" – Marsha O'Leary

• "They greet me at the door as though I've been gone weeks, even when I just run to the store for five minutes. And they let me sleep a little longer on Sunday mornings!" – Elsie Ross

• "As soon as our cat realizes that we're awake she'll kiss and lick our noses. After that it's major snuggling time – best way to start the day. Our other cat and our golden retriever bring many smiles to our faces throughout the day in so many ways. Our pets mean the world to us." – Michelle Brugess

• "She wags her tail. It seems like a small thing, but she is paralyzed in her back end, so for her to wag her tail is a big deal to us. She's a dachshund and I love her." – Sandra Smith

• "When my boxer hears me tell my son it's bedtime, she leads the way to his room, curls up on the end of the bed and waits for him. And she stays there until I get both of them up in the morning! Makes me smile every time!" – Denise Phelan

How does your pet make your day a millions times brighter?