It's that time again

It's been a really tough summer, I've gotta say. I was at my most hopeful - meeting amazing people, being involved in amazing projects, and moving full-steam ahead with my business.

Well, things can turn pretty quickly, and betrayal, jealously and professional envy seem to have conspired to take some of the sweetness out of my new-found career. But I've powered (ok, limped) through it, and I'm over it, done done done. I'm focused on my own business and my own creativity and making Lavish a success, following my heard and being the best Planner I can be for my clients, all of whom I love! And that realization - hard fought, I might add - has brought some peace my way... and new clients! Suddenly this week I have booked several consultations, which has re-kindled the spark, and my love for hard work.

The fam and I went on vacation last week - we were booked for 7 days in Fairmont but came home early. We just felt it was time to come home. I accomplished an amazing amount of work while I was there - while the kids and Ian were watching cartoons or whatever. I'll post some pics soon, we had an amazing time and I feel refreshed!

Cohen and Lili start school this Thursday. So early, I know! I can't believe my little Lili is starting Kindergarten, and Cohen is going to be in Grade 2! It's amazing how the time flies. Though I'm somewhat excited for them to be returning to school (no more "mom, I'm BORED!"), I admit to feeling very anxious about juggling 3 kids, a new job (read on), the business and all of the activities that the kids are typically involved in. Usually as September approaches I am super-excited and energetic and ready to go-go-go... not this year. This year I feel tired and somewhat depressed. Maybe it's because the weather was less than spectacular this summer, and now I feel the chill of another long winter approaching. I don't know. I don't know! The kids won't be involved in as many activities this year - possibly, anyways - so that will help. I am excited to see them back on the ice again, and hopefully I'll get used to being a taxi again :)

Luci is amazing... this age is so incredible, developmentally. She's standing on her own, and any day now she'll be walking. She is such a snuggly girl, unlike Cohen or Lili, which I love but is making it harder for me to face a full-time job. She is such a happy girl, and so smart! She says "thank you" whenever you give her something or even if you pick her up when she's sad. She says "hi", and "daddy" and "kitty" and "mama" and "oh oh" and "nose" and "eyes" and, of course, "NO!". I can't get enough of her. She's my little one, my sweet darling Luci!

What else. Oh, the job. I am no longer at Mt. Royal, which is a good thing. Truth be told, I hated that job. The people were great, but I am in no way meant to sit in a cubicle at a desk all day entering codes and grades. I never had to make a single decision, everything was done by the book and there was no need, ever, to think. I used to fall asleep sitting up, hands on the keyboard... I can't handle being braindead like that. So I'm glad. AND, the new position I have (starting tomorrow!!!) is so the opposite! I have been hired as the General Manager of the Calgary Boys Choir. I am extraordinarily excited - it's a big step up, and in the arts, which is where I've always wanted to be. Lots of responsibility and it will be a big learning curve, but I know it's exactly where I should be. The hours are flexible, the pay is decent, I get to be surrounded by music and kids. The group is internationally known, and tour frequently. As it stands, I start tomorrow, and head out to the Banff Centre for a workshop with the kids already next week.

Through all the trials of this summer... I just keep believing that everything happens for a reason, and that there are lessons to be learned in each challenge that I face. I am blessed with the most amazing, sweet children and a husband that is still working to make me smile every day. I have amazing friends, amazing family, and a roof over my head and now a job that I know I will love.

Life is good... with all of the good things, I'm sure I can handle being a taxi driver on top of it all, LOL!

Happy Birthday Cohen!

My little dude is 7 today! I can't believe it! He is such an amazing little guy, and I couldn't have asked for a better son. He cares so much about his sisters, and is always careful to include them and care for them. He cares about his friends, and always wants the best for everyone. He is still ok with hugging me, and when I'm feeling down he is always the first to sense it, and he'll hug me and tell me how smart and beautiful I am. He is funny - always telling jokes and trying to make everyone laugh. And how smart! He reads for hours every day now (at the breakfast table, even... reminds me of someone...), and is really intuitive about how things work. He is thoughtful - and creative! I love how hard he tries to think of new things to build and create.

Your entry into this world, Cohen, was not a smooth one, but you have been such an easy child to parent and love. I couldn't have asked for a better start to motherhood - you gave me the confidence to believe I could be a good mom to more than one child! Also, 6.5 years of incredible sleeping habits have been greatly appreciated (there was 6 months, when you were about 3, that were awful, but I forgive you!), and I especially appreciate that you seem to have taught both of your sisters how to be good sleepers as well! Nice work! You inspire me every day, and I love counting the freckles on your nose. I still smell your hair whenever we hug - I've been doing that for 7 years now, and I probably won't stop for a long time. I am still jealous of your eyelashes... sigh. I think that it's a little unsettling that you're almost as tall as I am. Good grief! Thanks also for helping to curb the swearing in our house - you have been smacking us every time we swear since you were 3. That's 4 years of smacking us. We're a little slow to learn - thanks for being patient! Don't worry - in about 6 years, I have a feeling we'll be able to reciprocate. You were the most unexpected surprise in my life, and every single amazing thing that has happened in the last 7 years is because you came into my life. I hope that you understand and appreciate one day what an amazing feat that is.

Happy Birthday, sweet child. I am extremely excited for the next year of your life! 2nd Grade!

M

speed-blogging!

How is it July? Really, how? Where is my life going? Zip, zoom, months, just disappearing!

Things are good. Luci, darling, sweet, wonderful girl, got 6 teeth in 2 weeks. It was really, really fun, I tell ya.

Lili, on the other hand, lost 2 in a week. Now she's more adorable than ever. If possible.

Cohen is growing up on me. Done grade 1, riding a bike, and more mature than I ever was at that age.

Me... busy planning weddings and dreaming big. As usual. Working too much, then coming home and working more. I no longer sleep - I collapse. It's ok though - I feel I'm on the right path.

Ian - I have no idea. I sometimes see him when I wake up in the morning. Apparently, we're still happily married. That's what the text he sent me said, anyways. Vacation looms - we'll actually have time together!

That's it, that's all, I have a client consult in an hour, need to prepare!

M

pit-stop

what a day! WHEW! so glad it's almost over... but i did want to stop in and say hello. hello!

in short - have a new (well, sorta new) job as an admissions evaluator at mount royal college. LOVE working at MRC (the people are AMAZING, love the 7 hour days, free gym membership, free courses, hour long lunches... nice!). Love that it's so close to home too - suddenly, I'm able to be with my kids for more than an hour every day!

- have a nanny! this is a fun development. we realized that a) finding a daycare that would take the kids on a rotating basis according to Ian's shiftwork was impossible... and b) putting them in full-time care was WAY out of our budget. our nanny's name is Amber and the kids love her, we love her... i especially love her because she does the grocery shopping, folds the kids' laundry and makes them put it away, and she does the dishes. coming home to an empty sink is a huge mood booster, let me tell ya.

- have a new client! Lavish is rolling right along. we're getting totally booked up for the fall, including a bridal fair that is scaring the pants off of me. in a good way! we are also planning a FABULOUS LEGO party for a fabulous kid who is turning 7 in a few weeks. yup - you heard right. Cohen is turning 7! wait till you see the cake... i called in a few favours for this party!

- have some early mornings! i signed up for bootcamp for the entire summer, pretty much. yup, 6am Mon/Wed/Fri you will find me busting my butt in a downtown park. so far i'm loving the actual day of bootcamp (it's so, so, so amazingly beautiful in the city at that hour, and I feel amazing afterwards)... just not loving the night before (aka right now) because it's impossible for me to go to bed before 11. 12 minutes to go, people!

- have Wii FIT! ian's treat this month was this video game. we both feel that we need to get more actual exercise (as opposed to "fake" exercise: chasing 3 kids around 20 hours a day). i have to admit, watching my 6'3" husband do yogo poses is quite erotic.

- have a NO activity clause! well, that's not entirely true. however, ian and i have decided (with many tears from me) that this summer and this coming year, we are taking the kids out of most of their activities. with the business being so young, we need to budget our money like crazy for the first year. we're still working on the details, but i think we'll keep them in one sport and one art. we'll see. sigh.

ok, i think that's it. i have 10 minutes to spare before i turn into a Yorkshire pudding (sorry, i just made several batches of those for cohen's school... never mind, long story), so... off i go. think of me tomorrow morning at 6am... from your warm, cozy beds...

ps - if any of you have ANY LEGO lying around (not the toddler duplo stuff), please please please send it my way!!!! it is impossible to find "normal" boxes of LEGO!

Some Lavish news

Hello hello!

OK - first of all, DO come check out our lovely website - Lavish is up and running!

And of course, Lavish has a BLOG


We (and by we, I mean my BFF Lee, who has been my best friend for an incredible 23 years now... give or take a few year-long arguments) are SO excited that Lavish is off the ground now... only 5 months ago, the idea for Lavish was born during our bi-weekly girls night out, and since that night, we have been dreaming and planning and spending WAY too much money... and having the time of our lives.

This feels... right. I just have a feeling that this is a good thing. It's perhaps less academic then I would have expected... but hey - I can honestly say that my Event Management courses at Mount Royal have been just as hard - if not harder - than many of my University courses! Probably in part because the expectations that I have placed upon myself are so much higher. I've met some AMAZING people in the program (3 of which will be working as assistants on our events), and discovered a world that amazingly combines my love of all things organizational, stressful, and detail-oriented with my passion for the esthetically pleasing - design and decor.

Plus - I am so amazingly lucky to be involved in the most important day in the lives of many people. Seriously - for someone who is still a romantic at heart - cynicism aside, I still believe - this is a dream job. I get to meet so many awesome couples, and their families. So far, this has been such an eye opener, I'm honoured to be a part of their lives, even for just a year or so.

So far, having my own business has been pretty stressful, but rewarding every day. If it weren't for the kids and Ian, I would definitely be putting in 16 hour work days, no doubt about it. As it is, I struggle to find that elusive work-life balance. My kids have to come first, but I also realize that the harder I work, the more time I will have for them in the long run. Hopefully, I'll be able to work from home exclusively, and thus be available to drive them to school and to their activities whenever possible.

So - a dream comes true, and I am absolutely excited and terrified. (When's the best time to start a new business? Why, during a recession, of course!) I know that there are some sacrifices to come (that's a whole separate post into itself), but I am so grateful for all the opportunities that I have been given so far.

Ooooh - if you haven't seen - here is our logo:



And - here is our promo shot from our recent photoshoot:



If you know anyone who is getting married - destination weddings included - please send them our way!