The Best of 2013

It has been a bit of a whirlwind year for me. Things that I never saw coming, things I would have never even dared to dream about, began to happen in 2013.

It all started in April, when I had a story published in the National Post.

Then, the Toronto Sun/Sun Media newspaper chain offered me a guest column, which turned into a regular column, with a focus on parenting and education. The ability to write weekly and have such a wide platform to share my ideas and my writing is truly a dream come true and I am so grateful for it.

Then magazines started showing interest- with some of my favourites including a profile on a craft brewery, life lessons from 10 years of marriage, the story of a Canadian beauty queen, and surviving a road trip with young kids.

But then, in what was really a shock to me, radio and TV came calling. I was asked to be a frequent guest on radio, discussing topical issues (usually based on my newspaper column) and I began to make appearances on news-based television (this I was particularly proud of). I also began doing some lifestyle television appearances, discussing the best "new mom" Christmas gifts on Daytime (link to come shortly).

And then there was my blog.

I have always been so thankful for this space and the people that come by faithfully to read it. When I began this blog in 2009, I was an exhausted, frustrated new mother. I was unsure what I was doing but I knew I needed a place to vent.

I started with a total of 10 readers.

And then it expanded beyond anything I could imagine.

In 2010, I hit 1000 readers. I couldn't believe that 1000 people were interested in what I had to say.
But then, in 2011, 2012 and 2013, I expanded to numbers I could not have even wished for. Thank you, thank you for reading!

Some of the most popular posts in 2013 have included:

Facebook: Is it time to quit? - a post where I discuss the benefits but immense drawbacks of Facebook and suggest that maybe it's time I take a break (spoiler alert: I don't)

Letting Them Down- the second most popular post I have every written in this space. I love my kids but working from home and juggling life is sometimes a real struggle…and sometimes I feel like I'm letting everyone down.

Best new mom Christmas gifts- a non-sponsered post of all the best stuff to get new moms at Christmas (or anytime during the year!)

Eating Raw - a collection of posts chronicling my experiences eating raw vegan (includes some video recaps).

Debt Secrets- got debt? so do we…so do lots of people.

BUT the all-time most popular blog post I have ever written is still:

MEAN GIRLS - I sometimes regret I wrote this post…only because there was a small handful of people in my life who decided it was about them (it wasn't). They tried to call me out on it and in the end it likely ruined my relationship with them. It broke my heart for quite a while that these girls would assume I wrote it about them- but it also made me question how "mean girl" had they been to me (and how oblivious had I been)?  This post was more of an eye-opener for me than I planned for it to ever be- and it has been both a positive and negative experience.

And 2014?
Well, it will be exciting. I hope I'm still writing. I hope I am still invited to do TV and radio from time to time. I hope you will still be watching this space because I have a lot of fun, exciting, scary, real things to share with you!


Oh ya, and if I didn't get to say it in real life…

Merry Christmas! I hope your Christmas was as full of love and laughter as mine was!
xo

RECIPE: Whipped Shortbreads

It's Foodie Friday, and my sister Lizzy is here with my FAVOURITE holiday cookie recipe! These are MUST HAVES at our house (for eating, for entertaining & as gifts!) If you make them, let us know how they turn out:)

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Around this time of year there are so many holiday parties. 

Really, who wants to be stuck in the kitchen in all day before a party?

This is where my grandmas Whipped Shortbreads come in handy. They are fast, easy and melt in your mouth. People will think you’ve been cooking all day but really they just make you look like a rockstar!

What do you need?
1 package of salted butter softened (I prefer Gay Lea Salted Butter as it has the best salt to butter ratio for these cookies!)
1/4 cup of cornstarch
1/2 cup of icing sugar
1 1/2 cups of flour

How do you do it? (and work a little skin magic in the process!)

Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees and whip your butter until it is fluffy. I leave the butter to beat for at least 5 minutes while I put on a face mask. 

mix, mix, mix!

When I have a party, I like to prepare my face for the night ahead. Detoxing your face is the best thing you can do!

Now add the rest of the ingredients and mix for as long as you can. Remember, the more you mix the better texture the cookies will be. 

While it’s mixing, I wash the face mask off my face and put on some moisturizer. Moisturizer will help keep your skin looking fresh all night and morning. Remember, many of those holiday drinks can strip your face of nutrients and leave you looking tired by the end of the night.

Spoon the mixture onto the cookie sheet two inches apart. You can also add some cherries for colour if you wish. 

Bake for 12 – 15 minutes.  

During the baking time, I do my eye make-up. I could spend hours on my make-up, so this is a great way to limit myself!

Take the cookies out of the oven and let cool on the cookie sheet for five to ten minutes. 

Once cooling, I put on the rest of my make-up (foundation, blush etc). 

Once done, I return to the kitchen to let the cookies cool on a cooling rack for 30 minutes.

While they are on the rack I do my hair. By the time they are done cooking, my hair is done. I package them up and then get dressed.  

YUMMMM!

Time management is my best friend during the holidays. Stick with my holiday motto: Stay hydrated and always look fabulous! Remember, you never know who might be at the party. 

Be good or be good at it!

Lizzy 

On Cyber-Bullying

When you, as a grown-up, appear topless on a television show, can you expect privacy?

What really constitutes cyber-bullying and why are Canadian (and American) laws so ambiguous in this regard?

I recently appeared on the Adrienne Batra Show to discuss this very topic (video link).

Cyber-bullying is real (and sometimes deadly) for teens throughout the world. It is a legitimate issue that we need to talk about in our schools and in our homes every single day.

The internet is a vicious weapon in the wrong hands. It can cause shame and pain far beyond what many of us (who did not grow up with the internet in our homes) could ever imagine. When an image is captured, it no longer disappears...it is now forever.

The choices our children make, and the associated consequences, now reach further and last longer than ever before.

What really upsets me, however, is when adults, who have made conscious decisions to act in a certain manner, utilize the phrase "cyber-bullying", when really they just have a bit of egg on their face.

So what, your feelings were hurt! So what, you are embarrassed!

When you make an adult decision to put yourself in a potentially compromising position, the consequences of such are yours to live with.

This does not mean that harassment of any individual (adult or not) is acceptable- it isn't. But how dare any adult diminish the reality of cyber-bullying- the pain and suffering it puts teens through- simply because they regret a choice.

Are we doing enough about cyber-bullying?

Not yet.

Perhaps it is because technology is moving too fast and our lawmakers cannot keep up. Perhaps it is because we don't fully understand the ripple-effect of cyber-bullying.  Or perhaps it is because us grown-ups don't have a foggy clue what it is really like to live each and every day as a victim of cyber-bullying.

Sadly, bullying has not gotten better over the years. The methods have expanded and changed and bullying has morphed into something much larger than we adults can truly comprehend.

Let us not be so bold as to think we can.

Browned Butter and Brown Sugar Cookies

Hey, meet my sister.
(I'm the blonde, she's the kissy face- in case you were wondering).


She's a foodie and a fashionista and she's going to be blogging with me on Sleeping Is For Losers- sharing her fav tips and tricks for the kitchen and your closet!

Today, for Foodie Friday, she's starting us off with a delish cookie recipe!
Make sure you show Lizzy some love

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One of my favourite parts of Christmas is the baking. I remember eagerly anticipating going to my grandma’s house for Sunday dinner in December and her creating some of the most mouthwatering baking creations. From Guy Squares and Whipped Shortbreads to a proper English Trifle; Christmas would not be the same without them. Although my grandma may not be able to bake with me this year, I can continue on with her tradition of baking.  And so it begins; here are my top Christmas recipes.

Browned Butter and Brown Sugar Cookies

Nothing beats the smell of bubbling butter on the stove, just waiting to be mixed with sweet brown sugar. 

First, take one cup of unsalted butter and melt in a small saucepan on medium. Make sure you are stirring constantly. In two minutes you will start to see the butter change in colour to a dark brown.  Make sure to remove from heat when you see little black spots at the bottom of the saucepan. This means it’s done and will smell slightly nutty. Let cool for 20 minutes.

While your butter is cooling, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. My oven is very hot, so I actually put my oven to 335 degrees. It’s very important to know the temperature of your oven; it’s the difference between burnt cookies and awesome cookies. 

In a medium sized bowl mix together your dry ingredients: 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon (you can also add ½ a teaspoon of nutmeg for a fuller flavor).       

Time for the magic! 

In your stand mixer or using a hand mixer, beat on medium the browned butter and 1 3/4 cups packed light brown sugar (you can add a little more sugar if you like them sweet!). Beat until there are no lumps(anywhere from two to three minutes).  Add 1 large egg and 1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla (you can also add some brandy if you like some booze in your cookies). 

Add your dry ingredients slowly. Mix well.

Take a spoonful of dough and roll to make a small ball. Roll in white sugar and/or brown sugar. If you like sweet and salty, sprinkle the balls with a small amount of sea salt. Place on a greased/parchment paper lined cookie sheet and bake for 10 – 12 minutes.


The cookies should look slightly cracked. 

Put in an airtight container or bag. These only keep for a week, after a week they will begin to get hard.

Un-eaten cookie options:
- Create as a crumble to add to oatmeal or muffin topping
- Crumble and add more butter to create a crust for a pie

These cookies are fun and easy! Use your senses when cooking them and add your own twist (top with a whisky icing, add sea salt for a salty twist, add chocolate chips etc). Don’t be scared to try something new – that’s the joy of baking. 

Be good or be good at it,

 Lizzy