“Operators standing by…”

In my last post, I shared a little secret. Well, I have been busy branding, researching, and most recently cooking, in order to grow Mavis Naturals a little more each day.

The website is up and running, with the first few products ready to go! The blog is being updated daily when possible, and the Facebook and Twitter accounts are hopping with action as well. Please consider sharing, liking, following + commenting so Mavis can continue to inspire the use of all-natural, handcrafted skincare throughout Ottawa and the rest of the world.

Oh yah, for those of you wondering, there are only 73 shopping days until Christmas :)

{ Psst… I love to receive feedback on my posts. Please leave your comments whenever you feel inspired to do so! }

Mavis Naturals

After mixing and using my own skincare products for well over a year now, and sharing my treats with friends and family, I am happy to announce the founding of Mavis Naturals!

Mavis Naturals creates deliciously natural, handcrafted skincare, made in small batches right here at home! Follow me in the development of the business, via my Mavis Naturals Facebook page or follow us on Twitter!

{ Psst… I love to receive feedback on my posts. Please leave your comments whenever you feel inspired to do so! }

“Hey, JoeGirl! Can we go thrift shopping?”

Jamie and I are loving our weekly trips to local thrift shops. We scour the household items section for vintage Pyrex, FireKing, CorningWare, milkglass, hobnail glass, mini pitchers, and other vintage—or vintage inspired—items. Here’s the latest collection of fun finds. We may even offer some of our goodies up for sale on eBay…

We are on the lookout for a vintage/retro sofa and chair next!

{ Psst… I love to receive feedback on my posts. Please leave your comments whenever you feel inspired to do so! }

JoeDesigns©… For Hire!

Most of you already know I have been a doodler my entire life, designing handmade greeting cards and, more recently, gifting custom illustrations to friends and family members who have purchased a new home, who have had a new baby, or who are celebrating a special birthday or milestone.

Many of my loved ones have been encouraging me to offer my illustrations for sale. So… in time for the holiday season, I present you with a sampling of my custom artwork. If you would like to gift a custom illustration to a loved one, I invite you to contact me so we can collaborate on your keepsake gift.

Here is some of my recent work, to inspire you to consider a custom illustration for your loved ones.

• Artwork is provided on heavy watercolour paper, as either a 5x7 or 8x10, and is shipped in an acid-free sleeve with a heavy card for protection. 
• May be matted and framed for an additional charge. 
• Commissions vary, based on complexity and size of the illustration, ranging from $45 for a 5x7 nameplate, to $250 for an 8x10 home illustration.

{ Psst… I love to receive feedback on my posts. Please leave your comments whenever you feel inspired to do so! }

Video: Do Something Different!

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The Boots

In case you were wondering…

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Inspiration 365: Days 44–47

Let’s forget days 44, 45 and 46. They were dark days. Yesterday particularly, as I spent most of it in bed with what I tend to call “gut rot”–in medical terms, diarrhea. A slight stomach bug, I’m sure, but uncomfortable to say the least.

Those days are gone. Let’s focus on today. For today… was awesome.

I decided early last week to book this week off at the Centre to focus on my plan to breathe new life into my design career. Design truly is what I do best, and is currently the most profitable way for me to single-handedly support my family.

The plan for the week was to continue work on a few modest design projects already on-hand, and spend as much time as possible reconnecting with former clients, and connecting with potential new ones. Due to delays in progress, and the—ahem—gut rot, my week’s plan has been somewhat kyboshed (sp?). Today made up for it.

Today I enjoyed an inspiring lunch date with fellow creative, Justin van Leeuwen. Justin is a local commercial photographer, whom I have been following on Twitter for months now, maybe even a year. I stopped him on the sidewalk one day last Summer to introduce myself, as we had exchanged tweets online a few times, but had not yet met IRL (in real life). In my efforts to expand my local creative network, I thought of Justin right away. Knowing his favourite lunch spot, I asked if I could join him there to talk shop. “Hell yes!” was his response. I knew right away this was going to be good.

I imagine Justin has no idea how influential our lunch conversation was. Here are but a few of the key points I took away from our time together:

• You can’t expect to find inspiration and creativity stuck in the same routine, within the same four walls, day after day. You need to explore, watch movies, surf the web, take workshops, travel, meet new people… Get out there.
• Up your rates. Prospective clients take you much more seriously, and value your work more, when there is a larger investment. Don’t be shy. Charge what you are worth.
• Network, network, network. Just keep talking.
• Do what you love. Your enthusiasm, passion and drive will bring the work to you. Once people know you are out there, doing it full-time, you will be flooded with work.

http://jvlphoto.com/pixelpost/index.php?showimage=950

Thank you, Justin. I anticipate many future chats with you. You are über cool and I appreciate your time today so very much.

After such an uplifting lunch, I was all fired up. When I am fired up, I explore and strut my stuff. On the way home, I decided to pop in to one of my favourite neighbourhood exploration spots: St. Vincent de Paul—a second-hand shop, not unlike a Salvation Army Thrift Shop. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular, but figured I would be drawn to the housewares. I love picking though vintage table- and service-ware. I did find three little gems: a wide-mouthed Mason jar for 69¢, a sweet painted red tin bucket for 59¢ (perfect to house my collection of pens, markers and paintbrushes) and a turquoise and green glazed pottery bowl vase for 99¢ (just waiting for this Spring’s harvest of my Grandmother’s Peonies). I was excited by these three bits on their own, but continued to browse the rest of the store. Books, racks of clothes sorted by colour {clever!}, furniture… and hmmm, I wonder if they have any boots here.

Side note: I have been looking for boots for, oh… about three years now! The perfect boots at the perfect price have been very difficult to find.

Until now.

A rack of shoes and boots appeared as I turned the corner out of the furniture section. It shone as though illuminated by Heaven. There they were. A pair of patent leather, er, vinyl, deep plum knee-high, 2-inch heel boots. Glorious. Oh! What’s this? Just my size? To quote the lovely Justin van Leeuwen, “Hell yes!” They slid on my feet and over my {rather husky} calves like butter. The price? A mere 800.

800 cents, that is. Yes folks, these most delightful boots were $7.99. I don’t know who St. Vincent de Paul was, but today he most certainly is the saint of all good things at amazing prices. SOLD.

But wait, there’s more. There was another pair. This time black, with a longer, slightly squared off toe. A higher heel this time, more Stilleto than chunky. Like butter again {no way!}. This pair only $6.99.

I grinned from ear to ear when the teller rang up two pairs of boots, a tin bucket, wide-mouthed Mason jar and pottery bowl for a grand total of $17.35.

What brilliant day. The evening was topped of by Marshall exclaiming that he had the night off. “What does your tummy want for supper?” PASTA. I needed something starchy to absorb the acids that had been wreaking havoc on my gut the last 48 hours. I suggested we pick up To Go meals at Parma Ravioli, just at the end of our street. In the 18 months since we moved here, we had not yet set foot in the doors of this establishment. Pasta is not a regular item on our meal schedule. The shop was gorgeous. Stunning take home meals for under $15. Fresh pasta and homemade sauces to prepare at your leisure. Shelves of gorgeously packaged olive oils, tomatoes, dried pastas. Everything an Italian grocery should be. I chose grilled chicken breast on egg noodles with a mushroom cream sauce and grilled peppers. Marshall chose grilled pork tenderloin on a tricolour Fettucine in rosé sauce. Both meals amazing.

I love days like this. Doing my own thing. Being productive, engaged… inspired.

{ Psst… I love to receive feedback on my posts. Please leave your comments whenever you feel inspired to do so! }

Inspiration 365: Day 20

You know those times when you see a product in a store that you think looks super cool, but… well, you’re not too sure if it’s really gonna work as well as they say it will? So you go home and look it up online, and… yah, people say it’s cool, but… really?

So the item falls to the back of your mind until you come across it again in another store. Damn. That thing really looks so cool. You add it to your Christmas ‘maybe’ list for the kids. You continue to investigate online—customer reviews, photos, blog references. Yep. Trés cool.

What the heck. It is reasonably priced, available for purchase in your neighbourhood, and again… seems really, really cool. You go for it. You wrap it up all purdy, and eagerly anticipate your children unwrapping it, and reveling in its glory more so than any other gift under the tree.

{Who are we kidding? There was a remote-control helicopter under the tree this year.}

But you know what? I nailed it. ZOKU nailed it. Their Quick Pop maker is everything they said—and I hoped—it would be, and it is without question the gift we have all spent the most time enjoying since its unveiling Christmas Day. Elegant design, simple use, fail-proof instructions, creative recipes and the opportunity to spend time exploring adventurous flavour combinations for—and with—my kids.

Go check it out. You know you want to. ZOKU Quick Pop Maker.
And yah, it can make grown-up pops too.

Chocolate Peanut Butter with Fresh Strawberries

Inspiration 365: Day 11

Found myself looking at houses on the internet today. Some wonderful places, indeed. My gut does somersaults when I look at houses… Little houses, big houses, local houses and houses afar. Modern houses, country houses, cottages and seaside villas. Nothing else inflicts the kind of passion within me as house design and the possibilities within.

Should’da, would’da, could’da been an architect, interior designer, real estate agent.
Alas, I can always look.

…What inspired YOU today?

{ Psst… I love to receive feedback on my posts. Please leave your comments whenever you feel inspired to do so! }

Inspiration 365: Day 3

Well… I did it.

I just hit the submit button on my application to IKEA for role of Interior Designer at their shiny new Ottawa location.

Stay tuned…

{ Psst… I love to receive feedback on my posts. Please leave your questions, comments + feedback whenever you feel inspired to do so! }

Inspiration 365: Day 1

Wow. Day One. This project is going to be amazing… I am already aflutter with excitement to watch this year grow into one of colour, creativity and remarkable wonder.

Throughout this first day of 2012, I tuned in to every moment for opportunities to be inspired. When you are on high-alert like this, it is easy—and exhilarating!—to find beauty almost anywhere, and in any moment. Today there were many, and I simply cannot choose just one.

From the fluffy snowflakes landing softly upon tree branches, to discovering the creative mastery of cookie decorator SugarBelle. Can you believe these are edible? Explore her blog and Facebook page for recipes, tips and ideas for your next cookie adventure.

This morning, I began development of an online store for my kids, who have been inspired to print their wacky and wickedly wonderful illustrations onto t-shirts for worldwide sales and distribution. Jake even marched upstairs to announce the pending opening to our top-floor neighbours, much to their amusement I am sure.

I was tickled by the idea of applying to a job posting for Interior Designer at IKEA {Did you know, Ottawa is now home to the newest + largest IKEA store in Canada?} The job involves design, promotion and maintenance of their in-store rooms, vignettes and showcases. Geez, talk about inspiring! Alas, the role requirements are a bit out of my range of experience, particularly in the visual merchandising department.

Finally, after reading several friends’ Facebook status updates these past few days about wanting to shed some pounds and consider healthier lifestyles, I was inspired late this afternoon to schedule a “Nutrition for the New Year” workshop. As I spoke about my idea with Marshall, the concept snowballed, and is now offering up the potential to be the next Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers! Stay tuned for details…

The night is young, and I just know there will be numerous shining moments of inspiration before I close my eyes {and undoubtedly after!}, but I will leave you with this collection for now. What a glorious way to start this tantalizing project. I hope you tune in for the remaining 364 installments, and perhaps take some time each day to consider…

…What inspired YOU today?

{ Psst… I love to receive feedback on my posts. Please leave your questions, comments + feedback whenever you feel inspired to do so! }

For 2012…

I have been contemplating these past few days on what my 2012 Daily Post will be. My Grateful Statements have been wonderful—though challenging at times—to write. What I set out to achieve was certainly accomplished within the first 30 posts. I had hoped my friends, family and followers on Facebook and this blog, would catch the wave and consider their own gratitude for things big and small. I had hoped they would share their gratitude with others as well, and so on… My heart danced when I would read somebody’s Facebook status update starting with the words, “I am so grateful that…”

In 2012 I am going to widen the scope to include all inspirations—what this blog was originally designed to capture and share. So for 365 days, I will not let my camera or notepad leave my side. I will be scouring both the soft-copy and hard-copy versions of this extraordinary world, and the people who populate it, for excerpts of creativity, spontaneity, design, wisdom, humour, beauty, flavour, joy—all things inspired and inspiring.

As always, you are encouraged to leave feedback and comments {please!}, and share with us what inspires you.

The purpose of all this? To open our eyes to beauty—inside + out. And to share.

Enjoy… and Happy New Year!

JoeGirl Gear!

Yahoo! I picked up my embroidered JoeGirl gear today. Can hardly wait to strut my stuff all over town, promoting the brand. Cotton tees, water bottles, tote bags are on their way, and will be available for purchase at JoeGirl.com within the next couple of weeks.

Milestone Monday

In this, my time of goal-setting, perseverance and—hopefully—achievement, I thought an idea toward motivation and determination might be to document periodic milestones. What better day than Monday—the start of a fresh week of challenges and conquests.

Today’s milestone? Just moments ago, I proudly put away some new clothes I bought last evening. New clothes which are the smallest size I have ever purchased as an adult: Two pairs of Size 4 pants, and two Extra Small t-shirts.

In April, I was ecstatic to go home from Joe Fresh, my favourite clothes shop, with Size 8 pants, fully expecting I would be a Size 10. Last night, fitting into Size 4 completely floored me. In fact, I did try on—and fit into— some Size 2 pants as well, but I wasn’t crazy about the pants themselves. Last Friday night, I even bought a pair of Size 2 Eddie Bauer cords, but am choosing to return them, as they are a little snug in the rise (ie: camel toes/moose knuckles/wedgie!), and so not worth the $80 I paid for them. So, I am not considering myself a true Size 2… just yet.

What milestones have you reached lately?

Disgusted

Okay. Here’s the deal. I live in a community known for its proximity to the landfill site used throughout the Ottawa region. It’s a huge eyesore, and some folks claim it stinks up the place. I have never smelled it from my house, but driving by the dump on hot, muggy days of Summer does result in car windows being put up in a hurry.

Everybody complains about the dump. And it’s only getting bigger. Sure, the folks who manage it are making efforts to pretty up the place—well thought out landscaping disguises it from the road and adjacent highway, and grass has been encouraged to grow on what is affectionately referred to as “Gull Mountain”, among other not-so-niceties. The management company is also known and recognized for supporting local events and fundraising efforts throughout the region. I think they’re doing an okay job NOT being the junk yard dog.

Nonetheless, as local residents, we don’t want the dump to grow, or to be stinky and full of unnecessary garbage.

So why… WHY do people insist on throwing perfectly good, usable, sell- or donate-able items to the curb on garbage day? Yes, early birds do drive through the neighbourhood looking for loot to throw in the back of their truck and sell at the flea market on Sunday. But for the most part, this stuff ends up on the top of Gull Mountain for all the world to see—and smell.

Today, in my very own respectable, intelligent neighbourhood, I drove by garbage piles containing a TV table, a dining room light fixture, computers, chairs, and landscaping bricks. Geez.

What about donating these items to Good Will? Neighbourhood Services? The Salvation Army? Or make a few bucks by selling it all on Ebay? Craig’s List? Kijiji?

On average, we—a family of four, with Jake still pissing through 4-5 disposable diapers a day—put out maybe HALF a garbage can of waste each week. It would be significantly less if we had a compost bin, or if our municipality participated in the Green Box program, which takes compostable items away, including disposable diapers. Our recycling amounts to much more—typically two large, overflowing boxes every week. Neighbours have commented on how little we have on our curb each week.

How do we do it? We try not to eat over-processed, over-packaged foods, or buy over-packaged merchandise. And we recycle every single crumb of accepted plastic, metal, paper and glass that we possibly can. Every. Single. Crumb.

Pretty simple.

What do you do to keep your household waste to a minimum?

Smart Canucks + Smart JoeGirl Readers!

Yay! Last evening, I received an email from the folks at SmartCanucks.ca, letting me know JoeGirl had been chosen as their first Canadian Blog Feature! My gut did a few somersaults, then wretched in horror, as I realized my current JoeGirl post was less than typical and, in fact was… pathetic.

I hopped over to SmartCanucks.ca to see what had been written about JoeGirl, and was actually quite relieved. Boo was clever enough to work my dry spell into their editorial, and asked readers to visit JoeGirl to make recommendations!

Before I bow down to those of you who did, I want to tell you quickly about SmarkCanucks.ca—and don’t stop reading just because you are South of the border, or elsewhere in the world. Not only does SmartCanucks track Canadian sale flyers, freebies, contests, promotions, coupons, rebates and other special deals—oh no! They also offer money-saving tips and tricks, regardless of your currency and location. And who doesn’t want to save a few bucks here and there? I just can’t imagine how they keep on top it it all! Kudos to SmartCanucks.ca!

So, to those of you who so generously offered me your support and encouragement, suggestions and advice yesterday… I thank you. I really needed some motivation, and you delivered in spades. The best blog audience ever, of this I am certain.

Melanie: Your blog never seems to be scarce on content. I often read yours in an attempt to stir something up for my own! I love your magazine idea. I’ll consider setting up some ‘departments’ to streamline my subject matter, and play within those guidelines. Awesome feedback!
Site ::: One in 36Million

Csquaredplus3: You have quickly become one of my favourite readers—and reads! Your comments are always helpful and encouraging. Thank you! I’ll try to reciprocate more than I have been lately ;)
Site ::: Csquaredplus3

Nancy: Wow! My first SmartCanucks referral! Thanks for visiting JoeGirl. I hope you return often! I like your ideas. I do try to touch on my graphic design work a bit, mostly in terms of downloads to help readers become better organized (hit Freebies in the “JoeGirl Talks About…” cloud, to the left)…, but for a closer look at my graphic design portfolio, you can always check out my corporate website at indetail.ca
Site ::: SpiffyKerms

Katie: Thanks for the encouragement. I have always preferred quality over quantity in most other aspects of my life, so you’re right. I shouldn’t be so hard on myself! Hope to see you at JoeGirl again soon!

Anonymous: Yes! Thanks for the brutal honesty—I asked for it!

les_mason_curt: Sweet Leslee, you’re just saying that because you won my first-ever giveaway and are looking for more cards ;) Kidding. You are adorable, and adored. Thanks for your feedback ;)
Site ::: Phillips101

Mightyattom: Holy cow. JoeGirl is “the most real and genuine experience (you’ve) had on the Internet in a really long time”??? I don’t even know how to respond. Wow. Thanks.

Verygoodyear: Awesome advice. Thank you. Glad you like my Etsy stuff too! I need to add more cards up there. Any requests?
Site ::: It Was A Very Good Year

QuirkyChrista: Christmas table ideas? Great idea! I’ll start working on that! Love your photography!
Site ::: Quirky: An Oddity of Behaviour

Thank you again to everybody who commented, and everybody who didn’t but came for a visit anyway.

Stay tuned…

Plump and Perky!

In my 20 minutes of spare time today, I caught a TV segment showcasing a local bra shop, Brachic. They were discussing the virtues of having a proper bra fitting, which inspired me to re-post one of my first JoeGirl submissions.

Some of my first readers will remember this one, and so I ask you, “Have you had a proper bra fitting yet?” And for those more recent readers, maybe it’s time for you to visit your favourite lingerie shop and treat yourself to something more suitable—and flattering—to your body type!

---

“I wasn’t looking at her shoulders”
—originally posted July 2, 2008

So many people have been telling me I look great lately, and ask “Have you been working out/losing weight/having an affair?" Nope. But there is a difference. My bras.

You know how Oprah had that Great American Bra Fitting, or whatever she called it, maybe a year or so ago? About finding the perfect bra size and shape for you, and only you? Well it works! Go to a reputable lingerie shop (Zellers, Target and Walmart do not qualify), and have a proper bra fitting. I’m talking Marianne’s in Ottawa’s Westgate Mall. Victoria’s Secret, and even LaSenza, which is where my girls found their magic.

If you’ve watched Pixar’s The Incredibles, you need to visualize the superhero’s seamstress, Edna Mode. If my ‘fit specialist’ hadn't been three-dimensional, and manipulating my breasts and back fat to suit her mission, I might have actually thought Edna Mode had relocated her services to Bayshore Shopping Centre.

Now for years, I thought I was a 36C. When I say years, I mean since best-friend-since-Grade-Four Kate and I would spend our weekends scouring the mall for something new. I'm talking... the teen years. Forget pregnancy, and nursing two babies for well over a year apiece, and gaining and losing, and gaining and losing weight. I walked into that store determined I was still a 36C, damn it.

After trying on no fewer than 3,972 bras, I left with two delicious selections... sized 34DD.

As Clinton Kelly always says, you gotta get those girls up where they belong! So the tighter waistband (34!) keeps the horizontal strap where it should be — straight across your back, not riding up and causing boob slump in front. The larger cup size (DD!) pulls all the goodies in from your sides and underarms and works it all to your advantage — making your mid-section appear narrower and longer, and putting your beautiful breasts up front and in focus!

CAUTION: Participating in the aforementioned exercise in self-help may result in your husband, and father of your children, calling you a MILF. I hope you accept the ‘compliment’ more graciously than I did.

If I had a million dollars…

Every so often, Andrew and I dreamily discuss what we would do, should we ever happen upon a million dollars—lottery, mystery inheritance, casino winnings… Our ideas change daily, but as he and I are headed to our local casino this Saturday night, the possibilities have been top of mind. After all, one needs to be somewhat prepared for such winnings, so decisions aren’t hastily made.

Today, I’m thinking I would rent a nearby house or condo for a few months in order to have my home’s interior gutted and refinished—hardwood floors throughout, new kitchen, all new paint, all new trim, strip all ceilings of that hideous popcorn stipple, new basement layout, built-in wall units in several rooms, home theater properly installed, new furnishings, redefine lighting, and put immaculate organizational systems in place in every room, closet, nook and cranny. On the exterior, I would replace the lower third of vinyl siding with rustic stone, install dimmable soffit lighting around the perimeter, rebuild the veranda railing and posts, completely landscape the front walkway with cobblestone, install an underground sprinkler system throughout, and incorporate an inground pool in the back yard.

How am I doing? Have I spent $500,000 yet? Maybe. Almost.

The logical choices for the remainder of the money would be to pay off our mortgage, credit cards and truck loan. Heck. We’d probably sell the Trailblazer and Subaru and purchase the vehicles we really want. I’d insist on a new Subaru, but the truck would likely be a Pathfinder or some other hefty beast.

With any left over cash, we would take the family on an extended driving tour from one side of Canada to the other. Indeed, we’d need a rather deluxe RV for that (think Robert deNiro’s in Meet the Fockers). I’m sure renting one would suffice.

And we’d throw a few dollars to charities that hit close to home for us—Cancer, Heart & Stroke, CHEO and The Humaine Society.

What would YOU do with a million dollars?

The Perfect Blend

Thanks everybody, for inquiring about my new job. Your thoughtfulness and encouragement mean so much to me!

So, here are the details: I’ll be working part-time, two or three days a week, at a busy shop in Westboro—one of the most wonderful, trendy areas of Ottawa. The shop is a Farrow & Ball store, selling the finest paints and wallpapers to discerning customers. The shop owner is also a sought-after interior designer, famous in and around Ottawa for her colour sensibilities and exquisite residential designs. When the store is quiet, I will be assisting Janise on these design contracts: sourcing materials, following up with customers and suppliers, and providing my input on selections.

I can’t begin to tell you how perfect this job is for me. Since I was a kid, maybe 12 or 13, I have been sketching floor plans and designing houses, choosing colours and arranging furniture. While I once did these things for fun, my passion for interiors later evolved into a part of my business—now helping clients with colours, furnishings and accessories.

Being self-employed, as many WAHM (Work at Home Moms) know, when the money comes in, it’s good. But the money isn’t always coming in. Contracts can be scattered, payments can be delayed and scopes of work can shift from what was quoted to what was actually invoiced—often making paydays unpredictable. So a regular pay cheque, albeit at a {very respectable} hourly retail rate, will be a welcome addition to our often uncomfortably tight bank account.

The hours are perfect for me. The shop is open 9:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday and Saturdays 10am to 4pm. Andrew can flex his day, so I will see the boys off at 9am, and zoom to work. Andrew will start earlier in the day, so he can be home with them at 4pm. I’ll arrive home, to what I hope is a tidy house, completed homework and a decent supper, by about 6pm. Again, only two or three days a week, including the occasional Saturday.

Being a people-person {or so I am told}, I am eager to meet and greet customers and assist them with colour selection—learning about their homes, their lifestyles, their visions of comfort. My practical, organizational, systematic side will thrive on the interior design requirements, making sure each contract is executed as efficiently and thoroughly as possible.

The environment is dynamic, yet relaxed. Casual attire is expected and encouraged, and laughter is practically mandatory.

I am just so excited.

Oh, and did I mention the owner brings her little dog to the shop every day?
How absolutely perfect!

Oops! Bad JoeGirl…

I can’t believe I completely forgot to post yesterday! E-Gad! I think that was the first weekday ever, since starting JoeGirl on June 20th, that I have not posted. Shameful, indeed. And I apologize.

What kept me so busy? I had a splendid day, actually. Here’s what I did…

After putting Quinn on the bus, I dropped Jake off at daycare, where I learned it had been his caregiver’s birthday the day before. Feeling sheepish for not acknowledging Pattie’s special day, I rushed home to design a card just for her.

I enjoy such a thrill during that first moment as pen touches paper. I use an extremely fine black felt-tip pen on creamy watercolour card stock. The pen glides over the bumps and valleys of the paper, letting my hand direct its tip to create the letters and sweet drawings. While I always prefer the simplicity and solitude of the ink-only drawings, I do often embellish my illustrations with colour, either marker or paint, making each card unique—and a wonderful gift in itself. You can shop for cards like this at my Joe Designs Etsy store!

At the same time, I designed another card for my dear friend Shelley, whose birthday is today. Shelley is such a compassionate person—always taking time out to lend a hand, offer a kind word, or share a hearty laugh.

For a few minutes before leaving home, I chatted on FaceBook with a newer friend of mine, James—one of Quinn’s senseis from Jiu-Jitsu. James is a young guy, but very powerful and bright. Not sure why we have connected—he’s into heavy metal and ultimate fighting (Mom’s worst nightmare, right?)—but we enjoy sharing small talk both at the dojo and online. James is a surprisingly gentle, genuinely compassionate guy, and such a great role model for both Quinn and myself.

I love when people younger than me become my role models. Not sure how to explain that one, but I suppose it comes from being 36, and wanting to be 24 again. I’m friends with people of many ages—both younger and older. There is value in every age and experience level, and once you find a person’s true colours, it is remarkable to watch those colours fill your own life with inspiration.

First stop: SuperStore pharmacy. My doctor prescribed Tetracycline for this Perioral Dermatitis I have developed on my chin, thanks to The Pill (which I stopped taking about five weeks ago). While waiting for the ‘scrip, I browsed the store for goodies. Quinn needed more long pants for the cooler days ahead, which I found easily—beige cords and dark jeans. I continued to wander up and down every Joe Fresh aisle. Can you believe it? A line of clothes called Joe. How perfect.

The fifteen minute wait-time went by quickly. I picked up the meds and headed to the shortest checkout line I could find: The Self-Serve Line. No sweat. I’m technologically inclined, right? Besides, I only have two pairs of clearly tagged and coded pants, and I want to get out of here NOW. What the heck.

Touch the screen to begin. Touch.
Please scan the first item. Scan. Drat. It scanned twice.

Where’s the Remove Item button? How do I get the second instance of these cords off the list? Hello? Heeeeellllloooo? Where is the @#$%@ Remove Item button???

Meanwhile, the system is telling me to place the item in the bag, which I have already done.

Please place the item in the bag. I’m placing—then shoving—it in the bag.
Please place the item in the bag. It’s in the $%&*#@ bag, already!!!

Then, from over my shoulder and about 6 metres (yards) away, I hear a quiet “Do you need to take an item off the list?” I turn to see a store employee talking to me. “Yes, I do.” She touches her own screen, and the second instance of Quinn’s new cords magically disappears from my list. I turn again, this time sheepishly, and say thanks.

Please scan the next item. Scan.
Please pay now. Debit. Done. Outta here.

Rats. I was supposed to pick Andrew up at 11:30am, and it is now 11:35am. I’m about seven minutes away from his office. Zoom, zoom.

Good thing I rushed {she says, sarcastically}. Andrew was stuck in a meeting which, in turn, meant I was stuck in the car until about 11:45am. No biggie. I’ve been wanting ME time, right? He hops in the car and tells me the meeting was still in progress, but he told them he just HAD to leave. What a sweetie.

We look so forward to our lunch dates. Our favourite treat? Vietnamese Pho—a huge bowl of tasty broth, enormous pile of rice noodles, thinly sliced strips of beef, garnished with bean sprouts, fresh basil and a splash of hot sauce. Our bellies slosh around for the rest of the day, but it is so worth it.

Next stop: IKEA. Haven’t been there since the new catalogue came out. Parking lot was packed. Still serving the back-to-school crowd, I see. My intent on this trip was to look for organizing solutions for the basement play area and the mudroom. I had been looking at their kids’ bin/drawer system, Trofast, for a while, calculating many possible configurations to best contain and control the toys. It wasn’t going to be cheap. The frames alone are $57 each, plus the bins. I was easily looking at over $300 to outfit the play area adequately. Ugh. In seeing the system in person, I wasn’t convinced, and therefore walked away armed with knowledge, but no product.

Then came the storage section—bins, boxes, shelves, hangers. I love this stuff. That’s where I found it. The perfect solution. Same concept as the kids’ system, but more grown-up and industrial. Which means more versatile down the road, right? And, whoa? What's this??? Only $18 per frame? How can that be? It’s way bigger, and the translucent (better than opaque ones, so you can see what’s inside, don’t you think?) bins offer at least double the capacity! Meet Antonius. Brilliant. I walked out of the store spending only $200 for three Antonius racks, 15 bins, boxes for Quinn’s school work, and a few other little things. I was completely stoked. What a find.

Last stop: Gotta Paint, to pick up the ceramic dishes Quinn and I created last Wednesday. We had a great time, sitting side by side designing and painting our plates. Mine is a Snacks for Santa plate, and his is a triangular one for pizza. Not a cheap date, but something I have always wanted to do with Quinn. He’s looking forward to having pizza tonight, just so he can use his masterpiece. Now that’s pride.

I was home by 3pm. Had just enough time to check, and respond to, a few emails and phone calls. Hung out with the boys after school/daycare. A neighbour stopped in for a visit, and to borrow my Benjamin Moore fan decks. Andrew came home, we made and devoured supper (President’s Choice White Macaroni and Cheese. Easy, but delicious!), then Andrew went off to pick up some Grolsch beer bottles for his home-brew, so the boys and I assembled the Antonius racks. WOW! Easiest IKEA assembly ever. All you need is a hammer or, even better, a rubber mallet. I swept up all the Duplo, train set components, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles paraphernalia, and numerous other piles of colourful plastic, and tucked it all away nicely into the fabulous drawers. So great. So, so great.

8:30pm came faster than I realized, so I whisked Jake up to bed, then dashed into the blue room to make Shelley her birthday gift. I can’t reveal it here just yet, as I haven’t had the chance to give it to her, and I know she is a very loyal JoeGirl reader. I was finished her gift by 10pm—completely zonked. Up to bed, and asleep in less than five minutes, I’m sure. Which is unusual for me.

So I hope you’ll forgive me for yesterday’s oversight. You deserve better. Oh, how I adore you all for reading JoeGirl. Thank you.

What’s the last thing you forgot to do?