Staff Conferences Cure Winter Blahs

Because of where I work, I am afforded a number of opportunities not readily available to most in the corporate world. One of these opportunities is the annual Staff Conference. This conference takes place every year during reading week, is completely optional and a number of different sessions. There is something for everyone and anyone who work here is able to go. This year, I decided on three (well, technically two and a half) sessions.

The first was with David Chilton, author of The Wealthy Barber. Although I have never read his book, I have spent my life hearing about it. My mom read his book when I was very little and told me from a young age that I needed to read this book when I get older (and I plan to, once I finish the other 50 billion books that are already in my house that I have yet to read). He talks in general terms about money, and simply enough that anyone can understand. He lives comfortably, but within his means and practices what he preaches. He was also pretty funny. He tells little anecdotal stories to keep everyones interest during his 45 minute speech. He gave away a number of his books and stayed to sign and discuss with the audience afterwards. He also took the time to answer questions. It was nice to see.

Now for the big event! Last Friday, I met someone amazing. Her multifaceted career is enough to make anyone’s head spin, and she’s done it all on her own. That’s right, Debbie Travis! I ADORE this woman! She’s down to earth, honest and inspiring. She doesn’t have a big head and definitely hasn’t let fame get to her. She gave an amazing keynote speech and talked about her keys to success. She also talked a bit about who she is and how she got to where she is. She talked about her family (mostly her boys) and how she coped. She also talked about her new book, Not Guilty. After her speech, I left the room and bought a copy of her book at the stand just outside the door. Debbie then walked out of the lecture hall and SIGNED MY BOOK!!! I was floored! I now have a signed copy of Debbie’s book in my bookcase and I couldn’t be more excited about it.

My Staff Conference experience didn’t end there. We then headed over to the Great Hall in a different building on campus and Debbie then participated in a book discussion. She talked more in depth about her book, about herself and her family, about her Girl’s Getaway that she does in Italy (which I’m SO going on! Once I can get some details from Debbie’s new website), and just life in general. She told cute stories about her sons as they grew up and gave the 30 or so of us a candid view into her life. Debbie then stayed afterwards to sign books, take pictures with her adoring fans (including yours truly!!) and talk more. She signed a stack of books for our Bookstore here on campus as well. If only all celebrities were as amazing as Debbie Travis, there would be no need for gossip mags or trashy news papers. She tells everything and has no regrets!

Debbie Travis and I at the Staff Conference

Jamie Oliver, sometimes you’re so right that it’s scary!

For a few years now, I have been in love with Jamie Oliver. Fantastic man, philanthropic, great recipes (some of them even simple enough that I can make them!), original ideas, creative and super cute (with an even cuter accent).  I have two of his cookbooks, which I attempt from time to time to cook from (but mostly lend to Maggie, as she’s really the fantastic cook and I just play around) and have watched his show more times then I can count.

Jamie has always been an activist for good, clean, delicious food. I’m all for this kind of food but I’m also a single mom with a full time job and an even fuller social life. Therein lies my dilemma. I WANT to eat healthier, but there’s the whole convenience factor that is lacking. Time is a huge issue for me as well. My daughter is one of those crazy kids who sleeps and needs a good 10-12 hrs to function the next day (this makes me with my crazy insomnia very jealous of my beautiful, well behaved 3 1/2 year old, which I don’t think is entirely natural… ), so she’s in bed by 7:30 p.m. every night. I get done work at 4:30 p.m. pretty much every day and have to pick up my daughter from daycare. We usually get home at about 5:00-5:15 p.m. So we have about 2 hrs every night to make dinner, eat dinner, play and read, talk about our day, take a bath, brush our teach and read a bedtime story after our snuggle time. It’s  A LOT to do in 2 hrs and dinner usually suffers for it. Whatever we do, we usually make something fast. Sometimes we use fresh ingredient, but most of the time the ingredients come from the freezer, a box or the cupboard. If we don’t make something, we usually buy something. We TRY to eat healthy when we go out, but it’s not easy. So when I saw the video of Jamie Oliver and his TED Prize Wish, it really hit home.

And now comes the hard part. I want to eat healthier. Right now. I need to find a way to incorporate a healthier eating style and cut all the crap out, with my limited time. I want to make delicious meals for my daughter and I without filling them full of chemicals, sugar and unhealthy fat. I want my daughter to live to be 105 and die of old age, not because she ate one too many cheeseburgers at the ripe old age of 25. I need to make this change now. So tonight, instead of grabbing something quick and easy at the grocery store, I’m going to pull out some mean and veggies from the freezer and crack on of my Jamie books and cook. Honest to goodness home-cooked meal.

Everything starts with the first step, right? So today is my first step to eating healthier and improving my daughter and I’s life. This weekend, I’m going to continue to make healthy, home cooked meals. On Sunday (or Monday, as it’s Harper day and I don’t have to work), I’m going to map out a meal plan for the next week. I’m going to sit down with my daughter and discuss what she does and doesn’t like to eat and make something we both like and enjoy every single day for a week. If I can make it through one week, then I will clean out my cupboards of everything processed and bad for me, to be replaced by healthy alternatives.

I’m going to make a page to track my journey to a healthier family and happier life. I’m going to try to post recipes, (although I’m really bad at this… I just experiment and don’t pay attention to how much of what I’m putting where and although it tastes delicious, I can never duplicate it) the challenges I face, and any success stories I have. I’ll be posting the link once I have it up and running. The plan is to have it up tonight, so watch for it!

OH! And here are the two Jamie books that I have and love. Go out and buy them, and support this FANTASTIC man!

Kelley Armstrong, you are a genius!

Has anyone heard of Kelley Armstrong before? Well, until he wonderful people at UndeathMatch sent me a copy of her book Bitten, I hadn’t either. When I got it, I thought “Great, another book hoping on the “Wereworlf/Vampire train” (not that I would mind another enjoyable read about either of the aforementioned topics, I just feel that the media has been inundated with a million books trying to grip the coattails of the Twilight series’ success) but I thought I’d give it a shot anyways.

To my pleasant surprise, Bitten was fantastic. I was hooked from the first page and read the entire book in about two days. I literally couldn’t put the book down for hours on end. The vivid characters and scenes kept my interest while Kelley’s descriptive way of writing without being too wordy made it easy for me to stay captivated page after page, chapter after chapter.

I fell in love with Elena and could relate to the struggles she felt trying to fit in with the human world. She was fighting forces most don’t encounter (I’m not a werewolf, so the need to run away in the middle of the night to change is not something I relate to), but at the very core of her being there was this human side that had all the same needs, wants and desires as any human woman (or man). She wanted love and acceptance, not just by her family but by the general public as well.

One advantage that Bitten has over the Twilight series is the appeal to an adult audience. In short, the sex. Twilight, until the last book, lacked sex (although the sexual tension throughout the first three books kept most readers hooked). In Bitten, there is no shortage. It’s vivid, steamy animalistic sex that draws the reader in with the promise of more.

The men in Bitten were also something to talk about. Strong, mysterious, dark, attractive men who know what they want and are willing to take it. They are described in such intense detail that it’s easy to visualize these incredible specimens.

The best aspect of this book is, in the end, the story. This book is not just another supernatural fantasy novel. This story has aspects of multiple genres rolled into one. There’s romance, drama, comedy, suspense, fantasy (of course), and mystery. The story moves from one genre to another seamlessly with the underlying mystery being the common thread holding the story together.

All in all, I LOVED this book and can’t wait to continue reading this series and I will be picking up Stolen, the second in the series, very very soon.

A little about the Women of the Otherworld series. Kelley Armstrong did something very different with this series. For each book, she changed the voice depending on the story. What I mean is that Elena is not the main character in in all 10 books. For example, the 3rd and 4th books in the series, Dime Store Magic and Industrial Magic, are both in the voice of Paige who is NOT a werewolf. She’s a witch. Elena does come back, as well as a host of other characters ranging from ghosts and demons to necromancers! When the question was posed to Kelley about why she changes narrators from one book to another, this was her response on her website “For me, then, changing narrators isn’t a marketing ploy—I’m told repeatedly that I’d sell better if I didn’t! Instead, it’s all about keeping it fresh and challenging, which is very important to me as a writer. I love what I do, and I don’t ever want to lose that.” To read more about Kelley Armstrong’s books, visit her website, check her out on Facebook or follow her on Twitter!

ps, Kelley’s having this amazing contest because one of her books, The Summoning, is being released online for free!! Check it out! Enter the contest and best of luck!!!

Ice cream and Project Runway = Saturday night

Tonight, I honestly have NOTHING to really post/report on. I’m just bored out of my tree. I’m currently watching Project Runway and eating Heavenly Hash ice cream on a quiet Saturday night in. Single parenting can be a little boring and mundane at times. I’m 25 and a typical Saturday night (and sometimes Monday – Friday and Sunday nights) involves streaming a good TV show or movie, or reading a book. It’s all quiet and still and I’m just not that type of person.

Last night, on the other hand, I remembered that I am only 25 and went our with friends. I saw a London Knights game (too bad they loss, but still a fan!! Go Knights, GO!) and then to Fanshawe to see The Creepshow perform. I love The Creepshow!! Fantastic show, good company and it was FREE! I go from a fantastic night of excitement and music, to a somber night full of solitude and silence.

Regardless, it comes with the territory. Single parenting is just that. Single. Solo. Alone. As soon as the little one goes to bed, it also becomes quiet. Sometimes it’s that peaceful kind of quiet that you long for all day when you’re busy. Some nights, like tonight, it’s unsettling. It’s that feeling that you should be up doing something, out with friends, entertaining people, drinking a few dozen glasses of wine and pairing it with the most fantastic of cheeses. But not tonight. Tonight, I’m going to read about how I should stop eating ice cream all the time (The Rebel Diet… check it out!! Once I’m done, I’m going to write a nice little review) and tightening my purse strings (Earn, Spend, Save… another book that I will review, once completed) and watch a little How I Met Your Mother and laugh myself silly. LOVE Neil Patrick Harris!

eBooks: Reading for the next decade!

So this year for Christmas, as did many other bloggers and avid readers, Santa brought me a Kindle (with a fancy pink leather case). I did a lot of research before asking Santa for such a gift, as there are many eBook Readers on the market. I’m going to take the time to list a few that were big this past holiday season and why I picked the Kindle over them all (and I’m not going to bring price into this at all because when it comes down to the quality of the device, the price shouldn’t matter all that much).

First, lets review the Sony Reader. I tested out both the touch and button versions of the Reader and found three major issues for me. First it’s big and bulky. Compared to the sleek design of the Kindle, it’s a giant! The casing seems to be the issue with its square design and sharp edges. I did like that it came in multiple colours, but that didn’t make up for the size. Secondly, I found it to be slow. There were only a few publications on the Reader in the Sony store, but it still moved slower then a tortoise. Lastly, I did not like the complete dependence on other devices, such as a desktop or laptop with internet access, instead of a built in networking option. What I did like was the overall layout of the device. The page turning buttons are on the right middle and bottom left side of the device. I would most likely use the buttons located on the middle of the right side as that is where my hand would naturally rest while reading. I also liked the wide variety of supported file formats. This is great for sharing eBooks with friends and family, as well as borrowing books from the library or purchasing them from most online suppliers like Chapters.  (for a comprehensive check out this comparison of the Kindle vs Sony Reader by Wired.com)

Next, lets take a look at Barnes and Noble’s Nook. It has a similar design style to the Kindle. Smooth edges, page advance buttons on the side, and no glare/non-backlit display make it a pretty good competitor for the Kindle. A feature the Nook has that the Kindle doesn’t? Touch screen controls. As with any device, such as cell phones, some people prefer touch screen and some don’t. I like touch screens in theory, but have problems typing on them when it comes down to daily use (hence the reason I don’t have an iPhone). Now for the differences/downsides that I have found. First is the wireless access for downloading content. Yes, there is wireless access. Since they use the AT&T network, I doubt the access is international and I am 99% sure this would cause me issues here in Canada. The only plus to the wireless access on the Nook is the WiFi option. This, I could probably live with.  Secondly, I can see the touch screen/colour LCD display destroying the battery and as this is a huge selling feature, I doubt you can turn it off. Now for the benefits! If I lived in the States, my decision to get my Kindle would have been much harder because of the Nook. The Nook has expandable memory, runs on Android (Google mobile operating system), and supports multiple file formats. But what really grabs me is the new LendMe technology they have included. This software allows you to digitally share your electronic content with any friends using the LendMe technology (available current on iPhone, iTouch, PC and Mac OS). This technology I envy and can only hope that Amazon jumps on this bandwagon soon.  (Barnes and Noble made a pretty chart for comparison. Check it out here)

Lastly, I want to review Kobo (formerly known as Shortcovers). I know, it’s not a device…. yet. But this up and coming technology could possibly be the future in digital publications here in Canada and a worthy competitor for the american giants that are Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Kobo is working with Chapters for their digital publication needs. This is HUGE for Canadian readers. The free Kobo apps are available on PC, Mac, iPhone, Blackberry, Palm Pre AND Android smartphones and operating systems. This is huge. Without a dedicated device, their books are still easily accessible. Now, for the kicker. Any device that can read ePub or PDFs can display these books. So if you already have an eReader and it can display ePub or PDFs, you’re good to go. They have a very substantial library that is growing day by day. (For more information about Kobo, check out their website)

Now, for my Kindle. I love my Kindle. When I opened it Christmas morning and  was able to just download any old book I wanted and to start reading within a  minute, I was overjoyed. I felt like I was 5 years old again using the toy I had  specifically asked Santa for and was so shocked that he delivered. It’s lightening  fast and I have only had the charge the battery once. The online purchasing    system is flawless. The ONLY thing that I would change is the inability to lend  content. That’s it. I love the layout, accessibility, speed, size, and feel of the  device.

In short, it all depends on what you’re looking for. If you want the    instant gratification of being able to get a book any time, any place? Get a Kindle.  If you’re in the States and want the newest toy with all the current “hot” features?  Get the Nook. What to be able to access pretty much any publication and don’t  care about instant access? Get the Sony Reader. But keep your eyes out for  new developments from Kobo. I see big things for this new player in the world of  Digital Publication. Who knows? This Canadian contender could pull the rug out  from under the big bad American competition.

CBC Books, PICK ME! My pitch for a Sony e-Reader

Although I’m axiously awaiting Christmas Morning so I can (re-)open my Kindle, I’d love to test out the Sony e-Reader. Not only do I just want to test it, I want to gift it to my Mom. My mom is my rock in this world and is also a book lover. I’m constantly lending her books and she has a stack now sitting on one of her side tables, ready to read.

My suggestion for this year’s book? Ragged Company by Richard Wagamese. A great human story about a group of homeless people who find half a pack of cigarettes, $60 and a winning lottery ticket for worth $13.5 million dollars. No one is able to claim the prize as they lack proper ID. The enlist the help of a wayward Journalist named Granite to help them change their lives forever.

This is also a LondonReads pick for this year (As well as Canada Read’s pick Good To A Fault and The Outlander). I’ve just started to read it and am now completely enthrawled in this foreign life lingering outside my safe little world.

-W

A Day Out

This past Sunday I had the pleasure of spending quality time with two of my favorite people in the big city. We shopped, we ate, we laughed and generally just had that quality girl time that is necessary in any healthy friendship. Here are the highlights of our lovely day out:

• A great new (or at least new to us) Asian food restaurant. Asian Bowl. If you’re in downtown Toronto any time soon, check it out! it’s across the street from the Eaton’s Center.
• Kaela getting stalked in Chapters. Some guy was following her around suggesting books and just trying to initiate conversation in the most awkward way possible. Then, when we finally made it to the counter to pay, he found another target to harass.
• Constantly losing one another in small and large stores, regardless of the amount of people or size of the store.
• FOREVER XXI is now my new favorite store in Toronto. Period.
• Shining examples of parenting, including a couple with two children and a stroller. One parent is carrying one child and pushing the empty stroller. The other parent is walking with the toddler across the busy road. The toddler isn’t great at walking and ends up getting pulled across the street by the parent. Nice. Next time, put your kid in the stroller or PICK HIM UP! Busy roads are not a great place to encourage your child to walk solo.
• The Eaton’s Center in all it’s glory! (It’s so great, it needed it’s own mention)
• Maggie somehow buying Christmas presents for both Kaela and myself while we were in the same store without us knowing it!!! (and doing an excellent job as well! We were both super surprised and happy with the presents. Thanks Maggie!!)
• The TTC Subway, Smooties, Cinnabuns, Subs and the GoTrain
• A child free day!

Although we were out later than we were planning to be and didn’t end up getting everything we needed to, the experience was what mattered. Thank you again for a wonderful, fun-filled day! I couldn’t ask for better friends to have spent it with

-W