Jenn & Chris – Page 13 – Mom Dad CuppaKids

My kind of hockey – #WJC2015

by Jenn & Chris on January 7, 2015

Dad says: It was that time of year again: mid winter, heightened excitement about what laid ahead…you know what I am talking about. That time to dress wacky, get crazy, and count down till the puck drops. Not the ball, or the apple in NYC, I am talking about the World Junior Hockey tournament.

Best date night of the year #WorldJuniors

Every year, it’s a right of passage, where I am graciously granted some extra tv time (& the Big TV) to watch Canada take on the world on our own version of the frozen tundra. This year was a little different, as Jenn has come over to the dark side of hockey player. It has infused her with a greater understanding and greater passion for the game. So I made room on the couch, but there were still some rules that needed to be followed:

No talking during play. (Unless you are yelling at the TV)
If Canada is winning, sit in the same place.
If Canada won last time, wear the same clothing. A loss? Wash the clothes and wear the sweater. Not a jersey, end of discussion.
No import beer allowed: no Stella, no Kronenbourg, no Bush. Microbrews are allowed and actually preferred, as long as they are created north of the 40^th. I am aware of the global conglomerate ownerships, thanks for your input.
If you are distantly related to a participating country, you may cheer for them unless they are playing Canada. Then you must shut up.
Snacks can be from anywhere, as long as they are tasty. We are a cultural mosaic after all…NOTE: If said snacks represent the opposing country, and that country beats Canada, the snacks will be defiled, removed from the host premises, and banned from all future tournaments and games.

Now, this year the host city duties were shared between Toronto and Montreal, so viewership extended to a couple of live visits to the ACC to catch some of the round robin action. With the wife. Now, I am sure I sensed a bit of a shudder as you read that. But I need to be honest here: it was fun. Jenn ‘gets’ more of the game now, and even forsaw a goal coming together based on player positions. Huge upside. She also buys me beers, so…

My biggest challenge is this: I saw Sweden take on Russia, and could not decide who to cheer for. Honestly. ‘72 Summit series with Kharlamov and the Eagle or Forsberg in ’94 that saw every piece of IKEA furniture out on the front lawn after the bastard scored. I had to go the expert for help to overcome this deep seeded predjudice. The answer from the Oracle: watch for good hockey and leave by the end of the 2^ndto spite them both. Smart fella..

WJC Games are always better with friends

Mom Says: I absolutely absolutely LOVE watching live hockey. I still remember the nosebleeds we would head at an old school Jets Game. When I first moved to Toronto 12 years ago, I had the privilege to sit in some fancy pants seats Chris got from work..as I stood up to cheer I was told to sit down by guys in suits on their phones and eating sushi. THIS was not my kind of hockey.

MY kind of hockey is yelling…and cheering…and screaming at the play. My hockey is beer..and popcorn and peanuts…and The GOOD ‘OL HOCKEY GAME…and the Kissing Cam and (if you are from Winnipeg you will get the reference) Dancing Gabe and the Wave.

Watching the World Juniors LIVE (Thank you Chevrolet Canada) and on the tele was MY kind of hockey. It was passionate fans and proud Canadians. It was with my husband (who lives and breathes hockey) and it was plain old fun.

Best activation of the series- Cdn Tire & their #BigPlay play

CONGRATULATIONS #TEAMCANADA.

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU.

Healthy Living

#TryANewYou- Hot Yoga

by Jenn & Chris on January 4, 2015

If there is one thing we learned from last year, it was in order to be successful at something, you need to decide what your goal is, set a timeline and make a plan.

My goal this year is to find things that make me smile and feed my soul more. The idea of taking on a challenge and succeeding at it helped me jump out of an airplane, run a half marathon, lose weight, climb a mountain…you get it.

It also helped me realize that absolutely nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it.

Set your intent.

2015 involves being more grounded. Rooting myself in healthy living, strong family ties, a clear mind and pushing myself to continue trying new things.

I am thinking of this kind of like a game. I am going to tackle something new each month to see what I can achieve and how far I can go. I have labeled it #TryANewYou and would love for you to join me on this adventure this year.

I think I would prefer THIS kind of HOT yoga

My first #TryANewYou is Hot Yoga.

Talking to the converted, you would think Bikram or Hot Yoga was like the holy grail of yoga zen. Sweat, stretching and release to the gods of Namiste. For me, the idea of overheating in a hot room for over an hour sounded like my own personal hell.

But I gave it a try this morning at Moksha Yoga. My friend and I went without much knowledge on what to expect. I really enjoy yoga but suck remembering to breathe, something rather important in Hot Yoga.

As we went down to the practice room, we were warned it was a “silent” room in order to create the most positive experience for those involved. I loved the fact that phones had to be checked in upstairs and appreciated that no talking meant you could relax right into meditation as soon as you lied down. It was hot but not unbearable.

As we moved through the exercises, I could start feeling the sweat dripping down my back. It felt good. Breathing deeply and working muscles that hadn’t seen any attention for the whole holidays. The only time I struggled was about an hour in, we started doing flow which meant more active yoga (think downward dog and cobra) and I started feeling REALLY sweaty & a bit lightheaded. They simply say sit in child’s pose for awhile and wait until you feel good again. Don’t leave. Then keep on going.

We survived our first hot yoga class and I feel fantastic. I am loose, relaxed and ready to start the day with a clear head. It was a bit challenging getting used to the heat but not horrible. They say it takes at least 3 classes to get there. So I am signed up for a different kind tomorrow afternoon and raring to go.

On a scale of 1-5, I give Hot Yoga the following:

3 for physical

4 for mental

5 for spiritual.

For my first #TryANewYou, I think it was a smashing success.

My first MAJOR experience with Yoga was at a Dynamic Retreat in Jamaica last year. I am heading this year to their Yoga & Surf Retreat in Nicaragua and simply can’t wait.

Healthy Living

What feeds your soul?

by Jenn & Chris on January 3, 2015

Mom Says:

We took on last year with a saying.. “Come Before Winter”. It was borrowed from a story in the bible. One about Paul encouraging his friend Timothy to do his utmost to come before winter to visit him. As you can imagine, in the long run, Timothy is too late. By the time he comes (in Spring) Paul had died. The theme being its important to take action now vs waiting till later. We are not religious but those words have become our everything.

For us, it became our cue that rather than saying someday we will do it, we will do it now.

2015 holds so much promise and I know that if we just go after it all, we can make many more epic things happen. But I also know in pushing myself HARD last year to make everything work, I created a rather unhealthy state of living for myself.

At the beginning of the year, I was getting up at 5am to exercise for our weight-loss challenge, it felt good & I felt strong. By the end of the year I created a cycle of working till 1-2am and getting up at 5am to keep going. I felt overwhelmed and full of anxious. It caused throat-closing, near panic attacks, a lot of tears & my husband gazing at me in complete bewilderment.

I know…I did it to myself.

I see so much opportunity and know I can make shit happen. I have that skill and I do it well. But last year, the most important thing I learned was the value of relationships. I was concentrating so much on work, I started wondering if I was I was missing the better part of being a parent, a wife and finding time for myself? So here I was panicking about work and panicking about what I wasn’t doing while working. Jesus…how the hell is that effective?

I started stripping down to basics and asking the question – What feeds my soul?

I am still working on that list but I know a big part of what drives me is creativity. I designed a number of events & strategies this year that I am really proud of and started writing more because of a writing challenge. It has awakened something in my mind that has felt too process driven for far too long. It is helping me breathe and makes me happy. It has become the promise I look forward to feeding in ’15.

Looking for that life balance... — Looking for that life balance…

Dad says:

This was not the easiest post to comment on; we decided when doing this not to temper our opinions or edit, and that is all good until your wife writes something like this. Because it was true, and ugly, and really hard to overcome.

Nobody wants to hear you talk about all your problems: doing that at a cocktail party will get you a seat in the corner next to the ferns, which might be a good listener but short on sharing. This stuff was happening every day, where I would go to bed hearing the click of keys and wake up to the same. I like the internet as much as anyone, but some times its gotta stop. A lot of what Jenn was working on was not productive or fulfilling. It was just stuff, and that can crowd you out as quickly electronically as that national geographic collection can overwhelm your rec room in the real world. I think you wind up in a perpetual avalanche of thoughts and feelings that slowly suffocate you. I am lucky enough to be what some would call ‘mildly inattentive’, or what Jenn refers to as ignorant of my current surroundings. I can sleep anywhere, and easily zone out and morph to my situation with little energy. Not exactly a super power, but it tends to keep me real sane for the majority. We have resolved to try a bit more of this together, and will keep you posted. Hopefully behind schedule and sporadically, but thats part of the 12 step program.

Now if Jenn will let me plan a party and see if people have fun with pre made foods and canned music vs laborious hand made dips and personalized playlists, we will have conquered this mountain too.

Real Life

Changing it up – 2014 Oh How we loved you.

by Jenn & Chris on January 2, 2015

Mom Says: We have an expression in our house when we want to covertly swear at each other.

“2009”.

Why would a year be our code for cursing? Because on the dawn of 2010,

every one of us had had a really shitty year. We couldn’t wait for 2009 to be over. So as Dick Clark’s New Years Rocking Eve dropped the ball, our cheer simply became

“To 2009, Go F#$*k yourself”.

I have to note that the hubs and I don’t fight so this isn’t used for mean. This is simply our cheeky way of talking to each other about taking out the garbage, losing at Rock, Paper, Scissors on who had to get up with the kids, our frustration about fighting for Autism support, simple marital conversation.

The end of 2014 feels completely different.

I want to savour so much of what happened this year. We chose to change and we changed A LOT.

We decided to live life heartily. With vigour. Like we only have one life to live and we want to make the best of it.

When we looked back this year, we realized we did a ton. Yes, we were accused of needing to slow down (which we started doing more at the tail end of the year) but looking back, I’m not sure we would do much different. It was a special year. A prideful year.

A good year….

We were selected and took on Marilyn Denis Couples Weight Loss Challenge at the beginning of the year. (Each of us lost 40 lbs in 5 months)
I fit back into my wedding dress 10 years later
We took my mom and dad on a multi-generational trip to Scotland
I watched “Amazing Grace” by The Holmes Brothers with my dad back at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, (a place that brings me such happiness)
We explored the National Leprechaun Museum in Dublin, Ireland
Amsterdam

Mont Tremblant

Atlanta
We met up & experienced Amsterdam with one of our dearest friends (who lived in New York)
I did the Grouse Grind (with Lisa from RentfrockRepeat.com)
We watched our kids excel at learning how to paddleboard
I celebrated one of my best friend’s 40th birthdays in New York
We started the year eating Swiss food, in Quebec with friends from Manitoba who live in Ontario & skied Mont Tremblant
We were part of my uncle’s 90th birthday celebration, & spent a grand time with cousins in Scotland
I had magical, heartfelt conversation with my beloved Grandma & got a chance to say goodbye before she passed
Grandma Great

The whole clan for Uncle Tony’s 90th

Top of Ben Nevis
We celebrated our 10 year anniversary with Prosecco on a rock in the middle of our lake
We helped my 87 year old dad climb to the top of a lookout with a view of Tarbert on Loch Fyne.
We went to James Taylor, a concert we saw the night we got engaged
Ripleys with family

Zanzibar

Chris fulfilling a dream of elephants
I rode through Central Park and across the Brooklin Bridge on a bike
Lookout – Tarbert

Giants Chair- Leprechaun museum

Exploring Dublin
We took more moments on the end of the dock and enjoyed friends & family up there in every season
We went to the top of Ben Nevis (& helped my mom conquer her fear of heights) and climbed to the top of Arthur’s seat in Edinburgh (and helped me conquer my own fear of heights)
We saw complete awe & amazement as we took the kids on the Harry Potter train & crossed the Glenfinnan viaduct
We searched for Nessie on a rainy day in Loch Ness
I shared my experience about having crippling anxiety attacks to a large room full of people
Both Chris & I played hockey weekly (& might I note that I went from falling 20X a game to none in one year)
Climbing Kilimanjaro
We climbed to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro (Thank you @Intrepid_Travel)
We got lost in Stonetown, Zanzibar
We had beers in a bar on a rock in the middle of the Indian Ocean
We saw Elephants…Like A LOT…too amazing for words

Safari- Lake Manyara

Stonetown, Zanzibar

Indian Ocean
We went to One Direction
I turned 40
We raised over $3000 for The Intrepid Foundation and the Village Education Project Kilimanjaro (you can still donate if you would like)
We met some fabulous Irish & English peeps. (Ones we know we will stay friends with for a lifetime.)
I met amazing men & women in travelling to San Francisco for Women 2.0, Atlanta for Mom 2.0 Summit, Vancouver for Women in Biz Network, and a cross-Canada #Road2Bliss (& know many of them are also friends for life)
I spoke at a dozen conferences
We participated in a budget challenge (Thank you @Manulife) and surprised ourselves with how much we could save
We ran a pretty seriously epic BlissDom Canada conference
1st concert for girls

My Peace Place

10th Anniversary celebration
I received 3 awards for saving a man’s life last year – You can read that story on my guest post on Tweenhood
I got to have fun with my imagination creating the Canadian Lentils Carnival Party
Kids seeing me at work

Convos with My 2 yr old

BFF helping me celebrate
We launched 360Bliss.ca (a hub for influencers, businesses & brands providing education & opportunities in the social media professional space)
I added my voice to #BeenRapedNeverReported.
I learned that I need to exercise my creative brain and struggled (yet loved) a month long writing challenge
I learned that I need to put down my phone more and be in the NOW as opposed to capturing the now
We cheered at the World Juniors (Thank you @ChevroletCanada) and many a Leafs Game

We laughed. More than we have in awhile & we loved life. We valued friendships & experiences over stuff & things and it fulfilled us completely. We closed the book on 2014 with smiles on our faces and love in our hearts.

Dad says: Wow. That is some kind a list. BIG list. Lots of stuff on the list, huh. The one thing I noticed is the inclusion of turning 40 only took up one line, but if you were around for the year it seemed a lot bigger than that. Lots of fears, ‘what have I done with my life/I wanted to have X completed by then’ conversations. Lots of lead up, and then…

One line, 4 words. If you look at all the other stuff, and it is pretty monumental, perhaps a birthday isn’t such a big deal. Age ain’t nothing but a number. Like a fine wine I don’t get older, I just get better…

I expect to keep pushing us to try new things, make new memories, and find that elusive balance between do and be.

Looking forward to 2015, lets see what the world has to offer now!

Real Life

Last minute shopping guide for guys

by Jenn & Chris on December 24, 2014

OK Guys.

If you are anything like my husband, you are heading out shopping TODAY to pick up some stuff for that loved one in your life.

Done right, you are in and out in 30 minutes with the RIGHT stuff. Done wrong and she gives you this look like “Really? This is the best you could come up with?” on Christmas Day.

Don’t be THAT guy.

Only two stores and you can put together a pretty stellar present list and end up WINNING with your gal this Christmas.

1) Chapters/Indigo

For the Reader

If she liked a good, sweet book that will make her cry Fault In Our Stars.

If she likes quick adventure, action type reads, The Hunger Games or Divergent Series.

If she likes suspense, Woah, didn’t see that coming, Gone Girl

If she wants to change up her world and start new in 2015, Maya Angelou’s I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings or Arianna Huffington’s Thrive

For the Style Lover

If she is anything like most of us, her receipts get jammed into her wallet or lost in the oblivion of her purse. A beautiful pouch like this has multi-uses from receipt holder to jewellery carrier to coupon and gift card holder. The chic style of it is what will win her over.

At Chapters/Indigo there is no end to beautiful journals and every woman I know tends to have one in her life. Help her start the New Year fresh with crisp, clean pages for her to set her goals on. There is even a cute 5 minute journal that includes space for things to be mindful of, weekly challenges on trying new things and showing gratitude. What a great way to look at the year once its all filled out.

Five Minute Journal helps keep her motivated in 2015

I got this mug in the summer time and I have to say it makes me smile every time I take it out of the cupboard. There is something about a greeting like Good Morning Beautiful that makes the day start wonderfully well.

2) Shopper’s Drug Mart

Bee line it to the Benefit line. They are a girl’s best friend who KNOWS how to use make-up and especially for those who don’t. They are a respected cosmetic line, they are chic and the below are ones you don’t have to worry about colour matching her skin, preferred lip colour, etc.

They have a number of mini gift packs perfect for her stocking or get a number of these full size products to make her super smile.

Great Stocking Stuffers

Gimme Brow

They’re Real Mascara

Pack — If you see this. Buy it! All included in this list in a super fun size flirts pack.

Stay Don’t Stray

That Gal

the POREfessional

This is an awesome product but don't JUST get this one. Add it in to a bevy of products. — This is an awesome product but don’t JUST get this one. Add it in to a bevy of products.

Other ideas:

A romantic retreat- bubble bath set or just grab with one of those pouf things, bubbles, candles, wine, shampoo, conditioner, a pretty basket and a promise for YOU to give her a bath complete with washing her hair. There is something intimate and luxurious about a guy washing a girl’s hair.

Holiday Handbook — Ladies LOVE their Philosophy products. Find something with this writing and you will definitely SCORE points

Layer Cake — You can design the perfect romantic bath AND it smells delicious

NB: This has to be soft & gentle. The whole effect will go in the toilet if you dump her hair on her head and scrub it like you would yours.

A Turkish bath gently pours bowls of warm water over a person’s body in a heated steam room. The point is for her to feel completely taken care of. Put her towel and robe in the dryer before helping her into the tub so that when she is ready, she feels totally toasty as you wrap her in it when she gets out.

A pedicure promise – Grab a nail polish, mineral salts or bath salts, file, nail brush, peppermint lotion and a gift certificate for you to give her a pedicure. Maybe add gel eye pads for her to sit back and relax while you are doing it.

Think soaking her feet, warming a towel to wrap her legs in, massaging her feet and calves with lotion, filing her nails and then painting her toes.

Superstar Points: Buy her a paraffin wax bath (you can get at Walmart, Canadian Tire or Bed, Bath & Beyond) which YOU will treat her by doing for her.

Don't just get her this. Create the experience that goes with it. — Don’t just get her this. Create the experience that goes with it.

Gift Cards – Shopper’s has a ton so look at doing a few theme ideas like a Spa Day for you and her, a theme night out with dinner and a movie – Like Montana’s & going to 1000 ways to Die in the West, or Best Buy for your Best Girl to buy a chick flick (which you promise to watch and not utter a word of sarcasm), add popcorn and a snazzy chocolate.

Superstar Points: Add Slippers or a Robe to the mix.

Find a great popcorn bowl and fill it up with the perfect movie night.

You might be late but it doesn’t take much.

When your gal thinks you have put some thought into what would make her heart sing, it will mean the world. Good luck.

Healthy Living

The Moveable Feast

by Jenn & Chris on December 23, 2014

Mom Says: My Mother in Law is a wise woman. (& I’m not just saying that cause I know she reads our blog).

I’m saying it because she taught me a concept so powerful that it fundamentally changed the way I view life.

Changed the way I set up expectations, helped me let go when I was upset, helped me NOT get upset and it set me free.

She taught me The Moveable Feast.

As we enter into the mayhem of Christmas, I have a number of friends who’s Christmas plans are not exactly shaping up how they were supposed to. People can’t make it, someone is sick, someone is hurt, someone has passed away. Life happens. But when you have your mind set on Christmas dinner with the family, nothing can be more heartbreaking that not having them there.

Take a step back.

Change the way you look at the “event” of Christmas and ask yourself,

“Would this be just as special if we didn’t celebrate it right on Christmas Day?”

The answer is yes.

It’s the people that you are with that should matter most, not the event itself.

Although it was great at the time, (we got married July 2nd), we didn’t realize how silly it would become to expect to celebrate our anniversary on the actual day of our anniversary. July long weekend is a guarantee up at the cottage and for 10 years now, a guarantee for a lot of people around.l It doesn’t quite spell the romantic ideal of an anniversary dinner or date.

This year's anniversary was Prosecco on a rock — This year’s anniversary was Prosecco on a rock

The Moveable Feast became our saving grace. It’s recognizing the day of the event isn’t important. What is important is simply making time TO celebrate at some point. With that, we have sometimes celebrated our anniversary 3 months later. Sometimes the next week. It makes it more casual yes, but it also allows us to strip away the pomp & circumstance of the day. To concentrate what is important. To celebrate us.

Pizza and a beautiful wine in Sept — Pizza and a beautiful wine celebrating July in September

If things aren’t working out 100% this holiday season, just think about the Moveable Feast. It might just save Christmas.

Dad Says: Ok, here’s a little secret I have to share. I am calendar deficient. I would make the worst witness for the big trial…where were you the night of the 15th? I have no idea. Literally. Unless there is picture evidence or a grand event to remind me, I just don’t associate happenings with days.

So when this concept was introduced into my life, I was more than happy. I know the history of my mom’s idea: she has a birthday that far too often gets overshadowed by international holiday celebrations. She wasn’t going to be able to move the holiday, so she moved her birthday. First, it was just a few days here or there. Then, for her 50th, she moved it 6 months. Seriously. Just picked it up because it worked better for her. And this life lesson has certainly served us well.

We have been able to manoeuvre through life focusing on the reason not the date. This is fantastic, as you are able to step back from societal demands and look to your own reason for celebrating, and I think that quite often you will find a bigger reason to raise a glass.

Cheers all.