Christmas Craft Morning

On Wednesday morning, six moms bravely descended upon my classroom to assist with the Grade 3 Christmas Craft morning.

Here's what we accomplished (with my new Mariah Carey "Merry Christmas" CD playing in the background - my first teacher gift of the year -  and the Holiday Yule Log video playing on the SmartBoard. I have to set the scene for you!)






The hot-ticket station was definitely the Your Fresh Market Gingerbread cookie-pop/gingerbread kids assembly station, with the kits kindly provided by Walmart ($6 per kit available at Walmart for the holiday season).  The students loved being able to put together their peanut-free treats and decorate them as they wished (bonus: there are some extras for my girls at home, too).

One of my favourite activities is the lightbulb penguin ornament. I originally found this on Pinterest, though the link is broken now, it was from etsy.com:

(Last year I asked parents to send in used lightbulbs. This year I was less environmentally friendly - sorry! - and purchased them at the dollar store. At 50 cents a bulb it was a great deal.)

Here are a couple of samples from my class:

Our third station was another ornament-making task. A parent from the school sent in a huge bag full of these cardboard discs (they may look edible in the photo but trust me, you don't want to take a bite):

I tried to come up with a craft where I could use them (because sometimes I try to think green and reuse!), and I decided to have the kids cut wrapping paper to cover both sides of the discs, and then attach the mini stickers we receive from the school photo company (not shown) which include a small picture of the student, their name, and the year. We hole-punched the top and looped ribbon through, and voila - a cute keepsake for the tree.

At the final centre, kids had the opportunity to use leftover foam pieces which I've collected over the last few years to make Christmas cards for friends and family members:

Thanks again to Walmart for supplying the cookie kits, and to the moms who gave their mornings to come and help out (I'm hoping my tray of Keurig selections will keep them coming back!) My students are pretty bright and independent, but for tasks like this, the more help the better - plus students this age love to have an adult from home come and spend time in their classroom.

Let the countdown continue!

Adventures In Freelance Writing: Volume I (My Top 5 Tips)

Preface: My "adventures in freelance writing" posts are intended to be "self help" for those aspiring writers who may be less experienced that I am, but will likely fit more into the "humour" genre for those pros who have been around the (writer's) block a lot more often. Feel free to chuckle at my many faux pas!

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From a very early age, I knew that teaching was going to be in my future, but I have always loved writing too. Stories, letters, diary entries...when I wasn't reading, I was writing. At the age of nine, I was already considering being a professional author, but it was a long time before I actually did anything to make that dream come true.

It was October of 2008, and I was on mat leave with my second daughter. She was a few months old, napping on schedule and sleeping through the night, leaving me with a bit of extra time and the desire to pursue some mental stimulation (and supplementary income) while at home. I decided the time was right to put out some feelers about freelance work. As an avid magazine reader, I was very excited about the idea of contributing to the publications that I loved so much, so I got to work. I can vividly remember being away for a weekend in Kingston with hubby, and poring over the magazine racks at Indigo on Princess Street, arming myself with resources. I also checking out library books on freelance writing for magazines and read articles online, wanting to be as prepared as possible.

I figured I had some pretty good ideas, so I started pitching the general email address, e.g. submissions@greatmagazine.ca at different magazines (mostly parenting), waiting for the replies to come rolling in. And waiting. And waiting. I received very few replies, and the ones that did come through were clearly form letters. So discouraging!

The funny thing is that very soon, within weeks of starting to pitch, I actually got a bite - within less than an hour - from a national editor who was wanting to assign an article on the topic I pitched, but with a different angle, and would I be interested? Would I! Over the next couple of weeks I spent as much time as possible drafting, researching, interviewing and revising, and proudly submitted my article. The thing is (rookie mistake alert!), apparently I was supposed to wait for a contract and assignment details before beginning. Of course I was humiliated enough to stew over it for a few weeks, my cheeks hot every time I thought about it, but the paperwork was forthcoming and I completely rewrote the piece to actually meet the criteria assigned. This was October, and I wasn't told which issue my work would be in, so I frantically checked each one...until my article finally appeared in May. My first national byline!

In the meantime, I had contacted the editor of a local parenting magazine who was very interested in my work, and I began writing for them on a steady basis. They were open to having me pitch my own ideas, though for some issues they gave suggestions or options which was fantastic.The pay was considerably less than national magazines (as in, about 10-20% of what the biggies pay), but with lots of editorial freedom, which is so important. I did this for a long time, writing over a dozen articles.

In the midst of all this local writing, I pitched an idea to a smaller national magazine, and the editor phoned me (one of only two times in 3 years that I have ever spoken with an editor over the phone) and offered me a one-page, point-form piece on different ways to get rid of "stuff" (yard sale, Kijiji, etc.). It paid $200, which was a nice chunk for a small article, plus it gave me another tear-sheet for my growing portfolio (a pretty binder filled with sheet protectors - quite simple).

I also heard from the editor of a large American magazine, who had kept a snail-mail pitch on file and was now interested. I replied eagerly...and heard nothing. So I followed up again...nothing. Weeks later she told me that they didn't currently have room, but still liked the idea, so I should follow up again in a couple of months, which of course I did, and...nothing. I gave up hope eventually, but I think it's important to share stories like this here, so that hopeful writers realize how common these sorts of false starts are.

In January of 2010 I launched my blog, which gave me a creative outlet and a place to link up to all of my published work, but it would be a while before any paid writing opportunities were available in my role as a blogger.

With all of the busy-ness of being a Mom, working as a full-time teacher and maintaining a blog, my pitching efforts subsided, and I can see in my e-mail files that that my last pitch for that time period was sent on August 3, 2010. It was time for a break!

The top five things I learned from my first year and a half in the freelance writing trenches:

1. Big magazines may pay bigger, but if you don't write anywhere you don't earn anything. You have to start somewhere (even though I had a one-shot big start, and then backtracked for a while). Build up a portfolio, and try a few different publications (so you can drop more than one magazine name into your query letters).

2. For me, pitching to American magazines was a waste of time. (Especially since at that time, some of them still wanted snail mail pitches with SASE for replies! I just came across a few of my SASE's from back then in the filing cabinet!) Maybe you've got the perfect idea for an international magazine and they'll snatch it up...but it's a much bigger pond.

3. While some experts advise against "multiple submissions" (sending the same pitch to more than one publication at a time) I think newbies should go for it since, let's be honest, the odds of anyone grabbing it are slim. Send it to a dozen (or more) places, and have your next idea ready to go. Make sure to track this information in some sort of chart or spreadsheet with the name of the publication, date sent, and response. 

4. I did have the disappointing experience of being asked for a certain number of words by a magazine, and then having my piece cut to half that length and only being paid for the words printed (which may have been in the fine print of my contract). It was disappointing, because I didn't even know until the article came out that it was being cut, and was expecting a paycheque based on the words submitted. Every other time I have submitted an article to a magazine I have been paid based on the number of words assigned and submitted (or the flat fee agreed-upon in advance), so my point is: read contracts carefully (and if there isn't a formal contract, get all the details in writing - email is fine as long as you keep it!)

5. Before I began writing, I don't recall ever going for a job interview where I did not get the position. Getting used to rejection is a BIG part of freelance work.

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Next up, in Adventures In Freelance Writing: Volume II - my revitalized writing career, how I broke into the national market, and my almost-interview with a superstar!

Want To Sleep Better? Tylenol's Sleep-Centre.ca Can Help

So, how'd you sleep last night?

If your answer is "Oh, it was a full eight hours, uninterrupted, and I woke up this morning feeling fantastic!" then you don't need to the read the rest of this post. But please leave a comment and share your secret!

For the rest of us, a good night's sleep can be quite elusive.

I've written before about the fact that, since university, I've pretty much been an early-to-bed, early-to-rise kind of gal (which sleep experts say is a good thing) but though I'm spending the time in bed, that doesn't mean I'm actually sleeping. (Now, now, that's not what I mean!)

First of all, I'm a light sleeper (apparently I always have been), and once I'm awake the struggle to recapture the zzzz's starts again, which was terrible when my girls were babies. I would get up, tend to my little one, get her back to sleep, and then stare at the ceiling for an hour before I could join her in slumberland. Now there are far fewer night interruptions (though last week there was a "Mommy! I dreamed about a witch and now I'm scared!" 2 a.m. call. (I suggested happier thoughts: the upcoming PJ day at daycare, a visit with Grandma, starting the Advent calendar) and in the morning she ran into my room and said "Thanks for the tips! They worked!"

Can you believe my seven year old loves to wear this to bed?

The biggest problem for me is that I regularly have difficulty falling asleep. Hubby will be sawing logs beside me, and I will be wishing that blessed sleep would come to me too. I know I have trouble clearing my mind (with two plus twenty-one kids to worry about), and list making helps with that, but sometimes I'm truly not stressed about anything, I'm exhausted and still nothing. Deep breathing with some sort of mantra seems to work best (counting is distracting for me, and music with lyrics is awful too).

(On a related note: I was recently reading "Sarah Plain and Tall" to my students, and there was a part in the novel where a character went to bring in livestock before a storm, and she "counted the sheep". I remarked to the class "Wow - and she didn't even fall asleep!" Nothing. Blank stares. Come on, that was funny, right?)

I'm always searching for tips for a better night's sleep, so I was excited to check out Tylenol's new Sleep-Centre.ca website, which offers fun animated videos and tons of facts and suggestions with an ultimate goal of helping you sleep well.

How To Fall Asleep: A video about light-sleeping "Jen":




From the site, I learned that I already do some things well:

• Avoiding caffeine (which for me means Diet Coke) in the evenings (when I was pregnant I found I couldn't drink it at all - I swear even a lunchtime Diet Coke impacted my night's sleep)
• Keeping the bedroom dark: last summer we invested in blackout drapes for the bedroom window and it made a huge difference (this summer the girls are getting them too!)
• Exercising: since school started, I have managed to get on the treadmill almost every day after work, and I'm sure that helps
• Maintaining a bedtime routine: I have to say though, since LASIK, I no longer have to take my contacts out at night (which Gretchen Rubin, author of "The Happiness Project" so adeptly compares to putting the cover over the birdcage at night) but other little rituals still get the brain and body ready for bed. This works for kids too: when the girls were babies, there was a particular classical song I would play as I walked them around the nursery before putting them down at night, and as soon as they heard the first notes they would begin to fuss, knowing what was coming, but then quickly settle and not make a peep when set down.
• Keeping work out of the bedroom: I never do school work or write in bed

A quick snapshot of my sleep sanctuary

Suggestions from the site on how I could get an even better night's sleep:

• Trying a white noise machine/app 
• Avoiding electronics right before bed: I always give my phone a last look, and though I rarely find anything stressful, I know even the light can have an impact
• Reading a book: I love to read before going to sleep, but hubby usually wants the light out - so perhaps a small reading light or an e-reader would be a good idea! (Lately I've been catching up on the first two seasons of "Scandal" on my laptop before I go to sleep, which I'm sure is not a slumber-friendly activity!) 

To be honest, I really can't complain too much about the sleep I get, and I rarely walk around feeling tried in a sleepy way (though sometimes physically drained from the day's tasks). However, I firmly believe in the power of sleep (supposedly it helps with everything from weight loss to immunity to athletic performance) and it's always a high priority for me.

Check out the Tylenol/Sleep-Centre.ca site for more education about sleep cycles, great articles like Eat Right For a Good Night's Sleep and How To Overcome Sleep Jet Lag (wish I'd read that one before Vegas!) as well as a list of great gadgets, apps and sleep aids (sure, Tylenol Nighttime is one of them - find a $4 off coupon for Tylenol Nighttime here -  but there are tons of other fantastic ideas too).

Disclosure: This post was generously sponsored by Tylenol Nighttime, but the opinions and images are my own. For more information, visit:

http://sleep-centre.ca/?utm_source=reprisePLB&utm_medium=SMblogger

NOVICA Fair Trade Artisans - Win a $150 Gift Certificate!!!

Perhaps you've already heard of NOVICA, one of the leading fair trade artisan websites, but I was just introduced to this gem of a site a couple of weeks ago.

NOVICA works with National Geographic to give talented artisans around the world a place to express their artistic talents and provide access to the world market, and they have thousands of top fair trade corporate gifts, accessories, jewelry and home decor items on their website.

Shopping categories include jewelry, fashion, home decor, paintings, unique gifts...they even have a wedding collection! You can choose by the region you want to support (Brazil, India, Mexico, West Africa, etc.) and with over 30,000 handmade treasures to choose from, you're sure to find something for everyone. (Don't miss their "Daily Deal" on the homepage as well!)

What I love about NOVICA is knowing that my purchase can make an impact on someone who truly needs it...it's feel-good shopping!

I browsed the site to see what ideas I could come up with for the members of my household:

For Seven Year Old Frannie:

http://unique-gifts.novica.com/under-$25/journal-owl-secrets/213541/

 http://www.novica.com/itemdetail/index.cfm?pid=212193

For Five Year Old Maggie:

http://jewelry-boxes.novica.com/animal-themed/glass-box-panda-family/106230/

For my husband (he likes to have greeting cards on hand for staff/school community, and he and would appreciate knowing that there was a story behind these ones):

http://www.novica.com/itemdetail/index.cfm?pid=181628

For me!

Tree of Knowledge bookends:

http://www.novica.com/itemdetail/index.cfm?pid=211576

And...not sure why i'm on a tree theme but...

http://www.novica.com/itemdetail/index.cfm?pid=187464

It's not too late to shop for Christmas! Shipping usually takes 2-3 weeks, but look for the green bow symbol beside certain items guaranteeing arrival before Christmas. You may want to consider some of the following categories:

christmas gifts for dad

christmas gifts for mom

Handbags Gifts 

tableware

nativity scene sets

ponchos

NOVICA has generously provided a $150 gift certificate for one lucky This Mom Loves reader! All you have to do to enter is fill out the Rafflecopter form below (I keep experimenting with different methods of entry and Rafflecopter seems to work well.) Extra entries for leaving a comment about NOVICA, or following This Mom Loves on Twitter, Facebook, or through e-mail.

The contest will end on Thursday, December 19th at midnight Eastern time...good luck!







a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview Advice From Barbara Walters

As a regular "viewer" of The View, I recently decided to read the memoir "Audition" by Barbara Walters. It's a fairly large tome, at around 600 pages, but since I had hours to sit at the LASIK clinic, I made it through in no time. 

In the book, the now 86 year old Barbara details her childhood and personal life (including her 3 marriages, a couple of affairs, and relationship with her daughter - at times troubled, now strong), but what fascinated me most was her career path. Since I wasn't even born in 1976 when ABC lured her away from NBC to become coanchor of their Nightly News (with a salary of $1 million a year!) I can't even begin to understand what that meant for women in broadcasting at the time.

I was also quite interested to learn behind-the-scenes information about The View, including the true stories behind the departures of Star Jones and Rosie O'Donnell, though the book was published in 2008 (with an update in 2009) and lots has happened with the cohosts even since then.

My favourite parts of the book are when Barbara shares tidbits from her many interviews. As someone who is intrigued by conversations with celebrities, and has had the opportunity to do a few myself, I soaked up her tips for future reference. (Okay, sure, her subjects are a little higher-profile than mine, and perhaps having your interviews televised for millions is a bit different than having them in print on a little ol' blog, but humour me!)

What I learned from Barbara's example:

• do your homework: scour clips, watch movies, try to surprise them with something they wouldn't expect you to know (I do that, though I also worry that it might freak them out if I know too much!)
• write every question you can think of, and whittle them down after
• read your questions over so many times that you really don't need notes/cards
• the biggest mistake is to be tied to the questions, especially ones you haven't written yourself (not a problem for me, but once I hire an assistant I'll have to remember this!)
• try not to interrupt

"Asking the right questions has always been less important than listening to the answers," she writes. After my first two interviews, as I scrambled to type out the subjects' responses, Laurie Gelman kindly gave me some advice about the technology I could purchase in order to record my phone calls, therefore enabling me to be a bit more active in the conversation! Technology has evolved over the last four years, and now with the "Remember" app on my BlackBerry, I'm all set!

I also really enjoyed her chapter about her favourite (and least favourite) interviews, which she opened with: "Everyone should have a chance to be an interviewer. You get the opportunity to ask all the questions you would never have the nerve to ask in real life." My problem is I still think of it as real life, and sometimes feel timid about asking the hard questions. It's much easier when, in my head, I can blame an imaginary editor who really wants the story - hard to do when I'm my own blog editor, and really don't have to answer to anyone!

Case in point: my recent interview with designer Jillian Harris (already one of my most popular posts ever). I knew she wanted to promote her (amazing) new vintage business, but I also knew that my readers would be expecting me to ask at least a couple of Bachelor/Bachelorette questions, so I did...but apologized in advance! I know she has worked very hard to make a name for herself as someone who is talented in her field (she's also now the resident designer on the Love It Or List It spinoff, Love It Or List It Vancouver), and I imagine that she's sick and tired of answering questions about the reality shows she appeared on once upon a time.

The current cast of The View

By the way, while I certainly have some least favourite interview subjects (everyone has been kind and professional, it's just that some are painfully difficult to talk to), unless someone's offering me millions for a tell-all memoir, those will go with me to the grave. My favourite interviews are always the ones done on the phone (as opposed to email, where the Q and A's are so much more simple) and they're the ladies who really elaborate and go into detail, giving me lots of material to work with. It makes sense that the broadcast journalists and TV personalities I've profiled are great at doing that!

While I have to admit that I skimmed some of the book (portions of the childhood information, and some of the interviews that were before my time) it was a really enjoyable read for someone like me who's so into the world of television journalism.

Family Fun in Montreal

As the daughter of a French teacher/die-hard Habs fan, trips to Montreal were a family tradition growing up, and my brother and I have tons of memories of the hotels, restaurants and of course hockey games that made up our childhood visits. This past weekend, we went back as one big (well, there are ten of us, including spouses and kids) happy family to share the tradition with our own children.

We loaded up our immediate family and left after school on Friday, with very smooth driving right into downtown Montreal (about five hours of driving time, plus a stop for dinner). We stayed at Square Phillips, a very central location where each family had their own mini suite, complete with kitchenette. To be honest, the suites are probably even better for families who actually intend to cook food during their stay (that would never be me, plus breakfast is included in the cost of the room) but it was certainly handy to have a fridge.

I had the best intentions of exposing my children to educational Montreal attractions like the Biodome or the Montreal Science Centre, but we decided to take a less scheduled approach to the weekend, and instead do some wandering. Saturday morning found us strolling (me: walking briskly) the streets of Old Montreal, and while I stopped long enough to take a cute photo of the girls with their cousin in front of Notre Dame, it was chilly so we moved pretty fast!

When I interviewed Montreal native Jessica Mulroney and asked about Montreal destinations for kids, she had suggested taking them to the Old Port, adding: "but I would make that trip in the summer, otherwise the only thing that you will remember from that trip will be the COLD!" So it was a no-go for this weekend. (If we do go back in the summer, I'll also be looking at La Ronde amusement park.)

On the way back, we stopped at a drug store and I picked up a couple of French magazines, hoping to get some journalistic inspiration (or maybe some ideas for future pitches/stories) from my francophone counterparts.

After lunch (we ordered delivery for both that meal and dinner) the ladies left the kids at the hotel with dads/Grandpa, and spent the afternoon shopping: a couple of sweaters from Simons and my big purchase, a statement coat. I had seen it on the Marilyn Denis show, and when I learned it was from French Connection, I called the Montreal location and asked if they could hold on to it for me until Saturday, which they kindly did.

I ended my shopping spree at the Clinique counter at the Bay, where a lovely salesgirl helped me choose the right foundation for my ghostly Irish skin. "You're pretty fair, so let's start with number three...huh, too dark. Number two then....wow. You're really pale! I guess it's number one!" She also talked me into a primer, and since if I spent a little bit more I could save $10, I also bought a small boxed set with mascara, eyeliner and makeup remover. (After LASIK, I threw out all my old eye makeup so I could make sure to start fresh and not jeopardize anything with my newfound eyesight!)

The highlight of the whole weekend was, of course, the Canadiens game. They were hosting Pittsburgh, my brother's favourite team, and his son was decked out in a Penguins jersey while Frannie - attending her first NHL game ever- was sporting her Habs sweater.

I know I like to call myself a writer, but I truly do not have the words to convey the feeling of a Montreal Canadiens home game. There actually seems to be something in the air, and if I try to describe it, I'll either sound sound cheesy, get it wrong, or both. It was incredible. Oh, and the Habs won, bien sûr.

We'll definitely take the kids back for a summer visit...too bad I can't convince the Canadiens to play in July!

Designer Jillian Harris: The "Charlie Ford Vintage" Interview

Sure, you may have first seen Jillian Harris on The Bachelor or The Bachelorette (and been intrigued by her theory about a guy's personality being linked to his favourite hot dog condiments), but this Canadian designer is way more than "former reality show contestant".

In addition to running her own firm, Jillian is the resident designer on Love It Or List It: Vancouver, plus she has a pretty fantastic website (www.jillianharris.com) where she blogs about not only décor, but also fashion, food and life in general.

As if this weren't enough, Jillian recently launched a brand-new business with cousin Tori Wesszer and friend Alyssa Dennis called Charlie Ford Vintage, where the ladies work together to find and curate unique vintage and antique pieces and organize them all in one accessible and attractive online location for shoppers to discover and purchase.

As her popularity as a TV personality grew, Jillian was asked more and more "Where did you get that vintage piece?" She wanted to have a place to direct her fans, and so Charlie Ford was born. (First the baby - not hers - then the business. Huh? Read on for details!)

Why vintage, and can you pinpoint the conception of Charlie Ford to a particular moment? {This Mom's note: the company is named after her cousin Tori's son - I'm glad Jillian realized I was talking about the conception of the business, and not the child - that would be a bit too personal for this blog!}

I think it all comes down to, why NOT vintage? New things are always great but there’s so much life left in old pieces, too! Tori, Alyssa and myself  have loved old things since we were little girls. My mom owned a little antique shop where she let me help out with the merchandising as a kid, and it stuck! Last October, Tori and I were on one of our antique picking trips, and we came across these awesome old ammo boxes. We threw around the idea of recreating them to sell on my website, but quickly realized that the reason we loved them was that they had lived this amazing life and had a story to tell, which you just don’t get with new pieces. From there, we quickly came up with the e-commerce concept of Charlie Ford Vintage, and the rest is history!

What is your day-to-day role with Charlie Ford?

Haha, how about resident stress-case and over-reacher?? No, in all seriousness, I absolutely love my role as Creative Director, but it’s hard to nail down exactly what my job description is because I really do cover it all. I oversee all the items we choose, help stage and photograph them, then put them up on the site. I also manage all of our support staff, write blog posts, handle media appearances, run the social media accounts…you get the idea. It’s exhausting but incredibly rewarding.

What are the best three adjectives you can think of to describe Charlie Ford to those who haven't yet heard of it?

Accessible, informative, chic.

{This Mom's note: I have to agree with those adjectives, though I would also throw in "highly addictive". In the process of researching for this interview, I may have browsed the Charlie Ford collection just a little bit. And purchased a ring. That looks something like the one in the photograph below. I also love how the items are clearly categorized - art, furniture, jewelry, etc., you can refine your search by price or see new items first, and there are even "basement" items on sale!}

I read in another interview that you've turned down opportunities because they don't fit with your brand. I know you're not going to want to name names, but what sorts of things don't jive with who/what you want "Jillian Harris" to be?

Well, for one thing, I really don’t like it when I’m asked to appear like something I’m not. I am definitely my own person, so whomever I’m working with needs to embrace my quirks or it’s a no-go. For instance, before I officially accepted my role on Love It or List It Vancouver, I made it very clear that I didn’t want to fight with Todd on-camera. While we’re obviously rivals on the show, we’re also super good friends, and I wanted to be able to joke around without coming across as mean.

Obviously, it’s also very important to me that the designs I work on align with my tastes and how I’ve built my reputation as a designer. I will never create a home that’s cold or impersonal – it has to give people the warm and fuzzies or I’m not into it!

How do you think your career would be different today if you hadn't had the experience of The Bachelor/Bachelorette?

I have no clue how my career would have turned out without The Bachelor and Bachelorette, but I do know that that I have absolutely no regrets (except for maybe those hut tub scenes – sorry mom!) I was so incredibly lucky because people responded to me really positively and I was put on the map, so to speak. I worked really, really hard to get where I am today and I’m incredibly proud of everything I’ve accomplished. It’s really a privilege to be able to do what I do day in and day out – I am totally aware of that.

Do you still keep in touch with anyone from past seasons?

Not very many, unfortunately, but there are a handful of people I still keep in touch with, including Molly and Jason Mesnick (yes, the Jason that broke my heart once-upon-a-time!) I actually designed the nursery for their new baby girl, which was such a pleasure to do. They’re incredibly sweet people and I’m glad we've all remained friends over the years.

From what I understand, this former "Bachelorette" has now found love. We want to know about Justin (and not least of all, what he puts on his hot dogs!)

I have, and I feel so, so blessed!! Justin is such an amazing guy, I’ve waited a long time for him but it’s worth it. He’s sweet and funny, and reminds me that I need to take time for myself, which is something I often forget. He’s a great communicator and helps bring that out in me as well. As for the hotdogs, he’s a ketchup and mustard kinda guy.

What are three things you still have left on your career bucket list?

Honestly, if I can get Charlie Ford Vintage to a place where it supports me and my family, that would be it. I’ve done so many things throughout my career, and that time is coming where I’ll be ready to slow down and smell the roses. CharlieFord.com is my baby and it’s what I love to do…now it just needs to pay the bills!

Three things from your personal bucket list?

It’s hard to keep it down to just three! Definitely a couple of kids, more travel (can’t get enough!) and finishing the reno on my house in Kelowna.

 
Since I seem to be in list mode, three things on your Christmas list?

GREAT question, and this time I’m not going to bother to keep it down to three things! We have some amazing pieces up on CharlieFord.com that I would be ecstatic to find under my tree:

·        I’m a sucker for jewellery, especially baubles that I can stack. This Birks Gold Wash Bracelet is an amazing pre-loved piece at only $85. A total steal!

·        Trophies are super hot home décor items right now. This one from the 1930s is from a goat show – how cool is that??

·        I’m obsessed with vintage glassware, especially pieces with a ton of personality. This Schweppes seltzer bottle from the 1930s is the perfect addition to any home bar.

·        As you know, I love unexpected accessories that add personality and a sense of intrigue to a space. This industrial table fan from the 1920s would be super funky addition to a den or dining room.

·        Old photography is so amazing because it offers a literal glimpse at a time long ago. This photo of the “Victoria Rifles,” the 24^th Battalion of the 5^th Canadian Infantry Brigade, dates back to 1914 and is an incredible piece of Canadian history. Perfect for a funky gallery wall!

Finally, because I'm an Irish girl and enjoyed reading about your travels on your site - what's the number one attraction that I can't miss if I ever make it to Ireland (you should know that I'm NOT a beer drinker)?

Oooh this question is a bit of a toughie because we visited SO many amazing places in Ireland, even though we were only there for a few days! For natural attractions, the Cliffs of Moher are an absolute must-see. Talk about an epic view! St. Peter’s Cathedral and Dublin Castle are incredible as well (you know me and my love of history!). And I know you’re not into beer, but if you visit the Land of the Leprechauns and DON’T go to the Guinness brewery, you’re missing out!

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Thanks for sharing with us, Jillian!

Now, dear readers...if you want $10 off your first purchase at Charlie Ford, please let me know (leave a comment with your e-mail address, or send it to me at katewinn77 at yahoo dot ca). If I "invite a friend" and you make a purchase, I get a discount too, so we both win! And believe me, we will have no problem finding items to buy, though keep in mind that these pieces sell quickly, and once something's gone, it's gone for good - don't wait!

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Holiday Gifts For Caregivers: Special Guest Post

Today I'm welcoming Katie Bugbee from care.com, here to share her thoughts on holiday gifts for some of the most important people in our children's lives! (You may also want to flash back to my post called "What Teachers Really Want For Christmas".)

What Gifts Should You Give Your Child's Caregivers?

'Tis the season to spend, spend, spend. And in the effort to make this the best day (or 8 nights) ever for our own kids – there are some other VIPs to shower with love – the ones who care for our kids on a daily basis: the daycare center workers, in-home daycare owners, preschool teachers, babysitters and nannies who make our lives work. And who love our kids!

But what do you give someone who devotes her days (and possibly nights) to taking care of our little ones – so that we can run our families, our businesses, and have a little fun with our SOs?

This guide should help you budget and plan for what to give each care provider in your life.

Day Care Center Employee: I'm not sure how much you know about each employee working in your child's daycare. Often there's a teacher, a co-teacher and then classroom helpers. Giving to each person can seem overwhelming. However, you should give something. I know families who have given homemade food to the whole center. And then given gift cards to each person. But don't just give food. Giving a Target card or Amex Gift Card would help these caregivers do their own holiday gifting. I'd give a bit more to the teachers than to the assistants, but still give to everyone who helps your child. It will be very much appreciated.

In-home Care Owner: Something sweet or sentimental could be very nice. You are in her home each day, but may not know this person enough to add to her décor. An Edible Arrangement or food item is a nice idea, or a gift certificate to help her add supplies to her business.

In-home Care Employee: Similar to the day care center employees, give gift cards to help with their own holiday bills.

Preschool Teachers: I'm told teachers love getting gift cards for classroom supplies. So when in doubt, head to a local book shop, arts + crafts place or grocery store where they can buy snacks. But if thinking about just them, go for a certificate to a spa or local lunch spot. Since parents tend to be in close communication during the preschool years (email lists tend to be disclosed), someone can organize a group gift so the value is more significant.

Elementary School Teachers: I actually love these gift ideas, especially the clever t-shirts. But let's face it, teachers have a lot of mugs and knick-knacks. What they could really use is a gift card for coffee or to a local spot for them to get lunch, dinner or drinks with friends after work. But packing it up with a funny mug, thoughtful book or beautiful orchid is a nice touch.

Babysitters: Depending on how often your sitter helps you, this amount will range. If this is a regular sitter, who helps a few hours a week, give an average week's pay as a tip. If it's a date-night sitter who always seems to make herself available to help you and SO get some alone time, give an average night's pay as a tip.

Nannies: Just like sitters, nannies expect to receive a tip at the holidays. It's what your neighbors are doing. It's what they hear about from nanny-friends at the playground. The average tip is 1-2 weeks' pay. You can also add a nice, thoughtful gift from the kids (with the gift receipt).

What other gift ideas have you used for the caregivers in your life?

Katie Bugbee is the senior managing editor and resident parenting expert at Care.com.

{Just a note from This Mom - we buy Christmas gifts for all of our girls' teachers - homeroom, Music, Integrated Literacy, etc., and they're all getting gift cards except for Frannie's homeroom teacher, since she's a close friend and when I saw a deal on chandelier statement necklaces I thought of her. I actually let her choose her colour - there goes the surprise! Our before-and-after provider and evening sitters are getting cash bonuses because, well, who wouldn't want money?}