Sy in the City

New Year | New You - A New Tradition

In the tradition of my Annual Kris Kringle, I have decided to start a new tradition of "New Year | New You" a special get together where friends come together on a Sunday afternoon in the first month of the new year.

The idea is that each person/family will share something special (a lesson learned, a movie seen, a book read, a website discovered, an app, a gadget, a restaurant, you get the drift - the list goes on) from the last year which the others can incorporate into their life in this year and as a result be enriched.

So imagine - if there's 20 of us - that's 20 new ideas that are tried and tested which you will learn about and with which you can start the new year!

Most of the sharing will be informal but there will be also be some formal components. For example, one of the things (and I have at least 5-6 nuggets that will thrill you) I want to share with you is my Detox experience with Isagenix. I have invited my coach Shruti Owerie to spend maybe 30 minutes with us to talk about the program and also on network marketing as a business opportunity.

I have a really good feeling about this event and I hope it will translate as I envision it. I have selected the guestlist very carefully so that my guests really enjoying meeting and networking with the other guests in attendance.

We have a few open spots and so I thought I would open this event up to regular readers of my blog.  If you would like to join us, please send me an email (syerah@mybindi.com) and I will send you all the details (including my home address in Burlington).

Shruti's session will be around 1.30 om so plan your arrival accordingly if you are interested in hearing about the program (whether to try out the product or as a means to generate some extra income), she will give you some insights. There will also be lots of free samples of the product (including chocolate) if you want to try them.

The event itself is from noon to about 3 pm. I will be serving drinks (non-alcoholic) and lunch (pizzas, salad and some appetizers). There's no BYOB or pot luck but a voluntary contribution of $5 per person/family would be appreciated to cover the cost of food/drinks.

Feel free to bring your "show/share" item if it's a physical item which you can show/share/demonstrate.

Husbands, Kids, Partners, Friends are all welcome.

Here's to 2012.

PS:  What new traditions have you started in the new year? :)

The Gift of Health, Happiness & Energy

You've all read my posts about my detox program, so it should not come as a surprise to you that "health" and "energy" are pretty high up on my list of priorities.

This holiday season, instead of going overboard with material stuff, I decided to give my daughter Imaan the gift of health, happiness & energy!  I have long admired the work done by the Art of Living Foundation.  Over the years, I've had the privilege of getting to know Maninder and the rest of the team behind the Art of Living.  This morning I received THIS newsletter from the Art of Living Foundation and I knew I had the perfect gift for Imaan.

I've registred her for the 5 day "Youth Empowerment Seminar" (YES) program which is especially geared towards youth between 14 and 18 years.  I had to check with Imaan first because I would never impose any wellness program on anyone.  As I had hoped, she received it with much enthusiasm.  I am hoping she finds the experience rewarding and decides to blog abut it herself.  You know that my daughter is also a blogger, right?  Yup, as they say, the apple does not fall far from the tree ;)

I am quite tempted to sign up for the adult program myself! My friend Rachana is a big believer and practitioner of the "Art of Living" philosophy and has often encouraged me to look into the program.  It just never happened.  Maybe it's because I had to reach a certain level of awareness and preparedness before I was ready for the program.

And this time, I can feel it - I am ready!  I would love it if some of you also joined me in this program.  All the details can be found HERE.  Feel free to check out the Art of Living website or simply call Maninder at 416-834-6628.

Whatever your holiday plans are and however you decide your gift giving - this may be one of the most rewarding gifts that you can give to a loved one (including yourself!).

Timeless Traditions

Most of us have some holiday tradition or another.  Some of these have been handed down for generations (a recipe perhaps for a special cake or turkey) and some have been sort of created along the way.

My family did not celebrate christmas when I lived in India so all my holiday traditions have been created in the last ten or twelve years - since I arrived in Canada.

Yes, we do the whole nine yards - from decorating our tree, to decorating the house with ornaments to baking cookies for Santa.  My favourite holiday tradition, however, is the advance christmas present opening that we do each year on Christmas eve.

When Imaan was younger she'd always get impatient and so one year (when she was 5 or 6), I allowed her to open one present.  It turned out that the box she chose had her new jammies.  She loved them and wore them to bed that night and the next morning she opened the rest of her presents in her new pyjamas.  And, just like that, a tradition was born.

Since that year, Imaan gets new pyjamas every year on Christmas eve.  There's no particular significance to it and there's no element of surprise either but I know she will be expecting them and I will have them ready.  Quite possibly, it's a tradition she will continue when she has kids of her own.

Another example is the Annual Kris Kringle bash I host for my girlfriends.  It started six years ago as an informal get together where a group of us decided to exchange presents and share the holiday cheer.  I offered to host it at my place and we had so much fun that the following year, I offered to host it again.  This time, I decided to cook for all the guests and we had a blast.  And that's what's happened every year since.

Last Friday, we celebrated the Sixth Annual Kris Kringle Bash at Chez Sy.  We had 16 women in attendance and, yes, I cooked dinner for us all.  I baked mini appetizers (chicken pies) from scratch to organizing the main course (also from scratch) of Nihari, Rice, Dal, Pad thai and Thai Red Curry - it was a lot of work.  But the evening was just as wonderful as I have always remembered it to be.  Our group has changed so much in the last six years.  There have been engagements, marriages, divorces, babies, relocations, career moves etc.  Once a year, we get together and reminisce and catch up and also share our hopes for the year to come.  We've had new girls join us as others have moved on.  And there's the faithful few that show up every year! :)

It's a tradition I feel so happy to have created and I am sure everyone in attendance feels the same way.

So if you haven't got a tradition of your own, make this the year you create one.  Do something special and then do it again next year and it will endure.

Happy Holidays!!

 

The Detox Diary: Program Review and The Bottom Line

If you 're only just joining this conversation, you should first read about my introduction to Detox and Nutritional Cleanse, the Products I used and the Program I followed!

I am now on day 10 of my 11 day Cleanse.  This means, I have completed 2 shake days, 2 cleanse days, 5 shake days and am now on the last 2 Cleanse days.

I'm guessing you have some questions! :)  I will try and anticipate your questions and answer them here.  If I have missed anything, just post your questions at the end of the blog and I will try and answer them for you.

Q.  Have you lost any weight?

Although the program was never intended to be for weight loss, I know this is the question that will be asked most often.  The answer is yes.  I've lost about 5 lbs so far but I expect that this will be more like 7 lbs at the end of my final 2 day cleanse.  I've lost far more in inches in terms of clothes fitting me better and I think I have probably dropped one dress size!

Q.  Do I feel "cleansed"?

I have no idea what kind of impurities my body was storing before the program so I'm not sure what cleansing has been going on. Although I acknowledge that I was/am a bit overweight, I'd like to think that my system and balance was not too out of whack when I started the program so I won't make any claims of feeling new or rejuvenated.  Some people claim increased energy levels.  Anyone that knows me, I am rarely lacking in that department.

So, I suppose this is one of those things that benefits you on inside and its effects don't always readily manifest themselves on the outside. I will trust the scientists on their claims and hope that significant impurities have indeed been flushed from my system.

Q.  Was the Program hard/difficult to follow?

No.  The Program is clear and very structured.  The instructions are simple and don't really disrupt your routine in any way.  The extra coaching from Shruti (my sponsor from Detox Divas) is a huge bonus.  She checked in on me every day (and several times a day during the first few days) to see how I was doing and if I had questions.  That makes you accountable knowing that someone else is vested in your progress.  It was also great to have someone to ask questions if things were unclear (like forgetting the Ionic Supreme one morning and being told it was ok to have it that evening but to try and maintain the morning routine etc.).

Q.  What do the Products taste like?

I was surprised at how good the shakes are.  They're creamy and quite satisfying.  I even made my husband and my daughter have the shakes (although I added a banana to their vanilla shakes for more flavour).  They loved it too.  Previously, I would make them banana shakes with milk and 2 scoops of icecream and lots of sugar (yikes!).  Now, they have a banana shake packed with protein and nutrients. 

The Ionic Supreme (1-2 ozs every morning) is a bit intense and takes some getting used to but over time it's gotten more agreeable although I don't think I will ever get to a point where I will enjoy that.  Then again, some parts of the program are not meant for enjoyment.  You just take your swig and you're done with it.  I remind myself of all the goodness that one ounce contains and it takes me less than 5 seconds to open the bottle, pour out an ounce and be done with it. 

The pills (Accelerator and IsaFlush) are totally tasteless and non-offensive.  It's like popping vitamin pills.  No effort or discomfort there.

The IsaSnacks - I tried these mini snack chewy tablets on day 1 and that was it.  It's not my thing.  My friend Monica loves them.  I would much rather munch on a celery or cucumber to satisfy a hunger craving.  You will need to make up your own mind about them!

The want more energy juice sachet/powder.  I LOVED these.  My daily water intake was calculated at 2.5 litres and just adding one of these to my water bottle made my water consumption a breeze!  definitely recommended!

The Cleanse for Life mix - I had the one in "berry flavour" and it was easy to mix and not offensive at all.  It has a sweet after taste to it but you can just rinse that out with more water.

Q.  What was the most difficult part of the program?

Day 3 (the first Cleanse Day) was probably the hardest one for me.  I was experiencing serious coffee withdrawals that day.  Without the usual morning shake, I was getting very hungry by mid-morning. I don't like the IsaSnack thingies so chewing them was not an option. I don't like chocolate so I had not ordered any of the IsaDelight chocolate bars or granola bars.  By about 1 pm, I was surviving just on water and that didn't feel very good.  Luckily, I reached out to Shruti who reminded me that I was allowed to eat unlimited amounts of organic spring mix (topped with lemon juice), I could slice cucumbers on it.  So I did that.  And for dinner, I had some more of that salad with a hard boiled egg and it was ok.  But that was a tough day.

Day 2 of the cleanse was so much easier by contrast - even though it was identical to day 2 in terms of what I ate and drank.  But, I knew what to expect and so I was better prepared.

One other thing that was not really difficult but was more inconvenient was the innumerable bathroom trips I had to make.  Drinking 2.5 litres of water every day can do that to you.  I could not even make a one hour minute trip from Toronto to Burlington without having to make a stop at a Timmies in Etobicoke or Mississauga to use the washroom.  If we went to the movies, I HAD to find an aisle seat! My husband and daughter found all this very amusing.

Q.  Now that the program is (almost) over, will you be returning to your usual diet?

Well, I am certainly looking forward to a glass of wine and a steak (at some point soon) but I'm pretty sure that I will be seeing some significant changes in my diet.

For one, I will continue to have the shakes - if not once a day - then certainly a few times a week.Same with the Ionic Supreme 1 oz dose.

Most importantly though, I know that my caffeine and diet coke consumption will be significantly reduced.  Previously, I would have those just because they were around or easily available.  They provide no real benefits to my body and I've just learned how much harm they caused with the toxin content. 

Another change is the amount of water I drink.  I know I will be drinking lots more water going forward.  For instance, in a restaurant or even at home, I know I can transform a glass of plain water into a refreshing, delicious beverage with the Want more energy juice Crystals.  That's an easy way for me to substitute coke with water.  We all know that water is good for us and it does great things for the skin etc. but we still don't drink more (or even enough) of it.  That will definitely change.

Lastly, I think the program has totally helped me appreciate and enjoy smaller portions of food. It's like my stomach has shrunk.  I don't think I will be eating quite as much as I used to - not because I am starving myself but somehow I don't need the large portions. 

This means I will be so much more sensible about the food I order at home or the meals I prepare at home for my family.

Q. So, what's the bottom line? Is the program worth doing?

The real question here should be "Are YOU worth it?". In the end, it's not about the program, it's about you.  If you value your health and wellness goals then you owe it to yourself to find ways to keep your body noursihed and healthy.  This program is non-invasive, uses products that are of top-notch quality and comes with pages of literature to educate you.  Best of all, you get a coach that is invested in your success - whether it's just for eleven days or longer. 

If the program appeals to you (and brings about changes that you're proud of - like it did for me), it graduates from being an ad-hoc program to being a part of your lifestyle. 

In terms of the program's cost, there are ways to get the products at a fraction of their cost by using some of the referral techniques that Shruti can explain in more detail.

The way I see it, you're simply reallocation some of your existing costs towards a healthier lifestyle.  What you spend on the program, you will result in savings in your grocery bills.  You will save by making wise choices. And over time, you will save in the reduced prescription medicines and skin lotions and cosmetics because your health and beauty will radiate from within you.

That said, if you do feel inspired to join/try the program as a result of my story/blogs, I would appreciate it if you could mention this to Shruti at Detox Divas because that will earn me some referral credit which I can then apply towards my purchases of products. 

And if you ever come home, feel free to ask me for a sample of the shakes.  There's a permanent spot in my kitchen cabinets now for my Isagenix products and Blender!I'd be happy to be the one that gets you started on your own wellness journey.

All the best with your personal goals.  Please do share your story/experience with me.

xx

Syerah

 

 

The Detox Diary: The Program | 11 Day Step-by-Step

The Orientation call was a really good idea!  Not only did Shruti take me through the products, she also explained how the actual cleanse program works.  So here's how it goes.  There are two kinds of days: the "Shake" days and the "Cleanse" days.

Over the course of the 11 day cleanse program, the distribution goes likes this:

SHAKE DAYS:   Day 1, Day 2, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9

CLEANSE DAYS:  Day 3, Day 4, Day 10 and Day 11

Here's the suggested routine for Shake Days:

Wake up (AM)

1) Take the Accelerator pill with a big glass of filtered water

2) Ionix Supreme - 1  to 2 oz.

3) Make a shake with 2 scoops of powder, almost 1 cup of filtered water + a few cubes of ice (3 is enough). The longer you blend, the fluffier it will be. Ice makes it a lot better!

TIP: Drink this within 10 minutes of making it due to active ingredients in the shake (great for digestion).

 Afternoon

Shake again OR 400-600 calorie sensible meal

 1 PM - Take 1 Accelerator pill (can be either before or after lunch)

 Dinner

If you had the shake for lunch, have a 400-600 calorie meal If you had a meal for lunch, have the shake.

 Either way dinner should be at least two hours before you go to bed.

 Bedtime - take 1-2 of the IsaFlush pills with water

Here's the routine for CLEANSE DAYS:

Wake up (AM)

 1) Take the Accelerator pill with a big glass of filtered water

2) Ionix Supreme - 1 to 2 oz.

3) Mix Cleanse for Life powder per directions on the tub for deep cleansing - this is your first cleanse drink of 4 for the day

TIP: You can pre-mix this the night before and refrigerate. Also, you can measure what this is in a water bottle and carry around with you. You will need to consume 4 of these cleanse drinks throughout the day, ideally every 3-4 hours.

Afternoon

1 PM - Take 1 Accelerator pill (can be before or after a cleanse drink) Cleanse Drink as described above

 Mid-afternoon

Cleanse Drink

 Dinner

Cleanse Drink 

 Bedtime - take 1-2 of the IsaFlush pills with water

 Naturally, my first question was, "You mean, I am practically starving myself of the Cleanse days?"

The answer, thankfully, is No.  On Every Single Day of the program, you are encouraged and indeed expected to have snacks (and I don't mean the bottle of pills called Snacks although you can easily suck on 6-8 of these a day, if you like).  By snacks, they means actual solid food.  Here are some of the recommended snacks that are permissible (and encouraged) on every single day - including Cleanse Days.

- Unlimited celery

- 1 organic apple

- 1 hard boiled eggs

- unlimited cucumber slices

- organic spring mix with lemon juice drizzle

- 6 almonds

- a few tablespoons of almond butter

If you like chocolate then you could order those Isadelight (the healthy dark chocolate bars) of which you can have 2 pieces every day on shake days, and up to 6 on cleanse days!

I don't like chocolates or almonds so it was going to be organic apple and sald with celery and cucumber for me.  A boiled egg sounded good.  And it's just on the two cleanse days.  On shake days, I can actually have cooked meals - so long as they are within the 600 calorie range.  This is because each shake is about 300 calories and I will be having two of them on a shake day so from a calorie/nutrition standpoint I think I am covered.

There were only two questions:

1.  How much water should I be drinking?

It appears there is a real method to getting that answer and here's teh nswer I got. Take half your body weight (lbs) in ounces, and this is the required water intake per day. Someone at 200lbs would drink 100 oz, for example - herbal / non-caffeinated teas are fine to go towards this amount. So based on my weight, I should be drinking over two litres of water every day!

2.  Can I drink coffee?

The answer was an emphatic NO!!  :(    In addition to coffee, here are the things that I absolutely cannot have during the nutritional cleanse program:

No Caffeine

No Carbonated Drinks

No Alcohol

No Red Meat

No Dairy (yogurt, cheese, milk etc.)

So there you have it!  That's the program!  What is my reaction?  I say, Bring it on! :)

The Detox Diary: The Products!

A few days after I signed up with Detox Divas, a large box arrived at my door!  It was my product shipment from Isagenix.Boy, those guys are fast!!

Here's what it contained:

IsaLean Shakes:

I am told these are delicious (well, we'll see about that), nutritionally complete meal replacements where each shake contains 23 grams of high-quality undenatured whey and casein protein. umm ok.  I have no idea what whey and casein protein is but everytime I have gone to a gym I see people lining up to buy big jars that scream out "whey".  My reaction usually has been no whey!!  It seems like I will finally find out what the fuss is all about.

The shakes are available in Natural Creamy Chocolate and Natural Creamy Vanilla.  Did I tell you I hate chocolate?  So despite the gushing praise for the chocolate shakes, I opted for Vanilla.  I might get Imaan or Steve to try out the chocolate shakes and will let you know what they think of it.

Based on the literature that I got, these shakes break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats to maximize the absorption of key nutrients. Each serving would be 240 calories and 6 grams of fat. 

The next item was a bottle of the Isagenix Natural Accelerator Pills: 

These looked harmless enough.  Apparently, these Natural Accelerator pillscontain some kind of breakthrough forumula with  ingredients such as cayenne, green tea, cinnamon, and ginseng to help your liver metabolize fat quickly helping you lose weight and inches—minus potentially harmful stimulants including, caffeine, ephedra or ma huang.

I'm a little bit offended that they're calling my daily coffee (caffeine) intakes harmful.  It sound silly but I feel like I need to stand up and defend my Starbucks privileges.  I make a mental note to check about that.

So these pills are going to help me reduce my appetite and all the antioxidants and fat-burning nutrients in them will support the liver’s ability to metabolize fat quickly.  Ok, I'm beginning to see some sort of a method here.

Next item, Cleanse for Life Powder

Ok!!  Finally a product that is actually called "Cleanse". 

Remember what I said about being exposed to toxins in the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the items we touch?

Well, this powder claims to give your body the nutrition it needs to cleanse itself naturally (and not like the other “cleanses,” laxatives or diuretics that can deplete your body).

In addition to the cleansing it supposedly also nourishes and feeds your entire body with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and botanicals.

My curiosity gets the better of me and so I open the jar to smell the stuff.  They smell like berries (think of very very concentrated kool aid crystals). Alright! I could manage this.  What's next?

Ionix Supreme

This was a classy looking bottle,the kind you'd pick up from a really high end health store - or that's what I think anyway because I don't usually frequent the high-end health store type establishments. 

Anyway, don't let the pretty bottle or the pictures of all the colourful fruits fool you!  This stuff smells potent! Seriously!  There's no way I will be chugging all this down, I thought.  It turns out I only need to drink an ounce at a time and just ONCE a day.  So I reason with myself - maybe I can treat it like cough syrup or something and just close my eyes and gulp it down and then drink lots of water.

So what's it supposed to do?

This concoction (umm..sorry, the nutrient-rich tonic) contains antioxidants for cell protection and plant-based adaptogens and will help normalize the body’s functions, as well as rejuvenate and protect your body from stress.

There's one more thing in the box and I actually laugh out loud when I see this!  It's a bottle with pills and they're called Isagenix "Snacks".  Oh dear!  This reminds me of the film Wall-E where humans get all their meals in bite size pills.

It turns out that I could have chosen between some granola bars or mini chocolate squares (but I hate chocolate).  I suppose anyone that loves chocolate will find this to be a real treat while I will suck on the candy like pills er snacks.

These small pills are actually quite powerful.  And they're not supposed to be meal replacements. On cleanse days it's meant to satisfy you with its high-quality whey and casein protein, healthy fats and energy-boosting carbohydrates so that you avoid eating unhealthy snack foods.

Just when I thought my product inventory was done, two other items rolled out of the box:

Want More Energy Sticks

This is a natural energy drink mix that contains Vitamins A, C and B-complex, electrolytes and nutrients to replenish what you lose during exercise and stress. I like this!

And (quite appropriately) the last thing to roll out from the bos was a bottle of pills called IsaFlush.  And you're right, the only word that came to my mind was Laxatives!!  Oh no!  Is that what this cleane will be about?

It turns out that (or at least that's what their literature says) IsaFlush does not use harsh laxatives, but instead combines magnesium with gentle cleansing herbs and minerals to safely improve digestion, encourage regularity and soothe intestinal discomfort, as well as supporting heart and lung health.

 So, there you have it!  That's my Detox & Cleanse product inventory.  I look at this collection of jars and bottles and wonder if this is really going to change my life.  I remember Shruti's words, "Keep an open mind" and so I do.  Besides, I don't yet know what I amsupposed to do with all these products anyway.  Good job, Shruti's already booked me for an Orientation call.  She's quite a good coach, I have to say!

On that call, she'll go through the products but more importantly explain the actual program.  Rest assured, I will share it all with you :)

Dare to Detox?

Every January, I resolve to to live a healthier life - establish a varied diet with lots of greens, salads and fruits.  Trouble is, even when I do most of these things - there's really no guarantee that I am still supplying my body with the minerals and nutrients it requires.

Here's the problem! The food we eat today is not nearly as nutritious as it was five or six decades ago before the advent of fast-food and the use of pesticides.  Most diseases are ultimately traced to a lack of essential minerals and it does not matter if I am eating all the greens - if those greens are devoid of the necessary enzymes.  Unless I am buying all my produce and food from the organic section - it's pretty much a lost cause - or so I thought!

A few weeks ago, one of my contacts who runs Detox Divas recommended that I undertake a Nutritional Cleansing Program. "Give me eleven days and I will help you remove impurities from your body and introduce high quality nutrition", she said.

A Cleanse? Seriously? I've heard a lot about this but never really did any real research or reading into this. Will I be stuffing myself with bowls of spinach? Will I be getting strange things done to my colon or other body parts?  Will I have to give up eating the foods I love?

Shruti (from Detox Divas) informed me on how misunderstood the term "detox" is.  Her nutritional cleanse program would not starve me and won't require hospitalization.  I could incorporate it into my lifestyle and will see visble benefits (better sleep, more energy levels, etc.) at the end of the program.  All she asked me is to keep an open mind and bring my personal commitment to complete the program diligently.

Eleven days!!

How hard could this be? Besides, I'm very curious.. and so I signed up!

Before I started my program, Shruti reminded me, "Remember, this isn’t a diet. This is a gentle whole body cleanse and a complete wellness program.".

For once, I am embarking on a program where I am motivated by wellness rather than weight loss.  It's likely that I might see weight loss but I am more curious to see whether a program like this can really deliver increased energy levels, improved digestion, better skin, better concentration, less colds as well as improvements to my general health/vitality.

You will soon find out!  I will be sharing my eleven day detox (Nutritional cleanse) experience with you over the next few blog posts!  Stay tuned :)

Lofty Ambitions!

Earlier this year, we made a decision to move back to Toronto and I have since been checking out some properties in Toronto except there were a few challenges:

1. Although we're returning to Toronto - this does not mean downtown Toronto! I want to return to my old neighbourhood which is Bloor/Royal York in the Kingsway area.

2. After having lived in a house with over 8000 sq feet, I know we'll have to do some serious downsizing. I am prepared for that - actually looking forward to it but I really can't see myself living in a smaller "house".  I am happy to downsize so long as I can still have a comfortable space where I can live, cook and entertain!

3.  The best part about my "home" has always been the ability to have friends and family over and that means I need a large kitchen that is open plan with the living space.

4. With Imaan leaving soon for university, Steve and i will be empty nesters in a few years! So a large mater bedroom and a second bedroom (which would double up as Imaan's bedroom and the ocassional guest room) together with a den/office would really be all teh living space we actually need.  It would be a bonus to have each bedroom with an ensuite and a walk in closet and a separate powder room for guests and visitors.

Armed with this list of requirements, I set about looking for a place that would be different - not just another house and not a boring condo apartment either. 

As luck would have it, I found the perfect place!

The HIVE LOFTS - A boutique loft on the Queensway - between Royal York and Islington and not far from my old hood!  The only thing is - it's not yet built!!

I used this to my advantage first of all by securing pre-construction pricing but most importantly by purchasing 2 adjoining units in the building and then working with the architects to develop a custom built floorplan for the unified larger unit (about 1350 sq ft + another 300 sq ft of wraparound balcony!) giving me all that I wanted!!

Ensuite Master Bedroom - Large Walk in Closet - Built-in linen closet and Laundry (washer/dryer) in the master suite

Imaan's Bedroom - with its own walk-in closet and ensuite facilities

A Den - which could work as the ocassional guest room if needed

A separate powder room

A huge kitchen with an island and open plan with formal dining and living space giving me lots of open space for cooking and entertaining!

The building is scheduled to be ready by 2013,  It seems like such a long way off but hey, now we all have something to look forward to :)

 

 

 

 

You can take a girl out of Toronto....

Two years ago, I sold my house in Toronto and bought a beautiful waterfront estate with my husband Steve.  It was love at first sight.  The house is a sprawling 8000 sq. ft with an open plan kitchen that makes entertaining a delight!  The four guest bedrooms, a games room, a movie theatre, a fully equipped gym and our own private beach, outdoor hot tub and access to the lake were just some of the many luxuries available to us.

Steve and I were married in our home and it was a beautiful ceremony with our closest friends and family in attendance.  It was at this house that I also celebrated my 40th birthday with over 200 guests in attendance.  My daughter Imaan hosted her friends here for her 13th birthday.

Over the years, we have entertained many friends at our home and yet we never really felt completely at home in this mansion of a house.

According to my daughter Imaan, it's because the house is simply too big for just three people (and two dogs).  On the weeks when Imaan is not with us, Steve and I are pretty much rattling in the space.  There's also the issue of Imaan's school which is in Toronto!  Yup, for two years, we've been driving from Burlington to Toronto and back everyday during the weeks that Imaan is with us (which is every other week).  Imaan has never complained but I am sure she misses out on many sleepovers, study sessions and before or after school activities on account of the commute to and from Burlington.

According to my friends, it's because the house is simply too far! We no longer have spontaneous dinners or have friends that "drop-in" because they are in the neighbourhood.

According to my clients, it's kept me away from so many events that I would have otherwise attended had I lived in Toronto.

If you ask me and Steve, it's all that and then something else.  A few months ago, I attended a seminar by David Suzuki where he talks about our obsession with "stuff".  We're spending more on consuming more.  The more walls we have, the more art I want to purchase.  The more closets I have, the more I want to fill them with clothes and shoes and ..well,stuff!

Do we really need a house with 5 bedrooms and 11 televisions? no!  Do I really need all the stuff I keep packing into my closets? no!  What I would rather have are amazing experiences - with my family and friends and, sometimes, on my own!

At a time when most of my friends are having babies and growing into their homes, Steve and I are soon going to be "empty-nesters" when Imaan leaves for university in three years.

Besides, I really really miss Toronto.  My favourite patios are still in Toronto.  My doctor, my dentist, my hairdresser - they're all in Toronto.  My friends are all in Toronto or the GTA and so, in effect, despite the big house and my desire to entertain, I find I am still in Toronto 2-3 times a week.

So, we've decided to come back to Toronto!  Yup, our gorgeous house is officially "on the market".  You can check out the virtual tour here.  I am sure, it will make a beautiful home to someone..it's just not for me. 

We're not likely to buy another house in Toronto.  But a LOFT...with high ceilings, a modern finish and arrangement, lots of open space...now THAT would be something.  If you see one on the market in the Bloor West Village, Kingsway, Etobicoke (yup, my old hood!) that you think I might like, send along some links! 

After all, you can take a girl out of Toronto but you just cannot take Toronto out of the girl ;)

Mothers and Daughters

As most of you know, my daughter Imaan has always been a precocious child - especically when it comes to sharing her views and contributing her opinions.

A few weeks ago, Ashna Singh (from MyBindi) who is working on a piece for Astitva Magazine where she profiles me, contacted Imaan to get some insights from her on the nature of the relationship that my daughter and I share.

I was unaware of this conversation and only after the entire article was finalized did I learn of this interview (and also got a chance to read Imaan's responses to some of Ashna's questions).

Seeing that this Sunday is Mother's Day, I would like to share my daughter's perspective on how she perceives a mother-daughter relationship.

1) Describe your relationship with your Mom.

Many people have stated that mothers and daughters don't always have a very good relationship,  especially when the daughter becomes a teenager. My relationship with my mum seems to defy that statement, and several times I am grateful for the loving, respectful relationship my mum and I have.

My mum is very close to me, and I share many aspects of my life with her. We are alike in many ways: we have similar hobbies (e.g. cooking, reading, travelling) and similar interests. On many occassions we'll be doing something together, just me and her, like cooking a meal or watching dragon's den. Aside from doing things together, we also talk a lot.  I find my mum an insightful person who is always offering new ideas to a discussion, and I am always intrigued by something she has to say. Our 40 minute drives from Burlington to Toronto (for school) are an opportunity for us to spend time with each other, whether it's me wondering about what she thinks of the current elections, or simply us goofing off with our inside jokes. I love spending time with my mum; spending hours reading in Chapter's or going to an art festival in the harbourfront. I think the fact that we simply enjoy each other's company is something that makes our relationship what it is.

Another key aspect in our relationship is communication. If I am unhappy or angered, I will seek her thoughts, even if she is the cause of those feelings. I was raised to believe that communication is the way to solve problems; that when you have a conflict with somebody the best thing is to do is talk about it. I am not scared of confessing something to my mum, and I don't think she is the type to force ultimatums on me. In every past disagreement we've had, we've laid our cards on the table, discussed, and come to a mutual agreement, even if it means we agree to disagree. The result of this is that I can say that things I do, like wearing clothes that aren't revealing, are done because my mum has made me understand  why I should do those things, not just because I am forced to do so. And, honestly speaking, even when I don't agree with her decisions I'll still consider them because I have a lot of respect for her thoughts.

My mum is immensely important in my life; she is a friend, a guide and somebody who is there for me. We're bound to have conflicts, but hopefully, we can plow through them and still maintain the smooth relationship we have right now. All in all, I think we're doing pretty well; we'll always have sushi lunches, I'll always tell her about my day, and I'll always know I'm very lucky to have her in my life.

2) What do you admire the most about your mom?

There are several things I admire about my mum, too many to list in a short answer. Mostly, I admire her skills in a business sense and how independant and creative she is in other dimensions of her life. I remember she was telling me a story about how when she was younger she wrote for a greeting card company, and always had extra pocket money! At such a young age, I think she was 10, she had already come up with a away of harnessing her skills to make money. I see these skills on a bigger scale now-when she's created a thriving, profitable website that is her passion! I see my mum as a person with the perfect life. She is happily married, living in her dream home, running a business that is something she enjoys, and growing and sharing with friends and family all along the journey. I think what I admire most about my mum is her success, and all the hard work, determination, imagination and growth she needed to realize her dreams.

3) Tell me the "coolest" thing about your Mom.

The coolest thing about my mum would probably be that she is the most modern and exciting adult I know. She is on facebook 24/7 (when most parents don't even know how to use it!) and has over 2000 facebook friends. She's got a great sense of style and is often seen sporting a new coach purse (with an ipad, iphone and laptop in it!) in her hands as she drives into work. She actually doesn't mind listening to my rap music, and enjoys the hits on virgin radio. But more than the things she does, it's her attitude and personality that make her "cool". She loves experimenting, learning and socializing. I'm always looking forward to her latest ventures, whether it's a new business, a 40th birthday party, or a new house on the lake. What will she come up with next?

4) Tell me about a special moment that you shared with your Mom. (Optional)

5) Describe your mom in 3 words.

Intelligent, Caring and Creative

I noticed that number four is optional, and since I have a lot of homework I'm going to see if I can get back to you on that in a couple of days.

Thanks!

-Imaan

Of course, I would never hear these things directly from Imaan, not in so many words anyway!  I can tell you I have just received the best Mother's Day present ever!

My relationship with Imaan is always evolving -  from caregiver to confidant - and everything in between. This Mother's Day, I hope that I have been able to be half as good a daughter to my own mother!

To all my friends and readers that are also mothers, I wish you all a very happy and memorable Mother's Day.