HAPPY FRIDAY!

The sun is shining and the weekend is close at hand! This weekend is going to be a relaxing one as we all try to recuperate and recover from an awful week of bad colds. Beach time and fresh sea air should make us all happy again.

Let's start the weekend off with a fun pop song by an old favourite of mine. Here's Starz In Their Eyes by Just Jack.

Happy Friday!

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HAPPY WEEKEND!

Do you have any fun plans for the weekend? After our trip last week, we're going to have a relaxing weekend catching up with friends, bike riding and spending time in the garden with the weeds. I find that no matter how thrilling, beautiful or serene a vacation can be, I always enjoy settling at home and falling back in to our daily routines. 

Let's start the weekend with a song by a fellow Canadian -- this is Infamous by Basia Bulat. 

Happy weekend!  

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HAPPY FRIDAY!

First off, I must say a Happy New Year to you all! I wish you all a happy start to 2016 with fun adventures, joyous laughs and loving moments that continue throughout the year.

And now, it is Friday and the weekend is here. What are you up to this weekend? I see a dinner date, bike ride, beach picnic and family playdate in my future. Let's kick off the weekend with a song from the incomparable David Bowie -- I leave you with Space Oddity, one of my all-time favourite songs.

Happy weekend to you!


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HAPPY WEEKEND!

The weekend is here! I'm looking forward to getting out on the water for my third sailing race. I will be participating in Bart's Bash. It is a charity regatta held all over the world in support of the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation, an organization that encourages and inspires young people to succeed and discover their potential through sailing.

And here's a song for your weekend ... Sail by AWOLNATION has become my racing anthem. This video will boost your adrenaline, trust me!

What are you up to this weekend?

(My photo of ORACLE Team USA practicing in the Great Sound, Bermuda)

ICE CREAM DAY

Have you heard? This Sunday (July 19) is Ice Cream Day! In fact, July is National Ice Cream Month in the United States thanks to a Presidential Proclamation signed by Ronald Reagan in 1984.

I know what we'll be doing this weekend ... yum, yum!

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HAPPY FRIDAY!

It's been a while since I've shared a song to kick start the weekend. A new friend introduced me to this song by Spencer Albee and I'm smitten (Thanks, Eve!). Take a listen ... the 'flirty keyboard' will hook you and make you excited that Spring and all its loveliness is just around the corner.

Happy weekend!

(Photograph by Max Wenger)

A MORNING AT THE DOCKYARD

The Royal Naval Dockyard is located on the westernmost tip of Bermuda. It ceased to be an active naval base for the British Navy in 1957, and is now the landing spot for cruise ships and ferry boats. With the Bermuda Maritime Museum, shops, restaurants and recreational activities, the Dockyard (as it is known locally) is becoming a tourist hub. Efforts are also underway to restore the old navy buildings, some of which were built in 1813.

We spent a morning at the Dockyard checking out the museum, watching the dolphins, climbing the new playground and savouring treats at the local cafe. Here are a few pictures from our morning ...

AN EVENING AT THE MIDWAY

We went to a small Midway this past weekend in Waterloo. It was such a fun evening complete with ice cream treats, kiddie rides, games and even a prize for Monkey. I don't remember the last time I laughed as hard as I did while spinning around on the Tilt-A-Whirl. Little Bean couldn't help but squeal with delight as she watched from the sidelines ...

HAPPY {LONG} WEEKEND!

I'm happy to report that our magnolia tree bloomed this year! Bright, beautiful buttercup blooms. This is a big deal because we've only ever seen one or two blooms in the five years we've lived here. So now it finally feels like Spring and to celebrate, we're going to get outdoors this weekend with a hike, picnic and a backyard BBQ. Rain, rain go away!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

It has been a while since I've posted a song to kick off the weekend. Mushaboom by Feist has been playing in my head lately as I get the kiddos in and out of their coats and bundles for each outing. This song never grows old for me.

What are you up to this weekend? I see skating, delicious hot chocolate from Nadège, a family dinner date and a potluck brunch in my future.

Happy weekend to you!

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HAPPY WEEKEND!

 

Happy weekend! This is the sand mountain. It's a huge pile of sand in Trinity Bellwoods Park that is absolute heaven for kids to climb, dig and slide. We will no doubt be spending time at the sand mountain this weekend.

Time will also be spent finishing up Monkey's big boy bedroom. Last weekend we painted the walls, so now we just have to put up his map mural and install his 'big boy' bed. This is a big transition for our little Monkey. He loves his crib dearly. I wish we could keep him in it for a little while longer, but I'd like to make sure there's ample time before he sees it set up in another room for our second baby. We've made a really big deal of his new bed to help him make the transition -- his papa built the bed frame especially for him and he picked out new dinosaur sheets. 

If you're looking for something (free) to do this weekend with your little one, Horse Day is taking place at the Horse Palace, Exhibition Place. It's sure to be a hit with interactive exhibits, story time, crafts and even a tour of the Toronto Police Mounted Unit stables.

Here's a song to start your weekend off -- it's Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke, featuring T.1. and Pharrell. I have a weakness for Pharrell and can't seem to get this one out of my head (apologies if you've heard it ad nauseam on the radio).

LET IT SNOW!

Let it snow! Let it snow! I adore the snow. We are in the midst of a snowstorm, or snowmagedon as my friend called it, here in Toronto. The streets, trees, cars and rooftops are blanketed in pristine white snow. It is beautiful and peaceful in our city. We shoveled once this morning and we'll have to go out again this afternoon. Monkey likes to use his preferred stick to help clean off the stairs.

Here's a song to start your weekend. It's Hazy Shade of Winter by The Bangles. We are going to spend a lot of time playing in the snow this weekend. When was the last time you made a snow angel?! I can't wait. And, whatever you do this weekend, have a great time!

HAPPY WEEKEND!

The deep freeze is expected to end on Saturday. Hurray! It's been too cold to spend any time outside so I'm excited to get outside again this weekend for some winter fun. Here are just a few things happening in Toronto this weekend ... Foodies will rejoice with the start of Winterlicious, the Interior Design Show offers an abundance of design inspiration and the ROM kicks off its sleepovers for kids.

Here's a song to help start your weekend off right. It's Home by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros. Let the toe-tapping begin!

Happy weekend!

CHEERS!

The start of the Christmas holiday is here. Snow is falling in Waterloo, where we'll be spending time with family and friends. My wish is for a white Christmas. No matter what you celebrate at this time of year, I wish you all a wonderful holiday. And, I just want to say thank you for taking time to visit me at Monkey's Muse. I love getting each and every email and comment that you send me so please don't be shy!

And now here's a song to start you on your festivities. This is one of my most favourite pop holiday songs -- it's Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney.

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THIS WEEKEND

During the past week, we were reminded of just how precious moments are spent with good friends and family. It is easy to get caught up in the circus of daily life, but it is your relationships and your shared memories that matter most in the end. Be kind to those around you. This weekend we will be doing just that as we spend time with friends and family.

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HAPPY WEEKEND!

It is the first weekend of December. Are you in the festive spirit yet? We're heading home to Waterloo for our first holiday party with friends. I'm stoked. The One of a Kind Show ends this weekend so check it out if you're in Toronto and on the hunt for a unique gift. Monkey and I went this week and we found this cute stocking for him and an adorable bonnet that I couldn't resist.

Here's a song to start your weekend. It's Homecoming by Kayne West, featuring Chris Martin. It's one of my favourites.

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HAPPY WEEKEND!

The weekend is upon us! We're having a big family gathering this weekend with my (in-law) brothers and sisters and nephews. My husband is from a family of four kids so you're bound to have a bit of chaos, constant teasing and good laughs when the whole clan gets together. I'm an only child, can you tell?!

Now in honour of my new book club book, here's a song to get your weekend started. It's Bukowski by Modest Mouse.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend.

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HAPPY WEEKEND!

The weekend is here! I'm excited to report that The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair starts today in Toronto. Monkey and I went this morning. We saw horses jumping, cows bathing, enormous squash and pigs sleeping. I see many more visits in our near future.

Here's a song to help you get started on your weekend. It's Lovely Day by Bill Withers. After a long week of wind and rain I'm looking forward to seeing the sunshine again this weekend.  

Happy weekend!

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HAPPY WEEKEND!

Another Friday is here, and with it comes another Fall weekend. Do you have any plans? My parents will be visiting this weekend to babysit Monkey while we go to our friends' wedding. I'm excited to celebrate and see my husband look dapper in his tuxedo (he's a best man). A visit to a pumpkin patch is supposed to happen on Sunday, but the weather is looking quite miserable for the entire weekend so our pumpkin might just be found at our local grocery store this year.

Now, here's a song to start your weekend. It's Relator by Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson. This song will chase away the gloomy weather this weekend.

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HAPPY WEEKEND!

Another weekend is almost here. I'm looking so forward to spending time in the city with park visits, movie nights, a brunch date (just me and my friend ...no babies!) and a big family lunch with two of my dear childhood friends where we will be feasting on some serious mac-and-cheese.

I have a confession to make. I have a weakness for Kardinal Offishall. So, in honour of our very Toronto-centric weekend, here is the Toronto native with The Anthem, a tribute of sorts to this city.

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