Posts Tagged ‘magazine’

Kids…And a Life?

Tuesday, December 9th, 2008

That’s the basic premise behind Mom Magazine. Actually its more than that – their philosophy is “Life as a MOM doesn’t mean life as a woman has to end.”

I was interviewed by their publisher/editor Tamara yesterday for a piece they’re running on uncluttering your life for the New Year. Tamara was great – had read my previous post about my challenges with RIM – and she admitted that she had already named her BlackBerry. It’s Kumar, from Harold & Kumar, a favourite of hers.

Anyway check out the site and the printed magazine (you can get a subscription for only $15 a year). Loads of great stuff. Visit them at www.mommagazine.ca

And now after all the advice I gave on uncluttering I feel the need to clean out my office. Or maybe just do some more online Christmas shopping.

Organic Wine – the best of both worlds?

Friday, October 24th, 2008

Yesterday I met my friend, author Nathalie Prezeau for lunch at Live Organic Food Bar. Her choice. It’s not that I’m anti-organic or anti-raw or anti-vegan…its just I like eating across the food spectrum, and for me that includes red meat, red wine, and, well basically anything deep fried.

But I was curious and hungry, and I had just done an interview for a magazine down the street…and I like Nathalie, so I agreed to try it. I joked that I guessed it wouldn’t be a liquid lunch, which is the norm for writers (the only thing I have in common with Ernest Hemmingway, BTW).

Much to my surprise and delight – there is such a thing as Organic Wine, and as we split a half litre, I had to acknowledge that my raw pad thai was also pretty good. I haven’t really met too many happy vegans in my life but the service was great and the food was really tasty.

Visit them – they’re at 264 Dupont Street, and there’s an amazing store next door called Kinna Sohna which carries clothing and jewelry “from far-away lands”. The owner and designer was lovely and she indulged me as I tried on the same blouse in about 17 different colours.

Wine, healthy food and silk blouses – what could be better.

Check out Nathalie’s book “Toronto Fun Places”, or visit www.torontofunplaces.com

Weight For Me

Friday, October 17th, 2008

The other day I said to my husband “What’s it like not to think about every single piece of food you put into your mouth?” He’s one of those naturally thin people who never really snacks and exercises simply for his health. I remember being in a clothing store with him once and the clerk said to him “And we have a bit of space here in the pants in case you put on a few inches around the waist.” To which Mr Smartypants replied “Oh, I haven’t put on any weight since high school.”

Out loud I said “Try having four kids bub, and then talk to me”, and then I silently mouthed an obscenity at him as well.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m happy with my weight now, but I do really work at it. I let loose on some poor person who was kindly complimenting me when they said “You’re lucky you’re so thin.” I said “Lucky? Let me tell you – I work out 3 or 4 times a week and go to bed hungry most nights!” I think about food and drink and exercise as much as the next girl.

My friends and I laughed over a Macleans article last week which talked about “drunkerexics” which is basically women who give up food calories for booze calories (who doesn’t do that?), but it hit a nerve. I do think about it way too much.

Then I read an excellent book called “Thin Is The New Happy” by Valerie Frankel. It is a memoir (if you’ve seen Burn After Reading, pronounce the word like John Malkovich did, just for fun) and it takes you through her lifelong battle with weight and how much brain power we women use up thinking about it. Great read. Pick it up. (I emailed her to tell her how much I liked it – and she emailed me right back – cool!) It’ll make you think about more important things.

And now I’m going to have just one more of those little Halloween chocolates…and maybe a 100 calorie glass of wine…and not think about it at all.

A Thriving Hospital

Friday, October 3rd, 2008

Today I had the honour of speaking at the launch of a great new magazine called “Thrive”. The publication is a joint venture between the Credit Valley Hospital and the Credit Valley Hospital Foundation, and I was pleased to be asked to not only contribute a few articles, but also to act as their “cover girl”. I’ve personally had a broken bone repaired there (the result of a freak sliding door mini-van accident), and also gave birth to my fourth child at the hospital, so this “birth” was a natural.

The cover photo wasn’t exactly an exotic photo shoot on a Caribbean beach, rather it took place in my kitchen, but the upside was no bikinis were necessitated. The article was called “The Frazzled Mom” and the editor told me he thought of me right away – not sure if this was a compliment on my writing skills or a comment on my lifestyle, but I took the gig.

I couldn’t produce my entire family for the photo, so I shipped in a fake husband (my editor), his dog (hey, I have four kids…I need a dog?), and as I was down one son, pretended to be yelling at him off camera. It wasn’t a stretch.

The launch was a success and the magazine is glossy and sleek – unlike this frazzled Mom who is mortified to see that my messy cupboards are in crystal clear focus in the shot. No staging was required to appear truly frazzled.

You can read my musings on why Moms today feel more frazzled than ever by visiting the Articles section at my website, www.kathybuckworth.com