Disqus - Latest Comments for Mary

Re: What’s the best money advice you’ve received?

Mary — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:54:50 -0000

Another classic read on the topic is "Your Money or Your Life" by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin, on the role of money in living your values. Not too dry - makes you think harder about your purchases - in a different but similar way to your style statement:)

Graceful heritage

Re: What’s the lesson that keeps repeating in your life?

Mary — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:31:57 -0000

Ego has it's role, but learning when it gets in the way is key. As a parent, that lesson is often a challenge (lots of practice!) and I think I'll try out that mantra . "It's really not about me...it's really not about me..."

Re: In terms of Creativity, what are you attracted to?

Mary — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:19:05 -0000

Gardening. Whether it's taking inspiration from my neighbour's pristine everchanging yard, or the overflowing English garden down the street, or the wonders of an alpine meadow. The kind of creation where you explore how to build strong root sytems to allow the best potential to develop. Kind of like child rearing - it involves a trust in nature and a helping hand to encourage emergence.

Re: What does it mean to be civilized?

Mary — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:17:44 -0000

Bingo. If respect over-rides our baser impulses, then our better selves show through. We then can bite our tongue before repeating gossip, whining, being clever with a caustic comment. Likewise we can find a thoughtful way to repair damage when we lose our way.

Re: What’s your favourite inspirational quote?

Mary — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:48:56 -0000

My Dad quoted this to me when I was going through a tough patch and it stays with me whenever I need a guide. I hope my children benefit as much.

Re: What are your favourite natural remedies?

Mary — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:34:46 -0000

Apparently good for our four footed friends as well. My dog gets hot spots and will obsessly lick until it's sore - he can even esape the cone. Remedy Remedy seems to help.

Re: What are your favourite natural remedies?

Mary — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:38:26 -0000

One of the toughest things to get in our world, but the most effective. I'm sure in years to come sleep deprivation will be seen as a risk factor for many chronic ailments.

Re: What are your favourite natural remedies?

Mary — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:40:39 -0000

Good one.And running trails is the icing on the cake. The woods are so healing and smell so good on a hot summer's day.

Re: What’s your favourite magazine?

Mary — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:14:26 -0000

More, Canadian Living, Canadian Parents, Canadian House and Home, and The New Scientist. Real Simple would work better if there were a Canadian version, as so many things mentioned in it aren't available here. There used to be a great magaazine that profiled strong , interesting women who accomplished things - I wish I could remember the name of it. I think it went under because they were very particular about advertizing, and wanted to avoid all those cosmetic ads that made women feel they needed to be "better" by buying a product. Wouldn't it be great if there were something out there for our tender young girls?

Re: What would you like to revolutionize?

Mary — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:39:16 -0000

Absolutely! My daughter (11yrs) received an email called " storyofstuff.com " from her grade 6 teacher. The presentation takes 20 minutes and is a wonderful synopsis that I would have everyone in North America watch and discuss!

Re: What’s your favorite easy thing to cook?

Mary — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:43:52 -0000

Sounds great, and an even easier one is very similar, but no ccoking the sauce. While the pasta is cooking, chop fresh tomatoes (giardini are good), mince a clove of garlic (or more if you like), cut up some fresh basil and chives, put it together in a bowl with some olive oil, pine nuts, and some goat cheese if you like. Mix it and pour on the hot pasta. Fresh parmesean on top and you are done.

Re: What is your favorite fiction book?

Mary — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:11:47 -0000

I've just starting re-reading it with my 12 year old daughter. I'm so glad she's enjoying an old favourite - like introducing an old friend. I also love the lesser known "The Blue Castle" by LMM. Otherwise "The Lizard Cage" is amazing for another view of Burma - another book that stays with you.

Re: What is something completely luxurious that you dream of owning?

Mary — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:22:43 -0000

The ability to spend the summers with my kids and cousins at our cottage in Ontario, the way I did growing up. And the ability to restore the cottage to perfection - replace the old boathouse with a self sufficient cabin, add skylights, restore the old cedarstrip canoe, replace the old outboard with a greener alternative...that's luxury for me.

Re: What is something completely luxurious that you dream of owning?

Mary — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:31:10 -0000

The cottage experience is irreplaceable. When you hear stress management techniques about visualizing, I always think of sitting on the dock in the morning with a coffee, looking at the lake sparkling in the sun. Ahhhh. Or listening to the loons as I drift off to sleep.

"Lochend" is a shared property now with 4 cousins and my brother(and families). I can usually swing 2 weeks with my family, but we now live in Vancouver and though getting east is a priority, it's quite an investment now. I've been looking at alternatives to extending our stay and next year I hope to swing it. Thanks for asking.

Re: What do you find beautiful about your body?

Mary — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:49:21 -0000

I love the fact that my body loves to move - every day and many ways. I work with cardiac patients and I see how hard it is for some people to start working with their bodies and coaxing them to move outside of the program - not to mention the serious results of not moving.

Thanks to my mum for my nose. And my legs are "athletic" curvy and great with panel skirt to show them off.

Re: What is the best relationship book you’ve read?

Mary — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:37:46 -0000

The Prophet also has fine words to say about children - in that they come not of you, but through you. Very wise words.

Re: What's on your must-have list for fall fashion? boots - Petit Bateau - Foley and Corrina - vintage - Luchesse cowboy boots - wide leg jeans | Carrie and Danielle

Mary — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:42:44 -0000

Can't guarantee 2 inches, but what's called the 5 seconds 5 pound weight loss - standing tall! POsture exercises incorporated into your fitness plan (pilates will do) :)

Re: What is your favourite form of courtesy that you like to practice?

Mary — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:00:53 -0000

How about those moments when you let someone know, as gently and un-obstrusively as possible, that they have something that I know I would want to know about myself. As in, stuff on or between my teeth, a shirt on in-side out, a hem lifted. It seems to be rare, judging from peoples reactions, and I've never had a hostile response, the opposite in fact. Reading the comments so far, I think I'll try harder to find something that looks great about them first...

Re: What is your current, of-the-moment obsession?

Mary — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:30:43 -0000

Melissa,

If you can get referred to a good cardiac rehab program (I write this from our program at St Paul's Hospital in Vancouver), you will have a whole team to help you sort this all out. So many of our patients have struggled with the same issues and I consistently hear them express gratitude once they get through for the ability to talk with other patients as well as learning from the program itself. Support through this time is key to making the changes that you may need to make - whether working with the dieticians, the exercise physiologists, the psychologists, the nurses and /or cardiologists - and with your fellow participants. Googling "cardiac rehab programs" and your area should get you some info to start with.

If Chuck sees this - we also work with folks with risk factors too - family history makes you so much more vulnerable to the effects of a questionable lifestyle.

Good luck on your journey!

Re: What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?

Mary — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:06:43 -0000

Last Christmas my then 11 year old daughter bought me a months worth of meals donated to an African orphan, through the "10 Thousand Villages" charity. As she have the chance to save much money, this represented quite an investment. I was sooo proud of her.

Re: The Best Gifts For Our Children - Part Two

Mary — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:45:54 -0000

Good tips. Thanks for this as we start wading into that territory. My daughter will, I expect, be fine with this approach. She starts high school next year, so I feel better armed now. My younger son, on the other hand, shows an alarming tendancy to addiction to all things electronic. He also get aggressive tendancies whenever he plays games or watches movies with what we would think of as "action". Thus we need to be very cautious about what comes into our house. Any suggestions for electronics that don't have aspects of violence? He just got a game that I thought would be innocent enough, that turned out to all about fighting (Shrek).

Re: What would you like to change about the holiday season?

Mary — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:46:59 -0000

Absolutely!

If there were just the time frame where it makes sense to anticipate what is supposed to be a season of hope, cheer, and love, the frantic and stressed faces would start to disappear.

Sorry to those in the bizz, but it really isn't all about retail.

Re: What gives you hope in the world?

Mary — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:18:53 -0000

Seeing Stephanie Nolan's article in the Globe and Mail this weekend, on all the real progress that many countries in Africa have made, despite the stories of miseries and on-going struggles.

Re: What Does Your Little Voice Say?

Mary — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:32:17 -0000

my little voice has become more mellow over the years. She used to say "you idiot! " followed by whatever it was that caught me up. Now she says " ok, that wasn't your best shot - so what are you going to do about it". Much more usefull

Re: What’s The Most Beautiful Part Of Winter For You?

Mary — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:34:00 -0000

Days like today, my soul refreshing Wednesday mornings when I head up to our local mountain with a friend, get up above the clouds to the bright sunlight and into the trails for a great workout, gab session and moments of awe from the view points. Love those endorphins!

Re: What Will Be Your Indulgence Today?

Mary — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:55:29 -0000

Heading up the mountain in the frosty brilliant sunshine. An hour and half blast around the trails - and gossip session. The drive up is a bit guilt inducing, but the feeling is amazing!

Re: Your Dream Home; Where Is It and Why?

Mary — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:51:09 -0000

That's dreaming big - and I can already feel myself standing looking out the windows. Hardwood floors of course.

I would juxtapose it with a low maintenance home in Tofino, on the beach, with huge windows from which to watch the storms and a fireplace to retreat to.