Soon I shall sleep

I am worn out these days.

So very worn out.

I mentioned I have a two-year-old right? And a great new job that requires a longer commute and increased brainpower? And this blog. And this one. Did I mention my husband is on a new television series, working 14-hour days and is only home to sleep during the week?

Yeah, I'm worn out.

And, as lovely as you all have been, I'm sure readers have noticed that the quality of my writing here at DMD has slipped ever-so-slightly the last month or so.

And that bothers me, really bothers me.

Luckily I have a plan: I'm taking next week off to recharge my batteries and get my creative juices flowing again and while I'm gone I've arranged for some of the funniest, wittiest and most talented writers in the blogosphere to entertain you.

That's right, next week I'm handing the keys to my joint over to her and her and her. Also her. And, God help me, her.

It's going to be such fun, I'm a little sorry to miss it. But I do need to rest and I do need to let some ideas marinate before I come roaring back with the diva attitude you've come to expect.

Before I leave on my stay-cation I have some awards to acknowledge, some people to thank and some shout-outs to do. Let's get right to it:


This lovely Blog of Distinction award came my way via the effervescent JCK over at Motherscribe. I had the pleasure of spending some time with JCK at BlogHer last month and she really radiates the same intelligence and quiet confidence you'll find over at her site. Thanks JCK!

I'd like to pass this award along to Karen at One Day At A Time , (we are having drinks in September Karen I swear!), Jen at Juggling Life (she just seems so together, she deserves an award) and Jobthingy's Jungle (this blog is chock full of attitude, just how I like 'em!)

Next up we have this little beaut...


This award come from Angie over at Seven Clown Circus who has five (yes, five!) beautiful children and the most gorgeous red hair I have ever seen. Oh yeah, she's a great writer too - thanks Angie!

I'd like to pass this along to some whose beautiful photos always make my day - Corey at Living and Loving Every Minute of It.

It must be true folks! Great minds do think alike (and fools seldom differ, but anywhoo...) I received this brillante award from not one, not two, but FOUR of my favorite bloggy friends...


Many, many thanks to Shellie at Little But Loud, Zoom at Knitnut, Texasholly at June Cleaver Nirvana and April at It's All About Balance. Thank you all ladies! Since all four of you have honored me I think it's only fitting that I pass it along to four deserving bloggers - cheers to the outrageous Tranny Head at Law School Sucks and So Do Lawyers, the thought-provoking Vered at Mom Grind, the adorable Colleen at Mommy Always Wins and the Sarah Palin doppelganger Amy at Milk Breath and Margaritas!

My next fancy-schmancy award is from a fellow Ontario gal and new friend Mary Lynn at Riding In A Handbasket...

Thank you Mary Lynn - it's gonna look incredible on my mantle. I'd like to pass this award along to yet another good old Canadian gal - one of my favorite reads - Zoeyjane at Mommy is Moody.

My last award is from the fabulous C over at Random Thoughts and Musings from The Island - that lucky gal who lives in one of the most beautiful spots in all of Canada...thanks a lot!


Before I sign off I wanted to tell you about a really fabulous dinner party to which I was recently invited. It was all the brainchild of one of my lovely guest posters Auds at Barking Mad. In the spirit of promoting inclusiveness and friendship in the blogopshere she recently challenged some of us bloggers to issue "dinner" invites to 10 bloggers with whom they would love to share a meal.

I love Auds' idea. There are lots of people out there who you and I adore and everyone adores but, along with my favs, I wanted to welcome to our table some bloggers out there who may be new to you. Here all the folks with whom I'd love to break bread:

1. Laura at Walking the Lunatic Fringe - one of my first-ever readers, we have a ton in common and I know we'd get on like gangbusters
2. Christine at Flutter - she's brave and she's beautiful and her writing takes my breath away
3. Kittenpie at Life of Pie - I have met her and she's knows she's lovely,plus she's a librarian and I love to talk about books
4. Jen at Lords of the Manor - she always leaves such interesting and thoughtful comments, it's obvious she's one smart, opinionated cookie
5. Kristen at Mighty Morphin' Mama - she is an inspiration - writer, home schooler, mom of many - whew!
6. Shannon at Whiskey in My Sippy Cup - she's cool and fun and you know she's gonna get the party started!
7. Toostie Farklepants at Vintage Thirty - she's gorgeous and she's hilarious: her name alone is an icebreaker - it's Tootsie Farklepants for gawd's sake!
8. OHMommy from Classy Chaos - trust me my dinner parties are usually sorely in need of a touch of class...
9. Busy Dad from Tales From Dad Side - a touch of testosterone is always good and plus I've met him and he rawks.
10. Backpacking Dad - so Busy Dad doesn't get too overwhelmed by all that estrogen and also? He too rawks.

Just make sure you all bring lotsa wine 'kay?

Whew!

See why I'm so freaking exhausted? I hope you enjoy a fabulous holiday weekend. I'll be putting up a new recipe soon and then leaving you in good hands until September 8th.

Enjoy my wonderful guest posters and try not to miss me too much...

Okay, miss me just a little.

M-WAH!

Grateful

Let's just call this the week of living gratefully, shall we?

I'm grateful that my boy loves me even if I don't deserve it. I'm grateful that you guys seem to think I'm worthy of your affection. And I'm grateful that you're not too mad that it has taken me sooo long to acknowledge all your lovely awards. (You're not tooo mad, are you?)

First up, I am ever-so-honored that the lovely Kami over at Kami's Khlopchyk bestowed this lovely award on me.



I just discovered Kami a few months ago and she has swiftly become one of my favorite reads. I would like to pass this little beauty on to Janice at Mom on The Run who inspires me with her commitment to her two beautiful girls and her commitment to fitness and to Lunanik over at Secrets of A Black Heart who has me hooked with her mysterious edge...

Next up I want to say a big thanks to Brittany over at Mommee and Her Boys and Elaine at The Miss Elaine-Ous Life for bestowing upon me this You Make My Day Award - isn't it a beaut?

I think Brittany - who is too adorable for words, really! - was one of my first-ever regular readers and I have always appreciated her loyalty. Elaine is another new find - and one of those ladies you just know you would click with if you had a chance to meet.

I'd like to pass this award along to Mandy at The Gratton Grapevine, who I can't wait to meet at Blogher, and to Urban Daddy, because, well, I have met him and he's lovely and daddy bloggers need love too.

Moving along, I need to send a shout-out to Melissa over at Hope for the Hopeless. As per the award below, she has declared me a Tiara-wearing Blogger - to which I say, "Does she ever have me pegged!" Thanks Melissa - I think you'd look pretty great in a tiara yourself.

I pass this diva-ish award along to the one and only McMommy who, truthfully, is so fabulous she probably wakes up in the morning wearing a tiara and to April over at It's All About Balance who handles single motherhood with style and class.

Next I need to say a big thank you to The Reluctant Housewife and to Sass-E Mom who both were kind enough to give me the Award of Excellence below. Both these ladies are regular reads for me and if you check them out you'll know why.

I'd like to pass it along to Tootsie Farklepants - one of the funniest ladies on the internets - and Stomper Girl, who is undoubtedly one of the best dancers.

Last, but certainly not least, I want to say a big thank you to the always thought-provoking David over at Authorblog who recently cited this post of mine as his "the best of the day" pick. David runs a great that site that is "totally committed to encouraging excellence in others".

Isn't that an incredible sentiment? Thank you David, I am honored to call you neighbor in this community we call the internets.

I apologize to those of you who have tagged me for memes over the last few months - I'm just not great at memes, sorry! Please know that I do appreciate you thinking of me and I am truly grateful - this week and always - to call you all friends.

You don't know your own strength

It’s uncanny.

I’m not sure exactly how you do it, but just when things are particularly rough for this diva, your kind comments and e-mails always manage to brighten my day and restore my faith in the inherent goodness of people.

Thank you for all your expressions of support for my cousin’s family: they are appreciated more than you know.

This seems like a particularly good time to acknowledge a few awards that this humble site has collected over the last few weeks so without further ado…

Many, many thanks to GoMommy over at Random Acts of Momness for this – the Favorite Friend Award. If you haven’t visited her blog yet, you must. She has a flair for writing and a wicked sense of humor and she always brightens my day.

Thanks to Corey over at Living and Loving Every Minute of It for this awesome Cool Mom Award. I don’t feel overly cool these days but it’s nice to receive an ego boost from a woman who not only has mad photo skillz but practices a parenting philosophy to which I can only aspire – thanks Corey.

Next I am indebted to Manners and Moxie for bestowing upon me this You Make Me Smile Award. If you want to relive the trials and tribulations that came with planning your wedding, definitely check her wonderful blog.

And last, but certainly not least, I have to thank the gorgeous and charismatic OHMommy over at Classy Chaos for honoring me with this fabulous award of her own making.

What can I say about OHMommy? She’s nothing short of a sensation.

And you know what else?

She’s my roomie for the BlogHer conference in San Francisco this July.

Oh yes she is!

Can you imagine of the ramifications of this colossal coming together?

I mean, will there be enough closet space for our combined collection of stilettos? Will that much sheer fabulousness crammed into one small room finally trigger the Great Quake that Bay-area residents have long feared? Will San Francisco ever, ever be the same?

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Bloggy Bling

Where would a diva be without her peeps?

I love each and every one of you.

Mwah, mwah, mwah!

From MommyK at Great Walls of Baltimore.




From Kat at My Two Cents.




From Dawn at Renaissance Mama.




From Amy at Memories and Musings.






From OHMommy at Classy Chaos.





From GoMommy at Randon Acts of Momness

From Corey at Living and Loving Every Minute of It.

From Manners and M oxie

From Rachel at From The Land of Monkeys and Princesses

From Kim over at Jogging in Circles.

From the lovely C over at Random Thoughts and Musings From the Island.

From Brittany over at Mommee and Her Boys and Amy over at Memories and Musings.

From Karen over at A Day in The Life

From Jennwa over at Ramblings of a Crazy Woman.

.

A room without windows

A house without books is like a room without windows. No man has a right to bring up his children without surrounding them with books, if he has the means to buy them. It is wrong to his family. Children learn to read by being in the presence of books. The love of knowledge comes with reading and grows upon it. And the love of knowledge, in a young mind, is almost a warrant against the inferior excitement of passions and vices

**********************************

The voting in the final round of the Canadian Blog Awards closes at midnight tonight. If you haven't already voted for me would you please consider doing so?

You can vote for Best Personal Blog by clicking here:

http://www.polldaddy.com/poll.aspx?p=250338

You can vote for me Best Family Blog by clicking here:

http://www.polldaddy.com/poll.aspx?p=250359

Thank you all for your support and especially for the heart-warming comments and e-mails I received regarding yesterday's post. Yes, Julie's parents read it and they have been greatly moved by all of your kind words about their daughter.

I'm not worthy

What a week for Don Mills Diva.

There are so many worthy writers, wonderful writers, out there in the blogosphere that I feel just a little guilty about all the wonderful attention, support and bloggy love that this humble site has recently received.

But not quite guilty enough not to gobble it all up - I am a diva y'all!

Seriously though, I am honoured to report that Don Mills Diva has been shortlisted for Canadian Blog Awards in both the categories in which it was nominated - Best Personal Blog and Best Family Blog.

The final round of voting has just opened and if you could take two seconds and once again cast your vote for me I would be forever in your debt.

Just go here:

http://cdnba.wordpress.com/vote/round-2/

And scroll down to the Interest category. You can then click on Best Personal Blog and Best Family Blog and there you'll see DMD listed as one of the five finalists. Thanks tons!

Okay, next I want to thank the gorgeous Dawn over at Renaissance Mama for bestowing this very impressive-looking award. If you haven't checked her out yet, you really should: she's a self-described homeschooling tree-hugger who aspires towards simplicity and I always find her point of view an inspiration.

And then Kat my German blogger friend over at My Two Cents handed me this lovely bling. Kat and I recently discovered each other and I think we have a similar sense of humour and a similarly realistic grasp on our athletic abilities. Did I mention we're training for the Olympics together?

And rounding out awards week here at DMD is this next award I received from one of my favourite new (to me) bloggers Amy over at Memories and Musings.

This one is particularly thrilling because I have seen it awarded to other people and I have never, for the life of me, been able to figure out what it meant. Lucky for me, Amy knows that it's hard for a girl to look this good and be smart, so she explained it. See, if you rotate it counter-clockwise it becomes a heart.

Get it? She hearts me! Aww, I heart her too.

I heart all of you. Seriously.

Thanks.

Indulge me?

Can I ask you guys a favour?

It seems I’ve been nominated in two categories for Canadian Blog Awards and even though you might expect me to be all diva-like and say something like “But of course,” the truth is I’ve only been blogging for about five months and I’m really humbled and absolutely thrilled to bits.

So if you could spare just a few seconds – and it only takes a few seconds I PROMISE – and vote for me I would really appreciate it.

Just click on this link …

http://cdnba.wordpress.com/vote/round-1/

…and click on links to Best Personal Blog and Best Family Blog. You’ll see Don Mills Diva listed in each category and you can click beside the name and then click the vote button at the bottom.

I really do appreciate all the encouragement and support you have given me since I put this site up. I wish I could put my arms around the internets and give each and every one of you a giant hug.

And thanks to two of the coolest chicks on the block, Secret Agent Mama and Mama Tulip, for nominating me – you are both too, too kind.

Awards, memes and spanking oh my!

Okay, there's no question that my new Christmas shoes are great.

But look what else I got last week!

It's The Royal Banana, awarded for general blog yumminess and bestowed by Rachel over at one of the yummiest blogs I know - A Southern Fairytale. If you are familiar with her site you know that this girl knows good blog. This is the second year she has scoured the internets for her favorites and I am beyond honoured that Don Mills Diva is one of two Canadians that made her short list. Thanks Rachel - you rock!

And in one of those coincidences that proves the internets is really just a happy little coffee clatch, another one of Rachel's favorites (and mine too) is the witty and raw Lotus over at Sarcastic Mom and last week she tagged me for this Questions About Your Week meme.

Here goes:

What did you accomplish?
I actually made it onto my stairmaster for 30 minutes the last three days in a row!

Did anything not go as expected?
Actually no - things went pretty much as I anticipated. Christmas week was really busy - a little stressful - but as always a time to really enjoy my family and reflect on how lucky I am that they are all remarkably loving and sane.

What was the highlight?
I wish I could say that it was Graham opening his presents, but at barely two he just wasn't all that excited about the whole concept. Am I allowed to say it was when I left Graham with Grandma for a few hours and daddy and I snuck off and hit the ski slopes on Boxing Day and the sun was out and we drank wine on the patio between runs? Am I a bad mom if I say that?

Did anything exciting happen you did not expect?
Uh - did you not see my Royal Banana Award?

I'm hereby tagging:

Metromama
Random Acts of Momness
Mighty Morphin' Mama

So anyway, on a more serious note I was also tagged by Buttermom - she of the Classy Chaos to reveal my approach to discipline when it comes to my child. Her own post on her brief flirtation with spanking is so touching and thought-provoking I'm sure it got a lot of people thinking. Here's what I think:

When it comes to spanking I think people think about it too much. I think if you take the time to consider whether spanking is a good or bad method of punishment for a child you're probably a good parent. Most parents I know debate spanking endlessly and the fact we are engaging in debate means we are striving to do best by our children. That striving, that care and consideration, is generally proof of loving and thoughtful parenting, whether or not spanking is used as a method of discipline.

I hit Graham a few months ago and the feelings I struggled with afterwards produced a post that some people described as my most poignant ever. I felt guilty. I felt angry. I turned myself inside and out in the aftermath before finally reaching the following conclusions:

1. I am a loving and conscientious mother
2. I don't think spanking is a good way to discipline children and it should be avoided
3. Being human, I will probably lose my temper periodically throughout Graham's childhood
4. That may sometimes result in a swat/ smack/ spanking
5. If it does I will try and use it as a teaching moment and move on

So there you have it - I'm sure this will not be the last time I revisit my feelings about spanking and discipline because, like you, I'm constantly striving to be the best parent I can be.

I would love to hear thoughts on spanking and discipline from:

Heidi at Viking Conquest / Family Adventure
Laura over at Walking Lunatic Fringe
My expectant mother friend over at A New Duck (I'm wondering if she's already articulated a philosophy before baby has even arrived)

Cheers!