Prductive Sorting and Preparing

This was a strange weekend . There are always at least 4-6 of them like this a year when the goal has nothing to do with relaxing or leisure or sleeping in or seeing friends etc ... But just pure darn damn housework 

Nothing that can be delegated or done by anyone else but you . In your stuff . Your clothes . Your office etc . And while I do this - hubby does all the outside stuff and season transitions which is no easy job . And both of these things need to happen at home and at the cottage . It's certainly not the upside of our year that is for sure. 

That being said there is a certain feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment in getting things done and organized and sorted that nothing else really compares to. A feeling of satisfaction and that as we throw old stuff out we make room for the new stuff inside of us .

I tackled my " novartis " boxes that I have left in my garage for two years now ( there I finally named the company I worked at for 12 yrs ! How liberating ! ) File after file and keepsakes of a beautiful 12 yr career . I thought I would be in tears . I was not . I felt full of pride as I realized how far I have come in the last two years . I have truly created a beautiful career for myself with so much more to come . As I read my old assessments from my management career I realized how much better I know myself professionally than I did back then . And also how much more of what I love doing is in my current career . If I were to ever go back there or anywhere in the corporate world ( which could very well happen at one point as I adored to much about it )I would be launching from a very very different place . I loved so many things about that 12 yr career ... I feel (like so many others who have worked in this place and industry) in so many way it equals a Harvard MBA education. It was the launching pad of so much success for me . 

It felt good to reopen the boxes and then throw out a bunch of stuff and recycle a Bunch too for my new life .

And preparation was also a key this weekend . Looking forward and not back . We visited Chases's  top choice for university and this was so impressive . The school , the program ... Chase !!

I saw a side of him I have know and seen a bit but at this openhouse really saw take shape and emerge . The boy we have raised .. The young man we live with .. The career man he will become .. His passion .. His interests 

I don't know what impressed me more . The school or our son making the best of this openhouse . It felt like every fruit of our labor came true yesterday . I saw him through a completely different Lense . This is no little boy anymore 

When we got home he pulled me aside to talk about how excited and motivated he is to go there . And it is not guaranteed in the least as its a hard school to get in .. Much harder than I had anticipated to the program he is after which is a three year intensive ( summers too ) co-op paid stages program in the school of business

If this program existed when I was his age I would have eaten it up . I am impressed .

I am so thankful for the quality universities we have right here in our city of Montreal and that our kids have the choice to stay home and still stand phenomenal universities . That they have the choice of French or English and so many selections . 

Chase is too . His choice is made ! And he said he definitely  wants to live at home and said that he thought a lot about it as he visited other universities Further away .. He said that living at home if he is in this particular program would be the perfect fit for him and that we call get along so well and that his life is really good here and that we are all very cool together 

I agree . 

Now he just has to work his butt off for the next number of months to ensure his spot and we can move ahead with this next milestone . Neither he nor his dad nor  I could imagine a better fit for where he wants to go in life . This university and this program are perfect for him 

Let's see if he will be given that opportunity ( I think so as has a very good grade point average but just a bit more than their criteria but lots and lots of applications .. He Sits on student government for cegep .. Has hundreds of volenteer hours and has had 4 very relevant and responsible jobs thus far )

And with Bear last weekend choosing his cegep program . So sure of his passion in sciences and medicine and dentistry and anything complex that he has to work so hard to achieve . So confident and sure of himself and his choices . He didn't surprise me as much as he has always been like this but it was a highlight of my year to share that afternoon with bear at my alumni cegep . I felt so proud of my boy ( a separate post on this to come )

So this weekend was productive and also preparing . Two of my favorite words

And if I can't be lying on a beach , or reading a book , or sleeping , or sitting in a boat in the sun ... These are two of my fave things to do in life 

Be productive 

And be prepared

And have a good fun time doing both ! and in the hopes that once it is done I can sleep more , read more and relax more!

A Very Small Fraction of a big Peru Adventure

People make fun of me all the time of how organized I am. Usually in a good way as many people around me benefit from my organizational skills and planning talent.

What I say and plan usually makes perfect sense.

I asked my husband 3 things on this vacation that were important to me . The third was-write a blog at all the times you are at airports while on trip so that you capture the pics and feelings and thoughts while it is still alive. I reminded him by text plenty and told him that if he waited until he came home it would never happen. This I knew for sure. He totally agreed with me and thought was equally important

He wrote me from the last airport and said would do it on the plane..then wrote me on the plane and said he would do it that night before bed..then said the next morning..then while I was away in Chicago..then when I got back.

We are the next weekend now and still no blog. Never will be in my humble yet usually accurate opinion. This is a sad sad loss of memories and adventure

And that is precisely why I am organized and deliberate.

Such an important experience should be captured. In writing. Videotaped. In a journal, on a scrap piece of paper. Somehow. In whatever way-but somehow?

This trip was so much to him

So deep and fun and freeing

For me it was deep and complex and alienating and connecting in so many different ways. There were so many feelings and emotions attached to this trip for both of us-in different ways.

And especially when he came back. I am not sure I will ever forget those first few hours and then the next few days.

I think it shifted us both

I wish he had listened to the three things I told him-especially the writing the blog one. It would have meant so much to have this

Here are a few pics that I had on my phone

(And I bet if he reads this blog we will see his own in a few days as these pics are so random and not indicative of the trip or experience at all!!!! LOL)

Sibling Get-Away!

written sunday and pics to be added. sorry for typos -can't find a single moment this week to write this properly but so important I record these memories

I am having the best weekend ever . In Miami South beach with my amazing brother . What a treat 

We planned this a number of months ago with all three of us ( I have two brothers ) and was a sibling getaway reunion of sorts but we found out later summer  that our Eldest brother chose not to join in . 

We decided to go just the two of us and I am so glad we did . We had an amazing time !!!

My bro and I have always been close . This trip reminded me a lot of my young adolescence as we always like to hang out together . We are 4 yrs apart but spent quite a good amount of time together making up dances from Greece , going for walks , going to black cat for comics and candy and pinball , trying out jogging , recording piano and singing , building blanket and forts  and sharing social times in lake George are a few of my fave memories .

This weekend felt a lot like that . It was super sweet . We stayed at the gorgeous Shore Club hotel on Miami beach and could not have asked for a better hotel . Rooms were excellent and modern with the best stand in showers and peppermint shampoo and cilantro conditioner and rum soap . I took two showers a day 

The pool area was one of nicest I have ever seen and I have seen a lot . Gorgeous beach with cozy chairs and great service . Fabulous little lounge and bar areas with huge Bali beds and candles lit at night and multi-coloured pillows . A gorgeous meditaranien    theme . I would recommend this hotel to all and I will certainly be coming back one day myself . The Shore club  is a must if you are in Miami beach 

My brother and I are huge foodies . We love all sorts of different cool foods and Miami did not disappoint ! Every meal was carefully selected and all of it was incredibly yummy . Our last night out for dinner was one of best meal I have  ever had in my life at a topnotch meditaranien  place we treated ourselves too . Also had amazing Italian and Cuban food as my bro knows the good places 

We walked a lot , and biked on Bordwalk , played in the waves , Swan and read , ate great food , did some shopping , visited Holocaust memorial and botanical gardens and ended with a great walk on the beach 

We spent most of our time together but also had separate rooms and some time alone  too and got some work done . A perfect mix and we are similar in our pace and choices of how to spend time . Really relaxing bonding long weekend with so many great conversations ( and food ! )

Super weather  for the most part too ! And a beautiful rainstorm that I loved hearing and seeing 

My brother is leaving much earlier than I am today as I had scheduled a later flight to be able to spend some more time with my other brother ( who never came ! ) . Feels sad I will miss the arrival of the Peru team at airport . Will be the kids picking up hubby and hearing all the stories . I get home at midnight . I had my alone day all planned out here - lots of beach and reading and some shopping but it looks like is raining here most the day :( My brother and I got up early for breakfast and a long walk on beach but the weather is not permitting . Sometimes it is hard not to be convinced that weather doesn't matter ! It sucks when in rains on a beach trip . I am so thanksful that the first part of our vacation together was such lovely weather .

While hubby finished off his trek in Peru I was here . And this was definitely good for me . I had time to get away on my own  for my own little adventure .. And feel my feelings .. And think about what they meant . I had time to connect to my husband through my thought even though we are so separate at this time . It was excellent  for me to get away this weekend with another man I truly love .

I am so grateful  for my brother . He is a precious gift in my life and our relationship together is really important in my life and I depend on our texting and conversations a lot . We may live in different countries but manage to get our families together often and stay very close and connected sometimes many times a week .Hubby and I saw them

In Seville last year ! And had a trip To Indiana with a couple of the kids . My sista and one niece same to cottage a couple of months ago . I lucked out on my brother that is clear .

Was a fabulous weekend . Back at midnight tonight and then hubby and I taking morning off together . I can't wait ! Then work on the afternoon and then I leave yet again for another business trip . Chicago this time ... 

October has not been a month where as a couple we are spending much time together . We will make up for it in Turks and Caicos in November on our 10 day vacation where our friends will join us for half !

This was an amazing weekend . I am so happy that my brother and I made this a priority in our busy lives to spend this time together at the beautiful Shore Club  hotel in South Beach . Prioritizing this time and spending it together make special memories . I am so glad we did this .

And the kindness of strangers made it all even sweeter . I was told could buy food on plane so didn't eat since lunch . Pretzels ? Really ? . The sweet man next to me offered me his tuna sandwich . Now kind !!  ( ps Tina makes me barf ) Him and his adopted son were so cute holding hands . Made my heart melt . Lately have been a few instances with strangers that they are so kind to me 

And a fancy dinner and welcome back home for hubby going on without me . All three kids picked him up at airport and he said were super hosts ! They made a roasted chicken, homemade tabouli , angel cake , and potatoes . Wow !! I am impressed . As sad as I was not to be there after Peru welcome home it was a great opportunity for kids to use their hosting behaviours and manners with no guidance from and adult . Chase even insisted on picking up chicken same day fresh and buying a thermometer for cooking to make sure it was ready . 

And hubby staying up until midnight to meet my plane and we are staying in bed all morning talking and cuddling :) before I have to leave to Chicago for work !! Again !

The Art of Comfy Travel

I have had different relationships with business travel over different stages of my life 

At certain times when kids very little and demanding was a treat and an escape if not very frequent . In other stages of kids being in middle school ,I resented it as clashed  with family commitments and school activities , and now at its all time high I usually quite like it or at the least am very neutral about it and barely even notice I am in planes hotels and airports quite often 

It also helps that now with consulting they are billable hours as don't get paid for travel hrs  ever but do get paid for any work I do during that time and when you are pitching and presenting to big groups like I do it is certain that when you are not sleeping on the plane you are definitely working ( or blogging ! )

The hotel makes a huge difference too . We are spoiled in Pharma and have awesome hotels but when not a Pharma company booking .. hotel experience is not always great . The hotel and surroundings make it or break it . Last week in Atlanta I got bumped from my hotel bc over double booking for hurricane and let's just say the " hotel " reminded me of a very shabby nursing home . That was fine though as with hurricane all was chaotic and I preferred to have the poor families who left their vacations and homes with family have the coziness and luxury instead of me who was working and going straight to bed anyways 

I  much prefer the 5 star with the heated pools ( and I don't feel bad saying it given that business travel is demanding especially internationally  when Peru or Russia so I feel  very entitled to my comfort) 

It's fun though when not too much and I have my certain rules when I business travel :

-I always try new foods that make that place unique ( is it my fault that last week in Atlanta I had to eat all fried food for southwestern cuisine? Fried green tomatoes and hush puppies and peach cobbler made me feel slightly nauseated but were yummy in a unique way )

-I always buy a little souvenir for myself . I splurge on a nice pair of sunglasses once a year and on a normal month a pair of spanx tights or a new book 

-I also use the time to have great texting conversations with my three kids and hubby and mom and friends and get caught up . This trip was cool as hubby in Peru and so we texted like crazy in transit 

-I never bring luggage to check if under a week and have a very stuffed carry on ( lost luggage too many times ) I am now an expert 

-I also try to get on plane in first 20 mins before people to ensure enough in overhead bin for luggage . They never ask me why I get in line in the wrong order . I am so not a rule person and has led to alot of success for me! (don't read this part children)

-I always have a bathingsuit and a cute dress as you just never know what lies around the corner for fun if a free moment for leisure . Rare but can happen and I like water 

-I am Comfy all the way . So I never wear my high heels in airport and bought the best shoes I could find to go

With business suits and be very comfy ( still look like an idiot but worth it )

-It's all about the bags so I buy stuff that is classy and cool and in style but easy to carry for my back . And I always have a small Purse with phone and passport lipstick and hand sanitizer very accessible 

-Always a hair elastic around my wrist , lululemon pants , a pillow , my agenda , eos Lip balm , hand moisturizer  and a good book for before bed 

-I never watch tv in hotels but read and work and plan my whole life just like on vacation . I never make airtime a waste of time 

-I always forget my travel pillows on the  planes  and am sad because I love them 

-I have Nexus and it is amazing and let's me pass all the lines and feel important ( except like this time that nexus or not i got the lucky 1/1000 random search of body and all electronics ! )

-For business presentations I try to look really put together and have nice clothes hair and makeup and change into a different evening business casual outfit for evening team events 

-On plane the way there I wear lululemon  and casual ( even though some say that need to be ready for business on plane too ,I have enough business and need comfort more  ) on way back I wear my business suits and funky comfy shoes and still look like a loser without proper shoes but at least my ankles are not twisted and I can run for connecting flights 

-I bring my own snacks of 100 calories so I am not too tempted by airplane snacks ( and often I just eat those and my own snacks and end up double  the calories so maybe need to change this tactic ! )

-I always plan my next vacations on the plane and calculate with money earned how to pay for them or which line of credit to use 

-I always pray for safety in a plane and say a note of thanks when I land safely . I always clap for the pilot when the plane lands . Even if sometimes I am the only one 

-I try and get Chase to pick me up as I am scared of taxis and we have our little airport routine down pat him and I 

-When I get home from trips I relax and take it easy and often go to bed . Business trips tire me 

-I try to make people who don't travel for business ( ie my family ) understand that it is often exhausting and similar to 16 hrs days at office . I happen to often be in nice places but often don't even get to see them . I try to make them see that I need to go to bed and can't be doing dishes cooking and laundry after " my break "

-I have no system to my suitcase and usually roll up clothes in a ball and deal with them at home except for one outfit on a hanger that I put nicely in dry cleaning paper 

-I always have an extra business skirt and shirt and pair of business shoes in case zippers break or stains get on them .Trust me on this one when you have one pair of boots with a suit and the zipper breaks and you have to wear running shoes to give a keynote speech - it helps you learn this lesson 

-In case any of that may have helped .. Happy business travelling !

The Adventure of Macchu Pichu Begins!

The group

Trekking in prep in Stowe

At the beginning of 2016 hubby and I got an email from the highschool saying that they were organizing a trip to Peru for parents who were interested in a 10 day Peru and Machu Pichu trip 

When I saw that email I new this would be perfect for hubby 

Within minutes without even seeing my Emil  suggestion he had also written me saying " do you think I should do this ? ??"

Fast forward 10 months later and he leaves in a few hrs to Peru for the trip of his lifetime 

At the airport yesterday

Completely 100 percent out of his mental and social and physical comfort zone .

But we both knew this was still perfect for him for so many reasons . 

In his fundraising campaign for the school ( he pays his trip etc of course ) he wrote such a beautiful email to his family , colleagues and friends and his reasons for wanting to do this trek . Right up there was to show his kids in action how to put yourself out of comfort zone completely , to show beauty who has worn a body brace for almost 3 yrs now that he wanted to share in some small way her discomfort .. And that this was a personal journey and transformation for him .

My husband has been on a very deep personal transformation over the last few years and has completely changed his life , the way he deals with stress especially  , his commitment to health  and fitness and his habits and his overall lifestyle . He has given up a lot and gained a lot too . This trek is important to him on many deep levels .

He is petrified and has barely slept the last few days but is equally excited . He woke up this morning in a sweat and gathered me in his arms proclaiming his love and how much he will miss ( he always seems to adore me more when we are apart lol ! )

He felt so supported by all the emails and generosity from the fund raising . He has never done anything like this and touched us both tremendously to see our loved ones touched by his journey he is taking 

Beauty is on a school trip this week so he said his goodbyes to his little girl earlier this week . Last night the two boys came in bed and snuggles with their dad and I 

I will always keep the picture of him holding them close , these two almost men in his arms telling them what to do if ever he died ( overly anxious and dramatic are we ??? )

All he kept saying was " take care of your mommy " over and over and over . I kept telling him I would take care of them but he kept repeating . I think the kids saw how much their dad loves their mom . It was a very tender moment for me . I will hold that picture inside of me for a very long time 

Bear left him a ribbon this morning on his coffee maker for his trek bag . And chase a note with some biodegradable bum wipes ! I thought so sweet they did this especially since not a word from me and and all their doing . Made me very proud of who they have become as young men.

What waits at home

Nerves are high and on edge . This may not seem big to all but it is huge for him. We both coincidentally had to be at the airport for 2pm so shared a taxi together . I got to meet the 9 people he is trekking and travelling with and they seemed really nice and welcoming . It felt good- but also a odd for me as he will be in such close proximity with this group for 10days and sharing such a beautiful experience - without me . As we all know part of really loving someone is however setting them free  

My protector is going away . For himself . All him . All about him . Claiming what rightfully belongs to him . Discovering the full landscape of his life 

And I am in full and utter support of his journey and whatever he discovers . With full confidence and just a bit of trepidation and fear  .

Me and my own adventure

We have come a long long way . I am feeling so scared in many ways for different reasons, but also so happy for him. My happiness outweighs my fear right now. this is my gift to him.so many people i am meeting are saying "he is going alone on an expensive trip for 10 days???" Yes he is. He said didn't feel comfortable me going on a trip alone last year (so I took our daughter) but for some reason I feel comfortable him going on a trip alone? Odd.. I know.Sometimes life can be surprising

What is comforting me now is keeping my mind on the cottage

I love your forever and a day my darling fiercely and forever . I know you will come home to us safe and happy . And very very very proud of yourself 

I am looking forward to so many other adventures in our lives -  as a couple- their are so many cool adventures out in the world to discover and so much life that awaits us. 

Goodbye!!! (both different flights at airport)

safely back home from almost hurricane  atlanta and ready to take on the next 10 days as a single mommy! The fun  has already begun with chauffering and errands right off the plane!

Re-posting from April 2015 :Introducing my First Published Book!

(I am re-posting this blog from April 2015 as many people and clients have commented cannot find this blog post  in my history and neither can I!)

“More Life, Please!” By Dr Christian Marcolli with Tarina Wagschal

What a dream come true. Seriously every boat ride, plane ride, all my dreams and moments and nature walks-these ideas have been swirling through my mind forever. And now they have finally come together in a published book through Urbane Publications.

My esteemed co-author is really well known. He is a world class expert on sustainable high performance and works with some of the finest athletes around the world (Roger Fedherer anyone???) as well as business leaders and Fortune 500 market leading organizations.

What an honor for me to have been asked to collaborate on this book together over the last two years. This is truly such an honor for me. As I re-read our book this weekend I was truly in shock. It is sooooo good!!!!!! (never had a issue with confidence, have you noticed?)

Christian and I have been co-facilitating leadership development programs at a major global pharma company for more than 9 years. He is one of my closet colleagues and this was the natural next step for us. He has been one of my powerful mentors in my lifetime.

The book is all about how challenging life can be and exploring” is there time for a successful career AND those we love?”  We all strive to get more from life but can struggle to find a positive harmonization between our career and family commitments. Business leaders and corporate performers constantly focus on achieving ambitious objectives and building positive lasting partnerships-but how can we bring those dynamic strengths into our private lives, far beyond the office desk and into our homes?

More, Life Please! Changes your life for the better to help you engage more positively with everyone you interact with. Passion. Precision. Peace. Presence and Persistence are vital elements and essential to your success.

For those who have mastered the corporate world and are keen on positively improving their private and family lives too. More Life Please! Is the Performance Pathways to a Better You.

Please check the book out on Amazon.ca!

I welcome all your comments and Amazon reviews and anyone who wants to post a book review on their blog-I am most grateful.

Leaving my place of work after 12 yrs has done wonders for my blog! Tripled my audience since the day I left. (I have the feeling that many associates got curious a little more?)  Serendipity made it so that my book was published my last official day at work.

Weird coincidence?

No-I  think not. Is anything in life?

Happy Reading and thanks for the support everyone!!

Just Like Home (but Better)

There are certain places in your life that are linked  to feeling and sentiment. Where when you think of that place ( or better yet get to go that place ! ).... that it is a feeling like coming home .

We all need a place and a space in our hectic lives to take a breather and a break. To stop just surviving the day and take the time to look forward to the day ahead of us. 

The Fairmont Tremblant  hotel is one of those few places for me . Over the last 22 yrs for both  business and for pleasure I have come here so many times and each one is just as good as the next . 

So when we were seeking a place to celebrate a special weekend with our family for our 20th wedding anniversary... we knew straight  away where we were going !!!

 It's  the perfect place to just unwind , relax , be together , have good conversations and connect as a family ( with with three teens it is not always that obvious ! ) we made everyone commit to blocking it off in their calendars months ahead and off we went early Saturday morning at 8am for our weekend celebration .

Breakfast on the way which is always a treat , and from there we headed for the famous , scary ,breathtaking and beautiful Via Ferrata cliff climb in Mont Tremblant ( separate blog post on this later this week)

Then checked into our beautiful hotel room with a perfect view of the fall foliage . Bear pounced on the bed as soon as he came into the room and all three of course asked for the wi-fi code . The friendly staff laughed out loud how at home they all seemed! 

Hubby and I fell asleep at the pool in the sun while Beauty worked out at the gym and the boys decided to study and get ahead of their work in a quiet part of the hotel with an incredible view .

Late afternoon Beauty texted us excitedly saying a surprise was sent to the room for our 20th anniversary and to our delight we found this !!!

We all dug in and felt to special and taken care of .  Nothing like  good food to make a weekend even more special . We all went down to the pool together  and lounged in the outdoor hot tubs and talked about Cegep and University upcoming decisions. Our kids made other people in the pool laugh by their silly comments and ideas that only occur to teens.

 Bear and Chase headed to the gym while the three of us stayed  in the room reading. Dinner was a great fondue place in the Tremblant village and Hubby and I took turns  reading our renewed wedding vows to the kids and trying to get them to tell us what they admire about their  parent's marriage.

 Here is what we got out of them :

- work hard play hard mentality 

- we compliment  each other in parenting 

- we are super organized 

- we allow each other freely to live our own individual  work lives 

Was the  first meal in a while that they all behaved and were nice and calm and all had great conversations  . I guess getting away together as a family is a good idea!

A great sleep in the ever comfy luxurious beds and was fun too all be in the same room waking up even though their mess would annoy me after a couple of nights that is certain !)

Woke up and lounged around in bed reading  all of us and then went to the "piece de resistance" the breakfast at  Fairmont Buffet  !!! With our favorite dish on earth- the maple crepes to die for . At first I almost had a heart attack  as the chef said they did not make the maple pancakes  anymore but when he realized I was talking about crepes and not pancakes he served me an extra portion :)

So popular are the crepes that the spoon keeps falling into the serving dish! The chef could hardly keep up with the demand:)

We even unexpectedly bumped into Hubby's sister and brother in law with a group of 20 coming to eat this same yummy  breakfast as an excursion with this group from Montreal. Was so cool to see them ! I guess the Fairmont buffet is even more popular than we knew.

Kids all studied again in the room as at this age even holidays don't make the studying go away unfortunately.

We all got 15 min chair massages at the spa which was a real treat and then went for our last soak in the heated outdoor pools and hot tubs before we headed back to our cottage for some housework and a quick dinner and then home for the week ahead 

Its amazing how just a short  weekend getaway like this lifts the spirts , re-energizes our souls and connects a busy family . The Fairmont Tremblant is the perfect place for this unwinding and connecting as a family .

We are still  ourselves home or away .. a bit crazy .. a bit chaotic ... the teens get on our nerves as much as I assume we get on theirs . There is still real life and emails to answer and worries to worry and messes to be cleaned up . That all being said there is closeness and love and respect and connectivity . We are a family living this crazy little thing called life together . We are all just a little bit in love with each other  as human beings and the lives we have built together . We all hold this family as our highest priority even if it takes the kids a while to admit that.

Take that life to a fall foliage heaven on earth with a friendly staff and a magnificent venue ....that life becomes a very special  place to celebrate 20 yrs of togetherness . These days especially 20 yrs of marriage is a really big deal . I am glad the kids were part of this with us 

We will be back for sure on all our happy occasions to this beautiful special  place that we call home : The Fairmont Tremblant