a peek inside the fishbowl

If you’re like me, you’re probably feeling squirrely and eagerly anticipating the annual Opening Of the Garden Centre. To combat this rather grey state of mind I started some chive seeds in egg shells awhile back (in fact, the project was in the April edition of Capital Parent Newspaper) and I’ve been happily tending them ever since. Watching things grow is very satisfying, isn’t it?

This project is perfect for those of us who don’t have a lot of space to start seeds indoors. Egg cups don’t take up a lot of real estate on a window sill, and all you need is egg shells, a bit of dirt, and some seeds. That’s it! Here’s what our eggshell planters look like now. They provide some pretty spots of green and I am already looking forward to our first harvest. :)

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I suppose this segues nicely into a bit of Capital Parent news. The publication has been sold and I’m no longer editor. I was looking over two years of covers (they’re all listed here) today and feeling a tiny bit wistful. Contracts come and go, and as a contractor I totally accept that, but this was a very fun run. I was writing about topics I am passionate about (Ottawa! Kids! Crafts! Food! Parenting!) and working with some really great people. One of my favourite things about this job was the opportunity to bring new talent into the fray, and I think I did that at Capital Parent, not only with new writers and photographers but also with a regular feature that shone a spotlight on Ottawa bloggers.

There are few dream jobs that come along in life and this was definitely one of those. It was fun, and challenging, and it gave me exactly what I needed at the right point in time. If anything, I’ve very glad it lasted as long as it did. I am thrilled and honoured that I was trusted to give this publication a fresh voice. And with the help of a great team of people, I think we definitely created something special.

All that being said, I’m not feeling too shattered about this new development. I think this is largely because I’ve been working freelance for so long that I am better equipped to accept the highs and lows, the feasts and famines, that goes hand in hand with this line of work. ANYWAY. I don’t know how much I’m allowed to reveal publicly and I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen with the publication in the future. In my own head I’ve probably assumed too much already. I am however, still gainfully employed with the parent company, and my other gig with our local paper is still intact.

It is exciting to wonder what the future will bring. I also would like to thank all the Fishies who supported me during this part of my journey, whether it was with a retweet, a recommendation, or a listening ear. THANK YOU! xo

“Fights over ill-advised tweets aren’t distractions—they’re how we revise social norms” http://t.co/saoy45eN1k pic.twitter.com/8Pp3yz2dzC

— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) April 2, 2015

• A beautiful mess: when your insides and outsides don’t match, extraordinarymommy.com
• Dream job alert: Get paid $20,000 to travel, camp across Canada, msn.com
• I Followed My Stolen iPhone Across The World, Became A Celebrity In China, And Found A Friend For Life, buzzfeed.com
• The cure for childhood obesity parents will hate, cbc.ca

p.s. Take your family board games up a level and enter this giveaway from Mrs. Tiggy Winkle’s!

This giveaway is over. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Saturday April 11th is International Tabletop Day, and if there’s one local business who knows how to celebrate, it’s Fishbowl patron Mrs. Tiggy Winkle’s.

Tabletop is an extremely popular web show*, in which host Wil Wheaton and special guest friends play a board game and invite viewers to follow along to watch and learn.

*Watch and enjoy, but please note this show sometimes contains swearing and jokes that may not be suitable for young kids.

Tabletop has helped specialty board games gain a huge surge in popularity. And with that, they have introduced International Tabletop Day each year for retailers to celebrate board games. (YOU GUYS KNOW how much I love board games, right? Especially during The Winter That Won’t End. Sigh.)

Here’s the scoop. Mrs. Tiggy Winkle’s is hosting two Munchkin Master Tournaments on Saturday April 11 and are inviting anyone to enter. There will be a tournament at the 315 Richmond Road and 809 Bank St locations. Registration is free, just email customerservice@mrstiggywinkles.ca and let them know which location you prefer. The recommended age is 10+, but exceptions can be made for experienced Munchkin players!

Players are invited to bring a prop and give themselves a +3 advantage. Just make sure it can be easily removed if you “lose” it during your game (of course, your item will be returned). Be creative! How about a “Spikey Hair Band” Head Gear for +1? Or perhaps Magical Mukluks that give you a +3?

There are prizes for everyone who makes it to the final tables, including a Grand Prize for the Munchkin Master.

Are you a Munchkin noob? All stores will have board games on demo to come and sit and play. (I SO NEED THIS. Plus a patient teacher!) If you’re not a Munchkin fan you won’t be left out, as all board games will be 20% off on Saturday April 11th only. (WOOT!)

Doesn’t that sound amazing? Well today, dear Fishies, have an easy chance to win a copy of the Munchkin Deluxe Game. If you already own Munchkin Deluxe and at this moment are jotting the tournament down in your calendar, you can win any in-stock Munchkin Expansion of your choice.

Would you like to win? It’s easy.

• In order for your entry to qualify, please leave a comment below telling me about your family’s favourite board game. That’s it!
• This giveaway is void where prohibited by law.
• If you can’t post your comment for whatever reason you can email it to me for posting at andrea at quietfish dot com. Please note, I cannot be responsible if your entry is misdirected or gets stuck in my Spam folder.
• I will draw one name using Random.org at noon EST on April 9, 2015. I’ll contact the winner via email, who will have to pick up their chosen prize at their preferred Mrs. Tiggy Winkle’s location in a timely manner.
• Tiggy’s is on Facebook! Liking their page is not a requirement of this giveaway but they’re always posting great contests and in-store events and I really encourage you to follow them there!

Sound good? Over to you. Good luck! And if you want to register for the tournament I suggest you do it soon because space is limited.

Edited to add: if you’d like to learn more about Munchkin you can learn more about it in Will Wheaton’s video about it right here.