26 Sep, 2017
Posted by: andrea tomkins In: parenting
“WHEN YOU EAT AN ORANGE, EAT AN ORANGE!” I shout this to my teenage daughter, not angrily, just as a reminder. (If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, read the first part of this post.) She is barreling down the stairs while reading something on her phone. It’s most likely a Snapchat from a friend. […]
“When you eat an orange, eat an orange.” I don’t know who originally said this. Some sources attribute it to an unnamed Zen master, others, to Vietnamese Buddhist monk and religious leader, Thich Nhat Hanh. Regardless who said it, this philosophy is one I try to live by and instill in our kids. It reminds […]
28 Jul, 2017
Posted by: andrea tomkins In: parenting|travel talk
Everything was soaked on Monday morning, which was not a surprise given the rain storm we had the night before. We had planned to hike the Bon Echo Creek trail but once we got there we realized it was way too muddy and impassable in parts. (Note to self: make sure all family members have […]
I have been working on a little project for MediaSmarts and it got me thinking of a modern day parenting issue I am going to call DEVICE MANAGEMENT. Is a modern issue? My parents had to deal with device management a few decades ago too, but the devices back then were telephones with long curly cords, […]
16 Jul, 2013
Posted by: andrea tomkins In: Oh! Things!
How do you feel about downtown parking? Me, I kind of hate it. I don’t like the traffic. I don’t like the overpacked and overpriced lots. I don’t like circling for a spot, and I HATE the stress and pressure that comes with parallel parking. Hate it. (But that’s another post altogether, but I will say that […]
My name is Andrea and I live in the Westboro area of Ottawa with my husband Mark and our dog Piper who is kind of a big deal on Instagram. We also have two human offspring: Emma (23) and Sarah (21). During the day I work as a writer at The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. I am a longtime Ottawa blogger and I've occupied this little corner of the WWW since 1999. The Fishbowl is my whiteboard, water cooler, and journal, all rolled into one. I'm passionate about healthy living, arts and culture, travel, great gear, good food, and sharing the best of Ottawa. I also love vegetables, photography, gadgets, and great design.
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