And back to our regularly scheduled life

July 7, 2011 By

While fun, I’m glad our few weeks of notoriety from appearing on the premiere of NBC’s The Marriage Ref has wound down. There won’t be any NBC television commercials with our face on them, nor any more behind-the-scenes glimpses at a foreign world.

Normalcy is a welcome reprieve.

We’ve been having plenty of other reprieves. From Art and Sports Camps…



To two weeks of swim lessons where this little fish shined…

this little lion finally found courage in the water….


and we played every day after swim lessons with some of our dearest, bestest friends.

As of today, I am in Utah to attend Evo Conference, followed by an extended trip to Canada with the kids. Utah brings conflicted emotions of longing for my former home, memories, travel, exploration, freedom. I spent many fun, single years there dating, playing, laughing and learning and I feel torn by two worlds:

The whimsical, carefree days when I could jump in my Jeep and explore whatever mountain or desert that struck my fancy.

And my married life–Replete with responsibility, challenges, being needed, wanted and loved beyond measure.

Despite airing our giant pumpkin grievances to millions of people, I love married life. The laughing, the crying, the changing, the working, the growing, the bonding, the learning, the praying, the fighting and the fixing. This pumpkin widow will be missing her Pumpkin Man these next few weeks as we hit the road on our Great Canadian Road Trip but rest assured I’ll somehow have the time of my life doing it….

….with inevitable Murphy’s Law appearances along the way.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Jamie, Marriage

My Summer Travels: The Great Canadian Road Trip

July 6, 2011 By

On Monday, I am embarking on our cross-country road-trip to Canada with the kids. The Lord of the Gourds may-or-may not be joining us near the end. He has to work and it is, of course, the peak of pumpkin season.

I’m so thrilled about this trip because we will be spending a couple of weeks in my hometown Calgary and camping in my favorite place on earth.

As previously mentioned, Grandma invited Hadley to fly out early and spend the 4th of July in Utah. Bode and I braved the long drive (we’re not bitter) where we will spend some time with Jamie’s family before I head over for the social media Evo Conference July 7-9 in Park City!


Then, it will be onto Rexburg, ID to visit my dear friend Jason and his family who were like surrogate parents when I went to Ricks College (now BYU Idaho).


Let’s hope Hadley has a better day than our visit with him a few years ago.

Then, we’re driving eight hours north to one of Idaho’s hidden gems: Sandpoint, ID where we will be meet my parents to celebrate my mom’s (ahem) 29th birthday. I’m looking forward to some downtime at Dover Bay Bungalows on the banks of magnificent Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho’s largest lake.

Photo: R.J. White, Sandpoint Magazine

Well, if downtime consist of checking out the darling shops in Sandpoint, kayaking, hiking the 9 miles of trails in the area, swimming and biking lift-serviced Schweitzer Mountain Resort.

From there, it will be homeward bound to Calgary with oodles of cousin time, the zoo, biking along the Bow River and of course, The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, The Calgary Stampede July 8-17, 2011.

Photo: CBC.ca

Calgary will also likely consist of my brother Pat dragging us out on the lake where it will be confirmed that I suck and will always suck at water-skiing.

From there, we’ll begin our drive back to Denver via my favorite place on earth. I’ve traveled the world and for me, there is no greater destination than Waterton Lakes National Park, located just north of the U.S. border. I’ll have many details to come about my favorite childhood haunt in this hauntingly beautiful enclave.

Photo: Kevin P. Rauch

And of course, the other side of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is glorious Glacier National Park where we will camp, play and marvel at one of the most beautiful drives along the lower 48: Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Photo: St. Mary Lake, Jon Tester

Our summer will consist of lots of family time, driving and camping. I’ve been asked if Jamie will be dismayed we’ll be gone so long and he alleges he will be. But to be honest, I’m usually a single mother in July because he’s slammed with his pumpkins, work and church responsibilities. Plus, unlimited time in the pumpkin patch without the wife nagging about family responsibilities?

It’s his version of a bachelor party.

Updated: Jamie and I were featured on the premiere of NBC’s The Marriage Ref regarding his pumpkin addiction. For a behind-the-scenes glimpse, go here.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Canada, Family travel, Humor, pumpkins, travel Tagged With:

About Me

October 28, 2009 By

I am an uproarious and fun-loving gal who has a passion for my family, travel, the outdoors and writing. Originally from Canada, I relocated to Denver via Salt Lake City when I gave up my wanderlust, travel-writin’ life to marry the real love of my life. Together, my American husband and I have two “half-breeds”: Hadley (age 8) and Bode (age 6). Go here for more details on the Crazy Crew.

I was the Grand Prize Winner in Microsoft Office’s Winter Games Contest and was their accredited blogger at the 2010 Vancouver Games. As an avid winter sports enthusiast, this was a dream come true! Be sure to read all my behind-the-scenes adventures that included how The Today Show’s Matt Lauer stole my moment in the spotlight and how I put my foot in my mouth when meeting Wayne Gretzky.

I am the founder and editor of Mile High Mamas for The Denver Post – an award-winning site that is touted as Colorado’s largest online network of mommy bloggers. I am a Snowmama for Park City Mountain Resort’s cutting-edge social media site and am coordinating a social media campaign for Colorado Ski Country this winter. I am also a Brand Enthusiast for Nintendo and have worked with top brands such as Frigidaire, Ford, Sara Lee, Feld Entertainment and Playtex.

I am a regular speaker at social media conferences and have received numerous awards including being honored in Westword magazine’s Best of Denver edition, as a Top 75 Moms on Twitter by American Express, Best of MSN, Blogtrepreneur’s Top 50 Mommy Blogs and startup powerhouse Sampa’s Top 10 Mommy Blogs You Should Read. I make regular appearances in the media and placements have included CBS 4 Denver, Martino TV, FOX 31, MSNBC.com KOA radio and The Denver Post.

After graduating from college, I spent a number of years working as a publicist for Utah’s ski and outdoor industry whilst moonlighting as the “Craaaaazy Canuck” radio personality and travel writer. I became infamous for detailing my humorous misadventures en route and continue to do so as a family travel writer. I was recently interviewed as a travel expert in Woman’s Day magazine.

My husband Jamie and I work and play together. As the former Director of Interactive at the Denver Newspaper Agency, he founded Pixo Web Design & Strategy where I oversee social media. We love climbing Colorado’s 14ers (14,000-foot peaks), backpacking Southern Utah, skiing, mountain biking, playing volleyball and roller-blading.

He is perfect for me in every way with the exception that he is obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. He was even interviewed in the October ’09 issue of National Geographic about Said Obsession.

Don’t mock him. That’s my job.

And apparently Jerry Seinfeld and Ricky Gervais’ responsibility as well. Jamie and I recently appeared on the premiere of Seinfeld’s comedic show, NBC’s The Marriage Ref battling it out over (what else) The Great Pumpkin.

I may have lost that battle on national television but this blog is about winning the war.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Uncategorized