Woman in Real Life

I actually have my own cell phone. With a real plan!

I have had cell phones before, but they were pay-as-you-go and I used them basically for emergencies.

No data plan yet, though. Don't get crazy now.

A new cell phone means more photos for Insta-Friday...which is all about capturing simple moments from your week via your cell phone cam.




Here's my first photo with my new phone camera. I thought it was pretty bad. Turns out, there was a film over the lens that I had yet to remove.


I found random things to photograph, like my newly displayed milk glass collection.

You can find me on Instagram @ziajojo if you are loving Instagram like I am.


On Saturday, we celebrated my mother-in-law's 70th birthday at a Chinese buffet restaurant. My kids got to see most of their cousins.

So, why does my son look so unhappy? In the past, he got sick at this restaurant and so he is afraid to eat there now. "Just don't eat so much," we said. But it was no use.


My husband and I (and my sister-in-law who is dairy-free and wheat-free) had to order off of the menu...through the manager. They told us almost nothing in the buffet is vegetarian, because even the veggie dishes have chicken powder on them.

Our food was surprisingly tasty considering that wheat-free also meant no soy sauce. (I did add some to mine though.)

Do you see how white our rice and noodles were? The colour difference between these dishes and the ones from the buffet was incredible.


On Sunday, we went to the Toronto Vegetarian Food Festival. This is an annual September tradition for us. We always eat at Govinda's, which is normally located at Toronto's Hare Krishna Centre.




For dessert (eaten later at home), my husband and son had cinnamon buns, while I had a date square, all from gluten-free, vegan Bunner's Bakery.


The festival takes place at Toronto's harbourfront, and my son always enjoys looking at the boats and the birds.


Not so much this bird, though. I was taking a photo of my son, and he got offended. "Are you actually taking a picture of this dead bird?" he asked. I hadn't noticed it, but okay, now I see.


All that eating called for nap time at home.


My daughter had declined (not very politely) to come with us. She spent the day with a couple of her girl cousins instead, dancing and getting her hair and makeup done.


It was a nice break for her. The kids are back to regular homework.


With the house to myself during school hours, one day I enjoyed some vegan New Moon Kitchen cookies that I bought at the food festival.


Jolene is good company, except she wants food all the time, and she goes through the upstairs garbage cans if she's feeling ignored.


We had a late summer barbecue a couple of nights ago. We marinated tofu and veggies.


When my daughter left the room briefly, Jolene tried to steal tofu off her plate.


When she returned, she was very angry that I allowed the dog to get that close to her food while I took a picture. Come on, I wasn't going to let her actually get the food. I think school is making my daughter tired...and cranky.


Then this little fellow came along. Here he is trying to explain that he would like something with his dinner that's like pop, but not as bad as pop, you know what I mean? He was so cute, I couldn't resist. We settled on some grape Fanta. The two kids split a can.
Maybe I'm getting carried away with this photo thing, but I snapped a picture of my accidental side ponytail. It's accidental because, every time I try to wear a ponytail, it makes my neck hurt and gives me a headache. So, I keep loosening it until eventually I pull it out.

I seriously want to know, does this happen to you too?

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