Is this real life?
As a child, we imagine life as a perfect fairy tale. As any typical
Hollywood hit, every problem has an answer and characters
magically find solutions to every dilemma. We all buy into this
ideology without realizing that life's struggles make great stories and
failures lead to bigger successes. At the end of the day, the journey is
about savoring the little moments.
The other night as the stars filled the jet black sky, there was a
glimmer coming through the front window of a home. As passersby
could observe, two wine glasses were sitting on an antique coffee
table, and a young couple was dancing to the beat of their own
drum. If you listened closely you could hear the faint sound of a soft
ballad playing in the background. Sounds pretty picturesque, doesn't
it?
These two lovebirds were none other than my wife and I. Contrary
to a typical romcom, the moment was not as perfect as a viewer
would imagine. The wine glasses were in fact filled with calorie-wise
flavored spritzer (as opposed to our favorite wine), the candles were
leftover Christmas decorations, and the soft ballad was drowning out
the sound of a temper tantrum from our 2 year old protesting her
bedtime. One thing that I've learned is that life is much less polished
than a Hollywood hit and more like a friend that has had one too
many drinks - harsh and brutally honest.
Earlier that day, we had been touring our latest renovation project
that could only be described as the project from hell, (see page 70
to learn how to survive your renovation.) It is over budget and the
completion date is nowhere in sight. Would we have bought the
property knowing the scope of the project? Probably not. But alas,
it's ours and we are making the best of it. As we pace ourselves for
another summer filled with contractors, electricians and plumbers, we
pause and relish in the little moments because at the end of the day,
life is a collection of treasured memories, (make memories in your
summer oasis with great ideas on page 110.)
Next month we are celebrating six years of marriage. Even after
all these years, I still find myself looking at my wife with complete
astoni shment. In a world obsessed with chasing something better, I
don't think I could have found a better soul mate. Two kids, one dog,
multiple renos, family deaths, multiple corporations, the launch of an
international talk show and still, as we double the size of our current
TV studio, she is as supportive as ever.
So as you embark on your next renovation project, try to rejoice in
the little things in life, concentrate on creating memories and the rest
will work itself out. Remember, it's only a renovation!
MARC ATIYOLIL
Editor-in-Chief
[email protected]
THIS SEASON ON THE MARC & MANDY SHOW
Check out these stylish yet functional cabinets
from Canadian Tire in Marc and Mandy's new
garage set! See page 96 of this issue for details.
Bryan and Sarah
Baeumler stop by to
chat with us.
We tour Karl Wolfe's
home!
We play a game with
BIF Naked.