diff --git a/composer/schema/field.py b/composer/schema/field.py
index e000e02..cc9dd58 100644
--- a/composer/schema/field.py
+++ b/composer/schema/field.py
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ class EmailFieldInstance(FieldInstance):
 class BooleanFieldInstance(FieldInstance):
 
     def marshall(self, value):
-        return value
+        return bool(value)
 
     def display(self, value):
         #return value and _(u'Yes') or _(u'No')
diff --git a/composer/schema/instance.py b/composer/schema/instance.py
index 1c5ffbf..125fffa 100644
--- a/composer/schema/instance.py
+++ b/composer/schema/instance.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class Instance(BaseInstance):
                 fi = f.getFieldInstance(self, context=kw.get('context'),
                                               request=kw.get('request'))
                 name = f.name
-                value = getattr(self.context, name) or fi.default
+                value = getattr(self.context, name, fi.default)
                 if mode in ('view', 'preview'):
                     value = fi.display(value)
                 else:
diff --git a/util/date.py b/util/date.py
index 0d112a7..74012a1 100644
--- a/util/date.py
+++ b/util/date.py
@@ -65,3 +65,14 @@ def year(d=None):
     if d is None:
         d = datetime.today()
     return d.year
+
+def month(d=None):
+    if d is None:
+        d = datetime.today()
+    return d.month
+
+def day(d=None):
+    if d is None:
+        d = datetime.today()
+    return d.day
+