Kids love a good time, and what better way to have a good time, than with a good rhyme!
There once was a little boy named Liam.
His mama thought everyone should see him,
so one day out walking,
some people got talking
and said "hey lets put him in a museum!"
Have fun and try to come up with some limericks of your own.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
REduce REuse and REcycle
This past weekend, Lady E and I had a table at the Mom to Mom Sale. It was so great to mix and mingle with other mothers, buying and selling, sharing stories as we passed on our children's used belongings. A few conversations could be heard from the vantage point of a vendor table...new mom's giving advice to friends that were expecting 'don't get that toy, you WILL regret it! There is no OFF switch.' or grandmothers carting around sleeping children so their daughters could shop. It was a fun time. I was able to scoop up some great deals for Lofa and sell some large items we would never use again.
A sale like this is such a great way to put those 3R's into practice.
Another great way is to sell and shop consignment. No time to do all the work of selling it yourself? No problem, get someone else to do it! Basically this is what consignment stores do, sell your stuff, take a cut and give you the rest. The items must be cleaned and in good condition, brand name items always sell for more. My favourite thing about consignment is getting there are finding out that something has sold! Of course that money get recycled right back into the store!
The shop I frequent sells both used and new items, most of the new items are from companies started by MOMS!
There are so many benefits to buying children's items second hand! Here are just a few:
* It's CHEAP! It's really hard to think of any other reason!
* No Packaging. Someone else has had to go through the process of opening the CRAZY packaging that is used on children's toys. Environmental points for this one as well. No packaging makes everyone happy.
* Brand names. There are a few children's consignment stores that stock high quality brand name clothing for a fraction of the price. These also have a high resale value, for when you are done with them.
Think twice before buying that big expensive toy at the big box store...there may be a little box around the corner that has it for half the price (and packaging)!
www.kentfieldkids.com
www.bellylaughs.ca
http://www.almontenurseryschool.ca/mom2mom.htm
A sale like this is such a great way to put those 3R's into practice.
Another great way is to sell and shop consignment. No time to do all the work of selling it yourself? No problem, get someone else to do it! Basically this is what consignment stores do, sell your stuff, take a cut and give you the rest. The items must be cleaned and in good condition, brand name items always sell for more. My favourite thing about consignment is getting there are finding out that something has sold! Of course that money get recycled right back into the store!
The shop I frequent sells both used and new items, most of the new items are from companies started by MOMS!
There are so many benefits to buying children's items second hand! Here are just a few:
* It's CHEAP! It's really hard to think of any other reason!
* No Packaging. Someone else has had to go through the process of opening the CRAZY packaging that is used on children's toys. Environmental points for this one as well. No packaging makes everyone happy.
* Brand names. There are a few children's consignment stores that stock high quality brand name clothing for a fraction of the price. These also have a high resale value, for when you are done with them.
Think twice before buying that big expensive toy at the big box store...there may be a little box around the corner that has it for half the price (and packaging)!
www.kentfieldkids.com
www.bellylaughs.ca
http://www.almontenurseryschool.ca/mom2mom.htm
Wadizit Answer.
The answer is that there is no answer until there is a guess!
Here is the picture...this is an easy one.
**Hmmm maybe there should be a prize of some sort? Any ideas on how to make this feature of the blog more exciting? What sort of incentives should be offered?**
Here is the picture...this is an easy one.
**Hmmm maybe there should be a prize of some sort? Any ideas on how to make this feature of the blog more exciting? What sort of incentives should be offered?**
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Bakin' Biscuits
The other day we had some homemade chicken soup, all it needed were some biscuits. I dug out my Newfoundland recipes cookbook and found the Tea bun recipe...tweaked it here and there, threw them in the oven and hoped for the best.
They turned out really good, there were a few adjustments on temperature, size and time, but overall they were great! I have since made them a couple more times, adding an ingredient here or there. This is a very versatile recipe, and the simplicity of it makes it easy to add your own twist without compromising quality.
My toughest critic LOVES them, he even turned down a banana at bedtime because he caught sight of the biscuits on the counter. Lofa never turns down bananas.
Here is the recipe for the 'tweaked' biscuits we ended up with.
2 cups Stone ground whole wheat flour (this is from a local farm, delish!)
1 cup Organic All purpose flour
3 heaping tsps Baking powder
3 tbsps honey (local as well...local honey is wonderful if you are allergic to pollen, because it is made form local pollen. Eating it will help build a Resistance to the allergens.)
1/4 cup unsweetened organic apple sauce**
pinch of salt
1/2 cup + 1 tbsp Organic unsalted butter
2 tbsp dried thyme**
1 egg slightly beaten
1 cup buttermilk *
Sift together the dry ingredients, rub in the butter, until it is crumbly. Mix together honey, applesauce, egg and buttermilk. Add to dry ingredients. Do NOT over mix (this will make your biscuits dry and tough) roll out and cut buns (standard biscuit size, I used a cup upside down to cut them out). bake for 20 minutes at 400f
and then 10 minutes at 450f. cool slightly and serve with butter. YUM!
* 1 cup of yogurt and water can substitute for buttermilk. Just add water until the yogurt resembles buttermilk in consistency.
** these additions can be substituted for whatever you like. Try adding 1/2 cup of aged white cheddar, or use vanilla yogurt and add 1/2 cup of fresh blueberries.
Bon appetite!
They turned out really good, there were a few adjustments on temperature, size and time, but overall they were great! I have since made them a couple more times, adding an ingredient here or there. This is a very versatile recipe, and the simplicity of it makes it easy to add your own twist without compromising quality.
My toughest critic LOVES them, he even turned down a banana at bedtime because he caught sight of the biscuits on the counter. Lofa never turns down bananas.
Here is the recipe for the 'tweaked' biscuits we ended up with.
2 cups Stone ground whole wheat flour (this is from a local farm, delish!)
1 cup Organic All purpose flour
3 heaping tsps Baking powder
3 tbsps honey (local as well...local honey is wonderful if you are allergic to pollen, because it is made form local pollen. Eating it will help build a Resistance to the allergens.)
1/4 cup unsweetened organic apple sauce**
pinch of salt
1/2 cup + 1 tbsp Organic unsalted butter
2 tbsp dried thyme**
1 egg slightly beaten
1 cup buttermilk *
Sift together the dry ingredients, rub in the butter, until it is crumbly. Mix together honey, applesauce, egg and buttermilk. Add to dry ingredients. Do NOT over mix (this will make your biscuits dry and tough) roll out and cut buns (standard biscuit size, I used a cup upside down to cut them out). bake for 20 minutes at 400f
and then 10 minutes at 450f. cool slightly and serve with butter. YUM!
* 1 cup of yogurt and water can substitute for buttermilk. Just add water until the yogurt resembles buttermilk in consistency.
** these additions can be substituted for whatever you like. Try adding 1/2 cup of aged white cheddar, or use vanilla yogurt and add 1/2 cup of fresh blueberries.
Bon appetite!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Happy Record Store Day!
Wow! It is so great that such a day exists. Unfortunately our town does not have a local record store. I would have definitely gone there to celebrate if there was one. So in honour of Record Store day, I would like take some time to reflect on a few of our favourite stores.
In The early years that Ace and I were together, we lived in Toronto. After 2 years of pretty shady neighbourhoods we had enough. We finally found a great little apartment in a pretty cool neighbour hood. One of the best parts of our new 'hood was Mike's Music on the Danforth. This was the ideal situation for Ace and I, we are constantly on the hunt for new sounds and artists to listen to. We would stop whenever we happened to be walking by, payday always included a visit to Mike's. This store is small, but packed with old and new records and Cd's. Mike is actually there, and he knows alot about music. When I was pregnant we were on our way home from a friends wedding, as we drove through Toronto, on our way home, something came over us and we got off the highway and spent the afternoon on the Danforth, ending with a visit to our favourite place, Mike's Music!
Another Record store that I love to go to whenever I get a chance is Compact Music in Ottawa. They always have what I am looking for, and I have often walked out with the Cd that is 'currently playing'. Ace and I have spent some great afternoons just browsing the aisles looking at what was there, picking up a record or two or three...to add to the collection.
This next record store is an Ace pick, Fred's music in St.John's. This Store is big, and there is a great selection. There is a large selection of local music, both traditional and non traditional. The best part are the records, they have a ton or records, the new record selection is just as great as the used. They even have live concerts in store!! The last time I was in St.John's my sister in law took me to Fred's, I fell in love. I can't wait for the next visit to the rock so I can search for some new tunes at Fred's!
So once again, happy record store day to you! Support your local record stores, they are few and far between these days. Nothing beats the sounds and feeling that a record store brings.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Wadizit Answer
Sorry to be so late with the answers...the internet has been down.
The last Wadizit was a teething baby...poor thing.
Is there anything that made teething a little easier for your little one?
The last Wadizit was a teething baby...poor thing.
Is there anything that made teething a little easier for your little one?
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Wadizit?
Wadizit? The answer and another photo will be posted next Sunday.
Wadizit? March 7/10 was a paintbrush.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
This old man, he played 1092...he played knick knack just for you.
This is Lofa's comfort song. The nights we spent trying to find the perfect lullaby...the first time Lofa heard this song, he was hooked! It works every time. Ace and I, as much as we love the tune...feel the need to change it up every now and then. We try to find new versions of an old favourite. This Old Man is not going anywhere fast, so we might as well start to love him too.
This is one of my favourite versions of this song. Bob Dylan makes me realize why Lofa loves this tune so much!
This is one of my favourite versions of this song. Bob Dylan makes me realize why Lofa loves this tune so much!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Wierd and wonderful Wednesday's
Lofa has been in cloth diapers since he was 2 weeks old. I don't think I could even try to count how many sh*tty diapers we have changed, washed, and folded. This is all done in the name of healing our Mother Earth...one poop at a time! All this service, I wondered when will there be a reward for all my good deeds?
It never fails, Karma always has a way of answering my questions. Sometimes the answers are very clear, sometimes I need to think about it, before I really catch on to what is really being said. This story is a case of Karma having a really good sense of humour:
Here we go again. This is what I think everytime Lofa poops (sorry this post really is what you think it is, a post about poop...if you don't like poop...I hope for your sake you do not have kids. If you like poop, or pretend you do in order to get through the day...keep reading.) You see, my son HATES diaper changes, especially poopy ones...if he pees, we go somewhere, he lies down (sometimes he even places the diaper down and sits on it?!) he is a little squirmy, but OMG don't even dare try to change that poopy diaper...another issue is that the worst poos always happen when I have either a) run out of liners b) forgot to use a liner. Yuck. So on this particular day, we went through the whole diaper ritual, which is as follows;
Lofa being carried up the stairs, very unhappy. Place him on the change table. He tries to escape then, pretends to cooperate. then attemps to escape, again. Finally the new diaper was on!
As I was dumping the diaper in the toilet, I noticed something...my reward! A glittery, perfect GOLD STAR!
I had to laugh. This message was pretty clear:
Stop doing it for the rewards! They are not what is important...but here's a gold star, keep up the good work!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
In all our .... command.
I get it. They want to change the anthem for us gals, so we can feel better about ourselves?!? Yay for our government. They finally realized that we are here and contributing. Finally, we get to be included in our anthem! Thanks Canada. 'In all our hearts command.' has a really nice ring to it.
Here is what I don't get...why now? That's really what they came up with, while they were on vacation...ahem I mean prorouged. It's a very nice gesture. As a woman, I want to be included and recognized. Especially in something as special as our national anthem. I'm a little confused at the timing, aren't there bigger things going on?
This is just another way that the government is trying to distract us. I'm a parent, I get it. They are giving us something to make a big deal about. So that they can go on and do what they need to do. By the time we are done trying to figure out what to do about our anthem, it won't matter anymore. All the bills will have passed. We won't even notice. we will be too busy trying to figure out how to sing our anthem.
My husband said it all when he said, "Do you really think that all those athletes that stood proudly on the podium, in their home and native land, really thought...this is nice and all, but I really wish they'd make a few changes before the next games.
Here is what I don't get...why now? That's really what they came up with, while they were on vacation...ahem I mean prorouged. It's a very nice gesture. As a woman, I want to be included and recognized. Especially in something as special as our national anthem. I'm a little confused at the timing, aren't there bigger things going on?
This is just another way that the government is trying to distract us. I'm a parent, I get it. They are giving us something to make a big deal about. So that they can go on and do what they need to do. By the time we are done trying to figure out what to do about our anthem, it won't matter anymore. All the bills will have passed. We won't even notice. we will be too busy trying to figure out how to sing our anthem.
My husband said it all when he said, "Do you really think that all those athletes that stood proudly on the podium, in their home and native land, really thought...this is nice and all, but I really wish they'd make a few changes before the next games.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
My vagina is angry!
Well, not mine exactly...mine is only angry sometimes. When it has to be. Only when it matters.
How did I get myself here? I am not sure. But I'm here now, and I am having such a great time! A friend and I have joined the cast of, The Vagina Monolouges. At first I was pretty quiet about it, but the more I go, and read those stories, I feel everyone needs to see it! I love my part. She has a special way with words that I can appreciate.
Lately I have wondered, what I would say if asked...it's definately something to think about.
If I had to write it now, it would have to be about motherhood...I think that would be my topic. More specifically, my journey into motherhood. The last 23.5 hrs to be exact.
My vagina is a little confused. It's not really sure what it did wrong. It was ready, was it ever. It wanted that baby out! It wanted to have that baby so badly, by itself, near home, no drugs!
We had to go via ambulance to a nearby city. They needed to give me drugs, it was taking too long. What?! No I can do it. I was almost ready, my vagina would have been ready. The doctors were impatient, they tried to rush my vagina. They poked and prodded, induced, reduced, poked some more, walked, restrained, poked, and stretched. They gave up! I had to give in. My vagina has been a little sad ever since. It never got the chance to show how wonderful and powerful it could be, it tried, it really really tried, it tried for 23hours! But in the end, surgery won.
My vagina hopes to get another chance, to be able to prove that it really can do it, if we give it a chance. We just need to really listen to it. Let it show us.
That would be mine.
At first, I was doing this to help other women. I wanted to help give a voice to women that could not speak for themselves. To give back to my community. Now it starting to turn into something that I am also doing for myself!
I found a video of a woman doing a version of the monolouge I will be reciting. (if you are at work or with kids, you may want to turn the volume down!) She does such a wonderful job. I couldn't agree more about the 'cold duck lips.'
Enjoy!
How did I get myself here? I am not sure. But I'm here now, and I am having such a great time! A friend and I have joined the cast of, The Vagina Monolouges. At first I was pretty quiet about it, but the more I go, and read those stories, I feel everyone needs to see it! I love my part. She has a special way with words that I can appreciate.
Lately I have wondered, what I would say if asked...it's definately something to think about.
If I had to write it now, it would have to be about motherhood...I think that would be my topic. More specifically, my journey into motherhood. The last 23.5 hrs to be exact.
My vagina is a little confused. It's not really sure what it did wrong. It was ready, was it ever. It wanted that baby out! It wanted to have that baby so badly, by itself, near home, no drugs!
We had to go via ambulance to a nearby city. They needed to give me drugs, it was taking too long. What?! No I can do it. I was almost ready, my vagina would have been ready. The doctors were impatient, they tried to rush my vagina. They poked and prodded, induced, reduced, poked some more, walked, restrained, poked, and stretched. They gave up! I had to give in. My vagina has been a little sad ever since. It never got the chance to show how wonderful and powerful it could be, it tried, it really really tried, it tried for 23hours! But in the end, surgery won.
My vagina hopes to get another chance, to be able to prove that it really can do it, if we give it a chance. We just need to really listen to it. Let it show us.
That would be mine.
At first, I was doing this to help other women. I wanted to help give a voice to women that could not speak for themselves. To give back to my community. Now it starting to turn into something that I am also doing for myself!
I found a video of a woman doing a version of the monolouge I will be reciting. (if you are at work or with kids, you may want to turn the volume down!) She does such a wonderful job. I couldn't agree more about the 'cold duck lips.'
Enjoy!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Get me a bucket!
...Finally, we are all healthy...no puke in over a week, eyes are bright and clear even coughs and sniffles have subsided. Phew! I don't think I can take anymore...not after my extra special valentine from Lofa, puke all over me...
That was Sunday's thought as we were driving home from a weekend home. What a great weekend, there was fun and food, family and laughs. We were even lucky enough to have two Grannies to babysit! Ace and I even got a chance to unwind.
Then Monday morning the phone rang. Mom calling to say she is sick...really sick, with a bug that sounds strangely familiar...oh sh*t I think, Lofa and I just had that. Ace dodged it then. Could 'guts of steel' pull it off again? I got my answer when he got home. A very clear 'NO!'
Graciously, I gave up the bed to Ace so he could have some 'alone' time. This confused Lou, who won't go upstairs until everyone else has. Every once in a while he would come up and nudge me to see if we were going up to bed. He must have given up, because, I woke to his nose on my side and his paws around me in a hug. This is a cute image, until you learn that he is a 120lb black lab. We are the same size! (give or take a pound or two *wink*).
I seem to learn more about my family when we are sick. Somehow we all know what to do, and act accordingly. Lofa seems to sense that there is something wrong with Dada. He even seems to play quieter, and go to bed without incident. I realize that I have to pull up and do the things that Ace would normally do, (conveniently this was the night the garbage and recycling had to be sorted and brought to the curb.) but I did it all without a second thought. Even the dog seemed to respect the fact that one of our own was ill. Once he finally got to go upstairs, he slept on the floor right by Ace's side. It's amazing how we don't practice this behaviour, there are no virus drills, it's just the way it goes family has a powerful connection to our instincts. When one of us is down, we join together to help them through it!
That was Sunday's thought as we were driving home from a weekend home. What a great weekend, there was fun and food, family and laughs. We were even lucky enough to have two Grannies to babysit! Ace and I even got a chance to unwind.
Then Monday morning the phone rang. Mom calling to say she is sick...really sick, with a bug that sounds strangely familiar...oh sh*t I think, Lofa and I just had that. Ace dodged it then. Could 'guts of steel' pull it off again? I got my answer when he got home. A very clear 'NO!'
Graciously, I gave up the bed to Ace so he could have some 'alone' time. This confused Lou, who won't go upstairs until everyone else has. Every once in a while he would come up and nudge me to see if we were going up to bed. He must have given up, because, I woke to his nose on my side and his paws around me in a hug. This is a cute image, until you learn that he is a 120lb black lab. We are the same size! (give or take a pound or two *wink*).
I seem to learn more about my family when we are sick. Somehow we all know what to do, and act accordingly. Lofa seems to sense that there is something wrong with Dada. He even seems to play quieter, and go to bed without incident. I realize that I have to pull up and do the things that Ace would normally do, (conveniently this was the night the garbage and recycling had to be sorted and brought to the curb.) but I did it all without a second thought. Even the dog seemed to respect the fact that one of our own was ill. Once he finally got to go upstairs, he slept on the floor right by Ace's side. It's amazing how we don't practice this behaviour, there are no virus drills, it's just the way it goes family has a powerful connection to our instincts. When one of us is down, we join together to help them through it!
Mama, Wadizit?
My son is a real character. At 17 months he has me cracking up at every turn! He is very good at non-verbal communication, a sort of sign language that only him and I seem to understand. And now, that he is just starting to figure out this crazy language of ours. He gets a real kick out of talking, and really loves it when we understand him!
When Lofa learned to ask, "wadizit?" he would run all around pointing things out and shouting, "wadizit, wadizit?" "fireplace" "bop." I started to get used to it, and found myself calling out names of household items all day. Then he moved onto his body, "wadizit?" "belly button" "bowybuon" "yes, belly button." I was getting so used to this it was becoming second nature. Then one day after his bath, While he was lying on his back, getting ready for bed, he reached down and grabbed his 'bird' and proudly shouted, "Wadizit!?!" "that's your penis." To which he responded to with a huge ear to ear grin and laughing! Then proceded to shout out again, "wadizit?" "Penis." "HAHAHAHA." that time the laughter was from both of us.
As a mother of a son, I am now starting to realize that there are so many things about men that they just can't help, they are born with it! I am also starting to realize that there may eventually be a day when he will be asking more about his body and the way it works. What I learned that day, was that whatever it may be, sometimes it is best to throw in a little bit of humour, just to break the ice. I can just hear myself now, "I know this seems awkward. I'm feeling a bit awkward too. Let me tell you a story; "When you were just a baby I was changing your diaper..."
When Lofa learned to ask, "wadizit?" he would run all around pointing things out and shouting, "wadizit, wadizit?" "fireplace" "bop." I started to get used to it, and found myself calling out names of household items all day. Then he moved onto his body, "wadizit?" "belly button" "bowybuon" "yes, belly button." I was getting so used to this it was becoming second nature. Then one day after his bath, While he was lying on his back, getting ready for bed, he reached down and grabbed his 'bird' and proudly shouted, "Wadizit!?!" "that's your penis." To which he responded to with a huge ear to ear grin and laughing! Then proceded to shout out again, "wadizit?" "Penis." "HAHAHAHA." that time the laughter was from both of us.
As a mother of a son, I am now starting to realize that there are so many things about men that they just can't help, they are born with it! I am also starting to realize that there may eventually be a day when he will be asking more about his body and the way it works. What I learned that day, was that whatever it may be, sometimes it is best to throw in a little bit of humour, just to break the ice. I can just hear myself now, "I know this seems awkward. I'm feeling a bit awkward too. Let me tell you a story; "When you were just a baby I was changing your diaper..."
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