Friday 29 March 2013

Wishing everyone a great long weekend! :)

In an earlier post, I had talked about ideas for things to do over the Easter holiday. One of them was a Diego Map that Owen could follow to find a secret treasure. I thought I would share some pictures of how it was all coming along. For Owen's Superhero Fort, I was able to pick up almost everything I needed at the Dollar Store. I found clamps, ropes, glow sticks, and a flash light. All that's left to collect in our Superhero bag are two twin sheets and we're set! 

For breakfast Easter morning I am going to make bunny pancakes like the ones I found here http://www.eatzybitzy.com/

I am not an artist, and my bunny pancakes will probably not turn out as incredible as Samantha Lee's but Owen will love them just the same. It's not about what your finished product looks like- its the effort you've put into giving your little ones a little but of happiness! :)

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter and a great long weekend!! :)

Thursday 28 March 2013

Do you have company coming this weekend?? If so- I have the perfect recipe for you! I tend to make Filet of Beef Bourguignon for family because it always turns out, it warms the tummy and brings a smile to the lips.  I serve it with a salad and fresh bread. It is always a hit with my family and the other good thing about it is that it is great for a first date dinner!
Give it a try.  You will find this recipe for Filet of Beef Bourguignon in the Barefoot Contessa Cookbook. Enjoy!!
                                                     
                                                Photo: Melanie Acevedo

Wednesday 27 March 2013

You're Perfect

                                                                 

                                                          
I try to stay organized by creating lists and having a Calendar on my fridge that I can add to weekly. I love to write to-do’s on paper, but that paper usually gets lost or I find myself at the groceries store, with the list I’ve written out, left at home. So I started looking through apps on my iPhone and I found Paperless lists in the App Store -and it’s free! Whether you have smart phone or not, we tend to always have a phone on us, search for apps that will work for you and with your phone. It will make your life easier!
This is what it looks like.



Tuesday 26 March 2013

"Hello Beautiful"

“Hello Beautiful” is what my 3 year old said to me as I opened my front door the other day. He had been with his father  the night before for a boys night and he was now home with me. I giggled and looked at his Dad, gave Owen a big kiss and Sean (Owen’s Father), a hug.
We have always made it our number one priority to keep a strong family unit, even though Owen’s Father and I have been a part for some time now. We have the utmost respect and love for one another; he is the most wonderful man and loving father to Owen.
I will leave you with this quote I found to be very true…
“There is no such thing as a "broken family." Family is family, and is not determined by marriage certificates, divorce papers, and adoption documents. Families are made in the heart.”― C. JoyBell C

Monday 25 March 2013

Today would mark the 2 week point with my new blog! I am proud to say that I have had 843 page views and I am very thankful to all of you who have been stopping by! :)

  Did everyone have a good weekend?? Below are some pictures from ours! :)

                              ^^No Sunday is complete without building a fort in the living room! :) ^^
                        ^^We stopped by to see my brother who was selling his art at the London Market^^
                                    ^^Our dear friends Bella and Arnoldo had a gender reveal party^^
                                      ^^They will be expecting their second son in August!! :)^^
                                                             ^^Darling little Cole^^


                                    ^^Hanging out with Mommy and our dear friend Michelle^^

                                                     ^^You will forever have my heart^^

Friday 22 March 2013

In the spirit of Easter we have been creating some Eater-inspired crafts and baking. Last night we decorated cupcakes with pink icing and cute little decorations I found at Winners ($2.49 ea.).  Want to know what is even better than decorating them?  Eating them!

We also painted eggs to give to Owen’s father and grandparents. If you are wondering why Owen is pantless, he lost his pants to a puddle! J!  I should also mention that for the painting or crafts that we do, I always put out a vinyl table cloth (vinyl on one side and cloth underneath) you can find these at the dollar store. This will save you the worry for paint that might stain or damage your table top. Craft time usually tends to get messy but it can always be fun!
For the Easter egg hunt, I am planning on creating a Diego treasure map for Owen to search for Easter eggs. Owen is really into Diego and we thought this would be a fun way to search for his “treasure”. I’m going to print out pictures of Diego.  You can find Diego Printables at this link http://www.nickjr.com/printables/go-diego-go/all-themes/all-ages/index.jhtml .  
Owen will need to follow the instructions on the map to find each piece of candy or chocolate, and at the end of the treasure hunt he will find a superhero fort kit, like the one found here http://lifestyle.ca.msn.com/living/passion-for-life/9-creative-indoor-forts#image=4 . 
I hope these ideas inspire you to get crafty with your little one! Enjoy your weekend everyone!! J

Thursday 21 March 2013

Tips from a Mom

I remember looking at Owen when he first came into the world and thinking-- WOW you are the most beautiful baby I have ever laid eyes on, I love you, I would die for you. It is overwhelming, the love you can have for your baby.
I have had the joyous opportunity to have been at home with my son until he was about two years of age when he started daycare. Before daycare we had all the time in the world to enjoy every moment together. I was with him for his “firsts” smiling, eating, crawling, walking. I have been lucky, as I know not everyone has that luxury.
Here are some tips I would give to Mothers who are at home with their little ones: 
*Let go of the fact that your house may not be as spotless as you used to have it.
Before Owen came along, my cupboards were organized, the house was tidy. Owen was born, and at first it was a piece of cake, I would clean or cook while he was napping, it was a dream. Owen started crawling and soon his stuffed animals, blocks, balls, and books were everywhere and my house was torn upside down. Funny how someone so small can create such a huge mess! I found letting go of the feeling that I had to have  everything perfect helped. 
*Take time for your own shower, hair and makeup.
 I found we did not use the playpen much unless it was for this. I would set up the play pen in my room, put some toys in the play pen for Owen to play with and then quickly shower while talking to Owen through the curtain. It really did keep him occupied and, depending on how long he was amused by our chat and his toys,  I would be able to get my hair and make up done, too!
*Create a routine that works for you.
 This is not always easy, but if you have a good routine with your baby it will make your life and his/hers much easier. We would have our scheduled eating and nap times, dinner, bath and bedtime. At bedtime I would cuddle him and read with him, even when he was teeny tiny. We’ve always enjoyed that time together and having a routine made sure it happened.
*Let them get messy.
When Owen first started solids, I would have a spoon to feed Owen, and Owen would have a spoon to feed himself. Food would get in his hair, all over his face, clothes…. I, along with Owen, thought it was fun. If your baby gets a little messy, that’s what baths are for! I also found with Owen that, if he ate, then bathed, he would nap very well.  This rule also applies to when your little one starts discovering mud, puddles, grass, and the outdoors in general. Discovery is a way of learning- Let them enjoy it and you will too!
             *Fussy baby- Go for a walk!
I found this was a good for both of us. It got us out of the house, and into the fresh air! We would walk around the block and pop down to the park that is around the corner from us. This is also a great way to meet some other mothers in your area. One of my neighbors and I set out a time every other day to meet and walk with our little ones.  It was nice to have that adult interaction too.  You can only talk baby-talk so long…J
*Play dates
Organize play dates with other mothers and take turns as to where you have the play date. Put on some appetizers, take out some cookies and put on a pot of coffee. This is a great social time for you and the little ones.
Get a good sense of what is available to you for fun for you and your little one.  In London, there are lots of things for parents to do with their tots.  Here are some great options for you and yours:
-The Stoney Creek YMCA- great for learning to swim, they have Mommy and Tot programs and Owen has always enjoyed going to the Jungle Gym. http://ymcawo.ca/stoney-creek
-Chapters-I love to grab a coffee and watch Owen play with the other children. They have a fun, little kids area and we always end up leaving with a new book. www.chapters.indigo.ca
-The Public Library- Kids can borrow books, and their calendar shows a story time every week. http://www.londonpubliclibrary.ca/kids/programs
-The Little Gym- Great for a variety of ages and a ton of fun! www.thelittlegym.com/LondonON
- Adventure on Wonderland- Inexpensive fun! They have two play areas one for toddlers and the other for the older children. www.adventuresonwonderland.ca
-London Children’s museum- Owen and I will go here a few times a year. He absolutely loves this Museum!  I even find it hard to leave!  www.londonchildrensmuseum.ca
-Storybook Garden- Rides, games, treats, animal farm and a water park—there are lots of fun and educational things to do.  Make sure you pack extra clothes! J www.storybook.london.ca

Wednesday 20 March 2013

This winter has been the worst for colds! Owen and I have been passing the bugs back and forth since September— exhausting!  We eat well  and stay fairly active, so I’ve been stumped as to why we keep getting these darn colds.  I was willing to try anything so I went on line and began searching for immune- boosting foods and recipes.  This is one of the best recipes I found. 
Here is a photo I took of the soup once it was cooked.  Owen and I both really enjoyed it! :)


This recipe was found on Margotskitchen.blogspot.ca
Goji Berry and Shiitake Soup to boost your immune system
Ingredients
2 tbsp dried Echinacea root
200 ml water, freshly boiled
5 tbsp goji berries, fresh or dried
2 Liters chicken stock (homemade or from stock cubes)
3 Chicken thighs or drumsticks (preferable organic)
2 Large onions, peeled, sliced or chopped
12 shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced
10cm root ginger, peeled and shredded
2 fresh medium sliced chilies, finely sliced
8 garlic cloves, chopped
Extra sliced ginger and chilies, to serve
*Like Margot, I added baby bok choy and noodles
Instructions
Combine the dried Echinacea root with the water in a bowl to make a simple infusion. In another bowl, pour just enough cold water over the goji berries to cover, and leave to rehydrate. Set the Echinacea and goji berries aside and leave to stand.
Place the stock and chicken pieces in a large pan or slow cooker. Add the sliced mushrooms, ginger, and chilies and place around the chicken in the pan. On a very low heat, simmer gently for 11/2 – 2 hours, or until chicken is tender and falls apart. Take off the heat.
Five minutes before serving, add the goji berries and chopped garlic and, if using, add the bok choy. Finally, strain the Echinacea infusion and add this to the soup, reheating if necessary. Serve with noodles.
P.S.   Margot’s recipe suggested garnishing with coriander, I did not use this spice. Like Margot, I left out the extra chili and ginger for garnishing the soup and that seemed to work out well.

Monday 18 March 2013

For the last few weeks my three year old seems to be going through what some people may call the “terrible two’s” .  But how could this be? He’s three?  Up until now, it has felt like we were communicating better, talking through problems and having fun just being Mom and son. 
Lately however, my “big boy” has been incredibly emotional, has been talking back to me, and even throwing his toys.  What’s wrong?  After going over this again and again in my mind, I’ve decided that  I’m just not going to worry about it.  Why?
I often find myself throwing out excuses for every time he is acting out of sorts but when I stop to think about it, I realize that I often act out of sorts, too!  I have days when everything seems to go wrong and other days when everything goes right.  I need to remember that he is human, he’s 3, and even though he can communicate with me, he is still an immature, inexperienced, emotional little person.  
So there you have it.  I’m not going to fret over why my son is acting like a wild child (for the moment) but I will end on this.  No matter how your child acts, always hang in there and stay consistent. You may have good days, bad days; good weeks, bad weeks; terrible twos and threes—just always love them.

Friday 15 March 2013

I won't be posting blogs over the weekends as I tend to focus that time on my Son, Family, and Friends. However, I thought I would leave you with this list of books that Owen and I cannot get enough of.

Have a great weekend Everyone! :)


The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Ten little fingers and ten little toes by Mem Fox, Helen Oxenbury
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
Mortimer by Robert Munsch
On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman
Wherever You Are by Nancy Tillman
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak, Caroline Jayne Church


Thursday 14 March 2013

You will always be my baby

Today was the day that I registered Owen for Junior Kindergarten at his soon–to-be public school. I can’t tell you how many times I have teared up the last week or so, dreading this day. Owen and I woke up this morning, and I spent extra time cuddling him on the couch, then he helped me make crepes…. Cuddled on the couch a little longer… then finally I went upstairs to get myself ready. I actually contemplated keeping him home today…We would skip the registration, head over to Chapters ( One of our favorite spots) play, and pick out a book to take home for story time before bed. I did snap out of it but for a moment, this daydream kept me from crying. I’m sure I am only one of a million Mothers out there that gets teary-eyed over the thought of her “baby” starting school.  I can remember the day Owen was born like it was yesterday. I sat and thought about his “firsts” smiling, eating, crawling, walking, baby kisses, “I love you’s.  Wow. I’m lucky to have experienced this with you.
Now, as I was dropping Owen off at daycare I lingered around a little, even talking to his teacher longer than I usually would, and as I got a wave good-bye from Owen, I was on my way to Public School. Once I arrived home, I felt a bit more at ease knowing what a safe and beautiful school he would be attending. The kids seemed very happy, the library was enormous, the playground was well kept, and the teachers, principle and staff were all very kind. I know it will be an adjustment, but just as it was in daycare- he adjusted, I adjusted. I also felt relieved to think I still would have 6 months until he starts public school.
 No matter how much I want to keep him little forever, I know that is impossible. I guess this is where baby videos come in handy. They give you the opportunity to look back on those cherished moments with your little one, while you focus on the present and watching them grow beside you. Owen often asks me why I always call him “my baby” when he assures me that he is “a BIG boy”. I always reply with “You ARE a big boy, but you will always be MY baby".  
On that note I will end this post remembering  a very special book that I read to our son when he was in my tummy—indeed, one that I still read to him. “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be”- Robert Munch.

Wednesday 13 March 2013


This is a recipe we tried and enjoyed! It was inexpensive to make and my picky little eater cleaned his plate! The only adjustments that I made was that I doubled the amount of broth and asian dressing, used chow mein noodles, and fresh veggies.—YummyJ

Tuesday 12 March 2013

Tiny little Footsteps

Funny how the smallest things your child does can make you smile. When Owen was able to walk and talk, he would call out to me: “Mommmmm! I want more milk!” I would call back to him, walk into his room, pick him up in my arms, and we would head downstairs for his morning milk. 
He still asks for his morning milk, but some mornings I hear his little footsteps walking down the hall and into my room and his little voice calling out to me as he enters my bedroom. He starts off with “Mommy, I need more milk”, then he places his blankie on my bed beside me, asks me what time it is, and if I need something to cuddle. I know every Mom thinks this, but when he says and does these things, I can’t help but think I have the sweetest little boy in the world!
This morning I was thinking to myself…. I wish I could hold every single memory of him in my head forever. I want to always remember his little footsteps walking down the hall to me. For some reason, the sound of those little footsteps makes me really happy.  From the day I found out I was pregnant, to this present day, I have made several memory books, picture books, and scrap books, and what I also have done is written down little quotes my son has said to me.
One of my favorite quotes would be when Owen said, “Mommy, you’re my best friend.”  I was over the moon with delight! Immediately after kissing him, I grabbed a piece of paper, wrote what he had said, dated it and put it on my fridge. (Just an idea for all of you who haven’t started doing this already.) I would highly encourage you to start writing down the sweet little things your children say to you, place them in a keepsake book, and put a copy on your fridge (sticky notes are great for this!)  
Now that my son is walking AND talking, my plan is to start jotting down things that my son does that make me incredibly happy, things I never want to forget…. Like tiny little footsteps. J

Monday 11 March 2013

Give yourself a break!


Give yourself a break—even if it’s only for an hour or two, it will help you refocus and regroup!

When my son was a month old, I decided to take the afternoon to go shopping! My belly was pretty much back to where it was before the big event (thank you Mom for the great genes) and I was feeling the need to look as cute as my little guy when people came to visit.
For the first hour I walked around the mall aimlessly looking into different stores.  Instead of revelling in the freedom of walking without any responsibilities for a baby, diaper bag or stroller or the fun of trying on the fashion I had missed for nine months, all I could think of was my son. I rushed home, ran in the door, didn’t say “hi” to anyone, picked up my son and just held him, and cried. I couldn’t bear to be without him!
This did eventually pass….. Months would go by and I would peal myself away from him for a couple of hours to do something for myself. When my son got to be about 18 months of age,  this is where the “me times” started to happen--first once a month, then twice a month, then once every two weeks J. Even if it was just myself, a cart, and the grocery store, that one hour I spent doing something for myself, by myself, was time away that I needed .  My son is now 3 years of age and less dependent on me (and maybe I am less dependent on him, as well)  and I find that I need that “me” time less and less.
I know that might sound backwards, but from when my son was a newborn to about two years of age, I was constantly holding him. Constantly. I couldn’t bear to pass up on his upstretched arms and the “Hold you” he would offer me. Don’t get me wrong there were times it drove me CRAZY, especially when I had to vacuum or clean around the house. But I was first and foremost his Mother, and he needed me. Now that he is 3 yrs old, he is less dependent on me and less likely to offer me a “Hold you”.  I still crave being around my son but remind myself to take time for me.  After all, my son is learning to make time for himself, too.
So go clear your heads Momma’s! Catch up with friends and family! Do whatever makes you happy! Even taking an hour to go to the gym! Gym… Hmmm… Now that sounds like a good idea! I’m off! Happy Monday!:)
 
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