Fruit Pizza!

I tried this last week after I found it on Healthy_pretty_homecooking which is an Instagram account and it was a nice little treat to break up my day!

For the crust you will need:

1 mashed banana 

¾ cups of rolled oats 

Mix well, and then place on a baking sheet in the shape of a pizza.
Bake at 350 for 20mins

Once finished baking, I spread blueberry jam on top (you can use a fruit puree instead) and topped it with fruit and a sprinkle of coconut! Steeped myself a cup of Red my Lips from David’s Tea, and then I was back to course work! :)

I hope you enjoy!

A few photo's from our weekend! :)

Over the weekend I made this salad to go along with our BBQ chicken. Our meal was light and refreshing- we really enjoyed it!  For this salad all you need is: 

Arugula
Raspberries
Aged balsamic
Olive oil
Sea salt
Pepper

Today we used up the left over arugula but this time I added strawberries instead of raspberries, and fresh mint leaves , and Owen and I liked it even better! To make this recipe all you have to do is:

Put all ingredients into a bowl and drizzle with aged balsamic and olive oil, salt and pepper then toss & serve. Enjoy! :)

One of Owen’s best attributes is that he is almost always smiling.  He smiles and says “Hello” to everybody, then follows by asking a series of questions that end in “Why?”  :)

 While in line at the grocery store, Owen asked an older man his name, middle name and last name, the older man replied, then asked Owen: “Would you like my social insurance number too?” then the old man looked over at me and gave out a loud chuckle.

I’ve started taking this cue from Owen and by that I don’t mean asking everyone their full names but I’ve just started smiling while I’m out and about. I was at Homesense the other day and while walking through the store I had a grin from ear to ear. I received a few smiles back and even heard “Wow that girl is really happy!” from an older women talking to her daughter.  I might have even looked a bit ridiculous- but I bet you, that seeing a smile on my face put a smile on someone else’s.

With that, I’ll leave you on this note:
While we are teaching our children, they in return, are teaching us.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! :)

This salad was so simple and easy to make- and not to mention healthy! I grilled a chicken breast and brushed it with BBQ sauce. I then put it over baby kale, orange slices, slivered almonds, shredded parmesan cheese and used Kraft cucumber dressing on top. If you are not a fan of kale, mixed greens will work just as well! :)

Thank you to Smitten Blog Design for revamping my blog! :)

I made these pancakes for Owen and I and we LOVE this recipe! Owen gave me two thumbs up and I’ve added this recipe indefinitely to my at home cookbook.

Recipe found here: http://www.inquiringchef.com/2013/01/23/light-and-fluffy-whole-wheat-pancakes/

I topped off the pancakes with a little icing sugar, syrup and berries!! ** The only adjustment I made to the recipe was that I used 2%milk instead of buttermilk. I hope you try and enjoy! :)

If you’re pregnant, and having a hard time sleeping  with your beautiful growing belly, I would recommend using a pregnancy pillow. I found it a necessity at night when I was pregnant with Owen. I was lucky enough to receive two different types of pillows at my baby shower, below are similar to the ones I have.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Summer-Infant-Body-Support-Pillow/10715171

^^^This one wasn’t the exact pillow that I received as a gift but looks the same!

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sleeper-Keeper-Pillow-Vintage-Turquoise/11070044

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Leachco-All-Nighter-Total-Body-Pregnancy-Pillow-Ivory/13360480

^ A couple more options above, they have the same “S” shape.

The other pillow I received at my baby shower was a pregnancy pillow wedge, like the one found here from Cheeky Monkey:

http://www.cheekymonkey.ca/DexPregnancypillow.htm

Both I love and used many times, especially towards the end of my pregnancy. I would often use both pillows during the night, because they really gave me the support I needed for a good night’s rest.

I'm in the mood for juicing!! :)

1/2 of a red pepper

1/2 of a yellow pepper

3/4 cup of baby carrots (I had these on hand)

1 green pepper

1 handful of spinach

2 handfuls of green grapes

I used the ingredients that I had on hand without having to leave for the grocery store. If you'd like to get creative here is a link to juice recipes. This site has some awesome recipes and each recipe shows the nutritional health benefits of the ingredients used in each juice-smoothie.

Find the recipes here: http://juicerecipes.com/recipes/



Happy Earth Day!!!! :)

As a mom I am constantly washing my hands, which results in my hands being so chapped and cracked.  I even found that sometimes it stung to wash my hands; I needed to find a good hand creme because this was getting to be very uncomfortable.

I went into the Body Shop to pick up my favorite face wash and while I was there I asked if they had a hand creme for extremely dry hands. The sales associate offered me a sample of the Hemp Hand Protector. She insisted that this hand creme was the best she had tried, and that it is their number one seller. Regular $20 I was able to get it for $10 as I have a Body shop rewards card. Here is a link to the body shop.

 http://www.thebodyshop.ca/en/shop-by-line/hemp.aspx?cm_mmc=LabeliumSearch-_-Google-_-Product+Lines-_-body%20shop%20hemp%20hand%20cream

The creme is on sale for $15 and a little bit goes a long way. I’ve been applying it maybe once or twice daily and before I go to bed. The smell is not as pleasant as other scented hand cremes but it really works! I noticed results after two nights of using this creme.

Also! If you would like share a product that YOU love feel free to share it with me!

Email me at: Tipsfromamomma@gmail.com

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Do you have a favorite book that you love to read to your child? My favorite children’s book is “I’ll Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch.
 My Mother read this story to me when I was younger and she would cry almost every time. I remember looking at her with raised eyebrows and a little smirk. “Mom, why do you always cry when we read this book?” I would ask. “Because I love you” she would reply.  I never truly understood how reading a story to your child could bring tears to your eyes so easily until Owen came along.

I remember vividly the day I went in for my first ultrasound with Owen.  I looked at my little baby, who at that time looked like a little bean. I instantly fell in love!  “That’s it my little bean, you have stolen my heart,” I thought to myself.  As he grew in my tummy I would read stories to him and “I’ll Love You Forever” was always my favorite. 

When Owen arrived on October 18^th, 2009, it marked the greatest day of my life. When we arrived home and after we both had some rest, the first thing that I did was read him, “I’ll Love You Forever”; I cried the happiest tears that I had ever cried.

A few nights ago when Owen and I were choosing stories to read before bed, I chose to read him this story again. Owen has now heard this story many times and is now able to recite “I’ll love you forever; I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be.”  I held myself together until we reached the page where the son picks up his mother and rocks her back and forth.  Besides the obvious love this young man has for his mother, are the photos hanging in his mother’s room.  A picture of her little one in diapers smiling, as a teenager, and as a grownup. Tears start to fill my eyes.

I think it is because I imagine this little old lady with photo’s all over her walls of her son- so proud, he is everything to her,  that will no doubt be me.

Owen looks up at me with his beautiful blue eyes and a little smirk that I imagine was quite like mine looking up at my own mother. “Mom, why are you crying?” says Owen. As I wipe my tears I look at him and with the same reply my mother gave me. “Because I love you.”

Are you drinking enough water?

According to Livestrong.com Children should be drinking 5-8 cups of water a day. Mayoclinic.com also suggests women should drink about 9 cups and men about 13 cups.  From the studies I looked at online almost all indicated that these are guidelines only and how active you are really plays a factor on how much water to consume.

For myself, I find it helpful to fill up a jug of water every night before bed. I add lemons or cucumbers to add some more taste. Not only will it add a refreshing flavor to your water but cucumbers and lemons both have added health benefits which I have explained below. I’ve also started juicing cucumbers simply for the added nutrients!

Cucumber Facts

-Cucumbers are a good source of vitamin B

 -Cucumbers rehydrate and replenish the body

-Cucumbers contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol, which have a strong history in reducing the risk of several cancers including: breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine and prostate cancer.

-Cucumbers are rich in vitamin A, B1, B6, C & D

Lemon Facts

-Lemons are alkalizing which helps which helps to restore the body’s PH

-Lemons are rich in vitamin C

-Lemons aid in detoxifying your liver

*These facts were found on naturalnews.com*

Want more ideas of how to infuse your drinking water? Follow this link bellow for some great, tasty ideas!

http://gourmet.lovetoknow.com/Fresh_Fruit_Infused_Water

I am probably one of the few that has just signed up for Instagram.  If you haven't already, I definitely recommend it! I love the cooking and recipe ideas! I have fallen in love with so many different pages, the thought and presentation that goes into people’s pictures along with different healthy eating ideas is completely inspiring to me!  I have already started trying out a few recipes; the one below was inspired by graceful_health, who is an Instagram user that posts pictures of healthy and informative fresh juices, vegan foods and smoothies.

The night before I made this recipe, I combined:

½ half cup of almond milk
 1 Tbs of yogurt
 ½ half cup of rolled oats
strawberries
 bananas

 I let stand overnight in the refrigerator and in the morning I scooped the mixture into two bowls, added blackberries, sprinkled ground flax and cinnamon (on mine) and a drizzle of honey for Owen!
The best part of this dish is that it is quick and easy and helpful for busy mornings.  Another bonus-- rolled oats have more fiber than regular oats!

I highly recommend you giving this a try! J

Whenever I can get downtown, I love to go to the London Covent Garden Market.  The fresh bread, fruits and vegetables are excellent! There are lots of good foods and deals in the grocery chain stores and you still have to examine what you want to buy carefully, but  I find that the fruits and veggies that I purchase at the market often stay fresh longer than the ones I purchase at a grocery store.

For a better look at produce that is in season, check out Foodland Ontario’s guide.

http://www.foodland.gov.on.ca/english/availability.html

Below are some photo’s from our last trip to the market. Photo's were taken by our dear friend Michelle. :)

Dear Owen

I see myself in you. Your smile is like mine. Your nose is like mine. You are silly, like I am. You have my giggle.

But, my dear son, as much as you are like me… You are so much more than I am. You give away your smile so freely. You bring joy to everyone around you. The happiness you have brought to our family is something only you could have done. Your smile has shed light on a side of me I never knew existed. Because of your example, I have become softer, gentler, more giving, more loving. 

When I look at you, I see me-only better.

Rainy Day Fun! :)

This time of year the weather is hit or miss.  Sometimes it is just too cold and rainy to enjoy the outdoors, so I’ve found some ways to keep my little one occupied and on the move, indoors.  I hope you will find these ideas useful and fun!

Have a parade! 

Owen and I grab some musical instruments and I follow him as if we were a two man marching band and we march from the living room, to the kitchen, down the hall and repeat.

Turn on the music and have a dance party!

Kids love music--especially my toddler! He will pretty much dance to anything.  All I have to do is turn on a music station and dance around in the living room. You know the saying, “Dance like no one is watching?”  Set your beat to that drum and just have fun! J

Hide and Go Seek!

Until Owen’s a little older, our version of this game is that you follow the sound of the voice of the person  who is hiding until you find them. Owen is a big fan of this game!

P-A-I-N-T!

Let them get messy and use their hands and fingers! Construction paper is good but I have also started using plain white, framed canvasses.  You can pick these up at the Dollar store.  Such an inexpensive way to have fun and a great way to capture the moments  you have with your child for days when you can only look at their work from your office.  I’ve started displaying some of these beautiful finger paintings in my office.

Build a Fort!

 What kid doesn’t love a fort? Wasn’t that what couch cushions were made for, anyway?:)

Read Books Together!

Check out my earlier post of books that we love

http://tipsfromamomma.blogspot.ca/2013/03/i-wont-be-posting-blogs-over-weekends.html

Bake Together!

Baking is always fun with little ones but try getting them involved with other parts of the meal, too! I cut up everything I need for a salad and then let Owen will put it together in a big bowl.  I can add the dressing, but it’s his terrific toss that gives our salad its zest!

Let Them be in Charge of Play Time

When it’s play time, I find Owen gets the biggest kick out of telling ME what to do and what we are going to play.

Keep Board Games and Puzzles on Hand

Board games are not always easy since toddlers may find the rules hard to follow and puzzle pieces have a way of walking off with your toddler –never to be seen again.  Here  are a few that we have tried and they have kept Owens attention (as well as found their way back to their boxes after being played).   

 http://childcare.scholarschoice.ca/play-and-learn/age/toddler/who-knows-whose-nose-game.html

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5895/hungry-hungry-hippos

http://www.hasbro.com/games/en_US/candyland/

Create an Obstacle Course in your Basement

Jump over ropes, run around toys, climb over pillows. I often “time” Owen and he really enjoys seeing how fast he can get through his obstacle course!

I hope these ideas help on rainy days and until the beautiful spring weather arrives! :) 

Break time!

These last two months are going to be some kind of crazy! I have two months left of Childbirth Education which includes, course work, birth observations, prenatal classes and designing a course curriculum… Yikes!  My head will be in the books and you may not see me until June.  It is going to be a  ton of work but I know it will be worth it!! J

To give my eyes a rest from studying  and reading the computer screen, I take breaks. During my breaks, I am either cleaning around the house, putting in some laundry, or making a snack.  Sunday, my friend, Renee, and I were discussing different protein shakes. Today, I was in the mood for a smoothie, so this is what I put together with the ingredients I had at home.  One banana, coconut almond milk, pineapple juice, and a strawberry for decoration! It was delicious. ( Picture below) I didn’t have any protein powder but I will definitely try that next time!

Renee was kind enough to send me some of her healthy protein shake recipes so I thought I would share them with you.  I am back to studying now and will have wait for my next break but I can’t wait to try them and hope you do, too! J

Just need a "treat" smoothie:
Dark choc almond milk
Half banana
Scoop of peanut butter
Scoop of vanilla protein powder
Add coconut if desired. It tastes like a germen choc cake!!
***You may want to do half cold water because its thick

Breakfast smoothie:Grapefruit, apple, banana..
Add whole food organic granola!
You will have to do lots of chewing, but it makes me feel like I'm actually eating something...add some almond milk and water for consistency.

In The Juicer:
Tomato, beet, cucumber, pineapple juice
This combo helps flush out your system. Great to have the day after a night of indulging.

If you go to your health food store you can purchase liquid bee pollen and ginsing to add to your drinks.  A dash is all you need. Helps with energy and makes a good anti oxidant.

Bust A Move!

What a great weekend!! Owen and I had company over on Friday for dinner. I made brushetta, homemade lasagna and a salad. I also picked up a cheesecake for dessert! It was delicious but I have to say, the company far outdid the meal. We sipped some wine, shared some laughs and serenaded an enjoyable evening.   

Saturday, I was lucky enough to volunteer for BUST A MOVE, a fundraiser for breast health. Participants raised money and enjoyed 6 hours of fitness from the Athletic Club as well as instruction and motivation from Richard Simmons for the last hour ( or so ) of fitness!

The event raised over 1 million dollars for breast health!! Here are some photos from the event.

And to wrap up my weekend I caught up with one of my closest friends, Renee. Always so good to see her.  She is truly beautiful--inside and out! :)

Days to Remember...

Owen was just about two when Sean and I went our separate ways. I was working at Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada and made the decision to go back to school. That September, when school started for the both of us, it was the worst September of my life.

Every day was a struggle. Owen had a very hard time adjusting and so did I. Bracing for a good-bye, he would have his arms stretched up to me, crying.  Tears streaming down his face,  I would kiss him, hug him, and tell him I would be back as soon as Mommy was finished class.

As brave as all that was, I would leave home every morning in tears, having to fix my make up in the car before heading to class. I don’t know how I made it through that first year. It must have been the people around me, supporting me, and pushing me forward. I reminded myself that I was going back to school for the better good of myself and my son. I carried on.

A year has passed but Owen still has a tough time in the morning when I drop him off at daycare-- not all days are bad, but still, about 40% of the time it will be a challenge getting him out the door.  We may leave with a few tears, but he is always happy when I pick him up at the end of the day. I keep that in mind.

Yesterday was different, yesterday was a day I always want to remember. As I was getting Owen out of the car Owen shouted “Vanessa is going to be here!” “ Oh how nice! I said back to him. “Yesterday you two were playing ‘tag’ in the school yard, looked like you two were having a great time!” I said. “Yup!”, he said.  Then we walked inside. I took off his coat, hat, and mitts, and gave him a hug and kiss good bye. I could see Vanessa sitting at the table having her morning snack so I said good morning to her, too, and pointed Owen in her direction. Owen waved good bye to me and stood in front of the door with his blankie, like he always does. I stood there for awhile and I am so happy that I did.

 I watched Vanessa as she got up from her chair with her cereal bowl and she walked towards the kitchen to hand her bowl to the teacher. Then she came back towards Owen, bent her knees so that he would look into her eyes, and she smiled. Without saying a word she put out her hand to take his and they walked hand in hand towards the play area.

Tears filling into my eyes “that was so nice” I said out loud. I started walking towards the exit, waving goodbye to other teachers on my way out. And as I drove home, I thought about Vanessa and what a little angel she was. I thought back to this past fall when I would drop off Owen and he would cry, Vanessa would come up and give Owen a hug and I would hear the teacher say “give Owen some space” as I was leaving. Every single day this darling little Vanessa has been the first to come over to Owen and give him a hug, or wait patiently in front of him, standing still, until he is calm, and ready to play.

When I arrived back at daycare to pick up my little Owen, Owen ran up to me yelling ”Momm!!” I gave Owen a hug and a kiss, then I walked over to Vanessa and gave her a hug. What I wanted to say right there was “Thank you for looking after my son. You have no idea what it means to me to know that he has you to comfort him.” But instead, I said “Thank you for being such a great friend to Owen.” No words were returned, but a big smile on Vanessa’s face. That was all that I needed. I smiled back. J

Take Time for Tea!

Mid day or at the end of the night, I find having tea is such a great way to relax and unwind! I often have a variety on hand but here are my favorites from David’s Tea.

Organic Cold 911- Peppermint, Juniper berries, orange peel, natural eucalyptus and orange peel. This tea is great to have around this time of year when colds are common.

Secret Weapon- White bai mu dan tea from Fujian Province. Almonds, toasted orange peel, goji berries, cocoa, licorice root, blue cornflowers. Great for the immune system!

Bravissimo- Licorice root, chamomile, rosehips, orange peel, peppermint, goji berries. This tea is sweet, soothing and satisfying!

Read My lips- Chinese black tea, peppermint, dark chocolate, red lip sprinkles, pink peppercorns. This tea is delicious! I often put milk in black tea but this one is delicious on its own!

And my favourite……

Shanti Ayurvedic- Shanti means “peace within” and this is exactly what this tea brings me. Organic tulsi, saffron, fennel seed, licorice root, star anise, orange peel, peppermint, leamongrass, natural citrus. This is the most wonderful tea! It is calming and completely relaxes me.

If you do not have a David’s Tea near you, you can boil fresh water, add lemon juice, a couple slices of lemon and pure organic honey. Lemons are packed with vitamin C and the honey will help soothe your throat. For something different- add cinnamon.

My parents gave this to me when I was younger if I had a cold or sore throat. Now, I drink it occasionally because it's healthy.  Just remember,  do not give honey to children under 1year of age as it may cause infant botulism (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/kitchen-cuisine/infant-botul-infantile-eng.php)

I make this fruit salad for Owen and I almost every other week.   It is so refreshing!!

I peel and cut up a papaya, and place the pieces into a bowl.  Then I add blackberries and, typically, raspberries (I like those the best), but if you have strawberries on hand, they work just as well. Then I add the juice from one lime, and sprinkle some sugar or drizzle a little honey over the fruit. It is so simple and so delicious!!

Time to get up, the son is shining

You know that feeling… The feeling you get when someone is staring at you while you sleep? I get that feeling almost every morning.  It doesn’t startle me but I am very aware of it. I open my eyes and there is Owen quietly staring with his blankie and a bear in hand. “Hi Mom!” he says. “Hi Owen.  Good morning”, I say. Then I look at my phone to see what time it is, and it’s 5am… Oh my it’s 5 am. “Time to get up!” says Owen.  Owen, my love it is only 5am, would you like to crawl into bed with me? Let’s sleep a little longer.”  Owen assures me it’s morning and tells me that the sun is out. “Look the sun is shining through your curtains” I peek behind the curtains… Honey, that is the street lamp, it’s 5am. I look over at Owen and he has a big smile across his face. He could care less that it is 5am; he doesn’t know what 5am means.  All he knows is that he’s up and he’s happy and he’s ready to play.  “Ok, I’ll get up”, I wink back.

We go downstairs.   I make myself a coffee and get Owen some milk.  I get down on the floor beside him as he plays with his toys and try to look as enthusiastic as he does while he tells me about robots and what they can do to buildings. We play a little longer, and then I make breakfast.  Then we build a fort in the living room, play with trains, and then it is just about time for us to get ready for school. I look at the clock and tell Owen that I will let him watch a show on TV while I run upstairs to get myself ready. I scoot upstairs to do my hair, make-up and throw on some clothes. I then head downstairs to get Owen dressed and ready for school, and what do I find?  He is fast asleep on the couch.  I smile, and let him sleep a little longer before getting him ready for school.

Slowly, I wake Owen.  Eyes blinking open, he greets me with, “Hi Mom”.  “Hi Owen,” I smile back. “Time to get up, the sun is shining”

Our treasure hunt was a great success!! I was pretty busy helping Owen search for treasure to take photos of the search, but I did manage to snatch a few.(below) After our hunt we enjoyed breakfast with our family. While eating breakfast I looked around the table and I felt this overwhelming feeling of luck. I feel so blessed for my family, health, and the great people who surround us. I am so thankful for my son, my life, and I cannot wait to see what else life will bring us.

Wishing everyone a very happy Monday!! :)