Sleep, Sanity and Skinny Jeans

If Only...

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If Only...
We got the dreaded letter from the school this week, the one that warns about a child in my daughter's classroom having been hit with a case of headlice.Gah.I wish that the above were mandatory for kids: vintage swim caps! Wear them all day long to keep the lice away! So Spring 2013. Anyone with me?... More »

All's Whale That Ends Whale

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All's Whale That Ends Whale
This winter I borrowed a copy of "Free Willy" from the library, thinking my two older girls would like it. They were basically unimpressed by it, but Brinley, our little two year-old nugget, became OBSESSED with it. She would ask to watch it thrice daily, she would jump up and down with joy whenever she saw that orca breeching in the water, and her fascination with whales has continued to this day.Kids are weird, man.First we have Karenna's passion for all things horses, and now Brin's affinity for whales. It's pretty cute, actually. She has killer whale bath toys, a... More »

Hog Wild

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Hog Wild
Marriage is hard. Rather, marriage is hard when life gets in the way of it. When Steve and I were in Hawaii, just the two of us (for the first time in eight years) we were so happy, so blissful, so in love. But that's not reality, walking down the white-sand beach with a pina colada in hand with no responsibilities, no to-do list. Reality is riddled with stress, screaming kids, dirty floors, mounds of paperwork, demanding jobs, sleepless nights, and all the pressures of life. It often feels as though we're in a war for what matters. If I... More »

Am Old. Need New Shoes.

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Am Old. Need New Shoes.
Along with the crows' feet, sagging bosom and inability to stay up past 10:30 pm, a more recent sign of my aging is the fact that I can't handle wearing high-heeled shoes for more than, like, 15 minutes. Back in my "barefoot and pregnant" days, this was no problem. I was schlepping kids around in my muumuu, wearing hearty Birkenstock sandals to the beach to give my girth the orthopedic support it required.But now I'm a realtor. Muumuus and Birks aren't part of my usual dress code anymore.And while I love the look of heels and wedges for the summer, I... More »

Momma Magic

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Momma Magic
My mom was here for a visit this week and she helped me pick up the pieces. Literally.This is what my house looked like before she arrived:And this is what it looked like when she left:Not seen: me cheering in the corner just like Brinley.My mom is the patron saint of frazzled mothers. She swoops in on an airplane, settles into our home and cleans up the wake of disaster we leave behind us, she buys me mochas and cookies, she reads stories to my girls and plays with them, and she tells me I'm doing a good job (even... More »

Wild and Free

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Wild and Free
My wild things: Each of them so vastly different, so beautiful in their own ways, so flawed, so growing, so lovely.I am blown away by the life that fills our home and I am so thankful for these crazy, rambunctious girls we get to call ours.  ... More »

Day of the Momma

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Day of the Momma
Mother's Day: was mine perfect? No way. There were still bums to wipe, lunches to pack for the next day, temper tantrums to endure and sibling fights to break up. But there was also Eggs Benedict on a sunny patio. And homemade gifts. And a nap. And the three beautiful girls who have made me a momma. Perfectly imperfect, always. Story of my life. Choosing to focus on the Eggs Benny rather than the Pull-up blow-out. Happy Mother's Day to all the strong, loving, gorgeous mommas I know (including my own)!... More »

Test of Humanity

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Test of Humanity
Being the fat kid sucks.I was overweight from the age of 8 - 15 and it was brutal. All my friends had boyfriends, but I didn't. Gym class was agonizing. I felt so uncomfortable in my own skin, betrayed by my frame.Then, I lost weight  (in a totally unhealthy, stupid way) and began a roller coaster ride with my body image that lasted a painful decade. I had a horrible relationship with food; I was either starving or bingeing. No middle ground. It was awful.Things are better now, but the struggle will never be completely behind me. As Geneen Roth... More »

iLove You, iPhone.

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iLove You, iPhone.
I got an iPhone.I have had a cell phone for the past four years, but it was without a data plan and I was only able to use it for texting and calling (oh, the horror!). I longed for a phone with a better camera, one that had access to the internet so I could use it as a GPS, and also be able to pull up important info for work, etc. And now, here we are. I am loving it. Especially the fantastic camera and all the Instagramming it helps me do. I am photo-boming everyone's Facebook feeds with important... More »

(Don't) Say My Name

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(Don't) Say My Name
I was pregnant three times. That equaled over 27 months to stew about our future babies' names. And stew I did. My husband and I did not exactly see eye to eye about names.Here's how it would go: I would spend hours combing baby name books and blogs and come up with a list of potential names. Then, one by one, he would POOP all over every suggestion. Thanks, Steve. Super helpful.With each pregnancy we found out the sex of our baby so we only had to fight about half as many names as we would have, had we not... More »

Sucks To Be Two

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Sucks To Be Two
The day Brinley turned two years old, her will emerged. And it was a strong one, that will. No surprise there, it seems to be how we breed them. Two is such a wonderful, yet hard age. She is SO cute and her vocabulary and level of understanding grow everyday, so fast I can barely keep up. But then there's the tantrums, the potty-training gone awry, the middle of the night wakings and the frustration she feels from not being able to do everything her older sisters can.Perhaps it's the fact that she is our last baby, but I haven't been... More »

Now That's Smart!

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Now That's Smart!
I suck at cleaning. While I appreciate a clean house, I have yet to master the art of maintaining one. That being said, when spring comes along and the sunlight begins to stream through the windows and the kids start playing outside again, I usually get hit with a (short-lived) desire to tackle some spring cleaning projects. For a few days, I am a MACHINE. I will purge closets, wash windows, organize spice drawers and basically clean the way most civilized adults do for the rest of the year. This year, the cleaning spurt hit just as I was given a sample... More »

Who Wants 20 Bucks?

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Who Wants 20 Bucks?
Updated! The winner, according to Random.org was commenter #57, chel22. I will be contacting you via email to get your prize to you!"There's six feet of snow on the lawn and it's minus 25 degrees with the windchill!" my mom choked out yesterday. She lives in Saskatchewan. Poor bunny.This morning's Facebook posts were riddled with photos of a snow storm that hit Ontario. A snow day, in April?! That's not OK.Right now, in beautiful BC, it's been mild and spring-ish but pretty rainy. I'll take it over snow any day. I know for me, it's crazy how much the weather affects... More »

Extra Pepperoni. ON MY FACE.

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Extra Pepperoni. ON MY FACE.
While I may have the sagging bosoms and bottom of a 30 year-old mother of three, I have the face of a 16 year-old.A 16 year-old with a bad case of acne, that is.It's bad, you guys.My break-outs used to be confined to the week before my menstrual cycle would start, but as of late, my whole face has been peppered with pimples all month long. I know it's partly related to stress and I joke that for every real estate deal I work on, I get a canker sore and a volcanic zit to show for the stress of... More »

Look At This Stuff, Isn't It Neat?

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Look At This Stuff, Isn't It Neat?
Our kids have been obsessed with the movie "Annie" lately and it's so adorable hearing them belt out, "Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love ya, Tomorrow!" and "It's a hard knock life for us!" all the live-long day. There are just some childhood movies that stick with a kid, you know? I was thinking back to the films I adored as a kid and here is my list of top picks:1. The Parent Trap.The original with Hayley Mills. I love everything about this movie, especially all the pranks at camp. 2. Hook. I was borderline obsessed with this movie as a kid. I wanted... More »

Can You Talk "The Talk?"

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Can You Talk
It started last year, my eldest daughter questioning where babies come from. Caught off guard, I mentioned something about "a special hug between a mommy and daddy" then changed the subject. It satisfied her curiosity at the time, but recently her questions resurfaced and we felt the time had come to tell her the truth.I was hesitant because while I didn't want her to learn about sex by hearing some raunchy kids talk about it on the school playground, I also didn't want to prematurely boot her of the land of childhood innocence.Upon the recommendation of a few good friends,... More »

Quick Easter Summary

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Quick Easter Summary
Easter was great. I ate too many mini eggs. The end. ... More »

Gimme a Break

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Gimme a Break
Spring break.Break. That's funny.Three kids under seven home full-time and you tell me how restful that break is.I am not complaining...the change of pace has been nice and with the long-awaited sunshine we've been able to get outside and hit the park and play in the yard and eat later dinners and not feel obliged to bathe the children regularly.We've started some spring-cleaning projects, like tackling the garage and playroom, both of which magically fill up with hordes of junk every year, and I even mopped the floor. Go me!I am feeling the pull to purge and simplify around the... More »

(Sn)O(w), Canada!

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(Sn)O(w), Canada!
Spring break hasn't been all the springy, if you catch my drift. SNOWDRIFT, that is. Based on all of my Canadian friends' status updates on Facebook bemoaning the latest blizzard, closed highway or white-out conditions, it's pretty clear that we're actually on winter break, not spring.Owell. We are a hardy stock, us Canadian girls. Yesterday I braved the cold, slipped into my snow pants and hit the trails on our snowshoes with a good friend of mine.When I quit my belly-achin' about the cold and just actually get out there and enjoy the winter wonderland, it's actually very beautiful.Peaceful, quiet,... More »

Mac.

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Mac.
I know that looking at photos of other people's pets is kind of the same as having them tell you about their latest whacked-out dream...meaning, it's cool and interesting to them but not to you.But, COME ON.This little guy is so cute, it just kills me. He is fitting in perfectly with our family and is just the right blend of social and cuddly and playful. Sure, there are logs all over my floor, but it's OK. The kids love him and so do we.Thanks for being so swell, Mackie!... More »

The White Hatter

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A good friend of ours who is a high school teacher called us up last week and said, "This guy came and gave a two-hour presentation to the kids at the school today about internet safety and online protection and he was amazing. He had their attention for the whole time, you could hear a pin drop, and the students were just hanging on his every word. He's doing a presentation for the parents tonight and you NEED to go see him. He's phenomenal."My husband had plans that night with our daughter so he couldn't go. And I didn't want... More »

Daughter of The King

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Daughter of The King
Raising girls is hard. They are bombarded by unrealistic expectations about how they're supposed to look, to act, to be, and it's a never-ending challenge to help them navigate the waters of their personal identities. One of the things we have always tried to ingrain in our girls is that their beauty and their value is not determined by how other people view them, but is part of who they have been designed by God to be. They are loved, they are special, they are valued beyond measure both by us and by God.Last week the girls' club at our church... More »

Bring On the Vitamin D!

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Bring On the Vitamin D!
Winter sucks the life from my soul.I never quite realize how weary and zoned-out I've become until that first day of sunshine hits and it feels like my crusty ol' heart begins to beat afresh.Today it felt like spring. I went to the park with the kids and really watched them play. Then we went and got a much-needed car wash, and grabbed lunch from our favourite bakery and took it down to enjoy at the beach. Then the kids built sand castles and looked for sea shells, all while the glorious sun beat down on our light-starved backs. Here's to... More »

The Friendship Show

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There has been a huge Anti-Bullying movement sweeping the nation and it's obviously in response to the painful experiences so many kids and teens have been enduring. We talk about bullying, for sure, as it's become part of the dialogue our children are learning about in school, and I think it's worthwhile. More than that, though, we try to teach our kids how to be a good friend. Not just how to deal with bullies, but the basic skills required to be a kind person. I have been a long-time fan of The Mother Company, a company whose goal is "Helping... More »

Or Get Off the Pot

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Or Get Off the Pot
I am trying, rather unsuccessfully, to potty train my two and half year-old.I have done this before, with two ornery toddlers, so one would think I'd be a seasoned professional, but no. I have been sopping up misguided puddles of pee from the carpet, watching my girl refuse to go #2 on the potty then dumping a hot load in her diaper as soon as I strap one one, and it's making me tired. Add to the mix a puppy who is also crapping on my floor and I feel as though my life is one, big feces-stained joke.Whatever. It... More »

10 Years

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10 Years
(Really, really happy out for dinner in Hawaii.) It was so amazing to have time away, just me and my husband. Free from distractions, demands, diapers.I like him. I really like him! ... More »

Rainbows In the Rain

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Rainbows In the Rain
It's sounds like such a spoiled-rotten, first-world thing to say, but coming back from a holiday is hard.I am happy to be home, happy to see our kids and our friends, but I am tired and, as anticipated, having a tough time getting back into the groove of life. A girl can get used to lounging on the beach, eating out for dinner every night and savouring the luxury of finishing a sentence without having three children interrupting her.Alas, the chaos is beautiful in its own way, and I am slowly adjusting to the grind once again. Boot camp, packing... More »

Hungry For Change

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Hungry For Change
I just watched this documentary and it made me want to hide in a closet, shut out the real world with all of its toxic processed food, rock back and forth to the soothing rhythm of my industrial juicer and sip on some freshly pressed kale juice for the rest of my life. Totally a realistic life change, no? If you haven't seen the documentary, I highly recommend it, although it is very thought-provoking and left me kind of wondering what I should eat. Its main focus is on divulging the truth about the processed crap that it's so much of our... More »

Turtle Power!

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Turtle Power!
We have had some rainy days while here in Hawaii but we haven't let the downpour get us down. Today we braved the showers and drove to secluded Honalua Bay, shimmied into our wetsuits and plunged into the chilly waters. After a while, the water felt warm and we spent the morning snorkeling through the reefs, marveling at the neon fish. Just as we were about ready to head for shore, I saw something strange near the surface of the water. 'Maybe it's just a rogue snorkeler we didn't notice,' I presumed. Then the object got closer to Steve and... More »

Aloha!

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Aloha!
My husband and I are in Hawaii right now, on the beautiful island of Maui, letting the sun seep into our winter-weary pores. The last time we took a trip, just the two of us, was eight years ago. Three kids ago. Feels like a lifetime. We are sleeping as long as we feel like, eating whatever we want, digging our toes in the sand and checking out tropical fish with our snorkels. I feel like my whole being is giving a week-long sigh of relief.The other day we took a drive along the north side of the island where only a... More »

Introducing...

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Introducing...
Inspired by his colour and markings: espresso, caramel and vanilla-dipped chest and paws, we are pleased to introduce you to Macchiato. (We're calling him Mackie or Mac for short.)He is SO CUTE.  And so small! It's totally crazy timing, but that seems to be how we roll. ... More »

Puppy Love

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Puppy Love
We just got a new puppy.The sweet li'l boy on the right just joined this chaotic household.(No, I'm not sure what we're thinking, either.)All he needs is a name. Any good ideas? ... More »

Yo Gaba Gaba

Yo Gaba Gaba
1. I go from zero to CRAZY MAD in 2.3 seconds.2. Pinterest makes me want to jump off a bridge.3. My to-do list feels like a boa constrictor wrapped tightly around my gut.4. I want to eat all of the things. Well, first I want to deep-fry them. Then I want to eat them.Yep, it's that time again.PMS.The week before my cycle begins and I go a little cah-razy. (At least I KNOW I'm nuts. That's the first step, right?) It is so bad that this month I walked into the Vitamin King store in town, the one that all... More »

A Tough Pill To Swallow

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A Tough Pill To Swallow
I have many vitamins.Many vitamins that sit, untouched, on my messy bathroom shelves until they expire. I don't know what it is, but I cannot bring myself to become a routine vitamin-swallower (totally a word). My iron level is at an all-time low, and I've got a bottle of iron supplements RIGHT BY THE SINK so I will remember to take one when I brush my teeth. But I never take it. Because I don't feel like it. Because the 3.2 seconds of swallowing time is a real inconvenience. I would rather feel like I am going to pass out every... More »

Take Me Away!

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Take Me Away!
Right now I am wrapped in my housecoat, rinsing out my four year-old's barf bowl every 20 minutes, and drowning in laundry. But....in three weeks' time I will be sunning my doughy thighs on the beach in Maui.I have really learned a lot these past few years about embracing the moment, being more present, and not wishing the days away. However, today I am dreaming of what will be, since what is...is kind of soaked in vomit and I am ready to run for the hills.My plans for Hawaii include: sleeping in, tanning on the shore, reading 14 novels whilst having... More »

TGIM

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TGIM
Winter kind of sucks. And so do Mondays.To make the wintry start of every week a tad more bearable I have instigated a new Monday night tradition: at 8 pm, a few girlfriends trickle in through the door, stomping the snow off their boots and we curl up on the couch, sip some wine and watch The Bachelor.It might not sound like much, but it's basically my favourite night of the week.How do you get through these long winter weeks that seem to drag and drag with no sign of spring in sight?... More »

Where There's (Not) a Will

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Where There's (Not) a Will
We don't have a will.There, I said it.Chalk it up to denial about my own mortality, fear of thinking of the horrible possibility of my and my husband's death and leaving our kids orphaned, or plain old laziness and not wanting to act like a grown-up. But my only New Year's resolution this year is to make a will. We have verbally asked certain family members to be the guardians of our children should we pass away, but nothing has been put in writing. It's not fun to think about, but it's the responsible thing to do and I want our family to... More »

January Is Mean To Me.

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January Is Mean To Me.
There's something about January.Something that SUCKS.Last year, the moment I turned the calendar's page to January, our house got hit with head lice, my husband left on a three week-long business trip to South America and my preschooler suffered frightening night terrors/tantrums every day of the month.It was rough.And now, here we are, January 2013 and it's been pretty lame.First, the transmission on our van (which had previously been rebuilt twice already) gave up the ghost on the way to the ski hill and we found out it's going to cost $4000 to repair. The thing is, we only paid... More »

Low and Slow

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Low and Slow
When life got busy this past year, I basically stopped cooking. We scrounged for canned goods in the pantry, lived off of rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and prayed for a dinner invitation at someone's house. Then things resumed a more manageable pace. But I was so out of the groove of cooking that we were still just kind of treading water when it came to meals. Just when we were about to lose all hope, my mom gave me a new cookbook for Christmas. It's the Best of Bridge Slow Cooker Cookbook and it restored my interest in making good... More »

Bottoms Up!

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Bottoms Up!
My two year-old has a drinking problem. All three of my girls have had heated love affairs with their bottles. Avelyn held tightly to hers well past the 2.5 year-mark, Karenna gave hers up just after her second birthday, and Brinley, who is 2 and four months, is still madly in love with hers.Prior to the holidays we had her down to just having a bottle of milk at nap time and bed time (I know, I know, call the Dental Police. We are officially FAILING, and we're cool with it). But when we packed up and spent a week at... More »

Quiet Break

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Quiet Break
I've been quiet on the social media front these days, enjoying my time with family and friends and burying my nose in a book. Happy New Year to you all!... More »

A Cup of Cheer

A Cup of Cheer
We just got back from a wonderful family holiday at the ski hill. It was relaxing and fun and so special to share such great memories with our extended family in such a lovely setting.On Christmas Eve we went to the ski village where there was a huge bonfire, a parade of skiers who were holding torches as they schussed down the slopes, then Santa and Mrs. Claus came down the hill in a lit-up snowcat to hand out gifts to all the kids. Pretty awesome.Then we came back to the cabin and I set to preparing 47 pounds of... More »

Making the Cut

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Making the Cut
For the past four years I have been lucky enough to get invited to a fantastic cookie exchange hosted by the sister of a dear friend of mine. She goes all out and prepares a spread of amazing appetizers for us to enjoy, games to play, prizes to win, and an afternoon out that is one of the highlights of my Christmas holiday season. This year was no exception and I came home with a wonderful assortment of goodies that I have been having for breakfast pulling out of the freezer when unexpected guests arrive. I've heard of women who have been... More »
My Broken Promise, Wrapped Tight 'Round My Legs
When skinny jeans and leggings began making a comeback on the fashion scene a few years ago, I scoffed and promised, "I would not be caught DEAD wearing those. They are flattering on NOBODY except waif-like supermodels. Never. Not ever."And now, here we are, where on a typical morning I rest my chin on my pointer finger weighing out the option of skinny jean or legging. I WEAR SKINNY JEANS. And LEGGINGS. Does this happen to you, when you find yourself doing the very thing you swore you never would, fashion-wise? ... More »

Holiday Spirit Watch: 2012

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Holiday Spirit Watch: 2012
OK, since my last Scroogey post about the impending holiday season I have:1. Finished all of my Christmas shopping2. Put up our tree and decorated it3. Baked eight dozen Cranberry Bliss bars for a cookie exchange and came home with a wonderful array of goodies for the season and,4. Had Bailey's in my hot chocolate while listening to Christmas music in the evening.I still don't feel 100% caught up in the festive spirit of things, but I'm getting there.I think the frenzied pace of December and all the fun, exciting things it holds, are what are holding me back. There... More »

I'll Show YOU Quick and Easy

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I'll Show YOU Quick and Easy
I've seen a lot of cookbooks out there that claim to cater to the rushed, harried meal providers out there. I've taken the bait and bought a few, hoping to transform our crazy meal times, but the bulk of the recipes I've seen still involve a whole lotta shopping, chopping and prep time.So, for all those tired chefs out there, I've compiled my OWN list of quick and easy dinners. (The real, uncensored version.)1. Baked beans. Fresh out of the can. For a special treat, warm them on the stove. Cold out of the can is also acceptable for most... More »

Smooth Like Buttah

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Smooth Like Buttah
We are a 'toast and cereal for breakfast' kind of family. It's easy, quick and I can lay in bed a few extra minutes while the kids sploosh a litre of milk all over the counter, missing their bowls of Mini-Wheats.But every now and again, I like to BRING IT and make the best breakfast ever: hot, fresh buttermilk pancakes.These are, literally, the best pancakes in the world. I am not lying. I am the pancake whisperer and you can be too with this recipe:(The secret is in the buttermilk. It launches the taste experience out of this world.)Ingredients2 eggs2... More »

I've Got the Pre-Christmas Blues

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I've Got the Pre-Christmas Blues
So, it's December in a couple days and I am not even remotely ready to get into the Christmas spirit. I feel like I am still catching up from the busy pace of the fall, still trying to stay on top of all the usual needs of the day, and the thought of digging out the Christmas decorations, planning out my holiday baking and draining the bank account on stuff that no one needs isn't really yanking my chain.I think I have a case of PMS-induced Scrooge. PMScrooge? Yes.This weekend is the Festival of Lights when everyone from our quaint... More »

Nice To See You

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Nice To See You
The fall was so busy, there were days when I didn't really see my kids. I mean, I would be aware of their bodies as I bellowed at them to "Get in the van or we're GOING TO BE LATE!" and when I dropped them at school. And I was happy to retrieve them at the day's end, but then I would come home and get swallowed up my by work and then launch into some half-hearted dinner prep, turn on the TV for them, then go through the motions of getting ready for bed, all while my phone beeped... More »

Surprise!

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Surprise!
Despite my big, fat mouth, I was able to pull off a surprise party to celebrate Steve's 30th birthday. With a whole lot of help from willing friends, we threw together a fantastic night filled with food, laughter, memories, music and good times.I hope he felt as special as he is.Happy (almost) Birthday, Stevie!... More »
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