Last week. my Husband flew to Vienna to visit his twin brother Shane, for 10 days. Which meant leaving me alone, with all 4 kids for 10 days. Mike works alot, which leaves me to referee the kids frequently on my own, but never for this long.
Compared to many other families, 10 days is just a hiccup. There are so many spouses who have to travel for work and ones who are forced to be left alone with their kids for so much longer! Those parents deserve medals, a free puppy, or a trip to Disney!
It's not easy to be home as the primary parent and it's not easy to be the parent away from your loved ones. Although Mike was touring a beautiful historic city and enjoying all you can eat ribs, while I was hosting birthday parties, cleaning throw up and breaking up fist fights.
Here are a few tips that helped me survive my "spouse-less stay-cation"!
Keep in contact
Nowadays, with Facebook and Skype, it's easy to keep in contact with loved ones who are far away.
We skyped with Mike every few days to check in and catch up on his trip. We sent pictures and Facebook messages daily, updating him on our happenings at home
Ask for help
I'm fortunate enough to be surrounded by family and friends who were able to help out when I needed them. Helping to drive a kid to an appointment, drop them at dance class, or even keep one for an overnight! The help was very much appreciated.
Do something special
Just because Mike was away didn't mean we couldn't do something fun right here at home! I took the kids to a hotel for a night and we ordered pizza, swam in the pool and watched an in-room movie. (that we received free of charge because Jessee told them it was her Birthday and that their father had left them for Easter) They obviously took pity on us!Who knows what they were thinking! Haha!
It was a great way to take their mind off Mike being away, and it was nice to treat them to a little get-away as well.
Find time for yourself
Whether it was cleaning to some music, watching a movie, or enjoying a glass of wine and surfing the web, I made sure to set aside a few evenings just for me, doing whatever I wanted to do.
Set up an organized schedule
Since I was the only one doing the dishes, laundry and house cleaning, I set up a little schedule for myself so I wouldn't get overwhelmed. For example, laundry in the morning, dishes and tidying up in the afternoon and my evenings were free to spend with the kids!
Now he's back! Reality continues on, and I have a cupboard full of delicious Austrian chocolate. It just might have been worth it :)
Showing posts with label Random posts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Random posts. Show all posts
Thursday, 16 April 2015
Thursday, 5 February 2015
Guest Post - Foster Parenting
When I invite someone as a guest on the blog, it's because they have something to share that I have no experience in writing about. Foster parenting is a subject I find fascinating, heart warming and truly interesting.
My friend, Karen and her husband have recently become foster parents and I've asked her to share their experiences.
When Brooke approached me about writing a guest post on her blog about foster parenting, I spent several days deciding what I should say. The truth is that being a foster parent is terrifying, heartbreaking and completely worth it. We hug crack-exposed toddlers. We listen to stories of how a parent was violently injured. We do our best to explain that the police and “big people” that raided the child’s home were doing it to protect her from dangers that she didn’t even know existed. Our families see, first hand, the stories that we used to only hear about in the news - stories that we would turn off when we couldn’t bear it anymore.
Being a foster parent is one hundred times harder than I thought it would be, but it is one thousand times as rewarding as I could have ever imagined. That crack-exposed toddler will eventually hug us back and begin to trust grown-ups. The kid, whose memory of their parent being injured was so fresh in their mind when they came, will begin making new memories – ones will with laughter, playing and love. The child who was terrified of police will proudly parade around the house wearing not one, but two sheriff’s badge stickers.
When people find out I’m a foster parent, most tell me they could never do it and add a statement like “I would get too attached” or “I could never give them back.” I’m never sure how to respond. I’m not sure how to politely say that it isn’t about us. It’s about them.
Without foster parents, these children end up in shelters or group homes or worse. So what if you could do it? What if you could “get too attached” and then “give them back” when the time comes. Foster parents aren’t super heroes. Thinking of us as heroes makes our job seem unattainable for the average person, but it isn’t. Anyone that can love a child can be a foster parent.
Imagine for a moment that you could “give them back.” As foster parents, we have to be happy for them when they are reuniting with their parents or moving in with a family member. We celebrate with them, laugh with them and jump up and down with them when the call comes to tell them that they are going home. We help them pack their things and send them on their way, smiling. Then, when they are pulling out of the driveway in their social worker’s car, the tears will come. Behind the closed doors of a now empty bedroom, we allow ourselves to grieve for the child we just lost, and we remind ourselves that it isn’t about us. It’s about them.
“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.” - Forest E. Witcraft
Karen resides in South Carolina with her husband, Chris and their three children. They both work full-time, raise their own family, and still find time to open their loving home to children who are in need of one. They have been foster parents since September and are enjoying every minute of it!
My friend, Karen and her husband have recently become foster parents and I've asked her to share their experiences.
When Brooke approached me about writing a guest post on her blog about foster parenting, I spent several days deciding what I should say. The truth is that being a foster parent is terrifying, heartbreaking and completely worth it. We hug crack-exposed toddlers. We listen to stories of how a parent was violently injured. We do our best to explain that the police and “big people” that raided the child’s home were doing it to protect her from dangers that she didn’t even know existed. Our families see, first hand, the stories that we used to only hear about in the news - stories that we would turn off when we couldn’t bear it anymore.
Being a foster parent is one hundred times harder than I thought it would be, but it is one thousand times as rewarding as I could have ever imagined. That crack-exposed toddler will eventually hug us back and begin to trust grown-ups. The kid, whose memory of their parent being injured was so fresh in their mind when they came, will begin making new memories – ones will with laughter, playing and love. The child who was terrified of police will proudly parade around the house wearing not one, but two sheriff’s badge stickers.
When people find out I’m a foster parent, most tell me they could never do it and add a statement like “I would get too attached” or “I could never give them back.” I’m never sure how to respond. I’m not sure how to politely say that it isn’t about us. It’s about them.
Without foster parents, these children end up in shelters or group homes or worse. So what if you could do it? What if you could “get too attached” and then “give them back” when the time comes. Foster parents aren’t super heroes. Thinking of us as heroes makes our job seem unattainable for the average person, but it isn’t. Anyone that can love a child can be a foster parent.
Imagine for a moment that you could “give them back.” As foster parents, we have to be happy for them when they are reuniting with their parents or moving in with a family member. We celebrate with them, laugh with them and jump up and down with them when the call comes to tell them that they are going home. We help them pack their things and send them on their way, smiling. Then, when they are pulling out of the driveway in their social worker’s car, the tears will come. Behind the closed doors of a now empty bedroom, we allow ourselves to grieve for the child we just lost, and we remind ourselves that it isn’t about us. It’s about them.
“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.” - Forest E. Witcraft
Friday, 2 January 2015
Top 5 Blog Posts of 2014
No need for an explanation. These are my most favourite blog posts from my year!
1. Lily's Frozen Birthday Party
I love the movie Frozen almost as much as I love The Little Mermaid, my ultimate favourite. Anything Disney, musical and involves princesses. Not to mention my love for organizing a party, and a themed one at that! I had a lot of fun with this!
2 Taking your kids out in public
Sometimes it's good to vent and show people that your life isn't all sunshine and happiness. That no family is perfect and sometimes if you see me sipping wine at an unusual hour, you won't judge me. I really enjoyed writing this one!
3My Blog's First Birthday
This was a huge day for me. Big. HUGE.
4 My Guest Posts
Having wonderful friends that want to be involved with my blog and share their stories with my readers is a huge blessing. Im sure all of you enjoyed the change in host as well (haha!)
You can catch up with those ladies here.
5 The floor that almost wasn't
Man I love that floor.
1. Lily's Frozen Birthday Party
I love the movie Frozen almost as much as I love The Little Mermaid, my ultimate favourite. Anything Disney, musical and involves princesses. Not to mention my love for organizing a party, and a themed one at that! I had a lot of fun with this!
2 Taking your kids out in public
Sometimes it's good to vent and show people that your life isn't all sunshine and happiness. That no family is perfect and sometimes if you see me sipping wine at an unusual hour, you won't judge me. I really enjoyed writing this one!
3My Blog's First Birthday
This was a huge day for me. Big. HUGE.
4 My Guest Posts
Having wonderful friends that want to be involved with my blog and share their stories with my readers is a huge blessing. Im sure all of you enjoyed the change in host as well (haha!)
You can catch up with those ladies here.
5 The floor that almost wasn't
Man I love that floor.
Tuesday, 27 May 2014
Blog Birthdays !
Today my blog is a whole year old! I've been waiting a long time for this milestone.
My husband had been telling me for months that I should begin a blog to share stories and pictures. One May morning, I wrote and shared my first post you can read here.
I thought Mike was crazy to suggest it, but he proved me wrong!
12 months later this little blog has shared 107 posts and seen 14493 page views. My blog has been featured on Shutterfly and held a spot within the Top 10 blogs on www.topmommyblogs.com.
It's been a wonderful year of inspiration, creativity and fun! The phrase, " blog that" has become a household regular.
I've had the pleasure of sharing inspirational writings from good friends and creating fun recipes and activities.
Along the way I've discovered how to challenge and express myself as a mother through my blog. It's also opened me up to the world of blogging. It's such an interesting world and fun to follow other people's lives and learn so much from them.
I've been so blessed to have the love and support of my family, friends and readers. Your positive comments and suggestions have been uplifting and enlightening.
Thank you, and Happy Birthday, blog!
My husband had been telling me for months that I should begin a blog to share stories and pictures. One May morning, I wrote and shared my first post you can read here.
I thought Mike was crazy to suggest it, but he proved me wrong!
12 months later this little blog has shared 107 posts and seen 14493 page views. My blog has been featured on Shutterfly and held a spot within the Top 10 blogs on www.topmommyblogs.com.
It's been a wonderful year of inspiration, creativity and fun! The phrase, " blog that" has become a household regular.
I've had the pleasure of sharing inspirational writings from good friends and creating fun recipes and activities.
Along the way I've discovered how to challenge and express myself as a mother through my blog. It's also opened me up to the world of blogging. It's such an interesting world and fun to follow other people's lives and learn so much from them.
I've been so blessed to have the love and support of my family, friends and readers. Your positive comments and suggestions have been uplifting and enlightening.
Thank you, and Happy Birthday, blog!
Monday, 19 May 2014
Royal Protocol
For years I've been a huge fan of the Royal Family. When I was 9 years old Princess Anne visited my hometown and I was lucky enough to present her with flowers.
After the news of Diana's death, I became enthralled (that's polite for obsessed) with the Royals.I absolutely adored them, was fascinated by them and loved following their lives via television and magazines. The protocol, the castles, the hats! The fact that The Queen always wears the same style dress, just a different colour.
When Will and Kate got married, I followed the television coverage from the beginning. Awake at 3am with a brand new tea cup just for the occasion.
When they honeymooned to PEI, I regretted not taking the 75 minute ferry ride to see them You can be sure I followed their every move via social media!
Now, my (almost) Royal dream is coming true. Charles and Camilla are coming to town and I've got tickets to the Welcoming Ceremony! !
Mike and I are taking the 3 girls plus my younger brother. We contemplated taking Noah, but then I remembered - throwing dinkies, temper tantrums and destructive behaviour. Security would be all over that toddler.
Would it be rude to bring my Will and Kate masks?
The tickets have lots of big words and are printed on cardstock. Now, that's fancy. A written protocol is included describing how to address the couple and how to properly bow and curtsey. As well as a proper dress code. It states "business casual" which means no jeans and no tuxedos. Anything in between is appropriate.
I am loving this.
But, most Importantly, what do I wear?!
| My father and I circa 1991 with Princess Anne |
After the news of Diana's death, I became enthralled (that's polite for obsessed) with the Royals.I absolutely adored them, was fascinated by them and loved following their lives via television and magazines. The protocol, the castles, the hats! The fact that The Queen always wears the same style dress, just a different colour.
When Will and Kate got married, I followed the television coverage from the beginning. Awake at 3am with a brand new tea cup just for the occasion.
When they honeymooned to PEI, I regretted not taking the 75 minute ferry ride to see them You can be sure I followed their every move via social media!
Now, my (almost) Royal dream is coming true. Charles and Camilla are coming to town and I've got tickets to the Welcoming Ceremony! !
Mike and I are taking the 3 girls plus my younger brother. We contemplated taking Noah, but then I remembered - throwing dinkies, temper tantrums and destructive behaviour. Security would be all over that toddler.
Would it be rude to bring my Will and Kate masks?
The tickets have lots of big words and are printed on cardstock. Now, that's fancy. A written protocol is included describing how to address the couple and how to properly bow and curtsey. As well as a proper dress code. It states "business casual" which means no jeans and no tuxedos. Anything in between is appropriate.
I am loving this.
But, most Importantly, what do I wear?!
Sunday, 2 March 2014
My top 5 Family Movies
We spent the majority of Sunday watching movies. We had a very busy
week, so lazying around on the couch, losing ourselves in the imaginary
wonders of Wizardry and e-woks seemed like a great way to spend our day.
Since our kids range from the ages of 3-9 it's hard to always pin point an appropriate movie that everyone enjoys. Here are a few that solved that problem and remain family favorites!
Since our kids range from the ages of 3-9 it's hard to always pin point an appropriate movie that everyone enjoys. Here are a few that solved that problem and remain family favorites!
Harry Potter
What's not to love about these movies? We love imagination and learning about a new world and way of life. It's full of magic, some laughs and just the right amount of scares. Mike and I can always sit down to watch these with the kids over and over again. Maybe it's the accents, the historic castles or Rob Pattinson's cameo.We enjoy movie collections because the stories continue on and my kids enjoy seeing their favorite characters grow. Luckily for us, we have a choice of 8 amazing installments of witchcraft and wizardry to enjoy. My 4 year old is obsessed with the movies, and my 3 year old regularly recites many of Harry's spells.
Another Amazing movie collection that we
never grow tired of. My kids love all the bright colors, music and
familiar toys in these series. My girls loved seeing Barbie and Ken come
to life together in the 3rd installment.
Not to mention the few adult jokes that amuse me every time. This collection has definitely developed a kid-cult following and I know will be one of our family favorites for years to come.
Not to mention the few adult jokes that amuse me every time. This collection has definitely developed a kid-cult following and I know will be one of our family favorites for years to come.
Monsters Inc.
This movie brings real monsters to life,
throws in some hilarious comedy and invites us into another world of
imagination. It brings to life the familiar "Monster in the closest"
scenario and adds some humor to it. My son loves monsters and everything
about them, and enjoys watching this movie over and over again!
Enchanted
We love movies with singing and dancing and
Enchanted has all of that. Plus the classic fairytale storyline, with a
touch of the 21st Century. How do you not fall in love with Giselle's
super sweet character and taste in fashion? It's a happy movie that
always makes me think of Springtime, warm weather and flowers.
The Muppets
Again, we fell in love with the music and dancing and even I find myself humming "Am I muppet?" now and again.
Of course, there are many more awesome movies. I could have easily made a top 50 list! I'd love to hear some of your family favorites and maybe add some new flicks to our list!
Thursday, 28 November 2013
Activity bag on the go
With 4 kids, we have a lot of extra curricular activities going on this fall. Basketball, swimming lessons, girl guides, dance class and the list goes on. Most of these activities happen in the evenings, when my husband is working, so I have to drag all the kids with me to each activity. I learned the hard way that entertaining all the kids, trying to watch my kid's activity and feeding them supper on time before we leave is impossible. So is trying to pack a bag of distractions and snacks every day as we are running out the door.
Solution = activity/snack bag left in the van.
I filled a bag with non-perishable snacks (goldfish, granola bars), drinks(juice packs, bottles of water) and activities(coloring books,stickers,cards) and left it in the trunk of the van. I know it will be there to whip out when we're at the pool, gym or dance hall and I need something to keep the other kids busy once they're sick of watching their sibling in action. I'll check it every few days to see what needs replenishing. It saves me a lot of extra planning and packing and even a little sanity :)
Solution = activity/snack bag left in the van.
I filled a bag with non-perishable snacks (goldfish, granola bars), drinks(juice packs, bottles of water) and activities(coloring books,stickers,cards) and left it in the trunk of the van. I know it will be there to whip out when we're at the pool, gym or dance hall and I need something to keep the other kids busy once they're sick of watching their sibling in action. I'll check it every few days to see what needs replenishing. It saves me a lot of extra planning and packing and even a little sanity :)
Monday, 11 November 2013
Why my kids wear poppies
One day a year I stick little red flowers with pointy pins on my kids coats, bundle them up and stand outside for our town's Remembrance Day Parade and Ceremony.This year it was dark and rainy, we were wet and cold and thankfully I had to only raise my voice once. Secretly I was kind of relieved when we left and I could take the kids home, but it's an event that I'll never miss, and that I'll always take my kids to.
Remembrance Day isn't just a holiday off from work or school, it's a day that we're given to take time to celebrate and remember. It's important to me that my kids know what this day is for. Whatever it takes for them to realize the significance of this day, I'll make them do it. If it means they have to stand outside in the cold listening to bagpipes, old people recite poems and constantly stab themselves in the shoulder with a poppy pin they will.
My grandfather fought proudly in the war along with many other of our family members. We have several relatives and friends who continue to serve our country and keep us safe. It's important that my kids recognize their sacrifices and learn some history about it. They're fortunate to belong to amazing schools who recognize Remembrance Day, teach the kids what it's about and host a ceremony for them each year.
Noah is only 2 and he has no idea why I've stuck this pretty flower on his coat, and why everyone was placing theirs on the monument, but he will someday. He knew it was important and that's what he was supposed to do and no doubt he'll remember to do that next year.
Happy Monday!
Enjoy this day with your family :)
Remembrance Day isn't just a holiday off from work or school, it's a day that we're given to take time to celebrate and remember. It's important to me that my kids know what this day is for. Whatever it takes for them to realize the significance of this day, I'll make them do it. If it means they have to stand outside in the cold listening to bagpipes, old people recite poems and constantly stab themselves in the shoulder with a poppy pin they will.
My grandfather fought proudly in the war along with many other of our family members. We have several relatives and friends who continue to serve our country and keep us safe. It's important that my kids recognize their sacrifices and learn some history about it. They're fortunate to belong to amazing schools who recognize Remembrance Day, teach the kids what it's about and host a ceremony for them each year.
Noah is only 2 and he has no idea why I've stuck this pretty flower on his coat, and why everyone was placing theirs on the monument, but he will someday. He knew it was important and that's what he was supposed to do and no doubt he'll remember to do that next year.
Happy Monday!
Enjoy this day with your family :)
Thursday, 24 October 2013
Halloween Costume Ideas - Couples
Countdown to Halloween continues!
I've always enjoyed finding costumes for my kids, but never really put much effort into my own. I basically just grab whatever we have in our "tickle trunk". But lately Mike and I have been taking Halloween costumes more seriously and dressing up in couples costumes. They're fun to think up and people usually get a laugh out of them. Here are some of our previous costumes and some pretty great inspirations for next year!
You might find us wearing these next year.
Looking for a classroom snack idea for your kids to take to school? Come back tomorrow for Friday's Fun Snack and see what I cooked up!
7 days till Halloween!
I've always enjoyed finding costumes for my kids, but never really put much effort into my own. I basically just grab whatever we have in our "tickle trunk". But lately Mike and I have been taking Halloween costumes more seriously and dressing up in couples costumes. They're fun to think up and people usually get a laugh out of them. Here are some of our previous costumes and some pretty great inspirations for next year!
 |
| We recreated the famous picture of the sailor and nurse from NYC |
 | ||||
| What's a ghostbuster without a ghost? |
 |
| Our grand-in-laws - our kids loved it |
You might find us wearing these next year.
Looking for a classroom snack idea for your kids to take to school? Come back tomorrow for Friday's Fun Snack and see what I cooked up!
7 days till Halloween!
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
Don't You Just Love Fall Weddings?
Fall seems to be the season for weddings. Couples are getting married amidst pumpkins, autumn leaves and sunflowers. Mike and I were among the many who chose the gorgeous fall foliage as the backdrop for our nuptials 5 years ago. We made our own bouquets out of sunflowers, used white lights and autumn leaves for decorations, and mason jars filled with wild flowers lined the tables.
If you're a fan of fall colors and decor then it's a perfect time to set the date. The air is cool, but the sun is still warm. Decorations can easily (and inexpensively) be mixtures of seasonal flowers and plants. Such as pumpkins, sunflowers, leaves and straw.
Picture backdrops can be wooded hideways bursting with yellow, red and green or a farm field lined with cornstalks.
Bouquets can be mixtures of seasonal flowers, berries and straw.
Fall makes for a gorgeous backdrop to a magical day!
If you're a fan of fall colors and decor then it's a perfect time to set the date. The air is cool, but the sun is still warm. Decorations can easily (and inexpensively) be mixtures of seasonal flowers and plants. Such as pumpkins, sunflowers, leaves and straw.
Picture backdrops can be wooded hideways bursting with yellow, red and green or a farm field lined with cornstalks.
Bouquets can be mixtures of seasonal flowers, berries and straw.
Fall makes for a gorgeous backdrop to a magical day!
Friday, 27 September 2013
Anniversaries + Friday Fun Snacks
Today my blog is officially 4 months old! In those 4 months, I've posted 52 entries, had 6,584 page views, 53 published comments and earned a ranking in the top 10 on Top Mommy Blogs.
Remember my very first blog entry? Give it a read.
I had no idea this blog would take me where it has today. I had no idea that my husband would actually be right. I started off just typing random sentences and somehow it grew into something fun and creative.
I love that people read it.
I love that people are inspired by it.
I love that people want to share it.
This blog would be nothing if no one ever read it, so thank you to everyone for your continued love and support.I love writing it!
What better way to celebrate than with cupcakes? Chocolate cupcakes.With peanut butter icing.
You're welcome.
Cupcakes
What you need
1/4 cup flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup cocoa
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup oil
1 cup milk
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
How you make it
Mix group A separately
Beat in group B
Add 1 cup of boiling water
Bake @ 350 until cooked
Frosting
What you need
1/2 cup butter
1 cup creamy peanut butter
3 tablespoons milk
2 cups icing sugar
How you make it
Mix butter and peanut butter together
Gradually add icing sugar and milk until it's fluffy
If you like things a little easier, like I do, I discovered that mixing Betty Crocker's vanilla icing with some peanut butter can whip up a pretty good replacement.
Happy Weekend!
Monday, 16 September 2013
A little song and dance
Happy Monday Romantics!
From the moment I saw the video of a man propose to his girlfriend lip-synching to Bruno Mars, while his friends and family danced down the street, I immediately fell in love with what I call "song and dance marriage proposals".
You know the kind, someone surprises their significant other with a marriage proposal while a flash mob dances behind them to a catchy love song. There's laughs, tears and gasps. The people in the video get pretty emotional too.
Hope these brings a smile to your face and brightens up your Monday! These videos are proof that all you need is a little love to get through the day.
Live Lip Dub Marriage Proposal
With the help of family and friends, and a small marching band, Isaac proposes to his girlfriend while lip syncing to Bruno Mars' "Marry you"
How do you not say yes?
Home Depot Marriage Proposal
Dustin arrived at the Home Depot thinking he was there to help his roommate pick out some lighting for a party. What he found waiting for him was a mob of friends and family as his marriage proposal unfolded to the song, "Somebody Loves You" by Betty Who.
Where has this song been all my life?
Mobbed Flash Dance Proposal
With the help of the show Mobbed, Nikki was blown away by her boyfriend's flash mob performance. So was I.
Movie Trailer Marriage Proposal
Matt surprises his girlfriend with a marriage proposal movie trailer at the movies!
There is no song or dance in this proposal, but I couldn't resist sharing this talent.
From the moment I saw the video of a man propose to his girlfriend lip-synching to Bruno Mars, while his friends and family danced down the street, I immediately fell in love with what I call "song and dance marriage proposals".
You know the kind, someone surprises their significant other with a marriage proposal while a flash mob dances behind them to a catchy love song. There's laughs, tears and gasps. The people in the video get pretty emotional too.
Hope these brings a smile to your face and brightens up your Monday! These videos are proof that all you need is a little love to get through the day.
Live Lip Dub Marriage Proposal With the help of family and friends, and a small marching band, Isaac proposes to his girlfriend while lip syncing to Bruno Mars' "Marry you"
How do you not say yes?
Dustin arrived at the Home Depot thinking he was there to help his roommate pick out some lighting for a party. What he found waiting for him was a mob of friends and family as his marriage proposal unfolded to the song, "Somebody Loves You" by Betty Who.
Where has this song been all my life?
With the help of the show Mobbed, Nikki was blown away by her boyfriend's flash mob performance. So was I.
Matt surprises his girlfriend with a marriage proposal movie trailer at the movies!
There is no song or dance in this proposal, but I couldn't resist sharing this talent.
Monday, 26 August 2013
Arranging Flowers
Summer is the season of picking flowers. My kids love to run around the yard and gather handfuls and I love to have them displayed in my kitchen. Nothing brightens up a room like a fresh vase of colorful flowers.
Here are a few tips on displaying flowers and helping them to last longer.
1. Pick a vase and thoroughly clean it. Anything can work as a vase, the more unique, the better! I love to use old mason jars, or clear glass vases. You can use other household items to house your flowers like an antique teapot, a fancy glass or a large mug.
3. Add water and flower food. Partially fill the vase with room temperature water and add any flower food you are using.
4. Arrange your flowers. I received a few tips from a florist friend. She suggests arranging the outside flowers first and make them a bit shorter then the rest so it becomes a dome shape. A neat hint is to make the arrangement as high as the vase is tall, then it will look proportioned to the vase.
You can be creative and add some sand, pebble rocks, or painted stones at the bottom of your vase to add color and decor.
Or simply place some flower petals or in a bowl of water with some floating candles to create a serene arrangement for a bathroom.
I love that all these flowers were freshly picked from our gardens!
Of course there are so many different kinds of flowers that you can mix and match patterns, colours and flower types. Even just a tall, clear vase with 1 flower can look just as beautiful as a vase full of arranged flowers. Here are a few inspirations I love.
Here are a few tips on displaying flowers and helping them to last longer.
1. Pick a vase and thoroughly clean it. Anything can work as a vase, the more unique, the better! I love to use old mason jars, or clear glass vases. You can use other household items to house your flowers like an antique teapot, a fancy glass or a large mug.
2. Prepare your flowers. Cut the stems under luke-warm water, once the stems are cut they immediately suck up all the water. Make sure to cut at least 1" from
the bottom of each stem and remove any leaves that will lie below the
level of the water in the vase as this will help to keep the flowers
fresh. Try cutting at an angle, with the scissors slanting up or downwards. This allows the flowers to receive more nutrients.
3. Add water and flower food. Partially fill the vase with room temperature water and add any flower food you are using.
4. Arrange your flowers. I received a few tips from a florist friend. She suggests arranging the outside flowers first and make them a bit shorter then the rest so it becomes a dome shape. A neat hint is to make the arrangement as high as the vase is tall, then it will look proportioned to the vase.
You can be creative and add some sand, pebble rocks, or painted stones at the bottom of your vase to add color and decor.
Or simply place some flower petals or in a bowl of water with some floating candles to create a serene arrangement for a bathroom.
I love that all these flowers were freshly picked from our gardens!
Of course there are so many different kinds of flowers that you can mix and match patterns, colours and flower types. Even just a tall, clear vase with 1 flower can look just as beautiful as a vase full of arranged flowers. Here are a few inspirations I love.
What are some of your favourite flowers to decorate with?
Friday, 9 August 2013
Shift work - it doesn't work
My husband works his heart out for a tire production company. Since the world desperately needs tires, they operate 24/7, meaning he works shift work. He works 12 hour shifts which rotate from day to night shifts every 2 days, and every second weekend. Every 8 days he works night shifts which means once a week our children go at least 2 full days without seeing him.
This kind of schedule takes a toll on our family life, our relationship and most importantly him. With 4 kids with busy schedules it's a challenge for him to be apart of everything. Basically the kids and I run a somewhat smooth routine and Mike jumps in when he can.
Mike works hard at what he does. He sacrifices a lot to look after us, and we'll always love him for that. As do so many other parents who put their families before themselves.
Maija from Yummy Mummy Club wrote a blog post about being married to a shift worker and nailed it!
A little advice that's worth reading!
Happy weekend :)
Monday, 22 July 2013
My love for abandoned houses
As a stay-at-home mom / caregiver, I sometimes feel a little sheltered from the rest of the world. Being stuck in a houseful of kids averaging the age of 3, I like to try to mentally escape the daily activity of diapers and cartoons. During the kid's quiet-time the internet allows me to do so. It's an amazing thing. I can basically travel the world without leaving my kitchen. Obviously it's nowhere near actually experiencing the world for yourself, but it's the best this small-town mother of 4, who is terrified of flying, is going to get.
I recently had a conversation with a friend about abandoned houses, which I find fascinating. I often drive by old farm houses that are falling apart, and in need of some critical landscaping, and I'm immediately intrigued by their stories. So I spent some time googling around to see what I could stumble upon. I found pictures, articles, and stories all about houses and buildings that the owners had left and never returned to them. Some houses I came across still had the tables set for meals, and the beds made. Now that's me. If I ever have to leave for more than a day you better believe my house will be tidy and the beds made (just incase). I want to know who lived in those houses, and where did they go? What made them leave in such a hurry? I was fascinated at the houses that stood today, basically, in a time warp. I love antique home furnishings, dishware, and decor. It was so neat to catch a glimpse of someone's life so long ago.
Photographer Niki Feijen's pictures circulated on Facebook not too long ago and amazed me! He took pictures of abandoned farm houses and decaying buildings. Here are a few:
The rest of his work can be viewed here .
After searching around it led me to an even more fascinating topic, abandoned cities! Could it get any better? A whole city deserted, left to the elements and animals, and some areas practically left completely in tact as the day it was abandoned.
The Ukrainian town of Pripyat has always fascinated me, so it didn't surprise me that it made the list of the world's 10 creepiest abandoned cities. Obviously the story behind the evacuation is well known, but the pictures still make it hard to believe an entire city can be so desolate and quiet.
Many of the cities I came across were old gold rush ghost towns. They were just as fascinating because some have been preserved since the 19th century. With real live saloons still in tact, decorated just like in the movies, and houses with oil lamps and wash basins.
These places are just so amazing that I had to share them. Perhaps it will inspire others to explore some of these places as well. Someday I'd love to go on an actual abandoned house/city tour, and personally catch a glimpse of these historic structures for myself.
If you have any abandoned homes to share with me, I'd love to see them!
Photographer Niki Feijen's pictures circulated on Facebook not too long ago and amazed me! He took pictures of abandoned farm houses and decaying buildings. Here are a few:
 |
| Someone left without their shoes and coat, seriously what happened here? |
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| This table is still set for tea, amazing. |
The rest of his work can be viewed here .
After searching around it led me to an even more fascinating topic, abandoned cities! Could it get any better? A whole city deserted, left to the elements and animals, and some areas practically left completely in tact as the day it was abandoned.
The Ukrainian town of Pripyat has always fascinated me, so it didn't surprise me that it made the list of the world's 10 creepiest abandoned cities. Obviously the story behind the evacuation is well known, but the pictures still make it hard to believe an entire city can be so desolate and quiet.
Many of the cities I came across were old gold rush ghost towns. They were just as fascinating because some have been preserved since the 19th century. With real live saloons still in tact, decorated just like in the movies, and houses with oil lamps and wash basins.
These places are just so amazing that I had to share them. Perhaps it will inspire others to explore some of these places as well. Someday I'd love to go on an actual abandoned house/city tour, and personally catch a glimpse of these historic structures for myself.
If you have any abandoned homes to share with me, I'd love to see them!
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