Cautiously Optimistic

I don't know what it is about summer vacation that inspires me with all sort of projects and jobs for the summer.  Last summer I was determined to complete the upstairs painting and resulted in getting E's room done by September.  At this rate, we're accomplishing a room a year.  Oh yea.


This summer is no different.  Only I have grand plans in regards to my children.  This summer I am determined that I am going to instil some core values in them.. well core housecleaning values.  Does making your bed everyday, tidying your room, getting dressed and brushing your teeth count as core values?  I don't know but it's things I'd like them to start learning to do.  I am tired of having to constantly nag at them or do it myself.

Get Brushing with Orajel - a Review

If your kids are anything like mine, you have a hard time getting them to brush their teeth.  They either teeter from wanting to squeeze the toothpaste all the time to not wanting to brush at all.  As moms we struggle to make brushing fun and yet get the job done as painlessly as possible. 

Orajel^® Toddler My Way!™ Girls Fluoride-Free Toothpaste is a great way to put the fun back into the brushing routine.  It comes with over 100 stickers so kids can decorate their toothpaste however they want. The toothpaste is non abrasive and safe if swallowed.  It helps to remove plaque when brushing and helps to promote good oral hygiene at an early age.  SRP:  $3.79

Soothing Teething with Orajel - Review

While you all know that my children are long past the days of teething, I can honestly say when they were babes Orajel was my go to product to soothe their pain.  I liked that Orajel gave them fast pain relief without having to dose them with tylenol or advil constantly.  Orajel has come out with two great products.

Our First IEP Meeting

If you don't know what that means, don't worry neither did we until we discovered our daughter has multiple learning disabilities.

IEP = Individualized Education Plan

When E's learning support teacher suggested the meeting, I have to admit I was little nervous.  Mainly because at our autism parent support group they were less than encouraging about IEPs and most parents complained how difficult and frustrating they were.

It just goes to show how blessed we are and how far we have come with E this past year that our meeting went extremely well and only took half an hour.  We are so lucky to be at this school with these educators who just love our child for who she is.

What gets me is that they were full of praise for us, her parents.

Her teacher in particular went on how encouraging and inspiring it was to see parents put their child's education in the forefront and how we made her a priority.  They were just so amazed.

Really?  Cause to us it's like DUH!  Of course, we take her education seriously.  Of course, we sacrificed all year so we could get her the help she needed.  And you know what, our faithfulness was rewarded.  She's doing amazingly well.  Why wouldn't we do that for our child?  Who wouldn't do that for their child?

Apparently as educators they see a lot of parents not putting the effort in for their children and that just makes me sad.

How about you?  Wouldn't you do everything you could to help your child?

Zeemaid

Life is A Special Occasion with Hallmark

My most recent shipment from Hallmark is here and as usual my bag was full of delightful and fun gifts. June is the season for Grads, babies and weddings and Hallmark is the perfect choice for fun gift ideas.

One gift I appreciated when I was married was a beautiful album for my wedding photos.  Hallmark's Fabric Album Collection is romantic and luxurious featuring rich fabrics, embellishments and embroidery. The album in the photo is the Embroideried Large Post Bound which includes eight black magnetic photo pages deisigned end liners and a dediction page for wedding memories.  Need more photo pages?  It's simple to add more.  Of course the photo cannot do this album justice.  MSRP:  $59.99

Also in the photo is an adorable Lovebirds Salt and Pepper Set.  These two ceramic birds and a ceramic nest stand with glossy glaze are perfect for the newlywed's table.  MSRP: $19.99  

These are just a few of Hallmark's wedding gift ideas.  They also have his and hers travelling mug sets, wine glasses and his and hers aprons to name a few. 

My own nephew is graduating this year.  (How the time flies)  If you're like me, you're stumped at what to get the grad in your life. Why not a 2012 Photo Album to help them record the memories. MSRP: $9.95 with any $10.00 purchase of cards or gift wrap.  Regularly $14.95.  

Plus these 2012 flip flops are bright, colourful and a fun gift for any grad and are suitable for both the guys and the gals.  MSRP $14.95. 

Know someone who is turning one?  The "My First Birthday" cupcake is cuddly and plush and plays a festive Happy Birthday tune.  My kids were all delighted with it and they are way past one. ;) MSRP $23.99.   

Families getting ready for a new addition to the family with love the "What's that in Mommy's Tummy", a recordable storybook.  This story helps to answer soon-to-be older siblings' questions as they wait for the new baby to arrive.  Each page features one or two open-ended questions that a parent can ask their child to answer.  Play back the records with the push of a button.  


And, of course, it wouldn't be complete without some beautiful designs from Hallmark's Signature Greeting Card Collection.  These cards are stunning and perfect for any occasion.  Be sure to check out Hallmark.ca for more gift ideas. 


Well, I'm pretty covered for any special occasions this summer thanks to Hallmark.  How about you?  Any weddings or new arrivals on the way? 


Zeemaid

Mom of the Year Twitter Party

This year, Walmart is launching the Mom of the Year Award to celebrate all that Mom does and help recognize the huge contribution moms make as role models and integral members of the family and community. To rev up the award nominations of this exciting program, and to help drum up some excitement, Mom Central is hosting a Twitter Party!

We’ll be chatting about an array of topics during this fun-filled hour. Come tell us about your mothering style and share what you feel are the best rewards and the biggest challenges of being “Mommy”.  Plus, you’ll be given the opportunity to brag about the things that your little ones - or big ones - do that make you proud! So, whether you think you might be deserving of Mom of the Year, or you know a special lady who is, come join the conversation and take a moment to recognize all that we do as Mom!

PLUS, you’ll have a chance to win one of six Walmart gift cards valued at $100 each!  So tune in this Wednesday, June 20th at 8:30pm ET.  See you there!

Zeemaid

Group Support for Parents

We attended our first support group for parents of autistic children.  At first it felt a little odd for us to be there since we don't have an actual diagnosis. We suspect, and her health providers suspect, that she has aspergers at the very least but no official diagnosis.

However, like they said "no one was checking our credentials" at the door. What we found was a group of people that were incredibly welcoming and offered their help and support however they can give it.

It was refreshing to hear them talk about their children and how they initially fought the diagnosis and shared annoying things that well meaning people would say.  It made me feel not so guilty about not wanting to accept what the doctors were saying. One of the main reasons I haven't blogged very much about this whole process is I've been afraid of offending those moms out there who are living with special needs already. 

So it was freeing to listen to one mom say that she disagreed so much with the diagnosis she took her child to someone else for assessment.  She got me when I said we were so desperate for her to just be "normal" that the psychologist had to point out to us:  "you're going to talk yourself out of a diagnosis and help for your child".

The down side is we got to listen to how difficult it is to be in the school system with a special needs child despite having funding and how long it takes to get diagnosis.

Still we came away with some resources to look into for help with E and an email address of a mom whose child has written output disorder like E.  So it was a positive experience and we will definitely be going back next month.

This was big for me because I'm primarily a somewhat reserved person and find it difficult to project myself into new situations.  If hubs hadn't been pushing me, I probably would never have gone.  I'm glad I did.

Would you go to a support group?

Zeemaid

10 Reasons Why I Suck at Being a SAHM

1. My kids don’t take a bath every night.  I know it settles them down and makes a great bedtime routine yada yada yada but by the time supper is over, homework is done, we’re on to pajamas, brushing teeth and reading books.  I can’t imagine trying to squish in three baths on top of that. Not to mention the mess left behind.   I’m lucky if we do it once a week. 

2. I recycle 95% of their artwork and 99.9% of their schoolwork usually on the same day they bring it home.  I ooh and awe over it and then it just sits on my counter.  Out of sight out of mind.  I used to keep it.  Now I have a bin full.  My fridge is still covered but I rotate and recycle regularly. 

3. I was sitting on the toilet and realized I needed to vacuum my bedroom because of the black hair that was matting the carpet in the doorway.  I had to clean my room first from confiscated toys, outgrown clothes and toilet paper.  (In my defence we have two cats) 

4. Those giant bags of toilet paper you buy at Cost-co?  They sit on the floor of my room until we use them all up.  They have no real home. 

5. I’ve been going through my room for two days to figure out where that smell is coming from.  I’m still not sure. 

6. I make my kids lunch first, put on a show and then make my own lunch and open up a book or log onto the computer. 

7. I pretty much would rather read than clean and have to tear myself away just to get the basics done.  Same goes for playing cars, barbies or listening to “concerts”. 

8. I buy my husband dark underwear so I don’t have to see his track marks when I do laundry and when my 6 year old had an accident,  I just tossed her panties.  Enough said. 

9. If I lived in a place that was sunnier, I’d pretty much make my kids eat outside 365 days a year.  Right now, I’m restricted to our short summer.  It’s not so annoying when you find dried up bread crusts under the porch instead of the couch.  Plus we’re helping the wildlife. It’s a win-win. 

10. I yell at my kids. I’m not proud of it and I’m trying to do better but there it is.  The one reason why I dread the summer and open windows.  

What's on your list? 

Zeemaid

Fighting Tough Stains

If you are anything like me, you loathe laundry.  Not only do you hate the lugging it up and down the stairs, the folding, the sorting, the putting it away but you hate stain hunting.  Still it's a job that's gotta be done or you'll be surprised by a nasty stain the next time you or your kids go to wear something.

Here are some stain fighting tips:

1.  Take care of the stains as soon as possible.  Fresh stains are always easier to get out than old ones.

2.  NEVER rub a fresh stain with bar soap.  It sets the stain.
 (I did not know this, did you?)

3.  Check before washing.  Try and get your kids to let you know when they have something stained.

4.  Pre-treat the stain.  It really helps if you can whip that shirt off as soon as the stain happens or at least catch it before it goes into the wash machine.  Once it gets into the dryer that stain can get baked on and it will be almost impossible to get rid of.

5.  Check your water temperature:  Hot water can set protein stains like milk, egg or blood.  They say cold water is best but I have found warm water to work really well for me.

6.  Check the stains before drying. Sometimes it's hard to tell if the stain has come out or not when the clothes are wet but it's good to check.  If you can still see the stain don't put it in the dryer. Pre-treat and try again.

7.  Launder heavily soiled items separately.  It seems like a no brainer but if my kids have been playing out in the mud, I do a separate load for just those clothes.  If you don't use enough detergent or water the dirt and soil can redeposit onto cleaner clothing, so why take that risk.

One of the best cleaners that I've found for pre-treating stains is OxiClean.  Which is why when I was asked to be part of the Oxi Clean Stain Busting Advisory Panel I said "Hell, yeah!"  Actually, I just said yes cause I'm not a dork at all ;)


My WOW moment with OxiClean was when I had accidentally spilled hair dye onto a white shirt. I was too lazy to change and figured the towel would protect it.  I was so wrong.  Anyways,  I thought that was it for the shirt and my husband was going to kill me because it was brand new.  I decided to try OxiClean anyways and was thrilled as I watched the dye literally vanish before my eyes. It was so cool. 


Since then I use OxiClean on everything and anything and have never once had a damage what I used it on. Because I do forget to pre-treat my kids clothes a lot (who has the time) I like to add an extra scoop of OxiClean to my wash and I find that it really helps get the clothes that extra bit cleaner.  

New & Improved:  Canada's #1 Trusted Stain Fight is now even better.  The maker of OxiClean launched a New & Improved Versatile Stain Remover with a better package and 40% oxygen power per school than the previous formula.  


Benefits:

• OxiClean Versatile Powder Stain Remover contains a unique combination of stain fighters that break down tough stains including grass stains, grease and dirt
• Coloursafe and 100% chlorine free
• Tackles over 101 stains on multiple surfaces like carpet, upholstery, grout, kitchen and bath surfaces. 
• Works outdoors on gutters, unfinished decks and patio furniture. 

For more information on fighting stains and other OxiClean products check out their website at www.oxiclean.ca

Zeemaid

*Disclosure, I received a tub of OxiClean in order to participate in this panel. However, the opinions stated in herein as always are my own and reflect my real experience with the product(s) mentioned.*

Written Output Disorder

Sounds like something a computer might have, doesn't it.  Unfortunately, this term applies to my 8 year old daughter.  Unfortunate, because it's probably the one thing that's keeping her from really moving forward in her education.

She has come great strides with her reading and while she tires easily and sometimes will still balk at reading full pages of text, she can at least do it at almost her age level.

What do you do though when your child is full of stories and can't write them out.  She has tried writing countless books/magazines, taking great trouble to put them together and colour pictures to go along but she almost always gives up because she can't write it out and we don't always have the time or patience to sit down and write it out for her.  Of course, this was before we realized that it wasn't normal for her to not be able spell at her age.  We kept thinking eventually she will get it.

Writing Sample. I couldn't even tell you what it's supposed to say. 

I'm sorry, I may be getting ahead of myself.  You might not know what I'm even talking about. To put it simply:

Written Output Disorder - The inability to write legibly and coherently for one's age and is considered to be a learning disability.    

It's like something isn't clicking in her brain.  She can learn to memorize words and how to spell them enough to make pass most tests but when it comes to jotting down her thoughts and stories, she can't recall any but the easiest words to spell.  Even phonetically she can't sound them out.  Phonetics doesn't work at all for her.  Doesn't make sense to her.  It's like she hears the words differently.

What's more from what I have read about this disorder is that if a child hasn't mastered writing by mid grade three, they are unlikely to.  Although you should never give up trying, there is a good possibility it will never get any better.  That has to be the epitome of discouragement for a parent to read.

Especially when they suggest turning to technology to get around these issues and to help boost her performance in class.  That's all fine and dandy for parents with hefty checkbooks.  Not so fine for two parents who are struggling to keep their business afloat and three children housed, clothed and fed.  I thought of giving up my own precious laptop only the software we need to use is too new and too heavy for my 6 year old relic.   What's a mom to do?  With no real funding available until we get a firm diagnosis for the autism it's almost heartbreaking to think we are stuck here in this unending circle of need.

Then we don't even know if they will choose to assess her at the Autism Centre.  Apparently so many children are being diagnosed with some form of Autism on the chart that they only have the resources to assess those that are young (for early intervention) or have more extreme symptoms.  I am sure some of you can understand the frustration as a parent as every symptom of Aspergers simply screams your child only to know that there is no extra financial support in class or counselling etc until that diagnosis comes through.

Still God is good and I have to remember that.  Because there was another special needs child in her class this past year, who didn't need quite so much support, she was able to benefit from the presence of an EA. While sometimes it made her feel bad because she felt different getting the extra help, the class was able to continue on around her.  Her teacher, who also experienced troubles in her youth with learning difficulties, is incredibly caring and supportive and able to coach her through some of her greatest struggles. I don't think we could have made it through this school year without her.

Being a voracious reader, writer and story teller myself, I can't even imagine what it would be like to not have basic writing or spelling skills. I can't imagine the frustration she must feel as she tries to "draw" each letter instead of just writing them automatically. It's so heartbreaking to know she feels stupid and hates that her brain learns different from others.

In the meantime, I am going to continue to read, read and read some more of ways to help my child in practicing these important skills.    There is one blog out there called Written Output Disorder A Parent's Perspective that is worth reading even though she hasn't posted since 2010.  In it she shares some of what she's been doing for her child who is also a "spatial learner".

Do you or someone you know have Written Output Disorder?  If so, I'd love to hear your story, what you are doing or have done and whether you or someone you know were able to overcome this.

Zeemaid

Mother of the Year Award

This year Walmart is launching the Mom of the Year Award to help celebrate and recognize the huge contribution moms make as role models and integral members of the family and community.  This award will become an annual program to celebrate all that Mom does and shine a light on what is important to her.
Nominations will be accepted Mother’s Day (May 13) through July 8, 2012 and can be submitted through www.momoftheyear.ca.

Eight finalists will be selected and notified in mid-August and will be treated to an award celebration weekend in September. The Mom of the Year Award recipient will receive $10,000 for personal use and $100,000 to their cause or charity of choice. The remaining seven finalists will each receive $10,000 for personal use and $10,000 to their cause or charity of choice.

Of course, with this announcements comes the question of who would I choose to nominate for Mother of the Year.  Obviously, I’d love to nominate my own mother as it’d be wonderful for her to see how much we really do appreciate her but no… I feel that this Award should go to someone who could really benefit from such a prize not just financially but also mentally.  Let’s face it mother’s all work hard but some of us need that extra little bit of encouragement to keep us going. After all, we are our own worse critics and tend to worry constantly whether we’re doing anything right at all.

So when I cast my mind among the moms I knew both in real life and in the bloggy world, it came down to just one.

Faemom, mother to three extremely active and imaginative little boys, inventor of the “penis rules”.   Recently separated from her husband, she’s had to adjust this past year to being a single parent to three small boys and all that doing it on your own entails.  She’s had to go to battle with a bout of skin cancer (on her forehead I might add) and rally around her mom who was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Not only does she strive to nurture her three boys through some pretty tough adjustments, she also tries to take a step back and let her boys be boys and learn some lessons on their own.  She encourages them in their creativity from wearing blue-and-white-checkered, long-sleeve, button-up shirt and blue-orange-black plaid shorts to speaking their language in all things Star Wars.  Who else would have created the Death Star Sandwich or tried to use Jedi Mind  Tricks on their kids?

One of the many things that I love about Faemom is that she cares about other moms. She not only sees their frustrations but offers sympathy and understanding and lets them know they are not alone and it will get better.  I don’t know about you, but I would have appreciated if a mom had done that for me when my toddler had a meltdown on the school playground.  I may not know her in real life but I wish I did.  It's unfortunate that Faemom doesn't qualify to be nominated since she lives in the U.S. and isn't eligible for the award but she would be my choice.

Who would you nominate?

Zeemaid

Disclosure: I’m part of the Walmart program by Mom Central. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own. Mom of the Year Award: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY Internet access and valid email account required. Nominations open May 10, 2012 to July 8, 2012 for legal residents of Canada over the age of majority.  Entrants cannot nominate themselves. One (1) grand prize available to be won consisting of $10,000 cash, a $100,000 donation by Wal-mart Canada Corp. to charity/cause and a trip to Toronto (ARV $22,000). Seven (7) runner-up prizes available to be won consisting of $10,000 cash, a $10,000 donation to charity/cause and a trip to Toronto (ARV $22,000).  Charity/cause subject to verification and final approval by Wal-mart Canada Corp., at its sole discretion. Odds of winning depend on how the judging panel evaluates each entry according to the criteria. For Official Contest Rules and to nominate an entrant, visit [www.momoftheyear.ca].

Mothering is a Tough Job

Being a mother is incredibly hard.  I never knew just how hard a job it was until I had my own three children.  These days I find myself constantly filled with a new found appreciation for all that my mother did.  I’ve also discovered a new understanding of how she must have felt at times when we all thought she was just going crazy.  Oh I can so relate.

So when Faemom wrote a post this past weekend about 15 Things she learned from her mother,(read her post here) it made me pause and think about the things that my own mother has taught me.

1.  Surprise treats can be something as simple as a tray of hot cocoa and cookies and are guaranteed to get you named as the “cool mom” by your teens and their friends.

2.  Love means letting go even when you want to hold them close.  My mom let me go away for an entire year at the age of 16.  I learned a lot that year but mostly I learned how great my parents were.

3.  It’s okay to play hooky once in a while.  Especially when your science teacher is going to make you dissect a frog and let’s face it you have absolutely no desire to go anywhere in that area of expertise and so a day spent shopping at the mall with your mom instead is an unlooked for blessing. (She also let me skip the pig fetus dissection and the “talk” class in high school)

4. That I may start countless projects and never finish them but one day I will finish them one by one although probably not until my kids are grown.

5. Playing outdoors is the best form of entertainment for kids.  Give them a bag of nails and some wood and watch them build a fort on their own. 

6.  It’s okay to get dirty.

7.  Homemade birthday cakes taste the best. (they’re cheaper too)


8.  A home isn’t a home unless it’s full of children’s photos and knicknacks.

9. To honour one’s parents even though they may not have always done right by you.

10. To be independent and self reliant. Just because I’m a girl doesn’t mean I have to settle for less.

AND of course,

11. Never leave home without clean underwear.



What have you learned from your mother?



Zeemaid

What To Expect When You're Expecting | Pimp My Stroller App EXCLUSIVE

I think I'd have to search pretty far and wide to find someone who hasn't heard of the book What to Expect When You're Expecting. In fact, I owned not one but two copies because I found an updated version.  I read that book back to front and back again.  No matter how old the book is the information is still valuable and timeless.  

So it's great fun that the movie What to Expect When You're Expecting was conceived from the best-selling "bible of American pregnancy" and is due in theaters everywhere May 18th. 

Gearing up for the theatrical Debut, a new social app for What To Expect When You're Expecting is being launched today on Facebook.  Yes, exciting news ladies because you will have a chance to play PIMP MY STROLLER.  No Kidding. With this new Facebook App, PIMP MY STROLLER fans can “Pimp” their babies’ rides with everything from the latest rims to the hottest subwoofers.  They can also outfit the stroller with their baby’s likeness, personalize the license plate and add their creation to the Stroller Hall of Fame on the WHAT TO EXPECT Facebook page.

Best of all, fans can enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win a deluxe stroller prize package from Britax!

http://gopimpmystroller.com/

Oh and be sure to check out the trailer.  Until I watched this, I wasn't really sure I wanted to watch the movie (I thought it was going to be heavy) but it looks hilarious!

Please Share this on Twitter and Facebook!  Thanks!

Zeemaid

My Baby is Growing Up

It's hard to believe that my baby turned 5 years old last week.  It seems like only yesterday that I was bringing that fat, bruised looking 12 pound little baby boy home.  It can still bring tears to my eyes when I re-live that day when everything changed from normal to almost traumatic as I struggled to catch my breath to keep pushing this baby who was obviously stuck and I looked up to see tears pouring down my husband's and mother's face and my near panic when I finally saw his blue little face and utter silence and thought... well you can guess what went through my mind.  Thank God, he came through alright.  It ended up being more bruising than anything and apart from some shoulder dystosia (sp?) he made it just fine and I have this amazing, strong and handsome little lad.

Tears soon turned to laughter though as I looked at my pudgy little guy in the nursery, 3 x the size of all those other little mites in their incubators, he might have been purple and blue but he was anything but fragile.  It still makes me smile to remember the nurses frantically trying to hunt up bigger sleepers for him and how they still ended up looking fit to burst.  Too then me and my boy were something of a sensation as everyone wanted to pop in and see this 12 pound baby and the mother who delivered him naturally.

Of course he grew fast, much faster than my other two as he already had such a head start.  I came across a box of his baby clothes last week and while some outfits evoked sentimental tears in my eyes the others I confess I had no memory of.  It then dawned on me that he hadn't been in them for very long.  I had birthed the equivalent to a 3 month old and clothes went by fast.

Probably best of all my babies.  He was the most content, the easiest to feed, to sleep, to nap and ever so patient for my attention while I attended to his sisters. Not content to stay still for long he soon was dragging himself about on his forearms earning him the nickname commando baby.  Of course, when he started to walk it was a whole other experience.  I have many posts about my children's early years but this post pretty much sums up what a day in the life a boy could be like in We are Not So Screwed 

Still it's even harder to believe that my baby will be going to kindergarten in September. I am torn between elation at finally having all three in school full-time and sadness over my last baby growing up.  I swear every time I see a baby I get those pangs all over again and have to spend ages reminding myself all the reasons why this womb is closed.  The traumatic last labour and delivery being one of them.

Despite all that I've got my O now and I am so thankful I am getting to experience the joys of raising a boy. He's so different from the other two and yet he wants so much to be just like his big sisters.  When we went away the other weekend, they all were on their bikes racing around the campground.  O tired desperately to keep up with 8 year old sister failing to realize that not only were her legs longer but her bike was built to go faster.  She was oblivious to his plight and wanted only to continue on her way singing merrily as she enjoyed her sense of freedom of being allowed to roam around the campground.

I tried to console him and pointed out to him that she's older etc. but it didn't stop him from trying to follow her or keep up until one time he wiped out.  E, oblivious kept riding, leaving O figuratively in her dust.  He screeched her name as he got up and called out for her to wait for him but she didn't hear him.  He threw himself down on the ground and oh he howled.  My mama heart went out to him and as I walked over to comfort him it struck me how hard it was for him at that point to be 4 years old, the baby of the family and so desperately wanting to be big like E.  A little mama sympathy went a long way to comforting him but despite all that I could say or offer he was still clinging to the hope that when he turned 5, he'll be big like E and able to ride faster than her.

So he's turned five now and we haven't yet come to the test of him out riding her. I just hope when they next ride together somehow what I said about her always being four years older but that one day he would catch up to her in height and speed will sink in and help lessen his frustration.

In the meantime, I am going to try and enjoy these last few months I have him to myself because I know come September we will all be entering a new phase in our lives together.

I love you O!

Zeemaid

Putting Dinner on the Table With McCains – a Review

My oldest daughter (E) goes to tutoring three days a week.  Her lessons fall just before supper and I have to admit I have been finding it hectic trying to put a decent meal on the table.  It gets difficult because E doesn’t like her food to get mixed up which means all the easy options like crock pots or casseroles are out. 

So what’s a busy mom to do?  Well, McCain Foods (Canada) is introducing McCain® Harvest Splendour™ Medleys, a new side dish combining 100 per cent real potatoes and other wholesome vegetables together, made in only 12 minutes.  No peeling, cutting, chopping or boiling required. You gotta love that so of course, I agreed to try it out.  I had no problems at all finding all four flavours in the freezer section of my local grocery store (Safeway). 

Dinner night #1, we tried the Potato and Broccoli Medley.
“Specially seasoned potatoes, crisp broccoli, red peppers and red onions with seasonings such as roasted garlic, parmesan cheese and sea salt.” 

I was glad to note that the seasoning was in a separate pouch and so I could adjust the amount of seasoning to my family’s taste.  I was also pleased to see that McCain® Harvest Splendour™ Medleys are trans fat-free, low in fat and have no artificial colours or flavours.


That night I chose to bake the potatoes in the oven and loved that I could just pop it in, stir it once or twice and leave it to bake for 25 minutes.  I actually used the full seasoning pouch and found it to be the perfect amount.  The potatoes cooked wonderfully, were so soft in the middle and the vegetables were not at all watery.  I won’t go so far as to say my picky eater loved it.  She didn’t, even with picking out the potatoes separately for her but then I didn’t expect her to. She’s anti-potatoes at the moment. The other two enjoyed it just fine and my husband practically devoured the rest of the pan.


Dinner night #2, we tried the Potato and Carrot Medley. 
“Specially selected potatoes, carrots, red peppers and red onions with seasons such as roasted garlic, black pepper, parsley, nutmeg and sea salt.”


This night I opted to cook the potatoes on the stove stop.  I did add a little extra oil than the recipe called for but my non-stick pan doesn’t really work that great so I wasn’t taking any chances.  The entire meal was cooked in about 10 minutes and turned out just as great as when I made in the oven.  The only catch was I dumped the entire seasoning packet on this one and it ended up being a little too spicy.  I don’t know what I was thinking.  Pepper is one of the ingredients. Duh.  So the kids didn’t care for it that much but hubs and I still enjoyed it.  

On a busy night, I like being able to just throw something in the oven and not have to fuss with it at all.  That time was then spent on cooking the meat, setting the table and all those little things you need to get done.  I will definitely buy the Medleys again and want to try their Three Potato Medley and the Yukon Gold Potato and Mushroom Medley.  Both sound delicious. 

To receive a $1.00 off coupon to try the new McCain® Harvest Splendour™ Medleys visit:www.facebook.com/mccaincanada. Limited quantity of coupons available. While supplies last. For more information on the productvisit: www.harvestsplendour.ca.

How do you get dinner on the table on those busy nights?
Zeemaid


*disclosure I received coupons from McCain so I could try the Medleys out.  The opinions herein as always are my own and reflect my true experience with the product*

Walking on Air – A Skechers Review

I think you may have heard me mention once or twice how much I love Skechers shoes.  Way back when I was carrying babies (on the inside that is) I started with foot problems and a good friend recommended me to try Skechers because they had helped her feet.  So I bought my first pair of Skecher slip on running shoes and to my amazement my feet were practically cured over night.


Obviously like all good things we don’t always stick with it for whatever reason. Perhaps I was lulled by my non sore feet into thinking I could wear any old piece of cardboard that passes for footwear.  Fast forward three babies later and I now have flat feet and some weird sort of metatarsal problem which makes running around barefoot (my favourite footwear) impossible.  I have learned that not all Skecher shoes provide the same comfort and support that my original runners did so it is important for me to try them out first.  After all, no matter what the line shoes are created for different purposes.


I have been wearing my current Skechers for the past two years.  They are just now beginning to lose their support and my feet are beginning to hurt again so I was excited when I was given the opportunity to try out Skechers new “GOwalk” line.  There are several colours to choose from and I chose Aqua.

This is what Skechers has to say about their shoes.

SKECHERS GOwalk elevates the natural walking experience, allowing you to interact with and respond to practically any surface, while offering the additional benefit of real world protection.

Details:

Innovative placement allows the GOimpulse sensors to move together and independently as they provide sensory feedback to the brain

Dynamic interaction promotes a natural stride for a more efficient and responsive walk

Radically lightweight - No extra material, no extra weight, nothing to slow you down

360 Degree Responsive Flexibility - SKECHERS GOwalk flexes and twists allowing your foot to move naturally

Sockless Walking - Integrated OrthoLite™ anti-microbial sockliner helps inhibit odor and prevent slippage

Roomier Forefoot - Extra space to reduce friction and allow your toes to spread, grip and push off

Resalyte™ Midsole - Proprietary lightweight midsole compound provides just the right impact absorption

Construction:

Nearly weightless synthetic and fabric upper

Nearly seamless flexible upper with slip on front

Stretch center top panel for easy slip on fit

Pull on heel loop design

Soft smooth fabric shoe lining for easy barefoot wear

Weight: Radically lightweight 3.5 oz per shoe based on a women's size 6.5

I have to admit I have no idea what the dealio is with sensors that send sensory feedback to the brain and what that all means.  What I do know is that when I first put these shoes on it felt like I had just stepped onto soft pillows.  These shoes work.  They are so comfortable and truly do feel like barefoot walking.  All the support I need is provided without orthotics.  In fact, I have dubbed these as my new inside shoes and am planning on buying another pair for outside. The more I wear these in the house the more I wish I had them to wear outside. To top it off they are super cute, not clunky at all and look like those cute shoes your friends without the foot problems wear.  These shoes retail at $59.00 and so is pretty affordable at that price. 


Check out these fantastic shoes and see more colours at Skechers.com


Have you tried Skechers before and what did you think?  Or, how about sharing a tip you use to help your sore feet.

Zeemaid


*disclosure - I received a pair of Skechers shoes in order to conduct my review and was not compensated in any other form.  As always my opinions are my own and reflect my true experience with the product*

A Different Kind of Post

This isn’t exactly the kind of post that I had in mind today.  I had planned on a wonderful little post sharing photos of our mini family vacation this past weekend.  But how can I even possibly attempt a light hearted post when at this very moment….

I hate my children 

There I said it.  Gasp if you want but truth be told sometimes they can be real little shits.  While I hit my head on the table I wonder where on earth did I go wrong.  The kind of day where if I had booze I’d be breaking it out. If I had chocolate, I'd be stuffing my face.

Do you ever feel like putting your head down and crying at the dinner table just because your 4 year old son, who used to eat everything in sight, comes up and frowns over the rice and declares “awwww, you know I only like couscous”?

 I tell you I pressed my fingers to my eyes and wiped away tears as I tried to cheerfully serve up their supper.  Normally I can take their criticism after all it’s not really personal but this has been going on all week if not longer.   He doesn’t like this, She doesn’t like that.  I’m not an unreasonable mom.  I don’t pander to their picky palates but I do try to cook generally what we all like and what they in the past have had no problems eating.  They ARE NOT ALLOWED to change the game plan at this stage.  I completely changed how we all ate potatoes and served up mashed for the past three years because E would only eat them mashed.  That was okay with me. I liked mash and so does everybody else so how fair is it that she suddenly declares she hates mashed potatoes or any other kind except for French Fries.  WTH?

Of course it’s not just about the food, it’s the constant bickering, pushing, shoving and annoying one another that also gets on one’s nerves.  I try to ignore it as  much as possible, refusing to referee their disputes.  But when they lock the poor kitty in the Barbie suitcase, tow him downstairs and bump around the house with it until my mom radar zones in and they lie to me we’re heading awfully close to a bedtime countdown. 

In fact, the stage 3 meltdown that occurred prior to the timeout is a pretty big clue that someone’s a little tired.  Followed by a ten minute crying fit when asked to take the suitcase back upstairs and then a hands down dispute as to who gets read to first and suddenly I’ve got two little kids in bed with the lights out at 6:30 p.m. with no books.
 
My oldest is currently having special time with dad and so I’m on my own as I listen to the 6 year old scream in her bed.  So after I check to make sure they are still in bed, I think I’ll be texting hubby to bring home some chocolate. 

Then when they are asleep I’ll go back up and check on them and I’ll feel that flood of love for them pour over me again and I will say a little prayer asking for the strength to keep plugging away day by day and to be a better mom. 

What about you… do you have those days where you simply can’t stand your kids?

Zeemaid

A Little Easter Goodness

This year the kid’s spring break is two weeks and smack in the middle of it was Easter.  So since the kids didn’t get to do much in the way of Easter projects at school it was up to me to make sure they got to at least decorate some eggs (which we do every year anyway). Of course, I forgot to buy one of those little egg decorating kits and so I had to fall back on good old food coloring, which is probably what those kits are made of anyways so why have I been wasting my money all these years? Of course, the kids were like “where’s the crayon to colour on the egg” and I’m like “we have a ton of crayons pick one” and they were like “it’s not white” and I was like “so, it doesn’t have to be” and then they got down to colouring their eggs with crayons and dipping them into the food colour.  Cause hey, we’re just going to eat them so perfect works of art they don’t need to be. 


I even rearranged my kitchen table so that the natural light from the window would filter through onto the kids so I could take better (hopefully) photos and I think a lot of them turned out pretty nice. Thanks to some great tips I learned from Courtney at Click it Up a Notch when I participated in the SITS Pinterest challenge in March.  While I may never have any interest in learning the more technical aspects of photography, it’s still possible to take better photos with a just a few simple tips. 













Of course the children were spoiled for Easter.  Not only did the Easter Bunny play a little visit to our house but he also managed to stop by their Faraway Nana and their Aunt and Uncle’s house.  Oh my word, I’ve been underestimating Easter as a candy holiday.  It out beats Halloween hands down.  The candy you get on Halloween is small while Easter candy can be enormous.  Take the Kinder Egg for example



That is the size of the egg that comes inside the giant Kinder Egg the kids were so lucky to get.  Which brings me to my next point… a slight beef with Kinder Surprise.  I know, it’s a surprise you never know what you are going to get and that fact makes it all the more tantalizing.  Except some of the prizes inside the eggs are lame.  I mean really lame.  Not to mention the time when my daughter got nothing.  That’s right, zip, nada, zilch.  There wasn’t a tiny yellow capsule inside her chocolate egg.  Not such a happy day when her siblings both got something cool. 

So with an egg that size and for the price, we expected some pretty cool toys.  And in two cases Kinder Egg delivered.

Pretty cool right?  Then the four year old got this…



At first I thought cool, a deck of cards we can play with as a family.  But no, it’s some sort of punch out the shapes and then move the shapes around so you can recreate the pattern on the back of another card.  Yup.  I can tell you he was thrilled with that one.  And so it sits in the bottom of his Easter basket and probably will get recycled by me by the end of the week because I will keep finding it all over the floor. 

Still an Easter egg hunt and lots of chocolate made up for it.

 

How did your Easter go?

Zeemaid

Spring with Hallmark - Giveaway

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER BINA BUG

I was excited when I was asked to be a part of Hallmark’s 2012 Press Pause Panel.  Not only because I love everything Hallmark but also because it’s exciting to get the inside scoop on new Hallmark Products.

One of the newest announcements at Hallmark is their Hallmark Rewards Program. By joining the program, members will benefit by saving on Hallmark greeting cards, receiving exclusive offers and sneak peeks of upcoming new products. Visit www.hallmarkrewards.ca to register online or stop by your closest Hallmark Gold Crown Store to learn more.

One of the things that I love about Hallmark is that they can be silly and that as you all know is a big hit with the kids.  From their Squawkin’ Egg Droppin’ Hen to their plush Story Buddies like Nugget.  Oh yes, the Squawkin’ Egg Droppin’ Hen.  A part of me wanted to save this and give it to the kids on Easter but then I realized I just had to share this for the rest of you because it was so darn cute.  MSRP $30.95 or $15.95 with purchase of three cards.  She squawks and lays her eggs as she sings and dances.  ADORABLE!

 I thought I'd post a video of the Hen in action and you can tell my oldest is being a bit of a ham because when I brought out the video camera she asked if I was going to You Tube it. LOL Which is funny considering I've only done it once or twice.

Nugget the Dog Story Buddy was just as popular with my children as the Hen.  Nugget comes with the storybook Nugget’s First Day of School.  As you read along Nugget responds with sound to different phrases. To prevent squabbling the kids took turns cuddling Nugget while I read.  Then my oldest daughter was eager to practice her reading so she could make Nugget talk.  MSRP $29.95

Of course it can’t always be just about the kids and so I was pleased to pull out a few things from the box that were definitely for the grownups.

Hallmark’s Bloomin Expressions is charming.  You simple press the button and the flower blooms in front of your eyes to reveal a special saying in the middle.  What a lovely way of letting someone know you think they’re special.  There are four designs (eight sayings)to choose from and my only suggestion was that it would have been nice if it played some sort of soft music appropriate to the message inside.  MRSP $19.95




The Stationary Tower was particularly delightful to receive because in my house we are forever hunting up paper and a pen.  I love the cute design and the sturdiness of the holder. This would be great for mother’s day, teacher appreciation or even a hostess gift.  MRSP $12.95

Let’s not forget dad.  For Father’s Day, we have these cool Gear Shaped Frames which would look great both on a desk or in a workshop.  Right now there is a limited time offer:  Buy 1 Card get two Gear Shaped Frames for $12.00  *Buy 2 Cards get three Gear Shaped Frames for $15.00

ENTER TO WIN

A BLOOMIN’ EXPRESSIONS FLOWER

TO ENTER:

• mandatory - leave a comment telling me what your favourite new Hallmark Product is.

For additional entries leave an additional comment per item.

• Follow me on Facebook
• Follow me on Twitter
• Tweet about this giveaway (may be done once per day)

Contest open to Canadians only.  Ends April 29th

Zeemaid


*disclosure, I received the above items so that I may review and write about them.  The experiences and opinions regarding said products are my own and I was not compensated in any other way for this review.*

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER BINA BUG

Spring Cleaning The Green Way - Giveaway

You know you are a mom of three messy kids when you get excited over being asked to participate in reviewing cleaning products as part of the Green Works® Program through Mom Central Canada.  And I do mean excited.  Seriously getting the Green Works® cleaning package was like opening a present on Christmas.  Okay it couldn’t compete with that sparkly little tennis bracelet I had my eye on but still.. it came close.

The thing is I am sensitive to harsh chemicals especially fumes and had been going through numerous products trying to find one that didn’t require me to hold my breath while cleaning the bathroom.  Then one day I bought

Green Works® Bathroom Cleaner

For the first time  in years I was able to use a bathroom cleaner that didn’t make me wheeze.  So I was already somewhat familiar with the Green Works® line.  I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me to explore the rest of their products.  All I can say is DU-UH!  So you can understand why I would be excited to receive this package.

What I have learned about Green Works®:

· Green Works® products are made with plant- and mineral-based cleaning ingredients. These ingredients are biodegradable and are naturally derived.

· Green Works® products are not tested on animals.

· Green Works® products are acknowledged by the EPA’s Design for the Environment program.

· You can find more information on these products here: http://www.trygreenworks.ca/

 

The glass cleaner works excellent, has a pleasant scent and is ammonia free.  The dishwashing liquid also has a lovely scent and gets just as foamy and bubbly as  any regular dish soap, yes I checked, bubbles are important to me as it doesn’t seem like it’s doing the job unless it does.   The bonus is it’s made from biodegradable plant products so I don’t have worry about what goes into the water and down the drain.

As a general rule I haven’t been a big fan of cleaning wipes because I figure it’s  just more garbage.  But my husband loves them for that quick and easy clean/sanitizing of knobs, switches, railings etc and when I read that they are biodegradable and compostable I felt much better about using them.  You can just throw the wipes in the green bin when you are done.  Plus, I don’t know if this has happened to you but I’ve had those cleaning wipe containers pinch my fingers because the wipe broke off inside and you have to fish it out again somehow… well Green Works® has solved that little problem by making the teeth collapsible so all you have to do is push and it opens up and you can grab the cloth.  Nice!

I probably should mention that there are a lot of great deals on right now at the following retailers:

Wal-mart

April- Products available may vary by store.

o Special 2-pack offer (All--Purpose Cleaner and Dish Soap) exclusively at Wal-mart for a great price!

o Exclusive All-Purpose Cleaner refill only at Wal-mart location

o April 14/15 Weekend - In-store educational demos. Learn more about the naturally-derived Green Works products in-store at participating Wal-mart locations.

Sobeys

April - Products available may vary by store.

o Buy 2 Green Works products at Sobeys and receive 200 Sobeys Bonus points

London Drugs

April - Products available may vary by store.

o Green Works will be hosting a twitter contest at London Drugs where customers can tweet their favourite Green Works Product to #WinWithGreenWorks to a chance to win 1 of 5 $500 London Drugs gift cards

OR  …..

ONE of YOU my lucky readers can have a chance to try out Green Works® too by entering to win a Green Works® Prize Pack.

TO ENTER

1.  Leave a comment sharing what your favourite Green Works® is.

2. Earn an extra entry by following me on Twitter

3. Earn an extra entry by following me on Facebook

4.  Earn an extra entry by subscribing by Feedburner

RULES

Open to Canadian Residents ONLY. Contest ends April 14th.  Winners must include email in their entry if it’s not on their profile.  Winners will be contacted by email and must respond within 3 days or a new winner will be selected.  Please note you may enter the giveaway across multiple blogs but can only win once.

Zeemaid

“Disclosure – I am participating in the Green Works program. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This is a personal blog. The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of The Clorox Company of Canada Ltd.”