Kclarke5

Breast feeding: for mature audiences only?

2011-03-31T16:48:00.000-04:00

I got caught up in a bit of an online debate today around breast feeding. Apparently there is this new toy down south that has sparked controversy because it *gasp* encourages breast feeding.

See the shocking news clip here.

Having worked with young children, I have seen young ones mimic breast feeding their dolls, just as I have seen them bottle feed, spoon feed, burp, change diapers, read stories, put down for naps, and yes, even spank them. Roll playing is an important part of a child's development. It helps them form their own values, ideals and even memories based on what they have witnessed Mom, Dad and others do and say.

So at what point do you draw the line in children's role playing? Would you tell your child that it's okay to bottle feed baby in public, but not breast feed? Haven't women been struggling for that right for generations?

Canadian Living asked on their Facebook page whether a breast feeding doll was "too much" for young children to be playing with. The answers were varied and heated. Some people were disgusted. Some thought it was robbing children of their innocence. One woman thought it was a step away from giving them sex dolls to see how babies are really made (really?). Another worried that such a toy would surely draw the attention of pedophiles. Many seemed to adopt the idea that it was pushing children into an adult situation that is not age appropriate.

See the shocking comments here.

The really unfortunate thing is that many of these opinions came from women who claim to have themselves breast fed their children. So it would seem many have bought into the notion that although healthy, breast feeding is still kinda wrong.

Personally, I think it's the adults who have twisted ideas about breast feeding, which makes it all the more important to assure young children that it's not yucky, silly or otherwise inappropriate behaviour. Nor is it "adult-only" behaviour. No, breastfeeding is most certainly an adult-child phenomenon, so why shouldn't children have a stake in the issue?

That said, I would probably not buy the toy. I'm personally not a fan of automated toys with singular functions. I think they discourage the use of imagination and creativity. That, and changing batteries is annoying. But I would not discourage my kid from breast feeding his or her (yes, boys like to mimic breast feeding too) doll, teddy bear or even GI Joe.

What do you think?

Bra Shopping: Triumph or Tragedy?

2011-01-31T11:49:00.001-05:00

** Boys, feel free to skip this one. I'm going to talk about bras, shopping and body-image. You've been warned**

I set aside a few hours this weekend to do some serious shopping: I needed both bras and a bathing suit for an upcoming trip. This deserves a little back story though, as shopping for bras has always been a nightmare for me. In case you're unaware -- and there's no cute or polite way to get around this -- I have large breasts. Every woman thinks she wants bigger boobs (or at least every man designing bras assumes every woman buying them wants bigger breasts). I know this because it is increasingly difficult to find bras without inner padding, push-ups, gel inserts, cushions, and now there are even "double push-ups", which are basically foam filled falsies on a band. I don't want bigger boobs, or the appearance of bigger boobs. I just want something to hold 'em in, strap 'em down, and keep 'em in place.

Not only do I have larger-than-average lady parts, but I have them on a petite frame. I have narrow shoulders and a small ribcage, so I need a bra with large cups on a small band and straps that are close together. I like the idea of crisscrossed straps or a racer-back to keep the straps in place, but now I'm being picky. Shopping for a decently appropriate bra is like searching for the holy grail, and at times I wonder if such an item is the stuff of fantasy. I frequently leave stores empty handed, frustrated and sometimes a bit emotional. On one memorable occasion I even managed to bring a sales associate to tears with me.

Up to a few years ago I was wearing a 32DD, but I'm not quite as slender now and am in a 34DD. Thank goodness, because the 34 is a bit easier to find. I know I could easily find a well-fitted bra at a specialty store, but I just can't justify the specialty price. Why should I have to pay $150 - $300 for something the rest of the world pays $30 - $50 for? If it's needed for a special occasion and there's no getting around it, sure, I'll shell out the dough, but I'd really rather not.

Most mall-variety bra stores (and I'm talking stores that sell only or primarily ladies undergarments) do not carry my size, or carry it in one or two styles only. When I ask for my size I often get a stunned look, questions about whether I've been fitted properly, or offers to try a different size that "might do the trick". I've been told it's an unusual size, it's a popular size that sells out too quickly, and once that it's a "European size." Well thank you very much. How silly of me to think my European sized body would work over here in North America. My mistake, I guess.

Well this weekend I lucked out at Sears, of all places. I tried on more than a dozen bras, of which about half were actually 34DD. Not only did I find some that fit nicely, I walked out of there with not one, but FOUR bras. Two were on clearance (one of which was a minimizer -- the opposite of a push-up!), and they were also having a buy-one-get-one sale on boxed bras. I was only able to find one boxed style of bra in my size that didn't look like something my grandmother might own, so I grabbed two of them.

Challenge one complete: on to bathing suits...

I'll keep this short, but after some searching I found an amazing, flattering bathing suit for a reasonable price. It was nothing fancy on the hanger, but once I got it on I knew it was The One. It's green, teal and black in a 60's style silhouette. It looks like something Joan Holloway would wear. I picked it up at Bikini Village for under $100. I was amazed! I did also try on what may have been only the second flattering bikini I've ever tried on in my life, but at $200 for both pieces I thought I'd better stick with the one piece.

Looking for clothes that flatter my body can be the most frustrating, awkward, embarrassing experience imaginable. And I don't even really have a problem with my "European" body type -- I'm just really tired of not fitting the mold that retailers are catering to. I'm tired of hemming, buying a size up so I can have something taken in, and trying to make something that doesn't fit "do the trick". That said, finding (and wearing!) properly fitted, flattering, comfortable, stylish garments is such a confidence booster! What's sexier than wearing something you know you look great in?

And that's why I love/hate shopping.

New Year's Resolution Fail

2011-01-14T14:36:00.000-05:00

So much for my resolution to be healthier! I have been sick for about a week and a half now -- first with a sore throat, immediately followed by a full-blown cold. I haven't been sick like this in AGES! I forgot how much fun it is to only breathe through your mouth and lose your ability to taste food. And then there's the watery eyes, which Jason tells me is actually just boogers coming out of your eyes. Oh, and the dry, chapped, red skin around my nose is very flattering. Sigh.

In other news, I haven't knit a stitch in ages. I'm hoping to get some knitting and card making done this weekend. We'll see how I do. One of my problems is that I love starting projects, but finishing them always seems like a nagging chore. It's like the novelty and excitement starts to wane when I'm about halfway through a project. I need to finish at least 2 started projects before I start another, and preferably the baby items for Scarlett -- before she's not a baby anymore!

Time to get to work. I'm procrastinating writing a report :p

Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T16:10:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year.

I can honestly say I've never appreciated the words more. Not that I had an especially thrilling NYE -- Jason and I went for dinner at Shoeless Joe's (it was good) and to see Tron at the VIP (it was mediocre, but 3D!). Then we went home and enjoyed a glass of 2008 Trius Red (it was wonderful). It was a great date night and I enjoyed spending some QT with my love.

The last couple months of 2010 were a bit of a drag for me. I was crazy busy with work, social commitments, and personal drama, and I think I started to let things slide. When I get stressed I tend to procrastinate, when I procrastinate I get overwhelmed, when I'm overwhelmed I start to feel down, and when I'm feeling down I procrastinate more. This is part of the reason I haven't been blogging much lately.

Rather than tackle this issue head on, I decide to spend the holiday break doing nothing. It was very therapeutic. I could have gone on doing nothing for many weeks more, but alas... I'm back to work today, and working away! I'm getting things checked off my "To Do" list, and I'm determined not to continue to be sucked into a cycle of melancholy and stress. Instead, I'm formulating resolutions that will really help 2011 to be a happy new year.

I have lots of good intentions for 2011, but my main resolution is to be healthier.

By being healthier I mean the typical, eat healthier and exercise more mantra, but also to be more aware of and respectful of my own limits. Be more conscious of my social, intellectual and professional needs. Don't make commitments that I don't have time to fulfill. Celebrate community and relationships, but don't feel guilty about enjoying some "me" or "us" time. Find balance.

What about you? Do you have any resolutions for 2011? Do you have advice for me?

Nintendo Wii is Mean

2010-12-10T11:04:00.000-05:00

I've never owned a scale, but last year around this time I decided to buy Wii fit to encourage me to be more active at home. I dropped my gym membership a few months earlier and I knew I had to do something to keep active. Things went great at first, but then I gained a few pounds. The next thing I knew that mean Wii was yelling at me all the time.

"It's been 7 days, where have you been? You know you're just gonna get fat if you don't get your a** in gear." "Hey lazy, want some fitness tips?" "You've gained a bazillion pounds since your last visit." "You're not very good at this -- maybe if you showed up you'd get more practice." "You're overweight."

Pretty soon the mean machine had me so down on myself I only wanted to play Mario. So this summer I started doing some running. I really enjoyed it! My goal was 3 times per week, but it happened more like twice a week. That was okay though, I was having fun. Then when it started getting dark at 4:00 PM I decided I had to give it up for awhile. I may still try to get a run in now and then on the weekend, but I'm not that confident in the snow either. SO, it was back to the Wii. "It's been 200 days since your last visit... and you've gained weight... and you're unbalanced... you suck." MEAN!

Since Wii tells me my weight in kgs, I always just gave it the benefit of the doubt. You know what though? That POS has been giving me a hard time for no good reason. I have always thought I was at my healthiest when I was working in childcare. I was outside at least twice a day, and active all day every day. I also ate about 7 or 8 times per day (including usually 2 lunches!), napped on my breaks, and was still pretty exhausted when I got home. Despite all the snacking, I stayed pretty slender during that period of my life. So when I went back to school, and then eventually got a desk job, I naturally started putting on a bit of weight, and you know what? I don't fit into a size 2 or 4 anymore, and maybe my bikini days are over. And getting rid of my size 2 and 4 clothes has been sad, but such is life.

So today I decided to face the fear the Wii has instilled in me and do a kg/lb conversion online. I've gained about 8 lbs since my daycare days (4 years ago). 8 lbs in four years. So it would be nice to lose 8 lbs at some point in the next 4 years, but SERIOUSLY -- I've been letting a game system bully me over 8 measly pounds?

I'm over it. Pass the chocolate truffles.

Oatmeal Chocolate Love

2010-12-06T15:25:00.000-05:00

Ladies, if you're feeling a bit under appreciated at home can I suggest baking? This is a conversation that happened at my house this afternoon:

Jason: Whatcha doin'?
Me: I was just thinking about baking some cookies.
Jason: Cookies? Mmm! What kind?
Me: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip
Jason: God dammit, I love you!

Here is the recipe I use, but I make a few small changes. Start with cold butter, cut into cubes. Beat the cold butter with an egg beater until it's rich, creamy and whipped (2-3 mins). Add the sugar and beat until well mixed, scraping sides. Continue adding the ingredients as listed using the beater. You may need to stir in the oatmeal, but if you can get away with it just use the beater for that too. I reduce the baking soda to 3/4 tsp and the salt to 1/4 tsp. I also substitute the chocolate chips with dark chocolate chips. Yum!

What's a snow day without home baked cookies :)

NaKniSweMo

2010-12-04T11:37:00.000-05:00

Well, NakniSweMo has come and gone, and I'm still working on my Sweater For Scarlett. The pattern called for knitting the top first, then sleeves, then the body. I was getting really frustrated with the sleeves though, so I procrastinated working on them. Eventually I decided it wasn't worth it, and I've started on the body. I'll go back to the sleeves at the end. I'm going to work on it over the weekend and hopefully have it done by next week. I feel like it just needs a few solid hours, but I also need to get in a few hours of house work :S We'll see which gets done.

Drama Dog

2010-11-25T13:53:00.000-05:00

It seems whenever we find ourselves too busy to spend much time at home, Mosely compounds the problem of his temporary abandonment by doing something dramatic. I thought he'd really tested the limits of dog drama last year when he managed to find and devour not one, but FOUR BAGS of chocolate kisses. We were so worried about him, we called the vet, bought special upset-tummy biscuits, and I left work early to keep an eye on him. Apart from some gas and extreme hyper behaviour, he was fine.

Earlier this week Moe escaped the confines of the dining room to find half a Lindt Dark Chocolate and Fleur de Sel bar, which he inhaled. Jason was a little worried, this being a dark chocolate mishap. I was not. Did I mention he ate FOUR BAGS of various kinds of kisses? Four bags would be enough to put me into a chocolate coma. That same evening he did laps around the living room and started throwing toys at us.

Then yesterday he found 5 sugar cookies I had completely forgotten about in one of my work bags. Before I tell you about the nickname we've given our precious pooch, I should tell you we know we are completely, 100% responsible for our dog's misdeeds. Chocolate should be kept up high in a place requiring opposable thumbs to get at, ditto for cookies, and we should make sure we are home before our dog gets bored enough to get into mischief.

We love him to death and are very aware of his attention needs -- and he's not a needy dog at all. All he asks for is food, water, a few minutes outside each day and not to be left alone for 10 or more straight hours. And maybe throw a toy around and give him a cuddle every few days. We're usually pretty good, but this time of year seems to be when we get busy with a lot of after-work stuff. I'll try to make it up to him this weekend.

His nickname, by the way is A**hole.

A Really Long Rant About Ageism

2010-11-22T12:18:00.002-05:00

Discrimination and presumptuous comments based on age is a big problem for me. It's one of my biggest pet peeves. Last week I was at an event and an "older gentleman" thought it necessary to comment that I am way too young to be married. I couldn't think of a clever come back, so I just shrugged and said, "Hey, I was older than my parents were when they got married." He retorted that was probably because my parents were just a couple of horny teenagers.

Apart from the obvious, let me begin to break down the problems with this conversation:
- At no point had I mentioned or made reference to my age.
- My parents were college graduates both starting out in their careers when they got married.
- I was a university graduate starting on my second career when Jason and I married.
- What difference does it make how old I was or how old I am in reference to anything I choose to do?!

I personally feel that attitudes about childhood and youth in our culture have created at much extended "coming of age" that is, in my opinion, to our detriment.

Historically speaking, children were once regarded as small adults, but fully capable of working inside or outside of the home for the benefit of the family. Toys and games were designed for the wealthy, and generally children and adults played and took part together. While it was known that children required instruction and training of some kind, by their early teens they were regarded as adults -- capable of marriage, running a business, or taking the throne.

Fast-forward to the current day, and a Toronto-based TV show featuring a house full of twenty-somethings promises to show us what it's like to "grow up" in Toronto.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to advocate for shorter periods of schooling, or teen marriages. But I do think at some point in the evolution of our thoughts on childhood we started looking at children as little idiots rather than little adults. Kids are so much smarter, and more aware, and more capable than we give them credit for. I don't think six and seven year olds should be expected or permitted to work in mines or serve on battle fields. I do have a problem with a culture that doesn't allow eleven and twelve year olds to have a paper route or work on the family farm. See below for the rights and freedoms our children should, but don't always seem to have.

No, in the current day we expect our "children" to continue their studies and delay all forms of work until they are nearly 30. And then we wonder why they have trouble leaving the nest. I'm sorry, but at 20 you're no longer "growing up" in Toronto -- you're an adult! You've grown! Your shenanigans and antics are not stepping stones on the way to being a grown up, it's just who you are.

I have to give my parents credit where it's due, they obviously did something right. My 21-year-old sister manages a group of employees, some of whom are high school aged. She was telling me this weekend about a Mom of one of the employees who calls and emails her on a regular basis to discuss her daughter's work. Her top complaint -- her daughter is mature enough to handle more responsibility on the job. My sister replied that when her daughter is mature enough to ask for it herself, then they can talk about giving her more responsibility. Can you imagine? That would be like my Mom emailing my boss to say I deserve a raise. Hey, maybe I can get my Mom to sit on the Salary and Benefits Committee at work to negotiate a salary increase. My sister also told me when she sends out the weekly schedule she has to send it several parents.

Of course, when I worked in undergraduate recruitment I saw all forms of helicopter-parentism. Everything from the worrying hoverer to the intrusive "stealth fighter" parents. Good grief, cut the cord already! NEWSFLASH -- by the time your child reaches university, he or she is a fully functioning adult, capable of making his or her own decisions. If that is not the case, you've done something wrong. I once had a lengthy conversation with a Mom who wanted to know what her son should take in first year if he was going to get in to both the Richard Ivey Business School AND dental school. I asked what her son was interested in and she scoffed, "Nothing. He hates school -- he only likes video games." Bummer Mom, but your little high achiever who has no academic aspirations probably isn't going to get his MBA or pursue oral surgery, and he certainly isn't going to do both.

You may think I'm being a bit harsh, and you may be feeling sorry for any future, hypothetical children I might have. Fair enough, but before I end rant, let's talk about biology for a minute.

The human brain undergoes two major periods of growth and change (after birth). The first happens around the ages of 2 - 3. We know this time is important for language acquisition and a number of other important skills. The second major growth period happens at different times for different people, but usually between ages 15 - 18. This is why, despite my argument that we don't give children and young people enough credit for their capabilities, you will never hear me advocate for lowering the drinking age. We know there is a LOT of important stuff happening to the teenage brain, but we actually know very little about what's taking place. After this period the human has stopped developing biologically. That's it, welcome to your adult body/mind. I hope you treated them well up to this point.

Another biological phenomenon I find interesting, especially when talking about people in their 20s and 30s is fertility. Consider the following charts from the World IVF Website:

The news no woman wants to hear, but here it is: your optimal childbearing years are 18 - 25. By the time a woman is 30 (the age deemed appropriate for motherhood by our society) she is entering into her "moderate risk" pregnancy years and has a greater chance of miscarriage, complications, and of bearing a child with chromosomal abnormalities. Is it any wonder 1 in 6 North Americans will have trouble conceiving or carrying a pregnancy to term?

And yet, somehow at 26 I am considered by some to be "too young to be married".

Clearly this extended period of youth is a social construction and not based on fact, ability or biology.

Young people, stop thinking of yourselves as youths. Sure, you may feel like you still have a lot to learn about life, but welcome to the club. The minute you stop learning is the minute you stop fully participating in your world. Stand up for yourself and don't let someone else stand up for you or tell you what to do because they're older. You're as much an adult at 20 as you'll ever be, you just need to start acting like one, and demanding to be treated like one.

People over 35, stop patronizing the younger generation. Be better mentors by setting a good example and letting younger people make their own mistakes. Parents, stop setting up guard rails for your children. I know, you don't want to see them fall on their faces, but if you've done your job well they'll be okay. Let them jump, and if they fall they'll get back up.

End of rant.

Trouble

2010-11-20T21:44:00.000-05:00

I was doing so well eating healthy yesterday, until my dear friend Kate came over with a box of Turtles chocolates and a big bag of Swedish Berries. Sigh.

Today was a bit better (though I did have to finish off the rest of the Turtles with my sister, Mel).

Late Breakfast:
- 1 egg, 3 strips bacon, 1 slice toast with jam
- Tea & juice

Snack:
- 1 blueberry rhubarb muffin
- Tea

Dinner:
- Roast beef, salad, sweet potato hash browns
- Juice
- The last Turtle chocolate ;)

I had a nice sleep in this morning (that's what Saturdays are made for!), before Jason and I went on a nice long walk around town. It was chilly, but gorgeous, and we wished we'd thought to bring the camera. We finally discovered one of St. Marys famous walking paths and it was gorgeous. As much as I loved the walk though, I'm doubtful about ever riding a bike in St. Marys. Good gravy, the hills are intense! Jason thinks I'll come around, but I'm not so sure. When we got home I whipped up a barley casserole for later in the week, and some muffins for our lunches. My sister came over just as they were coming out of the oven. We spent the rest of the afternoon folding laundry and just hanging out. It was a perfect Saturday! The muffin recipe was inspired by the one on allrecipes.com with a few tweaks. I'll post it once I've gotten it out of my head and on paper!

Healthy Eating Blog

2010-11-19T11:58:00.000-05:00

I know I usually save the healthy eating blogging for February (heart health month!), but I'm getting an early start this year. My major eating shortcomings are related to sweets, although I do sometimes over-snack and eat carb-heavy meals. I'm going to try to start eating healthier now to avoid some of the pounds that are bound to find my hips over the holidays. I got off to a lame start yesterday when I had a scrambled egg, 2 strips of bacon, beet/apple/ginger juice and... a chocolate croissant for breakfast. It was breakfast on the road and I didn't get lunch until 3:00 PM, so I did have a legitimate excuse to carb up.

Today I'm off to a good start, so we'll call this day 1.

Breakfast:
Raisin Bran & green tea

Snack:
Oatmeal & plain yogourt

Lunch:
Chicken w/tomatoes & avocado and garlic rice
A juice box

Emergency Resource/Afternoon Snack:
A banana

This probably seems like a lot of food (and maybe it is), but if there's one thing I know about myself it's that I need to eat. I need my snacks - if my blood-sugar dips I get shaky, irritable, light headed, tired and all-around hangry. And nobody wants me to be hangry. I haven't quite decided what's for dinner yet, but there's a good chance it will also involve chicken. Maybe that's gross, but ya gotta eat what's in the fridge! I have no plans to reduce my food intake, just to make it healthier.

Since we all know how I feel about baked goods, I want to whip up something healthy soon. I have frozen rhubarb, blueberries and raspberries in the freezer as well as some overripe bananas on the counter. The possibilities are endless!

I'm going to need to keep up this healthy eating gig too -- I'm surrounded by germs and my coworker is hacking something fierce as I type. Please pass the Purell.

#NaKniSweMo is coming along great! One false start and a bit of back-knitting so far, but I'm just about ready to separate out the sleeves on my bebe sweater! I hope to have it done by next weekend so I can start on hubby's sweater. Yay!

#fail

2010-11-16T19:24:00.000-05:00

So I'm giving myself a failing grade for #NaBloPoMo. Sorry guys -- it's been crazy. And thought it's been NBD, the commuting really does cut into spare time.

That being said, tonight I will cast on my #NaKniSweMo project! I did some research this aft, and I feel like I'm ready to start. Wish me luck!

Small Town FTW

2010-11-13T23:19:00.000-05:00

Eeek! The day's almost over and I almost forgot to blog again!

I have to say it's only been a few days, but I am so loving being in a small town again.

We took Mosely to the St. Marys Santa Claus Parade last night. It was his first parade, and he did alright! Of course he did some typical Mosely whining, whimpering and "singing" along with all the sirens, but I think he had a good time. He especially enjoyed the Shriners looping around in their tiny cars. It was a good time and it reminded me of parades gone by in other small towns. Parents waved from the streets as their children marched, danced or "floated" by. People jumped out of the parade to say hi to friends on the street, and a few randoms joined the parade to do the same. And even though we knew no one, people said hi, petted Mosely and treated us like - well, neighbours. It was great.

Those of you who know me very well may have heard me lament about my pet peeve with grocery stores. I really feel the grocery store industry did a huge disservice to the economy, consumers and society in general when they did away with the bag boy. You know, that nice young man who used to put your groceries in the bags and then help you take them out to your car? He had a system for putting the items in the bags -- he didn't just throw them in there! It was like a strategic game of tetris (which I should add I've been playing a lot of lately). Everything had to fit perfectly without making the bags too heavy or damaging any of the merchandise. When the bag boys were let go this task was left to the cashiers, but they didn't have the skill or know-how to pack bags -- and they certainly can't help you get your stuff to the car. Now it seems the consumer is most often responsible for bagging his or her own groceries. What a pain in the arse!

Today I went to the local big-box grocery store, McDonald's Independent, which is just like a Super Store. My first pleasant surprise was being able to park near the entrance on a Saturday afternoon, but that small delight was dwarfed by my elation at seeing extra staff at the check outs whose specific duty was to assist in the bagging of groceries! There were about three cashiers on duty, plus this extra gentleman who seemed to be helping out with older customers. I wondered if he would help them to their cars if asked. True, I didn't personally benefit from the presence of this bagging professional, but my cashier did an excellent job helping me pack my groceries. She put boxes with boxes, fruit with fruit and handed me the eggs to carry out. Just to compare, at my grocery store in London I usually get the cashier with the deep smoker's voice and the only words she ever says to me are "Cart or pick up?" as she hastily throws laundry detergent in the bag with bread and grapes.

As with any small town though, there are downsides. In the short time we've been here I've already seen at least 4 NASCAR jackets. Not run of the mill driver fan gear either -- I saw one for Hendrick's Motor Sports, one for Dupont with a 24 and one for Office Depot with a 14 on the sleeve. These are serious fans. Hopefully I can avoid them.

Settling In

2010-11-12T13:04:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted a blog (or knit a stitch) in days! Terrible, I know, but before you start calling me a failure and a liar, let me just remind you I'm in the middle of moving. Gimme a break.

So, we moved into the new place on Wednesday with the help of some wonderful, amazing, fantastic friends and family. I can't thank them enough for helping make our move so smooth and enjoyable. I didn't stress about a thing!

Under normal circumstances I would say I hate moving. It usually involves several days of looking like shite, being surrounded by well-intentioned but less than thrilled people who are all looking at you for some kind of direction. Add to that the fact that you have no access to your creature comforts, your former routine is terminated and any sense of privacy is out the window. That was not the case with this move at all! Except maybe for the looking like shite bit -- I even had to do without a mirror yesterday.

After the official move in on Wednesday, we spent yesterday running around picking up "need" items (like a mirror!) and then doing some cleaning and yard work at our "old house". Today I am doing more unpacking and organizing, planning to register a P.O. Box and do groceries later, and then hoping to catch the St. Marys Santa Claus Parade tonight! Our first community event!

I think we all feel at home already, but by the end of the weekend I expect we'll be unpacked and really settled in. Even Mosely seemed to know right away that we are not on a visit, but at a new home. After a few laps around the house and sniffing every corner, he got comfortable right away on Wednesday night. He even seems to be doing okay without a fenced back yard for the time being and is currently fast asleep on his leash in the back yard. There will be a few things like that for all of us to get used to, but so far things are going great :)

Transitions

2010-11-08T21:52:00.000-05:00

Well, just about everything's packed now and we're living in this strange state of transition... It's weird living out of a suitcase in your own home. I had a glass of wine with dinner in a coffee mug. Our bed is taken apart and we're sleeping on a mattress on the floor. Pictures are all packed away and the walls look naked.

All this serves to remind me that we're in a sort of transitionary point in our lives as well. Twenty-somethings, married, no kids. It's an awkward place to be as many people have opinions about what we should or shouldn't be doing. We're too old for this and too young for that, etc. Who made up these life stages anyways -- and who wants to live their life in stages?

It also makes me think of the house we're moving to in St. Marys. It's beautiful and I love it and I can't wait to make it home!! But it's a transitionary home as well. We always knew our place in London would be our "starter" and we only ever planned to live here for 5 years or so. 5 1/2 years later, we're ready to move on, but not quite ready for our "forever home". Jason and I have always dreamed of a place in the country with a few acres, a barn, a massive garden, and a few beasts. That isn't exactly in the cards just yet, so the St. Marys place is our "in-between". Jason wasn't initially keen on the idea of an "in-between" place, but after looking around and realizing we're still a few years from being able to afford that place in the country, he relented. And I'm so glad he did! It will be nice to get back to living in a small town. St. Marys seems like a really great community.

And now I think I'm transitioning from awake to asleep very quickly and I'm worried I might be rambling... More move updates tomorrow!

Whoopsy Daisy

2010-11-07T19:18:00.000-05:00

I completely forgot to blog yesterday and I didn't knit a stitch either. I think I have a good excuse though -- it was the London Short Film Showcase, so I kinda had my hands full. It was an amazing event and I couldn't be happier with the turnout!

Today I'm feeling quite tired though.

Jason's parents were just over to help us pack (it begins!!).

Mosely doesn't quite know what to make of this mess we're making...

Shortly after they left we decided to go for a late afternoon nap and I did some knitting before falling asleep.

This is the Sweet Pea Blankie I've been working on. It's coming along quite nicely :)

London Short Film Showcase 2010!

2010-11-05T14:03:00.000-04:00

Check out this sweet, sweet London Free Press article about the Showcase!

Many of you probably know I'm on the board for this fun London event. What you may not know is that I was in charge of gathering silent auction items once again this year. Let me tell you, there are a few that I will be bidding on ;)

Oh, and did I mention the first 25 in the door will get a swag bag full of, um, swag?

Be sure to check out the London Short Film Showcase tomorrow night at Museum London!

Get tickets here!

NOvember

2010-11-04T10:26:00.001-04:00

If you're anything like me, your time is extremely valuable. I find my days and nights overrun by activities, and all this busyness takes its toll! Add in the move, and I'm really running at max cap. Yesterday my genius hubby shared an idea with me that I want to share with you -- let's make this a NOvember. If you're feeling rundown, burning out, or just too busy, use this month to say "no"**. Even if you just say no to ONE unnecessary item on your schedule, you'll breathe a little easier this month.

Much of what is keeping me busy this month is work related and will be difficult to say no to. I have many early morning (ugh) and late afternoon events, and one Sunday so far. I am going to commit to not making any more work commitments outside of regular working hours this month. WHEW!

Luckily the commitments I've made to blog and knit are both things I do for ME, so I don't have to say no to them.

Moving out of London to St. Marys will make it a bit easier to say no to some "extra-curriculars", but I do still plan to be involved in the Forest City. I hope to also find ways to get involved in my new community... in the New Year!

Sidenote: If you're NOT too busy and have time to spare, November is a great month to volunteer. There are many charities and non-profits needing extra help in November and December to cope with added need and extra donation inventory around the holidays. If you're looking for ways to be busier in the next few months, I suggest looking into volunteering for one of the following:

Women's Community House
London and Area Food Bank
United Way of Middlesex & London
The Salvation Army
Please suggest other organizations in need in the comments!

**Please don't say no to the London Short Film Showcase this weekend!! It will be a great event, and tickets are available at a reduced price TODAY ONLY!!

Shopping!!

2010-11-03T10:15:00.001-04:00

I am addicted to kijiji, the classifieds website. This is not necessarily a new thing -- I have a reputation for searching "beagle" on the site at least once every two weeks (I can't help it, I love beagles). With our move well underway, I have an actual, legitimate excuse for shopping.

The house that we're moving to is a bit bigger than ours, but we're also using the move as an opportunity to replace some of our old stuff with new stuff.

Take living room furniture for example: five years ago we bought a lovely couch/chair/ottoman set at Leons for something like $1200. It was very modern and classy looking, and the salesman assured us the soft mico-suede-like fabric would be easy to wipe clean. He lied. Not only is it impossible to clean (even water seems to stain it), but it attracts pet hair and pets like a magnet. And my dog drools in his sleep. And my late cat (RIP Gordon) liked to vomit on soft surfaces. The chair is beyond salvation, so it (and likely the ottoman) will not be making the move. The couch will move temporarily until it can be replaced.

The new house also has no closets. Like, not-a-single-closet-in-the-place. Old houses are sometimes like that, so we'll be needing dressers, armoires, wardrobes, and other creative storage solutions. So far kijiji has been a godsend in that department!

We're also planning a big IKEA shopping trip, which I'm super excited about, but figure I might as well get what I can second hand and at antique shops first.

Before you start telling me about the evils of consumerism and how we live in a disposable culture, let me distract you with this funny parody of the IKEA Cats commercial:

I also just found out the couch I want now comes in a box, unassembled. THAT'S gonna be awesome.

Auburn Like Anne

2010-11-02T09:59:00.000-04:00

I did actually finish it, and just so you'll believe me, here are the pics to prove it:

Admittedly, they are not the greatest pictures, but I took them on my phone in poor lighting. These photos were taken before weaving in, blocking and sewing on buttons, but it is complete! I've worn it twice already and LOVE it! The colour is really great, and it's just so comfortable. I did the sleeves a bit short because I was paranoid about running out of yarn (and of course, ended up with lots left over). Also, after blocking the sweater came out much longer than I expected, but it's still quite flattering.

I'll try to have @JClarkey take a picture of me the next time I'm wearing it -- it really is gorgeous!

I will be using the same pattern on a much, much smaller scale for my Sweater for Scarlett. I'm also undecided as to whether I should do buttons on the top, like mine, or put buttons all the way down like a typical cardigan. I'll keep you posted. I will also be going against the legendary Elizabeth Zimmerman's recommendation to knit baby items in soft wool (which is what mine is), and I'll be making Scarlett's sweater out of a washable cotton/acrylic blend. Having worked many years in childcare, I want her to be able to wear it while she's playing, making messes and being a kid. For some reason a wool baby sweater seems to me like something that would be worn in church and at Christmas. Bleh. I'm also going to try to make it in a size 12 - 18 mos (but I'll totally be guessing as I knit) because she has more tiny baby clothes than she'll probably ever wear.

Being an Auntie is fun, but I wish she lived closer to me :(

NaBloPoMo!

2010-11-01T13:01:00.001-04:00

Since I've dropped off the blogging train, I thought I might as well participate in NaBloPoMo, or National Blog Posting Month. It the month of November I will attempt to blog EVERY SINGLE DAY! I will also be participating in NaKniSweMo, which is National Knit a Sweater Month, and @JClarkey is growing a moustache for Movember! It's going to be a busy month for these, and other reasons.

What else is keeping me busy in November? Well, for starters:

- The London Short Film Showcase (of which I am a board member)
- I'm moving (!!)
- 6-8 work events taking place outside of regular working hours
- And a host of other extracurriculars (Pillar Innovation Awards, a baby shower, a card making night, et al).

This all seems like a lot (even for me), but I can handle it... I think!

Unfortunately NaKniSweMo is already not off to a great start as all of my yarn has been packed for the move :S I did just finish a sweater though, so I think I have permission to cheat a bit. Here are my knitting goals for the month:

- Get at least halfway through the Sweet Pea Blankie I am working on for my niece, Scarlett (this is not packed and will give me something to work on until I am sufficiently unpacked)
- Knit and finish one Baby Sweater on Two Needles for Scarlett, starting by November 15
- Start on a TML Jersey for Jason by November 30

All this work will be a serious test of both my knitting abilities and my attention span, which is admittedly short. It will also help me prepare for another Heart Health Month blog fest come February!! I am hopeful that the knitting will help with the blog inspirations.

Here is that adorable niece I was talking about. I think I have just enough Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Terracotta for a sweet little baby sweater.

What are you doing this month?

What ever happened to ugly people?

2010-10-08T15:11:00.000-04:00

"All young people seem to be good looking now. When I was in college I had some friends who were ugly. I have pictures to prove it!"

Overheard this little gem and had a giggle.

- KC

Event Planners (Behind the Scenes)

2010-09-14T20:16:00.000-04:00

This week is a bit of a stress nightmare, as it's the week before a BIG event at work. People seem to think I have the easiest job on the planet, and while it is pretty awesome, it has its moments. The week leading up to an event would be one of those moments.

Here is an idea of the thoughts and emotions that precede an event:

6 Months Prior to Event: "This event is going to be AWESOME!! It will be the BEST EVER!! It will blow last year's event out of the water!"

3 Months Prior to Event: "Things are coming along smoothly. This event will rock!"

2 Months Prior to Event: "Wow, this event is coming up fast. No worries, I'll be ready, and it's going to be sooooo much fun!"

1 Month Prior to Event: "Still lots of time to prepare. This event will be at least as good as it was last year. With luck, it may even be a bit better."

2 Weeks Prior to Event: "Jeez, there's still a lot of work to do to make sure this event is a success. But, it'll get done. As long as people have a good time I'll be happy with the event -- even if it's not quite as good as last year."

1 Week Prior to Event: "F* this event is going to kill me! How am I going to get all this work done?!?! How did we DO it last year???"

1 Day Prior to Event: "This event is going to suck. I hope I don't get fired."

Now to add to the complexity of all these emotions, imagine they overlap for multiple events. Now imagine you are One Week Prior to and Two Weeks Prior to the two biggest events of the year. Yup, that's where I live right now... So if you don't hear from me for a few weeks... Or if you start to hear nasty rumours about me...

And for those of you who think I have the sweetest job in the world... I do, actually. Just don't wish you were me in the month of September.

Secret Love Affair

2010-09-03T10:30:00.002-04:00

I love tomatoes. My love of tomatoes goes back to the days of my childhood when I used to pick them from my parents' garden and eat them until I had cankers from the acidity. To this day I will frequently enter the house with a mouthful of sun-warmed cherry tomatoes answering a garbled "Nuffin'" to the inevitable question, "What are you eating?"

This year when my local Metro was closing the garden centre they began giving plants away for FREE! I couldn't resist picking up one of each kind of tomato to add to the three semi-exotic varieties I had already planted. Here they are:

The Grape tomatoes are doing very well and make a tasty addition to salad, or just a nice snack!

The Romas are producing well, but so far everything is staying quite green.

The Amish Paste are both bountiful and LARGE, but are also staying pretty green. This is the first (exciting!) sign of colour on the plant. Between these and the Romas I will be making a lot of sauce this year! I'll also be looking for a recipe for pizza sauce.

The Green Zebras also seem to be well-producing, but slow to ripen. These bad-boys are almost there, but still quite hard. I can't wait to try them!

Also in the garden, but not featured here are Brandywine and Black Cherry tomatoes. The Black Cherries are on the deck (better sun) and early producers, so I've been eating them for a few weeks. They're delicious and perfectly snack sized! The only problem I've noticed is they sometimes disappear at the peak of ripening. I'm not sure if I have the dog or some other wildlife to blame for it.

I do know it's not @jclarkey munching on them because he has a strong dislike for tomatoes. I won't say he hates them, because he does like salsa and tomato sauce, but he doesn't tolerate raw tomatoes. I'm kind of hopeful I can convert him. Especially given the number we'll have this year! I also have to thank him for tending to my tomatoes. They often grow to heights beyond my reach and he has to stake them for me. Thanks hunny!

Garden Dilemma:
My chives are in flower right now, and I'm not too sure what to do. We hardly use the chives so I usually try to cut the flowers as soon as they appear because they spread like weeds. This year some local honey bees have really taken to them! I feel bad taking food that I won't eat from someone else who's really enjoying it. Thoughts?

P.S. Blogger is once again taking liberties with photo rotation. It doesn't matter how I format them prior to upload, blogger seems to have a mind of its own when deciding how photos should be laid out.

Gone to the Dogs

2010-08-04T08:53:00.001-04:00

I know every dog owner thinks their dog is perfect, but nothing puts things into perspective like spending time with someone else's pooch. This weekend we had a friend's pug, Charlie, over for a sleep over. We thought it would be a good test to see if we can handle two dogs one day. Charlie's family is also going on an extended vacation later this year, so it was a bit of a test drive to see if he could spend a few months with us.

Charlie was a perfect gentleman for the most part. He is a cute little guy and we loved having him visit. Charlie seemed to like us too, for the most part. He wasn't much of a fan of Moe. The two dogs seemed to get along fine... when they were ignoring each other. I was a little disappointed, as I'd hoped Mosely would get a playmate out of the deal, but I figured it wasn't terrible if they weren't too playful. At least they'd be quiet chums. As the day wore on it became obvious that the two dogs were not about to be any kind of chums. Jason and I were busy working on the house this weekend, so we left them to their own devices in the backyard. After an hour or so passed we peeked outside to see that Mosely had found a comfy spot in the shade and was sprawled out for a nap, as per usual, but Charlie was standing, staring at the back door like he'd been waiting for us to come back the whole time. After that we decided to let him in while we worked. He didn't get into any trouble, but just followed us around with his tongue lolling out.

None of this was really problematic... It was just kind of worrisome, and a bit annoying. Especially the fact that he didn't relax. I mean really, he didn't relax. In the 24 hours he was with us I only saw him sit when I told him to, and that was only for a few minutes.

Later on it became apparent that Charlie had some dominance issues. He showed Mosely his tough side at dinner time by chasing him out of the kitchen with a lot of noise and a few bites. I figured that was no big deal -- we'd just have to feed them separately. A similar display when I threw Moe a tennis ball was another red flag. The final straw came later that night when we had some friends over. Charlie LOVES people (hence the following around with big eyes and lolling tongue). He was so excited to see my friends he started spinning in circles. Moe thought that was awesome and took it as an opportunity to play. Charlie was not about to play, and went into full on attack mode instead. Jason quickly grabbed Moe, but I was unable to get Charlie because he doesn't wear a collar (word to the wise -- Charlie's owner advised us that collars could cause a pugs eyes to pop out. Seriously). So poor Moe was unable to escape Charlie's wrath and received many pug bites. Then he started to growl and snap back. Lucky I grabbed Chuck when I did, or we would have had a full on dog fight on our hands!

So, that was that. He still spent the night, but in the morning we had to tell Charlie's family that an extended stay just wouldn't work out. In the end we realized (again) that our dog is perfect for us. He's very chill and can relax almost anywhere. He lays around for the better part of the day (in the sun, in the shade, on the couch, under the table, or frequently, half on-half off a dog bed). He is quite friendly, but not overly affectionate and very independent. Moe loves us, but he doesn't need us around all the time. If we're watching a movie and he's tired he'll frequently get up and go to bed. We'll often go outside to enjoy some nice weather and later realize we forgot him sleeping inside. He doesn't need a lot of exercise, though we try to walk for 15 minutes every day with one or two longer walks each week. In the winter it becomes much less and all our waistlines suffer for it. He's also a well-mannered walker and I comfortably let other people walk him (even young children) without worrying he'll act up. Sure, he has terrible door manners and is a relentless sniffer, and every once and awhile he gets into trouble, but for us no dog can compare.

I would still like to add a second dog to our family one day, but I can't help but worry that Mosely has us so spoiled we'll be in for big trouble. What do you think? Can a dog teach another dog how to be calm, cool and relaxed? Or do I just have to hope for the best and see what I get?

P.S. Anyone know how to rotate a photo on blogger? Seems a mystery.

Whoopsie Daisy...

2010-07-22T11:30:00.000-04:00

Wow, it's been awhile since I posted... Like, a long while.

Well, no time like the present I guess.

I have been working hard to get through my bucket list, but many distractions have come up along the way. First, the bucket list update:

- ~~Go horseback riding~~ Done. @jclarkey and I had a great time at the Horseshoe J Dude Ranch, and I hope to go back in the fall when the leaves start to change.

~~- Go on a portage~~ Done. Our trip to Algonquin was fabulous. I have to admit, after the first portage I was thinking something like "Whose %#*$ing idea was this?!?! I am never doing this again!! %*&$#!!" But it really was worth it, and I look forward to doing it again.

- Catch a big fish (but if you don't, make up a story about one). Still working on this...

- Go golfing (not on the Wii). Not done...

- Take a piano lesson. Not done...

- Finish Auburn Like Anne Sweater (seriously!). Ahem... Getting there...

- Finish at least one other knit/crochet WIP ...

- Sew something ...

- ~~Read something for the love of it and do so without guilt.~~ Done. I've read a few books this summer, but the most enjoyable was my re-reading of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime," by Mark Haddon. It's about the 3rd time I've read it and I love it every time.

~~- Wear sunscreen.~~ I've been wearing sunscreen, but this is obviously a continuing effort. I must report, spray-on sunscreen has really come a long way! I used it on our camping trip, and it really covers well without leaving "missed" spots.

As for the distractions that have been coming up -- it's been a busy summer! @jclarkey and I put an offer on a house, put ours on the market, accepted an offer on our house, and then the whole deal fell apart... That was interesting. Our house is still on the market. We'll see what happens there.

We also had to say goodbye to a dear friend. Gordon, our cat, passed away. @jclarkey wrote a lovely farewell blog post, and I will write one as well.

Also, my sister is in Ontario for July! It's been great having her home, but also busy as she is expecting so we're having all kinds of showers and family get-togethers. Tonight we're going to Labatt's brewery and she's our DD. *smirk*

I think that's pretty much it for the exciting stuff. I'll try to update more regularly in the coming weeks!

Summer of George and a Bucket List

2010-05-28T10:31:00.000-04:00

I have to thank - patsearle for inspiring this post. Check out his blog to see his Summer Bucket List.

I also have a decade specific bucket list (things to do before I turn 30), but so far I've been pretty negligent of it. For that reason I hope to start at least one of those things this summer. I have also included some things I know I'll be doing, but they're on here just the same.

Summer Bucket List 2010
- Go horseback riding
- Go on a portage
- Catch a big fish (but if you don't, make up a story about one)
- Go golfing (not on the Wii)
- Take a piano lesson
- Finish Auburn Like Anne Sweater (seriously!)
- Finish at least one other knit/crochet WIP
- Sew something
- Read something for the love of it and do so without guilt
- Wear sunscreen

Last year Jason decided summer 2009 would be his "Summer of George". Strangely, it did end up being the summer of George, but not perhaps in the way Jason expected. I think George had a good time though.

George's Cake

George as George

Manny the dog as George with @jclarkey and @kclarke5

Really though, I see no reason why every summer can't be great, memorable, exciting, awesome, adventurous, and all the things that would make it "George".

Obscure Hobbies Done Right

2010-05-20T13:19:00.001-04:00

When I was in high school there was a small group of guys who were very skilled when it came to making funny noises. I think back then we called it beat-boxing -- almost 10 years later I'm wondering if that's an out of date terminology. My drama teacher theorized boys were good at that kind of thing because they made sound effects when they were little kids -- you know, playing with trains, planes & automobiles. I played with Barbies and Playmobil, so it would follow that I am good at manipulating people. I don't know if that's true, but I do know one thing I'm not good at: drama... and beat-boxing.

Mike went to my high school and he is very good at both.

Smart Food

2010-05-18T20:32:00.001-04:00

Every once in a while @jclarkey and I get it together and plan our meals out wisely. Last night, for instance, we had steak salad with tomato, red pepper and goat cheese. Today for lunch I had a similar salad (sans steak) and tonight for dinner we had steak, tomato, red pepper & goat cheese pizza. It was delicious -- and there's still lots of lettuce, tomato, some steak and a bit of goat cheese left! It was a giant steak. I'll also be having steak pizza for lunch tomorrow :)

We're not always so clever, but when it works out it's great.

In my opinion, chicken is the perfect food for going a long way. A roasting chicken is a perfect Sunday night meal. You can cook it slowly all day, filling your home with mouth-watering chicken aromas. I usually like to make the chicken breasts the first meal. That evening I'll separate the thighs and drumsticks, and remove any other meat I can manage. The legs will be the following night's dinner and the other bits will go into a chicken salad sandwich. What comes next is my absolute favourite part of cooking chicken -- making the stock.

Throw the rest of the chicken remnants and bones into a stock pot along with your choice of herbs, vegetables and spices. My faves include garlic, onion, bay leaves, carrots and celery. For the best flavour, I recommend leaving the skin on the garlic and onions and cutting them into large chunks. I would suggest never adding salt to your stock -- odds are you'll add salt to your soup or whatever other dish you end up making with your stock. There's really no need to add salt to stock. The last time I made stock I also decided to add an apple and it ended up being a wise choice. You can't really taste the apple, but there's a slight hint of it in the aroma. You'll want to simmer your stock for a considerable length of time -- this is another one that can go all day and fill your house with wonderful smells. When it's done just filter out the bones and vegetation and strain your stock into freezable containers. Make sure you strain it well! Chicken bones and bay leaves make especially dangerous choking hazards. One chicken should produce about 10 cups of stock.

If you're not digging the chicken salad sandwich idea, throw the chicken bits into a few cups of stock, ramp up your spices (@jclarkey adds a dry soup mix called Cock Soup Mix. I wish I was joking -- that's really what it's called) and viola, chicken soup. For a real masterpiece add homemade noodles about 5 minutes before your soup is done.

Planning ahead to eat smart home cooked like this is not only healthy and delicious, it can save a lot of money. A $15 chicken or steak might seem like a lot at the grocery store, but if you can make it cover 3 or 4 or more meals it's a pretty good deal!

Aaaand, for a well-rounded blog post, here's a picture of my adorable dog:

Absent Minded Gardening

2010-04-26T19:48:00.003-04:00

There are pros and cons to being an absent minded gardener, and today I was witness to both.

Cons:

The over-ordering of seeds. Every year I order seeds, either forgetting what I had in stock, or forgetting where I left my stock.

Here we see more varieties of lettuce than any one person could really need.

And here we see the seeds the mice got when I forgot them in the garden shed over winter... my bad.

I also end up with a lot of trial and error lessons. For instance -- I cut back the rosemary in the fall and it isn't growing back. With the lavender, however, I cut two back and left two. The two I cut are growing back, but not the ones I left alone. Next year I'll cut the lavender and leave the rosemary.

Pros:

There are some benefits to being so forgetful. Last year I forgot to pull the arugula before it went to seed. And this year:

I may have an abundance of arugula. Always a pleasant surprise!

When it comes right down to it it doesn't really matter what I remember or neglect. Something always grows out there and it's usually something tasty. If enough of it grows it may even have a positive impact on our grocery bill -- if not, it's at least a few interesting side dishes we wouldn't have otherwise. And there's always the satisfaction of growing something good in my own back yard.

And let's not forget the sheer joy of getting outside from time to time. I thought about doing several loads of laundry today, but spent most of the afternoon in the backyard instead.

Look, a pea I planted a few weeks ago! I can hardly WAIT to shell and eat some raw peas. Mmmm!

As long as I have the foresight to do a few things right, and the humour to laugh at what I don't, my garden will always be a joy and a success.

Sidenote: While gardening today I separated some forget-me-nots, a few lilac cuttings and some alliums. Anyone want them?

A Present

2010-04-09T19:18:00.003-04:00

I have been wanting a certain knitting accessory for awhile now, and while ogling cute puppies on kijiji the other day, I decided to run a search and see if I could find a used one locally. I found one!! And it was cheap! And since my birthday is only a few weeks away, I decided it was a must-have.

Ladies and gentlemen,
My yarn ball winder:

It helps me turn a skein of yarn into a nice, neat ball, or "cake". This
is necessary because knitting from a skein is virtually impossible.
Your yarn tangles up, and it's just generally a bad scene. I've been
hand-winding my own balls (more balls than cakes -- I don't have
great technique), but it takes about an hour to do just one. With my
new toy I can do it in a few minutes. I LOVE it!!

In other news, I am an itchy beast all of a sudden. Wednesday night when I was getting ready for bed, I complained to Jason that one of our pets must have fleas because I was covered in itchy bites (I react pretty strongly to both fleas and mosquitos). He took one look and said, "Nope, you've got HIVES!"

Egad, I've never had hives before and now I'm on hive-tastic day three. I likely should have had my doc check me out today, but I was busy (hey, I've got a life you know!). If they're still around by Monday I'll give him a call. They were at their worst last night -- my hands were so swollen I was unable to continue my video game, and knitting would have been out of the question. I think I even had one under my thumb nail!

As for what might have caused my plight, I'm absolutely dumbfounded. The only thing I can think of is that I must have a new Spring/pollen/spore-type allergy, as I've heard Spring allergies are supposed to be quite severe this year.

This experience does give me a new appreciation for how Jason must feel when he gets hives. His hives are not caused by an allergy and can last anywhere from a few months to more than a year. It's ridiculous, and I can only imagine how frustrated and uncomfortable he must be.

My itchies are less prominent today, and I might be able to do some knitting. My sweater is coming along nicely, but I am itching (har-har) to take it off the needles and try it on!

Brrrr and a Book Review

2010-03-22T18:26:00.000-04:00

Oh man is it cold/windy/gross out this afternoon! Mondays and Tuesdays are my "walk home" days because @jclarkey needs the car those afternoons. Some days I'll try to mooch a ride home if I'm not sure about the weather/lazy, but today I thought I'd tough it out. What a mistake! I am frozen and may have to resort to hot chocolate for a proper thaw. Add a book and/or some knitting to the mix, and that sounds like a swell afternoon!

I must admit, I've really put knitting on the back burner lately. I had been neglecting my "must read" pile for some time though, and I really had to pick it back up.

Back at Christmas time I treated myself to a copy of Too Much Happiness, by Alice Munro. I'm a big fan of Canadian literature, but for some reason had never read anything by Munro before this. I'm a fan. Too Much Happiness is a series of short stories that are none too happy, but ring true to life. Most of them have at least a touch of melancholy to them, but not all. The first story (Dimensions) in particular sticks out as one that illicits an emotional response. It's about a woman trying to recover from the mental anguish caused by her estranged husband, who is also criminally insane. I wasn't sure if I wanted to throw up or cry when I read it (I managed not to do either), but couldn't help but compare the main character's situation with various heart-wrenching news stories I've read in the last few months. I also quite enjoy the fact that the stories all take place in SW Ontario. London, Wingham, Clinton, Toronto and other local references are made throughout the book. It makes me feel more connected to the stories somehow - like maybe I've seen or driven by the exact spot the author is referencing. Maybe I've even met the main character. I've still got a few stories to go, but I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates the genre.

I finished my Capelet Swing Cardi about a week ago, but neglected to share photos. I have one, but it's not perhaps the greatest representation. I'll try to get more the next time I wear it.

I'm going to just relax for the rest of the afternoon, as I've got a BUSY week ahead. I can't honestly say I can see myself posting again until the weekend, or possibly next week. That's what happens when you make yourself a long weekend - lot's of work to come back to!

Ah, Staycation

2010-03-19T15:22:00.001-04:00

I had a few days of staycation this week, so I thought I'd get started spring cleaning. I started yesterday with the windows - possibly my favourite spring cleaning task. Not that I love cleaning my windows. I only do it about once a year though, and clearing the grime away feels rewarding. It's an Ah! feeling.

In the afternoon I went for a looong walk with Moe, and then decided to get tidying the garden. In doing so I noticed some interesting developments I thought I'd share:

Now hopefully they don't die next week when it's supposed to SNOW. Augh!

Today @Jclarkey and I did some running around, then took Mosely out for a bike ride. I also FINALLY got around to ordering my seeds for the garden this year. I'm so excited - it's going to be a good one!

I had thought about doing more cleaning this afternoon, but I think I may just chill out with a book on the deck. I can save the rest of the housework for tomorrow :)

Buttons

2010-03-17T12:31:00.001-04:00

Hi, my name is Katrina, and I collect buttons.

Okay, I don't collect buttons on purpose... It just kind of happens. You know how every article of clothing you buy comes with a spare button, should anything ever happen to the ones on the garment? Heaven help me, I cannot throw these away.

It's almost a compulsion. The worst part is when a button comes off a shirt or something, it's usually an indication that the garment is old, starting to wear out and time to discard. If it comes off a pair of pants it's time for a diet.

I needed some buttons for my Auburn Like Anne sweater, so I thought I'd have a look in my button jar. The sweater calls for 3 buttons, and most of my buttons are multiples of one or two (and many of them say Jacob or RW & Co. rendering them virtually useless for handcrafted garments).

Fortunately, when an old jacket of Jason's was worn beyond repair I salvaged the buttons. The wood-look of these old, plastic buttons will look great on the orange-red sweater, which is coming along great!

I'm looking forward to a loooong weekend, so stay tuned for exciting posts over the next few days as I tackle some SPRING CLEANING!!

Aaaaaand, Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Well, well, wellness...

2010-03-15T13:19:00.000-04:00

I went to A Day of Wellness Education at The Lotus Centre yesterday and had a really great time! Mom and I decided to go in the spirit of health education. Bonus: Mom was even able to count some of the time spent there towards professional development education for work.

I knew a little bit about Naturopathic wellness already, but my knowledge was pretty limited. I was pleased to learn that the Naturopathic Doctors at The Lotus Centre advocate working with traditional medicine for a holistic approach to health and healing. I don't know that all medical doctors would advocate the same type of balanced perspective, but in our over-medicated society, I like the thought of a multi-faceted approach to total health. I know it's not for everyone, but if I have a problem that might be helped by reflexology shouldn't I try it before running to the pharmacy?

Some of the things I learned:

Pre-natal vitamins are not just for women - men should be on a pre-natal vitamin too.
Ionic foot baths use negatively charged ions to encourage the break up of clusters of positive charges in your body. It works for the same reason waves at the beach make are relaxing and the build up before a thunderstorm causes tension.
High blood pressure is not a disease, though it is medicated like a disease. High blood pressure is actually a symptom of a disease. Diet and activity can lessen or even eliminate the need for blood pressure medications.
Healthy eating is not difficult, but requires planning. You should carry healthy snacks for yourself as if you are your own child. Almonds, fruits & vegetables, etc.
If you have time to check your facebook, you probably have time to plan your meals for a week. If you have time to watch a 30 min. TV program you probably have time to prepare your meals for the next day.
Most people don't need dairy in their diets, but some people will suffer real, need-based cravings if they try to give it up (especially true if you have a lot of dairy farmers in your ancestry, like me).

We also watched a documentary called The Future of Food about the big seed companies and GMOs. I recommend it for anyone interested in food culture. It doesn't have the same entertainment value as films like Food Inc., but was highly informative and disconcerting, nonetheless.

Although we learned a lot, we missed the free yoga classes. We bought new yoga outfits instead, and spent a lovely afternoon together :)

Truly Canadian

2010-03-08T11:26:00.000-05:00

I may have invented a new pizza classic last night.

I think we're all familiar with the classic "Canadian" pizza (pepperoni, bacon, mushrooms, mozza and sometimes sausage). Well, last night I invented the "Truly Canadian" pizza. It was topped with mozzarella AND white cheddar, pepperoni, bacon, mushrooms AND sliced garlic on a thick layer of tomato sauce and a fluffy crust. It was delicious, although quite filling.

It got me thinking though, about how much I'm looking forward to the fresh tasting pizzas of summer. I have to admit, I've been in a bit of a pizza slump the last few weeks. In the summers I like to pull some of my pizza ingredients directly from the garden (basil, rosemary, tomatoes, onion....) and I look for other ingredients to complement what I have (asparagus, peppers, bocconcini mozzarella, goat cheese, etc.). And sometimes we make it on the barbecue... Mmmm.

I can't wait for spring!

Delights from Amazon

2010-03-05T11:42:00.000-05:00

After my near-death experience yesterday, I was convinced the afternoon had to get better. I figured since I had picked the "lucky bagel", I might be just as lucky with a Bingo scratch ticket. It wasn't until after I'd scratched the losing ticket that I realized it had been the Great Canadian Bagel employee who actually picked the bagel. Feeling dejected, I headed home to watch the second half of season one of Glee.

When I arrived home, I was delighted to be met by a package from Amazon!! There are few things in life so sacred to me as my Amazon wishlist, and earlier this week I decided to cross a few wishes off the list.

I had been shopping around for some Elizabeth Zimmerman knitting books, which are apparently the best knitting books money can buy. One of my ultimate knitting goals has always been to knit an Aran sweater (or Fisherman's sweater) for my hubby. I figured every good wife who knits should be able to do this. Much to my dismay, hubby is not interested in an Aran sweater. He thinks they look bulky, heavy, itchy and old-fashioned (this is what I assume he thinks, as I've never really asked why he doesn't like them). In good spirit, he has requested I knit a vintage looking Toronto Maple Leafs sweater instead.

Enter EZ's Seamless Hybrid sweater. It has the look of a comfortable, casual men's sweater, that with the right colours could be regarded as a sweater-jersey. The pattern is printed (or more described) in Knitting Without Tears. I was also advised to pick up EZ's Knitter's Almanac, as it's apparently the must-have guide for all knitters. I read the first chapter last night, and I am sold. Elizabeth Zimmerman is the saintly kind of knitter you might wish was your grandmother -- or at least the person who taught you to knit. The first pattern in the Almanac is (of course) an Aran sweater. I'm thinking I might try to go through it, pattern by pattern, next year. If you want to follow someone doing that very thing this year, check out Knitty-Kat's blog.

In order to qualify for FREE SUPER-SAVER SHIPPING I needed to add one more item to my order. I decided to go with Eugenia Bone's Well Preserved, which has been on the wishlist for awhile. I haven't cracked it yet, but expect I will as the weather get's warmer and I'm thinking more about food and growing things and less about warm woolies.

SO, despite a few minor setbacks, yesterday turned out to be a pretty great day.

As promised...

2010-03-04T09:55:00.009-05:00

Here are the pictures I had wanted to post yesterday. As you can see, my Capelet Swing Cardi is really coming along! It does need a bit of length still though. I expect I'll be done in another week or so, then I've got to weave in ends, sew on buttons, block, and it's ready to wear! My first garment, and the end is in sight!!

I've also cast on my Auburn Like Anne sweater, but haven't done much else with it. I managed to hand wind one skein of this delicious Cascade Heathers Yarn. It's a beautiful, rich orange that reminds me of the colour Anne Shirley wished her hair to be, and as an adult discovered it had become. Auburn.

I tried to get a picture of the true colour, but didn't quite manage. IRL, it's actually a darker, burnt orange. Also, hand winding really bites. I think I need a winder for my birthday. *Hint*

To help with my Anne sweater, I've ordered Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitter's Almanac, which the pattern was adapted from. I also discovered yesterday, while home sick, a local blogger who is challenging herself to complete every pattern in the Almanac this year. Go knitty-kat! I'm inspired!

In other news...

I went to Great Canadian Bagel today and discovered a thumbtack in my bagel. The kind with the hard plastic backing. I didn't find it until it was in my mouth. I'm going back to packing my lunch.

Disaster Strikes!

2010-03-03T13:08:00.002-05:00

UGH!

Two days and one maple donut after heart health month and I'm struck with a cold!! And to be honest, I haven't even started eating un-heart healthy things yet (except for the donut). Bleh.

I had wanted to take some photogs of my knitty/crochet projects today, but my camera is at work. I'll try to do that tomorrow for you. In the meantime, this video made me laugh.

It's Over!

2010-03-01T11:58:00.004-05:00

Hello my devoted throngs of heart-health junkies. As you may have ascertained from the title of this blog, heart health month is over! I'm having some mixed emotions in seeing it go. On the one hand, I've enjoyed eating on a regimented plan (it takes the thinking out of the equation). I can also honestly say I've enjoyed everything I've been eating. On the other hand, I've been jonesing for a Maple Donut for weeks!

I'm not too sure how to present the results of this experiment (or if there were any). I neglected to have my blood pressure tested, so I can't say anything remarkable happened there. People keep asking if I feel any different. Not really. My ticker's still thumping away, the same as always. That said, I feel good. I lost a few lbs, but nothing to write home about.

I think the biggest change I've experienced is to my attitude towards heart healthy foods. For instance, I really like whole wheat english muffins, brown rice, almonds, berries, avocado and (of course) spinach. I will definitely continue to incorporate those types of foods in my regular diet. And I may completely ditch milk chocolate in favour of the dark stuff - especially now that Hershey's has changed the Kiss recipe. Has anyone else noticed that?? What were they thinking?! I'll also try to plan ahead and schedule my meals. I can't believe I managed to go a month without a cafeteria lunch!

One thing I wasn't sold on was the ol' margarine. I found myself opting for dry toast and plain potatoes. I'll use what's left of it in baking I think, but I'm switching back to butter.

And, for the last time...

Monday, March 1

Menu

Breakfast: Blueberry-Pomegranate shake & Tea

Lunch: Spinach salad (w/ strawberries, mushrooms & goat cheese), juice, Maple Donut & honey lemon tea

Dinner: Chicken curry, whole wheat bun & juice

Well, hello there!

2010-02-26T11:06:00.002-05:00

I know you're all thinking I've been a bad blogger this week, but in truth I've just been an incredibly busy human being. I'm afraid that's not about to change, but thought you might be interested in this. Sweet Spot has put together some heart healthy recipes for heart health month. A little late in the game, but still very much appreciated.

Progress

2010-02-22T14:01:00.005-05:00

As promised, I have made some actual real progress on my crochet project. I am done the "capelet" part of the Capelet Swing Cardi!! Whoohoo! It's actually a sort-of garment at this point. After the massive fail of my Saw Tooth Skirt it feels good to have something coming together so quickly.

Side note yarn story... I wanted to get to Needles & Pins this morning to see if they would wind some yarn for me. Apparently they're closed on Mondays :( I would have gone yesterday, but figured they were closed on Sundays (not so). Lesson: Check operating hours on the website before leaving the house. Since it was 10 AM and I was showered, dressed and out of the house, I figured I might as well try Micheals. They don't have yarn winders of any kind (as I suspected). While I was there I figured I'd look to see if they had any yarn on sale. To my surprise they were clearing out Cotton-Ease, my favourite yarn of late! I bought what was left (which wasn't much). I'm very sad to see they won't be carrying it anymore! Hopefully I'm wrong and they're just waiting on new colours, but I'm very seldom wong... So I guess prepare to get your Cotton-Ease elsewhere (try herrschners.ca).

As for heart health -- it's not a good day. I wanted to do groceries today but it was too yucky out, and now Jclarkey is taking the car to Ilderton for work. The woes of a single car household! I won't have access to the car again until Wednesday, so we'll have to be creative until then.

I will tell you I've discovered a new snack to munch on while watching movies. I am a popcorn fanatic, but have managed to resist so far this month. We rented Benjamin Button on Saturday (I know, it's about time!), and I decided to combine a few chunks of dark chocolate with raw almonds, and top it off with a cheater cookie. Delish! (Although Jason's chips and babaghanoush looked fabulous).

Menu

Monday, February 22

Breakfast: Yogurt, frozen berries & tea

Lunch: Homemade meatpie & quinoa tabbouleh

Supper: With the weather being what it is and the few resources at my disposal, I have a serious hankering for homemade mac & cheese. Very un-heart healthy, but I think I have to do it. Don't judge me!

Lunchtime

2010-02-19T13:57:00.005-05:00

One of the beautiful things about this heart health challenge is that I never stipulated how much or how little I would eat -- merely that I would make a true effort to eat heart healthy. Today I am hungry, so I shall FEAST on a heart healthy lunch. I am having homemade carrot & ginger soup, a whole wheat english muffin, quinoa tabbouleh and a cheater cookie. Mmmm...

I have to confess, the quinoa for dinner last night was a bit of a disappointment. For some reason I thought I was making a hearty meal. It's actually more of a salad. The quinoa itself is great, but I think I'll look for a different recipe next time. If anyone knows of any great quinoa recipes, please send them my way!

I suppose it was actually a good thing last night's dinner was light, because lunch at Michael's was not a heart healthy idea. It was delicious, and there were plenty of heart healthy options, but also samosas, coke and chocolate mousse.

In other news, I have more than made up for the lost time on my cardigan. I have another day off today, so I hope to have some real progress to show you by Monday.

Menu

Friday, February 19

Breakfast: Yogurt, berries, bran muffin & tea

Lunch: FEAST

Dinner: Garlic pork tenderloin, potatoes & salad

Mmmm, 'za!

2010-02-18T09:42:00.009-05:00

My Wednesday dinner date, Charlotte, and I decided last night that it was high time we had a pizza. It was definitely a good decision. True, we may have poured more cheese on there than one could consider heart-healthy, but you can't win 'em all.

We made a spinach and tomato pizza with garlic and parmesan on a whole-wheat crust. It was really very delicious, but I think I was too hungry. I practically inhaled it and ended up with a full/indigestion feeling. But I would definitely still make it again.

I forgot to post pics of our dinner last Wednesday. That was our two-heart salad and carrot-curry soup. Mmmm...

After dinner we decided to unwind with some knitting/crochet. I showed Charlotte my giant skirt and we agreed that it was unsalvageable. I hope to re-purpose the yarn into a sweater at some point. For now I think it's best to just forget about it :(

While working on my sweater however, I noticed that I had been omitting 2 rows throughout the section I was working on. *Sigh* I took a deep breath and tore out about 1/2 of what I had completed, losing a day's work. I'm still pretty happy with the project overall. Pictures soon :)

Menu

Thursday, February 18

Breakfast: Whole wheat english muffins, peanut butter, banana & honey & tea

Lunch: Michael's Buffet with the office

Dinner: Quinoa Tabbouleh

What a weekend!

2010-02-16T13:23:00.003-05:00

This weekend I went on a road trip with Mom and did we ever have a blast!! We did a fair bit of eating, but kept it heart healthy (for the most part).

On Sunday night we went to the Pickle Barrel (which I had never been to) and I ordered the Paella. O - M - G. It was delicious, and very heart healthy. It was over flowing with sea food, vegetables, rice and chicken in a tomato sauce. Mmmmm.... It was so good I didn't want to wait to let it cool and it completely annihilated the inside of my mouth. I washed it all down with a Bellini the size of my head. Not so heart healthy (or smart!), but delicious.

For breakfast on Monday we had a giant breakfast buffet, complete with pancakes, bacon, yogurt, fruit, chocolate milk and other accouterments. And for lunch it was lattes and baked goods from Starbucks (oy!). For dinner we stopped at a place called Wild Wings. It was my suggestion, though I should have known from the name that I wouldn't love it (I don't like wings). There was a full two-page spread in the menu of wing options!! I settled for chicken tenders and sweet potato fries (a little better).

Other than eating, we spent our time shopping, perusing downtown T.O. and gabbing. We also went to this INCREDIBLE craft store in Paris called Mary Maxim. We both went a little nuts buying yarns and patterns galore. It came out during this outing that my Mom needs a refresher course using Ravelry. I'll have to sit down with her and go through it before our next yarn buying trip. I want to show her a few shops in London, and I hear there's a good one in Stratford too.

Oh yeah, and speaking of knitting, my skirt was totally frogged. When I started casting off it became horrifyingly obvious that it was in fact intended for a giantess. It could double as a circus tent, and weighs a ton. I will try the pattern again with a lighter yarn, but will have to tear out what I'd been working on :( Oh well - live and learn.

Menu

Tuesday, February 16

Breakfast: Cheerios, milk & tea

Lunch: (Surprise) Spinach salad, avocado & yogurt

Dinner: Undecided

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T08:55:00.004-05:00

Remember how I said I was going to try and make Valentines this year?? Well, I did it! I only made a few and put them in the mail pretty late (actually, two are still in my purse!), but I did it.

I will be spending V-day with my Mom and sister and returning home sometime tomorrow afternoon. My poor valentine!! That's why we had our nice dinner on Friday. Were you wondering what we had? Has your curiosity been driving you mad??

We had Beef Allouettes (beef pinwheels with spinach & cheese stuffing), sweet potato home fries and the garlic steamed broccoli my friend Charlotte showed me how to make. For dessert I made dark chocolate lava cakes using 70% cocoa squares. We also had a bit o' Haagen Dazs with our lava cakes :) Mmmm...

But now I'm off. There is no menu for the next two days, but I will make an effort to make heart-healthy choices on the road. Oh, I am having a breakfast smoothie right now, and I have a word of advice. If you're out of bananas don't bother trying to make one. Not only is the protein necessary, the consistency isn't right without the banana. It's like a blueberry/pomegranate froster. The taste isn't great either. Might not be able to finish this one :S

YARN!

2010-02-12T14:18:00.008-05:00

I know I said I had an exciting yogurt post today, but something MUCH more exciting than yogurt has happened today! My yarn was delivered!!

Remember I bought all that Darn Yarn and decided it would never work for the project I wanted to make? Well, I ordered the appropriate yarn (and some others) so that I could make the Capelet Swing Cardi just as it's supposed to be.

Of course I wont be able to start it until I finish the Saw Tooth Skirt I'm working on. It doesn't look like much at the moment, but it's actually not far from completion and this 4-day weekend might be just what the doctor ordered. Relaxing hobbies are very heart healthy :)

I'm really happy with the way the lace for the skirt is coming along. It took something like 5 tries to get the lace started, but now it's on its way! I have to remember to be careful to pay attention to which row I'm working on though -- I wasted about 1/2 an hour last night when I wasn't watching what I was doing and ended up having to rip out what I'd been working on. Oh well, lesson learned.

I'm having a lovely day off, by the way! Got my hair cut, did a bit of knitting and I'm meeting a friend for drinks in a few hours.

Menu

Friday, February 12

Breakfast: Blueberry/Pomegranate smoothie

Lunch: Quiche, corn & tea

Dinner: It's a surprise! Nice try, Jclarkey!

Cheater Snacks Take Two

2010-02-11T16:07:00.003-05:00

I decided to try my hand at another cheater snack this week. Meet Blueberry Oatmeal muffins. Once again, I altered the original recipe, replacing white sugar with brown and vegetable oil with margarine. I also replaced a bit of the flour with whole-wheat flour. They didn't turn out badly, but are a bit flat. Next time I try this recipe I will tinker with it again, but they are pretty yummy.

I also made an amazing heart health discovery last night!! My Wednesday night dinner date, Charlotte, and I had a Two Heart Salad (palm hearts and heart-shaped beet cut-outs) and Curry Carrot Soup. Both were delicious, but I was shocked to discover I kind of like beets!! I'm sorry Mom, for giving you such a hard time when I was a kid. They're so sugary-sweet! I really wasn't expecting that.

Sorry for being such a bad blogger lately. I've been lazy with my posts :( Stay tuned for an investigative report tomorrow on yogurt.

Confession: I feel I must tell you all that I had cake yesterday. I tried to avoid it, but it was the boss's birthday and he saw to it that everyone tried the cake. It was delicious carrot cake, so not all bad.

Menu

Thursday, February 11

Breakfast: Cheerios, milk & tea

Lunch: Two Heart Salad leftovers, cheater muffin, apple, herbal tea

Dinner: Black Bean Quesadilla, milk & cheater cookie (I might have a glass of wine for dessert. Wine not?)

Success!

2010-02-09T16:09:00.006-05:00

Today I successfully finished all that spinach I bought last week! Woot! None of it was allowed to go bad. My only remorse is that it comes in that AWFUL clamshell packaging that is now not recyclable in London (boo!). Actually a lot of my heart-healthy foods come in clamshell (raspberries, blueberries, cherry tomatoes, etc).

To shake things up a bit this morning I decided to start my day with a heart-healthy shake. I threw some blueberries, pomegranate juice, yogurt and a banana in the blender and came out with this: pure juicy heaven.

Sidenote: Blogger is f*d at the moment and is messing with my photo order and fonts. Ugh.

Menu

Tuesday, February 9

Breakfast: Blueberry/Pomegranate shake & tea

Lunch: Spinach salad & an avocado

Dinner: Quiche & milk

Late day post

2010-02-06T19:43:00.002-05:00

I wasn't sure I would post today, but here I am. Today was the inaugural King's Alumni Hockey Tournament for the Killan Cup. It was a terrific (though terrifically cold) day and I think everyone had a good time. Unfortunately, this tournament has wreaked havoc on the ol' heart health diet.

I was a wee bit anxious about the event yesterday and the only thing that would soothe me was a coke and salt & pepper chips. Garbage food, I know (though the chips were surprisingly high in Vitamin C). I stayed at work late doing some last-minute hockey planning and ended up having pizza for dinner.

Today wasn't much better, though I did have chili, salad and a whole wheat biscuit for lunch. Chili is great for your heart (as long as it doesn't have too much sodium). The chili served up today was a bit spicy, so I didn't eat my whole bowl -- but it did help to warm me up.

Tomorrow is the Super Bowl, and not looking much better heart-health wise. I will definitely have to make it up to myself next week.

You and I and everyone knows why oats and beans and barley grows!

2010-02-05T09:58:00.002-05:00

As I mentioned, last night was my Mom's birthday dinner. I wasn't too sure what would happen to my heart health diet at home, but my parents served up a surprisingly heart healthy dinner! We had roast beef, spinach & snow pea salad, avocado (I refrained, as I had a whole one for lunch!), potatoes, phyllo wrapped shrimp and my barley casserole. I also avoided the gravy, but did indulge in a slice of strawberry cheesecake ice cream cake. Mmmm!

I told my Mom I would post the recipe for the barley casserole here, but I realizes I made so many changes to the original recipe I couldn't just post the link.

I started out toasting 1/2 c of barley in olive oil on the stove. I only do this for a few minutes, letting the barley coat in oil and heat up a bit -- I don't really brown it too much.

To that I add 1 1/2 c chicken stock and bring it to a boil. Then I add 1/2 c of green onions and 2 c sliced white mushrooms, stir it up and dump it in an 8"x8" baking dish. This time I used a pie plate because I knew it had a lid for travelling.

I then put it in the oven covered with foil for 30 - 40 mins at 350 degrees. You can see from the picture how it looks before it goes in and again when it comes out. This is a hearty and delicious side dish and made my house smell heavenly when I was baking it. This was one of my Saturday dishes that I threw in the freezer. I put it in the fridge Wednesday night and warmed it up (3 mins) just before dinner last night. This recipe is a real winner, and went over very well with my family!

Today's menu might be a bit of a mess. I had hoped to have leftover casserole for lunch, but no such luck! I'm also very busy planning a hockey tournament for TOMORROW, and might have to resort to some convenience foods.

Menu

Friday, February 5, 2010

Breakfast: Cheerios, milk & tea

Lunch: Cottage cheese, apple & ?

Dinner: Black bean & corn quesedillas, fruit juice, cheater cookies

Tuna Fish

2010-02-04T09:19:00.004-05:00

According to Canada's Food Guide we should all be eating at least 2 servings of fish per week. I don't mind fish, but I definitely don't eat 2 servings a week (nor do I really plan to). For the purposes of this project though, I'm all in. Saturday Jclarkey and I dined on some delicious salmon fillets, and yesterday I tried my hand at a tuna wrap. You know, I never used to mind tuna, but a few years ago when jclarkey and I were young and broke, it became a main protein source and started appearing in everything we ate. Tuna casserole, tuna burritos, tuna in KD -- you name it. I haven't been able to look at canned fish quite the same way since. For those of you worried about mercury in tuna, check here.

BUT I came across a recipe for a Fruit, Veggie & Tuna Salad Wrap that sounded too good to pass up. The recipe includes things like mozzarella, apples, blueberries, spinach and carrots -- yum! Unfortunately it also includes tuna. My official opinion is that it would have been better without the tuna. I might try it again another time with chicken. For now though, I have 2 more servings of this stuff in the freezer that I'm going to have to choke down at some point.

Another mistake I made was with the mayo. I am in love with Hellmann's Olive Oil Mayonnaise, so when I stole a little taste from the jar I was furious that it didn't taste right. I was actually ready to call the company and give them a piece of my mind for DARING to change the recipe. That's when I noticed the blue band at the top of the jar. Turns out they now offer Olive Oil Mayo in a light option. Anyone who says "light" tastes the same as full fat has a screw loose. I won't be making the same mistake again.

Basically what I'm saying is yesterday's lunch was a flop.

Luckily, Dinner was fabulous!! My friend Charlotte came over and brought Michael Smith's Garlic Steamed Broccoli. What a simple, delicious recipe!

I made Sweet Potato Sticks (awesome) and pecan crusted chicken fingers. I over-cooked the chicken fingers a bit, but it was an excellent dinner anyways. We washed it down with some red wine and dark chocolate :)

Tonight I'm going to my parent's place for dinner as it's my Mom's birthday. Happy Birthday Mom!! I will be bringing Barley Casserole, but I don't know what's for dinner other than that. It will be a test in heart-healthy eating when dining away from home. I'll let you know how that works out.

Menu

Thursday, February 4

Breakfast: Whole grain toast, peanut butter & peach jam, fruit juice & tea

Lunch: Leftover brown/wild rice, black bean & avocado salad, mixed berries, yogurt & water

Dinner: Barley Casserole & ??

Cheater Snacks!

2010-02-03T09:26:00.007-05:00

Oh come on, like you thought I was going to go a month without baked goods. Get real! I thought I better tell you about cheater snacks. I have decided (and I am by no means a medical/nutritional/health professional) that if I take foods that are not so heart healthy (cookies, bread, muffins, ice cream, cake -- whatever!) and add heart healthy ingredients, well they can't be all bad!

Enter Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies. Jclarkey has always been a fan of Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, but I was never crazy about them. The dark chocolate chips have converted me -- these cookies are straight from heaven!

I started with a basic Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe, omitted the salt and used dark chocolate chips instead of milk chocolate. I was planning to munch on one of these yummers for dessert last night, but I went for a few squares of straight dark chocolate instead. It is surprisingly good for you, and might even be good for your skin!

I also have plans for Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins in the future, but that dream has yet to be realized.

I also wanted to mention I'm having a dinner guest tonight! I'm so excited to be able to share a delicious heart-healthy dinner with a friend!

Menu

Wednesday, February 3

Breakfast: Cheerios, Milk & Tea

Lunch: Tuna Wrap, Mixed Berries, Water & Cheater Cookies

Dinner: Pecan Crusted Chicken Fingers, Sweet Potato Sticks, Garlic Steamed Broccoli, Wine & Chocolate

Spinach

2010-02-02T09:04:00.002-05:00

I love spinach, but was a little unsure when I went to the grocery store on Saturday and all they had was the giant container. I usually buy the smaller box, and sometimes some of it still ends up in the garbage. That said, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be able to eat it all this week!

Pre-planning all my weekly meals was a brilliant idea, but I decided to take Jclarkey's advice and prepare many of my meals on Sunday. It sounded like a lot of work at first, but it was so easy! In two hours I made most of tonight's dinner, tomorrow's lunch, Thursday's dinner, a meal for next week, a loaf of bread and then even cleaned up my mess. It was so satisfying to have it all done -- the only problem was how hungry it made me!

I managed to use up a lot of my spinach then, but still had lots left for dinner last night, lunch today, and dinner on Friday. Last night's dinner is pictured above (before I added the almonds -- oops!). I was still a bit hungry after dinner so I had a cheater cookie for dessert (more on cheater snacks tomorrow).

Spinach contains the following vitamins and nutrients:

Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Vitamin K
Magnesium
Manganese
Folate
Iron
Vitamin B2
Calcium
Potassium
Vitamin B6
Folic Acid
Copper
Protein
Phosphorus
Zinc
Niacin
Selenium
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
And recently discovered, Rubiscolins (?)

They are also loaded with antioxidants that kill free radicals (rebel cells that cause damage to other cells -- NOT hippies). Actually, to be honest, spinach's impressive resume doesn't really mean anything to me one way or the other. There are only two factors that interest me: 1) it's good for me, and 2) it tastes delicious.

What's your favourite super-food?

Menu

Tuesday, February 2

Breakfast: Cheerios, milk & tea

Lunch: Spinach salad with pecans, raspberries & goat cheese, fruit juice & yogurt

Dinner: Black bean avocado salad, chicken, fruit juice & a cheater cookie

Heart Health Month Begins!

2010-02-01T10:30:00.002-05:00

Buy this cute velvet heart here.

I know many of you have been waiting patiently, and it's finally here! Heart Health Month! As you may know, I have committed myself to eating heart healthy for the entire month of February. I'm hoping to learn:

What foods are good for your heart and why
What foods are not and why
The impact of eating heart healthy on my general health
How to incorporate heart healthy eating into my daily life, beyond the project

I'm starting by making a weekly menu for myself that includes a variety of heart healthy foods. I will also have a few dinner guests every week to share the experience with me.

So, what foods are heart healthy? After a bit of online research, I came up with the following list:

Strawberries
Blueberries
Raspberries
Wild Salmon
Ocean Fish
Sweet Potatoes
Spinach
Cranberries
Whole Grains
Almonds
Apples
Carrots
Milk
Kidney Beans
Oats
Broccoli
Walnuts
Greek Yogurt
Olive Oil
Dark Chocolate (yes!)
Avocado
Beets
Garlic
Soy Protein
Red Wine (yes!)
Eggs
Lean Beef
Lean Pork
Chicken
Turkey
Beans
Tuna
Nut Butter (including Peanut)
Cantaloup
Brown Rice
Barley

I'm sure many of you are looking at this list and wondering "okay Katrina, where's the challenge?!" I thought the same thing when I first made the list (the only things I don't really care for are beets and cantaloup, but I'll eat them for the sake of the project). Then I gave some thought to the things not on the list.

Crackers
Chips
Pop
Popcorn
Baked Goods
Fried Foods
Pasta
Milk Chocolate
Beer
Butter
Anything pickled

True, not all of those things are part of my daily diet, but I still like them all! And to be honest, I have a real weakness for baked goods... And I'm a big fan of butter... And popcorn... And pasta is SO easy!

One other foods not on the list that will need to be limited but not eliminated include:

Cheese
Plain Yogurt

I'm a huge fan of cheese and plain yogurt, but I realize that I probably eat more of both than is necessary, and I should be watching my portion sizes.

Menu

Monday, February 1

Breakfast: Oatmeal, 1 tsp. honey, milk & tea

Lunch: Soup & fruit juice

Dinner: Spinach salad with raspberries, almonds, 2 Tbsp. goat cheese, 1 Tbsp olive oil/balsamic vinegar for dressing & red wine

Overdue Craft Post

2010-01-27T14:47:00.007-05:00

Okay, so I realize Christmas is long-past, but I wanted to share this jewelry set I made for my sister. I made it not knowing about the new Alice in Wonderland movie, but I couldn't resist the white rabbit pendant!

This one took quite a bit of playing with because I wanted the pendant to hang right. I experimented with two strands on the one side to give it a really assymentrical look, but the beads and pendant were too heavy, making it look wonky. Instead I decided to tie a ribbon in the extra hole on the pendant. I glued the ribbon in place so it wont come undone.

I did up some cute matching earrings to go with it, but I think the necklace is the real show-stopper here.

I also found a cute silver hairband with a bow on it to go with the Alice theme. My sister loved them both and I've since seen her wearing them. I think she even wore them out on her birthday night -- a real honour for me :)

Under Pressure

2010-01-26T11:31:00.002-05:00

There was an article in the free press today about blood pressure rates in SW Ontario. Apparently high blood pressure is increasingly common among people in their 20's and 30's. This has got me thinking I should have my blood pressure tested before I get too far into my heart health efforts. I figure I shouldn't be too bad, as one of my parents has extremely high blood pressure and the other has extremely low. It balances out for me, right?

Either way, it will be interesting to see if a month of eating for my heart has a measurable effect.

In the meantime, enjoy this throwback video from one of the best bands in the history of the universe. Ever.

C'est Complet!

2010-01-23T09:04:00.001-05:00

I've finally finished my Retro Tree Skirt! I'm very happy with the finished product, but can't believe how big it turned out to be! It was starting to feel like I was making an afghan. Unfortunately I did not finish in time to pack it up with the Christmas decorations -- I'll have to hide it away somewhere that I won't forget about it next Christmas.

It was an excellent pattern, easy to follow and easy to crochet. My only criticism is the size. The pattern did have instructions for a smaller tree skirt and if I were to make another I would go with that. I'm also not sure I would choose the same yarn next time. I picked the Holiday Homespun because I loved (and still love) the colours, but found it snagged easily as I was working with it. I would probably recommend a plain old acrylic yarn for this project (like Bernat Super Value, Red Heart Super Saver or Vanna's Choice). I know some of you crafters are crying "natural fibres, natural fibres," and normally I would agree, but I just don't see spending the extra dough on wool for a tree skirt. Not only will I only use it once a year, but it's going to go on the floor.

I also found my pets were immediately drawn to it the moment I laid it out on the floor! I'm hoping that's just a novelty thing and they wont

start hanging out under the tree (more that they do already) every Christmas.

New Year's Objectives

2010-01-20T09:51:00.000-05:00

Healthy Eating: Home-grown carrots are delicious AND good for you!

I've been thinking a lot lately about my To-Do Lists and Objectives for 2010. I can't commit to making actual Resolutions because I feel they're always doomed to fail from the outset. My Objectives, however, are many and varied.

Jason came up with the idea that we should make a more conscious effort to keep a tidy house. I agreed, and so we're trying. Not that we're slobs - we're not, but sometimes it can be hard to do housework during the week (and easy to create clutter). We're going to each try to do one chore every day. So far I've been pretty good about getting laundry done. Now if I can also convince myself to sweep the floors and make the bed on a regular basis we'll be a-okay. Jason has been trying to do the dishes more frequently and he's been doing not bad - they seem to be getting done about every other day, which is manageable.

My next objective has been to eat healthier and get more exercise. My recent visit to SupperWorks has been a big help in the healthy eating department, and the Wii has provided many opportunities to exercise. I'm also walking home from work twice a week so Jason can have the car, and so far that's going well too. Losing weight is not part of the objective, but would be a nice side effect. Yesterday my Wii told me I'd gained weight, so I tied all our leftover Christmas chocolates into a plastic bag and threw them in the freezer. They can come out again at Easter.

I am loving the Wii, by the way! I bought Wii Fit because I thought I'd like the yoga, but surprisingly I don't. I LOVE the Obstacle Course (kind of like the show Wipe Out), Hula Hoop, Skate Boarding and Wii Tennis (on Wii Sports, not Wii Fit). All things I am unable to do in real life - except the hula hoop, which is a pretty useless athletic skill.

The healthy eating will become more intense in February, when I will be eating heart healthy for a whole month (and blogging about it).

I've already told you about some of my crafting goals for the year, and I am happy to announce I should be done my Retro Tree Skirt tonight! Just in time to put it in the attic for next year :S I could have called it done last night, but decided to put one last row on there. I'll post pics soon.

Finally, I also have some 5-year goals that need to be met. Last year, when I turned 25, I thought I should make a 5-year bucket list of 10 things I want to do before I turn 30. I only came up with about 8 things, and I can't tell you what they are. Sorry, they're secret - I don't wanna jinx myself! I will tell you what they are as I cross them off the list. Anyhoo, I haven't yet accomplished a single one, so it will be my objective to do two this year.

And I think that's about all I can handle right now. Did you make any New Year's Resolutions? How's that working out??

Les Tomates

2010-01-14T10:43:00.001-05:00

I love tomatoes. I remember when I was very young, eating a big tomato off the plant like an apple. I got canker sores from the acidity, but it was so worth it!

Tomatoes are such a summer treat. They're best at the end of August, when the afternoons are hot but the nights are getting cooler. One of the seasons final gifts before the leaves start to fall. *heart*

While looking at an unexpected seed catalogue that arrived in my mailbox this week, I began to imagine a field of heirloom tomatoes... Reds, greens, purples, blacks & pinks! Imagine a rainbow coloured tomato salad with fresh mozzarella and vigin olive oil drizzled over top. Mmmmm....

There are a few problems with this scenario:

1. My hubby hates tomatoes. I feel that he really doesn't like supermarket tomatoes, which are bred to be tough and bruise resistant, not flavourful. They taste like water and have a gross grainy consistency. Ugh. Unfortunately, I haven't been successful having him give REAL tomatoes a chance.

2. My garden is too small to accomodate a true cornucopia of tomatoes. Two summers ago I planted 3 tomato plants in my raised bed, about 2' apart. They grew to be about 7' tall and 3' wide each. I staked them with fence posts and the still toppled over on one another. There were so many tomatoes they attracted raccoons and I could hear them crunching on green ones at night. I was travelling with work that fall, so Jason had to do all the harvesting and sauce making himself. Tomatoes have since been banned from our garden.

A few plants managed to grow on their own last year in the same spot and they had to be "removed". I managed to save one plant and put it in a pot on the deck. It produced only one tomato (shallow pot), but it was delicious. I sliced it up and put it in a pasta dish.

Our future farm will definitely have a tomato patch -- one to rival all others. In the meantime I'll be drooling over seed catalogues, fantasizing about fresh-off the vine tomates. *Sigh*

Since the seed catalogue that came was from the States, and since it's tomato section left something to be desired, I have ordered a few Ontario seed cattys that I can peruse. We'll see if I can't find a small-ish variety that I can plant this year.

Cinnamon Hearts

2010-01-12T13:54:00.000-05:00

I was cruising Etsy today and noticed that everything is red, white, pink and heart shaped. It made me think "holy mackerel, is it almost Valentines day?!?!". That's when I realized it's only January 12, and V-day is still more than a month away. It's also something of a random holiday and doesn't require much prep.

That being said, I feel like I kind of dropped the ball at Christmas... I didn't send a single card. I think I shall try to redeem myself for Valentines day. I'll let you know how that works out for me.

For those of you wondering what Etsy is, crawl out from under your rock already and check out the coolest shopping site in the history of the internet.

Darn Yarn (and 2010 to do list!)

2010-01-05T09:16:00.000-05:00

I had a bit of a yarn crisis this week.

When it comes to knit and crochet patterns, I'm bad for using materials other than what the pattern calls for. Take my tree skirt for instance -- the pattern uses Red Heart Holiday Yarns and a size K crochet hook. I used Lion Brand Holiday Homespun and a size J (0.5mm smaller) crochet hook. My yarn is thicker and going faster, so I need more yarn than the pattern calls for and had to buy more.

Next I'm wanting to make this gorgeous crochet cardigan. I've been shopping for a nice open-sleeve white cardigan to wear over long-sleeved T-shirts. So far I've come up empty handed, until I saw the Capelet Swing Cardi in the same magazine as my tree skirt. It's exactly what I've been looking for, so I want to make it. When I was in Micheals the other day (buying more Holiday Homespun) I saw a very pretty yarn on half price. I thought the Bernat Soft Boucle in Natural would be perfect (so I bought 7 skeins), but the moment I brought it home I started to have doubts. The soft boucle will have more texture and soft fuzz than the Red Heart Eco Ways, but it's a much lighter weight and will make smaller stitches (meaning I'd have to adjust the size to fit my gauge -- ugh). I also REALLY like the look of the sweater on the pattern, and it will look much different with the Boucle.

SO, now I have 7 skeins of Soft Boucle and I need 7 of Eco Ways (which Micheals doesn't have, by the way). I can get it online for about $30 (incl. shipping), but unfortunately for me that's $30 I just don't have at the moment.

My game plan for now is to 1. Finish the Tree Skirt, 2. Clean the Craft Room (aka the Craft Pile right now!) and then re-evaluate. I have a number of other started projects I can work on for January and then maybe start the cardi in February.

Some started (but not complete) knit/crochet projects:

1. My Mittens

2. The Dreaded Afghan

3. Saw Tooth Skirt

Started but not complete sewing:

1. Summer Sun Dress

Started but not complete scrapbooking:

1. Mini Engagement Album

2. Wedding Album (oy!)

3. Mini Christmas Album

4. Camping Trip

If I get all those done it will be next Christmas before my dream cardi sees the light of day.

Side-note: I LOVE the Crochet Today! magazine I picked up before Christmas. It is SO inspiring! I usually don't buy knitting/crochet books or magazines because there are only one or two patterns that I like, but I am liking ALL of them! It's really taking crochet places for me.

Triple Chocolate Death!

2009-12-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

One of my favourite self-imposed Christmas traditions is the Christmas cookie baking. I started this tradition when I was in my second year of university. Starting in September that year I baked a batch of cookies almost every weekend until the big day. We were in the apartment back then and our tiny refrigerator freezer was packed full of cookies! I have never since managed to match the number or variety of cookies baked in one year. I kind of blame Mosely for that -- he came into our lives the following spring and ate the cookie magazine I had pulled 90% of my recipes from. I have never since found a suitable recipe for gingerbread.

One of the recipes I used back then was for a Death by Chocolate cookie that was superb. It was a triple chocolate cookie dipped in ganache. Mmmm! In an effort to replicate it (minus ganache) a created my own recipe this year.

First, I should tell you about our recent chocolate emergency. On a trip to Shoppers I had purchased some chocolate kisses to include with my gifts for Christmas. Of course as soon as I got home Jason and I started eating them. In an effort to salvage them I hid the four nearly full bags in a canvas tote behind our Christmas tree. For about a week I completely forgot about them.

That's when Jason called me at work to say that Mosely had found them. He ate every last chocolate kiss, foil and all! Fortunately, I have a very understanding boss, and she didn't mind that I went home early to keep an eye on my chocolate dog. Jason called the vet, who advised we pick up some charcoal biscuits to neutralize any toxins and then just keep an eye on him for signs of illness. Mosely thought it was his lucky day! First chocolate, then biscuits, then we spent the afternoon doting on him! Apart from a gross "verp" (containing foil!), Moe's only symptom was an excess of energy. Chocolate disaster averted.

For the cookies, I took a standard Ultimate Double Chocolate Cookie recipe from allrecipes.com and added milk chocolate and white chocolate chips. It was tricky guesswork trying to determine when they were done, but they turned out deliciously! I have lovingly dubbed them "Triple Chocolate Death Cookies".

Just to set the record straight, Mosely is usually a very good boy, and doesn't tend to eat random things. Now that he's had a taste for chocolate though (and obviously thought it was pretty good!) we'll have to be more careful!

Here is a picture of the family cuddle I caught the other day. Jason went to lay down after some renovation work and Mosely and Gordon took advantage of the cuddle opportunity.

Funky Retro Tree Skirt

2009-12-19T13:24:00.000-05:00

As promised, a Christmas craft post. This tree skirt is still in progress (obviously), but I'm making it for Jason. He already knows about it, so there is no danger in spoiling any surprises here. I had to tell him for three reasons: 1) I live with him and he will obviously see me working on it, 2) I probably won't be finished by Christmas, and 3) I can't keep a secret to save my life.

It was kind of a last minute craft decision. I was at Michaels a week or two ago and saw the holiday coloured yarns and thought "Oooooh, pretty!". Then, a little further into the store I saw the Crochet Today! Nov/Dec magazine with the tree skirt on the cover, and the rest is history. Jason had commented when our tree was decorated that it looked naked underneath. I think he might have made the same comment last year.

If you're wondering why I didn't just go out and buy a tree skirt, let me tell you. For one thing, I am very picky about certain things -- and the Christmas tree is one of them. All of our tree ornaments are in the classic Christmas colours (dark red, white, dark green, jalapeño green and silver -- yes, those are the true colours of Christmas!), and most of the ornaments have a nostalgic feel to them. We also don't have Christmas stockings. This is not due to a dislike of the stocking tradition, it's just because after years of searching I've never found the ones that are "just right". Maybe if the holiday yarn is on sale after Christmas I'll pick some up to make us matching stockings. Also, straight buying a tree skirt is nowhere near as fun as spending all my free moments working on one -- and besides, I'm going to need something to keep me busy over the Christmas break.

The skirt is coming along much more quickly than I'd thought it would. The finished project has 8 coloured bands, and I'm almost finished the third. To follow my progress check out my ravelry.com profile.

Oh yes, and the bathroom is coming along quite quickly! I'm hoping to be able to shower in my new tub/shower on Tuesday!

The Bathroom

2009-12-18T10:34:00.000-05:00

For the last couple of years Jason and I have had a Christmas tradition of "giving" one another renovations. Two years ago Jason and his friend Jen painted the kitchen for me one night when I was out. Last year Jason and his friend Craig laid new hardwood linoleum, painted and re-arranged the basement living room. I helped by painting trim. This year may be our biggest, and certainly most in-depth renovation yet -- the bathroom!

When we were first thinking about buying our house the bathroom was on the "con" list for sure. The bathtub enamel is worn off, making it impossible to clean. The taps drip, the toilet requires constant "tinkering" on Jason's part, and the vanity is a 1970's throw back to the times when yellowish acrylic counters were chic. Nevermind the mold that grows on the ceiling and has to be scrubbed from the grout on the tiled walls. Despite the fact that we hated it back then, we knew the bathroom reno was going to be a big job, and much more expensive than a few cans of paint.

We've decided this year to take the plunge and do the bathroom. I am so excited about this reno, I can't even begin to explain it. We're going all the way -- new tub, new toilet, even new dry wall! Jason will be recording our progress daily on his blog here. I will also try to keep you updated on progress from my POV. It's exciting stuff!!

Stay tuned also for some upcoming craft posts! I have been crafting my little heart out for weeks in preparation for Christmas, but have been resitant to post because I don't want to give away any presents. I will try to post them as they are given.

In the meantime, the countdown is on! What are you looking forward to this Christmas? Do you have any unusual holiday traditions?

Overheard

2009-11-13T15:07:00.000-05:00

Do you ever overhear conversations that you just can't help but stop and take note of? I just heard this one:

Person A: How long has this water cooler been unplugged?

Person B: Uh - I don't know.

Person A: So, is it safe to drink? I mean, how long has the water been stangnant?

Person B: I don't know. I hadn't noticed it was unplugged.

Person A: So is it safe to drink?

Person B: -----

Person A: I mean, because it's unplugged.

Person B: I might suggest you use the fountain behind you instead.

Sometimes I wonder about our species, and how we've made it this far.

Remembrance Day

2009-11-11T11:44:00.000-05:00

One of the things that always comes to mind on Remembrance Day is the annual art competition in public school. I wonder if they still do that? Perhaps what I remember most is never winning said competition, though I dutifully went to work on it every year. Poster paints one year, pastels the next, and when I finally felt confident in my artistic ability, pencil crayons. I depicted poppies, crosses, soldiers, guns, battlefields -- all things I knew were relevant and important images where war was concerned. In the eighth grade I wrote a haiku for Remembrance Day about death. In the ninth grade we watched a holocaust movie in Canadian History that made me cry.

I also remember the annual assembly at the local community centre where we would gather for the morning ceremony. When I say "we", I mean everybody -- the whole town! Three different public schools, the retirement home, the legion, scouts, guides, and air cadets, municipal politicans, and the ten or so other adults who worked in town. It was by far the largest gathering of people under one roof I ever got to see in my little home town (with the exception maybe of the annual Christmas Craft Show).

Even today I make an effort every year to stop and think about those fallen heroes and the sacrifices they made so that I can have the life that I do. I am lucky to work at an institution where Remembrance Day is taken seriously and with much ceremony.

In saying all of this I feel it pertinent to note that I am strongly opposed to war in all forms -- and am apparently genetically predisposed to feel the way I do. I'm not aware of any of my forefathers having served . I come from a long line of farmers on both sides of the family. Actually, to give credit where it's due, my maternal grandfather did enlist at the age of 13 and was admitted into the Dutch army, but was soon discharged for dismantling barracks and starting fires. He was cold!

Remembrance Day for me is about more than honouring the brave men and women who died defending our rights -- it's about remembering the horrors of World Wars I and II that should never be (and should never have been) repeated. It's about remembering the mistakes that were made and acknowledging that they should never be made again. Never. I think forgetting that is a dishonour to them.

I also think that using violence to further a power struggle -- no matter how technologically advanced -- draws us nearer to our cave-dwelling ancestors. Have we really come so far as a species just to develop better/smarter/more efficient ways of killing? Surely we have also advanced somewhat in modes of negotiating, communicating, respecting opposing values and opinions, and keeping peace.

Finally, Remembrance Day for me is about the future. It's about telling the stories our veterans have left us with so that future generations will know and understand what was lost, what was won, and what's at stake when we forget.

What do you remember?

More Useful H1N1 Info

2009-11-04T14:19:00.000-05:00

Here is some more useful information that came my way regarding H1N1 Flu.

Symptom	Cold	H1N1 Flu
Fever	Fever is rare with a cold.	Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the H1N1 flu.
Coughing	A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.	A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the H1N1 flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
Aches	Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.	Severe aches and pains are common with the H1N1 flu.
Stuffy Nose	Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.	Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the H1N1 flu.
Chills	Chills are uncommon with a cold.	60% of people who have the H1N1 flu experience chills.
Tiredness	Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.	Tiredness is moderate to severe with the H1N1 flu.
Sneezing	Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.	Sneezing is not common with the H1N1 flu.
Sudden Symptoms	Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.	The H1N1 flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
Headache	A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.	A headache is very common with the H1N1 flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
Sore Throat	Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.	Sore throat is not commonly present with the H1N1 flu.
Chest Discomfort	Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.	Chest discomfort is often severe with the H1N1 flu.

Fancy Christmas Cards

2009-10-29T09:55:00.000-04:00

Okay! Here are the pictures I promised yesterday. I ran into some difficulties (namely, my camera was dead so I charged it and when I went back to use it the darn thing had dissapeared), but here they are as promised.

I am quite pleased with the mini-scrapbook, and believe me, I meditated on that one for a long time. I wanted to get the colours just right, and I had a tough time choosing from all my new Christmas stamp sets... But I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

When I made this one I thought I may have gotten a bit carried away, but people seem to really like it. Wonderbar.

The Ornament ones are my favourite. They are super busy, but unapologetically so. They were super fun and easy to make! I used two different ornament stamp sets AND the new ornament punch. Beautious.

Scrapbooking

2009-10-27T14:55:00.000-04:00

I am planning some serious scrapbooking for tonight! Not only am I prepping for an upcoming workshop (November 14, mark your calendars!) but I have developed a new rule for Christmas gift giving this year.

The Rule

Gifts must be handmade or recycled.

There are some loop holes to this rule, which I should mention, I have committed my family to as well!

The loop holes are as follows:
- Handmade gifts don't have to be made by you. You can support local artisans by shopping at craft shows, pottery shows, and online.

- Recycled does not mean your old junk (but it could). Antique stores are a great place to find unique gifts for someone special, and you never know what treasures you might find at Value Village or the Goodwill.

- AND you can do double the good deed by using recycled items to make something handmade.

I am trying to make most of my gifts myself, though I do plan to do some antiquing as well. Here's a challenge though: what do I make/seek for the gentlemen on my list? I am finding the ladies way easier to create for. Ideas?

For those of you who think it's way too early to be talking about Christmas, bear in mind you have to think about it way in advance when you're making your gifts!

I'll post pictures tomorrow!

H1N1 Advice

2009-10-26T09:33:00.000-04:00

This may not be the most pleasant inaugural post for a new blog, but I have some information I am wanting to share and thought, 'why not?'.

Here is some interesting H1N1 advice passed to my Mom by a friend who works in health care. It seems like good, sound advice, and may include some things you haven't thought of.

In addition, but off-topic, I felt I needed to post this because when I went to forward it I realized I no longer have email contacts for many of my closest friends. Most of the addresses in my contact list are for business - all of my social e-comms take place on other formats. How do you keep in touch with friends?

K

Good Advice for Preventing H1N1

1. Frequent hand washing

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach

3. Gargle twice daily with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). H1N1 takes 2 - 3 days after initial infection in the throat/nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple. inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Not everyone may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the nose hard at least once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral populations.

5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. Drink as many warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. It washes proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive or do harm.

* This advice comes from Dr. Vinay Goyal, MBBS, DRM, DNB (Intensivist & Thyroid Specialist) . He is presently heading the Nuclear Medicine Dept and Thyroid Clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).*