Product Review: E is for Easy Epicure!

Don't all moms struggle with dinnertime? We've got no time, kids attached to our legs and our dinners, well sometimes they lack a little flavour and pizazz? Maybe more often then sometimes?

My spice cupboard was a little bare, mostly because I wasn't sure what to buy outside of the basics and when I'm racing through the supermarket the spice aisle is not a mandatory go-to section when kids are melting down.

Enter in Epicure Selections and a lovely consultant named Sheri who caters to us busy moms and even sends us weekly "Meals in Minutes" meal plans (!!) to help the dinner hour become less stressful and more delicious. Doesn't that sound good?

I wasn't too familiar with Epicure (it's a Canadian company) and then I looked at the inspiring catalogue and it's full of spices yes, but that doesn't describe it enough. All the flavour that seems to be missing from my ordinary cooking but that is in restaurant food -- I found it in these Epicure bottles. Saying "spice" isn't enough - the products livened up my regular cooking in a meaningful way.

I started playing with the different ingredients - making the Lemon Dilly Dip like the recipe said for veggies & crackers but then tossing it into a tuna sandwich and making it sensational. Throwing the Italian seasoning into much more than pasta sauce and the Mulling Spices with cider made my house smell heavenly and tasted darn good too! Don't even get me started on the quantities of their Red Pepper Jelly I am enjoying --on just about everything!

I have a feeling Christmas stockings in my family (well, the adults anyways!) will have jars of Epicure in each toe! And maybe they won't mind sharing....

Product Review: Making Memories from Overtime Design

Looking for a unique gift this Christmas or just a new way to display your photos? Overtime Design has a great way to capture these memories in their own style.

momstown chose two photos to be created into photo canvas prints with Overtime Design. . The first canvas is a favourite picture of her step-dad and his horse for Christmas (shhh, that's a surprise!). This is a great option versus the usual print & frame that we all do. Great canvas texture and ready to hang! The second option was to send in an original artwork or drawing done by my daughter to create a unique memory from her school days. I chose a butterfly that she had made on her first day of school, as well as a picture of her on her first day of JK! Tammie from Overtime Design (whose customer service is amazing) took the time to turn the butterfly and photo into a piece that will be a keepsake for years to come!

When you check out Overtime Design also see their very cool "Hip Home Wall Decals" if your walls need something special other than your favourite prints.

Mama's Homemade Chicken Soup

I made homemade chicken soup today -- made the broth from scratch and all in an attempt to summon all good things needed to help those fighting colds & flu in this house to get better.

I made it on a day that I have a girls dinner out planned so I'm not even going to be here (and let me tell you how much I'm looking forward to the out-of-the-house-meal!). It's been a long day overall but I'm channelling positive energy and love into this soup.

One would think the simmering, delicious smell of homemade soup would be appealing to all and they would come clamouring into the kitchen asking when they can eat? Yah, that didn't happen.

Child #1 refused to eat it unless bribed with a cookie.

Child #2 threw the entire bowl on the floor and had to be stripped down since he was soaking in soup.

Husband walks in the door sniffling with a cold and I thought I had a home run with this one. Turns his nose away and tells me he doesn't want any "right now". Too bad for you buster (!!)

I nipped a little bowl as my 'starter' before going out for dinner and it's darn good soup people! Darn good! What is wrong with my family?

Too bad no one appreciates a good bowl of mama's soup, except for mama. I guess that's how Campbell's stays in business...

Chop chop to kids locks

Hair drama starts early.

My first child was not blessed with a head full of hair and was virtually bald until 2 years old. Now at 4, it's way better but still not thick enough to grow her bangs out as the hairline is still deciding if it's going to be a serious, serious widow's peak, or just a widow's peak.

So we keep Lauren's in a nice, neat mushroom kinda cut which is easy for mama to manage and is still just long enough to withstand a barrette or little ponytail. Don't tell, but sometimes the child leaves the house with a full bedhead and it's not until we get somewhere that I notice. That should tell you something about our hair routine over here.

Now my son, he has the soft golden locks that cost a million dollars from a bottle. I'm glad the shaggy look is in, because I like the ragamuffin look he's got with the wild, messy curls and crazy wings. It's about as far away from a crewcut as one can get.

We did have to go for a first haircut in June @ 19 months because even a messy cut needs to be neatened to still look like a good messy cut! We went to a great local place specialized in kid's haircuts with all the bells & whistles. We both came out happy - Andrew because he got to drive an airplane the whole time and me, because he still looked like my baby/little boy and not an army recruit.

Now it's October and well, I think we may have to cut his mane again before he needs a tie-dyed outfit & beard to match. This time I am super reluctant and I'm back to debating again about if we should cut it, just trim it or dive in with a shaver and get rid of it all and follow the "simple is better" mantra.

I find the internal debate I'm having over my son's hair really silly since I'm on the opposite side of the fence for girls hair. There's been recent discussion on our momstown boards about how long to keep a girls hair and whether it's worth the daily fight to upkeep it. My perspective and choice is to keep it SIMPLE.

Young girls are already influenced by so much and I personally feel that making their hair a priority early on will just start the whole image / body awareness thing too early. It's gonna catch up soon enough, let's not focus so much on the matching barrettes and pretty ponytails, and just focus on simple styles and keeping it clean -- isn't that enough to ask of busy moms who are just trying to get out the door?

However, despite my stance, my own child has a bucket of hair barrettes and bands which have crept in here (did I buy them? I must have!). Perhaps my opinion has derived from the fact she had no hair for so long that I was so used to not having to worry about taking care of it.

Admittedly, maybe because my own hair has long since left being a priority for me (see above picture, many know that checkered hat very, very well).

And despite my perspective I can't believe I'm so in love with my sons hair that I'm not following my rule of keeping it simple! Why am I so attached and preoccupied with Andrew's mega hair?

No clue, except maybe I'm just a little jealous of those blond locks?

Maybe I feel OK with the anti-stereotype?

Maybe I should just buy a hair clipper and be done with it...?

Maybe I'll just not do anything about it right now...

Product Review: Shopping Cart Covers make grocery shopping safe during flu season or anytime!

A special offer for all momstown blog readers:

Order your Canadian Cozy cart cover by December 15th and receive 10% off! Use the code momstown09 and check us out at bamboobabygear.com!

I have never really been a germ a phobe, however even in my casual ways even I have on more than one occasion been pushing my grocery cart through the aisles when I see someone else wipe their nose with their hand and then grab right back onto that handle....GROSS to say the least. I would look down at the cart I was pushing I couldn't help but wonder how many people had already sneezed on the cart I was pushing that day. Even though that was an extremely disgusting thought I would remember to wash my hands the minute I got home and go on with my day.
I am now a first time mom which needless to say has changed my outlook about these things quite a bit. The thought of my little angel touching those germ filled bars put me over the edge. Thankfully due to the Shopping Cart Cover from bamboobabygear.com
my worries are over!

I recently had the chance to try out the Shopping Cart Cover from bamboobabygear.com. Canadian Cozy™ is the company that is offering these smart and stylish covers. The cart cover pictured here in the Sorbet pattern kept my daughter's little paws from touching the germ filled bars on the shopping cart.

The covers are made with premium cotton print fabrics that are too cute for words. They also sport an eco-friendly bamboo lining and cozy bamboo fleece to make our little ones little bums comfy in those hard shopping carts. The cover also fits any traditional restaurant high chair as well so it has multiple uses.

Other than the adorable patterns that they come in the covers are so functional. The first time I used it I think I could have managed to get it on with one hand had my husband not been "helping". I now have no problem getting it on the cart with my daughter in one arm and only one hand free. Oh, and another great thing is that the cover covers up the other buckles that are built onto the cart itself which is great as those are usually the ones my daughter spends the entire shopping trip trying to chew on, yuck!

I can't tell you how many times I have pulled out a shopping cart or brought over a high chair that had a faulty buckle, well no more worries about that either as you can be sure the buckle on the cover will be in working form.

The cover seems to fit all shopping carts and traditional style restaurant high chairs so you can really take it anywhere! And since it folds up and the buckle can be used to keep it folded it is also easy to travel with. I haven't had the need to wash it yet but I can tell by the material that it will wash beautifully.

These covers are truly unique, durable and functional. From one mom to another the shopping cart covers are a definite must for every mom on the go.

This review was completed by Lindsay Peddle, mom of Payton, and owner of momstown hamilton!

those tiny peas, beans, beads & polly pocket shoes!

What's to be concerned about with that nice pile of green Thanksgiving peas in front of that toddler? Nothing, right? They're tasty, nutritious, they keep a toddler busy & silent eating for awhile and hey, they even have some fibre. But, then one goes up his nose!

YES, his nose. That cute nose there on the left. I'm no longer a green pea fan.

Stupid pea, I'm angry at you. You got stuck into that nostril so darn fast! If it wasn't for eagle-eyes Grandma I might have missed the whole episode but she saw the pea edge its way in and when I turned I could see half the bulge and then SNIFF, you're gone and up his nose!

Time to yelp in paranoid frustration now. Get the Flashlight! Yep, I can see it, can you see it? Oh yes, we can all see it but we can't reach it!

Pinch & pull his nose! Doesn't help. Get the tweezers - but is this safe? Put those tweezers down! Call Telehealth! What's Telehealth I'm asked? Really? Seriously? Just google their number and call!

Some feel that the nose is connected to the throat and therefore, eventually he will swallow it so let's just leave it there. Uh, pardon?

While child is running around happily like his usual 22 month self, Grandma is on the phone with Telehealth and Mama is googling "pea up toddlers nose" and frightening herself with random blogs about nose incidents and various infections... good god, it was just a stupid pea!

Telehealth suggests pinching the clear nostril and blowing into the child's mouth like in mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Mama tries this multiple times and only succeeds in making toddler giggle like crazy and getting no pea.

So, off to the ER we go. We meet the POWER SUCKER. Andrew is still giddy from the Popsicle the nurse gave him, he has no idea what's about to happen.

A long plastic sucking tube is inserted into our restrained child. It takes 2 of us to hold down the 32 pound wrestler while he screams like his arms are being cut off. Power sucker sucks and sucks and sucks for about 15 minutes until Andrew's saucer eyes open even wider and his loud scream becomes louder and OUT comes the pea. It was the fattest pea ever.

Andrew handled the whole thing well, it was Mommy & Daddy who were still shaking on the way home. It was a pea, good god, we'd be lost if it was a broken bone or serious illness.

Also a reminder for us -- get all those mini things away from our curious kid! Past the in-the-mouth stage we've gotten more careless about the roving Polly Pockets shoes, the crafting beads and not watching as carefully when eating (obviously).

Since the weekend I have heard so many stories from momstown friends about other things up noses - stones (ouch), grapes, raisins, doll shoes and such. Apparently, these types of stories go down in family history.

Sorta think every Thanksgiving from here on in, Andrew will get reminded about that Thanksgiving pea. And we will be ever grateful that it was only a pea.

(leave a comment below if you have an up-the-nose story!)

Pain shared is pain halved

With Thanksgiving coming this weekend, we're all reminded how grateful we are for our family and our precious children. It's also a time of year that can be especially painful for those who have lost babies and pregnancies as those souls are remembered.

October 15th has been designated as Pregnancy Loss Remembrance Day in honour of all families who have suffered the painful loss of a miscarriage, stillbirth or similar tragedy. It's a beautiful sentiment to recognize the loss parents feel - and continue to feel for years afterwards - from the loss of a child and a dream.

Many of us are familiar with the stats - that 1 in 4 women miscarry. Recently, I was with a group of women where 3 out of 4 had miscarried which was a stunning realisation just how very common it is. Despite the frequency, support for parents is random and often families have difficulty working through their grief or don't share their grief until long after.

Our generation tends to be more open with discussing these circumstances than our mothers were and we also look to recognize these lost lives versus to choosing to "just move on" or consider it "God's wish". These comments although meant in support can be extremely hurtful to a grieving parent. As a result, those with a loss often feel isolated in their grief and those trying to support are confused about how to help.

Now, there is a wonderful way now to make a private, or public, recognition of these children with the International Wave of Light at 7pm on October 15th. It is suggested to light a candle in the honour of your lost child, or in honour of all lost children.

Some communities have a public walk planned during this time and you can search out locations at http://www.october15th.com This is new to Canada but there are walks planned in Barrie, Toronto, Winnipeg, Halifax & Moose Jaw with many, many planned in the USA.

If you'd like to learn more about this day click here to watch the Youtube video which explains more about this remembrance. It's a very sensitive but beautiful video, so be warned that you're likely to get emotional.

Let's all be thankful for our beautiful children, those who are here with us and those who are no longer.

leavin' on a jet plane

"How is your plane MOMMY?" my daughter yelled into the phone from Burlington to Edmonton when I first talked her 24 hours after I left home for the first time for longer than overnight.

Obviously, I wasn't in the plane anymore, but in my hotel. The conversation went something like this...

"What's in your hotel, Mommy?
"There's a bed..."
"Daddy!! Mommy has a BED in her hotel! Mommy! What else??"
"Well, there's a TV.."
"DADDY! Mommy has a Tee-Veeee in her hotel!!" and so on, and on.....

Well, at least she doesn't seem to miss me. Which is good. Right? I convinced myself as my heart felt full and sad. If she was crying would I feel better? No. I'm so glad she's having fun at home with Daddy and seemingly going through little/no adjustment that I'm not home for 4 days.

My little guy was also fine but every time he heard a noise in the house he asked "Mommy?" but went about his way when told I would come home soon.

I flew out to Edmonton to meet with our new momstown.ca Alberta mamas, Cathy (Edmonton South), Laura (Edmonton North), Alison (Red Deer) & Jen (Calgary North) and help get their chapters all ready to launch. It was a momstown business trip that was fun and I totally enjoyed myself working with these fabulous, energetic ladies. Also, I must admit, being released from the daily grind and activities of raising 2 small children full-time was quite pleasant.

I slept well. I ate nachos for dinner. I didn't wipe any noses, faces or bums for a full 3.5 days. Pure bliss actually.

And I felt guilty about it too. Of course.

Thankfully, the person who did seem to miss me was my husband as he played daytime Mommy in addition to his usual involved evening Daddy. He worked from home those days so he could do kindergarten, playdate drop-off and naps while squeezing in work in between. He shuttled to swimming lessons, did groceries, actually cleaned the house (hmmm, showed me up there I tell you), fed the kids (McD's only once) and did a bang up job. And I think exhausted himself and was thrilled to have me back.

Thank goodness, because if he thought it was all a piece of cake then I would have been in big trouble...

I arrived home at 1am on Sunday morning and walked into a silent, sleeping house with a huge picture taped to the wall which read "I MISSED YOU MOMMY" from Lauren along with a scribble picture from dear Andrew. I almost cried. It was all I could do not to wake them up from their deep sleep to hold them and hear about what I missed.

But I stroked their heads and headed to bed because as all mamas know, these kids wake up early and a short vacation from everyday life ends really quickly once the sun rises...