happy holidays to all!

Maple Ginger Salmon

Mmmm... Maggie's first attempt at salmon is a huge success! (Could be that we've never really given her sugar, so the maple syrup marinade blew her mind : )

Maple Ginger Salmon

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup Maple Syrup
2 tbsp Soy Sauce
1 tbsp Fresh Grated Ginger
1/8 tsp Salt
1 lb Salmon

DIRECTIONS
Mix maple syrup, soy sauce, ginger, and salt.

Place salmon in a shallow glass baking dish, and coat with the maple syrup mixture. Cover the dish, and marinate salmon in the refrigerator 30 minutes, turning once.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Place the baking dish in the preheated oven, and bake salmon uncovered until easily flaked with a fork (15 minutes in my not-so-hot oven).


Adapted from a very popular recipe on Allrecipes.com

: )

*Sigh of Relief*

Yes YOU Can

Please. Vote America. Vote.

And I plead to my American friends...

You can change the world. Vote!



Borat, Will Smith and Justin Timberlake are voting. Voting's cool.

Crockpot Veggie Chili

I served this recipe at our second annual pumpkin carving party and (as usual) I forgot to pull out the camera until all the chili was gone. Ah well. It looks like chili.

By the power of a bunch of recipes combined, I give you...

Crockpot Veggie Chili!

2 (28 oz) cans diced tomatoes
1 (14 oz) can crushed tomatoes
1 (14 oz) can pureed pumpkin
1 (12 oz) can corn
1 (19 oz) can black beans
1 (19 oz) can kidney beans
1 (19 oz) can garbonzo beans (chick peas)
2 (340 g) packages of Ground Round
1 square Semi-Sweet Bakers chocolate
2 tbsp chili powder
2 tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt, to taste

Toss all ingredients into a crockpot and cook on high for about 4-5 hours. Enjoy with a squeeze of fresh lime, some shredded cheddar and a dollop of sour cream.

Happiness is...

It's Election Day

photo by scienceduck


Though it ain't very sophistimicated, I gotta say, it's beautiful.

October 14, 2008

VOTE STUDENTS VOTE!

Double-Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

My mother made this pie for me - a little bit of birthday bliss. Seriously. There are only two negatives about this dessert: 1. you have to wait FOUR hours before you can enjoy it! 2. you can never have enough!!

For every birthday until I die, please make me a Double-Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie.

Photo by Rob Howard.

Double-Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

INGREDIENTS:

Chocolate Crust
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons
2 cups Oreo baking crumbs

Peanut Butter Filling
1 cup cream cheese, softened
1 cup smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup well-chilled whipping cream
Kosher salt

Chocolate Topping
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup whipping cream


DIRECTIONS:

1. MAKE THE CHOCOLATE CRUST: Preheat the oven to 375°. In a medium glass bowl, combine the chocolate and butter and microwave at high power in 20-second intervals until the chocolate is melted. Stir well, then stir in the cookie crumbs. Press the cookie crumbs over the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan and 1 1/2 inches up the side. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, or until set; the crust will continue to firm up as it cools.

2. MEANWHILE, MAKE THE PEANUT BUTTER FILLING: In a large bowl, using a handheld electric mixer, beat the cream cheese with the peanut butter, sugar and vanilla extract until blended. In another large bowl, using the same beaters, whip the chilled cream until firm. Fold one-third of the whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture to loosen it, then fold in the remaining whipped cream. Spoon the filling into the crust, smoothing the surface. Sprinkle lightly with salt and refrigerate until set, about 3 hours.

3. MAKE THE CHOCOLATE TOPPING: In a medium glass bowl, combine the chocolate with the whipping cream and microwave at high power in 20-second intervals until the chocolate is melted and the cream is hot. Stir the chocolate topping until blended, then let cool to barely warm, stirring occasionally.

4. Spread the chocolate topping over the peanut butter filling and refrigerate until just firm, about 15 minutes. Carefully run a thin knife around the pie crust to loosen it, then remove the springform ring. Using a sharp knife, cut the pie into wedges. Run the knife under hot water and dry it between each cut.

MAKE AHEAD The pie can be covered and refrigerated overnight. Serve the pie chilled or slightly cooler than room temperature.

I love shirt.

designed by Rachel Pfleger

Ergo Baby Carrier by ERGO baby

Mamas, your backs deserve the ERGO Baby Carrier! It seemed pricey when we bought it, but I've watched a few mom friends go through multiple carriers of lesser quality and I didn't want to waste my time or money. Thankfully, the Ergo is the only carrier we need! At 8 months and 25 lbs, Maggie is a long way from outgrowing it and both Daddy and I can still carry her comfortably. The only downfall we've discovered so far is that during strenuous hikes Daddy sweats alot and Maggie gets drenched (eww)!

When Maggie was a newborn, I used the Infant Insert to snuggle her in against me. At first I thought the Insert was unnecessary, but quickly realized the benefits (supported her little neck and allowed me to safely use the Ergo before she had head control). In the front carry position, Maggie faces in to promote bonding which I really appreciated in the early months. As she gets bigger and older, I am using the back carry position more and more. It only took two tries over the bed to become confident shifting her from back to front - safe and easy!

My absolute favourite thing about the Ergo (next to the comfort) is the ease with which it goes on and off. I love my wrap as well, but the Ergo takes 5 seconds to put on or take off - really valuable when Maggie's having a meltdown! For months I relied on the Ergo to get her to sleep and to keep her napping while I went about my business ("business" = watched movies, read, emptied the dishwasher, talked on the phone, visited with friends and blogged : ). I would rock her and rock her and rock her - having the carrier saved my arms and my back a whole heck of a lot of pain. Thank you Ergo, thank you!

NoseFrida Nasal Aspirator

No honestly, the NoseFrida Nasal Aspirator really does the trick! And there is nothing more terrifying than a baby who cannot breathe because her nose is clogged with mucous. Don't waste your time with ineffective bulb syringes that are impossible to clean. Until your baby can blow out her nose, this will be indispensable in times of stuffiness. It drives Maggie bonkers, but she sleeps better and so do I after I've cleared her nasal passages with the NoseFrida. P.S. In case you're squirming, Maggie's snot never enters the hose so there is no chance I will ever get a mouthful.

NoseFrida Nasal Aspirator

No honestly, the NoseFrida Nasal Aspirator really does the trick! And there is nothing more terrifying than a baby who cannot breathe because her nose is clogged with mucous. Don't waste your time with ineffective bulb syringes that are impossible to clean. Until your baby can blow out her nose, this will be indispensable in times of stuffiness. It drives Baby bonkers, but she sleeps better and so do I after I've cleared her nasal passages with the NoseFrida. P.S. Baby's snot never enters the hose so there is no chance you will ever get a mouthful.

RaZberry Teether by RaZbaby

Where teethers are concerned, I am of "the more the merrier" school. We've had a variety of teethers around for Maggie from the drooly beginning at 3 months. Some that she enjoyed at first have been put aside and replaced by more interesting ones - including the RaZberry Teether. I bought this one early on because of it's resemblance to a pacifier - I believed she'd be able to hold it and keep it in her mouth better than the drugstore teethers and I wanted to free up my finger! Due to its lightweight and shapely nature, she was indeed able to hold it from 3 months, though it wasn't until 5 months that she fell in love with it. Now she chews on the raspberry, the leaves and the stem too. It's durable, unlike water-filled teethers, it can be sanitized and as a bonus, it's easy to keep it from hitting the ground (a pacifier chain works wonders). She chews on it and rubs it against her gums, and I get a kick out of the squeaky sounds. Oh, and don't rule the RaZberry teether out just because your baby doesn't use pacifiers - she may still take to it!

Wanted: Sublime Imagery

Reward: Aubrey Trinnaman

My Canadian Idols Rearranged

Without a doubt, Theo Tams is the next Canadian Idol.
Earl Stevenson is talented with a capital T. I'll buy your record brother!
And Mookie Morris? Kid's got skills! This guy's a rock star.

Dreaming Small

As housing prices continue to be unreasonable, I consider the possibility of permanently renting a home for our little family. We're perfectly happy in our suite and can go on living here for quite some time - with continued improvements in organization that is. We've got affordable rent, plenty of room, a private entry and location, location, location. If we bought, we'd have to downgrade quality of living space and location, or else, eat only potatoes for the remainder of our days. So, we have to be a little creative with the square footage - I enjoy that type of problem solving. Renting a condo forces us to curb the clutter and be quite conscious of our consumerism (unintended alliteration, honest). Yes we have to accept inefficient appliances, stained old carpeting and that sense of transience that comes with renting... but is owning a house worth triple the monthly cost of renting an apartment? What could we have instead?

We have been discussing different ways to invest money other than buying a home. One idea we had was to buy some real estate up along the coast for a vacation rental property. Then we could build a small, well designed, modern little beach hut. - Jordan Ferney

















After reading that post on Oh Happy Day, I have been obsessing a little. I would love a tiny shack along the coast somewhere. I think I would much rather that than be shackled to the upkeep of a mediocre house in the city. The idea is so romantic; could it also be so in reality?

But maybe I am not so immune from the desire to own a house as I think I am. Nesting is an innate ambition for a mother. Can I be happy in a home that I'm borrowing from someone else? Birds don't own trees, but they make fine homes for their babies. (Lame analogy? Thought so but I couldn't stop myself : ) Is there something in owning, some feeling of permanence that I would forever lack if we never did buy?

Hmm....

simple pleasures

a hot cup of tea in the evening light.

maggie's soft little hand on my arm.

freshly flossed teeth.

laughing at some dumb joke with my husband.

taking a walk before the world wakes up.

organizing the junk drawer.

sitting on the patio, wrapped in a cozy blanket, at night.

Bodily Fluids Aren't So Bad

There I sat. My daughter on my lap, fully loaded with milk, gagging. In a split second, I anticipated her next move and made a choice.

Honestly, catching her baby vomit in my hand is much easier than letting it hit the pillow or my shirt, and having to clean it up later.

My Canadian Idols Refined

This is the best Idol season yet! As of the latest performances, my Canadian Idol list looks somethin like this:

5. Sebastian Pigott - bad song choice, but I still adore him.
4. Katherine St-Laurent - super rocker! Y'all suck for casting her out.
3. Earl Stevenson - big rockin goof - love it!
2. Theo Tams - made a Bob Marley song his own - brilliant.
1. Mookie Morris - holy eff this kid rocks!! I was mesmerized!

Still waiting for my father, the avid Idol fan, to comment... bet his favourite is wussy Amberly Thiessen. *pause for reaction*

Maggie G's Product Testing: Toys

This Hide Inside Surprise soft box is my favourite toy right now. I like to contemplate the different prints on the outside. I like to chew on each one of the animals. The crinkly, shiny fish and the bumpy, squeaky mouse feel great on my gums. And the best part is, there is still stuff to discover; Mom keeps touching the box and saying "pockets" and "hole". I can't wait to find out what those are!

Maggie's Verdict: Natursutten Soother

Mama. I look like a dork.






















Lucky for Maggie, a friend mistakenly ran that soother through the dishwasher (the natural rubber can't handle the heat) and that was the end of our Natursutten Soother. Why lucky for Maggie? Well, Mommy may have forced the issue because she covets the non-toxic nature of the soother. I may have continued giving it to her for a few more weeks, even though it was giving her a nasty rash on cheeks and chin. My little one drools (as do most) and drool + Natursutten = rash.

So, back to soothers with vents in the shield - get air to that irritated skin! Rather than returning to the BPA Avent soothers Maggie's used from 8 weeks (Philips says nothing about BPA in their safety claims, so I just assume...), we tried BPA-free NUK orthodontic soothers from Gerber and rash away! I chose silicone over latex because of the durability of silicone - it doesn't retain odours (or germs) and it's more difficult to chew through, so she's less likely to choke on pieces of soother.

In the end, it's really about what your baby prefers; I guess my little girl prefers cancer soothers.

My Canadian Idols Revised

It's been a few weeks. I've lived. I've learned. My new Canadian Idol list looks like this:

5. Mookie Morris - cool, but his latest performance fell sorta flat.
4. Earl Stevenson - a big goofy dork, and I'm buying it!
3. Theo Tams - professional. polished. but verging on a one-trick pony.
2. Katherine St-Laurent - girl balls!! she's rockin that stage!!!
1. Sebastian Pigott - smart, sassy, soulful, sexy...sigh

An honourable mention to ousted Oliver Pigott; he sang Lean On Me like I've always wanted to hear it. He got heart.

Stolen Tomato Cream Pasta

Last night, I roughed up this recipe from David & Nicole (love their layout - very pretty and highly usable!).

This dish is sexy enough and delicious enough for a dinner party. (I forgot to take a picture of it before it was devoured, but it did look quite beautiful I promise - in the meantime, isn't Nigella sexy?!). More importantly, it's easy enough for a weekday meal - especially if you cook and cut the chicken breast in advance, or (as I did) buy those fancy pre-cooked, pre-cut chicken breasts.

Tomato Cream Pasta

1/2 package uncooked spaghettini
2 ripe tomatoes, diced
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup Martini & Rossi dry sec
1/2 cup whipping cream
salt and cracked pepper
shredded parmesan
fresh basil, finely chopped
2 servings cooked and sliced chicken breast

Cook pasta in boiling salted water. Heat olive oil in a pan. Add tomatoes and saute for 2 minutes.

Add dry sec and boil until reduced by half. Stir in cream and cook until slightly reduced. Season with cracked pepper and salt. Add chicken just to warm.

Stir in drained pasta. Plate. Sprinkle with parmesan and basil. Serve.

Get Out Alive

Yes this is shameless promotion, but Sheena Grobb would be worth blogging about even if she weren't family.


It is a song about choosing personal integrity... despite difficult decisions and emotional battles attached. And without question, this is a song about resilience. -Sheena Grobb

Dark Chocolate Revised

Eating my own words, Lindt dark chocolate is not "too chalky" for me. Lindt 85% dark is too chalky yes, but I just tried the 70% and holy hell it's delicious! A bit smoky with a hint of berry to it. It's smooth but the texture contains a trace of the powdery cocoa so it's not at all waxy. Yum. Poulain and Lindt 70% are the main contenders for my favourite dark chocolate.

Conjuring Tina Fey...

Yesterday I had a great idea for a post then Maggie let one rip. I had to change her pants. My great idea was wiped away with her poop. Blerg.

High Chairs and Consumer Angst

After the $500 co-sleeper debaucle (will eventually post about why not to spend $500 on a baby's bed), I find myself even more anal about researching the best possible solution for each new item we add to our (very small) home.

So, when it came to purchasing a high chair I was paralyzed. My natural inclination as a thrifty lady is to buy secondhand. However, there are some incredible high chairs that grow with baby, and that seems like the most environmentally responsible solution. Unfortunately, in this case it costs a fortune to be environmentally responsible (Christopher, you should write a post titled "Money is Energy Too") and I'm not super comfortable with that.

If I had a million dollars, I would buy the Svan high chair. It's gorgeous, super comfy for baby, useful even after baby has grown, and has a wraparound tray to keep messes contained. Intuitively, a wood chair seems better able to reintegrate itself with the environment than a plastic chair, but I don't know how much energy is consumed, or how many toxins are required for its initial construction.

Since I don't have a million dollars, I bought the Ikea high chair. It's inconspicuous, fairly stylish, simple, easy to clean, easy to move around, and (most importantly) cheap.

It comes down to this. I chose the $25 high chair (+ $5 tray) over the $330 chair based on the results of a test I conducted. I went to a number of stores and sat Maggie in a number of chairs. In the $330 chair, she smiled. In the $180 chair, she smiled. In the $25 chair, (surprise surprise) she smiled. Sold!

Good Things Come in Less Packaging

While I've been running around researching the most earth-friendly teethers for my daughter, and feeling sick that our rental has such inefficient appliances, I've been overlooking a very simple footprint minimizing action.














A small amount of paper or plastic wrapping, versus a hard plastic bottle or pump? Even if we're refilling liquid soap containers, the bar soap requires so much less packaging. I bought a beautiful lemon verbena bar the other day. It looks gorgeous on the sink, and there's something comforting about the feel of a slippery soapy bar between my hands.

I challenge us all to avoid liquid hand & body soaps as a small way of decreasing our impact just a little more.

My Canadian Idols

Maggie was a crankypants today, so I desperately needed moving pictures to chill out tonight. Thank you CTV for hosting your shows online! Corner Gas, Grey's Anatomy, The Daily Show...wicked! I just caught up on the Canadian Idol contestants for this season and "had" to make some snap judgments about their worth (input as relevant as the hockey fan who boos the guy that made it to the NHL!).

7. Katelyn Dawn - grow some girl balls and she could win this thing!
6. Martin Kerr - unoriginal, but the guy rocked a Peter Gabriel tune.
5. Mookie Morris - kooky and talented as hell.
4. Mitch MacDonald - he belongs on stage but he's a bit cutesy.
3. Sebastian Pigott - gravelly goodness. insanely charming.
2. Theo Tams - he's got a delicious sincerity in his voice.
1. Omar Lunan - stole my breath.

Universal Music

Children's music can be irritating and lots of it is jaw-clenchingly bad. Yes there are alternatives that market to adults, but I can't handle the amateurish plink plinking of Rockabye Baby. Shudder. I mean, look, if I want my baby to listen to U2 or Radiohead or Coldplay, I'll just play U2 or Radiohead or Coldplay.

Then I found this...











African Lullaby (lower price from Amazon.ca than Chapters.ca, and not available from iTunes) is easy on the ears without being easy-listening. It's calm enough for bedtime, but joyful enough to dance and sway with. Even if I didn't have Maggie, I would happily listen to this album (I l-o-v-e Ladysmith Black Mambazo!).

Orange Rhubarb Muffins

Based on the possibility that honey is a healthier alternative to sugar, and a need to end my sugar addiction, I have tried my hand at screwing with baked goods for the first time ever. I am pleased to report the experiment was pretty much a success! The muffins are "not really sweet...sort of like biscuits" according to my taster. "But I like it," he said. I like them too; though I might add a 1/2 cup of stewed rhubarb, orange pulp or apple sauce to moisten them a bit more, and maybe another 1/4 cup of honey too. Here's a pic of the first batch.














Orange Rhubarb Muffins

Ingredients:
4 cups flour (I use 1/2 whole wheat and 1/2 unbleached)
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
2 large eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup honey
4 tsp grated orange rind
1 1/4 cup orange juice
2 1/2 cups fine chopped rhubarb

Mix dry ingredients and set aside. Beat eggs and oil. Add honey, rind and juice to wet. Add wet to dry. Fold in rhubarb. Bake at 325 degrees F for 20 minutes. Makes 1 1/2 dozen muffins.

Healthy Competition

It is now 5.5 months since I gave birth to my little Goober. She is healthy and happy and well, so it's time to shift some of my attention back to Mama! Mostly that means giving back to my hardworkin' baby-producin' bod. The physique is in need of some love - especially as Goober gets heavier and harder to lug around. I used to be able to devote countless hours to tracking exercise and eating with SparkPeople (love love love it!), but those days are gone. Instead I turn to my embarassingly competitive spirit for motivation to get this ol girl back into form.

Irrelevant Aside: The film The Competition came out the year I was born. Coincidence? I think not.

Step One: Thank you Grampa! My father has challenged me to a "walk-off". We both have pedometers now and track our daily steps. The contest is to see who can accumulate the most "10 000 steps" (sorry about the pdf) days in a month. With whooping my father (who is a walking nut by the way) as my fuel, I have managed to log some 15 000 step days, and bring my average up to 10 000 steps a day! This has been a great way to push my postpartum body to the next exertion level.

p.s. Dad. I've got hills + the weight of a carried baby or the pushing of a stroller to increase the intensity of my walks. Maybe you should start carrying Flo on your walks!

Step Two: Thank you Husband! Christopher has accepted my challenge to avoid treats for the month of July. Treats = any indulgent food item. My major downfalls are Mochas (decaf; not that it's any of your business), ice cream (specifically pricey Häagen-Dazs bars) and Coca-Cola (yes I AM aware it's toxic - toxically delicious!). Using Google's handy forms, we have begun a spreadsheet to track our treat intake through the month. It's like golf; the player with the fewest points wins. Since giving birth I have allowed myself treats as a reward for working so damn hard. Now that I'm feeling stronger and more confident as a mother, I don't need that crutch and I want to break this habit of indulging.

Like my volleyball shirt always says, "Go hard or go home!"

The Earth + Plastic

A clever man died this week. I heart "The Planet is Fine".

My Search for Dark Chocolate Continues...

Organic apples taste better than regular apples ergo... (or so I assumed)


Organics from President's Choice, European - 70%
1st taste: Bitter. Some kind of tang.
2nd taste: A bit waxy. Strange tang.

Green & Black's Organic - 70%
1st taste: Something tangy. Gritty texture
2nd taste: Texture is sticky or chewy. Not a great flavour.

Cocoa Camino, Bittersweet - 70%
1st taste: Strange but not bad. Definitely "bittersweet". Different texture from all others.
2nd taste: Not a bad flavour but too crumbly.


Following these with the Poulain makes me say, "That's how chocolate should taste!" Guess I prefer my chocolate with a little chemical aftertaste.

Delicious Darkness

A coffee and a piece of dark chocolate is my favourite way to end a meal. Dark chocolate is a sexy and satisfying treat. Unfortunately, I'm sick of the waxy "dark" chocolate available in the check-out line without having found a really great alternative. Lindt is too chalky for me. Some of the fair trade brands I've tried taste a bit sour. So I've decided to start keeping track of which ones I like, and which ones I don't. (I wish this were a wine list, but that'll have to wait until my boobs are my own again)

Note: This isn't a blind test, and it doesn't take into account cost; I might be influenced by the fact that Scharffen Berger has the classiest packaging and my favourite might change if it is also the most expensive.


Poulain - 76%
1st taste: Dark. Lovely cocoa flavour, but still smooth.
2nd taste: mm. What is that? Orange? Hm. Sweet but not too sweet. Creamy.

Scharffen Berger, Semisweet - 62%
1st taste: Tastes sweetened. Lovely smooth texture.
2nd taste: Good. Creamy. Tastes a little - oh! it is semi-sweet. I think I will try a different variety of this one - something more purely chocolate (there's vanilla flavour added).

Ghirardelli, Twilight Delight - 72%
1st taste: Woody. Nutty. Strange, but not bad.
2nd taste: Chalky. Not sweet enough. Don't love it.


Out of these three, I completely prefer the Poulain.

To be continued...

Tip: To keep fresh, wrap chocolate in foil and store in an airtight container.
Keep in a cool dark cupboard.

My New Favourite Saying - Thank you 30 Rock!

Tracy Jordan: Dr. Spaceman. When they check my DNA will it tell me what diseases I might get or help me to remember my ATM pin code?

Dr. Spaceman: Absolutely. Science is whatever we want it to be.

Change is Good

When I began this blog, I had no expectation that I would still be posting two years later. It started as a way for me to digitally archive things of interest and to get down thoughts I felt worthy of recording. In the "real world", I would have written and glued things in a journal. At the time I was taking History of the English Language so phonetic spelling interested me; punching up "journal" with graphics made it more appealing.

The blog has evolved, but not strayed from "the collection of a generalist." I remain a generalist and this blog is still a repository for stuffs that cross my path. I have however lost my connection with phonemes so it seems time for a shift.

Notice. Announcement. Information or intelligence. To take notice of. To mark. To comment on. To review. Notice boards. The word is derived from Latin words meaning "known" and "awareness". On the prairies (and elsewhere I'm sure), a friendly way to greet someone is "What do you know?" Basically, I'm archiving what I know and I want to share it with you.

Gift Ideas for New Mothers

Cleanliness is Decadence
The only time I have consistently taken for myself since my daughter was born is in the shower. No. Not a bath. No loofahs or bubbles are present. A short, hot, steamy shower. So, to pamper a new mother, I would turn her shower into a transcendent experience. Super plush towels and a sensual massaging shower head at the high end. Delicious smelling soaps and shampoos (some relaxing and some revitalizing) at the low end. Ahhh.



















Find Me Somebody to...
As you may gather, no new mother has time for anything except her baby. Offer to take something off her hands and you bring her great peace. Whether it's your time or a professional's, help with cooking and cleaning is extremely valuable. I recently met a woman whose sister gifted her 2 free months of diaper service - great idea! I also like the idea of in-home massage or hair services.

The List I Would Have Liked as a New Mother - Part II

Trial and error baby;
at least I only have to do this for the first time once!
Three months of learning later,
I will augment my post on items for new parents.



















8. Change Pad - I should have had this from the start, but I was bound and determined to minimize the stuff we accumulated. Unfortunately, a stack of blankets on a hard wood surface is not enough; I finally got this when Maggie started to slam her heels into the table. One of these big fat change pads is the way to go. I haven't bothered with the covers - just throw a receiving blanket down so she doesn't lay on cold vinyl. And I recommend cutting off the useless strap so you aren't tempted to trust it with your baby's safety.

















9. Diaper Wipes - Save hundreds of dollars and baby's sensitive bottom; skip the store-bought wipes. Use baby wash cloths or serge the edges of 6"x 6" squares of flannel/cotton/terry to make your own. If (like me) you aren't crafty and you don't know someone who is, check out Hankettes (pictured above) or do a search on Etsy and you'll find a variety of cloth wipes to choose from. Some people use a homemade solution with the wipes, but I just use warm water. I'm sure this is the reason Maggie hasn't suffered from diaper rash.

Aside: For convenience I use bought wipes while on the road. I've found the most gentle product to be Seventh Generation Wipes (as compared to Huggies Natural Care and TenderCare Flushable Wipes).




















10. Baby Monitor - Though we live in an 800 sqft apartment, this thing keeps me sane. I can go about my business without feeling compelled to check her breathing every 10 minutes. We bought the First Years Ultra Range Monitor because it was affordable, compact and 2.4 GHz (less interference with our phone and wireless network). It did disable the wireless while we were visiting a friend, but luckily ours remains unharmed. The constant static is a minor irritant, but I assume all monitors produce some amount of white noise. I love that both units run on batteries and I love more that the batteries charge whenever the units are plugged in (why don't more electronics operate this way??). Most importantly, I can hear Maggie fart - it's a very trustworthy monitoring device.



















11. Born Free Glass Bottle - Plastic + warmed liquid + babies = sketchy, so we're happy to go with glass. We found that Maggie latches to this nipple almost like she would to a real breast - potentially minimizing the dreaded nipple confusion.























12. Soothers - I was adamant that Maggie would not need a soother and now I'm so grateful that she takes them (it was a lifesaver when we flew home to Manitoba last month - no ear difficulties at all). I've prevented at least a few clogged milk ducts by sticking a soother in Maggie's mouth instead of letting her suck on my nipple until the break of dawn.

Caveat: Our soothers have BPA in the handles, so I'm going to try Natursutten's natural rubber soothers. Will post Maggie's verdict.



















13. Formula - Our ideals came shattering down around us the morning Chris ran to the all-night pharmacy to buy a pack of Similac for our raging and hungry baby girl. She's been happily on the boob for months now; the formula was just a temporary (but incredibly necessary) supplement. I wish we'd had at least one "just in case" can in the house, and I wish we'd trusted the doctor who said, "formula isn't poison." I've truly learned my lesson: always, always, always have a back-up.

Strawberries are in Season!

Gramma's Strawberry Muffins

We couldn't get enough of these when we were back in Manitoba so I can't wait to make my first batch - thanks for the recipe Mom!

4 medium eggs, beaten
3 cups of all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups of fresh strawberries rinsed, hulled and sliced
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups of chopped walnuts
1 cup of oil
1 T. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Preheat to 400 degrees F.
Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
In another bowl, combine the eggs, strawberries and the vegetable oil.
Mix the contents of the two bowls. Gently fold in the nuts.
Fill the muffin tins and bake for 20 minutes.
ENJOY!

I haven't enjoyed muffins as much as these. I cut the sugar in half as it called for 2 cups and they are good!!!!!!!!!!!
Love you lots, Mom

Reading Lipstick Labels

I much prefer the digital storage of information to the accumulation of magazines, sticky notes and random sheets of paper. It allows me to forgo an organizational system in favour of heavy use of the "search" tool. Of course, if I had a filing system or notice board for such things, this would live there...

Here is a list of ingredients to avoid in your cosmetics, courtesy of David Suzuki's Queen of Green.

• formaldehyde (farmalin or methyl aldehyde; found in imidazolindinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin and quarternium-15)
• cocamide diethanolamine (cocamide, diethanolamine, DEA)
• coal tar
• parabens (methyl, ethyl, butyl and propyl paraben)
• phthalates (dibutyl phthalate (DBP), fragrance)
• sodium lauryl sulfate and/or sodium laureth sulfate (SLS, SLES)
• Ethylenediamine (EDTA)
• proplylene glycol
• toluene
• talc
• petroleum (petrolatum, DEA, MEA, TEA)
• phenylendiamine (PPD, P-diaminobenzene)
• triclosan

Based on the Guide to Less Toxic Products, I plan to check out Aubrey Organics, Burt's Bees, Ecco Bella, Jason, Weleda and Druide for my moisturizer and lip gloss - because let's face it, that's all I've got time for these days!

Maggie G's Product Testing: Teether

I started teething before I had the coordination to hold an object in my mouth, so relief came mostly from Mom or Dad's finger, and a chilled soother or socksicle.

Now that I've gained a little hand-eye control however, Sophie le Giraffe is my best friend. I could chew her head off, I love her so much. Those water-filled drugstore teethers completely miss the mark. Nor do I care for the taste of wooden teethers; they are much too heavy for my little hands at any rate. I do enjoy rubbing my gums on a Raz-Berry teether at times, but something inexplicable draws me to Sophie.

I love her independence (she can stand unassisted). I dig her sound and she's gorgeous. I can't look at her without smiling.

Sophie, je t'aime.

Update: And now I'm 6 months old. I'm much stronger and my tastes are more complex. I'm into chewing on the cold drugstore teethers and my wooden toys now that I can properly hold them in my mouth. I've also recently fallen in love with my Super Yummy Teether - it smells like chocolate!

Mother Beautiful

"Beauty is truth, truth beauty." John Keats






























It's Mother's Day. Let us celebrate motherhood in its entirety.

Thai-riffic Slow Cooker Chicken

I am constantly scouting for easy and delicious dinner ideas and nothing is easier than throwing a wack of ingredients in the slow cooker. I adapted this recipe from that posted by Much More Than a Mom on Rookie Moms. She used chicken breasts. I think I may do so next time because my sauce was very greasy (thighs are higher in fat) and I'd love to freeze half for another time (I've never frozen meat on the bone before - can it be done??).

10-12 skinless chicken thighs (place in cooker)
Mix together:
1 small jar Salsa
Juice from 2 limes
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
4 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
Mix sauce into chicken.
Cook on low for 6 hours. Serve over rice and sprinkle with peanuts. Yum!

Meme this!

Even as a child, I refused to forward chain letters. I spat in the face of superstition and broke chain after chain after chain. I continue the trend with their virtual cousins; refusing to send on emails that promise to make me rich or save the life of some one-legged dog in Alabama. Do I sound righteous? I feel it. These letters are viruses, fashioned by liars and perpetuated by well-meaning innocents.

Howevaaaaaah... When my good friend Sarah sends me a euphemism (I mean a "meme") that claims to be in the interest of literacy, I say chain me in!

















These are the parameters:
1) Pick up the nearest book.
2) Open to page 123.
3) Locate the fifth sentence.
4) Post the next three sentences on your blog and in so doing…
5) Tag five people, and acknowledge who tagged me.

1) The nearest book was Pigs by Robert Munsch (Maggie thinks it's hilarious when I yell, "Hey you dumb pigs!"). I don't think it goes past page 12, and most of those are illustrations. I walked a few feet to find Calculating God by Robert J. Sawyer. Christopher recommended it based on my criteria 1. fun and 2. fictitious. I want to jog my imagination; to be transported to places that don't exist. Yes, Toronto does exist, but this is Toronto + alien! Though I don't generally read sci-fi, I love reading Canadian and I believe in Cylons, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I'm only 17 pages in, but it's mostly amusing thus far.

2) I opened the book to page 123 exactly. EXACTLY. Creepy or coincidental? Both.

3) I wondered if God was happy with the way his game was going.
"And now," said T'kna, through the translator, "reciprocity of interrogatives."
His turn to ask a question.

Wow. Anti-climactic. I don't know what I was expecting. I just feel disappointed that this exercise didn't reveal something meaningful about me or my connection to Sarah or Calculating God. What's the payoff? Do I win a $50 gift certificate to Applebee's??

No More Little Boxes

Well, according to the New York Post, one of my beloved television shows is undergoing drastic changes before it's return on June 16th.

The most difficult change to bear? The nixing of the show's theme song. I apologize for being so stale but I must (avert your eyes if you are sensitive to cliché) - if it ain't broke! I regaled The Sopranos for maintaining its original opener throughout its run. I truly enjoyed watching it as a piece of each episode and still find myself humming "got yourself a gun...."

I adored the song about suburbia written by Malvina Reynolds in 1962. I'll miss Conrad and Heylia too, but most of all, I'll miss the little boxes made of ticky-tacky.

89% of all litter is McDonald's trash

Well....maybe.