My friend Siobhan has blogged about this perfect day here http://wanderbugs.blogspot.com/
I will add more pictures soon...need to find that USB cable....
1 Wing Family Day
8 years ago
Sunday, April 12, 2009
faith....
Here is one of my favorite quotes, by Patrick Overter. It has carried me through the last several months. I have it written on little slips of paper by my desk at school and on my nightstand. I thought it might help some of you as well.
‘When you have come to the edge of all the light you know
and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown,
faith is knowing that one of two things will happen:
there will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught how to fly.’
‘When you have come to the edge of all the light you know
and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown,
faith is knowing that one of two things will happen:
there will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught how to fly.’
Grace's Favourite Videos
Grace and I watch very little TV, but we love to watch fun clips on YouTube and from the Kid's National Geographic site.
Her ab-fab video at the moment is the one with the monkeys doing the Irish dancing all in a line. I wish I knew how to post those videos, but you should search for 'monkeys Irish dancing' and you will find it. Only about 30 seconds, but will make you laugh out loud.
Her ab-fab video at the moment is the one with the monkeys doing the Irish dancing all in a line. I wish I knew how to post those videos, but you should search for 'monkeys Irish dancing' and you will find it. Only about 30 seconds, but will make you laugh out loud.
A perfect day....
I will post more about this day when I have more time...but it was a perfect day....
Favourite Songs of the Moment
I have been really into music lately. I find that it can be a great distraction when you need to lift your mood. Grace and I love to put on the tunes and dance away. I am pretty sure my neighbours think we are crazy. I know for sure that my friend Siobhan's neighbours think we are crazy since we both were doing the dance from the "Where the hell is Matt?" video on Friday near her picture windows. Wow...no wonder Matt is skinny....that dance is strenuous....
Anyways....I thought I would post a sampling of my favourite songs right now.....
Just Dance- Lady GaGa
Gotta be Somebody- Nickelback
Beautiful Girls- Sean Kingston
Circus- Britney Spears
I hate this part right here- The Pussy Cat Dolls
So What- Pink
Single Ladies- Beyonce
Grace has her own favourite music of the moment....
Puff the Magic Dragon-- from a lovely CD we just got
Wind the Bobbin Up-- complete with action rhymes
Frosty the Snowman-- Grace will sing this one solo
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star-- Again you will find her singing this to herself and doing the actions....beyond cute...I need to capture this on video
Anyways....I thought I would post a sampling of my favourite songs right now.....
Just Dance- Lady GaGa
Gotta be Somebody- Nickelback
Beautiful Girls- Sean Kingston
Circus- Britney Spears
I hate this part right here- The Pussy Cat Dolls
So What- Pink
Single Ladies- Beyonce
Grace has her own favourite music of the moment....
Puff the Magic Dragon-- from a lovely CD we just got
Wind the Bobbin Up-- complete with action rhymes
Frosty the Snowman-- Grace will sing this one solo
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star-- Again you will find her singing this to herself and doing the actions....beyond cute...I need to capture this on video
Monday, March 30, 2009
Mmmmm....this was really good....
Maple Chicken Curry Penne
Ingrediants
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 cups cubed cooked chicken breast meat (or shrimp)
3 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 cup heavy cream (I used whipping cream)
2 1/2 tablespoons hot curry paste or curry powder
Directions
1. Heat butter and oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and peppers, and cook until onions are soft and translucent. Stir in cooked chicken and garlic, and sprinkle with sugar. Cook, stirring for about 3 minutes, then stir in maple syrup, and cook for about 5 more minutes, until caramelized.
2. Stir in curry paste/powder and cream, and reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the sauce reaches your desired thickness.
3. Serve over rice or penne pasta.
Ingrediants
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 cups cubed cooked chicken breast meat (or shrimp)
3 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 cup heavy cream (I used whipping cream)
2 1/2 tablespoons hot curry paste or curry powder
Directions
1. Heat butter and oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and peppers, and cook until onions are soft and translucent. Stir in cooked chicken and garlic, and sprinkle with sugar. Cook, stirring for about 3 minutes, then stir in maple syrup, and cook for about 5 more minutes, until caramelized.
2. Stir in curry paste/powder and cream, and reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the sauce reaches your desired thickness.
3. Serve over rice or penne pasta.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Should I?
I am thinking about taking a bit of a break from graduate school....eek!
My advisers think that I have too much on my plate and need to give myself a break for a bit. I think it would be good for me to take some time off and come back refreshed...but then another part of me just wants to be done ASAP!
Decisions, Decisions....
My advisers think that I have too much on my plate and need to give myself a break for a bit. I think it would be good for me to take some time off and come back refreshed...but then another part of me just wants to be done ASAP!
Decisions, Decisions....
Saturday, March 14, 2009
A kitten and a princess
This photo captures Grace's two favourite make believe games this winter....pretending to be a kitten and a princess.
I guess this day she felt like being both.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Friday
Mental note to self: Eating ice cream sandwiches with Gracie for dessert every night is not conducive to weight loss.
25 pounds are gone....but 30+ pounds left to go!
25 pounds are gone....but 30+ pounds left to go!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Update on Frosty the Snowman
Our very own Frosty the Snowman has completely melted away. He still lives on in Grace's heart as she sings this song every day and asks "Where did Frosty go?"
Mom's Night Out
A group of friends and I go out to dinner about once a month for a "Mom's Night Out". It is a great time to get together and chat about our kids and to catch up. We go out to dinner at a restaurent and leave the kids at home. We have been doing this for about 18 months and we are going strong with no plans of stopping!
This group started out as a 'baby playgroup' that got together once a week when we are all on maternity leave. All of us have a least one child that is in the 2 year old range. Most of this group have had a second child or are expecting a second child, so it is really fun for me to get to see the new babies as well.
Last night we ate at The Blue Door....yummy! I had sweet potatoe fries as an appetizer, skipped the main course and had the best brownie ever as dessert. My mouth is still watering, it was so good.
Thanks for the good time girls!
This group started out as a 'baby playgroup' that got together once a week when we are all on maternity leave. All of us have a least one child that is in the 2 year old range. Most of this group have had a second child or are expecting a second child, so it is really fun for me to get to see the new babies as well.
Last night we ate at The Blue Door....yummy! I had sweet potatoe fries as an appetizer, skipped the main course and had the best brownie ever as dessert. My mouth is still watering, it was so good.
Thanks for the good time girls!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Home-made Laundry Detergent
I have been meaning to post this recipe for awhile. I made my own laundry detergent in the fall and have really enjoyed using it. It is very economical and most importantly for me...it is free from harsh chemicals and scents.
I got this recipe from the Duggar Family. I will copy it here. I used Sunlight soap for mine.
TIPS FOR LAUNDRY SOAP: We use Fels-Naptha bar soap in the homemade soap recipes, but you can use Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk's Hardwater Castile or Zote bars. Don't use heavily perfumed soaps. We buy Fels-Naptha by the case from our local grocer or online. Washing Soda and Borax can normally be found on the laundry or cleaning aisle. Recipe cost approx. $2.
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value
4 Cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax
- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)
-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.
-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)
I got this recipe from the Duggar Family. I will copy it here. I used Sunlight soap for mine.
TIPS FOR LAUNDRY SOAP: We use Fels-Naptha bar soap in the homemade soap recipes, but you can use Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk's Hardwater Castile or Zote bars. Don't use heavily perfumed soaps. We buy Fels-Naptha by the case from our local grocer or online. Washing Soda and Borax can normally be found on the laundry or cleaning aisle. Recipe cost approx. $2.
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value
4 Cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax
- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)
-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.
-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)
Bioenergetics Workshop
I went to a "Bio-energetics" workshop this weekend. I met some wonderful people and had a good time. It definetely pushed the boudaries of my comfort level and seems like an interesting form of therapy. Bioenergetic Analysis is a specific form of body-psychotherapy – based upon the continuity between body and mind – rooted in the work of Wilhelm Reich and founded by Alexander Lowen. BA basically combines a bodily, analytic and relational therapeutic work, based upon an energetic understanding.
Here is an interesting quote about it:
"When you have no words for your feelings, for what happened to you, for what is missing in you, we listen to the inner resonance - of your inchoate secrets - as it lives in your body. We help you to sense and amplify this inner resonance until its movement comes close enough to the surface of your being to enter your consciousness. But we also listen carefully to your words and are touched by them when they come from a depth of your being that no one can put a hand on. We invite you to surrender to the spirit of your body and the body of your spirit - and in so doing, to embrace your true self." (Robert Lewis, M.D)
I came away from the workshop with a better understanding of myself but also feeling a bit raw from all the deep reflection that I did about myself.
Here is an interesting quote about it:
"When you have no words for your feelings, for what happened to you, for what is missing in you, we listen to the inner resonance - of your inchoate secrets - as it lives in your body. We help you to sense and amplify this inner resonance until its movement comes close enough to the surface of your being to enter your consciousness. But we also listen carefully to your words and are touched by them when they come from a depth of your being that no one can put a hand on. We invite you to surrender to the spirit of your body and the body of your spirit - and in so doing, to embrace your true self." (Robert Lewis, M.D)
I came away from the workshop with a better understanding of myself but also feeling a bit raw from all the deep reflection that I did about myself.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The Road Not Taken ~ Robert Frost
TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
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