The winner of our Stellar Dendrites giveaway was chosen via www.random.org .
Congratulations to Abi Max. You are the proud new owner of a stellar dendrite photo set (three framed and matted).

Please contact us with your mailing information so the artist (Christine Williston) can send your prize to you! Wow! Just in time for Christmas!

Thanks to everyone for entering the contest! More to come soon! :)

 I was just thinking about how much has changed in two years. This Christmas, Little One will be more aware of what is going on than she was last year. Last year she was just learning how to open gifts. Okay, she wasn't really interested in the gifts and preferred playing with the boxes, gift bags, and wrapping paper!

What spurred this pensive moment for me?

 Wean Green is having a contest and to enter, all you have to do is give Wean Green your "green" holiday tips and submit your favourite holiday photo. I won't tell you what my "green" holiday tips are. DUH! I want to win the prize too! However, I will share my favourite Christmas photo.

Of all the adorable, beautiful, memorable family photos I've accumulated and stashed away in photo albums over the years, this one of Little One's first Christmas takes the cake. True, it doesn't appear to be spectacular or anything, but the story that goes with it is.

When I gave birth to Little One, she was twelve weeks premature. That meant she'd have to spend the first seventy days of her life in the NICU. That meant she'd have to spend her first Christmas there too. With Hubby having to commute between the Island and Toronto every other week to be with us, being there on Christmas would be a challenge.

Not only was I not able to be at home with my baby, but my husband was six hours away from us DURING THE HOLIDAYS!!! I know, I know. Sob, sob. Boo hoo.

What happened next changed my perspective on the whole not being able to be with my family during Christmas though.

The Linden Fund put together a Christmas dinner for all the parents with babies in the NICU! When I walked into the NICU, the nursery was decorated with Christmas lights, garlands, ribbons, and each isolette and crib had a stocking hanging for each baby in the NICU. Books, stuffed animals, Lindt chocolate, and some useful items for parents and tots filled the stockings.

I was touched. I cried. It really, really meant a lot to me that people would go out of their way like that for parents who are going through a rough time and who have babies in the NICU. It also made me feel like Mount Sinai was home away from home and the NICU/Linden Fund/other parents were our extended family.

Little One did get her first photo with Santa (above photo). We couldn't take her out of her isolette, but Santa was able to pose next to her!

Thank you so much to everyone at the Linden Fund and  Mount Sinai's NICU. You will always be family to us.

 As a blogger and a parent, it is my hope that I can  bring others up to date with many latest finds in products, services, and everything related to baby, toddler, kid, and family. 

Recently, I was introduced to an initiative by Gravol and the Children's Wish Foundation. This is the second year that Gravol has partnered with The Children's Wish Foundation. Both Gravol and the Children's Wish Foundation strive to provide parents with a trusted online space where they can access tips and answers to many of our parenting questions. 
As a first time Mom, I know I've always got LOTS of questions and a trusted platform where I can access tips and suggestions is something I appreciate and welcome. With the amount of information parents can find online, it can be difficult to know where to turn and who to trust. Let's face it, not everything we find online is reliable...and when it comes to our little ones, we want information that we can trust.

Gravol welcomes second year of Children's Wish Foundation

what cartoon this is...
I am a product of the 80s. I grew up on cheesy TV commercials, TV shows with catchy (albeit also cheesy) music, pop artists who wore fluorescent t-shirts and skintight jeans, lots of blue eyeliner and fire engine red lipstick...oh, and we can't forget about the big, teased bangs held up by a full can of hairspray. Those were the days when we had magazine pics of our favourite TV actors and pop musicians plastered all over our walls in our rooms and on the inside of our lockers at school.

Those were the days when we actually looked forward to Saturday morning cartoons. Saturday morning cartoons were actually really good back then.

I'll give you $10 if you can name my favourite 1980s cartoon.

No? Okay, I'll tell you anyway. Remember Kidd Video? This cartoon is the epitome of everything that was 1980s. From the new wave fashions, big hair, and super "cool" music, this show is the perfect example of 80s pop culture. Do you remember the show at all? Kidd Video is about a band (three guys and a girl) who get sucked into a mirror by an evil overlord record producer, which takes them to the "flipside". All the while, they play their music - which just happens to be the best music of the 80s.

I also loved these shows:

The All-New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show 
Dennis the Menace  
Dinoriders 
Denver the Last Dinosaur 
The Flintstones 
Fraggle Rock 
Garfield and Friends
G.I. Joe 
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe 
Inspector Gadget  
Jem! 
Muppet Babies  
The New Fat Albert Show 
The Real Ghostbusters 
Smurf
Snorks 
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 
Transformers
Thundercats 
Tranzor Z 
Voltron: Defender of the Universe

I remember rushing home after school so I could catch the last bit of G.I. Joe. My brother, cousins and I would go to my grandparents after school, and my grandparents would have "merienda" (snack) ready for us after school. We'd watch G.I. Joe, and maybe one other cartoon, while we had our merienda and then we'd do our homework. If we were done our homework, we'd play outside with the neighbourhood kids before our parents came to pick us up after work. Those were the good ol' days. 1980s cartoons always remind me of this happy, innocent, carefree time. They also remind me of the time we spent with my grandfather before he died.

Which were your favourite cartoons?

I love Facebook because I get to reach out to friends and family en masse and keep them abreast with my Island life.  Family who live ten hours away, get to see my toddler from afar as she grows and meets all her milestones.  Since they can't make it to the Island often, Facebook is a great way for them to keep up to date and for us to communicate on a regular basis.  Facebook is also the bane of my existence sometimes, as the written word can sometimes be misconstrued or taken out of context. This is especially true when it comes to opinions about parenting, breastfeeding, talking about the Leafs and the Canadiens, and being politically correct during the holidays.

Don't get me wrong. I don't think there is anything wrong about wishing people a Merry Christmas. After all, I celebrate Christmas. Christmas is my favourite time of the year. This said, I do send out "Holiday" cards. Not because I'm being "culturally sensitive" or trying to respect everyone's religion by not celebrating my own, but for the simple fact that I have a lot of friends from many different faiths. I don't want to exclude anyone when I send out our annual greetings. For my Christian and Catholic friends, I add a "Merry Christmas" in their note. For my Jewish friends, I write "Happy Hanukkah". You get the picture.

That's beside the point. I said I wrote all my "Holiday" cards, not meaning that I call them "Holiday cards", but that the cards themselves are written for all holidays observed by friends and family (Eid, Christmas, Hanukkah, etc). Did that make sense at all? To be honest, I'm a little lazy. I'd rather send out our annual family photo card and write a little note than buy separate cards for each holiday. Okay, I'm lazy and cheap...frugal...practical.

Wait. It gets better.

On my latest Facebook update, I wrote:

Light the menorah and celebrate the festival of lights :) For all those celebrating, wishing you a Happy Hanukkah and hope you have a week filled with light...and latkes! For the record, [insert amazing friend's real name here]'s Dad makes THE BEST latkes EVER!!!

Did I not get a private message from someone saying that I am not Jewish, so I "shouldn't be wishing anyone a Happy Hanukkah"?!? Uh huh! Oh, yes! It really did  happen! Does this mean that if someone is not Asian, they should not eat rice? If someone's not Italian, they should not eat lasagna? 

I love and respect my family and my friends. I respect everyone's religion, even if their religion is different from my own. If I want to wish someone a Merry Christmas, Happy, Hanukkah, Happy Eid, Happy Festivus, or whatever it is that person celebrates, then I will! 

For the record, I don't call ours a "Holiday tree" either. It's a Christmas tree.

What do you think? Is it okay to wish someone a Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah even if you don't share the same religion?

I'm a very practical and frugal person usually a very practical person. With our ever growing family, the holidays can be a bit hard on the pocketbook. This is why practical is good.

We know it's not all about the presents, the buying, and the receiving, but it sure is fun to put a smile on someone's face when you know you've given them something truly amazing. Donations to special charities are a wonderful way of spreading the holiday cheer and spirit. Doing something for others is also a great way to show you care. Making something from the heart like a craft (kid art is the best!) also means a lot.

Aside from those, here are my Holiday must-gives!!!


BornFree Twist 'n Pop straw cups are fabulous in so many ways. Little One loves that it's easy to hold and she loves drinking from the straw. I love that the top can slide shut so that when not in use, the straw is protected (so little fingers can't touch the straw and spread germs all over it). We love this product!

Mabel's Labels are perfect for every kid...and the adults in their lives! We lose things often in this household. We forget Little One's items at friends and family members' houses, we lose items from Little One dropping them at the mall or elsewhere...and we even lose things when our littlest friends accidentally take them home with them after a play date. What better way to keep track of Little One's items than by putting her labels on her belongings? Absolutely brilliant! EVERY child needs Mabel's Labels!


Wean Green Cubes are ideal for storing homemade baby food in and toting healthy snacks in. Little One absolutely LOVES her Wean Cubes. I love that they're made of durable glass, they're BPA-free, they're compact, and they are super cute!

Rub a Dub Whale of a Time bath toy made by ALEX.
 Little One absolutely loves this bath toy! Each part has a special function (spraying, twirling, etc). Loads of bathtub fun for your toddler!

BigSkyBrands candy as stocking stuffers! Big kids and little kids alike will love the Sunkist, Jones Soda, Maple Ice Mints, and Yogen Fruz candies. The tin containers that the candy comes in are super cool and have multi-purposes! I store my change in my containers once the candy is all gone. Hubby keeps nails, screws, etc...in them and keeps them in his truck.

Today I Ate A Rainbow! is a great tool to teach young children about eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. It's a fun and interactive way to get them eating their fruits and veggies!

THERMOS Lunch Kit and FUNtainers
was great for carrying lunches in our parents' time and in our generation too. Thermos has passed the test of time and is still very popular in our kids' generation. Their styles and products just keep getting better and better. For me, there's nothing more nostalgic than old school Thermos lunch boxes and containers! The new items are really fashionable and the FUNtainers are really cute with all the popular Disney characters (among other designs).

Wee Warmers are perfect for the wee ones in your life...especially now that the weather warrants warmer attire! These super cute and super fashionable wee warmers protect sensitive skin, keep babes warm, and add a little sense of style and originality to every outfit.


Krafty Creations adorable handmade creations from crocheted beanies with flower pins to pillow case dresses and super sweet headbands and clippies, you are bound to find something special for every little girl on your shopping list.


Ultimately Chocolate TOFFLES make a fabulous, elegant, and decadent gift for the holidays and for all occasions!

Mo'Lovely Designs - the perfect way to let any mama know they're special. Mo'Lovely has got necklaces, earrings, sets, and other beautiful creations. I already have my eye on one particular item! I'm  hoping Hubby gets it for me for Christmas or my birthday!

Stellar Dendrites are a fabulous way to greet loved ones during the festive season. What says "winter" better than gorgeous photos of snowflakes?!


Laundry Tarts' sensational and delectable fragrances are sure to make mouths water in your house during the holidays!  I told you that I am a practical girl, and I would LOVE it if someone gave me Laundry Tarts laundry detergent for Christmas! I'm not kidding! Yummy smelling clothing and natural ingredients = a good thing!

Krafty Creations has adorable handmade items for kids. I'm addicted to Krafty Creations and have bought items from them several times already. The pillow case dresses are the cutest!


My Dandelion Wishes is the place to shop for adorable kid and mama stuff. I've ordered several owl hats from My Dandelion Wishes. They are too, too, toooooooo cute! I *was* considering keeping my owl hat source a secret, but I thought it wouldn't be right to not share. I was tempted though! Everyone who sees this adorable hat on Little One always asks where I got it!
Piggy Paints are perfect for every little girl on your shopping list! The ingredients are "natural as mud" and safe for little fingers and toes!

 Bobs and Lolo's music will surely get your little ones groovin'! My toddler loves Bobs and Lolo! What better Baby's "first CD" than a Bobs and Lolo CD? Fun-filled songs, learning and dancing...chock full of good stuff! We big, fat, fuzzy heart those girls! They're so much fun!

Orglamix organic glam is a fab gift for those who love their organic mineral make-up! I'm hooked! I've got several different shades of very cool organic mineral eye make-up!
 Crayola products are classic, good, wholesome, creative fun. With their huge line of products, you can inspire every budding young artist on your shopping list. Cultivate creativity and share the Crayola luv...or just have your toddler draw all over herself and the floor. Hey! At least Crayola products are washable!
 Simply on Board straps are great for those who hate having baby toys, teethers, and sippy cups flung out of a stroller and onto the floor. Never drop, misplace, or lose baby's favourite items again! Nothing irked me more than having Little One's Sophie fall on dirty shopping mall floors. Simply on Board = smart!
 PhotoCaptiva is a great way to spread holiday cheer! Even if you may be too late to get your holiday portraits taken, it's never too late to have a fun family photo session! Better yet, why not GIVE a session to loved ones? I'm thinking we may have to book a session with PhotoCaptiva for my parents with all their grandchildren! How special is that?
In the weeks leading up to the holidays, I'll be posting more of my fave places to shop online. Stay tuned!

On the weekend, I discovered a very important fact that my husband conveniently forgot failed to tell me! Yes, people! He's been  holding out on me and this secret can potentially change our lives as we know it.

My husband can cook.

That's right. For the past few years, I have been cooking 99% of our meals when all along, the man can cook! I knew he was great with the BBQ (the guy makes a wicked potato dish on the BBQ that is perfectly paired with his steaks!). I knew he could make a tuna and macaroni salad. He can do a mean "farmer's breakfast" (bacon, eggs, sausage, etc).

However, I had no idea that he could actually "cook"!

Artsy Teacher Mom and I were so exhausted from our Mommy Misadventures, where we conveniently managed to get ourselves stranded in a the middle of traffic, in a city two and a half hours away from home, in the winter...with our toddlers and a baby.


Artsy's husband had to come fetch us, the kids, and our purchases. When Artsy's husband brought us back to the Island, Hubby had an amazing feast prepared for us upon our arrival. He made a beef stew with curry, potatoes, chickpeas, corn, herbs, and some other mouthwatering items!

I was in complete and utter shock. The aromas that permeated the air as we entered our home were divine! How could Hubby not tell me that he was capable of something like this? We'll be married five years in June and I'm always surprised at the new things I learn about Hubby. He never ceases to shock and amaze.

Psssst! I did it! I survived NaBloPoMo! I posted every day for the month of November! 

Many of us are familiar with the story of Rapunzel.  You  know the fairytale.  Young girl is trapped in tower, hidden from the world outside her.  Dashing young man comes and rescues her. Blah, blah, blah.

Disney has put a twist on the fairytale of the young girl stuck in her tower and striving to find independence. Though the story is simple and all the classic Disney components are present (beautiful young girl, strapping young lad, animal sidekick, evil older person, magical elements, romantic interest, obstacles, adventure, catchy music and lyrics, and a happy ending), I'd have to say that Tangled is not just your ordinary run of the mill love story.

The story opens with the king and queen and their happy kingdom. There's mention of a selfish old woman (Mother Gothel) who tries to hide a flower with magical powers so that she can stay young forever. The queen falls ill and drinks from the magic flower and thereby receives its magical healing qualities. The magical healing powers get transferred to Baby Rapunzel and Mother Gothel kidnaps her.

Fast forward 18 years later, and Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) has grown up knowing only the life Mother Gothel (Donna Murphy) has taught her. Sheltered from the outside world, Rapunzel seeks something greater. She wants to see and learn what life is like beyond the confines of her tower walls.

Mother Gothel uses the magical powers from Rapunzel's hair to maintain her youthful looks. Meanwhile, Flynn Ryder (Zachary Levi), a wanted bandit happens to find Rapunzel's tower and hides out there. To his surprise, he encounters a long-haired, frying pan toting Rapunzel.

What I loved about Tangled is that this this wasn't simply an in-your-face-girl-power-love-sucks-I-don't-need-a-man-to-rectify-my existence story, but more about Rapunzel's journey to finding her own independence, and her new self-awareness. She just happens to find love in the process of discovering this.

Though Mother Gothel's character gives the presence of a slightly evil, selfish older person and one who tries to keep Rapunzel to herself, there is something almost likable about her character. She's the kind of lady people love to hate. Rapunzel's and Mother Gothel's relationship is a reminder of many relationships where young adults try to assert their independence under the watchful eye of their parents. There's the idea of the parent trying to protect and shield their young ones (though Mother Gothel's motives are for her own benefit).

My friend, Artsy Teacher Mom and I took our three girls to see Tangled on the weekend. We were in awe of the animation and seeing the movie in 3-D was a treat for young viewers. It was really sweet to see my toddler reaching out to touch the flying lanterns. The chase scenes were spectacular.  I had to remind myself a few times that I was watching animated characters and not actual actors.

I can't wait for Tangled to come out on DVD so I can get it for Little One!

That's right. I packed my bags and bundled up my two year old daughter.  We're leaving.

Ha! Only for the weekend though!  My lovely friend, Artsy Teacher Mom and I are going on a girls' weekend away. Just us and our girls. She's got a two and a half year old and a four month old. We're taking them to the big city (Ha! Ha! As if Sudz can be considered "the big city"!).

We'll let you know how our road trip turns out. Two mamas, two toddlers, and a baby. Should be interesting!

***************************
Post edited to add:
This is actually a funny story. I had written this post and postdated it, but didn't publish it because we had a snow storm and didn't end up going to "the big city" on Friday night.  Saturday rolled in and my friend, Arsty Teacher Mom called me and told me that the plan was back on and we were going to Sudz.

We had a full day of retail therapy Christmas shopping and instead of driving back to the Island in the dark, we decided to crash at her sister's place.  We were due for a good girls' night anyway.  We ordered Thai food, had a few drinks (okay, I'm such a lightweight that two Barcadi Breezers totally did me in!), and watched a chick flick (He's Just Not That Into You).

We figured we'd get in a bit more shopping before heading back to the Island this morning, and while in the middle of a very busy intersection, Artsy Teacher Mom's car died. No, seriously. It died!!! Trapped in the midst of crazy traffic and angry Christmas shoppers, there we sat with our three little girls (2.5 years, 2 years, and 4 months of age).

A few phone calls, a few meltdowns (ummm...and it wasn't the kids who had the meltdowns), and a few hours of sorting things out, we ended up getting the vehicle towed (funny how the dealership was closed). Not knowing how we'd haul ourselves, our kids, and our purchases back to the Island (a 2.5 hour drive!), there was a bit of panicking.

Artsy's husband ended up driving 2.5 hours to Sudz to get us. All I can think of is how lucky we were that we didn't decide to drive home last night. Who knows where we would have ended up getting stuck in? There's a huge stretch of highway where you won't even see another car late at night. Thank goodness we didn't get stuck in the middle of nowhere last night (in the cold and with three babies!).  Thank goodness I remembered to charge my cell phone and thank goodness Hubby had his cell phone on so that we could contact our men.

It never seems to fail that Artsy and I always end up in some kind of misadventure when we're together! :) Hubby even text messaged me when we were en route to "the city" with: "You girls BE GOOD! Stay out of trouble. I love you."

That sounded rather ominous and foreshadowing of what would happen this weekend. Artsy's vehicle is still in "the city". I think we may have to pick it up sometime this week. Oh, the drama! ;)

Here are some Friday funnies (on a Saturday):

Filling the tub with water for her bath, I warned Little One not to touch the water because was still too hot. Little One leaned over the side of the tub and started blowing the water to cool it down! She did it again when I told her not to go near the oven when I was cooking. I told her it was hot, so she blew on the oven door!

"Put! Put! PUT!!!!"
Little One ran toward me at full speed and shoved a sleeve of stickers in my face. "PUT!" Apparently, she wanted to put stickers in her sticker book...and on the floor...and on the table...and on her face.

Ever since she experienced her first bout of pneumonia last month, Little One has been terrified of her inhaler. I don't blame her. The chamber and the piece that goes over her nose and mouth look rather daunting.  I think she feels like she's going to be suffocated.
Today, I caught Little One quietly playing with...her inhaler! She placed everything correctly on her face and then pretended to press down on the inhaler part and said, "Pfffffffft! Pfffffffffft!" (the sound the inhaler makes when it sends out puffs). She is too funny.

Little One was playing with her Baby Alive doll. She kissed the baby, rocked it to sleep, fed it, and then pulled off the baby's underpants and said, "Bum! Bum!". She then pretended to change the baby's diaper.

Little One is a fiercely independent 2 year old. She's not overly affectionate and is never very liberal with her hugs and kisses. Last night, I said, "Kiss Mommy?" and I gave her a big hug.  Little One started pushing me away and pleaded, "Peas! Peas! Peas!" (which I took for "Please! Please! Stop smothering me, Mom!").