Notes From the Cookie Jar

Dear Mr. Santa, bring me a.....

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

So a little while ago, Lou Lou posted her wish list over at Lou Lou's views and asked her readers what's on their wish list.

You all know me-responding to those types of questions in a little comment box isn't going to do. A blog post, maybe? With pictures? Of course!

For ages I have resisted one, but this baby is clear at the very TOP of my wish list this year...

1. A 32 G iPod Touch so that I can Twitter, listen to music, and be connected anywhere. Of course it would have to come with some music, so an iTunes card, screen care kit and a case would be really great too. I'm gadgety. I need to have access to the blog world and Twitter when we are on vacation or I'm just out and about.

Maybe I'm tad addicted?

2. Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 and a mini tripod

Would you guys believe I've never Photoshopped any of my pictures? Besides doing a teeny bit of adjusting on the color, that's it. I would love Photoshop because then I could probably create banners and more graphics. If I was really dreaming I'd ask for a really amazing camera, but I'm realistic. That won't happen for awhile, so I'm just getting the other tools first. One day....

A mini tripod would be real helpful with all those close up food shots, and I think I'd likely use it a lot.

3. Warm and cozy sweaters

I'm not sure where I'd expect these to be from, but I love the Gap, Roots, and a few other places so I'd have to go try things on and check them out. I really could use some new sweaters though, and so I'm eying what's on at the stores!

4. Slippers, some really nice Flannel PJs, and a blanket for my bed

For years I've bought cheap slippers, only to have them fall apart and stretch out of shape only weeks later. I get cold feet, and to have some really good quality slippers that would last are a big deal to me. The ones above look good, or something similar.

Plus, I'd love some really nice pjs that would keep me toasty warm because if there's one thing that is constant about me, it's that I'm freezing cold almost all the time. So that explains the extra blanket currently on my bed-which is this old, ugly thing. I'd like something a bit prettier, maybe? As long as it's big (at least a double) and warm.

5. The Super Big, Ultimate gift?

Actually it's not something you can buy. I wish for a stress free, fulfilling job for Hubs in the city so that he could get his health on track and so that I will have him around for many more years to come.

That, my friends, is better than ANY old Christmas gift.

What's on YOUR list?

Karma

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

So I'm sure some of you, when you think of us living up here in the wilds of Canada during the winter, you picture this:

Photo credit: Alaskan Dude

I've even been asked if it's like this (yes, I'm serious-those ARE kangaroos. I didn't know they lived in Canada either):

Photo credit: A Writer Afoot

If you really must know, the last few days it's been mostly like this:

Photo credit: MaximeF

Or even this:

Photo credit: Sea Turtle

When we lived on Vancouver Island the rain and wind storms could get particularly bad, to the point where you could hear the house shifting and wonder if your roof would hold (it always did. Don't worry). Where we are now, it never usually gets that bad.

Well. Except last night.

You'd think after this storm, and then our experience with this one, we'd be experts at being prepared for them. We were, for awhile, but then one lantern broke, we discovered that candles really irritate Hub's lungs, and both flashlights bit the dust.

Yesterday I ran out and bought a new lantern/flashlight thing that had better last longer then one season (I'm totally looking at YOU, Noma) because for $30-ish, I sort of expect that. Totally prepared with our one lantern/flashlight thing, we huddled by the TV and expected the power to go out.

It didn't. Yay! Hot showers, coffee, and a warm house for everyone!

Wednesday morning as I was getting ready for work the phone rang, and I received the delightful news that school (work, for me) had been canceled because the power was out. I'm not ashamed to admit I did the funky chicken around the kitchen, much to Jake's irritation. You see, he attends a different school and that meant I was going to stay home while he suffered through his classes. Delighted, I bounced into his room and rubbed his nose in that fact until I was satisfied he had been sufficiently tortured, and then went off to take a shower.

Mid shampoo, the phone rang again. Ah, must be Jake's school, I thought. He'll be happy, there's no school for him, too. I practically skipped around, planning all the wonderful things I'd get done today and once I was out of the shower, hit the play button on the answering machine.

"Hey I'm sorry, but actually the power is back ON. School is IN."

"What?! NOOOOOOOOOOO!" My voice carried through 2 closed doors to Jake, wallowing in his bed.

"Serves you right!" he yelled back.

*sigh* I guess it did.

Mabel's Labels Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Notes From the Cookie Jar is teaming up with Mabel's Labels to give you guys a great get-ready-for-Christmas giveaway! If there's one thing I hate about wrapping gifts, it's buying cute tags and having them fall off. Then we have some random gift that nobody can remember, floating around under the tree. Who was that for? I don't remember! Maybe we should do a stealth unwrap just to check!

*sigh*

Anyway, so I usually buy sticker-like labels that can't fall off to solve this problem, and guess who has a whole bunch of super cute ones? You're right! Mabel's Labels!

I love these gift tags. Mabel's Labels has four different designs to choose from, and then you get to use their label maker to customize with a special holiday message! You don't even have to choose just one message for all of them, but you can customize each individual label!

A pack of 24 tags retails at Mabel's Labels for $18.50 Canadian, but what I really like the best is that for every order of holiday products, Mabel's makes a donation to a local family in need of a little help. Now THAT is Christmas spirit.

So! Want to win a pack of 24 holiday gift tags?? Now is your chance!

Leave me a comment telling me your funniest holiday moment. Make sure to leave me an e-mail address or Twitter ID so I can contact you if you win.

-Open to residents of Canada AND the USA!

-you do NOT have to have a blog or Twitter account to enter. Just a way for me to reach you.

-you can gain 2 extra entries by following Mabel's Labels on Twitter or becoming a fan on Facebook (just come back here and leave another comment so I know)

-Giveaway CLOSES Wednesday November 25, 2009 at 9 pm PST.

Hope for Anissa

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:05:00 +0000

Just a couple of days ago I was home from work sick, and had spent the morning curled up in my pjs, nursing a cup of tea and tweeting. I admit, I don't know Anissa Mayhew that well-certainly not nearly as well as other bloggers, but she has always been friendly to be on Twitter and every now and then, we've chatted a bit. I always know that when she's around, it's going to be funny.

That morning, this tweet made me laugh so hard I almost wore the tea I was holding.

Oooo, have you ever? It burns. Like, a lot. I've done that too and then cursed my own stupidity.

I was giggling about those tweets for awhile after. It was just like Anissa, actually, to say something funny that brightened my day a little, even though she hardly knows me. She's just like that.

Later on that day, she had a massive stroke and is, as I'm writing this, fighting for her life in an ICU in Atlanta.

I'm still a bit shaken. I was just talking to her.

JUST talking to her. That MORNING.

A Mom, a blogger, one of our own, younger than me for God's sake, is suddenly fighting for her survival. Someone who has always been kind, funny, who reaches out to the littler blogger and waves hello via 140 characters.

Hang in there, Anissa. Your husband, your kids, and WE, the blogging world, heck-the world in general, needs you.

For updates and how to help Anissa's family, go here.

See Anissa's Blog here.

Recipe Tuesdays on a Wednesday: Lazy Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

So my friends, I've been home sick the past few days. I know-like half the province, so why am I even complaining? This is exactly why there wasn't a recipe for "Recipe Tuesdays", because you all don't expect me to bake when I'm sick, do you?

Didn't think so. There is a recipe forthcoming, I promise. In the meantime I'll direct you over to my fave food blog so you can drool over these amazing peanut butter brownies. Everything I've ever made from The Crepes of Wrath has been downright amazing, so I'm going to do something I've never done before. Ever.

I'm recommending that you try them, even though I haven't. Save a piece for me too, would ya?

So back to the whole flu thing, there I was this morning all cozy by the fire, nursing a cup of tea and watching the news when Jake stumbled in the room.

He looked like the walking dead.

"Mom, I'm not going to school. I just barfed." With that, he turned around and went back to his room, falling into bed with his clothes on, and slept until around 2pm.

Oh. Okay. Sure. Wait a sec, didn't we get the vaccine? Doesn't that mean he's not supposed to get sick?

I want a refund!

(Ps..just kidding. I know that even with the vaccine you can get sick. Oh and there are other viruses out there that he could be spreading all over my house. Perhaps it's the one I have. Although I'm not barfing, but I have been feeling pretty crummy.....)

Clorox Winners!

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:25:00 +0000

You guys have been so patient and not even said a word about the Clorox wipes, but here we go! I have winners!!

First was Magil!

The second winner was Chibijeebs.

Now if you lovely winners could e-mail me and send me some mailing info, I'd love to pop those wipes in the mail for ya!

There's another giveaway coming guys, this time with a way awesome company whose products I've drooled over for awhile. Should be up by the end of the week! Stay tuned!

Product Review: Tassimo

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Awhile ago I won a Tassimo coffee maker on Twitter from the good folks at Tassimo Canada. Being the girl that never wins anything, I admit I was a little shocked! Me? Win? Really?

Then it arrived, in a huge box, complete with all kinds of coffee.

Did someone say coffee? As in, my two favorite kinds ever (Starbucks and Nabob)??

Honestly, it was like Christmas around here. I was jumping up and down, unpacking the box and getting it all set up, looking at all the different kinds of coffee and just downright SO excited to have one! Of! My! OWN!

Ahem.

So now that I've been using the Tassimo for awhile (read: every morning since), I thought I'd give readers the low down on what I think of it. Before you leave thinking that "Good Lord she's going to say it's all puppies and rainbows because she got it for FREE", and roll your eyes, not so fast. Keep reading. I have chosen to give more balanced reviews of products here in the Cookie Jar, listing not just what I love about a product, but what I think could be improved. Or what I even just don't like at all. Let's start with the good stuff though, shall we?

Reasons to run to your nearest store and BUY a Tassimo

1. No mess, no clean up

If you hate cleaning coffee grounds up off the counter and throwing out used filters, wiping up coffee drips from your counter, the Tassimo is for you. There's no mess because the drink just brews directly into your cup. The disks can just be tossed right into the garbage.

2. The coffee is good!

You guys need to know how important this is to me. I am SO picky about my coffee that seriously, if I didn't honestly think it was good I just wouldn't drink it and I likely would have gifted the machine to someone. I admit that at first, I was skeptical but I find myself back at the machine ever single morning, brewing yet another cup. It's good. Just as good as the Nabob I brew in my little one cup dripper thing.

I especially like the Starbucks House Blend, the Nabob Columbian, and the Nabob Breakfast Blend.

3. It's fast and convenient

If you are short on time, this is by far the fastest way to make a cup of coffee. Just pop in the disk, position your mug in the machine, hit a button, and before you can butter your toast it will be finished.

4. You can buy disks online if you can't find them in store

I'm in an isolated town, so having the option to buy online solves the issue of not being able to find what I want.

5. If you don't drink a lot of coffee and like gadgets, it's fun!

Unlike my Hubs (who needs coffee intravenously), I'm good with one really good cup a day which stretches out the use of the coffee disks. Plus it's just a fun machine to use and takes me back to my barista days at Starbucks.

Now for the things I think might be an issue for some people:

1. Cost.

Honestly, I'm not up on the cost of a single cup coffee makers so I can't tell you if the Tassimo is compareable or not. In my research online, it was one of the more expensive coffee makers on the Canadian Tire website (on sale $129 reg $159). At London Drugs, it's even more at $169.99. Holy crap! My jaw hit the floor on that one. I had no idea that the Tassimo was retailing for that much. Ouch!

Not just that but you also need to add on the cost of the water filter and the descaling solution, and the coffee disks themselves are more expensive then just buying a simple can of coffee and some filters that you would likely get more cups of coffee out of in the long run.

If you are just looking for coffee and could care less about the latte drinks, you can pick up a good quality coffee maker for much less. It's FAR more expensive then our little $6-$10 1 cup plastic dripper thing that we shove a filter in and add coffee grounds to before pouring water from the kettle over, and the quality of the drip coffee is about the same.

2. Limited choice of coffee or tea

Well for ME, it works great because I adore Starbucks and Nabob, but what if you don't? It isn't like you can just pick up some Tim Hortons disks, or a specialty coffee. You are stuck with the 27 kinds that are available. Also, while the coffee is good you can't make it stronger. You can make it weaker with the machine, but if you don't think it's strong enough on the first brew...well...too bad for you. I like my coffee strong.

I really didn't like the Chai Tea Latte-it was way too sweet for me.

3. Some items are hard to find

In the tiny, isolated community I live in, finding disks and the water filter is expensive and difficult. So far I have no experience ordering online, and I have asked Tassimo about shipping costs but so far I haven't heard back. (edited: I did hear back this morning. In order to shop online, you must order 3 packs of coffee and the shipping starts at around $9)

So far all I've been able to find locally is the Nabob Latte disks and Starbucks House Blend. If I bought some disks, I really want Nabob Breakfast blend. Then what? Online is great but I'd love to just grab it at the store.

4. Your coffee size is dictated, and it's not quite as hot as from the kettle

The disks come pre-measured, and the size of your cup is right on the package. Most of the coffees I have tried brew a 9 oz cup. You can, however, get some that brew a 16 oz cup (on the site it says 12 oz, but I have a package here at home that says 16 and I've tried it. Definitely 16oz). My mugs are 12 oz, so I'm always left feeling like I'm not quite getting a full cup of coffee. If you want to add some hot water to it to fill up the cup you can, but then it makes it weaker.

Not just that, but the coffee itself isn't quite as hot as when I make it straight from a kettle. In some ways that sounds like I'm being picky, but what can I say? I love my coffee screaming hot.

So there ya go. Pros, and cons! Overall, I love my Tassimo and I'll likely use it for years to come. Would I pay $169.99 for one? No. Would I snap one up if it was on sale for around $100? Yes.

Thanks again, Tassimo, for my way awesome machine. I love it! If any readers would love to win a machine themselves, follow @TassimoCanada on Twitter and you just might find one on YOUR doorstep!

Choices

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Are you a glass half full, or glass half empty person?

Awhile ago I was on Twitter, and I encountered someone who was coming across as hugely bitter and negative in their 140 character space. Bad partner, bad job, crappy home; life was, according to them, BAD.

Lord help you if you complained at all either because yours just wouldn't compare and then you'd be labeled as "whiny".

I've been told that I'm a pretty positive person, but I admit that there have been a lot of times where I haven't felt that way. In a lot of ways, I have been lucky, but years ago we went through a time where the world seemed to just be falling apart for us. Check this out (all happened in a span of 4 years):

-I took on a hugely stressful job because it was more hours and we needed the money. It turned out to be the hardest job I've ever done as a special ed para and after only 1 month I was injured. I tore everything from my neck and shoulder blade to my spine, and hurt my rotater cuff. It took years to heal.

-Finances were rocky and things weren't going well with Hub's job.

-Jake's learning disabilities were really beginning to show. We had him tested. Trouble with school began.

-Jake's gr. 2 teacher dumped a hugely expensive, overnight field trip to a city 3 hours away on us by building it up the kids first and then telling the parents. We were 1 of the only families that couldn't afford to send him. The field trip became the focus of teaching for the next few months while we madly tried to scrape the cash together. In the end, he went but the stress over it was ridiculous.

-Hubs caught Cryptoccocal Gatti disease and almost died. (Took him a full year to recover and he has lasting damage from it)

-2 weeks later he was laid off. Can you say financial stress to the MAX? (Took us YEARS to get back on our feet)

-we had to sell our beautiful 2200 square foot home and move to a crappy rental townhouse complex and a 1200 sq foot (that's what they said-I think it was more like 800) space where there were crazy parents who harassed us, and kids who bullied Jake mercilessly.

-one kid put a rope around Jake's neck and yanked it, leaving a huge mark. Another punched him almost daily. They roamed in packs and Jake couldn't play outside without supervision. I was too afraid he'd get beat up by a kid or screamed and cussed at by a nutcase adult.

-Hubs was back in school going to university by computer. We were barely surviving on my tiny wage. He spent nine hours a day pecking out his essays on a computer and then I would come home and stay up until midnight proofreading them. If you wonder why this might be hard, my Hubs is dyslexic and writing is excruciating for him, so writing essays is no cake walk. He plowed through it, and got an A on every single paper. We were so proud!

-Jake's new school...well...let's just sum it up by saying all freaking Hell broke loose. (He's STILL dealing with the after affects of that one)

-my own workplace became a political and social minefield. I was called cheap for not being able to afford to fork out money when collections were taken up for gifts for staff, humiliated, and then told to pay because it's what people do no matter what their circumstances. It's part of the job, they said. I was deeply hurt because I had invested so much of my own time and energy, going way above and beyond what was required of my job, and all they appeared to care about was a measly $10.

So you know, if I wanted to, I could have been bitter and angry about the whole situation. There was plenty to be angry at and wallow in my own pity party over. Some days I did, until the universe decided to give me a quick slap upside the head.

The day had been like any other and I was on my way home, driving along a long stretch of open highway. On a sunny day, the highway wasn't bad but some days, you really had to be careful. Logging trucks would leave bits of wood behind, there was pieces of tires, and even roadkill to be avoided. On a stormy day, the road could be down right treacherous. Is it any wonder they used it to film the opening of Final Destination 2?

On this particular day, the rain was coming down in sheets, whipping sideways by the wind and making it impossible to see much of anything in front of me.

Suddenly it loomed out of nowhere; a giant, black, tractor tire, completely intact, sitting smack in front of me on the road. If I hit it at 120 km/hr, I'd surely have lost control of my little car.

Losing control of a car going 120 km/hour (75 m/hr) on a rain soaked highway doesn't bode well for anyone. Ever.

There was no time to think, only to react; swerving like a madwoman, I somehow made it around that tire in driving rain, on a slick road. It was like instinct had taken over, and for some odd reason, I had known exactly what to do. The car responded perfectly, there had been no traffic beside me, and what could have been a really horrific accident was completely avoided.

When it was safe, I pulled over and began to cry as the sobering realization washed over me that while I had thought life was bad, it could be SO much WORSE. I could have just flipped the car and be horribly injured, or even dead. We could be eating from the Food Bank. Hubs could've died in the ICU that day. Our marriage could be in tatters. The house could burn down and we'd be homeless.

In that very moment, I knew that I could let the hardships that we were experiencing swallow me whole, or I could choose a different path. I could choose to quit complaining about it and actually get off my ass to do something. In the hurricane of things that were completely outside of my control, I could find the things that I could control and focus on them.

Damn it, no matter how bad things seemed, I could choose to believe that things would work out and in that moment, that's exactly what I chose to do.

Life isn't a pissing contest. There are all kinds of people who have faced horrific circumstances and who are coming out stronger, amazing, people because they are choosing to. They have chosen not to wallow in self pity and allow those circumstances make them bitter and angry but instead to rise above them. The holidays are hard for a lot of people, but really when it comes down to it, we all have a choice.

I, for one, chose to believe with everything in me, that things would get better. Call me Pollyanna, I didn't care. I needed to believe. If I didn't, it would be too easy to let self pity and anger swallow me whole. Once I chose that path, I literally clung to that belief like a life raft in the middle of a raging storm.

Bit by bit, and then day by day, year by year, in tiny baby steps we crawled back to life as normal. We celebrated small victories, and then big ones, and before we knew it, life wasn't just better. Suddenly Hubs was offered not just one, but three different jobs and a fellowship at University of Victoria to do his Masters. I easily landed a great job, we found Jake a great school that completely turned him around, he was finally diagnosed, and we found a brand new, beautiful little house to live in with a view of the ocean. Those days are now nothing but a distant memory, but the lesson remains.

Life isn't just better. It's amazing.

PS.(edited to add how things turned out in the end...lol!)

Fabulicious Friday: Gift Guide for Teens

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0000

People are starting to Christmas shop, and so I thought I'd start doing a series of Fab Friday posts on GIFTS. Struggling to figure out what to buy? You've come to the right place. As the holidays approach, I'll keep adding to the lists and you can add things that YOU have found in the comments!

(***Disclaimer: The products that I will be listing are gathered from my own shopping experiences, talking with friends and family, and seen/sold at the toy store I work in. I haven't been contacted by any company or been compensated in any way for mentioning the products listed here.****)

This week I'm focusing on Teenagers.

Teens are notoriously hard to buy for. Gone are the days where they are happy with something simple (and cheap! Remember how excited they were over a BOX?). I've been asking Jake's friends, along with some of the other teens I know and this is what I've come up with besides the usual gadgetry, gift card, cash cow that is a teenager at Christmas.

1. A Family Game Night

For the teenager that loves games this can be a lot of fun. It can be given as a family gift for people who have a few kids, or it can be tailored for the individual teen who would share it with friends. First of all, you find a great game. Some recommended ones are Bananagrams and Gift Trap. Loralee told me how much she loved Bananagrams and I was sold!

Then you fill the rest of the box with snacky food. Go wild! Throw in a box of microwave popcorn, make a hot chocolate kit (can of hot chocolate, some marshmallows and candy canes), and other favorite things everyone can snack on. You could even include some tiny gift wrapped gag gifts for the winner, 2nd place, 3rd, etc.

2. A Selection of Their Favorite Books, CDs, or DVDs

It's hard to buy for teens who love to read, and even harder to keep up with those who read voraciously. Get your teen to create an account on Chapters.ca (in the USA you can do Amazon or Barnes and Noble). With an account, they can create a wish list. Check out mine! The kid's books on there are Jake's picks.

I LOVE Chapters. I can not only check out Jake's wish list, but I can do a search for specific stores to see if they have the book in stock! Or I can order it online and have it shipped right to my door. Plus we can send the wish list to relatives or friends. Not just that but if I forget what is on the list when I'm actually at the store? There are computers there where I can log in and bring up the wish list right there.

You could pair books up with a travel mug filled with candy, a book light, and funky bookmark.

3. A Digital Camera and subscription to Flickr Pro

There's a wide selection of cameras out there, and I admit I'm not familiar with 99% of them. I'd go for something inexpensive, small, but durable as kids are always losing them. If you wanted to round out the whole photography theme, you could include an Energizer compact charger (we have one-I LOVE it) with some rechargeable batteries, a memory card, and even a mini tri-pod.

4. Cozy Me

Teens love chilling out by the computer or TV, and in the winter it can get a bit chilly. Why not get yours a fuzzy Columbia blanket and some cozy pjs pants? For a girl you could throw in some funky nail polish, for a boy maybe a great throw pillow. Pair this stuff up with a DVD and you have a perfect "hanging out at home" kit.

(I love the Columbia blanket. Jake's is so soft, machine washable, and super cozy by the fire. We have found them in Columbia outlets for around $14.99 USD)

5. Artsy

If your teen is into art, why not splurge on some really great supplies? We hit up Opus Art Supplies in Vancouver, where you can get almost everything you need. You could even shop online, place an order by phone, etc. The artsy teens I know would love to have a brightly colored sketchbook and some really great colored pencils.

What are you getting your teenager? I have no idea what to buy for Jake. Last year we had bought him a Mp3, which we strongly warned him that if he lost, we would not buy another.

Two months later, he lost it. Poof! Now he wants another one. What would you do? Buy one, or refuse?

Recipe Thursday: Breakfast Sandwiches!

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Growing up in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere, I was completely deprived of fast food restaurants so whenever we traveled, my parents would stop at one in particular because they thought they were being nice.

I hated that place with the passion of a thousand burning suns.

Okay, maybe that's a big strong. I didn't hate the actual place. I loved their commercials. I thought the little toys/souvenirs you could buy were very cool. It's just that for a kid who didn't like burgers or fries, it was impossible to find something I loved to eat. In fact, for years (and pre-mc chicken or chicken nugget days) we'd go and there I'd sit, refusing to eat anything.

The one thing I really loved was their breakfast sandwiches. Loved. Loved so much that at 8 years old I was kicked out of a popular pancake restaurant because I smuggled one in.

So now that I'm all grown up, I make the same breakfast sandwiches at home now and then, and they are SO good. When you make them at home you can vary some of the ingredients, make them a little more gourmet, and cut out the grease.

Click on over for the recipe....

How to Keep From Catching Swine Flu

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Didn't you all know that pigs are lucky and if you carry one that glows in the dark in your pocket, it wards off the Swine Flu? Just sayin'..... (hee!)

This actually was yesterday's Nablopomo picture but I couldn't help but share.

Lucky Piggy [Flickr]

Scatteredmom — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:38:54 PST

Scatteredmom posted a photo:

Didn't you know that the BEST way to keep from getting the swine flu is to have a lucky, glow in the dark pig in your pocket?

Remembering

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Photo Credit: petercastleton

I had the opportunity to watch this beautiful tribute to our troops on the Global Edmonton's Facebook page, and just knew I had to share it with you. Click on over and watch; I promise you, it's absolutely worth it.

Have a wonderful, peaceful, Remembrance Day.

Greek Shrimp and Pasta [Flickr]

Scatteredmom — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:21:56 PST

Scatteredmom posted a photo:

This was tonight's dinner. A herby tomato sauce with hunks of salty feta and jumbo prawns tucked in over pasta, with veggies. Hubs and Jake didn't talk-they were far too busy eating!

The link to the recipe will be in Saturday's new Meal Plan at Everything Mom.com

Nablopomo Day 9: Pumpkin Heads [Flickr]

Scatteredmom — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:49:32 PST

Scatteredmom posted a photo:

Hubs "What should we do with the pumpkins?"

Me: "Set them free in the forest with their other pumpkin friends. Maybe the bears or something will eat them."

I keep waiting, but they just won't leave.

Get Well Soon! [Flickr]

Scatteredmom — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:56:30 PST

Scatteredmom posted a photo:

Some people that Hubs works with sent these really pretty azaleas to him since he's been off work for awhile. Thoughtful, huh?

Tomorrow it's back to work!

Weekly Catch up

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:35:00 +0000

Don't worry, this isn't going to turn into some photo blog with only a photo and caption for the month of November. I've already lost two readers, so I thought I should actually write something before the rest of you all decide to make for the hills.

Well-the picture thing will likely happen just on the weekends, which is when I usually don't post anyway, so you won't mind, right? I'll have some pictures on here, but I think I'm going to start moving them over to my Nablopomo set on my Flickr photostream. Seriously though, who has time to even do pictures? I've discovered that I would not make a good candidate for a 365 project. It's only 9 days in and already I'm thinking..."Oh my GOD, I have to keep taking pictures? Of what? There's no light! I'm too busy! Maybe I'll take one of....my shoes! Or the pumpkins molding on the front porch!."

Ya because you ALL are just dying to see my moldy pumpkins.

So what's been up here in the Cookie Jar over the past week?

*We found out one of my photos was chosen to be printed on Jones Orange Cream Soda bottles, and we've been looking for a bottle around town. No luck yet! Jake seems to think this calls for us to drink soda every single day, and has lobbied for that each time I've picked him up after school.

*H1N1 (Swine flu) hasn't hit our family yet, as far as I know. Which is more than I can say for...um..certain places that have had around a 40% absentee rate almost all last week. I'm still feeling like I'm walking around with a huge bulls-eye on my back, and washing my hands every 5 seconds, but so far we are swine free! (as far as I know) It could be that I'm wiping down everything in sight with the awesome Clorox wipes that Clorox so kindly sent me awhile ago to test out.

*On Saturday we trekked into the city, which was lots of fun. I bought some cute funky Kamik rain boots to keep my feet dry, and we've been rocking out to Carrie Underwood's new CD Play On. If you like country music, make sure to pick it up. Hubs especially liked her new video (I think it might have had something to do with the sexy outfits, hmm?)

*There has been a LOT going on here that I can't write about. Things that are just very hard and have my emotions all over the place, and quite honestly, I come here and I have nothing left. Life for ME is wonderful, but for some of the people I love, not so much. Hubs and Jake say that I was "uber-bitchy" last week, until I finally got my emotions under control (no medication was involved, I promise). A few nights I just put myself to bed and called it a day.

I'm still doing that now and then. It's great. You should try it.

*Have you ever been put on an e-mail list where a gazillion people all hit "send to all", and you get something like 20 million-ish e-mails a day that have nothing to do with you? I have considered finding some lovely spam-ish type e-mail (you know, the kind that say "forward this to 3 people in an hour or pygmies will attack and snack on your toes") to counter this. Maybe once they all get some spammy things from me, they will take me off their list.

Please?

*Oh! To top that off, with Hubs diagnosed as diabetes type 2, now I have the joys of trying to convert all my baking recipes so he can eat them. That should be fun. (you know I'm being sarcastic here, right?) It kind of takes all the fun out of baking. Especially once I realized that if Hubs isn't eating my baking anymore then it's just me and Jake, and I certainly don't NEED to be eating that much baking.

Don't worry, I'll still bake. I just need to find new taste testers.

So that was pretty much my week.

Oh, and hey-I still have a zillion clorox wipes hanging out here at my house. They are awesome for disinfecting countertops, bathrooms, and we used them on door knobs and light switches around the house. I love them! Want some?

-open to people with a Canadian mailing address
-leave me a comment below
-I will pick 2 comments at random and send the winners each a box with 3 cans of wipes in them (1 lemon, 1 lavendar, 1 fresh scent)
-you have until Friday November 13 to enter!

Nablopomo Day 7: Reflection [Flickr]

Scatteredmom — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:53:56 PST

Scatteredmom posted a photo:

We trekked over to the city for some shopping. Seems weird to be spending cash so close to the holidays, but Jake thoughtfully grew out of ALL his clothes.

Reflection

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:18:00 +0000

On the way back from Vancouver via BC Ferries, after a day of shopping.

Kindred Spirit

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:11:00 +0000

Every Friday without fail, I meet a friend here for coffee and we enjoy the view until the sun sets and the stars come out. It is, without a doubt, my favorite part of the week and I am blessed beyond measure to have a friend like her. Time slows, worries of the week fade, and I come away feeling full.

We often share some food, but being with her by the ocean feeds my soul.

How to Make Your 13 Year Old Think You are Super Cool

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:11:00 +0000

Guess what?!?

Over the summer I submitted some photos to Jones, in the hopes that one would be chosen to grace their bottles of soda. One of my photos was picked and will be printed on their sodas that are distributed all across the USA and Canada. If you see this label on an orange and cream flavor, it is MINE! Cool!

Now we just have to find some so we can buy a few bottles.

Nablopomo Day 4: Trip to the Optometrist

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:03:00 +0000

Today Jake had an appointment at the optometrist. He wasn't too thrilled that I whipped out the camera and tried to get him to pose for pictures.

"No! Go away! You're being weird!"

"Seriously, Mom this is strange! What, you're going to post this on your blog? Like, isn't that just a bit embarrassing?"

"Oooo, what's this? It's shiny. There's a computer over there that I think might be broken. And what's this lens? Ooo and there's an EYE! That's my optic nerve, and the blind spot, and that's the retina......"

*sigh* And people wonder why I'm often tired.

Nablopomo Day 3: Road With a View

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:24:00 +0000

When we lived on Vancouver Island I had to drive on a busy highway 100 kms round trip to work. Would you believe it was the highway that Final Destination 2 was filmed on? That highway accident scene where a logging truck loses it's load was created right on the very on ramp I took every morning. Needless to say, I gave logging trucks a LOT of room after that.

These days, I'm driving on a windy, leaf strewn road that takes me by the ocean and past lakes, and at first I wasn't sure I enjoyed the commute. I complained about it to almost everyone who asked.

Some days, though, I notice the color of the trees, the way the morning fog makes the trees look ghostly, how the light plays off the water, and I'm entranced. Not only is it beautiful, but for a full half hour I get to just drive, listen to music, and enjoy. Somehow looking for things to take pictures of every day has made me stop and really look for the beauty that previously I may have passed by. Maybe a commute, which forces me to slow down a bit and think about things, isn't so bad after all.

What is your commute like?

Recipe Tuesdays: Apple Oatmeal Crumble Topped Muffins

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Okay, I do realize that this muffin has no crumble topping. Blame it on the person in the house who has to watch their sugar intake. I skipped the topping part (which I'm sure would take this muffin into over the top sugary goodness), but you don't have to!

The muffin itself is chock full of tender pieces of apple, and the addition of whole wheat flour and oatmeal can make you feel like you are reviving your body after all that Halloween candy.

Click here for the recipe...

Manic Mondays

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:07:00 +0000

What? You were expecting something artsy and wonderful? Mondays are busy for me. They usually mean work, a quick grocery shop after wards, a late dinner, and maybe only after that do I get to relax for a bit before I'm throwing in laundry or cleaning something. See, this is why I plan my menus because otherwise I think my head would explode.

Tonight's dinner was a chicken stir fry and brown rice. Hubs and Jake exclaimed through the entire meal about how much they loved it, which struck me funny. I hadn't made the recipe in years because the last time Hubs picked through the veggies, Jake wouldn't eat the cashews, and generally they told me they hated it.

Tonight? I made it because it's quick and easy, and I liked it. So if they didn't, they were going to suffer because for once I was making something that I thought was yummy.

They loved it! They sang my praises about how delicious it was and polished off every last morsel.

Families can be so weird.

What are your Mondays like?

NaBloPoMo..in pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:31:00 +0000

I've tried to do National Blog Posting Month-really, I have. Every year something threatens to thwart my plans, and every year I end up bowing out. This time I'm making it easy on myself-instead of trying to come up with a post every day (which, let's be honest, is NOT going to happen), I am going to take a picture of something. Daily.

It will be sort of like my own version of project 365, but just for a month. Every day I'm going to post a picture, and they will all be complied over on my Flickr photo stream as well.

The first picture?

This is our leftover Halloween candy. Usually I get 100+ kids at the door, including a pile of teenagers, but this year it was very sparse. No teenagers! Despite the fact that I piled huge handfuls into the last few children's bags (you should've seen their eyes, it was so cute) I am still left with a lot.

What to do? I'm going to try throwing some of the chocolate bars into cookie dough or using them to top brownies, and the gummy candies I'll use to decorate cupcakes or other treats. The single bag of Cheezies you see sitting on top of the pile was from Jake's haul. After a really bad Cheezie/hot dog/cream soda encounter when Jake was five, nobody in our family has been able to look at them the same way again.

Do you have a lot of left over candy? What are you going to do with it? Is there anything that nobody in your house will eat, either? What gets gobbled up first?

I'm not sure those Wunderbars are going to stick around long enough to be baked into cookies...

Pandemic

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Yesterday morning I took Jake to the dentist office bright and early; and as we were getting out of the car, I noticed a nurse letting herself into the Health Clinic right next door.

"So, um, when can kids get the swine flu vaccination?" I asked. "He's 13 and has asthma..."

"Today." She unlocked the door and motioned for me to come inside. "Follow me, I'll give you the information."

I had been on the fence about having Jake get vaccinated for awhile. Sometimes, I think, in the world of media and the Internets, we're flooded with almost too much information. There's people arguing a case against vaccinations, some arguing for, and we parents are left to sift through it all and try to figure out what to do.

For me it took one story. One. A 13 year old boy who seemed to have caught a cold on a Friday-the VERY Friday that Jake became sick with some congestion as well. By Monday, the 13 year old boy was dead. My son was back to his usual self, complaining that he had to go to school and scarfing down half the contents of my fridge.

I took one look at Evan's Frustaglio's picture, heard his Dad's heartbroken voice about how quickly his son passed away, and that did it.

Luckily, both Hubs and Jake qualified for the first doses of vaccine that was rolled out in our community, so yesterday we trekked off and stood in line with what seemed like a hundred people. Maybe it was. Maybe it wasn't. Whatever, it was a LOT. It was a bit surreal, really. You could almost feel the worry in the room. If someone coughed, a path practically cleared for them, like the Red Sea parting for Moses.

"What about you?" Jake suddenly turned and looked at me with worry in his eyes. I work in a school, which is pretty much ground zero for the spread of viruses. The nurse looked at me and furrowed her brow.

"I don't qualify as high risk, Jake."

"But..." he looked at the nurse, back at me, then back at the nurse. "What if you..."

The question hung in the air, but I knew what he was asking.

What if YOU get it? What if YOU die? What if?

"I'll be fine," I answered breezily. "I wash my hands, I don't go near the kids who are sneezing. Really Jake, I'll be okay. I'm healthy and strong. I can get the vaccine in a couple of weeks."

I'm not sure if he believes me.

The panic is rising, bit by bit. I can hear it in people's voices. Every time I turn on the news, headlines scream about more deaths. Debates over whether or not to get the vaccine rage on Twitter, and perfect strangers have stopped me in the store to congratulate me on sneezing 'properly' (into my elbow, as health officials have suggested). I see people using sanitizing wipes on shopping carts before they touch them, and it seems like hand sanitizers are everywhere.

Panic is rising around me, and I'm fighting to keep it at bay. Somehow it's easier at home, where I have control over the cleaning and can sanitize everything in sight. Cleaning gives me a purpose. A job. I've shut off the news and stopped reading Twitter for awhile, because I just can't stand hearing about it anymore.

Things are okay, I keep telling myself over and over as I'm scrubbing the counters for the zillionth time. The two most important people in my life are vaccinated and will be safe.

Right?

Now if I could just quit feeling like I'm walking around with a giant bulls-eye on my back....

Support the Humane Society Pet Project

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Did you know that out of the 8 million pets that are in shelters each year, 3 million of them are euthanized? Three MILLION? Three million perfectly adoptable, healthy, adorable bundles of fur just waiting for someone to give them a home?

The Shelter Pet Project is a PSA campaign trying to let people know that those cute bundles of fur in the shelter are just as lovable as the ones from your local breeder or pet store, and they need homes just as badly! On their website, furry friends encourage you to send an adopt-a-gram, look through pet personals, and ask the adopter network a question.

If you are going to adopt a pet sometime this year, please consider getting a shelter pet. I admit that I don't have a pet or any experience with shelters, so I hit up my Twitter peeps for some input. I talked to @ajsouthern of The Southern Family.

(picture used with permission)

This is Jack. Adopted at 12 weeks, @ajsouthern commented that "all I did was really pay his vet bill. He was mostly potty trained, and fee I payed also included neuter- it was a great deal."

Seriously, isn't he the cutest? He's a schnoodle. Looks just like Jake's favorite childhood stuffie.

When I asked if he had any "issues" that one might think that a dog from a shelter would have, she replied," He was fine-I don't feel that way at all. Just a pet that needed a home! We would totally do it again. I rescued 3 cats as a youngster. Loved all them too. They come potty trained. And needy for love. :) those worth it!"

I think that pretty much says it all, don't you?

If you can't adopt a pet, perhaps you could help out your local animal shelter by donating some pet food, time, or even a bit of money. Jake and I occasionally visit ours to play with and pet the cats, who just love to have a human's undivided attention.

Recipe Tuesday: Boo! Ghoulish Halloween Brownies

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

The other day I was wandering through the grocery store, wracking my brain about what I was going to feature here for a quick, cute, easy Halloween goodie. As I walked through the bulk food section, these yogurt covered pretzels caught my eye and suddenly, I didn't see pretzels. I saw FACES!

Best on a pan of One Bowl Brownies and chocolate glaze, these salty but sweet additions make for a fun (and OH so easy) Halloween treat. I loved how they all appear to have different expressions, don't you? Get all the details for how to do it over at Recipes From the Cookie Jar.

A Taste of October 23-30, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Scattered Mom) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:03:00 +0000

With cooler weather and Halloween coming, what better time then to resort to a few homey favorites and some easy ghoulish treats? Here's a taste of this week's meal plan over at Everything Mom.com...

-Ghoulish brownies (@ Recipes From the Cookie Jar-goes live Oct 27)
-Lamb/hamburger soup
-Veggie Tortellini Bake (featured recipe @ Everything Mom.com)
-Chocolate chip Halloween Cookie Pops (@ Recipes From the Cookie Jar)
-Baked Egg Rolls
-Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
-Apple Buttermilk Pancakes

Happy Cooking!

Win A Smart Car! [del.icio.us]

Scattered_Mom — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:45:35 PDT

Take ICBC's "dirty driver" quiz and enter a contest to win a smart car! Open to residents of BC, Canada

Canada Moms Blog: Streetproofing Your Kids in 2009 [del.icio.us]

Scattered_Mom — Sat, 23 May 2009 11:38:16 PDT

Such a sad story-but the information is very valuable.

Deep South Moms: Passing Judgment on a Teenaged Driver [del.icio.us]

Scattered_Mom — Sat, 23 May 2009 11:23:37 PDT

What would YOU do?

Kait's Plate: Rosemary and Roasted Garlic Focaccia [del.icio.us]

Scattered_Mom — Sun, 17 May 2009 20:26:44 PDT

Try not to lick the screen

'Rrroll up the rim' prank leads to accusation of fraud [del.icio.us]

Scattered_Mom — Sat, 16 May 2009 10:39:57 PDT

This sounds kinda fishy to me..I mean, you'd be able to tell a 12 year old's 'fake' cup from a real one, and how did they 'accidentally' get switched if the guy was drinking a coffee?

Indian dad avoids washing for 35 years [del.icio.us]

Scattered_Mom — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:48:30 PDT

He was told if he doesn't wash, he'll have a son. If he doesn't wash, what woman would want him?

goat Canucks goat! [del.icio.us]

Scattered_Mom — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:19:40 PDT

I love this! Cheer on the Canucks and buy a goat for a family in Africa!

Free Coffee At McDonalds for Two weeks! [del.icio.us]

Scattered_Mom — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:14:39 PDT

Starting yesterday, McDonalds has been offering free coffee at breakfast time, no purchase required. It will continue for 2 whole weeks!

"Where The Wild Things Are" Cake! [del.icio.us]

Scattered_Mom — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:54:14 PDT

You just have to see this cake. SO COOL!

Did You Know Your Veggies Could Make You Sick? [del.icio.us]

Scattered_Mom — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 09:41:13 PDT

Great tips on how to avoid food borne illness from your produce.

50 Great Photoshop Tutorials for Clever Beginners - Psdtuts+ [del.icio.us]

Scattered_Mom — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:28:16 PDT

Hey! Some great tips here

S'Mores Dessert Squares [del.icio.us]

Scattered_Mom — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 21:26:47 PDT

These look really, really yummy

Bakerella [del.icio.us]

Scattered_Mom — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:13:40 PDT

Omg! So cute! Would feel cruel to eat them.

Electrolux vacuum explodes, causing third-degree burns - Yahoo! Canada News [del.icio.us]

Scattered_Mom — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:32:57 PDT

Yikes! Are you kidding me?